Apparatus for supplying food dough including a hopper to which a large block of food dough is supplied, a cutting apparatus located at a lower opening port of the hopper to cut the block into small blocks that have substantially the same volume, a dough feeder having a plurality of rollers that are arranged in a V to form the small blocks into a sheet of food dough, a transferring conveyor to transfer the small blocks to the dough feeder, a feeding conveyor that conveys the sheet of the food dough formed by the dough feeder of a constant thickness, a weighing conveyor for measuring the weight of a part of the sheet that is supplied by the feeding conveyor as the sheet is being conveyed, and a cutting apparatus for cutting the sheet of the food dough when the measurement of the weighing conveyor corresponds to a preset value.

Usually, when food dough is prepared by a manufacturing line, the system called a four-row line system is used for such a manufacturing line. It has a mechanism having a piston and cylinder. After the cylinder is filled with a block of bread dough, the block is rotated and cut into pieces that have predetermined sizes. As a result, a high pressure and a large shearing stress may be given to the bread dough, so that the structure of the gluten in the dough can be broken. To recover that structure a chemical additive and an overhead proofer are used. The proofer is used in a step that is carried out after the step for rolling the bread dough, so as to give it a rest, so that the structure can be recovered. Such an apparatus is large. The proofer is additional. Thus, the line that includes it is large. Thus, a small apparatus is desired. Also, it is desired that a high-quality bread be made.
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 11-155464 discloses an apparatus for supplying food dough. It has a hopper to which a large block of food dough is supplied. Also, it has a cutter that is located below the lower opening of the hopper. The large block of the food dough that is supplied to the hopper is cut into pieces that have predetermined lengths and constant volumes. Those pieces are fed by a conveyor that is located below the cutter into a forming hopper. That hopper has a dough-feeder section that is comprised of a plurality of rollers that are arranged as a V. When the dough is supplied to that section, it is formed into a sheet by the plurality of the rollers of the dough feeder. Then, it is put on a conveyor that is located below the dough feeder, and transferred to a following apparatus to be processed by it.
The apparatus for supplying food dough allows a large block of food dough to be continuously formed as a sheet. Then, pieces of the dough are cut out from it. In that case, scraps of food dough may remain. They do not have any certain sizes and thus cannot usefully be used. Thus, it is desired that a system can usefully use the scraps to prevent them from being wasted.
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication Nos. 46-6932 and 60-110237 disclose an apparatus for cutting a dough sheet into pieces that have predetermined weights. It feeds a dough sheet along its length. Then, a weighing apparatus continuously measures the weight of the dough sheet as the sheet is being fed. When the weight corresponds to a predetermined value, a cutter is operated to cut the sheet into a piece of dough that has a predetermined weight. For example, the cutter is located in a facility for making bread or confectionery, and is used to prepare a piece of dough that has a predetermined weight.
The kind and shape of bread varies depending on the variations in taste. Thus, it is desired that an apparatus for preparing bread or confectionery make many kinds and various shapes of them.
The applicant of this application proposes some kinds of apparatuses for first forming food dough into a sheet of dough. Also, it proposes an apparatus for making some kinds of food products that are made from the sheet of dough after it is cut into pieces that have various weights according to the kinds of products. The prior-art apparatus only measures a narrow range of weights of the sheet of dough when it is cut into pieces. Thus, it is desired that it have a cutting apparatus that can measure a wider range of weights, so that many kinds of products can be made.
The kinds of weights and sizes of products that the conventional apparatus can make are few. Thus, an apparatus and method for cutting food dough is desired that can make products having various weights and sizes over a wide range.

Apparatus and method for supplying food dough


Processing client requests for duplicate-free server operations is particularly useful for creating and sending items using Microsoft Exchange Web Services (EWS). The system facilitates avoiding creation and sending of duplicate items. In contrast to conventional implementations that send a single command to create and then perform subsequent processing of an item, a feature of the present embodiment is using two commands: a first command to create the item, and a second command to subsequently process the item. In a specific implementation, an EWS item's provided ChangeKey property is used to keep track of the EWS's reply from the server to the client, thereby avoiding duplicate item creation.

Microsoft Exchange Web Services (EWS) provides the functionality to enable client applications to communicate with an Exchange server. EWS provides access to much of the same data that is made available through Microsoft Office Outlook. EWS clients can integrate Outlook data into Line-of-Business (LOB) applications. Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) provides the messaging framework for messages sent between the client application and the Exchange server. The SOAP messages are typically sent by Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). EWS's application programming interface (API) provides clients with easy access to an Exchange server's data, as well as an API for data manipulation, such as creating items, for example, emails and meetings. An Exchange server's data is also referred to as an Exchange store. A well-known API call is the "CreateItem" operation that creates items in the Exchange store. API calls are also referred to as operations, commands, and requests. The CreateItem call can be used to create items such as calendar items, email messages, meeting requests, tasks, and contacts.
When creating items, for example, sending emails, an important requirement is that recipients do not receive the same item multiple times. Such an issue is avoided in most mail/calendar clients as a built in feature. The use of the EWS API does not provide for this native approach.
For example, when using the EWS API, a user may send an email, and then the connection from the user's client machine to the EWS server times out. In this example, if the email was successfully sent from the server, the client does not have confirmation that the email was sent, and sends the email again. The recipient will then receive two emails. In a second example, a meeting calendar item is sent from a user to multiple recipients, and the connection from the user's client machine to the EWS server is aborted by client. In this second example, another invitation is sent, resulting in duplicate meeting requests.

