A directional hearing aid (100) comprising at least two microphones (201, 202) has means (200) for matching differences in amplitude and phase between the two microphones (201, 202). The microphone matching means (200) compare differences between measured transfer functions of the microphone signal paths at a number of frequencies during use of the hearing aid (100), compares the differences to differences at similar frequencies in a model of the transfer functions of the microphone signal paths, derives a set of parameters based on the comparison, and adjusts the parameters in order to minimize the difference in level differences between the model and the microphones (201, 202). The model is then used to match the microphones (201, 202) mutually by applying appropriate control parameters (103, 104, 105, 106) to an adaptive matching filter (108) carrying one of the microphone signals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to hearing aids. More specifically, it relates to digital hearing aids comprising two or more microphones in the audio signal path.
2. The Prior Art
Hearing aids with directional capabilities usually employ two or more microphones to permit the hearing aid to process incoming sounds according to direction in order to achieve increased sensitivity towards sound coming from a particular direction, or range of directions. In this process the hearing aid relies on differences in arrival time and sound level among the microphones. A hearing aid with a directional capability makes it easier for the hearing aid user to perceive a sound coming from a particular direction, as sounds from other directions are suppressed to some extent.
The term "directivity" is used throughout this application. This term signifies the capability of a hearing aid to favor sound originating from a particular direction or range of directions over sound originating from other directions. Physically, the definition of hearing aid directivity is the ratio between the output level due to sound from the favored direction and the output level due to sound averaged over the spherical integral from all directions, typically expressed in dB.
In order for a directional microphone system using omni-directional microphones to function to a reasonable degree of satisfaction it is necessary that the parameters of the individual microphones have been matched very closely to each other. The matching may be achieved in the production stage, e.g. by the careful selection of paired microphones, or, in the case of powerful digital processors, it may be achieved by adapting the processor to compensate for a difference in phase characteristics as measured individually with the particular set of microphones.
Directional microphone systems relying on arrival time differences must resolve minute differences in phase between the front and rear microphone signals in order to control the overall directional sensitivity of the combined front and rear microphone signals, especially at lower frequencies. A directional characteristic is in principle obtained by delaying the signal from the front microphone appropriately and subtracting the delayed microphone signal from the signal from the rear microphone. This requires that phase characteristics of the individual omni-directional microphones have been matched closely to each other.
From EP 1191817 A1 is known a hearing aid with adaptive microphone matching. This prior art hearing aid comprises means for comparing the signal levels from at least two microphones for the purpose of reducing the difference in the microphone signal levels. This matching only deals with differences in amplitude between the microphones, and does not take phase differences between the microphone signals into account.
US 2002/0034310 A1 describes a system for adaptively matching sensitivities of microphones in multi-microphone systems, e.g. in a directional hearing aid. The system utilizes a delay unit, a set of band-split filters, and means for scaling the microphone signals appropriately to match the sensitivities. This scaling is a band-level scaling at various frequencies only, and does not take phase differences into account.
From US 2004/0057593 A1 is known a hearing aid and a method for adaptive matching of microphones in the hearing aid. The method utilizes a feedback loop with a long time constant for matching the amplitude of the signal of the microphones. A fixed filter is used to match one of the microphones to the other microphone at manufacture, but means for changing the filter parameters at a later time are not incorporated. The matching of the microphones is not very accurate, and does not take phase variations into account.
EP 1458216 A2 describes an apparatus and a method for adapting microphones in hearing aids. The apparatus for performing microphone adaptation comprises a calibrated reference microphone, and the method of adapting the hearing aid microphone is carried out during manufacture of the hearing aid. The microphone adaptation described in EP 1 458 216 A2 does not take variations due to ageing of the microphones etc. into account.
If, during the service life of the hearing aid, the characteristics of the individual microphones change for some reason, e.g. ageing, temperature, humidity, or other factors, a matching of phase characteristics between the microphones provided in the production stage may no longer be accurate, with the potential result of a corruption of the directivity of the microphone system. This is, of course, an unacceptable situation and a need thus exists for a device or a method to keep the matching of the phase characteristics of the microphones within a certain tolerance throughout the service life of the hearing aid.
Known measures to prevent microphones from drifting over time include pre-ageing the microphones prior to assembly of the hearing aid in order to minimize drift over time during service life. Pre-ageing the microphones does not take the dependency of temperature, humidity or other environmental factors into account.
However, changes in the signal path that may occur over time cannot be taken into account. These changes in the signal path may, for example, originate from changes in temperature, humidity, component ageing, the replacement of one or both microphones by repair, etc.
If the microphones are selected among types of microphones with a frequency pole placed in the very low end of the frequency spectrum, e.g. 20-40 Hz, any differences in microphone poles essentially only affect the amplitude of the transfer function since any effects on the phase will only have effect at frequencies below the frequency range where the directional microphone system has to function.
Unfortunately, very low-frequency poles in a microphone mean that the microphone itself has a very high sensitivity in the vicinity of the pole, i.e. the range 20-40 Hz in the example in the foregoing. In a hearing aid, a high sensitivity to low frequencies in the microphones creates problems in many situations. Low frequencies are, for instance, not needed for conveying the perception of speech, and are thus in hearing aids considered unwanted signals. Low frequency noise sources nevertheless occur in many situations in modern society, e.g. when driving an automobile, or when exposed to wind noise in the outdoors. Microphones with a high sensitivity to low frequencies are easily brought into a state of saturation or acoustic overloading, wherein the microphone diaphragm itself reaches the limits of its suspension by the movements inflicted by the low frequency air pressure variations. When saturated, the microphone is prohibited from conveying sound efficiently, and a listener gets the impression that the sound has been suddenly cut off, or at least severely distorted.
Microphones having less sensitivity to low frequencies are thus to be preferred in hearing aids. However, this means poles at somewhat higher frequencies, and thereby rising importance of an accurate matching of phase characteristics.
The prior art methods of matching are either not sufficiently accurate, or they are unfit for matching any microphones but those having low-frequency poles. If microphones having less sensitivity to low frequencies—and thus poles placed higher in the frequency spectrum—are to be used, a more effective approach to matching the microphones is needed. This approach should preferably be independent of the placement of the poles in a given set of microphones, and thus freely allow matching of arbitrary microphones including those with poles at higher frequencies.
The system consisting of the microphone and the subsequent RC filter stage may be modeled with one of several approaches. The transfer function of the model may comprise only the most dominant pole of the system, resulting in a simple first order model, or it may take into account both the pole of the microphone itself and the pole of the RC filter stage, resulting in a more complex second order model. Utilizing a second-order model incorporating both the microphone and the RC filter stage complicates the matching process somewhat because a second-order system is more complicated, and thus takes more resources to model. On the other hand, it offers the prospect of a more refined matching, and allows an additional degree of freedom in the selection of microphones to be incorporated into the system.
To address the problem of achieving an accurate matching of both the amplitude and the phase of the microphones, an adaptive matching during use of the microphones, or ideally of the entire analog part of the signal path, must be made. This may be achieved by using an accurate matching system matching the microphones during use.

System and method for adaptive microphone matching in a hearing aid


A method of retrieving product information and ordering products is disclosed. A consumer observes a product in its real world usage context and scans an RFID tag embedded in the product. A mobile terminal is used to transmit the RFID tag to a computer connected to a computer network. The computer transmits product specification information to the mobile terminal. The consumer may also be given the option of purchasing the product in real time.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to the field of consumer purchasing. More particularly, the invention provides methods and systems that allow a user to obtain real time information about products observed while the products are being utilized and to purchase the products.
2. Related Information
Consumers often observe products while the products are being utilized. It is not uncommon for a consumer to desire to obtain more information about the product or even to purchase a product while observing the product. Generally, the consumer must try to remember information identifying the product and then conduct research at a later time to obtain more information about the product. For example, the consumer may go to a store or a visit a web site and attempt to locate information about the product. Unfortunately, it may be difficult for a consumer to remember that they observed a product that was of interest to them or to remember enough information to later identify the product.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a system that allows consumers to obtain information and purchase products in real time while observing the products as they are being utilized.
The present invention provides systems and methods that reduce the gap between where consumers use products and where consumers purchase products. The advantages of the present invention are provided by a method of obtaining information about a product. The method includes the steps of observing a product while the product is being utilized and reading a tag embedded in the product to obtain product identifying information. The product identifying information is transmitted to a computer connected to a computer network. Product specification information is then received from the computer.
In one implementation, the tag comprises a radio frequency identification tag and the reading step comprises scanning the tag with a radio frequency receiver.
The method may also include the step of purchasing the product by transmitting order information to the computer.
In another embodiment of the invention, a method of identifying and rewarding consumers who display products to other consumers is provided. The method includes the step of storing, in a database, an RFID code of a tag embedded in a product and the identification of a first consumer who purchased the product. A request for product specification information including the RFID code is received from a second consumer. The database is searched with the RFID code to identify the first consumer and a reward is provided to the first consumer. The reward may include a commission for sales made to the second consumer. Alternatively, the reward includes a discount on future purchases.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, a mobile terminal configured to obtain product specification information is provided. The mobile terminal includes a receiver that detects radiation reflected by a tag embedded in a product and a communication circuit in wireless communication with a computer network. A controller is configured to receive tag information from the receiver and cause the communication circuit to transmit the tag information to a computer connected to the computer network.


