Patents Issued in June 12, 2003
  • Publication number: 20030107326
    Abstract: A method of varying a transmittance of a transparent conductive film includes forming the transparent conductive film on a substrate and injecting a high energy source into the transparent conductive film to vary the transmittance of the transparent conductive film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-II Park, Chang-Soo Kim
  • Publication number: 20030107327
    Abstract: The invention concerns a drive circuit for a plasma panel consisting of cells arranged at the intersections of lines and columns, comprising, for each column of the panel, a column drive unit (14′) for selecting the column by applying a voltage window, said column having a different capacitance (C2) depending on whether or not the neighbouring columns are selected, each drive unit (14′) comprising first means (T1, C, CS1) for changing the capacitance in a first predetermined time interval during the low-to-high transition of the voltage window, and second means (T2, 28) for discharging said capacitance in a second predetermined time interval during the high-to-low transition of the voltage window, the second means being controlled on the basis of an estimation of said capacitance obtained from data (Qi−1, Q i+1?) indicating whether or not the neighbouring columns of said columns have been selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Celine Mas, Gilles Troussel
  • Publication number: 20030107328
    Abstract: A neon light control device has a control box and at least one voltage transformer, wherein the control box has multiple outlet ports and the voltage transformer has an inlet port and an outlet port. The voltage transformer is detachably connected to the control box by a wire between one of the outlet ports and one of the inlet ports. When either the control box or the voltage transformer has a breakdown, only the damaged element needs to be repaired or replaced. Thus the replacement of the entire control device is not necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Lin-Kuei Ling
  • Publication number: 20030107329
    Abstract: A referential rectangular wave is generated in a referential rectangular wave generating circuit 21, a level of the referential rectangular wave is integrated in an integrating circuit 22 to produce a chopping wave. In a comparing circuit 23, a voltage level of the chopping wave produced in the integrating circuit 22 is compared with a level of a feed-back voltage, and a control signal is output to a transistor 9. Also, in a delaying circuit 24, the control signal produced in the comparing circuit 23 is delayed by a delaying time corresponding to 180 degrees in a phase of the control signal without changing a duty ratio in an on-off control of a transistor 10, and the control signal is output to the transistor 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Takashi Oshawa
  • Publication number: 20030107330
    Abstract: A method for activating an illuminator and an illuminating device. The invention uses pins on an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) in a scanner to output pulses of different frequencies. The illuminator has different efficiencies at different frequencies, so the heat generated by the illuminator at the frequencies of inferior efficiency is used to achieve fast warm-up, and the voltage output frequency of the highest light efficiency is provided to the illuminator after warm-up. The illumination device can be designed according to the activation method. It comprises an illuminator, a pulse output unit, a driving unit and a power supply unit. The power supply unit outputs the frequency needed for the warm-up period and the frequency needed for the working period. The driving unit activates the pulse output of the pulse output unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Ching-Chung Chang
  • Publication number: 20030107331
    Abstract: A ballast control provided on a through-slot wave solderable daughter card package that is vertically mountable on a mother board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Ribarich, Dana Wilhelm, Derek Brown
  • Publication number: 20030107332
    Abstract: An electronic ballast for driving at least one gas discharge lamp from a source of AC power which has a substantially sinusoidal line voltage at a given line frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, Mark Taipale, Joel S. Spira
  • Publication number: 20030107333
    Abstract: A delay circuit delays an input signal. Further, a level shift circuit, which has a variable level shift amount, is provided between the delay circuit and an OR circuit, thereby making it possible to adjust a time during which a logic of active of the delayed signal is kept. Moreover, the OR circuit performs an OR operation of the input signal and an output signal of the level shift circuit so as to obtain a signal of an OR logic, which drives a light emitting element. With this arrangement, the level shift amount is adjusted in response to a control signal externally supplied, in an optical transmitter arranged such that the input signal and output light emitted from the light emitting element with a delay in the emission, have the equal duty ratio. In this way, property unevenness among finished products of the light emitting element is cancelled out. Thus, it is possible to drive the light emitting element at a higher speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Takayuki Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20030107334
