Disclosed is a novel combination of a conventional plant pot with one or more drain holes in its bottom or its side wall near its bottom and a perforated conduit or tube which is removably affixed to the side wall of the container and which extends from at or near the top of the basin to its bottom and which acts as an aerating root pruner which provides air and water communication between top of the basin and a drain hole and the planting soil between them. Also disclosed is a automatic watering device which includes a basin for holding a volume of water to be dispensed to a water using attachment for a volume of water, a water dispensing diaphragm fill valve attached to a source of water which regulates the volume of water maintained in the basin, which basin has a mounting rim near its open top for mounting a water using attachment on it and a seat for mounting the fill valve in the basin below a predetermined water line determined by the fill valve; and the fill valve has a port for dispensing water from it into the basin until the water reaches the water line.

Our parent application claims an improvement in the art of self-watering systems which comprise a water holding basin; a water using attachment adapted for mounting thereon; locking means for mounting and locking the water using attachment on the basin; means comprising a water conduit for transporting water to the basin; means comprising a fill valve for filling the basin with water to a selected water level line which leaves air space above the surface of the water when the basin is filled with a volume of water to the selected water level line; and water transfer means for transferring water from the basin to the water using attachment when the latter is mounted on the former. The improvement claimed therein has (a) a water basin which comprises (i) an axial positioned port in the bottom of the basin which provides access into the interior of the basin for water transported thereto by the water conduit; and (ii) seating means on the interior surface of the basin for securing and mounting the fill valve onto the interior surface of the bottom of the basin over the port therein; (b) a fill valve which is an adjustable diaphragm fill valve which is either water tight mounted or adapted to be water tight mounted on the interior surface of the bottom of the basin and is adapted to maintain the volume of water in the basin at the selected water level line and comprises a water inlet port adapted for water tight connection through the port in the bottom of the basin to the water conduit and for receiving water from the source thereof; a water outlet port for dispensing into the basin water received from the inlet port; and a gas port for maintaining the diaphragm of the fill valve at ambient pressure; (c) a water conduit which projects substantially radially outwardly from the port in the bottom of the basin beyond the side wall of the basin and above the lower edge thereof and is adapted for connection to the source of the water; and (d) the diaphragm fill valve is connected to a gas conduit for accessing the valve to ambient air.
Disclosed therein as examples of water using attachments are a plant pot, an animal waterer/feeder, an underground spring for below-ground watering, a bird bath, a hummingbird feeder, an amphibian habitat, an animal/bird cage, a plant pot and a water toy.
A diaphragm valve suitable for use in the above-described self-watering system is claimed in our parent application is a modification claimed in our ""600 patent of the diaphragm valve adapted for use in toilets and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,606. Our U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,290 claims an adjustable reservoir fill valve suitable for use in such a self-watering system and a combination thereof with a valve mounting base adapted for mounting the fill valve thereon, which comprises a liquid inlet port adapted to connect it to a source of water under pressure and seating means on the upper surface thereof for detachably mounting the fill valve thereon.
Wicks suitable for use in the water handling devices having water transfer means are described in our parent ""289 application and also disclosed in our prior filed provisional application S.N. 60/105,038, filed Oct. 20, 1998.
All of the foregoing is disclosed in PCT application US/96/10493, published Dec. 19, 1996. The references cited in the specifications of these applications and patents and the References Cited therein describe the prior art relevant to the subject matter of this application.
The terms xe2x80x9cwaterxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cliquidxe2x80x9d when used herein ordinarily mean municipal tap water or well water but also includes aqueous solutions containing one or more of plant or animal nutrients, pesticides, algaecides, disinfectants and therapeutic agents. Without straying from the scope of the present invention, the basin, its attachments, valve and the portable valve base can be made of materials resistant to corrosive or solvent liquids and therefore enable the invention to utilize other liquids including but not limited to; photo-finishing chemicals, fuels and solvents, plasma, saline solutions, cosmetic and food liquids, fragrances, surfactants, dyes and other liquids at or near the consistency of water.
In a first aspect, this invention relates to an a combination comprising a container for growing plants having a substantially non-porous and solid side wall and bottom and at least one aerating root pruner (a) which is in the shape of an elongate tube or conduit with a plurality of perforations or openings therein which provide a high ratio of open areas to total vertical wall surface area, (b) which is positioned in or adapted to be positioned at a fixed relatively vertical position proximate to the interior surface of the side wall of the container prior to filling the container with plant growing medium, (c) whose upper end projects nearly to or above the top of the container; (d) whose lower end is positioned proximate the bottom of the container in communication with the atmosphere through a port in the side wall or bottom of the container; and (e) which is removably affixed to the side wall of the container, whereby the pruner can if desired be cleaned interiorly of roots of a growing plant planted in the container which invade the interior of the pruner and can be removed prior to or concurrently with the removal of the growing plant from the container.
In an automatic watering device aspect, this invention relates to an automatic watering device for dispensing water from a source of water under pressure to a growing plant, comprising:
(a) a basin for holding a volume of water, the basin having a closed bottom, at least one side wall and an open top, the basin comprising a water inlet port adapted to connect the basin to the source of water under pressure; and
(b) a fill valve mounted on the interior wall of the bottom of the basin for maintaining a volume of water in the basin at a predetermined level, the fill valve comprising:
an inlet in liquid communication with the water inlet port of the basin;
at least one water outlet port for dispensing water from the fill valve into the interior of the basin;
(c) a plate which covers the open top of the basin and which has at least one port therein in liquid communication with a tube or conduit having an open upper end and a closed lower end, whose upper end is mounted on the bottom face of the plate and projects downwardly therefrom and which has a perforated bottom portion which projects below the predetermined level at which the volume of water in the basin is maintained.

Combination of container for growing plants and aerating root pruner


A geothermal power generation system using heat exchange between working fluid and molten salt includes a heat collecting unit. A plurality of molten salt containing units are disposed in the ground at predetermined intervals from each other. A heat exchanging unit transfers a heat source of the heat collecting unit to the molten salt in the plurality of molten salt containing units. A plurality of working fluid containing units respectively surround the molten salt containing units and are disposed in the ground at predetermined intervals from each other. A turbine unit is connected to the plurality of working fluid containing units, and generates mechanical energy using steam energy that is generated by the plurality of working fluid containing units. A power generating unit is connected to the turbine unit, and generates electrical energy using the mechanical energy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to a geothermal power generation system and method using heat exchange between working fluid and molten salt, and more particularly, to a geothermal power generation system and method which can generate electricity by causing molten salt in which waste heat or solar heat is stored to exchange heat with working fluid.
2. Description of the Related Art
Geothermal power generation is a type of power generation that generates electricity by accepting heat in the form of steam or hot water from a hot subterranean layer. Subterranean heat is a type of energy that is contained in hot water, hot rocks or the like found underground in regions ranging from relatively shallow regions to regions located several kilometers beneath the surface of the Earth.
When hot steam is obtained from these underground regions, the hot steam is introduced to a steam turbine to rotate the turbine at a high speed, so that a power generator connected to the turbine generates electricity. If the steam which erupts from underground contains only a small amount of moisture, it can be sent directly to the turbine. If the steam erupts along with a large amount of hot water, the hot water is sent to a heat exchanger in which the water is vaporized and is then sent to the turbine as steam. In addition, when water has a low temperature, a liquid that has a lower boiling point is vaporized and is then sent to the turbine.
Geothermal power generation does not need fuel in principle and is a clean energy source that is free from pollution attributable to the combustion of fuel. However, noncondensable gas that erupts from a geothermal well contains a small amount of hydrogen sulfide. The eruption of hydrogen sulfide is not problematic at present since the concentration of hydrogen sulfide is low and below environmental standards. However, desulfurization equipment will be required if a large amount of hydrogen sulfide erupts in the future. In addition, after power generation, all of the hot water is returned to the underground region from whence it came since it contains a small amount of arsenic. However, if an economical dearsenic technology is established, the hot water will also be usable after power generation as a valuable low-temperature thermal energy resource.
The majority of costs for geothermal power generation include a cost for construction of a geothermal power plant and a cost for excavation of a geothermal well. The costs for geothermal power generation vary depending on the quality and type of geothermal power generation. Geothermal power generation has an advantage of economic competitiveness, although a typical geothermal power plant has a smaller scale than a thermal power plant or an atomic power plant. Geothermal power generation is also characterized as a small and locally-distributed energy source.
FIG. 1 a schematic view showing the configuration of a geothermal power generation system using high-temperature and high-pressure compressed air.
In an example, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0115466 introduces a geothermal power generation system using high-temperature and high-pressure compressed air. As shown in FIG. 1, in the system of this application, a cooling unit which reduces temperature is removed from a rear end of a compressor 4, and artificial geothermal power generation is carried out using the characteristic of high-temperature and high-pressure compressed air that is produced by the compressor 4. In this fashion, the efficiency of the power generation using the compressed air can be improved.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the configuration of a geothermal power generation system of the related art.
In addition, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0063987 introduces a low-temperature geothermal power generation system. As shown in FIG. 2, the geothermal power generation system of this application includes a superheater 20, a post pressure pump 40 and a preheater 60 in order to carry out geothermal power generation using geothermal water having a temperature of 100° C. or less. In this system, it is possible to increase the efficiency of a carburetor 4 by increasing the temperature and enthalpy of secondary fluid by a predetermined degree by actuating the preheater 60 using the remaining heat of geothermal water that is supplied from the carburetor 4, increase pressure by increasing the temperature of the secondary fluid that is vaporized by the superheater 20, and increase the efficiency of the carburetor 4 and maintain the flow rate of the superheater 20 by increasing the pressure of the secondary fluid that is introduced into a turbine 6 by the post pressure pump 40 and decreasing the pressure of the superheater 20. Therefore, this system can effectively generate electricity using geothermal water that has a relatively low temperature.
In geothermal power generation, hot water or steam that has been drawn up from underground is not renewable energy in the strictest sense. Since the amount of subterranean heat that leaks during geothermal power generation is greater than the recharging capacity of a reservoir, the amount of heat stored beneath the surface of the Earth is currently reducing. Although it will take a long time, when subterranean hot water or steam is exhausted and hot rock layers are cooled, no heat can be drawn up from underground any longer. It is necessary to develop an alternative energy system which can be used in geothermal power generation to convert other types of energy into geothermal energy.

