A leaf spring system, in particular for influencing a least one body operating or comprising one or more contacts of an electric switch, with a frame aperature and at least one leaf spring which can act on the at least one body. The leaf spring system comprises a supporting frame for receiving the leaf spring in the frame aperture thereof. The spring is supported at one end and has another projecting free end whereby the one body to be influenced by the spring action is accommodated between this other end and the supporting frame. The dimension of the body in the frame aperture is greater than the distance between the edge of the supporting frame and the free end of the at least one leaf spring when the latter is situated essentially in the plane of the supporting frame. The supporting frame is secured against movement relative to the leaf spring and body. The invention further relates to electric switches provided with such a leaf spring system.

The invention relates to a leaf spring system, in particular for influencing at least one body operating or comprising one or more contacts of an electric switch, with a chassis and at least one leaf spring which can act on the at least one body. The invention also relates to leaf spring combinations to be used with and to electric switches provided with such a leaf spring system.
A leaf spring system of this type is for instance known from German Patent Specification DE-C-3,326,220.
In electric switches various switching functions are fully or partially dependent on a spring system. For example, spring systems are used, inter alia, for obtaining the force with which contacts are held against each other (contact force), in order to meet certain conditions under which the contacts have to open or close (threshold values), for achieving a desired switching speed etc. The choice of the spring system greatly affects both the working of the switch and the design thereof.
In most known spring systems helical tension or compression springs are used. These springs act with one end on the body to be influenced, for example a contact arm, while the other end is attached to the housing or the chassis of the switch. The forces exerted by these springs also act on the attachment of the spring to the housing or the chassis. In particular when relatively great forces have to be exerted, this attachment, and therewith the housing or the chassis, will have to be sturdy enough to absorb such great forces.
Moreover, a spring for achieving a particular function, for example for producing the contact force, often works badly, i.e. counterproductively, for producing another switching function such as, for example, the contact opening speed. In order to keep the effect of this poor working to a minimum, an additional requirement which is often set is that the working of the spring system must be degressive. This means that the influence of, for example, the contact force spring when another switch function comes into operation, for example the opening of the contacts, must decrease very rapidly and in some cases must even reverse its direction of operation. In order to make it possible to comply with such a requirement, the action point of the spring on the body to be influenced, the attachment point of the spring to the housing or the chassis and the rotation or hinge point of the body to be influenced are geared to each other in the overall construction in such a way that a decreasing couple or even one reversing in direction is produced. However, such a solution requires a relatively complex construction of springs and levers, such as for example that disclosed in European Patent Application EP-A-127,784.
A complex spring system is also necessary if a linear movement of, for example, a contact arm has to be carried out instead of a rotary movement. In order to obtain a degressive action, use will also have to be made here of lever systems and the like. With such complex constructions it is also so that if, in order to obtain as compact a construction as possible, one wishes to reduce the size of the moment arm of the body to be influenced by the spring action, the force to be produced by the spring will have to increase while the couple remains the same. The consequence of this again is that the spring itself will have to be stronger and thus larger, so that part of the envisaged space saving effect is wiped out. Furthermore, the action point and thus also the housing or the chassis will have to be designed for this greater force.
The leaf spring system disclosed in the above mentioned German Patent Specification 3,326,220 also has the disadvantage that the tension exerted on the housing or the chassis of the electric switch by the leaf spring acts on and causes wear in the hinge points of the leaf spring or of the body influenced by the leaf spring which are situated in the housing or the chassis. Since the housing or the chassis is generally made of plastic, these hinge points therefore require great attention and, particularly in the case of relatively great forces to be exerted by the leaf spring, must be of a special design and/or material composition.
The French Patent Specification 2,057,181 discloses also a leaf spring system for influencing the contact mechanism of an electric switch. The leaf spring can be brought in tensed position by means of a control knob and a connecting rod, said connecting rod being forced along a guide member. In tensed position, the leaf spring exerts a force on the contact mechanism as well as on the control knob, in particular their attachment or hinge points to the housing or chassis of the switch.
Of course, the housing or the chassis must be sufficiently sturdy to withstand the forces exerted on them by the leaf spring. For the abovementioned reasons, leaf spring systems of this type are seldom used in electric switches and only then if relatively small forces have to be exerted.
The object of the invention is therefore to produce a leaf spring system by means of which the abovementioned disadvantages of the known spring systems are eliminated, and in which the leaf spring system can also be simple and compact in design and can easily be adapted to the spring action required for a particular application, and comprises or needs a minimum of parts or aids.
This is achieved according to the invention in that the leaf spring system comprises a supporting frame for receiving in the frame aperture thereof, supported at one end, the at least one leaf spring, while in the frame aperture between the projecting free end of the leaf spring and the edge of the supporting framesituated opposite that end--the at least one body to be influenced by the spring action can be accommodated the dimensions of said body in the frame aperture being greater than the distance between the said edge of the supporting frame and the free end of the at least one leaf spring when the latter is situated essentially in the plane of the supporting frame, said supported frame being rigidly supported by the chassis.
In this context, with the term "rigidly supported" it is meant that said supporting frame is beared on the chassis, such that the supporting points for the at least one body to be influenced by the spring action and the at least one leaf spring of said supporting frame have a relative fixed position. For instance, this can be achieved by bearing the supporting frame on all sides or by using a suitable designed chassis for at least fixing the said supporting points. A supporting frame which is sufficiently rigid may be for instance mounted at the end sides thereof.
The leaf spring system according to the invention constitutes for virtually the most part a socalled closed force system, which means that the tension exerted by the leaf spring is largely absorbed by the combination of the leaf spring, the body and the supporting frame. This means that much lower strength requirements are needed for the housing or the chassis in which the leaf spring system according to the invention is mounted, compared to the known leaf spring systems, which results in a lower wall thickness and also a lower production accuracy, since no further requirements need be laid down for positioning and design of attachment points.
Even in switches in which relatively great forces have to be exerted by the leaf spring, the leaf spring system according to the invention can be mounted directly in a housing of, for example, plastic. The leaf spring system according to the invention is both simple in design and compact in construction, so that the dimensions of the switch in which such a leaf spring system is used can be smaller than corresponding switches with a spring construction provided with lever systems, coil springs and the like.
It is pointed out that U.S. Pat. No. 2,685,007 discloses a leaf spring system for use in an electric switch, comprising a frame, in the frame aperture of which a leaf spring and a body to be influenced by the leaf spring is accommodated. However, the frame actively takes part in the spring action of the leaf spring system. Such, in that the frame is movably positioned for acting as a bending spring, in order to achieve the specified switching function.
In contrast to the supporting frame according to the invention, the frame in this known leaf spring system is not rigidly supported by a chassis, such that only a force action transverse to the frame aperture can be effectively used, i.e. in the direction of movement of the frame. Because of the rigid support of the supporting frame according to the invention, the tension in longitudinal direction of the leaf spring can be used, for instance to achieve a specified contact force or switching speed. The tension in longitudinal direction of a leaf spring can be a multiple of the said force in transverse direction.
British Patent Specification 538,317 discloses also a leaf spring system with a frame, in the frame aperture of which a body is accommodated on which two leaf springs are acting. However, the frame is also movably supported to achieve the desired spring action. This embodiment differs further from the leaf spring system according to the invention, in that the body is not supported by an edge of the frame, but by the free ends of the opposite leaf springs. Even by rigidly supporting said frame according to the invention, it is not possible to use the bending force of the leaf springs, because putting one leaf spring under tension results in a deflection of the other leaf spring, as a consequence of which the position of the supporting point of the body of said other leaf spring is moved.
Further it is pointed out that German Patent Application DE-A-3409393 also discloses a spring system and an electric switch in which the force exerted by the spring is not transferred directly to the housing or the chassis of the switch either. However, this is not a leaf spring system, nor is it a leaf spring system which is integral with a supporting frame such as that in the invention. Besides, the force exerted by the spring does not lie in the plane of a frame as in the case of the invention. Deformation of the supporting frame is therefore quite possible here.
The supporting of the leaf spring by the supporting frame is achieved in an embodiment of the spring system according to the invention in such a way that the at least one leaf spring at the supported end thereof is integral with the supporting frame and extends from this end into the frame aperture.
Depending on the required spring force, the length of the leaf spring and its deflection relative to the frame aperture, such great bending stresses can occur on the transition between the leaf spring and the supporting frame that cracks occur or the spring material is stressed even to above its yield point, which in the end leads to rupture. Particularly in compact, relatively small switches with high contact force and/or switching speed, it is advantageous to use the leaf spring system according to a further embodiment of the invention, which is characterized in that the at least one leaf spring is detachably supported in the frame aperture.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, this method of supporting is achieved in such a way that a supporting element for detachably supporting the at least one leaf spring is disposed in the frame aperture between the end of the at least one leaf spring to be supported and a further edge--situated opposite that end--of the supporting frame. The bending force acting in the supporting point on the leaf spring is now transferred to the supporting frame via the hingedly supported end thereof and the supporting element, so that the bending stresses occurring in the supporting point are greatly reduced compared with the embodiment in which the leaf spring is integral with the supporting frame. According to the invention, the supporting element can be a further body of an electric switch to be influenced by the spring action.
With the leaf spring system according to the invention it is fairly simple to obtain the required degressive action. For this, it is only necessary to make a suitable selection relative to each other of the points of action of the end of the leaf spring and the opposite edge of the supporting frame on the body to be influenced by the spring action. With a proper selection of the points of action and the shape of the body, it is possible to produce either a rotary or a linear movement thereof, so that the leaf spring system according to the invention can be used in various types of electric switches. The size and direction of the force exerted by the leaf spring on the body can also thus be determined.
An embodiment of the leaf spring system according to the invention provided with at least one body to be influenced by the at least one leaf spring, with which such degressive action is obtained that the spring action changes direction, is characterized in that the at least one body comprises an arm which projects from the frame aperture and can make a rotary movement about the opposite edge of the supporting frame, said arm being capable of producing such bending of the at least one leaf spring that when the arm is moved against the spring action past a transition point, the spring action thereon reverses direction and the at least one leaf spring can exert a force on the arm in this reversed direction of movement.
An embodiment of the leaf spring system according to the invention which is advantageous for practical applications in an electric switch is characterized in that the leaf spring system comprises two leaf springs which extend in line with each other from a common frame part for supporting the leaf springs, in such a way that the free ends of said leaf springs each point in an opposite direction, each free end of the respective leaf springs being able to act on an appropriate arm.
Such a construction with two arms can also be achieved advantageously in that the further body comprises a similar arm, the distance between the two bodies in the frame aperture being smaller than the length of the at least one leaf spring when the latter is situated essentially in the plane of the supporting frame. The leaf spring here is thus hingedly clamped in the frame aperture between the two arms. The two arms can project in the same direction or in opposite directions from the plane of the frame aperture.
Instead of rotary arms, movable contact blocks can, for example, also be incorporated in the frame aperture as a body. According to yet another embodiment of the leaf spring system according to the invention, this is achieved through the fact that the at least one body is hingedly connected to the free end of the at least one leaf spring and is movable in a direction at right angles to the opposite edge of the supporting frame.
Such a spring system can also be further constructed according to the invention in such a way that the at least one body under the influence of the at least one leaf spring can assume a first position in which the body is removed from the opposite edge of the supporting frame and a second position in which the body rests under spring force against the opposite edge of the supporting frame.
In order to reduce the mechanical stresses working in the supporting point of the leaf spring and/or in order to obtain an envisaged spring action, the leaf spring can be shaped as required, deviating from its rectangular basic shape. For a reduction of the mechanical stresses in the supporting point, the leaf spring can be widened out towards its end which is to be supported, being for example trapezoidal. The free end of the leaf spring acting on the body can be made in widened form in order to bring about good distribution of the forces in the action point with the body. The at least one leaf spring can to this end also consist of several spring strips connected to each other at one end.
A compact construction of an electric switch with a leaf spring system according to the invention, in addition to a minimum of parts, is also achieved in that the leaf spring may be loaded to its breaking limit, so that with this leaf spring great forces can be exerted, thereby making it possible to select a small moment arm, so that the construction of the switch can be compact in certain respects. Through the largely closed force construction of the spring system, the housing or the chassis by which the supporting frame is supported can still be kept light in construction.
The leaf spring and the supporting frame can be made of a strip of spring material by punching, stamping, spark erosion or etching.

