A xe2x80x9cpassive-activexe2x80x9d mount includes an emanator-securement plate, a foundation-securement plate, at least one elastomeric xe2x80x9cstreamlined resilient element,xe2x80x9d and at least one collocated motion sensor-vibratory actuator pair. The mount brings to bear, sequentially and complementarily, passive vibration control followed by active vibration as control. The passive vibration control is effectuated by one or more xe2x80x9cstreamlined resilient elements,xe2x80x9d each attributed with a xe2x80x9cconstant natural frequencyxe2x80x9d (CNF) property whereby such element is naturally predisposed to passively reducing vibration at a particular frequency band regardless of the extent of the loading, within certain limits, to which such element is being subjected. Cumulatively, the streamlined resilient element(s) passively reduce(s) the emanated vibration in CNF fashion before reaching the foundation-securement plate, whereupon the active vibration control is effectuated via one or more electrical feedback loops, each involving a processor/controller and a collocated sensor-actuator pair.

This invention relates to methods, apparatuses and systems for isolating vibrations emanating from sources such as machinery, more particularly to those which implement at least one resilient element and which provide support for such sources.
It is environmentally desirable in many contexts to reduce transmission of vibrations to neighboring structure. For example, the U.S. Navy has an interest in attenuating the transmission, via connecting members to supporting structure, of unwanted vibrations from heavy machinery such as ship engines. Devices for reducing such transmission are generally known as vibration xe2x80x9cisolatorsxe2x80x9d because they serve to xe2x80x9cisolatexe2x80x9d the machine""s vibration from contiguous structure. A vibration isolator is used to join one object to another and to restrict, to some degree, the transmission of vibration. See, e.g, J. E. Ruzicka, xe2x80x9cFundamental Concepts of Vibration Control,xe2x80x9d Sound and Vibration, July 1971, pp 16-23, incorporated herein by reference. See also, Eugene (Eygeny) I. Rivin, xe2x80x9cPrinciples and Criteria of Vibration Isolation of Machinery,xe2x80x9d ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, Transactions of the ASME, Vol. 101, October 1979, pp 682-692, incorporated herein by reference. Both passive and active vibration isolation systems have been known in the art.
Passive vibration isolators have conventionally involved a passive damping arrangement which provides a resilient element (xe2x80x9cspringxe2x80x9d) along with a damping mechanism (xe2x80x9cenergy releaserxe2x80x9d), and which serves as a support (xe2x80x9cmountxe2x80x9d), for vibrating machinery or other structure. Passive vibration isolation devices, alternatively referred to as xe2x80x9cmountsxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cspringsxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cspring mountsxe2x80x9d in nomenclature, operate on the principle of low dynamic load transmissibility by a material having a resilient property. Passive mounts are designated xe2x80x9cpassivexe2x80x9d because their function is based upon their inherent property rather than on their ability to, in an xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d manner, react to an in-situ condition.
Passive mounts have been known to use any of various materials for, the resilient element, such as rubber, plastic, metal and air. Elastomeric mounts rely primarily upon the resilience and the damping properties of rubber-like material for isolating vibrations. Mechanical spring mounts implement a helical or other metal spring configuration. Pneumatic, mounts utilize gas and an elastic material (such as reinforced rubber) as resilient elements in a bellows-like pneumatic spring assembly. A pneumatic mount or spring typically comprises a flexible member, which allows for motion, and a sealed pressure container or vessel having one or more compartments, which provides for filling and releasing a gas. Pneumatic springs are conventionally referred to as xe2x80x9cair springsxe2x80x9d because the gas is usually air. In conventional usage and as used herein the terms xe2x80x9cair spring,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cair mountxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cair spring mountxe2x80x9d are used interchangeably, and in the context of these terms the word xe2x80x9cairxe2x80x9d means xe2x80x9cgasxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cpneumatic,xe2x80x9d wherein xe2x80x9cgasxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cpneumaticxe2x80x9d refers to any gaseous substance.
Active vibration isolation has more recently become known in the art. Basically, a sensor measures the structure""s vibration, an actuator is coupled with the structure, and a feedback loop tends to reduce the unwanted motion. Typically, an output signal, proportional to a measurable motion (such as acceleration) of the structure, is produced by the sensor. Generally speaking, the actuator includes some type of reaction mass. A processor/controller processes the sensor-generated output signal so as to produce a control signal which drives the reaction mass, the actuator thereby producing a vibratory force, whereby the motion (e.g., acceleration) of the structure is reduced.
The three basic components of an active vibration isolation system are a motion sensor (e.g., a motion transducer), a processor/controller and a vibratory actuator. The sensor responds to vibratory motion by converting the vibratory motion into an electrical output signal that is functionally related to, e.g., proportional to, a parameter (e.g., displacement, velocity or acceleration) of the experienced motion. An accelerometer, for example, is a type of sensor wherein the output is a function of the acceleration input; the output is typically expressed in terms of voltage per unit of acceleration. The most common processor/controller is a xe2x80x9cproportional-integral-derivativexe2x80x9d-type (xe2x80x9cPIDxe2x80x9d-type) controller, a kind of servomechanism, which proportionally scales, and integrates or differentiates, the sensor response. The actuator is essentially a device adapted to transmitting a vibratory force to a structure; such an actuator has been variously known and manifested as an inertia actuator, inertial actuator, proof mass actuator, shaker, vibration exciter and vibration generator; as used herein, the terms xe2x80x9cactuator,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cinertia actuatorxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cvibratory actuatorxe2x80x9d are interchangeable and refer to any of these devices. The actuator generates a force, applied to the structure, based on the electrical output signal from the processor/controller.
Incorporated herein by reference are the following two patents: Jen-Houne Hannsen Su U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,443, issued 04 May 1999, entitled xe2x80x9cPassive-Active Vibration Isolationxe2x80x9d; and, Jen-Houne Hannsen Su U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,858, issued 30 Mar. 1999, entitled xe2x80x9cPassive-Active Mount.xe2x80x9d Also incorporated herein by reference is Jen-Houne Hannsen Su, xe2x80x9cRobust Passive-Active Mounts for Machinery and Equipment,xe2x80x9d Proceedings of DETC ""97, 1997 ASME Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Sep. 14-17, 1997, Sacramento, Calif. (nine pages).
In Su ""443 and Su ""858, Su discloses inventions which uniquely and efficaciously combine known passive vibration technology with known active vibration technology. According to either Su ""443 or Su ""858, one or more vibratory actuators are coupled with (e.g., attached to or mounted upon) the bottom attachment plate of a conventional mount. Su ""443 and Su ""858 further disclose placement of one or more motion sensors (for sensing, e.g., velocity or acceleration) at the bottom attachment plate so that the sensors and actuators are correlated in pairs, each sensor-actuator pair having one sensor and one actuator in a functionally and situationally propinquant relationship. The inventive mount disclosed in Su ""443 and Su ""858 is styled therein xe2x80x9cpassive-activexe2x80x9d because, proceeding generally downward from the above-mount object to the below-mount foundation, the object""s vibration is first reduced passively and then is further reduced actively.
Su ""443 and Su ""858 each teach the availing of active control so as to, in effect, increase the dynamic stiffness of the below-mount foundation. The impedance inherent in a realistic below-mount foundation falls short of the impedance inherent in an ideally rigid below-mount foundation. According to Su ""443 and Su ""858, the impedance differential between foundation reality and foundation ideality is largely compensated for by providing one or more inertia actuators on the bottom plate (e.g., retainer plate, mounting plate, backing plate, or end plate) of the mount, for example inside an air mount on its bottom plate.
Su ""443 and Su ""858 thus provide more effective, yet practical and affordable, vibration isolation methods, apparatuses and systems. Typically, the electronic components will be commercially available; the sensors, actuators and PID-type controllers appropriate for most inventive embodiments according to Su ""443 and Su ""858 will be xe2x80x9coff-the-shelfxe2x80x9d items which can be purchased at less than prohibitive costs. In accordance with Su ""443 and Su ""858, the sensors and actuators can be retrofitted in existing conventional mounts, or the inventive mount can be manufactured or assembled from scratch.
For many applications according to Su ""443 and Su ""858, the inventive mount will afford superior performance in isolating vibrations of an above-mount structure from a realistic below-mount foundation; for some applications, however, the inventive mount according to Su ""443 and Su ""858 can be used quite effectively for isolating vibrations of a below-mount foundation from an above-mount structure such as a piece of equipment. For applications involving heavy machinery, a multiplicity of inventive mounts can be utilized. For a single piece of heavy machinery, vibration isolation effectiveness can be expected to increase in accordance with an increase in the number of inventive mounts that are used.
The active vibration control aspect of the inventions disclosed by Su ""443 and Su ""858 serves to enhance the passive vibration control aspect of these inventions. The inventions of Su ""443 and Su ""858 are xe2x80x9cfail-safexe2x80x9d in a sense; in the event of inoperability of an inventive mount according to Su ""443 and Su ""858 (e.g., due to power failure or electromechanical failure), the performance of such inventive mount degrades to that of the conventional passive mount.
The inventions according to Su ""443 and Su ""858 typically obviate the need to fortify, for isolation purposes, the existing below-mount foundation. The foundation will be less expensive, since its design will involve only considerations concerning load-carrying capacity (e.g., static strength/structural integrity). Vibration-related considerations will not need to be addressed in foundation design; such factors as fatigue life, vibration and noise will be controlled automatically by the advanced mount according to Su ""443 and Su ""858.
