A vibration damper for a vehicle, includes at least one cylinder tube forming a fluid chamber, in which a piston assembly is axially and slidingly arranged and divides the cylinder tube into two working chambers, an upper and a lower working chamber, and wherein the piston assembly has an axially moveable main piston which is axially fixed to a piston rod that can move axially relative to the cylinder tube, and which has a piston valve influencing the fluid flow between the upper and lower working chambers, and wherein a further stroke-dependent piston is arranged on an axial extension of the piston rod in the direction of the cylinder base, which operates once a determined damper stroke is achieved. The stroke-dependent piston has a smaller diameter than the main piston and only operates when plunging into a smaller diameter of an inner casing surface. The stroke-dependent piston therefore has a stroke-dependent valve, and the stroke-dependent piston also has a frequency-dependent valve in addition to the stroke-dependent valve.

The invention relates to a vibration damper for a vehicle. In terms of the prior art, reference is made in an exemplary manner to EP 2 952 775 A2 and to DE 602 10 652 T2.
Vibration dampers, also referred to as shock absorbers, for vehicles are known in the most diverse variants in the prior art. Shock absorbers represent a safety-relevant component which is capable of damping the vibrations of the sprung masses, which is why said shock absorbers are also referred to as vibration dampers. Vibration dampers between the axle and the bodywork are necessary since the bodywork spring and the tire spring, conjointly with the associated masses, form a vibration-capable system having two inherent frequencies for the bodywork mass and the wheel mass. Said masses are often also referred to as the sprung mass (bodywork) and the unsprung mass (wheel or axle, respectively). Since the typical excitation by roads is in a wide bandwidth, said inherent frequencies have to be damped.
Hydraulic-mechanical damping has prevailed in the automotive industry today, particularly in the construction mode of the so-called telescopic shock absorber since the latter due to the very small dimensions thereof, the low friction, the precise damping, and the simple construction, mode represents the optimum.
Hydraulic shock absorbers are composed substantially of an oil-filled cylinder and a piston rod guided therein, the piston rod having a piston. In the axial movement of the piston rod (and thus of the piston) in relation to the cylinder, the oil has to flow through tight ducts and valves in the piston. On account of the resistance which acts against the oil herein, pressure differentials, which by way of active surfaces generate the damping forces, are generated.
In telescopic dampers of this type, two different types are to be differentiated, specifically so-called twin-tube dampers and so-called single-tube dampers.
The single-tube damper is subdivided into a working chamber (oil chamber) and a counterpressure chamber (gas chamber). The actual damping work is performed in the oil chamber, that is to say that the damping valves sitting on the piston put up a resistance to the oil flowing through the piston. A pressure differential which puts up a damping force counter to the piston rod moving relative to the containment is generated. The gas chamber compensates volumetric variations in the retraction and deployment of the piston rods and on account of temperature variations.
The twin-tube damper, besides a cylinder tube in which the piston which is fastened to the piston rod and is equipped with further valve parts moves axially, comprises a further containment tube which is coaxially disposed. The piston divides the internal oil chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. The piston rod is retracted in the compression stage, and part of the oil flows out from the lower working chamber by way of the piston valve into the upper working chamber. The volume of oil corresponding to the plunging piston rod herein is pushed through a base valve into the so-called compensation chamber between the cylinder tube and the containment tube, said base valve being located at the lower end of the cylinder tube. A pressure differential which is relevant to the damping action is likewise generated herein by the base valve. When the piston rod is deployed (tension stage), the piston valve handles damping, while the volume of oil corresponding to the deploying piston rod flows back in a largely unimpeded manner through the base valve.
A difference is furthermore made between controlled and passive systems in shock absorbers. In the case of controlled shock absorbers, the valves are actively electronically actuated. This enables the damping property to be set as a function of the situation and the desired operating point. However, to this end a complex construction having an additional actuator and wiring is necessary. This causes additional costs as well as additional weight and installation space.
In contrast, passive shock absorbers respond to vibrations or excitations, respectively, from the vehicle or from the carriageway, respectively, without the intervention of additional actuators. This has the disadvantage that the passive shock absorbers cannot be set according to the situation, as is the case in the controlled systems. On the other hand, the passive systems do not necessitate any additional actuators or wiring which is why said passive systems have significant advantages in terms of complexity, installation space and costs in comparison to the active systems.
However, passive shock absorber systems which are configured in such a manner that they can be operated as a function of specific movement variables are also known from the prior art.
For example, from DE 602 10 652 T2 it is known for a damper to be enhanced with a frequency-dependent or frequency-selective valve, respectively. The frequency-dependent or frequency-selective valve, respectively, enables frequency-dependent damping of the vibrations.
A system which can vary the damping effect of the shock absorber as a function of the stroke of the piston is furthermore known from EP 2 952 775 A2.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved vibration damper of a vehicle.
The object is achieved by a vibration damper for a vehicle according to the claimed invention.
Proposed is a vibration damper, (hereunder also referred to as a shock absorber) for a vehicle, said vibration damper comprising at least one cylinder tube which forms a fluid chamber and in which a piston assembly is disposed so as to slide axially. A telescopic shock absorber, in particular a twin-tube shock absorber, as explained in the prior art is proposed herein. The piston assembly, or a piston of such a piston assembly, respectively, herein divides the cylinder tube into an upper working chamber and into a lower working chamber which can be filled with fluid.
The piston assembly in turn herein comprises a piston rod which is disposed so as to be coaxial with the cylinder tube and is movable axially to the latter, and on which a piston (hereunder also referred to as the primary piston) is coaxially disposed. The piston herein is disposed so as to be displaceable axially in the cylinder tube by way of the piston rod. The piston comprises at least one piston valve by means of which a flow of fluid between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber is enabled. A suitable cross-sectional reduction or increase, respectively, of these passage holes herein enables the damping function.
The cylinder tube in the installed state in the vehicle is usually a component which is at least approximately aligned in the vehicle vertical direction (wherein the cylinder longitudinal axis is at least approximately aligned in the vehicle vertical direction), which is why an upper working chamber is considered to be that working chamber which, when viewed in the vehicle vertical direction, is above the piston, and a lower working chamber is considered to be that working chamber which, when viewed in the vehicle vertical direction, is located below the piston.
Furthermore provided is an extension of the piston rod in the direction of the cylinder tube base, or the cylinder base, respectively, the extension running beyond the primary piston, a further, stroke-dependent piston being coaxially disposed on the extension. The diameter (thus the external diameter) of the stroke-dependent piston herein is smaller than the diameter of the primary piston, or of the internal shell face of the cylinder tube, respectively. The stroke-dependent piston serves for achieving additional damping, the latter however acting only upon reaching a specific damper stroke, or a specific axial plunging depth of the stroke-dependent piston in the direction of the cylinder tube base, respectively.
The action of this damping, or of the stroke-dependent piston, respectively, herein takes place as a function of the stroke, specifically as from that plunging depth of the stroke-dependent piston into the cylinder tube, from which the diameter of an internal shell face corresponds to the external diameter of the stroke-dependent piston.
Depending on the height in the cylinder tube from which a smaller diameter of this type of an internal shell face is chosen (thus the mentioned plunging depth), other damping takes place, specifically such damping which is determined by the stroke-dependent piston. In other words, this means that other damping, in particular a higher damper effect, takes place as from a specific stroke of the piston or of the shock absorber, respectively.
A stroke-dependent valve is formed on account thereof.
It is furthermore provided that the stroke-dependent piston, besides a stroke-dependent valve, comprises a frequency-dependent valve.
In the context of this invention a frequency-dependent valve, or a frequency-selective valve, respectively, is understood to be a valve which is able to vary the damping force of the vibration damper as a function of the excitation frequency of the valve. This variation herein takes place without external adjustment but merely on account of the presence of such a frequency-dependent valve.
This differs from known valves (for example piston valves or base valves, respectively) of a vibration damper which supply different damping forces only as a function of speed; that is to say that if only the stroke is varied in such a conventional valve (for example a piston valve or a base valve, respectively, at a constant speed, the damping force is not varied. However, if the stroke in a frequency-dependent valve according to the invention is varied at constant speed, the damping force is also varied. Conversely, the damping force in the use of a frequency-dependent valve is also varied at a constant stroke and a varied speed.
A configuration of this type enables that the shock absorber can be in each case operated in a stage (thus the compression stage and the tension stage) as a function of additional movement variables of the vehicle. Besides a stroke-dependent damping force in a compression stage, additional frequency-dependent damping in a tension stage can thus be implemented, both two types of damping in turn being able to be carried out by means of a common component. In comparison to already existing shock absorber embodiments this has in particular the advantage that frequency-dependent and stroke-dependent damping can in each case be implemented in a stage of damping by way of a single component without a comparatively large additional investment or requirement in terms of installation space.
A vibration damper which can be operated as a function of a plurality of movement variables of the vehicle or of the environment, respectively, and which in a stage of damping can dampen differently as a function of the vibration frequency as well as of the stroke of the piston and simultaneously does not have any additional investment in terms of complexity or installation space in comparison to the known shock absorber embodiments which in one stage can dampen only in a frequency-dependent or frequency-selective manner, respectively, or a stroke-dependent manner, is thus specified.
It is preferably provided herein that the frequency-dependent valve, or the piston thereof in which the valve is integrated, respectively, is disposed to as to be coaxial with the stroke-dependent piston and is at least in part enclosed by the stroke-dependent piston. The frequency-dependent valve and the stroke-dependent piston particularly preferably form a common component. This preferred component is described in more detail in the figures.
In an alternative embodiment the frequency-dependent valve is disposed on the stroke-dependent piston. The frequency-dependent valve thus does not have to be mandatorily integrated in the stroke-dependent piston. It is likewise possible for the frequency-dependent valve (when viewed along the piston longitudinal axis) to be disposed directly above or below the stroke-dependent piston and to be contiguous to this piston, for example.
The preferred functional mode and the preferred geometric construction of the stroke-dependent piston is first to be explained herein.
It is preferable for a cup-shaped socket which by way of the closed end thereof bears at least approximately on the cylinder base, or is installed so as to be oriented in the direction of the cylinder base, respectively, to be disposed on the lower end of the cylinder tube (thus in the installed state of the shock absorber, when viewed in the vehicle vertical direction). The open end of the socket in this instance is oriented at least approximately in the direction of the upper end of the cylinder tube such that the stroke-dependent piston can plunge into this open end.