A surface treatment for a R-TM-X type of permanent magnet comprising the steps: Etching the magnet with nitric acid having a concentration of 0.2 to 10 vol %, then etching the magnet with a mixture of oxygenated water having a hydrogen peroxide concentration of 0.2 to 10 vol % and acetic acid having a concentration of 10-30 vol %, and next plating the magnet with a copper plating initially followed by a nickel plating. R represents an element or a mixture of rare earth elements, TM is mainly composed of iron and transition elements other than iron and X represents one or more of a mixture of elements to enhance the coercivity of the magnet. This improvement of the magnet material itself improves the corrosion resistance of the protective film on the magnet surface.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement of surface treatment for an iron-based permanent magnet including rare-earth elements.
More particularly the invention presents a permanent magnet exhibiting high resistivity against mechanical attack, thermal attack and/or chemical attack, as well as comprising superior magnetic properties.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Permanent magnet materials are very important electric and/or electronic materials to be incorporated in various equipment such as consumer electronic equipment used in homes or in a peripheral terminal device for a large scale computer.
Recently, in an attempt to reduce size and enhance efficiency of permanent magnet materials have been sought.
As a new type of high efficiency magnet which does not include highly expensive samarium and cobalt, a R-Fe-B type (R: one element or a mixture of rare-earth elements including yttrium) was proposed.
This type of magnet exhibits an extremely high energy product value, (BH)max of 25 MGOe or more. The magnet contains light rare-earth such as Nd and/or Pr and Fe as its main constituent element.
A sintered magnet of Nd-Fe-B type is disclosed in Japan Laid Open Patent Application 59-46008. A bulk magnet of Nd-Fe-B type made from rapidly quenched metal flakes (Rapidly Quenched Type of Magnet, hereinafter) is disclosed in Japan Laid Open Patent Application 60-9852.
Although these magnets exhibit magnetic anisotropy and have a high energy product of 25 MGOe or more, they are inferior to samarium-cobalt magnets with respect to corrosion resistance, because these magnets include rare-earth elements and also iron, both of which are easily oxidized and form red rust on their surfaces. The efficiency of the magnet and the uniformity of magnetic properties will decrease when these magnets suffer corrosion.
In order to prevent corrosion of these Nd-Fe-B type of magnets, various methods have been proposed to produce a corrosion resistive film on the surface of these magnets.
However, the reliability of these corrosion resistive films is reduced when the adhesion of the corrosion resistive film to the magnet surface is not sufficient, even if the corrosion resistive film still covers the surface of the magnet. It is important to firmly fix the corrosion resistive film to the surface of the magnet.
It seems that no effective improvement was proposed previously to make the adhesiveness of the film to the magnet body stronger by improving the alloy composition itself.

Surface treatment for iron-based permanent magnet including rare-earth element


A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the following steps. First, a semiconductor substrate is provided, and a first region, a second region and a third region are defined thereon. Then, a first well having a first conductive type is formed in the semiconductor substrate of the first region and the second region, respectively. A semiconductor layer partially overlapping the first well of the second region is formed. Furthermore, a second well having a second conductive type is formed in the semiconductor substrate of the third region and the first well of the second region respectively, where the second well of the second region is disposed underneath the semiconductor layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device having a semiconductor layer used for adjusting the depth of a well, and the method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) is a kind of non-volatile memory. EEPROM can retain data even when the electricity supply is removed as well as having a re-record function. With the trend towards scaling down the size and increasing the integration of semiconductor devices, electronic products usually include a various internal semiconductor devices for meeting the requirements of low power consumption, fast response and low cost. Furthermore, each semiconductor device has its own performance and particular manufacturing process demands.
EEPROM may include metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors (MOS) and Schottky diodes. A Schottky diode is constructed by a metal-to-semiconductor interface where this interface is known to have rectifying characteristics. Moreover, a Schottky diode provides rectification as a result of unipolar current transport across the metal-semiconductor contact. For example, a Schottky diode's voltage drop at a forward bias of about 1 mA is in the rage of 0.15 V to 0.45 V, while the conventional silicon diode is about 0.6 V. Accordingly, the Schottky diode has the advantages of low threshold voltage and fast response speed when switching between forward and reverse bias voltage in comparison with the PN junction diode, and is therefore widely used for reducing power consumption and improving switching speed.
As the size of MOS is gradually minimized, how to improve the carrier mobility so as to elevate the response speed of the MOS has become a major topic for study in the semiconductor field.
How to integrate processes of different semiconductor devices such as MOS and Schottky diode to facilitate the functions of electronic products and save on manufacturing costs is another important issue in the field.

Science Based Industrial Park, Hsin-Chu,


A variable capacitive element includes a first fixed electrode and a second fixed electrode that are insulated from each other, a movable electrode arranged to face the first fixed electrode and the second fixed electrode, a dielectric layer provided between the movable electrode and the first fixed electrode as well as the second fixed electrode, a first wiring part for applying a first driving voltage to the first fixed electrode with reference to a potential of the movable electrode, and a second wiring part for applying a second driving voltage to the second fixed electrode with reference to the potential of the movable electrode, the second driving voltage having a polarity different from a polarity of the first driving voltage.

