An exposure control system includes (a) a first detecting unit for detecting the original image density of an original document and producing a first signal variable with the detected original image density, (b) a control unit for regulating the quantity of light with which the image-carrying document is to be irradiated by the exposure lamp, the quantity of light being regulated on the basis of the signal from the first detecting unit, (c) a reference pattern located to be irradiated with light from the exposure lamp, (d) a second detecting unit for detecting the visualized image density of the reference pattern and producing a second signal variable with the detecting visualized image density, (e) a modifying unit for modifying the quantity of the light from the exposure lamp so that the value represented by the second signal falls within a predetermined range, and (f) a correcting unit for correcting the quantity of light controlled by the control unit, so that the controlled quantity of light is corrected by the correcting unit on the basis of the second signal from the second detecting unit and the quantity of light dictated by the second signal.

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the visible-image transfer type, a beam of light carrying image information picked up from a given original document sheet is projected onto the photosensitive peripheral surface of a rotating image-transfer drum to produce electrostatic latent images corresponding to the image information. The latent images thus produced on the photosensitive peripheral surface of the image-transfer drum are developed into visible images on a suitable record medium with the agency of toner particles. An image forming apparatus of this type ordinarily has a control system for controlling the density to which images are to be reproduced or printed on a record medium The density of the images to be printed on a record medium can be regulated by controlling the quantity of the toner particles in the developing unit, the bias voltage to be applied to the developing sleeve of the unit, and/or the exposure volume with which the document sheet is to be optically scanned. Examples of such an image density control system are taught in Japanese Provisional Patent Publications (Kokai's) No. 58-23043 (Prior Art "I"), No. 60-133475 (Prior Art "II"), No. 60-146256 (Prior Art i "III"), No. 60-260072 (Prior Art "IV"), and No. 60-119580 (Prior Art "V"). Each of the systems of Prior Art "I" to "IV" depends for its operation on the detection of the density of the visible toner images produced on the photosensitive peripheral surface of the image-transfer drum to control some operational parameters used for the development of latent images into visible ones and the irradiation of an original document sheet. The parameters thus controlled through detection of the toner image density are corrected depending on the ambient temperature and humidity, the time duration for which the developer is to be agitated in the developing unit, and the possible fluctuations in the sensitivity of the drum. On the other hand, the control system of Prior Art "V" depends for its operation on the detection of the distribution of image densities on an original document sheet to determine a degree of contrast for the particular document for regulating the exposure volume so that such a degree of contrast is achieved for the image reproduced.
Problems are however encountered in each of these prior-art control systems. In a density control system of any of Prior Art "I" to Prior Art "IV" in which the density of the images to be reproduced on a record medium is controlled through detection of the visible image produced on the image-transfer drum, there is a problem in that the density of the images to be reproduced is determined without respect to the image density distribution and the degree of contrast of the original document sheet When a document sheet is to be reproduced which has fine linear patterns coarsely distributed within a white background area, the linear patterns are likely to be blurred or even blanked out in the images reproduced. If, conversely, a document sheet having fine linear patterns thickly distributed in a white background area is to be reproduced, the linear patterns tend to be bridged through fogs formed therebetween in the reproduced images. None of the prior-art systems of Prior Art "I" to Prior Art "IV" is furnished with means to cope with such problems
These problems are significantly alleviated in a control system of Prior Art "V" in which the degree of contrast for an image to be reproduced is controlled through detection of the distribution of image densities on an original document sheet The control system of this type uses a comparatively low voltage for the document exposure lamp and, for this reason, has a drawback in that there is a tendency to cause fogging on the entire area of the record medium. The fogging is caused especially in the presence of any foreign material or a stain in the optical system or in the event of any environmental change caused in the neighborhood of the photosensitive peripheral surface of the image-transfer drum.

Exposure control system of image forming apparatus


A system includes a controller area network (CAN) transceiver. The CAN transceiver includes a wake-up circuit having an attenuator circuit coupled to a CAN bus. The wake-up circuit also includes a common-gate amplifier circuit coupled to the attenuator circuit. The wake-up circuit also includes an offset generation circuit coupled to the common-gate amplifier circuit.

The Controller Area Network (CAN) standard was developed for the automotive industry to standardize wiring and communications between sensors and a microcontroller (e.g., for engine control, window motors, airbags, anti-lock brakes, etc.). The CAN standard is now used in various settings, including factory equipment, medical equipment, marine equipment, downhole equipment, aerospace equipment, and automotive vehicles.
In an example CAN scenario, a CAN transceiver is coupled between a microprocessor (MCU) and a communication bus. The communication bus may be coupled to different kinds of sensors depending on the specific scenario (e.g., factory equipment, medical equipment, marine equipment, downhole equipment, aerospace equipment, or automotive vehicle), In operation, the CAN transceiver conveys communications received from the communication bus to the microprocessor and/or conveys communications from the microprocessor to the communication bus.
The CAN standard specifies an input voltage supply for the CAN transceiver of 5V. Meanwhile, the MCU may receive a different voltage supply. For example, one existing CAN system includes an MCU that receives an input voltage supply of 3.3V. Efforts to reduce power consumption in a CAN system are ongoing, which is desirable in limited power scenarios involving a battery or limited power source.

Low-power wake-up circuit for controller area network (CAN) transceiver


Optical devices and a method for manufacturing these devices. One optical device includes a core region having a first medium of a first refractive index n1, and includes a cladding region exterior to the core region. The cladding region includes a second medium having a second refractive index n2 higher than the first refractive index n1. The cladding region further includes a third medium having a third refractive index n3 lower than the first refractive index n1. The third medium is dispersed in the second medium to form a plurality of microstructures in the cladding region. Another optical device includes a plurality of core regions including at least one core having a doped first medium, and includes a cladding region exterior to the plurality of core regions. The core regions and the cladding region include a phosphate glass.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to optical fibers for use in communication networks.
2. Background of the Invention
Optical fibers are used to guide light with extremely small attenuation during propagation. These fibers are typically fabricated using different glasses characterized by low absorption and scattering losses for the wavelength range of the guided light. These fibers consist of a core region to which the light is confined and a cladding region that enables the light confinement. Most applications require fibers that support only the propagation of one fundamental transverse optical mode within the core region. Such fibers are called single mode fibers. Conventional single mode fibers include a step in the refractive index between core and cladding material as illustrated in FIG. 1 that shows the spatial profile of the refractive index. The best-known example of a single mode step index fiber is SMF-28, which was originally developed by Corning and is widely used. In this type of fiber light guiding is based on total internal reflection between core and cladding. To achieve this, the refractive index of the core material ncore has to be larger than the refractive index of the cladding material ncladding.
In order to achieve single transverse mode guiding in this type of fiber a characteristic fiber parameter; called V number, must satisfy the following criterion:V=(2π*rcore/λ)*[ncore2−ncladding2)0.5]<2.405  (1)where rcore is the radius of the core and λ the wavelength of light propagating in the fiber. The expression [(ncore2−ncladding2)0.5] is called the numerical aperture (NA) of the fiber.
The criterion (1) determines the design of single-mode step index fibers and limits the core size for optical mode propagation. For example, a fiber with rcore=4 μm has to have an NA smaller than 0.12 in order to become single mode for the optical communications wavelength around 1550 nm. Therefore, if the fiber is made of glass, the refractive index difference between core and cladding glass has to be smaller than 5*10−3. The technological limit for precise refractive index control of about 10−3 results in a lower limit for the NA of about 0.06 and, therefore, a maximum core radius of about 20 μm for step index fibers single mode that are single mode at near infrared wavelength.
Numerous articles on the development of optical fibers have been reported such as the following reference articles all of which are incorporated herein by reference:    1) J. M. Jauncy, L. Reekie, J. E. Townsend, and D. N. Payne, Electron. Lett. 24, 24 (1988).    2) G. A. Ball, W. W. Morey, and W. H. Glenn, IEEE Photon. Techn. Lett. 3, 613 (1991).    3) K. Iwatsuki, H. Okamura, and M. Saruwatari, Electron. Lett. 26, 2033 (1990).    4) T. J. Kane and R. L. Byer, Opt. Lett. 10, 65 (1985).    5) M. Sijka, P. Varming, J. Hubner, and M. Kristensen, Electron. Lett. 31, 1445 (1995).    6) Ch. Spiegelberg, J. Geng, Y. Hu, Y. Kaneda, S. Jiang, and N. Peyghambarian, IEEE J. Lightwave Technol. 22, 57 (2004).    7) T. Qiu, A. Schulzgen, L. Li, A. Polynkin, V. L. Temyanko, J. V. Moloney, and N. Peyghambarian, Opt. Lett. 30, 2748 (2005).    8) P. Polynkin, A. Polynkin, M. Mansuripur, J. Moloney, and N. Peyghambarian Opt. Lett. 30, 2745 (2005).    9) P. St. J. Russell, Science 299, 358 (2003).    10) J. Limpert, A. Liem, M. Reich, T. Schreiber, S. Notle, H. Zellner, A. Tunnermann, J. Broeng, A. Petersson, and C. Jakobsen, Opt. Express 12, 1313 (2004).    11) L. Li, A. Schulzgen, V. L. Temyanko, T. Qiu, M. M. Morell, Q. Wang, A. Mafi, J. V. Moloney, and N. Peyghambarian, Opt. Lett. 30, 1141 (2005).    12) L. Li, A. Schulzgen, V. L. Temyanko, S. Sabet, M. M. Morell, H. Li, A. Mafi, J. V. Moloney, and N. Peyghambarian, Opt. Lett. 30, 3275 (2005).    13) L. Li, M. M. Morell, T. Qiu, V. L. Temyanko, A. Schulzgen, A. Mafi, D. Kouznetsov, J. V. Moloney, T. Luo, S. Jiang, and N. Peyghambarian, Appl. Phys. Lett. 85, 2721 (2004).    14) T. Qui, L. Li, A. Schulzgen, V. L. Temyanko, T. Luo, S. Jiang, A. Mafi, J. V. Moloney, and N. Peyghambarian, IEEE Photo. Technol. Lett. 16, 2592 (2004).    15) J. Limpert, N. Deguil-Robin, I. Manek-Honninger, F. Salin, F. Roser, A. Liem, T. Schreiber, S. Nolte, H. Zellmer, A. Tunnermann, J. Broeng, A. Petersson, and C. Jakobsen, Opt. Express 13, 1055 (2005).    16) N. Peyghambarian, T. Qiu, P. Polynkin, A. Schulzgen, L. Li, V. L. Temyanko, M. Mansuripur, and J. V. Moloneym Opt. & Photon. News 12, 41 (2004).    17) C. Spiegelberg, J. Geng, Y. Hu, T. Kaneda, S. Jiang, and N. Peyghambarian, j. Lightwave Tech. 22, 57 (2004).    18) T. Qiu, S. Suzuki, A. Schulzgen, L. Li, A. Polynkin, V. Temyanko, J. V. Moloney, N. Peyghambarian, Opt. Lett. 30, 2748 (2005).    19) J. C. Knight, T. A. Birks, R. F. Cregan, P. St. J. Russell, and J. P. de Sandro, Electron. Lett. 34, 1347 (1998).    20) N. A. Martensen, M. D. Nielsen, J. R. Folkenberg, A. Petersson, and H. R. Simonsen, Opt. Lett. 28, 393 (2003).    21) A. Shirakawa, J. Ota, M. Musha, K. Nakagawa, K. Ueda, J. R. Folkenberg, and J. Broeng, Opt. Express 13, 1221 (2005).    22) B. J. Mangan, J. Arriaga, T. A. Birks, J. C. Knight, and P. S. J. Russell, "Fundamental-mode cutoff in a photonic crystal fiber with a depressed-index core," Opt. Lett. 26, 1469 (2001).    23) L. Li, H. Li, T. Qui, V. L. Temyanki, M. M. Morrell, A. Schulzgen, A. Mafi, J. V. Moloney, and N. Peyghambarian, Opt. Expres 13, 3420 (2005).    24) E. Yahel and A. Hardy, J. Lightwave Technol. 21, 2044-202 (2003).

