Author: claimsbot

1. A variable speed drive system, comprising: a synchronous electric motor, operably coupled to an output shaft, and operable for applying a varying force to the output shaft in response to a varying input AC electric signal; a control unit, operably coupled to a battery, plural rotor sensors, and a drive unit, and operable, in response to signaling indicative of the position of one or more sensors, to generate the input signal according to a first mode for low speed operation, a second mode for high speed operation, and a transitional mode between first and second thresholds, wherein the control unit comprises a polyphase inverter coupled to the drive unit, a controller coupled to the inverter, and a position estimator coupled to the controller and operably coupled to the sensors, wherein the position estimator comprises a phase locked loop operable to control the drive unit in the second mode according to a continuous waveform function, and an angular position interpolator operable to control the drive unit in the first mode according to a step waveform function.
2. The drive of claim 1, wherein the position estimator is operable to initialize the first mode based on a midpoint of an angular range between detected immediately prior and next sensor positions, and after initialization the controller is operable to change settings of inverter switches based on an input control angle, the control angle derived from detected sensor position information; wherein the position estimator and controller together comprise a processor configured to execute a polyphase AC control program; and wherein the processor, when executing said program, is operably configured to perform an operation having plural instructions comprising first instructions for controlling the drive unit in the first mode according to a step waveform function, second instructions for controlling the drive unit in the second mode according to a continuous waveform function, and third instructions for controlling the drive unit in the transition mode according to a transition waveform function.
3. The drive of claim 2, wherein the processor, when executing said program, is operable to execute mode change instructions to apply the first instructions when operating at less than a first angular speed, the second instructions when operating at a second angular speed greater than the first angular speed, and the third instructions when operating at an angular speed between the first and second angular speeds.
4. The drive of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured for changing the input control angle based on the position output of the phase locked loop, \u03b8PLL, such that a control angle \u03b8ctrl is held constant until \u03b8PLL>(\u03b8max\u2212\u0394*F(\u03c9)), where \u03b8max is the angular position of a next sensor transition and F is a non-decreasing function equal to zero below the first threshold \u03c91 and 0.5 above the second threshold \u03c92, and \u0394 is the width of a current interval between the detected immediately prior and next sensor positions.
5. The drive of claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured such that, when \u03b8PLL>(\u03b8max\u2212\u0394*F(\u03c9)),\u03b8ctrl is raised at a fixed rate \u03c9ctrl, which is greater than \u03c9PLL, to \u03b8max\u2212
6. The drive of claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured such that, when \u03b8ctrl is equal to \u03b8max, \u03b8ctrl is held constant until a next sensor transition is detected.
7. The drive of claim 3, wherein the position estimator is operable to initialize the first mode based on a midpoint of an angular range between detected immediately prior and next sensor positions, and after initialization the controller is operable to change settings of inverter switches based on an input control angle, the control angle derived from detected sensor position information; wherein the position estimator and controller together comprise a processor configured to execute a polyphase AC control program; and wherein the processor, when executing said program, is operably configured to perform an operation having plural instructions comprising first instructions for controlling the drive unit in the first mode according to a continuous waveform function, second instructions for controlling the drive unit in the second mode according to the step waveform function, and third instructions for controlling the drive unit in the transition mode according to a transition waveform function.
8. The drive of claim 7, wherein the processor, when executing said program, is operable to execute mode change instructions to apply the first instructions when operating at less than a first angular speed, the second instructions when operating at a second angular speed greater than the first angular speed, and the third instructions when operating at an angular speed between the first and second angular speeds.
9. An electric vehicle, comprising:
a multi-wheel drive system coupled to a drive shaft;
a battery; and
a variable speed drive system, comprising: a synchronous electric motor, operably coupled to the drive shaft, and operable for applying a varying force to the drive shaft in response to a varying input AC electric signal; a control unit, operably coupled to a battery, plural rotor sensors, and the motor, and operable, in response to signaling indicative of the position of one or more sensors, to generate the input signal according to a first mode for low speed operation, a second mode for high speed operation, and a transitional mode between first and second thresholds,
wherein the control unit comprises a polyphase inverter coupled to the motor, a controller coupled to the inverter, and a position estimator coupled to the controller and operably coupled to the sensors, and wherein the position estimator is operable to control the motor in the second mode according to a continuous waveform function, and an angular position interpolator operable to control the motor in the first mode according to a step waveform function.
