Patents Issued in September 2, 2004
  • Publication number: 20040169945
    Abstract: A replay signal, obtained on reproducing a recording medium, on which has been recorded a digital signal, is supplied to an input terminal (1), and quantized by an A/D converter (8). The so quantized signal is processed by an integrator (20), formed by a first order IIR filter, so as to be adjusted in gain by an amplifier (21). The quantized replay signal is also processed by a differentiator formed by a combination of a first order FIR filter (22) and a first order IIR filter (23) so as to be then adjusted in gain by an amplifier (24). The resulting signal is then supplied to an adder (25) where it is subtracted from an output signal of the amplifier (21). In this manner, the differentiation/integration equalizer, formed by an analog circuit, is constructed by a digital circuit of a simplified configuration without raising the number of orders of the filters. The replay signal is processed by differentiation/integration such as to satisfy the equalization standard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Hiura, Hiroyuki Ino
  • Publication number: 20040169946
    Abstract: A partial response is utilized to record information on a medium and then regenerate the information from the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi Uno, Kiichiro Kasai
  • Publication number: 20040169947
    Abstract: The invention provides a method insuring that each read channel optimization step is controllable in terms of quality divergence, that a systematic response can be made which can be readily automated. The method is applicable to a pre-existing read channel optimization (RCO) script. The method includes the following operations. Acquiring a first quality measure and a first parameter list. Performing the pre-existing RCO script creating a second quality measure and a second parameter list based upon the first parameter list. Convergence processing the first and second quality measures and parameter lists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Jong Yun Yun, Chin Won Cho, Hu Yul Bang, Jae June Kim
  • Publication number: 20040169948
    Abstract: As a tape recording format, tracks are formed by a succession of block units, and a data unit called a group is formed by data of size equivalent to a predetermined plurality of tracks. Using this format, a base group number indicating the group to which the current track physically belongs is recorded in the ID information for a track, and the lower four bits or similar of a group number indicating the group to which the current block logically belongs is recorded within a block. By this means, even if rewriting is performed in block units and a recorded state results in which the blocks of a plurality of groups are intermixed within a track, the group to which each block belongs can be correctly identified during reproduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Osamu Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040169949
    Abstract: A playback error associated with overwriting on a narrow-width track is prevented from occurring in the overwritten portion. A signal generator (11) generates a signal of a predetermined data pattern that stabilizes the operation of a synchronizing pulse generator of a playback system (shown in a separate figure). A timing generator (4) switches over a switch (12) to the output of the signal generator (11), at least a period of time equivalent to writing of one track before the main signal is input. When a signal of the predetermined data pattern from the signal generator (11) has been output, the timing generator (4) switches over the switch (12) to the main signal. The playback system includes a circuit which discriminates between the predetermined data pattern and the main signal data from a playback signal generated by playing back a record on a magnetic tape (T).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Kazunari Oota
  • Publication number: 20040169950
    Abstract: A magnetic recording head comprises a write pole having a tip adjacent to an air bearing surface of the recording head, a return pole magnetically coupled to the write pole, a conductor positioned adjacent to at least one edge of the write pole at the air bearing surface for carrying current to produce a magnetic field that saturates at least a portion of the write pole and augments a write field, a first conductive heat sink connected to a first end of the conductor, and a second conductive heat sink connected to a second end of the conductor. Disc drives that include the recording head are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Thomas William Clinton, Petrus Antonius van der Heijden, Michael Allen Seigler, Jonathan D. Hannay
  • Publication number: 20040169951
    Abstract: A head suspension assembly having a magnetic head, an arm which is supported so as to rotate, a suspension having one end which is fixed to an end of the arm and an other end which mounts the magnetic head, a nonvolatile memory which is mounted on the suspension assembly, and stores control parameters of the magnetic head, a connecting terminal which is mounted to the arm, and a signal transmission line which electrically connects the connecting terminal to the nonvolatile memory and the magnetic head. The connecting terminal enables transmission of signals at least one of to and from the head suspension assembly, the nonvolatile memory and the magnetic head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Akira Osaki
  • Publication number: 20040169952
    Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus capable of switching over among a plurality of heads with high precision, wherein the apparatus is provided with: a recording/reproducing unit for recording/reproducing signals onto/from a recording medium with a plurality of heads; a generating unit for generating control data for controlling the recording/reproducing unit; and a transmitting unit for transmitting control data generated by the generating unit to the recording/reproducing unit, wherein priority is given in transmission to data for controlling the switching of the plurality of heads over other data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Yamazaki, Kemmei Masuda, Toshio Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20040169953
    Abstract: A self-vaccine as used herein will refer to methods of operating a disk drive and the apparatus implementing such methods, which make the disk drive immune to changes in temperature, that keep the disk drive healthy when hot or cold. The invention includes a self-vaccine extending the read channel optimization parameter database of a track zone or sequence to test temperature ranges actually found in the user's operation of the disk drive. The invention also includes the self-vaccine updating the read channel optimization parameter database for an already tested temperature range, whenever there has been sufficient time passed since the read channel optimization was performed for that temperature range. The invention includes read channel optimized parameters for at least temperature ranges within the embedded disk controller, which are updated in the user's operating environment during idle time providing the self-vaccine. The invention includes disk drives including a self-vaccine method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Jong Yun Yun, Yeong Kyun Lee, Kang Seok Lee, Ho In Sou
  • Publication number: 20040169954
    Abstract: In a method and system for loading and locking a recording tape cartridge in a drive, the cartridge is inserted into a load box in the drive. The load box containing the cartridge is moved in a vertical direction while maintaining the load box and cartridge substantially level. In a final downward operation position, the cartridge is engaged by a drive interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Haavard Hoelsaeter, Haavard Holmedal
  • Publication number: 20040169955
    Abstract: A camcorder capable of reducing the size of a camera body part and, even if the surface area thereof is reduced by downsizing, capable of improving operability by efficiently disposing devices. A magnetic recording/reproducing device, comprising at least the camera body part having lenses, a view finder, and an operating button group and a grip part openably or rotatably fitted to the camera body part and commonly used as a battery storage part, the battery storage part further comprising a lock mechanism installed on one side surface of the camera body part rotatably along the vertical plane thereof through a rotating shaft and maintained in locked state at a set position, whereby since the camera body part can be further downsized for convenient portability and the battery storage part can be used as the grip part, the operability can be improved by efficiently disposing the devices without providing design restrictions even if the camera body part is downsized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Tsuchida
  • Publication number: 20040169956
    Abstract: A storage device unit includes a storage device containing a recording medium in a housing. A heat radiation device is attached to the storage device outside the housing. The storage device unit enables prevention of rise in the temperature of the storage device based on the action of the heat radiation device. The storage device keeps normally operating in a high temperature condition. Moreover, the heat radiation device can be attached to a conventional storage device, so that it is possible to avoid the redesign of the storage device. The storage device having a resistance to high temperature can be provided in this manner at a lower cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Koichiro Oba, Naotoshi Katahara, Susumu Yamashita, Takayuki Bitoh
  • Publication number: 20040169957
    Abstract: A flexible disk drive includes a case and a disk holder provided in the case. A flexible disk is mounted on the disk holder. A part of the disk holder abuts against an inner face of the case. Preferably, The part of the disk holder is a tip end portion of the disk holder. The tip end portion of the disk holder is bent in a slanted direction so as to enlarge an inlet of the disk holder for the flexible disk to be inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Hisateru Komatsu, Makoto Takahashi, Makoto Konno, Noriyuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20040169958
    Abstract: A writer for magnetic recording heads. The writer includes a bottom magnetic pole and a write gap formed over the bottom pole and a coil trench formed in the bottom pole. A top magnetic pole is provided as two layers with the first layer including front and back tips with spaced apart walls positioned adjacent the trench bottom defining trench sides. A pole cover layer is included that is made up of a thin layer of insulating material deposited to cover the sides and bottom of the coil trench. A bottom coil is formed on the pole cover layer in the bottom of the coil trench and coil insulation is provided between the coil elements and adjacent the trench walls and coverng the coil. A top coil with insulation is formed over the planarized bottom coil insulation and the top pole second layer is formed over the top coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Mohamad T. Krounbi, Ming Zhao, Yining Hu, Jim Watterston
