[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: Pixel Unit And Array Subsrtate

Technical Field and Background:
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of display technology, and in particular to a pixel unit and an array substrate. 2. The Related Arts Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have a variety of advantages, such as high brightness, high contrast, better perception of layering, vivid colors, thin device body, low power consumption, and being free of radiation, and are thus widely used in for example liquid crystal televisions, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital cameras, computer monitors, and notebook computer screens, taking a leading position in the field of flat panel displays. A liquid crystal display panel is generally made up of a color filter (CF) substrate, a thin-film transistor (TFT) array substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the two substrates and the operation principle is that a drive voltage is applied to the two glass substrates to control liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer to rotate in order to refract out light from a backlight module to generate an image. Based on the way of orientating liquid crystal, the liquid crystal display panels of the main stream market can be classified as the following types: vertical alignment (VA), twisted nematic (TN) or super twisted nematic (STN), in-plane switching (IPS), and fringe field switching (FFS). In the FFS type, an electric field that is generally parallel to the substrates is applied to have the liquid crystal molecules rotated in a plane that is parallel to the substrates. To improve color shifting in a liquid crystal display panel, multi-domain techniques are commonly used, where a pixel is divided into multiple areas and the directions in which the liquid crystal of each area tilts upon application of an electric voltage is different so that the visual effect observed from all directions would be uniform and consistent. There are many ways to realize the multi-domain technology. For a conventional FFS liquid crystal display panel, a pixel unit is generally composed of two display domains, as illustrated in FIG. 1 , which is a schematic view showing a conventional pixel unit. The pixel unit comprises a pixel electrode 140 , a data line 130 located leftward of the pixel electrode 140 , and a gate line 110 located above the pixel electrode 140 , wherein the pixel electrode 140 comprises two branch electrodes 141 that are connected to each other at a predetermined angle. One of the branch electrodes 141 has an end that is connected through a via 150 to a drain electrode of a thin-film transistor (TFT). In a pixel unit having such a structure, the data line 130 that is located leftward of the pixel electrode 140 is generally made up of two inclined sections 130 that are respectively parallel to the two branch electrode 141 . The two inclined sections 131 define an apex 132 at the connection thereof. In a practical manufacturing process, a liquid crystal display panel is often conveyed by being placed on a machine so that a support pin that supports the liquid crystal display panel on the machine often rubs the liquid crystal display panel to generate static electricity. The static electricity is readily conducted to the apex 132 of the data line 130 and thus causes electrostatic damage of wiring of the liquid crystal display panel thereby resulting in damage of the liquid crystal display panel.

Invention Disclosure:
The present invention provides a pixel unit and an array substrate. The pixel electrode includes four branch sections to divide the pixel zone into four display domains, helping improve the large angle color shifting problem of a display product and also simplifying the structure of the pixel electrode and making the manufacturing process simple, and facilitating the production of large-size wide-angle display products. The array substrate of the present invention is composed, in the horizontal direction, of multiple pixel units. The pixel units each include a pixel electrode that includes four branch sections to divide the pixel zone into four display domains, helping improve the large angle color shifting problem of a display product, and the pixel electrode has a simple structure to simplify the manufacturing process and facilitate the production of large-size wide-angle display products.

[Assistant]
1. A pixel unit, comprising a pixel zone that comprises two long edges opposite to each other and two short edges respectively connected to the two long edges, a pixel electrode arranged at a center of the pixel zone, a data line arranged alone one of the long edges of the pixel zone, and a gate line perpendicular to the data line and extending through the pixel electrode;
the pixel electrode comprising a connection section located at a center thereof and four branch sections extending from the connection section to a perimeter of the pixel zone, the four branch sections being symmetric, in a top-bottom direction and a left-right direction, with respect to straight lines that extend through the connection section and are respectively parallel to the long edges and the short edges of the pixel zone, the branch sections each starting from the connection section, then extending in a direction, which is parallel to the long edges of the pixel zone, toward the short edges of the pixel zone, and further extending toward the long edges of the pixel zone at a location close to the short edges of the pixel zone, wherein each of the branch sections comprises an electrode strip that is of a closed form having a starting point and an ending point both coincident with the connection section.

2. The pixel unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrode strip comprises a smooth curve.

3. The pixel unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrode strip comprises a plurality of linear segments, the plurality of linear segments comprising a first slope segment starting from the connection section, a first vertical segment connected to a distal end of the first slope segment and extending toward one of the short edges of the pixel zone, a second slope segment connected to a distal end of the first vertical segment and extending toward one of the long edges of the pixel zone, a first horizontal segment connected to a distal end of the second slope segment and parallel to the short edges of the pixel zone, a third slope segment connected to a distal end of the first horizontal segment and parallel to the second slope segment, a second vertical segment connected to a distal end of the third slope segment and parallel to the first vertical segment, and a fourth slope segment connecting the second vertical segment to the connection section.

4. An array substrate, comprising, in a vertical direction, a backing plate, a light-shielding layer arranged on the backing plate, a buffer layer arranged on the light-shielding layer and the backing plate, a poly-silicon layer arranged on the buffer layer, a gate insulation layer arranged on the poly-silicon layer, a gate electrode and a gate line arranged on the gate insulation layer, an inter-layer insulation layer arranged on the gate electrode and the gate insulation layer, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a data line arranged on the inter-layer insulation layer, a planarization layer arranged on the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the inter-layer insulation layer, a common electrode arranged on the planarization layer, a passivation layer arranged on the common electrode, and a pixel electrode arranged on the passivation layer;
the array substrate being divided, in a horizontal direction, into multiple pixel zones, each of the pixel zones comprising a pixel electrode, the pixel zone comprising two long edges that are opposite to each other and two short edges respectively connected to the two long edges, the data line being arranged, in the horizontal direction, along one of the long edges of the pixel zone, the gate line being arranged, in the horizontal direction, to be perpendicular to the data line and extending through the pixel electrode;
the pixel electrode comprising a connection section located at a center thereof and four branch sections extending from the connection section to a perimeter of the pixel zone, the four branch sections being symmetric, in a top-bottom direction and a left-right direction, with respect to straight lines that extend through the connection section and are respectively parallel to the long edges and the short edges of the pixel zone, the branch sections each starting from the connection section, then extending in a direction, which is parallel to the long edges of the pixel zone, toward the short edges of the pixel zone, and further extending toward the long edges of the pixel zone at a location close to the short edges of the pixel zone, wherein each of the branch sections comprises an electrode strip that is of a closed form having a starting point and an ending point both coincident with the connection section.

5. The array substrate as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electrode strip comprises a smooth curve.

6. The array substrate as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electrode strip comprises a plurality of linear segments, the plurality of linear segments comprising a first slope segment starting from the connection section, a first vertical segment connected to a distal end of the first slope segment and extending toward one of the short edges of the pixel zone, a second slope segment connected to a distal end of the first vertical segment and extending toward one of the long edges of the pixel zone, a first horizontal segment connected to a distal end of the second slope segment and parallel to the short edges of the pixel zone, a third slope segment connected to a distal end of the first horizontal segment and parallel to the second slope segment, a second vertical segment connected to a distal end of the third slope segment and parallel to the first vertical segment, and a fourth slope segment connecting the second vertical segment to the connection section.

7. The array substrate as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inter-layer insulation layer and the gate insulation layer comprise first vias formed therein to respectively correspond to two ends of the poly-silicon layer and the source electrode and the drain electrode are respectively connected, through the first vias, to the poly-silicon layer.

8. The array substrate as claimed in claim 4, wherein the planarization layer comprises a second via formed therein to correspond to the drain electrode, the connection section of the pixel electrode being arranged in the second via and is connected to the drain electrode that is located under the second via.

9. The array substrate as claimed in claim 4, wherein the array substrate is applicable to a fringe field switching (FFS) liquid crystal display panel.

10. The array substrate as claimed in claim 4, wherein the common electrode and the pixel electrode are each formed of a material comprising indium tin oxide (ITO).

