Patents Issued in July 1, 2004
  • Publication number: 20040124766
    Abstract: An organic electroluminescent device of the present invention includes a substrate, an anode, an organic layer having a light emitting layer, and a cathode capable of transmitting light. The cathode has an electron injection layer of calcium and a protective layer of silver. The protective layer covers the surface of the electron injection layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakagawa, Kazuyoshi Takeuchi, Yoshiaki Nagara
  • Publication number: 20040124767
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting diode comprises an anode, an organic electroluminescent layer, a metal doped layer, and a cathode, in sequence, on a substrate; wherein the metal doped layer comprises an organic compound represented by the formula (1) doped with a metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Man-Kit Leung, Kuei-Hui Yang, Chi-Chih Liao, Hung-Lin Chen, Yung-Chih Lee, Yi-Meen Chou, Tzu-Chin Tang
  • Publication number: 20040124768
    Abstract: An organic EL structure body 2 is formed on a surface of a transparent substrate 1, and the EL structure body 2 is sealed by a metal airtight container 20. Circuit structure bodies such as an anode driver circuit 11 and a cathode driver circuit 12 are mounted on a part of the transparent substrate 1. These earth lines, for example, are commonly connected through conductors 21a and 21b. Therefore, the above-mentioned circuit structure bodies are mutually connected by the earth line of low impedance, so that an obstruction occurred in the EL display device under an earth line of high impedance can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: TOHOKU PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gen Suzuki, Naoki Yazawa
  • Publication number: 20040124769
    Abstract: An organic electroluminescent element comprising: a pair of electrodes; and an organic layer provided between the pair of electrodes, the organic layer comprising a light-emitting layer and an electron transporting layer, wherein the light-emitting layer contains at least one phosphorescence-emitting material and at least one metal complex functioning as a host material, and the electron transporting layer contains a compound represented by the formula (E-I):
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ise, Tatsuya Igarashi, Hisashi Okada
  • Publication number: 20040124770
    Abstract: The invention provides an electro-optical device that has luminescent elements of a long lifetime by preventing oxygen or moisture from entering to luminescent layers or electrodes even in case of an electrode-optical device provided with a number of luminescent layers and an electronic apparatus provided with the electro-optical device. The invention can include an electro-optical device having first electrodes on a base body, a plurality of element areas including element layers including at least one functional layers disposed above the first electrodes, a second electrode formed above the element layers, a surrounding sections disposed on the base body so as to cover outer sides of the element layers included the element areas in the nearest proximity of the periphery of the base body, and a gas-barrier layer covering over the second electrode. Outer sides of the surrounding sections can be covered with the second electrode, and the gas-barrier layer can be in contact with the base body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Hayashi, Mitsuru Kuribayashi
  • Publication number: 20040124771
    Abstract: A polymer or organic light emitting display may be formed on a substrate by patterning the light emitting material using a screen printing technique. In this way, displays may be formed economically, overcoming the difficulties associated with photoprocessing light emitting materials. A binary optic material may be selectively incorporated into sol gel coatings coated over light emitting elements formed from the light emitting material. A tricolor display may be produced using a light emitting material that produces a single color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Robert C. Sundahl, Azar Assadi
  • Publication number: 20040124772
    Abstract: The present invention provides a plasma display panel (10), which includes a panel unit (100) containing a large number of discharge cells (103), a heat sink unit (300) bonded along a back substrate (105) of the panel unit for dissipating heat generated by the panel unit, and a thermal interface (200) interposed between the panel unit and the heat sink unit for connecting the panel unit and the heat sink unit. The thermal interface is made of a thermal interface material including carbon nanotubes. The heat sink unit includes a substrate (302) and a plurality of fins (304), wherein the substrate is formed from an anisotropic material for transferring the heat from the panel unit to the fins of the heat sink unit. The plasma display panel thus has high heat conductive performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Publication number: 20040124773
    Abstract: The inventive plasma display is capable of enhancing the luminous efficiency and the brightness by minimizing ineffective ultraviolet rays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byung Jun Mun, Seung Tae Park
  • Publication number: 20040124774
    Abstract: A plasma display device having improved efficiency and increased image quality. This device includes a pair of front and back substrates opposed to each other to form between the substrates a discharge space partitioned by barrier ribs, a plurality of display electrodes each disposed on the front substrate to form a discharge cell between the barrier ribs, a dielectric layer formed above the front substrate to cover the display electrodes, and a phosphor layer which emits light by discharge between the display electrodes. The dielectric layer is constructed of at least two layers of different dielectric constants and is formed with, at its surface closer to the discharge space, a recessed part in each discharge cell. This limits a discharge region, thus realizing highly efficient discharge. The structure having the two layers of different dielectric constants can suppress crosstalk even if this structure has reduced thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Morio Fujitani, Hiroyuki Yonehara, Junichi Hibino
