An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a current limiting function is simple in construction and can avoid variations In the current limiting values for respective power transistors 103. A current limiting circuit 109 includes a common resistor 105 connected at one end thereof to a power supply 101 and at the other end thereof to a plurality of ignition voltage generating circuits 104. an operational amplifier 107 making a comparison between a voltage V.sub.105 across the resistor 105 and a reference voltage Vr which corresponds to a predetermined upper limit current for each power transistor 103 and generating an output signal A of a magnitude proportional to a difference (V.sub.105 -Vr) therebetween, and a plurality of transistors 108 provided one for each power transistor 103 and connected to receive the output signal A from the operational amplifier 107 for limiting a current through a corresponding power transistor 103 in response to the output signal A. The current limiting circuit 107 serves to sense a current flowing through each power transistor 103 and limit it to a predetermined upper limit value to thereby protect each power transistor from damage due to an overcurrent therethrough.

The present invention relates to an ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a current limiting function in which a switch such as a power transistor for turning on and off the power supply to an ignition coil to thereby generate a high voltage can be protected from damage due to an overcurrent flowing therethrough. More particularly, it relates to such an ignition apparatus which is simple in construction and low in the manufacturing costs.
FIG. 3 shows a typical example of an ignition apparatus for a multi-cylinder (e.g., four-cylinder in the illustration) internal combustion engine having a current limiting function. In this figure, the illustrated ignition apparatus includes a power supply in the form of a battery 1, and a plurality of ignition coils 2 provided one for each of cylinders of the engine and commonly connected to the battery 1. Each ignition coil 2 has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary winding of each ignition coil 2 is connected at one end thereof to the battery i and at the other end thereof to ground through a switch 3 in the form of an electronic switch comprising a pair of transistors coupled in a Darlington pair. The secondary winding of each ignition coil 2 connected to a spark plug (not shown) for a corresponding cylinder. Each switch or Darlington pair 3 has a common collector coupled to the primary winding of a corresponding ignition coil 2, an emitter connected to ground, and a base connected to an unillustrated engine control unit which periodically supplies thereto an ignition signal D at an appropriate ignition timing whereby the switch 3 is turned off, thus generating a high voltage Vi across the secondary winding which is imposed upon electrodes of a corresponding spark plug.
A current limiting circuit, generally designated at reference numeral 9, is provided for each of the switches 3 for the purpose of protecting it from an overcurrent flowing therethrough. Each current limiting circuit 9 Includes a current sensing resistor 5 having a limited resistance and connected between the emitter of a corresponding switch 3 and ground for sensing a current flowing from the battery 1 to ground through the primary winding of a corresponding ignition coil 2 and the switch 3 to generate a corresponding voltage Vt thereacross which is proportional to the current flowing through the switch 3. An operational amplifier 7 has a positive or non-inverted input terminal connected to one end (i.e., a switch-side end) of the current sensing resistor 5 to which the corresponding switch S is connected, and a negative or inverted input terminal connected to a positive terminal of a reference .voltage supply 6 whose negative terminal is connected to the other end (i.e., a ground-side end) of the resistor 5 which is connected to ground. The reference voltage supply 6 generates a reference voltage Vr corresponding to an upper limit value of a current flowing through the switch S and supplies it to the negative input terminal of the operational amplifier 7, so that the operational amplifier 7 compares the voltage Vt across the resistor 5 with the reference voltage Vr to generate an output signal or voltage A proportional to a difference (Vt-Vr) therebetween. A transistor 8 has a base coupled to an output terminal of the operational amplifier 7, a collector coupled to the base of a corresponding switch 3, and an emitter connected to ground. Thus, when the output voltage A from the operational amplifier ? exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the transistor 8 is turned on by the output signal A from the operational amplifier 7 to connect or shore-circuit the base of the switch 3 to ground through the now conductive transistor 8, thereby turning the switch 3 off to stop the current flow through the primary winding of the corresponding ignition coil 2 and the switch 3.
The operation of the above-mentioned ignition apparatus of FIG. 3 will now be described. When an ignition signal D supplied from the unillustrated engine control unit to a switch S is changed into a high level at an appropriate power supply starting timing to thereby turn the switch 3 on, a current begins to flow from the battery 1 to ground through the primary winding of an associated ignition coil 2, the switch 3 and an associated resistor 5. As a result, a voltage Vt develops across the resistor 5 and is supplied to the positive or non-inverted input terminal of the operational amplifier 7. The operational amplifier 7 compares the voltage Vt with the reference voltage Vr which is supplied from the reference power supply 6 to the negative or inverted input terminal of the amplifier 7, and it then generates an output signal A proportional to a difference (Vt-Vr) between the voltages Vt, Vr so as to control an associated transistor 8, For example, when the voltage Vt exceeds the reference voltage Vr (i.e., Vt >Vr) indicating that an overcurrent flows through the switch 3, the operational amplifier ? operates to increase the level or magnitude of its output signal A. When the output signal A from the operational amplifier 7 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the transistor 8 is made conductive so that the ignition signal D from the engine control unit is allowed to pass to ground via the now conductive transistor 8 while bypassing the switch 3. As a result, the base current to be supplied to the base of the switch 3 is suppressed. With such control of the base current, the current flowing through the switch 3 is limited to a predetermined upper limit level.
Accordingly, the current passing through each switch 3 during conduction or energization of a corresponding ignition coil 2 does not exceed the upper limit value, and hence each switch 3 is positively protected from damage due to an overcurrent passing therethrough.
In this connection, it is to be noted that in each current limiting circuit 9, a circuit constant of the resistor 5 for generating a high current sensing voltage Vt thereacross and a circuit constant of the reference voltage supply 6 are properly adjusted in advance.
Subsequently, when the ignition signal D supplied to the switch 3 becomes low at ignition timing to turn the switch 3 off, a high voltage Vi is induced across the secondary winding of a corresponding ignition coil 2 and supplied to an illustrated corresponding spark plug to thereby ignite a corresponding cylinder.
With the above-described ignition apparatus as constructed above, however, the current limiting circuits 9 are provided one for each ignition coil 2 and hence for each cylinder, so the number of the current limiting circuits required is equal to that of the cylinders, making the overall construction of the ignition apparatus complicated. As a result, it is difficult to manufacture the apparatus at reduced costs. Moreover, the resistance of the resistor 5 and the reference voltage vr for comparison with the voltage across the resistor 5 in each current limiting circuit 9 have to be respectively adjusted, which results in variations in the values of currents limited by the respective current limiting circuits 9.
Moreover, in order to detect whether a cylinder to be controlled has actually ignited, an unillustrated ignition detecting circuit may be provided as necessary. For example, such an ignition detecting circuit is constructed such that it generates an ignition detection signal to the unillustrated engine control unit when a voltage corresponding to a primary winding current flowing through the primary winding of an ignition coil 2 is less than a predetermined lower limit value required for proper ignition. Based on this ignition detection signal, the engine control unit determines whether the ignition coil 2 operates in a normal manner. If the voltage-corresponding to the primary winding current is less than the predetermined lower limit value, the engine control unit determines that the ignition coil 2 is abnormal, and it takes an appropriate measure such as stopping fuel injection to a cylinder corresponding to the abnormal ignition coil 2.
In this case, however, the ignition detecting circuit is provided independently and separately from the current limiting circuit 9, so the provision of the independent and separate ignition detecting circuit result in a further complicated construction and a further increase in the manufacturing cost.

Ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a current limiting function


Digital video image data processing methods, digital video imaging devices, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one aspect, a digital video image data processing method includes providing a digital video imaging device configured to obtain image data, reading image data for a plurality of rolling frames from an image sensor of the digital video imaging device, wherein the reading for an individual one of the rolling frames comprises reading a plurality of different portions of the image sensor at a plurality of respective different moments in time, and forming a plurality of desired frames comprising image data at a plurality of respective common moments in time, wherein the forming comprises forming an individual one of the desired frames using image data from a plurality of the rolling frames.

Digital imaging devices are becoming increasingly popular for still and video imaging operations. Numerous advancements for these devices have been made including increased resolutions and improved processing speeds. These digital cameras are used in an ever-increasing number of applications, and the popularity of these devices is expected to increase as the device capabilities increase and costs are reduced.
Some digital camera arrangements use a digital image sensor for exposing images and generating digital image data. For example, CMOS image sensors are available and include a plurality of pixel elements which may be read to generate digital image information. In one implementation, voltages of pixel locations of the CMOS image sensor may be read during sensing or image data generation operations. During exposure operations, received photos remove electrons from semi conductive wells of the image sensor corresponding to the pixel locations. The number of electrons remaining after exposure provide the sensed voltages which correspond to intensity information (i.e., pixel brightness) at the pixel locations. The voltage values may be provided to an analog-to-digital converter for conversion to digital information providing digital image data. The pixel locations may be reset following read operations. In one embodiment, the reset operations include recharging the semi conductive wells of the pixel locations. Other types of image sensors are available.
Digital imaging devices may use a hardware shutter to control exposure operations. These devices include the necessary actuators and other physical structures to implement mechanical motion of physical shutter operations resulting in devices of increased complexity. As described herein, improved methods and apparatus are described for obtaining digital image data in digital video applications.

