Author: claimsbot

1. A load drive device comprising:
a load drive unit for switching onoff an output current that flows to an inductive load; and
an overcurrent protection circuit for detecting whether the output current is in an overcurrent state,
wherein the load drive unit comprises:
an output transistor connected to one end of the inductive load; and
a pre-driver for generating a control signal of the output transistor in accordance with an input signal,

wherein the pre-driver:
switches off the output transistor more slowly during overcurrent protection operation than during normal operation.
2. The load drive device of claim 1, further comprising:
a mask time generation circuit for instructing the load drive unit to carry out overcurrent protection operation when an overcurrent state of the output current has continued for a predetermined mask time.
3. The load drive device of claim 2, wherein the load drive unit has an input signal breaker for cutting off the input signal without waiting for the mask time to elapse when an overcurrent state of the output current has been detected.
4. The load drive device of claim 3, wherein the load drive device has a plurality of the inductive loads connected thereto, and has one each of the load drive unit, the overcurrent protection circuit, and the mask time generation circuit for each of a plurality of load drive lines.
5. The load drive device of claim 3, wherein the load drive device has a plurality of the inductive loads connected thereto; has one each of the load drive unit and the overcurrent protection circuit for each of a plurality of load drive lines; and has a single mask time generation circuit provided in common to the plurality of load drive lines, and a logic OR arithmetic unit for generating a logic OR signal of the overcurrent detection signals outputted from the plurality of overcurrent protection circuits and supplying the logic OR signal to the mask time generation circuit and the plurality of input signal breakers.
6. The load drive device of claim 1, wherein the load drive unit has a Schmitt buffer for transmitting the input signal to the pre-driver.
7. (canceled)
8. A load drive device comprising:
an output transistor connected to one end of an inductive load and through which output current flows to the inductive load by onoff switching;
an overcurrent protection circuit for detecting whether the output current is in an overcurrent state; and
a unit for switching off the output transistor more slowly during overcurrent protection operation than during normal operation.
9. The load drive device of claim 8, further comprising:
a mask time generation circuit for instructing the drive unit to carry out overcurrent protection operation when an overcurrent state of the output current has continued for a predetermined mask time.
10. The load drive device of claim 9, further comprising:
an input terminal to which the input signal is provided;
an input signal breaker for providing the input signal to the first drive unit during normal operation, and cutting off the input signal to the first drive unit without waiting for the mask time to elapse when an overcurrent state of the output current has been detected, the input signal breaker being connected to the input terminal.
11. The load drive device of claim 10, wherein the load drive device has a plurality of the inductive loads connected thereto, and has one each of the drive unit, the overcurrent protection circuit, and the mask time generation circuit for each of a plurality of load drive lines.
12. The load drive device of claim 10, wherein the load drive device has a plurality of the inductive loads connected thereto; has one each of the drive unit and the overcurrent protection circuit for each of a plurality of load drive lines; and has a single mask time generation circuit provided in common to the plurality of load drive lines, and a logic OR arithmetic unit for generating a logic OR signal of the overcurrent detection signals outputted from the plurality of overcurrent protection circuits and supplying the logic OR signal to the mask time generation circuit and the plurality of input signal breakers.
13. The load drive device of claim 8, further comprising a Schmitt buffer to which the input signal is provided and from which the input signal is transmitted to the first drive unit.
14. (canceled)
15. The load drive device of claim 10, further comprising a Schmitt buffer inserted between the input terminal and the input signal breaker.
16. The load drive device of claim 15, further comprising a resistor inserted between the input terminal and ground potential.
17. A load drive device comprising:
an output terminal connected to one end of an inductive load; and
an output transistor connected to the output terminal and through which output current flows to the inductive load by onoff switching;
an overcurrent protection circuit for detecting whether the output current is in an overcurrent state; and
a drive unit for switching off the output transistor more slowly during overcurrent protection operation than during normal operation.
18. The load drive device of claim 17, further comprising:
an input terminal to which the input signal is provided;
an input signal breaker for providing the input signal to the drive unit during normal operation, and cutting off the input signal to the drive unit without waiting for the mask time to elapse when an overcurrent state of the output current has been detected, the input signal breaker being connected to the input terminal.
