The present disclosure relates to stable formulations of receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), e.g., pazopanib; methods of preparation thereof; and use of the disclosed formulations in sustained delivery of the active agent to a target site. The disclosure further relates to methods of converting one polymorphic Form of a TKI to another polymorphic Form and/or an amorphous form.

Preparing formulations of therapeutic agents that have low solubility in water and delivering the agents to a target tissue has been a major challenge for pharmacologists and therapeutic agent delivery scientists. See Gaudana R. et al., Ocular Therapeutic agent Delivery, AAPS J., 12(3): 348-360 (2010). The combined effect of the unique anatomy and physiology of the eye and the low water solubility of the therapeutic agents for treating ocular diseases or disorders have frustrated the delivery of these agents to a desired target site of the eye. See Gaudana. There is, therefore, a need for formulations and delivery systems, which will allow high solubility of the therapeutic agents and improve stability and efficacy at the target tissues.
Protein kinases have been implicated in ocular diseases, not limited to, but including age related macular degeneration (hereinafter "AMD"), diabetic macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Transmembrane receptor protein kinases exhibit an extracellular domain, capable of ligand binding. These ligand binding mechanisms trigger activation of the kinase catalytic domain which initiates a cascade of signals that controls intracellular functions.
Examples of receptor protein kinase are growth factors such as EGF, FGF, VEGF, PDGF and IGF. Elevated levels of soluble growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF), have been found in ocular tissues and fluids removed from patients with pathologic ocular angiogenesis. Various ocular tissues including the neurosensory retina and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) are known to respond to hypoxia, inflammation, and trauma by increasing VEGF expression that can lead to blood-retina barrier breakdown (i.e., enhanced vascular permeability and extracellular edema) and/or pathologic neovascularization (NV).
Delivery of therapeutic agents in the eye is challenging. Major drawbacks exist in the current delivery means because of the recurrent intravitreal injections required for chronic maintenance therapy. Repeated intravitreal injections present both a risk and a burden to patients. Endophthalmitis, retinal detachments, traumatic cataract, and increased intraocular pressure (TOP) are all potential vision-threatening sequela to the intravitreal route of administration. Moreover, monthly treatment or even monthly monitoring is a substantial burden to patients, their caregivers, and to the medical community, especially when considering that treatment may need to persist for a patient's lifetime. While roughly one-third of patients experience improved vision when treated with repeated intravitreal injections of certain biologic VEGF inhibitors, the majority of patients experience only stabilization of reduced vision.
Formulations may provide less than ideal stability in one or more ways when injected into a therapeutic device in at least some instances. For example, a buffer of the injected formulation may be released from the device into the vitreous in at least some instances. Also, diffusion of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions between the reservoir and the vitreous may affect the pH of the formulation within the device.
In at least some instances, a buffer of a fluid of the eye such as the vitreous humor having a physiological pH may enter the device and affect the pH of the formulation within the device, such that the stability of the therapeutic agent may be less than ideal in at least some instances.
In at least some instances, formulation components added to increase the solubility of the therapeutic agents may bind the therapeutic agent so strongly that efficacy at the target tissue may be less than ideal in at least some instances.
In light of the above, it is desirable to provide improved formulations of therapeutic agents for therapeutic devices that overcome at least some of the above deficiencies of the known formulations, for example, with improved therapeutic agent release that can be maintained over an extended time when implanted.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims.

Stable and soluble formulations of receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and methods of preparation thereof


A voltage controlled oscillator incorporating a ferroelectric capacitor in its resonant circuit is provided in order to provide superior phase noise performance and a linear control voltage/capacitance relationship. The resonant circuit may include multiple ferroelectric capacitors and multiple control voltages in order to provide band switching capability and/or increase the tuning range of the oscillator. The feedback loop of the oscillator may also incorporate a ferroelectric capacitor in order to adaptively optimize the feedback.

The present invention relates generally to tunable electronic devices and components and, more particularly, to voltage controlled oscillators incorporating tunable ferroelectric components.
Radio frequency bandwidth is a scarce resource that is highly valued and is becoming increasingly congested. Ever-increasing numbers of users are attempting to co-exist and to pass ever-increasing amounts of information through the finite amount of bandwidth that is available. The radio spectrum is divided into frequency bands that are allocated for specific uses. In the United States, for example, all FM radio stations transmit in the 88-108 MHz band and all AM radio stations transmit in the 535 kHz-1.7 MHz band. The frequency band around 900 MHz is reserved for wireless phone transmissions. A frequency band centered around 2.45 GHz has been set aside for the new Bluetooth technology. Hundreds of other wireless technologies have their own band of the radio spectrum set aside, from baby monitors to deep space communications.
Communications within a given frequency band occur on even more narrowly and precisely defined channels within that band. Hence, in virtually any wireless communication system or device, frequency agility is required and accurate frequency generation is of critical importance. Frequency generation is typically provided by an electronic oscillator. As is well known in the art, an electronic oscillator is a circuit that produces an output signal of a specific frequency, and consists generally of an amplifier having part of its output returned to the input by means of a feedback loop. A very simple electronic oscillator includes some combination of a capacitor with an inductor or other resonator.
The capacity for frequency channel selection and changing can be provided by a voltage controlled oscillator (xe2x80x9cVCOxe2x80x9d). In a VCO, a control voltage is applied to a voltage dependent capacitor, commonly referred to as a variable capacitance diode, varicap diode or varactor, in order to tune the VCO to a particular frequency. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional varicap diode tuned oscillator resonant circuit 100. Circuit 100 includes varicap diode D1 and resonator L1 (L1 is an inductor or some other form of resonant transmission line device). Control voltage V1 is applied across varicap diode D1 via input resistance R1. V1 is a DC control voltage and is applied to tune the oscillator over a specified range. DC blocking capacitor C1 is interposed between varicap diode D1 and inductor L1, and DC blocking capacitor C2 is interposed between inductor L1 and an oscillator sustaining amplifier (not shown). Typically, the sustaining amplifier is a negative impedance generator. As is well known in the art, phase-locked loop (PLL) control circuitry will also typically be provided in conjunction with the VCO.
When a reverse voltage (V1) is applied to varicap diode D1, the insulation layer between the p-doped and n-doped regions of the semiconductor thickens. A depletion region that is essentially devoid of carriers forms in diode D1, and behaves as the dielectric of the capacitor. The depletion region increases as the reverse voltage across it increases, and since capacitance varies inversely as dielectric thickness, the junction capacitance decreases as the reverse voltage increases. The effect is similar to separating the two plates of a capacitor by a-larger distance, which decreases the capacitance. So, by varying the control voltage V1 the junction capacitance provided by varicap diode D1 can be varied. Varying the capacitance, in turn, changes the resonant frequency of inductor L1 and hence the frequency that will be amplified and output by circuit 100.
In recent years, VCO designers have been required to comply with significantly more demanding specifications Currently, only a handful of manufacturers world wide can economically produce VCOs that are suitable for use in high volume consumer communication devices. Two of the major hurdles faced in VCO design are (1) phase noise and (2) the inherent non-linear transfer function (applied voltage versus capacitance) of varicap diodes.
One critical parameter of oscillator performance is its single sideband phase noise, or simply xe2x80x9cphase noisexe2x80x9d. Phase noise affects the receiver""s ability to reject unwanted signals on nearby channels. It is the ratio of the output power divided by the noise power at a specified offset and is expressed in dBc/Hz. FIG. 2 is a graph showing the typical phase noise requirement for a 1 GHz VCO. As can be seen, at an offset of about 60 kHz a 1 GHz oscillator specifies a phase noise of about xe2x88x92120 dBc/Hz.
One of the main stumbling blocks to achieving this performance is the loaded Q of the oscillator circuit. The sustaining amplifier of the oscillator does not usually play a significant factor in phase noise determination due to the availability of low noise semiconductors that are specifically optimized for this purpose. The loaded Q of the resonator structure (L1) is typically the dominant factor in determining the overall phase noise performance. The loaded Q of the resonator is frequently limited by the series resistance of the varicap diode, which can be as much as several ohms.
The Q of a capacitor can be expressed by:
Q=Xc/Rs, where Xc is the reactance of the varicap diode given by Xc=1/(2xc2x7xcfx80xc2x7fxc2x7c),
and Rc is the effective series resistance of the varicap diode.
If a required capacitance of 5 pF at a frequency of 1.5 GHz is assumed, a reactance Xc of 21.22xcexa9 results. If it is further assumed that the effective series resistance Rs of the varicap diode is 0.5xcexa9, the resultant Q of the varicap diode is 42.44. Hence, reducing the effective series resistance will have a direct impact on the Q of the varicap diode and the loaded Q of the entire resonator structure.
Another critical parameter in oscillator performance is the linearity (or lack thereof) in the transfer function (applied voltage versus capacitance) of the varicap diode. FIG. 3 is a chart plotting the capacitance of a typical varicap diode versus a typical tuning voltage range for the diode in a mobile phone (0.3V to 2.7V). As can be seen, it is not a linear relation. Below 0.5V, unit voltage changes lead to much greater unit capacitance changes. Consequently, the MHz/volt frequency shift of the oscillator is not constant across the tuning range. This leads to compromise in the design of the PLL loop filter and thus overall noise performance.
Another problem associated with the use of varicap diodes is that, since it is a reverse-biased diode junction, it is important that the applied AC signal does not overcome the bias voltage and result in heavy forward conduction of the diode. If this occurs the Q of the resonator will be dramatically lowered and various oscillator parameters such as phase noise and general spectral purity will be seriously impacted. In an extreme case, the oscillator may fail to maintain a continuous oscillation and degenerate into parasitic uncontrolled burst oscillations.
In view of the above, there is a need for a voltage controlled oscillator that exhibits better phase noise performance and a more linear voltage/capacitance transfer function.
The present invention provides a voltage controlled oscillator that incorporates a tunable ferroelectric capacitor to provide better phase noise performance and a more linear voltage/capacitance transfer function.
Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, a voltage controlled oscillator is provided that has a resonant circuit for generating a tuning frequency. The resonant circuit comprises an inductive element and a ferroelectric capacitor having a variable capacitance. A control line is coupled to the ferroelectric capacitor for applying a control voltage to the capacitor to vary the capacitance which, in turn, varies the tuning frequency of the resonant circuit.
In another embodiment of the invention, a voltage controlled oscillator is provided. The oscillator includes a resonant circuit having a first variable ferroelectric capacitor to generate a signal having a variable resonant frequency, and an amplifier coupled to the resonant circuit to amplify the signal. A feedback loop coupled between the amplifier and the resonant circuit incorporates a second ferroelectric capacitor to control the amplitude and phase of a feedback signal.
Another embodiment of the invention comprises a band-switchable oscillator resonant circuit. The circuit has first and second ferroelectric capacitors and first and second control voltage lines to facilitate band switching.
The present invention also provides a method for band switching in a voltage controlled oscillator. First and second ferroelectric capacitors are provided, and first and second control voltages are applied to the first and second capacitors so that either the first capacitor or the second capacitor dominates the output frequency of the oscillator.
Other features, objects and implementations of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. All such additional features, objects and implementations are intended to be included within this description, to be within the scope of the invention and to be protected by the accompanying claims.


