A color toner comprises a binder resin, a coloring agent, a release agent and a charge controlling agent, wherein the release agent dispersed in the binder resin has an average particle diameter of from about 0.1 to about 2 .mu.m and wherein a fixed color toner image, which is developed and fixed using the toner, has a Haze factor less than about 20% when the image has an image density of 1.5. The color toner produces images having good image qualities such as good color reproducibility.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to a color toner which is useful in image forming methods which include a step in which an electrostatic latent image is developed such as electrophotography, electrostatic recording and electrostatic printing, and to a method of manufacture of the color toner and to a method of image formation using the color toner.
2. Description of the Background
In image forming methods such as electrophotography, electrostatic recording and electrostatic printing, toner is generally used for developing an electrostatic latent image. The toner is required to be constituted of fine particles which are evenly charged and which have good fluidity. As to methods for developing an electrostatic latent image, two-methods are known, one of which is a developing method which employs a two-component developer, which includes a mixture of a toner and a carrier and the other of which is a developing method which uses a one-component developer which includes a toner but does not include a carrier. The developing method using a two-component developer has an advantage in that good images can be stably obtained, but the method has drawbacks which include that a carrier therein tends to deteriorate and the toner/carrier mixing ratio tends to change, resulting in deterioration of image qualities of the developed images.
In the image forming methods mentioned above, a developed toner image on a photoconductor is generally transferred to a transfer sheet and the transferred image is then fixed to obtain a fixed image. As for fixing methods, a heat roller fixing method is typically used in which a transfer sheet having a developed toner image thereon is heated while the sheet is pressed upon passage through a pair of heat rollers. This heat roller fixing method has an advantage in that a developed toner image can be quickly fixed, because the fixing method has high heat efficiency. However, a drawback of the method is the so-called offset problem which tends to occur in which an image which has transferred onto a transfer sheet, transfers instead to a heated roller and the image which has been transferred onto the roller is then transferred to another area of the transfer sheet or another transfer sheet, resulting in occurrence of undesirable images.
In attempting to solve these problems, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2-235067 discloses a developer which includes toner particles which include a release agent therein and thereon, each in a proper mixing ratio. The toner has releasability, however, the toner exhibits drawbacks such as poor fluidity and poor preservability, and has an uneven charge distribution which results in deterioration of image qualities, because the release agent is added onto the surface of the toner. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-168649 discloses a developer including a toner in which a wax having low molecular weight, which serves as a release agent, is dispersed, by kneading with application of a large sheer strength is applied for a long time, in the binder resin of the toner so that the particle size of the dispersed wax is 1 .mu.m or less. This technique tends to avoid the offset problem by controlling the particle diameter of the dispersed release agent, but has drawbacks in that the resultant toner has high manufacturing costs, because the kneading apparatus, which is capable of applying such high shear strength is limited and expensive, and the productivity of the method is low because of the long kneading times required.
Further, demands currently exist for color reproduction methods which provide images having good color image qualities. For example, color toners such as yellow, magenta and cyan toners, and optionally a black toner, are used to prepare full color electrophotographic images. It is preferred that these color toners exhibit good light reflection properties without exhibiting random reflection, and good transparency so that any mixed color image prepared has a desired color when the color toners are overlaid. In addition, the color toners preferably have a relatively small particle size, so that developed color toner images have good resolution and sharpness. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the dispersion of a coloring agent in a binder resin of a color toner.
A toner is generally formed of a binder resin, a coloring agent (a dye, a pigment, a magnetizable material and/or the like), and a charge controlling agent. These toner materials are melted and mixed by kneading, and then pulverized after solidification by cooling. The pulverized toner is then classified to prepare toner particles having a desired particle diameter. The thus obtained toner particles are mixed with an additive such as a colloidal silica to prepare a toner having good fluidity. Extrusion type continuous kneaders having a screw, two-roller mills, three-roller mills, kneaders which can heat and press, or the like have been conventionally used for kneading these toner materials.
In a color toner, the dispersion of a coloring agent in a binder resin depends on the kneading process employed in manufacture of the color toner, and when the dispersion is not satisfactory, the resultant toner is poorly colored and has poor clearness and transparency, resulting in serious deterioration of the color reproducibility of formed color images. In the kneading apparatus mentioned above, the dispersion of a coloring agent in a toner is not satisfactory, and, therefore, images having good image qualities cannot be obtained. In attempting to solve this problem, so-called toner master batch methods are disclosed. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-155568 discloses a toner manufacturing method which includes a step in which a toner master batch is first prepared by melting and kneading a mixture of a portion of a binder resin, a coloring agent and a solvent and then cooling and pulverizing the mixture, and another step in which the toner master batch and the remainder of the binder resin are melted and kneaded. This method tends to improve the dispersion of the coloring agent in the binder resin by adding a solvent, but the method has a drawback in that it takes a long time to obtain a desired color toner in which the particles of the coloring agent are dispersed in the binder resin in a desired particle size. This is because the mixture, including the solvent, has relatively low melt viscosity and, therefore, it is difficult to improve the dispersion of the coloring agent. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 8-146662 discloses a toner which includes a plurality of coloring agents which are different from each other only with respect to particle size distribution. This toner requires at least two toner master batches which are prepared by changing kneading conditions so that each toner master batch includes a coloring agent having a different particle size distribution. However, the thus obtained toner cannot necessarily produce good images and in addition the method has a drawback of low productivity, because it is necessary to prepare at least two master batches to make the toner. Therefore, these toners are not satisfactory. Because of these reasons, a need exists for a color toner which is useful for developing an electrostatic latent image which can produce full color images having good image qualities and which can be effectively manufactured.

Color toner and manufacturing method thereof and image forming method using the color toner


A guided stage mechanism suitable for supporting a reticle in a photolithography machine includes a stage movable in the X-Y directions on a base. Laterally surrounding the stage is a rectangular window frame guide which is driven in the X-axis direction on two fixed guides by means of motor coils on the window frame guide co-operating with magnetic tracks fixed on the base. The stage is driven inside the window frame guide in the Y-axis direction by motor coils located on the stage co-operating with magnetic tracks located on the window frame guide. Forces from the drive motors of both the window frame guide and the stage are transmitted through the center of gravity of the stage, thereby eliminating unwanted moments of inertia. Additionally, reaction forces caused by the drive motors are isolated from the projection lens and the alignment portions of the photolithography machine. This isolation is accomplished by providing a mechanical support for the stage independent of the support for its window frame guide. The window frame guide is a hinged structure capable of a slight yawing (rotational) motion due to hinged flexures which connect the window frame guide members.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to precision motion stages and more specifically to a stage suitable for use in a photolithography machine and especially adapted for supporting a reticle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Photolithography is a well known field especially as applied to semiconductor fabrication. In photolithography equipment a stage (an X-Y motion device) supports the reticle (i.e., mask) and a second stage supports the semiconductor wafer, i.e. the work piece being processed. Sometimes only a single stage is provided, for the wafer or the mask.
Such stages are essential for precision notion in the X-axis and Y-axis directions and often some slight motion is provided for adjustments in the vertical (Z-axis) direction. A reticle stage is typically used where the reticle is being scanned in a scanning exposure system, to provide smooth and precise scanning motion in one linear direction and insuring accurate, reticle to wafer alignment by controlling small displacement motion perpendicular to the scanning direction and a small amount of xe2x80x9cyawxe2x80x9d (rotation) in the X-Y plane. It is desirable that such an X-Y stage be relatively simple and be fabricated from commercially available components in order to reduce cost, while maintaining the desired amount of accuracy. Additionally, many prior art stages include a guide structure located directly under the stage itself. This is not a desirable in article stage since it is essential that a light beam be directed through the reticle and through the stage itself to the underlying projection lens. Thus a stage is needed which does not include any guides directly under the stage itself, since the stage itself must define a fairly large central passage for the light beam.
Additionally, many prior art stages do not drive the stage through its center of gravity which undesirability induces a twisting motion in the stage, reducing the frequency response of the stage. Therefore there is a need for an improved stage and especially one suitable for a reticle stage.
A precision motion stage mechanism includes the stage itself which moves in the X-Y plane on a flat base. The stage is laterally surrounded by a xe2x80x9cwindow framexe2x80x9d guide structure which includes four members attached at or near their corners to form a rectangular structure. The attachments are flexures which are a special type of hinge allowing movement to permit slight distortion of the rectangle. In one version these flexures are thin stainless steel strips attached in an xe2x80x9cXxe2x80x9d configuration, allowing the desired degree of hinge movement between any two adjacent connected window frame members.
The window frame guide structure moves on a base against two spaced-apart and parallel fixed guides in e.g. the X axis direction, being driven by motor coils mounted on two opposing members of the window frame cooperating with magnetic tracks fixed on the base.
The window frame in affect xe2x80x9cfollowsxe2x80x9d the movement of the stage and carries the magnetic tracks needed for movement of the stage in the Y axis direction. (It is to be understood that references herein to the X and Y axis directions are merely illustrative and for purposes of orientation relative to the present drawings and are not to be construed as limiting.)
The stage movement in the direction of perpendicular (the Y axis direction) to the direction of movement of the window frame is accomplished by the stage moving along the other two members of the window frame. The stage is driven relative to the window frame by motor coils mounted on the stage and cooperating with magnetic tracks mounted in the two associated members of the window frame.
To minimize friction, the stage is supported on the base by air bearings or other fluid bearings mounted on the underside of the stage. Similarly fluid bearings support the window frame members an their fixed guides. Additionally, fluid bearings load the window frame members against the fixed guides and load the stage against the window frame. So as to allow slight yaw movement, these loading bearings are spring mounted. The stage itself defines a central passage. The reticle-rests on a chuck mounted on the stage. Light from an illuminating source typically located above the reticle passes to the central passage through the reticle and chuck to the underlying projection lens.
It is to be understood that the present stage, with suitable modifications, is not restricted to supporting a reticle but also may be used as a wafer stage and is indeed not limited to photolithography applications but is generally suited to precision stages.
An additional aspect in accordance with the present invention is that the reaction force of the stage and window frame drive motors is not transmitted to the support frame of the photolithography apparatus projection lens but is transmitted independently directly to the earth""s surface by an independent supporting structure. Thus the reaction forces caused by movement of the stage do not induce undesirable movement in the projection lens or other elements of the photolithography machine.
This physically isolating the stage reaction forces from the projection lens and associated structures prevents these reaction forces from vibrating the projection lens and associated structures. These structures include the interferometer system used to determine the exact location of the stage in the X-Y plane and the wafer stage. Thus the reticle stage mechanism support is spaced apart from and independently supported from the other elements of the photolithography machine and extends to the surface of the earth.
Advantageously, the reaction forces from operation of the four motor coils for moving both the stage and its window frame are transmitted through the center of gravity of the stage, thereby desirably reducing unwanted moments of force (i.e., torque). The controller controlling the power to the four drive motor coils takes into consideration the relative position of the stage and the frame and proportions the driving force accordingly by a differential drive technique.