  • Publication number: 20040169959
    Abstract: A material for magnetic pole for attaining a writing head generating an intense recording magnetic field, and a structure and a manufacturing method therefor. The thin film magnetic head includes a magnetic pole layer having a plated magnetic layer containing Co, Ni and Fe formed on a plated underlayer of a sputtered magnetic layer containing Co, Ni and Fe. The CoNiFe magnetic layer having a composition: 40 wt %≦Co≦70 wt %, 10 wt %≦Ni≦25 wt % and 10 wt %≦Fe≦30 wt % and a peak intensity ratio in the X-ray diffraction of I(200)/I(111)≧0.5 and I(110)/I(111)≧1 (defining peak intensities for the face-centered cubic fcc (111) face, fcc (200) face and the body-centered cubic bcc (119) face as: I(111), I(200), I(110)).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazue Kudo, Yasuyuki Okada, Nobuo Yoshida, Moriaki Fuyama, Noriyuki Saiki, Gen Oikawa, Takashi Kawabe, Makoto Morijiri
  • Publication number: 20040169960
    Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a magnetic recording head in a tape drive, which receives a single-reel cartridge therein and from which magnetic recording tape is extracted and engaged with a take-up reel in the tape drive, the assembly used to extract the tape from the cartridge and engage it with the take-up reel has bristles thereon which pass by the magnetic recording head and brush the magnetic recording head during each threading and de-threading procedure between the cartridge and the take-up reel. The threading and de-threading can be uninterrupted, or can be paused at a point where the bristles are in contact with the magnetic recording head, and either of the bristles being caused to oscillate during the pause, or the magnetic recording head being moved during the pause, to brush the magnetic recording head to clean it. The magnetic recording head thus is cleaned automatically every time a cartridge is loaded into the tape drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Havard Hoelsaeter, Havard Holmedal, Bjarte Jegerstedt
  • Publication number: 20040169961
    Abstract: Disclosed is an actuator for use with a disk drive having a coil assembly including a bobbin to aid in heat convection from the coil of the coil assembly. The actuator includes a body portion for pivotally coupling to the disk drive and an actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion for supporting a head gimbal assembly (HGA). The actuator further includes a coil assembly having a fork, a coil, and a bobbin. The fork is cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the actuator arm and includes a pair of opposed prongs to mount the coil and the bobbin therebetween. The bobbin includes at least two opposed fins to aid in the convection of heat from the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Chen-Chi Lin, Richard G. Krum
  • Publication number: 20040169962
    Abstract: As the dimensions of spin valve heads continue to be reduced, a number of difficulties are being encountered. One such is with the longitudinal bias when an external magnetic field can cause reversal of the hard magnet, thereby causing a hysteric response by the head. This coercivity reduction becomes more severe as the hard magnet becomes thinner. This problem has been overcome by inserting a decoupling layer between the antiferromagnetic layer that is used to stabilize the pinned layer of the spin valve itself and the soft ferromagnetic layer that is used for longitudinal biasing. This soft ferromagnetic layer is pinned by a second antiferromagnetic layer deposited on it on its far side away from the first antiferromagnetic layer. The presence of the decoupling layer ensures that the magnetization of the soft layer is determined only by the second antiferromagnetic layer. The inclusion of said decoupling layer allows more latitude in etch depth control during manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: You Feng Zheng, Kochan Ju, Cheng T. Horng, Simon Liao, Ru Ying Tong
  • Publication number: 20040169963
    Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect element includes a first ferromagnetic layer (1), insulating layer (3) overlying the first ferromagnetic layer, and second ferromagnetic layer (2) overlying the insulating layer. The insulating layer has formed a through hole (A) having an opening width not larger than 20 nm, and the first and second ferromagnetic layers are connected to each other via the through hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Shiho Okuno, Yuichi Ohsawa, Shigeru Haneda, Yuzo Kamiguchi, Tatsuya Kishi
  • Publication number: 20040169964
    Abstract: A pinned layer structure of a spin valve sensor is formed by sputter deposition of cobalt iron (CoFe) in a nitrogen (N2) atmosphere. This method permits a wider range of deposition times of a copper spacer layer to achieve a desirable ferromagnetic coupling field (HF) between the pinned layer structure and a free layer structure in the spin valve sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V,
    Inventor: Mustafa Pinarbasi
  • Publication number: 20040169965
    Abstract: The present invention concerns in a first aspect a spin-valve structure having a first and a second free ferromagnetic layer and a spacer layer positioned between the first and second free ferromagnetic layer, and wherein the first free ferromagnetic layer is positioned on a substrate. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first free ferromagnetic layer is in direct contact with the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum
    Inventors: Karen Attenborough, Hans Boeve, Jo De Boeck, Jean-Pierre Celis
  • Publication number: 20040169966
