The processing means, which control the power assisted steering motor (8), determine and give consideration to a first steering angle signal (A) determined as a function of the calculation or measurement of the force or torque delivered by the power assisted steering motor (8) and possibly of the steering torque or force applied by the driver to the steering wheel (2), a second steering angle signal (B) determined as a function of the calculation of the measurement of the angular position of the power assisted steering motor (8), a third signal (C) of the “index” type, that is to say of the type emitted for certain angular positions of the steering system (21), a convergence signal (D) indicative of the convergence of the steering angle calculations, and a confirmation signal (E) confirming the calculation of the steering angle, the convergence signal (D) being produced thanks to the signal (C) of “index” type to indicate a confidence level on the estimated steering angle value. The invention can be applied to vehicles that have an automated steering function.

FIG. 1 of the appended schematic drawing recalls the main elements which usually constitute an electric power assisted steering system of a vehicle. Such a steering system comprises, on the one hand, a mechanical part comprising a steering wheel 2 connected in rotation to a steering column 3, the end of which remote from the steering wheel 2 carries a steering pinion meshing with a rack 4, mounted slidably in a steering casing 5. The two opposite ends of the rack 4 are respectively connected, via link rods 6 and 7, to the right and left steering wheels (not shown) of the vehicle. The steering system comprises, for assisting the manual force exerted by the driver of the vehicle on the steering wheel 2, an electric assistance motor 8 with two directions of rotation. The output shaft of the electric motor 8 is coupled, via a speed reducer 9 in particular comprising a worm and a tangent wheel or comprising a gear train, to the steering column 3 or to the steering pinion or to the rack 4 directly, so as to transmit a motor torque (optionally also a resisting torque) to the steering system. The electric assistance motor 8 is controlled by an on-board electronic computer 10 which receives and processes various electric signals coming from sensors.
In a customary embodiment, the electronic computer 10 receives in particular an electric signal coming from a torque sensor 11 placed on the steering column 3, and thus measuring the torque exerted by the driver on the steering wheel 2, and also an electric signal coming from a speed sensor 12 of the vehicle.
Based on these various items of information, the electronic computer 10 controls the electric assistance motor 8 by defining at any time an assistance torque or force which may amplify or on the contrary compensate the force applied by the driver on the steering wheel 2, according to predefined "assistance laws".
It should be noted that some steering systems calculate or measure the instantaneous position of the electric assistance motor 8.
It should also be noted that some motor vehicles are equipped with a steering angle sensor which may be integrated in the steering system, or else placed on the steering column for example. The particular feature of such sensors is their ability to supply absolute angle information which is available as soon as the car starts up. The installation of these sensors is nevertheless penalising in terms of weight, volume and cost.
In order to reduce the disadvantages of these sensors in terms of weight, volume and cost, some current steering systems are equipped with simplified sensors which give a point or "top" signal for certain angular positions of the steering system, in particular upon each revolution of the steering pinion. Such sensors are also sometimes denoted as "index" sensors.
By way of illustration of this prior art, reference is made to the patent document EP 1550839 A1.
It should also be noted that some steering systems have to offer automated steering functions, such as the automatic parking function, or automated steering angle limitation for example. These functions need to know the steering angle in order to operate. Moreover, these functions must be active when the vehicle is at a standstill, in the instant following start-up of the vehicle. At present, steering systems equipped simply with sensors of the "index" type cannot be provided with automated steering functions that are active at a standstill in the instant following start-up of the vehicle, even when the system uses an electric assistance motor, the instantaneous position of which is calculated or measured.

Motor vehicle electric power assisted steering system


A computer-implemented method for identifying power line segments and power line redundancies in a datacenter are provided. The computer-implemented method for identifying power line segments and power line redundancies in a datacenter include; transmitting a data packet from equipment compilers to a host program, where the data packet includes unique datacenter equipment identifiers, the datacenter equipment includes IT equipment and a power source; identifying one or more power line segments from the power source to the IT equipment; and determining an existence of a power line redundancy between the power source and the IT equipment.

The present invention relates generally to the field of datacenter architecture, and more particularly to the monitoring, visualization, and alarming systems to identify the existence of power redundancies in power line segments between information technology (IT) equipment and power sources.
Power Distribution Units (PDUs) are commonly employed to distribute power to electronic devices. One environment in which PDUs are commonly used is a datacenter. A datacenter is a facility used to house electronic devices such as computing systems. These computing systems may be used for storage, application processing, and network traffic routing purposes. It is important that such systems be provided with an uninterrupted supply of power. PDUs typically draw power from a supply circuit equipped with circuit breakers, which is connected to a power feed (i.e. power from a power company's electrical grid) and then supply that power to the power supply units connected to electronic devices, such as computing systems. A power supply unit typically draws power with a particular voltage from a PDU and transforms that power into a form that is readily usable by the electronic circuitry of a given computing system.
Many large scale electronic devices such as the computing systems typically used in a datacenter are powered by multiple power distribution units. A datacenter computing system typically receives power from at least two different power distribution units (which can include electrical outlets) with each power supply unit receiving power from a PDU. The two power supply units powering the computing system may or may not be receiving power from the same PDU, however, having a computing system draw power through multiple PDUs, which are connected to different circuits, improves the reliability of the computing system. For example, a particular computing system may be drawing power through two different PDUs, each PDU receiving power from a different circuit connected to a power feed. Supplying power with such an arrangement allows the computing system to continue receiving power in the event that one PDU or circuit is disrupted (i.e., power supply redundancy/reliability).
As the environments in which PDUs operate become more complicated, power distribution network structures also become increasingly complex. A computing system which utilizes power supply redundancy often draws power from multiple power supply units which must be installed in a specific manner to minimize the possibility of a single point of failure in the system. In the process of setting up a power distribution network or expanding it, human error may leave some electronic devices without a fully redundant power supply through the incorrect connection of power supply units to PDUs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


An electrooptical transmitting and/or receiving module has a lead frame and an optoelectronic transducer mounted thereon. The lead frame and the optoelectronic transducer are potted by a shaped body made from transparent, formable material. Introduced into the shaped body is a reflector element. A radiation beam emitted by a transmitter, or a received radiation beam to be directed onto a receiver is deflected at a prescribed angle by the reflector element. The module can be used in an electrooptical transmitting and/or receiving unit which is constructed as a sidelooker. A method is also provided for molding the electrooptical transmitting and/or receiving module.