    Abstract: A deflection yoke for use in a cathode ray tube includes a switching circuit, which is coupled to each vertical coil. The deflection yoke employs two pairs of vertical coils. The vertical coil pairs can be two pairs of saddle type coils, one pair of saddle type coils and one pair of toroidal type coils, or a divided pair of saddle type coils to make two pairs of saddle type coils. The deflection in the first quarter region from the top and the last quarter region at the bottom of the CRT screen is provided by one coil when energized by the vertical deflection current switched through it. The deflection in the two middle quarter regions of the CRT screen is provided by a second coil when energized by the vertical deflection current switched through it. One vertical coil pair is optimized to correct convergence error in the top and bottom quarter portions of the CRT screen. The other vertical coil pair is optimized to correct convergence error in the middle portion of the CRT screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Usami
  • Publication number: 20030107335
    Abstract: A control system for preventing a sudden change in the passengers' feeling for the acceleration. After determining whether the assistance using the motor is permitted with respect to each of different control modes, an amount of assistance for each mode is calculated. If the output assistance is permitted in any mode, the maximum amount of assistance is selected, and a previous value of the maximum amount of assistance is compared with the current value of the maximum amount of assistance. A shift value is obtained by subtracting a predetermined assistance value from the previous value when the current value is less than the previous value, and the amount of assistance is set to the shift value until the shift value becomes equal to or less than the current value, so as to gradually shift the amount of assistance from the previous value to the current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Kitajima, Atsushi Matsubara, Teruo Wakashiro, Toshinari Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20030107336
    Abstract: There is provided a vibration generator that permits to operate by following a mechanical resonance point. The vibration generator 1 has a vibration generation portion 2 having an electromagnetic coil 13 and a magnet 11 float-fixed by a spring member 12. The electromagnetic coil 13 is square-wave driven to obtain vibration force. The vibration generator 1 comprises a driving control portion 10 for detecting a driving voltage of the electromagnetic coil 13 at a predetermined constant interval. By the driving control portion 10, a driving frequency of the electromagnetic coil 13 is made high when an induced voltage waveform of the driving voltage is of rightward increase type, and the driving frequency is made low when the induced voltage waveform is of leftward increase. This permits the driving frequency of the electromagnetic coil to be shifted to a resonance frequency of the vibration generation portion 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Koichi Kobayashi, Shigemichi Sakata, Minoru Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20030107337
    Abstract: There is provided a drive control system for sensor-less motor wherein a multi-phase sensor-less motor is driven to rotate by switching a current to be applied to a field coil of each phase depending on the rotating phase of motor and such rotating drive is controlled with the PLL control method and the sensor-less motor is driven with higher reliability. When the motor is to be driven, a desired phase is selected as the detection phase and a voltage (Eu, Ev, Ew) induced on the coil of the detection phase is detected when the power is fed for a short period of time to the field coils except for that of the detection phase. A magnetic pole position of a rotor is detected from the amplitude condition of the detected induced voltage and the power feeding phase of the motor drive is determined based on the result of detection of the magnetic pole position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kokami, Kunihiro Kawauchi, Toshiyuki Tsunoda, Reiichi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20030107338
    Abstract: There is provided a drive control system for sensor-less motor wherein a multi-phase sensor-less motor is driven to rotate by switching a current to be applied to a field coil of each phase depending on the rotating phase of motor and such rotating drive is controlled with the PLL control method and the sensor-less motor is driven with higher reliability. When the motor is to be driven, a desired phase is selected as the detection phase and a voltage (Eu, Ev, Ew) induced on the coil of the detection phase is detected when the power is fed for a short period of time to the field coils except for that of the detection phase. A magnetic pole position of a rotor is detected from the amplitude condition of the detected induced voltage and the power feeding phase of the motor drive is determined based on the result of detection of the magnetic pole position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kokami, Kunihiro Kawauchi, Toshiyuki Tsunoda, Reiichi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20030107339
