Author: claimsbot

1. A lens device comprising:
an optical element;
a relative position control unit configured to control a relative position of the optical element;
a relative position detection unit; and
an initialization control unit initializing an absolute position of the optical element after a power supply is turned on and returning the optical element to a position before the initialization in a first mode in which a control procedure for moving the optical element is set to a speed control procedure, and driving the optical element in accordance with a position command signal in a second mode in which a control procedure for moving the optical element is set to a position control procedure.
2. The lens device according to claim 1, further comprising an absolute position detection unit.
3. The lens device according to claim 1, further comprising an absolute position signal sending unit sending a signal indicating that an absolute position signal of the optical element is invalid to a camera device, responsive to the initialization control unit initializing the absolute position of the optical element.
4. The lens device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a storage unit storing the absolute position of the optical element before the power supply is turned off; and
an absolute position signal sending unit sending a signal indicating an absolute position signal of the optical element stored in the storage unit before the power supply is turned off to a camera device.
5. The lens device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit displaying that the initialization control unit is initializing the absolute position of the optical element.
6. The lens device according to claim 1, wherein the optical element includes at least a zoom lens, a focus lens, and an iris.
7. The lens device according to claim 6, further comprising an absolute position detection unit; and
an absolute position control unit controlling an absolute position of the optical element.
8. The lens device according to claim 1, further comprising a nonvolatile storage unit storing the absolute position of the optical element before a voltage level of the power supply becomes zero when the power supply is turned off.
9. An imaging apparatus comprising:
the lens device according to claim 1; and
a camera device installed to the lens device.
10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a viewfinder of the camera device displays that the initialization control unit is initializing the absolute 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.

What is claimed:

1. A compact disc carrier formed from a single piece of paper board stock, the carrier comprising:
a first panel, the first panel having a pair of opposed edge flaps, each of the flaps of the first panel being inwardly foldable along a fold line to create a first enclosure, the first enclosure sized to receive therein a compact disc, the edge flaps of the first panel being sized so as not to engage each other upon creation of the first enclosure, the edge flaps of the first panel further being free of mechanical securement to each other and being free of mechanical securement to the first panel;
a second panel, the second panel having pair of opposed edge flaps, each of the flaps of the first panel being inwardly foldable along a fold line to create a second enclosure, the second enclosure sized to receive therein a compact disc, the first and second panels joined to each other along a central fold line, the edge flaps of the second panel being sized so as not to engage each other upon creation of the second enclosure, the edge flaps of the second panel further being free of mechanical securement to each other and being free of mechanical securement to the second panel; the central fold line being oriented perpendicular to the fold lines of the edge flaps of the first panel and the fold lines of the edge flaps of the second panel;
whereby upon creating the first and second enclosures followed by folding the first and second panels along the central fold line, the first and second enclosures are positioned parallel to each other.
2. The compact disc carrier of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second panels includes an insertion cutout sized to permit placement of a compact disc into each of the first and second enclosures.
3. The compact disc carrier of claim 1, wherein the each of the first and second panels includes an edge tab, the edge tabs of the first and second panels disposed adjacent each other when the first and second panels have been folded along the central fold line, and wherein at least one of the edge tabs includes a locking flap sized to lock the edge tabs together when the first and second panels have been folded along the central fold line.
4. The compact disc carrier of claim 3, wherein the edge tabs of the first and second panels include a plurality of perforations adapted to be secured to a ring binder.
5. A folded paper board compact disc carrier, comprising:
paperboard blank divided into first and second panels by a centrally located fold line;
the first panel including a pair of opposed edge flaps, the edge flaps of the first panel foldable along fold lines disposed generally perpendicular to the centrally located fold line to thereby create a first enclosure, the first panel and the edge flaps of the first panel sized so that the first enclosure is adapted to receive therein a compact disc;
the second panel including a pair of opposed edge flaps, the edge flaps of the second panel foldable along fold lines disposed generally perpendicular to the centrally located fold line to thereby create a second enclosure, the second panel and the edge flaps of the second panel sized so that the second enclosure is adapted to receive therein a compact disc;
whereby upon creation of the first and second enclosures and upon folding the paperboard blank along the centrally located fold line the first and second enclosures are disposed in spaced apart and generally parallel relationship.