Method of making exposure apparatus with dynamically isolated reaction frame


A method of designing a furniture product includes displaying a first and a second part members on a screen such that a first face of the first part member and a second face of the second part member are in parallel; setting XY coordinate in which a corner of a rectangle of each face of the first and second part members is set as an origin, and two sides extending orthogonally from the corner are set as X axis and Y axis to designate a first position on the first face by the XY coordinate; perpendicularly projecting the first face of the first part member onto the second face of the second part member to calculate a position on the second face that corresponds to the first position and designating the calculated position on the second face as a second position by the XY coordinate on the second face.

As a measure to design a three-dimensional structure by using a computer, three-dimensional CAD has been used. By using three-dimensional CAD, furniture product can be three-dimensionally designed with desired dimensions and shape on a screen. Further, data of a furniture product designed by using three-dimensional CAD can be produced as NC data by using CAD/CAM so that members of the furniture product can be machined by using NC (numerical control) machining tools.

Method for designing and manufacturing custom-made furniture using computer, system, and program therefor


Overhead door decelerator assemblies and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a door assembly includes a door, an elongated door track, and a brush proximate the door track. The door includes a guide member extending outwardly from a side edge portion of the door. The brush is positioned such that moving the door between open and closed positions causes the guide member to deflect a resilient portion (e.g., a plurality of bristles, a plurality of flaps, or a blade) of the brush at regions of the resilient portion consecutively positioned along the length of the brush. The brush can be positioned away from the door when the door is in the closed position and in contact with a portion of the door when the door is in the open position.

Overhead doors are commonly used in loading docks, garages, factories, and other settings where large door openings are periodically closed off. Conventional overhead doors typically include a plurality of rectangular door panels pivotally connected along their upper and/or lower edges. Rollers or other guide members can extend outwardly from each side of the door panels, and can be received in corresponding guide channels of door tracks that extend upwardly along each side of the door opening. Some door tracks, often referred to as "vertical lift" door tracks, extend vertically, or at least generally vertically, above the door opening so that the door is retracted into a generally vertical position when opened. Other door tracks, often referred to as "standard lift" or "high lift" door tracks, turn horizontally and extend away from the door opening so that at least a portion of the door is retracted into a generally horizontal position when opened.
Overhead doors can be manually or automatically operated, and typically include a counterbalance mechanism that partially offsets the weight of the door. Automatic overhead doors can include an arm that extends between the door and an operator track parallel to upper portions of the door tracks. A motor and a looped belt or chain can be used to control movement of the arm along the operator track. In this way, movement of the door can be regulated to a slow and steady speed. Some automatic overhead doors can be converted into manual overhead doors, e.g., by disengaging the arm from the belt or chain. Other overhead doors are capable of automatic or manual operation only. Manual overhead doors typically are configured such that an operator can manually lift and lower the door using a handle, a rope, or some other similar mechanism.
In contrast to automatic overhead doors, manual overhead doors are typically more prone to harsh operation leading to more significant wear on components. For example, manual overhead doors may be improperly opened or closed with excessive force. Some overhead door assemblies include an upper bumper that stops the door from moving beyond a fully open position. These upper bumpers can fail due to the impact or mechanical shock associated with forcefully opening the door. Similarly, other portions of overhead door assemblies can fail due to impact or mechanical shock associated with forcefully closing the door, e.g., shock that occurs when the door hits the floor beneath the door opening. Furthermore, in some cases, overhead doors can recoil from fully open and/or fully closed positions after forceful impact, leaving the doors in less desirable partially open or partially closed positions. Overhead doors can also drift down from open positions due to factors other than recoil (e.g., poorly adjusted counterbalance mechanisms).
One conventional approach to reducing mechanical shock and the associated component wear that result from harsh operation of overhead doors includes incorporating raised features (e.g., bumps) in the door tracks. When used with doors including retractable (e.g., spring-loaded) guide members, the raised features can force the guide members to partially retract, thereby absorbing energy and slowing movement of the doors. Retractable guide members are often used in overhead doors to allow the doors to release from the door tracks in response to accidental impact against the door panels. Most overhead doors, however, include non-retractable guide members (e.g., fixed rollers). In some cases, raised features in door tracks are not compatible with overhead doors including non-retractable guide members. Furthermore, repeatedly forcing retractable guide members over raised features can wear down or otherwise damage the guide members over time. Accordingly, there is a need for further innovation in the field of overhead doors, such as new approaches to reducing the negative effects of harsh operation, reducing recoil, reducing drift, and/or addressing other problems stated or not stated herein.

Overhead door decelerators and associated devices, systems, and methods


The present invention discloses a new resource processing method of kitchen waste, in particular, provides a method of preparing biochemical humic acid from kitchen waste and biochemical humic acid product prepared therefrom. The kitchen waste treated by technical solution of the present invention has a high conversion rate of organic matter, reaching over 90%. Meanwhile, the biochemical humic acid product prepared by the invention is nutritious, the amount of the total humic acid, free humic acid and water soluble humic acid in the product reach up to 38-42%, 35-40% and 14-16%, respectively; it contains not only the major elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but also the trace elements such as zinc, iron and manganese as well as other active substances. Thus the product is suitable for fertilizer in agricultural production.

