A thrust reverser for a turbojet engine comprising displaceable downstream baffles (2) which are integrated into the outer wall of the annular bypass-flow duct so as to form the downstream end of the exhaust nozzle of the turbojet engine during the operation of the turbojet engine in a forward-thrust mode is provided. When in a thrust-reversal mode, the downstream baffles (2) are positioned so as to deflect the bypass flow and obtain thrust reversal. The baffles (2) are pivotably mounted on stationary pivots (10) and have at least one associated displacement mechanism (6, 7) for driving the baffles (2). Each downstream baffle (2) has an associated displaceable inner panel (13). Each baffle (2) and the associated inner panel (13) are driven through different angular displacements by the at least one associated displacement mechanism (6, 7), which is common to the baffle (2) and the associated inner panel (13), to change between the forward-thrust mode and the thrust-reversal mode. The at least one associated displacement mechanism (6, 7) is preferably mounted in a stationary manner on a stationary structure of the thrust reverser.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a turbojet-engine thrust reverser having downstream baffles designed to be mounted on turbojet-type aircraft engines with bypass or single flow.
2. Description of the Related Art
French patent document 2,622,928 A illustrates one design of a thrust reverser having downstream baffles and implementing thrust reversal of the bypass, or cold, flow of a bypass turbojet-engine. This kind of thrust reverser comprises downstream or clamshell baffles which, besides implementing the reversal of either the bypass flow or the whole flow, also constitute the exhaust nozzle in the forward-thrust mode. The downstream edge of said baffles therefore constitutes the downstream end of the of the outer duct wall, in the latter case of the annular circulation duct of the bypass flow where a bypass turbojet-engine is concerned. The baffles are pivotably mounted on the stationary thrust-reverser structure.
FIGS. 1 and 2 of the attached drawings show an embodiment of this kind of a known thrust reverser in the forward-thrust mode and in the thrust reversal mode, respectively. In this instance, the thrust reverser consists of a stationary upstream structure 1 affixed to the turbojet engine or its cowling and comprises an inner wall externally bounding the annular duct for circulation the flow, an external stationary fairing affixed to the inner wall, and two side structures 5. Two downstream baffles 2 are pivotably mounted on the stationary structure, in particular by pivots 10 resting on the side structures 5 which also support a control system 6 for the displacements and the locking of the baffles 2. In this embodiment, a linkrod 7 connects, by its end 8, the movable part of the actuator 6 to the baffle 2 at a point 9. The downstream edge 4 of the baffles 2 constitutes the trailing edge of the outer wall by extending the fairing in the downstream direction and is not coplanar. At its upstream end, the baffle 2 comprises a spoiler 12 for guiding the reversed flow.
In the known solutions according to French patent 2,348,3712 A, U.S. Pat. NO. 5,176,340 or British patent 2,252,279 A, wherein the pivots of the downstream baffles are stationary, these baffles incur the drawback that their inner contour is unchanging relative to their outer contour. As a result, when in the extended position, the orientation of the inner contour depends on the global displacement of the baffle, this displacement being restricted to making contact with the downstream edge of said baffles in order to increase thrust-reverser efficiency. This design entails an oblique, downstream cutout in the nozzle exhaust, and consequently incurs aerodynamic losses in the forward thrust mode. Such losses are eliminated according to the U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,340 and British patent 2,252,279 A by a dedicated mechanical system associated to the baffles.
According to British patent 2,168,298 A, the baffle comprises of an outer and an inner panel. However, this baffle incurs the major drawback of the panels fitted with independent control systems, resulting in an increase in weight and in problems synchronizing movement of the two panels. Moreover, the technology is restrained to central pivoting, thus being required to have a downstream deviation of the internal panel entailing a large central gap and a downstream deviation of the external panel obliquely covering, over the internal panel with discontinuity of the streamlines. These associated components cause large aerodynamic perturbations in the forward-thrust mode.

Turbojet thrust reverser with downstream obstacles


An on-vehicle acoustic control system determines which one of sounds of an audio device and a navigation device should be generated with priority, when both devices are requested to generate respective sounds. The control system further detects a user's physical condition based on an interaction with the user, a picture of the user and biometric information of the user. The control system generates sound in the order of determined priority, and varies the manner of sound generation based on the user's physical condition.

An on-vehicle control system that controls sounds within a vehicle is disclosed, for example, in JP-7-159190A.
In a vehicle interior, various sounds such as music outputted from an audio device and voice guidance such as route guide outputted from a navigation device coexist. The music and voice guidance are not outputted in a coordinated or balanced manner with each other but are outputted independently of each other. Therefore, for example, if voice guidance from the navigation device is outputted when music from the audio device is being outputted in an extremely high volume, the outputted voice guidance will be buried in the music. The user may not be able to catch the voice guidance. Since these sounds are outputted regardless of user's physical condition, the user may feel that the sound level is not appropriate or miss the voice guidance when the user is in bad physical condition.

On-vehicle acoustic control system and method


A safe analytical technique for determining the concentration amount of dibutyl and monobutyl phosphate degradation products in the TBP-dodecane solvent used in solvent extraction processes. This method of chemical analysis eliminates the use of diazomethane, which is toxic and explosive, thereby providing a safer laboratory technique for routine analyses required to monitor production solvent extraction processes. The solvent sample to be analyzed is spiked with mass labelled, deuterated dibutyl and monobutyl phosphates, which act as internal standards. After adding a silylating agent, bistrimethylsilyltrifluoracetamide, the sample is injected into a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer, which measures the ratio between the labelled internal standard and the naturally occurring material to obtain a quantitative result.

The solvent extraction process for recovering uranium consists of a sequence of chemical steps or operations performed on scrap material or spent fuel. First, the scrap material or spent fuel containing uranium compounds is treated with an aqueous solution of nitric acid (HNO.sub.3), whereby the uranium is dissolved to produce uranyl nitrate (UO.sub.2 (NO.sub.3).sub.2) and other acid-soluble components in an aqueous phase. This aqueous phase is passed down a solvent extraction column while an organic phase of tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) in an organic diluent of a paraffinic mixture, such as dodecane, is passed up through the extraction column in counter-current flow with the aqueous phase. The soluble uranium compounds of the aqueous phase are extracted therefrom by the organic phase and combined with the TBP. The uranium is thus separated from the acid-soluble raffinate contaminants remaining in the aqueous phase and carried by the organic phase from the extraction column. The aqueous and organic phases exit at opposite ends of the extraction column.
The organic phase effluent from the extraction column is then passed up through a stripping column while water is passed down through the stripping column in countercurrent flow with the organic phase. The water releases the uranium from the TBP of the organic phase, whereby it is transferred to and carried within the aqueous phase. The aqueous and organic phases exit at opposite ends of the stripping column, the aqueous phase containing the recovered uranium compounds separated from contaminants. The organic phase is then recycled back through the extraction column. Typically the procedure is carried out with a continuous flow of all components through the system comprising the extraction and stripping columns. The desired product of the solvent extraction process is a high-purity aqueous phase effluent containing virtually all the uranium of the initial waste fed into the system.
Ionizing radiation, elevated temperature and acids cause decomposition of TBP in all of the solvent extraction processes that separate heavy metals, such as uranium, plutonium, thorium and gadolinium. The decomposition products prevent separation of the desired products uranium and plutonium from unwanted wastes, such as gadolinium, zirconium, and fission products.
The acid feed to solvent extraction includes deesterification (dealkylation and hydrolysis) reactions producing dibutyl phosphoric acid (DBP), monobutyl phosphoric acid (MBP), phosphoric acid and butyl alcohol. The sequence of deesterification reactions are summarized below: ##STR1##
Dibutyl phosphoric acid (DBP) complexes with uranium, zirconium, and gadolinium, forming compounds soluble in TBP and its solution in hydrocarbon diluents (dodecane or kerosene). This results in a lower gadolinium or zirconium decontamination factor, and an increase in uranium losses in the raffinate, or aqueous waste, produced by the solvent extraction process.
Gas chromatography is the standard analytical method for determining the small quantities of DBP and MBP in TBP and TBP-diluent solutions. To measure these degradation products, DBP and MBP are converted to the more volatile methyl esters, namely, CH.sub.3 DBP and (CH.sub.3).sub.2 MBP.
Methylation prevents the problems of migration of the low-volatility acids through the packed columns of the gas chromatograph and of their dissociation within the columns. The methylating agent commonly used is diazomethane (CH.sub.2 N.sub.2), which is both explosive and toxic.