The external diameter of the cup-shaped socket herein is intentionally smaller than the internal diameter of the cylinder tube. The external diameter of the socket is preferably chosen to be that much smaller than the internal diameter of the cylinder tube that a radial gap which enables a flow of fluid to the cylinder tube base is created between the cylinder tube and the socket.
As has already been mentioned above, it is furthermore preferable that the shock absorber represents a telescopic twin-tube damper having an internal and an external cylinder tube. The two cylinder tubes are fluidically connected to one another by way of a base valve at the lowermost end of the internal cylinder tube. A fluid connection between the lower working chamber and the base valve herein is preferably represented by way of a plurality of ducts, for example. This invention is primarily focused on discussing the internal cylinder tube, which is why the term "cylinder tube" per se refers to the internal cylinder tube (should this be a twin-tube damper).
The cup-shaped socket herein is disposed so as to bear on the cylinder base, or on the base valve of the damper, respectively.
The internal diameter of the shell face of the socket herein is preferably selected so as to be of equal size as the diameter of the stroke-dependent piston. On account thereof, the stroke-dependent piston acts in a relevant manner only once the latter in terms of the plunging level thereof, or in terms of the plunging depth thereof, has reached the socket.
Since the socket from the depth level is preferably located at the lower end, for example in the lower third of the cylinder tube length, the stroke-dependent piston acts only upon reaching a specific stroke of the shock absorber, or of the wheel of the vehicle, respectively.
When the wheel of the vehicle, or the shock absorber, respectively, thus reaches the required plunging depth as from where the socket is disposed, and when the stroke-dependent piston moves into the socket, the damping force in this range is increased in an adjustable manner. Said adjustment herein takes place, for example, by a defined bypass flow control avoiding the stroke-dependent piston, or through the latter. Said socket enables an additional working chamber in which an additional progressive damping force can be generated to be configured or constructed, respectively.
In the case of comparatively small damper strokes (which thus do not reach the mentioned plunging depth as from which the socket is disposed), the stroke-dependent piston and the primary piston are moved in the conventional cylinder tube. Since the diameter of the stroke-dependent piston is significantly smaller than that of the cylinder tube, the operating flow of fluids through a radial gap between the cylinder tube and the stroke-dependent piston, wherein only minor additional damping, or almost no additional damping, respectively, is generated. The primary damping force at this location is instead generated by the primary piston.
In contrast, in the case of large damper strokes, thus when the stroke is so large that the stroke-dependent piston plunges into the socket, the stroke-dependent piston in this range, conjointly with the socket, in this instance acts as an additional compression chamber. The displaced operating fluid is in this instance preferably compressed between the stroke-dependent piston and the closed base of the socket. The deeper the stroke-dependent piston thus penetrates the socket (thus the greater the damper stroke), the stronger the compression of the fluid and the higher the resistance created on account thereof and thus the damping.
It is possible herein for the mentioned additional stroke-dependent damping to be implemented by bypass ducts through the stroke-dependent piston, for example.
In order to avoid an abrupt transition from (primary) damping by the primary piston to damping by the stroke-dependent piston, or in order to design the transition so as to be smoother, respectively, it is provided in a preferred variant of the invention alternatively or additionally to the mentioned bypasses, respectively, that the cup-shaped socket, at least on the internal shell face thereof, has an axially extending conical groove, or a conical depression, respectively. Such a conical groove, or preferably a plurality of such conical grooves which are distributed radially across the shell internal face of the socket, respectively, herein from the socket entry preferably extend in the axial direction in the direction of the socket base and herein narrow in a conical manner. The mentioned resistance can advantageously be controlled in this way, depending on the configuration and the length of the grooves.
The grooves, or the groove, respectively, particularly preferably do/does not extend up to the end of the socket base but terminate/terminates already a few centimeters ahead of the socket base such that a final very high spring force is achieved purely by compressing the operating fluid at a very high damper stroke (thus when said last centimeters of the socket have been reached by the stroke-dependent piston).
In one further advantageous design embodiment of the invention, the stroke-dependent piston comprises an annular seal which determines the external diameter of the stroke-dependent piston. The annular seal herein preferably also has the same external diameter as the internal shell face of the socket. This enables functioning or acting, respectively, of the stroke-dependent piston in a compression stage of the shock absorber. The action in a compression stage of the shock absorber in this context thus means that the stroke-dependent damping is implemented only when the telescopic damper is compressed, or when the piston rod is in a downward movement in the direction of the cylinder base, respectively.
For example, when the stroke-dependent piston in such a compression stage of the damper plunges into the socket configured with the mentioned conical grooves, the flow of fluid from the lower additional working chamber of the socket into the "lower working chamber" of the cylinder tube (the latter being formed by the primary piston) thus takes place through the conical grooves in a manner passing the annular seal in a radial manner. On account of the grooves being configured conically and thus narrowing in the axial direction in the direction of the socket base until the grooves are no longer present, the damping likewise increases as the stroke of the damper increases.
The stroke-dependent piston herein furthermore preferably comprises through bores through which the operating fluid in a tension stage of the damper can flow from the "lower working chamber" of the cylinder tube (thus the working chamber which is formed by the primary piston) back into the socket, or the additional working chamber which is formed by the stroke-dependent piston in the socket.
It is furthermore preferably provided that the stroke-dependent piston no longer acts in such a tension stage, the frequency-dependent valve being able to act instead.
As is known, the situation of the telescopic shock absorber in which the piston rod is displaced out of the cylinder tube again (quasi along the cylinder longitudinal axis and at least approximately in the vehicle vertical direction, thus away from the cylinder base) is referred to as the tension stage.
In terms of the mentioned invention it is however always particularly preferable and advantageous that frequency-dependent damping is enabled in a tension stage (and stroke-dependent damping is enabled in the compression stage). It is furthermore preferable and advantageous herein that this dependency of the damping in the two stages can be implemented by way of a common component, specifically the stroke-dependent piston, in each case by different movement variables of the vehicle (thus once by the frequency and once by the piston stroke).
Alternatively, it is possible that this dependency of the damping in the two stages can be implemented by way of a combined component composed of the stroke-dependent piston and the frequency-dependent or frequency-selective valve, respectively, in each case by different movement variables of the vehicle (thus once by the frequency and once by the piston stroke).
The frequency-dependent damping herein is preferably implemented in such a manner that a frequency-dependent, or a frequency-selective, respectively, valve (also known as a FSD valve) is integrated in the stroke-dependent piston.
As has already been mentioned above, it is alternatively also possible for the frequency-dependent valve to be disposed on the stroke-dependent piston (as opposed to be integrated in the latter).
It is furthermore preferable for a bypass through the piston rod and the extension thereof directly into the interior of the stroke-dependent piston to be provided, said bypass leading to the frequency-dependent valve. The bypass herein is preferably disposed at a position above the primary piston in the piston rod such that the operating fluid from the upper into the lower working chamber is directed through the piston rod directly to the frequency-dependent valve.
In order for a frequency-dependent or frequency-selective, respectively, valve which is integrated in the stroke-dependent piston to be implemented, or in order for frequency-dependent damping to be implemented, respectively, the stroke-dependent piston preferably has an extra volume which is disposed in the interior of the stroke-dependent piston and which by way of a constricted inlet duct is connected to the mentioned bypass in the piston rod. The stroke-dependent piston furthermore preferably comprises an intervening deformable diaphragm which mutually separates the bypass volume and the extra volume, as well as a plurality of outlet ducts which fluidically connect the bypass and the lower working chamber of the damper to one another, and a flat disk which in the non-stressed state (thus in a compression stage of the damper) closes the outlet ducts. A configuration of this type of the frequency-dependent or frequency-selective, respectively, valve in the stroke-dependent piston is once again visualized in the figures. The frequency-dependent or frequency-selective, respectively, valve thus preferably acts when the shock absorber is in a tension stage.
For example, when the piston assembly moves axially away from the cylinder base at a low frequency of movement, an almost approximately constant quantity of operating fluid thus flows from the upper working chamber into the bypass. Pressure is thus prevalent on the inlet duct and on the flat disk over a comparatively long time. This prevailing pressure leads to the operating fluid which is located in the bypass flowing through the inlet duct into the extra volume under the diaphragm. The operating fluid accumulating there generates a specific pressure in the extra volume, this pressure leading to a specific damping force. This force herein is configured in such a manner that said force pushes the diaphragm upward, on account of which the flat disk is also pushed or pressed upward, respectively. The outlet ducts are closed. On account thereof, an outflow of the operating fluid from the extra volume of the frequency-dependent or frequency-selective, respectively, valve is prevented. The damping force is not reduced.
When the frequency of movement of the lifting piston, or of the primary piston, respectively, increases (in a tension stage), for example on account of travel of the vehicle on a rough carriageway, abrupt flows of the operating fluid through the bypass are thus created. These abrupt flows generate likewise abrupt pressure variations which act on the flat disk, the diaphragm, and the inlet duct. No operating fluid can accumulate in the extra volume by virtue of the intense pressure variations at the inlet duct. The pressure variations prevalent on the flat disk lead to a deformation of the flat disk in the direction of the extra volume. The outlet ducts are opened on account of this deformation. The fluid in this instance flows from the stroke-dependent piston (in which the extra volume is located) into the lower working chamber. The damping force is reduced.
The stroke-dependent piston which comprises the mentioned frequency-dependent or frequency-selective, respectively, valve and forms the stroke-dependent valve, at the lower end herein is preferably linked to an extension of the piston rod. The stroke-dependent piston can be screw-fitted to the end of the extension of the piston rod, for example. To this end, it is preferable for the lower end of the extension of the piston rod to possess a thread to which the stroke-dependent piston can be screw-fitted.
The invention shows the configuration of a shock absorber which by adding only one stroke-dependent piston enables stroke-dependent as well as frequency-dependent damping, said damping being implemented in a common component. This integration of two functions in a single component saves costs as well as installation space.
These and further features emerge not only from the claims and from the description but also from the drawings, wherein the individual features may be realized in each case individually or severally in the form of sub-combinations in an embodiment of the invention and can form advantageous, independently patentable embodiments, for which protection is hereby claimed.
The invention will be explained further hereunder by means of an exemplary embodiment. All of the features described in more detail herein may be relevant to the invention.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