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a steering torque detector, a brushless motor PWM-driven with a three-phase alternating motor current, a target current setting section for setting a d-axis target current value and a q-axis target current value, motor current detectors for detecting motor current values supplied to the brushless motor, a three-phase AC/d-q coordinate transformation circuit, a first deviation calculation circuit for calculating a deviation of a current value of a q-axis detection signal from the q-axis target current value, a second deviation calculation circuit for calculating a deviation of a direct current value a d-axis detection current signal from the d-axis target current, a motor control section for controlling driving of the brushless motor through a vector control process on the basis of deviation signals outputted from the first and second deviation calculation circuits, and an attenuation device provided in a feedback transmission path of the q-axis detection current s
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Shimizu, Atsuhiko Yoneda, Yutaka Arimura
  • Publication number: 20030107340
    Abstract: A control unit for an electrically retractable door mirror 10, including: a motor M1 to drive rotationally a door mirror to a stored position or a normal position; a change-over switch SW1; and a first and second control circuits 11 and 12, wherein the first and second control circuits 11 and 12 include electronic switches 14 and 17 respectively which are capable of switching on/off depending on the polarity of an electrical signal switched by the change-over switch SW1, excess current detecting means 15 and 18 whose electrical resistances grow with an increase in a current and which are connected to the electronic switches 14 and 17 in series respectively, and shutoff switches 16 and 19 which switch off the electronic switches 14 and 17 respectively when a voltage generated in the excess current detecting means 15 and 18 exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Takahiro Kurita, Mitsuyoshi Nagao
  • Publication number: 20030107341
    Abstract: A motor control technique, which may be implemented in a motor drive unit of a sheet material dispenser, permits precise control of motor operation amounts within short intervals (“bursts”) of motor operation. The technique marries “bang-bang” motor speed control with a variable power motor drive system, e.g., a pulse width modulation (PWM). Motor speed is sensed by turning the motor off and waiting for the resulting inductive kick to die out. Then, a voltage threshold detector detects whether the back electromotive force (BEMF) of the motor is above a threshold corresponding to a motor speed setting. A PWM drive is preferably set up to have a predetermined number of power levels, e.g., nine. The motor speed is repeatedly sampled and if the speed sensing voltage is above the threshold, the PWM is brought down to the next lower power level. If the speed sensing voltage is below the threshold, the PWM is brought up to the next higher power level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew R. Morris
  • Publication number: 20030107342
    Abstract: The switched reluctance machine providing soft chopping in the output current controls the voltage across the phase winding. When the current through the phase winding in the generating mode reaches a first predetermined value, the voltage across the phase winding is reversed and as a result, the current through the phase winding decreases. When the phase winding current reaches a second value, the phase winding is shorted so that the current increases due to the positive back-EMF through the phase winding until the first predetermined value is again reached, at which time the voltage across the phase winding is again reversed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Gabriel Gallegos-Lopez
  • Publication number: 20030107343
    Abstract: There is provided a voltage-controlled electronic relay for starting a single-phase induction motor, which includes: a power supply unit 310, configured of a bridge diode BD, for supplying power to circuit elements of the starting relay when AC power of the induction motor is turned on; a triac 306 for applying the AC power to a starting coil W3 of the induction motor or cutting off the AC power; a signal input unit 322 for sensing a voltage induced to the starting coil; a hysteresis unit 324 for outputting an ON control signal at the initial starting stage, generating an OFF control signal for turning off the switch when the induced voltage sensed by the sensing element reaches a predetermined OFF reference voltage, and generating the ON control signal for turning on the switch again when the induced voltage becomes lower than a predetermined ON reference voltage during a normal operation period; and a triggering unit 330 for turning on the switch according to the ON control signal of the hysteresis unit and
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: In-Seok Kim, Young-Jun Kim
  • Publication number: 20030107344