11. An array substrate, comprising, in a vertical direction, a backing plate, a light-shielding layer arranged on the backing plate, a buffer layer arranged on the light-shielding layer and the backing plate, a poly-silicon layer arranged on the buffer layer, a gate insulation layer arranged on the poly-silicon layer, a gate electrode and a gate line arranged on the gate insulation layer, an inter-layer insulation layer arranged on the gate electrode and the gate insulation layer, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a data line arranged on the inter-layer insulation layer, a planarization layer arranged on the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the inter-layer insulation layer, a common electrode arranged on the planarization layer, a passivation layer arranged on the common electrode, and a pixel electrode arranged on the passivation layer;
the array substrate being divided, in a horizontal direction, into multiple pixel zones, each of the pixel zones comprising a pixel electrode, the pixel zone comprising two long edges that are opposite to each other and two short edges respectively connected to the two long edges, the data line being arranged, in the horizontal direction, along one of the long edges of the pixel zone, the gate line being arranged, in the horizontal direction, to be perpendicular to the data line and extending through the pixel electrode;
the pixel electrode comprising a connection section located at a center thereof and four branch sections extending from the connection section to a perimeter of the pixel zone, the four branch sections being symmetric, in a top-bottom direction and a left-right direction, with respect to straight lines that extend through the connection section and are respectively parallel to the long edges and the short edges of the pixel zone, the branch sections each starting from the connection section, then extending in a direction, which is parallel to the long edges of the pixel zone, toward the short edges of the pixel zone, and further extending toward the long edges of the pixel zone at a location close to the short edges of the pixel zone, wherein each of the branch sections comprises an electrode strip that is of a closed form having a starting point and an ending point both coincident with the connection section;
wherein the inter-layer insulation layer and the gate insulation layer comprise first vias formed therein to respectively correspond to two ends of the poly-silicon layer and the source electrode and the drain electrode are respectively connected, through the first vias, to the poly-silicon layer;
wherein the planarization layer comprises a second via formed therein to correspond to the drain electrode, the connection section of the pixel electrode being arranged in the second via and is connected to the drain electrode that is located under the second via;
wherein the array substrate is applicable to a fringe field switching (FFS) liquid crystal display panel; and
wherein the common electrode and the pixel electrode are each formed of a material comprising indium tin oxide (ITO).

12. The array substrate as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electrode strip comprises a smooth curve.

13. The array substrate as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electrode strip comprises a plurality of linear segments, the plurality of linear segments comprising a first slope segment starting from the connection section, a first vertical segment connected to a distal end of the first slope segment and extending toward one of the short edges of the pixel zone, a second slope segment connected to a distal end of the first vertical segment and extending toward one of the long edges of the pixel zone, a first horizontal segment connected to a distal end of the second slope segment and parallel to the short edges of the pixel zone, a third slope segment connected to a distal end of the first horizontal segment and parallel to the second slope segment, a second vertical segment connected to a distal end of the third slope segment and parallel to the first vertical segment, and a fourth slope segment connecting the second vertical segment to the connection section.


[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: Controlling Traffic Transmissions To Manage Cellular Radio Resource Utilization

Technical Field and Background:
A wireless communication system can be utilized to provide wireless access to various communication services (e.g., voice, video, data, messaging, content broadcast, etc.) for users of the system. Wireless communication systems can operate according to a variety of network specifications and/or standards, such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA). These specifications and/or standards use different modulation techniques, such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Multi-Carrier CDMA (MC-CDMA), Single-Carrier CDMA (SC-CDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OF-DMA), Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA), and so on. Users can use communication devices (e.g., mobile phone, electronic tablet or pad, etc.) to access a wireless communication network to, for example, perceive (e.g., watch and/or listen to) a program being streamed to the communication device. In wireless communication networks (e.g., cellular networks), when a program is being streamed, continuously streaming traffic of the program at a constant low bitrate can cause significant inefficiencies in resource utilization, as the communication device can be constantly using the wireless communication channel (e.g., dedicated channel (DCH)), whose available bandwidth can be significantly underutilized due to the relatively low constant-bitrate streaming. Another issue relating to wireless communications to communication devices involves image sizes in relation to high-resolution images. Different communication devices can have different screen dimensions. When content that includes a visual image is being downloaded from a server to a communication device, the visual image may have a relatively high resolution, which can result in transmission of a relatively large amount of data to the communication device. However, the communication device receiving the content, including the high-resolution visual image, may have a relatively small screen size. As a result, transmission of the relatively large amount of data representing the high-resolution visual image can be wasteful and unnecessary, since the screen size of the communication device is too small to fully display the high-resolution visual image in its original size. The above-described description is merely intended to provide a contextual overview of wireless communication networks, and is not intended to be exhaustive.

Invention Disclosure:
Techniques control traffic transmissions to manage radio resource utilization. When content is being streamed to user equipment (UE) and is at least initially intended to be streamed in real time at a constant bitrate, a communication management component can determine whether the content being transmitted to the UE can be delayed, instead of being transmitted in real time. In response to determining that the content can be delayed, the communication management component can facilitate buffering data and periodically streaming the data to the UE in data bursts to reduce use of UE power and radio resources. When transmitting a visual image to a UE, the communication management component can adjust resolution of a visual image to correspond to screen dimensions of the UE based on information indicating screen dimensions of the UE that can be received from the UE.

[Assistant]
1. A system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
in connection with content that is initially scheduled to be communicated using a continuous stream at a defined bitrate, determining whether it is permissible for the content to be received by a device using separate data bursts comprising respective portions of the content without using the continuous stream at the defined bitrate, wherein the separate data bursts comprises a first separate data burst comprising a first portion of the content and a second separate data burst comprising a second portion of the content; and
to facilitate the determining whether the content is permitted to be received by the device using the separate data bursts, determining whether a scheduled data transfer start time for communication of the second portion of the content is able to be adjusted to delay the communication of the second portion of the content with the second separate data burst for a defined amount of time after communication of the first portion of the content with the first separate data burst based on a jitter parameter associated with the second portion of the content, wherein the jitter parameter indicates an amount of time delay from the scheduled data transfer start time that is permitted.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:
in response to determining the content is permitted to be received by the device using the separate data bursts, receiving the respective portions of the content in respective separate data bursts of the separate data bursts.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the scheduled data transfer start time for the communication of the second portion of the content is able to be adjusted to delay the communication of the second portion of the content with the second separate data burst for the defined amount of time after the communication of the first portion of the content with the first separate data burst further comprises determining whether the scheduled data transfer start time for the communication of the second portion of the content is able to be adjusted to delay the communication of the second portion of the content with the second separate data burst for the defined amount of time after the communication of the first portion of the content with the first separate data burst based on the jitter parameter and a defined traffic communication criterion relating to a subscription associated with the content.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:
determining that the content is scheduled to be streamed to the device using the continuous stream at the defined bitrate;
determining that a defined amount of delay of reception of the content by the device is permissible; and
in response to the defined amount of delay being determined to be permissible, receiving the respective portions of the content via respective data transfers as part of the respective separate data bursts of the separate data bursts.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise scheduling a transmission of respective data transfers of the respective portions of the content with a second device that is to provide the respective portions of the content.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the scheduling of the transmission of the respective data transfers comprises scheduling transmission of a first data transfer of the respective data transfers from the second device to occur within a specified amount of time of transmission of a second data transfer associated with different content from a third device to facilitate reception of the first data transfer and the second data transfer in a same separate data burst of the separate data bursts.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:
transmitting information indicative of a display characteristic associated with the device;
receiving a visual image that has been modified based on the display characteristic associated with the device, wherein the visual image is received as part of a portion of the respective portions of the content; and
providing the visual image to a display screen of the device that is associated with the display characteristic to facilitate presentation of the visual image by the display screen.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the display characteristic comprises information indicative of a display screen dimension associated with the device.

