The present disclosure provides a CSI measurement method and a CSI measurement device. The CSI measurement method includes steps of: receiving channel state measurement information from a network side, the channel state measurement information including a CRS from a set of CRS ports corresponding to vertical beams having an identical Vshift in a vertical dimension, the Vshift determines shift values of CRS patterns in different vertical beams in the vertical dimension in a frequency domain; and performing CSI measurement in accordance with the channel state measurement information. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the CSI measurement is performed in accordance with the CRS of the set of CRS ports corresponding to the vertical beams having an identical Vshift in the vertical dimension, so that a common signal/channel in the vertical dimension is covered by several vertical beams. Each vertical beam has a small main lobe width, so a constant modulus weight vector may be used. As a result, it is able to improve the power efficiency.

A Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology plays an important role in the improvement of peak value and system spectrum efficiency, so conventional Long Term Evolution (LTE) or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) radio access technologies are built on the basis of an MIMO+Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology. In addition, a performance gain of the MIMO technology is derived from a degree of spatial freedom capable of being achieved by a multi-antennae system, so during the standardization, an important evolution for the MIMO technology lies in the extension of dimension.
For a base station antenna system with a conventional Passive Antenna System (PAS) structure, a plurality of antenna ports (each port corresponds to an independent radio frequency (RF)-Intermediate frequency (IF)-baseband channel) is arranged horizontally, and a plurality of antennae elements in a vertical dimension corresponding to each port is connected to each other via a RF cable. Hence, it is merely able for the conventional MIMO technology to optimize horizontal-dimension spatial characteristics of each signal by adjusting relative amplitudes/phases of different ports in a horizontal dimension, but in the vertical dimension, merely a uniform sector beamforming solution can be used. In addition, after an Active Antenna System (AAS) technology is introduced into a mobile communication system, the base station antenna system may acquire a larger degree of freedom in the vertical dimension, so it is able to optimize a signal from a User Equipment (UE) in a three-dimensional (3D) space.
Based on the above, in industry, the MIMO technology is moving in a three-dimensional and massive direction. Currently, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is studying 3D channel modeling, and in future, it is expected to study and standardize a Full Dimension MIMO (FD-MIMO) technology using more than eight ports (e.g., 16, 32 or 64 ports). In academia, the MIMO technology on the basis of a massive antenna array (including a hundred of, or hundreds of, or more antenna elements) is now being studied and tested proactively. The research and the preliminary channel test result show that, a massive MIMO technology can improve the system spectrum efficiency technically and support more users to access. Hence, the massive MIMO technology has been considered by various research organizations as one of the most potential physical layer technologies for a next-generation mobile communication system.
In addition, in an LTE system, a Cell-specific Reference Signal (CRS)-based transmission and CSI measurement mechanism is adopted by Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) Transmission Modes (TMs) 1-7, Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for transmitting Layer 1/2 (L1/2) control information and Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) for transmitting broadcast information. During the development of the LTE/LTE-A system, along with the separation of the measurement and transmission of the reference signals, the CRS is being gradually replaced with CSI-Reference Signal (CSI-RS) and UE-specific Reference signal (URS) in newly-introduced PDSCH TMs 8-10. However, for the sake of compatibility and the transmission of control and broadcast information, influences on the information transmission and the CSI measurement caused by the introduction of an AAS-based two-dimensional (2D) array need to be taken into consideration.
In a PAS array, each CRS port corresponds to fewer antenna ports. For example, in the case that there are eight bipolar antenna ports and four CRS ports, each CRS port may correspond to two antenna ports. In this case, it is able to conveniently design sector coverage beams adapted to a large angle range, and to ensure the CRS and the CRS-based transmission power efficiency. After the AAS array is used, the number of the available baseband-controllable antenna elements may increase dramatically, so it is able to form an explicitly-oriented narrow beam with for the transmission of services. For the URS-based transmission, the transmission quality depends on the number of the controllable ports and the processing gains from the 3D-MIMO technology. However, for the CRS ports, in order to make full use of their functions so as to ensure a coverage range, the number of the antenna elements corresponding to each CRS port may increase dramatically. Further, in order to meet the requirements of the sector coverage within a wider angle range, merely a non-constant modulus (CM) weight vector can be used. At this time, the power efficiency will decrease, and finally the CRS-based transmission performance and measurement accuracy will be adversely affected.
In a word, for the conventional CRS-based transmission and CSI measurement mechanism, there is a contradiction between the coverage range and the power efficiency in the AAS array. No effective scheme has been currently proposed so as to achieve the 3D-MIMO processing gains based on the AAS technology.

Channel state information measurement method and device, and signal transmission method and device

China Academy Of Telecommunications Technology


The present invention relates to a fire resistant structural material comprising a surfactant component, surfactant-generated microcells, a gel catalyst component and a binder component. The structural material may further comprise a filler component. In addition, the present invention relates to fire resistant fabric materials comprising a substrate coated with a coating comprising the fire resistant structural material. Further, the present invention relates to fire resistant articles of manufacture comprising the fire resistant fabric material, and particularly to mattresses comprising the fire resistant fabric material.

Various attempts have been made to produce fire resistant fabrics having characteristics that make them suitable for use in mattresses and in other applications, e.g., draperies and upholstery.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,980 is directed to a fire resistant fabric useful for mattress ticking. The fabric is formed from a corespun yarn comprising a high temperature resistant continuous filament fiberglass core and a low temperature resistant staple fiber sheath which surrounds the core. The fiberglass core comprises about 20% to 40% of the total weight of the corespun yarn while the sheath comprises about 80% to about 60% of the total weight of the corespun yarn. The corespun yarn can be woven or knit to form fabric with fire resistant characteristics. When exposed to a flame, the sheath chars and the fiberglass core serves as a fire barrier. In a preferred embodiment, the sheath is made from cotton.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,243 discloses a fire barrier fabric comprising a substrate formed of corespun yarns and a coating carried by one surface of the substrate. Other fire resistant fabrics include Fenix™ (Milliken, LaGrange, Ga.) and fabrics made by Freudenberg (Lowell, Mass.), Ventex Inc. (Great Falls, Va.), BASF, Basofil Fiber Division (Enka, N.C.), Carpenter Co. (Richmond, Va.), Leggetand Platt (Nashville, Tenn.), Chiquala Industries Products Group (Kingspoint, Tenn.), and Sandel (Amsterdam, N.Y.). DuPont also manufacturers a fabric made from Kevlar™ thread. In addition, the mattress industry has attempted to manufacture mattresses by using Kevlar™ thread, glass thread, flame retardant polyurethane foams, flame retardant ticking, flame retardant cotton cushioning and flame retardant tape. However, use of these materials may add to the cost of mattresses and may result in a cost-prohibitive product. Additionally, some fire-resistant threads, such as glass threads, are difficult to work with and can break, adding to the time required for manufacturing the mattress, which also translates into added costs.
Flame retardant tapes are also difficult to work with and increase production time. In addition, flame retardant tapes are only available in a limited number of colors and sizes. Flame retardant polyurethanes may release noxious gases when they smolder and ignite. Furthermore, the process for flame retarding ticking often compromises the desired characteristics of the ticking (e.g. it may no longer be soft, drapable, pliable, flexible, etc).
For many years substrates such as fiberglass have been coated with various compositions to produce materials having utility in, among other applications, the building industry. U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,005 relates to structural laminates made with facing sheets. The laminates described in that patent include thermosetting plastic foam and have planar facing sheets comprising 60% to 90% by weight glass fibers (exclusive of glass micro-fibers), 10% to 40% by weight non-glass filler material and 1% to 30% by weight non-asphaltic binder material. The filler materials are indicated as being clay, mica, talc, limestone (calcium carbonate), gypsum (calcium sulfate), aluminum trihydrate (ATH), antimony trioxide, cellulose fibers, plastic polymer fibers or a combination of any two or more of those substances. The patent further notes that the filler materials are bonded to the glass fibers using binders such as urea-, phenol- or melamine-formaldehyde resins (UF, PF, and MF resins), or a modified acrylic or polyester resin. Ordinary polymer latexes used according to the disclosure are Styrene-Butadiene-Rubber (SBR), Ethylene-Vinyl-Chloride (EVCl), PolyVinylidene Chloride (PvdC), modified PolyVinyl Chloride (PVC), PolyVinyl Alcohol (PVOH), and PolyVinyl Acetate (PVA). The glass fibers, non-glass filler material and non-asphaltic binder are all mixed together to form the facer sheets.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,032 discloses an acrylic coating comprised of one acrylic underlying resin which includes fly ash and an overlying acrylic resin which differs from the underlying resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,329 discloses a fire retardant coating composition comprising fly ash and vinyl acrylic polymer emulsion. The fly ash is 24 to 50% of the composition. The composition may also preferably contain one or more of a dispersant, a defoamer, a plasticizer, a thickener, a drying agent, a preservative, a fungicide and an ingredient to control the pH of the composition and thereby inhibit corrosion of any metal surface to which the composition is applied.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,897 discloses a cover layer material on a basis of a matting or fabric which is especially for the production of gypsum boards and polyurethane hard foam boards. The cover layer material has a coating on one side which comprises 70% to 94% powdered inorganic material, such as calcium carbonate, and 6% to 30% binder. In addition, thickening agents and cross-linking agents are added and a high density matting is used.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,238 discloses a fire resistant thermal insulating composite structure comprised of a mixture of from about 50% to 94% by weight of inorganic microfibers, particularly glass, and about 50% to 6% by weight of heat resistant binding agent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,257, issued to the present assignee, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a structural article having a coating which includes only two major constituents, while eliminating the need for viscosity modifiers, for stabilizers or for blowing. The structural article of U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,257 is made by coating a substrate having an ionic charge with a coating having essentially the same iconic charge. The coating consists essentially of a filler material and a binder material. The assignee, Elk Corporation of Dallas, produces a product in accordance with the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,257 which is marketed as VersaShield®.
As indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,257, VersaShield® has many uses. However, it has been found that the products made in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,257 are not satisfactory for certain uses because they lack sufficient drapability.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/955,395, filed Sep. 18, 2001, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, addresses these inadequacies with a fire resistant fabric material comprising a substrate having an ionic charge coated with a coating having essentially the same ionic charge wherein the coating comprises a filler component which includes clay and a binder component. A fire resistant fabric material thus produced has satisfactory flexibility, pliability and drapability characteristics. However, while this material is suitable as a fire resistant fabric material, it is desirable to provide a fire resistant material that would also have cushioning or "bounceback" characteristics.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fire resistant structural material, fabrics made therefrom


