In order to stabilize an operation for changing a speed change ratio, and to improve transmitting efficiency and endurance of structural parts of a toroidal continuously variable transmission, a relationship between the switching of a control valve and displacements of trunnions is such that initiation of the displacement of a trunnion having a feedback mechanism including a precess cam and a link arm is effected prior to initiation of the displacement of a trunnion not having a feedback mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toroidal type continuously variable transmission used as a speed changing unit constituting an automatic transmission of a vehicle. Particularly, the present invention aims to achieve excellent transmitting efficiency and durability by synchronizing various power transmitting portions with each other when a quick speed changing operation is effected.
2. Related Background Art
As an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, usage of a toroidal type continuously variable transmission as schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been investigated. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-71465, in the toroidal type continuously variable transmission, an input side disc 2 is supported coaxially with an input shaft 1, and an output side disc 4 is secured to an end of an output shaft 3 disposed coaxially with the input shaft 1. Within a casing 5 (refer to FIG. 4 which will described later) containing the toroidal type continuously variable transmission, trunnions 7 pivoted around pivot shafts 6 arranged positions twisted with respect to the input shaft 1 and the output shaft 3.
Each trunnion 7 is provided at its outer surface (on both ends thereof) with a pair of coaxial pivot shafts 6. Central axes of the pivot shafts 6 do not intersect with the central axis of the discs 2, 4 but are located at twisted positions perpendicular to the central axis of the discs 2, 4. Further, each trunnion 7 supports a proximal half portion of a displacement shaft 8 so that an inclined angle of the displacement shaft 8 can be adjusted by rocking the trunnion 7 around the pivot shafts 6. Around a distal half portion of the displacement shaft 8 supported by each trunnion 7, a power roller 9 is rotatably supported. The power rollers 9 are disposed between inner surfaces 2a, 4a of the input and output side discs 2, 4.
The opposed inner surfaces 2a, 4a of the input and output side discs 2, 4 have concave surfaces of arcuate section obtained by rotating arcs or similar curves around the input and output shafts. Peripheral surfaces 9a of the power rollers 9 are spherical convex surfaces that abut against the inner surfaces 2a, 4a. Further, an urging device 10 such as a loading cam is disposed between the input shaft 1 and the input side disc 2, so that the input side disc 2 can be rotated while elastically urging it toward the output side disc 4 by the urging device 10.
When the toroidal type continuously variable transmission having the above-mentioned construction is used, as the input shaft 1 is rotated, the urging device 10 rotates the input side disc 2 while urging it against the plural power rollers 9. Rotation of the input side disc 2 is transmitted to the output side disc 4 via the plural power rollers 9, thereby rotating the output shaft 3 secured to the output side disc 4.
When a rotational speed ratio (transmission ratio) between the input shaft 1 and the output shaft 3 is changed, and particularly when the speed reduction is effected between the input shaft 1 and the output shaft 3, the trunnions 7 are rocked around the pivot shafts 6 to incline the displacement shafts 8 so that, as shown in FIG. 1, the peripheral surfaces 9a of the power rollers 9 abut against portions of the inner surface 2a of the input side disc 2 near the center thereof and portions of the inner surface 4a of the output side disc 4 near the outer periphery thereof.
Conversely, when the speed increase is effected, the trunnions 7 are rocked to incline the displacement shafts 8 so that, as shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral surfaces 9a of the power rollers 9 abut against portions of the inner surface 2a of the input side disc 2 near the outer periphery thereof and portions of the inner surface 4a of the output side disc 4 near the center thereof. When the inclined angles of the displacement shafts 8 are selected to an intermediate values between FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an intermediate speed ratio can be obtained.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show in more detail a toroidal type continuously variable transmission as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 63-69293 (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 1-173552). An input side disc 2 and an output side disc 4 are rotatably supported around a cylindrical tubular input shaft 11. Further, an urging device 10 is disposed between an end of the input shaft 11 and the input side disc 2. On the other hand, an output gear 12 is connected to the output side disc 4 so that they are rotated in sychronism with each other.
Coaxial pivot shafts 6 provided on both ends of a pair of trunnions 7 are supported by a pair of support plates (yokes) 13 for rocking movement and axial movement (movement perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 3; movement in an up-and-down direction in FIG. 4). The trunnions 7 support proximal half portions of displacement shafts 8 at their intermediate portions. In each displacement shaft 8, the proximal half portion and a distal half portion are eccentric from each other. The proximal half portions are rotatably supported by the intermediate portions of the trunnions 7, and power rollers 9 are rotatably supported by the distal half portions. Further, a synchro-cable 27 is mounted between the ends of the trunnions 7 with cross belting so that inclined angles of the trunnions can be synchronized mechanically.
The pair of displacement shafts 8 are diametrically opposed with respect to the input shaft 11. Further, the eccentric directions of the proximal half portions and the distal half portions of the displacement shafts 8 are the same (opposite directions vertically in FIG. 4) with respect to the rotational directions of the input and output side discs 2, 4. Further, the eccentric directions are substantially perpendicular to the installation direction of the input shaft 11. Accordingly, the power rollers 9 are supported for slight movement in the installation direction of the input shaft 11.
Further, between the outer peripheral surfaces of the power rollers 9 and intermediate portions of the inner surfaces of the trunnions 7, there are disposed, in order from the power rollers 9, thrust ball bearings 14 and thrust needle bearings 15. The thrust ball bearings 14 serve to support thrust loads acting on the power rollers 9 and to permit rotations of the power rollers 9. Further, the thrust needle bearings 15 serve to support thrust loads applied from the power rollers 9 to outer races 16 of the thrust ball beatings 14 and to permit the distal half portions of the displacement shafts 8 and the outer races 16 to rock around the proximal half portions of the displacement shafts 8. Further, the trunnions 7 can be shifted along axial directions of the pivot shafts 6 by means of hydraulic actuators (for example, hydraulic cylinders) 17.
In case of the toroidal type continuously variable transmission having the above-mentioned construction, the rotation of the input shaft 11 is transmitted to the input side disc 2 via the urging device 10. The rotation of the input side disc 2 is transmitted to the output side disc 4 via the pair of power rollers 9, and the rotation of the output side disc 4 is picked up by the output gear 12.
When a rotational speed ratio between the input shaft 11 and the output gear 12 is changed, the pair of trunnions 7 are displaced by the actuators 17 in opposite directions (for example, the right power roller 9 in FIG. 4 is displaced downwardly and the left power roller 9 in FIG. 4 is displaced upwardly). As a result, directions of tangential forces acting between the peripheral surfaces 9a of the power rollers 9 and the inner surfaces 2a, 4a of the input and output side discs 2, 4 are changed. As such directions are changed, the trunnions 7 are rocked in opposite directions around the pivot shafts 6 pivotally supported by the support plates 13. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, abutment positions between the peripheral surfaces 9a of the power rollers 9 and the inner surfaces 2a, 4a are changed, thereby changing the rotational speed ratio between the input shaft 11 and the output gear 12.
The supplying of pressurized oil to the actuators 17 is effected by a single control valve regardless of the number of actuators 17, and movement of either one of the trunnions 7 is fed-back to the control valve. Such arrangement will be described with reference to FIG. 6 showing a second example of a conventional construction. The control valve 18 includes a sleeve 20 displaced axially (left-and-right direction in FIG. 6) by means of a stepping motor 19, and a spool 21 fitted into the sleeve 20 for axial movement. A precess cam 23 is secured to an end of a rod 22 of the trunnion 7 (either one of the trunnions), thereby providing a feedback mechanism in which movement of the rod 22 is transmitted to the spool 21 via the precess cam 23 and a link arm 24.
When the transmitting condition is switched, the sleeve 20 is displaced by a predetermined amount by means of the stepping motor 19, thereby opening a flow path of the control valve 18. Consequently, the pressurized oil is supplied to the actuators 17 from predetermined directions, with the result that the trunnions 7 are displaced in predetermined directions by the actuators 17. In this way, the movement of either one of the trunnions 7 is transmitted to the spool 21 via the precess cam 23 secured to the end of the rod 22 and the link arm 24, thereby displacing the spool 21 axially. As a result, in a condition that the trunnions 7 are displaced by the predetermined amounts, the flow path of the control valve 18 is closed, thereby stopping the supplying of the pressurized oil to the actuators 17. Accordingly, the axial displacement amounts of the trunnions 7 correspond to the displacement amount of the sleeve 20 caused by the stepping motor 19.
When the power is transmitted by the toroidal type continuously variable transmission, in accordance with elastic deformation of structural elements, the power rollers 9 are displaced in the axial direction of the input shaft 11. And, the displacement shafts 8 supporting the power rollers 9 are slightly rotated around the respective proximal half portions. As a result, outer surface of the outer races 16 of the thrust ball bearings 14 and the inner surfaces of the trunnions 7 are displaced relative to each other. Since the thrust needle bearings are disposed between the outer surfaces and the inner surfaces, a force required for effecting such relative displacement is small.
Further, it is already known to provide a so-called double cavity type structure in which two input side discs 2A, 2B and two output side discs 4 are provided around an input shaft 11a and these input side discs 2A, 2B and output side discs 4 are disposed in parallel with respect to a power transmitting direction, as in the structure of FIGS. 5 and 6. In the structure shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and output gear 12a is supported on an intermediate portion of the input shaft 11a for rotational movement around the input shaft 11a, and the output side discs 4 are spline-connected to both cylindrical ends provided at a center of the output gear 12a. Further, the input side discs 2A, 2B are supported by both ends of the input shaft 11a for rotation together with the input shaft 11a. The input shaft 11a is rotated by a drive shaft 25 via an urging device 10 of loading cam type.
