Abstract: An electromechanical resonator includes a monocrystalline-silicon substrate (S) provided with an active zone (ZA) delimited by an insulating region, a vibrating beam (10) anchored by at least one of its free ends on the insulating region and including a monocrystalline-silicon vibrating central part (12), and a control electrode (E) arranged above the beam and bearing on the active zone. The central part (12) of the beam is separated from the active zone (ZA) and from the control electrode (E).

Abstract: The film acoustic wave devices (12a, 12b and 12c) having the same properties are obtained by changing at least one of the followings: the length and/or the width of upper electrode (18a and 18b); the distance between the upper electrodes (18a and 18b); the length and/or the width of connecting patterns (19a and 19b); areas of bonding pads (20a and 20b); and the pattern shape for the film acoustic wave device (12a and 12b) such as the area of capacitor electrode connected electrically to the bonding pads (20a and 20b); the property variations of film acoustic wave devices (12a, 12b and 12c) caused from the positioning at wafer 11 is compensated.

Abstract: A radial piezoelectric motor comprises a housing, a motor shaft rotatably mounted in the housing and a plurality of piezoelectric actuators inside the housing radially disposed about the axis of the motor shaft. The motor also includes circuitry for applying a voltage to the piezoelectric actuators to expand the actuators repeatedly and in succession and apparatus responsive to the repeated and successive expanding of the actuators for rotating the motor shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus including a base configured to slidably engage a driven element, a piezoelectric element interposing the base and the driven element and attached to the base proximate a first piezoelectric element end, and a friction element attached proximate a second piezoelectric element end and configured to selectively engage the driven element.

Abstract: A cell driving type piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator comprises: one or a plurality of cells defined by a wall portion including side walls, a ceiling wall and a bottom wall: side walls, the ceiling wall and the bottom wall being connected to form a space as cell, at least two side walls facing each other comprising piezoelectric/electrostrictive operation portions, the piezoelectric/electrostrictive operation portions being displaced to change a volume of the cell, wherein at least one pore is disposed in the wall portion other than at least two side walls facing each other and comprising piezoelectric/electrostrictive operation portions, and wherein all inner surfaces of the wall portion defining each cell are coated with one or more layers of seamless thin films. The method for preparing the same is also disclosed.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator 21 has: a piezoelectric actuator part 22 made up of a common electrode 27, a piezoelectric element 29, and an individual electrode 33; an electrical interconnection joint part 43 formed on the individual electrode 33; an electrical interconnection 45 formed on the electrical interconnection joint part 43; a head block 47 fixed to a nozzle plate 39 through the electrical interconnection 45; and a PI tape 49 disposed within the head block 47. A closed space 57 is defined between the head block 47 and the nozzle plate 39. The closed space 57 is divided by the PI tape 49 into two sections. Of these two sections of the closed space 57, the one on the side of the head block 47 constitutes a first closed space 57a. A moisture absorbent 52 is sealed within the first closed space 57a. Relative humidity within the closed space 57 of the ink jet head 1 is not less than 0% nor more than 20%.

Abstract: A piezoelectric film is provided having good piezoelectric properties. The piezoelectric film is represented by the following general formula: A1?bB1?aXaO3 wherein A contains Pb; B is at least one of Zr and Ti; X is at least one of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo and W; a satisfies 0.05?a?0.3; and b satisfies 0.025?b?0.15.

Abstract: A layered piezoelectric element includes a plurality of driving parts divided by grooves and non-driving parts formed at both ends of the array of the driving parts. The driving parts and the non-driving parts include the alternate layers of piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes. The common electrode of the driving parts is extended from the non-driving parts. The capacitance C (F) of each driving part, the number of the driving parts n, and the resistance R (?) between the non-driving parts satisfy R?8×10?6/n/C.

Abstract: A light emitting assembly includes a metal substrate for dissipating heat from the assembly. The metal substrate includes an electrically insulating layer or coating on at least one side. Circuit traces are applied to the electrically insulating layer using either thick or thin film techniques. At least the ends of the circuit traces include a metallic section to which leads of light emitting elements are soldered or wire-bonded. A metallic section is provided adjacent the light emitting element to transfer heat to the underlying substrate and/or to reflect light from the element away from the substrate. A clear finish retards tarnishing of the reflecting metallic section.

