[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Intelligent Control Wave Energy Power Generating System

Technical Field and Background:
Waves are generated by wind passing over the surface of water such as sea. As long as the waves propagate slower than the wind speed just above the waves, there is an energy transfer from the wind to the waves. Waves in oceans and lakes have great potential as an alternative energy source. Wave energy is clean, renewable, and vastly available. The estimated amount of wave energy available in U.S. alone is 2,100 terawatt-hours per year, about one fourth of annual U.S. energy imports. To make wave energy useful, wave energy is transformed into other energy forms, usually electric energy. A wave farm, either offshore or nearshore, is a collection of machines in the same location and used for the generation of wave power electricity. Prior inventions for generating power from waves have provided apparatuses that often include a floating device, a gearing assembly, and an electric generating assembly. The floating device is connected to the gearing assembly such that when waves push the floating device the vertical motion of waves is converted into rotational motion of the gearing assembly. The gearing assembly is connected to the electric generating assembly such that the rotation of the gearing assembly drives the electric generating assembly to generate electric energy. However, these apparatuses usually have three limitations. First, they are too fragile to use in real wave conditions. Wave directions are usually unpredictable. Variations of wave direction will cause unpredictable motion of the gearing assembly, which will result in extra wear and even breakage of the gearing assembly. Second, these apparatuses are inefficient in converting wave energy into electric energy. A substantial energy loss occurs each time the entire floating assembly is uplifted by wave action, leaving less energy for driving the gearing assembly and eventually being converted into electric energy. Also, these apparatuses are designed under the assumption of a fixed wave height and water level, resulting in inefficiency during the times when these assumptions are inevitably incorrect. Third, these apparatuses are prone to damage under severe wave and weather conditions from lack of protective means. Since the floating device is mechanically coupled with the gearing assembly, huge waves may damage the whole apparatus by causing the floating device to collide with the gearing assembly. Therefore, there exists a need for new wave energy power generating system capable of overcoming the aforementioned limitations. Advantageously, the present invention provides a solution that can meet such a need. The intelligent control wave energy power generating system according to the present invention comprises a set of novel devices, assemblies, and an intelligent control system to convert wave energy into electric energy. It provides a method to convert wave energy into electric energy efficiently, safely, and practically under various wave and weather conditions. It also includes a mechanism to protect itself under severe wave and weather conditions.

Invention Disclosure:
The present invention provides a system and method for converting wave energy into electric energy in an intelligent, practical, and efficient manner. The system utilizes a power input shaft coupled with a vertically reciprocating buoy to rotate a crank gear and a ratchet gear meshing therewith. An intelligent control system is included to monitor, control, and optimize the operations of the system. The length of the power input shaft is adjusted in response to water level fluctuations so that the rotational motion of the crank gear is intelligently controlled within a predetermined desirable region for maximum efficiency.

[Assistant]
1. A system for wave energy generation for use above a body of waving water, comprising:
a platform assembly above the waving water;
a buoy for floating on the waving water;
a motion translating assembly coupled with said buoy for translating vertical motion into rotational motion, comprising (i) at least one power input shaft coupled with said buoy at a first coupling position on said power input shaft and (ii) a gear transmission assembly having at least one crank gear coupled with said power input shaft by coupling a second coupling position on said power input shaft to a third coupling position on said crank gear; wherein said third coupling position on the crank gear is driven to rotate reciprocally within an angle θ of less than 180 degree as the buoy is moved up and down by the waving water;
an adjustor that is activated to vary a distance between the first coupling position and the second coupling position when an angle δ between a bisector of angle θ and a horizontal plane is not zero, so that an absolute value of angle δ is decreased; and
a plurality of generators coupled with said gear transmission assembly and stationed on said platform assembly such that rotational motion within said gear transmission assembly results in said generators generating electric energy;
whereby said system is powered by irregular, unpredictable, and variable wave actions from all directions.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an intelligent control system connected with said motion translating assembly, said adjustor, and said plurality of generators for collecting and processing information of environmental and conditions of said system for wave energy generation from a plurality of sensors and meters, determining directives, and transmitting directives.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said power input shaft is threaded.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said adjustor comprises at least one threaded rod adjustment device mounted on said power input shaft, comprising an electric motor, a drive gear propelled by said electric motor, and a threaded driven gear engaged with said drive gear and mounted on said power input shaft to drive said power input shaft upward or downward in response to water level fluctuations; and wherein said threaded rod adjustment device is controlled by said intelligent control system to vary the distance between the first coupling position and the second coupling position, and thereby decrease the absolute value of angle θ.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said gear transmission assembly further comprises at least one ratchet gear meshing with said crank gear and mounted on a driveshaft, at least one flywheel mounted on said driveshaft, and at least one pulley mounted on said driveshaft, said driveshaft coupled with said generators to provide driving force thereto.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said motion translating assembly further comprises at least one flexible pivot device connecting, said power input shaft to said crank gear for protecting said motion translating assembly from being damaged by irregular, unpredictable, and variable wave actions from all directions.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said flexible pivot device comprises a first flexible joint housed in a flexible joint housing including a pivot pin mounted on said crank gear, and a second flexible joint including a pivot pin mounted on the flexible joint housing and connected to said power input shaft; wherein the first and second flexible joints are coupled perpendicular to each other; and said first flexible joint being able to freely turn at any angle relative to said crank gear and said second flexible joint being able to freely turn at any angle relative to said first flexible joint.

8. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a counterbalancing and maintenance device coupled with said buoy, comprising a counterweight connected to said buoy via a cable, said counterweight having slightly less weight than a predetermined lifting load and reciprocating vertically in the opposite direction of said buoy such that wave energy lost in uplifting said buoy will be substantially reduced and wave energy converted into electric energy will be maximized.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said counterbalancing and maintenance device further comprises a counterweight lock and an electric winch assembly controlled by said intelligence control system such that when a predetermined extreme wave and weather condition has been detected by said intelligence control system, said counterweight lock will secure said counterweight and said electric winch assembly will uplift said buoy to a predetermined safe position.

10. The system according to claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of generators has a distinct predetermined power rating and will work independently or in logical combination according to directives received from said intelligent control system in response to variable wave energy levels.

11. The system according to claim 2, wherein said platform assembly comprises at least one supporting column piled into a bed of the waving water such as seabed, said supporting column supports a mounting platform with space for said motion translating assembly, and said plurality of generators, and also supports a rack coupled with said buoy beneath said mounting platform for restraining said buoy within a predetermined moving area.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said rack is coupled with said power input shaft.

13. The system according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of sensors and meters comprises a plurality of wattmeters for each of said plurality of generators, at least one anemoscope, at least one speed sensor for a flywheel, and at least one position sensor for said crank gear.

14. The system according to claim 2, wherein said system for wave energy generation can be multiplied and seamlessly assembled together, each of said multiplied systems having its own unit control center and also controlled in whole by a group control center.

15. The system according to claim 2, wherein said adjustor is activated to vary the distance between the first coupling position and the second coupling, position when the angle δ between the bisector of angle θ and the horizontal plane is greater than 5°.

16. The system according to claim 2, wherein said adjustor is activated to vary the distance between the first coupling position and the second coupling position when the angle δ between the bisector of angle θ and the horizontal plane is greater than 10°.

17. The system according to claim 2, wherein said adjustor is activated to vary the distance between the first coupling position and the second coupling position when the angle δ between the bisector of angle θ and the horizontal plane is greater than 15°.

18. The system according to claim 2, wherein said angle δ is detected at a frequency of F1, said distance between the first coupling position and the second coupling position is adjusted at a frequency of F2, and F1=F2.