Geothermal power generation system and method using heat exchange between working fluid and molten salt

KOREA INSTITUTE OF GEOSCIENCE AND MINERAL RESOURCES


It is aimed at being capable of easily changing a power supply startup procedure and complying with various display devices. A power supply circuit is provided between an instruction register of a liquid crystal driver and a power supply unit. The power supply unit is not directly supplied with a setting value registered to the instruction register from a microprocessor unit. The microprocessor unit writes setting values to the instruction register without need for the time axis. To turn on the power, the time is measured inside the power supply sequencer. Set values are sequentially input to the power supply unit. The instruction register should be also capable of registering an input timing.

The present invention relates to a display drive control device and a drive method thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a display drive control device having a power supply circuit which generates a plurality of voltages from a single main power supply according to a specified procedure.
A display drive control device having a so-called flat panel display device is used as a display device for electronic devices such as personal computers, television sets, cellular phones, and portable information terminals. In particular, liquid crystal displays are extensively used for cellular phones that are remarkably widespread in recent years. An electroluminescence display (organic or inorganic ELD) will be put to practical use in the near future. The following description of the present invention concerns a cellular phone using a TFT (Thin File Transistor) liquid crystal display with respect to its display drive control device (liquid crystal display drive control device) as an example. The description also applies to the other display drive control devices having the power supply circuit to generate a plurality of voltages from the main power supply. For example, the other devices include non-TFT liquid crystal display drive control devices such as the above-mentioned ELD and STN (Super Twisted Nematic), and display drive control devices using field emission displays (FEDs).
For example, a liquid crystal display drive control device requires various levels of voltages to drive its liquid crystal display (also referred to as a liquid crystal display panel or simply as a liquid crystal panel). For this reason, the liquid crystal display drive control device (also referred to as a liquid crystal controller or liquid crystal driver) generally includes a power supply circuit that generates different levels of voltages from a single main power supply.
The display device such as a liquid crystal display needs to start operating with no unwanted image or flicker. For this purpose, it is necessary to generate a plurality of voltages according to a specified sequence with a constant time interval. The sequence and the time are determined by electrical characteristics of the liquid crystal display. This procedure must be always followed when the power supply circuit is used.

Display drive control device, for which drive method, electronics device and semiconductor integrated circuit


A shifter system for shifting a transmission on a vehicle includes a shifter having a manually-operated shift lever movable between various gear positions, an electrical sensing device on the shifter for sensing positions of the shift lever, and a controller electrically connected to the sensing device and constructed to control shifting of a transmission based on signals from the sensing device indicative of the position of the shift lever. The controller and the sensing device as a system are capable of sensing speed of movement of the shift lever and the controller is programmed to change control of the shifting of the transmission in accordance therewith. In one form, the sensing device includes one of a continuous output potentiometer, a discrete output potentiometer, a membrane potentiometer, and a deformable variable-resistance potentiometer.

The present invention generally relates to an electrical sensing system for a vehicle shifting system. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electrical sensing system that senses the position of a shift lever.
In the early years of automobiles, most automobiles included manual shift transmissions where an operator separately controlled clutch disengagement/engagement, speed of shifting, and engine rpm (i.e., throttle operation) as part of the shifting process. Modern vehicles in the United States are predominately automatic shift transmissions, where an operator merely positions a shift lever in a selected gear position and then presses on an accelerator, while the vehicle systems automatically control the speed of clutch engagement and the timing of shifting. Specifically, in modern automatically shifted vehicles, the operator positions a shift lever in park, reverse, neutral, or drive. However, the act of positioning the shift lever in a selected gear position is totally separate from controlling the actual shifting process, such that it does not give an operator the control provided by manually shifted transmission systems. It is desirable to come up with a design that does not require drivers to learn how to shift a manual vehicle transmission, including learning how to operate a clutch pedal, a brake pedal, and an accelerator pedal while simultaneously shifting a shift lever. Further, it is desired to provide a system compatible with existing driving skills and control technologies, and to provide a system where the driver does not have to operate a clutch if he or she prefers not to do so. In short, it is desirable to give more control of the shifting process back to the vehicle driver, but it is desired to do so in a manner that does not force the driver to relearn how to operate the vehicle and that allows the driver to be as active or passive as he or she may want to be. It is also desirable to utilize technologies that are compatible with and that take full advantage of the electronic vehicle systems in modern vehicles.
Some modern vehicles manufacturers are now specifying and/or designing shifting systems for automatic transmissions having an automatic shift mode (such as the well-known gear positions of "park," "reverse," "neutral," and "drive" in most existing automatic transmission vehicle shifters), but also having a manual shift mode (where the shifter is movable between forced "upshift" and "downshift" positions, or where the shifter is movable between a forced fourth gear, a forced third gear, a forced second gear, and a forced first gear). These arrangements give some control back to a driver by allowing the driver to force certain gear changes in automatic transmissions, but they do not give an operator the "total" control and feel of early manual shifting systems, since these known systems do not allow the operator to directly affect or control the clutch, the speed of shifting, and the engine responses to same, as discussed above. For example, in known systems, clutch engagement and gear engagement is at best only indirectly affected by how hard a vehicle driver presses on the accelerator pedal of the vehicle. The driver does not directly control the clutch by any manipulation of a clutch pedal or clutch controller. The speed of shifting the shift lever into a gear position also has no direct effect on clutch operation, or engine/transmission parameters or vehicle operation.
In addition to the above, different vehicle operators prefer different "feels" of clutch engagement when shifting between gear positions. For example, some operators want a rugged, stiff "hard clutch" feel as a shift lever is moved between gear positions, while others prefer a smooth, "soft clutch" feel. Operators similarly differ in their preferences for engine speed and performance when shifting. Importantly, a specific operator's preferences may change over time, such as when a road is slippery with snow or ice, or when the road is dry and providing good traction. Vehicle manufacturers have attempted to provide different shifters and transmissions tailored for particular types of customers (e.g., sport car-type drivers or luxury car-type drivers) that customers can select from, and further have attempted to match shifters and transmissions to the types of customers expected to buy particular vehicle models. However, to our knowledge, vehicle manufacturers have not constructed a shifting system including a shifter that is variable and sensitive to shift behaviors of an operator as a shift lever is shifted, or that is adapted to make "real time" changes in shifting and vehicle operation as a result.
Most modern vehicles have shifters that include shift levers mechanically connected to a transmission such as by a Bowdan transmission cable or a rod-type mechanical linkage. This was done in part since mechanical connections were believed to be very reliable and trustworthy for the environment under a vehicle where a transmission is located. However, mechanically connected shift levers are expensive, relatively large, and include many parts. Also, the assembly of these shifters into vehicles is labor intensive and takes up valuable assembly space.
An improved system solving the aforementioned problems and having the aforementioned advantages is desired.

Electrical sensing system for a vehicle shifter


A X-ray waveguide includes a core for guiding X-rays having a wavelength band in which the real part of refractive index of material is smaller than 1 and a cladding for confining the X-rays in the core. The core has a one-dimensional periodic structure in which a plurality of layers respectively formed of inorganic materials having different real parts of refractive index are periodically laminated. The core and the cladding are configured so that a critical angle for total reflection for the X-rays at an interface between the core and the cladding is larger than a Bragg angle due to a periodicity of the one-dimensional periodic structure. A critical angle for total reflection for the X-rays at an interface between layers in the one-dimensional periodic structure is smaller than the Bragg angle due to the periodicity of the one-dimensional periodic structure.