Leaf spring system and an electric switch provided with such a leaf spring system


The invention relates to a raw image encoder for encoding a raw image of a predetermined color pattern according to which the raw image is partitioned into pixel cell blocks, each pixel cell block comprising four pixels, each pixel being associated with one of three base colors so that each pixel cell block comprises, for each of the three base colors, at least one pixel, the raw image encoder configured to subject the raw image to a color transformation to obtain a color image, by mapping, for each pixel cell block, the four pixels of the pixel cell block onto a color component quadruple forming a sample of the color image, the color component quadruple comprising three color component values of a target color space, and one pseudo color component value, and subject the color image to a multi-component picture encoding to obtain a compressed data stream.

Image capturing devices as cameras are often based on single or multiple sensor chips. The sensors of the cameras based on a single sensor chip may have multiple photosensitive pixel cells. Said pixel cells may each be provided with color filters having different or similar colors on top of each of the photosensitive pixel cells. The filters enable each pixel cell of the image sensor to capture multiple light spectra or color components for each pixel as a basic image component.
One of the frequently used color filter pattern is a so called "Bayer" pattern, wherein a color filter array is provided for arranging red, green and blue (RGB) color filters on a square grid of photosensitive pixel cells. The Bayer pattern is provided with a set of red, green and blue color filters on top of a four pixel cell block each to create one red, one blue and two green sensitive pixels. The captured values from these pixel cells are called raw data.
Since each pixel is filtered to record one of three colors, the data from each pixel cannot fully specify each of the red, green, and blue values on its own. However for displaying a color image at least 3 color values for each pixel cell position are necessary. To obtain a full color image, an algorithm can be used to interpolate a set of red, green, and blue values for each pixel. These algorithms make use of the surrounding pixels of the corresponding colors to estimate the values for a particular pixel.
For this reason the raw data can be processed to three color components values (typically RGB values) for each pixel cell position. This process is known e.g. as a "demosaicing" process. This can be done by linear interpolation of same colored pixel cells or a more sophisticated method. In this process the raw data will disadvantageously be expanded to an RGB image and the amount of data is increased by a factor of 3.
It is a purpose of the present disclosure to overcome the drawbacks associated with raw images and to allow for an easier handling thereof in order to, for instance, allow for an easier encoding of raw data images.

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.


A method of suppressing tumor formation in a vertebrate by administering JE/MCP-1 is described. Also described are methods of treating localized complications of malignancies and methods of combatting parasitic infection by administering JE/MCP-1.

Cancer results when a vertebrate""s own cells become malignant. Healthy individuals at any given time carry potentially malignant cells in their body. These cells are generally recognized and killed by the individuals"" immune system. However, some malignant cells are not destroyed by the immune system and proliferate into tumors.
Currently, there are not adequate and specific therapies for cancer. For example, surgical excision of tumors is not an effective method of treatment where the cancer has metastasized. In addition, radiation and chemotherapy often kill normal cells in addition to cancerous cells.
Another problem is that chemotherapeutic agents follow first-order kinetics. As a result, a constant percentage, rather than a constant number of cells are killed by a given application of a chemotherapeutic agent. Consequently, malignant cells, which could cause a relapse in the disease, remain even when a patent is diagnosed as having complete clinical remission.
A method of suppressing cancer that employs the individual""s own immune system would be useful.
The present invention relates to Applicant""s finding that expression of the JE/MCP-1 protein in malignant cells suppresses their ability to form tumors in vivo. Thus, the invention comprises, in one embodiment, a method of suppressing tumor formation in a vertebrate by administering to the vertebrate a therapeutically effective amount of JE/MCP-1. The protein can be administered alone or as an adjuvant to surgery or cytotoxic chemotherapy.
The suppressive effect of JE/MCP-1 depends on the induction of the vertebrate""s immune response, specifically the response of monocytes. Thus, in another embodiment, the invention comprises a method of increasing a vertebrate""s monocyte-mediated tumoricidal activity in vivo by administering to the vertebrate an effective amount of JE/MCP-1.
JE/MCP-1 can also be administered to treat localized complications of malignancy. For example, JE/MCP-1 could be used to inhibit malignant pleural effusions or ascites. Therefore, in a further embodiment, the invention comprises methods of inhibiting pleural effusion or ascites in a vertebrate by locally administering JE/MCP-1 to the anatomic spaces between the lung and the pleural membrane or the stomach and the peritoneum.
In a further embodiment tumor killing cells, such as tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL cells) are genetically engineered to express the JE/MCP-1 protein. The engineered cells therefore can be administered to a vertebrate to provide a synergistic local tumor cell killing.
In the alternative, any cell type which localizes to, or can be made to localize to a site of tumor formation can be genetically engineered to express JE/MCP-1 protein and used for gene therapy. Cells can be engineered in vivo, at the site of tumor formation, or they can be engineered Ad vitro, and subsequently administered to a vertebrate where they will express JE/MCP-1 at the site of tumor formation.
The presence of JE/MCP-1 in vivo is accompanied by a local increase in the presence of eosinophils. Therefore, another aspect of the subject invention comprises methods of combatting a parasitic infection in a vertebrate animal by administering to that vertebrate an effective amount of JE/MCP-1.
A major advantage of using JE/MCP-1 in treating cancer is that it employs the individual""s own immune system and therefore would have fewer side-effects than conventional chemotherapies. In addition, JE/MCP-1 stimulates monocytes and, as such, does not depend on a total immunologic response.

