Techniques for determining how to translate forecast sales data of at least one configuration of assembled product into a forecast schedule of subcomponents composing the assembled product is described. To this end, forecast sales data of at least one configuration of assembled product is received. Usage factors of a plurality of subcomponents composing the assembled product are also received. Each usage factor corresponds to the at least one configuration of assembled product. The forecast schedule of subcomponents composing the assembled product is then composed by applying the usage factors of the plurality of subcomponents to the forecast sales data of at least one configuration of assembled product wherein the forecast schedule includes demand for the subcomponents over time.

Typically, the price at which an assembled product can be sold drops rather quickly over the life time of the product. An assembled product such as a telecommunication base station may comprise many subcomponents. Furthermore, the telecommunication base station may be sold in various configurations to meet customer scaling requirements. Each configuration may include a different quantitative mix of subcomponents. To be competitive in today's global economy and maintain a consistent profit, a business enterprise, which builds and sells the assembled product, needs to manage the costs of these subcomponents.
Many times these subcomponents can be replaced by cheaper subcomponent's due to technology advances, manufacturing efficiency, and the like. Integrating new subcomponents into an assembled product can prove costly depending on the new subcomponents complexity. For example, a new subcomponent may require additional software for it to operate in the assembled product, a new wiring plan to electrically connect the new subcomponent to the assembly, a new packaging plan for the assembled product, and the like.
Since operating budgets of the business enterprise are limited, how does the business enterprise decide which subcomponents should be replaced? Out of the subcomponents chosen to be replace, what goals should be used to determine a reasonable price reduction target? Without any goals, how can allocating development resources between projects defined by each new subcomponent be justified? When would be the best time to introduce an assembled product with one or more new subcomponents to minimize stranded inventory and maximize savings? How does a business enterprise measure the effectiveness of introducing the assembled product with one or more new subcomponents? Conventionally, management teams of the business enterprise introduce an assembled product on an adhoc basis without being able to answer these and other related questions, resulting in wasting time on replacing subcomponents which do not affect the bottom line, increased development costs, and shrinking profits, if any at all, remain after introducing the new subcomponents.

Systems and methods for forecasting demand for a subcomponent


A bolt assembly for use with toilet seats and other objects consists of a threaded bolt with a threaded axial bore and a head larger than the opening in the toilet bowl flange, a nut sized to fit the bolt, and a screw dimensioned to cooperate with the bore. The bolt is inserted through the opening in the flange, extending there beyond. The bolt is secured from below the flange with the nut. The seat assembly is then placed on the flange so that the aperture in the seat assembly bracket communicates with the threaded bore. The seat assembly is secured in place by passing the screw through the aperture in the bracket and threading it into the bore. The seat assembly can then be reversibly removed for cleaning by merely removing and replacing the screw without having to reach under the flange. The screw can have a gripping head so that it can be rotated without the need for a screwdriver, or there can be a slot centered on the top of the head so that a screwdriver can be used. The slot can be sized to accept a screwdriver but such that it will not permit the screwdriver to slip sideways during use.

The common toilet seat assembly has been known for over a century. The installation of the toilet seat assembly has always required the installer to maneuver under the back end or flange of the toilet bowl to reach the attaching bolt and fasten the nut. This type of installation has always made removal of the toilet seat assembly for cleaning a cumbersome task. The result has been that the seat assembly is usually only removed when there is a need to change it. Additionally, after remaining in place for a considerable period of time, the nuts and bolts that maintain the seat assembly in place are often badly corroded making removal very difficult, and more so when it is necessary to reach under the flange or get down beneath the flange to perform this task.
A seat assembly that can be easily removed and replaced is taught by Corda in U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,471. A threaded post having a smooth upper portion extending above a flat integral washer is set into each hole in the bowl flange and secured from below with a nut. The bracket of the seat assembly has two smooth walled cylindrical bushings that fit over the smooth upper portions of the posts enabling the seat assembly to be taken off and replaced while the posts remain in place. After time the connections can become worn and loose so that the seat assembly will no longer be held securely in place. A similar arrangement is taught by Hulsebus et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,875 where the bolts are passed downward through base members and the holes in the bowl flange and are secured with nuts under the flange. Locking members that cooperate with the base members above the flange fasten the seat assembly in place. The locking members enable the seat assembly to be removed and replaced. See also U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,762 to Moser in which there are heads on the two posts that extend above the flange over which are placed the seat bracket which contains a trough designed to receive the post heads. These patents require the seat brackets to be manufactured to fit the base members and the posts. Richter, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,529 describes a threaded rod inserted through the flange opening and secured above and below the flange with nuts. The rod extends upward above the flange and through the hole in the bracket of the seat assembly where it is secured with a third nut. The rough end of the threaded rod is exposed and must be covered by a bracket designed for this purpose.
Reed, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,824 discloses a hollow bolt, threaded on its outer surface, smooth in the inner surface and having a rim about the top that is larger in diameter then the opening in the toilet bowl flange. The bolt is placed in the hole in the flange and secured from below with a nut. There is also a hollow pin that fits snugly within the hollow bolt. The pin is smooth on its outer surface, threaded within and has a rim about the top that is larger in diameter then the opening in the toilet seat mounting bracket. There are four vertical slots around the top of the pin. The pin is dropped into the opening in the mounting bracket and a screw having a slightly larger diameter then the hollow of the pin is threaded into the pin so that the upper area is expanded to permanently secure the pin into the opening in the mounting bracket. To place the seat assembly onto the toilet bowl flange the pins are slipped into the smooth hollows of the bolts. To remove the seat assembly it is gripped in two hands and lifted vertically. Repeated removal and replacement can cause damage to the pin or cause wear within the hollow so that over time, the fit will not remain tight.
UK Patent application No. 2167096 to Boorman also discloses a hollow threaded bolt with a rim about the top that is secured to the toilet bowl flange from below with a nut. There is a central area within the hollow of the bolt that is of larger diameter. A spigot having a bulge that cooperates with the larger diameter area of the hollow can be placed within the hollow. The spigot also has a collar to prevent its being forced too far into the hollow and a threaded portion that extends above the collar. A specially shaped nut is threaded onto the top of each spigot. These nuts cooperate with and are attached to the mounting bracket sections of the toilet seat assembly. To attach the seat assembly to the flange the spigots are snap fitted into the hollow bolts and the seat is securely held in place. To remove the seat assembly the bracket must be grasped and pulled upward to release the snap fit. This bolt assembly is designed to be used with a complementing seat assembly and cannot be used with other existing systems. The parts are made of a plastic material and the snap fit can wear and become loose after repeated removals.
There is a need for a bolt assembly that can be used with toilet seat systems currently on the market so that the seats can be easily removed for cleaning without requiring any refitting or special apparatus. There is a need for a bolt assembly that does not rely on a snap fit or friction fit. There is a need for a bolt assembly that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use without the need for any tools. There is a need for such a bolt assembly that will not wear out after repeated use.

Bolt assembly for the attachment of toilet seats and other articles


The invention encompasses a method of forming an opening in a substrate. A first expanse of a first material is formed over the substrate, and such expanse comprises a sidewall edge. A second material is formed along the sidewall edge, and subsequently a second expanse of the first material is formed over the substrate and separated from the first expanse by the second material. The first and second expanses together define a mask. The second material is removed with an etch selective for the second material relative to the first material to form an opening extending through the mask. The substrate is etched through the opening in the mask to extend the opening into the substrate. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the opening is filled with insulative material to form a trenched isolation region. In another embodiment of the invention, the opening is filled with a conductive material to form a transistor gate.

The invention pertains to methods of forming openings in substrates. The invention also pertains to methods of forming trenched isolation regions. Additionally, the invention pertains to methods of forming transistor devices, and to methods of forming DRAM assemblies.
Numerous devices have been developed which can be formed within trenches in a semiconductive material wafer. Such devices include, for example, isolation regions and transistor gates. A difficulty in forming such devices is to minimize a width (or footprint) of a trench utilized for forming the devices.
Photolithographic processing is commonly utilized to define regions which are to be etched for formation of trenches, with the term xe2x80x9cphotolithographic processingxe2x80x9d understood to refer to processes wherein a photosensitive layer is patterned with a masked beam of light. Difficulties in utilizing photolithographic processing are becoming prevalent with continued efforts to reduce device sizes. Specifically, the minimum feature dimension which can be produced by photolithographic processing is limited. It is desirable, therefore, to develop new methods for forming devices which can reduce a feature size beyond that achievable by photolithographic processing.
In one aspect, the invention encompasses a method of forming an opening in a substrate. A first expanse of a first material is formed over the substrate, and such expanse comprises a sidewall edge. A second material is formed along the sidewall edge, and subsequently a second expanse of the first material is formed over the substrate and separated from the first expanse by the second material. The first and second expanses together define a mask. The second material is removed with an etch selective for the second material relative to the first material to form an opening extending through the mask. The substrate is etched through the opening in the mask to extend the opening into the substrate. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the opening is filled with insulative material to form a trenched isolation region. In another embodiment of the invention, the opening is filled with a conductive material to form a transistor gate.