9. A method, comprising:
in connection with content that is initially set to be communicated using a continuous stream at a specified bitrate, determining, by a system comprising a processor, whether the content is approved to be received by a device using individual data bursts that comprise individual portions of the content as an alternative to the content being received by the device using the continuous stream at the specified bitrate, wherein the individual data bursts comprise a first individual data burst comprising a first portion of the content and a second individual data burst comprising a second portion of the content; and
to facilitate the determining whether the content is approved to be received by the device using the individual data bursts, determining, by the system, whether an indicated data transfer start time for communication of the second portion of the content to the device is able to be modified to delay the communication of the second portion of the content with the second individual data burst for a defined amount of time after communication of the first portion of the content, as part of the first individual data burst, to the device based on a jitter parameter associated with the second portion of the content, wherein the jitter parameter indicates an amount of time deviation from the indicated data transfer start time that is acceptable.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
in response to determining that the content is approved to be received by the device using the individual data bursts, receiving, by the system, the individual portions of the content via the individual data bursts.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
determining, by the system, that the content is scheduled to be streamed to the device using the continuous stream at the specified bitrate;
determining, by the system, that a specified amount of delay of reception of the content by the device satisfies a condition; and
in response to the determining that the specified amount of delay satisfies the condition, receiving, by the system, the individual portions of the content via the individual data bursts.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the device is a first device, and wherein the method further comprises:
scheduling, by the system, communication of individual data transfers of the individual portions of the content with a second device that is to communicate the individual portions of the content to the first device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining whether the indicated data transfer start time for the communication of the second portion of the content to the device is able to be modified to delay the communication of the second portion of the content with the second individual data burst for the defined amount of time after the communication of the first portion of the content, as part of the first individual data burst, to the device comprises determining whether the indicated data transfer start time for the communication of the second portion of the content to the device is able to be modified to delay the communication of the second portion of the content with the second individual data burst for the defined amount of time after the communication of the first portion of the content, as part of the first individual data burst, to the device based on the jitter parameter and a defined traffic communication criterion relating to a communication network policy that relates to the content.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the device is a first device, and wherein the method further comprises:
scheduling, by the system, communication of a first data transfer of the individual data transfers to be received from a second device within a specified amount of time of communication of a second data transfer associated with different content to be received from a third device to facilitate communicating the first data transfer and the second data transfer in a same individual data burst of the individual data bursts; and
facilitating communicating, by the system, the first data transfer and the second data transfer in the same individual data burst.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
transmitting, by the system, information indicative of a display characteristic associated with the device to facilitate modifying a visual image of the content to a modified visual image to correspond to the display characteristic; and
receiving, by the system, the modified visual image based on the display characteristic associated with the device.

16. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
in connection with content that is initially scheduled to be transmitted using a continuous stream at a defined bitrate, determining whether the content is transmittable to a device via separate data bursts comprising respective subsets of the content instead of transmission of the content using the continuous stream at the defined bitrate, wherein the separate data bursts comprise a first separate data burst comprising a first subset of the content and a second separate data burst comprising a second subset of the content; and
to facilitate the determining whether the content is transmittable to the device via the separate data bursts, determining whether a scheduled data transfer start time for transmission of the second subset of the content to the device is able to be modified to delay the transmission of the second subset of the content with the second separate data burst to the device for a defined amount of time after transmission of the first subset of the content with the first separate data burst to the device based on a data transfer parameter associated with the second subset of the content, wherein the data transfer parameter indicates an amount of time deviation from the scheduled data transfer start time that is acceptable.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:
in response to determining that the content is transmittable to the device using the separate data bursts, transmitting the respective subsets of the content to the device using the separate data bursts.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:
identifying the content is scheduled to be streamed to the device using the continuous stream at the defined bitrate;
determining that a specified amount of delay of transmission of a portion of the respective subsets of the content to the device is acceptable;
storing the portion of the respective subsets of the content in a buffer component to facilitate transmission of the portion of the respective subsets of the content in subsequent separate data bursts of the separate data bursts; and
transmitting the portion of the respective subsets of the content via respective data transfers as part of the subsequent separate data bursts, without exceeding the specified amount of delay.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise coordinating with the device to schedule transmission of respective data transfers of the respective subsets of the content to the device.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving information indicative of a display characteristic associated with the device in relation to provision of a visual image of the content to facilitate modification of the visual image to correspond to the display characteristic, wherein the information indicative of the display characteristic comprises a subset of the information indicative of a display screen size associated with the device;
modifying the visual image, based on the display characteristic, to generate a modified visual image; and
transmitting the modified visual image to the device.


[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: Cooling Module And Cooling System For Vehicle

Technical Field and Background:
In a vehicle at which an internal combustion engine is mounted, generally, the heat generated during the operation of the engine is transmitted to cylinder heads, pistons and valves, and accordingly, if the temperatures of the components are excessively raised, thermal expansion or degradation occurs to decrease the strength of the components, reduce the life span of the engine, make a bad combustion state to cause knocking or pre-ignition, and decrease the output of the engine. In case where the engine is incompletely cooled, further, an oil film on the inner peripheral surface of a cylinder is cut to cause a bad lubricating function, and in addition, engine oil is deformed in quality to cause irregular abrasion of the cylinder. Furthermore, the piston may be fused to the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. In addition to the engine of the vehicle, on the other hand, the electric parts of the vehicle, such as motors, inverters, and battery stacks should be cooled, but since the cooling water passing through the engine and the cooling water passing through the electric parts have a given temperature difference therebetween, the vehicle cannot have a single cooling system. FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams showing conventional cooling systems for a vehicle, wherein FIG. 1A shows the cooling system for an engine, and FIG. 1B shows the cooling system for electric parts. In more detail, an engine cooling system 10 includes a water pump 15 adapted to circulate cooling water for cooling an engine 1 , a first radiator 11 for cooling the cooling water, a first cooling water storage tank 13 for supplying the cooling water to the first radiator 11 , and a first cooling water adjusting cap 12 . According to the engine cooling system 10 , at this time, the first radiator 11 , the water pump 15 and the engine 1 are connected to each other through a first connection line 14 . Further, an electric part cooling system 20 includes a water pump 25 adapted to circulate cooling water for cooling electric parts 2 , a second radiator 21 for cooling the cooling water, a second cooling water storage tank 23 for supplying the cooling water to the second radiator 21 , and a second cooling water adjusting cap 22 . At this time, the electric parts 2 of the electric part cooling system 20 include an inverter and a generator used also as a starter. According to the electric part cooling system 20 , in the same manner as the engine cooling system 10 , the second radiator 21 , the water pump 25 and the electric parts 2 are connected to each other through a second connection line 24 . At this time, the first radiator 11 and the second radiator 21 constitute a cooling module, together with a condenser and a fan and shroud assembly, and the cooling water is heat-exchanged with vehicle wind and the air introduced through the fan and shroud assembly. FIG. 2 shows one example of conventional cooling modules. According to a cooling module 50 as shown in FIG. 2 , however, the size of a condenser 30 is reduced by the area of the second radiator 21 formed, thus making it difficult to expect a sufficient condensing efficiency and to ensure a sufficient amount of cooling water flowing in the second radiator 21 . On the other hand, FIG. 3 shows another example of the conventional cooling modules. According to a cooling module 50 as shown in FIG. 3 , the condenser 30 , the second radiator 21 and the first radiator 11 are arranged in parallel to each other in an air flow direction. However, the heated air passing through the condenser 30 passes through the second radiator 21 , thus giving a bad influence on the performance of the second radiator 21 . According to the load of the condenser 30 , further, the air supplied to the second radiator 21 has a drastic temperature difference, thus making it hard to ensure the stable performance of the second radiator 21 . Therefore, there is a definite need to develop a new cooling module capable of ensuring good performance of a first radiator, a second radiator and a condenser, while achieving the miniaturization in size.

Invention Disclosure:
The present invention relates to a cooling module including: a first radiator for cooling an engine; a second radiator located in front of the first radiator in an air flow direction to cool electric parts; a first condenser located in front of the second radiator in the air flow direction to condense a refrigerant through heat exchange with external air; and a second condenser located inside the second radiator to condense the refrigerant through heat exchange with electric part cooling water, whereby the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant passes through the water-cooled second condenser and then passes through the air-cooled first condenser, thus enhancing the cooling efficiency of the refrigerant to improve the entire efficiency of the cooling system for the vehicle.

[Assistant]
1. A cooling module comprising:
a first radiator cooling an engine;
a second radiator disposed in front of the first radiator in an air flow direction, the second radiator cooling electric parts;
a first condenser located in front of the second radiator in the air flow direction to condense a refrigerant through heat exchange with external air; and
a second condenser disposed inside the second radiator to condense the refrigerant through heat exchange with electric part cooling water,
wherein the refrigerant condensed in the second condenser is heat-exchanged with the electric part cooling water, introduced into the first condenser through a connection pipe, heat-exchanged with the external air, and discharged from the first condenser,
wherein the first radiator further comprises:
a pair of first header tanks spaced apart in a width direction of a vehicle, each of the pair of first header tanks having a first header and a first tank;
a plurality of first tubes having ends fixed by the pair of first header tanks to form an engine cooling water passage; and
a plurality of first fins disposed between the plurality of first tubes,
wherein the second radiator further comprises:
a pair of second header tanks spaced apart in the width direction of the vehicle, each of the pair of second header tanks having a second header and a second tank;
an inlet formed on the pair of second header tanks to introduce the electric part cooling water into the pair of second header tanks;
an outlet formed on the pair of second header tanks to discharge the electric part cooling water from the pair of second header tanks;
a plurality of second tubes having ends fixed by the pair of second header tanks to form an electric part cooling water passage; and
a plurality of second fins disposed between the plurality of second tubes.