A variable capacitive element is a component used in an electrical circuit, such as a variable frequency oscillator, a tuned amplifier, a phase shifter, and an impedance matching circuit. In recent years, an increasing number of variable capacitive elements have been mounted in a portable device.
A variable capacitive element produced by using the MEMS techniques can realize a high Q value with small energy loss as compared to a varactor diode principally used as a variable capacitive element at present. Therefore, the variable capacitive element produced by using the MEMS techniques is expected to be developed and put to practical use.
Hereinafter, a variable capacitive element produced by using the MEMS techniques is referred to as a "variable capacitive element" simply.
In general, a variable capacitive element is so structured that the capacitance is varied by adjusting a distance between two opposed electrodes.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of a structure of a conventional general variable capacitive element 10.
Referring to the variable capacitive element 10 of FIG. 1A, a fixed electrode 12, a movable electrode 13, a dielectric layer 14 for covering the fixed electrode 12, a pair of support layers 15a and 15b for supporting the movable electrode 13, and the like are provided on a substrate 11. A void is provided between the movable electrode 13 and the dielectric layer 14. A driving voltage V may be applied to the fixed electrode 12. The movable electrode 13 is connected to the ground through the support layers 15a and 15b.
In the case where no potential difference is applied between the fixed electrode 12 and the movable electrode 13, the movable electrode 13 is separated from the fixed electrode 12 (see FIG. 1A). In this state, if a driving voltage V is applied to the fixed electrode 12 to apply a potential difference between the fixed electrode 12 and the movable electrode 13, an electrostatic attractive force generated therebetween attracts the movable electrode 13 closer to the fixed electrode 12, so that the distance therebetween is shortened. If the potential difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the movable electrode 13 is in contact with the fixed electrode 12 through the dielectric layer 14 (see FIG. 1B).
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between a driving voltage V and a capacitance C, i.e., a C-V characteristic, in the variable capacitive element 10.
Referring to FIG. 2, while a positive driving voltage V is applied and the value thereof is increased, the capacitance C exhibits little change from the minimum capacitance CS in the beginning, but rapidly increases when the value of the driving voltage V is VI1 or close thereto, and then, the capacitance C exhibits little change from the maximum capacitance CL. Thereafter, when the value of the driving voltage V is reduced from this state, the capacitance C exhibits little change from the maximum capacitance CL for a while, but rapidly drops when the value of the driving voltage V is VO1 or close thereto, and then, the capacitance C exhibits little change from the minimum capacitance CS. Likewise, when a negative driving voltage V is applied and the value thereof is reduced, the capacitance C exhibits little change from the minimum capacitance CS for a while, but rapidly increases when the value of the driving voltage V is VI2 or close thereto, and then, the capacitance C exhibits little change from the maximum capacitance CL. Thereafter, when the value of the driving voltage V is increased from this state, the capacitance C exhibits little change from the maximum capacitance CL for a while, but rapidly drops when the value of the driving voltage is VO2 or close thereto, and then, the capacitance C exhibits little change from the minimum capacitance CS. As long as the capacitance C exhibits little change from the minimum capacitance CS or the maximum capacitance CL, the capacitance C is regarded as being constant at the value of the minimum capacitance CS or the maximum capacitance CL.
The capacitance C becomes the smallest value (the minimum capacitance CS) for a case where the movable electrode 13 is farthest from the fixed electrode 12, i.e., the case of FIG. 1A. The capacitance C becomes the largest value (the maximum capacitance CL) for a case where the movable electrode 13 is in contact with the fixed electrode 12 through the dielectric layer 14, i.e., the case of FIG. 1B.
In the meantime, the variation path of the capacitance C with respect to the driving voltage V is different between the case where the capacitance C increases and the case where the capacitance C drops. In short, the voltage VI1 is not equal to the voltage V01. The same is similarly applied to the voltage VI2 and the voltage VO2. It is known that the variation in the capacitance C against the driving voltage V exhibits so-called hysteresis.
In the case where the variable capacitive element 10 is used digitally, the driving voltage V is so controlled that the capacitance C of the variable capacitive element 10 takes either the minimum capacitance CS or the maximum capacitance CL. Referring to FIG. 2, for example, if the capacitance C is to be set at the minimum capacitance CS, the driving voltage V is set at a voltage VOFF (=zero). If the capacitance C is to be set at the maximum capacitance CL, the driving voltage V is set at a voltage VON1 or a voltage VON2.
In the case of changing the capacitance C, continuous application of the driving voltage V having the same polarity causes positive or negative charges to be accumulated in the dielectric layer 14. It is known that the charges are accumulated in this way.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating an example of a relationship between a driving voltage V and a capacitance C, i.e., a C-V characteristic, when charges are accumulated in the variable capacitive element 10.
When charges are accumulated in the dielectric layer 14, the movement of the movable electrode 13 is influenced by the electrostatic force due to the charges. Thus, the C-V characteristic of the variable capacitive element 10 exhibits a characteristic different from that under the state where no charges are accumulated in the dielectric layer 14. For example, FIG. 3A illustrates a state in which positive charges are accumulated in the dielectric layer 14. In this case, the C-V characteristic is shifted toward the negative driving voltage V as compared to the state in which no charges is accumulated. Further, FIG. 3B illustrates a state in which negative charges are accumulated in the dielectric layer 14. In this case, the C-V characteristic is shifted toward the positive driving voltage V as compared to the state in which no charges is accumulated.
In such cases, even if a driving voltage V that can inherently assign the capacitance C to the minimum capacitance CS or the maximum capacitance CL is applied, the value of the capacitance C does not change to the minimum capacitance CS or the maximum capacitance CL in some cases. In the illustrated examples of FIGS. 3A and 3B, even if the driving voltage V is set at the voltage VOFF (=zero), the value of the capacitance C sometimes does not change to an intended minimum capacitance CS. Thus, it is impossible to operate the variable capacitive element 10 in a stable manner, which is a problem.
In order to prevent a voltage characteristic from varying due to the charge in an insulation film, there is proposed a device in which the shape of the insulation film is improved to control the amount of the charge therein (Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-136496). However, it is difficult to use a semiconductor production method to form an insulation film with the shape disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-136496.
To cope with this, a driving method called bipolar driving is proposed in which the polarity of a driving voltage V to be applied is turned from one to the other at predetermined time intervals to suppress the shift of the C-V characteristic.
There is also proposed a mirror control device in which a driving voltage to be applied to an electrode is an alternating voltage in order to suppress the occurrence of drift of a mirror (Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-052270).
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a time series variation of a driving voltage V and a capacitance C for a case where the variable capacitive element 10 is driven in a bipolar manner.
Referring to FIG. 4, in the bipolar driving, when the driving voltage V is applied in order to keep the capacitance C at the maximum capacitance CL, the driving voltage V is applied in such a manner that a positive voltage VON1 and a negative voltage VON2 are alternately applied at relatively short time intervals.
In the case where a driving voltage V having one polarity is applied for a long period of time, or, alternatively, in the case where a large difference is found between a period of time during which a driving voltage V having one polarity is applied and a period of time during which a driving voltage V having the other polarity is applied, charges are more likely to be accumulated in the insulation layer 14. The bipolar driving, thus, is effective to suppress the shift of the C-V characteristic.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, however, in the case of the bipolar driving, the capacitance C becomes lower than the maximum capacitance CL at a time when the polarity of the driving voltage V is turned from one to the other. In short, the bipolar driving is disadvantageous in that the capacity of the capacitance C varies. For this reason, the polarity of the driving voltage V is changed from one to the other only at a time when the capacity variation does not affect the operation of the device. This limits the cases in which the variable capacitive element 10 is driven in a bipolar manner.

Variable capacitive element, variable capacitive device, and method for driving the variable capacitive element


An electronic system for displaying a three-dimensional simulation scenario comprising a calculation unit configured so as to generate a three-dimensional simulation scenario, a display device for displaying the three-dimensional simulation scenario, a virtual video camera set in a displacement plane positioned in turn within the three-dimensional simulation scenario, a pointer set in the displacement plane, a control system configured in such a way as to displace the pointer in the displacement plane in response to a manual action of the user, a processing device configured in such a way as to control a roto-translation of the virtual video camera in the displacement plane in response to a translation of the pointer in the displacement plane itself.

As is known, in the sector of 3D graphic simulation for controlling displacement of vehicles within a real environment represented by a three-dimensional virtual graphic space, there exists the need of being able to observe and monitor the events and situations that occur within the three-dimensional virtual space in the course of simulation.
For this purpose, electronic display apparatuses have been developed, which interact with a virtual electronic simulation system in such a way as to enable an operator to view, through a virtual video camera, the scenario in which the virtual simulation occurs and at the same time control displacement of the virtual video camera itself within the three-dimensional virtual space so as to be able to observe, for example, the objects involved in the simulation from any point present within three-dimensional space and/or according to any angle of view.
Some of the display apparatuses of the type described above, typically referred to by the term "stealth-view devices" or "tactical-situation displays", find application, for example, in flight-simulation systems for aircraft used for training pilots.
In particular, the aforesaid display apparatuses typically comprise a display and a computer that is configured for interacting with the electronic simulation system so as to represent through the display the three-dimensional scenario that represents the simulated flight of the aircraft controlled by the pilot.
Display apparatuses further comprise a manual-control system, which is, in turn, provided with a mouse and a keyboard for issuing commands, through which an operator is able to "navigate" within the three-dimensional scenario and at the same time move the virtual video camera, in such a way as to be able to display the aircraft and/or the environment that surrounds the aircraft itself according to any spatial angle.
It is moreover known that, in the course of the aforesaid simulation, the operator, who is typically a flight instructor, must necessarily control, through the aforesaid manual-control system, navigation in the virtual three-dimensional environment in such a way as to be able to observe and control, instant by instant, the correctness of the command operations imparted to the aircraft by the pilot.
In the systems described above, there exists the need on the part of the instructor to be able to control manually with a certain rapidity his own navigation in the three-dimensional space so as to track the aircraft easily along the corresponding path, keeping the virtual video camera constantly pointed on certain parts of the aircraft, such as for example the front or the rear, irrespective of the displacement of the aircraft itself.
In other words, it is necessary for the instructor to be able to impart in an extremely simple, fast and intuitive way commands for translating the virtual video camera in such a way as to track the aircraft and at the same time impart commands for rotating the virtual video camera in space in such a way as to keep pointing of the latter on some pre-set parts of the aircraft itself.
For this purpose, numerous efforts have been made on the part of firms producing flight-simulation systems for developing display systems provided with systems for issuing commands structured for simplifying and rendering extremely fast and intuitive for the operator execution of manual commands for control of translation and rotation of the virtual video camera in the three-dimensional simulation space, but there still remains much to be done.
US2004/001110 describes a navigation system oriented to displaying an object in a three-dimensional space. The system envisages translation of the virtual camera on the basis of a movement of translation of the mouse and of orienting the camera through a calculation of the normal surface that is closest to the camera.
US2008/094358 describes a navigation system oriented to an object provided with two distinct systems for issuing commands of movement of the virtual video camera, one of which carries out a check on the two-dimensional movement and envisages the use of a mouse, whilst the other system is designed to implement a control of the three-dimensional movement and envisages the use of motion controllers and a handle.
US2004/085335 describes a navigation system in which the movement of the virtual video camera is constrained to a pre-set path by the creator of the contents to be displayed.

Display of a three-dimensional virtual space generated by an electronic simulation system


A composite including a plurality of block copolymer chains dispersed in a base polymer, the block copolymer chains including a polymer block (A) and a polymer block (B) having lower affinity for the base polymer than that of the polymer block (A), wherein each of the block copolymer chains has the polymer block (A) at two or more locations of the block copolymer chain, and in at least some of the block copolymer chains, the polymer blocks (A) are at least partially located in the base polymer and the polymer blocks (B) are at least partially exposed from the base polymer.

It has been common knowledge that sliding surfaces having a polymer brush layer have a low friction coefficient. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a sliding structure comprising a block having a polymer brush coating on a DLC-Si coating and a ring having a similar polymer brush coating.
In Patent Document 2, a detailed examination of a mechanism of sliding between polymer brush surfaces is performed using an atomic force microscope, and the technique disclosed therein enables micron-scale sliding between such brushes which an atomic force microscope can measure.

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION YOKOHAMA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY


A low power, low cost system and method for the detection of flow disturbances in a fluid dripping system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a light source and a light detector configured to monitor the amount of light passing through a droplet while the droplet is suspended and later falls from the tip of a tube. In another embodiment, dripping fluid is monitored from a system maintained part of the time in a sleep mode to conserve power, the system waking up at predetermined times to determine from detected light whether the monitored system is functioning properly.