Duplicate-free item creation using EWS by a single client


A modulation circuit for outputting a pulse signal modulated in accordance with the value of input data by a predetermined period, comprising a clock generation circuit for generating and outputting a first clock pulse changing in frequency by the predetermined period, a clock counting circuit for receiving the first clock pulse, counting the first clock pulse from a predetermined initial value in an initial stage of the predetermined period, and outputting a clock count and a pulse signal output circuit for comparing magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data and inverting a level of the pulse signal in the vicinity of a time when the magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data invert.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a modulation circuit for outputting a pulse signal modulated in accordance with a value of input data by a predetermined period and an image display using the same, more particularly relates to a modulation circuit of a drive signal of a light emitting diode (LED) and an image display using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since the invention of the blue LED, LED color displays that use LEDs to form pictures by pixels emitting the three primary colors have been widely and generally fabricated. An LED is highly durable can be used semipermanently, so is optimal for long-term use outdoors. Therefore, LEDs have been extensively used for large-scale displays in stadiums and event sites and for information display panels or advertisements on sides of buildings and inside railway stations. In recent years, along with the increasing luminance and lower prices of blue LEDs, such LED color displays have been spreading rapidly.
FIG. 1 is a view of a drive circuit of an LED forming a pixel of an LED display.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 indicates a drive circuit and 200 an LED. In addition, Spx represents a video signal supplied to an individual pixel, and Id a current flowing through the LED 200, respectively.
The drive circuit 100 outputs a current according to the video signal Spx to the LED 200, while the LED 200 emits light according to the supplied current. An LED display is comprised of exactly the same number of circuits consisting of the drive circuits 100 and LEDs shown in FIG. 1 as that of the pixels. By making the LEDS of the pixels emit light with luminances according to the video signals Spx supplied to the pixels, a person viewing the screen can recognize a picture. The video signal Spx supplied to each pixel is generally input to the drive circuit 100 as a digital value of a certain number of bits.
FIG. 2 is a view of the waveform of the current flowing through the LED 200 in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 2, the ordinate indicates the current flowing through the LED 200 by a relative value, while the abscissa indicates time by a relative value. In addition, Ipulse indicates the peak value of the waveform of the pulse-shaped current flowing through the LED, tw the time width of the pulse portion, and T the period of the waveform,
As shown in FIG. 2, the current flowing through the LED forming a pixel of an LED display has a periodic pulse-like waveform. The luminance is controlled by pulse width modulation to make the pulse width tw variable.
In principle, the current flowing through the LED is a direct current. It is possible to change the current value in accordance with the video signal Spx to adjust the luminance, but in this case, it is necessary to finely control the current value by the drive circuit. There is the problem that the circuit for this control ends up increasing the number of parts. It is easier to increase the resolution of the time than the resolution of the current value, so in general the pulse width modulation system such as shown by the current waveform of FIG. 2 is adopted.
Due to the nature of human senses, the luminance of light blinking in a manner staying lit for less than {fraction (1/60)} of a second is perceived to have a constant luminance. Therefore, even an LED is driven by a current of the waveform shown in FIG. 2, if the period T of the current is shorter than the aforesaid time, the blinking light from the LED can be made to be perceived by people as light of a constant luminance. Further, generally, the magnitude of the luminance of an LED perceived by the human senses is proportional to the current flowing through the LED averaged over time. Therefore, the luminance changes in proportion with the duty of the pulse current.
The level of a video signal input to an LED display, however, is normalized in advance to match the luminance characteristics of a cathode ray tube (CRT). If such a video signal is input as it is to an LED, which has different luminance characteristics from a CRT pixel, the following problem arises.
FIG. 3 is a view of the relation of the luminances of an LED and CRT pixel with the level of an input signal.
In FIG. 3, the ordinate represents the luminance of an LED or CRT pixel by a relative value, while the abscissa represents the level of the signal input to an LED or a CRT pixel by a relative value. The curves indicated by A and B show the luminance characteristics of a CRT pixel and an LED, respectively.
Note that for the luminance characteristic A of a CRT pixel, the level of the signal is expressed by voltage, while for the luminance characteristic B of an LED, the level of the signal is expressed by the current flowing through the LED.
As shown in FIG. 3, the luminance of an LED has a linear relationship with the signal level, while the luminance of the CRT pixel has a nonlinear relationship with the signal level. In general, the luminance of a CRT pixel is proportional to the 2.2th power of the voltage level of the video signal. If a current proportional to a video signal normalized to match such a ce due to the above luminance characteristic of the video signal is input to the drive circuit 100 as the above video signal Spx. Specifically, for example, when driving an LED of a linear luminance characteristic by a video signal produced to match with CRT pixel emitting light of a luminance proportional to the 2.2th power of the signal level, a signal proportional to the 2.2th power of the video signal is generated to drive the LED.
In order to solve this problem, in an LED display of the related art, a signal corrected to eliminate the influence due to the above luminance characteristic of the video signal is input to the drive circuit 100 as the above video signal spx. Specifically, for example, when driving an LED of a linear luminance characteristic by a video signal produced to match with CRT pixel emitting light of a luminance proportional to the 2.2th power of the signal level, a signal proportional to the 2.2th power of the video signal is generated to drive the LED.
Summarizing the disadvantage to be solved by the invention, if the bit length of the original video signal is not sufficiently large, the binary data obtained by raising this digitalized image data to the 2.2th power is incapable of expressing fine changes of value in the region where the value of the original video signal is small. In other words, if the bit length of the digitalized video signal is small, the grey scale ends up rough in the low luminance region resulting in an unnatural picture. In order to avoid such a disadvantage, it is necessary to increase the bit length of the video signal. Specifically, in an LED display of the related art, it is necessary to generate a video signal of a length of 12 to 16 bits to reproduce a picture which had been expressed by a video signal of a length of 8 bits in the case of a CRT. If the bit length of the video signal is increased in this way, the bit length of the pulse width modulation circuits for driving the LEDs also has to be increased, so the overall circuit scale becomes larger and the cost and power consumption rise.
Further, the pulse-like waveform shown in FIG. 2 is generally generated by counting a clock signal serving as a time reference. Increasing the bit length of a video signal means increasing the number of times to count the clock signal by that extent, so when using a clock signal of the same frequency, the period T of pulse width modulation ends up longer. For example, when generating and modulating the pulse width of a 12-bit video signal, 4 bits larger than an 8-bit video signal, and comparing them with the same frequency of the clock signal, the period T of pulse width modulation becomes 16 times that of an 8-bit video signal. Since the period T of pulse width modulation is set using the characteristic of the human senses described above, if this period is too long, xe2x80x9cflickeringxe2x80x9d where the blinking of the light will be perceived by the human eye will be caused and the picture will become hard to view. Furthermore, this flickering by nature is more noticeable to the human eye in an LED display compared with a CRT, so the period T of pulse width modulation has to be several times higher than that of the usual refresh rate, for example, for example {fraction (1/50)} of a second.
To increase the bit length of a video signal and shorten the period T of pulse width modulation, it is enough to increase the frequency of the clock signal used in the pulse width modulation circuit, but this has the disadvantage of increasing the power consumption of the circuit. Further, as it is difficult to further increase the current frequency of 10 to 20 MHZ 10 or more fold, there is a limit to increasing the frequency of the clock signal.
An object of the present invention is to provide a modulation circuit outputting a pulse signal having a pulse length modulated in accordance with the value of the input data which is capable of setting the relationship between the input data and the pulse length to match with a predetermined characteristic without increasing the bit length of the input data or applying processing such as correction of the input data and an image display provided with such a modulation circuit.
To attain the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modulation circuit for outputting a pulse signal modulated in accordance with the value of input data by a predetermined period, comprising a clock generation circuit for generating and outputting a first clock pulse changing in frequency by the predetermined period; a clock counting circuit for receiving the first clock pulse, counting the first clock pulse from a predetermined initial value in an initial stage of the predetermined period, and outputting a clock count; and a pulse signal output circuit for comparing magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data and inverting a level of the pulse signal in the vicinity of a time when the magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data invert.
According to the modulation circuit of the present invention, the first clock pulse generated in the clock generation circuit is made variable in frequency in the predetermined period. The first clock pulse is counted from a predetermined initial value in the initial stage of the predetermined period in the clock counting circuit, and the count result is output as the clock count. The magnitudes of the clock count and the input data are compared in the pulse signal output circuit, and the pulse signal output by the pulse signal output circuit is inverted in level in the vicinity of the time when the magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data invert.
Preferably, the clock pulse generation circuit includes a frequency division setting circuit for outputting a frequency division setting changing in value by the predetermined period and a prescaler for receiving a second clock pulse and the frequency division setting, dividing the second clock pulse by a frequency division number in accordance with the frequency division setting, and outputting the first clock pulse.
According to the modulation circuit of the present invention having the above configuration, a frequency division setting changing in value by the predetermined period is generated and output at the frequency division setting circuit. The second clock pulse is divided by a frequency division number in accordance with the frequency division setting in the prescaler, and the divided signal is output as the first clock pulse. Accordingly, the period of the first clock pulse is changed by the predetermined period in accordance with the value of the frequency division setting.
Preferably, the clock pulse generation circuit includes a frequency division setting circuit for outputting a frequency division setting changing in value by the predetermined period; a prescaler for receiving the first clock pulse and the frequency division setting, dividing the first clock pulse by a frequency division number in accordance with the frequency division setting, and outputting a feedback signal; a phase comparison circuit for detecting a phase difference between a second clock pulse and the feedback signal and outputting a phase difference signal in accordance with the related phase difference; and an oscillation circuit for outputting the first clock pulse having a period in accordance with a level of the phase difference signal.
According to the modulation circuit of the present invention having the above configuration, the phase difference between the second clock pulse and the feedback signal is detected at the phase comparison circuit and a phase difference signal of a level in accordance with the related phase difference is generated and output. Then, this phase difference signal is input to the oscillation circuit, and the first clock pulse having a period in accordance with the level of the phase difference signal is generated and output at the oscillation circuit. Further, the first clock pulse is input to the prescaler, divided, and input as the period signal to the phase comparison circuit. The frequency division number of the prescaler is made variable by the frequency division setting generated by the frequency division setting circuit. The frequency division setting is generated as a signal changing by the predetermined period by the frequency division setting circuit. Accordingly, the period of the first clock pulse is made variable by the predetermined period in accordance with the value of the frequency division setting.
Preferably, the clock pulse generation circuit includes a frequency division circuit for dividing the first clock pulse by a predetermined frequency division number and outputting a frequency divided signal; a phase comparison circuit for detecting the phase difference between pulse period signal having the predetermined period and the frequency divided signal, and outputting a phase difference signal of a level in accordance with the phase difference; a variable clock period circuit for outputting a variable clock period signal varying in level by the predetermined period; and an oscillation circuit for outputting the first clock pulse having a period in accordance with the sum of levels of the variable clock period signal and the phase difference signal.
According to the modulation circuit of the present invention having the above configuration, in the frequency division circuit, the first clock pulse is divided by the predetermined frequency division number and a divided signal is output. The phase difference between the divided signal and a pulse period signal having the predetermined period is detected at the phase comparison circuit, and a phase difference signal of a level in accordance with the related phase difference is generated and output. On the other hand, the variable clock period signal varying in level by the predetermined period is generated in the variable clock period circuit. The clock period signal and the phase difference signal are input to the oscillation circuit. In the oscillation circuit, the first clock pulse having a period in accordance with the sum of levels of the clock period signal and the phase difference signal is generated and output. Accordingly, the period of the first clock pulse is changed by the predetermined period in accordance with the level of the clock period signal.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modulation circuit for outputting a pulse signal modulated in accordance with a value of input data by a predetermined period comprising a clock generation circuit for generating and outputting a first clock pulse having a frequency in accordance with the value of the input data; a clock counting circuit for receiving the first clock pulse, counting the first clock pulse from a predetermined initial value in an initial stage of the predetermined period, and outputting a clock count; and a pulse signal output circuit for comparing magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data and inverting a level of the pulse signal in the vicinity of a time when the magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data invert.
According to the modulation circuit of the present invention having the above configuration, the first clock pulse generated in the clock generation circuit is set in accordance with the value of the input data. The first clock pulse is counted from a predetermined initial value in the initial stage of the predetermined period in the clock counting circuit, and the count result is output as the clock count. The magnitudes of the clock count and the input data are compared in the pulse signal output circuit, and the pulse signal output by the pulse signal output circuit is inverted in level in the vicinity of the time when the magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data invert.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display having a light emission element receiving a pulse signal modulated in accordance with a value of input data and emitting light with a luminance in accordance with the level of the pulse signal comprising a clock generation circuit for generating and outputting a first clock pulse changing in frequency by a predetermined period; a clock counting circuit for receiving the first clock pulse, counting the first clock pulse from a predetermined initial value in an initial stage of the predetermined period, and outputting a clock count; and a pulse signal output circuit for comparing magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data and inverting a level of the pulse signal in the vicinity of a time when the magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data invert.
According to the image display of the present invention having the above configuration, the first clock pulse generated in the clock generation circuit is changed in frequency by a predetermined period. The first clock pulse is counted from a predetermined initial value in the initial stage of the predetermined period in the clock counting circuit, and the count result is output as the clock count. The magnitudes of the clock count and the input data are compared in the pulse signal output circuit, and the pulse signal output by the pulse signal output circuit is inverted in level in the vicinity of the time when the magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data invert. The light emission element receiving the pulse signal emits light with a luminance in accordance with the level of the pulse signal.
Preferably, the clock pulse generation circuit includes a frequency division setting circuit for outputting a frequency division setting changing in value by the predetermined period and a prescaler for receiving a second clock pulse and the frequency division setting, dividing the second clock pulse by a frequency division number in accordance with the frequency division setting, and outputting the first clock pulse.
According to the image display of the present invention having the above configuration, a frequency division setting changing in value by a predetermined period is generated and output at the frequency division setting circuit. The second clock pulse is divided by a frequency division number in accordance with the frequency division setting in the prescaler, and the divided signal is output as the first clock pulse. Accordingly, the period of the first clock pulse is changed in accordance with the value of the frequency division setting by the predetermined period.
Preferably, the clock pulse generation circuit includes a frequency division setting circuit outputting the frequency division setting having the value varying by the predetermined period, a prescaler receiving the first clock pulse and the frequency division setting and outputting a feedback signal obtained by dividing the frequency of the first clock pulse by the frequency division number in accordance with the frequency division setting, a phase comparison circuit detecting a phase difference between a second clock pulse and the feedback signal and outputting a phase difference signal of a level in accordance with the related phase difference, and an oscillation circuit outputting the first clock pulses having the period in accordance with the level of the phase difference signal.
According to the image display of the present invention having the above configuration, the phase difference between the second clock pulse and the feedback signal is detected at the phase comparison circuit, and a phase difference signal of a level in accordance with the phase difference is generated and output. Then, the phase difference signal is input to the oscillation circuit, and a first clock pulse having a period in accordance with the level of the phase difference signal is generated and output in the oscillation circuit. Further, the first clock pulse is input to the prescaler and divided and input as the period signal to the phase comparison circuit. The frequency division number of the prescaler is changed by the frequency division setting generated by the frequency division setting circuit. The frequency division setting is generated by the frequency division setting circuit as a signal changing by a predetermined period. Accordingly, the period of the first clock pulse is made variable in accordance with the value of the frequency division setting by the predetermined period.
Preferably, the clock pulse generation circuit includes a frequency division circuit for dividing the first clock pulse by the predetermined frequency division number and outputting a frequency divided signal and a phase comparison circuit for detecting a phase difference between a pulse period signal having the predetermined period and the frequency divided signal and outputting a phase difference signal of a level in accordance with the related phase difference and the oscillation circuit outputs the first clock pulse having a period in accordance with a sum of levels of the variable clock period signal and the phase difference signal.
According to the image display of the present invention having the above configuration, the first clock pulse is divided by a predetermined frequency division number and the divided signal is generated and output at the frequency division circuit. The phase difference between the divided signal and a pulse period signal having the predetermined period is detected at the phase comparison circuit, and a phase difference signal of a level in accordance with the phase difference is generated and output. On the other hand, a variable clock period signal changing in level by the predetermined period is generated in the variable clock period circuit, and the clock period signal and the phase difference signal are input to the oscillation circuit. In the oscillation circuit, a first clock pulse having a period in accordance with the sum of levels of the clock period signal and the phase difference signal is generated and output. Accordingly, the period of the first clock pulse is made variable in accordance with the level of the clock period signal by the predetermined period.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display having a light emission element receiving a pulse signal modulated in accordance with a value of input data and emitting light with a luminance in accordance with the level of the pulse signal; a clock generation circuit for generating and outputting a first clock pulse having a frequency in accordance with the value of the input data; a clock counting circuit for receiving the first clock pulse, counting the first clock pulse from a predetermined initial value in an initial stage of the predetermined period, and outputting a clock count; and a pulse signal output circuit for comparing magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data and inverting a level of the pulse signal in the vicinity of a time when the magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data invert.
According to the image display of the present invention having the above configuration, the first clock pulse generated in the clock generation circuit is set in accordance with the value of the input data. The first clock pulse is counted from the predetermined initial value in the initial stage of the predetermined period in the clock counting circuit, and the related count result is output as the clock count. The magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data are compared at the pulse signal output circuit, and the level of the output signal of the pulse signal output by the pulse signal output circuit is inverted in the vicinity of the time when the magnitudes of the clock count and the value of the input data invert. The light emission element receiving the pulse signal input thereto emits light with luminance in accordance with the level of the pulse signal.

