A control valve for a variable capacity compressor; wherein an opening degree of a valve member disposed in a coolant gas passage for communicating a discharge pressure region of the variable capacity compressor with a crankcase thereof is made adjustable by a magnetization action of a solenoid, thereby causing an inclination angle of a wobble plate to change and also causing a discharging capacity of the compressor to change; and which is characterized in that the main valve body comprises a solenoid, a pressure sensitive chamber provided with bellows and a valve chamber provided with the valve member, and that the solenoid is provided with a plunger connected with one end of a stem, whose other end of the stem being detachably contacted with a stopper of the bellows, and the other end of the plunger being linked to a rod to be contacted with the valve member.

The present invention relates to a control valve for a variable capacity compressor to be employed in air conditioners for vehicles, etc., and in particular to a control valve for a variable capacity compressor, which is designed to supply, upon requirements, a coolant gas from a discharge pressure region to a crankcase.
A variable capacity compressor provided with a cylinder, a piston, a wobble plate, etc. has been conventionally employed for compressing and discharging a coolant gas of an air conditioner for vehicles, etc. One example of this conventional variable capacity compressor is constructed such that it comprises a coolant gas passage for communicating a discharge pressure region with a crankcase, so that the quantity of coolant gas to be discharged can be changed in conformity with changes in inclination angle of the wobble plate which can be effected through an adjustment of the pressure inside the crankcase. The adjustment of pressure inside the crankcase is performed by feeding a high pressure compressed coolant gas from the discharge pressure region to the crankcase while adjusting the opening degree of a control valve disposed at an intermediate portion of the coolant gas passage.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show one example of such a control valve 100' for a variable capacity compressor (hereinafter referred to simply as a control valve) (see Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication (Kokai) H/9-268,974). This control valve 100' is disposed neighboring on the rear housing 210 of the variable capacity compressor 200 and is designed to adjust the pressure inside the crankcase 231 which is disposed in a front housing 230 and next to the a cylinder block 220 of the variable capacity compressor 200.
In the interior of the crankcase 231, there are housed a wobble plate 240 which is mounted on a driving shaft 250 in such a manner that it can slide along the axial direction of the driving shaft 250 and can incline about the driving shaft 250, and also a guide pin 241 of the wobble plate 240, which is made slidable along a supporting arm 252 of a rotatable supporting body 251. The wobble plate 240 is connected via a couple of shoes 242 with a piston 260 which is slidably disposed in a cylinder bore 221.
The wobble plate 240 is designed to swing in the directions indicated by the arrows so as to change its inclination angle in conformity with a difference in pressure between a suction pressure Ps inside the cylinder bore 221 and a pressure Pc inside the crankcase 231. The stroke width of the forward and backward movement of the piston 260 in the cylinder bore 221 can be determined based on this inclination angle. Further, the inclinatory movement in the direction of arrows of the wobble plate 240 causes a cutoff body 270 contacting with a middle portion of the wobble plate 240 to move forward or backward in a housing bore 222.
The rear housing 210 is provided with suction chambers 211a and 211b each constituting an inlet pressure region, and with discharging chambers 212a and 212b each constituting a discharge pressure region. When the piston 260 is moved forward and backward as a result of the inclinatory movement of the wobble plate 240, the coolant gas in the suction chamber 211a is sucked into the cylinder bore 221 from a suction port 213 and then compressed to a predetermined pressure before it is discharged through a discharge port 214 into the discharging chamber 212a.
An inlet passage 215 formed at the central portion of the rear housing 210 is communicated with the housing bore 222 and also with the suction chamber 211b through a through-hole 216. When the wobble plate 240 is moved toward the cutoff body 270, the cutoff body 270 is caused to move toward the inlet passage 215 thereby causing the through-hole 216 to be closed ultimately by the cutoff body 270.
Between the inlet passage 215 and the upper end portion of the control valve 100', there is formed a pressure-checking passage 217 for introducing the suction pressure Ps into the control valve 100'. The discharging chamber 212b is communicated with the crankcase 231 via gas inlet passages 218 and 219 of the control valve 100'. These gas inlet passages 218 and 219 are designed to be opened or closed by means of a valve member 106' of the control valve 100'. In this case, it is designed such that a discharging pressure Pd inside the discharging chamber 212b is allowed to be introduced via the gas inlet passage 218 to a valve chamber port 113', while the pressure Pc inside the crankcase 231 is allowed to be introduced via the gas inlet passage 219 to a valve chamber port 114'. Further, it is also designed such that the suction pressure Ps is allowed to be introduced via the pressure-checking passage 217 into a sucking pressure-introducing port 115'.
If a temperature detected by an indoor sensor 281 is higher than a set temperature of a temperature-setting device 282 at the moment when an actuating switch 280 of air conditioner is turned on, a controlling computer 283 outputs a command to magnetize the solenoid 101' of the control valve 100'. As a result, an electric current is fed via an actuating circuit 284 to the solenoid 101' thereby causing the solenoid 101' to generate a suction force, due to which a movable core 102' is attracted, against the urging force (biasing force) of a spring 103', toward a fixed core 104'.
As the movable core 102' is moved in this manner, the valve member 106' attached to a solenoid rod 105' is caused to move, against the urging force of a forced opening spring 107', in the direction to decrease the opening degree of a valve hole 108'. As a result of this movement of the valve member 106', a pressure-sensitive rod 109' formed integral with the valve member 106' is moved upward thereby pushing up bellows 111' which is detachably connected with the pressure-sensitive rod 109' through a pressure-sensitive rod receiver 110'.
At this moment, the displacement of bellows 111' is caused in conformity with changes of the suction pressure Ps to be introduced via the pressure-sensitive passage 217 into the interior of the pressure-sensitive chamber 112', thereby giving a load to the pressure-sensitive rod 109'. Thus, the control valve 100' is designed such that the opening degree of the valve hole 108' by means of the valve member 106' is determined by a balance among the suction force of the solenoid 101', the urging force by the bellows 111' and the urging force by the forced opening spring 107'.
If the cooling load is large in this case for instance, i.e. if a difference between the temperature detected by the indoor sensor 281 and the set temperature of the room temperature-setting device 282 is large, the suction force between the movable core 102' and the fixed core 104' is increased whereby increasing the force of the valve member 106' to bias the valve hole 108' in the direction to decrease the opening degree thereof, thus making it possible to perform the opening and closing of the valve member 106' with the lower suction pressure Ps.
When the opening degree of valve by means of the valve member 106' is decreased, the quantity of coolant gas to be fed to the crankcase 231 from the discharging chamber 212b via the gas inlet passages 218 and 219 is decreased, thus lowering the crankcase pressure Pc in the interior of the crankcase 231.
Further, if the cooling load is large, the suction pressure Ps inside the cylinder bore 221 is increased whereby generating a difference in pressure between the suction pressure Ps inside the cylinder bore 221 and the crankcase pressure Pc inside the crankcase 231, thus enlarging the inclination angle of the wobble plate 240, whereby causing the cutoff body 270 to keep away from the inlet passage 215 to open the passage 216.
In the aforementioned conventional control valve 100', it is designed such that the discharge pressure Pd is introduced via the gas inlet passage 218 into the valve chamber port 113' of the control valve 100' as shown in FIG. 7. Since the discharge pressure Pd is high and the coolant gas generating such the high discharge pressure Pd releases an intense heat as it is compressed up to a predetermined pressure by the forward and backward movement of the piston 260, the control valve 100' itself is heated to high temperatures by the intense heat released from the coolant gas.
When the control valve 100' itself is heated to high temperatures in this manner, the temperature of the solenoid 101' is also risen so that the suction force of the movable core 102' which is originating from the solenoid 101' is weakened, thereby raising a problem that the opening or closing accuracy of the valve hole 108' by means of the valve member 106' is deteriorated. Furthermore, in the case of the conventional control valve 100', the bellows 111' is required to be incorporated into the pressure sensitive chamber 112' with the interior of the pressure sensitive chamber 112' being maintained in a closed state. Therefore, there is no space for introducing an adjusting jig into the pressure sensitive chamber 112' from outside, thereby making it impossible to perform the adjustment of loading force of the bellows 111'.
Additionally, since the application point of suction from the solenoid 101' to the solenoid rod 105' is kept away from the application point of the urging force by the bellows 111', not only there is a possibility that the solenoid rod 105' may be rattled as it is moved at the occasion of closing the valve, but also the valve member 106' may possibly be non-uniformly contacted with the valve hole 108' due to the aforementioned rattling of the solenoid rod 105' because the distal end portion of the valve member 106' for closing the valve hole 108' is simply made flat, and hence the opening or closing accuracy of the valve is hindered from being improved.

