A mold is for obtaining, on a substrate, an array of carbon nanotubes with a high control of their positioning. The mold includes a first layer of a first preset material having a surface having in relief at least one first plurality of projections having a free end portion with a substantially pointed profile.

Carbon nanotubes are the object of a considerable and constantly growing interest in the nanoelectronics sector, which still today is not yet capable of fully exploiting its exceptional features and properties, in particular in field emission devices.
Single wall carbon nanotubes and multiple wall nanotubes show an excellent electrical conductivity at room temperature.
Carbon nanotubes are different from the metal emitters in that, in the latter, the electrical resistance increases with increasing temperature, the heat increasing proportionally with the increase in the extracted current. This causes an unstable heat dispersion, which inevitably leads to the destruction of the emission source in the metal type emitters. On the other hand, however, nanotubes are very stable emitters even at very high temperatures, due to the fact that their electrical resistance decreases with temperature, thus limiting the generated heat.
In addition, other features such as the exceptionally reduced size, the ballistic conduction, the high transport mobility, and the absence of electronic migration make the carbon nanotubes ideal candidates for transistor type applications and for the interconnections in electronic devices.
Even though recently, realization and use techniques have been developed for carbon nanotubes of a certain interest, these new materials are still far from being industrially utilized, mainly due to the difficulties encountered in managing them, which may make their positioning control particularly problematic. In order to properly exploit carbon nanotube features, it is helpful to effectively control their relative position on a substrate.
The prior art, for example, provides a horizontal positioning method of nanotubes based on the nanomanipulation, which includes using an AFM rod for moving single nanotubes onto a substrate. Other gripping devices have been made that are capable of ensuring a precise control of the horizontal positioning of nanotubes, which nevertheless allow the grip from one site and the release in a final position of a single nanotube at a time.
It is understood that techniques of this type may be limited to the realization of prototypes of devices comprising horizontally-arranged nanotube arrays, since they are serial techniques which may not easily be applied on an industrial scale.
Other techniques provided in the prior art, such as ink jet printing, dielectrophoresis, and stamp printing, permit the deposition in parallel of nanotubes on a substrate, and at competitive costs.
For example, by means of the ink jet technique, a dispersion of nanotubes can be printed following preset patterns, or it can be deposited between two electrodes, with orientation and fixing of nanotubes, by means of dielectrophoresis. Moreover, nanotubes deposited on a first substrate can be taken by means of a mold of the so-called soft type and deposited by means of contact printing on a second substrate according to the pattern in relief on the mold.
The main drawback of such techniques lies in the fact that they are applicable for the realization of nanotube networks. Furthermore, the known art provides for processes in which the nanotubes are not arranged and/or handled on a substrate but directly grown, that is realized, on them.
In the process of horizontal growth of nanotubes, a silicon substrate is engraved creating grooves or trenches in which the growth of nanotubes occurs between an edge and another of the grooves or trenches. However, such processes may not guarantee a well controlled final position of the nanotubes.
On the contrary, by engraving a catalyst layer deposited on the substrate, also in this case realizing grooves or trenches, in which nanotubes are formed, better results are attained in terms of controlling the position of the nanotubes on the substrate. However, such better results may be diminished by the fact that the diameter of a nanotube depends of the width of the groove in which it grows, which in turn depends on the resolution of the patterning technique used to create the groove. The obtainment of particularly small diameters, thus nanotubes with a high potential, necessarily implies the use of extremely costly lithography techniques which, furthermore, do not guarantee a nanotube diameter smaller than a given limit (about 20 nm).
Also in order to obtain an array of nanotubes arranged vertically on a substrate, the prior art provides processes in which the nanotubes are grown directly on the substrate. In particular, nanotubes are grown on a substrate through a technique known as CVD (chemical vapour deposition). The growth process occurs by means of aggregation of carbon atoms, supplied by a high temperature hydrocarbon gas in a nanotube crystalline structure generated by a nanometric size metal particle which serves as a catalyser and crystallisation nucleus. For example, methane gas at 900° C. and at a pressure of 750 torr can be used as a source of carbon.
Though there are several procedures for obtaining catalyst nanoparticles (distributed on a substrate) on which carbon nanotubes can be grown, an effective control of the position of each nanotube is currently attained by using e-beam lithography techniques which allow localising, on the substrate, spots or dots at desired positions.
In such a manner, it is possible to obtain vertically oriented parallel nanotubes having highly controlled positions, but the entire realization procedure may be particularly slow and very costly due to the use of the e-beam lithography and, therefore, may not be acceptable in a large scale industrialisation like the one used currently for electronic production.
Additionally, there still remains however a limit to the smallest dimension of the abovementioned catalyst spots which can be obtained through e-beam lithography.
Therefore, the need to realize (on a substrate) an array of nanotubes of particularly small dimensions with a high control of their positioning, both in case of horizontal orientation and in case of vertical orientation, at a cost allowing its industrialization in the manufacture of electronic devices, has yet to be met.

Mold having nanometric features, method for realizing such a mold and corresponding use of it in a method for realizing an array of carbon nanotubes


The spectral density and primary color density in each color-step region of a calibration chart made of a color photosensitive material is measured by a spectrodensitometer and an image reading apparatus, respectively. Then, a conversion data is obtained from the resultant data. The color density data obtained from the original made of the same color photosensitive material as that of the calibration chart are converted using the conversion data into the corresponding color dye quantity data. The spectral density characteristics of respective color dyes included in the color photosensitive material used for the original are applied to the converted color dye quantity data to obtain a composite density. Finally, the color space data of a desired colorimetric system is determined based on the composite density.

1. Field of the invention
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for processing images for use in an image reading apparatus, wherein color space data of a desired colorimetric system can be stably obtained from image information carried by an original.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to simplify work steps and improve quality of images in the production of a master film in the printing and platemaking field, for example, there is widely used an image scanning, reading and reproducing system which electrically processes image information recorded in an original.
In an image reading apparatus of the image scanning, reading and reproducing system, the original accommodated and positioned in an original cassette is transferred to a reading unit, and image information borne by the original is photoelectrically read there by CCDs or the like.
It is impossible, by the way, to accurately reproduce the image information recorded in the original without any calibration of the image reading apparatus in use, because the characteristic of an optical system in the reading unit is generally different from apparatus to apparatus.
As a calibration method to be easily thought of, there may be raised a direct mapping method. In the direct mapping method, standard data is first obtained by reading with a spectrodensitometer a chart on which standard brightness, chroma and hue are shown stepwise. Then, a conversion table is prepared for converting density data obtained by reading the chart with an image reading apparatus into corresponding standard data. Thus, the calibration of image data obtained from a desired original is enabled by the conversion table. Here, image data having the densities falling between respective steps of the chart is calibrated by interpolation, optimization, etc.
In order to obtain a highly accurate image data by the direct mapping method referred to above without relying on the interpolation or the like, it is necessary to use a chart having as many steps as possible. If dust, scratch, etc. is at even one point of the chart, an improper conversion table can be produced, which makes it impossible to obtain desired image data. It is actually impossible, on the other hand, to read all of the many steps on the chart by the spectrodensitometer with a high accuracy. As a result, an unnatural image is sometimes reproduced from the calibrated image data.

