A block of stacked green films provided with internal electrodes is laminated, at least one actuator is separated from the block, the actuator obtains its shape by means of a machining operation, is then sintered, and the sinter skin produced by the sintering is used as an insulating layer. The sinter skin is abraded at the points where the internal electrodes are connected to the external electrodes.

The invention concerns a process for the manufacture of piezoceramic multilayer actuators.
A piezoceramic multilayer actuator 1 is shown schematically in FIG. 1. The actuator consists of stacked thin layers 2 of piezoelectrically active material, for example lead zirconate titanate (PZT), with conductive internal electrodes 3, which are led out alternately to the surface of the actuator, disposed between said layers. External electrodes 4, 5 interconnect the internal electrodes 3. As a result, the internal electrodes 3 are electrically connected in parallel and combined into two groups. The two external electrodes 4, 5 are the connecting poles of the actuator 1. They are connected via the connections 6 to a voltage source, not shown here. If an electrical voltage is applied via the connections 6 to the external electrodes 4, 5, this electrical voltage is transmitted in parallel to all internal electrodes 3 and produces an electric field in all layers 2 of the active material, which is consequently mechanically deformed. The sum of all of these mechanical deformations is available at the end faces of the head region 7 and the foot region 8 of the actuator 1 as a useable expansion 9 and/or force.
Piezoceramic multilayer actuators are fabricated according to the prior art as monoliths, that is to say the active material onto which internal electrodes are deposited by a silk screen process prior to sintering, is disposed as a so-called green film in successive layers as a stack that is compressed into a green body. The compression of the green body is usually carried out by lamination under the action of pressure and temperature in laminating moulds. Depending on the lamination tool used, this process determines to a large extent the external shape of the actuators. The laminate is separated into several actuators, which are pyrolized and then sintered. Since lamination in the unsintered body often produces non-homogeneity in the density, and the shrinkage during the firing of the ceramic is not of a constant value, the final required geometry of the actuators can only be accurately obtained by the hardening of the sintered actuators. However, in this case the internal electrode layers deposited in the actuators are thereby also processed. If the processed surfaces are not subsequently electrically insulated, then when these piezoceramic multilayer actuators are actively operated, there is a risk of an electrical flashover at the actuator surface because the dielectric field strength in air, which amounts to approximately 1000 V/mm, is exceeded by the operating field strengths of over 2000 V/mm. At the same time the smearing of the electrodes caused by the hardening additionally leads to reduced dielectric strength and/or leakage currents.
The object of the present invention is to present a process that simplifies the manufacture of multilayer actuators and by which the demonstrated disadvantages are avoided.
This object is achieved according to the present invention.
By stacking green films made of piezoceramic material, which are printed with the corresponding patterns of the internal electrodes for at least one piezoceramic multilayer actuator and by corresponding lamination under pressure of around 100 bar at a temperature of approximately 120° C., a green body is obtained with high mechanical strength, good adhesion between film layers, good mechanical machinability and homogeneous density. According to the invention, it is therefore possible to easily detach the multilayer actuators from such a green body as a laminate and subsequently by machining to yield their shape, which is usually already the final shape, so that after sintering the actuators require no further finishing. The insulating sinter skin needs only to be removed at the connecting faces where the internal electrodes have to be connected to the respective external electrode, for example by grinding. Due to the high mechanical strength of the laminate blocks, all machining operations, such as turning, milling, sawing, drilling or grinding are possible. In this case the bodies are neither damaged nor deformed. Due to the lower hardness of the material compared to the sintered state, tool wear is considerably reduced, thus making low-cost production possible.
Due to sintering, a so-called sinter skin forms all over the surface of the piezoceramic multilayer actuator, which sinter skin has such a high electrical insulating capability, even in the region where the internal electrodes emerge at the surface of the actuator, that subsequent insulation of the surfaces of the piezoceramic multilayer actuator can usually be omitted.
The sinter skin is thus abraded at the points where the internal electrodes are connected to the external electrodes.
Through suitable choice and/or combination of machining methods, the good machinability of the laminate enables piezoceramic multilayer actuators to be manufactured with different shapes. The cross-sectional areas can be circular, elliptical, square or polygonal. All edges of the green bodies can be broken, chamfered or rounded off prior to sintering. The ease of machining of the ceramic material in the green phase also enables rotationally symmetric mouldings to be produced.
The laminated block with the at least one multilayer actuator has a high strength and a high dimensional stability. It is thus possible, prior to sintering, to place several boreholes or pocket holes in the block and/or the unsintered piezoceramic multilayer actuator, which can additionally be provided with a thread. Such an arrangement can be advantageous for subsequent applications, such as fixings or connections. Since the layers of the internal electrodes are penetrated by the boreholes or pocket holes as well as by the machine-cut thread, in this case the sinter skin produced by sintering can also be advantageously used as an insulating layer.
A further option for shaping the multilayer actuators consists in punching holes of the required size, shape and number in the green films in the same operating cycle, prior to lamination, in which the green films are suitably punched out for the laminating mould. The green films with the printed internal electrodes thereon are then stacked one on top of the other in the required number and arrangement, so that the boreholes or pocket holes are produced in the desired arrangement and depth. Here again, threads can be machine-cut in the holes following lamination.
To increase stability and to maintain dimensional accuracy, the boreholes, through-holes or pocket holes can be filled prior to lamination with a filler which prevents any plastic deformation of the recesses which otherwise may occur during lamination. This filler is chosen so that under lamination conditions it is not more plastic or-cannot be deformed to a greater degree than the piezoceramic material of the green films.
A filler may consist of a hard, dimensionally stable and, during lamination, thermally stable material, for example metal or ceramic. According to the shaping, pins or threaded pins can be inserted into the boreholes or pocket holes.
Furthermore, plastic or thermoplastic fillers, in particular a highly-flexible rubber or-rubber-like plastic, are suitable. Here too the filler can have the form of a pin or threaded pin.
Following lamination, the pins or threaded pins are withdrawn or unscrewed from the laminate.
Fillers which remain dimensionally stable up to the lamination temperature are also suitable. During lamination or sintering these fillers smelt or pyrolize. For example, wax or low-melting-point polymers can be removed from the laminate by heating. A suitable organic material can also be used as a filler, such as is known from the prior art for forming porous ceramics, for example carbon black or a polymer that pyrolizes without residues during lamination or sintering at temperatures up to 700° C.
The thermal removal may also be achieved by melting out and/or thermal decomposition in a thermal process preceding sintering, for example an appropriate debonding process.
The invention is explained in further detail with the aid of an exemplifying embodiment in which:

Process for the manufacture of piezoceramic multilayer actuators

Ceramtec AG Innovative Ceramic Engineering


An asynchronous successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter (SAR ADC), which utilizes one or more overlapping redundant bits in each digital-to-analog converter (DAC) code word, is operable to generate an indication signal that indicates completion of each comparison step and indicates that an output decision for each comparison step is valid. A timer may be initiated based on the generated indication signal. A timeout signal may be generated that preempts the indication signal and forces a preemptive decision, where the preemptive decision sets one or more remaining bits up to, but not including, the one or more overlapping redundant bits in a corresponding digital-to-analog converter code word for a current comparison step to a particular value. For example, the one or more remaining bits may be set to a value that is derived from a value of a bit that was determined in an immediately preceding decision.

Successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) may achieve high resolution but are limited in the speed they can achieve. Two components that limit the speed of asynchronous successive approximation register analog-to-digital converters are (1) the settling time of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that is utilized by the ADC, and (2) the metastability of the comparator that is utilized by the ADC.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Method and system for asynchronous successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs)


An electrically modifiable label. In some embodiments, an electrically modifiable label may be applied to or form a part of products that have configurable or otherwise dynamic characteristics. That is, characteristics or desirability that vary over time or characteristics that may be selected or determined at or after advanced stages of manufacturing processes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure pertains to the field of product labeling. In particular, the present disclosure pertains to electronically modifiable product labeling that may, in some embodiments, be applied to or form a part of products that have configurable or otherwise dynamic characteristics. That is, characteristics or desirability that vary over time or characteristics that may be selected or determined at or after advanced stages of manufacturing processes.
2. Description of Related Art
The challenges that accompany marketing, labeling and positioning products abound. These challenges only increase where products have various different xe2x80x9cflavorsxe2x80x9d which may be sold at different prices or under different marketing schemes. It may be disadvantageous to limit knowledge included in product labeling to information available at the time of initial manufacture.
For example, integrated circuits (ICs) are typically manufactured with numerous individual units (known as die) on a wafer. Testing the wafer prior to packaging each individual die is complicated by the small size of the features (e.g., contacts) on the integrated circuit die. Additionally, the package itself alters certain operating characteristics of the completed product. Therefore, some or even most of the testing of an IC is typically done after the integrated circuit has been packaged.
As a result, information about the IC is not determined until after reaching an advanced stage of manufacturing. Removing an IC from a manufacturing-type process to test the IC and then returning the IC to another manufacturing-type flow for labeling may be inefficient or inconvenient. Additionally, unlabelled products may be confused between testing and labeling. It would be preferable to complete manufacturing, including labeling, prior to the testing which finally determines the IC product characteristics. However, prior art labels or packaging are typically not easily and cleanly modifiable and/or are not sufficiently tamperproof to prevent fraudulent representation of the IC.
Providing adequate labeling that reflects information determined late in the manufacturing process or even after the manufacturing process is a common challenge across many different products and in many industries. Often, the use of static or pre-printed labels is delayed until the relevant characteristics of the product which are included on those labels are finally determined. As is true with ICs, this approach may be inefficient, susceptible to fraudulent alteration, and/or may not provide sufficient labeling flexibility for a wide variety of products.
The present disclosure describes a product having a label portion that is electrically modifiable.

