In accordance with the present invention a fat skimming ladle that is efficient and convenient to use for removal of fat and other floating debris off of cooked soup stock. This special purpose ladle retains the simple elegant look of a common soup ladle, and can just as convenient to be used. The conduit structure with inlet located at the interior bottom of the ladle bowl and outlet located behind the proximal end of the handle allows for a simple, elegant and greatly functional design.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention pertains to a kitchen utensil used for skimming fat or other floating debris from soup stock. Specifically, it pertains to a class of cookware commonly known as fat skimming ladle.
2. Description of Prior Art
Because of diet and health concerns, consumers nowadays tend to be adamant about reducing the fat content in their daily food intake. In general household cooking, the preparation of soup stock from fresh meat tend to retain all its fat content which would float to the top forming an oily layer. This fat should therefore be removed thoroughly and be discarded.
If no special gadget is available, the user would be forced to use a soup ladle to skim off the fat. This is unsatisfactory because proper skimming would take skillful manipulation of the ladle, and would need to be carried out many times throughout the cooking. Additionally, liquid stock would also be collected by the ladle although the user is only trying to skim off the fat. So in the process of getting rid of the fat, a little stock would also get discarded. Do it over many times during cooking to eliminate all the fat, then this little waste each time would become a major problem.
(For discussions hereinafter, xe2x80x9cstockxe2x80x9d refers to the liquefied fat and liquid mixture while xe2x80x9cbrothxe2x80x9d refers to the cooked liquid excluding fat.) In view of this, some users choose to cool off the stock in the refrigerator, or by using ice cubes so fat can solidify for removal. Needless to say, such are very unsatisfactory and time-consuming methods.
There is a utensil called a gravy skimmer in the shape of an uncovered teapot having a spout that originates from the bottom of the beaker shaped container. A user may pour accumulated drippings (a mixture of fat and juice from meat) into the gravy skimmer. Then the juice from the meat will be poured out through the spout to be made into gravy leaving the lighter fat within the gravy skimmer to be disposed of. The gravy skimmer is suitable for its intended purpose of skimming fat off of drippings which is of only a small amount. For soup stock cooking, the volume of liquid involved would be much too much to be properly handled by a gravy skimmer.
It has been recognized early on that fat skimming of a liquid stock can most conveniently be done by using a ladle type of utensil. The idea is that a skimming ladle can used to quickly and conveniently collect only the fat for discarding. And if the ladle can also be used as a common soup ladle thus having dual purposes for the same device, then there would obviously be much more added convenience.
Many inventors in the past had made attempts at inventing a functional fat skimming ladle. Existing patents of fat skimming ladles on file at the USPTO include the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,040,185 presents a complicated design having an additional vessel internal to the ladle;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,965 Levie proposes a ladle construction similar to the skimmer described, having a removable gate separating the spout from the bowl section of the ladle;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,294 Roberts presents a ladle having very similar construction to that of the Levie patent above;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,900 Jamentz presents a ladle having ports for collection of fat;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,177 Keene presents a ladle having fat collection xe2x80x9cdomesxe2x80x9d within the ladel;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,860 Kuhlman presents a ladle having a trigger release on the handle for fat collection;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,349 Hansen presents a ladle having a inlet tongue and outlet holes on opposite sides;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,775 Tong et al presents a ladle having a movable inner structure for liquid guide;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,737 Bentzen presents a ladle having a cone shaped structure for collecting fat;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,109 Lam presents a ladle having a double vessel construction.
U.S. Pat. No. (584,668 Cooke presents a general-use ladle designed for pouring from the rear endxe2x80x94included here in prior art citation because of its relevance to rear-pouring design ladles.)
By and large the above designs are much too complicated for the intended simple purpose of selectively collecting fat. And by and large they don""t even work any better than using a common soup ladle. The near total failure of this type of gadget is exemplified by the fact that no fat skimming ladle is offered by any of the major national chain stores despite its apparent great usefulness.
A careful search on the Internet has revealed only one company Profi-Plus that has produced a fat skimming ladle that has met any degree of commercial success. An early version of their fat skimming ladle is of a design that has holes punched out from the periphery of a common soup ladle. This version of the gadget functions no better than a common soup ladle and has since been abandoned. Their latest fat skimming ladle has a construction that uses the same bottom draining principle similar to the gravy skimmer previously described to drain off the liquid stock leaving fat behind. In other words, the Profi-Plus unit is essentially a gravy skimmer made in the shape of a container bowl having a long handle. The outlet spout is located to one side of the bowl occupying part of the brim.
As in the gravy skimmer, this design would work in selectively draining out the liquid back into the soup stock leaving fat behind for disposal. However, this kind of fat skimming ladle is unnecessarily difficult to use in that having the outlet spout located at the brim of the bowl would mean the user would always have to avoid having the soup stock (mixture of liquid fat and broth) flowing into the container bowl by way of the spout. So in order to avoid the spout, the unit is designed have a horizontal opening in the shape of a post box opening that accepts the flow of soup stock mixture. This opening is located at a level slightly below the brim of the bowl. Unfortunately, to help avoid the spout, the design is in a way forcing the user to direct soup stock flow to enter the bowl only through this opening. Such requirements of avoiding the spout and directing flow only through the opening unnecessarily complicates the fat skimming process. In addition to this inconvenience, having the spout prominently out in front and to a side of the ladle, along with the prominent xe2x80x9cpost boxxe2x80x9d opening would only serve to discourage users from using this ladle as a common soup ladle effectively eliminating one of the greatest advantages that a dual-purpose fat skimming ladle would otherwise offer.
The present invention uses the same bottom-feeding principal as common gravy skimmers. But by having the outlet spout located behind the proximal end of the handle, all the shortcomings of the Profi-Plus ladle is eliminated. This design allows soup stock flow over any part of the brim into the container bowl. So ladle handling can be naturally carried out with no purposeful manipulation required. In addition, the ladle with this design would also retain the simple and elegant look and easy function of a common soup ladle making this a true dual-purpose fat skimming ladle.
The present invention has achieved the ultimate simplicity in design with excellent functionality that enables it to function as an efficient, easy to use fat skimmer. It also has the same simple and elegant look of a common soup ladle, and can be conveniently used as one.
It is a first objective of this invention to provide a utensil that provides for an easy and thorough removal of fat and other floating debris on the surface of soup stock while it is still being cooked.
It is a second objective of this invention to provide a utensil that can accomplish the above with little waste;
It is a third objective of this invention to provide a utensil that has the dual function of being able to be used as a common soup ladle with essentially the same elegant look and the same easy functions;
Additional advantages from a manufacturer""s standpoint include: simple one-piece construction; a highly innovative product that is far superior to other competitive products on the market in every aspect and is extremely simple and economical to produce.
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.
The invention accordingly comprise the device possessing the features, properties, and the relation of components which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be made to the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.
In accordance with the present invention a kitchen fat-skimming ladle comprise of a handle, a container bowl, a conduit that drains from an inlet located at the interior bottom of the container to an outlet located behind the handle at its proximal end. This utensil uses the effective bottom draining principle of a common gravy skimmer and returns liquid stock to the pot while leaving fat behind for disposal. This ladle avails the entire brim of the ladle bowl to be used for scooping out the soup stock mixture enabling very natural handling. The liquid stock can be drained back into the pot easily by tipping the ladle backwards leaving fat behind. The conduit merges with the retainer bowl and handle, and is completely hidden from view. This dual-purpose ladle has the same simple elegant look and easy functioning of a common soup ladle.


The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for transforming a time waveform of an electromagnetic wave into a time waveform suited for signal processing and the like so as to measure the time waveform.

In recent years, non-destructive transillumination imaging using terahertz waves and terahertz time-domain spectroscopy for studying the characteristics of materials using terahertz wave pulses have been actively studied. PTL discloses a method that relates to image processing performed in terahertz imaging and that uses wavelet analysis for information compression and peak detection. Furthermore, NPL discloses performing a wavelet transform on a time waveform of a terahertz wave and setting a value of a wavelet expansion coefficient that is smaller than a threshold value to zero (threshold processing). Accordingly, a noise component included in the time waveform can be removed. By performing an inverse wavelet transform after removing the noise component, a time waveform with the noise component removed therefrom can be obtained. NPL discusses comparing S/N ratios after the removal of the noise component so as to determine which mother wavelet has the greatest amount of noise component removed therefrom among various mother wavelets. The noise component mainly expresses white noise occurring over the entire frequency range. Due to having a low correlation with a mother wavelet, the noise component occurs near zero with respect to each expansion coefficient.

Apparatus and method for measuring electromagnetic wave

Abstract: A wavelet transform is performed on a first time waveform of an electromagnetic wave, such as a terahertz wave, measured in advance, and a second time waveform suited for signal processing and having a high correlation with a mother wavelet used in the wavelet transform is formed by controlling a wavelet expansion coefficient. In a second measurement process and onward of a target object, a transforming unit, such as a bias voltage controller, is used to transform the electromagnetic wave into a transformed time waveform so as to measure the time waveform.