Method and apparatus for processing images


A common-path interferometric acoustic-optic heterodyne spectrum analyzer ving high immunity to ambient vibration uses two, counter-propagating beams, two Bragg cells for beam diffraction, a series of waveplates and a birefringent quartz wedge. Proper light polarization with the waveplates and Bragg cell geometry allows one Bragg cell to diffract primarily the clockwise beam and the other Bragg cell to diffract the counterclockwise beam. The birefringent quartz wedge shifts the diffracted beams to provide a heterodyne signal with a non-zero IF carrier frequency. The analyzer is highly angle compensated and alignment stable when components are disturbed in position or orientation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a radio frequency spectrum analyzer and, in particular, to an acousto-optic heterodyne spectrum analyzer. More specifically, the invention relates to a spectrum analyzer of this type having improved inherent optical stability.
2. Prior Art
Instantaneous spectral analysis of an unknown radio frequency (rf) signal into a large number of discrete output channels, by optical diffraction from a corresponding acoustic wave in a Bragg cell, is a known application of acousto-optics. To increase the dynamic range of optical detection at the Fourier-transform plane of the Bragg cell and to retrieve the phase information in the transform, heterodyne or interferometric techniques have been used, where generally a second Bragg cell driven by a broadband rf reference introduces a set of optical local oscillator beams that mix with the unknown signal beam to produce channel outputs that are amplitude and phase modulations of an IF carrier. The IF carrier frequency is desired to be the same for all channels and is generally low compared to the unknown signal frequency.
However, the use of two Bragg cells in this way introduces severe implementation difficulties, especially when the system is required to operate in a noisy environment. The Bragg cells (BC1, BC2) must be placed into different arms of an interferometer, such as a Mach-Zehnder (M-Z) interferometer shown in FIG. 1. The two arms are adjusted so that light from a source S, diffracted by a first beam splitter (BS1) into two beams (1 and 2), corresponding to the unknown signal and to the local oscillator reference signal, are combined at a second beam splitter (BS2) and propagated together to a detector (D) where they generate the heterodyne signal. Both arms must be held stable with respect to each other to maintain constant heterodyne efficiency and to minimize phase changes that can corrupt the accuracy of the phase information. For example, there may be slowly changing alignment of the optical components due to differential thermal effects, plus rapid alignment changes due to vibration of components. In the Mach-Zehnder interferometer, these result in time-dependent misalignment between the output beams and unequal differential path length changes which modulate both the phase and amplitude of the heterodyne signal. In applications where valuable information is contained in the phase and where good short term and long term phase stability are both needed, the necessary stability is difficult to achieve in independent path arrangements such as the Mach-Zehnder.
To obtain a steady noise-free heterodyne signal, the two diffracted beams must remain parallel. However, in the arrangement of FIG. 1, if there is an unwanted angular disturbance of the Bragg cells (BC1, BC2) or the mirrors (M1, M2) in any direction, the angle between the output beams is changed by twice the angular disturbance. Since the two paths are independent, a disturbance in one path can change the path length of that path while the other path length remains unchanged. This differential path length change can cause an advance or retardation of the phase of the heterodyne signal from the detector. This phase noise or "jitter" can mask the phase information on the rf signal.
Also, in the arrangement of FIG. 1, in order to obtain a non-zero frequency in the heterodyne signal, the two diffracted beams must be carefully misaligned by a very small angle corresponding to the frequency difference between the rf signal and reference frequencies. The Mach-Zehnder type interferometer is difficult to align because of the many independent degrees of freedom which must be adjusted, and it is likewise difficult to obtain a small angle offset.
By improving the optical stability of the spectrum analyzer, a number of advantages are possible. The noise modulation on the amplitude and phase of the heterodyne signal due to unwanted ambient vibrational disturbances is reduced. Improved alignment stability of the output beams allows greater spectral resolution and hence a larger effective time-bandwidth product, i.e., a larger number of heterodyne channels, and reduced amplitude modulation allows the theoretical dynamic range to be approached more closely. Finally, increasing the inherent stability of the optical system reduces the need to take extreme measures to obtain stability by other means, such as by a massive, ultrarigid construction.
One way to minimize vibrational and thermal instability in interferometric systems is to use a suitable common-path arrangement in which some or all of the misalignments cancel, due to symmetry and the fact that both beams are made to follow the same path. The triangular, common-path interferometer (TCPI) is one such arrangement which also provides a smaller number of mechanical components.
However, the reduced number of mechanical degrees of freedom in the TCPI which leads to improved stability, makes the two output beams always parallel to each other, and thus cannot be misaligned by ordinary means to provide for the desired fixed intermediate frequency (IF) offset between the signal and reference frequencies. Also, since the TCPI requires both beams to pass through both Bragg cells, this results in reduction of the beam energy, or beam depletion. Beam depletion puts an unwanted "complementary" version of the reference channel signal into the signal channel and vice-versa, delayed in time by the increased path to the detector. This unwanted signal, or "crosstalk", interferes with the desired heterodyne signal and wastes optical power, so it must be minimized.
Implementation of an interferometric spectrum analyzer is most difficult where the number of output frequency channels is large. Acousto-optic technology presently allows the decomposition of a frequency band into more than 1000 narrow-frequency channels that are detected by the pixel elements of a photodetector array 33. By using currently available Bragg cells, 40-us time apertures can be achieved with 50 MHz bandwidth, giving a time-bandwidth product, or number of channels, of 2000 with high diffraction efficiency, on the order of 50% per rf watt and greater. These are large aperture, on-axis cut tellurium dioxide (TeO.sub.2), acoustic shear wave Bragg cells.
Examples of pertinent prior art are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,764,055, 3,473,031, 4,636,718 and 4,725,774. Davis et al. (4,725,774) relates to an interferometric acousto-optic spectrum analyzer which avoids some of the problems associated with the Mach-Zehnder arrangement by integrating the optics on a substrate. Geometrically, this invention uses the unstable Mach-Zehnder arrangement, where reflectors and beam splitters are replaced by Bragg diffraction cells, but does not suffer as much mechanical instability as with discrete optics because integrated-optic techniques are used.
White (3,473,031) relates to a triangular common-path laser transmitter for generation of simultaneous frequency modulated and unmodulated beams. The clockwise and counterclockwise laser beams are polarization separated over a portion of the path between two Faraday rotators. A Kerr cell or other light modulator between the rotators phase modulates the beams differently. Clemens et al. (2,764,055) is similar, and relates to the precise rotation of the plane of polarization of light beams traveling in opposite directions using Faraday rotators instead of Kerr cells for a more stable rotation angle, illustrated by a TCPI arrangement which is not essential to the invention. However, stable rf or microwave spectrum analysis is not possible with either of these devices.
Labrum et al. (4,636,718) relates to an acousto-optic spectrum analyzer of the standard non-heterodyne type using a single Bragg cell. Electronic circuitry is used to expand the frequency resolution.

Optically stable, large time bandwidth acousto-optic heterodyne spectrum analyzer with fixed non-zero heterodyne output

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


An electrical connector (1) for mating with a plug (10) includes an insulative housing (2) with opposed front and rear faces and a detect terminal (4) retained in the insulative housing (2). The insulative housing (2) has an annular recess (25) extending from the front face and a cylindrical portion (26) disposed in the annular recess (25). The cylindrical portion (25) defines a plurality of passageways (261) extending therethrough and a rectangular groove (262) communicated with the annular recess (25). An internal shield (8) received in the annular recess (25) has a slot (282) aligned with the groove (262) and a cutout (83) staggered with the groove (262). A plurality of contacts (3) retained in the insulative housing (2). The detect terminal (4) has a detective portion (42) extending into the cutout (83) and a soldering portion (44) extending out of the insulative housing (2).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly to electrical connectors with a detect terminal.
2. Description of Related Art
Electrical connectors are employed widely in computers, audio equipment, video equipment and other electrical components to enable the connection of one such component to another. Generally, the electrical connectors comprise a plurality of terminals which are mounted in an insulative housing. Such electrical connectors may be mounted to a circuit board of an electrical component, with the terminals being electrically connected to conductive areas on the circuit board. A mating plug may then be connected with the electrical connector to transmit signals to the electrical connector.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,651 discloses such an electrical connector which is provided for mounting to a circuit board. The electrical connector comprises an insulative housing having a front face and a rear face opposite to the front face. The insulative housing includes an annular recess extending from the front face and a cylindrical portion disposed within the annular recess. The cylindrical portion defines a plurality of passageways extending therethrough for receiving a plurality of corresponding signal contacts. The cylindrical portion and the insulative housing each defines a rectangular groove communicated with the annular recess to mate with a protrusion of the mating plug. The protrusion can be projected outwardly or inwardly to avoid an improper insertion of the mating plug. An outer shield encloses three side walls of the insulative housing. An inner shield is received in the annular recess. A plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing and each contact has a contact portion retained in the passageways and a soldering portion to connect with the circuit board.
In view of the above, the electrical connector just has a plurality of contacts to connect with corresponding contacts of the mating plug. Thereby when the mating plug mates with the electrical connector, a system can not identify whether the mating plug has inserted or not, and can not know whether the electrical connector works natural or not. It will bring a great inconvenience to users.
Hence, an electrical connector with a detect component is needed to solve the problem above.

Electrical connectors with detect terminal


Picture display device comprising a display tube with an electron gun having a tubular structure with an outer surface and an inner surface on which a helical resistance structure of a material having a high electrical resistance constituting a focusing lens is provided. The outer surface is provided with an electrode of readily electrically conducting material arranged opposite at least a part of the focusing lens for capacitively controlling the focusing lens by means of a dynamically variable voltage the amplitude of which is a function of the position of the electron beam spot on the display screen.

The invention relates to a picture display device comprising a display tube having a display screen and an electron gun facing said screen and having a cathode centred along an electron-optical axis and a plurality of electrodes which oily constitute a beam-shaping part for generating an electron beam, said gun further comprising a tubular structure having an outer surface and an inner surface on which a helical resistance structure of a material having a high electrical resistance constituting a focusing lens is provided.
A focusing lens constituted by a helical high-ohmic resistance structure for use in display tubes in order to obtain a low spherical aberration is known from literature.
However, problems occur if a dynamic focusing signal is to be applied to this type of focusing lens. Correction by means of applying a dynamic focusing voltage may be necessary, for example, in the case of large deflection angles so as to keep the electron beam in focus throughout the screen (a different focusing voltage is required in the corners than the centre of the screen). The high resistance of the helical lens structure causes particular problems with regard to the dynamic focus if the frequency of the focusing signal exceeds 16 kHz. This is a result of the large intrinsic RC time of the resistance layer, even at those areas where the layer does not constitute a helical structure, but is homogeneous.


Solid phases such as capillary tubes or solid supports used in chromatography, and in particular electrophoresis, are treated with oxidizing or reducing agents as needed to maintain or restore surface electrical charges or the lack thereof, which become modified during electrophoresis as a result of action by system components in the separation medium or the solutes themselves. The treatment is used as a means of achieving reproducible electroosmotic bulk flow when desired or suppressing unwanted electroosmotic flow arising due to the accumulation of charges on the surface. The result is improved reproducibility of retention times and component separation.