A capacitor includes a capacitive element, which is formed by a plurality of metallic electrodes or films and has contact terminals, and a thermo shrinkable cover applied directly on the capacitive element. A method for manufacturing the capacitor includes a step where a thermo shrinkable tube is applied directly on the capacitive element and in a following step the thermo shrinkable tube is heated to shrink it onto the capacitor element to from the cover.

The invention is directed to a capacitor, particularly a dry capacitor, which can be made from metallized plastic films or a plastic film and metallic foils as the plates, with an external protection provided by a shrinkable tube.
Capacitors are electronic components, used in electro-electronic devices. The capacitor comprises a capacitive element, which is formed by two plates or films and one dielectric, which are either wound or stacked. The capacitive element is connected to elements of an electrical circuit by terminals. With an electrical current applied to these terminals, the capacitor is loaded with an electrical load.
There are a lot of different types of capacitors: film capacitors (polyester or polypropylene), ceramic, electrolytic, tantalum, etc. This invention is applicable to any of these types, which may be a dry capacitor (without a presence of a liquid substance in its composition) that needs a cover to provide a mechanical and/or electrical protection.
The capacitors normally need an external cover in order to be handled without mechanical damages during the assembling in the circuit. This cover has the function to protect the capacitor and the neighbor components from short circuits, which could damage the whole circuit, to assure the mechanical robustness to the capacitors during the handling and to assure the attachment of the terminals during a soldering process.
There are known capacitors in a naked version (without protection cover), which are boxed in plastic cans and covered by epoxy powder resin.
Most of the plastic capacitors are covered by one of the processes mentioned above. The naked version has application in some restricted fields, because it is sensitive to mechanical agents and soldering processes.
The covering techniques provide the capacitors with the necessary protection against external mechanical agents, as well as from a contact with the neighbor components, to avoid short circuits.
The object of the invention is to provide a capacitor with one protection system against mechanical and electrical external agents, in a simple and cheap manner, by avoiding the use of the known plastic can and by using a shrinkable tube, which is shrunk directly on the capacitive element.
The objective is reached using a capacitor, particularly a dry capacitor, formed by a capacitive element, contact terminals and the capacitive element has a thermo shrinkable plastic tube, which is applied directly on the capacitive element.
The invention is also directed to a capacitor manufacturing method using a thermo shrinkable material which is applied directly on the capacitive element without using the well-known plastic can. Thus, the method makes the production cheaper.
The objective is reached using a manufacturing method, particularly a dry capacitor manufacturing method, by providing the capacitor formed by a capacitive element and contact terminals, applying a thermo shrinkable tube directly on the capacitive element and then heating to shrink the thermo shrinkable tube onto the capacitive element.

Capacitor and a method to manufacture the capacitor


Embodiments include method, systems and computer program products for reducing eye-fatigue for users of binocular head-mounted displays. Aspects include displaying a content item by a display device of the binocular head-mounted display and calculating an estimated eye-fatigue of the user of the binocular head-mounted display. Based on a determination that the estimated eye-fatigue of the user exceeds a threshold level, aspects also include modifying the content item, by the processor, to encourage the user to take an eye-fatigue reduction action and displaying the modified content item by the display device of the binocular head-mounted display.

The present disclosure relates to eye-fatigue reduction and more specifically, to methods, systems and computer program products for reducing eye-fatigue for users of head-mounted displays.
Head-mounted displays (HMDs) are a type of display device that is worn on the head of a user. HMDs typically include a display device and associated optics that are disposed near the user's eyes. In general, HMDs are configured to show stereoscopic imagery, which is an image that creates an impression of depth to the user. A binocular HMD is a particular type of HMD that is configured to display a different image to each eye of the user. HMDs can be used to create a remarkable sense of visual immersion and 3D stereoscopic depth. As a result, the use of head-mounted displays is projected to grow in popularity. The virtual reality applications for HMDs are many including, but not limited to, human research, education, engineering and scientific visualization, training, simulations, gaming, video display and the like.
One drawback to using a HMD is that the display and optics are disposed close to the user's eyes and using the HMD for an extended period of time can cause the user to experience eye-fatigue.