A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing a map-based advertising system. In one example embodiment, a method is provided that includes causing a graphical geographic representation of a bounded area to be displayed, receiving advertising content comprising at least one location, and determining whether the location lies within the bounded area. The method further includes causing at least a portion of the advertising content to be displayed and causing a representation of the at least one location to be displayed within the graphical geographic representation of the bounded area in an instance in which the location lies within the bounded area.

Standalone and browser-based map and navigation applications continue to become more and more ubiquitous, especially in mobile electronic devices. The increasing popularity of such applications has led to increased attention from advertisers, who want to leverage them to deliver relevant advertisements to users. To date, such advertisement delivery has been implemented as a location-based service (LBS). That is, advertisements are delivered to the user of a map or navigation application based on the user's location. In some cases, however, the user may be prevented from seeing relevant advertisement or the advertisements which are delivered may not be useful or relevant to the user.
Accordingly, it may be desirable to present advertising content to users in a way that is not dependent solely on the user's location.


A controller for an electric heating device comprising a support element and a busbar which is secured on the support element and which is connected to an SMD component in an electrically conductive manner. The busbar is part of an initially single-part stamped metal plate with a severed connecting piece, which separates the metal plate into a supply element and a discharge element, the elements being connected together in an electrically conductive manner solely via the SMD component. Also disclosed is a method of producing an electric heating device generally as described above such that the supply element and the discharge element are produced from the supply element region and the discharge element region on the stamped metal plate, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a controller for an electric heating device and a method for producing the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The present invention relates in particular to a controller for an electric heating device with the features according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a controller is for example known from EP 2 043 412 A1. This controller comprises a circuit board and a busbar, which is secured on this support element and which is connected to an SMD component in an electrically conductive manner.
The SMD component usually is a power semiconductor switch producing power loss. This power loss needs to be continuously discharged. Thus, the busbar of the aforementioned prior art also constitutes a heat sink, which is connected to a separate heat sink, the cooling ribs of which essentially protrude perpendicularly from the support element. The SMD component is arranged on one side of the support element, the heat sink on the other side.
The applicant knows a plurality of solutions on how, also by taking into account the necessary discharge of the thermal loss, the busbar may be configured in order to meet practical requirements. Such solutions are for example known from DE 10 2005 038 862 A1, JP 2001-319708, DE 195 18 522 A1, EP 1 395 098 A1, CN 2727957 Y, DE 199 35 803 A1, DE 10 2004 061 936 A1, EP 0 901 166 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,033 B1.
The previously known solution from EP 2 043 412 A1 is unfavorable in terms of thermal technology, since due to the arrangement of the SMD component, the thermal conduction distance up to the cooling ribs is relatively long. Moreover, producing is complex and cost-intensive. Finally, the solution is unsatisfactory, since the power flow exclusively is conducted via a single busbar. The circuit board, however, only has a limited capacity for transmitting high power flows.
Specifically, the last-mentioned aspect is important for controllers for electric heating devices, since relatively high power flows are controlled or switched there. Furthermore, the present invention in particular aims to provide a controller for an electric heating device in a motor vehicle. Such electric heating devices and their controllers require specific safety standards. The operating conditions in a motor vehicle further require a very good and solid contacting of all components involved. Vibrations, cold differences, as well as where appropriate humid and contaminated atmosphere, especially require a good contacting and a solid transmission of the power flow. Contact resistances in the conductive track of the power flow often lead to a local heating, which may lead to the alloying of the SMD component. A thermal event may lead to smoldering of the entire controller or the entire heating device.

Controller for an electric heating device and method for producing same


A retrofit Light Emitting Diode, LED, lighting device for connection to a ballast, wherein said ballast is arranged to be connected to a mains voltage and arranged to provide for a ballast current, wherein said LED lighting device is arranged to detect a dip in said mains voltage using a zero current detector.

More efficient choices are being made in the field of energy consumption. One such field is that of lighting. The concept of Light Emitting Diodes, LEDs, and the capability to retrofit conventional lamps and lamp fixtures with LEDs have resulted in decreased energy consumption and saving in terms of reduced energy costs. Recently, retrofit LEDs have also been suggested to replace High Intensity Discharge, HID, lamps.
Such a retrofit process is usually a simple "plug and play" process, wherein the old HID lamp is replaced with the retrofit LED lighting device. An advantage of being able to replace HID lamps with retrofit LED lighting devices is the ability to retain the ballast that powered the HID lamp, thereby eliminating the need to replace the fixture and/or the need to rewire. Such a ballast usually comprises and/or is modelled by an inductor, and additionally a shunt capacitor for power factor correction.
The retrofit LED lighting device usually has a lower power rating than the HID lamp that it replaces. This has the impact that the ballast is rated for a much higher power and continues to supply said higher amount of power. This is managed internally in the retrofit LED lamp by certain electronic components. An example is to use a shunt switch, which shunts the excess amount of power thereby not transferring it to the LEDs itself.
A common phenomenon observed in grid connected electric circuits, is that of mains dip. A mains dip is the sudden reduction in the amplitude of the incoming voltage, for one of a few cycles of the input voltage. This sudden decrease in voltage may result in other related phenomena such as an increased inrush current, light flickering, etc.

Retrofit light emitting diode, LED, lighting device for connection to a ballast, wherein said LED lighting device is arranged to detect a dip in said mains voltage using a zero current detector


The present invention relates to a method for modifying the crystalline inorganic framework of an adsorbent with coatings to provide rate selectivity for one gas over others is described. The method described herein narrows the effective pore size of crystalline porous solids with pores less than about 5A for rate selective separations. This method of the invention comprises treating the hydrated or partially hydrated zeolite with a silicone derived binding agent followed by subsequent heat treatment. The additive content and treatment are adjusted to match effective pore size to specific separations. The superior adsorbent has the added convenience of bead forming simultaneously with pore modification as well as having the treatment result in the yielding of high crush strength products.