Solid elements are included in electrophoretic and chromatographic systems for a variety of reasons, including their use as sites for the partitioning of solutes and as retaining walls for housing a separation medium. Solid elements may thus take the form of particles. porous or otherwise, capillary tubes, plates to hold a slab, and other configurations. Examples of chromatographic systems using solid elements are affinity chromatography, reversed phase chromatography, ion exchange chromatography size exclusion chromatography and the various forms of electrophoresis including gel electrophoresis, open-tube electrophoresis, isotachophoresis (also referred to as displacement electrophoresis) and isoelectric focusing. In some cases, the solid element plays an active role in the partitioning, and in other cases a passive role. In some cases, the solid element contributes to the bulk flow of solutes through the separation medium through electroendosmosis (also referred to as electroosmotic flow, as it is herein), while in other cases such flow is considered to be an interference.
Each type of separatory system has its own particular utility. Capillary electrophoresis in its various forms, for example, is significant among electrophoretic systems in general due to a number of advantages which it offers. In particular, it is useful in operations where high speed and efficiency are important. This is because its narrow bore columns promote rapid heat dissipation from the column interior to its surroundings. A high voltage may thus be applied without causing excessive Joule heating. Samples having components which separate only under high voltage can thus be partitioned in such tubes. In addition, the small volume of separation medium used in comparison to other electrophoretic systems lends itself to very small sample sizes. The most common types of capillary electrophoresis are gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, isotachophoresis (also referred to as "displacement" electrophoresis) and free zone electrophoresis, with or without electroosmotic bulk flow.
Wall effects are a major consideration in capillary electrophoresis as well as forms of chromatography. In capillary electrophoresis, there is a high ratio of wall surface area to the volume of the separation medium, and high proximity of the wall to the components being partitioned. In some capillary systems, the presence of an electrokinetic potential is relied on to produce an electroosmotic bulk flow as an integral part of the partition mechanism. Other systems rely primarily on electrophoretic mobility. Electroosmotic flow in such systems interferes with the partitioning, and where present it is sought to be suppressed or eliminated. In many separations, a combination of electrophoretic mobility and electroosmotic flow is used at a ratio which is experimentally derived to provide the cleanest and most efficient separation.
The magnitude of the electrokinetic potential in any electrophoretic system, and hence the degree of electroosmotic flow, are dependent on the surface characteristics of the solid element, which is vulnerable to the various materials which come in contact with it during each separation. These include carrier fluids, buffers, partitioning reagents retained with the carrier, and the solutes sought to be separated. Chemical reactions between these substances and the wall of the solid element, as well as entrapment or retention of these substances by the wall, tend to change the electrical characteristics of the wall, thus affecting the electrokinetic potential. These unwanted interactions with the wall also interfere with the partitioning effect which occurs within the bulk of the separation medium. The changes accumulate with repeated runs, resulting in a loss of reproducibility and, in some cases, to a loss of the partitioning effect itself. The loss of reproducibility is a particularly serious problem in automated systems where a series of samples are injected and partitioned automatically in sequence.
It has now been discovered that an electrokinetic potential may be maintained and reproducibility restored in such systems by treatment of the capillary surface with a redox reagent, i.e., a reagent which promotes either reduction or oxidation on species with which it comes into contact. The choice between oxidation and reduction will depend on the effect sought to be achieved, i.e., the surface electrical character sought to be restored.
For instance, we have found that with silica, oxidizing agents decrease the electrokinetic potential whereas reducing agents increase the electrokinetic potential. The effects are accomplished presumably through modification of surface SiOH groups. With electrophoresis, oxidizing agents would be used when the desired driving force is electrophoretic mobility only, and reducing agents would be used when electroendosmotic flow is the desired driving force (or "pump") for the system. The oxidizing or reducing reagent may serve either a restorative function or a maintenance function, depending on whether it is used as a treatment between runs, or added as a system component during the actual separation.
Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

Control of electrokinetic potential by treatment with redox agents


The present disclosure discloses a charging apparatus. The charging apparatus comprises a power source module, a main control circuit, a voltage booster circuit, an adjusting circuit, and an output port. The charging apparatus is configured to charge a vehicle battery or other consumers through the output port. The power source module is electrically connected to the main control circuit and the voltage booster circuit. The main control circuit is electrically connected to the adjusting circuit and the voltage booster circuit. The main control circuit is configured to output an adjusting signal to the adjusting circuit. The adjusting circuit controls the voltage booster circuit to output a first or second output voltage to the output port, according to the adjusting signal. The second output voltage is greater than the first output voltage. The present disclosure provides a plurality of voltages to meet the vehicle battery.

Nowadays, cars have spread to all households. The present cars, even if these cars are energy cars, it will still need a battery. The car needs to a battery for charging the car when to provide electrical energy is started, the car's starting system is powered. Vehicle starter by power supply, spark plug ignition, gasoline pump operation, EH system and other equipment need to be powered by the battery during the ignition start of the engine. The present batteries are generally lead-acid batteries. The lead-acid batteries have a large capacity, generally greater than 35 Ah. But the present emergency batteries are designed to charge the vehicle battery while charging the vehicle equipment. Generally, only one output voltage is provided for the vehicle equipment. However, the output voltage of the in-vehicle device is too low for the output voltage of the lead-acid battery, and the vehicle battery cannot be quickly charged from the power-off state to the start-up state to realize emergency charging.


An apparatus (102) for holding at least one elongated workpiece (106) to be crimped, wherein the apparatus comprises a holder frame (122), a guide member (124) and a locator element (114) having at least one holder surface (116) defining an elongated cavity (118) for receiving and holding the workpiece. The holder frame is arranged to hold the guide member and the locator element, the at least one elongated cavity having a longitudinal main extension (120). The locator element is movable in a first guide (126) in the direction (127) of the longitudinal main extension. The guide member is movable in a second guide (128) in relation to the locator element in a direction (129) perpendicular to the direction (127) of the longitudinal main extension. The guide member and the locator element are slidably engaged with one another. The guide member, when being moved in a direction (129) perpendicular to the direction (127) of the longitudinal main extension, is configured to move the locator element in the direction (127) of the longitudinal main extension. A crimping tool (170) comprising such an apparatus (102).

Cable termination tooling, e.g. hand-operated or machine-operated tools, may comprise cutting tools, stripping tools and crimping tools. Some tools have only one of the above-mentioned functions, whereas other tools have two or three of the above-mentioned functions. Cable termination is required e.g. for connecting a cable or a wire to power, coaxial, fibre-optic or modular connectors.
When crimping, a terminal, i.e. a connector, a ferrule, a contact or a similar device, is mechanically secured to a cable, e.g. to a conductor such as a wire, by deformation so that a solid joint having reliable mechanical and/or electrical connection is formed. The crimping operation resulting in a crimped joint may e.g. be performed using crimping dies which e.g. are held by a hand-operated crimping tool.
When crimping a terminal to a cable end, a locator may be used to hold the terminal while crimping. The locator may comprise at least one cavity configured to hold the terminal which is to be crimped to a cable end.

Apparatus for holding a workpiece to be crimped and tools comprising such an apparatus


An imaging device includes a silicon substrate having a photoelectric conversion element therein, and a wiring layer on a front-surface side of the silicon substrate. The photoelectric conversion element performs photoelectric conversion on light which enters the photoelectric conversion element from the front-surface side through the wiring layer, and performs photoelectric conversion on light which enters the photoelectric conversion element from a back-surface side of the silicon substrate without going through the wiring layer.

The present disclosure relates to imaging devices, electronic apparatuses, and manufacturing methods, and more specifically to an imaging device capable of capturing images of subjects in a plurality of directions, an electronic apparatus including the imaging device, and a manufacturing method for manufacturing the imaging device.
Electronic apparatuses, in particular, information communication terminals such as mobile phones, may be provided with two or more image sensors. Examples of such image sensors include an image sensor of a main camera for taking photographs, an image sensor of a sub-camera used for video phone calls, an illuminance sensor for sensing ambient illuminance, and an infrared sensor for sensing infrared light.
Reductions in size, thickness, and cost have been continuously demanded for such electronic apparatuses. Also, it is demanded that the electronic apparatuses have multiple image sensors, but this may hinder reductions in size, thickness, and cost.
There has been suggested a method of pasting two imaging devices together to allow light to be received through the surfaces of the two imaging devices (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-306387). In this method, however, two imaging devices are used, and thus the cost of the two imaging devices is incurred. This hinders reduction in cost.
Also, there has been suggested a structure for receiving light through front and back surfaces of an imaging device (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4000449).

