All The Claims

1. A bicycle cleatcover assembly comprising:
a bicycle cleat for releasably engaging a clipless bicycle pedal, the bicycle cleat having an aperture for receiving at least a portion of the clipless bicycle pedal; and
an aperture cover sized and shaped to be received in the bicycle cleat aperture when the bicycle cleat is disengaged from the clipless bicycle pedal.
2. The bicycle cleatcover assembly of claim 1, wherein the aperture cover comprises:
a bottom portion;
a collar spaced from the bottom portion along an axis; and
a sidewall extending from the bottom portion to the collar.
3. The bicycle cleatcover assembly of claim 2, wherein the collar extends radially outward beyond the sidewall to form a lip.
4. The bicycle cleatcover assembly of claim 3, wherein:
the aperture cover further comprises a pair of protrusions;
each of the protrusions has a top portion that extends axially above the lip; and
the top portion of one protrusion is separated from the top portion of the other protrusion by a gap such that the pair of protrusions can frictionally retain a second pair of protrusions of a substantially identical second aperture cover that has been offset by a ninety-degree angle.
5. The bicycle cleatcover assembly of claim 4, wherein:
the collar has four segments of equal circumferential length, each segment having two adjacent segments and one non-adjacent segment;
the non-adjacent segments of the collar have substantially identical curved top surfaces;
and the adjacent segments of the collar have curved top surfaces that are complementary, such that the aperture cover can mate with an identical second aperture cover that has been offset by a ninety-degree angle.
6. The bicycle cleatcover assembly of claim 2, wherein the sidewall has a beveled outer surface tapering toward the bottom portion.
7. The bicycle cleatcover assembly of claim 2, wherein:
a channel is formed in the sidewall;
the channel starts at a cutout formed at an intersection of the sidewall and the bottom portion; and
the channel extends circumferentially about a portion of the sidewall.
8. The bicycle cleatcover assembly of claim 7, wherein:
a protuberance is formed in the channel; and
the protuberance extends radially outward within the channel.
9. A bicycle cleat cover device comprising:
a bottom portion;
a collar spaced from the bottom portion along an axis;
a sidewall extending from the bottom portion to the collar; and
a pair of protrusions;
wherein the collar extends radially outward beyond the sidewall to form a lip;
each of the protrusions has a top portion that extends axially above the lip; and
the top portion of one protrusion is separated from the top portion of the other protrusion by a gap such that the pair of protrusions can frictionally retain a second pair of protrusions of a substantially identical second bicycle cleat cover device that has been offset by a ninety-degree angle.
10. The bicycle cleat cover device of claim 9, wherein:
the collar has four segments of equal circumferential length, each segment having two adjacent segments and one non-adjacent segment;
the non-adjacent segments of the collar have substantially identical curved top surfaces; and
the adjacent segments of the collar have curved top surfaces that are complementary, such that the aperture cover can mate with an identical second aperture cover that has been offset by a ninety-degree angle.
11. The bicycle cleat cover device of claim 9, wherein the sidewall has a beveled outer surface tapering toward the bottom portion.
12. The bicycle cleat cover device of claim 9, wherein:
a channel is formed in the sidewall;
the channel starts at a cutout formed at an intersection of the sidewall and the bottom portion; and
the channel extends circumferentially about a portion of the sidewall.
13. The bicycle cleat cover device of claim 12, wherein:
a protuberance is formed in the channel; and
the protuberance extends radially outward within the channel.
14. A bicycle cleat cover device comprising:
a bottom portion;
a collar spaced from the bottom portion along an axis; and
a sidewall extending from the bottom portion to the collar;
wherein a channel is formed in the sidewall;
wherein the channel starts at a cutout formed at an intersection of the sidewall and the bottom portion; and
wherein the channel extends circumferentially about a portion of the sidewall.
15. The bicycle cleat cover device of claim 14, wherein the collar extends radially outward beyond the sidewall to form a lip.