Digital video imaging devices and methods of processing image data of different moments in time

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A process is disclosed to measure or monitor ink concentration or ink thickness of an ink film as printed on a printing press, which consists of measuring light reflected from the ink film and the ink substrate.

Online inspection of printed materials is realized in the prior art through the use of either a densitometer attached to the printing press that reads small area of ink along the edge of the substrate, known as test targets or through the use of an electronic color video or color digital camera that reads either the test targets or specified areas within the printed image. Disclosures of such prior art are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,289,405; 5,163,012; and 5,774,225.
In those methods that utilize a color video camera, the camera is used as a light sensor with three wide-band light detectors, commonly referred to as Red, Green or Blue (RGB) with spectral sensitivities that peak in the "blue", "green" or "red" regions of the visible spectrum as shown in FIG. 1. The light sensor integrates or sums all of the light rays with wavelengths within its passband. The camera sensors are then used to approximate the responses of a Standard ISO Status Density, as defined in ISO 5/3 and illustrated in FIG. 2. It is important to note that the spectral response of the three camera sensors only approximate the ISO Status Density spectral curves.
The densitometer or the camera measures "substrate relative" density. That is, the camera is first pointed to the unprinted substrate and the light projected onto the substrate. The projected light that is reflected from the substrate is collected by camera in each of its three sensors. Typical RGB camera signals are binary coded values with a range of 0 to 255 (8 bits). The camera is adjusted so that a perfect white object will read RGB values (255, 255, 255). The values are normalized so that the perfect white will have relative values of (1.0, 1.0, 1.0) as is disclosed in patents U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,724,259 and 5,767,980. The normalized values of the sensors are converted into density by computing the negative of the logarithm of the sensor value. Next, a printed area is move into the field of view of the camera and the light projected onto that area. The camera captures the light reflected from the printed area, comprised of the ink and the substrate. The camera readings are again converted to density. The previously computed substrate density is then subtracted from the ink-on-substrate density to leave only the density of the ink. The density of the ink is assumed to be proportional to the thickness of the ink layer.
Because of the differences between the camera sensors and an ISO Status Densitometer, it is not possible to simultaneously obtain colorant concentration and ink film thickness. On a commercial offset press the only parameter that is available to the pressman to control is the weight of ink applied to the substrate which modulates the ink film thickness. Accordingly, there is a need in the printing industry to have a press inspection system that measures and tacks the color and the concentration of the inks as they are being printed.

Methods for measurement and control of ink concentration and film thickness


A CT system is disclosed. In an embodiment, the CT system includes a stationary part, including a stationary part, including a plurality of non-rotating components; a rotatable part configured to rotate about a system axis during operation, including at least one x-ray detector, the at least one x-ray detector being modular in design and including a plurality of detector modules, the detector modules each including a plurality of detector pixels; a wireless data transmission system, to transmit at least detector information relating to a measured x-ray radiation from the rotatable part to the stationary part, the wireless data transmission system including at least one radio unit with a transmitter/receiver and at least one radio antenna, integrated in a plurality of the detector modules, to transmit at least the detector information; and at least one radio unit including a radio antenna and a receiver/transmitter, arranged on the stationary part.

CT systems of the afore-cited type are generally known. It is also generally known that large quantities of data accumulate in the rotating part of a CT system, which have to be wirelessly transmitted to the stationary part, in particular, the detector data accumulating in one or in several detectors circulating the system axis of the CT system has to be transmitted quickly for evaluation purposes.
Currently data transmission typically takes place with the aid of slip ring systems, which develop a data transmission path via a capacitative coupling between the rotating part and the stationary part. The maximum capacitance of such slip ring systems is currently in the region of several 100 Mbit/s and is no longer sufficient here for the upcoming data transmission requirements of counting detectors, which have a significantly finer pixelation and moreover also have several energy thresholds per pixel, which again increase the data quantity to be transmitted.
It is basically also known to use radio transmission paths instead of slip ring systems for the transmission of the detector data between a rotating detector and a stationary part. However, the required data rates are not yet able to be achieved on their own.

CT system having a modular x-ray detector and data transmission system for transmitting detector data


A nanoparticle for diagnostic, therapeutic, and/or theranostic applications includes a rod-shaped plant virus like particle (VLP), one or more gadolinium T1 contrast agents conjugated to an interior surface of the VLP, and a layer of polydopamine (PDA) coated over a portion of the exterior surface of the VLP.

Nanocarrier platforms based on natural biological building blocks offer new opportunities in the biomedical and materials sciences. Viral nanoparticles (VNPs) are self-assembling supramolecular systems that can be used to develop bioinspired nanomaterials and nanocarriers due to their simple and inexpensive production, well-defined structural features, unique shapes and sizes, genetic programmability, and robust chemistries. VNPs based on plant viruses are particularly advantageous in medicine because they are biocompatible and biodegradable, but do not infect humans and other mammals. They can carry drugs, imaging agents, and other nanoparticles in their internal cavity by assembly, infusion, or internal surface modification, and the external surface can be chemically or genetically engineered to attach targeting ligands for tissue-specific delivery. Plant VNPs have already overcome many of the challenges of nanoparticle delivery, such as low stability in biological fluids, efficient delivery across membranes, avoidance of exocytosis, and targeting specificity. A broad range of plant VNPs have been established, such as those based on Cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV), Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV), Brome mosaic virus (BMV), Potato virus X (PVX) and Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV).
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are a subset of VNPs, which lack the viral genome and assemble spontaneously from virus structural proteins into noninfectious protein cage-like structures. Many different virus structural proteins form VLPs when expressed in standard heterologous expression systems such as Escherichia coli, yeast, plants, mammalian cells, and insect cells. Such VLPs tend to be structurally and morphologically similar to the wildtype virus particles formed in vitro and demonstrate similar cell tropism, uptake, and intracellular trafficking.

Polydopamine decorated tobacco mosaic theranostic virus nanoparticles


This is an improvement in a fuel cell stack assembly having a plurality of plates with grooves for accommodating gaskets to provide seals between individual fuel cell plates in the fuel cell stack assembly in order to prevent leakage of gases and liquids required for operation of the fuel cell stack assembly. The improvement comprising grooves in each fuel cell plate in the fuel cell stack assembly with a circular or an elliptical profile, and a unitary seal formed of a sealing material between each fuel cell plate in the fuel cell stack assembly having a profile corresponding to the profile of the grooves in each fuel cell plate.

Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
This invention relates to fuel cells, and more particularly to the design of a groove profile for use in forming seals between different elements of a conventional fuel cell or fuel stack assembly, to prevent leakage of gases and liquids required for operation of the individual fuel cells. The invention also relates to the formation of such seals with a novel sealing material.
There are various types of known fuel cells. One type of fuel cell currently considered practical for use in many applications is a fuel cell employing a proton exchange membrane (PEM). PEM fuel cells enables simple, compact fuel cells to be designed, which are robust, can be operated at temperatures not too different from ambient temperature, and which do not have complex requirements with respect to fuel, oxidant, and coolant supplies.
A single conventional fuel cell generates a relatively low voltage. In order to provide a useable amount of power, therefore, fuel cells are commonly configured into fuel cell stacks typically containing 10, 20, 30, and even 100xe2x80x2s or more fuel cells in a single stack. While this provides a single unit capable of generating useful amounts of power at usable voltages, the design can be complex, and can include numerous elements all of which must be carefully assembled.
For example, a conventional PEM fuel cell requires two flow field plates, an anode flow field plate, and a cathode flow field plate. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including the actual proton exchange membrane is provided between the two flow field plates. Additionally, a gas diffusion media or layer (GDM/GDL) is sandwiched between each flow field plate and the proton exchange membrane. The gas diffusion media enables diffusion of an appropriate gas, either the fuel or the oxidant, to the surface of the proton exchange membrane, while at the same time providing conduction of electricity between the associated flow field plate and the PEM.
This type of a basic cell structure itself requires two seals, with each seal being provided between one of the flow field plates and the PEM. Moreover, the seals have to be of relatively complex configuration. In particular, and as detailed below, the flow field plates for use in the fuel cell stack have to provide a number of functions, and a complex sealing arrangement is therefore required.
For a fuel cell stack, the flow field plates typically provide apertures or openings at either end so that a stack of flow field plates defines elongate channels extending perpendicularly to the flow field plates. As fuel cells require flows of a fuel, an oxidant, and a coolant, this typically requires at least three pairs of ports or six ports in total. This is because it is necessary for the fuel and the oxidant to flow through each fuel cell. A continuous flow is required as it ensures that although most of the fuel or oxidant may be consumed, any contaminants are continually flushed through the fuel cell.
The foregoing assumes that the fuel cell is a compact type of configuration provided with water or the like as a coolant. There are also known stack configurations which use air as a coolant, either relying on natural convection or forced convection. Such fuel cell stacks typically provide open channels through the stacks for the coolant, and therefore the sealing requirements are diminished. Commonly, it is then only necessary to provide sealed supply channels for the oxidant and the fuel.
Consequently, each flow field plate typically has three apertures at each end, and each aperture represents either an inlet or outlet for one of the fuel, oxidant, or coolant. In a completed fuel cell stack, these apertures align to form distribution channels extending through the entire fuel cell stack. It should therefore be appreciated that the sealing requirements are complex and difficult to meet. However, it is possible to have multiple inlets and outlets to the fuel cell for each fluid, depending on the stack/cell design. For example, some fuel cells have two inlet ports for each of the anode, cathode, and coolant, two outlet ports for the coolant, and a single outlet port for each of the cathode and anode. However, other combinations are also possible.
The coolant most commonly flows across the back of each fuel cell so as to flow between adjacent individual fuel cells. This is not essential, however, and as a result, many fuel cell stack designs have cooling channels only at every second, third, or fourth plate. This allows for a more compact stack with thinner plates but such an arrangement may provide less than satisfactory cooling. It also requires another seal between each adjacent pair of individual fuel cells. Thus, in a completed fuel cell stack, each individual fuel cell requires two seals just to seal the membrane exchange assembly to the two flow field plates. A fuel cell stack with 30 individual fuel cells will require 60 seals for that purpose. Additionally, as noted, a seal is required between each adjacent pair of fuel cells and end seals for the current collectors. For a 30 cell stack, therefore, this requires an additional 31 seals, Thus, a 30 cell stack requires a total of 91 seals, excluding the seals for bus bars, current collectors, and endplates, and each of these would be of a complex and more elaborate construction. With additional gaskets required for bus bars, insulator plates, and endplates, the number easily reaches 100 seals of varying configurations in a single 30 cell stack.
These seals can be formed by providing channels or grooves in the flow field plates, and then providing prefabricated gaskets in the channels or grooves to effect a seal. In known configurations, the gaskets and/or the sealing material are specifically polymerized and formulated to resist degradation from contact with various of the materials of construction in the fuel cell, and the various gases and coolants which are aqueous, organic, and inorganic fluids used for heat transfer. This means that assembly technique for a fuel cell stack will be complex, time consuming, and offers many opportunities for error.
Accordingly, in a first technique, a resilient seal can be provided as a floppy gasket seal molded separately from individual elements of the fuel cells by known methods such as injection, transfer or compression molding of an elastomer.
A second technique for providing such resilient seals involves application of an uncured sealing material to the fuel cell plates by dispensing the uncured sealing material, silk screening the uncured sealing material, or spraying uncured sealing material onto the fuel cell plate to a predetermined thickness, and then curing the sealing material to achieve desired elastomeric properties.
A third technique for providing resilient seals involves insert injection molding in which a resilient seal is fabricated on a plate and assembly of the unit is simplified. According to this technique, the gasket is adhered to the fuel cell plate sufficiently to allow its handling and assembly in the fuel cell stack. Such insert injection molded gaskets can be designed with improved groove and seal profiles to optimize the various sealing forces occurring within a fuel cell stack. The basic process for insert injection molding is known in the art, and reference may be had, for example, to U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,793 (September 1989). As noted hereinafter, this is the most preferred technique according to the present invention.
As an additional consideration, formation or manufacture of such seals or gaskets is complex, and there are generally only two known methods of manufacture. For the first technique, the individual floppy gasket seal can be formed by molding it in a suitable mold. This can be relatively complex and expensive, and for each fuel cell configuration, it would require the design and manufacture of a mold corresponding exactly to the shape of the associated grooves in the flow field plates. This does, however, have the advantage that the designer has freedom in choosing the cross-section of each gasket or seal, and it does not have to have a uniform thickness.
Another method would be to cut each gasket from a solid sheet of material. This has the advantage that a cheaper and simpler technique can be used in which it is only necessary to define the shape of the gasket in a plan view, and to manufacture a cutting tool of that configuration. The gasket can then be cut from a sheet of appropriate material of appropriate thickness. The disadvantage is that one can only form gaskets having uniform thickness. Additionally, it leads to considerable waste of materials. For example, for each gasket, a portion of the material corresponding to the area of a flow field plate is used yet the surface area of the seal itself is only a small fraction of the area of the flow field plate.
Fuel cell stacks after assembly are clamped to secure the elements and ensure that adequate compression is applied to the seals and active area of the fuel cell stack. This ensures that the contact resistance is minimized and the electrical resistance of the individual fuel cells are at a minimum. To this end, fuel cell stacks typically have two end plates which are configured to be sufficiently rigid so that their deflection under pressure is within an acceptable tolerance. The fuel cell also has current bus bars to collect and concentrate current from the fuel cell to a small pick up point, where the current is then transferred to the load via conductors. Insulation plates are also used to isolate thermally and electrically the current bus bars and the endplates from one another. A plurality of elongated rods, bolts and the like, are then provided between the pairs of plates so that the fuel cell stack can be clamped together between the plates by tension rods. Rivets, straps, piano wire, metal plates and other mechanisms can also be used in clamping stacks together.
To assemble the stack, the tension rods extend through one of the plates and an insulator plate, bus bars including seals are placed on top of the endplate, and the individual elements of the fuel cell are built up within the space defined by the rods or some other positioning tool. For each fuel cell, this operation requires the steps of (a) placing a seal to separate the fuel cell from the preceding fuel cell; (b) locating a flow field plate on the seal; (c) locating a seal on the first flow field plate; (d) placing a GDM within the seal on the flow field plate; (e) locating a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) on the seal; (f) placing an additional GDM on top of the MEA; (g) preparing a further flow field plate with a seal and placing this arrangement on top of the membrane exchange assembly while at the same time ensuring that the seal of the second plate falls around the second GDM; (h) with the second or upper flow field plate then having a groove for receiving a seal as in step (a). The process is completed when the last fuel cell is formed, wherein it is then topped off with a bus bar, insulator plate, and the final end plate.
In view of the above, it can be appreciated that each seal has to be carefully placed, and the installer has to ensure that each seal is fully and properly engaged in its sealing groove. It is not uncommon for installers to overlook small portions of seals that may not be properly located. Thus, the seal between adjacent pairs of fuel cells used for the coolant area may have a groove provided in the facing surfaces of the two flow field plates. Necessarily, installers can typically only locate the seal in one of these grooves, and must rely on feel or the like to ensure that the seal properly engages in the groove of the other plate during assembly. In this regard, it is practically impossible for an installer to visually inspect the seal to ensure that it is properly seated in both grooves.
It is possible to mold the seals directly onto the individual cells, as noted above, and this offers advantages during assembly compared to the use of a floppy gasket seal, such as better tolerance and improved part allocation, and can be further improved by techniques according to the present invention.
Thus, it will be appreciated that assembling a conventional fuel cell stack is difficult, time consuming, and can often lead to seal failure. After a complete fuel cell stack has been assembled, it is of course tested, but this procedure can be difficult and complex. Even if leaks are detected, this may initially present itself simply as inability of the stack to maintain pressure of a particular fluid, and it is often difficult to locate exactly where the leak is occurring particularly when the leak is internal. Nevertheless, the only way to repair the fuel cell stack is to disassemble it entirely and replace the faulty seal. This results in a disruption of the other seals so that the entire stack and all the different seals have to be reassembled, which again makes possible misalignment and failure of any one of the numerous seals in the fuel cell stack.
A further problem with conventional assembly and sealing techniques is that the clamping pressure applied to the entire fuel cell stack is intended to serve two different and distinct functions. These functions are (i) to provide a sufficient pressure to ensure that the seals function as intended, and (ii) to provide a desired pressure or compression to the gas diffusion media which is sandwiched between the MEA and the individual flow field plates. If insufficient pressure is applied to the GDM, then poor electrical contact is made; while on the other hand, if the GDM is over compressed, the flow of gas can be compromised.
Unfortunately, in many conventional designs, it is only possible to apply a known total pressure to the overall fuel cell stack. Thus, there is no way of knowing how this pressure is divided between pressure applied to the seals and pressure applied to the GDM. In an otherwise conventional design, this split in applied pressure depends upon design of individual elements in the fuel cell stack, and the maintenance of appropriate tolerances. For example, GDMs commonly lie in center portions of flow field plates, and if the depth of each center portion varies outside an acceptable tolerance, then this results in incorrect pressure being applied to the GDM. The depth can be dependent upon the extent gaskets are compressed which affects their sealing properties, durability, and the lifetime of the seals.
For all these reasons, manufacture and assembly of conventional fuel cells is a time consuming and expensive task, and existing assembly techniques are not suited to any large scale production of a fuel cell on a production line basis. Thus, fuel cell technology is now under development for commercial and residential market application as an alternative power supply worldwide. One area of concern in developing this technology has been the sealing obtained between individual of the fuel cell plates. The materials selected for use in such commercial and residential market applications must meet various manufacturing and functional requirements specific to the applications. Typically, about 2-200 fuel cell plates are being stacked together with silicone rubber seals separating various fuel cell plates, and these fuel cell plates are being constructed of brittle materials which can easily fail due to stress concentrations generated within state of the art groove profiles.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to circular or elliptical seal groove profiles in fuel cell plates which were developed to minimize stress concentrations in fuel cells and fuel cell stacks, especially for commercial and residential market applications. It has been unexpectedly discovered that these groove profiles enhance the mechanical strength of fuel cell plates over state of the art groove profiles of square or rectangular configuration.
Insert injection molding is the technique used to form the seals in the fuel cell plates. The advantage obtained by using the insert injection molding technique is that the resulting insert injection molded seals can be bonded in the fuel cell plate groove, allowing the remaining seal free surface to be of any shape dependent upon the specific sealing market application. Thus, insert injection molded gasket seals can be bonded in the circular or elliptical groove profile, enabling easier fuel cell plate handling and faster fuel cell stack assembly. The combination of an improved groove profile, and the use of a bonded silicone rubber seal, is considered as providing a significant improvement in fuel cell plate and fuel cell stack design.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a fuel cell assembly comprising (i) a plurality of separate elements; (ii) grooves or a network of grooves extended throughout the fuel cell assembly; and (iii) a seal or gasket within each groove formed by insert injection molding, and wherein the seal and the corresponding groove have profiles of a particular shape such as to provide better sealing between two or more of the separate elements used to define chambers containing fluids used in operating fuel cells and fuel cell stacks. Seal compositions used for forming the seal or gaskets according to the invention are set forth in detail below. These seal compositions are suitable for use at temperatures in the range of xe2x88x9255 to 250xc2x0 C. For purposes of the present invention, seals formed in a fuel cell or other electrochemical cell are referred to as being a unitary seal construction.
The composition of the sealing material used for forming the seal preferably comprises a linear polysiloxane polymer with either terminal or pendant unsaturated organic groups such as the vinyl group xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CH2. The polysiloxane can be a polydimethylsiloxane homopolymer, a polymethyltrifluoropropylsiloxane homopolymer, a polydimethyl(methyltrifluoropropyl)siloxane copolymer, or a mixture thereof. The content of methyltrifluoropropyl can be adjusted to provide increased robustness and chemical resistance when mild or aggressive hydrocarbon based coolants are used in operating the fuel cell. The composition may contain other additives dependent upon the specific polymer composition, such as extending fillers, cure systems of platinum silicon hydrides or peroxides, thermal and acid scavengers such as metal oxides or metal hydroxides, as well as adhesion promoters which can be added to meet any of the unique requirements of a fuel cell construction and their requirements for an operation with a long life.
Fuel cells and fuel cell stacks of the present invention provide a number of advantages over conventional fuel cell and fuel cell stack constructions employing separate gaskets. Firstly, the stress in the fuel cell plate and the elastomeric seal is optimized to the point of providing better sealing properties and a longer life. Secondly, the assembly of the fuel cell stack is greatly simplified. Thirdly, tolerance requirements for the grooves for seals can be relaxed considerably, since it is no longer necessary for the seals to correspond to a chosen gasket dimension. Thus, liquid materials used to form the seals can be injected and compensate for a wide range of variations in the profile of the groove and its dimensions.
The use of a liquid sealing material capable of being cured to form an elastomeric sealing material allows the use of compositions designed to chemically bond to various materials used in the construction of fuel cell plates and the other elements of fuel cell stacks, and this ensures and enhances the performance of the seals. It should also increase the overall durability of fuel cell stacks. When it is anticipated that the fuel cell stack design will include the use of an aggressive coolant such as a glycol, with the present invention, it is a simple matter to select a sealing material that is compatible with the particular coolant or other fluids present.
A related advantage is that a more economic construction can be provided. Thus, as noted, it is not necessary for the grooves to be formed to an accurate dimension. Additionally, there is no waste of the gasket material as commonly occurs when cutting gaskets from a sheet material.
Another aspect of the present invention is the provision of a liquid sealing material containing:
(a) 100 parts by weight of a polydiorganosiloxane containing two or more silicon bonded alkenyl groups in its molecule;
(b) 5-50 parts by weight of a reinforcing filler;
(c) 1-20 parts by weight of an oxide or an hydroxide of an alkaline earth metal with an atomic weight of 40 or more;
(d) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane containing three or more silicon bonded hydrogen atoms in its molecule, being present in an amount to provide a molar ratio of silicon bonded hydrogen atoms in the organohydrogenpolysiloxane to silicon bonded alkenyl groups in polydiorganosiloxane (a) of 0.4:1 to 5:1;
(e) a platinum metal type catalyst being present in an amount to provide 0.1-500 parts by weight of platinum metal per one million parts by weight of polydiorganosiloxane (a);
(f) optionally, 0.1-5.0 parts by weight of an organic peroxide being present with or without the presence of ingredient (e);
(g) optionally, 0.01-5.0 parts by weight of an inhibitor;
(h) optionally, 0-100 parts by weight of a non-reinforcing extending filler; and
(i) optionally, 0.1-5.0 parts by weight of an adhesion promoter.
In addition to being applicable to fuel cells, the present invention is generally applicable to electrochemical cells. These and other features of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the detailed description.