Imaging device to capture images of subjects in plurality of directions


A tool attachable to a spindle of a machine tool by an automatic tool changer in the same way as an ordinary tool, capable of being driven without connecting with an external power supply etc., and able to rotate at a rotational speed different from than that of the spindle of the machine tool without supply of electric power from the outside, provided with a machining tool for machining a workpiece, a motor connected with the machining tool and rotating the machining tool, and a generator to which rotary force is transmitted from the spindle of the machine tool and generating electric power to drive the motor, the shaft of the motor being arranged in an orientation different from the axial center of the spindle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool to be attached to a spindle of a machine tool for machining a workpiece.
2. Description of the Related Art
In, for example, a machining center or other machine tool provided with a spindle, the maximum rotational speed of the spindle (per unit time) is determined by the structure of a main bearing rotatably supporting the spindle and a lubrication system. For this reason, when rotation of a tool at a higher rotational speed than the maximum rotational speed of the spindle is desired, an accelerating apparatus is used.
An accelerating apparatus which holds the tool and is able to be attached to the spindle and which can increase the rotary force of the spindle by a gear mechanism such as epicyclic gearing to increase the rotational speed of the tool is known.
For example, in a machining center, when it is desired to increase the rotational speed of the tool to higher than the maximum speed of the spindle temporarily, such an accelerating apparatus is attached to the spindle in the same way as an ordinary tool to enable the tool to be rotated at a higher rotational speed.
However, when raising the rotational speed of the tool to a higher speed than the spindle by the above gear mechanism such as at a super high rotational speed such as tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of revolutions per minute, the accelerating apparatus increasingly generates heat so the machining tolerance of a workpiece can be influenced by the heat. Further, at the above super high rotational speed, the noise from the accelerating apparatus can also increase. Furthermore, a highly reliable precision structure able to withstand the above super high rotational speed is required for the accelerating apparatus. Therefore, there is the disadvantage that the manufacturing cost becomes relatively high.
Further, in a case of an accelerating apparatus with a gear mechanism, it is necessary to lubricate the gear or bearing and arrange a supply passage and a discharge passage for the lubricating oil in the accelerating apparatus, so there is the disadvantage that the apparatus becomes larger and it is difficult to automatically change the tool by an automatic tool changer.
Further, as another accelerating method, sometimes the method is adopted of using a high frequency motor for the motor driving the tool and supplying drive current to this high frequency motor from a specially provided control apparatus so as to rotate the tool at a high speed. With this method, however, since there is a cable for supplying electric power from the outside, there are the disadvantages that it is difficult to automatically change tools like with an ordinary tool and the cost of the facilities is relatively high.
An object of the present invention is to provide a tool and a tool holder able to be attached to a spindle of a machine tool by an automatic tool changer in the same way as an ordinary tool, capable of operating without connection with an external power supply etc., and enabling tool rotation at a different rotational speed than that of the spindle of the machine tool without supplying electric power from the outside.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine tool not requiring the supply of electric power to an attachment using electric power attached to the machine tool body from an external power supply through a power feed cable.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine tool provided with the above tool and tool holder.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tool attachable to a spindle of a machine tool comprising a machining tool for machining a workpiece; a motor connected to the machining tool and causing the machining tool to rotate; and a generator to which rotary force is transmitted from a spindle of the machine tool and generating electric power to drive the motor; wherein a shaft of the motor is arranged in an orientation different from an axial center of the spindle.
Preferably, the tool is provided with a plurality of the motors and machining tools.
Preferably, the tool further comprises an attachment part attachable to the spindle and transmitting rotary force of the spindle to the motor and a case for holding the motor and generator, rotatably holding the attachment part, and engaging with a non-rotating portion of the machine tool so as to be restricted from rotation.
Preferably, the generator is an alternating current generator which supplies voltage of a frequency in accordance with the rotational speed of the spindle to the motor, and the motor is an induction motor rotating by the rotational speed in accordance with a frequency.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a tool holder able to hold a machining tool for machining a workpiece and attachable to a spindle of a machine tool body, comprising a tool holding part for rotatably holding the machining tool; a motor for rotating the tool holding part; and a generator to which rotary force is transmitted from a spindle of the machine tool and generating electric power to drive the motor; wherein a shaft of the motor is arranged in an orientation different from an axial center of the spindle.
Preferably, the tool holder is provided with a plurality of the motors and tool holding parts.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a machine tool comprising a machine tool body provided with a spindle, a driving means for driving the spindle, and at least one control axis for changing a relative position between the spindle and a workpiece; a control apparatus for controlling the driving means and the control axis in accordance with a machining program; and an automatic tool changer provided with a plurality of types of tools and attaching a tool to the spindle; the plurality of types of tools each including a machining tool for machining a workpiece, a motor connected to the machining tool and rotating the machining tool, and a generator to which rotary force is transmitted from the spindle and generating electric power to drive the motor.
Preferably, the tools include a plurality of tools having different postures of shafts of the motors with respect to axial centers of the spindle.
Alternatively, the tools include tools provided with a plurality of motors and machining tools.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a machine tool comprising a generator for generating electric power by power supplied from the outside and an electrodischarge machining electrode for performing electrodischarge machining using the electric power generated by the generator.
Preferably, the tool further comprises an attachment part able to be attached to a moving and positioning means for moving and positioning the electrodischarge machining electrode with respect to a workpiece to be machined by electrodischarge machining.
Alternatively, the tool further comprises an electrode holding means for exchangeably holding the electrodischarge machining electrode.
More preferably, the moving and positioning means is a machine tool able to cut a workpiece, and the generator generates electric power by power from a power source provided in the machine tool.
Still more preferably, the generator generates electric power by the transmission of rotary force of the spindle of the machine tool.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrodischarge electrode holder comprising a generator for generating electric power by power supplied from the outside and a holding means for exchangeably holding an electrodischarge machining electrode for electrodischarge machining using electric power generated by the generator.
Preferably, the holder further comprises an attachment part able to be attached to a moving and positioning means for moving and positioning the electrodischarge machining electrode with respect to a workpiece to be machined by electrodischarge machining.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a machine tool able to cut a workpiece, comprising a machine tool body moving and positioning a spindle with respect to a workpiece; a tool provided with a generator and an electrodischarge machining electrode for electrodischarge machining using electric power generated by the generator and able to be attached to the machine tool body; and a power source for supplying power to the generator.
Preferably, the power source is a drive motor for rotating the spindle.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tool able to be attached to a spindle of a machine tool, comprising a machining tool for machining a workpiece; a generator for generating electric power by rotary force supplied from the spindle of the machine tool; a motor drive by electric power generated by the generator and rotating the machining tool; and a cooling means for discharging to the outside heat generated by the operation of the motor using part of the electric power generated by the generator.
Preferably, the cooling means has a Peltier element.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tool holder able to hold a machining tool for machining a workpiece and able to be attached to a spindle of a machine tool body, comprising a tool holding part for rotatably holding the machining tool; a generator for generating electric power by rotary force supplied from the spindle of the machine tool; a motor drive by electric power generated by the generator and rotating the machining tool; and a cooling means for discharging to the outside heat generated by the operation of the motor using part of the electric power generated by the generator.
Preferably, the cooling means has a Peltier element.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a machine tool comprising a machine tool body provided with a spindle, a drive means for driving the spindle, and at least one control axis for changing a relative position between the spindle and the work; a tool provided with a machining tool for machining a workpiece, a generator for generating electric power by rotary force supplied from the spindle of the machine tool, and a motor driven by electric power generated by the generator and rotating the machining tool and able to be attached to the spindle; and a control apparatus for controlling the drive of the drive means and the control axis in accordance with a machining program; the tool further having a cooling means for discharging to the outside heat generated by the operation of the motor using part of the electric power generated by the generator.
According to a 10th aspect of the present invention, there is provided a machine tool comprising a machine tool body; a power source provided at the machine tool body and supplying power required for machining the workpiece; a generator for generating electric power using part of the power supplied from the power source; and an attachment for the machine tool body using power generated by the generator.
Preferably, the attachment is provided with a motor driven using electric power generated by the generator and is attached to the machine tool body.
More preferably, the machine tool further comprises a connecting means for electrically connecting the generator and the motor by being attached in the machine tool body.
Preferably, the power source is a drive motor for driving a spindle rotatably held in a spindle housing of the machine tool body, and the generator is built into the spindle housing and generates electric power by rotation of the spindle.
More preferably, the attachment is rotated by said motor and has a tool for machining work.
In the first to third aspects of the present invention, a tool able to be attached to a spindle is provided with a generator and a motor, electric power is generated using the rotary force of the spindle, and the motor is operated by the generated electric power to rotate the machining tool. Due to this, the tool can be driven without connection to an external power supply etc., and automatic tool changing also becomes possible.
Further, it is possible to deal with various types of machining by providing various types of tools with different postures and numbers of motors in an automatic tool changer in advance.
In the fourth to sixth aspects of the present invention, a generator generates electric power by power supplied from the outside. By supplying the generated electric power to an electrodischarge machining electrode, electrodischarge machining becomes possible. By attaching this tool to for example a machine tool body or other moving and positioning means and moving and positioning the tool with respect to a workpiece, a workpiece can be machined by electrodischarge machining.
In the seventh to ninth aspects of the present invention, a tool able to be attached to a spindle is provided with a generator and a motor, electric power is generated using the rotary force of the spindle, and the motor is operated by the generated electric power to rotate the machining tool. Due to this, the tool can be driven without connection to an external power supply etc., and automatic tool changing also becomes possible.
The tool of the seventh aspect of the invention is completely independent from the spindle and any external apparatus, but generates heat when the motor is driven. Therefore, a cooling means is provided at the tool, and part of the electric power generated by the generator is used to discharge the heat generated by the operation of the motor. Due to this, it is possible to avoid the effects of heat generated by the operation of the motor and possible to maintain the properties of the tool of the present invention without requiring connection with the outside etc.
In the 10th aspect of the present invention, part of the power from a power source is supplied to a generator, whereupon the generator generates electric power. The power generated by this generator is used by an attachment. For example, when the attachment is provided with a motor, the motor is driven. By attaching the attachment with the built-in motor to a spindle housing of a machine tool body and rotating the tool by this motor, the workpiece can be cut by a tool rotating independently from the rotation of the spindle.