16. The bicycle cleat cover device of claim 15, wherein:
the aperture cover further comprises a pair of protrusions;
each of the protrusions has a top portion that extends axially above the lip;
the top portion of one protrusion is separated from the top portion of the other protrusion by a gap such that the pair of protrusions can frictionally retain a second pair of protrusions of a substantially identical second aperture cover that has been offset by a ninety-degree angle; and
the sidewall has a beveled outer surface tapering toward the bottom portion.
17. The bicycle cleat cover device of claim 16, wherein:
the collar has four segments of equal circumferential length, each segment having two adjacent segments and one non-adjacent segment;
the non-adjacent segments of the collar have substantially identical curved top surfaces; and
the adjacent segments of the collar have curved top surfaces that are complementary, such that the aperture cover can mate with an identical second aperture cover that has been offset by a ninety-degree angle.
18. The bicycle cleat cover device of claim 14, wherein the sidewall has a beveled outer surface tapering toward the bottom portion.
19. The bicycle cleat cover device of claim 14, wherein:
a protuberance is formed in the channel; and
the protuberance extends radially outward within the channel.

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 apparatus for controlling a state of charge (SOC) of a battery mounted on a vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine driving a generator mounted on the vehicle, the battery being charged by power from the generator, comprising:
a setting unit that sets a target value directed to control of the state of charge of the battery such that the target value is higher as an efficiency of the internal combustion engine depending on the number of rotations of the engine is higher;
a determining unit that determines whether or not the vehicle is in a decelerated state; and
a controlling unit that controls a state of rotation of the generator so as to enable the generator i) to perform regeneration when it is determined by the determining unit that the vehicle is in the decelerated state and ii) to perform generation to enable the state of charge of the battery to be the target value when it is determined by the determining unit that the vehicle is not in the decelerated state.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising
a further determining unit that determines whether or not the state of charge of the battery is within a preset state-of-charge range indicative of the state of charge of the battery higher than a reference value; and
a further controlling unit that controls the state of rotation of the generator such that an efficiency of the generation of the generator becomes higher, when it is determined by the determining unit that the vehicle is not in the decelerated state and it is determined by the further determining unit the state of charge of the battery is within the preset state-of-charge range.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein
the setting unit includes a current sensor secured to either a terminal or a casing of the battery, the current sensor being for detecting a chargedischarge current of the battery to set the target value, and
the setting unit, the determining unit, the further determining unit, controlling unit, and further controlling unit are integrated with the current sensor.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein
the determining unit determines whether or not the vehicle is in the deceleration state based on the number of rotations of the generator.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein
the determining unit comprises an acceleration sensor that detects an acceleration of the vehicle and determines whether or not the vehicle is in the deceleration state based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor.
6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein
the determining unit determines whether or not the vehicle is in the deceleration state based on a signal to be sent from an external device.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein
the external device is an electronic control device for an electronically controlled brake system mounted on the vehicle and formed to a signal showing the decelerated state of the vehicle, and
the determining unit determines whether or not the vehicle is in the deceleration state based on the signal from the electronically controlled brake system.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein
the external device is an electronic control device for controlling fuel being supplied to the engine, the electronic control device supplying a signal indicative of an amount of fuel to be injected to the engine, and
the determining unit determines whether or not the vehicle is in the deceleration state based on the signal from the electronic control device for controlling the fuel being supplied to the engine.
9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein
the setting unit, the determining unit, the further determining unit, the controlling unit, and the further controlling unit are incorporated in a control device for controlling the engine.