2. The cooling module according to claim 1, wherein the second condenser is disposed inside a first one of the pair of second header tanks extending in a length direction of the first one of the pair of second header tanks, and a refrigerant flow direction in an interior of the second condenser is different from an electric part cooling water flow direction in the first one of the pair of second header tanks.

3. The cooling module according to claim 2, wherein the inlet formed on the pair of second header tanks of the second radiator is formed on an upper side of a second one of the pair of second header tanks in a height direction of the vehicle.

4. The cooling module according to claim 3, wherein a first pipe for introducing the refrigerant to the second condenser is disposed in a lower side of the first one of the pair of second header tanks in the height direction of the vehicle.

5. The cooling module according to claim 4, wherein the first condenser further comprises:
a pair of third header tanks spaced apart from each other, each of the pair of third header tanks having a third header and a third tank;
a plurality of third tubes having ends fixed by the pair of third header tanks to form a refrigerant passage;
a plurality of third fins disposed between the plurality of third tubes;
a vapor-liquid separator disposed on a first one of the pair of third header tanks; and
a second pipe disposed on a second one of the pair of third header tanks to discharge the refrigerant.

6. The cooling module according to claim 5, wherein the connection pipe is connected to an upper side of the second one of the pair of third header tanks and the second pipe is connected to a lower side of the second one of the pair of third header tanks, wherein the second one of the pair of third header tanks is located adjacent the first one of the pair of second header tanks, and wherein the first one of the pair of third header tanks is spaced from the first one of the pair of second header tanks.

7. The cooling module according to claim 6, wherein the first condenser further comprises:
a condensing area where the refrigerant introduced through the connection pipe is condensed, the condensing area formed within a first portion of the plurality of third tubes;
a separating area where the refrigerant is separated into a vapor portion and a liquid portion, the separating area formed within the vapor-liquid separator; and
a subcooling area where the liquid portion of the refrigerant separated in the vapor-liquid separator is subcooled, the subcooling area formed within a second portion of the plurality of third tubes.

8. The cooling module according to claim 3, wherein the second radiator has a baffle partitioning an interior of the second one of the pair of second header tanks into the upper side and a lower side in the height direction of the vehicle, the outlet formed on the pair of second header tanks of the second radiator is connected to a lower side of the second one of the pair of second header tanks, wherein the electric part cooling water introduced into the second one of the pair of second header tanks through the inlet flows to the first one of the pair of second header tanks through a first portion of the plurality of second tubes, flows back to the second one of the pair of second header tanks through a second portion of the plurality of second tubes, and is discharged through the outlet.

9. The cooling module according to claim 3, wherein the outlet formed on the pair of second header tanks of the second radiator is connected to a lower side of the first one of the pair of second header tanks, wherein the electric part cooling water introduced into the second one of the pair of second header tanks through the inlet flows to the first one of the pair of second header tanks through the plurality of second tubes and is discharged through the outlet.

10. The cooling module according to claim 5, wherein a length of the second radiator in the width direction of the vehicle is greater than a length of the first radiator in the width direction of the vehicle and a length of the first condenser in the width direction of the vehicle.

11. The cooling module according to claim 10, wherein the pair of first header tanks and the pair of third header tanks are located between the pair of second header tanks in the width direction of the vehicle.

12. The cooling module according to claim 11, wherein the vapor-liquid separator is located between the pair of second header tanks in the width direction of the vehicle.

13. The cooling module according to claim 2, wherein the second condenser further comprises:
an inlet boss and an outlet boss spaced apart from each other to introduce the refrigerant to the second condenser and discharge the refrigerant from the second condenser; and
a heat exchange portion having ends respectively fixed to the inlet boss and the outlet boss.

14. The cooling module according to claim 13, wherein the heat exchange portion of the second condenser has a shape of a double pipe or a plate.

15. A cooling system for the vehicle having the cooling module according to claim 1, the cooling system further comprising:
a compressor compressing the refrigerant, wherein the second condenser and the first condenser of the cooling module sequentially condense the refrigerant compressed by the compressor;
an expansion valve throttling the refrigerant condensed by the second condenser and the first condenser; and
an evaporator evaporating the refrigerant throttled by the expansion valve.


[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: Image Display Device

Technical Field and Background:
One conventional example of such a display device is a liquid crystal display device 101 shown in FIG. 6 . This liquid crystal display device 101 includes a transparent protection member 103 made of, for example, glass or plastic and disposed on a liquid crystal display panel 102 . In this case, to protect the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 102 and a polarizing plate (not shown), a spacer 104 is interposed between the liquid crystal display panel 102 and the protection member 103 , so that a gap 105 is provided between the liquid crystal display panel 102 and the protection member 103 . However, the gap 105 present between the liquid crystal display panel 102 and the protection member 103 causes light scattering, and this results in a reduction in contrast and in brightness. The presence of the gap 105 is an obstacle to the reduction in thickness of the panel. In view of the above problems, a technique has been proposed in which the gap between the liquid crystal display panel and the protection member is filled with a resin (for example, Patent Document 1). However, the stress during the cure shrinkage of the cured resin causes deformation of the optical glass plates sandwiching the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal display panel. This results in display defects such as irregularities in orientation of the liquid crystal material. Unfortunately, when the gap between the liquid crystal display panel and the protection member is filled with the resin composition, the resin composition may adhere to the backlight side under some manufacturing conditions. [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-55641.

Invention Disclosure:
A method for manufacturing an image display device includes the step of forming a cured resin layer by interposing a photo-curable resin composition between a protection member and a display-side panel including an image display unit and a frame member and then photo-curing the photo-curable resin composition, with the photo-curable resin composition being disposed across between the image display unit and the frame member. In the manufacturing method, a high-viscosity resin composition having a viscosity of 3000 mPa·s or more and 12000 mPa·s or less is used as the photo-curable resin composition. Alternatively, after a gap between the image display unit and the frame member is sealed with a sealing film, a photo-curable resin composition is interposed between the display-side panel and the protection member.

[Assistant]
1. An image display device comprising:
a display-side panel including an image display unit and a frame member surrounding the image display unit;
a protection member disposed on the display-side panel;
a cured resin layer interposed between the display-side panel and the protection member; and
a sealing film that covers a gap formed between the image display unit and the frame member, the sealing film being disposed across and over between the image display unit and the fame member, wherein the cured resin layer is disposed on the sealing film such that the cured resin layer covers an upper surface of the sealing film and at least two side surfaces of the sealing film.

2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the protection member comprises a transparent plate and a light-shielding film provided along circumferential edges of the transparent plate.

3. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein a surface of the protection member that includes the light-shielding film faces the display-side panel.

4. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein the transparent plate contacts a surface of the cured resin layer.

5. The image display device of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the gap is defined by a backlight.

6. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the cured resin layer is made of a cured product which has a light transmittance of 90% or more in a visible region and a storage elastic modulus at 25° C. of 1.0×10 7 Pa or less and is formed of a photo-curable resin composition having a curing shrinkage ratio of 5% or less.


[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 And Apparatus For Identifying Discharge Failure Of A Piezoelectric Circuitry

Technical Field and Background:
Piezoelectric effect is generally known as generation of electric charge in certain non-conducting material when subjected to mechanical stress such as pressure or vibration or the generation of vibration in such material when they are subjected to an electric field. This generation of electric charge resulting from pressure is commonly known as piezoelectricity. Piezoelectric elements may be solid material such as crystals, certain ceramics and biological matter such as bone, DNA and various proteins. Piezoelectric elements are capacitive consumers, which, contract or expand, depending on the charge state in each case, i.e., depending on the emerging or applied voltage. Piezoelectricity has found use in applications of vast type and nature such as production and detection of sound, generation of high voltages, electronic frequency generation, microbalances, to drive an ultrasonic nozzle, and ultrafine focusing of optical assemblies. It is also the basis of a number of scientific instrumental techniques with atomic resolution, the scanning probe, microscopes and everyday uses such as ignition source for push-start propane barbecues, and quartz watches. Further, piezoelectric valves use special piezoelectric mechanism that allows speedy action and also allow very precise control to the flow of fluid. Due to this nature piezoelectric valves are commonly used in medical, automobile and aeronautical industry among others. Piezoelectric valves are used in implantable medical devices such as infusion pumps that are positioned within the human body to deliver minute amount of drugs to a specified locations. It may be understood that due to the precise nature of the piezoelectric valves/piezoelectricity and industry implementation in various medical devices it is important to identify failure in the piezoelectric valves or circuit. However, the conventional methods only identify failure conditions of piezoelectric element.

