To supply electromotive force to a solid semiconductor element in an ink tank in a non-contact and stable manner. An electromagnetic apparatus (a standstill electromotive force supply unit) is placed at a home position HP. When a carriage is at a standstill at this home position HP, if the electromagnetic apparatus is AC-driven, magnetic properties of both ends (magnetic poles) continue to change mutually and penetrate a solid semiconductor element in the ink tank on the carriage so that a constantly changing magnetic flux is generated. Electromotive force is generated by electromagnetic induction on a coil of the solid semiconductor element. In addition, if the carriage reciprocates during printing operation, the coil L of the solid semiconductor element crosses inside the magnetic flux due to a plurality of permanent magnets (a movement time electromotive force supply unit) arranged on a carrier path (range of movement), and so the electromotive force is generated on the coil by electromagnetic induction. Such electromotive force is converted into energy for activating and operating the solid semiconductor element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus utilizing a solid semiconductor element, and an particular, to the ink jet recording apparatus capable of gathering information on a position of recording means and ink inside an ink tank by having the solid semiconductor element built in an ink jet head (recording means) or an ink tank.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, in an ink jet recording apparatus wherein images are printed on paper as dot patterns by moving a carriage equipped with an ink jet recording head in a direction of printing while discharging ink from a plurality of discharge nozzles provided on the ink jet recording head (hereafter, also merely referred to as a recording head), an ink tank accommodating ink for recording is provided so as to supply the ink of the ink tank to the recording head via an ink supply route.
As for the ink jet recording apparatus, one of the major factors for producing high-precision and high-quality records is to keep accurate a relative positional relation between a discharge position of the ink and a record medium (recording paper or the like). At its designing, the relative relationship between the carriage and its carrying mechanism and the record medium""s supporting and carrying mechanisms is precisely set, and based on that precondition, timing of carriage movement and ink discharge for acquiring a desired record image is determined and the records are produced. There are cases, however, where the discharge position of the ink somewhat goes wrong due to an error in manufacturing or assembly, wear over time, mechanical deterioration and so on. In that case, it becomes difficult to make ink droplets adhere to the record medium at a desired position or a shape and a size of the ink adhering to the record medium change so that quality of the formed images deteriorates.
Therefore, the ink jet recording apparatus for which a mechanism for detecting a position of the carriage equipped with the recording head is provided is used. This detects the position of the carriage by using a linear encoder and so on as appropriate.
In addition, as for the ink jet recording apparatus, another major factor for producing high-precision and high-quality records is that a state such as a type, a residual amount, ingredients or condition of the ink inside the ink tank is grasped at a correct time. For instance, as to the residual amount of the ink inside the ink tank that is one item of the state to be grasped, various ink residual amount detecting apparatuses are proposed.
For instance, according to the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-143607, two (a pair of) electrodes 702 are placed on an inner surface on the bottom side of an ink tank 701 filled with nonconductive ink as shown in FIG. 1, and a floating object 703 on which an electrode 704 is placed in an opposite position to the electrodes 702 is floating in the ink inside the ink tank 701. It is disclosed that the two electrodes 702 are connected to a detecting portion (unillustrated) for detecting a conduction state of both electrodes respectively, and if it detects their conduction state, it issues an ink residual amount error indicating that there is no ink in the ink tank 701 and stops operation of an ink jet recording head 705.
In addition, the Japanese Patent No. 2947245 discloses an ink cartridge 805 for an ink jet printer as shown in FIG. 2, which has a configuration wherein its lower part is formed toward its bottom in a state of a funnel, two electric conductors 801 and 802 are provided on the bottom and a metal ball 804 of smaller specific gravity than ink 803 is placed inside. In such a configuration, a fluid level of the ink 803 lowers as the ink 803 is consumed and reduced. The position of the metal ball 804 floating on the surface of the ink 803 lowers in conjunction with it. If the fluid level of the ink 803 lowers to the position of the bottom of the ink cartridge housing, the metal ball 804 contacts the two electric conductors 801 and 802. And then, the electric conductors 801 and 802 are brought into conduction so that a current passes between them. It is possible to detect an ink end state by detecting that current. If the ink end state is detected, information indicating the ink end state is given to a user.
The above described carriage position detecting mechanism of the conventional ink jet recording apparatus basically performs only one-dimensional position detection in a movement direction of the carriage, and so it is not possible to know space between an ink discharge port and the record medium and so on. In addition, as the linear encoder is expensive, the cost of the ink jet recording apparatus itself increases.
Moreover, it is necessary, in a configuration wherein the ink residual amount inside the ink tank is detected, to place the electrodes for detection inside the ink tank. Furthermore, as the ink residual amount is detected from the conduction state of the electrodes, there are constraints to the ink to be used, such as no use of metal ion as the ink ingredient.
In addition, the above configuration only allows the ink residual amount to be detected, and other in-tank information cannot be known to the outside. For instance, information on pressure in the ink tank, change in physical properties of the ink and so on are important parameters for constantly operating the ink jet head with a stable discharge amount, and thus a tank capable of informing in real time an external ink jet recording apparatus of in-tank pressure incessantly changing in conjunction with in-tank ink consumption and transmitting change in physical properties of the ink to the outside is desired.
Furthermore, an ink tank capable of two-way exchange of information, that is, not only one-sidedly transmitting information detected inside the ink tank to the outside but also responding to inquiries from the outside with internal information is desired.
Here, the inventors focused attention on a ball semiconductor (solid semiconductor element) of BALL Semiconductor, Inc., which is a 1-millimeter silicon ball on which spherical surface a semiconductor integrated circuit is formed. As this solid semiconductor element is spherical, it is expected that, by accommodating it in the recording head or the ink tank mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, detection of environmental information and two-way exchange of information with the outside can be implemented very efficiently compared with a plane figure.
The present applicant has proposed in the Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-114228 a solid semiconductor element suitable for gathering ink information, and an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with an ink tank having this semiconductor element built-in. The solid semiconductor element has information acquiring means for acquiring environmental information surrounding the element, and discriminating means for reading from information storing means information to refer the acquired information to and comparing the read stored information with the acquired information so as to determine necessity of transmitting the information. And in the case of determining that it is necessary to transmit the information, the discriminating means causes the acquired information to be transmitted to the outside by information communicating means. While this solid semiconductor element has the information acquiring means, the information communicating means and so on, it should be possible to provide it with various other functions, and so it is desired that this solid semiconductor element will be exploited in a wider variety of manners in order to contribute to quality improvement of ink jet recording.
It is possible, by placing at least one piece of such a solid semiconductor element in the recording head or the ink tank, to transmit position information on the recording head, information on the ink accommodated in the ink tank, in-tank pressure and so on to the external apparatus in real time so as to reflect them on ink jet recording operation.
In the case of placing such a solid semiconductor element in the ink tank in order to gather the information in the ink tank, it requires power for driving that solid semiconductor element, where the solid semiconductor element is floating in the ink tank and so energy must be transferred in a non-contact manner. Thus, means for supplying energy to the solid semiconductor element in a non-contact manner is sought.
Furthermore, as there is a possibility that conductive ink may be accommodated in the ink tank, if an attempt to supply energy to the solid semiconductor element in or via the ink by using an electromagnetic wave is made, the semiconductor element may be put in a shielded state due to the conductive ink or the electromagnetic wave may be disrupted by reflection so that desired energy may not be supplied in a stable manner.
Moreover, while the ink tank makes scan movement with the entire carriage during printing operation in the case of a configuration wherein the ink tank is mounted on the carriage together with the recording head, it is desirable to supply energy even during printing in order to maintain stable energy. In particular, it is desirable to have a configuration wherein kinetic energy during printing operation is exploited for driving the solid semiconductor element. On the other hand, in order to transmit the information in the ink tank in a non-contact manner, it is necessary, when a printing apparatus is not in operation, to prevent a malfunction so as not to transmit any information.
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording method, an ink jet recording head and an ink jet recording apparatus wherein a solid semiconductor element is utilized for detecting a recording head position to contribute to printing quality improvement by detecting the recording head position as appropriate, and the solid semiconductor element is utilized more effectively to be multifunction without making the configuration too complicated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus having a configuration wherein the solid semiconductor element is placed in the ink tank and capable of transferring energy to this semiconductor element in a stable manner without contacting it, and further to provide an ink jet recording apparatus wherein, when the ink tank makes scan movement during printing operation, the kinetic energy is exploited to supply energy to the semiconductor element in a stable manner even during printing operation and besides, a malfunction is prevented when a printing apparatus is not in operation.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an ink information gathering method capable of gathering information on the ink of the ink jet recording apparatus as appropriate.
The present invention is characterized by configuration wherein the solid semiconductor element is placed in a component (the recording head or the ink tank) mounted on the carriage, and also communication means or energy supply means are fixedly placed in a scanning range of the carriage.
In addition, the present invention is characterized by, in the ink jet recording method in which recording is carried out by ejecting ink from recording means in the ink jet recording head while moving the carriage having the ink jet recording head is mounted thereon, transmitting an electric wave from fixed communication means to the solid semiconductor element fixed on the ink jet recording head, the semiconductor element receiving the electric wave and detecting a position of the recording means based thereon and controlling timing of ink discharge according to it.
The present invention allows an ink discharge position in the ink jet recording apparatus to be detected three-dimensionally, which can be used for controlling the ink discharge so as to render the records high-precision and high-quality. In particular, it allows the position to be detected not only one-dimensionally but also three-dimensionally in the carriage movement direction and thus it is highly effective in terms of improvement in printing quality since the space between the record medium and the discharge position can also be known.
Use of the solid semiconductor element makes it no longer necessary to install a linear encoder and so on on the recording apparatus body, and thus increases a degree of freedom of designing the ink jet recording apparatus, such as making carriage speed changeable. In addition, it does not require expensive components such as the linear encoder, and also allows the solid semiconductor element used for another purpose to additionally have a function of detecting a position, so that it can render the product further multifunction and low-cost by sharing components.
To be more specific, the solid semiconductor element can seek the ink discharge position of the recording means and correct timing of the ink discharge in order to set off a deviation of the detected discharge position from the desired discharge position. It is also possible to correct the timing of the ink discharge by having the solid semiconductor element transmit a discharge timing control signal for controlling the ink discharge to the recording means.
While the solid semiconductor element can receive, identify and analyze the electric wave to acquire a communication distance thereof, it is desirable that the semiconductor element should acquire the communication distance based on a deviation of the electric wave phase, acquire the position of the semiconductor element from the communication distance, and detect the discharge position of the recording means based on the position thereof.
As radiation is expanded to be wider than laser and the like by using the electric wave, it is not necessary to transmit it while chasing the moving carriage. In addition, as the solid semiconductor element can render inductance small, it is suitable for communication by the electric wave.
It is desirable that at least three of the above described fixed communication means should transmit the electric wave to the above described solid semiconductor element. In that case, it is desirable that each of the fixed communication means should transmit the electric wave of which frequency, amplitude or signal pattern is different.
By doing so, the position is detected by a trilateration method.
Furthermore, the present invention is that, in the ink jet recording apparatus having the recording head, the ink tank for accommodating the ink to be supplied to the recording head, and the moving carriage on which the recording head and the ink tank are mounted, the solid semiconductor element having an inductor is accommodated in the ink tank, and standstill electromotive force supply means for providing electrical energy to the standstill solid semiconductor element in a non-contact manner is placed at a specific position in the movement range of the carriage.
Thus, it is efficient since the electromotive force can be provided to the solid semiconductor element when the carriage stops, that is, when no printing is performed. In addition, it is not necessary to provide electrical wiring in the ink tank.
It is desirable that the specific position where the standstill electromotive force supply means is provided should be a home position. The home position is a position where the carriage stands by so that there is no damage to the recording head, the ink and so on when the ink jet recording apparatus is energized on and when no printing is performed and where the carriage certainly visits between completion of printing and start of printing of a magnetic field, so that there is little possibility that the electromotive force supply to the solid semiconductor element is delayed.
If the standstill electromotive force supply means includes an electromagnetic apparatus, it is easy to generate a changing magnetic flux around the solid semiconductor element.
In addition, it is also feasible, in the movement range of the carriage, to provide movement time electromotive force supply means for supplying electrical energy to the solid semiconductor element running on a carrier path in a non-contact manner.
According to this, it is possible to supply electromotive force to the solid semiconductor element even during movement of the carriage such as during printing operation, and to prevent shortage of electrical energy for operating the semiconductor element during printing. In addition, kinetic energy of the carriage can be effectively utilized in order to supply the electromotive force.
The movement time electromotive force supply means can include a plurality of electromagnetic apparatuses. Alternatively, the movement time electromotive force supply means can include a plurality of permanent magnets. This is because the movement time electromotive force supply means utilizes the carriage movement and does not need to change the magnetic flux.
It is desirable that the solid semiconductor element should at least partially contact the above described ink accommodated in the above ink tank, and be hollow-structured and floating in the above described ink accommodated in the above ink tank so that the above described inductor constantly faces a fixed direction. By doing so, the electromotive force can be certainly generated by utilizing electromagnetic induction.
It is desirable that electricity accumulating means should be mounted on the solid semiconductor element, since the supplied electromotive force or electric power that is converted from this electromotive force can be accumulated for subsequent operation of the semiconductor element.
It is also possible to have communication means for sending a signal to the solid semiconductor element, and the semiconductor element may have a function of transmitting whether or not there is sufficient electrical energy for driving the semiconductor element in response to a request from the communication means.
In addition, it may have the communication means for sending a signal to the solid semiconductor element, and the semiconductor element may have a function of detecting and transmitting at least one of the amount, type, ingredients and state of the ink in the ink tank in response to a request from the communication means.
Moreover, the xe2x80x9cmeta centerxe2x80x9d in this specification indicates a point of intersection of a line of action of weight in a balanced state and a line of action of buoyancy when inclined.
In addition, xe2x80x9csolidxe2x80x9d of the xe2x80x9csolid semiconductor elementxe2x80x9d herein includes all of various cubic shapes such as a triangle pole, a sphere, a hemisphere, a square pole, an ellipsoid of revolution and a uniaxial spinning body.
Furthermore, the present invention is characterized by having energy converting means for converting energy from the outside into a different type of energy and also having in the ink tank light-emitting means for emitting light with the energy converted by the energy converting means.
As it has the light-emitting means for emitting light with the energy converted by the energy converting means, it can determine the type of the ink by allowing the light emitted from the solid semiconductor element to transmit through the ink and detecting strength in the wavelength of the transmitted light.

