Concrete can be one of the most durable building materials and structures made of concrete can have a long service life. Consumption is projected to reach approximately 40 billion tons in 2017. Despite this the testing of concrete at all stages of its life cycle is still in its early stages although testing for corrosion is well established. Further many of the tests today are time consuming, expensive, and provide results only after it has been poured and set. Embodiments of the invention provide concrete suppliers, construction companies, regulators, architects, and others with rapid testing and performance data regarding the cure, performance, corrosion of concrete at different points in its life cycle based upon a simple electrical tests that remove subjectivity, allow for rapid assessment, are integrable to the construction process, and provided full life cycle assessment. Wireless sensors can be embedded from initial loading through post-cure into service life.

Concrete can be one of the most durable building materials and structures made of concrete can have a long service life. Concrete is a composite construction material composed primarily of aggregate, cement, and water. It provides superior fire resistance, compared with wooden construction and can gain strength over time. Further, as it is used as liquid that subsequently hardens it can be formed into complex geometries and may poured either directly into formworks at the construction sites (so called ready mix concrete) or employed remotely to pre-build concrete elements and structures. Overall concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world with an annual consumption estimated at approximately 30 billion tons in 2006, compared to 2 billion in 1950. During the next 5 years concrete consumption is estimated to grow with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) between 6% and 9% according to market forecasts of cement and concrete admixtures globally over the period 2012 to 2017 such that the 30 billion ton consumption will increase to approximately 40 billion tons.
Concrete is widely used for making architectural structures, foundations, brick/block walls, pavements, bridges/overpasses, motorways/roads, runways, parking structures, dams, pools/reservoirs, pipes, footings for gates, fences and poles and even boats. Reinforced concrete, pre-stressed concrete and precast concrete are the most widely used types of concrete functional extensions. Concrete is strong in compression, as the aggregate efficiently carries the compression load. However, it is weak in tension as the cement holding the aggregate in place can crack, allowing the structure to fail. Reinforced concrete solves these problems by adding steel reinforcing bars, steel fibers, glass fiber, or plastic fiber to carry tensile loads. Thereafter the concrete is reinforced to withstand the tensile loads upon it. Due to their low cost and wide availability steel reinforcing bar (commonly referred to as rebar) has been the dominant reinforcing material for the past 50 years. However, these steel rebars may corrode whereby the oxidation products (rust) expand and tend to flake, thereby cracking the concrete and reducing the bonding between the rebar and the concrete. Such corrosion may arise from several sources including carbonation when the surface of concrete is exposed to high concentration of carbon dioxide or chlorides, such as when the concrete structure is in contact with a chloride-contaminated environment such as arises with de-icing salts and marine environment.
Just as the exploitation of concrete increased over the past 50 years then so have the requirements on it as engineering structures continue to push new boundaries of higher buildings, longer bridges, larger dams, artificial islands etc. Further disasters with poor concrete etc. have led to stricter regulation and compliance requirements. Accordingly, today the concrete industry faces competing demands for faster construction, shorter durations of formwork use, cost reductions whilst ensuring safety and quality are met or exceeded. As such testing techniques for concrete have evolved and will continue to evolve to meet these requirements. However, many of these techniques require samples be taken, full extended curing of the concrete performed, or simple mechanical tests be performed on site with the concrete being delivered.
However, it would be beneficial to provide concrete suppliers, construction companies, regulators, architects, and others requiring data regarding the cure, performance, corrosion of concrete at different points in its life cycle with a series of simple electrical tests that removed subjectivity, allowed for rapid assessment, were integrable to the construction process, and provided full life cycle assessment.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

Electrical methods and systems for concrete testing


In an AC inverter drive connected to an AC induction motor on a material handling machine, the motor (which has a load holding brake and a pulse-emitting shaft encoder) moves a load in hoisting or lowering directions. A method for checking brake load-holding torque including the steps of decelerating the motor toward zero speed, setting the brake, applying "float" load-holding electrical power to the motor, changing the current flowing to the motor and checking for motor rotation by pulse-counting. Motor power is blocked if the number of counted pulses is less than a predetermined number or is increased if the number of counted pulses is greater than a predetermined number, the latter indicating that the brake is incapable of holding the load.

Electrical drive systems using electrical motors to power the end-use function are in wide use for propulsion, machine drives, conveyor lines, chemical processing, material handling applications and the like. A very small sampling of exemplary drive systems appears in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,845,366 (Metzler et al.) and 4,177,238 (Binner).
Certain types of material handling machines incorporate electric motor drive systems for moving the machine from location to location, for moving a machine "substructure" on the machine itself and for moving loads of the type the machine is designed to handle. An example of such a material handling machine is an overhead travelling crane (OTC) used in factories, steel handling bays and the like for lifting, moving and placing loads.
Such a crane traverses along a pair of elevated main rails which are parallel and spaced apart, usually by several yards. A pair of crane bridge girders extends between the rails and there are driven wheels mounted at either end of the girders for supporting the crane atop the rails. And the girders themselves have rails on them.
A substructure called a "trolley" is mounted on the girder rails and traverses the width of the bridge under motive power. A load hoist is mounted on the trolley and includes a powered hoist/lower "rope drum" or drums about which steel cable is spirally wrapped. The cable is connected to a load-lifting hook, sling, bucket, magnet or the like. With the foregoing arrangement, the operator (who usually rides in a cab which is attached to and moves with the bridge) can pick up, move and place a load anywhere in the area travelled by the crane. Other, somewhat less common operating options include radio-controlled cranes operable from the ground or other remote location and operator cabs which are trolley, rather than bridge, mounted.
An exemplary overhead crane employs two electric-motor traverse drive systems, one each for the bridge and trolley traverse drives. A third electric-motor drive system is used for hoisting and lowering loads. Such drive systems may be powered by direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). While DC drive systems were almost universally used in older steel mills and the like, AC variable frequency drive systems are becoming increasingly common, at least in part because of the advantages of precision control and design flexibility which they offer.
In a variable frequency drive system, motor speed is a function of the frequency of the electrical voltage applied to it. Examples of AC variable frequency drive systems (used for hoist drives) are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,965,847 (Jurkowski et al.) and 5,077,508 (Wycoff et al.). The leading manufacturer of overhead cranes and AC drive systems therefor is Harnischfeger Industries, Inc. of Milwaukee, Wis. One such AC drive system is sold under the trademark SMARTORQUE.RTM. and the invention involves a modification of a known type of SMARTORQUE.RTM. controller.
Hoist, bridge and trolley drives are operated by an electrical controller coupled to an operator-manipulated master switch in the cab. Such master switch has a handle with a neutral position and a continuum of positions in each of two directions from neutral. The handle thus controls drive speed in either of two directions. And, subject to the limitation described below, the farther the handle is moved away from the neutral position, the faster the drive moves the load, e.g., the bridge or trolley or the load suspended from the hoist. And the counterpart is that as a master switch is moved toward its neutral position, the drive moves the load more slowly.
In either event, the electric motor and controller "ramp" the speed change so that such change occurs no more rapidly than the maximum predetermined rate set by the slope of the ramp. The quoted expression derives its name from the fact that when depicted on a two-axis graph, the lines representing rates of acceleration and deceleration are ramp-like in shape. Usually, the control manufacturer sets such rates--they are not changed in day-to-day crane operations.
Before setting forth additional background information, an understanding of some fundamentals will be helpful. One such fundamental relates to alternating current (AC) motors and to some of the operating characteristics of a particular type of AC motor, i.e., a squirrel cage motor. Another involves some operating principles of a type of motor controller known as an adjustable frequency inverter and the way such a controller is used with an AC squirrel cage motor. Yet another involves what is known as an asymmetrical load, i.e., a load which resists motor rotation in one direction and aids such rotation in the other, and how such a load affects the motor and the control scheme when a squirrel cage motor and adjustable frequency inverter are used to power the hoist drive.
A squirrel cage motor is so named because portions of its rotor (formed with parallel conductors shorted together at their ends) resembles a squirrel cage in shape. In three phase configuration (the type used on crane drives), the motor has only three stator terminals. In other words, there are no rotor terminals "brought out" as with a wound rotor motor.
Another fundamental relating to squirrel cage motors is that the rotational speed is, in general, a function of the frequency of the applied voltage. For example, a motor having a running speed at rated output torque and 60 Hz applied voltage of about 1760 RPM would have a running speed of about 860 RPM at 30 Hz applied voltage. In recognition of this characteristic of a squirrel cage motor, the above-noted SMARTORQUE.RTM. AC drive system and other systems like it are called "inverters" and are configured to provide an output frequency (and voltage) which can be varied by changing the position of the master switch handle.
An electric motor drive system such as a crane hoist drive represents a somewhat unusual application. Unlike the bridge and trolley drives (and unlike many other types of drives not involving overhead travelling cranes), loads handled by the hoist drive are said to be asymmetrical. That is, the weight of the load either aids or resists motor rotation, depending upon the direction of load movement.
More specifically, when the load is being hoisted, the force of gravity resists such upward movement and thus resists motor rotation. On the other hand, when the load is being lowered, the force of gravity (acting, of course, in a downward direction) aids motor rotation and acts in a way to urge the motor to run faster. Loads of this type are sometimes referred to as "overhauling" loads.
A crane hoist drive is not the only type of drive called upon to handle asymmetrical loads. Any drive moving a load between two elevations, e.g., up and down a ramp or by a reversing, sloping conveyor represents such a drive.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,965,847 (Jurkowski et al.) and 5,077,508 (Wycoff et al.) depict examples of electric motor drive systems for use on overhead travelling cranes and, more specifically, for use on the hoist systems of such cranes. Such systems power the motor by maintaining a substantially constant ratio between the motor applied voltage and the frequency of such voltage. As a result, the motor has a substantially constant stator current and, consequently, exhibits substantially constant torque over its entire speed range.
In a crane hoist system, it is frequently required that the load be held suspended in mid-air while the crane travels to a different location. And such load holding is while the electrical hoist drive is off. Therefore, such systems are usually equipped with an electromagnetic clamping-shoe type brake which is released by energizing a large magnet coil on the brake. The brake shoes, which are spring-biased to a closed, "brake-on" position, clamp against a brake wheel when the magnet coil is de-energized. In crane hoist systems, the brake is sized and adjusted to provide braking or clamping torque on the order of about 150% of the rated output torque of the motor.
While systems of the foregoing type have been generally satisfactory, some are characterized by certain disadvantages. Electromagnetic brakes can and do fail, either partially or completely, often because of inadequate or improper maintenance. For example, the brake shoes may be permitted to wear unduly and the torque available from the brake is diminished, perhaps dramatically so. As another example, the brake may somehow become wedged open so that its shoes cannot clamp the brake wheel when the magnet coil is de-energized.
If the condition of the brake is such that it is inadequate to hold a suspended load, such load will descend, perhaps unexpectedly, when the hoist drive is turned off. That is, the operator will not be in control of such descending load and, unless alert for telltale signs of brake deficiency, may not be aware that the brake is other than fully operative. A method for checking brake load-holding torque which helps prevent uncontrolled load lowering would be an important advance in the art.