    Abstract: A motor drive circuit (1) that may reduce an influence of electromotive forces on a control circuit (12) or the like has been disclosed. A motor drive circuit (1) may include an inverter circuit (11), a control circuit (12) and a back electromotive force suppressing circuit (13). A back electromotive force suppressing circuit (13) may include comparators (41, 43, and 45) for detecting a first back electromotive force having a voltage higher than a power supply voltage and comparators (42, 44, and 46) for detecting a second back electromotive force having a voltage lower than a reference potential (ground). Back electromotive force suppressing circuit (13) may provide drive control signals (81 to 86) to turn on a respective transistor (21 to 26) in an inverter circuit (11) in response to an output of a respective comparator (41 to 46). A respective transistor (81 to 86) may be turned on upon the detection of a back electromotive force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Yutaka Saeki
  • Publication number: 20030107345
    Abstract: A nightlight battery charger is constructed to be normally plugged in a wall socket to function as a nightlight so that the user can easily find and locate the battery charger anytime whenever the user needs it. The nightlight battery charger includes a charger casing having a main casing and a battery cover, wherein the main casing has at least one battery compartment for at least a rechargeable battery to be disposed therein, an nightlight system which includes at least one illuminator for generating illumination, a plurality of battery terminals adapted for electrically connecting at least one rechargeable battery, a power input supplying power to light up the illumination unit, a recharging electric circuit electrically connected to the battery terminals and the power input for transmitting power to charge up the rechargeable battery t, and an exchangeable lens card for protecting the illumination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Shu Ming Ho, William Guo Li, Michael Kidakarn
  • Publication number: 20030107346
    Abstract: A power management method and associated apparatus allows a device to make maximum use of its battery before replacement or recharging. After a battery failure, the device may be shut down properly and disabled until the battery is replaced or recharged. An exemplary embodiment is described in the context of a digital camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Heather N. Bean, Christopher A. Whitman
  • Publication number: 20030107347
    Abstract: A charge control means (10) provided for a battery charging apparatus (1) conducts protection control for a battery pack (2) by transmitting a signal to an output control switch (14) for turning off an output when a rise rate of the temperature of the battery pack (2) detected based on information from a temperature detection terminal (8) is equal to or more than a predetermined value, or a rise rate of the voltage of the battery pack (2) detected based on information from a voltage detection terminal (9) is equal to or less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshizawa, Junichi Shinbara, Masakage Komori
  • Publication number: 20030107348
    Abstract: A method of starting an electric brushless rotating machine is provided where a large startup torque is obtained with no use of any rotor position detecting device and the forced commutation can be switched to normal energization easily and smoothly. At the startup stage, any two of three-phase stator windings are energized for initial magnetization (Steps S1 and S2) to hold the magnetic rotor at a position. Then, the windings of the phases are energized in a sequence while gradually increasing the level of the energization (Step S3). During the forced commutation, the magnetic rotor is rotated by a rotating position detecting signal generated from a voltage signal induced on the not-energized windings to drive the output shaft of an engine. Then, the energization is canceled when the number of revolutions in the internal combustion engine determined from the rotating position detecting signal reaches its predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshinori Inagawa, Yoshihiro Iijima, Mitsuru Nakamura, Tsutomu Wakitani
  • Publication number: 20030107349
    Abstract: An electric power generating set which automatically varies its speed to match load variations at any time includes an engine driven generator G which provides a positive, Ga and a negative, Gb AC output voltage each of which is rectified by a respective rectifier Re3a, Re3b. Each rectifier Re3a,Re3b has one terminal connected to a common neutral line N. The DC output voltage of each rectifier Re3a, Re3b is boosted in a respective booster circuit which also has one terminal connected to the neutral line N. The combined output of the two booster circuits, Va+Vb is fed to an Inverter IN which converts it to the AC power output of the generating set. A DC load current between the booster circuits and the inverter IN is monitored and used to provide a speed demand feedback signal Srs to the speed control of the engine EN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Lawrence Haydock, Wlodzimierz Koczara, Nazar Al-Khayat, Neil Brown, Denis Hedley Dalby, Jawad Al-Tayie, Robert Pawel Dziuba, Jaroslaw Leonarski, George Williamson Laird
  • Publication number: 20030107350
    Abstract: An automotive alternator is provided which includes a rectifier, a circulating circuit, and a controller. The circulating circuit is connected in parallel to a field winding to circulate the field current in the event that supply of the field current to a field winding is cut. The circulating circuit consists of a first circuit formed by a diode and a second circuit working to enhance attenuation of the field current. The controller works to select the second circuit when a voltage of the output of the rectifier exceeds a reference value and select the first circuit when the voltage of the output of the rectifier is less than the reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makoto Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20030107351