A system for locating a device in a wireless network that caches a known location and estimates a location at a given time based on a speed at which the device is moving. The system initially determines plural locations and determines the speed from location. The speed and location information is stored in a cache. The system also includes a mechanism to query the cached. The system extrapolates an estimated location of the device based on the time of the query and speed of the device. Route information may be factored into the determination to account for traffic, transit or travel itinerary.

Global system for mobile communication (GSM) is one of the most widely wireless access systems in today's fast growing communication systems. GSM provides circuit-switched data services to subscribers, such as mobile telephone or computer users. General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), which is an extension to GSM technology, introduces packet switching to GSM networks. GPRS uses a packet-based wireless communication technology to transfer high and low speed data and signaling in an efficient manner. GPRS optimizes the use of network and radio resources, thus enabling the cost effective and efficient use of GSM network resources for packet mode applications.
Determining a location of a subscriber's mobile station/handset is often desirable. However, this determination increases radio traffic to the mobile station. Also, many operators of public mobile land networks (PLMN) incur an per/transaction fee for queries to location services. Given the anticipated number of location-based services, these fees may become quite substantial.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Location caching and extrapolation based on speed


The present invention relates to an inertial sensor, preferably an acceleration sensor or multi-axis acceleration sensor as a microelectromechanical construction element, said sensor comprising a housing with at least one first gas-filled cavity in which a first detection unit is disposed moveably relative to the housing for detection of an acceleration to be detected, wherein the inertial sensor comprises a damping structure.

By means of the micro-system technique miniaturised and cost-efficient devices may be produced which are used, for instance, in many technical fields as sensors or actuators with different functions. In particular in the automotive industry but also in mechanical engineering there is a need for complex micro-system devices fabricated in an integrated manner, which perform various measurement and control functions autonomously and with low energy requirement. Due to the continuous increase of the technological integration level of micro-systems there are attempts to fabricate micro-system devices in form of multi-sensor modules by using the so-called Wafer Level Packaging (WLP). A multi-sensor module is a sensor unit in which several single sensor modules or units are provided in a shared package or housing and which combines in itself the different functions of the single modules
When fabricating sensor or multi-sensor modules by means of wafer level packaging the structures of several sensor or multi-sensor modules are formed on a substrate wafer by corresponding coating and etch processes. The functional units of several sensor or multi-sensor modules rest on the substrate wafer in a matrix-like manner side-by-side and/or on top of each other with intermediately provided isolation sections. The substrate wafers are connected to correspondingly produced cap wafers so that each of the (multi) sensor chips is firmly connected with a corresponding package chip. The composite consisting of the substrate wafer and the cap wafer is separated into individual chips, i.e., into the individual sensor or multi-sensor modules, after the connection on wafer level
Due to the extensively parallel production technique the packaging on wafer level has enormous advantages compared to packaging on chip level with respect to costs, device integration density and yield.
One essential issue in the production of multi-sensor modules using WLP is the fact that, for fulfilling their respective functions, different sensor systems require individual operating pressures and/or individual gas compositions which in part significantly differ from each other. For example, resonant systems mostly have a high quality, that is why they are operated at low operating pressures. Resonant rotation rate sensors are typically operated at an operating pressure of several μbar up to several mbar, in order to avoid an undesired strong damping by the gas surrounding the sensor or its detection unit. Acceleration sensors that are based on the principle of inertia have usually to be damped strongly so that in this case typical operating pressures are of several 100 mbar. The following table illustratively shows respective typical operating pressures for various micro-systems:
Sensor/device typeOperating pressureAcceleration sensor300-700mbarAbsolute pressure sensor1-10mbarResonant sensor0.1mbar(e.g. rotation rate sensor)Bolometer<0.0001mbarOscillator<0.0001mbar
Due to the parallel processing mode in WLP the establishment of corresponding pressures or gas compositions in the various cavities of single wafer to be separated into the individual modules represents an essential difficulty.
Applicant of the present invention has developed a method to integrate several sensor units requiring different operating pressures and/or gas compositions in a multi-sensor module, in which method cavities having defined and possibly different gas pressures and/or gas compositions may be formed during the WLP in a single process step. In this case, the assembly of substrate wafer and cap wafer is accomplished in a process chamber that may be provided with a gas or a gas mixture of a corresponding composition and at a corresponding pressure. Due to production process requirements first in each cavity of the single wafer the same gas composition at equal pressure is adjusted during the WLP. The gas pressure and/or the gas composition of different cavities are then differently established by using getter materials in selected cavities. However, this process technique does not enable an arbitrary adjustment of different pressure values and/or gas compositions in the respective cavities according to the present state of the art. If, for example, a resonant rotation rate sensor is to be operated in a first cavity at a pressure of about 0.1 mbar, then the maximum pressure that may be generated in other cavities of the single wafer using the above-described process technique is about 200 mbar. This pressure, however, is too low for a precise and reliable operation of acceleration sensors, a damping of vibrations can be ensured in an insufficient manner only.

Microelectromechanical inertial sensor with atmospheric damping

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.


A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting a pilot signal in a wireless receiver using coherent combining/noncoherent detection techniques. Coherent combining/noncoherent detection techniques are used to detect the pilot signal whenever the receiver is already frequency locked, or otherwise known to have a small frequency offset Conventional noncoherent combining/noncoherent detection techniques are utilized to initially acquire the timing of the forward channel. Once the receiver is frequency locked, coherent combining/noncoherent detection techniques may be used to continuously detect the pilot signals. After the receiver is frequency locked, the residue frequency error is small over several consecutive correlator outputs The correlator outputs can thus be combined coherently (since the frequency error is known to be small), and the phase dependency is then eliminated by noncoherent detection.

Code division multiple access (CDMA) techniques have been employed in many digital wireless communication systems to permit a large number of system users to communicate with one another. Many communication systems utilizing code division multiple access techniques comply with the IS-95 standard, adopted by the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA). Under the IS-95 standard, a communication system substantially eliminates co-channel interference and improves the bit energy-to-noise density ratio, Eb/No, on the forward link from a base station or cell site to a mobile receiver unit by modulating the information signals with Walsh orthogonal function sequences. To produce corresponding orthogonal information signals, these CDMA systems require that the forward link information signals be transmitted in a synchronized manner. A more detailed discussion of the IS-95 standard is provided in "Mobile Station-Base Station Compatibility Standard for Dual-Mode Wideband Spread Spectrum Cellular System," Telecommunication Industry Association Doc. No. TIA/EIA/IS-95 (1993), incorporated by reference herein.
Under the IS-95 standard, the forward link generally consists of a number of administration channels, with the remaining channels being utilized for voice and data signals. One of the administration channels is a pilot channel, which is an unmodulated, direct-sequence spread spectrum signal transmitted continuously by each CDMA base station. The pilot channel is modulated by a pilot PN sequence, consisting of a pair of modified maximal length PN sequences (in-phase and quadrature) with a period of 215 chips. Different base stations are identified by different pilot PN sequence offsets in units of 64 PN chips of a pilot, relative to the zero offset pilot PN sequence.
The pilot channel allows a mobile station to acquire the timing of the Forward CDMA Channel after a phone is initially turned on ("initial pilot detection"). During the voice and data modes, the pilot channel enhances the overall signal quality by providing a phase reference for coherent demodulation and a means for signal strength comparisons between base stations for determining when to handoff a call between two cells ("continuous pilot detection"). In addition, CDMA phones have a slotted mode for power saving, during which time the phone only operates at given slots to keep the connection alive while going into a sleep mode for the rest of the time. In order to maintain the timing of the Forward CDMA Channel each time the phone returns to an operative mode at given slots, the pilot detector must research all the signal paths before the phone wakes up at its slot ("slotted pilot detection").
The pilot detector must be able to locate new signal paths with the lowest possible false alarm probability within the shortest possible time. Such requirements, however, are mutually exclusive and trade-offs are required. The trade-offs are largely limited, however, by the complicated and time-intensive noncoherent combining/noncoherent detection (NCND) scheme that is employed in current system designs. In addition, the noncoherent combining severely degrades the detection performance. For a detailed discussion of noncoherent combining/noncoherent detection, see, for example, Andrew Viterbi, CDMA Principles of Spread Spectrum Communication (Addison Wesley 1995), incorporated by reference herein.

Coherent combining/noncoherent detection (CCND) method and apparatus for detecting a pilot signal in a wireless communication system


A method of interconnecting first and second longitudinal members extending along a spinal column of a patient includes inserting an access port into the body of the patient. A transverse connector is moved through the access port. A first end of the transverse connector is connected to the first longitudinal member. A second end of the transverse connector is connected to the second longitudinal member.