Analytical method for determining concentration of decomposition products in solvent used for solvent extraction


The invention relates to driving a transflective liquid-cystal panel in such a manner as to increase a contrast ratio during a transmissive-type display time while appropriately maintaining the brightness during a reflective-type display. The liquidcrystal panel includes a Y driver circuit and an X driver circuit for supplying an applied voltage having an effective value of a magnitude corresponding to the gray scale level indicated by gray scale data to a liquid crystal element, and a driver control circuit for switching the setting of each magnitude of an effective value of an applied voltage with respect to each gray scale level in the X driver circuit to a setting for a reflective-type display in response to the non-switching on of a light source and to a setting for a transmissive-type display in response to the switching on of the light source.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to driving devices for driving liquid-crystal panels for use with a TFD (Thin Film Diode) driving method, a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) driving method, and a simple-matrix driving method, and to a liquidcrystal device comprising a liquid-crystal panel and a driving device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an device for driving a transflective liquid-crystal panel which comprises a polarizer, a transflector, and a light source. The device being capable of serving dual purposes of a reflective-type such that a display is produced by reflecting external light, and of a transmissive-type such that a display is produced by transmitting light-source light.
2.Description of Related Art
In a conventional transmissive-type liquid-crystal panel using TN (Twisted Nematic) liquid-crystal, STN (Super-Twisted Nematic) liquid-crystal, and the like, generally, relatively satisfactory brightness is obtained by light-source light. On the other hand, in order that the contrast ratio to be sufficient, a construction is employed in which a shading film called a black mask or a black matrix is formed in a net form around an opening area opposing each pixel on an opposite substrate in order to separate each of the adjacent pixels, preventing mixing of colors between the pixels when a color display using color filters is produced, and further, the contrast ratio is increased regardless of a color display and a black-and-white display.
FIGS. 20 and 21 respectively show an enlarged sectional view and an enlarged plan view of the opposite substrate within a screen display area where a shading film which separates each pixel is formed in this manner and color filters of RGB are formed in each pixel. In FIG. 20, RGB color filters 501 are formed on the surface of an opposite substrate 500 on a side facing the liquid crystal in such a way that the RGB color filters 501 correspond to each pixel. A shading film 502 made of a shading metal or a shading organic film is formed in the spacing of the opening area of each pixel, that is, in the boundary of the color filters 501. Further, a transparent electrode 504 is formed on the color filters 501 via an overcoat (OC) layer 503, which transparent electrode 504 forms a data line or scanning line (in the case of a liquid-crystal panel of a TFD active-matrix driving method, a simple-matrix driving method, or the like), an opposite electrode (in the case of a liquid-crystal panel of a TFT active-matrix driving method), and the like.
As its planar layout, there are the mosaic arrangement, the delta arrangement, and the stripe arrangement, as shown in FIGS. 21A, 21B, and 21C, respectively. In FIGS. 21A, 21B, and 21C, shading film 502a, 502b, and 502c are formed in the boundary areas (that is, the hatched areas in the figures) of the color filters 501a, 501b, and 501c, respectively.
In this type of transmissive-type liquid-crystal panel, the shading films which separate each pixel in this manner makes it possible to generally obtain a very high contrast ratio of, for example, about 100:1. Here, the xe2x80x9ccontrast ratioxe2x80x9d refers to the ratio of the display luminance when a driving voltage is not applied to a liquid crystal, to the display luminance when a driving voltage is applied in the normally white mode, or in the normally black mode.
On the other hand, in a conventional reflective-type liquid-crystal panel using a TN liquid-crystal or a STN liquid-crystal, since the brightness of a display depends on the intensity of external light, generally, a display which is as approximately bright as the brightness in the case of a transmissive-type display cannot be obtained. That is, in a reflective-type liquid-crystal device, insufficient brightness is considered to be more problematical than an insufficient contrast ratio. For this reason, it is a common practice that a shading film is not formed on an opposite substrate like in the case of the above-mentioned transmissive-type liquid-crystal panel.
FIGS. 22 and 23 respectively show an enlarged sectional view and an enlarged plan view of an opposite substrate within a screen display area where a shading film is not formed in this manner and RGB color filters are formed in each pixel. Components which are the same as those in FIGS. 20 and 21 are given the same reference numerals, and accordingly, descriptions thereof have been omitted.
In the reflective-type liquid-crystal panel, since a shading film which separates each pixel in this manner is not formed, the amount of light which passes through the opposite substrate is increased by an amount corresponding to that in which light is not shielded by the shading film, causing the display to be bright. However, because there is no shading film, mixing of colors occurs when a color display using color filters is made. Also, since leakage of light (loss of white) occurs in the spacing (non-opening area) between opening areas for adjacent pixels regardless of color display and black-and-white display, a contrast ratio of, for example, about 10:1 is obtained.
In the manner as described above, in the case of a reflective-type liquid-crystal panel which produces a display using external light, in a dark environment, the display darkens and becomes difficult to see with a decrease in the amount of light. In contrast, in the case of a transmissive-type liquid-crystal panel, such as the above mentioned, which produces a display using a light source such as a backlight, power consumption is increased by an amount corresponding to the light source regardless of whether it is a bright environment or a dark environment, and the transmissive-type liquid-crystal panel is not suitable, in particular, for a portable display device which is operated by a battery.
Therefore, in recent years, a transflective liquid-crystal panel which can be used for both a reflective-type and a transmissive-type has been developed. This transflective liquid-crystal panel produces, mainly in a bright environment, a reflective-type display by controlling the amount of light which is output from the display screen for each pixel by using an optical element, such as a liquid crystal, a polarized-light separator, and so on, disposed on the light path while external light which enters from the display screen is reflected by a transflective film provided inside the device, whereas, mainly in a dark environment, a transmissive-type display is produced by controlling the amount of light which is output from the display screen for each pixel by using an optical element, such as a liquid crystal, a polarized-light separator, and so on, described above, while light-source light is emitted by a built-in light source, such as a backlight, from the rear side of the transflective film.
A liquid-crystal panel driving device for driving various types of liquid-crystal panels, such as a reflective-type, a transmissive-type, or a transflective-type, constructed in the above manner generally comprises driver circuits, such as data-line driving circuits, and scanning-line driving circuits, which supply a data signal and a scanning signal to a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scanning lines, disposed on a substrate on which liquid-crystal elements are formed, respectively, in such a manner as to correspond to display data. This driver circuit is formed on a substrate on which liquid-crystal elements are formed, or provided externally to the liquidcrystal panel. Also, such a liquid-crystal panel driving device comprises a driver control circuit for controlling the driver circuit by supplying, to the driver circuit, (i) various control signals for controlling a voltage value and a supply timing in a data signal and a scanning signal, and (ii) a data signal of a predetermined format, which corresponds to display data and which is based on display data, and the like. Such a liquid-crystal panel driving device further comprises a control power supply circuit for supplying various control potentials, such as a predetermined high potential, low potential, or reference potential, to the driver circuit. The driver control circuit and the control power supply circuit are generally formed as IC circuits and are provided externally to the liquid-crystal panel.
In particular, when the display data is gray scale data, for example, a voltage value (crest value) and an applied time (pulse width) of a data signal are varied in response to each gray scale level by the driver control circuit and driver circuit described above so that the effective value of the applied voltage applied to the liquid crystal is varied in response to the gray scale level. In this case, the setting (that is, the relationship between the gray scale level and the effective value of the applied voltage, or the varying characteristics of the effective value of the applied voltage with respect to the gray scale level) of each magnitude of the effective value of the applied voltage with respect to each gray scale level in the driver circuit, is set to a single setting in advance according to the characteristics of each liquid-crystal panel irrespective of the reflective-type, the transmissive-type, and the transflective-type.
However, in the conventional transflective liquid-crystal panel, similarly to the case of the above-mentioned reflective-type liquid-crystal panel, a construction (see FIGS. 22 and 23) is generally employed in which a shading film which separates each pixel is not provided on an opposite substrate. With such a construction, when a reflective-type display is produced, a display having a contrast ratio of about 10:1 is obtained similarly to the case of the reflective-type liquid-crystal panel. However, when a transmissive-type display is produced, since light-source light exits from the spacing of pixels with no shading film (non-opening area), only a contrast ratio much lower than the above contrast ratio can be obtained. For this reason, in the conventional transflectivetype liquid-crystal panel, there is a problem in that a satisfactory contrast ratio cannot be obtained during the transmissive-type display time. Furthermore, when the display mode is switched from the reflective-type display mode to the transmissive-type display mode, the contrast ratio is decreased greatly at the instant of switching. Alternatively, when the display mode is conversely switched from the transmissive-type display mode to the reflective-type display mode, the contrast ratio is increased greatly at the instant of switching. For this reason, there is also a problem in that incongruity of vision is given to a user at the time of switching of the display mode.
If, for the transflective liquid-crystal panel, a construction (FIGS. 20 and 21) is employed in which a shading film which separates each pixel is provided on an opposite substrate in a manner similar to the above-mentioned transmissive-type liquid-crystal panel, a satisfactory contrast ratio is obtained at the transmissive-type display time. However, since the display darkens at the time of the reflective-type display which depends on the intensity of external light, such a liquid-crystal panel is not used in practice.
As described above, in the liquid-crystal panel driving device, the setting of each magnitude of the effective value of an applied voltage for each gray scale level in the driver circuit is set to a single setting in advance according to the characteristics of each liquid-crystal panel irrespective of whether it is the reflective-type, transmissive-type, or transflective-type. Consequently, by adjusting this setting, it is possible for the transflective-type liquid-crystal panel to respond to the demand for increasing the brightness during a reflective-type display time, such as the brightness described above. It is also possible to respond to the demand for increasing the contrast ratio during the transmissive-type display time. However, there is a problem in that a single setting which satisfies these two demands simultaneously is not available in practice even in a construction in which a shading film is not provided on an opposite substrate.