A modular breaking unit with a holder-guiding assembly, wherein: the modular breaking unit includes a casing unit; a holder for holding a movable contact of the modular breaking unit is accommodated in the casing unit; the movable contact of the modular breaking unit is mounted on the movable contact holder; the holder-guiding assembly is installed in the casing unit and arranged to support and guide the movable contact holder to move between an open position and a closed position; the holder-guiding assembly is made of thermoplastic material; the movable contact holder is made of thermosetting plastic material. A contactor including at least one said modular breaking units.

In the prior art, a casing of a breaking unit and a holder for a movable contact accommodated therein are both made of thermosetting materials. Friction will occur between them due to relative movement, and then pollution particles will be generated. The generation of pollution particles further aggravates the friction between the two, which hinders the moving performance of the moving contact, and long-term friction will lead to mismatch (gap) between silver tips of the moving contact and a fixed contact. In order to obtain good friction between them, it is necessary to form good guidance in shape and material between them.

Modular breaking unit with a holder-guiding assembly and contactor


An action for a keyboard-based musical instrument is provided for preventing action parts made of a synthetic resin from being charged to eliminate stains due to dust and motes in the air attracted by static electricity. The action is composed of a plurality of action parts coupled to one another, including a hammer. The action actuates in response to depression on a key to swing the hammer which strikes a string. At least one of the plurality of action parts is made of a synthetic resin which has electrical conductivity at least on a surface thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an action for a keyboard-based musical instrument which actuates in response to depression on an associated key to swing a hammer which in turn strikes a string.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An action for a keyboard-based musical instrument is configured to actuate in response to depression on an associated key to swing a hammer which in turn strikes a string. An action for a grand piano is comprised of action parts which include a wippen carried on a rear portion of a key for pivotal movement about the rear end of the key; a repetition lever pivotably attached to the wippen; a jack; and the like.
As the key is depressed from a free state, the wippen is pushed up, causing the repetition lever and jack to pivotally move together upward. Associated with the pivotal movements of these parts, the jack pushes up a hammer which in turn swing upward to strike a string disposed above the hammer.
In recent years, parts made of a synthetic resin are increasingly used for the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument. This is because the parts made of synthetic resin can be worked in a higher accuracy at a lower cost, as compared with those made of wood, and hardly change in dimensions and weight with environmental changes such as humidity.
However, when the above-mentioned conventional parts made of a synthetic resin are used for an action, the motion of the action causes the action parts to rub against one another to be readily charged, resulting in the generation of static electricity. Since the synthetic resin is an insulating material, the static electricity, once generated, generally remains as it is without going away. The static electricity attracts dust, motes and the like in the air to cause stains on the action parts. Particularly, in a region where the action is accommodated, a hammer felt rubs against a string to produce motes which make the action more susceptible to stains, malfunction, reduced lifetime, and the like.
The present invention has been made to solve the problem as mentioned above, and it is an object of the invention to provide an action for a keyboard-based musical instrument which is capable of preventing action parts made of a synthetic resin from being charged, thereby eliminating without fail stains due to dust and motes in the air attracted onto the action parts by the action of static electricity.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, configured to actuate in response to depression on a key to generate sound. The action is characterized by comprising a plurality of action parts, at least one of which is made of a synthetic resin having electrical conductivity at least on a surface thereof.
This action for a keyboard-based musical instrument is configured to actuate in response to depression on a key, to swing the hammer, through the plurality of action parts, such that the hammer strikes the string. Since at least one of the plurality of action parts is made of a synthetic resin having electrical conductivity at least on a surface thereof, static electricity generated by the action parts rubbing against one another during the actuation of the action could be promptly removed, thereby preventing the action parts from being charged. This results in the prevention of the action parts from stains due to dust and motes in the air attracted by the static electricity. Consequently, the action according to the present invention can eliminate malfunctions and reduced lifetime.
Preferably, in the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, the at least one action part is applied with an antistatic coating on the surface.
In this preferred embodiment of the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, since the at least one action part is applied with an antistatic coating on the surface, the action parts can be prevented from being charged by removing static electricity along the electrically conductive surface. Therefore, the aforementioned effect of the present invention can be provided only by applying the antistatic coating, for example, on the surface of an ordinary synthetic resin which is not electrically conductive.
Preferably, in the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, the at least one action part is applied with the antistatic coating by dipping.
In this preferred embodiment of the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, since the antistatic coating is applied by dipping, the surface of the action part can be entirely coated with the antistatic coating without some portions left unpainted, unlike brushing, so that the charging can be prevented without fail. In addition, the antistatic coating can be applied more easily than with the brushing.
Preferably, in the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, the plurality of action parts include at least one action part deposited with an electrically conductive metal on a surface thereof.
In this preferred embodiment of the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, the charging can be prevented by the electrically conductive metal deposited on the surface of the at least one action part. In addition, since a drying step is not needed, as would be involved in applying the antistatic coating, the process required for the manufacturing can be reduced.
Preferably, in the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, the at least one action part comprises a molding made of an electrically conductive synthetic resin.
In this preferred embodiment of the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, since the at least one action part itself is made of the electrically conductive synthetic resin, the antistatic effect can be readily provided without the need for steps of applying an antistatic coating, depositing an electrically conductive metal, and the like after molding.
Preferably, in the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, the at least one action part comprises a plurality of action parts coupled to each other through an electrically conductive joint, wherein at least one of the plurality of action parts coupled to each other through the joint is coupled to a grounding part.
In this preferred embodiment of the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, since the joint between the plurality of action parts is electrically conductive, and the at least one action part is coupled to the grounding part, static electricity generated on one action part could be promptly removed to the grounding part through the joint and other action parts without fail, thereby ensuring the prevention of charged action parts.
Preferably, in the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, the joint comprises a bushing cloth.
Generally, the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument includes a bushing cloth wound around a joint of action parts for preventing wear and noise. Therefore, according to this preferred embodiment of the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, the existing bushing cloth can be utilized and provided with electrical conductivity to readily provide the foregoing effect of preventing the charging.
Preferably, in the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, the bushing cloth is impregnated with an antistatic agent.
In this preferred embodiment of the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, the electrical conductivity can be readily ensured for the bushing cloth by impregnating the bushing cloth with the antistatic agent.
Preferably, in the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, the bushing cloth is made of an electrically conductive fiber.
In this preferred embodiment of the action for a keyboard-based musical instrument, since the bushing cloth itself is made of an electrically conductive fiber, the electrical conductivity can be ensured for the bushing cloth without the need for impregnation of antistatic agent.