Electrically modifiable product labeling


A corner protector for position about a corner of an equipment sterilization tray includes a base portion having a perimeter and a first concave recess. A first wall portion extends from a first portion of the perimeter of the base portion and comprises a second concave recess. A second wall portion extends from a second portion of the perimeter and comprises a third concave recess wherein the first and second wall portions are substantially perpendicular to each other. A connecting portion extends from a third portion of the perimeter wherein the connecting portion connects the first and second wall portions to form a continuous wall.

The discussion below is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The present disclosure relates to a corner protector for an instrument sterilization tray. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a corner protector for an instrument sterilization tray that increases radii of edges defining a corner of the instrument sterilization tray.
Equipment sterilization trays are typically utilized to retain surgical instruments through the sterilization process. However, the trays themselves do not maintain a sterile barrier once they exit the autoclave. An uncompromised sterile barrier is of critical importance for hospitals and surgery centers in their fight against infection.
In order to maintain the sterility of the instruments after the sterilization process, a sterile barrier is typically utilized to ensure the sterility of the instruments. One way to maintain a sterile barrier is to utilize a separate sterile container to contain not only the instrument sterilization tray but also the instruments within the instrument sterilization tray.
An alternative to the separate sterile container is to utilize a sterile wrap. A sterile wrap is typically a fabric like material that completely covers or encases the instrument sterilization tray to provide a sterile barrier. The sterile wrap is utilized much in the same way that a paper is used to wrap a present, in that both completely encase an outer surface of the instrument sterilization tray or present.
Because the wrap maintains the sterility of the instruments within the equipment tray, it is important that the wrap is not torn subsequent to being sterilized. If the wrap is torn or punctured after the instruments have being sterilized, the torn wrap must be removed and the tray must be rewrapped and the sterilization process must be performed again.
The most common place where the wrap tears or is punctured is proximate the corner of the instrument sterilization trays. The instrument sterilization trays can have a somewhat sharp corner, and when pressure is improperly applied to the wrap, the corner can tend to tear through or puncture the wrap, and therefore break the sterile barrier.

Corner protector for instrument sterilization tray


A silicone composition for preparing a silicone pressure sensitive adhesive, the composition comprising (A) 20 to 55 parts by weight of a polydiorganosiloxane containing an average of at least two silicon-bonded alkenyl groups per molecule; (B) 45 to 80 parts by weight of an organopolysiloxane resin consisting essentially of R.sup.3.sub.3 SiO.sub.1/2 units and SiO.sub.4/2 units, wherein the total amount of components (A) and (B) is 100 parts by weight; (C) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having an average of at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule in an amount sufficient to cure the composition; (D) 25 to 200 parts by weight of a silica filler having an average surface area less than 25 m.sup.2 /g; and (E) a catalytic amount of a hydrosilylation catalyst. Each R.sup.3 is independently selected from the group consisting of monovalent hydrocarbon and monovalent halogenated hydrocarbon groups. The mole ratio of R.sup.3.sub.3 SiO.sub.1/2 units to SiO.sub.4/2 units in the organopolysiloxane resin is from 0.6:1 to 1.5:1 and the resin contains less than about 2 mole percent of alkenyl groups. The sun of the average number of silicon-bonded alkenyl groups per molecule in component (A) and the average number of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule in component (C) is greater than 4. A silicone pressure sensitive adhesive comprising a reaction product of the above-described composition. A multi-part silicone composition comprising components (A) through (E) in two or more parts, provided neither component (A) nor component (B), when component (B) contains alkenyl groups, are present with components (C) and (E) in the same part.

Silicone pressure sensitive adhesives, hereinafter also referred to as silicone PSAs, are useful in a variety of applications by virtue of their unique properties, including excellent adhesive and cohesive strength, high tack, very low alpha particle emissions, good moisture resistance, good electrical properties, high ionic purity, and good adhesion to low energy substrates. For example, silicone PSAs are widely used in adhesive tapes, bandages, low-temperature backings, transfer films, and labels. Moreover, silicone PSAs are used in the assembly of automotive parts, toys, electronic circuits, and keyboards.
Addition-curable silicone compositions useful for preparing silicone pressure sensitive adhesives are known in the art. For example, silicone compositions containing an alkenyl-containing polydiorganosiloxane, an organopolysiloxane resin, an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, and a hydrosilylation catalyst are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,885 to Vincent et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,809 to Schmidt et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,298 to Hahn et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,614 to Lin et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,976 to Hamada et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,532 to Wengrovius et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,297 to Murakami et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,779 to Medford et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,586 to Lin et al. The above-cited references disclose adding only small amounts of additional ingredients, including fillers, to the addition-curable silicone compositions. However, these references do not teach the silica filler of the present invention or the concentration of such filler.
However, conventional addition-curable silicone compositions, including the aforementioned, cure to form silicone pressure sensitive adhesives having relatively high coefficients of thermal expansion, rendering them unsatisfactory for certain applications, such as attachment of heat sinks to semiconductor chips and semiconductor chips to substrates. During thermal cycling, stresses develop in the silicone pressure sensitive adhesive due to differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion between the substrate materials and the adhesive. Thermally-induced stresses can weaken or fracture the pressure sensitive bond, limiting the useful service life of a device.
While inorganic fillers such as silica and alumina are typically added to silicone rubber compositions to reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion of cured products, silicone compositions for preparing silicone pressure sensitive adhesives are usually unfilled or contain only low concentrations, for example, less than about 5 percent by weight, of filler. Fillers are generally considered undesirable in the later silicone compositions because moderate to high amounts of filler can cause and increase in viscosity of a given composition and also significantly reduce the tack of the silicone PSA produced therefrom.
Therefore, there is a need for an addition-curable silicone composition that cures to form a silicone pressure sensitive adhesive having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and high tack.

Silicone composition and silicone pressure sensitive adhesive


The wheel includes a central hub suitable for mounting to an axle and a rigid annular outer rim supported on the hub by a plurality of elastomeric support assemblies to impart integral springing to the wheel, the elastomeric support assemblies including an annular elastomeric member located at its first and second ends by first and second mounting members one of which preferably is cup shaped to engage with the outer surface of the end of the elastomeric member and the other of which includes a frusto conical member to engage with the inside of the other end of the elastomeric member.

There are several types of wheels commonly used for vehicles, wheels having pneumatic or other fluid filled tires and, as such, having considerable inherent shock absorbent characteristics, and wheels which incorporate a simple elastomeric "solid" tire having poor shock absorbing characteristics.
For protection of a heavy duty vehicle, its operator and its load, wheels with gas or fluid filled tyres are used in a majority of applications. This type of tire can be costly and have a relatively short working life. Factors affecting the life of these tires include mechanical damage due to arduous and aggressive physical conditions under which they may be used and the possible presence of mineral oil spillages on the operating surfaces which degrades the elastomeric material of the tire carcass and wearing surface.
Where an elastomeric "solid" tire is used in such applications the resultant ride is usually so hard as to cause injury or damage to the vehicle, its operator or its load. Solutions to the above problems include the provision of a solid tired wheel incorporating its own integral shock absorbing and springing characteristics. Wheels of this type have been proposed in the past and include the location of elastomeric elements of various configurations between a rigid outer rim carrying the tire and an inner hub. It is the inventor's opinion that such configurations would not prove satisfactory in handling the various tension and shear forces placed on the elastomeric elements during normal use of the wheels.
Among the characteristics of conventional pneumatic tires used on vehicles with no inherent suspension are the ability to carry the mass of the vehicle and the ability to provide tractive effort for the vehicle and with the benefit of inherent shock absorption. In a conventional pneumatic tire the wearing surface and the carcass combine to provide these qualities.
An object of this invention is to provide a novel wheel having these same characteristics and which separates the wearing surface from the suspensive/shock absorbing components.