It is one aspect of the present invention, which has been achieved in view of the above-described problems, to provide a liquid-crystal panel driving device capable of increasing the contrast ratio during a transmissive-type display time while appropriately maintaining the brightness during a reflective-type display time in a transflective-type liquid-crystal panel, and further, which is capable of decreasing the difference between the contrast ratio during the reflective-type display time and the contrast ratio during the transmissive-type display time, and a liquid-crystal device comprising such a liquid-crystal panel and such a driving device.
Therefore, the present invention provides a liquid-crystal panel driving device for driving a transflective-type liquid-crystal panel having a liquid-crystal element which has a liquid crystal held between a pair of substrates and in which the origination state of the liquid crystal can be varied according to the effective value of an applied voltage applied to the liquid crystal; a pair of polarized-light separation devices disposed with the liquid-crystal element interposed therebetween; and a light source for causing light-source light to enter the liquid-crystal element via the polarized-light separation devices, a reflective-type display is produced by causing external light to be reflected via the liquid-crystal element and the polarized-light separation devices when the light source is not switched on, and a transmissive-type display is produced by causing the light-source light to be transmitted through the liquid-crystal element and the polarized-light separation devices when the light source is switched on, the liquid crystal panel driving device comprising: a power supply device for supplying to the liquid-crystal element the applied voltage having an effective value of a magnitude corresponding to the gray scale level indicated by gray scale data; and a switch for switching the setting of each magnitude of the effective value for each gray scale level in the power supply device to a setting for a reflectivetype display in response to the non-switching on of the light source and to a setting for a transmissive-type display in response to the switching on of the light source.
According to the liquid-crystal panel driving device of the present invention, the power supply device supplies an applied voltage having an effective value corresponding to a gray scale level indicated by gray scale data to a liquid-crystal element. Therefore, when the light source is not switched on, if the alignment state of the liquid crystal of the liquid-crystal element varies in accordance with the effective value of this applied voltage, the transmittance with respect to the external light reflected via the liquid-crystal element and the polarized-light separation device varies according to the alignment state. For this reason, the reflected light of the external light, attenuated in response to the gray scale level, is output from the display screen, that is, a reflective-type display is produced. In addition, when the light source is switched on, if the alignment state of the liquid crystal of the liquid-crystal element varies in accordance with the effective value of this applied voltage, the transmittance with respect to the light-source light to be transmitted through the liquid-crystal element and the polarized-light separation device varies according to the alignment state. For this reason, the light-source light attenuated in response to the gray scale level is output from the display screen, that is, a transmissive-type display is produced. Here, in particular, the switch switches the setting of each magnitude of the effective value of the applied voltage for each gray scale level in the power supply device to a setting for a reflective-type display in response to the non-switching on of the light source or to a setting for a transmissive-type display in response to the switching on of the light source.
Therefore, in comparison with a setting (a single setting) in which there is no distinction between that for a reflective-type display and that for a transmissive-type display as in the conventional case, if the setting for the reflective-type display is such a setting as to make the brightness bright and the setting for the transmissive-type display is such a setting as to increase the contrast ratio, a reflective-type display which is brighter than in the conventional case can be produced when the light source is not switched on, and at the same time, when the light source is switched on, a transmissive-type display can be produced at a contrast ratio higher than in the conventional case. In particular, for the trade-off of slightly decreasing the contrast ratio, the setting for the reflective-type display can be made such as to make the brightness correspondingly bright, and at the same time, for the trade-off of slightly reducing the brightness, the setting for the transmissive-type display can be made such as to increase the contrast ratio correspondingly.
In addition, when there is no shading film in the liquid-crystal element (see FIGS. 22 and 23), if the setting for the reflective-type display and the setting for the transmissive-type display are performed so that, by increasing the contrast ratio during the transmissive-type display time or by decreasing the contrast ratio during the reflective-type display time, the difference between the contrast ratio during the reflective-type display time and the contrast ratio during the transmissive-type display time is decreased to that in the conventional case and, preferably, is of the same degree, the variation of the contrast ratio when the light source is switched on or when it is not switched on can be decreased to such a degree so as not to be very conspicuous or noticeable.
As a result of the above, the brightness and the contrast ratio are appropriately adjusted by the liquid-crystal panel driving device of the present invention in both the reflective-type display mode and the transmissive-type display mode, and further, the variations of the contrast ratio and the brightness when these display modes are switched are not visually conspicuous, and a congruous display which is very easy to see can be realized by the transflective-type liquid-crystal panel.
The xe2x80x9cmagnitude of the effective value of the applied voltagexe2x80x9d may be, for example, a voltage value itself of an applied voltage, such as a crest value when a pulse-shaped voltage signal having a predetermined pulse width is applied, or may be a voltage applied time such as a pulse width when a pulse-shaped voltage signal having a predetermined crest value is applied, or may be a two-dimensional applied-voltage density in a screen display area, such as a ratio of the number of pixels, to which a voltage for the total number of pixels in a very small block formed of a plurality of pixels, is applied. That is, when any publicly known gray scale display method is employed, in the transflective-type liquid-crystal panel, the present invention functions effectively, and the above-described operations and effects which are characteristic of the present invention can be obtained.
In one aspect of the liquid-crystal panel driving device of the present invention, the liquid-crystal element further comprises a plurality of data lines, disposed on the substrate, to which a data signal is supplied, and a plurality of scanning lines, disposed on the substrate, to which a scanning signal is supplied, the applied voltage being applied to the liquid crystal for each liquid-crystal portion in each pixel in such a manner as to correspond to at least one of the data signal and the scanning signal which are supplied via the data line and the scanning line, respectively. The power supply device comprises a data-signal supply device for supplying to the data line the data signal having a pulse width corresponding to the gray scale level. The switch switches the setting of each pulse width of the data signal with respect to each gray scale level in the data-signal supply device to a setting for a reflective-type display in response to the non-switching on of the light source and to a setting for a transmissive-type display in response to the switching on of the light source, thereby switching the setting of each magnitude of the effective value.
According to this aspect, the data-signal supply device supplies to the data line a data signal having a pulse width corresponding to the gray scale level. Thereupon, an applied voltage is applied to the liquid crystal of the liquid-crystal element for each liquid crystal portion in each pixel in such a manner as to correspond to at least one of the data signal and the scanning signal supplied via the data line and the scanning line, respectively. Here, in particular, when the switch switches the setting of each pulse width of the data line with respect to each gray scale level in the data-signal supply device to a setting for a reflective-type display in response to the non-switching on of the light source or to a setting for a transmissive-type display in response to the switching on of the light source, the setting of each magnitude of the effective value of the applied voltage is switched to a setting for a reflective-type display or to a setting for a transmissive-type display. Therefore, by using the period of the data signal obtained by pulse-width-modulating (PWM) gray scale data, a bright reflective-type display can be produced when the light source is not switched on, and when the light source is switched on, a transmissive-type display can be produced at a high contrast ratio. Further, the variation of the contrast ratio when the light source is switched on or when it is switched off can be decreased to such a degree so as not to be very conspicuous or noticeable.
In this aspect, the switch may comprise a first pulse generator for generating a first pulse signal for gray scale control, formed of a plurality of pulses arranged in correspondence with the intervals of the gray scale level which is a reference for the setting of the pulse width for the reflective-type display; second pulse generator for generating a second pulse signal for gray scale control, formed of a plurality of pulses arranged in correspondence with the intervals of the gray scale level which is a reference for the setting of the pulse width for the transmissive-type display; and a pulse signal switch for selectively supplying the first pulse signal for gray scale control to the data-signal supply device in response to the non-switching on of the light source and for selectively supplying the second pulse signal for gray scale control to the data-signal supply device in response to the switching on of the light source.
With such a construction, the first pulse signal for gray scale control is generated by the first pulse generator, whereas the second pulse signal for gray scale control is generated by the second pulse generator. Then, in response to the non-switching on of the light source, the first pulse signal for gray scale control is selectively supplied to the data-signal supply device by the pulse signal switch. Alternatively, in response to the switching on of the light source, the second pulse signal for gray scale control is selectively supplied to the data-signal supply device by the pulse signal switch. Therefore, a relatively simple switching operation by the pulse signal switch makes it possible to quickly and reliably switch between the reflective-type display mode and the transmissive-type display mode.
In another aspect of the liquid-crystal panel driving device of the present invention, the liquid-crystal element further comprises a plurality of data lines, disposed on the substrate, to which a data signal is supplied, a plurality of scanning lines, disposed on the substrate, to which a scanning signal is supplied, the applied voltage being applied to the liquid crystal for each liquid-crystal portion in each pixel in such a manner as to correspond to at least one of the data signal and the scanning signal which are supplied through the data line and the scanning line, respectively. The power supply device comprises data-signal supply device for supplying to the data line the data signal having a pulse width corresponding to the gray scale level, and scanning-signal supply device for supplying to the scanning line the scanning signal having a predetermined width. The switch switches the setting of a crest value of the scanning signal in the scanning-signal supply device to a setting for a reflective-type display in response to the non-switching on of the light source and to a setting for a transmissive-type display in response to the switching on of the light source, thereby switching the setting of each magnitude of the effective value.