Microstructured optical fibers and manufacturing methods thereof

The Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona


A method for negotiating a protocol for a conversation in which data packets are transmitted. Responsive to establishment of a link aggregation with an endpoint for the conversation, an algorithm for processing the data packets in the conversation is selected to form a preferred algorithm. A request is sent to the endpoint. This request indicates the preferred algorithm for processing the data packets in the conversation. A reply to the request is received from the endpoint. A determination is made as to whether a convergence has occurred. The data packets in the conversation are processed using the preferred algorithm in response to a determination that the convergence has occurred.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system and in particular to a method and apparatus for processing data. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method, apparatus, and computer instructions for transferring data using link aggregation.
2. Description of Related Art
With the increasing demand for higher rates of data transfer, 1 G bit/sec is not enough bandwidth for many network connections between local area network (LAN) switches and from switches to high-demand network servers. Along with the bandwidth-consuming applications at Internet service providers (ISPs), application service providers, streaming media providers and the like, traditional network administrators may also be feeling the bandwidth pinch at their server connections. Trunking or link aggregation has been used to increase bandwidth. Link aggregation involves allowing a data processing system to treat more than one network interface as a single network interface. In other words, a number of different links between data processing systems may be "aggregated" into a single link.
In addition to increased bandwidth, link aggregation provides for increased reliability. Traditionally, to aggregate more than one network interface required manual intervention from the network administrator. The administrator has to specify the interfaces to be aggregated on both the host (e.g. an AIX server) and on the switch where the network adapters are connected. This specification is necessary because the switch needs to know that the traffic addressed to the link aggregation can be sent over any of the adapters belonging to the aggregation.
Efforts have been made to automate the creation of link aggregation, such as the IEEE 802.3ad standard. This standard defines a Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) whereby the network host and the switch exchange Link Aggregation Control Protocol Data Unit (LACPDU) packets to decide which adapters are to be aggregated together. Intrinsic properties of the adapters (like duplexity and link speed) are used to decide which adapters belong to the same link aggregation.
The IEEE 802.3ad standard specifies that all packets belonging to the same conversation must be sent over the same adapter to prevent packet reordering at the link level. The way this transfer of data for a conversation is achieved is implementation-dependent. A conversation is a transfer of related data between two endpoints. An example of a conversation is a session between two hosts. A session is the active connection between two data processing systems. Furthermore, the host and the switch can use different schemes to decide over which adapter the packets belonging to the same conversation are sent. This situation means that it is quite possible that data packets sent from the host to the switch are sent over one adapter, but reply data packets sent from the switch back to the host are sent over another adapter. This sending of data packets is allowed by the standard, since in both directions packet reordering does not occur. In traditional network stacks this situation is not an issue.
However, when dealing with transmission control protocol (TCP)-offloaded adapters, such a situation could potentially become a problem. In TCP-offloaded adapters the TCP/Internet protocol (IP) is implemented in the adapter's hardware. Thus, the state for all the TCP connections going over a specific adapter is contained in that adapter, and not in a system-wide TCP layer that is shared among all the connections on the same host.
This configuration makes it imperative that reply data packets are received on the same adapter over which the outgoing data packets were sent because only that adapter is aware of the TCP state necessary to accept and process said reply packets. For example, if a data packet is sent on adapter 1 but its reply is received on adapter 2, the latter adapter does not have the TCP state necessary to process the reply packet. As a result, the reply would then be discarded. Examples of TCP state information includes expected sequence number and timeout information.
In the automated link aggregation standards in existence, no way is present for a host and a switch to negotiate which algorithm should be employed to decide which adapter should be used to send packets belonging to the same conversation. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions for forming a link aggregation.

Method for negotiating link protocols for link aggregations

International Business Machines Corporation


Anchor and method for use of an anchor for securing structures. The anchor of the present invention comprises a slotted sleeve disposed on a bolt. The elements of the slotted sleeve expand outwardly when a compression element on the bolt is compressed.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an anchor for a wall and/or other structures and methods for using the anchor which can be especially useful in the construction industry.
2. Description of Related Art
Although the construction industry has been using bolts and anchor systems for some time, the industry generally does not use single-sided wall installation for direct wall attachment. There is thus a need for an anchor system that connects to a wall, especially a wall made of low-strength materials, also known as a soft wall. There is no single-sided anchor device for soft walls (low-strength material).
Current practice in the industry is a two-sided anchor process, requiring an individual on each side of a wall, for anchoring, which is to install a bolt completely through the wall with a large washer and bolt at the exterior (a very time consuming installation). One person generally drills the hole and pushes the bolt through; a second person on the other side of the wall installs the plate and the nut. The alternative is to embed wood into the wall when constructing the wall, then install lag bolt(s) into the wood and/or embed concrete into the wall, and then anchor into the concrete. This process results in a washer and bolt on the opposite side of the wall from that side on which the anchor is installed, resulting in a loss of aesthetics.
While there are commercially available anchors for hanging pictures and the like in soft walls after construction, there is currently no single-sided method for providing a method for attaching any size structure, especially large structures, to soft walls or other structures within the construction process.


An electro-chromic device including a solid or quasi-solid electrolyte layer is disclosed. The electrolyte layer may be a composite polymeric electrolyte layer. The polymeric electrolyte layer may be a conductive transparent adhesive or an optically transparent cured electrolyte. The electrolyte layer may also be a porous optically transparent membrane impregnated or embedded with an electrolytic material. Methods for forming solid or quasi-solid electrolyte layers in-situ in electro-chromic devices are also provided.

Despite the large number of on-going research studies in the field of various electro-chromic (EC) technologies, there is still a need of compact and mechanically-robust solid-state electro-chromic film stack, which can be easily applied on an existing lens blank, semi-finished blank (SFB) or other surfaces that need controllable variable transmission performance. Such an EC stack should operate under low voltage, and thus, not require large, heavy and aesthetically non-acceptable batteries. Furthermore, the variable transmission EC stack should be fast-responding with a satisfactory dynamic range compared to the current available photochromic lenses and other switching technologies.

Electro-chromic devices including solid or quasi-solid electrolyte layers and methods of making the same


Embodiments discussed herein may be generally directed to systems and techniques to generate a quality score based on an observation and an action caused by an actor agent during a testing phase. Embodiments also include determining a temporal difference between the quality score and a previous quality score based on a previous observation and a previous action, determining whether the temporal difference exceeds a threshold value, and generating an attack indication in response to determining the temporal difference exceeds the threshold value.