When using an electromagnetic wave having a short wavelength of several tens of nm or less, a refractive index difference for the electromagnetic wave between different materials is very small, so the total reflection angle is very small. Therefore, to control electromagnetic waves including X-rays, a large-scale spatial optical system has been used, and is still mainly used. One of the main components included in the spatial optical system is a multilayer film reflecting mirror in which materials having different refractive indices are alternately laminated. The multilayer film reflecting mirror has various functions such as beam shaping, spot size conversion, and wavelength selection.
Different from such a spatial optical system which is mainly used, a conventional X-ray waveguide tube such as a poly-capillary confines X-rays in the tube and propagates the X-rays. In recent years, an X-ray waveguide is studied, which confines electromagnetic waves in a thin film or a multilayer film and propagates the electromagnetic waves, in order to downsize and enhance the optical system. Specifically, a thin film waveguide is reported in which a guiding layer is sandwiched by a two-layer one-dimensional periodic structure (see NPL 2). Further, an X-ray waveguide is reported in which a plurality of thin film X-ray waveguides that confine X-rays by total reflection are laminated and disposed (see NPL 1).


Card member apparatus, and an associated method, for storing and permitting selectable use of informational data associated with a subject. Identifying indicia stored at a first storage element, and the informational data is stored at a second storage element, together disposed upon a substrate, or otherwise supported to permit carriage by a subject. The card member is presented for reading at a card reader, and analysis is made of the identifying indicia stored at the storage element. If the identifying indicia is ascertained to correspond to the subject that carries the card member, permission is granted for the access to the informational data stored at the card member. The informational data, once accessed, is used pursuant to a transaction associated with the subject.

Many aspects of modern life require the delivery of, or exchange of, information. In the past, information has generally been stored on paper records. And, when the information is to be delivered elsewhere, or exchanged with other information, paper records are forwarded or recreated.
While use of paper documents is, of course, an acceptable and workable manner by which to store and forward information, the development of electronic storage elements provides for the storage of data in electronic form and provides many opportunities related to information storage and transfer. Storage elements that provide for the storage of data in electronic form are, in many instances, of very small dimensions while still permitting storage of very large amounts of data. And, as technologies progress, the storage elements in which data is storable shall likely continue to permit ever increasing amounts of data to be stored in storage elements of increasingly reduced dimensions. The ability to store amounts of data previously requiring large bundles of paper when stored in paper form is already possible. As storage capacities increase, the capability to store even greater amounts of data shall be possible.
Medical and financial records, for instance, are storable in electronic form in electronic storage elements. When an electronic storage element at which such data is stored is non-volatile or requires only nominal amounts of energy to maintain the stored data, the storage elements are easily constructed to be of dimensions permitting their hand carriage. For instance, a storage element is supportable upon a substrate, such as a card member of dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of a typical credit or charge card. Data pertaining to a subject, such as the subject's medical or financial information, once stored at the storage element, is easily carriable by the subject. When subsequently needed, the data is accessed and used, as needed. Much greater amounts of data are able easily to be carried by the subject than when the data is embodied in paper form.
Various issues arise, however, when large amounts of potentially sensitive information of a subject is stored electronically in an electronic storage element and carried by the subject, the subject might well not want the stored data easily to be accessible. A storage mechanism, capable of storing data pertaining to a subject in electronic form while also permitting limited access to the stored data is, accordingly, needed.
It is in light of this background information related to the storage of data that the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.

Arrangement, apparatus, and associated method, for providing stored data in secured form for purposes of identification and informational storage


