The invention is a two part composition useful for initiating cure of one or more polymerizable monomers which cure when exposed to free radicals comprising in one part an organoboraneamine complex and in a second part an isocyanate which is capable of decomplexing the organoborane complex wherein the ratio of amine nitrogen atoms to boron atoms is greater than 4.0:1.0. In another embodiment the invention is a two part polymerizable composition comprising

This invention relates to compositions which contain organoborane amine complexes useful for initiating polymerization of compounds by free radical means. In another embodiment, this invention relates to polymerizable compositions comprising compounds containing moieties capable of free radical polymerization and organoborane amine complex initiators of the invention. In yet another embodiment the invention relates to a method of polymerizing compounds containing moieties capable of free radical polymerization.
In many practical situations in which compounds are subjected to polymerization or where adhesives are used, it is desirable to have polymerizable compositions and adhesive compositions which can cure on demand. Cure on demand means that the polymerization can be initiated when desired. A significant problem with cure on demand compositions is the stability of the compositions. Many such compositions will begin curing at, or near, ambient temperature or will partially cure at ambient temperature resulting in an increased viscosity causing difficulties in handling and reduced functionality of the polymerizable composition or adhesive composition.
Low surface energy olefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polytetrafluroethylene have a variety of attractive properties in a variety of uses, such as for toys, automobile parts, furniture applications and the like. Because of the low surface energy of these plastic materials, it is very difficult to find adhesive compositions which bond to these materials. The commercially available adhesives which are used for these plastics require time consuming or extensive pretreatment of the surface before the adhesive will bond to the surface. Such pretreatments include corona treatment, flame treatment and the like. The requirement for extensive pretreatment of the surface results in significant limitations to the designers of automobile components, toys, furniture and the like. What are needed are adhesive compositions which are capable of bonding to low surface energy substrates, and bonding low surface energy substrates to other substrates, without the need for extensive or costly pretreatment.
Mottus et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,275,611 (incorporated herein by reference) discloses a process for polymerizing olefinic compounds with a catalyst comprising an organoborane compound, a peroxygen compound and an amine. It is disclosed that the organoborane compound and amine may be added to the reaction mixture separately or as a preformed complex, and that the complex is preferred. The presence of the amine in the complex reduces the pyrophoricity of the organoborane in air. Among the amine complexing agents disclosed are pyridine, aniline, toluidine, dimethylbenzylamine, and nicotine. Many of the complexes disclosed in Mottus are pyrophoric at all amine to boron atom ratios. In addition, many of the amine complexes do not display significant adhesive properties when applied to low surface energy substrates.
A series of patents issued to Skoultchi (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,106,928, 5,143,884, 5,286,821, 5,310,835 and 5,376,746 (all incorporated herein by reference)) disclose a two-part initiator system that is useful in acrylic adhesive compositions. The first part of the two-part system includes a stable organoborane amine complex and the second part includes a destabilizer or activator such as an organic acid or an aldehyde. The organoborane compound of the complex has three ligands which can be selected from C1-10 alkyl groups or phenyl groups. Useful amines disclosed include octylamine, 1,6-diaminohexane, diethylamine, dibutylamine, diethylenetriamine, dipropylenediamine, 1,3-propylene diamine, and 1,2-propylene diamine. The adhesive compositions are disclosed to be useful in structural and semi-structural adhesive applications, such as speaker magnets, metal to metal bonding, automotive glass to metal bonding, glass to glass bonding, circuit board component bonding, bonding select plastics to metal, glass to wood, etc. and for electric motor magnets.
Zharov et al. discloses in a series of U.S. Patents (U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,070; U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,780; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,065 (all incorporated herein by reference)) polymerizable acrylic compositions which are particularly useful as adhesives wherein organoborane amine complexes are used to initiate cure. The organoboranes used have three ligands attached to the borane atom which are selected from C1-10 alkyl groups and phenyl. The amine is an alkanol amine, a linear alkyl diamine where the first amine group can be a primary or secondary amine and the second amine is a primary amine or an aromatic substituted alkyl amine. It is disclosed that these complexes are good for initiating polymerization of an adhesive which bonds to low surface energy substrates.
Pocius in a series of patents (U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,796; U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,143; U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,910; U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,544; U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,977; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,657 (all incorporated herein by reference) disclose amine organoborane complexes with a variety of amines such as polyoxyalkylene polyamines and polyamines which are the reaction product of diprimary amines and compound having at least two groups which react with a primary amine. Pocius U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,544 discloses a composition comprising an organoborane polyamine complex, polyol and an isocyanate decomplexing agent. It is disclosed that the primary amine to boron ratio in the complex is between about 4:1 and 1:1 and most preferred at about 1:1.
Many of the complexes disclosed in the Zharov, Skoultchi and Pocius Patents are not stable in compositions containing olefinic unsaturation at, or near, ambient temperatures and thus the complexes disassociate and induce polymerization at, or near, ambient temperature with time. This instability at, or near, ambient temperature can result in polymerization before desired and can result in compositions which are unsuitable for the desired use. Further, the compositions generally are two part compositions in which one side is a resin side and the other side is a hardener. One side (hardener) contains the organoborane complex and the other contains the decomplexing agent. In most cases the volume ratio of the two parts is significantly different, that is greater, than 4:1, often greater than 10:1. The problem is that most commercial equipment designed to dispense two part compositions utilizes ratios of 4:1 or less. In order to get these compositions to work in such equipment resin or nonreactive ingredients are added to one side or the other to get a suitable volumetric ratio. The problem is that if resin is added to the side containing the complex the mixture is unstable and could begin to cure at ambient temperatures and render the composition useless. If excessive inert materials are added to the hardener side the inert ingredient can act as a plasticizer or create a weak continuous phase and negatively impact the properties of the polymerized composition.
After polymerization many of the compositions of the prior art demonstrate excellent stability, strength and adhesion at or near ambient temperatures, but at elevated temperatures undergo loss of strength and adhesion at significantly elevated temperatures. This limits the environments where substrates bonded using these adhesives can be used.
Therefore, there is a need for initiator systems for free radical polymerization which are safe to handle, not pyrophoric, which can be used to form cure on demand polymer systems or can be used in adhesive systems which cure on demand. What is further needed are adhesive systems which are capable of bonding to low surface energy substrates, and initiator systems which facilitate such bonding. In addition to such needs, the complexes need to be thermally stable, that is do not disassociate at, or near, ambient temperatures and thereby initiate polymerization before desired. What are further needed are polymer compositions and adhesive systems which are thermally stable at, or near, ambient temperatures and which will undergo polymerization when the user desires. Further compositions that can be used in existing commercial equipment at mix ratios of 4:1 or less are needed. Compositions that have stability, strength and adhesion at elevated temperatures are desired.
The invention is a two part composition useful for initiating cure of one or more polymerizable monomers which cure when exposed to free radicals comprising in one part an organoborane amine complex and in a second part an isocyanate which is capable of decomplexing the organoborane complex wherein the ratio of amine nitrogen atoms to boron atoms is greater than 4.0:1.0.
In another embodiment the invention is a two part polymerizable composition comprising
part 1, a) an organoborane amine complex wherein the ratio of amine nitrogen atoms to boron atoms is greater than 4.0:1; and
part 2, b) one or more of monomers, oligomers or polymers having olefinic unsaturation which is capable of polymerization by free radical polymerization. In a preferred embodiment the second part (part 2) further comprises an effective amount of an isocyanate which causes the complex of part 1 to disassociate, freeing the borane to initiate polymerization of the one or more monomers, oligomers or polymers having olefinic unsaturation. In this embodiment the decomplexing agent and the complex are kept in separate parts to prevent premature reaction.
The invention is also a method of polymerization comprising contacting the components of the polymerizable composition under conditions such that the one or more monomers, oligomers, or polymers undergo polymerization. In one embodiment, the contacting occurs at, or near, ambient temperature. In another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of heating the polymerized composition to an elevated temperature under conditions such that the amine and isocyanate may further react. This can improve the temperature resistance of the polymerized composition.
In yet another embodiment the invention is a method of bonding two or more substrates together which comprises contacting the components of the polymerizable composition together under conditions such that polymerization is initiated; contacting the polymerizable composition with the two or more substrates; positioning the two or more substrates such that the polymerizable composition is located between the two or more substrates; and allowing the polymerizable composition to polymerize and to bond the two or more substrates together.
In yet another embodiment the invention is a method of coating a substrate composition which comprises contacting a composition comprising
a) an organoborane amine complex wherein the ratio of amine nitrogen atoms to boron atoms is greater than 4.0:1 and
b) one or more monomers, oligomers or polymers having olefinic unsaturation which are capable of polymerization by free radical polymerization
with one or more surfaces of a substrate and heating the coating to initiate cure of the coating.
In another embodiment the invention is a method of coating a substrate wherein the coating composition comprises
a) an organoborane amine complex wherein the ratio of amine nitrogen atoms to boron atoms is greater than 4.0:1 and
b) one or more monomers, oligomers or polymers having olefinic unsaturation which are capable of polymerization by free radical polymerization; and
c) a decomplexing agent.
In another embodiment the invention is a laminate comprising two substrates having disposed between the substrates and bound to each substrate a composition comprising
a) an organoborane amine complex wherein the ratio of amine nitrogen atoms to boron atoms is greater than 4.0:1 and
b) one or more monomers, oligomers or polymers having olefinic unsaturation which are capable of polymerization by free radical polymerization.
The composition in such laminate may further comprise a decomplexing agent.
In yet another embodiment the invention is a two part polymerizable composition comprising
part 1, a) an organoborane amine complex; and
part 2, b) one or more of monomers, oligomers or polymers having olefinic unsaturation which is capable of polymerization by free radical polymerization
c) an effective amount of a compound which causes the complex to disassociate thereby freeing the borane to initiate polymerization of the one or more monomers, oligomers or polymers having olefinic unsaturation wherein the compound which causes disassociation of the complex is kept separate from the complex until initiation of polymerization is desired; and
d) a material which manages the heat of the polymerization reaction such that adhesion to the substrate is maintained, which material can be located in either part 1, part 2 or both parts.
The complexes of the invention are safe to handle, i.e., not pyrophoric, are stable at, or near, ambient temperature and therefore will not initiate polymerization at, or near, ambient temperature in the absence of an initiator that causes the complex to disassociate. The polymeric compositions of the invention are stable at, or near, ambient temperature and can be cured upon demand by contacting the complex with the compounds which cause disassociation of the complex, or alternatively by heating the polymeric compositions above the thermal disassociation temperature of the complex. Furthermore, the polymerizable compositions of the invention can form good bonds to low surface energy substrates without the need for primers or surface treatment. These polymerizable compositions can be used as adhesives, coatings and can be used to laminate substrates together. The complexes and polymerizable compositions of the invention may be formulated to be dispensed in commercial equipment at volume ratios of the two parts of 4:1 or less. The polymerized compositions demonstrate excellent cohesive and adhesive strength at elevated temperatures and thus demonstrate excellent stability at high temperatures.