Action for keyboard-based musical instrument


A method and apparatus for presenting elevation angle information with rect to overhanging objects to an operator of a submersible incorporates a substantial portion of the sonar equipment found onboard conventional submersibles. Reflections of radiant energy from the objects are received by a highly directional array of hydrophones. The received reflections are time varying gain attenuated to substantially compensate for range-dependent signal variations such as are due to changes in scattering areas, spreading loss and attenuation loss. Using time varying gain processing and by taking into account the known directivity pattern of the hydrophones, the received reflections are reduced to represent signal characteristics due substantially to the elevation angle of the incoming reflections. These modulated reflections are quantized by first sorting the reflections into bands according to amplitude intensity and then by assigning a distinct color to the individual bands. The quantized reflections are then converted into color display signals according to their assigned colors, and the signals are displayed upon a color visual display to reveal object elevation angle information as distinct shades of color.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains generally to acoustic wave communication. More particularly, the invention relates to sonar systems. In greater particularity, the invention pertains to acoustic image conversion as it relates to time varying gain sonar.
2. Description of the Related Art
Submarines navigating underice have relied on monochromatic sonar systems to provide them with a visualization of objects to be avoided. Traditional systems have included phosphor cathode ray tubes that are sensitive to ambient light variations, making range, bearing and elevation information, regarding ice ridges and the like, vulnerable to being obscured or otherwise less readable. Many of these sonar setups rely upon increasing shades of brightness to indicate respectively higher degrees of hazard associated with approaching an underwater ridge or peak.
These levels of brightness often indicate the clearance that exists between the top of the vessel and the lowest extent of the approached ice ridge. Navigators determine whether this clearance is increasing or decreasing by observing changes in the brightness levels. With sonar systems of this kind, the navigator-operator must visually discern and commit to memory these changes as his vessel advances.
Monitoring these often subtle changes strains the operator and can increase his fatigue and possibility of poor judgement. In addition, if the ambient light level in the sonar console compartment is changed, such as due to changing operational conditions, for example, then the relative magnitudes of displayed brightness have an apparent change to the operator's eyes, so that a truly hazardous obstacle may not be recognized as such. The effects of fatigue and strain on the operator are sped up, and the risk of disastrous collision is increased.
Thus there is a continuing need in the state of the art for a sonar display that provides an operator with a portrayal of underwater obstacles that is easy to understand, not sensitive to ambient lighting and that can convey meaningful information for responsive action.

Color sonar for underwater object collision avoidance

The United States of Americas as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


The present invention provides a method for measuring the interface state density by a conductance technique. In particular, the method comprises: biasing a MOS capacitor structure to be measured in an accumulation region, measuring the MOS capacitor structure under a fixed bias voltage and at predetermined scanning frequencies in the accumulation region by using a Gp-G model, and calculating the values of the series resistor at respective predetermined scanning frequencies to obtain a series resistor model; obtaining an accurate model in an inversion region from the series resistor model varying with the predetermined scanning frequencies obtained in the accumulation region and obtaining the measurement results of interface state according to the accurate model.

The currently mainstream method for measuring interface states is a charge pumping method. The Chinese patent CN 101136347 discloses a measuring method for MOS transistor interface state. This measuring method comprises the following steps: step 1, obtaining a charge pumping current curve by the charge pumping measuring method, and obtaining another two charge pumping current curves by opening the drain terminal and the source terminal respectively; step 2, obtaining charge pumping currents at the source, drain, and channel by separating the identical and different portions of these three curves; step 3, obtaining the interface state densities at the source, drain, and channel from the charge pumping currents at the source, drain, and channel. However, as the critical dimension of the semiconductor device decreases continuously, the charge pumping method can not measure the charge pumping current accurately in the small device. This results from the small recombination current and the insufficient device accuracy. In addition, since current leakage is relatively large in a thin gate oxide, the influence of the gate oxide current leakage cannot be ignored in the measured bulk current, and this makes it difficult to measure accurately. Furthermore, as for the charge pumping method, the measured interface state density is an average value. In case of high-k dielectric material application, a large number of defects can be found not only in interface state, but also in the dielectric material, which significantly reduces the accuracy of the charge pumping method. Therefore, the conductance technique has attracted increasing attention in consideration of its accuracy.
The conductance technique is another method for measuring the interface state density. The basic principle is to measure the alternating current impedance Zm of a capacitor structure in the depletion region (the equivalent circuit is shown in FIG. 1a) with a measurement platform. FIG. 1b illustrates the equivalent circuit of the MOS capacitor in the depletion region, wherein Cox is the gate capacitance, and GT is the conductance corresponding to the path formed by electrons tunneling through the gate oxide, which generally can be ignored. GD is the capacitance of the depletion region, and Cit, Rit correspond to the impedance under a certain interface state density. FIG. 1c is a simplified circuit diagram of FIG. 1b, wherein Gp and Cp are equivalent impedance of the substrate. If GT is ignored, the equivalent circuit can be obtained as shown in FIG. 1d. There are two methods for characterizing interface state according to conductance spectra, i.e. a conductance-voltage technique and a conductance-frequency technique. The conductance-voltage technique is easy to operate and realize, but not accurate in theory. The conductance-frequency technique is accurate in theory. According to this theory, when the frequency of an alternating current signal coincides with the time constant of interface state at the Femi level, Gp/w has a maximum value.
In the conductance technique, the components connected in series of the structure to be measured may have a relatively large influence on the measurement results. Hence, in the method of converting the equivalent circuit as described above, the influence of such parasitic components can be modeled by incorporating certain parasitic elements in the circuit. Further, in the paper "A Methodology for Extraction of the Density of Interface States in the Presence of Frequency Dispersion via the Conductance Technique" on the IEEE transaction on electron devices by Sebastien et al. in 2010, it is proposed to modify the conductance technique, in which a fixed network of resistors and capacitors is used as an equivalent parasitic component for the structure to be measured. This method can effectively avoid the problem that the measured interface state density is an average interface state density in the conventional charge pumping method. In addition, in applications of high-k dielectric material, the interface state inside the high-k dielectric material can be measured. Therefore, this method is more accurate.
As mentioned above, during the actual measurement by the conductance technique, a series component such as a resistor in series with the device to be measured may have a remarkable influence on the measurement result. In the above mentioned paper, different models are used to eliminate these influences. As can be seen in the paper, the method is realized by incorporating an auxiliary device, and this auxiliary device is irrelevant with frequency.

Method for measuring interface state density

SHANGHAI HUALI MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION


An adapter system for a beverage can filling valve for quick connection/disconnection of multiple centering bells used to fill differently sized cans and a CIF assembly.

Beverage cans are sometimes filled by automated container filling systems. In such a system, an empty can is engaged with a filling valve creating a seal and the beverage dispensed from a pressurized tank through the valve and into the can. In the filling process, a plurality of cans move in a line through a rotary filler having multiple valves. Empty cans are presented to each filling valve as the rotary filler turns. The empty cans must be correctly centered beneath the filling valve to avoid damage to the can, foaming, or spillage of product. Centering devices for cans, such as centering bells, specifically fit the opening/body of the can to be filled and allow a minute amount of clearance in order to fill the can quickly.
Beverage cans vary in design but share certain dimensions for lid diameter, body diameter, and overall height. Current known common lid diameters are 200, 202, 204, 206, and 209 millimeters. Current known body diameters are 202, 204, 207.5, 211, 300, and 307 millimeters. Current known can height dimensions range from 307 to 710 millimeters. Different centering bells correspond to each can size.
Presently, when a change in can size is scheduled for a line, all of the centering bells are disconnected from each of the valves, and centering bells sized for the lid diameter and body diameter of that new can are connected. A problem exists in that changing the bells requires stopping the line for a considerable amount of time to disconnect or unscrew all of the bells and reconnect the appropriate bells for the new can size. For a filler having multiple valves (for example, 72), the time required to change each centering bell consumes valuable time that reduces production time. A need exist for an adapter that allows a filling valve to quickly and easily accept a variety of centering bells used for differently sized cans.
Existing centering bells must be screwed onto the valve housing using a torqueing tool. Over torqueing can ruin the screw threads of the bell. If a bell is dropped, a slight bend in the threads can disable the bell. A need exists for means to attach bells to a filler valve without the need for complicated tools to quickly connect and disconnect the bells.
In addition, filling lines are typically cleaned to maintain flavor integrity and cleanliness of the filling apparatus. Currently, a clean-in-place (CIP) system that has a cup that replaces the centering bell is screwed on after the bell is removed. Removing each bell and connecting the cup to each valve is time consuming—taking many hours to remove each bell, attach each cup, remove the cup and reattach the bell to run a product. A need exists for a method and system to reduce the amount of time required to connect and disconnect a CIP assembly to reduce line down time and afford the maximum amount of time to run product.