  • Publication number: 20040124775
    Abstract: Discharge-gas-filled discharge cells C each having a phosphor layer 7 formed therein are formed between a front substrate 1 and a back substrate 4. A display discharge is produced between paired display electrodes X and Y and an addressing discharge is produced between the display electrode Y and an addressing electrode D in each discharge cell C. In such a plasma display panel, a diamond-containing layer 17A made of a diamond-containing insulation material is formed in a position where the addressing discharge between the display electrode Y and the addressing electrode D in each discharge cell C is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Takeru Okada, Hikaru Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20040124776
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a molybdenum-rhenium alloy in the construction of sealing tubes for high pressure discharge lamps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Luana E. Iorio, Bruce A. Knudsen, Bernard P. Bewlay, James S. Vartuli, Timothy J. Sommerer
  • Publication number: 20040124777
    Abstract: A solid halogen-containing lamp fill material and a method of introducing small amounts of halogen into a HID lamp are disclosed. The solid material may include an admixture of a metal and a metal halide in the form of spheres of high purity, uniform size and uniform composition. Solid lamp fill material and methods of introducing small quantities of one or more metals into a HID lamp are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Timothy R. Brumleve
  • Publication number: 20040124778
    Abstract: A solid halogen-containing lamp fill material and a method of introducing small amounts of halogen into a HID lamp are disclosed. The solid material may include an admixture of a metal and a metal halide in the form of spheres of high purity, uniform size and uniform composition. Solid lamp fill material and methods of introducing small quantities of one or more metals into a HID lamp are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Timothy R. Brumleve
  • Publication number: 20040124779
    Abstract: An antenna includes excitation terminals responsive to an RF source to supply an RF electromagnetic field to a plasma that processes a workpiece in a vacuum chamber. A matching network includes first and second portions respectively between the source and terminals and between the terminals and the antenna plasma excitation coil. In response to indications of impedance matching between the source and its load, currents flowing between (1) the first portion and the terminals and (2) the terminals and the coil are controlled so the latter exceeds the former. The indications control impedances of the first and second portions or the first portion impedance and the source frequency. The coil can include a transformer having a primary winding coupled to the excitation terminals and a multi-turn plasma excitation secondary winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Arthur M. Howald, Andras Kuthi
  • Publication number: 20040124780
    Abstract: An electro-luminescence display device includes a supply voltage source; a data driver for driving a plurality of data lines arranged within a panel; a gamma voltage generator for generating gamma voltages to generate analog data voltages corresponding to externally inputted data signals provided to the data driver; and a threshold voltage compensator installed between the gamma voltage generator and the supply voltage source for controlling a supply voltage of the supply voltage source and to apply the controlled voltage to the gamma voltage generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Yong Min Ha, Hoon Ju Chung, Han Sang Lee, Myung Ho Lee, Seok Hee Jeong
  • Publication number: 20040124781
    Abstract: An electro luminescence display device having a display area and a non-display area includes a plurality of display organic light emission layers formed in the display area and a dummy organic light emission layer formed in the non-display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Joon Bae, Hee Suk Pang, Kyung Man Kim
  • Publication number: 20040124782
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a voltage reducing circuit for use with an LED flashlight. The LED flashlight according to the invention comprises a battery, a solid state light source having an on voltage less than the voltage of the battery, and a voltage reducing circuit in electrical communication with the battery and the solid state light source. The voltage reducing circuit is operative to reduce the voltage from the battery to a level that is slightly above the on-voltage threshold of the solid state light source. In this manner, power expended from the battery by the solid state light source is minimized such that the need for battery replacement is prolonged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Sun Yu
  • Publication number: 20040124783
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic ballast for a fluorescent lamp having a high capacitance capable of turning on lamps of different capacitances (36W, 18W), or selectively two lamps of the same capacitance or one lamp, using one circuit, by replacing a lamp driving unit with an integrated circuit (IC).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Dai Sung Moon
  • Publication number: 20040124784
    Abstract: An electronic ballast of a lighting system includes an output power supplier and a heater power supplier. The output power supplier is configured to supply electric power to a lamp of the lighting system. The heater power supplier is configured to provide substantially a rated voltage of a heater of an insulation detector to the heater even though a voltage of an electric power source for the lighting system is different from the rated voltage of the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.
