A noise reduction circuit for AC power, AC power neutral lines, and DC power. In a first embodiment for use with AC power, the invention operates by subtracting the error voltage from an incoming AC signal boosted in voltage by a small boost transformer. In a second embodiment, the present invention reduces noise in AC power neutral lines by effectively operating as a power corrector and reduces unwanted noise on the neutral line at all frequencies without introducing unwanted current in the ground line. In a third embodiment, the invention reduces noise in DC power supplies.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to noise reduction circuits, and more particularly to noise reduction circuits for AC power, flexible noise reduction circuits for DC power supplies, and noise reduction circuits for AC power neutral lines.
2. Discussion of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR §§1.97, 1.98:
Alternating current power supplied by the utilities power grid is contaminated with noise from a wide variety of sources, including electric appliances, computers, equipment having switching power supplies, automotive ignition systems, radio transmitters, etc. These and other sources of noise and contamination leave the power spectrum of AC power dense with harmonic and spurious noise. When this noise is left untreated, it enters sensitive electronic equipment and degrades performance in a number of ways. Specifically, audio and video equipment produce less pleasing results for the end user. Laboratory equipment, imaging equipment, and other commercial and scientific equipment suffer as well.
Prior solutions to the problem of noise in AC power circuits fit into three main categories: passive power conditioners, power regenerators, and power correctors. The invention fits into the category of power correctors, but for the sake of background, a brief statement for each of the categories follows.
In countries where AC power is supplied by two wires, one of which is electrically tied to a ground connection (earth), the power is said to be single ended or unbalanced. The United States is one such country. The line that is tied to ground is called the neutral line. For optimum performance of electrical equipment, it is desired that the noise level on the neutral line be suppressed with respect to ground. Though the neutral line is connected to ground at the entrance to a building, the neutral line is not usually electrically quiet at the service jack (wall) because of voltage drops that occur along the length of the neutral wire in response to current provided by the neutral line. This neutral wire noise is the subject of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention disclosure.
Prior solutions to the problem of noise in the neutral line of AC power fit into two main categories: passive filtering and balanced power regeneration.
Passive power conditioners that address either or both of the aforementioned problems take the form of low pass or band pass filters. They are generally capable of some degree of effectiveness, particularly at frequencies above 100 KHz. In order to address noise contamination close in frequency to the 50-60 Hz power grid main, the filter components must be quite large and expensive. For this reason, solutions in this category that are price competitive for consumer use are only marginally effective.
In the case of the neutral line for AC power, the problem is made more difficult because of the need to avoid a ground fault. A ground fault is a condition in which the ground wire is carrying significant current. This condition is not acceptable by any existing electrical codes. One cannot therefore simply connect ground and neutral together, or tie them together through a large capacitor. For this reason, solutions in this category that are price competitive for consumer use are only marginally effective.
Power regenerators operate as one or more high voltage-high current amplifiers which amplify a 50-60 Hz signal source to the voltage of the utility power. When used in connection with neutral lines for AC power, these regenerators are often configured to produce balanced power. In balanced power the incoming AC is regenerated in split-voltage fashion, where half of the voltage is presented to the hot line and half to the neutral line. The neutral line is therefore treated by this approach.
In both cases—AC power and neutral lines for AC power—regenerators suffer from a low degree of energy efficiency typical of amplifiers, less than 50%. The problem is further compounded by the high degree of linearity that is required from the amplifier in order to avoid the regeneration of harmonic distortion. More sophisticated modes of amplifier operation are able to permit increased efficiency, but with exacerbated complexity and cost. While products in this category tend to be relatively effective, they are also known to be inefficient, heat producing, large, heavy, and expensive.
Power correctors operate by adding or subtracting a small voltage to the incoming AC voltage, to the right degree at each instant in time to correct the incoming voltage to a sine wave. Stated alternatively, the incoming voltage is represented as an error voltage added to a perfect sine wave. Power correctors evaluate the incoming AC, determine how much of the voltage is error, and subtract that error from the incoming voltage. The end result is an output waveform that is sinusoidal, devoid of the incoming spectral impurities. Power correctors have a fundamental advantage over regenerators in that they are not required to process the entire voltage waveform, only the error. For this reason, the amplifiers) involved operates on much lower voltage and the efficiency is proportionally increased.
In the case of AC power, practical realizations of power correctors have suffered from several limiting constraints centering on methods of subtracting the error from the incoming voltage. In one prior art solution, the method of subtracting the error involves the use of an isolation transformer that handles the entire AC power, resulting in a heavy and costly apparatus. In another solution, the error is subtracted through a small transformer in the AC current path. Such an approach has limited effectiveness because of the finite bandwidth of the transformer.
In the case of neutral lines for AC power, to the knowledge of the present inventor, power correctors have not previously included treatment of the neutral line for noise reduction by means other than the passive techniques described and listed above, except in the case of balanced power correctors.
In addition to the noise problems inherent in AC power lines and AC power neutral lines, direct current power supplies are plagued with noise from various sources. First, there is the noise coming in on the AC power grid, as described above. Second, there is the rectifier switching noise. Third, there is noise from the filler capacitors, transformer, and other passive components. Fourth, there is noise generated by active regulator circuits. Fifth, there is noise generated by the load circuit. There are no doubt other sources of noise.
Typically, power supply circuits treat these sources of noise with large filter capacitors aimed at "shorting out" the noise by bypassing it to ground. The effectiveness of this approach is quite limited because the finite effective series series resistance of the filter capacitors in combination with the relatively low source resistance of the power supply limits the possible noise attenuation. Sometimes a high quality film capacitor is placed in parallel with the electrolytic filler capacitor to improve (reduce) series resistance at high frequencies. While this certainly helps, it does not mitigate the underlying problem because sufficiently large capacitance values are impractical.
Other attempts to address the noise problem involve active voltage regulation circuits. Often this approach takes the form of inexpensive three-terminal integrated circuit regulators common in the industry. This approach improves noise levels in the lower part of the spectrum by compressing the noise against a voltage reference, such as a zener diode. The resultant reference voltage is then scaled and amplified by an operational amplifier and presented to the load. Unfortunately, the voltage reference produces significant unwanted noise. To make matters worse, the operational amplifier is normally setup to produce gain greater than unity so that it can produce the desired output voltage from a convenient value voltage reference, and this means that the reference noise is amplified before being presented to the load.
Common to many of the prior art solutions is a custom engineered approach which forbids implementation after the fad, but instead which requires power supply re-design in order to upgrade.
The prior art devices and circuits reflect the current state of the art of which the present inventor is aware. Reference to, and discussion of, this prior art is intended to aid in discharging Applicant's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be relevant to the examination of claims to the present invention. However, it is respectfully submitted that none of the above-indicated prior art discloses, teaches, suggests, shows, or otherwise renders obvious, either singly or when considered in combination, the invention described and claimed herein.


A flat panel display having a black mask EMI layer isolated from Vcom and tied to zero potential. The flat panel display has a integral metal heater layer and thermal sensor that are in close proximity to the liquid crystals to provide efficient heating and temperature sensing.

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal flat panel display. More particularly, in one embodiment, the flat panel display of the present invention has layers of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), or other optically transparent electrically conductive materials, coated on the front and rear external glass surfaces under the front and rear polarizers. The ITO layer at the front of the display acts as an EMI filter. The ITO layer at the back of the display is used as a heater. Each ITO layer may or may not be overcoated on one or both sides with index matching dielectrics to improve optical transmission through the ITO coatings, and/or reduce the optical reflections at the front and/or rear surfaces of the ITO layers.
In an alternative embodiment, the ITO heater layer is placed on the inside surface of the glass plate allowing the ITO heater layer to be closer to the liquid crystal layer. This reduces the thermal resistance between the ITO layer and the liquid crystal layer thus reducing the amount of power necessary to heat the liquid crystal layer. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the black mask or mesh layer, preferably comprised of black chrome, be electrically tied to the chassis. The chassis is at zero potential, thus the black mask acts as an EMI layer. In the preferred embodiment, bus bars are placed along predetermined edges of the ITO heater layer. The bus bars allow for the uniform injection of current into the ITO heater layer. It is also preferred that thermal sensors be placed on the inside portion of the glass and in close proximity to the ITO layer to detect the heat being inputted into the liquid crystal layer.
In another alternative embodiment, an integral metal heater is used instead of the ITO heater layer. The metal heater is applied to the TFT layer and is in close proximity to the liquid crystal layer to provide improved and efficient heating capabilities.
In the another alternate embodiment, a black mask EMI layer is interposed between the front and back glass plates. In the preferred embodiment, the EMI layer is isolated from Vcom and tied to zero potential. It is preferred that the integral metal heater be placed behind the black mask EMI layer so that no portion of the heater is visible and no portion of the heater interferes with the pixel apertures.
In another alternate embodiment, integral thermal sensors may also be layered onto the TFT array layer preferably under the black mask EMI layer. In this embodiment, thermal resistivity is reduced leading to faster response times. It is appreciated, as discussed in further detail below, that features of the alternate embodiments discussed above may be combined to form additional alternative flat panel display designs. For example, a flat panel display may be configured with all of the inventions of the isolated black mask EMI layer, integral thermal sensor and integral heater combined in one flat panel display.
In addition to the features mentioned above, objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent upon a reading of the following description.