In a substrate, particularly in a substrate for a mirror support, in which recesses are introduced in one surface, preferably in the back side of the substrate, as a result of which, in particular, bridging pieces are defined between the recesses, in order to achieve the situation that despite a reduced weight, a high rigidity still remains, which means only a slight sagging after its correct uptake in a holding device provided for it, it is provided that at least one first portion of the bridging pieces has a width that is different than a second portion of the bridging pieces.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to substrates for mirror supports with reduced weight as well as mirrors with reduced-weight mirror supports.
2. Description of Related Art
Substrates for mirror supports with reduced weight as well as mirrors with reduced-weight mirror supports are frequently utilized in extraterrestrial applications, such as in space travel, for example, in order to be free from atmospheric speckle distortions and deformations from observation points remote from earth as well as also to bypass the continually increasing terrestrial light pollution, which has a contrast-reducing effect on observation results as a background source of light in terrestrial astronomy.
Also in terrestrial astronomy, it is advantageous to make available systems with small mass, since, when the mirror is adjusted or when moving objects are tracked, such as in the observation of stellar bodies on their trajectories, the force required for regulating and resetting decreases with the reduced weight of the moved mass.
In addition to the reduced weight, however, the rigidity of the mirror support or its sagging due to the mirror that is accommodated on it becomes very important.
If at first a pure weight reduction by eliminating mass may appear to be a simple and obvious measure, it becomes immediately clear, however, that very high requirements relative to strength and rigidity are placed on the structure that remains after the elimination of mass.
If one obtains regions of less than half of the original weight, in fact regions of less than two-thirds of the initial weight, then demanding challenges are presented in processing the substrate of the mirror support. This situation becomes particularly more difficult if materials such as glass or glass ceramics are to be finished with high precision.
Various tests have been undertaken to obtain mirror supports with reduced mass and rigidity but which can still be used.
The structure of a mirror support with reduced weight has been produced in which spheres have been assembled with plates in order to obtain in this way a closed rigid structure. The disadvantage of this solution, however, is that such spheres usually have a different thermal expansion behavior than the basic structure of the mirror support, and consequently, with fluctuations in temperature, which are unavoidable in many cases of application, additional deformations may occur. In addition, a high shaping precision cannot be definitively obtained by the hot forming process used in this case.

Substrate for a mirror support with reduced weight as well as mirror with reduced-weight mirror support


A polymeric thickener, emulsifier or suspension aid having improved wettability which is an interpolymer of at least one olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid containing at least one activated carbon-to-carbon olefinic double bond and at least one carboxyl group, in an amount of more than 15% by weight based upon the weight of the interpolymer, and at least one steric stabilizer surfactant having at least one hydrophilic moiety and at least one hydrophobic moiety and a linear block or a random comb configuration, or mixtures thereof, where the interpolymer has admixed therewith a wetting additive such as a low surface tension surfactant, a glycol, a polyhydric alcohol or mixtures thereof, and a process for dispersing the interpolymer by adding a low surface tension surfactant to the water into which the interpolymer is being dispersed.

This invention relates to polycarboxylic acid polymers, which are used as thickeners, emulsifiers and suspending aids, having improved wettability and dispersability. In particular, this invention relates to interpolymers of olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids or anhydrides and a steric stabilizing component where the interpolymer has admixed therewith a wetting additive, such as a low surface tension surfactant, a glycol, a polyhydric alcohol, or mixtures thereof. The result is a polymer having improved wettability. In addition, we have developed a process for improving the wettability of interpolymers by adding the interpolymer to an aqueuous media containing a low surface tension surface active agent.
Carboxyl containing polymers of vinyl or vinylidene monomers containing at least one terminal CH.sub.2 .dbd.C<group are well known. Such polymers may be homopolymers of unsaturated polymerizable carboxylic acids, such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid and the like; or copolymers of said acid or anhydride monomers with (meth)acrylate esters, (meth)acrylamides, olefins, maleic anhydrides, vinyl esters, vinyl ethers, and styrenics; or copolymers with other vinyl or vinylidene monomers. Copolymers of these acids may be cross-linked with small amounts of crosslinking agents. These materials are normally prepared by polymerization with a free radical catalyst in an organic medium in a closed vessel or autoclave equipped with stirring. During polymerization, the polymer precipitates from the solution as it is formed. The precipitated polymer is recovered and dried to remove residual solvent. The polymer, now in a powder form, is used by dispersing it in water and neutralizing it to use its thickening, suspending or emulsifying ability. Such polymers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,798,053; 3,915,921; 3,940,351; 4,062,817; 4,066,583; and 4,267,103.
Polycarboxylic acid polymers in powder form historically have proven difficult to disperse in aqueous media, such as water. Special and often burdensome measures are typically required. Due to their very strong hydrophilic nature, particles of such polymers immediately begin swelling upon contact with water. When a large number of powder particles are added as a group to water, during swelling, a skin of hydrated particles can form around other dry particles before those dry particles can themselves be hydrated. The result is lumps of undispersed particles which cannot be easily eliminated. This phenomena is evident even when a small quantity (one gram or less) of crosslinked polyacrylic acid powder is dropped into water that is being agitated. To overcome these difficulties, special methods are used, such as dusting the powder over agitating water through the use of a sieve, use of a venturi eductor, or employment of a mechanical disperser, but they can slow processing, create high levels of airborne dust, and/or necessitate large capital expenditures.
It has been found, in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/935,616, filed Aug. 26, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No .5,288,814, that the incorporation of a steric stabilizer into the polymeric network can improve the dispersion of crosslinked polyacrylic acid powders into water. The polymer is less hydrophilic, and so the individual powder particles swell slowly, avoiding the rapid creation of a skin that would otherwise prevent hydration of all powder particles. When steric-stabilized crosslinked polyacrylic acid powder is added to water, one observes the absorption of water into the powder. As the particles wet, they form soft clusters of hydrated particles which eventually sink below the surface of the water. Once the particles are wetted out, they will begin to disperse throughout the water. Upon neutralization with an organic or inorganic base, the hydrated particles and clusters of hydrated particles greatly expand, eventually resulting in a smooth gel or viscous liquid.
Surfactants have been employed in the manufacture of carboxyl containing polymers because, in their manufacture, the aggregation of the polymer can interfere with the polymerization reaction by retarding access of the monomer to free radicals and by interfering with the removal of the heat produced by the polymerization. Further, the precipitated polymer forms a slurry in the solvent which becomes extremely thick, resulting in ineffective mixing and fouling on reactor surfaces. Even the presence of these surfactants does not result in a polymer having improved handling. These surfactants have not been considered low surface tension surfactants. A low surface tension surfactant would be a surfactant that is used as a wetting agent and capable of reducing the surface tension of water, which is about 72 dynes per centimeter at 25.degree. C. to about 40 dynes/cm or less. Surface tension is usually measured using the Denooy Ring or Wilhelmy Plate Method.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,533 to Park et al. discloses a process for overcoming some of the above problems, in which the polymerization of acrylic acid, and optional comonomers, in an organic media, is characterized by the use of nonionic surface active agents having a hydrophobe to lipophobe balance (HLB) values between 1 and about 10. U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,502, to Sehm, disclosed a process for the polymerization of acrylic acid and optional comonomers in the presence of a nonionic surface active agent selected from polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers and polyoxyethylene sorbitol esters and having an HLB value greater than 12. U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,596, to Lochhead et al., disclosed a process for polymerizing carboxylic acids in mineral spirits, employing nonionic surface active agents having HLB values less than 10. U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,937 to Hsu teaches the polymerization of acrylic acid in an organic solvent with a free radical catalyst, using nonionic block copolymers of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide to minimize undesirable flocculation and agglomeration. U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,502 to Uebele et at. teaches a process for polymerizing acrylic acid in an organic media with a free radical catalyst and at least one oil-soluble ionic surfactant selected from an anionic formula, a cationic formula, or an amphoteric formula to achieve reduced polymer build-up in the reactor and provide a more desirable particle size for the precipitated polymer.
Low surface tension surfactants have been employed in polymerization processes, involving the polymerization of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene in an aqueous emulsion, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,685 to H. B. Chin et al, where a water soluble fluorosurfactant, such as Forathc or Fluorad surfactant, is employed. But, this use is in the polymerization per se and not to benefit the polymer after polymerization. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,698 to T. W. Cooke teaches fluorochemical surfactants for use as wetting agents, rinse aids and leveling agents, while U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,200 to G. S. Penny teaches the use of perfluoro-substituted compounds to reduce the tendency of surfaces to wet in increasing hydrocarbon production from subterranean formations.