    Inventor: Masanao Okawa
  • Publication number: 20040124785
    Abstract: An electric arc detection apparatus and method is based on AC current rectification phenomena in air plasma that causes low frequency amplitude modulation of high frequency currents and voltages in the ballast when disconnecting the lamp (Lamp) from the electronic ballast with power applied. A protection circuit (R25, C27, D44, D45, C28, C27, M4) shuts off the inverter (M1 and M2) of the ballast so the duration of the arc is diminished so that the arc becomes almost non-visible. The protection circuit senses the input of the ballast inverter resonant tank (C3 and L1), which is free of transients caused by resonance, detecting arc rectification frequency which is about 25-30 times less than the inverter carrier frequency, and turns on a switching device (M4) for stopping oscillations in the inverter (M1 and M2). When the lamp (Lamp) is reconnected to the ballast, it resets the protection circuit and the ballast inverter restarts automatically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Felix I. Alexandrov
  • Publication number: 20040124786
    Abstract: A diagnostic and configuration identification system (40) for an electrical device and a photocontroller (10) which automatically turns the electrical device on and off in response to ambient light levels. A detector (32) senses the load drawn by the electrical device when it is on. A processor (54) is responsive to the load drawn by the electrical device when it is on and programmed to detect a cycling fault condition based on the load drawn by the electrical device and to provide an indication of a cycling fault condition according several possible programming configurations. When no cycling or other fault condition is detected, the processor (54) determines the cycling fault condition indication configuration and then outputs a code signal indicative of the programming configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph F. Morrissey Jr, Martin W. Liben, Thomas A. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20040124787
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp end-of-life protection circuit in an illuminating electric appliance. A need exists for a simple and all-sided protection circuit in view of hazard occurring at end of life of a lamp tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Phi Hong Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Yang, Haoran Zeng
  • Publication number: 20040124788
    Abstract: In a semiconductor laser driving device using a voltage drive system, a drive current of a semiconductor laser is controlled by a drive current control circuit so that a light intensity of light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser is equal to a predetermined light intensity. In a drive voltage control circuit, the drive voltage applied to the semiconductor laser at the time of switching off the semiconductor laser LD is set on the basis of the detected voltage (terminal voltage).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masao Ohmori
  • Publication number: 20040124789
    Abstract: A discharge lamp driving circuit drives a discharge lamp using a high frequency wave, to start the lamp. A booster/chopper circuit has a switching element FET1, and boosts an input power supply voltage by switching the switching element. A boosting transformer supplies the discharge lamp with the voltage boosted by the booster/chopper circuit. A booster/driver circuit supplies the switching element FET1 of the booster/chopper circuit with a driving signal having a frequency of 10 to 200 kHz, thereby limiting the peak loss of the switching element FET1 to 200 W or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Harison Toshiba Lighting Corp.
