An electric connector includes two complementary connector members, one of which has spring contacts as contact elements and the other has blade contacts as contact elements, wherein the contact elements are mounted in a row or in several parallel rows on base members. The base members are mounted on frame-like enclosing members of housings which extend parallel to the direction of insertion of the contact elements and which serve for the mutual guidance of the housings during the insertion. In the joined state of the connector members, the spring contacts and the corresponding blade contacts can be placed in contact with each other and out of contact from each other by means of contact slide members which are displaceable along the row or rows of contact elements. The connector members can be positively coupled transversely of the direction of insertion by means of locking slide members. The contact slide members and the locking slide members are mounted on the same connector member and are in engagement with a common swivel lever mounted on the same connector member. The engagement between the contact members and the locking slide members is such that, during the coupling procedure as well as during the uncoupling procedure, initially only the locking slide members are movable and the contact slide members are movable subsequently.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric plug and socket-type connector composed of two complementary plug and socket-type connector members, wherein one connector member has contact elements in the form of spring contacts and the other connector member has contact elements in the form of blade contacts, and wherein the contact elements permit during the coupling procedure an insertion of the connector members into each other without requiring force.
Electric connectors of this type are also called zero insertion force connectors.
2. Description of the Related Art
In known electric connectors of the above-described type, the contact elements are supported in base members and are arranged in a row or in several parallel rows. In the connected state of the connector members, the contact elements can be placed in contact with each other and can be disconnected by means of contact slide members which are displaceable along the row or rows of contact elements.
Electric plug and socket-type connectors of the above-described type in the form of zero insertion force connectors are already known, as described, for example, in European patent application Nos. 0,180,612 (WO 85/05 502) and 0,251,508. In these electric connectors, one of the connector members is formed by a circuit board which can be brought with its contact elements through a longitudinal slot of the other connector member into the region of the contact elements of the latter, wherein the contact elements are formed, for example, by spring contacts.
However, similar zero insertion force connectors have become known, for example, as disclosed in German patent No. 2,707,122, in which none of the complementary connector members is required to consist of a circuit board. Rather, the contact elements, for example, in the form of spring contacts and blade contacts, are mounted on base members in housings and/or on ledges which can be plugged into each other while being mutually guided and in which the corresponding contact elements can be placed into and out of contact by actuating a slide member.
All of the above-described electric connectors constructed as so-called zero insertion force connectors have the disadvantage that the two connector members which are connected to each other are held together exclusively by means of the released spring force of the contact elements constructed as spring contacts. It may therefore happen that the two connector members are disconnected unintentionally or in an undesirable manner, particularly when vibrations occur, which may result in a disengagement of the interacting contact elements.
In another known type of electric connector, the two connector members must be joined together by overcoming the spring force inherent in the cooperating contact elements. Such a connector is described in German Utility Model No. 87 00 210. In this connector, a swivel lever is mounted on one of the connector members. The swivel lever interacts with locking slide members which are equipped with detents or locking slots. The corresponding other connector member has locking cams which interact with the detents or locking slots in such a way that the two connector members are forcibly moved relative to each other when the swivel lever is moved. Thus, the connector members are moved toward each other when the contact elements are coupled and away from each other when the contact elements are uncoupled.
It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to improve the described electric plug and socket-type connector in the form of a zero insertion force connector. Specifically, the two connector members are to be coupled in a positively locking manner as long as the contact elements are in spring-biased contact. In addition, it is to be ensured that the two connector members can be joined together and separated from each other only when the contact between the contact elements is cancelled.


The invention relates to an active filter device for a power supply comprising a source having a source of current iS and a voltage VE, a power converter presenting an input inductor L, a power switch T controlled by a chopper signal and delivering an output voltage VS, and a load, the device being characterized in that it includes an active filter converter (10) for generating at its output a compensation current minus harmonics of the source current due to the chopping, in response to an input signal representative of the chopping of the power converter.

The present invention relates to an active filter device for a DC power supply comprising a source, a uni- or bi-directional power converter, and a load.
Known active filter devices compensate only the low-frequency current harmonics of the power supply network, and therefore they do not serve to eliminate the high-frequency current harmonics generated by the chopping of the power switches.
By way of example, such devices are described in the article by M. C. Benhabib and S. Saadate entitled "New control approach for four-wire active power filter based on the use of synchronous reference frame" published in Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 73, No. 3, pp. 353-362, (March 2005), or in the article by S. Saadate and S. H. Shahalami entitled "Filtrage hybride des harmoniques engendrés par une charge fortement polluante—Application des algorithmes génétiques pour la boucle de contrôle" [Hybrid filtering of harmonics generated by a highly-polluting load—Application of genetic algorithms for the control loop] published in Revue Internationale de Génie Electrique, vol. 6, No. 1-2, pp. 143-166 (April 2003).
A load converter is defined herein as a power structure that absorbs current continuously (examples: a buck chopper and variants thereof, a capacitive storage chopper and variants thereof, . . . ) possessing a finite number of operating sequences and capable of operating in unidirectional manner (current flowing from the source to the load, or in the opposite direction), or in bidirectional manner.

Active filtering device for a power supply

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifque

Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine


A driving cylinder of a pile driving rig includes a solenoid valve for controlling an operation of the driving cylinder, which solenoid valve, is a slide valve, which is located at least partly at a piston-side head of the driving cylinder, and a stem of the slide valve is at least partly outside an inner cylinder liner in a direction of motion of a piston part. Further disclosed is a pile driving rig comprising the driving cylinder according to the invention.

A driving cylinder is a hydraulic actuator located inside the hammer of a hydraulic pile driving rig, the purpose of the driving cylinder being reciprocate the ram block impacting the driven pile during the driving of the pile into the ground. In currently known hydraulic pile driving rigs, the driving cylinder is usually a double-acting differential hydraulic cylinder, in which the piston rod side cylinder chamber is connected to the piston-side cylinder chamber, most typically by means of a hydraulic hose, or in such a way that the cylinder part is comprised of two cylinder liners within each other, in which case the pressure medium may be conveyed from one cylinder chamber to another through the empty space left between the cylinder liners fitted within each other. By means of this arrangement, the movement of the moving end of the driving cylinder is rendered as rapid as possible because the pressure medium flowing out of the cylinder chamber on the side of the direction of motion of the piston (that is, the cylinder chamber decreasing in volume) can be conveyed to the side of the working cylinder chamber (that is, the cylinder chamber increasing in volume). This type of an arrangement also simplifies the structure and operation of the pressure medium control valve system, because when using a driving cylinder functioning in this manner for controlling the pressure medium for reciprocating the moving end of the driving cylinder, it suffices that the pressure medium outlet duct connected to the piston side chamber and the pressure medium duct between the cylinder chambers are closed and opened in turn.
During the use of the pile driving rig, high impact-like loads are exerted on the driving cylinder, which also generate transverse forces on the driving cylinder. Because of this, the aim has been to fasten the driving cylinder to the structures of the hammer with a suitably flexible fastening. In known solutions, the driving cylinder is fastened, for example, from its piston-side end (upper end) with an articulation and from its piston rod side end (lower end) with a flexible fastening. Another alternative has been to fasten the driving cylinder to the hammer with an articulation from a fastening point at its centre, the aim being to locate the fastening point as close to the centre of gravity of the driving cylinder as possible. Usually, the moving end of the driving cylinder is fastened to the ram block in an articulated manner with a shackle.
In currently known driving cylinders, the solenoid valve of the driving cylinder is usually located outside the cylinder liners of the heads of the driving cylinder. The disadvantage of these currently known driving cylinder solutions is that the implementation of the solenoid valve closing and opening the pressure medium ducts between the cylinder chambers and leading away from the chambers is complex, requires a considerable number of gaskets due to the several joints and is, therefore, laborious to service and repair.
Patent publication US 5,806,610 discloses a known apparatus for generating impacts for a pile driving rig. The apparatus has a hydraulic cylinder with reciprocating piston located within the hydraulic cylinder.

Driving cylinder of a pile driving rig and a pile driving rig


Devices and methods for coating wheel rims for the production of both standard rims and special rims, are provided. An example of a device for coating wheel rims includes a pre-treating station that is followed by a powder priming station followed by a basecoat application station and a final coating station, in particular an acrylate powder station, with the final coating station being coupled to both the power priming station and the pre-treating station by at least one conveyor, respectively. The device permits a proportion of special rims to be introduced in addition to standard rims without any impairment of the spindle-synchronous operation of the device.