Abstract: An infrared heat lamp has a reflector body closed by a lens and having a source of infrared radiation positioned within the body. The lens has a plurality of lenticules formed thereon to provide substantially uniform radiant intensity within a 50° cone on a planar surface spaced from the lens, the radiant intensity varying as the inverse of (cos ?)2. In a preferred embodiment all of the lenticules have a parabolic shape.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to a cathode ray tube, more particularly, to a structure of an electron gun for enhancing resolution of a cathode ray tube. The structure of an electron gun for a cathode ray tube of the invention is effective for enhancing the resolution of the screen without an application of a dynamic voltage.

Abstract: An arc tube is formed by turning a glass tube at a substantially middle thereof and winding the glass tube from the middle to its both ends around an axis to form a double spiral, and sealing electrodes at both ends of the glass tube. The spiral pitch of a spiral part in a vicinity of one of the ends and an adjacent spiral part in the direction of the axis is set larger than the spiral pitch of other adjacent spiral parts, to widen a gap between the one end and the adjacent spiral part.

Abstract: The present invention provides an emissive flat panel display device which is capable of performing a gate operation at a relatively low voltage of several V to several tens V using gate electrodes. In the emissive flat panel display device which includes a back panel which is constituted of a back substrate on which cathode electrodes having electron sources formed of carbon nanotubes and gate electrodes are formed, a face panel which forms phosphors and anode electrodes thereon, and a sealing frame which seals the back panel and the face panel, the difference between an electric field strength Emax for allowing the electron sources to obtain the required maximum emission current density and an electric field strength Emin which becomes the minimum emission current density is set to 1V/?m or less, and preferably 0.5V/?m or less.

Abstract: A light-emitting cell, includes a light-emitting material which can emit light in response to a collision of an electron beam; an electron-emitting unit having a carbon nanotube as an electron source for releasing the electron beam and emitting the electron beam to ram against the light-emitting material; and a gate disposed above the carbon nanotube for controlling the electron beam emitting from the carbon nanotube whether to pass through the gate to ram against the light-emitting material at a specific address wherein the gate comprises a network conductor including a first metal layer for determining an x-coordinate of the address, a second metal layer for determining a y-coordinate of the address, and an extracting electrode placed between the carbon nanotube and the first metal layer for extracting the electron beam from the carbon nanotube.

Abstract: A dual panel type organic electroluminescent device includes a first substrate having a first region and a second region corresponding to a peripheral region of the first region, TFTs formed in the first region, pad parts formed in the second region, a second substrate attached to the first substrate with a predetermined space therebetween, the second substrate overlapping the first region and exposing the second region of the first substrate, a first electrode, an organic electroluminescent layer and a second electrode formed on the second substrate facing the first substrate, a first electrical connection pattern connecting the thin film transistor with the second electrode, a second electrical connection pattern connecting one of the pad parts with the first electrode, a seal pattern disposed on edges of the first and second substrates, and a dummy spacer disposed between an image display region of the first region and the seal pattern.

Abstract: An electrode of the organic EL device includes a substantially rectangular electrode region that contacts an organic layer, a terminal section to which an external drive circuit is connected, and a conductive section that electrically connects the terminal section to the electrode region. The conductive section includes a first joint connected to the terminal section, a second joint connected to the outer periphery of the electrode region, and a conductive section main body that extends between the first joint and the second joint to electrically connect the first joint to the second joint. Therefore, the difference of magnitude between currents flowing at respective positions in a luminous region in the organic EL device is lessened.

Abstract: An organic EL display panel includes a plurality of anodes (2) formed on a substrate (1), a plurality of auxiliary electrodes (3) held in electrical contact with the anodes (2), an anode separator (4) covering each auxiliary electrode (3) and a part of the anodes (2), a plurality of organic EL strips (5) formed to cover the anode separator (4), a plurality of cathodes (6) layered over the organic El strips (5) and extending to cross the anodes (2), and a plurality of cathode separators (7) separating among the cathodes (6) and extending to cross the anodes (2). Each of the auxiliary electrodes (3) is severed at a position where the auxiliary electrode crosses the cathode separators (7).