There is a general need in the art for a superior method for the selective adsorption of gases on the basis of their size difference. Zeolites have been successfully used as molecular sieves for this purpose due to their pore size being similar to the typical size of the gases being separated. Modification of the pore sizes of these zeolites is typically achieved by the exchange of cations. For example, an A zeolite with Na cations has a pore aperture of ˜4 Å. Ion exchanging the Na cations with K or Ca results in a pore size of ˜3 and 5 Å, respectively. However, this method of pore size modification has its limitations in that it is not as effective for separating molecules whose size difference falls within that which an ion exchange can achieve. For example, commercially available 4 Å, also known as NaA, has a pore size of ˜4 Å which is large enough to adsorb both N2 and CH4, which have kinetic diameters of 3.64 and 3.80 Å, respectively. Correspondingly, commercially available 3 Å zeolite, which contains ˜40-60% K balance Na, offers a pore size closer to 3 Å, which is too small to adsorb either N2 or CH4. Therefore, a method is needed which can fine tune the effective pore mouth opening of the zeolite which can subsequently improve the selectivity of one gas over another, which in this example is N2 over CH4.
Another separation where the method of the invention can prove quite useful is CO2 separation from CO gas, such as the removal of CO2 from a syngas containing CO. Since CO2 and CO have kinetic diameters of 3.3 and 3.7 Å respectively, the same situation occurs where 4A zeolite readily adsorbs both gases and 3A zeolite has a pore mouth which is too small to adsorb either component.
Still another separation is CO2 separation from N2 gas having the aforementioned kinetic diameter differences. This invention will have a strong benefit especially in the case of high removal rates of CO2 to low volume fractions (<10%) where N2 or CO can co-adsorb and reduce the available adsorption sites on traditional adsorbents but will be limited in this present invention.
The teachings of the prior art have addressed the use of silica as a means of coating a zeolite surface to modify the existing pore size. However, the teachings have been limited either in the scope of the pore size change and/or in the method to which the pore is reduced. Those skilled in the art will recognize that previous teachings do not address the specific recipe or processing conditions contained in this patent that are used to control the ultimate effective pore size.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,878,657 controls pore aperture size of zeolite A depositing a silica coating on the external surface of the zeolite. Specifically, the sorption of several gases including nitrogen, oxygen, and argon on silica treated zeolite A was studied. Sorption of these gases by zeolite A which was treated by various quantities of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) showed that sorption of argon, nitrogen, and oxygen decreased with increasing silica coating with the effects greatest for argon and least for oxygen. While this patent teaches the separation of O2 from N2 and argon, it does not recognize any real benefit in separating nitrogen and argon. The present invention amongst other things allows for the separation of nitrogen and methane, despite their very close size difference (3.64 vs. 3.80 Å). The sample preparation is also significantly different in that the U.S. Pat. No. 6,878,657 stresses the need to pre-dry the zeolite before introducing the TEOS in dry toluene. The present invention uses silicone resin emulsion which coats among other materials a zeolite powder which can be dried. Another important distinction of the present versus the prior art is the fact that the silicone resin coating used in the present invention can also act as a binding agent for the composition for agglomeration. In the prior art, the amount of coating of TEOS taught for the effective pore size reduction is sufficient to effectively bind agglomerates and provide sufficient crush strength. Accordingly the amount of TEOS used in the formulation can range up to 1% of the zeolite weight used. If the average crystal size of the 4A zeolite is 2 microns, then using 1% by weight TEOS would equate to an average crystal coating thickness of 120 Å of TEOS before calcination. In the present invention, the amount of silicone resin used in the examples would be enough to coat the 4A crystals with an average of 980 Å, assuming similar 2 micron sized crystals.
WO 2010/109477 A2 discloses the selective separation of carbon dioxide from a gaseous mixture with nitrogen. The adsorbent material is prepared by pre-drying zeolite A powder followed by treatment with tetra alkyl ortho silicate dissolved in dry solvent. The coated zeolite is then calcined to convert the silicate coating to silica. A second embodiment for the zeolite includes cation exchange to potassium which decreases the A pore size to ˜3 Å and allows for the separation of CO2 and N2. The present invention differs in that the treatment method for the pore mouth modification coating of the zeolite includes silicone resin coating of the undried zeolite. The present invention also does not find the necessity of an ion exchange for additional pore size modification. Finally, the present invention claims gas separation beyond CO2/N2 and includes other, more difficult, separations.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,583 describes a method for depositing a coating of silica on a crystalline zeolite. The coated material is employed as a catalyst for the selective production of para-dialkyl substituted benzenes. This patent also refers to zeolites which specifically adsorb benzene, including the class of ZSM zeolites. The present invention differs from this prior art in that the coated zeolite is not used as a catalyst for benzene adsorption. This invention refers to the pore size reduction to <5 Å to facilitate a size selective adsorption of one gas over another. The '583 patent contains no reference to pore size consideration, and only generally refers to the use of the coating as a catalyst for benzene production. Additionally, the preferred zeolites are those having a framework density of not below 1.6 cubic centimeters. This would exclude the zeolite A, which has a framework density of 1.3 cubic centimeters. In the present invention, zeolite A is the most preferred zeolite to be used as the starting material for pore reduction, since the pore size is between 3 and 5 Å, depending of the cation type.
U.S. application 2013/0340615 A1 refers to adsorbent compositions using silicone-derived binding agents, which are shown to possess superior pore structures which enhance the rate of gas adsorption in the agglomerate. The properties of the final composition, including mean pore diameter, macropore size, and crush strength are addressed, but there is no mention of the change in micropore size of the zeolite as a result of the zeolite and silicon-derived binding agent mixture. In fact, this application does not acknowledge the advantages of the silicone as a tool for coating the individual zeolite crystals to be used as a means of modifying the pore size to facilitate the size selective separation of different gases.
U.S. application 2015/343417 discloses a method for modifying the surface of zeolites to form apertures smaller than 4.4 Å without a reduction of the pore volume. It specifically refers to the use of zeolite type A for drying moist refrigerants such as R11, 123, and R134a. It also refers to the use of tetra-ethyl-ortho-silicate as the modifying agent and the use of additional clay type binders to help bind the material to form agglomerates. As with the previously mentioned prior art, it does not address the use of silicone resins as the modifying agent and its' use as a binder, as well as the modifying agent. The present invention also has the additional feature of identifying the effect of the changing calcination temperature on the apparent pore size aperture and subsequently on the size selectivity. The present invention, as indicated in the following description and examples, has a more simplistic preparation, making it more amenable to a large scale commercial manufacturing processes.


