A treadmill includes a tread assembly, a supporting frame, a control unit and a tread utility assembly. The supporting frame has a lower end portion connected to a front end portion of the tread assembly, and an upper end portion extended from the lower end portion at a predetermined evaluation. The control unit is mounted at the upper end portion of the supporting frame for controlling an operation of the tread assembly. The tread utility assembly includes a utility member frontwardly and movably extended from the control unit to form a utility platform which has a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to the control unit, wherein a user is allowed to simultaneously operate the control unit and run on the tread assembly, and accomplish a predetermined task on the utility platform in a convenient and safe manner.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a treadmill, and more particularly to a treadmill comprising a tread utility assembly which is capable of facilitating accomplishment of a wide variety of tasks when a user is exercising on the treadmill.
2. Description of Related Arts
A conventional treadmill, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,892,148 usually comprises a tread assembly, a support structure extended from the tread assembly, a tabletop member mounted to a distal top end of the support structure, a handle member supported by the table top member adjacent the front edge of the table top member, and a control assembly including at least one input button supported by at least one of the table top member and the handle member. The table top member includes an undersurface and the control assembly is mounted to the undersurface of the table top member adjacent the front edge of the table top member and below the handle member.
There are several disadvantages in association with this conventional treadmill. First, the treadmill disclosed above can only be used for running and for workstation. While the user is running on the tread assembly, the user may simultaneously work on the table top member. The control unit is hidden underneath the table top member. This arrangement substantially reduces the feeling of exercise on the part of the user. The user acts like he is using the treadmill as a workstation without involving into exercising.
The second disadvantage relates to safety issues. Since the user does not have the feeling of exercise, he or she may over-concentrate on his or her work and therefore forgets the fact that the tread assembly is still running. This is extremely dangerous because the user may concentrate in reading or typing a document or email without being aware that he or she needs to keep up his or speed to run. When the user slows down his or her running speed, he or she may fall from the tread assembly.
Third, the conventional treadmill described above does not allow the user to perform something else while exercising. What this means is that the workstation comes with the treadmill and the user has no option to make it function as something else, such as a coffee table or a drinks table. In other words, the user may purchase the conventional treadmill with a view to perform some work but later finds that the workstation cannot be used to perform something else. For example, the user may later want the workstation to be used as a platform for putting his or her personal belongings.
Fourth, the workstation is suspendedly supported by the support structure which usually comprises a plurality of supporting shafts upwardly extended from the tread assembly, wherein the workstation is mounted on top end portions of the supporting shafts. The problem with this construction is that when the user is running on the tread assembly, the entire treadmill will shake as a result. The workstation will not be securely supported by the supporting shafts alone and the electronic equipments placed on the workstation, such as computers, may be affected or even damaged by the impact generated by the vibrations.
Fifth, the workstation supported on the treadmill is generally not movable. This means that the user will not be able to adjust the angle of inclination of the workstation with respect to the supporting shafts. This limitation brings great inconvenience to the user of the conventional treadmill.


Provided is an image pickup apparatus capable of reading out and outputting pixel data of a partial area of a rolling shutter type image sensor. The image pickup apparatus includes: a readout condition setter configured to set a readout condition from the image sensor; a charge time setter configured to set charge time of the image sensor; a controller configured to control charging of the image sensor and readout from the image sensor so as to achieve constant charge time irrespective of the readout condition; and an image signal output unit configured to output a pixel signal read out by the controller.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, and more particularly, to an image pickup apparatus having a partial readout function or a skip readout function, and a photographing apparatus including the same.
Description of the Related Art
At a factory manufacturing line, an image pickup apparatus for inputting images has come to be used in place of visual inspection conducted by a human inspector. Such an image pickup apparatus is also referred to as a machine vision camera, and used for inspecting various types of components or products with a computer or a digital input/output device. In recent years, in order to improve inspection accuracy, an image pickup apparatus having ten million or more pixels has come to be used. Similarly, in a consumer digital camera, the number of pixels is increasing more and more in order to improve captured image quality.
With the increasing needs for a greater number of pixels and higher image quality, in recent years, as an image pickup element to be used for a camera, a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor of a rolling shutter type is widely used. In the rolling shutter type, lines of image pickup elements are sequentially exposed. Thus, while exposure time for carrying out exposure by a sensor is set by a user, in control in the camera, the exposure is carried out by a line unit corresponding to the set time.
When a moving image is captured by such an image pickup apparatus and a signal is read out from all pixels of a pixel array, readout time is longer as the number of pixels is larger. Consequently, in the case of moving image capturing, the number of captured images per second is reduced. Further, a data amount for outputting a captured video to the outside becomes greater, and thus a fame rate decreases. For example, in the machine vision camera, total readout time changes with the number of pixels for imaging, and the frame rate changes with the number of pixels output to the outside of the image pickup apparatus.
In an inspection system using the machine vision camera, shortening of inspection time is simultaneously demanded. Accordingly, the number of readout pixels is reduced by reading out a pixel signal from only an interest area among those in which images are captured by the camera, thereby increasing a frame rate. When the frame rate can be increased, the inspection time of the entire system can be shortened.
In the rolling shutter type, charge processing for photoelectric conversion and readout processing of a photoelectrically converted signal are closely linked with each other. For example, when the total readout time is shortened by selection of the interest area, charge time of the sensor may be simultaneously shortened.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-078081, there is disclosed a problem in that exposure time shortens when a part of a pixel in array is designated as an interest area to carry out readout only from the interest area while skipping the remaining unnecessary areas. Accordingly, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-078081, optimal exposure is achieved by a diaphragm or a gain applied to an image signal.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-181751, there is disclosed an example of improving, in the case of moving image capturing, a moving image response by skipping readout to shorten overall readout time. In this case, edge enhancement is applied in order to improve visibility for a photographer, and improvement is achieved for exposure.
However, in the above-mentioned related art, a gain is applied to achieve optimal exposure. In the related art, while exposure is secured, there is a problem in that image quality deteriorates due to post-processing after photographing. In the inspection use as described above, various exposure time periods are set, and the interest area is frequently changed. As a result, in the related art, there is a problem in that image quality changes each time setting of the interest area is changed. In the camera for inspection, a high-quality and high-definition captured image is required.

Image pickup apparatus having partial readout function or skip readout function and photographing apparatus including the same


Cecropin fusion proteins with suppressed bactericidal activity are provided. The fusion proteins of the invention provide the sequence of a cecropin and can be expressed in a cecropin-sensitive bacterium.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of recombinant DNA technology and to the use of araB promoters in the expression of heterologous genes in transformed hosts. This patent also relates to the design, cloning and expression of genes coding for the bactericidal peptide cecropin and analogues thereof.


An apparatus for receiving and discharging coins is disclosed. The apparatus includes two vertical coin cases aligned in the forward/rearward direction and separated from each other through a partition plate and having open lower ends; a T-shaped coin inlet operatively connected to the respective coin cases; a plate-like guide member horizontally secured to the open lower ends of the coin cases and having a coin passing hole the center of which is positioned just under a lower end of the partition plate; a sliding plate mounted on the guide member so as to be movable forward/rearward and having a coin accepting hole which accepts one coin from the coin cases and traverses right over the coin passing hole to thereby drop down the coin through the coin passing hole when the sliding plate is moved; driving mechanism for reciprocating the sliding plate forward and rearward; and a controlling system for controlling the driving mechanism such that the sliding plate is operated according to a given coin discharging manner.

The present invention relates to a coin receiving and discharging apparatus equipped in a vending machine, a money exchanging machine, a money automatically-discharging machine, or the like, and particularly relates to a small-sized coin receiving and discharging apparatus having two coin cases for accepting coins, which are the same or different in kind from each other, and for selectively discharging the coins from the coin cases.
An apparatus provided with a plurality of coin tubes so as to selectively discharge coins from the coin tubes is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,690,332 and 4,121,603 issued on Sept. 12, 1972 and Oct. 24, 1978 respectively, and in Japanese Patent Post-examination Publication No. 57-19833 published on Apr. 24, 1982. In such a conventional apparatus, however, the coin tubes are disposed side by side in the left and right direction with respect to the front surface having a coin discharge opening. Accordingly, when the apparatus is installed in a place, a relatively wide use frontage is required in the place, while the depth of the place can not be effectively used when the place has much room in depth. Prior to the present invention, Osamu KOBAYASHI, one of the inventors of this application invented a coin discharging apparatus as described hereunder and disclosed the apparatus in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Post-examination Publication No. 57-19833. The apparatus according to the prior invention has a mechanism in which there are provided two coin tubes disposed side by side in the left and right direction, and a horizontally pivotally movable fan-shaped plate disposed under the lower ends of the coin tubes and having two coin accepting holes each for accepting one coin, whereby the plate is pivotally reciprocated by the operation of a solenoid so that the plate receives coins alternately from the coin tubes and succeedingly discharges the received coins through a single coin passing hole provided under the plate. However, the apparatus is configured such that the fan-shaped plate is horizontally pivotably moved over the two coin tubes disposed side by side in the left and right direction, and a large space is therefore required. Thus, the apparatus is disadvantageous in that not only the apparatus becomes large in size but in the case where the apparatus is mounted on the side surface of a coin selecting apparatus, a vending machine, or the like, having sufficient room particularly in depth, the depth of the coin selecting apparatus, the vending machine, or the like can not be used effectively.

