Systems and methods for providing irrigation to plants are provided. The system generally includes a fluid distribution structure having a barrier layer and a hydrophilic layer. The fluid distribution structure can additionally include a plurality of channels. Each channel can be associated with a non-woven material or other volume providing element overlayed by a filter layer. A fluid supply tube may be provided at a first end of the fluid distribution structure, and a drainage tube may be disposed along a second end of the fluid distribution structure. Where the fluid distribution structure includes channels, a supply tube and a drainage tube, the channels generally extend between the supply tube and the drainage tube. Fluid collected by the drainage tube can be recirculated to the supply tube, or can be collected or disposed of.

Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants in a medium other than soil, using mixtures of essential plant nutrient elements dissolved in water. It is derived from two Greek words, "hydro" (water) and "ponos" (working), thus water-working. Hydroponics has been identified as the best technology for crop production, not only for urban and health-conscious societies, but also for land, labor and resource-scarce societies and remote communities around the world. Because of hydroponics, it is now technically feasible to obtain a fresh supply of vegetables, flowers, herbs, etc. on top of Mt. Everest, deep under the sea in submarines, in remote deserts, in drought prone areas and even in space stations.
Hydroponics was practiced in the BC in Egypt, China and India where ancient man used dissolved manure to grow cucumbers, watermelons and other vegetables in sandy river beds (aggregate hydroponics—sand culture). It was then referred to as Riverbed Cultivation. Later, when Plant Physiologists started to grow plants with specific nutrients for experimental purposes, they used the name nutri-culture. Then, terms like water culture, solution culture, and gravel bed culture etc. were mentioned. The chronology of events is given in Table 1. Though crop production has been practiced for centuries, serious work on the hydroponic methods of growing crops began only in the 1920s. The basics of commercial hydroponics were developed in the 1940s and marketed in the 1960s. Currently, there are numerous commercial hydroponic farms in many parts of the world. Apart from the government research institutions, many small and multinational companies in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Japan, Taiwan and the U.S. have invested a lot in commercializing this technology. Horticulture, Plant Physiology and Hydroponics Labs around the world are working hard on refining this futuristic green technology. Now, hydroponics is the standard name for all cultivation methods that use nutrient solutions.
TABLE 1History of HydroponicsYearDevelopmentBCCompost/manure solution used to grow melons and othervegetables in the riverbeds during summer in Arabia, Babylon,China, Egypt, India and Persia1492Plants need mineral elements (Leonardo de Vinci - France)1666Plants grown in water in glass vials (Robert Boyle - Ireland)1699Nutrients absorbed by ion exchange (Woodword - England)1804Studies on crop nutrition (Nicolas de Saussure - France)1850Sand/quartz/charcoal culture (Jean Baussingault - France)1860Water/solution culture (Sachs and Knop - Germany)1920Formulating nutrient solution (Hoagland - USA)1940Nutriculture studies (Withers and Withers - USA)1945Nutrient film technique (Alan Cooper - UK)1960Aeroponics (Massantini - Italy).1970Floating hydroponics (Farnworth - USA)1975Raceways hydroponics - deep flow technique1980Many automated and computerized hydroponics farms establishedaround the world1990Home hydroponics kits gained popularity in Australia, Japan,Singapore and Taiwan
There are seven modern hydroponic techniques. In the Ebb and Flow Technique (EFT), as illustrated in FIG. 1, the nutrient solution is drained off 3-4 times a day to permit the roots to breathe. It is also called the "Flood and Drain Technique", and is good for home gardens and nurseries. The second technique, illustrated in FIG. 2, is the "Deep Flow Technique" (DFT) where the depth of nutrient solution (several inches deep) is circulated around the roots by a pump and gravity drain. This method is also referred to as "Dynamic Root Floatation" or "Raceway Hydroponic" technique, and is ideal for leafy vegetables. FIG. 3 illustrates the technique known as the "Aerated Flow Technique" (AFT), a modified version of DFT. Here, the nutrient solution is profusely aerated by special mechanisms. Another technique similar to AFT is the Japanese "Kyowa Technique." It is excellent for growing both leafy and fruit crops. The fourth technique, as illustrated in FIG. 4, is the "Nutrient Film Technique" (NFT), where a thin film of nutrient solution flows continuously down the sloped troughs to bathe the roots. FIG. 5 illustrates the "Drip Irrigation Technique" (DIT), where plants are grown in inert or organic substrates. The nutrient solution is fed closely around the roots 6-7 times a day in drops or trickles. Deserts in the Middle East are exporting crop production because of this technique. It is also suitable for plantation, orchard and landscaping industries. The sixth is the "Root Mist Technique" (RMT), illustrated in FIG. 6, where a mist of nutrient solution is sprayed constantly onto the roots of plants suspended from a frame in the top. This technique is known as "Aeroponics". It is good for initiating rooting of cuttings and for providing optimum oxygen levels to the root zone. FIG. 7 illustrates the seventh technique, the Fog Feed Technique (FFT). It is similar to RMT but the droplet size is so minute that nutrient solution can barely moisten your hand. This technique has yet to be perfected. It is good for plants with aerial roots (i.e. orchids, anthuriums, etc.).
The main advantages of hydroponics include: higher crop yields; smaller space requirements; freedom from diseases; less labor; no weeding; higher growth rate; tendency to uniform results; and better control of pH and nutrient application. The main disadvantages include: high initial capital costs due to the use of tanks, pumps, lights, pipes, etc.; and high requirements for operational and technical skills.
All plants need 16 elements to grow—C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, B, Mo and Cl. In nature, the plants derive these elements from the atmosphere or minerals in the soil. Most of the elements used in preparing nutrient solutions are derived from these naturally occurring minerals. Hydroponic aqueous solutions purity can be controlled unlike the soil culture that may contain impurities. There are numerous formulations of nutrient solutions available in the market. These formulations are based on the availability and price of the raw materials. Some are in solid form such as nutrient salts or fertilizers, some in liquid form and some in tablet form. Their composition depends on the raw materials and the intended purpose. Normally, nutrient solution for vegetative growth will have more nitrogen and less potassium and those for flowering and fruiting phase will have less nitrogen and more potassium.
Hydroponics is considered to be another technology to overcome food shortage in the future, especially in land, labor and resource scarce societies. It has the potential of being the best technology for certain photochemical from plant roots, especially by the pharmaceutical industries. When land, labor and natural resources become scarce and people look for healthy alternatives to farming and gardening, there is no choice but to turn to hydroponics.
Thus, there is a need for an irrigation system and method that provide an aqueous solution, which can include water and nutrients, to large and small fields alike.


An emitting device comprising a first light emitter adapted to emit a first radiation, and a second light emitter adapted to emit a second radiation different from the first radiation, the first light emitter comprising a first semiconducting structure and a first radiation converter, the second light emitter comprising a second semiconducting structure and a second radiation converter, each semiconducting structure comprising a semiconducting layer adapted to emit a third radiation, each radiation converter comprising a set of particles able to convert the third radiation into the first or second radiation, the particles of the first radiation converter being attached to a surface by a bulk of photosensitive resin and the particles of the second radiation converter being attached to a surface by grafting.

Display screens often comprise a set of "picture elements", also called "pixels", that are each able to emit light, so that the image on the screen may be controlled by turning on or off the individual pixels. In color screens, each pixel comprises several sub-pixels, each sub-pixel being configured to emit a specific color, so that the color emitted by the pixel may be tuned by controlling which sub-pixel(s) is or are turned on or by tuning the electrical current applied to each sub-pixel in order to change the relative emission intensity of each sub-pixel.
Semiconducting structures such as Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) are commonly used for varying purposes such as lighting due to their potential good light-emission efficiency. Because of this potential high efficiency, LEDs have been suggested for making high-efficiency display screens.
LED structures usually take the shape of a stack of planar semiconducting layers. Light is emitted when an electrical current flows through the stack. However, although some technologies and materials for making LED structures allow for a good emission efficiency over one part specific of the visible spectrum, for example in the blue range, the same technologies usually lead to much lower efficiencies when used for making an LED structure emitting over a different part of the spectrum. Fabricating pixels wherein each sub-pixel has a LED structure emitting in a different part of the visible spectrum than the other sub-pixels is thus difficult and may notably require using different types of materials for each sub-pixel.
According to one way of obtaining the sub-pixels, radiation converters are placed onto the surface of the LED structure in order to convert the light emitted by the portion of the structure underneath the converter into a light having a different wavelength from the light originally emitted by the layer. Thus, working sub-pixels may be obtained by placing over specific areas of the LED structure different radiation converters so that by selectively supplying the area underneath each different converter with electrical current, the light emitted by the semiconducting layer or layers is converted into a light having a specific color.
However, during the placement step, the position of the radiation converters is difficult to control. For example, if the radiation converters are particles contained in photosensitive resins and deposited using photolithography, part of the insolation light is scattered by the particles and may end up insolating some undesired part of the resin. Even using other techniques, when two radiation converters are to be placed next to each other, some intermixing may occur and result in the color of the sub-pixel being different from the expected color. Such effects are all the stronger as the spatial pitch between the pixels decreases.