According to this aspect, the data-signal supply device supplies a data signal having a pulse width corresponding to the gray scale level to the data line. At the same time, the scanning-signal supply device supplies a scanning signal having a predetermined width to the scanning line. Thereupon, an applied voltage is applied to the liquid crystal of the liquid-crystal element for each liquid-crystal portion in each pixel in such a manner as to correspond to at least one of the data signal and the scanning signal which are supplied via the data lines and the scanning lines, respectively. Here, in particular, when the switch switches the setting of the crest value of the scanning signal in the scanning-signal supply device to a setting for a reflective-type display in response to the non-switching on of the light source or to a setting for a transmissive-type display in response to the switching on of the light source, the setting of each magnitude of the effective value of the applied voltage is switched to a setting for a reflective-type display or to a setting for a transmissive-type display. Therefore, by using the magnitude of the voltage value of the applied voltage based on the difference between the data-signal voltage and the scanning-signal voltage, a bright reflective-type display can be produced when the light source is not switched on, and when the light source is switched on, a transmissive-type display can be produced at a high contrast ratio. Further, the variation of the contrast ratio when the light source is switched on and when it is switched off can be decreased to such a degree so as not to be very conspicuous or noticeable.
In this aspect, the switch may comprise a first control voltage supply for supplying a first control voltage which is a reference for the setting of the crest value for the reflective-type display; a second control voltage supply for supplying a second control voltage which is a reference for the setting of the crest value for the transmissive-type display; and a control voltage switch for selectively supplying the first control voltage to the scanning-signal supply device in response to the non-switching on of the light source and for selectively supplying the second control voltage to the scanning-signal supply device in response to the switching on of the light source.
With such a construction, the first control voltage supply supplies a first control voltage, whereas the second control voltage supply supplies a second control voltage. Then, in response to the non-switching on of the light source, the control voltage switch selectively supplies the first control voltage to the scanning-signal supply device. Alternatively, in response to the switching on of the light source, the control voltage switch selectively supplies the second control voltage to the scanningsignal supply device. Therefore, a relatively simple switching operation by the control voltage switch makes it possible to quickly and reliably switch between the reflective-type display mode and the transmissive-type display mode.
In another aspect of the liquid-crystal panel driving device of the present invention, the switch switches the setting of the magnitude of the effective value in such a way that in the setting for the reflective-type display, the transmittance of the external light in the liquid-crystal device becomes relatively large over the entire region of the gray scale level, and that in the setting for the transmissive-type display, the transmittance of the light-source light in the liquid-crystal device becomes relatively small over the entire region of the gray scale level.
According to this aspect, since, in the reflective-type display mode, the transmittance of the external light in the liquid-crystal device becomes relatively large over the entire region of the gray scale level by switching using the switch, the display becomes bright over the entire gray scale. Conversely, in the transmissive-type display mode, since the transmittance of the light-source light in the liquid-crystal device becomes relatively small over the entire region of the gray scale level by switching using the switch, the display becomes dark over the entire gray scale. Therefore, when, in particular, there is no shading film in the liquid-crystal element (see FIGS. 22 and 23), the difference in the contrast ratio and in the brightness between during the reflective-type display time and during the transmissive-type display time can be reduced as well, and the variation of the contrast ratio and the brightness when the light source is switched on or when it is switched off can be decreased to such a degree so as not to be very conspicuous or noticeable.
In another aspect of the liquid-crystal panel driving device of the present invention, the switch switches the setting of the magnitude of the effective value in such a way that, in the setting for the reflective-type display, the variation of the transmittance of the external light in the liquid-crystal device with respect to the variation of the gray scale level becomes relatively small, and that in the setting for the transmissive-type display, the variation of the light-source light in the liquidcrystal device with respect to the variation of the gray scale level becomes relatively large.
According to this aspect, since the switching by the switch causes the variation of the transmittance of the external light with respect to the variation of the gray scale level to become relatively small in the reflective-type display mode, the contrast ratio becomes small. In contrast, in the transmissive-type display mode, since the variation of the transmittance of the external light with respect to the variation of the gray scale level becomes relatively large, the contrast ratio becomes large. Therefore, when, in particular, there is no shading film in the liquid-crystal element (see FIGS. 22 and 23), the difference in the contrast ratio between during the reflective-type display time and during the transmissive-type display time can be reduced as well, and the variation of the contrast ratio when the light source is switched on or when it is switched off can be decreased to such a degree so as not to be very conspicuous or noticeable.
In another aspect of the liquid-crystal panel driving device of the present invention, there is further provided a switching-on control device for controlling the switching-on and the non-switching-on of the light source. The switch switches the setting of the magnitude of the effective value in synchronization with the control of the switching-on and the non-switching-on by the switching-on control device.
According to this aspect, the switching-on control device controls the switching-on and the non-switching-on of the light source. Thereupon, the switch switches the setting of the magnitude of the applied voltage in synchronization with the control of the switching-on and the non-switching-on by the switching-on control device. Therefore, in response to the non-switching-on (switching off) and the switching-on of the light source, it is possible to switch between the setting for the reflective-type display and the setting for the transmissive-type display reliably and without delay.
In order to achieve the above objects, the liquid-crystal device of the present invention comprises the above-described liquid-crystal panel driving device according to the present invention and a liquid-crystal panel.
According to the liquid-crystal device of the present invention, since the liquid-crystal device comprises the above-described driving device of the present invention, it is possible to produce a display at an appropriately adjusted brightness and at a contrast ratio in both the reflective-type display mode and the transmissive-type display mode. Furthermore, the variation of the contrast ratio and the brightness when these display modes are switched is not visually conspicuous, and a congruous display which is very easy to see can be produced.
According to one aspect of the liquid-crystal device of the present invention, the liquid-crystal element comprises a plurality of data lines, disposed on a substrate, to which a data signal is supplied; a plurality of scanning lines, disposed on the substrate, to which a scanning signal is supplied; and a plurality of two-terminal-type non-linear elements which are connected in series, respectively, together with the liquid-crystal portion in each pixel between the plurality of data lines and the plurality of scanning lines.
According to this aspect, a data signal is supplied from the data line to the liquid-crystal portion in each pixel via the two-terminal-type non-linear element connected in series with the liquid-crystal portion, and a scanning signal is supplied thereto from the scanning line. Therefore, for example, by using the magnitude of the voltage value of an applied voltage based on the difference between the data-signal voltage and the scanning-signal voltage and the period of the pulse width of the data signal, a bright reflective-type display can be produced when the light source is not switched on, and when the light source is switched on, a transmissive-type display can be produced at a high contrast ratio.
In this aspect, the two-terminal-type non-linear element may comprise a TFD (Thin Film Diode) driving element.
With such a construction, in a transflective liquid-crystal panel for use with a TFD active-matrix driving method, a bright reflective-type display can be produced when the light source is not switched on, and when the light source is switched on, a transmissive-type display can be produced at a high contrast ratio.
As an applicable transflective liquid-crystal panel of the present invention, in addition to a liquid-crystal panel for use with a TFD active-matrix driving method, there are various liquid-crystal panels, such as a liquid-crystal panel for use with a TFT active-matrix driving method, or a liquid-crystal panel for use with a simple-matrix driving method. That is, when any publicly known liquid-crystal panel is employed, in the transflective liquid-crystal panel, the present invention functions effectively, and the above-described operations and effects which are characteristics of the present invention can be obtained.
In another aspect of the liquid-crystal device of the present invention, a pair of polarized-light separation devices comprise a pair of polarizers disposed in such a way that their transmission axes form a predetermined angle, the liquid-crystal panel further comprises a transflector disposed on a side opposite to the liquid-crystal element with respect to one of the pair of polarizers, and the light source causes the light-source light to enter the liquid-crystal element via the transflective film and the one polarizer.
According to this aspect, when the light source is not switched on, the external light enters the liquid-crystal element via the other (the polarizer of the display screen side) of the pair of polarizers disposed in such a way that their transmission axes form a predetermined angle (for example, 90 degrees when a TN liquid-crystal element is provided and a normally white mode is set, 0 degree when a TN liquid-crystal element is provided and a normally black mode is set, and the like), and the external light is further reflected by a transflective film via the one polarizer (the polarizer in an inner part close to the light source). Thereafter, the reflected external light is selectively output from the display screen via one polarizer, the liquid-crystal element, and the other polarizer according to the alignment state of the liquid-crystal element. Therefore, when the light source is not switched on, a reflective-type display is produced. Also, when the light source is switched on, the light-source light enters the liquid-crystal element via the transflective film and one of the polarizers, and is further selectively output from the display screen via the other polarizer according to the alignment state of the liquid-crystal element. Therefore, when the light source is switched on, a transmissive-type display is produced.
One or both of the pair of the polarized-light separation devices may be formed of a publicly known polarized-light separator, such as a reflection polarizer, other than a polarizer, such as polarization plate. For example, if the polarized-light separation device is formed of a reflection polarizer, since polarized-light separation is performed by reflection, efficiency of use of light is higher than a case in which a polarizer is used, and the brightness at a reflective-type display is increased correspondingly. Furthermore, the construction may be formed in such a way that a reflection polarizer disposed on a region close to the light source is made to have the function of a transflective film. Furthermore, there is a case in which so-called positive-negative inversion occurs between a reflective-type display and a transmissive-type display depending upon the properties and combination of polarized-light separation devices to be employed. When positive-negative inversion opposite measure technology is performed on this inversion, the present invention functions effectively as well.
The above operations and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below.