Control valve for variable capacity compressors


Methods and systems of rendering a pathway for a virtual tour of a predefined premises are disclosed. A method includes receiving a three-dimensional floor plan of the predefined premises, generating the virtual tour of the predefined premises based on the three-dimensional floor plan, identifying a plurality of pathways within the three-dimensional floor plan for exploring the predefined premises, and receiving details pertaining to a position and orientation of the user during the virtual tour. The position and the orientation are detected by at least one sensor of a Virtual Reality (VR) enabled device of the user. The method includes selecting a pathway based on the position and the orientation of the user, and rendering the pathway to the VR-enabled device for the virtual tour.

Typically, in the realm of real estate, building construction, and interior designing, a property, such as a house and an office, is shown to a customer by using images, video clips or an actual visit to the site. Each of these methods involves certain shortcomings. For example, in case of viewing the images and the video clips of the site, the customer may not get a realistic experience and miss the finer details of the project. On the other hand, providing a visit of a site to every customer is an expensive and time consuming exercise and may not therefore be feasible.
In the recent times, with the advent of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies, virtual tours are increasingly being used in various fields, including real estate. As is generally known, a virtual tour is an organized trip, made up from a series of 360 degree images or videos stitched together for generating an interactive 3D panoramic view. The virtual tour provides a virtual view or a virtual walk experience of a selected space to a user with detailed understanding. In order to facilitate such virtual tours for the users, cameras mounted at predefined angles at the site continuously capture the three dimensional images and render the same on a VR headset worn by a user. As would be appreciated, the VR technology of course offers various advantages over the traditional methods, at least in terms of providing a realistic experience to the user and that too, without requiring the physical presence of the user at the site.
However, virtual tours of a property often pose certain challenges as well. Considering that the virtual tour is a timed predefined sequence of video frames, a user viewing the video content through the VR headset is required to follow the timed sequence of video being rendered. The user doesn't have the liberty to alter or modify the tour based on his/her preference. For example, when 3D virtual tour of a furnished property is rendered on the VR headset, the user may want to spend some time viewing and reviewing a specific portion of the site, say, the user may want to examine the furniture. In another example, the user may get obstructed by the furniture and walls while the content is being rendered on the VR headset. In such situations, the user is then required to reposition himself/herself and resume the video from the next frame or restart the entire experience once again.
Such repositioning directly leads to loss of continuity in the user experience. Therefore, the user may still not get the wholesome experience of visiting the site, even with the existing VR techniques, for example, owing to abovementioned disruptions. Moreover, the virtual tours as rendered by the existing techniques may cause inconvenience to the user while reviewing the site.
In order to solve at least one of the above mentioned problems, there exists a need for providing a seamless user experience while navigating through a virtual reality tour.


A golf club has a head to strike a golf ball and an elongated shaft with first and second ends, the second end being secured to the head. A grip is connected to the first end of the shaft and includes a plurality of shoulders extending away from the shaft and grooves extending between the shoulders. The shoulders are spaced apart from one another by a distance sufficient to receive fingers in the grooves when gripped by a golfer. A kit is used with a golf club. The kit comprises an elongated pad adapted to provide a plurality of shoulders extending away from a shaft of the gulf club and grooves extending between the shoulders. Also in the kit is apparatus that detachably connects the pad to a grip of the golf club. The grip of a golf club is adjusted by supporting a golf club with its head positioned as if to hit a golf ball. A position where the knuckles of the fingers are located when the club is in this position is then located. An elongated strip of two-sided tape is fastened to the grip where the knuckles of the golfer would be located. An elongated pad of thermoplastic material is fastened to the two-sided tape. The thermoplastic material is heated to a moldable temperature.

This invention relates to golfing equipment, a kit used with golfing equipment and a method to obtain improved golfing equipment and, more particularly, to a golf club, a kit used with a golf club and a method of adjusting a golf club grip.
In the game of golf, it is well known that when a golf ball is improperly hit, the ball can hook, slice or merely roll along the ground. In such event, the ball does not carry as far as one desires and the number of strokes increased.
The ball is improperly hit when the hands of the golfer gripping the golf club shaft slips or otherwise moves relative to the shaft as the club is being swung, and when the hands of the golfer gripping the golf club shaft are not properly positioned around the shaft so that the head of the golf club approaches the ball at an improper angle.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club with a grip that assists the golfer in preventing movement of the golfer's hands relative to the golf club shaft as the club is being swung.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club with a grip that assists the golfer in properly aligning the golfer's hands around the golf club shaft so that the head of the golf club is properly maintained as the golf club head strikes the golf ball after the club is swung.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a kit that is used with a golf club that assists the golfer in preventing movement of the golfer's hands relative to the golf club shaft as the club is being swung.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a kit that is used with a golf club that assists the golfer in properly aligning the golfer's hands around the golf club shaft so that the head of the golf club is properly maintained so that the golf club head properly strikes the golf ball after the club is swung.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of adjusting the grip on a golf club to each individual golfer so that movement of the hands of the golfer relative to the golf club shaft is prevented.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of adjusting the grip on a golf club to each individual golfer so that the head of the golf club is maintained so that the golf club head properly strikes the golf ball after the club is swung.

Golf club, kit used with a golf club and method of adjusting a golf club grip


A drive arrangement for controlling the tying function of a large rectangular baler includes a knotter drive shaft having a drive member mounted on it for free rotation. A one-way clutch is connected between the drive member and the drive shaft for rotating the drive shaft only when the drive member is rotated in a first direction. The drive member has an elongate flexible element associated therewith and is driven in the first direction by retraction of an extensible and retractable hydraulic motor having its rod end coupled to one end of the flexible element, the other end of the flexible element being coupled to a spring that stores energy only when the hydraulic motor is retracted. At the end of the tying function, the hydraulic motor is extended to its beginning position, the loaded spring then taking up the slack in the flexible element and the one-way clutch then free-wheeling.

The present invention relates to large rectangular balers and more particularly relates to knotter and needle drive arrangements for such balers.
The bales produced by large rectangular balers are bound by a plurality of transversely spaced loops of twine. In order to reduce the amount of twine which has to be pulled about the bale, and thus reduce the amount of frictional resistance required to be overcome in order to pull the twine, it is known to provide upper and lower sources of twine for producing the loops with the loops being tied together with two knots, one at each end of the bale. Two knots, one being at the upper front corner of a bale just completed and the other being at the upper rear corner of a bale just beginning to be formed, are tied during the same tying cycle.
An example of a baler having a knotting arrangement for producing two knots in each loop is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,062, issued on Aug. 22, 1978. In this patented structure, a knotter drive sprocket is continuously driven and is coupled so as to be connected to a knotter drive shaft by a one-way clutch that is intermittently actuated in response to a bale being completed. This drive arrangement is not completely satisfactory in that it is relatively complex and costly, and its speed of operation is dependent upon that of the drive for the plunger and/or pick-up.
According to the present invention there is provided an improved drive arrangement for the knotters of a baler for making large parallelepiped bales.
An object of the invention is to provide a knotter drive arrangement which is of a relatively simple, low cost design having independent and/or intermittent drive capabilities.
A more specific object of the invention is to provide a knotter drive arrangement which includes an independently powered, extensible motor that is coupled for causing rotation of a knotter drive shaft so as to effect one tying cycle through one stroke of the motor. In the preferred embodiment the motor is in the form of a hydraulic cylinder whose extension turns the knotter drive shaft slightly more than 360xc2x0.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a knotter drive, as set forth in the immediately preceding object, that includes a one-way clutch for allowing the drive cylinder to be reset to its beginning position without effecting further rotation of the knotter drive shaft.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the ensuing description together with the appended drawings.