Natural humic acid, which is formed from the plant and animal remains after long-term and complicated biochemical reaction, mainly exists in soil and lean coal such as peat coal, weathered coal and brown coal. Natural humic acid belongs to un-renewable natural resources, and its alkaline extract, called coal humic acid or mineral humic acid, is the current major humic acid product which has realized industrialization and has been used in industry and agriculture. However, biochemical humic acid (BHA) is a product rich in humic acid, which is produced from the organic waste as raw material by special biochemical process. The available organic wastes from industry, agriculture and daily life are mainly crop straw, food processing waste, excrement of livestock and poultry, residue of sugar industry, black liquid from paper industry, waste liquid of alcohol and gourmet powder, garden waste etc. Thus, BHA is an "artificial humic acid" and a new source of humic acid. Since the raw material of BHA is the waste instead of natural resource, developing BHA can effectively solve the problem of depending on un-renewable natural resources. Research (He Liqian, 1999) shows that, BHA not only has general characteristics and properties of the humic acid, but also has characteristics different from ordinary humic acid: 1) having low extent of condensation, low carbon content, and small molecular weight, being easy to be absorbed and utilized by organisms; 2) containing more functional groups, having stronger physiological activity than ordinary humic acid; 3) having light color, and better water solubility, being soluble in acidic or alkaline solution; 4) having high flocculation limit and big buffer capacity.
In agricultural production, the humic acid fertilizer possesses the following significant efficacy: increasing production and improving quality. The humic acid and trace elements in humic acid fertilizer form a complex compound or chelate compound which is easily dissolved and easy to be absorbed by crops, which is helpful for root system and leaf surface to absorb trace elements. The functional groups of humic acid such as carboxyl, phenolic hydroxyl group, which have strong ion exchange and adsorption ability, can reduce the loss of ammonium nitrogen to increase the utilization rate of nitrogen fertilizer; inhibit soil to fix the water-soluble phosphorus, change quick-acting phosphorus into slow-acting phosphorus and enhance the root system to absorb phosphorus; absorb and store potassium ion so as to make the potassium fertilizer degrade slowly, increase the release amount of the potassium, and thus increase the amount of quick-acting potassium. A variety of active functional groups in the humic acid molecular can enhance physiological metabolism, as well as growth and development of plants. Thus, the humic acid fertilizer can effectively increase utilization rate of the nutrients and stimulate the growth of crops, thus increasing yield and quality of crops.
The humic acid fertilizer also possesses the following significant efficacy: improving the resistance of crops. The humic acid fertilizer can decrease opening extent of plant leaf stomata and reduce leaf transpiration, thus decreasing water consumption of plant, improving the internal water condition in plant and enhancing its anti-drought ability. The humic acid fertilizer also can inhibit fungi, strengthen disease resistance of crops, avoid rot disease, root rot disease etc., and alleviate the damage from diseases and insect pest.
The humic acid fertilizer also possess the following significant efficacy: improving soil and reducing pollution. The humic acid fertilizer can enhance the formation of soil granular structure, reduce soil bulk density, increase the substitution amount of positive ion, and adjust soil acidity and alkalinity, so as to increase the soil's ability of water retention, fertilizer retention, heat preservation and ventilation.
The physicochemical properties of humic acid endows it the following advantages to serve as a fertilizer:                1. Improvement of Low Yield Soil: two thirds of the area of cultivated land in China is low-middle yield soil. Research (Xing Shuji, 1989) indicates that, applying large quantity of humic acid fertilizer throughout China can lead to a certain improvement in the arable soil or rhizosphere soil. There is a large area of red soil distributed in south China, the characteristics of such red soil are "acidic, barren, hard and dried", as well as lacking organic matter and nutrients, and having bad soil structure. The saline-alkali soils in China are mainly distributed in northwest China, north China, northeast China and the coastal areas, including saline soil and alkali soil. The major harms of the saline-alkali soils are: high soil salt content, too high concentration of the harmful ions; too high soil alkality; bad soil structure; inhibition of the growth and development of crops. Applying large quantity of the humic acid fertilizer for a long time can enhance the formation of soil aggregate and adjust the soil condition of "water, fertilizer, air and heat"; and can also inhibit the increase of salinity, reduce salt content of the topsoil, and change the pH values of saline-alkali soils through "salt-separating" and "salt-absorbing" effects, thus greatly increasing the survival rate of crops.        2. Increase of Effect and Slow Release of Chemical Fertilizer: at present in China, the utilization rate of nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer accounts for about 20% to 30%, 10% to 20% and 50% to 70% respectively. How to improve the utilization rate of chemical fertilizer has become a very important research topic in the world. The humic acid fertilizer, which is produced through adding nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements to the raw materials of peat coal, brown coal and weathered coal, can improve the utilization rate of chemical fertilizer in different degrees; this result has been verified by a large number of research reports from China and abroad (Li Li et al., 1998). For example, the typical nitrogen fertilizer such as urea and ammonium bicarbonate generally have high volatility and low utilization rate. However, their absorption can be improved and the utilization rate can be increased by 20% to 40% after mixing the nitrogen fertilizers with humic acid to form a humic acid fertilizer. Addition of nitro humic acid to urea can form a complex of humic acid and urea, make the decomposition of urea slow, prolong the fertilizer efficiency, and reduce the loss, so that the production-increasing effect of urea can be relatively increased by 30%, and the fertilizer efficiency can be increased by over 15%. The determination results of the utilization rate of nitrogen fertilizer indicates that, after adding humic acid, the utilization rate is increased from 30.1% to 34.1%, and the nitrogen uptake is increased by 10%.        3. Modulation of Growth and Development of Crops: the efficient biological active substances contained in the humic acid fertilizer can enhance physiological metabolism, growth and development of crops, and this characteristics is not possessed by ordinary fertilizer. The ways including seed soaking, root soaking, spraying, irrigating and being as base-fertilizer with a certain concentration of humic acid fertilizer have significant effects of stimulation on various crops. Applying humic acid fertilizer improves seed germination, and the germination rate is increased by 10% to 30%; root dipping or root soaking with humic acid fertilizer has become an agriculture technical measure to improve survival rate in sticking or transplanting. Applying humic acid fertilizer makes the crops grow very well, and improves the yield and quality of the crops. Applying humic acid fertilizer can also effectively increase the anti-drought and anti-frigidity abilities of crops, and prevent underground plant diseases, insect pests and pathogenic bacteria.
Kitchen waste refers to leftover bits and pieces and leftovers derived from hotels, restaurants, dining-halls etc., and it comprises processed food products and their residues, such as foodstuff (rice and flour), fruits and vegetables, plant and animal fats, meats, aquatic product, eggs, meat bones, and fish bone, etc. (Li Jun et al., 2009). The major chemical ingredients of kitchen waste are starch, protein, fat, cellulose, inorganic salt, which has high content of moisture, generally reaching up to 60% to 80%. There are mainly three types of kitchen waste in China: 1. domestic kitchen waste, which is classified into household kitchen waste by the China Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in 2009; 2. kitchen waste from dining-halls, restaurants, hotels, and staff dining-halls of government agencies, enterprises and public institutions, which is also an important source of kitchen waste; 3. kitchen waste from dining-halls of colleges and universities. According to a statistics from the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering in Tsinghua University, over 60 million tons of kitchen waste is generated in urban areas of China every year. The kitchen waste reaches up to 1200 tons in Beijing every day (Zhang Qing et al., 2010). The kitchen waste in China has a big total amount, and contains much fat, moisture, salt and other complex ingredients; if not treated properly, it is likely to cause food security problems such as "illegal cooking oil", "swill-feeding swine", thus resulting in wasting resources and influencing the ecological environment.
Generally speaking, the technology and policy on kitchen waste treatment in China are experiencing an exploring stage, and the management system and corresponding policy on kitchen waste treatment are being improved. At present the general ways of treating kitchen waste includes landfilling, burning, feed-processing technology and aerobic fermentation composting. Landfilling may cause the waste of land, while it will produce a great quantity of malodorous gas and permeated liquid, thus leading to secondary pollution to environment; burning treatment consumes much energy and produces cancer-causing substance dioxin; feed-processing technology is one of the major ways of kitchen waste treatment. In addition, illegally transporting the kitchen waste to farm for feeding swine or refining the "illegal cooking oil" causes secondary pollution to environment and potential safety harzard. The quality of fertilizers produced by anaerobic fermentation composting is poor; meanwhile, high-quality composting ways cost too much, and thus are difficult to disseminate. Since the current ways of treating kitchen waste lead to some problems in different extent, it is desired to develop a new process and new technology to increase the level of resource processing of kitchen waste.
Since 1980s, the experiment and research work regarding large-scale harmless utilization of kitchen waste has begun in some countries including Germany, France, UK, Cuba, Netherlands, US, Japan and South Korea. Achievements in the methods of collecting and treating kitchen waste and the products of kitchen waste processing have been obtained; also large-scale factories of treating kitchen waste are built in medium and large-sized cities; the treatment of kitchen waste has realized the specialization and its management has been legalized (Li Jun, 2009). At present, the major ways of treating kitchen waste out of China are also focusing on composting, landfilling, feed-processing technology and power generation and heat supply with biogenic gas. In US, the treatment ways mainly include recycling, composting and being feed; in US, the treatment way of composting is used in the Middle-West area, mainly in prisons and schools where the kitchen waste is centrally collected. Currently, vermicomposting and in-vessel composting are generally applied. The traditional treatment way in Japan is composting, which can transforms the food waste into organic fertilizers and soil conditioners. In recent years, feed-processing technology is the major way of treating kitchen waste in some of East Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan which have large population with relatively little land.
At present, the method of preparing BHA in China and abroad is performed by inoculating a plurality of special microbial bacteria strains in plant medium, namely, agricultural organic waste such as crop straw, saw dust and bagasse, fermenting by chemical or microbial fermentation technology and isolating to obtain BHA (Liu Kexing et al., 2008; Ye Shuiying, 1999). There is no report in China and abroad on producing biochemical humic acid from kitchen waste as culture medium.

Biochemical humic acid product prepared from kitchen waste and the method of preparing the same


A hydrofoil system is disclosed, having a fuselage with a propeller mounted to one end of the fuselage and a wing extending laterally from the fuselage. The fuselage is configured for removable attachment to a mast, so that the mast when attached extends from the fuselage in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and also substantially orthogonal to the wing. A tail wing is connected to the fuselage by a tail strut, so that the tail wing is positioned beyond the end of the fuselage to which the propeller is attached. A motor is housed in the fuselage and has a cable connected thereto, the cable extending outside the fuselage, wherein a removable sealing system inhibits water ingress to the motor at the location where the cable is connected when the sealing system is installed in the fuselage.

A recent development in watercraft technology is the attachment of a hydrofoil and a motor to a surfboard. These systems include an electric motor and a hydrofoil in combination. The hydrofoil elevates the board clear of the water when under power from the motor, reducing drag and providing high speed travel over the water.
The hydrofoil and motor are positioned towards a lower end of a mast, while an upper end of the mast is bolted to an underside of the board. One method of developing such a system has been to take an existing hydrofoil surfboard and insert a motor to part of the mast.
Many components required for operation of the motor may be housed in the board, such as batteries and/or control circuitry. These components must then be connected to the motor at the lower end of the mast by wires that are routed internally down the mast.
The combination of water and electricity, together with large changes in temperature, means that adequate sealing is difficult but very important. Adding to this complexity, the craft needs to be easily disassembled regularly for transport or for maintenance, but to still have adequate sealing every time it is assembled again for use.
The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.