Polycarboxylic acid thickeners, emulsifiers, and suspending aids having improved wettability characteristics


A method is provided for manufacturing a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film device including a ceramic substrate and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive operation portion including a lower electrode, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer, and upper electrode stacked on the substrate. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer is formed to extend beyond at least one of electrodes to form projected portions at its ends. The method includes the steps of forming the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer so that ends of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer are projected to extend beyond ends of at least one electrode, applying a coating liquid in a sufficient amount so that the coating liquid permeates through a gap between at least the projected end portion of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer and the substrate, and so as to coat a predetermined portion of the at least one electrode, and drying the applied coating liquid to form a coupling member to couple the projected end portions of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer to the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type device, in which the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type device having a high resonance frequency can be manufactured with good efficiency while securing the conduction of each electrode.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type devices have been used in various applications such as a displacement control device, solid device motor, ink jet head, relay, switch, shutter, pump, optical modulation device, and fin. The film type device can control a minute displacement and has superior properties such as a high electromechanical transduction efficiency, high-speed response, high durability, and low power consumption. In recent years, however, in certain applications such as with an ink jet head, there has been a demand for a device having a higher speed response in view of the demand for the enhancement of printing quality and speed.
Additionally, piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type devices are generally produced by stacking a lower electrode, piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer, and an upper electrode in order on a substrate of a ceramic. However, in order to secure insulation between the electrodes while avoiding dielectric breakdown of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer, as shown in FIG. 15, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type device 30 has been developed including a piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer 73 disposed in such a size that an upper surface of a lower electrode 77 is coated and an end of the layer projects onto a substrate 44 (See JP-A-6-260694).
Moreover, in the conventional piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type device 30, a discontinuous plane is formed between a projecting portion 79 of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer 73 and the substrate 44. This is sometimes a cause for disconnection of the upper electrode 75. Therefore, it has also been described that a gap between the projecting portion 79 of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer 73 and the substrate 44 is filled with a predetermined resin layer (See said laid-open publication).
Needless to say, the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type devices in which the resin layer is to be disposed, is very tiny, and it is difficult to coat only a predetermined portion with the resin layer. Therefore, the whole electrode has been coated with the resin layer under the present situation.
However, a large number of piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type devices are usually used in alignment and are electrically connected to one another. Therefore, it is quite important to manufacture the elelectrodes of each device so that the electrodes can be connected to another device or external connecting means, in order to manufacture final products having good efficiency. However, no consideration has been paid to this point in manufacturing the above-described piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type device. Therefore, an operation to remove a part of the resin layer formed on each electrode after forming the resin layer has been required. Additionally, damage such as cracks are generated in the resin layer that remains during the removing step. Furthermore, parts of the removed resin layer remain as particles in each portion of the device, which sometimes causes trouble with incomplete contact during the electric property inspection.
Moreover, in conventional piezoelectric/electrostrictive devices, based on the recognition that flexural displacement or generating force is adversely influenced by the connection between the projecting portion of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer and the substrate, an increase in the rigidity of the device has not been considered. Therefore, the recent demand to achieve a higher response speed has not necessarily been sufficiently satisfied.

Manufacturing method of piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type device


An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image formation unit configured to form an image on a sheet; a sensor unit having a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device; a frame to which the sensor unit is attached; at least one projection provided on one of the sensor unit and the frame, the at least one projection being formed to have a contacting part which projects to contact an other of the sensor unit and the frame; and at least one engagement part provided on one of the sensor unit and the frame, the at least one engagement part being formed to engage with at least one catching part provided on an other of the sensor unit and the frame and to press the at least one projection in a direction of increasing a contact surface pressure of the contacting part by causing elastic deformation.

1. Technical Field
Aspects of the present invention relate to an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet.
2. Related Art
In general, in an image forming apparatus, a sensor unit having a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device is fixed to a main body with screws.


A coolant pump for an internal combustion engine. The coolant pump includes a delivery duct, a drive shaft, a coolant pump impeller arranged on the drive shaft to rotate therewith and to convey a coolant, and an adjustable control slide which controls a throughflow cross-section of an annular gap arranged between an outlet of the coolant pump impeller and the surrounding delivery duct. The control slide comprises a first pressure chamber arranged on a side of the control slide facing away from the coolant pump impeller and a second pressure chamber arranged opposite thereto. A control pump includes a control pump impeller arranged at the drive shaft to rotate therewith. A connecting duct fluidically connects the flow duct to the second pressure chamber. A pressure duct fluidically connects the flow duct outlet to the first pressure chamber. A valve opens and closes a throughflow cross-section of the pressure duct.

Such coolant pumps in an internal combustion engine serve to control the flow rate of the delivered coolant to prevent the internal combustion engine from overheating. These pumps are in most cases driven via a belt or a chain drive so that the coolant pump impeller is driven at the speed of the crankshaft or at a fixed ratio to the speed of the crankshaft.
In modern internal combustion engines, the delivered coolant flow must be matched with the coolant demand of the internal combustion engine or the motor vehicle. The cold running phase of the engine should in particular be reduced to prevent increased pollutant emissions and to reduce fuel consumption. This is realized, inter alia, by restricting or completely switching off the coolant flow during this phase.
Various pump designs for controlling coolant flow rate are known. Besides electrically driven coolant pumps, pumps are known which can be coupled to or decoupled from their drive units via couplings, in particular hydrodynamic couplings. A particularly inexpensive and simple manner of controlling the delivered coolant flow is the use of an axially movable control slide which is pushed across the coolant pump impeller so that, for reducing the coolant flow, the pump does not deliver into the surrounding delivery duct but against the closed slide.
The control of this slide is also performed in different ways. Besides a purely electric adjustment, a hydraulic adjustment of the slides has in particular proved successful. A hydraulic displacement is in most cases carried out via an annular piston chamber which is filled with a hydraulic fluid and whose piston is connected to the slide to move the slide across the impeller during filling of the chamber. The slide is returned by opening the piston chamber towards an outlet, in most cases via a magnetic valve, as well as via a spring action providing the force for returning the slide.
For the coolant flow required for moving the slide not to be supplied via additional delivery units, such as additional piston/cylinder units, or for other hydraulic fluids not to be compressed for operating purposes, mechanically controllable coolant pumps are known on whose drive shaft a second delivery wheel is arranged via which the pressure for adjusting the slide is provided. These pumps are designed, for example, as side channel pumps or as servo pumps.
A coolant means having a side channel pump acting as a secondary pump is described in DE 10 2012 207 387 A1. In this pump, via a 3/2-way valve, in a first position, a discharge side of the secondary pump is closed and a suction side of the pump is connected to the coolant circuit and the slide, and in a second position, the discharge side is connected to the slide and the suction side is connected to the coolant circuit. A spring is used to return the slide, which spring may be omitted when the pump is to be reset by the negative pressure produced at the suction connection. A detailed duct and flow routing is not described. The schematically shown flow routing is only realizable in modern internal combustion engines with an increased technical effort and with a larger installation space. It is also doubtful whether the force acting on the slide due to the negative pressure is sufficiently large to overcome the frictional forces acting during adjustment.

Coolant pump for an internal combustion engine


Disclose are methods for evaluating a user's interests and making gift recommendations using social media data. Interests and attributes of a user may be detected from social media content and products corresponding to the interests and attributes may be selected and presented as gift recommendations for the user. Methods are disclosed for resolving ambiguity as to interests reflected by textual data in social media content. Also disclosed are methods for inferring a user's interests from the interests of friends of the user.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to systems and methods for making product recommendations appropriate for a recipient's interest and that are suited for giving as a gift.
2. Background of the Invention
One of the facets of shopping is gifting. Gifting may be the act of giving a present to somebody because of an event (e.g., birthday) or occasion (e.g., house warming party). People may also treat themselves or loved ones to a gift. Regardless of the occasion or the reason for gifting, there is often one common denominator: delight the receiver. Although some approaches have been used to provide recommendations according to a simple analysis of interests of the recipient these do not take into account whether products related to these interests are in fact suitable for giving as a gift.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for identifying gifts that are likely to relate to recipients interest and also be appropriate as gifts intended to delight the receiver.

System and method for making gift recommendations using social media data


A cartridge filter has a unitary upper fitting and a separate gasket which permits a single base filter to be used with a wide range of tube sheet openings, simply by selecting the appropriate gasket. In one embodiment, the gasket is bonded to the unitary upper fitting. In another embodiment, the tubular side wall of the unitary upper fitting defines an annular step, and the gasket defines a bottom edge, at least a portion of which rests on the step.

Cartridge filters are used for the removal of particulate matter from a fluid stream in a wide range of industrial and commercial applications. Typically, the cartridge filters are contained in a baghouse. The baghouse is basically a housing divided into top and bottom chambers by a plate or tube sheet. The tube sheet has openings, and the cartridge filters are inserted into the openings. The "dirty" fluid stream is blown into the bottom chamber of the baghouse, where it passes through the cartridge filters to the top chamber. The filters remove the particulates from the stream. There may be variations in the tube sheets depending upon the application. For instance, various thicknesses of metal may be used, and the openings may have different sizes and shapes.


A water-station drink cup for running races has a square cutout at a front or proximal side, and arcuate upper edges along a radius on each side from the top of the verticals of the cutout to a common point on the opposite side. Radiused perforations create fold lines that extend from the bottom of each side of the vertical to meet at that common point. This creates two flaps of a double-radiused ogive shape. The flaps are pushed down one onto the other to close the top, leaving a drink opening at the distal side, corresponding to the square cutout.

