Author: claimsbot

1. A liquid depth sensing and identification system, comprising:
a liquid container having at least one peripheral wall and a floor;
a gas delivery dip tube extending into the container, the dip tube having a lower portion and an open lower end spaced above the floor of the container, and an upper portion and an upper end disposed externally to the container;
a pneumatic gas supply pump disposed externally to the container, the pump communicating pneumatically with the upper portion of the dip tube;
a gas collector disposed concentrically about the lower portion of the dip tube, the gas collector having a lower edge disposed slightly above the open lower end of the dip tube;
a collector outlet tube extending from the collector, the outlet tube having a lower portion disposed within the container and an upper portion disposed externally to the container;
a liquid depth differential pressure sensor disposed externally to the container, the depth pressure sensor communicating pneumatically with the dip tube and with ambient pressure;
a liquid quality differential pressure sensor disposed externally to the container, the quality pressure sensor communicating pneumatically with the dip tube and with the collector outlet tube;
a pump controller disposed externally to the container, the controller communicating electrically with the pneumatic gas supply pump, the liquid depth differential pressure sensor, and the liquid quality differential pressure sensor; and
a processor disposed externally to the container, the processor communicating electrically with the pump controller.
2. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 1, further including:
a liquid depth indicator disposed externally to the container and communicating electrically with the processor; and
a liquid quality indicator disposed externally to the container and communicating electrically with the processor.
3. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 1, further including an ambient pressure sensor disposed externally to the container and communicating electrically with the controller.
4. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 1, further including a liquid and gas temperature sensor disposed externally to the container and communicating electrically with the controller.
5. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 1, further including an annunciator for anomalous liquid, disposed externally to the container and communicating electrically with the processor.
6. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 1, further including an open loop control circuit electrically connecting the pump and the pump controller, the circuit governing operation of the pump in accordance with signals from the pump controller.
7. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 1, wherein the liquid container comprises a closed container including a top having a standpipe extending from the container, the standpipe being connected pneumatically to the liquid depth differential pressure sensor and communicating therewith.
8. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 1, wherein:
the container is open to ambient atmosphere; and
the differential pressure sensor is exteriorly vented relative to the container.
9. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 1, further including a pump and sensor assembly affixed to and extending from the upper portion of the collection chamber outlet tube, with the pneumatic gas supply pump, the liquid depth differential pressure sensor, the liquid quality differential pressure sensor, and the pump controller being disposed therewith, the upper portion of the collector outlet tube and pump and sensor assembly therewith being separably connected to the lower portion thereof.
10. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 9, further including:
electromagnetic signal transmitting and receiving means disposed with the pump and sensor assembly; and
electromagnetic signal transceiver disposed with the processor, with the pump and sensor assembly and processor communicating with one another by the electromagnetic signal transceiver.
11. A liquid depth sensing and identification system, comprising:
a liquid container having at least one peripheral wall and a floor;
a gas delivery dip tube extending into the container, the dip tube having a lower portion and an open lower end spaced above the floor of the container, and an upper portion and an upper end disposed externally to the container;
a pneumatic gas supply pump disposed externally to the container, the pump communicating pneumatically with the upper portion of the dip tube;
a liquid depth and quality mass flow sensor disposed externally to the container, the mass flow sensor being in series with, and communicating pneumatically with, the upper portion of the dip tube and the gas supply pump; and
a pump controller disposed externally to the container, the controller communicating electrically with the pneumatic gas supply pump and the liquid depth and quality mass flow sensor.
12. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 11, further including:
a liquid depth indicator disposed externally to the container and communicating electrically with the controller; and
a liquid quality indicator disposed externally to the container and communicating electrically with the controller.
13. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 11, further including a vapor pressure sensor disposed externally to the container and communicating electrically with the controller and pneumatically with the liquid depth and quality mass flow sensor.
14. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 11, further including a liquid and gas temperature sensor disposed externally to the container and communicating electrically with the controller.
15. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 11, further including an annunciator for anomalous liquid, the annunciator being disposed externally to the container and communicating electrically with the controller.
16. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 11, further including an open loop control circuit electrically connecting the pump and the pump controller, the circuit governing operation of the pump in accordance with signals from the pump controller.
17. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 11, wherein the liquid container comprises a closed container having a top and a standpipe extending into the container, the standpipe being connected pneumatically to the liquid depth and quality mass flow sensor and communicating therewith.
18. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 11, wherein:
the container is open to ambient atmosphere; and
the liquid depth and quality mass flow sensor is exteriorly vented relative to the container.
19. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 11, further including a pump and sensor assembly affixed to and extending from the upper portion of the dip tube, with the pneumatic gas supply pump, the liquid depth and quality mass flow sensor, and the pump controller being disposed therewith, the upper portion of the dip tube and pump and sensor assembly therewith being separably connected to the lower portion thereof.
20. The liquid depth sensing and identification system according to claim 19, further including:
an electromagnetic signal transceiver disposed with the pump and sensor assembly;
a processor remotely disposed from the pump and sensor assembly; and
an electromagnetic signal transceiver disposed with the processor, the pump and sensor assembly and processor communicating with one another by the electromagnetic signal transceivers.

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. A hard disk drive for a computer system comprising:
a. one or more platters having magnetic media on one or more surfaces;
b. a write head associated with at least one of said surfaces having magnetic media;
c. an H-bridge circuit capable of driving a current through said write head, said H-bridge circuit comprising two upper transistors and two lower transistors; and
d. a circuit to supply an adjustable initial drive current to drive said H-bridge circuit.
2. The hard disk drive of claim 1 wherein said adjustable initial drive current circuit comprises an adjustable capacitor circuit connected between each gate of said upper transistors and the gate of said lower transistors on the opposite side of said H-bridge.
3. The hard disk drive of claim 2 wherein said variable capacitor is at least one of a block of capacitors having connections to said transistor gates and the remainder of said block of capacitors have no connections, since the connections were not made during a final metalization step during manufacture of the circuit.
4. The hard disk drive of claim 2 wherein said variable capacitor is a plurality of capacitors having programmable connections to said transistor gates.
5. The hard disk drive of claim 4 wherein said programmable connections to said transistor gates includes an array of capacitors with at least one terminal connected to a transistor and the gate of said transistor enabled by an enable register for programmable control of the connections of said array of capacitors.
6. The hard disk drive of claim 1 wherein said adjustable initial drive current circuit comprises an adjustable inverter circuit to drive said H-bridge transistors through a capacitor.
7. The hard disk drive of claim 6 wherein said adjustable inverter circuit comprises an N-mos and PMOS pair followed by one or more additional PMOS transistors connected to a reference voltage through an enable transistor, and wherein said NMOS and PMOS pair is capable of supplying a current to said H-bridge of a limited amount in combination with said capacitor, and wherein said additional PMOS transistors are also capable of providing an additional current to said capacitor when said additional PMOS transistors have their corresponding enable transistors turned on.
8. The hard disk drive of claim 6 wherein said additional PMOS transistors are of stepwise increasing current capacity.
9. An integrated circuit for driving a write head of a hard disk drive comprising:
a. an H-bridge circuit capable of driving a current through said write head, said H-bridge circuit comprising two upper transistors and two lower transistors; and
b. a circuit to supply an adjustable initial drive current to drive said H-bridge circuit
10. The integrated circuit of claim 9 wherein said adjustable initial drive current circuit is an adjustable capacitor circuit connected between each gate of said upper transistors and the gate of said lower transistors on the opposite side of said H-bridge.
11. The integrated circuit of claim 10 wherein said variable capacitor is at least one of a block of capacitors having connections to said transistor gates and the remainder of said block of capacitors have no connections, since the connections were not made during a final metalization step during manufacture of the circuit..
12. The integrated circuit of claim 10 wherein said variable capacitor is a plurality of capacitors having programmable connections to said transistor gates.