A colorimeter comprises a light source, a mixing box formed of non-coated light diffusing surface manufactured by molding sintering white ceramics or white resin for diffusing and reflecting light from the light source to guide the same to a sample, first light receiving means for receiving light reflected from the sample when light is emitted from the light source, and second light receiving means for receiving light other than the light reflected from the sample emitted from the light source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a light mixing box and a colorimeter employing the same and, more specifically, it relates to a light mixing box employing white ceramics or white resin and a colorimeter employing the same.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, a reflector for a flash apparatus has been developed mainly for photography in order to enhance reflectance and directivity by using a mirror surface of a parabolic curve. Meanwhile, diffuse illumination has been required in various fields. The diffuse illumination generally lowers the illumination efficiency and makes the illuminating apparatus tend to be large. In some fields, a compact diffuse illumination is required. One of such fields is that of a colorimeter. A normal colorimetry is effected by using a spectrophotometer. However, the spectrophotometer is a large and expensive apparatus, which can not be readily used in general. Therefore, a handy type colorimeter has been developed and used widely in the fields of color conditioning in manufacture, quality control of printed matters, medical inspection, cosmetology, and the like. The object to be measured must be illuminated by the ideal diffused light in order to enhance the precision of colorimetry. As for a measuring apparatus used in the field, measurement should be carried out in a short time period with bright illumination in order to avoid influence of outer light. Therefore, a flash apparatus is used as a light source. A reflector, conventionally a mirror surface reflector, is used therewith to enhance the efficiency of light. As the discharge tube such as xenon tube is used in the flash apparatus, the discharging path in the tube changes every time. This means that the position of the light source moves every time.
FIG. 1 shows a reflector 1 having a paraboloid revolution, and a flash light source 2. The central axis O of the flash light source 2 is located at the focal point of the paraboloid curve of the reflector 1. The light path of the flash light source changes every time dependent on the distribution of excitation of the gas filled in the flash light source. In FIG. 1, the thick solid line shows the path of the light generated from the point A, while the dotted line shows the path of the light generated from the point B. The flash light source 2 can not be regarded as a point source in relation to the size of the reflector 1. Therefore, when the light generated from the light source 2 is reflected by the reflector 1, the reflected light from the point A differs from the reflected light from the point B, depending on the direction of emission, as shown in FIG. 2. For example, in the case of the light reflected in the direction of .phi., the amount of the reflected light becomes as shown by a, c and b, corresponding to the points of light generation A, O, B, respectively. Therefore, the fluctuation in the flash light source causes variation of light amount in the emitting direction of the reflected light, affecting the measurement.
In order to solve the above problem, a diffuse illumination light source is implemented by providing a transmitting diffusion plate such as white acryl plate, frosted glass plate, and the like in front of the light source in a handy type colorimeter shown in FIG. 3. However, the amount of illumination is decreased due to the transmittance characteristics of the diffusion plate. For example, according to the spectral transmittance characteristics of the white acryl plate, the transmittance of the wavelength less than 400 nm is low, so that when it is employed as a light source of a colorimeter, the resolution of blue will be degraded. If the white acryl plate is placed near the flash light source, the plate may possibly be deformed or the color of the plate may be changed due to the power of the light source.
Conventionally, in the field of integrating sphere, powder coatings of barium sulfate, zinc oxide and magnesium oxide are used as materials having no wavelength selectivity, high reflectance and high diffusiveness. However, these materials have problems in the surface adhesiveness and moisture resistance, so that they are not the optimum material for a reflector in the flash apparatus.
As an another example of the prior art, a conventional integrating sphere employed in the colorimeter or other measuring apparatuses is shown in FIG. 4. A perfect diffuse surface 22 having high reflectance and no wavelength selectivity is formed by applying powder of zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, barium sulfate or the like on the inner wall surface of the upper hemisphere 21a and the lower hemisphere 21b. Since the adhesiveness of the powder is weak, it may peel off when an impact is applied thereon. Therefore, the integrating sphere should be carefully handled. A binder may be mixed with the powder to be applied in order to enhance the adhesiveness. However, the performance of the integrating sphere is degraded due to the spectral reflectance characteristics (especially wavelength selective absorption) of the material serving as the binder, and the binder may be turned yellow by the ultraviolet rays. In manufacturing, the reflected layer must be thick in order to enhance the reflectance. Therefore, a number of layers of the powder must be applied to the metal surface. This makes the manufacturing difficult and it is not suitable for massproduction.
FIG. 5 shows a conventional integrating sphere used in a handy type colorimeter which is made in consideration of the impact resistance. Since it is a handy type, the integrating sphere must have high impact resistance and a simple and compact structure. Therefore, the inner surface 29 of the sphere 21 is coated with a delustered type white coating film which is strong. According to the characteristic of the spectral reflectance of the white coating of the inner surface 29, it appears that the reflectance in the wavelength shorter than 420 nm is degraded. Therefore, it does not satisfy the required quality of the integrating sphere, i.e., "it should have reflectance characteristics having no wavelength selectivity". In addition, since the diffusion reflectance characteristics of the delustered white coating of the inner surface 29 differs entirely from the perfect diffusion, the characteristics must be compensated by a diffusion transmitting plate 30 for improving diffusion characteristics. The diffusion transmitting plate reduces the intensity of the illumination.
In a simple integrating sphere employed in a conventional handy type colorimeter and the like, delustered white coatings are employed because of the strength of the coat. However, in that case, the reflectance characteristics of the light in the range of wavelength shorter than 400 nm is inferior, so that required amount of light for illuminating the sample can not be obtained. In a normal integrating sphere, white powder of zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, barium sulfate or the like is applied. Although the reflectance characteristics of the same is superior, it is weak against impact.
As a further example of the prior art, a conventional integrating sphere in a colorimeter of diffused illumination vertical receiving system is shown in FIG. 6, which integrating sphere has the function of removing specularly reflected light.
The vertical light receiving system means that "the angle of inclination of the light reflected from the sample surface from the perpendicular of the sample surface is no more than 10.degree. ". The system shown in FIG. 6 is the 8.degree. light receiving system in accordance with the above definition. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the light from the light source 48 is diffused by the integrating sphere 41 so as to uniformly irradiate the sample 43 and the direct light from the light source 48 is prevented from irradiating the sample 43 by a baffle 49B. The light receiving opening A is inclined by 8.degree. from the vertical direction so as not to receive the specularly reflected light from the sample. A light trap 41A which absorbs specularly reflected light is provided in the direction of reflection. The advantage of this system is that the specularly reflected light from the sample is perfectly avoided, since the light receiving opening A is positioned in relation to the opening portion of the light trap 41A so as not to receive the specularly reflected light. A first disadvantage of the system shown in FIG. 6 is that the opening A can receive no reflected luminous flux in the vertical direction (0.degree. direction) of the sample 43, but it can receive the luminous flux in the direction inclined by 8.degree. from the vertical direction, so that the information of the light in the vertical direction (0.degree. direction), which is originally desired, can not be obtained. A second disadvantage is that in order to obtain the reflected light from the specified region of the measured sample 43 through the light receiving opening A, a collimate lens K must be used and a light trap is required. When a collimate lens K is employed, there are various disadvantages. For example, it is difficult to make the apparatus compact, the assembly becomes troublesome, the apparatus becomes expensive, and it is not suitable for a handy type apparatus.
The center of the light receiving opening A may be provided at the top point P of the integrating sphere so as to place the same in the perfect vertical direction to the measured sample 43, whereby only the vertical reflected light from the sample is measured by a collimate lens. In this structure, since the light receiving opening is provided, there is no wall of the integrating sphere which is the source of the specularly reflected light from the sample to the opening. However, since the reflected light from the sample and from the vicinity of the sample is reflected by the collimate lens and directly irradiates the sample again, the specularly reflected light from the sample 43 is mixed with the measuring light, causing errors in the measurement.
A conventional example of an integrating sphere in a handy type diffusion illumination vertical light receiving system colorimeter (chromameter) is shown in FIG. 7. It differs from the integrating sphere of FIG. 6 in the following points. Namely, the region of the sample 43 to be measured is limited by a cylinder 42 whose axis is the central line of the limiting opening B. The collimate lens K of FIG. 6 is eliminated. The integrating sphere 41 is divided into the upper and lower chambers. A diffusion transmitting plate 50 is provided between two chambers to improve the diffusion illuminating characteristics. In this system, the light illuminating the sample has less orientation but a large quantity of light. However, as for the light emitted from the region (K--K') of the diffusion transmitting plate 50 and reflected on the sample surface which can be seen from the light receiving opening A, the light enters the light receiving opening A as a specularly reflected light from the sample. Therefore, the specularly reflected light from the sample can not be eliminated.
A still further example of the prior art is shown in FIG. 8, in which a reference opening C is provided at a position close to the measuring opening A in order to take the reflected light from the inner surface D of the integrating sphere 51 adjacent to the sampling opening S of the integrating sphere 51. A collimate lens K is provided on the monitoring light axis which goes through the center of the reference opening C and the center of the region D of the wall surface of the integrating sphere 51, so that only the light from the region D of the wall surface is monitored. Therefore, only the light parallel to the light axis of the collimate lens K passes through the collimate lens K to reach the monitor light receiving sensor S2, although the reference surface D is illuminated from all the directions in the integrating sphere 51 and reflects light to all the directions.
Consequently, the amount of the monitor light is small and the S/N ratio of the light measurement is low, so that the variation of the light source can not be effectively corrected. Since the reference opening is approximately opposite to the sampling opening, a collimate lens is used so that the reflected light from the sampling opening do not enter the reference opening. The region of the inner surface of the integrating sphere which is viewed from the collimate lens through the reference opening should not be overlapped with the sampling opening. Therefore, the smaller the apparatus becomes, the smaller becomes the region of the inner surface of the integrating sphere viewed from the reference opening, whereby the monitoring light measurement becomes difficult.
An optical fiber may be used instead of the collimate lens. However, since the optical fiber transmits only light emitted in a certain range of angle, and every optical fiber has different range of light receiving angle. Therefore, in order not to receive the light from the surface to be measured, considerable margin is required in design for positioning and for adjusting the direction of the light axis of the optical fiber. Consequently, it is difficult to make the apparatus compact. A cylinder which limits the range of measurement may be provided projecting in the integrating sphere from the reference opening so as to prevent entrance of the light from the surface to be measured. However, in this case, the integrating sphere becomes far apart from the ideal shape and the light amount can be increased.

Compact diffusion light mixing box and colorimeter


A water heater having a water tank and a heating source disposed proximate to the water tank such that the heating source may heat water within the water tank. A temperature sensor is provided that is partially thermally isolated from the water in the water tank. A controller may be provided that at least partially compensates for the partial thermal isolation of the temperature sensor and regulates the heating source. In some instances, the temperature sensor may be at least partially disposed within a thermally isolating mass.

Water heaters are used in homes, businesses and just about any establishment having the need for heated water. A conventional water heater typically has at least one heating element or "heater," such as a gas-fired and/or electric burner. Each water heater also typically has at least one thermostat or controller for controlling the heater. The controller often receives signals related to the temperature of the water within the water heater, oftentimes from a temperature sensor that is thermally engaged with the water in the water heater. In some instances, a water heater may operate in accordance with a first temperature set point and a second temperature set point. The difference between the first and second temperature set point may be referred to as the differential of the water heater.
When temperature signals from the temperature sensor indicate that the water temperature is below a first set point, for example, when the water temperature is below about 120° F., the controller turns on the heater and the water within the water heater begins to heat. After some time, the water temperature within the water heater will increase to a second set point, which, for example, may be about 140° F. At this point, the controller typically causes the heater to reduce its heat output or, alternatively, causes the heater to turn off. This heat cycle begins again when the water temperature within the water heater drops below the first set point.
Typically, the temperature sensor protrudes into and thermally engages the water in the water heater. Sometimes, the sensor is disposed within a metallic well such as a brass, copper or combination of brass and copper well that itself protrudes into and directly engages the water in the water heater. Because metals such as brass and copper have high coefficients of thermal conductivity, the brass or copper well is efficient at conducting thermal energy from the water to the temperature sensor. Therefore, the temperature sensor can provide a temperature signal that closely tracks the actual water temperature within the water heater. Some temperature sensors, such as in electric water heaters, may be in direct contact with the water.
While metallic wells such as brass wells provide good thermal conductivity between the temperature sensor and the water within the water heater, they can be relatively expensive. Thus, there is a need for a water heater that has a less expensive temperature sensor configuration.

Water Heater with partially thermally isolated temperature sensor


A method and a radio beacon for determining a distance of a vehicle passing a radio beacon of a road toll system, from beacon. The vehicle is equipped with an onboard unit, which emits a signal with a known curve of its frequency over time. The method includes receiving the signal in the radio beacon during passage of the vehicle and recording a curve of its frequency over time in relation to the known frequency curve; detecting a change in the recorded frequency curve exceeding a predetermined threshold value; looking for two far regions in the frequency curve lying before and after the detected change in time and showing a frequency change below a threshold value; scaling the recorded frequency curve in such a manner that the far regions assume predetermined values; and determining the said distance from a gradient of the scaled frequency curve in an inflection point thereof.