Systems that deliver a controlled flow of liquid are well known in the art—such as Intra Vessel Infusion poles and kits. The rate of infusion is typically monitored by the naked eye as the liquid passes through a transparent control compartment where the liquid drips in visible droplets. As the size of the droplet is relatively fixed and determined by the chemical properties of the liquid, the rate of droplets is a good estimate of the flow and can be easily monitored by the care giver's eye.
However, monitoring the rate of the droplets requires continuous attention by a human operator or by the patient.
Several solutions have been suggested to automate the monitoring of the droplet rate. Some solutions involve a controlled electric pump (such as the "Sabratek 3030 IV Infusion Pump" made by Baxter from Chicago, II) that is very accurate. However, it is costly and too cumbersome for field emergency treatment. Furthermore, it is out of the scope of the present invention.
Some solutions have also been suggested as an add-on on conventional IV infusion sets, such as IVIC by HanvitMD from Korea. It is a special watch that enables an operator to precisely set the drop rate. This product does is not attached to the IV system and does not free the operator from having to attend to it.
Another solution is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,504,263 to Steuer et al., where the line of sight between a light source and a light sensor is blocked by the droplets and the rate of droplets falling can be determined from the electric signal of the sensor. This solution is good only for vertical orientation of the device and consumes significant electric power, because the circuitry must be active at all times.
Other solutions, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,190,275 to Goldberg et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,943 to Hanzawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,761 to Dawe, and in other publications teach a light beam crossing mechanism where the falling droplet crosses the line of sight between a light source and a light sensor. They too suffer from similar problems: they consume electricity continuously and they are sensitive to the vertical orientation of the control compartment.
Thus, it would be very desirable to have a drip monitoring system that is not sensitive to the vertical orientation of the control compartment and that does not consume power very frequently.
It is the purpose of the present invention to provide such a solution,

Afeka Tel Aviv Academic College of Engineering


A method of providing fuel cell start-up without battery derived compressor power is provided. The method includes introducing hydrogen to the anode inlet of a fuel cell stack previously purged with air. The introduced hydrogen in the anode channels and the existing air in the cathode channels generate a small amount of voltage to begin to drive the air compressor. As additional air is introduced into the cathode channels by the slowly starting compressor, the fuel cell stack produces more voltage until the system is producing sufficient net power to operate under normal run control conditions.

Fuel cells have been used as a power source in many applications. For example, fuel cells have been proposed for use in electrical vehicular power plants to replace internal combustion engines. In proton exchange membrane (PEM) type fuel cells, hydrogen is supplied to the anode of the fuel cell, and oxygen is supplied to the cathode. PEM fuel cells include a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) comprising a thin, proton transmissive, non-electrically conductive solid polymer electrolyte membrane having the anode catalyst on one of its faces and the cathode catalyst on the opposite face. The MEA is sandwiched between a pair of electrically conductive elements which serve as current collectors for the anode and cathode, and contain appropriate channels and/or openings therein for distributing the fuel cells gaseous reactants over the surfaces of the respective anode and cathode catalyst. A typical PEM fuel cell and its membrane electrode assembly (MEA) are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,272,017 and 5,316,871 issued respectively Dec. 21, 1993 and May 31, 1994 and assigned to General Motors Corporation.
The term "fuel cell" is typically used to refer to either a single cell or a plurality of cells depending on the context. A plurality of individual cells are commonly bundled together to form a fuel cell stack. Each cell within the stack comprises the MEA described earlier, and each such MEA provides its increment of voltage. Typical arrangements of multiple cells in a stack are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,113 assigned to General Motors Corporation, and which is herein incorporated by reference.
During fuel cell system start-up, a compressor is often utilized to provide compressed air or oxygen to the fuel cell cathode inlet while hydrogen is introduced to the fuel cell anode inlet. Many fuel cell systems currently use large battery packs to start and operate the compressor before output power is available from the fuel cell stack. The battery pack often is utilized with various DC/DC converters to provide the high voltage necessary for the compressor. Usually, a DC/DC converter is needed to get the battery voltage up to the stack level, then another DC/DC converter is needed to get the voltage from the stack level up to the compressor motor controller level. The large battery pack and DC/DC converters contribute significantly to the weight, volume, and cost of the fuel cell system. Thus, it is desirable to provide a simplification of the fuel cell system as well as reducing the mass volume and cost of the system.

Method to startup a fuel cell stack without battery derived compressor power


A luminaire (1) is disclosed comprising at least one optical chamber (10) delimited by a light exit window (11) and a curved reflective surface (15) extending from the light exit window to a mounting surface (17) extending from the curved reflective surface towards the light exit window. Each optical chamber comprises a light source (20) mounted on the mounting surface; and a light guide (30) extending across part of the optical chamber. The light guide comprises a total internal reflection major surface (40) facing the light exit window; a further major surface (50) facing the curved reflective surface, said further major surface comprising a light outcoupling portion (51) comprising a plurality of light outcoupling structures (53); a first edge surface (60) optically coupled to the light source; and a further edge surface (70) opposite the first edge surface arranged to direct light towards the curved reflective surface.

Solid state lighting (SSL), e.g. LED lighting, is rapidly gaining popularity because of its energy credentials and superior lifetime compared to traditional lighting, e.g. incandescent lighting, fluorescent lighting and halogen lighting. Nevertheless, market penetration of such SSL devices is not without challenges. For example, purchase cost of SSL devices is still higher than that of equivalent traditional light sources, even though the effective cost of such SSL devices is markedly lower due to their much longer lifetime, and this realisation by consumers is one of the reasons for the increased popularity of SSL.
A more serious challenge is to produce a luminous output with an SSL device that closely resembles the luminous output distribution of an equivalent traditional light source. Most SSL devices, e.g. LEDs, act as approximate point sources that produce a Lambertian luminous distribution. This makes it necessary to shape the luminous output of such SSL devices using optical elements, in order to achieve the desired luminous output distribution.
Moreover, direct visibility of the SSL elements in such devices should be avoided for reasons of glare, and for this reason many luminaires having a light exit window that is directly observable, e.g. ceiling-mounted luminaires such as troffers, deploy indirect illumination arrangements of the light exit window, in which the light emitted by the SSL elements is projected onto a light guide or a curved reflector, which deflect the incident light towards the light exit window, thereby hiding the SSL elements from direct view and reducing the glare experienced by someone directly looking at the luminaire.
However, such solutions each have their own drawbacks. For example, a light guide-based solution typically deploys outcoupling structures, e.g. arranged in a regular pattern along the light guide, to generate a relatively homogeneous luminous output with the luminaire. In order to avoid these outcoupling structures to be visible as light spots in the luminous output of the luminaire, such a luminaire typically further comprises a diffuser in the light exit window. Such an arrangement is therefore less suitable to achieve a satisfactory unified glare rating (UGR) due to the poor control over the beam angle produced by such luminaires.
A reflector-based solution works rather well if the overall size of the luminaire is relatively modest, but becomes less satisfactory, e.g. in terms of homogeneity of the luminous output, if the width of the luminaire increases, i.e. in the direction of the optical axis of the SSL elements. This is because the SSL elements need to project their luminous outputs over greater distances such that the regions of the curved reflector distal to the SSL elements become underexposed to the luminous output, causing a dimming effect in the luminous output of the luminaire in its periphery.
In another commonly deployed arrangement, the light exit window of the luminaire is directly lit by the SSL elements through respective lenses that convert the Lambertian luminous output of the SSL elements, e.g. into a batwing distribution or the like, with the light exit window including a diffuser to avoid a spotty appearance in the light exit window due to the SSL elements being individually noticeable. As will be understood from the foregoing, such an arrangement suffers from poor control over the beam shape produced with the luminaire due to the presence of the diffuser. In addition, it is not straightforward to achieve a compact design (limited thickness) of such an arrangement due to the stacking of the SSL elements, lenses and diffuser in the thickness direction.
US 2014/0104868 A1 discloses an illumination system is described including a plurality of illumination devices, each device including (i) light-emitting elements (LEEs) arranged along a corresponding first axis; (ii) an optical extractor extending along a corresponding longitudinal axis parallel to the first axis; and (iii) a light guide positioned to receive at a first end of the light guide light emitted by the LEEs and guide it to a second end of the light guide. The optical extractor is optically coupled to the light guide at the second end and is shaped to redirect the light guided by the light guide into a range of angles on either side of the light guide. The illumination devices are connected to each other to form a polygon such that the longitudinal axes of the connected illumination devices lie in a common plane. Such an illumination system is rather costly due to the large number of components it requires, e.g. the additional optical extractor, which further increases the form factor (e.g. thickness) of the illumination system.