13. The integrated circuit of claim 13 wherein said programmable connections to said transistor gates includes an array of capacitors with at least one terminal connected to a transistor and the gate of said transistor enabled by an enable register for programmable control of the connections of said array of capacitors.
14. The integrated circuit of claim 9 wherein said adjustable initial drive current circuit comprises an adjustable inverter circuit to drive said H-bridge transistors through a capacitor.
15. The integrated circuit of claim 14 wherein said adjustable inverter circuit comprises an N-mos and PMOS pair followed by one or more additional PMOS transistors connected to a reference voltage through an enable transistor, and wherein said NMOS and PMOS pair is capable of supplying a current to said H-bridge of a limited amount in combination with said capacitor, and wherein said additional PMOS transistors are also capable of providing an additional current to said capacitor when said additional PMOS transistors have their corresponding enable transistors turned on.
16. The hard disk drive of claim 15 wherein said additional PMOS transistors are of increasing current capacity.

1-20. (canceled)
21. A method for detecting a structure to be applied to a substrate, such as an adhesive bead or a sealant track, with a number of optical acquisition apparatuses comprising a number of image acquisition sensors, the method comprising:
combining images of the optical acquisition apparatuses to form a plan view such that a representation of the optical acquisition devices is output in a common image such that in the common image of the optical acquisition devices, as a center, the position of an application device for applying the structure to the substrate is provided; and
arranging the optical acquisition apparatuses around the application device within a sensor head, the optical acquisition apparatuses being connected within the sensor head to a device for assembling the overall image;
wherein the images of the optical acquisition apparatuses are assembled to form a common image which is assembled from images in the form of disc segments of the optical acquisition apparatuses in order to produce a 360\xb0 view around the application unit.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein an image acquisition frequency is increased according to a reduction of data by only acquiring a defined section of the image of each optical acquisition apparatus.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the optical acquisition apparatuses each have a CCD chip or CMOS chip.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein the optical acquisition apparatuses are connected within the sensor head to a device for trigger and flash control for illumination which is made in particular in a form of a plurality of flashed LEDs within the sensor head.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the optical acquisition apparatuses, the device for trigger and flash control and the device for assembling the overall image are connected within the sensor head such that just one connection of the sensor head to an external processing device is provided for detecting and examining the structure to be applied.
26. The method of claim 23 wherein only approximately \xbc of image lines are used as strips of the image for each CCD chip or CMOS chip, and the image acquisition frequency is quadrupled.
27. The method of claim 21 wherein a paramaterization of an image sequence obtained from a reference application structure and which results from a single image acquisition run of all of the optical acquisition devices is automatically undertaken by a one-off external indication of the reference application structure and is used for comparison with an applied adhesive track.
28. The method of claim 21 wherein the images of the optical acquisition devices are used to examine the applied structure, the images of all of the optical acquisition devices together forming a disc around the application device.
29. The method of claim 21 wherein, according to a profile of the application structure, for monitoring there is an automatic switch from a disc segment of an optical acquisition device to another disc segment of an adjacent optical acquisition device if the application structure to be monitored runs from a disc segment of an optical acquisition device to another disc segment of the adjacent optical acquisition device.
30. An apparatus for detecting a structure to be applied to a substrate, such as an adhesive bead or a sealant track, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of optical acquisition apparatuses comprising a number of image acquisition sensors, wherein images of the optical acquisition apparatuses are combined to form a plan view such that a representation of the optical acquisition devices is output in a common image; and
an application device arranged between the optical acquisition devices in order to apply the structure to the substrate;
wherein the optical acquisition apparatuses are arranged around the application device within a sensor head, the optical acquisition apparatuses respectively being connected within the sensor head to a device for assembling the overall image, and wherein the images of the optical acquisition apparatuses are assembled to form an overall image which is made up of images in the form of disc segments of the optical acquisition apparatus in order to produce a 360\xb0 view around the application unit.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein an image acquisition frequency is increased according to a reduction of data due to the acquisition of just one defined section of the image of each optical acquisition apparatus
32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the optical acquisition apparatuses each have a CCD chip or CMOS chip.
33. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the optical acquisition apparatuses are connected within the sensor head to a device for trigger and flash control for illumination which is made in particular in a form of a plurality of flashed LEDs in the sensor head.
34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the optical acquisition apparatuses, the device for trigger and flash control and the device for assembling the overall image are connected within the sensor head such that just one connection of the sensor head to an external processing device is provided for detecting and examining the structure to be applied.
35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein only approximately \xbc of image lines are used as strips of the image for each CCD chip or CMOS chip, and the image acquisition frequency is quadrupled.
36. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein a parameterisation of an image sequence obtained from a reference application structure and which results from a single image acquisition run of all of the optical acquisition devices is automatically undertaken by a one-off external indication of the reference application structure and is used for comparison with an applied adhesive track.
37. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the images of the optical acquisition devices are used to examine the applied structure, the images of all of the optical acquisition devices together forming a disc around the application device.
38. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein, according to a profile of the application structure, for monitoring there is an automatic switch from a disc segment of an optical acquisition device to another disc segment of an adjacent optical acquisition device if the application structure to be monitored runs from a disc segment of an optical acquisition device to another disc segment of the adjacent optical acquisition device.

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 drive device for a working vehicle having a transmission comprising a forward running stage that is selected by engagement of a forward clutch and a reverse running stage that is selected by engagement of a reverse clutch, in which a motive power of an engine is transmitted to a drive wheel through the selected forward running stage or reverse running stage, the drive device comprising:
control means that outputs a reverse running command in accordance with operation of a control unit;
brake means that decreases a vehicle speed;
braking force control means that controls a braking force of the brake means; and
forwardreverse clutch control means that controls respective engagementdisengagement actions of the forward clutch and the reverse clutch, wherein
if the reverse running command is output from the control means while the vehicle is running forward, the braking force control means controls the braking force of the brake means such that the vehicle speed is diminished through a first prescribed speed to a second prescribed speed and
the forwardreverse clutch control means disengages the forward clutch,
when the vehicle speed has reached the first prescribed speed, the reverse clutch is put in a slipping action condition, and
after the vehicle speed has reached the second prescribed speed, the reverse clutch is gradually engaged.
2. The drive device for a working vehicle according to claim 1, wherein engine control means is provided that controls the engine, the engine control means performing control to temporarily decrease an engine rotational speed prior to commencement of the gradual engagement action of the reverse clutch and to increase the engine rotational speed that is temporarily decreased after completion of engagement of the reverse clutch.
3. The drive device for a working vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the braking force control means performs control so as to increase the braking force of the brake means in stepwise fashion or in accordance wit the vehicle speed.
4. The drive device for a working vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a torque converter comprising a lock-up clutch is interposed in a motive power transmission path between the engine mid the transmission and
lock-up clutch control means is provided that controls the engagementdisengagement action of the lock-up clutch; and
the lock-up clutch control means performs control so as to disengage the lock-up clutch in accordance with disengagement of the forward clutch and to gradually engage the lock-up clutch after completion of engagement of the reverse clutch.
5. A drive device for a working vehicle having a transmission comprising a forward running stage that is selected by engagement of a forward clutch and a reverse running stage that is selected by engagement of a reverse clutch, in which a motive power of an engine is transmitted to a drive wheel through the selected forward running stage or reverse running stage, the drive device comprising:
control means that outputs a forward running command in accordance with operation of a control unit;
brake means that decreases a vehicle speed;
braking force control means that controls a braking force of the brake means; and
forwardreverse clutch control means that controls respective engagementdisengagement actions of the forward clutch and the reverse clutch, wherein
if the forward running command is output from the control means while the vehicle is running in reverse, the braking force control means controls the braking force of the brake means such that the vehicle speed is diminished through a first prescribed speed to a second prescribed speed and
the forwardreverse clutch control means disengages the reverse clutch,
when the vehicle speed has reached the first prescribed speed, the forward clutch is put in a slipping action condition, and
after the vehicle speed has reached the second prescribed speed, the forward clutch is gradually engaged.