This invention relates to an impact absorbing bag for an automobile, that is, an air bag, consisting of seamless tubular woven fabric (1) which comprises a connecting portion (B1) formed around a non-connecting portion (B2), is at least partially covered with a polymer covering layer (2) on the surface thereof and has a gas introducing hole (3) on one of its surfaces. The seamless tubular woven fabric (1) can be prepared by cutting circularly a woven fabric having the non-connecting portion (B2) formed in succession. The bag may be turned inside out so that its inside and outside are reversed.

When a car collides with an oncoming car or another object, the driver may smash his face strongly onto the steering wheel or the front glass. If the impact generated at that time can be reduced, it is possible to prevent death or serious injury to the driver.
In many countries, drivers are obligated by law to use seat belts as one means of safety upon collisions, but the effective reduction of the impact by seat belts is not sufficient when a car collides with an object at a high speed.
Therefore, use of an air bag system, i.e., a system capable of sensing an impact caused when a car collides with an object and instantaneously inflating a bag housed in a center portion of a steering wheel or the like to ensure the safety of the driver or the like is now being considered in many countries as a more reliable safety measure.
One conventional air bag has been manufactured by forming a polymer layer on a plain woven fabric, providing a gas introducing hole in one of the woven fabrics, superimposing two woven fabrics with polymer layers in a state with the polymer layer sides facing each other, and sewing together circumferential edges of the two woven fabric. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 51-4742, in the portion explaining the conventional air bags, describes that conventional air bags are obtained by cutting two circular pieces of woven fabrics from two regular square pieces of woven fabrics and sewing together the circumferential edges of the two circular pieces.
In air bags, a gas is instantaneously fed into the bag by explosion of a pyrotechnic, so the air bag must have a strength sufficient to endure the impact force caused by the explosion. The above-mentioned method of manufacturing air bags using a sewing process has several problems in this regard. There are many manual working processes involved, so there is a chance of decreased strength of the sewn portions and inspections of the strength of the sewn portions and the air permeability of the woven fabric take much time. The overall reliability of air bags manufactured by this method is low.
A method of manufacturing air bags using a tubular weaving method has been proposed. Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No. 57-58228, corresponding to Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 49-56352, discloses an impact absorbing tubular woven fabric having bag portions formed by alternately folding two woven up and down at a middle portion. In this tubular weave, a first bag portion and a second bag portion having a connected portion, which consists of the upper woven fabric and lower woven fabric woven together in a jointed weave, are alternately provided. The second bag portion is smaller than the first bag portion. The fact that this tubular woven fabric could be coated was mentioned in this patent publication, but a detailed explanation was only given of a continuous body of an air bag.
Further, Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 54-576, corresponding to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 50-7232, disclose an air bag having an upper connected portion and a lower connected portion having weft threads with larger shrinkage ratios than their warp threads. In the description of the invention and the drawings of this publication, there was shown an air bag having a square shape in plan view, provided at the outer layer thereof with a covering layer.
However, when making separate bags from the impact absorbing tubular woven fabric disclosed in Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No. 57-58228, the above tubular woven fabric should be cut along the widthwise direction in a portion, so the shape of the cut fabric necessarily becomes square. An air bag having a square shape has problems such that the air pressure is not applied uniformly over the air bag, the appearance of the air bag is inferior, and it is difficult to neatly house the air bag in the steering wheel. The air bag disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 54-576 also has a square shape, so it has the same problems.
It is possible to make the chamber into which air is blown an octagon by sewing the four corners of an air bag of a square shape (in this case, the appearance of the air bag is still square), but this sewn air bag has disadvantages of the large cost of the labor to sew the corners, the weaker strength of the sewn portions compared to the other portions, and the lack of uniformity. Even if this air bag is turned inside out by pulling the inside of the air bag through the opening at the center portion of the air bag for the air insertion, only the appearance of the air bag is improved. The other disadvantages, such as the inferior uniformity, are not eliminated.
An object of the present invention is to provide an impact absorbing bag having superior uniformity, appearance, and reliability and having the ability to be easily manufactured.

Impact absorbing air bag and method for manufacturing same


Connection constraints are flooded using an extension to a routing protocol being used to control forwarding on network. Nodes maintain topology and connection database and calculate routes for connections based on the constraints. If a node is on a calculated route for a connection it will install forwarding state for the connection. Since each node has a consistent view of the network topology and has been provided with the constraints associated with the connection, each node on the network will calculate the same route for the connection. When a failure occurs, the nodes will calculate restoration paths for the connections on a network-wide priority basis to enable restoration paths to be created for the affected connections without requiring the restoration paths to be signaled. Time-stamps are used to allow events to be applied by nodes in a consistent order regardless of the order in which they arrive.

