In order to prevent an image quality from being lowered by shading and or the like, an image pickup apparatus is provided which includes an image pickup area including a plurality of photoelectric conversion areas, a plurality of converging lenses for converging light on a plurality of photoelectric conversion areas, and a light shielding area having a plurality of opening areas through which light is incident upon the plurality of photoelectric conversion areas, wherein positions of the converging lens and opening area are shifted inward than a corresponding photoelectric conversion area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus with a plurality of pixels for converting converged light into electric signals.
2. Related Background Art
A conventional solid-state image pickup device has photoelectric conversion elements such as photodiodes for converting received light into electric signals and microlenses for converging light on photoelectric conversion elements, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 05-040201.
A microlens is provided for preventing the sensitivity of a photodiode from being lowered by the amount of light reduced because of a smaller size of a recent ultra fine pixel.
FIG. 1A is a plan view of a conventional solid-state image pickup device. FIG. 1B is a cross sectional view of each pixel of the solid-state image pickup device shown in FIG. 1A. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, reference numeral 1 represents a pixel having a photodiode 5 formed in the surface layer of a silicon substrate (Si substrate) 7. Reference numeral 2 represents a light shielding layer for shielding the area of the pixel 2 excepting the photodiode 5. Reference numeral 3 represents an opening area through which light is incident upon the photodiode 5. Reference numeral 4 represents a microlens for converging light on the photodiode 5. Reference numeral 6 represents a color filter layer of red, green, blue or the like.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the conventional solid-state image pickup device has a plurality of pixels disposed in a predetermined pattern. As shown in FIG. 1B, opening areas 3 and microlenses 4 are formed at the same pitch as that of light reception areas of the photodiodes 5 of pixels 1. The optical axis of light converged by the microlens 4 is coincident with the center of gravity of the opening area 3. Light passed through the microlens 4 is therefore converged on generally the center of the light reception area of the photodiode 5.
Since the position of the microlens 4 is set to the position corresponding to that of the photodiode 5 of each pixel 1, it is possible to prevent the sensitivity of the photodiode 5 from being lowered by the opening area 3 reduced by a smaller size of a ultra fine pixel 1, because light is converged by the microlens 4.
With the conventional techniques, however, a portion of light converged by the microlens may not reach the photodiode, depending upon the position of a pixel of the solid-state image pickup device. A Variation of light reception sensitivities of solid-state image pickup devices may occur in some cases.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating the reason of such a variation. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, reference numeral 10 represents an object to be taken with a solid-state image pickup device, and reference numeral 11 represents an image pickup lens for focusing light from the object 10 upon the solid-state image pickup device. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, like elements to those shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are represented by using identical reference numerals.
In FIGS. 2A and 2B, (ii) represents a pixel disposed near to the center of the solid-state image pickup device, and (i) and (iii) represent pixels disposed in the peripheral area of the solid-state image pickup device.
As shown in FIG. 2A, light from-the object 10 passes through the image pickup lens 11 and is focused upon the solid-state image pickup device. Light from the object 10 applied to the pixel (ii) in FIG. 2B passes through the microlens 4 and becomes incident upon the photodiode 5.
Alter light from the object 10 applied to the pixels (i) and (iii) shown in FIG. 2B passes through the microlens 4, a portion of the light is intercepted by the light shielding area of the light shielding layer 2 and does not enter the photodiode 5. It is therefore impossible to eliminate a variation in light reception sensitivities of photodiodes near to and away from the optical axis of the image pickup lens.
FIG. 3 is a graph showing output signals from the solid-state image pickup device shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. As shown in FIG. 3, a difference between the maximum and minimum values of output signals is 10% or larger of an average value of the output signals of the conventional solid-state image pickup device.
Assuming that the average of output signals of a conventional solid-state image pickup device is 100 mV, the maximum output signal is 105 mV or higher and the minimum output signal is 95 mV or lower. Generally, if a difference between the maximum and minimum values of output signals of a solid-state image pickup device is 10% or smaller than that of the average value, it is considered that this difference will not adversely affect the quality of a reproduced image.

Image pickup apparatus having its peripheral conversion elements shifted outwardly as compared to converging lenses


An injector used for an internal combustion engine includes a valve needle which closes a fuel passage by contacting a valve seat and opens the fuel passage by separating from the valve seat. A coil and a magnetic core are provided to drive the valve needle, and an anchor is held in a relatively displaceable state with respect to the valve needle. A first biasing device biases the valve needle in a direction opposite to a direction of a drive force, and a second biasing device biases the anchor in the direction of the drive force with a set load smaller than that of the first biasing device. A restricting feature restricts relative displacement of the anchor with respect to the valve needle in the direction of the drive force.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electro-magneto fuel injector used for an internal combustion engine, which injector generates magnetic flux in a magnetic circuit including an anchor and a core by passing an electric current through a coil to cause a magnetic attraction force for attracting the anchor to the core side, thereby opening and closing a valve needle.
2. Description of Related Art
JP-A-2003-21014 discloses a fuel injector in which an anchor and a valve needle are fixed by using a buffer material to cushion impact which occurs when a stopper surface and the anchor collide with each other. In this fuel injector, the anchor and the valve needle are connected by frictional connection.
JP-A-2005-195015 discloses a fuel injector in which an anchor and a valve needle are connected by frictional connection and by shape connection, and an auxiliary process spring is used between the anchor and the valve needle to prevent an improper opening (valve opening) operation.


A sander can include a housing, an indicator coupled to the housing, and a motor assembly in the housing. The motor assembly can include an output member. A platen can be driven by the output member. A DC generator can be driven by the output member. The DC generator can generate an output signal with a voltage that is related to a rotational speed of the motor. A controller can operate the visual indicator based on the voltage of the output signal. According to additional features, the DC generator can provide electrical power to operate the indicator. An electric power input can be electrically coupled to the motor. The visual indicator can be electrically isolated from the electric power input.