Flat panel display having an isolated EMI layer and integral heater and thermal sensors


Disclosed herein are systems and methods of communication between an access point (AP) and a plurality of stations (STAs) operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN). The method includes: transmitting, by the AP, a signal for a receiving STA in the plurality of STAs to initiate a channel sounding process for a communication channel between the AP and the receiving STA; receiving, by the AP, a feedback signal from the receiving STA, the feedback signal carrying a frame including a capability indicator for indicating a capability of the receiving STA; and processing, by the AP, the frame carried by the feedback signal to determine at least one of the following: a Modulation and Coding Set (MCS) processable by the receiving STA, a MIMO detection algorithm processable by the receiving STA, and a maximum computational complexity of the receiving STA.

The IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networking (WLAN) standard defines one of the most widely deployed wireless technologies in the world. The popularity of wireless networking is driven by the ubiquity of portable mobile hand-held devices, and the convenience of untethered communications. With the increasing deployment of multimedia content on the Internet—such as digital video, voice over IP (VoIP), videoconferencing, and real-time applications such as multi-player networked games—along with the deployment of time-sensitive critical applications, there is a strong motivation to support multiple devices, minimize interference between the devices, and improve quality of service to meet more stringent performance requirements.
Wireless local area network (WLAN) communication systems include wireless communication devices that transmit and receive signals, including access points (APs), that function as an interface between the WLAN and one or more further networks, and stations (STA) that exchange signals with the APs.
In some cases, a plurality of APs may work in collaboration to communicate with one or more STAs in a WLAN. For example, the proposed IEEE 802.11be standard is being developed to support a next generation of Extremely High Throughput (EHT) WLAN. EHT communication may be achieved with AP collaboration, which can utilize coordination between multiple APs to minimize interference and improve quality of service for communications with STAs.
In some cases, in a multi-user (MU) scenario, where multiple STAs are receiving signal streams from one or more access points (APs), a STA may not be able to support certain multi-input multi-output (MIMO) detection algorithms.
Improvements are desired to facilitate the coordination of multiple APs in a collaboration mode to communicate with one or more STAs.

Systems and methods for capability indication for a wireless receiving station


To provide a thermosensitive flow rate detecting in which no response lag occurs even if the flow rate change frequency is high, and no error in detection flow rate is produced even if the power source change would occur, a thermosensitive flow rate detecting device is provided which includes: a heat generating resistor provided in fluid to be measured for generating heat by electric power consumed in accordance with a flow rate of the fluid to be measured; a first temperature detecting resistor for detecting a temperature of the fluid to be measured which changes according to the flow rate; and a second temperature detecting resistor for detecting the temperature of said heat generating resistor, further including a bridge circuit provided with the first temperature detecting resistor and the second temperature detecting resistor, the heating current of the heat generating resistor being controlled such that a temperature difference between the first temperature detecting resistor and the second temperature detecting resistor is kept constant, and the flow rate within the fluid to be measured being detected by using the heating current, wherein a voltage in proportion to the heating current of the heat generating resistor is applied to the bridge circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermosensitive flow rate detecting device, and more particularly to a thermosensitive flow rate detecting device used for detecting a flow rate of intake air in, for example, an automotive engine and particularly for enhancing the detection precision for an engine pulsating flow.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a thermosensitive flow rate detecting device is used for metering a flow rate of air sucked to an automotive engine with a detecting circuit structure as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a structure of a conventional thermosensitive flow rate detecting device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 11-351936. The structure shown in FIG. 4 will now be described.
In FIG. 4, the circuit includes a first temperature detecting resistor 3 for detecting a temperature of intake air, a heat generating resistor 4, a second temperature detecting resistor 5 disposed in the vicinity of the heat generating resistor 4 for detecting a temperature of generated heat, a power source 8, a fixed resistor 9, transistors 12a and 12b, a constant voltage power source 13 for applying a constant voltage to a bridge circuit, a flow rate detecting terminal 14, and a differential amplifier 16a. Numeral 15 denotes a flow rate output signal.
It should be noted here that the bridge circuit is formed by the first temperature detecting resistor 3 for detecting the temperature of the intake air, the second temperature detecting resistor 5 disposed in the vicinity of the heat generating resistor 4 for detecting a temperature of generated heat, and the fixed resistor 9. A constant voltage is supplied to the bridge circuit from the constant voltage source 13. An output terminal of the bridge circuit is connected to an input terminal of the differential amplifier 16a. An output of the differential amplifier 16a is connected to the heat generating resistor 4 through the transistors 12a and 12b.
Each circuit constant of the bridge circuit is set such that the second temperature detecting resistor 5 is balanced under the condition that it is a constant temperature higher than the first temperature detecting resistor 3. Accordingly, a heating current is fed to the heat generating resistor 4 so that the input voltage difference of the above-described differential amplifier 16a becomes substantially zero. Therefore, a constant temperature difference circuit is formed in which the second temperature detecting resistor 5 and the heat generating resistor 4 are kept at a temperature that is a constant temperature higher than the temperature of the intake air.
As described above, the constant temperature difference circuit has a characteristic to follow a change in flow rate with high responsiveness because the feedback circuit is formed. For instance, in the case where the flow rate is increased, the second temperature detecting resistor 5 and the heat generating resistor 4 are cooled down, and when the resistance value is somewhat decreased, the voltage of a non-inverting input terminal of the differential amplifier 16a is increased. As a result, the output voltage of the differential amplifier is increased, and thus the emitter current of the transistors 12a and 12b is also increased. Furthermore, the heating current of the heat generating resistor 4 is increased to elevate the temperature of the heat generating resistor.
The temperature change of this heat generating resistor 4 is transferred to the second temperature detecting resistor 5 through heat conduction. Also, the temperature (resistance) of the second temperature detecting resistor 5 is elevated to the original temperature (resistance) to balance the bridge circuit.
Incidentally, during the period until the temperature of the second temperature detecting resistor 5 is returned back to the original one after the heating current of the heat generating resistor 4 is increased, there is only a heat conduction phenomenon from the heat generating resistor 4 to the second temperature detecting resistor 5, and any electrical effect does not work between the heat generating resistor 4 and the second temperature detecting resistor 5. Accordingly, when the flow rate change frequency is high, the response lag from the time the second temperature detecting resistor 5 is cooled down by the flow to decrease its temperature to the time the temperature is returned back to the original one by heating the heat generating resistor 4 becomes a problem. Also, since the alternating current property of the constant temperature difference circuit depends upon the current amplification rate of the transistors 12a and 12b, there is a problem that when the current amplification rate is changed, the responsiveness is changed.
As described above, in the prior art, there is a problem of response lag when the flow rate change frequency is high. In general, in case of the intake air of the engine, the higher the engine rpm, the higher the flow rate becomes. Accordingly, even if good response property with excellent followability is observed in the low flow rate and low rpm region, the response lag is observed for the engine pulsating flow in the high flow rate and high rpm region. As a result, there is a problem of the detection flow rate error. Also, the frequency response property is dependent upon the temperature, and in addition, the higher the temperature, the higher the current amplification rate of the transistors becomes. Thus, in the high temperature range, the responsiveness is high and more resonant, whereas in the low temperature range, the responsiveness is attenuated, and depending upon the situation, there is the response lag resulting in a detection error as described above.
Also, in the case of the power source change, the power source change tends to appear to be imposed with the output signal through the heating current feeding transistor 12a. When the power source change becomes remarkable, there is a problem that the detection flow rate error would occur.
In order to overcome the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a thermosensitive flow rate detecting device in which no response lag is caused even if the flow rate change frequency is high, and no error in detection flow rate occurs even if the power source change would occur.
In order to attain this and other objects, according to the present invention, there is provided a thermosensitive flow rate detecting device comprising: a heat generating resistor provided in a fluid to be measured for generating heat by electric power consumed in accordance with a flow rate of the fluid to be measured; a first temperature detecting resistor for detecting a temperature of the fluid to be measured which changes in accordance with the flow rate; and a second temperature detecting resistor for detecting the temperature of the heat generating resistor, further comprising a bridge circuit provided with the first temperature detecting resistor and the second temperature detecting resistor, for controlling heating current of the heat generating resistor so that a temperature difference between the first temperature detecting resistor and the second temperature detecting resistor is kept constant, and for detecting the flow rate within the fluid to be measured by using the heating current, wherein a voltage in proportion to the heating current of the heat generating resistor is applied to the bridge circuit.