In Ethernet network architectures, devices connected to the network compete for the ability to use shared telecommunications paths at any given time. Where multiple bridges or nodes are used to interconnect network segments, multiple potential paths to the same destination often exist. The benefit of this architecture is that it provides path redundancy between bridges and permits capacity to be added to the network in the form of additional links. However to prevent loops from being formed, a spanning tree was generally used to restrict the manner in which traffic was broadcast on the network. Since routes were learned by broadcasting a frame and waiting for a response, and since both the request and response would follow the spanning tree, most if not all of the traffic would follow the links that were part of the spanning tree. This often led to over-utilization of the links that were on the spanning tree and non-utilization of the links that weren't part of the spanning tree.
To overcome some of the limitations inherent in Ethernet networks, a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network was disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/537,775, filed Oct. 2, 2006, entitled "Provider Link State Bridging," the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. As described in greater detail in that application, the nodes in a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network exchange link state advertisements to build a synchronized view of the network topology, which is stored in a link state database. The link state database may then be used to compute shortest paths through the network. The link state advertisements may be used to distribute link state updates to all other nodes in a particular network level.
In addition to building a network topology database, each node also populates a Forwarding Information Base (FIB) which will be used by the node to make forwarding decisions so that frames will be forwarded over the computed shortest path to the destination. Since the shortest path to a particular destination is always used, the network traffic will be distributed across a larger number of links and follow a more optimal path for a larger number of nodes than where a single Spanning Tree or even multiple spanning trees are used to carry traffic on the network.
When customer traffic enters a provider network, the customer MAC Destination Address (C-MAC DA) is resolved to a provider MAC Destination Address (B-MAC DA), so that the provider may forward traffic on the provider network using the provider MAC address space. Additionally, the network elements on the provider network are configured to forward traffic based on Virtual LAN ID (VID) so that different frames addressed to the same destination address but having different VIDs may be forwarded over different paths through the network. In operation, a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network may associate one VID range with shortest path forwarding, such that unicast and multicast traffic may be forwarded using a VID from that range, and traffic engineering paths may be created across the network on paths other than the shortest path, and forwarded using a second VID range. The use of Traffic Engineered (TE) paths through a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network is described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/732,381, filed Apr. 3, 2007, entitled "Engineered Paths In A Link State Protocol Controlled Ethernet Network", the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has developed a draft standard 802.1Qay which is commonly referred to as Provider Backbone Bridging-Traffic Engineering (PBB-TE). Conventionally, when a PBB-TE network is to be used to transport IP traffic, a connection would be set up across the PBB-TE network. One way to set up a connection across a PBB-TE network is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/580,796, filed Apr. 19, 2007, entitled "GMPLS control of Ethernet" the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
As described in greater detail in this application, when a connection is to be established across a PBB-TE network, the connection will be computed by a head-end node or central management system, and then a connection set up message will be transmitted across the PBB-TE network. For example, assume that Node A was asked to establish a connection to node E. Node A would perform a path computation process to figure out a path to E which, for purposes of this example will be assumed to include intermediate nodes B, C, and D.
Node A will then create a RSVP-TE path setup message containing information about the path through the network and send the path setup message to node B. Node B will process the message and pass it to node C. The message will continue until it reaches its destination (node E).
When node E receives the path setup message, it will generate a RSVP-TE resv response message which will follow the reverse path through the network. As part of this RSVP-TE signaling, the nodes on the path reserve resources and install forwarding state to allow traffic to be forwarded along the path.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/525,594, filed Mar. 22, 2006, entitled Method and Apparatus For Establishing Forwarding State Using Path State Advertisements, a proposal was made to use the link state protocol control packets to carry this connection information on the network rather than using a separate signaling protocol. In this application, the head-end node would calculate a path through the network using network topology information in its topology database. Rather than signaling these connections on the network using RSVP-TE, however, the link state protocol such as ISIS was extended to carry the connection information in particular its path through the network. In this scenario, the head-end node calculates a route and floods the route throughout the network. All nodes on the network store the connection in their connection database. Nodes on the connection's route install forwarding state for the connection to thereby allow the connection to be created on the PBB-TE network. The content of application Ser. No. 11/525,594 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
A PBB-TE network may include many connections, each of which is carried on a traffic engineered path that is signaled on the network. When a failure occurs on the network, the head-end nodes for those connections affected by the failure will re-compute new routes for the connections and flood the new routes in link state advertisements. The head-end nodes will compute these routes given the new network topology and the constraints associated with the routes such as required bandwidth, desired end node, and relative priority of the connection. Since there are many different head-end nodes that may be affected by a given failure on the network, and each head-end node is responsible for computing a new set of routes for its affected connections, it is possible for clashes to occur in which two different head-end nodes both try to reserve resources for restoration paths for different connections over a given node/link. Additionally, while each of the nodes may prioritize its own connections, coordinating priority of connections established by different nodes on the network remains a challenge. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a new way for connections to be re-established after the occurrence of a failure on the network.

Distributed connection establishment and restoration


A lighted cooking utensil holder accessory includes an elongated hand grip having a longitudinal axis and a hollow interior cavity disposed between opposite ends of the hand grip for receiving and supporting an electric battery. The holder accessory also has a utensil socket and a light socket disposed in a collar mounted at a forward end of the hand grip. The utensil socket is mounted offset to one side of the longitudinal axis of the hand grip and forwardly of the light socket for receiving and mounting a coupling end of a shaft of a cooking utensil also having an opposite working end. The light socket is mounted generally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the hand grip and configured for receiving and positioning the light bulb to direct a beam of light along the longitudinal axis of the hand grip, adjacent the utensil shaft, and toward the working end of the utensil so as to illuminate the food at the working end of the utensil. The holder accessory further includes a switch mounted on the hand grip for electically connecting the light socket and the battery cavity. The switch is operable for switching on and off the supply of electrical energy to the light bulb received in the light socket from the battery received in the battery cavity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to outdoor cooking equipment and, more particularly, is concerned with a lighted cooking utensil holder accessory.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Patio barbecues are a tradition enjoyed by groups and families throughout the United States, especially in the Southern states. Statistics revealing the high number of households owning outdoor grills confirm this fact.
Barbecues typically take place in late afternoon or evening around the time when an evening meal is normally served. In view that barbequeing is carried out outdoors after dusk lighting must be provided to illuminate the area where the grill is located. Lanterns and floodlights are some of the lighting devices used to provide general illumination of the area. Also, in many instances, the outdoor grill is deployed adjacent the patio door or a window where interior house lighting will partially illuminate the patio area.
These prior art practices, while providing general lighting of the patio area, fail to adequately illuminate the food itself as it is being barbecued on the grill. As a result, the person performing the barbequeing task has to do a lot of guessing as to whether or not the food, typically meat, has been cooked the desired degree. Thus, the important sense of sight that is crucial to monitoring and controlling any cooking task is typically under-utilized in outdoors barbequeing because of inadequate lighting, with the result that the success or failure of the barbecue is often left to chance.
Consequently, a need exists for an easy and convenient way in which to illuminate the food being barbecued.

Lighted cooking utensil holder accessory


Systems and methods for a flexible, modular head-mounted display is provided. The head-mounted display system may comprise a base member and one or more arm members that are coupled to the base member. The arm member(s) may be coupled to the base member via a hinge system that allows the arm member(s) to move with respect to the base member. Interior walls of the hinge system may define a passage therethrough such that wiring may extend throughout the head-mounted display system. The head-mounted display system may further include a cover that encloses at least a portion of the hinge. The cover may overlap with the base member or the one or more arm members.

Head-mounted displays are sometimes used to mount technology on or around a user's head, allowing the user to transport and use different technologies with greater ease and flexibility. Head-mounted displays generally utilize a head-wearable frame system to support a display component. In certain circumstances, these head-wearable frame systems are often ill-fitting and prone to breaking when dropped.


A pixel operating in a concurrent (or simultaneous) emission method includes: an organic light emitting diode; a second transistor for controlling an amount of current flowing to a second power supply through the organic light emitting diode from a first power supply, the first power supply being coupled to a first electrode of the second transistor; a first transistor coupled between a data line and a gate electrode of the second transistor; a first capacitor coupled between a second electrode of the first transistor and the first power supply; and a fourth transistor coupled between a second electrode of the second transistor and the organic light emitting diode, wherein the first transistor and the fourth transistor are configured to be turned on during a period when the first capacitor is charged with a voltage corresponding to a data signal.

1. Field
Aspects of embodiments of the present invention relate to an organic light emitting display device including pixels and a driving method thereof, particularly an organic light emitting display device including pixels driven using a concurrent (or simultaneous) emission method, and a method of driving the organic light emitting display device.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, a variety of flat panel displays that reduce the disadvantages of cathode ray tubes, such as weight and volume, have been developed. Typical flat panel displays include liquid crystal displays, field emission displays, plasma display panels, organic light emitting display devices, etc.
An organic light emitting display device is a flat display device that displays an image using organic light emitting diodes that emit light by recombination of electrons and holes and has a high response speed and low power consumption.
In general, the organic light emitting display devices are classified into passive matrix organic light emitting display devices (PMOLED) or active matrix organic light emitting display devices (AMOLED), in accordance with the methods of driving the organic light emitting diodes.
An active matrix organic light emitting display device includes a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of power source lines, and a plurality of pixels coupled with the lines and arranged in a matrix. The pixel includes an organic light emitting diode, a driving transistor for controlling the amount of current supplied to the organic light emitting diode, a switching transistor for transmitting a data signal to the driving transistor, and a storage capacitor for maintaining a voltage of the data signal.
The active matrix organic light emitting display device has a relatively low power consumption, but may have a display that is not uniform because the magnitude of a current flowing through an organic light emitting element may vary due to variations in a voltage difference between the gate and the drain (or the gate and the source) of a driving transistor that drives the organic light emitting element, that is, a threshold voltage (or a threshold voltage difference) of the driving transistor.
That is, properties of the transistors disposed in the pixels are changed by variables in the manufacturing process, and accordingly, the threshold voltages of the driving transistors vary between the pixels. Therefore, a compensating circuit that can compensate the threshold voltage of the driving transistors may be additionally formed to remove the non-uniformity between the pixels.
The compensating circuit, however, additionally includes a plurality of transistors and capacitors, and signal lines controlling these transistors. Therefore, the pixel including the compensating circuit has a problem in that the aperture ratio decreases and the possibility of defect increases.

Organic light emitting display device with pixel configured to be driven during frame period and driving method thereof


Systems and methods of actively compensating for the input offset voltage of a comparator are provided. A compensation circuit may include a compensation comparator for comparing the comparison signal generated using the output signal of a comparator, to a reference voltage. A first voltage accumulator is coupled to the compensation comparator and produces a first voltage that is related to a first amount of time that the comparison signal spends above the reference voltage. A second voltage accumulator is coupled to the compensation comparator, and produces a second voltage that is related to the second amount of time that the comparison signal spends below the reference voltage. The first voltage and/or the second voltage may be used to provide one or more compensation signals to one or more of the two input terminals of the comparator.