Modulation circuit and image display using the same


A simplified multilevel DC converter circuit structure comprises a dual input DC power supply, a power control module and an AC side low-pass filter, wherein each of the dual input DC power supply supplies half of the rated DC voltage to the power control module, and the power control module is composed of six power switches, and different switching combinations of each power switch are controlled to convert a DC voltage to an output of an AC voltage, and two of the power switches of the power control module perform a low-frequency switching twice every cycle of the output voltage, and the withstand voltage is equal to the input voltage, and the remaining power switches perform the switching by a high frequency, and the withstand voltage is only half of the input voltage, such that a multilevel voltage can be outputted, and a low harmonic AC waveform can be outputted from the AC side low-pass filter.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a DC converter circuit, in particular to a simplified multilevel DC converter circuit structure comprising six power switches.
(b) Description of the Related Art
With reference to FIG. 15 for a conventional DC converter circuit, the DC converter circuit includes eight power switches Sa1, Sa2, Sa3, Sa4, Sb1, Sb2, Sb3, Sb4, wherein different switching combinations of the power switches are controlled to achieve the effect of converting a DC voltage to an AC voltage for the output.
However, the foregoing conventional DC converter circuit adopts eight power switches Sa1, Sa2, Sa3, Sa4, Sb1, Sb2, Sb3, Sb4, not only involving too many components, but also failing to lower the component cost effectively, since every power switch has to bear a withstand voltage equal to the supply voltage. Furthermore, all power switches perform the switching operation at a high frequency when the conventional DC converter circuit converts direct currents, and thus incurring a higher switching loss and an easier damage to the power switches.

Simplified multilevel DC converter circuit structure

National Penghu University of Science and Technology


A check valve includes a housing, a bore, and a liftably movable valve body which is spring-loaded at least after a small axial travel of the valve body and tightly contacts a valve seat. The bore is constructed as a stepped bore, the bore section of smaller diameter having the valve seat, and the bore section of larger diameter receiving the liftably movable valve member. A ball which is held captive by a holding element arranged in the bore is provided as valve body. The valve seat has a contour corresponding to the valve body in the area of the contact surface of the valve body.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a check valve comprising a housing, a bore, and a liftably movable valve body which is spring-loaded at least after a small axial travel of the valve body and tightly contacts a valve seat, wherein the bore is constructed as a stepped bore, the bore section of smaller diameter having the valve seat, and the bore section of larger diameter receiving the liftably movable valve member, and a ball which is held captive by a holding element arranged in the bore is provided as valve body.
2. Description of the Related Art
Check valves in which a liftably movable valve body is arranged in a spring-loaded manner in a bore arranged in a housing are already known (US2008/0029165). The valve body is arranged in a stepped bore, and the transition of the bore section having the larger diameter to the inflow bore section having the smaller diameter forms the valve seat which is contacted by a ball serving as valve body. The housings in check valves of this kind are usually made of sintered metal. The valve seat is machined in a suitable manner to achieve a flawless seating of the valve body on the valve seat.


The present invention provides a protein having an A chain of a ricin-like toxin, a B chain of a ricin-like toxin and a heterologous linker amino acid sequence, linking the A and B chains. The linker sequence contains a cleavage recognition site for a retroviral protease. The invention also relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding the protein and to expression vectors incorporating the nucleic acid molecule. Also provided is a method of inhibiting or destroying mammalian cells infected with a retrovirus utilizing the proteins of the invention and pharmaceutical compositions for treating HIV infection.

