A method of joining a plurality of sheets by means of a blind rivet, comprises:

The present invention relates to methods of forming rivet joints.
Rivets and methods of joining metal sheets together employing rivets have been known for many years, and involve inserting a rivet into aligned holes drilled through the sheets followed by deforming the rivet by compression so that it expands radially on either side of the sheets and holds them together. Where access to only one side of the sheets is easily available, it is usual to employ a blind rivet for forming the joint. A typical blind rivet comprises a sleeve formed from the rivet material that is located about a mandrel having an enlarged head at one end. Usually the mandrel extends some distance beyond the other end of the rivet sleeve as a pulling stem, and a radially extending flange is provided on the end of the rivet sleeve opposite to the mandrel head. In addition, a point of weakness called a breakneck may be provided in the mandrel in the region of the rivet sleeve. The blind rivet can be inserted through the hole formed in the sheets to be joined beginning with the head of the mandrel until the flange on the rivet sleeve abuts the surface of the sheet on the working side thereof so that only the head of the mandrel and part of the rivet sleeve are located on the blind side of the sheets. The rivet can then be set by means of a rivet setting tool which grasps the pulling stem of the rivet and pulls it away from the proximal end of the rivet sleeve while applying a reaction force to the flanged end of the sleeve. This causes the head of the mandrel to be drawn toward the sleeve and the sleeve to be compressed between the head of the mandrel and the rivet setting tool. The setting tool will apply a sufficient force to deform the rivet sleeve axially, and therefore radially, so that the set rivet will hold the sheets together. After setting of the rivet, the mandrel may be snapped in two at the breakneck and the remainder of the pulling stem can be discarded. The head of the mandrel and any part adjacent to it may be removed and discarded so that only the deformed rivet sleeve remains, although in some circumstances it may be left in the sleeve. Thus, in order to grip the sheets and hold them together, some volume of rivet sleeve material is required to remain on each outwardly directed surface of the metal sheets, this being provided by the flange on one side of the sheets.
This form of riveting has been considered for joining parts of the chassis or housing of an electronics assembly. Such a chassis or housing that has been employed is in the form of a container formed from sheet metal such as pressed aluminium zinc plated steel and having a number of internal, generally rectangular areas for receiving various components, for instances power modules, printed circuit boards, disc, tape and CD-ROM drives etc. Space is normally at a premium in such assemblies and various components will usually be inserted by sliding rectangular modules into the appropriate recesses with no more than one or two millimetres of tolerance. It is not economically feasible to join the various sheets forming the internal and external walls of the housing by spot welding because this would require re-plating of the steel sheets after welding. Also, it is not possible to employ usual rivets in such an assembly because this would require access to both sides of the sheets to be joined by a relatively large xe2x80x9clxe2x80x9d shaped anvil of a setting tool.
Accordingly it has been considered to employ blind rivets for joining the various metal sheets forming the chassis of the equipment. However the formation of protuberances on both surfaces of the sheets to be joined by the rivets is not compatible with the requirement to be able to slide the various components into and out of the chassis, nor is it compatible with the proximity of various joined metal sheets forming internal partitions or bulkheads to other parts of the chassis.
According to one aspect, the present invention provides a method of joining a plurality of sheets by means of a blind rivet, which comprises:
(i) forming holes in the sheets and placing the sheets together so that the holes are in register and form a single hole therethrough;
(ii) inserting a blind rivet into the hole formed in the sheets from a working side thereof, the blind rivet comprising a sleeve positioned about a mandrel that has a head; and
(iii) setting the rivet;
wherein the hole is radially enlarged at the outwardly facing surface of at least the sheet on the blind side, and the sleeve of the rivet is deformed during setting to form a rivet joint in which no part of the rivet is proud of the outwardly facing surface of the sheets at least on the blind side of the sheets.
Thus, the method according to the invention has the advantage that access is only necessary to one side of the metal sheets to be joined (the working side) but that it is possible to form a rivet joint that does not protrude on the other surface of the sheets that are joined (the blind side).
It is possible for the hole to be radially enlarged at the outwardly facing surfaces of both sheets and, after setting of the rivet, for no part of the rivet to be proud of the outwardly facing surface of either sheet.
The rivet sleeve may be shaped to engage the radial enlargement on the working side of the hole, so that it performs a similar function to the flange on the sleeve of conventional blind rivets but does not extend beyond the plane of the outwardly facing surface on the working side. This may be achieved by forming the sleeve with an enlarged part, for example a part that tapers outwards in the form of a conical frustum (referred to herein as xe2x80x9cfrusto-conicalxe2x80x9d) and which engages the radial enlargement in the hole when the rivet is inserted into the hole.
Such a form of rivet is novel per se, and so, according to another aspect, the invention provides a blind rivet which comprises a hollow sleeve having an internal bore, and a mandrel that extends through the bore of the sleeve and has a head for supplying force to the sleeve during setting of the rivet, wherein the sleeve has a substantially frusto-conical portion at its end opposite to the head of the mandrel that tapers radially outwards in a direction away from the head of the mandrel.
The radial enlargement on either side of the sheets may have any appropriate shape and need not necessarily be frusto-conical: it could, for example, be a generally cylindrical counterbore of larger diameter than the hole so that the rivet sleeve would have one part of smaller diameter that could extend through the hole and a second cylindrical part of larger diameter. The invention will be described hereafter with reference to countersinking but it should be appreciated that counterbores or other enlargements may be employed.
Whatever the shape of the part of the rivet sleeve that engages the countersink in the hole, the end surface of the rivet sleeve directed away from the mandrel head is preferably flat so that, when the rivet is inserted into the hole, the end of the sleeve on the working side is substantially flush with the surface of the sheet. It is possible if desired, and especially if manufacturing tolerances require, for the part of the rivet sleeve that engages the countersink to be slightly shorter than the depth of the countersink so that the rivet forms a slight depression in the joined metal sheets.
In an alternative form of rivet, the rivet sleeve may be substantially cylindrical, and will stand proud of the surface of the sheet on the working side when the rivet is inserted into the hole, and is deformed axially and radially into the countersink during setting of the rivet. When the rivet sleeve has such a configuration, it should be appreciated that the sleeve itself has no means of ensuring correct axial location within the hole, and so this must be provided by the setting tool. In addition, the setting tool should have a jaw that bears on the rivet sleeve itself and applies force on the rivet sleeve along the axis of the mandrel to deform the sleeve into the countersink.
The head of the mandrel may have any of a number of forms. In one form the mandrel may have a region at the base of the head that slopes with respect to the axis of the mandrel. In other words the head may be joined to the rest of the mandrel by a frusto-conical portion. With this configuration, when the rivet is set the head of the mandrel applies a radially outward force on the sleeve in addition to an axial force and thereby causes the sleeve to expand radially into the countersink on the blind side of the metal sheets. The shape of the mandrel head in this case will depend on whether or not the mandrel is discarded after setting the rivet. For example, the mandrel head may have a generally flat end surface so that it can be flush with the surface of the sheet on the blind side, in which case it may remain in the rivet after setting if desired or it can be removed.
Alternatively, the mandrel head may have a generally radially extending shoulder portion or shoulder where the head meets the shank of the mandrel so that the rivet sleeve is caused to deform axially during setting of the rivet. Such a mandrel will necessarily have a domed head which, although could be flush with the surface of the sheets on the blind side, will normally remain proud of the surface and so should be removed after setting of the rivet.
According to a further aspect, the invention provides a rivet joint that is formed between a plurality of sheets that have been placed together and have a hole extending therethrough, wherein the hole is radially enlarged at the outwardly directed surface of the at least one sheet and the rivet joint is formed by means of a rivet sleeve that extends into the or each radial enlargement but does not protrude above the outwardly directed surfaces of the sheet at the radial enlargement of the hole.

Abstract: (ii) inserting a blind rivet into the hole formed in the sheets from a working side thereof, the blind rivet comprising a sleeve (1) positioned about a mandrel that has a head (4); and

Abstract: (iii) setting the rivet.

Abstract: The hole (24) is radially enlarged at the outwardly facing surface of at least the sheet on the blind side, and the sleeve of the rivet is deformed during setting to form a rivet joint in which no part of the rivet is proud of the outwardly facing surface (28) of the sheet at least on the blind side of the sheets. The method enables rivet joints to be formed in sheets, for example used in enclosures that house modules, where there is no space available for the set rivets to protrude.


