All The Claims

1. An interface apparatus cascading system, comprising:
a host, comprising a first controller and a first interface port, wherein the first controller provides data transmission of a first channel and a second channel through the first interface port;
a first-type interface apparatus, comprising a second controller, a second interface port, and a third interface port, wherein the second interface port is connected in series with the first interface port, the third interface port is connected with the second interface port, data of the first channel is transmitted to the second controller through the second interface port and to the third interface port through the second controller, and data of the second channel is directly transmitted to the third interface port through the second interface port; and
a second-type interface apparatus, comprising a third controller, a forth interface port, and a fifth interface port, wherein the forth interface port is connected in series with the third interface port, the fifth interface port is connected in series with the forth interface port, the data of the second channel are transmitted to the third controller through the forth interface port and to the fifth interface port through the third controller, and the data of the first channel is directly transmitted to the fifth interface port through the forth interface port.
2. The interface apparatus cascading system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of first-type interface apparatus, respectively connected in series with the second-type interface apparatus to process the data transmitted through the first channel.
3. The interface apparatus cascading system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of second-type interface apparatus, respectively connected in series with the first-type interface apparatus to process the data transmitted through the second channel.
4. The interface apparatus cascading system according to claim 1, wherein the first controller, the second controller, and the third controller are Thunderbolt controllers supporting dual-channel data transmission.
5. The interface apparatus cascading system according to claim 1, wherein the first-type interface apparatus and the second-type interface apparatus comprise graphics processing devices, display devices, storage devices, or recordable devices utilizing Thunderbolt interface for data transmission.
6. The interface apparatus cascading system according to claim 1, wherein the first-type interface apparatus and the second-type interface apparatus are two disks for a disk array.
7. An interface apparatus cascading method, comprising:
providing a host comprising a first controller and a first interface port, wherein the first controller provides data transmission of a first channel and a second channel through the first interface port;
connecting a first-type interface apparatus in series to the host, wherein data of the first channel is transmitted to a second controller of the first-type interface apparatus through a second interface port of the first-type interface apparatus and to a third interface port of the first-type interface apparatus through the second controller, and data of the second channel are directly transmitted to the third interface port through the second interface port; and
connecting a second-type interface apparatus in series to the first-type interface apparatus, wherein the data of the second channel are transmitted to a third controller of the second-type interface apparatus through a forth interface port of the second-type interface apparatus and to a fifth interface port of the second-type interface apparatus through the third controller, and the data of the first channel are directly transmitted to the fifth interface port through the forth interface port.
8. The interface apparatus cascading method according to claim 7, further comprising:
connecting another first-type interface apparatus in series to the second-type interface apparatus to process the data transmitted through the first channel.
9. The interface apparatus cascading method according to claim 8, further comprising:
connecting another second-type interface apparatus in series to the another first-type interface apparatus to process the data transmitted through the second channel.
10. The interface apparatus cascading method according to claim 7, further comprising:
transmitting a backup data to the first-type interface apparatus and the second-type interface apparatus through the first channel and the second channel; and
storing the backup data in the first-type interface apparatus and the second-type interface apparatus.
11. The interface apparatus cascading method according to claim 7, wherein the first controller, the second controller, and the third controller are Thunderbolt controllers supporting dual-channel data transmission.
12. The interface apparatus cascading method according to claim 7, wherein the first-type interface apparatus and the second-type interface apparatus comprise graphics processing devices, display devices, storage devices, or recordable devices utilizing Thunderbolt interface for data transmission.
13. An interface apparatus, comprising:
a first interface port, connected in series to a host or another interface apparatus to receive data transmitted through a first channel and a second channel;
a controller, connected to the first interface port and configured to receive and process the data of the first channel and output the processed data; and
a second interface port, connected to the first interface port and the controller and configured to receive the data of the second channel from the first interface port and receive the processed data of the first channel from the controller.
14. The interface apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first channel and the second channel are two data transmission channels of the Thunderbolt interface.