10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the position estimator is operable to initialize the first mode based on a midpoint of an angular range between detected immediately prior and next sensor positions, and after initialization the controller is operable to change settings of inverter switches based on an input control angle, the control angle derived from detected sensor position information.
11. The vehicle of claim 10: wherein the position estimator and controller together comprise a processor configured to execute a polyphase AC control program; wherein the processor, when executing said program, is operably configured to perform an operation having plural instructions comprising first instructions for controlling the motor in the first mode according to a continuous waveform function, second instructions for controlling the motor in the second mode according to the step waveform function, and third instructions for controlling the motor in the transition mode according to a transition waveform function; wherein the processor, when executing said program, is operable to execute mode change instructions to apply the first instructions when operating at less than the first threshold, the second instructions when operating at a second angular speed greater than the second threshold, and the third instructions when operating at an angular speed between the first and second thresholds.
12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured so the input control angle is changed based on the position output, \u03b8PLL, of the position estimator, which position estimator comprises a phase locked loop, such that a control angle \u03b8ctrl is held constant until \u03b8PLL>(\u03b8max\u2212\u0394*F(\u03c9)), where \u03b8max is the angular position of a next sensor transition and F is a non-decreasing function equal to zero below the first threshold \u03c91 and 0.5 above the second threshold \u03c92, and \u0394 is the width of a current interval between the detected immediately prior and next sensor positions.
13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured such that:
wherein when \u03b8PLL>(\u03b8max\u2212\u0394*F(\u03c9)),\u03b8ctrl is raised at a fixed rate \u03c9ctrl, which is greater than \u03c9PLL, to \u03b8max; and
wherein when \u03b8ctrl is equal to \u03b8max, \u03b8ctrl is held constant until a next sensor transition is detected.
14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the sensors comprise one of the group consisting of Hall effect sensors and optical encoders.
15. A method of operating an electric vehicle, comprising: providing a varying force to a drive shaft of a multi-wheel drive system by a synchronous electric motor, operably coupled to the drive shaft, the varying force being applied in response to a varying input AC electric signal generating the input signal by a control unit, operably coupled plural rotor sensors and the motor, in response to signaling indicative of the position of one or more sensors, the input signal being generated according to a first mode for low speed operation, a second mode for high speed operation, and a transitional mode between first and second thresholds, wherein the control unit comprises a polyphase inverter coupled to the motor, a controller coupled to the inverter, and a position estimator coupled to the controller and operably coupled to the sensors, further comprising controlling the motor in the second mode according to a continuous waveform function, and controlling the motor in the first mode according to a step waveform function.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising initializing the first mode based on a midpoint of an angular range between detected immediately prior and next sensor positions, and after initialization changing settings of inverter switches based on an input control angle, the control angle derived from detected sensor position information.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the position estimator and controller together comprise a processor configured to execute a polyphase AC control program operably configured to perform an operation having plural instructions, further comprising:
controlling the motor in the first mode according to a continuous waveform function when operating at less than the first threshold; controlling the motor in the second mode according to the step waveform function when operating at a second angular speed greater than the second threshold; and controlling the motor in the transition mode according to a transition waveform function when operating at an angular speed between the first and second thresholds.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the input control angle is changed based on the position output, \u03b8PLL, of the position estimator, the position estimator comprising a phase locked loop, such that a control angle \u03b8ctrl is held constant until \u03b8PLL>(\u03b8max\u2212\u0394*F(\u03c9)), where \u03b8max is the angular position of a next sensor transition and F is a non-decreasing function equal to zero below the first threshold \u03c91 and 0.5 above the second threshold \u03c92, and \u0394 is the width of a current interval between the detected immediately prior and next sensor positions.