Techniques for sending control information in a wireless communication system are described. A user equipment (UE) may be configured to periodically send control information (e.g., CQI information) and may receive an assignment of control resources for sending the control information. The UE may also receive an assignment (e.g., a dynamic assignment or a semi-persistent assignment) of data resources for sending data. The UE may send the control information (i) on the control resources if the control and data resources do not coincide in time or (ii) on a designated portion of the data resources if the control and data resources coincide in time. The UE may generate at least one SC-FDMA symbol with the control information sent on the control resources or the designated portion of the data resources. The UE can maintain a single-carrier waveform for each SC-FDMA symbol.

I. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to communication, and more specifically to techniques for sending control information in a wireless communication system.
II. Background
Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, etc. These wireless systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting multiple users by sharing the available system resources. Examples of such multiple-access systems include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) systems, Orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) systems, and Single-Carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) systems.
In a wireless communication system, a base station may transmit data to a user equipment (UE) on the downlink and/or receive data from the UE on the uplink. The downlink (or forward link) refers to the communication link from the base station to the UE, and the uplink (or reverse link) refers to the communication link from the UE to the base station. The UE may send control information, such as channel quality indicator (CQI) information indicative of the downlink channel quality, to the base station. The base station may use the control information to support data transmission on the downlink to the UE. It may be desirable for the UE to efficiently send control information on the uplink.

Multiplexing of control information and data for wireless communication


An inner ring 2, an outer ring 1 and a cage 4 are made of a resin composition comprising a melt-moldable fluoro-resin as a main ingredient, which can provide a rolling bearing capable of maintaining lubricity for a long period of time even when it is used in a corrosive aqueous solution or under a circumstance where mists or droplets of a corrosive solution are present.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bearing having a long working life in a corrosive aqueous acidic or alkaline solution or under the circumstance where mists or droplets of a corrosive aqueous solution are present.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a rolling bearing comprises an inner ring having an inner ring raceway on an outer circumferential surface, an outer ring having an outer ring raceway on an inner circumferential surface, a plurality of rolling elements disposed rotably between the raceways of the inner and the outer rings, and a cage for guiding and supporting the plurality of rolling elements between the raceways of the inner and outer rings. There is also a rolling bearing of a full type ball bearing structure not having any cage.
Such rolling bearing is usually lubricated by circularly supplying lubricant oil or grease to the bearing, or sealing the same to the inside of the bearing. In addition, it is necessary to prevent intrusion of mists and droplets of a corrosive aqueous acidic or alkaline solution to the inside of the bearing under the circumstance that such mists and droplets are present. For this purpose, Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication No. Sho 55-34002 and Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication No. Sho 57-56218 have disclosed techniques to fill lubricant or grease to a space of the bearing to conduct lubrication, as well as to dispose a contact type seal or a labyrinth seal to the bearing to prevent intrusion of water or the like to the inside of the bearing.
However, in the contact type seal, since the lip of the contact seal is worn along with the rotation of the bearing, a gap is sometimes caused between the lip and the seal surface, and intrusion of water from the gap can not be prevented completely. Also, the labyrinth seal can not prevent intrusion of water from the gap completely. Therefore, even if the contact type seal or the labyrinth seal is disposed, water intrudes into the bearing from the gap caused by the wear of the contact type seal and the gap of the labyrinth seal to soften the lubricant or grease, so that the lubricant or grease splashes during rotation to the outside of the bearing to possibly contaminate external circumstances of the bearing.
Accordingly, when clean circumstance is required such as in clean rooms, manufacturing apparatus for semiconductor devices, manufacturing apparatus for liquid crystal panels and manufacturing apparatus for hard disks, the lubricant and grease can not be used for the lubrication of the bearings.
Then, as a method of lubricating the rolling bearing, there has been proposed a method of not using an lubricant or grease. For example, Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. Hei 8-26894 and Japanese Patent No. 2709119 have disclosed a rolling bearing comprising inner and outer rings made of stainless steel, a cage made of fluoro-resin (consisting only of fluoro-resin or a tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer containing short fibers of potassium titanate whisker having a diameter of 2 .mu.m or less) and rolling elements made of hard carbon. In the bearing, the fluoro-resin constituting the cage transfers to the rolling element, the inner ring and the outer ring to form a thin lubrication film of the fluoro-resin by frictional contact between the cage and the rolling element.
However, the rolling bearing used in a corrosive aqueous solution or under the circumstance where mists and droplets of a corrosive solution are present can not be prevented completely from corrosion such as occurrence of rusts even if the inner ring and the outer ring are made of stainless steel. Since the corrosion accelerates the increase of wear and the surface roughness of the bearing constituent members, sufficiently long bearing life can not be obtained.
Namely, the rolling bearing comprising an inner ring and an outer ring made of stainless steel, a cage made of fluoro-resin and rolling elements made of hard carbon does not cause contamination of external circumstance by the lubricant, but it involves a drawback that it is difficult to maintain lubrication and obtain sufficiently long bearing life over a long period of time in a corrosive aqueous acidic or alkaline solution or under the circumstance where mists and droplets of an corrosive aqueous solution are present.


An inkjet material dispenser system includes a printhead member. According to one exemplary embodiment, the printhead member includes at least one drop ejector including an insulating stack layer and a top orifice surface defining an orifice, wherein a ratio of a diameter of the orifice to a height of the insulating stack layer (O/L ratio) is at least 1.0.

Micro-pipettes have traditionally been used for depositing fluid onto well-plates but they generally have a much higher drop volume than is typically desired. Since low drop volumes are desirable, operators using micro-pipettes use a "touch off" technique that is very operator dependent, thereby increasing the likelihood of cross-contamination.
Recently there has been an interest in using jetted technologies for the precision dispensing of high-value materials. Some specific examples of these applications include the printing of reagents, enzymes or other proteins into well-plates for the purpose of fluid mixing or initiating chemical reactions. Prior solutions have included continuous inkjet (CIJ) technology, which offers relatively high velocities and drop volumes. Unfortunately CIJ systems are relatively more expensive than other systems because not all printer head components are wafer-fab compatible and because of complicated ink recirculation systems. Additionally, due to the extra recirculation systems and other various components, the distance between the CIJ and the substrate is much larger than is preferred. Other technologies such as Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) and Piezo Inkjet (PIJ) drop-on-demand printheads have traditionally been limited to the jetting of colorant in imaging and marking applications. Recently there has been an interest in using TIJ and PIJ technologies in the above applications, but success has been limited. This limited success is because TIJ and PIJ technologies have mainly been designed for high quality imaging applications, not dispensing of high-value materials.

System and method for creating a pico-fluidic inkjet

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A lighting system operating using a digital mirror as its operative device. The digital mirror is used to shape the light which is a passed through advanced optical devices in order to produce an output.