Non-acidic tin-, lead-, or indium-modified Pt/ZSM-5 catalysts are effective catalysts for the shape selective preferential hydrogenation of certain aromatic hydrocarbons in admixture with others. These catalysts can be used to reduce the aromatic content of gasoline and distillates.

The demand for gasoline as a motor fuel is one of the major factors which dictates the design and mode of operation of a modern petroleum refinery. The gasoline product from a refinery is derived from several sources within the refinery including, for example, gasoline from the catalytic cracking unit, straight run gasoline, reformate and gasoline obtained as a low boiling by-product from various refinery operations, especially catalytic processes such as catalytic dewaxing. The octane number of the gasoline from these different sources varies according to the nature of the processing and the octane rating of the final gasoline pool will depend upon the octane ratings of the individual components in the pool as well as the proportions of these components. The increasing use of unleaded gasoline coupled with increasing engine efficiencies in road vehicles has led to a demand for increased gasoline pool octane which, in turn, makes it desirable to increase the octane values of the individual components of the pool. Although there are various ways of achieving this objective, some necessarily involve compromises which may render them less attractive in a commercial refinery operation. For example, the octane rating of FCC gasoline may be improved by operating the cracker at a higher temperature (conventionally measured at the top of the riser). Similarly, reformate octane may be increased by operating the reformer at higher severity. However, in both cases, a yield loss will ensue.
In the case of by-product gasoline from catalytic dewaxing processes it may be possible to improve octane during the start-up by increasing the temperature rapidly to a value higher than normal, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,007 (Smith). However, the use of higher temperatures in dewaxing processes will also tend to decrease the yield of dewaxed products. Alternative measures for increasing pool octane are therefore still desirable.
Another trend which is perceptible in the petroleum refining industry is towards the reduction of benzene and other lower boiling point aromatics in the gasoline or distillate pool. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering regulation of the gasoline content and similar measures are being considered in the European Community. Benzene is particularly prevalent in reformer gasoline, being a distinctive product of the reforming process, produced by the dehydrogenation of C.sub.6 cycloparaffins, the dehydrocyclization of straight chain paraffins of appropriate chain length (C.sub.6) and dealkylation of other aromatics. It is produced in particularly high concentrations in the continuous catalytic reforming process which is currently replacing the conventional cyclic reforming process in the industry. It would be possible to reduce the benzene content of the reformate by a simple fractionation process but because the boiling point of benzene is close to that of other desirable and unobjectionable components of the reformate, this too would lead to a considerable loss in yield.
Therefore, what is needed is a process for selectively removing certain aromatic components contained in a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons found in a refinery liquid fuel pool so as to reduce the aromatic content of a gasoline pool for environmental reasons and reduce soot formation in a distillate pool.

Shape selective hydrogenation of aromatics over modified non-acidic platinum/ZSM-5 catalysts