Emitting devices, associated display screen and methods for fabricating an emitting device


A bootstrap circuit includes: a charging voltage source; a charging diode, having an anode coupled to the charging voltage source; a high-voltage transistor, having a control terminal defined as a first connecting node and a channel coupled between a cathode of the charging diode and a bootstrap capacitor; a logic control circuit, having a first and a second logic outputs, and a logic input for receiving a charging command; a high-voltage control transistor, having a control terminal defined as a second connecting node and a channel coupled between charging voltage source and the first connecting node; a cut-off resistor, coupled between the first and the second connecting nodes; a charging control transistor, having a channel coupled between the second connecting node and a ground terminal, and a control terminal coupled to the second logic output; a control capacitor, coupled between the first connecting node and the first logic output.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to a bootstrap circuit and a bootstrap method thereof, and more particularly to the bootstrap circuit and the bootstrap method thereof for charging a bootstrap capacitor quickly.
2. Related Art
Voltage converter application such as drive circuits of a motor, ballast, and a cold cathode fluorescent lamp uses an AC or DC voltage source to generate an AC or DC output with a high-voltage or high-current to drive the load. Mainstream conversion circuits use integrated circuit processed by the HV resistant process to achieve the drive stages of power components, so as to drive externally attached power components or ones on the same chip. In additional to power components in the integrated circuit, other associated control circuit will be integrated as well, so as to reduce the size of the application board and the number of external components and to save the cost. However, in order to correctly drive the power components, usually an external bootstrap capacitor will be attached to the application circuit corresponding to bootstrap circuit, so as to achieve high voltage required by the drive stage of the power component. Operationally, the bootstrap circuit has to charge the boot capacitor in a short time. The design uses an integrated high-voltage transistor or other high-voltage resistant component which can be switched to be on or off by the control terminal, such as a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor or a bipolar junction transistor, not limited as described herein, to provide a high-voltage and fast charging path, which at the same time is able to prevent abnormal current intrusion, which can be operationally equivalent to a high-voltage resistant diode.
The above power component can forms a half-bridge output stage circuit, which alternatively outputs high voltage and low voltage, so as to output the high-side driver, which includes the above bootstrap circuit, and to form a low impedance path by the bootstrap circuit combined with the high-voltage transistor to fast charge the bootstrap capacitor when the output stage outputs low voltage. When the output stage outputs high voltage, the high-voltage transistor forms a high impedance, so as to prevent bootstrap circuit from intrusion by electric charges in the bootstrap capacitor. In order to effectively achieve the above functions, the high-voltage transistor generally is an N-channel laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor or an NPN bipolar junction transistor transverse coupled between the bootstrap capacitor and the charging voltage source, and the control terminal (the gate) is coupled to a circuit with a booster function, so as to effectively turn the channel on.
Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,948; the drawings of the disclosure disclose a bootstrap capacitor C, a high-voltage transistor LD, a diode D1, and a charging voltage source Vs and so on. Assuming that the forward bias is Vd1 when the diode D1 is turned on, then when the high-voltage transistor LD is turned on, the voltage of the control terminal G is 2*Vs−Vd1, and the voltage of the channel is Vs. Therefore, the voltage difference of the control terminal G and the channel is Vs−Vd1. Assuming the threshold voltage of the high-voltage transistor LD is Vth, then the overdrive voltage is Vs−Vd1−Vth. The design should make the overdrive voltage as large as possible in the voltage allowable range, so as to lower the impedance of the high-voltage transistor LD when the channel is turned on and to fast charge the bootstrap capacitor.
Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,391, the drawings of the disclosure disclose a bootstrap capacitor C, a high-voltage transistor LD, a diode Z1, a diode Z2, and a charging voltage source Vs and so on. Assuming that the forward biases are respectively Vd1 and Vd2 when the diode Z1 and the diode Z2 is turned on, then when the high-voltage transistor LD is turned on, the voltage of the control terminal G is 2*Vs−Vd1, and the voltage of the channel is Vs−Vd2. Therefore the voltage difference of the control terminal G and the channel is Vs−Vd1+Vd2. Assuming the threshold voltage of the high-voltage transistor LD is Vth, then the overdrive voltage is Vs−Vd1+Vd2−Vth. If Vd1 approximately equals Vd2, the overdrive voltage is Vs−Vth. Compared with U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,948; U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,391 has a larger overdrive voltage, which enhances the charging efficiency of the high-voltage transistor LD. Or in the case of the same efficiency, the design of U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,391 will have a smaller chip area needed by integrated high-voltage transistor LD and thus a lower cost. Therefore, we can know from the comparison of these two patents that the efficiency of the high-voltage transistor could be enhanced if new better designs for further increasing the overdrive voltage of the high-voltage transistor are made.

Bootstrap circuit and method for controlling the same


One or more techniques and systems for starting an output driver and an associated start-up circuit are provided herein. In some embodiments, a voltage provider is configured to charge a charge store to a pre-turn-on voltage. In some embodiments, an output driver is configured to control a connection between the charge store and the output driver. For example, the connection enables the charge store to discharge a voltage to the output driver, thus starting the output driver. Accordingly, a response time associated with starting the output driver is mitigated at least because the charge store is charged to the pre-turn-on voltage and connected to the output driver such that a gate of the driver is biased in a sudden fashion. In this manner, the driver is turned on more quickly. Additionally, effects associated with process, voltage, and temperature variations are mitigated, for example.

Generally, an output driver comprises a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor and is associated with a delayed response time when the MOS transistor or MOS driver is turned on. For example, the MOS transistor is delayed at least due to a variation in at least one of process, voltage, or temperature (PVT) associated with the output driver. Additionally, the MOS transistor is delayed at least because a gate of the MOS transistor or MOS driver requires time to pull the gate of the MOS to a turn-on voltage. In some scenarios the delay results in a disproportionate rise fall ratio for the output driver. For example, if the delay is associated with a pull down transistor, such as the MOS transistor connected to a pad, a rising time is less than a falling time for the output driver, thus leading to the disproportionate rise fall ratio.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited


A color printer (10) for imaging onto a photosensitive medium (140) that contains four or more layers for providing images having an expanded color gamut. Color printer (10) directs polarized light from each of four or more light sources (12) to a spatial light modulator (20) for forming an image to be printed. Modulated light is conditioned as necessary, then focused through a print lens (110) onto photosensitive medium (140). Light sources 12 can be lasers, LEDs, or other suitable components. Embodiments may use a single spatial light modulator (20) shared with each color path or a spatial light modulator (20) in each of the four color paths.