Suppressing tumor formation using cells expressing JE/monocyte chemoattractant protein-1


An infrared (IR) simulator is disclosed in which an array of pixels is defined on an insulative substrate by resistor bridges which contact the substrate at spaced locations and are separated from the substrate, and thereby thermally insulated therefrom, between the contact locations. Semiconductor drive circuits on the substrate enable desired current flows through the resistor bridges in response to input control signals, thereby establishing the appropriate IR radiation from each of the pixels. The drive circuits and also at least some of the electrical lead lines are preferably located under the resistor bridges. A thermal reflector below each bridge shields the drive circuit and reflects radiation to enhance the IR output. The drive circuits employ sample and hold circuits which produce a substantially flicker-free operation, with the resistor bridges being impedance matched with their respective drive circuits. The resistor bridges may be formed by coating insulative base bridges with a resistive layer having the desired properties, and overcoating the resistive layers with a thermally emissive material. The array is preferably formed on a silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) wafer. Arrays of electromagnetic radiation bridge detectors may also be formed, with the bridges having either resistor, thermocouple or Schottky junction constructions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to systems for simulating an infrared image for use in testing infrared seekers. It also relates to detector arrays for electromagnetic radiation including infrared and microwave.
2. Description of the Related Art
It would be highly desirable to be able to simulate a real-time infrared (IR--roughly 0.7-20 microns wavelength) image that is substantially free of flicker. This would provide an effective way to test IR detectors, also referred to as "seekers" and "focal plane arrays". At present, problems of excessive flicker impose a serious constraint on IR simulation systems. A basic problem with image flicker is that it creates a false target indication, since flicker corresponds to a change in the temperature of the IR image. Unlike the human eye which integrates light flicker over a period of about 30-50 msec., IR detectors integrate flickers over periods of only about 1-5 msec. Thus, there is a significant range over which flicker (in the visible spectrum) would not be detected by the human eye but would be picked up by an IR detector if it is within the IR spectrum.
Excessive flicker has been avoided heretofore with the use of a Bly cell to project a static image that has been applied to the cell. Bly cells are described in Vincent T. Bly, "Passive Visible to Infrared Transducer for Dynamic Infrared Image Simulation", Optical Engineering, Nov./Dec. 1982, Vol. 21, No. 6, pp. 1079-1082. However, the requirement that this type of system be operated with a static image is a significant limitation, since a more meaningful test of IR detectors calls for the detection of images that can change in real-time.
A prior attempt to produce an IR simulation system with a real-time image involved the formation of a video image by a cathode ray tube (CRT). The CRT video image was applied as an input to a liquid crystal light valve (LCLV), to which an IR readout beam was applied. The LCLV modulated the IR readout beam with the video image from the CRT to produce a corresponding IR video image. See S. T. Wu et al, "Infrared Liquid Crystal Light Valve", Proceedings of the SPIE, Vol. 572, pages 94-101, August, 1985.
This approach unfortunately was found to result in a substantial amount of flicker. The problem is that the illuminated pixels on the CRT screen decay in intensity over time prior to the next electron beam scan. This causes an undesirable intensity gradient to appear on a projected IR image from an IR-LCLV which is coupled to the CRT, and an IR detector will then detect a non-uniform image. Because the detector is generally looking for intensity gradients, or edges, by which its associated algorithms determine the presence of "targets", such intensity gradients are misleading. While this problem could theoretically be solved by synchronizing the IR detector scan with the CRT electron beam scan, such synchronization may not be desired in many applications. Thus, although an IR-LCLV has the capability of projecting high resolution, high dynamic range, real-time simulated IR images when compared to a Bly cell, this advantage is mitigated by the CRT pixel decay. Furthermore, electrically driven matrix emitter devices have flicker if driven with simple RC-type pixel addressing circuits, since the RC decay is similar in effect to the phosphor decay of the CRT.
Modifications of the basic CRT-LCLV system described above might be envisioned to reduce or eliminate flicker, but they introduce other problems. In one such modification, two storage CRTs are provided with shutters in front of each screen. Operation is alternated between the two CRTs by means of the shutters, so that they are alternately applied to the LCLV. By staggering the video data frames between the two CRTs, the phosphor decay seen by the LCLV could theoretically be reduced significantly. However, in such a system, it may be difficult to implement the very fast shutter coordination that would be necessary to substantially avoid flicker. Furthermore, storage CRTs are non-uniform, resulting in image differences and consequent flicker.
Another approach would be to use a single CRT, but to increase the frame rate of the Raster scan from the conventional rate of about 30 Hz to a much higher rate, perhaps about 1,000 Hz. The CRTs of the future may provide higher bandwidths than that presently attainable, thereby making this approach more attractive.
A possible approach which does not provide real-time addressable images is the use of a "flicker-free" film or slide projector like the SCANAGON.RTM. device produced by Robert Woltz Associates, Inc. of Newport Beach, Calif. and disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,113,367 and 4,126,386, or a comparable image projector. While the potential may exist for this limited technique, it has not been demonstrated to provide jitter-free and flicker-free images. Furthermore, this method will not provide real-time electronically updatable imagery.
In addition to flicker-free images, it is very important for an IR simulation system to achieve high spatial resolution, large dynamic temperature ranges and fast response. Spatial resolutions should be at least 500.times.500 pixels, with flicker less than 1%. For some applications frame rates should be 100 Hz or greater, and the dynamic thermal range should ideally be from near room temperature (some applications require cooled background temperatures) to 1,000.degree. C., particularly in the 3-5 micron spectral range. This combination of dynamic range and response time requirements is difficult for commercially available liquid crystals to achieve. Furthermore, most IR simulation applications require the simulator to be mounted on the two-axis target arm of a Carco table, which is then moved relative to the IR seeker being tested. For this purpose weight and size limitations are very important. The liquid crystal based IR simulator requires a large blackbody source, typically in excess of 100 pounds, and an expensive wire grid polarizer to be mounted with the active matrix. This reduces the mobility of the supporting Carco table arm.
Liquid crystal systems are also limited in dynamic range because it is difficult to photogenerate enough charge in the silicon substrate, while maintaining spatial resolution, to rotate the liquid crystal molecules completely. Furthermore, there is a restriction on the speed of response of liquid crystals if a reasonable thermal dynamic range is to be maintained. The flicker problem associated with liquid crystal systems can be reduced by utilizing a flicker-free visible addressing source for the liquid crystal light valve. However, known sources of this type are limited in speed, resolution, weight and size.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,356 to Daehler discloses a resistorbased IR simulator in which an array of resistors are individually addressed to stimulate IR emission. The Daehler approach is also discussed in Daehler, "Infrared Display Array", SPIE Vol. 765, Imaging Sensors and Displays (1987), pages 94-101 and Burriesci et al., "A Dynamic RAM Imaging Display Technology Utilizing Silicon Blackbody Emitters", SPIE Vol. 765, Imaging Sensors and Displays (1987), pages 112-122. Both the resistors and their respective drive transistor circuits are formed from a bulk silicon wafer. An air gap groove is formed under the resistors to help reduce thermal conduction losses to the underlying bulk silicon wafer. To facilitate the selective etching used to form the insulating air gap grooves, the top layer of the wafer is heavily doped. However, this doping makes the top layer electrically conductive, resulting in a significant impedance mismatch between the resistors and their respective transistor drive circuits. As a result, most of the input power is lost in the drive circuitry, rather than going into IR radiation. This reduction in the power transfer to the resistors results in a need for even more input power to the transistors, leading to a potential overheating problem.
In addition to an inefficient use of input power, in the Daehler approach only a relatively small portion of the pixel area (less than 10%) is actually occupied by the radiating resistor. Much of the area that might otherwise be devoted to the resistor is occupied by the drive transistors and the insulating air gap. As a result, to achieve a given apparent temperature for the pixel as a whole the resistor itself must be heated to a significantly higher temperature. This substantially reduces the system's effective thermal dynamic range.
Another problem with the Daehler approach relates to the electrical lead lines used to address the individual pixels. Relatively large silicon wafers must be used with present technology to achieve a significant number of pixels. For example, a wafer of about four inches is required for a 512.times.512 array. This means that the electrical lead lines on the chip must also be about four inches long. This in turn leads to two significant problems. First, there is a large amount of capacitive coupling associated with the long lead lines. Parasitic capacitance between conductive substrate and metal lead lines can limit the response time. Second, defects such as pin holes can appear in the oxide insulator formed on the substrate, causing a short circuit between the line and the silicon substrate which renders the associated pixel or pixels inoperative. The longer the lines, the greater is the probability of such defects. Daehler tries to resolve this problem by limiting the size of the array to 8.times.128 pixels, and coupling many such arrays together side-by-side to produce an aggregate array of reasonable size. However, the coupling process itself introduces significant complexities.
There is also a need for a two-dimensional IR detector array, and for detector arrays at other electromagnetic radiation (emr) wavelengths such as microwave, which have a fast response and make efficient use of available area.
Various types of IR thermal detectors are currently available. In pyroelectric detectors, a temperature change alters the dipole moment of the material, resulting in a charge difference between crystal faces. This type of detector is discussed in an article by Watton, "Ferroelectrics for Infrared Detection and Imaging", Proceedings of the Sixth IEEE International Symposium on the Application of Ferroelectrics, June 1986, Bethlehem, Pa. pages 172-181. Another type of IR detector is the bolometer, in which the energy of absorbed radiation raises the temperature of the detecting element to change its electrical resistance, which change is measured as an indication of the amount of received radiation. An array of such devices is disclosed in Boninsegni et al., "Low Temperature Bolometer Array", Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 60, No. 4, April 1989, pages 661-665. Both the pyroelectric and bolometer devices exhibit a relatively slow rate of response to changes in IR level, and also require relatively large areas. The pyroelectric thermal detector also suffers from limited resolvable temperature differences, low yield and high cost processing, a necessary hybrid integration and AC operation with a chopper. The limited temperature resolution, which is principally due to the inherent thermal conduction loss and large thermal mass, can be improved by thinning and reticulating the pyroelectric wafer, but this involves very difficult and expensive processing.
Another approach to IR detection involves an array of single crystal Schottky junctions, as disclosed in Tsaur et al., "IR Si Schottky-Barrier Infrared Detectors With 10-.mu.m Cutoff Wavelength", IEEE Electron Device Letters, Vol. 9, No. 12, December 1988, pages 650-653. This device is used as a photon detector rather than a thermal detector, has a very limited spectral range, and has to be operated at cryogenic temperatures.
Thermocouple devices provide another IR thermal detector. In this type of device junctions are formed between dissimilar materials, with a voltage induced across the junction in response to heating. Such a device is disclosed in Lahiji et al., "A Batch-Fabricated Silicon Thermopile Infrared Detector", IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Jan. 1982, pages 14-22. In this article a series of thermocouples have hot junctions which are supported on a thin silicon membrane by integrated circuit techniques. The membrane area is coated with a layer of IR absorbing material to efficiently absorb energy from the visible to the far infrared. The sensitivity of the device is limited because the thermocouples are formed directly on the substrate and therefore cannot heat as much as desired due to the thermal conduction losses. Also, a relatively large area is required for the detector.
Bolometers and crystal detectors have also been used to sense emr at microwave frequencies. Since relatively large sensor dimensions are necessary, single detectors have been used to scan an incoming image, rather than using a detector array to sense the entire image at one time. The result has been slow frame rates. The same problem has attended the use of single scanning junction detectors in the IR require.