In running road races, e.g., marathons, half-marathons, 10-kilometer race, 5-kilometer races, other distance runs, or in cross-country ski races, there are typically water stations or water stops along the course where participants can grab a paper cup with water to re-hydrate during the race. Invariably, inexpensive common paper cups are used for this purpose because a large number of cups are required and the paper cups will be used only once and then discarded. The cups are usually filled and placed on a table alongside the race course where they can be grabbed quickly by a runner when passing the table, or where a volunteer can hand the container and water to the runner. In some cases, an electrolyte drink, e.g., Gatorade®, is served in the paper cups.
It is also possible that cone-style cups (with a pointed rather than flat base) could be used.
These water cups always have an open top, so that when the runner picks up the cup, much of the water (or other hydrating beverage) spills or splashes out. Many runners will crush or fold in the top part of the cup to try and prevent spilling, but this also results in some of the water spilling or squirting out, and moreover it is difficult to form any sort of drinking spout when the top is just crushed in that fashion.
There has been a need, and the need remains, for an inexpensive, disposable paper cup that can be used at water stations at road races, and which can be easily filled with water (or other beverage) and closed by volunteers at the water station, so the volunteers can hand off the cups to the runners without significant spillage. The closed cup limits fluid spillage during transfer from the volunteer to the racer when the racer grabs a cup from the table or from the volunteer. It is most desirable if the cup would also form a drink spout or opening when the flaps are folded in, so the runner can easily sip from the cup. The closed cup also allows more of the fluid to be drunk by the runner, for better hydration during the event. So that the cup can to be gripped with either hand of the runner or the volunteer at the water station, the cup should be symmetrical, so that it can close without any difficulty. However, to date no such disposable cup has been available.
A number of one-piece drink cups or containers have been proposed, e.g., for coffee, tea, or soft drinks, with built-in closures that can be folded down after the container is filled. However, these tend to be rather elaborate, with asymmetrical cuts and folds. As they have been specifically designed for coffee or similar beverage, they are not well suited for road-race water station use. Moreover, these fold-in coffee containers are costly to fabricate and produce, and would be too expensive for one-time use where there are multiple water stations and hundreds, or often thousands, of participants. This would be especially problematic where the distance run is being operated by a non-profit organization with a low budget for such supplies.


A leak-proof alkaline dry battery including a battery case and a seal unit for closing the opening of the battery case. The seal unit includes: a negative electrode terminal plate; a negative electrode current collector nail electrically connected to the terminal plate; and a resin seal member. The resin seal member includes: a central cylindrical part having an opening through which the body of the negative electrode current collector nail is inserted; an outer peripheral cylindrical part interposed between a peripheral edge of the negative electrode terminal plate and an open edge of the battery case; a connecting part interconnecting the central and outer peripheral cylindrical parts; and a thinned section formed in the connecting part. The body of the negative electrode current collector nail is fitted to the opening of the central cylindrical part in a particular fit relation to prevent leakage for a long time.

Alkaline dry batteries are currently widely used as the main power source for daily use articles, toys, hobby goods, game machines, portable music players, electronic devices, etc. Alkaline dry batteries are used in various environments, and may be used for as long as several years. Therefore, they are required to have high leakage resistance so that they should not leak even under a hot and humid environment for an extended period of time.
There are three possible routes through which electrolyte of common alkaline dry batteries leaks. These routes of electrolyte leakage are described with reference to FIG. 6, which is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the seal portion of a typical AA-size alkaline dry battery.
In the battery of FIG. 6, the open edge of a positive electrode case 31 is bent inward and in an arch to form a crimp 31a, so that a seal unit 39 is attached to the opening of the positive electrode case 31 to seal the opening. The seal unit 39 is prepared by welding a negative electrode current collector nail 36 to the center of a negative electrode terminal plate 37 in advance, and forcefully inserting a body 36a of the negative electrode current collector nail 36 through the opening (not shown) of a central cylindrical part 35a of a resin seal member 35 for integration. At this time, an outer peripheral cylindrical part 35d of the resin seal member 35 is sandwiched between the negative electrode terminal plate 37 and the positive electrode case 31.
In this alkaline dry battery, the first route of electrolyte leakage is a route of leakage of alkaline electrolyte between the inner face of the open edge of the positive electrode case 31 and the outer surface of the outer peripheral cylindrical part 35d of the resin seal member 35. However, the leakage through this route has been addressed by the development of various sealants and the research into rigid seal structure, so that commercially available dry batteries now have high reliability.
The second route is a route of leakage of alkaline electrolyte between the body 36a of the negative electrode current collector nail 36 and the central cylindrical part 35a of the resin seal member 35. The negative electrode current collector nail 36 is forcefully inserted through the opening of the central cylindrical part 35a, so that the alkaline electrolyte is sealed in.
When the negative electrode current collector nail 36 is loosely fitted to the central cylindrical part 35a, the alkaline electrolyte creeps up therebetween (hereinafter also referred to as "creeping"), thereby resulting in leakage. On the other hand, when the fit therebetween is too tight, the central cylindrical part 35a becomes cracked due to stress, and thus the seal is broken, thereby resulting in leakage of the alkaline electrolyte. When the resin seal member 35 is made of polyamide, in particular, it tends to become cracked since it is hydrolyzed by the alkaline electrolyte and deteriorates with time.
To prevent leakage through the second route, various proposals have been made (e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications No. 2007-80574 and No. Hei 8-124544), but there is a need for further improvements.
As for the third route, a part of the connecting part 35c of the resin seal member 35 becomes cracked and broken due to stress, and the alkaline electrolyte leaks through the broken portion. This phenomenon tends to occur particularly in the thinned section 35e, since the stress or strain applied to the outer peripheral cylindrical part 35d of the resin seal member 35 to attach the seal unit 39 to the opening of the positive electrode case 31 tends to concentrate in the thinned section 35e. When the resin seal member 35 is made of polyamide, in particular, it tends to break since it is hydrolyzed by the alkaline electrolyte and deteriorates with time.
To solve this problem, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications No. 2005-79021 and No. Hei 10-162800 disclose techniques of modifying the shape or structure of the seal unit 39 in order to reduce the transmission of stress or absorb stress. According to these conventional techniques, for example, the connecting part is provided with a redundant structure and thus some play, in order to prevent the stress created to attach the seal unit from being exerted on the connecting part.
However, alkaline dry batteries, which are widely used as the main power source for the above-noted various devices, are required to have not only leakage resistance but also higher capacity in order to provide longer battery life. It is thus necessary to pack a larger amount of power generating elements into the battery case and reduce the size of the seal unit. Therefore, providing the connecting part with a redundant structure, as in the aforementioned conventional techniques, not only increases the material costs but also becomes an obstacle to heightening the capacity of the dry battery.
As discussed above, many technical problems remain unsolved with respect to the leakage resistance of alkaline dry batteries, in particular, the leakage through the second and third routes.
The invention has been made in view of the above-discussed problems and aims to provide a leak-proof alkaline dry battery, in which alkaline electrolyte hardly leaks between the central cylindrical part of the resin seal member and the negative electrode current collector even during long-term storage, and leakage resulting from stress cracking and breakage of the thinned section of the resin seal member is prevented.