Ink jet recording apparatus utilizing solid semiconductor element


A protection circuit board for a secondary battery includes: a printed circuit board; a protection circuit attached to the printed circuit board and electrically connected thereto; a conducting pad electrically connected to a conducting pad of the protection circuit; a charging/discharging terminal electrically connected to the protection circuit and the conducting pad; a lead plate electrically connected to the conducting pad, the lead plate including at least one soldering hole arranged on a surface thereof to couple the lead plate to the conducting pad.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a secondary battery, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a structure of a cathode/anode lead plate attached to a protection circuit board for a secondary battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, compact and lightweight portable electronic devices, such as cellular phones, portable computers and camcorders, etc., have been actively developed and produced. The portable electronic devices include a built-in battery pack so as to be operated at locations where power is not available. A secondary battery that can be charged and discharged is used as the battery pack for economical reasons. Typical secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium (Ni—Cd) batteries, nickel-hydrogen (Ni—MH) batteries, lithium (Li) batteries and lithium ion (Li-ion) secondary batteries, etc. Especially, lithium ion secondary batteries have operating voltages that are three times that of nickel-cadmium (Ni—Cd) batteries or nickel-hydrogen (Ni—MH) batteries that are usually used to supply power to portable electronic devices. In addition, lithium ion secondary batteries have been widely used because they have a higher energy density per unit weight as compared with other types of batteries.
Lithium ion secondary batteries use lithium group oxides as active cathode materials, and carbon materials as active anode materials. Generally, lithium secondary batteries are divided into liquid electrolyte batteries and polymer electrolyte batteries, depending on their electrolyte. A lithium ion battery uses a liquid electrolyte, and a lithium polymer battery uses a polymer electrolyte. Lithium secondary batteries have been fabricated in various shapes, such cylinder shaped, angled shaped and pouch shaped, etc.
Generally, in a fabrication process of a secondary battery, an electrode assembly is formed by laminating a cathode plate where the cathode active material is coated on a cathode collector and a cathode tap is connected, an anode plate where the anode active material is coated on an anode collector and an anode tap is connected, and a separator and winding them. The electrode assembly is put into a can type case for the secondary battery. Then, a bare cell is fabricated by injecting the electrolyte and sealing the can type case with a cap assembly. The bare cell is electrically coupled to a protection circuit board, and the bare cell and the protection circuit board are put into a mold and melded by melted resin, and thus, a resin molding type secondary battery is completed.
The protection circuit board and the bare cell are electrically connected by a lead plate. The protection circuit board is formed with a conducting pad which is connected to the lead plate. The conducting pad and the lead plate are soldered together.
But, when connecting the conducting pad to the lead plate, the solder is melted so that the solder flows, and the solder may not solidify so as to be flat. Moreover, due to the shape of the conducting pad and the lead plate, a spread of the solder may be insufficient. In this case, the protection circuit board is connected to the bare cell at an angle, resulting in many problems.
For example, when the protection circuit and bare cell are connected at an angle, a next molding process results in a terminal of the protection circuit board being at an angle. If the terminal of the protection circuit board is inclined to one side, a space is formed by the inclined protection circuit board, allowing melted resin to penetrate into the space, resulting in a flash being formed. If the flash covers a surface of the terminal, the terminal can not be electrically connected to the electric device.
Moreover, a lead plate connected to the conducting pad often has a rectangular shape, so that a combined force of the conducting pad and lead plate is weak. Accordingly, the lead plate and conducting pad may be separated from each other due to the weak combined force.

