The present application discloses a gate driver control circuit including an encoder configured to encode instruction information to obtain a coded instruction and to transmit the coded instruction. The gate driver control circuit further includes a decoder coupled to the encoder and configured to decode the coded instruction to obtain the instruction information. Additionally, the gate driver circuit includes at least one multiplexer coupled to the decoder. Each multiplexer is configured to receive a first set of multiple timing-control signals and the instruction information, to adjust the first set of multiple timing-control signals to a second set of multiple timing-control signals based on the instruction information, and to output the second set of multiple timing-control signals. The gate driver control circuit further includes at least one gate-array sub-circuit. Each gate-array circuit is configured to output multiple row-scanning signals in response to the second set of multiple timing-control signals.

In the related art for driving a display panel to display image, there are two major kinds of driving schemes of using gate-driver control signals to scan through all rows of pixels in the display panel. One is to use Normal Gate Driving signals and another is to use Gate On Array signals. No matter what kind of driving scheme, the functional setting of the gate-driver control signals during the image display is basically fixed. For example, the order of scanning the gate-driver control signals is always fixed either in a top down sequential order or a bottom up sequential order.

Gate driver control circuit, method, and display apparatus

BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


The invention generally relates to systems and methods for analyzing a sample from a surface. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems that include a sample introduction member that has an inlet, an outlet, and an opening along a wall of the sample introduction member. The sample introduction member may be configured such that the opening couples with a surface that includes a sample in a manner in which molecules of the sample enter the sample introduction member via the opening and exit the sample introduction member via the outlet. A mass spectrometer is configured to receive the molecules of the sample.

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a very sensitive analytical method used for important research and for applications of analytical chemistry, such as life science. In the field of analytical chemistry, the demand for direct sampling under ambient conditions has increased. Direct sampling in the ambient environment (in situ) provides a sample analysis approach in which there is no intrinsic requirement for sample preparation, which allows real-time, on-site analysis of samples, saving time and resources.
To achieve direct sampling in an ambient environment, the sample must be efficiently transferred to the mass spectrometer because the sensitivity of mass analysis is highly dependent on the efficiencies of sample introduction to the mass spectrometer. For miniature mass spectrometry systems particularly, it is highly desirable to maximize the amount of the sample that can be introduced to the mass spectrometer.
A problem with sample introduction is that an MS inlet is very small, typically smaller than 700 μm, due to the fact that a vacuum must be maintained inside a manifold where ions are mass analyzed. Accordingly, the intake of neutral molecules or ions from atmosphere by the MS inlet is relatively inefficient, which hampers direct sampling from an ambient environment.

Systems and methods for analyzing a sample from a surface


A method for authorizing an off-line image device to play contents in use of a recording medium, including recording an encrypted key on a recording medium; recording contents on the recording medium using the encrypted key; and recording information as to a play right to play the contents recorded on the recording medium. Thus, the off-line image device can be authorized to play contents in use of the recording medium. As a result, the off-line image device can play contents that are recorded on the recording medium and must be authorized to play the contents.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for authorizing contents play rights, and more particularly, to a method for authorizing an off-line image device to play contents.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image devices capable of decoding and playing contents, particularly, paid contents, must be limited. In other words, image devices capable of playing contents provided from contents providers must be limited to image devices authorized to play contents by the contents providers.
Image devices capable of recording contents provided from contents provider on recording media must be also limited to image devices authorized to record the contents by the contents providers.
Image devices desiring to record and/or play contents must be connected to contents providers on-line. Thus, the image devices can be authorized to record and/or play the contents by the contents providers. Therefore, off-line image devices cannot be authorized to record and/or play contents.
As a result, the image devices authorized to record the contents can record the contents on recording media, but it is impossible to install the recording media into the off-line image devices to play the contents recorded on the recording media. This is because the off-line image devices are not able to be authorized to play the contents.

Method for authorizing contents play rights in use of a recording medium


There is disclosed a coaxial contact for termination to a coaxial cable. The coaxial contact has an electrically conductive shell defining an open forward end (116). A center contact (56) for termination to a center conductor (208) of the cable has a mating portion defining cantilever beam means (60) extending to respective distal ends (54). The center contact (56) is disposed concentrically within and isolated from shell (104) by a first dielectric insert (26). A second dielectric insert (192) having a forward portion (232) and a rearward portion (234) is secured in the shell proximate the forward end (116). The second insert (192) has an axial bore (220) therein for receiving a center pin contact of a mating connector. The rearward portion receives within bore (220) the distal ends (54) and a limited length of the cantilever beam means (60).

This invention relates to disposing a center receptacle contact in a coaxial plug contact, and in particular to a tapered lead-in dielectric insert for positioning a mating center contact in a coaxial contact and for insulating the center contact from the surrounding conductive shell.
Dielectric inserts used to position a center receptacle contact in a coaxial plug contact have typically extended substantially through the entire length of the center receptacle contact, or if terminated short of the end of the coax plug contact provided no lead-in for the center contact of a mating coax contact.
There is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,504 an open barrel coaxial cable terminal having cantilever spring arms, with the terminal freely received within a dielectric sleeve partially lining the recess to prevent grounding of the terminal against a sidewall of the recess.
It would be desirable to have a first dielectric insert to position a center coaxial contact and a second dielectric insert to provide a lead-in for the center contact of a mating coaxial contact with allowance for air to surround the center contact to maximize impedance of the coaxial contact.

Tapered lead-in insert for a coaxial contact


There is provided a protecting method capable of simply and firmly protecting a required face of an article such that the required face of the article is not damaged or contaminated and capable of extremely simply carrying out a protecting step and a protection releasing step.

In working a nonmetallic or metallic material, a worked object is fixed onto a work table or a stage and subjected to working as desired such as polishing, cutting (slicing, dicing), boring or the like by a tool. At this occasion, a surface of the worked object is damaged by a foreign matter of work chips produced from the worked object or abrasive grains, worn powders of tool chips included in a working solution, and a product in which a mirror finish state or cleanness of a surface is requested is frequently degraded. Further, also in moving, carrying, or storing the product after having been worked, the surface is frequently contaminated or damaged by bringing dust or foreign matter into contact with the surface.
As a counter major therefor, in a background art, a surface of an object has been tried to coat with wax. However, wax needs to be once heated and melted and heated and melted again after finishing to work the worked object and therefore, the way of use thereof is poor, further, even when the melted wax is cleaned by an organic solvent, a cleaning effect thereof is difficult to be sufficient and a number of failures are liable to be brought about. Therefore, there poses a problem that cost is increased and the production efficiency is deteriorated. Further, although it is conceivable to paste protection tapes in place of the wax, the worked object is liable to be damaged or deformed in pulling to exfoliate the protection tapes, further, a residue of an adhering agent remains and the residue is difficult to be processed. Therefore, actually, in almost all the cases, the worked object is worked without protection at all and a failed product generating rate is increased.
Further, when the worked object is porous or a cavity is present at inside thereof, even in the case in which such an article is worked or moved, carried or stored after having been worked, foreign matters (work chips, abrasive grains, worn powders, dusts or the like separated from working means) invade the hole or the cavity and it is extremely difficult to evacuate the foreign matters to clean, however, there has not been means or a method of easily resolving the problem.

Abstract: As means for protecting a surface of an article, there is used a macromolecular compound in a liquid state a freezing point of which exceeds that of water, a gel-like object constituted by mixing the macromolecular compound with a fine powder, or a sheet-like object impregnated or coated with the macromolecular compound in the liquid state the freezing point of which exceeds that of water or the gel-like object, a face constituting an object of protection of the article is covered thereby or a hole or a gap thereof is filled therewith, a protecting film or a protecting layer is formed by freezing the macromolecular compound by cooling, and when protection is not needed, the macromolecular compound is defrosted by elevating a temperature thereof.