19. The load drive device of claim 18, further comprising:
a connection detection unit to which the input signal and the voltage that appears at the output terminal are provided; and
a detection terminal for providing a signal based on output from the connection detection unit.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A pitch controlled wind turbine blade comprising a pressure surface side and a leeward surface side, said surfaces establishing a leading edge and a trailing edge, characterized in that said blade comprises turbulence generating means wherein said means are placed on said leeward surface side of said wind turbine blade and at the outer section of said wind turbine blade in direction of the blade tip and said turbulence generating means having a fixed shape in relation to said leeward surface side, wherein said wind turbine blade comprises at least one pitch controlling unit, and wherein the highest height of said turbulence generating means is between 0.01% and 5% of a chord length of said wind turbine blade.
2. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein said turbulence generating means are airflow noise reduction means.
3. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein said turbulence generating means are placed in an outer section ranging from 60% to 100% of the length of said blade.
4. A wind turbine blade according to claim 3, wherein said outer section is subdivided into two or more subsections, and said turbulence generating means is substantially uniform within each of said subsections.
5. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein the height of said turbulence generating means is of equal extent or is higher closest to said trailing edge of said wind turbine blade, than closest to said leading edge of said wind turbine blade.
6. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein the distance between said turbulence generating means are substantially constant.
7. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein said turbulence generating means are placed in a range between 5% and 85% from said leading edge of said wind turbine blade.
8. A wind turbine blade according to claim 7, wherein said turbulence generating means are placed in a range between 10% and 75% of the chord length, from said leading edge of said wind turbine blade.
9. A wind turbine blade according to claim 8, wherein said turbulence generating means are placed in a range between 15% and 60% of the chord length, from said leading edge of said wind turbine blade.
10. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein said turbulence generating means are attached to the wind turbine blade individually or as pairs by means of attachment means.
11. A wind turbine blade according to claim 10, wherein said attachment means is selected from a group consisting of screws, bolts, rivets, welding and adhesive.
12. A wind turbine blade according to claim 11, wherein said attachment means is an adhesive.
13. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein said turbulence generating means are attached to the wind turbine blade as part of a string of tape, a coil or a band by means of attachment means.
14. A wind turbine blade according to claim 13, wherein said attachment means is selected from the group consisting of screws, bolts, rivets, welding and adhesive.
15. A wind turbine blade according to claim 14, wherein said attachment means is an adhesive.
16. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein said turbulence generating means are plates extending in an angle between 60\xb0 and 120\xb0 from the surface of said wind turbine blades leeward surface side at said turbulence generating means.
17. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein said turbulence generating means comprises sides alternately positioned in an angle in relation to the direction of the airflow between 50\xb0 and 2\xb0 and \u221250\xb0 and \u22122\xb0.
18. A wind turbine blade according to claim 17, wherein said turbulence generating means comprises sides alternately positioned in an angle in relation to the direction of the airflow between 30\xb0 and 5\xb0 and \u221230\xb0 and \u22125\xb0.
19. A wind turbine blade according to claim 18, wherein said turbulence generating means comprises sides alternately positioned in an angle in relation to the direction of the airflow between 20\xb0 and 10\xb0 and \u221220\xb0 and \u221210\xb0.
20. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein said turbulence generating means are formed integrally with the wind turbine blade.
21. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein said turbulence generating means are vortex generators.
22. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein the highest height of said turbulence generating means is between 0.1% and 3% of the chord length of said wind turbine blade.
23. A wind turbine blade according to claim 22, wherein the highest height of said turbulence generating means is between 0.2% and 0.8% of the chord length of said wind turbine blade.
24. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein said turbulence generating means are plates extending orthogonally from the surface of said wind turbine blades leeward surface side at said turbulence generating means.
25. A wind turbine comprising at least two pitch controlled wind turbine blades and pitch controlling means for pitching said blades characterized in that said blades comprise turbulence generating means wherein said means are placed on the leeward surface sides of said wind turbine blades and at the outer section of said wind turbine blades in direction of the blade tips and said turbulence generating means having a fixed shape in relation to said leeward surface side, wherein the highest height of said turbulence generating means is between 0.01% and 5% of a chord length of said wind turbine blades.