Radiation detector array using radiation sensitive bridges


The present invention is directed to power semiconductor devices and, more particularly, to a semiconductor device with a static induction buffer structure which reduces the resistance of a buffer layer, enhances the injection efficiency of holes from the anode and permits the application of a high-intensity electric field across the cathode and anode, and a semiconductor device with a drift buffer structure in which an impurity density (concentration) gradient is set in a buffer layer to generate an internal electric field for holes to enhance the injection efficiency of holes from the anode and increase the electron storage efficiency or and impurity density (concentration) gradient is set in an anode region to generate an internal electric field for electrons and a high-intensity electric field can be applied across the cathode and anode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power semiconductor devices and, more particularly, to a semiconductor device with a new buffer structure (hereinafter referred to as static induction buffer structure) which permits reduction of the resistance of the buffer layer, increases the injection ratio of holes from the anode and allows the application a high-intensity electric field across the cathode and anode. The invention also pertains to a semiconductor device with a new buffer structure (hereinafter referred to as a drift buffer structure) wherein an impurity density (concentration) gradient is provided in the buffer layer to generate an internal electric field for holes to increase the injection ratio of holes from the anode and enhance the electron storage efficiency, or wherein an impurity density (concentration) gradient is provided in the anode region to generate an internal electric field for electrons and a high-intensity electric field can be applied across the cathode and the anode. The drift buffer structure mentioned above is one that permits the generation of an internal electric field for holes on the basis of an impurity density gradient, but in this specification the term "drift buffer structure" includes also structures of the type that an impurity density (concentration) gradient is provided not only in the buffer layer but also in the anode region adjacent thereto to generate an internal electric field for electrons. The drift buffer structure is further effective when used in combination with a static induction buffer structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore there have been a variety of semiconductor devices of the type having a buffer layer, such as a gate turn-off thyristor of high breakdown voltage, a static induction thyristor, an insulated gate bipolar transistor and an insulated gate static induction thyristor. These semiconductor devices are common in the adoption of the structure wherein an n-type buffer layer is positively interposed between the anode (collector) region and a high-resistivity region of an n-type base layer so that the distribution of the electric field between the gate (base) and the anode (collector) is virtually triangular or trapezoidal to permit uniform application of a high-intensity electric filed to the vicinity of the anode region. This structure allows reduction of the thickness of the high resistivity layer and ease in increasing the breakdown voltage and highly improves the turn-ON characteristic of the device because of the drift motion of carriers in the high resistivity layer under the action of the high-intensity electric field.
The static induction thyristor with an n-type buffer structure has such a construction as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 31869/84. Moreover, trial manufacture of a 2500V-300A class buried gate static induction thyristor is also reported in "LOW-LOSS HIGH SPEED SWITCHING DEVICE, 2500V-300A STATIC INDUCTION THYRISTOR," PROC. OF THE 16TH ANNUAL IEEE POWER ELECTRONICS SPECIALISTS CONFERENCE (PESC '85).
FIG. 27 is a sectional view schematically showing the internal construction of the above-mentioned buried gate static induction thyristor. In FIG. 27, reference numeral 1 indicates an anode electrode, 2 an anode region, 3 an n-type buffer layer, 4 an n-type buffer short-circuit layer, 5 a high resistivity layer, 6 a gate region, 7 an epitaxial layer, 8 a cathode region, 9 a cathode electrode and 10 a gate electrode. The n-type buffer layer 3 is electrically connected by the n.sup.+ -type region 4 to the p-type anode region 2. The n.sup.+ -type region 4 is formed in the p-type anode region 2 substantially below the gate electrode 10.
The quantity of holes which are injected from the anode side depends on the thickness of the n-type buffer layer 3 and the impurity density (concentration) therein. With too high the impurity density of the n-type buffer layer 3, the quantity of holes injected is small, affecting the turn-ON characteristic and the ON-state voltage. When the impurity density (concentration) of the n-type buffer layer 3 is low, the quantity of holes injected increases but a high-intensity electric field may sometimes enter into the n-type buffer layer 3 and cause a punch through, and hence the breakdown voltage cannot be set so high. This problem could be solved by forming the n-type buffer layer 3 to a relatively large thickness, but such a relatively thick n-type buffer layer with a predetermined impurity density (concentration) is likely to present problems such as an increase in the ON-state voltage, a decrease in the quantity of holes injected and a slow transition to latching up (i.e. a decrease in the turn-ON response speed). It is a general practice in the prior art, therefore, to form the n-type buffer layer relatively thick although it may preferably be thin, besides its impurity density is usually medimum so as to permit the injection of holes in certain quantities although a high impurity density is desirable from the viewpoint of preventing an increase in the breakdown voltage.
Moreover, the n-type buffer layer 3 is interposed, as a region having a predetermined impurity density, between the anode region 2 and the high resistivity layer 5, and if the n-type buffer layer 3 remains electrically floating with respect to the anode region 2, electrons stored in the n-type buffer layer 3 remain therein for a period of time dependent on their lifetime. In this instance, the injection of holes from the anode region 2 occurs and when the lifetime of electrons is long, holes are injected excessively. Hence it is desirable that the n-type buffer layer 3 be electrically shorted to the anode region 2. With an increased short-circuit ratio, the effect of the n-type buffer layer lessens, with the result that no latching up occurs or the quantity of holes to be injected decreases, and in this instance, the turn-ON characteristic of the device is deteriorated even if its turn-OFF and tail characteristics are improved. Since the n-type buffer layer 3 is lamellar, it is also necessary to decrease its resistance in the lateral direction. Moreover, the conventional buffer structure having the base structure has a defect that the ON-state voltage is likely to be high.
There has been well-known a drift transistor which utilizes a structure capable of generating a drift field in the base layer of a bipolar transistor. For semiconductor devices of the type including a thyristor structure with a buffer layer, in particular, however, there has not been proposed a structure which has an impurity density (concentration) gradient set in the buffer layer so that a drift field is generated therein for holes when they are injected from the anode region and/or structure which has a similar impurity density (concentration) gradient set in the anode region to generate a drift field for electrons (which structures will hereinafter be referred to generically as a drift buffer structure).
The drift buffer structure mentioned above is a structure that has an impurity density gradient for generating drift fields for holes and electrons in either one or both of the buffer layer and the anode region adjacent thereto. The reason for which both of the buffer layer and the anode region need to be taken into account is that electrons and holes both contribute to turning ON and OFF the semiconductor devices of the type employing the thyristor structure. It is possible, of course, to use a structure that has the impurity density gradient in only one of the two regions with a view to producing the effect by either electrons or holes alone. It is preferable, however, to implement a structure that permits the generation of drift fields for both of the electrons and holes.