Bacteria and plants are known to produce cytotoxic proteins which may consist of one, two or several polypeptides or subunits. Those proteins having a single subunit may be loosely classified as Type I proteins. Many of the cytotoxins which have evolved two subunit structures are referred to as type II proteins (Saelinger, C. B. in Trafficking of Bacterial Toxins (eds. Saelinger, C. B.) 1-13 (CRC Press Inc., Boca Raton, Fla., 1990). One subunit, the A chain, possesses the toxic activity whereas the second subunit, the B chain, binds cell surfaces and mediates entry of the toxin into a target cell. A subset of these toxins kill target cells by inhibiting protein biosynthesis. For example, bacterial toxins such as diphtheria toxin or Pseudomonas exotoxin inhibit protein synthesis by inactivating elongation factor 2. Plant toxins such as ricin work by directly inactivating ribosomes [Olsnes, S. & Phil, A. in Molecular action of toxins and viruses (eds. Cohen, P. & vanHeyningen, S.); 51-105 (Elsevier Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, 1982].
Ricin, derived from the seeds of Ricinus communis (castor oil plant), is the most potent of the plant toxins. It is estimated that a single ricin A chain is able to inactivate ribosomes at a rate of 1500 ribosomes/minute. Consequently, a single molecule of ricin is enough to kill a cell (Olsnes, S. & Phil, A. in Molecular action of toxins and viruses (eds. Cohen, P. & vanHeyningen, S.) 51-105 (Elsevier Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, 1982). The ricin toxin is a glycosylated heterodimer with A and B chain molecular masses of 30,625 Da and 31,431 Da respectively. The A chain of ricin has an N-glycosidase activity and catalyzes the excision of a specific adenine residue from the 285 rRNA of eukaryotic ribosomes (Endo, Y; & Tsurugi, K. J. Biol. Chem. 262:8128 (1987)). The B chain of ricin, although not toxic in itself, promotes the toxicity of the A chain by binding to galactose residues on the surface of eukaryotic cells and stimulating receptor-mediated endocytosis of the toxin molecule (Simmons et al. Biol. Chem. 261:7912 (1986)).
Protein toxins are initially produced in an inactive, precursor form. Ricin is initially produced as a single polypeptide (preproricin) with a 35 amino acid N-terminal presequence and 12 amino acid linker between the A and B chains. The pre-sequence is removed during translocation of the ricin precursor into the endoplasmic reticulum (Lord, J. M. Eur. J. Biochem. 146:403-409 (1985) and Lord, J. M. Eur. J. Biochem. 146:411-416 (1985)). The proricin is then translocated into specialized organelles called protein bodies where a plant protease cleaves the protein at a linker region between the A and B chains (Lord, J. M. et al., FASAB Journal 8:201-208 (1994)). The two chains, however, remain covalently attached by an interchain disulfide bond (cysteine 259 in the A chain to cysteine 4 in the B chain) and mature disulfide linked ricin is secreted from the plant cells. The A chain is inactive in the proricin (O'Hare, M., et al. FEBS Lett. 273:200-204 (1990)) and it is inactive in the disulfide-linked mature ricin (Richardson, P. T., et al. FEBS Lett. 255:15-20 (1989)). The ribosomes of the castor bean plant are themselves susceptible to inactivation by ricin A chain; however, as there is no cell surface galactose to permit B chain recognition the A chain cannot re-enter the cell. The exact mechanism of A chain release and activation in target cell cytoplasm is not known (Lord, J. M. et al., FASAB Journal 8:201-208 (1994)). However, it is known that for activation to take place the disulfide bond between the A and B chains must be reduced and, hence, the linkage between subunits broken.
The ricin gene has been cloned and sequenced, and the X-ray crystal structures of the A and B chains have been described (Rutenber, E., et al. Proteins 10:240-250 (1991); Weston et al., Mol. Bio. 244.410-422, 1994; Lamb and Lord Eur. J. Biochem. 14:265 (1985); Halling, K., et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 13:8019 (1985)). Due to its extreme toxicity there has been much interest in making ricin-based immunotoxins as therapeutic agents for destroying or inhibiting target cells or organisms (Vitetta et al., Science 238:1098-1104 (1987)). An immunotoxin is a conjugate of a specific cell-binding component, such as a monoclonal antibody or growth factor and the toxin in which the two protein components are covalently linked. Generally, the components are chemically coupled. However, the linkage may also be a peptide or disulfide bond. The antibody directs the toxin to cell types presenting a specific antigen thereby providing a specificity of action not possible with the natural toxin. Immunotoxins have been made both with the entire ricin molecule (i.e. both chains) and with the ricin A chain alone ( Spooner et al. Mol. Immunol. 31:117-125, (1994)).
Immunotoxins made with the ricin dimer (IT-Rs) are more potent toxins than those made with only the A chain (IT-As). The increased toxicity of IT-Rs is thought to be attributed to the dual role of the B chains in binding to the cell surface and in translocating the A chain to the cytosolic compartment of the target cell (Vitetta et al., Science 238:1098-1104(1987); Vitetta & Thorpe Seminars in Cell Biology 2:47-58 (1991)). However, the presence of the B chain in these conjugates also promotes the entry of the immunotoxin into nontarget cells. Even small amounts of B chain may override the specificity of the cell-binding component as the B chain binds nonspecifically to N-glycosylated galactose, present on most cells. IT-As are more specific and safer to use than IT-Rs. However, in the absence of the B chain the A chain has greatly reduced toxicity.
A number of immunotoxins have been designed to recognize antigens on the surfaces of tumour cells. A major problem with the use of ITs is that often the target antigen is also found on non-tumour cells (Vitetta et al., Immunology Today 14:252-259 (1993)). Also, due to the reduced potency of IT-As as compared to ITRs, large doses of IT-As must be administered to patients. The large doses frequently cause immune responses and production of neutralizing antibodies in patients (Vitetta et al., Science 238:1098-1104(1987)). IT-As and IT-Rs both suffer from reduced toxicity as the A chain is not released from the conjugate into the target cell cytoplasm.
The insertion of intramolecular cleavage sites between the cytotoxic and cell-binding components of a toxin can mimic the way that the natural toxin is activated. European patent application no. 466,222 describes the use of maize-derived pro-proteins which can be converted into active form by cleavage with extracellular blood enzymes such as factor Xa, thrombin or collagenase. Westby et al. (Bioconjugate Chem., 3:375-381, 1992) documented fusion proteins which have a specific cell binding component and proricin with a protease sensitive cleavage site specific for factor Xa within the linker sequence. O'Hare et al. (FEBS Lett. 273:200-204, 1990) also describe a recombinant fusion protein of RTA and staphylococcal protein A joined by a trypsin-sensitive cleavage site. In view of the prevalence of the extracellular proteases utilized in these approaches, such artificial activation of the toxin precursor or immunotoxin do not confer a mechanism for intracellular toxin activation, and the problems of target specificity and adverse immunological reactions to the cell-binding component of the immunotoxin remain.
In view of the extreme toxicity of proteins such as ricin, the lack of specificity of the immunotoxins may severely limit their usefulness as therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. The preparation of a suitable specific cell binding component may be problematic. For example, antigens specific for the target cell may not be available and many potential target cells and infective organisms can alter their antigenic make up rapidly to avoid immune recognition.
The potential of bacterial and plant toxins for inhibiting mammalian retroviruses, particularly AIDS, has been investigated. Bacterial toxins such as Pseudomonas exotoxin-A and subunit A of diphtheria toxin; dual chain ribosomal inhibitory plant toxins, such as ricin and single chain ribosomal inhibitory proteins such as trichosanthin and poke weed antiviral protein have been used for the elimination of HIV infected cells (Olson et al. 1991, AIDS Res. and Human Retroviruses 7:1025-1030). The high toxicity of these toxins for mammalian cells, combined with a lack of specificity of action poses a major problem to the development of pharmaceuticals incorporating the toxins, such as immunotoxins.
Immunotoxins are designed such that their specificity of action is determined solely by the antibody component; antigen presenting cells are preferentially destroyed by the drug (Pastan et al., Annals New York Academy of Sciences 758:345-353 (1995)). The toxin protein of immunotoxin conjugates does not give the therapeutic any additional specificity of action; it will bring about the destruction of any cell it is delivered to.


A ventilator wind scoop system is disclosed for attachment to a boat deck hatch having a hinged hatch cover which opens to uncover the hatch opening whereby the scoop system communicates through such opening with the boat's below deck space. The scoop system has a flexible air entrance unit formed of first and second fabric panels fixed in line contact with each other along their forward edges. The first panel, which is positioned forward and over the front edge of the hatch cover, contains a screened, rectangular opening through which air passes to flow over the top of the second panel that extends under the hatch cover and between two triangular side wedges. The second panel provides a louvre that collects any water entering the screened opening and carries it forward, away from the hatch opening. The wind scoop system is easily customized to fit a wide variety of hatch sizes and when not is use folds into a compact size for easy stowage.

l. Field of the Invention
This application relates to boat hatch wind scoop systems. More particularly, it concerns wind scoops for ventilating below deck space of a boat through a hatch while preventing water from entering through the hatchway.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Ventilation of the below deck space of sailboats, power boats and like marine craft is essential to the comfort of passengers, preservation of stores, prevention of mildew, etc. Larger craft frequently are provided with air conditioning equipment, but smaller craft and even larger sailboats do not enjoy this luxury. Hence, many marine craft must depend on more basic, passive ventilation devices, e.g., dorade boxes, scoop ventilators, hinged hatches, etc.
Many boats with below deck space possess one or more hinged closure hatches opening through the deck and a number of ventilator devices have been devised for deflecting or otherwise facilitating flow of air below deck through such hatches, e.g., see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,434,740; 4,706,593; 4,759,271; 4,938,123 and 5,022,339. The present invention provides further improved marine craft ventilation systems of this general type.