26. A wind turbine according to claim 25, wherein said turbulence generating means are vortex generators.
27. A wind turbine according to claim 25, wherein said wind turbine is a variable speed pitch controlled wind turbine.

1. A vehicle fluid filling arrangement for use with a passenger vehicle having a bonnet, the fluid filling arrangement comprising:
a fluid receiving part; and
a fluid conveying arrangement adapted to convey a vehicle fluid supplied on the fluid receiving part into a fluid reservoir of the passenger vehicle;
wherein the fluid receiving part comprises a fluid receiving surface that is adapted to directly receive the supplied fluid and to direct the fluid to the fluid conveying arrangement, wherein the fluid receiving part has a first retracted position in which the fluid receiving surface is concealable, and a second extracted position that is laterally displaced from the first retracted position and in which the fluid receiving surface is at least partially visible such that supply of fluid on the fluid receiving surface is possible, and wherein the fluid filling arrangement is configured to be at least partly arranged under the bonnet of the passenger vehicle such that the fluid filling arrangement is accessible when the bonnet is fully closed.
2. The fluid filling arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the fluid receiving part comprises at least first and second fluid conveying protrusions extending from the fluid receiving surface in a direction essentially perpendicular to the fluid receiving surface.
3. The fluid filling arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the fluid receiving part comprises a closure part extending from the fluid receiving surface in a direction essentially perpendicular to the fluid receiving surface.
4. The fluid filling arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the fluid receiving part is adapted to be moved manually or automatically between the first position and the second position.
5. The fluid filling arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the closure part is arranged to be used to manually move the fluid receiving part between the first position and the second position.
6. The fluid filling arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the fluid receiving part is slidingly arranged in the fluid conveying arrangement.
7. The fluid filling arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the fluid receiving part is attached to and extendable from the fluid conveying arrangement.
8. The fluid filling arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the fluid receiving part is lockable in its first retracted position by an electronic or mechanical locking device.
9. The fluid filling arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising an illumination device.
10. The fluid filling arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising a device for monitoring fluid level.
11. The fluid filling arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising a heating arrangement.
12. The fluid filling arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the fluid receiving surface is essentially flat when the fluid receiving part is in the second extracted position.
13. The fluid filling arrangement according to claim 1 wherein, when the fluid filling arrangement is mounted on the passenger vehicle, the fluid receiving part is adapted to be movable toward a windscreen of the passenger vehicle when the fluid receiving part is moved from the first retracted position to the second extracted position.
14. An assembly for filling vehicle fluid comprising at least two of the fluid filling arrangements according to claim 1.
15. A passenger vehicle comprising the fluid filling arrangement according to claim 1 and a vehicle bonnet, wherein the fluid filling arrangement is at least partly arranged under the bonnet and is accessible when the bonnet is fully closed.
16. The passenger vehicle according to claim 15 wherein the arrangement is attached to a plenum chamber cover or to any other structural part of the passenger vehicle at least partly covered by the bonnet, and wherein the second position is a position where the fluid receiving part is arranged to partly cover or bear against a windscreen of the passenger vehicle.
17. The passenger vehicle according to claim 15 further comprising a windscreen disposed proximate the bonnet, and wherein the fluid receiving part is movable toward the windscreen when the fluid receiving part is moved from the first retracted position to the second extracted position.
18. The passenger vehicle according to claim 17 wherein the fluid receiving part is configured to partly cover the windscreen when the fluid receiving part is in the second extracted position and the bonnet is in a closed position.
19. A vehicle fluid filling arrangement for use with a passenger vehicle having a fluid reservoir, a bonnet and a windscreen, the fluid filling arrangement comprising:
a fluid receiving part; and
a fluid conveying arrangement adapted to convey a vehicle fluid supplied on the fluid receiving part into the fluid reservoir of the passenger vehicle;
wherein the fluid receiving part comprises a fluid receiving surface that is adapted to directly receive the fluid and to direct the fluid to the fluid conveying arrangement, and wherein, when the fluid filling arrangement is mounted on the passenger vehicle and the bonnet is in a closed position, the fluid receiving part is adapted to be movable relative to the bonnet between a first position, in which the fluid receiving surface is positioned under the bonnet, and a second position, in which the fluid receiving surface is at least partially disposed laterally away from the bonnet such that the fluid receiving surface is at least partially uncovered to receive the fluid, and the fluid receiving part is adapted to be movable toward the windscreen of the passenger vehicle when the fluid receiving part is moved from the first position to the second position.