Active control according to both Su ""443 and Su ""858 typically serves to complement the deficiency of the passive control in the low frequency. Conventional passive mounts are generally characterized by low frequency enhancement; conventional passive mounts typically have inherent low frequency resonance, and consequently may be ineffective or may even cause enhancement of dynamic load transmission at low frequency. In inventive practice according to Su ""443 and Su ""858, the low frequency disturbance enhancement due to the resonance frequency of the mounts should be more or less reduced, depending on the force output capacity of the actuators used for a given inventive embodiment.
Notwithstanding the significant advantages generally associated with practice of inventive vibration isolation according to Su ""443 and Su ""858, such practice according to Su ""443 and Su ""858 may be less than entirely satisfactory for certain applications. In particular, typical inventive embodiments according to Su ""443 and Su ""858 are suitable for a rather limited scope of isolation loading; that is, in effecting vibration isolation, a typical apparatus according to Su ""443 or Su ""858 is designed to be subjected to a relatively narrow range of weight, albeit the apparatus is highly effective for such purposes. Nevertheless, it is sometimes desirable to utilize vibration isolation apparatus which is applicable to a relatively broader scope of isolation loadingxe2x80x94that is, to a relatively wide range of weight to which the apparatus is to be subjected in effecting vibration isolation.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide method, apparatus and system for highly effective vibration isolation.
It is another object of this invention to provide method, apparatus and system for accomplishing same in association with a wide range of loads.
A further object of this invention is to provide such method, apparatus and system which are practical, relatively uncomplicated and cost-effective for many applications.
The present invention provides apparatus, system and method for vibration isolation, especially for reducing transmission of vibration of an object to a foundation for said object. Certain principles pertaining to the present invention""s passive-active elastomeric/viscoelastic isolator (mount) are the same as or similar to those pertaining to the passive-active air mount disclosed by Su ""443 and Su ""858. Notably and contradistinctively, however, the passive-active mount according to this invention is a xe2x80x9cconstant natural frequencyxe2x80x9d (abbreviated herein, xe2x80x9cCNFxe2x80x9d) passive-active mount. The CNF passive-active mount according to this invention affords wide load range application and simple implementation. The present invention""s passive vibration control is effectuated by one or more xe2x80x9cstreamlined resilient elements,xe2x80x9d each attributed with a xe2x80x9cconstant natural frequencyxe2x80x9d (CNF) quality whereby such element is naturally predisposed to passively reducing vibration at a particular frequency band regardless of the extent of the loading, within certain parameters, to which such element is being subjected. The CNF-endowed passive vibration control represents a significant improvement vis-a-vis"" Su ""443 and Su ""858.
Regis V. Schmitt and Matthew L. Kerr, xe2x80x9cA New Elastomeric Suspension Spring,xe2x80x9d Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Inc., SAE Paper No. 710058, Automotive Engineering Congress, Detroit, Mich., Jan. 11-15, 1971 (8 pages), incorporated herein by reference, disclose a constant natural frequency spherical elastomeric spring element. Schmitt et al. teach (Schmitt et al., first page) the advantageousness of xe2x80x9cmaintaining a constant natural frequency, on the primary suspension spring, with varying vehicle weight.xe2x80x9d A constant natural frequency is seen by Schmitt et al. as capable of xe2x80x9cproviding consistent ride quality with varying vehicle weight.xe2x80x9d As explained by Schmitt et al., xe2x80x9cNatural frequency is a function of spring rate and supported mass. Thus, it changes as supported mass changes if spring rate is a constant (linear spring). The contribution of a linear, or nearly linear, primary suspension spring to natural frequency changes with vehicle weight. This results in a compromise which gives best performance over only a part of the total range of truck weight expected.xe2x80x9d
Schmitt et al. (Schmitt et al., third page) tested a spherical elastomeric sample and found that it xe2x80x9cdoes, in fact, have a constant frequency characteristic.xe2x80x9d They further found xe2x80x9cthat, in the spherical spring, natural frequency is dependent on the size of the sphere and not on compound stiffness. Increasing compound stiffness (durometer) decreases the actual sphere deflection for a given load. The spring rate, hence natural frequency, for that load depends on the slope of the load deflection. curve at the point reached by that load. The shape of the load deflection curve and its slope for a given load is dependent on the size of the sphere and not on compound stiffness.xe2x80x9d In addition to a spherically shaped elastomeric sample, they tested elastomeric samples having xe2x80x9chourglassxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9ctruncatedxe2x80x9d shapes.
Eugene (Evgeny) I. Rivin, xe2x80x9cPassive Engine Mountsxe2x80x94Some Directions for Further Development,xe2x80x9d SAE 1985 Transactions, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Inc., SAE Paper No. 850481, Section 3, Vol. 94, 1986, pp. 3.582-3.591, incorporated herein by reference, discloses that xe2x80x9c[a] constant natural frequency (CNF) mount is characterized by a specific. nonlinear load-deflection characteristic when its vertical stiffness kZ is proportional to the applied weight load W, kZ=AW. Accordingly, vertical (bounce) natural frequency fZ is [constant]. To be a truly CNF mount, its spring rates in the x and y directions must also be proportional to W, or ratios kZ/kX and kZ/kY must be constant while the weight load varies in its rated rangexe2x80x9d
Rivin (1985) teaches that CNF xe2x80x9cmounts have several advantages, whose relative importance depends on the goals to be achieved. If decoupling is considered as an important goal, it can be much more reliably achieved by using CNF mounts . . . . Another unique advantage of the CNF mount is its insensitivity to rubber durometer variations . . . . If the rubber durometer deviates into lower values, . . . the natural frequency for a given weight load in the linear range becomes smaller. However, the natural frequency in the CNF range stays the same, although the range starts from a smaller weight load . . . . A similar effect occurs for a higher-than-nominal durometer . . . . In this case the natural frequency for a given weight load in the linear range becomes higher . . . , but the natural frequency in the CNF range is still the same.xe2x80x9dxe2x80x9cEugene (Evgeny) I. Rivin, xe2x80x9cVibration Isolation of Precision Equipment,xe2x80x9d Precision Engineering, 1995, vol. 17, pp 41-56, incorporated herein by reference, discloses (e.g., Rivin, 1995, p 55) the xe2x80x9cuse of constant-natural-frequency (CNF) isolators, in which stiffness in both vertical and horizontal directions is proportional to the weight load on the isolator. As a result, such isolators provide a high degree of dynamic decoupling without the need to determine the center-of-gravity position, to calculate weight load distribution between the mounting points, etc. In addition to this, such isolators have a significantly reduced sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances.xe2x80x9d
Eugene (Evgeny) I. Rivin, xe2x80x9cShaped Elastomeric Components for Vibration Control Devices,xe2x80x9d Sound and Vibration, July 1999, Vol. 33, no. 7, pp 18-23, incorporated herein by reference, teaches (Rivin, 1999, p 21) that xe2x80x9c[p]erformance of vibration isolators improves significantly if the isolator has a special nonlinear load-deflection characteristic whereas its stiffness is proportional to weight load on the isolator within a relatively broad load range (constant natural frequency or CNF characteristic).xe2x80x9d Rivin discloses spheres, radially loaded cylinders and radially loaded toruses as examples of xe2x80x9cshaped elastomeric components.xe2x80x9d It is taught by Rivin that the xe2x80x9cuse of shaped elastomeric components results in much more compact designs due to larger allowable compression deformations, under static loads. Larger compression deformations can be allowed due to a much more uniform stress distribution and lower maximum stresses/strains and lower creep rates as compared with conventional bonded rubber blocks made of the same rubber blend. In addition to these important advantages, it has been shown that the CNF isolators have a substantially lower sensitivity to production variations of rubber hardness than conventional isolators with linear load-deflection characteristics, resulting in much better performance uniformity. Thus, use of radially loaded rubber cylinders/toruses could significantly advance the state of the art for vibration isolators. Spherical rubber elements have the same, advantages (constant natural frequency in a relatively broad load range and reduced creep) and can be used for lightly loaded vibration isolators.xe2x80x9d
Evgeny I. Rivin U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,653, entitled xe2x80x9cNonlinear Flexible Connectors with Streamlined Resilient Elementsxe2x80x9d and issued 10 Aug. 1999, is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Rivin ""653 discloses a streamlined elastomeric (e.g., rubber) resilient element characterized by nonlinear load deflection. Disclosed by Rivin ""653 (e.g., Rivin ""653, col. 2) is xe2x80x9cthe use of streamlined rubber elements such as balls, ellipsoids, toruses, radially-loaded cylinders, etc.xe2x80x9d According to Rivin ""653, such streamlined resilient elements are characterized by significant (e.g., two to three times) increase in the allowable continuous compression deformation, and are further characterized by a progressively nonlinear deformation. Rivin ""653teaches the desirability of xe2x80x9cutilizing streamlined resilient elements without compromising their special deformation properties, which may be caused by their bonding to other elements.xe2x80x9d
The following U.S. patents, each of which is incorporated herein by reference, are also of note: Houghton, Jr. et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,841 B1 issued 03 Apr. 2001; Krysinsky et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,090 issued 04 Apr. 2000; Lee et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,780,948 issued 14 Jul. 1998; Lee et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,780,740 issued 14 Jul. 1998; Rivin U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,758 issued 20 May 1997; Cheng et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,451 issued 13 Aug. 1996; Leyshon U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,862 issued 21 May 1991; Hall et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,201 issued 14 Nov. 1989; Lafferty U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,467 issued 28 Oct. 1986; Shtarkman U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,730 issued 09 Apr. 1985; Stone et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,329 issued 05 Jun. 1984; Barley U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,701 issued 24 May 1983; Madden U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,187 issued 19 Aug. 1980; Leingang U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,151 issued 14 Dec. 1976; Taylor U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,004 issued 30 Mar. 1976.