There is provided a physical token for use in a defined venue with a server having communication with the physical token. The physical token may comprise an identification data and a transmitter configured to transmit the identification data. The physical token is configured to transmit the identification data to the server to cause the server to initiate a sensory interaction with a user possessing the physical token. The sensory interaction may comprise a character in the defined venue interacting with the user possessing the physical token. The sensory interaction may also comprise a display screen in the defined venue displaying information to the user possessing the physical token. The sensory interaction may further comprise an audio speaker in the defined venue announcing information to the user possessing the physical token. The physical token may represent an affinity comprising an experience, entitlement, or characteristic of the user possessing the physical token.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally in the field of communication. More particularly, the present invention relates to identification and association in communication systems.
2. Background Art
Defined venues rely upon a limited set of conventional means for tracking guest affinities and performing affinity transactions such as, for example, affinities for particular venue attractions, venue characters, or venue features. Such conventional means include, for example, a paper ticket and a plastic wristband. A paper ticket, for example, may be typically issued to a guest of a movie theater defined venue with the expectation that the guest will maintain possession of the paper ticket for the duration of a movie showing. Similarly, a plastic wristband, for example, may be typically issued to a guest of a music concert defined venue with the expectation that the guest will wear the plastic wristband while at the concert. Based on the guest's possession and display of the paper ticket or plastic wristband, the venue can infer particular affinities of the guest, and may perform appropriate affinity transactions. For example, the color or shape of the paper ticket or plastic wristband might indicate a particular guest affinity.
These various conventional means for tracking guest affinities have assorted drawbacks. For example, both paper tickets and plastic wristbands, if easily transferable, can pass from guest to guest for re-use, often against the policy of a defined venue. Additionally, a guest must maintain possession of a paper ticket or a plastic wristband and keep it readily displayed so that the venue can easily track the affinity represented. Furthermore, if in some circumstances a guest possesses a variety of paper tickets or wristbands at once it may be difficult or impossible for the venue to precisely reconcile the various represented affinities and to respond with an appropriate affinity transaction.
Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the drawbacks and deficiencies in the art by offering an improved method and system for tracking guest affinities and performing affinity transactions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for performing affinity transactions


A memory array including a bit cell row, a strap cell row, a first power supply line, and a first offset supply line is provided. The bit cell row may include a bit cell that includes a first transistor disposed in a first bit cell body region. The first transistor may include a first active region. The strap cell row may include a strap cell that includes a first strap cell body region. The first strap cell body region may be conductively coupled to the first bit cell body region. The first power supply line may be electrically coupled to the first active region and may provide a first supply voltage potential to the first active region. The first offset supply line may be electrically coupled to the first strap cell body region and may provide a first offset voltage potential to the first bit cell body region via the first strap cell body region. The first supply voltage potential is operable to be different from the first offset voltage potential.

This invention relates in general to memory arrays and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for reducing leakage current in an SRAM array.
Modern electronic equipment, such as televisions, telephones, radios, and computers are generally constructed of solid state devices. Solid state devices include transistors, capacitors, resistors, and other semiconductor devices. Typically, such devices are fabricated on a substrate and interconnected to form memory arrays, logic structures, timers, and other components of an integrated circuit. One type of memory array is a static random access memory (SRAM) in which memory cells are continuously available for reading and writing data. As technology improves, SRAM cells and other components are fabricated at smaller sizes and with greater on-chip integration.
The increasing level of on-chip integration has allowed steady improvements in modern microprocessor performance, but has also resulted in high energy dissipation in integrated circuits. In complementary metal-oxide-silicone (CMOS) circuits, high transistor-switching speeds can be achieved by reducing the supply voltage, which proportionately reduces the transistor threshold voltage. However, decreasing the transistor threshold voltage may increase the amount of xe2x80x9cstaticxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cleakagexe2x80x9d power dissipated by the CMOS circuit. As transistor threshold voltages continue to be reduced in emerging technologies, leakage power is becoming a sizable percentage of the total power consumed in CMOS circuits.
In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus for reducing leakage current in an SRAM array are provided that substantially eliminate or reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with previously developed methods and apparatuses.
According to one embodiment, a memory array including a bit cell row, a strap cell row, a first power supply line, and a first offset supply line is provided. The bit cell row includes a bit cell that includes a first transistor disposed in a first bit cell body region. The first transistor includes a first active region. The strap cell row includes a strap cell that includes a first strap cell body region. The first strap cell body region is conductively coupled to the first bit cell body region. The first power supply line is electrically coupled to the first active region and provides a first supply voltage potential to the first active region. The first offset supply line is electrically coupled to the first strap cell body region and provides a first offset voltage potential to the first bit cell body region via the first strap cell body region. The first supply voltage potential is operable to be different from the first offset voltage potential.
According to another embodiment, a method of reducing memory array leakage current is provided. The method includes providing a memory array including a bit cell and a strap cell. The bit cell includes a first transistor disposed in a first bit cell body region. The first transistor includes a first active region. The strap cell includes a first strap cell body region that is conductively coupled to the first bit cell body region. The method further includes applying a first supply voltage potential to the first active region. The method further includes applying a first offset voltage potential to the first bit cell body region via the first strap cell body region. The first supply voltage potential is operable to be different from the first offset voltage potential.
Various embodiments of the present invention may benefit from numerous technical advantages. It should be noted that one or more embodiments may benefit from some, none, or all of the advantages discussed below.
One technical advantage of the invention is that leakage current in a memory array may be reduced by increasing the low power supply voltage applied to the source of a transistor in the memory cell with respect to a substrate supply voltage applied to the substrate of the memory cell, and/or decreasing the high power supply voltage applied to the source of another transistor in the memory cell with respect to an n-well supply voltage applied to the n-well of the memory cell. In particular, the low and high power supply voltages may be maintained or controlled separately from the substrate and n-well supply voltages, respectively.
Another technical advantage is that the low and high power supply voltages applied to the memory array may be maintained or controlled separately from the low and high power supply voltages applied to a peripheral circuit, such as a logic circuit.
Another technical advantage is that one or more of the voltages applied to the memory array may be controlled during different modes of the memory array or particular bit cells, including a standby mode and an active mode, in order to control or to maximize the reduction of leakage current in the memory array.
Another technical advantage is that a strap cell having a structure that substantially mimics or emulates the structure of surrounding bit cells in the memory array may be used to provide the substrate and n-well supply voltages separate from the low and high power supply voltages applied to the memory array. This provides the advantage of more uniform patterning and processing of bit cells adjacent to the strap cell.
Another technical advantage is that the layout of the memory array allows a relatively wide spacing of strap cell rows, which may reduce the cost of including strap cells in a memory array.
Another technical advantage is that the well voltages within the memory array, including for example the n-well and substrate voltages, may be controlled such that latch-up and cell upsets may be reduced or minimized.
Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

Method and apparatus for reducing leakage current in an SRAM array


The present invention relates to systems, methods and kits for low-level detection of nucleic acids, detecting at least two different viral sequences in a single reaction vessel, and increasing the dynamic range of detection of a viral target nucleic acid in a sample. The present invention also relates to T-structure invasive cleavage assays, as well as T-structure related target dependent non-target amplification methods and compositions. The present invention further relates to methods, compositions, devices and systems for consistent nucleic acid dispensing onto surfaces.

All nucleic acid detection systems that rely on amplification of either the target being detected or the signal being generated inherently possess a dynamic range that limits their usefulness. At low concentrations of the target being detected, the signal generated is too low to detect or to low to be scored above background levels, and therefore is below the limit of detection, i.e., outside the dynamic range of the detection system. By contrast, at very high levels of the target being generated, the components of the detection system are exhausted such that the signal is said to be saturated, i.e. addition of still more target results in no increase in signal. In these cases, the quantity of target is said to be above the limit of detection, i.e. outside the dynamic range of the detection system.
In the real-world case of detection systems being used to detect targets from biological specimens, the range of target present in the sample being detected can be quite large, and is often either below or above the limit of detection of the system in use. Therefore, previous attempts to cover larger ranges of target concentration have required the generation of more than one detection system, to be used separately, that are optimized for a given dynamic range. Because the quantity of target nucleic acid in the specimen is by definition an unknown quantity, this very frequently requires the use of multiple detection systems sequentially to finally use the appropriate detection system that possesses the appropriate dynamic range for the specimen under examination.
As such, a single detection system with a broader dynamic range, if it was available, would significantly reduce costs, decrease labor time, and decrease expenditure of the specimen being examined. Even more, a method of increasing the dynamic range of an existing detection system would greatly aid the field of detection of targets within biological specimens generally.

T-structure invasive cleavage assays, consistent nucleic acid dispensing, and low level target nucleic acid detection


A passive ring resonator gyro is constructed of an electromagnetic waveguide ring path which causes a specified rotation of the polarization of the waves, once for each round trip through the ring path. For an optical fiber ring path, a splice at some point is introduced in the ring path in which the fiber ends are rotated relative to each other in order to effect polarization rotation.