Comparators are used in a wide variety of circuits. All comparators and operational amplifiers have an input offset voltage that reduces the accuracy of the comparator and/or operational amplifier. This can be problematic, especially when the difference between the signals to be compared is expected to be small. In fact, when the difference between the input signals to be compared is on the order of the input offset voltage of the comparator, the signal-to-noise ratio at the output of the comparator may approach one or more, effectively drowning out the signal of interest.
In some cases, a compensation voltage may be applied to the comparator to help compensate for the input offset voltage of the comparator. This is relatively straight forward when the input offset voltage is a static quantity and known. However, the input offset voltage of a comparator can vary between individual units and can vary with operating parameters, such as operating temperature, operating voltage and/or time. This can make it difficult to provide a compensation voltage that can effectively cancel out the input offset voltage for all comparators over time and over all expected operating conditions. This is particularly true when the difference between the input signals to be compared is small. What would be desirable is a system and method for actively compensating for the input offset voltage of a comparator.

Systems and methods for compensating the input offset voltage of a comparator


A hand held disk launcher is constructed of one piece molded plastic material having a handle portion and a flat head portion and attachment means for a flexible member on opposite sides of the head portion whereby a flexible member may be detachably connected to the head portion on either side thereof to facilitate the use of the launcher by a left handed person or a right handed person. The flexible member is provided with a hook portion at the free end thereof for engagement with a complementary recess in a disk. The flexible member may be in the form of a completely flexible strap or a semi-rigid, flexible, resilient arm.

The present invention is directed to a disk launcher, and more specifically to a hand held disk launcher having flexible means thereon cooperating with the disk to impart a spinning motion to the disk upon release from the launcher when the hand held launcher is subjected to a snapping or whipping action.
The use of hand held launchers having a target trap thereon for launching clay pigeon targets is old and well known in the trap shooting art. Such devices are generally complicated in construction and are comprised of a relatively large number of parts which are interconnected together with suitable springs or resilient members in order to hold the disk in position during the initial throwing action and to impact a spinning action to the disk as it is released from the launcher.
A typical prior art construction as shown in the Camp U.S. Pat. No. 1,700,880, has a resilient portion mounted thereon having a curved extension for receiving a stepped target disk. An arm is pivotally mounted on the resilient portion in opposition to the extension and is spring biased towards the extension in order to hold the disk between the pivoted arm and the extension. A rubber member is mounted at the outermost end of the pivoted arm and is maintained in engagement with the disk so that upon imparting a whipping motion to the launching device, the spring biased pivoted arm will be forced away from the extension, due to the centrifugal force acting on the disk, thereby allowing the disk to leave the launcher. As the disk leaves the launcher, it will be frictionally engaged with a rubber collar, whereby a spinning action will be imparted t the disk.
A similar hand operated target projecting device is also disclosed in the Reed U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,438. However, in Reed, a curved resilient arm is mounted in opposition to the extension of the handle member in order to hold the target disk therebetween. The outermost end of the resilient arm is provided with a spring clip 13 which frictionally engages the top and bottom surfaces of the disk so that upon launching the disk, a spinning movement will be imparted to the disk.
Another type of hand held launcher for clay pigeons is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,004 to Huelskamp. The launcher is formed of a single piece of resilient plastic material. The arms of the head portion have flanges which encircle the clay pigeon and engage it on its outermost circumference. The flanges are symmetrical so that the launchers can be inverted for launching clay pigeons equally well with either the right hand or the left hand. The launcher is formed with a first or trailing arm which extends outwardly and laterally away from a neck portion. The shape of the first arm adjacent the neck portion is curved for a short distance and the remainder of the first arm is substantially straight. A second arm forms another part of the head portion and is substantially curved over its entire length. The arms define a substantially circular opening therebetween for receiving the clay pigeon. The arms surround more than 50% of the clay pigeon when located in a fully seated position in the launcher.
A plastic hand held disk launcher is also disclosed in Applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,595 granted Mar. 15, 1988. The disk launcher is comprised of a handle, a relatively flat open lightweight head extending outwardly from one end of the handle, disk engaging means disposed along one edge of the head on one side of the axis of the handle and projecting perpendicular to the plane of the head an equal distance on opposite sides of said plane. A curved resilient arm extends outwardly from the head on the opposite side of the axis with portions of the arm projecting on opposite sides of the plane of the head for gripping a disk between the resilient arm and the projection means on either side of the head. Engaging means are formed on the free end of the arm and are adapted to cooperate with complementary engaging means on a disk for engaging the disk and imparting a spinning action to the disk as the disk leaves the launcher under the action of centrifugal force. Additional means may be provided on the arm for adjusting the flexibility and resiliency of the arm.


One embodiment disclosed relates to a method for remote mirroring of network traffic. A data packet to be remotely mirrored is received by an entry device. The entry device is pre-configured with a destination Internet Protocol (IP) address to which to mirror the data packet. An IP header is generated and added to IP encapsulate the data packet. The IP header includes the aforementioned destination IP address. The IP-encapsulated packet is forwarded to an exit device associated with the destination IP address. Subsequently, the exit device may decapsulate the IP-encapsulated packet to reproduce the original data packet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to networking and communications technology.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventional mirroring solutions are highly intrusive to the network administrator, especially in large networks, requiring his/her dispatch to the physical location of the device being monitored. This is because the network analysis device is directly attached to the networking device which needs monitoring. Accordingly, there is great need for a network diagnostic system and method which does not require relocation of diagnostic devices and personnel to the physical location of the device to be monitored.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A case (2) includes a tubular body (6) extending vertically and a top plate (8) disposed at a top edge of the tubular body (6), the case being capable of accommodating a heat-generating element (5). Upward ventholes (16) for discharging the heated air (P), which is heated by the heat-generating element (5), to the outside are formed in the top plate 8. A partition wall (17) that protrudes downwardly from the top plate (8) is disposed between the upward ventholes (16) and the tubular body (6). An air accumulating part (20) surrounded by the tubular body (6), the top plate (8), and the partition wall (17) is formed.

Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique related to a heat dissipation measure for a case within which a heat-generating element such as a power IC is accommodated. Specifically, an upper venthole and a lower venthole are formed in a top plate part and a bottom plate part of the case, respectively. By this structure, an airflow from the bottom of the heat-generating element toward the top thereof is formed opposing to a space in the vicinity of the heat-generating element.

Case, electronic device, and cooling method


A load-shifting device has a control element (4a, 4b) which acts on a setting member (7,9) which determines the output of an internal combustion engine. The control element is adapted to be connected to an accelerator (1) and is controllable by an electric setting drive (10) which cooperates with an electronic controller (12). The load-shifting device provides that the setting member includes a main setting member (7) with which there is associated a first control-element part 4a which is coupled with the accelerator. The setting member further includes an auxiliary setting member (9) with which there is associated a second control-element part (4b). The setting path of the first control-element part is limited in idling direction by an idle stop (LL). The second control-element part can, upon application of the first control-eleemnt part against the idling stop, be moved within its idling control range relative to the first control-element part by the electric setting drive. The load-shifting device makes it possible, with simple structural development, to control the internal combustion engine over its entire load range and, in particular by the electric setting drive, over its idling range.

The present invention relates to a load-shifting device for an automotive vehicle. The device has a control element which acts on a setting member which determines the output of an internal combustion engine. The control element is adapted to be connected to an accelerator, and is controllable also by an electric setting drive which cooperates with an electronic controller.
Load-shifting devices, for instance load-shifting devices cooperating with carburetors or injection pumps, must assure optimum control of the internal combustion engine over the entire load range. This requires a complicated construction or complicated control of the load-shifting device in question. Thus carburetors, for example, have, in addition to the actual device for the forming of the mixture, additional devices such as thinning, starting, idling, accelerating, economizing devices etc. These devices complicate the construction of the carburetor and result in increased expense for parts since additional injection nozzles, pumps, special developments of the nozzle needles and separate air feeds are required, entirely aside from the stringent control requirements inherent in this.
Of particular importance in the case of load-shifting devices is control of the condition of the load upon idling, during which only a minimal output is delivered by the internal combustion engine but during which there may be present, particularly in the case of automobiles, load-consuming devices which require a high output, such as ventilators, rear window heating, air conditioning systems, etc. In order to take these potential demands on the output into account, the control of the load-shifting device between maximum and minimum idling positions is required and, upon failure of the control, an emergency idling position of the setting member or of the control element is to be assured.
Differing from the problem described above, load-shifting devices of the aforementioned type are, as a rule, used in cases where the accelerator and the setting member are electronically connected to each other. The accelerator is coupled to a driver and the latter is connected to the control element. Furthermore, a desired-value detection element associated with the driver and an actual-value detection element cooperating with the desired-value detection element and acting on the electric setting drive are provided. The electric setting drive is adapted to be controlled by the electronic controller as a function of the values detected. The electrical connections of accelerator and setting member to the interposed electronic controller make it possible to compare desired-value positions, determined by the accelerator and the driver coupled to it, with the actual-values indicated by the position of the control element and of the setting member and to check them for the presence or absence of plausibility conditions. Thus, in the event of the presence or absence of given plausibility conditions, there is the possibility of exerting a correcting action. The correcting action is accomplished by the electronic controller by controlling an electric setting drive, on the setting member. The setting drive, for instance, may be developed as a throttle valve or injection pump. An action by the electronic controller, in order to avoid wheel slippage upon starting, due to excessive output determined by the accelerator can be provided, and other automatic interventions into the load-shifting device are, for instance, conceivable in automatic shifting processes of a transmission or a speed-limiting control.