Thermosensitive flow rate detecting device


A saddle riding vehicle includes a fuel tank supported by a body frame through a rear stay that is provided in the fuel tank. The rear stay includes: an upper stay that extends rearward from an upper surface of a fuel reservoir of the fuel tank; a lower stay that extends rearward from a lower surface of the fuel tank. The upper stay and the lower stay are combined with each other at the rear of the fuel reservoir.

Some saddle riding vehicles conventionally known include a fuel tank that is supported by a body frame via a stay provided in the fuel tank (see, e.g., Patent Literature 1). In Patent Literature 1, a rear portion of the fuel tank is supported by the body frame through the stay which is provided on a lower surface of the fuel tank.


A remote control system for a marine vessel includes a helm transceiver positioned on the marine vessel and configured to communicate with one or more fobs, and at least one operator fob configured to wirelessly transmit a fob signal to the helm transceiver on the marine vessel. A controller is configured to receive the fob signal transmitted by the operator fob and to determine an operator distance based on the fob signal. The operator distance is compared with one or more threshold distances, and then a system command is generated based on the comparison of the operator distance to the one or more threshold distances so as to control operation of one or more devices on the marine vessel.

The following U.S. Patents and Applications provide background information and are incorporated herein by reference in entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,199 discloses a keyless marine access and engine control system. The system is caused to change from a dormant state to an enabled state when a sequence of actuation signals entered through a keypad matches data representing either one of two access sequences stored in the system's memory. When the system is in its enabled state, the system responds only to signals representing a keypad actuation exceeding a first predetermined time interval. These signals are used to crank, choke, and stop a marine vehicle engine. The secondary access sequence can be changed by a person who knows either the primary access sequence or the secondary access sequence, while the primary access sequence can be changed only by a person having knowledge of the present primary access sequence. In order to reprogram either access sequence, a programming button must be actuated for a predetermined time interval exceeding the first time interval. The system can be used with either a single or dual engine installation.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,546 discloses a method for starting a marine internal combustion engine that is independent of a continued signal received from a starting switch. If the operator of the marine vessel momentarily depresses a starting switch, a predetermined procedure is followed by a microprocessor which does not require continued involvement of the marine vessel operator. Various parameters are checked during the starting sequence and various actuators are activated to assure a safe and reliable starting procedure.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,081,028 discloses an engine control system for a marine propulsion system that uses a portable control device that is configured to emit first and second signals that are receivable by first and second sensors. The first signal relates to the starting of the engine of the marine propulsion system by the operator. The second signal relates to the presence of the operator, wearing the portable control device, within a prescribed zone surrounding the second sensor near the helm position.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,355,518 discloses a monitoring system that detects the presence or absence of a marine vessel operator within a defined zone near the helm of a marine vessel. The detection is accomplished through the use of a provision of an e-field and the detection of e-field strength by a receiving antenna system. When the operator is in the proper helm position, the e-field strength is diminished by the presence of a portion of the operator's body within the e-field zone.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,284,032 discloses a control system and method for deterring theft of a marine vessel. A security control circuit receives a transponder identification code from a transponder. The engine control circuit has a status that is based on a comparison of a stored identification code with the transponder identification code. The status of the engine control circuit is locked if the stored identification code does not match the transponder identification code and the status of the engine control circuit is unlocked if the stored identification code does match the transponder identification code. The security control circuit determines an arbitrated lock status of the control system based on a conjunctive analysis of the locked and unlocked statuses of a plurality of engine control circuits connected to a network bus, and indicates the arbitrated lock status to an operator of the marine vessel.

Configurable remote control system and method for a marine vessel


An example a semiconductor device includes a first circuit and a second circuit formed in a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a first guard structure formed in the semiconductor substrate and disposed between the first circuit and the second circuit, the first guard structure including first discontinuous pairs of n+ and p+ diffusions disposed along a first axis. The semiconductor device further includes a second guard structure formed in the semiconductor substrate and disposed between the first circuit and the second circuit, the second guard structure including second discontinuous pairs of n+ and p+ diffusions disposed along the first axis, the second discontinuous pairs of n+ and p+ diffusions being staggered with respect to the first discontinuous pairs of n+ and p+ diffusions.

Silicon integrated circuits (ICs) suffer from substrate coupling because the substrates are not good insulators. Coupling electric signals between circuits through the semiconductor substrate can cause noise interference and affect the normal function of the circuits. Thus, reducing unwanted substrate noise is important to ensure the normal function and performance of ICs with silicon substrates in both bulk and Fin Field Effect Transistor (FinFET) technologies.
Various techniques have been employed in ICs to reduce substrate coupling. One technique is to add high-resistance paths in the substrate. Another technique is to add guard rings around sensitive circuits. For bulk complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technologies, the guard rings are continuous, which forms good isolation between circuits. For FinFET technologies, however, the guard rings are no longer continuous in the vertical direction and the oxide definition (OD) width is limited by the maximum Fin numbers in each FinFET technology. In this case, substrate noise can leak through the gaps in the guard rings and cause unwanted noise and interference. The inventors have found the substrate noise to be 30 dB higher in cases of a discontinuous guard ring. As technology advances, the substrate coupling becomes more severe, since the distance between circuits becomes smaller.

Substrate noise isolation structures for semiconductor devices


A brush seal for a gas turbine, in particular an aircraft engine, is disclosed. The brush seal includes a support ring which has a support plate and a support structure, where the support structure is arranged downstream with respect to the support plate. The brush seal also includes bristles which are arranged upstream with respect to the support ring, where ends of the bristles protrude radially inward beyond the support plate. The support structure yields when a scraping force acting radially outward occurs on a first lateral surface of the support structure, where the first lateral surface is directed radially inward, and the support structure does not yield when an axial operating force occurs on a second lateral surface of the support structure.