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 driver, comprising:
a piezoelectric element extending and contracting upon application of an electrical voltage;
a driving member having one end secured to the piezoelectric element, and being able to reciprocate in an axial direction by a extending and contracting movement of the piezoelectric element;
a frictionally coupling member, frictionally coupling the driving member and being caused to slide against the driving member by reciprocating movement of the driving member; and
a drive circuit connected with a power supply and applying a voltage generated by the power supply to the piezoelectric element at a predetermined drive period, wherein the drive circuit includes:
a charge switching element for connecting an electrode of the piezoelectric element with the power supply,
a discharge switching element for grounding the electrode of the piezoelectric element, and
a protective resistor arranged in at least either an electric path between the power supply and the piezoelectric element or an electric path between the piezoelectric element and a ground point,
wherein a resistance value of the protective resistor is set larger than an ON resistance of the switching element but smaller than a value obtained by dividing one half of the drive period of the switching element by a capacitance of the piezoelectric element.
2. The driver of claim 1, wherein the protective resistor is arranged in plural positions which are the electric path between the power supply and the piezoelectric element, and the electric path between the piezoelectric element and the ground point.
3. The driver of claim 1, wherein the drive circuit comprises a full-bridge circuit to select the electrode of the piezoelectric element to apply the voltage generated by the power supply.
4. The driver of claim 3, wherein the protective resistor is arranged in at least either the electric path between the charge switching element and the piezoelectric element or the electric path between the discharge switching element and the piezoelectric element.
5. The driver of claim 1, wherein the drive circuit includes:
two charge switching elements to connect the electrode of the piezoelectric element with the power supply; and
two discharge switching elements to connect the electrode of the piezoelectric element with the ground,
wherein when the drive circuit switches the piezoelectric element between a charging operation and a discharging operation, the drive circuit simultaneously makes the two charge switching elements to be non-conduction states, and simultaneously makes the two discharge switching elements to be conduction states, for a predetermined period.

1. An illumination system comprising:
a light source for generating an illumination signal; one or more optical elements aligned to direct a portion of light of the illumination signal;
a light detector positioned to receive light directed from the one or more optical elements and the light detector generates an output signal based on the light directed from the optical element; and
control circuitry connected to monitor the output signal of the light detector for detection of a change in a configuration position of one or more elements of the illumination system.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein:
the light source is a laser and the light detector is a photodiode.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein :
the light source is a light emitting diode.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein:
the optical element has a reflective area on a surface of an interior side of a structure supporting the illumination system for directing the portion of light of the illumination signal to the light detector.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein:
the optical element is a diffractive optical element, and the light directed from the diffractive optical element is surface reflected back to the light detector.
6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
the control circuitry being connected to the light source for turning off the light source responsive to the change in the configuration position of one or more elements of the illumination system.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein:
the change in the configuration position of one or more elements of the illumination system indicates one of the group consisting of:
an optical element of the one or more elements has been removed;
an optical element of the one or more elements has been damaged;
an optical element of the one or more elements has been repositioned to cause a non-negligible effect;
a structural element of the one or more elements has been removed;

or
a structural element of the one or more elements has been damaged.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein:
the one or more optical elements aligned to direct a portion of light of the illumination signal comprises an optical element for collimating the illumination signal and a tilted optical element for reflecting a portion of light of the collimated illumination signal.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein:
the tilted optical element has a tilt angle of less than three degrees with respect to an axis perpendicular to a direction of propagation of the illumination signal.
10. A method for detecting a change in a configuration position of one or more elements in an illumination system comprising:
a light source generating an illumination signal;
directing a portion of light of the illumination signal by an element of the illumination system to a light detector;
control circuitry monitoring the directed light for detecting a change in the configuration position of one or more elements in the illumination system; and
the control circuitry modifying operation of the illumination system responsive to detecting the change in the configuration position of the one or more elements.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the directed light is reflected light.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein:
the directing the portion of light of the illumination signal by the element to the light detector further comprises
reflecting the portion of the illumination signal to the light detector by a tilted optical element.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein:
control circuitry monitoring the directed light for detecting the change in the configuration position of one or more elements in the illumination system further comprises
the light detector generating an output signal representing the light reflected back, and
the control circuitry detecting the change in the configuration position of one or more elements of the illumination system by monitoring the output signal as an indicator for a change in the reflected light satisfying shut down criteria; and