A fastener mechanism releasably unites articles of clothing, which are reliably kept in paired relationship throughout laundering and storage. The fastener mechanism has a first fastener component comprising a disk-shaped member having a body and a grooved portion circumferentially extending around the body. A second fastener component comprising a u-shaped member forms an aperture. The u-shaped member has a ribbed portion circumferentially extending there around to facilitate interlocking of the components. The first and second fastener components are permanently attached to the corresponding articles of clothing via an appending member. A protective concealment pocket is optionally included to house the fastening components when the articles of clothing are worn. The first and second fastener components may be attached to a single article of clothing and act as a releasable fastening device integrally thereon or serve to releasably unite separate clothing components functionally related and distinct.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fasteners for uniting articles of clothing; and more particularly to a fastener mechanism having first and second fastener components that interlock to releasably unite clothing articles together during laundering and storage thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Laundering of small frequently worn articles of clothing can become a time consuming event. In particular, articles that come in pairs, especially socks, commonly need to be replaced as one of a pair is lost during laundering or misplaced after wearing. The misplacement of these clothing articles results in consumer costs by way of replacement expenses, time, and aggravation.
Storing small frequently worn articles of clothing in an organized manner can also be difficult as these articles are prone to intermingling with other articles. In particularly, socks that are neatly folded and paired together in a drawer frequently become separated and disheveled when a person rifles through the drawer to retrieve another item. Frequently, consumers spend unnecessary time sorting, separating, and pairing these articles of clothing after laundering. Fastening mechanisms for temporarily attaching these articles of clothing together during laundering and storage provide a useful means for preventing the disappearance of one of the pair while alleviating tiresome sorting and pairing.
The fastening mechanisms heretofore devised and utilized for uniting articles of a pair together generally consist of basic snap-type fastening means and tongue-and-groove type fastening means. These fastening mechanisms do not provide optimal unification of the articles of clothing during the laundering process and share many disadvantages.
One major disadvantage of the fastening mechanisms heretofore devised and utilized is their propensity towards disengagement during the laundering process. Specifically, snap-type fastening means are inherently susceptible to separation during laundering as extreme forces are applied in opposing directions. Such forces are integral to the harsh conditions anticipated during laundering. As a result, the disclosed snap-type fastening means readily disengage, resulting in separation of the joined articles.
Another key drawback associated with the heretofore devised and utilized fastening mechanisms is the entanglement, and even tearing, of the joined articles of clothing and other clothing during laundering. Tongue-and-groove type fastening means heretofore devised and utilized are particularly vulnerable to such entanglements. Breakage of the fastening mechanisms or even tearing of the articles typically result due to the inflexible and flush attachment configuration of these tongue-and-groove mechanisms to the articles. Flush attachment of the fastener components to each of the corresponding articles results in a concentration of force at the local attachment point. Dispersion of this force is levied resulting in breakage of the mechanism, disengagement, or in extreme cases tearing of the article.
Flush attachment of the mechanism components to the articles of clothing not only cause disengagement and breakage, but also contribute to inefficient laundering. Due to this type of attachment to the socks, the socks of a pair are intimately in contact with one another. As a result, proper cleaning in the attachment regions is impaired, as the laundering detergents and water forces are not properly exposed to the attachment region. This flush attachment configuration is typical of the heretofore devised and utilized fastener mechanisms.
Another disadvantage of conventional article pairing fastening mechanisms is difficulty of concealing them from view when the articles are being worn. During wear, these fastening mechanisms are plainly visible and, due to frequent bodily contact, irritate the wearer's skin or snag articles of overlaying clothing. Problems associated with the discomfort and even injury, caused when such mechanisms make intimate contact with the wearer's person, are readily apparent.
One basic type of fastening mechanism utilized for attaching articles of a pair together comprises a basic snap-type fastening means. This fastening mechanism includes a first fastener having a generally circular part that provides a projection, and a second fastener having a generally circular part that provides an aperture. When engaged the projection fits into the aperture forming a snap-like fit. Representative fastening mechanisms of this type are disclosed in detail by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,032,294; 6,092,241; 6,185,751 B1; 6,374,420 B2; and 5,038,413.
Each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,032,294, 6,092,241, 6,185,751 B1, and 6,374,420 B2 (herein the '420 patent) discloses a fastener for mating pairs of clothing items wherein there is at least one snap fastener mechanism having a spherical projection fitting into a corresponding spherical aperture. The '420 patent calls for partial concealment of the fastening mechanisms, but the projection portion is not covered during wear. U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,413 (herein the '413 patent) discloses several embodiments for the mechanism comprising the sock fastening means. In particular, the '413 patent sets forth the use of a snap-type fastener as discussed hereinabove. In alternative embodiments, the '413 patent discloses Velcro-type, button and buttonhole, and hook and an eyelet fasteners. The '413 patent discloses the placement of logos or designs to be snapped into the snap when worn; this calls attention to the wearer's leg region.
Other disclosures setting forth basic snap-type mechanisms function as identification and tagging devices for articles of clothing. These devices do not join two articles of clothing together, but act unilaterally with one of the articles of the pair. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,344,240; and 5,357,660. These disclosures set forth means for attaching an identification snap to articles of a pair and do not disclose fastening the pair together. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,169 B1 (herein the '169 patent) discloses a snap-type fastener utilized as a sock sorting and storage device. The '169 patent discloses utilization of a fastening mechanism for the storage of the articles of a pair and does not disclose, and in fact teaches away from, joining articles for laundering.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,590 to Stubbs generally discloses a fastening mechanism having a spherical lug projection that fits into a spherical corresponding aperture so that articles of a pair are joined for laundering. This fastening configuration is very similar to the snap-type fastening mechanisms. The lug projection snaps into the corresponding aperture and engagement of the fastening device is accomplished.
The tongue-and-groove type fastening mechanisms heretofore devised and utilized generally consist of a flat surface having a ribbed portion that is inserted into a corresponding cavity having a groove. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,682,389; and 6,237,158 B1. U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,389 (herein the '389 patent) sets forth a fastening mechanism comprising a first block-like element having a cavity (groove) opening at the top and extending downwardly, a second block-like element having a tongue downwardly insertable into the first said element, detent (locking) means within the first and second element, and a stud and washer attachment means for temporarily attaching the first and second elements to related garments. U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,158 B1 (herein the '158 patent) discloses a clip assembly fastening mechanism for joining a sock of a pair to prevent the socks form being separated when laundered or stored. The clip assembly is comprised of panels attached to each sock, preferably near the ankle portion. The panels include corresponding pluralities of wedge-shaped tongues on outwardly facing sides thereof with similarly shaped grooves formed therebetween. The two panels are joined by sliding the panels together.
Both the '389 and '158 patents disclose conspicuous square-shaped fastening components. The square-shaped components inherently present four sharp corner points, which not only attribute to the snagging of clothing, but may even cause physically injury to the wearer. Furthermore, the fastening mechanisms are not inconspicuously located. In fact the '138 patent discloses that the panels are to be placed in a visible area of the sock, suggesting that jewels may adorn the panels.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0105194 to Lo (hereinafter the '194 publication) discloses a fastening device for detachably fastening two members in a pair of articles, consisting of socks or gloves, together. Significantly, the '420 patent discloses a fastening mechanism comprised of a negative fastening member having a base panel, a spacer block, a cylindrical integral, and a retaining head; and a corresponding positive fastening member having a base panel, a socket with a transversely extended receiving hole. The device is engaged and the socks thereafter detachably joined when the retaining head and cylinder of the negative fastening member are received by the socket of the positive fastening member.
All of the above patent disclosures are similar and share the same drawbacks. The snap-type design is especially vulnerable to disengagement during laundering due to weak interlocking capabilities. Even where the heretofore devised and utilized fastening mechanisms do not disengage during laundering, entanglement, breakage, and tearing of the articles routinely occur. Furthermore, in each the forgoing patent disclosures, attachment of the fastening components brings a substantial portion thereof flush against the material of the clothing articles. With such an attachment configuration, disengagement, breakage, and inefficient laundering frequently result. None of the above fastening mechanisms provide for a concealment pocket in order to provide for the articles to be worn in an optionally protective inconspicuous manner, and therefore such mechanisms are prone towards catching on the wearer's person or overlaid clothing.
The heretofore disclosed and utilized fastener mechanisms for the releasable joining of articles of clothing, such as socks, do not disclose a fastener mechanism that allows omni-directional entry, and interlocking properties through use of a disk-shaped member and a u-shaped aperture. Rather, such conventional mechanisms utilize projecting members, together with spherical surfaces or tongue and groove type surfaces. None of the conventional mechanisms utilize a disk-shaped member inserted into a u-shaped member. Moreover, none of the fastening mechanisms heretofore disclosed utilize an optional decorative or inconspicuous protective concealment pocket for the fastening components.
For the foregoing reasons, there exists a need in the art for a fastener mechanism for temporarily uniting articles of clothing that is inexpensive to construct, comfortable and safe to use and highly reliable in operation. Specifically, there is needed, a fastener comprising a first fastening component having a disc-shaped member that interlocks with a second fastening component having a u-shaped aperture member. Also needed is a fastener mechanism comprising an appending member located on both the first and second fastening components for attaching the fastener components to the articles of clothing. Further needed is a fastener mechanism for uniting articles of clothing comprising an optional band of material functioning as a protective concealment pocket. It would be highly advantageous if the use of a disk-shaped member inserted into a u-shaped member would allow omni-directional entry and create an interlocking fastening mechanism that would remain engaged throughout the laundering process. It would also be advantageous if the fastening mechanism was not flush against the material of the article, but was attached to the articles by way of an appending member so as to suspend from the article of clothing. Further advantages would be derived if the fastening mechanisms optionally included a snap having the form of a preselected design. Still other advantages would be afforded by bands of material attached to paired articles of clothing so as to form protective concealment pockets wherein the fasteners are housed when the article is worn. These concealment pockets could be adorned with decorative designs or even have decorative shapes that further encourage their use.

Fastener mechanism for uniting articles of clothing


A tri-color lamp for use as an element in the optical presentation of information. The lamp includes a sealed envelope having a common envelope member and a plurality (e.g., three) of longitudinally extending leg members. A common electrode is located within the common envelope member and is spacedly located from opposing electrodes located within each of the leg members. A phosphor layer within the sealed envelope subtends at least the major body portion of each of the leg members such that the surface brightness of the phosphor layer as viewed through the end portions of the lamp is greater than the intensity of the external surface brightness of the phosphor layer on the major body portion. In the presentation of color information, each of the leg members is coated with respective phosphors emitting the primary colors red, green and blue.

Low-pressure arc discharge lamps have been used for optical presentation of information, i.e., presentation of alpha numeric signs, graphics and pictures displayed on a screen or display, respectively. Such a display consists of a matrix of picture elements, each picture element consisting of a monochrome light signal source in the case of a monochrome display. In the case of a color presentation of information, one picture element is composed on three single lamps of the primary colors red, green and blue. The desired color impression is then created physiologically by additive mixture of the three primary colors within the human eye/brain system.
There have been proposed a wide variety of fluorescent lamps of such special configuration as to be applicable to such displays. For example, FIG. 1 of UK Patent Application No. GB 2 145 873 A, published on Apr. 3, 1985, shows one typical lamp which comprises a phosphor-coated tubular envelope of convoluted tridimensional configuration that contains a pair of electrodes and an ionizable medium. For construction of the color display, a multiplicity of the above fluorescent lamps are arranged in a matrix (FIG. 2 of GB No. 2 145 873 A) so as to form one picture element by the combination of three lamps having the envelope coated with respective phosphors emitting the different primary colors, i.e., red, green and blue. The above-mentioned UK Application also shows a fluorescent lamp comprising a gas-filled envelope enclosing a plurality of discharge paths defined by U-shaped phosphor-coated tubes. In UK Patent Application No. GB 2 167 895 A, published on June 4, 1986, a fluorescent lamp assembly is shown in FIG. 18 comprising a central lamp base 201 with a cell 205 having a common electrode 208 therein and U-shaped lamp tubes 209a, 209b and 209c joined to communicate their interior with cell 205. Although the known lamps operate satisfactorily when used in some of such displays, drawbacks still exist.
Presenting information to a large audience in the open air means looking for a correspondingly large area display which is distinctly visible not only at night but also during daylight and with sufficient optical resolution from a greater viewing distance. In the above known lamps, only the curved portion of the U-shaped envelope is presented towards the audience so that no more than approximately 20 percent of the radiation is effective. The rest is dissipating, especially through the parallel legs of the U-shaped envelope which are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lamp and substantially normal or perpendicular, respectively, to the plane of fixation of a unit, said plane being also substantially normal to the viewing direction of the spectators. The surface brightness along the envelope is substantially constant, i.e., one area along the envelope does not appear brighter than another area.
Other low-pressure arc discharge fluorescent lamps primarily used for general illumination are known in which the envelope includes at least two longitudinally extending leg members joined together by a transversely extending envelope portion. Examples of such lamps which are commercially available are the "Twin Tube" and "Double Twin Tube" fluorescent lamps manufactured by GTE Sylvania, Danvers, Mass. Other examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,340, which issued to Bouwknegt et al on Feb. 15, 1983; U.S. Pat. No. 4,426,602, which issued to Mollet et al on Jan. 17, 1984; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,442, which issued to Albrecht et al on Nov. 6, 1984. Lamps described in the above-mentioned U.S. patents allow most of the radiation to be dissipated through the longitudinally extending leg members. The surface brightness along the envelope is also substantially constant.