In radio beacon-based road toll systems, for example, DSRC (dedicated short-range communication) or WAVE (wireless access in a vehicle environment) standards, onboard units (OBUs) carried by the vehicles communicate with geographically distributed radio beacons, as soon as they pass the beacons. The radio communication generally serves to locate the vehicle on the radio coverage area of a radio beacon to charge for usage of locations or simply to transmit toll data generated by the OBU to the radio beacon.
It is often desirable to determine the distance at which the vehicle passes a radio beacon, for example, to penalise toll violations in the case of multi-lane roads. When multiple vehicles travelling next to one another on different lanes pass a radio beacon and a radio communications indicates a toll violation, e.g., a missed toll charge debit, an inadequate balance of a charge account, a defective or incorrectly adjusted OBU, or a lane-dependent charge rate or toll (multiple occupant lane), it is essential to know which of the vehicles travelling next to one another is responsible to be able to identify the vehicle in violation. The identification may be visually in situ or a photo of the vehicle in the road section of the beacon.
Various methods of determining the distance are known currently. One solution is to use multiple physically apart receiving antennas in the radio beacon to determine the positions of the OBUs in the radio receiving field from phase difference measurements between the OBU signals received by the individual antennas. Another solution is known from the U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,052 and is based on Doppler measurements of the different relative speeds of an OBU in relation to physically offset receiving antennas of a radio beacon to determine the ratio of the distances from the two receiving antennas from the ratio of the speed measured values. Finally, it would also be possible to use a separate radio beacon with a low radio coverage range for each lane. All these known solutions are expensive, because they are based on multiple receiving antennas.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for determining the distance of a vehicle from a radio beacon and radio beacon for this purpose


A strain of Colletotrichum trancatum has been discovered which is selectively pathogenic toward hemp sesbania (Sesbania exaltata). Formulations incorporating propagules of the fungal pathogen are useful for biological control of the hemp sesbania weed, particularly in agriculatural fields.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of controlling hemp sesbania by infection with a fungal pathogen, Colletotrichum truncatum.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hemp sesbania (Sesbania exaltata) is an economically troublesome weed in soybean production on aluvial clay soils of the lower Mississippi River Valley [McWhorter et al., Weed Science, Vol. 27 (1979), pp. 58-63]. It can cause crop yield reductions by competing for nutrients and water, and by shading the crop plants. It can also reduce crop quality by increasing the amount of foreign material and moisture in harvested beans and by increasing the number of damaged kernels. This weed is also a threat in cotton and rice production.
The procedures for using pathogens to control weeds in annual crops have been described previously for various fungal species. Daniel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,104, teaches the use of an endemic anthracnose fungus, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides forma specialis aeschynomene, to control the northern jointvetch weed in rice fields. A related species, C. malvarum, has been reported by Templeton in U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,973 as a control for prickly sida (Sida spinosa L.) or teaweed, particularly in soybean and cotton fields. C. malvarum is also pathogenic toward other noncultivated species, including velvetleaf. C. coccodes has been well documented as a widely distributed pathogen of potato and tomato, as well as 35 other plant species throughout the world. One isolate of C. coccodes has been studied as a potential mycoherbicide for velvetleaf by Gotlief et al. [Proceedings, Weed Science Society of America, Vol. 37 (1984), p. 68]. Anderson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,881, disclose the use of a strain of C. coccodes as a selective pathogen toward eastern black nightshade.
Walker [Weed Science, Vol. 29 (1981), pp. 505-507] discloses the use of Alternaria macrospora as a pathogen against spurred anoda. In Walker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,360, A. cassiae is disclosed as an effective biological control agent for sicklepod, showy crotalaria, and coffee senna. Finally, Walker teaches in U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,120 that Fusarium lateritium is useful in controlling prickly sida, velvetleaf, and spurred anoda.

Control of hemp sesbania with a fungal pathogen Colletotrichum truncatum

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture


A phenyl-substituted 1,3,5-triazine compound represented by the general formula (1):

An organic electroluminescent device has a multilayer structure comprising (i) a luminescent layer comprising a light emitting compound, (ii) a hole transport layer and an electron transport layer, which sandwich the luminescence layer, and (iii) an anode and a cathode, which sandwich the hole transport layer, the luminescent layer and the electron transport layer. The organic electroluminescent device utilizes light emission (fluorescence or phosphorescence) occurring at deactivation of an exciton formed by the binding of electron with hole, which are injected in the luminescence layer.
In recent years, a wide spread attention is attracted to an organic electroluminescent device for next-generation flat panel displays. This is because, first, an electroluminescent device can be made into a thin film and be rendered light in weight; secondly, power consumption is small due to the spontaneous light emission; and thirdly, the device structure is simple and thus the production cost is low. Various methods can be adopted for the production thereof, which include, for example, vacuum deposition, spin coating, ink-jet printing, off-set printing and thermal transfer printing.
Now various mobile devices such as cell phones, mobile music devices, and personal digital assistant (PDA) are widely used. However, if mobile devices can be larger in size or more precise, organic electroluminescent devices are expected to be used in, for example, flat panel displays, lighting systems with a surface-light-emitting source, flexible paper-like displays, wearable displays and transparent see-through displays. Its use is expected to be rapidly spread.
However, an organic electroluminescent device still has many technical problems to be solved. Especially its driving voltage is high and the efficiency is low, and thus, its power consumption is large.
The above-mentioned technical problems arise due to the property of the material of organic electroluminescent device, especially the property of electron transport material. Many materials including triarylamine derivatives have been proposed as a hole transport material, but, only several reports are found as to the electron transport material. Tris(8-quinolinolato)aluminum (III) (Alq) is already put in practical use as an electron transport material, but, its property is poor as compared with a hole transport material such as, for example, N,N′-bis(1-naphthyl)-N,N′-diphenyl-4,4′-biphenyl (NPD), and an organic electroluminescent material comprising the electron transport material has also poor property.
As other electron transport materials, there can be mentioned oxadiazole derivatives (patent document 1), quinoxaline derivatives (patent document 2), triazole derivatives (patent document 3), silacyclopentadiene derivatives (patent document 4), quinoline derivatives (patent document 5), benzimidazole derivatives (patent document 6) and benzothiazole derivatives (non-patent document 1). However, organic electroluminescent devices comprising these electron transport materials still have problems in that their driving voltage is high, the film are readily crystallized, and their service life is short.
Recently, 1,3,5-triazine compounds have been proposed as other electron trhansport materials (patent documents 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11).
Patent document 1: JP-A H6-136359
Patent document 2: JP-A H6-207169
Patent document 3: WO95/25097
Patent document 4: JP-A 2005-104986
Patent document 5: JP-A 2006-199677
Patent document 6: WO2004/080975
Patent document 7: JP-A 2003-045662
Patent document 8: JP-A 2003-282270
Patent document 9: JP-A 2004-022334
Patent document 10: U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,467
Patent document 11: U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,791
Non-patent document 1: Applied Physics Letters, vol. 89, 063504, 2006

Phenyl-substituted 1,3,5-triazine compound, process for producing the same, and organic electroluminescent device containing the same as component

Abstract: wherein Ar1 and Ar2 independently represent substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, naphthyl or biphenylyl group; R1, R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen atom or methyl group; X1 and X2 independently represent substituted or unsubstituted phenylene, naphthylene or pyridylene group; p and q independently represent an integer of 0 to 2; and Ar3 and Ar4 independently represent substituted or unsubstituted pyridyl or phenyl group. This compound is suitable for an organic electroluminescent device.


Isotretinoin compositions having improved bioavailability are disclosed. The compositions are oral formulations containing isotretinoin, a lipid excipient and a cosolvent, wherein the ratio of isotretinoin to the lipid excipient is from about 1:1.2 to about 1:1.6. The compositions can be in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable oral dosage form such as a capsule or compressed tablet wherein the isotretinoin is adsorbed onto blended particles of a cellulosic polymer and silicon dioxide in combination with a lipid excipient such as soy phosphatidylcholine and a cosolvent such as propylene glycol. Methods of preparing the compositions and methods of treatment using the compositions are also disclosed.

Poorly soluble drugs are often associated with low and variable bioavailability. To achieve the desired therapeutic levels in the blood, poorly soluble drugs need to be administered at higher dose and some drugs need to be administered with food.
Isotretinoin is an orally active retinoic acid derivative for the treatment of severe refractory nodulocystic acne. Peak plasma concentrations of Isotretinoin were reported to vary widely among individuals, but usually occur 2 to 4 hours after administration. Steady-state concentrations were also subject to considerable inter-individual variation. After multiple dosing, the major systemic metabolite of isotretinoin in man is 4-oxo-isotretinoin, and its plasma concentration is about 4-fold higher than that of the parent drug. The elimination half-life of isotretinoin has been reported as about 10 to 20 hours in several studies in healthy subjects or patients (Ward A et. al Drugs. 1984; 28(1):6-37).
Solubility and permeability are two important parameters that determine the rate and extent to which the drug molecules reach systemic circulation. Drug levels in the blood within a therapeutic window are necessary to achieve the therapeutic benefit of the molecule. Poor and variable bioavailability may lead to a poor therapeutic outcome and reduced patient compliance. Repeated dosing and meal restrictions also contribute to increased patient complaints.
Apart from solubility, poor permeability, extensive first pass metabolism and drug efflux mechanism also contribute to poor bioavailability. Formulating poorly soluble drugs in a lipid-based composition may also improve permeability and reduce metabolism and efflux presumably via alternative lymphatic uptake. The present invention addresses this need.