Eye-fatigue reduction system for head-mounted displays

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A plasma density information measuring method capable of easily measuring the plasma density information over the long term, a probe for measuring the plasma density information, and a plasma density information measuring apparatus are disclosed. A measuring probe is set such that a tip end of a glass tube of the measuring probe is brought into contact with plasma PM to be measured. High-frequency power sent through a coaxial cable is supplied to the plasma PM from a loop antenna through a wall of the tube, and reflection power of the high-frequency power is received by the loop antenna to obtain a counter frequency variation of reflection coefficient of the high-frequency power. In the obtained reflection coefficient, a portion thereof in which the reflection coefficient is largely reduced is a peak at which strong absorption of high-frequency power is caused due to the plasma density. The plasma density can be obtained from the plasma absorption frequency.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to: a plasma density information measuring method in plasma used in a producing process of a thin film component, a particle beam source or an analysis apparatus; a probe for measuring the plasma density information used for measuring the plasma density information; and a plasma density information measuring apparatus; and more particularly, to a technique for easily measuring the plasma density information over the long term.
(2) Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the use of plasma is increased. In a producing process of a thin film component, using high-frequency plasma generated by high-frequency power (high-frequency electric power) in a range from a RF frequency band of about 10 MHz to a micro frequency band of 2.45 GHz, etching process or CVD (chemical-vapor deposition) are conducted. In such a plasma application technique, it is extremely important for conducting appropriate process to sufficiently grasp the information concerning plasma density which excellently shows the characteristics of generated plasma. In the case of typical plasma comprising monovalent positive ion and electron, the positive ion density and the electron density are substantially equal to each other due to the properties particular to plasma that electrically neutral state is maintained, the electron density is generally called as plasma density.
Conventionally, as a method for measuring the electron density in plasma, there is an electron beam irradiation type plasma vibration probe which was developed relatively recently, in addition to a Langmuir/probe method and a microwave interference measuring method.
The Langmuir/probe method is a method in which a metal probe is directly exposed in plasma in this state, direct current bias voltage, or direct current bias voltage on which high-frequency voltage is superposed is applied to the metal probe, and based on the current value flowing through at that time, electron density is measured.
The microwave interference measuring method is a method in which a chamber for generating plasma is provided with windows which are opposed to each other with plasma positioned therebetween, microwave (e.g., single color laser light) is radiated to the plasma through one of the windows, and the microwave ejected from the other window is detected, and electron density is obtained based on phase contrast between the radiated microwave and ejected microwave.
The electron beam irradiation type plasma vibration method is a method in which a hot filament is placed in a chamber, and based on frequency of plasma oscillations generated when electron beam is irradiated to the plasma from the hot filament, electron density is obtained.
However, when the Langmuir/probe method is used for reactive plasma, there is a problem that the measuring can not be continued for a long time (i.e., life time is short). This is because that stains comprising insulative films are adhered on a measured metal probe within a short time, the current value flowing through the metal probe is varied, and accurate measurement can not be continued soon. In order to remove the stains adhered on the metal probe surface, a method in which negative bias voltage is applied to the metal probe to carry out sputter-removing method using ion, and a method in which the metal probe is allow to glow to evaporate and remove the stains have been attempted, but the effect is poor, and the problem is not solved by these methods.
Further, the microwave interference measuring method has a problem that the measurement can not be conducted easily. This is because a large-scale and expensive apparatus and adjustment of microwave transmission path are necessary, the phase contrast between the radiated microwave and ejected microwave is small and thus, it is difficult to measure precisely. Further, in the case of the microwave interference measuring method, there are drawbacks that only the average density can be obtained, there is no spatial resolution.
Furthermore, in the case of the electron beam irradiation type plasma vibration probe method, in addition to anxiety of plasma atmosphere contamination due to tungsten which is evaporated from the hot filament, there is a problem of anxiety of interruption of measurement caused by break of hot filament. Especially in the case of plasma using oxygen or chlorofluorocarbons gas, the hot filament is easily cut or broken, and it is necessary to frequently exchange the filament, it can not be said that this is practical.
In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plasma density information measuring method capable of easily measuring the plasma density information over the long term, a probe for measuring the plasma density information, and a plasma density information measuring apparatus.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following structure.
That is, a plasma density information measuring method of the present invention comprises the steps of:
supplying high-frequency power to plasma;
measuring a physical amount indicative of reflection or absorption state of the high-frequency power by plasma load; and
obtaining a frequency at which strong high-frequency power absorption is caused due to plasma density, i.e., a plasma absorption frequency based on the measurement result of the physical amount.
In the case of the plasma density information measuring method of the present invention, the high-frequency power is supplied to plasma, the physical amount indicative of reflection or absorption state of the high-frequency power by plasma load is measured (for example, the reflection amount of the high-frequency power or impedance value of the plasma load is measured). Based on the measured result of the physical amount, plasma absorption frequency at which high-frequency power resonant strong absorption is generated due to plasma density is obtained. If the high-frequency power resonant strong absorption is caused, since the physical amount indicative of reflection or absorption state of high-frequency power by plasma load is largely varied, plasma absorption frequency can easily be obtained. Since the obtained plasma absorption frequency has constant correlation with the plasma density, this is useful plasma density information. In the present invention, high-frequency power, i.e., high-frequency electromagnetic wave is supplied to plasma and thus, even if stains comprising insulative films are adhered to the antenna which supplies high-frequency power, there is little influence, and the plasma absorption frequency can be measured accurately.
In this point, the present invention is superior to the conventional Langmuir probe method. Because in this method, electric current flowing when ion in plasma reaches a surface of a metal probe is detected and therefore, if insulative film is adhered to the metal probe, it is impossible to measure. Further, according to the present invention, since a hot filament is not used unlike the electron beam irradiation type plasma vibration probe method, there is no anxiety of breaking of filament, and it is possible to obtain the plasma density information over the long term.
In the method of the invention, it is preferable that the high-frequency power is supplied to plasma through a division wall. By interposing the dielectric division wall between the plasma side to be measured and the supplying side of the high-frequency power, a foreign object should not enter the plasma from the supplying side of the high-frequency power, and plasma can be maintained clean. Further, in the case of reactive plasma also, the high-frequency power supplying side is not damaged. Furthermore, even if stains such as insulative films are adhered to the surface of the dielectric division wall, there is no change in the measuring system, it is possible to obtain the plasma density information for longer time.
In the present invention, for example, the physical amount indicative of reflection or absorption state of the high-frequency power by plasma load is measured by measuring an electric current amount of a high-frequency amplifier for supplying high-frequency power. Through the high-frequency amplifier for supplying high-frequency power, electric current corresponding to a degree of reflection or absorption of the high-frequency power by the plasma load flows. Therefore, it is possible to easily measure the physical amount indicative of reflection or absorption state of the high-frequency power by measuring this electric current.
In the present invention, for example, the reflection amount of high-frequency power is detected while sweeping high-frequency power frequency, and the plasma absorption frequency is obtained based on relationship between sweep-frequency and a detected result of the reflection amount of high-frequency power. That is, it is possible to easily obtain a frequency at which the reflection amount of the high-frequency power is largely reduced, as a frequency at which the high-frequency power resonant strong absorption is caused due to the plasma density, i.e., as a plasma absorption frequency.
In the present invention, a plasma surface wave resonance frequency is obtained as the plasma absorption frequency for example. The surface wave resonance frequency f is correctly corresponds to the electron density ne in plasma.
In the present invention, electron density in plasma to be measured is calculated in accordance with the obtained plasma surface wave resonance frequency. That is, the electron density ne in plasma is calculated in accordance with the surface wave resonance frequency f=xcfx89/2xcfx80 (wherein xcfx89 is surface wave resonance frequency). The electron density ne is substantially equivalent to the plasma density. The electron density ne can easily be calculated in accordance with the following equation (1):
ne=xcex5oxc2x7mexc2x7xcfx89p/e2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
wherein xcfx89p: electron plasma angle frequency
[xcfx89p=xcfx89xc3x97{square root over ( )}(1+xcex5)]
xcex5:dielectric constant of dielectric division wall, xcex5o:vacuum dielectric constant
me: electron mass, e: electron amount
In the present invention, for example, Tonks-Dattner resonance frequency is obtained as the plasma absorption frequency. If the high-frequency power is radiated to the plasma, a plurality of absorption spectrum is observed in addition to the surface wave resonance. It is considered that this corresponds to so-called Tonks-Dattner resonance. That is, when electromagnetic wave is radiated from outside of cylindrical plasma and power absorbed by the plasma is measured, strong absorption is caused at plurality of frequencies around the electron plasma angle frequency xcfx89p. This phenomenon is cased as Tonks-Dattner resonance from the name of the detector. According to subsequent research, it is explained that the mechanism causing this resonance is that electron plasma wave transmitted in radial direction is excited by electromagnetic wave, and resonant absorption is caused when the excited electron plasma wave is reflected at the plasma end and standing wave is generated. Further, since there is relationship between the resonance frequency and the electron plasma angle frequency xcfx89p, if the plasma density is varied, the Tonks-Dattner resonance frequency is also varied. That is, the Tonks-Dattner resonance frequency provides plasma density information.
The present invention provides a probe used for measuring plasma density information, comprising:
a dielectric tube whose tip end is closed;
an antenna accommodated in the tube at its tip end side for radiating high-frequency power; and
a cable accommodated in the tube at its rear side and connected to the antenna for transmitting the high-frequency power.
When the plasma density information is measured using the probe used for measuring plasma density information of the invention, the probe is set such that the tip end of the tube is brought into contact with the plasma to be measured, the high-frequency power sent through the cable is supplied to the plasma from the antenna through the dielectric tube wall, and the reflection power of the high-frequency power required for measuring the plasma absorption frequency is received by the antenna, and taken out through the cable. Since the range where the high-frequency power from the antenna influences the plasma is not so wide, it is also possible to obtain a local plasma density information if the amount of the high-frequency power is adjusted. That is, if the plasma density information measuring probe of the invention is used, it is possible to easily prepare necessary state for measuring the plasma density information, and to obtain spatial resolution. Further, since the antenna is covered with the dielectric tube, plasma is not contaminated, and the antenna is not damaged by the plasma and thus, the lifetime is long.
In the probe used for measuring plasma density information of the invention, it is preferable that the antenna and the cable accommodated in the dielectric tube are capable of moving along a longitudinal direction of the tube such that a position of the antenna in the tube can be varied. In this example, the position of the antenna in the dielectric tube is changed along the longitudinal direction of the tube several times. And plasma absorption frequencies at the antenna positions are measured. Among the several absorption frequencies obtained by this measurement, the lowest frequency that is not varied even if the position of the antenna is changed is obtained as a surface wave resonance frequency.
In the probe used for measuring plasma density information of the invention, it is preferable that a conductor for preventing a leakage of ejected electromagnetic wave from the antenna is disposed at a position slightly back from the antenna such as to occlude a gap between the cable and an inner surface of the tube. With this structure, since the conductor disposed slightly back from the antenna prevents the electromagnetic wave power discharged from the antenna from leaking outside except plasma, measuring error due to the leakage of the high-frequency power is avoided.
In the probe used for measuring plasma density information of the invention, it is preferable that probe cooling means for forcibly cooling the probe is disposed. According to this example, since the probe is forcibly cooled by the probe cooling means, the measuring error by temperature rise of the tube or cable is avoided.
In the probe used for measuring plasma density information of the invention, it is preferable that the cable for transmitting high-frequency power comprises a conductor tube for a core wire and a shield, and an insulative ceramics material for filling a gap between the core wire and the conductor tube. According to this example, since the gap between the core wire and the conductor tube. According to this example is filled with the heat-resistant insulative ceramics material, the heat-resistance of the cable is enhanced.
In the probe used for measuring plasma density information of the invention, it is preferable that a surface of the dielectric tube is coated with metal such that a measuring area of the dielectric tube is not coated. According to this example, since the surface of the dielectric tube is coated with metal such that the measuring area of the dielectric tube is not coated, the local state of the measuring area that is not coated with metal is strongly reflected to the measured result, and the spatial resolution is enhanced.
In the probe used for measuring plasma density information of the invention, it is preferable that the antenna is extended closely along an inner surface of the dielectric tube. With this structure, since the high-frequency power irradiated from the antenna is effectively supplied to the plasma, the supply amount of the high-frequency power may be small, and the measuring precision is enhanced.
A plasma density information measuring apparatus of the present invention comprises:
sweep-frequency type high-frequency power supplying means for supplying high-frequency power to plasma while sweeping frequency;
reflection power amount detecting means for detecting a reflection amount of the high-frequency power; and
power reflection coefficient frequency characteristics obtaining means for obtaining a counter frequency variation of reflection coefficient of high-frequency power based on a sweep-frequency of the high-frequency power and the detected result of the reflection amount of high-frequency power.
According to the apparatus of the invention, it is possible to easily measure the plasma absorption frequency as the plasma density information.
In the apparatus of the invention, it is preferable that the apparatus further includes a dielectric division wall interposed between plasma and the sweep-frequency type high-frequency power supplying means. According to this structure, since the dielectric division wall interposed between plasma and the sweep-frequency type high-frequency power supplying means is provided, it is possible to maintain the plasma clean.
In the apparatus of the invention, it is preferable that the apparatus includes the above-described plasma density information measuring probe, and high-frequency power is supplied from the antenna in the tube to plasma using a tube wall of the dielectric tube as a division wall, a plurality of antennas are accommodated in the dielectric tube such that distances between a tip end of the tube and the antennas are different from one another, and the power reflection coefficient frequency characteristics obtaining means obtains a counter frequency variation of reflection coefficient of high-frequency power for each of the antennas, and a plasma absorption frequency appearing at the same frequency in the counter frequency variations is obtained as a plasma surface wave resonance frequency. With this structure, it is possible to easily measure the plasma density information, and to generate the spatial resolution. In addition, it is possible to easily obtain the plasma surface wave resonance frequency from the counter frequency variation of reflection coefficient of the high-frequency power from the antennas having different distances from the tip and of the tube.
In the apparatus of the invention, it is preferable that a plasma density information measuring probe is inserted in a chamber which generates plasma for forward and backward movement, and the probe is moved such that a tip end of the probe is pulled backward from a measuring position in the chamber to a retreat position in the vicinity of a wall surface of the chamber when measurement is not carried out. With this structure, since the probe is moved such that a tip end of the probe is pulled backward from a measuring position in the chamber to a retreat position in the vicinity of a wall surface of the chamber when measurement is not carried out, even if the plasma allows stains to adhered to the surface of the probe, it is possible to move the probe toward the plasma only when the measurement is carried out, to prevent the probe from being contaminated, and to keep using the probe for a long time.
In the apparatus of the invention, it is preferable that protecting means for blocking excessive plasma generating high-frequency power which enters the antenna in the probe is provided behind the plasma density information measuring probe. With this structure, when excessive plasma generating high-frequency power enters the antenna in the probe, the protecting means provided behind prevent the excessive high-frequency power, thereby preventing the apparatus from being destroyed. Especially when the generated plasma disappears unexpectedly, there is an adverse possibility that the high-frequency power for generating the plasma is directly placed on the antenna, and the probe control section is destroyed. However, this adverse possibility is overcome by the protecting means.