Resilient integrally sprung wheel for a vehicle


The invention relates to a portable sports device and particularly a training device for muscle building, with at least one handle and a centrifugal mass operatively connected thereto and mounted on a shaft, which is rotatable by pulling a pull rope fixed to and wound up on the shaft, and with at least one removable additional mass element arrangeable on the centrifugal mass, the at least one additional mass element being configured in the form of a circular ring piece or a circular segment piece.

DE 10 2011 105 609 A1 describes such a sports device. It has two handles connected to one another by means of a pull rope. One end of said pull rope is wound up on a shaft mounted on one of the two handles, which shaft also serves as a bearing for the centrifugal mass and particularly flywheel discs. By pulling the pull rope or moving the handles away from one another the pull rope wound up on the shaft can be unwound, thereby inducing the centrifugal mass to rotate. Once the pull rope is completely unwound from the shaft, it is wound up on the shaft in reverse direction due to the rotation of the centrifugal masses until the handles are once again pulled away from each other or the pull rope is completely wound up. In order to continuously keep the centrifugal masses rotating and counter-rotating, the user of the sports device is thus required to constantly change between stress and relief. This results in a very advantageous training effect. In order to vary the training effort, additional mass elements in the form of magnets can be applied to the flywheel discs. Depending on the size and the weight of the additional mass element, the overall weight of the centrifugal mass can be changed and the training effort can be adjusted. Inertia of the centrifugal mass increases along with its overall weight, which leads to an increased force effort for the user both when accelerating and decelerating the centrifugal mass. Thus, the overall weight significantly contributes to the training effort and is particularly suitable for increasing the force effort by additionally attaching additional weight elements. For example, a user may start training without additional weight elements and increase the overall weight when a certain training effect has been reached.
It turned out that the handling of the sports devices known from the prior art, particularly with regard to the adjustment of the training effort by means of additional mass elements on the flywheel discs, is uncomfortable to the user in the long run, leading to a decreased training motivation and thus to a decreased success of training. Further, imbalances sometimes occurred during rotation of the centrifugal mass due to the additional mass elements, which was perceived as uncomfortable by the user.


A method for detecting and determining a location of an overheat condition includes producing a narrowband optical signal with a laser source and optical pulse generator. The optical signal is sent into the optical fiber. A plurality of reflected optical signals is received. Reflection intensities are detected using a photodetector. The reflection intensities are compared with a triggering threshold. Response times of the reflected optical signals are recorded whenever the reflection intensity of the optical signals is greater than the triggering threshold. The narrowband optical signal is adjusted to another wavelength. An anomaly reflected optical signal is identified using a characteristic of the timings obtained through a range of wavelengths. The location of the overheat condition recorded response times is calculated. The location and existence of the overheat condition is communicated.

This disclosure relates generally to aircraft system health monitoring for overheat and fire detection systems. More particularly, this disclosure relates to optical signal analysis of aircraft system health monitoring systems.
During operation of an aircraft, numerous on-board components and sub-systems are continuously or periodically monitored. Various methods for monitoring these components and sub-systems of the aircraft have been used. For example, sensors and/or transducers can be affixed to an aircraft at specific locations so as to produce signals indicative of various physical phenomena experienced at those specific locations. These signals can then be transmitted to an analyzer that interprets the signals received by the analyzer. These signals can be processed to generate parametric data that can be correlated to measurements of physical phenomena. Some of the specific locations where it would be desirable to affix a sensor and/or transducer might be locations that have harsh environments. For example, some such locations might expose any affixed sensor to high temperatures, high pressures, high levels of exposure to electromagnetic interference, etc.
In many of these harsh environment locations, optical transducers have found use. Optical sensors and/or transducers can produce optical signals indicative of various physical phenomena. For example, optical sensors and/or transducers can produce optical signals indicative of stress, strain, temperature, tilt, rotation, vibration, pressure, etc. Various sensors and/or transducers employ various types of technologies. For example, some sensors use Fabry-Pérot Interferometry (FPI), while others use fiber Bragg grating (FBG) technologies. Some of these technologies and techniques produce optical signals having a spectrum that is indicative of the measured parameter. Spectrum analysis and/or spectral measurement of such signals is performed to determine a measure of the physical phenomena causing the specific spectrum of the optical signal.

Overheat detection using a fiber bragg gratings array by time-of-flight


Apparatus and method for supporting at least a portion of an article while the article is being formed. A source of self-adhering particles is directed by a particle jetting device, or the like, to a predetermined position in a controlled environment to form the article. A support structure is carried in the controlled environment for substantially rigidly supporting at least a portion of the article during the formation of the article (by build-up of the self-adhering particles). The support structure is a fluid which changes state to a solid responsive to an electrical charge and reverts back to a fluid responsive to removal of the electrical charge.

The present invention utilizes the principles of Particle Jetting Technology (PJT), computer aided design (CAD), and Electrorheological Fluid (ER) technology to manufacture an article to a predetermined configuration.
The PJT process involves using computer controlled independently targeted particles to construct three dimensional structures whereas, traditionally, a physical article was manually constructed by individuals working from drawings of a 3D image. In the PJT process, particles are deposited onto a substrate in much the same manner that an ink jet printer produces two dimensional images. A structure would be produced by printing multiple cross sections with cold welding or rapid solidification providing cohesion between particles. This manufacturing system can automatically produce parts in a single step which would require multiple manufacturing stages using conventional techniques.
In one embodiment of the PJT principle, an ink jet mechanism (well known in that art) ejects a molten wax through a small orifice as a result of an impulse from a piezoelectric ceramic device. The ink jet mechanism is positioned by a three axis robot using conventional (CAD) software. The melt temperature of the wax and the distance from the ink jet orifice to the substrate may be adjusted such that cold welding or rapid solidification provides cohesion between the particle and the substrate. An ink jet mechanism was preferred for this embodiment because of its ability to control the production of individual particles, and because it provides sufficient initial velocity to eliminate the need for subsequent acceleration and the wax is a safe and versatile material.
The PJT process is adaptable to many curable or solidifiable materials such as waxes, UV curable polymers, thermoplastic materials, thermosetting materials, ceramics and metals. Of all the usable material, metals contain the most potential for industrial applications. PJT with metals enables the user to produce extremely dense, microcrystalline structures with plasma deposition.
One example of particle jetting technology is disclosed in an article entitled "3D Prototypes Shot From A Nozzle" in the Jun. 21, 1990 issue of Machine Digest.
An additional example of particle jetting technology is disclosed in an article entitled "Rapid Prototyping Shapes Up As A Low Cost Modeling Alternative" in the August 1990 issue of Modern Plastics.
Computer aided design (CAD) systems are known and allows an operator to operate a computer to design a three dimensional object and display the design on a screen or on paper.
It has also been known to control a mechanical operation or manufacturing process by a computer such as in robotics. For example, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,492 (column 1, lines 27-31) the milling of metal parts to produce a simple article by means of a computer aided milling machine has been widely applied. One such computer aided milling machine is that manufactured by the Cincinnati Milicros Company.
Electrorheological fluid technology is also known. Such fluids are suspensories of fine polarizable particles in a dielectric medium, typically oils. The particles can be polymers, ceramics, silicon or other materials as long as the particles meet specific or semiconductive properties. The ER fluids solidify as fast as 0.001 sec. to 0.0001 sec. when placed in an electric field and liquify completely once the electric field is removed. These materials have to date been used principally in the automotive industry as variable drive transmissions, variable hydraulic shock absorbers, and as rotational seals in high speed, high vacuum drivers.
In using the CAD software, as set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,665,492, and 5,134,569 issued respectively on May 12, 1987 and Jul. 28, 1992 to William E. Masters, (both incorporated herein by reference), a three dimensional object is described. The software then takes the completed object, and sections it into discrete layers having a predetermined thickness which is approximately equal to the size of the material droplets ejected from an ejection head of a particle jetting apparatus. The software then directs the robotic drive to position the ejection head at the coordinates where the first drop of material, for the first layer of the object (article) is to be deposited.
Once the computer has directed the robotic positioner to the correct X, Y coordinates, an ink-jet printer deposits the first drop of material and the robotic drive then proceeds to next set of coordinates and deposits another drop of material. This movement-deposition process continues until the first layer of the structure is completed. The computer then begins the deposition process for the next layer of the structure. Each layer is sequentially deposited on the previous layer until the 3D object is completed.
The problem with PJT occurs when trying to build an overhang structure. An overhang is that part of the structure that is attached to, rather that built upon, an underlying part of the structure. As an example, consider the PJT fabrication of a simple "T"-structure. The vertical member of the T is easily fabricated, depositing one layer of the structure sequentially upon the previous layer. However, the horizontal cross-member of the "T" requires a support structure upon which the particles must be deposited and unfortunately, during the PJT process, described supra, the particles would adhere to the support structure.
Ideally, what is desired is a support material that would act as a surrogate surface during the deposition of an overhand structure, or the like, that could easily be removed when the article was completed. Because of their ability to rapidly change from a fluid to a solid and then back to a fluid, electrorheological fluids are suitable as support materials.
Prior to the present invention, the state of the art of support materials relied on differences in intrinsic properties such as melting point or physical properties such as solubility between the build and support material. Typically, a wax with a lower melting point than the build material would be used. The support wax would be deposited in a similar manner as the build material. Then once the part was completed, it would be heated to remove the support material. In the case of different polymers, the part would be placed into a solvent that preferentially dissolved the support material.
The obvious disadvantages to this process are that the melting of the support material would be incomplete for that the build material would soften during the heat cycle. The same would be true with the dissolution process. The solvent would leave traces of material on the part, and possibly soften the build material. The use of electrorheological fluids overcomes these advantages and by changing its viscosity it can serve as a support material that is cheap, easy to handle. The material will lend support as long as an electric field is applied, and is removed by simply removing the electric field. Furthermore, when the ER support material is in a fluid state, it is easily pumped into and out of the building chamber. A further advantage of using ER material as support material is that it can be deposited from the ink jet and if a structure requires fabrication of a complex overhang, the ER fluid can be deposited from the ink-jet printer head into small spatial areas. Thus the size of the support structure is easily tailored.
Electrorheological fluid technology is disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,033,892, issued Jul. 5, 1977; 4,687,589, issued Aug. 18, 1987; 4,744,914, issued May 17, 1988; 2,417,850 issued Mar. 25, 1947; 2,661,596, issued Dec. 8, 1953; 3,047,507, issued Jul. 31, 1962; 3,970,573 issued Jul. 20, 1976; 3,984,449, issued Oct. 5, 1976; 4,033,892, issued Jul. 5, 1977; 4,129,513, issued Dec. 12, 1978; 4,687,589, issued Aug. 18, 1987; and 4,733,914, issued May 17, 1988.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a process and apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object automatically in response to the computer aided design of the object wherein the object, or portion thereof, is built up on a support structure formed of a material capable of changing state.
It is a further object of the present invention to form such support structure of electrorheological fluids.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing an article using a support structure for supporting an article during manufacture therefor