The invention relates to an electrooptical transmitting and/or receiving module, and a method for producing the module. The invention is in the field of the production of electrooptical assemblies or modules that usually have a plug receptacle for connecting and optically coupling suitable coupling partners, for example optical conductors. Also conceivable as coupling partners are other optical or electrooptical elements: e.g. for electrically isolating from a further electrooptical module. For converting electrical signals into optical ones or for converting optical signals into electrical ones, such modules have electrooptical transducers that have a light-emitting (transmitter) or light-sensitive (receiver) region that is also designated as optically active zone within the scope of the present invention. In addition to the electrooptical transformation of the signals, a high coupling efficiency in the case of feeding optical signals into or out of waveguides also requires precise coupling of the signal-exporting and/or signal feeding optical conductors (coupling partners). Light emitting diodes (LEDs) or horizontally radiating laser diodes, for example, are used as transmitters in optical communications engineering. Depending on the construction, these frequently have a large numerical aperture that requires the use of lenses for optical coupling with high efficiency.
Such a transmitting/receiving module is disclosed, for example, in commonly-owned, published, non-prosecuted German Patent Application No. DE 197 11 138 A1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,624. In the case of the production method described therein for an electrooptical module, a support, in general a lead frame, is positioned exactly by a positioning element dedicated to the support in a component insertion device in which a transducer is disposed and fixed on the support in the precise relative position in relation to the positioning element. The support is subsequently positioned exactly by the positioning element in a potting mould and surrounded by a formable material with the formation of a shaped body, the shaped body having a functional surface serving the purpose of optical coupling, for example a lens or a stop surface. The transducer can be either a transmitter, such as a semiconductor laser, or a receiver, such as a semiconductor photodiode. In the case of this electrooptical module, it is provided that the radiation beam emitted by a transmitter, or a radiation beam detected by a receiver covers a direct and straight light path between a light entry or light exit surface of the module and the transmitter/receiver. However, this restricts the possibilities of structural implementation of the electrooptical module, since it must always be ensured during production that the light entry or light exit surface of the transmitting or receiving surface of the transducer lie directly opposite. The selection of a specific transmitter, for example a vertically emitting vertical resonator semiconductor laser diode (VCSEL), thereby determines the shape of the module and of the shaped body. Conversely, the shape of the module, in particular the relative position of the lead frame in relation to the light exit side mostly prescribes the type of the transmitter to be used.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an electrooptical transmitting/receiving module and a method for producing the module that overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that ensure a more flexible construction of the module that is independent of the type of transmitter or receiver, is ensured. In particular, an object of the present invention is to specify an electrooptical module and a method for producing the module in which the light of the radiation beam is deflected inside the shaped body.
Consequently, the invention describes an electrooptical transmitting and/or receiving module having a shaped body, a first lead frame, and a reflector element. The shaped body is made from a transparent, formable material. The first lead frame is surrounded by the shaped body at least on a section on which an optoelectronic transducer is mounted. The reflector element is surrounded at least partially by the shaped body and has a reflecting surface that faces the transducer in such a way that it deflects by a predetermined angle a radiation beam in a light path between the transducer and a light entry or light exit side of the module.
In an electrooptical module according to the invention, the described reflector element can reflect a radiation beam emitted by a receiver in the direction of a prescribed light exit surface. Likewise, the described reflector element can deflect in the direction of a receiver a radiation beam launched into the module through a light entrance surface. The reflector element is dispose in a fixed relative position with reference to the transducer, because it is surrounded, together with the transducer or the section on which the transducer is mounted by the transparent, formable material.
Likewise, the invention describes a method for producing an electrooptical module having a shaped body made from a transparent formable material. In the method, an optoelectronic transducer is mounted on a section of a first lead frame. A reflector element having a reflecting surface is positioned in such a way relative to the first lead frame and the optoelectronic transducer that the reflecting surface deflects by a predetermined angle a radiation beam in the light path between the transducer and a provided light entry or light exit side of the module. The shaped body is formed by the virtue of the fact that the first lead frame and the reflector element are potted or encapsulated with the aid of the transparent formable material.
During production of the transmitting and/or receiving module according to the invention, an initially spatially coherent lead frame is formed in a way known per se and provided with optoelectronic transducers on sections provided for the purpose. Only subsequently and mostly between different phases of a casting or injection operation are individual connecting webs between different connecting sections of the lead frame severed. It is thus also possible in the case of the module according to the invention for a plurality of transducers, that is to say in principle an arbitrary number of transmitters and/or receivers, to be mounted on coherent sections of the lead frame or sections of the lead frame separated from one another in the final stage.
As a rule, the reflector element is directed with its reflecting surface with reference to the optoelectronic transducer in such a way that an emitting or a receiving radiation beam describes a light path in which a beam deflection by an angle of 90xc2x0 is included. Because the shaped body mostly has a cuboid shape, the possibility is thereby created of deflecting an emitted radiation beam at a right angle onto a provided light exit surface of the shaped body. A degree of freedom is thereby gained in selecting between two different semiconductor lasers, specifically, an edge-emitting semiconductor laser and a vertically emitting semiconductor laser, such as a vertical resonator semiconductor laser (VCSEL).
There are various possibilities for producing and positioning the reflector element relative to the lead frame holding the transducer.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, the lead frame holding the transducer and the reflector element are formed from an originally unipartide lead frame. During the potting operation or the encapsulation of the lead frame with the transparent, formable material, it is then possible for the lead frame holding the transducer and the reflector element to be separated from one another. They can also, however, be connected to one another in the final stage of the electrooptical transmitting/receiving module. If, for example, the transmitter is an edge-emitting semiconductor laser that is mounted on an end section of a lead frame, a reflecting surface connected to the end section can be disposed at a spacing from the end section in the direction in which the semiconductor laser emits light. The reflecting surface can assume a 45xc2x0 angle to the incidence direction of the radiation beam emitted by the semiconductor laser, such that the reflecting surface deflects the radiation beam by a 90xc2x0 angle. The reflector element can be formed in the case of this embodiment by virtue of the fact that before or after a transmitter emitting in the direction of the plane of the lead frame, such as an edge-emitting semiconductor laser, is mounted on the lead frame a section of the lead frame lying upstream of the light exit surface of the transmitter is bent up until it assumes an angle of, in particular, 45xc2x0 with the plane of the lead frame.
However, it can also be provided in accordance with the second embodiment that the reflector element is separated straightaway from the lead frame provided with a transducer and is brought into position with its reflecting surface relative to the lead frame or the transducer before the potting or encapsulating operation. This relative positioning can be performed, for example, by a suitable positioning device.
For example, the reflector element can be developed from a second lead frame in the case of which, in order to produce the reflecting surface, a section is bent out of the plane of the second lead frame until it assumes an angle of, in particular, 45xc2x0 with the plane of the second lead frame.
When producing the electrooptical transmitting/receiving module, it is possible to use a mold. The mold determines the shape and size of the shaped body. After the potting or encapsulating operation, in which the transparent, formable material is introduced into the mold, the mold can be retained as module housing. A plug receptacle for coupling an optical conductor plug can be integrally formed on this housing on the light entry or light exit side. Such a module housing is also known as cavity as interface (CAI). However, it is likewise possible to provide that the mold is removed again after the formation of the shaped body. In this case, as well, it is possible for a plug receptacle, known as a so-called insertion socket, to be formed in the shaped body, in a functional surface thereof which is located on the light entry or light exit side, as is known per se in the prior art, for example DE 197 11 138 A1 as referenced above.
It can also be provided that a positive lens is formed in the transparent, formable material on the light entry or light exit side of the shaped body. For this purpose, the mold has on the provided light entry or light exit side of the module an opening in which there is located a shaped part that corresponds on its inner side to the outer contour of a lens to be formed, and that is removed after the formation of the shaped body.
It is possible to provide a plurality of optoelectronic transducers, for example a transmitter and a receiver, in a common transmitting/receiving module. These can be mounted on a common lead frame or on lead frame sections separated from one another. It can be provided in this case that a transmitter emits a radiation beam on a direct path, that is to say without beam deflection, in the direction of a light exit side, and that a received radiation beam entering the module is deflected by a reflecting surface in the direction of a receiver. Conversely, it can also be provided that a radiation beam emitted by a transmitter is deflected by a reflecting surface of a reflector element and then coupled out, while a received radiation beam is launched and directed straight onto a receiver without beam deflection. In the case of the use of a positive lens, the same positive lens can be used in each case for both radiation beams.
A preferred application of the electrooptical transmitting and/or receiving module according to the invention includes installing it in a compact transmitting and/or receiving unit, which is also designated as sidelooker, because a radiation beam can be launched or coupled out laterally, that is to say in a direction parallel to the plane of the circuit boards. It is possible here, in turn, to distinguish two embodiments from one another. In the first embodiment, the electrooptical transmitting and/or receiving module are constructed as a surface-mountable component (SMT, Surface Mounting Technology). In this case, the individual lead frame sections are guided laterally out of the shaped body and bent downwards around the shaped body in such a way that they form flat connecting sections that lie in a common mounting plane and with which they can be soldered onto a circuit board, for example using the reflow method. In this first embodiment, the lead frame plane is therefore parallel to the plane of the circuit board. In a second embodiment of the transmitting and/or receiving unit, the individual lead frame sections led out on one side of the module are plugged into the circuit board at right angles thereto and are connected to electric conductor tracks on the rear of the circuit board or an intermediate level of metallization of a multilayer circuit board. In the case of both embodiments, it becomes clear how the present invention provides more freedom of configuration by virtue of the fact that, depending on the selection of the embodiment, it is possible arbitrary to select the type of transmitter, and thus, for example, to select between an edge-emitting semiconductor laser and a vertically emitting semiconductor laser.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an electrooptical transmitting/receiving module, and a method for producing the module, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Electrooptical transmitting/receiving module, and method for producing the module


A lighting system controller comprising a switch connected to a lighting fixture configured to be controlled by time domain switching, and a processor capable of actuating said switch so as to achieve time domain switching of the lighting fixture.