The present invention relates to gyroscopes utilizing a pair electromagnetic waves injected into a closed-ring resonant path, in opposite directions, in order to sense inertial rotation. The waves are caused to propagate around the ring path by means of some form of electromagnetic waveguide. More particularly, the invention relates to passive ring resonator gyros wherein the difference between resonant frequencies of two counter-propagating electromagnetic waves, introduced into the passive ring resonator path from a source of energy external to the ring path, is linearly proportional to the rotation rate.
The well known Sagnac Effect quantitatively describes the existence of a difference in the relative phase of two electromagnetic waves after traveling in opposite directions around a closed ring path. In gyro applications of the Sagnac Effect, the difference in phase is directly proportional to the inertial rotation rate about an axis normal to the plane of the ring path. Because the ring path is closed, the waves may propagate in multiple round trips around the ring. The waveguide ring structure is resonant at certain optical frequencies. Because of the Sagnac phase difference, the resonant frequencies are different for the waves propagating in the opposite directions in the presence of inertial rotation due to differences in the effective closed-loop path length traveled by the two counter-propagating waves. This frequency difference is directly proportional to the inertial rotation rate which may be measured by measuring the difference in the resonant frequencies of the counter-propagating waves. The frequency difference and sensitivity of the gyro to rotation is further a function of the area circumscribed by the closed ring waveguide path, the perimeter of the waveguide path, the effective refractive index of the waveguide an material within the waveguide, and the free-space wavelength of the waves.
In the prior art of passive ring resonator gyros, operation has been generally restricted to utilizing a single-polarization wave in each direction and nearly always the same polarization in both directions. In general, electromagnetic waveguides are capable of supporting propagating waves of two possible polarizations, the most common of which are linearly polarized horizontal and vertical waves, but in some systems may be a pair of elliptically polarized waves or even right and left circularly polarized waves.
Similarly, in a ring resonator composed of such electromagnetic waveguide material, two polarization states exist in each direction around the ring. These states, each of which have resonances associated with them, are commonly referred to as resonant polarization eigenstates. Polarization eigenstates are essentially states of polarization that at any point around the ring do not change their state of polarization after one or more round trips around the ring. Eigenstates of polarization are described in detail in a publication entitled, "Eigenstates of Polarization in Lasers" by H. de Lang, Philips Research Repts, Vol. 19, pp. 429-440, 1964; and a publication entitled, "Marix Method for the Calculation of the Polarization Eigenstates of Anisotropic Optical Resonators", by V. Ya. Molchanov and G. V. Skrotskii, Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics, Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 315-330, January-February, 1972. Further, Eigenstates of polarization in a passive ring resonator gyros are discussed in a publication entitled, "Eigenstates of Polarization in a Fiber Ring Resonator and its Effect in an Optical Passive Ring-resonator Gyro", by K. Iwatsuki, K. Hotate, and M. Higashiguchi, Appl. Opt. 25, 15, 2606-12 (1986). These references are incorporated herein by reference.
Eigenstates of polarization can be simple, such as nearly horizontal and vertical linear polarized waves, elliptical polarized waves, or can exhibit complex behavior in which the polarization varies from point to point along the resonator.
Ring resonators of the prior art are often those having very nearly horizontal and vertical linear polarization eigenstates. In ring resonator gyros of the prior art, the possible excitation of both polarizations and the possible nearly identical resonant frequencies for the two different polarizations can prevent gyro operation or compromise its performance. To alleviate this problem, one of the two polarized waves in each direction is usually suppressed by some means or by providing special means so that the external source does not excite the other unwanted polarization. Prior art schemes for obviating the problem of unwanted polarized waves rely on, among others, careful polarization control of the light waves, tight component tolerances, and/or the introduction of high propagation losses for one of the two polarization eigenstates. These schemes are generally costly to implement, complex, and/or may introduce other error sources.

Passive ring resonator gyro with polarization rotating ring path


A funnel in a CRT includes a body part welded to a panel, a cone part connected to the body part having a deflection yoke fitted thereto, and a neck part connected to the cone part having an electron gun sealed therein. The cone part is formed such that xcex94Y/xcex94X={YD-(DD*sinxcex82)}/{XD-(DD*cosxcex82)} is greater than 4, where DD denotes a diagonal length, XD denotes a long axis length, YD denotes a short axis length, and xcex82 denotes a diagonal angle between the long axis and the short axis.

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application Nos. P2001-58646 filed on Nov. 21, 2001, and P2002-2283 filed on Jan. 15, 2002, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cathode ray tube (CRT), and more particularly, to a funnel in a CRT, which can secure an adequate vacuum strength, and improve a deflection sensitivity, one of deflection yoke efficiencies, and a wedge insert ability.
2. Background of the Related Art
A related art CRT will be explained, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The related art CRT is provided with a panel 10 and a funnel 20 welded to rear of the panel 10 with frit glass. The panel 10 has flat or curved outside surface and inside surface, and the funnel 20 is a cone formed.
In the meantime, there is an electron gun 19 sealed in a rear part of the funnel 20 for emitting an electron beam, and there is a shadow mask 12 fitted with a gap to the inside surface of the panel 10 having a radius of curvature similar to the radius of curvature of the inside of the panel.
The shadow mask 12 is welded to the frame 14, and the frame 14 is fixed to stud pins 16 fixed to the panel 10 through springs 15. There is an inner shield 17 fixed to the frame 14 by fixing springs 13 for shielding an external magnetic field.
The funnel will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1-3.
The funnel 20 is welded to the panel 10, to form a seal line 31, and a height from the seal line 31 to an outside surface of the panel 10 is a height (OAH) of the panel 10.
The funnel 20 is provided with a body part 21, a cone part 22, and a neck part 23. A connection part of the body part to the cone part 22 is called a TOR (Top Of Round) 33, and a connection part of the cone part 22 to the neck part 23 is called a neck seal 37. There is a RL (Reference Line) 35, a center of the electron beam deflection in the cone part 22, and there is a deflection yoke 18 fitted to the cone part 22 for deflection of the electron beam.
Since the cone part 22 in the funnel 20 is relatively thin compared to other parts, it is required that the cone part 22 is made to reinforce a vacuum strength. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the cone part 22 has a circular section for uniform distribution of stress.
In the meantime, the electron beam from the electron gun 19 is made to make a curvilinear motion in a screen direction by the deflection yoke 18 in the cone part 22. Of a long side direction, a short side direction, and a diagonal direction of a rectangular screen, the diagonal direction is the farthest from a center of the screen. Accordingly, the electron beam deflected to the diagonal direction is required to make a curvilinear motion that is curved the most. Since the long side direction and the short side direction have shorter distances to the screen, the electron beams in the long side direction or the short side direction makes a curvilinear motion that is curved less than the electron beam in the diagonal direction.
When the electron beam hits the cone part 22, a shadow phenomenon occurs in which the electron beam is shaded by an inside surface of cone part 22, so as not to be shown on the screen. Therefore, the cone part 22 has an outside form designed to have a curvature similar to an electron beam path in the diagonal direction.
In the meantime, in order to form a rectangular screen, it is required that the path 22b of the electron beam passing through the cone part 22 also has a form close to rectangle, resulting to occur invalid spaces 22a in the long side direction and the short side direction through which no electron beam passes.
Disadvantages of the related art CRT, a CRT having a circular cone part 22 section, will be explained.
First, the circular cone part 22 also requires a circular deflection yoke 18. This causes far distances from the deflection yoke 18 to the electron beam both in the long side direction and the short side direction, leading to weaken the force of a magnetic field of the deflection yoke 18 to the electron beam week. Therefore, it is necessary to apply a strong current to the deflection yoke 18 for forming a strong magnetic field, and this requires much power consumption.
Second, in the invalid spaces 22a in the long side direction and the short side direction, degrees of close contact of the deflection yoke 18 with the electron beam are poor, to drop deflection sensitivity of the electron beam even if the identical current is applied to the deflection yoke 18.
In the meantime, as environmentally friendly and low powered electric appliances are currently required, improvement of the deflection yoke, that has much power consumption, is essential even in the CRT. However, for fabrication of a low powered deflection yoke, improvement of the form of the cone part in the funnel is required beforehand. Eventually, a CRT having a section similar to the deflection path of the electron beam is suggested. However, the non-circular cone part requires making the vacuum strength thereof weaker than the circular cone part. Besides, the non-circular cone part requires taking the deflection sensitivity, and the wedge insert ability into account. That is, the CRT, particularly, the cone part of the funnel, requires a proper balance of the vacuum strength, the deflection sensitivity, and the wedge insert ability.
Accordingly, the invention is directed to a funnel in a CRT that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the invention is to provide a tunnel in a CRT which permits securing an adequate vacuum strength.
Another object of the invention is to provide a funnel CRT which has an excellent deflection sensitivity and a wedge insert ability.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, the funnel in a CRT includes a body part welded to a panel, a cone part connected to the body part having a deflection yoke fitted thereto, and a neck part connected to the cone part having an electron gun sealed therein, wherein the cone part is formed such that xcex94Y/xcex94X={YD-(DD*sinxcex82)}/{XD-(DD*cosxcex82)} is greater than 4, where DD denotes a diagonal length, XD denotes a long axis length, YD denotes a short axis length, and xcex82 denotes a diagonal angle between the long axis and the short axis.
Preferably, the xcex94Y/xcex94X=4.0-5.5, and more preferably, the xcex94Y/xcex94X=4.0-5.0.
Preferably, a part starting from a part the body part and the cone part are connected to a distance toward the cone part is formed to satisfy the range of the xcex94Y/xcex94X. Preferably, the distance is approx. 20 mm.
The diagonal angle is the same with an angle the long axis and the short axis of the screen of the CRT form.
Centers of radiuses of curvatures of a corner of the cone part are on the same line.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a funnel in a CRT including a body part welded to a panel, a cone part connected to the body part having a deflection yoke fitted thereto, and a neck part connected to the cone part having an electron gun sealed therein, wherein the funnel is formed such that c/(a+d) is in a range of 0.26-0.37, where xe2x80x98cxe2x80x99 denotes a length of the cone part, xe2x80x98dxe2x80x99 denotes a length of the body part, xe2x80x98axe2x80x99 denotes a length from a deflection center line of an electron beam to a front end of the cone part in the cone part, and xe2x80x98bxe2x80x99 denotes a length from a deflection center line of an electron beam to a rear end of the cone part in the cone part. Preferably, the c/(a+d) is in a range of 0.30-0.35. Preferably, the funnel is formed such that a/b is in a range of 1.00-1.20.
Thus, the CRT with a non-circular cone part of the invention can provide good vacuum strength, deflection sensitivity, and wedge insert ability.
Thus, the CRT with a non-circular cone part of the present invention can provide good vacuum strength, deflection sensitivity, and wedge insert ability.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.