Plasma density information measuring method, probe used for measuring plasma density information, and plasma density information measuring apparatus


The improved liquid-crystal display device has a slit formed in part of the TAB area where the electrodes on the liquid-crystal display panel are connected to the output terminals on the TAB and the liquid-crystal display panel is bonded to the TAB by means of a first anisotropic conductive adhesive having a comparatively weak adhesive force, such as a thermoplastic anisotropic conductive adhesive, whereas a second anisotropic conductive adhesive having a comparatively strong adhesive force, such as a uv curable adhesive, is coated in the slit. This liquid-crystal display device can be produced by a process that proceeds basically as follows: the electrodes on the liquid-crystal display panel are connected to the output terminals on the TAB by means of a thermoplastic adhesive as the first anisotropic conductive adhesive having a comparatively weak adhesive force; then, the assembly is subjected to an operating test; if the TAB is found to be defective in the operating test, it is replaced and, if no defect is found, a uv curable or a thermosetting adhesive as the second anisotropic conductive adhesive having a comparatively strong adhesive force is coated in the slit and then cured as the output terminals are compressed against the electrodes.

This invention relates to a liquid-crystal display device and a process for producing the same. More particularly, this invention relates to an improvement of an assembly of liquid-crystal display panel in which a TAB as one of the IC mounting flexible resin films is connected to a liquid-crystal display panel. The invention also relates to a process for producing such an improved liquid-crystal display device.
The structure of a prior art liquid-crystal display panel is shown in FIG. 4. The liquid-crystal display device comprises basically a liquid-crystal display panel 1 having a plurality of electrodes 2 arranged in the end portion, a TAB 4 that has a liquid-crystal drive IC 5 mounted thereon and which also has a plurality of output terminals 3 arranged in the end portion (as lead wires on TAB 4), and an input circuit board. The output terminals 3 are connected to the electrodes 2 on the liquid-crystal display panel 1 by means of an anisotropic conductive adhesive 6. The output terminals 3 for the TAB 4 are formed on the obverse side of the TAB film (FIG. 4 shows the case where the lead wires are on the side opposite to the IC mounting side; in other cases, the lead wires may be on the reverse side).
Terminals on the input side (not shown) of TAB 4 are usually soldered to the output terminals on a board that is called either a column input circuit board or a row input circuit board. This input circuit board receives, via connectors or terminals, external signals for driving the electrodes (so-called X or Y electrodes) and supplies the input terminals on the liquid-crystal drive IC 5 with signals for driving the electrodes. In response to those signals, IC 5 generates and outputs signals for driving the respective electrodes that are connected in correspondence to the individual output terminals.
The liquid-crystal display panel 1 has a "column" panel which is such that part of the transparent electrodes arranged in the vertical direction (in column direction) is exposed at an end and a "row" column panel which is such that part of the transparent electrodes arranged in the horizontal direction (in row direction) is exposed at an end. These two panels have the liquid crystal held therebetween and are superposed in such a way that the sides where the transparent electrodes are formed (e.g., their electrode forming sides) face each other. The panels may be formed of such substrates as a glass substrate and a plastic film substrate. Part of the electrodes exposed at an end may be coated with a metal. All of such substrates are denoted by the word "panel" in the following description and the appended claims. The substrates are usually provided with a light polarizing plate on the outer surface.
FIG. 5 is a sketch illustrating the cross-sectional structure of the area where TAB 4 is connected to the liquid-crystal display panel 1. Arranged on the underside of TAB 4 are output terminals 3a, 3b, . . . (in FIG. 4, these output terminals 3a, 3b, . . . are collectively referred to as output terminals 3). Arranged on the surface of the end portion of the liquid-crystal display panel 1 are electrodes 2a, 2b, . . . (in FIG. 4, these electrodes 2a, 2b, . . . are collectively referred to as electrodes 2). TAB 4 is connected to the liquid-crystal display panel 1 by first placing them in superposition with the anisotropic conductive adhesive 6 interposed and with output terminals 3a, 3b, . . . on the TAB 4 being positioned in registry with electrodes 2a, 2b, . . . on the liquid-crystal display panel 1, and thereafter compressing the joined area under heating. As a result of this thermal compression, the anisotropic conductive adhesive 6 will cure to have the TAB 4 joined to the liquid-crystal display panel 1.
The anisotropic conductive adhesive 6 contains conductive particles 7 at a given density and, upon thermal compression, the conductive particles 7 will contact both the output terminal 3a and the electrode 2a which are disposed facing each other, whereby said output terminal and said electrode will conduct. Other facing combinations of output terminals and electrodes (e.g. the output terminal 3b and the electrode 2b) will conduct in a similar way via the conductive particles 7. However, adjacent output terminals (e.g. output terminals 3a and 3b) or adjacent electrodes (e.g. electrodes 2a and 2b) will not conduct. The density of the conductive particles 7 to be incorporated in the anisotropic conductive adhesive 6 is determined in such a way as to satisfy the above-described conditions. In the actual device, the pitch between output terminals 3 (3a, 3b, . . .) and between electrodes 2 (2a, 2b, . . .) is as small as ca. 0.25 mm (width, 0.125 mm; gap, 0.125 mm). Hence, very precise positioning and joining operations are required to establish connection between each output terminal and the corresponding electrode.
The anisotropic conductive adhesive 6 is made of a thermosetting epoxy or a thermoplastic polyester. The thermosetting anisotropic conductive adhesive provides high bond strength and insures high reliability in connection. However, even if some defect is found in an operating test following the joining process, the once bonded TAB is difficult to be disconnected from the liquid-crystal display panel, thereby making it considerably difficult for an operator to replace the defective TAB.
On the other hand, the thermoplastic anisotropic conductive adhesive usually has a comparatively weak bond strength, so it has the advantage that even if some defect is found in an operating test following the joining process, the defective TAB can be readily replaced. However, the thermoplastic anisotropic conductive adhesive has the disadvantage of low reliability in connection.