The present invention relates to a device for coating wheel rims, designed for the production of standard rims as well as for the production of special rims (gloss-copied rims), having a pre-treating station that is followed by a powder priming station followed by a final coating station, in particular an acrylate powder station.
The invention further relates to a method for coating wheel rims, which includes the steps of pre-treating the rims in a pre-treating station, transferring the pre-treated blanks to a powder priming station for coating, and coating the blanks with a finishing coating in a final coating station.
In known installions for coating wheel rims the rims initially are run through a pre-treating station, then through a powder priming station and finally through a final coating station, where they are provided with a finishing coat, preferably with an acrylate powder.
In addition to those usual methods for the production of standard wheel rims (high-alloy wheel rims made from aluminum or sometimes magnesium alloys) a constantly rising demand for what is known as "gloss-copied rims" (also known as "gloss-turned" rims) has developed more recently. In producing such wheel rims, which have a high-gloss surface and which will be designated hereafter as "special rims", the surfaces of standard rims, having been powder-coated before, are mechanically reworked in a turning station, for example by turning, so that only a rest of the previously applied powder coating will be left on their surface. The blanks so treated (hereinafter referred to as special blanks) are subjected to an additional pre-treatment, followed by a final coating operation, preferably again an acrylate powder coating operation. In order to obtain such high-gloss surfaces also in the subsequent steps, the pre-treatment differs a little, with respect to certain process steps, from the usual pre-treatment of standard rims. Still, quite a number of pre-treatment steps can be carried out together with the pre-treatment of standard rims.
In prior art systems, special rims and standard rims are treated sequentially in a common system. As conveyor stations of rim coating systems operate in synchronism, it is necessary to provide an in particular assigned location for each blank. A buffer does not exist in the different stations of the system. This means that the entire system can be operated only with a uniform cycle time to guarantee that the parts are transferred through the system in a controlled way.
If special rims are to be produced on a conventional station, on which standard rims had been produced before, part of the station first has to be run empty before special blanks for special rims can be processed. In particular in cases where only a few special rims are to be produced, this results in considerable disadvantages with respect to time, down-time losses and considerable energy losses in operation of the entire station.

Device and method for coating wheel rims


Display devices and methods for controlling the same are provided, which can display text along with video that satisfy prescribed visual criteria. Accordingly, the text can be more easily seen by a viewer. A method can include a) detecting color information of a text and color information of a video from received broadcasting signals, b) determining a color difference between the video and the text based on the two color information, c) comparing the determined color difference with a reference value, and d) controlling the color difference between the text and the video depending on the compared result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device and a method for controlling the same.
2. Background of the Related Art
Recently, a display device includes a TV. A broadcasting signal transmission mode is developed as a TV technique. In this respect, attention on a digital TV based on a digital transmission mode is increasing. For digital broadcasting, broadcasting of high picture quality and high sound quality is broadcasted through satellite/terrestrial/cable bands. Unlike the existing analog TV, a digital TV has service functions based on various additional information as well as high picture quality and high sound quality.
In digital broadcasting, video is based on MPEG-2 (Moving Picture Experts Group-2) and audio is based on AC-3 (Audio Compression-3) compression method. The compressed data can be transmitted to each user using transmission methods such as QPSK/VSB/QAM through the existing satellite/terrestrial/cable bands. The compression technique provides various services. In case of terrestrial waves, four or more channels of SD grade can be broadcast, and one channel of HD grade can be broadcast. The digital TV transmits supplementary information along with video and audio data to provide various services. For example, a broadcasting guide service on increased channel information can be provided using such supplementary information.
As described above, the digital video is based on the MPEG-2 standard, and can fundamentally support 18 formats. The digital audio is based on the AC-3 standard and can be processed in a Dolby digital mode. A program and service information protocol (PSIP) standard can be provided as the system standard to support major and minor channel numbers of the current program, its video and audio stream data, and its detailed data.
The digital stream data can consist of video, audio, supplementary information, and channel information, which are received in a multiplexing mode. Therefore, a receiver demultiplexes the multiplexed data to be suitable for a determined standard to reconstruct video data, audio data, and supplementary information.
Further, since user options for various data are increased with spread of the digital TV, items to be set by the user become various and complicated and items of menu are also increased. Therefore, with change of user's taste and change of systems from analog to digital, items set as basic values in hardware or system can be set in various manners depending on user's condition or taste. For example, effective use of digital contents, various functions, and specialized service functions have been additionally provided in the menu items. Thus, menus to be selected by the user become complicated and dependency on user's option is increased.
Further, in the related art display device, video signals and text are independently transmitted and controlled so that a color of the text is designated regardless of a color of the video. For this reason, readability of the text may be deteriorated.
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a related art image display device. FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart of a related art method for displaying texts.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a broadcasting signal is selected by a signal input unit 11 (block S11), and then a demultiplexer 12 separates the broadcasting signal to a video signal, an audio signal, and supplementary information. Subsequently, a controller 18 extracts text data included in the broadcasting signal (block S12). Then, the controller 18 transmits the extracted text data to a video processor 13. The video processor 13 receives the video signal from the demultiplexer 12 and receives the text data from the controller 18. Additionally, the image processor 13 displays the video signal and the text and, simultaneously, displays a portion surrounding the text with a predetermined color (block S13) using a display portion 14. The background color of the surrounding portion of the text is displayed either in white or black.
An audio processor 15 receives the audio signal from the demultiplexer 12 for reproduction using a speaker 16. A memory 19 is connected to the controller 18.
As described above, however, the related art image display device and text displaying method have various disadvantages. For example, in the related art, the color of the surrounding portion of a text, namely, the picture (or image) neighboring the text, may cause a problem in that the text is covered or hidden. Further, if the color of the text is similar to the background color, the viewer may have difficulty identifying and clearly viewing the text that is being displayed.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

Display device and method for controlling the same


In the present invention, a polymer having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of from 200 to 40,000 and a glass transition point of from -75.degree. C. to +10.degree. C. which is obtained by the cationic polymerization of a branched alpha-olenin is used as a tackifier (a tacky producer) for a hot melt adhesive or a pressure-sensitive adhesive. An adhesive composition containing the polymer described above as a tackifier has excellent heat resistance, hue, weather resistance, and the like and has such excellent characteristics that its odor is weak.

Cationic polymers obtained by cationic polymerization of branched alpha-olefins such as 4-methyl-1-pentene have been long known. For example, Japanese Patent Publn. No. 24480/1965 describes a process for polymerizing 3-methyl-1-butene or 4-methyl-1-pentene at low temperatures and suggests that the resulting crystalline polymers are suitable for producing plastics films or sheets. Said Japanese Patent Publn. describes that when an alpha-isomonoolefin is polymerized in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts type catalyst at a temperature of from -10.degree. C. to 100.degree. C., amorphous polymers are obtained and that the amorphous polymers are suitable for use as paints, varnish lacquers, other additives, plasticizers, reinforcing agents and diluents. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 3,299,022 describes homopolymers of branched alpha-olefins and copolymers thereof, and discloses that polymers having molecular weights of from 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 are amorphous viscoelastic solids. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 3,317,501 describes cationic polymers of 4-methyl-1-pentene and discloses that polymers having molecular weights of no more than 5,000, which are obtained by polymerizing 4-methyl-1-pentene in the presence of an AlCl.sub.3 catalyst at a temperature of from 54.degree. to 170.degree. F., are tacky oils. Moreover, this patent describes that when the polymers having elasticity are mixed with polypropylene, the low-temperature impact resistance of the resulting polypropylene is improved. Further, Macromolecules, Vol, 10, No. 1 pp. 188 discloses that cationic polymers of 4-methyl-1-pentene have five structures.
We have carried out studies with respect to cationic polymers of branched alpha-olefins such as 4-methyl-1-pentene having specific properties, and have now found that these polymers are excellent as a tackifier for an adhesive which is not described in the literatures described above.

Pressure-sensitive adhesive composition comprising poly-4-methyl-1-pentene as tackifier


Embodiments of a process for recovery of nano zeolites from an aqueous suspension are provided. The process comprises the steps of applying centrifugal force to the aqueous suspension to separate a supernatant phase from a solid phase that comprises the nano zeolites and residuals. The solid phase is contacted with a solution effective to dissolve or digest the residuals and to agglomerate the nano zeolites forming agglomerated nano zeolites. The solution is filtered to recover the agglomerated nano zeolites.