A method and apparatus for altering an aggregate gradation mixture of an asphalt concrete mixture. The apparatus includes a heater for heating a layer of existing roadway materials, a milling and mixing auger for milling the heated layer of existing roadway materials and a hopper and conveyor for providing a predetermined amount of treated new usable aggregates to the milling and auger for mixing with the heated layer of existing roadway materials in order to produce a new asphalt concrete mixture. The auger including a plurality of milling bits extending therearound for receiving the predetermined amount of aggregates and mixing them with the milled layer of existing roadway materials, the milling bits are slanted to direct the aggregates received thereby and milled layer to a center line of the apparatus. A second auger is positioned along the center line of the apparatus and behind the auger for further mixing the new asphalt concrete mixture. A shield plate is adjustably secured to the auger for separating and removing selected unusable aggregates from the material. The hopper is preloaded with the predetermined amount of treated new usable aggregates and the conveyor retrieves the aggregates from the hopper and provides the aggregates to the auger. The new mixture formed by the method and apparatus has the volumetric requirements for a superpave mix in accordance with the design system developed by the Strategic Highway Research Program of 1987.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to reclaiming, rejuvenation and the re-gradation of aggregates of asphalt concrete from pavement surfaces composed thereof and, more specifically, to an apparatus and process for converting existing asphalt concrete pavement mixtures into a paving mixture having improved performance, durability, safety and efficiency over currently used paving mixtures, the improved paving mixture having qualities similar to the asphalt concrete pavement superpave mixture developed under the 1987 Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP).
2. Description of the Prior Art
The present invention relates to the technology of reclaiming, rejuvenating and the re-gradation of aggregates of asphalt concrete mixtures from pavement surfaces. The process and apparatus of the present invention converts existing asphalt concrete pavement mixtures into a new and improved paving mixture having the qualities of the asphalt concrete pavement "super" mixture developed under the USA, 1987 Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP). The 1987 Strategic Highway Research Program was a 5-year, large scale, applied research program which was established by the U.S. Congress and aimed at improving the performance, durability, safety and efficiency of the Nation's highway systems.
Asphalt concrete is a major component of the highway system in the United States, covering more than 90 percent of the nation's paved roads. Every year, state and local highway agencies spend $10 billion on asphalt pavements, and private sector expenditures total an additional $5 billion. Steadily increasing traffic volumes and loads are taking their toll on these roads, forcing highway agencies to commit extensive resources to rehabilitation projects. As a result, motorists frequently encounter work zones that disrupt traffic, as well as rough pavements that pose safety risks and damage tires and suspensions. SHRP'S solution was to develop a completely new approach to asphalt mix design--the Superpave system. ("Superpave" is a Registered Trademark of the National Academy of Sciences-NAS). The superpave system provides designers with the tools to custom--design asphalt pavements for the specific weather and traffic conditions at a particular job site, instead of simply replicating existing mixes that have served reasonable well in the past.
The superpave system has three components:
(1) An asphalt binder specification;
(2) A design and analysis system based on the volumetric properties of the aggregates; and
(3) Mix analysis test and performance prediction models.
Materials engineers use these components to select materials and a mix design best able to resist two key types of pavement distress: permanent deformation and low-temperature cracking. Permanent deformation can result when a pavement is exposed to heavy traffic and hot weather and lacks the strength to withstand rutting. Low-temperature cracking occurs when the pavement shrinks in cold weather.
Since 1992, when the Strategic Highway Program ended, many highway agencies that have built pavements having a design mix in accordance the specifications for a superpave mix report that the new system is producing more durable pavements. On highways across the country, pavements having a superpave design mix are holding up well to heavy traffic and extremes of climate.
In 1995, for example, the Alabama Department of Transportation (DOT) resurfaced 8 km (5 mi) of badly rutted Route 165 with a superpave mix design. Despite heavy traffic and extremely hot weather, the pavement showed virtually no signs of rutting 2 years later, and the Alabama DOT expects the pavement to last considerably longer than it would have if it were constructed with the conventional mix previously used by the state.
In a similar case, Arizona's DOT used a superpave design mix to construct an overlay on a section of Interstate 10 near Phoenix in 1995. In its first summer, the pavement withstood heavy traffic loads and 17 consecutive days of temperatures above 43 degrees C. (110 degrees F.). The pavement's performance to date indicates that it will be very resistant to permanent deformation.
Superpave design mix pavements have also proven durable in cold climates. After 4 years of cold weather and heavy traffic, early superpave mix test sections constructed on Interstate 43 in Waukesha County and on Interstate 94 in Monroe County, Wisconsin, are holding up much better than adjacent sections constructed using Wisconsin's conventional mix. Cold weather is also no problem for an overlay built using a superpave design mix on a rural road in Blue Earth County, Minn., in August 1995. The overlay is suffering much less low-temperature cracking than a nearby, same-age overlay built using Minnesota's conventional mix.
After building several pavements using mixes that meet the superpave specifications, the Texas DOT predicts that the new superpave mixes will have tremendous benefits. Texas estimates that converting only 25 percent of the asphalt that it now uses to mixes that meet the superpave specifications will save the state $2.2 billion over 30 years.
A study of data from the long-term pavement performance (LTPP) program's general pavement studies (GPS) experiments has determined that using asphalt concrete mixes that meet the superpave mix specifications will prevent permanent pavement deformation or rutting, as it is commonly known, in asphalt pavements. The study, "Rutting Trends in Hot-Mix Asphalt Concrete Pavements," was based on data collected at 575 GPS sites. This study looked at full-depth asphalt pavements, asphalt pavements over a granular base, asphalt pavements over a portland cement treated base and asphalt overlays on asphalt and portland cement pavements. The pavement ranged in age from newly constructed to more than 20 years old. The study team focused on the test sections consisting of asphalt pavements over a granular base, which are the most common types of asphalt pavements existing today. They found that pavements with high levels of rutting on average were generally constructed of asphalt mixes containing more fine aggregate or sand than recommended by the superpave aggregate specifications. Pavements with minimal rutting were within the superpave aggregate specifications.
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the study makes it clear that it is well worth the time and effort to use aggregate blends that meet the superpave specifications as a way to prevent excessive rutting and permanent pavement deformation. Since virtually all new superpave mixes are products of highly technical hot-mix asphalt plants, the mixes are composed of carefully metered quantities of predetermined superpave specified sizes of aggregates that are heated, dried and coated with an appropriate amount and grade of an asphalt cement binder. Asphalt cement binders are derivatives of the petroleum refining process and are available in various viscosities for use as determined by local climate and traffic loading conditions.
A highway agency's cost for a superpave mix of all virgin, non-renewal natural resource materials can vary from $35 to $75 per tonne depending upon:
(1) Cost of discovery, collection, refining and hauling of necessary asphalt cement; PA1 (2) Cost of mining, crushing, sizing, separating, storing and handling multiple sizes of aggregates; PA1 (3) Cost of asphalt plant operations including, material handling, fuel for heating, drying and mixing aggregates with asphalt cement; and PA1 (4) Cost of hauling to remote paving sites for paving and compaction. PA1 (1) Type-4 mixtures made up of asphalt cement with very small aggregates; PA1 (2) Type-3 and Type-4 mixtures made up of asphalt cement and slightly larger aggregates; and PA1 (3) Type-1A and Type-1B which were made up of asphalt cement and even higher percentage of larger aggregates.
Each tonne (2200 lbs) of superpave mixture is made-up entirely of non-renewable natural resources including: 10-15 gallons of petroleum based asphalt cement plus approximately 2,100 lbs. of aggregate. Additionally, the whole process requires the use of more than 650,000 Btu of energy in non-renewable resource fuels.
It is thus desirable to provide a method and apparatus for converting existing roadways made from pavements having inferior grade mixtures into asphalt having a mixture in accordance with the specifications for a superpave mix. It is further desirable to provide a method and system for paving the existing roadways with the converted asphalt mixture to thereby improve the performance and life of the roadway.