Semiconductor device with a buffer structure


The invention relates to a sliding element, such as a piston ring, comprising a coating on at least one surface comprising, form inside to outside, a bonding layer, a metal DLC layer preferably containing tungsten, and a metal-free DLC layer doped with nitrogen at least in some regions, wherein said sliding element is characterized in that the nitrogen content in the metal-free DLC layer is graduated.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a sliding element, in particular a piston ring, having a coating on at least one running surface.
Sliding elements such as, for example, piston rings, pistons or cylinder liners in internal combustion engines must work throughout a long service life, both with as little friction as possible and with a low level of wear. The friction that is directly linked to fuel consumption in internal combustion engines can be kept low by DLC (diamond-like carbon) coatings. Furthermore, layer thicknesses of up to 40 μm can be achieved in principle. However, with layer thicknesses of more than 5 μm, there is the problem that the layer properties change, for example in respect of the structure and the composition of the layer, and therefore the required service life is not achieved. This applies analogously to layer thicknesses of less than 5 μm.
2. Related Art
Also known in this connection are PVD coatings based on a hard material, which mostly comprise chromium nitride. Although such layers do have the necessary resistance to wear, they nevertheless do not have the required low coefficients of friction.
A sliding element having a DLC coating with good run-in behavior is known from DE 10 2005 063 123 B3, Overall, however, the durability of a low coefficient of friction can be improved further.
DE 10 2008 016 864 relates to a sliding element having a coating which comprises, from the inside outwards, an adhesive layer, a metal-containing DLC layer and a metal-free DLC layer.
Known from DE 197 35 962 A1 is a guide bush and a method of forming a hard carbon film on the inner surface of the guide bush, in which a hard carbon film of hydrogenated amorphous carbon is formed on the inner surface by a plasma CVD process.
Finally, WO 2006/125683 A1 shows a piston ring comprising, from the inside outwards, a layer comprising an element of group IVB, VB or VIB, an intermediate layer comprising a diamond-like nanocomposite composition, and a DLC layer.
Applicant's not previously published DE 10 2009 028 504 relates to a sliding element.

Sliding element, in particular a piston ring, having a coating


An approach is described that allows an optical disc drive to accurately verify the power level of irradiation beam power levels associated a write strategy used in high speed, high density optical disc media formats using a front monitor diode with a relatively slow rise time and/or relative slow fall time compared to the clock cycle speed of the write strategy signal. A portion of encoded data to be written to an optical disc media may be overwritten to include a predetermined data pattern. During write strategy processing of the data, the predetermined data pattern is replaced with a constant write strategy power level. The constant write strategy output placed within the write strategy signal may control the optical disc drive laser to emit a constant irradiation beam for a duration sufficiently long to allow the front monitor diode to obtain an accurate measure of the irradiation beam power level.

Due to various reasons, such as laser diode deterioration, the irradiation power of a laser beam emitted from a write/read laser optics unit of an optical disc drive during the write and read processes may be closely monitored and adjusted, when necessary, to maintain the write laser irradiation power and read laser irradiation power at intended levels. Generally, the irradiation power can be monitored by a front monitor diode, or forward sensor.
FIG. 11 shows a captured computer screen display 1100 that presents a time response output voltage of an exemplary first forward sense (FS) device, e.g., a first front monitor diode (FMD), shown at 1102, in response to an output of a first laser diode, shown at 1104, driven by an optical disc drive write strategy signal. In the circuit output presented in FIG. 11, the rise time response of the first front monitor diode is sufficiently fast to achieve a peak output that corresponds with the peak power output of the first laser diode, and the fall time response of the first front monitor diode is sufficiently fast to achieve a low output that corresponds with the low power output of the first laser diode. The first front monitor diode response 1102 presented in FIG. 11 is similar to the response that may be produced by a front monitor diode within an optical disc drive in which the speed with which data is written to an optical disc media, i.e., the write strategy signal generated by the optical disc drive in response to an encoded data stream, is sufficiently slow for the front monitor diode to provide the optical disc drive with an accurate measure to the laser power output. For example, as shown in FIG. 11 at 1106 and at 1108, for each rise and fall in the laser first diode power output, there is a corresponding rise and fall in the output of the first front monitor diode in which the first front monitor diode reaches a minimum output and a maximum output in response to the minimum and maximum output of the first laser diode, respectively. In such an exemplary optical disc drive, the output of the front monitor diode may be sufficient to allow the optical disc drive to monitor, and adjust accordingly, the irradiation beam produced by a laser diode in response the power levels represented in a generated write strategy signal.
FIG. 12 shows a captured computer screen display 1200 that presents a time response output voltage of an exemplary second front monitor diode, shown at 1202, in response to an output of a second laser diode, shown at 1204, driven by an optical disc drive write strategy signal operating at an increased write speed as compared to the optical disc drive write strategy signal driving the first laser diode, shown in FIG. 11 at 1104, described above. In the circuit output presented in FIG. 12, the time response of the second front monitor diode does not have a sufficiently fast rise time to achieve a peak output that corresponds with high write power level output of the second laser diode. Such a delayed front monitor diode response may be produced by a front monitor diode in response to higher speed, higher density optical media write formats such as, for example, high-definition digital versatile disc (HD DVD), in which the write strategy frequency is increased. The rise times of front monitor diodes may be even further reduced for front monitor diodes used to monitor higher speed, higher density optical media write formats in which the write/read laser emits a narrow beam of light with a reduced wavelength, such as the blue-light laser used in optical disc drives that support optical disc formats such as blu-ray disc (BD). As further shown in FIG. 12, in optical disc drives that use higher density optical media write formats, the front monitor diode may not have a sufficiently fast fall time to accurately measure the low write power level of the laser diode.
The second front monitor diode response presented in FIG. 12 is similar to the response that may be found in an optical disc drive in which the speed with which data is written to an optical disc media, i.e., the write strategy signal generated by the optical disc drive in response to an encoded data stream, is too fast for the front monitor diode to provide the optical disc drive with an accurate measure to the laser power output. For example, as shown in FIG. 12 at 1206 and at 1208, for each rise and fall in the power output of the second laser diode, there is not a corresponding rise and fall in the output of the second front monitor diode in which the second front monitor diode reaches a minimum output and a maximum output in response to the minimum and maximum output of the second laser diode, respectively. Due to the slow rise time of the second front monitoring diode, the second front monitoring diode is not able to achieve a peak output before the output signal is forced to decay in response to a drop in the power output of the second laser diode. Therefore, the peak output of the second front monitor diode cannot be used as an accurate measure of the irradiation beam power emitted by the second laser diode. In such an exemplary optical disc drive, the output of the front monitor diode is not sufficient to allow the optical disc drive to accurately monitor, and thereby adjust, the output of the laser diode when the laser diode is driven by such a high speed write strategy signal.
Hence, a need exists for improved methods for monitoring and controlling the irradiation power emitted by an optical disc drive laser during high speed/high density optical disc media write and optical disc media read operations.