10. An apparatus for controlling a state of charge (SOC) of a battery mounted on a vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine driving a generator mounted on the vehicle, the battery being charged by power from the generator, comprising:
target value setting means for setting a target value directed to control of the state of charge of the battery such that the target value is higher as an efficiency of the internal combustion engine depending on the number of rotations of the engine is higher;
determining means for determining whether or not the vehicle is in a decelerated state; and
controlling means for controlling a state of rotation of the generator so as to enable the generator i) to perform regeneration when it is determined by the determining means that the vehicle is in the decelerated state and ii) to perform generation to enable the state of charge of the battery to be the target value when it is determined by the determining means that the vehicle is not in the decelerated state.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising
further determining means for determining whether or not the state of charge of the battery is within a preset state-of-charge range indicative of the state of charge of the battery higher than a reference value; and
further controlling means for controlling the state of rotation of the generator such that an efficiency of the generation of the generator becomes higher, when it is determined by the determining means that the vehicle is not in the decelerated state and it is determined by the further determining means the state of charge of the battery is within the preset state-of-charge range.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein
the target value setting means, the determining means, the further determining means, controlling means, and further controlling means are incorporated in a control device for controlling the engine.
13. A method for controlling a state of charge (SOC) of a battery mounted on a vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine driving a generator mounted on the vehicle, the battery being charged by power from the generator, comprising steps of:
setting a target value directed to control of the state of charge of the battery such that the target value is higher as an efficiency of the internal combustion engine depending on the number of rotations of the engine is higher;
determining whether or not the vehicle is in a decelerated state; and
controlling a state of rotation of the generator so as to enable the generator i) to perform regeneration when it is determined that the vehicle is in the decelerated state and ii) to perform generation to enable the state of charge of the battery to be the target value when it is determined that the vehicle is not in the decelerated state.
14. The method of claim 13, comprising:
further determining whether or not the state of charge of the battery is within a preset state-of-charge range indicative of the state of charge of the battery higher than a reference value; and
further controlling the state of rotation of the generator such that an efficiency of the generation of the generator becomes higher, when it is determined that the vehicle is not in the decelerated state and it is determined that the state of charge of the battery is within the preset state-of-charge range.

1. A system for indicating the location of an energy zone on an object surface, with the energy zone being an area on the object surface that is imaged onto an IR detector by the IR optical system included in a non-contact IR thermal measurement device, said system comprising:
a light source for projecting a light beam spot on the object surface;
a video sub-system for displaying a displayed image of at least a part of the object surface and the light beam spot;
a shape size determining sub-system, coupled to the video sub-system, that utilizes the video sub-system and location of the light beam spot to determine the size of an energy zone indicating shape to be displayed; and
an optical overlay sub-system, coupled to the shape size determining sub-system and video sub-system, for displaying the shape over a displayed image of the object surface and with an overlayed shape indicating the part of the displayed image included in the energy zone.
2. The system of claim 1 where the video sub-system outputs frames at a frequency of F and where the range-finding sub-system comprises:
a laser diode for emitting a laser-beam along a first optical axis to form a laser spot on an object to be imaged;
a clock source for modulating the laser;
a digital filtering sub-system for determining the location of the laser spot in image frames output by the video sub-system; and
a shape size calculator for indicating the size of the shape to be displayed based on the location of the laser spot.
3. The system of claim 2 where the laser is modulated at a frequency of F2 and where the digital filtering sub-system comprises:
a +1, \u22121 multiplier, coupled to receive frames output from the video system, that alternately multiplies frames output from the video by +1 and \u22121;
an accumulator, coupled to an output of the +1,\u22121 multiplier, for summing frames output from the +1,\u22121 multiplier to subtract the object image from the image of the laser spot.
4. A system for indicating the location of an energy zone on an object surface, with the energy zone being an area on the object surface that is imaged onto an IR detector by the IR optical system included in a non-contact IR thermal measurement device, said system comprising:
a video sub-system for displaying a displayed image of at least a part of the object surface;
at least two laser diodes for emitting skewed laser beams to form at least two laser spots on an object to be imaged that indicate the periphery of the energy zone which varies at different locations;
a laser spot location indicator that indicates the locations of the laser spots in the displayed image; and
an optical overlay sub-system, coupled to the video sub-system and the laser spot location indicator, for overlaying a shape outline, having a dimension determined by locations of the laser spots, over a displayed image of the object surface and with the shape outline substantially centered between the imaged skewed laser spots and having a diameter substantially equal to the displacement between the laser spots, with the shape outline indicating the part of a displayed image included in the energy zone.