Integral lamp for tri-color picture element


In a plasma display device comprising: plural first, second, and third electrodes disposed adjacently and extending in a first direction, the third electrodes being provided between the first and second electrodes for repeating discharges; a dielectric layer covering the electrodes, a first electrode driving circuit for driving the first electrodes; a second electrode driving circuit for driving the second electrodes; and a third electrode driving circuit for driving the third electrodes, grayscale display is performed by a sub-field method, and the third electrodes are set to have a potential approximately the same as that of the first or second electrode at the discharge in the repetitive discharges. The third electrode driving circuit changes the ratio of the discharges in which the third electrodes operate as cathodes to the discharges in which they operate as anodes in the period when the discharges are repeated, at least in one sub-field.

In AC color PDP devices, an address/display separation (ADS) method in which a period when the cells to be displayed are determined (address period) and a display period when discharges for display lighting are performed (sustain period) are separated is widely employed. In this method, charge is accumulated in the cells, which are to be turned on, in the address period, and discharges for display are performed by utilizing the charge in the sustain period.
Also, plasma display panels include: a two-electrode type PDP in which a plurality of first electrodes extending in a first direction are provided in parallel to each other and a plurality of second electrodes extending in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction are provided in parallel to each other; and a three-electrode type PDP in which a plurality of first electrodes and second electrodes extending in a first direction are alternately provided in parallel to each other and a plurality of address electrodes extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction are provided in parallel to each other. In recent years, the three-electrode type PDPs have been widely used.
In a general structure of the three-electrode type PDPs, first (X) electrodes and second (Y) electrodes are alternately provided in parallel to each other on a first substrate, address electrodes extending in a direction which is perpendicular to the extending direction of the first and second electrodes are provided on a second substrate opposite to the first substrate, and the surfaces of the electrodes are covered by dielectric layers. On the second substrate, barrier ribs which are extending in one direction and arranged in stripes between the address electrodes in parallel to the address electrodes or barrier ribs which are arranged in lattice pattern and disposed in parallel to the address electrodes and the first and second electrodes so as to individually separate the cells are further provided, and the first and the second substrates are attached to each other after phosphor layers are formed between the barrier ribs. Therefore, the dielectric layers and the phosphor layers and further the barrier ribs are formed on the address electrodes.
Discharges are caused in all of the cells by applying voltage between the first and second electrodes to make the charge (wall charge) in the vicinity of the electrodes uniform. Then, the addressing for selectively leaving the wall charge in the cells to be turned on is performed by sequentially applying scan pulses to the second electrodes and applying address pulses to the address electrodes in synchronization with the scan pulses. Subsequently, sustain discharge (sustain) pulses of potentials of alternately changed polarities are applied between the two adjacent first and second electrodes where discharges are to be performed. By doing so, the sustain discharges are performed in the cells to be turned on in which the wall charge has been formed through the addressing, thereby performing the lighting. The phosphor layers emit light by ultraviolet rays generated through the discharges, and the light is seen through the first substrate. Therefore, the first and second electrodes are comprised of non-transparent bus electrodes formed of metal materials and transparent electrodes such as ITO films, and the light generated in the phosphor layers can be seen through the transparent electrodes. Since structures and operations of general PDPs are widely known, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted here.
In the field of the above-described three-electrode type PDP, various types of PDPs in which third electrodes are respectively provided between the first electrodes and the second electrodes in parallel thereto have been proposed.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-123741 (Patent Document 1) discloses a PDP device which performs interlaced display by utilizing display lines between first electrodes and third electrodes and between second electrodes and third electrodes.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-34228 (Patent Document 2) and No. 2004-192875 (Patent Document 3) disclose the structure in which third electrodes are provided between first electrodes and second electrodes where discharge is not performed (non-display line) so that the third electrodes are utilized for trigger operations, prevention of discharges in non-display lines (prevention of reverse slit), reset operations, and others.
In general, the three-electrode type PDPs merely control lighting and non-lighting, and it is difficult to carry out grayscale display by precisely changing the light emission intensity. Therefore, in PDP devices, one display field is comprised of a plurality of sub-fields in general, and the grayscale display is carried out by combining the lighting sub-fields. The grayscales which can be displayed in this case correspond to combinations of luminance of the sub-fields. For example, if 8 sub-fields in which a luminance ratio is sequentially changed in the powers of 2 are provided, display of 256 grayscales can be carried out. Although this sub-field structure is the most efficient structure in terms of the relation between the number of sub-fields and the number of grayscales which can be displayed, it has a problem of, for example, the color drift and edge distortion. Therefore, various sub-field structures for reducing the color drift and edge distortion have been proposed.
Meanwhile, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-337566 (Patent Document 4) discloses a structure in which second (Y) electrodes are sorted into primary second electrodes and auxiliary second electrodes which are selectively used, and by selecting the second electrode to be used, the discharge area can be changed in each display line so as to change the luminance. When this structure is applied to the sub-field structure, the number of grayscales which can be displayed is increased.
Meanwhile, in PDP devices, it is desired to improve luminance (light emission amount) so as to obtain high display luminance. Therefore, in general, the total number of sustain pulses in sub-fields of one field, i.e., the number of total sustain pulses in one field is set as the maximum value. However, when the bright display is carried out on the entire screen, the amount of currents (electric power) fed to the entire panel increases, and the panel temperature increases to exceed a permissible value. Therefore, in such a case, power control for reducing the number of total sustain pulses in one field is performed. When the number of total sustain pulses is reduced, the numbers of sustain pulses are allotted to each of the sub-fields in accordance with the luminance ratio. However, the minimum number of total sustain pulses for accurately allotting the numbers of sustain pulses to the sub-fields in accordance with the luminance ratio is fixed, and if the number of total sustain pulses at that point is not an integral multiple of the minimum number of total sustain pulses, the numbers of sustain pulses cannot be accurately allotted to the sub-fields in accordance with the luminance ratio, and some errors occur in the luminance ratio.
Note that the number of total sustain pulses in one field is changed not only for the above-described power control but also for the prevention of local temperature increase in a still image and the like.

Driving method of plasma display panel and plasma display device


Apparatus and method for improving chemical process efficiency and promoting sharing of chemistry information for guiding and encouraging scientific researchers and institutions to develop and share more efficient chemical processes. Technical solution comprises: by means of execution and assessment analysis of relevant chemical processes of target compound or target compound system and provision of application program and website having social and electronic transaction functions installed on mobile device for scientific researchers on basis of Internet technology, sharing, transaction and assessment of relevant chemical processes of and chemistry information about compound can be disclosed are implemented, and users are guided and encouraged to share chemistry information and experience via electronic transaction system, developing more efficient chemical processes, reducing resource waste, promoting research and development efficiency, improving research and development efficiency of unknown innovative chemical processes and compounds.