Coin receiving and discharging apparatus


In a horizontal plant for the production of curved and tempered sheets of glass, an apparatus for the bending of the sheets of glass is provided. Conveyor rollers are provided that are downwardly mobile at opposite ends thereof, one with respect to the other. The conveyor rollers are situated between male and female bending moulds, thus permitting the production of sheets of glass having complex forms, reduced thicknesses and notable dimensions. The bending process makes use of the possibility of inclining the rollers to place the sheet of heated glass on the female mould.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved process and apparatus for the bending of sheets of glass.
Such products are commonly used as windows for motor vehicles in general, and in particular for automobiles. This kind of use requires that the sheets of glass be manufactured respecting precisely both the prescribed dimensions and tolerances and the configuration required by the body of the automobile. It is furthermore necessary that the visibility through the sheets of glass is not obstructed by optical distortions or defects in the windows.
Tempering treatment using heat increases the resistance of the sheets of glass to impact, and guarantees that the fragments of glass produced in the case of breakage will be less dangerous than fragments which would be produced in non-tempered glass.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is known, sheets of tempered glass, in particular those used by the automobile industry, can be produced in plants with a horizontal line of travel, permitting a high production throughput.
In these plants, each sheet is transported horizontally through a tunnel oven in which it is heated up to a deformation temperature, is then transferred to a bending station where the sheet is shaped, and then reaches a tempering station and successively a cooling station.
With reference to the bending station, a bending method is known which uses the force of gravity and the pressure of a mould in order to obtain the shaping of the sheet of glass in the most exact manner possible.
In particular, the pressure-bending of the heated sheets takes place between male and female moulding plates having complementary shaping surfaces.
The sheets of glass are horizontally supported by a female plate, hereinafter referred to as the "ring", the bearing surface of which is divided into segments to allow the passage of the ring itself upwards by means of a plurality of conveyor rollers.
Descriptions of this prior art can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,695 (Ritter), in French patent No. 1,474,251 (LOF), in U.S. Pat. No. 3,684,473 (Ritter) and in Luxembourg patent No. 65146 (Ritter). The method used to bend the sheets of glass according to the above mentioned patents consists essentially in the fact that the sheet itself, after having been heated in an oven up to the softening temperature, arrives, by means of horizontal conveyor rollers, in registry with the shaping ring, which, passing beyond the conveyor rollers, lifts up the sheet and carries it towards the mould, wherein the final shaping takes place. Subsequently the ring is lowered, passing back through the conveyor rollers and leaving the curved sheet of glass on the same horizontal rollers. The convey rollers then carry the sheet of glass towards the tempering station.
During the past years great commercial importance has been given to the production of curved and tempered sheets of glass with more and more reduced thicknesses (going from values of between 5 and 6 mm in thickness to values of between 2.5 and 4 mm in thickness), with ever greater dimensions, due to the increases in the window surfaces in automobiles, and having complex curvatures, in particular spherical curvatures.
In practice, the sheets of glass have become thinner, larger and preferably spherical. The above-described shaping technology is no longer suitable for the production of sheets of glass according to the market requirements.
In addition to the above, a further difficulty in production is the market trend toward requiring sheets of glass which are curved to conform to the bodywork, these sheets thus presenting wings which are sharply curved towards the interior of the vehicle.
The prior art method is not suitable for providing this kind of production at a commercially acceptable cost, as the prior art method is not capable of an efficient control of the curvature of the glass. The glass is of a thickness ranging from 2.5 to 4 mm and tends to increase more than is necessary its concavity towards its bottom, due to the effect of the force of gravity. Furthermore, the prior art is not capable of checking the precise shape of the sheet itself, especially when the sheet has sharp upwardly-turned wings, because when the sheet is laid down on the conveyor rollers it tends to lose the shape which has been given to it, as the sheet is still in a plastic state. The object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned problems, providing an improved process and apparatus for the bending of sheets of glass which permits the bending of sheets of glass into complex forms having reduced thicknesses and large dimensions.

Process and apparatus for the bending of flat sheets of glass


An image display system for displaying a planar image on a curved viewing surface, such as a theater dome, with minimized image distortion. In order to display the image, a virtual surface, which is a representation of the curved viewing surface, is textured with the image using an angular distribution to thereby form a textured virtual image. The textured virtual image is then displayed onto the curved viewing surface.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to image display systems, and more particularly, but not necessarily entirely, to image display systems that form images on non-planar surfaces.
2. Description of Background Art
With recent advances in technology, curved projection screens, such as those in planetariums and other "domed theaters," have seen a resurgence in popularity among viewers. Large curved projection screens are typically formed on the inner surface of a spherical or hemispherical dome, such as those found in planetariums. In some instances, curved projection screens may be many times larger than a conventional theater screen and may provide a sensation to the audience members that they are experiencing the images in real life.
One drawback to the use of curved projection screens is the inability to show images created for conventional "flat" movie screens without objectionable distortions. In particular, displaying a rectangular image on a curved surface, e.g., a curved projection screen, causes the image to be distorted as the center of the image appears to bulge outward towards the audience, while the outer edges of the image appear to bend away. In this case, the center of the image appears disproportionately large, while the outer edges appear disproportionately small and compacted. Thus, in the past, planetariums have generally been unable to show images intended for viewing on a conventional movie screen. Instead, planetariums have been limited to shows particularly created for viewing on curved projection screens.
Some solutions have been employed to show rectangular images on a curved projection screen. One previously available solution for displaying a rectangular image on a curved surface is to use a specially adapted projector with a fisheye lens. For example, IMAX Corporation has developed a motion-picture format that involves filming through a fisheye lens and projecting through the same type of fisheye lens onto a curved screen or projecting a rectangular image through a fisheye lens onto a curved screen. One drawback, however, to this type of solution is the need for specialized equipment for both capturing the image and projecting the image.
In addition, currently available video compositing software can distort rectangular pre-rendered digital images to conform to a curved projection screen. However, the "distorted" images must remain relatively small in comparison to the overall size of a curved projection screen. If for example, the "distorted" image is projected on more than one quarter of a dome, the distortion becomes extremely objectionable. Moreover, the existing video compositing software does not adequately compensate for the complexity of a three-dimensional shape and the curvature of a dome surface.
The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the disclosure without undue experimentation. The features and advantages of the disclosure may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

System and method for displaying a planar image on a curved surface


A charging member, includes: an electrically-conductive support; an electrical resistance adjustment layer having ion conductivity provided on the electrically-conductive support; an intermediate layer having ion conductivity provided on the electrical resistance adjustment layer; and a surface layer having insulation provided on the intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer is formed of a resin composition containing at least a polyether polyol resin, and the surface layer is formed of a resin composition containing at least one of a fluorine-based resin, a silicone-based resin, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, and a urethane resin.