This invention relates to the field of color printers or writers and is specifically concerned with writing digital color images onto motion picture film for theater projection.
For quite some time writers have existed that can take electronic/digital image data and use it to expose color motion picture film. The most mature of the technologies, still in use today, uses the color cathode ray tube (CRT). Celco is one of several manufacturers in this field. Another is Management Graphics which makes the Solitaire CRT film writer. The electron beam generated by the CRT strikes the red, green, and blue (RGB) phosphors on the surface of the tube. The phosphors then emit light which is imaged onto the film. The image is written in a raster scan.
Laser writers for film, capable of higher resolution and generally higher speeds than their CRT counterparts, have been in use for a decade. The Kodak Cineon System uses a laser writer with red, green, and blue gas laser sources. The lasers are raster scanned by a rotating polygon mirror onto a moving drum. A more recent introduction, the Arrilaser by Arri, uses a flat platen instead of a drum and a single faceted scanner mirror (monogon). The red, green, and blue lasers use solid state or diode laser technology, but the basic approach is the same. Three primary color sources, red, green, and blue, are used to expose the three emulsion layers (red sensitive, green sensitive, and blue sensitive) to produce three color dye layers in the developed film. Typically, in a color negative media, the dyes are the subtractive color primaries: cyan, magenta, and yellow.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,408 discloses a RGB raster scan laser projector using polygon/galvo scanner. A white light laser is separated into RGB components for modulation and projection. Similar devices are designed to demagnify the image for film exposure.
As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,258 discloses a laser projection system with red, green, and blue dye lasers providing the primary colors for forming an image using a single shared spatial light modulator. In this case, instead of a raster scan, the entire image area is exposed simultaneously, by using an area modulation device.
FIG. 1 shows a familiar color gamut representation using CIE 1976 L*u*v* conventions, with the perceived eye-brain color gamut in uxe2x80x2-vxe2x80x2 coordinate space represented as a visible gamut 100. Pure, saturated spectral colors are mapped to the xe2x80x9chorseshoexe2x80x9d shaped periphery of the visible gamut 100 curve. The interior of the xe2x80x9chorseshoexe2x80x9d contains all mappings of mixtures of colors, such as spectral red with added blue, which becomes magenta, for example. The interior of the horseshoe can also contain mixtures of pure colors with white, such as spectral red with added white, which becomes pink, for example. The overall color area defined by the xe2x80x9chorseshoexe2x80x9d curve of visible gamut 100 is the full range of color that the human visual system can perceive. It is desirable to represent as much as possible of this area in a color display, to come as close as possible to representing the original scene as we would perceive it if we were actually viewing it.
The gamut available using conventional color motion picture film is shown by a conventional motion picture film gamut triangle 102 in FIG. 1. The approximate wavelengths of vertices of the triangle are shown as red (620 nm), green (540 nm), and blue (455 nm). Any color within the bounds of this triangle can be displayed. Colors lying outside the triangle but within the xe2x80x9chorseshoexe2x80x9d curve can be perceived by the human eye but cannot be represented with conventional color film. Such colors are out-of-gamut colors, such as turquoise (blue-green), for example.
FIG. 2 shows the same curve 100 with the human eye response, but this time a polygon 106, representing the gamut achievable using a four color laser display is shown. The vertices of gamut polygon 106 are the laser wavelengths: red 116 at 649 nm, green 114 at 514 nm, blue-green 112 at 488 nm, and blue 108 at 442 nm. Lasers, by their very nature, are monochromatic, providing fully saturated colors, unlike most light sources. Saturated colors lie on the periphery of the xe2x80x9chorseshoexe2x80x9d curve. The resulting four laser gamut covers virtually the whole range of visual color space. Clearly, the introduction of a fourth color into this display provides a considerable gamut increase over that of conventional motion picture film as shown in FIG. 1.
With respect to digital projection apparatus, there have been some attempts to expand from the conventional three-color model in order to represent color in a more accurate, more pleasing manner. Notably, few of these attempts are directed to expanding the color gamut. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,073 (Pettit) discloses a projection apparatus using a filter wheel arrangement that provides four colors in order to maintain brightness and white point purity. However, the fourth color added in this configuration is not spectrally pure, but is white in order to add brightness to the display and to minimize any objectionable color tint. It must be noted that white is an xe2x80x9cintra-gamutxe2x80x9d color addition; in terms of color theory, adding white actually reduces the color gamut by desaturating the color. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,710 (Raj et al.) discloses the addition of a white light channel to standard R, G, B light channels in a projection apparatus. As was just noted, the addition of white light may provide added luminosity, but constricts the color gamut.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,191,826 (Murakami et al.) discloses a projector apparatus that uses four colors derived from a single white light source, where the addition of a fourth color, orange, compensates for unwanted effects of spectral distribution that affect the primary green color path. Again, the approach disclosed in the Murakami patent does not expand color gamut and may actually reduce the gamut.
Patent Application WO 01/95544 A2 (Ben-David et al.) discloses a display device and method for color gamut expansion using four or more primary colors. However, the approach disclosed in WO 01/95544 is directed to apparatus for projection of digital images, but does not provide a suitable solution for imaging onto a photosensitive medium. It must be emphasized that there are significant differences between display and printing of digital color images. For example, image brightness, which must be optimized in a display system, is not a concern in printing apparatus design. Resolution, on the other hand, while not as important for images displayed on-screen, is very important for images printed on film or paper. Timing requirements are not as demanding for color printing, since successive exposures can be used for successive layers of a photosensitive medium. Notably, the apparatus disclosed in WO 01/95544 forms an image by projecting four colors, but uses three-color RGB data as input for computing a four-color value. It can be appreciated that there would be advantages in obtaining and processing four-color data throughout the imaging process, rather than using interpolation algorithms to compute a fourth color coordinate from three-color data.
It would be advantageous to have a color film equivalent to the extended gamut of a four laser display as represented in FIG. 2. Digital cinema, now in its infancy, can take immediate advantage of this increased gamut to enhance the theatrical experience of the movie audience. Although digital projection may gradually replace many of the 35 mm film projectors in existence today, it would be economically advantageous for filmmakers to have the capability to have their movies shown on film projectors as well as on digital cinema projectors, and NTSC and HDTV television. However, merely exposing a conventional color film to these four laser sources would not change the gamut available beyond that of FIG. 1.
An object of the present invention is to provide a color printer for photosensitive media that provides four different color light sources to print on photosensitive media that has four separate spectral sensitivities depositing four dyes upon processing to expand the color gamut of the resultant image.
Briefly, according to one aspect of the present invention a color printer for printing to a photosensitive medium comprises a first light source for generating a first color beam and a first modulator for modulating the first color beam. A second light source for generating a second color beam and a second modulator for modulating the second color beam. A third light source for generating a third color beam and a third modulator for modulating the third color beam. A fourth light source for generating a fourth color beam and a fourth modulator for modulating the fourth color beam. An optical system combines and images the modulated beams onto the photosensitive medium.
It is an advantage of one embodiment of the invention to provide a compact unit for high speed writing, having four light sources and four modulators in a single plane.
It is an advantage of another embodiment to provide to provide a simple printer that combines four light sources and a single modulator in a single optical path to provide sequential exposure.
It is an advantage of another embodiment to provide a compact sequential writer that uses an x-cube to combine four light sources.
It is an advantage of yet another embodiment to provide a writer with high optical efficiency by utilizing four polarized lasers as light sources.
The invention and its objects and advantages will become more apparent in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment presented below.


The invention relates to a security strip and security paper for obtaining security documents such as legal tender notes, checks or identification documents, comprising a cellulose support web that is completely embedded in a pulp substrate. As both the substrate and the support web are formed by plant fibers, a series of physical and chemical bonds are established between the fibers of both elements, the support web thus being perfectly integrated in the pulp. The cellulose support web will sometimes have a series of security elements, such as pigments, synthetic elements and/or security fibers of the type normally used in this type of application.

The attempt to counterfeit valuable documents, especially notes, is a fraudulent activity that is as old as the existence itself of said documents.
All those elements contributing to the authentication of the document in question or which makes their counterfeiting as difficult as possible are included in the security element concept. Said security elements basically consist of a particular coating in the surface of the substrate or an element comprised or applied to the surface of the substrate.
The use of special printing processes providing the security documents with a relief that can be perceived by touch, such as the one incorporated in some elements of the current Euro notes of different denominations is known. These tactile marks further fulfill the purpose of aiding the blind in identifying said documents.
In contrast to the previous method, the incorporation of security marks formed by holes is also known, which marks, like the previous ones, have the advantage of being easily verifiable without the need for special equipment. Document ES 2 145 486 T3 describes a method for carrying out marks of this type by using laser light, a method by which holes are obtained having a diameter such that they are invisible when looked at in reflection whereas they are visible in plain sight when looked at in transmission, i.e., when looking at them against a light source.
Security documents, especially banknotes, frequently incorporate optically variable devices such as security threads, holograms, layers of interference elements or liquid crystal materials providing different color effects depending on the viewing angle, making counterfeiting the document by photocopying it extremely difficult.
A usual security element in valuable documents is the incorporation of the so-called watermarks, representing a figure or group of characters that can only be seen when the document is looked at against the light. The manufacture of papers incorporating this type of marks is carried out in paper manufacturing machines with a perforated cylindrical drum, therefore the elevation or areas impermeable to water reduce the depositing of fibers on the surface of said drum and therefore the sheet of paper thus manufactured has locally different thicknesses.
As regards the incorporation of holograms in security documents, the usual method consists of manufacturing the so-called main holograms and from them casting the holograms required per copy in the press molds, thus obtaining large amounts of holograms. Cast holograms are normally manufactured as multi-layer elements on a separate carrier, such that they are joined to the document in question by means of a layer of adhesive material. This manufacturing method has deficiencies with respect to document security because it is possible to remove the hologram from the document by heating the adhesive material and therefore, transferring said hologram to a counterfeit document, adhering it thereto.
Document EP 0 338 378 B1 describes a process for manufacturing security documents including holograms solving the previous drawback, because in this case the hologram is cast directly on the material forming the document, first printing the paper on both sides and subsequently providing said paper with a holographic structure in certain areas. The process consists of simultaneously transferring to the paper forming the security document both the casting resin and the hologram relief structure, coating the surface structure of the mold of the press with a curable resin. Once the mold and the paper come into contact, the resin adheres to the surface of the paper after it has been cured, having a holographic structure in relief. A thin metallized layer allowing observation by reflection of the holographic information is subsequently vacuum-applied. The drawback of this manufacturing process lies in the need to cure the resin by means of electron radiation, which curing is complex, damaging for the paper and involves high costs.
In view of the foregoing, the object of the present invention is to develop paper for forming security documents allowing the incorporation of several security elements that cannot be easily detached from said documents and which prevent their counterfeiting to a considerable extent, it also being desirable that the obtained paper has homogenous surfaces and is stable for all purposes.