A system and method is provided to measure intrathoracic complex impedance and to identify and indicate disease conditions based on the impedance measurements. Multiple impedance vectors may betaken into account, and an optimal vector may be selected to provide the most useful impedance measurement for the identification and indication of disease conditions.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for measuring intrathoracic impedance (intracardiac, intravascular, subcutaneous, etc.) in an implantable medical device (IMD) system.
In systems employing IMDs such as pacemakers, defibrillators, and others, it has proven beneficial to provide the ability to measure intrathoracic impedance. Intrathoracic impedance measuring is performed by monitoring the voltage differential between pairs of spaced electrodes as current pulses are injected into those same leads or into other electrodes. Changes in the measured intrathoracic impedance may indicate certain disease conditions that can be addressed by delivery of therapy or alarm notification, for example. The efficacy of impedance monitoring to evaluate and monitor pulmonary edema and worsening congestive heart failure has been demonstrated in the OptiVol® Fluid Status Monitoring system provided by Medtronic, Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn.
Further improvements in the ability of an intrathoracic impedance measuring system to identify and monitor disease conditions would be useful.

Multi-frequency impedance monitoring system


A damping compressor generates compressed air by damping a relative motion between an axle and a chassis of a vehicle.

The present invention relates to a damping compressor and to a method for generating compressed air via damping.
The tires of commercial vehicles are usually supplied with compressed air. Nowadays, the energy which is required to generate compressed air is usually applied by the drive motor by way of a compressor. In commercial vehicles, this compressor should therefore supply sufficient compressed air to supply the tires both of the traction vehicle (tractor) and of the trailer. In this context, it is significant that commercial vehicle tires are often operated with air pressures above 9 bar.
The problem with the systems mainly used today is that, on the one hand, the energy which has to be applied by the drive motor to operate the compressor greatly reduces the achievable overall efficiency level, i.e. the efficiency level is only a few percent and, on the other hand, with these systems the trailer can only be supplied with compressed air up to 9 bar by the traction vehicle. In order to ensure the correct tire pressure also in the trailer, automatic tire pressure control systems are being increasingly used. However, these systems require additional expenditure to increase the pressure.
At the same time, when a commercial vehicle is operated, the chassis of the vehicle should be damped in order to ensure reliable driving dynamics. The method of functioning of currently used systems can be considered to be equivalent to the conversion of motion energy into heat.
An approach which is known in the prior art uses a pneumatic booster to increase the pressure for a tire pressure control system. However, the use of such a booster or air quantity/air pressure booster degrades the efficiency level of such a system further.
There is therefore needed an improved device for generating compressed air in a vehicle.
The present invention is based on the idea that vibrations of the vehicle lead to a relative stroke motion between the chassis and axle which is transmitted to two elements of a damper (for example, a shock absorber) of the vehicle. This relative stroke motion between the two elements can be used to change an air volume between the elements and therefore generate compressed air as a damping compressor. In particular, with the proposed approach it is possible for the zero crossing of the elements during the spring compression and spring extension to define a central position or position of rest in which an air volume between the elements is at a minimum or is not present. As a result, a dead space between the elements is minimized and, as a result, a pumping effect is achieved with approximately each spring compression stroke and/or spring extension stroke, allowing the efficiency level of such a compressor to be maximized.
It is advantageously possible for the use of the energy which is released during damping to generate compressed air, therefore providing savings in terms of the fuel which would be required to operate a compressor in order to generate compressed air by means of the drive motor. Given such a combination of a damper and a compressor, the use of a separate (for example hydraulic) damper and of a separate compressor also becomes unnecessary, as a result of which the manufacturing costs when using the proposed approach can be reduced. A further advantage is achieved by virtue of the fact that the damper is not so strongly heated because the majority of the damping energy is not converted into heat but rather stored as compressed air. Since the system which is proposed here can be used, in particular, also in the trailer of a commercial vehicle, a widely selectable pressure level can be set in components of the trailer independently of the traction vehicle. Even a complete or at least partial compressed air supply of the traction vehicle by components of the trailer is possible. This means that under certain circumstances it is possible to completely dispense with the compressor in the traction vehicle (or it can be at least simplified and/or made smaller).
In this way, the damping compressor can be advantageously used as a redundant safety system for the traction vehicle compressor and therefore for increasing the failsafety of the traction compressor.
Since the air which is to be used for the generation of compressed air is preferably obtained from a buffer which can be connected to the damping compressor, changing the air pressure in such a buffer also allows variable damping by virtue of pressure levels which can be set to different values. Since this system for generating compressed air mainly makes use of the components which are used in any case in a shock absorber, and hardly any additional elements are required, the design and structure of the approach which is proposed here can be kept simple. Using the energy which has been produced by the damping of a vehicle to generate compressed air is therefore both economically and ecologically very sensible.
The present invention therefore provides a damping compressor which is designed to generate compressed air by damping a relative motion between an axle and a chassis of a vehicle.
According to one specific embodiment of the invention, the damping compressor has the following features:
(a) a compressor arrangement which comprises a first element and a second element, wherein the first element can be connected to the axle or to the chassis of the vehicle, and the second element can be connected to the other of the chassis or the axle of the vehicle, wherein the arrangement is designed, to change an air volume between the first element and the second element in order to generate the compressed air in the case of a relative stroke motion between these elements, wherein the compressor arrangement also has a minimum of the air volume or no air volume between the first and second elements in a position of rest;
(b) a driver element which is designed to bring about an increase in air volume in the case of a relative motion between the axle and the chassis by entraining the first element in a stroke direction; and
(c) a restoring element which is designed to move the first element counter to the stroke direction, as a result of which a reduction in the air volume is brought about and the compressed air is expelled from the compressor arrangement.
Such an embodiment of the invention provides the advantage that by virtue of the use of two elements which can be moved relative to one another, a position of rest in which an air volume between the elements tends toward zero can be achieved for both elements. As a result, a maximum efficiency level of the approach according to the invention can be achieved. The two elements which are used can be two movable pistons which act as a pressure-generating piston and as a corresponding piston. Alternatively, a container wall or a container floor can also be used as first and second elements of the damping arrangement in the context of a movable piston. The restoring element easily permits the first element to reliably reach the position of rest again.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the driver element can be designed to bring about an increase in the air volume in the case of a further relative motion between the axle and the chassis by entrainment of the second element in a direction which is opposed to the stroke direction, wherein the damping compressor has a further restoring element which is designed to move the second element in the stroke direction, as a result of which a reduction in the air volume is brought about and the compressed air is expelled from the compressor arrangement. Such an embodiment of the invention provides the advantage of continuous use of the proposed principle of the generation of compressed air since the stroke of the one element is directly followed by the stroke of the second element which immediately initiates a gain in compressed air again. As a result, a motion of the driver element which is opposed to the stroke direction beyond the position of rest of one of the elements, i.e. a motion in the stroke direction and a motion in the direction counter to the stroke direction, can also be utilized to generate compressed air. This leads to a significant extension of the possibility for generating compressed air and therefore to an improvement in the efficiency level of the damper compressor.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the driver element can be embodied in a rod shape with a thickened portion, wherein the thickened portion can be arranged on the rod-shaped element in such a way that the thickened portion is arranged between the first element and the second element. This advantageously permits the two elements to move in opposite directions with merely one driver element, which, by virtue of the rod-shaped embodiment, is also particularly flexurally strong with respect to the traction forces and compression forces which occur.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the driver element is led through at least the first element and/or the second element. The first and/or second element are therefore guided along the motion axis of the damping compressor according to the invention, as a result of which a relative motion between the chassis and the axle results in the largest possible stroke motion of the first element with respect to the second element.