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic recording head comprising: a bottom shield; a top shield; and AMR device with MR and SAL separated by a thin insulating layer; a first insulting gap layer between said bottom shield and said AMR; a second insulating gap layer between said AMR and said top shield; a conductive layer contact at one end region of said MR and SAL. Furthermore, magnetic recording heads with GMR device free of electric-pop noise also are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Yong Shen, Kwok Kam Leung, Hiroshi Kiyono, Tetsuo Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20040169967
    Abstract: A dielectric ceramic includes a principal component which contains Ba, Ca and Ti and which has a perovskite structure represented by the general formula ABO3; additive components containing, for example, La and Mn; and a sintering aid, wherein crystal grains of the dielectric ceramic contain Ca, and the intergranular variation in the average Ca concentration within each grain is about 5% or more, in terms of CV value, or the ratio of the number of crystal grains in which the intragranular variation in the Ca concentration is about 5% or more, in terms of CV value, to the total number of crystal grains containing Ca is about 10% or more. A monolithic ceramic capacitor fabricated using the dielectric ceramic is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Konaka, Shozo Kobayashi, Harunobu Sano
  • Publication number: 20040169968
    Abstract: A method and a circuit arrangement suitable for performing the method are provided for protecting an electric motor (10) and/or its trigger circuit (12) against overload in the emergency-operation mode. The method of the invention and the associated circuit arrangement serve in particular to protect a motor vehicle direct-current fan motor operated by means of pulse width modulation, in which the trigger circuit is designed as an emergency-operation controller, with a microcontroller (16) preceding the motor end stage (22) and with a comparator assembly (14) for detecting overvoltages. The provisions according to the invention assure overload protection at elevated battery voltage and at the same time when the emergency-operation controller is activated in response to malfunctions in the normal triggering (12) of the electric motor (10). To that end, at least one overvoltage threshold (Us1, Us2) is defined; when it is exceeded, the power supplied to the motor is reduced or switched off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Mohr, Norbert Knab, Albert Eisele, Juergen Rapp
  • Publication number: 20040169969
    Abstract: A safety device of the present invention copes with diverse abnormal conditions, and securely interrupts a driving current of an electric appliance by being combined with a normally used current interrupter. For example, a current interrupter that senses immersion or a ground fault is arranged in a power plug 50 at an end of a power cord 26, and a power switch 31 is connected to one power line 32-1, which is drawn from the power cord 26 to the inside of a hair-dryer 25, and a first sensor 34 and a second sensor 39 of a normal-time open-circuit type, which close a circuit when sensing an abnormal condition, are respectively arranged in a grip part 27 and an air blowing part 28 between the other power line 32-2 and the sensing line 33.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Hideaki Takeda
  • Publication number: 20040169970
    Abstract: A gapped ground safety device is provided to protect workers on de-energized underground distribution cable from ground faults or accidental energization. The device comprises a combination precision gap and an MOV surge arrester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
    Inventors: Terence Donald Deines, Christopher Paul Morton, Jack H. Sawada, Ching Wah Shum
  • Publication number: 20040169971
    Abstract: A combined audio and power connector facilitates the use of portable audio devices with audio systems, including but not limited to vehicle audio systems. By integrating an audio input and a power supply into a single connector, the need to use multiple cords, e.g., one for the power supply and another for the audio input, is avoided. Further, a vehicle can deliver power to many types of portable devices without the use of relatively large auxiliary power jacks. As a result, many or most of the auxiliary power jacks currently incorporated in vehicle designs can be eliminated, making additional space available for other applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: James J. Hinsberger, J. Roger Davis
  • Publication number: 20040169972
    Abstract: A circuit breaker that functions like a double pole double throw (DPDT) switch is used to isolate the commercial power grid from an external power source. When in the “on” position the circuit breaker serves as a main power input circuit breaker allowing power from the commercial power grid to feed into existing wiring. In the “off” position the commercial power grid is disconnected and isolated from the existing wiring. Instead, the switch mechanism is connected to an external power source such as a generator. The generator can be safely operated without risking power backfeed into the commercial power grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Milton E. Goss
  • Publication number: 20040169973