The present invention relates to a charging member used in an image forming apparatus of a copier, a laser beam printer, a facsimile and the like, also to a charging device including the charging member, a process cartridge including the charging device and an image forming apparatus including the process cartridge.
A charging device that performs a charging process on an image carrier (photoreceptor drum) is used in a conventional electro-photo type image forming apparatus of an electronic photo-copier, a laser printer, a facsimile and the like. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an electrophotographic-type image forming apparatus having a conventional charger roller.
In FIG. 8, 130 is a conventional electrophotographic-type image forming apparatus. The conventional electrophotographic-type image forming apparatus 130 includes a photoreceptor drum 111 in which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a charging member (charger roller) 112 that performs the charging process by contacting the photoreceptor drum 111, an exposure device 113 of a laser beam or the like, a toner carrier (development roller) 114 that makes toner 115 to adhere onto the electrostatic latent image of the photoreceptor drum 111, a transfer member (transfer roller) 116 that transfers a toner image on the photoreceptor drum 111 onto a recording paper 117 and a cleaning member (cleaning blade) 118 for cleaning the photoreceptor drum 111 after the transfer process. In the FIG. 8, 119 are eliminated toners obtained from removing residual toners on a surface of the photoreceptor drum 111 by the cleaning member 118, 120 is an image development device and 121 is a cleaning device. In addition, in the FIG. 8, functional units normally necessary at other electrophotographic processes are not necessary in the present specification and are thereby abbreviated.
Next, basic image forming operations of the image forming apparatus 130 of the conventional electrophotographic-type will be described.
When DC voltage is fed from a power package (not illustrated) to the charger roller 112 which is in contact with the photoreceptor drum 111, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 111 is charged uniformly to a high electric potential. Soon afterwards, when image light is radiated by the exposure device 113 onto the surface of the photoreceptor drum 111, an electric potential of a part radiated by the photoreceptor drum 111 decreases. Such a charging mechanism by the charger roller 112 towards the surface of the photoreceptor drum 111 is known as an electrical discharge (spark discharge) based on Paschen's Law, in a minute space between the charger roller 112 and the photoreceptor drum 111.
Image light refers to light quantity distributions corresponding to black/white of an image. When the image light is radiated, due to radiation of the image light, an electrical potential distribution corresponding to a recorded image, that is, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a surface of the photoreceptor drum 111. Thus, when a part of the photoreceptor drum 111 having the electrostatic latent image formed passes through the development roller 114, toners are adhered corresponding to highs and lows of the electrical potential and a toner image visualizing the electrostatic latent image is formed. The recording paper 117 is carried at a predetermined timing by a registration roller (not illustrated) to the part of the photoreceptor drum 111 having the toner image formed to overlap the toner image. Then after the toner image is transferred onto the recording paper by the transfer roller 116, the recording paper 117 is separated from the photoreceptor drum 111. The separated recording paper 117 is carried through a paper path. The recording paper 117 is then fused by a fuser unit (not illustrated) to be ejected outside the machine. When transfer is finished in this manner, a cleaning process is performed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 111 by the cleaning member 118. Furthermore, residual electric charges are removed by a quenching lamp (not illustrated) to prepare for the next image forming process.
As for a charging member used in the above-described image forming apparatus, a charging-by-contact type is widely used in which the charging member contacts the surface of the image carrier so that the surface of the image carrier is charged. There is a problem such that during usage of the charging member, adherent substances such as residual toners on the surface of the image carrier, toners deteriorated due to oxidized gas generated by the electrical discharge of the charging member and toner constituent substances or the like adhere to the surface of the charging member so that the charging member is smeared. Therefore, in order to remove these adherent substances, the cleaning member is disposed on the surface of the charging member. However, the cleaning member becomes smeared over time by the adherent substances removed from the charging member by the cleaning member so that cleaning capabilities of the cleaning member decrease. Therefore, electrical discharge irregularities are generated by the adherent substances adhered to the charging member and there is a problem such that abnormal images are generated.
Consequently, a charging-by-noncontact type charging member to charge the surface of the image carrier is gradually adopted in the above-described image forming apparatus in which the charging member is disposed to be in close contact with the image carrier with a certain space (minute gap) maintained between the charging member and the image carrier. In a case where the charging-by-noncontact type charging member is used, the charging member is not in direct contact with the image carrier so that it becomes difficult for the surface of the charging member to be tainted. Therefore, the charging-by-noncontact type charging member can have a longer life than the charging-by-contact type charging member.
As for the charging-by-noncontact type charging member, a minute gap is formed between the image carrier and the charging member and the minute gap is approximately equal to or less than 100 μm. Therefore, if a foreign substance such as a dust particle larger than the minute gap becomes trapped in the minute gap, there is a problem of generating an abnormal image caused by a poor electrification. In particular, in a part where the foreign substance is adhered, there is a problem of generating a black spotty image due to a low charged potential. In a charging member, a high AC (alternating-current) voltage is applied superimposedly to a DC (direct-current) voltage, therefore it is necessary for the charging member to have electrical conductivity. In addition, high voltage is applied to the charging member, and therefore a partial abnormal electrical discharge easily occurs due to a leak. In order to reduce the above-described abnormal electrical discharge, it is more preferable to use an ion-conductive charging member to which a conductive additive such as an electrolyte salt as a quaternary ammonium salt is added and a charging member made from an epichlorohydrin rubber having electrical conductivity than to use an electron-conductive charging member to which a conductive additive such as a carbon black is added.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional diagram of a conventional charging member. As illustrated in FIG. 9, a conventional charging member 112 has an electrically-conductive support 112c, an electrical resistance adjustment layer 112b provided on the electrically-conductive support 112c, and a surface layer 112a provided on the electrical resistance adjustment layer 112b (see Japanese patent application publication number 2008-111872). In the conventional charging member 112, the surface layer 112a is formed of an ion-conductive material, and the surface layer 112a is soft and has a high coefficient of friction. Therefore, when a foreign substance becomes trapped in a minute gap between the charging member 112 and an image carrier, the foreign substance is buried (adhered) in a surface of the charging member 112, because the surface of the image carrier is hard and has a low coefficient of friction. And therefore there is a problem such that even a cleaning member which is in contact with the charging member is not able to remove the foreign substance. Consequently, a technique such that a powdered solid lubricant is applied to the surface of the charging member and coefficient of friction of the surface of the charging member is decreased and thereby the foreign substance adhering to the surface of the charging member is prevented is disclosed in Japanese patent application publication number 2009-42550, and thereby some preventive effects are obtained, however it is not sufficient to prevent the foreign substance from adhering to the surface of the charging member. This is because a hardness of the surface layer of the charging member is lower than that of the surface layer of the image carrier, and therefore the foreign substance is pushed to a side of the charging member and the foreign substance is buried in the surface of the charging member and it is not possible for even the cleaning member to remove the foreign substance.

Charging member, charging device including the charging member, process cartridge including the charging device and image forming apparatus including the process cartridge


A speaker grill has a size and a shape that can be determined regardless of a size of a speaker body disposed inside a vehicle seatback. In the seatback, a speaker is secured to a speaker bracket. A flexible urethane segment and a cover, each of which includes an opening, are disposed on the front side of the seatback. A rigid urethane segment is disposed on a wall of the opening to surround the opening. A speaker grille over a front surface of the speaker is firmly inserted in the rigid urethane segment.

Vehicle seats including speakers embedded in seatbacks (backrests) have been known.
JP 2005-323798A discloses a seatback in which a housing of a speaker is embedded in a space formed in a pad of the seatback. The housing is attached to a frame of the seatback. A speaker grille for protecting the speaker is attached from the front side of the seatback. The speaker grille includes claws that are inserted into claw holes formed in the housing around the speaker body to secure the speaker grille.
JP 2006-026045A discloses a structure in which a speaker is embedded in an opening of a pad of a seatback, and a cushion that transmits audio is provided in front of the speaker.


This invention relates generally to an arched one-piece wheeled support chassis fixedly attached to a bag or container. The main body of the wheeled support chassis is arched or curved inwards from back to front and upwards from bottom to top. The curvilinear architecture of the wheeled support chassis provides for substantial strength and rigidity to support a bag or container and its contents while allowing the wheeled support chassis to be both thin and lightweight.

Many devices exist that enable a bag or container to be wheeled or pulled along the ground or floor. Such devices enable the user to easily move or transport the bag without having to carry the bag, allowing the user to more easily move a loaded container. Furthermore, bags such as sports equipment bag exist that incorporate wheeled frames and rigid support structures.
Baseball equipment bags have become more sophisticated with time. The early prior art bags were typically an elongated duffel or roll-type bag having a zippered opening and an elongated storage compartment for storing the player's equipment. This type of bag is popular because of its soft-sided feature which makes it easy to store and transport. The player's equipment typically includes at a minimum a bat, a ball glove, one or more balls, a cap, and playing shoes. Many players will also carry additional equipment, as for example a batting glove, glasses, a scorebook or pine tar, to name but a few. Additionally, it may be desirable to carry the player's shirt, pants and a towel in the bag for convenience. Thus, a variety of items may typically be carried in the player's bag. The plain elongated duffel or roll-type bag with one elongated compartment is not suited to carry multiple pieces of equipment, many of which may be large, ungainly, or heavy. Existing roll-type bag may have wheel frames that consist of a rectangular shape with wheels mounted on the left and right sides of the frame, possibly just inside the left and right sides.
The problem with existing roll-type bags is that they are unable to support the weight of a player's equipment and the bottoms of the bags often bow or sag, causing the bottom of the bag to be dragged through dirt, water, or mud. The bowing also causes the bag to quickly wear out from the friction of being dragged along rough surfaces. An additional problem with existing roll-type bags is that sagging caused by heavy equipment puts undue strain on the wheels and axles from the bowing or cambering that results from a heavy equipment load, causing premature failure of the wheels and axles. Bowing or cambering of the wheels also causes them to fall out of alignment, drastically shortening the life span decreasing their efficiency and making pulling or wheeling the bag increasingly difficult.
Existing roll-type bags also have a problem with ground clearance. The bag often extends down between the wheels and axles, leaving only an inch or less between the bottom of the bag and the ground. This causes the bottom of the bag to drag, catch, or snag on even small obstacles which may cause damage to the bag or may cause the user to trip or stumble. There exists a need in the art for a bag that has a strong, lightweight wheel chassis that supports the bag and prevents bowing, provides for adequate ground clearance, and keeps the wheels and axles in line.