FABRICA NACIONAL DE MONEDA Y TIMBRE REAL CASA DE LA MONEDA


A multi-part system utilizing an active-passive configuration of Near Field Communications (“NFC”) in order to facilitate the ability of a visually-impaired person to: (i) ascertain the specific rank and suit of a playing card; and (ii) maintain privacy of information regarding the identity of the card. The present invention comprises: (i) a passive “NFC Tag” that is embedded within a playing card and that is encoded with the information necessary to identify the rank and suit of the card; and (ii) an active “NFC Reader” that is disposed within a wearable sheath and is designed to receive and to relay the said information to a wearable earpiece; and (iii) a said earpiece that deploys a combination of hardware and software in order to convert the said information to an audible signal that identifies the card for a user of the invention.

1. Field of the Endeavor to which the Present Invention Pertains
The activity of playing card games is nearly universal. Because the nature of playing card games requires a player to be able to ascertain the identity (i.e., the specific rank and the suit) of at least one individual playing card during the course of any given game, and also typically requires the said player to do so in a way that maintains privacy of information regarding the identity of the said card, it is necessary for the said player to have some way of accomplishing these goals. For a person whose eyesight is adequate for these purposes, accomplishing these objectives generally presents few practical problems. However, for a person whose eyesight is compromised to the point where achieving the aforementioned objectives is impossible without some type of external assistance, there are only three practical solutions currently available.
The first solution is the utilization of playing cards that are equipped with a plurality of tactile identifiers—Braille is the most popular of this type of playing card. Each individual card typically has a plurality of protrusions disposed upon the surface of the card. Said protrusions enable a visually-impaired player to ascertain the identity of a card by physically touching (typically, with at least one finger of a hand) the said protrusions. However, the use of Braille cards presents a number of practical difficulties:                (i) excessive wear and tear with respect to the cards could impair the ability of a said visually-impaired person to read the cards properly; or        (ii) Braille cards may be damaged easily by mechanical card-shufflers; or        (iii) the presence of the physical protrusions that are disposed upon Braille cards could lead to the sacrifice of privacy of information regarding the identity of the cards because opponents of a said visually-impaired player who possess adequate eyesight could learn to recognize the physical patterns made by the Braille protrusions.
The second solution is for a visually-impaired person to have another person—someone who possesses adequate eyesight (a "sighted person")—accompany the said visually-impaired person in order to have the said "sighted person" read the cards on behalf of the said visually-impaired person for the purpose of transmitting to the said visually-impaired person the identity of the card(s) that is/are received by the said visually-impaired person. The problem with this method is that it is not always practical to find a third-person who is willing or able to attend a card game for an indefinite period of time where the sole function of said "sighted person" is to identify playing cards for a said visually-impaired individual. A further problem with this method is that it may be possible for the said visually-impaired person to receive advice (with respect to strategy) from the said "sighted person;" receiving any such advice would constitute cheating, and thus would be a prohibited activity if the said visually-impaired person were playing a game such as "poker" at a commercial establishment.
The third solution is to deploy a portable electronic device that has been designed at the University of Pittsburgh. A paper entitled Playing Cards Reader for People with Visual Impairments, Maria Toro, May 2010, describes a portable unit designed to read the identity of playing cards for a visually-impaired person. However, this method is inefficient because it requires a user to lift the card off of the table in order to insert the card into the device. The problem with this method is that it requires a visually-impaired player to accomplish the nearly-impossible task of lifting the cards off of the table without allowing any of the cards to be seen by any opponents who possess adequate eyesight to see the cards when they are lifted off of the table—this negates the possibility that privacy of information may be maintained.
2. Brief Description of Near Field Communications
Near Field Communications ("NFC") has a strictly-defined set of technical parameters that makes it different from other standards of communication. NFC operates across a practical physical distance of approximately zero (0) to ten (10) centimeters.
NFC allows a wireless connection to be established automatically between multiple devices where each device is NFC-enabled.
NFC utilizes electromagnetic induction in order to facilitate a transfer of information between at least two devices where each of the said devices is NFC-enabled; NFC may be configured to transfer information in one of two ways:                (i) an "active-active" manner, wherein at least two devices interact with each other, and wherein each device has disposed within it an active NFC apparatus (typically called an active "NFC Reader") that is coupled to a source of power where said source of power enables the said active "NFC Reader" to generate an electromagnetic field where said electromagnetic field enables each device to accomplish both the transmission of, and the reception of, information; or        (ii) an "active-passive" manner, wherein at least two devices interact with each other, and wherein one of the devices utilizes a passive NFC apparatus (typically called a passive "NFC Tag"), while another device utilizes an active "NFC Reader." A passive "NFC Tag" is not coupled to any source of power, and is capable only of transmitting information that has been encoded within an NFC microchip that comprises part of the said passive "NFC Tag." A passive "NFC Tag" becomes activated when it comes physically within the electromagnetic field generated by an active "NFC Reader;" as a result of the said activation, said passive "NFC Tag" automatically transfers information that is encoded thereon to the said active "NFC Reader."
Regardless of which method is used to transfer information via the use of NFC, each device that is NFC-enabled must be equipped with at least the following three (3) basic components:                (i) at least one NFC microchip; and        (ii) at least one antenna; and        (iii) at least one rectifier.
Said antenna(e) and said rectifier(s) are microcircuits that are coupled to the said NFC microchip; the said antenna(e) and the said rectifier(s) must be coupled to the said NFC microchip in order to facilitate the transmission and/or the reception of information that is transferred via the deployment of NFC.
3. Description of the Prior Art Relating to the Present Invention
The prior art discloses inventions wherein microchips and microcircuits are embedded completely within playing cards in order to be read by external "reader" devices. However, each of the inventions comprising the prior art is substantively different from the present invention in two qualitatively significant ways: (i) each invention comprising the prior art deploys a technology whose practical purpose is different from NFC; and (ii) each invention comprising the prior art has an objective that is fundamentally different from that of the present invention. To underscore why these differences lend force to the argument that the present invention is indeed novel, it is worth noting that it would not be possible to create the present invention by deployment of the technologies that are shown in the prior art. This is true because deployment of the technologies shown by the prior art within the context of the present invention would allow for the interception by third parties of any transmission carrying the information regarding each individual playing card; this would defeat one of the purposes of the present invention—namely, ensuring the preservation of privacy of information with respect to the cards that are received by a player. The very short physical distance across which NFC transmits information makes NFC a highly secure way in which to accomplish the task of transferring information in situations where privacy of information is a priority. The necessity for the preservation of privacy of information when playing card games simultaneously makes: (i) the technologies shown in the prior art inherently ill-suited for application within the context of the present invention; and (ii) NFC inherently well-suited for application within the context of the present invention.
EP1713027 (invented by Koyama, et al.) discloses an integrated circuit embedded completely within a playing card. Koyama's invention further discloses a plurality of reader devices that are disposed within a table upon which a card game is being played. Koyama's invention is configured to provide a system that may be utilized by a commercial establishment in order to authenticate and to track the playing cards that are being used in any given game. The purpose of Koyama's invention is to facilitate the prevention of cheating by ensuring that only the said cards that are placed into play by the said commercial establishment are the ones that actually remain in play throughout the duration of any particular game.
DE102007007022 (invented by Ernst), and United States Patent Application 20070052167 (invented by Galatan), are explained together because they are designed for substantially similar purposes. The inventions by Ernst and Galatan each disclose a system wherein an apparatus deploying Radio Frequency Identification ("RFID") is embedded completely within a playing card, and each invention further discloses a plurality of reader devices that are disposed within a table upon which a card game is being played. The purpose of the inventions by Ernst and Galatan is to provide a mechanism by which a card game that is being played as part of a poker tournament is capable of being broadcast to an outside audience.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,727,060 (invented by Mills) discloses a system wherein an RFID apparatus is embedded completely within a playing card. The invention by Mills further discloses a reader device that is deployed by a commercial establishment in order to authenticate the said card as having been placed into play by the said commercial establishment. The purpose of the invention by Mills is to enable a commercial establishment to conduct card games wherein at least one of the participants is located physically at a live gaming table within the said establishment, and at least one of the participants is located physically in a location that is different from that of the said live gaming table.
United Stated Patent Application 20130178264 (invented by Vilpas) discloses a system wherein an RFID apparatus is embedded completely within a playing card. The invention by Vilpas further discloses a reader device that is deployed by a commercial establishment in order to track the said card during the progression of play. The purpose of the invention by Vilpas is to enable a commercial establishment to track the distribution of the individual cards that are placed into play during any given game in order to facilitate an improved presentation of the said card game to an outside audience.