19. The system according to claim 2, wherein said angle δ is detected at a frequency of F1, said distance between the first coupling position and the second coupling position is adjusted at a frequency of F2, and F1≠F2.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein F2=αF1, and α is in the range of from 0.2 to 0.5.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Gooseneck Hitch Ball

Technical Field and Background:
Many vehicles are designed to transport freight, goods, merchandise, personal property, and other such cargo. Often such vehicles are arranged to tow a trailer by attaching the trailer to the towing vehicle, such as through the use of a hitch assembly. Typically, a trailer hitch is utilized to connect a towed vehicle or trailer to a towing vehicle, such as a truck, for example. There are many different types of trailer hitches in the art that may be attached to the towing vehicle in a variety of ways, depending on the type of hitch. Some of the most common types of hitches include gooseneck, fifth wheel, rear mount, and the like. Frequently, trailers are connected to a towing vehicle by way of a ball hitch secured to the towing vehicle and a ball socket coupling mechanism on the towed vehicle that mounts over the ball. This configuration allows for the trailer to pivot behind the towing vehicle. Ball and socket-type towing mechanisms are used to tow various vehicles, such as trailers, mobile homes, other non-operating vehicles, and the like. The socket to hitch ball connection allows relative movement between the towing vehicle and the trailer as the towing vehicle makes turns, traverses uneven or rough terrain, and passes along inclining and declining roadways. The hitch ball or member of some hitches, such as gooseneck hitch, for example, is commonly mounted in the bed of a towing vehicle, such as a pickup truck, near the longitudinal centerline of the bed. This may allow the weight of the trailer to be generally distributed between the tires on the two sides of the pickup truck. Typically, a sub-frame assembly, such as a hitch, is secured to the towing vehicle. The ball member is attached or otherwise secured to the hitch for use in towing the towed vehicle. This type of hitch is often secured to the truck structure in an opening cut in the bed of the truck, so that a substantial portion of the hitch attachment is located below the bed of the truck. In addition, the ball member may typically be removed to ensure that the use of the bed is not substantially hindered by the presence of the ball. These systems, however, suffer from many disadvantages. It is often very difficult to remove the hitch ball from the hitch system. In many systems, removing the hitch ball requires a user to access the frame of the towing vehicle under the load bed. This is often very difficult and time consuming. Further, still other systems require users to access portions of the system in the wheel well or under the frame of the vehicle. Again, this is often difficult to do and can be very messy for the user. Similarly, other systems often require the use of a separate handle or mechanism to remove the hitch ball. These handles or other mechanism are often inaccessible or otherwise are lost by the user making it very inconvenient to use. Once removed a suitable location for the hitch ball is often difficult to find. Many users merely store the hitch ball in a glove compartment, behind a seat, underneath a seat, or in a storage box within the towing vehicle. This takes away from the available storage space within the towing vehicle. Moreover, the hitch ball may be dirty and it may be undesirable to put such hitch ball inside the towing vehicle. For those systems that utilize storable hitch balls, there is often a lack of sufficient clearance available to use such systems with many of the new towing vehicle, especially when they are in the stowed position. Therefore, there is a need for an improved hitch ball system. There is a need for a hitch ball that is easily removable and easily storable. There is a need for such storage to be efficient, easily accessible, and appropriately located so as to not take away the available storage within the interior of the towing vehicle. Further still, there is a need for a self-contained hitch ball storage system that has a compact storable profile.

Invention Disclosure:
A hitch ball is shown and described. The hitch ball may include a ball member, a body extending from the ball member, and a locking member in communication with the body. The hitch ball may also include a first release mechanism positioned in the ball member, the first release mechanism operatively coupled with the locking member, where positioning the first release mechanism in an first direction positions the locking member in a disengaged position, and a second release mechanism positioned in the body, the second release mechanism operatively coupled with the locking member, where positioning the second release mechanism in a second direction positions the locking member in the disengaged position.

[Assistant]
1. A hitch ball comprising:
a ball member;
a body extending from and opposite the ball member;
a locking member selectively extendable from the body;
a first handle positioned in the ball member, the first handle in communication with the locking member, wherein positioning the first handle in a first direction positions the locking member within the body in a disengaged position; and
a second handle positioned in the body, the second handle operatively coupled with the locking member, wherein positioning the second handle in a second direction positions the locking member within the body in the disengaged position.

2. The hitch ball of claim 1, wherein the first handle in an engaged position is generally coextensive with the ball member.

3. The hitch ball of claim 1, wherein the second handle is axially spaced from the ball member.

4. The hitch ball of claim 1, both of the ball member and body are configured for insertion into a socket.

5. The hitch ball of claim 1, wherein the first and second directions are a same direction.

6. The hitch ball of claim 1, further comprising a plunger, the plunger in operative engagement with the locking member.

7. The hitch ball of claim 6, wherein the second handle is operatively engaged with the plunger.

8. The hitch ball of claim 6, wherein the second handle is selectively engageable with either of the plunger or the body.

9. A hitch ball assembly comprising:
a socket having an engaging device;
a towing accessory member insertable within the socket;
a body extending from the ball towing accessory member, the body insertable within the socket wherein the towing accessory member and the body are both configured to be inserted into the socket;
a release mechanism; and
a locking member in operative communication with the release mechanism, the release mechanism accessible from both of the towing accessory member and body, wherein the release member positions the locking member from a first position engaged with the engaging device of the socket and a second position disengaged from the engaging device of the socket.

10. The hitch assembly of claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism engages the engaging device in the first position whether the towing accessory member or the body is inserted into the socket.

11. The hitch assembly of claim 10, wherein the engaging device includes a generally annular groove positioned in the socket.

12. The hitch assembly of claim 10, wherein the engaging device includes first and second annular grooves positioned in the socket, the first and second annular grooves axially spaced apart.

13. The hitch assembly of claim 9, wherein the release mechanism is operatively engaged with the towing accessory member and the body.

14. The hitch assembly of claim 9, wherein the release mechanism is a handle accessible to a user when the towing accessory member inserted into the socket.

15. The hitch assembly of claim 9, wherein the release mechanism is biased in a locked position whereby the locking member is in the first position.

16. The hitch assembly of claim 9, further comprising a first handle operatively engaged with the release mechanism, the first handle positioned in the towing accessory member.

17. The hitch assembly of claim 16, further comprising a second handle operatively engaged with the release mechanism, the second handle positioned in the body axially spaced from the first handle.

18. The hitch assembly of claim 17, wherein the second handle is accessible when the towing accessory member extends downward into the socket.

19. A hitch ball comprising:
a ball member insertable into a socket of a hitch assembly;
a body extending from and opposite the ball member, the body insertable into the socket of the hitch assembly; and
a locking member positioned in the body, the locking member moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein the locking member in the engaged position locks the ball member in both an upright position relative to the socket and an inverted position relative to the socket.

20. The hitch ball of claim 19, further comprising a release mechanism in operative communication with the locking member, the release mechanism positionable between a first position moving the locking member to the engaged position to a second position moving the locking member to the disengaged position.

21. The hitch ball of claim 20, further comprising first and second handles operatively coupled with the release mechanism.

22. The hitch ball of claim 21, wherein the first handle is positioned in the ball member and the second handle is positioned in the body.

23. The hitch ball of claim 22, wherein the first handle is coextensive with the ball member.

24. The hitch ball of claim 22, wherein the second handle includes a handle pivotally attached with the body opposite the ball member.

25. The hitch ball of claim 22, wherein the release mechanism includes a plunger whereby the second handle includes a pin member attached with the plunger opposite the ball member.

26. The hitch ball of claim 22, wherein the release mechanism includes a plunger whereby the second handle includes a handle member selectively attachable to the plunger opposite the ball member.

27. The hitch ball of claim 22, wherein the second handle includes a handle member selectively attachable to the body opposite the ball member.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Electronic Apparatus

Technical Field and Background:
Field of Invention The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus, and specifically to an electronic apparatus of high performance and high integration density. Description of Related Arts With development of communication industry, structural design of communication devices, especially high-density, high-performance design of the devices also has higher requirements, the existing communication devices, in order to implement more functions, often dispose lots of electronic modules in their case, and thus laying out more modules reasonably and neatly in a limited space to increase price performance of products and bring about better experience to users will become a direction of development of the communication devices.

Invention Disclosure:
The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus, the back plate, the I/O module, the power supply, the node module and the like are reasonably and neatly laid out in the case, so that more modules can be laid out in a limited case space, thus having a high utilization rate and a low cost. Besides, the I/O module, the power supply module and the node module are separately designed, and the modules cooperate with each other; the modules are snap structures, and can be assembled and disassembled by hand, which increases operation and maintenance efficiency. Moreover, the completion of the signal transmission among different modules mainly depends on the golden finger or the high-speed back plate connector, thus the case is clean and neat inside.