The invention relates to a brush seal for a gas turbine, in particular an aircraft engine.
Brush seals are used in particular to prevent or at least substantially reduce leakage between a stationary part (hereinafter also called a stator) and a rotating part (hereinafter also called a rotor). A known brush seal comprises a wire ring with the bristles placed around it. A c-shaped clamping ring is often used for affixing the bristles to the wire ring. The bristles usually lie in a plane running perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotating part. In order for the bristles not to be axially displaceable—based on the axis of rotation of the rotating part—toward the side where the lower pressure prevails, i.e., toward the downward pressure side, a means of fixation must be provided. To do so, a sufficiently stable annular support plate is arranged on the downstream side of the bristles. The annular support plate must be designed to be shorter than the bristles in the radial direction toward the rotating part so that there is a clearance between the lower edge of the support plate and the rotating part. In contrast with that, the bristles scrape along the surface of the rotor.
Such a brush seal, which is known from the prior art, is illustrated in FIG. 1, for example. FIG. 1 shows a meridian section, based on the axis of rotation of the rotor (not shown here) through a brush seal 2. In the diagram in FIG. 1, the flow is from left to right, so that the pressure p1 in FIG. 1 is higher at the left of the brush seal than the pressure p2 at the right of the brush seal. The brush seal 2 comprises a support ring 4 extending essentially radially in this sectional view and an annular holding plate 6, which extends essentially radially, and they are connected to one another in the radially outer region 8. In the radially inner region 10 between the support ring 4 and the holding plate 6 a receptacle 12 is provided for the bristles 14. These bristles 14 are coiled around a wire ring 16 and are held on the wire ring 16 by a c-shaped clamping ring 18. The elements 14 to 18 are arranged in the receptacle 12 in such a way that the clamping ring 18 is clamped by the support ring 4 and the holding plate. The support ring 4 has a stiff annular support element 20 directed inward radially, with a lateral surface 21 directed inward radially and an annular mounting plate 22 arranged on the outside radially from the support element 20 and offset therefrom in the downstream direction. The mounting plate 22 is connected here on its downstream side to an L-shaped stator section 24. The bristles 14 protrude radially inward over the lateral surface 21, so that the radially inward directed end 25 of the bristles 14 scrape against the surface 30 of a rotor 26. A central region 28 of the bristles 14 is in contact with the support element 20. A clearance S is provided between the lateral surface 21 of the support element 20 and the surface 30 of the rotor 26.
In the event of damage to the gas turbine, the rotor can shear off radially to a much greater extent than would be expected during normal operation. This may occur in particular when a rotor blade breaks off from the rotor, for example, when a bird strike results in loss of a fan blade in an aircraft engine. Then the rotor is no longer balanced, so the motion of the rotor around its original axis of rotation becomes eccentric. Then, if the clearance S between the support element and the rotor has been designed to be very small, this may result in damage to the rotor because the support element cuts into the rotor. In the worst case, this may result in breakage of the rotor. To reduce the damage to the rotor, the lateral surface of the support plate may be coated accordingly. However, only very small layer thicknesses are possible here. However, if the clearance between the support element and the rotor has been designed to be too large, this increases the bundle leakage so that the sealing effect and thus also the efficiency of the gas turbine are reduced.
The present invention is thus based on the object of providing a brush seal that will not damage the rotor in a damage incident involving the gas turbine and at the same time will offer the best possible sealing effect during normal operation.
The invention relates to a brush seal for a gas turbine, in particular an aircraft engine having at least one support ring, which has a support plate and a support structure, in particular an annular support structure that is arranged downstream with respect to the support plate and having a plurality of bristles, which are arranged upstream with respect to the support ring and whose ends protrude radially inward beyond the support plate. The support structure is designed here so that, on occurrence of a scraping force acting radially outward on the lateral surface of the support structure facing radially inward, the latter will yield, preferably with a spring elastic effect, whereas, when an axial operating force occurs on at least one of the lateral surfaces of the support structure, the latter will withstand this axial operating force.
This support structure is designed so that with a scraping force acting on it radially from the rotor, it yields, preferably with a spring elastic property, without exerting any mentionable opposing force on the rotor, for example an opposing force of less than 100N, preferably less than 50N, more preferably less than 10N. In contrast with that, the support structure does not yield to any mentionable extent or at all when an axial operating force occurs according to the invention. In other words, in the axial direction, the support structure has a stiffness many times greater than its stiffness in the radial direction (the term "axial direction" as used here is always understood to refer to the axis of rotation of the gas turbine, whereas the radial direction is a direction orthogonal to the axial direction). The stiffness of the support structure in the axial direction in particular may be greater than that in the radial direction by a factor of at least 10, preferably at least 100, more preferably at least 1000.
This is advantageous in particular because the brush seal according to the invention thus has a scraping-tolerant design. The previous approaches prevent any scraping contact. Thus the clearance between the rotating part and the support plate may be designed to be as small as possible. The minimal clearance can also occur due to shrinkage in the initial operation of the turbine. This ensures the least bundle leakage.
The support plate, which serves in particular to support the bristles in the axial direction, may be designed to be much thinner than the support structure in comparison with the support structure adjacent to it in the axial direction (i.e., having a smaller extent in the axial direction), preferably less than half as thick, more preferably less than ⅕th as thick, even more preferably less than 1/10th as thick as the support structure. This is made possible because when the bristles adjacent to the support plate on the upstream side exert an axial force on it, so that the bristles can be supported on the support structure adjacent to them downstream; this support structure is designed to be stiff in the axial direction accordingly. This makes it possible for the support plate to be designed so that it will yield due to shearing, bending, scraping, and/or melting in particular as soon as a scraping force directed radially outward from the rotor of the gas turbine acts on the support plate, without any mentionable counterforce acting on the rotor of the gas turbine and in particular without damage to the rotor of the gas turbine, in particular notching. As described in the introduction—this case occurs easily otherwise with known brush seals for gas turbines in an emergency, for example when there is a great imbalance due to loss of a fan blade because of a bird strike, when a rotating component is deflected too much radially and comes in contact with the support plate. Furthermore, the support plate may be closed or slotted. In addition, the support plate may be segmented.
It is advantageous to place the support structure behind the support plate, as seen in the direction of flow, because this offers the option of reinforcing the support plate in the axial direction of loading (i.e., in the direction of flow) by the support structure. Thus the support plate can be designed with smaller dimensions in the axial direction, for example, and can thus be designed to be softer in the radial direction.
Furthermore, since the clearance between the rotor of the gas turbine and one end of the support plate, which is directed radially inward, can be designed to be so small, the support plate significantly improves the sealing function of the brush seal, whereas the supporting function in the axial direction can be handled by the support structure. As described previously, the support plate can be designed to be very narrow in the axial direction and will thus yield much more easily by abrasion and/or melting when an outward directed radial force occurs. Therefore, there is hardly any notching effect of the support plate on the rotor. In particular, the support plate and the support structure may be constructed of different materials. During operation, the support plate may be in contact with the support structure.
The support structure may be made of a flexible material. The support structure here may be designed with open pores and/or may be made of a sintered material. Narrow mesh structures and/or honeycombs are also conceivable.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, there is a clearance between the support structure and the support plate. Furthermore, the support structure may run essentially parallel to the support plate or the support structure may be arranged on the support plate. The support plate and the support structure here may be integrally molded (form fitting, physically bonded or force locking).
This is advantageous in particular because the axial stiffness of the entire support ring can be adjusted by a clearance.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support structure has a plurality of ribs situated in a plane running essentially radially, these ribs being inclined in at least some sections at an angle (β) with respect to the radial direction, such that the angle (β) is preferably between 10° and 40°. The ribs may extend further in the axial direction than in the peripheral direction.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the bristles form an angle of 40° to 60° with the radial direction. As soon as the ribs are inclined to the radial direction, their radially inner ends can yield more easily in the radially outward direction. The radial stiffness can be adjusted through the degree of rib inclination. The ribs of the support structure and the bristles are preferably inclined in different directions with respect to the radial direction.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one of the ribs is designed like a spring and/or at least one of the ribs runs in a straight line.
The spring-type design of the rib offers the possibility of the rib being elastically deformable in the radial direction. The ribs may be c-shaped or designed with a zigzag shape. A rib running in a straight line with an inclination to the radial direction also has a certain elasticity. The end positions of the ribs and/or the locations where the rib experiences a change in direction may act like solid-state joints which promote the spring property of the rib.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, an inner cover band is integrally molded on at least one rib directed radially inward. A plurality of ends of the corresponding ribs pointing radially inward may be integrally molded on an annular inner cover band.
As an alternative to this, each rib of the support structure may have its own inner cover band. Then the radial inner end of the rib may be arranged between the ends of the inner cover band arranged in the circumferential direction or the radial inner end of the rib is arranged on one end of the inner cover band arranged in the circumferential direction. For example, two, three or up to 40 ribs may also share an inner cover band, i.e., five radially inward directed ends of the corresponding five ribs may be integrally molded on a single inner cover band. All the inner cover bands are arranged one after the other in the circumferential direction and form a segmented ring. However, the inner cover bands may also form a closed inner ring.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support ring has an essentially annular mounting plate, which is arranged on the outside radially and on which the radial outer end of the support plate is arranged and/or on which the radial outer end of the support structure is arranged. The mounting plate may be segmented if needed. A brush seal can typically have an annular holding plate, which is arranged downstream from the bristles. Then the support ring and the holding plate clamp a c-shape wire ring with the bristles pointing radially inward.
In addition, preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail on the basis of the schematic drawings.