Protection circuit board for secondary battery and secondary battery using the protection circuit board

Gongse-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do


A lighting apparatus includes a bilaterally symmetrical light engine comprising first and second light emitting diode (LED) devices or planar LED device arrays facing opposite directions, and an envelope including phosphor spaced apart from and surrounding the bilaterally symmetrical light engine. The phosphor is effective to convert light emitted by the light engine to emission light. The bilaterally symmetrical light engine may be configured to emit light having a bilaterally symmetrical intensity distribution that is uniform except at emission angles within 10° of the symmetry plane of the bilaterally symmetrical light engine. Each of the first and second LED devices or planar LED device arrays may comprise at least one hemispherically emitting LED device including an LED chip and an encapsulant encapsulating the LED chip and shaped to refract light emitted by the LED chip into a uniform distribution over a hemispherical solid angle.

The following relates to the illumination arts, lighting arts, solid-state lighting arts, and related arts.
Light emitting diode (LED) devices are known for lighting applications. However, a problem with LED devices is that they tend to emit a forward-directed and "peaked" light distribution, for example a Lambertian light distribution, whereas many lamps and lighting applications call for omnidirectional illumination. An ideal omnidirectional illuminator would generate light with precisely the same intensity in every direction over a full sphere. As used in the lighting arts, the term "omnidirectional" illumination encompasses practical approximations to the ideal omnidirectional illumination. By way of illustrative example, some incandescent lamps considered to be omnidirectional light sources provide illumination across the latitude span θ=[0°, 135°] which is uniform to within about ±20% as specified in the proposed Energy Star standard for Integral LED Lamps (2nd draft, May 9, 2009; hereinafter "proposed Energy Star standard") promulgated by the U.S. Department of Energy. This is generally considered an acceptable illumination distribution uniformity for an omnidirectional lamp, although there is some interest in extending this to a more stringent specification, such as to a latitude span of θ=[0°, 150°] and possibly with a better ±10% uniformity. Such lamps with substantial uniformity over a large latitude range (for example, about θ=[0°, 120°] or more preferably about θ=[0°, 135°] or still more preferably about θ=[0°, 150°]) are generally considered in the art to be omnidirectional lamps, even though the range of uniformity is less than [0°,180°] as would be the case for ideal omnidirectionality.
To construct an LED-based omnidirectional lamp, it is known to employ an array of LED devices mounted on a spherical or otherwise-shaped three-dimensional surface generally centered within an envelope containing a phosphor. Examples of such devices are disclosed, by way of illustrative example, in: Cao, U.S. Pat. No. 6,465,961; Cao, U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,770; Cao, U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,885; Cao, U.S. Pat. No. 7,224,001; Ge, U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,589; and Ge, U.S. Pat. No. 7,497,596. Such devices enable precise tailoring of the light distribution using the shape of the spherical or other LED device mounting surface, the distribution of LED devices on that mounting surface, and the shape and spacing from the mounting surface of the envelope containing phosphor.
However, such devices have certain disadvantages. Manufacturing is complicated since the mounting surface must be formed with the requisite three-dimensional shape and must include printed circuit traces or other wiring for electrically interconnecting the LED devices over this three-dimensional surface. Cost is increased due to the custom-manufactured three-dimensional mounting surface including the requisite printed circuitry or other wiring. Moreover, such lamps employ a substantial number of LED devices, typically of order six or more LED devices. This increases cost as compared with using a fewer number of high power LED devices.
Other known approaches employ a single LED mounted in a spherical envelope including a phosphor. Examples of such devices are disclosed, by way of illustrative example, in: Soules et al., International Publication no. WO 2004/021461 A2 and Eliashevich et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,661,167. Some embodiments disclosed in this patent employ a single LED device centered in a spherical encapsulant, which may include a phosphor. While such a device can emit omnidirectional illumination, it may be difficult to design the device to meet more stringent omnidirectional light distribution specifications.
Yet another approach is to employ one or more LED devices mounted at a peripheral location or aperture of a spherical envelope containing phosphor. The spherical envelope complements the Lambertian light distribution generated by the LED devices to produce omnidirectional light. Examples of such devices are disclosed, by way of illustrative example, in Bohler et al., U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0267976 A1.
Still yet another approach is to shape the encapsulant to provide more omnidirectional illumination. Examples of such devices are disclosed, by way of illustrative example, in Sommers, U.S. Pat. No. 6,674,096. While such a device can emit omnidirectional illumination, it may be difficult to design the device to meet more stringent omnidirectional light distribution specifications, especially with respect to latitude angles greater than 180°. Further, it is difficult to extend the approach to lamps employing multiple LED devices.

Omnidirectional LED based solid state lamp


The invention relates to bridge crane assembly and a method for installation of a bridge crane. The invention is especially applicable for use in service and repair of vehicles and other heavy equipment in field conditions, such as crisis areas. The bridge crane assembly is supported by two containers (91, 92), upon which there are support frames (10, 20). The support frames are fixed to the top corners of the containers with twistlocks (19a-19d, 29a-29d), and the support frames support a crane bridge (30) with a hoist (40).

In peace time depots and workshops there is a need for providing service, repair and maintenance of vehicles and other heavy equipment. In such activities it is often necessary to lift a powerpack, a weapon system or other heavy equipment. In a depot there is usually a permanently installed bridge crane for providing such lifting capacity. A bridge crane is thus a compulsory facility in a in order to provide the servicing, repair and maintenance work.
In field conditions, such as crisis areas, it is often not possible to have permanent bridge crane installations, as providing proper workshops in field conditions is not logistically and economically feasible. In such conditions the lifting is commonly done with a mobile crane. However, there are some problems related to this solution. There is a high investment and maintenance cost in using a mobile crane. It is also an expensive and dangerous procedure to transfer a mobile crane to a crisis area. If a mobile crane is available in a crisis area it is usually needed for other tasks as well, and the mobile crane may therefore not be available for the service and repair work. A mobile crane is also slow, inaccurate and not very stable compared to a bridge crane. A mobile crane also has no ballistic or mine protection and is therefore highly dangerous to move by driving to the destination from a main airport, for example. It also requires a trained person for using the mobile crane, whereby there is a risk that such a person is not always available when the mobile crane is needed. There is another known solution based on using armoured recovery vehicles for the lifting. However, this solution has some similar problems as using a mobile crane.
There is a further prior art solution of using a movable A-type bridge crane. However, such movable A-type bridge cranes are only suitable for plain, hard ground. If used on a soft or uneven ground there is a risk of overturning. Such movable A-type bridge cranes only move a load in vertical and transverse directions, they do not offer a possibility to move the load in longitudinal direction. They are usually also not designed for very heavy loads and have limited/restricted lifting capacity. A lifting capacity of several tons is desirable.
It is inevitable to have lifting capacity in order to provide e.g. required servicing for vehicles, among other required tasks. The insufficient lifting resources have a consequence that the vehicles and other heavy equipment are not serviced and repaired properly or maintained according to maintenance schedules. This may cause additional risks and additional life cycle costs in using the vehicles.

Bridge crane assembly and a method for installing the same


A form factor card compatible for use with a host electronic device that is capable of communicating a status of the form factor card to a user of the host electronic device. The form factor card comprises an adapter region for interfacing the card with the host electronic device, an on-card electronic device for performing a task for the host electronic device, an on-card intelligent controller, and an indicator in communication with the on-card intelligent controller to communicate an operational status of the form factor card.