Reinforcement Learning is goal-directed machine learning. An agent learns from direct interaction with its environment, without relying on explicit supervision and complete models of the environment. Reinforcement learning is a formal framework modeling the interaction between a learning agent and its environment in terms of states, actions and rewards. At each time step, an agent receives a state, selects an action following a policy, receives a scalar reward, and transitions to the next state. The agent's goal is to maximize an expected cumulative reward, e.g. the sum-total of each scalar reward received based on an action. The agent may receive a positive scalar reward for a positive action and a negative scalar reward for a negative action. Thus, the agent 'learns' by attempting to maximize the expected cumulative reward.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Techniques to detect perturbation attacks with an actor-critic framework


A rehabilitation supporting device 1 includes a first frame 11 arranged along a first skeletal portion extending from a joint, a second frame 12 arranged along a second skeletal portion extending from the joint in a direction different from a direction of the first skeletal portion, an angle sensor 131 arranged to detect a rotational angle position between the first frame and the second frame, a flexion-side biosignal sensor 14 arranged to detect a biosignal of a flexor, an extension-side biosignal sensor 15 arranged to detect a biosignal of an extensor, a calibration unit 31 arranged to determine a flexion-side correction value and an extension-side correction value individually, and a memory unit 34 arranged to store individual correction values of the biosignals different for individuals, the flexion-side correction value, and the extension-side correction value.

In the existing institutions, such as medical institutions and sanatoriums, rehabilitation for recovery of a physically impaired person is performed by an exercise therapy to retrieve a physical ability of a moving part (such as a hand, an arm, a shoulder, a waist, a knee, an ankle, etc.) of the person (human body).
The medical rehabilitation of this type is performed by adding load to or applying external force to the muscles around the moving part to bend or stretch a joint of the moving part, in order to recover the physical ability of the moving part which decrease to direct or indirect factors, such as an injury or illness.
There are various methods of applying a load or an external force, such as a simple method using a weight or an elastic band and a machine-implemented method using a dedicated load machine or instrument. In any case, rehabilitation is carried out according to instructions of a doctor or a physiotherapist.
Patent Document 1 discloses a rehabilitation device which performs rehabilitation (or ergotherapy) by an exercise cure. The rehabilitation device includes an arm extending from the base part and a holding part disposed at a leading end of the arm. Using the rehabilitation device, the person who is subjected to rehabilitation can perform selectively one of several exercises in accordance with the recovering situation of the joint or muscular force of the person, the exercises including a compulsory exercise in which the limb of the person is compulsorily moved by an external force, an automatic exercise in which the limb of the person is actively moved, such as an isotonic motion, a uniform motion, and a resistance exercise.
The arm is the multi-axial link including two or more drive shafts. The arm moves the holding part to an arbitrary position in a movable range and changes the posture of the holding part. The arm moves along with the rail. The holding part is attached to the limb of the person who is subjected to rehabilitation. An angle sensor and a speed sensor are disposed on each of the drive shafts.
As disclosed in Patent Document 1, the rehabilitation device is arranged to acquire load information including the information of myoelectric signals produced by main muscles of the limb, the information of the position and posture of the arm, the detection value of a torque sensor attached to the drive shaft, etc., in order to measure the load which is actively produced by the limb of the person subjected to rehabilitation.
The acquired load information is used to perform an automatic assist. When the person moves the limb with his intention at the time of the automatic assist, a force larger than the force of the person is exerted on the limb by the auxiliary operation of the arm performed by the rehabilitation device based on the load information acquired at this time.
Patent Document 2 discloses a portable electromyogram and physical movement measuring device which is adapted for quantitatively analyzing the degree of recovery of the person by rehabilitation. This measuring device includes a myoelectric sensor and a physical movement sensor. The myoelectric sensor detects a myoelectric potential signal as a biosignal. In Patent Document 2, an acceleration sensor is used as the physical movement sensor. These sensors are disposed at symmetrical positions on each of the right-hand side and the left-hand side of the limbs of the person respectively, and the sensors disposed on one side cover the measuring part of the person while the sensors disposed on the other side cover the healthy part of the person.
The measuring device of Patent Document 2 transmits the detection signals output from the respective sensors, to an external personal computer through a radio transmission unit of the measuring device. The measurement data of the moving condition of the person acquired from the sensors is converted into numerical data, and displayed on the computer display. Viewing the numerical data on the display, a doctor or a physiotherapist analyzes quantitatively the effect of the rehabilitation to the person.
Patent Document 3 discloses a motor-driven auxiliary device which is attached to a knee joint of a person and assists the person who walks up a staircase. The motor-driven auxiliary device includes an actuator, an angle sensor, a pressure sensor, and a myoelectric sensor that detects a myoelectric potential as a biosignal. The angle sensor detects a rotational angle of the knee joint. The myoelectric sensor detects the degree of strain of the muscles. The pressure sensor detects a load or a weight on the leg. The motor-driven auxiliary device determines whether the motion of the person is a staircase walking operation based on the detection signals from these sensors and controls the driving of the actuator by using the detection signals of these sensors as a trigger.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-258100    Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-278706    Patent Document 3: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-163607


There is provided a system and a method for operating a multi-engine rotorcraft. When the rotorcraft is cruising in an asymmetric operating regime (AOR) at least one engine is an active engine and is operated in an active mode to provide motive power to the rotorcraft and at least one second engine is a standby engine and is operated in a standby mode to provide substantially no motive power to the rotorcraft, at least one of a power level of the at least one second engine is increased and at least one variable geometry mechanism of the at least one second engine is moved to shed any ice accumulation on the at least one second engine.

When operating aircraft (e.g., rotorcraft) with multiple engines, there may be certain portions of a mission that do not require both engines to be operating at full power. In cruising conditions, operating a single engine at a relatively high power, instead of multiple engines at lower power, may allow for better fuel efficiency. For example, one or more engine(s) are operated at high power, and one or more remaining engine(s) are operated in what is sometimes referred to as a "standby" mode. However, under cold weather, such a mode of operation can be favorable to ice accretion and snow build-up on the variable geometry mechanisms of the standby engine, leading to degraded performance, increased operating temperatures, or potential engine compressor surges.
Therefore, improvements are needed.

System and method for operating a multi-engine rotorcraft for ice accretion shedding