Color-changing lights and lighting effects have become very popular in swimming pools and spas. For installations that use multiple color-changing lights, the user typically prefers that colors of the separate lights change in color synchronization. If the color changing of the separate lights is done in a particular sequence, it can be made to appear that the light color is "moving" from one end of the pool to the other. Users also often desire to stop the separate lights on different colors to create a color combination to achieve a unique effect or to define a holiday, e.g., red and green for Christmas, red, white and blue for the Fourth of July, etc.
For some color changing lights, color control can be achieved by manually interrupting power to the light's internal microprocessor which activates the color changing mechanism. If the user wants individual control of multiple lights for basic illumination or for color lighting effects, this could require separate, manually activated switches, complicating the design and control. If all lights are desired to be color synchronized, this might require all of the manual switches to be operated simultaneously, which is difficult at best.
Another option is to utilize a complex, costly, manually operated combination of manual switches that could allow for a single toggle switch control. If it is desired to have the lights change color in sequence to give the appearance of colors chasing or movement from one end of the pool to the other, that could require the switches to be turned off and on manually in the desired sequence with the desired delay, which would be difficult to accomplish.
Lighting controllers for color-changing lighting often use a fourth wire (power, neutral, ground, control) to change color. Fourth wire control requires additional switching, for example control relays, and additional wiring.
Pool/Spa controllers have historically limited the number of features or pieces of equipment they control. The higher the number of circuits for equipment control, the higher the cost and the higher the selling price. Each piece or group of controlled electrical equipment typically requires its own line voltage relay. Thus, the number of circuits controlling line voltage relays became a key factor in cost and in competitive product comparison and differentiation. Feature circuits that can control valve actuators for water features, without using a line voltage relay circuit, allow the control of additional features without the cost or space required of line voltage relays. In many cases, the use of a product feature requires that a relay output circuit be wasted. It would be beneficial to have feature circuits that allow advanced functions without wasting these valuable relay outputs.
In addition, it would be useful to have a control system that can be used with various pool/spa lighting schemes and solutions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,025 discloses a submersible lighting fixture with color wheel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,875 discloses an Underwater pool light. U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,361 discloses a Submersible light fixture. U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,067 discloses a Lighting system, apparatus and method. U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,216 discloses a Pool lighting system, illuminator, and method. And U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,771 discloses a Submersible light fixture. All of the above references, hereby incorporated by reference, could utilize a computerized control system.
A means of controlling various commercially available automated pool/spa lighting products would also be useful. For example, it would be useful to control the commercially available SAm® light, also known as the SPECTRUM AMERLITE™, which is an underwater light that changes color at the flip of a switch. SAm® features electronic circuitry that allows a user to control the color of the light emitted by its twin halogen quartz bulbs.
Delivering a nearly limitless spectrum of color, SAm® can bathe a pool in a custom color a user selects to suit the user's mood, or slowly roll through the entire spectrum in a luminous underwater display. And, for pools with more than one light, multiple SAm® lights synchronized with one another could be used to provide uniformly spectacular color from one end of the pool to the other. A means for integrating and/or automating the control of SAm® lights would be useful.
SPECTRUM AQUALITE™ (SAL®), a compact version of the SAm® light, is also commercially available. Further, commercial fiber optics pool/spa lighting solutions exist (such as the FIBERWORKS® products) that could also utilize an automated control system. Thus, a system that could be integrated with such commercially available products would be beneficial.
In addition, a lighting controller that can integrate the control of various other pool or spa related equipment, such as pumps, solar heaters, powered heaters, filters, etc. would also be useful.
Desired is a way to control colored lights and other pool/spa equipment in a simple, but entertaining manner.

Microprocessor controlled time domain switching of color-changing lights


A tape bonding apparatus for bonding leads of a film carrier to bumps of a pellet including a linear cam that moves up and down a bonding stage which carries the pellet. A vertical movement adjustment assembly made up with an eccentric shaft, an adjustment lever and an adjusting screw adjusts the relative amount of vertical movement of the bonding stage with respect to the linear cam. A gap sensor detects the amount of the vertical movement of the bonding stage and shows the distance between the leads and the bumps in a numeric value. Thus, the distance or clearance between the leads and the bumps can be adjusted easily.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tape bonding apparatus which pressure-bonds leads of a film carrier to bumps of pellets.
2. Prior Art
Tape bonding in semiconductor fabricating apparatuses is performed such that, as shown in FIG. 5(a), bumps 2a of a pellet 2 are set beneath the leads 1a of a film carrier 1 with a fixed clearance C in between, and then, the leads 1a are pressure-bonded to the bumps 2a by a bonding tool 3. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the leads 1a are shaped so that the leads are bent into a predetermined configuration. This is called a "forming."
In conventional tape bonding apparatus, however, no consideration is given to the amount of forming. In other words, the clearance C is determined by performing actual bonding repeatedly on a trial basis and measuring and adjusting the amount of forming. Japanese Patent Application Publication (Kokai) No. 3-32035 discloses an example of this type of tape bonding.
In the prior art described above, not only does the adjustment of the amount of forming require a considerable amount of time, but also the amount of forming tends to be different depending on the worker who performs the clearance adjustment. In addition, since the amount of forming cannot be monitored when the bonding apparatus is in operation, sufficient quality control is not achieved.


Apparatus for scanning a remote object with a radiation detector and which prevents narcissus, ghost and stray radiation effects by providing radiation blocking means positioned to intercept all but the desired paths between a remote object and the detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for scanning a remote object, such as the earth, from an aircraft or satellite and, more particularly, to an improvement over a scanning system disclosed in an H. V. Kennedy U.S. Pat. No. 3,211,046, dated Oct. 12, 1965.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In FIG. 4 of the above-referred to Kennedy patent, a scanning system is shown which employs a rotating triangularly arranged mirror to receive radiation generated from a remote object, such as the earth, and to transmit that radiation to a plurality of folding mirrors and to a parabolic mirror where the energy is focused onto a radiation detector for purposes of producing an output indicative of the radiation received from various parts of the remote object. The outputs from the detector may be used for producing a picture or map of the object being scanned.
The Kennedy system has the problem of permitting stray radiation, ghost image radiation and narcissus reflection (described below) to reach the detector at unwanted times, and thereby cause an erroneous output to be produced. A narcissus reflection permits the detector, which in infrared systems is surrounded by a dewar which is at a very cold temperature, to "see" itself, i.e. a path from the detector to the parabolic mirror, through the folding mirrors and the rotating mirror, back to the parabolic mirror and then to the detector is provided. This is undesirable except once during calibration, because the very low temperature of the dewar around the detector is reflected back to the detector to produce a false reading. Ghost radiation is radiation other than that from the area of the remote object which is presently under observation and which finds a path to the detector which is generally parallel to the radiation from the area and thus appears, falsely, to come from the area. Stray radiation is all other radiation reaching the detector other than that from the area under observation. All narcissus, stray and ghost radiation adversely affect the output of the detector and are undesirable.


A photographing apparatus is provided that accurately determines focus positions of two photographing sections in the same degree of time as in the past and a focus position determining method. A search range setting section 121 calculates one boundary value Pn′ of a second search area and calculates the other boundary value Pf′ of the second search area on the basis of a focus position P1 of a first focus lens FLA detected by an AF detecting section 120 and a boundary value N of a search area on a near side and a boundary value F of a search area on a far side. The AF detecting section 120 searches for a focus position P2 while instructing a second F lens driving section 104B to move a second focus lens FLB in a second search area (Pn′ to Pf′) narrower than a first search area.

In the past, a large number of photographing apparatuses including two photographing sections have been proposed (see Patent Literatures 1 and 2). When the two photographing sections are provided in this way, it is possible to perform, using the two photographing sections, for example, panoramic photographing at an ultra-wide angle and photographing at different sensitivities in the respective two photographing sections. Among the photographing apparatuses disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2 and the like, there are photographing apparatuses that may perform stereoscopic photographing.
In the photographing apparatus that performs the stereoscopic photographing using the two photographing sections, the two photographing sections are provided side by side in positions corresponding to the right eye and the left eye with a parallax imparted to the photographing sections. An image signal for right eye and an image signal for left eye are respectively generated in a signal processing section at a post stage on the basis of image signals output from both the photographing sections. When the image signal for right eye and the image signal for left eye generated by the signal processing section of the photographing apparatus in this way are input to a display apparatus having a display screen capable of performing three-dimensional display described in Non Patent Literature 1, a stereoscopic image is displayed on the display screen.
Incidentally, in most digital cameras, when focus adjustment, i.e., adjustment of a focus position is performed, focus position determining section disposed on the inside performs so-called AF (Auto Focus) search for moving a focus lens in a photographing optical system within a predetermined search area, detecting contrast while moving the focus lens, and setting a position where the contrast is the maximum as a focus position of the focus lens.
In the photographing apparatus of Patent Literature 1, because the two photographing sections capture the same subject, the AF search is carried out only in one photographing section and a result of the AF search is reflected on the other photographing section to obtain a reduction in time required for the AF search of the photographing apparatus having the two photographing sections. In the photographing apparatus of Patent Literature 2, there is proposed a technique for causing the focus position determining section on the inside to perform the AF search for respectively moving focus lenses included in both the photographing sections in opposite directions and determining focus positions of both the photographing sections using an AF search result of the photographing section that detects a focus position earlier of both the photographing sections.
However, in the two photographing sections, fluctuation and the like of lens diameters of the focus lenses, diameters of lens barrels, and light reception sensitivities of imaging elements are inevitably present (in the following description, these are collectively referred to as individual difference). Therefore, as in Patent Literatures 1 and 2, if the focus position of one photographing section is reflected on the other photographing section, the focus position of the other photographing section shifts because of the individual difference.