Method of connecting a tab film and a liquid crystal display panel


A method is provided for determining a central aortic pressure waveform. The method includes: measuring two or more peripheral artery pressure waveforms; analyzing the signals so as to extract common features in the measured waveforms; and determining an absolute central aortic pressure waveform based on the common features.

As the arterial pressure wave traverses from the central aorta to the peripheral arteries, its contour becomes significantly distorted due to complex wave reflections in the distributed arterial tree. For example, both systolic (maximum) pressure and pulse pressure (systolic minus diastolic (minimum) pressure) usually become amplified, with the extent of the amplification dependent on the particular peripheral site and state of the arterial tree. Thus, it is the systolic and diastolic pressures measured specifically in the central aorta that truly reflect cardiac afterload and perfusion. Perhaps, as a result, central measurements of systolic pressure and pulse pressure have been shown to be superior in predicting patient outcome than corresponding measurements made in more peripheral arteries. Moreover, central aortic pressure is less complicated by wave reflections than peripheral artery pressure, and the entire waveform reveals each systolic ejection phase of a cardiac cycle through the dicrotic notch (which is usually obscured in peripheral artery pressure waveforms) and may be fitted to relatively simple cardiovascular models in order to accurately estimate other clinically important cardiovascular variables such as proportional cardiac output and absolute left ventricular ejection fraction. Thus, methods and apparatus for effectively monitoring the central aortic pressure waveform are extremely desirable in that they would greatly facilitate the monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
The central aortic pressure waveform is conventionally measured by introducing a catheter into a peripheral artery and guiding the catheter against the flowing blood to the central aorta. However, placement of a central aortic catheter is not commonly performed in clinical practice because of the risk of blood clot formation and embolization. On the other hand, related, but distorted, peripheral artery pressure waveforms may be measured less invasively and more safely via placement of a catheter in a distal artery. Indeed, radial and femoral artery catheterizations are routinely performed in clinical practice. Moreover, over the past few decades, totally non-invasive methods have been developed and refined to continuously measure peripheral artery pressure based on finger-cuff photoplethysmography and applanation tonometry. These non-invasive methods are even available as commercial systems at present (see, for example, the Finometer and Portapres, Finapres Medical Systems, The Netherlands and the T-Line Blood Pressure Monitoring System, Tensys Medical Inc., San Diego, Calif.). In addition, non-invasive methods are commercially available for measuring signals closely related to peripheral artery pressure waveforms based on photoplethysmography.
Several techniques have therefore been recently introduced to derive the central aortic pressure waveform from related, but distorted, peripheral artery pressure waveforms. The most straightforward of the methods for deriving the central aortic pressure waveform is to measure the peripheral artery pressure waveform at a superficial artery relatively close to the heart (e.g., the carotid artery) in which the wave reflections may be small and simply use this measurement as a surrogate for the central aortic pressure waveform. However, the central aortic and carotid artery pressure waveforms have been shown to be measurably different, especially during systole. But, an even greater drawback of this method is that the carotid artery is not commonly catheterized in clinical practice due to the high level of risk and is a technically difficult site to apply applanation tonometry due to surrounding loose tissue.
Because of the practical difficulty in measuring an arterial pressure waveform relatively near the heart, several mathematical transformation methods have been developed based on a generalized transfer function approach. These methods generally involve 1) initially obtaining simultaneous measurements of central aortic and peripheral artery pressure waveforms (from, e.g., the radial artery) in a group of subjects, 2) estimating a group-averaged transfer function relating the measured peripheral artery pressure waveform to the measured central aortic pressure waveform, and 3) subsequently applying this generalized transfer function to a measured peripheral artery pressure waveform in order to predict the unobserved central aortic pressure waveform. The principal assumption underlying these methods is that arterial tree properties are constant over time and between individuals. However, the wealth of literature concerning the arterial tree indicates that this assumption is not nearly valid. For example, it is well known that the arterial compliance changes with age and disease and that the total peripheral resistance varies greatly under different physiologic conditions. As a result, the generalized transfer function approach can lead to significant discrepancies between estimated and measured central aortic pressure waveforms as well as subsequently derived indices and may be even less accurate in subjects whose measurements were not utilized in the training of the employed generalized transfer function.
A few methods have therefore been more recently developed towards "individualizing" the transfer function relating peripheral artery pressure to central aortic pressure. These methods essentially involve 1) modeling the transfer function with physiologic parameters, 2) estimating a subset of the model parameters from the peripheral artery pressure waveforms and/or other measurements from an individual while assuming values for the remaining parameters, 3) constructing a transfer function based on the estimated and assumed parameter values, and 4) applying the transfer function to the measured peripheral artery pressure waveforms to predict the corresponding central aortic pressure waveform. While these methods attempt to determine a transfer function that is specific to an individual over a particular time period, only a partial individualization is actually obtained. Perhaps, as a result, these methods have found only limited success with results not much, if at all, better than the generalized transfer function approach.
It would be desirable to have an entirely data dependent technique for determining the central aortic pressure waveform from peripheral artery pressure waveforms that is specific to the individual and time period. In this way, the central aortic pressure waveform as well as other important cardiovascular variables could be accurately and continuously monitored with minimally invasive or non-invasive measurement methods. Such a technique could be utilized for hemodynamic monitoring in the intensive care unit, operating room, and recovery room in conjunction with invasive and/or non-invasive peripheral artery pressure transducers as well as in the emergency room, at home, and in the ambulatory setting in conjunction with non-invasive peripheral artery pressure transducers.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Method and apparatus for determining central aortic pressure waveform

Board of Trustees of Michigan State University


Apparatus for acquiring an elongated radiographic image. The apparatus includes a flat panel electronic detector of radiographic images, the detector having a known length; and a transport mechanism for mounting the detector for movement in a direction parallel to the known length so that the detector can be positioned in sequential contiguous partially-overlapping positions to acquire a radiation image greater in length than the detector length. At least one marker is disposed in a region corresponding with each partially-overlapping position of the detector.

Full spine and full leg radiographic examinations require images that are longer than the length of normal-sized radiographic films. The problem is circumvented by two approaches. The first approach uses an extra long, non-standard film. This approach is expensive and inconvenient. The second approach uses several normal-size films for exposure and then tape the sub-images together (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,725,703 and 3,774,703). Computed Radiography (CR) has the same problem. The problem is circumvented by either using an elongated CR plate (U.S. Pat. No. 5,130,542) or by using several CR plates for imaging, and then using digital image processing to stitch the sub-images together (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,111,045, 5,986,279 and EPO 919856A1).
With the advent of flat panel digital radiography (DR), it is natural to apply the technology to full spine/leg imaging. Various patents teach the assembly of smaller sensor arrays to form a large sensor (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,105,087, 4,467,342, and 4,755,686). However, DR sensors are expensive. Thus the DR assembly approach is economically prohibitive. One patent teaches the use of a moving sensor to detect fan beam X-ray in CT scan (U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,708). The approach takes the scanned signals and constructs a sliced image of the body. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,613,983 and 5,123,056 disclosure systems for imaging a human subject on a table including an X-ray source, a table and an image intensifier tube. Either the table or X-ray source and table are moved to produce a series of overlapping electronic images which are combined into an elongated image for display or printing. Another patent teaches a moveable X-ray cassette holder design.
The field of DR is expanding rapidly. Physicians order full spine and full leg imaging routinely for scoliosis patients and for leg length, angulation and deformity measurements. It is therefore necessary to provide an economically feasible capability for acquiring images using flat panel digital radiography that can be used for subsequent construction of full spine and long bone images.

Method and system for acquiring full spine and full leg images using flat panel digital radiography


This invention concerns autonomous loading, that is autonomously dumping material one load at a time into a receptacle until it is full. In particular the invention involves a control method and system for the dumping equipment that performs one or more operational cycles, each of which involves: Positioning a dumping point of the loading equipment at a predetermined location above a receptacle to be loaded. And, dumping a quantity of material having less than or equal to a known volume into the receptacle from the dumping point. Wherein, the control method comprises the steps of: Simulating the effect of dumping the volume, using the material's repose angle, from various locations above the receptacle. Comparing the result of dumping at each location with a template representing an ideally filled receptacle. And, selecting the location of the dumping point according to the results of the comparison. The invention can be applied to any type of mining machine, including rotating equipment such as rope shovels, and other types of machines such as a draglines, excavators or conveyers.