    Abstract: A controller for an alternator driven by an output torque of an automotive engine mechanically through a belt is provided. The controller works to control an exciting current supplied to a field winding of the alternator so as to cancel a change in inertia torque of a rotor of the alternator arising from a change in speed of the engine, thereby minimizing a change in tension of the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Taniguchi, Shigenobu Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20030107352
    Abstract: A power control system for an electric traction motor in a vehicle comprising at least one inverter for providing conditioned electrical power to the electric traction motor, a plurality of power stages for providing DC power to the at least one inverter, each stage including a battery and boost/buck DC-DC converter, the power stages wired in parallel, and where the power stages are controlled to maintain an output voltage to the at least one inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Scott D. Downer, James F. Lazar, James M. Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20030107353
    Abstract: A method of starting an electric brushless rotating machine is provided which enables the rotor to produce a large power of startup torque with no use of any rotor position detectors. At Steps S1 and S2, a first and a second initial magnetization respectively are carried out for shifting the rotor at its free pausing state by forced commutation to a desired location to start the forward rotation at the maximum torque. At Step S3, the energization at single-phase is conducted with the rotor and the stator having a positional relationship for permitting generation of the maximum torque after the forced commutation or the second the initial magnetization. An induced voltage at the not-energized phase is measured by the forced commutation and used for determining the location of the rotor. Step S4 follows where a normal action of the energization is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuru Nakamura, Toshinori Inagawa, Yoshihiro Iijima, Tsutomu Wakitani
  • Publication number: 20030107354
    Abstract: A power factor correction (PFC) circuit with a snubber (500). The snubber of the PFC circuit uses a resonant capacitor (503) in conjunction with a resonant inductor (and two diodes) to make the voltage across the switch (606) increases slowly when the switch becomes turn-off from a turn-on state so as to reducing the switch loss. The snubber (500) of the PFC circuit at least comprises: a cascaded device which at least is composed of a first diode (501) and a resonant inductor (502), a second diode (504) connected in series with the cascaded device, and a resonant capacitor (503) connected to the anode of the second diode (504).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Pao-Chuan Lin, Chun-Hsien Lee, Chih-Hsin Chen, Chung-Shing Tzou
  • Publication number: 20030107355
    Abstract: A direct-current to direct-current conversion (DC/DC) apparatus includes a control circuit having an error amplifier for voltage control and controlling a direct-current to direct-current conversion based on a pulse width modulation control using an output of the error amplifier. The error amplifier inputs a voltage signal corresponding to an output voltage of a DC/DC result and a plurality of reference voltage signals. The DC/DC apparatus also includes a soft start capacitor to provide one of the plurality of reference voltage signals. The error amplifier amplifies a difference between the voltage signal corresponding to the output voltage of a DC/DC result and a voltage signal of a lower potential among the plurality of reference voltage signals and, based on the amplified output, carries out the pulse width modulation control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Fujitsu LimitedFujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuo Saeki, Hidetoshi Yano, Hidekiyo Ozawa, Seiya Kitagawa, Toshiyuki Matsuyama, Takashi Matsumoto, Kyuichi Takimoto, Yoshiaki Sano
  • Publication number: 20030107356
    Abstract: A control circuit for controlling an operation of a switching device includes: an output load detection circuit for receiving a feedback signal from a feedback circuit; an error amplification circuit for producing an error voltage signal based on an output signal from the output load detection circuit and a reference voltage; a drain current detection circuit for detecting a drain current; and a light load detection circuit for stopping a switching operation when the error voltage signal is lower than a lower limit voltage value while resuming the switching operation when the error voltage signal is higher than an upper limit voltage value. The reference voltage output from a reference voltage source of the light load detection circuit is selected from the lower limit voltage value and the upper limit voltage value based on the value of an output voltage from a comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Hachiya