In case of the above-mentioned toroidal type continuously variable transmission of double cavity type, since transmission of power from the input shaft 11a to the output gear 12a is effected through two systems between the input side disc 2A and one output side disc 4 and between the input side disc 2B and the other output side disc 4, great power can be transmitted. Also, in case of such toroidal type continuously variable transmission of double cavity type, when the speed change is effected, the trunnions 7 are displaced by the hydraulic actuators 17 in the axial directions of the pivot shafts 6. As mentioned above, the single control valve 18 for controlling the supplying/discharging of the pressurized oil with respect to the actuators 17 for speed change is provided for the plurality of actuators 17. Further, in case of the above-mentioned toroidal type continuously variable transmission of double cavity type, in addition to the fact that a synchro-cable 27 is mounted between the trunnions 7 in the same cavity with cross belting, another synchro-cable (not shown) is mounted between the trunnions 7 in different cavities so that inclined angles of all of the trunnions can be synchronized mechanically.
In the above-mentioned conventional toroidal type continuously variable transmissions, when the speed changing operation is quickly effected under the high speed condition, the displaced conditions of the trunnions 7 are not always synchronized sufficiently, with the result that the operation may be made unstable in the transition of the speed change. The reason is that the supplying/discharging of the pressurized oil with respect to the actuators 17 for the respective trunnions 7 is switched by the single control valve 18. More specifically, when the supplying/discharging of the pressurized oil with respect to the actuators 17 is switched by the single control valve 18, the forces (thrust forces along the axial directions of the pivot shafts 6) generated by the actuators 17 become the same, but, the displaced amounts of the trunnions 7 obtained by the actuators are not always the same. For example, although both ends of the trunnions 7 are supported with respect to the support plates 13 by radial needle bearings 26 for axial and rocking movements, it is very difficult to make resistances of the radial needle bearings 26 completely uniform. Further, difference in resistance may occur in the actuators 17 and/or other parts. Since such difference in resistance is small, in a normal condition, there is almost no problem; however, when the speed change is quickly switched, such difference becomes noticeable, and, thus, the difference in displaced amount between the trunnions 7 is significant. As a result, the abutment positions between the peripheral surfaces of the power rollers 9 for the respective trunnions 7 and the inner surfaces 2a, 4a of the input and output side discs 2A, 2B, and 4 are dispersed with respect to the diametrical direction. In such a condition, excessive slip occurs on the abutment portions between the surfaces 9a and 2a, 4a, thereby not only reducing the transmitting efficiency of the toroidal type continuously variable transmission but also reducing the rolling contact fatigue lives of the surfaces 9a, 2a, 4a.
Since such a problem becomes noticeable particularly when the speed change is effected quickly under the high speed operation, when the toroidal type continuously variable transmission is developed as a transmission for high performance vehicles such as sports cars, such a problem should be solved.
The synchro-cables (synchro-cable 27 and synchro-cable (not shown)) have a function for synchronizing the inclined angles of all of the trunnions 7. However, since such synchro-cables have slight looseness in consideration of the assembling error, it is difficult to coincide the inclined angles of the trunnions with each other completely, with the result that the speed changing operation cannot always be stabilized.
As a technique for coinciding the displaced amounts of the trunnions with each other, a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2568684 is already known, as well as the synchro-cables. According to this technique, in a toroidal type continuously variable transmission of double cavity type as shown in FIG. 5, support plates for supporting trunnions in respective cavities are interconnected so that displaced amounts of the trunnions are coincided with each other. However, in such a conventional technique, the displaced amounts of the trunnions cannot be coincided with each other adequately. Specifically, since the trunnions are very sensitive so as to start their displacing movements (rocking displacements around the pivot shafts) even when they are shifted in the axial directions of the pivot shafts only by about 0.1 mm, the above problem cannot be solved adequately by the above-mentioned mechanical interconnection.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-39850 discloses a technique in which stability in the speed change operation is maintained by regulating amounts of displacements of trunnions fed-back to a control valve. However, the displaced amounts of the trunnions cannot be coincided with each other regardless of difference in resistance between the displacements of the trunnions.
The present invention aims to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and provides a toroidal type continuously variable transmission in which displaced amounts of the trunnions can be coincided with each other, regardless of difference in resistance between displacements of trunnions.
Similar to the conventional toroidal type continuously variable transmission, a toroidal type continuously variable transmission according to the present invention comprises first and second discs disposed coaxially with each other and rotatably supported in a condition that inner surfaces thereof are opposed to each other, a plurality of trunnions rocked around pivot shafts located at positions twisted with respect to central axes of the first and second discs, displacement shafts protruded from and supported by inner surfaces of the trunnions at intermediate portions thereof, power rollers disposed toward the inner surfaces of the trunnions and rotatably supported around the displacement shafts while being pinched between the first and second discs, hydraulic actuators provided for the respective trunnions and adapted to rock the trunnions around the pivot shafts by displacing the trunnions in axial directions of the pivot shafts thereby to change a speed change ratio between the first (input side) disc and the second (output side) disc, a control valve for switching supplying/discharging of pressurized oil with respect to the trunnions, and a feedback mechanism provided on either one of the trunnions and adapted to transmit movement of the trunnion to the control valve to switch a supplying/discharging condition of the control valve.
The inner surfaces of the first and second discs are concave surfaces having arc sections, and peripheral surfaces of the power rollers are spherical convex surfaces, and the peripheral surfaces abut against the inner surfaces of the discs.
Particularly, in the toroidal type continuously variable transmission according to the present invention, a relationship bet n the switching of the control valve and the displacements of the trunnions has fast/slow difference. The initiation of the displacement of the trunnion having the feedback mechanism is effected more sensitively than the initiation of the displacement of the trunnion not having the feedback mechanism.
According to the toroidal type continuously variable transmission of the present invention having the above-mentioned arrangement, when inclined angles of the trunnions around the pivot shafts are changed to change the speed change ratio, the trunnion having the feedback mechanism tends to be displaced prior to the displacement of the trunnion not having the feedback mechanism. As a result, even when the quick speed changing operation is effected by displacing the trunnions smoothly, the operation does not become unstable. The reason will be explained hereinbelow.
As is in the conventional arrangement, when a relationship between the switching of the control valve and the displacements of the trunnions does not have fast/slow difference, in accordance with error inevitable for manufacturing, the initiation of the displacement of the trunnion not having the feedback mechanism may become faster than the initiation of the displacement of the trunnion having the feedback mechanism. In such a case, the displacement of the trunnion not having the feedback mechanism cannot be braked, with the result that the trunnion not having the feedback mechanism tends to run away, thereby making the operation unstable as mentioned above.
Particularly, in such a case, while the trunnion having the feedback mechanism is being displaced by a predetermined amount to close the control valve, the actuator for displacing the trunnion not having the feedback mechanism continues to output the force. Thus, even when a synchronizing mechanism for mechanically coinciding the inclined angles of the trunnions with each other is provided between the trunnions, the trunnion not having the feedback mechanism will be excessively displaced while elastically deforming structural elements of the synchronizing mechanism. In other words, the excessive displacement of the trunnion not having the feedback mechanism cannot be braked, with the result that the instability of the operation is apt to become great. Incidentally, if the trunnion having the feedback mechanism is displaced by the synchronizing mechanism, since the control valve is closed in a condition that this trunnion is displaced by the predetermined amount and this trunnion is not further displaced, there occurs difference in displacement amount between this trunnion and the trunnion not having the feedback mechanism which was excessively displaced. Such difference may be a factor for making the transient operation unstable.
To the contrary, in case of the present invention, the initiation of the displacement of the trunnion having the feedback mechanism is effected prior to the initiation of the displacement of the trunnion not having the feedback mechanism. And, the movement of this trunnion is transmitted to the control valve via the feedback mechanism, with the result that the control valve is closed in the condition that this trunnion is displaced by the predetermined amount, thereby stopping the supplying/discharging of the pressurized oil with respect to the actuators for all of the trunnions. Accordingly, both the trunnion having the feedback mechanism and the trunnion not having the feedback mechanism are not displaced excessively.
It should be noted that delay in displacement of the trunnion not having the feedback mechanism is not a problem, even if the delay becomes great. In such a case, by the synchronizing mechanism (such as the aforementioned synchro-cables or transmitting gear mechanism) for mechanically synchronizing the inclined angles of all of the trunnions, the movement of the trunnion having the feedback mechanism is transmitted to the trunnion not having the feedback mechanism to coincide the inclined angles of all of the trunnions with each other. The trunnion not having the feedback mechanism is not resisted by the actuator associated with this trunnion and is easily displaced by the synchronizing mechanism. Accordingly, the inclined angles of the trunnions can be coincided with each other smoothly. Incidentally, the operation for ultimately coinciding the inclined angles of all of the trunnions exactly is effected by rocking the pivot shafts provided on both ends of the trunnions relative to the respective support plates and by displacing the support plates within the casing.
As mentioned above, even if the delay in displacement of the trunnion not having the feedback mechanism becomes great, the degree of the delay is limited, and such delay can be corrected smoothly by the synchronizing mechanism.
Thus, even when the quick speed changing operation is effected, the operation can be stabilized, and remarkable slip can be prevented from generating at traction portions (abutment portions) between the inner surfaces of the discs and the peripheral surfaces of the rollers, thereby maintaining the efficiency and improving service lives of the discs and the power rollers.