    Abstract: An integrated circuit driver includes an output stage having source drain paths of a PFET and NFET connected in series with each other across DC power supply terminals. A pair of CMOS inverters simultaneously responsive to a bilevel signal drive gate electrodes of the PFET and NFET. The inverters include resistors connected to NFET and PFET devices which function as voltage controlled switched capacitors respectively connected in shunt with gate electrodes of the output stage PFET and NFET. The inverters, resistors and capacitors prevent the output stage PFET and NFET from being on simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Kenneth Koch, Mozammel Hossain
  • Publication number: 20040169974
    Abstract: In a circuit block 110 to be an object of power-off, voltage detecting circuits 130 and 134 are disposed near power supply terminals 140 and 142, respectively, and voltage detecting circuits 132 and 136 are disposed at given positions far from the terminals 140 and 142, respectively, on power lines 141 and 143 of two electric-supply systems. The voltage detecting circuits are each made of MOS transistors only. At turning on the power from a power supply circuit 150 again, after all the voltage detecting circuits have detected arrival of power-supply voltages at a predetermined potential, a reset signal generating circuit 160 stops the input of a reset signal to the circuit block 110. Accordingly, since the reset state is stopped after the arrival of the power-supply voltages at the predetermined voltage, a semiconductor integrated circuit is initialized normally. This provides a semiconductor integrated circuit capable of generating a power-on reset signal appropriately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Minoru Okamoto, Shinichi Marui, Kazuhiro Okabayashi
  • Publication number: 20040169975
    Abstract: In order to limit an overvoltage at a parallel circuit of IGBT (3) and freewheeling diode (7), an undesirable current spike is used to switch on the intrinsically turned-off IGBT (3′) during the presence of the current spike precisely to an extent such that a current which counteracts the overvoltage arises in the IGBT/freewheeling diode pair. The oppositely acting current reduces the current gradient in leakage inductances (L&sgr;) and reduces the undesirable induced overvoltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Mark Muenzer, Reinhold Bayerer, Peter Kanschat
  • Publication number: 20040169976
    Abstract: A modular asynchronous contactor assembly includes a contactor for each phase or pole of an electrical device. The contactor assembly is applicable as both a switching device and an isolation or load protection device. As such, each contactor is constructed so that each includes multiple contact assemblies. Moreover, the contactors within a single contactor assembly or housing can be independently controlled so that the contacts of one contactor can be opened without opening the contacts of the other contactors of the contactor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Michael T. Little, James Kinsella, Chris Wieloch, Engelbert Hetzmannseder
  • Publication number: 20040169977
    Abstract: An over-current protection circuit (3), particularly but not solely for resonant mode dc to dc converters which avoids the use of a current sensing resistor in series with the converter switching devices. A current transformer (5) is used, the secondary voltage is rectified and applied to a stable dc amplifier after careful filtering. The output (8) of the dc amplifier controls the frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator (4) which determines the switching frequency of the converter switching devices and thus the current flowing through them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Tomasz Janusz Kotula
  • Publication number: 20040169978
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit breaker (1) comprising an overcurrent trip device (4) with a protective module, (6), whose long time delay is influenced by the proportion of harmonic waves in the current to be monitored. To control the dependency of the trip delay on the harmonic wave content, invention is provided with an adjustment device (9), by means of which a user determines the parameters (A) and (B). Parameter (A) is a limiting value for the harmonic wave content of the current. If said limiting value is exceeded, the trip delay is reduced. The degree of dependency of the trip delay on the harmonic wave content is selected by the additional parameter (B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Jeffery C. Mizener
  • Publication number: 20040169979
    Abstract: In a switching mode regulator including a pair of high-side and low-side switches in response to a control signal to turn on the high-side switch in on-duty cycles and the low-side switch in off-duty cycles to generate a current through an inductor and derive an output voltage that is sensed to generate a feedback signal to be compared with a first reference signal to thereby determine an error signal further compared with a second reference signal to generate the control signal, an over-current protection apparatus comprises a current sense circuit for sensing the inductor current in off-duty cycles. During soft start-up period, periodic force current sense interval is introduced for the inductor current to be sensed. When the inductor current exceeds threshold or the error signal lasts for several cycles at maximum value, the next on-duty cycle is blanked so as not to turn on the high-side switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Chung-Lung Pai
  • Publication number: 20040169980