Photographing apparatus and focus position determining method


The present invention provides a thermal head including a substrate of alumina, a glaze layer formed on the substrate and patterning resistor and electrode layers on the glaze layer. The thermal head is of a whole glaze type in which a heating section is formed on the glaze layer at or adjacent to the edge portion thereof or of a partial glaze type in which a heating section is formed on the glaze layer at or adjacent to its partially cut edge portion. Thus, the thermal head can print more clearly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermal printer head with an improved efficiency.
2. Description of the Related Art
Thermal heads are classified into partial-glaze type, double-partial-glaze type and through-edge type. As shown in FIG. 27, the partial-glaze type thermal head comprises a substrate 1, a partial glaze layer 2 formed on the substrate adjacent to its edge portion, having a width equal to about 300.mu.-1200.mu. and an outwardly convex configuration, a resistive film layer 3 formed over the partial glaze layer 2, common and individual electrodes 5 and 6 formed on the resistive film layer 3 at the top positions of the glaze layer 2 opposite to each other to form a heating section 4 on the top of the glaze layer 2 and a protecting film 7 covering these layers as a whole. The double-partial-glaze type thermal head is similar to the partial-glaze type thermal head except that a portion of the glaze layer 2 placed at the heating section 4 is formed into an upwardly convex configuration by glaze etching or the like, as shown by 2a in FIG. 28.
The through-edge type thermal head is one that has the glaze layer 2 and the heating section 4 formed so as to cover the edge of the substrate 1, as shown in FIG. 29. FIG. 30 shows a modification of the thermal head shown in FIG. 29, in which the edge portion of the substrate 1 is slantingly cut to provide a slope 1.sub.B adjoining the top face 1.sub.A of the substrate 1 and an edge face 1.sub.C adjoining the slope 1.sub.B and extending perpendicular to the top Face 1.sub.A. Glaze layers 2.sub.A, 2.sub.B and 2.sub.C are formed over the respective faces 1.sub.A, 1.sub.B and 1.sub.C. The heating section 4 is formed at the slope 1.sub.B.
In order to enable the printing of any rough sheet and to improve the efficiency of the thermal head, it is necessary to focus pressure onto the ink ribbon, transfer sheet and platen at the heating section. In the partial-glaze and double-partial-glaze type thermal heads, however, the engagement of the glaze layer 2 with the rubber platen 10 through the ink ribbon 8 and transfer sheet 9 at the heating section 4 will be widened and so not provide a sufficient concentration of pressure at the heating section 4, as seen from FIG. 31. Such a problem can be somewhat overcome by the through-edge type thermal head. At present, however, the through-edge type thermal head of FIG. 29 must include a substrate having a thickness equal to about 2 mm, so that the inherent advantages of the through-edge type thermal head will not be fully attained.
Being common to the production of the conventional thermal heads, a substrate for each individual thermal head must be machined at its side edge before film formation and patterning are performed. Thus, a number of thermal heads cannot be produced from a single large-sized substrate. When it is desired to provide a thermal head in which the efficiency is improved by focusing pressure onto the heating section, the production becomes troublesome and expensive, leading to an increase in the cost for one thermal head.

Thermal head and system including the same


The present selective type one-motion door opening mechanism comprises a ratchet lever (32) for opening a vehicle door, an open lever (22) displaceable by an outside open handle (25), a lock lever (23) displaceable between an unlocked position (U) in which a displacement of the open lever is transmitted to the ratchet lever and an locked position (L) in which the displacement of the open lever is not transmitted to the ratchet lever, a sub-lever (35) being rotated by an inside open handle (19), and a selector pin (41) displaceable between an effective position (X) and to a ineffective position (Y). The rotation of the ratchet lever returns the lock lever to the unlocked position. The selector pin at the effective position transmits the rotation of the sub-lever to the ratchet lever, and selector pin at the ineffective position transmits the rotation of the sub-lever to the open lever.

In general, in the prevailing vehicle door latch device used hitherto, when a lock mechanism is in a locked state, a door is not opened by a door opening operation of an open handle. However, in the door latch device added with the one-motion door opening mechanism, even when the lock mechanism is in the locked state, a return to an unlocked state of the lock mechanism and an opening of the door are almost simultaneously performed by the door opening operation of an inside open handle.
The one-motion mechanism is a very convenient mechanism. However, since the one-motion mechanism makes it possible to release the locked state and open the door by the operation of the inside open handle, it is generally adopted only to the door latch device of the driver's door.
The one-motion mechanism is a mechanism closely related to another mechanism of the door latch device, and is designed with another mechanism at the same time. Hence, it has been practically impossible to add the one-motion door opening mechanism to the door latch device having no one-motion mechanisms at a later time.
Because of the described reason above, heretofore, the door for other than the driver's seat has been unable to enjoy the convenience of the one-motion door opening mechanism.

Selective one-motion door opening mechanism for door latch of vehicle


A method for coating free-standing micromechanical devices using spin-coating. A solution with high solids loading but low viscosity can penetrate the free areas of a micromachined structure. Spinning this solution off the wafer or die results in film formation over the devices without the expected damage from capillary action. If an organic polymer is used as the solid component, the structures may be re-released by a traditional ash process. This method may be used as a process in the manufacture of micromechanical devices to protect released and tested structures, and to overcome stiction-related deformation of micromechanical devices associated with wet release processes.

This invention relates to the field of micro electromechanical systems (MEMS), more particularly to methods used to coat the devices, more particularly to methods used to coat the devices with dissolved resins without structural damage.
Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) or micromechanical devices are micron-scale devices, often with moving parts, and are fabricated using traditional semiconductor processes such as optical lithography, doping, metal sputtering, oxide deposition, and plasma etching which have been developed for the fabrication of integrated circuits.
Micromirrors, such as the DMD(trademark) micromirror array from Texas Instruments, are a type of micromechanical device. Other types of micromechanical devices include accelerometers, pressure and flow sensors, gears and motors. While some micromechanical devices, such as pressure sensors, flow sensors, and micromirrors have found commercial success, other types have not yet been commercially viable.
MEMS devices are extremely robust on their own scale, but are easily destroyed by macroscopic forces such as capillary attraction. A MEMS device caught in the surface tension of a liquid will move with that liquid, bending or even breaking in the process. A droplet of water or organic solvent on a MEMS device will pull the device down as it evaporates. Even if the device is not irreversibly deformed, it is likely to be trapped in a bent state by surrounding devices.
The fragile nature of the MEMS devices can make them difficult to manufacture in a cost effective manner. In the case of micromirror arrays, once the sacrificial layers beneath the micromirror have been removed, the mirrors are very fragile and very susceptible to damage due to particles. The particles become trapped in the mechanical structure of the micromirror array and can prevent the micromirror from operating. Because the particles cannot be washed out of the array without destroying the array, it is necessary to separate the wafers on which the devices are formed, and wash the debris off the devices, prior to removing the sacrificial layers under the mirrorsxe2x80x94also called undercutting the mirrors. Furthermore, because the chip bond-out process also creates particles, it is desirable to mount the device in a package substrate and perform the chip bond-out process prior to undercutting the mirrors.
Unfortunately, it is only after the mirrors have been undercut that the micromirror array is able to be tested. Following a standard micromirror production flow, all of the devices manufactured are be mounted on package substrates, bonded-out to the substrates, and undercut prior to testing the devices. Additionally, micromirrors typically require some sort of lubrication to prevent the micromirror from sticking to the landing surfaces when it is deflected. Therefore, the devices must also be lubricated and the package lid or window applied prior to testing the devices. Because a typical micromirror package is very expensive, the packaging costs associated with devices that do not function greatly increase the cost of production and must be recovered by the devices that do function.
What is needed is a method of testing the micromechanical structure of a micromirror array prior to packaging the micromirror array. This method would enable a production flow that would only package the known good devices. Thus, the significant cost associated with the packaging the failed die would be eliminated.
Objects and advantages will be obvious, and will in part appear hereinafter and will be accomplished by the present invention which provides a method and system for recoating MEMS devices using dissolved resins. One embodiment of the invention provides a method of coating free-standing micromechanical devices. The method comprising: depositing an organic resin coating material on a micromechanical device, the coating material comprised of at least 35% solids in a solvent, said coating material having a viscosity no greater than 120 centistokes; and curing the coating material.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of coating free-standing micromechanical devices. The method comprising: depositing an organic resin coating material on a micromechanical device, the coating material comprised of at least 35% solids in a solvent, the coating material having a viscosity no greater than 120 centistokes; rotating the micromechanical device to distribute the organic coating material; and curing the coating material.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of coating free-standing micromechanical devices. The method comprising: depositing an organic resin coating material on a micromechanical device, the coating material comprised of at least 35% solids in a solvent, the coating material having a viscosity no greater than 120 centistokes; and curing the coating material.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of coating free-standing micromechanical devices. The method comprising: depositing a solvent layer on a micromechanical device; depositing an organic resin coating material on solvent layer; allowing the organic resin coating material to displace the solvent layer; and curing the coating material.

Re-coating MEMS devices using dissolved resins


A center lock for a wheel cover of a wheel assembly that includes a wheel cover and a wheel. The wheel includes a recessed hub area that is surrounded by an annular wall having a protrusion formed therein. The wheel cover is configured to engage the protrusion and thereby lock the center of the wheel cover onto the wheel. The wheel assembly may also include a rim lock by providing a recess in the outer periphery of the wheel and a lip in the outer periphery of the wheel cover that is configured to engage the recess in the outer periphery of the wheel. The wheel assembly can include a central cap that includes clasp elements which engage the protrusion formed in the annular wall of the wheel.