An apparatus (100) for measuring torque and flux current in an AC synchronous drive motor (108), having a shaft (110) magnetically coupled to an a-phase stator, a b-phase stator and a c-phase stator, includes a shaft position indicator (112) that is coupled to the shaft (110) and that generates a position signal indicative of a position of the shaft (110). A current sensing circuit (114) generates a current signal indicative of instantaneous direct link current of the motor (108). A sample and hold amplifier (116) samples the current signal when a trigger input is asserted. A processor (120) asserts the trigger input from trigger generation (124). The processor (120) calculates torque generated by the motor (108) and flux current in the motor (108) based on the current signal value and decoding algorithm (122).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical motor control systems and, more specifically, to a circuit that measures torque and flux current in a synchronous motor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electric motor drive applications are increasingly used in automotive applications. Recent trends include the use of electric motors in power steering. Since the battery voltage standard is only 12v, the peak motor power is limited to a low horsepower rating, typically on the order of a 1-2 HP motor. In high performance motion control, such as electric power steering, low torque ripple, low cost, small size and high reliability are required. These factors typically lead to the use of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) instead of DC motor, a switch reluctance motor or an induction motor. The magnetic field and magneto-motive forces (MMF) in the PMSM are assumed to be sinusoidally distributed in space in order to minimize torque ripple.
In a PMSM drive, motor torque feedback is required to have a precise torque control. A vector control is typically used to achieve a high performance motor drive system. Speed sensor feedback is required and is easily obtained, for example, through a motor shaft encoder at relatively low cost. However, to control motor torque precisely, an absolute rotor position sensor is also required, which is obtained from sensing a motor back electro-motive force (EMF) or from a resolver. A motor torque feedback signal can be obtained from a torque sensor, but including a torque sensor may be a costly solution. A more commonly used method is to sense the motor currents and then derive the motor torque feedback from the sensed currents. However, existing methods of sensing motor currents are difficult, can be costly and can reduce performance.
The steady state electromagnetic torque (Te) of PMSM, expressed in the dq model, is:       T    e    =            3      2                  P      2                          1                  ω          e                                  [                                            E              1                                                  I              qd                                +                                    (                                                X                  dx                                -                                  X                  qs                                            )                                                  I              ds                                                  I              qs                                      ]
Since there is no damper winding in PMSM, the torque equation is also valid for the instantaneous case.
In an air gap magnet motor, where Xds≈Xqs, the torque expression is reduced to:       T    e    ≈            3      2                  P      2                  1              ω        e                        E      I                  I      qs
The internal back EMF peak voltage EI (volt) is given as:
EI=Kvxcfx89e
And the quadrature axis (q-axis) motor current Iqs (amp) is:
Iqs=Iqds cos xcex3
Hence, the torque can also be expressed as:
Te≈KTIqds cos xcex3
Where,
P=Number of poles.
xcfx89e=Electrical synchronous motor speed which is also the stator frequency in rad/sec.
Xds=Direct axis reactance encountered by the d-axis and q-axis current components in Henry-rad/sec.
Xqs=Quadrature axis reactance encountered by the d-axis and q-axis current components in Henry-rad/sec.
Xs=Xds=Stator referred synchronous reactance in Henry-rad/sec.       r    s    =                              Short                                xe2x80x83                              Circuit                                xe2x80x83                              Load                                xe2x80x83                              Loss                                  xe2x80x83                                      (                      Short                                      xe2x80x83                                    Circuit                                      xe2x80x83                                    Armature                                      xe2x80x83                                    Current                    )                2              =          effective                    xe2x80x83                  stator                    xe2x80x83                          res        .
Kv=EMF constant in V/(rad/sec.).
KT=Torque constant in Nm/Amp.
Iqds=Amplitude motor stator peak current in Amp, hence it is a dc quantity.
Vqds=Amplitude motor stator peak phase voltage in volt, hence it is a dc quantity.
xcex3=A space angle measured at the vector position of the current Iqds with respect to the q-axis (where EI is located). Cos (xcex3) is defined as internal power factor. Angle xcex3 is positive if the current vector Iqds leads the voltage vector EI. It is also referred as torque angle.
xcex4=A space angle measured at the vector position of the Vqds with respect to the q-axis (where EI is located). It is sometime called as xe2x80x9cphase advancexe2x80x9d. Angle xcex4 is positive if the voltage vector Vqds leads the voltage vector EI.
xcfx86=A space angle measured at the vector position of the Iqds with respect to the Vector position of the current Vqds. Cos (xcfx86) is defined as load power factor. Angle xcfx86 is positive if the current vector Iqds leads the voltage vector Vqds.
FIG. 1 shows a typical space vector representation 10 of 3-phase PMSM operation. Positive values for angles xcex3, xcex4 or xcfx86 mean the angle is oriented counter clockwise with respect to the corresponding reference q and d axis. Iqds, Vqds, Ei vectors along with the corresponding reference q and d axis, are simultaneously moving in a counter clockwise direction when the speed is positive. This means that the vectors rotate one 360xc2x0 turn when the motor rotates one electrical turn. In the time domain expression, the phase sequence is A-B-C which corresponds to positive speed rotation. In a positive speed motoring operation, a PMSM typically operates where current vector Iqds is in the first quadrant, i.e., xcex3=0 up to base speed operation and 0xc2x0 less than xcex3 less than 90 beyond base speed operation.
To summarize, the two requirements for vector control in PMSM are measurement of rotor position (absolute rotor position is required) and precise control of the stator current to correctly position the resultant stator MMF in relation to the rotor position. Therefore, it is important to control the magnitude Iqds and the angle xcex3 independently. The torque response will follow the stator current Iqds instantaneously so long as the angle xcex3=0xc2x0. If the angle xcex3 attains a value other than zero, there will be a component of the stator current in the field axis (d-axis) and a flux change will take place. Since the flux change is not instantaneous, the torque response will also not be instantaneous if angle xcex3 or Iqds is changed.
One way to control amplitude and phase of stator current independently is to use a current regulated PWM inverter (CRPWM) in a stationary reference frame. The CRPWM provides a conceptually simple means for implementing torque control with independent q-axis and d-axis current inputs (Iqs and Ids). In essence, all that is required is to use absolute rotor position information to convert the Iqs* and Ids* commands in the rotor reference frame to a stator reference. The stator referred currents, at stator frequency, become the current commands for CRPWM. However, this technique requires instant stator current feedback information obtained through current sensors. In addition, the bandwidth of this regulator must be relatively high including dc in case of a stall mode condition.
Another method to measure q-axis and d-axis current inputs (Iqs and Ids) independently is by using a current regulator in rotor reference frame, i.e., a synchronous reference frame, since the rotor frequency is the same as the stator frequency. In this method, the Iqs* and Ids* commands are dc quantities. Such regulators typically do not require a relatively high bandwidth. Iqs and Ids feedback are required and in steady state they are dc quantities. Iqs and Ids feedback are typically derived from stator phase currents feedback, ias, ibs, ics, using Park""s transformation.
In small horsepower drives, current sensors such as Hall Effect devices or current shunts are often placed in series with motor phases. In a three-phase system, two of such sensors are required. Such devices introduce a significant cost relative to the system cost. A lower cost method is to use a current shunt placed in the dc link.
In a closed-loop current mode motor control, one method is to sample dc link current idclink and, knowing the corresponding PWM inverter switching state, to decode the stator phase currents, ias, ibs, ics. With the rotor position information, the instantaneous motor torque current Iqs and motor flux current Ids can be derived from the stator phase currents. However, this method requires a significant amount of processing and sampling idclink at a high sample rate, typically at the PWM switching frequency, at about 20 kHz. Therefore, a simple micro controller (MCU) implementation is impossible with this method. A high performance MCU or digital signal processor (DSP) with fast analog-to-digital (A/D) converters is required to accomplish the task.
A closed-loop current mode motor control, such as previously described, requires motor torque and flux currents obtained at high sample rate. In applications where motor torque and flux current feedback are only used for safety check diagnostic, computation integrity check, or feed forward control algorithm, Iqs and Ids are not required to be acquired at high sample rate. Therefore, there is a need for a simpler method for cost effective implementation.
In a three-phase system, in one electrical cycle, there are six positions where the back EMF occurs at the maximum or minimum value. If the motor stator currents are acquired at the instant where the back EMF is at peak (maximum or minimum), theoretically the torque current Iqs can also be obtained. In one electrical cycle, in theory six torque current Iqs measurements can be obtained. If the motor stator currents are acquired at the instant where the back EMF is at 90xc2x0 beyond its peak, in theory six flux current Ids measurements can also be obtained in one electrical cycle. Six Iqs and 6 Ids feedback measurements are sufficient in applications where motor torque and flux currents feedback are used only for a safety check diagnostic, a computation integrity check, or a feed forward control algorithm.
One existing method uses the peak detect method. Motor torque current Iqs is obtained by sampling the peak value of dc link current idclink at the instant where the internal back EMF EI is at the peak (maximum or minimum). However the Iqs measurement is only accurate for a limited range of torque angle xcex3, xe2x88x9230xc2x0 less than xcex3 less than 30xc2x0, and phase advance angle xcex4, xe2x88x9260xc2x0 less than xcex4 less than 60xc2x0.
Unfortunately, torque angle xcex3 needs to be increased above the 30xc2x0 limit when rotor speed goes up. In PMSM, maximum rotor speed is obtained when xcex3 approaches 90xc2x0. The requirement on phase advance angle xcex4 is not a big constraint because it can be kept under 60xc2x0 in machine design.
In addition, the peak detect method will pose accuracy issues if there is an overshoot current in dc link current idclink due to diode reverse recovery current
Another disadvantage of this sampling technique is that it is not capable of measuring the d-axis current Ids directly. Ids can only be obtained by calculation from measured Iqs and command angle xcex3. Therefore, Iqs will not be measured accurately.
Therefore, there is a need for a cost effective method that measures torque and flux current accurately on a wider range of xcex3 angle without dc link current high sample rate requirement.

Method and apparatus for measuring torque and flux current in a synchronous motor


A hybrid valve apparatus for use with an aspiration actuator and a dispensing actuator to transfer fluid from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface. The hybrid valve includes a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition, and a manifold device coupled to the valve assembly. The manifold device includes a fluid aspiration conduit having a first aspiration port in fluid communication with the aspiration actuator. On an opposite end of the aspiration conduit is a second aspiration port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate a liquid sample slug from the reservoir into a discrete sample path when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition. The manifold device further includes a fluid dispensing conduit having a first dispensing port in fluid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly. When the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition, the sample path is fluidly coupled to the dispensing actuator to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug therefrom, while simultaneously being out of fluid communication with the aspiration actuator. In contrast, in the aspiration condition, the sample path is in fluid communication with the aspiration actuator, while being out of fluid communication with the dispensing actuator.