The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for the production for the prevention of disease due to P. haemolytica. In particular, the present invention provides P. haemolytica strains that produce inactive leukotoxin for vaccine and other uses. The present invention also provides compositions and methods for genetic manipulations in P. haemolytica.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) encompasses a variety of syndromes that cause serious economic losses. Included within this group of syndromes are diseases associated with Pasteurella species, most commonly P. haemolytica, the major etiologic agent bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis ("shipping fever")(See e.g., Yates Can. J. Comp. Med., 46:225-263 [1982]; Confer et al., J. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc., 193:1308-1316 [1988]; and Martin et al., Can. J. Comp. Med., 44:1-10 [1980], for reviews of BRD and pneumonic pasteurellosis). Shipping fever is the greatest source of economic loss in feedlot cattle due to the significant mortality rate, as well as the unthriftiness and decreased rate of gain of animals that survive the disease (See e.g., Haynes, Keeping Livestock Healthy, Garden Way Publishing, Charlotte, Va. [1978], pp.145-148).
Shipping fever is common in North America, the United Kingdom, and continental Europe. Although cattle of all ages and breeds are susceptible, those most commonly affected are young beef cattle that have been recently (i.e., within 3 weeks) introduced into feedlots. However, it can be equally disastrous in dairy herds. Risk factors for disease include mixing of calves from different origins or ages (clustering of cases often occurs among particular truckloads and/or pens of cattle), stresses associated with transportation, feed shortages, water deprivation, and vaccination upon arrival at feedlots. Other risk factors include communal summer grazing, drafty, humid indoor housing, and close housing of cattle in communal sales and rail yards. The major cause of loss is by death, with the case fatality rate of 5-10%, and a herd morbidity rate of up to 35% (See, Blood, Pocket Companion to Veterinary Medicine, Bailliere Tindall, London [1994], pp. 309-310). Peak losses occur in cattle 6 months to 2 years of age. Other losses include the lengthened stay in fattening units required by affected cattle that survive the disease. Pasteurellosis represents losses to the American cattle industry of more than 500 million dollars annually (McMillan, in Bovine Respiratory Disease: A Symposium, R. W. Loan (ed.), [1984],. p. 64).
Transmission of pasteurellosis is usually accomplished via contact with or aerosolization of nasal and ocular discharges from clinical cases, although carrier animals may also contribute to spread of disease, as healthy animals often carry the organisms in their upper respiratory tracts. In addition, the organisms appear to increase in virulence as the disease becomes active in animals under stress, and increases to the point where animals not under stress also succumb to the disease.
Clinical findings include rapid onset, depression, rapid, shallow breathing, increased loudness of breath sounds that increase in area over time, progression to crackles and wheezing, dyspnea, fever, cough, anorexia, gaunt abdomen, mucopurulent nasal discharge, crusty nose, and ocular discharge. In addition, pleuritic friction sounds are present early in disease, grunting with each expiration of breath is observed later in disease. As the disease progresses, fluid, cellular debris, and pus accumulate in the small air passages. Consolidation of lung tissue may become sufficiently severe that cyanosis results. Sequelae include chronic bronchopneumonia, pleural adhesions, lung abscess, chronic pleurisy, pericarditis, and congestive heart failure. At necropsy, marked consolidation of anteroventral parts of the lung with serofibrinous exudate accumulation in the interlobular spaces is observed, as well as catarrhal bronchitis, bronchiolitis, serofibrinous pleurisy with accumulation of large quantities of pleural fluid, and fibrinous pericarditis.
Shipping fever is associated with various organisms, including P. haemolytica, P. multocida, bovine herpes virus 1, parainfluenza-3, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, and Mycoplasma. Exposure to stress, in combination with infection by various viruses appears to facilitate the development of pneumonic pasteurellosis, with P. haemolytica infection resulting in the development of fibrinous pneumonia. Although it appears to have a multi-factorial etiology, methods for prevention and treatment of shipping fever has focused on P. haemolytica. P. multocida is also sometimes associated with shipping fever, although it is associated with bronchopneumonia with little fibrinous exudate. P. haemolytica and P. multocida are responsible for numerous diseases of veterinary and medical importance. For example, in addition to shipping fever, P. haemolytica is also associated with other economically important diseases, including ovine and caprine pasteurellosis, horse, donkey and mule meningoencephalitis. P. multocida is associated with calf and yearling meningoencephalitis, lamb lymphadenitis, horse and donkey septicemia, bovine septicemic pasteurellosis (hemorrhagic septicemia, barbone), swine pasteurellosis, porcine septicemic pasteurellosis, and fowl cholera. Human disease with these organisms usually occurs in infected bite wounds, as many animals carry Pasteurella as normal flora in their oral cavities. Thus, these organisms are of importance in the feedlot, as well as other settings.
Treatment of shipping fever involves administration of oxytetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfadoxine, penicillin or tilmicosin, although the response in animals with complicated etiologies or late disease is poor. Complete failure to respond sometimes occurs in animals with lung abscesses, bronchiectasis, pleurisy, and other, non-bacterial causes. Chemoprophylaxis is sometimes practiced by mass medication of all animals on arrival at the feedlot. However, mass medication (e.g., in the feed), while potentially reducing mortality, has little effect on morbidity, and the number of cases may actually increase due to relaxed disease surveillance. Routine prophylactic feeding of broad-spectrum antimicrobials to all cattle housed in feedlots has resulted in the development of resistance to many antimicrobials, making the disease difficult to treat. Furthermore, this use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials may result in the development of resistance in organisms of veterinary and/or medical importance, other than P. haemolytica.
Vaccination is commonly used in an attempt to prevent disease. However, the results have been marginal. Indeed, vaccination on arrival of animals to the feedlot with modified live vaccine often increases the mortality rate (See e.g., Blood, supra; and Martin et al., Can. J. Comp. Med., 44:1-10 [1980]). These observations have led to numerous investigations into development of vaccines to prevent disease due to P. haemolytica. Previous vaccines utilized live or heat-killed whole cell preparations of mixed serotypes (See e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,328,210, 4,171,354, 3,328,352, 4,167,560, and 4,346,074). Other vaccine preparations have included crude supernatant extracts from P. haemolytica cultures, as well as capsular extracts, and saline extracted antigens (See e.g., Shewen and Wilkie, Can. J. Vet Res., 52:30-36 [1988]; Donachie et al., J. Gen. Microbiol., 130:1209-1216 [1984]; Lessley et al., Vet. Immunol, Immunopathol., 10:279-296 [1985]; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,074). However, the results obtained with these preparations have been variable.
While other potential factors are involved in the pathogenesis of shipping fever (e.g., lipopolysaccharide, polysaccharide capsule, fimbriae, glycoprotease, neuraminidase, a serotype-specific antigen, and outer membrane proteins), leukotoxin is considered to be the primary virulence factor of P. haemolytica (See, Petras et al., Infect. Immun., 63:1033-1039 [1995]; Shewen and Wilkie, Infect. Immun., 35:91-94 [1982]; and Confer et al., Can. J. Vet. Res., 54:S48-S52 [1990]). Thus, other vaccines have been developed, including the use of purified leukotoxin harvested from actively growing P. haemolytica cultures (See e.g., Gentry et al., Vet. Immunol., Immunopathol., 9:239-250 [1985]; and Shewen and Wilkie, Infect. Immun., 55:3233-3236 [1987]). Nonetheless, there remains a need in the art for a vaccine preparation that provides immunity, without the pathology associated with the administration of previous vaccines, and avoiding the problems associated with the use of organisms carrying antimicrobial resistance genes. Indeed, protection against pasteurellosis is of great economic importance to the beef industry, as well as agriculture in general.


A security block for securing I/O ports of an electronic instrument physically prevents any breach of data through a protected I/O port, such as a USB port, by securing cables that may be plugged into the port by means of a locked cover. The cables are prevented from being removed and USB memory devices are prevented from being connected in their place. In a second aspect, a portion of the security block covers unused I/O ports thereby preventing USB memory devices and other devices from being connected to unoccupied I/O ports. The locking mechanism can be either a padlock, or a locking screw, or the like.

There are organizations and companies in existence that may need to maintain a high degree of security with respect to the information resident on their employees' computers. Electronic transmissions can be limited, such that, transmission to unauthorized destinations may be blocked. Such a company may also want to prevent the making of copies of confidential or secret data For example, such a company may mandate that none of its computers may include a drive for recording of data onto removable memory media. Such a drive may be, for example, a floppy disk drive, or a CD-ROM burner. In this way, no person could access the computer, write confidential or secret data to removable media, and then abscond with that confidential or secret data.
It is herein recognized that modern technology has provided yet another way to write data from a computer to a removable medium. Unfortunately, this technology cannot be so easily banished from the computer. That technology is the USB port. One may think that a simple change to the operating system software to "turn-off" USB capability would solve this problem. However, many computer peripherals are connected to modern computers via the USB port, including keyboards and computer mice. The removable medium to be controlled in this case is the USB thumb drive, also known as, a USB flash drive, among other names.
The task at hand is to prevent the use of such USB thumb drives, while at the same time, permitting the use of USB keyboards and other legitimate USB devices.

Security block for a communications connector


A method for spectrum sensing is described comprising receiving a signal using a plurality of receive antennas; forming a set of received signals including the received signal of each antenna; determining a cyclic auto-correlation of the set of received signals; estimating, for each receive antenna, channel state information of the radio channel via which the receive antenna receives the signal based on the determined cyclic auto-correlation; performing maximum ratio combining of the received signal samples based on the estimated channel state information; determining a measure of the cyclostationarity of the received signal based on the result of the maximum ratio combining; and performing cyclostationarity detection spectrum sensing based on the determined measure of the cyclostationarity of the received signal.

A cognitive radio system operates in frequency channels that are licensed for a specific communication service. This specific communication service is typically referred to as the incumbent service, and existing users of the incumbent service are denoted as incumbent users or primary users. A user of the cognitive radio system may be referred to as a secondary user.
In a cognitive radio system, spectrum sensing is a crucial operation for the secondary user (SU) to detect whether a frequency band or a frequency channel licensed to the incumbent radio service is used by a primary user (PU). Spectrum sensing methods can be broadly categorized into three categories: matched filtering methods, energy detection methods, and cyclostationarity detection methods. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.
In case that all information about a signal that may be or may not be transmitted by a primary user (and for which it is to be detected whether it is currently transmitted) is known a priori, matched filtering is the optimum detection method (i.e. the optimum spectrum sensing method). However, since this method requires perfect knowledge of the primary user's transmission parameters such as used bandwidth, modulation type, pulse shaping method, frame format etc., the complexity of this method is considerably high for implementation.
For spectrum sensing based on energy detection, the primary user's transmission parameters are not required. Spectrum sensing methods based on energy detection have therefore the least complexity among the three spectrum sensing method categories. However, energy detection spectrum sensing methods are typically vulnerable to noise uncertainty. Inaccurate estimation of the noise power can be the reason for a SNR (signal to noise ratio) wall for the detection and to a high false alarm probability.
Recently, spectrum sensing based on cyclostationarity detection has attracted substantial interest due to its ability to distinguish among wireless systems that transmit signals having cyclostationarity. For example, wireless systems using different parameters such as different modulation types, symbol rates, carrier frequencies etc. show cyclostationary features at different cycle frequencies and may thus be distinguished. Signal detection for spectrum sensing can be performed by checking the presence of cyclostationary features at these cycle frequencies.
Since the spectrum sensing method based on cyclostationarity detection can be used for distinguishing between a signal transmitted by a primary user and interfering signals it may be beneficial for coexistence scenarios in cognitive radio which have been investigated for standardization.
It is therefore desirable to provide improved methods for spectrum sensing, in particular based on cyclostationarity detection.