The present disclosure relates to an electronically controlled stage lighting system. More specifically, the present invention describes a digital stage lighting system operating using a digital mirror array as part of its beam forming equipment.
Stage lighting systems have increased greatly in complexity in recent years. The current generation of stage lighting equipment uses highly sophisticated computer based control to allow a myriad display of programmable and controllable special effects.
One of the more sophisticated devices is the ICON(TM) device manufactured by LIGHT and SOUND DESIGN(TM). The ICON(TM) includes an extremely sophisticated console from which the countless special effects can be commanded. The console provides commands to each of the lamps in the system. These commands select various functions at specific times which are preset during the planning of an event.
The ICON(TM) units are moving lights which can be controlled to move in at least two directions: pan and tilt. Some applications may allow the lights to move in a third direction as well. These lights are also remotely controllable and programmable to allow for different lighting effects, including color, color fade, split color, xe2x80x9cgoboxe2x80x9d (shape of a pattern being displayed), iris, focus and others.
Moving lights such as the ICON(TM) are among the most sophisticated units in use today. However, less sophisticated, but still highly complicated and computer controlled units also exist. An example is the WASHLIGHT(TM), available from LIGHT and SOUND DESIGN(TM). These computer controlled devices allow a limited set of effects, but at a reduced cost.
All of these devices require consideration of complicated trade offs between various factors which influence the final feature set. The lights need to be small in size, quiet and rugged, to accommodate the need for easy set up, transportation, and use. They need to be relatively inexpensive to allow many lights to be used in a show.
Even though small, the lights must be capable of outputting large amounts of light in order to illuminate the desired scene properly. A typical minimum light output is around 5000 lumens. The residual heat from such a lighting operation must be effectively dissipated to avoid damage to the control systems.
The difficult working environment requires careful monitoring and servicing of the components. However, the market continues to demand even more features, which will lead to even further complexity and further demands on the system.
The inventors of the present invention have recognized a number of issues which plague many of these lights. A first issue regards the flexibility. Previous lights have been digitally controlled, in the sense that the control occurs from and via the main console, which is typically a computer. However, many operations use only a preset number of effects. For example, the xe2x80x9cgoboxe2x80x9d, which is the device that is used to shape the light being passed, is typically a discretely-selectable device. One or more of the gobos can be used at any time; however there has been no way to select a gobo function other than the preselected gobo shapes. Similarly, the colors were often selected from a color wheel which allows only discrete colors.
Another problem is maintenance. The lights are transported and operated by xe2x80x9croadiesxe2x80x9d, road-trained technicians whose main objective is to service the lights. The important issue in road shows is proper operation. Therefore, the often emergency nature of such servicing results in many of these service operations to be done by whatever means are necessary, with minimal documentation of the maintenance that was performed. This results in incomplete information about the servicing.
Moreover, the artists are often interested in new effects. Each new effect adds further complexity to the system and control.
Yet another problem is that the luminaires must operate reliably. However, as described above, use of a digital light shape altering device is carried out with large calculation loads. It is necessary to maintain reliable operation in such a situation. These objectives and many others are addressed by the present invention as described herein.
A number of aspects are described according to the present invention and the following summary summarizes many of these aspects.
A first aspect of the invention is to enable a digital control of many aspects of the light beam. This uses a digital mirror device and configuration as described in our co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/598,077, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herewith. The techniques described in this application describe not only the use of the digital mirror, but also the techniques which have been found by the inventors to enable its operation in the desired way.
Another aspect of the invention is the provision of automated systems for determining maintenance information. These automated systems allow automatic logging of events that have been done to the lamp.
Another aspect of the invention uses three different coloring techniques, including a custom color wheel, a continuous color cross fader and an RGB wheel to allow different coloring options.
Yet another aspect of the invention involves special electronics which enable this new and sophisticated system to be used in a way that emulates the previous systems.
Yet another aspect of the invention is the redundancy of this system. According to this aspect, special architecture is used to distribute the processing in a way that maximizes the available capability of operations, but yet minimizes the possibility of a misoperation or failure.
Yet another aspect is the description of an advanced cooling system which allows the complicated electronics to be isolated from the heat source in a new way.
Other features of this system include the following:
An improved optical path and cooling of the components in the optical path.
A special lens system which allows better determination of the scene on the stage being imaged.
A balancing element for the moving optics so that any moving optics do not upset the balance of the luminaire.
A remoted element for the digital mirror so that the digital mirror can be properly located relative to the optical system, independent of the placement of the control for the digital mirror.
A special technician port which allows monitoring of status and control of individual lamps.
Special systems allowing control of color changing and cross fading.
A modular architecture with each board in the system including its own digital signal processor.
A special calibration system for the structure on each subsystem that maintains the hardware of the subsystem married to the control on the subsystem to allow more accurate control.
Use of up to three color changing elements: a first color changing element at an out of focus position, a second color changing element at an in focus position and an RGB wheel also at an out of focus position.
Use of cold mirrors to minimize heat transfer to the digital mirror.
Use of the digital hardware to emulate previous generations, including emulation of a hardware gobo.
Special cooling system including a wall of air which is used both as a heat barrier and as a source of cool air.
Special techniques for optimized use of the digital mirror.
A special motor control bus and details of its architecture.
A supervisor automatically maintaining a registry of parts which are changed, and important system events, such as lamp life, overtemperatures, and other things.

Electronically controlled stage lighting system


Methods and systems are provided for filtering digital data formatted in packets. A filter module contains a plurality of filters and is coupled to a filter mapping module. The filter mapping module receives the identification of clusters of discrete segments of a packet and selects a group of fixed length filters to filter the clusters.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to data filtering. More particularly, the invention relates to systems and methods for filtering packets of data.
2. Description of Related Art
Digital data is typically transported from one location to another in packets having well-defined segments. FIG. 1, for example, illustrates a DVB DSM-CC Private Data Section MPE (MultiProtocol Encapsulation) packet 100 that may be used to transport audio, video or other data. Packet 100 includes several distinct segments that are defined by a protocol. For example, the MAC address is formed from different segments of packet 100.
Components that are configured to filter packets read information found in the different segments within the packet. For example, a digital video broadcast (DVB) receiver may read the information found in table id segment section 102, MAC address 1 segment 104, MAC address 2 segment 106 and MAC address 5 segment 108. Conventional hardware based filters are configured to read contiguous segments of data. When the desired data is found in clusters and is not contiguous, resources are wasted when excessively large filters are utilized to filter the clusters of data. Cluster is a generic term and may include a contiguous segment or a set of contiguous data within a packet or a segment of a packet. With respect to packet 100, table id 102 and MAC address segment 5 108 are found in non-contiguous segments or clusters. When a single filter is utilized to filter bits 0-40, the desired clusters are filtered along with several bits of unneeded data. As a result, the size of the filter is unnecessarily large.
Devices that incorporate fixed filters that are designed to filter data in predetermined segments of packets transmitted in predetermined protocols provide limited flexibility. Initially, the filters may be sized and configured in an optimal manner for a given application. However, when the device attempts to filter data that this transmitted in a slightly different protocol, the size and configuration of filters may not be optimized.
Some conventional devices utilize small fixed length filters and filter segments of packets in consecutive stages. As the number of consecutive filter stages increases, the time required to process the data also increases.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for packet filtering systems and methods that provide flexibility to designers, optimize the use of filter components and minimize the number of consecutive filtering stages that are required to filter data.

Fixed length filtering to filter clusters of discrete segments of data


Embodiments of a phase-locked loop having a tunable-transfer function are presented herein. In implementations, a multipulse generator coupled between the chase frequency detector and charge pump tunes the bandwidth and peaking of the phase-locked loop based on an activity factor input are disclosed.

Phase-locked loops are generally implemented using integrated circuits and may be utilized for a variety of purposes. For example, phase-locked loops may be utilized for clock recovery, frequency synthesis, and so on. The different uses of the phase-locked loops, however, may have differing requirements that may make a phase-locked loop that is optimized for a particular application less suitable (and even unsuitable) for use in a different application. Therefore, traditional techniques that were utilized to design phase-locked loops were tailored to the particular applications, in which, the respective phase-locked loop was to be utilized.
The same reference numbers are utilized in instances in the discussion to reference like structures and components.

Phase-locked loop with tunable-transfer function


A card connector for receiving a micro-SIM card and a micro-SD card therein includes an insulating housing, a plurality of signal terminals and conductive terminals, and a supporting tray. The insulating housing defines an accommodating chamber. The signal terminals are disposed in the insulating housing with contact portions thereof projecting into the accommodating chamber. The conductive terminals are disposed in the insulating housing with touching portions thereof projecting into the accommodating chamber. The supporting tray defines a first receiving space and a second receiving space for receiving the micro-SIM card and the micro-SD card therein respectively. The supporting tray together with the micro-SIM card and the micro-SD card is inserted into the accommodating chamber. Bottoms of the first receiving space and second receiving space are opened freely to make the micro-SIM card electrically contact with the contact portions and the micro-SD card electrically contact with the touching portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a card connector, and more particularly to a card connector capable of receiving a micro-SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card and a micro-SD (Secure Digital) card therein simultaneously.
2. The Related Art
A conventional card connector adapted for receiving a micro-SIM card and a micro-SD card therein includes an insulating housing, a plurality of first terminals and second terminals. The insulating housing defines a first accommodating chamber and a second accommodating chamber. The insulating housing further defines a plurality of first terminal grooves communicating with the first accommodating chamber, and a plurality of second terminal grooves communicating with the second accommodating chamber. The first terminals are disposed in the first terminal grooves and further project into the first accommodating chamber. The second terminals are disposed in the second terminal grooves and further project into the second accommodating chamber. When the card connector is in use, the micro-SIM card and the micro-SD card should be inserted into the first accommodating chamber and the second accommodating chamber in sequence that results in an inconvenient insertion of the micro-SIM card and the micro-SD card into the card connector.