    Inventor: Masami Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20040124790
    Abstract: A backlight of an LCD device includes a protection circuit that permits leakage of a high voltage to a ground terminal. This high voltage is generated by insertion failures of connectors or other failures caused by damage. The backlight driving circuit includes a high-voltage part applying an A.C. high voltage to a first terminal of a plurality of fluorescent lamps, a low-voltage part applying a lower voltage than that of the high-voltage part to a second terminal of the plurality of fluorescent lamps, a connection part that connects the high-voltage part to the low-voltage part and the protection circuit between the low-voltage part and the connection part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: LG. PHILIPS LCD CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung Jun Han, Seong Hyun Yun
  • Publication number: 20040124791
    Abstract: A light source device enables manual and automatic light regulation performed on illumination light that is irradiated to an object. A set value of a light regulation level for light emanating from a light source which is determined for use of an endoscope 11 is stored in a memory. When the driving power supply of the endoscope 11 is turned on again in order to reuse the endoscope, the stored and previously determined set value of the light regulation level is compared with a threshold value. When the previously determined set value of the light regulation level is equal to or larger than the threshold value, a diaphragm 26 is adjusted so that the light regulation level is set to a predetermined value. When the previously determined set value of the light regulation level is equal to or smaller than the threshold value, the diaphragm 26 is adjusted so that the light regulation level will be set to the previous determined set value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoya Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20040124792
    Abstract: A directional luminaire comprises a door frame and lamp shroud having a lampholder socket attached to a luminaire support structure. The luminaire is wired, either directly or indirectly, to provide an electrical connection to a lampholder socket configured to receive a lamp. The lamp shroud has an opening from which the light output is directed. Further, the rim edge of the lamp shroud and retaining lip of the door frame interact to permit substantially complete rotation of the lamp shroud and lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Jerry F. Fischer, Larry A. Akers
  • Publication number: 20040124793
    Abstract: An electromagnetic induced accelerator includes internal and external circular loop inductors for inducing a magnetic field when a current is applied to the internal and external circular loop inductors in a same direction, the internal and external circular loop inductors being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and disposed coaxially and parallel to each other; a channel, which includes dielectric layers contacting the internal and external circular loop inductors, disposed between the internal and external circular loop inductors, wherein a secondary current is induced in the channel between the dielectric layers by the induced, magnetic field; and a discharging coil for supplying a pulse energy to the channel and for generating a plasma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Won-Taek Park
  • Publication number: 20040124794
    Abstract: A switch apparatus of the invention can avoid contact damage without inviting a drastic increase in a size even when applied to a high power source voltage and does not deteriorate return feeling to a neutral state. The switch apparatus includes a switch A for cutting off connection between one side driving input of a DC motor and a negative plate side power source, a switch B for cutting off connection between the other side driving input and the negative plate side power source, and a switch C for cutting off connection between the one side driving input and the positive plate side power source and connection between the other side driving input and the positive plate side power source, wherein the switch A and the switch B are normally-closed type switches and the switch C is a normally-open type switch. The switch C is opened at a predetermined time before the switch A or the switch B is closed, and cuts off in advance a power source route to avoid the occurrence of dead short-circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Keiichi Shimizu, Yasuhide Tanaka, Kiyotaka Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20040124795
    Abstract: In order to quickly stop vibration of a vibrator of a vibrator controlling circuit, according to the present invention, an intermittent signal is generated by a spring vibration control integrated circuit, a switching element is turned on/off based on the intermittent signal from the spring vibration control integrated circuit, an intermittent electric current is supplied to a spring vibrator by switching of the switching circuit and the spring vibrator is vibrated. When vibration of the spring vibrator is stopped, a signal opposite to that when the spring vibrator is vibrated is applied from the spring vibration control integrated circuit to the switching element so as to cause the spring vibrator to generate a force to attenuate vibration and to stop the vibrator from vibrating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tadao Mandai
  • Publication number: 20040124796