Zeolites generally are aluminosilicate oxide structures that have well-defined pore structures due to a high degree of crystallinity. Crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites can comprise both natural and synthetic aluminosilicates. Crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites include those having aluminosilicate cage structures in which alumina and silica tetrahedra are intimately connected with each other in an open three dimensional crystalline network. The tetrahedra are cross linked by the sharing of oxygen atoms, with spaces between the tetrahedra occupied by water molecules prior to partial or total dehydration of the zeolite. Dehydration results in crystals interlaced with channels having molecular dimensions. In a hydrated form, the crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites are generally represented by the formula, M2/nO:Al2O3:wSiO2:yH2O, where "M" is a cation that balances the electrovalence of the tetrahedra and is generally referred to as an exchangeable cationic site, "n" represents the valence of the cation, "w" represents the moles of SiO2, and "y" represents the moles of water. The exact structure type aluminosilicate zeolite is generally identified by the particular silica, alumina molar ratio (SiO2/Al2O3) and the pore dimensions of the cage structures. Cations (M) occupying exchangeable cationic sites in the zeolite may be replaced with other cations by ion exchange methods well known to those having ordinary skill in the field of crystalline aluminosilicates.
Zeolite crystalline particles may be formed from zeolite fine powder mixed with a binder. The binder may be an amorphous inorganic material, such as silica, alumina or certain clays and mixtures thereof "Formed zeolites" may be extrudates, tablets, oil drops, microspheres, spheres, such as beads, or the like. The zeolites may be formed by oil-dropping, spray-drying, extrusion, or other "forming" techniques.
Recently, nanosized zeolites or nano zeolites (less than about 300 nm) have attracted considerable attention because of their potential advantages in catalysis due to their high external surface area, reduced diffusion path lengths and exposed active sites. The reduction of particle size from the micrometer to the nanometer scale leads to substantial changes in the properties of materials, which have an impact on the performance of zeolites in traditional application areas such as catalysis and separation. The ratio of external to internal number of atoms increases rapidly as the particle sizes decrease. Additionally, the nano zeolite crystals have reduced diffusion path lengths relative to conventional micrometer-sized zeolites.
Nano zeolites are typically formed by crystallizing (e.g. reacting) a gel that comprises a source of silica and alumina, sodium hydroxide, a structure directing agent also known as a template, and water at temperatures of about 100° C., for example. In general, the nano zeolite formation reaction typically requires a substantial excess of silica, alumina and sodium hydroxide that remain in the crystallization aqueous suspension, also known as "mother liquor", in various forms (e.g. residuals comprising unreacted components, salts, etc.) together with the crystallized nano zeolites. Because of the nano-size of the nano zeolites, it is often difficult, expensive and time-consuming to remove the nano zeolites from the mother liquor including separating them from the residuals. Conventional filtration methods for separation are impractical due to the nano size of these particles. Rather, costly high speed commercial centrifuges operating at from about 50,000 to about 125,000 revolutions per minute (RPM), for example, are used for the separation process. A high speed centrifugal force is applied to the mother liquor which separates into a supernatant phase and a solid phase. The solid phase, which contains the nano zeolites and the residuals, is collected and incorporated into a liquid wash medium and the combination is again subjected to high speed centrifugal force to remove a portion of the residuals in the liquid wash. This process is repeated many times, unfortunately often over the course of several days or weeks, until the residuals have been substantially removed leaving primarily the nano zeolites. Thus, preparation and recovery of nano zeolites is very time consuming and expensive.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a more efficient process for recovery of the nano zeolites from the mother liquor which is less time consuming and does not require the use of costly high-speed commercial centrifuges. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Processes for making nano zeolites and for recovery of nano zeolites from an aqueous suspension


A system for detecting patient turns includes a person support apparatus including a person support surface and a support frame, a plurality of load cells for generating load cell data, a sensor for sensing at least one of heart rate data and respiration rate data for an individual, and a computing device coupled to the plurality of load cells and the sensor. The computing device receives the load cell data and the at least one of heart rate data and respiration rate data for the individual, detects that a patient turn has occurred on the person support surface based on the load cell data and the at least one of heart rate data and respiration rate data for the individual, and causes an indication that the patient turn occurred to be logged in an electronic medical record corresponding to the individual.

In order to prevent pressure ulcers, conventional nursing practice provides for repositioning an individual approximately every two hours. The repositioning of the individual enables blood flow throughout the skin and reduces pressure on areas of the skin that, over time, would begin to break down. For some individuals, such as those individuals that are unable to move themselves, a caregiver may be responsible for repositioning the individual and recording the repositioning, or turn, in the individual's chart.
Given that the treatment of pressure ulcers are usually non-reimbursable patient care expenses under various insurance guidelines, administration and recordation of the turns is important to mitigate the occurrence of pressure ulcers in care facilities.
Accordingly, a need exists for systems that detect and confirm patient turns.

Systems for patient turn detection and confirmation


A crane including a cabin provided on the left or right side, a boom raised and lowered around a pair of boom feet provided on the left and right sides of the base of the boom, and a gantry provided behind the boom. The boom foot on the side of the cabin is located in a position determined by the width of the crane and the width of the cabin. The center line of the boom is located on the opposite side of the center line of the gantry from the cabin so that the distance between the boom foot on the opposite side from the cabin and the center line of the gantry is greater than the distance between the boom foot on the side of the cabin and the center line of the gantry.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lattice boom type crane.
2. Description of the Related Art
On the left and right sides of an upper rotating body of a crawler crane, various types of equipment are provided. Since the space (width) occupied by the equipment is predetermined, the remaining space (width) is used for disposing a gantry. The distance from the right end of the upper rotating body to the center line A of the gantry is obtained from e1+d, wherein e1 is the width occupied by the equipment on the right side (e2 is the width occupied by the equipment on the left side), and d is half of the remainder.
Since the center line B of the boom corresponds with the center line A of the gantry, the determination of the width g of the cabin automatically determines the distance f1 between the boom feet to be (e1+d−g)×2.
Therefore, the distance f1 between the boom feet is restricted, so the load supporting ability of the boom cannot be improved and the weight of the boom cannot be reduced.


An impacting apparatus includes a spring anvil assembly and a drive mechanism that alternatively engages a the spring anvil assembly to actuate the spring anvil assembly to store potential energy in the spring anvil assembly, and which drive mechanism alternatively disengages the spring anvil assembly to allow the spring anvil assembly to launch and accelerate toward an impact target to deliver impact energy from the spring anvil assembly to the impact target. In an embodiment, the spring anvil assembly is biased to a start position by one of the impact target and the weight of the apparatus. The spring anvil assembly may comprise a gas spring or a spring, for example. The apparatus is capable of delivering multiple impacts to an impact target.

Impacting apparatuses (also referred to herein as a "driver," "gun" or "device") known in the art often may be configured for an entirely portable operation. Contractors commonly use power-assisted devices for impacting a surface and/or driving an object into a substrate. These power-assisted apparatuses can be portable (i.e., not connected or tethered to an air compressor or wall outlet) or non-portable.
A common impacting apparatus uses a source of compressed air to actuate a guide assembly to push an object into a substrate. For applications in which portability is not required, this is a very functional system and allows rapid delivery of fasteners for quick assembly. A disadvantage is that it does however require that the user purchase an air compressor and associated air-lines in order to use this system. A further disadvantage is the inconvenience of the device being tethered (through an air hose) to an air compressor.
To solve this problem, several types of portable impacting devices operate off of fuel cells. Typically, these guns have a guide assembly in which a fuel is introduced along with oxygen from the air. The subsequent mixture is ignited with the resulting expansion of gases pushing the guide assembly and thus driving an object into a substrate. This design is complicated and expensive. Both electricity and fuel are required as the spark source derives its energy typically from batteries. The chambering of an explosive mixture of fuel, the use of consumable fuel cartridges, the loud report and the release of combustion products are all disadvantages of this solution.
A final commercially available solution is to use a flywheel mechanism and clutch the flywheel to an anvil that impacts a substrate. This tool is capable of impacting very quickly. The primary drawback to such a tool is the large weight and size as compared to pneumatic counterparts. Additionally, the drive mechanism is very complicated, which gives a high retail cost.
Clearly, and based on the above efforts, a need exists to provide portable solution for impacting that is unencumbered by fuel cells or air hoses. Additionally, the solution ought to provide a low reactionary feel, and be simple, cost effective and robust in operation.
The prior art teaches several additional ways of impacting. The first technique is based on a multiple impact design. In this design, a motor or other power source is connected to an impact anvil through either a lost motion coupling or other device. This allows the power source to make multiple impacts on an object to drive it into a substrate. However, such multiple impact designs are not very efficient because of the constant motion reversal and the limited operator production speed.
A second design includes the use of potential energy storage mechanisms (in the form of a mechanical spring). In these designs, the spring is cocked (or activated) through an electric motor. Once the spring is sufficiently compressed, the energy is released from the spring into a striker, thus impacting the striker and/or a substrate. Several drawbacks exist to this design. These include the need for a complex system of compressing and controlling the spring, and in order to store sufficient energy, the spring must be very heavy and bulky. Additionally, the spring suffers from fatigue, which gives the tool a very short life. Finally, metal springs must move a significant amount of mass in order to decompress, and the result is that these low-speed impacting devices result in a high reactionary force on the user.
To improve upon this design, an air spring has been used to replace the mechanical spring, i.e., compressing air within a guide assembly and then releasing the compressed air by use of a gear drive. One particularly troublesome issue with this design is the safety hazard in the event that the anvil jams on the downward stroke and the operator tries to clear the jam, he is subject to the full force of the anvil, since the anvil is predisposed to the down position in all of these types of devices. A further disadvantage to the air spring results from the need to have the ratcheting mechanism as part of the anvil drive. This mechanism adds weight and causes significant problems in controlling the drive action since the weight must be stopped at the end of the stroke. This added mass slows the drive stroke and increases the reactionary force on the operator. Additionally, because significant kinetic energy is contained within the air spring and piston assembly the unit suffers from poor efficiency. This design is further subject to a complicated drive system for coupling and uncoupling the air spring and ratchet from the drive train, which increases the production cost and reduces the system reliability.
A third means for impacting that is taught includes the use of flywheels as energy storage means. The flywheels are used to launch a hammering anvil that impacts a substrate. One major drawback to this design is the problem of coupling the flywheel to the driving anvil. This prior art teaches the use of a friction clutching mechanism that is both complicated, heavy and subject to wear. Further limiting this approach is the difficulty in controlling the energy—the mechanism requires enough energy to impact effectively, but retains significant energy in the flywheel after the drive is complete. This further increases the design complexity and size of such prior art devices.
All of the currently available devices suffer from one or more the following disadvantages:                Complex, expensive and unreliable designs. Fuel powered mechanisms such as Paslode™ achieve portability but require consumable fuels and are expensive. Rotating flywheel designs such as Dewalt™ have complicated coupling or clutching mechanisms based on frictional means. This adds to their expense.        Poor ergonomics. The fuel powered mechanisms have loud combustion reports and combustion fumes. The multiple impact devices are fatiguing and are noisy.        Non-portability. Traditional impacting devices are tethered to a fixed compressor and thus must maintain a separate supply line.        High reaction force and short life. Mechanical spring driven mechanisms have high tool reaction forces because of their long drive times. Additionally, the springs are not rated for these types of duty cycles leading to premature failure.        Safety issues. The prior art "air spring" and heavy spring driven designs suffer from safety issues for impacting since the predisposition of the anvil is towards the substrate. During jam clearing, this can cause the anvil to strike the operator's hand.        The return mechanisms in most of these devices involve taking some of the drive energy. Either there is a bungee or spring return of the driving anvil assembly or there is a vacuum or air pressure spring formed during the movement of the anvil. All of these mechanisms take energy away from the drive stroke and decrease efficiency.
In light of these various disadvantages, there exists the need for a fastener driving apparatus that overcomes these various disadvantages of the prior art, while still retaining the benefits of the prior art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A vehicle anti-theft system includes a paint dispensing system including a paint container, a paint propellant device, and one or more paint dispensers, the paint dispensers being located adjacent a windshield of the vehicle for dispensing the point onto the windshield. The paint dispensing system is activated by a remotely broadcast disablement signal and dispenses the paint onto the windshield to obscure vision through the windshield. The paint is characterized by being capable of immediately adhering to glass under a range of conditions, being difficult to remove from glass, including when newly applied, being sufficiently opaque to effectively obscure vision through the glass, and being of a visually very dominate and noticeable color.