Seals for fuel cells and fuel cell stacks


An integrated circuit includes a first conductive layer, an insulator layer disposed on the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer disposed on the insulator layer. A first fuse is disposed in the first conductive layer and provides a first signal, and a second fuse is disposed in the second conductive layer in alignment with the first fuse and provides a second signal.

Makers of today's electronic equipment consistently pressure IC manufacturers to: (1) reduce the sizes of ICs, and (2) maintain or increase the number and complexity of the functions the ICs perform. Therefore, IC designers continue to explore and develop new techniques for reducing the areas of IC dies without reducing the ICs' capabilities.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an IC 10, which includes an array 12 of memory cells and redundancy circuitry for replacing defective ones of the cells. The array 12 includes a matrix array 14 of matrix memory cells that store data and that are arranged in rows and columns. An address generator 18 receives an external address on the ADDRESS bus and generates therefrom an internal row address on a bus 20. This internal address identifies a respective row of matrix cells in the array 14. A matrix circuit 21 includes matrix row decoders 22.sub.0 -22.sub.n --one for each row in the matrix array 14--for firing the respective matrix rows.
In operation of the IC 10, the decoders 22.sub.0 -22.sub.n receive a conventional address PRECHARGE signal before the generator 18 generates the row address. Next, the row decoders 22.sub.0 -22.sub.n receive and decode the row address on the bus 20. Then, the row decoder 22 corresponding to the addressed row fires the word line WL of the addressed row. For example, if the address generator 18 addresses row 0 in the matrix array 14, then the row 0 decoder 22.sub.0 fires the word line WL0 via a firing terminal 25.sub.0.
Unfortunately, one or more matrix cells in a row of the matrix array 14 may be defective and thus unable to reliably store data. For example, the respective word line WL or a part of the defective matrix cell or cells may be short-circuited to other nodes in the IC 10.
To prevent a defective matrix cell from rendering the entire IC 10 unusable, the array 12 includes an array 23 of redundant memory cells, and the IC 10 includes a redundant circuit 24 for mapping a redundant cell to the address of a defective matrix cell. In one embodiment, the redundant cells are arranged in rows and columns, and the circuit 24 maps a redundant row to the address of a matrix row containing one or more defective matrix cells. The circuit 24 includes a programmable portion 26 and redundant row decoders 28.sub.0 -28.sub.x --one decoder for each row in the redundant array 23--for firing the respective redundant rows. The programmable portion 26 includes a programmable redundancy address circuit 30 and a programmable redundancy control circuit 32. Often, the circuits 30 and 32 contain laser-programmable fuses that are laid out side by side in a lower layer of the IC 10.
If one finds a defective row in the matrix array 14, then he programs the circuit 24 to map a redundant row in the array 23 to the address of the defective matrix row. For example, suppose that matrix row 1 is defective and one wishes to replace it with the redundant row 0. To do this, he programs the redundancy address circuit 30 to address the redundant row 0--and thus to activate the redundant row decoder 28.sub.0 --whenever the address generator 18 generates the address of the matrix row 1. He also programs the redundancy control circuit 32 to enable the redundant row decoder .sup.28 0. Therefore, in response to the redundant-row-0 address from the circuit 30 and an enabling control signal from the circuit 32, the redundant row decoder 28.sub.0 fires the redundant word line RWL0 via a firing terminal 29.sub.0.
A problem with the matrix circuit 21, however, is that it continues to fire the word line WL of a defective matrix row even after one has programmed the redundant circuit 24 to replace the defective row with a redundant row. This firing may cause a malfunction that is not fixed by the mapping of the redundant row to the address of the defective row. For example, if the word line WL of the defective row is shorted to another word line or to a cell plate, then firing WL may cause data errors or other malfunctions.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an IC 40, which is similar to the IC 10 of FIG. 1 except that the matrix circuit 21 does not fire a defective matrix row. The matrix circuit 21 includes a programmable matrix control circuit 42. If one finds a defective matrix row in the array 14, then in addition to programming the redundant circuit 24 as discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 1, he programs the circuit 42 to disable the corresponding row decoder 22 from firing the word line WL of the defective row. For example, if the matrix row 0 is defective, then one programs the control circuit 42 to disable the row decoder 22.sub.0. Thus, even if the address generator 18 generates the address of the matrix row 0, the disabled row decoder 22.sub.0 does not fire the word line WL0.
Often, the matrix control circuit 42 includes laser fuses that are disposed in the same layer of the IC 40 as the fuses of the redundant circuit 24. Therefore, the circuit 42 tends to increase the die area, and thus the overall size, of the IC 40.
FIG. 3 is a cutaway cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure 50, which includes a stacked fuse 51. The structure 50 includes an upper fuse element 52 disposed on an insulator layer 54, and includes a lower fuse element 56 disposed beneath the insulator layer 54 and in alignment with the upper fuse element 52. The fuse elements 52 and 56 are electrically connected in parallel by conductive vias 58 and 59 to form the stacked fuse 51. Compared to a single fuse element, the stacked fuse 51 has approximately the same width, and thus occupies approximately the same die area, but has approximately twice the current-carrying capacity. During programming of the stacked fuse 51, one uses a laser beam to cut both fuse elements 52 and 56.
Unfortunately, including stacked fuses in the IC 40 would not reduce the number of fuses in the circuits 30, 32, and 42, and thus would not reduce the die area of the IC 40. In fact, including stacked fuses in the IC 40 would increase the manufacturing complexity of and could add a conductive layer to the IC 40.