The present invention uniquely features the utilization of one or more shaped elastomeric (e.g., viscoelastic) elements (e.g., members) in order to increase the load range applicability of the xe2x80x9cpassivexe2x80x9d aspect of a passive-active mount such as disclosed by Su ""443 and Su ""858. These shaped or contoured elastomeric (e.g., viscoelastic) elements are referred to herein as xe2x80x9cstreamlined resilient elements.xe2x80x9d Typically, a CNF passive-active mount according to this invention will be uniquely characterized by a specific arrangement of one or more streamlined resilient elements along with one or more inertial actuators. The present invention""s CNF passive-active mount affords wide load range application and simple implementation.
Since the streamlined resilient element or elements maintain approximately the same mount resonance frequency for a wide range of isolation weight, the mount according to this invention is termed a xe2x80x9cconstant natural frequency passive-active mountxe2x80x9d (or, abbreviatedly, a xe2x80x9cCNF passive-active mountxe2x80x9d). At least one streamlined resilient element tends to impart a constant natural frequency (CNF) attribute to the inventive passive-active mount. Accordingly, the term xe2x80x9cstreamlined resilient element,xe2x80x9d as used herein, refers to any elastomeric (e.g., viscoelastic) object which has this kind of CNF-attributive quality when used in the context of vibration isolation. Because of its CNF-attributive quality, a streamlined resilient elementxe2x80x9d is also variously and synonymously referred to herein as a xe2x80x9cconstant natural frequency element,xe2x80x9d or a xe2x80x9cCNF element,xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ca streamlined CNF element,xe2x80x9d or a xe2x80x9cresilient CNF element,xe2x80x9d or a xe2x80x9cstreamlined resilient CNF element.xe2x80x9d
Generally, a xe2x80x9cstreamlined resilient elementxe2x80x9d will be characterized by a so-called xe2x80x9cstreamlinedxe2x80x9d shape, such as but not limited to that which describes one or more of the following: a spherical shape; a prolate spheroid (e.g., ellipsoid) shape adaptable to loading in either the short-axial or long-axial direction; a cross-sectionally circular segmented toroidal (doughnut) shape (e.g., a section of a cross-sectionally circular torus) adaptable to radial loading; a cross-sectionally noncircular (oval, e.g., elliptical) segmented toroidal (doughnut) shape (e.g., a section of a cross-sectionally oval torus) adaptable to radial loading, a cross-sectionally circular cylindrical shape adaptable to radial loading; a cross-sectionally noncircular (oval, e.g., elliptical) cylindrical shape adaptable to radial loading a cross-sectionally circular disk shape (which, actually, is an axially-longitudinally short form of a cylindrical shape) adaptable to radial loading; a cross-sectionally noncircular (oval, e.g., elliptical) disk shape (which, actually, is an axially-longitudinally short form of a cylindrical shape) adaptable to radial loading, a cross-sectionally circular toroidal (doughnut) shape adaptable to radial loading; a cross-sectionally noncircular (oval, e.g., elliptical) toroidal (doughnut) shape adaptable to radial loading; a toroidal shape, adaptable to radial loading, having a longitudinal (circumferential) axis of symmetry which defines a circular shape; a toroidal shape, adaptable to radial loading, having a longitudinal (circumferential) axis of symmetry which defines a noncircular (oval, e.g., elliptical) shape; a segmented toroidal shape, adaptable to radial loading, having a longitudinal axis of symmetry which defines a segment of a circular shape; a segmented toroidal shape, adaptable to radial loading, having a longitudinal axis of symmetry which defines a segment of a noncircular (oval, e.g., elliptical) shape; any truncated (e.g., flattened) version of any of the aforementioned shapes.
Generally, a streamlined resilient element will be at least substantially characterized by a curvilinear profile (such profile lying in an imaginary plane through the end plates and perpendicular thereto) which describes either a circular shape or a non circular shape such as an oval. According to frequent inventive practice, the streamlined resilient element is truncated at one or both ends, perhaps for the purpose of facilitating coupling of the streamlined resilient element with the end plates, and perhaps alternatively or additionally for the purpose of enhancing vibration isolation characteristics of the inventive mount. A streamlined resilient element which is truncated at either or both ends approximately or substantially defines the shape which would exist in the absence of such truncation.
According to typical embodiments of the present invention, there are two securement members connected, on opposite sides or ends, with the streamlined resilient element. The inventive CNF passive-active mount represents the xe2x80x9cisolatorxe2x80x9d entity. The mount includes two securement members, viz., an xe2x80x9cisolatee-entity-securementxe2x80x9d member and an xe2x80x9cisolated-entity-securementxe2x80x9d member. The mount""s xe2x80x9cisolatee-entity-securementxe2x80x9d member is the mount""s securement member which is attached to, or is attached with respect to, the xe2x80x9cisolateexe2x80x9d entity. The xe2x80x9cisolateexe2x80x9d entity is the, entity from which the xe2x80x9cisolatedxe2x80x9d entity""s vibrations are sought to be isolated. Another securement member of the mount, viz., the xe2x80x9cisolated-entity-securementxe2x80x9d member, is attached to, or is attached with respect to, the isolated entity. For most inventive embodiments, the isolated entity is an object (such as a machine) and the isolatee entity is a xe2x80x9cfoundationxe2x80x9d for the object. An important benefit of the present invention is its applicability to a wide range of masses (or weights) of the isolated entity.
Typically in accordance with this invention, each actuator has a companion sensor. Each sensor responds to a local vibratory motion of the mount""s isolatee-entity-securement member by sending a sensor feedback signal to a signal processor, which in turn sends a command signal to the sensor""s companion actuator, which in turn exerts or imparts a vibratory control force or motion upon the mount""s isolatee-entity-securement member. Each sensor continuously responds to the local vibration of the isolatee-entity-securement member, and the feedback loop inclusive of that sensor thus perpetuates. Each independent active vibration control subsystem includes a sensor and its corresponding actuator. The cumulative active vibration control system includes all of the individual active vibration control subsystems, each of which is uncomplicated.
When used herein adjectively to modify an inventive mount""s securement member, the words xe2x80x9cupper,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9ctop,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9clowerxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cbottomxe2x80x9d are terms of convenience which are intended to suggest structural and functional contradistinction rather than relative spatial positioning. Hence, in such contexts, the terms xe2x80x9cupperxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9ctopxe2x80x9d refer to isolatee entity securement, i.e., securement of the mount with respect to the isolated entity, e.g., a vibrating object; the terms xe2x80x9clowerxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cbottomxe2x80x9d refer to isolated entity securement, i.e., securement of the mount with respect to the isolatee entity, e.g., a foundation for the vibrating object.
Typical inventive embodiments, in application, effectuate a xe2x80x9clocalizedxe2x80x9d vibration control approach rather than a xe2x80x9cglobalxe2x80x9d vibration control approach. Incorporated herein by reference is Su, Jen-Houne Hannsen Su et al., xe2x80x9cMechanisms of Localized Vibration Control in Complex Structures,xe2x80x9d Journal of Vibration and Acoustics, January 1996, Volume 118, pages 135-139. This paper is instructive regarding localized vibration control, which involves stabilization in localized areas of a structure, as distinguished from global vibration control, which involves stabilization of the entire structure.
Most active vibration control research, particularly in space structures applications, has dealt with controlling vibration in a global sense; the controller stabilizes the entire structure. When the interest lies in stabilizing only certain localized areas of the structure, the control objective can be focused and actuators/sensors are generally required only in the xe2x80x9ccontrol areas.xe2x80x9d This localized control approach can provide more effective vibration suppression in the control areas, and can require fewer actuators and sensors compared to global vibration control. Deciding where to mount sensors and actuators is somewhat simpler in a localized vibration control problem than in a general vibration control problem. For localized vibration control, sensors and actuators are usually located within the control areas, which usually represent together a relatively small portion of the entire structure.
A typical inventive vibration isolator according to this invention is adapted for engagement with a processor/controller (e.g., PID-type controller) which is capable of generating a control signal. The vibration isolator comprises a spring assembly, at least one sensor and at least one actuator. The spring assembly includes a top member (for securing the spring assembly with respect to an isolated entity), a bottom member and at least one interposed streamlined resilient element. The top member (typically a plate-type structure) is for securing the spring assembly with respect to an isolated entity. The bottom member (typically a plate-type structure) is for securing the spring assembly with respect to an isolatee entity (e.g., the foundation). Each streamlined resilient element is characterized by an approximately constant natural frequency (CNF) regardless of the loading imposed within a particular range of loading (e.g., weight).