Three kinds of shrink factors, 1 time, 0.5 time, and 0.25 time, are prepared and three sets of operational amplifier layout information are also prepared as a library in correspondence with the three kinds of shrink factors. At each shrink factor, the bias voltage is varied between upper and lower limits to vary the bias current.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for reusing a resource for designing an operational amplifier, and to an operational amplifier, a layout generating apparatus and a layout generating program which can realize the method of reuse.
2. Description of the Background Art
When designing an operational amplifier, a designer determines various circuit constants such as the bias voltage, the size of each transistor (the gate width and the gate length) etc., to satisfy required characteristics such as the maximum operating frequency, slew rate, etc., and designs the layout pattern including circuit elements and interconnections which constitute the operational amplifier. In order to efficiently design the operational amplifier, existing design resources are reused when the specifications are changed.
In conventional reuse of design resources for operational amplifiers, the designer conducts a simulation and determines circuit constants such as the shrink factor (reducing scale), bias voltage, etc. so that the required characteristics are satisfied, and varies the layout pattern design of the operational amplifier.
In the conventional operational amplifier design resource reuse method, however, the circuit constants have so wide a choice that determining the circuit constants is a time-consuming work. Changing the layout pattern design is also time-consuming since the designer cannot achieve it by selecting an appropriate layout pattern out of a plurality of prepared layout patterns.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for reusing a resource for designing an operational amplifier which can easily reuse an existing design resource and which can shorten the time required for the reuse, and an operational amplifier, a layout generating apparatus, and a layout generating program which can realize the method of reuse.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a method for reusing a resource for designing an operational amplifier comprises the steps of: preparing different sets of layout information for an operational amplifier comprising a plurality of transistors, the plurality of transistors having their channel widths varied by different factors among the different sets of operational amplifier layout information; and selecting one of the different sets of operational amplifier layout information and determining the value of a bias current of the operational amplifier so that a required characteristic is satisfied.
The method of reuse of the invention thus prepares different sets of operational amplifier layout information, where the channel widths of the plurality of transistors are varied in a uniform manner. Then one of the different sets of operational amplifier layout information is selected and the value of the bias current of the operational amplifier is determined, so as to design an operational amplifier which satisfies a required characteristic. An existing design resource can thus be easily reused and the time required for the reuse can be shortened.
The operational amplifier may have a circuit configuration in which a bias voltage generated by a bias generating circuit is applied to a transistor serving as a current source of the operational amplifier, thereby supplying a current corresponding to a constant multiple of a bias current of the bias generating circuit as a bias current of the operational amplifier, and the method of reuse may further comprise a step of previously setting a relation between the value of the bias current of the operational amplifier represented by the different sets of layout information and the value of the bias current of the bias generating circuit so that a set of operational amplifier layout information can be uniquely selected from the different sets of operational amplifier layout information and the value of the bias current of the bias generating circuit can be uniquely determined on the basis of the value of the bias current of the operational amplifier which satisfies the required characteristic.
In this case, the operational amplifier layout information can be uniquely selected from the different sets of operational amplifier layout information and the value of the bias current of the bias generating circuit can be uniquely determined. This remarkably reduces the work load and the time required for optimization to obtain the operational amplifier layout information which satisfies the required characteristic.
The operational amplifier design resource reuse method may further comprise a step of previously setting the different factors and the value of the bias current of the bias generating circuit so that the bias current of the operational amplifier continuously varies.
In this case, since the bias current of the operational amplifier can be continuously varied by varying the bias voltage of the bias generating circuit at each factor, one of the different sets of operational amplifier layout information and the value of the bias current of the operational amplifier can be easily selected and determined to satisfy the required characteristic.
The operational amplifier design resource reuse method may further comprise the steps of determining an upper limit of a bias voltage applied to a transistor serving as a current source of the operational amplifier on the basis of an output voltage range, and determining a lower limit of the bias voltage on the basis of cutoff of the transistor serving as a current source. This enables an optimum bias voltage to be selected.
It is preferred that the different factors include three or four kinds of factors. This remarkably reduces the design time for preparing the different sets of operational amplifier layout information corresponding to the different factors.
The plurality of transistors may further comprise a pair of transistors having a differential configuration and the transistor serving as a current source may supply a current to the pair of transistors. Also, each of the plurality of transistors may comprise a field-effect transistor.
According to another aspect of the invention, an operational amplifier comprises: a plurality of transistors including a transistor serving as a current source; a bias generating circuit that applies a bias voltage to the transistor serving as a current source; and a channel width varying circuit that varies channel widths of the plurality of transistors, thereby realizing a method for reusing a resource for designing an operational amplifier comprising preparing different sets of layout information for an operational amplifier comprising a plurality of transistors, the plurality of transistors having their channel widths varied by different factors among the different sets of operational amplifier layout information, and selecting one of the different sets of operational amplifier layout information and determining the value of a bias current of the operational amplifier so that a required characteristic is satisfied.
In the operational amplifier of the invention, the channel widths of the plurality of transistors can be varied by the channel width varying circuit, so that the operational amplifier design resource reuse method can be realized easily.
The operational amplifier may further comprise a bias voltage adjusting circuit that adjusts the bias voltage generated by the bias generating circuit.
In this case, the bias voltage can be adjusted by the bias voltage adjusting circuit, while the channel widths of the plurality of transistors can be varied by the channel width varying circuit. Then the operational amplifier design resource reuse method can be realized more easily.
The plurality of transistors may further include a pair of transistors having a differential configuration and the transistor serving as a current source may supply a current to the pair of transistors. Also, each of the plurality of transistors may comprise a field-effect transistor.
According to a further aspect of the invention, an operational amplifier comprises: a plurality of transistors including a transistor serving as a current source; a bias generating circuit that applies a bias voltage to the transistor serving as a current source; and a bias voltage adjusting circuit that adjusts the bias voltage generated by the bias generating circuit, thereby realizing a method for reusing a resource for designing an operational amplifier comprising preparing different sets of layout information for an operational amplifier comprising a plurality of transistors, the plurality of transistors having their channel widths varied by different factors among the different sets of operational amplifier layout information, and selecting one of the different sets of operational amplifier layout information and determining the value of a bias current of the operational amplifier so that a required characteristic is satisfied.
In the operational amplifier of the invention, the bias voltage can be adjusted by the bias voltage adjusting circuit, so that the operational amplifier design resource reuse method can be realized easily.
The plurality of transistors may further include a pair of transistors having a differential configuration and the transistor serving as a current source may supply a current to the pair of transistors. Also, each of the plurality of transistors may comprise a field-effect transistor.
According to another aspect of the invention, an operational amplifier comprises: a plurality of transistors including a transistor serving as a current source; a bias generating circuit that applies a bias voltage to the transistor serving as a current source; and a channel width varying circuit that varies channel widths of the plurality of transistors.
In the operational amplifier of the invention, the channel widths of the plurality of transistors can be varied by the channel width varying circuit. It is then possible to prepare different sets of operational amplifier layout information in which a plurality of transistors of the operational amplifier have their channel widths varied by different factors among the different sets of layout information, and then select one of the different sets of operational amplifier layout information and determine the value of the bias current of the operational amplifier, so as to satisfy a required characteristic. The operational amplifier design resource reuse method can thus be realized easily.
According to a further aspect of the invention, an operational amplifier comprises: a plurality of transistors including a transistor serving as a current source; a bias generating circuit that applies a bias voltage to the transistor serving as a current source; and a bias voltage adjusting circuit that adjusts the bias voltage generated by the bias generating circuit.
In the operational amplifier of the invention, the bias voltage can be adjusted by the bias voltage adjusting circuit. It is then possible to prepare different sets of operational amplifier layout information in which a plurality of transistors of the operational amplifier have their channel widths varied by different factors among the different sets of layout information, and then select one of the different sets of operational amplifier layout information and determine the value of the bias current of the operational amplifier, so as to satisfy a required characteristic. The operational amplifier design resource reuse method can thus be realized easily.
According to another aspect of the invention, an operational amplifier layout generating apparatus comprises: first input means for entering a characteristic required for an operational amplifier; second input means for entering different sets of layout information for the operational amplifier, the operational amplifier comprising a plurality of transistors, the plurality of transistors having their channel widths varied by different factors among the different sets of operational amplifier layout information; third input means for entering a relation between the value of a bias current of the operational amplifier represented by the different sets of layout information, and the different factors and the value of a bias current of a bias generating circuit; determining means for determining the bias current of the operational amplifier on the basis of the characteristic entered through the first input means; selecting means for determining the bias current of the bias generating circuit and selecting one of the different sets of operational amplifier layout information entered through the second input means on the basis of the relation entered through the third input means and the bias current of the operational amplifier determined by the determining means; executing means for executing a simulation about the operational amplifier using the set of operational amplifier layout information selected by the selecting means; and output means for outputting the layout information selected by the selecting means when a result of the simulation executed by the executing means satisfies the characteristic entered through the first input means.
In the operational amplifier layout generating apparatus of the invention, the first input means enters a characteristic required for an operational amplifier; the second input means enters different sets of layout information for the operational amplifier, where a plurality of transistors of the operational amplifier have their channel widths varied by different factors among the different sets of operational amplifier layout information; and the third input means enters a relation between the value of a bias current of the operational amplifier represented by the different sets of layout information, and the different factors and the value of a bias current of a bias generating circuit. Then, first, the determining means determines the bias current of the operational amplifier on the basis of the characteristic entered through the first input means. Next, the selecting means determines the bias current of the bias generating circuit and selects one of the different sets of operational amplifier layout information entered through the second input means on the basis of the relation entered through the third input means and the bias current of the operational amplifier determined by the determining means. Then the executing means executes a simulation about the operational amplifier using the set of layout information selected by the selecting means. When the results of the simulation executed by the executing means satisfy the characteristic entered through the first input means, the output means outputs the operational amplifier layout information selected by the selecting means.
The operational amplifier layout information which satisfies the required characteristic is thus automatically outputted, so that existing design resources can be easily reused and the time required for the reuse can be shortened.
A further aspect of the invention is directed to a layout generating program for generating a layout for an operational amplifier, wherein the layout generating program can be read by a computer, and the layout generating program causes the computer to execute a process comprising: accepting an input of a characteristic required for an operational amplifier; accepting an input of different sets of layout information for the operational amplifier, the operational amplifier comprising a plurality of transistors, the plurality of transistors having their channel widths varied by different factors among the different sets of operational amplifier layout information; accepting an input of a relation between the value of a bias current of the operational amplifier represented by the different sets of layout information, and the different factors and the value of a bias current of a bias generating circuit; determining the bias current of the operational amplifier on the basis of the entered characteristic; determining the bias current of the bias generating circuit and selecting one of the entered different sets of operational amplifier layout information on the basis of the entered relation and the determined bias current of the operational amplifier; executing a simulation about the operational amplifier using the selected set of operational amplifier layout information; and outputting the selected operational amplifier layout information when a result of the simulation satisfies the entered characteristic.
According to the operational amplifier layout generating program of the invention, first, the bias current of the operational amplifier is determined on the basis of the entered characteristic. Next, the bias current of the bias generating circuit is determined and one of the different sets of operational amplifier layout information is selected on the basis of the entered relation and the determined bias current of the operational amplifier. Further, a simulation about the operational amplifier is executed by using the selected set of layout information. When the results of the simulation satisfy the entered characteristic, the selected operational amplifier layout information is outputted.
The operational amplifier layout information which satisfies the required characteristic is thus automatically outputted, so that existing design resources can be easily reused and the time required for the reuse can be shortened.
According to another aspect of the invention, an operational amplifier layout generating apparatus comprises: a first input device that enters a characteristic required for an operational amplifier; a second input device that enters different sets of layout information for the operational amplifier, the operational amplifier comprising a plurality of transistors, the plurality of transistors having their channel widths varied by different factors among the different sets of operational amplifier layout information; a third input device that enters a relation between the value of a bias current of the operational amplifier represented by the different sets of layout information, and the different factors and the value of a bias current of a bias generating circuit; a processing unit that determines the bias current of the operational amplifier on the basis of the characteristic entered through the first input device, determines the bias current of the bias generating circuit and selects one of the different sets of operational amplifier layout information entered through the second input device on the basis of the relation entered through the third input device and the bias current of the operational amplifier determined by the determining device, and executes a simulation about the operational amplifier using the selected set of operational amplifier layout information; and an output device that outputs the selected layout information when a result of the simulation executed by the processing unit satisfies the characteristic entered through the first input device.
In the operational amplifier layout generating apparatus of the invention, the first input device enters a characteristic required for an operational amplifier, the second input device enters different sets of layout information for the operational amplifier, where a plurality of transistors of the operational amplifier have their channel widths varied by different factors among the different sets of operational amplifier layout information; and the third input device enters a relation between the value of a bias current of the operational amplifier represented by the different sets of layout information, and the different factors and the value of a bias current of a bias generating circuit. First, the processing unit determines the bias current of the operational amplifier on the basis of the characteristic entered through the first input device. Next, the processing unit determines the bias current of the bias generating circuit and selects one of the different sets of operational amplifier layout information entered through the second input device on the basis of the relation entered through the third input device and the bias current of the operational amplifier determined by the processing unit. Then the processing unit executes a simulation about the operational amplifier using the set of operational amplifier layout information selected by the processing unit. When the results of the simulation executed by the processing unit satisfy the characteristic entered through the first input device, the output device outputs the selected operational amplifier layout information.
The operational amplifier layout information which satisfies the required characteristic is thus automatically outputted, so that existing design resources can be easily reused and the time required for the reuse can be shortened.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method for reusing resource for designing operational amplifier, layout generating apparatus, and layout generating program


A hair care tool to aid in the installation, care, and removal of hair braids and weaves comprising a long slender shaft approximately one (1) foot long with a handle grip in the middle is herein disclosed. While the exact configuration of the tool is envisioned to vary depending on the model, each end comprises a specific tool to aid in the installation, care and removal of hair braids and weaves. Said tools are envisioned to include a hook at each end for removal of micro braids and removing braiding tracks, a scissor configuration for cutting thread associated with hair weaves, and a comb for combing out the weave track. Each tool is envisioned to vary in size according the style of hair. The features of the tool are envisioned to speed various hair care processes thus saving time for a private user or professional beautician.