Organoborane amine complex polymerization initiators and polymerizable compositions


An analysis tool for specifically identifying the cause and location of critical memory leaks within a large software system is provided. The analysis tool transparently adds multiple processing threads that collaborate to identify sources of potential memory leaks in the software being analyzed. These threads provide notifications of object classes executing in the software that have had excessive instance counts or have exceeded the average lifetime of an object. A stack walkback is performed on objects being monitored as an out-of-memory condition approaches and while there is still sufficient memory available to unwind and store the stack walkback. By saving the stack walkbacks just prior to the out-of-memory failure, the analysis tool operator is thereby provided sufficient information to make a final determination of objects that are possible candidates for memory leaks and subsequently modify the software to reduce or eliminate the memory leaks.

The complexity of memory management in software systems continues to grow. Modern languages, such as the Java programming language developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc., eliminate some of the burden of memory management by offering automatic "garbage collection" functionality. In languages having garbage collection, a garbage collector object periodically frees all the objects that are no longer needed or can no longer be "reached" by the running program. Ideally, garbage collection will clean up all objects that are no longer needed by the program. Unfortunately, the garbage collector may not free a temporary object, which is created for an operation and then released by its creating object, because another object has created an unknown reference to the temporary object. Because the program is not aware of this unknown reference, it will fail to set this reference to null at the end of the operation. As a result, the garbage collector will not reclaim this temporary object after the operation has finished. This failure to garbage collect objects that are no longer needed results in memory management inefficiencies because the system must continue maintaining created memory for the object, instead of re-allocating the memory space to other objects needing memory resources.
This memory management problem is commonly referred to as a "memory leak." A memory leak is caused when an object cannot be collected or freed (such that its memory space becomes available for other purposes) because another object is still referring to the object, even though a software program no longer needs the object. As the number of memory leaks increases, the software program may unexpectedly run out of memory after performing a number of operations.
Memory leaks can be difficult to eliminate, because the complexity of most programs prevents manually verifying the validity of every reference. Even after a memory leak has been identified, further analysis will usually be required in order to fully understand the cause and determine the most effective solution to the memory leak. For example, true memory leaks must be distinguished from artifacts like cached objects, which are intentionally retained.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide methods for identifying and eliminating memory leaks in Java programs. Methods that could detect memory leaks during Java program execution would be particularly advantageous in continuous-operation applications such as in Web Application Servers (for example, the WebSphere product by International Business Machines Corporation), and in high-reliability environments such as telecommunications applications, where it is particularly hard to detect, isolate and remedy memory leaks.

Method, system and article for detecting critical memory leaks causing out-of-memory errors in Java software


A system (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant includes a crash sensor (32) operative to sense a vehicle crash event and provide a crash signal having a characteristic indicative of the sensed crash event. An acoustic safing sensor (34) is operative to sense acoustic waves of the vehicle during a vehicle crash event and provide a safing signal having a characteristic indicative of the sensed acoustic waves. The system (10) also includes an occupant protection device (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) for, when actuated, helping to protect the vehicle occupant during a vehicle crash event. A controller (30) controls actuation of the occupant protection device (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) in response to the crash signal and the safing signal.

Actuatable occupant restraint systems, such as air bags and seat belt pretensioners, are well known in the art. Such restraint systems include one or more collision sensing devices, such as for sensing vehicle crash acceleration (e.g., vehicle deceleration). An air bag restraint system further includes an electrically actuatable igniter, referred to as a squib. When the collision sensing device senses a deployment crash event, an electrical current of sufficient magnitude and duration is passed through the squib to ignite the squib. When ignited, the squib initiates the flow of inflation fluid into an air bag from a source of inflation fluid, as is known in the art.
Occupant protection systems utilize a variety of crash sensing devices, which may be either mechanical or electrical in nature. For example, some occupant protection systems include one or more accelerometers that sense vehicle crash acceleration and provides a signal indicative thereof. Systems having an accelerometer further include additional circuitry (e.g., a controller) for monitoring the output of the accelerometer. The accelerometer is operatively connected to the controller, which may be a microcomputer, that discriminates between a deployment and a non-deployment crash event by applying a predetermined crash algorithm to the acceleration signal. When a deployment crash event is determined to be occurring, the controller actuates the restraint.
Air bag restraint systems also are known to require more than one sensor for detection of a deployment crash event. Often, the plural sensors are arranged in a voting scheme in which all the sensors must "agree" that a deployment crash event is occurring before restraint actuation is initiated. In certain known arrangements having plural sensors, the second sensor is referred to as a "safing sensor." Air bag actuation occurs only if the first sensor and the safing sensor both indicate that a deployment crash event is occurring. Typically, a safing sensor is a directional inertia responsive switch or accelerometer. Consequently, separate safing sensors are required for each crash sensor, which increases the cost of a restraint system proportional to the number of safing sensors being used.

Method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant protection device using an ultrasonic sensor


Semiconductor device and method for forming a semiconductor device are presented. A substrate having top and bottom pad stacks is provided. Each pad stack includes at least first and second pad layers. The second pad layer of the bottom pad stack is removed by a batch process. Trench isolation regions are formed in the substrate.

Formation of deep junction, particularly, for high voltage applications, requires high temperature and long thermal drive in process. The high temperature and long thermal drive in process, however, may lead to wafer warpage. To alleviate the thermal stress created during the drive in process, removal of pad nitride film on the backside of the wafer before the drive in process is desired. However, current pad nitride removal process requires long processing times. This leads to low throughput and higher manufacturing cost.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an efficient and simplified method for wafer processing and with reduced manufacturing cost.