Minimally invasive surgery is a procedure in which surgical instruments are inserted through an access port, a tubular structure, a retractor, or a cannula into the body of a patient. A known minimally invasive surgery allows longitudinal members, such as rods, to be connected to vertebrae of a spinal column through an access port. The rods interconnect adjacent vertebrae of the spinal column. While the above described method enables adjacent vertebrae of a spinal column to be fixed relative to each other, the interconnecting of the longitudinal members has heretofore been conducted by a much more invasive open surgical method.

Method for interconnecting longitudinal members extending along a spinal column


The present invention relates to an electric-mechanical-acoustic converter used mainly in a mobile telephone and the like, and its objective is to provide a high-quality product in which damage and degradation of performance caused by shock due to a drop are prevented. In order to achieve this objective, the present invention includes at least one suspension (14) supporting a movable portion (19) formed of the magnetic circuit portion (17) and a weight portion (13), and a frame (9) supporting a diaphragm (8) and the suspension (14), a space in an elastic deformation range of the suspension (14) being provided between the outer periphery of the movable portion (19) and the frame (9). Even in the case where a portable terminal apparatus is dropped, and the electric-mechanical-acoustic converter built therein is subjected to shock, the outer periphery of the movable portion (19) is received by the frame (9), whereby the suspension (14) can be prevented from being permanently deformed.

The present invention relates to an electric-mechanical-acoustic converter for vibrating or generating a sound with an electric signal, and a method for producing the same.
Conventionally, in a portable terminal apparatus such as a mobile telephone, as means for notifying an incoming call, a small sound generator which generates a bell sound and a micromotor in which a weight is eccentrically attached to a rotation axis so as to cause vibration have been used as separate functional components. Furthermore, in order to listen to a conversation of a person on the other end of the line, it is required to attach a speaker for receiving a conversation.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of an electric-mechanical-acoustic converter used in the above-mentioned portable terminal apparatus. The background art will be described with reference to this figure. In order to achieve further miniaturization and lighter weight of a portable terminal apparatus, the electric-mechanical-acoustic converter in FIG. 6 achieves both sound generation and vibration so as to reduce the number of components.
Referring to FIG. 6, an outer peripheral portion a circular diaphragm 1 is attached to a case 2. The case 2 has a bottom plate 5, and a yoke 3 is fixed to the bottom plate 5. A suspension 6 is supported by the case 2, and a magnet 4 is supported by the suspension 6. A voice coil 7 consisting of a bobbin and a coil both ends of which are connected to a terminal (not shown) to which an electric signal is input from outside is inserted in a magnetic gap formed by an inner peripheral surface of the yoke 3 and an outer peripheral surface of the magnet 4, and one end of the voice coil 7 is fixed to the diaphragm 1.
The yoke 3 and the magnet 4 form a magnetic circuit portion and the suspension 6 and the magnet 4 form a mechanical vibration system.
Next, the operation will be described. In the above-mentioned electric-mechanical-acoustic converter, an action-reaction force works between the voice coil 7 and the magnetic circuit portion, when an electric signal is applied to the voice coil 7 from outside. Suppose that a force applied to the voice coil 7 is an action force, the diaphragm 1 to which the voice coil 7 is attached vibrates due to the action force.
Furthermore, due to the reaction force applied to the magnetic circuit portion, the magnet 4 supported by the suspension 6 vibrates, and vibration is transmitted to the case 2 through the suspension 6, whereby the case 2 vibrates. The resonance frequency of the magnetic circuit portion is in a low band. Therefore, an electric signal at a frequency in this low band is applied to the voice coil, whereby outstanding vibration can be obtained.
However, there is a possibility that the portable terminal apparatus such as a mobile telephone is dropped while being carried due to its portability, and there is a possibility that an electric-mechanical-acoustic converter built in the portable terminal apparatus will be deformed and damaged by the shock caused by such a drop.
The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and its objective is to provide an electric-mechanical-acoustic converter which has outstanding resistance to shock and in which the resonance frequency of vibration is stabilized.
The entire disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/331,902 filed Aug. 16, 1999, is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the electric-mechanical-acoustic converter of the present invention includes a diaphragm, a magnetic circuit disposed so as to oppose the diaphragm, a voice coil one end of which is attached to the diaphragm and which is inserted into a magnetic gap of the magnetic circuit with a predetermined space, a weight integrated with the magnetic circuit or attached thereto as a separate component, at least one suspension supporting a movable portion composed of the magnetic circuit and the weight, and a frame supporting the diaphragm and the suspension, a space in an elastic deformation range of the suspension being provided between the outer periphery of the movable portion and the frame. Even in the case where the portable terminal apparatus is dropped, and the electric-mechanical-acoustic converter built therein is subjected to shock, the outer periphery of the movable portion is received by the frame, whereby the suspension can be prevented from being permanently deformed.

Method for producing electric-mechanical acoustic converter

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An apparatus for pre-assembling a winding for an electric machine stator or rotor includes a plurality of hairpins with two legs having non-circular cross-section, a ring including a plurality of slots and an outer containment ring acting in containment along the perimeter of the ring. An inner cam block and an outer cam block, surrounding and radially facing the inner cam block, are arranged opposite to the exit face of the ring. The cams are adapted to be crossed, in use, by the two legs when they cross the ring at the same time; the cams open into a free circular space between the two cam blocks. A method for pre-assembling a winding set for an electric machine stator or rotor is also provided. Hairpins are inserted in sequence in the slots of the apparatus. A finished winding set positioned in the free circular space is obtained by successive rotations of the ring.