A lever type connector is provided with a lever that has a rotatable or pivotable range wider than its rotatable or pivotable range during the connection of male and female housings without changing a moving stroke of a moving plate. The lever 20 is enabled to rotate from a connection start position to a connection end position located opposite from a standby position, and each cam groove 24 is formed with a play area 24C for preventing the lever 20 from being interfered with by cam pins 32 of a moving plate 30 when the lever 20 is rotated or pivoted toward the standby position. Since the cam grooves 24 of the lever 20 and the cam pins 32 of the moving plate 30 do not interfere with each other while the lever 20 is rotated or pivoted from the connection start position to the standby position, the moving plate 30 will not move together with the lever 20.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lever type connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some known lever type connectors are provided with a male housing having a receptacle and carrying a lever, a female housing to be fittable into the receptacle, and a moving plate movable in the receptacle. The female housing and the moving plate are provided with cam pins that engage with cam grooves of the lever. The lever is rotated from a connection start position to a connection end position to draw the female housing and the moving plate into the receptacle by the action of cams, thereby connecting the male and female connectors.
The lever and the moving plate of the prior art lever type connector are assembled with the male housing at a factory. This housing is shipped to a site of assembling where it is assembled with a bracket and then connected with the female housing. In this case, a rotatable range of the lever during the connection is set such that the lever will not interfere with the bracket. However, a limit in the rotatable range of the lever may cause the lever to project from the outer surface of the male housing in an isolated manner before being assembled with the bracket. If the male housing is shipped in such a state, the lever may be broken by interference with other members.
To avoid this problem, the rotatable range of the lever may be made wider than its rotatable range during the connection of the housings so as to locate the lever in a position where other members are unlikely to interfere with the lever when the male housing is shipped. However, the cam pins of the moving plate are engaged with the cam grooves of the lever. Thus widening of the rotatable range of the lever means a larger moving stroke of the moving plate in the receptacle. Consequently, there is a limit in widening the rotatable range of the lever. A forcible attempt to widen the rotatable range results in the enlargement of the receptacle.
In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to make the rotatable or pivotable range of a lever wider than its rotatable or pivotable range during the connection of male and female housings without changing a moving stroke of a moving plate.


A fastener assembly for securing a string and/or netting includes a cord fastener and a cord. The cord fastener includes a clasp defining a first opening and a second opening spaced apart from the clasp. The cord is detachably coupled to the cord fastener, and includes a first end extending through the second opening, and a second end insertable into the clasp. The clasp is configured to allow the cord to be pulled through the clasp in a first direction, and to substantially prevent the cord from being pulled in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. In some embodiments, the clasp includes a plurality of fingers that extend at an angle relative to a central axis of the second opening.

In various applications, it may be desirable to attach string, lines, and/or netting to a post or frame structure. For example, goal posts used in soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and other sports often include a net or netting draped across a frame. The netting captures an object (e.g., ball, puck, etc.) when a goal is scored. The netting may be secured to the frame using bendable wires, zip ties, etc. With respect to lacrosse nets, for example, a long piece of cord may be wrapped in multiple loops around the netting and the goal post. However, these methods of attachment are time intensive, and are not well suited to quick removal of the netting after a sporting event. Moreover, the fasteners used to secure the netting to the frame are not easily adjustable, making it difficult to center the netting, or reposition the netting during use.


A method for minimizing the access delay in wireless communication systems, e.g. GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) networks, which includes at least a base station system and at least a mobile terminal having a communication context with the GPRS network. The above mentioned mobile terminal is also adapted to open a communication with the radio access network of said base station system to initiate a Temporary Block Flow or TBF establishment each time has to transmit data packets to the network and the TBF is released when the transmission of the packet has been completed. The TBF establishment is requested by means of a Radio Link Control message or RLC called Packet Channel Request or PCR sent on one of the Control Channel of the GPRS radio access and in particular on the Packet Random Access Channel or PRACH. The GPRS data packets and messages are organized in frame with a predetermined number of TDMA slots and in multiframe. According to the method, when the mobile has at least a Link Layer Control or LLC to transmit it send a PCR message on the PRACH and said PCR message is transmitted in a TDMA slot randomly selected on the TDMA slots that compose the first PRACH block.

The present invention discloses a method for minimizing the access delay in wireless communication systems. The term "wireless communication system" refers generally to any communication system which enable wireless communication between wireless communication devices and the fixed part of the system when the user of the wireless communication device is moving within the service area of the system.
In the following section, we refer in particular to the GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) wireless communication system, but the present invention is not limited thereto being the present invention applicable to any kind of wireless communication including other extensions of GPRS such as the evolution of GPRS radio access, i.e., GERAN (GSM Edge Radio Access Network), or the application of GPRS concepts in the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) network.
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) network has being standardized at the time of filing the present application by ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute), having issued the following documents:                [GSM 04.60], ETSI EN 301 349 V8.0.0, "Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control (RLC/MAC) protocol", Digital cellular telecommunications system (Phase 2+);        General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Mobile Station (MS)—Base Station System (BSS) interface; (version 8.0.0 Release 1999).
In particular the present invention relates to a method for accessing the PRACH channel (Packet Random Access CHannel) of the GPRS system in order to optimize the throughput on the PRACH, minimizing the access delay and reducing the number of loss requests due to collisions.
The method of the invention does not require any change on the fixed part of the system side, and it has a low impact on the wireless communication device side. During the last few years, we have assisted at the great success of mobile conversational services. Mobile phone is now the most common device and it is almost exceptional to find someone without at least one mobile.
Next challenge for mobile industry is to provide mobile networks for data communications. In fact, in the next five years, the traffic load generated by packet mobile services is foreseen to equal that generated by mobile circuit-based services.
The efficient and optimized support of data packet services is one of the main objectives in standard bodies and for defining the specifications for the next generation of mobile networks such as 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Program), 3GPP2, IMT-2000, IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), and MWIF (Mobile Wireless Internet Forum). At the same time, the mobile operators around all Europe are preparing, at the time of filing this application, the launch of GPRS (Generic Packet Radio Service) to provide mobile data service.
General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) offers an efficient utilization of radio resources for packet services characterized by a discontinuous bit rate generation. The basic idea beyond GPRS is to use the radio time slots of GSM access unused from voice service to carry in a packet mode fashion asynchronous data. The allocation of channels is flexible: the network can allocate from 1 to 8 time slots and rates that can be theoretically up to 160 kbit/s. Active users share same radio resources and up- and down channel may be reserved separately.
GPRS uses the same radio Base Station (BTS) as voice with HW and SW upgrades in the BSC (Base Station Controller), and a completely new core network. This choice allows leaving untouched the radio access elements that represent the main investment for an operator. The new core network elements are the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN), a router responsible for terminals in a given region and the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN), a router linked to an external data network (e.g., Internet) and responsible for routing packets to the appropriate SGSN.
As radio is a limited resource, the efficient utilization of radio access is an important point and it can be bottleneck of the system. Thus, the good configuration of the control and data channels on the radio access is a critical issue.
Let assume that a mobile terminal has already a communication context with the GPRS network.
Each time the mobile has a packet to transmit, it has to open a second communication context with the radio access network and initiate a TBF (Temporary Block Flow) establishment. This context is opened each time the mobile has to transmit packets to the network and it is released when the transmission of the packets has been completed.
The TBF establishment can be requested by an RLC (Radio Link Control) message called PCR (PACKET CHANNEL REQUEST) sent on the PRACH (Packet Random Access CHannel). PRACH is one of the Control CHannel (CCH) of the GPRS radio access.
The current specification defines in section 184.108.40.206.1 of [GSM 04.60] the algorithm to access the PRACH and to initiate a TBF (Temporary Block Flow) establishment by the mobile station on PCCCH (Packet Common Control CHannel).
This algorithm consists of the main following steps:
Step 1)
When the mobile has an LLC (Link Layer Control) frame to transmit, but without having a TFB already allocated, it sends a PCR (PACKET CHANNEL REQUEST) message on the PRACH.
Step 2)
The first attempt to send the PCR message is done in the first possible TDMA frame containing PRACH on PDCH (Packet Data Traffic CHannel) matching the mobile station's PCCCH_GROUP if the following test is passed. The test requires that the Persistency Level P(i) value is less or equal than the number R uniformly selected by the mobile in the interval [0, 15], i.e.,P(i)≦R  [1]
The P(i) is defined by the network, paged to the mobiles and can have four different values related to the four different priority classes i ε[1−4]. The default value of P(i) is 0.
For instance, if we set (P[1]=0, P[2]=3, P[3]=7, P[4]=16), it means that a mobile requiring resources with the highest priority (1) will ever pass the test and always transmit in the first TDMA frame of the PRACH, the mobile with radio priority 2 and 3 will have respectively probability ¾ and ½ to pass the test, while the mobile requiring a TFB with the lowest priority will never pass the test.
Step 3)
If the test [1] is not successfully, the terminal has to wait. The value of TDMA frames of the PRACH it has to wait is obtained by extracting a sample in the range [S, S+T−1]. S and T values are determined by extraction from two sets of numbers defined in [GSM 04.60 Section 12.14]. Therefore, if the test [1] is not successful, the number of TDMA frames of PRACH it has to wait before it can send a request on the media varies between 12 and 267.
Step 4)
The mobile repeats the same procedure of step 3 for almost MAX_RETRANS (the maximum number of retransmission) times to schedule retransmissions of the PCR message until it receives response from the network. Retransmissions are needed due to both collisions with PCRs of other mobiles and transmission errors on the channel. MAX_RETRANS value depends on the radio priority and it is defined in [GSM04.60 Section 12.14].
Step 5)
If either the maximum number of MAX_RETRANS or the timer T3186 expires, the access procedure is aborted and the mobile starts a cell reselection.
The algorithm is efficient and works well when PRACH slots are uniformly distributed in the PDCH [see FIG. 2 case 1] and, thus, the entire PDCH is dedicated to PRACH channel. That is not the case of other configurations where only a few PDTCH frames are devoted to PRACH as shown in FIG. 2, case 2 and case 3.
In fact, let consider the PRACH configurations of FIG. 1 case 2 and case 3 and let assume that LLC arrival is a random process and, then, the access procedures are initiated randomly during a frame.
As TDMA channels for a PRACH block are grouped into four, if PCR messages are transmitted in the first TDMA slot, then, in the first TDMA slot of the PRACH Block there is a higher probability to have collisions due to PCR messages than in the other TDMA slots. This effect can be observed in FIG. 3 in case 2 where the PRCs related to the transmission requests of LLC frames 1 and 2 and in case 3 where the PRCs related to the transmission requests of LLC frames 1, 2 and 3 are transmitted in the first slot of the PRACH Block generating collision.
In the current ETSI specification, it is possible to decrease collisions on the first of the four slots in the PRACH Block by increasing the values of Persistency Level, P(i). In fact, the higher the P(i) value the higher the probability to reschedule PCR transmission randomly in the next slots of the PRACH.
However, this strategy leads to a higher access delay and it increases the probability to abort the access procedures due to the expiration of timer T3186.
The effect of this known strategy is therefore to augment the access delay to the PRACH channel and to increase the probability to abort the access procedure.