Data is transmitted from a mouse to a host computer in accordance with a 3-byte packet protocol. The first byte includes bits indicating the status of first and second buttons on the mouse. The first bit of each byte serves as a sync bit. The sync bit has a value of "1" in the first byte and a value of "0" in each of the second and third bytes. Data representing movement of the mouse in two dimensions is encoded as two 8-bit twos-complement integers which are transmitted as part of the three-byte packet.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a computer graphic input device known as a mouse and, more specifically, to a power supply for such device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A mouse is a computer input device typically used for positioning a cursor on a computer video display screen. A typical physical embodiment of a mouse includes a small enclosure containing X-Y motion sensors, one or more push buttons operable externally of the enclosure, electrical interface circuitry, and a cable to connect the circuitry to a host computer. In operation, when the mouse is moved on a flat surface by a user, the motion sensors in the mouse detect the movement and direction of the mouse in the X-Y plane. The interface circuitry, typically within the mouse, converts the motion data produced by the sensors into a digital form usable by the host computer. Software in the host computer then utilizes the motion data to perform a particular function, for example, repositioning of the cursor on the display screen. The mouse also usually is provided with one or more switches, often in the form of push buttons, to enable alteration of the program flow in the host computer.
Mice of the above described type are normally classified by the manner in which motion is detected, the principal motion detection methods being mechanical and optical. Mechanical mice usually employ a technique whereby a spherical ball protrudes slightly below the bottom of the mouse enclosure which is free to roll as the mouse is moved by the operator along a flat surface. Inside the enclosure, the rotating ball is coupled to a pair of orthogonally mounted shaft position encoders by small rubber wheels or the like. Mouse motion is thereby converted into two pairs of quadrature signals, one pair for each axis of motion, thereby providing the required direction and displacement information corresponding to mouse movement. Optical mice utilize a method whereby a light source in the base of the mouse is reflected onto one or more photodetectors by a specially patterned surface over which the mouse is moved. Typically, a single chip computer translates the changes in detected luminance into direction and displacement signals which are utilized by the host computer in the manner described above.
Mice may be further classified by the manner in which they interface with the host computer. The two common interface methods are parallel and serial. Mice employing a parallel interface usually connect to a specially designed, dedicated controller board installed in the host computer. The circuitry used to convert motion of the mouse into digital data may be located either on the controller board in the host computer, in the mouse itself, or divided between the two. In any event, the controller board provides the interconnection between the host computer and the mouse.
On the other hand, mice employing a serial interface typically are connected to a general purpose serial I/O port on the host computer of the type often used with other peripheral devices such as modems. One advantage of a serial mouse is that no special mouse controller board is required in the host computer to support operation of the mouse. As a consequence, all circuitry used in translating motion of the mouse into digital form is contained within the mouse itself, or within an additional enclosure external to the host computer.
The serial mouse typically utilizes a microcomputer, often with several discrete components, to translate the quadrature signals of the shaft encoders or the optical sensors into data packets that are transmitted to the host computer. Additionally, there is circuitry to perform the signal level conversion required by the serial interface standard employed (usually EIA Standard RS-232C). Data is commonly transmitted using an ordinary asynchronous serial protocol. Serial mice require an external power source, such as batteries or an externally located power supply connected to the mouse by a cable. Use of power supplied by batteries is inconvenient because of size and weight considerations, as well as the fact that the supply of power is dependent on battery life. On the other hand, the use of an externally located power supply usually requires an extra enclosure that must be connected to the primary AC power lines, as well as an additional cable to supply the power to the mouse. Both of these methods result in additional cost and complexity.


This invention discloses a method of controlling hydrosilylations in a reaction mixture by controlling the solution concentration of oxygen in the reaction mixture, relative to any platinum present in the reaction mixture. This invention further discloses a method for controlling isomerization in linear or branched alkenyl compounds having at least 4 carbon atoms during a hydrosilylation reaction by introducing a controlled amount of oxygen into the alkenyl compounds during the hydrosilylation. This invention further discloses a method for producing dicycloalkylsubstituted silanes by reacting a halo-or alkoxy-silane with a unsaturated cycloalkenyl compound in the presence of oxygen and a hydrosilylation catalyst.

One method known in the art for producing organosilicon compounds comprises reacting a silicon hydride containing compound with an unsaturated compound in the presence of a catalyst. This reaction is commonly referred to as hydrosilylation. Typically the catalyst is platinum metal on a support, a platinum compound generally used in an inert solvent, or a platinum complex, however other catalysts comprising rhodium or nickel may be used. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,823,218 to Speier, et al. a method for the production of organosilicon compounds by reacting an Si--H with a compound containing aliphatic carbon atoms linked by multiple bonds in the presence of a chloroplatinic acid is taught. U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,972 to Lamoreaux teaches a similar process however the catalyst is a reaction product of chloroplatinic acid. In EP Patent Application No. 0337197 to Lewis the catalyst used is a rhodium colloid and the silicon containing reactant must have two to three hydrogen atoms bonded to the silicon.
One of the major problems known in the art with hydrosilylations is the de-activation of the catalyst prior to the completion of the reaction. One method for reactivation of the catalyst has been to expose the reaction mixture to oxygen. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,497 to Onopchenko, et al. teaches the use of an oxygenated platinum containing catalyst for hydrosilylation with alkylsilanes, R'R.sub.x SiH.sub.3-x. The oxygenated platinum catalyst is produced by contacting the catalyst with an oxygen-containing gas. In particular, the catalyst is contacted with the oxygen-containing gas by bubbling air into the catalyst mixed with the olefin and with or without an inert solvent under ambient temperatures prior to the reaction. Another technique taught by Onopchenko is to run the hydrosilylation until de-activation occurs, cool to room temperature and then bubble an oxygen-containing gas into the mixture. Following the exposure to oxygen the system is placed under an inert atmosphere and the reaction is again commenced.
The method taught by Onopchenko has several disadvantages. The introduction of oxygen must always be done at room temperature. Therefore the oxygen must be introduced before starting the reaction. However, if an insufficient amount of oxygen is added then the catalyst may still de-activate, in other words, there is no control over the reaction except to stop and start the reaction. The oxygen can also be introduced once the catalyst has de-activated and the reactants have been cooled to room temperature. This results in inefficient processing and the possibility of unsafe conditions upon re-activation. Further, Onopchenko requires that the reactants be placed under an inert atmosphere after the exposure of oxygen, once again leading to the possibility of insufficient oxygen being present to sustain the reaction. Finally, Onopchenko does not provide any means for controlling the reaction rate through the use of oxygen, as in his disclosure, the reaction goes or it does not go.
Dickers, et al., "Organosilicon Chemistry. Part 24 Homogeneous Rhodium-Catalysed Hydrosilylation of Alkenes and Alkynes: The Role of Oxygen or Hydroperoxides", J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. (1980) (2) 308; disclose the use of oxygen to initiate the hydrosilylation of propene, hex-1-ene and hex-1-yne using [RhCl(PPh.sub.3).sub.3 ] as the catalyst. The oxygen is necessary when the reagents have been purified.
Finally, in Harrod, J. F. and Chalk, A. J. "Hydrosilation Catalyzed by Group VIII Complex", Org. Synth. Met. Carbonyls. (1977) (2) 673-704, at pages 682 and 683, there is disclosed the fact that oxygen is a co-catalyst in hydrosilylations and that this is known among people who run hydrosilylations on a large scale where deliberate aeration of the reaction may be required to sustain catalytic activity. Chalk and Harrod merely reiterate that oxygen has an impact on hydrosilylation and on page 683, they speculate as to how it does impact hydrosilylation, but they never do disclose the key to controlling hydrosilylation.
Thus it is an object of this invention to provide a process for controlling hydrosilylation in a reaction mixture by controlling the solution concentration of oxygen relative to any platinum in said reaction mixture.
It is further an object of this invention to provide a process for controlling isomerization in linear or branched alkenyl compounds having at least 4 carbon atoms by introducing oxygen into the reaction mixture during the hydrosilylation reaction.
It is further an object of this invention to provide a means for producing dicycloalkylsubstituted silanes by reacting a silane selected from the group consisting of halo- or alkoxy- silanes having two hydrogen atoms bonded to the silicon or monocycloalkylsubstituted halo- or alkoxy- silanes having one hydrogen atom bonded to the silicon with an unsaturated cycloalkenyl compound or mixture of cycloalkenyl compounds having at least 4 carbon atoms in the presence of a hydrosilylation catalyst and oxygen.

Method for controlling hydrosilylation in a reaction mixture


A water treatment subsea installation and method are disclosed, adapted for scaling prevention and treatment of raw seawater into process water suitable for use in subsea hydrocarbon production. The water treatment installation comprises a seawater inlet to a primary filtration unit wherein a filtration membrane separates a receiving chamber from a permeate chamber having an outlet for treated water. A pump is installed in fluid flow communication with the treated water outlet, a recirculation loop feeding a portion of the treated water via a subsea electro-chlorinator back to the water stream upstream or downstream of the membrane of the primary filtration unit, and a secondary filtration unit is installed in the treated water stream between the primary filtration unit and the electro-chlorinator.