A paint brush protector and maintenance device provides storage, protection, and care for paint brushes includes a clamshell enclosure that opens to encase bristle and ferrule portions of a paint brush. The enclosure in at least one embodiment provides a rigid plastic to ensure that the bristles remain in a straight position and a plurality of drying holes along a front surface to aid in drying the bristles after cleaning. An end portion of the enclosure has a compressible stabilizer pad to hold the paint brush securely in place. The apparatus also provides a brush comb that clips onto the exterior of the enclosure providing a toothed comb and a pair of stiff bristle brushes to clean and condition the bristles as needed.

Painting projects are known to often take a long time for completion due to their repetitive, precise, and extensive nature. Depending on the particular project, there are a variety of tasks to perform including removing old paint, cleaning the surface, prepping the surface, mixing the paint, applying the paint, and cleaning up. In all such projects, the use of a paint applicator such as a paintbrush is integral to most steps of the process. The brush is utilized to mix or apply the paint. After use, the paintbrush is typically cleaned and stored until next time, as the project may occur over several days or sessions.
During such intermediate periods, paint brushes may be stored in a cabinet, in a drawer, on a hook or in a similar location. To help protect the bristles, many painters place the brush back in its packaging containers. This is intended to help maintain the bristle shape and keep it clean and free from dirt. However, such packaging is often made of cardboard which does not hold up over time. Those that do not use any covering risk the brush becoming dirty, dusty, or deformed if it dries at an angle against another object.
Various attempts have been made to provide paint brush maintenance devices. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,399, issued in the name of Crouch, describes an apparatus for holding a paint brush including a "V"-shaped interior wall to receive the bristled end of the brush.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,762, issued in the name of Meimeteas, describes a paint brush cover with a hook formed integrally with an exterior portion of the device, enabling the paint brush to be hung onto an edge of a paint container or similar object.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,939, issued in the name of Derencsenyi et al., describes a protective paint brush sleeve for protecting paintbrushes during soaking and storage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,188, issued in the name of Custeau, describes a cleaning assembly for a paint brush including a container with a volume of paint solvent and a top mouth for receiving and retaining a paint brush within the solvent for cleaning.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,967, issued in the name of Sica, describes a paint brush cleaning, drying, and storage container including a brush hanger bar with a plurality of adjustable hooks for the raising and lowering of paint brushes independent of each other in a suspended position.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,966, issued in the name of Ray, describes a shuck for drying a paintbrush including an air-permeable screen mesh portion.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. Many such devices occupy a significantly increased amount of space compared to the brush itself. Also, many such devices do not provide adequate shaping, protection, and drying to the bristles portions of the brush. Furthermore, many such devices do not provide inherent capabilities for conditioning a brush and must be utilized in conjunction with peripheral objects or substances. Accordingly, there exists a need for a paint brush protector and maintenance device without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need.

Paint brush protector and maintenance device


A thermally stable ceramic and/or metal coated carbonaceous linear fiber batting, fiber tow, yarn or fabric which maintains some degree of stability in the presence of various concentrations of oxygen at elevated temperatures.

Many high temperature applications require a material that is not only processable into a fibrous structure but is also capable of withstanding severe end-use temperatures. In some instances, these temperatures may be as high as 1000 degrees Celsius to 2000 degrees Celsius. The existing engineering plastics cannot be used in such applications because most plastics decompose below 1000 degrees Celsius. Moreover, such plastics suffer dramatic losses in mechanical properties such as tensile strength and tenacity at temperatures as high as 250-400 degrees Celsius. For example, KEVLAR 29 (a trademark of DuPont), when heated to 250 degrees Celsius in air can lose 60% of its tenacity and 60% of its tensile strength. At 425 degrees Celsius Kevlar irreversibly degrades and at 500 degrees Celsius Kevlar decomposes. NOMEX (a trademark of DuPont) decomposes at 370 degrees Celsius and polybenzyimidazole (PBI) decomposes at 480 degrees Celsius. At 520 degrees Celsius, the carbonaceous fibers of the present invention, retain 90% of their original weight.
Heretofore, ceramic, graphite fiber and quartz battings and fabrics have been used for high temperature thermal insulation and high temperature protection. All of these prior art materials are very brittle and tend to pack with time and lose loft, thus losing performance with time. The quartz and ceramic materials are air stable at high temperatures such as greater than 450 degrees Celsius. However, they are very difficult for workers to handle and present health risks to the workers similar to those problems created by handling asbestos. A significant amount of research has been conducted by industry to find fibrous materials which can be readily processed into textile batting structures or fabrics and which will withstand temperatures of 400 degrees Celsius or greater in air without loss of mechanical properties. These fibers include Celanese's PBI and Oxidized Polyacrylonitrile Fiber. While these materials are readily processable and have a high degree of resiliency, they lack the requisite thermal stability to withstand temperatures of greater than 400 degrees Celsius and still maintain good mechanical properties.
It is understood herein that the fiber assembly of the invention may be in the form of a monofilament fiber, a multifilament fiber tow, a yarn, a multiplicity of fibers forming a wool-like material, a nonwoven fiber batting, matting, webbing or felt, a woven fabric or knitted cloth, or the like.
The non-graphitic carbonaceous fibers have a carbon content of at least 65% and an LOI value of greater than 40 when the fibers are tested according to the test method of ASTM D2863-77. The test method is also known as "Oxygen Index" or "Limited Oxygen Index" (LOI). With this procedure, the concentration of oxygen in O.sub.2 /N.sub.2 mixtures is determined at which a vertically mounted specimen is ignited at its upper end and just (barely) continues to burn. The width of the specimen is from 0.65 to 0.3 cm with a length of from 7 to 15 cm. The LOI value is calculated according to the equation: ##EQU1##

Carbonaceous fiber or fiber assembly with inorganic coating


The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for applying pressure to a newborn baby. The apparatus defines a cavity for holding the newborn baby therein, and a plurality of expandable conduits that each substantially surround the cavity, where each conduit is independently expandable: (1) on transfer of fluid from a fluid source into the conduit; (2) on application of an electric potential from an electric potential source to the conduit; or (3) a combination thereof, to apply pressure along at least a portion of the length of the newborn baby held in the cavity. The present disclosure also discusses methods of applying pressure to a newborn baby in a pressure applying apparatus, and systems for applying pressure to a newborn baby.

The following paragraphs are not an admission that anything discussed in them is prior art or part of the knowledge of persons skilled in the art.
A fetus develops with its lungs filled with fetal lung liquid. During fetal life, the fetal lung liquid plays an important role in the growth and development of the lungs. During birth, a newborn baby must rapidly clear its lungs' air spaces of fetal lung liquid to transition to air breathing. Failure to do so may cause the baby to develop respiratory distress syndrome.

Methods, apparatuses and systems for applying pressure to a newborn baby


A structure and a method for waterproofing a mobile phone are disclosed, to prevent entry of water through a recharging connector of the mobile phone such that an internal circuit in a main body is not damaged by water. The waterproofing method includes a housing molding process wherein a housing is insert-molded to have a contact terminal and a ground terminal, a groove for connection with a sealing member, and a mounting hole for mounting to a PCB, a sealing member assembling process wherein the housing, a shell, and the sealing member are assembled into an assembly, a connector assembling process wherein the assembly is mounted to the PCB so that the terminals of the housing contact a connection terminal of a PCB connector, and a casing assembling process wherein upper and lower casings are connected to the sealing member.