Currently in the field of chemistry, when a scientific researcher/chemist wants to synthesize a target compound, he will first search a plurality of literatures and patents data including two major chemical databases of SciFinder and Reaxys, to obtain chemistry information of relevant compounds, and based on these information including the literatures and patents information, designing and optimizing a synthetic route of the target compound, as well as obtaining a supply information on a plurality of raw material compounds such as a starting compound and else.
After the target compound being synthesized, generally, it is able to obtain the target compound in certain purity by a plurality of separation and purification methods including chromatography, crystallization/re-crystallization and else. Wherein, most (80-90%) of the synthesized organic compounds may be prepared, separated and purified by a flash chromatography technology after a plurality of appropriate post-reaction processing treatments. The flash chromatography technology has also become a dominant technology in a contemporary liquid chromatography field.
The SciFinder is an online database published by Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) of American Chemical Society (ACS), In addition to querying a daily updated CA data up to 1907, it further provides a structure based search function to researchers. It is the largest and most comprehensive database for chemistry and related scientific information in the world. With its largest scientific data and powerful search function, researchers will be able to follow the latest scientific development and identify the best research direction and achieve optimized resource available. According to statistics, more than 95% of the researchers around the world have highly praised SciFinder, acknowledging that it has inspired and accelerated their research.
While the Reaxys database is published by Elsevier Co., which is a database with rich chemistry data and information, it is an online solution for assisting chemical research and development, and a R&D tool for optimizing chemical synthetic routes. The Reaxys has integrated the database of CrossFire, and has covered comprehensively a plenty of experimental verified information in organic chemistry, metal organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry.
However, the synthetic routes provided by the existing chemistry databases are merely a plurality of data lists based on literatures and patents information, a chemist has to execute screening, feasibility analyzing and route optimizing based on his own theoretical knowledge and experience, while he also has to cooperate with other personnel including a purchaser to execute a screening and determination on a plurality of suppliers for raw material compound, before integrating a plurality of various factors to determine a final feasible synthetic route. However, during an executing process of the determined final synthetic route, often a plurality of unexpected chemical problems and difficulties may rise, while the researcher may find it difficult to communicate with a provider of the referenced literature or patent information on the synthetic route, causing a waste of time and resource, and even a failure of the synthetic route. The existing chemistry information database lacks of a verification and assessment to the provided information, including literature information, patent information, supply information of raw material compounds and else, it also lacks of an update to the existing information, as well as an interaction between the information provider and user.
The prior art may provide a search and trade for a chemical product and chemistry information, may also carry out a relevant chemical process of the target compound or the target compound system. However, when a current chemical device or apparatus is executing a relevant chemical process of the target compound or the target compound system, on one hand, the user can not obtain directly an existing chemical process through the existing chemical device or apparatus, and perform automatically therein, on the other hand, after the user has performed the relevant chemical processes on the target compound or the target compound system, the existing chemical device or apparatus can not make a quantized efficiency comparison and analysis of the currently performed process against the existing processes (if there are any), thus, it is impossible to guide or drive a user to use and/or develop a more efficient chemical process, thus causing a waste of the resources for R&D.
Furthermore, a search and trade platform for chemical products and chemistry information in the prior art lacks of an efficient mechanism to guide and drive the user to publish, verify and evaluate the chemistry information, thus there is no way to decide if the recorded chemistry information was practical and efficient.
Taking the liquid chromatography technology as an example, currently being widely used in the field of synthetic chemistry, the flash chromatography belongs to one of the liquid chromatography technology which was first proposed and improved by W. Clark Still of Columbia University in 1978. Compared to a traditional liquid chromatography separation technology, the flash chromatography technology uses a silica gel packed column with a smaller particle size, to make an efficient separation and purification of the target compound under a certain pressure. Using the chromatographic techniques to separate and purify the target compound is a basic technique that every chemist in the organic synthetic field must master and use daily. Generally, it is possible to use a plurality of columns with different construction materials to manually pack a chromatographic column for separation and purification, or use an automatic liquid chromatography system to separate and purify the compound. Currently a plurality of products based on the flash chromatography technology has been widely applied in the market. With a development of hardware and software technologies, a modern flash chromatography system has been more and more automatic, once a plurality of separation and purification methods have been developed, a user may achieve the separation and purification of the target compound with a simple operation.
However, although the existing liquid chromatography separation technology and the instruments thereof have a good level of automation, the user still have to master a basic chromatographic knowledge and achieve a specialized training. Furthermore, even when a separation method for a specific target compound system was already developed, since there is no system or platform providing a sharing and searching work for the separation method, each time, the user still has to perform a series of experiments to determine a plurality of basic factors of target compound system for separation and purification, such as a solvent system, a Rf value and a gradient, etc., which results in a plurality of repeated thus wasted efforts and valuable research resources.
Further, separation and purification method of a target compound is an integral part of the synthetic process of the target compound, in the prior art, it is impossible to provide combined information regarding the synthetic information and separation and purification information of the target compound, while a chemist has to use different products and services to carry out/complete a synthesis of the target compound before separation and purification, which results in an inefficient use of resources, and thus hinders an advancement of scientific research, as well as improvement of production efficiency.
Furthermore, in prior art, the separation and purification techniques, including the liquid chromatography technology, are isolated from a synthesis process of a compound, the researchers lack of any efficient tools to evaluate the efficiency of the separation and purification method, that is, after a successful separation and purification of a target compound, it is impossible for a researcher to know whether there is a more efficient separation and purification method exist or not, and it lacks of an effective analysis to the efficiency of the separation and purification executed this time, so as to develop a more efficient separation and purification method. Especially in a field of research and development, the technology system in the prior art lacks of a mechanism to guide and drive the scientific researchers to develop and use a more efficient separation and purification technology, causing a waste of resources and a low efficiency of scientific researches.
Therefore, the prior art has yet to be developed.


The present invention is a control system for conditioning movement of a work implement during a work cycle. In one embodiment, the control system comprises an electronic-hydraulic valve connected to the work implement and a computer system having a central processing unit and a memory device. The control system further comprises a mode control module stored on the memory device. The mode control module is generally adapted to detect whether the control handle of the work implement is signaling for operating in a smooth mode or an abrupt mode, and to output a control signal to the electronic-hydraulic valve to control operation of the work implement during the smooth mode or the abrupt mode. The mode control module comprises a smooth mode module and an abrupt mode module. The smooth mode module and the abrupt mode module are adapted to optimize movement of the work cycle during the smooth mode, and abrupt mode, respectively.

The invention relates generally to excavating machines and, more particularly, to a control system for an excavating machine.
When using electro-hydraulics on machines with buckets, the software is programmed to provide for smooth operation. When activating the valve through which such operation is controlled, the acceleration and deceleration of the bucket is reduced to give smooth starts and stops, improved stability, and less fatigue on structures and hydraulics. However, this causes a problem when trying to clean out the bucket.
With conventional machines, the operator ordinarily cycles the bucket back and forth in rapid succession to shake the dirt out. The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems or disadvantages associated with the prior art.
The present invention is a control system for conditioning movement of a work implement during a work cycle. In one embodiment, the control system comprises an electric hydraulic valve connected to the work implement and a computer system having a central processing unit and a memory device. The control system further comprises a mode control module stored on the memory device. The mode control module is generally adapted to detect whether the work implement is operating in a smooth mode or an abrupt mode, and to output a control signal to the electronic-hydraulic valve to control operation of the work implement during the smooth mode or the abrupt mode. The mode control module comprises a smooth mode module and an abrupt mode module, and a decisional mode. The decisional mode is generally adapted to detect whether the work implement is operating in the smooth mode or the abrupt mode. The smooth mode module and the abrupt mode module are adapted to optimize movement of the work cycle during the smooth mode and abrupt mode, respectively.

Bucket shakeout mechanism for electro-hydraulic machines


An n-type GaAs buffer layer 702, an n-type AlGaInP cladding layer 703, a multiple quantum well active layer 704 made of AlGaInP and GaInP, a first p-type AlGaInP cladding layer 705a, an optical guide layer 707, a second p-type cladding layer 705b, a p-type GaInP saturable absorption layer 706, and a third p-type AlGaInP cladding layer 707 are sequentially formed on an n-type GaAs substrate 701. In this structure, the volume of the saturable absorption layer is reduced, and the optical guide layer is provided. As the volume of the saturable absorption layer becomes smaller, the more easily the carrier density can be increased, the more easily the saturated state can be attained, and the more remarkable the saturable absorption effect becomes. Thus, a semiconductor laser having stable self-oscillation characteristics and, as a result, having a low relative noise intensity is realized.

With the recent increase in demand for semiconductor lasers in the fields of optical communications, laser printers, optical disk devices, and the like, semiconductor lasers of the GaAs type and the InP type, mainly, have been actively studied and developed. In the optical information processing field, a method of recording and reproducing information using light from an AlGaAs type semiconductor laser with a wavelength of 780 nm, especially, has been commercialized. Such a method has been widely used for compact disks and the like.
In recent years, optical disk devices with a larger memory capacity have been increasingly in demand. With this demand, shorter-wavelength lasers have been requested. An AlGaInP type semiconductor laser can oscillate in the red region of wavelengths of 630 to 690 nm, emitting light with the shortest wavelength among those obtained from semiconductor lasers practically available at present. This type of semiconductor laser is therefore highly expected to be a next-generation large-capacity light source for optical information recording, replacing the conventional AlGaAs type semiconductor laser. In general, when reproducing information from an optical disk, a semiconductor laser generates intensity noise due to return of light reflected from a disk surface and temperature change, inducing a signal read error. A laser with low intensity noise is therefore indispensable for a light source of an optical disk.
Conventionally, in order to reduce noise, a low-output AlGaAs type semiconductor laser for a reproduction-only device has a structure where saturable absorbers are intentionally formed on each side of a ridge stripe. With this structure, multiple longitudinal modes can be obtained. In the case where disturbances such as return light and temperature change arise when a laser is oscillated in a single longitudinal mode, oscillation in an adjacent longitudinal mode is started by a minute change in a gain peak, causing conflict with the oscillation in the original oscillating mode and thus leading to noise. When multiple longitudinal modes are used, the change in the intensity of each mode is averaged and is not influenced by the disturbances. Thus, stable low-noise characteristics can be obtained.
A method for obtaining further stable self-oscillation characteristics is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 63-202083. In this publication, a self-oscillation type semiconductor laser has been realized by forming a layer which can absorb output light.
Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 6-260716 reports that the characteristics have been improved by substantially equalizing the energy gaps of an active layer and an absorption layer. In particular, the energy gaps of a strained quantum well active layer and a strained quantum well saturable absorption layer are substantially equal to each other, so as to obtain good self-oscillation characteristics. A similar configuration is described in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 7-22695.
However, the inventors of the present invention have found that good self-oscillation characteristics are not obtained by only substantially equalizing the energy gaps of a saturable absorption layer and an active layer.
The present invention is aimed at providing a semiconductor laser having stable self-oscillation characteristics effective for noise reduction by examining the energy gap difference between a saturable absorption layer and an active layer, as well as a method for fabricating such a semiconductor laser and an optical disk device using such a semiconductor laser.