Method for reducing the radio channel the access delay in wireless communication system

Siemens S.p.A. Viale Piero e Alberto Pirelli


An antenna structure for a vehicle includes a vehicle body component member of which at least a part is made of an insulating material. A conductive film is provided closer to the inside of the vehicle than the vehicle body component member, and a slot is formed on a part of the conductive film that constitutes an antenna.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-333065 filed on Oct. 30, 2001 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an antenna structure, and more particularly to an antenna structure for a vehicle which is suitable when a vehicle component member such as a roof panel and the like is made of an insulating material.
2. Description of Related Art
A roof portion of a vehicle, for example, is generally made of a metallic material, such as a steel sheet and the like. However, in recent years, for the purpose of weight reduction, and improvement of design, assembly workability and the like, of the vehicle, a proposal that the roof portion be made of a resin material and the like having a predetermined strength has been suggested.
For example Japanese Utility Laid-Open Publication No. 2-123108, discloses a cloth including metal fibers which has a radio wave reflecting or absorbing effect is provided as an interior trim inside the passenger compartment such that the gain of the antenna provided on the roof side is increased.
However, if the resin roof is adopted, there arises a problem that an electrical noise generated by an electrical component, such as an ECU (electronic control unit) and the like, provided in the vehicle tends to leak outside.
As mentioned above, a metallic roof panel is generally used in the vehicle, and this metallic roof has a noise insulating effect. The metallic roof panel is structured so as to suppress the electrical noise generated in the vehicle from being emitted outside.
However, using the resin roof reduces the aforementioned noise insulating effect that was achieved by the vehicle body structure itself, thereby causing a problem that the noise leaks outside.
Although, a number of proposals have been made with respect to obtaining an antenna structure with favorable characteristics in relation to making the roof portion of resin, no proposals have been made with respect to the antenna structure for the vehicle which takes into account the problem of noise leak caused by making the roof portion of resin.
It is an object of the invention to provide an antenna structure for a vehicle which takes into account the suppression of noise leak caused when a vehicle component member is made of an insulating material such as resin and the like.
It is another object of the invention to provide an antenna structure for a vehicle which also takes into account the suppression of leak of a noise generated in the vehicle.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, an antenna structure for a vehicle, according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, includes a vehicle body component member of which at least a part is made of an insulating material, a conductive film provided inside or on a surface of the insulating material, and a slot which is formed on a part of the conductive film to constitute an antenna.
According to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention, a portion of the conductive film on which the slot is formed serves as a so-called slot antenna. In addition, the conductive film functions the same as the conventional metallic roof panel, thereby blocking off the noise effectively. Accordingly, an antenna structure capable of receiving a desired radio wave while suppressing noise leak outside the vehicle can be provided. Furthermore, since the conductive film serves as the slot antenna and a noise insulating member, the number of component parts can be reduced making it possible to provide the antenna structure at low cost.
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a roof portion in the upper part of the vehicle is provided as a suitable example of the vehicle body component member. However, the antenna structure according to the invention can also be applied to various component members constituting a vehicle outer face, such as a luggage compartment, a fender, a door and the like, any of which is made of resin.
Further, an antenna structure for a vehicle according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a vehicle body component member of which at least a part is made of an insulating material, a conductive film provided at a certain distance from the insulating material, and a slot which is formed on a part of the conductive film to constitute an antenna.
The conductive film need not necessarily be provided in contact with the insulating material, and may be provided at a certain distance from the insulating material as in the second exemplary embodiment of the invention.
Also, according to the second exemplary embodiment of the invention, a portion of the conductive film on which the slot is formed serves as the slot antenna. In addition, the conductive film functions as the conventional metallic roof panel, thereby blocking off the noise. Accordingly, a desired radio wave can be received while suppressing noise leak outside the vehicle.
Further, in the first and second exemplary embodiments of the invention, the conductive film may be structured to be grounded on a conductive portion of the vehicle body.
According to this structure, since the conductive film is grounded on the vehicle body, the same insulation effect as that obtained with the conventional metallic roof panel can be expected.
In addition, in the second exemplary embodiment described above, the conductive film may be structured to be integrally formed with an interior trim member inside the passenger compartment.
Where the conductive film is provided at a certain distance from the insulating material, the conductive film is integrated with the interior trim member provided inside the passenger compartment, and therefore there is no need to provide a new member which is required when arranging the conductive film. Therefore, the same assembly workability as that with the conventional structure can be assured, and a preferable antenna structure can be provided in the vehicle without increasing the number of component parts.


A buffing apparatus for production of a retreaded tire. The buffing apparatus can reliably prevent the scatter of buffing swarf and allows smooth transfer of the tire after the buffing operation. The buffing apparatus for production of a retreaded tire includes a grinder facing the tire and buffing its periphery, upper and lower scatter shields disposed about the grinder, spaced apart from each other in the tire radial direction, and coming in contact with the tire, and left and right scatter shields spaced apart from each other in the tire width (axial) direction and coming in contact with the tire. The left and right scatter shields are of such design as to be turnable from predetermined initial positions outward in the axial directions of the tire.

In a conventionally known method for producing a retreaded tire, the outer periphery, or the tread area, of a used tire is buffed and a separately fabricated tread is affixed to the periphery (buffed surface) of the buffed tire by means of adhesive bonding or curing.
In this method, buffing is done with a buffing apparatus having a grinder capable of buffing the outer periphery of a tire. The used tire is rotatably held by a tire rotating unit, and the grinder is brought closer to the tire rotating unit until it comes in contact with the tire periphery. And the rotating grinder is moved in a relative motion along the tread width of the tire, thereby forming a buffed surface having predetermined curvatures ("buff line").
Also, the buffing operation produces buffing swarf. And cover members and brushes are used to keep the swarf inside the covers and prevent it from scattering outside the operation area. The cover members are provided behind and around the grinder and extend toward the tire. The brushes, which are turnably attached to the cover members, are brought into contact with the outer periphery, namely, the tread or shoulder area, of the tire.