20. A passenger vehicle comprising:
an engine room;
a bonnet positioned over the engine room;
a windscreen disposed proximate the bonnet;
a fluid reservoir positioned in the engine room; and
a fluid filling arrangement including a fluid receiving part and a fluid conveying arrangement adapted to convey a vehicle fluid supplied on the fluid receiving part into the fluid reservoir, the fluid receiving part comprising a fluid receiving surface that is adapted to directly receive the fluid and to direct the fluid to the fluid conveying arrangement, wherein, when the bonnet is in a closed position, the fluid receiving part is movable relative to the bonnet between a first position, in which the fluid receiving surface is positioned under the bonnet, and a second position, in which the fluid receiving surface is at least partially disposed laterally away from the bonnet such that the fluid receiving surface is at least partially uncovered to receive the fluid, and wherein the fluid receiving part is adapted to be movable toward the windscreen when the fluid receiving part is moved from the first position to the second position.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

That which is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for simultaneously collecting and retaining coins and advertising or promoting a commercial product or services as well as the operations of a charitable entity, comprising:
a container for retaining coins, including an opening for receiving deposit of coins;
advertising material displayed on the container, wherein said advertising material includes:
advertising material or contact information for a charitable entity and
advertising or promotional material for a commercial entity.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container is a cylindrical container.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical container includes at least one removable end and at least one substantially linear coin deposit slot in one end of the container.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said cylindrical container alone weighs less than 50 grams.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said container further comprises material inside said container, the material selected from advertising materials, promotion materials, coupons, product samples, and combinations thereof.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sample product of said commercial entity free of charge in said container.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein
the container is a cylindrical container, including at least one removable end and at least one substantially linear coin deposit slot in one end of the container;
said container weighs less than 50 grams;
said container further comprises material inside said container, said material selected from advertising materials, promotion materials, coupons, product samples, and combinations thereof;
wherein at least one sample product of said commercial entity is provided free of charge in said container; and
said container is recyclable or reusable.
8. A method of conducting business, comprising the steps of:
distributing coin collection and retention devices to consumers;
advertising, promoting or providing information related to a commercial product or service of a commercial entity on the exterior of the coin collection and retention device; and
advertising, promoting or providing information relating to a charitable entity on the exterior of the coin collection and retention device.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of accepting coin collection and retention devices containing coins from said consumers.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of providing said consumers with a report of the value of the coins accepted and the estimated amount of charitable contribution made.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of distributing charitable amounts from coins collected to said charitable entity.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said commercial entity provides the majority of funding for the method.
13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of advertising, promoting or providing information relating to a charitable entity on the interior of the coin collection and retention device.
14. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of providing a sample product free of charge in the coin collection and retention device.
15. A method of increasing the circulation rate of coins in the economy and reducing the need to mint new coins, comprising the steps of:
distributing coin collection and retention devices to consumers, wherein said collection and retention device provides incentives to consumers to return the device because at least a portion of the amount collected is donated to charity;
obtaining at least a portion of the funding for the coin collection and retention devices and related distributing and collecting by allowing commercial entities to advertise or promote products or services with said devices; and
distributing charitable amounts collected to said charitable entity.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of advertising, promoting or providing information related to a commercial product or service of a commercial entity on the exterior of the coin collection and retention device.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein said commercial entity provides the majority of funding for the method.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of accepting coin collection and retention devices containing coins from said consumers.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of providing a sample product free of charge in the coin collection and retention device.
20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:
accepting coin collection and retention devices containing coins from said consumers;
advertising, promoting or providing information related to a commercial product or service of a commercial entity on the exterior of the coin collection and retention device, wherein said commercial entity provides the majority of funding for the method; and
providing a sample product free of charge on the interior of the coin collection and retention device.