6. The drive device for a working vehicle according to claim 2, wherein engine control means is provided that controls the engine, the engine control means performing control to temporarily decrease an engine rotational speed prior to commencement of the gradual engagement action of the forward clutch and to increase the engine rotational speed that is temporarily decreased after completion of engagement of the forward clutch.
7. The drive device for a working vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the braking force control means performs control so as to increase the braking force of the brake means in stepwise fashion or in accordance with the vehicle speed.
8. The drive device for a working vehicle according to claim 5, wherein a torque converter comprising a Jock-up clutch is interposed in a motive power transmission path between the engine and the transmission and
lock-up clutch control means is provided that controls the engagementdisengagement action of the lock-up clutch; and
the lock-up clutch control means performs control so as to disengage the lock-up clutch in accordance with disengagement of the reverse clutch and to gradually engage the lock-up clutch after completion of engagement of the forward clutch.
9. A method of controlling drive of a working vehicle having a transmission comprising a forward running stage that is selected by engagement of a forward clutch and a reverse running stage that is selected by engagement of a reverse clutch, in which a motive power of an engine is transmitted to a drive wheel through the selected forward running stage or reverse running stage, the method comprising the steps of:
if a reverse running command is output while the vehicle is running forward,
controlling a braking force of a brake so as to decrease a vehicle speed through a first prescribed speed to a second prescribed speed;
disengaging the forward clutch,
putting the reverse clutch in a slipping action condition when the vehicle speed has reached the first prescribed speed; and
gradually engaging the reverse clutch after the vehicle speed has reached the second prescribed speed.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the controlling of the brake force comprises increasing the braking force of the brake in stepwise fashion or in accordance with the vehicle speed.
11. A drive device for a working vehicle having a transmission comprising a forward running stage that is selected by engagement of a forward clutch and a reverse running stage that is selected by engagement of a reverse clutch, in which a motive power of an engine is transmitted to a drive wheel through the selected forward running stage or reverse running stage, the drive device comprising:
control means that outputs a reverse running command in accordance wit operation of a control unit;
brake means that decreases a vehicle speed;
braking force control means that controls a braking force of the brake means; and
forwardreverse clutch control means that controls respective engagementdisengagement actions of the forward clutch and the reverse clutch, wherein
if the reverse running command is output from the control means while the vehicle is running forward, the braking force control means controls the braking force of the brake means such that the vehicle speed is diminished through a first prescribed speed to a second prescribed speed and
the forwardreverse clutch control means disengages the forward clutch,
when the vehicle speed has reached the first prescribed speed, the reverse clutch is put in a slipping action condition where a reverse clutch pressure is extremely small, and
after the vehicle speed has reached the second prescribed speed, the reverse clutch is gradually engaged.
12. The drive device for a working vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the braking force control means performs control so as to increase the braking force of the brake means in stepwise fashion or in accordance with the vehicle speed.
13. A method of controlling drive of a working vehicle having a transmission comprising a forward running stage that is selected by engagement of a forward clutch and a reverse running stage that is selected by engagement of a reverse clutch, in which a motive power of an engine is transmitted to a drive wheel through the selected forward running stage or reverse running stage, the method comprising the steps of:
if a forward running command is output while the vehicle is running in reverse,
controlling a braking force of a brake so as to decrease a vehicle speed through a first prescribed speed to a second prescribed speed;
disengaging the reverse clutch,
putting the forward clutch in a slipping action condition when the vehicle speed has reached the first prescribed speed; and
gradually engaging the forward clutch after the vehicle speed has reached the second prescribed speed.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the controlling of the brake force comprises increasing the braking force of the brake in stepwise fashion or in accordance with the vehicle speed.