Methods of forming DRAM assemblies, transistor devices, and openings in substrates


An arrangement for attaching a blade to a shaft for use in intake manifolds, uses fasteners that create a load on the blade. Fasteners are inserted through fastener holes in the blade and through shaft holes in the shaft. Once inserted outward pressure by the fastener on the shaft and the blade places the assembly under a constant load. The load prevents the shaft and the blade from vibrating against each other during engine operation. The same attachment method can also be used to retain and bias a shaft locater to the shaft.

This invention relates generally to an arrangement for attaching a blade to a shaft for use in intake manifold assembly, which reduces noise and vibrations between the shaft and blade.
Intake manifolds control the amount of air entering internal combustion engines. Air enters the intake manifold and flows through to the engine. Intake manifolds use shaft and blade assemblies to control the intake of air into the manifold assembly.
The shafts have commonly been manufactured from plastic and coated with rubber to lower vibration and noise. However, plastic shafts have low durability and strength. The blades are also manufactured from plastic. Prior art blades are molded from plastic and have circular portions designed so the blade can slide onto the shaft.
During manufacture imperfections occur in the shaft, other assembly components, and the manifold housing due to manufacturing tolerances. Manufacturing variations in the shaft and the blades create clearance problems when the blades and the shaft are assembled. The imperfections may be minimal while at rest. However, during operation an imperfect fit between the blades and shaft may cause the blades and shaft to vibrate, creating chatter noise.
An arrangement for attaching intake manifold shafts and blades to reduce vibration noise during engine operation is needed.

Intake manifold shaft and blade attachment


A reactor for efficient control of endothermic and exothermic catalytic reactions, including, for example, Fischer Tropsch reactions. Also disclosed are methods of delivering coolant materials and gasification source materials to the reactor.

Among the various chemical reactions occurring in industrial reactors, the use of catalytic gas-solid reactions is widespread. A packed bed reactor is commonly used for these types of reactions. Conventional packed bed reactors are associated with various difficulties and disadvantages, including pressure drop, intra particle diffusion limitations, flow channeling, and heat transfer limitations.
Structured catalyst reactors are frequently used to address these challenges. These structured catalyst reactors are commonly utilized when there is a need for controlled endothermic or exothermic reactions. However, existing structured catalyst reactors, while demonstrating higher performance in comparison to the packed bed reactors, still have a number of drawbacks, including high cost, weight, thermal resistance, and heat management, among others.
Structured catalyst reactors are commonly used in the Fischer-Tropsch catalytic process. The Fisher-Tropsch process involves the conversion of carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas, known as syngas, to a mixture of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons (carrying a number of —CH2— moieties). The feed (syngas) for the Fisher-Tropsch process can originate from any gasification source, for example, a natural gas, biomass, or coal. Important products of the Fisher-Tropsch reaction include gaseous hydrocarbons, such as lower olefins, paraffins, or alcohols, and liquid hydrocarbons, such as higher olefins, paraffins and alcohols. The Fisher-Tropsch reaction is highly exothermic (releasing about 145 KJ per each "CH2" moiety formed) and therefore effective heat transfer and temperature controls are important prerequisites for the successful operation. Furthermore, the reaction operability range, with pressures between 1-30 bar and temperatures ranging from 200° C. to 350° C., requires an additional control to prevent formation of local hot spots responsible for the deterioration of the catalyst. Thus, there is a need for continuous heat removal during the reaction to prevent metallic catalyst deactivation and formation of undesirable products.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a reactor that provides an efficient control over endothermic and exothermic chemical reactions, such as those carried out in the presence of a catalyst. For example, there is a need for a reactor for the Fischer-Tropsch catalytic processing of the syngas that ensures continuous heat removal during the catalytic reaction. Still further, there is a need for a method of efficiently performing the Fischer-Tropsch catalytic process, by continuous removal of the resultant heat.
Accordingly, a reactor and method useful for the efficient catalytic processing and control over endothermic and exothermic chemical reactions are described herein.

Structural catalyst with internal heat transfer system for exothermic and endothermic reactions


A transport apparatus for a harvester header includes a pair of separate front and rear dollies. Each dolly includes an elongated transverse frame member having opposite lateral ends and extending in transverse relation to the direction of towing of the header, a pair of support members mounted on the transverse frame member between the opposite lateral ends thereof for underlying and supporting a lower portion of the header in a craddled relation extending across the transverse frame member, and wheels connected to the transverse frame member for movably supporting the transverse frame member to undergo movement over the ground in towing the header. Each dolly also includes an attachment member for mounting to an upper portion of the header spaced above the lower portion thereof being supported by the support members and a vertical column mounted upright on one of the lateral ends of the transverse frame member and coupled to the attachment member to undergo selective vertically slidable movement and horizontally rotatable movement relative thereto to convert the dolly between a lowered transport position in which the transverse frame member is disposed under the header and the wheels are engaged on the ground and a raised stored position in which the transverse frame member is disposed alongside the header and the wheels are spaced above and off the ground.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a crop harvesting headers and, more particularly, is concerned with a harvester header transport apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Crop harvesting headers used on combines to harvest grain crops, such as wheat, oats, barley, etc., generally include a reciprocating type cutterbar at its forwardmost location to sever standing crop material and initiate the crop harvesting process. Such grain headers typically include a reel to convey the severed crop material rearwardly from the cutterbar and a consolidating mechanism, such as an auger, to consolidate the severed crop material and discharge it rearwardly through an appropriate opening in the header to the threshing and separating components of the combine for further harvesting treatment.
With the advent of higher capacity combines, the size of crop harvesting headers, as measured by the length of the cutterbar extending between forwardly extending sidesheets at opposing ends of the cutterbar, has steadily increased. For example, it is not unheard of for the cutting width of current grain headers to approach thirty feet. Clearly, the trend is to increase the size of these headers as this practice decreases the amount of harvesting time necessary to harvest a given crop and increases the harvesting efficiency of the larger capacity combines.
However, increasing the size of the header creates problems of transporting the header from field to field or from one location to another, particularly if the route along which the header is transported involves the crossing or utilization of public roads. The header must first be removed from the combine and then transported separately with its cutterbar extending parallel to the direction in which the header is being moved in the transport mode.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,245,695 to Bernard proposes one apparatus for facilitating header transport on public roads. The Bernard apparatus includes front and rear trucks interconnected by a longitudinal tubular frame member extending between and attached to transverse frame members of the trucks. Each truck has mounting brace elements located along the transverse frame members for supporting the header thereon and a pair of swivel wheels mounted to and supporting the transverse frame members at the opposite ends thereof. Also, a hitch member is attached to the front truck. However, a drawback of the Bernard transport apparatus is that it must be left at the location in the field where the harvesting operation begins. By the time the harvesting is finished for the day, the combine may be several miles from its place of beginning. Thus, it is inconvenience to have to return to the beginning location to retrieve the transport apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,445 to McIlwain proposes another apparatus for facilitating header transport on public roads which overcomes the above-described drawback of the Bernard transport apparatus. The McIlwain transport apparatus includes first and second wheel assemblies interconnected by an axle to provide a dolly for supporting the header in a road transport condition. The first wheel assembly can be pivoted between a retracted position in which it is stored on the header during field operation of the header and a ground engaging position in which it partly supports the header during road transport of the header. The second wheel assembly is positioned on the opposite side of the header from the first wheel assembly when supporting the header during road transport. The second wheel assembly is disassembled from the axle and first wheel assembly and the axle and second wheel assembly are stored in the header during field operation of the header. Thus, the McIlwain transport apparatus overcomes the drawback of the Bernard transport apparatus by providing a self-contained apparatus which is carried with the header from location to location. However, the McIlwain transport apparatus introduces a new drawback. The conversion of the first and second wheel assemblies and the axle of the McIlwain transport apparatus between road transport and field operation modes requires assembling and disassembling of these components to and from one another. Carrying out these steps requires the expenditure of a considerable amount of time and effort.
Consequently, a need still exists for a harvesting header transport apparatus which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art without introducing new ones in their place.