Each streamlined resilient element is at least substantially composed of an elastomeric material and at least substantially has a contoured shape having CNF properties, such as spheroidal, prolate spheroidal, circular cylindrical, noncircular cylindrical, torroidal and torroidal segment. A disk is a kind of cylinder; the term xe2x80x9cdisk,xe2x80x9d as used herein, is a descriptive term for a cylinder characterized by a short axial length relative to its diameter. Each streamlined resilient element has the property of passively reducing vibration within a xe2x80x9cspecial passive-reduction-related frequency bandwidthxe2x80x9d which is at least substantially constant when the streamlined resilient element is subjected to a wide range in terms of the degree of loading. Cumulatively speaking, the one or more streamlined resilient elements are thereby capable, in net effect, of passively reducing vibration within a xe2x80x9cgeneral passive-reduction-related frequency bandwidthxe2x80x9d which is at least substantially constant when the one or more streamlined resilient elements are subjected to a wide range in terms of the degree of loading which is associated with the isolated entity and/or the isolatee entity. According to typical inventive embodiments, the xe2x80x9cgeneral passive-reduction-related bandwidthxe2x80x9d is approximately commensurate with the xe2x80x9cspecial passive-reduction-related bandwidth.xe2x80x9d
It is believed by the inventors that a streamlined resilient element has constant natural frequency attributes essentially because of the xe2x80x9cstreamlinedxe2x80x9d shape and the material resiliency (or elasticity) of the streamlined resilient element. In inventive operation, as higher load is applied with respect to the streamlined resilient element (i.e., the passive component), more material of the streamlined resilient element will come in contact with the attachment plates. Increased contact will render the streamlined resilient element stiffer, thereby maintaining the ratio of stiffness (spring rate) to load.
The one or more sensors, the one or more actuators and the processor-controller with which the inventive isolator is engaged represent components of a feedback loop system. Each sensor is coupled with the bottom member and is capable of generating a sensor signal which is in accordance with the vibration in a local zone of interest in the bottom member. Each actuator is coupled with the bottom member and is collocationally paired with one sensor so as to share approximate coincidence with respect to both physical situation and operational direction. Each actuator is capable of generating, in the local zone of interest of the sensor with which the actuator is collocationally paired, a vibratory force which is in accordance with the control signal which is generated by the processor/controller. The control signal is in accordance with the sensor signal which is generated by the sensor with which the actuator is collocationally paired. The vibratory force which is generated by an actuator has the tendency of actively reducing vibration within an xe2x80x9cactive-reduction-related frequency bandwidthxe2x80x9d which differs from the xe2x80x9cgeneral passive-reduction-related bandwidth.xe2x80x9d
Many embodiments of this invention implement a single sensor/actuator unit and a plurality of streamlined resilient members; typically, according to such embodiments, the collocated sensor/actuator unit is centrally located on the bottom plate, while the streamlined resilient members are peripherally located on the bottom plate. For such embodiments, the inventive feedback loop system will usually include a single feedback loop system. Other inventive embodiments implement a plurality of sensor/actuator units and at least one streamlined resilient member; typically, according to such embodiments, each streamlined resilient member will be centrally located on the bottom plate, while each of the plural sensor/actuator units will be peripherally located thereon, typically in symmetrical fashion about the center thereof. For such embodiments, the inventive feedback loop system will include a plurality of feedback loop subsystems. Generally, in inventive practice, the desired numbers, sizes, shapes and arrangements of the at least one streamlined resilient member and the at least one sensor/actuator unit will at least to some extent depend on the overall size and shape of the inventive constant natural frequency (CNF) mount and the force output capacity of the actuators selected.
An inventive configuration involving a single, centrally located sensor/actuator unit and plural, peripherally located streamlined resilient members may be preferable for many applications, due at least to greater compactness vis-a-vis"" other inventive configurations. For instance, an inventive configuration involving more than one centrally located sensor/actuator unit will generally take up more space than will an inventive configuration involving one centrally located sensor/actuator unit. Similarly, with regard to inventive embodiments wherein at least one streamlined resilient member is centrally located and at least two sensor/actuator units are peripherally located, an inventive configuration involving more than one centrally located streamlined resilient member will generally take up more space than will an inventive configuration involving one centrally located streamlined resilient member.
Regardless of whether one or more sensor/actuator units is inventively employed, each sensor is coupled with the bottom plate and generates a sensor output signal which is a function of the localized vibration of the bottom plate. The PID-type controller generates at least one control signal, each control signal being a function of its collocated sensor signal. Each actuator is coupled with the bottom plate above the bottom plate, wherein the sensors and actuators are in one-to-one correspondence; that is, each actuator is located proximate the corresponding sensor and generates a vibratory force which is a function of the control signal which is a function of the sensor signal generated by the corresponding sensor. Each feedback loop system or subsystem will include a sensor and an actuator, correlatively paired
For many inventive embodiments it is preferred that each sensor-actuator unit (sensor-to-actuator correlation) include xe2x80x9ccollocationxe2x80x9d of the sensor and the corresponding actuator; i.e., each collocated sensor-actuator pair is positioned in a kind of spatial and vectorial alignment, whereby the sensing of the sensor and the actuation of its corresponding actuator are approximately in the same direction. For some such inventive embodiments having at least two sensors and at least two actuators, all the collocational directions preferably are approximately parallel.
Some inventive embodiments manifesting collocational parallelism preferably manifest a kind of symmetry which may serve to optimize, perhaps even synergistically, the overall effectiveness of the individual localized active vibration control system or subsystems. For typical such embodiments, the centrally located entity or entities (whether this be at least one streamlined flexible member or at least one sensor/actuator unit) are characterized by a centric imaginary axis which is approximately vertical (i.e., approximately perpendicular to the bottom plate). This centric imaginary axis is approximately coincident with or approximately parallel to the approximately vertical (i.e., approximately perpendicular to the bottom plate) collocational direction of each sensor/actuator unit, as well as to the approximately vertical (i.e., approximately perpendicular to the bottom plate) imaginary axis of at least substantial symmetry of each streamlined flexible member. Every arrangement of the at least one sensor/actuator unit, in terms of their respective collocational directions, is characterized by approximate symmetry with respect to the centric axis. Similarly, every arrangement of the at least one streamlined flexible member, in terms of their respective axes of symmetry, is characterized by approximate symmetry with respect to the centric axis. Further, the top and bottom plates are typically congruous with each other so that their respective perimeters are also characterized by approximate symmetry with respect to the centric axis.
Typically, both the top (upper) and bottom (lower) members used for securing a conventional air mount are flat structures, e.g., plates. For illustrative purposes, the top and bottom plates are exemplified herein as each having a rectangular (in particular, a square) shape; nevertheless, in the light of this disclosure, it will be understood by the ordinarily skilled artisan that, in inventive practice, the top and bottom plates can each describe practically any shape, and that such shapes can differ from each other (e.g, they need not be comparable or similar). Generally in practicing the present invention, the lower plate""s upper surface will be available for inventive sensor-actuator implementation in combination with streamlined flexible member implementation.
The present invention features the utilization of one or more streamlined resilient elements. Any number, shape or combination of shapes of discrete (e.g., segmented) streamlined resilient elements is possible in accordance with the present invention. The CNF passive-active mount in accordance with the present invention can be used for a wide range of vibration isolation weight. The inventive mount is typically feasible for load ranges between as high as ten times to one hundred times the minimum load. In other words, generally speaking, the present invention""s CNF passive-active mount can operate in inventively appropriate CNF fashion in a load range which is extends between the minimum load and some large multiple thereof. According to some inventive embodiments, the load range is between the minimum load and ten times the minimum load. According to other inventive embodiments, the load range is between the minimum load and one hundred times the minimum load. According to most inventive embodiments, the load range will be between the a minimum load value and a multiple load value of the minimum load value, wherein the multiple load value is between ten times and one hundred times the minimum load value. That is to say, the wide (broad) range of loading, in terms of the degree of loading which at least substantially results from at least one of said isolated entity and said isolatee entity, is an approximate range which is between a minimum loading value and a maximum loading value; the maximum loading value is between about ten times and about one hundred times the minimum loading value.
Yet, the inventive mount typically is substantially smaller than the conventional mount designs which would seek to accomplish vibration isolation over broad loading ranges. Since each inventive CNF passive-active mount achieves vibration isolation over a broad loading range, a smaller inventory of inventive mounts will suffice for many purposes. Moreover, the typical inventive mount is characterized by lower heat, generation than characterized conventional mounts. Many inventive embodiments are configured so as to provide good heat ventilation for the active component (e.g., the component which includes at least one collocated actuator/sensor pair). The same or similar inventive CNF passive-active mount design can be used at different locations or on different types of foundations. The present invention has a simple non-pneumatic design which advantageously admits of easy fabrication. Furthermore, the typical inventive mount has snubbing/captive capability for shock control.
Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the inventions when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Constant natural frequency passive-active mount