5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:
a digital filtering sub-system for determining the location of the laser spots in image frames output by the video sub-system.
6. The system of claim 5 where the laser is modulated at a frequency of F2 and where the digital filtering sub-system comprises:
a +1,\u22121 multiplier, coupled to receive frames output from the video system, that alternately multiplies frames output from the video by +1 and \u22121; and
an accumulator, coupled to an output of the +1,\u22121 multiplier, for summing frames output from the +1,\u22121 multiplier to subtract the object image from an image of the laser spot.
7. A system for indicating the location of an energy zone on an object surface, with the energy zone being an area on the object surface that is imaged onto an IR detector by the IR optical system included in a non-contact IR thermal measurement device, said system comprising:
a video sub-system for displaying a displayed image of at least a part of the object surface;
a light source for emitting a light beam to form a light spot on an object to be imaged;
a light spot location indicator that indicates the location of the light spot in the displayed image; and
an optical overlay sub-system, coupled to the video sub-system and the light spot location indicator, for overlaying a shape outline, having a dimension determined by the location of the light spot, with the shape outline indicating the part of a displayed image included in the energy zone.

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 deformable curvature mirror capable of controlled deformation by applying electrical voltages, comprising:
first and second parallel plates of an electro-restrictive material, said plates having parallel adjacent inner surfaces jointed together with a conductive layer sandwiched between said adjacent inner surfaces, said conductive layer having an electrical terminal for connecting to electrical ground;
said first and second plates each having a polarity oriented in the same direction;
said first plate having an outer surface parallel to said inner surface thereof with a mirrored surface on said outer surface; and
said second plate having an outer surface parallel to said inner surface thereof with a pattern of electrode segments on said second plate outer surface, each said segment having a separate electrical terminal for applying a variable electrical voltage thereto for selectively deforming the curvature mirror.
2. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein said pattern of electrode segments includes a subpattern of electrode segments that cause mirror deformation for controlling the slope of the mirrored surface.
3. The mirror according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said pattern of electrode segments includes a subpattern of electrode segments that cause mirror deformation for controlling the curvature of the mirrored surface.
4. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein said mirror is circular and said pattern of electrode segments includes an outer ring of electrode segments that cause mirror deformation for controlling the slope of the mirrored surface and an inner ring of electrode segments that cause mirror deformation for controlling the curvature of the mirrored surface.
5. The mirror according to claim 4, wherein said inner ring of electrode segments includes two separate and concentric rings of electrode segments.
6. The mirror according to claim 4, wherein said outer ring of electrode segments are radially outwardly from an area of the mirrored surface on which an image is reflected in an optical system having the deformable curvature mirror.
7. The mirror according to claim 4, wherein said outer and inner rings of electrode segments are separated by an annular space, and a conductive layer ring is provided in said annular space on said outer surface of said second plate for connecting to electrical ground.
8. The mirror according to claim 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein a conductive layer is provided between said outer surface of said first plate and said mirrored surface for connecting to electrical ground.
9. The mirror according to claim 1, further including electrode segments also sandwiched between said adjacent inner surfaces of said first and second plates with electrical terminals for applying variable voltages to said sandwiched electrode segments.
10. The mirror according to claim 9, wherein said sandwiched electrode segments are arranged in an outer ring surrounding and separate from said conductive layer.
12. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein said mirror is circular and further including a conductive circular disk and an annular ring of electrode segments encircling said disk located between said outer surface of said first plate and said mirrored layer, with said electrode segments in said ring having separate electrical terminals for connecting to a variable electrical voltage.
13. The mirror according to claim 12, wherein said circular disk has an electrical terminal for connecting to electrical ground.
14. The mirror according to claim 12, wherein said circular disk has an electrical terminal for connecting to a variable electrical voltage.
15. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein said mirrored surface is comprised of a polished conductive layer.
16. The mirror according to claim 15, wherein said polished conductive layer has an electrical terminal for connecting to electrical ground.