Abstract: An organic EL display equipped with an organic EL device with an organic material sandwiched by at least two electrodes, including: a light emitting layer which emits light; a front reflecting portion arranged on the side of a viewer with respect to the light emitting layer; and a rear reflecting portion arranged on the side opposite to the viewer with respect to the light emitting layer, wherein the optical film thickness of the organic material, intensity reflectance R1 at the front reflecting portion and intensity reflectance R2 at the front reflecting portion are adjusted so that the external light intensity reflectance of the display viewed from the viewer is 10% or less by an optical interference effect.

Abstract: An OLED device that has at least one first pixel that emits light in a desired region of the visible light spectrum including one or more light-emitting layer(s) and a reflector and a semitransparent reflector respectively disposed on opposite sides of the light-emitting layer(s) and arranged to resonate light produced by such layers such that the light produced by the at least one first pixel has a spectral component in the desired region of the visible light spectrum. The device also includes at least one layer disposed at a predetermined position between the reflector and semitransparent reflector which undesirably absorbs light in at least a portion of the desired region of the visible light spectrum, and wherein the predetermined position of the undesirably absorbing layer is selected to reduce the absorption of such layer in the desired region of the visible light spectrum.

Abstract: A plasma display panel. The plasma display panel includes a first substrate made of a transparent material, a second substrate opposite to the first substrate, a first barrier rib being arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, defining discharge cells together with the first and second substrates, and being made of a dielectric material, upper discharge electrodes being arranged within the first barrier rib and surrounding the discharge cells, lower discharge electrodes being arranged within the first barrier rib, separated from the upper discharge electrodes by a predetermined gap, and respectively being vertically symmetrical with the upper discharge electrodes, and a phosphor layer being arranged in the discharge cells.

Abstract: In a flat display device having a pair of substrates for defining a gas discharge space in which a gas used to generate discharge luminance is sealed, means for absorbing or reflecting near infrared rays is included.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plasma display panel that has a fast response in discharge generation to voltage application owing to a short discharge delay time, and at the same time suppresses the change in the discharge delay time to temperature. In the plasma display panel, dielectric layer (9) is formed so that it covers scanning electrode (5) and sustain electrode (6) formed on front substrate (4), and protective layer (10) is formed on dielectric layer (9), where protective layer (10) includes carbon and silicon, and in addition, protective layer (10) is made of magnesium oxide including silicon of 5×1018 atoms/cm3 to 2×1021 atoms/cm3 and carbon of 1×1018 atoms/cm3 to 2×1021 atoms/cm3.

Abstract: A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) lamp is disclosed. The DBD lamp comprises a discharge vessel, which encloses a discharge volume filled with discharge gas. The discharge vessel further comprises a phosphor layer within the discharge volume. The discharge vessel comprises an outer tubular portion having an internal surface, and an inner tubular portion having an outward surface. The outer tubular portion surrounds the inner tubular portion. In this manner, a substantially annular discharge volume is enclosed between the outer tubular portion and the inner tubular portion. The inner tubular portion comprises a multitude of protrusions around its circumference. The protrusions extend into the substantially annular discharge volume. A first set of interconnected electrodes and a second set of interconnected electrodes are also provided.

Abstract: An electrodeless lighting apparatus includes: a waveguide for guiding microwave energy generated from a microwave generator; a resonance unit coupled with an outlet of the waveguide and comprising at least two resonators having mesh structures which are slidingly coupled with each other in the longitudinal direction such that the height of the resonance unit is varied and an aperture ratio according to the height of the resonance unit is varied, the resonance unit for resonating the microwave energy guided through the waveguide; and a bulb located inside the resonance unit and generating light as a material enclosed therein becomes plasma by microwave energy, so that the overall length of the resonance unit can be varied or aperture ratios of the mesh corresponding to the height of the resonance unit can be adjusted according to a bulb type and conditions to which the electrodeless lighting apparatus is applied, whereby a resonator does not need to be separately manufactured according to its length or apertur