Integrated circuit having aligned fuses and methods for forming and programming the fuses


This invention relates to polymeric violet anthraquinone colorants having at least one poly(oxyalkylene) chain attached to an anthraquinone structure. Such colorants exhibit bright violet shade, excellent compatibility with organic media or aqueous systems, good lightfastness, and excellent thermal stability. The water soluble poly(oxyalkylene) substituted polymeric violet anthraquinone colorants also possess high water solubility, high color strength, non-staining properties, and high pH stability. The processes and methods for making such polymeric violet anthraquinone colorants and their use for coloring consumer products are also provided.

Anthraquinone dyes have been widely used to dye fabrics, such as cotton, polyester, acrylic, wool, cellulose acetate, nylon, and the like, due to their excellent light fastness, uniform leveling, dye bath stability, and shade brilliancy. Anthraquinones are also well known for use as coloring agents for providing coloration to oils, drugs, cosmetic products, paper, rubber, printing inks, plastics, coatings, leather, waxes, and detergents. These types of anthraquinone dyes may be classified as acid dyes, disperse dyes, vat dyes, metallizable dyes, direct dyes, solvent dyes, basic dyes, reactive dyes, and the like.
Many violet anthraquinone dyes are known. Commercially available examples of violet anthraquinone dyes include Acid Violet 39, Acid Violet 41, Acid Violet 42, Acid Violet 43, Acid Violet 48, Acid Violet 51, Acid Violet 34, Acid Violet 47, Acid Violet 109, Acid Violet 126, Basic Violet 24, Basic Violet 25, Disperse Violet 1, Disperse Violet 4, Disperse Violet 26, Disperse Violet 27, Disperse Violet 28, Disperse Violet 57, Solvent Violet 11, Solvent Violet 13, Solvent Violet 14, Solvent Violet 26, Solvent Violet 28, Solvent Violet 31, Solvent Violet 36, Solvent Violet 37, Solvent Violet 38, Solvent Violet 48, Solvent Violet 59, Solvent Violet 60, Vat Violet 13, Vat Violet 15, Vat Violet 16. However, these violet anthraquinone dyes are not polymeric in nature, and they tend to exhibit stability, gelling and precipitation challenges when incorporated into other formulations, such as detergent formulations and other consumer cleaning products. Furthermore, the water soluble violet anthraquinone dyes, such as acid violet dyes, are known to cause staining to textile substrates (such as fabrics), skin, and other surfaces. Thus, they are not suitable for use in applications where non-staining colorants are desired, such as in washable markers and paints and in cleaning formulations such as laundry detergents and fabric softeners.
Furthermore, these anthraquinone violet dyes are generally provided in powder form which is often difficult to handle. While these dyes may be made into liquid form by dissolving the dye in water or organic liquid, the solubility of such liquid dyes is low and the resulting liquid dye solutions tend to have very low color strength. Color strength, or color value, is determined using a modified version of AATCC Test Method 182-2000 wherein the color value is determined and calculated on the absorbance of a 1 gram per liter through a one centimeter cell length of the colorant, in the appropriate solvent, by UV-vis spectroscopy.
Attempts by others to make violet anthraquinone colorants include U.S. Pat. No. 3,192,117 to Kaiser et al., which provides some examples of violet anthraquinone compositions useful as hair dyes. These colorants exhibit good dyeing ability when they are incorporated into the dyeing creams or pastes. Similar to the acid dyes described above, these compositions cause staining to the substances to which they are applied. In this instance, it is desirable to use staining anthraquinone colorants for dyeing human hair. Thus, the colorants taught by Kaiser et al. are not polymeric in nature, and they are not non-staining. Additionally, the colorants taught by Kaiser et al. preferably contain two nitrogen-containing primary groups on the anthraquinone radical.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,881,752 and 2,014,810 to Lodge et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,117,569 to Peter and U.S. Pat. No. 2,580,190 to Peter et al. described several anthraquinone dyestuffs, including anthraquinone violet dyes. U.S. Pat. No. 3,689,510 to Kolliker et al. describes a class of water soluble anthraquinone dyes with an —O—COOR group in at least one β-position. These dyes may be used for dyeing synthetic polyester fibers and exhibit good fastness to light and sublimation. U.S. Pat. No. 3,715,373 to Andrews disclosed a process to prepare 1,4-diamino-2-alkoxy or phenoxy anthraquinone dyestuffs from an acyl-substituted 1,4-diamino-2-haloanthraquinone in a inert solvent. David 0. Ukponmwan and et al. in J. Chem. Eng. Data 1984, Vol. 29, pp. 482-483 and 1987, Vol. 32, pp 282-284, synthesized a series of 1-amino-4-(arylamino)anthraquinone 2-ether and 1,4-Bis(arylamino)-2-(aryloxy)anthraquinone dyes used for dyeing synthetic polymer fibers. However, these references teach the manufacture of small molecule anthraquinone dyes. Thus, no teaching or fair suggestion of polymeric versions of such dyestuffs is known, nor is it taught or fairly suggested that these colorants could be used for coloring consumer products.
Great Britain Patent No. 859,283 teaches water soluble anthraquinone dyestuffs useful for dyeing fibers, leather and paper. The water solubility is introduced by sulfonic acid, sulfuric, or carboxylic acid groups on the anthraquinone dye molecule. These are small molecules which contain triazine units and ionic groups to make them water soluble. These dyes are also generally blue in nature.
Other anthraquinone colorants, such as 1,4-disubstituted aliphatic aminoanthraquinones, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,846 to Rekers et al. wherein anthraquinones were prepared from a mixture of quinizarin, leucoquinizarin, and amine in water followed by various purification procedures. The preferred amines are sec-alkyl primary amines with terminal reactive groups, such as —OH, —NH2, or —SH, on the end of the amine moiety. These anthraquinone colorants are used to color polyurethane resins, particularly foams.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,243 to Farmer discloses polymeric anthraquinone colorants with terminal amino groups from leucoquinizarin and polymeric diamines. The leucoquinizarin can be generated in-situ by reduction of quinizarin with sodium hydrosulfite. The polymeric aminoanthraquinone colorants prepared according to the above patent processes tend to contain high levels of impurities, such that further purification is needed to obtain higher purity anthraquinone colorants. Purification of low melting or liquid water-soluble anthraquinone colorants usually involves time consuming extraction and washing procedures that often require organic solvents, which generally are not environmentally friendly. Additionally, these solvents are typically not suitable for use in many consumer product applications and complete removal is required. The organic solvents are often expensive and generate additional waste during production of the anthraquinone colorants. Furthermore, some of the impurities in these anthraquinone colorants are often difficult to filter and generally cause dull color, shade shift, and staining.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,224,228 and 4,244,691 to Adam disclose water soluble anthraquinone dyes in the form of free acid having one or more —SO3H group on the anthraquinone conjugated system. These anthraquinone dyes are used for dyeing or printing textile materials, such as natural and synthetic polyamide fibers, and exhibit good dye uptake and fastness to wet-processing. Optionally, these anthraquinone dyes have fiber-reactive groups, such as acryloyl, vinylsulfonyl, chloroacetyl, fluorotriazinyl radicals, and bromoacryloyl groups.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,944 to Weaver et al. discloses colored anthraquinone or condensed anthraquinone compounds with one or more sulfonamido linkages and poly(oxyalkylene) moieties. These colorants exhibit improved water dispersibility and compatibility with other organic compounds. However, the process to make these colorants involves adding one or more —SO2Cl groups on the conjugated rings, which is difficult and involves hard-to-handle reagents.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,593,483 to Xia describes a polymeric blue anthraquinone colorant, wherein a poly(oxyalkylene) chain is attached to the 1-position, or/and the 4-position through aromatic amino group(s) on an anthraquinone backbone. U.S. Pat. No. 6,635,350 to Connor et al. discloses a polymeric red anthraquinone colorant, where at least one poly(oxyalkylene) chain is attached to the 1-position, as well as at least one poly(oxyalkylene) chain is attached to either the 5-position or the 8-position of an anthraquinone backbone.
Thus, there is a need for a polymeric violet anthraquinone colorant that exhibits excellent light and pH stability, that is compatible with other materials, and that is suitable for use in coloring various consumer products. The colorant is also desirably non-staining and water soluble with bright shades.
Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a polymeric violet anthraquinone colorant, preferably a 1,4-diamino-2-polyalkyleneoxy violet anthraquinone colorant, that exhibits bright shades, high pH stability, good light fastness and compatibility with other materials. Another object of this invention is to provide methods to make such anthraquinone colorants. A further object of this invention is to use these inventive colorants for coloration of consumer products, such as liquid and solid laundry detergents and liquid fabric softeners.

