All The Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A clutch control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
a clutch disk disposed opposite a flywheel which rotates unitarily with an output shaft of a drive unit;
a pressure plate for applying a press-contact load to said clutch disk so as to press said clutch disk toward said flywheel to thereby engage said clutch disk with said flywheel;
a diaphragm spring for causing said pressure plate to generate the press-contact load;
an actuator for generating and applying a force to a predetermined portion of said diaphragm spring by moving a member to deform said diaphragm spring for disengaging said clutch disk from said flywheel according to driving conditions of the vehicle;
said clutch control apparatus further comprising press-contact load adjustment means for modifying the press-contact load by modifying a posture of said diaphragm spring as observed when said clutch disk is engaged with said flywheel, according to an instruction;
stroke estimation means for estimating a stroke of said member on the basis of an calculated ideal reaction force to be imposed on said member through said diaphragm spring and an estimated force generated by said actuator;
stroke detection means for detecting an actual stroke of said member; and
adjustment instruction means for providing said press-contact load adjustment means with said instruction such that the detected stroke becomes equal to the estimated stroke to thereby make adjustment.
2. A clutch control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stroke estimation means further comprising:
ideal reaction-force calculation means for calculating said ideal reaction force to be imposed on said member on the basis of a stroke of said member which has been estimated a predetermined time beforehand; and
actuator force estimation means for estimating said estimated force to be generated by said actuator on the basis of a drive signal issued to said actuator.
3. A clutch control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said stroke estimation means estimates said stroke by integrating stroke speed of said member, the stroke speed being calculated by integrating stroke acceleration of said member which is calculated on the basis of said ideal reaction-force and said estimated force.
4. A clutch control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment instruction means provides said instruction only when a difference between the detected stroke and the estimated stroke becomes larger than a predetermined amount.
5. A clutch control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment instruction means does not provide said instruction when said clutch disk engages with said flywheel according to driving conditions of the vehicle.
6. A clutch control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment instruction means does not provide said instruction when the vehicle is parked with clutch disk being engaged.
7. A clutch control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment instruction means does not provide said instruction when the rotational seed of the drive unit of the vehicle is lower than a predetermined speed.
8. A clutch control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment instruction means does not provide said instruction when resonance of the clutch occurs due to vibration of the drive unit.
9. A clutch control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment instruction means does not provide said instruction when the rotational seed of a drive unit of the vehicle is higher than a predetermined speed.
10. A clutch control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment instruction means does not provide said instruction when the seed of an the vehicle is not zero.
11. A clutch control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a release bearing which comes into contact with said diaphragm spring;
a release fork for moving said release bearing through application of pressure;
a rod as said member of said actuator for deflecting said release fork in order to move said release bearing through application of pressure.
12. A clutch control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said press-contact load adjustment means includes a mechanism to modify a distance between an outer circumferential portion of said diaphragm spring and said pressure plate.

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 measuring device for detecting dimensions of test samples in the form of hollow bodies having a recess, the measuring device comprising:
at least one light source emitting a light beam;
a beamsplitter arranged downstream of the light source and configured to split the light beam into a reference beam and a measuring beam;
a reference mirror arranged downstream of the beam splitter, wherein the measuring beam forming a measuring arm is supplied to a measuring location of a test sample and is reflected on the measuring location as a first reflected beam and the reference beam forming a reference arm is supplied to the reference mirror and is reflected on the reference mirror as a second reflected beam;
wherein the first and second reflected beams are temporally incoherent and are recombined on the beamsplitter to form a recombined beam;
a receiver arranged such that the recombined beam impinges on the receiver;
wherein the reference mirror and the receiver are laterally displaced away from an optical axis of the measuring device at lateral spacing relative to the optical axis;
wherein the measuring device is configured to be integrated into a tool or to be connected to a tool receptacle.
2. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the light source and the reference mirror have a lateral displacement relative to the optical axis of the measuring device and are positioned on the same side of the beam splitter.
3. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the beam splitter guides the reference beam directly onto the reference mirror.
4. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the axis of the reference beam between the beamsplitter and the reference mirror extends angularly to the optical axis of the measuring device.
5. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein an optical travel distance difference (\u0394s) between the measuring arm and the reference arm is tuned.
6. The measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a computer, wherein the receiver is connected to the computer and the computer evaluates the signals received from the receiver.
7. The measuring device according to claim 6, further comprising an analogdigital converter positioned the receiver and the computer.
8. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein a tool in which the measuring device is arranged has at least one through opening allowing the measuring beam to reach the measuring location.
9. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device is driven in rotation about an axis of the measuring device.
10. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device, when arranged in a tool is driven in rotation about an axis of the measuring device.
11. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device is rotated together with a tool in which the measuring device is arranged.
12. The measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a protective housing for enclosing at least one of the light source, the beam splitter, the reference mirror, and the receiver, wherein the housing is arranged in the tool.
13. The measuring device according to claim 12, wherein at least one part of the measuring device is movable in the direction of an axis of the measuring device.
14. The measuring device according to claim 13, wherein the housing is axially movable within the tool.
15. The measuring device according to claim 12, further comprising a linear drive controlled by a computer for moving the at least one part of the measuring device.
16. The measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a travel measuring system, wherein the measuring device and the tool in which the measuring device is arranged are axially movable, and wherein the travel measuring system is configured to detect a travel distance of the measuring device.
17. The measuring device according to claim 16, wherein the travel measuring system is arranged in the tool.
18. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the reference mirror is positioned spaced from an axis of rotation of the measuring device.
19. A measuring device for detecting dimensions of test samples in the form of hollow bodies having a recess, the measuring device comprising:
at least one light source emitting a light beam;
a beamsplitter arranged downstream of the light source at a slant to an optical axis of the measuring device and configured to split the light beam into a reference beam and a measuring beam;
a reference mirror arranged downstream of the beam splitter and laterally displaced away from an optical axis of the measuring device at a lateral spacing relative to the optical axis, wherein the measuring beam forming a measuring arm is supplied to a measuring location of a test sample and is reflected on the measuring location as a first reflected beam and the reference beam forming a reference arm is supplied to the reference mirror and is reflected on the reference mirror as a second reflected beam;
wherein the first and second reflected beams are temporally incoherent and are recombined on the beamsplitter to form a recombined beam;
a receiver arranged such that the recombined beam impinges on the receiver;
wherein the measuring device is configured to be integrated into a tool or to be connected to a tool receptacle.
20. The measuring device according to claim 19, wherein the light source is positioned on the optical axis of the measuring device.
21. The measuring device according to claim 19, wherein the receiver is positioned on the optical axis of the measuring device.
22. The measuring device according to claim 19, wherein an optical travel distance difference (\u0394s) between the measuring arm and the reference arm is tuned.
23. The measuring device according to claim 19, further comprising a computer, wherein the receiver is connected to the computer and the computer evaluates the signals received from the receiver.
24. The measuring device according to claim 23, further comprising an analogdigital converter positioned between the receiver and the computer.
25. The measuring device according to claim 19, wherein a tool in which the measuring device is arranged has at least one through opening allowing the measuring beam to reach the measuring location.
26. The measuring device according to claim 19, wherein the measuring device is driven in rotation about an axis of the measuring device.
27. The measuring device according to claim 19, wherein the measuring device, when arranged in a tool is driven in rotation about an axis of the measuring device.
28. The measuring device according to claim 19, wherein the measuring device is rotated together with a tool in which the measuring device is arranged.
29. The measuring device according to claim 19, further comprising a protective housing for enclosing at least one of the light source, the beam splitter, the reference mirror, and the receiver, wherein the housing is arranged in the tool.
30. The measuring device according to claim 29, wherein at least one part of the measuring device is movable in the direction of an axis of the measuring device.
31. The measuring device according to claim 30, wherein the housing is axially movable within the tool.
32. The measuring device according to claim 29, further comprising a linear drive controlled by a computer for moving the at least one part of the measuring device.
33. The measuring device according to claim 19, further comprising a travel measuring system, wherein the measuring device and the tool in which the measuring device is arranged are axially movable, and wherein the travel measuring system is configured to detect a travel distance of the measuring device.
34. The measuring device according to claim 33, wherein the travel measuring system is arranged in the tool.
35. The measuring device according to claim 19, wherein the reference mirror is positioned spaced from or on an axis of rotation of the measuring device.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for handling cards comprising: a card loading area for receiving a group of cards to be arranged into randomized hands;
a shuffling chamber having a plurality of card-receiving compartments, wherein each compartment is able to receive more than one card within an opening of the card-receiving compartment, a card moving system comprising two sequential single card moving components positioned for moving at least one card at a time from the card loading area into a card-receiving compartment,
the two sequential card single card moving components comprising a first single card moving component that moves at least a single card from the card loading area towards a second card moving component and the second card moving component receiving the individual card from the first card moving component, and
a microprocessor for controlling card movement; wherein the first single card moving component reduces moving forces against the single card when the second card moving component applies moving forces against the single card.
2. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the card moving mechanism moves only one card at a time into a card-receiving compartment.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each card-receiving compartment comprises a set of cards selected from the group consisting of players’ hands, dealer’s hands, discards, and excess cards.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a separator is located between each adjacent card-receiving compartment, and there is an edge of the separator that a card moved into card-receiving compartments contacts before that card is fully inserted into a card-receiving compartment.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rack of card-receiving compartments is moveable in a vertical direction with respect to the two sequential single card moving components.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the separator has two card contacting surfaces, an upward deflecting surface and a downward deflecting surface.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the card moving mechanism is movable with respect to a stationary rack of card-receiving compartments.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein both the card moving mechanism and the plurality of card-receiving compartments are movable.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shuffling chamber comprises a configuration selected from the group: a carousel, a vertical mixing stack and a fan shape.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first single card moving component comprises a feed roller mounted for rotation on a rotational shaft.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the rotational shaft is driven by a drive mechanism.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, and further comprising a clutch mechanism for disengaging the feed roller from the drive mechanism.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the feed roller speed is controlled by at least one apparatus selected from the group consisting of: a drive motor, a dynamic clutch mechanism, a slip clutch, release gearing, clutch controller, drive speed controller and a sensor.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the clutch mechanism is capable of releasing when a card contacting the feed roller experiences linear acceleration.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each card-receiving compartment is of the same size.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein not all of the card-receiving compartments are of the same size.
17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second card moving component comprises a pair of speed up rollers, each speed up roller mounted for rotation on a rotational shaft.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one rotational shaft is driven by a motor.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one roller is an idler roller.
20. A method for delivering hands of randomly mixed cards comprising:
providing at least one deck of playing cards;
forming individual hands of randomly mixed playing cards within an apparatus;
delivering individual hands from the apparatus, one-at-a-time, with all cards in the hand delivered at the same time.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein individual hands are delivered to the delivery tray.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein after at least one individual hand is manually removed from the delivery tray, another individual hand is delivered from the apparatus to the delivery tray.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein the total number of cards in hands delivered from the apparatus comprise a total number of cards that are less than the total of the at least one deck of cards.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein at least one, but less than all individual hands is a subset of cards that is delivered to a dealer as a hand.
25. The method of claim 21 wherein each hand delivered from the apparatus to the tray is then delivered to a position on a gaming table that is distinct from a position where another hand is delivered.
26. The method of claim 20 wherein all hands are delivered to a storage area within the apparatus without removal of previous hands from the storage area.
27. A mechanism for feeding cards individually into a card shuffling or hand forming apparatus, comprising:
a surface for supporting a stack of cards;
a feed roller with a frictional outer surface, mounted to a rotational shaft and positioned to feed cards individually from the stack into a pair of speed up rollers;
a drive mechanism that rotates the feed roller;
a clutch mounted to the shaft for disengaging the feed roller from the drive mechanism as an individual card contacts a pair of speed up rollers; and
a pair of speed up rollers for advancing cards into the card shuffling or hand arranging apparatus as the cards are fed, wherein the feed roller is disengageable from the drive mechanism.
28. The mechanism of claim 27, wherein the stack of cards are supported on a first declining surface, the mechanism further comprising a slideable wedge member for sliding engagement with the declining surface and for retaining the stack against the feed roller.
29. The mechanism of claim 27, wherein the clutch is a dynamic clutch mechanism.
30. The mechanism of claim 27, wherein one of the speed-up rollers is driven by a drive mechanism.
31. The mechanism of claim 27 wherein one of the speed-up rollers is an idler roller.
32. The mechanism of claim 27 wherein at least one of the rollers mounted to a shaft is driven by a motor that can be disengaged from the roller by automatic operation of the mechanism.
33. A method of feeding cards into a card shuffling andor card sorting apparatus comprising:
providing a feed roller mounted for rotation about a shaft, a drive mechanism for rotating the shaft and clutch capable of disengaging the roller from the drive mechanism when a speed of the card accelerates and exceeds a speed of movement caused by the feed roller; and a pair of speed-up rollers;
feeding a card from a stack with the feed roller until a leading edge of the card contacts the speed-up rollers; and
when the speed of the card accelerates and exceeds the speed at which the card is fed by the feed roller, the clutch disengages from the drive roller.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein after disengagement of the feed roller, the card initially remains in contact with the roller when a leading edge of the card comes into contact with the speed-up rollers.