A liquid and solid dispenser apparatus and method having a motor, a timer, a feed dispenser and a scent dispenser. The liquid dispenser of one embodiment utilizes suction created on the hollow motor shaft and a hollow shaft extension, extending into a scent dispenser filled with scent, once the outlets begin to spin by way of operation of the motor and the motor shaft, so that centrifugal force dispenses scent from the outlets and draws the fluid through the shaft. As a result, scent is deposited on feed which are both dispersed at the same time. Another embodiment utilizes a torus shaped ring for containing scent attached to the top of the motor shaft, thereby eliminating the shaft extension. As the torus shaped dispenser is rotated the scent is mixed and is dispersed through flow plugs. Depending on the size of the removable attachable flow plugs used, more or less scent can be disbursed by this method. This embodiment has the advantage of creating a vacuum inside the dispenser that sucks air back into it and cleans the plugs once the operating cycle is completed. A further embodiment utilizes wicks instead of flow plugs so that scent is dispensed immediately upon rotation and additionally, when not rotating, scent in small amounts is dispensed on a continuous basis.

This invention relates to an improved liquid and solid dispenser apparatus and method.
For years deer hunters have had a persistent challenge of luring the elusive mature buck to a wildlife feeder at feeding time. If the hunter adjusts his wildlife feeder to broadcast early morning and late afternoon, which is the normal feed time for deer, he will probably have a good chance of seeing deer. The mature bucks will often feed at night or not at all from the "wildlife feeder" if they sense the presence of man in their habitat. However, during deer mating (rutting) season a buck will follow his primal instincts and chase a doe, if he smells her scent, and not worry about his own safety.
Both manual and automatically driven feed dispensers have been known in the art for quite some time. The application of scent in the area of the feed and on the feed itself is also known. An example of a wild life feeder is disclosed in Wentworth, U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,701 which utilizes an elongated rod to control the dispensing of feed and which prohibits the dispensing of the entire feed supply when the activating device is maintained in one position. Automatic feeding devices for animals are also known in the art as exemplified by Crippen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,742,913, North, U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,404, and Ruth, U.S. Pat. No. 3,678,902. Each of these patents utilize timers to activate the feeders intermittently. Crippen discloses a rotating turntable having a cone-shaped dispersing means centrally thereof positioned underneath the compartment containing feed to receive feed discharged from the container and to distribute the feed outwardly 6 to a feed trough surrounding the turntable. Ruth discloses a timed animal feeder which is responsive to sunrise and sunset in which feed slides out a shoot in response to the operation of the timer. Ruth also discloses a water container with a spigot for dispensing water at the same time grain is dispensed.
Other feeders that also water or add moisture to feed are also known in the art as exemplified by Cawecki, U.S. Pat. No. 3,527,191 and Geerlings, U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,081. Cawecki discloses an automatic, stable, pet feeding and watering device that dispenses food and water at pre-determined intervals, and that is stable against being accidentally turned over by the feeding pet. Geerlings discloses a feeder for supplying feed for animals and for adding moisture thereto without excess and thereafter removing the moist feed from the moistening area and depositing the same in a feeding area for consumption by the animals with or without additional moisture added.
A drawback to the feeders known in the art is that no provision is made for the addition of a lure to attract animals to the feed. None add a scent to the feed that is distributed and those that dispense water along with the feed would be ill equipped to provide the scent to those mechanically complicated dispensing mechanisms should this new use be attempted. In this regard, the metering devices known to the art are mechanically complicated and are neither self metering nor self-cleaning. Thus, there is a need in the art for providing a simultaneous scent and feed dispenser which automatically dispenses scent through a mechanically simple self metering, self cleaning valve so that a lure enhancement is added to the feed at the time feed is dispensed. It, therefore is an object of this invention to provide an improved feeding mechanism, such as the wild life feeder, for simultaneously adding a lure enhancement as the feed is dispensed.

Liquid and solid dispenser apparatus and method


Disposed in a single integrated circuit chip are a central processing unit (CPU) for performing instruction execution, an on-screen display (OSD) circuit for displaying character information on a display screen, a read only memory (ROM) which is arbitrarily divided into a first ROM storage space for use by the CPU and a second ROM storage space for use by the OSD circuit, a random access memory (RAM) which is arbitrarily divided into a first RAM storage space for use by the CPU and a second RAM storage space for use by the OSD circuit, and a common bus which is composed of a data bus and an address bus. The CPU, the OSD circuit, the ROM, and the RAM are connected to the common bus in such a way as to allow the CPU and the OSD circuit to acquire an exclusive right to use the ROM and the RAM. When the common bus is not in use by the CPU, a message that said common bus is made available to the OSD circuit is communicated from the CPU to the OSD circuit via a bus liberation signal line, and the OSD circuit obtains a right to use the common bus.

This invention relates to a microcomputer with a built in character display circuit (hereinafter called the OSD (onscreen display) circuit) for displaying character information on a display screen, and to a visual display unit that employs such a microcomputer.
In order to achieve improvements in device operability and to display various information, AV (audio/video) devices, such as television receivers and video cassette recorders, contain a microcomputer with an OSD capability to display character information on a display screen (e.g., a CRT display and an LCD (liquid crystal display)).
A typical conventional microcomputer with a built in OSD circuit is described. Generally, such a conventional microcomputer comprises a CPU (central processing unit) for executing instructions, a ROM (read only memory) for storing CPU instructions, a RAM (random access memory) which stores CPU data or serves as a stack region, an OSD circuit for displaying character information on a display screen, a ROM for storing font data of characters, and a RAM for storing character information including (i) character codes representing the characters and (ii) attribute data of the characters such as character size data and character color data. In such a conventional microcomputer architecture, the CPU requires its own ROM and RAM while the OSD circuit also requires its own ROM and RAM. This results in an increase in chip area. Another problem is that since ROMs and RAMs necessary for CPUs are different in storage capacity from ROMs and RAMs necessary for OSD circuits with respect to the grade of AV devices, to the destination thereof, and to required OSD capabilities, numerous types of products are required to be prepared when trying to achieve an optimal design according to various specifications.

Microcomputer with a built in character display circuit and visual display unit using such a microcomputer

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A protection switch circuit includes: an input terminal configured to receive a DC input voltage; an output terminal; a switch provided between the input terminal and the output terminal; a determination circuit configured to compare the input voltage with N threshold voltages (N is a natural number); and a gate controller configured to control the switch based on a comparison result of the determination circuit, wherein the determination circuit includes: an OTPROM (One Time Programmable Read Only Memory) to which N pieces of setting data indicative of each of the N threshold voltages are written under software control, and a comparison circuit configured to compare the input voltage with each of the N threshold voltages according to the N pieces of the setting data written to the OTPROM.

When a DC voltage is supplied into one terminal (e.g., an input terminal), it may be desired to switch states between the one terminal and another terminal (e.g., an output terminal) from an electrically-conductive state to a cut-off state, based on a voltage level of the DC voltage. In such applications, a protection switch circuit is used. FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a protection switch circuit that the present inventors have studied.
A protection switch circuit 100r has an input (IN) terminal and an output (OUT) terminal. If an input voltage VIN input to the IN terminal falls within a predetermined voltage range, a state between the IN terminal and the OUT terminal of the protection switch circuit 100r becomes conductive. The protection switch circuit 100r includes a switch 102, a gate controller 104, an overvoltage protection (OVP) circuit 110a, and an undervoltage lockout circuit 110b.
The switch 102 is provided between the IN terminal and the OUT terminal. The overvoltage protection circuit 110a compares the input voltage VIN with a threshold VOVP for overvoltage protection. The threshold VOVP corresponds to an upper limit of a voltage range. The undervoltage lockout circuit 110b compares the input voltage VIN with a threshold VUVLO for undervoltage lockout. The threshold VUVLO corresponds to a lower limit of the voltage range. The gate controller 104 turns on the switch 102 if VUVLO<VIN<VOVP or turns off the switch 102 if VIN<VUVLO or VOVP<VIN, according to outputs from the overvoltage protection circuit 110a and the undervoltage lockout circuit 110b.
In the protection switch circuit 100r of FIG. 1, it may be desired to adjust the thresholds VUVLO and VOVP. In a system where a power supply voltage, in addition to the input voltage VIN, is constantly supplied to the protection switch circuit 100r, the thresholds VUVLO and VOVP may be adjusted, since the protection switch circuit 100r includes built-in registers to store setting data indicative of the thresholds VUVLO and VOVP so that the setting data may be written to the built-in registers by an external processor.
However, in another system where an input voltage VIN is used as a power supply voltage of protection switch circuits 100r, it is not possible to read from or write to registers if the input voltage VIN is not supplied to the protection switch circuits 100r. In such a system, an adjusting method of the thresholds VUVLO and VOVP by hardware processing is adopted. A fuse-trimming by laser cutting, a zapping by fusing the aluminum wiring by an electric current or the like are examples of hardware processing.
Such hardware processing causes the manufacturing cost of a protection switch circuit 100r to increase. In addition, since the hardware processing may be performed only during the manufacturing process of the protection switch circuit 100r, a user of the protection switch circuits 100r, in other words, a manufacturer of a set apparatus equipped with the protection switch circuit 100r may not adjust the thresholds.