Buffing apparatus for production of retreaded tire


A method for plant breeding comprising the steps of: selecting a donor parent possessing a trait of interest; crossing the donor parent to a first hybrid parent; selecting a first generation progeny of the cross; and crossing the first generation progeny with a second hybrid parent to produce a hybrid back cross.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to crop breeding, and more specifically to methods for breeding new crop cultivars. The methods can be used to develop genetically-diverse selection populations by recurrent crossing of a donor line and its derivatives to one or more hybrid parents.
2. Description of Related Art
Breeders are continually developing new "line" cultivars through various plant genetic improvement programs. These cultivars are generally pureline cultivars of predominantly self-fertilized species (e.g., bean, pea, lettuce, wheat, etc.) as well as inbred line parents to produce hybrid and synthetic cultivars of both predominantly self-fertilized and cross-fertilized species (e.g., tomato, pepper, corn, sorghum, onion, carrot, etc.).
Efficient development of new line cultivars depends on combining favorable alleles for one or more important traits of interest with groups of genes that together impart outstanding field performance such as adaptation to prevailing environments, yield, and preferred horticultural and agronomic traits. Effective selection for new combinations of favorable alleles and performance traits depends on creating diverse selection populations that are segregating for genes controlling traits of interest.
Development and use of genetically-diverse selection (breeding) populations are vital to the success of a breeding program, and rightly deserves considerable attention. While investigating the optimal number and size of breeding populations for inbred line development, Bernardo (2003) made the following statement; "New inbreds are most often developed from crosses among elite inbreds in cultivar development programs (Allard 1960, p. 282). Specifically, two inbreds are first selected as parents of an F2 or backcross breeding population. New inbreds are then developed by pedigree selection, single-seed descent, or the bulk method of breeding. A breeder typically creates, selfs, and selects in several breeding populations at a time. This scheme (which has become known as advanced cycle breeding) for developing new inbreds is widely used both in self-pollinated crops such as soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill; Hartwig 1973) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.; Heyne and Smith 1967), and in hybrid crops, such as maize (Zea mays L.; Hallauer) 1990)."
"Advanced Cycle Breeding" may be followed when the performance of an inbred parent is known and that parent is available for making new cross combinations. Other sources of useful genetic variability are elite commercial hybrids of which the parental inbreds are not commonly known or available, but which are accessible for use as a source of new gametes because they are public hybrids or registered with a Plant Variety Protection Certificate that expressly allows for such use in breeding.
When commercial F1 hybrids are available, a common approach to evaluating and using them as a source of new inbred lines is to "self-down" the hybrid, select for important traits and evaluate new potential inbred parents for combining ability. This limits the genetic variability in each population to the contributions of only the inbreds that are the hybrid parents, e.g., two for a single cross, three for a 3-way, and four for a double-cross hybrid. An additional short-coming is the limited effective recombination that occurs when inbreeding is intense, i.e., with self-fertilization at each generation and even more-so when inbreds are produced from doubled haploids.
In contrast to "selfing-down", recurrent crossing to one or more hybrid (recurrent) parent(s) assures that effective recombination continues at each "backcross", whether to the same or different hybrid parent(s). The selection units chosen after each cycle of recurrent crossing can be used either for additional recurrent crossing or selected for traits of interest and performance traits including combining ability during or at the end of each generation of inbreeding.
"The potential advantage of mating genetically diverse parents is that each may contribute unique alleles, which when combined together may result in a superior individual" (Fehr, 1987). The theoretical and practical challenge is to create a selection population that has broad genetic diversity concurrent with high mean performance. Intermating parents which have one or a few elite alleles for a single trait but are otherwise less-adapted may increase the genetic diversity but also lower the mean trait phenotypic value of the selection population. On the other hand, intermating parents that are well-adapted and higher performing will likely produce a population with high mean phenotypic value, but less genetic variability. An attractive alternative approach is to use a method that allows for ongoing recombination of DNA during sexual reproduction to generate genetic variability while minimally reducing the mean trait phenotypic value of the selection population.
Typically the recurrent parent used in backcross breeding is one well-defined parent i.e., "The recurrent parent in a breeding program should be a highly acceptable genotype, except for the trait that will be altered by backcrossing. The general principle is that the genotype obtained from backcrossing will not be improved for any character except the one being transferred from the donor parent" (Fehr, 1987, p. 361).
In the standard backcross method, a recurrent parent is intended to be an inbred line that is homogeneous or nearly so rather than a hybrid. "Additionally, it should be recognized that the recurrent parent is not composed of a single pure line but is likely to be made up of many closely related pure lines" (Allard, 1960, p. 155). Further he states, "After the third backcross, however, the population usually resembles the recurrent parent so closely that selection on an individual-plant basis is largely ineffective except for the character being transferred." Clearly, when a hybrid line is used as a parent for recurrent crossing, this would not be the case.
Allard (1960, p. 151) states that, "If a backcross program is to produce a successful variety, the following three requirements must be satisfied: (1) a satisfactory recurrent parent must exist; (2) it must be possible to retain a worthwhile intensity of the character under transfer through several backcrosses; and (3) sufficient backcrosses must be used to reconstitute the recurrent parent to a high degree." Again, if a hybrid line is used as the hybrid parent during recurrent crossing, conclusions reached in (3) above would not be the case.


Dual cutting milling tools for removing material from a workpiece include two cutting portions, with one cutting portion being configured for ruled milling, and the other cutting portion being configured for hemstitch milling. In this manner, the number of tool changes for a given manufacturing process may be reduced. Dual cutting milling tools include a first cutting portion and a second cutting portion both formed in a shank, with the first cutting portion being configured to perform hemstitch milling on the workpiece, and the second cutting portion being configured to perform ruled milling on the workpiece. Methods of removing material from a workpiece may include both hemstitch milling the workpiece with the first cutting portion of the dual cutting milling tool and performing ruled milling of the workpiece with the second cutting portion of the dual cutting milling tool, without changing tools in the milling machine.

In manufacturing processes, multiple structural components are often manufactured separately and then assembled together. For example, tens or even hundreds (or more) of structural components may be assembled together to form structures in aerospace or aviation applications, such as in the manufacture of aircraft wings. Gaps between such structural components may result from manufacturing tolerances of the components and/or from unique challenges associated with certain materials. For example, in making composite parts, geometric variations in final parts may result from variations in fiber diameter and/or variations in resin volume, which may accumulate via a plurality of layers of material that are laid up to form the composite part.
In the assembly of a wing skin panel to ribs to form an aircraft wing-box, for example, some ribs may be in contact with the skin panel, while other ribs are spaced from it, due to such variations in the as-built ribs. FIG. 1 shows an example of a wing box structure for an aircraft wing 10. Generally, aircraft wing 10 includes a ladder-like structure formed by a plurality of ribs 12 spaced apart between one or more longer spars 14. Ribs 12 generally define the overall shape of aircraft wing 10, with a skin panel 16 (partially shown in dashed line, also referred to as a wing skin) being attached to ribs 12, conforming to the shape of the ribs 12. Because engagement between the skin panel 16 and ribs 12 is important to the structural strength of the wing-box, any gaps between them are generally filled by applying a liquid or solid shim between ribs 12 and skin panel 16, where needed (e.g., in the positions of the gaps). Placement of these shims is a generally time-consuming and expensive process. In some cases, composite structures may have to be assembled and disassembled several times to measure the shim gaps and drill and clean holes.
In some cases, material may be removed from the structural components and/or from the shims, to ensure proper engagement between the respective structural components and/or between a structural component and a shim. Cutting tools (e.g., milling machines with various end mill cutting tools) may be used to remove said material. For example, end mills are generally used for ruled milling of parts (which may also be referred to as plane milling, and generally results in cut areas with flat surfaces), and ball nose mills are generally used to cut curved or contoured areas in a process referred to as hemstitch milling. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an end mill 18, which includes a shank 20 and a cutting portion 22. Cutting portion 22 is positioned adjacent a distal end region 24 of end mill 18, while a proximal end region 25 is defined by shank 20. Shank 20 is generally cylindrical and may be used to hold and locate end mill 18 in a milling machine. Cutting portion 22 includes one or more helical teeth 26, with one or more flutes 28 formed between helical teeth 26. Helical teeth 26 form a blade, or cutting surface, for removing material during cutting, while the removed material is moved up flute 28 during rotation of end mill 18, thereby clearing the material from the cutting surface. Helical teeth 26 are generally located on an end face 27 of end mill 18 (within distal end region 24), as well as on a periphery 29 of cutting portion 22 of end mill 18.
In use, and as shown in FIG. 3, end mill 18 generally is rotated about a longitudinal axis 30 of shank 20 (e.g., rotated as indicated by arrow 32), with distal end region 24 generally being vertically arranged (e.g., substantially normal to) the surface of a workpiece 34 being cut. When end mill 18 is rotated with respect to workpiece 34 in ruled milling applications, such an arrangement results in material being removed from workpiece 34, such as cut area 36 shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a ball nose end mill 38, which may also be referred to as a ball end mill 38. Similar to end mill 18, ball nose end mill 38 includes shank 20 and cutting portion 22, with cutting portion 22 including one or more helical teeth 26 and one or more flutes 28 positioned between helical teeth 26. While the profile of end mill 18 is generally substantially flat at distal end region 24, ball nose end mill 38 generally is rounded, or semispherical at distal end region 24. In use, ball nose end mill 38 is passed across workpiece 34 multiple times and such hemstitch milling operations result in scallops 40, or ridges, formed in cut area 36 for each tool pass, based on the diameter of ball nose end mill 38.
Machining time is increased for each tool pass performed by the milling machine, and each time the cutting tool is changed. For example, in manufacturing processes where every second is significant, it may take a half an hour to change the tools between an end mill and a ball nose end mill, thereby increasing costs. While the time required for such tool changes is generally trivial in many manufacturing processes, it can be a significant expense in certain manufacturing scenarios, such as in assembling aircraft wings. Previous attempts at reducing machining time have involved tilting end mills at an angle with respect to the workpiece and attempting to use the end mill to perform the hemstitch operations, however, in doing so, just the tip of the end mill is able to be used in the cutting, which slows the speed at which the cutting is performed and results in uneven and excessive wear on the tools.