Power sanders are used in a wide variety of applications such as woodworking. One factor important to achieving satisfactory results is providing a proper amount of pressing force onto the workpiece during sanding. For example, a user should ensure that they do not bias the sanding paper too heavily in one area as opposed to others to avoid a displeasing finish and/or surface irregularities. In addition, it is desirable to achieve optimum performance from the sander to complete a given job more efficiently. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for providing a sander having user feedback indicative of an amount of user bias being applied to a workpiece.


Disclosed herein is a method and system for grinding fragmentary starting material, in particular ores, with a dry grinding system. An embodiment of the method includes the steps of determining the moisture of starting material for a certain period of time, preparing at least one screening stage, the cut point of which is selected depending on the determined moisture in such a manner that the moisture of a screen oversize does not exceed a predetermined moisture limit value when starting material having the determined moisture is fed to the screening stage, feeding starting material to the screening stage, transferring a screen oversize arising in the screening stage to the dry grinding system, and grinding the screen oversize in the dry grinding system.

In order to grind ores to finished product fineness (P80=30 to 300 μm), use is made nowadays generally of ball mills or sometimes of attritors. Said mills are preferably operated as wet grinding mills. It is furthermore known that dry grinding methods, in particular in roller mills and roll presses, are considerably more efficient with regard to wear and energy consumption than in particular conventional wet grinding mills. Said two technologies (roller mill and roll press) have hitherto frequently been considered to be uneconomical for final grinding in mineral applications since it is assumed that the ore is frequently present with more than 2 to 5% moisture and then has to be dried for efficient grinding and sizing in a roller mill or roll press. However, in the case of moist feed materials, required thermal drying of the feed material is associated with high costs which would again negate the operating cost advantages afforded by the lower wear and the reduced electrical energy if drying were not required in any case for the subsequent process. Drying is economically inexpedient in particular if the ground material has to be further processed in the subsequent process in wet form.

Method and system for grinding fragmentary starting material


A powered handpiece for driving a surgical blade to cut anatomical tissue includes a reusable handpiece body having a distal end for being coupled with a surgical blade, a drive shaft in the handpiece body for rotatably driving the surgical blade, a motor assembly for being installed in the handpiece body to rotatably drive the drive shaft and a suction channel in the handpiece body including a portion extending through the drive shaft parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor assembly for evacuating anatomical tissue cut by the blade from the handpiece body for external collection. The surgical blade is for use with the powered handpiece and carries a sealing arrangement facilitating irrigation and suction. The handpiece body is capable of being sterilized to medical standards prior to each use. The motor assembly, which is non-sterile, is removable from the handpiece body prior to sterilization of the handpiece body and is reinstallable in the handpiece body subsequent to sterilization of the handpiece body without contaminating the sterilized handpiece body. An installation device includes a reusable funnel for being disposed over the handpiece body and through which the motor assembly is inserted for installation in the handpiece body. An electric cord assembly for being coupled between the handpiece and a power console includes a plug for being plugged into the motor assembly after the motor assembly has been installed in the handpiece body and a locking ring on the plug for selectively, releasably, lockingly engaging the handpiece body to secure the motor assembly in the handpiece body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to powered handpieces for driving surgical blades and, more particularly, to electric motor driven, powered handpieces, surgical blade assemblies for use with such handpieces, powered handpiece systems utilizing non-sterile electric motors and methods for supplying powered handpieces for use in surgery.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Powered handpieces are commonly used in many medical specialities to drive surgical blades for performing various diverse cutting functions including resection, comminution, dissection, debridement, shaving, drilling, pulverizing and shaping of anatomical tissue. In the areas of ENT/Head/Neck surgery, powered or motorized handpieces and systems have been proposed as illustrated by the Stryker Hummer system of Stryker Endoscopy, San Diego, Calif., the Apex System of Linvatec, Incorporated, Largo, Fla., the PS 3500 and EP-1 Surgical Drive System of Dyonics, Inc. of Andover, Mass. and the Wizard microdebrider system of Xomed, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla. Conventional powered handpieces are typically all metal and reusable in design with permanently installed motors. Such handpieces are typically decontaminated and sterilized for reuse by steam autoclave and/or soaking in a disinfectant solution resulting in reduced reliability and/or life of the motors due to the heating and cooling cycles and/or due to moisture seepage. A further disadvantage of conventional powered handpieces is that the motor of a handpiece cannot be replaced prior to surgery with a different speed motor in accordance with the procedure to be performed.
Conventional powered handpieces generally use suction to evacuate anatomical tissue cut or excised by the blades. Powered handpieces currently in use generally force the excised anatomical tissue to follow a suction path with major or substantial bends or angles. Accordingly, there is a tendency for the excised tissue to become clogged in the handpieces thusly impairing operation of the handpieces and compromising the surgical procedure.
Another drawback of some conventional powered handpieces is that the handpieces can only be operated by a power console specifically designed for the handpieces and not by a power consoles designed for other manufacturer's handpieces. Such handpieces therefore require a major investment in capital equipment for the associated power console.

Powered handpiece and surgical blades and methods thereof


The marine hull has a forebody, a transom, and a bottom extending therebetween having pairs of upwardly formed channels between the forebody and the transom. The channels of each pair diverge rearwardly. Fluid flow exit paths interrupt the channel walls so that fluid from some of the channels can flow laterally outwardly, and the rear ends of at least some of the channels open at a peripheral edge of the bottom whereby water in these channels is free to discharge in both a rearward and laterally outward direction.