According to a further embodiment, the restoring element and/or the further restoring element can be a spring. This provides the advantage that elements which involve already mature technology, are widely available, and are cost-effectively available, can be used.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the damping compressor has an inlet valve which is designed to let air from external surroundings of the damping compressor and/or from an air container, in particular a spring bellows, into the air volume between the first element and the second element, during the relative stroke motion. The extraction of the air from the air container has the advantage that air which has already been cleaned and dried is available and can be re-used easily and efficiently. Extraction of the air from the external surroundings of the damping compressor has the advantage that it is possible to make available, for example for tires, a compressed air supply which is independent of the air supply of the traction vehicle, or even to assume the function of supplying compressed air to the traction vehicle.
When the invention is configured in the form that the air which is used for changing the air volume between the two elements is sucked in directly from the atmosphere, said air is preferably cleaned before use since it may contain dirt and water. Dirt can be removed by means of a suitable air filter upstream of the damping compressor in the direction of flow. There are various ways of drying the air, wherein the first way may be that it can firstly be compressed to a significantly higher pressure than that required by the load system and can be stored in a buffer. It cools down here, as a result of which the water contained therein condenses and can be discharged via a manually or automatically acting discharge valve. Starting from the buffer, the air can be relaxed by means of a pressure control valve to the pressure required by the load system and can be fed to the load system. The reduction in pressure causes the relative humidity of the air to drop. This procedure also makes it possible to influence the damping effect by varying the pressure in the buffer. Although this procedure has a relatively low efficiency level, there is generally much more damping energy available in any case than is required for the air supply for generating compressed air. According to another embodiment, a conventional air dryer, which is regenerated from time to time, may be connected downstream. A continuously acting diaphragm dryer may be connected downstream as a further alternative.
The air which is to be used for the change in volume between the elements can preferably be sucked in from a reservoir which is supplied by the traction vehicle. The air should then only be subsequently compressed to the relatively high supply pressure or for the tire pressure control system. Since the air has already been conditioned by the traction vehicle, it is then no longer necessary to perform drying or cleaning.
According to another embodiment, the air can also be sucked in from a low pressure reservoir which collects, in a closed system, the air which has been discharged by other systems, for example the air suspension system, brake system or tire, which air was originally supplied by the traction vehicle. The air is also already conditioned by the traction vehicle here. It is no longer necessary to perform drying or cleaning.
Of course, a combination of the various ways of sucking in air, some of which are mentioned above, may also be done, with the result that, on the one hand, air can be sucked in from the atmosphere but, on the other hand, air can also be made available by a reservoir which is supplied by the traction vehicle, or air can be made available from a low pressure reservoir.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the damping compressor has an outlet valve in the first element and/or second element, which outlet valve is designed to eject the compressed air into a compressed air accumulator. In particular, the outlet valve can be embodied as a nonreturn valve such as, for example, a reed valve. This provides the advantage that the air volume between the first and second elements can be kept as small as possible, since the compressed air which is generated can escape from the air volume while the pressure generated is maintained by the first and/or second element.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the compressed air accumulator is designed to make available compressed air in order to move the first element counter to the stroke direction and/or to move the second element in the stroke direction, as a result of which a reduction in air volume is brought about and the compressed air is generated. In this way, the compressed air in the compressed air accumulator can advantageously be used to attenuate the relative motion of the axle with respect to the chassis.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the first element and the second element are each formed by a piston. It is to be considered advantageous here that two virtually identical components can be used to generate compressed air. Furthermore, such a configuration permits technically a very simple generation of compressed air both during spring compression and spring extension.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the damping compressor has a guide element which is designed to receive and to guide the first element and the second element during a relative motion between the axle and the chassis, wherein the guide element has at least one shoulder on an inner wall, on which shoulder the first element and the second element bear in the position of rest. The guide element can be, for example, a cylinder in which the first and/or second elements move. Such an embodiment of the invention can assist guidance of the first and/or second elements along the motion axis of the damping compressor. The use of such a shoulder which is technically easy to manufacture provides the advantage that its use allows the position of rest to be easily defined and permits a volume which tends towards zero between the first and second elements to be achieved in the position of rest in combination with the restoring elements.
According to one alternative embodiment of the invention, the first element and the second element are each formed via a cylinder, wherein the cylinders are arranged one in the other and the bottom of the cylinder which is arranged on the inside acts as a piston. Such an arrangement provides the advantage of ease of maintenance during which, if appropriate, the cylinders can easily be replaced.
According to one alternative embodiment of the invention, the damping compressor has a guide element which is designed to receive and to guide the first element and the second element during a relative motion between the axle and the chassis, wherein the cylinder which is arranged on the inside has a holding unit which is designed to fit onto an outer surface of the guide element in order to define the position of rest of the cylinder which is arranged on the inside, and wherein the cylinder which is arranged on the outside has a cylinder wall which is designed to fit on an inner wall of the guide element in order to define the position of rest of the cylinder which is arranged on the outside. Such an embodiment has the advantage that the position of rest can be defined precisely both for the inner and for the outer cylinders in a simple manner.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, a length of the driver element can be adjusted, in particular by use of an electric spindle drive and/or a hydraulic intermediate element. A position of rest for the first and/or second elements can advantageously therefore be set even if no air suspension system or another suspension system of the commercial vehicle which allows the position of rest to be permanently set is used.
The present invention also provides a method for generating compressed air by damping a relative motion between an axle and a chassis of a vehicle, wherein the method uses a compressor arrangement which comprises a first element and a second element, wherein the first element can be connected to the axle or the chassis of the vehicle, and the second element can be connected to the other of the chassis or the axle of the vehicle. The compressor arrangement is designed to change an air volume between the first element and the second element in order to generate the compressed air in the case of a relative stroke motion between these elements. The compressor arrangement also has a minimum of the air volume or no air volume between the elements in a position of rest. The method comprises the following steps:
(a) increasing the air volume in the case of a relative motion between the axle and the chassis by entraining the first element in a stroke direction; and
(b) moving the first element counter to the stroke direction, as a result of which a reduction in the air volume is brought about and the compressed air is discharged from the compressor arrangement.
This embodiment variant of the invention in the form of a method also makes it possible for the problem underlying the invention to be solved quickly and efficiently.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Damping compressor and method for generating compressed air by damping a relative motion between an axle and a chassis of a vehicle

KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH


An interconnection structure for coupling light frequency signals into and out of a planar optical waveguide including a dielectric planar waveguide structure having at least two opposite parallel surfaces and through which light frequency signal modes are able to propagate by internal reflections from the surfaces resulting in zigzag paths through the waveguide structure which has a thickness h, and a refractive index of n.sub.w. A coupling element composed of light transparent material is provided having a surface in contact with a surface of the planar waveguide structure at a first given contact area, the coupling element having a circular cross section and a refractive index of n.sub.s through which light frequency signal modes are able to propagate internally along chord paths in the coupling element by internal reflections from the surface of the coupling element, and wherein the internal reflections of the light frequency signal modes in the waveguide structure and in the coupling element are frustrated at the given area of contact such that light signal modes in the waveguide structure can enter and exit the waveguide structure and the coupling element at the contact area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the interconnection of optical waveguides, and more particularly to structures for coupling light frequency signals to a waveguide or between two waveguides.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,832 issued Apr. 18, 1972 to Judin, entitled MICRO-OPTICAL IMAGING APPARATUS, describes a high speed, diffraction limited point or line forming optical system utilizing uncorrected and imperfect single element lenses which are substantially spherical, hemispherical or cylindrical in shape, or appropriate index and size, in conjunction with radiation or light waves incident at limited divergence angles upon said lens elements; by virtue of small optical path differences of focusing exit rays, a diffraction predominant effect occurs.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,666,347 issued May 30, 1972 to Kitano et al, entitled SPHERICAL LENS STRUCTURES, describes a glass sphere containing thallium and sodium cations is immersed in a bath of a molten salt containing at least one kind of metal cations such as potassium cations to cause ion exchange through the glass-salt contact surface in a manner such that the concentrations of the cations, which constitute modifying oxides within the glass, vary from the center toward the outer surface of the sphere, which thereupon becomes a spherical lens.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,075 issued Apr. 13, 1976 to Cook et al, entitled LIGHT SOURCE FOR OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE BUNDLE, describes a source of optical wave energy for an optical communication system. One end of an optical waveguide fiber bundle is disposed in light-receiving relationship with respect to light from a Lambertian-type light source such as a light emitting diode. A spherical bead of transparent material disposed between the diode and the fiber bundle endface provides a rugged and inexpensive optical device that tends to collimate the light emitted from the diode.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,997 issued Aug. 29, 1978 to Iverson, entitled OPTICAL SLIP RINGS, discusses optical slip rings which permit signals to be transferred from a rotating body to a non-rotating body without any physical contact. Fiber optic bundles are utilized to conduct light signals on one body to separate fiber optic bundles on the other body. Light is projected across a small gap from the rotating bundle to the non-rotating bundle. Other variations use multiple channels, wave guides, derotating prisms and concentric annular mirrors to achieve signal transfer. The optical slip rings can transfer any signal which may be converted to a light signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,672 issued Mar. 24, 1981 to Balliet, entitled OPTICAL COUPLER FOR CONNECTING A LIGHT SOURCE TO AN OPTICAL TRANSMISSION LINE, describes an optical coupler for optically coupling an LED to an optical fiber includes a transparent spherical core. The index of refraction of the core is greater than of the spherical shell. A surface is formed on the opposite side of the coupler for coupling the optical fiber the optical coupler, and a cylinder is used to mount the optical coupler at a predetermined distance from the LED in an orientation maximizing the amount of light entering the optical fiber.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,464 issued Oct. 22, 1985 to Auracher et al, entitled FREQUENCY ANALYZER IN PLANAR WAVEGUIDE TECHNOLOGY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE, discloses a frequency analyzer which is manufactured in a planar waveguide technology, has a first substrate provided with a waveguide modulator for modulating light travelling in the waveguide connected to a lens for the Fourier transformation of the modulated light. The material of the lens is different than the material of the substrate having the modulator and preferably is either a rod shaped gradient lens or a second substrate, which has a geodesic waveguide lens pressed into the surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,117 issued June 27, 1987 to Neil et al, entitled OPTICAL COUPLER HAVING IMPROVED EFFICIENCY, describes a structure wherein the optical efficiency, with which a coupling portion of a fiber-optic can be coupled by evanescent fields to a planar optical waveguide through a phase-matching diffraction grating on the surface of the planar optical waveguide, is increased by deforming the coupling portion so that it is a negative replica of the undulating surface of the diffraction grating.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,461 issued Dec. 8, 1981 to Stewart et al, entitled OPTICAL FIBRE CONNECTORS, discloses an optical fiber connector comprising in respect of each of the optical fibers to be connected, a connector body part formed at one end with a recess which accurately locates a sphere lens relative to an optical fiber receiving hole extending through the body part and terminating at the center of the recess whereby the axis of the optical fiber received by the hole and preferably bonded to the surface of the sphere lens. Connecting means is provided for connecting together in axial alignment two of the body parts with the sphere lenses of the parts arranged in opposed relationship.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,233 issued Feb. 1, 1983 to Masuda, entitled LENS-APPLIED OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR, discloses a lens-applied optical fiber connector used to connect optical fibers for optical communication. The lens-applied optical fiber connector is structured so that the optical fiber connectors are inserted into a lens-applied sleeve and the sleeve is inserted into an adapter. In the present invention, the focal length of the lens is selected to be 0.09 to 0.27 mm and the lens is positioned at the point on the optical axis of the optical fiber apart from the end surface of the fiber as far as the focal length.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,854 issued Dec. 15, 1987 to Mikami, entitled OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME, discloses a method of making an optical waveguide. First, ultraviolet light is radiated upon the surface of a transparent piece of photopolymerization material of a type whose refractive index is changed by the impact of ultraviolet light thereon, so that a refractive index profile in the depthwise direction of the piece of photopolymerization material is formed. Next, ultraviolet light is radiated upon the surface of the transparent piece of photopolymerization material in a pattern of a lengthwise extending stripe whose intensity is least in its central portion and becomes greater towards its edge portions, so that a refractive index profile in the widthwise direction of the piece of photopolymerization material is formed. Finally, an optical waveguide is structured from the thus irradiated piece of photopolymerization material. Optionally, these profiles may be parabolic profiles. Optionally, also, the structuring of the final optical waveguide may be done by laminating together two similar such pieces of photopolymerization material, thus treated, with their sides which were exposed to ultraviolet radiation, in contact with one another.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,969 issued Jan. 10, 1989 to Fantone, entitled FIBER OPTIC RELAY CONNECTOR, describes a fiber optic connector in the form of a two-element relay system which transforms and matches the numerical apertures of an entering beam to that of the acceptance numerical aperture of the exiting optic where in general the numerical apertures can be different. In preferred form, the connector is a pair of spherical balls with their surfaces in contact at a point along an optical axis extending through the centers of the balls. The radii of the spherical balls and their material composition are such that they operate to image fibers or the like one onto the other with their numerical apertures matched when each of the fibers are in optical contact with a respective one of the spherical balls at a point along the optical axis opposite the point of contact.
T. Baer, "Continuous wave laser oscillation in a Nd-YAG sphere", Optics Letters, Vol. 12 (6), pages 392-394, 1987 describes a dye laser whose output beam is coupled into a spherical laser for pumping.

Interconnection means for optical waveguides

International Business Machines Corporation


A smoke eliminator device is provided. The smoke eliminator device is especially suitable for removing smoke from a room or building so as to allow a firefighter to more easily rescue individuals and extinguish fires. The device is a lightweight elongated tube which connects to a standard fire hose. Water emitted from the distal end of the device creates a suction which pulls smoke out of the room or building. A glass-breaking device is located near a distal end of the device to allow the device to easily penetrate a window wherein it may be effective. A cooling nozzle allows for the extinguishing of fire by water spray. An extension may be added to the device to allow the device to be utilized in the upper floor of a building. The device may further have a bend which allows a user to utilize the device directly below a window of an upper floor.

A smoke eliminator device is provided. The smoke eliminator device is especially suitable for removing smoke from a room or building so as to allow a firefighter to more easily rescue individuals and extinguish fires. The device is a lightweight elongated tube which connects to a standard fire hose. Water emitted from the distal end of the device creates a suction which pulls smoke out of the room or building. A glass-breaking device is located near a distal end of the device to allow the device to easily penetrate a window wherein it may be effective. A cooling nozzle allows for the extinguishing of fire by water spray. An extension may be added to the device to allow the device to be utilized in the upper floor of a building. The device may further have a bend which allows a user to utilize the device directly below a window of an upper floor.
Over the years, attempts have been made to provide a smoke eliminator device. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,801 to O'Donnell discloses a special, lightweight, easy-to-use apparatus and effective smoke abatement process to efficiently remove smoke and gases from a burning building to minimize smoke damage, asphyxiation, and injury, as well as to accommodate safer quicker exiting of the building's occupants and better visibility for the firemen. The apparatus has a water spray nozzle which is positioned to face away from the fire to create a suction which draws the smoke and gases out of the burning building.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,808 also to O'Donnell discloses a smoke eliminator for removing smoke, heat and combustion gases from a burning structure. The smoke eliminator includes a heat-resistant rigid tube having an adapter attached to one end for connection to a conventional fire hose, and a fog nozzle attached to the other end and disposed normal to the tube. A butt section is disposed at right angles to the tube below the fog nozzle and has a number of holding teeth for engaging a structure member such as a window ledge.
Still further, U.S. Pat. No. 7,687,748 to Gagas discloses a method of removing a gas. In particular the patent discloses an indoor or outdoor induction cook top system with integrated downdraft or telescoping ventilator uses cross flow or centrifugal blower technology. The system is controlled by an electronic or mechanical controller through a touch device, a slide, or knob. These provide precise control and an efficient way of removal of gases/fumes. A smooth glass cook top incorporates the induction hobs and a downdraft. The ventilator's blower assembly has a fan and a filter. The system uses sensors to detect temperature, fire, effluent, filter change requirements, fan speed, power, and voltage. The system has programmable operations and numerous set points.
However, these patents fail to describe a smoke eliminator device which is easy to use and efficient as is described in the present application. Further, these patents fail to provide a smoke eliminator device which may easily break the glass of a window so as to allow for easy smoke elimination.