Wheel assemblies that utilize wheel appliques to decorate the external or outboard surfaces of plain steel wheels are well known and are far less expensive to produce than one-piece decorative wheels that have to be formed and finished.
Wheel appliqués can be secured to wheels by various mechanical engaging structures and/or by adhesives. U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,845 to Maloney et al. discloses a vehicle wheel cover retention system in which the annular lip of the wheel cover is configured to spring outwardly into a groove provided in the inner surface of the wheel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,423 to Heck et al. discloses a vehicle wheel cover retention system in which the outer end of the wheel cover is deformed to cover the outer peripheral end of the outboard bead seat retaining flange of the wheel. Both U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,845 to Maloney et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,423 to Heck et al. utilize an adhesive in cooperation with their respective mechanical engaging structures.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,577,809 and 5,636,906 to Chase disclose wheel assemblies having wheel covers which are secured to wheels by means of a plurality of fasteners. The wheel covers include bosses which protrude from the inboard side of the wheel covers. The bosses are engaged in recesses formed in outboard surface of the wheel and the fasteners are inserted into the bosses to secure the wheel covers to the wheels.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,288 to Hodge et al. is somewhat similar in concept to the Chase patents above in that Hodge et al. teaches a wheel assembly in which the wheel cover is attached directly to the wheel by threaded members that are received in mounting apertures formed in the central hub portion of the wheel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,582 to Ching teaches a wheel assembly in which a wheel cover is attached to a wheel by means of an intermediate pair of brackets and fastener members.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,531 to Hogan et al. discloses a decorative wheel cover that is secured to a wheel by a plurality of protrusions that are received in corresponding depressions or slots in a wheel.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0153763 to Van Houten et al. teaches a wheel assembly that includes a cladding that is secured to a central portion of a wheel by a snap tab that includes a protuberance which is biased into an indent.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,538 to Ferriss et al. teaches a wheel assembly that includes a wheel cover that is secured to an outer peripheral edge of a wheel by a rim clasp and is secured to an inner portion of the wheel by a protrusion with or without a spring element to bias the protrusion into a channel formed in the wheel.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0067212 to Wrase et al. discloses a wheel assembly that includes a wheel cover that is attached to an underlying wheel by snap tabs which are received in a recess provided in a wall of an annular recess of the wheel.
European style wheel assemblies, also called flangeless wheels, typically have a design which does not incorporate an outboard balance weight flange. Accordingly, such wheel assembly styles do not allow for mechanical fastening of the wheel appliques or covers over the periphery of the wheel.
A wheel assembly designed with a secure mechanical means of attaching a wheel applique or cover at the central portion of the underlying wheel would be welcome in the art.

McKechnie Vehicle Components (USA), Inc.


A method of forming a number of sizes of hollow shaft nutdrivers from a common size metal tube workpiece. The method comprises three steps to form a hex drive socket on one end of a metal tube workpiece, and a fourth step to form a plurality of raised wings on the other end of the metal tube workpiece for retaining the other end of the then finished nutdriver in a handle.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of art to which this invention pertains may be generally located in the class of devices relating to work forming processes. Class 72, Metal Deforming, United States Patent Office Classification, Subclass 356 appears to be the applicable general area of art to which the subject matter similar to this invention has been classified in the past.
2. Description of the Prior Art
This invention relates to an improved method of forming a number of sizes of hollow shaft nut drivers from a common tube size. Heretofore, it has been proposed to cold form elongated nut drivers from a tube workpiece by driving the tube workpiece into a die cavity means with a power operated punch for reducing both the inside and outside diameters of one end of the tube workpiece and along a predetermined length of the tube workpiece, so as to form a longitudinally extending shaft of reduced diametrical dimensions relative to the original diametrical dimensions of the tube workpiece. The last described prior art cold forming method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,874. A disadvantage of said prior art cold forming method is that it requires a tube workpiece having a separate diameter for each nut driver size desired to be produced.

Method for forming hollow nutdrivers from tubing


An electric primer for cartridge ammunition is designed to minimize antenna oupling, capacitive coupling, and aperture coupling of stray electromagnetic radiation thereinto to avoid accidental primer detonation with resulting ignition of cartridge propellant. The primer is provided with a button electrode deeply recessed totally behind a small diameter access aperture which physically guards the button electrode from antenna and capacitive coupling while allowing activating plunger entry. Furthermore, the small opening channels stray radiation about its periphery rather than admitting it to the button electrode.

This invention relates to a cartridge casing primer for projectile ammunition, as disclosed in prior copending application Ser. No. 07/874,156, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,423 filed Apr. 27, 1992, with respect to which the present application is a correct version.
Technology has long passed beyond percussion initiation of primers for shell cartridges having high rate of fire for military applications. Instead, primers containing pyrotechnic compositions are now electrically initiated. This initiation is accomplished by a relatively simple process of bringing a current-carrying plunger in the gun breech structure up behind the backside of the cartridge casing, once the cartridge is properly chambered, to electrically contact a button electrode therein for completing an electrical circuit through the primer button for initiating detonation of pyrotechnic composition in the circuit path. Detonation of the primer pyrotechnic composition in turn ignites propellant inside the cartridge casing.
Electrical initiation of cartridge primers is now common practice. Usually an explosive pyrotechnic material is made conductive and sandwiched between a pair of electrical conductors inside the primer. Current is passed through the pyrotechnic material from one conductor to the other to generate a temperature rise in the material sufficient to initiate its detonation. The detonating pyrotechnic material in turn ignites propellant in the cartridge casing to propel a projectile forward.
The electromagnetic environment aboard ships and aircraft, as well as on other military equipment, has increased substantially in recent years along with the increased use of electronic equipment. It is in this dense atmosphere of electromagnetic radiation that cartridges having electrically fired primers are stored, handled and used. High-power radar, for example, and communication equipment emit strong electromagnetic fields to the surrounding environment.
The problem of ammunition firing caused by stray or misdirected electromagnetic radiation has long been recognized. Numerous approaches have been proposed to alleviate or counter this condition. Prior art systems for electric fired primers have proposed inductive and capacitive components that form a balanced bridge to shunt unwanted signals. U.S. Pat. No. 3,181,464 discloses the use of special conductors, while U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,184 discloses the use of one or more inductors and ferrite beads to absorb unwanted current flow. RF attenuation is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,233 by providing a conductive path in a special spiral shape with at least one reversal of direction embedded in ferrite material. Still other recent approaches are indicated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,893,563; 4,967,665; and 5,036,768. More recently, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,707 it is proposed to provide the conductive pyrotechnic mixture with a carbon layer to provide a parallel resistive current path in addition to the path through the conductive mixture.
Stray electromagnetic radiation can be coupled into an electroexplosive cartridge primer to initiate unwanted detonation. Propagation of radiated electromagnetic energy into the primer, requires a coupling mechanism from the external environment. Coupling mechanisms generally fall into one of three categories: (1) antenna coupling, (2) capacitive coupling, or (3) aperture coupling.
Antenna coupling is a mechanism by which an electrically conductive object exposed to the external radiated electromagnetic environment transforms radiated energy into conducted energy and, if that object is allowed to contact a sensitive system element, transfers this energy to that sensitive element or component. Any electrically conductive object, e.g., wires, tools, human beings, etc., can act as unwanted antennas.
Capacitive coupling requires a conducting object (antenna) in proximity to a sensitive element (e.g., primer button). At frequencies from the upper end of the communications range through the lower end of the radar range, it is possible to couple RF energy by virtue of the capacitance that exists between external objects and the primer button.
Aperture coupling is a mechanism by which radiated electromagnetic energy couples directly from an external environment into sensitive system elements or components via holes, seams, or other openings. Generally, this entry path is more efficient at frequencies where the wavelength is small compared to the dimensions of the opening.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a cartridge electronic primer which minimizes opportunity of initiation by stray electromagnetic radiation.

Mechanical shielding for electric primer

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


The present teachings contemplate a method that includes a step of providing a first amount of esterified reaction product of an acid and an epoxy-based material. The esterified reaction product may be further reacted an epoxy resin to form a polymeric epoxy. The resulting material may have a generally linear backbone, foaming and curing capability and flame retardant properties.

In the transportation and construction industries, epoxy-based adhesives and foams are frequently used to provide structural support, sealing, and sound attenuation. For curing and expansion of such adhesives and foams, the addition of separate curing agents and blowing agents are typically required, adding expense and time for manufacture. Fire retardancy is also often desired, requiring additional agents for imparting the same.
Polymers having at least one epoxide group have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,115,075; 4,438,254; 6,011,111; and WO 98/14498 (see e.g., pages 3-8) along with illustrative synthesis conditions, all incorporated by reference herein (see also U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,317,471 and 4,647,648, also incorporated by reference herein). Examples of such materials also can be found, without limitation at paragraphs 15-25 of Published U.S. Patent Application No. 20070270515 (Chmielewski et al), incorporated by reference for all purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,713 describes a material comprising an epoxy resin, phosphoric acid and a metal carbonate for forming a foam-in-place material. The use of the acid provides a desirable quick reaction for expansion and/or curing. However, the significant difference in viscosity between the phosphoric acid and the epoxy resin present significant challenges to both manufacturing and storage of the material.
The use of such polymers in a composite material has been disclosed in WIPO Patent Application WO/2008/010823 (addressing in situ reaction of an epoxy and an amine after impregnation), incorporated by reference herein. See also, United States Patent Application No. 20090298974 (incorporated by reference).
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,992,525; 5,648,401; and 6,730,713 may also be relevant to the present teachings, and are all incorporated by reference for all purposes.
Notwithstanding the above teachings, there has remained a need for polymeric materials that are capable of foaming, curing and/or exhibiting flame retardant characteristics without the need for additional ingredients.