Water can be used for different purposes in the process of recovery of hydrocarbon products from a subsea hydrocarbon deposit. One principal use of water in subsea hydrocarbon production is the pumping of water down into water injection wells that are formed in a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir. Injection of water is a commonly used method for increasing the degree of recovery of crude oil from a subsea deposit. If injection water is taken from seawater the raw water needs to be removed from constituents which may otherwise harm the process equipment or lead to souring and/or fouling of the reservoir ground structure. Production of injection water from seawater therefore typically involves removal of solid particles suspended in the water, removal of dissolved inorganic material such as salts and sulphates or inhibition of organic material/organisms such as bacteria, etc. The process conventionally includes filtration through semipermeable filter membranes, and may additionally include the supply of chemicals such as chlorine or biocide and chemical corrosion or scaling inhibitors, e.g. to the treated water.
In this context two types of filters are usually employed—the dead end filter type and the cross-flow filter type.
In a dead end filter the supplied fluid, i.e. water in this case, is forced towards an upstream face of a semi-permeable membrane. The water that passes the membrane, named as permeate, is removed from organic and inorganic matter which is retained on the upstream side of the membrane, the retained matter named as retentate. A dead end filter generally comprises a membrane in the form of a metal or synthetic wire mesh having a suitable mesh size and filter depth. A filter cake of retentate matter is successively formed on the upstream side of the membrane, eventually covering the openings or channels through the membrane which then calls for replacement. The dead-end filter is relatively non-complex in structure and therefor comparatively cheap. A frequent replacement of filters is thus acceptable, at least in topside applications where filters are readily accessible for easy replacement.
Subsea applications often require equipment with a longer service life. In this aspect the cross-flow filter type can be designed with a comparatively large filter area in relation to its overall dimensions and may therefore be better suited for subsea use. The cross-flow filter designs include spiral wound membranes, tubular or straw membranes and hollow fibre membranes, e.g.
In the cross-flow filter the supplied water is conducted along an upstream side of a semi-permeable membrane. In result of the pressure applied, water is forced through the membrane to a downstream side from where the water is discharged as a permeate flow, relieved of organic and inorganic matter which is retained on the upstream side of the membrane. The retained matter is conducted away from the upstream side of the membrane and is discharged as a retentate flow.
Cross-flow filtration is often used for removal of smaller or very small components in the supplied water, including removal of dissolved components such as salts and sulphates.
In subsea applications and seawater treatment technology filters are generally applied in connection with coarse filtration, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nano filtration and reverse osmosis filtration. Each of these grades of filtration successively removes smaller components from the supplied water from a particle size in the order of microns with reference to the micro- or ultrafiltration membranes down to particle sizes at ionic level with reference to the nano-filtration or reverse osmosis membranes.
In this connection it serves to be pointed out that an ultra filtration unit can be realized in the form of a tubular membrane in which water is forced through the fiber walls and the matter/solids are retained in one side. In nano filtration units and reverse osmosis units water flows parallel to membrane walls. Due to the high pressure, part of the flow permeates through the membrane walls to get the desired quality water while still a significant amount of reject that did not go through the membrane (richer in ionic content) flows out as a reject stream.
In the production of injection water from seawater, inhibition of bacterial growth may involve the generation of chlorine by electro-chlorination. In electro-chlorination energy is supplied to sodium chloride (NaCl) that is dissolved in seawater which passes through an electric field, resulting in sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and hydrogen gas (H2). The sodium hypochlorite is a good alternative for seawater disinfection because its production can be made subsea using an electro-chlorinator.
Electro-chlorination of raw seawater may however also cause problems in terms of scaling caused by precipitation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2), forming crystals in the water which may sediment in the system and clog downstream filtration units and membranes.

Subsea installation and method for treatment of seawater


A portable dryer and disinfection device includes a container having an interior for receiving one or more electronic components for drying and disinfection. A lid is configured to be removably secured to an upper portion of the container. An ultraviolet light source is attached to a bottom portion of the lid, wherein ultraviolet light generated by the ultraviolet light source is directed into the interior of the container below the lid. A power source is disposed in the lid for providing electrical power to the ultraviolet light source. A tray is disposed within the interior of the container on which the one or more electronic components are placed for drying and disinfection. The tray includes holes that provide air flow communication through the removable tray. A removable desiccant holder is disposed at least partially within the interior of the container below the tray.

A hearing aid patient relies on a hearing aid device, and thus its components, to reliably function. Hearing aid devices comprise numerous sensitive electronic components that require periodic maintenance. These components may include a receiver, microphone, volume control, potentiometers, contacts, rechargeable batteries, and circuitry.
Hearing aid devices are subject to a moist environment when worn by a user. Moisture alone may negatively impact device performance and longevity particularly with regard to the electronic components. Moisture also aggravates the buildup of ear wax, dirt, and grime, which may also deteriorate performance and longevity.
Untreated moisture may, for example, cause corrosion on contacts, potentiometers, circuitry, batteries, and wires, condensation on screens or diaphragms in the microphone/receiver, and/or loss of sensitivity of or change in the frequency response of the microphone/receiver. Further, untreated moisture and buildup may lead to ear infections.
Reducing moisture content and/or facilitating the removal of buildup and bacteria, assists in the reliable functionality, maintainability, cleanliness, and longevity of hearing aid devices and prevents unwanted ear infections. Many hearing aid maintenance systems are rather large and expensive and may not be conveniently carried in a purse, suitcase, or brief-case. Accordingly, there is a need for a simple, relatively small, portable, battery-powered, and inexpensive hearing aid maintenance kit that reduces moisture and disinfects the hearing aids.
In view of the foregoing, an embodiment of the disclosure provides an electronic component dryer device including a container having an interior portion for receiving one or more electronic components for drying, a desiccant disposed in the interior portion of the container, and a removable lid for the container. The removable lid contains a disinfecting light source, and a power source for providing power to the disinfecting light source. Light generated by the disinfecting light source is directed into the interior portion of the container.
In another embodiment there is provided an improved electronic component dryer kit that includes an air-tight container and a removable desiccant. The improvement includes a removable lid for the container, wherein the removable lid contains a disinfecting light source, and a power source for providing power to the disinfecting light source. The light generated by the disinfecting light source is directed into the interior portion of the container.
In some embodiments, the removable lid includes a controller circuit that is isolated from the interior portion of the container, wherein the controller circuit controls the disinfecting light source to operate for a predetermined period of time. In other embodiments, the predetermined period of time can be controlled by firmware in the processor to range from minutes to hours.
In some embodiments, wherein the removable lid also includes a switch that is isolated from the interior portion of the container for activating the disinfecting light source. In other embodiments, the switch comprises a capacitive switch. In still other embodiments, the capacitive switch is on a top portion of the removable lid.
In some embodiments, the disinfecting light source comprises an ultraviolet light source. In other embodiments, the ultraviolet light source includes one more ultraviolet light emitting diodes or one or more ultraviolet lamps.
In some embodiments, the removable lid also includes a power on/off indicator.
In some embodiments, the removable lid is an air-tight removable lid.
In some embodiments, the desiccant is a replaceable desiccant holder containing desiccant and having vent holes therein.
In some embodiments, the dryer device includes lid removal detection circuitry comprising a magnetic switch or metal contacts on the container and the lid that closes a circuit to provide power to the disinfecting light source when lid is secured to the container.
In some embodiments, the controller circuit generates an indication that the desiccant is due for replacement.
In some embodiments, the dryer device includes an indicator lamp disposed on the removable lid, and the indication that the desiccant is due for replacement comprises changing a property of light generated by the indicator lamp.
In another aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a portable dryer and disinfection device comprising a container having an interior for receiving one or more electronic components for drying and disinfection, and a lid configured to be removably secured to an upper portion of the container. An ultraviolet light source is attached to a bottom portion of the lid, wherein ultraviolet light generated by the ultraviolet light source is directed into the interior of the container below the lid. A power source is disposed in the lid for providing electrical power to the ultraviolet light source. A tray is disposed within the interior of the container on which the one or more electronic components are placed for drying and disinfection. The tray includes holes that provide air flow communication through the tray. A removable desiccant holder is disposed at least partially within the interior of the container below the tray.
In some embodiments, the portable dryer and disinfection device includes a top portion configured to be removably secured to an upper portion of the lid.
In some embodiments, the portable dryer and disinfection device includes a cycle start switch disposed in the lid and isolated from the interior of the container. The cycle start switch includes a pushbutton portion extending above the upper portion of the lid, and the top portion of the device includes a central aperture through which the pushbutton portion of the cycle start switch extends when the top portion is secured to the upper portion of the lid.
In some embodiments, the power source comprises one or more replaceable batteries disposed in a recess in an upper portion of the lid, and the top portion of the device is configured to be removed from the upper portion of the lid to provide access for removal and replacement of the one or more replaceable batteries.
In some embodiments, the portable dryer and disinfection device includes a bottom portion configured to be removably secured to a bottom lip of the container. The bottom portion is configured to be removed from the container to provide access for removal and replacement of the removable desiccant holder.
In some embodiments, the portable dryer and disinfection device includes a controller circuit disposed within the lid and isolated from the interior of the container. The controller circuit is configured to control the ultraviolet light source to operate during a drying and disinfection cycle.
In some embodiments, the controller circuit generates an indication that the desiccant holder is due for replacement.
In some embodiments, the portable dryer and disinfection device includes an indicator lamp disposed on the lid, and the indication generated by the controller circuit comprises changing a property of light generated by the indicator lamp.
In some embodiments, the ultraviolet light source comprises one more ultraviolet light emitting diodes or one or more ultraviolet lamps.
In some embodiments, an interface between the lid and the container provides an air-tight seal.
In some embodiments, the portable dryer and disinfection device includes lid removal detection circuitry that deactivates the ultraviolet light source upon removal of the lid from the container. The lid removal detection circuitry may comprise a magnetic switch or metal contacts on the container and on the lid that closes a circuit to provide power to the ultraviolet light source when lid is secured to the container.
In some embodiments, the tray is configured to be removable from the interior of the container.
In some embodiments, the tray has an ultraviolet-reflective coating on at least an upper surface thereof.