[Assistant]
1. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
a case, which comprises two sidewalls and a bottom plate connecting the two sidewalls, the case has a first end along a direction of the sidewalls and a second end opposite the first end, the case has a first receiving space adjacent to the first end, and the case has a second receiving space adjacent to the second end;
a back plate, which is disposed, perpendicular to the two sidewalls, between the first receiving space and the second receiving space, has a first insertion and extraction portion towards the first receiving space and a second insertion and extraction portion towards the second receiving space;
the first receiving space is divided into multiple rear-end regions having the same height and arranged side by side;
a multiple of I/O modules, each I/O module is received in each rear-end region of the first receiving space respectively, each I/O module has an I/O module assembling portion, and is pluggably electrically connected to the first insertion and extraction portion of the back plate;
a power supply module, which is received in the first receiving space, has a power supply module assembling portion, and is pluggably electrically connected to the first insertion and extraction portion of the back plate, used to supply power of the electronic apparatus;
a node module, which is disposed in the second receiving space, has a node module assembling portion, and is pluggably electrically connected to the second insertion and extraction portion of the back plate, and communicated with a corresponding I/O module through the back plate;
the second receiving space is divided into multiple front-end regions, and each of the front-end regions is provided with at least one node module, the first receiving space is divided into multiple rear-end regions having the same height and arranged side by side, and each of the rear-end regions is used to receive at least one I/O module or at least one power supply module.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, the second receiving space is divided into two front-end regions bilaterally symmetrical and of the same shape.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, the height of the node module is half of that of the second receiving space, the number of the node module is four, and each of the front-end cavities is provided with two node modules stacked up and down.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, the two front-end regions bilaterally symmetrical are two cavities having the same shape, an inner side of each cavity is provided with two opposite support portions along the direction of the sidewalls, wherein the support portions are in positions of half of the height of the second receiving space, in each of the front-end cavities, two node modules are respectively stacked up and down, wherein one is placed on the bottom plate, and the other end is placed on the support portion.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, the multiple of I/O modules comprise a node I/O module and a shared I/O module.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, the multiple of I/O modules comprise two shared I/O units, one of the shared I/O units is a shared I/O unit that provides redundant backup.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, the two shared I/O units of the shared I/O module are stacked into one of the back-end regions.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, the number of the rear-end regions is an even number greater than or equal to four.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, heights of the node I/O module, the shared I/O module and the power supply module are the same as that of the rear-end regions, each of the node I/O modules are received in a corresponding rear-end region, and there are an even number of node I/O modules, which are bilaterally symmetrically disposed in the corresponding rear-end regions relative to the shared I/O module.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, the number of the node I/O module is four, the number of the shared I/O module is one, and the node I/O modules, the shared I/O module and the power supply module are disposed in the rear-end regions from left to right or from right to left in a sequence as follows: the power supply module, two node I/O modules, the shared I/O module, two node I/O modules.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, each of the node I/O modules is electrically connected with a corresponding node module through the back plate, the shared I/O modules are respectively electrically connected with the all node modules though the back plate.

12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, the electronic apparatus further comprises a switch module, which used to cause a shared I/O unit of the shared I/O module to communicate with one of the node modules according to a switch signal.

13. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, the port interface of the I/O module and the port interface of the power supply module are at the first end.

14. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, the first and second insertion and extraction portions of the back plate are back plate connectors, or the first and second insertion and extraction portions of the back plate are electrically connected as a slot structure and a corresponding golden finger.

15. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, the power supply module comprises two power supply units, one of the two power supply units is a power supply unit that provides redundant backup.

16. The electronic apparatus according to claim 15, wherein, the power supply units of the power supply module are stacked into one of the rear-end regions.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Display Device And Electronic Apparatus

Technical Field and Background:
1. Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a display device and an electronic apparatus. 2. Description of the Related Art In an image display panel constituted of a plurality of pixels including a first sub-pixel that displays red, a second sub-pixel that displays green, and a third sub-pixel that displays blue, for example, a luminance difference (value (also called as brightness) difference) among pixels within one frame may be increased in some cases to clearly display an image. When there is a bright portion in part of an image that is dark as a whole, for example, the luminance difference between the bright portion and a dark portion can be increased by increasing the luminance difference between the pixels in a screen, and a dynamic range is widened, which improves contrast of the image. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2008-158401 discloses a technique of increasing a luminance difference among pixels in a screen by adjusting a gamma curve used for gamma conversion of an input signal. However, even though the gamma curve is adjusted, a maximum value and a minimum value of the brightness (luminance) of each pixel are not changed. Thus, even though the gamma curve is adjusted, there is a possibility that a sufficient dynamic range cannot be obtained and the contrast is not improved enough. To solve the above problem, the present invention provides a display device and an electronic apparatus for appropriately improving the contrast of the image.

Invention Disclosure:
A display device includes: an image display panel including pixels each including a first to a forth sub-pixel that display a first color to a fourth color; and a signal processing unit. The signal processing unit stores an expanded color space, determines maximum set brightness as an upper limit value of brightness displayable within a range of the brightness in the expanded color space so that the maximum set brightness increases as a panel average input value decreases, determines an input expansion coefficient for expanding the color displayed by the image display panel to a color of the maximum set brightness, obtains the output signal of the first to forth sub-pixel based on the input signal of the first to third sub-pixel and the input expansion coefficient. The expanded color space is a color space that can extend a color of brightness higher than that in a standard color space.

[Assistant]
1. A display device comprising:
an image display panel including a plurality of pixels each including a first sub-pixel that displays a first color, a second sub-pixel that displays a second color, a third sub-pixel that displays a third color, and a fourth sub-pixel that displays a fourth color; and
a signal processing unit that generates an output signal from an input value of an input signal, and outputs the output signal to the image display panel, wherein
the signal processing unit
stores an expanded color space extended with the first color, the second color, the third color, and the fourth color,
determines maximum set brightness as an upper limit value of brightness of a color displayed by the image display panel so that the maximum set brightness is within a range of the brightness in the expanded color space, and the maximum set brightness increases as a panel average input value calculated based on an average value of input values of input signals to the pixels within one frame decreases,
determines an input expansion coefficient for expanding the color displayed by the image display panel to a color of the maximum set brightness,
obtains an input expansion signal of the first sub-pixel based on an input signal of the first sub-pixel and the input expansion coefficient,
obtains an input expansion signal of the second sub-pixel based on an input signal of the second sub-pixel and the input expansion coefficient,
obtains an input expansion signal of the third sub-pixel based on an input signal of the third sub-pixel and the input expansion coefficient,
obtains an output signal of the first sub-pixel based on the input expansion signal of the first sub-pixel and outputs the output signal to the first sub-pixel,
obtains an output signal of the second sub-pixel based on the input expansion signal of the second sub-pixel and outputs the output signal to the second sub-pixel,
obtains an output signal of the third sub-pixel based on the input expansion signal of the third sub-pixel and outputs the output signal to the third sub-pixel, and
obtains an output signal of the fourth sub-pixel based on the input expansion signal of the first sub-pixel, the input expansion signal of the second sub-pixel, and the input expansion signal of the third sub-pixel and outputs the output signal to the fourth sub-pixel, wherein
the expanded color space is a color space that can extend a color of brightness higher than that in a standard color space extended with the first color, the second color, and the third color, wherein
the signal processing unit
sets a value of the maximum set brightness to be a value of standard color space maximum brightness as an upper limit value of brightness in the standard color space when the panel average input value is equal to or larger than a first input value smaller than a maximum input value as an upper limit value of the input value of the input signal,
sets the value of the maximum set brightness to be a value of expanded color space maximum brightness as an upper limit value of brightness in the expanded color space when the panel average input value is equal to or smaller than a second input value smaller than the first input value, and
increases the value of the maximum set brightness from the standard color space maximum brightness to the expanded color space maximum brightness as the panel average input value decreases from the first input value to the second input value.

2. A display device comprising:
an image display panel including a plurality of pixels each including a first sub-pixel that displays a first color, a second sub-pixel that displays a second color, and a third sub-pixel that displays a third color; and
a signal processing unit that generates an output signal from an input value of an input signal, and outputs the output signal to the image display panel, wherein
the third sub-pixel has third sub-pixel maximum brightness as a displayable upper limit value of brightness of the third color, which is smaller than one of first sub-pixel maximum brightness as a displayable upper limit value of brightness of the first color of the first sub-pixel and second sub-pixel maximum brightness as a displayable upper limit value of brightness of the second color of the second sub-pixel, and is equal to or smaller than the other of the first sub-pixel maximum brightness and the second sub-pixel maximum brightness, and
the signal processing unit
stores an expanded color space extended with the first color, the second color, and the third color in a case in which the output signal for displaying a color of the first sub-pixel maximum brightness is output to the first sub-pixel, the output signal for displaying a color of the second sub-pixel maximum brightness is output to the second sub-pixel, and the output signal for displaying a color of the third sub-pixel maximum brightness is output to the third sub-pixel,
determines maximum set brightness as an upper limit value of brightness of a color displayed by the image display panel so that the maximum brightness is within a range of the brightness in the expanded color space, and the maximum set brightness increases as a panel average input value calculated based on an average value of input values of input signals to the pixels within one frame decreases,
determines an input expansion coefficient for expanding the color displayed by the image display panel to a color of the maximum set brightness,
obtains an input expansion signal of the first sub-pixel based on an input signal of the first sub-pixel and the input expansion coefficient,
obtains an input expansion signal of the second sub-pixel based on an input signal of the second sub-pixel and the input expansion coefficient,
obtains an input expansion signal of the third sub-pixel based on an input signal of the third sub-pixel and the input expansion coefficient,
obtains an output signal of the first sub-pixel based on the input expansion signal of the first sub-pixel and outputs the output signal to the first sub-pixel,
obtains an output signal of the second sub-pixel based on the input expansion signal of the second sub-pixel and outputs the output signal to the second sub-pixel, and
obtains an output signal of the third sub-pixel based on the input expansion signal of the third sub-pixel and outputs the output signal to the third sub-pixel, wherein
the expanded color space is a color space that can extend a color of brightness higher than that in a standard color space extended with the first color, the second color, and the third color in a case of outputting the output signal for displaying a color of displayable brightness having an upper limit value limited to the third sub-pixel maximum brightness to the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel, and outputting the output signal for displaying the color of the third sub-pixel maximum brightness to the third sub-pixel, wherein
the signal processing unit
sets a value of the maximum set brightness to be a value of standard color space maximum brightness as an upper limit value of brightness in the standard color space when the panel average input value is equal to or larger than a first input value smaller than a maximum input value as an upper limit value of the input value of the input signal,
sets the value of the maximum set brightness to be a value of expanded color space maximum brightness as an upper limit value of brightness in the expanded color space when the panel average input value is equal to or smaller than a second input value smaller than the first input value, and
increases the value of the maximum set brightness from the standard color space maximum brightness to the expanded color space maximum brightness as the panel average input value decreases from the first input value to the second input value.