  • Publication number: 20030107357
    Abstract: In a vehicle electric power unit, DC voltage supplied from a vehicle electric power source is PWM driven to generate a PWM signal, the PWM signal is supplied to a lamps L1 and L2 mounted in the vehicle to light the lamps. The first three pulse signals of the PWM signal at the time of throwing of electric power source voltage is set to a duty ratio which is two times of a pulse signal at the time of normal case, and the first pulse signal is provided with slope whose voltage value gradually increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Uchikura, Hiroo Yabe
  • Publication number: 20030107358
    Abstract: A programmably switched, multi-output stage current mirror-based, current-sensing and correction circuit controls the operation of a buck mode DC-DC converter. This correction circuit generates a correction current having a prescribed step-wise temperature-compensating relationship to sensed current. The sensed current is derived from a variable impedance controlled by a sense amplifier coupled via a current feedback resistor to the common output node between a high side power switching device and a low side power switching device of the converter. To program the correction circuit a decoder maps temperature information associated with the low side power switching device and additional programming information into a current mirror control code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Haynes Isham, Paul K. Sferrazza
  • Publication number: 20030107359
    Abstract: A power supply controller having a multi-function terminal. In one embodiment, a power supply controller for switched mode power supply includes a drain terminal, a source terminal, a control terminal and a multi-function terminal. The multi-function terminal may be configured in a plurality of ways providing any one or some of a plurality of functions including on/off control, external current limit adjustments, under-voltage detection, over-voltage detection and maximum duty cycle adjustment. The operation of the multi-function terminal varies depending on whether a positive or negative current flows through the multi-function terminal. A short-circuit to ground from the multi-function terminal enables the power supply controller. A short-circuit to a supply voltage from the multi-function terminal disables the power supply controller. The current limit of an internal power switch of the power supply controller may be adjusted by externally setting a negative current from the multi-function terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, Alex B. Djenguerian, Leif O. Lund
  • Publication number: 20030107360
    Abstract: A bandgap reference circuit for generating a reference voltage includes a transistor, a bias current source for generating a bias current, a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current source for generating a PTAT current, a first resistor, and a second resistor. The transistor generates a base-emitter voltage that is divided at an output node through the first and second resistors. The first resistor couples between the collector of the transistor and the output node. The second resistor couples between the output node and ground. The bias current source supplies the bias current to the transistor and the PTAT current source supplies a PTAT current to output node 105. The reference voltage may be obtained at output node as a result of combining a portion of the base-emitter voltage, which has a negative temperature coefficient, with a PTAT voltage that is obtained by sensing a portion of the PTAT current over the second resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Ionel Gheorghe, Florinel G. Balteanu
  • Publication number: 20030107361
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reference voltage source including a bipolar transistor having a base, a collector and an emitter electrode. The reference voltage source further comprises a Schottky diode (D) whose anode is connected to the base electrode of the bipolar transistor and whose cathode is connected to the collector electrode of the bipolar transistor. The currents flowing through the Schottky diode and bipolar transistor are each set so that a temperature-independent reference voltage (VREF) materializes at the collector electrode of the bipolar transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Laszlo Goetz, Stefan Reithmaier, Kevin Scoones
  • Publication number: 20030107362
    Abstract: A voltage generator circuit generates a voltage supplied to an internal circuit. The voltage generator circuit includes first, second, and third switching elements each having first and second terminals. The first terminal of each of the switching elements is connected to the power source terminal supplied with a power source voltage. First, second, and third transistors each have a current path which has first and second ends. The first ends of the first, second, and third transistors are respectively connected to the second terminals of the first, second, and third switching elements. The first, second, and third transistors have respectively first, second, and third driving capabilities. The first, second, and third driving capabilities are different from each other. The second ends of the current paths of the first, second, and third transistors are connected to an output terminal which outputs the voltage supplied to the internal circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Kohei Oikawa, Shinichiro Shiratake, Daisaburo Takashima