The present invention relates generally to form factor cards, and more particularly, to a form factor card having a status indicator.
With the proliferation of portable electronic devices, such as digital cameras, personal digital assistants, and notebook computers, the use of form factor cards adapted for use with these devices is steadily increasing. The term xe2x80x9cform factor cardxe2x80x9d is a general term often used to describe a memory card, such as a SONY memory stick or CompactFlash card, but also applies to cards that perform other functions, including I/O cards such as serial cards, Ethernet cards, fax/modem cards, wireless pagers, and multimedia cards.
An unfortunate characteristic of form factor cards, particularly memory cards, is their tendency to operate at relatively slow speeds. Furthermore, form factor cards do not have a means to indicate when the cards are being accessed by a host electronic device. The combination of slow operating speed and no indicating means can lead to potential problems. A user of an electronic device employing a form factor card, for instance, might inadvertently remove the card from the host device before the host device has completed accessing the card resulting in loss of data or worse. Prematurely removing a memory card from a digital camera before the camera has completed writing or reading data from the card, for example, can corrupt the file being written or may cause an application to xe2x80x9changxe2x80x9d when reading the file.
Users of electronic devices employing form factor cards would benefit from a form factor card able to communicate to the user various statuses of the card such as when it is being accessed, failure modes, and other card functions.
The present invention provides a form factor card compatible for use with a host electronic device that is capable of communicating a status of the form factor card to a user of the host electronic device. The form factor card comprises an adapter region for mechanically and electrically interfacing the card with the host electronic device, an on-card electronic device for performing a task for the host electronic device, an on-card intelligent controller, and an indicator in communication with the on-card intelligent controller to communicate an operational status of the form factor card.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The present invention provides a semiconductor evaluation device for fabricating a suitable reference pattern utilized in comparison tests. The semiconductor evaluation device and computer program extract a process window in a more accurate range based on a two-dimensional evaluation of the pattern. In order to achieve the above described objects, the present invention includes a semiconductor evaluation device that measures the dimensions of the pattern formed over the sample based on a signal obtained by way of a charged particle beam device, selects a pattern whose dimensional measurement results satisfy specified conditions or exposure conditions when the pattern is formed, and forms synthesized contour data, by synthesizing contour data obtained from images of an identically shaped pattern in design data, and also a pattern formed under the selected exposure conditions or a pattern having a positional relation that is already known relative to the selected pattern.

In recent years as semiconductor devices are manufactured to an ever higher degree of integration, there are increasing demands for setting a higher accuracy for lithography process conditions. Moreover, along with higher integration, demands are also becoming more severe for accurately finding a process window showing the dose range and focus range of the exposure device for manufacturing patterns at a high accuracy. Patent document 1 discloses a pattern evaluation method that synthesizes the contours of two or more identical patterns and utilizes this synthesized contour as a reference pattern. Patent document 1 describes performing a pass/fail inspection by utilizing this reference pattern as an object for comparison.

Semiconductor evaluation device and computer program


A structural panel, suitable for use as slatwalling in retail outlets, comprised of a metal sheet bent to define on each side of the panel a series of channels of re-entrant cross-section extending continuously across the width of the panel. The panel is manufactured by a bending process wherein a portion of sheet material is deformed into a U-shaped cross-section, and the sides of the channel are deformed by bending into a substantially S-shape to define the re-entrant channel shape, this process being repeated at regular intervals along the sheet material. The bending process is performed by tooling including first and second tool assemblies, the first assembly including a shaping part for deforming a portion of sheet material into a recess defined between a pair of opposed tool elements of the second tool assembly, the opposed tool elements being driven towards each other to deform the channel side walls into an S-shape.

This invention relates to structural panels formed from sheet metal material and having channels extending across their width.
So-called slatwall panels are employed in retail outlets where the panels are generally mounted on walls. The panels, which are commonly made of wood have grooves extending horizontally across the width of the front face of the panels, these grooves allowing brackets or other similar support members to be attached to the panel at selected points, and the support members being used to carry products on display and for sale.
The aim of the present invention is to provide an alternative to the known wooden slatwall which can be cheaper to manufacture and more versatile in use.


An image post-processing method includes a glossiness control step of irradiating a fixed toner image with a glossiness control light. The toner image is formed with a toner containing a compound that absorbs light. The glossiness control light is capable of at least reducing a glossiness of the fixed toner image. The glossiness control light has a maximum emission wavelength in a wavelength region which is absorbed by the compound.

In recent years, the types of recording media on which images are formed are diversified. The quality of gloss (glossiness) differs between wood free paper and coated paper, for example, since the surface shape is different. In addition, when a toner image is formed on a recording medium, the difference between the glossiness of the portion where the image is formed (image portion) and the glossiness of the background portion (non-image portion) of the recording medium on which the image is not formed is large, the user may feel uncomfortable.
In view of this, in order to control the glossiness of the toner image, a fixing device which switches the selection between the case of giving gloss to the image and the case of not giving gloss to the image by changing the fixing temperature of the image is known (refer to, for example, Patent document 1: JP-A 2007-72022).

Image post-processing method, image post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus


A coarse separator (10) for a power tool (2) is used for separating, at least partially, from an air flow (L), material particles (M) produced during operation of the power tool (2) and aspirated by a suction device (8), and includes an inlet opening (48) connectable with the suction head (6) of a suction device (8) that aspirates the particles, an outlet opening (40) for letting a purified air flow (L) out, and a lamella separator arranged between the inlet opening (48) and the outlet opening (40).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coarse separator for a power tool for separating, at least partially, from an air flow, material particles produced during operation of the power tool and aspirated by a suction device including a suction head. The coarse separator includes an inlet opening connectable with the suction head, an outlet opening for letting a purified air flow out, and separation means arranged between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Coarse separators of the types described above are primarily used for separating particles with a diameter of at least 10 μm and can be permanently or releasably secured on a power tool or be connected by a suction conduit with a suction head attached to the power tool.
German Publication DE 198 27 173 discloses a separator for a hand-held power tool and which is formed as a cyclone separator. The separator is formed essentially of a feeding tube that opens in a cylindrical forechamber. The forechamber is located within a collecting container in which separated material particles are collected. For removal of the partially purified air, there is provided an immersion pipe that projects into the forechamber from above.
A drawback of the known separator consists in that it requires a relatively large constructional space in order to insure a satisfactory filtration efficiency. In addition, the separator has a relatively bulky geometry. This leads, in particular with integration of the separator in the power tool, to a poor handling of the separator.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a coarse separator in which the drawbacks of the known separator are eliminated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a coarse separator as compact as possible.


A battery system (100) having a heating element (124), a thermal switch (130), a battery module (140), and a pin structure (170) is disclosed. The battery system (100) comprises: a battery case (110) forming an internal space; a battery module (140) located in the battery case and including a battery; a heating element structure (120) located in the battery case (110) and increasing the temperature of the battery System by heat generated by an impact; and a pin structure (170) for concentrating and transferring an external impact to a pre determined region of the heating element structure.

Normally, in several types of reserve batteries, an liquid electrolyte is contained in a glass ampoule and electrodes are installed outside the glass ampoule. The glass ampoule is destroyed by an external impact, so that the electrolytes and the electrodes can contact each other to generate electricity. Although the reserve battery is preserved for an extended period of time, the property of the battery can be checked merely by contacting the electrolyte solution and both electrodes by destroying the glass ampoule. In addition, the time for inducing current (rising time) by contacting the electrolyte solution to both electrodes by destroying the glass ampoule is several hundreds of msec, which is relatively long. In addition, if the battery has a small size, the structure of having to inject the electrolyte solution into the glass ampoule is not easy to mass produce because the preparation process of the battery is complicated. Furthermore, the electrolyte used as a liquid solution shows strong toxicity, which may cause problems to the environment and reduce safety.
To overcome the above-described problems, it is preferable to use an all solid state thin film battery, rather than a battery with a glass ampoule. Most of the so-far well-known battery systems use a liquid electrolyte solution, and a battery system using a polymer electrolyte has been recently developed, in which case, too, a predetermined amount of liquid electrolyte has to be injected. In case such a battery is used, the capacity of the battery decreases with time due to self-discharge, and battery internal resistance gradually increases, thereby making difficult a power supply to an electronic device requiring an instantaneous high output. Among the existing activated battery systems, the one most advantageous in terms of self-discharge is a thin film battery, which is known to have a self discharge rate less than 2% per year. The thin film battery is made by instantaneously depositing a current collector, an anode, an electrolyte, a cathode, and a passivation film on a substrate of various types, including metal, ceramic, glass, etc, by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The thin film battery is very excellent in preservation during non-use of the battery and freely manufactured in a desired form according to a mask pattern because it uses a solid electrolyte. The currently used solid electrolyte has no problem when used in an ambient temperature or high temperature because its thickness is very thin, i.e., less than 2 μm. However, the lower the temperature in which the solid electrolyte is used, the lower the ionic conductivity of the solid electrolyte, thus causing an abrupt voltage drop due to battery internal resistance if a high output current is required. To overcome this phenomenon, a large number of batteries have to be connected in parallel to greatly reduce battery internal resistance. However, if there are spatial restrictions, this causes a lot of technical and economical difficulties in connecting a large number of batteries. Hence, it is necessary to introduce an appropriate method for overcoming these difficulties.