The most commonly used planing hulls for marine purposes have substantially constant dead rises aft of about station 4 or 5, in order to reduce the suction load which can occur with a "hooked" style of hull bottom. With a constant dead rise however the loading between the surface of the hull bottom and the water is usually positive for most of the length of the hull (that is, there is a kinetic energy imparted to the water due to deflection of the particles of water encountered by the hull bottom surface, having a downward component of movement). The trim angle is therefore critical. The pressure pattern however is much higher towards the forebody end of the hull than it is towards the aft end, and consequently most of the dynamic forces which are of use to the hull in ocean-going conditions occur over a relatively short length of the hull, probably not more than 15%. When the dynamic forces are relied upon (as in the usual case), the loading on the "low" side of the hull when deflected by a wave extends over a wider area and the loading on the " high" side extends over a lesser area, thereby establishing a righting force, but over a short length of hull only. It is believed this is one of the limiting features of the standard constant dead rise type of planing hull. If however the loading is more evenly spread over the whole area of the hull, the difference is very much greater and there is a superior righting force.
In my U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,085 entitled "Marine Hull" there is described and claimed a marine hull wherein the shape of the bottom included channels which diverge in a rearward direction, each channel having a surface of such shape that it intercepts and deflects water when the hull is mobile, causing the water so intercepted and deflected to move upwardly and rearwardly with respect to the hull, and then be deflected downwardly by the concave surfaces of the channels and thereby imparting a vertical component of lift well aft of the normal maximum loading area. The rearmost pair of channels defined a "V" shape in plan. Experiments with seagoing craft have proved that the theories appear to be correct, and that a hull with such channels is much more stable and soft riding under rough conditions than a conventional constant dead rise mono-hull type of craft.
With most hulls known to the applicant, there is a serious tendency to pound (hydraulically bottom) as the hull leaves one wave and impacts against the next. Although this pounding effect is worst with hulls having laterally diverging bottom surfaces which are concave, it is nevertheless a serious disability with hulls having straight deadline shapes (in section) and even with those having convex deadline shapes. Even if the forebody is provided with a large dead rise angle, the pounding can still occur rearwardly of the normal area of maximum loading.
Craft made in accordance with the said Patent Application have proved that pounding is largely reduced but nevertheless there still remains a generally unresolved problem with planing hulls, and it is an object of this invention to provide further improvements whereby the tendency to pound can be substantially reduced, even further than with the hull design identified in the specification of said U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,085.


Toughened, plasticized poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid) polymer compositions comprising poly(trimethylene ether) glycol and ethylene ester copolymers are provided.

Poly(hydroxyalkanoic acids), also known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), have gained great attention in the plastics industry because they can be produced from renewable monomers and are biodegradable. Because of these factors, these polymers have been proposed for use in a broad range of applications. Poly(hydroxyalkanoic acids) include polylactide resins (also known as polylactic acid or PLA), which are now available commercially. These resins can be produced from annually renewable resources such as corn, rice or other sugar- or starch-producing plants. In addition, PLA resins are compostable. For these reasons there is significant interest in substituting PLA into applications in which oil-based thermoplastic materials have conventionally been used.
However, physical limitations such as brittleness and slow crystallization may limit the applications of PHA resins. These limitations may prevent easy conversion of PHA into articles that have an acceptable degree of flexibility and toughness for many applications. Extruded amorphous sheeting may also be too brittle for handling in continuous moving equipment without breakage. Manufacturers and customers that use PHA to make a variety of articles are interested in improved processability and cycle times for articles made from this material.
Numerous impact modifiers have been developed in the past to improve the toughness of poly(hydroxyalkanoic acids). For example, Japanese Patent 9316310 discloses a poly(lactic acid) resin composition comprising a modified olefin compound as an impact modifier. US Patent Application Publication 2006/0173133 discloses a toughened poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid) composition wherein an ethylene ester copolymer (e.g., a terpolymer having copolymerized units of ethylene, butyl acrylate and glycidyl methacrylate (EBAGMA)) is used as an impact modifier.
Plasticizers are substances which, when added to another material, make that material softer and more flexible. Generally, this means that there is an increase in flexibility and workability, brought about by a decrease in the glass-transition temperature, Tg, of the composition.
Common plasticizers include phthalates such as diisobutyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and benzylbutyl phthalate; adipates, including di-2-ethylhexyl adipate; trimellitates, including tris-2-ethylhexyl trimellitate; and phosphates, including tri-e-ethylhexyl phosphate. However, the use of some of these plasticizers has been curtailed due to potential toxicity issues. Polyester plasticizers have also been used, generally based on condensation products of propanediol or butanediol with adipic acid or phthalic anhydride, and therefore may exhibit very high viscosities which subsequently cause processing problems in blending with other polymers. Plasticizers are disclosed, for example, in D. F. Cadogan and C. J. Howick in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, Dec. 4, 2000, DOI: 10.1002/0471238961.1612011903010415.a01 and in the Handbook of Plasticizers; Edited by: Wypych, George; 2004 ChemTec Publishing; Chapter 11.
There is a desire to provide biodegradable plasticizers or plasticizers from renewable source, for natural polymers having improved or equivalent material properties to those provided by traditional, non-renewably sourced materials.
US Patent Application Publication 2009/0131566 discloses compositions comprising a PHA such as poly(lactic acid) modified with plasticizer and optionally a nucleator, an impact modifier, or both.
It is known in the art that each plasticizer has different behavior and the same plasticizer may behave differently with different polymers. Thus the type and concentration of plasticizer can be selected to improve the performance of a specific polymer. For example the behavior of polytrimethylene ether glycol when added to poly(lactic acid) polymer is different from the behavior of polyethylene glycol when added to PLA. Such differences are disclosed, for example, in Polymer Engineering and Science, 39, 1303, 1999.

Poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid) plasticized with poly(trimethylene ether) glycol


Disclosed is an electricity storage device including a first electrode (a positive electrode (20)), a second electrode (a negative electrode (21)), and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The first electrode contains, as an active material, an organic compound having a quinone skeleton. The second electrode has a polarity opposite to that of the first electrode. The non-aqueous electrolyte solution contains a lithium salt and a solvent represented by the following formula (1):R—O(CH2CH2O)n—R′  (1)where R and R′ are each independently a saturated hydrocarbon having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and n is an integer of 2 to 6.