  • Publication number: 20030107363
    Abstract: A method for establishing a low loss microwave link between load-pull tuners and microwave wafer probes is presented. This link consists of an extension of the coaxial airline of the tuner, an extension of the tuner slab line or a co-planar waveguide tuner extension that connects directly to wafer probes, a separate airline section or a separate prematching module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Christos Tsironis
  • Publication number: 20030107364
    Abstract: A magnetically encapsulated coil package of a variable reluctance sensor, wherein the magnetic encapsulation distributes the magnetic flux such as to permit the coil winding to be axially elongated with respect to the magnet, yet the signal output therefrom is suitably large. The variable reluctance sensor includes an annular magnet having alternating di-poles; a toothed wheel having an annular toothed portion, wherein the toothed portion is disposed proximally to, and concentrically inside, the magnet; and an encapsulated coil package which includes an annular coil disposed in axially offset relation to the annular toothed portion and the annular magnet; and a magnetically conductive capsule having an inverted U-shaped cross-section which serves as a return path for magnetic flux of the magnet and constrains magnetic activity to the interior space thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Jose Antonio Galvan
  • Publication number: 20030107365
    Abstract: A memory module socket having a transposed pinout allowing the socket to be mounted on the second, or reverse, surface of a motherboard and connected to circuit traces configured for mounting of a memory socket on the first, or processor, surface of the motherboard to correctly accommodate signals between the motherboard and the memory module. A motherboard having at least one memory socket mounted on the second, opposing surface enhancing access to the memory socket or sockets for insertion and removal of memory modules for testing the memory modules in multimotherboard test systems. A method of converting a conventional motherboard and memory socket assembly for such testing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Steven J. Brunelle, Saeed Momenpour
  • Publication number: 20030107366
    Abstract: A method and system for calibrating a magnetic sensor having at least one magnet and at least one sensing element incorporated therein is disclosed. A magnetization direction of a magnet is altered in at least one axis until a sensing element is balanced. The magnet can be calibrated separately from the electronic components associated with the magnetic sensor to thereby achieve an improved calibration over temperature variations associated with the magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor can be configured to include one or more magnets and one or more sensing elements. Such magnets may be calibrated according to the methods and systems disclosed herein, in association with such sensing elements. Each magnet may be calibrated separately from the electronics associated with the magnetic sensor. The magnetization direction of the magnet may be altered in one or more axis until the sensing element is balanced. The magnetic sensor may, for example, comprise a gear tooth sensor or a wheelspeed sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Nicholas F. Busch, Joseph K. Murdock
  • Publication number: 20030107367
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device for detecting a body (3) moving in relation to an, in particular, tubular container (2). Said device comprises at least one magnet unit (4-9) which generates a magnetic field, measures this magnetic field and which is assigned to the container and/or to the magnetic body. The device also comprises at least one evaluation device connected to the magnet units and provided for receiving measurement signals of the magnet units. The aim of the invention is to improve a measuring device of this type in order to be able to easily determine, in addition to the position of the body (3) in relation to the container (2) in a longitudinal direction (33), the position of the body in relation to the container in the transverse direction with a relatively high level of accuracy. To this end, the magnet units comprise a maximum magnetic flux that is essentially perpendicular to the direction of the relative motion of the body and container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Klaus Biester, Peter Kunow
  • Publication number: 20030107368
    Abstract: The present invention is a coupling structure to connect a rotating shaft 119 to a non-contact type rotary sensor, which comprises a first stator 111 having two magnetic facing sides 111a, 111b which are disposed on a same arc and are apart from each other, a second stator 112 having one magnetic facing side 112a which is disposed between the two magnetic facing sides on the arc, a hall element 113 disposed between the first and the second stators, a moving magnet 114, 115 having different polarities which is disposed along the outside arc of the three magnetic facing sides, and a rotor 116 having the moving magnet, wherein a fitting hole 116b is formed at the rotor in which the rotating shaft is loose-fitted, the rotating shaft which is inserted to the fitting hole is supported by the fitting hole by a pin which is piercing the rotating shaft, and a clearance keeping member is disposed to keep the distance between the moving magnet and the first and the second stators constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Mitsuru Sekiya