A latch system applied to a plurality of banks of a memory circuit includes a front latch circuit and a plurality of rear latch circuit. The front latch circuit is used for receiving a datum and a front latch enabling signal, and generating and outputting an intermediate signal according to the datum and the front latch enabling signal. Each rear latch circuit of the plurality of rear latch circuits is coupled to an output terminal of the front latch circuit for receiving the intermediate signal, and generating and outputting a rear latch datum to a corresponding bank of the plurality of banks according to the intermediate signal and a corresponding rear latch enabling signal, where only one rear latch enabling signal is enabled at any time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a latch system applied to a plurality of banks of a memory circuit, and particularly to a latch system that includes a front latch circuit and a plurality of rear latch circuits, where the front latch circuit and the plurality of rear latch circuits are not turned on simultaneously.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a latch system 100 applied to a plurality of banks of a memory circuit according to the prior art. The latch system 100 has a plurality of latch circuits L0 to Ln−1, where each latch circuit corresponds to a bank. For example, a latch circuit L0 corresponds to a bank B0, a latch circuit L1 corresponds to a bank B1, and so on. Each latch circuit has a first input terminal for receiving a datum, a second input terminal for receiving a corresponding latch enabling signal, and an output terminal for outputting a latch datum to a corresponding bank. For example, after the latch circuit L0 receives a datum D and a latch enabling signal LE0, the latch circuit L0 generates and outputs a latch datum LD0 to the bank B0 according to the datum D and the latch enabling signal LE0. As shown in FIG. 1, a transmission gate T00 and a transmission gate T01 of the latch circuit L0 are not turned on and off simultaneously. That is to say, when the transmission gate T00 is turned on, the transmission gate T01 is turned off; and when the transmission gate T00 is turned off, the transmission gate T01 is turned on.
Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a timing diagram illustrating an operation timing of the latch system 100. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, at a first interval T1, a transmission gate T00 is turned on and a transmission gate T01 is turned off. Because the transmission gate T00 is turned on, an intermediate signal IS is equal to the datum D. The transmission gate T01 is turned off, so a signal LD0 of an output terminal of the latch circuit L0 is unknown. At a second interval T2, the latch circuit L0 receives a latch enabling signal LE0, so the transmission gate T00 is turned off and the transmission gate T01 is turned on. Because the transmission gate T00 is turned off and the transmission gate T01 is turned on, the intermediate signal IS maintains a value of the intermediate signal IS at the second interval T1, and the signal LD0 of the output terminal of the latch circuit L0 is equal to the intermediate signal IS. At a third interval T3, when the latch enabling signal LE0 changes from a logical-high voltage "1" to a logical-low voltage "0", the transmission gate T00 is turned on and the transmission gate T01 is turned off. Because the transmission gate T00 is turned on, the intermediate signal IS is equal to the datum D. The transmission gate T01 is turned off, so the signal LD0 of the output terminal of the latch circuit L0 maintains a value of the intermediate signal IS at the second interval T2. Further, subsequent operational principles of other latch circuits of the latch system 100 are the same as those of the latch circuit L0, so further description thereof is omitted for simplicity.
Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating unpredictability of the signal LD0 of the output terminal of the latch circuit L0 when a negative edge of the latch enabling signal LE0 is not sharp enough. As shown in FIG. 3, at the third interval T3, because the latch enabling signal LE0 changes from the logical-high voltage "1" to the logical-low voltage "0" too slowly, the transmission gate T00 and the transmission gate T01 are turned on simultaneously, resulting in the signal LD0 of the output terminal of the latch circuit L0 being equal to the intermediate signal IS at the third interval T3, instead of maintaining the value of the intermediate signal IS at the second interval T2.
To sum up, the latch system 100 utilizes the latch enabling signal LE0 to control the transmission gate T00 and the transmission gate T01 simultaneously, so the signal LD0 of the output terminal of the latch circuit L0 may be unpredictable. Thus, the latch system 100 is not a good choice for a user.

Latch system applied to a plurality of banks of a memory circuit


A clamping tool includes a holder, a connector and a tool. The holder has a rearwardly tapering bore and a holder thread having a first pitch. The connector has a cylindrical shape and a connector through bore. The connector further has a first connector thread having a pitch similar to the first pitch, and a second connector thread having a second pitch that is different from the first pitch. The tool has a rearwardly tapering rear portion and a tool thread having a pitch similar to the second pitch. In an assembled position, the rearwardly tapering rear portion of the tool abuts the rearwardly tapering bore of the holder, the holder thread is threadingly engaged with the first connector thread, and the tool thread is threadingly engaged with the second connector thread.

It is known in the art to use an apparatus having differential thread fastening means, i.e., threads having different pitches, for clamping a cutting tool. Such an apparatus is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,883.
As shown in '883, an apparatus for adjusting the grip of a tubular collet upon a rotary tool is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a holder, a collet, a rotary tool and a rotatable connector member. The connector member has a first thread connection having a first pitch for threadingly engaging the collet, and a second thread connection having a second pitch for threadingly engaging the holder.
When the connector member is rotated, the collet is axially displaced into a tapered portion of the holder. The collet is provided with longitudinally extending slits so that further rotation of the connector member will cause the collet to radially close upon the shaft of the rotary tool and thus clamp the rotary tool within the collet.
In order to operate in an accurate and stable manner, the apparatus of '883 has to be designed to deal with several degrees of freedom, i.e., taking into consideration the dimensions and tolerances of the various parts. A first degree of freedom is defined between the tapered portions of the collet and of the holder. A second degree of freedom is defined in the first thread connection between the connector member and the collet. A third degree of freedom is defined in the second thread connection between the connector member and the holder. A fourth degree of freedom is defined in the slits of the collet. A fifth degree of freedom is defined between the bore of the collet and the shaft of the rotary tool retained therein.
Since there are involved several degrees of freedom between various parts, it negatively affects the possibility to have an accurate and stable clamping. This relates particularly to the slits of the collet and to the space between the bore of the collet and the shaft of the cutting tool. Furthermore, it may negatively affect the rigidity and clamping force by which the shaft of the cutting tool is clamped within the bore of the collet.


A vibrator (16) for the tray (10) of a vibratory conveyor (slip conveyor). The conveyor (16) includes bases 19 and 20 supported by resilient mountings (17, 18) on a stationary structure 37. Elongated resilient mountings (17, 18) extend between bases (19, 22), with the tray (10) supported on the base (23).

A large variety of equipment employs vibrators to aid in the transfer of material. For example, vibratory conveyors and slip conveyors have a conveyor tray along which material is conveyed by vibration of the tray.
Known conveyors that employ vibrators have a number of disadvantages including:
(1) transfer of vibration to the supporting structure;
(2) imbalance of the assembly which results in inefficient operation and excessive wear; and
(3) variations in vibrator constructions to accommodate variations in the construction of conveyors.


A baseball practice mechanism defined by a tripod mounted framework supporting a baseball propelling arrangement and including a pivotal structure controlling a desired training need, as, for example, flyballs, batting practice, grounders, or the like. The tire speed is accomplish by use of an adjustment thread cooperatively engaging a pivotal plate which bears against the housing of a power source, serving, in end purposes, as a variable speed control for the rotation of the baseball propelling tire. Baseball feeding is accomplished through an entry opening into a V-shaped cup, providing safety to the user and, at the same time, the positive and repetitious squeezing, and propelling, of the baseball in a controlled direction through simple pivotal action. The mechanism is mobile through pulling movement of one or more of the tripod base legs combined with the rotating action afforded by the tire.

As is known, it is a continual desire on the part of a baseball player to improve skills, as in catching fly balls, grounders and batting and, as well, for infield training and/or batting cage practice. A variety of equipment is commonly available to achieve the aforesaid goals but such, typically, are defective for one reason or another as, for example, in operation, reliability, portability, and/or in achieving the desired adjustment required for baseball speed.