With recent advances in electronic technology, portable electronic devices, such as cellular phones, portable personal computers, personal data assistances (PDAs) and portable game consoles, have been spread rapidly. Accordingly, there has been an increasing demand for electricity storage devices, such as secondary batteries, as power supplies for portable electronic devices. Among them, lithium ion secondary batteries are widely used as power supplies for portable electronic devices due to their high electromotive force and high energy density and relatively high adaptability to miniaturization.
In order to increase the versatility of portable electronic devices, they are required to provide higher performance. For example, they are required to be more lightweight, more compact, and more multifunctional. Batteries used as power supplies for such portable electronic devices are required to have higher energy densities, for example. An effective approach to increase the energy density of a battery is to use an electrode active material having a high energy density. Therefore, active research and development of novel materials having higher energy densities have been conducted for both positive and negative electrode active materials.
For example, the use of an organic compound capable of reversible redox reactions as an electrode active material has been studied. Organic compounds have specific gravities of about 1 g/cm3 and are lighter in weight than inorganic oxides, such as lithium cobalt oxide, which have been conventionally used as electrode active materials. Therefore, the use of an organic compound as an electrode active material makes it possible to obtain an electricity storage device having a high weight energy density. The use of an organic compound free of heavy metals as an electrode active material also makes it possible to reduce risks of exhaustion of rare metal resources, fluctuations in the prices of such resources, environmental pollution by leakage of heavy metals, etc.
As a specific example of the use of such an organic compound, it has been proposed to use 9,10-phenanthrenequinone as a positive electrode active material and lithium ions as counter ions in a coin-type secondary battery containing a non-aqueous electrolyte solution (see Patent Literature 1). In the battery of Patent Literature 1, the positive electrode contains 9,10-phenanthrenequinone and a conductive agent such as carbon. The counter electrode to the positive electrode is made of metallic lithium. The electrolyte is made of a propylene carbonate solution in which lithium perchlorate is dissolved at a concentration of 1 mol/L.
However, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone is readily soluble in an electrolyte (liquid electrolyte). The solubility of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone greatly depends on the components and amount of the electrolyte and the configuration of the battery. Patent Literature 1 does not describe the dissolution of the positive electrode active material in the electrolyte. However, in view of the fact that the discharge capacity decreases as the number of charge-discharge cycles increases, it is considered that the dissolution of the positive electrode active material into the electrolyte is not sufficiently inhibited. For the practical use of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone as an electrode active material, it is essential to inhibit the dissolution thereof into the electrolyte.
For the purpose of inhibiting the dissolution of a phenanthrenequinone compound into an electrolyte, it has been proposed to use, as an electrode active material, a polymer compound having a phenanthrenequinone skeleton in the main chain (see Patent Literatures 2 and 3). Patent Literature 2 discloses a polymer compound obtained by polymerization of 9,10-phenanthrenequinones at their 2- and 7-positions. Patent Literature 3 discloses a polymer compound in which aromatic compounds such as a phenyl group and a thiophene group as linkers are bonded to the 2- and 7-positions or the 3- and 6 positions of 9,10-phenanthrenequinones. The use of the polymer compounds disclosed in Patent Literatures 2 and 3 as electrode active materials could help inhibit the dissolution of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone into an electrolyte without impairing the electrochemical properties of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO, LTD.


The present invention relates to a combining detection circuit for a flat panel display, which applies a combination circuit to detect the layout of a liquid crystal display thin film transistor array (LCD TFT array) manufacturing process. This method uses a plurality of switches and connection wires for directing in a short-ring layout and a shorting-bar layout so that when designing the layout, the panel manufacturer will not be limited to the detection facility. Therefore, the detection for any layout facility can be amply applied and the switches are used for freely switching the various detection methods so as to increase the yield and decrease the cost.