High speed forward sense sampling in optical drives using placed data patterns


A distributed antenna system wirelessly receives an overhead signal having a network identifier. The antenna system replaces the network identifier with a first pseudo-network identifier and with a second pseudo-network identifier. The antenna system wirelessly transmits the network overhead signal having the first pseudo-network identifier from a first coverage antenna at a first location. The first pseudo-network identifier is associated with first information associated with the first location. The antenna system wirelessly transmits the network overhead signal having the second pseudo-network identifier from a second coverage antenna at a second location. The second pseudo-network identifier is associated with second information associated with the second location. User communication devices may receive and translate the pseudo-network identifiers into the information for their respective location.

A distributed antenna system extends the range of wireless communications with a network base station to areas that the network base station cannot adequately reach. In a typical configuration, the distributed antenna system receives wireless signals from the network base station into a base antenna system. The base antenna system produces stronger and cleaner versions of the received signal and transfers these cleaned-up versions to a set of coverage antenna systems. The coverage antenna systems are typically located in areas that may be too distant from the network base station or that are shielded from the network base station by structural materials. The coverage antenna systems wirelessly transfer their respective signals to user communication devices at the respective locations.
In a reciprocal fashion, the coverage antenna systems receive wireless signals from the user communication devices and transfer these signals to the base antenna system. The base antenna system wirelessly transfers these signals to the network base station. Thus, the distributed antenna system operates as a two-way wireless repeater between the user communication devices and the network base station.
The network base station wirelessly broadcasts overhead signals to enable user communication devices to communicate with the base station. In a distributed antenna system scenario, the base antenna system receives the overhead signals from the network base station and the coverage antennas wirelessly re-broadcast the overhead signals to the user communication devices. The overhead signals carry various information including a network identifier and a system identifier. The network identifier is associated with an entire network of base stations and associated network equipment. The system identifier identifies the individual base station. Thus, the network identifier and the system identifier enable user communication devices to readily identify the various networks and base stations that they encounter. In some implementations, the user communication devices process a pilot signal and the system identifier to identify the various networks and base stations, and the network identifier is not used for this purpose.

Distributed antenna system that provides information for a location based on pseudo-network identifiers


Disclosed are some implementations of systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products for implementing an electronic learning (eLearrning) system. In some implementations, an indication of a user selection by a first user of electronic learning content of an electronic learning (eLearning) system is processed, where the electronic learning content includes a learning module. Learning module is initiated or resumed. The progress of the first user in relation to completion of the learning module is tracked. An unanswered question that pertains to the learning module and that has been submitted by a second user is identified based, at least in part, on the progress of the first user in relation to the completion of the learning module. The unanswered question is then provided via a web page of the learning module for presentation via a client device of the first user.

"Cloud computing" services provide shared network-based resources, applications, and information to computers and other devices upon request. In cloud computing environments, services can be provided by servers to users' computer systems via the Internet and wireless networks rather than installing software locally on users' computer systems. A user can interact with a variety of systems such as social networking systems, email systems, and electronic learning (eLearning) systems, by way of example, in a cloud computing environment.
eLearning is the delivery of learning and training through digital resources. Typically, eLearning is provided through electronic devices such as computers, tablets, and cellular phones that are connected to the Internet. eLearning is a valuable tool since users can complete a course or program from any location.

System and method for a single, unified community and learning experience


Provided herein are optical systems and methods for detecting and characterizing particles. Systems and method are provided which increase the sensitivity of an optical particle counter and allow for detection of smaller particles while analyzing a larger fluid volume. The described systems and methods allow for sensitive and accurate detection and size characterization of nanoscale particles (e.g., less than 50 nm, optionally less than 20 nm, optionally less than 10 nm) for large volumes of analyzed fluids.

Advancement of technologies requiring cleanroom conditions has resulted in a need for the detection and characterization of smaller and smaller particles. For example, microelectronic foundries pursue detection of particles less than 20 nm in size, and in some cases less than 10 nm in size, as they may affect the increasingly sensitive manufacturing processes and products. Similarly, the need for aseptic processing conditions for manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and biomaterials requires accurate characterization of viable and non-viable particles to address compliance standard relating to health and human safety.
Typically, these industries rely on optical particle counters for detection and characterization of small particles. The ability to detect smaller particles requires new approaches for optical particle counting such as systems employing increasing laser powers, shorter excitation wavelengths and more complex techniques such as condensation nuclei counting, which in turn can dramatically increase the cost and overall complexity of devices for detection of nanometer scale particles. These new approaches can also require more frequent calibration and maintenance to provide the necessary reliability and reproducibility.
Various optical particle counters are known in the art, for example, scattered light optical particle counters are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 7,916,293 and transmission/extinction particle counters, including those utilizing structured beams and/or interferometry are provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,746,469, 9,983,113, 10,416,069, US Patent Publication Nos. 2019/0277745 and US 20170176312, and PCT international Publication WO 2019/082186. Each of these references are hereby incorporated in their entirety and specifically to illustrate particle counter system components and configurations that are useful for the detection and characterization of small particles.
It can be seen from the foregoing that there is a need in the art for systems and methods that provide enhanced optically sensing particles having small size dimensions.

Particle detection systems and methods for on-axis particle detection and/or differential detection


Embodiments of the present invention provide a blower enclosure configured to secure to a base and house a blower. The blower enclosure includes a main body defining an internal blower chamber, and at least one access door configured to open to allow access to the blower. The enclosure may also include a gland plate secured over a preformed opening in the main body. The gland plate may include an O-ring configured to sealingly engage an outlet pipe of the blower. The enclosure may further include a fixed filter shroud configured to allow a user to install and remove a filter element without the use of a tool.

Centrifugal blowers are used with various applications. For example, centrifugal blowers may be used to power an air knife that may be used to remove moisture and debris from products and packaging. After the moisture and debris has been removed, date codes and other information may be printed on the products and packaging.
Typically, a centrifugal blower is housed in a protective enclosure. The protective enclosure protects the blowers from moisture and debris. After the blower assembly is used, the assembly area may be washed down. The enclosure protects the blower from the wash fluid. Additionally, the enclosure may dampen or otherwise minimize the sound created by an operating blower.
A conventional blower enclosure includes front, rear, top, and lateral walls integrally formed with one another. The bottom of the enclosure is open ended. The five sided enclosure is typically lowered onto a steel frame and is secured through mounting brackets. In particular, the enclosure is secured to the frame through screws or bolts. Seams are formed at the union of the lateral, front, and rear walls and the frame. The seams may provide a path for moisture to infiltrate into the interior chamber of the enclosure where the blower resides.
In order to service the blower, motor, and/or filters contained within the enclosure, an operator typically unfastens the bolts or screws that secure the enclosure to the frame, and removes the enclosure from the frame. That is, the operator engages each fastener with a tool, such as a screwdriver, ratchet, wrench, or the like. Additionally, before removing the enclosure, outlet pipes are removed. Servicing the blower and other components in this manner may take a substantial amount of time.
Other types of enclosures include an access door that is secured via screws. The access door is proximate a filter element within the blower assembly. In order to change the filter element, an operator unscrews the fasteners, and opens the door to gain access to the filter element. However, the access door does not provide access to the blower or motor. In order to service the blower or motor, the entire enclosure typically is removed from the base.
Additionally, during assembly of the blower assembly, an opening is cut or formed through the enclosure. An outlet pipe configured to be attached to the blower is secured through the outlet. For example, a typical outlet pipe includes a flange configured to secure to the enclosure. A plurality of gaskets are positioned around the tube before it is passed through the opening. The gaskets abut against the enclosure around the opening in order to provide a seal. The process of cutting a hole through the enclosure for the outlet pipe provides another step for an operator to perform during the overall installation process.
Thus, a need exists for a blower enclosure that provides quick and easy access to the blower and other components. A need also exists for a system and method of quickly and easily servicing a blower and components within blower enclosure.