19. The method of claim 18:
wherein when \u03b8PLL>(\u03b8max\u2212\u0394*F(\u03c9)),\u03b8ctrl is raised at a fixed rate \u03c9ctrl, which is greater than \u03c9PLL, to \u03b8max; and
wherein when \u03b8ctrl is equal to \u03b8max, \u03b8ctrl is held constant until a next sensor transition is detected.
20. A method of operating a variable speed drive unit, comprising: providing a varying force to a drive shaft by a synchronous electric motor of the drive unit, operably coupled to the drive shaft, the varying force being applied in response to a varying input AC electric signal; generating the input signal by a control unit, operably coupled plural rotor sensors and the motor, in response to signaling indicative of the position of one or more sensors, the input signal being generated according to a first mode for low speed operation, a second mode for high speed operation, and a transitional mode between first and second thresholds wherein the control unit comprises a polyphase inverter coupled to the motor, a controller coupled to the inverter, and a position estimator coupled to the controller and operably coupled to the sensors, further comprising controlling the motor in the second mode according to a continuous waveform function, and controlling the motor in the first mode according to a step waveform function, further comprising initializing the first mode based on a midpoint of an angular range between detected immediately prior and next sensor positions, and after initialization changing settings of inverter switches based on an input control angle, the control angle derived from detected sensor position information.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the position estimator and controller together comprise a processor configured to execute a polyphase AC control program operably configured to perform an operation having plural instructions, further comprising: controlling the motor in the first mode according to a continuous waveform function when operating at less than the first threshold; controlling the motor in the second mode according to the step waveform function when operating at a second angular speed greater than the second threshold; and controlling the motor in the transition mode according to a transition waveform function when operating at an angular speed between the first and second thresholds.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the input control angle is changed based on the position output of the position estimator, \u03b8PLL, the position estimator comprising a phase locked loop, such that a control angle \u03b8crtl is held constant until \u03b8PLL>(\u03b8max\u2212\u0394*F(\u03c9)), where \u03b8max is the angular position of a next sensor transition and F is a non-decreasing function equal to zero below the first threshold \u03c91 and 0.5 above the second threshold \u03c92, and \u0394 is the width of a current interval between the detected immediately prior and next sensor positions;
wherein when \u03b8PLL>(\u03b8max\u2212\u0394*F(\u03c9),\u03b8ctrl is raised at a fixed rate \u03c9ctrl, which is greater than \u03b8PLL, to \u03b8max; and
wherein when \u03b8ctrl is equal to \u03b8max, \u03b8crtl is held constant until a next sensor transition is detected.

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. An ethylene copolymer obtained by polymerization of ethylene and a (C3-C18) \u03b1-olefin co-monomer, the ethylene copolymer being injection-moldable, wherein the ethylene copolymer has a density of 0.91 to 0.94 gcm3 and a melt index (MI) of 3 to 50 g10 min, a molecular weight distribution index 1.98 to 2.21 as measured by mass average molecular weight divided by number average molecular weight, and satisfies Formulas 1 and 2 below:
S\u2267(8\xd71056)\xd7e\u2212144.1D\u2003\u2003Formula 1
S\u2266(3\xd71025)\xd7e\u221261.8D\u2003\u2003Formula 2

in Formulas 1 and 2, S (wt %) represents an extract content of the ethylene copolymer at 35\xb0 C. after 10 minutes as measured by temperature rising elution fractionation analysis using 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene as a solvent, and D (gcm3) represents a density of the ethylene copolymer.
2. The ethylene copolymer of claim 1, wherein the ethylene copolymer satisfies Formula 1 as defined in claim 1 and Formula 3 below:
S\u2266(7\xd71032)\xd7e\u221281.1D\u2003\u2003Formula 3

in Formula 3, S (wt %) represents an extract content of the ethylene copolymer at 35\xb0 C. after 10 minutes as measured by themperature rising elution fractionation analysis using 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene as a solvent, and D (gcm3) represents a density of the ethylene copolymer.