A control system for an engine having at least one manifold, a throttle, and a crank wheel, includes a pressure sensor to measure a pressure in the at least one manifold, a throttle position sensor to measure a position of the throttle of the engine, a revolution sensor to measure a rate of rotation of the crank wheel of the engine, a processor in communication with each of the pressure sensor, the throttle position sensor, and the revolution sensor to receive an input signal, analyze the input signal based upon an instruction set, and generate a control signal in response to analysis of the input signal, wherein the input signal is representative of at least one of the pressure, the throttle position, and the rate of rotation, and an engine system in communication with the processor and responsive to the control signal to control a function thereof.

Induction backfires can sometimes occur in engines of motorcycles and the like. As an example, FIG. 1 illustrates a graphical plot 2 of a manifold pressure sensor feedback for a two cylinder engine with a plurality of independent intake manifolds. A manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor is disposed in at least one of the manifolds to measure a pressure thereof. A plurality of samples 4 (i.e. readings) of the pressure of the at least one of the manifolds are taken at a plurality of pre-determined intervals. A pulse width 6 of a fuel injection into each of the manifolds is then adjusted based upon the samples 4 of the manifold pressure. Where an induction backfire event 8 occurs, the sample 4 of the pressure measurement during the induction back fire event 8 causes an erroneous increase in a subsequent one of the pulse widths 6′ of the fuel injection. The erroneous increase in the pulse width 6′ results in over-fueling of a subsequent engine cycle event due to a false high mass-air calculation and a reaction of the x-tau wall wetting transient fuel compensation.
The induction backfire itself can often cause a stall condition in the engine. However, an excessive fueling for an engine cycle maximizes the probability of a stall condition.
Various systems and methods have been developed to minimize the occurrence of an induction backfire event. For example, recalibrating a fuel and an idle control has minimized the occurrences of the induction backfire. However, the induction backfire events have not been eliminated from engine operation.
It would be desirable to develop an engine control system and a method for induction backfire compensation for an engine, wherein the system and the method provide a means of minimizing a stall condition in the engine due to an induction backfire event.

Induction backfire compensation for motorcycles


A fish farm with a float ring, and a net fixed to the float ring. The float is flexible and is designed with an exterior walkway and interior room for personnel. At least one door or hatch provides access between the exterior walkway and the interior room for personnel.

Predictable and environmentally sustainable growth in Norwegian salmon- and trout farming is dependent on new areas being utilized in the outer coastal zone. This requires rethinking, robust and smart solutions. Sustainable also means that the growth in production cost per kg of produced salmon must be reduced or, to a greater extent, reversed.
The vast majority of fish farms in Norway are located inshore sheltered from waves, wind and currents. Fish farms today face several challenges in the fjords where they are located. Some of them are pollution of the seabed and salmon lice. These problems may be solved by moving the fish farms out to exposed sea areas with greater wave height, water depth and currents. The weather conditions in these sea areas are rough and one is therefore dependent on a structure that can handle such weather conditions. The operation of the fish farm is also dependent on energy. Such energy may be supplied via service vessels. Such vessels that operate in the fjords are not suitable for operation offshore due to waves and wind. There is thus a need for an energy source that can supply such facilities with energy over long periods in harsh weather conditions.


A directed audio system, a network interface communicatively coupled with a network, and a controller to receive, via the network interface, an estimate for a location from a locating device communicatively coupled with the network, and to cause the directed audio system to direct an audio signal based at least in part on an estimate for the location received from the locating device.

Directed audio systems allow a user to be located at nearly any point within an area and to listen to selected audio content while preventing others in the same area from hearing much or any of the audio content, without the aid of attachments such as headphones or any similar speaker based devices attached to the person or clothing of the user. A simple version of such a technology might be an array of speakers in a ceiling such that only one or more selected speakers located over the listener's location plays the audio content while all other speakers are silent, or alternatively play other audio content for other listeners. Another example of such technology is HyperSonic Sound (HSS)1, a technology used in products marketed by American Technology Corporation. HSS products convert an audio signal into a complex ultrasonic signal that is radiated from a transducer emitter. The signal may be tightly focused because it is highly directional. A listener in the path of the beam of ultrasonic energy is able to hear the audio signal while others outside the beam are unable to hear the signal or may hear it at a low level. The audible frequencies associated with the audio signal are created by interactions between different frequencies carried in the ultrasonic beam and air molecules which respond non-linearly to the ultrasonic frequencies. 1The product names used are for identification purposes only. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
A related system is described in Austin Lowrey III, Apparatus and method of broadcasting audible sound using ultrasonic sound as a carrier, U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,336. Another system with similar goals is described in Wayne B Brunkan, Hearing system, U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,027.
Networks allowing the transmission of data are well known. Networks that are associated with mobile devices are well known, and examples are abundant. For example, a cellular telephone system is a network that allows mobile users to transmit and receive data, including, for example, digitized voice transmissions, text messages and other data. Other forms of wireless networking allow processor based devices of various type to intercommunicate with each other and with other networks, including for one example a wireless network that complies with the 802.11 family of standards. See for example, ISO/IEC 8802-11:1999(E) ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11. Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications, 1 edition, 1999.
Some mobile device networks are persistent, that is, a node stays in a network as long as it is in the vicinity of a network access point and is operating; others may be spontaneous and short lived. For one instance a device may form a spontaneous, temporary network with another device when two devices are proximal and then disconnect when either device moves away, only to form another spontaneous network.
Locating devices are also well known. A common example of a locating device is a GPS receiver; because of the common knowledge of GPS receivers, this type of locating device is not further described here, except to note that GPS receivers work better outdoors, in general, than indoors.
Other forms of locating devices that work indoors or within a bounded area are also well known. Several classes of locating devices based on a radio source at the device or a radio-responsive circuit at the device are known. For one example, a cellular phone may be locatable based on the signal emitted by the cellular phone and its reception by locators. A wireless device such an 802.11 class transceiver on a wireless network may be similarly located. Even an un-powered device that has a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) circuit as a component may be locatable by other devices able to activate and read a signal from the activated RFID circuit.


An electronic assembly comprising an electronic module provided with optical interconnection and heat removal means, the heat removal means comprising a soleplate dedicated to removing heat on which the module is mounted. The interconnection means is independent of the soleplate and preferably comprises a printed circuit and an optical fiber included in the printed circuit. The optical fiber has an end put accurately in register with an optical contact of the module by a BGA type mounting of the printed circuit on the module. A BGA type mounting consists in placing with precision firstly balls on the module and secondly areas on the circuit, and then in bringing the balls and areas face to face so that the balls center themselves automatically with the areas by capillarity.