Semiconductor laser and optical disk device using the laser

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A branched and fenestrated prosthesis may include a main tubular graft body including a proximal end opening, a distal end opening, a lumen, and a sidewall. A branch may extend from the sidewall and may include a first end opening, a second end opening, and a lumen. A fenestration may be disposed in the sidewall and positioned distal of the second end opening of the branch. The branched and fenestrated prosthesis may include a plurality of branches and a plurality of fenestrations.

The present disclosure relates generally to medical devices. More particularly, it relates to an endoluminal prosthesis having multiple branches or fenestrations and systems and methods for facilitating deployment of such an endoluminal prosthesis.
Using stent grafts to treat aneurysms is common in the medical field. Stent grafts are deployed by accessing a vasculature with a small incision in the skin and guiding a delivery system to the target area. This intraluminal delivery is less invasive and generally preferred over more intrusive forms of surgery. Multiple stent grafts may be implanted using intraluminal delivery to provide a system of interconnected stent grafts. Interconnected stent grafts can be made of fenestrated stent grafts and smaller side branch grafts, including bifurcated components.
Sometimes aneurysms engulf a vessel and its branch vessels, such as the aorta and the renal arteries or the aortic arch and the branch arteries. In such instances, a fenestrated graft can be implanted in the main vessel while smaller branch grafts can be deployed in the branch arteries. The main vessel grafts have fenestrations that correspond with the openings of the branch vessels. The smaller branch grafts are joined with the main vessel graft at the fenestrations. Due to the torsion and rigors of the endovascular system, this juncture can be subject to significant stress.
Moreover, when a condition such as an aneurysm has engulfed a main vessel and multiple branch vessels, it may be relatively time consuming to deliver the smaller branch grafts needed in addition to the main graft. For example, insertion of wire guides and delivery devices may be time consuming and/or difficult to perform when multiple smaller branch grafts are deployed to cannulate multiple corresponding branch vessels.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Endoluminal prosthesis having multiple branches or fenestrations and methods of deployment


An orthodontic arch wire composed of stainless steel or other bendable alloy formed into an arc is provided with lines permanently etched, or otherwise permanently marked, across its long dimension, and/or outward-facing surfaces at intervals approximating the midpoint at which adjacent teeth contact each other when normally aligned. When the arch wire is removed from the patient""s mouth for periodic adjustments, the etch marks provide accurate, stable, and permanent landmarks for placement of adjustment bends for three-dimensional movements of individual teeth. In order to accommodate a range of tooth and dental arch sizes, the arch wires are of small, medium, and large sizes for both upper and lower arch forms with the markings proportioned for small, medium, and large tooth sizes.

The present invention relates to orthodontics and, in particular, intraoral arch wires employed as the force-transmitting member to move teeth.
Modern orthodontic appliances consist of two main components: arch wires, which exert forces on the teeth, and attachments on the teeth called brackets or tubes. Arch wires are shaped by the manufacturer (preformed arch wires) or at chair-side by the orthodontist, into a curve resembling an ellipse or parabola which approximates the normal shape of the patient""s dental arch. When an arch wire is secured in the slot of a bracket, or into a molar tube, it is elastically deformed. The force generated by the deformation is applied to the tooth, and is transmitted by the root of the tooth to the surrounding tissues. Bone remodeling occurs, allowing the tooth to move into better alignment with the other teeth. As alignment occurs, the arch wire becomes passive.
Before the introduction of preformed arch wires, the orthodontist fabricated the arch wire from a straight length of wire. In addition to placing the arch form in the wire, a number of other bends were necessary to accommodate the crown anatomy of the various teeth, since the machined brackets were all the same thickness from the tooth surface to the bracket slot. Prior to making the bends, marks were made while the arch wire was in the patient""s mouth using an indelible pencil or wax china marker. The marks are used to located the bends.
The first preformed arch wires were introduced in the mid 1960s. Most were a basic U-shape, which saved the orthodontist time in forming a symmetrical arch wire from straight wire. In order to position the arch wire symmetrically in the mouth, a mid-line mark was necessary in the center of the arc. Soon arch wires were offered with midline marks painted on the wire or printed with FDA approved indelible ink. While these marks were helpful in the initial placement of the arch wires, they disappeared after the first visit. Fortunately, the routine arch wire bends acted as a guide to the correct positioning of the arch wire at future office visits. As technology advanced, some of the manufacturers permanently etched the midlines of their preformed arch wires. McKenna introduced a permanent midline mark bent into the arch wire in 1990 in the form of a U-shaped xe2x80x9cdimple.xe2x80x9d
The introduction of the xe2x80x9cstraight-wirexe2x80x9d appliance by Dr. Lawrence Andrews in 1972 made possible the reduction or elimination of many routine arch wire bends. His system included cast stainless steel brackets and tubes individualized for the different tooth anatomy. The goal was to produce ideal tooth alignment without routine anatomical or adjustment bends in the arch wire. Nevertheless, individual variations in tooth anatomy, imprecise placement of brackets on teeth, and other factors still made some adjustment bends necessary during treatment, especially during the finishing stages.
The use of the china marker or indelible pencil to mark arch wire bends was effective, but unhygienic. Neither instrument could be sterilized. Concern about the spread of HIV, hepatitis B, and other communicable diseases led to the introduction of the disposable arch wire marker. Like the china marker, it has a wax tip. However, the disposable marker resembles a thin wooden matchstick with its pointed end dipped in red wax. In order to adhere to the stick, maintain its shape, and make several marks on the arch wire, the composition of the wax material is different from that of the china marker, and it does not adhere as well to the arch wire in the mouth.
In practice, many of the marks shift, smear, or disappear during removal of the arch wire from the mouth. Others are rubbed off as bends are placed in the arch wire. A second or third visit to the mouth is usually necessary to mark all adjustment bends. Since adjustment bends are often very small, it is difficult to use them to orient the arch wire for subsequent marks or for arch wire placement in the mouth. Errors can result in which previous bends interfere with seating of the arch wire in the brackets. Occasionally an arch wire may be turned wrong side up when removed from the mouth, leading to adjustment errors and incorrect re-insertion into the mouth. These errors extend chair time with the patient and overall treatment time, as well as increasing patient discomfort and trauma to the teeth.
Current high quality preformed ideal arch wires are shaped into an arc with proportions similar to the anatomic shape of the dental arch. Most are provided with a midline mark that is either etched or painted. The etched marks are permanent but the painted midline marks soon disappear. Except for space closing arch wires that incorporate loops, or have hooks or tubes attached, preformed arch wires have no other markings to indicate where adjustment bends should be made.
In order to solve the problems in the dental arts described above, the present arch wire has been devised. Specifically, the arch wire comprises a preformed and premarked wire having a plurality of markings along a surface thereof. The marks may be applied to the arch wire by various permanent marking processes such as chemical etching, laser etching, or laser engraving. Preferably the markings are along a top surface of the arch wire or along the labial/buccal surface. In use, a premarked arch wire is selected from a group of arch wires of different sizes to match the size of the patient""s dental arch. This conveniently places the permanent markings on the arch wire between the patient""s teeth where adjustment bends need to be made.
A preformed arch wire with adjustment marks etched or otherwise permanently marked on the surface eliminates the above-described problems and the problem of cross-contamination, as well as greatly increasing efficiency. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an arch wire system to eliminate repeated arch wire insertions to replace lost, smeared, or drifted marks. It is a further object of the invention to permit arch wire adjustment bends to be made accurately and quickly with reduction in discomfort to the patient. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art from the following drawings and description of the preferred embodiment.