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


The power pack includes a plurality of parallel groups. Each parallel group includes a plurality of electrical power sources connected in parallel. The pack also includes a plurality of series groups. Each series group connects in series one of the power sources from each of the parallel groups. The pack also includes a series balancing circuit configured to balance the voltage of the power sources in one of the series groups such that one or more power sources in the series group recharges one or more other power sources in the same series group.

Battery systems that employ a plurality of interconnected batteries have been designed to address the need for battery systems that can power the movement of vehicles such as cars. Many of these systems connect batteries in series. However, different batteries in a series will have different capacities, different self-discharge rates and/or different impedances that will affect the performance of these systems. Drawing a high current from these systems can cause the voltage of one or more batteries to fall to a dangerously low level and fail while the remaining batteries remain operational. The failure of the battery can cause failure of the entire system. There is a need for an improved battery system that addresses the variations in the performance of different batteries.


The subject invention concerns a novel and useful insecticide with activity against insect pests of the order Coleoptera. Pests in the order Coleoptera do heavy damage to crops, e.g., corn. The insecticide of the subject invention is a novel B. thuringiensis microbe referred to as B.t. PS40D1, or mutants thereof. The spores or crystals of this microbe are useful to control coleopteran pests in various environments.

Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) produces an insect toxin designated as .delta.-endotoxin It is synthesized by the B.t. sporulating cell. The toxin, upon being ingested in its crystalline form by susceptible insect larvae, is transformed into biologically active moieties by the insect gut juice proteases. The primary target is insect cells of the gut epithelium which are rapidly destroyed.
The reported activity spectrum of B.t. covers insect species within the order Lepidoptera, many of which are major pests in agriculture and forestry. The activity spectrum also includes the insect order Diptera, which includes mosquitos and black flies. See Couch T.L. (1980) "Mosquito Pathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis," Developments in Industrial Microbiology 22:61-67, Beegle, C.C., (1978) "Use of Entomogenous Bacteria in Agroecosystems," Developments in Industrial Microbiology 20:97-104. Krieg, et al., Z. ang. Ent. (1983) 96:500-508, describe a B.t isolate named Bacillus thuringiensis var. tenebrionis, which is reportedly active against two beetles in the order Coleoptera These are the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, and Agelastica alni.
In European Patent Application 0 202 739 there is disclosed a novel B.t. isolate active against Coleoptera. It is known as B. thuringiensis var. san diego (B.t.sd.).
Coleopteran-active strains, such as B.t.sd., can be used to control foliar-feeding beetles The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), for example, is susceptible to the delta-endotoxin of B.t.sd. and larvae are killed upon ingesting a sufficient dose of spore/crystal preparation on treated foliage.
A number of crops are attacked by flea beetles. These beetles belong to the family Chrysomelidae, the decemlineata. The adults can cause extensive damage by feeding on the foliage.

Novel coleopteran-active bacillus thuringiensis isolate


In at least some implementations, a vehicle door includes a first section having a first void, a second section having a first projection, a first intermediate member received within the first void and having an inner surface that defines an interior, wherein the first projection is received within the interior, and a first coupler coupled to the first projection. The interior of the first intermediate member has at least a portion that is larger than the portion of the first projection received within that portion of the interior to permit movement of the first projection relative to the intermediate member. The first coupler is coupled to the intermediate member to maintain the position of the first projection relative to the first section. In this way, the position of the second section may be adjusted relative to the first section and the adjusted position can be maintained.

Some vehicles include doors formed from more than one section, with a section being releasably or removably coupled to another section so that the vehicle can be operated with a partial door. Due to variances in dimensions of manufactured parts, the fit of a door both with respect to the vehicle and the fit of different sections of a multiple section door is different within a production run of doors and vehicles. Accordingly, it can be difficult to properly align the door with the vehicle and to properly align the various door sections relative to each other. In addition to providing a worse than desired fit and finish for the vehicle, this can make it difficult to obtain a desired compression of the weather seal between the door and vehicle body which is needed to, among other things, provide a good wind and water seal between the door and vehicle.


A connectored cable including a cable having an optical fiber for transmitting an optical signal; and a connector that accommodates a substrate on which a photoelectric conversion portion that is optically coupled to an end face of the optical fiber is installed, and in which the optical fiber is wired so that at least three bent portions are formed, the orientation of the optical fiber in a front-rear direction being changed, the optical fiber being bent into a U shape at each of the bent portions, and so that one of two bent portions on a front side is located on a down side of the substrate and the other bent portion on the front side is located on an up side of the substrate.

To perform optical transmission between devices, for example, it is possible to use a scheme as follows: a photoelectric conversion portion that performs conversion between electrical and optical signals is provided in each device, an optical cable is connected to the photoelectric conversion portions with optical connectors, and optical signals is sent and received through this optical fiber cable.
This scheme has a problem that any dirt or foreign matter deposited on the optical connectors may degrade signals. Moreover, in this scheme, an optical fiber processing portion and a photoelectric conversion portion need to be provided in a device. Thus, a connectored cable has been proposed in which photoelectric conversion portions are provided on the connector side (PTL 1).

Connectored cable and method for manufacturing connectored cable


A fastening arrangement for fastening a flexible element to a rigid element is provided. The fastening arrangement comprising a first closure element and a second closure element, which each consist of a plug part, a housing part and a catch. Each closure element is closed in that the plug part is put together with the housing part in a closing direction until snapping into place in a closed position, so that the plug part and the housing part are held at each other against the closing direction. Each housing part is formed such that by means of a relative movement of the housing part relative to the plug part in an opening direction, which differs from the closing direction, the plug part is pushed out of the catch and the closure element hence can be opened.

The invention relates to a fastening arrangement for fastening a flexible element to a rigid element.
Such fastening arrangement includes a first closure element and a second closure element, which each consist of a plug part, a housing part and a catch. Each closure element is closed in that the plug part and the housing part are put together in a closing direction until snapping into place in a closed position and in the closed position are then held at each other by the catch against the closing direction. Each housing part is formed such that by means of a relative movement of the housing part relative to the plug part in an opening direction, which differs from the closing direction, the plug part is pushed out of the catch and the closure element hence can be opened. The plug part of the first closure element and the plug part of the second closure element are firmly arranged on the one of the rigid element and the flexible element, and the housing part of the first closure element and the housing part of the second closure element is firmly arranged on the other one of the rigid element and the flexible element.
The flexible element to be fastened by means of the fastening arrangement for example can constitute a floor mat which is to be arranged and to be fastened on a vehicle floor realizing a rigid element.
A floor mat conventionally is fastened on a vehicle floor by two pushbutton-like fastening means, so that the floor mat is secured against slipping. The pushbutton-like fastening means are closed by pressing and opened again by pulling. With such type of fastening it can occur, however, that the user inserts the floor mat carelessly and the fastening means do not or at least not completely get in engagement. It can also occur that e.g. in case of a crash or a strong foot movement the mat is torn out of the fastening means. In the worst case, both can lead to the fact that a floor mat for a driver seat slips under the accelerator or brake pedal of the vehicle and blocks the accelerator or brake pedal, so that the vehicle no longer is controllable.