6. The compact disc carrier of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second panels includes an insertion cutout sized to permit placement of a compact disc into each of the first and second enclosures.
7. The compact disc carrier of claim 5, wherein the each of the first and second panels includes an edge tab, the edge tabs of the first and second panels disposed adjacent each other when the paperboard blank has been folded along the centrally located fold line, and wherein at least one of the edge tabs includes locking means for locking the edge tabs together.
8. The compact disc carrier of claim 7, wherein the edge tabs of the first and second panels include a plurality of perforations adapted to be secured to a ring binder.
9. The compact disc carrier of claim 5, wherein the edge flaps of the first panel are sized to overlap each other when folded along their corresponding fold lines, and further wherein the edge flaps of the second panel are sized to overlap each other when folded along their corresponding fold lines.
10. The compact disc carrier of claim 5, wherein the edge flaps of the first panel are sized so that they do not engage each other when folded along their corresponding fold lines, and further wherein the edge flaps of the second panel are sized so that they do not engage each other when folded along their corresponding fold lines.
11. A folded paper board compact disc carrier comprising:
paperboard blank divided into first and second panels by a central fold line;
the first panel including a pair of opposed edge flaps, the edge flaps of the first panel foldable to an inward position along edge panel fold lines disposed generally perpendicular to the central fold line, the edge flaps of the first panel defining a first enclosure when in the inward position;
the second panel including a pair of opposed edge flaps, the edge flaps of the second panel foldable to an inward position along edge fold lines disposed generally perpendicular to the central fold line, the edge flaps of the second panel defining a second enclosure when in the inward position; and
means for maintaining the edge flaps of the first and second panels in their inward positions, the means being defined solely by contact between the edge flaps of the first panel and the edge flaps of the second panel, the contact occuring upon folding the paperboard blank along the central fold line.
12. The compact disc carrier of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second panels includes an insertion cutout sized to permit placement of a compact disc into each of the first and second enclosures.
13. The compact disc carrier of claim 11, wherein the each of the first and second panels includes an edge tab, the edge tabs of the first and second panels disposed adjacent each other when the paperboard blank has been folded along the central fold line, and wherein at least one of the edge tabs includes locking means for locking the edge tabs together.
14. The compact disc carrier of claim 11, including means defined by cooperating edges of the first panel and the second panel for securing the carrier to a ring binder.
15. A method of carrying compact discs, comprising:
providing a paperboard blank;
forming a central fold line in the paperboard blank to create a first panel and a second panel separated by the central fold line;
folding side edge portions of the first panel along fold lines disposed perpendicular to the central fold line to form a first pair of opposed edge flaps;
folding side edge portions of the second panel along fold lines disposed perpendicular to the central fold line to form a second pair of opposed edge flaps;
creating a first enclosure by folding the first pair of opposed edge flaps along the fold lines of the first panel to an inward position;
creating a second enclosure by folding the second pair of opposed edge flaps along the fold lines of the second panel to an inward position;
folding the paperboard blank along the central fold line so that the first enclosure and the second enclosure are in a spaced apart generally parallel position; and
securing the enclosures in the spaced apart generally parallel position.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the steps of forming the enclosures and securing the enclosures are performed without the use of adhesives.

1. A microsensor array, comprising:
a. a substrate;
b. a plurality of microsensors disposed on the substrate, at least one of which is a fixed, parallel plate capacitive microsensor comprising:
i. a bottom plate electrode disposed on the substrate;
ii. a porous top plate electrode disposed in fixed, spaced relation to the bottom plate electrode; and
iii. a dielectric disposed between said bottom plate electrode and said top plate electrode; and, optionally,

c. a containment barrier disposed between at least two of the microsensors disposed on the substrate.
2. A microsensor array according to claim 1, wherein each of the microsensors is a fixed, parallel plate capacitive microsensor.