This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on patent application Nos. 092123496 filed in TAIWAN on Aug. 26, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a combination circuit for detecting the layout in a flat panel with thin film transistor processed during array manufacturing process. This method conducts in a prior art short-ring layout and shorting-bar layout so that the designing of the panel layout will not limited to the detection facility so as to promote the yield and reduce the cost.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Presently, after the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is manufactured, a detection process is required to detect whether the operation of each of the thin film transistors in the display panel for controlling the pixel display is correct or not. The detection circuit layout surrounding the panel has to meet the form of the detection facility. The commonly applied detection circuit layout comprises the short-ring layout and the shorting-bar layout.
Because the layouts for the two facilities are different, the masks for the manufacturing processes are different so as to make it difficult to meet the yield of the array manufacturing process. Usually, because the types of the layouts designed by the panel manufacturers are different, such as the different sizes, resolutions, different array detection facilities have to be switched. This makes the panel design troublesome and increases the cost for buying the detection facility in order to meet different types of the layouts. The following is the detailed description for the two types of layouts.
Please refer to FIG. 1A. FIG. 1A is a perspective diagram of a circuit of a prior art with short-ring layout. The figure shows a display device with array layout for a liquid crystal display panel. The panel is formed by pulling a plurality of scan lines 13 and data lines 14 from a gate driver G and a data driver D to be interlaced and vertical to each other. The thin film transistors 11 for controlling the pixel display are positioned on the interlaced portions of the scan lines 13 and the data lines 14. The scan lines 13 processes storage capacitances 12 which is constructed with CS ON GATE manner. The pixel display is controlled by the charging/discharging of the storage capacitances 12. In order to detect the correctness of the devices connected to the thin film transistors 11 and the surrounding layout, the plurality of scan lines 13 and the data lines 14 are connected to the external detection facility. As shown in the figure, the plurality of scan lines 13 are connected to a plurality of gate end contact pads 15a, and the plurality of data lines 14 are connected to a plurality of data end contacting polar plates 15b. The plurality of contact pads 15a, 15b are IC signal inputting points for being the positions to be in touch with the probe of the detection facility so as to detect whether each of the display device is fine. The plurality of gate end contact pads 15a and the data end contact pads 15b are connected to the shorting-ring 17 via a plurality of resistances 16. The detected data Of each display devices from probe is contacted so as to determine the yield. After accomplishing the detection for the panel, the next manufacturing process is performed. By cutting along the direction of the panel cutting line 18, the next step of the manufacturing process is continued.
As shown in FIG. 1B, which is a perspective diagram of a partial circuit of the prior art with short-ring layout, the scan lines 13 or the data lines 14 are connected to a plurality of contact pads 15a, 15b. The probe 19 of the detection facility is in touch with the contact pads 15a, 15b. By using the resistances 16, the larger static electricity is spread to each of the scan lines 13 or the data lines 14 so as to prevent the panel pixel from being damaged by the static electricity.
Please refer to FIG. 2A. FIG. 2A is a perspective diagram of a circuit of a prior art with shorting-bar layout. As FIG. 1A, FIG. 2A shows a display device array layout for a liquid crystal display panel. The panel is formed by pulling out a plurality of scan lines 13 and the data lines 14 from the gate driver G and the data driver D to be vertically interlaced. The thin film transistors 11 for controlling the pixel display are positioned on the interlaced portions. The pixel display is controlled by the charging/discharging of the storage capacitances 12. The detection method for the shorting-bar layout does not apply the probe detection. In order to detect the correctness of the devices connected to thin film transistors 11 and the surrounding layout, the plurality of scan lines 13 and the data lines 14 separately have the circuits to be connected to the external detection facility. As show in the figure, the plurality of scan lines 13 are connected to the plurality of gate end contact pads 15a, and the plurality of data lines 14 are connected to the plurality of data end contact pads 15b. The plurality of polar plates 15a, 15b are separately connected to a plurality of short-ring of the external substrate circuit. The neighboring two contact pads are separately connected to the different short-ring.
As shown in the figure, the gate end contact pads 15a are the plurality of contact pads connected to the scan lines 13 of the gate driver G in the panel. The neighboring two contact pads are separately connected to the odd gate line 23 and the even gate line 24. The terminals are separately connected to the odd gate end G1 and the even gate end G2. Similarly, the data lines 14 are connected to the plurality of data end contact pads 15b. The neighboring contact pads are separately connected to the odd data line 21 and the even data line 22. The terminals of the conducting wires are connected to the odd data end D1 and the even data end D2. The circuit of this shorting-bar layout applies the odd data end D1, the even data end D2, the odd gate end G1 and the even gate end G2 for inputting the signals to the pixels so as to detect whether the display device inside the panel is operated well. After the detection for the panel is accomplished, by cutting along the direction of the panel division line 18, the next step of the manufacturing process is continuously performed.
Please refer to FIG. 2B. FIG. 2B is a perspective diagram of a partial circuit of the prior art shorting-bar layout. FIG. 2B is a partial circuit of the gate driver G in FIG. 2A. The plurality of scan lines 13 are connected to the plurality of gate end contact pads 15a. The neighboring two contact pads form odd/even contact pads distributions to be separately connected to the odd gate line 23 and the even gate line 24. The odd gate end G1 and the even gate end G2 are positioned on the terminals to be separately connected to the detection signals transmitted by the odd end contact pads and the even end contact pads. When practically carrying out, it is not limited to separate the circuit into two banks. In order to increase the efficiency of the detection, the circuit can be separated into a plurality of banks. Therefore, a plurality of conducting wires are positioned for transmitting a plurality of banks of contact pads signals to the terminals for detection.
The two mentioned prior art detection methods are different, and therefore, the layout design for the panel will be different because of the usage of the different detection methods, and the layout will be limited. In addition, because of the different layouts, the different masks have to be switched and bought so as to increase the cost. Therefore, the present invention combines the two detection circuits, and therefore, the prior art with short-ring layout and the shorting-bar layout can be conducted into the manufacturing process so that the designing of the panel layout will not be limited to the detection facility. Besides, the advantages and the disadvantages of the different detection methods can be compared so that the suggestions can be provided to the facility manufacturer for improvement. Therefore, the yield can be increased and the cost can be reduced.

Combining detection circuit for a display panel


An improved biodiesel production process includes the steps of processing a feedstock to produce biodiesel, cooling the biodiesel so as to form sediment, and filtering the biodiesel to remove the sediment. The resulting biodiesel from the cold filtration process avoids problems of sediment formation during storage and transportation.

There is significant interest in alternative fuels which are non-petroleum based for many reasons, including environmental, economic, political, and other reasons. Biodiesel fuel is one alternative based upon renewable resources. Biodiesel is a mono-alkyl ester of long chain fatty acids, such as methyl ester derived from fats and oils, and provides lower emissions as compared to petroleum-based diesel fuel. The cetane number, energy content, viscosity, and phase changes of biodiesel are similar to petroleum diesel.
Biodiesel is derived from a transesterification chemical process wherein the triglyceride feedstock, such as fat or vegetable oil, is processed for conversion into methyl esters (biodiesel) and glycerin.
The American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) has developed standards for biodiesel fuels, with the most common being D-6751. ASTM standard D-6751 sets commercial quality specifications required for biodiesel fuel. The D-6751 standard requires water and sediment be less than 0.050%, by volume, as measured by ASTM standard D-2709. However, biodiesel which meets the D-6751 ASTM standard can still contain contaminants which tend to crystallize and/or form and drop out of solution as sediment. When such biodiesels are used at lower temperatures, the precipitates create problems by decreasing the fuel flow and by clogging fuel lines, filters, and other components of the engines burning the fuel.
Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a process for producing biodiesel which eliminates or minimizes the precipitation problems of this alternative fuel.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved biodiesel production process which utilizes cold filtration for removing impurities and contaminants from the biodiesel.
Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a method for improving the quality of biodiesel by removing particulates therefrom prior to storage or transportation.
Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a process for cooling and filtering biodiesel for the removal of formed sediments.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved biodiesel production process which removes non-methyl esters and sterol glycosides from the biodiesel.
Still another objective of the present invention is a method of producing biodiesel by cooling the biodiesel with one or more heat exchangers which can be quickly and easily cleaned.
These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.


An apparatus and method relocating a robot. The apparatus may include a particle generating unit, a first distance obtaining unit, a second distance obtaining unit, and a position estimating unit. A plurality of particles may be generated on a map, a first distance may be obtained according to respective distances between each particle of the plurality of particles and a wireless communication apparatus, based on a position of the wireless communication apparatus and respective positions of each particle on the map, a second distance may be obtained according to respective determined distances between the wireless communication apparatus and the robot, based on a strength measure of the electromagnetic signal received by the robot from the wireless communication apparatus or based on an arrival time or time of flight of the electromagnetic signal, and a position of the robot may be estimated by comparing the first distance and the second distance.