Battery system having battery module, thermal switch, heating source and pin structure


Machine-learning based recommendation engines are configured to execute machine-learning models to generate recommendations as output for a user based at least in part on functional data received at the recommendation engine. The recommendation engine is further configured to automatically determine the relative importance of one or more functional data entries in generating the recommendation. Moreover, the recommendation engine executes additional machine-learning models, including a machine-learning model trained to avoid negative outcomes, and an opportunity-based machine-learning model to identify alternative recommendation options based on alternative training logic.

Historically, machine-learning based recommendation systems and methods have operated as black-box style tools that generally function to self-generate internal algorithms configured for generating a particular output, based on an input data set provided in a specific format. Often, little or no information can be gleaned from the recommendation, with the exception of a ranking of various options that are scored by the machine-learning recommendation system. Thus, users are generally unable to determine whether the machine-learning based recommendation system generated a recommendation based on suitable data for the specific circumstance under consideration. Moreover, it is generally difficult to determine whether the machine-learning based system introduced unacceptable forms of bias into the recommendation algorithm, without undertaking a resource intensive secondary analysis to estimate how a particular recommendation was generated.
Accordingly, a need exists for efficient systems and methods for automatically reverse engineering a machine-learning based recommendation to enable directed feature engineering of future iterations of the underlying machine-learning model and/or training data.

Machine-learning based recommendation engine providing transparency in generation of recommendations


The present invention comprises: a display module; a case in which the display module is installed; one pair of support legs connected to the case and supported by the head of a wearer; a motion sensor for sensing the motion of the head of the wearer; a load adjuster for adjusting a load to be applied from the support legs to the head of the wearer; and a control unit for controlling the load adjuster according to a sensing result of the motion sensor, thereby reducing a load to be applied to the head of the wearer during a static wearing so as to provide comfort to the wearer and increasing a load to be applied to the head of the wearer during a dynamic wearing so as to minimize shaking.

A head-mounted display (HMD) is a display device worn on a head. The head-mounted display causes a wearer to feel as if the wearer views a huge screen through a screen located in front of wearer's eyes and may be used as a virtual reality device or smart glasses.
The head-mounted display includes a glasses-type head-mounted display and a helmet-type head-mounted display according to the wearing method thereof.
In addition, the head-mounted display may be divided into a non-transmission-type head-mounted display in which wearer's visibility is blocked in a state that a wearer wears the head-mounted display and a transmission-type head-mounted display in which wearer's visibility is not blocked in a state that a wearer wears the head-mounted display.
The head-mounted display may recognize motion of the wearer through a sensor and control a screen according to motion of the wearer. For example, when the wearer turns his/her head to the left, a scene displayed on the screen may also be moved to the left and content on the display may be manipulated in consideration of movement of the head of the wearer.
The head-mounted display may include a display unit for providing an image and support legs to be worn on the wearer's head. When head-mounted display is worn, the head-mounted display may be tilted forward by the weight of the display unit.
In the head-mounted display according to the related art, when the user who wears the head-mounted display takes large action such as inclining of a head or jumping, the head-mounted display is not firmly supported and is excessively shaken. Therefore, the head-mounted display may be easily separated from the wearer's head during large action.


Techniques are described for triggering conditional automated social posts. According to an embodiment, a set of one or more conditions is received through a user interface by a system executing on one or more computing devices. The system monitors one or more social media channels for target content that has been posted on at least one social media channel of the one or more social media channels. In response to detecting, by the system executing on one or more computing devices, that the target content has been posted on at least one social media channel of the one or more social media channels, the system determines whether the set of one or more conditions are satisfied. In response to determining that the set of one or more conditions are satisfied, the system triggers an action responsive to the target content.

A growing number of businesses and other entities are using social media platforms to engage with customers and other consumers of goods and services. Social customer service (SCS) personnel may be responsible for creating, promoting, developing, or encouraging positive experiences, which involve leveraging social media platforms to proactively enhance the consumer experience, and/or addressing, resolving, and controlling the exposure of negative experiences, such as resolving consumer problems. Effective SCS interactions with consumers may help improve an organization's brand and image, while ineffective interactions may have little effect or even be damaging. Even outside the context of business, individuals may find themselves encouraging positive social experiences and discouraging negative social experiences in order to enhance their social environments and improve their social images.
Social relationship management (SRM) systems are applications through which organizations may manage SCS interactions with former, current, and future customers. SRM systems typically integrate a variety of components into a unified service to facilitate engagement and management of relationships with consumers over social media channels. Example SRM components may include, without limitation, a social listening component that monitors posts on social media channels (such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, SnapChat, Periscope, Google Plus, Yelp, WeChat, FourSquare, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, WhatsApp, and/or WordPress, etc.) for relevant content, a social analytic component that analyzes relevant posts detected on social media channels, and a publishing component that allows SRM users ("SRM personnel") to post content on one or multiple social media channels through a single interface. By integrating these components into a single unified service, businesses may quickly react to and provide relevant content through various social media channels.
SRM personnel and social response teams are reluctant to offload tasks onto machines for fear of missing important information. Nevertheless, many SRM personnel and social response teams have incorporated an SRM system into their strategy to help organize, arrange, and highlight relevant social media content when they are otherwise unable to manually read all of the content. Once the social media content is arranged and highlighted in a graphical user interface (GUI), marketing or other SRM personnel may analyze the highlighted data to determine the best way to respond, if any. Using SRM systems in this manner has helped SRM personnel address the most critical content.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for assigning and coordinating uplink reference signals for cooperative communication is disclosed. Data about an assigned uplink reference signal sequence used by a wireless communication device is received at a non-serving base station. An uplink reference signal estimate is determined based on the data. The uplink reference signal estimate is used to coherently demodulate a signal received from the wireless communication device or is used to estimate an uplink channel between the non-serving base station and the wireless communication device.

Wireless communication devices have become smaller and more powerful in order to meet consumer needs and to improve portability and convenience. Consumers have become dependent upon wireless communication devices and have come to expect reliable service, expanded areas of coverage and increased functionality. A wireless communication system may provide communication for a number of cells, each of which may be serviced by a base station. A base station may be a fixed station that communicates with mobile stations.
A wireless communication device may communicate with one or more base stations via transmissions on the uplink and the downlink. The uplink (or reverse link) refers to the communication link from the wireless communication device to the base station, and the downlink (or forward link) refers to the communication link from the base station to the wireless communication device. A wireless communication system may simultaneously support communication for multiple mobile stations.
Various signal processing techniques may be used in wireless communication systems to improve efficiency and quality of wireless communication. One such technique may include sending reference signals from a wireless communication device. Reference signals may be used to determine various operational parameters of the wireless communication system. Therefore, benefits may be realized by improved techniques for assigning and coordinating uplink reference signals.