Toroidal type continuously variable transmission


Anti-obesity compositions include medicaments comprising predetermined amounts of a phytyl substituted chromanol and an obesity-promoting drug, wherein: said medicament is in unit dosage form suitable for pharmaceutical administration; said phytyl substituted chromanol is a gamma-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol, alpha-tocotrienol, gamma-tocotrienol or delta-tocotrienol; said obesity-promoting drug is a corticosteroid or an anti-diabetes drug such as a hypoglycemic drug, starch blocker, glucose production blocker or insulin sensitizer.

Vitamin E consists of eight compounds; four tocopherols (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-) and four tocotrienols (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-). Among them, only alpha-tocopherol has been extensively studied. Gamma-tocopherol (gamma-T) is the major form of vitamin E in the US diet. However, it has drawn little attention compared with alpha-tocopherol, the primary form of vitamin E found in most supplements. Delta-tocopherol (delta-T) is another form of vitamin E that is rich in some food sources (often found with gamma-T, e.g. in soybeans and soybean oil). Tocotrienols are mainly abundant in palm oil.
Chronic use of a number of medications is known to contribute to obesity. For example, the treatment of diabetes using anti-diabetes drugs, including the thiazolidinedione class (troglitazone, rosiglitazone and proglitazone), commonly leads to weight gain and obesity (Malinowski J M et al, 2000, Clinical Therapeutics, 22, 1151-68). UK Prospective Diabetes Study has clearly demonstrated that weight gain associated with diabetes treatment partially cancels the beneficial effects of tight blood glucose control on cardiovascular events and mortality (UK Prospective Diabetes Study, Group, 1998, Lancet, 352, 854-65). Here we show that tocopherol and tocotrienol compositions can be used to reduce triglyceride accumulation in adipocytes, particularly accumulation resulting from obesity-promoting drug use. Furthermore, the use of combinations of tocopherols or tocotrienols with anti-diabetes drugs provides a superior therapy.
Ismermann et al. 1999, Diabetes Care 22, 1227-1228 report that alpha-tocopherol induces leptin expression in healthy individuals; Ohrvall et al., J Intern Med 1993 Jul;234(1):53-60 report lower tocopherol serum levels in subjects with abdominal adiposity; Sjoholm et al., Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2000 Oct 22;277(2):334-40, report that gamma-tocopherol partially protects insulin-secreting cells against functional inhibition by nitric oxide. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,239,171 and 5,821,264 appear relevant to this disclosure.

Tocopherol and tocotrienol anti-obesity medicaments

Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland


A combination cork extractor and vacuum sealer device is provided. The device is a compact, unitary tool that performs the dual function of a cork extractor and vacuum sealer for corked wine or champagne bottles. The device generally includes an elongated housing having an air passageway therein, a piston assembly that slidably engages with the inner walls of the housing, a needle assembly for injecting air into a cork bottle, a sealing assembly that operates in conjunction with a stopper to remove air from a bottle, and a plurality of one-way valves that regulate the direction of air flow inside the device. The needle assembly includes a hollow needle and an opening formed adjacent a second end of the needle. The sealing assembly includes a resilient member configured to sealingly engage with a stopper, and a plurality of openings formed in an exterior surface and fluid communication with one of the one-way valves.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a tool for opening and closing bottles containing beverages such as wine or champagne, more particularly, to a multi-function tool designed to facilitate extracting cork from beverage bottles and preserving beverage in partially consumed bottles.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bottles containing fermented or carbonated beverages such as wine or champagne are typically closed and sealed by a cork stopper made of natural or synthetic materials. Tools such as corkscrews have been developed for extracting the cork stopper from such bottles prior to consumption. While corkscrews are commonly used for removing corks from wine bottles, there are drawbacks associated with conventional corkscrews. If the coil of the corkscrew is not centered properly while being inserted into the cork, the corkscrew can cause the cork to chip and disintegrate. Moreover, insertion of the corkscrew into the cork is not a simple process as it requires one to apply force to cause the metal coil to penetrate into the cork all the while making sure that the coil is centered relative to the cork. In addition to the corkscrew, another type of known cork extractor operates by injecting air via a needle-like device through the cork into the bottle. The increased air pressure inside the bottle would in turn eject the cork. While the air pressure based cork extractors are easier to operate as compared to the corkscrew, they are typically single-function bar accessory tools that must be purchased individually and take up separate storage space.
Once the cork is removed, the wine is exposed to oxygen in the air and thus becomes susceptible to oxidation. It is generally known that prolonged exposure to oxygen can detrimentally affect the quality and flavor of the wine. Wine that remains in a partially consumed bottle can quickly deteriorate in taste even if the bottle is recorked. This is often due to the wine being oxidized by oxygen that entered the bottle when the cork was removed. In an effort to preserve partially consumed wine, various vacuum sealers have been developed to remove air from the headspace of the bottle after recorking so as to minimize oxidation of the wine. The conventional vacuum sealer assemblies typically utilize a hand pump working in conjunction with a specially designed stopper fitted with a one-way valve to evacuate air from the bottle. The hand pump usually operates by moving a piston through the bore of a cylinder to evacuate air from the bottle. The piston itself also acts as a release valve to adjust the pressure differential inside the cylinder so that the piston can be easily moved back and forth in the bore.
The conventional vacuum sealers direct air to flow in a reverse direction as that of the aforementioned air pressure based cork extractor. The vacuum sealer operates to pump air out of the wine bottle while the air pressure based cork extractor functions to introduce air into the bottle to pressurize the bottle. The reversed directions of air flow would typically require separate air passageways and pump systems, which make it not feasible to combine both tools into a single, compact device. As such, these tools are usually configured as separate, individual units that would have to be purchased and stored separately.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there is a need for a compact, unitary, multi-function device for opening and closing wine, champagne, or other beverage bottles. To this end, there is a particular need for a single, compact tool that can effectively serve the functions of both a cork extractor and a vacuum sealer.

Combination cork extractor and vacuum sealer tool


A control mechanism for shifting the rotational phase transmitted from an engine, and for controlling the timing of the intake and exhaust valves. A first gear mechanism integrally rotates with respect to a timing pulley, and has a set of inner peripheral gear teeth. A second gear mechanism integrally rotates with respect to a camshaft, and has a set of outer peripheral gear teeth. The number of gear teeth of the first gear mechanism is greater than that of the second gear mechanism. This gear ratio generates a rotational phase shift of the timing pulley with respect to the camshaft, in order to vary the opening and closing timing of the intake and exhaust valves. A drive means drives the first gear mechanism in order to vary the phase shift and to control the opening and closing timing of the intake and exhaust valves in accordance with the operating state of the engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a control mechanism for an engine valve. More particularly, this invention pertains to an improved mechanism for controlling the timing of the intake and exhaust valves in an internal combustion engine.
2. Related Art
An internal combustion engine in a vehicle, generally requires a control mechanism for controlling the timing for the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves, in relation to the operation state of the engine. The control mechanism conveys and regulates the rotational phase of a camshaft with respect to a crank shaft.
A control mechanism for engine valve timing of this type is disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-279713. This Publication describes a timing pulley 101 which is operatively connected to the engine, and which is disposed at one end of a camshaft 100. A helical ring gear 102 interconnects the camshaft 100 and the timing pulley 101. At least one set of teeth is formed on the inner and outer peripheries of the ring gear 102. When the ring gear 102 moves along the axial direction, it rotates in synchrony with the camshaft 100. Pressurized oil is supplied through oil passages in the camshaft 100, by means of a hydraulic pump within the timing pulley 101. One end section of the ring gear 102 is supported by a spring 103 for withstanding the oil pressure.
When oil pressure is applied on the ring gear 102, the ring gear 102 is caused to move in the axial direction and to overcome the resistive force of the spring 103. Torsion against the timing pulley 101 is generated on the camshaft 100, so that a phase in the rotational direction (the rotational phase), between the camshaft 100 and the timing pulley 101 is changed, for regulating the opening and closing timing of the intake and exhaust valves. The ring gear 102 is moved along the axial direction of the camshaft 100 in order to vary the value of the phase shift. When it is desired to increase the rotational phase, it would be necessary to lengthen the stroke of the ring gear 102, or to increase the teeth angle of the ring gear 102.
When it is desired to lengthen the stroke of the ring gear 102, the size of the control mechanism is increased along the axial direction. Therefore, the mounting of the control mechanism in a vehicle becomes more difficult. When the torsion angle of the teeth is increased, the operative resistance of the ring gear 102 is increased. Therefore, in order to increase the hydraulic pressure, the operative response time of the mechanism should be decreased.