1. Field
One or more embodiments relate to a mobile device with a relocation technique capability, and method for the same, for estimating a position of the mobile device.
2. Description of the Related Art
The term "robot" has been generally applied to an autonomous figure having a human form which is equipped with a machine to operate body parts including mechanical limbs to perform functions in a humanlike manner. However, nowadays, even though the term of 'robot' can refer to a machine that may not resemble human beings in appearance, some robots may still be able to autonomously perform tasks.
For example, a mobile robot may be desirable for performing tasks in harsh environments or dangerous areas, replacing humans. In addition, a domestic mobile robot, such as a cleaning robot, which autonomously moves within a home is becoming increasingly common for helping housework.
In order for a mobile robot to autonomously perform a task while moving, it is desirable for the mobile robot to determine the location of the mobile robot. In a complex indoor environment, the mobile robot may build a map of a surrounding environment while estimating its position by use of various types of sensors. However, even when a map is available, there may be the occasion where the mobile robot slips, is moved to an unknown location, or the mobile robot is moved to a predetermined position where the robot loses information about its original position. Accordingly, there is a need for a relocation capability for mobile robots to reacquire or relocate their current positions.

Apparatus and method with mobile relocation


A side airbag device for a side collision is provided in which a first bag half body (20) on an occupant side and a second bag half body (21) on a door side are formed by sandwiching a third base fabric (19) between a first base fabric (17) on the occupant side and a second base fabric (18) on the door side, and gas supplied from an inflator (22) to the second bag half body (21) is supplied to the first bag half body (20) via a through hole (19a) formed in an end part of the third base fabric (19) that is on the side distant from the inflator (22), and therefore, after the second bag half body (21) is firstly deployed to ensure that there is the minimum necessary occupant restraint performance, the first airbag half body (20) is deployed, thereby sufficiently enhancing occupant restraint performance. When the second airbag half body (21) is deployed, due to the thickness thereof in the vehicle width direction being small, smooth deployment is possible without interfering with the occupant, and subsequently when deployment of the first airbag half body (20) is completed it is possible to protect the occupant effectively by ensuring that the thickness in the vehicle width direction of the entire airbag (16) is sufficient.

In a side airbag device for protecting an occupant from the impact of a side collision by deploying an airbag 11 in a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle body from a door inner face between the inner face and the occupant, an arrangement in which the airbag 11 is formed by stitching outer peripheral parts of a window side reinforcing fabric 14, an occupant side first cut fabric 15, and a second cut fabric 16 sandwiched therebetween, an airbag main body 12 is formed by the first cut fabric 15 and the second cut fabric 16, a space 19 is formed between the reinforcing fabric 14 and the second cut fabric 16, and the interior of the airbag main body 12 and the space 19 communicate via a vent hole 20 formed in a central part of the second cut fabric 16 is known from Patent Document 1 below.
In accordance with this side airbag device, when the airbag main body 12 is deployed by gas generated by an inflator 17, part of the gas passes through the vent hole 20 formed in the central part of the second cut fabric 16 and makes the space 19 expand, and it is thus possible to protect the airbag main body 12 even if broken window glass pieces scattered by the impact of a side collision damage the reinforcing fabric 14.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 10-76903


A one-way clutch of a fishing reel including an outer race; a plurality of rollers; and a retainer provided in the outer race for retaining the rollers inside of the outer race. The present invention is characterized in that an inner circumferential surface of the outer race is shaped as a polygon; free rotation spaces, in which the rollers are freely rotated, are defined on nook portions of the inner circumferential surface; and the other portions of the inner circumferential surface have rotation hindrance facets with which the rollers are put into contact so that the rollers are hindered from being rotated.

The present invention relates to a one-way clutch which allows a rotary member to be rotated in a direction but prevents the member from being rotated in another direction.
There is a conventional one-way clutch comprising an outer race 1", an inner race 10, a retainer 2", and a plurality of slender cylindrical rollers 3" housed in the retainer between the outer and the inner races, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The clutch allows a rotary member to be rotated in a direction but prevents the member from being rotated in another direction. The movement of the rollers 3" for a wedge effect at the time of the backward rotation of the clutch is small. The clutch can be easily fitted between the rotary member and a support member. The outer race 1" is made of a cement steel plate high enough in strength against the wedge effect between the outer race and the rollers 3" and is cylindrically shaped so that the outer race has an end portion extending in the radial direction of the race, a plurality of peripheral projections 1e each slenderly extending between both the ends of the race, recesses 1f formed inside the projections, inner sloped 1g formed inside the projections, and a through hole 1h formed inside the end portion so as to fit the inner race 10 in the hole. The outer race 1" is thereafter subjected to nitriding and anticorrosive processing. After the retainer 2" is put in the outer race 1", the race is bend at one end thereof to have another end portion 1i for keeping the retainer from coming out the outer race.
Since the outer race 1" has a relatively complicated form, there are problems that the race is expensive and it is difficult to keep the accuracy of the form of each of the recesses 1f and the slopes 1g high enough to stabilize the function of the clutch. The axial dimension of each of the rollers 3" is large, while the outside diameter of the roller is small. When the outside diameter of the inner race 10 is small and the one-way clutch is included in a device whose rotational frequency at the clutch is low, no trouble takes place. However, when the inner race 10 is large in outside diameter and small in axial dimension and the clutch is included in a device whose rotational frequency at the clutch is high, troubles (1), (2) and (3) take place as follows:
(1) If the axial dimension of each of the slender cylindrical rollers is decreased for weight reduction or other purpose without changing the outside diameter of the roller, the pressure on the surface of he roller is heightened to make it likely that the roller is pressed onto the inner or outer race and locked thereon due to a rotative impact, or local flawing, deformation, wear or the like is accelerated.
(2) If the number of the rollers, which roll in slipping pressure contact with the inner race, is large, the power for rotating the clutch needs to be high. If the number of the rollers is small, the transmissible torque of the clutch is lowered in proportion to the number.
(3) If the outer race of the clutch, whose inner race is usually rotated at a high speed for the rapid rotation of the device, is rotated at a high speed for that purpose, the rollers are separated from the inner race due to a centrifugal force so as to delay the action of the clutch.