Assigning and coordinating uplink reference signals for cooperative communication


A method and an apparatus to control an equalizer. A signal to noise ratio of an output of the equalizer is measured, the measured signal to noise ratio is fed back to the equalizer controlling apparatus, and convergence information of the equalizer is monitored and at the same time effective tap information of the equalizer is monitored. Accordingly, one or more taps can be selected to perform equalization in the equalizer and to control operation of the equalizer. Thus, it is not necessary to estimate channel information in order to properly operate the equalizer. Thus, since the channel information need not be estimated, a configuration of the equalizer is relatively simple. Additionally, it is possible to select a proper tap depending on a change in a channel environment and to update a corresponding tap coefficient. Accordingly, performance can be improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept generally relates to a method and an apparatus to control operation of an equalizer such that a configuration of the equalizer can be easily implemented in hardware by adaptively selecting and updating one or more tap coefficients of the equalizer without separately estimating channel information.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a digital communication channel, unwanted intersymbol interference (ISI) is generated in an amplitude and a phase of a signal that is transmitted along the digital communication channel due to abnormal characteristics in a limited bandwidth. The intersymbol interference becomes a major obstacle to efficient usage of a frequency band and performance improvement. In order to compensate the signal that is distorted by the intersymbol interference, an equalizer becomes necessary. The equalizer may be necessary with a digital broadcast as well as with an analog broadcast.
A VSB (Vestigial sideband) modulation or a COFDM (Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Mutiplexing) modulation may be used to transmit signals in the digital broadcast.
A data frame transmitted by the digital broadcast of the VSB modulation includes two data fields, each data field including 313 data segments. Out of these 313 data segments, a first data segment is a synchronizing signal and includes a training data string (hereinafter 'training string signal') used by the equalizer in a receiver. Additionally, TDS-OFDM (time domain synchronous-OFDM), which is a type of OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing), transfers an OFDM frame signal formed by interposing the training string signal.
The training string signal is a signal that is previously set between a receiving side and a transmitting side, and provides information for correcting channel distortion. The channel distortion refers to a phenomenon in which a radio wave that carries the digital communication channel is transformed into a form other than an original form due to various occurrences during transmission of the radio wave. The equalizer can select proper tap coefficients using the training string signal.
Some equalizers have attempted to equalize the digital communication channel by selecting and/or updating a proper tap coefficient according to a channel environment thereof. These equalizers have been able to reduce noise and obtain a rapidly converging error by enlarging the step size, as opposed to an equalization process that is performed using all of the taps of the equalizer. Thus, technology that estimates channels using various methods have recently been developed. By using estimated channel information, a tap to be used during equalization can be selected and updated.
However, when the tap and a corresponding coefficient are selected according to an incorrect estimation of the channel information, the performance of the equalizer may deteriorate. Thus, complicated algorithms are typically utilized to estimate the channel information. Accordingly, hardware used to implement the complicated algorithms has become increasingly complicated.

Method and apparatus to control operation of an equalizer


A system, device, and method for monitoring and signaling personnel presence uses a personnel presence sensor capable of detecting physical presence and proximity of a person within a space. Personnel presence monitoring/signaling logic determines any of a number of personnel presence conditions based upon personnel presence information obtained from one or more such sensors, and may signal any of a number of personnel presence conditions. The personnel presence monitoring/signaling logic may be coupled to a communication network for remote monitoring and control.

The present invention relates generally to communication networks, and more particularly to monitoring and signaling personnel presence in a communication network.
Central alarm systems are often installed in buildings to detect intruders, smoke, fire, and other conditions. A central alarm system typically includes such things as central controller for controlling the central alarm system, various sensors for detecting certain conditions (e.g., active-open and active-closed switches for windows and doors, motion detectors, glass break detectors, smoke detectors), remote keypads for communicating with the central controller, and various output devices for notifying occupants or others of an alarm condition (e.g., siren, horn, buzzer). The central alarm system components are typically installed in a substantially permanent manner within the building, often using dedicated wiring to connect the various components.
Such alarm systems are often monitored by a monitoring service. Typically, the monitoring service receives a telephone call or other indication from the central controller when the central controller detects an alarm condition. The monitoring service may be able to communicate with the central controller, for example to clear an alarm condition or bypass an alarm zone, but is unable to monitor and communicate directly with the individual alarm system components.
Within such alarm systems, motion detectors are often used to detect motion within some space. Motion detectors have certain limitations. One limitation is that motion detectors are relatively expensive, and therefore a typical central alarm system includes few motion detectors. Another limitation is that motion detectors only detect a person when the person moves, and otherwise do not detect the presence of a person who is motionless. This is typically sufficient for an alarm system, since the alarm system generates an alarm indication upon such detection.
A personnel presence sensor is used to detect physical presence and proximity of a person within a space. Personnel presence monitoring/signaling logic determines any of a number of personnel presence conditions based upon personnel presence information obtained from one or more such sensors, and may signal any of a number of personnel. presence conditions. The personnel presence monitoring/signaling logic may be coupled to a communication network for remote monitoring and control.

System and device for monitoring and signaling personnel presence


A wheelchair headrest, attached to opposite vertical frame members of the wheelchair, includes at least two resilient head supports for preventing involuntary head movement in a person seated in the wheelchair. The wheelchair headrest is detachable from the wheelchair and can be easily folded for transport or storage. A padded band attached to the head supports passes around the person's forehead preventing involuntary forward head tilting.

The invention relates to a detachable wheelchair headrest for preventing involuntary head movement in persons seated in the wheelchair.
Many infirm, paralyzed, or elderly persons have inadequate use or control of their neck muscles. When such persons are seated in a wheelchair, their weak neck muscles often allow their head to wobble uncontrollably forward and from side-to-side.
The prior art discloses a number of detachable wheelchair headrests made from flexible materials. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,704 (Hildreth), U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,177 (Hale et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,781 (Howard, disclosing a pillow headrest for a lawnchair), U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,310 (Montagno), U.S. Pat. No. 3,632,162 (Trethawny), U.S. Pat. No. 3,497,259 (Sherfey), and U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,759 (Reeves). However, without exception, these prior art headrests merely provide a comfortable surface on which to rest the head of a person sitting in a wheelchair, without providing any means for restraining or preventing involuntary head movement. Furthermore, most of the headrests do not fold easily for transport or storage.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,589 (Lane) discloses a detachable wheelchair headrest with inclined head supports for cradling the head of a person seated in the wheelchair. The Lane headrest does not effectively reduce side-to-side head wobble, and involuntary forward head motion is not restrained.
Thus, there is an unmet need for a wheelchair headrest which can prevent involuntary head movement in persons seated in the wheelchair, and which can be easily detached from the wheelchair and folded for convenient transport or storage.


An apparatus for selectively latching a drawer for storing objects and movable in a travel direction from beneath an automotive seat. The apparatus comprises one or more latches movable transverse to the travel direction from a latched position retaining the drawer closed and an unlatched position, the latch including a follower. A vertically movable handle including a cam cooperating with the follower for moving the latch to the unlatched position for releasing the drawer for opening. The latches and handle may be securely supported for sliding movement by vertical and lateral guides on a front wall of the drawer.

Under seat drawers conveniently allow for the secure storage of articles in an automobile. Opening and closing of the drawer may be achieved using a latching mechanism. The latching mechanism should be inexpensive to implement, easy to use, reliable in operation, and perhaps most importantly should not create excessive noise during the operation of the automobile. For various reasons, past approaches have not met with success on these fronts, particularly in relation to the issue of noise.
Accordingly, a need is identified for an improved latching mechanism for an automotive under seat drawer.

Latching mechanism for automotive under seat drawer


The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate creation and management of an event-oriented transient network and can further manage decommission of the transient network. In particular, the architecture can construct temporary communities based upon a particular event, project, or activity; manage (e.g., filter, prioritize, or control) communications and content associated with the community; and disband the community by deconstructing the transient network according to an aging function that controls how the network decays. In addition, the architecture can leverage existing information (e.g. profile data) and content feeds associated with disparate social networking services or communities for the benefit of the temporary community.

The inexorable growth of the Internet in recent times has fostered many new paradigms and new markets for social interaction. In some cases, the Internet has changed the conventional way many people worldwide meet and maintain friends. Today, there are abundant examples of social networking sites and services that aid in forming communities, creating and maintaining personal virtual spaces, managing social circles, personal contacts and communications, content sources and so forth.
Generally, conventional social networking services require a substantial investment in terms of time and effort. Moreover, modern social networking services are designed to encourage persistent relationships and communities. For example, if user A adds user B as a friend or subscribes to user B's weblog (e.g., blog), then the associated state(s) will remain in perpetuity or until user A manually or explicitly removes user B or unsubscribes to the blog. However, many situations exist in which it can be beneficial to form transient, dynamically changing networks or communities, which are not adequately addressed by conventional social networking services or approaches.