Invention Disclosure:
The present disclosure discloses a method and apparatus for identifying discharge failure of a piezoelectric circuitry. The apparatus comprises a piezoelectric circuitry consisting of charging and discharging circuit with a microcontroller to compute the time required to charge and discharge the piezoelectric element respectively. Based on the first charging time and the second charging time corresponding to the first and second charging-discharging cycle respectively, the difference between the first and the second charging time is determined. The discharge failure in the piezoelectric circuit is identified where the first charging time is greater than the second charging time.

[Assistant]
1. An apparatus for identifying failure of a circuit adapted to discharge a piezoelectric element, the apparatus comprising:
a piezoelectric circuitry comprising a charging circuit and a discharging circuit adapted to charge and discharge a piezoelectric element respectively, wherein the piezoelectric circuitry further comprises a microcontroller configured to:
determine a first charging time and a first discharging time corresponding to a first cycle associated with the charging and the discharging of the piezoelectric element;
determine a second charging time and a second discharging time corresponding to a second cycle associated with the charging and the discharging of the piezoelectric element;
compare the second charging time with the first charging time; and
identify failure in the discharging circuit wherein the failure in the discharging circuit occurs if the difference between the first charging time and the second charging time is greater than a predefined threshold value.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the charging circuit is connected with a transistor wherein the transistor uses a pulse-width modulation waveform to control the charging of the piezoelectric element.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is connected in voltage sampler to compute the time required to charge and discharge the piezoelectric circuit.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the voltage sampler is further connected to a timing system to measure the time required by the piezoelectric circuitry to build its charge from zero.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is embedded in an implantable medical device.

6. A method for identifying failure of a circuit adapted to discharge a piezoelectric element, the method comprising:
determining, by a microcontroller, a first charging time and a first discharging time corresponding to a first cycle associated with the charging and the discharging of the piezoelectric element;
determining, by the microcontroller, a second charging time and a second discharging time corresponding to a second cycle associated with the charging and the discharging of the piezoelectric element;
comparing, by the microcontroller, the second charging time with the first charging time; and
identifying, by the microcontroller, failure in the discharging circuit wherein the failure in the discharging circuit occurs if the difference between the first charging time and the second charging time is greater than a predefined threshold value.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the charging circuit is connected with a transistor wherein the transistor uses a pulse-width modulation waveform to control the charging of the piezoelectric element.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the microcontroller is connected in voltage sampler to compute the time required to charge and discharge the piezoelectric circuit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the voltage sampler is further connected to a timing system to measure the time required by the piezoelectric circuitry to build its charge from zero.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the apparatus is embedded in an implantable medical device.


[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: Anchor For Seatbelt Device

Technical Field and Background:
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an anchor for a seatbelt device in which a piece is attached to a metal core. 2. Related Art Configurations exist in which apiece is prevented from displacing or detaching with respect to a metal core by fitting a recess or a protrusion formed at the piece with a protrusion or a recess formed at the metal core (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2001-310702). In such configurations, during attachment of the piece to the metal core, the piece has to be moved appropriately with respect to the metal core as far as a position where the recess or the protrusion formed at the piece fits with the protrusion or the recess formed at the metal core, namely as far as an attachment position of the piece to the metal core.

Invention Disclosure:
In a through anchor, it enables a piece to be moved to an attachment position of the piece in a metal core by moving the piece toward a vehicle front lower side in a state in which a lower end portion of a guide portion of a guide groove of the piece is abutted with a guide projection formed at a metal core lower portion of the metal core.

[Assistant]
1. An anchor for a vehicular seatbelt device, comprising:
a metal core at which a through hole is formed, a webbing for restraining a vehicular occupant being inserted through and supported at the through hole;
a piece member that is provided inside the through hole so as to be attached to the metal core; and
a guide mechanism that is configured to guide the piece member disposed inside the through hole along a single direction to an attachment position of the piece member in the metal core,
wherein the single guiding direction to the piece member by the guide mechanism is along a line inclined toward a vehicle lower side with respect to both a vehicle front-rear direction and a vertical direction.

2. An anchor for a seatbelt device, comprising:
a metal core at which a through hole is formed, a webbing for restraining an occupant being inserted through and supported at the through hole;
a piece member that is provided inside the through hole so as to be attached to the metal core; and
a guide mechanism that guides the piece member disposed inside the through hole to an attachment position of the piece member in the metal core, wherein the guide mechanism includes:
a guide projection that is formed at one of the metal core or the piece member; and
a guide groove that is formed at another of the metal core or the piece member, the piece member being guided to the attachment position by the piece member being moved with respect to the metal core in a state in which the guide groove abuts the guide projection,
the guide groove including a positioning portion to which the guide projection is guided to be positioned and a guide portion by which the guide projection is guided, and
at the guide groove,
the guide portion is disposed at a first side toward which the piece member is guided in a guiding direction of the piece member by the guide mechanism, and
the positioning portion is disposed at a second side opposite to the first side in the guiding direction.

3. The anchor for a seatbelt device of claim 2, wherein a guiding direction of the piece member by the guide mechanism is a single direction.

4. The anchor for a seatbelt device of claim 1, wherein:
the through hole includes an elongated hole portion with a longitudinal direction thereof being in a vehicle front-rear direction, and a through hole turn-up portion that extends from one end portion in the vehicle front-rear direction of the elongated hole portion toward a vehicle upper side;
the piece member includes a piece member turn-up portion that is disposed inside the through hole turn-up portion of the through hole, a vehicle upper side end portion of the piece member turn-up portion projecting out further toward a vehicle upper side than a vehicle upper side end portion of the elongated hole portion in a state in which the piece member is attached to the metal core; and
the guiding direction is a direction which is inclined toward the vehicle lower side, with respect to the side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, where the through hole turn-up portion is formed at the elongated hole portion of the through hole.

5. The anchor for a seatbelt device of claim 2, wherein:
the through hole includes
an elongated hole portion with a longitudinal direction thereof being in a vehicle front-rear direction, and
a through hole turn-up portion that extends from one end portion in the vehicle front-rear direction of the elongated hole portion toward a vehicle upper side;
the guide groove is opened at one side in a vehicle upper-lower direction;
the positioning portion is configured at another side of the guide groove in the vehicle upper-lower direction;
the guide portion is configured at a side of the guide groove, in the vehicle front-rear direction, where the through hole turn-up portion is formed at the elongated hole portion of the through hole; and
the guide portion has an inclined face extending toward the one side in the vehicle upper-lower direction, and the side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, where the through hole turn-up portion is formed at the elongated hole portion of the through hole.

6. The anchor for a seatbelt device of claim 1, wherein:
the guide mechanism includes: a guide projection that is formed at one of the metal core or the piece member; and a guide groove that is formed at another of the metal core or the piece member, the piece member being guided to the attachment position by the piece member being moved with respect to the metal core in a state in which the guide groove abuts the guide projection, and
the guide groove is opened at the vehicle lower side, and includes a positioning portion to which the guide projection is guided to be positioned, and a guide portion by which the guide projection is guided;
the positioning portion is configured at the vehicle upper side of the guide groove;
the guide portion is configured at the side of the guide groove, in the vehicle front-rear direction, where the through hole turn-up portion is formed at the elongated hole portion of the through hole; and
the guide portion has an inclined face extending toward the vehicle lower side in vehicle upper-lower direction, and the side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, where the through hole turn-up portion is formed at the elongated hole portion of the through hole.

