Author: claimsbot

1. A fuel cell system comprising:
a) a plurality of controllable sub-systems; and
b) a central electronic controller for controlling said plurality of sub-systems of said fuel cell system.
2. A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of sub-systems comprises at least two of an air handling sub-system, a reformer sub-system, and a customer interface sub-system.
3. A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a power electronics sub-system.
4. A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 3 further comprising an application interface module.
5. A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fuel cell is selected from the group of fuel cells consisting of solid oxide, proton exchange membrane, phosphoric acid, solid polymer, molten carbonate, alkaline, direct methanol, regenerative, zinc air, and protonic ceramic.
6. A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fuel cell system is an auxiliary power unit.
7. A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said auxiliary power unit is disposed in a vehicle for supplying output power thereto.
8. A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said auxiliary power unit is a component of a power grid.
9. A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said auxiliary power unit is a component of a residential electrical system.
10. A vehicle comprising a fuel cell system including a plurality of controllable sub-systems and a central electronic controller for controlling said plurality of sub-systems of said fuel cell system.
11. A vehicle in accordance with claim 10 wherein said controllable sub-systems include sensors, actuators, and interconnect and control strategy.
12. A method for providing a fuel cell system having a plurality of individually-controllable components, comprising the steps of:
a) providing distributed electronic control means including an individual electronic control means for each of said individually-controllable components during a development phase of said fuel cell system; and
b) replacing said distributed electronic control means with a central electronic control means during a manufacturing phase of said fuel cell system.
13. A method for controlling a fuel cell system having a plurality of individually-controllable components, including a plurality of adjustable actuators and a plurality of independent sensors, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a central electronic control means with control algorithms for controlling said individually-controllable components;
b) sensing a plurality of signals from said plurality of sensors;
c) sending a plurality of input signal data to said central electronic control means;
d) applying said control algorithms to said input signal data to generate a plurality of output signal data; and
e) adjusting said actuators in response to said output signal data.
14. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said plurality of independent sensors includes sensors for temperature, pressure, voltage, and current.

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

What is claimed is:

1. An optical information recordingreproducing system comprising:
support means for removably supporting a volume holographic memory formed of a photorefractive crystal, having a shape of a rotary member having a rotational symmetry axis, with plane surfaces perpendicular to said rotational symmetry axis formed at respective opposite ends thereof;
reference beam-irradiating means for irradiating said volume holographic memory with a coherent reference beam having a first wavelength;
signal beam-irradiating means for irradiating said volume holographic memory with a coherent signal beam which has said first wavelength and is modulated according to image data, to cause said signal beam to intersect with said reference beam within said volume holographic memory and thereby to generate a refractive index grating of a three-dimensional optical interference pattern between said signal beam and said reference beam; and
means for detecting a diffracted light generated by irradiation of said reference beam on said refractive index grating of said optical interference pattern,
wherein said support means holds said volume holographic memory in a position allowing said signal beam to pass through said plane surfaces of said volume holographic memory at said respective opposite ends thereof.
2. An optical information recordingreproducing system according to claim 1, wherein said support means holds said volume holographic memory in a position where said rotational symmetry axis of said volume holographic memory is parallel with an optical path of said signal beam.
3. An optical information recordingreproducing system according to claim 1, wherein said reference beam-irradiating means irradiates said reference beam on a side surface of said volume holographic memory.
4. An optical information recordingreproducing system according to claim 3, wherein said support means includes means for shifting said volume holographic memory along said rotational symmetry axis of said volume holographic memory.
5. An optical information recordingreproducing system according to claim 3, wherein said support means includes means for rotating said volume holographic memory about said rotational symmetry axis of said volume holographic memory.
6. An optical information recordingreproducing system according to claim 3, wherein said support means includes means for shifting said volume holographic memory along said rotational symmetry axis of said volume holographic memory, and rotating said volume holographic memory about said rotational symmetry axis.
7. An optical information recordingreproducing system according to claim 1, further comprising gating beam-irradiating means for irradiating said volume holographic memory with a gating beam having a second wavelength for increasing photosensitivity of said volume holographic memory and causing one of activating and deactivating said refractive index grating depending on whether said optical interference pattern is present.
8. An optical information recordingreproducing system according to claim 7, wherein said gating beam-irradiating means irradiates said gating beam on a side surface of said volume holographic memory.
9. An optical information recordingreproducing system according to claim 8, wherein said gating beam-irradiating means applies said gating beam in a manner restricted to a limited area within said volume holographic memory, where said signal beam and said reference beam intersect with each other.
10. An optical information recordingreproducing system according to claim 1, further comprising a compensation lens having a curved surface complementary to said side surface of said volume holographic memory via which said reference beam and said gating beam enter said volume holographic memory and a plane surface on a side thereof opposite to said curved surface, said compensation lens being arranged such that said complementary curved surface is spaced from said side surface of said volume holographic memory by a predetermined distance.
11. A volume holographic memory formed of a photorefractive crystal that records a three-dimensional distribution of interference fringes generated by interference between a reference beam and a signal beam modulated according to image data, the volume holographic memory formed of a uniaxial crystal having a shape of a rotary member, and a rotational symmetry axis in parallel with an optical crystal axis of said uniaxial crystal, with plane surfaces perpendicular to said rotational symmetry axis formed at respective opposite ends thereof.
12. A volume holographic memory according to claim 11, wherein said shape of a rotary member is cylinderical.
13. A volume holographic memory according to claim 11, wherein said shape of a rotary member is a truncated cone.
14. An optical information recording system comprising:
support means for removably supporting a volume holographic memory formed of a photorefractive crystal, and having a shape of a rotary member with a rotational symmetry axis, with plane surfaces perpendicular to said rotational symmetry axis formed at respective opposite ends thereof;
reference beam-irradiating means for irradiating said volume holographic memory with a coherent reference beam having a first wavelength; and
signal beam-irradiating means for irradiating said volume holographic memory with a coherent signal beam which has said first wavelength and is modulated according to image data, to cause said signal beam to intersect with said reference beam within said volume holographic memory and thereby generate a refractive index grating of a three-dimensional optical interference pattern between said signal beam and said reference beam;
wherein said support means holds said volume holographic memory in a position allowing said signal beam to pass through said plane surfaces of said volume holographic memory at said respective opposite ends thereof.