Dual cutting milling tools and related methods


A thin film transistor is provided. The thin film transistor includes a gate, at least an inorganic material layer, at least one dielectric layer, a source, a drain, and an active layer. The active layer is located on the substrate. The source and the drain cover a part of the active layer and a part of the substrate. A channel region exists between the source and the drain. The inorganic material layer is filled into the channel region. The dielectric layer at least including an organic material covers the inorganic material, the source and the drain. The gate is disposed on the dielectric layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a transistor and a method for fabricating the same, in particular, to a thin film transistor and the method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of Related Art
With growth of the technologies, lighter, thinner, portable and flexible displays have drawn attention of many people, and many big companies have joined the development of such displays. Currently, most of the flexible displays use organic materials to fabricate the insulating layers. For example, the technology has been disclosed in US Patent Application No. 2005/0001210 and US Patent Application No. 2005/0026083. The insulating layer made of an organic material is highly flexible, but often has a low dielectric constant. Further, the quality of the insulating layer is difficult to control, and defects in a thin film cannot be controlled effectively. Therefore, a leakage current easily occurs in a transistor, resulting in unstable characteristics of the transistor.
To improve the dielectric characteristics of the organic material, particles having a high dielectric constant can be added into the organic material by means of hybrid, which, however, increases the roughness of the surface of the organic insulating layer, and increases the retardation effect.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


According to an embodiment, a speech interactive apparatus includes an output unit to output a first prompt; a receiving unit to receive a start instruction of a speech input as a reply to the first prompt; a response control unit to stop the output of the first prompt when the start instruction is received while the first prompt is being output; and a deciding unit to decide on a first determination period, which is used in determining whether a silent state has occurred, based on whether the start instruction is received while the first prompt is being output or based on the timing of receiving the start instruction. When the response is not input during a period starting from the reception of the start instruction till an elapse of the first determination period, the response control unit instructs the output unit to output the first prompt again.

A speech interactive apparatus is an apparatus that receives speech input and accordingly operates devices. Then, depending on the prompt from the apparatus, the user understands the contents which need to be input the next time. Upon receiving an input of a speech input start instruction from the user via, for example, a button; the speech interactive apparatus performs speech recognition of the speech that has been input by the user and outputs the next prompt according to the speech recognition result.
While the speech interactive apparatus is outputting a prompt, if a speech input start instruction is received from the user; then, generally, the speech interactive apparatus stops outputting the prompt being output and gets ready to receive the response from the user. In Japanese Patent No. 3788793, a method is disclosed in which a speech prompt is re-output if the stopping of that speech prompt has not followed by any input from the user, that is, if the stopping of that speech response has followed by a silent state.
However, the situation of receiving a speech input start instruction from the user while the speech interactive apparatus is outputting a prompt may occur when the output of an earlier prompt had been mistakenly terminated. In such a case, for example, even if the prompt is re-output as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3788793; unless and until the prompt is re-output, the user is not able to understand what response should be performed next. That represents a case of a lack of user-friendliness.

Speech interactive apparatus and computer program product using output prompts and user responses


A data transmission system is provided. The data transmission system includes a serial peripheral interface (SPI) and a programmable controller. The SPI is coupled between a first device and at least one second device. The programmable controller controls the SPI to switch between a single port data transmission mode and a multi-port data transmission mode. When there are more than one second device coupled to the SPI, the SPI is switched to the multi-port data transmission mode so as to perform multi-port data transmission between the first device and the second devices. At this time, the first device concurrently transmits data to each of the second devices via a first transmission bus terminal, and concurrently receives data from each of the second devices via a second transmission bus terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a data transmission system, and more particularly to a data transmission system capable of providing programmable multi-port data transmission functionality via a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI).
2. Description of the Related Art
Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) is a synchronous serial data link standard using four wires for data transmission in a master/slave structure, and is one popular communication interface for data transmission between devices.
However, due to structural limitations, the current SPI is restricted to perform data transmission between a single master device and a single slave device. That is, a single port Master Output Slave Input (MOSI) data transmission or a single port Master Input Slave Output (MISO) data transmission is performed. With advancements in system applications, a single port data transmission utilizing an SPI can no longer fulfill increased system requirements; especially for systems that required immediately data processing in response to change of data content.
Therefore, an improved SPI, which is capable of providing multi-port data transmission functionality under an existing hardware structure and further providing programmable properties to flexibly switch between a single port or a multi-port data transmission is required, to comply with different system requirements under a fixed hardware structure.

Data transmission system and a programmable SPI controller


The invention provides methods for providing improved image quality and water resistance of dye based ink images on substrates using aqueous dispersed mordants and dispersed hydrophobic materials.

The present invention relates to ink fixing materials and methods for fixing dye based inks to solid and porous substrates, for example, walls and fabrics.
Direct inkjet printing onto a variety of substrates such as films, papers, and fabrics has been used to generate graphic images. However, for substrates that are either of poor dimensional stability (such as many fabrics), or that are too large to be handled using a conventional inkjet printer (for example, a wall of a room), indirect printing methods such as transfer printing methods are normally employed. Current inkjet transfer printing methods include printing onto fabrics that have adhesive backings adhering them to a release liner, or iron-on transfers.
Inkjet printing has been used to provide images on a wide variety of substrates including films, papers, fabrics, and the like. Commercially available inks for inkjet printers are typically aqueous based and employ dyes as colorants. Current commercially available inks generally lack the simultaneous properties of good image quality (e.g., high resolution and color density) and waterfastness or washfastness when printed on any of the above-mentioned substrates. This is important if the image is transferred to a surface that will encounter water or be washed in normal usage (for example, clothing, room walls, etc.).
Whether inkjet printing is performed in an industrial process or on a printer attached to a personal computer, there exists a need to be able to print an image on a wide variety of substrates that have the simultaneous properties of good image quality and waterfastness or even washfastness.
The present invention provides compositions and processes useful for improving image quality and water resistance of dye based ink images, particularly dye based inks used in inkjet printing. The compositions and processes are easy to use and suitable for office and home use environments.
In one aspect, the invention provides a method for providing a durable ink image on a substrate. The method comprises the steps of coating a surface of the substrate with an aqueous mordant dispersion; printing or transferring a selected image onto the coated surface; optionally drying the image; applying a dispersed hydrophobic material onto the imaged surface; and drying the dispersed hydrophobic material. The method may optionally further include the step of heating the transferred and fixed image. The method may also optionally include the step of drying the coated mordant dispersion before printing or transferring the image.
In another aspect, the invention provides another method for providing a durable ink image on a substrate. The method comprises the steps of coating a surface of the substrate with an ink fixing mixture comprising an aqueous dispersion of a mordant and a dispersed hydrophobic material; printing or transferring a selected image onto the coated substrate; and drying the image and coated ink fixing mixture. The method may further include the step of heating the transferred and fixed image.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for providing a durable ink image on a non-porous substrate. The method comprises the steps of coating a surface of a non-porous substrate with an aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion, printing or transferring an image onto the coated non-porous substrate; and heating the coated image. The method may also optionally include drying the coated fluoropolymer dispersion at ambient temperature prior to printing or transferring the image.
In still another aspect, image bearing articles are provided that are prepared by any of the preceding methods.
In still an another aspect, the invention provides a kit for providing a durable image on a substrate. The kit comprises an image transfer medium, aqueous mordant dispersion, and hydrophobic material dispersion. The mordant dispersion and hydrophobic material dispersions may be supplied separately or as a mixture of the two.
A feature of the invention is that it provides materials and means whereby aqueous inkjet inks may be printed with high resolution and good color density, and having improved waterfastness and washfastness compared to prior methods.
The term xe2x80x9cmordantxe2x80x9d means a compound which, when present in a composition, interacts with a dye to prevent diffusion through the composition.
A xe2x80x9cnon-porous substratexe2x80x9d is a substrate that is not porous to ink.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cdryxe2x80x9d refers to dry to the touch; that is, does not transfer to a finger when touched.