A geared motor assembly has a rotation-transmitting shaft for transferring output rotation of a reducer on the front side of a motor to an output shaft sensor on the rear side of the motor. A front end portion of the rotation-transmitting shaft is securely bonded to a rotation output member of the reducer by an adhesive that exhibits flexibility or elasticity after hardening, and a rear end portion of the rotation-transmitting shaft is rotatably supported by a sensor cover via a bearing in a position adjacent to the output shaft sensor. The rotation-transmitting shaft can be supported in a state free of axial runout by deformation of the adhesive and by the bearing. Consequently, the rotation angle position of the rotation output member can be detected with precision by the output shaft sensor in a position adjacent to the bearing.

A geared motor assembly configured so as to output the output rotation of a motor via a reducer having high transmission precision is used in a drive component requiring a high degree of positioning precision in an industrial robot, a machine tool, or the like. As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a known example of such a geared motor assembly is a configuration in which the output shaft rotation of a reducer disposed on the front side of a motor is transferred to the rear side of the motor via a rotation-transmitting shaft disposed as being passed through a hollow part of a hollow motor shaft, and the rotation angle of the reducer output shaft is detected by an angle sensor disposed on the rear side of the motor.
Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose configurations of a geared motor assembly in which a sleeve extending in the axial direction through the center of the assembly is provided, and the front end of the sleeve is connected to a rotation output member of a reducer.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2006-271189    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2006-144971    [Patent Document 3] Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2002-243000


The invention concerns a manual control device for a watch including a bolt sliding on the external surface of a watch case, in particular to set a repeater mechanism, said bolt being connected through an opening arranged in said watch case to a sliding block controlling the desired function, said device further including a sealing gasket arranged around said opening and control means associated with said bolt, said control means allowing said device to pass from a first state, called the rest state, in which the bolt is locked with respect to the case and said gasket is compressed, to a second state, called the setting state, in which the bolt is unlocked and said gasket is not compressed, characterised in that said sealing gasket is arranged to be applied around said opening between said bolt and the external surface of the case and in that the control means include an articulated lever provided with an eccentric portion, said lever allowing said device to pass from the setting state to the rest state and vice versa.

The present invention concerns a manual control device for a watch and more particularly a device of this type including a bolt sliding on the external surface of a watch case, in particular for controlling or setting a repeater mechanism.
FIG. 1 shows a control device for a watch of the aforementioned type belonging to the prior art and corresponding to Swiss Patent No. 672 868. This control device includes a bolt 2 sliding on the external surface 4 of a watch case 6 and mechanically connected through an oblong opening 8, made in case 6, to a sliding block 10 which co-operates with the arm of a rack (not shown) for controlling the striking work of a repeater mechanism. A sealing gasket 12 is arranged between the sliding block 10 and the inner wall 14 of case 6. This control device further includes means 16 for locking bolt 2 which can be moved in relation to the latter, between a first position in which gasket 12 is compressed between sliding block 10 and wall 14 to assure sealing of the control device, and a second position in which gasket 12 is not compressed and allows the movement of bolt 2 with respect to case 6 to cause the repeater mechanism to strike. Bolt 2 includes a groove 18 in which slides a locking member 20. This member 20 includes a stop 22, an oblong hole 24, a portion of small thickness 26 extending into bolt 2, connected via a ramp 28 to a thicker portion 30 which emerges from bolt 2. A screw 32 connects, through wall 14 and hole 24, bolt 2 to sliding block 10, a self-lubricating pad 34 being inserted between member 20 and bolt 2. A gasket 36 is also provided between the head of screw 32 and sliding block 10. In FIG. 1, bolt 2 is in the rest position, gasket 12 is compressed and bolt 2 cannot be moved. In order to cause the repeater mechanism to be set, the user moves member 20 with his nail in the direction of arrow F with respect to case 6 and bolt 2 until stop 22 comes into contact with pad 34. Portion 26 of member 20 is then at right angles to pad 34, gasket 12 is decompressed and bolt 2 can be moved in the opposite direction to arrow F, driving with it sliding block 10, which sets the repeater mechanism. When bolt 2 is released, it is brought into the rest position by return means, causing during the movement thereof actuation of the repeater mechanism and, thereby, the successive striking of the hours, quarters and minutes in the case of a minute-repeater.
This device however poses the significant risk of bolt 2 becoming locked before having reached its rest position during its return to such position, thus leading to incomplete striking of the minutes, the quarters and even the hours. The significant surface area of gasket 12 as well as the nature of the material of which it is made, in this case neoprene, has a significant friction coefficient with respect to wall 14, which is liable to block bolt 2 in an intermediate position if the latter is not accompanied manually. This risk is further increased by the presence of ramp 28 which pad 34 has to raise again for bolt 2 to return to its rest position.
Moreover, the control device compels the user to exert a relatively large force on the locking member in order to release bolt 2, at the risk of hurting himself, or breaking his nail.


A mobile security system is provided having a container configured to be moved to a plurality of locations. A walkway extends transversely through the container and provides access to an exit gate when the mobile security system is positioned adjacent an exit gate. The mobile security system includes a RFID detection system for detecting and identifying RFID tags that move through the walkway. If a RFID tag associated with a jobsite item is identified, an alarm system and/or camera devices within the container are actuated. The electronic components of the mobile security system are stored in a primary cabinet in the container so as to be inaccessible from the walkway. The container is configured to prevent damage to the electronic components caused by movement, vibration, or harsh environmental conditions.

Companies typically have difficulties tracking jobsite items (including tools, equipment, instruments, parts, components, direct materials, etc.) and their usage within their facilities. Many jobsite items are misused, misplaced, and improperly tracked and replenished by the employees of the companies. For example, the General Contractors of California report that 85% of all jobsite item thefts are employee-related. Losing these jobsite items adversely affects the operation of a jobsite in various ways, including but not limited to monetary loss, project delays, loss production, duplicate orders, increased administrative cost, and increased insurance premiums.
The problem escalates when outside of a controlled environment such as a facility. Jobsite equipment and inventory theft is significant with industry loss estimates up to one billion dollars annually, according to a 2003 National Equipment Register study. Tool tracking and management systems provide one level of security, but a large percentage of theft includes jobsite items disappearing from jobsites at the end of the workday. Generally, only limited resources may be allocated to management of jobsite items at the perimeter of a controlled space such as a facility or an outdoor temporary worksite. Although manned jobsite perimeter security and personal inspection of workers is one option, providing the dedicated resources for such manned security is usually too costly to be considered. With many jobsites operating with aggressive deadlines on a 24-hour per day schedule, providing a security guard at every exit for multiple shifts throughout the day and night is not a viable option. Furthermore, manual inspection of workers would severely bottleneck exiting personnel during a shift change or other heavy traffic times, leading to further inefficiencies in the process.
Some contemporary solutions to this problem include security portals activated by special electronic article surveillance ("EAS") security tags. Similar to retail environments, in practice, the portal sounds an alarm when an EAS tagged jobsite item passes through it. These portals must generally be carefully set up and aligned properly at every entry and exit point of a jobsite to ensure that accurate detection of the EAS security tags occurs. This set up process is time consuming and expensive, and is not a reasonably effective option for preventing jobsite item theft at temporary jobsites such as construction jobsites. Moreover, these portals may be significantly affected by harsh environmental conditions at a jobsite and become inoperable or damaged during use. Furthermore, these solutions still lack the tracking and access control that is beneficial on a jobsite with combinations of employees and contractors, as well as ease and portability of the secured area.
In another example, some jobsites store high-value jobsite items in a further controlled space with electronic access control systems configured to limit exposure of such jobsite items to certain personnel. However, these systems generally do not track inventory or other jobsite items on an individual level, and any tracking that is conducted is usually performed manually. These arrangements still do not solve the problem of jobsite item theft and add more inefficiencies to the security process.
Therefore there is a need in the art for a system, apparatus and method that detects and discourages jobsite item theft or unauthorized removal, which is conveniently portable and insulated from harsh environmental conditions.


A system and method for debugging a running process of an application or component are disclosed. A debugging agent runs one or more templates. Each template is configured with a breakpoint set defined in debugging code for stopping execution of the running process according to one or more breakpoints. One or more debugging clients each includes a user interface for defining at least one of the one or more templates. Each debugging client is selectable to receive debugging information of the running process based on the breakpoint set.

This disclosure relates generally to enterprise software systems, and more particularly to template based asynchronous debugging of enterprise software.
For software developers and sellers, there is often a need to analyze problems in a customer's system. Problems can be analyzed by debugging an application on the customer's site without transferring or installing a program integrated development environment (IDE) and source code. This is especially the case where the customer only allows very restricted access to their system, such as when the customer treats any access as a security issue.
From a support perspective, problem analysis typically requires a common set of information in the form of data that describes or provides the system state. In practice, the application expert or developer sets some checkpoints, known as breakpoints, within the application, and evaluates its data. The same pattern can be developed for specific components—the developer sets in program breakpoints that allow checking the program execution and its state. However, such typical schemes of problem discovery and analysis are complex, resource intensive, and often require too much access or modification of the software under test.