Control mechanism for engine valve timing


A hand device for working robot which can be downsized is provided. The device consists of a robot hand 10, a link means 40 and a workpiece drop prevention means. The robot hand 10 includes a hand base 20, a pair of fingers 21, 21 protruding from the hand base 20 and a movable core 25 provided with a cylinder 24. The link means 40 includes a lever and a connecting pad 43 for connecting the lever and the movable core 25. A workpiece drop prevention means 60 includes a protrusion stick 50 which is supported by a supporting rail 51, a coil spring and an air cylinder for recess 53.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hand device of a working robot for gripping a workpiece, and particularly, the hand device which includes a workpiece drop prevention means which operates in an emergency or the like, such as an electric power failure.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a hand device for working robot is known which comprises a workpiece drop prevention means for preventing a workpiece from dropping by maintaining a gripping state so as not to drop or displace the workpiece even if an electric power failure and a malfunction or a disorder of a driving system occurs while the workpiece is delivered or reversed. As one of such apparatus, for example, Japanese Patent publication of unexamined application No. 06-114778 discloses a workpiece drop prevention means of a robot hand comprising a chuck arm for gripping a workpiece from both lateral sides using the linear movement along a guide member, a chuck cylinder for driving the gripping movement of the chuck arm, a rail for lock having one end connected to the guide member and the other end connected to an eccentric cam, and a lock cylinder for locking the rail for lock by a rotation of the eccentric cam for lock in order to prevent the rail for lock from moving to the outside.
Under the condition that the hand is gripping a workpiece, the major axis of the eccentric cam rotates in the direction of the rail for lock by means of the lock cylinder, so that the periphery of the major axis attaches to the rail for lock to engage with the same. Thus, in this robot hand, even in an emergency where the gripping force of the chuck arm is decreased by a chuck cylinder, a movement of the chuck cylinder to open outward makes the rotating diameter of the eccentric cam larger. Whereby, a locking state is strengthened to stop the chuck cylinder, so that a workpiece can be prevented from dropping.
However, in a robot hand in the above, as the periphery of the major axis and the rail for lock are engaged every time a workpiece is gripped, a dent or a scar easily occurs at a portion where the periphery and the rail attach each other. As a result, the length of the major axis of the eccentric cam which is a diameter of rotation comes inconsistent. This causes a change of a rotating torque that is pressing force applied to the attaching portions. Under such circumstances, a controlling means for fine adjustment of an elasticity of the lock cylinder is needed in order to keep the pressing force of the eccentric cam applied to the rail for lock within a desirable value. Thus, a configuration of the workpiece drop prevention means becomes complicated.
Further, with this robot hand, a workpiece is gripped by a linear movement of a chuck arm along the guide member. Thus, the length of the guide member should be secured to be longer than the width of grip portion of the workpiece, which makes it impossible to downsize the guide member less than the width of the grip portion of the workpiece. Moreover, since an eccentric cam and a rail for lock are engaged by friction, the chuck arm could not always be stopped due to a stain on an attaching portion or abrasion during the elapsed time. Therefore, there is a problem that the reliability of a workpiece drop-prevention function could be lowered.
Considering the above problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a hand device for working robot which can be downsized including a workpiece drop prevention means with a simple configuration and further enabling to improve reliability of a workpiece drop preventing function.


Generally, a DC power filter and its associated components are presented herein. The DC power filter may operate in a telecommunications chassis between one or more electrical sources and one or more loads. A common mode noise shunt may be included to shunt noise from more than one of the electrical sources or loads together. Additionally, the DC power filter may include protection circuitry that is coupled to more than one of the electrical sources. The protection circuitry may include a combination of diodes and other transient voltage suppression devices.

It is common to group modern telecommunication equipment together in the same chassis, housing, or building. For example, in base stations of cellular telecommunications systems, there may be a small building that houses a variety of types of telecommunication equipment grouped together in one or more telecommunication rack or chassis. A central office (CO) may include a much larger building with multiple racks of telecommunication equipment and telecommunication chassis, each rack containing multiple telecommunication circuit cards that may perform different functions. In each of these and other situations, the telecommunication equipment within a single building may all be powered by the same power source, such as an AC/DC power converter or DC batteries.
In such situations, equipment in one telecom chassis may add electrical noise to the DC power lines, which may be passed to other telecom chassis that are connected to the same DC power source. Telecom organizations have set standards for the acceptable level of electrical noise that can be passed by a telecommunication device.
Traditionally, telecom circuit cards have been designed to have power filtering thereon. More recently, it has become desirable to have power filtering instead performed at the chassis level, in order to allow more flexibility in design for the telecom circuit cards. Typically, Y2 isolation capacitors have been used in power filters, in part because of their ability to handle high voltages and because, when they fail, they fail in a predictable fashion that results in an open circuit. Unfortunately, however, Y2 isolation capacitors are very large in volume relative to other types of capacitor and they provide a low amount of capacitance relative to similarly sized capacitors of other types.
When building a power filter at the chassis level, the volume required to do all of the filtering with Y2 isolation capacitors would be impractical. Conversely, if the power filtering were not performed with capacitors, then very large inductors would be needed. Unfortunately, this would also be impractical, due to the large volume and expense of the inductors. Furthermore, conventional power filters have included field effect transistors (FETs) in series with the load in order to reduce the in-rush current into the filter capacitors. But with the large amount of current flow through and filtering required of power filters at the chassis level, the power dissipation and heat generated by such FETs in series with the load can become unacceptable for a large chassis.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.


Disclosed herein is a method of providing a metabololipidomic profile and SPM signature on the progress of the innate host defense response following blood clotting. The method can include the step of taking one or more measurements in a patient's blood sample, wherein the sample is obtained during the time-course of clotting or coagulation or following clotting or coagulation, of pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory mediators (eicosanoids) and specialized pro-resolving mediators SPMs. From these measurements, a personalized metabololipidomic profile can be obtained. By comparing the measurement to that taken from normal or reference blood, a comparison profile can be developed. The profile comparison profile can then be used to make a medical or therapeutic decision.

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for making medical or therapeutic decisions. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to using measurements taken during the time-course of clotting or coagulation of a patient's blood sample to make medical or therapeutic decisions.
Barrier breach poses multiple threats to human health in the form of bleeding, infection, and tissue destruction that is countered naturally by the processes of hemostasis, the acute inflammatory response, and tissue regeneration (1-3). Hemostasis ("stopping of blood") progresses rapidly through initiation of the extrinsic or intrinsic pathways that converge in coagulation and clot formation. These events are accompanied by inflammation through the activation of platelets, neutrophils, and monocytes within hemostatic plugs (4, 5). Specific arachidonic acid-derived eicosanoids play integral roles in hemostasis and inflammation, for example, thromboxane A2 (TxA2; see Table 1 for abbreviations of other lipid mediators) is a potent prothrombotic mediator, whereas prostaglandins and leukotrienes (6, 7) collectively increase vascular permeability, recruit neutrophils to injury sites, and position neutrophils for lipid mediator (LM) class switching from leukotriene biosynthesis to specialized pro-resolving mediators SPM production (8). This enables the production of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs; see FIG. 4), a process that is pivotal for the transition from inflammation to resolution (8-11). SPMs, in turn, counter-regulate proinflammatory mediators (for example, cytokines and LM), accelerate efferocytosis (the phagocytosis of dying and dead cells) and wound healing, as well as reduce antibiotic requirements, in part, by enhancing phagocytosis without immune suppression (8, 12). Hence, SPMs are considered to be immunoresolvents because they are agonists of the resolution of inflammation and infections (13).
It would therefore be desirable to provide a method that exploits previously undiscovered interactions between SPMs generated during blood coagulation and immune responses.

Personalized metabolomic profiling of specialized pro-resolving mediators


A slicer with large input common mode range is provided. The slicer includes an input stage coupled to receive an input signal, a current source for providing current for the input stage, a self-biased load coupled to the input stage to provide an initial output signal, and an inverter for inverting the initial output signal to provide a final output signal. The input stage includes a first circuit including a plurality of transistors and a complimentary circuit including a plurality of transistors. When a low common mode input voltage causes the transistors of the first circuit to turn off, the transistors of the complimentary circuit will take over to accomplish the same task as the first circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to signal processing and, more specifically, a signal slicer with large input common mode range.
2. Description of the Related Art
A comparator is a circuit, such as a differential amplifier, that compares two inputs and produces an output that is a function of the result of the comparison. A slicer is a type of comparator which converts an analog input signal into a rail-to-rail or digital output signal.
The slicer may incorporate a threshold detection mechanism to generate a digital high or low output signal when the value of the input signal corresponds to a high or low threshold value. A conventional differential slicer generates a high or low output signal based on the zero crossing of the differential input signal.
A conventional slicer may incorporate a self-biasing resistor and an AC coupling capacitor. The capacitor removes the DC component of the input signal, and the self-biasing property of the inverter adjusts the DC level of the input signal to a level that causes the output of the inverter to switch when the input signal is at the appropriate level.
Traditionally, a slicer may require relatively large capacitors and resistors, and may not efficiently process low frequency signals. Therefore, there is a need for enhanced slicing circuits.

Slicer with large input common mode range


The redundancy decoder circuit is capable of receipt of burst length information of address signals for first reading out an address of two addresses to be multi-selected and also judging address to be substituted in accordance with other address to be concurrently read out by means of switching, by the burst length signal, the combination logic of the lower bits of the address already prepared.