Multi-part system for deploying near field communications in order to facilitate the ability of a visually-impaired person to ascertain the identity of a playing card


A production monitoring system includes a distributed acoustic sensing subsystem that includes a first optical fiber for a distributed acoustic sensing signal and a distributed temperature sensing subsystem that includes a second optical fiber for a distributed temperature sensing signal. The production monitoring system, also includes a cable positioned in a wellbore penetrating through one or more subterranean formations. The distributed acoustic sensing subsystem is communicatively coupled to the cable through the distributed temperature sensing subsystem. The cable includes one or more optical fibers used to obtain optical fiber measurements pertaining to the distributed acoustic sensing signal and the distributed temperature sensing signal. The optical fibers include a sensing fiber that is common between the distributed acoustic sensing subsystem and the distributed temperature sensing subsystem. The distributed acoustic sensing subsystem, receives at least a portion of the optical fiber measurements from the sensing fiber through the distributed temperature sensing subsystem.

Distributed sensing technology may be suitable for various downhole applications ranging from temperature sensing to passive seismic monitoring. Reflections of an optical signal transmitted downhole into a wellbore through an optical sensing optical fiber can propagate back toward an optical receiver and the reflections can be analyzed to determine a condition in the wellbore.

Well monitoring via distributed acoustic sensing subsystem and distributed temperature sensing subsystem


An infant care apparatus cooler facilitates the cooling of components with elevated temperatures such as a convective heater in an infant care apparatus. The infant care apparatus includes an energy storage device and a fan. In the presence of an external source of power, the fan operates to circulate air to be heated by the heating coil and in the absence of external power, the fan is operable with energization from the energy storage device to circulate air past the heating coil, cooling the heating coil.

The present disclosure is related to the field of infant care. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to a system for cooling heated components of an incubator between uses.
Prematurely born infants require specialized treatment and care due to their small size and still-developing organs and physiological systems, thus, premature infants are placed in devices that create a carefully controlled microenvironment around the patient. The microenvironment is designed to provide one or more environmental conditions that are advantageous to the neonate beyond the ambient conditions. Infant care stations provide this microenvironment for infant patients under the operation and control of a clinician.
One type of device is generally referred to as an incubator in which the infant patient is placed within a physical enclosure and the temperature within the enclosure is carefully controlled with convective heating provided by a first flow of heated air into the enclosure.
During operation and use of a convective heater, the heater itself and surrounding components of the convective heater and the incubator are heated to temperatures in access of those temperatures desirable for contact with a technician servicing or cleaning the incubator. Thus, prior to service or cleaning, an incubator must be allowed to set with the convective heater off in order to passively cool the components before they are exposed to human contact.


Disclosed herein are microcantilevers having structural shapes that are less sensitive to turbulence and drift effects yet provide greater deflections due to analyte concentration. The structural shapes include a C-shaped microcantilever, an E-shaped microcantilever, an L-shaped microcantilever, a double microcantilever, a slit microcantilever, a tapered microcantilever, and a triangular microcantilever. The microcantilevers may be piezoresistive microcantilevers. Also disclosed are microsensors, microfludic devices, and biochips that comprise the microcantilevers as well as methods of using the microcantilevers to detect analytes in a fluid sample.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to microsensors for assaying analytes. In particular, the present invention relates to microcantilevers and methods of making and using thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
The rapid growth of nanotechnology has led to new horizons for the development of microsensors that can be used to detect, measure, analyze, and monitor chemical and biological agents in samples of a few microliters or less. Microsensors can be used to detect, measure, analyze, or monitor hazardous biological and chemical agents such as organisms belonging to Bacillus, Aycobacteriuin, Francisella, Brucella, Clostridium, Yersinia, Variola, Orthopox, and Burkholdleria, toxins, chemical warfare agents, organophosphates (OPs), pesticides, insecticides, and the like in an environment. Microsensors may also be used in clinical settings to screen a patient for the presence of a disease, determine a patient's likelihood of obtaining a given disease, determine a patient's susceptibility to a given drug, and the like.
Microsensors include microfluidic devices such as biochips which comprise a collection of microarrays such as DNA or protein microarrays arranged on a solid support. An example of a biochip is the biological IC chip. See Vo-Dinh, T. et al. (2001) Nanosensors and Biochips: Frontiers in Biomolecular Diagnostics, Sensors and Actuators B 74:1560-1564.
Microsensors containing microcantilevers have been shown to be sensitive and accurate. See Wu, G., et al. (2001) Nature Biotech. 19(9):856-860. Changes in the physical properties of a microcantilever is used to detect changes in the environment of the microcantilever. Most often the deflection or conductivity of the microcantilever is measured and then used to indicate the presence or absence of a certain analyte. Microcantilevers are commonly made of silicon, silicon nitride, glass, metal, or combinations thereof.
For use in assays for biological or chemical agents, the microcantilevers are commonly a bimaterial, such as gold on one side and silicon on the other side. The gold side is then coated with a receptor that specifically binds a given ligand. Receptor/ligand pairs include antibodies and antigens, complementary nucleotide sequences, receptors and small molecules, and the like. See Raiteri, R., et al. (1999) Sensors and Actuators B 61:213-217. When the receptor binds the ligand, the side coated with the receptor will either become tensioned or relieved, thereby causing the microcantilever to deflect. The concentration of the ligand can be determined by the degree of deflection. The amount of deflection is usually in nanometer lengths that may be measured using various techniques known in the art such as optical techniques.
Unfortunately, microcantilevers are subject to turbulence in the liquid flow of samples which affects the accuracy of the measurements. See Raiteri, R., et al. (1999) Sensors and Actuators B 61:213-217, and Fritz, J., et al. (2000) Science 288:316-318. Additionally, microcantilevers in the prior art have low sensitivity especially for low analyte concentration and variations in sample temperature can produce unwanted deflections due to bimaterial effects as discussed by Fritz, J. et al. (2000) Science 288:316-318.
Conventional (non-piezoresistive) microcantilevers used along with an optical detection systems require rigorous alignment of the detecting laser beam with respect to the microcantilever position. In some cases, the laser beam is aligned to hit a shiny silicon surface or a metal coated sensing area on the back of the microcantilever. In a liquid environment, turbulence effects may result in additional three-dimensional deflections of the microcantilever beam which will render any detection measurements useless. In addition, the presence of a focused laser beam in a liquid environment can result in additional thermal effects that can result in extraneous readings.
Therefore, a need exists for microcantilevers that are highly sensitive and have low turbulence effects.

Microcantilevers for biological and chemical assays and methods of making and using thereof


The present invention provides a plate member conveying apparatus configured such that an occupied area is small, and a plate member is unlikely to be damaged. A plate member conveying apparatus according to the present invention includes a feed device having a conveying portion and a pressurizing portion. The conveying portion includes a belt configured to contact one of surfaces of a plate member in a vertical state to feed the plate member in a conveying direction. The pressurizing portion applies pressure of a fluid to the other surface of the plate member in the vertical state in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the plate member to press the plate member toward the belt. Then, the plate member in the vertical state is conveyed while being held by sandwiching the plate member between the belt of the conveying portion and the fluid of the pressurizing portion.

A plate member conveying apparatus is configured in accordance with the characteristics of a plate member to be conveyed. For example, in a machining line of plate glass (plate member) used for a TFT (thin film transistor) liquid crystal display, a conveying apparatus capable of conveying the plate glass without contacting one of surfaces of the plate glass is required. This is because since a thin film layer, such as a semiconductor, are formed on one of surfaces of the plate glass for the liquid crystal display, the formations of even minor scratches on this surface are unacceptable. Hereinafter, such a surface to be subjected to precision machining is called a "precision surface".
As the conveying apparatus configured to convey the plate glass without contacting the precision surface, an apparatus configured to cause a wagon to move in a conveying direction in a state where a surface (hereinafter referred to as a "normal surface") opposite to the precision surface of the plate glass is being sucked by a sucker provided at the wagon has already been put to practical use. However, in the case of this conveying apparatus, every time the plate glass is conveyed, the wagon needs to be returned to an initial position, so that it is difficult to efficiently operate this conveying apparatus. Also proposed are an apparatus configured to convey the plate glass in a state where the plate glass is mounted on a belt conveyor, and the normal surface faces downward, that is, the plate glass is in a horizontal state and an apparatus configured to convey the plate glass in a state where the plate glass is mounted on a belt conveyor, and the plate glass is in a standing state (see PTL 1, for example).

Plate member conveying apparatus and method of conveying plate member


A relay controller for connecting a power source includes at least one relay having at least two contacts. The relay controller includes a processing device operable to selectively switch the relay contacts, and a feedback circuit adapted to identify an actual state of the relay contacts. The processing device is configured to recognize a fault contact condition of a disparity between an expected state of the relay contacts and the actual state of the relay contacts. The processing device is also configured to responsively communicate information relating to the relay fault condition.