One-way clutch for a fishing reel with an improved contact surface configuration


The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle seat which can improve degree of freedom in the design of the vehicle seat. A vehicle seat with a seat cushion and a seat back includes: right and left side frames 20 constituting right and left frames of the seat back; a pressure-receiving member 40 disposed between the right and left side frames 20 and configured to receive a load from an occupant; and a driving mechanism 50 disposed at each of right and left sides of the pressure-receiving member 40 and configured to cause a right end portion or a left end portion of the pressure-receiving member 40 to move from an initial position to an advanced position that is located frontward of the initial position or to move from the advanced position to the initial position, wherein the driving mechanism 50 includes a linkage (drive link member 100 and contact link member 200) configured to be connected to the pressure-receiving member 40 and a driving source 52 configured to actuate the linkage, and wherein the linkage is configured to operate when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined amount is input from the occupant to the pressure-receiving member 40 to cause the pressure-receiving member 40 to move to a backward position that is located rearward of the initial position.

Conventionally, there is known a vehicle seat for a car and the like, in which a part of a seat back is oriented to a turning direction so that a centrifugal force applied to an occupant during cornering is appropriately supported by the seat back (see patent Documents 1-3).
For example, a seat described in Patent Document 1 comprises right and left side frames of a seat back, a long link member disposed between the right and left side frames and configured to support an occupant through a movable cushion, and a short link member rotatably provided at each side frame and connected to each side of the long link member, wherein the orientation of the movable cushion is changed by actuating the link.
A seat device described in Patent Document 2 comprises a back plate disposed between right and left side frames of a seat back and having swingable end portions configured to be movable frontward and rearward relative to the right and left side frames, a link member configured to be rotatable frontward and rearward relative to the right and left side frames and to cause a swinging motion of the back plate, and a driving source for rotating the link member, wherein the back plate is oriented toward a turning direction of the vehicle by rotating the link member.
Further, there is known a vehicle seat comprising a pressure-receiving member disposed between right and left side frames and configured to receive a load from an occupant, wherein when the car is rear-ended by another car or when the car collides at the rear portion thereof with another car or a structural object while reversing (i.e., rear-end collision), a load from the occupant causes the pressure-receiving member to move rearward so that the upper body of the occupant can sink into a seat back (see Patent Document 3). With this configuration, the head of the occupant quickly approaches to a headrest and thus gets supported by the headrest, so that an impact imparted to the neck of the occupant due to the rear-end collision can be reduced.


Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a memory array having a cell voltage generator configured to provide a cell voltage header to a plurality of memory cells. The cell voltage generator is connected to the memory cells by way of supply voltage line and controls a supply voltage of the memory cells. The cell voltage generator has a pull-down element coupled between a control node of the supply voltage line and a ground terminal, and a one or more pull-up elements connected in parallel between the control node and a cell voltage source. A control unit is configured to provide one or more variable valued pull-up enable signals to input nodes of the pull-up elements. The variable valued pull-up enable signals operate the pull-up elements to selectively connect the supply voltage line from the cell voltage source to provide a cell voltage header with a high slew rate.

Integrated chips used in modern electric devices (e.g., computers, cell phones, televisions, etc.) contain memory that stores data and/or programs. During operation, an integrated chip can access the data and/or programs stored in memory. Once accessed, the programs can be executed by a processing unit (e.g., a CPU) to perform a function for a user.
One common form of memory that is widely used in modern day integrated chips is static random access memory (SRAM). SRAM is a volatile memory that stores data in a latch type structure comprising cross-coupled inverters. During a write operation, bit lines are configured to write data (e.g., a "0" or a "1") into an SRAM cell. During a read operation, bit lines are configured to receive data from the SRAM cell.