The present invention relates to vehicle security system and, in particular, to a vehicle security system which both hinders or disables the ability of a driver to drive the vehicle and marks the vehicle in a highly conspicuous manner as a suspect or intentionally disabled vehicle.
A recurring major problem with motor vehicles of all types is the various forms of theft as vehicles, being readily available and transportable by their inherent nature, are very susceptible to theft by both amateurs, for joy riding, for example, or professional thieves for such purposes as resale of the vehicle or parts thereof or use of the vehicle in further criminal activities. This problem as been long recognized and addressed by various anti-theft systems of greater or lessor degrees of complexity and operating according to a number of different principles.
For example, vehicles are of course typically equipped with door and ignition locks of several different types and of varying degrees of effectiveness that to prevent unauthorized persons from entering or starting the vehicles. Such lock systems commonly require corresponding keys or the entry of security codes to allow access to or activation of the vehicle, and some involve coded xe2x80x9cremotexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ckeylessxe2x80x9d devices and incorporate various types of audible and visual alarm devices. It is commonly known and recognized, however, that such lock systems are easily and commonly bypassed or disabled in various ways, even by children.
Yet other systems provide locking elements that are independent or separate from the vehicle, but which interact with elements of the vehicles to prevent operation of the vehicle. Such devices include, for example, bars that interlock with, for example, the steering wheel and, in many instances, the accelerator or brake pedal or both, to lock these elements into one position. Such devices, while being typically more effective than simple ignition and door locks, may still be bypassed in various ways, such as by removal or disassembly of the steering wheel, or, for example, by the thieves simply towing away the entire vehicle.
Still other systems include, for example, various forms of radio beacon to indicate the current location of the vehicle to one or more tracking facilities when activated by a tracking facility. Such systems may further include, for example, the capability of remotely disabling essential systems of the vehicle, such as the electrical, fuel or ignition systems, when a code is broadcast from a tracking facility. The tracking elements of such systems, however, may be disabled by skilled thieves if presence of such a system is or becomes known to them, and the various disablement mechanisms may be likewise disabled, or bypassed by simply towing the vehicle.
The present invention provides a solution to these and similar problems of the prior art.
The present invention is directed to a vehicle anti-theft system that includes a concealed receiver for receiving a control code corresponding to a vehicle and for generating a disablement signal to at least one security device. The security device includes a paint dispensing system, including a paint container for storing paint, a paint propellant device for dispensing the paint from the paint container, and one or more paint dispensers connected from the paint propellant device, the paint dispensers being located adjacent a windshield of the vehicle for dispensing the point onto the windshield. The paint dispensing system is activated by the disablement signal to dispense the paint onto the windshield to obscure vision through the windshield.
The paint is characterized by being capable of immediately adhering to glass under a range of conditions, being difficult to remove from glass, including when newly applied, being sufficiently opaque to effectively obscure vision through the glass, and being of a visually very dominate and noticeable color. In addition, the paint may be dispensed onto the windshield to obscure vision through the windshield during a predetermined period of time to allow a driver time, for example, to safely stop the vehicle.
The vehicle anti-theft system may further include one or more additional security devices activated by the disablement signal for one or more of disabling the vehicle and indicating a current location of the vehicle.


A soil resistant laminate composition and a soil resistant treatment use composition are provided. In particular, a laminate composition comprising a multilayer composition of a clean surface and a dried layer of a soil resistant agent are disclosed. Soil resistant agents according to the invention include copolymers of a maleic/olefin, an olefin/acrylate and combinations thereof and are suitable for delivery with a water or other organic solvent carrier. A kit and methods for treating a clean surface using a soil resistant laminate composition and a soil resistant treatment use composition are provided by the present invention.

Many compositions have been developed for cleaning or coating hard non-porous surfaces. Cleaning compositions often incorporate soil release agents, such as non-surfactant additives applied to a soiled surface as part of a detergent in order to improve soil removal capability of a detergent. Soil release agents are effective by decreasing lubricity of a soiled surface in order to enhance soil removal through mechanical action. Soil release agents are intended for application to soiled surfaces, as application to clean surfaces counterproductively results in attracting soil, causing the surface to become soiled again at a faster rate.
In addition to the difficulty of cleaning hard, non-porous surfaces, once cleaned, it may be difficult to maintain the appearance of the cleaned surface in a satisfactory state. Imparting soil resistance to a clean surface is therefore desirable. Soil resistance is distinct from soil release and acts to minimizes or prevent the adhesion of soil to a treated clean surface.
It is an objective of the claimed invention to develop a soil resistant surface treatment composition for improved soil resistance and cleaning of surfaces, including both porous and/or non-porous surfaces. According to the invention, the soil resistant surface impairs the binding of soil through an intermediary polymer layer which makes it difficult for oily materials to wet the surface and enhances the wetting of water. A further object of the invention is a novel polymeric treatment composition, including soil resistant agents that are polymers and/or copolymers, having a water or organic solvent carrier and methods of using the same to impart soil resistance to a treated surface, such as a clean surface.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method of treating clean surfaces to prevent soils and limit or eliminate adherence to the surfaces.


A method for regulating radio frequency (RF) signals in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system, comprising a spectrometer, a control loop, and an NMR probe head with RF components (BE, LE, BK), wherein the spectrometer comprises a transmitter that transmits RF signals at measuring frequencies with a transmission power (PS), the NMR probe head contains an RF oscillating circuit, and the RF oscillating circuit comprises an RF coil (LE), is characterized in that the control loop controls the duration and/or the phase and/or the power of the transmitted RF signals. Measurement of a parameter is performed by means of the NMR probe head, via which parameter the current in or the voltage across one of the RF components (BE, LE, BK) can be determined, and the transmission powers (PS) and/or the phases and/or the duration of the RF signals are regulated in dependence on the measured parameter. Any occurring losses can thereby be compensated for without reducing the pulse duration.