Method for spectrum sensing and communication device

Agency for Science, Technology and Research


An error condition detection circuit coupled to the motor control circuit reports an error condition when actual motor operation deviates from predetermined desired motor operation. An overcurrent threshold comparator compares motor current with a threshold data value stored in a data storage register, and sets an overcurrent flag when the motor current exceeds the threshold. A current interrogation processor monitors the reported error condition and is programmed to respond to the error condition by iteratively reading the overcurrent flag and decrementing the overcurrent threshold data value by a predetermined decrement amount until the overcurrent flag becomes set. The current interrogation processor is further programmed to report the overcurrent threshold data value extant at the time the flag becomes set as an estimate of electric current.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
In diagnostic systems for electrically controlled devices employing electric motors or other actuators it can be difficult to tell the exact cause of an error condition by examining system-generated error codes alone. For example, in vehicular systems, such as automotive systems, it is common to employ control modules that record a predetermined error code upon detecting a predefined error condition. Mechanics can then review these recorded error codes as part of the diagnostic procedure. The problem with such error codes is twofold. First, available memory space and processing power is limited. Thus most systems must suffice with only a finite and often small number of recognized error conditions. Second, some error conditions are intermittent. Thus the mechanic may not be able to reproduce the reported error condition, making it difficult to discern what the cause may have been.
In electrically controlled systems employing electric motors or other electric actuators, knowing the motor or actuator current at the time an error condition occurred would be a valuable diagnostic aide in discerning the cause of the error. Unfortunately, conventional techniques for measuring current are not often practical in vehicular or automotive applications where cost, weight and system complexity must be minimized. For example, conventional techniques, such as employing a precision shunt resistor in the current path, or use of a Hall-Effect sensor to detect current flow both require an analog-to-digital convertor to convert the measured analog current value into a digital value suitable for storing in the diagnostic memory of the control module. Precision shunt resistors and Hall-Effect sensors, and the associated analog-to-digital convertors add cost, weight and complexity (more parts to fail).

System and method for estimating electrical current in motor control circuits to improve performance and diagnostic capability


A method and an apparatus select the spindle rotation speed for writing servo tracks to a disk based on measured performance of the head-disk assembly. The position error values are measured and analyzed to generate a position error metric. Based on the value of the position error metric, a spindle rotation speed is selected for use when writing servo tracks to a disk.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for improving the manufacture of disk drives. More specifically, the invention involves the determination of a spindle rotation speed for writing servo tracks to a disk drive based on measured servo performance of a head-disk assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Disk drives are principal components in the vast majority of computer systems. The drives store information in a non-volatile manner and can be readily written, read, and re-written. Large amounts of information can be stored on disk drives reliably at low cost.
A typical disk drive consists of one or more rigid disks or xe2x80x9cplattersxe2x80x9d that are attached to a spindle. The spindle is attached to a spindle motor which rotates the spindle and the attached platter or platters. The surfaces of the platters comprise a magnetic medium. As the platters rotate, magnetic heads write magnetic transitions to or read magnetic transitions from the medium.
The magnetic storage portion of the disk platters is organized into substantially concentric circular regions. Each circular region is divided into arcuate sectors formed by regular angular wedge-like demarcations around the disk. The magnetic read and write heads are attached to an actuator that moves the head to read or write a particular sector of the platter or platters. Positioning of the read or write head is achieved via the use of servo tracks that are written to the disk. The servo tracks are written at intervals around the disk and on each side of a region of the disk that is to contain data. The position of the head on the disk is determined by reading the servo tracks, and consequently, the servo tracks must be accurately placed on the drive medium.
For the disk to be used, servo tracks must be placed on the disk. The tracks can be etched or printed onto the disk medium, written by a servo track writer, or self-written by the disk drive. Additionally, the servo tracks can be written by a combination of these servo track writing techniques.
The placement of servo tracks onto the disk of a disk drive is an important part, but a potentially time consuming part, of the manufacture of disk drives. Although etching or printing of the servo tracks onto the disks can produce a high volume of disks containing servo tracks very quickly, these methods can not produce the density of servo tracks on a disk that is needed for modem high capacity hard drives. Dedicated servo track writers can produce the density of servo tracks needed for modem drives, but the specialty manufacturing equipment is expensive, and the number of servo track writers used during the manufacturing process is typically limited. Self-writing of all or a portion of servo tracks by the disk drive itself does not require special manufacturing equipment, but is the slowest way to place the servo tracks onto a disk.
A first aspect of the present invention is a method for determining a spindle rotation speed to be used for writing servo tracks on a head-disk assembly which will be incorporated into a fully assembled disk drive. The head-disk assembly comprises a recording head, a rotary actuator, a spindle motor, and a storage medium. The storage medium is coupled to the spindle motor and has an inner circumference and outer circumference with a magnetic storage portion between the inner and outer circumference.
The position error values of at least one servo track are measured. A position error metric is generated by analyzing the position error values. A spindle speed for writing servo tracks is selected based upon the value of the position error metric.
Another aspect of the present invention is a servo track writer that writes calibration tracks on the storage medium of a head-disk assembly, and that determines the operational disk spindle rotation rate. The servo track writer comprises a controller, a servo performance measurement circuit, and a servo track writer speed selector. The controller processes a clock reference pattern to determine the location of the write element and directs the head to write the servo tracks on the storage medium. The servo performance measurement circuit measures position error values of the servo tracks written on the head-disk assembly and generates a position error metric value. The servo track writer speed selector calculates a desired servo track writer speed from the value of the position error metric generated by the servo performance measurement circuit.

Method and apparatus for selecting servo track writing speed


An elbow protection device for an elbow of a bed patient includes a body having a base, first and second elevation pads connected to the base, respectively, and a strap connected to the device and configured to secure the body to the elbow. A covering is connected to an outer surface of the body, the covering including a friction reducing material for permitting free sliding movement of the device over the bed surface with minimal resistance. The elbow protection device is made of a flexible, compressible, breathable foam material, the body including an inner surface having a plurality of flat areas spaced apart from each other in two dimensions by a plurality of dimples extending into the body from the flat areas, and a strap connected to the body and configured to secure the body to the elbow. The elbow protection device may be applied to a bed patient's elbow by sliding a body of the device under the elbow of the bed patient, placing the bed patient's elbow on the first and second elevation pads, aligning the elbow with the opening within a body and the first and second elevation pads, grasping a first end of a strap, the strap connected to the body at a second end, wrapping the strap around the elbow, and releasably connecting the strap to the body.

Elbow protection devices for bed patients to prevent ulcers of the elbow are known. Persons who are confined to a bed for an extended period of time may develop ulcers, specifically decubitus ulcers, of the elbow. The primary causes of elbow ulcers are pressure exerted on the elbow of the bed patient from the weight of the patient's arm when the arm is resting in an extended or semi-extended position, and friction and shear resulting from the sliding movement of the patient's elbow across a bed surface. Elbow protection devices typically include an elbow support pad having inwardly extending full convolutions and peaks. The elbow protection devices typically a fixed amount of base support padding under the patient's elbow. Elbow protection devices also typically include tubular sleeves upon which the support pad is attached. The sleeves are typically supplied in more than one size to accommodate the varying sizes of bed patient's arms.
Existing elbow protection devices, however, have a number of drawbacks. The padding with inwardly extending full convolution include a plurality of complete amplitude peaks and valleys. The padding with inwardly extending convolutions and peaks can not be used on all patients. In particular, edematous patient's may be unable to comfortably use the devices without negatively affecting the patient's circulation or irritating the patient's swollen tissue. Also, a fixed amount of base support padding, often either a fixed single layer or a fixed double layer, does not provide sufficient flexibility for supporting the elbow of all patients. A larger patient with a larger or heavier elbow may require additional base padding support than a smaller sized patient with a smaller, lighter elbow. Also, the tubular sleeve must be pulled over the patient's arm to correctly position the device. The installation of the tubular sleeve can interfere with other medical devices such as dressings and intravenous (IV) lines attached to a patient arm at or below the elbow. The installation of the tubular sleeve may require IV lines to be removed and reattached to the patient. Also, the tubular sleeve often covers the entire elbow and a portion of the patient's forearm and upper arm limiting the accessibility of the patient's arm for IV lines, drug injections, and other medical procedures. Moreover, the pulling of the tubular sleeve may cause pain and discomfort to some patients. Once applied, the patient may find the tubular sleeve to be restricting and uncomfortable. The tubular sleeves can be difficult to align and have a tendency to move out of position, particularly following movement of the patient's elbow, thereby not providing proper support to the patient's elbow. The tubular sleeves must be designed and stocked in multiple sizes in order to accommodate the different sized arms of the patients in a hospital, nursing home, or care center.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an elbow protection device that overcomes these and other disadvantages of existing elbow protection devices. In particular, it would be advantageous to provide an elbow protection device having at least one support pad without full convolutions and inwardly extending peaks that can be worn by all patients including edematous patients. What is needed is an elbow protection device having an additional support pad for supporting patient's with larger or heavier elbows. What is also needed is an elbow protection device for bed patients that can be applied without having to be pulled up a patient's arm. It would also be advantageous to provide an elbow protection device for bed patient's that adjusts to fit all patients. What is also needed is an elbow protection device for bed patients that correctly positions, cradles and suspends the patient's elbow above the bed surface. Further, it would be advantageous to provide an elbow protection device for bed patients that allows for full flexing of the patient's arm without causing the elbow protection device to become misaligned.