The present technology relates to a control device, a control method, and a surgical system that enable an operator to implement operation without a burden. A control unit controls a plurality of patterns of operations of a surgical instrument, and an acquisition unit obtains motion information indicating a motion of a user. Furthermore, the control unit controls the operations of the respective patterns corresponding to the motion information obtained by the acquisition unit in parallel using only a single operation performed by the user as a trigger. The present technology can be applied to a control device of a surgical system.

Conventionally, there is a surgical system in which operation of each of a camera and a camera arm is associated with an individual trigger. For example, zoom control of a camera and drive control of a camera arm are carried out using a foot switch unit in which multiple switches are combined.
Furthermore, there has also been known a technique of causing a camera to follow a line of sight position of an operator in the surgical system. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that an imaging angle of a camera is changed without changing a distance between the camera and a gaze point of a user on the basis of movement of the user and the gaze point.
In such a surgical system, operation of each of the camera and the camera arm is specified by a motion or movement of the operator.

Control device, control method, and surgical system


A phase-insensitive ultrasonic transducer has a zinc oxide single crystal as a piezoelectric semiconducting acoustoelectric element, providing high sensitivity and operable over a range of wavelengths of the ultrasonic waves. The electrical conductivity of said zinc oxide single crystal may be selected in the range 10.sup.-8 to 10.sup.-2 .OMEGA..sup.-1.cm.sup.-1. The single crystal can have an attenuation rate for ultrasonic waves of 10 MHz of at least 0.8 cm.sup.-1.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to ultrasonic transducers, to ultrasonic devices and to ultrasonic detection and measuring apparatus. The invention also relates to a method of converting ultrasonic energy into electrical signals and to methods of detection of ultrasonic waves.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Ultrasonic sensing transducers in use at the present time are piezoelectric elements which have phase sensitivity. Such elements convert the acoustic wave into an electrical signal, which is proportional to the average pressure or strain produced in the piezoelectric element. Consequently, since the output signal is proportional to average pressure, it is affected by phase shift and modulation of the ultrasonic waves. This leads to erroneous outputs. Such detectors therefore can be used accurately for unmodulated ultrasonic waves produced by test samples of simple shape, using either echo pulses or transmitted waves. However, it is increasingly desired to use ultrasonic testing in non-destructive evaluation of objects of more complex shape and also in biological and medical fields. Phase-sensitive transducers are inadequate, since they produce erroneous signals if two phase-shifted waves are present simultaneously or if the wave is modulated.
A proposal has been made for a phase-insensitive ultrasonic transducer, using cadmium sulphide as a semiconducting acoustoelectric transducer employing charge carriers which couple to the acoustic wave (U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,244 and a related article "Phase insensitive acoustoelectric transducer" Joseph F. Heyman, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 64(1), July 1978). These references also discuss earlier articles, devoted to the theory of ultrasonic wave propagation and attenuation in piezoelectric semiconductors. Reference should be made to these prior art documents for further explanation of the acoustoelectric effect. These references specifically mention that CdS is known as a photoconductive transducer, employing photo-generated charge carriers. A major defect of an acoustoelectric transducer relying on the photoconductive effect is the requirement for a light source which is cumbersome and lacks sufficient reliability to provide an accurate output from the transducer. The light source is also a source of electrical noise. The references mentioned appear to suggest that a cadmium sulphide crystal can act as an ultrasonic transducer by absorption of the acoustic energy by the free charge carriers in the crystal, but this is stated to require careful annealing for a particular time and at a particular temperature, to provide the maximum acoustic attenuation at the operating frequency. Such a device has low sensitivity and is specific to a given wavelength.
Further prior art which forms background of the present invention is discussed below, following an explanation of the invention itself.


A method of forming a STI structure. First, a substrate having a trench is provided. Next, a conformable silicon oxide layer is grown on the surface of the trench by wet oxidation using single wafer process to serve as a liner oxide layer. Thereafter, the substrate and the silicon oxide layer is in-situ annealed. Finally, an insulating layer is completely filled into the trench.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a semiconductor technology. More particularly, it relates to a method of forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
An isolation region is formed in an integrated circuit for the purpose of separating neighboring device regions thereof and preventing carriers from penetrating the substrate to neighboring devices.
Among different element isolation techniques, LOCOS and shallow trench isolation manufacturing methods are the two most used methods. In particular, as the latter has a small isolation region and can keep the substrate level after the process is finished, it is the semiconductor manufacturing method obtaining the most attention.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section showing a conventional shallow trench isolation structure. In FIG. 1, a pad oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer (not shown) are formed on a silicon substrate 10. The silicon nitride layer and the pad oxide layer are patterned by lithography and etching, and a trench is then formed in the substrate 10 by etching using the silicon nitride layer as a mask. A liner oxide layer 14 is formed by thermal oxidation on the surface of the trench. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) oxide layer is deposited and filled into the trench. The excess oxide layer over the silicon nitride layer is removed by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to complete the shallow trench isolation structure 16. The silicon nitride layer arid the pad oxide layer are then removed.
Because the property of the element isolation structure 16 is similar to that of the pad oxide layer and liner oxide layer 14, when etching liquid is used to remove pad oxide layer, the element isolation structure 16 is inevitably etched so that the liner oxide layer 14 at the top corner 20 of the trench develops a sharp edge, increasingly attracting the focus of the electric field, hence the the insulating properties of the top corner 20 degrades, resulting in abnormal element characteristics.
Moreover, the etching used for forming the trench in the substrate 10 and the thermally grown liner oxide layer 14 induce stresses into the substrate 10. For example, the stresses concentrate at the top corner 20 and bottom corner 22 of the trench, resulting in inducing leakage current. In addition, more operation time is required for growing liner oxide by thermal oxidation, thus reducing the throughput. Moreover, since typical semiconductor factories use batch furnaces for thermal oxidation, the thin film uniformity is varied, reducing the reliability of the devices.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a method of forming a shallow trench isolation structure, wherein a liner oxide layer is formed by wet oxidation using single wafer process at high temperatures to obtain a rounder liner oxide layer at the top corner of the trench and increase the uniformity of the liner oxide layers in each wafer to be fabricated.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of forming a shallow trench isolation structure, wherein in-situ annealing is performed after the liner oxide growth to release stress and prevent dopant diffusion to the STI structure from the device region.
To achieve these and other advantages, the invention provides a method of forming a shallow trench isolation structure. First, a substrate having a trench is provided. Next, a conformable silicon oxide layer is grown on the surface of the trench by wet oxidation using single wafer process to serve as a liner oxide layer. Thereafter, the substrate and the silicon oxide layer is in-situ annealed. Finally, an insulating layer is completely filled into the trench.
The silicon oxide layer has a thickness of about 150xcx9c250 xc3x85 and can be formed at about 1100xcx9c1200xc2x0 C. using hydrogen and oxygen as reaction gases. Moreover, the flow rates of the hydrogen and oxygen are about 10xcx9c16 slm and 5xcx9c8 slm, respectively.
Moreover, the annealing is performed in an atmosphere of nitrogen or nitrous oxide at about 1100xcx9c1200xc2x0 C. for 20xcx9c60 sec. The insulating layer is high density plasma oxide.

Method of forming a shallow trench isolation structure


A versatile baby stroller according to the present invention provides the function of a baby crib, a stroller, a high chair for feeding and a bath pan can be placed on it for the convenience of bathing a baby. The height and the width of the assembly can be easily adjusted for different functions. Moreover, the resting portion and the wheel-frame portion can be detached and the resting portion can be clamped onto a table for convenience. The main structure of the versatile baby stroller comprises a resting portion and a wheel-frame portion. The resting portion comprises a frame body, a push handle, a supporting rod and a foot rest. The wheel-frame portion comprises a H-shaped frame and two legs with rollers and the wheel-frame assembly is located underneath the frame body of the resting portion. The push handle and the supporting rods are made to be inserted into the connecting ends of the frame body, they can be detached and extended laterally, forming with the frame body an activity center for the baby. The food tray is easy to set up and can be rotated around the frame body for storage. The H-shaped frame is inserted into the lower part of the frame body and its height is adjustable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new structure for a versatile baby stroller. More specifically, the present invention relates to a baby stroller which serves to be used as a stroller, a high chair, a baby crib as well as a bath tub for an infant.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The majority of baby furniture and products available in the market today are designed to be used for a single purpose only. Parents spend a lot of money in a variety of items in order to take good care of their babies. These varieties of baby items create an unnecessary expense. For example, a stroller is needed to move the baby around outside the residence, a baby crib is needed inside the house, a high chair is needed for feeding and a tiny bath tub is needed for giving a bath to the baby. Too many of these baby items can possibly create some trouble which includes:
(1) The house looks messy when too many of the baby furniture are around and it is not easy to store them. PA1 (2) In most cases, these baby furniture are mot handy to be carried around. PA1 (3) Baby furniture that are designed with a single purpose are not practical. A stroller is not designed to be used as a high chair and a high chair is not easy to be moved around for the convenience of feeding. It is also uncomfortable for a parent to bent to give a bath to the baby.