A relay controller circuit may generally include a processing device and a relay having contacts. The contacts are driven by the processing device to an open position or a close position, depending on the desired output of the relay. In various applications of the relay controller, the relay may be switched frequently throughout its lifetime. The number of switches in its lifetime, along with conditions under which the relay is switched, causes the relay contacts to degrade.
The degrading of the relay contacts can cause failures of the relay to switch when commanded by the processing device. The failure may momentarily interrupt normal relay switching operation, or may be permanent. Depending on the degradation of the relay contacts, the relay may still be able to switch and function in the degraded state. If the relay does not switch, the relay has failed, and will not function without repair or replacement.


A heat-sensitive melt-transfer recording medium comprising a support (1) and a heat-sensitive melt-transfer ink layer (2) provided on one side thereof is disclosed. The above-mentioned heat-sensitive melt-transfer ink layer (2) comprises a colored ink layer (3) and a layer (4) which is formed on the surface of the colored ink layer (3) and which comprises a wax in the form of microcrystals as a main component, for preventing a smudge of a receiving medium is transfer recording and for obtaining a good print with a small printing energy. This recording medium is used for a heat-sensitive melt-transfer recording system using a thermal head.

Heretofore there was proposed a heat-sensitive melt-transfer recording medium wherein a layer of a wax in the form of film was provided on the surface of a heat-meltable colored ink layer to prevent the so-called smudge of a receiving medium, which means the phenomenon that the colored ink layer is transferred to areas of the receiving medium on which no print is to be formed, as disclosed, for instance, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-114098 and No. 60-97888.
In the case of the conventional medium having such two-layered construction, a coating amount of not less than 3 g/m.sup.2, preferably from 5 to 8 g/m.sup.2, for the wax layer is required to prevent the smudge.
However, when such a thick wax layer is provided on the colored ink layer, a large quantity of printing energy is required to melt the wax layer for transferring.
When the ink layer is melted with such a small quantity of energy as required for transferring an ink layer of a recording medium wherein no such surface layer is provided, there arises the problem that the ink layer is not transferred satisfactorily, which results in a lowering of the density of a print. When the printing energy is increased in order to solve the problem, there arises another problem that the use of a recording medium having a thick wax layer gives rise to blurring of a print, which results in an impossibility of obtaining a clear print.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat-sensitive melt-transfer recording medium which is capable of preventing a receiving medium from smudging and of providing a good print with a small quantity of printing energy.

Method of using a heat-sensitive melt-transfer recording medium


Technology for achieving the behavior and benefits of traditional cyclic control in one rotor may be implemented with a simple under-actuated passive mechanism. An air vehicle employing the disclosed technology maintains lifting thrust by regulating the average rotor speed and generates control moments through coordinated pulsing of the motor torque. Rapid pulsing of the motor torque induces oscillations in propeller angle of attack, and so causes “cyclic control” without requiring the traditional auxiliary actuators and linkages. The MAV propulsion system is capable of using a minimum number of actuators in dual roles of thrust and moment objectives.

Contemporary small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and micro air vehicles (MAV) generally fall into two classes: airplane-like craft optimized for cruising long distances, and helicopter-like craft optimized for hover and tight maneuvering. The class of hover-capable MAV is differentiated primarily by how attitude-correcting moments and forces are generated. Traditional helicopters employ auxiliary servo actuators and a complex swashplate mechanism to actively change the angle of attack of the main propeller through every revolution, a strategy referred to as 'cyclic control.' The cost and mechanical complexity of that traditional mechanism is one of the principle factors driving researchers towards "quadrotor" craft, which trade the one complicated propeller for four simple propellers.
An alternative to the complex swashplate mechanism is desired that offers similar capabilities but with fewer moving components. The invention addresses this and other needs in the art.

Passive rotor control mechanism for micro air vehicles

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


A method for controlling controller area network (CAN) communication in a vehicle including a plurality of electronic control units (ECUs) and a plurality of CAN databases accessible by the plurality of ECUs can include: storing CAN message information in the plurality of CAN databases such that each CAN database stores a unique configuration of the CAN message information; establishing a plurality of periodic intervals; and when a subsequent interval among the plurality of periodic intervals begins: receiving a plurality of measurement values deriving from a plurality of sensors equipped in the vehicle, calculating a database reference number based upon the plurality of measurement values, the database reference number newly identifying a particular CAN database among the plurality of CAN databases, and performing CAN communication, by each ECU, based upon the uniquely configured CAN message information stored in the newly identified CAN database.

Controller area networks, or CANs, are often utilized in vehicles to implement a robust, relatively inexpensive in-vehicle network connecting several electronic control units (ECUs) in charge of controlling certain vehicle functions, such as climate control, vehicle displays (i.e., clusters), infotainment systems, and the like. A typical CAN utilizes a CAN bus which enables the ECUs in the CAN to communicate with each other without a host computer. The ECUs can send and receive data across the CAN bus in packets called frames.
In this regard, FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional CAN data frame. The purpose of the CAN data frame is typically to transmit vehicle data, user data, or the like. The CAN data frame is composed of several different components, each designated for performing a particular task, including a start of frame (SOF) bit, an identifier (ID) which sets the priority of the data frame, a remote transmission request (RTR) bit, an Identifier Extension (IDE) bit, a data length code (DLC), a data field, a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) sequence, a delimiter (DEL) bit, an acknowledgement (ACK) bit, and end of frame (EOF) bits. Among these, the payload bytes can be transported in the data field, and the DLC field can communicate the number of payload bytes to the receivers.
Problematically, when ECUs transmit CAN data frames across the network, these communications can be vulnerable to hacking due to the open communication channel utilized in CANs. As such, vehicle CANs can be susceptible to intrusions by hackers who may attempt to read and decode the CAN messages by physically connecting to the CAN bus or using on-board (OBD) ports to access the CAN bus. Then, the hacker can decode or reverse engineer the intercepted data. Hackers can also inject messages on the CAN bus which may trigger system malfunction or misbehavior.

Controlling can communication in a vehicle using shifting can message reference


A silicon nanowire substrate having a structure in which a silicon nanowire film having a fine line-width is formed on a substrate, a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor using the same. The method of manufacturing the silicon nanowire substrate includes preparing a substrate, forming an insulating film on the substrate, forming a silicon film on the insulating film, patterning the insulating film and the silicon film into a strip shape, reducing the line-width of the insulating film by undercut etching at least one lateral side of the insulating film, and forming a self-aligned silicon nanowire film on an upper surface of the insulating film by melting and crystallizing the silicon film.

1. Field of the Invention
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of manufacturing a silicon nanowire film, and more particularly, to a silicon nanowire substrate having a structure in which a silicon nanowire film having a fine line-width is formed on a substrate, and a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Poly crystalline silicon (poly-Si) may be applied to various electronic devices, for example, flat display devices and solar cells, as a result of having a higher mobility than amorphous silicon (a-Si). However, poly crystalline silicon has lower mobility and uniformity than single crystalline silicon. Single crystalline silicon may be useful in a system on panel (SOP) structure in which a system is formed on the display panel itself, and may have a mobility of more than 300 cm2/Vs. Single crystalline silicon allows the manufacture of improved quality switching devices required for higher performance display devices.
Recently, to comply with stricter miniaturization requirements and higher performance devices, nano scale devices have been developed. To manufacture nano scale devices, nanowire forming techniques have been developed. A nanowire may be defined as an ultra fine line having a cross-sectional diameter of a few nanometers to a few tens of nanometers. Nanowires may be utilized in many fields, for example, laser, transistors, memories and chemical detecting sensors. Naowire materials may include carbon nanotubes (CNT), CdTe, ZnO2, and/or SiGe.
Methods of manufacturing nanowires may be difficult and complicated. A crystal growth inducing method may be used to grow nanowires, but this method may only provide nanowire crystals grown perpendicular to a substrate, and a nanowire grown by such a method may have many impurities. In some cases, location control of the nanowire is needed, which conventional methods may have difficulty providing. Unlike crystal growth inducing methods that uses a catalyst, a nanowire may also be manufactured by lithography, in order to control their horizontal location. However, the conventional lithographic resolution limit is approximately 30 nm. Therefore, the manufacture of a nanowire having a line-width of 30 nm or less is difficult.