In general, as shown in FIG. 1A, a mobile phone includes a main body comprising upper and lower casings 100A and 100B, which are separable, and a recharging connector 200 mounted to the main body. By having a cover 300, the recharging connector 200 is capable of preventing entry of water, as well as dust and other foreign substances. Such a cover 300 is connected by a link shaft 300A, made of an elastic material, to the main body in order to maintain connection with the main body even when the recharging connector is opened.
The cover 300, however, is mainly provided for the dustproof function and does not work well as a waterproof function. Therefore, in situations where the mobile phone is submerged in water, entry of water into the main body of the mobile phone is not effectively prevented, even while the cover 300 is blocking the recharging connector 200. Therefore, entering water can seriously affect the performance of the mobile phone.
To be more specific, as shown in FIG. 1B, the recharging connector 200 includes a housing 11 having therein a plurality of contact terminals 13 formed by insert injection molding and a metal shell 12 that is connected at the outside of the housing 11, thereby constituting a connector assembly 1. The shell 12 includes a pair of fixing holes 121 at an upper part thereof in order to engage hooks of the recharging connector 200. A ground terminal 123 and the contact terminals 13 of the shell 12 are electrically connected to a printed circuit board (PCB) 200A through soldering. Upper parts of the contact terminals 13 are supported by a supporting protrusion 114 projecting to the front of the housing 11.
That is, while a leading end of the contact terminal 13 is inclined upward, a rear end of a horizontally extended part of the contact terminal 13 is bent downward, perpendicularly as to be soldered to the PCB 200A. Here, the soldering is performed using a surface mount device (SMD) type.
According to the SMD soldering, a solder paste 200B, consisting of small gel particles, is interposed between patterns formed on the PCB 200A and the contact terminals 13. Subsequently, heat is applied to melt the solder paste 200B in a chamber such that the patterns and the contact terminals are soldered to each other. Here, the solder paste 200B can be attached to the PCB patterns and the contact terminals 13 through a predetermined viscosity.
More specifically, according to the SMD soldering, the recharging connector 200 is constituted in such a manner that the connector assembly 1 is first placed on the PCB 200A and the ground terminal 123 of the shell 12 is soldered to the PCB 200A. Next, the solder paste 200B is interposed between pattern-type connection terminals (not shown) formed at the PCB 200A and the contact terminals 13 constituting the connector assembly 1, and then heated in the chamber. Accordingly, the solder paste 200B is melt between the connection terminals and the contact terminals 13, thus accomplishing the soldering.
The above-structured recharging connector 200 has a problem in that water can permeate gaps between the shell 12 and the upper and lower casings 100A and 100B, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 1B. Additionally, water may permeate through the fixing holes 121 formed at the upper part of the shell 12, as well as gaps between the housing 11 and the shell 12. As the water enters the PCB 200A, the operation of the mobile phone would be seriously affected.
In order to prevent such water damage to the mobile phone, a sealing member made of rubber may be used. However, the sealing member may become deformed or damaged during assembly of the mobile phone.
More specifically, when electrically connecting the contact terminals 13 of the connector assembly 1 to the PCB 200A, the SMD soldering method is used as explained above, in which the solder paste 200B, interposed between the PCB patterns and the contact terminals 13, is melted in the chamber, thereby achieving the soldering. Therefore, the rubber sealing may be deformed or damaged by heat. Thus, rubber sealing may be improper for practical use.
The shell 12 has a grounding function in order to interrupt electromagnetic waves, generated from the inside and outside thereof. Therefore, the ground terminal 123 disposed at the lower part of the shell 12 and soldered to the PCB 200A is an essential element for grounding and fixing of the shell 12. Nevertheless, the ground terminal 123 in addition becomes a hindrance against waterproofing of the recharging connector 200.
Usually, water enters into the main body of the mobile phone through the fixing holes 121, which are formed at the upper part of the shell 12. To this end, when the sealing member is applied, it is disposed behind the fixing holes 121 of the shell 12. Since the ground terminal 123 of the shell 12 that is electrically connected to the PCB 200A is disposed ahead of the sealing member, the circuit structure may become severely damaged through the ground terminal 123 in spite of provision of the sealing member.
Furthermore, since a lower surface of the shell 12 is in contact with the ground terminal 123 through the whole length thereof as shown in FIG. 2, water may enter through the contacting area despite the use of the sealing member. Thus, the actual waterproofing is hard to accomplish.

Waterproofing method and structure for mobile phone


A disclosed method for setting multiple tones in a halftone process upon recording an image using ink includes the steps of: dividing the image into plural dot areas; and setting the multiple tones such that at least one dot area to which the ink is not attached is present between dot areas to which the ink is attached.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure generally relates to a setting method, an image recording apparatus, program, and a recording medium and more particularly to a setting method upon recording an image using ink, an image recording apparatus for recording images using ink, a program used in the image recording apparatus, and a recording medium in which the program is recorded.
2. Description of the Related Art
In image recording apparatuses such as ink-jet recording apparatuses, images are recorded on paper by attaching ink to paper in accordance with image data. In recent years, the demand for quality of recorded images has been increasing year by year. In view of this, what is called a halftone process has been conducted in which the number of dots per unit area is controlled (refer to Patent Document 1, for example).
However, when landing accuracy, which is accuracy of how ink droplets are attached to object positions on paper, is low in ink-jet recording apparatuses, the quality of recorded images may be deteriorated due to shift of landing positions upon attachment of ink to paper in which adjacent ink droplets are mixed.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-80065

Method and device for setting multiple tones in halftone process to prevent mixing of adjacent ink dots


The present invention relates to a biodegradable multilayer nanocapsule for the delivery of at least one biologically active agent into at least one target cell consisting of at least two layers of at least two biodegradable polymers which are laid one onto the other and whereby the biologically active agent is layered onto a layer of a biodegradable polymer and covered with a further layer of a biodegradable polymer, whereby one biologically active agent is a nucleic acid.

One of the rapidly developing directions of biomedical research and nanotechnology is the design of new delivery systems for bioactive materials and, in particular, of genetic material into target cells. Various synthetic approaches for transfer of coding DNA and regulatory RNA molecules, e.g. short interfering RNA, non-coding RNAs and newly developed CRISP/Cas9 DNA and RNA elements to target cells have meanwhile been demonstrated. Most cancer cell lines can be efficiently manipulated with the help of these systems. However, establishment of the transfer of regulation elements to primary cells and embryonic or adult stem cells is time consuming and frequently accompanied by unwanted side effects hampering translation of in vitro findings to in vivo models and clinical practice.
For basic research purposes, efficient nontoxic approaches for manipulation of gene expression by knocking down a gene of interest using siRNA and miRNA, or overexpressing a gene of interest by transfer of coding DNA are sought. Whereas the majority of the established immortalized cells lines broadly used by the scientific community allow efficient RNA and DNA transfer using lipid-, polysaccharide-, polymer-, or calcium precipitation-based commercially available reagents, manipulation of gene expression in primary and stem cells remains a challenge. More complexity is expected by the establishment of targeted delivery in animal models and by translation of this technique to clinical practice, since further aspects have to be considered such as a promising drug delivery tool, e.g. regulated duration of substance release, cost-effectiveness and biocompatibility.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as potential vehicles for gene transfer and delivery that together with other cells of the bone marrow, e.g. hematopoietic stem cells, serve as a tool for treatment of different diseases. Especially, MSCs have attracted attention among researches due to their ability to differentiate to various lineages including osteogenic, chondrogenic, neurogenic and adipogenic lineages, and for their ability to exhibit tropism to injured tissues and regulate the proliferation of immune cells. Thus MSCs are applied in regenerative medicine and as immune modulators, respectively. Consequently, manipulation of MSC properties by gene transfer and their application as gene carriers is an attractive opportunity for targeted gene therapy. However, low transfection efficiency and unwanted side effects encountered during viral transduction, e.g. integration of viral genome into the host DNA, hamper their broad application in clinical practice. Mesenchymal stem cells may therefore serve as a model for other types like primary cells, immune cells, tumor cells or embryonic stem cells.
Gao et al., Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2016, 8, 9651-9661, disclose intracellularly biodegradable polyelectrolyte/silica composite microcapsules where by a poly-L-arginine hydrochloride/dextran sulfate/silica composite capsule is formed and the inorganic SiO2 composite capsule enables loading of small model molecules.
Timin et al., Scientific Reports, 2017, 7: 102 describe the preparation of SiO2 coated hybrid capsules for efficient intracellular delivery of siRNA against influenza A virus infection.
Timin et al., Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2017, Vol. 14, No. 5, pp 583-587 disclose multi-layer microcapsules having a diameter of 3-4 μm whereby the surface is coated with graphene oxide or SiO2. The SiO2 coated capsules show the formation of hollow structures of composite capsules with a shell thickness of about 100 nm.
EP 1 867 325 discloses capsules with a polyelectrolyte shell comprising a plurality of polyelectrolyte layers having a diameter of up to 10 μm whereby the shell contains certain lipids. The capsules contain different materials like macromolecules enclosed within a thin wall which is permeable for ions and small molecules.
Pavlov et al., Journal of Controlled Release (2013), pp. 22-29 disclose layer-by-layer assembled microcapsules wherein luciferase was used as monitor molecule.
Kakran et al., J. Mater. Chem. B (2015), pp. 5842-5848 describe layered polymeric capsules inhibiting the activity of RNases for intracellular delivery of messenger RNA.

Biodegradable multilayer nanocapsules for the delivery of biologically active agents in target cells


Sliding roof system for an automotive vehicle with a movable roof part, a fixed in location roof portion and an adjustment mechanism positioned within a guide track arrangement in order to displace the roof part between a closed position, a ventilation position and an open position below the roof portion. The adjustment mechanism includes a drive carriage driven by a drive system and a support profile fixedly connected to the roof part and operatively connected to the drive carriage by a slotted guide mechanism. The support profile, on the rear end region thereof, is articulated to a support lever, which lever is longitudinally displaceable within the guide track arrangement by a support carriage. Within the guide track arrangement a support recess is provided and fixed in location, in which a support element of the support lever is supported in response to a position of the support lever.

Such a sliding roof system is disclosed in EP 2 234 831 B1. The known sliding roof system includes a movable roof part which is displaceable by means of a corresponding adjustment mechanism on each of opposite longitudinal sides between a closed position, an obliquely upwards deployed ventilation position and an open position moved rearwards below a fixed in location roof portion. The two adjustment mechanisms on the opposite longitudinal sides are drivable by a drive system in a manner synchronized with each other and have a functionally identical design. The adjustment mechanism includes a support profile fixed on a corresponding longitudinal side of the movable roof part and having a slotted guide mechanism operatively connected to a drive carriage. The drive carriage is displaceable within a guide track arrangement. Displacing the drive carriage within the guide track arrangement causes corresponding pivoting, lowering and lengthwise displacement moves of the support profile, whereby the movable roof part is entrained accordingly. The support profile is mounted in the vicinity of the front end region thereof within the guide track arrangement using a slip joint so as to allow pivoting and shifting moves.