A sealing member 40 to seal an opening of a battery can, the sealing member being used to configure a tube-shaped battery provided with a bottomed tube-shaped battery can and a power generating element that has been arranged inside the battery can, the sealing member 40 includes an electrode terminal that is to be electrically connected to the power generating element, a sealing plate 41, insulating gaskets 42a, 42b, and a washer 44. An inserting part 43b extending from the electrode terminal 43 is inserted through these elements so that the elements are integrally tightened. The insulating gasket 42a is provided with a protruding part 42a1 having an appropriate horizontal section shape, and the sealing plate 41 adjacent to the insulating gasket is provided with a recess part 41a that has been formed in a shape corresponding to the protruding part 42a1.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a sealing member of a tube-shaped battery and the tube-shaped battery with the sealing member.
Related Art
A tube-shaped battery has been widely used as a battery as a power supply of various electrical appliances. The tube-shaped battery has a basic configuration formed by sealing an opening of a bottomed tube-shaped battery can storing a power generating element with a metallic sealing plate to seal the battery can, and is attached with an electrode terminal. Such a tube-shaped battery is used for small-sized appliances, such as cellular phones, notebook computers, and digital cameras, and is also used as a power source of such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. In either of the uses, the tube-shaped battery is required to have a high degree of sealability to be able to certainly prevent leakage of the battery's contents.
From the viewpoint of ensuring the above sealability, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2008-251213, there is proposed a sealed battery including an electrode external terminal provided with a columnar inserting part, an insulating gasket, and a sealing plate, and these parts are tightened integrally with the columnar inserting part, and is configured provided with an annular protruding part that contacts the insulating gasket from the front and the back and does not easily leak liquid even when vibration or impact is applied. Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2008-270167, there is proposed a sealed battery having a similar configuration to that in the former patent reference, configured with a recess part that corresponds to a horizontal section shape of the columnar inserting part provided to the insulating gasket. Thus, it is asserted that sealability may be further increased.
In the above patent references, however, the insulating gasket is pressed with the annular protruding parts or the columnar inserting part in order to increase sealability. Thus, the insulating gasket is compressed and slightly expanded outwards when tightened and fixed with the columnar inserting part, and sufficient sealability with the force of repulsion of the insulating gasket could not be obtained.

Sealing member of tube-shaped battery and tube-shaped battery


The present invention relates to an improved preparation method of an organic-transition metal hydride as a hydrogen storage material, especially an improved preparation method of an organic-transition metal hydride containing aryl or alkyl group that facilitates safe and reversible storage of a massive amount of hydrogen. The present invention also relates to a preparation method of an organic-transition metal hydride comprising the steps of: preparing a complex reducing agent composition by reacting alkali metal, alkali earth metal or a mixture thereof and a C10 to C20 aromatic compound in aprotic polar solvent; and preparing the organic-transition metal hydride by reacting the prepared complex reducing agent composition with an organic-transition metal halide in the absence of a hydrogen source. The method has the advantages of minimizing the number and amount of byproducts by using a complex reducing agent and producing an organic-transition metal hydride safely without denaturation under more moderate reaction conditions.

Many research groups proposed different hydrogen storage materials such as metal hydrides, chemical hydrides (NaBH4, KBH4, LiBH4, etc), metal-organic framework (MOF), nano-structure materials (CNT, GNF, etc), polymer-metal complex compounds, etc. However, these proposed hydrogen storage materials have disadvantages for commercialization as storage materials, for example; 1) poor hydrogen storage capacity that cannot even reach the minimum hydrogen storage rate (6 wt. %) proposed by US DOE (department of energy) for practical use; 2) poor reproducibility of hydrogen storage capacity; 3) requiring tough conditions for hydrogen absorption and desorption; 4) structural disintegration during hydrogen absorption and desorption; and 5) requiring the development of reproduction process.
In the case of the organic-transition metal hydride recently developed and applied for patent by Hanwha Chemical Cooperation R&D Center, it seems to be adequate for commercialization owing to the advanced properties such as 1) improved hydrogen storage capacity with high efficiency, compared with the conventional hydrogen storage material because of Kubas binding between hydrogen and a specific transition metal (Ti, Sc, V, etc); 2) moderate conditions for hydrogen absorption and desorption (absorption: 25° C., 30 atmospheric pressure; desorption: 100° C., 2 atmospheric pressure); and 3) no-structural disintegration during hydrogen absorption and desorption (Korean Patent Application Numbers 10-2007-0090753, 10-2007-0090755, and 10-2008-0020467).
Korean Patent Application No 10-2007-0090753 and Korean Patent Application No 10-2007-0020467 describe methods for preparing organic-transition metal hydride based on hydrodehalogenation (-M-X bond→-M-H bond) using a hydrogen source and a catalyst. However, these methods cannot avoid the problem caused by catalytic poisoning and side-reaction by inorganic hydroxide used as a neutralizing agent. Besides, separation and purification of a produce is not easy and various byproducts are produced by solvent.
To overcome the said problems, Korean Patent Application No 10-2008-0020467 provides a method to produce organic-transition metal aluminum hydride complex by reacting organic transition metal halide and aluminum hydride compound and then to produce organic-transition metal hydride by reacting the produced organic-transition metal-aluminum hydride complex with Lewis base.
However, the Korean Patent Application No 10-2008-0020467 has the following problems.
First, in relation to the reaction step, a target product is produced by 2-step reaction. Thus, this reaction exhibits lower efficiency and takes longer time, compared with 1-step reaction.
Second, in relation to the process of separation and purification of the intermediate (organic-transition metal-aluminum hydride complex) produced from the first reaction step, alcohols used for separation and purification of the intermediate are reacted with the intermediate to produce diverse byproducts.
Third, in relation to the separation and purification of the final product produced from the second reaction step, triethyl amine and butyl lithium used as Lewis base are very well dissolved in a polar or non-polar solvent, so that it is very difficult to separate these compounds from the product completely when they are present as non-reactants.
Therefore, the Korean Patent Application No 10-2008-0020467 is limited in production of organic-transition metal hydride with high yield because of the said problems.

Preparation method of organic-transition metal hydride complexes containing aryl group or alkyl group as hydrogen storage materials


The present invention provides a synergistic composition of a nematicide comprising of a nematicidal peptides derived from CED-4 protein sequence comprising of at least two peptides. The nematicidal peptides individually show 100% nematicidal activity at a concentration of 1 mg/ml, whereas, the combination of at least two peptides in a ratio of 1:1 shows 100% nematicidal activity at concentration as low as 0.8 mg/ml bringing a synergistic effect. This synergistic nematicidal composition is highly economical as it requires 20% less peptide concentration for 100% activity, moreover the composition is environmentally safe and non-toxic to humans and animals.

