Abstract: An output driver circuit for a semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the output driver is coupled to an output terminal of the semiconductor device and consists of an N-channel pull-down transistor and a P-channel pull-up transistor formed in an N-well in a P-type substrate. A tie-down region formed in the N-well is selectively coupled to a supply potential by means of a decoupling transistor, and during normal operation of the driver maintains the supply voltage bias of the N-well. An overdrive detection circuit is coupled to the output terminal. Upon detection of an overdrive condition on the output terminal, such as a voltage exceeding a predetermined maximum, or excessive current injected into the output terminal (or both), the overdrive detection circuit deasserts a control signal applied to the gate of the decoupling transistor, thereby decoupling the N-well from the supply potential. In one embodiment, the decoupling transistor is not coupled to the output terminal.

Abstract: A method for controlling the width of a polyester film support comprising, in order, the steps of: (a) extruding a polyester resin using one or more extruders; (b) casting the resin on a casting wheel to form a polyester sheet; (c) stretching the polyester sheet along the machine direction by ratios of 3 to 5 times at temperatures ranging from above the glass transition temperature to below the thermal crystallization temperature, wherein the machine contains extended edge rollers (14) in the drafter at the point where stretching occurs; (d) stretching the polyester sheet along the transverse direction by ratios of 3 to 5 times at temperatures ranging from above the glass transition temperature to below the thermal crystallization temperature; and (e) heat setting the polyester sheet at temperatures ranging from 180 to 250° C.

Abstract: A sensor includes an ink drop sensing element integral to a printed circuit board. Sensing circuitry is coupled to the printed circuit board and may be configured to receive electrical signals from the sensing element. A method of manufacturing such an ink drop sensor and a printing mechanism having such an ink drop sensor are also provided.

Abstract: A sensor configuration for use in detecting ink droplets ejected from an ink drop generator is provided. The sensor configuration includes a sensing element configured to receive a biasing voltage which creates an electric field from the sensing element to the ink drop generator. The sensor configuration also includes a sensing amplifier coupled to the sensing element, whereby the sensing element in imparted with an electrical stimulus when at least one ink droplet is ejected in the presence of the electric field, and thereafter passes in close proximity to the sensing element without substantially contacting the sensing element. Sensor configurations with a separate electrically biasing element which may or may not contact the ink droplets are also provided. Additionally, a printing mechanism having such sensor configurations and a method of making ink drop detection measurements are also provided.

Abstract: A hose supporting spool device includes a spool rotatably secured to a support device for winding a hose, a shaft secured to the support device and having a passage, a block formed on the shaft and having a peripheral slot and one or more grooves communicating the peripheral slot of the block with the passage of the shaft. A housing is rotatably engaged onto the block and the shaft and has a mouth coupled to a water reservoir. Two gaskets are engaged on the sides of the block and have curved recesses for receiving the curved outer portions of the block.

Abstract: A method of transferring a plurality of data bits from memory cells to a data pad via a plurality of output paths. Each of the output paths receives the data bits in parallel and selects one bit among the data bits. Selected bits from each of the output paths is transferred to an output select. A plurality of timing signals are activated in sequence based on alternate phases of two enable signals to serially transfer the data bits from the output select to the data pad.

Abstract: Ink-jet pen drop firing elements having extended use—namely, printheads used with a plurality of replaceable reservoirs—are provided with a more accurate life span and performance gauge by monitoring energy accumulations over time and using monitored data for certain printer activity or maintenance.

Abstract: A spout plate used in a spray head of a sprayer includes a spout plate insertably secured at the spout end of the spray head and made from a slightly flexible rubber or plastic material such that multiple posts defining distinct water guide channels are provided annularly on the spout surface thereof. A center of the spout plate is connected to a center of the interior of the spray head. When the spout plate is insertably secured at the spout end of the front end of the spray head of the sprayer, and water flows through the interior of the spray head and flow out of the spout plate for spraying via the water guide channels of the posts provided on the spout plate, different water jets can be sprayed out from the water guide channels of the posts to thereby provide an extensive spraying area and multiple effects.

Abstract: A retaining supporter of a rotary sprinkler is disclosed. The retaining supporter has a cruciform cylindrical base at the lower half of the rotary sprinkler. Two plates with equal length are crossed with each other so as to form a cylindrical member with a cruciform cross section. The width of one plate is thicker than the other one, and the vertical surface of the wider plate is a curved surface and has a shape like an inverted triangle. When the lower half section of the fixing supporting element in inserted into the soil, it can be inserted easily. When the top section of the rotary sprinkler is connected with water pipe for water flow, the water flows through the interior of the fixing supporting element of the rotary sprinkler, so that water can be sprayed from the water outlet of the rotary sprinkler and moves the rotary device.

Abstract: A switch handle at a bottom section of a sprayer long tube of a water sprayer includes a sprayer long tube, a switch and an inlet tube having a connecting sleeve pivotally connected to a bottom end thereof. The bottom section of the long tube is connected to an outlet section of the switch. The inlet section of the switch is connected to the inlet tube. The sprayer long tube, switch and inlet tube are integrally connected. The connecting section of bottom section of the long tube and the switch, the periphery of the switch, the connecting section of the switch and the tube, and the entire peripheral surface of the tube are injection molded integrally from plastics (rubber) one or two times, to thereby effectively couple them integrally such that the plastic (rubber) injection molded parts is suitable to be used by the handle provided at the bottom section of the sprayer long tube.

Abstract: An output driver circuit for a semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the output driver is coupled to an output terminal of the semiconductor device and consists of an N-channel pull-down transistor and a P-channel pull-up transistor formed in an N-well in a P-type substrate. A tie-down region formed in the N-well is selectively coupled to a supply potential by means of a decoupling transistor, and during normal operation of the driver maintains the supply voltage bias of the N-well. An overdrive detection circuit is coupled to the output terminal. Upon detection of an overdrive condition on the output terminal, such as a voltage exceeding a predetermined maximum, or excessive current injected into the output terminal (or both), the overdrive detection circuit deasserts a control signal applied to the gate of the decoupling transistor, thereby decoupling the N-well from the supply potential. In one embodiment, the decoupling transistor is not coupled to the output terminal.

Abstract: An environmental condition detection system for a hardcopy device, such as an inkjet printing mechanism, includes an environmental condition sensor having an optical property which changes in response to a change in an environmental condition, for instance humidity or temperature. The system also has an optical sensor which detects changes in the optical property and generates a signal for a controller that responds by changing an operating parameter of the hardcopy device. A hard copy device having such a environmental condition detection system is also provided, along with a method of determining an environmental condition within which a hardcopy device is operating.

Abstract: An ink drop detector includes a sensing target which is imparted with an electrical stimulus when struck by at least one ink drop burst which has been ejected from an ink drop generator. The detector also includes electronics coupled to the sensing target which characterize the electrical stimulus in terms of a mathematical phase. Methods for analyzing ink ejected from an ink drop generator, and a method for optimizing ink drop generator firing frequency are also provided.

Abstract: A shared redundancy prefetch scheme to provide a reduced number of fuses. DDR SDRAMs allow burst addressing at various burst lengths. DDR SDRAMs generally implement LEFT and RIGHT segment column addressing. In DDR SDRAMs which implement redundant memory arrays, fuses may be used to provide access to the redundant columns. Because burst addressing may begin with a RIGHT segment address, two different columns may be accessed on the same clock cycle. By providing a compare scheme which implements separate compare logic for the lower bits of the LEFT and RIGHT segments and compares these bits to a common fuse set used for both the LEFT and RIGHT segments, the number of fuses in the redundant DDR SDRAM scheme can be reduced.