In general robotic excavation investigations have focused around digging, weight estimation and motion planning. Singh [11] provides a good review of the field and discusses state-of-the-art in sensing and machine/ground interaction models. He then uses a number of implemented systems as examples to illustrate different levels of autonomy: teleoperation, trajectory control, tactical and strategic planning.
A significant body of relevant work was conducted at Carnegie-Mellon University by Singh, Cannon, Rowe, Stentz and others in the 1990s. Cannon [1] conducted a comprehensive study and experimental evaluation of an autonomous 25 tonne hydraulic backhoe type excavator.
Australian Patent Application No 199895225 (Carnegie Mellon University) [13] describes a template-based loading strategy using perceptual feedback. In this patent a digital map of the height and shape of the load in a partially loaded truck is processed, together with templates that represent the ideal distribution of the load. In particular the map and template are similarly gridded and a correlation is calculated between the map and template for at least some of the cells of the grid. The optimal location for the next dump into the truck is selected using the results of the correlation calculations.
In earlier work related to automating dragline dig-dump-dig motion. One system was evaluated in a production trial which moved 250,000 tonnes of material in a two week period [12]. In addition to the dragline control system, other technologies have been developed, including digital terrain mapping and a safe and intuitive human-machine control interface. In 2005, this work was extended to include autonomous digging with complete autonomous dragline excavation and dumping operations demonstrated [4].

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation


An LED bulb is described, comprising LEDs within a shell and a driver circuit to operate the LEDs at a plurality of brightness levels. The driver circuit comprises first and second inputs to receive AC, a neutral input, a converter circuit, first and second rectifier circuits, a detector circuit, and a processing circuit. The first rectifier circuit is connected to the first and neutral inputs and rectifies the AC received. The second rectifier circuit is connected to the second and neutral inputs and rectifies the AC received. The detector circuit is connected to the first and second rectifier circuits. The processing circuit has a first and a second processor input, and is connected to the detector circuit. The processing circuit produces a chop signal with a duty cycle based on whether the first or second input is hot. The converter circuit powers the LEDs based on the chop signal.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to microprocessor-based drivers for light emitting diode (LED) bulbs, and more specifically to microprocessor-based drivers for LED bulbs that enable the LED bulb to emit light at different levels of brightness.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional incandescent light bulbs that have three lighting levels ("three-way light bulbs") include two filaments; in the minimum illumination setting a low wattage filament is energized, in the medium illumination setting a medium wattage filament is energized, in the high illumination setting both filaments are energized. The illumination setting is selected by energizing a first input connected to the low wattage filament, energizing a second input connected to the medium filament, or energizing both the first and second inputs.
The conventional incandescent three-way light bulb has three electrical contacts, hot1, hot2, and neutral. A switch, contained in the lamp base, connects terminal hot1 to mains power (e.g., a 120 VAC 60 Hz signal in the United States) in the low power case, connects hot2 to mains power in the medium power case, and connects both hot1 and hot2 to mains power in the high power case. Terminal hot1 is connected to the low wattage filament and terminal hot2 is connected to the medium wattage filament. Thus, either or both filaments may be selected to provide three levels of illumination.
One method for reproducing the same functionality of the incandescent three-way light bulb in an LED bulb is to have two sets of LEDs with each set having its own driver connected to a different hot input. However, this requires having two driver circuits, which increases costs and increases space requirements that are limited when implementing LED bulbs in typical form factors of standard light bulbs. Therefore, it is desirable to connect multiple hot inputs to a single driver circuit. However, this requires the driver circuit to sense which of two terminals are energized and set the supply current of the LEDs accordingly. This could be done by inserting a component in series with each input and sensing the voltage drop across this series component. While this technique may work in principle, it would introduce power losses in the series component. Additionally, this technique requires many additional parts to amplify and detect the voltage. These parts increase the cost of the LED bulb, and are therefore undesirable.

Three-level LED bulb microprocessor-based driver


A method and apparatus for controlling variations of the torque developed by the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. An ac polyphase rotating electric machine is directly connected to the crankshaft so that the ac polyphase rotating electrical machine is used as a generator when the torque of the crankshaft is increased and used as a motor when the torque is decreased. Thus, rectifiers are provided by inverters and their power supply includes a high voltage power supply capable of generating a voltage higher than a battery voltage.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for suppressing torque variations in an internal combustion engine and more particularly to a power generation control method and apparatus for an internal combustion engine well suited for reducing torque variations caused by combustion pressure variations during the idle operation of an internal combustion of a vehicle as well as vibrations and noise induced by such torque variations.
In the past, it has been well known in the art that in an engine the variation of a cylinder pressure due to the intake and compression of a mixture and the expansion of combustion gas is not uniform with degrees of crankshaft rotation thus causing a torque variation. The torque variation results in vibrations which in turn cause deterioration in the riding comfortability of the vehicle. With a view to overcoming this deficiency, as disclosed for example in JP-A-61-61930, JP-A-58-185938 JP-A-55-1431 and JP-A-62-255534, methods have been proposed in which a counter torque is developed in the crankshaft of an engine in synchronism with an increase in the varying torque of rotation caused in the engine, thereby suppressing the variations in the torque of rotation.
In accordance with these known techniques, it is necessary to perform a series of processing steps of detecting a varying torque changing at a high speed, computing the amount of load torque required for cancelling the varying torque and applying the load torque, and no consideration is given to the time delay required for the computational operation. Also, while a generator is used as a means of cancelling the varying torque in the method of JP-A-58-185938, to produce the required torque for cancelling the varying torque of an engine necessitates the installation of a generator having an excessive capacity thus giving rise to a problem from the economy point of view. There is another problem of increasing the engine load torque and decreasing the rotational speed.

Method and apparatus for controlling power generation in internal combustion engines


A chip resistor includes an insulating substrate made of alumina, a pair of electrodes disposed on an upper surface of the insulating substrate, a glass glaze layer made of glass disposed on the upper surface of the insulating substrate, and a resistive element disposed on the upper surface of the glass glaze layer. The resistive element is disposed between the pair of electrodes. The softening point of the glass of the glass glaze layer ranges from 580° C. to 760° C. This chip resistor prevents the resistive element from being peeled off.

A conventional chip resistor disclosed in PTL 1 includes an insulating substrate made of alumina, a glass layer disposed on a central portion of an upper surface of the insulating substrate, a pair of electrodes disposed at opposite ends of the upper surface of the insulating substrate, and a resistive element disposed on an upper surface of the glass layer and between the pair of electrodes. In this chip resistor, the resistive element may be peeled off from the glass layer when the resistive element is fired.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


The invention relates to measuring a phase-modulated signal 5. The signal is measured along at least five different steps (P1-P5) corresponding to preselected phase angles of the carrier wave 4. From the associated sets of measured values, at least three sets of measured values are formulated in a manner that from each of the sets a phase value [.phi..sub.i =arctan (Z.sub.i /N.sub.i) where i is equal to or greater than 3] can be calculated. The same correct phase value is computed based upon these three sets for a signal with the frequency of the carrier wave. The essence of the invention is finding that linear combinations of a.sub.i Z.sub.i and a.sub.i N.sub.i can be used for the computation of an accurate phase measurement where the factors a.sub.i are selected so that the phase error, as a function of the preselected phase steps, has at least three zero positions among the measured phase steps (P1-P5). As a result, the systemic errors that normally accompany phase measuring are significantly reduced. The invention is particularly suitable for the evaluation of bar pattern images and multiple-bar pattern images.