3. The display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the signal processing unit determines the input expansion coefficient for each of the pixels so that set brightness as brightness of a color displayed based on the input expansion signal of the first sub-pixel, the input expansion signal of the second sub-pixel, and the input expansion signal of the third sub-pixel increases up to the maximum set brightness as the input value of the input signal to the pixel increases.

4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the signal processing unit determines the input expansion coefficient so that a rate of increase in the set brightness increases as the input value of the input signal to the pixel increases.

5. The display device according to claim 4, wherein
the signal processing unit
sets the rate of increase in the set brightness to be constant when the input value of the input signal to the pixel increases up to an input signal threshold as a predetermined value larger than 0, and
determines the input expansion coefficient so that, when the input value of the input signal to the pixel increases from the input signal threshold, the rate of increase in the set brightness increases as the input value of the input signal to the pixel increases.

6. The display device according to claim 3, wherein
the signal processing unit
sets the set brightness to be equal to or smaller than the brightness of the color displayed based on the input value of the input signal to the pixel when the input value of the input signal to the pixel is equal to or smaller than a predetermined input signal value as a predetermined value larger than 0, and
determines the input expansion coefficient so that, when the input value of the input signal to the pixel is larger than the predetermined input signal value, the set brightness is equal to or larger than the brightness of the color displayed based on the input value of the input signal to the pixel and the set brightness increases up to the maximum set brightness as the input value of the input signal to the pixel increases.

7. An electronic apparatus comprising:
the display device according to claim 1 or 2; and
a control device that controls the display device.

8. A display device comprising:
an image display panel including a plurality of pixels each including a first sub-pixel that displays a first color, a second sub-pixel that displays a second color, a third sub-pixel that displays a third color, and a fourth sub-pixel that displays a fourth color; and
a signal processing unit that generates an output signal from an input value of an input signal, and outputs the output signal to the image display panel, wherein
the signal processing unit
stores an expanded color space extended with the first color, the second color, the third color, and the fourth color,
determines maximum set brightness as an upper limit value of brightness of a color displayed by the image display panel so that the maximum set brightness is within a range of the brightness in the expanded color space, and the maximum set brightness increases as a panel average input value calculated based on an average value of input values of input signals to the pixels within one frame decreases,
determines an input expansion coefficient for expanding the color displayed by the image display panel to a color of the maximum set brightness,
obtains an input expansion signal of the first sub-pixel based on an input signal of the first sub-pixel and the input expansion coefficient,
obtains an input expansion signal of the second sub-pixel based on an input signal of the second sub-pixel and the input expansion coefficient,
obtains an input expansion signal of the third sub-pixel based on an input signal of the third sub-pixel and the input expansion coefficient,
obtains an output signal of the first sub-pixel based on the input expansion signal of the first sub-pixel and outputs the output signal to the first sub-pixel,
obtains an output signal of the second sub-pixel based on the input expansion signal of the second sub-pixel and outputs the output signal to the second sub-pixel, obtains an output signal of the third sub-pixel based on the input expansion signal of the third sub-pixel and outputs the output signal to the third sub-pixel, and
obtains an output signal of the fourth sub-pixel based on the input expansion signal of the first sub-pixel, the input expansion signal of the second sub-pixel, and the input expansion signal of the third sub-pixel and outputs the output signal to the fourth sub-pixel, wherein
the expanded color space is a color space that can extend a color of brightness higher than that in a standard color space extended with the first color, the second color, and the third color, wherein
the signal processing unit determines the input expansion coefficient for each of the pixels so that set brightness as brightness of a color displayed based on the input expansion signal of the first sub-pixel, the input expansion signal of the second sub-pixel, and the input expansion signal of the third sub-pixel increases up to the maximum set brightness as the input value of the input signal to the pixel increases, wherein,
the signal processing unit determines the input expansion coefficient so that a rate of increase in the set brightness increases as the input value of the input signal to the pixel increases, wherein,
the signal processing unit
sets the rate of increase in the set brightness to be constant when the input value of the input signal to the pixel increases up to an input signal threshold as a predetermined value larger than 0, and
determines the input expansion coefficient so that, when the input value of the input signal to the pixel increases from the input signal threshold, the rate of increase in the set brightness increases as the input value of the input signal to the pixel increases.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Method For Preventing Call-Up Operation Errors And System Using The Same

Technical Field and Background:
1. Field of Invention The present invention relates to a technical field of mobile phones, and more particularly to a method for preventing call-up operation errors and a system using the same. 2. Description of Prior Art When a user holds a mobile phone closely to the ear during a phone call, if a proximity sensor of the mobile phone detects an obstruction shielding the proximity sensor, the mobile will shut off the display screen and the touchscreen of the mobile, which prevents call-up operation errors of the mobile phone including hang-up by the face of the user touching the touchscreen. Currently, the size of the screen of the mobile phone becomes larger and larger, and due to the consideration of the manufacturing cost, the proximity sensor is set to an offset to the left side or right side of the mobile phone, rather than is installed in the central location on the top portions of the mobile phones. Moreover, during the phone calls, particularly in some environments such as in a noisy environment, users incline to put mobile phones more closely to their ears and adjust the positions of the mobile phones, which makes the proximity sensor of the mobile phone exposed out of the obstruction; and when this happens, the touchscreen of the mobile phone is on, which may cause by call-up operation errors.

Invention Disclosure:
A method for preventing call-up operation errors and system using the same are provided. The method includes the steps of: (S1) a proximity sensor continuously detecting a proximity or distant state of an obstruction; (S2) when detecting that the obstruction approaches, uploading the proximity state in drive program to an upper layer; (S3) when detecting that the obstruction moves far away, the proximity sensor first skipping reporting the distant state at this time, and increasing the transmission power of the proximity sensor; (S4) determining whether the reflection intensity signal exceeds a setting threshold; and (S5) if the obstruction is near the proximity sensor of the mobile phone, the proximity sensor skips uploading the distant state, and the display screen will not light up, if the obstruction is far away from the proximity sensor, the proximity sensor uploading the distant state and then lighting up the display screen.

[Assistant]
1. A method for preventing call-up operation errors by a mobile phone, the method comprising the steps of:
(S 1 ) continuously detecting a proximity state or a distant state of an obstruction during a phone call by a proximity sensor;
(S 2 ) uploading the proximity state in a drive program to an upper layer when detecting that the obstruction approaches, and shutting off a touchscreen function of the mobile phone and turning off a display screen light of the mobile phone when the upper layer receives the proximity state;
(S 3 ) first skipping reporting the distant state at this time by the proximity sensor, and increasing a transmission power of the proximity sensor when detecting that the obstruction moves away after the obstruction approaches and after the touchscreen function of the mobile phone shuts off and the display screen light of the mobile phone turns off;
(S 4 ) determining whether a reflection intensity signal exceeds a setting threshold at this time based on the increased transmission power of the proximity sensor to decide whether the obstruction is in the proximity state when detecting that the obstruction moves away after the obstruction approaches and after the touchscreen function of the mobile phone shuts off and the display screen light of the mobile phone turns off, and if the reflection intensity exceeds the setting threshold, it means that the obstruction is near the proximity sensor of the mobile phone, and if no reflection signal is detected, it means that the obstruction has been far away from the proximity sensor, wherein the setting threshold of the transmission power is set by writing a predetermined value to a register of the proximity sensor; and
(S 5 ) skipping uploading the distant state by the proximity sensor if the obstruction is near the proximity sensor of the mobile phone wherein the display screen light is turned off since the upper layer does not receive the distant state, and if the obstruction is far away from the proximity sensor of the mobile phone, uploading the distant state by the proximity, which means the mobile phone is far away from the obstruction, and the display screen light is turned on.

2. The method for preventing call-up operation errors of claim 1, wherein during the step (S 4 ), the transmission power is adjusted by adjusting the current of circuit, and the current is automatically adjusted to a 100 mA (milliampere) gear position.

3. The method for preventing call-up operation errors of claim 1, wherein during the step (S 4 ), the setting threshold is in a range of 800-1000, and the setting threshold is read from a register and the setting threshold has no unit.

4. The method for preventing call-up operation errors of claim 1, wherein the obstruction is a face or arms of a user.

5. The method for preventing call-up operation errors of claim 1, wherein during the step (S 2 ), when shutting off the touchscreen, the display screen light is turned off at the same time.