A sensor kit comprising a sensor for detecting an analyte, a sensor housing and a calibration chamber. The calibration chamber comprises a first compartment containing a first calibration solution and a second compartment containing a source of the analyte to be detected. A dividing material is located between the first and second compartments enabling them to be mixed on breakage or removal of the dividing material. Further compartment(s) containing further source(s) of the analyte may optionally be provided. Calibration can carried out by (a) taking a reading of the analyte concentration of the first calibration solution, (b) mixing the contents of the first and second compartments by breaking or removing the dividing material, and (c) taking a reading of the analyte concentration of the resulting mixture. Steps (b) and (c) can be repeated for further compartment(s) to provide further reading(s) if desired.

The usual aim in developing a chemical sensor or biosensor is to produce a digital electronic signal, which is proportional to the concentration of a specific chemical or set of chemicals (analyte). The sensor usually comprises two main components, a chemical or biological part that reacts or complexes with the analyte in question (ideally specifically) to form new chemical or biological products or changes in energy that can be detected by means of the second component, a transducer. The chemical/biological component can be said to act as a receptor/indicator for the analyte. A variety of transduction methods can be used including electrochemical (such as potentiometric, amperometric, conductimetric, impedimetric), optical, calorimetric and acoustic. After transduction the signal is usually converted to an electronic digital signal.
Since the signal generated by the chemical/biological reaction with the analyte is usually dependent not only on the concentration of the analyte but also on the characteristics of the sensor itself, such sensors usually require calibration before they can be utilised quantitatively. The way in which the signal varies with the analyte concentration determines the shape of the calibration curve (signal versus analyte concentration) and may define the number of calibration points. Typical calibration curves can be straight line, exponential, s-shaped etc. and the principal of calibration applies to all methodologies of transduction for chemical or biological sensors.
Calibration of sensors with an invasive medical application has its own set of specific issues. Invasive or implantable medical sensors must be presented to the patient in a sterile condition, and are often single use, disposable devices. Ideally, the sensor should be calibrated just before its use since some sensor characteristics that can affect the calibration curve vary with time (ageing effect). It is often the case that the time between sensor manufacture and use can be many months, so calibration at the point of manufacture can lead to inaccuracies in the end result. This means that the attendant clinician or nurse will be required to perform the calibration whilst maintaining sterility of the sensor. Additional constraints applied by the clinician/nurse are that the calibration process should be simple to perform, ideally invisible to the person performing the calibration, and be quickly completed (preferably in less than 10 minutes).
Calibration of many currently available medical sensors requires the clinician/nurse to carry out a number of specific steps which can lead to errors or inaccuracies in the measurement if the process is not followed correctly. There is therefore a need for a more simple calibration process, useful in connection with any invasive or implantable device, which fulfills the above discussed requirements.
Sterilization of such devices can also provide difficulties. The sterilisation process is typically carried out at the point of manufacture to avoid difficulties with poor or incomplete sterilisation procedures at a hospital or clinic, and to save time on behalf of the clinician or nurse. Three forms of sterilisation are commonly used for the sterilisation of medical devices: steam, irradiation, and ethylene oxide. Steam is usually used for metal surgical instruments, bandages and liquids within containers but is not appropriate for devices with low melting plastic components or labile chemical or biological components since steam sterilisation usually takes place at temperatures above 116 C. Irradiation, usually gamma irradiation, is a penetrating means of sterilisation and can therefore sterilise liquids in containers but can degrade many plastics, chemicals and biological materials. This degradation is most likely to occur in the presence of water and oxygen. Ethylene oxide sterilisation is a surface sterilant that generally does not degrade the receptor and other materials that comprise a sensor, but should only be used to sterilise materials that are free from significant amounts of water, since the ethylene oxide can react with the water to form ethylene glycol. Thus ethylene oxide is the preferred means of sterilising chemical sensors.
Ethylene oxide sterilization, however, has a number of drawbacks. Firstly, it is usual in sensor construction to immobilise the receptor to the transducer and this is usually achieved by the utilisation of polymeric materials. If the sensor is to measure water-soluble analytes, and analytes soluble in blood plasma, the polymeric immobilisation material must be hydrophilic (readily adsorb water) to allow the diffusion of the analyte through the immobilisation material to the receptor material and allow measurement to take peace. To sterilise such a sensor with ethylene oxide, all water must be removed from the hydrophilic material prior to sterilisation.
Secondly, to calibrate a sensor that is to measure a water-soluble analyte at the point of use, the user must immerse the sensor in water based solutions of the analyte (or analogues of the analyte) whilst maintaining sterile integrity. However, a calibration vessel, containing calibration solution(s), cannot be sterilised with ethylene oxide, which is a surface sterilant, and therefore must be sterilised by heat or preferably irradiation. The calibration solution(s) are therefore typically provided in separately sterilised packaging from the sensor. During calibration, sterility may be lost due to the need to break these packages to carry out the calibration process.
There is therefore also a need for a means of calibrating a sensor which avoids loss of sterility during calibration.


Due to rapid advancement in computing technology of both hardware and software, the labor intensive sewing process has been transformed into a technology-intensive automated process. During an automated process, product materials may become wrinkled or folded, which can slow down the automated process or result in human intervention. Various examples are provided related to the automation of sewing robots, and removal of wrinkles from products. Images of material on a work table can be captured and analyzed to determine if there are wrinkles or folds in the product. The robot can remove the wrinkle or fold by manipulating the material through the use of end effectors such as, e.g., budgers.

Clothing is one of the necessities of human life and a means of personal expression. As such, clothing or garment manufacturing is one of the oldest and largest industries in the world. However, unlike other mass industries such as the automobile industry, the apparel industry is primarily supported by a manual production line. The need for automation in garment manufacturing has been recognized by many since the early 1980s. During the 1980s, millions of dollars were spent on apparel industry research in the United States, Japan and industrialized Europe. For example, a joint $55 million program between the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and Industry, called the TRAAS, was started in 1982. The goal of the program was to automate the garment manufacturing process from start, with a roll of product, to finish, with a complete, inspected garment. While the project claimed to be successful and did demonstrate a method to produce tailored women's jackets, it failed to compete with traditional methodologies.
Currently, a sewing machine uses what is known as a feed dog to move the product through the sewing head relying on the operator to maintain the product orientation and keep up with the feed rate for the rest of the good. Previous attempts at automated sewing used the feed dogs on a standard sewing machine and had a robot perform exactly the operations a human user would perform. Desirable in the art is an improved automated sewing machine that would improve upon the conventional automated sewing designs that are unable to process wrinkles and/or folds, which may be introduced while the product to be sewn is moving on a robotic sewing system. The value of this disclosure is to provide a flat piece of a product to be sewn for an automated sewing machine allowing the machine to function properly without mistakes caused by a wrinkle or bump in the product to be sewn.
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also correspond to implementations of the claimed technology.