Liquid-crystal panel driving device, and liquid-crystal apparatus


A continuous ink jet recording apparatus which can record an image always with an appropriate density on any of various record media. A vibrating element driver drives a piezoelectric vibrating element in response to a disintegrating frequency signal from an oscillator to disintegrate a jet of ink from a nozzle. A multiplier multiplies picture element data of a line buffer by a density coefficient, and a pulse width modulator converts the picture element data from the multiplier into a charging controlling signal of the pulse width which increases in proportion to the number of ink drops per picture element. The charging controlling signal is applied via a high voltage switch to a controlling electrode, by which the in drops are charged in accordance with the charging controlling signal. A deflecting electrode deflects the charged ink drops. A frequency divider and a frequency converter frequency divides the disintegrating frequency signal by a gradation number and the density coefficient to obtain a picture element recording frequency signal, and a drum motor controlling circuit drives a drum motor to rotate a rotary drum at a speed in accordance with the picture element recording frequency signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus of the continuous jet type, and, more particularly, to arm ink jet recording apparatus of the continuous jet type wherein the number of drops of ink to be placed into a picture clement is variably controlled to adjust the diameter of a recorded dot of ink in order to achieve a representation with the density of ink.
2. Description of the Related Art
link jet recording apparatus of the continuous jet type are already known and disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,196 or Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 62-225362 wherein the number of drops of ink to be placed into a picture element is variably controlled to adjust the diameter of a recorded dot of ink in order to achieve a representation with the density of ink using the technique of ink jet recording of the continuous jet type.
As shown in FIG. 2, there is shown general construction of an exemplary one of conventional ink jet recording apparatus of the continuous jet type employing a rotary drum. The continuous jet type ink jet recording apparatus shown includes, as principal components thereof, a nozzle 1 to which ink under pressure is supplied by known means not shown, an ink electrode 2 for connecting the potential of the ink in the nozzle 1 to the ground potential level, a piezoelectric vibrating element 3 mounted on the nozzle 1, an oscillator OSC for generating a disintegrating frequency signal f.sub.d having a fixed disintegrating frequency f.sub.d (in the following description, a same reference character is applied to both of a signal and a frequency), a vibrating element driver CD for amplifying the disintegrating frequency signal f.sub.d from the oscillator OSC to drive the piezoelectric vibrating element 3 and synchronously disintegrate a jet of the ink (which may be hereinafter referred to as jet or ink jet), a controlling electrode 4 having a circular opening or a slit-like opening coaxial with the nozzle 1 for receiving a charging controlling signal to control charging of the ink jet in accordance with image data, a grounding electrode 5 disposed in front of the controlling electrode 4 and grounded itself, a knife edge 6 mounted on the grounding electrode 5, a deflecting high voltage dc power source (hereinafter referred to simply as deflecting power source) 7, a deflecting electrode 8 connected to the deflecting power source 7 for cooperating with the grounding electrode 5 to produce therebetween an intense electric field perpendicular to an ink jet flying axis to deflect a charged ink drop to the grounding electrode 5 side, a line buffer LB for storing therein picture element data for one rotation of a rotary drum DR, a pulse width modulator PWM for modulating picture element data read out from the line buffer LB in synchronism with an encoder clock signal f.sub.E from a shaft encoder SE coupled to a shaft of the rotary drum DR into a width of a pulse in synchronism with the encoder clock signal f.sub.E and the disintegrating frequency signal f.sub.d outputted from the oscillator OSC, a high voltage switch HVS for converting a charging controlling signal outputted from the pulse width modulator PWM into a high voltage, a frequency divider DV for frequency dividing the disintegrating frequency signal f.sub.d outputted from the oscillator OSC to 1/n (n is a positive integral number), and a drum motor controlling circuit DMC for receiving the output f.sub.d /n of the frequency divider DV as an instruction input and the encoder clock signal f.sub.E from the shaft encoder SE as a feedback input and controlling the rotation of a drum motor DRM coupled to the shaft of the rotary drum DR so that the received signals f.sub.d /n and f.sub.E may satisfy the relationship f.sub.E =f.sub.d /n. A record medium RM is wrapped around the rotary drum DR.
In the continuous jet type ink jet recording apparatus of the construction described above, a picture element is recorded on the record medium RM in synchronism with the encoder clock signal f.sub.E. Meanwhile, an ink drop is formed in synchronism with the disintegrating frequency signal f.sub.d outputted from the oscillator OSC. Further, the drum motor controlling circuit DMC controls the rotation of the drum motor DRM so that the relationship f.sub.E =fd/n may be satisfied. Accordingly, at the greatest a total number n of ink drops which depends upon the frequency dividing ratio n of the frequency divider DV are allotted to one picture element (in the following description of the conventional continuous jet type ink jet recording apparatus, the value n will be hereinafter referred to as maximum ink drop number per picture element). Each of picture element data stored in the line buffer LB represents the number of those of maximum n ink drops per picture element which are to be used for recording of the picture element, and the pulse width modulator PWM operates in accordance with such picture element data so that a shaded image, that is, an image having gradation in density, is recorded on the record medium RM. In this instance, a half tone representation of n gradations can be obtained. Thus, with the conventional continuous jet type ink jet recording apparatus, the maximum ink drop number n per picture element coincides with the gradation number n.
By the way, the maximum ink drop number n per picture element with which an appropriate image density is obtained (that is, an appropriate adhered ink amount) varies to a great extent depending upon the picture element density and the ink absorbing capacity of the record medium. For example, when a light transmitting original such as a film for an OHP (overhead projector) is to be produced, the amount of ink equal to almost twice that of ink used for a light reflecting print of ordinary paper or the like must be adhered to the film.
The conventional continuous jet type ink jet recording apparatus described above is disadvantageous in that it can record only on very limited record media, such as ordinary paper, since the maximum ink drop number n per picture element is a fixed value.
It is further disadvantageous in that it is very low in flexibility in that, when the maximum ink drop number n per picture element is to be changed, a modification to the hardware or firmware is required.