6. The method for preventing call-up operation errors of claim 1, wherein during the step (S 4 ), turning off the proximity sensor when the obstruction is in the distant state.

7. A system for preventing call-up operation errors, the system comprising:
a proximity sensor, for continuously detecting a proximity or distant state of an obstruction during the phone call;
at least one processor; and
a memory connected to the at least one processor, the memory comprising a plurality of program instructions executable by the at least one processor, the program instructions comprising:
uploading the proximity state in a drive program to an upper layer when the proximity sensor detects that the obstruction approaches, and shutting off a touchscreen function when the upper layer receives the proximity state;
first skipping reporting the distant state at this time when the proximity sensor detects that the obstruction moves away after the obstruction approaches and after the touchscreen function of the mobile phone shuts off and the display screen light of the mobile phone turns off, and increasing a transmission power of the proximity sensor;
comparing whether a reflection intensity signal exceeds a setting threshold at this time based on the increased transmission power of the proximity sensor in order to determine whether the obstruction is near the proximity sensor of a mobile phone in a proximity state when detecting that the obstruction moves away after the obstruction approaches and after the touchscreen function of the mobile phone shuts off and the display screen light of the mobile phone turns off, or has been far away from the proximity sensor in a distant state, wherein the setting threshold of the transmission power is set by writing a predetermined value to a register of the proximity sensor; and
processing either the proximity state or the distant state of the obstruction, based on a comparison result, if the obstruction is near the proximity sensor of the mobile phone, skipping uploading the distant state to keep the display screen light off, and if the obstruction is far away from the proximity sensor of the mobile phone, uploading the distant state to turn on the display screen light.

8. The system for preventing call-up operation errors of claim 7, wherein when comparing whether the reflection intensity signal exceeds the setting threshold at this time based on the increased transmission power of the proximity sensor, the program instructions further comprise that:
within a range of the setting threshold, when the reflection signal is detected, it means that the obstruction is in the proximity state; if no reflection signal is detected, increasing the transmission power of the proximity sensor to be the setting threshold, and continue to detecting the reflection signal, and if no reflection signal is detected, it means the obstruction has been moved away.

9. The system for preventing call-up operation errors of claim 7, wherein the program instructions further comprise adjusting the setting threshold of the transmission power by writing a predetermined value to the register of the proximity sensor.

10. The system for preventing call-up operation errors of claim 7, wherein the transmission power is adjusted by adjusting the electric current of a circuit, and the current is automatically adjusted to a 100 mA gear position.

11. The system for preventing call-up operation errors of claim 7, wherein the setting threshold is in a range of 800-1000, and the setting threshold is read from a register and the setting threshold has no unit.

12. The system for preventing call-up operation errors of claim 7, wherein the obstruction is a face or arms of a user.

13. The system for preventing call-up operation errors of claim 7, wherein the mobile phone shuts off the touchscreen function and turns off the display screen light of the mobile phone.

14. The system for preventing call-up operation errors of claim 7, wherein the proximity sensor turns off when the obstruction has been moved far away.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Panel Signal Control Circuit, Display Panel And Display Device

Technical Field and Background:
The panel, so called LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), is a common electronic display device. The present panel such as GOA (Gate driver on Array) panel is instantly powered off, the liquid crystal capacitor of the panel cannot be completely discharged. Such incomplete liquid crystal capacitor can cause the panel display ghost. For solving the issue of the panel display ghost, the prior art provides a panel signal control circuit. Please refer to FIG. 1 . The panel signal control circuit provided by prior art comprises: a PWM IC (Pulse-Width Modulation Integrated circuit) 10 and a level shift IC 11 . Please refer to FIG. 2 . FIG. 2 is a signal diagram of respective signals of the circuit in FIG. 1 . VGH and the TFT (Thin Film Transistor) in panel control the electrode high voltage level. VGH is also the output working voltage of the PWM IC. XAO can be a voltage inversion signal inputted to the level shift IC after the GOA panel is powered off and the PWM IC stops working. After the level shift IC receives the XAO signal, the Discharge function is activated. The Discharge function specifically comprises: synchronizing respective output CK (clock) signals with the VGH signal, and after synchronization, the respective output CK signals drops along with the descend of VGH. As shown in FIG. 2 , after the GOA panel is powered off, VGH remains to be high voltage level in a period of time. The respective output CK signals are synchronized with VGH, thus the TFTs coupled to the respective output CK signals still can be in the activation state to make the rest electric charge on the liquid crystal capacitor is released to ground through the activated TFTs. Consequently, the liquid crystal is discharged to eliminate the panel display ghost. In the solution of realizing prior art, the following technical issue is found: Please refer to FIG. 2 . Because the respective output CK signals are synchronized with VGH, the voltage value of VGH has already been dropped, and the voltage values of the respective output CK signals synchronized with VGH also will drop. Accordingly, the voltage values of the respective output CK signals are insufficient, and the time period that the TFTs coupled to the respective output CK signals cannot be activated or activated gets short. The discharge of the liquid crystal capacitor is incomplete, and the elimination of the panel display ghost is incomplete.

Invention Disclosure:
The present invention provides a panel signal control circuit, a display panel and a display device. The panel signal control circuit comprises: a PWM IC and a level shift IC, and the panel signal control circuit comprises further comprises: a Vin voltage divider circuit; one end of the Vin voltage divider circuit is coupled to an input port of an input working voltage Vin of the PWM IC, and the other end of the Vin voltage divider circuit is grounded; a voltage divider interface of the Vin voltage divider circuit is coupled to a pin a of the Level shift IC, and the pin a is a voltage monitor pin, and as the voltage of the pin a is lower than an activation voltage threshold, respective output clock CK pins of the Level shift IC output sync signals of an output working voltage VGH of the PWM IC.

[Assistant]
1. A panel signal control circuit, comprising:
a pulse width modulation integrated circuit (PWM IC) and a voltage level transfer integrated circuit (level shift IC), wherein the panel signal control circuit further comprises:
a Vin voltage divider circuit, wherein one end of the Vin voltage divider circuit is coupled to an input port of an input working voltage Vin of the PWM IC, and the other end of the Vin voltage divider circuit is grounded;
wherein a voltage divider interface of the Vin voltage divider circuit is coupled to a pin a of the level shift IC, and the pin a is a voltage monitor pin, and as the voltage of the pin a is lower than an activation voltage threshold, respective output clock CK pins of the level shift IC output sync signals of an output working voltage VGH of the PWM IC;
wherein the panel signal control circuit further comprises: a VGH voltage divider circuit; one end of the VGH voltage divider circuit is coupled to a VGH output port of the PWM IC, and the VGH voltage divider circuit is grounded, and a voltage divider interface of the VGH voltage divider circuit is coupled to a pin b of the level shift IC, and the pin b is another voltage monitor pin, and as the voltage of the pin b is lower than a deactivation voltage threshold, the respective output CK pins output low voltage level signals; and
wherein the VGH voltage divider circuit comprises a variable resistor, and two interfaces of the variable resistor respectively are the two ends of the VGH voltage divider circuit, and a resistance adjustment interface of the variable resistor is the voltage divider interface of the VGH voltage divider circuit.

2. The panel signal control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the Vin voltage divider circuit comprises two resistors, a resistor R 1 and a resistor R 2 coupled in series; wherein the other end of the resistor R 1 and one end of the resistor R 2 are the voltage divider interface of the Vin voltage divider circuit, and one end of the resistor R 1 and the other end of the resistor R 2 respectively are the two ends of the Vin voltage divider circuit.

3. The panel signal control circuit according to claim 2, wherein the panel signal control circuit further comprises the VGH voltage divider circuit; the one end of the VGH voltage divider circuit is coupled to the VGH output port of the PWMIC, and the VGH voltage divider circuit is grounded, and the voltage divider interface of the VGH voltage divider circuit is coupled to the pin b of the level shift IC, and the pin b is another voltage monitor pin, and as the voltage of the pin b is lower than the deactivation voltage threshold, the respective output CK pins output the low voltage level signals.

4. A display panel, comprising a panel signal control circuit, which comprises: a pulse width modulation integrated circuit (PWM IC) and a voltage level transfer integrated circuit (level shift IC), wherein the panel signal control circuit further comprises:
a Vin voltage divider circuit, wherein one end of the Vin voltage divider circuit is coupled to an input port of an input working voltage Vin of the PWM IC, and the other end of the Vin voltage divider circuit is grounded;
wherein a voltage divider interface of the Vin voltage divider circuit is coupled to a pin a of the level shift IC, and the pin a is a voltage monitor pin, and as the voltage of the pin a is lower than an activation voltage threshold, respective output clock CK pins of the level shift IC output sync signals of an output working voltage VGH of the PWM IC;
wherein the panel signal control circuit further comprises a VGH voltage divider circuit; one end of the VGH voltage divider circuit is coupled to a VGH output port of the PWM IC, and the VGH voltage divider circuit is grounded, and a voltage divider interface of the VGH voltage divider circuit is coupled to a pin b of the level shift IC, and the pin b is another voltage monitor pin, and as the voltage of the pin b is lower than a deactivation voltage threshold, the respective output CK pins output low voltage level signals; and
wherein the VGH voltage divider circuit comprises: a variable resistor, and two interfaces of the variable resistor respectively are the two ends of the VGH voltage divider circuit, and a resistance adjustment interface of the variable resistor is the voltage divider interface of the VGH voltage divider circuit.

