Abstract: A control unit for controlling devices or assemblies comprises a plurality of control elements located on a control surface. These control elements are provided with correspondingly assigned symbols for visually displaying the function of the respective control element and can be adjusted into at least two positions. In order to make reliable control easier, even under unfavorable light conditions, the control elements or an area directly adjoining them are provided with means for distinguishing the respective control element haptically. The control unit is suitable in particular for controlling a heating and/or air conditioning system in a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A rotary connector 1 has a resilient engagement plate 3d to be snap-fitted to a base 5 of a switch 4. The base 5 has a first engagement portion 5b with which the resilient engagement plate 3d of the rotary connector 1 engages, and a second engagement portion 5c to which an engagement protuberance 7b of a bracket 7 fixed to a steering column, or the like, is fitted. The bracket 7 has the engagement protuberance 7b. The invention provides a fitting structure that permits the rotary connector to be easily fixed to the base, and the base to be easily fixed to the bracket.

Abstract: A parallel redundant power supply system which does not use any inter-unit signaling is obtained by deriving all information necessary for a robust selective trip regime from the output signals of each respective power system. Each respective power system monitors its own power output and keeps a running average of its own performance to determine whether it is operating properly, rather than comparing itself to other units. The trip function is created by sampling the AC output voltage of the power system and multiplying an instantaneous difference in voltage (compared with a previous cycle) with the instantaneous difference in current (also compared with a previous cycle) of the power system's AC output power. If the two transients are in opposite directions, then the multiplicative product will be negative and indicative of a good power system. On the other hand, if the two transients are in the same direction, then the multiplicative product will be positive and indicative of a failed unit.

Abstract: Switching losses in a DC-to-DC converter idling in a pulse-skipping mode are reduced by inhibiting any intervening turn-off command by a PWM control loop of the converter for as long as the current through the inductor of the converter remains below a minimum threshold value set by a dedicated comparator. The method is implemented by employing a comparator with a certain hysteresis and by logically masking the switching to a logic "0" of a high frequency clock (switching) signal of the converter for the entire period of time the current in the inductor remains below the minimum threshold.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pump circuit for generating a single variable high voltage output or multiple high voltage outputs that respond to one or more discrete inputs. The present invention utilizes a common pump circuitry to process the discrete voltage inputs. Each of the discrete voltage inputs can be a different input voltage and can be stepped up to a higher output voltage according to the design constraints of the pump circuitry. Since the pump circuitry is used for each of the inputs, the amount of chip real estate consumed is minimized to avoid redundancy. A switching system is implemented that detects which input has a voltage present and activates a particular path to the pump output accordingly.

Abstract: Various laser patterns for vertical cavity surface emitting lasers are disclosed. The patterns utilize lasers with different size apertures. By utilizing these laser patterns, an image forming system is able to form images with improved resolution and halftoning. Apparatus and method implementations which use these laser patterns are disclosed.

Abstract: A dual pivoting wiper system cleans the nozzle face plate of an inkjet printhead, particularly one that dispenses a pigment based ink. An inkjet printing mechanism has a printhead service station including a sled that moves from a rest position to a wiping position. The wiping system includes a support arm with proximate and distal ends, with the proximate end pivoted to the sled and the distal end pivotally supporting an upright wiper blade. The arm is spring-biased to push the wiper blade into engagement with the printhead. During wiping, the printhead is engaged by wiper blade and the blade remains relatively upright. Any spacing variations between the printhead and the sled are accommodated by spring flexure, and any lack of parallelism of the printhead from a nominal plane is primarily accommodated by pivoting of the blade at the distal end of the support arm.

Abstract: A parallel redundant power supply system which does not use any inter-unit signaling is obtained by using the AC output power level of a power system to coordinate load sharing. The necessary information for load sharing is derived solely from each power system's output power level in such a manner that the output of a power system is inherently phase locked to the output of other power systems to which it is connected in parallel. Each parallel connected power system designed in accordance with the invention includes means for generating an AC output voltage from a DC input power source, means for sampling either a DC input voltage from the DC input power source or the AC output voltage from the AC output voltage generating means to provide power level samples, and means for determining the AC output power of the AC output voltage generating means from the power level samples.

Abstract: A dual battery charging device for charging two different types of rechargeable batteries including a battery connector which connects with the battery; a charge circuit which supplies a charge current and a charge voltage to the battery connector to charge a battery; and a sensing controller which senses a temperature and a type of the battery and controls the charge current and the charge voltage output from the charge circuit according to the temperature and the type of the battery. Consequently, the present invention contemplates that either a NiMH battery or a lithium-ion battery can be charged by using a single dual battery charging device.

Abstract: An ink jet printer for recording on a recording medium by discharging the ink supplied from an ink storing member from an ink jet head to the recording medium is disclosed. The ink jet printer comprises a mount portion for mounting detachably the ink storing member, a space for receiving said mount portion, and a recording selection unit for selecting a first recording mode in which a first ink storing member received within the space is mounted on the mount portion in recording, or a second recording mode in which a second ink storing member large enough not to be received within the space is mounted on the mount portion in recording.