Nematodes are a major threat to the agricultural industry as they cause heavy losses to the yield, thereby, affecting the economy in a significant way. Nematodes are second to insects which are known to cause serious damage to crops such as tomatoes and other vegetables, citrus fruits, potatoes, rice, coconuts, wheat and other cereals, ornamental plants and others. Nematodes alone or in combination with other soil microorganisms have been found to attack almost every part of the plant including roots, stems, leaves, fruits and seeds. They cause a projected yield loss of 12.3% ($157 billion dollars) worldwide. Out of which $40.3 million is reported from India (Singh et al., 2015).
Root-knot nematodes which belong to the Meloidogyne genus are one of the three most economically damaging genera of plant-parasitic nematodes on horticultural and field crops. They are obligate parasites of the roots of several plants; and Meloidogyne incognita is amongst the major pest worldwide.
Nematicides are compositions which are used to kill these plant parasites, the nematodes. Most of the nematicides used are chemical compositions which are highly toxic to humans and are also detrimental to useful soil bacteria. Several nematicides have also shown to contaminate groundwater, and cause depletion of the ozone layer. One of the well-known nematicide, methyl-bromide, has been banned in several countries including USA and India. Another highly toxic nematicide which is widely used in field crops is carbofuran; a single grain of carbofuran can kill birds within few minutes. Nematicides such as phorate can easily go through the soil into the groundwater and contaminate it.
The severe drawbacks associated with chemical nematicides necessitate the development of novel technologies for controlling nematodes. One such method is generating transgenic plant lines which express the transgenic genes for resistance against nematodes. However, this is time consuming and expensive method which requires extensive prior research activities. In many countries including India, there is fierce objection to introduction of transgenic lines based on several moral, ethical and unseen environmental issues.
One effective method involves generation of compositions of nematicides which are environmentally safe, non-toxic, and easy to generate and use.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,125,413B1 describes peptides derived from Caenorhabditis elegance CED-4 protein which show potent nematicidal activity. CED-4 protein consisting of amino acids of SEQ ID NO. 1, belongs to the family of apoptosis proteins. The SEQ ID NO. 1 comprises:
MLCEIECRALSTAHTRLIHDFEPRDALTYLEGKNIFTEDHSELISKMSTR LERIANFLRIYRRQASELGPLIDFFNYNNQSHLADFLEDYIDFAINEPDL LRPVVIAPQFSRQMLDRKLLLGNVPKQMTCYIREYHVDRVIKKLDEMCDL DSFFLFLHGRAGSGKSVIASQALSKSDQLIGINYDSIVWLKDSGTAPKST FDLFTDILLMLKSEDDLLNFPSVEHVTSVVLKRMICNALIDRPNTLFVFD DVVQEETIRWAQELRLRCLVTTRDVEISNAASQTCEFIEVTSLEIDECYD FLEAYGMPMPVGEKEEDVLNKTIELSSGNPATLMMFFKSCEPKTFEKMAQ LNNKLESRGLVGVECITPYSYKSLAMALQRCVEVLSDEDRSALAFAVVMP PGVDIPVKLWSCVIPVDICSNEEEQLDDEVADRLKRLSKRGALLSGKRMP VLTFKIDHIIHMFLKHVVDAQTIANGISILEQRLLEIGNNNVSVPERHIP SHFQKFRRSSASEMYPKTTEETVIRPEDFPKFMQLHQKFYDSLKNFACC.
Three peptides derived from SEQ ID NO. 1 were shown to have nematicidal activity at effective concentrations of about 1 mg/ml, the peptides comprising of the following sequences:                1) Peptide 2 consisting of 15 amino acids DLLRPVVIAPQFSRQ (99-113 amino acid stretch, SEQ ID NO. 2),        2) Peptide 3 consisting of 19 amino acids RQMLDRKLLLGNVPKQMTC (112-130 amino acid stretch, SEQ ID NO. 3), and        3) Peptide 12 consisting of 12 amino acids FPKFMQLHQKFY (529-540 amino acid stretch, SEQ ID NO. 4).
However, synthesis of peptides is an expensive technique; and to make a composition cost-effective one needs reduce the cost of production. Generally, the cost of synthesis of 50 mg of peptides in the range of 10-20 amino acids lies in the range of INR 25,000-30,000 and US $240-250. It is, therefore, important to make compositions with reduced cost of production.
The present invention takes into account the drawbacks of prior art and provides a method for controlling nematodes using anti-parasitic peptides, which are non-toxic and environmentally safe.


An EMP-protective composite structure may include at least one enclosure having walls, a ceiling, at least one ingress/egress portal and a base, each including at least one blast-resistant structural panel and at least one layer of an EMP barrier having CCR that provides magnetic conduction, field absorption, and field reflection fully-enclosing the structural panel. A blast- resistant structural panel may include a frame constructed of a spaced-apart frame members of a ferrous material, frame reinforcing members extending between the frame members, a cementitious layer in which the frame is embedded, and an EMP absorbing mesh embedded in the cementitious layer. The composite structure may further include an encapsulation barrier and a HEMP protective door formed in the enclosure to absorb and deflect HEMP.

This invention relates to shielding structures against radiation by the use of radiation absorbing coal combustion residual components ("CCR") and other carbon containing materials. More specifically, this invention relates to shielding against electromagnetic pulses (EMP), high-altitude electromagnetic pulses (HEMP), geomagnetic disturbances (GMD), and intentional electromagnetic interferences (IEMI). The application discloses structures utilizing CCR and other carbon containing materials as a radiation-absorbing material per se, and also techniques for enhancing the IEMI and EMP protection afforded such structures. Examples of structures utilizing CCR are disclosed in applicant's U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,790,703 and 9,988,317.
The world has grown dependent upon the use of electronics in nearly every facet of life. Safety, security, and normal day-to-day life heavily involve the use of electronics. Accidental and intentional conducted and radiated electromagnetic or geomagnetic emissions are capable of introducing damaging high electrical currents and voltages. These high currents and voltages are capable of causing disruption, data loss, and even permanent damage to the targeted electronics. An increased level of research and development is being carried out to protect critical structures, facilities, and components against these harmful emissions.
Prior art protection against radiation-induced damage has included geographic separation, redundancy, technical workarounds, or repair procedures as long as parts are available. This application discloses constructing an Intentional Electro-Magnetic Interference (IEMI) protective barrier using Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) as a major component. These barriers can be constructed around EMP protective, or non-protected EMP structure(s) to provide the additional IEMI protection. IEMI protective walls can be used to protect many types of critical infrastructure systems as outlined by CISA but specifically control centers and electrical substations for utilities will be a sector that IEMI protective structures will provide much needed protection.
It has been verified by testing that CCR absorbs IEMI electromagnetic energy at a greater effective rate than common soils. This greater absorption characteristic of CCR allows for a superior IEMI protective barrier and at the same time allows for the beneficial use of CCR. The IEMI barriers can be built with spaced, framed panels, but the preferred embodiment is to construct an IEMI protective barrier berm using CCR. Using CCR in this beneficial use will allow not only for IEMI protection but also protection from other destructive forces that an adversary may use to damage critical infrastructure, as was perpetrated on Apr. 16, 2013 by the Metcalf sniper attack on Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Metcalf Transmission substation in Coyote, Calif.
The variables for IEMI protective construction apply regarding liners, liner placement, encapsulation, low leaching/low permeability, slope stability, mesh, and mesh placement.
Protection against radiated and conducted electromagnetic emissions such as HEMP/EMP, GMD, and/or IEMI can be accomplished by the electromagnetic shielding methods and devices described in this application. Shielding can be applied to CCR facilities and the components, systems, and subsystems which make up the facility and/or the CCR material itself. Shielding against radiated emissions is accomplished through creating a highly conductive surface around a protected area to reflect and/or absorb radiated energy so it does not cause damage. The highly conductive surface is able to redirect and/or absorb the radiated energy to prevent or minimize exposure to damaging electromagnetic energy. Conducted emissions are generally diverted or blocked through the use of filters with discrete components that pass desired energy and block undesirable or damaging energy before it enters a protected area. Shielding of radiated and conducted emissions can be accomplished through one or a combination of methods and devices described in this invention.
Additionally, EMP has three components which are commonly referred to as E1, E2, and E3. These components vary by frequency, intensity, and longevity. Shielding against each of these components may be accomplished by different methods and techniques. One or multiple layers of conductive mesh may be positioned around the entire CCR structure, within the CCR material itself, around specific components or subsystems, or in natural earth geotechnical formations below or otherwise proximate to the CCR structure. Generally, conductive mesh will provide shielding from EMP events in a lower frequency range; however the size of the free air space within the mesh, commonly known as the mesh size, will be selected based on the desired frequency ranges that are required to be protected against.

EMP protection for structures having coal combustion residual components


A display device in an embodiment according to the present invention includes a substrate, a plurality of wirings above the insulation surface, an interlayer insulation layer covering the plurality of wirings, a light emitting element above the interlayer insulation layer, a first inorganic insulation layer covering the light emitting element, a first detection electrode extending in a first direction above the first inorganic insulation layer, an organic insulation layer above the first inorganic insulation layer covering the first detection electrode, a second detection electrode extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction above the organic insulation layer, a second inorganic insulation layer above the organic insulation layer covering the second detection electrode, a first connection wiring electrically connecting the first detection electrode and one of the plurality of wirings, and a second connection wiring electrically connecting the second detection electrode and another one of the plurality of wirings.