The invention concerns a method for regulating radio frequency (RF) signals in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system, comprising a spectrometer, a control loop, and an NMR probe head with RF components, wherein the spectrometer comprises a transmitter which transmits RF signals at measuring frequencies and with a transmission power. The NMR probe head comprises at least one RF oscillating circuit which is tuned, by means of RF components, to the resonance frequency of a type of nucleus to be investigated, wherein the RF oscillating circuit comprises at least one RF coil which is disposed around a measuring sample and, by transmitting RF signals, is used to excite nuclear spins in a sample and to receive NMR signals resulting from this excitation, wherein the NMR probe head may contain further RF components which may be components of the RF oscillating circuit, of the coupling and the filter networks.
In NMR spectrometer systems, radio frequency pulses are irradiated onto a measuring sample by means of a transmitting coil or a transmitting/receiving coil, and the time-resolved response from the measuring sample is detected. The magnetic field component of the RF fields ("magnetic field") thereby couples with the spin system. In many cases, several measuring frequencies are also connected to one single transmitting/receiving coil by means of a tuning network. In addition to the use of coils having one or several windings, which may be designed in the form of saddle coils or solenoid coils, the use of resonator structures such as Birdcage or Alderman-Grant resonators is also possible. Other types of resonators, such as e.g. coaxial or transmission-line resonators, are used less frequently. The term "coil" below means any form of transmitting or transmitting/receiving structure which is used to generate an RF field in a measuring sample.
With a defined magnetic field, i.e. a defined amplitude of the current in the coil and defined transmission frequency f0, the excitation pulses have a characteristic duration (pulse duration p1) in order to rotate the nuclear spin magnetization of a certain type of nucleus with a resonance frequency fS=f0 through 90°. The pulse durations associated with further pulse angles can generally be easily calculated from this 90° pulse duration. When the transmission frequency f0 of the RF pulses differs from the resonance frequency fS of the spins, the pulse angle will not be 90° for a given current amplitude. The excitation width of an RF pulse is generally inversely proportional to its pulse duration.
A current pulse must be generated in the coil to generate the radio frequency magnetic field in the measuring sample. The coil is generally connected to form an oscillating circuit using capacitors and/or a tuning network, and is tuned to the resonance frequency of the nuclear spins. This oscillating circuit is connected to a transmitter by means of a coupling network via transmission lines with defined impedance (normally 50Ω). The coupling network is used to adjust the impedance of the oscillating circuit to the impedance of the transmission line. With optimum adjustment, a wave is transmitted without reflections. In case of mismatch, part of the wave is reflected at the coupling network. Such reflections occur at all impedance breaks. For this reason, it is important to adjust the oscillating circuits to the different measuring frequencies of one measuring head and adjust the impedances to the transmission lines. With perfect adjustment in the stationary limiting case, the overall transmitted power is transferred to the oscillating circuit and dissipated there.
The impedance of an oscillating circuit at resonance is inversely proportional to its Q-value (with fixed inductance of the coil). However, when lossy measuring samples are used, the Q-value of an NMR detection system decreases due to the additional losses in the measuring sample. For this reason, the impedance transformation must be adjusted. This adjustment is called "matching". Furthermore, the resonance frequency of an oscillating circuit changes due to the electric field components which penetrate through the measuring sample. It must be readjusted to the transmission frequency after change of a measuring sample in order to prevent reflections and ensure optimum reception sensitivity. This process is called "tuning".
The current in the oscillating circuit will decrease by increasing the loss resistance/reducing the Q-value upon insertion of a lossy measuring sample into the measuring head for a given transferred power. The generated radio frequency magnetic field has a smaller amplitude and in order to obtain the same flip angle of the nuclear spins, either the duration of the pulses must be extended or the transmission power must be increased.
In NMR spectrometers according to prior art, the pulse duration is adjusted in order to compensate for the additional losses. When lossy measuring samples are used, this extension of the excitation pulses reduces the excitation bandwidth compared to measuring samples without loss.
The reason for the extension of the pulse durations is that, in general, the transmitted power is limited to protect the measuring head from destruction e.g. by dielectric breakdowns. The measuring head therefore realizes the shortest pulse duration pmin for a 90° pulse only with loss-free measuring samples, but with lossy measuring samples the pulse durations can be considerably longer, p1>pmin. FIG. 10 shows the extension of the pulse duration (p1/pmin) as a function of the salt concentration in the sample for a typical NMR measuring head.
The extension of the pulse duration linearly reduces the spectral width during excitation. The longer the pulses, the poorer the usual spectroscopic quality. Spectral regions which are far away from the excitation frequency, are not or are only insufficiently excited such that the signal intensities at that location are reduced or reception of a signal is no longer possible. It is definitely normal that the pulse duration may be doubled or even tripled over the relevant range of solvent losses. This, however, also means that only half or even only one third of the spectral width is available for excitation. This is particularly and extremely critical for inversion pulses, since these already have a significantly reduced excitation width compared to a 90° pulse. Lossy measuring samples frequently fail to achieve sufficient excitation with inversion pulses such that so-called adiabatic pulses must be used instead. These, however, require a considerably higher dissipated overall power and have a much longer overall duration during which the spin system evolves, and they cannot be used in any situation. For these reasons, it is often desirable to do without such pulses.
One further problem consists in that power amplifiers are generally not adjusted to 50Ω but have a lower resistance in order to increase their efficiency. When the measuring head and certain cable lengths between amplifier and transmitting coil are mismatched, the effectively delivered power may be higher compared to adjustment to 50Ω. This increases the voltage/current in the coil or the network, although the nominally transmitted power is identical. For this reason, the transmission power must be limited to a value that offers sufficient reserves to also cover any mismatches.
For short transmission pulses with high resonator Q-values, the adjustment to 50Ω is not the ideal power adjustment. Due to the high resonator Q-value, transient oscillations occur during which the ideal power adjustment greatly deviates from that of the stationary state. With high (Q>1000) or very high (Q>10000) Q-values and short pulses (p1<10 μs), the stationary state is not obtained during the pulse duration such that the shortest pulse angles cannot be obtained with 50Ω matching.
In practice, there are also situations in which it is not possible to calculate from a known pulse with flip angle α1, pulse duration p1 and power P1, a pulse with a flip angle α2, pulse duration p2 and power P2 without errors. The reasons therefor are e.g. non-linearities of the coil materials that are used over the power range P1 to P2, which, in addition to increased dissipation, also cause mismatches and thereby increased reflection. Such non-linearities may occur e.g. through heating or with superconducting coil materials which are operated close to their critical currents. With very high Q-values or high transmission power, a situation may even arise in which with constant transmission power, a pulse with large flip angle cannot be correctly calculated from a pulse with small flip angle. In the first case, this is due to reflection of the transmitted signal on the resonator due to mismatch during the transient oscillations as mentioned in the previous paragraph. In the second case, the heating due to dissipation of the high power during the pulse is responsible.
It is therefore the object of the invention to propose a method, an NMR probe head, and an NMR system which compensate for occurring losses, in particular without reducing the pulse duration, which correct errors in the calculation of pulses or which automate determination of pulses.

Method for regulating RF signals in an NMR system and probe head for carrying out the method


A method and system thereof for updating applications installed on a computer system. Each application supplies the name of a source (e.g., a Web site address) from which updates can be obtained. Upon boot up, the boot loader reads the addresses, locates the interface for connecting with the Internet, and connects with each of the Web sites. Updated application information is identified and can be downloaded from the Web sites to the computer system. Also, information can be downloaded to change the graphical user interface for the application. Furthermore, the Web site can determine whether the application is authorized for use on the computer system. Alternatively, a single Web site can be used for multiple applications. In addition, this process can instead be implemented as a background function after boot up. In each implementation, applications are conveniently and reliably updated without having to execute the applications.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to software applications used by computer systems. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a method and system for automatically managing and updating software applications installed on computer systems.
2. Related Art
Users typically install software applications on their computer systems from floppy disks (magnetic storage), compact disks (optical storage), or some other type of computer-readable media. After the application has been purchased and installed by the user, software vendors often find it desirable to provide updates to their customers. The updates often provide enhancements and new features that improve the software application, providing a more satisfactory user experience and thereby increasing the likelihood of future use and sales.
The number of different software applications available for use on computer systems is substantial. Each application can also have multiple versions, further increasing the number of applications in use. Among computer systems used in homes, there is little or no uniformity with regard to the applications installed from one home to the next. In a business environment, there is some degree of uniformity among the applications installed on the computers used within a particular business, but there is still a lack of uniformity between businesses.
As a result of the number and variety of applications in use, it is difficult to provide updates to users. The difficulty lies not only in identifying who is using the application, but what version of the application they are using.
The widespread availability of the Internet offers one solution for providing software updates to users. Updates can be posted on and downloaded from Web sites accessible by users via the Internet. However, this type of solution requires deliberate actions on the part of the user to track down and download updates. Users must also be able to identify which version of the software they are using, or which updates they have already implemented. In many cases, users do not want to be inconvenienced with the effort needed to locate, identify, and implement updates. Also, users often will not know when new updates become available. Rather than search for updates on a frequent basis only to find, for example, that no updates are available, the typical user will most likely not search at all.
Some applications, particularly those that are updated on a regular basis such as anti-virus programs, are configured to remind the user to download an update on a periodic basis. However, a problem with these applications, and others like them, is that deliberate actions are still needed from the user in order to receive an update. In addition, it is often necessary to guess how frequently a search for updates should be made; a shorter interval may unduly inconvenience the user, while a longer interval may delay receiving a desirable update. Furthermore, in many cases, the user must first execute the application in order to be made aware of the need to check for an update. Oftentimes, instead of retrieving the update, the user would rather let the application continue executing so that the task at hand can be completed without interruption. Consequently, the update may be overlooked and left unperformed.