Pharmaceutical compositions containing isotretinoin with improved dissolution profile and enhanced stability


Precision aligning fastener for releasably joining two halves of a manufactured article. The precision aligning fastener has a male body that threads into a female body. The threads on the male and female threads, bodies are provided in an interrupted-thread pattern, allowing the male body to be completely inserted into the female body before twisting and engaging the threads. A stop means is provided, to assist in aligning and to prevent overtightening of the fastener. The fastener is particularly well-suited to releasably join long, slender articles that must be precisely aligned to function properly, such as a hunter's longbow, billiard cues, furniture, etc.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of bolt fasteners. More particularly, the invention relates to a bolt means that aligns two parts.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are numerous types of objects that are long and slender, so long that they are difficult to ship, transport, or stow. For this reason, such objects are often broken down into two pieces. The difficulty lies in providing a connector means that allows one to easily and releasably join the two parts, so that they function together properly, and that does not significantly change the aesthetic look and feel of the object. A hunter's longbow is used to illustrate the difficulties of severing into two parts an object that is essentially a single component. The hunter's longbow is a very long, slender device that is a precision instrument with high aesthetic appeal. It is carefully crafted of beautiful materials to be aesthetically pleasing, as well as to have excellent balance and to fit the hand of the hunter. The bow is very slender, yet is very strong, as it must be able to withstand high forces when strung and pulled. Its length makes it difficult to transport and to ship, to carry on a backbacking trip, and to stow.
Efforts to solve the difficulties of transporting and stowing the longbow have resulted in the "takedown" bow, a bow that is severed at the riser and fitted with a releasable connector. The known connectors used for joining the two parts are either aesthetically unappealing, as they interfere with the beautiful lines and appearance of the bow, or do not provide the precision needed to quickly, reliably, and precisely align the two parts.
What is needed, therefore, is a means for assembling and precisely aligning two parts of an object. What is further needed is such a means that enables quick and relliable assembly. What is yet further needed is such a means that does not detract from the aesthetic beauty or appeal of the object.


An electron gun assembly for a cathode ray tube includes a cathode for emitting an electron beam, and a plurality of electrodes mounted in a row with predetermined gaps therebetween. The electrodes include a focus electrode for receiving a focus voltage, and an anode electrode surrounding part of the focus electrode for receiving an anode voltage. A support is used to fix the electrodes in an aligned configuration, and a first auxiliary support secures the focus electrode to the support. The focus electrode includes an intermediate aperture section, a small aperture section, and a large aperture section, while the anode electrode includes a large aperture section and a small aperture section. Two second auxiliary supports secure the anode electrode to the support.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electron gun assembly for a cathode ray tube (CRT), and more particularly, to an electron gun assembly for a CRT that ensures good alignment between electrodes and that is highly resistant to voltages.
2. Description of the Related Art
A projection display system that utilizes CRTs includes three CRTs for realizing red, green, and blue monochromatic display, and an optical system for enlarging each of the monochromatic images and projecting them onto a projection screen so as to combine the individual images into a single color image.
Unlike the conventional color CRTs that use three electron beams, the projection-type CRT emits a single electron beam to realize images. The image of each of the CRTs is enlarged to approximately ten times its original size before projection onto a projection screen.
Accordingly, in the projection-type CRT, a high current electron beam is used, and there is also a high electric potential between a focus electrode and a final anode electrode such that highly detailed images with a high degree of brightness are realized. Further, the focus electrode and the final anode electrode are fabricated so as to have large apertures in order to increase an aperture of a main focus lens such that greater image detail may be realized at high currents.
The electron gun assembly typically includes a cathode that emits electron beams, first through fifth electrodes for focusing and accelerating the electron beams emitted from the cathode, and a bead glass for fixedly aligning the first through fifth electrodes in a row. Auxiliary supports are fixed to each of the electrodes, and the auxiliary supports are fused to the bead glass.
The first electrode, the second electrode, and the cathode form a triode structure that controls electron emission of the cathode. The third electrode and the fifth electrode, which act as an anode electrode, receive a high anode voltage of approximately 32 kV so as to form a powerful focus lens between the third electrode and the fourth electrode. The fourth electrode, which is a focus electrode, includes a small aperture section and a large aperture section. Part of the small aperture section and all of the large aperture section are positioned within the fifth electrode to thereby increase an aperture of the main focus lens formed between the fourth electrode and the fifth electrode.
With the above electron gun assembly, precision in the formation of each electrode and good alignment of the electrodes are extremely important for realizing a high level of image detail. Since the small aperture section of the fourth electrode contacts an assembly jig during electron gun assembly, it must be precisely formed.
However, there are limits as to how precisely the cylindrical fourth electrode, and in particular, the small aperture section may be formed using present press manufacturing methods. As a result, good alignment of the electrodes during assembly is not realized, ultimately reducing picture quality. Furthermore, manufacture is made complicated by the fact that the large aperture section of the fourth electrode is positioned within the fifth electrode.
The fifth electrode includes a small aperture section and a large aperture section. The fifth electrode is fixed to the bead glass by an auxiliary support which is mounted to an outer circumference of the small aperture section and to an inner circumference of the bead glass.
With this configuration, since a maximum diameter of the combination of the small aperture section of the fourth electrode and its auxiliary support is greater than an inner diameter of the small aperture section of the fifth electrode, difficulties arise during assembly. Therefore, the fourth electrode is typically separated into two sections to perform manufacture. That is, the fourth electrode is divided into a front section and a rear section, and after the fifth electrode and the front section of the fourth electrode are mounted to the bead glass, the rear section of the fourth electrode is moved through the fifth electrode and abutted to the front section. The front section and the rear section are then welded together.
However, productivity is reduced as a result of the many steps involved in this process. Also, the alignment between the front section and the rear section of the fourth electrode is often not exact following welding of these elements. Overall alignment of the electron gun assembly is therefore negatively affected, thereby making it difficult to realize high resolution images.
In a separate issue, because of the large difference in potential between the fourth electrode and the fifth electrode, a sufficient gap must be provided between these elements so that the ability to withstand high voltages is maintained. However, a sufficient gap between the fourth electrode and the fifth electrode is not possible because of structural constraints. In particular, a sufficient gap is not possible because of the particular structure used in an effort to maximize electrode apertures (i.e., the aperture of the main focus lens) by positioning part of the fourth electrode within the fifth electrode, and the fact that this configuration is mounted within a limited aperture of a neck (the portion of the CRT in which the electron gun assembly is mounted). Hence, good voltage resistance characteristics of the conventional electron gun assembly are not realized, thereby increasing the likelihood of defects caused by voltages.

Electron gun assembly for cathode ray tube


The present invention provides a method by which hair which is tightly curled or kinked can be consistently relaxed and reformed into a looser curl or wave configuration, with substantially less damage to the hair. The process of the present invention includes the steps of: (a) contacting the hair with an aqueous relaxant composition comprising five to ten weight percent monoethanolamine thioglycolate; (b) rinsing the hair; (c) contacting the hair with an aqueous suspending composition; (d) wrapping the hair onto curling rods; (e) contacting the hair with a heat generating composition comprising a first and second solution provided in separate containers; (f) contacting the hair with an oxidizing composition; (g) removing the curling rods; and (h) contacting the hair with an acidic protein final rinse.

Hair which has a relatively flat or oval cross section typically has naturally tight curls of about 1/4 inch in diameter or less. Such tightly curled hair has proven difficult to safely and consistently relax and re-style into waves or looser curls typically having a diameter of 1 inch or more.
In order to change the configuration of hair from tightly curled or kinked to loosely curled or waved, it is necessary to strip the hair of its tightly curled structure and rebuild the structure of the hair into the new desired configuration. Previous methods of removing the tightly curled structure from hair often left the hair in a severly damaged condition. Often after the hair is restructured into its newly waved or loosely curled construction, the individual is reluctant to wash his or her hair for fear of removing any protective oils from the hair and cause further damage or loss of the desired loose curl or wave.
A typical process employed to re-style tightly curled hair into a new configuration involves first treating the hair with a caustic agent which is absorbed into the hair to break the internal sulfide bonds. It is the sulfide bonds which hold the hair in its tightly curled configuration. Next a test curl is made to determine whether sufficient sulfide bonds have been broken to allow the hair to be re-styled. If the results of the test curl are favorable the hair dresser quickly curls the hair on curling rods. If the test curl fails, the hair dresser conducts a second test curl and continues with a series of curls until the result is favorable. Once curled on the curling rod, a neutralization composition is placed upon the hair to allow the sulfide bonds to reform, thereby retaining the hair in its newly curled configuration.
However, the use of the above method is not precise and often results in under or over processing of the hair. Under processing results in an incomplete recurling of the hair, and over processing results in substantial hair damage and breakage, and generally dull, lifeless and unmanageable hair.
Accordingly, a need exists for a process of re-curling or waving previously tightly curled hair, which significantly reduces the chance of under or over processing of the hair. Further, a need exists for a process of re-curling or waving such hair which results in substantially less damage to the hair.