Method and apparatus for altering an aggregate gradation mixture of an asphalt concrete mixture


An image processing system comprises a printer and a reader which are mechanically and functionally separated in such a manner that they can be used independently of each other and the transmission of image information is possible therebetween. The reader includes an operating unit which cooperates with the printer to perform many functions such as the image operating function, the image transfer function, the presetting function and the image quality processing function, in addition to a function of a conventional copier. The operating unit consists of a general purpose key portion; a soft key portion which is used for optionally creating the copy transfer functions and having function keys and displays corresponding to the keys, the displays being adapted to display key labels and messages to a user in cooperation with a driver, CPU and controller; and a function key preset key portion which is used for registering, reading and resetting the image transfer functions and having a standard mode return key, preset keys and preset key displays corresponding to the reset keys and adapted to display the reset position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing system such as facsimile, copier, electronic mailing system and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, an image processing device or copier has been of the type in which a document or a printed text is simply reproduced faithfully. Even a recently developed copier of multi-function type merely has such a small number of functions as to reduce or enlarge a printed text at a fixed reproduction ratio, to automatically feed the printed text, and to automatically align the documents. These functions are mechanically controlled and hence it could be asserted that further multi-functionalization of copier is hardly expected for reasons of physical limit and the like. Thus, the operating device of the copier simply displays the selected status of functions corresponding to individual keys at the rate of 1:1 by lighting LEDs corresponding to individual keys and switches or in accordance with the selected positional status of individual keys and switches. However, in recent years, with the progress of systemalization, there has been proposed an image processing device having image control function, image transfer function and picture quality processing function with the use of photoelectric conversion elements. Consequently, when an operating unit of the type in which each key corresponds to each function at the rate of 1:1 in proportion thereto is used, such drawbacks, such as the device being enlarged and the operation being complicated, are associated.

Image processing apparatus with apparatus for adjusting a magnification setting


A counter-mounted dispensing system includes a refill housing mounted above a counter. A refill unit is selectively received in the refill housing in order to deliver a fluid within the refill unit to an end user. The refill unit includes a container holding fluid to be dispensed, and a pump communicating with the fluid in the container. A spout is also mounted above the counter and may be provided as part of the refill housing. An actuation unit having pump actuator mechanisms is mounted at a position below the counter. A passage extends through the counter, and the pump and the pump actuator mechanisms operatively communicate through the passage when the refill unit is installed in the refill housing.

There are generally four types of liquid dispensers that are mounted to or near a counter or simply rest on a counter, often near sink basins, to provide desired products such as soaps, sanitizers and lotions to individuals. These dispensers include wall-mounted dispensers and counter-mounted dispensers (two types) and unmounted portable pump dispensers.
Wall-mounted dispensers are generally known and are mounted to walls that are near to the counter. Wall-mounted dispensers are not of particular interest, but are disclosed to show that they can be replaced by dispensers of the type taught herein. Similarly, unmounted portable pump dispensers are generally known as portable containers of product that have associated pumps (typically reciprocating piston pumps) that are actuated to dispense product out of an outlet. Because these pumps are not mounted to any structure, they are typically not suitable for use at establishments serving the public, as they are susceptible to being stolen to the detriment of the owner of the establishment.
Of particular interest are counter mounted dispensers, of which there are currently two different types—those mounted fully above a counter and those having some elements mounted above the counter and other elements, including particularly the container of product to be dispensed, being mounted below the counter. An example of a fully above-counter dispenser is shown in FIG. 1 and designated by the numeral 10. The fully above-counter dispensers such as the dispenser 10 typically include a housing 14 that is either mounted to or simply resting on a counter C. A spout 18 extends from the housing and provides outlet 16 to dispense the product carried by the dispenser 10. The housing 14 carries all of the elements necessary to dispense product at the outlet 16, and, as generally appreciated in the art, those elements might include a product reservoir or container (to hold the product to be dispense), pump mechanisms, powering means (batteries or means for associating with mains power supply), hand free dispensing sensors or manual dispensing mechanisms and the like. Such dispensers 10 are securely mounted on the countertop or a ledge or other structure so as to make the product they dispense available to anyone that desires to actuate them. Currently it is believed that there are no such above-counter systems employing refill units, which are generally appreciated in the art to be self-contained units comprised of product containers (reservoirs) and pump mechanisms, the units being replaced when empty of product. Instead, these above-counter systems are known as bulk fill systems wherein the product to be dispensed is simply refilled directly into the appropriate receiving area in housing 14 when the housing 14 is empty of product. The wetted surfaces are thus not replaced and these dispensers must periodically be cleaned to maintain sanitation.
An example of a counter mounted dispenser having both elements mounted above and elements mounted below a counter is shown in cross-section in FIG. 2 and designated by the numeral 20. Counter-mounted dispensers 20 typically include a spout 28 that is provided above the counter C and a refill unit 30 that is received under the counter C in an under-counter housing 31. The refill unit 30 includes a pump (not shown) that communicates with the product S held inside of a container 24, and pump-actuating elements (not shown) and one or more dispensing tubes (not shown) extend through the passage P in the counter C. In these types of embodiments, the pump of the refill unit 30 is mechanically actuated by pressing on a plunger 25 to advance liquid from the container 24 and dispense it at the outlet 26 of a spout body 28.
These common design configurations for mounting dispensers at a counter have a number of drawbacks. The fully above counter dispensers occupy a large volume of space at the countertop, particularly in comparison to the volume of product that they carry. This is because these fully above counter dispensers must carry all the dispensing equipment (housings, product containers, pumps, actuator mechanisms, including actuating plungers or touchless sensor actuators, etc) above the counter and inside of the housing to provide an aesthetically acceptable unit. The actuation mechanisms take up a significant volume and thus leave less room for product containers, such that the product containers are significantly smaller than the dispenser housings. Additionally, those fully above counter units are bulk systems which have been shown to promote bacteria growth. The under counter refill type, as shown in FIG. 2 is a sanitary sealed system in which all wetted components are replaced with each refill change.
While those dispensers wherein the refill unit is carried under the counter do not suffer from the same problems as the fully above counter dispensers, servicing the refill unit under the counter presents its own challenges. A typical refill unit weighs between 3 and 6 pounds, and must be inserted into mounting mechanisms provided at the underside of the counter. It is difficult for service personnel to balance and insert the refill unit while hunched over the counter or squatting low to access space under the counter. Additionally, the water supply lines and drain piping under the counter often interfere with the removal of an empty refill unit and its replacement with a full refill unit. Finally, it is burdensome to check the level of liquid within the container of the refill unit, because it is located under the countertop such that one must crouch under the counter to view the container and the volume level of the product therein.
In light of the foregoing, the counter-mounted dispenser system arts would benefit from a dispensing system designed to reduce the volume of space required above the counter to mount the dispensing system, while still providing a sanitary sealed above counter refill unit. There is also a need in the art to provide a counter mounted dispenser system wherein one does not have to access the space underneath the counter to refill the system with product, as in prior art dispensing systems.