Electronic devices which are operated by touching an image such as an icon displayed on a screen are becoming widespread. Display devices which are used in such electronic devices are also called touch panels (or touch screens). An electrostatic capacitance type touch sensor is employed in a touch panel. An element which detects a change in electrostatic capacitance between a pair of sensor electrodes called a Tx electrode and Rx electrode as an input signal is included in an electrostatic capacitance type touch sensor.
A conventional touch panel includes a structure in which a touch sensor panel and display panel overlap each other. However, a structure in which two panels overlap each other increases the thickness of a display device which is a problem. For example, in a display device which curves or bends known as a flexible display, a structure in which a touch sensor panel and display panel overlap each other is the cause of obstruction to flexibility.
Therefore, a structure in which the function of a touch sensor is incorporated within a display panel is disclosed. For example, an in-cell type display device is disclosed in which a first detection electrode and a second detection electrode are arranged sandwiching an inorganic insulation film arranged as a sealing film in a display panel which uses an organic electroluminescence element (called an "organic EL element" herein), and a touch sensor is arranged within the panel (for example, refer to Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No: 2015-050245).
When attempting to install a touch sensor in a display panel, wiring for a connection with detection electrodes is required which increases the number of wiring layers. Since it is necessary to protect a display element using a sealing layer in a display panel, it is necessary to arrange a connection structure without degrading the sealing capability of a sealing layer when connecting wiring with a detection electrode or when connecting wiring connected to a detection electrode with a terminal electrode.


A bicycle pedal assembly includes a pair of pedals and a pair of cleats. The cleats are configured and arranged to selectively cooperate with the right and left bicycle pedals such that two different release forces can be attained using a single pair of cleats. The pedal includes a body that rotates about a shaft and a front and rear clamping members are coupled to opposite ends of the pedal body. Also, the front and rear clamping members are preferably pivotally coupled to the pedal body.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a bicycle pedal assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates clipless or step-in bicycle pedal assembly, which has cleats that are releasably coupled to a pair of bicycle pedals.
2. Background Information
Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the various components of the bicycle as well as the frame of the bicycle. One component that has been extensively redesigned is the bicycle pedal.
In recent years, bicycle pedals have been designed for specific purposes such as for pleasure, off road biking, road racing, etc. One particular type of bicycle pedal, which is gaining more popularity, is the step-in or clipless pedal, which releasably engages a cleat secured to the sole of a cyclist's shoe. The clipless pedal has a pedal spindle that can be mounted on the crank of a bicycle, a pedal body that is rotatably supported on this pedal spindle, and a cleat engagement mechanism. In an off road bicycle pedal a cleat engagement mechanism is formed on both sides of the pedal body for engaging a cleat. A road-racing pedal, on the other hand, typically only has a cleat engagement mechanism on one side of the pedal body. In either case, in these types of bicycle pedals, the rider steps onto the pedal and the cleat engagement mechanism automatically grips on to the cleat secured to the bottom of the cyclist's shoe.
With this type of step-in or clipless pedal, the shoe and the pedal are in a state of constant engagement when the cleat is engaged in the cleat clamping members, so the pedaling force can be transmitted efficiently to the pedals. As a result, step-in or clipless pedals are widely employed on racing bicycles used in road racing and mountain bike racing.
When attaching the cyclist's shoe to the step-in or clipless pedal via the cleat, the cyclist moves the shoe obliquely downwardly and forwardly relative to the pedal body such that the front end of the cleat engages a front hook or clamping member of the pedal body. Once the front end of the cleat is engaged with the front hook of the pedal body, the cyclist places the rear end of the cleat in contact with a guide portion of the rear hook or clamping member of the pedal body. In this position, the cyclist presses the shoe downwardly against the pedal to cause the rear hook or clamping member to initially pivot rearwardly against the force of a spring to move the rear hook or clamping member to a cleat releasing position. The rear end of the cleat then enters a position opposite a back face of the rear hook or clamping member. Then, the rear hook or clamping member returns under the force of a biasing member or spring so that the rear hook or clamping member engages the rear end of the cleat. This engagement fixes the cyclist's shoe to the pedal via the cleat.
When releasing the shoe from the pedal, the cyclist will typically turn the shoe about an axis perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the tread of the pedal, using the front end of the cleat as a pivoting point. As a result of this pivoting action, the rear hook or clamping member is pivoted rearwardly against the force of the spring to a cleat releasing position to release the shoe. It is important that the cleat does not inadvertently release the pedal during normal pedaling. Some of these prior step-in or clipless pedals can inadvertently release the cleat during normal pedaling if the spring force on the rear clamping member is set too low. However, if the spring force on the rear clamping member is set too high, the cleat may not release from the pedal properly. This could result in the rider's shoe not properly releasing from the pedal at the desired application of force because the rider's shoe either releases too easily from the pedal or does not release at the proper time. Thus, some of these step-in or clipless pedals and the cleats for these pedals are designed with adjustment mechanisms to change the release force required for the rider to disengage the cleat from the pedal. However, these adjustment mechanisms increase the overall cost of the pedals. In particular, these adjustment mechanisms can be complicated and expensive to manufacture and assemble.
In view of the above, there exists a need for an improved bicycle pedal assembly that takes into account at least some of the above mentioned problems in the prior art. This invention addresses this need in the prior art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


A method for providing a kickstart pulse to a dimmer circuit for a light source that is slow starting. The method includes receiving an initial power signal for a light source electrically coupled to a dimmer circuit, and generating, using the initial power signal, a pulse signal. The method also includes sending, for a period of time, the pulse signal to a load control circuit for the light source. In such a case, the light source is illuminated by the pulse signal for the period of time, and the magnitude of the pulse signal is greater than the magnitude of a steady-state signal generated by the dimmer circuit for the light source. The method can be performed using discrete components, integrated circuits, software, some other electrical device, or any combination thereof. A kickstart circuit and a dimmer circuit, using substantially the method described above, is also disclosed herein.

Dimming circuits are used to control the amount of current and/or voltage supplied to a light source. At times, when the setting of a dimmer switch is low and initial power is being fed to the light source to turn on the light source, the light source will not light until a significant time delay (from a number of seconds to minutes) has passed. In some cases, the light source will not illuminate at all in such a case. As dimmer levels are increased when the initial power is fed to the light source, the issue associated with time delays or the inability for the light source to illuminate are less problematic.

Kickstart for dimmers driving slow starting or no starting lamps


A powered adjustable seat assembly for a motor vehicle includes a seat, an adjuster mechanism operatively connected to the seat to adjust the seat, a controller operatively connected to the drive motor of the adjuster mechanism to selectively adjust the seat, and a plurality of lights located below the seat and operatively connected to the controller to selectively illuminate the lights upon predetermined conditions. The lights are secured to a moving portion of the adjuster mechanism so that the lights move with the seat. Preferably, one of the lights is positioned to direct illumination in a forward direction toward operator pedals, one of the lights is positioned to direct illumination in a rearward direction toward a rear seat, and one of the lights is positioned to direct light in a lateral direction toward a vehicle door.

Motor vehicles typically have adjustable seat assemblies that provide for a seat to be moved or adjusted in a forward/rearward direction by an adjuster mechanism. Adjuster mechanisms typically have a pair of spaced apart track assemblies. Each track assembly typically includes a first track member that is mounted to the vehicle and a second track member that is supported for movement relative to the first track member and has the seat secured thereto. The first and second track members are usually mounted in a horizontal configuration. The seat is horizontally adjusted in the forward/rearward direction by sliding the second track members relative to the first track members. This is often referred to as a "two-way" adjustable seat. The adjustable seat assembly can also provide for the seat to be moved or adjusted in a upward/downward direction. The seat is usually adjusted in an upward/downward direction by raising/lowering the seat relative to the track assemblies. This is often referred to as a "four-way" adjustable seat. The adjustable seat assembly can additionally provide for the forward and rearward edges of the seat bottom to be moved or adjusted in an upward/downward direction independently of each other and/or provide for a seat back to be pivoted or adjusted in a forward/rearward direction relative to a seat bottom. These are often referred to as a "six-way" adjustable seat or an "eight-way" adjustable seat. Of course, any combination of the above-described seat adjustments can be utilized in particular adjustable motor vehicle seat.
Motor vehicles also typically have a number of interior lamps or lights so that portions of the vehicle interior can be illuminated under certain conditions. For example, motor vehicles typically have an overhead lamp that is automatically illuminated when a vehicle door is open so that a passenger can more easily enter or egress the motor vehicle.
While prior seat assemblies may adequately adjust the horizontal position of the seats and illuminate the interior respectively under some conditions, there are other conditions in which operation is less than desirable. For example, if a passenger desires to safely adjust their seat at night, they must either open the door to activate the overhead lamp or manually activate the overhead lamp. Additionally, there is a never ending desire in the motor vehicle industry to reduce cost and weight of vehicle systems. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved powered adjustable seat assembly for a motor vehicle.