This type of measurement is used in many fields of measuring technology and is a particularly useful technique for optical measuring. The actual measuring signal is superimposed on a carrier wave so that the measurement is expressed by a modulation of the frequency or phase of the combined signal. In phase-measuring technology, the signal is measured along a plurality of different phase steps defined by preselected phase angles of the carrier wave. For instance, the simplest known formula for such evaluation results when three measured values, at phase angles .pi./4, 3.pi./4, and 5.pi./4 relative to the carrier wave, are recorded.
Due to the effect of the phase modulation, the combined signal is actually measured at slightly different phase angles, that is, the phase angles relative to the combined signal do not exactly correspond to the desired phase angles relative to the carrier wave. As a result, erroneous phase values of the modulation signal are measured systematically. Therefore, the results achieved with this type of method are adequately accurate only when the frequency of the modulation signal is considerably lower than the frequency of the carrier wave.
Phase-measuring techniques are often used in optical-measuring technology for the evaluation of bar pattern images. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,659 to Kitabayashi discloses an interferometer where the reference and measuring beams interfere at predetermined angles of inclination relative to a detector surface. As a result of this inclination of the two beams, a bar pattern representing a spatial carrier wave is generated on the detector surface. The frequency of this carrier wave is determined by the angle of inclination. Deviations of the surface profile of the measured surface from the surface profile of the reference mirror result in a spatial modulation of the bar image, that is, the phase angle of the bar image deviates locally from the phase angle of the carrier wave by an amount which is determined by the angle of inclination. The intensity distribution of the bar pattern is measured and, as a result of two Fourier transformations of the intensity distribution, the deviation of the phase angle of the bar pattern from the carrier wave is computed. By means of a window function, a sideband of the spatial frequency spectrum is filtered out.
However, the two Fourier transformations require such a significant amount of computation time that an evaluation of the interferograms in video real time is not possible. In addition, filtering out the sideband has the effect of a low-pass filter, thereby changing the measured value.
An alternative method for evaluating multiple-bar interferograms by Fourier transformation has been disclosed in Optical Engineering, Vol. 23, No. 4, page 391 (1984), where the measured intensity distribution of the bar pattern is first multiplied by a function of the frequency of the carrier wave, and then a convolution of the product is performed with a window function. This window function is selected in such a way that--for calculating the phase value in one point of the interferogram--the interferogram intensities of a spatial region covering several periods of the carrier wave are used. However, also with this method, the convolution of the measured intensity values over several periods of the carrier wave has the effect of a low-pass filter, resulting in a reduction of spatial resolution. Further, this prior art method does not provide an analysis of errors occurring in the computation of phase values, particularly when the bar frequency deviates from the carrier frequency.
Therefore, known phase-measuring technology is burdened by the above-mentioned systemic errors, and the methods for evaluation of multiple-bar interferograms provide correct phase values principally only when the bar frequency of the bar pattern corresponds to the bar frequency determined by the angle of inclination, that is, when the profile of the measured surface corresponds fairly closely to the profile of the reference surface. Further, since this method measures the deviations of both profiles, the values relating to the sample being measured exhibit this systemic error.
Another known phase-measuring technique, sometimes referred to as phase-shift interferometry, has been described in Applied Optics, Vol. 22, No. 21, page 3421 (1983). According to this method, several interferograms are recorded at time intervals without a spatial carrier wave. Instead, a time carrier wave is generated in that, between the recording of each interferogram, the reference mirror is shifted parallel to the optical axis (n-1) times by the same distance .lambda./2n, where .lambda. is the wavelength of the light in the interferometer. This results in a phase shift of 2.pi./n, where n is the number of interferograms. By using at least four interferograms, identical points on each of the interferograms can be used to calculate a phase value .phi.=arc tangent (Z/N), where Z and N (relating, respectively, to the sine and cosine functions of the phase value) are computed from the intensities of the respective interferograms.
The accuracy attainable with this just-described phase-shift method is essentially a function of the accuracy with which the reference mirror is shifted relative to the intended position. Therefore, high-quality expensive piezo translators are used for shifting.
An analysis of the error in phase value, as a function of the phase shift which has in fact occurred, shows that, in the case of the intended phase shift, the error has a value of zero; and in the case of any deviation from the intended phase shift, the error increases quantitatively in a linear direction. The last-cited reference suggests that the measuring procedure be carried out twice in sequence. Between the two passes, the phase is shifted again by .pi./2. If, after the first pass, the phase value is computed based on the equation tan(.phi..sub.1)=Z.sub.1 /N.sub.1 and, after the second pass, based on the equation tan(.phi.2) =Z.sub.2 /N.sub.2, an improved phase value tan (.phi.)=(Z.sub.1 +Z.sub.2)/(N.sub.1 +N.sub.2) is obtained.
The present invention is a method of the above-described type in which systemic measuring errors are significantly reduced.

Method and apparatus for phase evaluation of pattern images used in optical measurement


Disclosed are climate systems and methods for control the climate systems. A climate system includes a plurality of compressors, a first heat exchanger disposed downstream of the compressors and a second heat exchanger disposed downstream of the first heat exchanger. The compressors and heat exchangers are fluidly connected by refrigerant lines to form a refrigerant circuit. The climate system also includes a controller that controls the operation of the compressors to draw back lubricant to the compressors without use of an oil equalization system.

It is well known that nearly all compressors require a form of lubricant (e.g., oil) to cool, seal, or lubricate internal components. Typically, only static jet compressors and oil-free machines with rotors suspended in magnetic or air bearings are exempt from the need for some type of lubrication. In refrigeration systems that use compressors, a small portion of the compressor lubricant becomes entrained with the refrigerant and discharged from the compressor. The lubricant entrained in the refrigerant may cause several problems. For example, in a system with a single compressor, if too much lubricant is entrained in the refrigerant, the heat transfer and efficiency of the condenser and evaporator may be significantly reduced. In a system with two or more compressors, in addition to affecting heat transfer and efficiency of the condenser and evaporator, the entrained lubricant may not be returned to both compressors equally or properly, thereby providing too much lubricant to one compressor and too little to the other. This problem is exacerbated when the compressors are arranged in parallel.
Some conventional systems address this by using an oil equalization line system that connects the compressor crankcases or oil sumps via an oil equalization line. This approach usually requires the compressors having the same size and the same capacity and mounted at the same level or height. Other conventional systems use oil separators (either individual or common separators) to separate oil from the refrigerant and then return the separated oil back to the compressors. These systems are inherently complicated, more expensive and/or difficult to maintain and control.
Given the above background, there is a need in the art for climate systems and control methods that are simple, less expansive and/or easy to control and at the same time can realize the benefits of the parallel compressor configuration.
The information disclosed in this Background section is provided solely to provide a general background of the embodiments described herein and is not an acknowledgement or suggestion that this information forms part of the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.


An air cooled turbine blade or vane of a spar and shell construction with the shell made from a high temperature resistant material that must be formed from an EDM process. The shell and the spar both have a number of hooks extending in a spanwise direction and forming a contact surface that is slanted such that a contact force increases as the engaging hooks move away from one another. The slanted contact surfaces on the hooks provides for an better seal and allows for twisting between the shell and the spar while maintaining a tight fit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to gas turbine engine, and more specifically for a multiple piece air cooled turbine blade or vane.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
In a gas turbine engine, such as a large frame heavy-duty industrial gas turbine (IGT) engine, a hot gas stream generated in a combustor is passed through a turbine to produce mechanical work. The turbine includes one or more rows or stages of stator vanes and rotor blades that react with the hot gas stream in a progressively decreasing temperature. The efficiency of the turbine—and therefore the engine—can be increased by passing a higher temperature gas stream into the turbine. However, the turbine inlet temperature is limited to the material properties of the turbine, especially the first stage vanes and blades, and an amount of cooling capability for these first stage airfoils.
The first stage rotor blade and stator vanes are exposed to the highest gas stream temperatures, with the temperature gradually decreasing as the gas stream passes through the turbine stages. The first and second stage airfoils (blades and vanes) must be cooled by passing cooling air through internal cooling passages and discharging the cooling air through film cooling holes to provide a blanket layer of cooling air to protect the hot metal surface from the hot gas stream.
Higher turbine inlet temperatures can be used if the first stage turbine airfoils can be made from certain high temperature resistant metals such as tungsten, molybdenum or columbium. However, these metals have such high melting temperatures that they cannot be cast using the standard investment casting process which have a temperature limit of around 3,000 degrees F. the furnace, the dies and the liquid metal pouring devices used to cast the parts are all limited to this temperature. Also, these metals are very hard and therefore cannot be machined using standard metal machining processes. Thus, a thin wall airfoil cannot be formed from investment casting or standard metal machining processes.


A hydromount absorbs and alleviates vibration of driving components such as an engine, a power train, a transmission, and the like of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a three point supporting hydromount in which inner pipes are disposed in a horizontal direction of a vehicle frame.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a hydromount absorbing and alleviating vibration of driving components such as an engine, a power train, a transmission, and the like of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a three point supporting bush type hydromount in which inner pipes are disposed in a horizontal direction of a vehicle frame.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, suspension parts of a vehicle act to control displacement and perform a vibration-proof operation for a power plant including an engine and a transmission.
Vibration phenomena of the vehicle include the shaking of a vehicle body when the engine starts and stops, the vibration of the vehicle body in idling, the vibration of the vehicle body when the engine is in high RPM, the vibration by a bump, the shaking of the vehicle body when a high load is given, an impact when a sudden change occurs in acceleration or shifting, interference and breakage by excessive displacement, etc.
Origins of the vibration include a torque fluctuation when the engine is in low RPM, the vibration of a power plant by inertial force and couple force by rotary motion of a crank shaft when the engine is in low RPM, and the vibration of a power plant by couple force and thrust force by a driving system joint angle, etc., in the case of a low-frequency region (30 Hz or less).
In addition, the origins of the vibration include the vibration of a power plant by inertial force and couple force by rotary motion of the crank shaft when the engine in high RPM, the engagement vibration of gears in the transmission, the vibration of a cylinder block in combustion, the moving valve system vibration of an engine, the bending of a crank shaft, torsional vibration, the bending of a power plant, etc., in the case of a high-frequency region (30 Hz or more).
The vibration causes noise and the noise is transferred up to the interior of the vehicle via the vehicle body to be a chief cause in deteriorating ride comfort.
Therefore, when driving components such as the engine, the power train, the transmission, etc. are mounted on an engine room, a mount capable of supporting the driving components while withstanding their weights and absorbing and alleviating vibration so as to transfer minimum vibration to the vehicle body is mounted.
Since the mount should alleviate/absorb the vibrations of the driving components and withstand load weights of the driving components, the mounting locations, the number, and the structures of the mounts are designed by considering the weights, structures, chasses, body structures, etc. of the driving components.
When the mounts support the engine, the power train, and the transmission, the mounts are referred to as an engine mount, a power train mount, and a transmission mount, respectively. The engine of the vehicle including the transmission is connected to lower and side frames of the vehicle body by the mounts.
The structure of the mount is divided into a rubber mount and a hydromount (hydraulic mount).
The rubber mount has a structure in which elastic rubber is interposed between an upper plate and a lower plate and damps vibration and noise by using the elastic rubber.
The hydromount includes a liquid chamber part and a space part of a diaphragm, and has a structure in which a liquid chamber of the liquid chamber part is pressed to store fluids in the diaphragm through an orifice and damps vibration and noise through the fluids.
The mount used particularly for the transmission among the mounts is mounted on the vehicle body in a four point inertial supporting method or a three point inertial supporting method. In the mount mounted in the four point inertial supporting method, a mounting direction of an inner pipe of the mount is a forward and backward direction of the vehicle, while as shown in an outline diagram of a known three point inertial mount of FIGS. 1A and 1B and a perspective view of the known three point inertial mount of FIG. 2, a direction of an inner pipe 102 of the mount 101 mounted on a vehicle frame 100 in a three point inertial supporting method is a horizontal direction of the vehicle frame 100 in order to enhance noise and vibration and an amount of forward and backward rubber when the vehicle is accelerated. Therefore, since the three point mount has mounting locations less than the four point mount by one, the structure of the three point transmission mount needs to be designed as the hydromount structure in order to solve a disadvantage in which ride comfort is relatively worse as the movement of the transmission is larger.
However, when the direction of the inner pipe of the hydromount is designed as the horizontal direction of a vehicle, since the inner pipe cannot withstand excessive input in the forward and backward direction of the vehicle, the diaphragm formed by a thin film having low hardness, which is provided in the mount, is broken due to lack of durability, and as a result, the hydromount may lose the hydromount function.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Three point supporting bush type hydromount