Counter mounted dispensing system with above-counter refill unit


The subject invention is a timekeeping device having a dial with eight evenly spaced hour indicators and one hand rather than two, for indicating both hours and minutes. For optimal accuracy the spaces between the hour marks contain eleven evenly spaced marks that indicate five-minute intervals. At the top of the dial there are three numerals 12, 8, and 4. On the bottom side of the dial are the same three numerals 4, 12, and 8. The numbers are in such order that noon can be placed at the top or bottom and all times will read properly. Additionally, all PM numbers can be increased by 12 to form a 24-hour dial.

One-hand timepieces have been known dating back to the sundial, followed by tower clocks, the four-hour dial, the six-hour dial, twelve-hour dial, and finally, 24-hour dial. The four and six-hour-dial types have had six and four subdials respectively, to represent all 24 hours of a typical day. The twelve-hour dial is easier to learn and is more understandable than the four-and-six-hour dial but the 12-hour dial provides inadequate space to indicate minutes. The 24-hour dial provides even less space to indicate minutes.

Timekeeping device with eight-hour movement


A system and method for verifying receipt of a postal mail item mailed by a sender of the postal mail item is presented. A method reads postal information from a postal mail item that identifies the postal mail item. The postal information is combined with identification information that identifies the recipient of the postal mail item. The postal information and the identification information are sent to the sender of the postal mail item.

1. Field of Invention
The current invention relates generally to apparatus, systems and methods for processing mail. More particularly, the apparatus, systems and methods relate to determining when mail has been delivered. Specifically, the apparatus, systems and methods provide for determining when a specific addressee receives a particular letter or package.
2. Description of Related Art
The physical delivery of packages or envelopes through traditional means (traditional government postal service, courier or similar legacy delivery methods) can be fraught with issues and subject to fraud or misuse. This issue is particularly serious when related to the delivery of critical information, sensitive documents, financial instruments, credit cards, or documents with personally identifiable information (PII), such as driver licenses, passports, permits, etc. Packages, letters and missives carried by conventional postal delivery services or courier services rely on labor intensive methods to ensure parcels or letters are delivered to the intended recipient.
While the identity of the individual receiving or picking up a parcel or envelope can be established by traditional means (i.e. using proof of identity, such as a driver's license at the point of delivery or pickup), this is often time and labor intensive and is an error prone method, and furthermore, it cannot establish when the package was actually opened or by whom. Establishing when a package was actually opened is nearly impossible using traditional methods.
When packages or envelopes go missing, either due to intentional or unintentional actions, the process of tracking and tracing, and establishing the actual location of such items is very time consuming and a cause of customer dissatisfaction. When items are stolen, intentionally delayed or hidden from view, it is virtually impossible to determine the location, routing or chain of custody for such items.
In addition, the collection of critical information to permit process analysis, performance, establish chain of custody, or correlation event between the time of issue and receipt depends on the collection of information from manual processes (such as physical signature capture or bar code scanning) and compilation of information from multiple sources, making it very difficult, if not impossible, to gather real or near real time information of end to end package or envelope delivery processes. Therefore, there is a desire to know when an actual addressee has received a letter, parcel, package or the like.

Method and apparatus for tracking package deliveries


An overhead conveyor system with an elongate box girder (9) having a first inner space with rails (12) and a second elongate inner space comprising an endless driven drive element (5, 6) is provided with at least one carrier (14, 14′) adapted to run on said rails (12) wherein said carrier is provided with an elongated body (C) supporting at least one friction driver (15), wherein said at least one friction driver is in the form of a friction arm assembly (19) with an upper end (20), a lower end (21) and an intermediate portion (22) between said upper and lower ends, said upper end comprising a friction shoe (25) adapted to be pressed upwards by the force of gravity towards engagement with the drive element (5) so as to transfer drive to the carrier.

European patent EP1646571 describes a dual-carrier conveyor system where the carriers are propelled along rails by contact with an endless drive belt running above the rails. Each carrier is driven by a pair of drivers that are preloaded by a spring to move upwards into contact with the endless drive belt. In one embodiment of a driver, the driver comprises a spring-loaded pin which engages in holes in the drive belt. In a second embodiment of a driver the driver is a friction driver comprising an essentially flat upper surface adapted to be brought into frictional engagement with the drive belt by a spring which forces the driver upwards with a predefined, substantially constant, spring force which generates sufficient friction between the friction driver and drive belt to drive carrier forward. The first embodiment of a driver has a positive engagement between the spring-loaded pin and holes in the drive belt which provide a good transmission of drive forces without permitting any slippage between the driver and the drive belt. This is advantageous when high drive forces are needed, for example, when going up a slope, and also when a braking force needs to be exerted on a carrier, for example when going down a slope to prevent the carrier from descending out of control. However, such an arrangement prevents freewheeling of the carriage and does not allow a user to push a carriage at a faster or slower speed than that of the drive belt. The second embodiment of a driver with the spring-loaded friction surface provides lower drive forces and allows the driver to slip with respect to the drive belt—which is desirable if an object obstructs or collides with the carriage or the load supported on the carriage. It is also useful if a user wishes manually to push or pull the carrier at a speed which is higher or greater than that of the drive belt. However, such a friction arrangement does not provide a positive engagement between the driver and drive belt which means that the maximum force that can be transmitted to the driver is limited by the upwardly-directed component of the spring force provided by the spring. This upwardly directed component of the spring force decreases whenever the carrier travels up or down a slope, thus reducing the drive or braking force when it is needed most.
An embodiment of this system comprises a carriage with one of each type of driver, i.e. one driver with a spring-loaded pin and another driver with a spring-loaded friction driver. Such a system provided direct driving but is unable to allow slippage between the drivers and the drive belt.
Providing a carriage with two spring-loaded friction drivers will allow slippage between the belt and drivers but suffers from the disadvantage that when the belt climbs or descends a slope the angle of contact of the friction drive to the drive belt is no longer vertical and the upward-directed component of the spring-loading force proved by the spring to the friction drive is reduced, thereby possibly leading to unwanted slippage between the driver and the drive belt. This can occur if the carriage is heavily loaded or the spring-loading force is weakened for example by wear on the friction surface or weakness in the spring providing the spring loading.
An object of the present invention is to provide a driver and an overhead conveyor system which overcomes at least some of the problems of the prior art drivers and overhead conveyor systems.
This and other objects are achieved with a friction driver according to claim 1 and overhead conveyor system according to the second independent claim.
According to the present invention, each carrier is thus driven by at least one driver that is preloaded into contact with an endless drive element, arranged above the rails on which the carrier is propelled, by means which maintain or increase the contact force when a driver is in contact with an inclined portion of a drive belt. An effect of this drive principle is that it always can allow slippage of a driver with respect to the drive belt if needed, for example if the movement of a carrier is obstructed, and thereby can avoid the unwanted transmission of forces acting on the carrier to the drive belt, while still providing a reliable drive force when a carrier climbs an incline.
The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, which are incorporated into this section by reference. A more complete understanding of embodiments of the invention will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of one or more embodiments. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly.


A wireless communication device includes: a power storage element configured to store an electric power generated by a power generation element; and a processor configured to: calculate a power storage speed of the power storage element from a temporal change in a voltage of the power storage element; estimate a power generation amount of the power generation element based on a power consumption corresponding to a setting of wireless communication, and the power storage speed; and perform the setting of wireless communication according to the estimated power generation amount.

A beacon terminal is attracting attention with the spread of Internet Of Things (IoT) related technology.
An energy harvesting element such as a solar cell and a piezoelectric element using energy harvesting technology is used as a power supply means for the beacon terminal, so that an installation place of the beacon terminal is not limited to a place where an electric power can be supplied, and battery exchange is not required (e.g. see Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2017-208939, and Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2016-95649).