Abstract: A piezoelectric-transformer high-voltage power supply in combination with an image-forming apparatus including a latent-image forming section configured to form an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier, a developing section configured to form a toner image on the electrostatic latent image, and a transfer section configured to transfer the toner image onto a transfer material includes a piezoelectric transformer; a piezoelectric-transformer drive circuit; an output-voltage setting-signal output circuit configured to output an output-voltage setting-signal; an output-voltage detector circuit, and a drive control circuit configured to output a control signal on the basis of a signal from the output-voltage detector circuit and the output-voltage setting-signal, for controlling the piezoelectric-transformer drive circuit.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measuring cathode fall in fluorescent lamps are disclosed. Together with measurements of cathode temperature, such measurements of cathode fall may inform a determination of cathode heater voltage as a function of discharge current (i.e., a cathode-heating-profile) that avoids both sputtering and excess-evaporation.

Abstract: A garden light 10 having a body (11) with a post (12), the lower end of which is provided with a spike (13). The upper end of the post (11) receives a lens assembly (12). Secured to the lens assembly (12) is a cap assembly (24) that has three LEDs that are activated to produce a varying color light.

Abstract: A driver for driving a gas discharge lamp includes an inductive ballast implemented as auto-transformer having a central tap, connected between one output terminal and a first input terminal, and a triac connected between a second output terminal and a second input terminal. The central tap of the ballast is connected, via a capacitor, to the second output terminal. A control unit has a sense input for sensing the phase of an input voltage at the first input terminal, and is adapted to trigger the triac at a predetermined phase (?p) after a zero-crossing of the input voltage, the predetermined phase (?p) being in the range of ??+10° to ??+15°, ?? being the nominal phase lag of the lamp current with respect to the input voltage.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic ballast for lamps having a converter, in which a switching transistor is protected against transient disturbances by a detection circuit C1, C2, R1, R2, D1–3, T1. In this case, the time derivative of the voltage is taken into consideration.

Abstract: A method of operating a power controller that converts a line voltage to an RMS load voltage includes a soft start in which a conduction angle of a phase-control clipping circuit is gradually increased to a steady state value that defines the RMS load voltage. The controller has a circuit with a time-based signal source that triggers conduction independently of line voltage magnitude and a transistor switch whose gate receives signals from the time-based signal source to trigger the circuit. When starting the power controller, a microcontroller increases the conduction angle of the phase-control clipping circuit in plural steps to provide the soft start.

Abstract: A method and control circuit are disclosed for controlling light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). Based upon the LED's current versus intensity characteristic and temperature versus intensity characteristic, the rate of change of LED output intensity with respect to current is calculated. Adjusting LED current to provide zero rate of change ensures that LED output is maximised.

Abstract: A controller for controlling a voltage applied to a load from a power source includes a square wave producing circuit for connection in the circuit with the battery and the lamp. The square wave producing circuit produces a variable duty cycle square wave for controlling application of power to the load in accordance with the duty cycle of the square wave. The square wave producing circuit has a control input for varying the duty cycle of the square wave in response to a voltage at the control input. A voltage varying circuit is connected to the power source for producing a selectively variable voltage that is fed to the control input of the square wave producing circuit for selectively adjusting the duty cycle of the square wave.

Abstract: A driving circuit uses a plurality of transformers to provide currents for driving a plurality of LEDs associated with a plurality of current paths. Each transformer has two induction coils with a coil turn ratio between to the number of turns in each induction coil. One induction coil is used to provide an output current to a different current path and the other induction coil is connected to the corresponding induction coil of other transformers for forming a current loop. The output current of each transformer has a relationship with the output current of the other transformers depending on the coil turn ratios of the connected transformers. LEDs in red, blue and green colors can be connected to different current paths so that the brightness of the LEDs in each color can be determined by the current in a current path.