An LC filter circuit includes first and second LC-trap capacitor conductors, respectively, that are opposed to third and LC-trap capacitor conductors with an insulating sheet therebetween to define first and second LC trap capacitors, respctively. A portion of a first LC resonator inductor and the first LC trap capacitor define an input-side LC trap circuit, and a portion of a second LC resonator inductor and the second LC trap capacitor define an output-side LC trap circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an LC filter circuit, a monolithic LC composite component, and a multiplexer used in, for example, a radio communication device such as a portable telephone, and relates to the radio communication device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional monolithic LC filter is shown in FIG. 10. The monolithic LC filter 40 includes an insulating sheet 42 on the surface of which LC-trap coil conductors 50 and 51 are provided, an insulating sheet 43 on the surface of which resonator capacitor conductors 52 and 53 are provided, insulating sheets 44 and 46 on the surfaces of which LC-trap capacitor conductors 54, 55, 58 and 59 are provided, respectively, an insulating sheet 45 on the surface of which input/output conductors 56 and 57 are provided, an insulating sheet 47 on the surface of which a coupling capacitor conductor 60 is provided, an insulating sheet 48 on the surface of which resonator coil conductors 61 and 62 are provided, and insulating sheets 41 and 49 on the surfaces of which ground conductors 63 and 64 are provided, respectively.
The insulating sheets 41 to 49 are laminated, and after insulating sheets for protection are placed on the top and bottom thereof, they are integrally baked. A laminate 67 shown in FIG. 11 is thus produced. The laminate 67 has an input terminal 68, an output terminal 69, relay terminals 70 and 71, and a ground terminal G provided thereon. One end 50a of the LC-trap coil conductor 50 and one end 56a of the input/output conductor 56 are connected to the input terminal 68. A first end 51a of the LC-trap coil conductor 51 and a first end 57a of the output conductor 57 are connected to the output terminal 69. A second end 50b of the LC-trap coil conductor 50, LC-trap capacitor conductors 54 and 58, and a first end 61a of the resonator coil conductor 61 are connected to the relay terminal 70. A second end 51b of the LC-trap coil conductor 51, LC-trap capacitor conductors 55 and 59, and a first end 62a of the resonator coil conductor 62 are connected to the relay terminal 71. Also, the resonator capacitor conductors 52 and 53, the second ends 61b and 62b of the respective resonator coil conductors 61 and 62, and the ground conductors 63 and 64 are connected to the ground terminal G.
FIG. 12 is an electrical equivalent circuit diagram of the monolithic LC filter 40 having the above-described structure. An LC resonator Q1 includes a resonator inductor L1 defined by the resonator coil conductor 61, and a resonator capacitor Cl defined by opposing the resonator capacitor conductor 52 to the LC-trap capacitor conductor 54. Likewise, an LC resonator Q2 includes a resonator inductor L2 defined by the resonator coil conductor 62, and a resonator capacitor C2 defined by opposing the resonator capacitor 53 to the LC-trap capacitor conductor 55. These LC resonators Q1 and Q2 are capacitively coupled through a coupling capacitor C3 defined by opposing the coupling capacitor conductor 60 to the LC-trap capacitor conductors 58 and 59.
An LC trap circuit T1 is inserted between the input terminal 68 and the LC resonator Q1, and an LC trap circuit T2 is inserted between the output terminal 69 and the LC resonator Q2. The LC trap circuit T1 includes an LC trap inductor L3 defined by the LC-trap coil conductor 50, and an LC trap capacitor C4 defined by opposing the LC-trap capacitor conductors 54 and 58 to the input conductor 56. Likewise, the LC trap circuit T2 includes an LC trap inductor L4 defined by the LC-trap coil conductor 51, and an LC trap capacitor C5 defined by opposing the LC-trap capacitor conductors 55 and 59 to the output conductor 57.
In this monolithic LC filter 40, the LC-trap coil conductors 50 and 51 defining the respective LC trap circuits T1 and T2, and the resonator coil conductors 61 and 62 defining the respective LC resonators Q1 and Q2, are provided on separate insulating sheets 42 and 48, respectively. As a result, the area required to provide a conductor pattern defining a coil increases, thereby making it difficult to reduce the size and height of the LC filter 40.
In order to overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide an LC filter circuit, a monolithic LC composite component, a multiplexer, and a radio communication device having reduced sizes and heights.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an LC filter circuit including an input terminal and an output terminal, first and second LC resonators electrically connected between the input terminal and the output terminal, an input-side LC trap circuit electrically connected between the input terminal and the first LC resonator, and an output-side LC trap circuit electrically connected between the output terminal and the second LC resonator. A portion of an inductor defining the first LC resonator also provides an inductor defining the input-side LC trap circuit, and a portion of an inductor defining the second LC resonator also provides an inductor defining the output-side LC trap circuit.
Another preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a monolithic LC composite component including a laminate including a plurality of laminated insulating layers, an input terminal and an output terminal provided on the surface of the laminate, first and second LC resonators which are provided in the laminate, and each of which is defined by an LC-resonator inductor conductor and an LC-resonator capacitor conductor, an input-side LC trap including an LC-trap capacitor conductor electrically connected between the input terminal and the first LC resonator, and a portion of the LC-resonator inductor conductor defining the first LC resonator, and an output-side LC trap including an LC-trap capacitor conductor electrically connected between the output terminal and the second LC resonator, and a portion of the LC-resonator inductor conductor defining the second LC resonator.
With these arrangements, since a portion of the inductor L of the LC resonator is arranged to also provide an LC trap inductor L, it is unnecessary to separately provide an LC-trap coil conductor. As a result, an LC composite component having a greatly reduced size and height is achieved.
The multiplexer and the radio communication device according to further preferred embodiments of the present invention include a monolithic LC composite component having the above-described features. This achieves a multiplexer and a radio communication device that are compact and low-profile.
The above and other elements, characteristics, features, and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

LC filter circuit, monolithic LC composite component, multiplexer, and radio communication device