Polymeric violet anthraquinone colorant compositions and methods for producing the same


A cell detachment device includes: a base; a vessel holder, to which a culture vessel is to be fitted; a guide mechanism configured to guide reciprocating movement of the vessel holder; a collided member configured to collide with the vessel holder when the vessel holder is moving; an urging member configured to urge the culture vessel toward the collided member; and a power imparting mechanism configured to impart, to the vessel holder, power for causing the vessel holder to move.

In recent years, cell culturing techniques for culturing cells and regenerative medical techniques utilizing cultured cells have been drawing attention. One of the important operations in cell culturing is cell subculturing. Generally speaking, cell subculturing includes the steps of: cleaning cells in a culture vessel; detaching the cells from the culture vessel; collecting cell suspension from the culture vessel; and seeding the cells collected from the cell suspension in a new culture vessel. In the cell subculturing, the step of detaching the cells from the culture vessel is one of the important steps since the detachment of the cells is a major factor that affects the amount of cells to be collected, the degree of damage to the cells, an engraftment rate thereafter, etc. The step of detaching the cells from the culture vessel includes the work of: treating the cells by means of, for example, a proteolytic enzyme such that the cells become easily detachable from the culture vessel; then pipetting by an operator; hitting the side and the bottom part of the culture vessel several times by the operator; and intensely shaking the culture vessel by the operator. The work of hitting the side and the bottom part of the culture vessel is called tapping.
Although the tapping was conventionally performed manually, there has been a proposal to mechanically automate the tapping. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a device for detaching cells from a culture vessel by repeatedly applying horizontal impact force to the culture vessel. This device includes: a placing stand, on which a flat culture vessel can be placed; and a vibration exciter configured to apply a pulse-like impact shock to the culture vessel. The vibration exciter includes a plunger configured to advance or retract by means of a solenoid. A hitting part configured to come into contact with the side of the culture vessel is provided on the distal end of the plunger.


A computer implemented method for preventing SQL injection attacks comprises intercepting a web request associated with a web service at a first software hook in a first web service execution context, persisting at least a portion of the intercepted web request in a storage location associated with the first software hook and accessible to at least one additional execution context, intercepting a database query generated by at least one web service processing operation at a second software hook associated with the execution of the query, wherein the query is generated in response to the intercepted web request and the second hook retrieves the persisted portion of the intercepted web request, comparing a portion of the persisted portion of the intercepted web request with at least a portion of the intercepted database query, and determining, prior to the query being executed, whether the query corresponds to a potential SQL injection attack.

SQL injection is a code injection technique that exploits a security vulnerability occurring in the database layer of an application. The vulnerability is present when user input is either incorrectly filtered for SQL metacharacters (which can include, for example, string literal delimiter characters and other characters that may be dangerous in various circumstances) embedded in SQL statements used to access a database or when user input is not strongly typed and thereby unexpectedly executed. SQL injection attacks, or SQL insertion attacks, can allow unauthorized retrieval and modification of data in a database, providing attackers with access to sensitive and otherwise secure data through manipulation of SQL statements. In a worst case scenario, SQL injection may even allow the attacker to take full control of the database server.
SQL is a database computer language designed for managing data in relational database management systems (RDBMS), and provides commands and instructions including data insert, query, update and delete, schema creation and modification, and data access control. Many web-based applications and web services process user input, or web requests, to generate a database query in SQL (or in a SQL statement or SQL code) for accessing a database according to the web service's operations and the user input. SQL injection attacks can use malicious user input to cause the web service to generate SQL statements for accessing the associated database that far exceed the scope of the web service and database creator's intentions, including the provision of data to which the user may not normally be granted access.
A web application requiring user authentication provides an example of SQL injection. Upon accessing the web application, a visitor or user can encounter a login page requesting a user name and a password. A typical web application may query a database to determine if the user name and password pair is valid, authenticating the visitor as the identified user if validated or denying the login attempt otherwise. A common practice in performing such a database query is to construct, during the web application's processing, a string representing the database query using string concatenation or string formatting facilities to combine a predefined SQL code with the input received from the visitor, the result of which is a single string, or query string. Generally, the database can only differentiate SQL code from data (or user input) to the extent that the data is properly delimited during the database query's construction. Some web applications may not check the visitor's input for characters having special meaning in SQL statements and database processing. As a result, a malicious visitor could use one of the special characters to transcend the boundary between the SQL code and the data intended by the web application, thus altering the logic of the query by injecting the malicious user's own SQL code into the generated or constructed query string.
An example of the above event may use the following pseudocode representing the programming in the web application which constructs the underlying SQL database query. Generally, the SQL injection vulnerability may be considered to exist in the web application programming, in that the web application code generally constructs the SQL database query without performing a check as to whether the generated query is malicious. The following is an example of web application or web service logic that may be used to insecurely construct a database query:
query = "SELECT * FROM accountsTable WHEREusernameColumn = '" + username + "' ANDpasswordColumn = '" + password + "'; "
where "+" is a string concatenation operator. The terms username and password each represent a string variable containing the eponymous piece of user input. If the supplied username is "Mitch", and the supplied password is "Wildcats", the resulting database query string would be as follows:
SELECT * FROM accountsTable WHEREusernameColumn = 'Mitch' AND passwordColumn ='Wildcats';
In the query, the single-quote character "′" is used to delimit string data. If the web application does not properly reject or sanitize input containing single-quotes, for example, a malicious visitor can inject SQL code as described above. For instance, if the username is entered as "Mitch′;--" and the password is entered as "AnythingGoesHere", the following query string is generated as a result:
SELECT * FROM accountsTable WHEREusernameColumn = 'Mitch′;--' AND passwordColumn ='AnythingGoesHere';
The "′" character in the input associated with the value username artificially and prematurely ends the first portion of the query recognized as string data within the SQL code. The ";" character denotes an artificial end to the query string, and the "--" sequence renders the remainder of the query string as a comment in the SQL code, causing the information after the "--" sequence to be ignored by the database. The resulting query string processed by the database therefore only checks the username, but not the password, and can enable the malicious visitor to login as any user without knowing the correct password. Such malicious input, crafted to manipulate the meaning of a database query generated by the web application, constitutes one example of a SQL injection attack or SQL injection exploit. In alternative instances, SQL injection attacks can be used to access and return data and information stored in the database. For example, a SQL injection exploit can be used to return all data within a database in instances where the query is associated with the retrieval and display of data, and where the database and/or web application exists without appropriate protections.


A molded dichroic mirror and a seeker comprising a molded dichroic mirror are provided. The dichroic mirror may be molded from polysiloxane or lithia potash borosilicate and may be coated to reflect an infrared signal and configured to transmit a radio frequency signal between 33 GHz and 37 GHz.

Missiles, rockets and other projectiles often use a seeker. A seeker is part of guidance system and is typically mounted at the front of the missile or other projectile. A seeker typically uses a series of mirrors to split and direct radio frequency signals, infrared signals and/or other types of signals to respective receivers and often has a dome to protect the equipment. The radio frequency signals and infrared signals may be used, for example, for imaging and targeting. The signals used by the seeker are first transmitted through the dome before being split and directed to their respective receivers by the mirrors. The missile, rocket or other projectiles may have a processor to interpret the received radio frequency signal and infrared signal to track a target and to guide the projectile to the target.
The mirrors used in seekers and similar devices are generally very precise so that the missile or other projectile can accurately track an identified target. One of the mirrors, sometimes called a dichroic mirror or secondary mirror, is typically ground from fused silica. The grinding processes can be an expensive and labor intensive, thereby increasing the overall manufacturing cost of the seeker.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have a seeker with a precision made, low cost dichroic mirror. Other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.


Methods and systems for supporting simple Internet Protocol (IP) with address translation in a proxy mobile IP (PMIP) gateway are presented. A PMIP gateway may be operable to serve wireless communication devices (WCDs) via either a PMIP mode or a simple IP with address translation mode. While the PMIP gateway is serving a given WCD in the simple IP with address translation mode, the PMIP gateway may determine that the given WCD is likely to be handed off to a network that requires the PMIP mode or a mobile IP mode. In response to making this determination, the PMIP gateway may switch to serve the given WCD with the PMIP mode.