Esterified acids for use in polymeric materials


A pair of coupling transistors are connected in series with isolation transistors in each of a plurality of column node circuits coupled to first and second arrays of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. The coupling transistors for the complimentary digit lines in each column node circuit are rendered non-conductive in the event memory cells connected to the coupling transistors through digit lines of the first and second array are defective. As a result, defective memory cells in the first and second arrays are isolated from sense amplifiers in the column node circuits so that the sense amplifiers cannot affect non-defective memory cells.

A conventional memory device is illustrated in FIG. 1. The memory device is a synchronous dynamic random access memory ("SDRAM") 10 that includes an address register 12 adapted to receive row addresses and column addresses through an address bus 14. The address bus 14 is generally coupled to a memory controller (not shown in FIG. 1). Typically, a row address is initially received by the address register 12 and applied to a row address multiplexer 18. The row address multiplexer 18 couples the row address to a number of components associated with either of two memory bank arrays 20 and 22 depending upon the state of a bank address bit forming part of the row address. The arrays 20 and 22 are comprised of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. Associated with each of the arrays 20 and 22 is a respective row address latch 26, which stores the row address, and a row decoder 28, which applies various signals to its respective array 20 or 22 as a function of the stored row address. The row address multiplexer 18 also couples row addresses to the row address latches 26 for the purpose of refreshing the memory cells in the arrays 20 and 22. The row addresses are generated for refresh purposes by a refresh counter 30 that is controlled by a refresh controller 32.
After the row address has been applied to the address register 12 and stored in one of the row address latches 26, a column address is applied to the address register 12. The address register 12 couples the column address to a column address latch 40. Depending on the operating mode of the SDRAM 10, the column address is either coupled through a burst counter 42 to a column address buffer 44, or to the burst counter 42, which applies a sequence of column addresses to the column address buffer 44 starting at the column address output by the address register 12. In either case, the column address buffer 44 applies a column address to a column decoder 48, which applies various column signals to respective sense amplifiers in associated column circuits 50 for the arrays 20 and 22.
Data to be read from one of the arrays 20 or 22 are coupled from the arrays 20 or 22, respectively, to a data bus 58 through the column circuit 50, and a read data path that includes a data output register 56. Data to be written to one of the arrays 20 or 22 are coupled from the data bus 58 through a write data path, including a data input register 60, to one of the column circuits 50 where they are transferred to one of the arrays 20 or 22, respectively. A mask register 64 may be used to selectively alter the flow of data into and out of the column circuits 50 by, for example, selectively masking data to be read from the arrays 20 and 22.
The above-described operation of the SDRAM 10 is controlled by a command decoder 68 responsive to high level command signals received on a control bus 70. These high level command signals, which are typically generated by the memory controller, are a clock enable signal CKE*, a clock signal CLK, a chip select signal CS*, a write enable signal WE*, a row address strobe signal RAS*, and a column address strobe signal CAS*, where the "*" designates the signal as active low. The command decoder 68 generates a sequence of command signals responsive to the high level command signals to carry out a function (e.g., a read or a write) designated by each of the high level command signals. These command signals, and the manner in which they accomplish their respective functions, are conventional. Therefore, in the interest of brevity, a further explanation of these control signals will be omitted.
A portion of the column circuits 50 of FIG. 1 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. The column circuit 50 is shown connected to a pair of arrays 100, 102, which may be subarrays in either of the arrays 20, 22 shown in FIG. 1. Alternately, a single column circuit 50 containing the circuitry shown in FIG. 2 may be used to access both of the arrays 20, 22 shown in FIG. 1. The column circuit 50 includes a plurality of column node circuits 110a-n in addition to a redundant column node circuit 112. All of these column node circuits 110, 112 are identical, and, in the interest of clarity and brevity, the internal components of only one column node circuit 110a is shown in FIG. 2.
The column node circuit 110a interfaces with two columns of memory cells using two pairs of complementary digit lines D.sub.0, D.sub.0 * and D.sub.1, D.sub.1 *, respectively. However, it will be understood that the column node circuit 110a may contain fewer or greater numbers of complimentary digit line pairs. In the interest of brevity, the digit lines D.sub.0, D.sub.0 * and D.sub.1, D.sub.1 * in the column node circuit 110 as well as in the other column node circuits 110b-n, 112 will sometimes be referred to as simply D and D*. Each digit line pair D, D* has coupled therebetween a negative sense amplifier 120, a positive sense amplifier 122, an equilibration circuit 124, and an I/O circuit 126.
The equilibration circuit 124 is controlled by a precharge control circuit 130 that may be part of the row decoders 28 (FIG. 1) to couple the digit lines D, D* to each other and to an equilibration voltage, which typically has a magnitude equal to one-half the magnitude of a supply voltage. The negative sense amplifier 120 and the positive sense amplifier 122 normally receive respective power signals, typically ground potential and either the supply voltage or a pumped voltage having a magnitude that is slightly greater than the magnitude of the supply voltage, respectively. After the digit lines D, D* have been equilibrated by the equilibration circuit 124, the sense amplifiers 120, 122 detect a voltage imbalance in the digit lines D, D* during a read access of memory cells in the arrays 100, 102. The sense amplifiers 120, 122 then drive the digit lines D, D* in the direction of the imbalance until one of the digit lines is at the supply voltage and the other of the digit lines is at ground potential.
Once the sense amplifiers 120,122 have driven the digit lines D, D* to voltages indicative of the data read from a memory cell in the respective column, the digit lines D, D* are coupled to respective I/O lines I/OA, I/OB* by the I/O circuit 126. As is a well understood in the art, in a read memory access the signals from the digit lines are coupled to a DC sense amplifier (not shown), which applies a corresponding data signal to the data bus of the memory device. The other digit lines D.sub.1, D.sub.1 * in the column node circuit 110a are similarly coupled to a respective pair of I/O lines I/OB, I/OB* by a respective I/O circuit 126.
In a write memory access, the I/O lines are driven by respective write drivers (not shown), and are coupled to the digit lines D, D* by the I/O circuit 126.
The column node circuit 110a receives a SEL_R signal from a respective inverter 114 to cause it to couple its digit lines D, D* to the I/O lines I/O, I/O*, respectively. Similarly, the column node circuit 110b receives a SEL_R+1 signal to couple its digit lines to the same I/O lines, and the column node circuit 110n receives a SEL_R+N signal to couple its digit lines to the same I/O lines. Since the SEL signals select various columns of memory cells in the arrays 100, 102, they are normally generated by the column decoder 48 (FIG. 1).
The I/O circuits 126 in the redundant column node circuit 112 are likewise coupled to the same I/O lines by a select SEL_RED signal, but the SEL_RED signal is generated by a redundant column control circuit 144. The redundant column control circuit 144 may be part of the column decoder 48 (FIG. 1).
As mentioned above, the column node circuits 110a-n, 112 are coupled to both arrays 110, 102. However, the column node circuits cannot receive signals indicative of read data from both arrays 100, 102 at the same time. For this reason, isolation transistors 150, 152 are coupled between each digit line D, D* of the column node circuit and corresponding digit lines D, D*, respectively, of the arrays 100, 102. All of the isolation transistors 150 coupled to the array 100 are turned ON by a common ISO_LEFT signal, and all of the isolation transistors 152 coupled to the array 102 are turned ON by a common ISO_RIGHT signal. Since the arrays 100, 102 contain rows of memory cells corresponding to different row addresses, the ISO_LEFT and ISO-RIGHT signals are typically generated by the row decoders 28 (FIG. 1).
Although the manufacturing yield of memory devices is very good, the large number of transistors, signal paths, and other components, such as capacitors, contained in memory devices creates a significant statistical probability that a memory device will contain at least one defective transistor, signal path or other component. For this reason, memory devices typically incorporate rows and columns of redundant memory cells. If a row or column of memory cells is found to be defective during testing, either before or after packaging the memory device, the memory device can be programmed to substitute a redundant row of memory cells for the defective row, or a redundant column of memory cells for the defective column. The redundant column node circuit 112 is provided to interface with redundant columns of memory cells in the arrays 100, 102. The redundant column node circuit 112 interfaces with two columns of memory cells, so that two redundant columns are substituted whenever a single defective column is found during testing. However, it will be understood that redundant columns can be substituted on a column-by-column basis, or that redundant columns can be substituted in groups larger than two. The number of digit lines D, D* in the redundant column node circuit 112 can be adjusted as desired to match the number of redundant columns that are substituted.
Redundant columns of memory cells markedly improve the manufacturing yield of memory devices. However, there are some defects that can occur that cannot be repaired by substituting a redundant column. For example, with reference to FIG. 3, a portion of the arrays 100, 102 includes access transistors 160 coupled between respective digit lines D, D* and a respective storage capacitor 162. Each access transistor 160 selectively couples a digit line D or D* to one plate of the storage capacitor 162. The other plate of the storage capacitor is a "cell plate" that is typically coupled to a voltage having a magnitude of one-half of the supply voltage. In operation, the storage capacitors 162 store voltages indicative of either a logic "0" or a logic "1".
The cell plate of each capacitor 162 is typically common to all of the storage capacitors 162. As a result of manufacturing defects, one of the digit lines D or D* may be shorted to the cell plate either directly (the usual failure mode) or through a shorted storage capacitor 162. During testing of the memory device, this defect will be detected, and a redundant column of memory cells will be substituted for the defective column. However, the sense amplifiers 120, 122 in the column node circuit 110 for the defective column normally continue to receive the NLAT and PSENSE signals from the row decoder 28. The sense amplifiers 120, 122 can thus couple the cell plate to either the supply voltage or ground potential thereby rendering the remainder of the memory cells defective.
Although this problem has been recognized in the past, none of the approaches that have been developed to deal with this problem are entirely satisfactory. One approach has been to selectively decouple the NLAT and PSENSE signals from the column node circuit 110 for the defective column of memory cells. Although this approach does prevent a shorted storage capacitor from rendering the remaining cells defective, it does so at great expense. The transistors that are used to selectively couple the NLAT and PSENSE signals to the column node circuits 110 must be physically very large to provide a sufficiently low impedance path to drive the sense amplifiers 120, 122 so that they can respond with sufficient speed. Driving the sense amplifiers 120, 122 through a relatively high impedance markedly slows the ability of the sense amplifiers 120, 122 to sense voltages on the digit lines D, D*, thereby reducing the access time of the memory device. The amount of surface area on a semiconductor die consumed by adding a relatively large transistor to each negative sense amplifier 120 and a relatively large transistor to each positive sense amplifier 122 is significant because of the large number of the sense amplifiers 120, 122 in a typical memory device.
Another problem with providing transistors to selectively couple the sense amplifiers 120, 122 to the row decoder 28 is the difficulty of routing signal lines in the memory device. More particularly, it would be necessary to supply each column node circuit 110 with two additional signal lines coupled to the gates of the transistors. However, it would be difficult to route this many signal lines to the column node circuits 110.
Another approach to preventing defective columns of memory cells from affecting other memory cells has been to place a laser fuse between each column node circuit 110 and the digit lines D, D* of the arrays 100, 102 to which they are connected. When a column of memory cells is found to be defective during testing, a redundant column of memory cells is substituted for the detective column, and the laser fuse coupling of the defective column to its column node circuit 110 is severed. While this approach has been satisfactory in the past, it is becoming less so because the minimum laser pitch has not kept up with decreases in digit line pitch. Furthermore, while this approach has been satisfactory for repairing defects found before the memory device has been packaged, it cannot be used for repairing post-packaging defects.
Although these problems have been explained with reference to the SDRAM 10 shown in FIG. 1, it will be understood that the same problems exist with other dynamic random access memories ("DRAMs") including asynchronous DRAMs and packetized DRAMs, such as synchronous link DRAMs ("SLDRAMs") and RAMBUS DRAMs ("RDRAMs").
There is therefore a need for a method and apparatus that can be used to repair post-packaging defects in a manner that prevents defective memory cells in a column from affecting other memory cells and which does not unduly increase the cost of memory devices.