4F, No. 7, Alley 9, Lane 250, Sec. 2, Cheng Kung Rd., Nei-Hu


An electrochemical device including at least one carrier substrate, and a stack of functional layers comprising at least one electrically conducting layer comprising metal oxide(s), and a multicomponent electrode including at least one electrochemically active layer, at least one higher-conductivity material and at least one network of one of conducting wires and conducting strips, the higher-conductivity material having a surface resistance which is lower than a surface resistance of the electrically conducting layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to electrochemical devices, in particular of the type comprising at least one carrier substrate provided with a stack of functional layers comprising at least one electrically conducting layer and at least one electrochemically active layer. More particularly, the invention envisages electrically controllable systems having variable optical and/or energy properties, in glazing applications or mirror applications.
2. Discussion of the Background
The reason for this is the increasing demand for so-called xe2x80x9csmartxe2x80x9d glazing whose properties are capable of variation.
Thus, from the thermal standpoint, glazing whose transmission/absorption can be varied within at least part of the solar spectrum allows the solar heat influx into rooms or passenger areas/compartments to be controlled when it is fitted as external glazing in buildings or as windows in means of transportation of the type comprising cars, trains, aircraft, etc., thus allowing avoidance of excessive heating of the latter in strong sunlight.
From the optical standpoint, the glazing allows the visibility to be controlled, and when it is installed as exterior glazing this makes it possible to prevent glare in strong sunlight. It may also have a particularly advantageous shutter effect, either used, as exterior glazing or if used as interior glazing, for example for equipping internal partitions between rooms. (offices in a building), or for isolating compartments in trains or aircraft.
There are many other applications: for example, glazing having variable light transmission/reflection may be used to make rear-view mirrors, which can darken as required in order to prevent dazzling of the driver of the car. They may also be used for road sign panels, or for any display panel, for example so as to reveal the pattern or message only intermittently, in order to attract greater attention.
One particularly interesting application of systems having variable light absorption relates to display screens, in particular those with which televisions and computing hardware are equipped. The reason for this is that this type of glazing makes it possible to improve the contrast of the image, especially taking ambient brightness into account.
The interest which glazing of this type can arouse is the reason for the many systems which have already been studied.
Two systems are of more particular interest for the invention: viologenic systems and electrochromic systems.
Viologenic systems allow the transmission or absorption of glazing which incorporates them to be modified, essentially in the visible region. They generally comprise just one xe2x80x9cactive layerxe2x80x9d based on polymer, on gel or on liquid comprising a so-called cathodic active material, such as viologenic molecules, together with a so-called anodic active material, such as dimethylferrocene or phenazines. Some examples of these are described in patents EP-0 612 826 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,406.
As is known, electrochromic systems include a layer of an electrochromic material capable of reversible and simultaneous insertion of ions and electrons and whose oxidation states corresponding to the inserted and ejected states have a distinct colour, one of the states having higher light transmission than the other, the insertion or ejection reaction being controlled by a suitable electrical supply. The electrochromic material, usually based on tungsten oxide, must therefore be placed in contact with a source of electrons, for example a transparent electrically conducting layer, and with a source of ions (cations or anions), for example an ionic conductive electrolyte.
It is moreover known that, in order to secure at least about a hundred switching operations, there must be associated with the layer of electrochromic material a counterelectrode which is itself capable of reversibly inserting cations, symmetrically with respect to the layer of electrochromic material so that, macroscopically, the electrolyte appears as a single ion medium.
The counterelectrode must consist of a layer which is either neutral in colour or at least transparent or with little colour when the electrochromic layer is in the coloured state. As tungsten oxide is a cathodic electrochromic material, that is to say a material whose coloured state corresponds to the most reduced state, the material used for the counterelectrode is generally an anodic electrochromic material based on nickel oxide or, on iridium oxide. It has also been proposed that the material used be optically neutral in the oxidation states concerned, for example cerium oxide or organic materials such as electronically conductive polymers (polyaniline, etc.) or Prussian blue.
A description of systems of this type is found, for example, in European Patents EP-0 338 876, EP-0 408 427, EP-0 575 207 and EP-0 628 849.
Currently, these systems may be arranged in two categories, according to the type of electrolyte which they use:
either the electrolyte is in the form of a polymer or of a gel, for example a polymer exhibiting protonic conduction, such as those described in European Patents EP-0 253 713 and EP-0 670 346, or a polymer exhibiting lithium-ion conduction, such as those described in Patents EP-0 382 623, EP-0 518 754 or EP-0 532 408,
or the electrolyte is an inorganic layer which is ionically conductive but electronically insulating; these systems are referred to as xe2x80x9call-solidxe2x80x9d electrochromic systems. For the description xe2x80x9call-solidxe2x80x9d applied to an electrochromic system reference may be made to the European Patent Applications EP-0 867 752 and EP-0 831 360.
There are other types of electrochromic systems. Mention may therefore be made of xe2x80x9call-polymerxe2x80x9d electrochromic systems, where two electrically conducting layers are arranged on either side of a stack comprising a cathodic-colouring polymer, an electrically insulating but ionically conductive polymer (very particularly conductive for H+ or Li+) and finally an anodic-colouring polymer (such as polyaniline or polypyrrole).
Finally, there are also xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d systems in the sense of the invention which combine viologenic materials and electrochromic materials, for example having the sequence conducting electrode/inorganic layer or polymer having electrochromic properties/ layers (liquid, gel, polymer) having viologenic properties/conducting electrode.
These systems comprising reversible insertion material(s) are of particular interest in the sense that they allow modification of absorption within a wavelength region which is wider than that for viologenic systems: they can absorb variably not only in the visible region but also, in particular, in the infrared region, and this can make them useful optically and/or thermally.
A point which is common to these different systems, described below by the term xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d systems is that their transmission/absorption state is controlled by applying a potential difference to their terminals, generally formed by two electrically conducting layers between which the electrochemically active layer(s) lie(s). When these systems are part of xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d glazing, the electrically conducting layers are preferably transparent (or at least one of them is transparent if the other is chosen to reflect in the visible region in a mirror application). The material needed when selecting the nature of these electrically conducting layers has therefore to be both sufficiently conductive and sufficiently transparent in the ranges of thickness usually encountered in the field of thin layers. The selection usually concentrates on a doped metal oxide material, such as fluorine-doped tin oxide (SnO2:F) or tin-doped indium oxide (ITO), which may be laid down on various substrates, either hot (in particular by pyrolysis on glass, as in the CVD method) or cold (vacuum techniques of cathodic sputtering type).
However, it has been found that, at thicknesses at which they are still transparent, layers based on this type of material are not fully satisfactory even though they do permit the functioning of active systems.
They are insufficiently conducting and increase the response time of the active systems on application to their terminals of an electrical supply appropriate to change their transmission/adsorption state (the state described below for greater simplicity by the term xe2x80x9ccolorationxe2x80x9d state, even if the modification of properties also operates outside the visible region).
In addition to the fact that they reduce the switching speed of the systems (xe2x80x9cswitchingxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cresponse timexe2x80x9d being the period of time necessary for the entire active system to have changed its coloration state) the layers contribute to the creation of an edge phenomenon, i.e. non-uniformity in the change of state of the system within its surface, with a change in xe2x80x9ccolorationxe2x80x9d in the sense of the invention which is almost immediate in the zones near to the current leads supplying the electrically conducting layers, arranged at the periphery of the systems, and which propagates progressively toward the centre of the surface of the active systems. Now, in certain applications, in particular glazing for buildings or automobiles, the final user generally desires the fastest possible response time and may, in addition, prefer a progressive, uniform change of coloration over the entire surface of the active glazing.
The object of the invention is therefore to improve the performance of the electrically conducting layers of the xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d systems defined below, and very particularly of xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d glazing comprising these latter, the improvement being aimed in particular at their electrical conductivity in association with their optical properties.