    Abstract: A system for controlling an electric motor comprises, in one embodiment, an encoder; a central processor in communication with said encoder; a module processor in communication with said central processor; feedback circuitry in communication with said module processor, wherein said encoder is an electronic device that provides rotor and stator positional information to said central processor, and further comprising a user interface in communication with said central processor, wherein said user interface enables a user to select preferred operational parameters for an electric motor. Another embodiment comprises a method for controlling an electric motor, comprising: determining rotor position based on data received from an encoder; determining how to energize stator coils; directing a power module to provide appropriate current to appropriate coils; and monitoring rotor response, wherein determining how to energize stator coils comprises consulting a look-up table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: James L. Bailey, Kyle J. Bunch
  • Publication number: 20040124797
    Abstract: In determining a starting point of a motor of an electric actuator during its initialization procedure, when a rotation angle sensor detects pulse signals in a certain initialization pattern, power supply to the motor is stopped by the control of a motor drive circuit. This electrical control of motor rotation enables the initialization procedure of the actuator to be carried out without using mechanical restriction means for locking purposes, and the influence of variations in the deflection amount of any stoppers is eliminated. The precision in determining the starting point in the initialization procedure is thus improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Tokuhisa Takeuchi, Takashi Takata, Nobukazu Kuribayashi, Masahiko Sugaya
  • Publication number: 20040124798
    Abstract: A power closure system (40) for a vehicle panel (22, 24) includes position initialization techniques that ensure accurate position initialization. According to this invention, any slack in a coupling (62) between the vehicle panel and a motor (42) for moving the vehicle panel is removed prior to obtaining an initialization position reading when the panel (22, 24) is in a closed position. The inventive arrangement also includes determining a desired torque at which to operate the motor (42) during a position initialization procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Tomohiro Fukumura, Brian J. Marlett, Sanjaya Kumar Dash
  • Publication number: 20040124799
    Abstract: Temperature of the disk drive is measured using components of the disk drive without the need of including a separate temperature sensor to optimize performance of the spindle motor during startup. To measure temperature, the resistance of the VCM winding is measured and used to estimate the spindle bearing temperature. Back emf is measured from VCM windings and used during startup to accurately determine actuator position. Because the VCM coil resistance varies significantly with temperature, coil resistance variations with temperature are determined to enable compensation for inaccuracies in determination of actuator velocity. This inferred temperature is then used to optimize the start up procedure for the spindle motor to accommodate the increased frictional loading of the spindle bearing. In this way an improved performance in the reliability and spin up operation time can be realized without the addition of a separate temperature measurement hardware element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Brian K. Tanner
  • Publication number: 20040124800
    Abstract: Temperature of the disk drive is measured using components of the disk drive without the need of including a separate temperature sensor to optimize performance of the spindle motor during startup. To measure temperature, the resistance of the VCM winding is measured and used to estimate the spindle bearing temperature. Back emf is measured from VCM windings and used during startup to accurately determine actuator position. Because the VCM coil resistance varies significantly with temperature, coil resistance variations with temperature are determined to enable compensation for inaccuracies in determination of actuator velocity. This inferred temperature is then used to optimize the start up procedure for the spindle motor to accommodate the increased frictional loading of the spindle bearing. In this way an improved performance in the reliability and spin up operation time can be realized without the addition of a separate temperature measurement hardware element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Brian K. Tanner
  • Publication number: 20040124801
    Abstract: A movable barrier operator having a motor controller (10) and motor (11) that control selective movement of a movable barrier (12) also has an obstacle detector (14) that utilizes an automatically determined excess force threshold value to permit reliable detection of an obstacle under a wide variety of operational circumstances, including changing physical circumstances, aging components, temperature variations, and motor runtime. In a preferred embodiment, a characteristic force value for the system is frequently updated as a function of actual measured force requirements (and further compensated, pursuant to various embodiments, with respect to other conditions such as temperature and motor runtime). This characteristic force value is then utilized to determine the excess force threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Carlos Jurado, Eric M. Gregori, Matthew C. Stephan
  • Publication number: 20040124802
    Abstract: Method for optimising the movement performance of an industrial robot for a current movement path with respect to thermal load on the driving system of the robot, wherein the method comprises the following steps: for at least one component in the driving system, the thermal load is calculated for the whole or parts of the movement path if the calculated thermal load is compared with a maximally allowed load for the component; and dependent on said comparison, a course of accelerations and velocities for the current movement path are adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Torgny Brogardh, Magnus Ahlback, Jesper Bergsjo, Staffan Elfving, Anders Lager, Stig Moberg, Mats Myhr, Dan Rylander