Integrated under-seat interior lighting for a motor vehicle seat


According to one embodiment, a resistance change memory includes a first interconnect extending in a first direction, a second interconnect extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and a cell unit which is provided between the first interconnect and the second interconnect. The cell unit includes a non-ohmic element and a memory element. The non-ohmic element includes a first silicon layer of an n-conductivity type and a conducting layer in contact with a first face of the first silicon layer. The memory element stores data according to a reversible change of a resistance state. The first silicon layer includes a first element and a second element as donor.

In recent years, resistance change memories, including a resistive RAM (ReRAM) which uses variable resistive elements as memory elements and a phase-change RAM (PCRAM) which uses phase-change elements as memory elements, have been attracting attention as next-generation nonvolatile semiconductor memories.
The resistance change memories are characterized in that their memory cell arrays are of the cross point type, that they can achieve a very large memory capacity by three-dimensional integration, and that they can operate at as high a speed as a DRAM.
In a resistance change memory, a cross-point memory cell array is included a plurality of cell units. A cell unit is composed of a memory element and a non-ohmic element.
To improve the operating characteristic of a resistance change memory, an improvement in the characteristic of a non-ohmic element and the suppression of the deterioration of the characteristic of the element are required.
One factor that degrades the characteristic of a non-ohmic element is regarded to be the effect of electric resistance (interface resistance) developed at the interface between a semiconductor layer and a conducting layer which constitute the non-ohmic element.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2008-182121 has disclosed a configuration where a high-impurity-concentration n-type diffusion layer is stacked on an n-type diffusion layer in the cathode region of a bidirectional diode to decrease the contact resistance.

Resistance change memory and manufacturing method thereof


A washing machine having a cabinet, a pressure sensor located in the cabinet, and an air trap having at least one baffle to substantially block water at the air trap. The air trap may have an inlet in communication with a sump of the washing machine and an outlet in communication with a hose coupled to the pressure sensor. The at least one baffle may be partially traversing the air trap to substantially block water from entering the outlet when the cabinet is in a horizontal orientation.

Washing machines, such as clothes washers, refreshers, and non-aqueous systems, have a treating chamber, which may have a configuration of a rotating wash basket, in which laundry items are placed for treating according to a cycle of operation. The wash basket may be perforated, and may be surrounded by an imperforate tub having a sump. A liquid supply and/or recirculation system supplies liquid to the washing machine to a desired fill level in the tub. The laundry treating appliance may further have a controller communicably and operably connected with the various components of the appliance for controlling the appliance to execute the cycle of operation.
The liquid supply and recirculation system may include an air trap and a pressure sensor used to control the fill level in the tub. A typical air trap includes the pressure sensor fluidly coupled to one end of a conduit, which can include a tube or hose, the opposite end of which is open and in communication with the sump. The pressure sensor may be coupled to the controller. As liquid enters the tub, water will enter the open end of the conduit, and, as the liquid level rises, increase the air pressure in the conduit. When the air pressure reaches a predetermined value which correlates to a certain fill level, as determined by the pressure sensor, filling is ceased.
After the completion of a cycle of operation, there may still be moisture within the washing machine, such as wash basket or tub, including the sump. If the washing machine is moved from its normal operating orientation, e.g. if the washing machine is tilted from vertical, residual moisture can enter the air trap. The residual moisture can become trapped, such as by capillary action, in the conduit leading to the pressure sensor, causing negative pressure at the pressure sensor, resulting in erroneous readings from the pressure sensor, which results in improper water levels.
Air trap failure due to residual moisture can even be a problem for new washing machines. Washing machines are often tested prior to shipment by conducting a cycle of operation, which can leave residual moisture within the washing machine. If the washing machine is shipped in a horizontal position, the residual moisture may enter the air trap, leading to failure. During shipping, a washing machine may experience extreme temperature variation. The volume of air within the air trap may expand and/or contract as the temperature increases or decreases during shipping. This expansion/contraction may produce a pumping effect of the residual moisture within the washing machine left over from testing done prior to shipping. This pumping effect may be enough for the water to reach the hose, and water may become trapped in the hose by capillary effect, resulting in erroneous readings from the pressure sensor even after washing machine is places in its normal operation orientation. These problems prevent shipment of washing machines in a horizontal position. Even if washing machines are not shipped horizontally, some washing machines are assembled with a pedestal once they arrive in a household, which requires that the washing machines be tilted from vertical.


A device suitable to accurately determine water depth. The device comprises a rod having a weighted first end, a fixed float and a movable float.

The present invention is directed to a device which can accurately determine water depth to prevent boaters from running their boat aground. The device, described in detail herein below, provides an inexpensive, yet accurate means of determining water depths while boating in shallow water areas.
When directing a boat into coves, over shells or other shallow water areas, it is extremely important that the boater know the depth of the water to prevent the boat from running aground. A common device used by boaters to determine water depth consists of a weight and line having units of length designated by knots or other markers along the line's length. The boater, or an assistant, throws the weight overboard and determines the water depth by visual observation of the line's markings at the water surface. There are several disadvantages to this method. The user must accurately determine the weight's anchoring or placement on the sea bottom and then maneuver the line, without moving the weight, until it is perpendicular to the sea bottom to obtain an accurate reading. To obtain accurate depth readings requires the full attention of the user, taking away the attention he normally would devote to boat operation.
Recently, electronic devices have been developed to measure sea depth. They generally are mounted onto the boat's hull and function by emitting a signal down into the water. These devices measure the time interval between the emission and the reception of a signal after being reflected from the sea bottom. The major disadvantages of such electronic depth measurement devices are the expense of the device and its mounting, inaccuracy due to reflections from schools of fish, etc, and the fact that they generally measure only the depth of the water under the boat's hull and not that of the area forward of or around the boat, which is the information needed to be able to determine the safety of proceeding.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a device which can accurately measure water depths in an easily applied manner. The present device can be used to determine water depth forward of or at positions surrounding the boat to enable the boater to determine a safe route to proceed without running the boat aground.
In addition to the above objects, the subject device can also be used, as described herein below, as a mooring mast to aid a boater in safely snaring and attaching the boat to a mooring buoy. The subject device also can be used as a means to provide a highly visible location device with respect to a person or object who has accidentally fallen overboard. It can be thrown overboard close to the victim and will remain upright and extended above the water surface to allow the boat to be maneuvered back to the location of the overboard individual. The device can also be used to mark an object, such as an anchor, located on the sea floor.


Conventional techniques for logging and using a user's signature are insecure and inflexible. A system and method are provided which: i) translate a user's first signature, such as a user's voice signature, into a user's second signature, such as a radio frequency identifier signature; and ii) deploy the user's second signature. By translating the user's first signature into the user's second signature and deploying the user's second signature, the provided technique assures the authenticity of the user. Furthermore, the provided system and method enable additional authentication factors, such as a user's personal identification number, to be used with the user's first and second signatures in multiple combinations and sequences to assure the authenticity of the user. As such, the invention provides a security layer offering added security and added flexibility previously unavailable, and which may be applied in a variety of contexts, such as a user device or a retail transaction.

It is well known that passwords for secure accounts may be given either verbally or typed into a keypad and registered electronically to give users access, or to block unauthorized users from gaining access to accounts or other secure systems. These passwords include everything from a personal identification number (PIN) entered into a touchpad at an automatic teller machine (ATM), to a credit card number read when a credit card is swiped, to an account number and specific user data that is requested by a bank's customer service phone operator to validate a customer's identity in order to access the user's mortgage information over a telephone call.
Currently, physical signatures on paper or electronic keypads, entering of alphanumeric codes, fingerprint matching, retinal scanning or the answering of personal identification questions are the common methods that are used to validate the authenticity of an individual. The authenticity of an individual is validated to verify the identity of the individual, to conduct secure transactions, or to grant secure access to an area, venue, ticketed event, information or account.