Method and apparatus for repairing defective columns of memory cells


Presented is an indicating register that serves for indicating the content of magazine or the like, and having a simple and space-saving construction. Several pivotably-journaled pages each have a page appendage projecting from their pivot axis and offset relative to one another in the axial direction. A carrier unit is movable transversely to the pivot axes of the pages by means of a drive, and has several followers that are likewise axially offset to one another and additionally have a constant offset in the transport direction, and with movement of the carrier unit come into working engagement, one after the other, with the associated page appendages, and carry pages along until they run up against a previously turned page or against a stop.

The invention concerns an indicating register for indicating the content of magazines, storage units or the like, in particular for automatic music or video machines having several pivotably-journaled pages.
These types of indicating registers are known; for example, they find application in the case of automatic music machines for compact disks, where several compact disks or records are accommodated in one or several record magazines. With about 20 titles per page, capable of being represented in the indicating register in these automatic music machines are several thousand different titles, and are said to be capable of being easily selected by the user--according to his desired criteria--and then picked out and controlled for playback. Because of the large number of titles it is practical, for simpler orientation of the user, besides giving the title, to display in the indicating register still other additional information such as, for example, the large picture contained in the compact disk packaging with a representation of the interpreters (artists) or other prominent references. The indicating register must then display a corresponding size and should, at the same time, enable a clear arrangement of the information to be indicated, as well as a simple and clear operation.


A system for illuminating medical tubes is disclosed. The system includes an optical fiber secured to and extending along a length of a medical tube, and a light source configured to transmit a light through the optical fiber. The system further includes a controller in communication with the light source, and configured to control the light source. Additionally, the system includes an optical junction having a first input configured to secure a portion of medical tubing, a second input configured to receive and direct the light from the light source to the optical fiber, and an output configured to secure the optical fiber and the medical tube. The first input and the output are fluidly connected via the optical junction. The light illuminates the medical tubing via the optical fiber.

In some clinical care scenarios, patients may require a number of medical tubes, such as intravenous (IV) lines, electrocardiography wires, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation infusion catheters, pulse oximeter tubing, endotracheal tubes. As the number of IV lines increases, so does the opportunity for error in accessing the lines, such as when inserting or removing, adding medication via syringes, and replacing or changing supply medication. Additionally, extra time is needed for medical personnel to accurately trace lines between the patient and the supply source (e.g., a hanging IV bag). This can be undesirable from a staffing perspective, as well as disastrous in times of critical care. Hence, there is an ongoing and unmet need for systems and methods enabling safe, efficient, and reliable interactions with medical tubing.

Systems and methods for illumination of medical tubing


The wellhead assembly has a production tree with multiple safety barriers. A tubing hanger lands and seals in the bore of the tree. The tubing hanger has a lateral production flow passage that registers with a lateral passage in the tree. A tubing annulus passage extends upward from the tubing annulus to an exterior port. A second portion of the tubing annulus passage extends upward from the exterior port into the bore above the tubing hanger seal. The external port may be used for gas injection. If so, two closure members are located in the upper portion of the tubing annulus above the seal. The upper closure member may be either a check valve or a removable plug.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to wellhead assemblies, and in particular to a production tree with multiple safety barriers against excessive pressure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One type of wellhead assembly particularly in a subsea well includes a wellhead housing located at the upper end of conductor pipe. Casing hangers for supporting the casing land in the wellhead housing. After the well has been drilled to total depth, a Christmas tree is lowered onto and connected to the wellhead housing.
A tubing hanger lands in the tree in one type, called a horizontal tree. The tubing hanger is secured to a string of tubing that extends into the well for producing well fluids. The tubing hanger has an axial passage for production fluids, and a lateral passage extending from it that registers with a lateral passage in the tree.
During installation of the tubing and tubing hanger and other operations, it may be necessary to circulate well fluid between the interior of the tubing and the tubing annulus. The horizontal tree has a first tubing annulus passage that extends from the tubing annulus to a port on the exterior of the tree. A second tubing annulus passage extends from the exterior port back into the bore of the tree above the tubing hanger seals. A flow line is connected to the external port for delivery of fluids to and from the tubing annulus. Both the first and second tubing annulus passages in the tree have hydraulically controlled valves for opening and closing the tubing annulus passage. A internal tree cap is typically installed in the bore of the tree above the tubing hanger.
The upper end of the second tubing annulus passage may join the bore of the tree between the tubing hanger and the internal tree cap, or it may lead into the tree bore above the internal tree cap. The junction of the second tubing annulus passage with the tree bore allows communication with a riser during installation and workover. Normally, the riser connects to an exterior profile on the tree. After removal of the internal tree cap, an inner riser, such as a drill string or tubing, will be run through the outer riser and stabbed into the tubing hanger to communicate with the interior of the string of production tubing. The tubing annulus passage communicates with the annular space in the tree bore surrounding the inner riser. A choke and kill line alongside the outer riser normally provides a flow path from the surface platform to the annular space in the tree bore.
To meet safety requirements, two safety barriers are required for each passage in a wellhead assembly that may be under pressure. For the tubing hanger production passage, a removable plug is installed in the axial passage of the tubing hanger above the lateral passage to provide one safety barrier. In the prior art, typically the internal tree cap provided the second safety barrier. While workable, an internal tree cap requires a large seal that is fairly expensive. Also, if the second tubing annulus passage leads into the bore above the internal tree cap, there would be only one safety barrier in the tubing annulus above the lateral production port. If gas is being injected into the external port of the tubing annulus for gas lift purposes, a good practice would require an additional safety barrier.
U.K. patent application GB 2346630 discloses two removable plugs in the tubing hanger above the lateral passage. The upper plug could comprise a second safety barrier, eliminating the need for an internal tree cap that seals. The patent application discloses a test port that leads from the space between the plugs for monitoring leakage past the lower plug.
The wellhead assembly of this invention has a production tree or wellhead with a bore into which a tubing hanger lands and is sealed by a tubing hanger seal. A first portion of a tubing annulus passage extends upward through the tree to an exterior port. The port is adapted to be connected to a source of gas for injection into the tubing annulus. A second portion of the tubing annulus passage extends upward from the exterior port into the bore of the tree. A valve is located in the first portion of the tubing annulus passage. Two closure members are located in the second passage, providing two safety barriers for the exterior port if used to inject gas.
At least one of the closure members is a valve, preferably the lower one. The upper closure member is a removable plug in one embodiment. The plug extends into the portion of the second tubing annulus passage where it enters the bore. The plug may be accessible by an ROV through a corrosion cap that lands on the production tree.
Alternately, the upper closure member may be a shuttle type valve that is located in an axial portion of the second tubing annulus passage within the sidewall of the tree mandrel. In one embodiment, this valve is a check valve that is biased upward to a closed position. In the closed position, a stem of the valve protrudes above a rim of the production tree. When a riser connector lands on and connects to the tree, the riser connector will move the stem downward, opening the second tubing annulus passage into the bore of the tree.
The internal tree cap may be eliminated as a second safety barrier for the production passage in the tubing hanger. The second safety barrier could be provided by a removable plug located in the axial passage of the tubing hanger. Venting is provided by a vent passage that leads to an exterior of the tubing hanger. A mating passage extends through the tree and mates with the vent passage of the tubing hanger.
If desired, a secondary locking mechanism may be mounted above the tubing hanger to prevent an upward movement of the tubing hanger in the event the tubing hanger primary lockdown fails. The secondary lockdown would not require any seals for sealing to the bore of the tree. The secondary lockdown may also be utilized to connect with a small diameter wireline riser. The wireline riser engages a neck on the secondary lockdown and has a stinger that extends into sealing engagement with the axial passage in the tubing hanger.