  • Publication number: 20040124803
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention move objects throughout three-dimensional by using two supporting ropes each of which connects to both opposing sides of the payload. If one rope breaks, the payload gently travels to the middle of the coverage area in a safe manner, maintaining the given displacement in the other unbroken axis. One rope controls the X-axis motion of the platform and is designated the X movement rope. The other rope controls the Y-axis motion of the platform and is designated the Y movement rope. Displacing equal lengths of the X and Y movement ropes allows the Z-axis of the platform to be traversed. There is no need for a complex computer control system since the Z-axis displacement is substantially independent of X and Y axis movement over a coverage area serviced by the platform. In addition, since the ropes are commanded from one point, distantly located motors and electrical cables are not required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Jim Rodnunsky
  • Publication number: 20040124804
    Abstract: A reference signal generation unit integrates a staircase signal, to produce reference signal VCTA whose waveform has no abrupt changes in level and which shows a current limit value. A PWM reference signal generation unit generates a PWM reference signal. A supply current measurement unit measures a supply current to a coil. A PWM control unit compares reference signal VCTA with the measurement value of the supply current measurement unit in each period of the PWM reference signal, and sets each transistor in a bridge rectification circuit in a conducting state or a nonconducting state according to the comparison result. In this way, the supply current to the coil is controlled to approach the current limit value shown by reference signal VCTA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsunaga, Shingo Fukamizu
  • Publication number: 20040124805
    Abstract: A method for driving a neutral point-clamped multi-level voltage source inverter supplying a synchronous motor is provided. A DC current is received at a neutral point-clamped multi-level voltage source inverter. The inverter has first, second, and third output nodes. The inverter also has a plurality of switches. A desired speed of a synchronous motor connected to the inverter by the first second and third nodes is received by the inverter. The synchronous motor has a rotor and the speed of the motor is defined by the rotational rate of the rotor. A position of the rotor is sensed, current flowing to the motor out of at least two of the first, second, and third output nodes is sensed, and predetermined switches are automatically activated by the inverter responsive to the sensed rotor position, the sensed current, and the desired speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: John Edwards, Longya Xu, Brij B. Bhargava
  • Publication number: 20040124806
    Abstract: A controller (72) for a switched reluctance machine (20) implements a model of at least one active phase representing dynamic magnetic machine characteristics. The controller (72) determines machine control signals based on rotational position obtained by numerically solving the model with measured machine operating parameters. The model may be implemented as the sum of orthogonal functions relating active phase voltage and current with constants derived from phase inductance to obtain the rotor angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Mehrdad Ehsani, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20040124807
    Abstract: In a motor control apparatus of the present invention, a control section which receives an input voltage to an inverter circuit, a motor current flowing to a brushless motor and a motor current command value indicating the value of a current required to flow to the inverter circuit, and controls the inverter circuit by maintaining a phase of the voltage applied to the brushless motor when the value of the input voltage to the inverter circuit is smaller than the value of a voltage required to be applied to the brushless motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Nakata, Mitsuo Ueda, Hideo Matsushiro, Masanori Ogawa, Mitsuo Kawaji, Tomohiro Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20040124808
    Abstract: A motor control system includes a control section that performs operating range limiting processing in which a junction temperature of switching element of an electric power converter is calculated and compared with a preset temperature limit, and when the junction temperature exceeds the temperature limit, junction temperature reduction processing is performed to make the junction temperature equal to or less than the temperature limit, whereby the switching elements can effectively used to their maximum temperature limit irrespective of a temperature detected by a temperature sensor, thus expanding the operating range of a motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Daisuke Hirono
  • Publication number: 20040124809
    Abstract: A method and system for modifying an estimated rotor angle for improved efficiency in a PMSM drive system. A module monitors a run command, a torque command, and an estimated speed; and in response thereto, generates an output correction angle for modifying the estimated rotor angle. The output correction angle may be added to the estimated rotor angle. The output correction angle may be generated only for predetermined conditions of said run command, torque command, and speed. In particular, the output correction angle may be generated (1) when the run command is asserted, (2) when the torque command is above a predetermined level, and (3) when variations in the speed are within predetermined limits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Eddy Ying Yin Ho