17. The mirror according to claim 15, wherein said polished conductive layer has an electrical terminal for connecting to a variable electrical voltage.
18. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein said conductive layer sandwiched between said first and second plates is comprised of a first conductive layer on said inner surface of said first plate and a second conductive layer on said inner surface of said second plate.
19. The mirror according to claim 18, wherein a layer of conductive adhesive is provided between said first and second conductive layers for joining said first and second plates.
20. The mirror according to claim 1, wherein said first and second plates are joined together by a layer of conductive adhesive.
21. A deformable curvature mirror capable of controlled deformation by applying electrical voltages, comprising:
first and second parallel plates of an electro-restrictive material, said plates having parallel adjacent inner surfaces jointed together with at least one conductive layer sandwiched between said adjacent inner surfaces;
said first and second plates each having a polarity perpendicular to said adjacent inner surfaces with the respective polarities oriented in the same direction;
said first plate having an outer surface parallel to said inner surface thereof with an outer conductive layer on said outer surface and a mirrored surface on said outer conductive layer;
each said at least one conductive layer sandwiched between said adjacent inner surfaces and said outer conductive layer on said outer surface of said first plate having an electrical terminal for applying one pole of the electric voltage;
said second plate having an outer surface parallel to said inner surface thereof; and
a pattern of a plurality of conductive electrode segments on said second plate outer surface, each said conductive electrode segment having a separate electrical terminal for applying the other pole of a variable electrical voltage thereto for separately transmitting a variable current through each said electrode segment and through at least said second plate for selectively deforming said second plate and, in turn, the curvature mirror.
22. The mirror according to claim 21, wherein said pattern of electrode segments includes a subpattern of electrode segments that cause mirror deformation for controlling the slope of the mirrored surface.
23. The mirror according to claim 21 or 22, wherein said pattern of electrode segments includes a subpattern of electrode segments that cause mirror deformation for controlling the curvature of the mirrored surface.
24. The mirror according to claim 21, wherein said mirror is circular and said pattern of electrode segments includes an outer ring of electrode segments that cause mirror deformation for controlling the slope of the mirrored surface and an inner ring of electrode segments that cause mirror deformation for controlling the curvature of the mirrored surface.
25. The mirror according to claim 24, wherein said outer and inner rings of electrode segments are separated by an annular space, and a conductive layer ring is provided in said annular space on said outer surface of said second plate for connecting to electrical ground.
26. The mirror according to claim 21, 22, 24, or 25, wherein a conductive layer is provided between said outer surface of said first plate and said mirrored surface for connecting to electrical ground.
27. The mirror according to claim 21, wherein said conductive layer sandwiched between said first and second plates is comprised of a first conductive layer on said inner surface of said first plate and a second conductive layer on said inner surface of said second plate.
28. The mirror according to claim 27, wherein a layer of conductive adhesive is provided between said first and second conductive layers for joining said first and second plates.
29. The mirror according to claim 21, wherein said first and second plates are joined together by a layer of conductive adhesive.
30. A deformable curvature mirror capable of controlled deformation by applying electrical voltages thereto, comprising:
first and second parallel plates of a piezoelectric material having parallel adjacent inner surfaces, a conductive layer on each inner surface and a conductive adhesive layer joining said conductive layers and said adjacent inner surfaces;
said first and second plates each having a polarity perpendicular to said adjacent surfaces with the respective polarities oriented in the same direction;
said first plate having an outer surface parallel to said inner surface thereof and on an opposite side from said inner surface with an outer conductive layer on said outer surface, and a layer forming a mirrored surface on said outer conductive layer;
each said conductive layer having an electrical terminal for connecting to an electrical ground;
said second plate having an outer surface parallel to said inner surface thereof and on an opposite side from said inner surface; and
a pattern of a plurality of conductive layer electrode segments on said second plate outer surface, each said conductive layer electrode segment having a separate electrical terminal for separately applying a variable electrical voltage thereto for separately transmitting a variable electric field through each said electrode segment to said second plate for selectively deforming said second plate and, in turn, the curvature mirror.