35. The method of claim 33, wherein the feed roller spins freely, after the card comes into contact with the speed-up rollers.

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 plasma display apparatus comprising:
a plasma display panel comprising a scan electrode and an address electrode; and
a driver for supplying a voltage of a scan signal having a negative polarity direction during an address period and for supplying a voltage of a sustain signal to the scan electrode during a sustain period using one voltage source.
2. The plasma display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage source is a sustain voltage source.
3. The plasma display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver comprises:
a sustain voltage supply control unit for controlling the voltage of the sustain signal supplied to the scan electrode,
a negative polarity scan voltage generating unit for generating the voltage of the scan signal having the negative polarity direction, and
a scan voltage supply control unit for controlling the voltage of the scan signal having the negative polarity direction supplied to the scan electrode.
4. The plasma display apparatus of claim 3, wherein the negative polarity scan voltage generating unit comprises:
a voltage storing unit for storing the voltage of the sustain signal, and
a buffer unit linked with the voltage storing unit.
5. The plasma display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the voltage storing unit comprises a first capacitor for storing the voltage of the sustain signal.
6. The plasma display apparatus of claim 3, wherein the negative polarity scan voltage generating unit comprises:
a voltage storing unit for storing the voltage of the sustain signal,
a buffer unit linked with the voltage storing unit, and
a voltage control unit for controlling a magnitude of the voltage stored in the voltage storing unit.
7. The plasma display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the voltage control unit is a variable voltage source.
8. The plasma display apparatus of claim 6, wherein one terminal of the voltage control unit is connected to a low level voltage supply source for supplying a voltage less than the sustain voltage, and the other terminal is grounded, and the low level voltage supply source is a data voltage source for supplying a data signal to the address electrode.
9. A plasma display apparatus comprising:
a plasma display panel comprising a scan electrode and an address electrode; and
a driver for supplying a voltage of a scan signal having a negative polarity direction during an address period, a voltage of a falling signal having a gradually falling voltage during a reset period, and a voltage of a sustain signal during a sustain period to the scan electrode using one voltage source.
10. The plasma display apparatus of claim 9, wherein the voltage source is a sustain voltage source.
11. The plasma display apparatus of claim 9, wherein the driver comprises:
a sustain voltage supply control unit for controlling the voltage of the sustain signal supplied to the scan electrode,
a negative polarity scan voltage generating unit for generating the voltage of the scan signal of the negative polarity direction,
a scan voltage supply control unit for controlling the voltage of the scan signal having the negative polarity direction supplied to the scan electrode, and
a falling voltage supply control unit for controlling the voltage of the falling signal supplied to the scan electrode.
12. The plasma display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the negative polarity scan voltage generating unit comprises:
a voltage storing unit for storing the voltage of the sustain signal, and
a buffer unit linked with the voltage storing unit.
13. The plasma display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the negative polarity scan voltage generating unit comprises:
a voltage storing unit for storing the voltage of the sustain signal,
a buffer unit linked with the voltage storing unit, and
a voltage control unit for controlling a magnitude of the voltage stored in the voltage storing unit.
14. The plasma display apparatus of claim 13, wherein the voltage control unit is a variable voltage source.
15. The plasma display apparatus of claim 14, wherein the variable voltage source supplies a voltage of 1V to 30V.
16. The plasma display apparatus of claim 13, wherein one terminal of the voltage control unit is connected to a low level voltage supply source for supplying a voltage less than the sustain voltage, and the other terminal is grounded, and the low level voltage supply source is a data voltage source for supplying a data signal to the address electrode.
17. The plasma display apparatus of claim 16, wherein the low level voltage supply source supplies one voltage of 15V, 5V and \u22125V.
18. The plasma display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the buffer unit includes a load reduction resistance and a reverse blocking diode.
19. The plasma display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the buffer unit includes a load reduction resistance and a reverse blocking diode.
20. The plasma display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the buffer unit includes a load reduction resistance and a reverse blocking diode.
21. The plasma display apparatus of claim 13, wherein the buffer unit includes a load reduction resistance and a reverse blocking diode.