5. The display panel according to claim 4, wherein the Vin voltage divider circuit comprises two resistors, a resistor R 1 and a resistor R 2 coupled in series; wherein the other end of the resistor R 1 and one end of the resistor R 2 are the voltage divider interface of the Vin voltage divider circuit, and one end of the resistor R 1 and the other end of the resistor R 2 respectively are the two ends of the Vin voltage divider circuit.

6. The display panel according to claim 5, wherein the panel signal control circuit further comprises the VGH voltage divider circuit; the one end of the VGH voltage divider circuit is coupled to the VGH output port of the PWM IC, and the VGH voltage divider circuit is grounded, and the voltage divider interface of the VGH voltage divider circuit is coupled to the pin b of the level shift IC, and the pin b is another voltage monitor pin, and as the voltage of the pin b is lower than the deactivation voltage threshold, the respective output CK pins output the low voltage level signals.

7. A display device, comprising a display panel, wherein the display panel comprises a panel signal control circuit, and the panel signal control circuit comprises:
a pulse width modulation integrated circuit (PWM IC) and a voltage level transfer integrated circuit (level shift IC), wherein the panel signal control circuit further comprises:
a Vin voltage divider circuit, wherein one end of the Vin voltage divider circuit is coupled to an input port of an input working voltage Vin of the PWM IC, and the other end of the Vin voltage divider circuit is grounded;
a voltage divider interface of the Vin voltage divider circuit is coupled to a pin a of the Level shift IC, and the pin a is a voltage monitor pin, and as the voltage of the pin a is lower than an activation voltage threshold, respective output clock CK pins of the Level shift IC output sync signals of an output working voltage VGH of the PWM IC;
wherein the panel signal control circuit further comprises a VGH voltage divider circuit; one end of the VGH voltage divider circuit is coupled to a VGH output port of the PWM IC, and the VGH voltage divider circuit is grounded, and a voltage divider interface of the VGH voltage divider circuit is coupled to a pin b of the level shift IC, and the pin b is another voltage monitor pin, and as the voltage of the pin b is lower than a deactivation voltage threshold, the respective output CK pins output low voltage level signals; and
wherein the VGH voltage divider circuit comprises: a variable resistor, and two interfaces of the variable resistor respectively are the two ends of the VGH voltage divider circuit, and a resistance adjustment interface of the variable resistor is the voltage divider interface of the VGH voltage divider circuit.

8. The display device according to claim 7, wherein the Vin voltage divider circuit comprises two resistors, a resistor R 1 and a resistor R 2 coupled in series; wherein the other end of the resistor R 1 and one end of the resistor R 2 are the voltage divider interface of the Vin voltage divider circuit, and one end of the resistor R 1 and the other end of the resistor R 2 respectively are the two ends of the Vin voltage divider circuit.

9. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the panel signal control circuit further comprises the VGH voltage divider circuit; the one end of the VGH voltage divider circuit is coupled to the VGH output port of the PWMIC, and the VGH voltage divider circuit is grounded, and the voltage divider interface of the VGH voltage divider circuit is coupled to the pin b of the level shift IC, and the pin b is another voltage monitor pin, and as the voltage of the pin b is lower than the deactivation voltage threshold, the respective output CK pins output the low voltage level signals.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Transmission Device

Technical Field and Background:
The present disclosure relates to a transmission device that changes a speed of power transmitted from a motor of a vehicle to an input shaft and transmits the resultant power to an output shaft. Conventionally, a transmission device that includes two single-pinion type planetary gears, what is called a Simpson compound planetary gear mechanism, four clutches, and two brakes are known as a transmission device of such a type. (see U.S. Pat. No. 8,202,190, for example). The compound planetary gear mechanism included in such a transmission device includes an input element connected to an input shaft, a fixable element selectively non-rotatably held stationary by a brake, and first and second output elements. The first output element is selectively connected to another rotational element by a first clutch, and the second output element is selectively connected to yet another rotational element by a second clutch.

Invention Disclosure:
A transmission device, wherein the compound planetary gear mechanism increases the speed of the power transmitted to the input element and transmits the resultant power to the first and the second output elements when the fixable element is non-rotatably held stationary by the first brake; and the first and the second clutches are disposed on a side closer in the axial direction to the compound planetary gear mechanism than the first and the second planetary gear mechanisms.

[Assistant]
1. A transmission device that changes a speed of power transmitted from a motor to an input shaft and transmits resultant power to an output shaft, the transmission device comprising:
a compound planetary gear mechanism including an input element, a fixable element, a first output element, and a second output element;
a first planetary gear and a second planetary gear disposed coaxially and side by side in an axial direction with the compound planetary gear mechanism, and each including a plurality of rotational elements;
a first brake that connects and non-rotatably holds the fixable element of the compound planetary gear mechanism stationary to a case and releases the fixable element such that the fixable element is rotatable;
a first clutch that connects the first output element and at least one of the rotational elements of the first and the second planetary gears and releases the connection therebetween; and
a second clutch that connects the second output element and at least one of the rotational elements of the first and the second planetary gears and releases the connection therebetween, wherein
the compound planetary gear mechanism increases the speed of the power transmitted to the input element and transmits the resultant power to the first and the second output elements when the fixable element is non-rotatably held stationary by the first brake; and
the first and the second clutches are disposed between the compound planetary gear mechanism and the second planetary gear, and at least part of both the first and the second clutches radially overlaps both the compound planetary gear mechanism and the second planetary gear as seen from the axial direction.

2. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein
the second planetary gear is disposed on a side closer to the compound planetary gear mechanism than the first planetary gear,
the first clutch connects the first output element and any one of the rotational elements of the second planetary gear and releases the connection therebetween,
the second clutch connects the second output element and any one of the rotational elements of the second planetary gear and releases the connection therebetween, and
the first and the second clutches are disposed on a side closer to the compound planetary gear mechanism than the second planetary gear.

3. The transmission device according to claim 2, wherein
the second clutch connects the second output element to the rotational element of the second planetary gear connected to the first output element by the first clutch.

4. The transmission device according to claim 3, further comprising:
a third clutch that connects the first output element of the compound planetary gear mechanism and a rotational element of the second planetary gear other than the rotational element thereof that is connected to the first output element by the first clutch and connected to the second output element by the second clutch and releases the connection therebetween, wherein
the third clutch is disposed on a side closer to the compound planetary gear mechanism than the second planetary gear.

5. The transmission device according to claim 4, wherein
the case is provided with a center wall located between the compound planetary gear mechanism and the first and the second planetary gears,
the third clutch includes a hydraulic servo including at least a friction engagement plate and a piston that presses the friction engagement plate, and
hydraulic oil is supplied from a hydraulic oil supply passage formed in the center wall to the hydraulic servo of the third clutch without passing through the input shaft.

6. The transmission device according to claim 5, further comprising
a second brake that includes at least a friction engagement plate and a piston pressing the friction engagement plate and connects and non-rotatably holds the rotational element of the second planetary gear connected to the first output element by the third clutch stationary to the case, wherein
the case is provided with a center wall located between the compound planetary gear mechanism and the first and the second planetary gears, and
an engagement oil chamber of the second brake is defined between the piston of the second brake and the center wall.

7. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein
the first and the second clutches each include a hydraulic servo that includes at least a friction engagement plate and a piston pressing the friction engagement plate and is disposed on the input shaft, and
hydraulic oil is supplied from a hydraulic oil supply passage formed in the case to the hydraulic servo of each of the first and the second clutches through an in-shaft oil-passage formed in the input shaft.

8. The transmission device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a fourth clutch that connects any one of the rotational elements of the first planetary gear and the output shaft and releases the connection therebetween, wherein
the second planetary gear includes a rotational element always connected to the output shaft and a rotational element always connected to a rotational element of the first planetary gear other than the rotational element thereof connected to the output shaft by the fourth clutch.

9. The transmission device according to claim 8, wherein
the fourth clutch includes at least a friction engagement plate and a piston that presses the friction engagement plate, and
an engagement oil chamber of the fourth clutch is defined between the piston of the fourth clutch and the output shaft and is supplied with hydraulic oil through an in-shaft oil-passage formed in the output shaft.

10. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein
the compound planetary gear mechanism includes third and fourth planetary gears each including three rotational elements and is structured by always connecting each of any two of the rotational elements of the third planetary gear to corresponding one of any two of the rotational elements of the fourth planetary gear.

11. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein
the first planetary gear includes a first rotational element, a second rotational element, and a third rotational element,
the second planetary gear includes a fourth rotational element, a fifth rotational element, and a sixth rotational element,
the first rotational element of the first planetary gear is always connected to the fourth rotational element of the second planetary gear,
the second rotational element of the first planetary gear and the input element of the compound planetary gear mechanism are always connected to the input shaft,
the fifth rotational element of the second planetary gear is always connected to the output shaft,
the first clutch connects the first rotational element of the first planetary gear and the fourth rotational element of the second planetary gear always connected to each other and the first output element of the compound planetary gear mechanism and releases the connection therebetween,
the second clutch connects the first rotational element of the first planetary gear and the fourth rotational element of the second planetary gear always connected to each other and the second output element of the compound planetary gear mechanism and releases the connection therebetween, and
the transmission device further includes a third clutch that connects the sixth rotational element of the second planetary gear and the first output element of the compound planetary gear mechanism and releases the connection therebetween, a fourth clutch that connects the output shaft and the fifth rotational element of the second planetary gear always connected to each other and the third rotational element of the first planetary gear and releases the connection therebetween, and a second brake that non-rotatably holds the sixth rotational element of the second planetary gear stationary and releases the sixth rotational element such that the sixth rotational element is rotatable.

12. The transmission device according to claim 11, wherein
a first forward speed is established by engaging the first clutch, the second clutch, and the second brake,
a second forward speed is established by engaging the first clutch, the first brake, and the second brake,
a third forward speed is established by engaging the second clutch, the first brake, and the second brake,
a fourth forward speed is established by engaging the fourth clutch, the first brake, and the second brake,
a fifth forward speed is established by engaging the second clutch, the fourth clutch, and the first brake,
a sixth forward speed is established by engaging the first clutch, the fourth clutch, and the first brake,
a seventh forward speed is established by engaging the first clutch, the third clutch, and the fourth clutch,
an eighth forward speed is established by engaging the third clutch, the fourth clutch, and the first brake,
a ninth forward speed is established by engaging the first clutch, the third clutch, and the first brake,
a tenth forward speed is established by engaging the second clutch, the third clutch, and the first brake and
a reverse speed is established by engaging the second clutch, the third clutch, and the second brake.

13. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein
the compound planetary gear mechanism includes a single-pinion type third planetary gear including a third sun gear, and a third ring gear, a third carrier that rotatably and revolvably holds a plurality of third pinion gears each meshing with the third sun gear and the third ring gear, and also includes a single-pinion type fourth planetary gear including a fourth sun gear, a fourth ring gear, and a fourth carrier that rotatably and revolvably holds a plurality of fourth pinion gears each meshing with the fourth sun gear and the fourth ring gear, and
the fixable element is the third sun gear and the fourth sun gear always connected to each other, the input element is the third carrier, the first output element is the third ring gear and the fourth carrier always connected to each other, and the second output element is the fourth ring gear.

14. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein
the compound planetary gear mechanism includes a single-pinion type third planetary gear including a third sun gear, a third ring gear, and a third carrier that rotatably and revolvably holds a plurality of third pinion gears each meshing with the third sun gear and the third ring gear, and also includes a single-pinion type fourth planetary gear including a fourth sun gear, a fourth ring gear, and a fourth carrier that rotatably and revolvably holds a plurality of fourth pinion gears each meshing with the fourth sun gear and the fourth ring gear, and
the fixable element is the fourth sun gear, the input element is the third ring gear and the fourth carrier always connected to each other, the first output element is the third carrier and the fourth ring gear always connected to each other, and the second output element is the third sun gear.

15. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein
the output shaft is connected to rear wheels of a vehicle via a differential gear.

16. A transmission device that changes a speed of power transmitted from a motor to an input shaft and transmits resultant power to an output shaft, the transmission device comprising:
a compound planetary gear mechanism including an input element, a fixable element, a first output element, and a second output element;
a first planetary gear and a second planetary gear disposed coaxially and side by side in an axial direction with the compound planetary gear mechanism, and each including a plurality of rotational elements;
a first brake that connects and non-rotatably holds the fixable element of the compound planetary gear mechanism stationary to a case and releases the fixable element such that the fixable element is rotatable;
a first clutch that connects the first output element and at least one of the rotational elements of the first and the second planetary gears and releases the connection therebetween; and
a second clutch that connects the second output element and at least one of the rotational elements of the first and the second planetary gears and releases the connection therebetween, wherein
the compound planetary gear mechanism increases the speed of the power transmitted to the input element and transmits the resultant power to the first and the second output elements when the fixable element is non-rotatably held stationary by the first brake;
the first and the second clutches are disposed on a side closer in the axial direction to the compound planetary gear mechanism than the first and the second planetary gear mechanisms;
the compound planetary gear mechanism is a Ravigneaux type planetary gear including a third sun gear, a fourth sun gear, a third pinion gear meshing with the third sun gear, a fourth pinion gear meshing with the fourth sun gear and also meshing with the third pinion gear, a third carrier rotatably and revolvably holding the third and the fourth pinion gears, and a third ring gear meshing with the fourth pinion gear; and
the fixable element is the fourth sun gear, the input element is the fourth carrier, the first output element is the third ring gear, and the second output element is the third sun gear.

17. The transmission device according to claim 16, wherein
the second planetary gear is disposed on a side closer to the compound planetary gear mechanism than the first planetary gear,
the first clutch connects the first output element and any one of the rotational elements of the second planetary gear and releases the connection therebetween,
the second clutch connects the second output element and any one of the rotational elements of the second planetary gear and releases the connection therebetween, and
the first and the second clutches are disposed on a side closer to the compound planetary gear mechanism than the second planetary gear.

18. The transmission device according to claim 16, wherein
the first and the second clutches each include a hydraulic servo that includes at least a friction engagement plate and a piston pressing the friction engagement plate and is disposed on the input shaft, and
hydraulic oil is supplied from a hydraulic oil supply passage formed in the case to the hydraulic servo of each of the first and the second clutches through an in-shaft oil-passage formed in the input shaft.

19. The transmission device according to claim 16, further comprising:
a fourth clutch that connects any one of the rotational elements of the first planetary gear and the output shaft and releases the connection therebetween, wherein
the second planetary gear includes a rotational element always connected to the output shaft and a rotational element always connected to a rotational element of the first planetary gear other than the rotational element thereof connected to the output shaft by the fourth clutch.

20. The transmission device according to claim 16, wherein
the compound planetary gear mechanism includes third and fourth planetary gears each including three rotational elements and is structured by always connecting each of any two of the rotational elements of the third planetary gear to corresponding one of any two of the rotational elements of the fourth planetary gear.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Lifter Mechanism And Vehicle Seat

Technical Field and Background:
Conventionally, as a lifter mechanism having a lifting mechanism part which lifts or lowers a seat, for example, there is a lifter mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 1. This lifter mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 1 has upper rails of a left slider and a right slider, a left link and a right link pivotally coupled to side frames of a cushion frame unit disposed on an upper side thereof and also coupled to each other via a shaft, and one lifting mechanism part which lifts or lowers the side frame on one side (door side) with respect to the slider on the one side (door side). The lifting mechanism part has a sector gear rotatably attached to the vicinity of a forward-backward center inside the side frame on the one side, a connector coupling a rear link on the one side and the sector gear, and an output gear cooperating with an operating member meshing with the sector gear. By rotating the output gear via the operating member, the link on the one side is swung via the sector gear and the connector meshing therewith, thereby lifting or lowering the side frame on the one side with respect to the slider on one side. Then, accompanying this lifting or lowering operation of the side frame on the one side, as described above, the side frame on the other side coupled via the shaft is lifted or lowered.

Invention Disclosure:
A neck injury is improved with a structure having a lifting mechanism part only on one side. While a lifting driving part is provided on a side of one side frame, a coupling driving rod is coupled to a rotation center of a drive gear a driving link is disposed on a side of the other side frame, and the driving link is coupled to the coupling driving rod. A driving force in the lifting driving part operates on the side of one side frame having the drive gear, but on the side of the other side frame, the driving link rotates together with the drive gear via the coupling driving rod, so as to perform a lifting or lowering operation. The shape of a virtual square coupling contact points of the driving link, the side connectors, the coupling driving rod, and the drive gear does not collapse, and thus an external input is dispersed.