Independently powered knotter and needle drive arrangement for a large rectangular baler


In a preferred embodiment, a fishing rod holding assembly, including: a first cylinder having an open top end and a generally closed bottom end, the first cylinder having a diameter selected such that the first cylinder can receive therein an end of a fishing rod such that the first cylinder can support the fishing rod at a selected angle with respect to a substrate; a first spike removably attachable to the generally closed bottom end of the first cylinder, the first spike extending from the generally closed bottom end and being adapted to be inserted in the substrate; a closure for substantially closing the open end of the first cylinder; and the first cylinder and the closure having conjointly a length sufficient to accommodate in a chamber delimited by the first cylinder and the closure the first spike when the first spike is removed from the closed bottom end of the first cylinder, without any portion of the first spike extending from the chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fishing rod holders generally and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a novel fishing rod holder assembly and method of use that are safe and convenient.
2. Background Art
Fishing rod holders of the type under consideration herein typically have an open top cylinder with a spike coaxially aligned with the cylinder and removably or fixedly attached to the closed end of the cylinder. One uses the holder by inserting the sharp end of the spike into a substrate, such as the bank of a river, and then inserting the handle end of a fishing rod, or pole, into the cylinder for support of the fishing rod at an angle with respect to the substrate.
One disadvantage of the type of holder with a fixed spike is that sharp end of the spike is exposed when the holder is not in use and presents a safety hazard. The type of holder with a removable spike suffers from the same disadvantage but, in addition, has the further disadvantage that the spike may become separated from the cylinder and lost when the holder is not in use.
One approach to partially solving this problem is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,534, issued Apr. 21, 1987, to McLean, and titled FISHING POLE HOLDER DEVICE. The holder therein described is of the type having a removable spike. In this case, the spike is nail-like, with a head formed opposite the sharp end so that the spike can be driven into a substrate, such as ice, with a hard object, such as a hammer. A threaded collar is loosely disposed on the spike and is used to engage the head end to threadingly attach the spike to the closed end of the cylinder. When the holder is not in use, the spike is unscrewed, the head end of the spike is inserted into the open end of the cylinder and threadingly attached to the bottom end of the cylinder. This has the advantage of shortening the overall length of the device, but still has the disadvantage of having the sharp end of the spike protruding from the open end of the cylinder. Some length of the sharp end of the spike must protrude so that the spike can be manually grasped to insert or unscrew the spike.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a fishing rod holding assembly in which no sharp ends are exposed when the fishing pole holding assembly is not in use.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a fishing rod holding assembly that is easy to use.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide such a fishing rod holding assembly that is economical to manufacture.
Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or be apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures.

Fishing rod holding assembly and method of use


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a first and second transistor of an ESD protection and internal circuit respectively. The method includes the steps of providing a substrate, forming gates of the first and second transistor on the substrate, depositing a mask layer and patterning the mask layer using one single mask to remove the mask layer on the gates, a portion of a drain region of the first transistor, and a source and drain region of the second transistor, implementing ESD implantation under the regions without the patterned mask layer, removing the mask layer and forming sidewall spacers of the gates, and implementing drain diffusion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, and more particularly to fabricating, by the deep-sub-quarter CMOS process, an ESD protection circuit with low junction capacitance, low leakage current and high ESD protection.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) occurs when a relatively large amount of voltage or charge generated by rubbing different materials is discharged in a pulse lasting from several to hundreds of nano-seconds depending on the discharge model. Component-level ESD stress on IC products is classified into three models: the human-body model (HBM), the machine-model (MM) and the charged-device model (CDM). To achieve an ESD protection device with reasonable ESD robustness (typically ±2 kV in the HBM ESD stress, ±200V in the MM ESD stress, and ±1000V in the CDM ESD stress) and compliant with general industrial specifications, several methods are proposed to enhance the ESD protection in of the IC products.
The elements that initially encounter an ESD pulse in an integrated circuit are typically input/output (I/O) buffers. The I/O buffers are directly connected to a chip bond pads or terminals thereon which are exposed to the external environment, as shown in FIG. 1. When an ESD pulse is applied to the I/O pad, a large ESD current (several amperes) is discharged through some current paths in the IC. The large ESD current may damage the gate oxide or cause current crowding around the weakest channel surface of the drain side, causing portions of the MOSFET device to burn out, if proper ESD protection circuits are not properly provided in the IC.
Achieving a high level of ESD protection in IC products fabricated by the sub-quarter-micron CMOS process is challenging as the diffusion junction depth is reduced, and the LDD structure and silicidation are generally employed therein. Therefore, it is necessary to integrate ESD protection circuits and devices on the chip to protect the internal circuits from ESD damage. The MOSFET devices shown in FIG. 1 are used as ESD clamp devices to discharge ESD current, and ESD protection capability thereof is dependent upon the level of ESD robustness provided by the clamp devices.
In sub-quarter-micron CMOS technology, the NMOS is fabricated with an LDD structure to overcome the hot-carrier issue. The drain contact to poly spacing (SDG) of the NMOS is achieved by an additional silicide-blocking mask (RPO), which removes CoSi2 silicide at both source and drain regions, providing ESD protection. The LDD structure, however, often degrades ESD robustness. To improve ESD robustness, one additional ESD implantation mask is used in some CMOS processes to eliminate the LDD peak structure. There are several U.S. patents disclosing device structures modified by the ESD implantation for improving ESD robustness.
There are generally two types of ESD implantation, N-type and P-type, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. A typical process flow of N-type arsenic ESD implantation is shown in FIG. 4. Subsequent to implantation of the LDD structure, sidewall spacers are formed on all the devices including the ESD protection devices and internal devices. After source/drain implantation, the ESD protection devices are patterned by the ESD mask so that the sidewall spacers are removed therefrom. The resulting, N-type ion implantation region covers the entire source/drain region and envelops the LDD peak structure in the ESD protection devices. Further, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,527, Lee discloses a similar N-type ESD implantation method, wherein the ESD protection devices are formed before the sidewall spacers. The entire source/drain region and the LDD structure of the ESD protection devices are covered by the ESD implantation region but the sidewall spacers are not removed. However, these ESD protection devices suffer an increased breakdown voltage.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,352, Hsue discloses a method of forming an ESD protection device, including a high-energy and heavy P-type ESD implantation step wherein the ions are injected into the substrate through contact openings of the source and drain. The formed ESD implantation regions are located under the source/drain regions, which reduces the source/drain to P-substrate junction breakdown voltage. Therefore, the ESD protection device can be turned on quickly to protect the thin gate oxide of the internal circuit from ESD damage.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,601, Shiue discloses a method of forming an ESD protection device wherein a deeply doped region of opposite conductivity (P-type for NMOS) is formed under the center of the source and drain of the ESD protection device before silicidation. This device structure is similar to Hsue's but additionally avoids silicide degradation and increase of contact resistance, which results from the transportation of metal ions into the depleted region of the junction during the high-energy ESD implantation.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,114,226, Chang discloses a method of forming an ESD protection device including steps of covering the internal circuit and a portion of the silicide layer of the ESD protection device with a mask layer, etching the silicide layers uncovered by the mask layer to expose the conductive layer and a portion of the source/drain region, forming heavy P-type doped regions by ion implantation under the masking of the mask layer, and implementing another ion implantation to form an ESD implantation region under the entire drain region and enveloping the LDD structure. The heavy P-type ESD implantation region is located under a portion of the source/drain regions to form Zener junctions, which reduces the junction breakdown voltage. Moreover, the N-type ESD implantation avoids the ESD robustness degradation resulting from the LDD structure. However, the Zener junction formed by the P-type ESD implantation has a high leakage current and also increases the parasitic junction capacitance of the ESD protection device.
In mixed-voltage ICs, the core logic circuits operate at a low voltage level but the I/O circuits operate at a higher voltage level. The ESD implantation essential to the ESD protection device decreases the Zener junction breakdown voltage from 8V to 5V. As a result the ESD protection device becomes susceptible to faulty or unintentional triggered by noise or signal overshooting. In high-speed ICs, the parasitic junction capacitance of the ESD protection device is proportional to junction depletion depth. The P-type ESD implantation increases the junction capacitance of the Zener junction since the depletion width of the Zener junction in the ESD protection transistor is thinner than that of the device without the P-type implantation, which degrades the circuit speed of the I/O interface. Therefore, ESD protection devices with the P-type ESD implantation are not suitable for high-speed or mixed-voltage ICs.