3. A microsensor array according to claim 2, wherein each fixed, parallel plate capacitive microsensor comprises:
a. a bottom plate electrode disposed on the substrate;
b. a porous top plate electrode disposed in fixed, spaced relation to the bottom plate electrode; and
c. a dielectric disposed between said bottom plate electrode and said top plate electrode.
4. A microsensor array according to claim 1 further comprising a containment barrier disposed between each of the microsensors disposed on the substrate.
5. A microsensor array according to claim 4, wherein each of the containment barriers is adapted to prevent leakage of the dielectric of one microsensor to another microsensor during manufacture of the microsensors.
6. A microsensor array according to claim 4, wherein each containment barrier is independently selected from the group consisting of a polymer and a metal.
7. A microsensor array according to claim 4, wherein each containment barrier is comprised of a polymer.
8. A microsensor array according to claim 4, wherein each containment barrier is comprised of a metal.
9. A microsensor array according to claim 4, wherein each containment barrier is independently shaped as a rim or a trough.
10. A microsensor array according to claim 4, wherein diaelectric material is applied by a deposition process.
11. A microsensor array according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the microsensors are fixed, parallel plate capacitive microsensors each comprise a dielectric disposed between a bottom plate electrode and a top plate electrode.
12. A microsensor array according to claim 11, wherein each of the fixed, parallel plate capacitive microsensors comprises a different dielectric material.
13. A microsensor array according to claim 12, wherein the different dielectric materials each have a different dielectric constant.
14. A microsensor array according to claim 11, wherein each dielectric material is independently selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a ceramic, and a solgel.
15. A microsensor array according to claim 1, wherein the porous top plate electrode of any fixed, parallel plate capacitive microsensor is fabricated using standard photolithography.
16. A microsensor array according to claim 1 further comprising one or more support layers deposited onto the porous top plate electrode(s).
17. A microsensor array according to claim 1, wherein any bottom plate electrode is a drive electrode.
18. A microsensor array according to claim 1, wherein any bottom plate electrode is a dual-layer electrode.
19. A microsensor array according to claim 1, wherein any porous top plate electrode and bottom plate electrode of a fixed, parallel plate capacitive microsensor is made from a polycrystalline semiconductor material or a metal.

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 electronic ballast for a discharge lamp comprising:
a DC voltage regulator providing a DC voltage that varies with a voltage command being fed to said DC voltage regulator,
an inverter converting said DC voltage into a high frequency AC power which is applied through a resonance circuit to said discharge lamp, said high frequency AC power being regulated to vary with a frequency command which designates a frequency at which said inverter is driven to oscillate;
a dimming processor including a dimming unit that provides a dimming signal designating a varying dimming level for varying a light output of said discharge lamp in accordance with an external dimmer demand,
wherein said dimming processor includes a command processing unit which, in response to the dimming signal, generates said voltage command and said frequency command, said frequency command designating a first frequency and a second frequency which is a function of said first frequency and gives a resulting lamp voltage higher than that obtained at said first frequency, said command processing unit driving said inverter at said first and second frequencies alternately with respect to time to thereby regulate said high frequency AC power of said inverter,
said command processing unit including a memory for storing a first table that determines a predetermined relation between the dimming signal and voltage command as well as said frequency command, said command processing unit deriving from said memory said voltage command as well as said frequency command that matches with the dimming signal, and operating said DC voltage regulator and said inverter in accordance with said voltage command and said frequency command, respectively.
2. The electronic ballast as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said command processing unit provides a first time frame in which said inverter operates at said first frequency and a second time frame in which said inverter operates at said second frequency,
said command processing unit generating said second frequency which becomes lower towards a middle of said second time frame than at the beginning and end of said second time frame.
3. The electronic ballast as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said first table has at least one point of inflection for a rate of voltage change of said voltage command and for a rate of frequency change of said frequency command with respect to the varying light output level,
said at least one point of inflection corresponding to a specific point with regard to the light output level, and defining a low light output range and a high light output range respectively below and above said specific point, and
said first table determining said rate of voltage change which is different for said low and high light output ranges, and determining said rate of frequency change which is different for said low and high light output ranges.