The present invention relates to an electronic assembly having high-density interconnections. A particular application of the invention lies in the field of integrated electronic modules, i.e. modules comprising a plurality of specialized integrated circuits known as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). These ASICs perform numerous complex functions, and for them to operate it is necessary for a large number of inlet and outlet ports on the module to be served. The field of the invention is particularly that of integrated modules of three-dimensional structure, and in a preferred example, in the form of a cube.
In the state of the art, cube-shaped integrated electronic modules are known that are connected via one of their faces to a printed circuit card. The electronic module is mounted by soldering tabs on the module to transfer contacts on the card. In order to dissipate the heat given off by such a module in operation, a heat removal system is known including a heat drain, which heat drain is embedded in the card. The module has a face that is placed on or in register with a zone of the printed circuit card. This face is the only interface between the module and the card. Thus, the functions of interconnection and of removing heat are both performed via said interface.
The state of the art assembly raises a problem since it firstly prevents the module from providing interconnections at high density. Secondly, the heat removal system that is provided is not sufficient since it is made in the printed circuit card, even through firstly the amount of heat to be removed is large and secondly the removal system cannot be too large in size given the miniaturization conditions imposed on such integrated modules and printed circuit cards. Furthermore, the card cannot receive a miniature heat removal system of higher performance since it is constituted by a substrate made of a material that has poor heat conduction characteristics.
An object of the invention is to remedy the above-mentioned problem by proposing an electronic assembly provided with a cooling device and also proposing interconnection means for the electronic module, the interconnection means being distinct from the cooling device. The advantage of the invention is to make use of the three-dimensional structure of the electronic module to separate the interconnection function and the heat removal function, thereby enabling each of these functions to be optimized independently of the other.
The cooling device of the invention consists in an insulating soleplate connected to one of the faces of the integrated module, said face being distinct from a second face of said module, the second face being presented in such a manner as to be suitable for connection with a printed circuit card. The soleplate is selected to have good heat exchange capacity. Since it presents no interconnection function for the module, it can act without interference to remove the large quantity of heat emitted by the module.
In addition, the entire second face of the module can be used for providing interconnection functions, and none of its area needs to be set aside for removing heat. Consequently, the invention makes it possible to propose a module that offers a greater density of interconnections.
The invention provides an electronic assembly comprising at least a first integrated electronic module, the first module including at least one interconnection means for optical connection to a printed circuit card or to a second electronic module, the assembly including a soleplate and heat removal means for removing heat from said module to the soleplate, and wherein the soleplate is independent of the interconnection means of the first module.
In the state of the art, modules are known that are provided with optical interconnection means. Optical interconnection means present the advantage of being insensitive to the electromagnetic fields created in environments of the kind that surround modules of the invention. In addition, optical interconnections present the advantage of making it possible to achieve a greater density of interconnections than when using electronic interconnections.
In the state of the art, optical interconnection means comprise an optical fiber and an optical connector unit. The connector unit has a first optical connector mounted on the module, for example, and a second optical connector mounted on one end of the optical fiber for connecting the optical fiber to the module. The first and second connectors need to be assembled together with very great precision. The end of the optical fiber must be put into register with the first optical connector very precisely in order to guarantee good transmission of the optical signal through the connector unit. For this purpose, the connector unit has at least one means for aligning the fiber with the first optical connector.
In general, the alignment means comprise specific transfer means. In general, the alignment means further comprise converging lenses to focus a light beam conveyed by means of such a fiber.
These optical interconnections and contacts present a major drawback. They are complex and bulky, and they are not suitable for designing modules having a high density of connections operating at high data rates. The first specific transfer means are bulky and prevent optical interconnections achieving high density on such miniature modules. Furthermore, proper positioning of the converging lenses is difficult to achieve. Finally, these extremely accurate alignment means are expensive, making the use of optical interconnections on integrated electronic modules expensive.
Another object of the invention is to remedy the problems mentioned by proposing a module having optical interconnection means that make it possible to avoid the presence of specific transfer means to guarantee the alignment accuracy that is required for such optical interconnections. The optical interconnection means of the invention no longer require the presence of a connector unit. The invention provides for an optical fiber, e.g. included in a printed circuit, to be put into register with an optical contact of the module merely by mounting the printed circuit with precision on a face of the module that has the optical contact. The precision mounting implemented is compact since the contact points between the printed circuit and the face are limited to micropoints that are disposed very accurately respectively on the face of the module and on the printed circuit. Thereafter, these micropoints are interconnected by capillarity during a step of melting the micropoints when they are at a very small distance apart from one another.
This method of bringing points into register thus enable the density of the optical connectors presented by such an electronic module to be increased because the space required for the specific transfer means of the optical connectors is now available to present additional optical contacts.
In a preferred example, the invention provides an electronic assembly comprising at least a first integrated electronic module, a printed circuit card, and optical interconnection means for connecting the integrated electronic modules to the printed circuit card, wherein the optical interconnection means comprise a first optical contact of the first integrated electronic module, and a second optical contact on the printed circuit card, and wherein the first optical contact is mounted precisely in register with the second optical contact by means of beads bonded to the module, the beads being self-centering with metal areas of the printed circuit card during assembly.

Electronic assembly having high interconnection density


An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager selects an extraction layer from a convolutional neural network that was trained on an initial set of images. The knowledge manager processes subsequent images obtained from crawling a computer network that includes extracting image feature sets of the subsequent images from the selected extraction layer and generating tags from metadata associated with the subsequent images. In turn, the knowledge manager receives a new image, extracts a new image feature set from the selected extraction layer, and assigns one or more of the tags to the new image based upon evaluating the new image feature set to the image features sets of the subsequent images.

The present disclosure relates to tagging similar images using a convolutional neural network.
Deep learning is a branch of machine learning based on a set of algorithms that model high-level abstractions in data by using multiple processing layers with complex structures. Various deep learning architectures are used in technological systems such as computer vision systems, automatic speech recognition systems, natural language processing systems, audio recognition systems, question answer systems, etc.
The technological systems, such as question answer systems, may employ classifiers utilizing the deep learning architectures to generate decisions for a set of input criteria. The classifiers may include algorithms structured in the form of a deep learning architecture such as a convolutional neural network that includes various combinations of convolutional layers and fully connected layers.
Prior to using classifiers in a question answer system, the classifiers are specifically trained using a substantial set of training samples such that the classifiers are able to classify new information received by the question answer system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Tagging similar images using neural network


A rotary shaver (1) comprising a metal external cutting element (7) and a disc-shaped element (10) having a central axis (12). The disc-shaped element covers at least part of the external cutting element. The disc-shaped element is in contact with the external cutting element by means of a raised ring-shaped rim (15) extending between a side surface of the external cutting element and a side surface of the disc-shaped element, which raised ring-shaped rim has a height of at least 0.1 millimetre in a direction parallel to the central axis and a width of less than 0.35 millimetre in a direction radial to the central axis.

Such rotary shavers are known, wherein part of a metal external cutting element is hidden from view by a disc-shaped cap to improve the appearance of the rotary shaver. The disc-shaped cap is provided on the metal external cutting element, whereby openings and/or apertures in the metal external cutting element are hidden from view by the disc-shaped cap, and a nice appearance is obtained. When there is a relatively small crevice between the metal external cutting element and the cap, transport between acid and base places in the crevice is relatively hard or even impossible because no air, water etc. can flow in the crevice, so that the environment between the disc-shaped cap and the metal external cutting element becomes more aggressive and crevice corrosion will occur.
DE 78 29 254 U1 discloses a covering member for a screw. The covering member comprises centrally arranged snap elements by means of which the covering member can be connected to a central cross-shaped opening in the head of the screw. A side surface of the covering member facing the screw is provided with a rim around its circumference.
DE 101 11 939 discloses a covering member for a screw. This covering member comprises a centrally arranged pen by means of which the covering member can be connected to a central cross-shaped opening in the head of the screw.
EP 1 375 089 A1 discloses an electric shaver comprising front and rear housing portions which are mutually connected by means of screws provided with screw covers.

Rotary shaver comprising a disc-shaped element


Described herein is a cell tissue gel containing collagen and hyaluronan at a weight ratio of 0.01-100:1.

Stem cell therapy is a promising approach in treating degenerative diseases. However, it remains challenging to retain stem cells at an implantation site and maintain their viability in a recipient so as to affect tissue repair. There is a need for a vehicle (e.g., a cell tissue gel) that facilitates site-specific stem cell implantation with high cell viability.
Wound healing is a natural restorative response to tissue injury. Healing is the interaction of a complex cascade of cellular events that generates resurfacing, reconstitution, and restoration of the tensile strength of injured skin. In diabetic patients, wounds can take longer to heal than non-diabetic patients.