    Abstract: An overcurrent is prevented from flowing in an output circuit when a short circuit occurs between an output terminal and a power supply terminal or a ground terminal. For this purpose, provided is an output circuit comprising a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, and an output terminal connected to a capacitive load. Depending on the state of a load control input signal, the output circuit performs selectively a charging-current supplying operation of supplying a charging-current from the power supply terminal to the capacitive load and a discharging-current withdrawing operation of withdrawing a discharging-current from the capacitive load to the ground terminal. Further, an overcharging-current prevention switch is provided for detecting a short circuit between the output terminal and the ground terminal so as to stop or suppress the charging-current supplying operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Yuji Amano, Yoshio Nirasawa, Hideo Hamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20040169981
    Abstract: A circuit is provided for limiting the in-rush current of a radio device coupled to a low-power external power source and includes a switch circuit in series between the power source and the radio device, the switch having an “off” state with a high impedance and an “on” state with a low impedance. Also included is a time-delay shorting circuit coupled to the switch circuit, the time-delay shorting circuit having a time constant. In operation, before the time constant elapses, the switch circuit is in the high impedance “off” state for limiting the in-rush current to the radio device and after the time constant elapses, the switch circuit is in the low impedance “on” state so that the radio device is powered by the external power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Andy Werback, Nhan Nguyen, James Beninghaus
  • Publication number: 20040169982
    Abstract: In order to protect a load from surges which may occur on an AC line, a pair of metal oxide varistors (MOV) are serially coupled across the AC line. A series circuit of a gas tube and a capacitor is coupled from the terminal which joins the two varistors to ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Terry Wayne Bunton, Peter Ronald Knight
  • Publication number: 20040169983
    Abstract: A finger guard for an electrical circuit breaker includes a rear plate with an opening, a guard portion extending from the plate adjacent the opening, and a removable portion, or knock-out, positioned within the opening. A further finger guard for an electrical circuit breaker includes a rear plate with an opening, a guard portion extending from the plate adjacent the opening, and opposing ramped finger grips on the outer walls of the guard portion. A further finger guard for an electrical circuit breaker includes a rear plate with an opening, and a guard portion extending from the plate adjacent the opening, the plate further including a designation holder. An electrical power distribution system with a chassis having an electrical circuit including a mount for an electrical circuit breaker and an opening providing access to the mount, includes a finger guard mounted across the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: David J. Johnsen, Carlos Cabrera, David E. Schomaker
  • Publication number: 20040169984
    Abstract: A protective device (1) for an electrical power distribution network has: means for processing measured values (14) from measurement appliances (3,4) for the power distribution network, means for initiating switching commands (16) by means of primary appliances (2) for the power distribution network, as well as a programmable protective function which, when it is carried out, determines the switching commands on the basis of the measured values. In this case, the protective device (1) has programmable logic (13), which can be programmed in order to carry out the protective function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Bernhard Deck, Franz Zurfluh, Michael Stanimirov
  • Publication number: 20040169985
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated circuit (210) for an on-wire communication system, comprising several communication connections (C) for connecting external electrical signal lines (L), wherein an input/output circuit (IO) for inputting and/or outputting communication signals from or to the signal lines (L) is associated with each communication connection (C); wherein one of several thyristors (TY) is associated with each communication connection (C) in order to reduce any overvoltage which occurs at the respective communication connection (C) by a current flow through this thyristor (TY); wherein a control electrode (G′) of each thyristor (TY) is connected to a control circuit (CO) which detects a current flow through this thyristor (TY), and in the case of a detected current flow de-energises that input/output circuit (IO; O) which is associated with that communication connection (C; C, C′) with which this thyristor (TY) is associated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Martin Gropl
  • Publication number: 20040169986
    Abstract: A protective device for transmitting electromagnetic signals of a desired frequency band from a source to a load comprises an outer conductor, an inner conductor extending coaxially within the outer conductor and a quarter wavelength shunt conductor. A radio frequency impedance control (RFIC) tube is used to maintain the proper transmission line impedance for the device. The shunt conductor is connected, at one end, to the inner conductor and extends along a multi-curved path through an opening in the RFIC tube and wraps around the RFIC tube in at least one plane. The other end of the stub is connected to the outer conductor either directly or indirectly by means of distributed capacitance through a dielectric insulator. A plurality of gas discharge tubes may be coupled to the shunt conductor to shunt undesired voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: George M. Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20040169987