Protection switch circuit, charging circuit, and electronic device


An apparatus for controlling a fluid flow rate in a fluid transport line of a medical device, including at least a first pump, at least a chamber for collecting the fluid, at least a sensor for providing a first value correlated to the amount of fluid in the chamber, and a control device configured for receiving a second value representative of the fluid flow rate through the first pump and for correlating the second value with the first value to obtain an accuracy check of the second value. A method for controlling a fluid flow rate in a fluid transport line of a medical device including pumping a fluid, collecting the fluid in a chamber, sensing a first value correlated to the amount of fluid in the chamber, and detecting and sending a second value representative of the fluid flow rate through the first pump to a control device, sending the first value to the control device, and correlating the second value with the first value to obtain an accuracy check.

As it is known in the art, patients suffering from kidney failure or renal insufficiency, or patients suffering of particular pathologies should be submitted to specific treatments. More in detail, it is known to treat blood in an extracorporeal circuit in order to carry out ultrafiltration, haemodialysis, haemofiltration, haemodiafiltration, plasmapheresis, blood component separation, blood oxygenation, etc.
Extracorporeal blood treatment means taking the blood from a patient, treating the blood outside the patient, and returning the treated blood to the patient. Normally, blood is removed from a blood vessel, sent into a withdrawal line of an extracorporeal circuit, passed through a blood-treating unit and returned to another or to the same blood vessel.
Extracorporeal blood treatment is typically used to extract undesirable matter or molecules from the patient's blood, and/or to add beneficial matter or molecules, to the blood. Extracorporeal blood treatment is used with patients incapable of effectively eliminating matter from their blood, for example in the case of a patient who is suffering from temporary or permanent kidney failure. These and other patients may undergo extracorporeal blood treatment to add to or to eliminate matter from their blood, to maintain an acid-base balance or to eliminate excess body fluids, for instance. Extracorporeal blood treatment is typically performed by sampling the patient's blood in a continuous flow, by introducing the blood into a primary chamber of a blood-treating unit in which the blood goes through a semi-permeable membrane. The semi-permeable membrane selectively lets the unwanted matter contained in the blood pass through the membrane, from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber, and also selectively lets the beneficial matter contained in the liquid going into the secondary chamber pass through the membrane to the blood going into the primary chamber, according to the type of treatment.
A number of extracorporeal blood treatments may be performed by the same machine. In ultrafiltration (UF) treatment, the unwanted matter is eliminated from the blood by convection through the membrane in the secondary chamber.
In haemofiltration (HF) treatment, the blood runs through the semipermeable membrane as in UF, and the beneficial matter is added to the blood, typically by the introduction of a fluid into the blood, either before, or after its passage through the blood-treating unit and before it is returned to the patient. In haemodialysis (HD) treatment, a secondary fluid containing the beneficial matter is introduced into the filter's secondary chamber. The blood's unwanted matter crosses the semi-permeable membrane and penetrates into the secondary fluid, and the beneficial matter of the secondary fluid may cross the membrane and penetrate into the blood.
In haemodiafiltration (HDF) treatment, the blood and the secondary fluid exchange their matter as in HD, and further, matter is added to the blood, typically by introducing a fluid into the treated blood before it is returned to the patient as in HF, and the unwanted matter is also eliminated from the blood by convection.
In each treatment, the secondary fluid goes through the filter's secondary chamber and receives the blood's unwanted matter by means of the membrane. This liquid is then extracted from the filter: it is commonly called waste, and is sent to a drain or to a receptacle then intended to be discharged into a drain.
In fluid transport lines of medical devices, pumps are usually used in order to pump different fluids, such as blood, treatment liquids, waste liquids, along the transport lines. Such pumps may be for example peristaltic pumps, volumetric pumps, piston type pumps, etc. . . . .
Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,950 discloses a method and apparatus for controlling ultra filtration during haemodialysis. Such apparatus comprises a receptacle in fluid communication with a reservoir and a first metering pump provided to withdraw fresh dialysate from the reservoir and deliver it to the receptacle, at a predetermined fixed rate. A second pump is provided to withdraw fresh dialysate from the receptacle and to deliver it to a haemodialyzer. A liquid sensing device is included in the receptacle and the second pump is for example a variable flow pump controllable to adjust the rate of flow of the fresh dialysate towards the haemodialyzer in order to maintain the level or volume of fresh dialysate in the receptacle at a predetermined constant level.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,846 discloses a blood purification system comprising filtrate metering means including a small container with an upper liquid level sensor and a lower liquid level sensor, the container having an inlet channel and an outlet channel provided with a valve. When the container is filled so that the fluid reaches a position above the level where the upper liquid level sensor is located, the valve is opened to discharge the content of the container. When the liquid subsequently reaches a position below the level where the lower liquid level sensor is located, the valve is closed again.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,440,311 discloses a system and method for monitoring a dosage pump in a dialysis machine, in which a second pump is arranged between a dosage pump and a source of fluid and a slave chamber is arranged between the dosage pump and the second pump. A level detector is arranged in the slave chamber to detect when the level of fluid in the slave chamber goes below its level due to a stroke of the piston type dosage pump, and a control arrangement is arranged for activating the second pump when the level is below the level detector. The relationship between the flow from the slave chamber to the dosage pump during its suction stroke and the flow to the slave chamber from the second pump is such that the level in the slave chamber never reaches above the level detector.
Document WO 91/15253, having the features according to the preamble of claim 1, relates to a system for weighing and monitoring a flow from multiple fluid sources into a flow system wherein incoming fluid is received in a weighing bag attached to a control system for monitoring the amount of fluid passed through the same weighing bag. According to what described replacement fluid is sent from replacement fluid containers to a weighing bag by opening a respective clamp. A weight scale measures the fluid contained in the weighing bag after the clamp is closed. A replacement fluid pump is then activated and the weight variation in the weighing bag is used to continuously calibrating the replacement fluid pump to compensate for changes in the resiliency of the tubing set caused, for example, by temperature change.
The known devices suffer generally of one or more of the following problems.
It is to be noted that in known extracorporeal blood treatments the determination of the exact fluid flow rate of the various fluids in the transport lines is a critical aspect, since the amount of liquids passing in the lines is strictly correlated to the quality of the medical treatment. In fact, any imprecision in the fluid rate passing in any of the circuit lines can impair the quality of the medical treatment and may also lead to serious consequences for the health of the patient.
Consequently in known medical devices only pumps having a high level of accuracy and reliability shall be used, and in any case it is difficult to check the accuracy of the actual fluid flow rate passing through the pump.
Indeed the control means of the medical machine usually monitors the pumps and/or the flow rates through sensors.
For example the peristaltic pump speed is monitored (with Hall sensors or the like) and is related to the fluid flow rate in the tube that the pumps is acting on.
In any case the control means cannot check the accuracy of said measure and can not determine any mistake in said measure.
Particularly accuracy is affected by several technical features such as correct coupling between tube and pump, other device elements placed along the tube/line, modification of the working parameters, etc. . . . .

Method and apparatus for controlling a fluid flow rate in a fluid transport line of a medical device