Abstract: In a method for measuring motor speed and position by detecting the back-EMF generated during pole-pair interactions, fluctuations of a three-phase motor power supply that may affect back-EMF detection are reduced. One phase of the power supply is tristated for a certain interval preceding and during back-EMF detection. For a shorter interval during back-EMF detection, the voltage drop across the motor is reduced from the full power supply voltage. This preferably is accomplished either by pulling a first of the other two power supply phases low, while pulling a second of the other two power supply phases up to a regulated voltage below the power supply voltage, or by pulling the second of the other two phases up to the power supply voltage and pulling the first of the other two phases down to a regulated voltage above ground.

Abstract: A universal low-power ceiling fan controller includes a brushless DC motor in a ceiling fan casing, a microprocessor connected to a power supply that operates with a remote-control device and has a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting data signals to the microprocessor by wireless transmissions, a driving device installed between the microcontroller and the motor for turning on or off a fan, and a feedback device having at least three Hall components for continuously sending feeding back a position change to the microcontroller for determining the motor speed, such that the microcontroller receives the signals of the remote-control device and the driving device drives the motor to rotate, and sample signals of the feedback device is fed back to the microcontroller to determine and conduct an automatic compensation, so as to maintain a constant speed of the vanes of the ceiling fan and lower the electric power consumption.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an obstacle to a power regulated window, which can detect existence of an obstacle by a method of differential current at low rotating speed of a motor and reduce a force of biting an obstacle and prevent from detecting an obstacle unexpectedly at high rotating speed, includes current detecting means for detecting a value of load current flowing through the motor, reference-value generating means for generating a reference value correspondingly to rotating speed of the motor for judging when the value of load current exceeds a predetermined value of over-load current, and comparing means for judging whether or not the value of load current exceeds the reference value.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for confining a robot to a particular space. The system includes a portable barrier signal transmitter that produces a barrier signal primarily along an axis, and a mobile robot capable of avoiding the barrier signal upon detection of the barrier signal. In the preferred embodiment the barrier signal is emitted in an infrared frequency and the robot includes an omni-directional signal detector. Upon detection of the signal, the robot turns in a direction selected by a barrier avoidance algorithm until the barrier signal is no longer detected.

Abstract: A motor driving apparatus capable of drivingly controlling a plurality of inverter units with a single motor driving command from a motor control unit, and thereby control a large-capacity motor or the like. The motor control unit sends out a single motor driving command (torque command) S. An intermediary unit obtains motor driving commands S×A1 to S×A4 for the inverter units by multiplying the motor driving command S by each of coefficients A1 to A4 set in advance. The inverter units are fed with the motor driving commands S×A1 to S×A4 individually and drive a single motor. Since the motor is driven by the total current supplied by the inverter units, the motor can generate a large torque. The motor control unit only needs to generate a single motor driving command S, and hence only needs to operate a single processing part. Hence, the motor control unit can generate and send out motor driving commands for other motors to drive them.

Abstract: The invention aims to suppress or prevent the vibration that can occur due to the intervention of a low-rigidity part between detector and rotating body. An angular acceleration sensor for detecting the rotational angular acceleration of a rotating body is provided, and an angle/angular speed command value is compensated in accordance with the value of the angular acceleration.

Abstract: A variable speed motor includes first and second main windings wound on a stator, and a relay for performing a switching operation between serial/parallel connections of the first and second main windings to control motor speed. The variable speed motor further includes a tap winding connected in series to the main windings, or an additional capacitor, such that it can greatly extend the range of a variable speed without using a drive unit capable of changing the motor speed at an external location, resulting in reduced production costs of the motor, reduced electromagnetic vibration noise, and reduced power consumption.

Abstract: A motor starter system comprises solid state switches for connection between an AC line and motor terminals for controlling application of AC power to the motor. A voltage sensor senses AC line voltage and the motor terminal voltage. Current sensors sense motor current. A control circuit controls operation of the solid state switches. The control circuit limits switch current during a start mode and detects a stall condition responsive to sensed AC line voltage and motor terminal voltage and selectively boosts motor current during the start mode if a stall condition is detected.