Hearing aid dryer and disinfection kit with UV-reflective drying tray


Improved systems and techniques for identification and resolution of conditions affecting an information technology system. When an alert is received, it is identified as actionable or non-actionable and, if non-actionable, is subjected to a waiting time before a trouble ticket is created. If the alert has cleared by the time the waiting time expires, an event associated with the alert is discarded and no trouble ticket is created. Non-actionable alerts are identified using a system of predictive rules, with rules being generated according to appropriate criteria, such as the likelihood that an event identified by a rule will be non-actionable, and by the likelihood that an event will be identified by a rule.

Information technology (IT) systems are a vital part of everyday life. IT systems typically fill a vital role in the functioning of an enterprise. Failure of a system is frequently unacceptable, and slowdowns or inefficiencies in portions of a system can have a significant negative impact on the enterprise. Users of IT systems and customers of IT service providers demand high levels of reliability together with economical delivery of service. Services vendors and providers are therefore motivated to use highly efficient and cost-effective mechanisms for preventing, detecting, and resolving problems. One mechanism used to help insure efficiency and cost-effectiveness of problem resolution is the automation, insofar as is possible, of problem detection and resolution. A frequently used mechanism for automated problem detection is to detect degradation of vital signs and respond by creating a trouble ticket. However, it is known that degradation of vital signs may be transitory, so that no action needs to be taken in response. Creation of a trouble ticket for a condition for which no action needs to be taken risks the waste of resources that could be better applied.

Methods and apparatus for system monitoring

International Business Machines Corporation


An engine control device is provided for reducing the retrieving time of control data from sensors at high and low engine speeds. Control parameters from the sensors are converted into memory access parameters to a control map to recover the desired injection amount. The fuel injection quantity is calculated by retrieving fuel injection amounts using the memory access parameters as addresses and performing a four-point interpolation of the memory parameters. A previously retrieved value is used as a reference value to aid the determination of an updated memory access parameter so that the retrieving time can be reduced for high and low engine speeds.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine control device, and more particularly to an engine control device which can retrieve data in a short amount of time and reduce the time required for execution of various operations.
2. Description of the Background Art
In order to improve the output, fuel economy, exhaust gas purification, etc. of an automotive engine, the proper control of the air-fuel ratio, the ignition timing, the exhaust gas recirculation, etc. which influence the combustion of the engine are required.
In a conventional engine control system, output data from various sensors is input as digital signals to an electronic control device, and preliminary data that has been stored in the device is retrieved as digital signals in response to the introduced digital signals. Then, the preliminary data that corresponds to the detected digital signals is read out, and various actuators are controlled in response to the signal that is read out.
An example of a retrieving method for a conventional engine control system is disclosed in Japanese Pat. Publication No. 63-18017. In this publication, the retrieving time of the data is based on a maximum value of the engine speed or the load. Accordingly, as the engine speed or the load increases, the retrieving time for retrieving data decreases. The retrieval time is thereby reduced for executing of various operations based on the engine speed or the load.
The retrieving method described above has the following problem. When an electronic fuel injection device is controlled which requires a table retrieval at every given crank angle, for example, the retrieving method described above is advantageous at high engine speeds since the retrieving operation is preferentially conducted in response to the high engine speeds, and the retrieving time is reduced. However, when the engine speed is low, the retrieving time is increased. Accordingly, many kinds of arithmetic operations cannot be executed in the same amount of time.
In contrast, if the engine speeds are retrieved from a low value thereof, the retrieving time at high engine speeds cannot be reduced. Because it is normally desirable to reduce the retrieving time at high engine speeds, such a long retrieving time of the low engine speeds is disadvantageous.

Engine control device for reducing the processing time of control variables


A method and apparatus for verifying destination calls needed in an elevator system. In the method a person having entered a destination call is identified first on the floor level outside the elevator and again in the elevator car allocated to the person. The destination floor call received from a destination call device as well as starting floor information obtained from a detector used to identify the person having entered the call are transmitted to the elevator control system, which, based on the destination call, allocates an elevator to the person having entered the call. If the system identifies the person having entered the call when the person is in the elevator car, then the destination call is acknowledged in the system as executed. On the other hand, if the person having entered the call is not identified in the elevator car allocated to him/her, then the previously entered destination call is kept valid and a new elevator is allocated to the person having entered the call.

In the operation of an elevator system, an essential piece of information is the call data entered by users to define their destination floor. A passenger using the elevator system has to inform the control system of the elevator system regarding both his/her own arrival floor and his/her destination floor that the user is heading for. Traditionally, these call data items are entered by the passenger in two steps by first entering a hall call on his/her arrival floor typically by pressing arrow buttons and then, upon arrival of an elevator at the passenger's starting floor, entering his/her destination floor data to the system by pressing a car call button placed in a control panel inside the elevator car. Due to its two-step nature, the traditional system requires that the elevator passenger enter two separate calls for one elevator ride, unless an elevator happens to be present at the passenger's arrival floor or unless another person traveling in the same direction has entered a hall call.
The number of calls to be entered for one elevator ride can be reduced to one by using a so-called destination control system. In the destination control system, the passenger feeds his/her destination floor call into a destination call device while still outside the elevator on a floor level. Thus, the user only has to enter a call once as the up and down calls are omitted. Based on this one call, the elevator system allocates the most suitable elevator to the customer, and when the customer boards the elevator car no separate destination call needs to be entered in the car.
Destination control requires the use of a special destination call device that allows the input of all possible floor numbers and floor identifiers to the elevator control system. Often the destination call device contains numeric keys 0-9 for the input of calls. A destination call can also be entered to the elevator system via a wireless and portable transmitter. The call can be registered in the elevator control system in the same way as if the call had been entered via a traditional control panel in the car. The destination floor can be selected by keying in the desired floor into the portable transmitter. A receiver for receiving the destination call as well as the associated antenna may be placed in the lobby or in the control panel of the elevator car. It is thus possible to input a destination call by wireless means from the lobby from outside the car.
The destination call regarding the destination floor entered by the user as well as the starting floor data obtained from the destination call device are transmitted to the elevator control system for elevator allocation. The person having entered the destination call is guided by means of the call device to the elevator allocated to him/her.
A problem with prior art solutions is that the user does not necessarily board the elevator allocated to him/her. The elevator control system never gets information indicating that the person having entered a call does not board the elevator intended for him/her e.g. in a case where the elevator allocated to the person is full. Neither is the elevator control system informed that the person having originally entered the destination call is still waiting for an elevator and that a new elevator should be allocated to him/her.

Elevator system and method for verifying a destination call


A multilayer data carrier having a substrate on which there is formed a security element having a metal layer, the element showing an optical effect from a viewing side. In the metal layer there are formed recesses that are not, or at best poorly, recognizable to the naked eye in daylight and form a marking. However, the presence of the marking is recognizable from a suitable viewing angle and upon suitable illumination. Preferably there is located under the metal layer a fluorescent layer which causes the marking (60) to become visible upon illumination by UV light.

1. Field
This invention relates to a multilayer data carrier, in particular an identification card or the like, which bears a difficult-to-forge security element which is detectable by simple means.
2. Related Art
From WO 2005/048182 A1 there is known a generic data carrier which is based on a transparent foil on which there are formed on a viewing front side in this order: a fluorescent printed layer applied by printing technology, a first foil-shaped metallic layer, a foil-shaped transparent interlayer, and a second foil-shaped metallic layer with a different ground color. The two metallic layers have recesses which are formed by means of a laser and form a marking present in the two metallic layers in exact register. The marking may be in particular a portrait. On account of the different ground colors of the two metal layers, the marking appears different upon viewing of the data carrier from the front compared to viewing from the back. Upon viewing of the data carrier from the front and simultaneous illumination of the back by UV radiation, the gaps further appear as fluorescent places.
In a variant it is further proposed to employ, instead of a transparent base foil with a printed fluorescent layer, a central carrier foil doped with fluorescent pigments having applied thereto on each side a layer sequence consisting of two vapor-deposited metallic layers and one intermediate transparent layer. The altogether four vapor-deposited metallic layers again have recesses formed therein by means of a laser which form an exactly registered marking in all four layers. Upon illumination of the central carrier foil by suitable excitation radiation, the marking appears fluorescent.
The known solution provides a difficult-to-imitate authenticity feature by making it possible to check with the naked eye the layer structure of a data carrier—namely by the presence of at least two spaced, marked layers—and the quality of the marking—by its register accuracy. However, the known solution presupposes that the two sides of the data carrier are configured so as to be coordinated with each other, thereby limiting the free designability of one surface of the data carrier. The surface space for applying other security features or identifying features is accordingly lost.
From WO 2005/053968 there is further known the proposal of forming markings in the form of patterns, letters, numbers and/or images by means of a laser in a security element having a metal layer disposed between two translucent cover layers. The markings in the metal layer show a watermark effect by which they appear in a positive representation upon viewing in transmitted light and in a negative representation upon viewing in reflected light. This solution presupposes that the security element can be viewed from two sides.