Internet-aware agent for automatically updating applications without executing the application


A method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of a multi-band antenna in a wireless terminal over a wide range of frequencies is described herein. To compensate for the undesirable coupling that occurs in a low frequency band between a parasitic antenna and a primary antenna in certain designs, a matching network is connected to at least one ground port of the multi-band antenna. The matching network controls the multi-band antenna performance based on the current transmission frequency band. In some embodiments, the matching network is configured to operate as an open circuit when multi-band antenna operates in the low frequency band, and to operate as a short circuit when multi-band antenna operates in the high frequency band.

The present invention relates generally to multi-band antennas in wireless terminals, and more particularly to improving the performance of the multi-band antenna using a frequency band specific matching network.
Conventional wireless terminals typically include multi-band antenna systems that enable the wireless terminal to operate in multiple frequency bands. An exemplary multi-band antenna system may operate in a GSM band (824-894 MHz), an EGSM band (880-960 MHz), a PCS band (1850-1990 MHz) and/or a DCS band (1710-1880 MHz). Typically, a primary antenna of the multi-band antenna operates in two frequency bands—a low frequency band and a high frequency band.
When additional or wider frequency bands of operation are desired, the antenna system may further include a parasitic antenna element to expand the bandwidth of either the high or the low frequency bands or to add a third, separate frequency band. For example, a multi-band antenna with a primary antenna configured to operate in both the GSM and the PCS bands often includes a parasitic antenna tuned to the DCS frequency band. In this example, the parasitic antenna capacitively couples to the primary antenna. As a result, the parasitic antenna expands the bandwidth of the high frequency band to include both PCS and DCS frequencies. However, while the parasitic antenna generally expands the bandwidth of the high frequency band, the proximity of the parasitic antenna to the low frequency portion of the primary antenna may reduce the bandwidth of the low frequency band, and may also reduce the gain of the multi-band antenna system in the low frequency band.

Method and apparatus for improving the performance of a multi-band antenna in a wireless terminal


A lateral III-N device has a vertical gate module with III-N material orientated in an N-polar or a group-III polar orientation. A III-N material structure has a III-N buffer layer, a III-N barrier layer, and a III-N channel layer. A compositional difference between the III-N barrier layer and the III-N channel layer causes a 2DEG channel to be induced in the III-N channel layer. A p-type III-N body layer is disposed over the III-N channel layer in a source side access region but not over a drain side access region. A n-type III-N capping layer over the p-type III-N body layer. A source electrode that contacts the n-type III-N capping layer is electrically connected to the p-type III-N body layer and is electrically isolated from the 2DEG channel when the gate electrode is biased relative to the source electrode at a voltage that is below a threshold voltage.

Currently, typical power semiconductor devices, including devices such as transistors, diodes, power MOSFETs and insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), are fabricated with silicon (Si) semiconductor material. More recently, wide-bandgap materials (SiC, III-N, III-O, diamond) have been considered for power devices due to their superior properties. III-Nitride or III-N semiconductor devices, such as gallium nitride (GaN) devices, are now emerging as attractive candidates to carry large currents, support high voltages and provide very low on-resistance and fast switching times. Although high voltage III-N diodes, transistors and switches are beginning to be commercialized, further improvements are needed in order to improve the performance, efficiency, reliability and cost of these devices. The term device will be used in general for any transistor or switch or diode when there is no need to distinguish between them.
Cross-sectional views of a group-III polar lateral III-N device 100A and an N-Polar lateral III-N device 100B are illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, respectively. Devices 100A and 100B each include a source contact 21, a drain contact 22, a gate contact 23, and access regions 82 and 83. As used herein, the "access regions" of a device refer to the two regions between the source and gate contacts, and between the gate and drain contacts of the device, i.e., regions 82 and 83, respectively, in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Region 82, the access region on the source side of the gate, is typically referred to as the source side access region, and region 83, the access region on the drain side of the gate, is typically referred to as the drain side access region. As used herein, the "gate region" 81 of a device refers to the portion of the transistor between the two access regions 82 and 83 in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The gate module of the device refers to the portion of the layers and materials of the device that are in or adjacent to the gate region of the device, and within which the electric field is modulated through application of gate voltages in order to modulate the channel conductivity in the gate region of the device. The device channel refers to the conductive region that serves as the current path of the device between the source contact and drain contact when the device is biased in the ON state. The source contact 21 and the drain contact 22 are electrically connected to a lateral two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel 19 (indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 1A) which is induced in a III-N channel layer 16 adjacent the interface between a III-N barrier layer 14 and the III-N channel layer 16 and serves as the device channel. The device channel in the gate region 81 of the devices of FIGS. 1A and 1 B is formed in a lateral direction from the portion of the 2DEG channel below the gate contact 23.
Typical III-N high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) and related devices are formed on III-Nitride materials grown in a group-III polar (e.g., Ga-polar) orientation, such as the [0 0 0 1] (C-plane) orientation, as shown in FIG. 1A. That is, the source, gate, and drain contacts of the HEMT are formed over the group-III face (e.g., [0 0 0 1] face) of the III-N material layers, which is typically on an opposite side of the III-N material layers from the substrate on which the III-N layers are formed. Alternatively, III-N HEMTs can be formed on III-Nitride materials grown in an N-Polar (i.e., N-face) orientation, such as the [0 0 0−1] orientation, as shown in FIG. 1B. In this case, the source, gate, and drain contacts of the HEMT are formed over the N-face (e.g., [0 0 0−1] face) of the III-N material layers. N-polar III-N materials have polarization fields with opposite direction than group-III polar III-N materials, thus can enable the implementation of III-N devices which cannot be fabricated using group-III polar structures. N-polar III-N devices can in some cases exhibit superior characteristics when compared to group-III polar devices, including lower static and dynamic on-resistance, with higher current density, higher power density, and higher reliability.
Furthermore, III-N HEMTs are typically depletion-mode (D-mode) devices, which means they are normally-on, i.e., they conduct current when zero voltage is applied to the gate relative to the source and a positive voltage is applied to the drain relative to the source. However, in power electronics, it is more desirable to have normally-off devices, called enhancement mode (E-mode) devices, which do not conduct substantial current at zero gate voltage and require a sufficiently positive voltage applied to the gate relative to the source in order to be turned on. In power electronics, the use of E-mode devices can help to increase safety and to reduce the potential for damage to the device, to other circuit components, or to the entire power system by preventing accidental turn on of the device in case of circuit failure. However, improvements in the electrical performance of E-mode devices are still needed to further increase market adaptation.

Lateral III-nitride devices including a vertical gate module


A frame unit provided in a compressor and a method of manufacturing the frame unit with improved productivity. The frame unit is secured between a cylinder block and a stator of the compressor and is adapted to rotatably support a rotary shaft press fitted in a rotor located inside the stator. The manufacturing method of the frame unit comprises: preparing a frame body having a through-opening perforated at a center thereof and a plurality of fastening holes perforated at respective corners thereof, the frame body having a plate shape to be coupled at an upper surface thereof to the cylinder block, preparing a bearing member configured to be inserted and coupled in the through-opening of the frame body to rotatably support the rotary shaft, preparing a plurality of stator supporting poles configured to be inserted and coupled in the respective fastening holes to be supported between the frame body and the stator, and coupling the bearing member to the through-opening of the frame body by means of fixing bolts, and coupling the stator supporting poles to the respective fastening holes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compressor, and, more particularly, to a frame unit included in a compressor to mount various internal components of the compressor thereon.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a compressor, that constitutes the refrigerating cycle of a refrigerator, air conditioner, or the like, conventionally comprises a compressing unit to compress a refrigerant, a drive unit to provide power required to compress the refrigerant, and a hermetic casing to hermetically seal the compressing unit and drive unit. The hermetic casing is provided at one side thereof with a suction pipe to guide the refrigerant from an external supply source into the hermetic casing, and at the other side thereof with a discharge pipe to discharge the refrigerant, that was compressed via the compressing unit, to the outside of the hermetic casing.
The compressing unit includes a cylinder block mounted in the upper region of the hermetic casing and internally defining a compression chamber, and a piston disposed in the compression chamber and adapted to compress the refrigerant. The drive unit, that produces a driving force to reciprocate the piston inside the compression chamber, includes a stator affixed in the lower region of the hermetic casing, and a rotor provided in the stator by a distance and adapted to electromagnetically interact with the stator.
The rotor has a rotary shaft press-fitted through the center thereof and adapted to rotate simultaneously with the rotor. As a rotating force of the rotary shaft is transmitted to the piston, the piston reciprocates inside the compression chamber, thereby compressing the refrigerant.
Conventionally, the compressor further comprises a frame unit provided between the cylinder block of the compressing unit and the stator of the drive unit. The frame unit includes a plate-shaped frame body coupled at an upper surface thereof to the cylinder block, a cylindrical bearing member extending downward from a lower surface of the frame body by a predetermined length and adapted to rotatably support an upper portion of the rotary shaft close to the compressing unit, the upper portion of the rotary shaft being guided through the frame unit, and a plurality of cylindrical stator supporting poles extending downward from the outer periphery of the lower surface of the frame body toward an upper surface of the stator and adapted to be supported between the frame body and the upper surface of the stator. For the manufacture of the frame unit configured as stated above, it is first integrally cast so that the frame body, bearing member and respective stator supporting poles are roughly formed, and then the respective members of the frame unit are accurately processed to yield a desired final shape via cutting, drilling, etc.
However, the above described frame unit, provided in the conventional compressor, is expensive and difficult to manufacture because it has to be cast by making use of a complicated mold required to integrally cast the frame body, bearing member and stator supporting members. Further, the above mentioned additional processes, such as cutting, drilling, etc., complicates the overall manufacturing process of the frame unit, resulting in reduced productivity thereof.