The present invention relates to a redundant decoder circuit, and more particularly to a redundant decoder circuit to a memory selecting circuit executing continuous accesses by multi-bit pre-fetch. Recently, operating speed of CPU has been on the remarkable increase. On the other hand, a main memory such as dynamic random access memory is slower in operating speed than CPU due to a large capacity of the main memory. For those reasons, a cache memory may be used which is provided between CPU and the main memory. The cache memory is smaller in capacity but much faster in operating or access speed than the main memory. The use of such cache memory realizes a high speed and large capacity memory equivalently. CPU on execution of programs is made to have access to the cache memory. Hit ratios when the cache memory is used may be increased to about 90% so that CPU can fetch data from the cache memory at 90% probability with a requirement for access to the main memory at 10% probability. In accordance with the experimental law that instructions stored at addresses around an address, where the used instruction has been just stored, are likely to be used at a high probability, a currently required instruction is first read out from a designated address for subsequent read out of non-required instructions from addresses different only in lower bit from the above designated address so that both the required and non-required instructions are stored in the cache memory. Therefore, the main memory is capable of allowing that the required data are first read out from the designated address and subsequently non-required data are read out from the addresses different only in lower bit from the designated address. Nibble mode access or 2-bit pre-fetch access have been known as the sequential accesses. Notwithstanding, those accesses need many data latch circuits and buses. It is also difficult to make sequential accesses from an odd address.
In the Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 6-146349, it is disclosed that a memory selective circuit is provided for n-bit pre-fetch sequential accesses wherein a plurality of column lines are multiply selected, each of which is to select only an address of data to be outputted in one output timing.
In the above system, upon receipt of information of input address and burst length which means a length of data to be sequentially outputted, a column selective line corresponding to the input address and another column selective line corresponding to another address of data to be outputted are multiply selected.
As described above, in the conventional system, the single column selective line can select only an address of data to be outputted in one output timing, for which reason even if the plural column selective lines are currently selected and a pre-fetch system is utilized to output data separately in plural times, then it is possible to combine optionally data to be pre-fetched. There is no limitation to the order in outputting the data. For those reasons, it is possible to make sequential accesses from the odd address.
The above memory selecting circuit will further be described in more detail. The memory selecting circuit is provided with a pre-fetch decoder for decoding lower bits of the column address. The pre-fetch decoder receives not only an address but also information which indicates burst length for supplying a column decoder with a pre-decode address to activate two bits of the address. The column decoder then receives the pre-decode address and the remaining higher bits of the column address to select concurrently two column selective lines connected to memory cells from which data are required to be read out, so that the data corresponding to the two time outputs are concurrently read out.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrative of a conventional 16M-bit DRAM 1000 integrated on a semiconductor chip. The 16M-bit DRAM 1000 has a 16M-bit memory cell array 101 which has 4096 word lines and 512 column selective lines (CSL0-CSL511) so that one address corresponds to 8 memory cells and 8 bits signals are dealt with. The 16M-bit DRAM 1000 also has an address buffer 102 for receiving address informations and a row decoder 103 connected to the address buffer 102 for receiving the address signal from the address buffer 102 to decode the received address signal. The row decoder 103 is also connected to the memory cell array 101 for supplying the decoded address signals to the memory cell array to read out the data stored at the address in the memory cell array.
The 1.6 M-bit DRAM 1000 also has a pre-fetch decoder 1004 connected to the address buffer 102 for receiving column addresses (A0-A8) and controlling multiple selections of the column selective lines. The 16M-bit DRAM 1000 further includes a pre-decoder 105 connected to the pre-fetch decoder 1004 and a column decoder 106 also connected to the pre-fetch decoder 1004. The pre-decoder 105 and the column decoder 106 are connected to each other. The column decoder 106 is connected through a sense amplifier 114 to the memory cell array 101. The 16M-bit DRAM 1000 further includes a clock generator 107 for generating clock signals to control the timings of the pre-fetch decoder 1004 The sense amplifier 114 is connected through a latch circuit 111 to an input/output switch 108. The input/output switch 108 is connected to an output buffer 109 and an input buffer 110.
The read out operation is made as follows. The address buffer 102 receives input addresses A0-A11 as row addresses to supply the received row addresses A0-A11 to the row decoder 103 and also to supply the received addresses A0-A8 as column addresses to the pre-fetch decoder 1004.
The row decoder 103 then decodes the received row addresses A0-A11 to select one of the 4096 word lines in accordance with the decoded row addresses A0-A11. The pre-fetch decoder 1004 supplies YAD3-YAD8 as higher bits of the column addresses A0-A8 to the pre-decoder 105 and also pre-decode the lower bits A0-A2 to output pre-decoded addresses Y0-Y7. The operations of the pre-fetch decoder 1004 are controlled by signals LOAD0, LOAD1, LOAD2, COUNT and COUNT2 supplied from the clock generator 107. LOAD0 is a signal generated by the clock generator 107 in response to rising of a clock signal CLK from an external device. LOAD1 and LOAD2 are signals generated in synchronizes with the clock signals CLK when the signals supplied from external device are write command and read command.
COUNT and COUNT2 are signals generated in correspondence to the burst length after LOAD1 and LOAD2 have been generated. Although the clock generator generates other control signals, those control signals are not relative to the present invention, for which reason the descriptions about those signals will be emitted.
The decoded signals outputted from the pre-decoder 105 and the pre-decoded address from the pre-fetch decoder 1004 are supplied to the column decoder 106 whereby the column decoder 106 can select the column selective line CSL.
The above pre-fetch decoder 1004 receives burst signals B4 and B8 which indicate the burst lengths so that the pre-fetch decoder 1004 can, in accordance with those received burst signals B4 and B8, output pre-decode addresses where two bits of those addresses are in the active level, so as to select an address corresponding to the input address and another address of data to be outputted subsequently. The column decoder 106, therefore, receives the decoded signals outputted from the pre-decoder 105 and the pre-decode addresses having two bits being in the active level whereby the two column selective lines are concurrently selected.
The 16M-bit DRAM 1000 in addition includes an even address redundancy decoder 1112 and an odd address redundancy decoder 1113, both of which operate to substitute a defective memory cell with redundancy memory when an address of the defective memory cell is selected, for those purpose each of the even address redundancy decoder 1112 and the odd address redundancy decoder 1113 is connected to the pre-fetch decoder 1004 and also connected through the sense amplifier 114 to the memory cell array 101. Each of the even address redundancy decoder 1112 and the odd address redundancy decoder 1113 have been programmed by fuse-trimming so as to judge whether or not the address for input is an address to be substituted. If the address is to be substituted, then inhibition signals RED0 and RED1 are generated to inhibit selection of the column selective line and further redundancy column selective lines RYS0 and RYS1 are activated to select redundancy cells.
The even address redundancy decoder 1112 receives inputs of YAD3-YAD8 as the lower bits of the column addresses and also receives inputs of even pre-decode pre-addresses Y0P, Y2P, Y4P and Y6P as the pre-decoded lower bits A0-A2, whilst the odd address redundancy decoder 1113 receives inputs of YAD3-YAD8 as the lower bits of the column addresses and also receives inputs of odd pre-decode pre-addresses Y01P, Y3P, Y5P and Y7P as the pre-decoded lower bits A0-A2.
Since each of the column selective lines CSL is connected to eight memory cells as described above, if two column selective lines CLS are selected, this means that data stored in the sixteen memory cells are concurrently read out as 16-bit data.
The read out 16-bit data are then latched by the latch circuit 111 before those data are supplied to the input/output switch 108.
Further, the pre-fetch decoder 1004 supplies the input/output switch 108 with a signal CI0 which designates which column selective line should be read-out operated to read out data from memory cells connected to the indicated one of the column selective lines, so that the input/output switch 108 selects latched data from the memory cells connected to the designated one of the column selective lines in accordance with the CI0 signal prior to outputting the selected data to the output buffer 109.
The above read-out operation of cell data is made if the redundancy column selective lines RYS0 and RYS1 are selected in place of the column selective lines CSL inhibited to be activated.