Si nanowire substrate, method of manufacturing the same, and method of manufacturing thin film transistor using the same


A disc rotor used in a disc brake which generates a vibration having a large component in the axial direction of the disc rotor when a brake pad is pressed against the disc rotor. The disc rotor has a hat portion to be fixed to an axle hub of a vehicle. A sliding portion, which is pressed by a brake pad so as to generate a brake force, is connected to the hat portion via a connecting portion. A plurality of ribs are provided to increase a rigidity of the connecting portion. A low-rigidity portion having a rigidity less than the sliding portion and the connecting portion may be provided between the sliding portion and the connecting portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disc rotor for a disc brake and, more particularly, to a disc rotor suitable for a disc brake apparatus for a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Application No. 59-63238 discloses a disc brake apparatus. The disc brake apparatus disclosed in this patent document comprises a disc rotor rotating with a wheel, a pair of brake pads provided on opposite sides of the rotor, and a caliper supporting the brake pads. The disc rotor includes a hat portion which is fixed to an axle hub connected to a vehicle body via a bearing. Additionally, the disc rotor includes an annular sliding portion on the outer circumference of the hat portion. When a depression force is applied to a brake pedal, the caliper moves the brake pads toward the disc rotor in response to the depression force. As a result, the brake pads are pressed against a slide portion of the disc rotor in response to the depression force.
When the brake pads are pressed against the rotor, a frictional force is generated between the disc rotor and the brake pads. The frictional force acts as a force to restrict the rotation of the disc rotor, that is, a brake force for restricting the rotation of the wheel. Thus, the disc brake apparatus generates the brake force in response to the depression force applied to the brake pedal.
When a brake force is generated by the brake pads being pressed against the disc rotor, vibration is generated in the disc brake due to the sliding of the brake pads on the disc rotor. In such a case, a compressional wave which transmits in a circumferential direction in an annular sliding portion of the disc rotor is generated. Hereinafter, this vibration is referred to as in-plane vibration. Additionally, axial direction vibration is also generated which periodically displaces each portion of the disc rotor in the axial direction. When the frequency of the vibrations matches the natural frequency of the brake system, a so-called brake noise is generated.
If the vibration generated in the disc rotor can be efficiently attenuated, a disc brake having less brake noise can be achieved. Since the in-plane vibration of the disc rotor transmits to the sliding plane of the disc rotor, the in-plane vibration hardly transmits to the caliper. On the other hand, the axial direction vibration is easily transmitted to the caliper since the direction of transmission of the axial direction vibration matches the direction of movement of the caliper.
The vibration generated in the rotor is further attenuated as the vibration is transmitted to a heavier material such as the caliper. Accordingly, as far as reduction of the brake noise is concerned, it is preferred that the vibration, which is generated in the rotor due to the brake pads being pressed against the disc rotor, has a large component in the axial direction. However, in the conventional disc rotor, no measures have been taken to generate the vibration having a large component in the axial direction.

Disc brake rotor which generates vibration having a large component in a direction of a rotational axis of the disc brake rotor


A seris of antibody-vinca drug conjugates comprise antibodies which target antigens associated with undesirable cells, so that the cells are controlled or killed by the cytotoxic vinca drug. The drug is linked to the antibody through an organic group comprising a carbonyl at the antibody end, and an alkylidene hydrazide at the vinca end.

As long ago as 1900, Ehrlich proposed that drugs might be guided to the target organ by attaching the drugs to substances which would seek that target organ. The technology to follow up on Ehrlich's suggestion did not exist until monoclonal antibody technology began to appear in the 1970's. For some years now, publications on the targeting of drugs with the aid of antibodies have been regularly appearing. However, as yet, no antibody-conjugated drug is approved for therapeutic use. Chemists and immunologists continue to experiment, seeking a method of making antibody-drug conjugates which will transport the drug reliably to the target organ and release it at the proper time. It has been found, however, that many such conjugates, although comprised of a known drug and an active antibody, are relatively ineffective. Such failures may be caused by chemical damage to the drug or the antibody, or the antibody's failure to release the drug at the right time and place.
The present invention provides a series of vinca drug conjugates linked to antibodies by means of a linker system which gives particularly good release of the drug, in a physiologically active form.

Intermediates for antibody-vinca drug conjugates


Sewage treatment is performed by using Sulphur to facilitate electron flow. A first cycle uses a sulphur composition having sulphur and/or sulphur compounds to transfer electrons from organic carbon to oxygen, nitrate and nitrite, and to convert phosphorus-containing compounds to solid material, which is retained in sewage sludge. The sulphur is further used to perform denitrification of nitrogen compounds. A further cycle uses oxygen to oxidize any ammonia present to nitrate and/or nitrite.

Field
This disclosure relates to treatment of wastewaters containing organic matter, phosphorus and nitrogen. In particular, the disclosure relates to utilizing sulphur compounds as the electron carrier for biological nutrient removal of wastewater treatment
Background
Since the discovery of activated sludge process and the introduction of the biological nutrient removal processes, the biological Phosphorus (P), Nitrogen (N) and Carbon (C) removal processes has remained the same, i.e., with electron flow from carbon to oxygen through heterotrophic carbon oxidation, as shown in FIG. 1.
The details of this biological P, N and C removal process are as follows:                Reactor 1: P is released and organic carbon is taken up and stored as poly-hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by the Poly-phosphate Accumulating Organisms (PAOs) when no oxygen or nitrate is present.        Reactor 2: When nitrate is present, the stored organic carbon is oxidized to CO2 through heterotrophic denitrification. Nitrate is reduced to N2. Electron flows from organic carbon to nitrate with simultaneous P-uptake by the PAOs.        Reactor 3: Electron flows from ammonia to oxygen with nitrate formed through autotrophic nitrification which is recycled back to Reactor 2.
If nitrogen removal is not necessary, the biological processes can be simplified as FIG. 2. The biological processes are as follows:                Reactor 1: P is released and organic carbon is taken up and stored as PHAs by the PAOs when no oxygen is present.        Reactor 2: When oxygen is present, the stored organic carbon is oxidized to CO2 through heterotrophic carbon oxidation. Electron flows from organic carbon to oxygen with simultaneous P-uptake by the PAOs.
As the heterotrophic carbon oxidation and heterotrophic denitrification process has a very high sludge yield factor, depending on the sludge age, about 40-50% of the organic carbon in the sewage will be converted to CO2 while the rest converted to sewage sludge. The disposal of excess sludge, which often involves sludge digestion, dewatering and incineration, is not only costly, but also unwelcome by neighbours to the facility.
Since the introduction of biological phosphorus (P) removal process in 1970s, the process has relied on the electron flow from organic carbon to oxygen via an integrated P-uptake and release cycle. As the process has a high sludge yield, excess sludge disposal is required.
Sulphate Reduction Autotrophic Denitrification and Nitrification Integrated SANI Process
Making use of the sulphate ion available in the saline sewage of Hong Kong, where seawater is used for toilet flushing, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology developed the novel Sulphate reduction Autotrophic denitrification and Nitrification Integrated (SANI) process (Lau et al., 2006; Lu et al., 2009; Wang et al., 2009) as shown in FIG. 3. In the SANI process, sulphate originating from seawater is used to oxidize organic carbon to CO2 while sulphate is reduced to dissolved sulphide by the sulphate reduction bacteria in the first reactor. On the other hand, nitrogen present in ammonia is oxidized by oxygen to nitrate in the third reactor by the autotrophic nitrifiers. The nitrate formed is then recycled to the second reactor to react with the sulphide ion to convert into nitrogen gas by the autotrophic denitrifiers while sulphide will be converted back to sulphate ion. An example of the SANI process is described in PCT/CN2011/002019 filed 2 Dec. 2011, published as WO 2012/071793 A1, and as correspond application US2013/0256223.
Each liter of seawater contains about 2.7 grams of sulphate. When used with a seawater flushing system, the sulphates in seawater can be used to oxidize the organic carbon pollutants forming sulphide; while the sulphide formed can then be used to reduce nitrate to nitrogen gas through autotrophic denitrification, which can help sludge reduction. The SANI process uses sulphate-reducing bacteria to oxide and eliminate pollutants in the seawater-mixed sludge. It is noted, however, that the sulphate cannot directly reduce sludge; however, it is used as a oxidizing and reducing agent to remove organic carbon and nitrate, which in turn results in sludge reduction.
The three key biological chemical processes all produce minimal sludge as shown in the following equations:                (1) Heterotrophic Sulphate Reduction:127.8 g COD+192 g SO42−+55.8 g H2O→68 g H2S+2.4 g Sludge+244 g HCO3−        (2) Sulfide Sulphide Oxidation and Autotrophic Denitrification:124 g NO3−+7.32 g HCO3−+44.54 g H2S→28 g N2+125.76 g SO42−+2.66 g Sludge        (3) Autotrophic Nitrification:18 g NH4++1.32 g CO2+62.4 g O2→0.94 g Sludge+62 g NO3−+2 g H++17.64 g H2O
Limited-Oxygen Sulphur Cycle-Associated EBPR (LOS-EBPR) Process
In view of its significant environmental and financial benefits to minimize sludge production by the SANI process, research has been conducted to extend the SANI process for P-removal. The success of this biological P-removal SANI process lies with the development of the P uptake and release in the sulphur cycle. Although the oxygen and nitrate induced P-uptake and release phenomenon has been fully studied and understood, the proposed sulphur cycle involved P-uptake and release has not been extensively tested. The phenomenon is described in Sulphate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) with the PAOs.