Abstract: A cold-cathode fluorescent lamp lighting device which enables to perform high-efficiency lighting of a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A switching field for electromechanically switching electrical signal lines with crosspoints. The parts forming the crosspoints comprising membranes, at and between which further parts of the circuit are disposed. The switching field is particularly for communication and data transfer applications. The cross points are disposed matrix-shaped manner and signal lines assigned to the individual crosspoints. The crosspoints are composed of at least two contact surfaces which are movable relative to each other, to the one contact surface, a permanent magnet, and to the other contact surface, a ferromagnetic material with a coil assigned thereto.

Abstract: A droplet generator includes a housing (1) wherein there are attached at their one end a multitude of piezo-electric flectional-benders (19), arranged next to each other. A second end (16) of each of the benders (19) is located above a separate jet (7) which leads from a chamber (5) to the exterior. Between the individual benders (19) there are installed separation walls (26). Any cross communication as a result of viscous coupling between benders or due to pressure fluctuations is avoided and the efficiency is improved, so that a better graphic image is attained. The benders have an electrically insulating coating, so that the droplet generator is also suitable for electrically conducting inks.

Abstract: In a first recording mode for recording by discharging the ink of relatively large amount at a low resolution, liquid droplet discharging and recording conditions for the low resolution are set, while in a second recording mode for recording by discharging the ink of relatively small amount at a high resolution, a high resolution transformation process and a smoothing and thinning process are performed, and the liquid droplet discharging and recording conditions for the low resolution are set, wherein the recording control is performed in accordance with the recording mode which has been set.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes transistors Q1, Q2 and Q3 constituting a differential amplifier circuit. The differential amplifier circuit performs switching operations in accordance with input pulse signals. A current amplitude determined by the emitter current of the transistor Q3 drives a laser diode. An operational amplifier 6 has an output connected to the base of the transistor Q3 via an emitter follower Q7. A control terminal 7 is connected to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier 6. A voltage applied to the control terminal 7 controls the base potential of the transistor Q3, thereby changing the emitter current of the transistor Q3. The current for driving the laser diode is controlled by the voltage signal via the emitter follower. Therefore, the ON/OFF control of the drive current can be executed surely and stably without being influenced by noise, wiring pattern capacity or the like and even from the outside of the laser diode drive circuit.

Abstract: A paintball game scorekeeper and an associated paintball game playing system. The paintball game scorekeeper includes a switch member having plural control buttons insertably mounted in a recess formed in a front side surface of a housing. A printed circuit board to which the control buttons are electrically connected is inserted in a recess formed in a rear side surface of the housing. Provided on the printed circuit board is a memory subsystem for holding a countdown time and at least one interim time, a processor subsystem for counting down, from the countdown time, time remaining in the on-going game of paintball until time expires and for determining first and second elimination counts, and an LCD display, electrically coupled to the processor subsystem, for displaying the time remaining in the on-going game of paintball, the first elimination count and the second elimination count.

Abstract: A synchronous rectification type converter includes a main transformer having a primary winding to which an unrectified input voltage is applied and a main switch connected in series with the primary winding of the main transformer. A series-coupled capacitor and clamp switch are connected across the primary winding of the main transformer, where the clamp switch is biased substantially opposite to the main switch such that the reset voltage at the primary winding of the main transformer is clamped. First and second series-coupled synchronous rectifiers which are operated in synchronism with the operation of the main switch are connected across a secondary winding of the main transformer.

Abstract: A voltage reference circuit with programmable thermal coefficient, comprising first and second bipolar transistors having their base terminals connected together and collector terminals connected to two legs of a current mirror circuit. The emitter terminal of the first transistor is connected to ground through two resistors in series with each other, and the emitter terminal of the second transistor is connected to a node between the two resistors. The emitter of at least one of the two transistors has discrete portions adapted to be connected electrically together in a predetermined fashion.

Abstract: In a transponder, power supply circuitry is connected to an antenna and a response circuit. DC power to be fed to the response circuit is generated out of an electromagnetic wave come in through the antenna. A rectifier diode has an n type and a p type semiconductor region and is adjusted such that a reverse resistance against a reverse current directed from the n type region toward the p type region is lower than a forward resistance against a forward current directed from the latter region to the former region. A voltage output from the antenna on the receipt of the electromagnetic wave is applied to the rectifier diode, thereby causing a reverse current to flow to the diode. The resulting DC voltage is used to feed power to the response circuit. Even when the electromagnetic wave received from an interrogator is weak, sufficient power can be surely fed to the response circuit.

Abstract: A hybrid parallel active/passive filter system is provided which provides line power harmonic isolation and compensation for power systems connected to high power non-linear loads. The hybrid filter includes a passive filter connected in series with an active filter inverter. The active filter inverter is controlled to generate inverter voltages such that the filter terminal voltage tracks the supply voltage harmonics at a selected dominant harmonic frequency to regulate the supply current harmonics to zero. A synchronous reference frame (SRF) based controller is used to generate harmonic inverter voltage commands based on measured supply current values. A feed forward command signal generator may be used to improve the response of the control system. The active filter inverter is preferably implemented as a square-wave inverter. The active filter inverter DC bus is controlled to achieve power balancing and to provide real power to compensate for losses of the inverter.