Elbow protection device and method for applying same


An apparatus and process for chemically treating a surface of a workpiece with a liquid solution that produces an environmentally harmful gaseous byproduct includes a water spray system for contacting and reacting the gaseous byproduct at the location where it is produced during the chemical treating process. The reacted byproduct is then carried away in the water stream and with the chemical treating solution for safe disposal and recovery. Residual unreacted gaseous byproduct is chemically treated at a separate location within the same apparatus layout used to process the workpiece.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of chemical treatment of workpiece surfaces, for example, acidic etching of metal workpiece surfaces.
2. Description of Prior Art
High speed plating systems for metallic workpieces such as cylinders of internal combustion engines using automated handling equipment for the workpieces involves acidic etching of the cylinder bores in a high speed process wherein circulation of mixed acid etchant through the cylinder bore is used to etch the surface of the bore in preparation for a plating operation.
However, during the etching process, harmful gases such as oxides of nitrogen (NO.sub.x) are produced and must be disposed of for safety and environmental reasons. In accordance with prior art solutions, separate handling systems for the dangerous and undesirable gaseous byproduct of the etching process must be provided, including appropriate conduits, pumps and other apparatus for safely conducting the gaseous byproduct away from the etching area to a disposal or recovery system. Such systems tend to be complex, costly and disadvantageous with respect to equipment layout.
Thus, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to eliminate the need to establish special apparatus to transport and deal with harmful gases produced during a chemical treatment process by recovering and eliminating the gases in a way to minimize costs and complexity of equipment layout.

Chemical surface treatment apparatus and process


A new and distinct cultivar of Browallia plant named ‘UNHBR18,’ characterized by numerous single flowers that are white in color, compact and rounded growth habit, stems that do not break or separate on the center of the mature plant, and good performance in partial shade in the garden and as a hanging basket.

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Browallia plant, botanically known as Browallia speciosa, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'UNHBR18'.
The new Browallia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Durham, N.H. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Browallia plants with attractive flowers in a range of colors, profuse flowering and reduced fruit set.
The new 'UNHBR18' originated from a hybridization made by the Inventor on Jul. 11, 2001 between a proprietary selection of Browallia speciosa code UNH BR10-13, not patented, used as female, and a proprietary selection of Browallia speciosa code BROW5-1, not patented, used as male. UNH BR10-13 had a very compact growth habit and large purple flowers with a white center, while BROW5-1 had very vigorous growth and white flowers. Seed was sown on Sep. 20, 2001. From the segregating progeny, a single plant BR1-15-9, later coded as 'UNHBR18' was selected in Durham, N.H., USA, on the basis of its compact growth habit and profuse flowering with large white flowers. 'UNHBR18' differed from its female parent UNH BR10-13 in that its flowers were white rather than purple; it also differed from its male parent BROW5-1 in that its lateral branches were on average 4-5 cm shorter.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetative cuttings since January 2002 taken in Durham, N.H. has shown that the unique features of this new Browallia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A control method and apparatus for actuating an induction motor which is capable of generating a sufficiently large output in a wide speed region. In such an induction motor, each of Y-connection phase windings of the induction motor is divided into two split windings 5t and 3t at a predetermined split ratio (for example, 5:3). When a rotational speed of the induction motor is in a low speed region, only the changeover switch MC2 is turned on to supply exciting current to both of the split windings 5t and 3t. When the rotational speed of the induction motor is in a middle speed region, only the changeover switch MC3 is turned on to exclusively supply exciting current to the split windings 5t. Furthermore, when the rotational speed of the induction motor is in a high speed region, only the changeover switch MC1 is turned on to exclusively supply exciting current to the split windings 3t. With this arrangement, three different numbers of turns can selectively be used with respect to each phase winding so that relatively large number of turns can be used for the rotation in the low speed region, while relatively small number of turns can be used for the rotation in the high speed region in order to accomplish the desired control the actuation of the induction motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a controlling method and apparatus for actuating an induction motor, and more particularly to an actuating control method for an induction motor suitably applied for controlling a main shaft of a machine tool, which requires a predetermined output in a wide speed region ranging from a low speed to a high speed.
2. Description of the Related Art
A recent induction motor is designed so that a large torque can be obtained in a low speed region with the same primary current value by use of a switching control of primary windings and a slip control.
That is, in a conventional switching operation for the primary windings, there are provided two terminals so that primary windings of Y--Y connection of respective phases are supplied with exciting current from these two terminals. A first terminal is provided to fully supply exciting current to primary winding of each phase for rotation. While a second terminal is provided at an intermediate point of each primary winding so as to supply the exciting current to a part of each primary winding.
Then, the switching operation of the primary windings is carried out in such a manner that electric power is only supplied from the first terminal in the case where a rotational speed of the motor is low, so that each phase winding is fully supplied with exciting current. And, electric power is only supplied from the second terminal in the case where the rotational speed of the motor is high, so that each phase winding is partly supplied with exciting current.
In the case where the motor is controlled through the switching operation of the primary windings as is described above, there was a problem such that an undesirable drop of output occurs when the primary winding is switched from a low-speed winding to a high-speed winding or vice versa where the extent of a rotational speed region exceeds a certain limit, thereby causing a problem such that a constant output cannot be obtained throughout a wide speed region.
FIG. 4 (PRIOR ART) is a graph showing an output characteristics of the motor in relation to its rotational speed, where the actuation of the motor is controlled on the basis of such a switching operation of the primary windings. As shown in FIG. 4, an output of the motor will not increase proportionally even when the rotational speed of the motor is increased to a relatively high speed range as far as the motor is actuated by the low-speed windings.
Thus, even when the winding is switched to the high-speed windings from the low-speed windings, an output necessary for obtaining a predetermined torque will not be generated as far as the rotational speed of the motor is within the relatively low-speed range of the speed region available by the high-speed windings. For this reason, there will occur an output reduction whose phenomenon is shown in FIG. 4 as area a filled with slant lines.

Controlling method and apparatus for actuating induction motor


An expanding valve assembly which includes a closure member supporting at least one segment supported on one side thereof for movement toward a valve seating surface upon movement of the closure member in selective response to valve stem movement. Each segment carries two spaced-apart, parallel wedging-camming surfaces configured to cooperate with complementary spaced-apart, parallel wedging-camming surfaces on the closure member to effect expansion of the segment during closure of the valve. In one embodiment a lift-and-turn mechanism provides selective rotational and axial movement of the closure member during different intervals of movement thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to valves having an expanding valve assembly, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to an expanding valve which includes a valve closure member carrying one or more movable segments which move relative to the valve closure member to effect sealed closure of the valve.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Valves with expanding gates have been taught in the prior art, wherein such valves comprise a gate having a female V-surface formed in the upstream side of the gate, a floating segment mounted on the gate, with a complementary male V-surface disposed thereon to engage and coact with the female V-surface on the gate. This gate assembly is usually positioned adjacent seating surfaces within the valve body to move transverse to the conduit axis (direction of fluid flow through the valve). Sealing during opening and closure is effected by the segment being wedged outwardly from the gate perpendicularly to the stem axis to effect sealing engagement with the seat faces. Examples of such valves are taught by U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,127 (Constantino); U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,488 (Kemp); U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,666 (Alvarez et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,369 (Meyer); U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,404 (Levin); U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,014 (Alvarez); U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,911 (Natho et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,016 (Whaley); U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,099 (Pierce, Jr.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,710 (Tort O.); U.S. Pat. No. 1,995,727 (Wetherbee); U.S. Pat. No. 556,006 (Fletcher); U.S. Pat. No. 1,521,531 (Trowe); U.S. Pat. No. 880,674 (Ladd); U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,113 (Erwin); Danish Patent 50,251 (Lindberg); and United Kingdom Patent 1,022,571.
In expanding valves of the type described, movement of the gate transverse to the conduit axis causes the floating segment to contact a stop structure which arrests further movement of the segment as the gate continues to move. The segment is thereby wedged outwardly so that it sealingly contacts the valve seat. This movement of the segment substantially perpendicularly to the stem axis is effected by the wedging action of the cooperating V-surfaces of the gate and segment.
The wedging action causing expanding movement of the segment occurs in the fully closed or the fully opened position of the valve, and, as indicated, results from predetermined, selectively located fixed segment stops interposed in the path of the segment as it moves with the gate. These segment stops arrest further movement of the segment in a direction parallel to the stem axis. When the gate is moved between the open and the closed positions, the segment is caused to collapse upon, or nest with, the gate as a result to the complementary interfitting V-surfaces.
For smooth and easy operation, and to avoid damage to the valve, it is important that the wedging action of the gate segment occur in only the open and/or closed positions, and that the segment remain in the collapsed condition when the gate is moving between the open and closed positions within the valve body. This prevents unnecessary dragging or binding of the gate assembly against the valve seats at a time when high integrity sealing is not required. Pre-expansion of the segment during travel, referred to as back-wedging, can require excessive torque on the stem to operate the valve, causing the valve assembly to jam, or twist-off and failure of the stem.
The Wetherbee patent (U.S. Pat. No. 1,995,727) is an early expanding valve for low pressure gas mains. A reciprocable gate is provided with a wedge member which coacts with inclined surfaces on the gate. The wedge member is carried by the gate and is caused to engage a shoulder stop to arrest its movement therebeyond, and further movement of the gate effects wedging, expanding movement of the gate assembly into its sealing position.
In the Erwin patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,113), a complex expandable gate valve is disclosed having a first main stem which moves an entire multiple part gate as a unit in reciprocation upwardly and downwardly with respect to the fluid flow passageway, transversely across the valve body. The main stem has a coaxially aligned cam drive shaft having first and second oppositely threaded sections which function to respectively engage the main stem and a central gate block. The central gate block carries a plurality of cam surfaces thereon which are contiguous to each other, and which cooperate with seal blocks which also carry cooperating contiguous cam surfaces that interfit with the cam surfaces on the gate block. The seal blocks are moved outwardly as a result of movement of the central gate block, and the coaxial cam drive shaft is moved by rotation after the entire valve assembly has been positioned across the fluid flow passageway. The cam surfaces formed on the gate block consist of a plurality of contiguous saw-tooth indentations, or triangular steps, in the gate block which cooperate with complementary cam surfaces on the seal blocks. The complicated compound or dual stem structure disclosed in this patent is the mechanism by which the upper central gate block is caused to undergo a reciprocating up-and-down movement within a certain limited range previously established by movement of the main stream to set the gate into position within the valve body.
In the Erwin valve, the outer seal blocks will frequently ride upon, and bear primarily on, only one or at most two of the triangular camming surfaces for the reason that one of the camming surfaces is the highest, and projects out further than the others. This frequently occurs due to the difficulty of machining precisely identical mating saw-tooth surfaces over all of the gate that cooperates equally with all the seal block camming surfaces. The seal blocks consequently will frequently ride on, and bear primarily upon, only a single one of the camming surfaces. It is simply not possible, because of manufacturing tolerances, to predict which of the triangular wedge teeth will protrude out slightly further than the others. Thus, there will be an unpredictable rocking movement of the gate in relation to the seal block due to this very localized support.
The Over patent (U.K. 1,022,571) teaches an expanding valve assembly in which a rotatable valve spindle is connected to a tapered block on which are mounted two ball segments having complementary inclined inner surfaces wedgingly slidable on the tapered block. Each ball segment is forced into the sealing mode by the tapered block as a handle moves the valve spindle.
A spring-loaded detent is fitted to the hub of the handle. This detent cooperates with a vertical groove on the spindle. When the ball segments are free to move, the segments arie rotated by the spindle which in turn is rotated by the handle. Handle rotation is transmitted to the stem by means of the spring-loaded detent engaging the spindle. When the ball segments come to a stop after rotating 90 degrees, the detent becomes disengaged from the spindle groove. Further rotation of the handle reciprocates the spindle via a threaded connection between the handle and the spindle, while keeping the spindle non-rotational.
Resistance must be overcome at the sealing surface on the ball segments to rotate the ball segments. If this resistance at the ball segments is greater than the resistance offered by the detent spring, the spring-loaded detent will become disengaged. Such disengagement is unpredictable and can take place even at very low fluid pressure.