System and method for radio frequency identifier voice signature


The disclosure provides an outdoor device for simulating a pond ecosystem comprising a plurality of simulated ponds connected together by pipelines and including an adjusting pool, a plurality of control groups and a plurality of treatment groups with different concentrations; the plurality of control groups and the treatment groups are randomly distributed in the ponds according to a random draw method or a random allocation method, and the adjusting pool is a transfer station for water inlets and outlets of the ponds. According to the device, the plurality of control groups and treatment groups are arranged in a system, achieving a scale of a middle-scale pond ecological simulation system, which can stimulate an actual complex hydrostatic ecological system including a plurality of aquatic macrophytes, algae, zooplankton, benthos and microorganisms, and evaluate the effects of the complex ecological efficiency caused by chemical pollutants entering an actual water body.

An outdoor simulated pond ecosystem is a kind of aquatic mesocosm technology. When results from primary and advanced laboratory toxicological tests (for one or more species) indicate that a chemical substance has a potential risk to aquatic organisms, the outdoor simulated pond ecosystem can be used to evaluate real aquatic ecological risks of the chemical substance.
In the prior literature: Design and Application Research of Model Pond Ecosystem, Chinese Journal of Applied and Environmental Biology, 1995, 1(2), 103-113, Yuyao Huang, Yurong Gao, Shuzhi Ren, et al., the results of design, construction and application research of three models of pond ecosystem, namely, a pond microcosm, a pond mesocosm and a model water-land ecosystem, are briefly reported. The design of the pond mesocosm is exemplified as a general design, construction and application of a glass fiber reinforced water tank (3×1×1) m3, in which a certain amount of dry river mud with aquatic organism seeds, spores and ovums is bedded, and tap water is dumped. In a case that an initial concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus are formulated according to a medium-rich nutrition level, typical submerged plant communities can be obtained respectively after being cultivated for about one month, and can be maintained for several months. The water in the water tank is drained out in winter, water injection culture is carried out in a next year, the biological communities can be grown again, and the system can be continuously used for several years. Wherein, the author actually uses semiamitraz as a test pesticide, and the experimental result shows that such simulation system can be used as a good tool to evaluate and predict overall ecological efficiency caused by chemical pollutants entering water directly or via a surface runoff.
However, the above-mentioned simulated pond ecosystem still has the following defects: 1) the design of the system size does not achieve a scale of an actual middle-scale pond ecological simulation system, a direct influence of which lies in that an actual complex hydrostatic ecological system cannot be simulated with a plurality of aquatic macrophytes, algae, zooplankton, benthos and microorganisms. Although a small system has a small variation coefficient among different parallel processings to a certain extent, it has a limited effect on evaluating the complex ecological efficiency caused by chemical pollutants entering an actual water body; 2) due to the scale and structural characteristics of the system, it can only be placed in a room or a space with a high artificial interference, and cannot simulate the ecosystem under the actual field environment condition. Therefore, it has a limited effect on evaluating the complex ecological efficiency caused by the chemical pollutants entering the actual water body.

Outdoor device for simulating pond ecosystem

Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment


An array substrate and a method for fabricating the same and a display device are disclosed. The array substrate includes a protection layer, wherein the protection layer overlays a display region and a non-display region of the array substrate. The non-display region includes a cutting region, and a thickness of a part of the protection layer overlaying the cutting region is larger than that of a part of the protection layer overlaying the display region.

Liquid crystal displays (LCD) have been widely used in the technical area of display technologies. A LCD comprises an array substrate and a color filter substrate which are cell-assembled and liquid crystals disposed between the array substrate and color filter substrate.
For the convenience of fabrication, one of the substrates needs to be cut. During a conventional cutting process, normally a hard material such as a diamond is used to impact the substrate to cause a breakage of the surface of the substrate, thereby cutting the substrate at the breakage. However, the removed parts often drop on the opposed substrate, thereby reducing the performance of the product.

Opposed substrate, method for fabricating the same and display device

Hefei BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


An object of the present invention is to improve the accuracy in analysis repeatability of a liquid chromatography apparatus that feeds different eluent by use of a plurality of pumps and achieves the mixture of eluent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid chromatography apparatus and a liquid chromatography analysis method.
2. Description of the Related Art
When analysis is performed by use of a liquid chromatography apparatus, a plurality of constituents are accurately detected in a short period of time by mixing a plurality of eluents, and then by changing the concentration thereof during the analysis (gradient). This is a mainly used method. According to the method for mixing the eluents, a plurality of pumps, each of which differs in liquid feeding speed, are used to achieve the target mixture concentration on the basis of the difference in liquid feeding speed among the pumps. Such a method has come into widespread use because the mixture concentration can be quickly changed and the mixture concentration can be set with high accuracy.
JP-A-2006-17590, Japanese Patent Nos. 3491948 3709409 are disclosed as documents relating to the above.

Liquid chromatography apparatus and liquid chromatography analysis method

Abstract: Each of the pumps includes means for notifying an automatic sampler and a higher-level control unit that the specified timing of a liquid feeding cycle is reached. A pump whose liquid feeding cycle is the slowest transmits own information so that analysis is synchronized with a liquid feeding cycle. Moreover, a cycle position of a liquid feeding cycle at the end of analysis is expected, and the analysis time is automatically adjusted so that the wait time until the start of the next analysis becomes the shortest.