A force motor having four magnetic lanes arranged annularly around an axially movable central shaft, where the shaft is connected to an armature which also moves axially with the shaft within a gap located between two coils forming each lane of the motor. The four magnetic lanes are electrically and magnetically independent and provide three levels of safety-redundancy in case of coil failure.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to electrical solenoids that produce a linear, axial force, and, more specifically, to that class of electrical solenoids known as force motors which produce a relatively short displacement which is proportional to a driving current.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Solenoids are generally characterized by an actuation direction which does not change with regard to the direction of the energizing current. In other words, if a direct current supply has its polarity reversed, the solenoid still provides axial movement in the same direction.
Force motors are distinguished from solenoids in that they use a permanent magnet field to pre-bias the air gap of a solenoid such that movement of the armature of the force motor is dictated by the direction of current in the coil. Reversal of the polarity of current flow will reverse the direction of the force motor armature displacement.
Force motors are frequently used to drive a valve spool in a high performance aircraft where efficiencies of weight, size, cost and power consumption are of prime consideration. It is, therefore, advantageous to minimize losses associated with producing high magnetic forces and to minimize the size of the permanent magnets which normally have relative costs higher than the solenoid iron.
FIG. 1 in the present application illustrates a conventional force motor with a simplified construction for ease of explanation. A stator 10 includes mounting brackets 12 and an iron core which provides a path for flux travel. The armature 14 is mounted on and moves with output shaft 16. Included in the stator mount is permanent magnet 18 which generates a flux flow through the stator and the armature as indicated by the solid line arrows 20. This flux from magnet 18 travels in opposite directions across air gaps 22 and 24. Coils 26 and 28 are provided and are wound so as to provide flux flow paths indicated by dotted line arrows 30 which cross air gaps 22 and 24 in the same direction. Operation of the prior art force motor provides an output movement by shaft 16 when current in one direction is provided to coils 26 and 28 and movement of the output shaft in the opposite direction when the opposite current flow is provided to coils 26 and 28. This movement direction is caused by the fact that, as shown in FIG. 1, flux flow generated by the permanent magnet 18 (shown by solid line arrows 20) is in the same direction as coil generated flux flow (indicated by dotted line arrows 30) across air gap 22, but in an opposite direction across air gap 24. This causes a greater attraction at air gap 22 than would exist at air gap 24, and, thus, the armature is attracted towards the left-hand stator portion moving the output shaft to the left. Obviously, if the current flow in both coils 26 and 28 were reversed, the direction of the coil generated flux flow paths shown by dotted line arrows 30 would be reversed for both air gaps 22 and 24. It is noted that the permanent magnet 18 can be mounted in the stator assembly, as shown, or may be part of the armature.
If the coil generated flux flow were reverse (by winding the coil differently or merely reversing the polarity of the direct current supply) the flux flow would be cumulative across air gap 24 and differential across air gap 22, resulting in the armature movement to the right and consequent output shaft movement to the right. Air gaps 22 and 24 are designated working air gaps in which the flux passes through an air gap and, as a result, generates an attractive force between the stator and armature which is in the axial direction. The prior art force motors also have an additional air gap 32 which may be characterized as a non-working air gap in flux flow in the radial direction; and thus, even though there is an attraction between the stator and armature, this does not result in any increase in force in the axial or operational direction of the force motor. In order to maximize flux flow (minimizing air gaps). this dimension is made as small as possible (minimizing reluctance of the flux flow path), although a sufficient clearance must be maintained to allow for relative movement between the stator and armature.
Another force motor of the prior art is illustrated in FIG. 2. The motor 34 of FIG. 2 utilizes four coils 36, 38, 40, 42 annularly centered on shaft and armature assembly 44, which is axially slidable to the right or left. The electrical energizing of any one coil establishes lines of magnetic flux which is called a "lane", and the energizing of all four coils provides four lanes. Spacers 46, 48 and centering springs 50, 52 help keep the shaft and armature assembly 44 centered in relation to working air gaps 54 and 56 and at a constant distance from the coils 36, 38, 40, 42. Permanent magnets 58, 60 are situated between pole pieces 62, 64 and spacers 46, 48, and have both North poles facing towards each other, thus generating static flux paths 66, 68 (solid lines). When coils 36, 38, 40, 42 are all electrically energized in parallel so that they all help generate flux path 70 (dotted lines), shaft and armature assembly 44 will be shifted to the left because of the cumulative effect of permanent magnet flux path 68 and coil-generated flux path 70 across air gap 54. A reversal of electric polarity in coils 36, 38, 40, 42 causes coil-generated flux path 70 to be oriented in the reverse direction (not shown), thus adding cumulatively to static flux path 66 across air gap 56, causing shaft and armature assembly 44 to be shifted to the right.
A major advantage of the motor of FIG. 2 over that of FIG. 1 is the fact that three levels of redundancy are built into the motor of FIG. 2, while the motor of FIG. 1 has none. If one, two or three of the coils of the motor of FIG. 2 fail, the remaining coil[s] can effectively actuate the shaft and any associated spool valve, if the coils are electrically connected to parallel drivers. The motor of FIG. 1, on the other hand, with only two serially-connected coils cannot provide any extra levels of redundancy.
There are a number of drawbacks to the motor of FIG. 2. First, the magnetic circuits of each coil share the same core structure so that voltage transients caused by a malfunction in one coil can induce undesirable voltages through the other coil[s], causing instability and erratic performance. Second, heat generated by shorted coils may be transferred to adjacent coils causing deteriorating performance and/or additional coil failure. Third if only a single energized coil on one end is energized, asymmetrical flux may be generated through the respective air gaps, resulting in asymmetrical attractive forces acting upon the armature through the respective air gaps, depending upon coil polarity.
Fourth, continued stacking of coils to increase the redundancy safety factor causes the length and weight of the motors to increase prohibitively, especially in aircraft use where space and weight are at a premium. Fifth, the motor of FIG. 2 uses a magnetically soft material between the working air gap and the magnet, causing the flux path in the gap to be less defined.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a multilane force motor possessing several layers of redundancy which provides symmetrical moving forces upon the moving parts during multilane failure, and which electrically and magnetically isolates all lanes in case of a coil short circuit or open circuit.


A washing machine motor drive device drives a motor using an inverter circuit, which implements a constant torque control through a change in the torque-revolution speed characteristic of the motor. This facilitates an easy control of braking torque (negative torque), thereby providing a maximized braking torque. An easy control of regenerative energy is also provided, and back electromotive force is consumed by the internal resistance of the motor. Practically described, DC power of a rectifier circuit connected to an alternating current source is converted by an inverter circuit into AC power for driving the motor for operating an agitator or a washing/spinning tub. Motor rotor position is detected by rotor position detector, motor current is detected by current detector, and a control device controls the inverter circuit for resolving the motor current into a current component corresponding to magnetic flux and a current component corresponding to torque. At a motor braking operation, the current component corresponding to magnetic flux and the current component corresponding to torque are controlled independently. As a result, the torque at high speed revolution can be increased, or the efficiency at low speed revolution can be improved. This leads to the use a downsized and energy-conscious motor, and contributes to the prevention of an abnormal rise of DC voltage in the inverter circuit.