Method of manufacturing an ESD protection device with the same mask for both LDD and ESD implantation


An uninterruptible power supply apparatus (1) drives a converter (6) at a relatively high frequency (fH) and supplies an output voltage (VDC) of the converter (6) directly to a load (23) when a load current (IL) is greater than a predetermined value (Ic), and drives the converter (6) at a relatively low frequency (fL), steps up the output voltage (VDC) of the converter (6) by a bidirectional chopper (11), and supplies the output voltage (VDC) of the converter (6) to the load (23) when the load current (IL) is smaller than the predetermined value (Ic).

For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-197347 (PTL 1) discloses a power supply apparatus including an AC/DC converter, a bidirectional chopper, and a DC/DC converter. The AC/DC converter includes a plurality of switching elements and a plurality of diodes each of which is connected in anti-parallel with a corresponding one of the plurality of switching elements.
During normal operation in which AC power is supplied from the AC power supply, the AC power from the AC power supply is converted to DC power by the AC/DC converter, and the DC power is supplied through the DC/DC converter to a load and is also stored through the bidirectional chopper in a power storage apparatus. During a power failure in which a supply of the AC power from the AC power supply is stopped, the DC power of the power storage apparatus is supplied to the load through the bidirectional chopper and the DC/DC converter.

TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION


A ball-shaped light heat generating fiber aggregate and a method for producing the same include a light heat generating material that is sprayed and applied to any one filament or a mixture of two or more filaments selected from the group consisting of a polyamide-based filament, a polyester-based filament, and a polypropylene-based filament, opening and mixing the same to separate the filaments, and producing a ball-shaped fiber aggregate.

Outdoor clothing has become more popular, such that outdoor products are already in the deep part of our life and virtually anyone can wear a goose down or duck down jumper to maintain their body temperature when the cold wind blows. Through the accurate information about outdoor products provided by many media, consumers have started to demand for outdoor products that are more suitable for everyday life than high-priced products with high functionality and heat retention for the extreme environment. These trends have resulted in the development of winter outdoor products that have the high functionality of providing heat retention, and being windproof and breathable as well as being thin and lightweight. Thus, their popularity is increasing day by day.
Accordingly, outdoor products with increased heat insulation are produced by a passive method of preventing the heat released from the human body from being lost to the outside and a positive method of utilizing the heat applied from the outside. The former method includes a method of keeping the heat generated from the body warm by the air layer of the fabric, a method of using an infrared reflective material which substantially does not radiate radiant heat released from the human body to the outside of the clothes, a method of using a material absorbing radiant heat released from the human body and the like. The latter method includes a method of introducing an electric heating material, a method of introducing a chemical reaction heat insulating material, and a method of introducing a solar light condensing heat insulating material into clothes.
However, most of the cold weather products currently on the market use a heat insulation method by the air layer among the former methods, which is to increase the thickness of the fabric constituting the clothes, causing the activity capability to be lowered. Feather, which is used for the inner insulator, is aggregated and exudated during washing so as to reduce the insulating ability and ruin their appearance.
In addition, goose down or duck down is mainly used as the feather, and mainly fluff and feather are mixed and used. The fluff is mainly obtained from the chest, under the lower part, under the neck, and under the wings of birds, which functions to enhance the heat-retaining property and tactility of the cold weather product. Feather improves the volume and fill-power to enhance the force of restoration. However, the virus readily spreads due to a little negligence, resulting in the frequent occurrence of avian influenza. It is a material limitedly obtained from birds. Thus, it is virtually impossible to supply products at low prices because it is difficult to produce large quantities of products.
Accordingly, in order to satisfy consumer needs of various classes, it is required to develop a general-purpose outdoor product and domestic materials therefor, which has superior functionality and price competitiveness as compared to the conventional material.
Korean Patent No. 10-1183949 discloses padding for an insulator by using and laminating synthetic fibers and mammal fur together. The padding includes a multi-layered insulator prepared by laminating a synthetic fiber layer and a mixed layer of a mammal fur and a synthetic fiber. Thus, it is a stable insulator in a form with a proper thickness without aggregation or fiber exudation. However, the process is troublesome because a separate facility is additionally required for supplying the mammal fur to the conventional padding production facility. Further, feather such as mammal fur is mixed with the synthetic fiber to reduce the merit of feather and to have lower price competitiveness than a conventional synthetic thermal insulator.
Further, fiber aggregates for fillers using general synthetic fibers are produced in a nonwoven web-type in which filaments are laminated in a certain thickness as disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-0405319.
However, when the nonwoven web-type is manufactured as described above, the size and shape of the nonwoven fabric web are fixed, resulting in poor usability, clumping, and deterioration of the force of restoration in long-term use.
In order to solve the problems of the conventional art as described above, a ball-shaped fiber aggregate has been recently developed, and its usage is gradually increasing. The ball-shaped fiber aggregate is produced by aggregating filaments in a ball-shaped formation. It is not a fixed shape like a nonwoven web-type and is an individually separate fiber aggregate such as down of a bird so that the ability to include air or the force of restoration is excellent.
However, the conventional ball-shaped fiber aggregate has only a passive thermal insulation effect depending on the ability to include air and is manufactured through many processes. Thus, there is a problem that the whiteness of the original fiber color is significantly lowered, the size of the fiber aggregate is not uniform, and the ball-shape advantage is impaired in the ability to include air or the force of restoration due to the high density.

Ball-shaped photoheating fiber composite and method for producing same


A multi-chip memory device includes a number of chips and a control circuit included in each of the chips and configured to generate an internal chip enable signal in response to set data stored therein and an external chip enable signal

Exemplary embodiments relate to a multi-chip memory device, and more particularly to a multi-chip memory device which is capable of improving efficiency by operating only the remaining chips if some chips fail.
Size and weight of electronic devices are getting smaller and lighter in line with the technological developments in the semiconductor industry in response to the customer needs. One technique for meeting such needs in the semiconductor industry is the multi-chip packaging technique. The multi-chip packaging technique as implied by the name is a technique for forming a package having a plurality of semiconductor chips within it. Use of a multi-chip package provides advantages in terms of smaller size, lighter weight, and reduced mounting area as compared to use of several packages each having one semiconductor chip packaged therein.
When one or more chips in a conventional multi-chip package fail, all chips in the package including those that did not fail end up being not used due to problems existing in the process. For example, in a multi-chip memory device having four chips 1CE to 4CE packaged therein, even if only one of the chips 1CE to 4CE were to fail, the entire multi-chip memory device including the chips 1CE to 4CE is treated as a fail.


A method and apparatus is used for gamut mapping to a printer gamut that includes receiving a narrow gamut, a wide gamut, a printer gamut for printing on a printer and a predetermined mapping between the narrow and printer gamuts, identifying overlapping areas in the wide gamut, the narrow and printer gamuts, determining when the narrow gamut overlaps areas of the wide gamut, utilizing the narrow gamut values when the determination provides overlapping areas of the narrow gamut and the wide gamuts, selecting a wide gamut interpolation point corresponding to the surface of the printer gamut when narrow gamut areas do not overlap the wide gamut according to the determination, selecting a narrow gamut interpolation point by mapping the narrow gamut to the printer gamut and interpolating the narrow gamut interpolation point and the wide gamut interpolation point expanding the narrow gamut values into the printer gamut.