Polyurethane powder coating compositions based on epoxy-terminated polyaddition compounds having uretdione groups, which cure at low baking temperatures, a process for preparing such compositions, and their use for producing plastics, especially polyurethane powder coatings, which crosslink at low baking temperatures to give high-gloss or matt, light-stable and weather-stable coating films.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to polyurethane powder coating compositions based on epoxy-terminated polyaddition compounds containing uretdione groups, which cure at low baking temperatures, to a process for preparing such compositions, and to the use of the compositions for producing plastics, including polyurethane powder coatings, which crosslink at low baking temperatures to give high-gloss or matt, light-stable and weather-stable coating films.
2. Description of the Related Art
Externally or internally blocked polyisocyanates which are solid at room temperature are useful as crosslinkers for thermally crosslinkable polyurethane (PU) powder coating compositions.
Thus, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,380 describes PU powder coatings having outstanding weathering stability and thermal stability. The crosslinkers whose preparation is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,351 are composed of isophorone diisocyanate containing isocyanurate groups blocked with ε-caprolactam. Also known are polyisocyanates containing urethane, biuret or urea groups, the isocyanate groups of these polyisocyanates being likewise blocked.
The drawback of these externally blocked systems lies in the elimination of the blocking agent during the thermal crosslinking reaction. Since the blocking agent may thus be emitted to the environment, it is necessary on environmental and workplace safety grounds to take special precautions in order to clean the outgoing air and/or to recover the blocking agent. Moreover, the reactivity of the crosslinkers is low. Curing temperatures above 170° C. are required.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,154 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,789 describe processes for preparing polyaddition compounds which contain uretdione groups and whose terminal isocyanate groups are blocked irreversibly with monoalcohols or monoamines. A particular drawback are the chain-terminating constituents of the crosslinkers, which lead to low network densities in the PU powder coatings and hence to moderate solvent resistances.
Uretdione powder coating crosslinkers prepared by reacting polyisocyanates containing uretdione groups with diols and ester-containing and/or carbonate-functional chain extenders, or using dimer diols, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,064 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,066, respectively.
Hydroxyl-terminated polyaddition compounds containing uretdione groups are subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 6,613,861. On the basis of their functionality of two they exhibit improved resistance to solvents.
PU powder coatings based on epoxy-terminated polyaddition compounds containing uretdione groups, as are described in EP 1 063 269, possess an even substantially higher chemical resistance.
A feature common to the powder coating compositions based on these polyisocyanates containing uretdione groups is the absence of any emission of volatile compounds during the curing reaction. However the at least 180° C. baking temperatures are high.
The use of amidines as catalysts in PU powder coating compositions is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,044. Although these catalysts do lead to a reduction in the curing temperature, they exhibit considerable yellowing, which is generally undesirable in the coatings sector. The cause of this yellowing is thought to be the reactive nitrogen atoms in the amidines. These are able to react with atmospheric oxygen to form N-oxides, which are responsible for the discoloration.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,044 also mentions other catalysts which have been used to date for this purpose, but without indicating any special effect on the cure temperature. They include the organometallic catalysts known from polyurethane chemistry, such as dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTL), or else tertiary amines, such as 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), for example.
WO 00/34355 claims catalysts based on metal acetyl acetonates: zinc acetyl acetonate, for example. Such catalysts are actually capable of lowering the curing temperature of polyurethane powder coating compositions containing uretdione groups, but their reaction products are principally allophanates (M. Gedan-Smolka, F. Lehmann, D. Lehmann "New catalysts for the low temperature curing of uretdione powder coatings" International Waterborne, High Solids and Powder Coatings Symposium, New Orleans, Feb. 21-23, 2001). Allophanates are the reaction products of one mole of alcohol and two moles of isocyanate, whereas in the conventional urethane chemistry one mole of alcohol reacts with one mole of isocyanate. As a result of the unwanted formation of allophanate, therefore, isocyanate groups valuable both technically and economically are destroyed.
DE 103 20 267, U.S. 2003/0153713, and DE 103 20 266 describe metal hydroxides, metal alkoxides, quaternary ammonium salts with hydroxides, fluorides or carboxylates, which accelerate the unblocking of uretdione groups so greatly that when using powder coating curing agents which contain uretdione groups it is possible to achieve considerable reduction in the cure temperature of powder coating compositions.
Since the activity of these catalysts decreases markedly in the presence of acids, the coatings produced from highly accelerated powder coating compositions of this kind include an acid scavenger. Acid groups are normally present in significant amounts in the polyester polyols employed. Possible examples of acid scavengers used include 2-oxazolines, which are very expensive. It is advantageous, however, to use epoxide compounds. Liquid epoxide compounds, such as diglycidyl ethers based on bisphenol A, for instance, have the drawback that they can only be used in the form of a cost-intensive solid masterbatch. Accordingly particular preference is given to solid epoxide compounds, such as triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC), for instance. The powder coating compositions formulated with TGIC, though, are subject to labeling requirements owing to the toxic potential of TGIC. In conventional TGIC-containing powder coating materials the crosslinking temperature is normally above 180° C.

High-reactivity polyurethane powder coating compositions based on epoxy-terminated polyaddition compounds containing uretdione groups


This invention relates to an anchoring device for use in retaining a railway rail fastening clip, the device comprising a stem for embedding in a rail support member, a head extending from the stem and comprising a generally hook-shaped portion for extending over a portion of the clip to effect retention and terminating at an end apart from the stem, and wherein in use, said end terminates at a sealing plate for bridging the end of the hook-shaped portion and the stem. An associated anchoring device assembly and railway rail fastening assembly are also disclosed.

In railway system construction it is common practice for each rail to be secured to a support member or sleeper using a support plate which is located between a foot of the rail and a supporting surface of the sleeper. Such a support plate may include, for example, a "tie plate" or a "turnout plate". There is also an anchoring device anchored to the sleeper on each side of the rail (hence they are called shoulders) retaining a fastening clip which bears against the foot of the rail.
Anchoring devices suitable for use in anchoring a railway rail fastening clip to a rail foundation are commonly known as shoulders.
Whilst other techniques are used, it is known to manufacture these anchoring devices or shoulders via sand casting of molten metal.
Cast metal parts are generally heavy, and if voids are required to retain the rail fastening clip, and they generally are, then separate cores will be required to form these, adding to the complexity and expense of the casting process.
It is against this background and the problems and difficulties associated therewith that the present invention has been developed.
Certain objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

Anchoring devices for rail fastening clips


An MI sensor element 1 includes a substrate 4 formed of a non-magnetic material, a plurality of magneto-sensitive bodies 2, and a plurality of detecting coils 3. The plurality of magneto-sensitive bodies 2 are formed of an amorphous material, and are fixed on the substrate 4, and are electrically connected to each other. The detecting coils 3 are wound around each of the magneto-sensitive bodies 2, and are electrically connected to each other. The MI sensor element 1 outputs a voltage corresponding to a magnetic field strength acting on the magneto-sensitive bodies 2 from the detecting coil 3 by flowing a pulse current or a high-frequency current to the magneto-sensitive body 2. The plurality of magneto-sensitive bodies 2 are formed by fixing one amorphous wire 20 on the substrate 4, and then cutting the wire.

As a sensor element used in a magnetometric sensor, and the like, a magneto-impedance sensor element, which uses a magneto-sensitive body capable of changing its properties depending on an external magnetic field (hereinafter may be sometimes referred to as "MI sensor element"), are known (see Patent Documents 1 and 2 below).
As shown in FIG. 14, an MI sensor element 91 contains a substrate 94 formed of a non-magnetic material, a magneto-sensitive body 92 which is fixed on the substrate 94 and is formed of the amorphous material, and a detecting coil 93 which is wound around the magneto-sensitive body 92 through an insulator 95.
When a pulse current or a high-frequency current is made to flow into the magneto-sensitive body 92, a voltage corresponding to a magnetic field strength acting on the magneto-sensitive body 92 is output from the detecting coil 93. The magnetic field strength can be detected by measuring this voltage.
In addition, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the MI sensor element 91 is also known which includes a plurality of magneto-sensitive bodies 92 and detecting coils 93 connected in series or in parallel (See Patent Document 1). When detecting coils 93 are connected in series, the strong magnetic field can be detected, and the MI sensor element 91 having a high output voltage can be obtained. In addition, a connection of detecting coils 93 in parallel can decrease a noise generated in the detecting coil 93.

Magneto-impedance sensor element and method for producing the same


A hitch is configured to be attached to a towed vehicle. The hitch includes a mounting bracket and a frame connected to the mounting bracket. The frame has arms extending away from the mounting bracket. The arms surround and define an opening. The arms each have a proximal end connected to the mounting bracket and each arm has a distal end connected to a cross-member. A plate is connected to the cross-member. The plate has a cutout. A support member is connected between the bracket and the frame. The mounting bracket is configured to be attached to a front of the towed vehicle. The front of the towed vehicle has attached weights that are used to counter balance a load on the towed vehicle. The weights are surrounded by the frame and extend into the opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a hitch that is attached to a towed vehicle and more specifically it relates to a hitch for attachment to the front of a tractor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Agricultural tractors are used to perform a wide variety of farm tasks such as plowing, planting, fertilizing and harvesting crops. Construction equipment such as bulldozers, front end loaders and semi-trucks are used in building roads and buildings. Farm land and construction areas are subject to frequent rains that, especially in poorly drained soils, can result in waterlogged fields and mud. Agricultural tractors and construction equipment operating in these conditions can become stuck and not be able to move under their own power. These disabled vehicles require a pull or tow by a towing vehicle in order to move.
One problem with removing the stuck agricultural tractors and construction equipment from their location is that these vehicles are not provided with any equipment that allows attachment to a towing vehicle. Cables and chains can be attached to various parts of the stuck vehicles and connected to a towing vehicle. The use of cables and chains to tow a vehicle creates several problems. First, because the attachment location is not designed for pulling, the force generated by towing can damage parts of the tractor or construction equipment. Second. cables and chains are dangerous for operators to use. The cables and chains can become loose or disconnected or break from the towed vehicle and fly back toward the towing vehicle and the towing vehicle operator.
Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a need for a new and improved tractor hitch.