A cooling system having a single circulator cools a laser, laser power supply, and laser light valve using two parallel cooling loops having different flow rates. Independent protection against an over temperature condition of the laser, laser power supply, and/or laser light valve is provided in each cooling loop.

The invention generally relates to the field of laser imaging printing plates on a platesetter or imaging film on an imagesetter.
The process of transferring text and/or graphic information from electronic form to visual form on an imagable medium is called imaging. The information can be transferred to an imagable media using light such as produced by a laser beam or beams. The imagable media may be a printing plate or film that is sensitive to the wavelength, and/or thermal characteristics of the laser beam(s) used to accomplish imaging.
Some printing plates are imaged using an ablative process where an outer emulsion layer of the plate is removed using a laser beam having very high optical power. Other types of printing plates are thermally sensitive wherein an outer emulsion layer is not removed but is simply exposed to the laser beam also requiring a significantly high power laser beam.
Lasers are known low efficiency devices that require a large amount of input electrical power in order to provide modest levels of output optical power. The difference between the amount of electrical power provided to the laser and the output optical power generated by the laser is dissipated as heat. Proper operation of the laser requires removing the excess heat produced by the laser. Failure to remove excess heat from the laser can lead to the laser not meeting performance specifications. Consequently, an imageable media will not be properly exposed yielding a defective product wherein the image is not completely transferred to the plate, or the image is distorted. Even worse, failure to remove the excess heat from the laser can result in premature failure of the laser as is well known in the industry. Consequently, adequate means must be provided to remove excess heat from the laser.
Other components of a laser imaging system such as a laser power supply and laser light valve also require cooling. The laser power supply is used to provide electrical power to the laser. The power supply is also not 100 percent efficient resulting in significant heat being generated within the power supply that must be removed.
The laser light valve is used to produce a plurality of individually controllable laser light beams. Two types of laser light valves are the Grating Light Valve (GLV) produced by Silicon Light Machines, and the DMD micro-mirror light valve by Texas Instruments. Light valves are often supplied with the high optical power from laser sources. Since light valves must handle high power laser beams and also have losses, some of the input optic power supplied by the laser is lost as heat and must be removed from the light valve in order to function properly.
Various components of a laser imaging system present different thermal loads necessitating different degrees of cooling.
Some workers have simply employed separate, dedicated cooling systems for each laser component, each cooling system having unique cooling capabilities.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,569,860 to Booth, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,442 to Yarborough et al both teach such a design. Both Booth and Yarborough use separate cooling systems to cool a laser gain medium such as a rod(s), and a flash lamp(s) for pumping the rod(s). This approach, though technically adequate for cooling purposes, is expensive, complex, and requires a large floor space. Further, multiple, separate cooling systems are too bulky to include in an imagesetter or platesetter.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,574 to Connors et al teaches a method of cooling a plurality of lasers using a heat exchanger. The system taught by the ""574 patent is effective because Connors teaches using four individual lasers that are pulsed on and off at a low duty cycle and xe2x80x9caddingxe2x80x9d the output beams together into a single beam. This prevents generation of large amounts of heat at a significant increase in cost, complexity, and shear volume of parts. With such little heat generated in this manner, a simple heat exchanger may be employed as taught by Connors to cool the plurality of lasers.
Other attempts to cool multiple laser components (e.g. laser rod, and/or laser flash lamp) presenting different thermal loads, use a single cooling system, but require insulating a laser component from the coolant as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,081 to Reed et al. This technique applies a portion of the cooling capacity of a cooling system to an insulated laser rod, while allowing for the application of the remaining cooling capacity to an uninsulated flash lamp.
A similar method taught by Hill et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,450 uses two separate cooling systems where one cooling system cools a flashlamp via conduction by surrounding a portion of the lamp with barium sulfate powder. The other system cools a laser rod by circulating coolant around the rod.
Problems described in the prior art supra, and others, are solved by applicant""s invention of providing a single cooling system capable of cooling not only a laser and the laser components, but the system level components in the laser imaging system including the laser power supply and laser light valve. Further, the cooling system is capable of cooling components of a laser imaging system that present different thermal loads to the cooling system.
An object of the invention herein is to provide a single cooling system capable of cooling a laser, a laser power supply, and a laser light valve simultaneously.
A further object of the invention herein is to provide a single cooling system capable of cooling multiple thermal loads requiring different degrees of cooling.
A further object of the invention herein is to provide a single cooling system that precludes premature laser failure due to overheating of the laser.
Another object of the invention is to provide thermal protection for a laser in the event a coolant flow problem arises in any portion of the cooling system.

Method and apparatus for cooling a self-contained laser head


An apparatus is disclosed for operating a symmetric cipher engine (SCE) in cipher-block chaining (CBC) mode. The apparatus includes a crypto operation hardware including the SCE and an XOR stage, an apparatus for storing a chaining value including a state register of the SCE, an input latch supplying the crypto operation hardware with data, and an output latch. The data may be reordered for decipher operation. Furthermore, a method is disclosed for operating a SCE in CBC mode, wherein the method involves a crypto operation hardware that includes the SCE and an XOR stage supplied with data. The method also may include using a state register of the SCE to apply a chaining value. The method further may comprise reordering data supplied to the crypto operation hardware for decipher operation.

The various embodiments described herein relate to cipher and decipher operations within microprocessors.
In cryptography, a block cipher operates on blocks of fixed length (e.g., 64 bits or 128 bits). Because messages may be of any length, and because encrypting the same plaintext under the same key always produces the same output, i.e. ciphertext, several modes of operation have been developed that allow block ciphers to provide confidentiality for messages of arbitrary length.
In the cipher-block chaining (CBC) mode of cipher operation, each block of plaintext is XORed with the previous ciphertext block before being encrypted. Accordingly, each ciphertext block is dependent on all plaintext blocks processed up to that point. Encrypted information is transmitted via a chaining value that is updated with each ciphertext block. The same principle is used in decipher operation, wherein the roles of plaintext and ciphertext are interchanged.
In FIG. 1, a scheme of CBC is shown that depicts the data flow of CBC mode for symmetric ciphers. Input data 01 in a symmetric cipher engine 02 may comprise both a chaining value 03 and input text, which is plaintext (PT) for a cipher operation (FIG. 1a) and ciphertext (CT) for a decipher operation (FIG. 1b). To make each message unique, an initial chaining value 04 may be used to initiate the process for the first real block. FIG. 1 also includes XOR stages 05 (indicated by "=1" components) for XORing data in accordance with the CBC mode.
In FIG. 2, a hardware implementation 06 of CBC according to the state of the art is provided. The hardware implementation 06 may be used for both cipher operation and decipher operation. An input data buffer 07 and an output data buffer 08 (e.g., working according to a first in, first out (FIFO) principle), allow successive (i.e., back-to-back) operations without unnecessary wait cycles. Consequently, software can fill the input data buffer 07 asynchronously to the cipher operation. The input data 01 (FIG. 1) is supplied to a crypto operation hardware 09. The crypto operation hardware 09 includes a symmetric cipher engine (SCE) 02 and XOR stages 05 (indicated by "=1" components). A key 11 is used by the SCE 02 during processing.
At least for cipher operation (FIG. 1a), an initial chaining value (ICV) 04 is used for ciphering a first block of input data 01 (i.e., plaintext (PT)). For a subsequent block of input data 01, the crypto operation hardware 09 stores a ciphertext block processed from the previous block of input data for use as a chaining value 03 for ciphering the subsequent block. For decipher operation (FIG. 1b), an ICV 04 is used for deciphering a first block of input data 01 (i.e., ciphertext (CT)). For a subsequent block of input data 01, the crypto operation hardware 09 stores the previous block of input data 01 for the duration of one decipher operation for use as a chaining value 03 for deciphering the subsequent block.
To store the relevant data for use as a chaining value for cipher operation or for decipher operation, the crypto operation hardware 09 according to the state of the art comprises a dedicated chaining value register (CVR) 10. The width of the CVR 10 is equal to the width of a basic block of the relevant symmetric cipher algorithm. The CVR 10 is necessary according to the state of the art to store a chaining value for ciphering or deciphering. Specifically, for cipher operation the CVR 10 stores a chaining value to be XORed with a plaintext block of input data 01, and the result is processed by the SCE 02. For decipher operation the CVR 10 stores a chaining value that is XORed with a ciphertext block of input data 01 that has been processed by the SCE 02. While the CVR 10 is required for hardware implementation of CBC according to the state of the art, it is disadvantageous in that it requires area and power.