3. The ethylene copolymer of claim 1, wherein the extract content (S) of the ethylene copolymer is 1.8 wt % or lower.
4. The ethylene copolymer of claim 1, wherein the extract content (S) of the ethylene copolymer is 0.1 to 1.8 wt %.
5. The ethylene copolymer of claim 1, wherein the (C3\u02dcC18) \u03b1-olefin comonomer is selected from propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, and a mixture thereof.
6. The ethylene copolymer of claim 5, wherein the (C3\u02dcC18) \u03b1-olefin comonomer is contained in a content of 1 to 40 wt %.
7. The ethylene copolymer of claim 1, wherein the polymerization is conducted in the presence of a catalyst composition including a transition metal catalyst represented by Chemical Formula 1 below:
in Chemical Formula 1, M represents a group IV transition metal in a periodic table;
Cp is a cyclopentadienyl ring or a fused ring including a cyclopentadienyl ring, which may be \u03b75-bonded to the central metal M, and the cyclopentadienyl ring or the fused ring including a cyclopentadienyl ring may be further substituted with one or more selected from (C1-C20)alkyl, (C6-C30)aryl, (C2-C20)alkenyl, and (C6-C30)ar(C1-C20)alkyl;
R1 through R4 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, (C1-C20)alkyl, (C3-C20)cycloalkyl, (C6-C30)aryl, (C6-C30)ar(C1-C10)alkyl, (C1-C20)alkoxy, (C3-C20)alkylsiloxy, (C6-C30)arylsiloxy, (C1-C20)alkylamino, (C6-C30)arylamino, (C1-C20)alkylthio, (C6-C30)arylthio, or nitro, or the R1 through R4 are linked to an adjacent substituent via (C3-C12)alkylene or (C3-C12)alkenylene with or without a fused ring to form an alicyclic ring and a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic ring;
Ar1 represents (C6-C30)aryl or (C3-C30)heteroaryl containing one or more selected from N, O, and S;
X1 and X2 independently represent a halogen atom, (C1-C20)alkyl, (C3-C20)cycloalkyl, (C6-C30)ar(C1-C20)alkyl, (C1-C20)alkoxy, (C3-C20)alkylsiloxy, (C6-C30)arylsiloxy, (C1-C20)alkylamino, (C6-C30)arylamino, (C1-C20)alkylthio, (C6-C30)arylthio, or
R11 through R15 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, (C1-C20)alkyl, (C3-C20)cycloalkyl, (C6-C30)aryl, (C6-C30)ar(C1-C10)alkyl, (C1-C20)alkoxy, (C3-C20)alkylsiloxy, (C6-C30)arylsiloxy, (C1-C20)alkylamino, (C6-C30)arylamino, (C1-C20)alkylthio, (C6-C30)arylthio, or nitro, or the R11 through R15 are linked to an adjacent substituent via (C3-C12)alkylene or (C3-C12)alkenylene with or without a fused ring to form an alicyclic ring and a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic ring; and
the alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, alkoxy, alkylsiloxy, arylsiloxy, alkylamino, arylamino, alkylthio, and arylthio of R1 through R4, R11 through R15, and X1 and X2; a ring formed by linking R1 through R4 or R11 through R15 to an adjacent substituent via alkylene or alkenylene; and the aryl or heteroaryl of Ar1 may be further substituted with one or more selected from a halogen atom, (C1-C20)alkyl, (C3-C20)cycloalkyl, (C6-C30)aryl, (C6-C30)ar(C1-C10)alkyl, (C1-C20)alkoxy, (C3-C20)alkylsiloxy, (C6-C30)arylsiloxy, (C1-C20)alkylamino, (C6-C30)arylamino, (C1-C20)alkylthio, (C6-C30)arylthio, nitro, and hydroxy.
8. An injection product manufactured from the ethylene copolymer of claim 1.
9. The injection product of claim 8, wherein the injection product is a food container.
10. The injection product of claim 8, wherein the injection product is a container for using in a refrigerator.
11. The injection product of claim 8, wherein the injection product is a pipe, a hollow molded product, a rotation molded product, or a sheet product.