The present invention relates to color gamut mapping different size color gamuts for printing.
The term "color gamut" or gamut generally is used to describe the complete range of colors an image contains or a device is able to render. It is sometimes referred to as a color gamut or the gamut color space associated with a printer or screen display device. Gamut mapping an image onto a screen or printer generally requires adjusting the colors of the image to fit in the constrained color gamut of the screen or printer. In some cases, the image being displayed does not have a wide range of colors and therefore does not fill or utilize the wider range of colors in the printer gamut or even the screen gamut. In other cases, the colors in an image are outside the narrow color gamut of a displaying device but can be printed on a color printer having a wider gamut.
These wider gamut color printers have grown in popularity as consumers desire to achieve professional or at least "prosumer" quality color printing. Newer applications are being created that send wider gamut images directly to these wider gamut printers and other output devices. The peer-to-peer color workflow used in these applications is advantageous as the wider printer gamuts are not limited by the intermediary and narrower gamut of a monitor or other display device. For example, cameras, palm tops, cell phones, Internet terminals and digital picture frames generate images using wider gamuts in YCC, Adobe RGB, bgRGB, scRGB, CIELAB, e-sRGB or ROMM digital representations. These devices are imaging enabled and connected to a printer directly or through a network or Internet connection and do not need to display images using a narrow gamut like sRGB.
Nonetheless, there does remain many legacy systems and applications that continue to use a workflow that transmits colors using the narrower (sRGB) and then gamut maps to the wider color gamut of a color printer. Even new systems and applications work in the more display-centric workflow using the sRGB gamut as the sRGB color space has become an industry standard in color transmission. In general, the sRGB narrow gamut will continue to serve the consumer market as it is inexpensive to implement, computationally efficient, and transparent to the end user. Printing with both sRGB, a relatively narrow gamut, and wider gamuts will likely coexist for the future as consumers very slowly migrate to wider gamut technologies.
Unfortunately, the coexistence of narrow and wide gamut technologies makes it difficult to print color images consistently on wide gamut printers. This is due to differences in gamut mapping from the newer wider gamut and the narrower sRGB technologies. Gamut mapping from a wider gamut to the printer gamut produces different results than gamut mapping from the sRGB used on a display to the same printer gamut.
In the first instance, a wide gamut application performs processing on the wide gamut information and then outputs the image data to the printer by gamut mapping between the wide gamut and the printer gamut; narrow gamut sRGB applications process narrow gamut information but instead perform gamut mapping from the narrow gamut to the printer gamut. The printed output differs on conventional systems due to the different types of gamut mapping and transformations performed. For example, conventional systems using sRGB cannot accurately represent the numerous dark chromatic colors as they are outside the narrow gamut space of sRGB.
There remains a need to be able to print color images consistently whether gamut mapping from a narrow gamut like sRGB or a wider gamut to the gamut of a printer.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The present invention relates to a system for wireless communication comprising a first transceiver circuitry (BS) connected to a plurality of virtual antenna ports of an antenna arrangement; each virtual antenna port is a combination of one or more physical antenna ports. The first transceiver circuitry (BS) is configured to: communicate with a second transceiver circuitry (UE) via the antenna ports of the antenna arrangement; receive primary beamshaping information related to a first link (Downlink) between the first transceiver circuitry (BS) and the second transceiver circuitry (UE); determine secondary beamshaping information related to a second link (Uplink) between the second transceiver circuitry (UE) and the first transceiver circuitry (BS); and apply at least one weight vector based on the primary and secondary beamshaping information for subsequent transmission of signals from the first transceiver circuitry (BS) via the plurality of virtual antenna ports of the antenna arrangement.

Beam forming has been studied in cellular applications for many years but has not been widely adopted in commercial systems so far. Now the situation appears to change and one example where beam forming is beginning to be commercially used is in TD-SCDMA in China. Further, LTE standardization seems to rely on beam forming as one basic component.
It is common to distinguish between two types of beam forming; a closed loop beam forming that is based on information obtained by the receiving part being fed back to the transmitting part, and a non-closed loop beam forming that is based on information determined from a signal received without a priori knowledge of the transmitting part.
In the closed loop beam forming, measurements are performed at the intended receiver of the transmission link targeting "optimization", and the measurements/metrics are fed back to the transmitter via a return transmission channel. The feedback measurements/metrics are planned to be used in the subsequent transmissions to "optimize" the transmission of a signal to the intended receiver that performed the measurements. The procedure implies an a priori defined sequence or protocol suite to be utilized. A detailed description of closed loop beam forming is presented in connection with FIG. 1a.
Examples are closed loop TX diversity in WCDMA and codebook based precoding in LTE, reference [1] chapter "6.4 Precoding" for up to 4 layers.
In the non-closed loop beam forming, measurements are performed on a received signal without a priori knowledge of the transmitting part, and the measurements/metrics are used for "optimizing" the transmission on a return channel, i.e. transmission from the measuring node to the previous transmitting party as receiver. This implies that measurements may be performed by the measuring node on any signal generated by the intended receiver to "optimize" transmission on the return channel even if the measurements are performed on a signal intended for any other node. A detailed description of non-closed loop beam forming is presented in connection with FIG. 1b.
A foundation for non-closed loop beam forming in LTE is given by the introduction of UE-specific reference signals as described in reference [1], chapter 6.10.3.
The published international application WO 01/69814 A1, reference [3], assigned to Nokia Networks OY, discloses a system that uses a closed loop a priori defined protocol suite according to the definition above for the used measurements. Specifically it is described according to the prior art methods defined in the 3GPP WCDMA standard for closed-loop Tx-diversity utilizing the available pilot signal structures. Described is also that this closed loop modes in a similar fashion may be extended to multiple-antennas beyond the two antenna method defined in 3GPP. Further, this closed-loop mode feedback is however the only measurements utilized in their "optimization" of the transmission channel, no additional measurements are utilized in that process.
A drawback with channel estimation in the prior art is that the channel estimation will be challenging at low levels of received SNR/SNIR, and further as a consequence creating less accurate momentarily preferred Tx-diversity/pre-coding antenna weight vectors jeopardizing the performance of multi-antenna modes.

System for wireless communication and a method for providing wireless communication


A deflection yoke for use with cathode ray tubes of the type in which one or more electron beams generated therein are deflected includes a magnetic core member and a selected wire winding thereon to produce a magnetic field for deflecting the beam. Each core has a winding axis defined thereon and each winding occurs along at least one segment having a given length along the winding axis. Each segment has a first end and an opposed second end and a middle portion defined therebetween. The winding pattern of each winding in accordance with the invention begins in the central portion of each segment and includes a first toroidal winding portion starting at this midpoint and extending in a first handed direction to a first segment end. The winding pattern includes an intermediate transition portion which extends from the first segment end to the second segment end. The winding pattern continues with a second toroidal winding portion extending from the second segment and to the middle starting point. It has now been discovered that by providing a conductive wire winding on the ferrite core which follows a helical path about a winding axis along the core, and which follows a winding pattern beginning in the middle portion of each winding segment and which is laid up to intentionally include certain wire crossovers, an improved CRT display raster characterized by reduced distortion and reduced ringing is provided.