In an illuminating device, when exiting lights come out from a lens sheet, the optical paths of the exiting lights are deflected in a direction opposite to an optical axis of a light source by means of a plurality of prisms which are included in a first lens group arranged on an inward side of the lens sheet located adjacent to the optical axis of the light source and each of which has a inclined face facing toward the optical axis of the light source, wherein the exiting lights from the light source via the first lens group of the lens sheet are adapted to mix with exiting lights from the light source via a second lens group located outside the first lens group, whereby the degree of color unevenness is reduced, that appears inherently when a pseudo white LED is used as the light source of the illuminating device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an illuminating device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an incandescent lamp or a fluorescent lamp has been typically used as a light source for general illumination, such as indoor lighting. Recently, the performance of a blue LED (light emitting diode) has been enhanced and so an LED is increasingly used also as a light source for a ceiling light, a down light, or the like (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-220465).
FIG. 7 shows what is called a pseudo white LED 100 that can be used as a light source for a lighting device. The pseudo white LED 100 includes: a blue LED 102 as a light emitting element; a lamp house 104 at a bottom of which the blue LED is disposed; and transparent resin 104 which seals a recess portion of the lamp house 104 and in which a yellow color fluorescent material 108, such as garnet (YAG), is dispersed.
A blue light emitted from the blue LED 102, while traveling through the transparent resin 106 disposed in the lamp house 104, is diffused, also at the same time is subjected to wavelength conversion by the yellow color fluorescent material 108 into a yellow color fluorescence, and then is emitted out of the lamp house 104 as exiting lights L (L1 and L2: illustrated by dashed double-dotted lines for the sake of convenience). In FIG. 7, reference number 103 refers to electrode terminals.
Also, the exiting lights L emitted from the pseudo white LED 100, when going through a lens sheet 110 arranged in front of the pseudo white LED 100, are deflected in the intended direction as illustrated in FIG. 8, whereby the pseudo white LED 100 is adapted to function as a light source for an illumination device.
Referring to FIG. 8, the lens sheet 110 includes: a first lens group 112 which is composed of refracting prisms and which is arranged inwardly to be located adjacent to an optical axis C of the pseudo white LED 100; and a second lens group 114 which is composed of reflecting prisms (TIR: total internal reflection) and which is arranged outwardly to be located away from the optical axis C of the pseudo white LED 100 so as to surround the first lens group 112.
The exit angles of the exiting lights L emitted from the pseudo white LED 100 are deflected by both the first lens group 112 and the second lens group 114 so as to travel in the direction parallel to the optical axis C.
In the illuminating device using the pseudo white LED 100 described above, however, the exiting lights emitted from the pseudo white LED 100 and located inwardly close to the optical axis C of the pseudo white LED 100 tend to be slightly tinged with a blue hue, while the exiting lights located at the fringe region away from the optical axis C of the pseudo white LED 100 tend to be slightly tinged with a yellow hue.
The above phenomenon is caused due to the fact that the exiting lights L2 which are directed obliquely with respect to the optical axis C of the pseudo white LED 100 travel through a longer light path in the transparent resin 106 having the yellow color fluorescent material 108 dispersed therein, compared to the exiting lights L1 which are directed parallel to the optical axis C of the pseudo white LED 100, which results in that the exiting lights L2 are more subjected to wavelength conversion by the yellow color fluorescent material 108 into yellow light fluorescence than the exiting lights L1.
The conventional illumination device using an incandescent lamp or a fluorescent lamp does not suffer such a color unevenness problem of illuminating light, which is inherent in the illumination device using the above described pseudo white LED 100 as a light source.
The present invention has been made in light of the problem described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination device using a pseudo white LED in which a degree of color unevenness is reduced without impairing the brightness of illumination light.
The embodiment shown in the following description of the invention is presented to exemplify a configuration according to the present invention and provide an explanation on an aspect-by-aspect basis for the purpose of facilitating understanding of a diversity of the configuration of the present invention. Each aspect does not limit the technical scope of the present invention, and modifications developed by replacing, eliminating a part of the constituent elements of each aspect, or further by adding some other constituent elements thereto are included in the technical scope of the present invention.
In order to achieve the object described above, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an illuminating device including: a light source which includes a light emitting element and a fluorescent material; and a lens sheet which includes a plurality of prisms arranged symmetrically with respect to the optical axis of the light source, and which at least includes a first lens group located adjacent to the optical axis of the light source and a second lens group located outside the first lens group, wherein the first lens group includes a plurality of prisms each having an inclined face facing toward the optical axis of the light source.
In the illuminating device according to the first aspect, when exiting lights emitted from the light source come out from the lens sheet, the optical paths of the exiting lights are deflected in a direction opposite to the optical axis of the light source by means of the plurality of prisms which are included in the first lens group located at a portion of the lens sheet adjacent to the optical axis of the light source, which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the optical axis of the light source, and each of which has the inclined face facing toward the optical axis of the light source.
Here, if, when controlling the direction of the deflection, the heights of the prisms are increased so as to change the inclination angle of the inclined face in accordance with the distance from the optical axis of the light source, the area of a face (parallel face) of the prism oriented parallel to the optical axis of the light source is increased.
However, since the inclined faces of the prisms of the first lens group face toward the optical axis of the light source, the exiting lights emitted from the light source do not enter directly the parallel face of the prism, and thus the utilization efficiency of light is not lowered. And, the exiting lights emitted from the light source and coming out via the first lens group of the lens sheet are adapted to mix with the exiting lights emitted from the light source and coming out via the second lens group located outside the first lens group.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the illuminating device as described above in the first aspect, the plurality of prisms included in the first lens group may be configured such that respective inclination angles of the inclined faces decrease with an increase in distance from the optical axis of the light source.
In the illuminating device according to the second aspect, the plurality of prisms included in the first lens group are configured such that respective inclination angles of the inclined faces decrease with an increase in distance from the optical axis of the light source, whereby the direction of deflection can be controlled in accordance with the distance from the optical axis of the light source by means of the plurality of the prisms included in the first lens group.
Specifically, for example, the inclination angles of the inclined faces are configured to decrease with an increase in distance from the optical axis of the light source so that the exit angles of the exiting lights emitted from the light source and coming out via the first lens group of the lens sheet are uniform independent of the distance from the optical axis of the light source.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the illuminating device as described above in the first and second aspects, the second lens group may include a plurality of reflecting prisms.
In the illuminating device according to the third aspect, since the second lens group includes the plurality of reflecting prisms, the exiting lights which are emitted from the light source and come out via the second lens group are deflected, in a region of the lens sheet located outside the first lens group, so as to travel in the direction parallel to or approaching the optical axis of the light source.
Accordingly, the exiting lights emitted from the light source and coming out via the first lens group can be well mixed with the exiting lights emitted from the light source and coming out via the second lens group located outside the first lens group.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the illuminating device as described above in the third aspect, a third lens group, which includes a plurality of prisms each having an inclined face facing in the direction opposite to the optical axis of the light source, may be provided and located between the first lens group and the second lens group.
In the illuminating device according to the fourth aspect, the exiting lights emitted from the light source are deflected also by the third lens group. Since the inclined faces of the prisms included in the third lens group face in the direction opposite to the optical axis of the light source, the exiting lights emitted from the light source and entering the third lens group are refracted at the inclined faces of the prisms and thereby deflected so as to travel in the direction toward (which is the opposite direction compared to the deflection of the exiting lights coming out via the first lens group) or parallel to the optical axis of the light source.
And, the exiting lights emitted from the light source and coming out via the first lens group, the exiting lights emitted from the light source and coming out via the second lens group and the exiting lights emitted from the light source and coming out via the third lens group arranged between the first and second lens groups are adapted to mix with one another thereby achieving further color mix.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the illuminating device as described above in the first and second aspects, the second lens group may include a plurality of prisms each having an inclined face facing in the direction opposite to the optical axis of the light source.
In the illuminating device according to the fifth aspect, since the inclined faces of the plurality of prisms included in the second lens group are configured to face in the direction opposite to the optical axis of the light source, the exiting lights emitted from the light source and entering the second lens group are refracted at the inclined faces of the prisms in a region of the lens sheet located outside the first lens group, and are thereby deflected so as to travel in the direction toward (which is the opposite direction compared to the deflection of the exiting lights coming out via the first lens group) or parallel to the optical axis of the light source.
Accordingly, the exiting lights emitted from the light source and coming out via the first lens group can be well mixed with the exiting lights which are emitted from the light source and come out via the second lens group located outside the first lens group.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the illuminating device as described above in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the plurality of the prisms included in each of the first, second and third lens groups may be arranged rotationally symmetrically with respect to the optical axis of the light source.
In the illuminating device according to the sixth aspect, since the plurality of the prisms included in the respective lens groups are arranged rotationally symmetrically with respect to the optical axis of the light source, the exiting lights emitted from the light source and coming out via lens sheet can be well mixed with respect to all the radial directions around the optical axis of the light source 12.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the illuminating device as described above in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the light emitting element may be a blue light emitting diode (LED), wherein the fluorescent material causes a blue light emitted from the blue LED to be subjected to wavelength conversion into a yellow color fluorescence.
In the illuminating device according to the seven aspect, the blue light emitted from the blue LED is subjected to wavelength conversion by the fluorescent material into a yellow color fluorescence, thus a pseudo white LED.
And, the exiting lights emitted from the pseudo white LED are well mixed with one another by means of the prisms of the lens sheet as described above, and thereby the color unevenness inherent to the pseudo white 100 can be reduced or even overcome.


A foldable support mechanism attachable to a wall or other fixed support, comprising a platform member movable between a substantially horizontal, deployed position and a substantially vertical, stowed position in which the platform member is adjacent to and substantially parallel to the said wall or other fixed support and in which a support surface of the platform member faces away from the said wall or other fixed support, and a support structure comprising two links, each pivotally connected to the platform member and at least one of which is pivotally connectable directly or indirectly to the said wall or other fixed support, in which the links of the said support structure each include a respective limb, the two limbs being so formed or so positioned that, in the said stowed position, at least a portion of the said limbs lies in substantially the same plane as one another, parallel to the wall or other fixed support, in which the said limbs are shaped or profiled at the regions where they meet in the stowed position.

The present invention relates to a foldable support mechanism, and particularly (but not exclusively), to a mechanism suitable for use as a seat, a bench, a table or other load-bearing platform.
Foldable support mechanisms find utility in many situations, for example as seats in shower cubicles, or in theatres, cinemas, churches or sports stadia where space is at a premium. It is also known to make fold-away chairs and tables, for example the perching seats in London Taxi Cabs and on the Underground (and elsewhere). Usually such seats are pivoted at the rear edge and tip-up, either under a spring mechanism or a counter balanced linkage. Such seating is of particular value in cinemas and theatres and like venues where it is useful to be able to stand readily to allow others to pass along a row, and a folding seat creates space for this to happen.
Tip-up chairs and tables are also known in a domestic situation, although folding chairs are usually free standing. Desks and tables, pivoted to a wall and having fold-out support arms are also known.
Such constructions, however, are not always the most suitable in all situations, especially where it is necessary to ensure that there are no component parts to manipulate; this is especially the case in shower enclosures not least because the floor may be slippery from the presence of soap or detergent. Also, in common with other situations, it is convenient for the chair or table to fold away to increase the space available for the user, but in a shower environment, it is even more necessary for the folding action to be as complete as possible, that is to place the folded chair or table as closely against the wall with an absolute minimum projection away from the wall in view of the very limited space usually available in a shower enclosure.