Wireless communication device and wireless communication method


A magnetic head assembly has an open yoke type write head constructed on top of a read head so that the write head can be constructed with a very narrow track width without restraint by the requirements of the read head. The write head has first and second pole piece portions wherein the second pole piece portion has separate front and back layer portions. A coil layer is wrapped around only the first pole piece portion and the back layer portion so that the front layer portion can be constructed separately to provide a narrow track width. Further, in a preferred embodiment the front layer portion has a reduced thickness and a higher magnetic moment than the thickness and magnetic moment of the first pole piece portion and the back layer portion. Still further, in a preferred embodiment the first pole piece portion and the back layer portion are planar due to polarization of underlying layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic head assembly having an open yoke write head with a highly defined narrow track width and, more particularly, to a magnetic head assembly which includes the highly defined write head configured above a read head.
2. Description of the Related Art
The heart of a computer is an assembly that is referred to as a magnetic disk drive. The magnetic disk drive includes a rotating magnetic disk, write and read heads that are suspended by a suspension arm above the rotating disk and an actuator that swings the suspension arm to place the read and write heads over selected circular tracks on the rotating disk. The read and write heads are directly located on a slider that has an air bearing surface (ABS). The suspension arm biases the slider into contact with the surface of the disk when the disk is not rotating but, when the disk rotates, air is swirled by the rotating disk adjacent the ABS causing the slider to ride on an air bearing a slight distance from the surface of the rotating disk. When the slider rides on the air bearing the write and read heads are employed for writing magnetic impressions to and reading magnetic impressions from the rotating disk. The read and write heads are connected to processing circuitry that operates according to a computer program to implement the writing and reading functions.
A prior art write head includes a coil layer embedded in first, second and third insulation layers (insulation stack), the insulation stack being sandwiched between first and second pole piece layers. A gap is formed between the first and second pole piece layers by a gap layer at an air bearing surface (ABS) of the write head and the pole piece layers are connected at a back gap. Current conducted to the coil layer induces a magnetic field in the pole pieces which causes flux across the gap at the ABS for the purpose of writing the aforementioned magnetic impressions in tracks on moving media, such as in circular tracks on the aforementioned rotating disk.
In the prior art write head the second pole piece layer is directly above the first pole piece layer with only the aforementioned insulation stack located therebetween. Unfortunately, when the coil layer induces magnetic flux in the first and second pole pieces there is a portion of this flux that leaks between the first and second pole pieces which causes a reduction in a write signal across the gap. This loss is sometimes compensated for by increasing the number of turns of the pancake-shaped coil layer. An increase in the number of turns in the coil layer, however, increases heat within the head. The heat can cause a protrusion of an overcoat layer at the ABS due to expansion of the insulation stack. Further, the overlying relationship of the first and second pole pieces results in magnetic leakage which degrades the data rate performance. This means that there are less bits of information written by the write head per inch of track on the rotating disk. Accordingly, there is a strong felt need to provide a write head which has less leakage between the first and second pole pieces and improved heat dissipation.
The aforementioned problems were overcome in a commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,869. In this patent, first and second pole pieces formed an open yoke configuration and a coil wound around the first pole piece, and then wound around the second pole piece. With this arrangement there was less flux leakage between the first and second pole pieces and there was better heat dissipation because of short coil length. In the patent, a flux guide structure for a read head was located between the first and second pole pieces. The first and second read gap thickness along with the flux guide thickness becomes the total thickness of the write gap. Unfortunately, the write gap of the write head was restricted by the read head requirement. Further, since front portions of the first and second pole pieces at the ABS served as first and second shield layers for the flux guide, the track width of the write head could not be reduced below the width of the flux guide of the read head at the ABS. This restraint prevented optimizing the write head. Accordingly, there is strong-felt need to decouple the requirements of the write head portion from the requirements of the read head portion in order to permit the write head to have a narrow track width.
The present invention is an improvement of the aforementioned commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,869 which is incorporated by reference herein. In the present invention the improved write head is located on top of the read head. Accordingly, the present write head has an independently optimized write gap compared to the write gap taught by the aforementioned patent. The present write head includes first and second pole piece portions wherein the second pole piece portion has front and back layer portions. The front layer portion extends from the ABS, the back layer portion extends from a back gap site and the front and back layer portions overlap and magnetically engage one another at a site that is located between the ABS and the back gap. Accordingly, the write coil can be constructed on the first pole piece portion and the back layer portion of the second pole piece portion, leaving the front layer portion for a separate construction step. This allows the front layer portion, which defines the second pole tip, to be constructed with a very narrow track width at the ABS. This narrow track width allows more tracks to be written on a rotating magnetic disk which increases the magnetic storage capability of a disk drive that employs the write head. Further, the separate front layer portion of the second pole piece permits this component to be constructed of a high magnetic moment material that is higher than the magnetic moment of the material of the first pole piece portion and the material of the back layer portion of the second pole piece portion. This, in turn, permits the thickness of the front layer portion to be reduced which, in turn, permits construction of a still more narrow track width. The present invention also enables the first pole piece portion and the back layer portion of the second pole piece portion to be planarized.
An object of the present invention is to provide an open yoke write head which can be constructed with a narrow track width without impacting performance of an accompanying read head.
Another object is to provide an open yoke write head wherein a second pole tip portion has a narrow track width and a high magnetic moment.
Other objects and advantages of he invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Method of making a magnetic head assembly having open yoke write head with highly defined narrow track width

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A low onset dual stage hybrid inflator comprising a diffuser subassembly, a gas generator subassembly, and a pressure vessel. The dual stage inflator offers a variety of different output levels of inflation gas. The four main deployment scenarios for the dual stage inflator are primary output, staged output, full output, and secondary only. For primary output, only the stored gas is released from the inflator. For staged output, the stored gas is released and after a short period of time (i.e. 30 ms), the gas generant is ignited. For the full output, the stored gas is released from the dual stage inflator at the same time the gas generant is ignited. For secondary output, only the gas generant subassembly is fired, and the hot gases from the gas generant subassembly mix with the stored gas. The combination of the hot gas and the stored gas has sufficient pressure to rupture the burst disk.

The present invention relates generally to an inflation device and more specifically to a dual stage inflator capable of providing various levels of inflation gas. The invention is specifically designed to achieve a low inflation onset to not injure an occupant, especially a child or a small adult.
Inflatable restraints or airbags have been shown to reduce the seriousness of occupant injury during an automobile crash. An airbag, filled with inflation gas, provides a cushion between a vehicle occupant and the instrument panel or steering wheel. The likelihood of injury is minimized by the airbag absorbing some or all of the kinetic energy associated with the occupant during a crash.
An inflator provides the inflation gas utilized to inflate an airbag. Inflators generally provide inflation gas by burning a pyrotechnic material, releasing stored gas, or by some combination thereof. During a crash, the inflator is actuated to rapidly inflate an airbag. The aggressive airbag deployment has the advantage of getting the inflated airbag in front of the vehicle occupant as soon as possible. The problem associated with aggressive airbag deployment is the possibility of a child, a small adult, or an out of position adult interacting with the airbag while it is being inflated. Out of position is a phrase utilized in the safety restraint industry that refers to an occupant that is not sifting properly in his/her seat or sitting too close to the airbag module.
Dual stage inflators have been developed to reduce the injury to small adults or children by reducing the aggressiveness of airbag deployment. These inflators provide varying output levels of inflation gas in accordance with the size and position of the occupant. The dual stage inflators are able to provide a full output of inflation gas to protect a full size occupant who is not out of position. The dual stage inflator is also able to provide a staged output of inflation gas for the occupants who are smaller is size or out of position. The staged output deployment operates by providing a portion of inflation gas to partially inflate the airbag and after a period of time, the inflator provides more inflation gas to fill the airbag.
Inflators with varying output levels of inflation gas or dual stage inflators have been shown in the past. The dual stage inflators shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,922 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,200 B1 have a first and second gas generant. Another variation of the dual stage inflator has two separate burst disks which is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,674, U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,988, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,914.
In accordance with the present invention, a low onset dual stage hybrid inflator is disclosed for use in a vehicle. The dual stage inflator comprises a diffuser subassembly, a gas generator subassembly, and a pressure vessel. The diffuser subassembly has a burst disk and an opening device and upon actuation of the opening device, the opening device produces an output energy, which ruptures the burst disk and allows stored gas to escape the dual stage inflator through a flow control discharge opening in the burst disk.
The gas generator subassembly comprises an igniter and a gas generant surrounded by a gas generant subassembly housing. Upon actuation of the igniter, the gas generant is ignited which produces heat and gas that exits the gas generant subassembly housing through a plurality of apertures and enters the pressure vessel containing the stored gas.
The present invention has various output levels associated therewith. For instance, the dual stage inflator can release only the stored gas. The inflator has the option for staged deployment whereby the stored gas is released and after a finite amount of time, the gas generant is ignited. Also, the inflator has the means for full output whereby the burst disk is ruptured at the same time the gas generator subassembly is fired. Another deployment scenario is the firing of the gas generator subassembly only.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the diffuser subassembly and the gas generator subassembly are situated on opposite ends of the dual stage inflator. In another embodiment, the diffuser subassembly and the gas generator subassembly are situated on the same end of the dual stage inflator.