A method and system for providing augmented directions that include actual media collected from locations along the route and annotations is provided. An augmented navigation system includes a collection component, a direction component, and a playback component. The collection component may be used to collect actual media from various locations and augment a map with the actual media. The direction component generates augmented directions as requested by a user based on the augmented map. The playback component may output the directions in real time as the user navigates.

Current mapping and navigation systems mimic traditional navigation by using a paper map metaphor. Some mapping systems allow a user to input a start location and an end location and then generate directions on how to navigate from the start location to the end location. The directions may include a map and verbal instructions. The map is provided in a traditional map format, and the verbal or word instructions describe how to proceed from the start location to the end location. An example verbal instruction is "Turn right on First Street" or "Proceed 10.1 miles on Route 66." The mapping system then displays the directions to the user. The user may then print the directions and use the printed map and verbal instructions to navigate from the start location to the end location.
Some navigation systems use global positioning system ("GPS") technology and electronic maps ("E-map") technology to enhance the navigation experience in terms of both coverage and functionality. Such navigation systems that include a GPS component and an E-map component can provide navigation guidance with a recommended route highlighted on the E-map and audio output of the verbal instructions. For example, an automobile equipped with such a navigation system may display the current location of the automobile on the displayed map and provide the verbal instructions through a speaker system. An example verbal instruction is "Exit to the right in 0.2 miles." If the driver deviates from the directions (e.g., misses a turn) as indicated by the GPS, the navigation system may automatically adjust the directions to compensate for the deviation. Rather than using GPS technology, some navigation systems may use cellular technology to determine the current location. For example, a cellular phone may include a navigation system that triangulates the current location based on the position of the cellular phone relative to cell towers.
The directions provided by the current navigation and mapping systems, however, are generally simply electronic versions of the paper map metaphor enhanced with verbal instructions and current location. Because of this limitation, the systems do not provide directions in the same way that people would normally provide directions orally. For example, verbal instructions with the paper map metaphor may be "Proceed 0.2 miles and turn right," whereas the instructions provided by a person may be "turn right at the library." As a result, the current navigation and mapping systems provide directions that are not particularly intuitive to a person.


A replaceable wear plate assembly for a reciprocating floor conveyor that includes a plurality of elongated slat members (12) mounted adjacent each other in a common plane. A replaceable wear plate (42) is provided for each slat member (12) of the reciprocating floor conveyor. The slat members are formed with a ridge (28, 30) and inwardly projecting lip (32, 34) extending along the side edges of each slat member. The ridge and lip portion form a slot (36, 38) along the side edges of the slat members for receiving the side edges of the replaceable wear plates. The ridge and lip portion and the edges of the wear plates form a tongue and groove arrangement whereby the movement of the wear plate is restricted sideways and in a vertical direction. A connector (48) is provided to secure each wear plate to its slat member in order to restrict movement of the wear plate longitudinally along its length.

Reciprocating floor conveyors are used in a wide variety of applications wherein the conveyor slats of the reciprocating floor conveyors are subject to a substantial amount of pounding and abuse. For example, garbage-hauling trailers, equipped with reciprocating floor conveyors, are used to haul solid waste material to disposal sites. At garbage dump stations, waste material is dumped into these open-top, garbage-hauling trailers and onto the conveyor slats of the reciprocating floor conveyor, which forms the floor of the trailer. As the waste material is dumped onto the reciprocating floor conveyor, heavy objects, some with sharp or protruding edges, pound and scrape the conveyor slats as the trailer is loaded. In some applications, a compactor compacts the loaded solid waste material downwardly against the conveyor slats, prior to the garbage being hauled to the disposal site. This compaction of the garbage greatly increases the forces that the reciprocating floor conveyor must withstand.
Reciprocating floor conveyors also are used in trailers for transporting fire wood debris comprising large sections of tree trunks and branches. Typically, a garbage truck dumps the wood debris from an elevated position above the trailer, whereby the heavy sections of tree trunks and branches crash down upon the conveyor slats of the reciprocating floor conveyor. As a result, the reciprocating floor conveyors can sustain a substantial amount of damage. Reciprocating floor conveyors are also used in stationary applications to convey scrap metal, tires, wheels, engines, and many other types of bulky waste products. Typically, these waste products, like garbage and wood debris, are dumped or channeled onto reciprocating floor conveyors and transported by the conveyors to a collection site.
Damage to the conveyor slats can result in the conveyor slats not reciprocating properly and in the conveyor slats leaking fluid underneath the conveyor. Solutions to this problem have included manufacturing the conveyor slats out of steel, rather than aluminum, to provide them sufficient strength for handling the impact forces to which reciprocating floor conveyors are subjected. However, the use of steel as a manufacturing material greatly increases the weight of the conveyors, which can be prohibitive for many applications, such as truck-and-trailer vehicles. A compromise solution to increase durability has been to secure a steel wear strip on the conveyor slats. In most cases, the steel wear strips covered and protected only portions of the conveyor slats. In all cases, the use of steel wear strips had an adverse affect on the weight of the reciprocating floor conveyors.
Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved design for a reciprocating floor conveyor that is durable, yet lightweight, and avoids the problems discussed above with regard to prior art conveyors.

Replaceable wear surface for conveyor slats


The invention comprises a replacement collar for a roof vent pipe. The collar provides UV protection for an existing gasket or can be used as a separate installation. Preferably, the collar has a thicker gauge and includes a seal flange and pre-applied sealant. The collar is designed for universal application for all appropriate sizes of pipe with unique cut line indentations to enable correct trimming to selected size.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to protection of roof components from the damaging effects of ultra violet rays from the sun, and, more particularly, a shield device for blocking out ultra violet rays from roof pipe flashing components that are susceptible to ultra violet ray damage.
2. Background
Roofing in general deals with first sealing a structure from moisture and second protecting the sealing material from damage caused by the sun's ultra violet rays. For example, the standard built up roof uses alternating layers of felt paper and tar (bitumen) with a final layer of pea gravel to protect the roofing material from the sun. In addition, the standard composition asphalt shingle has an outer layer of mineral granules to block out UV rays. Other materials such as paint, wood, aluminum, steel, copper, and UV resistant plastic, and rubber are also used for UV protection. However, UV protection has generally been ignored in the design and manufacture of modern pipe flashing that has elastomeric or caulking material as a seal between the flashing and the pipe.
Since the invention of the roof flashing with elastomeric collar, there has been a problem with the elastomeric portion of the flashing becoming brittle, cracking, peeling, and rotting away because of damage caused by the sun's ultra violet rays.
Although there have been many variations and improvements to roof pipe flashing such as Kifer (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,526,407 and 4,903,997) and Hasty (U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,782), these variations deal with methods of manufacture. Other improvements such as Gustafson (U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,576), Logsdon (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,010,578 and 4,160,347), and Merrin (U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,263) deal with forming a better watertight seal between the pipe and flashing. Even the collar for venting high efficiency furnaces, Orr (U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,048), which is designed to seal onto PVC pipe with PVC glue, ignores the fact that PVC glue breaks down in the sun.
Recently, plumbing material manufactures such as Oatey and IPS Corporation started marketing a pipe flashing repair collar, known as a rain collar. This collar is the elastomeric portion of their pipe flashing without the base. Placing the rain collar over the damaged pipe flashing makes the repair. In a similar case as pipe flashing, rain collars need protection from the sun.