7. The anchor for the seatbelt device of claim 2, wherein:
the through hole includes
an elongated hole portion with a longitudinal direction thereof being in a vehicle front-rear direction, and
a through hole turn-up portion that extends from one end portion in the vehicle front-rear direction of the elongated hole portion toward a vehicle upper side;
the piece member includes a piece member turn-up portion that is disposed inside the through hole turn-up portion of the through hole, a vehicle upper side end portion of the piece member turn-up portion projecting out further toward a vehicle upper side than a vehicle upper side end portion of the elongated hole portion in a state in which the piece member is attached to the metal core; and
the guiding direction is a direction which is inclined toward the vehicle lower side, with respect to the side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, where the through hole turn-up portion is formed at the elongated hole portion of the through hole.


[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: Control Device For Internal Combustion Engine

Technical Field and Background:
Patent document 1 describes an internal combustion engine that includes a variable valve timing mechanism. The variable valve timing mechanism includes a first rotary body, which rotates in cooperation with the rotation of a crankshaft, and a second rotary body, which rotates together with a camshaft. The variable valve timing mechanism uses hydraulic pressure, which is supplied from a hydraulic control valve to advancing chambers and retarding chambers, to change the rotation phase of the second rotary body relative to the first rotary body and vary the valve timing of engine valves. The control amount (duty) of the hydraulic control valve is set based on a feedback control amount, which is calculated based on the deviation of the actual valve timing from the target valve timing, and a holding control amount (hold duty), which is used to hold the actual valve timing at a constant timing. The variable valve timing mechanism described in patent document 1 also includes a spring that urges the second rotary body to a position at which the rotation phase of the second rotary body relative to the first rotary body corresponds to a predetermined phase between the most retarded phase and the most advanced phase. Additionally, the variable valve timing mechanism may include, for example, a lock mechanism that fixes the relative rotation phase at a predetermined phase that is suitable for starting the engine. In this case, even if the relative rotation phase is not fixed by the lock mechanism when the engine stalls and stops, the urging force of the spring allows the relative rotation phase to be set in the predetermined phase, which can be fixed by the lock mechanism. The above relative rotation phase includes a spring region, in which the second rotary body receives the urging force of the spring, and a non-spring region, in which the second rotary body does not receive the urging force of the spring. The control amount of the hydraulic control valve that is needed to hold the actual valve timing at a constant timing when the relative rotation phase is in the spring region differs from that when the relative rotation phase is in the non-spring region. In addition to the difference between the spring region and the non-spring region, the control amount of the hydraulic control valve that is needed to hold the actual valve timing at the constant timing also differs depending on the present operation state of the variable valve timing mechanism, such as the viscosity of the hydraulic oil. Thus, the control device of the internal combustion engine described in patent document 1 performs a learning process, in which the control device learns that a holding control amount is the control amount that holds the actual valve timing at the constant valve timing when the relative rotation phase of the first rotary body and the second rotary body is in the spring region and when the relative rotation phase is in the non-spring region.

Invention Disclosure:
A control device for an engine includes a variable valve timing mechanism. The control device performs learning a holding control amount of a hydraulic valve when actual valve timing is held at a fixed timing in each of spring and non-spring regions, and an updating. The updating includes updating the control amount for the non-spring region whenever the control amount for the spring region learned drops below the control amount for the non-spring region to satisfy a relationship with the control amount for the non-spring region being less than or equal to the control amount for the spring region, and/or updating the control amount for the spring region whenever the control amount for the non-spring region learned exceeds the control amount for the spring region to satisfy a relationship with the control amount for the spring region being greater than or equal to the control amount for the non-spring region.

[Assistant]
1. A control device for an internal combustion engine, the control device comprising:
a variable valve timing mechanism, wherein
the variable valve timing mechanism includes a first rotation body, which rotates in cooperation with rotation of a crankshaft, and a second rotation body, which rotates together with a camshaft;
the variable valve timing mechanism varies a valve timing of an engine valve by changing a relative rotation phase of the second rotation body and the first rotation body using hydraulic pressure, which is supplied from a hydraulic control valve to an advancing chamber and a retarding chamber;
the variable valve timing mechanism includes a spring that urges the second rotation body so that the relative rotation phase is located at a position corresponding to a predetermined phase between a most advanced phase and a most retarded phase;
when a region of the relative rotation phase where the second rotation body receives urging force from the spring defines a spring region and a region of the relative rotation phase where the second rotation body does not receive urging force from the spring defines a non-spring region, a control amount of the hydraulic control valve needed to hold an actual valve timing at a constant timing in the spring region is greater than a control amount of the hydraulic control valve needed to hold the actual valve timing at a constant timing in the non-spring region;
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to perform a learning process that learns a holding control amount of the hydraulic control valve when the actual valve timing is held at a constant timing in each of the spring region and the non-spring region; and
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to perform at least one of
an update process that updates the holding control amount of the non-spring region whenever the holding control amount of the spring region, which is learned in the learning process, becomes less than the holding control amount of the non-spring region to satisfy a relationship in which the holding control amount of the non-spring region is less than or equal to the holding control amount of the spring region, and
an update process that updates the holding control amount of the spring region whenever the holding control amount of the non-spring region, which is learned in the learning process, becomes greater than the holding control amount of the spring region to satisfy a relationship in which the holding control amount of the spring region is greater than or equal to the holding control amount of the non-spring region.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein
one of the spring region and the non-spring region in which the holding control amount is learned in the learning process defines a first region,
the other one of the spring region and the non-spring region defines a second region, and
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to update the holding control amount of the second region so that the holding control amount of the second region becomes equal to the holding control amount of the first region.

3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the variable valve timing mechanism includes a lock mechanism that fixes the relative rotation phase at an intermediate phase.

4. A control device for an internal combustion engine, the control device comprising:
a variable valve timing mechanism, wherein
the variable valve timing mechanism includes a first rotation body, which rotates in cooperation with rotation of a crankshaft, and a second rotation body, which rotates together with a camshaft;
the variable valve timing mechanism varies a valve timing of an engine valve by changing a relative rotation phase of the second rotation body and the first rotation body using hydraulic pressure, which is supplied from a hydraulic control valve to an advancing chamber and a retarding chamber;
the variable valve timing mechanism includes a spring that urges the second rotation body so that the relative rotation phase is located at a position corresponding to a predetermined phase between a most advanced phase and a most retarded phase;
when a region of the relative rotation phase where the second rotation body receives urging force from the spring defines a spring region and a region of the relative rotation phase where the second rotation body does not receive urging force from the spring defines a non-spring region, a control amount of the hydraulic control valve needed to hold an actual valve timing at a constant timing in the spring region is greater than a control amount of the hydraulic control valve needed to hold the actual valve timing at a constant timing in the non-spring region;
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to perform a learning process that learns a holding control amount of the hydraulic control valve when the actual valve timing is held at a constant timing in each of the spring region and the non-spring region; and
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to perform at least one of
an update process that updates the holding control amount of the non-spring region when the relative rotation phase is shifted from the spring region to the non-spring region so that the holding control amount of the non-spring region satisfies a relationship in which the holding control amount of the non-spring region is less than or equal to the holding control amount that was last learned in the spring region, and
an update process that updates the holding control amount of the spring region when the relative rotation phase is shifted from the non-spring region to the spring region so that the holding control amount of the spring region satisfies a relationship in which the holding control amount of the spring region is greater than or equal to the holding control amount that was last learned in the non-spring region.

5. The control device according to claim 4, wherein
one of the spring region and the non-spring region in which the holding control amount is learned in the learning process defines a first region,
the other one of the spring region and the non-spring region defines a second region, and
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to update the holding control amount of the second region so that the holding control amount of the second region becomes equal to the holding control amount of the first region.

6. The control device according to claim 4, wherein the variable valve timing mechanism includes a lock mechanism that fixes the relative rotation phase at an intermediate phase.

7. A control device for an internal combustion engine, the control device comprising:
a variable valve timing mechanism, wherein
the variable valve timing mechanism includes a first rotation body, which rotates in cooperation with rotation of a crankshaft, and a second rotation body, which rotates together with a camshaft;
the variable valve timing mechanism varies a valve timing of an engine valve by changing a relative rotation phase of the second rotation body and the first rotation body using hydraulic pressure, which is supplied from a hydraulic control valve to an advancing chamber and a retarding chamber;
the variable valve timing mechanism includes a spring that urges the second rotation body so that the relative rotation phase is located at a position corresponding to a predetermined phase between a most advanced phase and a most retarded phase;
when a region of the relative rotation phase where the second rotation body receives urging force from the spring defines a spring region and a region of the relative rotation phase where the second rotation body does not receive urging force from the spring defines a non-spring region, a control amount of the hydraulic control valve needed to hold an actual valve timing at a constant timing in the spring region is greater than a control amount of the hydraulic control valve needed to hold the actual valve timing at a constant timing in the non-spring region;
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to perform a learning process that learns a holding control amount of the hydraulic control valve when the actual valve timing is held at a constant timing in each of the spring region and the non-spring region; and
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to perform at least one of
a restriction process that restricts a lower limit value of the holding control amount of the spring region when the relative rotation phase is in the spring region to the holding control amount that was last learned in the non-spring region, and
a restriction process that restricts an upper limit value of the holding control amount of the holding control amount of the non-spring region when the relative rotation phase is in the non-spring region to the holding control amount that was last learned in the spring region.