A first object of the invention is an electrochemical device, in particular an electrically controllable system having variable energy and/or optical properties, including at least one carrier substrate provided with a stack of functional layers comprising at least one electrically conducting layer A based on metal oxide(s) and at least one electrochemically active layer F. The invention consists in the fact that said layer A is part of a multicomponent electrode E combining with the layer A at least one higher-conductivity material B and/or at least one network C of conducting wires or conducting strips.
For the purposes of the invention, xe2x80x9chigher-conductivityxe2x80x9d describes a material B which, in the form of a layer, has a surface resistance xe2x80x9csurface Rxe2x80x9d lower; than that of the layer A. For the purposes of the invention, again, xe2x80x9ccombinationxe2x80x9d indicates that the elements concerned are electrically connected one to the other, either by direct contact or else through conducting elements/layers.
The reason for this is that increasing the thickness of the layer A to heighten its conductivity (i.e. lower its surface resistance) is a limited solution: firstly in terms of cost and of manufacturing time for the layer in question and secondly in terms of optical appearance: above a certain thickness layers of this type begin to absorb in the visible region. Now, very particularly for active glazing, as required by its application, it is generally desirable to ensure maximum light transmission in the xe2x80x9cuncolouredxe2x80x9d state. The solution according to the invention has therefore consisted in reconciling conductivity and transparency by developing two versions, alternative or cumulative.
The material B defined above may be combined with the layer A in two different ways: according to a first version it may be in the form of at least one layer combined with A and in electrical contact therewith.
The characteristics and thicknesses of the layers may then be optimized so that the multicomponent electrode which combines them has, overall, the required levels of transparency and surface resistance.
A second version consists in incorporating the material B in the layer A, in particular in the form of fibres or of small particles. It is also possible to use a layer A based on doped oxide, for example SnO2: F, which is laid down in a known manner by liquid pyrolysis using appropriate organometallic precursors and adding, to the liquid phase comprising these precursors, fibres or metallic particles, or spraying them at the surface of the substrate simultaneously with the liquid phase (for example fibres with a diameter of the order of 10 xcexcm and a length of about 1 mm). The location of the fibres in the layer is random, xe2x80x9cpercolatingxe2x80x9d over the surface of the substrate coated in this way. In this situation the doped metal oxide of the layer A also fulfils the function of fixing the metallic fibres B.
The third version consists in combining the layer(s) of type A with a network of conducting elements, in particular based on a metal of intrinsically higher conductivity than the material of type A. Actually, as described in detail below, this network may be composed of linear elements visible to the eye at close quarters but sufficiently discreet to be compatible with most of tie applications envisaged in glazing for buildings or for vehicles. It is then advantageous for these elements to be dimensioned and arranged so that their visibility is as low as possible. Generally, success can be obtained by making this network almost impossible to discern, at least when the system is in the coloured state.
It will be noted that, in the same active system, these different versions are alternative or cumulative.
The point common to these versions is that the additional conducting element, namely the material B or the network C, allows the overall electrode formed in this way to overcome a threshold of conductivity, so that the entirety of the electrode experiences the same potential difference at almost the same time as soon as the voltage is applied to the system, and this significantly reduces the switching time and reduces or even eliminates the xe2x80x9ccoloration frontxe2x80x9d effect mentioned above. And this highly interesting technical result is not obtained by compromising the optical quality of the system if:
either this additional element itself has little or no absorbency in the visible region, so that being transparent it does not noticeably change the appearance of the glazing or the range of transmission/absorption within which variation can be made using the action of an electrical supply (type B layer),
or this additional element is sufficiently discreet not to have any adverse effect on the overall aesthetics of the active system (type C network).
The layer(s) A is/are advantageously based on metal oxide rendered conductive by doping. This may in particular be doped tin oxide, in particular doped with a halogen of the type comprising fluorine (SnO2:F) or with antimony (SnO2:Sb), or zinc oxide doped, for example, with aluminium (ZnO:Al) or with tin (ZnO:Sn) or with fluorine (ZnO:F) or with indium (ZnO:In). It may also be tin-doped indium oxide, such as ITO.
According to the first version the layer(s) B is/are advantageously essentially metallic, in particular based on at least one noble metal or based on an alloy comprising a noble metal of the type comprising silver Ag or gold Au or copper Cu or aluminium Al. The layer selected is preferably one based on an alloy of silver with another metal, such as nickel or titanium. The reason for this is that it makes the layer much less susceptible to oxidation, in particular when it is in electrical contact with layers of electrochromic materials in an xe2x80x9call-solidxe2x80x9d system. Gold is a material even less susceptible than pure silver to oxidation, but it is less satisfactory from an optical standpoint, being less neutral in transmission. The combination of a type A layer and a type B layer is of particular interest: as already seen, it allows sufficient enhancement of the electrical conductivity of type A layers with layers B which have low thickness and therefore no excessive adverse optical effect. This is also a novel means of incorporating layers B in electrodes, in particular silver layers, the use of which has hitherto posed the problem of protecting these from attack, in particular by oxidants. Thus type A layers can be used to xe2x80x9cprotectxe2x80x9d type B layers, in particular from oxidation/degradation, the layers A having a double function as protection and electrical conductor, indeed a triple function with an added optical function when the thicknesses of the type A layers are adjusted as a function of those of the type B layers to optimize the optical appearance of the entirety by interference interaction between these different layers. It is thus possible, for example, to reduce the light reflection induced by the layer B.
As mentioned above, the characteristics of the layers incorporated in the multicomponent electrodes of the invention are chosen so that they are essentially transparent in the visible region.
According to the second version the small elements of the type comprising fibres, particles or grains which are incorporated in the layer may be of the metal also mentioned for the layer B: Ag, Au, Cu, Al, or else based on steel, Cr, Ni alloy, etc.
In a first embodiment of the third version of the invention, the network C advantageously includes a plurality of conducting strips, in particular essentially parallel each to the other and obtained by screen printing, using a paste-like suspension of silver-type metal and a low-melting-point frit in an organic binder. The screen printing may be carried out on a glass-type carrier substrate, which may then be covered with at least one electrically conducting layer A in order to form an electrode according to the invention. One version consists in carrying out the opposite operation, namely laying down the network C on the electrically conducting layer A. The technique of deposition by screen printing on glass is known per se for laying down conducting networks for other applications, and very particularly for forming heater networks for vehicle glazing, in order to allow demisting or defrosting by resistance heating. For further details of this technique reference may be made, for example, to the patents FR-1 464 585 and EP-0 785 700. Since the desired function here is different, the specialist will need to determine the strip width and the strip spacing which are most appropriate to give the best compromise between conductivity and aesthetics (for example a strip width of 0.1 to 0.5 mm and a strip spacing of 1 to 5 mm).
According to a second embodiment, the network C includes a plurality of essentially metallic conducting wires, preferably surface-laid on a sheet based on thermoplastic polymer. As for the first embodiment, there are known techniques for laying down conducting wires on films, for example polyvinyl butyral films, which are combined by lamination with glass to form laminated glazing, the network having a demisting/defrosting function by means of resistance heating. It is therefore possible to adapt these techniques, optionally with adjustment of the configuration, the spacing and the dimensioning of the wires, to design a network which, combined with the thermoplastic film, will be pressed onto the type A layer, itself arranged on the remainder of the stack of functional layers of the active system, in particular by a lamination technique. For further details concerning the technique of laying down these wires reference may be made, in particular, to the patents EP-0 785 700, EP-0 553 025, EP-0 506 521 and EP-0 496 669. The wires may be laid down in the form of curves or straight lines. In outline the process consists in using a heated pressure roll to press the wire onto the surface of the thermoplastic film, the wire being fed to the pressure roll from a supply reel with the aid of a wire-guiding device.
According to another embodiment, there may be a wider interpretation of the network C, and this may in particular be two-dimensional, in the form of a fabric, net or nonwoven obtained by weaving or knitting and sufficiently fine and/or with a sufficiently high mesh size not to impair visibility. There may also be introduction of this type of material between the sheet based on thermoplastic polymer which serves in particular for the lamination of the system and the type A layer.