The output buffer 109 outputs the data as output data D0-D7 of the 16M-bit DRAM. During the output of the output data D0-D7 from the output buffer 109, the pre-decode address is changed in accordance with the COUNT2 signal from the clock generator 107 to select other column selective line for read-out operations.
The outlines of the operations of the 16M-bit DRAM are as described above. The subsequent descriptions will focus on operation of the individual elements of the 16M-bit DRAM.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrative of circuit configurations of the pre-fetch decoder 1004 in the conventional 16M-bit DRAM. The pre-fetch decoder 1004 comprises an address latch generator block 280 and a pre-decode block 290.
The address latch generator block 280 receives the column addresses A0-A8 and generates internal address signals YAD0-YAD2 based upon the lower bits A0-A2 and also generates internal address signals YAD3-YAD8 based upon the higher bits A3-A8 which are, however, represented by "Ai" in FIG. 2.
The pre-decode block 290 receives the internal address signals YAD0-YAD2 to generate pre-decode addresses Y0-Y7 and pre-decode pre-addresses Y0P-Y7P. The pre-decode block 290 has latch circuits 600-602 and a selective signal generator circuit 603.
The latch circuit 600 comprises nine latch circuits 600-0 through 600-8 wherein the latch circuits 600-3 through 600-8 receive the column addresses A3-A8 respectively. In FIG. 2, the latch circuits 600-3 through 600-8 are represented by "600-i". Also the latch circuit 601 comprises nine latch circuits 601-0 through 601-8 wherein the latch circuits 601-3 through 601-8 receive the column addresses A3-A8 from the latch circuits 600-3 through 600-8 respectively. In FIG. 2, the latch circuits 601-3 through 601-8 are represented by "601-i".
The latch circuits 600, 601 and 602 fetch data after the LOAD0 signal, the LOAD1 signal and the LOAD2 signal have been activated respectively.
The latch circuits 602-1 and 602-2 are supplied with the COUNT2 signal so that integrated counter circuits perform count-up operations, in response to the COUNT2 signal, of address data A1 and A2 fetched in response to the activation of the LOAD2 signal.
The burst signal B8 is a signal which indicates that the burst length is "8" in high level "1". When the burst signal B8 is in high level, a carry from the latch circuit 602-1 to 602-2 or from A1 to A2 is made in accordance with the logic with reference to output signals INT1 from the latch circuit 602-1.
Also the burst signal B4 is a signal which indicates that the burst length is "4" in high level "1". If the burst signals B4 and B8 are in the low level, then this means that the burst length is "2".
The selective signal generator circuit 603 is supplied with the COUNT signal so that data stored in the selective signal generator circuit 603 are inverted whenever the COUNT signal is activated.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrative of a circuit configuration of a column decoder in the conventional 16M-bit DRAM. The column decoder 106 comprises 64 switch circuits 106-0 through 106-63, each of which is commonly supplied with the pre-decode addresses Y0-Y7 from the pre-fetch decoder 1004 as well as supplied with decoded signals outputted from the pre-decoder 105.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary circuit diagram illustrative of a circuit configuration of a pre-decoder 105 in the conventional 16M-bit DRAM. YADX and YADY mean column addresses YAD3 and YAD4 or YAD5 and YAD6 or YAD7 and YAD8. The three sets of the column addresses are decoded into AX0AY0, AX1AY0, AX0AY1 and AX1AY1. The decoded signals are then inputted into the column decoder 106 so that the column decoder 106 receives both those decoded signals and the pre-decode addresses Y0-Y7 to select the column selective line CSL.
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrative of a circuit configuration of a switch circuit 106-k in the column decoder 106 in the conventional 16M-bit DRAM. The switch circuit 106-k has p-channel MOS transistors 1500-1503 and 1507 as well as n-channel MOS transistors 1504-1506 and 1509.
Decoded signals A3xA4y, A5xA6y, A7xA8y from the pre-decoder 105 are inputted into gates of the transistors 1502, 1504, and gates of the transistors 1501 and 1505 as well as gates of the transistors 1500 and 1506. When the decoded signals A3xA4y, A5xA6y, A7xA8y are activated into high level "1" the n-channel MOS transistors 1504 and 1506 turn ON so that a line 1530 has a potential of Vss(0).
As a result, the pre-decode addresses Y0-Y7 are outputted through buffer circuits 1521-0 through 1521-7 respectively.
When at least one of the decode outputs A3xA4y, A5xA6y, A7xA8y is in low level "0", then the buffer circuits 1521-0 through 1521-7 output "0".
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrative of a circuit configuration of the even address redundancy decoder circuit 1112 in the conventional 16M-bit DRAM. In the even address redundancy decoder circuit 1112, programming is made for even address to be substituted where the lowest bit YAD0 of the column address is "0". The even address redundancy decoder circuit 1112 has fuse elements 1200-0 through 1200-15 cut by laser trimming so that programming of the address to be substituted is made.
The fuses 1200-4 through 1200-15 are used for programming of the lower bits YAD3-YAD8 of the column address. The fuses 1200-4 through 1200-15 are connected to drains of the n-channel MOS transistors 1201-4 through 1201-15 whose gates are applied with the corresponding address signals or inverted signals thereof, so that if the address logic is "1" corresponding to the substituting address YAD3, then the fuse 1200-5 is cut. If the address logic is "0", then the fuse 1200-4 is cut. The programming for the addresses YAD4-YAD8 are executed similarly.
The fuses 1200-0 through 1200-3 are used for programming of the lower bits YAD0-YAD2 of the column address. The fuse 1200-0 through 1200-3 are respectively connected to drains of the n-channel MOS transistors 1201-0 through 1201-3 whose gates are applied with re-decode pre-addresses Y0P, Y2P, Y4P and Y6P so that if the lower bit of the column address corresponds to the substituting address Y0P, then the fuse 1201-0 is cut. The programming for the addresses Y2P, Y4P and Y6P are executed similarly.
A signal PRE is a pre-charge signal generated by the clock generator 107 in response to the variation of the internal address signal. The low level corresponds to the active level which causes the p-channel transistor 1219 to turn ON for judging of substituting address to the input of the new column address signals YAD0-YAD8.
If the address signals YAD3-YAD8 inputted into the even address redundancy decoder 1112 and the pre-decode pre-addresses Y0P, Y12P, Y4P and Y6P correspond to the addresses to be substituted, then the fuses corresponding to the logic value of the respective address bits are cut whereby a current path for discharging the line 1220 turns OFF.
The line 1220 is therefore charged into high level so that the selective signal RED0 for inhibiting selection of the column selective line becomes low level whilst the redundancy selective line RYS0 becomes high level.
If, however, address signals YAD3-YAD8 inputted into the even address redundancy decoder 1112 and the pre-decode pre-addresses Y0P, Y12P, Y4P and Y6P do not correspond to the addresses to be substituted, then the fuse corresponding to any of the address bits is not cut and the current path for discharging the line 1220 remains ON, for which reason the signal PRE is unable to charge the line 1220 and the line 1220 is in the low level. The selective signal RBD0 for inhibiting selection of the column selective line becomes high level whilst the redundancy selective line RYS0 becomes low level.
FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram illustrative of a circuit configuration of the odd address redundancy decoder circuit 1113 in the conventional 16M-bit DRAM. In the odd address redundancy decoder circuit 1113, programming is made for odd address to be substituted where the lowest bit YAD0 of the column address is "1" to control signals RED1 inhibiting selections of the column selective line and redundancy column selective line RYS1 selecting the redundancy cell.
FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram illustrative of a circuit connection of the column selective lines, the redundancy column selective lines RYS0 and RYS1 and bit lines. Each of the column selective line is connected only a pair of the bit lines. The adjacent pairs of the bit lines are connected to either different I/O buses 1600 and 1601 alternately.
For the 2-bit pre-fetch, the paired bit lines connected to one of the I/O buses 1600 and 1601 are selected so that 2-bit data are latched by the latch circuit.
The redundancy column selective lines RYS0 and RYS1 are connected to pairs of the bit lines respectively and connected to the different I/O buses 1600 and 1601 respectively. The redundancy column selective line RYS0 is for CSL8k, CSL8k+2, CSL8k+4, and CSL8k+6 whilst the redundancy column selective line RYS1 is for CSL8k+1, CSL8k+3, CSL8k+5, and CSL8k+7. Since actually the data width is "8", eight input/output terminals are provided. Nevertheless, only two pairs of the input/output buses 1600 and 1601 are illustrated in FIG. 8 although the sixteen pairs of the input/output buses are provided actually. In FIG. 8, the column selective line is connected to only one pair of the bit lines, even actually the column selective line is further connected to bit lines connected to other input/output buses so that the column selective line is connected to the eight pairs of the bit lines.
With reference back to FIG. 2, the read out operations will be described to focus on the operations of the pre-fetch decoder 1004 assuming that input addresses A2, A1 and A0 are "0", "1" and "1" whenever the burst length is 2, 4 or 8.
When the burst length is 2, the read out operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 23.
The column addresses A0-A8 supplied from the address buffer 102 are latched by the latch circuit 600 in response to the LOAD0 signal. Namely, the addresses A2, A1 and A0 are latched in the latch circuits 600-2, 600-1 and 600-0 to store "0", "1" and "1" respectively so that "0", "1" and "1" are supplied to the internal address signals IA2, IA1 and IA0 Read command of combinations of chip select (SCB), row address strobe (RASB), column address strobe (CASB) and write enable (WEB) s supplied whereby the signal LOAD0 and LOAD1 are activated so that the internal address signals IA0-IAi are latched by the latch circuits 601, 602 and 603 in accordance with LOAD1.
FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrative of a circuit configuration of latch circuit 601-0.
Since the burst signals B4 and B8 are "0", then output form an OR-gate 700 is "0", for which reason even if the signal LOAD1 is activated, then YAD0 remains "0".
Logic "1" of the internal address signal is supplied to an output INT0 in accordance with the LOAD1. Logic "1" of the INTA0 is stored in he selective signal generator circuit 603 in accordance with the LOAD2.
FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrative of a circuit configuration of latch circuits 601-1 and 602-1. Logic "1" of the internal address signal IA1 is stored in the latch circuits 601-1 and 602-1 in accordance with LOAD1 and LOAD2 whereby logic "1" is supplied to the column address signal YAD1.
FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram illustrative of a circuit configuration of latch circuits 601-2 and 602-2. Logic "0" of the internal address signal IA2 is stored in the latch circuits 601-2 and 602-2 in accordance with LOAD1 and LOAD2 whereby logic "0" is supplied to the column address signal YAD2.
In the pre-fetch decoder 1004, since the burst signals B4 and B8 are "0", the switches 629 and 630 are in OFF and the nodes 633 and 634 remains "1".
As described above, since the signals "YAD2, YAD1 and YAD0 are supplied with "0", "1" and "0", the pre-decode addresses Y2P and Y3P are "1" and the remaining pre-decode addresses are "0".
Whether the pre-decode address is a substituting address or not is judged by the even address redundancy decoder 1112 and the odd address redundancy decoder 1113.
If the pre-decode address is the substituting address, then the signal RED0 or RED1 is "0" and further the pre-decode addresses Y0, Y2, Y4 and Y6 or Y1, Y3, Y5 and Y7 are "1".
Since the pre-decode address is activated by logic "0", the selection of the column selective address is inhibited.
If, however, the pre-decode address is not the substituting address, then signals RED0 and RED1 are "1" and the pre-decode addresses Y2 and Y3 are "0" and the remaining pre-decode addresses are "1".
In accordance with the pre-decode addresses, the corresponding column selective lines or RYS0 and RYS1 are selected so that 16-bit data are latched in the latch circuit and then supplied to the input/output switch 108.
Since the selective signal CIO is "1", 8-bit data are selected from the selected column selective line corresponding to Y3P of the pre-decode addresses or 8-bit data read out in accordance with RYS1 are selected to be supplied to the output buffer 109.
When the burst length is 2, after the LOAD1 signal has been generated, the COUNT signal is generated by the clock generator 107 in synchronization with the clock signals.
In accordance with the COUNT signal, the selective signal CIO is inverted into "0" so that 8-bit data are selected from the column selective line corresponding to the signal Y2P of the pre-decode address or 8-bit data read out in accordance with the RYS0 are selected to be supplied to the output buffer 109.
As a result, the output of data are made in the order of " . . . 011"(=3), " . . . 010"(=2).
When the burst length is 4, the read out operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 24. In this case, the burst signal B4 is "1" and the burst signal B8 is "0".The switches 629 and 631 are in ON and the switches 630 and 632 are in OFF.
In the latch circuit 601-0, since the burst signal B4 is "1", the logic "1" of the internal address signal IA0 is supplied to the column address signal YAD0. The selective signal generator circuit 603 and other latch circuits store the same data as when the burst length is "2".
The pre-decode addresses Y0P and Y3p are "1" and the others are "0". Similarly when the burst length is 2, the pre-decode addresses are judged to be substituted or not by the even address redundancy decoder 1112 and the odd address redundancy decoder 1113 to decide high or low level of the RED0, RED1, RYS0 and RYS1.
Data read out by the pre-decode addresses are latched by the latch circuits. In accordance with the signal CIO supplied to the input/output switch 108, data from the column selective line CSL corresponding to the pre-decode address Y3P are selected or 8-bit data read out from the redundancy column selective line RYS1 are selected for supply to the output buffer 109.
After the LOAD1 and LOAD2 signals are been generated, the signal COUNT is generated tree times by the clock generator circuit 107 in synchronization with the clock signals wherein after 2 clocks have been supplied, the signal COUNT2 is generated one time.
When the COUNT signal is generated one time, the selective signal CIO is inverted into "0" so that the output is changed into the data from the column selective line CSL corresponding to the pre-decode address Y3P or 8-bit data read out from the redundancy column selective line RYS1.
Subsequently when the signals COUNT and COUNT2 are generated, the logic YAD1 is inverted into "0" by a flip-flop circuit 840 in the latch circuit 602-1.
In the latch circuit 602-2, the burst signal B8 is "0" , for which reason the output of the AND-gate 926 is "0" and the logic of the YAD2 is not inverted.
As a result, the pre-decode addresses Y1P and Y2P are "1" and the others are "0". In this case, the selective signal CIO is inverted two times and returned into "1", for which reason the input/output switch 108 selects the data from the column selective line CSL corresponding to the pre-decode address Y1P or 8-bit data read out from the redundancy column selective line RYS1.
The final signal COUNT has been generated, the selective signal CIO is inverted into "0". The input/output switch 108 selects the data from the column selective line CSL corresponding to the pre-decode address Y2P or 8-bit data read out from the redundancy column selective line RYS0.
Consequently, first the pre-decode addresses Y0P and Y3P are "1", and then when the COUNT2 is generated, then the pre-decode addresses Y1P and Y2P are "1".
Data read out from the column selective line corresponding to the Y3P are first supplied to the output buffer 109. Every when the signal COUNT is generated, data read out from the column selective lines corresponding to the Y0P, Y1P and Y2P are supplied to the output buffer 109.
In view of the column address, data are outputted in the order of " . . . 011"(=3), " . . . 000"(=0), " . . . 001"(=1), " . . . 010"(=2).
When the burst length is 8, the burst signal B8 is "1". The switches 629 and 631 are OFF whilst the switches 630 and 632 are in ON. The pre-decode addresses Y3P and Y4P are "1" and the others are "0".
When the logic of the internal address signal INT1 is "1", the logic of the YAD2 is also inverted in response to the generation of the COUNT2 signal by the latch circuit 602-2 for counting up operations.
After the LOAD1 and LOAD2 signals have been generated, the signal COUNT is generated seven times by the clock generator circuit 107 in synchronization with the clock signals. The COUNT2 signal is generated three times every two clocks. The pre-decode address is made into "1" every when the COUNT2 signal is generated, for which reason the pre-decode addresses are changed in the order of Y5P and Y6P, Y7P and Y8P and Y0P and Y1P.
Data read out from the column selective line corresponding to Y3P are first supplied to the output buffer 109. Every when the COUNT signal is generated, data read out from the column selective limes corresponding to Y4P, Y5P, Y6P, Y7P, Y0P, Y1P, Y2P are supplied to the output buffer 109.
In view of the column address, data are outputted in the order of " . . . 011"(=3), " . . . 100"(=4), " . . . 101"(=5), " . . . 110"(=6), " . . . 111"(=7), " . . . 000"(=0), " . . . 001"(=1), " . . . 010"(=2).
FIG. 12 is a table indicating how the pre-decode pre-addresses are outputted by the pre-fetch pre-decoder 1004 in accordance with the input addresses A0-A8. The pre-decoder pre-address on the table means address of the logic "1".
In the above conventional system, the address signals which should be first read out are supplied to the pre-fetch pre-decoder 1004 for receipt of the burst length information to generate address signals which should be concurrently read out, each of which is combination of even address and odd address. The combination is decided in accordance with the burst length.
Whether or not the each address is to be substituted is judged by the even address redundancy decoder and the odd address redundancy decoder in accordance with the pre-decode signals from the pre-fetch pre-decoder.
FIG. 13 is a timing chart of pre-decode pre-address and the pre-decode address for selecting the column selective line CSL when the input addresses A2, A1 and A0 are "0", "1", and "1"(=3) and the burst length is 4.
When the address signals YAD2, YAD1 and YAD0 are supplied, the pre-decode addresses Y3P and Y0P are "1", provided that the even address corresponding to the Y0P is a substituting address and the odd address has been substituted in the former step where the Y1P was selected and the odd address corresponding to the Y3p is not substituting address.
When the Y0P comes "1", the pre-decode signal Y0 is once activated into "0" before the substituting address is recognized by the even address redundancy decoder whereby the inhibition signal for inhibiting selection of the column selective line becomes "0" so that Y0 is returned into "1".
When the Y3P becomes "1", the substituting address is recognized by the odd address redundancy decoder whereby the inhibition signal for inhibiting selection of the column selective line becomes "1" so that Y3 is activated into "0".
In order to finalize the pre-decode signal for selecting the column selective line, it takes a time to generate the judgement signal by the redundancy decoder after the pre-decode pre-address has been generated.
The above necessary time is in the range of 1-2 nanoseconds in the DRAMs currently on the development. This causes a timing delay to limit the access speeds.