Apparatus and method for operating a symmetric cipher engine in cipher-block chaining mode

International Business Machines Corporation


A display apparatus capable of adjusting the time for detecting input signals from an external input source is provided. The display apparatus includes a signal detector which checks a plurality of input sources in sequence for a predetermined basic time and detects signals input from the plurality of input sources, and a controller which controls the signal detector to adjust the basic time and recheck the plurality of input sources if no signal is detected within the basic time. Accordingly, it is possible to recognize an input source from which input signals are detected late.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to a display apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a display apparatus which is capable of adjusting the time required for detecting input signals from an external input source, and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display apparatus having a television function generally receives various external signals from an external device besides terrestrial broadcasting. Such an external device, which is connected to an input terminal of the display apparatus and supplies it with external signals, includes a videocassette recorder (VCR), a digital versatile disk (DVD) player, a satellite broadcast receiver, a personal computer (PC), and a game console.
However, in the process of reproducing the external signals, the display apparatus may fail to receive the external signals due to environmental factors or poor conditions in connection with the external device. If the display apparatus fails to receive external signals when being operated in a TV mode, the display apparatus displays a blue screen, and if there is no change in the external signal during a predetermined time, the display apparatus is automatically turned off.
On the other hand, if the display apparatus fails to receive external signals when being operated in an external device mode with one of the external devices such as VCR, DVD, satellite broadcast receiver, PC, and game console, the display apparatus displays a message that the cable connection condition should be checked.
However, if the display apparatus fails to receive external signals due to environmental factors, the user is required to directly change an input terminal of the display apparatus to an input terminal capable of receiving external signals, which causes inconvenience to the user.

Display apparatus and control method for adjusting the time required for detecting input signals


A photosensitive resin composition and a method for the formation of a resin pattern using the photosensitive resin composition are provided. The photosensitive resin composition contains, as a catalyst precursor, a catalytic metal element with a metal-deposition catalytic activity suitable for electroless metal plating. The method for the formation of a resin pattern uses a photosensitive resin composition, which contains, as a catalyst precursor, a catalytic metal element with a metal-deposition catalytic activity suitable for electroless metal plating. By using the method of this invention, it is possible to form a conductive film selectively on a resin pattern formed through exposure and development of the photosensitive resin composition of this invention.

This invention is related to a photosensitive resin composition containing, as a catalyst precursor, a catalytic metal element with a metal-deposition catalytic activity suitable for electroless metal plating. In particular, this invention is related to a resin pattern with a metal-deposition catalytic activity suitable for electroless metal plating and to a method for the formation of the resin pattern. This invention is further related to a metal-resin composite prepared through an electroless metal plating treatment on the resin pattern with a metal-deposition catalytic activity suitable for electroless metal plating described above and a method for the formation of the metal-resin composite.
Currently, electroless metal plating treatment is used to form a conductive coating film on an insulating object. The electroless metal plating treatment is carried out through a procedure consisting of the following steps. A conditioning step is carried out using various surfactants to clean the surface and make the surface carry charges. A catalyst-coating step is carried out using a tin/palladium colloid bath. An activation step is carried out using hydrofluoric acid, etc., to activate the catalyst colloid adsorbed on the surface. Electroless metal plating is carried out using a plating bath containing a reducing agent, such as formalin, etc. When the substrate for the electroless metal plating treatment is a printed circuit board for example, carrying a pattern, the pattern can be formed with various methods, such as, but not limited to, the subtractive method, semiadditive method, and full-additive method.
Other methods, such as primer treatment using palladium or silver catalyst, etc., may also be used. In the primer treatment, a metal catalyst is introduced into a resin material containing solvent and inorganic filler. The resin material is coated onto a substrate to form a resin film containing a catalyst. Then, electroless metal plating is carried out to form a conductive film. The primer treatment is mainly used on a plastic surface for the purpose of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding.
In the semiconductor field, sputtering and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are more commonly used for the formation of a conductive layer and the manufacturing technology has been established.
Moreover, a technology of introducing an organic metal salt, etc. with catalytic activity into a resin material and then forming a conducting film with the resin material is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,242 and has been used in the process of electrode formation.
In the current electroless metal plating process, the insulating resin material in the printed circuit board and semiconductor device is first treated with dry etching or using an agent, such as permanganic acid, etc., to generate a rough surface and improve wettability. Then, electroless copper plating or electroless nickel plating is conducted to form a conducting layer on the surface of the resin material.
However, it is very difficult to introduce a carboxyl group or a hydroxyl group to the resin matrix of a highly reliable insulating resin material. In fact, the carboxyl group or hydroxyl group may reduce the reliability of insulating resin material. As a result, the conducting layer formed through electroless metal plating has low adhesion strength to the surface of the insulating resin material. Moreover, for the materials not suitable for generating these anchoring groups, such as glass, ceramic, etc., to improve the attachment of a metal conductive layer, the metal conductive layer formed through electroless metal plating will also have low adhesive strength to the surface. The current electroless metal plating process consists of a series of complicated steps, including conditioning step, catalyst-coating step, activation step, and electroless metal plating step. In order to achieve stable production of high-quality products, it is necessary to have constant monitoring and management of all agents used in each step.
In the process of forming a conductive layer on a base material, currently the surface of the base material is first treated with oxygen plasma and then the conductive layer is formed with sputtering. Moreover, a conductive layer with the required thickness that can be formed by this method by further electrolytic metal plating. However, although sputtering is a standard method for the formation of a thin layer, the process of sputtering usually takes a long period of time and the metal target is expensive. Therefore, the cost of the sputtering process is relatively high.
On the other hand, the method for the formation of a conductive layer with an organic metal salt uses a resinate compound of palladium, silver, platinum, etc. The compound is dissolved in water or an organic solvent and the substrate to be coated is dipped into the solution to form a coating layer of the resinate compound. Then, thermal decomposition of the resinate compound generates a metal thin layer on the substrate to be coated. Finally, electroless or electrolytic metal plating is carried out to form a conductive layer. By using this method, however, the metal coating layer obtained has poor uniformity. In fact, the metal powder is simply attached to the surface of the substrate to be coated and the attachment is not very strong. In order to solve the problem, a paste is prepared by introducing the metal resinate into a synthetic resin material, which is then coated on the substrate to form a uniform coating layer. The paste is widely used to fill holes on printed circuit boards and form electrodes on LCD through screen printing.
However, the conducting paste is not suitable for semiconductors and semiconductor packages as well as other purposes requiring a high reliability. Moreover, it is very difficult to form fine lines through screen printing of the paste. In other words, when using an organic metal salt in the formation of electronic devices, a paste is first prepared by introducing an organic metal salt to a synthetic resin material and then coated on a substrate through screen printing, followed by sintering to convert the organic metal salt to the corresponding metal. In this process, the sintering temperature must be higher than the thermal decomposition temperature of the organic metal salt (at least 300° C.) to remove the synthetic resin material. Therefore, when the synthetic resin material is completely removed, only the metal pattern remains. However, when the method is used in the formation of semiconductor packages, since the base body of semiconductor packages is made of a composite material of epoxy resin reinforced with glass fiber, the high temperature used in the sintering step will cause thermal damage, such as deformation, cracks, etc., on the base body. In addition, since the synthetic resin material is completely removed in the sintering step, various defects, such as pinholes, wire breakage, etc., may be generated in the metal pattern obtained after sintering. In order to avoid these problems, a paste with a high metal content can be used. More specifically, when using a paste containing a gold resinate to form a gold wire, the gold content in the paste must be as high as 25 weight % and the sintering temperature is about 500° C. In other words, the sintering step in the current coating method will cause severe damage to the substrate to be coated. In order to form a metal pattern with a high reliability, the content of the expensive metal in the paste must be increased significantly, resulting in high production costs.

Photosensitive resin composition and method for the formation of a resin pattern using the composition