Wide area wireless networks are often arranged to allow wireless communication devices (WCDs) to use an extension of the Internet Protocol that supports WCD mobility, such as mobile Internet Protocol (IP) or proxy mobile IP (PMIP). When a WCD employs mobile IP, the WCD is assigned a home IP address by a mobile IP home agent in the WCD's home network. When the WCD roams to a foreign network, the WCD directly or indirectly registers with a mobile IP foreign agent in the foreign network and informs the home agent that it (the WCD) is being granted network access via the foreign agent. Then, communications between the WCD and correspondent nodes are encapsulated (tunneled) between the foreign agent and the home agent.
In the case of PMIP, the WCD may register with a PMIP gateway, which is typically in the foreign network. The PMIP gateway conducts a mobile IP transaction with the mobile IP home agent on behalf of the WCD, such that the WCD is assigned a home IP address by a mobile IP home agent. In this way, the WCD may not be aware of the mobile IP transactions between the PMIP gateway and the home agent, and may not even need to support the mobile IP protocol. Similar to mobile IP, communications between the WCD and correspondent nodes are tunneled between the PMIP gateway and the home agent.
These mobile IP and PMIP tunnels serve at least two purposes. First, since the home agent assigns the WCD a home IP address from the home network, any communications from correspondent nodes to this home IP address will be initially routed to the home network, rather than directly to the WCD. Thus, the tunneling delivers these communications from the home network to the WCD. Second, the WCD may have registered to use services that are available in the home network. Since the tunneling routes all of the WCD's communications via the home network, the WCD can still take advantage of these services while roaming.
Nonetheless, the physical and/or topological distance between the foreign agent and the home agent (in the case of mobile IP), or between the PMIP gateway and the home agent (in the case of PMIP) may be significant. Thus, it can be expensive to backhaul communications from thousands, or even millions, of WCDs to and from home agents.

Supporting simple IP with address translation in a proxy mobile IP gateway


A portable electronic device dock includes a storage unit and a lid, wherein the lid is adapted to clamp a portable electronic device between a portion of the lid and a portion of the storage unit to retain the portable electronic device in a user-accessible display position. The device dock includes a slide assembly adapted to bias the lid to an open position and a clutch assembly adapted to retain the lid in a clamped position on the portable electronic device. The slide assembly is coupled to an axle member, which is further coupled to support arms disposed on the lid. The slide assembly is further coupled to the clutch assembly on an opposite end such that the clutch assembly can limit movement of the slide assembly to further limit movement of the lid.

Portable devices are widely used and becoming commonplace in a variety of settings. One particular setting involves use of such devices inside a traveling vehicle to assist the vehicle occupants and enhance a trip experience. Popular portable devices often include navigation units and mobile cellular devices having navigation software. Power for such mobile devices may be accommodated through a vehicle's preexisting power supply input such as a cigarette lighter or an auxiliary power port. The portable device is then, often times, placed in the vehicle console, on an instrument panel or on a dashboard where the portable device is not properly secured and not easily accessible or visible to vehicle occupants. Further, the power cables necessary to run the portable device are often loose and unsightly. Known portable device holders are often limited with respect to the size and shape of a portable device that can be supported by the shape and dimensions of the device holder. Further, known device holder assemblies are often complex in nature for the position and retention of a portable device therein, adding unnecessary costs to a device holding assembly. For these types of scenarios, it is desirable to provide an adjustable portable device holder that compliments a vehicle spatial interior relative to the location of the user and other accessible features and devices within the vehicle.


First image data read out from an image information apparatus is stored in a page memory through a buffer memory and is also displayed on a CRT (cathode ray tube) display unit. A second image data subsequently read is converted into a predetermined size under the control of a CPU (central processing unit) and stored in the first image data stored in the page memory in a superimposed fashion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for use in storing a plurality of pieces of image information in a superimposed state.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, first and second pieces of image information are read out from an optical disk and the second image information is superimposed upon the first image information to form a single image information by the edit processing. In a conventional image information processing apparatus, when the first and second pieces of image information read from the optical disk have a size A4 and are superimposed with each other, the first image information is stored in a first image memory and the second image information is stored in a second image memory, both in the size A4. Then, a superimposed area is designated on the first image information, and a superimposing area on the second image information is designated on a display screen. After the area designation is performed, image information in the designated area in the second image information is read out from the second image memory, reduced in a predetermined size by an enlarging and reducing circuit and superimposed upon the designated area of the first image information stored in the first image memory. Accordingly, in the conventional image information processing apparatus, two image memories of the storage capacity of size A4, or an image memory of storage capacity of two images of size A4 must be provided.
Conventionally, when an image is superimposed upon other image, there must be provided an image memory having a predetermined storage capacity for editing and designating an area of the superimposed image, which unavoidably increases the cost of the apparatus.

Apparatus for processing superimposed image information by designating sizes of superimposed and superimposing images


A source localising method comprises the steps of measuring the power received by a set of sensors and selecting N measurements from respective sensors, where N is an even number and at least four. Nxe2x88x921 different direct power ratios are constructed each derived from the N power measurements, with different numerators and denominators derived from respective halves of the measurements in each case. The construction of Nxe2x88x921 direct power ratios is facilitated by the use of a suitably constructed Hadamard matrix. Each direct power ratio may be converted with a logarithmic transformation into a linear combination of measured powers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for passive localisation of a source that emits a signal, and particularly but not exclusively for passive localisation of a radar or radio transmitter.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
The best known method for passive localisation of a signal emitting source is based on determining a bearing line, or direction of arrival, from each of several non-collocated sensors dispersed over some surveillance area of interest. When there are no measurement errors, all bearing lines will intersect at one point representing the source location. In practice, errors are always present and the source location is estimated by exploiting one of the many algorithms developed during the last sixty years.
Other known methods to localise a signal emitting source exploit various relationships between parameters of signal replicas received at different suitably positioned sensors. For example, when the speed of signal propagation is known, it is possible to localise a source by determining the relative delays between signals intercepted by several sensors whose positions are known. In some cases it is also possible to determine the source location by utilizing information contained in the phase of signals received by non-collocated sensors with known positions. When there is some relative movement between a source and sensors, the signal phase varies in time to produce the well-known Doppler effect. An example of such a method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,301.
The problem with the above techniques is that there are a number of applications where neither of the above methods can be used. Another method applies the concept of the circle of Apollonius. The power received at each energy detector is determined. The locus of a point X is determined whose distance from two of said sensors satisfy the equation P1/P2=d22/d12 where P1 and P2 are respectively the power received at sensors 1 and 2 respectively and d2 and d1 are the distances of the points on the locus from sensors 2 and 1 respectively. The locus of a point Y is determined whose distance from two of said sensors satisfy the equation P3/P2=d22/d32 where P3 and P2 are respectively the power received at sensors 3 and 2 respectively and d2 and d3 are the distances of the points on the locus from sensors 2 and 3 respectively. The intersect of said loci is where the power source is located. Three different ratios of power values measured by the sensors S1, S2 and S3 determine three circles. The source is located at the point where the three circles intersect. This is shown in FIG. 1 and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,119.
A straightforward application of the concept of circle of Apollonius to source localisation problems is difficult for a number of reasons. When the number of power measurements is equal to N, the number of all possible ratios of two powers is equal to N(Nxe2x88x921)/2. Since the number of independent power measurements is only N, all the N(Nxe2x88x921)/2 ratios cannot provide independent information. Therefore, a localisation algorithm based on ratios of only two powers cannot be computationally efficient. In some ESM applications a single moving sensor can provide more than 1000 power measurementswhich will define almost half a million circles. Additionally, the location estimate is derived from the geometrical construction of a circle of Apollonius. Therefore, any attempt to find a maximum likelihood or Bayesian estimate of location will have to be based on advanced concepts of stochastic geometry and geometric probability. The solution may be too difficult to implement with a hardware digital processor.
The inventor has determined that all measured (also called direct) powers can be used in each ratio to determine the location of a source. In order to mitigate the problems with the prior art, in this invention, when the number of power measurements made at different sensor positions is N, the number of ratios of power employed for localisation is equal to Nxe2x88x921, and exactly all powers appear in each such ratio.
The invention also enables the localisation of a signal emitting source by suitable processing of intercepted signals which may have been corrupted by noise and other interference.
The invention comprises a method of locating a signal emitting source comprising the steps of:
a) making measurements of power received from the source by a set of sensors and selecting N such measurements from respective sensors, where N is an even number and at least four;
b) constructing Nxe2x88x921 direct power ratios each derived from the N power measurements, each ratio having a numerator which is the product of a respective sub-set of N/2 of the N power measurements and a denominator which is the product of the N/2 outside such sub-set in each case; and; and
c) calculating the source location from the direct power ratios.
Preferably, the location of the signal emitting source is calculated by comparing the direct power ratios with the respective ratios predicted for each of a plurality of hypothesized source locations. The signal emitting source is calculated by:
a) calculating predicted power ratios for each of a plurality of hypothesized source locations;
b) comparing the direct power ratios with the predicted power ratios; and identifying the hypothesized source location having the smallest discrepancy between the predicted power ratios and the direct power ratios. An estimated source location is such a hypothesized location where a suitably defined measure of discrepancy between the measured and predicted ratios achieves a minimum value.
The combinatorial problem of identifying and forming all the ratios is preferably facilitated by the use of a suitably constructed Hadamard matrix.
Preferably, each direct power ratio is converted with a logarithmic transformation into a linear combination of measured powers. The logarithmic transformation converts the products into sums and the ratios into differences. The Hadamard transformation facilitates the combinatorial problem of constructing a complete set of direct power ratios by exploiting the properties of the Hadamard Transform. Furthermore, the logarithmic transformation converts direct power ratios into random variables with approximately Gaussian distribution, irrespective of the nature of intercepted signals.
Preferably, the measure of discrepancy between measured (or direct) and predicted power ratios utilizes the absolute difference between the logarithms of the respective ratios.
The invention may preferably be utilised in conjunction with standard electronic support measure (ESM) system which provides bearing estimates but also using available information about the power of intercepted signals for localisation purposes. Incorporating this information in an appropriate manner into the localisation algorithm will result in a significant reduction of localisation errors. Similar performance enhancement can also be achieved, at least in some cases, in other applications (e.g., surveillance or xe2x80x98search and rescuexe2x80x99 missions) concerning localisation and tracking of communication transmitters (e.g., mobile phones) with the use of compact power sensors.