The present invention generally relates to deflection yokes, and in particular, to deflection yokes for use with monochrome or color television receivers, wherein vertical deflection windings are toroidally wound on a ferrite core in a manner which substantially reduces or eliminates undesirable ringing and other unwanted distortion phenomena.
In conventional monochrome and color television receivers, a cathode ray tube (CRT) is provided with a deflection yoke assembly for deflecting electron beams generated within the CRT to produce a display raster. In the case of color television receivers, the deflection yoke performs the additional function of converging the beams provided by three separate electron guns. Typically, deflection yoke assemblies include a frusto-conical ferrite core dimensioned to surround the relatively narrow neck portion of the CRT which joins the flared portion of the tube envelope. Frequently, the deflection yoke includes a pair of diametrically opposed toroidally wound windings on the ferrite core for causing vertical deflection of electron beams, while a pair of saddle-shaped windings disposed between the interior surface of the core and the external surface of the envelope, provide horizontal deflection of the beam. As the quality of the display is greatly affected by the configuration and location of the deflection windings, much effort has been expended in developing winding distributions which provide displays of superior quality.
Since the path distances travelled by individual electrons of the electron beam vary according to the location on the screen to which the beam is directed, use of uniform magnetic deflection fields results in a distorted raster. Accordingly, non-uniform fields are used to obtain a non-distorted raster. Such non-uniform fields are produced by altering the shape of the deflection windings, as well as, the distribution of turns within individual windings. Cosine windings, wherein the turns density varies according to the cosine of an angle, constitute one form of distribution frequently used. Other winding distributions may also be used.
Once an acceptable winding distribution has been identified, it is necessary for a deflection yoke manufacturer to develop a method for accurately and economically reproducing the desired distribution over a large quantity of cores. One technique developed for this purpose is to attach plastic rings having notches, ridges, or pins to either or both edges of the ferrite core. The windings overlap the rings, which serve to maintain the position of the windings relative to the core. The technique is attractive, particularly where the winding distribution is complex, since it is relatively easy to accurately mold a great number of precisely dimensioned notches in the plastic rings. However, the additional manufacturing steps required undesirably increases manufacturing costs.
The invention described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,248 overcomes the disadvantages of prior techniques by directly providing at selected locations on the ferrite core a number of notches of preselected depth and width. In winding the deflection windings of the yoke, wire is placed on the core so that each notch is filled before winding commences on the next adjacent notch. The technique of forming notches directly on the core avoids the economic disadvantage associated with the installing plastic rings, and the relatively large dimension of each notch avoids the difficulty associated with accurately forming a large of number of small precisely dimensioned notches directly in the core, since dimensional changes resulting from shrinkage of the core during firing after casting are less significant with relatively larger notches.
The present invention in its broadest aspects relates to the discovery that by providing a conductive wire winding on the ferrite core which follows a helical path about a winding axis along the core, and which follows a winding pattern beginning in the middle portion of each winding segment and which is laid up to intentionally include certain wire crossovers, an improved display characterized by reduced distortion and reduced ringing is provided. Contrary to the prior art, which maintained that a linear wire winding pattern which avoided wire crossovers, provides windings having lower inter-wire capacitance and therefore improved display characteristics, it is now been discovered that improved anti-ringing performance is provided by a center-start, crossover switchback winding pattern which intentionally includes non-linear winding patterns on both notched and unnotched cores.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved deflection yoke for use with cathode-ray tubes.
Another object of the invention is to provide a deflection yoke which is economical to manufacture and which is characterized by superior anti-ringing performance.

Deflection yoke with anti-ringing winding core slots


Generally annular full tape thickness conductors are formed in single or multiple tape layers, and then stacked to produce an annular solid conductive wall for enclosing an electromagnetic isolation cavity. The conductors may be formed using punch and fill operations, or by flowing conductor-containing material onto the tape edge surfaces that define the interior sidewalls of the cavity.

Applications for LTCC technology have been expanding as flat board technology has been augmented with three-dimensional features including cavities, channels, solid tubes, formed shapes, sacrificial volume materials (SVM) and various embedded components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors and heat sinks. See generally U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,494,557 and 7,155,812, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Recently, techniques have been developed for fabricating continuous EMI full tape thickness features (FTTF). These are based on via fill technology and use the full thickness of the tape to improve performance. In the case of conductors, this is accomplished by substituting full thickness lines for surface-printed traces that are typically much thinner. FIG. 1 shows the increased cross-sectional thickness provided by FTTF as compared to a surface printed trace (designated as a thick film line feature in FIG. 1). FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of a tape having features similar to the middle tape in the stack of FIG. 1. As indicated in FIG. 1, the increased cross-sectional area results in correspondingly reduced resistivity. The result is paths with very low resistance. FTTF technology has also been used to produce fences for EMI structures that are superior to traditional via fences because of their ability to block more line-of-sight radiation.
It is desirable to provide for improvements in the use of FTTF technology in EMI structures.

Full tape thickness feature conductors for EMI structures


A scanning optical apparatus includes: two light source units; a deflecting unit for deflecting two light beams for scanning; and two imaging optical systems disposed corresponding to the two light beams, in which: the two imaging optical systems form images of the two light beams on photosensitive members of different hues; the two imaging optical systems are disposed to be opposed with respect to the deflecting unit in a sub-scanning cross section; and a reflectance of a first reflecting optical element disposed in an optical path between the photosensitive member and the deflection surface passed by a light beam corresponding to an image of a hue having low brightness is lower than a reflectance of a second reflecting optical element disposed in an optical path between the photosensitive member and the deflection surface passed by a light beam corresponding to an image of a hue having high brightness.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scanning optical apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the scanning optical apparatus, which are suitable for an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer, a digital copying machine, and a multifunction printer which use an electrophotographic process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in a scanning optical apparatus of the laser beam printer (LBP) or the digital copying machine, a light beam emitted from a light source unit after being modulated in accordance with an image signal is deflected periodically by a deflecting element (optical deflector) constituted of a polygon mirror. Then, the deflected light beam is condensed like a spot onto a recording medium surface of a photosensitive drum or the like by an imaging optical system having an fθ characteristic so as to scan the surface for recording an image.
There is known a color image forming apparatus including a tandem type scanning optical apparatus that includes multiple scanning and imaging functions described above, and optically scans the surfaces to be scanned corresponding to different hues simultaneously by different light beams (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2002-196269 and 2005-084565). The tandem type scanning optical apparatus used for the color image forming apparatus has multiple light source units, and multiple light beams from the multiple light source units enter one or more deflecting elements. In this case, the multiple light beams enter the deflecting element at angles with respect to each of a deflection surface and a surface that includes a rotation axis of the deflecting element and is orthogonal to the deflection surface. Then, after passing through one or more imaging lenses, the light beams are reflected and separated by a mirror or the like, so that multiple light spots of the light beams simultaneously scan multiple different surfaces to be scanned, respectively.
In this tandem type scanning optical apparatus, when one of scanning optical systems scans using the light beam, the light beam reflected by the lens surface of the imaging lens may enter another scanning optical system on the opposing side with respect to the deflecting element and may reach a surface to be scanned to be light of ghost or light of flare. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-196269 discloses a case where a tandem type scanning optical apparatus is provided with a light shielding member that shields light of ghost entering a vicinity of the deflecting element from the scanning optical system in the opposing direction. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-084565 discloses a case where a tandem type scanning optical apparatus is provided with a mirror having a low reflectance (light amount reducing unit) disposed between a scanning optical element closest to the surface to be scanned and the deflecting element, so as to reduce light of ghost generated from the scanning optical element closest to the surface to be scanned.
In the method of reducing light of ghost (light of flare) using the light shielding member as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-196269, the light shielding member disposed in the vicinity of the deflecting element is close to the deflecting element itself or an effective light beam. For this reason, it is difficult to shield the light of ghost completely. In the method of reducing light of ghost using the light amount reducing unit as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-084565, it is possible to reduce light of ghost generated from the scanning optical element closest to the surface to be scanned. However, light of ghost generated from an optical element closer to the deflecting element than the mirror having a low reflectance cannot be reduced.
In the tandem type scanning optical apparatus in which multiple scanning optical systems are disposed to be opposed with respect to the deflecting element, it is important for forming an accurate image to prevent a light beam entering from the opposing side with respect to the deflecting element from becoming light of flare or light of ghost with a simple method. In particular, as for a color image forming apparatus, even if light of ghost slightly enters a photosensitive surface corresponding to an image of a hue having low brightness, for example, a black image, the light of ghost can be visual, with the result that image quality is deteriorated.

Scanning optical apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same


A vehicle cabin lighting apparatus includes a monitor 1 mounted to a ceiling of a vehicle cabin, a monitor folding-or-unfolding detecting means 2 for detecting whether the monitor is placed in a folded or unfolded state, and a monitor control means 3 for determining whether the monitor is placed in a video display mode or lighting mode based on a detection output of the monitor folding-or-unfolding detecting means, for controlling the operation of the monitor according to a result of the determination, and for applying, as illumination light, light emitted out of the monitor to the vehicle cabin when the monitor is placed in the lighting mode.