The invention described herein provides reagents (e.g., kits), compositions, and methods for carrying out an unbiased genome-wide strategy to identify the functional targets for all ncRNAs.

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are now believed to be transcribed pervasively in the genome, and large numbers of ncRNAs have been identified. However, disproportionally, still very little is known about their functional roles. Many of the known ncRNA functions were inferred by perturbation experiments, which lack the details of what specific target an ncRNA interact with. Technologies like CLIP/RIP-Seq and ChiRP-Seq have provided tremendous insights of what the protein factors and chromatin loci for some ncRNAs to interact with. However, current methods are limited to examine ncRNA or interacting target one at a time. Thus it is desirable to have an unbiased genome-wide strategy to identify the functional targets for all ncRNAs.

Compositions for RNA-chromatin interaction analysis and uses thereof


A brassiere which is particularly suitable for use during sporting activities or for persons in postsurgical rehabilitation. The bra has a front panel of non-stretch material, such as a cotton/polyester blend, and a back panel of stretch material, such as a nylon/lycra blend. A drawstring is provided through the front panel to allow the wearer to mold the front panel to provide the desired degree of breast support and comfort. Straps having one end connected to the front panel and another end connected to the back panel may be provided. The straps are preferably formed of a non-stretch material and include a length-adjustment device. Either the front panel or the back panel may be divided into two portions to allow the wearer to put on the brassiere without raising their arms above their head. The two portions of the panel which are divided can be fastened by a variety of known fastening means.

The present invention relates to an adjustable brassiere (bra) suitable for everyday use and particularly suited for use by women engaged in sports or other physical activities and for women during post-operative recovery.
Conventional brassieres typically are formed of elastic materials and include, among other things, shaped cups to form and shape the breasts. While this is sometimes desirable from an appearance standpoint, such a construction does not provide sufficient support for women engaged in sporting activities and the like. Most conventional bras are not adjustable to the extent needed to allow the wearer to optimize support and comfort. Further, the elastic bands in conventional bras rub and chafe the skin during use and buttons, snaps, hooks and other hardware, or seams, provided in conventional bras can irritate the skin and are extremely uncomfortable for those engaged in sporting activities and the like. Additionally, bras which are not adjustable and have elastic or stretchable elements in the front portion can be extremely uncomfortable for women recovering from breast surgery.
As a result of the increasing involvement of women in activities such as competitive sports, jogging, horseback riding and aerobics, there has been increased awareness of the aforementioned drawbacks of conventional bras. Several attempts have been made to provide bras suitable for use by women engaged in sporting activities.
One such sports bra is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,005 to Braaten. This patent discloses a brassier constructed of stretchable material reinforced by "darts" within the material and elastic bands. The front panel is divided into two portions which can be connected by a zipper or the like. Although such a construction provides increased support, it is not readily adjustable and has several other drawbacks. For instance, it is difficult to manufacture.
Other sports bra constructions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,719 to Wirth; U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,544 to Flanagan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,191 to Harned; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,289,137 to Dell et al. Bra designs which include strap length adjustment means include U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D 278,945; D 270,775; and D 270,774 all to Stern, et al.
Generally, known bra constructions suffer from a number of drawbacks when used as sports bras or post surgery rehabilitative bras. Foremost among these is the lack of real adjustability. Additionally, sports bras manufactured of materials, such as , which do not allow adequate breathability, are uncomfortable. Most known sports bras are too tight to be comfortable for extended periods of time. On the other hand, bras constructed entirely of stretch fabric are heavy and generally uncomfortable and can irritate the skin because moisture trapped against the skin is not allowed to dry quickly. Additionally, because of the materials typically used, presently available sports bras are generally unattractive and unfashionable.
Thus, there is still a need for a sports bra which provides adequate support without sacrificing comfort, breathability and appearance. There is also a need for a bra which can be comfortably worn by women recovering from breast surgery.

Breathable brassiere with adjustable drawstring


Various aspects of a system and a method are provided for detection of objects in motion are disclosed herein. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes an electronic device, which computes a first motion vector based on a difference of pixel values of one or more pixels in a current frame with respect to a previous frame. The current frame and the previous frame comprises at least an object in motion. The system further computes a second motion vector by use of motion-based information obtained from a sensor in the electronic device. The system determines validation of the first motion vector based on the second motion vector and one or more criteria and extracts the object in motion from the current frame based on the determined validation of the first motion vector.

Recent advancements in the field of image processing have led to development of various methods and techniques for detection of objects in motion. Typically, the detection of the objects in motion may be performed based on a global motion vector for each object in motion. The global motion vector may be calculated based on comparison of a current frame with respect to a previous frame. Thereafter, the extraction of the objects in motion may be performed based on subtraction of an image of fitted previous frame from an image of the current frame.
However, in certain scenarios, the calculation of such global motion vector may be incorrect due to various intrinsic and/or extrinsic factors, such as large foreground movement, blur, parallax, illuminance change, and/or roller shutter effect. Accordingly, the objects in motion may not be detected correctly. Further, the detected parts of the objects in motion may not correspond to the actual objects in motion in the image. Consequently, the extraction of the objects in motion in the image may not be accurate. Thus, an advanced, efficient, and accurate image processing system and/or technique may be required for an improved performance of extraction of objects in motion.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of described systems with some aspects of the present disclosure, as set forth in the remainder of the present application and with reference to the drawings.

Image processing system and method for detection of objects in motion


A process for hydrocracking 343.degree. C..sup.+ feedstock is disclosed. The process employs a catalyst which comprises a layered silicate, such as magadiite or kenyaite, which contains interspathic polymeric silica. The catalyst also contains at least one base metal, i.e., Cr, Mo, W, Fe, Co, and Ni.

This application is directed to the production of high quality hydrocarbon fractions by hydrocracking high boiling hydrocarbons.
One of the most valuable products of the refining of crude mineral oils is lubricating oil. Common practice is to recover lubricating oil components by extracting undesirable components, such as sulfur compounds, oxygenated compounds, and aromatics, from a straight run distillate fraction with a selective solvent. However, with the gradual decline in the availability of paraffinic base crudes and a corresponding increase in the proportion of naphthenic and mixed naphthenic and asphaltic base crudes, it is becoming increasingly difficult to recover sufficient quantities of components suitable for lubricating oils by extraction.
One method which has been suggested as a remedy of this situation is hydrogenation of high boiling hydrocarbon charge stocks which do not contain a substantial quantity of lube oil components in order to produce such components. An example of this method is represented in U.S. Pat. No. 3,142,635, incorporated herein by reference, teaching the production of very high viscosity index oils in high yields of a unique kind of using a special catalyst. This method teaches the use of hydrocracking catalysts such as platinum on silica-alumina as well as others taught in U.S. Pat. No. 2,945,806, incorporated herein by reference. The use of such catalysts results in a product of high viscosity index. However, it is recognized that substantial amounts of undesirable low viscosity index polycyclic aromatics which are oxidatively unstable will remain in the lube oil produced by hydrocracking unless removed by distillation. Another way of dealing with such impurities is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,530,061, incorporated herein by reference, which employs hydroprocessing the hydrocracked product with a hydrogenation-dehydrogenation catalyst comprising a support material of low cracking activity, e.g., platinum on alumina at temperatures and pressures which limit conversion to 600.degree. F..sup.- products. However, this procedure suffers from the drawback of requiring an additional hydroprocessing step. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,090, catalysts which comprise layered clays (smectites) intercalated with inorganic metal polymers, e.g., aluminum chlorhydrol, which form polymeric cationic hydroxy metal complexes are disclosed as suitable for conventional petroleum conversion processes such as catalytic cracking, hydrocracking, hydrotreating, and isomerization. U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,832 discloses the use of layered smectite clays, e.g., montmorillonite, which are cross-linked with hydroxy-Al oligomers, as hydrocracking catalysts.