1. An AC-coupled interface circuit on a semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus performing a bidirectional data transfer via a differential transmission line, the AC-coupled interface circuit comprising:
a pair of signal lines configured to transfer a differential signal;
a pair of capacitors configured to AC-couple the pair of signal lines with the differential transmission line;
a resistor element configured to connect the pair of signal lines to each other;
a differential driver including a pair of output terminals connected to the pair of signal lines, wherein in a data transmission operation, the differential driver receives transmit data and converts the transmit data to a differential signal to output the differential signal;
a differential receiver including a pair of input terminals connected to the pair of signal lines, wherein in a data reception operation, the differential receiver receives a differential signal transferred to the pair of signal lines and converts the differential signal to receive data;
a potential setting section configured to set a potential of the pair of signal lines to a predetermined stable potential before the differential signal is transferred to the pair of signal lines; and
a feedback control section,
wherein when an output of the differential signal by the differential driver is started, the feedback control section detects an amplitude of the differential signal of the pair of signal lines and compares the detected amplitude of the differential signal with a predetermined reference amplitude value so as to control an amount of output current of the differential driver based on a comparison result.
2. An AC-coupled interface circuit on a semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus performing a bidirectional data transfer via a differential transmission line, the AC-coupled interface circuit comprising:
a pair of signal lines configured to transfer a differential signal;
a pair of capacitors configured to AC-couple the pair of signal lines with the differential transmission line;
a resistor element configured to connect the pair of signal lines to each other;
a differential driver including a pair of output terminals connected to the pair of signal lines, wherein in a data transmission operation, the differential driver receives transmit data and converts the transmit data to a differential signal to output the differential signal;
a differential receiver including a pair of input terminals connected to the pair of signal lines, wherein in a data reception operation, the differential receiver receives a differential signal transferred to the pair of signal lines and converts the differential signal to receive data;
a potential setting section configured to set a potential of the pair of signal lines to a predetermined stable potential before the differential signal is transferred to the pair of signal lines;
a potential determination section,
wherein when a potential setting operation by the potential setting section is started, the potential determination section detects a potential of the pair of signal lines, and instructs the differential driver to start outputting the differential signal when the detected potential becomes equal to a predetermined reference potential value.
3. An AC-coupled interface circuit on a semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus performing a bidirectional data transfer via a differential transmission line, the AC-coupled interface circuit comprising:
a pair of signal lines configured to transfer a differential signal;
a pair of capacitors configured to AC-couple the pair of signal lines with the differential transmission line;
a resistor element configured to connect the pair of signal lines to each other;
a differential driver including a pair of output terminals connected to the pair of signal lines, wherein in a data transmission operation, the differential driver receives transmit data and converts the transmit data to a differential signal to output the differential signal;
a differential receiver including a pair of input terminals connected to the pair of signal lines, wherein in a data reception operation, the differential receiver receives a differential signal transferred to the pair of signal lines and converts the differential signal to receive data;
a potential setting section configured to set a potential of the pair of signal lines to a predetermined stable potential before the differential signal is transferred to the pair of signal lines;
a transmission processing section configured to output transmit data to the differential driver in the data transmission operation; and
an amplitude determination section, wherein:
the differential driver is configured to start outputting the differential signal so that an amplitude of the differential signal gradually increases, and
when an output of the differential signal by the differential driver is started, the amplitude determination section detects an amplitude of the differential signal of the pair of signal lines, and instructs the transmission processing section to output transmit data representing valid data when the detected amplitude of the differential signal becomes equal to a predetermined prescribed amplitude value.
4. An AC-coupled interface circuit on a semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus performing a bidirectional data transfer via a differential transmission line, the AC-coupled interface circuit comprising:
a pair of signal lines configured to transfer a differential signal;
a pair of capacitors configured to AC-couple the pair of signal lines with the differential transmission line;
a resistor element configured to connect the pair of signal lines to each other;
a differential driver including a pair of output terminals connected to the pair of signal lines, wherein in a data transmission operation, the differential driver receives transmit data and converts the transmit data to a differential signal to output the differential signal;
a differential receiver including a pair of input terminals connected to the pair of signal lines, wherein in a data reception operation, the differential receiver receives a differential signal transferred to the pair of signal lines and converts the differential signal to receive data;
a potential setting section configured to set a potential of the pair of signal lines to a predetermined stable potential before the differential signal is transferred to the pair of signal lines, wherein:
the differential driver is configured to start outputting the differential signal so that an amplitude of the differential signal gradually increases, and
the differential driver includes:
a current supply section configured to supply an output current;
a differential output section configured to receive the transmit data and convert the transmit data to a differential signal having an amplitude according to a current amount of an output current supplied from the current supply section to output the differential signal; and
a driving adjustment section configured to gradually change the current amount of the output current of the current supply section when starting the data transmission operation,

the driving adjustment section includes:
a reference current source which starts outputting a reference current when starting the data transmission operation;
a transistor configured to generate a gate potential according to the reference current from the reference current source; and
a capacitor element one end of which is connected to a gate of the transistor, and

the current supply section supplies an output current of a current amount according to the gate potential of the transistor.
5. An AC-coupled interface circuit on a semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus performing a bidirectional data transfer via a differential transmission line, the AC-coupled interface circuit comprising:
a pair of signal lines configured to transfer a differential signal;
a pair of capacitors configured to AC-couple the pair of signal lines with the differential transmission line;
a resistor element configured to connect the pair of signal lines to each other;
a differential driver including a pair of output terminals connected to the pair of signal lines, wherein in a data transmission operation, the differential driver receives transmit data and converts the transmit data to a differential signal to output the differential signal;
a differential receiver including a pair of input terminals connected to the pair of signal lines, wherein in a data reception operation, the differential receiver receives a differential signal transferred to the pair of signal lines and converts the differential signal to receive data;
a potential setting section configured to set a potential of the pair of signal lines to a predetermined stable potential before the differential signal is transferred to the pair of signal lines, wherein:
the differential driver is configured to start outputting the differential signal so that an amplitude of the differential signal gradually increases, and
the differential driver includes:
a current supply section configured to supply an output current;
a differential output section configured to receive the transmit data and convert the transmit data to a differential signal having an amplitude according to a current amount of an output current supplied from the current supply section to output the differential signal; and
a driving adjustment section configured to gradually change the current amount of the output current of the current supply section when starting the data transmission operation,