A touch panel includes a substrate comprising divided regions; first electrodes, each of the first electrodes comprising first rhombus patterns spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other in a predetermined first direction and first connection patterns configured to connect the first rhombus patterns second electrodes, each of the second electrodes comprising second rhombus patterns spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other in the second direction and second connection patterns configured to connect the second rhombus patterns; third electrodes formed in border areas between the divided regions and outer areas of the divided regions; a touch controller formed in each of the divided regions correspondingly; and pad electrodes connected with the touch controller.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present invention relates to a touch panel, more particularly, to a touch panel having improved sensitivity embodied by applying divisional driving to a large-sized touch panel and changing a structure of a divided border area between divided areas while the divisional driving is implemented, and a liquid crystal display device including the touch panel.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As the information age has started in earnest, a display field used to express an electrical information signal visually has been developed drastically. Together with that, a variety of flat display devices having excellent functions of slimming, reduced weights and low electricity consumption has been developed and they replace conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) devices rapidly.
Such a flat display device includes a liquid crystal display device (LCD), a plasma display panel device (PDP), a field emission display device (FED), an electro luminescence display device (ELD) and the like. They are commonly configured of a flay display panel to present images and this flat display panel has a couple of transparent insulating substrates boned with each other with a luminescent or polarizing material layer formed there between.
The liquid crystal display device (LCD) displays images by controlling light transmisivity of liquid crystal by way of an electric field. For that, the liquid crystal display device includes a liquid display panel having liquid crystal cells, a back light unit configured to emit lights to the display panel and a driving circuit configured to the liquid crystal cells.
A plurality unit pixel regions are defined and formed in the liquid crystal display panel by gate lines and data lines alternatively aligned to each other. At this time, each pixel region includes a thin film transistor array substrate, a color filter array substrate, a spacer located between the two substrates to maintain a cell gap and liquid crystal filled in the cell gap.
The thin film array substrate is configured of gate lines and data lines, a thin film transistor formed in each cross point of the gate and data lines as switch device, a pixel electrode connected with the thin film transistor with being formed in liquid crystal cell units, and an alignment layer coated thereon. The gate and data lines receive a signal from driving circuits via pad parts, respectively.
The thin transistor transmits a pixel voltage signal supplied to the data lines to the pixel electrode in response to a scan signal supplied to the gate lines.
The color filter substrate is configured of color filters formed in the liquid crystal cell units, a black matrix configured to distinguish color filters from each other and to reflect external lights, common electrodes configured to supply a reference voltage to each of the liquid crystal cells commonly and an alignment layer coated thereon.
After the thin film transistor substrate and the color filter array substrate fabricated independently as mentioned above are alignedly bonded to each other in opposite, the liquid crystal is injected and sealed.
Recently, such the liquid display device has been required to have a touch panel capable of recognizing a touch point inputted by a finger or auxiliary inputting means and of transmitting information corresponding to the touch. This touch panel is configured to be attached to an outer surface of the liquid crystal display device.
The touch panel may be categorized based on a touch sensing type into a resistance type, a capacitive type and an infrared sensor type. Recently, the capacitive type has been receiving attention to be applied to a compact sized model, in consideration of manufacturing convenience and sensitivity.
As follows, the capacitive type touch panel of related art will be described in reference to the accompanying drawing.
FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically illustrating the capacitive type touch panel of related art.
As shown in FIG. 1, the capacitive type touch panel of related art includes first electrodes 11 and second electrodes 12 aligned to each other on a substrate 10, a pad electrode 40 provided in a predetermined area of the substrate 10 to be connected with a flexible printed circuit (FPC) 50 including a touch controller 51. The first and second electrodes 11 and 12 are connected with the pad electrode 40 via a routing wire 25.
The first and second electrodes 11 and 12 may be aligned to each other in a bar shape, or they may be aligned in a rhombus pattern corresponding to sensing regions, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1, such that one electrode is formed to have a thin connection pattern integrally formed with a neighboring rhombus pattern and the other electrode is formed to electrically connect the neighboring rhombus pattern adjacent to the connection pattern with a connection metal pattern 21 of the other metal.
Here, the touch controller 51 may be a kind of an integrated circuit (IC) including input pins (not shown) as connecting parts of a driving part provided in the display device and output pins (not shown, which are in contact with the pad electrode) configured to apply signals to the first and second electrodes 11 and 12.
However, the touch controller 51 typically used at moment supports the number of pins (channels) proper to a compact-sized model. Especially, as demands of touch solution development with respect to a compact-sized model such as a mobile phone have been stronger in recent, most touch controller developers have developed the touch controller 51 proper to the compact models.
In the current market, demands of touch panel technology have been increasing more and more in industries of net books, NBPC (notebook PC) models and monitors. In contrast, development of touch controller IC proper even to a middle and large sized model has not accomplished yet. Because of that, considering touch resolution and photolysis, application of medium-and-large-sized models is impossible in the current IC development level.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating comparison between an area of a predetermined sensing region and a contact area of an actual finger, when the capacitive type touch panel of related art is applied to a more-than-medium sized model.
For example, according to FIG. 2, the first and second electrodes are formed in the rhombus pattern, corresponding to the sensing regions, respectively. An electrode is formed to have the thin connection pattern integrally formed with a neighboring rhombus pattern and the other electrode is formed by electrically connecting the neighboring pattern with a connection metal pattern of another metal with respect to an intersection of the connection pattern.
In this case, currently commercialized IC of the touch controller has the fixed number of channels (pins). Because of that, as the size of the model is larger, the sizes of the first and second electrodes have to be larger for the sensing, corresponding to such the number of the channels.
According to FIG. 2, each diagonal line of the first and second electrodes provided for this sensing is approximately 1.5 cm in a single sensing region 31 of the touch panel presented to be proper to the number of the pins of the touch controller.
However, a critical dimension of a finger in a single touch area is approximately 1 cm. As this is applied to the structure shown in FIG. 2, the area of the sensing region is formed larger than the single touch area of the finger. If a minute region moves because of the finger touching, it is impossible to detect the minute moving and it is expected for touch sensitivity to be deteriorated.
Furthermore, the capacitive type touch panel of related art has a problem of impossible multi-touch.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating touching in a self capacitive type and detecting areas thereof.
As shown in FIG. 3A, for example, A(5a) and B(5b) points of a finger touches different areas simultaneously and then the self capacitive type applies a signal and detects the signal for all lines of the first electrodes (X electrodes) and second electrodes (Y electrodes). At this time, signal application and detection is implemented in the first electrodes and after that, signal application and detection is implemented in the second electrodes.
If the touch of the finger A(5a) and B(5b) implemented simultaneously, each of the first and second electrodes reads a changing value from lines where the finger A and B (5a and 5b) are located. As shown in FIG. 3B, crossing areas (G) of the lines where the finger A and B are located are recognized as touch, together with the actual touch Area®.
That is, the crossing rear (G) of the lines having the finger located therein is a ghost point, not the actual touch point, and this ghost phenomenon is getting severer as the number of the multi-touches is getting larger.

Touch panel including each touch controller for each divided region and liquid crystal display device using the same


Disclosed is a system with at least two complementary transistors, having n and p channels but comprising a heterostructure of junctions between III-V group materials. In order to balance the threshold voltages in the two channels, namely the n (2DEG) and p (2DHG) channels, at least two p and n delta doped layers are included in two layers of the heterostructure, at levels included between the channels (2DEG, 2DHG) and the gate electrodes. The n delta doped layer is then removed by localized etching right above the p channel transistor. Application to fast logic circuits.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device comprising at least two complementary type transistors formed around a heterostructure of junctions between materials of the III-V groups. One of the particular features of this device is that its structure can be used to balance the threshold voltages V.sub.T of the two transistors, which are n and p type transistors, and to optimize their mutual conductance or transconductance values, despite the differences in mobility between the electrons and the holes.
One of the objects of this device is to reduce the electrical consumption of the fast logic circuits and of the microwave circuits.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known that, in fast logic circuits, to date it is only n type transistors that are used because, in the channel, the electrons have far higher mobility than the holes, giving the transistors a higher cut-off frequency.
It is also known that the basic cell in logic circuits is the inverter, as shown in FIG. 1. This DCFL (Direct Coupled FET Logic) type inverter is formed by an enhanced n type input transistor 1, series-connected with a depleted n type active load 2, the entire unit being supplied between the ground and a voltage V.sub.DD. The input signal is applied at I on the gate of the transistor 1 and the output signal is collected at O on the drain of the same transistor. The power consumed (0.3, 1 mW) by this basic inverter: ##EQU1## is proportional to the working frequency (kf) but comprises a constant term corresponding to the consumption of the active load 2, even if the inverter is idle.
The use of a BFL (Buffered Fet Logic) inverter is even more characteristic for, apart from the fact that the transistors are all depletion transistors, the inverter of FIG. 1 is followed by a shifting stage which also consumes power in the idle state, which means that the power consumed is of the order of 5 to 10 mW.
Furthermore, it is known that complementary MOS transistors, on silicon, have the advantage of zero consumption when idle and have consumption proportional to the frequency (kf) when working. This is why, for fast logic systems (corresponding to operation at microwave frequencies in the gigahertz range), it is desirable to have a device comparable to MOS transistors, which are presently limited to about 1 to 3 GHz.
Circuits have been made on the basis of this principle, using two HIGFET (Heterostructure Insulated Gate Fet) transistors or heterostructure field-effect transistors, one of them with one n channel and the other with one p channel. The heterostructure (i.e., by definition, one or more junctions between two or more layers of different materials of the III-V group, for example GaAs and GaInAs) is promising because it is one of the bases (among others) of the fast transistors known as TEGFETs or HEMTs (High Electron Mobility Transistors) and because HIGFETs have an excellent uniformity of threshold voltage V.sub.T on a wafer, during manufacture. This threshold voltage depends very little on the temperature and shows little sensitivity to light because it is not controlled by dopants.
A first drawback of HIGFETs, in their known structures, is that the two transistors, n and p, have different threshold voltages, in terms of absolute value, which is not suited to logic operations since the logic pulses (the bits) must have the same amplitude irrespectively of the transistor that is in operation.
A second drawback of known HIGFETs is the difference in transconductance between the two channels which is of the order of 218 mS/mm for the n channel and 28 mS/mm for the p channel, at ambient temperature in both cases. This difference can be explained notably by the low mobility of the holes .mu..sub.h at ambient temperature.