Miriam Collins-Palm Beach Laboratories, Co.


A basketball quick change hoop assembly is shown and described. A board mounting adaptor plate having flanges on its vertical edges engages vertical channel sides of a hoop mounting member. Slots at the top of the flanges receive extensions from the hoop mounting member.

It has been found that basketball hoops which have a standard 18" hoop diameter are too difficult for children or persons just learning the game of basketball. Therefore, in public parks, public gymnasiums, or other institutional facilities, it has become desirable to provide basketball hoops which are not standard, such as hoops which are 221/2" in diameter instead of the normal 18". This enlarged diameter allows the basketball to pass more freely through the goal and therefore provide a higher success rate to the novice basketball player.
In order to provide for maximum utilization of such institutional public facilities, it is desirable to provide a means whereby the standard 18" hoop may be quickly substituted for the nonstandard large size hoop. The apparatus to permit this quick change should be constructed so that a change is quick, and so that a minimum of effort is required on the part of the person making the change.
In the prior art known to the applicant, U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,135 Rush, shows a quick change device for a basketball goal, and teaches that larger than standard size goals may be used for novice basketball players. However, the goal of the '135 patent teaches construction of a quick change device which provides a tongue member 40 and a longitudinal slot 42 fixed to a goal mounting member 38. The tongue 40 is inserted into a guide channel 22 formed by a black back plate 16 and guide members 20. The Rush design also uses a lug 18 and wing nut 52 for holding the assembly together. The Rush device however is not suitable for institutional uses because the use of the wing nut is not reliable, the device cannot be locked together, and the mounting plate 16 is necessarily limited in hole patterns by the configuration of the guide channel 22 and guide members 20.

Quick change device for a basketball hoop


Consumers may utilize computing devices to assist in the purchase and/or loyalty process, and in particular, the consumer may utilize a PDA to facilitate the purchase and/or loyalty process. During the purchase and/or loyalty process, the consumer may need to insure that any content downloaded or used in association with the PDA is secure in how it is collected, assembled, and delivered to the PDA device. This system and method secures the data from its source to when it is actually viewed or used by the authorized user. The exemplary system and method may establish a PDA portal link to the web site for collecting specified information for a user and transmitting the information to the remote device. To receive the information, the PDA contacts the portal and establishes a connection, authenticates itself to the network and allows the user to complete secured transactions or transmissions over the network.

Incentive award programs have been developed in a variety of industries to promote customer loyalty. Generally, such programs reward customers for repeat business with the same merchant or service provider by accumulating reward points which can then be redeemed in a plurality of ways, including exchanging the reward points for additional goods and services that may be selected from an approved list or a redemption catalog for example. The reward points are usually calculated using a predetermined formula or ratio that relates a customer's purchase volume (i.e., in terms of money value or some other volume parameter) to a certain number of reward points. For example, reward points may be issued on a one-for-one basis with each dollar that a customer spends on particular goods and services.
One well-known example of a customer incentive program is a "frequent flyer" program which rewards airlines passengers with "mileage points" based upon the distances that the passengers fly with a particular airline. The mileage points may then be redeemed for free airfare or free car rentals. Other incentive award programs are designed to induce usage of particular financial instruments, such as credit cards or debit cards, by accumulating reward points or dollar value points based upon the volume of purchases made using the particular financial instrument. These types of programs may be designed such that customers of the financial institution accumulate reward points which can be redeemed for selected goods or services or, alternatively, such that customers accumulate points which have a dollar value which can be applied toward a credit or debit balance, depending on whether the instrument is a credit or debit instrument, for example.
These and other similar incentive award programs are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,774,870 and 6,009,412, issued to Thomas W. Storey and assigned to Netcentives, Inc., both of which are hereby incorporated by reference to the extent that they describe an automated rewards system. For more information on loyalty systems, transaction systems, electronic commerce systems, and digital wallet systems, see, for example, the Shop AMEX™ system as disclosed in Ser. No. 60/230,190 filed Sep. 5, 2000; the MR as Currency™ and Loyalty Rewards Systems as disclosed in Ser. No. 60/197,296 filed on Apr. 14, 2000, Ser. No. 60/200,492 filed Apr. 28, 2000, and Ser. No. 60/201,114 filed May 2, 2000; a digital wallet system as disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/652,899 filed Aug. 31, 2000; a stored value card as disclosed in Ser. No. 09/241,188 filed on Feb. 1, 1999; a system for facilitating transactions using secondary transaction numbers as disclosed in Ser. No. 09/800,461 filed on Mar. 7, 2001; and also in related provisional application Ser. No. 60/187,620 filed Mar. 7, 2000, Ser. No. 60/200,625 filed Apr. 28, 2000, and Ser. No. 60/213,323 filed May 22, 2000, all of which are herein incorporated by reference. Other examples of online membership reward systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,870, issued on Jun. 30, 1998, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,412, issued on Dec. 29, 1999, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. A further example of a loyalty and reward program may be found at the AIR MILES® Web site, which describes a loyalty program offered by The Loyalty Group, a privately held division of Alliance Data Systems of Dallas, Tex., and which is hereby incorporated by reference. Additional information relating to smart card and smart card reader payment technology is disclosed in Ser. No. 60/232,040, filed on Sep. 12, 2000, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,742,845; 5,898,838 and 5,905,908, owned by Datascape; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Information on point-of-sale systems and the exploitation of point-of-sale data is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,457, issued on Nov. 3, 1998 to O'Brien et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Portions of each of the above-described programs may be used to induce customer loyalty to particular merchants or service providers who directly provide goods or services to the consumer. In other words, these prior art frequency awards programs provide a means for retail businesses, financial institutions, and others in direct contact with the customers they service to provide incentives to their customers to encourage repeat and/or volume business. However, these programs do not sufficiently address the similar needs of businesses that are further up in the distribution chain, such as manufacturers, to promote volume purchases by customers based upon, for example, brand loyalty independent of the retail source for the purchase. Additionally, the prior art programs do not provide a means for monitoring, tracking, and/or analyzing consumer and product data across distribution channels for a particular manufacturer and/or the variety of goods which that manufacturer places into the stream of commerce for ultimate sale to consumers by a retailer.
Generally, before a product arrives at a retail establishment for sale to a consumer, the product travels through a distribution chain which originates with the manufacturer. The manufacturer typically sells its products to a wholesaler who in turn sells those products to various retailers. Most modern retailers implement some form of computerization or electronic technology in their day-to-day operations. This technology typically consists of using point-of-sale (POS) systems for automating checkout procedures, assisting sales personnel, and the like. POS systems generally include one or more automated check-out terminals which are capable of inputting or sensing and interpreting a symbol or other indicia related to the product, such as a Universal Product Code (UPC), generally comprising a machine-readable bar code coupled with a human-readable UPC number, that is printed on a label or tag which is placed on each item of merchandise to be purchased. The manufacturer may assign and mark each product that it sells with a UPC. Conventionally, once the product reaches the retailer, the retailer further identifies each product with a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) number or code as well as other information for identifying a specific item or style of merchandise. The retailer's SKU number may be either an entirely different number used to identify each product (e.g., by style) or a modified version of the manufacturer's UPC number, derived, perhaps, by adding a SKU number to the UPC number for example.
A POS terminal, a kiosk terminal, or a sales person's hand-held terminal might be coupled to a store computer system, such as a network server or some other store platform host, which is able to recognize and process UPC and/or SKU information which has been manually keyed-in or sensed and interpreted by a device, such as a barcode reader, coupled to the terminal. The computer system typically includes a database which stores information relating to the retailer's product inventory, such as stocked merchandise, a UPC and/or SKU number for each item of merchandise, and various types of merchandise identification information, such as price, inventory, style, color, size, etc., which is associated with each UPC and/or SKU number. When a customer purchases an item of merchandise, store personnel frequently use an automated terminal to read the barcode markings which are attached to the item. A computer interprets the UPC and/or SKU number comprised by the barcode, accesses the database to determine the price for each item, and maintains a running total of the total transaction price.
One problem that results from the independent identification schemes of the manufacturer and the retailers is that there is no way for the manufacturer to track the quantity of any particular product that each retailer sold. For example, even if a manufacturer obtains all of the SKU numbers representing items purchased from Retailer 1 and Retailer 2 by consumers, the manufacturer has no means for determining which SKU number corresponds to the manufacturer's UPC, since the UPC's and SKU numbers of the various retailers are not tracked and matched.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists for an incentive or loyalty program which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art. Thus, there is a need for a system and method which provides a universal customer incentive program that networks various levels of the product distribution chain, such as manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers, to provide incentives to consumers to purchase products not only from a particular merchant or group of merchants but also from particular manufacturers, regardless of the specific merchant who sells the manufacturer's products to the consumer. Additionally, a need exists for a system and method for gathering data which associates particular consumer purchasing behaviors and specific products or product criteria across a manufacturer's distribution channels.
Consumers may utilize computing devices to assist in the purchase and/or loyalty process, and in particular, the consumer may utilize a PDA to facilitate the purchase and/or loyalty process. A PDA (personal digital assistant) includes any mobile hand-held device that provides computing, information storage and/or retrieval capabilities for personal or business use, often used for keeping schedule calendars, note-entering and address book information. PDA products include, for example, the Hewlett-Packard's Palmtop and 3Com's PalmPilot, the details of which are hereby incorporated by reference. An increasing number of software and hardware applications have been written or developed for PDAs, including the combination of PDAs with telephones and paging systems. PDAs were originally used in a disconnected fashion, functioning as a stand-alone personal computer, but the devices can now be connected to the internet for the purposes of browsing content.
A PDA portal includes a method for collecting specific information of interest to a particular user and making it available for use on their device. The updating activity is typically executed when the device is connected to a network and "synchronized". Since there is a staggering amount of content available on the network, users typically identify which content they want refreshed each time. The PDA portal offers "channels" to the users that embody specific content available from various content providers, such as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, or MSN. Typically, the content from these channels that is available for access is general, public information. In other words, very little content that is specific to an individual is available for access. Although the general information has value, it is minimal when compared to the opportunity for placing personal information on the user's PDA. Examples of personal content that may be desired is their monthly account statement, a travel itinerary, or an investment portfolio and its statement. This is information that could be of use to customers in the disconnected manner that is offered by PDAs. Moreover, integrating public and private data into one source may be valuable, such as, for example, the system disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/893,391 entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DATA, filed on Jun. 28, 2001 by inventors Mitchell, et al., the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
After a user has selected the content channels he wants to be placed onto his device, each time the user synchs his device, this content will be collected from the corresponding locations, assembled and placed onto the device. Since not all content will fit on a single page, the portal will typically interrogate the page looking for links to additional content pages. If present, additional content requests are made of the content source. Once collected, the content is assembled and stored on the connected PDA device.
Currently, the PDA portals do not offer secured personal content. If they do offer personal data, it is either not confidential (like addresses and directions) or available in a clear and unsecured state. A problem with using this method for secure content is that it is visible throughout the process. If the content includes account numbers, they may be exposed, and could be stolen and improperly used. The fundamental problem is often distributing personal content that must be secured into an unsecure environment. PDAs are inherently not secure. Being small and self-contained (to enable disconnected operation), they are easily lost or stolen, and downloading confidential content (such as account numbers or their balances) on the PDA that can be easily accessed by anyone other than the user is unacceptable by many.
In a connected environment, the conventional wisdom is to use end to end security using the standard protocols (SSL) to secure the content between its source and its use. When its use is complete, the content is usually gone, as it is not stored on the PC. A disconnected environment is different in that the content is usually stored on the device for use when the device has been removed from the network. The definition of end to end security must therefore change to accommodate this difference, such that the content be secured once it leaves its source until the user has been properly authenticated on the device.
Portals usually serve as a middle layer between the user and the content source. Traditional security measures work between the client and the source, but when a middle layer is added to the environment, there is a period when the content is exposed, when it is decrypted on the portal from the source and before it is encrypted for delivery to the users client. There is known security hardware that can be used for internet sites to insure the content is always secured. One of the difficulties of using this technology is that the portal still needs to be aware of the links that are present in the content to collect all the content of the channel.
Since most of the content currently being placed onto these devices is general, the process being used to collect the content from the different channels and prepare it for the device does not need to be secure. But, since the content must be interrogated to determine any links that must be traversed to collect all the applicable data, the content is kept in an unsecured state at the PDA portal or the PDA. Once the content has been prepared, it is moved to and placed onto the PDA as it is, unsecured. The process must therefore be amended to insure the content is secure in how it is collected, assembled and delivered to the PDA device.