Sulphur cycle-associated denitrifying enhanced biological phosphorus removal (SD-EBPR) utilizing sulphur compounds as electron carriers for biological nutrient removal of wastewater treatment

THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


A scale arrangement is designed for monitoring relative displacement between first and second members. The scale arrangement comprises an elongated scale having end portions at both ends thereof, a pair of receptacles respectively receiving the end portions, a hollow member receiving the scale therein, the hollow member being formed into essentially quadrate cross section, a head slidingly mounted on the scale for axial movement therealong for reading scale to generate a read scale indicative signal, a head slider associated with the head for axial movement with the head, the end portions, the receptacles and the head sliders being positioned on respectively associated one of first and second members with respect to the end portions, position of the head slider being determined with respect to a reference plane set on the outer peripheral plane on the hollow member in relation to the end portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a linear scale arrangement for measuring relative position and/or magnitude of relative displacement of objects, such as work and machine tool and so forth.
2. Description of the Background Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,729, filed on Aug. 18, 1987, which has been assigned to the common assignee to the present invention, discloses a mounting structure for a linear scale which includes an elongated scale with essentially cylindrical end members. The end members are aligned with the scale with high accuracy. The mounting structure includes a mount block to be rigidly secured onto a plane of one of the object. The end members are mounted on the mount block. Projection means is provided between the end member and the mount block so as to permit pivotal motion of the end members with the scale relative to the mount block during installation so as to allow fine adjustment for obtaining parallerism of the scale axis with an axis of relative motion of the objects.
The disclosed arrangement further includes a scale channel defining an internal space through which the scale extends. The scale channel serves for protecting the scale from the environmental dust and so forth. Furthermore, the scale channel serves as magnetic shield, in case that the scale is a magnetic scale.
With the prior proposed construction, the scale channel is not required substantial accuracy in production because the scale can be installed with high accuracy of parallerism relative to the motion axis of the objects.
Practically, the scale as assembled is covered with the scale channel in dust-proofing fashion. Therefore, upon installation to the objects, it is not possible to visually observe or mechanically and directly access the scale for adjusting the orientation of the scale axis. Therefore, it is common practice to provide a reference plane on the scale channel defined between an alignment marks put on the outer surface of the scale channel. The reference plane is guaranteed to be parallel to the scale.
In such prior proposed scale arrangement, a difficulty has been encountered in providing the alignment marks with satisfactory level of accuracy.


A method for converting a document which contains words and images which is intended to convey information in a traditional, linear format into a document or display in which the words and images are rearranged so that the result is laid out in a pictorial representation which makes it much easier for a person using the document to understand its content. To create the easier to understand pictorial/graphical representation, a document, in its original format, is stored so that it can be accessed by a user using a personal computer or work station. A user accesses the document in its original format, selects portions of the document, and each selected portion is assigned a category for subsequent processing. The categories which may be assigned are selected from among the following: i) structural, ii) functional, iii) procedural, iv) time based, and v) event based. Additional categories may be added as a function of the desired end result and specific sub-parts or diagrams. Once the categories have been assigned to selected portions of the document, a new document is created which displays the information in the original document in a much easier to understand pictorial/graphical representation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is a methodology for enabling the visualization, acquisition, understanding, utilization, creation and sharing of information using document structures and visual or pictorial representation of documents.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous teachings exist for displaying document information in a visual or pictorial manner. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,946 Method and Apparatus for Generating Hierarchical Displays, U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,867 Display System and Method for Constructing and Editing a Hierarchical Arrangement of Information and U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,740 Method and Apparatus for Displaying Items of Information Organized in a Hierarchical Structure. However, the prior art does not provide a mechanism for quickly and easily assigning categories to selected portions of document information and using the assigned categories to produce a pictorial representation of the information appropriate to the assigned category in an intuitive and easy to understand manner.
A method and apparatus are described for converting a document which contains words and images which is intended to convey information in a traditional, linear format into a document or display in which the words and images are rearranged so that the result is laid out in a pictorial representation which makes it much easier for a person using the document to understand its content. To create the easier to understand pictorial/graphical representation, a document, in its original format, is stored so that it can be accessed by a user using a personal computer or work station including a monitor, storage, keyboard and pointing device. The document in its original format may be created by a word processor or the like. Using an interface which forms part of the present invention, a user having a computer or workstation accesses the document in its original format from the storage such that it is displayed on the monitor. The user scrolls through the document and selects portions of the document, and each selected portion is assigned a category for subsequent processing. The categories which may be assigned are selected from among the following: i) structural, ii) functional, iii) procedural, iv) time based, and v) event based. Additional categories may be added as a function of the desired end result and specific sub-parts or diagrams. The user selects which of the five categories to assign based on the subject matter of the text and images. For example, if the subject matter is a description of the parts of an automobile engine and how the parts connect to each other, the structural category would be assigned. If the subject matter is a description of how the engine operates, the functional category would be assigned. If the subject matter is a description of how to build the engine, the procedural category would be assigned. If the subject matter is a description of the history of facts leading to the development of the engine, the time based and/or event based category would be assigned, depending on what one wishes to communicate or emphasize. If specific dates are more important and is to be communicated, then the time based category would be assigned. If the specific events which occurred are more important than the time when they occurred, then the event based category would be assigned.
The invention provides an interface which makes the selection and assigning of categories process easy, intuitive and efficient. Once the categories have been assigned to selected portions of the document, a new document is created which displays the information in the original document in a much easier to understand pictorial/graphical representation. Specifically, portions of the text and images of the original document are selected, using for example, a mouse or other pointing device. The selected portions are then assigned a category selected from S T E P F, i.e., structural, time based, event based, procedural or functional. After all the desired text and images in the document has been assigned one of the S T E P or F categories, the selected portions are then sent to a corresponding software module for processing based on the assigned category. Since there are five categories, there are five modules. If additional categories are needed or desired, appropriate additional modules may be added. Selected images in the original document are sent to a sixth module for processing. After the processing of the text has been performed by one or more of the first five modules, and the processing of images, if any, has been performed by the sixth module, a seventh module is used to link the converted text and images together. If images are not present or desired, then no further processing needs to be performed by the sixth and/or seventh modules. Further processing, which is optional, may then be performed to create multiple hierarchies by an eighth module. A ninth module, which is also optional, may be used for editing layout, content and/or format. A tenth module, which is also optional, may be used to perform what is referred to knowledge level conversion.

Method and apparatus for performing knowledge level conversion of hierarchical charts created as a learning aid


A direct current cable termination apparatus for terminating a high voltage direct current cable, the apparatus includes a current-carrying device including a terminal portion of the direct current cable, the cable at least including an electrical conductor, a electrically insulating layer located outside of the electrical conductor, and a conductive shield located outside of the insulating layer and the electrical conductor. The apparatus includes a housing including a tubular outer shell with an inner periphery, the outer shell defining a longitudinal axis and being formed by an electrically insulating and polymer-containing material. The current-carrying device extends in the axial direction of the outer shell. Along at least a part of the axial extension of the current-carrying device the outer shell extends axially with a space between its inner periphery and the current-carrying device. The housing is adapted to separate the space from an atmosphere outside the outer shell.

Today, the level of the rated voltage of high voltage direct current, HVDC, applications is increased in the technical field of HVDC. With this development, improved HVDC cable terminations, which can withstand higher voltage levels, are required.
A HVDC cable is used for power supply in power distribution networks and power transmission networks. Generally, the HVDC cable comprises at least an inner or central live electrical conductor, e.g. made of copper or aluminium, an electrically insulating layer which circumferentially surrounds the electrical conductor, and a conductive shield, also called outer semicon, which circumferentially surrounds the insulating layer and the electrical conductor, the conductive shield being held on ground potential. Additional layers may be provided, e.g. a so called inner semicon, which is a conductive layer circumferentially surrounding the electrical conductor and located inside of the insulating layer, and an outer cable jacket circumferentially surrounding the conductive shield.
When the HVDC cable is electrically connected to other electric equipment, the HVDC cable is terminated or cut off. When terminating a HVDC cable, measures should be taken to ensure durable and reliable electrical performance and to protect the connection between the end of the HVDC cable and the electric equipment to which the end of cable is connected. When terminating a HVDC cable, the conductive shield and the electrically insulating layer, and possibly any further present layers, are terminated, or cut off, prior to the termination of the inner electrical conductor in order to expose the electrical conductor and connect it to the electric equipment.
W020071147755-A1 discloses a cable termination for terminating a HVDC cable, the termination being provided with a device for electric field control including a field grading material layer adapted to be electrically connected to a live high voltage part and electrically connected to ground potential.
US2009/0071684-A1 describes a high voltage power cable termination.
WO2006/015735-A1 discloses an open-air cable sealing end for a high-voltage cable, comprising an outer shell and an electrically conducting connecting line, the outer shell extending axially with a space between its inner periphery and the connecting line, and the space is filled with an electrically insulating gas, e.g. sulphur hexafluoride, SF6.

High voltage direct current cable termination apparatus