An imaging unit 23 generates an image signal of a captured image. An optical sensor unit 25 generates a sensor signal that has a wider view angle than that of the imaging unit 23 and is according to a spectral characteristic upon obtaining the captured image. A controller 50 determines reliability of a light-source estimation result based on the image signal generated by the imaging unit 23, using a light-source estimation result based on the sensor signal generated by the optical sensor unit 25. For example, the controller 50 classifies the light-source estimation result based on the image signal into categories of light sources capable of being estimated based on the sensor signal, and compares the category into which the light-source estimation result is classified with the light source estimated based on the sensor signal. In a case where the light source estimated based on the sensor signal is not changed when the category into which the light-source estimation result is classified is changed, it is determined that the light-source estimation result based on the image signal is not reliable, and an adjustment value of white balance adjustment is not updated. Then, the white balance adjustment can accurately and stably be performed.

Conventionally, in an imaging device, white balance adjustment is performed using a control value according to a light source upon imaging, such as the sun or a fluorescent lamp. For example, in PTL 1, a captured image is divided into a plurality of block regions, to perform the white balance adjustment according to a color temperature estimated based on an infrared amount detected in each block region. Further, in PTL 2, an optical sensor whose imaging range is equal to an imaging range of an imaging element is used, and using a control value for color correction calculated based on a first photoelectric conversion signal obtained by photoelectrically converting subject light by the imaging element having a first spectral sensitivity characteristic, and a second photoelectric conversion signal obtained by photoelectrically converting the subject light by the optical sensor having a second spectral sensitivity characteristic, white balance adjustment of the first photoelectric conversion signal is performed.

Image processing device, image processing method, and imaging device


This invention relates to a photosensitive color ink composition for a bezel, including (A) a cationic polymerizable alicyclic epoxy monomer, (B) a cationic polymerizable aliphatic epoxy monomer, (C) an oxetane monomer, (D) a photopolymerization initiator, and (E) a colorant, and to a bezel pattern formed using the same.

In recent display instruments, reducing the weight and thickness thereof is regarded as important. To this end, a bezel-less display instrument having no bezel on the edge thereof has been produced. Here, a circuit line located at the edge of a substrate may be undesirably viewed from the front of the instrument, and thus a bezel pattern in a thin-film form is printed on the substrate. In order to form the bezel pattern, a photolithography process or a screen printing process may be performed. In the case of a photolithography process, the cost for forming a pattern is high and the processing is complicated. In the case of a screen printing process, it is easy to form a pattern having a film thickness of 10 μm or more due to the high viscosity of the ink composition, undesirably generating a height difference and making it difficult to form a complex and fine pattern. The use of another method is required.
Particularly, in order to realize additional slimness of instruments, a display panel and a bezel may be formed on a substrate. As shown in FIG. 1, a display pixel circuit is located on the bottom (inner surface) of the substrate and a bezel is printed on the top (outer surface) thereof. When the printed bezel is cured, the material may shrink and thus stress may remain in the bezel, thus weakening adhesion to the glass substrate. Hence, an additional film is attached to the upper surface of a bezel to protect the bezel or to perform other functions. In this case, when the adhesion between the bezel and the film is much greater than the adhesion between the bezel and the substrate, as shown in FIG. 2, stripping may be caused between the bezel and the substrate. In order to prevent such stripping, an adhesion enhancer such as a silane coupling agent may be added, but high-temperature firing is required, and thus the display is liable to be damaged. Hence, there is a need for methods of increasing adhesion between the thin-film bezel and the substrate at room temperature.

Photosensitive colored ink composition for bezel, bezel pattern formed by using same, and display substrate containing same


A method and system of determining whether a mobile station is located inside (or moving into) a repeater's coverage area and using the determination in a handover procedure. An access network may receive from a mobile station communicating on a first wireless link an indication of channel quality for the first wireless link and a second wireless link that serve the same coverage area. The access network may then use the channel quality indicators to determine whether the mobile station is located inside (or moving into) a repeater's coverage area, such as by comparing the channel quality indicators. If the access network determines that the mobile station is located inside (or moving into) the repeater's coverage area, it may also initiate a handover of the communication with the mobile station to the repeated wireless link (e.g., which may include suspending application of a load threshold to the repeated wireless link).

In a typical cellular wireless network, an area is divided geographically into a number of coverage areas, such as cells and sectors, each defined by a radio frequency (RF) radiation pattern from a respective base station). Within each coverage area, the base station's RF radiation pattern provides one or more wireless links, each on a corresponding carrier, over which mobile stations may communicate with the cellular wireless network. In turn, the cellular wireless network may provide connectivity with one or more other networks, such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or the Internet.
The cellular wireless network described above may additionally include one or more repeaters, each of which functions to repeat signals between a base station and a mobile station. Typically, a repeater is employed to extend the range of a coverage area and/or fill a hole in a coverage area. In operation, a repeater may receive signals from a base station, amplify the signals, and then transmit the amplified signals into the repeater's coverage area for receipt by a mobile station. Correspondingly, the repeater may receive signals from a mobile station located inside the repeater's coverage area, amplify the signals, and then transmit the amplified signals to the base station. The repeater may perform other functions as well.
One common type of repeater is a narrowband repeater, which can only repeat signals on one carrier—and thus one wireless link—between a base station and a mobile station. In this respect, when a narrowband router is employed in a coverage area having multiple wireless links, problems may arise. One problem with employing a narrowband repeater in a coverage area having multiple wireless links is that a base station may not be able to readily determine whether a given mobile station is located inside a coverage area of a repeater amplifying one of the wireless links. In turn, the base station may not be able to account for the given mobile station's presence inside (or outside) the narrowband repeater's coverage area during a handover procedure (e.g., an active session load balancing handover procedure), which may result in a dropped call. Accordingly, an improved method for determining whether a mobile station is located inside a narrowband repeater's coverage area and using the determination in a handover procedure is desired.

Method and system of determining whether a mobile station is located inside a coverage area of a narrowband repeater and using the determination in a handover procedure


A power supply adapted for supplying electrical power to a load (108), the power supply comprising: at least one powered full bridge circuit (100), wherein the powered full bridge circuit is adapted for being powered by a direct current voltage supply (106), wherein the full bridge circuit (100) comprises a first output connection (104a), and a first switching means (102a-102d) for controlling the application of electrical power to the output connection, at least one floating full bridge circuit (110), wherein each floating full bridge circuit comprises a capacitor (116) adapted for powering the floating full bridge circuit (110), wherein each floating full bridge circuit comprises a second output connection (114b), a second switching means (112a-112d) for controlling the application of electrical power to the output connection, a stack of bridge circuits (100, 110) comprising the at least one powered full bridge circuit and the at least one floating full bridge circuit, wherein the second output convection (114b) and first output connection (104a) are connected in series, wherein the stack has a third output connection (114a), a passive filter (120) for averaging the voltage across the third output connection (114a) and connected to the third output connection, a load connector (122a) adapted for connecting the passive filter (120) to the load (108), a modulator (124) adapted for modulating the first switching means and the second switching means such that the charging or discharging of the capacitor (116) is controlled while electrical power is being supplied to or extracted from the load (108).

In Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), three gradient amplifiers and three associated magnetic field gradient coils are typically used to provide 3-dimensional spatial encoding of atomic spins located in a magnetic field.
These gradient amplifiers are typically characterized by high peak power (several 100 kW up to 2 MW for present-day specimens) and high precision of the generated current waveforms. Circuits consisting of series-connected full bridges using pulse-width modulation (PWM) have been used to construct gradient amplifiers.
This circuit topology is known under several names, such as "stacked H-bridges", "cascaded H-bridges", or "cascaded multicell converter". A severe disadvantage of the circuit is that every bridge needs an individual, floating power supply that is well-isolated against both low frequencies and high frequencies. Variations on this basic theme are possible, but at the cost of increased complexity and maintaining the need for multiple isolated power sources.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,116,166 B2 discloses the use of full bridge circuits for the construction of a gradient power supply for magnetic resonance imaging equipment.

Power supply, method, and computer program product for supplying electrical power to a load


A molding apparatus includes a rotatable sprue bushing mounted in mold halves and formed with a sprue therein for introducing material into a mold cavity. The sprue communicates with a gate, as an outlet of the sprue, located at a position radially displaced from a center axis of the sprue bushing. Since the sprue bushing is rotated by a ring gear driven by a motor provided in or beside the mold half, the gate of the sprue rotates around the center axis when molten resin is introduced into the mold cavity, and therefore, the molding apparatus can eliminate localization of stress in molded articles, thereby improving quality of the molded articles.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a molding apparatus for molding articles by introducing molten resin into its mold cavity.
2. Description of Related Art
In a typical process of injection molding, molten resin introduced through a gate of a mold flows along an inner face of a mold cavity. When the mold is formed with a single gate, the molten resin flows from the gate, as a center, radially. Depending on the mold structure, the stress of a molded article is localized near the gate, and the material density of the molded article decreases as its position approaches to the periphery of the molded article. If the mold has a plate-shaped cavity, such as for a gear, and also has a center hole, the gate of the mold can not be positioned at the center of the cavity. In FIG. 1, a mold for producing a gear is shown. Since the gear has a center hole 61, three gates 62a, 62b, and 62c, which are equally spaced with each other, introduce molten resin into the cavity.
The localized stress in the molded articles affects the quality of the molded article. When the plate-shaped mold cavity is used for optical disc recording medium and the like, stress in the molded articles causes disunity of birefringent ratio, thereby causing failure of the molded articles.
In FIG. 1, since molten resin is filled from each of gates 62a, 62b, and 62c, each of areas 63a, 63b, and 63c extending radially from the corresponding gates has high material density. In areas 64d, 64e, and 64f outside of the areas 63a, 63b, and 63c, however, molten resin is filled so that material density of those areas is inevitably low. In order to reduce the low density areas 64d, 64e, and 64f, a multiple gate may be effective, but the multiple gate puts the design of the mold under constraints.
When molten resin is introduced into a plate-shaped cavity, such as for an optical lens, through a single gate located at the outer periphery of the cavity, weld lines tend to occur at the area at which edges of molten material flows which are split once are joined again.
By analyses of filling of molten resin into the mold cavity, when molten resin flows from the gate into the cavity, the molten resin starts to flow from a mold face to which the molten resin firstly contacts. The molten resin spreads from the mold face to which the molten resin firstly contacts, as a center, to other section of the mold face. In other words, since the gate is fixed, the molten resin of each injection dose not always flow on the same mold face. Therefore, disunity of the molded articles occurs.

Molding apparatus with rotatable sprue bushing


Methods and systems are provided for controlling the temperature and ratio of gases within a gas mixing tank reservoir and selectively charging/discharging gases from the reservoir to one or both of an intake system or an exhaust system. In one example, a method (or system) may include storing exhaust gas and/or compressed intake air into a gas mixing reservoir, and increasing or decreasing flow of coolant to the reservoir based on engine operating conditions. The stored gases may be discharged to an intake system and/or an exhaust system based on requests from a controller, and coolant flow to the reservoir may be adjusted based on the composition of the gases stored within the reservoir.

Engine systems may utilize recirculation of exhaust gas from an engine exhaust system to an engine intake system, a process referred to as exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), to reduce regulated emissions. Turbocharged engines may include a low-pressure EGR (LP EGR) system, a high-pressure EGR (HP EGR) system, or both. The LP EGR system diverts exhaust gases after the gases pass through the turbine of the turbocharger and injects the gases before the compressor, while the HP EGR system diverts exhaust gases before the turbine and injects the gases after the intake throttle. An EGR valve may be controlled in either example to achieve a desired intake air dilution, the desired intake air dilution based on engine operating conditions to maintain desirable combustion stability of the engine while providing emissions and fuel economy benefits.
However, the inventors herein have recognized issues with the above approaches. An engine system including only a LP EGR system has a long transport delay, as the exhaust gases must travel through the turbocharger compressor, high pressure air induction plumbing, charge air cooler, and intake manifold before reaching the combustion chamber. As a result, it may be difficult to provide the desired amount of EGR to the cylinders, particularly during transient conditions. This is due to the fact that, by the time the EGR reaches the cylinder, the engine speed/load state may have changed and another EGR rate may be desired. An engine system including only a HP EGR system has a reduced EGR delivery time, but the percentage of EGR gases compared to intake gases may be limited and the ability to provide sustained EGR delivery may be compromised by low exhaust pressures. An engine system including a both a LP EGR system and a HP EGR system may experience energy losses due to increased cooling requirements of hot exhaust gases and an increased complexity of valve arrangement. Additionally, the ability to supply secondary air injection to the exhaust system may be controlled by an additional system separate from the LP and EGR systems, further increasing the complexity of the engine system arrangement.
In one example, the issues described above may be addressed by a method for adjusting a flow of coolant through a gas mixing tank reservoir fluidly coupled to each of an intake system and exhaust system of an engine in response to a request to supply one or more of secondary air injection to the exhaust system and exhaust gas recirculation to the intake system via the reservoir, based on a temperature of the coolant entering the reservoir. In one example, the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) may include both low pressure (LP) EGR and high pressure (HP) EGR. In this way, LP EGR, HP EGR, and secondary air injection may be provided to the engine system through the use of a shared gas mixing tank reservoir. The flow of coolant to the gas mixing tank reservoir may be controlled in order to adjust the temperature of the contents of the gas mixing tank reservoir according to engine operating conditions. Additionally, the ratio of compressed air from the intake manifold and exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold may be controlled within the gas mixing tank reservoir to fulfill one or more particular applications based on engine operating conditions (e.g., LP EGR, HP EGR, and/or secondary air injection). By controlling the temperature of the gases and the ratio of the gases within the gas mixing tank reservoir, the gas mixing tank reservoir can be utilized with a wide variety of engine operating conditions to increase engine performance and lower emissions.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Methods and systems for controlling air flow paths in an engine


A photo catalytic filter is configured such that a plurality of plate-shaped members on which a photocatalyst is carried face each other with a gap therebetween, and the gaps form an air flow path. Each plate-shaped member has end surfaces respectively on an air entrance side and an air exit side of the gap. A UV irradiation unit faces the end surfaces on at least one of the air entrance side and the air exit side of the plate-shaped members, and is a predetermined distance away from those end surfaces. An air supply path for taking air from a lateral direction substantially parallel to the end surfaces, and supplying the air to the flow path, or an air discharge path for discharging the air exiting the flow path to a lateral direction substantially parallel to the end surfaces, is formed between the UV irradiation unit and the end surfaces of the plate-shaped members.

Air cleaners having an air cleaning structure that decompose viruses, etc., using a photocatalyst have conventionally been proposed (see, for example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2). Such a conventional photocatalytic air cleaning structure is provided with a photocatalytic filter unit that includes: a plate-shaped substrate that is provided with a large number of air passage pores penetrating the substrate in the thickness direction, and has the front and back surfaces, one of which carries a photocatalyst, such as titanium oxide; and a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) lamps that are positioned to face the photocatalyst carrying surface, and are spaced apart from each other. Air is supplied to the unit from one of the front and back sides of the unit, in the thickness direction, and is then passed through the air passage pores of the plate-shaped substrate, the photocatalyst layer, and the space between each UV lamp. Hazardous matter in air, when passing through the photocatalyst layer, is decomposed and removed by the photocatalyst that is excited with ultraviolet light.
However, in such a conventional photocatalytic filter, the plate-shaped substrate and the UV lamps are arranged in the thickness direction, and therefore, the unit itself has a great thickness. In addition, an air supply path and an air discharge path are provided on the front and back sides of the unit, and therefore, the air cleaner as a whole needs to be thick enough to accommodate these paths. This places a limit on a reduction in thickness or size. There is also a limit on an increase in the number of UV lamps because air is passed through the gaps between the UV lamps. There is also a certain limit on the maximum amount of ultraviolet light with which the photocatalyst of the plate-shaped substrate is irradiated, and the improvement of the irradiation efficiency. For example, even if the photocatalyst is extended and carried on deep portions of the inner surfaces of the air passage pores, it is difficult to efficiently irradiate the deep portions with ultraviolet light.

Photocatalytic air cleaning structure for air cleaner, air cleaner having the air cleaning structure, and photocatalytic filter for use in the air cleaning structure