The present invention relates generally to a device for removing and cutting hair weaves, braids and thread from the hair, more particularly, to a device that combines several tools for the aid of removing micro-braiding and hair weaves into one device. This device will aid a user in the installation, care, and removal of hair braids and weaves comprising a long slender shaft approximately one foot long with a handle grip at and intermediate position. While the exact configuration of the device is envisioned to vary depending on the model, the two shaft ends comprise a first hook and a second hook having differing geometry to aid in the removal of micro braids and weaves. Additional integral features include a scissor blade for cutting thread associated with hair weaves and a comb for combing out weave track. Each model of the device is envisioned to vary in size according to particular hair styles. The features of the device are envisioned to speed a hair care process thus saving time for private users and professional beauticians.
The field of hair design involves the styling of hair for a unique look craved by consumers. Many of these hair styles involve intricate work with hair weaves and micro-braiding. There are literally thousands of hair styling and maintenance products on the market today that aid in producing these styles. Due to the fact that the hair styling industry at the salon level is highly competitive in nature and the ability to produce any particular style effectively and efficiently is directly related to the success of that business, there is a constant need for new and innovative hair styling accessory designs that will simplify or make the processes involved easier to speed all hair care processes thus saving time for the private user and associated money for the professional beautician.
10hair braids and weave trackRemover tool20shaft25grip30first hook35comb40scissor45cutting edge55scissor clip60second hook

Hair braids and weave track tool remover


The disclosure herein describes a light fixture for mounting to a ceiling, wall or the like which comprises a pot having a peripheral edge abutting the area adjacent a hole made in the ceiling or wall. A hook and a bolt extending through appropriate openings in the inner wall and the side wall of the pot cooperate to secure the pot to the ceiling. Rotating the bolt causes the hook to move into an abutting engagement with the rear surface of the ceiling, the latter thus being contacted, on the outside, by the peripheral edge of the pot and, on the inside, by that portion of the hook engaging the rear surface of the ceiling.

There are various fastening devices to mount a light fixture, in the form of a pot, to a ceiling or the like. With those using a spring arrangement, the fixing is accomplished inside the hole. Other systems require a metallic plate inside the ceiling which results in an electrician to work inside the ceiling to carry out the mounting operation. Other devices require the provision of a lath to which the pot is fixed. It has been found that, in most cases, to secure the pot to the ceiling often causes some damage to the material of the ceiling.

Light fixture for mounting to a ceiling, wall or the like


Disclosed herein are apparatuses for producing a glass ribbon, the apparatuses comprising a forming body comprising an upper trough-shaped portion comprising two trough walls and a trough bottom; a lower wedge-shaped portion; a delivery end comprising a first recess; and a compression end comprising a second recess; and first and second supports coupled to the first and second recesses, wherein at least a portion of the first or second support surfaces are non-planar and in continuous contact with at least a portion of the respective first or second recess surfaces. Also disclosed herein are methods for producing a glass ribbon using such apparatuses.

High-performance display devices, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and plasma displays, are commonly used in various electronics, such as cell phones, laptops, electronic tablets, televisions, and computer monitors. Currently marketed display devices can employ one or more high-precision glass sheets, for example, as substrates for electronic circuit components, or as color filters, to name a few applications. The leading technology for making such high-quality glass substrates is the fusion draw process, developed by Corning Incorporated, and described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,338,696 and 3,682,609, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
The fusion draw process can utilize a fusion draw machine (FDM) comprising a forming body (e.g., isopipe). The forming body can comprise an upper trough-shaped portion and a lower portion having a wedge-shaped cross-section with two major side surfaces (or forming surfaces) sloping downwardly to join at a root. During the glass forming process, the molten glass can be delivered to one end of the isopipe ("delivery end") and can travel down the length of the isopipe while flowing over the trough side walls (or weirs) to an opposite end ("compression end"). The molten glass can flow down along the two forming surfaces as two glass ribbons, which ultimately converge at the root where they fuse together to form a unitary glass ribbon. The glass ribbon can thus have two pristine external surfaces that have not been exposed to the surface of the forming body. The ribbon can then be drawn down and cooled to form a glass sheet having a desired thickness and a pristine surface quality.
Isopipes used in the fusion draw process are often large bodies formed from heavy, refractory ceramic materials. Isopipes can be subjected to rigorous operating conditions, such as high temperatures, for extended periods of continuous use, e.g., up to several years or more. During operation, the refractory body may deform (e.g., sag) in the middle, which can ultimately change the molten glass flow characteristics in the FDM. Higher temperature operations can accelerate isopipe deformation such as sag due to creep of the refractory material. Isopipe sag can be partially mitigated by applying a horizontal compression force below the isopipe neutral axis, for instance, at the ends of the lower wedge-shaped portion. However, this compression force itself creates stress in the forming body, which can lead to static fatigue of the refractory material. Stress and sag should therefore be balanced and minimized to extend the life of the forming body and/or maintain glass quality.
Consumer demand for high-performance displays with ever growing size and image quality requirements drives the need for improved manufacturing processes for producing large, high-quality, high-precision glass sheets. Larger (e.g., longer and heavier) isopipes for producing large glass sheets can have increased likelihood of failure due to sag and/or stress over time. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide methods and apparatuses for mitigating isopipe sag and providing improved isopipe support. In various embodiments, the methods and apparatuses disclosed herein can minimize or prevent isopipe sag and/or stress, which can extend the useful life of the forming apparatus and/or maintain high glass quality over the lifetime of the apparatus.

Method and apparatus for isopipe support and sag mitigation


A quaternary ammonium salt catalyst is recovered from mixtures where the salt is in contact with an aqueous alkaline phase by adding water to completely dissolve the salt and adding base to cause the dissolved catalyst to separate as a hydroxide which forms an oily upper phase.

This invention relates generally to the recovery of quaternary ammonium salts from aqueous solutions and more particularly to the recovery of quaternary ammonium salt, phase transfer catalysts from reaction mixtures resulting from the alkylation of cyclopentadienes.
The preparation of monosubstituted cyclopentadiene derivatives by condensation with corresponding halogen compounds such as alkyl halides in the presence of a condensing agent such as aqueous alkali metal hydroxide and small amounts (below about 0.1 mole per mole of cyclopentadiene) of quaternary ammonium compounds, which catalyze the reaction, is described in Polish Patent 55,571.
I have found an effective method for recovering the catalyst which permits its reuse and also avoids its discharge in the aqueous waste stream from the reaction.