Resonant impedance sensing with a resonant sensor (such as LC) is based on generating a controlled negative impedance to maintain steady-state oscillation in response to changes in resonance state caused by interaction with a target. Resonant impedance sensing can include: (a) generating a controlled negative impedance at the sensor; (b) controlling the negative impedance based on a detected resonance state to substantially cancel the sensor resonant impedance, such that the sensor resonance state corresponds to steady-state oscillation, where the negative impedance is controlled by a negative impedance control loop that includes the sensor resonator as a loop filter; and (c) providing sensor response data based on the controlled negative impedance, such that the sensor response data represents a response of the sensor to the target. Thus, the response of the sensor to the target corresponds to the negative impedance required for steady-state oscillation.

1. Technical Field
This Patent Document relates generally to sensors and sensing, such as may be used in measuring or detecting the response of a sensor to a target, for example, based on position, proximity or physical state or condition.
2. Related Art
A resonant sensor includes a resonator configured for steady-state (non-sensing) operation at a resonant frequency and amplitude. Resonant sensing is based on changes in sensor resonance_state as manifested by, for example, changes in resonator oscillation amplitude and frequency resulting from changes in sensor/resonator resonant impedance in response to a target. Sensor response to a target can be caused, for example, by proximity or position of the target relative to the sensor, or some sensed physical state of the target.
For example, in case of inductive sensing, sensor (resonator) impedance is affected by a storage or loss in magnetic flux energy output from the inductive sensing coil of an LC resonator, such as may be caused by the eddy current effect associated with a conductive target. In case of a sensor with a resonator based on a variable capacitor, resonator impedance is affected by the storage or loss of electric field energy. In case of a piezo-electric resonator, sensor resonance is affected by a change in mechanical stress on the piezo-crystal.
While this Background information is presented in the context of sensor applications, the utility of the Disclosure is not limited to such applications, but is more generally directed to a methodology for measuring changes in sensor/resonator resonant impedance in response to a target.

Resonant impedance sensing based on controlled negative impedance


In a torque sensor having lead pins connected to a wire harness, the wire harness includes: a plurality of lead wires; a plurality of connection terminals each having a sleeve mounted around each of the lead pins and a connection portion extended from an outer periphery of the sleeve to be connected with one end of the lead wire; and an electrically insulating terminal holder for holding the plural connection terminals. The terminal holder includes: a sleeve holder portion for holding the sleeves in mutually spaced relation in order to prevent the sleeves from contacting each other; and a connection-portion holder portion for holding the connection portions in mutually spaced relation in order to prevent the connection portions from bending to contact each other.

The present invention relates to torque sensor, wire harness, electric power steering assembly and terminal holder.
Conventionally, an electric power steering assembly employs a torque sensor for detecting a steering torque. A torque applied to a steering shaft is detected by the torque sensor so that a steering assist force can be controlled based on the torque thus detected.
The torque sensor detects the torque as follows. A cylindrical gear portion is provided to each of an input shaft and an output shaft which are interconnected by means of a torsion bar and which constitute a steering shaft, in a portion where the steering shaft is surrounded by a sensor coil. The gear portions are so provided as to oppose to each other. A torque applied to the steering shaft causes the gear portions to be angularly displaced relative to each other, while the relative angular displacement is detected by way of a variation of impedance produced in the sensor coil.
Such an electrical power steering assembly includes: the steering shaft; the sensor coil disposed on an outer periphery of the steering shaft so as to detect the torque applied to the steering shaft; a plurality of lead pins projecting from an outer periphery of the sensor coil; a control unit for detecting a steering torque based on a variation of the impedance produced in the sensor coil and for controlling an electric motor for steering assist depending on the detected torque; and a control board constituting the control unit.
The torque sensor for use in the electric power steering assembly includes one wherein the control board is disposed in close vicinity of the sensor coil and the lead pins are directly connected with the control board without using the wire harness (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.2003-11833).
This torque sensor has the lead pins inserted in through-holes formed in a substrate portion constituting the control board and connected with the substrate portion by means of solder for electrical conductivity.
In an arrangement wherein the wire harness is used for connecting the lead pins with the control board of a control unit spaced away from the sensor coil, however, each of the lead wires of the wire harness must be connected with each of the lead pins and soldered thereto. This results in a low efficiency of a wiring operation.
In order to increase the efficiency of the wiring operation when the wire harness is connected with the lead pins, it can be contemplated to provide a connection terminal and a terminal holder to permit the wire harness to be mounted to the lead pins in one step. The connection terminal includes: a sleeve through which the lead pin can be inserted, and a connection portion to which the lead wire of the wire harness is connected. The terminal holder is adapted for integral retention of the sleeves.
However, a dip soldering operation of dipping a tip of the lead pin with the sleeve mounted therearound into a high-temperature solder bath is performed for ensuring the connection between the lead pin and the sleeve. During the soldering operation, the connection portions may be inadvertently bent to bring the connection terminals into contact with each other. That is, this approach is somewhat decreased in the reliability of preventing the contact between the connection terminals although the efficiency of the wiring operation is increased.

Torque sensor, wire harness, electric power steering assembly and terminal holder


An electrical connector system is adapted for placement into a recessed space defining a raceway formed in a floor of an aircraft having an open region. The electrical connector system includes a first connector and a second connector connectable along a first axis. A frame is provided. The first connector is selectably movable in the frame along the first axis in response to movement of a frame portion, with the second connector being constrained by the frame to resist movement along the first axis. Movement of the frame portion permits selective engagement and disengagement between the first and second connectors, the frame portion being accessible from the open region.

Connectors are required to provide electrical power or electrical or electronic control signals between components, such as computers, printers, auxiliary hardware, etc. It is desirable for the connectors and connections therebetween to be configured to provide maximum clearance for living or working space. While the size of fasteners can be reduced, alternatively and/or additionally, the connectors can be installed in confined or recessed spaces within the structure of the components in which they are used.
Unfortunately, there are drawbacks associated with locating electrical connectors in confined or recessed spaces. First, accessibility and installation can be problematic, requiring specially configured tools, often in combination with the connectors being installed in positions that present awkward or difficult access. Typically, a further drawback is the necessity to remove the connectors from the confined or recessed space merely to connect or disconnect the connectors. Additionally, while the connectors and connections may be relatively "out of the way," such as by setting the connectors in a recessed passage along a walking surface, the connectors may be susceptible to damage from foreign matter, including liquid spillage.
What is needed is a connector system that can quickly and easily be installed in confined or recessed spaces manually or with standard hand tools, is capable of being connected or disconnected while the connectors remain in the confined or recessed space, and permits sufficient access to the connectors to achieve connection/disconnection with such access substantially not extending into the space.


Ink composition including non-VOC liquid carrier and method of making the same are disclosed. A disclosed example ink composition has a viscosity that is below about 70.0 cps and includes non-VOC liquid carrier, dispersing agents and pigment particles having an average size of less than about 10 μm. Also disclosed are method of use and method of making such ink composition containing non-VOC liquid carrier.

The printing industry uses different types of recording fluids such as oil-based inks, solvent-based (non-aqueous) inks, water-based inks and solid inks (which are melted in preparation for dispensing). Solvent-based inks are fast drying, and as a result, are widely used for industrial printing. When solvent-based inks containing binders and other ingredients are applied onto a substrate, the solvents partially or fully evaporate from the ink, leaving the binder and other ingredients such as pigment particles on the printed substrate in the form of a dry film. During the drying process, the solvents, which are often volatile organic compounds (VOC), emit vapors, and therefore, can pollute the environment. Such pollution problem becomes more critical for higher printing speeds or for wide format images, where large amounts of ink are deposited onto a substrate. There has been developed non-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) or VOC-less printing inks. However, such inks present poor printing performances and quality and/or often create damages to the print head containing it.

Ink composition containing non-VOC liquid carrier

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.