In general, a vehicle has room light which is disposed nearly on the center of the ceiling thereof in order to illuminate the whole of the cabin of the vehicle, and which is made to be switched on or off according to a passenger's switching operation or opening or closing of a door. Since such a vehicle cabin lighting apparatus aims at lighting the interior of a vehicle cabin at night or the like, the lightness and hue of light emitted out of the vehicle cabin lighting apparatus are fixed and it is not necessary to change them in particular.
There have been proposed, as related art vehicle cabin lighting apparatus, a display for displaying information on the operation of a vehicle which is disposed in the cabin ceiling of the vehicle so that the driver on the driver's seat can visually recognize an image displayed on the display via a reflecting mirror placed in the front of the driver's seat (for example, refer to patent reference 1), and a monitor display apparatus for vehicle-mounted camera which is used for lighting the vicinity of the driver's seat (for example, refer to patent reference 2).
[Patent reference 1] JP, 6-35801, Y
[Patent reference 2] JP, 7-17647, U
A problem with the above-mentioned related art vehicle cabin lighting apparatus is, however, that since they aim at lighting the interior of a vehicle cabin at night or the like, and the lightness and hue of light emitted out of the vehicle cabin lighting apparatus are fixed and it is not necessary to change them in particular, they cannot structurally emit light having an arbitrary amount falling within a variable range and an arbitrary tone, and, even in the case of above-mentioned patent references 1 and 2, since they simply make it possible for the driver to visually recognize an image displayed on a display for displaying information on the operation of the vehicle via a reflecting mirror placed in the front of the driver's seat, or simply use the light emitted out of the display for lighting the vicinity of the driver's seat, they cannot structurally and effectively use the image light from the monitor (e.g., a liquid crystal display) mounted to the ceiling of the vehicle for lighting the cabin of the vehicle.
The present invention is made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle cabin lighting apparatus which can light the whole of a vehicle cabin and can emit light having an arbitrary amount falling within a variable range and an arbitrary tone so as to provide lighting representation which is in agreement with passengers'feelings or the atmosphere of the cabin for the passengers, and which can also change the light pattern, light color, or the like according to the status of the vehicle so that the vehicle cabin lighting apparatus can serve as an alarm and safety apparatus which notifies the status of the vehicle to the passengers in the cabin and persons outside the cabin.


A biofertilizer is disclosed that include specific formulations of algae biomass and a mycorrhizal fungus. This biofertilizer may be a useful way of utilizing algae biomass created for carbon sequestration purposes for a productive agricultural purpose. The combination of algae biomass and mycorrhizal fungus may provide advantageous effects to a crop, as the algae may be a nutrient source for both the crop itself and also for the mycorrhizal fungus that allows the fungus to grow and form a mycorrhizal relationship with the root system of the crop. The biofertilizer may be pelletized with rice hull filler and have a specific range of moisture content, so as to be compatible to agricultural fertilizer delivery equipment. Methods of manufacturing the pelletize biofertilizer are also provided.

The present disclosure relates to the field of agricultural biofertilizers and their manufacture. In particular, this disclosure relates to algae based biofertilizers that may be used to enhance crop productivity.
Agricultural fertilizers are widely used to promote crop growth—for staple crops such as wheat, corn, cotton, soybeans, and many others. Generally, fertilizers deliver nutrients to soil, that allow a crop to better grow and develop in that soil. Fertilizers include organic fertilizers, that are derived from living organisms, such as animal manure or compost. Fertilizers may also be artificial in nature, created through chemical processes such as nitrogen fertilizers made through the Haber-Bosch process. A wide range of fertilizer formulations are known in the art of agricultural sciences.
Additionally, the use of algae as part of fertilizer formulations is known in the art. Algae biomass may be used for a wide variety of applications, including fertilizers, biofuels, bioplastics, and many others. Algae biomass is also considered an excellent way to reduce net carbon emissions, as its high growth rate can efficiently absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide.
In this way, there is a need in the art for ways to best utilize algae biomass after it has sequestered carbon dioxide. Conventional uses for large amounts of algae biomass, such as biofuels, may not always be economical in view of changing energy market conditions. At the same time, existing algae based fertilizers may not best promote crop growth and may not integrate well with existing agricultural infrastructure.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved algae based biofertilizer formulations.

Biofertilizer formulation from algae and related methods


In a method and an apparatus for replacing old underground conduits (4), the old conduit (4) is first laid bare with the aid of a ground drilling device (8) with an overdrilling head and then, in turn, a new conduit (5) is drawn in with the aid of the drill rods (7) and at the same time—in a uniform operating step—the old conduit is pulled out of the ground.

The invention relates to a method of replacing old underground conduits, which involves initially laying bare the old conduit, without altering its course in the ground, and then removal thereof from the ground and drawing in a new conduit, and which claims the priority of German patent application 10 2006 043 772.1, the content of which is incorporated by reference.
Methods of this type are known; German Patent document 195 04 484 C1 describes a device for removing buried cables with the aid of a ring-shaped drill head moving over the cable and equipped with nozzles for a flushing liquid. Soil surrounding the cable or several cables is washed away with the assistance of the nozzles to thereby expose the cable which then can be pulled out from the ground. The device has an eccentric connection for a hollow rod assembly comprised of individual rod sections connected to one another. The hollow rod assembly meets two tasks; Firstly, it supplies the device with flushing liquid, and secondly, it propels the device between a starting pit on one hand and a destination pit on the other hand.
When the device has washed the conduit free and reached the destination pit, the exposed cable is pulled out of the created borehole and, after removal of the flushing device, a connection adapter is secured to the rod assembly for attachment of one or more conduits. These conduits are then pulled into the flushing borehole with the aid of the rod assembly in the direction of the starting pit.
A further multistage method for trenchless replacement of underground conduits is described in the German patent document 102 11 833 (GB patent document 2 386 767). This device is additionally equipped with a boring bit and a further tool on its rearward end. It lays bare the buried conduit in the described manner and permits the exposed conduit to be pulled out from the flushing borehole. The old conduit can hereby be connected with a new conduit in order to be able to execute in a single operating cycle the withdrawal of the old conduit and the pulling in of the new conduit. How and when the drill rods are removed from the flushing borehole is not described.

Method and apparatus for replacing old underground conduits


A system generates screenshots of a graphical user interface (GUI) of an application that is displayed by target devices testing the application. Each screenshot includes an image of the GUI and metadata indicative of elements of the GUI present in the image or a state of the application or target device when the image is generated. The system determines, based on the metadata of a screenshot from a first set of the screenshots and the metadata of a screenshot from a second set of the screenshots, whether the screenshots are similar and if so, the system assigns the screenshot from the second set of screenshots to a cluster that includes the screenshot from the first set of screenshots. The system outputs an indication of the cluster (e.g., a notification or graphical indication) indicative of the similarity or discrepancy between the screenshots.

Before releasing an application to end users, a software developer or designer may test the application to understand how the application will appear and function when executed in an execution environment provided by a target device. Some such software testing may involve exercising the application, using a test system, in a variety of different execution environments provided by a variety of different target devices. That is, a test system may generate input to an application that simulates inputs (e.g., gesture inputs, text inputs, or other inputs) that may be provided by a user. The test system may use actual production devices that are flashed or otherwise loaded with tester-defined software and/or firmware configurations thereby enabling testing of the application across a broad range of devices and device configurations that may be used by different end users.
A test system may output, as test results, screenshots of a graphical user interface (GUI) that an application causes to be displayed on a target device during application testing. The test system may output a set of screenshots for each execution environment in which the application is exercised and each set of screenshots may have a large quantity of images. A software developer or designer may analyze the screenshots across the different sets to identify issues, anomalies, or otherwise understand how the appearance of the GUI may change according to changes in execution environments and/or target devices at which the GUI is displayed. Some software developers or designers may be burdened with the overwhelming task of manually sifting through multiple sets of screenshots to validate an application's design and operation.

Determining application test results using screenshot metadata


The present invention provides an adhesive preparation superior in adhesion property, which does not peel off or fall off easily and which can be adhered for a long time. An adhesive preparation 10 has a support 1 made of a cloth, and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer 3 formed on one surface of the support 1, which contains a pressure sensitive adhesive and a drug. The ratio (CW/AW) of a mass (CW) per unit area of the support 1 and a mass (AW) per unit area of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer 3 is 1.0-5.0, an adhesive layer-free surface of the support 1 has a static friction coefficient of 0.25-0.75, and a 20% modulus (AM) in one direction of the adhesive preparation 10 and a 20% modulus (EM) in the direction perpendicular to that direction are each 0.5-1.5 N/cm, and the ratio thereof (AM/EM) is 0.5-2.0.