    Abstract: A method for controlling a relay, switch or other electromechanical device comprises delaying a change of state of the relay, switch or other electromechanical device until at least one electrical parameter associated with contacts thereof is within a desired range. The life of the relay, switch or other electromechanical device is increased and/or the current rating thereof is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Robert Green
  • Publication number: 20040169988
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic control device for actuating a valve of an internal combustion engine. A locking system is provided in order to maintain the valve in at least one of its end positions and in at least one intermediate position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Heinz Leiber
  • Publication number: 20040169989
    Abstract: An electromagnetically operated device has an electromagnet including a magnetic guide having a movable armature and at least one air gap, a magnetizing coil provided on the magnetic guide, the magnetic guide having at least a part formed as an insert of a magnetically hard material, the magnetic guide having an immovable part formed as a cylinder, the movable armature being provided with a cover of the cylinder, the magnetizing coil being located inside the cylinder coaxially to the latter, a rod extending along an axis of the cylinder, located in an inner hollow of the cylinder, and having a part of composed of a electromagnetically soft material, the armature being formed so as to close the magnetic guide with formation of a three dimensional closed structure including the cylinder, the cover, the rod with a possibility of providing a holding force which is equal to a pulling force formed by a winding of the magnetizing coil during a supply of a short-term current pulse to the winding of the magnetizing co
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Nikolai Babich
  • Publication number: 20040169990
    Abstract: An antistatic protector for resin tube integrally has a mounting portion, a connecting portion, for example, including a through slit, and a relatively elongate connective portion bridging between the mounting portion and the connecting portion. The antistatic protector is arranged, for example, such that the mounting portion is fitted on a fit-on portion of a quick connector and earth member is inserted in the through slit of the connecting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Yuichi Wada
  • Publication number: 20040169991
    Abstract: A signal line and a pixel capacitor wire that doubles as a pixel capacitor electrode are fabricated parallel to each other from the same electrode layer through patterning thereof. Therefore, no additional steps are required to form the pixel capacitor wire. In such an arrangement, the pixel capacitor wire and the signal line are disposed parallel to each other; therefore, delays of signal transmission in the signal line and crosstalk between pixels are prevented from occurring. The active matrix substrate incorporating this arrangement is suitably used in liquid crystal display devices, image sensors, and the like. Similar advantages are available with an arrangement in which the signal line and the pixel capacitor wire are disposed parallel to each other, and the storage capacitor electrode, which will constitute a storage capacitor with the pixel electrode therebetween, and the scanning line are fabricated from the same electrode layer through patterning thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisashi Nagata, Yoshihiro Izumi, Takayuki Shimada
  • Publication number: 20040169992
    Abstract: Tunable capacitors (10, 20, 30, 40) have a dielectric material (16, 26, 36, 42) between electrodes, which dielectric material comprises an insulating material (17, 27, 37, 42) and electrically conductive material, (18, 28, 38, 48) e.g., conductive nanoparticulates, dispersed therein. In certain cases, enhanced tune-ability is achieved when the dielectric material comprises elongated nanoparticulates (38). Further enhanced tune-ability may be achieved by aligning elongated particulates in an electrode-to-electrode direction. Nanoparticulates may be produced by heating passivated nanoparticulates. Passivated nanoparticulates may be covalently bound within a polymeric matrix. High bias potential device structures can be formed with preferential mobilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Andrew Tye Hunt, Miodrag Oljaca, Scott Flanagan, Girish Deshpande, Stein Lee, Peter W. Faguy
  • Publication number: 20040169993
    Abstract: One and common relay unit (27, 34) for an electric power source is constituted by a fuse (26, 33) common between vehicles or grades of cars and one or plural relays (26, 33) relative with said fuse. The relay unit (22, 23) is detachably attached to a covering member (24) having one or plural kinds of relay units. The relay (27, 34) and the fuse (26, 33) are thereby made a unit of one body, and since this unit may be composed to detachably attach the covering member (24), the electrical joint unit (21) has general-purpose property, thereby enabling to cost down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040169994
    Abstract: The invention relates to a portable computer unit, in particular a PDA, with an integrated radio unit, at least one antenna and a housing for the radio unit with a lower housing piece and a cover, whereby the at least one antenna is integrated in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Janos-Gerold Enderlein, Ralf Wendler