A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel including a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween; and a backlight assembly including a plurality of lamps disposed in a first direction to provide light to the liquid crystal panel, and a plurality of lamp guides to fix the plurality of lamps, at least one of the lamp guides having a guide plate and a plurality of lamp fixing parts, wherein a first one of the lamp fixing parts is disposed on the guide plate at a lamp fixing part axis in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein a second one of the lamp fixing parts is disposed on the guide plate space apart from the lamp fixing part axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display device having the same, and more particularly, to a backlight assembly with uniform brightness and a liquid crystal display device having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, liquid crystal display (LCD) devices have become smaller and lighter with more powerful performance. While the widely used cathode ray tube (CRT) technology has advantages in performance and price, CRTs have disadvantages in slimness and portability.
In contrast, LCD technology has advantages such as slim profile, light weight and low power consumption, thereby solving the disadvantages of CRT technology. As a result, LCDs are widely used in almost all information processing devices using a display.
Backlight assemblies used for light sources in LCDs can be classified into an edge type backlight assemblies and direct type backlight assemblies according to their cylindrical lamp arrangement. An edge type backlight assembly has a lamp unit installed on the side of a light guide panel for guiding light. The lamp unit includes a lamp to emit light, lamp holders inserted on both sides of the lamp to protect the lamp, and a lamp reflection plate. The lamp reflection plate covers circumferential surface of the lamp with its side inserted on the side of the light guide panel to reflect light from the lamp to the light guide panel.
Accordingly, the edge type backlight assembly having the lamp unit installed on the side(s) of the light guide panel is usually applied to relatively small-sized LCDs, such as monitors of laptop or desktop computers. The edge type backlight assembly has good light uniformity, high durability, and slim profile.
Meanwhile, the direct type backlight assembly has been developed typically for 20-inch LCD displays or larger. Here, a plurality of lamps is aligned on the bottom of a diffusion plate to directly illuminate light on a front side of an LCD panel. The direct type backlight assembly is widely used for a large-sized LCD displays that require high brightness because light utilization of a direct type backlight assembly is higher than that of an edge type backlight assembly.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a related art direct type backlight assembly LCD. As shown in FIG. 1, a related art direct type LCD includes a liquid crystal panel 105 and a backlight assembly. The liquid crystal panel 105 includes a bottom substrate with a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, a top substrate with R, G, B color filter layers and a black matrix, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the top and bottom substrates. The backlight assembly provides light to the liquid crystal panel 105.
The backlight assembly includes a plurality of lamps 113 for emitting light toward the bottom of the liquid crystal panel 105, a lamp holder 111 for fixing the plurality of lamps 113 with a predetermined distance, optical sheets 107, a diffusion plate 108 disposed between the liquid crystal panel 105 and the lamps 113, support frames 110a and 110b for fixing the optical sheets 107 and the diffusion plate 108 at both sides, and a reflection plate 117 disposed on the bottom of the lamps 113. Two lamps 113 form a pair, and each respective pair of lamps 113 is fixed by a lamp guide 109 with a predetermined distance. Additionally, the reflection plate 117 is attached to the inside of a bottom cover 120.
That is, the liquid crystal panel 105, the optical sheet 107, the diffusion plate 108, the support frames 110A and 110B, the lamps 113, and the reflection plate 117 are stacked in the bottom cover 120. Thereafter, a top case 101 is mounted to protect the stacked parts. An inverter 123 for supplying a voltage is mounted on a rear side of the bottom cover 120, and an inverter cover shield 124 is mounted on the inverter 123. A cover shield 121 prevents static electricity.
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the lamps 113 fixed by the lamp guide 109 according to a related art. As shown in FIG. 2, the lamps 113 are mounted on the inside of a bottom cover. The lamps 113 are fixed by a lamp guide 109 in pairs. The lamp guide 109 includes a guide plate 109a and two lamp fixing parts 109b, and each pair of the lamps is respectively fixed by the lamp part 109b. The lamp guide 109 is mounted on the reflection plate 117 in a line and plays a role in holding the lamps when an external impact or vibration is applied.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a related art lamp guide 109. As shown in FIG. 3, the lamp guide 109 includes the guide plate 109a and the lamp fixing part 109b, and the lamp fixing part 109b is disposed on both edges of the guide plate 109a. More specifically, the lamp fixing part 109b is vertically disposed on a central axis of the guide plate 109a. In the structure of the lamp guide 109, brightness deterioration in a region of the lamp guide 109 does not occur due to characteristics of light such as diffusion, reflection, refraction, and diffraction if there is an enough distance between the lamp and the diffusion plate.
However, as the LCD becomes small-sized, light weight and slim in profile, brightness deterioration occurs in a region of the lamp guide 109 due to a close distance between the lamp and the diffusion plate. Specifically, since brightness deterioration severely occurs in the region of the lamp fixing part 109b, a black line defect appears along with the lamp guide 109. Therefore, the picture quality is deteriorated characterized by a non-uniform brightness over the liquid crystal panel.

Backlight assembly having lamp guide plates with plural lamp holders thereon in which the holders are offset with respect to each other


A rocker assembly of a strapping machine has a rocker having a seat, a positioning panel mounted on the seat and being able to swing, and two teeth panels slidably mounted on the positioning panel. When a fixed end and a tightening end of a wrapping strap are mounted between the rocker assembly and a tensioning wheel, the teeth panels slide and the positioning panel swings to adjust engaging surfaces and engaging forces between the teeth panels and the wrapping strap according to thickness of the wrapping strap. Thus the wrapping strap is able to securely wrap around the goods and is not scratched.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rocker assembly of a strapping machine, especially to a rocker assembly that automatically adjusts engagement between teeth panels and a wrapping strap according to thickness of the wrapping strap.
2. Description of the Prior Art(s)
A strapping machine straps packaged goods with steel or plastic wrapping straps so the strapped goods are convenient to transport.
With reference to FIG. 16, a conventional strapping machine comprises a tensioning wheel 91 and a rocker 92. The tensioning wheel 91 is driven by a power device to rotate in a specific direction and has multiple engaging teeth 911 formed around a peripheral surface of the tensioning wheel 91. The rocker 92 is pivotally mounted on the conventional strapping machine and has a pivoting end 921, a swinging end 922 and a teeth panel 93. The pivoting end 921 is pivotally mounted on the conventional strapping machine. The swinging end 922 moves forwards or backwards relative to the peripheral surface of the tensioning wheel 91 as the rocker 92 swings. The teeth panel 93 is embedded in the rocker 92, is disposed adjacent to the swinging end 922 of the rocker 92 and has an upper surface and multiple engaging teeth 931. The upper surface of the engaging teeth panel 93 is concave and corresponds to the peripheral surface of the tensioning wheel 91. The engaging teeth 931 of the teeth panel 93 are formed on the upper surface of the teeth panel 93 and correspond to the engaging teeth 911 of the tensioning wheel 91. Preferably, the teeth panel 93 may comprise multiple sub-panels having upper surfaces with different slopes.
A wrapping strap 94 is wrapped around the goods and has a tightening end 941 and a fixed end 942. The fixed end 942 and the tightening end 941 overlap. Then the fixed end 942 and the tightening end 941 are placed between the tensioning wheel 91 and the teeth panel 93.
With further reference to FIG. 17, the rocker 92 is driven to swing toward the tensioning wheel 91 to allow the engaging teeth 911 of the tensioning wheel 91 to engage the tightening end 941 of the wrapping strap 94 and the engaging teeth 931 of the teeth panel 93 to engage the fixed end 941 of the wrapping strap 94. When the tensioning wheel 91 is rotated, the tightening end 941 of the wrapping strap 94 is moved while the fixed end 942 of the wrapping strap 94 is held by the teeth panel 93. As the wrapping strap 94 is properly tensioned, a welding device of the conventional strapping machine welds the overlapping tightening and fixed ends 941, 942 of the wrapping strap 94 so the wrapping strap 94 is wrapped around the goods.
However, in the above-mentioned conventional strapping machine, the teeth panel 93 is securely mounted on the rocker 92. Therefore, when the teeth panel 93 and the tensioning wheel 91 engage the wrapping strap 94, the teeth panel 93 is unable to move relative to the rocker 92 according to thickness of the wrapping strap 94 to securely hold the wrapping strap 94. Thus, engagements between the teeth panel 93 and the wrapping strap 94 and between the tensioning wheel 91 and the wrapping strap 94 are loose. Consequently, the wrapping strap 94 is unable to securely wrap around the goods. Furthermore, since the tensioning wheel 91 does not securely hold the wrapping strap 94, when the tensioning wheel 91 rotates, the engaging teeth 911 of the tensioning wheel 91 scratch the wrapping strap 94 easily.
With further reference to FIG. 18, in view of the disadvantages of the foregoing conventional strapping machine, a rocker 95 of another conventional strapping machine has a pivoting end 952, a mounting recess 953, a bottom, a through hole 954, a teeth panel 96 and a bolt 97. The mounting recess 953 is formed in an upper surface of the rocker 95 and is disposed adjacent to the pivoting end 952 of the rocker 95. The bottom of the rocker 95 is defined in the mounting recess 953. The through hole 954 is formed through the bottom of the rocker 95. The teeth panel 96 is mounted in the mounting recess 953 of the rocker 95 and has a toothed upper surface 961 and a convex lower surface 962. The bolt 97 is mounted through the through hole 954 of the rocker 95 from a lower surface of the rocker 95, is attached to the teeth panel 96 and is thinner than the through hole 954 of the rocker 95 so the bolt 97 is slidable in the through hole 954 and the teeth panel 96 slides as well. When a tightening end and a fixed end of a wrapping strap are mounted between the teeth panel 96 and a tensioning wheel 98, the convex lower surface 962 of the teeth panel 96 allows the teeth panel 96 to swing and to slightly slide. Thus, angle and position of the teeth panel 96 can be adjusted according to thickness of the wrapping strap and the tensioning wheel 98 so the wrapping strap is securely held by the teeth panel 96 and the tensioning wheel 98.
However, since the teeth panel 96 of the above-mentioned conventional strapping machine is formed in a single piece, when the teeth panel 96 swings, only part of the toothed upper surface 961 engages the wrapping strap. Engagement between the teeth panel 96 and the wrapping strap is still loose and the wrapping strap drops out of the rocker 95 and the tensioning wheel 98 easily.