A semiconductor component including a first layer (10) of a semiconductor material as a substrate, a second layer (12) running on said first layer (10), and at least two intermediate layers (14, 16) made of the materials of the first and second layers running between the first and second layer, where the first intermediate layer (16) facing the second layer (12) may contain a eutectic mixture (18) made of the materials of the first and second layers. The invention is also directed to an electroconductive contact (15, 15a, 15b) forming an electroconductive connection to the first layer and originating at or running through the second layer, as well as to a method for producing the metal-semiconductor contact. In order to produce a mechanically durable, electrically flawless, removable contact in the area of the material of the second layer it is proposed that the electroconductive contact (15, 15a, 15b) include a solderable or wettable metallic material, which is alloyed into the second layer (12) or which forms a mixture with the material of the second layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor component comprising a first layer consisting of semiconductor material as a substrate, a second layer running on this first layer, at least a first and a second intermediate layer made of the materials of the first and second layers running between the first and second layers, as well as an electroconductive contact that forms a connection to the first layer and originates at the second layer or runs through the second layer.
Further, the present invention relates to a method for producing a metal-semiconductor contact of a semiconductor component, such as a solar cell, comprising a first layer as a substrate made of semiconductor material as well as a second layer applied to it made of basic contact material consisting of or containing metal.
2. Description of Related Art
In the production of semiconductors, in particular in the production of solar cells, sintered metal contacts are used for the front and back surfaces of the cell for production costs reasons.
A silicon solar cell usually has a large-area aluminum layer on the back surface, which is exposed to a sintering process by means of thermal treatment during production of the solar cell, as a result of which the back surface of the solar cell is simultaneously passivated by means of a so-called back-surface field (BSF).
On sintering, the aluminum layer, which is in direct contact with the silicon substrate that should be designated as the first layer, is melted at the boundary layer between the aluminum layer and the silicon substrate and alloyed with the adjacent first layer. On cooling, the highly Al doped silicon layer solidifies epitactically on the back surface of the wafer facing the silicon, namely the substrate. Simultaneously, a silicon enriched Al layer solidifies on the side facing the Al layer, and at the end of the cooling process, an Al—Si eutectic solidifies between the highly aluminum doped layer and the silicon enriched layer. The highly aluminum-doped epitactically grown silicon layer is responsible for the passivation of the back surface of the solar cell. As a result of the high Al doping, a surplus of negatively charged, immovable Al acceptors is created, which produce an electric field that repels the minority carriers, the so-called back-surface field.
When the aluminum layer extends over the entire back surface of the solar cell and/or substrate, there is a soldering problem because it is not easy to directly solder tin-plated or non tin-plated metal connectors, for example, in particular copper connectors onto the aluminum back surface. In order to still carry out the required electric contacting, conductor paths having silver contacts or soldering points are directly applied onto the substrate surface by means of a screen printing, pad printing or other suitable printing process, and the tin-plated copper strips soldered onto them. Consequently, a recess in the aluminum layer is provided in the area of the soldering contacts resulting in that no back-surface field may form in this area so that the back surface of the solar cell is not completely passivated electrically and therefore less local photo currents appear. This has a negative impact on the degree of efficiency.
Since silver as a raw material is expensive, it should be dispensed with in order to reduce the manufacturing costs. Therefore, it is desirable to fully avoid the Ag contact.
Soldering the contact strips directly onto the aluminum layer is hardly possible for several reasons. One of the reasons is the oxidized surface of the Al particles. A further reason is that as a result of the sintering process, the upper aluminum surface is not sufficiently cohesive. Thus, during the sintering process an aluminum layer in the form of isolated spherical Al particles sintered together (sintered layer) originates over the silicon-doped alloy layer, where the aluminum bond is not a compact bond, but a rather loose sintered bond, which, depending on the composition of the aluminum paste and/or processing values during sintering is more or less porous. The pores may be filled with glass components.
If despite that, it should be possible to solder on this sintered aluminum layer, the hold would be very poor because of the porosity and consequent instability of the layer. This poor hold is noticeable as low pull-off forces of approx. 2-8 N, the sintered layer being torn apart so that the sphere structure of the particles may be recognized on both sides of the tear-off points. This entails the risk that the sintered layer may be destroyed on attempting to pull off the contact strips. The same occurs when the soldering connection on the aluminum layer is exposed to the pull-off forces actuating under operating conditions in a module. Small tears may result, which may lead to less durability of the soldering point and consequently also entail higher transfer resistance.

Semiconductor component and method for producing a metal-semiconductor contact


Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for posting interrupts to virtual processors are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes look-up logic and posting logic. The look-up logic is to look-up an entry associated with an interrupt request to a virtual processor in a data structure. The posting logic is to post the interrupt request in a data structure specified by information in the first data structure.

1. Field
The present disclosure pertains to the field of information processing, and more particularly, to the field of managing interrupts in an information processing system.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, the concept of virtualization in information processing systems allows multiple instances of one or more operating systems (each, an "OS") to run on a single information processing system, even though each OS is designed to have complete, direct control over the system and its resources. Virtualization is typically implemented by using software (e.g., a virtual machine monitor, or a "VMM") to present to each OS a "virtual machine" ("VM") having virtual resources, including one or more virtual processors, that the OS may completely and directly control, while the VMM maintains a system environment for implementing virtualization policies such as sharing and/or allocating the physical resources among the VMs (the "virtualization environment"). Each OS, and any other software, that runs on a VM is referred to as a "guest" or as "guest software," while a "host" or "host software" is software, such as a VMM, that runs outside of the virtualization environment.
A physical processor in an information processing system may support virtualization, for example, by supporting an instruction to enter a virtualization environment to run a guest on a virtual processor (i.e., a physical processor under constraints imposed by a VMM) in a VM. In the virtualization environment, certain events, operations, and situations, such as external interrupts or attempts to access privileged registers or resources, may be intercepted, i.e., cause the processor to exit the virtualization environment so that a VMM may operate, for example, to implement virtualization policies (a "VM exit").
A physical processor in an information processing system may support virtualization, for example, by supporting an instruction to enter a virtualization environment to run a guest on a virtual processor (i.e., a physical processor under constraints imposed by a VMM) in a VM. In the virtualization environment, certain events, operations, and situations, such as external interrupts or attempts to access privileged registers or resources, may be intercepted, cause the processor to exit the virtualization environment so that a VMM may operate, for example, to implement virtualization policies (a "VM exit").
Therefore, external interrupts may be intercepted by the VMM and routed to the appropriate virtual processor. Alternatively, a virtualization environment may provide for external interrupts to be routed to a virtual processor without a VM exit, for example, if the interrupt request is generated by an input/output ("I/O") device assigned to the currently active VM, or if the interrupt request is an inter-processor interrupt between two virtual processors in the same VM. Whether the interrupt request causes a VM exit or not, routing the interrupt to the appropriate virtual processor may include mapping interrupts requests from a guest's view of the system to a host's view of the system. In existing information processing systems, the VMM may be responsible for remapping interrupt requests whenever a virtual processor is irrigated from one physical processor to another physical processor.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Posting interrupts to virtual processors


A method for improving the image quality of a three-dimensional magnetic resonance image dataset recorded with a magnetic resonance device, wherein, from at least one correction image dataset recorded with a modality other than magnetic resonance imaging, registered with the magnetic resonance image dataset, showing at least partly the same recording region as the magnetic resonance image dataset, especially an x-ray image dataset, relevant material parameters are derived locally-resolved for the magnetic resonance imaging, which are used for establishing a virtual magnetic resonance comparison dataset in a simulation wherein, as a function of a comparison between the magnetic resonance image dataset and the magnetic resonance comparison dataset, at least one measure parameter describing an image quality improvement measure to be applied in the k-space is determined and the image quality improvement measure is carried out with the measure parameter relating to the magnetic resonance image dataset.

Magnetic resonance imaging has become established as a modality for the examination of patients in medical devices, since it provides a number of advantages, such as the outstanding soft tissue contrast of magnetic resonance imaging. There are limitations in relation to magnetic resonance imaging, however, which to some extent are inherent, but are also caused to some extent by the specific circumstances for recording a magnetic resonance image dataset. These limitations are at the expense of the image quality of the magnetic resonance image dataset. For example, recordings with high local resolution mostly take longer, so that movements may occur in the recording region. Approaches for shortening the measurement times for magnetic resonance image datasets are, for example, an undersampling of areas of the k-space, which may likewise lead to limitations in the image quality. A further problem limiting the image quality of the magnetic resonance imaging is the homogeneity of the magnetic resonance fields used, wherein even small deviations from this homogeneity may manifest themselves in limitations in the image quality.
To compensate for these limitations, the use of combination imaging devices, which combine a magnetic resonance device and an imaging device of a further modality, (e.g., an x-ray device), has been proposed. For example, combined magnetic resonance/x-ray imaging devices have been proposed, in which a recording arrangement of an x-ray device with x-ray source and x-ray detector have been integrated mechanically into the patient support of a magnetic resonance device. In this way, it is made possible to record magnetic resonance image datasets and x-ray image datasets at the same time.
The problem that arises in such cases, however, is that the two imaging modalities are realized as a separate imaging chain. Limitations of one modality, of the magnetic resonance imaging, for example, are only compensated for by image datasets of the other modality, which may not have these limitations, being able to be provided simultaneously.
A further overall improvement in the quality of magnetic resonance image datasets, which goes beyond hitherto existing approaches, (e.g., filter algorithms for reducing artifacts), may be desirable, and which may also provide magnetic resonance image datasets with image characteristics that, despite the limitations of magnetic resonance imaging, correspond to those of other modalities or at least approach said modalities.

Image quality of a magnetic resonance image dataset


A signal representing the RPM of an internal combustion engine is produced by a signal processor connected to the battery of the vehicle. The signal processor derives an electrical signal from the battery which contains signal components produced by operation of the vehicle ignition system, as well as components from a multitude of other sources such as the voltage regulator, fans, air conditioning and other electrical systems of the vehicle. The signal processor filters and signal processes the signal derived from the vehicle battery to produce a signal having a frequency which is related to the RPM of the engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to testing equipment for internal combustion engines. In particular, the present invention relates to a tachometer for determining the engine speed (RPM) of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In newer model automobiles, tachometer (RPM) measurement methods have become a problem because it is impossible to connect engine speed transducers to some vehicles, and extremely difficult to connect transducers to others.
The distributorless ignition system (DIS) used in newer model vehicles exhibits these problems. DIS systems have dual firing voltage on each spark plug wire, one for normal firing and the other for what is known as "waste firing". The prior art secondary type transducers pick up both spark plug firings, and the measuring equipment must distinguish these signals in order to develop a proper tachometer reading. The secondary signals sensed by these prior art transducers are not considered to be as reliable as one would like, since spark plug condition and cross firing can create undesirable or unreliable information.
In the prior art, it was customary to use the primary voltage or current as a source of tachometer information. The DIS systems, however, are typically packaged so that they do not have available a connection for sensing primary voltage. For that reason, a special current pickup was developed which would use the primary current when available. There are, however, vehicles in which even current readings have become difficult because the wire is bunched and harnessed in a complete cable.
There is a need for an improved tachometer which is compatible with the modern DIS systems, and which does not require special transducers, and which is compatible with both distributor and distributorless ignition systems.