  • Publication number: 20040124810
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging a rechargeable battery (110) that takes into account the use patterns of the particular battery. A user may only discharge the battery a little and recharge it frequently which is a low capacity high life cycle use pattern, or discharge the battery almost completely and place the battery on charge less frequently indicating a high capacity low life cycle use pattern. Herein, a battery is installed in an electronic device wherein a battery discharge determination circuit and a discharge determination algorithm determine the discharge level of the battery when a charging circuit is placed on the battery. The measurement algorithm determines from the rechargeable battery discharge level measurement how to recharge the rechargeable battery. The measurement algorithm may also determine how to recharge the rechargeable battery based on a plurality of previous measurements stored either in the electronic device or the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Ralph D. Smallwood, Robert M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20040124811
    Abstract: The invention relates to a regulation system for voltage regulation in the electrical power supply system for a motor vehicle, which contains a supercapacitor. In a short-term standby mode (ST), the voltage (U) of the supercapacitor is regulated such that a voltage window (&Dgr;U) is maintained, thus ensuring a minimum energy content in the supercapacitor (4). During a long-term standby mode (LT), the supercapacitor (4) is charged to a voltage (Uh) only when an activation signal (tA) occurs. The energy for charging is drawn from a second energy store, in particular a battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel Kok, Engbert Spijker, Lutz Gaedt
  • Publication number: 20040124812
    Abstract: A power electronic based DR (distributed resource e.g., a UPS (uninterrupted power supply), Fuel Cell or Microturbine) is controlled to emulate a voltage source behind an impedance and behave as a power system stabilizer. The impedance in the DR is emulated and an estimate of impedance at the power/electronic interface is derived and applied to the control of the DR in a manner wherein the power and voltage swings on systems (loads) that otherwise would have difficulty with dynamic loads, are stabilized. Damping and synchronizing power are provided measuring only voltage, current and frequency at the interface between the DR and the load. The DR may include some energy storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Delmerico, Gautam Sinha, Yan Liu
  • Publication number: 20040124813
    Abstract: The present invention relates to variable speed constant frequency (VSCF) devices and methods for maximizing engine generator efficiency. In one embodiment, a VSCF device may include at least two paths for conducting power to the load. One path, a line inductor path, may advantageously incur minimal power loss when the engine generator is supplying rated power to a load. A second path, a VSCF path, may be used to ensure that the frequency of the power is maintained at a substantially constant frequency under various load conditions. Another embodiment of the invention describes a process for determining optimal engine generator speed for a particular load. Because engine speed can be varied using any VSCF device, this process determines a speed that minimizes fuel consumption, emissions, and noise pollution for a given load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Active Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Pinkerton, David A. Badger
  • Publication number: 20040124814
    Abstract: A closing phase that makes smallest an energization flux error at a connection input point is calculated based upon a residual flux of the first closing phase and the preliminarily given pre-arc characteristic and closing time deviation characteristic of a three-phase circuit breaker, so that the calculated phase value is set as a target closing phase of the first closing phase. A closing phase that makes smallest an energization flux error in the case of 0 of the residual flux is calculated, so that the calculated phase value is set as a target closing phase of the rest two phases. A total time of time required from the reference point to the target closing phases of the rest two phases and a delay time corresponding to an integral multiple of a given cycle of the three-phase power supply is set as a target closing time of the rest two phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsutada, Takashi Hirai, Haruhiko Kohyama, Hiroki Ito
  • Publication number: 20040124815
    Abstract: A control circuit for controlling an output voltage of a DC/DC converter. The control circuit includes a pulse signal generation circuit which generates a pulse signal for controlling the output voltage of the DC/DC converter, and a drive signal generation circuit which generates first and second drive signals using the pulse signal such that a main switching element and a synchronous switching element are turned ON and OFF alternately at different timings. The drive signal generation circuit generates the first drive signal which has substantially the same pulse width as that of the pulse signal to improve ON-duty characteristics of the main switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kyuichi Takimoto, Takashi Matsumoto, Akira Haraguchi