the driving adjustment section includes:
a reference current source configured to output a reference current;
a first transistor configured to generate a gate potential according to the reference current from the reference current source;
a second transistor configured to generate a drain current according to the gate potential generated by the first transistor;
a plurality of adjustment transistors which are activated one after another to generate drain currents when starting the data transmission operation; and
a third transistor configured to generate a gate potential according to current amounts of the drain currents generated by the second transistor and the plurality of adjustment transistors, and

the current supply section supplies an output current of a current amount according to the gate potential of the third transistor.
6. An AC-coupled interface circuit on a semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus performing a bidirectional data transfer via a differential transmission line, the AC-coupled interface circuit comprising:
a pair of signal lines configured to transfer a differential signal;
a pair of capacitors configured to AC-couple the pair of signal lines with the differential transmission line;
a resistor element configured to connect the pair of signal lines to each other;
a differential driver including a pair of output terminals connected to the pair of signal lines, wherein in a data transmission operation, the differential driver receives transmit data and converts the transmit data to a differential signal to output the differential signal;
a differential receiver including a pair of input terminals connected to the pair of signal lines, wherein in a data reception operation, the differential receiver receives a differential signal transferred to the pair of signal lines and converts the differential signal to receive data;
a potential setting section configured to set a potential of the pair of signal lines to a predetermined stable potential before the differential signal is transferred to the pair of signal lines, wherein:
the differential driver is configured to start outputting the differential signal so that an amplitude of the differential signal gradually increases, and
the differential driver includes:
a current supply section configured to supply an output current;
a differential output section configured to receive the transmit data and convert the transmit data to a differential signal having an amplitude according to a current amount of an output current supplied from the current supply section to output the differential signal;
a driving adjustment section configured to gradually change the current amount of the output current of the current supply section when starting the data transmission operation; and
a preemphasis section which supplies an emphasis current to the differential output section if transmit data given to the differential output section is a transitional bit, and stops supplying the emphasis current if the transmit data is a non-transitional bit.
7. An AC-coupled interface circuit on a semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus performing a bidirectional data transfer via a differential transmission line, the AC-coupled interface circuit comprising:
a pair of signal lines configured to transfer a differential signal;
a pair of capacitors configured to AC-couple the pair of signal lines with the differential transmission line;
a resistor element configured to connect the pair of signal lines to each other;
a differential driver including a pair of output terminals connected to the pair of signal lines, wherein in a data transmission operation, the differential driver receives transmit data and converts the transmit data to a differential signal to output the differential signal;
a differential receiver including a pair of input terminals connected to the pair of signal lines, wherein in a data reception operation, the differential receiver receives a differential signal transferred to the pair of signal lines and converts the differential signal to receive data; and
a potential setting section configured to set a potential of the pair of signal lines to a predetermined stable potential before the differential signal is transferred to the pair of signal lines, wherein:
the differential driver is configured to start outputting the differential signal so that an amplitude of the differential signal gradually increases, and
an operation status of the differential driver can be switched, wherein the differential driver is inactive before the transmit data is given and is active after the transmit data is given.