Redundant decoder utilizing address signal and burst length


An Optical Projecting Encoder (“OPE”) having an emitter module for transmitting emitted optical radiation through a mask to a moving object, and a detector module for receiving reflected optical radiation from the moving object. The reflected optical radiation from the moving object may include a predetermined image cast by the mask and a surface texture image from the moving object. The OPE may include a transmissive layer covering both the emitter module and the detector module, where the transmissive layer covering the emitter module collimates the optical radiation from the emitter module, and the transmissive layer covering the detector module concentrates the optical radiation reflected from the moving object to the detector module. The detector module may include an optical navigation sensor that continuously acquires and compares predetermined images cast by the mask and surface texture images from the moving object.

Sensors are key feedback devices on many electromechanical systems. There is a wide variety of sensors available and new sensor technologies are continuously being developed. One of the most common position sensors utilized to measure the moving parts within a mechanical system is the optical encoder. An optical encoder is a closed-feedback device that converts motion or positional information into digital signals that may be utilized by a motor control system. As an example, optical encoders detect the position, speed, and direction of components such as print heads in inkjet printers, imaging drums and rollers in laser printers and photocopiers, and scan heads in optical scanners.
Optical encoders produce a digital output based on an encoded media (such as a codewheel or codestrip) that passes either through or by the optical encoder. In general, this encoded media is encoded with alternating light and dark regions (or slots) on the surface of the encoded media. When operated in conjunction with this encoded media, the optical encoder translates rotary or linear motion into a two-channel digital output.
Typically, optical encoders are either linear optical encoders or rotational optical encoders. Linear optical encoders may determine the velocity, acceleration and position of a read-head relative to an encoded media (such as a linear codestrip) utilizing a linear scale, while rotational optical encoders may determine the tangential velocity, acceleration and angular position of a read-head relative to an encoded media (such as a codewheel) utilizing a circular scale. Generally, both linear and rotational optical encoders may be implemented either as transmissive, reflective or imaging optical encoders.
In FIG. 1, a side cross-sectional view of a typical transmissive optical encoder 100 in combination with an encoded medium (such as a codestrip or a codewheel) 102 is shown. The optical encoder 100 may include a read-head 104, where the read-head 104 may include an emitter module 106, and a detector module 108. The read-head 104 and the encoded media 102 may move freely relative to each other in either a linear or a rotational manner based on whether the transmissive optical encoder 100 is either a linear or a rotational, respectively, optical encoder.
The emitter module 106 and the detector module 108 may include optics capable of emitting and detecting, respectively, optical radiation 110 from the emitter module 106 to the detector module 108. The optical radiation 110 may be visible, infrared, and/or ultraviolet light radiation. The emitter module 106 may include a light source (not shown) such as a diode, a light emitting diode ("LED"), photo-cathode, a light bulb, and/or a laser and the detector module 108 may include an array of photo-detectors (not shown) such as photo-diodes, photo-cathodes, and/or photo-multipliers.
In FIG. 2, a side cross-sectional view of a typical reflective optical encoder 200 in combination with an encoded media 202 is shown. The reflective optical encoder 200 may include a read-head 204, where the read-head 204 may include an emitter module 206, and a detector module 208. Similarly to FIG. 1, the read-head 204 and the encoded media 202 may move freely relative to each other in either a linear or a rotational manner based on whether the reflective optical encoder 200 is either a linear or a rotational, respectively, optical encoder.
The emitter module 206 and the detector module 208 may include optics capable of emitting and detecting, respectively, optical radiation from the emitter module 206 to the detector module 208. The optical radiation may include emitted optical radiation 210, which is emitted by the emitter module 206 on to the encoded media 202, and reflected optical radiation 212, which is reflected to the detector module 208 by the encoded media 202.
It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that the optical radiation again may be visible, infrared, and/or ultraviolet light radiation. The emitter module 206 may include a light source (not shown) such as a diode, an LED, photo-cathode, a light bulb, and/or a laser, and the detector module 208 may include an array of photo-detectors (not shown) such as photo-diodes, photo-cathodes, and/or photo-multipliers.
Similarly, in FIG. 3, a side cross-sectional view of a typical imaging optical encoder 300 in combination with an encoded media 302 is shown. The imaging optical encoder 300 may include a read-head 304, where the read-head 304 may include an emitter module 306, and a detector module 308. Similarly to both FIGS. 1 and 2, the read-head 304 and the encoded media 302 may move freely relative to each other in either a linear or rotational manner based on whether the reflective optical encoder 300 is either a linear or a rotational, respectively, optical encoder.
The emitter module 306 and the detector module 308 may include optics capable of emitting and detecting, respectively, optical radiation from the emitter module 306 to the detector module 308. The optical radiation may include emitted optical radiation 310, which is emitted by the emitter module 306 on to the encoded media 302, and reflected optical radiation 312, which is reflected to the detector module 308 by the encoded media 302.
It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that the optical radiation again may be visible, infrared, and/or ultraviolet light radiation. The emitter module 306 may include a light source (not shown) such as a diode, an LED, photo-cathode, a light bulb, and/or a laser, and the detector module 308 may include an array of photo-detectors (not shown) such as photo-diodes, photo-cathodes, and/or photo-multipliers.
In FIG. 4, a top-view of a typical transmissive or reflective linear encoded media 400 utilized as a codestrip by a linear optical encoder (not shown) is shown. The encoded media 400, FIG. 4, may include an alternating pattern of light regions (i.e., light bars 402) and dark regions (i.e., dark bars 404). Utilizing the encoded media 400, the linear optical-encoder may determine the velocity and acceleration of the read-head (not shown) relative to the encoded media 400.
Similarly, in FIG. 5, a top-view of a typical transmissive or reflective linear encoded media 500 utilized as a codewheel on a wheel shaft 502 by a rotational optical encoder (not shown) is shown. The encoded media 500, FIG. 5, may include an alternating pattern of light regions (i.e., light bars 504) and dark regions (i.e., dark bars 506). Utilizing the encoded media 500, the rotational optical encoder may determine the rotational velocity and acceleration of the read-head (not shown) relative to the encoded media 500.
The light and dark regions in both FIGS. 4 and 5 may contain opaque and transparent segments, respectively, that interrupt the optical radiation from the emitter module to the detector module in the optical detector. In the case of a transmissive optical encoder, the optical radiation directly transmitted from the emitter module to the detector module is interrupted by the encoded media; while in the case of the reflective or imaging optical encoder, the optical radiation from the emitter module is either reflected to the detector module by the encoded media or transmitted through the encoded media away from the detector module.
The optical encoder output is then either a binary "ON" or "OFF," depending on whether the optical encoder is over a light or dark region on the encoded media in the transmissive optical encoder or whether the optical radiation is reflected on to the detector module. The electronic signals generated by the optical encoder are then passed to a controller that is capable of determining the position and velocity of the optical detector based upon the received signals.
In general, transmissive optical encoders are capable of operating at high speed and high resolution because of their good contrast capabilities. Unfortunately, however, transmissive optical encoders require packaging designs with high profiles because the emitter module and the detector module have to be placed opposite each other around the encoder media.
Reflective optical encoders have better packaging designs than transmissive optical encoders because the emitter module and detector module are located substantially on the same horizontal plane and may be integrated into a single semiconductor substrate in an integrated circuit. This results in a lower profile packaging design with less materials and less assembly complexity than transmissive optical encoders. Unfortunately, typical reflective optical encoders suffer from lower contrast capabilities than transmissive optical encoders and therefore have limits in speed and resolution compared to transmissive optical encoders.
Imaging optical encoders typically have the same benefits as reflective optical encoders in terms of profile, materials and assembly complexity. However, imaging optical encoders require a diffusive encoded media that at present is not maturely established technologically. Additionally, imaging optical encoders suffer from diffuse reflectance and also have limits in speed and resolution compared to transmissive optical encoders.
In FIG. 6, another side cross-sectional view of a typical reflective optical encoder 600 in combination with an encoded media 602 is shown. The reflective optical encoder 600 may include a read-head 604, where the read-head 604 may include an emitter module 606, and a detector module 608. Similar to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the read-head 604 and the encoded media 602 may move freely relative to each other in either a linear or rotational manner based on whether the reflective optical encoder 600 is either a linear or a rotational optical encoder, respectively.
The emitter module 606 and the detector module 608 may include optics capable of emitting and detecting, respectively, optical radiation from the emitter module 606 to the detector module 608. The optical radiation may include emitted optical radiation 610, which is emitted by the emitter module 606 on to the encoded media 602, and reflected optical radiation 612, which is reflected to the detector module 608 by the encoded media 602. Additionally, both emitter module 606 and detector module 608 may be mounted on a common substrate 614. The substrate may be a single semiconductor substrate in an integrated circuit, a lead-frame, an insert-molded lead-frame, a printed circuit board ("PCB"), flexible circuit, ceramics substrate or micro-interconnecting device ("MID").
It is appreciated that the optical radiation again may be visible, infrared, and/or ultraviolet light radiation. The emitter module 606 may include a light source (not shown) such as a diode, a LED, photo-cathode, a light bulb, and/or a laser, and the detector module 608 may include an array of photo-detectors (not shown) such as photo-diodes, photo-cathodes, and/or photo-multipliers.
The optics may include a transmissive layer 616 capable of covering both the emitter module 606 and detector module 608, where the transmissive layer 616 may include any transmissive and moldable material capable of collimating the emitted optical radiation 610 into a parallel beam of optical radiation directed from the emitter module 606 to the encoded media 602, and concentrating the reflected optical radiation 612 into a beam of optical radiation directed at the detector module 608. The transmissive layer 616 may be an epoxy layer.
Because of the higher profile in terms of package design for transmissive optical encoders and the lower contrast capabilities in reflective and imaging optical encoders, there is a need for an improved optical encoder that is capable of providing higher image contrast and resolution than known reflective and imaging optical encoders in a package that is smaller and requires a less complex assembly process than a transmissive encoder.

Optical projection encoder with patterned mask


A selector control that is manually operable by a user for activating or deactivating a primary control or a secondary control. The selector control may include a first state for activating the primary control and deactivating the secondary control, a second state for activating the secondary control and deactivating the primary control, and a failsafe state for deactivating both the primary control and the secondary control. The selector control may be configured to maintain the second state independent of continuous user input being applied to the selector control, and configured to maintain the first state when continuous user input is applied to the selector control. The selector control is normally biased toward the failsafe state such that the selector control automatically selects the failsafe state when the user discontinues applying the user input for maintaining the first state. The selector control has particular application for use in controlling a boom of a work vehicle.

A boom-type apparatus, such as an aerial work platform or mobile elevating work platform, is commonly used in industrial, construction, maintenance, repair, emergency, and other applications. Such a boom-type apparatus typically includes a lower boom mounted on a vehicle for swinging about one or more axes, and an upper boom that is extendable from the lower boom or which is pivotally connected to the lower boom for also swinging about one or more axes. The upper boom typically has a bucket or platform connected at its distal end for enabling a worker to perform one or more tasks at a normally inaccessible area, which is usually at an elevated position.
Such a boom-type apparatus typically includes at least two working control valves for controlling one or more functions of the boom. A primary working control valve is usually disposed at the proximal end of the boom, such as in a cab of the vehicle, and may be used to control the boom from the ground. A secondary working control valve is usually disposed at the distal end of the boom, such as in the aerial bucket, and may be used to control the boom from the elevated position. In addition, a selector control valve is also typically disposed at the proximal end of the boom, and is used to operably couple either the primary working control valve or the secondary control valve for enabling operation of the boom. Such control valves may be hydraulic directional control valves, which are well-known in the art, and which may be operated by an external input command, such as a lever or joy stick that is operable by a human operator.
The ability to control the boom from the ground enhances the utility of the boom-type apparatus, however, the worker supported by the aerial platform may be hindered if the primary control functions remain active and are accidentally engaged to allow the platform to rotate, tilt, lift, or the like. Known selector control valves of the type described above typically prevent such accidental operation of the primary control valve by providing an emergency or failsafe state that must be actively selected by the operator to decouple the primary control. For example, such known selector control valves typically include a detent mechanism having detent positions that correspond to activation of each of the primary control, the secondary control, and the failsafe state. However, requiring the user to actively select the failsafe detent position among the various detent positions may lead to mistakes or user error, which may allow the primary control to remain activated, and which may lead to undesirable results if the primary control functions are accidentally engaged.


A fluid pump may include an electric motor having an output shaft driven for rotation about an axis and a pump assembly coupled to the output shaft. The pump assembly has a first cap and a second cap with at least one pumping channel defined between the first and second caps, and an impeller between the first and second caps. The impeller is driven for rotation by the output shaft of the motor and includes a plurality of vanes in communication with the at least one pumping channel. Each vane has a root segment and a tip segment and a line from a base of the root segment to an outer edge of the tip segment trails a line extending from the axis of rotation to the base of the root segment by an angle of between 0° and 30° relative to the direction of rotation of the impeller.

Electric motor driven pumps may be used to pump various liquids. In some applications, like in automotive vehicles, electric motor driven pumps are used to pump fuel from a fuel tank to a combustion engine. In applications like this, turbine type fuel pumps having an impeller with a plurality of vanes may be used.