Cell tissue gel containing collagen and hyaluronan


A force sensor is provided which incorporates a pressure transducer disposed within a housing structure. A force transmitting means, such as a shaft slidable within an opening, is provided to communicate force from an external source to a diaphragm of a pressure sensor. An elastomeric conductor is disposed between electronic components on the diaphragm of a pressure sensor die and conductive leads that are used to communicate signals from the pressure sensor die to components external to the present invention. In certain preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a preselected quantity of resilient material between a first end of the slidable shaft and the diaphragm of the pressure sensor die. Other embodiments place the first end of the shaft in direct contact with the diaphragm. The travel of the force transmitting shaft within an opening of the housing structure can be limited either by limiting the amount of extension of the shaft outside of the housing or, alternatively, by providing a travel limit member attached to the shaft and limited in its extent of travel within the housing structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a force sensor and, more particularly, to a force sensor that employs a pressure transducer in association with a moveable shaft for transmitting a force to a diaphragm of the pressure sensor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many different types of force sensing apparatus are well known to those skilled in the art. In addition, the use of semiconductor components in cooperation with levers is known to the skilled artisan in the field of force sensing. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,150, which issued to Brosh et al on Nov. 23, 1976, discloses an economical weighing apparatus that employs a cantilever beam structure. The scale utilizes a cantilever beam which has a transducer arrangement positioned on it. The beam is coupled to a platform by means of a rod inserted into an aperture in a linear bearing. It therefore provides a force only in the axial direction and enables the weighing of an object that is positioned at any location on a platform. U.S. Pat. No. 3,790,870, which issued to Mitchell on Feb. 5, 1974, describes a thin oxide force sensitive switch. The bistable solid state switch is provided by copper/cuprous oxide rectifying or blocking junction devices. A contacting thin cuprous oxide layer and an elemental form of a copper substrate have an interface between them. Devices of this type are arranged to avalanche from a blocking state to an essentially conducting state on the application of force when under a related voltage and then avalanche back to a blocking state on the removal of at least a portion of that force. The transition between the states is sharp and predictable, but free of arcing effects. Force switchable diodes of this type provide an inverse relationship between switching force and voltage and a positive relationship between switching force and thickness of the cuprous oxide layer.
Those skilled in the art of electronic circuit design and electronic packaging are familiar with connectors that comprise elastomeric material and a plurality of anisotropic conductors disposed within the elastomeric material to provide selective conductivity only in a preferred direction through the conductor. One supplier of this type of conductor, Fugipoly Incorporated, provides a high accuracy rubber connector referred to as the W series with anisotropic electrical conduction properties. The connectors comprise three hundred to two thousand fine metal wires per cubic centimeter which are embedded in the thickness direction of the transparent silicon rubber sheet. The connectors are inserted between opposite electrodes and provide electrical communication therebetween. The fine metal wires are gold plated to insure that requirements relating to low resistance and the ability to withstand relatively high electrical currents can be met. Fugipoly Incorporated also provides a low resistance elastomeric connector referred to as a ZEBRA which is constructed of alternating parallel layers of electrically conductive and nonconductive silicon elastomer. The conductive layer is filled with silver metal particles. The alternating layers provide electrical connection when placed between two aligned conducting surfaces.
An article titled "Guidelines for Designing Elastomeric Connectors into the System" was written by Leonard Buchoff in the August 1987 edition of Connection Technology. The article describes applications in which elastomeric elements are used in electronic circuit packaging applications where anisotropic conduction is required. In the Dec. 7, 1989 edition of EDN Magazine, Arthur Mosley wrote an article entitled "Elastomeric Connectors/Meet SMT Requirements" which describes the use of the silicone rubber selectively conductive components in various application. It also describes the electrical and temperature characteristics of silicone rubber and its tolerance to ultraviolet radiation, oxygen, ozone and humidity. These articles illustrate the wide knowledge of elastomeric conductors throughout the industry. The information contained in the articles and in the patents described above is expressly incorporated by reference in this application.
Certain applications of force sensors require the sensor to be extremely small, but also to be able to provide an analog signal that is directly proportional to the magnitude of a force being measured. As one particular example, a tactile response pen for use in conjunction with a computer terminal can provide information to the computer describing the magnitude of force that an operator is exerting on the pen against a computer data entry pad. This type of information can be combined with external information relating to the location of the pen contact with the pad to permit the computer to use the magnitude of force as an additional input variable. As one example of a use of this information, the total force can be correlated to the position of the pen to provide thicker or thinner lines resulting from movement of the pen, such as in the deriving of a signature.
Devices such as the application described immediately above require the force sensor to be extremely small while maintaining its accuracy capabilities. In addition, the magnitude of travel of the force sensing component in contact with an external component is very small. It would therefore be significantly beneficial if a force sensor can be made which is small yet accurate and durable.


This invention relates to an automatic or self plumbing device and method for maintaining survey or data collection or reflection equipment in a vertical plumb position despite horizontal and/or vertical changes of position of the device or vehicle with the device attached thereto. The invention also provides a means for maintaining survey or data collection or reflection equipment in a vertical plumb position and at a constant height above ground or surface to be surveyed. The invention provides a means for mounting or attaching the device to a vehicle or other mobile prime mover and a means for remotely changing the position of the device mounted on the vehicle from within the vehicle for accurate, efficient, and timely collection of data while the device and vehicle are stationary or in motion.

The field of surveying requires the accurate measurement of both horizontal and vertical data in the X, Y, and Z axes of the standard three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. The plumb bob, the level, and the transit have long been used to obtain such data. More recent technology utilizing global positioning system (GPS) methods of surveying increases both accuracy and efficiency of obtaining data. Maintaining accurate vertical plumb in field surveying, particularly when in mobile operation, is critical to obtaining accurate data. Previous patents exist for various plumb bob apparatus and leveling devices. However, these patents do not involve or suggest a device or method to automatically maintain a surveying or data collection target in a vertical plumb position that also compensates for changes in the position of the device, particularly when survey or other data is collected while the device is being moved or in mobile operation.
Several devices and approaches have been developed to improve measurement efficiency in surveying. U.S. Pat. No. 6,633,256 provides for a method and system for measuring coordinates of a target and involves manual, stationary collection of data. Other devices and methods that provide automatic plumb and level involve mechanisms using visible laser diodes, light beams, and acoustic signals (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,619,802; 5,541,727; 5,524,352; 5,459,932; 5,287,627; 5,182,863; and 5,075,977). Still other devices involve projected light for leveling and plumbing functions for construction use (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,625,895; 6,028,665; and 5,184,406). U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,912 provides an electronic plumb indicator for monopoles, survey poles, and GPS antennas to increase speed and accuracy at which surveying poles and GPS antenna poles are plumbed to vertical positions.
These devices, tools, and methods do not necessarily provide for maintaining a surveying or data collection antenna, target, or equipment in a vertical plumb position while in the field and particularly while in motion. The present invention provides effectively instantaneous and continuous vertical plumb and effectively constant height above ground for a data collection target or reflector while the device and vehicle to which it is mounted are stationary or are constantly changing horizontal and vertical positions in the field while in motion. Previous devices and methods do not necessarily provide accurate, efficient, safe, or timely collection of field survey data and effectively instantaneous and continuous vertical plumb and effectively constant height above ground for the target antenna or reflector while in motion as does the present invention.
Although known methods exist to improve measurement efficiency in surveying and to vertically plumb targets, it remains a significant goal of those skilled in the art to devise a simple device and method to specifically provide automatic or self vertical plumbing of a surveying target or reflector or other equipment requiring vertical plumb in field applications, to provide accurate, efficient, and safe collection of data thereby, and to provide such automatic vertical or self plumbing of the target particularly while such device and target are either stationary or in motion. The present inventors have designed a device and method for these purposes.

Mississippi Department of Transportation


A delay circuit having a delay element circuit composed of a plurality of series-connected first circuit elements being connected to a common power supply line and having a delay time varying correspondingly to a voltage of the common power supply line, the delay element circuit being adapted to receive an input signal and output an output signal obtained by delaying the input signal, and a PLL circuit including an oscillator circuit composed of a plurality of series-connected second circuit elements, which are equivalent to the first circuit elements, respectively, are connected to the common power supply line. The PLL circuit is adapted to oscillate the oscillator circuit at a predetermined frequency locked to a reference clock frequency by comparing a phase of the reference clock signal with a phase of an output frequency of the oscillator circuit and controlling the voltage of the power supply line according to a result of the comparison.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a delay circuit and, particularly, to a delay circuit having a delay time which is hardly influenced by variation of fabrication process thereof or a fabrication process of a semiconductor circuit internally including the delay circuit, hardly influenced by external condition such as environmental variation, etc., and can be set finely and precisely with respect to an input signal thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the recent recordable/rewritable compact disk (CD-R/RW), the data write speed is increased at a double rate. In such CD-R/RW, it is usual that data, which is transferred from a host computer through an interface such as small computer system interface (SCSI) or ATPI is EFM-modulated and supplied to a laser controller. A laser light from a laser oscillator, which is regulated. for data write by the laser controller, is ON/OFF controlled by the EFM-modulated data to irradiate predetermined tracks of the compact disk (CD) to thereby write the data in the CD.
In such CD-R/RW or an optical disk such as recordable compact disk (CD-R), digital video disk random access memory (DVD-RAM), a circuit for precisely setting a delay time as short as several pico-seconds to several tens nano-seconds is required in writing data by means of a data write device.
Further, with increase of the clock speed of such as central processing unit (CPU), it has been required to precisely set a delay time as short as several pico-seconds to several tens nano-seconds in even a usual logic circuit.
In a prior art circuit for precisely setting a very short delay time, it has been usual, in order to absorb a variation of delay time of individual delay circuits or individual semiconductor circuits each including a delay circuit, which are fabricated through a fabrication process of the delay circuit or a fabrication process of the semiconductor circuit, that the delay time of each delay circuit or each semiconductor circuit including the delay circuit is set by an external voltage signal during the fabrication process since the delay time of the delay circuit is influenced by the fabrication process. Alternatively, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H7-86888, a delay circuit is provided with a control terminal for controlling a delay time thereof and the delay time of the delay circuit is controlled by measuring a practical amount of delay of the delay circuit by a suitable measuring device and, on the basis of the measurement, applying a control signal to the control terminal of the delay circuit to set the delay time thereof appropriately. Alternatively, a delay time of each delay circuit is corrected by measuring an amount of delay thereof by forming a micro cell including an analog to digital (A/D) converter, a digital to analog (D/A) and a CPU, etc., and regulating the delay time by a processor on the basis of the measured delay time.
In any of the prior arts, in order to precisely set a very short delay time of a delay circuit with respect to an input signal, it is necessary to regulate or correct the delay time of the delay circuit by measuring a practical delay time thereof. However, since, in the delay time correction using the regulation of the external voltage, the delay circuit is easily influenced by change of external environment such as temperature change, secular change and power source voltage change, etc., there is a problem on accuracy of delay time.