A differential output driver device for receiving a differential input voltage within a specific range having a first portion of a relatively higher voltage and a second portion of a relatively lower voltage and obtaining an identical voltage variation for output voltages of the first portion and the second portion is provided. The differential output driver device includes a step-down circuit for receiving the first portion of the relatively higher voltage and lowing the relatively higher voltage to a first output voltage, a step-up circuit for receiving the second potion of the relatively lower voltage and rising the relatively lower voltage to a second output voltage, a first compensation circuit electrically connected to the step-down circuit for providing a first bias to transform the first output voltage into a first compensation voltage, and a second compensation circuit electrically connected to the step-up circuit for providing a second bias to transform the second output voltage into a second compensation voltage, wherein the second compensation voltage and the first compensation voltage have the identical voltage variation value, so as to make the driver generate a periodic output voltage having a substantially regular waveform.

This invention relates to a differential output driver, and more particular to a differential output driver which is applied to a transmission terminal of a USB (universal Serial Bus) interface.
Generally, a conventional taper buffer, as shown in FIG. 1A, is only a simply digital design without any compensation to the process. Thus, this kind of circuits contributes to the variation of the process greatly. For example, when using a simulation program (e.g. H-spice) to simulate the circuit under the condition that the voltage of PTNT (PMOS set as typical and NMOS set as typical) is 3.3 Volt, the crossover voltage and rise/fall time (Tr/Tf, Tr=Tf) are adjusted as 1.65 Volt and 6n sec respectively. However, under the conditions of the output loading and the output voltage are identical, e.g. PFNS (PMOS set as fast, and NMOS set as slow) and PSNF (PMOS set as slow and NMOS set as fast), the crossover voltage might be altered to range between 1.2 and 2.05 Volt and the specific value of the rise/fall time will becomes larger than 1.1 or smaller that 0.9, e.g. Tr=7n sec, Tf=5n sec and the crossover voltage will also range between 1.2 and 2.05 Volt. When the rise/fall time of the input control signal Din+/Dinxe2x88x92 are set as identical, as shown in FIG. 1B, and the process is set as PTNT, by executing the simulation program (e.g., H-spice), the simulation result is Tr=Tf and the crossover voltage=VDD/2 (as shown in FIG. 1C). When the process is set as PFNS or PSNF, by executing the simulation program (for simulating the error caused by the shift in the process), the simulation result is Tr Tf and the crossover voltage is not VDD/2 any longer (as shown in FIGS. 1D and 1E).
For solving the problem described above, a compensational differential output driver is developed. As shown in FIG. 2, the circuit structure includes a current source, a first current mirror set, a second current mirror set, a first output buffer, and a second output buffer. However, the first current mirror set includes transistors MP1 and MP2. The second current mirror set includes transistors MN1 and MN2. The first output buffer includes transistors MP3 and MN3. And the second output buffer includes transistors MP4 and MN4. Also, the transistors MP1 and MP2 of the first current mirror set have an identical current I which flows through the path 1 constituted by MP1 and MN1, so that the first current mirror set and the second current mirror set can cause an equal current to achieve Vout={overscore (V)}out, as shown in FIG. 1B. Furthermore, the current by the process will not be influenced, so that the situations in FIGS. 1D and 1E will not occur. But this method still has some drawbacks described as followed:
1. Because transistors MP2 and MN2 are respectively provided by the first and the second current mirror sets, the gate voltages thereof must have some particular limitations. If the restriction on Tr/Tf is necessary, the size of the taper buffer in this method will become larger than conventional one. That""s because the gate voltages are respectively not 0 and VDD any longer, so as to need a larger current which results in the bigger size of the taper buffer, generally 3xcx9c4 times or more.
2. For not interfering with the first and the second current mirrors, the transistors MP3, MP4, MN3, and MN4 must relatively become larger for controlling the current, generally two times or more of the transistors MP2 and MN2.
3. Because the current of the transistor MP2 in the current mirror set is larger, the current of the transistor MP1 will also become larger generally. Thus this method needs more area and power.
Because of the technical defects described above, the applicant keeps on carving unflaggingly to develop a xe2x80x9cdifferential output driver devicexe2x80x9d through wholehearted experience and research.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a differential output driver device and system for well matching the rise/fall time (Tr/Tf, Tr=Tf) of the transmission terminal of a differential output driver device and not being interfered by the process.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a differential output driver device and system which are applied to a USB interface for reducing the noise in the process.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a differential output driver for receiving a differential input voltage within a specific range having a first portion of a relatively higher voltage and a second portion of a relatively lower voltage and obtaining an identical voltage variation for output voltages of the first portion and the second portion includes a step-down circuit for receiving the first portion of the relatively higher voltage and lowing the relatively higher voltage to a first output voltage, a step-up circuit for receiving the second potion of the relatively lower voltage and rising the relatively lower voltage to a second output voltage, a first compensation circuit electrically connected to the step-down circuit for providing a first bias to transform the first output voltage into a first compensation voltage, and a second compensation circuit electrically connected to the step-up circuit for providing a second bias to transform the second output voltage into a second compensation voltage, wherein the second compensation voltage and the first compensation voltage have the identical voltage variation value, so as to make the driver generate a periodic output voltage having a substantially regular waveform.
Preferably, the differential output driver is applied to a transmission terminal of a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface.
Preferably, the first portion of the relatively higher voltage is ranged between 3 and 5 Volts.
Preferably, the second portion of the relatively lower voltage is ranged between 0 and 3 Volts.
Preferably, the step-down circuit includes a first PMOS (P-type Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) transistor, a first NMOS (N-type Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) transistor, and a second NMOS transistor.
Certainly, the second NMOS transistor can be a switch.
Certainly the first NMOS includes at least a set of serially connected NMOS transistors.
Certainly, the second NMOS includes at least a set of serially connected NMOS transistors.
Certainly, the first PMOS provides a third bias for cooperating with the relatively higher voltage to actuate the first NMOS transistor to generate the first output voltage by means of a voltage dividing.
Certainly, the third bias can be equivalent to the second bias.
Preferably, the first compensation circuit includes a second PMOS transistor, a third NMOS transistor, and a fourth NMOS transistor.
Certainly, the second PMOS transistor can be a switch.
Certainly, the second PMOS transistor includes at least a set of serially connected PMOS transistors.
Certainly, the third NMOS transistor includes at least a set of serially connected NMOS transistors.
Certainly, the fourth PMOS provides the first bias for cooperating with the first output voltage to actuate the third NMOS transistor to generate the first compensation voltage by means of a voltage dividing.
Preferably, the step-up circuit includes a third PMOS transistor, a fourth PMOS transistor, and a fifth NMOS transistor.
Certainly, the third PMOS transistor can be a switch.
Certainly, the third PMOS transistor includes at least a set of serially connected PMOS transistors.
Certainly, the fourth PMOS transistor includes at least a set of serially connected PMOS transistors.
Certainly, the fifth NMOS provides a fourth bias for cooperating with the relatively lower voltage to actuate the fourth PMOS transistor to generate the second output voltage by means of a voltage dividing.
Certainly, the fourth bias can be equivalent to the first bias.
Preferably, the second compensation circuit includes a fifth PMOS transistor, a sixth PMOS transistor, and a sixth NMOS transistor.
Certainly, the sixth NMOS transistor can be a switch.
Certainly, the fifth PMOS transistor includes at least a set of serially connected PMOS transistors.
Certainly, the sixth PMOS transistor includes at least a set of serially connected PMOS transistors.
Certainly, the fifth PMOS provides the second bias for cooperating with the second output voltage to actuate the sixth PMOS transistor to generate the second compensation voltage by means of a voltage dividing.
Preferably, the fourth bias is equivalent to the first bias.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a differential output driver system including a first differential output driver and a second differential output driver connected in parallel for receiving a first portion of a relatively higher voltage and a second portion of a relatively lower voltage and obtaining for output voltages of the first portion and the second portion an identical voltage variation wherein the first differential output driver includes a first voltage divider for receiving the first portion of the relatively higher voltage and lowing the relatively higher voltage to a first output voltage, and a first compensator electrically connected to the first voltage divider for providing a first bias to transform the first output voltage into a first compensation voltage, and the second differential output driver includes a second voltage divider for receiving the second portion of the relatively lower voltage and rising the relatively lower voltage to a second output voltage, and a second compensator electrically connected to the second voltage divider for providing a second bias to transform the second output voltage into a second compensation voltage, wherein the second compensation voltage and the first compensation voltage have an identical voltage variation value, so as to make the system generate a periodic output voltage set having a substantially regular waveform.
Preferably, the differential output driver system is applied to a transmission terminal of a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface.
Certainly, the first portion of the relatively higher voltage is ranged between 3 and 5 Volts.
Preferably, the second portion of the relatively lower voltage is ranged between 0 and 3 Volts.
Preferably, the first voltage divider is equivalent to the second voltage divider.
Preferably, the first compensator is equivalent to the second compensator.
Preferably, the first bias is equivalent to the second bias.
Preferably, the output voltages of the first portion and the second portion have a crossover output voltage.
Certainly, the crossover output voltage can be an average of the first portion of the relatively higher voltage and the second portion of the relatively lower voltage.
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed descriptions and accompanying drawings, in which:


In the method of determining the location of structure damage to a bridge structure, the steps that include providing a transient load imposing device; traveling the device onto the bridge and then along the bridge, detecting bridge vibrating response including changes in frequency during traveling, and determining the position of the device in relation to a shift of frequency below a selected value.