A magnetostrictive transducer generating a torsional wave in a subject having a predetermined section and measuring a torsional wave propagating in the subject. In the magnetostrictive transducer having a ferromagnetic patch attached to a predetermined position of a subject, a cylindrical insulator installed around the periphery of the ferromagnetic patch, and a coil wound around the cylindrical surface of the insulator, a torsional wave is generated based on a magnetostrictive effect to then be induced to the subject when current is applied to the coil. The ferromagnetic patch includes a strip unit attached to the subject in an inclined manner with respect to an axial direction of the subject and transferring the torsional wave to the subject; and tail units formed at opposite ends of the strip unit and concentrating a magnetic flux on the strip unit when current is applied to the coil.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetostrictive transducer for generating a torsional wave in a subject using magnetostriction effect, and more particularly, to an apparatus for both generating a torsional wave in a subject such as a shaft or a beam having a predetermined cross section and measuring the torsional wave propagating in the subject.
2. Description of the Related Art
Magnetostriction refers to the mechanical strain that occurs in ferromagnetic materials when they are subjected to a magnetic field. It is also referred to as the Joule effect. Conversely, an inverse magnetostrictive effect refers to the change in magnetization of ferromagnetic materials when subject to mechanical stress, which is also referred to as the Villari effect.
Since transducers that exploit magnetostriction can measure a strain in a subject without being in contact with the subject, they have been applied to various fields that cannot use contact sensors. The use of magnetostriction makes it possible not only to generate elastic ultrasonic waves in a non-contact manner but also to generate ultrasonic waves having larger amplitude than that of ultrasonic waves generated by conventional techniques that use the piezoelectric effect. Ultrasonic waves that can be generated from a waveguide body, e.g., a rod or a piping member, include longitudinal, transverse, and torsional waves.
In the first mode of the torsional waves, little dispersion occurs. Dispersion indicates a velocity variation depending on frequency. Thus, the first mode of the torsional wave can be effective in evaluating the structural characteristics of a rod or a piping member.
In general, ferromagnets include substances such as iron, nickel, and cobalt. Among these ferromagnets, nickel is used in an embodiment of the invention as it is a soft magnetic material characterized by having a sharply rising magnetization curve and small hysteresis and returning to its original shape after removal of a magnetic field.
FIG. 1 shows group velocity curves with respect to frequencies in a torsional wave propagating in a rod member. The rod member is an aluminum pipe having a thickness (t) of 1 mm, an outer diameter (d0) of 25 mm, a density (ρ) of 2800 kg/m3, and an elastic coefficient (E) of 73 GPa.
As shown in FIG. 1, dispersion hardly ever occurs in the first mode among the group velocity curves. Thus, for example, in remote detection, if a non-destructive testing is carried out using a torsional wave, it is be very helpful in detecting defects of a pipe or the like as it maintains its form upon reflection.
As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional magnetostrictive transducer includes a thin nickel strip 1 that is wound around a subject 2, an insulator 4 installed around the nickel strip 1, and a coil 3 wound around the insulator 4.
When a defect of the subject 2 is scanned using the conventional magnetostrictive transducer, the nickel strip 1 is wound around and attached to the cylindrical surface of a pipe, and is magnetized in the circumferential direction of the strip 1 using a permanent magnet (not shown). An elastic wave is generated by applying a magnetic field to the coil 3 around the magnetized nickel strip 1 and this generated elastic wave is measured. When the magnetic field is applied to the nickel strip 1, a torsional wave is generated in the subject 2. The generated torsional wave propagates along the subject 2 and is reflected back from an end of the rod member on an area having a structural defect. Then, the magnetic field of the nickel strip 1 is changed by the reflected torsional wave.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are graphs showing signals measured using a elastic wave (particularly, a torsional wave) generated by the conventional magnetostrictive transducer shown in FIG. 2. An input current to the coil 3 is 3 ampere in FIG. 3A and is 6 ampere in FIG. 3B.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, since a waveform generated by an input current in the conventional magnetostrictive transducer is very sensitive to magnetic intensity, it is difficult to generate a torsional wave having a large amplitude. As the magnetic intensity of an alternating magnetic field generated in the coil increases, the magnetic intensity of a magnetic field caused by the latent magnetization of the nickel decreases. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3B, a longitudinal wave other than the torsional wave is unintentionally generated resulting in a complex signal and making it difficult to distinguish the torsional wave from other waves.
In other words, if amount of pre-magnetization of the nickel strip 1 in the circumferential direction of the subject 2 and a magnetic intensity along the axis of the coil 3 are not appropriate, the conventional magnetostrictive transducer may generate waves other the a torsional wave. Also, since the nickel strip 1 is a soft magnetic material, it should be pre-magnetized again to be used for an extended period of time.
To overcome such a problem, the inventor of the present invention has proposed a new method as published in a paper entitled "Generation of Induced Torsional Wave and Detection of Defect of Pipe Using Magnetostrictive Transducer" in Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering (Vol. 14, Second Edition, pp. 144-149, 2004; Yoon Young Kim et al.).
According to the method suggested in the above-stated paper, as shown in FIG. 4, a rectangular nickel patch 9 is attached to a subject 2 that is to be scanned at an angle of 45° with respect to the axis direction of the subject 2. The elastic wave generated by attaching the nickel patch 9 in the above-described manner is a torsional wave, unlike in conventional magnetostriction. The generated torsional wave propagates along the subject 2 and is reflected back from the other end or a defective area of the subject 2.
When a current is input to a solenoid coil 3 wound around the nickel patch 9, a magnetic flux is also created at an angle along the nickel patch 9. At the same time, the nickel patch 9 generates a torsional wave mainly by changing the direction of its magnetic field based on magnetostriction. Since a transducer 10 including the nickel patch 9 is able to generate a torsional wave without pre-magnetization or a bias magnetic field, it can be very efficient in generating a torsional wave.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are graphs showing results of experiments carried out using a rectangular patch 9 of 25 mm×3 mm according to the method suggested in the aforementioned paper. In detail, FIG. 5A shows an experimental result when a current of 4.75 ampere is applied to the coil 3 shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B shows an experimental result when a current of 8.44 ampere is applied to the coil 3 shown in FIG. 4. From comparison between the results shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B with those shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, it can be seen that no other waves than a torsional wave is generated by the method suggested in the aforementioned paper even when an applied voltage is increased. For example, when using the torsional wave to scan for defects, it is possible to accurately detect where the defect is, as confirmed from the fact that there is no distortion in the generated pulse.
While the aforementioned method suggested in the paper has proven to be an efficient method, there is a still need for a transducer capable of generating an output having both a considerable amplitude at a small input signal and a better signal-to-noise ratio.

Magnetostrictive transducer using tailed patches and apparatus for measuring elastic wave using the magnetostrictive transducer

Seoul National University Industry Foundation


A network element includes multiple ports configured to communicate over a network, a buffer memory, a snapshot memory, and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to forward packets between the ports, to temporarily store information associated with the packets in the buffer memory, to continuously write at least part of the information to the snapshot memory concurrently with storage of the information in the buffer memory, and, in response to at least one predefined diagnostic event, to stop writing of the information to the snapshot memory, so as to create in the snapshot memory a coherent snapshot corresponding to a time of the diagnostic event.

In communication network elements, buffers may be used for temporary storage of communication packets and/or other data. For diagnostics purposes it may be necessary to analyze and/or diagnose the status of such buffers.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 2008/0065760 describes a network management system with adaptive sampled proactive diagnostic capabilities.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 2014/0006871 describes techniques for monitoring and diagnosis of a network comprising one or more devices.

Coherent capturing of shared-buffer status


Methods for treating type two diabetes mellitus in a subject in need thereof and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of type two diabetes mellitus are disclosed, wherein the methods and compositions of the invention are based on the use of non-glycosylated apolipoprotein A-IV produced by a protein expression system, such as a bacterial expression system. Also disclosed are methods for substantially restoring glucose tolerance in a subject in need thereof to a normal level and methods for lowering blood glucose levels in a subject in need thereof based on administering non-glycosylated apolipoprotein A-IV produced by a protein expression system.

The occurrence of diabetes is widespread, with approximately 8% of the population in the United States suffering from diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high blood sugar due to the body's inability to effectively produce and/or use insulin. Diabetes can lead to a variety of physical complications, including but not limited to renal failure, blindness, nerve damage, heart disease, sleep apnea, and celiac disease. For example, in the United States, diabetes is the leading cause of renal failure, blindness, amputation, stroke, and heart attack. Also in the United States, diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death and has been shown to reduce the life expectancy of middle-aged adults by about five to ten years.
The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes mellitus (also referred to as "T2DM" or "type 2 diabetes"). Type 2 diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, β-cell dysfunction, and dysregulated hepatic gluconeogenesis. Persons suffering from type 2 diabetes experience a loss of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion related to the impaired release of stored insulin granules from β-cells in the first phase of insulin secretion. In the second phase of insulin secretion, persons suffering from type 2 diabetes experience a gradual loss of the ability to actively synthesize insulin in response to glucose stimuli.
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing and in 2002, type 2 diabetes resulted in greater than $130 billion in health care expenses. As such, new therapies for effectively treating type 2 diabetes are needed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of treating diabetes using non-glycosylated apolipoprotein A-IV


A trapezoidal correction unit included in a projector positions a quadrangle p′q′r′s′ after correction within a quadrangle pqrs before correction, by using inclination angles v and h. In this case, the trapezoidal correction unit performs correction in a manner that the quadrangle p′q′r′s′ establishes symmetry with respect to a vertical line including a light axis point k which is an intersection of a light axis and a screen, and a part or the all of the bottom side of the quadrangle p′q′r′s′ contacts or is positioned near a part or the all of the bottom side of the quadrangle pqrs. The trapezoidal correction unit sets the size of the quadrangle p′q′r′s′ in a manner that the area of the quadrangle p′q′r′s′ becomes the largest. The trapezoidal correction unit projectively transforms the quadrangle pqrs before correction represented by an input image signal into the quadrangle p′q′r′s′ after correction temporally continuously.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a projector and a method of projecting a projection image.
2. Description of the Related Art
A projector is an apparatus for displaying an image on a screen. If the light axis of he projector is inclined with respect to the screen surface, the image displayed on the screen surface is distorted. In order that an undistorted image may be displayed on the screen surface even if the light axis is inclined with respect to the screen surface, a projector has a trapezoidal correction unit for correcting a distortion of the image, based on an inclination angle of the light axis with respect to the screen surface. Such a projector is disclosed in, for example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2001-339671 on page 3 and in FIG. 1.
The trapezoidal correction unit of a conventional projector sets a quadrangle after trapezoidal correction within a quadrangle which is the projection frame before trapezoidal correction. The trapezoidal correction unit corrects an input image signal by projectively transforming the quadrangle before correction represented by the input image signal into the quadrangle after correction temporally continuously.
However, unless the position of the quadrangle after correction is appropriate with respect to a vertical line that passes the light axis point, it becomes necessary to change the inclination angles of the projector both in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction, at the time of manually correcting the projection position of the projection image in a manner that the position irradiated by the projection light from the projector comes to a right position. Further, since the size of the quadrangle after correction is changed if the inclination angles are changed, it is necessary to adjust the inclination angles while also adjusting the size of the quadrangle after correction. Like this, conventional projectors have a problem that their operability when correcting the projection position of the projection image is poor.
The content of the above-described publication is incorporated herein.

Projector and method of projecting projection image