The present invention provides a fuel stack comprising: a plurality of fuel cell units stacked together in a direction of stacking each of which comprises an electrolyte element, a pair of electrodes holding the electrolyte element therebetween, and a pair of separators holding the electrodes therebetween; a pair of terminal plates each of which is disposed outside an end fuel cell unit located at an end of the stacked fuel cell units; and a terminal element extending outwardly in the direction of stacking from the outside surface of at least one of the terminal plates; wherein the location from which the terminal element extends is located within an area on the terminal plate, corresponding to an area in a passage for an oxidizing gas formed in the end fuel cell unit disposed adjacent to the terminal element where the partial pressure of water vapor is lower than the saturated water vapor pressure. More preferably, the terminal element is disposed as close to the centerline of the terminal plate as possible so that the total electrical resistance of the terminal element and the terminal plate is minimized. By this configuration, an increase in the total electrical resistance and water vapor condensation in the fuel cell units located at the ends of the stack may be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a fuel cell stack, and more particularly relates to a technology which can prevent a degradation in the power generation performance of fuel cell units disposed at both ends of the fuel cell stack.
2. Background Art
A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell unit, as an example of a fuel cell, comprises: a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, i.e., a cation-exchange membrane; an anode electrode and a cathode electrode which together hold the solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween; and a pair of separators which hold the anode and cathode electrodes.
A plurality of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell units are stacked together to form a fuel cell stack for actual usage.
In such a fuel cell stack, hydrogen gas, as an example of a fuel gas supplied to the anode electrode, is ionized on a catalytic electrode, and moves to the cathode electrode through the solid polymer electrolyte membrane which is moderately moistened. The electrons produced during this process are sent to an exterior circuit, and used as DC energy. At the cathode electrode provided with oxygen gas or air, as an example of an oxidizing gas, water is produced through the reaction of the hydrogen ions, the electrons, and oxygen.
When the fuel cell stack is used in a vehicle, specifically in a passenger car, it is typically disposed under the passenger""s compartment; therefore, the height of the fuel cell stack is tightly restricted.
As a measure to minimize the height of a fuel cell stack, a fuel cell stack is known which has an internal manifold structure in which a plurality of fuel cell units are stacked together in the horizontal direction, and each of the separators is provided with communication ports to form supply ports for a fuel gas, an oxidizing gas, and the like when being assembled (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. Hei 8-171926).
An example of a fuel cell stack which has this structure will be explained below with reference to FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, reference symbol 1 indicates a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack 1 is formed with a plurality of fuel cell units 2 stacked together in the horizontal direction. Each of the fuel cell units 2 comprises: a solid polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode electrode and a cathode electrode which together hold the solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween; and a pair of separators which hold the anode and cathode electrodes. Communication ports (not shown) allowing a fuel gas, an oxidizing gas, and a cooling fluid to flow therein are formed in each of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode as through holes; thus, internal manifolds are formed when being assembled.
Each of the fuel cell units 2 is fastened to the others by stud bolts 4.
A fastening structure 5 including coned disc springs or the like is provided at one end of the fuel cell stack 1, in the direction of stacking, and another fastening structure 6 including washers or the like is provided at the other end thereof By means of these fastening structures, the required fastening force is applied to each of the fuel cell units 2 each of which forms a power generation part.
Fuel cell units 2a and 2b located at the ends of the fuel cell stack 1, in the direction of stacking, are provided with terminal plates 7 made of copper which contact their outside surfaces. Each of the fastening structures 5 and 6 is disposed outside each of the terminal plates 7 with an insulation plate 8 therebetween.
A terminal element 9 for outputting electric power extends from the upper portion of each of the terminal plates 7, is bent at a point, and further extends toward the end of the fuel cell stack 1.
Although the fuel cell stack 1 formed as described above is superior in that its height can be minimized as compared to the case in which external manifolds are provided, the space around the fuel cell stack 1 is limited because the terminal elements 9 vertically extend from the fuel cell stack 1.
In addition, because the terminal elements 9 are located near the periphery of the terminal plates 7, the electric resistance tends to be greater as compared to the case in which the terminal elements 9 are located near the centerline of the terminal plates 7.
In order to overcome the above problem, i.e., to minimize the space occupied by a fuel cell stack in both the direction of stacking and the height while maintaining power efficiency, a configuration, hereinafter referred to as modified structure, in which the terminal elements extend in the direction of stacking may be adopted as an example.
However, the modified structure contains a problem, as will be further explained below, due to significant heat dissipation from the terminal plates 7 contacting the fuel cell units 2a and 2b, specifically, significant heat dissipation at the locations from which the terminal elements extend.
FIG. 8 is a graph schematically showing an example of the relationship between the saturated water vapor pressure and the partial pressure of water vapor in the passage for the oxidizing gas, in which the dot-dash line indicates the partial pressure of water vapor, the broken line indicates the saturated water vapor pressure when the terminal plate 7 exhibits a uniform temperature distribution over its surface, and the solid line indicates the saturated water vapor pressure when the terminal element 9 is disposed on the terminal plate 7 so as to be closer to the exhaust end of the passage for the oxidizing gas than to the centerline of the terminal plate 7, which corresponds to the modified structure mentioned above.
FIG. 8 shows that water vapor may more likely be condensed at a location near the exhaust end of the passage for the oxidizing gas than other locations because the partial pressure of water vapor gradually increases toward the saturated water vapor pressure curve as the exhaust end along the passage for the oxidizing gas is approached.
As shown in FIG. 8, in the modified structure, water vapor may more likely be condensed at the location corresponding to the terminal element 9 because the saturated water vapor pressure, which is determined merely depending on temperature, locally decreases around the location corresponding to the terminal element 9.
When the saturated water vapor pressure becomes lower than the partial pressure of water vapor, water vapor condenses, and the condensed water covers the electrode""s reaction surface as a water film. The water film inhibits the electrode""s reaction surface from being supplied with sufficient oxidizing gas, which results in degrading of the power generation performance in the fuel cell units 2a and 2b.
On the other hand, the above problem due to the condensed water may be prevented by disposing the terminal element 9 at a location far from the exhaust end of the passage for the oxidizing gas; however, as shown in FIG. 9, the electric resistance is increased as the terminal element 9 is disposed farther from the centerline of the terminal plate 7.
Based on the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell stack in which condensation of water vapor due to a local temperature drop in the end fuel cell units is prevented and the power generation performance of these fuel cell units is effectively maintained while preventing an increase in electric resistance.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following.
A fuel stack (e.g., a fuel cell stack 11 in the embodiments) according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: a plurality of fuel cell units (e.g., fuel cell units 15) stacked together in a direction of stacking each of which comprises an electrolyte element (e.g., a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 12), a pair of electrodes (e.g., an anode electrode 13 and a cathode electrode 14) holding the electrolyte element therebetween, and a pair of separators (e.g., separators 16 and 17) holding the electrodes therebetween; a pair of terminal plates (e.g., terminal plates 21) each of which is disposed outside an end fuel cell unit (e.g., end fuel cell units 15a and 15b) located at an end of the stacked fuel cell units; and a terminal element (e.g., a terminal element 36) extending outwardly in the direction of stacking from the outside surface of at least one of the terminal plates; wherein a location from which the terminal element extends is located within an area on the terminal plate, corresponding to an area in a passage for an oxidizing gas (e.g., a passage 19 for an oxidizing gas) formed in the end fuel cell unit disposed adjacent to the terminal element where the partial pressure of water vapor is lower than the saturated water vapor pressure.
In the fuel cell stack which has the above structure, condensation of water vapor due to a local reduction in the saturated water vapor pressure at the location corresponding to the terminal element may be prevented.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fuel cell stack according to the first aspect, the location from which the terminal element extends is set within the area on the terminal plate so that the total electrical resistance of the terminal element and the terminal plate is minimized.
In the fuel cell stack which has the above structure, condensation of water vapor due to a local reduction in the saturated water vapor pressure at the location corresponding to the terminal element may be prevented, and an increase in electric resistance due to disposition of the terminal element away from the centerline of the terminal plate may also be prevented.
A fuel stack (e.g., the fuel cell stack 11 in the embodiments) according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises: a plurality of fuel cell units (e.g., the fuel cell units 15) stacked together in a direction of stacking each of which comprises an electrolyte element (e.g., the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 12), a pair of electrodes (e.g., the anode electrode 13 and the cathode electrode 14) holding the electrolyte element therebetween, and a pair of rectangular separators (e.g., the separators 16 and 17) holding the electrodes therebetween each of which includes an oxidizing gas exhaust communication port located adjacent to the short side of the rectangular separator; a pair of rectangular terminal plates (e.g., the terminal plates 21) each of which is disposed outside an end fuel cell unit (e.g., the end fuel cell units 15a and 15b) located at an end of the stacked fuel cells; and a terminal element (e.g., the terminal element 36) extending outwardly in the direction of stacking from the outside surface of at least one of the rectangular terminal plates; wherein a location from which the terminal element extends is located farther from the oxidizing gas exhaust communication port than is the centerline of the long side of the rectangular terminal plate.
In the fuel cell stack which has the above structure, because the terminal element is located at a location where the difference between the saturated water vapor pressure and the partial pressure of water vapor is large, condensation of water vapor due to a local reduction in the saturated water vapor pressure at the location corresponding to the terminal element may be prevented.

Fuel cell stack having terminal element located at specified location


A loop element for a hook-and-loop fastener has a substrate layer of a nonwoven having an outer face, a fleece cover layer on the outer face of the substrate layer, and an adhesive layer on the outer face securing the cover layer to the substrate layer. A multiplicity of loops formed of polymer threads are knitted into only the cover layer and project from an outer face thereof.