This invention relates generally to fault detection, in load bearing structures, and more particularly concerns improvements in methods and apparatus for determining locations of damage or faults in such structure, one example being bridges.
1. Introduction
To safeguard the safety performance of a civil infrastructure, such as a bridge, regular inspections are essential. At the present time, the inspection method is primarily visual. An experienced engineer or technician has to go through a bridge to examine each member and certify its safety. This method is subjective and flawed, for lack of rigorous standards. For example, for a bridge deteriorating from fatigue or aging, the damage is usually not clear-cut. Therefore, any call is judgmental. Furthermore, it is not feasible to use this visual method for complicated bridge structures; there might be members located at positions too awkward to access; there might be too many members that would require too much time to inspect; and there might be damage too subtle to detect visually. Because of these limitations, the visual inspection results are known to be incompletely reliable; yet, inspectors are forced to rely on it, today.
The safety of the bridges, however, is too critical and urgent a problem to be left in the present state for long; and it is a crisis of gigantic proportions considering the aging of many thousands of bridges. Since the greatest highway construction period of the US was in the late nineteen fifties and in the nineteen sixties, many bridges are reaching their service limitation at this time. In a recent survey by the Federal Highway Administration (Chase and Washer, 1997), 37% of all bridges in service were found to have some degree of structural deficiency. That percentage is increasing fast with the aging of the bridges; therefore, a reliable strategy has to be devised so that limited financial resources can be effectively employed in response to this national infrastructure crisis.
Ideally, any inspection method will have to satisfy the following conditions:
1. To be robust, objective, and reliable. PA1 2. To be able to identify the existence of damage. PA1 3. To be able to locate the damage. PA1 4. To be able to determine the degree of the damage. PA1 a) providing a transient load imposing device, PA1 b) traveling that device onto the bridge and then along the bridge, PA1 c) detecting bridge vibrating response including changes in frequency during such traveling, PA1 d) and determining the position of the device in relation to a shift of frequency below a selected value.
Visual inspection methods have clearly failed the first requirement, and thus have introduced uncertainties in the rest of the requirements. This requires the conclusion that non-destructive inspection methods should employ precise scientific sensors coupled with rigorous data analysis. That approach has been the central theme of research in the Bridge Management Program, Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, Federal Highway Administration. A large research program of research and development in new technologies for the nondestructive evaluation of highway bridges has been initiated. The objectives are locating, quantifying, and assessing the degree of damage of the bridges in supporting of the bridges. Although various technologies have been developed, such as Infrared Thermography, Ground-Penetrating Radar, Acoustic Emission Monitoring, Eddy Current Detection and others, none of them are practical. The difficulties of such systems are due, mostly, to their limited field of view. One must locate the damage first before he can use sophisticated imaging devices to examine the damage, in detail. For a complicated structure, locating the damage is more than 90% of the job. As a result, even with the advances of these esoteric techniques, the data used in bridge management today is still based almost entirely upon unreliable visual inspection.


An actuator system is provided having a fluidic body member having a surface configured to be deformable in response to a pressure differential. One or more auxetic elements are disposed on and engage the surface of the fluidic body member in the form of a network of beam elements. The auxetic element has a negative Poisson's ratio resulting in kinematics such that upon application of the internal fluid pressure, the surface of the fluidic body member is caused to have specific kinematics enabling planar and 3D motions. In some embodiments, the plurality of non-auxetic elements cooperate with a plurality of auxetic elements.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
Pneumatic actuators can be particularly useful in soft robotic applications due to their flexibility under loading, and physical adaptability. Pneumatically actuated soft robots have demonstrated capabilities in biomimetic locomotion, assistive wearable devices, and manipulators. Reinforced soft actuators can enable soft robots to create sophisticated motions and loading, including axial extension, rotation, and torsion.
Soft fluidic robots have the inherent ability to interact safely across several loci within their environments. These interactions have been applied in exo-suits and haptic devices, in-home assistance, surgery, pipe inspection, and motion through continuum media, such as water or dirt. Desired motions and shapes are often generated by a reinforcing layer of fibers adhered to the actuator, shape memory alloys, braided sleeves placed on the actuator's outer surface, or thicker or stiffer materials placed on the actuator. While these methods have created an array of useful kinematics, there are numerous tasks and applications that would be enabled or greatly improved through a novel reinforcement system with enhanced functionality and increased design degrees of freedom. Examples include robots in continuum environments, where control over both diameter and length of the entirety of the actuator are critical for functionality, or anchoring and grasping applications, where actuator shape may change over its length or circumference as the robot interacts with the environment.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Fluidic actuator system using auxetic beam reinforcements

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN


The present invention discloses a method and system for controlling traffic. The method for controlling traffic comprises: receiving, by a gateway, a request for invoking an internal application interface of the development platform from a client application; acquiring, by the gateway, rules for controlling the traffic, of the client application or the internal application interface; detecting, by the gateway, whether the rules for controlling the traffic are satisfied by the client application or the internal application interface; if so, admitting the request for invoking from the client application; otherwise, rejecting the request for invoking from the client application. The present invention prevents one same client application from excessively invoking an internal application through an internal application interface and prevents one same internal application from being invoked excessively, thereby reducing system resource consumption and improving system stability.

An open platform is used for providing various internal applications for a client. Then, the client application is able to use the internal applications of the open platform by invoking an application interface of the open platform.
However, there might be following problems occurred when the internal applications of the open platform are invoked by a great number of client applications:
1. If one same client application makes too many or extraneous calls on the internal applications of a development platform, resources of the internal applications of the development platform which should be invoked by other clients might be occupied, which may lead to the distribution being imbalance;
2. In case that one same internal application is called heavily, since some internal applications are extremely system resource-consumed, once they are called heavily and extraneously, system is prone to a failure, and even to break down.

Beijing Jingdong Shangke Information Technology Co., LTD.


A nail clipper receptacle for use with any standard spring type nail clipper wherein said receptacle is an elastomeric sheath of a conical shape having an opening at one end for receiving a standard nail clipper and an opening proximate to the first opening for allowing a lever of the nail clipper to extend through, whereby the elastomeric sheath surrounds the nail clipper and ensures nail clippings are retained within the nail clipper structure.

It is desirable when cutting nails with the standard type of nail clippers, incorporating resiliently secured blades operated by a pivoted lever, to have the clipped nails be easily collected and disposed of. Various types of prior art nail receptacles for use with these types of nail clippers have been shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,753,626; 2,887,773; 3,188,737; 3,855,698; 4,130,937; 4,341,015; 4,550,496; 4,602,430; and 4,640,011. In all of these prior art patents a plastic or otherwise semi-rigid receptacle is provided which is designed for use with a particular model of nail clipper and, hence, may not necessarily be used with more than one model of nail clipper. As is well known, there are numerous models of nail clippers. Further, many of these prior art nail receptacles require concurrent fabrication with the nail clipper and, hence, may not be bought separately from the nail clipper. At present, if a consumer desired the convenience of a nail clipper receptacle, the consumer would have to purchase the receptacle along with its corresponding nail clipper. Since most consumers already possess a nail clipper, this would mean a purchase of a redundant nail clipper just for obtaining the convenience of the receptacle.
It would be extremely desirable to provide an inexpensive nail clipper receptacle which may adapt to fit all types of standard nail clippers now on the market so that the convenience of a nail receptacle may be obtained without requiring the purchase of a particular model of nail clipper.


In a device for dispensing milk and/or milk froth from a container (1) containing milk, this container is placed in a coolable cabinet (3). Via an extraction line (4) and a further line (5), the milk reaches an emulsifying device (6) disposed outside the coolable cabinet. The product received is dispensed from this emulsifying device (6) via the discharge nozzle (7). Steam is feedable into the emulsifying device (6) with which steam the milk conducted through the emulsifying device (6) is able to be heated up and/or frothed up. The further line (5) consists of a flexible tube which is placed in a peristaltic pump (9). This peristaltic pump (9) is equipped with switching means (10) with which the peristaltic pump (9) is switchable from a closed pump state into an open pump state releasing the passage of the flexible tube (5). Milk of different temperatures or milk froth can be optimally dispensed using this device; in addition an optimal cleaning can be carried out. This device is advantageously integrated into a coffee machine, making it possible to obtain automatically different types of coffee with added milk.