  • Publication number: 20030107369
    Abstract: A pulse signal generator comprises a detection assembly including a magnetic field generator and a magnetic element wire able to cause a large Barkhausen jump such that it produces a pulse signal responsive to the movement of the object to be detected; a case for housing the detection assembly; an attaching member; and a positioning guide provided on the inside surface of the case to position the detection assembly at the desired position with respect to the object to be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Tomoaki Ito, Masami Tanaka, Tadashi Kubota, Yasuhiro Masuzaki
  • Publication number: 20030107370
    Abstract: An inductive measurement is carried out of the distance between a workpiece (3) and a working head (1), which bears an induction coil (8), through which an alternating current flows and which is part of a resonance circuit whose oscillation frequency is monitored for changes which occur as a consequence of changes in the distance between the workpiece (3) and working head (1). In this case, the working head (1) acts on the workpiece (3) with a material (2) having a dielectric constant greater than 1. The frequency of the alternating current is in the megahertz region or just therebelow. Last but not least, the induction coil is screened from external electric fields in order to avoid the influence of parasitic capacitances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Precitec GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Sporl, Jurgen Walz
  • Publication number: 20030107371
    Abstract: A detector for magnetizable materials operates remotely to determine a amplitude and phase modification of an exciting magnetic field caused by the magnetizable materials. These amplitude and phase measurements are used to create a phase-amplitude trajectory in phase amplitude space, which may be finely divided to distinguish among a number of different types of components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Engdahl, Ira B. Goldberg
  • Publication number: 20030107372
    Abstract: A Lorentz force microscope and a method of measuring magnetic domains using Lorentz force are provided. The Lorentz force microscope includes: a conductive probe which is actuated by Lorentz force occurring due to the interaction between a magnetic field of the magnetic medium and current applied into the magnetic field; a bottom electrode which is prepared on one side of the magnetic medium, for charging the magnetic field with electricity; a scanner for supporting the magnetic medium on which the bottom electrode is prepared and actuating the magnetic medium when the conductive probe opposite to a record of the magnetic medium scans the record of the magnetic medium; and an information detector for controlling the scanner and detecting information on magnetization of the magnetic medium from motion components of the conductive probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-bum Hong, Jong Up Jeon, Hyun-jung Shin
  • Publication number: 20030107373
    Abstract: The sensor for measuring a magnetic field comprises a substrate (1), a first magnetic element (2), a second magnetic element (3), a third magnetic element (4) and a fourth magnetic element (5) in a bridge configuration on the substrate (1), a first bridge portion (8), wherein the first element (2) and the second element (3) are connected in series, and a second bridge portion (9), wherein the third element (4) and the fourth element (5) are connected in series, being situated between a first contact (6) and a second contact (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Joannes Baptist Adrianus Dionisius Van Zon
  • Publication number: 20030107374
    Abstract: An objective oriented NMR logging method selects pulse sequences over a plurality of frequencies from a set of building blocks. The building blocks include trainlet sequences wherein each trainlet comprises an excitation pulse and a plurality of refocusing pulses, the total length of a trainlet being typically less than 10 ms. Another building block is a short CPMG or modified CPMG sequence and yet another building block is a regular CPMG or modified CPMG sequence. The modified CPMG sequences may have refocusing pulses with a tipping angle less than 180° to reduce the power consumption. Based on the logging objective (formation evaluation or FE, FE plus hydrocarbon typing, FE plus gas evaluation) the building blocks are combined at a plurality of frequencies with different wait times and TEs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Songhua Chen, Carl M. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20030107375
    Abstract: Two magnetic resonance images are acquired of seeds used in brachytherapy of the prostate with different pulse sequences. Phase images and magnitude images are reconstructed and a phase difference image is calculated and combined with the magnitude images. The magnitude images differentiate soft tissues and the phase difference image differentiates the locations of the seeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Kiaran McGee, Joel Felmlee