This type of material, which is flexible, may preferably be obtained using metallic wires, in particular with a diameter between 10 xcexcm and 100 xcexcm. The mesh size, the spacing of the knit and the type of weaving may be modified as appropriate. Thus, preference is given to wires with a diameter of from 15 to 25 xcexcm with a knit structure and with mesh spacings of the order of from 1 to 3 mm.
The xe2x80x9cnetworkxe2x80x9d also comprises metallic layers of sufficient thickness to give a severe reduction in light transmission, or even to be opaque, and which undergo treatments so that they are rendered discontinuous. This may be a treatment by etching a metallic layer laid down by cathodic sputtering, where the etching may be effected by laser in order to leave xe2x80x9cwiresxe2x80x9d (for example of width 0.3 mm and separation of 1.5 mm) or a two-dimensional grid. The metal in the layer may be stainless steel, copper, silvered copper, aluminium, or gold in particular.
It is also possible to treat the metallic layer by perforating it to give regularly distributed openings. This metallic layer may also be replaced by a perforated metallic sheet inserted been the stack of the active system and the lamination intercalation (a sheet thicker than a layer, for example with a thickness of from 10 to 100 xcexcm).
If the substrate is sufficiently rigid, as is glass, it is also possible to adapt the screen-printing technology described above by etching shallow lines on the surface of the glass, parallel lines which will be filled with the screen-printing paste, giving a screen-printed network which is particularly discreet and is at the same time conducting.
Provision may advantageously be made for the two-dimensional network C of grid or fabric type, even in the event that it is self-supporting, to be embedded at the surface of the thermoplastic polymer film serving for lamination of the glazing. It may have been preembedded, like the conducting wires mentioned above. It may also be embedded in the film during the course of the lamination.
Rather than the screen printing of conducting wires, these wires may be laid down, for example as tungsten wires, on substrates which may have been previously provided with a conducting layer of doped metal oxide type, and retained at the periphery of the glazing by means of a suitable double-sided adhesive, which can also have a sealing function.
In one preferred embodiment of the first version according to the invention, the multicomponent electrode comprises at least one layer A and at least one layer B in electrical contact, at least one of these optionally being in contact with at least one layer D of dielectric material, and all of the superposed layers A, B and D preferably forming a stack of layers with interference interaction. The stacks of layers found here may actually be rather similar to those used as low-emission/solar protection stacks for glazing in buildings or vehicles, stacks of the following outline type:
dielectric coating{circle around (1)}/silver/dielectric coating{circle around (2)}, with optionally a fine layer of protective metal at the Ag/dielectric interface. The dielectric coating may be a layer or superposed layers based on metal oxide (SnO2, ZnO, TiO2, SiO2, Ta2O5, Nb2O5, etc.) or silicon nitride or oxynitride (SiON, Si3N4) or a mixture. Reference may be made, for example, to the stacks described in patents EP-0 611 213, EP-0 678 484 and EP-0 718 200, or else those used to equip glazing marketed in the xe2x80x9cPlanithermxe2x80x9d range by Saint-Gobain Vitrage. The application here is different and it is therefore necessary to adapt these stacks by replacing one or both of the abovementioned dielectric coatings {circle around (1)} and {circle around (2)} with one or more doped oxide conducting layers (of type A). The interposition of electrically insulating layers between the superposed conducting layers and the rest of the active layers in the system must be avoided. On the contrary, there is no reason not to add dielectric insulating layers to the conducting stacks of type (layer A/layer B) or (layer A/layer B/layer A) on the opposite side from the remainder of the functional layers, for example on the side facing the carrier substrate. The resultant stacks may be of the type:
substrate/dielectric D/layer B (Ag type)/layer A (ITO type)/remainder of the functional stack in the active system.
These layers D then fulfil an optical function and/or a function of anchoring type B layers to the substrate, and/or fulfil a function as a barrier to the migration of species coming from the substrate (for example alkalis coming from the glass). As mentioned above, the dielectric materials may be in the form of oxide, oxycarbide or oxynitride of a metal or of silicon, or be based on silicon nitride.
Some examples of this type of electrode are ITO/Ag/ITO, Ag/ITO and dielectric/Ag/ITO with optional interposition of thin layers of partially oxidized metal at the Ag/ITO interface, the second ITO layer protecting the silver layer while participating in the electrical conductivity of the entirety.
The multicomponent electrodes according to the invention are provided with appropriate current leads of a type known in the art, in particular in the form of metal braids or shims.
As mentioned above, the invention is particularly applicable to an electrochromic system with at least one carrier substrate and a stack of functional layers comprising at least, in succession, a first electrically conducting layer, an electrochemically active layer liable to reversible insertion of ions, such as H+, Li+ or OHxe2x88x92, of anodic or, respectively, cathodic electrochromic material type, a layer of electrolyte, a second electrochemically active layer liable to reversible insertion of ions, such as H+, Li+ or OHxe2x88x92, of cathodic or, respectively, anodic electrochromic material type, and a second electrically. conducting layer, with at least one of the electrically conducting layers in the form of a layer A based on metal oxide(s) and being part of a multicomponent electrode E.
It is also applicable to any viologenic system with at least one carrier substrate and a stack of functional layers comprising at least, in succession, a first electrically conducting layer, a film having viologenic properties in the form of a polymer, of a gel or of a suspension in a liquid medium, and a second electrically conducting layer, with at least one of the two electrically conducting layers being of type A based on metal oxide(s) and being part of a multicomponent electrode E.
The invention thus relates to all the types of xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d system described in the preamble to the present application.
According to the invention it is advantageous for the stack of functional layers to be arranged between two substrates, each of which may be rigid, of glass type or rigid polymer, such as polycarbonate or PMMA (methyl polymethacrylate), or semi-rigid or flexible of PET type (polyethylene terephthalate), all of these being preferably transparent. They may also be absorbent or otherwise.
Another subject of the invention is glazing incorporating the device/active system described above, said device using as carrier substrate at least one of the rigid constituent substrates of the glazing and/or at least one flexible substrate combined by lamination to one of the rigid constituent substrates of said glazing.
Another subject of the invention is the use of the device and of the glazing described above for making glazing for buildings, in particular exterior glazing or internal partition glazing or door glazing or roof windows, glazing equipping internal partitions or windows or roof windows in means of transport of the type comprising trains, aircraft, cars and boats, glazing for display screens of the type comprising computer or television screens, or touch screens, or spectacles, camera lenses or protection for solar panels.
Another subject of the invention is the use of the device described above for making electrochemical energy-storing devices of battery or fuel-cell type, and the batteries and cells themselves. The reason for this is that it is of very particular interest for battery applications to use the version of the invention consisting in the use of an electrode comprising a perforated metallic sheet or metallic grid. Since batteries are frequently produced on rather thin plastic substrates (of PET type, about 30 xcexcm) if the conducting layers are flexed they are in danger of losing their electrical continuity. A thicker metallic xe2x80x9cgridxe2x80x9d allows this continuity to be assured more effectively.

Electrochemical device such as an electrically controlled system with variable optical and/or energy properties


Disclosed is an array of light emitting semiconductor components for use in a digital printer. Each component includes a driver and at least one light emitting device. The array includes data buses connecting to first subsets of components, forming a first partition of said component. The array further includes auxiliary buses connecting to second subsets of components, forming a second partition of the components. The first partition and the second partition are chosen such that each component can be uniquely identified by the subset of the first and second partition to which it belongs. The data buses are configured to supply instructions to the first subsets of components. Each component is configured to extract instructions on the basis of its membership of a particular subset according to the second partition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of digital printing, in particular to linear LED arrays for use in digital printing apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
In known systems, an array of light emitting semiconductor components is supplied with information via a limited number of 8-bit parallel input interfaces, each input interface supplying a set of adjacent light emitting semiconductor components with light pattern data, the data being shifted through from one component to the next (a sort of store-and-forward scheme). Although this arrangement requires minimal wiring, it severely limits the achievable data rate.
It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a linear array of light emitting semiconductor components that at least partially overcomes this disadvantage.

Linear LED array for digital printing apparatus