Ink jet recording apparatus of the continuous jet type


Trig modulation electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices are presented. An ESD protection device includes a semiconductor substrate. A high voltage N-well (HVNW) region is formed in the semiconductor substrate. An NDD region, a first P-body region and a second P-body region are formed in the HVNW region, wherein the first P-body region is separated from the second P-body region with a predetermined distance, and wherein the NDD region is isolated from the first P-body region with an isolation region. An N+ doped source region is disposed in the NDD region. An N+ doped region is disposed in the first P-body region. A P+ doped region is disposed in the second P-body region. A first gate is disposed between the N+ doped region and the isolation region, and a second gate is disposed between the N+ doped region and the P+ doped region.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to semiconductor devices, and in particular, to trig modulation electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional high voltage electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices include lateral diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) power transistors, metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET), silicon control rectifiers (SCR), bipolar junction transistors (BJT), diodes and field oxide devices (FOD). For ESD protection during high voltages, an inner circuit may either be damaged or result in a latch-up effect due to an over-high trigger voltage and an over-low holding voltage. Therefore, by adding an additional driving circuit, or by regulating layout parameters, trig voltage can be reduced such that a holding voltage of a device can be higher than an operation voltage. Thus, resulting in a high voltage electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the relationship between voltage and current of a conventional high voltage ESD protection device. Because the holding voltage Vh of the conventional high voltage ESD protection device cannot reach higher than the operation voltage VDD of the circuit, it is therefore desirable to increase the holding voltage Vh of the ESD protection device such that the holding voltage is maintained over the operation voltage VDD, as shown by the dash line of FIG. 1. By increasing the holding voltage Vh, however, the trig voltage Vtrig of the ESD protection device is also increased. Thus, the dilemma of trying to hold the trig voltage Vtrig of the ESD protection device at a low level.
The conventional method for reducing the trig voltage of the ESD protection device is by augmenting the base-emitter resistance RBE of the parasitic BJT device, i.e., extending the distance between the source and the bulk. However, enlarging the distance between the source and the bulk does not result in a major effect, increases layout area of the device, and hinders device integration.
FIG. 2A is a cross section of a conventional ESD protection device. Referring to FIG. 2A, a conventional ESD protection device 10 includes a p-type semiconductor substrate 11. A high voltage n-type well region 12 is formed in the p-type semiconductor substrate 11. An n-type drain drifted region (NDD) 14 and a p-type body doped region 15 are disposed in the high voltage n-type well region 12, wherein the n-type drain drifted region (NDD) 14 and the p-type body doped region 15 are separated by an isolation 13a. An n-type drain doped region 16 is disposed in the n-type drain drifted region (NDD) 14. An n-type heavily doped region 17 and a p-type heavily doped region 18 are disposed in the p-type body doped region 15, wherein the n-type heavily doped region 17 and the p-type heavily doped region 18 are separated by an isolation 13b. A gate 19 is disposed between the n-type heavily doped region 17 and the isolation 13a. The ESD protection device 10 is isolated from other devices in the circuit by an isolation 13c. During operation, the n-type drain doped region 16 is coupled to the operation voltage VDD of the circuit. The gate 19, the n-type heavily doped region 17, and the p-type heavily doped region 18 are coupled to a voltage VSS or a ground. Therefore, the abovementioned ESD protection device 10 is also referred to as a gate ground NMOS (GGNMOS) transistor device.
FIG. 2B is a cross section of another conventional ESD protection device. In FIG. 2B, the conventional ESD protection device 20 includes a p-type semiconductor substrate 21. A high voltage n-type well region 22 is formed in the p-type semiconductor substrate 21. An n-type drain drifted region (NDD) 24 and a p-type body doped region 25 are disposed in the high voltage n-type well region 22, wherein the n-type drain drifted region (NDD) 24 and the p-type body doped region 25 are separated by an isolation 23a. An n-type drain doped region 26 is disposed in the n-type drain drifted region (NDD) 24. An n-type heavily doped region 27 and a p-type heavily doped region 28 are disposed in the p-type body doped region 25. A gate 29 is disposed between the n-type heavily doped region 27 and the isolation 23a. The ESD protection device 20 is isolated from other devices in the circuit by an isolation 23c. During operation, the n-type drain doped region 26 is coupled to the operation voltage VDD of the circuit and coupled to a first end of a capacitor. Both the n-type heavily doped region 27 and the p-type heavily doped region 28 are coupled to a voltage VSS or a ground. The gate 29 is coupled to a second end of the capacitor and coupled to a first end of a resistor. Therefore, the abovementioned ESD protection device 20 is also referred as a capacitive ESD protection device.
FIG. 3A is a cross section of another conventional ESD protection device, which increases the base-emitter resistance RBE of the parasitic BJT device and maintains advantages of the capacitive ESD protection devices. Referring to FIG. 3A, the conventional ESD protection device 50 includes a p-type semiconductor substrate 51. A high voltage n-type well region 52 is formed in the p-type semiconductor substrate 51. An n-type drain drifted region (NDD) 54 and a p-type body doped region 55 are disposed in the high voltage n-type well region 52, wherein the n-type drain drifted region (NDD) 54 and the p-type body doped region 55 are separated by an isolation 53a. An n-type drain doped region 56 is disposed in the n-type drain drifted region (NDD) 54. An n-type heavily doped region 57 and a p-type heavily doped region 58 are disposed in the p-type body doped region 55, wherein the n-type heavily doped region 57 and the p-type heavily doped region 58 are separated by an isolation 53b. A gate 59 is disposed between the n-type heavily doped region 57 and the isolation 53a. The ESD protection device 50 is isolated from other devices in the circuit by an isolation 53c. During operation, the n-type drain doped region 56 is coupled to the operation voltage VDD of the circuit and coupled to a first end of a capacitor. Both the n-type heavily doped region 57 and the p-type heavily doped region 58 are coupled to a voltage VSS or a ground. The gate 59 is coupled to a second end of the capacitor and coupled to a first end of a resistor. The equivalent circuit diagram of the ESD protection device 50 is shown in FIG. 3B. However, the enlarged distance between the source and the bulk only slightly increases the base-emitter resistance RBE of the parasitic BJT device 65, and does not effectively reduce the trig voltage thereof. Moreover, the layout area of the device is undesirably increased, which is detrimental to scaling down of the device layout as well as integration with other devices.

Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation


A method and system to improve asepsis during dental delivery includes a self-contained water delivery apparatus and a vacuum apparatus both of which provide disinfection of biohazards occurring during dental procedures. A UVC LED light emitting unit, with sanitary connections, may be releasably connected to the delivery and vacuum apparatus for improved maintenance and cleaning. A reservoir egress connector provides releasable engagement, fluid agitation, and unrestricted UV light transmission to improve water quality, reduce biofilm water contamination, reduce cross contamination, and reduce the potential spread of pathogens. The mounting system for the UVC LED light unit allows the apparatus to be used to decontaminate portable dental delivery units and vacuum units upon closure. A reflective interior of the cases improves irradiation of the enclosed system, reducing the risk and spread of pathogens.

A majority of dental delivery systems in offices and remote field units rely on the use of self-contained water bottle systems which are prone to cross-contamination when used in accordance with commonly accepted cleaning procedures and present day protocols.
Bacterial growth within the self-contained water bottle systems is well known and biofilm formation within the waterlines may lead to levels exceeding the 500 CFU/ml EPA standard for drinking water. Warm water in these systems coupled with low flow rates may greatly increase rates of bacterial colonization, which often occurs between existing maintenance procedures. Contaminated dental waterlines may pose a public health risk especially for the elderly and immunocompromised.
Cross contamination with bacteria or viral pathogens may also occur during bottle replacement; most notable if the feeder tube is touched during the procedure. Touching of a feeder tube during a bottle replacement procedure may cause cross contamination with bacteria or viral pathogens. In addition, an insufficient frequency of water replacement within the bottle may result in elevated bacterial counts. The chance for error and cross contamination during bottle replacement may also increase with greater procedural frequency.
In the past, most prior UV water purification units for use in a dental environment have relied upon the use of mercury arc bulbs. Mercury arc bulbs are bulky, relatively fragile, and operate at extremely hot temperatures during use. The use of mercury arc bulbs is potentially dangerous to dental practitioners and patients.
In the past maintenance of dental waterlines has occurred through the use of chemical agents, operating on a continuous basis, during water delivery. The use of chemical agents during water delivery may impose a number of undesirable consequences. The use of chlorine as an agent may be caustic to metals and may not penetrate existing biofilm. Iodine may in rare instances give rise to allergic reactions to individuals. Hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid have been demonstrated to be an effective cleaning agent when used on an intermittent basis, followed by line flushing, however, intermittent maintenance of waterlines relying on the use of chemical agents frequently is unable to prevent the reintroduction of bacteria into the lines, resulting in the formation of a slime biofilm in a period of time as short as two weeks.
Dental waterlines are subject to bacterial contamination and biofilm formation. Limiting the introduction of bacteria into the dental delivery systems including self-contained water bottle systems is problematic particularly when used in an office environment as well as remote dental field applications, where adequate water quality cannot be assured.
A number of existing self-contained water bottle delivery systems use a seated bottom and narrow fill neck, which in turn increases the difficulty of maintaining and cleaning of a water bottle and/or the self-contained water bottle delivery system when replacing water within the bottle.
Existing portable vacuum units used in non-traditional dental office environments such as a nursing home facility, or during remote dental field applications, may pose a risk for spreading pathogens as biohazard effluents. A system to improve and limit potential pathogen spread is problematic during dental procedures and oral evacuation in at risk settings, especially where aerosolizing and direct contact of bacterial or viral agents may occur.
The art referred to and/or described above is not intended to constitute an admission that any patent, publication or other information referred to herein is "prior art" with respect to this invention. In addition, this section should not be construed to mean that a search has been made or that no other pertinent information as defined in 37 C.F.R. § 1.56(a) exists.
All U.S. patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Without limiting the scope of the invention, a brief description of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below.
A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72.