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing milk and/or milk froth from a container containing milk that is placeable in a coolable cabinet which is held in a frame and into which an extraction line is insertable, which is connected, via a further line, to an emulsifying device disposed outside the coolable cabinet, through which emulsifying device the milk to be dispensed is conductible and reaches the discharge nozzle, into which emulsifying device steam is introducible with which the milk conducted through the emulsifying device is able to be heated up and/or frothed up.
Devices of this type are known. They are used in many cases in connection with coffee machines, whether as a device functioning independently of the coffee machine, or as a module integrated into the coffee machine, the coffee machine being able to supply automatically different kinds of coffee, e.g. milk coffee, cappuccino and macchiato, in addition to black coffee and espresso. Moreover warm milk can also be dispensed using these devices.
As is generally known, with devices of this kind a current of steam is conducted through the emulsifying device, by means of which, according to the Venturi principle, the milk is suctioned out of the container and is mixed with the steam. The milk is heated up by the steam, and depending upon how much air is added in the emulsifying device, the milk is frothed up. To hereby obtain an optimal milk froth or foam, for instance for a cappuccino, it is necessary to be able to maintain an optimal relationship between steam, air and milk.
These devices and in particular the system of lines or piping for the milk and the emulsifying device have to be cleaned from time to time. For this purpose, a container with a cleaning agent solution is placed in the device, for example. Afterwards steam is conducted through the emulsifying device, whereby the cleaning agent is suctioned, and in particular the lines for the milk are cleaned. After the cleaning procedure, the device is rinsed with water, the steam again serving to suction the water.
The entire system through which milk flows is cleaned with this cleaning procedure. For this purpose the cleaning agent must have a low temperature since it has to be suctioned by the emulsifying device, which would not be ensured in the case of cleaning agents with high temperature since the suction step is optimally conceived for cold media. It is therefore necessary to use cold cleaning solutions which have to be relatively aggressive in order to meet the required level of hygiene. Cleaning agents of this kind have to be classified as dangerous substances, and thus require the corresponding necessary precautions, making it complicated and costly as regards application and logistical, storage and transport-related handling.

Device for dispensing milk and/or milk froth


An error amplifier circuit includes a differential amplifier with a cascode gain stage and an amplifier. The differential amplifier receives a first input signal and a second input signal and generates an output signal on an output terminal indicative of the difference between the first input signal and the second input signal. The cascode gain stage is coupled to receive the output signal of the differential amplifier and generates a second output signal. The cascode gain stage is biased by a bias current generated by a current mirror. The amplifier receives the second output signal from the cascode gain stage and generates a third output signal. The cascode gain stage is biased by a control signal for causing said current mirror to generate a bias current having substantially constant magnitude over variations in voltage differences of the first input signal and the second input signal.

The invention relates to an amplifier circuit for adding a Laplace transform zero to a linear integrated circuit, and more particularly to an amplifier circuit for adding a Laplace transform zero in a switching regulator feedback loop for providing frequency stability.
Closed loop negative feedback systems are commonly employed in linear integrated circuits. For instance, switching regulators use a feedback loop to monitor the output voltage in order to provide regulation. To ensure stability in any closed loop system, the Nyquist criterion must be met. The Nyquist criterion states that a closed loop system is stable if the phase shift around the loop is less than 180 degrees at unity gain. Typically, a compensation circuit is added to a feedback loop to modulate the phase shift of the feedback loop to obtain stability.
The frequency response of a linear circuit can be characterized by the presence of xe2x80x9cpolesxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9czeros.xe2x80x9d A xe2x80x9cpolexe2x80x9d is a mathematical term which signifies the complex frequency at which gain reduction begins. On the other hand, a xe2x80x9czeroxe2x80x9d signifies the complex frequency at which gain increase starts. Poles and zeros on the left half plane of a complex frequency plane or s-plane are considered normal and can be compensated. However, poles and zeros on the right half plane of a complex frequency plane are usually problematic and difficult to manipulate and is not addressed in the present application. Generally, a pole contributes a xe2x88x9290xc2x0 phase shift while a zero contributes a +90xc2x0 phase shift. A pole cancels out the phase shift of a zero for zeros in the left half plane. In designing a closed loop system with compensation, the location of the poles and zeros are manipulated so as to avoid a greater than 180xc2x0 phase shift at unity gain.
In a linear circuit, poles are created by placing a small capacitor on a node with a high dynamic impedance. If the capacitor is placed at a gain stage, the capacitance can be multiplied by the gain of the stage to increase its effectiveness. Each pole has a zero associated with it. That is, at some point, the dynamic resistance of the gain stage will limit the gain loss capable of being achieved by the capacitor. Thus, a zero can be created by placing a resistor in series with the gain reduction capacitor.
A conventional voltage mode switching regulator uses an inductor-capacitor (LC) network at the voltage output terminal for filtering the regulated output voltage to produce a relatively constant DC output voltage. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional switching regulator including a switching regulator controller 10 and an LC circuit 11. Switching regulator controller 10 generates a regulated output voltage VSW at an output terminal 13 which is coupled to LC circuit 11 for providing a filtered output voltage VOUT. The output voltage VOUT is coupled back to controller 10 at a feedback (FB) terminal 15 for forming a feedback control loop. The LC circuit has associated with it two poles, one pole associated with each element. If the feedback control loop is not compensated, LC circuit 11 alone contributes an xe2x88x92180xc2x0 phase shift to the system and loop instability results, causing the output voltage to oscillate. Because virtually every switching regulator uses an LC filter circuit to filter the regulated output voltage, compensation must be provided in the feedback control loop of a switching regulator to compensate for the effect of the two poles introduced by the LC circuit.
A conventional compensation technique in switching regulators involves adding a circuit in series with the feedback loop which produces a Laplace zero. The zero is added to the feedback control loop to cancel out one of the two poles of the LC filter circuit, thus insuring closed loop stability. U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,918 to Yamatake describes using a capacitance multiplying op-amp to provide a large effective capacitance and a resistor in series as the frequency compensation element of a switching regulator. U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,947 to Berg describes a phase lead compensation circuit for providing additional phase to the loop gain of a switching regulator near the unity gain frequency. The phase lead compensation circuit of Berg uses a transconductance amplifier driving a frequency-dependent load, implemented as a band-limited op amp, in the feedback control loop of the switching regulator. These approaches are problematic because they both require a xe2x80x9chigh qualityxe2x80x9d differential amplifier in operation which is significantly large and complex to realize. In practice, differential amplifiers are typically large devices and can be relatively slow. Furthermore, the differential amplifiers tend to sink large amounts of current proportional to speed. The compensation approaches described by Yamatake and Berg are undesirable because the compensation techniques require sacrificing speed for closed loop stability. In addition the op-amp used in the compensation circuit needs to be compensated for stability itself, making the circuit more complex to implement.
FIG. 1 illustrates another approach for providing compensation in a feedback control loop of a switching regulator. Referring to FIG. 1, the output voltage VOUT is coupled to the feedback terminal 15 and further to a voltage divider including resistors R1 and R2. The operation of the feedback control loop in controller 10 is well known in the art. The voltage divider steps down output voltage VOUT and the divided voltage VR is coupled to an error amplifier 20 which compares the divided voltage VR to a reference voltage VRef. Error amplifier 20 generates an error output signal indicative of the difference between voltage VR and reference voltage VRef. The feedback control loop of controller 10 operates to regulate the output voltage VOUT based on the error output of error amplifier 20 so that voltage VR equals voltage VRef.
FIG. 2A is a plot of the loop gain magnitude vs. frequency in log scale for the switching regulator of FIG. 1 without any compensation. The low frequency loop gain is first reduced by a pole associated with error amplifier 20. The gain loss is modified by a zero also associated with the error amplifier. Then, at high frequency, the effect of the double-pole in the LC filter circuit causes a large loss in the loop gain such that the phase shift at unity gain is equal to or greater than 180xc2x0. The feedback control loop of the uncompensated switching regulator of FIG. 1 is unstable unless the gain is substantially reduced.
In the switching regulator of FIG. 1, a capacitor 18 (typically referred to as a xe2x80x9czero capacitorxe2x80x9d) is connected in parallel to resistor R1 of the voltage divider. Capacitor 18 introduces a zero-pole pair in the feedback loop. The location (or frequency) of the zero-pole pair is determined by the resistance of the voltage divider and the capacitance of capacitor 18. For practical resistance and capacitance values, the zero and pole introduced by capacitor 18 are typically located close to each other so that the zero is canceled out quickly by the nearby associated pole. FIG. 2B is a plot of the loop gain magnitude vs. frequency in log scale in the switching regulator of FIG. 1 incorporating zero capacitor 18. Here, the operation of the zero capacitor ensures that the phase shift is less than 180xc2x0 near unity gain. However, the compensation provided by zero capacitor 18 is limited and often does not provide sufficient phase margin at unity gain. For example, at high frequency, zero capacitor 18 shorts out resistor R1, resulting in no or minimal gain loss in the feedback loop. Thus, the compensation provided by capacitor 18 is not effective at high frequency. Also, the voltage divider of resistors R1 and R2 typically provides only a gain loss of 3 dB. The 3 dB gain loss limits the ratio of the pole to zero angular frequency of capacitor 18, and thus, limits the compensation range capable of being achieved by the use of a single zero capacitor 18. The feedback loop of switching regulator of FIG. 1 is susceptible to instability when the switching regulator is subjected to fluctuations in load impedance because of this limited compensation range.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a compensation circuit in a feedback loop of a linear circuit which is capable of providing effective pole cancellation.
An error amplifier circuit includes a differential amplifier with a cascode gain stage and an amplifier. The differential amplifier receives a first input signal and a second input signal and generates an output signal on an output terminal indicative of the difference between the first input signal and the second input signal. The cascode gain stage is coupled to receive the output signal of the differential amplifier and generates a second output signal. The cascode gain stage is biased by a bias current generated by a current mirror. The amplifier receives the second output signal from the cascode gain stage and generates a third output signal. The cascode gain stage is biased by a control signal for causing said current mirror to generate a bias current having substantially constant magnitude over variations in voltage differences of the first input signal and the second input signal.