Localization of a signal emitting source


A lighting device includes a semiconductor light emitting device (LED) configured to emit light having a first peak wavelength upon the application of a voltage thereto, an element in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the LED, and a pattern of discrete lumiphor-containing regions on a surface of, or within, the element. The lumiphor-containing regions are configured to receive light emitted by the LED and convert at least a portion of the received light to light having a longer wavelength than the first peak wavelength. The remote element may be a lens, a reflective element, or a combination thereof.

Light emitting diodes and laser diodes are well known solid state electronic devices capable of generating light upon application of a sufficient voltage. Light emitting diodes and laser diodes may be generally referred to as light emitting devices ("LEDs"). Light emitting devices generally include a p-n junction formed in an epitaxial layer grown on a substrate such as sapphire, silicon, silicon carbide, gallium arsenide and the like. The wavelength distribution of the light generated by the LED generally depends on the material from which the p-n junction is fabricated and the structure of the thin epitaxial layers that make up the active region of the device.
Typically, an LED chip includes a substrate, an n-type epitaxial region formed on the substrate and a p-type epitaxial region formed on the n-type epitaxial region (or vice-versa). In order to facilitate the application of a voltage to the device, an anode ohmic contact is formed on a p-type region of the device (typically, an exposed p-type epitaxial layer) and a cathode ohmic contact is formed on an n-type region of the device (such as the substrate or an exposed n-type epitaxial layer). In other embodiments, a substrate need not be included.
In order to use an LED chip in a circuit, it is known to enclose an LED chip in a package to provide environmental and/or mechanical protection, color selection, focusing and the like. An LED package also includes electrical leads, contacts or traces for electrically connecting the LED package to an external circuit. In a typical LED package 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, an LED chip 12 is mounted on a reflective cup 13 by means of a solder bond or conductive epoxy. One or more wirebonds 11 connect the ohmic contacts of the LED chip 12 to leads 15A and/or 15B, which may be attached to or integral with the reflective cup 13. The reflective cup 13 may be filled with an encapsulant material 16 containing a wavelength conversion material such as phosphor particles. The entire assembly may then be encapsulated in a clear protective resin 14, which may be molded in the shape of a lens to collimate the light emitted from the LED chip 12. The term "phosphor" is used herein to refer to any materials that absorb light at one wavelength and re-emit light at a different wavelength, regardless of the delay between absorption and re-emission and regardless of the wavelengths involved. Accordingly, the term "phosphor" is used herein to refer to materials that are sometimes called fluorescent and/or phosphorescent. In general, phosphor particles absorb light having low wavelengths and re-emit light having longer wavelengths.
Typically, phosphor particles are randomly distributed within the matrix of encapsulant material. Some or all of the light emitted by the LED chip 12 at a first wavelength may be absorbed by the phosphor particles, which may responsively emit light at a second wavelength. For example, a blue-emitting chip may be encapsulated with an encapsulant matrix including a yellow-emitting phosphor. The combination of blue light (from the chip) with yellow light (from the phosphor) may produce a light that appears white. Some red-emitting phosphor particles may be included in the encapsulant matrix to improve the color rendering properties of the light, i.e. to make the light appear more "warm." Similarly, a UV-emitting chip may be encapsulated with an encapsulant material including phosphor particles that individually emit red, green and blue light upon excitation by UV light, The resulting light, which is a combination of red, green and blue light, may appear white and may have good color rendering properties.
However, the deposition of more than one phosphor material on an LED chip may be desirable under certain circumstances. For example, it may be desirable to include a red phosphor along with a yellow phosphor on a blue LED chip to improve the color rendering characteristics of the light produced by the chip. That is, it is known that white emitters including a blue light emitting device and a yellow phosphor may have poor color rendering characteristics due to the binary nature of the emitted light. In order to provide better color rendering, a red phosphor, that may also emit light in response to stimulation by light emitted by the blue LED chip, may provide a red light emission complement to the overall light emitted by the LED chip. The resulting light may have a warmer appearance that may give objects a more natural appearance when illuminated. However, the excitation curve of the red phosphor material may overlap with the emission curve of the yellow emitting phosphor, meaning that some light emitted by the yellow phosphor may be reabsorbed by the red phosphor, which may result in a loss of efficiency. The use of patterns of multiple phosphors on an LED chip is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0108269, which is incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.
The junction temperature of phosphor converted LEDs is typically controlled to provide a long life for LEDs. The degradation resulting from the higher temperature may result, at least in part, from temperature degradation of the phosphor and the material the phosphor is bound in, such as silicone, epoxy, etc. To overcome this difficulty, remote phosphor devices have been proposed. One remote phosphor device is the FORTIMO® brand downlight module available from Philips. The Philips remote phosphor device has a lens with phosphor in the lens. The lens is remote from the LED light sources. However, the conventional remote phosphor devices may have the same shortcomings with regard to efficiency as conventional phosphor LEDs.

Lighting devices with discrete lumiphor-bearing regions within or on a surface of remote elements


A coupling assembly having a first member drivingly connected to a second member via one or more third members. A first shaft is drivingly connected to the first member and a second shaft is drivingly connected to the second member. The second member includes a flange portion having one or more seating portions on a first end portion of the flange. Additionally, the flange has one or more flange portion attachment apertures extending from the seating portions to a second end portion of the flange. An increased diameter portion of the second shaft has one or more increased diameter portion apertures extending from a first end portion to a second end portion. The flange portion apertures and the increased diameter portion apertures have a center-line with an angle from an axial center-line of the assembly. Additionally, the seating portions have an angle relative to a radial center-line of the assembly.

It is well-known within the automotive industry to use one or more drive shaft or propeller shaft assemblies in order to transfer the torque and/or rotational energy from one vehicle drive-train component to another vehicle drive-train component. Conventional drive shaft assemblies include a drive shaft with a coupling assembly that is attached to each end of the drive shaft. The coupling assembly drivingly connects the drive shaft to another component within the drive-train of the vehicle.
Conventional joint assemblies, such as a universal joint assembly, include a yoke portion that is integrally connected to an end of the drive shaft. The yoke portion on the end of the drive shaft is then drivingly connected to a flange yoke via a journal cross. The flange yoke of the universal joint assembly includes a flange portion having a plurality of attachment apertures that are drilled into the flange portion of the flange yoke.
Typically, a companion flange is disposed axially outboard from and adjacent to the flange yoke of the joint assembly. The companion flange is then drivingly connects the drive shaft to another component within the drive-train of the vehicle. Additionally, the companion flange has a plurality of attachment apertures that are complementary to the plurality of attachment apertures in the flange portion of the flange yoke of the joint assembly.
In conventional joint assemblies, the plurality of attachment apertures in the flange portion of the flange yoke and the plurality of attachment apertures in the companion flange are drilled horizontally into the flange portion of the flange yoke and the companion flange. This makes it more complicated to install and assemble the drive shaft assembly during manufacturing and assembly of the vehicle. Additionally, the conventional joint assemblies make the removal, replacement and/or re-installation of the drive shaft assembly more complicated when making repairs to the vehicle. By drilling the plurality of attachment apertures in the companion flange and the plurality of apertures in the flange portion of the flange yoke horizontally, it makes it impossible to remove, replace and/or install the drive shaft assembly using standard installation and removal tools without hitting the other vehicle drive-train components near the drive shaft assembly. As a result, the components of the coupling assembly are required to have intricately machined components and require the use of specially designed tools in order to remove, replace and/or install the drive shaft assembly. This increases the overall costs associated with the drive shaft assembly. It would therefore be advantageous to develop a coupling assembly for a drive shaft assembly with indexing capabilities that is easy to remove, replace and/or install using standard tools.

Coupling assembly having angled fastener holes