Data storage medium provided with a security characteristic


A data recovery device and a data recovery method are provided. The data recovery device includes an equalizer, a slicer, a phase lock loop (PLL) circuit, a detection circuit, and a compensation circuit. The equalizer adjusts a radio frequency (RF) signal according to a compensation signal and outputs an equalized RF signal sliced by the slicer according to a slicing level to output an AC_RF signal with segments. The PLL circuit outputs a clock according to phases of the AC_RF signal. The detection circuit calculates and outputs time intervals in the segments according to the clock and detects and outputs sampling heights in the segments. The compensation circuit selects at least two of the sampling heights, calculates a ratio of the selected sampling heights according to the outputs of the detection circuit, and outputs the compensation signal according to a result of comparison between the ratio and a corresponding reference.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a data recovery device and a data recovery method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a data recovery device and a data recovery method that can be used in an optical storage system.
2. Description of Related Art
Common optical storage systems use laser discs, such as compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs). To reproduce data stored in an optical disc, an optical disc drive (ODD) projects a laser beam onto the surface of the optical disc. The ODD then reads the laser beam reflected from the optical disc. An electric signal generated according to the reflected laser beam is a radio frequency (RF) signal. There are many reasons that may cause distortion on the RF signal, such as the non-linear channel used during de-focusing, inter-symbol interference (ISI), electrical delay, the pit patterns on the optical disc generated through mass production or injection molding, the scratches on the surface of the disc, aging of the disc, and so on. Distortion leads to decrease in the quality of the RF signal and deterioration of the recognition performance of the ODD. When the ODD reads the optical disc at a high speed, the ISI problem becomes even more severe.
To maintain the transmission speed and signal quality at the same time, a partial response (PR) method is usually applied to the conventional optical storage systems to allow ISI within a certain extent. Specifically, the PR method calibrates errors in the signal levels to obtain digital data upon which data can be processed. The Viterbi decoding mechanism of the maximum likelihood (ML) method can be applied to decode the resulting digital data into the originally stored data. Theoretically, the Viterbi decoding mechanism can minimize the errors. However, the mechanism is extremely complicated and difficult to implement. For example, FIG. 1 shows a frequency response waveform diagram of a read channel according to the related art. In a practical optical storage system, the frequency response Ch_1 of the real read channel is similar to neither the partial response channel PR1 nor the partial response channel PR2. If either the partial response channel PR1 or the partial response channel PR2 is used for reading purposes, there will be severe errors. Relatively speaking, if the partial response channel PR3 is used for reading purposes, there will be fewer errors. However, implementing a similar partial response channel will not only incur much additional costs but also complicate circuit designs. In fact, it is relatively simple to implement a less similar partial response channel. Therefore, researches are made as to use a less similar partial response channel for reading purposes and to compensate for the frequency response of the real read channel.


The apparatus includes a slicing machine (1) for cutting rows of slices (A) from several pieces of food product, and a loading unit (2) comprising a set of array-forming conveyor belts (7a, 7b, 7c) arranged in parallel, a device for aligning each of the array-forming conveyor belts (7a, 7b, 7c) with the slicing machine (1) for receiving successive rows of slices (A) arranged in a direction transverse to the forward movement direction while the array-forming conveyor belt is made to move forward synchronously with the operation of the slicing machine (1) until forming a partial array of slices (A) on each array-forming conveyor belt, and a transfer device for transferring a complete array of slices (A) formed by the partial arrays from the array-forming conveyor belts (7a, 7b, 7c) to a moving conveying surface.

Installations and methods for treating a food product cut into slices are known in the state of the art. For example, international patent application WO 2005/092109 describes a method for drying and maturing a sausage meat product cut into slices. Slicing machines capable of cutting slices of several pieces of a food product at the same time at a high speed are also known, such as, for example, the Weber 604 slicer. To subject the slices to treatment it is known, for example, from international patent application WO 2008135616, to arrange the slices in a single layer ordered formation on a system of conveyor belts moving the slices along a path including the passage through one or more treating units, such as, for example, a forced convection treating unit or a vacuum treating unit. However, this application neither describes nor suggests an apparatus or method for transferring the slices of food product from a large capacity slicer to a conveying surface of the system of conveyor belts in a single layer ordered formation.
The author of the present application has developed a food product treatment plant of the type described in which, in order to ensure that the slices are kept in the ordered formation while they are conveyed along the path, the slices are arranged in a single layer on large trays provided with a permeable support surface, and the trays loaded with the slices are conveyed by means of a conveyor device along the path including the passage through the one or more treating units. At the end of the treating line, the slices are unloaded from the trays in an unloading unit and directed to a packaging unit in which they are conditioned and packaged, whereas the empty trays are again directed by a conveyor towards the loading unit, passing through a tray washing unit. Nevertheless, an apparatus or process for transferring the slices from a large capacity slicer to the large trays at a sufficient speed to continuously supply one or more treating lines has not been described.
Patent FR-A-2839496 describes a process and an installation for the automatic production of food products from slices coming out of a slicing machine. The process comprises depositing the slices at a constant rate on a conveyor belt driven at a predetermined speed to obtain, at the end of the conveyor belt, an ejection and dropping of the slices onto a moving receiving tray, and synchronizing the movement of the receiving tray according to the dropping rate of the slices in order to distribute the slices on the tray according to a predetermined positioning. In this case, the tray forms part of a package for the slices and is small in size; therefore the process or the installation does not solve the problem of loading large trays at a high speed.
International patent application WO 02/22446 describes a device using several conveyor belts for conveying slices of a food product coming from a slicing machine, forming groups of partially overlapping slices and loading said groups of partially overlapping slices in trays for their packaging. Nor is the problem of loading trays at a high speed solved in this document.
Document US 2004/0016331 A1 discloses a slicing machine system comprising a slicing machine that slices several pieces of cured food product and deposits rows of slices on a single conveyor belt which moves in a forward direction at a speed synchronized with the operation of the sliding machine so that several lines of partially superimposed slices are formed in the longitudinal direction on the conveyor belt. A conveying system is provided for joining together the lines of slices to form a single line of partially superimposed slices in the longitudinal direction ready for packaging. A drawback of this slicing machine system is that is not able to form a complete array of slices having a number of slices in each transverse row greater than the number of pieces of food product that are sliced at once by the slicing machine, and wherein the slices, which are of a raw and uncured food product, are arranged in a single layer ready for a further treatment.
Document US 2004/031363 A1 discloses a slicing and conveying system that includes a slicing blade that cuts slices from a loaf, and an output conveyor located below the slicing blade for receiving the slices in a draft. A control system automatically adjusts a lateral movement of the output conveyor to form a laterally shingled draft of a consistent width in response to a sensed lateral dimension of the loaf being sliced. A drawback with this slicing machine is that it is not able to form several partial arrays of slices arranged in a single layer on different parallel conveyors configured to transfer the partial arrays onto an output conveyor to form a complete array of slices arranged in a single layer thereon.

Apparatus and method for cutting slices of a food product and loading them on a conveying surface, and treatment plant including said apparatus


A gas turbine engine includes a central body support that provides an inner annular wall for a core flow path. The central body support includes a first mount feature. A geared architecture interconnects a spool and a fan rotatable about an axis. A flex support interconnects the geared architecture to the central body support. The flex support includes a second mount feature that cooperates with the first mount feature for transferring torque there between. A method of disassembling a front architecture of a gas turbine engine includes the steps of accessing forward-facing fasteners that secure a central body support to a flex support, wherein the flex support includes a geared architecture supported thereon, removing the fasteners, and decoupling first and second mount features respectively provided on the central body support and the flex support.

The present disclosure relates to a gas turbine engine, and in particular, to a case structure therefor.
Gas turbine engines typically include one or more rotor shafts that transfer power and rotary motion from a turbine section to a compressor section and fan section. The rotor shafts are supported within an engine static structure, which is typically constructed of modules with individual case sections which are joined together at bolted flanges. The flanges form a joint capable of withstanding the variety of loads transmitted through the engine static structure. An ongoing issue for gas turbine engines is the ease and speed at which certain components in such engines can be serviced.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Gas turbine engine front center body architecture