Abstract: An electric vehicle 10 includes a power supply apparatus 15. The power supply apparatus 15 includes a fuel cell system 22, capacitor 24 and secondary battery 26 that are connected in parallel to wiring 50. When a drive motor is performing regeneration, the capacitor 24 is collecting the regenerated electric power. The fuel cell system 22 generates electric power in accordance with the load demand. The switches 20 between the fuel cell and the wiring are closed when the load becomes small and the regenerated voltage attains a predetermined level. As a result, the generation of electric power by the fuel cell system is suspended under low-load conditions where the energy efficiency of the fuel cell system 22 is low.

Abstract: A controller and a control method for modifying battery discharge and charge power limits in a vehicle powertrain that includes an electric battery as a power source. The modification compensates for inaccurate estimates of battery discharge and charge power limits by using a closed loop feedback control based on error between a battery voltage set point and commanded battery voltage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging batteries in a system of batteries. The method and apparatus involve producing a set of state of charge signals indicative of the states of charge of each battery in the system, successively identifying, from the state of charge signals, a most discharged battery in the system and applying a charging current to the most discharged battery for at least part of a first period of time less than a period of time required to fully charge the most discharged battery before identifying a succeeding most discharged battery in said system. The batteries are charged according to a dynamic charging sequence in which batteries are added into the charging sequence in order of increasing state of charge as batteries already in the charging sequence are charged to exceed the state of charge of a battery having the next higher state of charge relative to the state of charge of the batteries already in the charging sequence.

Abstract: A redundant battery power supply with combined battery charge indication which incorporates a main cell, conductively coupled to the supply bus which powers the load when activated, and a predictive cell, coupled to the bus by an optional diode which becomes forward biased when the main cell voltage drops below the predictive cell voltage. If the main cell becomes discharged, the predictive cell powers the bus. Each cell is coupled to a voltage comparator which compares the cell output voltage to a common reference voltage. When a cell voltage drops below the reference voltage, the corresponding comparator output goes low. The output of the two comparators are combined by a logical AND gate which controls a flashing light. When both the main cell and predictive cell have voltages greater than the reference voltage, the light flashes, but when either cell (or both) has a voltage less than the reference voltage, the light does not flash.

Abstract: A battery control circuit having a battery voltage detecting section for detecting the voltage of a battery includes a resistor and a switching element which are connected in series and which are connected to the battery in parallel, and a battery controlling section for acquiring information relating to a change in the voltage of the battery, which is detected by the battery voltage detecting section, by turning on the switching element to allow a current of the battery to flow through the resistor. The battery controlling section determines the residual capacity of the battery based on the information relating to the change in the voltage of the battery.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted electrical generating system has a first voltage system which operates from a high supply voltage and a second voltage system which operates from a low supply voltage that is substantially constant, and an electrical generator for supplying power to operate the first voltage system at a voltage determined by the level of field current of the generator, with the field current being derived from the low supply voltage of the second voltage system. The specifications of the field winding of the electrical generator can thereby be optimally established irrespective of the value of the high supply voltage.

Abstract: A generator control circuit is provided that includes a first circuit (44) monitoring a generator voltage change rate and producing a first output when the voltage change rate is above a first level, a second circuit (48) monitoring a generator current change rate and producing a second output when the current change rate is above a second level, and a third circuit (13, 28) operatively connected to the first circuit (44) and the second circuit (48) for decreasing a power level supplied to the generator when a plurality of conditions are satisfied, the plurality of conditions including the voltage change rate being above the first level and the current change rate being above the second level. A method of controlling a generator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A DC/DC converter for converting an input voltage to an output voltage comprises a switch, an inductor, two voltage dividers, a capacitor, and a controller. The switch coupled to the input voltage. The inductor having a parasitic direct current resistance is used for coupling the switch to an output node of the DC/DC converter so as to generate the output voltage at the output node. The first voltage divider is coupled to the output node for generating a divided voltage of the output voltage. The second voltage divider is coupled to the switch and ground. The capacitor coupled to the first voltage divider and the second divider to measure the current through the inductor by sensing a voltage across the capacitor. The controller coupled to the first switch for enabling and disenabling it so as to discontinuously providing power from the input voltage to the inductor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit distribution and upgrade method, and systems/devices to practice various aspect of the method that is for reducing power consumption and operating the integrated circuit with a constituent operating circuit and a proxy circuit near the lower end of the targeted voltage range.