Device and system to improve asepsis in dental apparatus


A chainless haulage system having at least three pairs of sprocket wheels, each pair disposed on a separate axle with opposed wheels on each axle aligned in a pair of parallel planes. Two pairs of sprocket wheels are disposed laterally offset from each other and serve as follower sprocket wheels, while a third pair is driven by conventional means. A pair of endless drive chains each having adjacent chain links in generally perpendicular planes respectively engage sprocket wheels disposed in the parallel planes to form a double strand of drive chain. The two endless drive chains are interconnected by a plurality of crossbars, each of which is formed of a pair of opposed chain links integrally connected by a connecting bar, the chain links of the cross bar inserted in series with the links of the endless drive chain. A hollow cylindrical roller is loosely disposed around the connecting bar of the cross bar. The sprocket wheels, the endless drive chains, and the cross bars are contained in a housing which at the bottom of the housing running the entire length thereof includes two guide bars. A plurality of contact pins are disposed in a line along the mine face. These contact pins are received between the housing guide bars, and as the endless drive chains are driven around the pairs of sprocket wheels, the contact pins are engaged by the cross bars, thereby propelling the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a chainless haulage system for pulling various mining machines along a long wall coal mining face.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Coal getting machines for long wall mining have historically been pulled along the coal seam face by means of a chain stretched along the entire length of the long wall face. However, the energy stored by a machine haulage chain under tension is a potential danger that has tended to increase in recent years with the trend towards multi-machine working and the use of higher horse power machines on the face. Although devices have been developed to limit tensions in chains and to release these chains safely in the event of machine stalling, nevertheless the severity of the mining operation has resulted in breakage of the chain which has produced serious injury to machine operators and distruction of mining equipment. Accordingly, in recent years effort has been directed to developing an alternate means of driving a power loader along the mine face completely eliminating the haulage chain previously employed.
In recent years therefore several chainless haulage systems have been developed to pull and track coal getting machines off the line of face conveyor pan sections. Several of this type chainless haulage systems are described by Braisby et al., "Review of Chainless Haulage Systems" Colliery Gardian, November, 1976, pages 577-586. For the most part, however, recent chainless haulage systems are based on some form of the rack and pinion principle. Therefore these systems are inherently pitch sensitive and unable to accommodate misalignment of the element forming the "rack". Also, the recently developed systems of the prior art are based on "push-pull" cylinders, and require good alignment of guide rails associated with these systems.
Examples of recently developed mining haulage systems can also be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,954,300; 4,006,937; 4,025,120; and 4,055,367.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior


A autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot, includes: a first motor-driven treatment tool, a second motor-driven treatment tool differing from the first treatment tool, and an open protective housing with a lateral rim. The first treatment tool defines a first treatment zone and is arranged within the protective housing such that the first treatment zone is located in a safety zone of the protective housing. The safety zone has a safety distance to the lateral rim. The second treatment tool defines a second treatment zone, wherein the second treatment zone is located at least partially beyond the safety zone. The autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot has an autonomous operation mode, wherein in the autonomous operation mode, a maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool is smaller than a maximum kinetic energy of the first motor-driven treatment tool.