8. The control device according to claim 7, wherein the variable valve timing mechanism includes a lock mechanism that fixes the relative rotation phase at an intermediate phase.

9. A control device for an internal combustion engine, the control device comprising:
a variable valve timing mechanism, wherein
the variable valve timing mechanism includes a first rotation body, which rotates in cooperation with rotation of a crankshaft, and a second rotation body, which rotates together with a camshaft;
the variable valve timing mechanism varies a valve timing of an engine valve by changing a relative rotation phase of the second rotation body and the first rotation body using hydraulic pressure, which is supplied from a hydraulic control valve to an advancing chamber and a retarding chamber;
the variable valve timing mechanism includes a spring that urges the second rotation body so that the relative rotation phase is located at a position corresponding to a predetermined phase between a most advanced phase and a most retarded phase;
when a region of the relative rotation phase where the second rotation body receives urging force from the spring defines a spring region and a region of the relative rotation phase where the second rotation body does not receive urging force from the spring defines a non-spring region, a control amount of the hydraulic control valve needed to hold an actual valve timing at a constant timing in the non-spring region is greater than a control amount of the hydraulic control valve needed to hold the actual valve timing at a constant timing in the spring region;
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to perform a learning process that learns a holding control amount of the hydraulic control valve when the actual valve timing is held at a constant timing in each of the spring region and the non-spring region; and
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to perform at least one of
an update process that updates the holding control amount of the non-spring region whenever the holding control amount of the spring region, which is learned in the learning process, becomes greater than the holding control amount of the non-spring region to satisfy a relationship in which the holding control amount of the non-spring region is greater than or equal to the holding control amount of the spring region, and
an update process that updates the holding control amount of the spring region whenever the holding control amount of the non-spring region, which is learned in the learning process, becomes less than the holding control amount of the spring region to satisfy a relationship in which the holding control amount of the spring region is less than or equal to the holding control amount of the non-spring region.

10. The control device according to claim 9, wherein
one of the spring region and the non-spring region in which the holding control amount is learned in the learning process defines a first region,
the other one of the spring region and the non-spring region defines a second region, and
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to update the holding control amount of the second region so that the holding control amount of the second region becomes equal to the holding control amount of the first region.

11. The control device according to claim 9, wherein the variable valve timing mechanism includes a lock mechanism that fixes the relative rotation phase at an intermediate phase.

12. A control device for an internal combustion engine, the control device comprising:
a variable valve timing mechanism, wherein
the variable valve timing mechanism includes a first rotation body, which rotates in cooperation with rotation of a crankshaft, and a second rotation body, which rotates together with a camshaft;
the variable valve timing mechanism varies a valve timing of an engine valve by changing a relative rotation phase of the second rotation body and the first rotation body using hydraulic pressure, which is supplied from a hydraulic control valve to an advancing chamber and a retarding chamber;
the variable valve timing mechanism includes a spring that urges the second rotation body so that the relative rotation phase is located at a position corresponding to a predetermined phase between a most advanced phase and a most retarded phase;
when a region of the relative rotation phase where the second rotation body receives urging force from the spring defines a spring region and a region of the relative rotation phase where the second rotation body does not receive urging force from the spring defines a non-spring region, a control amount of the hydraulic control valve needed to hold an actual valve timing at a constant timing in the non-spring region is greater than a control amount of the hydraulic control valve needed to hold the actual valve timing at a constant timing in the spring region;
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to perform a learning process that learns a holding control amount of the hydraulic control valve when the actual valve timing is held at a constant timing in each of the spring region and the non-spring region; and
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to perform at least one of
an update process that updates the holding control amount of the non-spring region when the relative rotation phase is shifted from the spring region to the non-spring region so that the holding control amount of the non-spring region satisfies a relationship in which the holding control amount of the non-spring region is greater than or equal to the holding control amount that was last learned in the spring region, and
an update process that updates the holding control amount of the spring region when the relative rotation phase is shifted from the non-spring region to the spring region so that the holding control amount of the spring region satisfies a relationship in which the holding control amount of the spring region is less than or equal to the holding control amount that was last learned in the non-spring region.

13. The control device according to claim 12, wherein
one of the spring region and the non-spring region in which the holding control amount is learned in the learning process defines a first region,
the other one of the spring region and the non-spring region defines a second region, and
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to update the holding control amount of the second region so that the holding control amount of the second region becomes equal to the holding control amount of the first region.

14. The control device according to claim 12, wherein the variable valve timing mechanism includes a lock mechanism that fixes the relative rotation phase at an intermediate phase.

15. A control device for an internal combustion engine, the control device comprising:
a variable valve timing mechanism, wherein
the variable valve timing mechanism includes a first rotation body, which rotates in cooperation with rotation of a crankshaft, and a second rotation body, which rotates together with a camshaft;
the variable valve timing mechanism varies a valve timing of an engine valve by changing a relative rotation phase of the second rotation body and the first rotation body using hydraulic pressure, which is supplied from a hydraulic control valve to an advancing chamber and a retarding chamber;
the variable valve timing mechanism includes a spring that urges the second rotation body so that the relative rotation phase is located at a position corresponding to a predetermined phase between a most advanced phase and a most retarded phase;
when a region of the relative rotation phase where the second rotation body receives urging force from the spring defines a spring region and a region of the relative rotation phase where the second rotation body does not receive urging force from the spring defines a non-spring region, a control amount of the hydraulic control valve needed to hold an actual valve timing at a constant timing in the non-spring region is greater than a control amount of the hydraulic control valve needed to hold the actual valve timing at a constant timing in the spring region;
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to perform a learning process that learns a holding control amount of the hydraulic control valve when the actual valve timing is held at a constant timing in each of the spring region and the non-spring region; and
the control device for the internal combustion engine is configured to perform at least one of
a restriction process that restricts a lower limit value of the holding control amount of the non-spring region when the relative rotation phase is in the non-spring region to the holding control amount that was last learned in the spring region, and
a restriction process that restricts an upper limit value of the holding control amount of the holding control amount of the spring region when the relative rotation phase is in the spring region to the holding control amount that was last learned in the non-spring region.

16. The control device according to claim 15, wherein the variable valve timing mechanism includes a lock mechanism that fixes the relative rotation phase at an intermediate phase.


[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: Servo Controller For Measuring Lubrication Characteristics Of A Machine By Experimental Modal Analysis

Technical Field and Background:
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a servo control apparatus, and in particular to a servo control apparatus equipped with a function of measuring mechanical lubrication characteristics on the basis of experimental modal analysis. 2. Description of the Related Art Friction characteristics and vibration characteristics of a guiding mechanism in a machine tool will affect the operation performance of the feed axis and generation of chattering vibration at a machining stage. In such problems, the friction damping performance of the machine, in other words, the lubrication characteristics, have been commonly understood to be essentially important. For example, it has been both experimentally and analytically clarified that improvement in stability against chattering vibration cannot be achieved by enhancing the stiffness of the machinery, but need to optimize both the stiffness of individual parts of the machinery and the damping characteristics (for example, Transactions of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers series C, Vol. 78, No. 787 (2012), pp. 1013-1025, which will be referred to hereinbelow as “non-patent document 1”). It has also been reported that in an excitation test of a machine there exists excitation force-dependency and that the resonance frequency and damping ratio greatly vary depending on the magnitude of excitation force (for example, Yasunori Sakai et al., Journal of the Japan Society for Precision Engineering, Vol. 80, No. 8 (2014), p. 783-791, which will be referred to hereinbelow as “non-patent document 2”). The document suggests that the main reason for this is attributed to non-linear spring characteristics of the friction in a micro displacement area of some tens micrometers. There has been a recent report on a study in which the relationship between mechanical damping and non-linear friction was quantitatively evaluated by experiment (for example, Yasunori Sakai et al., JIMTOF 2014 poster publication “Influence of Excitation Force on Damping of Rolling Guideway in Feed and Pitch Direction”, which will be referred to hereinbelow as “non-patent document 3”). This publication demonstrates that the modal damping ratio (the half-value width of the resonance curve) becomes greater as the excitation force becomes greater, as a result of performing an excitation test on a machine to examine resonance characteristics of the compliance function (excitation force and displacement frequency response) by experimental modal analysis.