The present invention relates to a device for driving washing machine motor using an inverter circuit.
It has been proposed to improve performance of a washing machine motor through vector control using an inverter circuit (an example of such a proposal is included in JP 11090088).
FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing the structure of a washing machine of the above-described category. In FIG. 28, a three-phase induction motor 100 drives an agitator 102, or a spin tub 104. Current detectors 126a, 126b, 126c detect the motor current and control the torque current component and the magnetizing current component independently as vectors for driving the motor via an inverter circuit 124. In this way, the motor 100 is increased in torque at low speed revolution, and driven with approximately the same torque characteristic as a DC brushless motor.
It is also proposed to apply electric braking to a washing machine motor using an inverter, for the purpose of improving the braking reliability and lowering the braking noise caused by a mechanical band brake (an example: the Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 2001-46777). Namely, it aims to improve the reliability by controlling at the revolution retardation of the sinusoidal wave voltage phase by means of PWM control so that the power generation energy is consumed by the internal resistance of a motor, in other words dynamic braking, without causing regenerative energy in a DC source of an inverter circuit.
In the above-described conventional configuration, however, vector technology using an inverter circuit for improving the performance of a motor works to improve torque of a three-phase induction motor at low speed revolution, but it is difficult to improve the efficiency of a motor. Moreover, the low efficiency of the three phase induction motor allows a large current to flow, resulting in increased motor noise. These are problems that need to be solved.
With respect to the electric braking of a motor by means of an inverter control, it needs a complicated control to have the entire power generation energy consumed by the internal resistance of a motor. Furthermore, it does not provide sufficient braking torque for the increasing brake current of a motor.
The present invention addresses the above drawbacks, and aims to offer a compact and energy-conscious motor with which a constant torque control can be performed by changing the motor torquexe2x80x94revolution speed characteristic, and the torque at high speed revolution can be increased, or the efficiency at low speed revolution can be improved.
A washing machine motor drive device in accordance with the present invention comprises an alternating current source, a rectifier circuit connected to the alternating current source, an inverter circuit for converting DC power of the rectifier circuit into AC power, a motor driven by the inverter circuit for driving an agitator or a washing/spinning tub, a rotor position detector for detecting the rotor position of the motor, a current detector for detecting motor current, and a control device for controlling the inverter circuit. The control device resolves motor current into a current component that corresponds to magnetic flux and a current component that corresponds to torque, and controls the current component corresponding to magnetic flux and the current component corresponding to torque independently in accordance with motor control stages. In the above-described structure, motor current of a DC brushless motor is detected to be resolved into a current component corresponding to magnetic flux and a current component corresponding to torque for practicing vector control. At low speed revolution, mainly the current component corresponding to torque is controlled for yielding maximized efficiency, while at high speed revolution, the current component corresponding to magnetic flux is increased in a negative direction for increasing the current through a flux-weakening control for implementing a maximum torque control. Thereby, the motor torquexe2x80x94revolution speed characteristic can be changed and a constant torque control can be implemented. This enables an increase in torque at high speed revolution, or an improvement in efficiency at low speed revolution. Therefore, a motor can be made smaller in size and more energy-conscious.
A washing machine motor drive device in accordance with the present invention comprises a control device, with which device the current component corresponding to magnetic flux and the current component corresponding to torque are controlled independently in accordance with a revolution speed of a motor. In the above configuration, the motor torquexe2x80x94revolution speed characteristic can be modified.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises a control device, with which device the current component corresponding to magnetic flux is increased in the negative direction when a motor is revolving at a high speed. This makes it possible to increase the torque at high speed revolution and perform a precise flux-weakening control.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises a control device, with which device the current component corresponding to magnetic flux is controlled to be substantially zero when a motor is revolving at a low speed. This makes it possible to revolve a motor at a highest efficiency in low speed revolution.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises a control device, with which device the current component corresponding to magnetic flux is increased in the negative direction when a motor is revolving at a high speed for driving a washing/spinning tub for the purpose of dehydration (drying). This makes it possible to increase the torque at a high speed revolution by means of a flux-weakening control, and control the dehydration operation covering up to a high revolution speed. As a result, a rate of the dehydration can be increased by increasing the revolution speed.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises a control device, with which device the current component corresponding to magnetic flux is increased in the negative direction when a motor is revolving at a high speed for driving an agitator for the purpose of washing. This makes it possible to increase the torque at a high speed revolution by means of a flux-weakening control, and control the agitating operation covering up to a high revolution speed. As a result, the washing capability can be increased by strengthening the water flow.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises a clothes amount detector for detecting an amount of clothes in a washing/spinning tub, and a control device for controlling the current component corresponding to magnetic flux and the current component corresponding to torque independently in accordance with the amount of the clothes in the washing/spinning tub detected by the clothes amount detector. This makes it possible to increase the torque at a high speed revolution by means of a flux-weakening control in accordance with the amount of clothes, and control the operation covering up to a high revolution speed even in a case where there are many clothes in a washing tub. Thus, the washing capability can be improved, and rate of the dehydration can be raised as well.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises a start control device in which the control device controls motor revolution at the startup stage. The start control device performs a direct control on a voltage to be applied to a motor at the startup stage, and then controls the current component corresponding to magnetic flux and the current component corresponding to torque independently. This makes it easy to introduce a soft-start, where a startup current is suppressed and a starting torque is lowered, and then proceeds smoothly to a current feedback control to the effect of preventing an abnormal increase of revolving speed.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises a start control device for controlling motor revolution at the startup stage for the control device. The start control device performs a direct control on a voltage to be applied to a motor at the startup stage, and then controls the current component corresponding to magnetic flux and the current component corresponding to torque independently in accordance with the revolution speed. Besides making the shift to current feedback control smooth and suppressing the abnormal increase of revolution speed, this makes it possible to use an AC transformer, which is inexpensive, in the current detector. As a result, it is advantageous to implement a motor drive device that is inexpensive yet has high performance.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises an alternating current source, a rectifier circuit connected to the alternating current source, an inverter circuit for converting DC power of the rectifier circuit into AC power, a motor which is driven by the inverter circuit for driving an agitator or a washing/spinning tub, a rotor position detector for detecting the rotor position of a motor, a current detector for detecting motor current, and a control device for controlling an inverter circuit. The control device resolves a motor current into a current component that corresponds to magnetic flux and a current component that corresponds to torque, and controls the current component corresponding to magnetic flux and the current component corresponding to torque independently for retarding revolution of a motor. In the above-described structure where a motor current is resolved into the current component corresponding to magnetic flux and the current component corresponding to torque for performing a braking operation through vector control, a highest braking torque is yielded by vector controlling the current component corresponding to torque, while prevention of an abnormal rise of DC voltage in inverter circuit is performed by means of a control on regenerative energy, which is realized through a control on the current component corresponding to magnetic flux.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises a control device, with which device the current component corresponding to torque is controlled to be exhibiting a certain specific value at braking operation. This makes it possible to control a braking torque to be at a certain specific value, and optimize the braking time.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises a control device, with which device the current component corresponding to torque is controlled at braking to show a certain specific negative value. By specifying a negative torque current component, the braking torque can be controlled to show a certain specific value, and the braking time can be shortened.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises a control device, with which device the current component corresponding to magnetic flux and the current component corresponding to torque are controlled at braking to exhibit, respectively, certain specific values. Under this structure, a back electromotive force of a motor and an energy consumption by the internal resistance of the motor can be controlled independently. As a result, the regenerative energy can be controlled, and an abnormal rise of DC voltage in the inverter circuit can be prevented.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises a control device, with which device the current component corresponding to magnetic flux is specified to be greater than that corresponding to torque, at the start of motor braking. This makes it possible to avoid an excessive braking torque exerted at the start of braking, as well as an abnormal rise of DC voltage in the inverter circuit caused by regenerative energy.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises a revolution speed detector for detecting revolution speed based on output signal generated from the rotor position detector, and a control device for controlling in accordance with revolution speed, the current component corresponding to magnetic flux and the current component corresponding to torque to exhibit respectively certain specific values at braking. Since a braking torque and an energy consumption by the internal resistance of the motor can be controlled independently in accordance with revolution speed, an increase of regenerative energy in the high speed revolution region, as well as a decrease of braking torque in the low speed revolution region, can be prevented.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises an alternating current source, a rectifier circuit connected to the alternating current source, an inverter circuit for converting DC power of the rectifier circuit into AC power, a motor driven by the inverter circuit for driving an agitator or a washing/spinning tub, a rotor position detector for detecting the rotor position of a motor, a current detector for detecting motor current, a DC voltage detector for detecting DC voltage of the inverter circuit, and a control device for controlling the inverter circuit. The control device resolves a motor current into a current component that corresponds to magnetic flux and a current component that corresponds to torque, and controls the current component corresponding to magnetic flux and the current component corresponding to torque independently so that the DC voltage is brought to a certain specific value at braking of a motor. In the above-described structure, where the DC voltage of inverter circuit can be controlled to meet a certain specific value through controlling the regenerative energy, energy for driving the inverter circuit is supplied from the back electromotive force of the motor. As a result, a braking failure at power failure can be prevented.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises a control device, with which device the current component corresponding to magnetic flux or the voltage component is controlled at braking so that the DC voltage of an inverter circuit is brought to a certain specific value. Under the above-described structure, since the regenerative energy can be controlled to secure a certain specific braking torque, braking time is kept short even with a power failure.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises an alternating current source, a rectifier circuit connected to the alternating current source, an inverter circuit for converting DC power of the rectifier circuit into AC power, a motor driven by the inverter circuit for driving an agitator or a washing/spinning tub, a rotor position detector for detecting the rotor position of a motor, a current detector for detecting motor current, a motor electric power detector for detecting motor electric power, and a control device for controlling the inverter circuit. The control device resolves a motor current into a current component that corresponds to magnetic flux and a current component that corresponds to torque, and controls at braking the current component corresponding to magnetic flux and the current component corresponding to torque independently in accordance with motor electric power. In the above-described structure, the balance between the back electromotive force of a motor and the energy consumption by a motor coil can be judged based on the motor electric power. Therefore, by controlling the current component corresponding to magnetic flux or the voltage component corresponding to magnetic flux in accordance with the small/large of motor electric power, a back electromotive force can be controlled so that it does not cause regeneration in the inverter circuit. Thus, an abnormal rise of DC voltage in the inverter circuit is avoided.
A washing machine motor drive device in the present invention comprises a motor electric power detector for detecting motor electric power, with which a calculation is performed based on the electric power component corresponding to magnetic flux and the electric power component corresponding to torque. Under this structure, since the motor electric power is detected instantaneously, an abnormality in the balance between the back electromotive force of the motor and the energy consumption by the motor coil can be judged instantaneously. Thus, an influence of regenerative power to the DC source in the inverter circuit can be avoided in advance.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A cosmetic or dermatological system includes a packaging and dispensing device including one or more compositions on the basis of which a product is delivered, an adjustment system coupled or able to be coupled to the packaging and dispensing device, making it possible to modify the amount dispensed and/or at least one property of the product dispensed by the packaging and dispensing device, an electronic means for executing a program and acting automatically on the adjustment system, or for indicating to the user an action to be exerted on the adjustment system, to make the adjustment evolve in the course of the use of the device, the program determining the evolution of the adjustment as a function at least of a quantity representative of the number of uses of said device or of the amount of said product or of at least one of said compositions and already dispensed.