Semiconductor device with complementary transistors


A drag reducing composition comprises a sealed temporary container; and a drag reducing agent and up to 20 weight percent of a dispersing fluid disposed in the sealed temporary container. The drag reducing agent comprises polyolefin particles having a particle size of about 10 to about 2,000 microns; and the dispersing fluid comprising water, an alcohol, a hydrocarbon, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

Drag reducing agents (DRAs) have been used to reduce the drag of hydrocarbon fluids such as crude oil and refined products flowing through a conduit such as a pipeline, and hence the energy required to transport such fluids. DRAs can also increase the flow capacity of existing pipelines.
Ultrahigh molecular weight, non-crystalline polyalpha-olefins are known drag reducing agents for hydrocarbons. These drag reducing agents are typically ground at the manufacturing facilities and then dispersed in a dispersing fluid before being transported to injection sites, where DRAs are used. Slurries of ground DRA particulates are stable and can be easily pumped and injected into hydrocarbons. However, transportation of dispersing fluids increases the shipping costs, which does not directly add to or improve drag reduction performance of DRA. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for drag reducing agents that can be conveniently and economically manufactured, stored, transported, and applied with high polyalpha-olefin concentrations. It would be a further advantage if the drag reducing agents could have a long shelf life under a wide range of storage temperatures.


A remotely positioned, ultrasonic wave producing, and low voltage anti-fouling system comprising; a computing module, a mounting system having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to vessel or a structure, a substantially waterproof enclosure detachably engaged with the second end of the mounting system, at least one transducer positioned within the substantially waterproof enclosure and cooperatively connected to the computing module, wherein the at least one transducer produces a sound wave able to impinge upon a submerged surface, at least one wave form generator cooperatively connected to the computing module and the at least one transducer, at least one power amplifier cooperatively connected to the at least one wave form generator and the at least one transducer, and at least one sensor cooperatively connected to the computing module, wherein the at least one sensor substantially.

The present invention relates to a method for preventing aquatic biological growth on submerged vessels or structures and/or biological fouling in water (e.g. fouling organisms found in ship ballast tanks) The present invention also relates to a device for this purpose.
The settlement and growth of fouling organisms such as barnacles and algae have long plagued both commercial and recreational boaters. The colonization of submerged man-made surfaces by these organisms is referred to as "fouling" as they increase the weight and drag on the vessel thereby reducing the speed of the vessel underway. This increases fuel consumption and makes the vessel more difficult to handle, thus reducing the performance and efficiency of the vessel. In addition, fouling is prevalent and widespread on marina pilings, and other structures. On fixed structures, fouling increases weight and structural loading.
Various methods have been used to attempt to limit boat fouling, such as anti-fouling paints, the use of copper electrodes to release copper into the water and use of chlorine generation to release chlorine into the water. In general, these techniques function by releasing toxic chemicals into the water surrounding a boat thus preventing the settlement and subsequent growth of barnacles as well as other forms of marine, brackish and freshwater life. However, the use of these methods obviously creates a negative environmental impact affecting fish-life and in turn fish food and humans and poses a serious threat to the health of the world oceans and other bodies of water due to the toxicity of chemicals employed. Several states in the U.S. have now banned the use of certain anti-fouling agents and other countries of the world have joined in a similar ban.
Each of these anti-fouling methods as now practiced have problems discovered by the present inventors and resolved by their invention. As a result, many boaters have resorted to installing expensive lifts to remove their boats from the water in areas such as Florida, where year-round boating is common. For larger boats (e.g. over 35 feet), lifts are often not practical or affordable. And in many places worldwide, lifts are not commonly used due to seasonal boating activities.
In consideration of the current existing anti-fouling methods and practices, which include primarily the application of toxic bottom paints to boats and labor intensive, repetitive manual cleaning of fouled surfaces, both of which are only partially effective and provide short-term protection only, it is evident there remains the need for a system that incorporates the attributes of affordability, long-term consistent fool proof operability, dependability and effectiveness, as well as being safe for the environment.

Anti-fouling system for submerged vessels and structures


A wheel chock for a motor vehicle container made of composite material which is adapted to be selectively connected to a pair of rails fastened to the container floor, and which is made of a flexible copolymer material capable of withstanding the loads incurred by vehicles restrained by the chocks, and which is constructed to be easily connected to and disconnected from the rails and be supported above the container floor to prevent damage to the floor.

Wheel chocks for constraining the movement of motor vehicles such as automobiles, sport trucks or other wheeled vehicles, transported on railroad cars have been well known. It has also been known to provide wheel chocks in wheeled shipping containers for railroads, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,401.
It has also been known to construct wheel chocks from flexible plastic material, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,813.

Wheel chock for a motor vehicle container


The invention is provides a method of logging rock core. A digital photograph of core from a borehole is taken and the image is first processed. This involves calibration and correction, or un-distortion, of the digital image. A reference frame is included in the photograph to facilitate processing. The two-dimensional image is then used as a virtual three-dimensional model of the core enabling length and angle measurements to be logged. These include linear rock interval measurements as well as angular measurements of geological structures. The method is implemented using a software program which enables suitable hardware. The software program will be provided on a suitable computer readable medium. Manually logged data of the same kind is imported for comparison to data logged using the software program. All of this data can be displayed on the image and incrementally on a Stereonet as it is logged. A permanent visual record and reliable means of rapidly assessing the accuracy and quality of the data is provided. The invention also provides for automation of a significant part of the image processing and logging. The reference frame is preferably provided by a rock core tray frame having suitable indicators with known dimensions. The frame is rectangular with orthogonal lines on an upper surface. The mid-points of these lines are marked and spaced apart brackets provide for elevated lines superimposed on the orthogonal lines.

The successful exploration for, delineation of, and eventual mining of ore-bodies, as well as the safe construction of massive structures such as high rise buildings and dam walls, and tunneling for civil works etc. are all dependent on a thorough knowledge of the geology of the ground. A three-dimensional (3D) understanding of the subsurface is developed from surface geological mapping, along with geophysical and geochemical surveys. However, the predictive power of such three-dimensional models is substantially limited without data from reliable and accurate measurements derived directly from the subsurface.
Various drilling techniques (such as diamond drilling) are used to bore deep into the earth with the aim of producing continuous cylinders of rock, termed "core", which samples are then measured and described in a process known as "core logging". These data are then processed and analyzed to refine the three-dimensional modeling as well as determine such parameters as ore body size and grade, or the potential for other "hidden" ore deposits/extensions, as well as blasting requirements, rippability of the rock and rock mass behavior characteristics (such as slope stability, fragmentation, flow or creep etc.) when excavating or loading with additional weight and so on.
Core logging entails the measurement and detailed description of a wide range of features—the lengths of lithological and alteration intervals for example, the densities of the different rock types intersected, their uniaxial compressive and tensile strengths, the shear strengths of any contained discontinuities, as well as the attitude of all structures, both planar (bedding, fractures, joints etc.) and linear (fault slickensides, acicular mineral alignment etc.) relative to the core axis. Additional tasks include evaluating the length of missing sections of core due either to natural cavities or mechanical grinding and poor drilling practice and defining the lengths of solid core versus rubble or matrix, or badly fractured and/or friable rock.
Current core logging methods do not achieve optimum results. They are largely manual in that data is handwritten on either standard or customized logging forms. These data are then clerically entered into a computer data base and returned to the geologist for editing, validation and processing. This time consuming process is fraught with transcription, editing and audit errors, to the detriment of both the drilling program and the ground interpretation/modeling exercise.
Three-dimensional ground modeling is further severely hampered by the fact that the collection of subsurface structural data is still erroneously considered too specialized and expensive to run routinely. In reality only two procedures to prepare the core for such measurements are needed. Firstly, the intersection of the in-situ geographic vertical plane with the rock core has to be marked along the surface of the cylinder. Several different instruments can be used to indicate the position of such a reference line, which when drawn on the core is known as an "orientation line". Then the attitude, or inclination, of the core axis has to be surveyed along the entire length of the bore, which data together with measurements of the down-hole change in core axis direction, or azimuth, is known as a "borehole survey". Given this information the angular attitude of planar or linear structures found in the core can be measured relative to the core axis and orientation line, and the results computed to derive the actual in-situ dip and dip direction, or plunge and trend of the planar and linear geological structures respectively.
The borehole survey is also required in order to calculate the geographic coordinates of features logged in the core, before the data can be processed to construct a meaningful three-dimensional model. Such modeling then requires statistically valid data to develop a reliable schematic of the ground. One of the main tools for statistically analyzing three-dimensional geological data is the stereographic projection, or Stereonet, on which the geologist should plot each and every structural data reading. The resulting Stereoplot is then contoured from which statistically valid mean values are derived for the various planar and linear structures logged in the core.
This systematic processing approach enables filters to be applied to the data at any stage of the logging process not only to evaluate accuracy, but also to display how the structures (faults, joints, shears etc.) change with depth in the ground as well as how they are influenced by the different lithologies, rock properties etc.