The polarization-diverse antenna array includes three orthogonal loop antennas having a common center, e.g. together defining a sphere. Each loop antenna includes a loop electrical conductor. Two signal feedpoints are along the loop electrical conductor and separated by a fraction of a length of the loop electrical conductor. Each of the signal feedpoints includes a series signal feedpoint so that a polarization diversity controller coupled thereto may selectively provide vertical, horizontal, lefthand circular and righthand circular polarization for a single loop electrical conductor, including simultaneous (dual) polarizations. These signal feedpoints may supply signals with vertical, horizontal, lefthand circular and righthand circular polarization from each of the three orthogonal look-angles provided by the three loop electrical conductors. Thus the antenna array may provide a compact facility for using Diversity Combining to improve communications performance and/or Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO) schemes that furthermore also increase capacity. The polarization-diverse antenna array provides a rigorous polarization and look angle approach for communications diversity.

For background, an antenna is a transducer that converts radio frequency electric current to electromagnetic waves that are radiated into space. The antenna may also convert electromagnetic waves into electric current. The electric field or "E" plane determines the polarization or orientation of the radio wave. Most antennas operate using either linear or circular polarization.
A linearly polarized antenna radiates in one plane. In a circularly polarized antenna, the plane of polarization rotates in a circle making one complete revolution during one period of the wave. If the rotation is clockwise in the direction of propagation, the sense is called right-hand-circular polarization (RHCP). If the rotation is counterclockwise, the sense is called left-hand-circular polarization (LHCP).
An antenna is said to be vertically polarized (linear) when its electric field is perpendicular to the Earth's surface. An example of a vertical antenna is a broadcast tower for AM radio or the "whip" antenna on an automobile. A horizontally polarized (linear) antenna has its electric field parallel to the Earth's surface. Television transmissions in the United States typically use horizontal polarization.
A rotational polarized wave radiates energy in both the horizontal and vertical planes and all planes in between. The difference, if any, between the maximum and the minimum peaks as the antenna is rotated through all angles, is called the axial ratio or ellipticity and is usually specified in decibels (dB). If the axial ratio is near 0 dB, the antenna is said to be circularly polarized. If the axial ratio is greater than 1-2 dB, the polarization is often referred to as elliptical. Circular polarization is an example of elliptical polarization, with an axial ratio of 0 dB. Circular is a nominal term in practice, as typical circularly polarized antennas are usually slightly elliptically polarized. Used herein, the term "circular" is intended to include elliptical.
Antennas are configured to receive and/or transmit a signal based on the polarization of the signal. In many instances, a single antenna is used to simultaneously receive and transmit different signals on orthogonal polarizations.
Many signals are used in communication systems and this requires diversity among the signals. One form of diversity includes spatial diversity. Spatial diversity includes separating antennas by some predetermined distance to assist in preventing interference from other signals. Interference can occur when a signal intended for one antenna is received by another antenna. An example of spatial diversity includes configuring an antenna structure to have multiple antennas spaced apart from one another for receiving and/or transmitting individual signals of a single polarization. Unfortunately, providing multiple antennas is costly and increases the physical load. Furthermore, antenna platform space is typically limited and spatial diversity increases the size.
So conventional approaches include multiple monopoles or dipoles with spatial diversity. Also, multiple monopoles are used with vertical or horizontal polarization diversity. A tri-pole antenna includes three dipoles oriented in three dimensions. If these conventional antennas provide multipath mitigation such as diversity reception, and/or multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO), then they typically: may not be compact and ruggedized; may require some positioning and/or adjustment; may not be three-dimensionally omnidirectional; and may not be useable near or attachable to some surfaces.
Another form of diversity includes polarization diversity. Polarization diversity includes simultaneously radiating or receiving multiple polarizations, as a propagation path may fade in one polarization but not in another.
Another form of diversity includes angular diversity. Angular diversity includes directive receive antennas scanning at various look angles. In some instances, the direct patch may be blocked by obstructions, but an indirect path available at other directions, such as say a reflection from a water tower. Rich multipath environments may even offer multiple communications channels on the same frequency, as for example using different water tower or building reflectors.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,993, to Babij et al, describes an antenna array including 3 dipoles and 3 loops, centered and operated on the 3 principal axis and planes. The elements are described as being electrically small such that loop circumferences are much much less than 1 wavelength. The array is oriented towards instrumentation and resolving near fields. Rotational polarization and communications diversity are not addressed.
What is needed is a compact antenna for a relay node in a mobile network used, for example, during urban operations in a multipath environment. The antenna should preferably be small, lightweight and inexpensive. The antenna may be quickly deployable without the need to adjust the position, and it may be able to be attached or placed on any material. Such an antenna is preferably three-dimensionally omnidirectional, and may support multipath mitigation such as diversity reception, and/or multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO).

Polarization-diverse antenna array and associated methods


A document (2) containing:                electronic components (14) and/or diffractive security elements;        at least one protective layer (4, 5) being arranged on one side or two protective layers (4, 5) being arranged on both sides of the electronic components (14) and/or of the diffractive security element, said protective layers being formed of a first base polymer,        polymer layers (8, 9, 12, 13), being formed of a second base polymer being different from the first base polymer, into which the electronic components (14) and/or the diffractive security element with the protective layers (4, 5) are laminated; andadhesive layers with a latent-reactive adhesive (10, 11) being arranged at least between the polymer layers (8, 9, 12, 13) and the protective layers (4, 5), and wherein the core layer or protective layers are formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.