The invention relates to an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot.
An autonomous mobile lawn mower robot is known.
The invention is based on the object of providing an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot which has improved properties, in particular more functions.
The invention achieves this object by providing an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot in accordance with claimed embodiments of the invention. Advantageous refinements and/or design embodiments of the invention are described and claimed herein.
The autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot according to the invention has a first motor-driven treatment tool, a second motor-driven treatment tool, and an open protective housing, in particular open at the bottom, with a lateral rim. The second motor-driven treatment tool is different from the first treatment tool. The first treatment tool defines a first treatment zone and is disposed within the protective housing in such a manner that the first treatment zone is located, in particularly completely, in a safety zone of the protective housing. The safety zone has a safety distance, in particular a minimum safety distance, from the lateral rim. The second treatment tool defines a second treatment zone. The second treatment zone is located at least partially, in particular completely, outside the safety zone. The autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot has an autonomous operation mode. In the autonomous operation mode, a maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool is, in particular relatively, smaller than a maximum kinetic energy of the first motor-driven treatment tool.
Since the safety zone has the safety distance from the lateral rim, a tool which is potentially dangerous to human beings or animals and which has a maximum kinetic energy that is relatively larger than that of the first motor-driven treatment tool can be disposed in the safety zone. The protective housing and/or the safety distance can guarantee that, in the case of contact between the green area maintenance robot and a human being or an animal, said human being or animal cannot readily come into contact with the first treatment tool that is disposed in the safety zone. The safety zone can be referred to as the risk zone. The maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool in the autonomous operation mode can be referred to as limited.
In particular, in the autonomous operation mode, in particular for the entire duration or time, respectively, of the autonomous operation mode, a limit, or an upper limit, respectively, of the maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool, in particular in the case of an operation, or driving operation, respectively, or an activation, respectively, of the second motor-driven treatment tool can be, in particular be predefined or established so as to be smaller, than a limit, or an upper limit, respectively, of the maximum kinetic energy of the first motor-driven treatment tool, in particular in the case of an operation, or driving operation, respectively, or an activation, respectively, of the first motor-driven treatment tool. In other words, in the autonomous operation mode, in particular for the entire duration or time, respectively, of the autonomous operation mode, the maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool can be unequal to and not larger than the maximum kinetic energy of the first motor-driven treatment tool.
The arrangement of the first motor-driven treatment tool in the safety zone, and the smaller maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool, enable, allow, and/or permit the autonomous operation mode of the autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot. The autonomous operation mode can be referred to as the autonomous operating mode.
The autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot enables an autonomous treatment of an area to be treated by means of the first motor-driven treatment tool of said autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot. Additionally, the green area maintenance robot by means of the second motor-driven treatment tool thereof can enable an autonomous treatment of the area, in particular treatment of a peripheral region and/or of an edge region of the area, in such a manner as cannot and/or must not be possible, allowed, and/or permitted by means of the first treatment tool.
The area to be treated can be, for example, a free space, in particular unsealed soil, or a green area such as a meadow with a lawn. A lawn periphery and/or a lawn edge can advantageously be treated by means of the second treatment tool.
The first motor-driven treatment tool can comprise or be a first motor-driven cutting tool. Accordingly, the first treatment zone can be referred to as the first cutting zone. The second motor-driven treatment tool can comprise or be a second motor-driven cutting tool. Accordingly, the second treatment zone can be referred to as the second cutting zone. The first treatment zone can be defined by an end of the first treatment tool. The second treatment zone can be defined by an end of the second treatment tool. The protective housing can be referred to as the treatment tool cover. Open may mean that a treatment of the area to be treated can be possible by means of the first treatment tool.
Autonomously treating can mean that the autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot can be configured to move and/or act on the area to be treated which may be predefined, and/or in the environment of said autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot, and/or to select at least one parameter such as, in particular, a path parameter and/or a reversal point in an autonomous, self-acting, self-determined, self-controlled manner, and/or independently of a user. Additionally or alternatively, autonomously treating can mean that the green area maintenance robot can be configured to autonomously start a treatment and/or terminate the treatment. The green area maintenance robot in the autonomous operating mode does not have to be controlled by the user, in particular not in the remote-controlled manner. In other words, the green area maintenance robot in the autonomous operating mode can operate in particular without any human control and/or guidance. The autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot can be referred to as a service robot and/or a service provider robot.
Additionally, the autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot can have at least one lifting and/or tilting sensor, wherein the lifting and/or tilting sensor can be configured to detect any lifting and/or any tilting of the green area maintenance robot. The green area maintenance robot can be configured to render the first treatment tool and/or the second treatment tool inoperative, depending on any detected lifting and/or tilting.
Furthermore additionally or alternatively, the autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot can have at least one obstacle sensor, wherein the obstacle sensor can be configured for detecting an obstacle. The green area maintenance robot can be configured to render the first treatment tool and/or the second treatment tool inoperative, depending on any detected obstacle. The obstacle can be, for example, a human being and/or an animal.
Furthermore additionally or alternatively, the autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot can be configured in such a manner that the first motor-driven treatment tool takes evasive action when touching and/or contacting an obstacle.
In a refinement of the invention the first motor-driven treatment tool and/or the second motor-driven treatment tool in each case comprise/comprises at least one mowing line, at least one plastic knife, at least one metallic knife, and or a metallic cutting blade having at least one cutting edge and/or having at least one cutting tooth. This can enable mowing of grass, herbaceous plants, woody undergrowth, or comparatively small shrubs by means of the first treatment tool and/or of the second treatment tool. The first treatment tool and/or the second treatment tool can in each case be referred to as a lawn mowing tool. The green area maintenance robot can be referred to as a lawn mower robot; the green area maintenance robot can in particular be configured as a mulching mower robot.
In a refinement of the invention the first motor-driven treatment tool and/or the second motor-driven treatment tool in each case are/is configured as a rotating treatment tool. A respective rotation zone can be the corresponding treatment zone. The first treatment tool and/or the second treatment tool can in each case be configured to treat the product to be treated by the so-called free-cutting method, without a counter blade, in particular to generate a cutting procedure by way of the centrifugal force of the respective treatment tool. The respective kinetic energy can be referred to as a rotation energy.
In a refinement of the invention the safety distance is at least 4 centimetres (cm), in particular at least 8 cm, advantageously at least 15 cm.
In a refinement of the invention the maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool in the autonomous operation mode is in a limit range from 5 to 25 Joule. The maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool can in particular be at maximum 10 Joule.
The limit of the maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool, in particular in the autonomous operation mode, can lie, in particular be established, in the limit range from 5 to 25 Joule. The limit of the maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool can in particular be at maximum 10 Joule.
In a refinement of the invention the autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot is configured in such a manner that the second motor-driven treatment tool takes evasive action when touching and/or contacting an obstacle. The second treatment tool can advantageously be configured so as to be elastic. Additionally or alternatively, a receptacle of the second treatment tool can be configured so as to be elastic, flexible, and/or resilient. Furthermore additionally or alternatively, a drive shaft of the second treatment tool can be configured so as to be elastic.
In a refinement the autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot has a boundary edge detection device and a control unit. The boundary edge detection device is configured to detect a boundary edge of the area to be treated. The control unit is configured to cooperate with the boundary edge detection device and, in particular in the autonomous operation mode, to control a movement of the green area maintenance robot on the area to be treated, in particular so as to depend on a detection of the boundary edge, in such a manner that the green area maintenance robot remains on the area to be treated, in particular within the boundary edge.
In one design embodiment of the invention the control unit, in particular in the autonomous operation mode, is configured to activate driving of the second motor-driven treatment tool upon detection of the boundary edge, and otherwise to deactivate driving of the second treatment tool. This enables any unnecessary driving of the second treatment tool to be avoided. The second treatment tool needs to be driven only where this can be of interest. This can reduce an energy consumption of the green area maintenance robot. The second treatment tool can advantageously only be driven within a distance of 2 metres (m), in particular within a distance of 1 m, from the boundary edge. Deactivating can mean that the second treatment tool can be decoupled from a drive motor, that the drive motor can be decoupled from a drive energy source, and/or can be non-activated.
In one design embodiment of the invention the boundary edge detection device comprises at least one magnetic field sensor. Additionally or alternatively, the boundary edge detection device comprises a satellite position determination receiver, in particular for determining position coordinates. Furthermore additionally or alternatively, the boundary edge detection device comprises a local positioning system device, in particular for determining position coordinates. The area to be treated can in particular be surrounded by a boundary wire, wherein an electric current can flow through the boundary wire, wherein the electric current can generate a distance -dependent magnetic field in the area. The boundary wire can define the boundary edge. The magnetic field sensor can be configured to detect the magnetic field and thus the boundary edge, in particular within a maximum distance from the boundary edge and/or from the boundary wire. The satellite position determination receiver can advantageously be configured for one or a plurality of satellite position determination systems such as NAVSTAR GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and/or BeiDou. The local positioning system device can advantageously be based on one or a plurality of different technologies such as distance measurements from hubs, optical signals, radio waves, magnetic fields, acoustic signals, ultra-wideband, Bluetooth, WLAN, ultrasound, and/or RFID. The local positioning system device can in particular be a receiver and/or a transmitter. Additionally or alternatively, the local positioning system device can be an active element and/or a passive element. In particular, a sequence of boundary edge coordinates of the boundary edge can be stored in the boundary edge detection device.
In a refinement of the invention the autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot has a user control device, a user-controlled operation mode, and an operation mode switching device for switching, in particular automatically, between the autonomous operation mode and the user-controlled operation mode. The green area maintenance robot, in the user-controlled operation mode, by way of the first motor-driven treatment tool of the former, and of the second motor-driven treatment tool of the former, is controlled by the user by means of the user control device, and the maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool is, in particular relatively, larger than in the autonomous operation mode. The larger kinetic energy of the second treatment tool can enable the area to be treated to be treated in such a manner as cannot and/or must not be possible, allowed, and/or permitted in the autonomous operation mode. Be controlled can mean that a movement of the green area maintenance robot, driving of the first treatment tool and/or driving of the second treatment tool can be controlled. The user-controlled operation mode can be referred to as a user control mode and/or a controlled and/or manual operation mode.
In particular in the user-controlled operation mode, in particular for the entire duration or time, respectively, of the user-controlled operation mode, the limit of the maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool, in particular in the operation, or the driving, respectively, or the activation, respectively, of the second motor-driven treatment tool can be larger than in the autonomous operation mode. In other words, in the autonomous operation mode, in particular for the entire duration or time, respectively, of the autonomous operation mode, the maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool can be unequal to and not larger than in the user-controlled operation mode.
In one design embodiment the maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool in the user-controlled operation mode is above a limit range of 5 to 25 Joule. In particular, the maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool can be larger than 10 Joule.
In the user-controlled operation mode the limit of the maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool can in particular be, or be established, above the limit range of 5 to 25 Joule. In particular, the limit of the maximum kinetic energy of the second motor-driven treatment tool can be larger than 10 Joule.
In one design embodiment of the invention the autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot has a drive motor. The second motor-driven treatment tool is driven by means of the drive motor. The operation mode switching device is configured to, in particular relatively, throttle and/or lower, or to reduce, respectively, a maximum available drive power of the drive motor when switching from the user-controlled operation mode to the autonomous operation mode. The operation mode switching device can advantageously be configured to, in particular relatively, enhance, or to increase, respectively, a maximum available drive power of the drive motor when switching from the autonomous operation mode to the user-controlled operation mode.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot


The instant invention is directed to a process for the preparation of mixtures of polyamines of the polyamino-polyaryl-polymethylene type whereby the proportion or the ortho-substituted products are substantially increased. This increase is brought about by adding the acid catalyst to the aromatic amine/formaldehyde reaction mixture in two or more stages.

The preparation of di(aminoaryl) methanes and mixtures of methylene-bridged polyaryl polyamines containing the di(aminoaryl) methanes, by the acid condensation of aromatic amines and formaldehyde is well-known in the art (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,683,730). The di(aminoaryl) methanes and the polyamine mixtures are useful as intermediates in the preparation of the corresponding di- and polyisocyanates.
The di(aminoaryl) methanes prepared by procedures commonly used in the art generally consist mainly (i.e., 90 percent by weight or more) of the 4,4'-isomer with relatively minor amounts (i.e., less than 10 percent by weight) of the corresponding 2,4'-isomer. Recently, interest has been shown in di(aminoaryl) methanes containing higher amounts of the 2,4'-isomer. Various procedures have been suggested for the production of such high 2,4'-isomer content materials. Illustrative are the techniques described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,362,979 (process using acidic siliceous catalyst); 3,277,173 (process conducted in the presence of controlled amounts of water); 3,857,890 (removal of acid after aminobenzylamine formation); and 4,071,558 (process using specified catalyst); and Belgian Pat. No. 648,787 (process using controlled temperatures).
It has now been found that di(aminoaryl) methanes and methylene bridged polyaryl polyamines with substantially increased ortho-substitution can be produced using the novel procedure described herein.

Process for the preparation of mixtures of polyamines of the polyamino-polyaryl-polymethylene type