Production of hydrocarbon fractions by hydrocracking


The present invention provides an optical material composition, including: (a) an acrylate-based material; (b) an anti-yellowing agent, selected from the group consisting of an inorganic phosphorus-containing acid, a phosphate and a combination thereof; and (c) an initiator. After being cured, the composition of the present invention has good transmittance, anti-yellowing performance and high-temperature resistance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical material composition, and in particular, to an anti-yellowing optical material composition with high temperature resistance.
2. Description of the Related Art
The trends toward microminiaturization and price reduction of mobile phone camera modules have fostered keen interest in wafer level camera (WLC) technology. Employing wafer level manufacturing technology allows reduction of camera module size from a traditional height of 3 to 5 mm to a height of only 2 to 2.5 mm. If the material has high temperature resistance, it can also generate a 30% to 50% reduction in manufacturing costs.
In wafer level camera technology, optical components are manufactured in a wafer level. A reflowable material is used as a lens, and technologies related to semiconductor manufacturing and optical image sensor components are employed to prepare a wafer level lens. A wafer level lens module is prepared by forming thousands of lenses on a wafer using the semiconductor technology, grouping the lenses using the wafer level packaging technology, and cutting into independent lens cubes. The wafer level camera technology not only can minimize the number of required components, simplify the manufacturing process, and be applied to mass production, but can also reduce production costs.
Because the wafer level camera module is installed by using a reflow soldering method, the lens material used must have properties similar to glass materials, i.e. high temperature resistance and reflowability. At present, the plastic lenses used in mobile phone camera modules are mostly produced by using a plastic injection method and have relatively low heat resistance; such plastic lenses are not applicable to manufacturing processes for a wafer level camera module. Therefore, improved heat resistance of the lens material is an important concern for a wafer level camera module.
In addition, according to previous literature (such as TW201211078 (A)), it is known that yellowing may occur in a thermoplastic resin due to high temperature during thermoforming or after prolonged use. Because yellowing may affect availability and reliability of an optical component (such as a lens), there is a need to overcome the problem of yellowing of optical materials.
With respect to yellowing inhibition, a currently known method is adding an anti-oxidant. Such anti-oxidant includes the following two types: a free radical scavenger that traps a generated free radical and makes the free radical ineffective, and a peroxide decomposer that decomposes a generated peroxide into inert substances to inhibit generation of a new free radical. The free radical scavenger is mainly a hindered phenol compound and a hindered amine compound, and the peroxide decomposer is mainly a phosphorus compound.
However, according to TW 201211078 (A), the phosphorus compound has a low yellowing inhibition effect, and under processing conditions (such as reflow soldering) at a high temperature (such as about 260° C.), it is difficult to sufficiently inhibit yellowing. The yellowing inhibition effect is especially insufficient when the phosphorus compound is applied to an optical component (such as a lens) material, and therefore such compound is not applicable as lens material of a wafer level camera module.
According to TW 201238977 (A), if only a phenol anti-oxidant is used, the long-term anti-oxidant effect is not sufficient. Using a phenol anti-oxidant and a phosphorus anti-oxidant in combination can improve persistence of the anti-oxidant effect. However, such anti-oxidants have an insufficient anti-oxidant effect under processing conditions (such as reflow soldering) at a high temperature (such as about 260° C.). When they are applied to an optical component (such as a lens) material, the yellowing inhibition effect thereof is absolutely insufficient, and they are also not applicable as lens material of a wafer level camera module.
On the other hand, when an amount of added free radical scavenger is sufficient to inhibit yellowing, the inhibition effect of free radical polymerization generated by the free radical scavenger may adversely limit hardening of the composition, thereby reducing the toughness of a hardened product. The reason is that molecular chain scission in a polymeric material at a high temperature may generate free radicals, and these free radicals may react with other surrounding molecular chains and cause further molecular chain scission, thereby generating new free radicals. Continuous reactions result in the molecular chain of the polymeric material being shortened, mechanical performance thereof being reduced, and the material having a change of color or turning yellow.
In view of these concerns, the present invention provides an anti-yellowing optical material composition with high temperature resistance, which effectively solves the problems existing in the art.

Optical material composition and use thereof


A method includes detecting a counter event at a system monitor of a system. The method also includes, in response to detecting the counter event, checking a state of each flag of a first set of flags. Each of the first set of flags is associated with a monitored module of the system, and the state of each of the first set of flags is indicated by a value at a memory location that is enabled. The method also includes, in response to determining that at least one flag of the first set of flags has a value indicating an error associated with a particular monitored module, causing an action to be performed at the system.

Over the years there has been increasing use of computer systems generally and growth in use of embedded systems. Embedded systems include systems that may be difficult to troubleshoot, including systems that are unreachable, such as implanted medical devices or remotely controlled devices. Many types of embedded systems use monitoring systems to monitor system elements. Monitoring systems may be relatively complex to design, build, and maintain and may be relatively resource-intensive, especially for real-time or embedded systems. Additionally, some monitoring systems are relatively inflexible. For example, such a monitoring system may monitor a limited numbers of events, may have limited response capabilities to detected events available, and may be difficult to reconfigure.

System monitor for monitoring functional modules of a system


A flexible diaphragm coupling is disclosed which includes a radially inner hub portion, a radially outer rim portion, and a flexible diaphragm portion extending between the radially outer rim portion and the radially inner hub portion. The flexible diaphragm portion includes a radially inner diaphragm section having a maximum axial thickness adjacent the radially inner hub portion and a radially outwardly tapering axial thickness extending to a point of minimum axial thickness of the diaphragm portion, and a radially outer diaphragm section having a maximum axial thickness adjacent the radially outer rim portion and a radially inwardly tapering axial thickness extending to the point of minimum axial thickness of the diaphragm portion. By design, the point of minimum axial thickness of the diaphragm portion is closer to the radially outer rim portion than to the radially inner hub portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention is directed to flexible couplings, and more particularly to a flexible diaphragm coupling for rotating shaft components, which is configured to tolerate axial forces and the axial bending stress distribution associated therewith.
2. Description of Related Art
Flexible couplings for connecting two rotating shafts to one another, to transmit torque while accommodating axial and/or angular misalignment of the shafts have been used in aerospace applications for many years. These devices often use one or more contoured diaphragms welded or otherwise secured together to form a flexible coupling mounted between driving and driven shaft components.
For example, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,504 to Stocco describes a coupling having plural contoured diaphragms welded together to form a flexible connection between a driving shaft and a driven shaft. Those prior art diaphragms were configured to accommodate large axial deflections without over-stressing the diaphragm material. They were contoured to be thinnest in a location midway between their hub and rim, where the bending moment developed by axial deflections was determined to be smallest. This ensured that stress levels would be minimized throughout the diaphragm. The diaphragm profile disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,504 has been employed with great success for many years in a variety of aerospace shaft coupling applications.
Recently, aerospace shaft coupling applications have arisen with new and different loading requirements than contemplated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,504. In particular, there has now become a need in the art for a contoured diaphragm element that can tolerate both linear and nonlinear deflections produced by axial force loading. More particularly, in addition to tolerating a first restorative force generated by the linear axial spring rate of the diaphragm, as contemplated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,504, the new diaphragm profile must also tolerate a second restorative force involving cubic non-linear membrane stresses generated when the axial load stretches the diaphragm in a radial direction. This design requirement was neither contemplated nor appreciated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,504.

Flexible diaphragm coupling for axial force loading


The invention provides a liquid composition containing (a) an acidic oxidant, (b) nitric acid or a salt thereof, and (c) at least one carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of monocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, and tricarboxylic acids, or a salt thereof. The liquid composition can be used to disinfect or sterilize a subject that includes a portion made of an aluminum-based metal.

Since acidic oxidants have excellent sterilizing effects, they are widely used in the fields of medicine and foods as disinfectants and sterilizing agents. In particular, since acidic oxidants containing percarboxylic acids, such as peracetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide are capable of performing disinfection or sterilization in a short period of time, they are effective disinfecting/sterilizing agents for environments and apparatuses that cannot be physically disinfected.
Meanwhile, acidic oxidants have corrosiveness on metals and often deteriorate metal materials or cause rust, and thus often cause troubles for the function and appearance of such metals.
Among metals, in particular, with respect to aluminium or metals containing aluminium such as aluminium alloys (hereinafter also referred to as "aluminium-based metal"), corrosion tends to occur, such as occurrence of pitting corrosion in the presence of chloride ions, and precipitation of aluminium hydroxide due to hardness components in water. Such corrosion phenomena occur noticeably, especially in acidic conditions, in an accelerated manner.
In order to suppress corrosion of metals such as aluminium-based metals, corrosion suppressors have been used. For example, as corrosion suppressors, compositions containing chromates and molybdates are known. Such chromates and molybdates are used as rust preventatives in chemical sterilizing agents that disinfect or sterilize medical appliances that include metal portions, such as an endoscope in the medical field (see Patent Literature 1). However, such compositions are under control of the pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR) system, and are therefore impractical.
It is known that acid salts such as phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, molybdates, tungstates, borates, silicates, sulfates, sulfites and carboxylates, as well as chromates and molybdates, as well as; amine salts; and triazoles are effective as rust preventatives for metals (see Patent Literature 2). The carboxylates described in Patent Literature 2 are aliphatic-monocarboxylic-acid salts, for which the number of carbon atoms is 6 to 12; aliphatic-dicarboxylic-acid salts, for which the number of carbon atoms is 6 to 12; and aromatic-carboxylic-acid salts (paragraph [0016] of Patent Literature 2). Further, Patent Literature 3 describes that, among the above acid salts, nitrites and molybdates are used in combination for suppressing metal corrosiveness of acidic oxidants such as percarboxylic acids.
It is known that, among the various kinds of acid salts disclosed in Patent Literature 2, phosphates are rust preventatives having excellent corrosion-suppressing effects on aluminium-based metals. It is also known that a combined use of a phosphate and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of strontium compounds, magnesium compounds, and calcium compounds realizes an excellent corrosion-suppressing characteristic for aluminium-based metals at high temperatures, and a synergistic improvement of the cavitation damage-suppressing effect (Patent Literature 4).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Acidic oxidant-containing composition having aluminum corrosion-suppressing effect and use thereof


In a radiographic image processing apparatus for generating synthesized image data by synthesizing a plurality of partial radiographic images generated by radiation that has passed through the same object, additional information added to each of the plurality of partial radiographic images is acquired. On the basis of the acquired additional information, it is determined whether synthesis is to be permitted. When it is determined that synthesis is not to be permitted, generation of the synthesized image data is inhibited.