Frame unit of compressor and manufacturing method thereof


Methods and apparatus for controlling air supplied under pressure to a patient suffering from sleep disorders such as apnoea. Controlled pressurized air is supplied to the patient""s upper anatomical airways by the apparatus according to the methods of the present invention. The apparatus measures the air flow and pressure to the airway, and determines whether to increase or decrease the pressure based on a determination of several factors, such as the occurrence of an obstructive or central apnoea, hyperventilation, air leakage and acoustical vibrations. Occurrences of apnoeas may be stored by the apparatus and read by a clinician at a later date.

The invention concerns a method of controlling an apparatus for supplying air pressure to a patient suffering from sleep problems.
The invention also concerns an apparatus for supplying air pressure to a patient suffering from sleep problems.
These sleep problems are respiratory and tend to waken the patient inopportunely.
They are for example apnoeas, hypopnoeas, acoustic vibrations or snores, or limitation of the respiratory flow, due to a narrowing of the upper airways of the patient.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,137 describes a method and a device for controlling respiration in the case of sleep problems, which use multiple and variable pressure levels.
A pressure source supplies a breathable gas compressed at a relatively low pressure to the airways of the user.
Pressure sensors monitor the pressures and convert them into electrical signals.
The electrical signals are filtered and processed in order to extract specific characteristics such as the duration and energy levels.
If these characteristics exceed chosen duration and energy level thresholds beyond a minimum time period, the microprocessor indicates the presence of a sleep respiratory problem.
If a chosen number of these events appears during a chosen time period, the microprocessor adjusts the pressure supplied by the source.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,502 describes a method and an apparatus for optimizing the controlled positive pressure in order to minimize the air flow coming from a generator while ensuring that flow limitation in the airways of the patient does not take place.
Provision is made therein to detect flow limitation by analysing a respiratory flow wave.
As soon as the presence of a flow limitation has been analysed, the system determines an action to be performed for adjusting the controlled positive pressure.
The pressure is increased, reduced or maintained depending on whether flow limitation has been detected and according to the previous actions implemented by the system.
The documents U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,654, EP-A-661 071 and EP-A-651 971 should also be cited.
The invention aims to improve the methods and devices of the state of the art, to automatically and continuously adapt the delivered pressure to the state of the patient and to anticipate and prevent the appearance of problems.
A first object of the invention is a method of controlling an apparatus for supplying air pressure to a patient suffering from sleep problems such as apnoeas.
A second object of the invention is an apparatus for supplying air pressure to a patient suffering from sleep problems such as apnoea, implementing the supply method.
The patient wears a mask by means of which air under pressure is supplied to his upper airways by the apparatus.
According to the invention, a control algorithm is provided using an output flow signal from the apparatus for detecting apnoea, hypopnoea, flow limitation events and leakages, and using the analysis of an item of pressure information for determining the presence of snoring, also referred to as acoustic vibrations.
The pressure supplied to the upper airways of the patient by the apparatus can be maintained constant, be increased or reduced according to the determination of the event which has been performed by the control algorithm.
Thus, if no respiration is detected by the control algorithm within a predetermined minimum time depending on a calculated mean respiration time, the presence of an apnoea is determined.
This predetermined minimum apnoea detection time is for example equal to a time constant, for example 10 seconds, added to a proportionality factor multiplied by the calculated mean respiration time, this factor being for example equal to ⅝.
For each apnoea, the output flow signal is amplified and filtered in order to determine the presence or absence of cardiac oscillations.
If cardiac oscillations were detected during the last elapsed time interval, for example equal to 5 seconds, then the apnoea is classified as being central and no control takes place in the algorithm.
If no cardiac oscillation was detected in this time interval, the apnoea is classified as being obstructive, and the pressure is increased by a predetermined value a first time and, during the same apnoea, twice more regularly, for example every 15 seconds.
The control algorithm compares peak-to-peak flow variations during the latest respiration of the patient with respect to a predetermined number of previous respirations, for example equal to 8.
After each respiration, a classification is performed into:
normal respiration, if the last peak-to-peak flow value is within a given range with respect to the mean value over the previous 8 respirations, for example from 40% to 150% or 140% thereof;
hypopnoeic respiration, if the last flow value is below this range;
hyperpnoeic respiration, if the last flow value is above this range.
A hypopnoea determination is made if hypopnoeic respiration detection takes place during at least a given time, for example 10 seconds, and terminates after a given number of normal or hyperpnoeic respirations, for example equal to 2.
A hypopnoea determination causes a given increase in pressure, for example 1 cm H2O first, and then, during the same hypopnoea, an increase in pressure by another given value, regularly, for example 0.5 cm H2O every two hypopnoeic respirations.
The control algorithm analyses and compares, respiration by respiration, the waveform of the respiratory flow with a sinusoidal waveform of the same period and same gradient.
After the comparison based on two flow form criteria, each respiration is first classified as normal, intermediate or limited flow.
A final classification, based on the combination of the flow classification and the occurrence of snores, changes the classification of respirations from normal into intermediate, respectively from intermediate into limited flow respiration.
Processing is decided upon when a certain number, for example 2, of successive limited flow respirations or a certain number, for example 5, of successive intermediate respirations take place after for example two normal respirations.
This processing causes a given increase in pressure, repeated regularly a certain number of times, for example 0.3 cm H2O three times every two respirations.
For each respiration, the pressure signal is amplified and filtered in order to detect the presence or absence of acoustic vibrations or snoring.
A determination of a valid snore is made by the control algorithm if the detected acoustic vibration occurred at least for a certain time, for example 7% of the mean duration of the last three respirations, and with a period less than a factor proportional to this mean time, for example 120% thereof.
In the case of a valid snore, the algorithm increases the pressure by a given value, for example 1 cm H2O, if the last control due to a snore took place more than a given time previously, for example 1 minute.
A mean leakage is determined as being equal to the mean flow during respiration.
The control algorithm continuously compares the current leakage with a leakage limit, it being possible to regulate said limit from the pressure.
If the current leakage exceeds the limit, all pressure increase controls generated following event detections are disabled.
After detection of an apnoea or a snoring event or a hypopnoea control or a processing decision, the algorithm will reduce the pressure by a given value, for example 0.5 cm H2O, in a first step after a given time, for example 5 minutes, and regularly for the following reductions, for example every minute.
A given maintenance pressure, for example 8 cm H2O, is supplied by the apparatus if no respiration has been detected during a given time, for example two minutes, or if the pressure supplied has been greater than or equal to a given value for a given time, for example 17 cm H2O for 10 or 30 minutes.
One advantage of the method is an automatic adaptation of the detection criteria to the respiratory characteristics of the patient.
Thus, any modification of the respiratory rhythm is taken into account by the algorithm for performing the detection.
The fact of involving a mean value of respiratory cycle time over a certain number of previous respiratory cycles has the effect of variations in the cycle and respiratory amplitude being tracked regularly and better detection.
The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following description, given with reference to the figures.