Production tree with multiple safety barriers


The present invention relates to an ophthalmic treatment apparatus and a control method therefor, and provides an ophthalmic treatment apparatus and a control method therefor, the ophthalmic treatment apparatus comprising: a setting unit formed so as to set a treatment mode; a therapeutic light emission unit emitting therapeutic light at a target position of an eyeground multiple times so as to perform treatment; a monitoring unit for monitoring information on the state of the target position by the therapeutic light during the emission of the therapeutic light; and a control unit for determining whether a treatment intensity according to the treatment mode has been reached, by using the information monitored by the monitoring unit, and for controlling an operation of the therapeutic light emission unit on the basis of the determination.

Nowadays, there are technologies widely used to perform treatment by inducing changes in human tissue state by light irradiation so as to deliver energy to the tissue. They are widely used especially for the treatment of lesions with a laser.
Many ophthalmic treatment apparatus using laser are being developed, including apparatus for treating diseases of the anterior segment of the eye for use in keratoplasty, glaucoma surgery, cataract surgery, etc., and new apparatus are being developed today that will treat various diseases of the fundus, including macular degeneration. An ophthalmic surgical apparatus of this type is disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2014-0009846.
Such a treatment apparatus performs treatment by inducing changes in tissue by energy delivered to a target site through light. However, delivering an excessive amount of energy to the target site may damage the target tissue and neighboring tissues, and may result in loss of vision, especially in the treatment of ophthalmic diseases. Thus, it is necessary to monitor how treatment is going during treatment, but there are limitations in detecting minute changes in tissue.

Ophthalmic treatment device and control method therefor


A 3 dimensional shape retaining light weight pouch and method for making the same, for mounting on a carrier such as a garment such as, but not limited to, a vest, belt, cummerbund, pack, or the like, and more particularly, that utilizes standing portions of stiffened fused together edges of laminated or composite panels of the pouch to hold the pouch in a predetermined 3 dimensional shape. The pouch is durable and wear resistant, allows easy insertion and removal of articles, accessories, and objects to be held and/or carried thereby, and is simple and easy to manufacture, while being configurable to be compatible with some known systems mounting systems such as MOLLE PALS and the like.

The disclosures of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/753,064, filed Oct. 30, 2018, co-pending continuation-in-part U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/669,462, filed Oct. 30, 2019, which will issue on Jan. 12, 2021 as U.S. Pat. No. 10,888,150, co-pending division U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/985,215, filed May 21, 2018, division U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/431,377, filed Feb. 13, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,974,379, dated May 22, 2018, division patent application Ser. No. 14/237,468, filed Feb. 6, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,565,922, issued Feb. 14, 2017, PCT application Serial No. PCT/US2012/50001, filed Aug. 8, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/521,309, filed Aug. 8, 2011, are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
Modular pouch attachment systems and methods for carrier garments, hereinafter sometimes referred to by the term carrier or carriers, such as, but not limited to, vests, cummerbunds, belts, and the like, for carrying holders such as, but not limited to, pouches for holding items and accessories on a person's body, are well known. Advantages include an ability to attach pouches and accessories to a platform and easily remove them; rearrange or configure them; and exchange for other pouches or accessories.
Reference, Kirk et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,707, issued on Mar. 10, 1998; and Johnson, U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,570, issued on May 23, 2006, which show representative commercially available pouch attachment systems and methods, commonly referred to as MOLLE PALS. Typically, such known systems utilize one or more elongate woven webs or straps, sewn or otherwise affixed at longitudinally spaced locations to a panel comprising fabric layers, forming a side by side pattern of loops. If multiple webs or straps are used, they are laterally spaced apart, e.g., vertically, so as to extend horizontally across a surface of the garment or other device, at vertically spaced intervals, such that the loops of the webs will be vertically aligned. A pouch or other accessory will include one or more elongate straps configured to be inserted through the aligned loops. The straps will typically each be attached at one end to the pouch or accessory, and have an opposite free end. The back side of the pouch or other accessory will typically include additional loops positioned to be disposed in alternating relation to the loops on the panel, such that the straps can be alternatingly woven through the loops on the panel and the back of the pouch or accessory, for attaching the pouch or accessory to the panel. The free end of the attachment straps can then be secured, using a snap, hook and loop fastener, or other fastener or retainer, to the back of the pouch or accessory. Numerous compatible attachment devices have been developed for use with the MOLLE PALS system, including a variety of light weight but strong plastic clips.
Recent years have seen increased demand to further reduce the overall weight of the systems for carrying the various articles and accessories, which has led to development of improved attachment systems, such as disclosed in related patents: Cole et al., U.S. Pat. No. 9,565,922 B2, issued on Feb. 14, 2017; and Cole et al., U.S. Pat. No. 9,974,379 B2, issued on May 22, 2018, both of which being hereby incorporated herein in their entireties by reference, and that are lighter weight, yet equally strong as earlier known attachment systems.
Pouches and pockets (herein sometimes commonly referred to by the term "pouch") for use with the above referenced modern and older carrier and attachment systems still have significant shortcomings, for instance, the tendency to lose their shape when the article or accessory is not located therein. In particular in this latter regard, it is often advantageous and/or desired that pouches and pockets have an opening in communication with an interior cavity or cavities for receiving and holding an item or items, article or articles, through which the item(s) or article(s) are inserted, that will retain a particular shape, e.g., a rectangular or arched shape, which will usually at least generally corresponding to an overall sectional or profile shape of the item(s) or article(s) to be received. Use of products such as basting tape, reinforcing stitching, and the like, around peripheral edges helps to retain the shape of openings, but can become an impediment to rapid free insertion and removal of articles and accessories, and the basting tape and associated stitching, as well as stitching when used alone, have been found to suffer from premature wear, including partial detachment from the pouch and unraveling, leading to fraying and other problems. Basting tape and stitching are also labor intensive aspects of manufacturing textile products such as pouches, as they require acquiring, patterning, cutting, emplacing, and stitching additional material. Still further, basting tape, stitching, and other protrusions, even slight, can collect moisture and debris such as sand, mud, dirt, and the like which can be released into cavities, recesses, etc., of articles during insertion and/or removal, so as to potentially disrupt or interfere with operation thereof.
As an alternative, or in addition to basting, reinforcing stitching, etc., a stiffening layer or panel, liner, or thicker, or stiffer material can be utilized for 3 dimensional shape retention, but adds weight and complexity, and can become detached so as to lose the desired shape and impede insertion/removal of items and articles into/from the pouch.
As an observation, when basting tape, reinforcing stitching, and/or stiffening panels are used to impart or hold a 3 dimensional shape, individually and collectively they generally lacks a resilient property, so as to be potentially lose the desired 3 dimensional shape when compressed.
Accordingly, what is sought are reduction in weight, improvement in shape retention, operability and durability, and simplification and reduction in cost of manufacture, of a variety of pouches and pockets, as well as other advantages.

Light weight modular pouch attachment system and method