Bear Automotive Service Equipment Company


A thermal printer is adapted to prevent crease formation in a dye transfer area of a dye donor web that can cause line artifacts to be printed on a dye receiver during a dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver in a dye transfer printer.

The invention relates generally to dye transfer printers such as thermal printers, and in particular to the problem of crease or wrinkle formation in successive dye transfer areas of a dye donor web. Crease formation in the dye transfer area can result in an undesirable line artifact being printed on a dye receiver.
A typical multi-color dye donor web that is used in a thermal printer is substantially thin and has a repeating series of three different rectangular-shaped color sections or patches such as a yellow color section, a magenta color section and a cyan color section. Also, there may be a transparent colorless laminating section immediately after the cyan color section.
Each color section of the dye donor web consists of a dye transfer area that is used for dye transfer printing and a pair of opposite longitudinal edge areas alongside the dye transfer area which are not used for printing. The dye transfer area is 152 mm wide and the two edge areas are each 5.5 mm wide, so that the total web width is 163 mm.
To make a multi-color image print using a thermal printer, a motorized donor take-up spool pulls the dye donor web from a donor supply spool in order to successively draw an unused single series of yellow, magenta and cyan color sections over a stationary bead of selectively heated resistive elements on a thermal print head between the two spools. Respective color dyes within the yellow, magenta and cyan color sections are successively heat-transferred, via the bead of selectively heated resistive elements, in superimposed relation onto a dye receiver such as a paper or transparency sheet or roll, to form the color image print. The bead of resistive elements extends across the entire width of a color section, i.e. across its dye transfer area and the two edge areas alongside the transfer area. However, only those resistive elements that contact the dye transfer area are selectively heated. Those resistive elements that contact the two edge areas are not heated. In other words, the dye transfer is effected from the dye transfer area to the receiver medium, but not from the two edge areas to the receiver medium.
As each color section, including its dye transfer area and the two edge areas alongside the transfer area, is drawn over the bead of selectively heated resistive elements, the color section is subjected to a longitudinal tension particularly by a pulling force of the motorized donor take-up spool. Since the dye transfer area is heated by the resistive elements, but the two edge areas alongside the transfer area are not, the transfer area is significantly weakened and vulnerable to stretching as compared to the two edge areas. Consequently, the longitudinal tension will stretch the dye transfer area relative to the two edge areas. This stretching causes the dye transfer area to become thinner than the non-stretched edge areas, which in turn causes some creases or wrinkles to develop in the transfer area, mostly in those regions of the transfer area that are close to the two edge areas. The creases or wrinkles occur mostly in the regions of the dye transfer area that are close to the two edge areas because of the sharp, i.e. abrupt, transition between the weakened transfer area and the stronger edge areas.
As the dye donor web is pulled by the motorized donor take-up spool over the bead of selectively heated resistive elements, the creases or wrinkles tend to spread from a trailing or rear end portion of a used dye transfer area at least to a leading or front end portion of the next dye transfer area to be used. A problem that can result is that the creases or wrinkles in the leading or front end portion of the next dye transfer area to be used will cause undesirable line artifacts to be printed on a leading or front end portion of the dye receiver, when the dye transfer occurs at the creases in the leading end portion of the next dye transfer area to be used. The line artifacts printed on the dye receiver are relatively short, but quite visible.
The question presented therefore is how to solve the problem of the creases or wrinkles being created in an unused transfer area so that no line artifacts are printed on the dye receiver during the dye transfer.
The Cross-Referenced Application
The cross-referenced application discloses a thermal printer capable of preventing crease formation in a dye transfer area of a dye donor web that can cause line artifacts to be printed on a dye receiver during a dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver. The thermal printer, as disclosed, includes:
a thermal print head for heating the dye transfer area of the dye donor web sufficiently to effect a dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver, but not heating opposite edge areas of the dye donor web alongside the dye transfer area sufficiently to effect a dye transfer from the edge areas to the dye receiver, so that the dye transfer area is vulnerable to being stretched relative to the two edge areas;
a web take-up roller that takes up the dye donor web, and that exerts a pulling force on the dye transfer area and two edge areas at the print head which is sufficient to stretch the dye transfer area relative to the two edge areas to possibly form some creases at least in respective regions adjacent the two edge areas; and
a crease-preventing platen roller that holds the dye transfer area and two edge areas against the print head during the dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver, and which is adapted to mechanically cause the two edge areas to be stretched substantially the same as the dye transfer area when the dye transfer area and two edge areas are subjected to the pulling force of the web take-up roller, whereby crease formation that causes line artifacts to be printed on the dye receiver is at least substantially prevented.
In a preferred embodiment, the platen roller has a rotatable main portion and opposite end portions with respective lengths to hold the dye transfer area and the two edge areas alongside the dye transfer area against the thermal print head. The roller end portions have a diameter and a compliance that are greater than the diameter and compliance of the roller main portion, so that the roller end portions apply a pressure against the two edge areas that is greater than a pressure the roller main portion applies against the dye transfer area. This pressure difference causes the two edge areas to be stretched substantially the same as the dye transfer area when the edge areas and the dye transfer area are subjected to the pulling force of the web take-up roller.
A thermal printer capable of preventing crease formation in a dye transfer area of a dye donor web that can cause line artifacts to be printed on a dye receiver during a dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver, said printer comprising:
a thermal print head for heating the dye transfer area of the dye donor web sufficiently to effect a dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver, but not heating two opposite edge areas of the dye donor web alongside the dye transfer area sufficiently to effect a dye transfer from the two edge areas to the dye receiver, so that the dye transfer area is vulnerable to being stretched relative to the two edge areas;
a web take-up that takes up the dye donor web, and that exerts a pulling force on the dye transfer area and two edge areas at the print head which is sufficient to stretch the dye transfer area relative to the two edge areas to possibly form some creases in at least respective regions adjacent the two edge areas; and
a crease-preventing platen roller having a rotatable main portion and a coaxial pair of opposite end portions each rotatable independently of the roller main portion, with respective lengths to hold the dye transfer area and two edge areas against the print head, and with a diameter that is greater at the roller end portions than at the roller main portion, so that the roller end portions apply a pressure against the two edge areas that is greater than a pressure the roller main portion applies against the dye transfer area, whereby the pressure difference causes the two edge areas to be stretched substantially the same as the dye transfer area when the dye transfer area and two edge areas are subjected to the pulling force of the web take-up roller, so that crease formation which can cause line artifacts is at least substantially prevented.
In a preferred embodiment, the roller end portions rotatable independently of the roller main portion each have a single diameter periphery which applies pressure against the two edge areas at the print head.
In contrast, in an alternate embodiment, the roller end portions rotatable independently of the roller main portion each have dual diameter peripheries. In other words, there is a uniform diameter periphery for applying pressure against the two edge areas at the print head and a varying diameter periphery between the uniform diameter periphery and the roller main portion which decreasingly tapers from the diameter of the uniform diameter periphery to the diameter of the roller main portion.

Preventing crease formation in donor web in dye transfer printer that can cause line artifact on print


A device for driving magnetic tape suitable for running from a pay-out spool to a take-up spool along a determined path during which the tape is wound through a given angle around a stationary element such as a cylindrical drum provided with rotary heads, and is caused to slip over the surface thereof, the device comprising first and second drive elements disposed respectively upstream and downstream from the element, wherein one of the drive elements includes a capstan and wherein the other one of the drive elements includes a wheel having the tape wound thereabout, the wheel being rotated so that its linear speed is greater than the linear speed of the tape and is in the same direction as the linear speed of the tape, and is suitable for enabling the tape to slip over the wheel.