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 truck bed tool box holder, comprising in combination:
a plurality of removable toolboxes securely attachable to a tool box holder means, wherein the plurality of removable toolboxes are commonly available toolboxes of existing sizes and shapes;
a tool box holder means with a plurality of openings for attaching the plurality of removable toolboxes, wherein the plurality of openings are specifically sized and shaped to receive the plurality of removable toolboxes that are commonly available toolboxes of existing sizes and shapes and wherein the plurality of removable toolboxes extend above a top surface the tool box holder means;
a truck bed attachment means to attach the tool box holder means to a truck bed, wherein the truck bed attachment means attaches to pre-existing openings in a top portion of rails of the truck bed created during manufacture of the truck bed; and
a security door means to securely attach the plurality of removable toolboxes to the toolbox holder means and prevent unauthorized removal of the plurality of removable toolboxes from the tool box holder means, wherein the security door means includes a plurality of openings in alignment with the plurality of openings in the tool box holder means for protecting the plurality of removable toolboxes, wherein the plurality of openings in the security door means are smaller in size than the plurality of openings in the tool box holder means to prevent unauthorized removal of the plurality of toolboxes and wherein the security door means when closed engages a portion of the tops of the plurality of removable toolboxes that extend above a top surface of the tool box holder means to prevent unauthorized removal from the tool box holder means; and
a security means to further securely attach the plurality of removable toolboxes to the toolbox holder means and prevent unauthorized removal of the plurality of removable toolboxes from the tool box holder means, wherein the security means includes a rod, cable or pole with one or more locks.
2. The truck bed tool box holder of claim 1 wherein the plurality of openings include a plurality of square, rectangular, trapezoid or oval openings or a combination thereof.
3. The truck bed tool box holder of claim 1 wherein the plurality of openings are specifically sized and shaped for existing and commonly available large, medium or small removable toolboxes or a combination thereof.
4. The truck bed tool box holder of claim 1 wherein the security means further includes a horizontal security means that passes horizontally through the plurality of removable toolboxes to securely attach the plurality of removable toolboxes to the tool box holder means.
5. The truck bed tool box holder of claim 1 wherein the security means further includes a vertical security means that passes vertically through the plurality of removable toolboxes to securely attach the plurality of removable toolboxes to the tool box holder means.
6. The truck bed tool box holder of claim 1 wherein a top portion of plurality of removable toolboxes exposed via the tool box holder means comprise a weatherproof material.
7. The truck bed tool box holder of claim 1 wherein the plurality of removable toolboxes comprise a weatherproof material.
8. A truck bed tool box holder, comprising in combination:
a plurality of removable toolboxes securely attachable to a tool box holder attached to truck bed;
the tool box holder with a plurality of openings for securely attaching the plurality of removable toolboxes;
a plurality of truck bed attachments to attach the tool box holder to the truck bed; and
a security door with a plurality of openings in alignment with the plurality of openings in the tool box holder for protecting the plurality of removable toolboxes and a security means to securely attach the plurality of removable toolboxes to the toolbox holder and further prevent unauthorized removal of the plurality of removable toolboxes from the tool box holder, wherein the plurality of openings in the security door are smaller in size than the plurality of openings in the tool box holder to prevent unauthorized removal of the plurality of toolboxes and wherein the security door when closed engages a portion of the tops of the plurality of removable toolboxes that extend above a top surface of the tool box holder to prevent unauthorized removal from the tool box holder.
9. The truck bed tool box holder of claim 8 wherein the plurality of removable toolboxes are commonly available toolboxes of existing sizes and shapes.
10. The truck bed tool box holder of claim 8 wherein the security attachment includes a horizontal security attachment that passes horizontally through the one or more openings in the plurality of removable toolboxes to securely attach the plurality of removable toolboxes to the tool box holder.
11. The truck bed tool box holder of claim 8 wherein the security attachment includes a vertical security attachment that passes vertically through the one or more openings of plurality of removable toolboxes to securely attach the plurality of removable toolboxes to the tool box holder.
12. The truck bed tool box holder of claim 8 wherein the security attachment includes a rod, cable, pole with one or more locks.
13. The truck bed tool box holder of claim 8 wherein a top portion of plurality of removable toolboxes exposed via the tool box holder means comprise a weatherproof material.
14. The truck bed tool box holder of claim 8 wherein the plurality of removable toolboxes comprise a weatherproof material.
15. The truck bed tool box holder of claim 8 wherein the plurality of truck bed attachments attach to pre-existing openings in a top portion of side rails of the truck bed.