A need exists to be able to tailor cosmetic products into numerous versions, so as to be able to accommodate various situations.
Manufacturers have invested a great deal in order to be able to cope with the diversity of cases, by producing the largest number of possible versions. Although they offer numerous variants, it often happens that this solution is not satisfactory.
For example, taking the case of a person treating their skin, the latter can:                either apply one and the same product throughout the duration of a treatment,        or apply several products corresponding to the prescription required by their skin in the course of the treatment.
The first approach, though it does not give optimum results, presents the advantage of being simple.
The second approach may give better results but is complex and expensive. Moreover, the person must find the instructions corresponding to their case, and know how to translate them into a mode of application. This approach also presents the drawback of requiring high concentration from the user so as not to confuse the various products used during treatment.
Hitherto there does not exist any system making it possible to optimize a cosmetic treatment, in a simple manner. For this reason, in general, users must content themselves with the first approach and employ just a single product. This may give rise to mistakes of overdosage or under-dosage.
The same holds in respect of protection from the sun. Indeed, it is known that the dosage of photoprotection active agents may evolve over time as the skin tans and becomes protected by tanning. A significant dosage is required during the first few days of exposure. Conversely, the dosage may be reduced after a few days. It is difficult to optimize the strength of the photoprotection product. It follows that users sometimes try to optimize the application of the product themselves. For this purpose, people generally use their sunscreen protection product at the start of holidays and then abandon it after a few days. This "intuitive" optimization approach often gives undesirable results.
The same holds in respect of care products for the scalp, where some users are seen to sometimes hesitate between continuing a treatment and stopping it.
Moreover, a difficulty related to certain treatments resides in the fact that these treatments do not give visible effects during application or immediately after application. Thus, the user cannot be guided by the immediate results in order to decide whether or not to continue the treatment, and still less whether the use should modify the dosage. The user sometimes follows a general prescription which is not necessarily tailored to their case. The treatments concerned are for example treatments for strengthening the nails, the armpits against perspiration, the lips and the skin to combat dryness, hair which is too greasy or too dry.
It is also possible to cite treatments affording a durable colour, for example for dyeing the hair or skin. In these cases, the user, seeing the result, is more comfortable with optimizing the use of the products during subsequent applications. However, in so far as it is difficult to evaluate the evolution of the colour over time, it is also difficult to identify the best application procedures for maintaining it over time.
Finally, the user is often faced with a problem of choice when confronted with several versions. They may hesitate to choose one strength rather than another. They may purchase several versions but this solution is not practical, if only in regard to the clutter and cost imposed by this solution.
Moreover, although manufacturers try to clearly identify the potency level of their products, and display corresponding information on the packaging, the user may make a mistake at the time of application. The business of identifying the brands requires the use of colours or logos on the packaging, serving as recognition signs for consumers. If the manufacturers add other signs so that the users can recognize the potency level, these additional signs may be difficult to recognize or to memorize.
The requirement to provide for various strength levels relates for example to products for protection against the sun, drying, heat or cold, antiperspirant and deodorant products, fragrances and hair gels.
The products can be made with several strength levels or made with a single potency level and rely on the user to dose the application of the product so as to adjust its strength.
For example, antiperspirants can be produced in several versions. However, most of the time, manufacturers do not opt for this approach since studies show that users do not wish to burden themselves with the clutter of several products. The user can adjust the potency of their product by altering the amount applied. However, this poses problems since it is difficult to apply small amounts. It is fairly easy to apply large amounts but the user may then be bothered by the problems of discomfort that this generates, for example as regards the moist feel and look persisting for a number of minutes after application.
Moreover, certain products may not be the subject of versions in several potency levels. This is typically the case for products which already exist in multi-coloured form, such as hair dyeing products for example.
Producing versions of these dyeing products in different potency levels would unacceptably multiply the number of products to be offered. In these cases, the user has no solution for adapting their product as a function of the time of use, and is often far removed from an optimized result.
Patent application FR 2 807 346 describes a flask comprising an electronic circuit making it possible to deliver a message when the user presses a product delivery button. The flask may comprise at least one sensor of an exterior physical parameter, in particular a sensor of ambient luminosity and/or of ambient temperature. The electronic circuit may comprise a microcontroller receiving data from a clock. The message delivered may take account of the time or the period elapsed since the last use.
Patent application WO 98/30189 describes a packaging device making it possible to modify a cosmetic composition as a function of a physical quantity of the ambient environment, measured by a sensor.

System comprising an electronic means executing a program and controlling an adjustment system


An interconnecting device for connecting a plurality of first fluid-bearing conduits to a corresponding plurality of second fluid-bearing conduits thereby providing fluid communication between the first fluid-bearing conduits and the second fluid-bearing conduits. The device includes a manifold and one or two ferrule plates that are held by compressive axial forces.

Microfluidic devices or substrates typically consist of two or more microchannels or capillaries that can range in size from about 5-100 μm wide and 5-100 μm deep etched or molded in a substrate that can be silicon, plastic, quartz, glass, or plastic. Microfluidic substrates may be fabricated using photolithographic techniques similar to those used in the semiconductor industry, and the resulting devices can be used to perform a variety of sophisticated chemical and biological analytical techniques. Microfluidic analytical technology has a number of advantages, including the ability to use very small sample sizes, typically on the order of nanoliters. The substrates may be produced at a relatively low cost, and can be formatted to perform numerous specific analytical operations, including mixing, dispensing, valving, reactions, and detections.
Another recently developed class of sample-receiving microfluidic substrates includes substrates having a capillary interface that allows compounds to be brought onto the test substrate from an external source, and which can be advantageously used in a number of assay formats for high-throughput screening applications. These assay formats include fluorogenic assays, fluorescence polarization assays, non-fluorogenic mobility shift assays, dose response assays, and calcium flux cell-based assays.
Other applications for microfluidic devices include diagnostics involving biomolecules and other analytical techniques such as micro total analysis systems. Such devices, often referred to in the art as "microchips," also may be fabricated from plastic, with the channels being etched, machined or injection molded into individual substrates. Multiple substrates may be suitably arranged and laminated to construct a microchip of desired function and geometry. In all cases, the channels used to carry out the analyses typically are of capillary scale dimension.
To fully exploit the technological advances offered by the use of microfluidic devices and to maintain the degree of sensitivity for analytical techniques when processing small volumes, e.g., microliters or less, connectors which introduce and/or withdraw fluids, i.e., liquids and gases, from the device, as well as interconnect microfluidic devices, are crucial components in the use and performance of the microfluidic device. For example, chromatographic applications require an injection port that can introduce a sample into a flow stream. The varied uses of these microfluidic devices require connectors that are both versatile and resilient. The physical stresses placed on these connectors can be demanding. Not only must the connectors be inert to reactive substances that are injected into the microchannels, such as organic solvents, but also they must remain leak free when exposed to pressures that can reach as high as 10,000 psi. Moreover, these connectors must be able to act as an interface for connecting microscale devices such as injectors and fluid reservoirs to microscale capillary tubes. However, because of the extremely small tolerances involved, this has been difficult to achieve. Typically, capillary tubes have outer diameters on the order of 150 to 365 μm and nominal internal diameters of from 50 to 75 μm or less with tolerances as small as a few microns, yet these capillary tubes must be accurately aligned.
A common technique used in the past involves bonding a length of tubing to a port on the microfluidic device with epoxy or other suitable adhesive. Adhesive bonding is unsuitable for many chemical analysis applications because the solvents used attack the adhesive which can lead to channel clogging, detachment of the tubing, and/or contamination of the sample and/or reagents in or delivered to the device. Furthermore, adhesive bonding results in a permanent attachment of the tubing to the microfluidic device which makes it difficult to change components, i.e., either the microfluidic device or the tubing, if necessary. Thus assembly, repair and maintenance of such devices become labor and time intensive, a particularly undesirable feature when the microfluidic device is used for high throughput screening of samples such as in drug discovery.
To avoid problems associated with adhesive bonding, other techniques have been proposed, e.g., press fitting the tubing into a port on the microfluidic device. However, such a connection typically is unsuitable for high-pressure applications such as HPLC. Additionally, pressing the tubing into a port creates high stress loads on the microfluidic device which could lead to fractures of the channels and/or device.
Other methods involved introducing liquids into an open port on the microfluidic device with the use of an external delivery system such as a pipette. However, this technique also is undesirable due to the possibility of leaks and spills which may lead to contamination. In addition, the fluid is delivered discretely rather than continuously. Moreover, the use of open pipetting techniques does not permit the use of elevated pressure for fluid delivery such as delivered by a pump, thereby further restricting the applicability of the microfluidic device.
Microfluidic devices generally comprise an array of micron-sized wells or reservoirs and interconnecting channels disposed on a substrate. The wells are connected to distribution means for dispensing fluids to and collecting fluids from the array. Connection to the wells is typically by means of a micropipette end. While this serves for benign addition of fluids, this means of fluid addition cannot be used for those applications where the access ports are exposed to a pressure differential or where it is desired to connect capillary tubes to fluid wells.
Typically, in microscale devices the microchannels are terminated by ports or wells that provide access to the microchannels. Materials are added to the microchannels through these ports or wells. Access to the ports is typically by means of a micropipette end. While this serves for benign addition fluids it cannot be used for those applications where the access ports are exposed to a pressure differential or adverse environments.
Therefore, a need exists for an improved microfluidic connector which is useful with all types of microfluidic devices and which provides an effective, high pressure connector with low fluid dead volume seal. In general, the connector should be able to connect a first set of capillaries to a second set of capillaries. The first set can be external capillaries whereas the second set can be from a microfluidic device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.