Such recorders include one or more magnetic read/write heads which are fixed to the periphery of a rotary element which is coaxial with the axis of a cylindrical drum having a magnetic tape wound helically around its surface, with the tape running from a pay-out spool to a take-up spool. Information is recorded on the tape in sloping tracks which slope at an angle which is a function of the ratio between the tape speed and the head speed. There are two families of recorders of this type. In the first family, the heads are fixed to the periphery of a rotating plate which is coaxial with the drum and disposed in a slot provided in an equatorial plane of the drum with the magnetic tape that is wound helically around the drum running over the slot. In the second family, the drum comprises a stationary bottom portion and a rotary top portion having the heads fixed to its base.
The tape is put into place around the drum and is caused to run from the pay-out spool to the take-up spool by sets of wheels and/or spindles disposed respectively upstream and downstream from the drum.
The tape is driven in translation by means of at least one capstan disposed downstream from the drum.
In general, the friction between the tape and a cylindrical body (such as the drum) over which it is slipping increases the tension in the tape downstream from the body. If the tape is wound through an angle "d" around the body (as seen in plan view), if the values of the tension in the tape upstream and downstream from said body are T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 respectively, and if the coefficient of friction between the tape and the fixed body is "f", so long as: EQU T.sub.2 <T.sub.1 .multidot.e.sup.fd ( 1)
the tape does not slip, and as soon as EQU T.sub.2 =T.sub.1 .multidot.e.sup.fd ( 2)
then the tape slips over the fixed body. A constant factor is omitted from equations (1) and (2), which factor is a function of the contact area between the tape and the fixed body.
The tension T.sub.2 is thus a function of the values of f and d. The value of d is generally fixed and unalterable. In contrast, the value of f may be varied for given conditions of humidity, by increasing the temperature, or the pressure, or the surface roughness of the tape, for example, and it may take values such that the tension T.sub.2 becomes excessive, preventing the tape from running properly, and possibly even damaging the physical integrity of the tape.
It is therefore important to be able to determine, or at least to control, the tension in the tape along the length thereof, and in particular downstream from the drum.
Although the tension T.sub.0 in the length of the tape at the outlet from the pay-out spool is easily controlled, e.g. by means of a tape tension sensor servo-controlling the rotation of the pay-out spool, the same is not true of the tension T.sub.2 in the length of tape downstream from the drum which is determined by a function of T.sub.0, f and d, and other parameters, depending on the type of capstan disposed downstream from the drum as provided in prior art devices.
FIG. 1A is a diagrammatic plan view of the path followed by the tape in a recorder provided with a prior art tape drive device. The tape "a" (under tension T.sub.1) coming from a pay-out spool which is not shown passes over a first deflector wheel "b.sub.1 ", and then winds round a drum "C" through an angle ".delta." with a coefficient of friction "f", then bears against a second deflector wheel "b.sub.2 " (to given tension T.sub.2), and is finally associated with a capstan of the type including a pinch wheel (and comprising a drive wheel "e.sub.1 " and a pinch wheel "e.sub.2 " with the tape being pinched therebetween). The tensions T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 respectively upstream and downstream from the drum satisfy the equation T.sub.2 =T.sub.1 .multidot.e.sup.f.delta.. T.sub.2 therefore depends directly on the coefficient of friction f, and may become too great if the value of f increases.
FIG. 1B is a diagram similar to FIG. 1A in which the capstan is of the "enveloping" type in which the tape "a" is wound around a drive wheel G through a given angle ".delta." and is driven without sliping. The tape has a tension T.sub.2 between the drum and the capstan, and a different tension T.sub.3 downstream from the capstan. T.sub.1, T.sub.2, and T.sub.3 satisfy the relationships: EQU T.sub.1 .multidot.e.sup.f.delta. =T.sub.2 <T.sub.3 .multidot.e.sup.-f'.delta.' ( 3)
When the value of f increases, T.sub.2 increases in turn, but only up to a limit value at which the tape starts sliping on the drive wheel. Tape drive is then no longer ensured in satisfactory manner.
In the prior art, attempts have been made to remedy these drawbacks by a device as shown in plan view in FIG. 1C which is provided with two "enveloping" capstans, namely a first or upstream capstan (b.sub.1, H.sub.1, b.sub.2) and a second or downstream capstan (b.sub.3, H.sub.2, b.sub.4), with both capstans rotating at the same speed and both being of the enveloping type. If the values of the tension in the tape upstream and downstream from the first capstan are written T.sub.0 and T.sub.1 respectively (where T.sub.0 is the outlet tension from the pay-out spool), and if the values of the tension in the tape upstream and downstream from the second capstan are written T.sub.2 and T.sub.3 respectively, with .delta.' being the angle through which the tape is wound around either of the capstans, and f' being the coefficient of friction between the tape and the respective capstans, then the following relationships hold: EQU T.sub.0 .multidot.e.sup.f.delta. .multidot.e.sup.-f'.delta.' <T.sub.2 <T.sub.3 .multidot.e.sup.f'.delta.' ( 4)
If the value of f increases, then the value of T.sub.2 increases until the tape slips on the second (downstream) capstan. The tape is then no longer driven downstream from the drum, but it continues to be driven upstream from the drum by the first (upstream) capstan. Tape then begins to accumulate, thereby releasing the tape from the drum and thus reducing friction. This reduces T.sub.2 and thus allows the second capstan to drive the tape again.
Although this prior art two-capstan prior art device provides a kind of automatic regulation of tape travel, it nevertheless suffers from drawbacks.
Because of the inequality in above relationship (4) relating the values of the tensions, the angles, and the coefficients of friction, control of tape running is only relative.
Further, it is necessary for both capstans to rotate at the same speed, and therefore to provide complex and expensive synchronizing means.
Finally, the presence of two capstans complicates the structure of the recorder, takes up a relatively large amount of space, increases the cost of the assembly, and finally is difficult to make compatible with moving tape loading means.
The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by means of a tape drive device which is simple in design and in operation, and which provides good control of the tension in the tape downstream from the drum.

Tape drive device for a magnetic recorder


A magnetic game apparatus adapted to be played on both sides of a vertically mounted board by two players using magnetic playing pieces. The magnetic game apparatus includes a game board having an organized series of openings therethrough and a plurality of magnetized playing pieces for movement between the openings in the game board. Each playing piece is provided with a permanent magnet on one of its ends of either a positive or negative polarity which will either attract or repel a playing piece positioned within one of the organized series of openings on the opposite side of the game board.

This invention relates to a magnetic game apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus adapted to be played on both sides of a vertically mounted board using magnetic playing pieces.
The present invention is a novel game for two players which is designed to test the memory recall of the players of the game and tends to increase the suspense and interest of the players as they strategically select the movement of playing pieces during the game. The present invention includes a vertical playing board having an organized series of openings therethrough and a plurality of magnetized playing pieces for movement between the openings in the board. In any game played on the game board, approximately one-half of the playing pieces have a permanent magnet on one of its ends of negative polarity so that when a playing piece is placed in an opening in one side of the board, the newly placed playing piece will either be attracted to or repel the first placed playing piece. Each player will normally have the same number of playing pieces of positive and negative polarities; however, they need not be an equal number of each. The present invention combines skill, chance, memory recall, and strategy in a game of great interest to persons of all ages.
The prior art abounds with game apparatuses which use boards and playing pieces where the players attempt to develop a winning strategy as they move the playing pieces to desired locations on the board. There apparently have been only a limited number of such prior art game apparatuses which utilize a vertically mounted board with magnetized playing pieces. Such prior art game apparatuses known to utilize vertically mounted boards and magnetized playing pieces are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,082,004 to Sol Friedman; U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,272 to Ferdinand J. Wszalek; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,799,548 to Jack L. Lemkin. The structure and arrangement of the board and playing pieces together with the rules and objectives of the prior art game apparatuses differ substantially from those for the present invention.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vertical game apparatus which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which uses magnetic playing pieces.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vertical game apparatus which requires skill, chance, memory recall and strategy of the players using the game apparatus.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a vertical magnetic game apparatus with means for playing a variety of games which incorporates the elements of skill and chance to make the game apparatus attractive for two or more players of differing ages and skill.
Benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taking in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Provided is a package type multilayer thin film capacitor for a high capacitance, including: a capacitance block 110; a pair of clamp members 120 and 130 being installed on one side and another side of the capacitance block 110, respectively; a pair of lead members 140 and 150 being installed on the clam members 120 and 130, respectively; and a molding member 160 filling in the capacitance block 110 to partially expose each of the pair of lead members 140 and 150. The capacitance block may be configured by adhering at least two of a ceramic sintered member 111, a metal capacitance member 112, and a thin film capacitance member 113 using an insulating adhesive member and thereby disposing the at least two members in a multilayered form. Accordingly, capacitance may increase and mechanical strength may be enhanced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a package type multilayer thin film capacitor for a high capacitance, and more particularly, to a package type multilayer thin film capacitor for a high capacitance that may increase capacitance and may also enhance mechanical strength.
2. Description of the Related Art
A multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) is being widely used as an electronic part having thinness, high power, and high reliability. The MLCC is formed to alternately dispose a dielectric layer and an internal electrode layer. The MLCC is being expansively employed in an industrial field or an electric automobile field and thus, there is an increasing desire for high capacitance of the MLCC.
Hereinafter, a configuration of the MLCC will be described with reference to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional MLCC 1 includes a ceramic sintered body 2, a protecting layer 3, and an external electrode 4.
The ceramic sintered body 2 may be formed by disposing and sintering a plurality of green sheets 3. Each of the plurality of green sheets 3 may include a dielectric thin film sheet 3a and an internal electrode layer 3b. The dielectric thin film sheet 3a may be formed to have a thickness of a few to hundreds of μm by applying a high dispersed slurry manufacturing method and a die-coater or a lip coater. The internal electrode layer 3b may be formed by spraying, on the dielectric thin film sheet 3a, at least one metal material of silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), Ag—Pd Alloy, and cupper (Cu).
The protecting layer 4 may be formed by forming, as a ceramic sintered body, an external circumferential surface excluding both side surfaces of the ceramic sintered body 2, or by employing one of insulating compound or insulating film that is insulating polymer. When the protecting layer 4 is formed, the MLCC 1 is manufactured by forming an external electrode 5 to electrically connect the internal electrode layer 2b to both side surfaces of the ceramic sintered body 2.
The conventional MLCC manufactured as above is manufactured as thin films in order to increase capacitance by increasing the number of layers. However, when the MLCC is manufactured as thin films, the surface area may be significantly wide compared to the overall thickness. Accordingly, a mechanical strength may be degraded. In addition, due to internally occurring heat or heat transferred from an outside, a heat-resistant property may be easily degraded.

Package type multi layer thin film capacitor for high capacitance