A laminate element, typically a strip or tape, for a hook and loop fastener, particularly for a diaper, has a substrate layer and a textile cover layer laminated onto the substrate layer. The cover layer has free loops for engagement of hook elements of the other fastener half, that is the hook tape or strip. This cover layer typically consists of a nonwoven material and polymer threads knitted into it and forming the loops.
The laminate forms the female part of a hook and loop fastener. When used on diapers, the laminate is applied to the front waistband region of the diaper. A hook tape, which is attached at the side of the diaper and has hooks at its free end, completes the hook-and-loop fastener. Hook-and-loop fasteners can be opened and closed many times without any deterioration of functionality. In contrast to adhesive fasteners, hook-and-loop fasteners are not sensitive to contact with skin creams or powder.
Various demands are made on a laminate for a hook-and-loop fastener on a disposable product, for example baby diapers. The material is supposed to have as low a weight per area unit as possible so that it can be produced inexpensively. In spite of its low weight per area unit, the material must guarantee sufficient hook engagement with hooks of the related hook tape. A sufficient number of freely movable loops is required, whose function is not allowed to be impaired by adhesion of the substrate layer to the textile cover layer. Last but not least, the material is supposed to have an appearance that appeals to the consumer.
A laminate having the characteristics described above is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,600, where a multi-layer nonwoven laminate is provided as the textile cover layer, and where textured polymer threads are knitted into the entire nonwoven laminate to form the loops. In order to achieve a good printing surface and adhesive surface, the cover layer can optionally be laminated onto a film as a substrate layer, onto which film the print or the adhesive layer is then applied. If, according to an alternative embodiment, no substrate layer is provided, there is the disadvantage that the nonwoven laminate must have a comparatively great thickness in order to guarantee sufficient strength. If the nonwoven laminate material with the polymer threads knitted into it is supposed to be used as a substrate layer without a film, the nonwoven laminate can be provided with an adhesive on an outside layer, in order to allow attachment of the laminate, for example on a diaper. In this connection, the opposite side can be provided with an print. It is disadvantageous that the print, which then lies on the outside after attachment by the adhesive, can easily be rubbed off. In particular, undesirable contamination can occur when the laminate is used. Furthermore, because of the loops that project out of the nonwoven laminate on the one hand and the low weight per area unit that is usually aimed at for cost reasons on the other hand, a uniform print is not possible, or only possible with difficulty.
DE 10 2006 028 377 describes a textile laminate material having a substrate layer and a cover layer that are stitched together. The sewing forms loops for the engagement of hook elements on the top of the laminate material and stitches on the underside of the laminate material. The substrate layer and the cover layer can consist of nonwoven materials. Compromises have to be made with regard to the hook-and-loop properties and laminate strength, since in a warp-knitting process with the same sewing threads not only are free loops formed but also the layers are connected with one another.


An object of the present invention is to secure safe driving of electric vehicles by enabling torque control regardless of sensor disorder. In the present invention, the mode of current sensor disorder is detected by a sensor disorder detection means. If it is found as a result that only 1 out of 3 current sensors is failing, the current of the failing current sensor is estimated by 2 normal current sensors and the torque control of the motor is continued by the ordinary torque control system. If 2 or more current sensors are found to be failing, a torque control system based on an AC current reference operation means is formed to control the motor torque based on the AC current reference. If a sensor failure detection means determines that only 1 phase is failing in the speed sensor, the motor torque is controlled by using the remaining 1 phase to detect the rotating angular speed of the motor. If all speed sensors are failing but the current sensors are normal, the motor torque is controlled by estimating the motor torque from the 3 phase AC current. If both the current sensors and the speed sensors are found to be failing, the motor torque is controlled based on the estimated torque control and rotating angular speed to continue the driving that is needed to avoid dangerous situations.

In general, an electric vehicle is comprised of a battery for supplying electric power, a PWM inverter for converting DC power of that battery into AC power of variable voltage and variable frequency, a 3 phase AC motor, a speed sensor installed on that 3 phase AC motor, a drive system comprised of several current sensors for detecting current that flows through the winding of that 3 phase AC motor, a torque reference operation means that determines torque reference of the 3 phase AC motor based on accelerator opening, an AC current reference operation means that determines the size and phase of current flowing through the winding of the 3 phase AC motor based on that torque reference and the rotating angular speed, a current control means that determines AC voltage reference so that the 3 phase AC current will follow that AC voltage reference, and a PWM signal generation means that determines the gate signal applied to the PWM inverter based on that AC voltage reference.
Generally, the configuration of a torque control system for the electric vehicle is based on the torque reference which is dispatched from the driver via the accelerator opening, electric current which is detected from the electric current sensor and the rotating angular speed which is detected by the speed sensor. For this reason, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 3-277101, safety during motion was secured by introducing a double sensor system so that one can switch to the other sensor in the event one sensor fails, thereby driving the motor based on information obtained from this auxiliary sensor.
As shown above, while reliability of sensing itself is improved by introducing a multiple sensor system, reliability of the control system as a whole is not necessarily improved owing to increase in cables and connector terminals for taking in the detected information.
Further, there are cases where other sensors in a multiple sensor system that are supposed to serve as the back-up also fail depending on the cause of failure. In these cases, there was a problem of possible danger that occurred when switching to an auxiliary means.

Failure detection method for electric vehicles and fail-safe control method using this method


A heating and cooling apparatus is provided which employs a series of thermally conductive plates thermally coupled to heating and cooling devices to heat or cool a mounting plate loaded with semiconductor devices. The mounting plate is assembled on a heating plate, which is then assembled on a cooling plate. The heating plate includes upper and lower plates with a heater therebetween which can heat the heating plate to a desired temperature, which in turn heats the mounting plate and the semiconductor devices. The cooling plate has xe2x80x98Sxe2x80x99 shaped flow grooves formed throughout. When cooling fluid is flowed through the flow grooves, the cooling plate is cooled, which cools the heating plate, which in turn cools the mounting plate and the semiconductor devices.

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application No. P2001-80157 filed on Dec. 17, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for heating and cooling a semiconductor device in a handler for testing the semiconductor device, and more particularly, to an apparatus for heating and cooling a semiconductor device in a handler for testing the semiconductor device, in which the semiconductor device is made to a desired temperature state of high temperature or low temperature within a single apparatus to thereby allow an operator to test the semiconductor device under a desired temperature.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, the handler is an apparatus for testing semiconductor devices. While semiconductor devices loaded into trays are automatically transferred between processes using an apparatus for transferring semiconductor devices, the semiconductor devices are installed in a test socket of a test site and then a desired test is performed. After the test, the semiconductor devices are classified into several grades according to the test results, and processes of a gain unloading them into the trays are repeatedly performed.
In these days, as the environments to which semiconductor devices are applied are manifold, it is requested that the semiconductor devices should perform their inherent functions stably at an environment of a specific temperature such as high temperature or low temperature as well as room temperature. To this end, it is requested that the horizontal handlers should create a user-desired specific environment to test the performance of the semiconductor devices at a predetermined temperature within itself.
In the conventional handler, multiple chambers are installed adjacent to each other, and heater, blower and liquefied nitrogen injection system are installed in these chambers. After creating an environment of high temperature or low temperature, the handler transfers test trays in which semiconductor devices are loaded from one chamber to another chamber to test the semiconductor devices under a desired temperature condition using various methods.
Then, the conventional temperature test method for semiconductor devices, in which the chambers enabling to create a specific test environment are installed in the handler, has an advantage in that mass of semiconductor devices can be tested, but it also has a disadvantage in that the construction of the chambers is complicated and the costs for the test are very high.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for heating and cooling a semiconductor device in a handler for testing the semiconductor device that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for heating and cooling a semiconductor device in a handler for testing the semiconductor device, in which the semiconductor device is precisely made to a desired temperature state of high temperature or low temperature by a simple structure.
Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided an apparatus for heating and cooling a semiconductor device in a handler for testing the semiconductor device. The apparatus includes: a thermal conductive mounting plate having a plurality of seating recesses on which the semiconductor devices are mounted; a thermal conductive heating plate installed adjacent to a lower side of the mounting plate and having at least one heater installed therein, for transferring heat to the mounting plate; a thermal conductive cooling plate installed adjacent to a lower side of the heating plate on a main body of the handler and having a flow groove such that a cooling fluid fed from an external cooling fluid supply source flows and then is exhausted to an outside; a heating control means for controlling heat irradiated from the heater of the heating plate to control heating temperature of the mounting plate; and a cooling control means for controlling amount of the cooling fluid fed to the cooling plate to control cooling temperature of the mounting plate.
In an aspect of the invention, the heating control means comprises a heater controller for controlling calorific value of the heater of the heating plate, and a temperature sensor sensing temperature of the mounting place to transfer the sensed temperature to the heater controller.
Also, in an aspect of the invention, the cooling control means comprises: a solenoid valve connected to an inlet of the flow groove of the cooling plate, for controlling the supply of the cooling fluid from the cooling fluid supply source; a valve controller for controlling operation of the solenoid valve; and a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the cooling plate to transfer the sensed temperature to the temperature sensor.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Apparatus for heating and cooling semiconductor device in handler for testing semiconductor device