1. A method to design an integrated circuit (IC), comprising:
determining a strain-inducing deposition area on an IC design;
comparing the strain-inducing deposition area with a predefined area, wherein the predefined area is large enough to reduce effects of small variations of a manufacturing process of a strain-deposition composite;
modifying a dummy diffusion area to increase the strain-inducing deposition area when the strain-inducing deposition area is less than the predefined area; and
optimizing the strain-inducing deposition area on the dummy diffusion area, wherein at least one method operation is executed through a processor.
2. The method in claim 1, wherein the predefined area is within about 5% to 15% of a total IC design area.
3. The method in claim 1, wherein the strain-inducing deposition area is one of a Silicon Germanium (SiGe) deposition area or a Silicon Carbide (SiC) deposition area.
4. The method in claim 1, wherein the modifying comprises placing a strain-inducing deposition area above the dummy diffusion area.
5. The method in claim 4, wherein the optimizing comprises removing a portion of the strain-inducing deposition area from the dummy diffusion area.
6. The method in claim 5, wherein the optimizing further comprises designing a dummy polysilicon gate on the dummy diffusion area.
7. The method in claim 6, wherein the optimizing further comprises adjusting a size of the dummy polysilicon gate, wherein the strain-inducing deposition area decreases as the size of the dummy polysilicon gate increases.
8. A method to manufacture an integrated circuit (IC), comprising:
forming a transistor on a device region of a substrate;
forming a dummy diffusion region on a non-device area of the substrate;
disposing a strain-inducing material adjacent to the transistor; and
disposing the strain-inducing material on the dummy diffusion region to distribute the strain-inducing material substantially uniformly across the substrate, wherein a total area of the strain-inducing material distributed across the substrate is within a predefined size range that is large enough to reduce effects of small variations of a manufacturing process of a strain-deposition composite.
9. The method in claim 8, wherein the strain-inducing material is one of Silicon Germanium (SiGe) composite or Silicon Carbide (SiC) composite.
10. The method in claim 8, wherein the strain-inducing deposition is disposed through an epitaxial process.
11. The method in claim 8 further comprises:
forming a dummy polysilicon gate over the dummy diffusion region.
12. The method in claim 11, wherein a portion of the strain-inducing material is disposed wherever the dummy polysilicon gate is formed.
13. The method in claim 8 further comprising:
growing the strain-inducing material on a portion of a non-device non-dummy diffusion region.
14. A method to design an integrated circuit (IC), comprising:
placing a strain-inducing deposition area onto one of a plurality of dummy areas within an IC design, wherein the placing continues for other dummy diffusion areas until a total area of the strain-inducing deposition area reaches a predefined size, wherein the predefined size is large enough to reduce effects of small variations of a manufacturing process of a strain-deposition composite; and
optimizing each strain-inducing deposition area for uniformity, wherein at least one method operation is executed through a processor.
15. The method in claim 14, wherein the strain-inducing deposition area is one of a compression-inducing composite or a tensile-inducing composite.
16. The method in claim 14, wherein the optimizing comprises:
designing a polysilicon gate within the strain-inducing deposition area; and
adjusting the polysilicon gate size to optimize the strain-inducing deposition area.
17. The method in claim 14, further comprising designing the strain-inducing deposition area within a non-utilized area.

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 reconfigurable structure for use with toy vehicles, comprising:
a first tower structure having a plurality of floors each having an entrance and an exit;
a lift movably secured to the first tower, the lift being positionable at any entrance of the plurality of floors of the first tower;
a ramp movably secured to the first tower, the ramp being positionable at any exit of the plurality of floors of the first tower;
a second tower structure having a plurality of floors each having an entrance and an exit;
a lift movably secured to the second tower, the lift being positionable at any entrance of the plurality of floors of the second tower;
a ramp movably secured to the first tower, the ramp being positionable at any exit of the plurality of floors of the second tower; and
wherein the reconfigurable structure is capable of having a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the ramp of the first tower is configured to releasably engage the lift of the second tower when the reconfigurable structure is in the deployed configuration.
2. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 1, wherein the ramps each have an end portion pivotally mounted to another portion of the ramp.
3. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 1, wherein the first tower further comprises a connecting member pivotally mounted thereto and configured to engage the second tower when the reconfigurable structure is in the stowed configuration.
4. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 1, wherein the first tower structure is completely separable from the second tower structure.
5. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 1, wherein the ramp of the first tower structure is movably secured to a pair of slots disposed in the first tower structure and the ramp of the second tower structure is movably secured to a pair of slots disposed in the second tower structure.
6. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 5, wherein the ramps each have an end portion pivotally mounted to another portion of the ramp.
7. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 6, wherein the first tower structure is completely separable from the second tower structure.
8. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 1, wherein the lift of the first tower structure is movably secured to a pair of slots disposed in the first tower structure and the lift of the second tower structure is movably secured to a pair of slots disposed in the second tower structure.
9. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 8, wherein the ramp of the first tower structure is movably secured to a pair of slots disposed in the first tower structure and the ramp of the second tower structure is movably secured to a pair of slots disposed in the second tower structure.
10. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 9, wherein the ramps each have an end portion pivotally mounted to another portion of the ramp.
11. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 10, wherein the first tower structure is completely separable from the second tower structure.
12. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 1, wherein the lift of the first tower structure is pivotally secured to a guide slidably received within a pair of slots disposed in the first tower structure and the exit ramp of the second tower structure is pivotally secured to a guide slidably received within a pair of slots disposed in the second tower structure and the exit ramp of the second tower has a feature disposed at a distal end configured to be received and engaged by the lift of the first tower structure.
13. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 12, wherein the first tower structure is completely separable from the second tower structure.
14. A method of providing a reconfigurable structure for use with toy vehicles, the method comprising:
slidably securing a lift to a first tower structure having a plurality of floors each having an entrance and an exit, the lift being positionable at any entrance of the plurality of floors of the first tower;
slidably securing a ramp to the first tower, the ramp being positionable at any exit of the plurality of floors of the first tower;
slidably securing a lift to a second tower structure having a plurality of floors each having an entrance and an exit, the lift of the second tower being positionable at any entrance of the plurality of floors of the second tower;
slidably securing a ramp to the second tower, the ramp being positionable at any exit of the plurality of floors of the second tower; and
wherein the reconfigurable structure is capable of having a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration and wherein the ramp of the first tower is configured to releasably engage the lift of the second tower when the reconfigurable structure is in the deployed configuration.
15. A reconfigurable structure for use with toy vehicles, comprising:
a first tower structure having a plurality of floors each having an entrance and an exit;
a lift movably secured to the first tower, the lift being slidably received within a pair of guides proximate to the entrance of each of the plurality of floors, wherein the lift is positionable at any entrance of the plurality of floors of the first tower;
a ramp movably secured to the first tower, the ramp being slidably received within a pair of guides proximate to the exit of each of the plurality of floors, wherein the ramp is positionable at any exit of the plurality of floors of the first tower; and
wherein the ramp is pivotally secured to the first tower for movement between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration.
16. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 15 further comprising: a guide slidably secured to the pair of guides proximate to the entrance of each of the plurality of floors, wherein the ramp is pivotally secured to the guide.
17. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 16, wherein the ramp further comprises an end track portion pivotally secured to an upper track portion wherein the upper track portion is pivotally secured to the guide and wherein the ramp further comprises an end track portion pivotally secured to an upper track portion wherein the upper track portion is pivotally secured to the first tower.
18. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 15, wherein the ramp further comprises an end track portion pivotally secured to an upper track portion wherein the upper track portion is pivotally secured to the guide.
19. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 15, wherein the ramp further comprises an end track portion pivotally secured to an upper track portion wherein the upper track portion is pivotally secured to the first tower.
20. The reconfigurable structure as in claim 15, wherein the pair of guides are a pair of slots in the first tower.