The invention relates to compositions that prevent expansion of a fire, suppress existing fire, as well as methods of preparing and using such compositions. The composition is comprised of water, pseudo-plastic high yield suspending agent and starch. Compositions may contain additional functional agents, such as rheological, wetting, foaming, coloring, chelating, antimicrobial and stabilizing agents. In the description of the present invention, all composition modifications are referred to as compositions. The composition, an augmentation of water, exhibits the characteristics of a sag resistant aqueous gel in the tank, but has shear thinning capacity, allowing the composition to be pumped or sprayed as easily as water. At the point of impact, when the sprayed composition is again at rest, it instantly reverts to a sag resistant aqueous gel. The composition also forms an intumescent, surface char layer upon contacting a fire. Foaming of the augmented composition on impact can be incorporated, which is advantageous for fighting petroleum fires.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the technical field of fire suppressant and fire preventive compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to an inventive aqueous composition having unique properties and, most particularly, to an inventive aqueous composition more effective than water alone for fighting fires.
2. Background Information
Fire is a continuing danger to life and property worldwide. In rural areas forest, brush, and grassland fires cause immense damage each year. This destruction is not only in terms of the dollar value of timber, wildlife and livestock, but the catastrophic effects on erosion, watershed equilibrium and related problems to the natural environment. In urban areas, fire and the damage from large quantities of water used to extinguish a fire is responsible for the destruction of buildings with the loss of billions of dollars annually. Use of the composition of the present invention to replace the water used to fight fires can reduce the total water consumption by up to an order of magnitude. This reduction limits the damage caused by water in urban manufacturing facilities, and other man-made structures. Most importantly, fire is a major danger to human life. More quickly extinguishing a fire with the composition of the present invention helps reduce the loss of life to fire.
Over the years man has found numerous methods for combating fires. The use of water, foams, chemicals and other extinguishing materials are well documented. Water treated with a wetting agent has been proven to be more effective on a Class A fire where good water penetration is needed to reach and extinguish the seat of the fire. This concept is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,234 to Little. Antisettling or suspending agents are useful materials in controlling powdered flame-retardants from settling or floating. This concept is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,687 to Cooperman et al. Efforts have concentrated not only on formulations and methods for extinguishing a fire that is already in progress, but also for the prevention of fires by pretreatment of combustible surfaces. This pretreatment coating can involve man-made structures, such as buildings or storage tanks, or vegetation, such as fighting wild fires and making fire lines or fire breaks.
Currently, there have been very substantial efforts in the area of pretreatment with chemical retardants or suppressants. A number of these pretreatments have been developed and used for fighting rural forest fires. For example, antimony oxide and its complexes, borates, carbonates, bicarbonates, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfates, and other salts capable of being hydrated, have been demonstrated to have useful properties as firefighting chemicals. Representative prior art patents teaching the use of chemical retardants were granted in the early 1900's and continuing until more recent times. Such patents include; U.S. Pat. No. 1,030,909 to Mesturino; U.S. Pat. No. 1,339,488 to Weiss; U.S. Pat. No. 1,813,367 to Thompson; U.S. Pat. No. 2,875,044 to Dunn; U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,537,873 and 3,719,515 to Degginger; U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,464 to Mayerhoefer et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,580 to Panusch et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,985 to Brown. However, although the fire inhibiting properties of the borates, carbonates and bicarbonates have been established, the use of these materials for vegetation fires has been limited because of their tendency to inhibit plant growth when used in large quantities.
Recently, attention has turned to other chemical agents, such as the synergist combination of antimony oxide and a halogen (fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine) or halogenated compounds. Fire retardant formulations making use of these agents are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,196,108 to Nelson and U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,414 to Wright et al. See also Lyons, The Chemistry and Uses of Fire Retardants, John Wiley & Sons, 1970 pages 147 and 411. Although extremely effective in this usage, the usefulness of the antimony/halogen combination is partially limited by the side reactions that may occur in a fire. Production of phosgene, diphosgene or chlorine gas (WW I chemical war gases) and the generation of corrosive agents, such as inorganic acids from ammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate, requires the use of corrosion inhibitors to protect the firefighting pumping equipment and the aluminum of an aircraft. These corrosion inhibitors are expensive, sometimes toxic and increase the chance of environmental damage.
Another method of fighting fires is the pretreatment of flame-retardant materials on combustible surfaces that lead to the creation of intumescent coating materials. Intumescent materials expand with heat, similar to a vermiculite which expands when exposed to steam. The expanded layer then protects the original surface from heat and flame. The problem is that an expanded intumescent is also very fragile. This problem was soon realized, and the intumescent needed a protective hard outer coating. An intumescent ablative formulation answered this challenge and is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,485 B2 to Wong, et al. This lead to methods using carbonaceous materials to form a char instead of the materials being consumed by the fire. The making of carbonaceous chars is taught in many patents, including U.S. Pat. No. 6,696,030 B1 to Hayden.
In addition to all these problems, the most difficult problem to overcome for chemical retardant formulations is that they are relatively expensive, compared to water. Also of concern is the environmental impact of absorbent particles presently used in various gel formulations. The absorbent particles pose an environmental risk once used to fight a fire, particularly when used on a large scale, such as a forest fire. The cost factor also comes into conflict with applying them in large quantities, as is often required. In combating or preventing forest, brush and grass range fires, a considerable amount of effort has been spent in the search for low cost or waste materials that are both available in quantity and inexpensive. One such low cost waste material from the forest industry is lignosulfonates. Lignosulfonates are the sticking agent component in many fire retardant formulations. Teaching the use of lignosulfonates as components in fire retardant formulations include; U.S. Pat. No. 3,464,921 to Erler et al; U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,862,854 and 3,962,208 to Zeigerson et al; U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,911 to Horiguchi; U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,345 to Berg; U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,533 to Pope et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,176 to Crouch and U.S. Pat. No. 6;277,296B1 to Scheffee et al.
Applicants have devised a unique composition for fighting fires. In a preferred embodiment, the composition consists of pseudo-plastic, high yield, suspending agent, plus starch, both swelled and suspended, in water. The effectiveness of the inventive composition is increased versus water alone. The composition forms a crust after making contact with a heat source. After crusting over occurs, continued heating or burning near the compositions causes the crust to turn to a carbonized char. At this point, the composition consists of an outer coat of char, which forms a hard, intumescent coating, and a soft interior of a gelled aqueous composition. This synergist combination of hard shell protecting a soft interior gel, remains in place until all the composition's water has been evaporated. The composition functions as a heat sink, maintaining a substrate temperature below 100° C.

Composition inhibiting the expansion of fire, suppressing existing fire, and methods of manufacture and use thereof


In a process of dividing gates of multi-layered films in fabricating a NAND flash memory having a three-dimensional structure, a pattern is prevented from deforming and falling. A ratio of a length L to a height h of control gate groups configuring a memory cell of the flash memory is set to be less than 1.65 which is a range in which buckling does not occur. It is desirable that a ratio of a length L to a width W of the control gate groups is set to be less than 16.5.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof, and, more particularly, to a method of forming line patterns having high aspect ratios indispensable to manufacture of a NAND-flash memory having a three-dimensional structure.
With demands for semiconductor devices with higher speed and higher density, semiconductor devices having three-dimensional structures are being developed actively in recent years. For example, "Vertical Cell Array using TCAT (Terabit Cell Array Transistor) Technology for Ultra High Density NAND Flash Memory" by J. Jang, et al., Proceedings of 2009 Symposium on VLSI Technology, pp. 192-193 discloses an example of a 3D NAND-flash memory (hereinafter, abbreviated as 3D-NAND). FIGS. 1A to 1C schematically show three orthogonal views of a 3D-NAND memory cell. FIG. 1A shows a top view of the 3D-NAND memory cell viewed from above, FIG. 1B shows a side view of the top view of FIG. 1A viewed from the right side of the sheet (the structure viewed in the y direction), and FIG. 1C shows a front view of the top view of FIG. 1A viewed from the bottom side of the sheet (the structure viewed in the x direction). The memory cell actually extends long in the lateral direction (in the y direction) of the sheet, and each of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1C shows only ends of the both sides of the memory cell. In FIG. 1A, incidentally, bit lines 33 and word lines 34 shown in FIG. 1C are omitted from showing in the drawing.
The above 3D-NAND memory cell has a structure that control gate layers 30, each of which comprises a multi-layered film of a tungsten film 5 (a conductive film) and a SiO2 film 3 (an insulating film), are additionally stacked stepwise on a semiconductor substrate (a Si substrate) 1 and cylindrical channel holes 4 which are filled with polysilicon are formed therein, as shown in FIG. 1C. Incidentally, in the initial stage of the manufacturing process, the control gate layer 30 is formed as a multi-layered film of a Si3N4 film and a SiO2 film 3, and the Si3N4 film is replaced by the tungsten film 5 during the manufacturing process. To operate the tungsten film 5 included in the control gate layer 30 as the gate electrode, the control gate layers 30 are stacked stepwise to form a terrace structure and are respectively connected with the word lines 34 through contact holes 35. The multi-layered films of the control gate layers 30 are called hereinafter as a control gate group 31 for convenience. The control gate group 31 is divided in the x direction by trenches (spaces) 32 as shown in FIG. 1B and has a line-and-space structure as shown in FIG. 1A when viewed from above.
A contact hole 6 is formed on the channel hole 4 and connected to the bit line 33 further formed on it. An ONO film, which is not shown in the drawing, is formed as a charge trap material on the inner wall surface (an interface between wall surfaces of holes formed in the control gate groups 31 and pillars of polysilicon filled therein) of the channel hole 4 and operates as a capacitor of the memory cell.
The 3D-NAND memory cell disclosed in "Vertical Cell Array using TCAT (Terabit Cell Array Transistor) Technology for Ultra High Density NAND Flash Memory" by J. Jang, et al., Proceedings of 2009 Symposium on VLSI Technology, pp. 192-193 has a characteristics that the control gate group 31 is divided in the x direction by the trenches 32 as shown in FIG. 1B. These trenches 32 are formed by etching. FIG. 2 shows in Part (A) and Part (B) patterns before and after the process of forming the trenches 32 in the same side views as FIG. 1B. Part (A) of FIG. 2 shows the pattern before etching, and Part (B) of FIG. 2 shows the pattern after etching, respectively. In the state before etching shown in Part (A) of FIG. 2, the control gate layers 30 each of which comprises the above-described multi-layered film of the Si3N4 film 2 and the SiO2 film 3 are stacked on the Si substrate 1, and the channel holes 4 which are filled with polysilicon are formed therein. A line-and-space resist pattern is formed on its top surface by lithography, and the trenches 32 shown in Part (B) of FIG. 2 are formed by dry etching with it as a mask.
In the memory cell shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the control gate group has eight of the control gate layers 30 stacked together; for a higher density, however, it is necessary to increase the number of the stacked layers or to reduce the interval of channel holes in the x and y directions by reducing the diameters of the channel holes 4. For example, "Vertical Cell Array using TCAT (Terabit Cell Array Transistor) Technology for Ultra High Density NAND Flash Memory" by J. Jang, et al., Proceedings of 2009 Symposium on VLSI Technology, pp. 192-193 proposes as future developments that cost per bit (bit cost) is reduced by setting the number of the stacked layers of the control gate layers 30 to 128 layers and/or reducing the diameters of the channel holes 4 to 45 nm.