Conventionally, so-called diagnostic radiography is widely used to obtain internal information of patients, in which an image is acquired by using radiation (X-rays), and diagnosis is done. In conventional radiography, a film is set in a cassette together with a pair of intensifying screens (screen). Radiography is executed by using radiation, and the film is developed to obtain a radiographic image. Films used for this have standard sizes. Generally, so-called 14″×17″ films are maximum and are popularly used.
For whole lower extremity radiography or whole spine radiography aiming at measuring a bone, a 14″×17″ film is too small. Instead, a so-called long cassette is used, and radiography is executed by using a long film. However, a long film is difficult to process in development and the like. Alternatively, a plurality of 14″×17″ films partially overlapping each other are set in a long cassette, and radiography is executed. In this case, after radiography, the films are developed one by one, and then, the plurality of films are bonded by tapes or the like to generate a whole image.
In recent years, apparatuses capable of acquiring a radiographic image directly as a digital image have been developed. In such an apparatus, a detector prepared by fixing stimulable phosphor to a sheet-shaped base plate by application or deposition is irradiated with radiation that has passed through an object so that the stimulable phosphor absorbs the radiation. When the stimulable phosphor is then excited by light or thermal energy, it radiates radiation energy accumulated in absorption as fluorescence. This fluorescence is photoelectrically converted to obtain an image signal.
When the above-described full spine radiography is to be executed by using this apparatus, radiography is executed by using a plurality of stimulable phosphor detectors partially overlapping each other. Then, the plurality of partial radiographic image data are synthesized to generate a whole image.
In, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-232976, collateral information is attached to each partial radiographic image to indicate that the image is a part of a continuous radiographic image. By using the collateral information, synthesized image data is obtained from the partial radiographic images.
In the step of generating synthesized image data from a plurality of partial radiographic images, the plurality of partial radiographic images to be synthesized are designated. If wrong partial radiographic images are selected at this time, no correct synthesized image data can be obtained.
For example, a partial radiographic image of a wrong patient may be selected, or a partial radiographic image obtained in the past may be selected even though the patient is correct. In such a case, no correct synthesized image data can be obtained. In addition, wrong synthesized image data may lead to a wrong diagnosis.

Radiographic image processing apparatus, radiographic image processing method, computer program, and recording medium therefor


A box packing device includes a first arm, a first hand, and a controller. The first hand includes a hand base, a gripping mechanism at the hand base and including a gripper to grip an upper-end of a flap of a large box, and a holding mechanism at the hand base and including a holder to hold an inner box. The controller controls the operation of the first arm and the first hand so as to perform a developing operation in which the gripping part of the gripping mechanism moves in a horizontal plane so as to develop the large box while gripping the upper-end part of the flap part of the large box in a folded state, and an accommodating operation in which the holder of the holding mechanism accommodates the inner box into the developed large box while holding the inner box.

A manufacturing line for products may include processes to accommodate a given number of products (objects to be packed) in an inner box, and then, place a plurality of inner boxes into a larger box so as to pack the products. In the existing manufacturing line, in many cases, such processes are performed by workers developing and assembling the large boxes which are in a folded state, and then, placing into the developed large boxes.


It is to provide a surface emitting semiconductor laser device having a long life time and uniform light output characteristics.. A periphery of an upper surface and a side surface of a mesa structure is covered with a silicon oxide nitride film 34 as an inorganic insulating film, the mesa structure comprising a lower DBR 16 of a first conductive type formed on a first primary surface of an n-type GaAs substrate 12, having formed thereon an active region 24, an upper DBR 26 containing an AlAs layer 32 as the lowermost layer, and a p-type GaAs contact layer 28.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface emitting semiconductor laser device and a process for producing the same, and, particularly, relates to a so-called selective oxidation type surface emitting semiconductor laser device and a process for producing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A highly densified semiconductor laser array is demanded as a light source of light communication and an optical computer. In a semiconductor laser array, plural semiconductor laser devices are arranged at certain intervals, and the laser devices are controlled independently. A edge emitting semiconductor laser device is not suitable as a semiconductor laser array because it can only be one-dimensionally arranged on one substrate. On the other hand, a surface emitting semiconductor laser device is promising because it can be two-dimensionally arranged on one substrate to have an advantage in production of a matrix array of high precision and high density.
A vertical cavity surface emitting semiconductor laser device, as one of the surface emitting semiconductor laser device, comprises an active region comprising an active layer and a spacer layer, and a pair of distributed Bragg reflectors (DBR) sandwiching the active region, in which an oscillator is constituted by the DBR, which emits light in a normal direction with respect to the substrate. The surface emitting semiconductor laser device is characterized in that the emission angle is small, the longitudinal mode interval is large, and an array can be easily formed, in comparison with the facet radiation semiconductor laser device.
An example of the vertical resonance surface emitting semiconductor laser device is a so-called selective oxidation surface emitting semiconductor laser device, which is obtained by inserting Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As (0.98.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1) in the vicinity of the active region, and oxidizing the outer periphery of the inserted Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As with steam to realize electric current confinement. One example thereof disclosed in Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 65, No. 1, p. 97-99 (1994) has the structure shown in FIG. 4, in which a triple quantum well active layer comprising In.sub.0.2 Ga.sub.0.8 As is sandwiched by a DBR comprising GaAs/AlAs, provided that the p-type DBR comprises only a pair of GaAs/AlAs, and the GaAs layer is attached as the upper layer. In the production of the selective oxidation surface emitting semiconductor laser device, the p-type GaAs is first worked into a circular shape having a diameter of 30 or 60 .mu.m by using a photolithography process and a wet etching process. The exposed p-type AlAs layer is then subjected to a heat treatment in a furnace heated to 475.degree. C. for about 3 minutes. On the heat treatment, steam is obtained by bubbling nitrogen, as a carrier gas, in deionized water maintained at 95.degree. C., has already been introduced in the furnace. The exposed AlAs layer is gradually oxidized in the horizontal direction, and finally a region of from 2 to 8 .mu.m square is formed that remains not oxidized. The oxidized region becomes aluminum oxide, which substantially does not let an electric current pass, to realize electric current confinement, and a refractive index distribution is formed between the aluminum oxide thus formed and the AlAs remaining to lower the threshold electric current.
One example thereof disclosed in SPIE, vol. 2683, p. 114-122 (1996) has the structure shown in FIG. 5, in which a triple quantum well active region comprising InGaAs is sandwiched by a pair of semiconductor DBRs. Layers of Al.sub.0.98 Ga.sub.0.02 As are inserted on and below the active region, and, after forming a mesa structure by etching until both the Al.sub.0.98 Ga.sub.0.02 As layers are exposed, the Al.sub.0.98 Ga.sub.0.02 As layers are then oxidized by using steam. The literature describes that a life time of 2,500 hours or more could be obtained by inserting the Al.sub.0.98 Ga.sub.0.02 As layers in the vicinity of the active region.
However, in the case where Al.sub.0.98 Ga.sub.0.02 As having a high Al concentration is oxidized with steam by using nitrogen as a carrier gas, a slight fluctuation of the Ga concentration influences the oxidation rate as shown in Electronics Lett., vol. 30, No. 24, p. 2043-2044 (1994). For example, the oxidation rate of AlAs is five times that of Al.sub.0.98 Ga.sub.0.02 As. Because the size of the electric current confinement region obtained by oxidizing a part of the Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As largely influences the threshold electric current and the horizontal mode stability of the surface emitting semiconductor laser device, the control of the oxidation rate, i.e., the control of the composition of the Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As, is important in production of a device having uniform optical output characteristics with good reproducibility. However, techniques required in the composition control of the Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As, for example, the flow rate control, is of a more advanced nature than that in the DBR and the active region.
In the case where AlAs (x=1) is used, the composition control becomes easier than the case of Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As (x.noteq.1), and the uniformity and the reproducibility of the device are increased. However, as described in Appl, Phys. Lett., vol. 69, No. 10, p. 1385-1387 (1996), there is a tendency that the mesa structure is dropped off after sudden temperature rise after oxidation (which is considered to correspond to a heat treatment to form an ohmic contact of the upper electrode), and the life time of the surface emitting semiconductor laser device is as short as 100 hours or less.

Surface emitting semiconductor laser device and process for producing the same