System and method for securing data through a PDA portal


A NOR flash memory device configured to perform a program operation using an ISPP scheme, and comprising a plurality of memory cells, a word line voltage generator, and a scan controller is provided. A method of programming the NOR flash memory device comprising a bit scan method is also provided. The maximum number of cells that may be programmed simultaneously in the bit scan method is indicated by a scan bit number. The scan bit number may be changed by the scan controller during the program operation.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to semiconductor memory devices. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to NOR flash memory devices adapted for use with a bit scan method and related programming method(s).
This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2005-30807, filed on Apr. 13, 2005, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
2. Description of Related Art
Semiconductor memory devices are capable of writing (i.e., storing) data into memory, and thereafter reading the stored data from memory, as needed. Generally, semiconductor memory devices may be classified as random access memories (RAMs) and read only memories (ROMs). RAMs are volatile semiconductor memory devices, so a RAM will lose its stored data when power is not supplied to the device. ROMs, however, are non-volatile semiconductor memory devices, so a ROM will maintain its stored data even when power is not supplied to the device. RAMs include dynamic RAM (DRAM) and static RAM (SRAM), and ROMs include programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically EPROM (EEPROM), and flash memory.
Flash memory devices provide rapid input and output of data with low power consumption, and as such, are particularly well suited for use in mobile equipment such as digital cameras, cellular phones, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Flash memory may be categorized as NAND flash memory and NOR flash memory. NAND flash memory devices are typically used to store data in USB storage devices and MP3 players. On the other hand, NOR flash memory devices are typically used to store programming code in mobile telecommunication terminals and similar devices implementing high-speed data processing.
In recent years, NOR flash memory devices have been developed which store multiple bits of data in each memory cell. A memory cell storing multiple data bits is commonly referred to as a multi-level cell (MLC). An MLC storing 2-bit data, for example, may store any one of four data values "11," "10," "01," and "00," in accordance with a threshold voltage distribution.
Conventional NOR flash memory devices perform a program operation using an incremental step pulse programming (ISPP) scheme. A NOR flash memory device performing a program operation using an ISPP scheme uses a bit scan method in order to enhance programming speed. The bit scan method comprises repeatedly detecting bit groups within the input data and, for each bit group, programming all of the cells that correspond to a bit in the bit group simultaneously. Each bit in a bit group has a data value of "0." The bit scan method makes it possible to enhance programming speed and shorten the programming time of a NOR flash memory device.
However, the programming time for a conventional NOR flash memory device as programmed using an ISPP scheme with a bit scan method is less than optimal. The programming time for conventional NOR flash memory devices programmed in this manner is less than optimal because the maximum number of bits in a bit group when a first step voltage is applied to a word line is equal to the maximum number of bits in a bit group when each one of a number of subsequent step voltages is applied.
One example of the less than optimal programming time performance associated with conventional NOR flash memory devices programmed according to the foregoing method will now be described. A programming operation for programming a previously erased MLC to the threshold voltage corresponding to a data value "01" using an ISPP scheme will now be described.
The programming operation begins with the application of a first step voltage (e.g., 4.2V) to a word line. During each programming interval (e.g., a time period of 1 microsecond), a bit group comprising a number of bits having a data value of "0," wherein the number of bits is, at most, equal to a scan bit number, is detected. All of the MLCs corresponding to bit(s) in the bit group are programmed simultaneously. A verify operation is then performed to verify whether each one of the programmed MLCs has reached a desired threshold voltage. If an MLC has not reached the desired threshold voltage, a second step voltage (e.g., 4.35V) is applied to the word line. The second step voltage is applied during another programming interval (e.g., another time period of 0.5 microsecond). Here again, a bit group comprising a number of bits having a data value of "0," wherein the number of bits is, at most, equal to the scan bit number, is detected, and all of the memory cells that correspond to a bit of the bit group are programmed simultaneously. This sequence of steps is repeated in the program operation, wherein each successive step voltage is greater than the preceding step voltage, until each MLC reaches the desired threshold voltage level.
As can be seen from the foregoing example, the duration of the programming operation for the conventional NOR flash memory device is determined by the scan bit number. This number does not change, but remains fixed throughout the program operation.

NOR flash memory device using bit scan method and related programming method