Semiconductor device manufacturing method


An apparatus for the rapid chilling of bottled liquids, the apparatus being adapted to support and rotate the bottle in a low temperature medium contained in a bucket. The apparatus comprising a gear drive mechanism supported on a bridge over the bucket and a bottle neck gripping device coupled to the drive shaft of the gear drive mechanism beneath the bridge. The bottle neck gripping device supporting the bottle in the chilling medium and rotating the bottle in response to rotation of the gear drive shaft.

This invention relates to an apparatus for the rapid chilling of liquids in opened or unopened bottles.
The utility of an apparatus for the rapid chilling of bottled liquids, such as still or sparkling wines, in the home as well as in commercial restaurants at once will be obvious In the home, the refrigerator can be relieved of it's wine chilling function and the space otherwise occupied by wine bottles used for food chilling and preservation. In commercial restaurants, wine lists can be expanded since refrigeration is no longer a main consideration. Slow moving wine inventory will not have to be chilled for weeks or months before it is used.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a chilling apparatus for bottled liquids that is small, durable, light weight inexpensive to manufacture, functional and attractive to observe.
It is a further object to provide a chilling apparatus for bottled liquids that can be operated without hazard to the operator or to anyone standing or sitting near it during it's operation.
It is yet a further object to provide a chilling apparatus that can be manually operated and therefore is not reliant on electric power sources. It then can be used both indoors and outdoors.
It is yet a further object to provide a chilling apparatus that does not require compressed gas of any kind in its operation, does not emit any noxious odors and does not create any loud or unpleasant noises while being operated.
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following disclosure of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.


A combustor includes a chamber mixing and burning fuel and air and an air hole plate disposed on a wall surface of the chamber. The air hole plate includes a plurality of rows disposed concentrically of a plurality of air holes jetting coaxial jets of fuel and air into the chamber. A first fuel nozzle and a second fuel nozzle are disposed near a fuel hole for jetting fuel into an air hole row on an inner peripheral side. The first fuel nozzle is structured to suppress turbulence of surrounding air flow and the second fuel nozzle is structured to promote turbulence of a surrounding air flow. In accordance with the aspect of the present invention, good flame stability can be maintained while further reducing NOx in a combustor using coaxial jets.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a combustor and a fuel supply method for the combustor.
2. Description of the Related Art
JP-A-2003-148734 discloses a combustor that includes a large plurality of air holes jetting coaxial jets having air jets and fuel jets disposed coaxially or substantially coaxially. The combustor uniformly diffuses fuel and air and supplies them to a chamber. The combustor mixes the fuel and air in a short distance to prevent backfire and promote low NOx combustion. Part of the plurality of air holes includes a swirl angle to form a swirl flow in the chamber, so that a recirculation zone or a low flow rate zone is formed at a central portion of the swirl flow to hold a flame.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Combustor having a first plurality of fuel nozzles having a first cross-sectional shape and a second plurality of fuel nozzles having a second cross-sectional shape different than the first cross-sectional shape


An image reading apparatus to convey a sheet to be scanned to an image reader unit is provided. the image reading apparatus includes a sheet tray, in which the sheet to be scanned is stored, a separator, which frictionally picks up the sheet from the sheet tray and conveys the picked-up sheet toward an entry side of the image reader unit, through which the sheet enters a position above the image reader unit, to have a first side of the sheet scanned by the image reader unit, and a resisting force applier, which applies convey-resisting force to the sheet, of which first side has been scanned, being returned to the entry side of the image reader unit to have a second side of the sheet with the convey resistance scanned by the image reader unit.

1. Technical Field
An aspect of the present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, which is capable of reading images from either side of a sheet.
2. Related Art
An image reading apparatus capable of reading an original image from either side of an original sheet is known. The image reading apparatus may sequentially read images from both sides of the original sheets. When the images on the sheet are read, the sheet may be carried to an image reader unit with a first side (e.g., recto) facing the image reader unit to have the image on the recto read by the image reader unit. Thereafter, the sheet may be reversed to have a second side (e.g., verso) to face the image reader unit. The reversed sheet may be carried to the image reader unit so that the image formed on the verso is read by the same image reader unit. When the images on the two sides are read sequentially, therefore, the sheet with the recto facing the image reader unit and the sheet with the verso facing the image reading unit may be carried to the image reader unit in different sheet conveyer paths.
Due to the difference of the sheet conveyer paths, convey resistance generated with the original sheet and conveyer members (e.g., sheet-conveyer rollers) may vary between the recto-image reading and the verso-image reading, and a first sheet conveying speed to convey the sheet for the recto-image reading and a second sheet conveying speed to convey the sheet for the verso-image reading may vary. When the two sheet conveying speeds are different, magnification ratios of reproduced images to the original images may be different between the reproduced recto and the reproduced verso.
In order to set off the speed difference, for example, an image reading apparatus may be equipped with a mechanism to detect the actual first sheet conveying speed and the second sheet conveying speed and control peripheral speeds of the sheet-conveyer rollers based on the detected actual speeds so that the first and the second sheet conveying speeds become equivalent.


A front derailleur that includes a variable attachment to a mounting socket of a bicycle frame. The front derailleur includes a base member, a chain cage, a parallelogram and an attachment member. The base member includes first and second pivot points and at least two attachment points. The parallelogram includes two parallelogram arms, each having first and second ends. The first ends are pivotable about the first and second pivot points of the base member and the second ends support the chain cage. The attachment member connects the base member to the mounting socket of the bicycle frame through one of the at least two attachment positions. The base member also includes a contact surface for mating with the mounting socket. The different attachment positions allow the position of the front derailleur to be adapted to a standard or compact set of chainrings.

The present invention relates to the variable attachment of a front derailleur to a braze-on mounting socket of a bicycle frame.
A typical braze-on mounting socket is located on the seat tube of the bicycle frame oriented towards the axis of the crank assembly and located at a defined distance from the axis of the crank assembly. This defined distance is determined by the type of chainrings being used, e.g. a standard set of chainrings with 53/52 or 53/30 teeth, or a compact set of chainrings having 50/36 and 48/34 teeth. A drawback associated with the braze-on mounting socket is that it does not accommodate for the radial difference between different sets of chainrings requiring the use of two different front derailleurs to compensate for the radial difference.
EP 0 757 952 A1 discloses a front derailleur including an attachment device for fastening the derailleur to the crank assembly which accommodates different sized sets of chainrings. The attachment device includes a frame, a chain cage, and two adjusting bushings, each having one eccentrically oriented opening, which may be mounted in two positions thus allowing for different radial distances between the front derailleur and the axis of the crank assembly. The adjustment range that results from the variable installation of the adjusting bushings, corresponds to the radial difference between the large chainrings of the different sets of chainrings. This attachment device allows the front derailleur to be mounted to the crank independently of the position of the braze-on mounting socket. However, in comparison to a conventional attachment to a braze-on mounting socket, this configuration requires a complex frame support and two adjusting bushings. This negatively affects the installation time and production costs.

Front derailleur with variable attachment to a bicycle frame