[Assistant]
1. A lifter mechanism for supporting a cushion frame unit supporting a cushion member for a seat cushion part in a manner capable of lifting or lowering by driving a lifting driving part with respect to a left slider and a right slider constituting a seat slide device, the lifter mechanism comprising:
a front link and a rear link provided between each of side frames disposed on a left side and a right side of the cushion frame unit and one of the sliders;
a lifting driving part comprising a drive gear provided on one side frame out of the side frames and disposed between the front link and the rear link of a side of the one side frame, so as to transmit a driving force for lifting or lowering;
a coupling driving rod including one end that is coupled to a rotation center of the drive gear to rotate with the drive gear;
one side connector on the side of the one side frame where the lifting driving part is provided, the one side connector extending forward from the rear link of the side of the one side frame and bridged to the drive gear;
another side connector on a side of the other side frame where the lifting driving part is not provided, to extend forward from the rear link of the side of the other side frame; and
a driving link with one end coupled to a front end of the other side connector,
wherein another end of the coupling driving rod is structured to be coupled to another end of the driving link, so as to transmit a rotation force of the drive gear to the driving link via the coupling driving rod.

2. The lifter mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the driving link, the side connectors, and the coupling driving rod each have stiffness to elastically deform against an external input that plastically deforms lower rails or upper rails close to front ends of the sliders, when the external input is in a predetermined range.

3. The lifter mechanism according to claim 2, wherein a material constituting the side connectors and the driving link is a plate thicker than or a high-stiffness member higher in a second moment of inertia than a material constituting the lower rails or the upper rails of the sliders.

4. The lifter mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the rotation center of the drive gear and the coupling driving rod are provided in a substantially middle position between the front links and the rear links.

5. The lifter mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a crushable zone which deforms relatively easier than a surrounding portion when an external input of a predetermined value or higher is received is set in a vicinity of a belt anchor point in the side frames of the cushion frame unit.

6. A vehicle seat, comprising:
a seat cushion part and a seat back part, wherein:
the seat cushion part includes a cushion frame unit supporting a cushion member for the seat cushion part;
a left side frame and a right side frame constituting the cushion frame unit are coupled respectively, via a lifter mechanism, to a left slider and a right slider, which constitute a seat slide device, to be supported thereon; and
the lifter mechanism comprises
a front link and a rear link provided between each of side frames disposed on a left side and a right side of the cushion frame unit and one of the sliders;
a lifting driving part comprising a drive gear provided on one side frame out of the side frames and disposed between the front link and the rear link of a side of the one side frame, so as to transmit a driving force for lifting or lowering;
a coupling driving rod including one end that is coupled to a rotation center of the drive gear to rotate with the drive gear;
one side connector on the side of the one side frame where the lifting driving part is provided, the one side connector extending forward from the rear link of the side of the one side frame and bridged to the drive gear;
another side connector on a side of the other side frame where the lifting driving part is not provided, to extend forward from the rear link of the side of the other side frame; and
a driving link with one end coupled to a front end of the other side connector,
wherein another end of the coupling driving rod is structured to be coupled to another end of the driving link, so as to transmit a rotation force of the drive gear to the driving link via the coupling driving rod.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein the seat back part comprises a back frame unit supporting a cushion member for the seat back part and coupled to the cushion frame unit and a head rest provided on an upper portion of the back frame unit;
a two-dimensional or three-dimensional fabric is bridged with a stretch rate of 5% or lower across middle portions in an upward and downward direction of a pair of side frames of the back frame unit; and
when a force in a direction to tilt the back frame unit rearward operates by an external input of a predetermined value or higher, the head of a seated person is supported by the head rest and the chest enters a frame of the pair of side frames and is supported by the fabric.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 7, wherein the pair of side frames of the back frame unit have a predetermined width and is provided so that a direction of the width is along a forward and backward direction of the vehicle seat, and an upper frame supporting the head rest and a lower frame disposed between lower portions of the side frames are both provided on sides of rear edge portions of the side frames, and the fabric is bridged across front edge portions of the side frames.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 7, wherein the fabric is bridged across positions including a range corresponding to a vicinity of the chest of the seated person.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 7, wherein a lumbar support part comprising a spring member is provided between lower portions of the pair of side frames of the back frame unit and below the fabric.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Storage Method For Trifluoroethylene, And Storage Container For Trifluoroethylene

Technical Field and Background:
Trifluoroethylene (CF2═CHF) is expected as a new refrigerant to replace chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) that destroy the ozone layer, or hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) being greenhouse gases. Such trifluoroethylene is stored or transported as filled in a sealed container under pressure at a temperature of at most normal temperature, or as liquefied and filled in a sealed container under pressure with cooling. Trifluoroethylene filled in a sealed container in such a manner, is in a gas-liquid state having a gas phase and a liquid phase. And, trifluoroethylene in such a gas-liquid state is desired to be kept stably without causing a reaction such as polymerization, in order to maintain the quality as a refrigerant, or to prevent deposition of impurities (solids) in the container. Fluoroolefins are known to undergo a polymerization reaction if oxygen is present, as the oxygen becomes a radical source. Among such fluoroolefins, tetrafluoroethylene tends to be polymerized in the presence of a very small amount of oxygen at a level of from 1 to a few tens ppm, and in some cases, the polymerization reaction is likely to proceed explosively. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that tetrafluoroethylene undergoes polymerization at an oxygen concentration of 1.4 ppm to form polytetrafluoroethylene. Therefore, at the time of storing a fluoroolefin, it becomes important to handle it by removing oxygen to the limit. However, in order to remove oxygen to the limit, it is necessary to take a measure such as providing a new step for removing oxygen to the limit in the production process, whereby the cost associated therewith will be incurred. Further, by conducting the step of removing oxygen to the limit, there may be a case where the yield tends to be low, and the production cost will be increased. To what extent trifluoroethylene is stable against a self-polymerization reaction in the presence of oxygen, is largely unknown. A method for storing trifluoroethylene without permitting it to undergo a polymerization reaction, is desired, in order to maintain its quality as a refrigerant and to carry out its storage and transportation inexpensively, safely and stably. Heretofore, for stabilization of hydrofluoroolefins, some proposals have been made. Patent Document 2 has proposed a method of adding a stabilizer such as an alkyl catechol or an alkoxy phenol, in order to maintain the stable state (state without formation of an acid) of hydrofluoropropene even in the presence of air. Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a stabilization method of adding a C 1-4 aliphatic alcohol as a stabilizer to hydrofluoropropene. However, each of such methods disclosed in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 presupposes the existence of a refrigerating machine oil, and it is a method of stabilizing the overall cooling system by stabilizing the refrigerant composition, wherein the conditions are different from stabilization of a refrigerant in a container for storage or transportation, and therefore, it is difficult to apply such a method to store a refrigerant in a container. Further, in the method of adding a stabilizer, it is required to remove the stabilizer prior to use as a refrigerant, whereby not only the load of the process is large, but also there may be a case where the stabilizer cannot be completely removed by a physical purification method such as distillation, such being undesirable from the viewpoint of quality control.

Invention Disclosure:
To provide a method for storing trifluoroethylene filled in a container for storage, transportation, etc., stably without causing a reaction such as polymerization. The method is characterized in that trifluoroethylene is stored in a sealed container in such a state that a gas phase and a liquid phase coexist, and in the gas phase, the concentration of oxygen at a temperature of 25° C. is kept to be at most 1,000 ppm by volume.

[Assistant]
1. A method for storing trifluoroethylene in a sealed storage container, trifluoroethylene is stored in such a state that a gas phase and a liquid phase coexist, and the concentration of oxygen in the gas phase at a temperature of 25° C. is kept to be less than 1,000 ppm by volume.

2. The method for storing trifluoroethylene according to claim 1, wherein said concentration of oxygen is kept to be from 1 to 1,000 ppm by volume.

3. The method for storing trifluoroethylene according to claim 1, wherein said concentration of oxygen is kept to be from 3 to 1,000 ppm by volume.

4. The method for storing trifluoroethylene according to claim 1, wherein said concentration of oxygen is kept to be from 3 to 300 ppm by volume.

5. The method for storing trifluoroethylene according to claim 1, wherein said concentration of oxygen is kept to be from 3 to 50 ppm by volume.

6. The method for storing trifluoroethylene according to claim 1, wherein in the gas phase, the concentration of non-condensable gases other than oxygen at a temperature of 25° C. is at most 1.5 vol %.

7. The method for storing trifluoroethylene according to claim 1, wherein an inside of an unfilled storage container is deaerated to remove oxygen in the storage container, then, liquid-state trifluoroethylene is filled and sealed, and the trifluoroethylene is stored in the sealed storage container.

8. A sealed storage container in which trifluoroethylene is filled in such a state that a gas phase and a liquid phase coexist, and a concentration of oxygen in the gas phase at a temperature of 25° C. is at most 1,000 ppm by volume.

9. The storage container for trifluoroethylene according to claim 8, wherein said concentration of oxygen is from 1 to 1,000 ppm by volume.

10. The storage container for trifluoroethylene according to claim 8, wherein said concentration of oxygen is from 3 to 1,000 ppm by volume.

11. The storage container for trifluoroethylene according to claim 8, wherein said concentration of oxygen is from 3 to 300 ppm by volume.

12. The storage container for trifluoroethylene according to claim 8, wherein said concentration of oxygen is from 3 to 50 ppm by volume.