Ink fixing materials and methods of fixing ink


A fuel cell component including a body disposed along a plane and having a boundary past which a reactant and water flows is provided. The boundary has a discontinuous edge adapted to militate against a pinning of the water at the edge. The fuel cell component may be a bipolar plate having a port hole with the discontinuous edge. The fuel cell component may be a subgasket for a fuel cell having a boundary with the discontinuous edge. The discontinuous edge facilitates a transportation of water from an upper surface of the fuel cell component to a lower surface of the fuel cell component.

Fuel cell power systems convert a fuel and an oxidant to electricity. One type of fuel cell power system employs a proton exchange membrane (hereinafter "PEM") to catalytically facilitate reaction of the fuel (such as hydrogen) and the oxidant (such as air or oxygen) to generate electricity. Water is a byproduct of the electrochemical reaction. Typically, fuel cell components such as plates include port holes that permit reactants and water to flow into tunnel regions, past seals, and into exhaust manifolds. Fuel cell components such as subgaskets also have boundaries past which reactants and water flow in route to the exhaust manifolds. However, where the port holes and the boundaries have squared (approximately 90°) edges, surface tension pins water droplets and inhibit a rapid removal of water. An accumulation of water within the fuel cell must be managed in order to optimize a performance of the fuel cell.
A number of strategies are known for removing water from the tunnel regions of the fuel cell. One strategy is described in Assignee's co-pending U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2008/0171253 to Owejan et al., the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated herein by reference. Owejan et al. describes a bipolar plate for a fuel cell having an exhaust opening with a chamfered peripheral edge in communication with an active surface of the fuel cell, and forming a water removal channel.
Another strategy is described in Assignee's co-pending U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ. No. 2008/0118809 to Tighe et al., the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Tighe et al. describes a fuel cell stack having a porous material internally disposed in the fuel cell stack outlet manifolds to facilitate a transport of liquid water from fuel cell plate outlets.
A further strategy is described in Assignee's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/244,992 to Owejan et al., the entire disclosure of which is
A further strategy is described in Assignee's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/244,992 to Owejan et al., the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/244,992 describes a conduit having a continuous seam formed between a first plate and a second plate of a bipolar plate to facilitate a transport of water to an outlet of a fuel cell having the bipolar plate.
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,936,369 to Komura et al., it is also known to use a porous, water-absorbing tube to discharge water to the outside of a fuel cell stack. The entire disclosure of Komura et al. is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
There is a continuing need for cost effective fuel cell components such as fuel cell plates, which facilitate a transport of water through the fuel cell. Desirably, the features of the fuel cell components facilitating the water transport are inexpensive, minimize the number of required components, and are simple to manufacture.

Sheared edge on fuel cell components for wicking of water


A firearm having a laser beam capacity for aiding in sighting positioned within the firearm for adjustment therein and having an on-off switch operated by the firearm operator's trigger finger of the trigger finger hand is in position on the firearm grip. The switch can be assembled for operation by finger pressure from a selected side of the firearm.

Lasers have been utilized for aiming firearms by mounting a laser unit on the firearm sights or within firearms (U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,773). Many of these laser units have operating switches located upon the laser unit, or are located upon the grip or other areas of the firearm and are connected to the laser unit by wires. None, however, combine an integrally frame-mounted laser unit with a reversible cross-mounted push button operating switch located in the frame immediately in front of the trigger operating area, for both security and ease of operation.


An actuating piston for a hydrostatic adjustment installation includes at least one sealing and guiding unit which is insertable into a circumferential recess of an actuating piston. The circumferential recess is composed of two regions, and has the effect of improving the guiding and sealing of the actuating piston. The actuating piston is arranged in an adjustment installation.

Actuating pistons which are received so as to be longitudinally displaceable in an actuating cylinder and thus configure a hydrostatic adjustment installation which can generate high actuating forces even in the case of small dimensions are known from the prior art. If actuating members which are pivotable by the actuating piston are eccentrically articulated, the actuating piston in terms of the latter being guided in the actuating cylinder is subject not only to an axial force but also to a radial force or transverse force that acts transversely to said axial force. Accordingly, the actuating piston must be guided in its cylinder in a reliable manner so as to be stable in terms of tilting. At the same time, there is the object of reliably sealing a pressurized actuating chamber which is delimited by the actuating piston in the actuating cylinder.
Multi-part solutions for a sealing and guiding installation which meets the above-mentioned requirements for a positive-displacement machine having an adjustable displacement volume are known in the prior art. For example, the Bosch-Rexroth data sheet RDE 92003-84-P/03.2016 thus shows an axial piston pump in a swash-plate construction mode having an adjustable displacement volume and an adjustment installation in which a dual-action actuating piston is disposed in an actuating cylinder. The sealing of the actuating piston and the guiding of the latter in the actuating cylinder in terms of functioning herein takes place separately by way of individual elements which are received in an internal shell face of the cylinder and in a sealing and guiding manner contact the external shell face of the piston. The sealing element herein is "pressure-active", that is to say that a lip which is deformable in a radially inward manner is pressed against the external shell face of the actuating piston by the actuating pressure prevalent in the pressurized actuating chamber. The guide element has a comparatively large axial extent such that the piston is imparted stability in terms of tilting. Alternatively, the sealing and guiding installation can also be disposed so as to be proximal to the piston or the rod, respectively. The respective elements are assembled so as to be disposed in suitable grooves which hold said respective elements in an axial manner. It is disadvantageous in a solution of this type that up to three elements per sealing and guiding installation have to be assembled, this meaning a high level of complexity in terms of material and assembly. Moreover, an assembly error is possible on account of the number of parts. Post-assembly calibration is necessary when sintered elements, in particular with a Teflon content, are used.
An actuating piston of the generic type for a hydrostatic adjustment installation is known from DE 10 2017 211 750 A1. The actuating piston has an external shell face that is encompassed by a sealing and guiding installation which is embodied as a sealing collar and by way of which the actuating piston is guided in an actuating cylinder so as to be stable in terms of tilting and displaceable in an axial manner, a gap between the actuating piston and the actuating cylinder being able to be sealed. The sealing and guiding unit is held on the actuating piston and is configured so as to be integral, therefore having a dual function, that is to say that the sealing and guiding unit guides the actuating piston in the actuating cylinder and seals the actuating piston in relation to the actuating cylinder.
The production of the above-mentioned sealing collar is described in DE 10 2017 219 361 A1. Accordingly, the sealing collar which configures a sealing and guiding unit is initially present as an annular disk and is then expanded by means of an expansion device, wherein the annular disk folds inward so as to assume a conical shape. The internal diameter of the sealing collar in further expansion stages is subsequently expanded until the desired internal diameter has been reached and the annular disk has been formed so as to assume the shape of a cone or a sleeve. The sealing collar is then applied to the actuating piston by means of a compression device, wherein the sealing collar is brought to the nominal diameter of the latter.
It is disadvantageous in the afore-described actuating pistons that the absorption of transverse forces on the actuating piston is restricted and the friction between the actuating piston and the actuating cylinder is increased.

Actuating piston and adjustment installation