Invention Disclosure:
A servo controller includes: a sinusoidal wave disturbance input unit for supplying a sinusoidal wave disturbance to a speed control loop including a speed command generator, a torque command generator and a speed detector; a frequency response calculator for estimating the gain and phase from the output of the speed control loop; a resonance frequency detector for detecting resonance frequencies at which the gain becomes maximum; a resonance mode characteristics analyzer for estimating resonance characteristics from the frequency response; and, a reference modal damping ratio retainer for retaining a reference modal damping ratio as a resonance characteristic corresponding to the reference lubricating condition, and the resonance mode characteristics analyzer calculates lubrication characteristics on the basis of the reference modal damping ratio and the measured modal damping ratio at the resonance frequency corresponding to the reference modal damping ratio.

[Assistant]
1. A servo controller for a servo motor that drives a feed axis provided for a machine tool, comprising:
a speed command generator configured to generate a speed command value for a servo motor;
a torque command generator configured to generate a torque command value for the servo motor on the basis of the speed command value;
a speed detector configured to detect the speed of the servo motor driven on the basis of the torque command value;
a sinusoidal wave disturbance input unit configured to supply a sinusoidal wave disturbance to a speed control loop including the speed command generator, the torque command generator and the speed detector;
a frequency response calculator configured to estimate the gain and phase of the speed control loop input/output signal on the basis of the output of the speed control loop when the sinusoidal wave disturbance is input to the speed control loop;
a resonance frequency detector configured to detect resonance frequencies at which the gain of the frequency response estimated by the frequency response calculator becomes maximum;
a resonance mode characteristics analyzer configured to estimate resonance characteristics from the frequency response at and around the response frequency detected by the resonance frequency detector; and,
a reference modal damping ratio retainer configured to retain the reference modal damping ratio as a resonance characteristic corresponding to the reference lubricating condition,
wherein the resonance mode characteristics analyzer calculates lubrication characteristics on the basis of the reference modal damping ratio and the measured modal damping ratio at the resonance frequency corresponding to the reference modal damping ratio.

2. The servo control apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the resonance mode characteristics analyzer evaluates the degree of relative lowering of the lubricating condition by determining the relative ratio between the reference modal damping ratio and the measured modal damping ratio.

3. The servo control apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein when the measured modal damping ratio relative to the reference modal damping ratio is lower than a threshold, the resonance mode characteristics analyzer warns of degradation in lubricating condition in order to demonstrate the necessity of inspection of the lubricating condition.


[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: Golf Cart Enclosure Having Drawstrings

Technical Field and Background:
Flexible golf cart enclosures protect occupants of the cart from wind, rain, and cold temperatures. One type of a golf cart enclosure can be placed over the roof of the golf cart and includes a front, back and sides to enclose the passenger compartment. The sides include zippered doors to allow access into and out of the cart. The back encloses the rear portion of the cart and the front covers the windshield. The front, back and sides typically include a transparent window. The roof portion of the cart may have different dimensions depending upon the manufacturer. Furthermore, the front end of the golf cart and slope of the windshield also varies depending on manufacturer. Thus, it is difficult to make a universal enclosure which neatly and snuggly fits all golf carts, regardless of the manufacturer for the golf cart. Thus, there is a need for a golf cart enclosure which fits a variety of different makes and models of golf cart.

Invention Disclosure:
A golf cart enclosure includes a roof panel, a rear panel, two side panels and a front panel to enclose an interior space of the golf cart. The front panel includes an opening adapted to surround a windshield of the golf cart. The front panel further includes a channel provided around a perimeter of the front panel opening for receiving at least one drawstring. Upon pulling the drawstring tight and locking in position, the edges of the front panel around the opening are drawn in toward a center of the opening to neatly and snuggly fit the enclosure to golf carts of varying dimensions.

[Assistant]
1. A golf cart enclosure having a roof panel, a rear panel, two side panels and a front panel, wherein the front panel includes an opening adapted to surround a windshield of a golf cart, the front panel further including an edge seam or channel around the opening in which at least one drawstring is mounted, wherein pulling the at least one drawstring draws edges of the opening in towards a center of the opening.

2. A golf cart enclosure as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least two drawstrings, a first drawstring surrounding the opening in the front panel and adapted to tighten the enclosure around the golf cart windshield and a second drawstring provided along a horizontal seam under a front end of the roof line adapted to tighten the enclosure around the front end of the roof.

3. A golf cart enclosure as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least three drawstrings, a first drawstring adapted to tighten the enclosure around a front end of the golf cart roof, a second drawstring adapted to tighten at least a top, left side and right side of the front panel opening around the golf cart windshield, and a third drawstring provided on a bottom of the front panel opening adapted to tighten the enclosure around a lower portion of the windshield of the golf cart.

4. A golf cart enclosure as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least four drawstrings, a first drawstring adapted to tighten the enclosure around a front end of the golf cart roof, a second drawstring adapted to tighten at least a top, left side and right side of the front panel opening around the golf cart windshield, a third drawstring provided on a bottom of the front panel opening adapted to tighten the enclosure around a lower portion of the windshield frame of the golf cart; and a fourth drawstring provided along a bottom edge of the front panel which rests on a front cowl of the golf cart adapted to tighten the enclosure around the front cowl of the golf cart.

5. A golf cart enclosure as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least two drawstrings, a first drawstring surrounding the opening in the front panel and adapted to tighten the enclosure around the golf cart windshield, and a second drawstring provided along a bottom edge of the front panel which rests on a front cowl of a golf cart and adapted to tighten the enclosure around the front cowl of the golf cart.

6. A golf cart enclosure as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one drawstring includes a lock to hold the drawstring tightly in place.

7. A golf cart enclosure as defined in claim 6, wherein the lock is a spring-loaded cord lock.

8. A front panel of a golf cart enclosure, the front panel including an opening adapted to surround a windshield on a golf cart, the front panel further comprising a channel provided around a perimeter of the front panel opening for receiving at least one drawstring, wherein upon cinching the at least one drawstring, edges of the front panel around the opening are drawn in toward a center of the opening.

9. A front panel of a golf cart enclosure as defined in claim 8, further comprising at least two drawstrings, a first drawstring surrounding the opening in the front panel and adapted to tighten the enclosure around the golf cart windshield and a second drawstring provided along a horizontal seam under a front end of the roof line adapted to tighten the enclosure around the front end of the roof.

10. A front panel of a golf cart enclosure as defined in claim 8, further comprising at least two drawstrings, a first drawstring surround the opening in the front panel and adapted to tighten the enclosure around the golf cart windshield, and a second drawstring provided along a bottom edge of the front panel which rests on a front cowl of a golf cart and adapted to tighten the enclosure around the front cowl of the golf cart.

11. A front panel of a golf cart enclosure as defined in claim 8, wherein the at least one drawstring includes a lock to hold the drawstring tightly in place.

12. A front panel of a golf cart enclosure as defined in claim 8, wherein the lock is a spring-loaded cord lock.

13. A golf cart enclosure having a roof panel, a rear panel, two side panels and a front panel, wherein the front panel includes an opening adapted to surround a windshield of a golf cart, the front panel further including an edge seam or channel around the opening in which at least one drawstring is mounted, wherein pulling the at least one drawstring draws edges of the opening in towards a center of the opening; and wherein a first drawstring surrounding the opening in the front panel is adapted to tighten the enclosure around the golf cart windshield and a second drawstring is provided along a horizontal seam under a front end of the roof line which is adapted to tighten the enclosure around the front end of the roof.

14. A golf cart enclosure having a roof panel, a rear panel, two side panels and a front panel, wherein the front panel includes an opening adapted to surround a windshield of a golf cart, the front panel further including an edge seam or channel around the opening in which at least one drawstring is mounted, wherein pulling the at least one drawstring draws edges of the opening in towards a center of the opening, and wherein the at least one drawstring includes a lock to hold the drawstring tightly in place.