Advances in Life Sciences, particularly in genomics and proteomics, have greatly increased the potential number of reactions and analyses that must be performed by the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. An estimated 30 million tests are required to screen a typical pharmaceutical company's compound library against target receptors. The typical number of tests will increase dramatically as information is gleaned from the sequencing of the human genome. To meet these increasing throughput demands in an economically feasible manner, miniaturization of tests is imperative.
Technological advances are enabling the demonstration and use of microscale chemical/biochemical reactions for performing various types of analyses.
Implementation of these reactions at such smaller scales offer economies that are unmatched by conventional approaches. Reduced volumes can lower costs by an order of magnitude but conventional liquid-handling devices fail at the required volumes. Parallel implementation provides even greater advantages as demonstrated by the use of high-density plates for screening and high-density MALDI-TOF plates for mass spectrometry analyses of proteins. The rate-limiting hardware is low volume liquid transfer technology that is robust and scalable for compounds of interest. With growing demand, the development of fluid handling devices adept at manipulating sub-microliter volumes of multiple reagents is needed.
Current systems for handling liquid reagents often employ a "pick and place" technique where a sample from a source plate, usually a microtiter plate, is picked up and placed into another reservoir known as the target plate. This technique is often applied for replicating plates, where scale reduction between the source and the target plates are beneficially realized. Typically, an appropriate volume is aspirated from a source plate and deposited to a target site on a multiple target plate. In this arrangement, reduced sample volumes and sample spacing are required for higher degrees of miniaturization.
In other advancements using "pick and place" distribution, drop-on demand ink jet technology has been adopted for accurately delivering volumes on the order of picoliters. This technology is not only capable of volumetric precision, but also positional accuracy as well. These ink-jet systems typically employ thermal, piezoelectric, or solenoid actuation to deliver defined volumes of liquid sample to precise locations, increasing test site array density.
Two of these approaches, in particular, thermal and piezoelectric ink jet technology, utilize micromachined actuation mechanisms and dispensing orifices which offer non-contact dispensing from the tip without requiring capillary contact for flow purposes. Problematic to these devices is plugging of orifices and scalability. While this printing technology is capable of low-volume, accurate delivery, the initial systems for dispensing chemical reagents lack speed and efficiency due to conventional switching technology. A syringe drive per channel is generally employed, limiting systems to a scale that fails to provide the required throughput. The current systems are unable to quickly switch multiple channels between large-scale metering tasks and subsequent micro dispensing tasks, failing to exploit the advantages and the high speed afforded by this non-contact printing technology.

Hybrid valve apparatus and method for fluid handling


A portable vaporizer having an electronic control unit electrically coupled to a power source and an atomizer. The electronic control unit utilizes a voltage regulator which allows changes in an output voltage supplied to the atomizer in response to a change in electrical resistance of a potentiometer incorporated therewith.

Electronic cigarettes (E-Cigs) have been developed as an essentially smokeless alternative that provides smokers with the equivalent satisfaction of traditional smoking without many of the public health issues caused by secondary smoke exposure. Many of the E-Cigs known in the relevant art are adapted for portable use and utilize batteries to power an atomizer. Atomizers are available which utilize a number of different properties to cause atomization of a liquid including heating, piezometric vibration and ultrasonic vibration. However, all atomizers utilized by portable vaporizers require electrical power drawn from batteries in a generally uncontrolled manner. For example, a simple portable vaporizer can be constructed from as few as three parts; a battery, an atomizer and a switch to turn power supplied to the atomizer on and off. This simple arrangement works for short periods of time since the full output of the battery is applied continuously to the atomizer. Prolonged application of the full battery output can result in damage to either or both the battery and/or atomizer. At the very least, battery life is dramatically shortened to the point where a user is either limited to a few uses of the portable vaporizer before battery charging and/or replacement is required.


A leg support system includes an ankle cradle for preventing or mitigating pressure ulcers on heels of a patient supported on a top surface of a medical support platform. The ankle cradle includes a cradle base, a first ankle support, and a second ankle support. The cradle base has a bottom surface and is sized and dimensioned to be supported on the top surface of the medical support platform, with the bottom surface of the cradle base contacting the top surface of the medical support platform. The first ankle support is coupled to the cradle base. The second ankle support is spaced apart from the first ankle support and couples to the first ankle support or the cradle base.

When a patient lays stationary for one or more hours, the patient often develops pressure ulcers on several points of the patient's body (typically bony portions, such has the heels) that contact the surface on which the patient lies. Extended stationary laying occurs in a variety of situations, such as when transporting patients strapped to stretchers or spinal boards from remote areas to metropolitan hospitals, treating patients in medical facilities (for example, catheterization laboratories, operating rooms, intensive care units, observation rooms, inpatient rooms, or others), or caring for bed-ridden patients in their own homes, senior living facilities, or other locations. In fact, more than 2.5 million people in the United States develop pressure ulcers each year, and an estimated 11 billion dollars is spent annually on pressure-ulcer care. Pressure ulcer formation is a leading cause of increased length of hospital stay among surgical patients, further increasing patient suffering and expenses and further consuming limited hospital resources. The problems related to pressure ulcers are so prevalent that, in 2008, Medicare ceased funding and payments to medical facilities related to pressure ulcers that initiated while the patient was hospitalized.
The typical approach to addressing the pressure ulcer problems associated with extended stationary laying is to adhere pads to pressure points on the patient's body, such as the heels. The pads reduce the effects of stationary laying by exposing the pressure points to indirect pressure from the surface on which the patient lies, as opposed to direct pressure from the surface on which the patient lies. The pads typically include gel pads, inflated pads, foam pads, or others. However, the pads typically only delay the onset of pressure ulcers, often by as little as one hour.
Pressure ulcers often present as open wounds that extend through the skin and expose the bone. As a result, once pressure ulcers mature to this stage (often within 3 hours, even when pads are preemptively applied), the patient experiences excruciating pain. This excruciating pain is often experienced following cardiac ablations, for example, where patients must remain stationary for up to 5 or 6 hours during the procedure, 1 to 2 hours during immediately subsequent recovery, and an additional 4 to 6 hours in an observation or inpatient room. To alleviate the pain in the patient's heels, it has been considered to place pillows or rolled towels under their calves or ankles, yet the medical professionals typically strictly prevent such action because it involves movement of the patient that could endanger the patient's recovery and because it changes the angle of the patient's legs, thereby changing the angle of the groin and preventing access to urinary catheters and also preventing "sand bagging" (placement of heavy pressure sand bags on the patient's groin while the femoral veins or arteries clot). Such action is also typically avoided before or during surgery to prevent reducing access to the femoral veins or arteries.
The placement of uncontrolled towels or pillows also interferes with the medical professional's ability to quickly place the patient's body into the desired position for surgery. Placement of towels or pillows under the calves further interferes with sequential compression devices that are often wrapped around the patient's calves to prevent deep vein thrombosis. Commercially available products that may be used instead of towels or pillows typically likewise inhibit the ability of medical professionals to act quickly and confidently during emergencies or medical procedures because they (a) are often unstable to the point where they must be held by hand while the patient's extremity is placed on the product, (b) typically require moving the products subsequent to moving the patient's extremities subsequent to placement of the patient on laying surface to place the products under the patient's extremities, or (c) typically require moving the patient's extremities in conjunction with the products subsequent to placing the products under the patient's extremities to provide a desired groin angle or access to the femoral veins or arteries.


A method for accessing a memory module includes; encoding first data of a first partial burst length to generate first parities and first cyclic redundancy codes, encoding second data of a second partial burst length to generate second parities and second cyclic redundancy codes, writing the first data and the second data to first memory devices, and writing the first parities, the first cyclic redundancy codes, the second parities, and the second cyclic redundancy codes to a second memory device and a third memory device.

Embodiments of the inventive concept relate to semiconductor devices. More particularly, embodiments of the inventive concept relate to methods for accessing a semiconductor memory module supporting an error correction function.
Memory devices are generally configured to store data received from an external host device and to provide the stored data in response to a subsequent request from the external host device. One or more error(s) may occur when data are stored to and/or retrieved from the memory device. Left undetected and uncorrected, such errant data may cause a system error in the external host device. To prevent system errors of this nature, the external host device may include one or more error detection/correction function(s) capable of detecting error(s) in the data retrieved from the memory device and correcting the detected error(s).
As error detection/correction function(s) incorporated into external host devices improve, the probability of system error(s) related to errant data decreases. Unfortunately, improved and emerging error detection/correction functions often demand considerable computing system resources (e.g., computation cycles, processor run time, data storage capacity and/or data communication bandwidth, etc.).

Method for accessing semiconductor memory module