Methods and devices for forming both high-voltage and low-voltage transistors on a common substrate using a reduced number of processing steps are disclosed. An exemplary method includes forming at least a first high-voltage transistor well and a first low-voltage transistor well on a common substrate separated by an isolation structure extending a first depth into the substrate, using a first mask and first implantation process to simultaneously implant a doping material of a first conductivity type into a channel region of the low-voltage transistor well and a drain region for the high-voltage transistor well.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to semiconductor devices. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to semiconductor devices having a combination of low-voltage and high-voltage transistors and methods of manufacturing of these semiconductor devices.
This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application 10-2005-0127042, filed on Dec. 21, 2005, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
2. Description of the Related Art
Manufacturers of electronic goods are under constant pressure to supply devices having expanded functionality and lower prices. One example is the wireless cellular phone, where staunch competition between manufacturers and resellers has kept cellular phone prices down even as the range of cellular phone functionality has expanded dramatically. Indeed, cellular telephones now include such capabilities as e-mail, web-browsing, text-messaging, music storage, photography, and video playback.
In order to facilitate the trend towards expanded device functionality at lower prices, manufacturers must develop not only new processing architectures and algorithms, but also new semiconductor technologies allowing denser device integration at lower fabrication costs. However, increased device integration often requires a blending of heretofore incompatible technologies into a common device substrate.
Many contemporary electronic devices, such as cellular telephones, benefit from the inclusion of low-voltage (<3.3 VDC) CMOS devices (e.g., transistors) in the implementation of various circuitry (e.g., data encryption and decryption). However, the same electronic devices also benefit from the inclusion of relatively high-voltage (>5 VDC) devices in the implementation of other circuitry (e.g., modulators/demodulators and power amplifiers). Unfortunately, high-voltage devices do not generally function effectively at low-voltages, and the low-voltage devices can be damaged by high-voltages. These facts often resulted in the conventional provision of separate integrated circuits, one implemented in low voltage devices and another implemented in high voltage devices, within a host device. However, such an approach to dealing with the common provision of different types of devices are simple not possible under emerging pressures related to integration densities and fabrication costs.
To remedy this problem, a host of technical solutions has been developed. For example, a device known as an "asymmetric" metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor has been proposed. In this type of MOS device, the drain region is substantially expanded in relation to a corresponding source region. With this structure, an asymmetric MOS transistor may be implemented within a predominantly low-voltage system, and yet operate at relatively high voltages without significant risk of damage.
FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary asymmetric MOS transistor 10 embedded between two shallow trench isolation (STI) structures 14. As shown in FIG. 1, asymmetric MOS transistor 10 is a p-channel MOS-type transistor having a gate 11 formed over a p-doped well 15. A source electrode 12 is connected to a heavily n-doped source region 17, and a drain electrode is connected to a heavily n-doped drain region 18. A lightly n-doped region surrounds heavily n-doped drain region 18.
The lightly n-doped well/region surrounding heavily n-doped drain region 18 imparts two properties to transistor 10. First, the effective channel length (LEFF) under gate 11 is reduced. Second, drain region 18 is effectively enlarged, which consequently gives asymmetric MOS transistor 10 a higher breakdown voltage (i.e., a greater ability to withstand higher applied voltages).
One particular example of an asymmetric MOS transistor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,624,487, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference. A similar device is illustrated in FIG. 2.
In FIG. 2, a pair of asymmetric MOS transistors 32, 34 are provided in an electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuit. In first MOS transistor 32, a gate electrode 45 overlaps a portion of a lightly n-doped well 42 in which a heavily n-doped drain 44 is disposed. Similarly, for second MOS transistor 34, gate electrode 49 overlaps a portion of a lightly n-doped well 51 in which a heavily n-doped drain 48 is disposed. In the illustrated example, the drains of first and second MOS transistors 32, 34 are commonly connected to a terminal (not shown). Corresponding gates 45, 49 of respective first and second MOS transistors 32, 34 are also commonly connected. The deep drain-extended junctions, located at the interface between N-wells 42, 51 and substrate 40, provide a large junction area capable of handling a substantial current passing from substrate 40 to the above-mentioned terminal when forward-biased by a negative polarity ESD event.
While the asymmetric MOS transistors 32, 34 of FIG. 2 have proven useful for handling relatively high-voltages, they may suffer from an absence (or inadequate) of electrical isolation between one another, and between other proximate devices. To counter this electrical isolation problem, two additional structures are routinely included within substrates incorporating asymmetric MOS transistors adapted for use with relatively high applied voltages. These additional structures are sometimes referred to as "guard rings" and "triple wells".
FIG. 3 conceptually illustrates the use and placement of guard rings 86 and a triple well 84 within a semiconductor device 70. The generalized semiconductor device 70 includes, for example, an n-channel transistor 82 and a p-channel transistor 80 separated, and surrounded by, a number of shallow trench isolation (STI) structures 74. In turn, STI structures 74 are separated by intermediate N-wells biased to VDD and intermediate P-wells biased to VSS. The consequential effect of STI structures 74 and intermittent N-wells and P-wells, which collectively form guard rings 86, is one of increased electrical isolation between transistors 80 and 82, as well as to other proximate devices.
Triple-well 84 is also illustrated in FIG. 3 and is disposed under an enlarged P-well region of transistor 82. Triple well 84 is typically formed from a lightly n-doped region adjacent to the enlarged P-well. As with guard rings 86, triple-well 84 substantially increases the electrical isolation of transistor 82 with respect to other devices proximately disposed on the substrate, and more particularly prevents current leakage from the P-well through the P-type substrate.
While guard rings and triple-wells may be used to effectively isolate asymmetric MOS devices on a substrate, their formation significantly complicates and increases the cost of the overall fabrication process. That is, the provision of guard rings and triple-wells consumes increasingly scarce substrate area, and requires the use of additional fabrication masks. Accordingly, new technology related to the cost effective fabrication and incorporation of asymmetric MOS devices within a substrate is highly desirable.

Method of fabricating a semiconductor device including high voltage and low voltage MOS devices


A B. subtilis strain possessing an enhanced surfactin production potential. The strain is a mutant of B. subtilis ATCC 21332 and has at least one mutation between Arg4 and HisA1 sites of the genetic map of B. subtilis ATCC 21332. Also included in the present invention is B. subtilis strain having the identifying characteristics of ATCC 53813.

Biosurfactants are substances that have received a considerable amount of attention because of the fact that they possess a wide variety of interesting properties. For example, they can be used as oil recovery agents, emulsifiers, antibiotics and antifungal agents. In fact, Arima et al. have demonstrated in 1968 Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 31:488-494 that a biosurfactant such as surfactin could reduce the surface tension of water from 72 to 27 mN/m at a concentration as low as 0.005% and could also inhibit clot formation. Furthermore, Bernheimer and Avigad in 1970 J. Gen. Microbiol. 61:361-369 have shown that surfactin could efficiently lyse erythrocytes while Hosono and Suzuki in 1983, J. Antibiot. 36:679-683 have demonstrated that bacterial spheroplasts and protoplasts as well as cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate diesterase could also be inhibited by the action of surfactin.
Biosurfactants are produced as metabolic products or membrane components. A considerable number of these compounds have been characterized and described by various authors such Cooper et al. (1986, Microbiol. Sci. 3:145-149), Cooper and Zajic (1980, Adv. Appl. Microbiol. 26:229-253), Margaritis et al. (1979, Biotech. Bioeng. 21:1151-1161), Rosenberg (1982, CRC Crit. Rev. Biotech. 1:109-132), Zajic and Steffens (1984, CRC Crit. Rev. Biotech. 1:87-107). These compounds are classified as lipopeptides, glycolipids, lipopolysaccharides, neutral lipids and fatty acids or phospholipids. They are surface-active due to their hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. Since surfactants are used in many multiphase processes, they are very important industrially. Biosurfactants are potentially less toxic and more biodegradable than the synthetic compounds currently used. They can also be produced from a variety of substrates.
In particular, lipopeptides are a very interesting class of compounds. Some examples such as amphomycin (Bodanszky et al. 1973, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 95:2352-2357 and cyclosporin A (Dreyfuss et al., 1976, Eur. J. Appl. Microbiol. 3:125-133; Ruegger et al. 1976, Helv. Chim. Acta 59:1075-1092) are respectively known for their antibiotic and antifungal activities. They contain both a lipid portion and several amino acids.
Bacillus subtilis ATCC 21332 produces surfactin. Surfactin is a lipopeptide biosurfactant having as mentioned above quite interesting properties. Apart from being a very powerful biosurfactant, surfactin has the advantage of being easily isolated in pure form when produced by microorganisms such as B. subtilis. However, serious problems are associated with the industrial production of surfactin. Among these problems, the fact that the yields are very low is certainly the most important one.
Until now, the only methods which have been utilized to enhance production of surfactin by B. subtilis are strain selection or the manipulation of environmental or nutritional factor such as described in Cooper et al. in 1981, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 42:408-412 and Guerra-Santos et al. in 1986 Appl. Microbiol. Biotech. 24:443-448. However, the methods that have been proposed so far are indirect methods having their limitations.
Therefore, the obtention of a B. subtilis strain able to produce large quantities of surfactin would be highly desirable.

Enhanced production of biosurfactant through the use of a mutated B subtilis strain

Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the National Research Council of Canada


An etched illuminated display includes a mirrored first surface having etched indicia thereon. A second and a third surface are disposed along a first and a second outer edge of the mirrored first surface. An illumination source is positioned behind the first surface. When activated the illumination source produces illumination emanating from the etched indicia.

People of deep, whole-hearted religious faith live by and are inspired by the word of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. These people typically involve themselves in intensive study of the Bible and strive to follow its teachings. While these efforts often produce positive results where true happiness and content is realized, as mortals we inevitably venture off a desired spiritual path without constant reminders of our faith. Others may require more traditional messages or inspiration that is just not delivered by conventional prayer or spiritual poem.
As believers in the Word of God, people are on the constant lookout for new and inspirational methods of presenting such reminders. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which inspirational messages and/or biblical verse reminders can be delivered in a new and exciting manner. The development of the Etched Illuminated Display fulfills this need.