It is generally known to provide stators or rotors of electric machines, such as generators or electric motors, e.g. for applications on hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), in which the stator or rotor winding is formed by a plurality of bar conductors bent and variously interconnected to one another to make electric windings also known as "bar windings" or "winding sets". Such bent bar conductors are also known as "hairpin conductors" or simply "hairpins", with one or more legs joined as a bridge to one end. Individual "layers" can be distinguished in bar windings, each of which is formed by a circular array of equidistant positions placed at the same radial distance from the winding axis, as well as sets of conductors, comprising hairpins of a single type either right-handed or left-handed (according to the following definitions), so that their legs occupy most of the positions of a layer. The sets of the described type having maximum cardinality in the winding set are called "crowns". Bar windings may be constituted, in some cases, by one or more concentric crowns.
In particular, windings with hairpins having a circular cross-section (also said "round-wire conductors") or rectangular cross-section belong to the state of the prior art. In this regard, "rectangular" or "square" conductor wire means in this description a wire having four substantially flat sides, each joined to the adjacent sides, typically by a rounded edge. Bar conductors having a trapezoidal-shaped cross-section are known.
The aforesaid basic conductors are usually preformed by means of bending in a "U" or a "P" shape, starting from straight bar conductors. U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,987 describes an example of a method for preforming straight bar conductors to form hairpins. "U" or "P"-shaped preformed conductors, often also called "preformed basic conductors" in the technical field, typically have two adjacent legs, of equal or different length, each provided with a free end portion and an opposed end portion, which is connected, by means of a connecting portion, to the other leg.
With reference to FIG. 2(a), a hairpin 255 is preformed starting from a linear conductor (not shown), by bending it to form a first leg 255a with a respective free end 255aE and a second leg 255b with a respective free end 255bE. The bending shape forms at the same time a bridge-like connection 255C between the two legs 255a, 255b. This preformed hairpin in this example has a shape of a flattened "U". In order to form a stator of an electric machine, for example, it is known to subject the "U" or "P"-shaped preformed bar conductors to two different types of twisting.
In a first type of twisting, also called "twisting from the insertion side", the preformed basic conductors are adequately inserted in corresponding radially aligned pockets or "slots", which are provided in a twisting device, adapted to deform such conductors after insertion. The twisting device is substantially used to spread the legs of the "U" or "P" shape so that the two legs of each conductor, after having extracted the conductor from the device, can be successively inserted into a corresponding pair of slots of a stator core which are mutually angularly offset by a predetermined linear distance, which is substantially equal to the distance between the offset legs.
Starting from a preformed hairpin, for example but not exclusively as shown in FIG. 2(a), a hairpin of suitable shape for its insertion into the stator (or rotor) is formed by spreading the legs 255a, 255b and shaping the bridge-like connection 255c, to obtain the shape in FIG. 2(b), for example. Reference numeral 255p indicates the pitch of the hairpin, i.e. the linear distance, or the angular distance (opening), or the distance in terms of slot pitches, between the legs. It is worth noting that the central top 255c2 of the formed hairpin is the zone in which the cross-section of the conductor is subjected to a 180° rotation either with respect to the medial surface of the hairpin (surface which passes inside the hairpin and includes the two legs) or with respect to X axis.
Patent application published as US 2009/0178270 discloses an example of a twisting method from insertion side for the twisting of the preformed bar conductors at a uniform pitch after having inserted them into the pockets of a twisting device, in which the hairpins have a rectangular cross-section.
According to the prior art and with reference to FIG. 3b, the hairpins may also be obtained by stamping, i.e. a straight conductor is pressed against a contrast in a punch-and-die type system. FIG. 3b(a) shows such a stamped conductor; it does not display a cross-section which rotates with respect to the median surface of the hairpin. This stamped hairpin or also a preformed hairpin may be subjected to twisting on welding side, in which case it is possible to introduce the aforesaid rotation and a "step-like" shape of the legs 255a and 255b, in which, for example, the leg 255a has a first straight portion 255a1, a step-shape portion 255a2 and a second straight portion 255a3, as shown in FIG. 3b(b).
Referring to FIG. 3c, the shape of the bridge connection 255c may comprise three portions 255c1, 255c3 and 255c2 starting from the connection to the second leg 255b and finishing at the connection to the first leg 255a (hidden in the view in FIG. 3c). Portion 255c1 has a main extension direction B and a curvature radius RB, portion 255c3 has a main extension direction A and a curvature radius R, portion 255c2 has a main extension direction C (and possibly a curvature). Reference α1 indicates the angle between directions A and C, reference α2 indicates the angle between directions A and B and reference α3 indicates the angle between directions B and C, equal to the sum of the angles α1 and α2. This is only one of the final possible shapes of a hairpin, all other shapes with different portions and conformations of both the bridge-like portion and of the legs can be used with the apparatus and a method according to the present description.
Moreover, there are conductors called "I-pins", which have a single straight portion in stretches (in general, a single appropriately shaped leg between a first and a second end) housed in slot; they are used as phase terminals in patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,622,843 B2. W-shaped conductors are also known, see for example patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,622,843 B2. A W-shaped conductor may be formed by welding a stamped hairpin with an I-pin or by welding a fourth conductor to three I-pins. In general, hereinafter "W-pin" will mean a conductor with at least three legs connected by a same side by means of a bridge-like connection. At least one leg of said three or more legs will be used in appropriate cams.
Furthermore, and referring to FIG. 3d, there are stranded hairpins with tipped cross section at the bending point (FIG. 3d (a)) or with continuous transposition along the hairpin portions housed in slot (FIG. 3d (b); U.S. Pat. No. 3,837,072). A variant, not shown, may be a similar hairpin without tipping.
FIG. 3e shows the possible arrangement of the legs of the hairpins of a double crown winding in different positions in slot. Reference letters A and B indicate the crown to which the legs shown in slot (belonging to different hairpins) belong. The layers of the slot of a stator which houses a winding hairpin are the portions of the slot itself occupied by a single leg, in radial direction, obtained by subdividing the slot in the same direction. Some of the possible arrangements of the hairpins in the slot are AABB, ABBA and ABAB. See patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,894,417 B2 in this regard.
The radial extension of a hairpin with respect to the stator axis is the distance in radial direction between its legs, measured in terms of slot layers. For example, the radial extension of a hairpin having AABB winding, or of the crown B of a winding ABBA is equal to a single layer, its legs belonging to adjacent layers. The radial extension of the hairpins of an ABAB type winding is equal to 2 layers. The radial extension of a hairpin of crown A of an ABBA type winding is equal to 3 layers. Hairpins with no radial extension are also possible, i.e. having legs on the same layer.
Hereafter, the word "hairpin" will encompass all aforesaid types of "basic conductors".
After having been subjected to the first type of twisting or after they have been stamped, the basic conductors are typically pre-assembled in a winding set as mentioned above. The pre-assembly apparatus will have a series of slots in which to insert the legs of each hairpin and will generally be different from the twisting device.
The winding set it then inserted as a block into the slots of the stator core through a first side thereof (so-called "insertion side" or "insertion face") with the respective free end portions protruding from a second side of the core (so-called "welding side" or "connection side" or "welding face" or "exiting face") opposite to the first side.
On the basis of the specific winding pattern to be achieved, the free end portions of the basic conductors protruding from the welding side may be subjected to a second type of twisting, also named "twisting from welding side", e.g. after having been inserted in pockets made in appropriate twisting fixture. The twisting fixture herein has the purpose of bending or twisting the free end portions of the conductors to appropriately shape such end portions and consequently make it possible to perform the appropriate electric connections between the conductors in order to complete the winding. Patent application published under number US 2009/0302705 describes an example of a twisting method from welding side of the type discussed above.
By way of example, FIG. 1 shows a pre-assembling apparatus according to the prior art, which is applied to produce a winding set before it is inserted in a stator or a rotor (in particular for starter motors). Such apparatus or device or assembly 100 uses concentric rings 140, 190 of hairpins 110 having circular section, already spread, in particular so that each conductor displays the respective legs apart by an angle corresponding to the angular distance between the two slots of the stator core in which they will be inserted. Reference numerals 120 and 180 indicate the "slots" or "pockets" for vertically supporting the legs of the hairpins. In particular, the pockets 120 are used to provide vertical support while loading the hairpins, prior to rotation. Reference numeral 150 is the reference for the axis of the pre-assembling device and reference numeral 160 is the rotation direction for the pre-assembling of the winding set 170. The slots are provided on concentric rings 140 and 190, superimposed in axial direction with a third concentric element 195 in which radial extending guides are present which guide the movement of the legs initially housed in the pockets 120. During said rotation, the ring 140 and the element 195 rotate rigidly with respect to the ring 190, i.e. the ring 190 rotates with respect to both the ring 140 and the element 195. At the beginning of said rotation, the upper portion of the leg of each hairpin which is housed in the slot 120 emerges from said slot, which is axially superimposed at a guiding end of the element 195, the low portion of the leg itself remaining in said guide which constrains the movement thereof until the leg is approached to the ring 190.
The rotation direction is related to the direction (clockwise/counterclockwise) of the bend (hereinafter, "bending direction") in the connecting portion between the legs of the hairpin, viewed by an observer placed on the fixed leg. Such a bend is needed for passing the hairpin from one layer to the other, for example. In general, the bending direction may be leftwards or rightwards. In one case, observing the hairpin from above inserted in the stator, the portion of the bridge-like connection situated on the left of the bend is farther from the stator axis. In the same case, the left leg is farther from the stator axis. In the other case, the right leg and the portion of the bridge-like connection to the right of the bend will be farther from the stator axis. The bend is in the two cases also qualitatively specular with respect to a plane passing through the two legs.
With the device in FIG. 1, all the hairpins 110 inserted to assemble the winding are rotated simultaneously. The fulcrum of such rotation is the inner leg of each hairpin (i.e. the leg in the roller—third concentric element 195), so as to approach the conductors to one another and assemble the winding set or crown of conductors. Such device can be conveniently used for round wire conductors, while it is not adapted to be used, for example, with bar conductors having a cross-section different from circular shape, e.g. such as "rectangular" and "trapezoidal" conductors. Indeed, the rotation of such conductors with non-circular cross-section in a circular slot would not be very smooth and would entail a risk of damaging the hairpin. The use of bushings to make the section of the pockets from rectangular to circular or of pockets having rectangular cross-section would be complex and also, due to the non-null thickness of the walls which would surround the legs of the hairpin, would not make it possible to take the hairpin completely to the final pre-assembly position in the hairpin crown. Indeed, with reference to FIG. 3a, guide shims 261 are provided (wall of bushing 260) to guide the legs of the basic conductors 255 when the rollers described above rotate, which as such prevent the complete closure of the hairpins in a crown 290 (the adapters from non-circular section to circular section are not shown for the sake of simplicity). This impediment is not found in the literature known to the inventors, but emerged from experimental research conducted by the inventors themselves.
According to another aspect of the prior art, since the pockets, which the aforesaid concentric guide rings 140, 190 are provided with, all have the same depth and a closed bottom, such known fixture has the drawback of not being able to be used to pre-assemble winding assemblies comprising bar basic conductors having legs of different length, a feature which may be necessary in order to achieve some kind of winding sets. Equally, the device of the prior art cannot assemble hairpins having different span/pitch (angular opening). A further drawback of the known fixture with the concentric rings described above is represented in that, in order to extract the winding set 170 made by means of such apparatus and insert it in the respective core stator or rotor, it is typically necessary to provide an additional gripper assembly to extract the winding set in block from the fixture and to insert it precisely in the stator core.
It is worth noting the word "pockets" or "slots" is used herein and in the claims in a general sense and includes slots with walls which either alone or in conjunction with other walls contain one of the two legs of the hairpin, in rotation and in translation when the apparatus is operated. Therefore, a slot can be defined both by a recess or by a depression in a member which is completely surrounded by such member and by a cavity in a member in which one or more open sides of the cavity are adapted to be effectively closed by a surface or a wall of an adjacent component. In particular, a slot can also be a blind hole or a through hole in a member.
The need is felt to suggest an alternative assembly and method with respect to those discussed above with reference to the prior art to pre-assemble a winding set of a bar winding for an electric machine which can at least partially overcome the drawbacks described above with reference to the prior art.
In particular, according to an aspect of the invention, the need is felt to provide an apparatus or device or assembly and/or a method which allows pre-assembling a winding set of a bar winding for an electric machine also with bar conductors of different type with respect to round wire conductors, which are bar conductors with circular cross-section.
Either additionally or alternatively to the aforesaid aspect, according to another aspect of the invention, the need is felt to make available an apparatus or device or assembly and a method which allow pre-assembling a winding set of a winding bar for an electric machine also with bar conductors, i.e. basic conductors as defined above, e.g. having legs of different lengths or with different span/pitch/throw.