4. The electronic ballast as set forth in claim 3, wherein
said first table determines that the rate of voltage change is greater in one of said low and high light output ranges than in the other when the rate of frequency change is smaller in said one of said low and high output ranges than in the other.
5. The electronic ballast as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said first table has at least one point of inflection for at least one of a rate of voltage change of said voltage command and of a rate of frequency change of said frequency command with respect to the varying light output level,
said at least one point of inflection corresponding to a specific point with regard to the light output level, and defining a low light output range and a high light output range respectively below and above said specific point, and
said first table determining at least one of said rate of voltage change and said rate of frequency change is different for said low and high light output ranges such that a rate of change in the resulting light output of said discharge lamp is smaller in said low light output range than in said high light output range.
6. The electronic ballast as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said first table has at least two points of inflection for a rate of voltage change of said voltage command and for a rate of frequency change of said frequency command with respect to the varying light output level,
said two points of inflection corresponding to a first specific point and a second specific point with regard to the light output level, and defining a low light output range below the first specific point, an intermediate light output range between the first and second specific points, and a high light output range above said second specific point, and
said first table determining said rate of voltage change which is minimum in said intermediate light output range, and said rate of frequency change which is maximum in said intermediate light output range.
7. The electronic ballast as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said memory includes a second table in addition to said first table, said second table determining another predetermined relation between the dimming signal and said voltage command as well as said frequency command, which is different from said relation given by said first table,
said command processing unit including a selector for deriving said voltage command and said frequency command from selective one of said first and second tables,
said command processing unit also including a monitor for monitoring a rate of change in the dimming level intended by the dimming signal and provide a first signal when said rate of change in the dimming level is smaller than a predetermined rate and otherwise provides a second signal, said first signal actuating said selector to derive said voltage command and said frequency command from said first table, and said second signal actuating said selector to derive said voltage command and said frequency command from said second table.
8. The electronic ballast as set forth in claim 1, wherein said command processing unit includes:
a voltage signal generator which generates said voltage command,
a first frequency signal generator which generates a first frequency command designating said first frequency,
a second frequency signal generator which generates a second frequency command designating said second frequency command,
a selector for providing selective one of said first and second frequency commands to said inverter
said voltage signal generator being a pulse-width-modulator that gives a PWM signal of which width defines said voltage command,
said voltage signal generator producing a timing pulse in synchronize with said PWM signal and providing said timing pulse to said second frequency signal generator,
said second frequency signal generator generating said second frequency command and a predetermined time frame each time it receives said timing pulse, and
said selector being connected to receive said first frequency command, said second frequency command, and said time frame so that it passes said second frequency command to said inverter only during said time frame and otherwise pass said first frequency command to be issued to said inverter.
9. The electronic ballast as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said command processing unit includes a smoothing circuit for smoothing out said first frequency command.
10. The electronic ballast as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said command processing unit includes a first smoothing circuit smoothing out said dimming signal, a second smoothing circuit for smoothing out said voltage command, and a third smoothing circuit for smoothing out said frequency command.
11. The electronic ballast as set forth in claim 10, wherein
said second and third smoothing circuits have adjustable time constants which determine individual response times by which said voltage command and said frequency command are delayed in driving said DC voltage regulator and said inverter, respectively,
said command processing unit including a dimming direction monitor which monitors said dimming signal to provide an upward signal when said dimming signal indicates an increase in the light output level and provide a downward signal when said dimming signal indicates a decrease in the light output level,
said dimming direction monitor adjusting said time constants of said second and third smoothing circuits in order to make the response time of said voltage command longer than that of said frequency command in response to said upward signal, and to make the response time of said frequency command longer than that of said voltage command in response to said downward signal.
12. The electronic ballast as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said frequency command is a digital signal which is converted by a DA converter into an analog signal which is fed to a voltage controlled oscillator,
said voltage controller receiving said analog signal to drive said inverter at the frequency designated by said frequency command, and
said DA converter being defined by a ladder resistor network or weighted resistor network.