In recent years, adhesive preparations comprising a plastic thin layer film mainly made of polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene as a support, and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer comprising an adhesive and a drug, which is formed on one side of the support, have been widely used. As an adhesive preparation, for example, a systemic or topical transdermally absorptive adhesive preparation, a flexible plaster containing an inflammatory analgesic and the like can be mentioned. However, in some of the transdermally absorptive adhesive preparations, a part of an adhesive may extrude from the periphery of a support due to cold flow, and the extruded adhesive may attach to and stain clothes during application, and an adhesive preparation may often peel off during putting on or taking off clothes. In addition, a glue may often remain on the skin along the periphery of an adhesive preparation during peeling off. On the other hand, since the friction of a surface free of an adhesive layer of the support of plaster is high, an adhesive preparation may be inconveniently peeled off and fall off during putting on/taking off clothes. It may happen, moreover, that a plaster has sufficient flexibility and stretchability in a certain direction but poor flexibility and stretchability in the direction perpendicular thereto, which in turn may result in foreign body sensation during adhesion, and peeling off or falling off of the plaster due to insufficient flexibility and stretchability of the bending part.
To improve such defects of conventional adhesive preparations, the following methods have been proposed. For example, as a method for preventing extrusion of a part of an adhesive from the periphery of a support due to cold flow, a method of limiting flowability by crosslinking a polymer constituting an adhesive with a reactive substance and the like (JP-B-2700835 and JP-B-3014188), a method of limiting flowability by the use of a support film having good affinity with an adhesive (JP-B-6-35381 and JP-B-7-25665), a method of suppressing flowability by physical disorder by laminating a cloth such as non-woven fabric and the like on a support film (JP-B-3081858 and JP-B-2886021) and the like have been proposed. According to the methods described in JP-B-2700835, JP-B-3014188, JP-B-6-35381, JP-B-7-25665, JP-B-3081858 and JP-B-2886021, the inconvenience of extrusion of a part of an adhesive from the periphery of a support due to cold flow can be almost resolved, but due to the use of a poorly stretchable member as a support, problems occur in that the followability to the movement of the skin is poor, foreign body sensation occurs considerably during adhesion, and application to a bending part is difficult, thus limiting the adhesion site.
As a method for improving the problem of sufficient flexibility and stretchability in a certain direction but poor flexibility and stretchability in the direction perpendicular thereto, there have been proposed a method of providing an adhesive preparation having a 50% modulus in one direction of 10-600 g/cm (JP-A-5-238931), a method of providing an adhesive preparation of a laminate having a stretchable support and an adhesive layer, wherein the load at 50% elongation in the long side direction and the short side direction is 0.98-14.71 N/5 cm (WO01/095889), a method of providing an adhesive preparation showing a strength in the longitudinal direction of 200 g-3 kg and a strength in the transverse direction of 100 g-600 g in a 30% modulus test under the measurement conditions of elongation strength of 200 mm/min, using a test piece obtained by cutting an adhesive sheet having a stretchable polyester woven fabric as a support into a 50 mm wide, 200 mm long piece (JP-B-3499247) and the like. However, according to the methods described in JP-A-5-238931 and WO01/095889, the adhesive preparation is elongated too much and is not suitable for prediction of foreign body sensation and comfortableness during actual adhesion, and the adhesive preparation described in JP-B-3499247 causes foreign body sensation depending on the adhesion state because the 30% moduli in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction are different. In addition, as a method of reducing the friction of a support, there have been proposed a method of providing an adhesive preparation wherein a support has a static friction coefficient of 0.5-2.5 (WO02/100384) and the like. However, when the static friction coefficient of the support exceeds 0.75, the friction becomes too high and the adhesive preparation may peel off or sometimes fall off because of the friction with clothes.


A method of manufacturing a driveshaft for use in a vehicular drive train system includes the initial step of providing an inner tube including a portion having a plurality of splines formed therein. A portion of an outer tube is then disposed about the portion of the inner tube in an overlapping or telescoping manner, preferably in a press fit relationship. Next, portions of the outer tube are deformed radially inwardly about the inner tube. The radially inwardly deformed portions of the outer tube that extend between the external splines of the inner tube define internal splines on the outer tube. The internal splines formed on the outer tube cooperate with the external splines formed on the inner tube to provide a rotational driving connection between the inner tube and the outer tube, while normally preventing relative axial movement therebetween. However, if a relatively large axial force is applied to the ends of the driveshaft assembly, some or all of the splines will deform, allowing relative axial movement to occur between the inner tube and the outer tube. The splines may extend parallel to the rotational axis of the inner and outer tubes, or alternatively may be tapered relative to the inner tube.

This invention relates in general to drive train systems for transferring rotational power from a source of rotational power to a rotatably driven mechanism. In particular, this invention relates to an improved driveshaft assembly for use in such a drive train system that is axially collapsible in the event of a collision to absorb energy and a method for manufacturing same.
Torque transmitting shafts are widely used for transferring rotational power from a source of rotational power to a rotatably driven mechanism. For example, in most land vehicles in use today, a drive train system is provided for transmitting rotational power from an output shaft of an engine/transmission assembly to an input shaft of an axle assembly so as to rotatably drive the wheels of the vehicle. To accomplish this, a typical vehicular drive train system includes a hollow cylindrical driveshaft tube. A first universal joint is connected between the output shaft of the engine/transmission assembly and a first end of the driveshaft tube, while a second universal joint is connected between a second end of the driveshaft tube and the input shaft of the axle assembly. The universal joints provide a rotational driving connection from the output shaft of the engine/transmission assembly through the driveshaft tube to the input shaft of the axle assembly, while accommodating a limited amount of misalignment between the rotational axes of these three shafts.
A recent trend in the development of passenger, sport utility, pickup truck, and other vehicles has been to design the various components of the vehicle in such a manner as to absorb energy during a collision, thereby providing additional safety to the occupants of the vehicle. As a part of this trend, it is known to design the drive train system of vehicles so as to be axially collapsible so as to absorb energy during a collision. To accomplish this, the driveshaft tube may be formed as an assembly of first and second driveshaft sections that are connected together for concurrent rotational movement during normal operation, yet are capable of moving axially relative to one another when a relatively large axially compressive force is applied thereto, such as can occur during a collision. A variety of such axially collapsible driveshaft assemblies are known in the art.
It has been found to be desirable to design axially collapsible driveshaft assemblies of this general type such that a predetermined amount of force is required to initiate the relative axial movement between the two driveshaft sections. It has further been found to be desirable to design these axially collapsible driveshaft assemblies such that a predetermined amount of force (constant in some instances, varying in others) is required to maintain the relative axial movement between the two driveshaft sections. However, it has been found somewhat difficult to accurately control the amount of force that is required to initiate and subsequently maintain the axially collapsing of known driveshaft assemblies. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved driveshaft assembly for use in a drive train system that is axially collapsible in the event of a collision to absorb energy and a method for manufacturing same.
This invention relates to an improved driveshaft assembly for use in a drive train system that is axially collapsible in the event of a collision to absorb energy and a method for manufacturing same. The driveshaft assembly includes an inner tube that is received within an outer tube in an overlapping or telescoping manner. A plurality of external splines are formed on the inner tube, such as by deforming portions of the inner tube radially inwardly. Then, the outer tube is disposed about the inner tube, preferably in a press fit relationship. Next, portions of the outer tube are deformed radially inwardly about the inner tube. The radially inwardly deformed portions of the outer tube that extend between the external splines of the inner tube define internal splines on the outer tube. The internal splines formed on the outer tube cooperate with the external splines formed on the inner tube to provide a rotational driving connection between the inner tube and the outer tube, while normally preventing relative axial movement therebetween. However, if a relatively large axial force is applied to the ends of the driveshaft assembly, some or all of the splines will deform, allowing relative axial movement to occur between the inner tube and the outer tube. The splines may extend parallel to the rotational axis of the inner and outer tubes, or alternatively may be tapered relative to the inner tube.
Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

Method of manufacturing an axially collapsible driveshaft assembly