Apparatus and method for pre-assembling winding sets of a winding bar for electric machine stator or rotor


A system includes a first aerial vehicle comprising one or more sensors configured to obtain an image of a worksite. The system also includes a controller configured to receive the image of the worksite, to generate a map of the worksite by overlaying information related to the worksite on the image, and to display the map via a display.

The disclosure relates generally to systems and methods configured to obtain and to provide information about a worksite, and more particularly, to systems and methods including an aerial vehicle for use with work vehicles.
Certain work vehicles (e.g., bulldozers, front loaders, skid steers, tractors, harvesters, etc.) may be operated at worksites (e.g., construction sites or agricultural fields) that have a variety of obstacles and other terrain features. For example, a work vehicle may be operated to dig a trench in the vicinity of trees, boundaries (e.g., fences), buildings, other work vehicles, and so on. Generally, an operator of the work vehicle may control the work vehicle to follow certain paths and to avoid certain terrain features. However, the operator may have limited visibility of terrain features surrounding the work vehicle, which may result in reduced operational efficiency, for example.


An absorbent article is capable of satisfactorily achieving deodorant effect or alternation restricting effect for body waste deposited on a surface sheet even in a thin absorbent sheet which can retain the body waste on the surface sheet. The absorbent article has a liquid absorbent surface sheet formed from at least one of natural fibers, regenerated fibers, mixture of natural fibers and regenerated fibers, composite fibers consisted of synthetic fiber and one of the natural fibers and the regenerated fibers, the surface sheet containing at least one of tea leaves and extract of tea leaves; and a hydrophobic back surface sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a thin absorbent article to be used as a vaginal discharge absorptive sheet called as panty liner, a bladder control pad or urine absorptive sheet for Urinary incontinence patient, and so forth. More particularly, the invention relates to an absorbent article which can achieve deodorant effect on a surface thereof upon absorbing a body fluid or restriction effect of alternation of the body fluid.
2. Description of the Related Art
Absorbent articles having deodorant effect have been disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Heisei 8(1996)-224270 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Heisei 9(1997)-271484. These employ leaves of green tea or catechin extracted from tea leaves as deodorant component.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Heisei 8(1996)-224270 as the first prior art, there has been disclosed a sanitary wearing article containing tea leaves in an absorbent body thereof. There has also been disclosed to contain the tea leaves in a surface sheet formed with a water permeable non-woven fabric.
On the other hand, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Heisei 9(1997)-271484 as the second prior art, there has been disclosed a disposable diaper deposited epigallocatechin gallate.
However, the sanitary wearing article disclosed in the first prior art is basically directed to deodorant effect for fluid, such as menstrual blood or the like absorbed in an absorbent layer by containing tea leaves in the absorbent layer. On the other hand, in the first prior art, there is also disclosed to contain the tea leaves in the surface sheet. However, the surface sheet in the disclosed prior art is formed with a mesh form water permeable non-woven fabric to cause difficulty in retaining the tea leaves.
On the other hand, in the second prior art, there has been disclosed the invention wherein the disposable diaper is dipped in a solution of epigallocatechin gallate and is then dried. This is also to contain epigallocatechin gallate in relatively voluminous absorbent layer of the disposable diaper.
While technical concepts to contain tea leaves or extract of tea leaves in the absorbent article for deodorant effect conventionally are conventionally present, those are mainly intended to contain the tea leaves or extract of the tea leaves in the absorbent layer and are not intended to contain the tea leaves or extract of the tea leaves in the surface sheet which is in direct contact with the wearer""s skin. Furthermore, there is no disclosure for particular solution for certainly holding the tea leaves or extract of the tea leaves with preventing dropout thereof when the tea leaves or extract of the tea leaves is contained in the surface sheet.
As a typical thin absorbent article, there is a vaginal discharge absorbent sheet called as panty liner. Such vaginal discharge absorbent sheet is thin and designed to be fixedly secured on the crotch part of the underwear for providing a feeling of use as if an integrated part of the underwear. The vaginal discharge absorbent sheet is thin and is not required to have large absorbing capacity. Therefore, the secrete is potentially retained on the surface of the surface sheet for a long period. Similarly, in case of a thin absorbent sheet for urinary incontinence, the urine can be retained on the surface of the surface sheet.
However, in these thin absorbent sheet, even when the tea leaves or extract of the tea leaves is held in thin absorbent layer placed inside, it should be difficult to achieve deodorant effect or alternation restricting effect for vaginal discharge, urine or the like deposited on the surface sheet.
The present invention has been worked out in view of the problems set forth above. It is an object to provide an absorbent article which can satisfactorily achieve deodorant effect or alternation restricting effect for body waste deposited on a surface sheet even in a thin absorbent sheet which can retain the body waste on the surface sheet thereof.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, an absorbent article comprises:
a liquid absorbent surface sheet formed from at least one of natural fibers, regenerated fibers, mixture of natural fibers and regenerated fibers, composite fibers consisted of synthetic fiber and one of the natural fibers and the regenerated fibers, the surface sheet containing at least one of tea leaves and extract of tea leaves; and
a hydrophobic back surface sheet.
In the absorbent article, since the surface sheet contains at least one of natural fibers and regenerated fibers, the tea leaves or the extract of the tea leaves can be adhered on the natural fibers or the regenerated fibers by physical bonding force, such as intermolecular attraction, Coulomb force, hydrogen bonding force and so forth to hardly dropout. Therefore, deodorant effect and alternation restricting effect can be effected for the secrete or body waste adhering on the surface sheet.
The surface sheet may contain cotton fibers, and at least one of tea leaves and extract of tea leaves may be retained on the cotton fibers.
Since the tea leaves and/or the extract of the tea leaves can be adhered on the cotton fibers by hydrogen bonding force. On the other hand, the cotton fibers are in fibril form, so that the tea leaves and/or the extracted of the tea leaves can be held between the fibers. Therefore, the tea leaves or the extract of the tea leaves can be certainly held on the surface sheet.
The surface sheet may be consisted of a surface side non-woven fabric and a back surface side non-woven fabric laminated with each other, the surface side non-woven fabric may be formed from fibers containing the cotton fibers, and at least one of tea leaves and extract of tea leaves are retained on the cotton fibers.
By forming the surface sheet with two non-woven fabrics, absorbing performance of the secrete or body waste of the surface sheet becomes high, so that it becomes unnecessary to provide the absorbent layer below the surface sheet. Alternatively, even when the absorbent layer is provided, the absorbent layer can be thin to form the thin absorbent article. Also, by holding the tea leaves or the extract of the tea leaves on the surface side non-woven fabric of the surface sheet, deodorant effect and alternation restricting effect for secrete or body waste to be absorbed and deposed on a surface portion of the surface sheet can be effected.
The extract of tea leaves is catechins. The surface sheet may contain a coloring agent. A color of a surface of the surface sheet containing at least one of tea leaves and extract of tea leaves as well as the coloring agent may be selected among 10Y to 5B in color circle as defined in Figure 1 of Section 3.1 of JIS Z8721-1993, as viewed the color circle in clockwise direction.
By providing the foregoing color on the surface of the surface sheet, variation of color of the sheet due to containing of the tea leaves or the extract of the tea leaves becomes not perceptive but can provide visual image causing association of deodorant and bactericidal effects by the tea leaves or the extract of the tea leaves. Furthermore, the color provided on the surface of the surface sheet may be effective for concealing color due to alternation of vaginal discharge or color of urine.
A liquid absorbing region may be formed only from the surface sheet and the back surface sheet.
Since the surface sheet is effective for absorbing liquid and retaining the liquid in the absorbent article according to the present invention. Furthermore, deodorant effect and alternation restricting effect for secrete or body waste absorbed in the surface sheet can be achieved by the surface sheet. Therefore, the thin absorbent article can be formed without providing the absorbent layer.
Alternatively, the absorbent article may further comprise a cushion layer disposed between the surface sheet and the back surface sheet, and the cushion layer has hydrophobic or water repellent property.
When the cushion layer is provided, soft feeling may be provided as contacting with the wearer""s skin. Furthermore, since secrete or body waste can be absorbed mainly or exclusively by the surface sheet to be influenced by the tea leaves and the like contained in the sheet to achieve deodorant effect or alternation restricting effect.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, an absorbent article comprises:
a surface sheet formed from hydrophilic fibers fibrillated for fixedly holding powder state catechine containing substance; and
a hydrophobic back surface sheet laminated with the surface sheet.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, an absorbent article comprises:
a surface sheet formed from hydrophilic fibers containing fibrillated fibers for fixedly holding powder state catechine containing substance; and
a hydrophobic back surface sheet laminated with the surface sheet.
The surface sheet may contain cotton fibers as the fibrillated fibers. The catechin containing substance may be at least one of tea leaves and extract of tea leaves.
The surface sheet may be consisted of a plurality of mutually distinct hydrophilic fiber sheets and fibers forming outermost sheet may be fibrillated for fixedly retaining the powder state catechin containing substance.

Absorbent article having a deodorizing effect on a surface thereof