the control circuitry modifying operation of the illumination system responsive to detecting the change in the configuration position of one or more elements further comprises
the control circuitry turning off the light source responsive to satisfaction of shut down criteria.
14. An illumination system comprising:
an integrated circuit light source package comprising within the package a light source for generating an illumination signal and a light detector;
an outer structural element of the illumination system for supporting the integrated circuit light source package and one or more optical elements located outside the package, including a reflective element for reflecting a portion of light of the illumination signal;
the light detector being positioned to receive light reflected back from the reflective element located outside the integrated circuit light source package;
the light detector generates an output signal based on the light reflected back from the reflective element; and
control circuitry communicatively coupled to the light detector for monitoring the output signal of the light detector to determine whether there has been a change in the configuration position of the one or more optical elements outside the integrated circuit light source package.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the reflective element is a diffractive element.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the reflective element comprises a tilted optical element aligned with a collimating optical element to receive the illumination signal collimated.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the change in the configuration position is indicated by a change of twenty-five percent or more in the output signal.
18. The system of claim 14, wherein:
the control circuitry is connected to the integrated light source package for decreasing the illumination signal of the light source responsive to the output signal indicating there has been a change in the configuration position of the one or more optical elements outside the integrated light source package.
19. The system of claim 14, wherein:
the control circuitry is connected to the integrated light source package for turning off the light source responsive to the output signal indicating there has been a change in the configuration position of the one or more optical elements outside the integrated light source package.
20. The system of claim 14, wherein:
the integrated circuit light source package is an off-the-shelf integrated circuit laser package wherein
the light source is a laser and the laser also generates a reverse illumination signal;
the light detector is a monitor photodiode which is positioned to receive the reverse illumination signal; and
the output signal represents the light reflected back from the reflective element outside the package and the reverse illumination signal.

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 panel, comprising:
two substrates spaced from each other by a predetermined interval so as to form a space therebetween;
barrier ribs dividing the space between the two substrates, thereby defining discharge cells;
a drive electrode installed for a plasma discharge in the discharge cells;
discharge gas filled in the space; and
a phosphor within the discharge cells, wherein the drive electrode includes an address electrode and a sustain electrode, the sustain electrode includes main electrodes aligned in rows and auxiliary electrodes connected to the main electrodes, and at least a part of the auxiliary electrodes extends obliquely to the main electrodes.
2. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main electrodes are aligned in the discharge cells such that the main electrodes traverse the discharge cells.
3. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least a part of the auxiliary electrodes is in the discharge cells.
4. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the barrier ribs form a rectangular discharge cell.
5. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 4, wherein an auxiliary electrode includes two branches extending towards two adjacent edges of the rectangular discharge cell from a center portion of the main electrode in the discharge cell.
6. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least two branches extending toward the edge of the discharge cell contact each other at a predetermined edge of the discharge cell in which at least two discharge cells make contact with the predetermined edge.
7. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the auxiliary electrode further includes a third branch extending toward a center of the discharge cell from the main electrode in a direction opposite to an extending direction of two branches about the main electrode.
8. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the auxiliary electrode includes an I-shaped branch part extending toward the barrier rib, which is adjacent to the main electrode in a column direction, from a center of the main electrode aligned in the discharge cell, and two branch parts extending toward two edges of the rectangular discharge cell which are adjacent to an end portion of the barrier rib to which the I-shaped branch part is directed.
9. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sustain electrode includes two transparent electrodes connected to the main electrodes aligned in the discharge cells while forming a predetermined gap therebetween.
10. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the auxiliary electrode is in a predetermined region where the transparent electrodes are formed.
11. A plasma display panel, comprising:
two substrates spaced from each other by a predetermined interval so as to form a space therebetween;
barrier ribs dividing the space into a grid type matrix between two substrates, thereby defining a rectangular discharge cell matrix;
a drive electrode installed for a plasma discharge in discharge cells;
discharge gas filled in the space; and
a phosphor within the discharge cells, wherein the drive electrode includes an address electrode and a sustain electrode, and the sustain electrode includes two main electrodes, which transversely pass through a lower portion of an upper discharge cell row and an upper portion of a lower discharge cell row, respectively, and branch parts extending obliquely between the two main electrodes and forming a part of a line connecting the two main electrodes with each other.
12. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the oblique branch parts are connected with each other at a predetermined edge of the discharge cell in which at least two discharge cells make contact with the predetermined edge.
13. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sustain electrode includes two transparent electrodes connected to the main electrodes aligned in the discharge cells while forming a predetermined gap therebetween.
14. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the auxiliary electrode has an oblique branch extending diagonally from a center portion of the main electrode in a predetermined discharge cell of the upper discharge cell row toward the main electrode aligned in the discharge cell of the lower discharge cell row and passing through an adjacent edge of the predetermined discharge cell.
15. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 14, wherein two oblique branch parts intersect in at least one edge of the rectangular discharge cell.
16. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 15, wherein the auxiliary electrode further includes a third branch part extending toward a center of the discharge cell from the main electrode in a direction opposite to an extending direction of the oblique branch parts about the main electrode.
17. The plasma display panel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the auxiliary electrode includes an I-shaped branch part extending toward the barrier rib, which is adjacent to the main electrode in a column direction, from a center of the main electrode aligned in the discharge cell and oblique branch parts extending toward two edges of the rectangular discharge cell which are adjacent to an end portion of the barrier rib to which the I-shaped branch part is directed.