Security and/or valuable documents, such as identity cards, passports, access allowance cards, visas, tickets, driver licenses, vehicle documents, personalized valuables, credit cards, or personalized chip cards increasingly comprise electronic circuits and other active and passive electronic components, such as integrated semiconductors (ICs), but also chip modules, displays, batteries, coils, capacitors, contact spots etc.
When integrating such components in a card composite, for instance for thin semiconductor structures, the problem of the premature destruction or reduction of life of the component during the lamination by thermal and mechanical overload or load is encountered. With known methods, for instance for manufacturing polycarbonate (PC) Smart Cards during the lamination of individual film layers, a PC film is directly positioned over the chip. In the industrially established procedure, the prepared card structures are compressed, with simultaneous exposure to temperature and pressure, so to form a "quasi-monolithic" block. Since PC due to its specific heat transfer coefficient and its relatively high glass temperature Tg does not immediately flow sufficiently well, there is directly at the chip an increased mechanical pressure, which in most cases will lead to the mechanical destruction of the chip.
For avoiding this problem, it is known in the art to apply on the electronic components self-adhesive or elastic protective layers, in most cases thermoelastic and/or thermoplastic protective layers, for instance thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), whereby the PC films with interposed components, such as chips, can be joined without a high risk of destruction for the component so to form a card. Normally, these adhesive layers are however a point of weakness of the card structure. Through the edge of the card, water vapor and air can more easily diffuse in and thus lead to a later delamination. Other environmental effects, too, in particular high temperatures, but also fast temperature changes may lead to that the card is split and therefore cannot be used anymore.
Moreover, self-adhesive films having a thickness <50 μm are difficult to handle or not at all on an industrial scale and are inflexible, if e.g. cavities are to be filled up. Similar considerations apply for components with diffractive structures, e.g. volume holograms. If the hologram is directly laminated with other PC films so to form a card, this occurs in certain cases under losses being quantifiable visually and by machine of the display quality of the hologram, in particular of the colors and of the 3-dimensional appearance. Most volume holograms based on photopolymer namely have a softening point or a glass temperature Tg of clearly below 150° C. If during the lamination the PC films being still hard at the beginning are pressed onto the soft photopolymer of the hologram, the Bragg planes are shifted, and certain elements appear shifted in wavelength. For instance, green picture elements become yellow picture elements, etc. Especially for volume holograms, further, the 3-dimensional impression is distinctly reduced, and the holograms appear rather flat and 2-dimensional and washed out. These effects, too, are based on the problem that the "hard" PC either comes on brittle faces and causes mechanical stress, or deforms softer objects, for instance of a photopolymer, whereby these components are impaired in their operation.
However, the base polymers used for the protective layers have different structures from the polycarbonate preferred for the other polymer layers, so that a substance-to-substance connection is sometimes not achieved during the lamination. There is, therefore, here too the risk of delamination. Consequently, there is an increased risk of counterfeit and/or manipulation, since the inlay can possibly be removed in a non-destructive manner and can be incorporated in a different layer composite, a counterfeit. Furthermore, data that the inlay carries or comprises can be manipulated.
From other technological sectors, latent-reactive adhesives are known in the art, and as an example only reference is made to the document EP 0 922 720 A1.

Latent-reactively glued TPU/PC layer materials


Tough gels and elastomers are prepared using compositions curable by a platinum catalyzed hydrosilation reaction that are characterized by the presence of a chain extender containing two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule and a cross-linking agent containing at least three silicon bonded hydrogen atoms or alkenyl radicals per molecule, with the proviso that the chain extender contains at least 80 percent of the silicon bonded hydrogen atoms present in the composition or, when said cross-linking agent contains alkenyl radicals, said chain extender contains at least 80 percent of the total moles of silicon bonded hydrogen and said alkenyl radicals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to curable organosiloxane compositions. More particularly, this invention relates to relatively low viscosity organosiloxane compositions that yield tough gels and elastomers upon curing.
2. Background Information
Elastomeric silicone materials, particularly those containing fillers such as finely divided forms of reinforcing silica and quartz, exhibit high levels of physical properties, including tensile strength, modulus and tear strength, that make these materials desirable in a variety of end use applications that utilize these properties.
Toughness is desirable for gels and elastomers that are used as coating, potting and encapsulating materials in electrical and electronic applications. Toughness can be defined as a combination of tensile strength, tear resistance and the ability to be elongated without ripping or tearing, which has been referred to as flexibility. This property is particularly desirable for materials that in order to function effectively must retain their integrity without cracking or crazing during repeated cycles of thermally induced expansion and contraction.
In many instances elastomer and gels used as coating, potting, and encapsulating materials must maintain adhesion to electronic and electrical components and printed circuit boards in addition to the electrical connectors and conductors that pass through the coating or encapsulating material. When the coating material expands, the connectors and conductors can act as initiation points for tears or cracks in the absence of sufficient toughness to dissipate the stresses occurring during expansion and contraction of the materials.
Organosiloxane elastomers and gels exhibiting sufficient toughness for electronic applications are typically prepared from compositions containing high molecular weight polyorganosiloxanes and/or high loadings of reinforcing fillers. The viscosity of these prior compositions is typically too high for use in coating and encapsulating intricately shaped substrates unless the compositions are diluted with solvents or vacuum assisted techniques such as vacuum impregnation are employed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,933, which issued to Grisoni et al. on Sep. 8, 1992 describes organosiloxane gel forming compositions that cure by a platinum-catalyzed hydrosilation reaction. The curable compositions contain a polyorganosiloxane with vinyl radicals located only on non-terminal silicon atoms and two different types of organohydrogensiloxanes. One is a polydiorganosiloxane (1) containing silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms only at the terminal silicon atoms, and the second polyorganosiloxane (2) contains an average of at least three silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule, at least a portion of which are located on non-terminal silicon atoms. The percentage of the total silicon bonded hydrogen contributed by polyorganosiloxane (1) is equal to 81.36 minus a factor equal to 3.6 times the molar ratio of all silicon bonded hydrogen atoms in the curable composition, irrespective of source, to all of the alkenyl radicals present in the composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,709, issued on Jul. 20, 1982 to Jeram et al. relates to organosiloxane compositions that cure by a platinum-catalyzed hydrosilation reaction and contain the two types of organohydrogensiloxanes described in the Grisoni et al. patent. The molar ratio of the vinyl radicals present in the curable polyorganosiloxane to the silicon bonded hydrogen atoms present in the organohydrogensiiloxane (1), referred to by Jeram et al. as a hydride coupler, is from 0.75 to 1.5. While Jeram et al teach that the viscosity of the vinyl-terminated curable polyorganosiloxane can be from 100 to 200,000 centipoise (0.1 to 200 Pa.s) the lowest viscosity disclosed in the exemplified compositions (examples 2 and 3) is a mixture of 61.8 parts of a dimethylvinylsiloxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane with a viscosity of 4,000 cps (4 Pa.s) and 5 parts of a dimethylvinylsiloxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane with a viscosity of 0.5 Pa.s. In these compositions the hydride coupler contributes 70 and 74 percent, respectively, of the silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms present in the curable compositions, and the compositions contain a reinforcing silica filler. The curable compositions of example 2 and 3 had mixed viscosities of 40 and 85 Pa.s, respectively.
One objective of this invention is to provide curable organosiloxane compositions that are sufficiently low in viscosity to be applied to substrates in the absence of solvents or diluents using conventional coating and encapsulating techniques, yet which cure to yield tough elastomers and gels.

Organosiloxane compositions yielding tough elastomeric materials


A control system for a 4WD vehicle includes a drive system for directly transmitting a torque to primary drive wheels, and transmitting a torque to secondary drive wheels through a torque distributing clutch, at least one sensor for determining a front and rear wheel speed difference, at least one sensor for determining a lateral acceleration, and a control unit for controlling the engagement force of the clutch. When the primary wheel speed is lower than the secondary wheel speed, the control unit holds the clutch engagement force equal to zero to improve the steering response until the absolute value of the wheel speed difference reaches a predetermined level, and increase the clutch engagement force in accordance with the absolute value of the wheel speed difference to improve the vehicle stability after the absolute value of the wheel speed difference exceeds the predetermined level.

The present invention relates to a control system for continuously controlling a driving force distribution between front and rear wheels of a four wheel drive vehicle, and more specifically to a driving force distribution control system which can provide an adequate control performance during deceleration.
Japanese Patent Provisional (unexamined, KOKAI) Publication No. 63-203421 shows a conventional example. A driving force distribution control system of this example is designed to increase an engagement force of a transfer clutch to increase a driving force transmitted to the front wheels in accordance with a front and rear wheel speed difference when a drive wheel slip is produced during acceleration or driving on a slippery road, and varies a gain (rate of increase) of the clutch engagement force in accordance with the lateral acceleration of the vehicle.
This system holds the clutch engagement force equal to zero irrespective of the front and rear wheel speed difference during deceleration during which the rear wheels which are directly connected with the engine becomes lower than the rotational speed of the front wheels which are connected with the engine through the transfer clutch. When, therefore, the vehicle is decelerated during a turn, there is produced a moment tending to turn the vehicle in the steering direction because of a vehicle roll causing a displacement of the center of gravity of the vehicle toward the outside of the turning arc, and a braking force applied on each rear wheel. This system can improve the steering response of the vehicle in yawing motion by producing this moment. However, this system is not designed to control this moment. If this moment increases too much, the possibility of drift-out or tack-in or vehicle spin is increased, and the directional stability of the vehicle becomes poor.

Driving force distribution control system for 4wd vehicle