Template based asynchrony debugging configuration


Provided is an energy harvesting system, including: a first electrode; a second electrode; a non-metalized mono-charged electret diaphragm disposed between the first and second electrodes; a base; a spring extending between the base and the electret diaphragm; and a rod in communication with the electret diaphragm and for manipulating a position of the electret diaphragm relative to the first and second electrodes.

The use of stored charge rather than piezoelectricity has gained substantial interest in small electronic devices. These devices generate power in the micro-watt range due to their small size and limited range of diaphragm motion. One might treat these devices as an electret microphone from the operation standpoint to determine the power generation ability. While these systems can be scaled up in size, the output power is still limited by the amount of movement of the device's diaphragm, and the charge level. Large area space-charge generators can produce average peak power terminated with one Meg Ohm resistor of up to 44 mW.
What is needed in the art, therefore, is an improved energy device that overcomes the limitations of low output power of prior art energy devices.

Push-pull electret transducer with controlled restoring force for low frequency microphones and energy harvesting


A system for filtering the harmful particulates and liquids from a laser plume formed during surgical procedures. The laser plume may be passed through a suction canister to remove a liquid component from the laser plume. Thereafter, the laser plume is passed through a filter containing granular activated charcoal and a pleated filter to remove substantially all toxic elements and particulate matter in the laser plume. The system is self-contained and is configured such that the air from the laser plume is not cross-contaminated with either the ambient air in the room or the cooling air of the vacuum motor. The system also contains a pressure differential measuring device for indicating to the medical personnel when the filter of the present invention needs to be changed. Because of the unique configuration of the present invention, it is capable of running at increased suction levels while running at reduced noise levels as compared with conventional systems of this nature.

1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system for enhancing the air within the surgical site during laser surgery. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a self-contained air enhancement system for evacuating the smoke plume created by use of the laser.
2. The Prior Art
The use of lasers in surgery has rapidly expanded in recent years. Initially, lasers were found to be particularly useful in very delicate surgery and surgery which requires extreme precision. As a result, the use of lasers in eye surgery and other types of microsurgery became well accepted during the 1970's. Indeed, many laser surgical devices incorporated a microscope into a laser source so that the area on which surgery was performed could be adequately and accurately viewed.
Since this early introduction of lasers into surgical procedures, they have found acceptance in more general areas of surgery outside of the microsurgical area. For example, lasers have currently found wide acceptance in the area of gynecological surgery.
With the rapid expansion in the use of lasers as surgical instruments, new problems have been encountered which are not generally encountered in conventional surgery. One serious problem is that of smoke produced during laser surgery. This smoke produced during laser surgery is generally referred to as a "laser plume."
Because of the high intensity of lasers used in laser surgery, tissue contacted by the laser may be rapidly and almost competely oxidized. The oxidized tissue typically results in a dense plume emitted from the surgical area. While the plume, consisting of oxidized tissue, is generally free of viable organic material, it has been found that the plume contains a variety of hydrocarbon compounds and carbon monoxide. While some smoke may be produced by conventional electric scalpels and similar devices, the intensity and volume of the smoke and pollutants produced in laser surgery presents a problem of much larger magnitude.
In one study which sought to determine the scope and intensity of the smoke produced during surgery, tissue was contacted by a laser under controlled conditions. It was found that the smoke and particulate matter produced amounted to almost 7.9 milligrams per cubic meter. This smoke density is approximately 52 times greater than the recommended density set by the governmental regulatory agencies.
In addition, the laser plume is known to contain particles of varying sizes. For example, one investigation found particles varying in size from under 0.4 microns to over 9.0 microns. Nevertheless, a large portion of the particles found in that study were under 1.1 microns in size; particles of this size are capable of being easily deposited in the alveoli of the lungs. Not only are particles of this size irritating to the respiratory system, but they may also be capable of causing serious respiratory disease. Moreover, repeated exposure to such particles can build within the lungs.
Several investigators have pointed out that repeated exposure to laser plumes may, for example, result in pneumonitis. In addition, it has been found that the laser plume is potentially mutagenic, and thus possibly carcinogenic. While much of the data in this area is still not definitive, it is clear that direct contact with laser plumes presents significant health risks, particularly to the medical personnel who are repeatedly exposed to such laser plumes.
Apart from the very significant problems resulting from inhaling the laser plume, laser plumes present additional difficulties. For example, it has been found that the laser plume may condense on the optical components of the laser itself, thereby causing pitting damage of the lenses. Similarly, the laser plume may enter mechanical devices and filters located in the operating room and clog or damage those devices and filters.
In order to combat the problems of damage to the laser itself by the laser plume, many modern conventional laser systems are equipped with air circulation systems. Typically, these systems drive a stream of air over the sensitive laser equipment and out toward the area being contacted by the laser beam. Thus, the laser plume is driven away from the laser equipment. However, it is found that this air flow forces the plume into the ambient air, thereby making it more difficult to control laser plume emissions.
Also of significance is the fact that the superheated steam component of the laser plume may cause serious burns in the event it comes into contact with the flesh. Of course, the primary danger in this regard is to the patient. Since the steam is produced by vaporizing body fluids, it is clear that there is a danger that those vaporized fluids may contact the surrounding tissue.
Nevertheless, in the event the steam leaves the localized surgical site, there is a danger that the heat associated with the steam may cause discomfort or otherwise provide an undesirable distraction to the surgeon or other operating room personnel. Thus, it is important that the steam produced in laser surgery be controlled and removed from the surgical site before exposure to the tissues surrounding the surgical site to operating room personnel.
Because of the potential harm caused by the laser plume, good practice dictates that the laser plume be controlled and removed from the surgical site before it contacts the patient, the laser equipment, or enters the ambient air. Thus, various devices have been developed for removing the laser plume; most of these devices involve the use of suction in some form.
The initial attempt to remove the laser plume was to simply use the operating room's built-in vacuum system to provide suction for removal of the plume. This solution, however, was found to be totally unsatisfactory because the building's vacuum system is not equipped to handle the dense hydrocarbon saturated smoke and associated particulates contained within the laser plume. The untreated laser plume has been found to clog and completely disable the entire hospital's vacuum system--a completely unacceptable result.
Because laser surgery often requires intense concentration on the part of the surgeon, as well as many other medical personnel, it is desirable to keep machinery and distractive noise in the operating room to a minimum. A significant disadvantage of the use of a portable vacuum system is the undesirable noise created in the operating room. Additionally, such a system can have significant resistance to air flow because of filters which easily become clogged with the particulate debris and other matter contained within the laser plume which is suctioned from the operating site. Unfortunately, a portable system has a limited filter capacity which renders their use ineffective because laser surgery creates greater wastes than result from more traditional surgical procedures.
This resistance to air flow significantly limits the flow rate of air traveling through the system, causing the laser plume removal process to be less efficient. Because the filters of conventional systems become clogged easily, they must be replaced more often to ensure that suction levels are adequate for removing the laser plume from the surgical site. This results in increased maintenance and cost, as well as possible disruption to the surgical procedure.
Studies have been performed concerning various methods for removing laser plumes. It has been found that if a suction device having appropriate air flow rates can be placed within approximately 1 centimeter of the source of the laser plume, then over 98% of the smoke and debris will be removed before it enters the ambient air. However, if the suction source with the same air flow is placed 2 centimeters from the source, only slightly over 50% of the smoke in the plume is removed. Thus, it will be appreciated that in the setting of the surgical theatre, it is important that laser plume removal systems be flexible and maneuverable, not bulky and hard to handle.
In view of the problems encountered in removing the laser plume from a surgical site, it would be a significant advancement in the art if a device could be provided which avoided the problems in the prior art identified above. Specifically, it would be an advancement in the art if a laser plume aspiration system could be provided which was inexpensive, easy to handle and flexible in use.
It would be a further advancement if such a system were compact, self-contained, and quiet in operation. It would also be a very significant advancement in the art if such a system could maintain a higher flow rate of air than conventional systems without the usual increased maintenance of having to change the filter more frequently. Such a device and aspiration system are disclosed and claimed herein.

Self-contained air enhancement and laser plume evacuation system