Power line lowering for write assisted control scheme

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to a ungrounded, reconfigurable, parallel mechanism based, force feedback exoskeleton device for the human ankle. The primary use for the device is aimed as a balance/proprioception trainer, while the exeskeleton device can also be employed to accommodate range of motion (RoM)/strengthening exercises. This device is also used for metatarsophalangeal joint exercises.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a ungrounded, reconfigurable, parallel mechanism based, force feedback exoskeleton device for the human ankle. The primary use for the device is aimed as a balance/proprioception trainer, while the exeskeleton device can also be employed to accommodate range of motion (RoM)/strengthening exercises. This device is also used for metatarsophalangeal joint exercises.
2. Background
The aim of the rehabilitation is to recover the patient's physical, sensory and neural capabilities that were impaired due to an illness or injury. Ankle rehabilitation is commonly necessitated after sprained ankles, one of the most common injuries in sports and daily life [1]. Losses of functional ability, ability to bear weight, and joint stability at the ankle are also experienced after neurological injuries secondary to stroke and contracture deformity secondary to cerebrovascular disease. Physiotherapy exercises are indispensable to re-gain range of motion (RoM) of the joint, to help restrengthen muscles to bear weight, to promote better awareness of joint position (proprioception), to ensure neural integrity, and to recover dynamic balance.
Rehabilitation of ankle injury is generally addressed in three sequential exercise phases [2], [3]. Exercises in the early phase focus on first enabling full RoM of the joint and then strengthening ankle muscles. Once the required RoM and flexibility is achieved and the muscles become strong enough to bear partial weight without inducing pain, the intermediate phase of therapy can be initiated, focusing on enhancement of proprioception ability through use of static balance exercises. In the final phase of the therapy, more advanced dynamic balancing exercises are practiced.
Traditional rehabilitation devices used to assist physiotherapy are simple passive equipment, such as elastic bands and ankle rehabilitation pumps for strengthening and stretching exercises; wobble boards and foam rollers for proprioception and balancing exercises. RoM exercises are generally performed manually by a therapist. Even though these types of equipment are simple and fixed-cost effective, these traditional devices fall short of collecting quantitative measurements of patient progress, monitoring patient history for re-evaluation, and achieving customized, interactive treatment protocols. The therapists are required to carry physical burden of movement therapy and to provide the patient with full attention while exercising with these devices.
Nowadays rehabilitation exercises have been done by the help of the robotic devices. Assistance of repetitive and physically involved rehabilitation exercises using robotic devices not only helps eliminate the physical burden of movement therapy for the therapists, but also decreases application related costs. Moreover, robot-mediated rehabilitation therapy allows quantitative measurements of patient progress and can be used to realize customized, interactive treatment protocols.
Beneficial effects of robot assisted rehabilitation protocols have been demonstrated over conventional therapy through clinical trials in the literature [4]. Recognizing the need for robot assisted rehabilitation devices for ankle physiotherapy, several designs have been proposed to date. Girone et al. proposed a force feedback interface, named Rutgers Ankle, based on Stewart platform [5]. A virtual reality based interactive training protocol was implemented using the Rutgers ankle for orthopedic rehabilitation [6]. The system was further studied through several case studies [7], [8]. Home-based remote ankle rehabilitation was addressed in Girone et al. [9], while in Boian et al, the system was extended to a dual Stewart platform configuration to be used for gait simulation and rehabilitation [10].
Dai et al. proposed another robotic device to treat sprained ankle injuries [11]. Unlike the Stewart platform design, this device progresses just enough degrees of freedom (DoF) to cover orientation workspace of the human ankle. The kinetostatic analysis presented in this reference emphasized the importance of employing a center strut to achieve higher stiffness from to device. Agrawal et al. proposed an ankle-foot orthosis for robot assisted rehabilitation and presented the kinematic analysis and the control of the proposed mechanism [12]. Similarly, Anklebot was proposed by Roy et al. to aid recovery of the ankle function [13]. This device can also be used to measure the ankle stiffness, which is a strong biomechanical factor for locomotion.
Syrseloudis and Emiris studied the translational and rotational RoM of the human ankle and foot through human subject experiments, and concluded that a parallel tripod mechanism with an additional rotational axis in series is the most relevant kinematic design to comply with human ankle related foot kinematics [14]. Yoon and Ryu proposed a hybrid four DoF parallel mechanism based footpad device and presented the kinematic analysis of the novel device [15]. This work was extended to allow for reconfiguration of the device to support several distinct exercise modes [3], [16].
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a device which has a reconfigurable design. Its implementation is simple and the device can be built assembling commercially available parts. Due to its reconfigurability, the device allows for both range of motion RoM/strengthening exercises and balance/proprioception exercises.


An apparatus is provided for allowing simple entry and display of location information in a vehicle travel guide system. Spot information corresponding to contents carried on an atlas is stored in a memory card 24, and by designating a retrieval condition such as an atlas name corresponding to an atlas, a page, an area or an attribute of a spot, spot information which satisfies the retrieving condition is retrieved from the spot information stored in the memory card 24 and a result of the retrieval is displayed on a display unit 23 in a superimposed relationship with an over wide image of the atlas. Further, desired spot information as the result of the retrieval is selected, and the selected spot information is stored as position information of a current location or a destination into a position information memory 12. The disclosed apparatus allows a beginner who is not familiar with the operation of the device to input position information such as a destination readily in a short time without confusion.

A conventional device for determining a position which uses a Global Positioning System (G.P.S.) is well known. In such a system, a person can determine the longitude and latitude of his or her position by receiving radio signals from a plurality of satellites with a G.P.S. receiver. The person can determine his or her position by comparing a map with the longitude and latitude information from the receiver. One example of such a well known system is a commercially available LORAN navigation system.
A conventional driving guide system for a vehicle (such as a car) is known which uses a G.P.S. receiver in connection with map data stored on a CD-ROM memory media. The position from the G.P.S. receiver is compared by a computer with map data from a CD-ROM, and the position is indicated on a display together with the map data from the CD-ROM. Accordingly, one's position can be easily recognized on a display. An example of such a system is the commercially available Bosch travelpilot. One problem with such a system is that it is necessary to use an expensive memory media (e.g., CD-ROM) which can store a large quantity of map information.
U.S. application Ser. No. 07/789,831, entitled "Position Recognition System and Position-Coordinate Converting Device", fried Nov. 8, 1991, incorporated herein by reference, discloses an apparatus for inexpensively displaying positional information to a user comprising a position-coordinate converting device including position detecting means, map information storage means, and coordinate operation means for operating on area information based on the results of the position detecting means and the map information stored in the map information storage means. The disclosed apparatus allows the user to make use or a conventional paper map which is divided into square areas, each of which may be further subdivided into smaller units. The disclosed apparatus displays to the user his or her position in relation to the paper map using a much more limited map database which can, for example, be stored on a "smart card" integrated circuit device which is much smaller and cheaper than a CD-ROM storage device.
Using the previously disclosed apparatus, the user is provided with positional information in relation to data which can be viewed on a conventional paper map without the need to store an entire copy of the paper map in the apparatus itself. For example, a display may be presented to the user which indicates the page number corresponding to a paper map square area and, further, more detailed coordinates within a square area such as (A. 1-1.2),(B.2-1.2) based on the user's current position. This method provides a very inexpensive way of allowing the user to find his or her location on a paper map without the need to store a large quantity of map data on a CD-ROM, yet still supplies information to the user in a form which is more efficient than a mere latitude/longitude location, which would require that the user translate this into a paper map location. With the construction described above, the user can recognize the position of the vehicle readily by comparing area information displayed on the vehicle travel guide apparatus with the paper map. Further, position information of a destination or the like can be input readily to the vehicle travel guide apparatus.
The applicant of the present invention has proposed a vehicle travel guide system and a vehicle travel guide apparatus in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-303404 and a position information inputting apparatus for a vehicle travel guide system in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 3-373.
The vehicle travel guide system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-303404 comprises a paper map and a vehicle travel guide apparatus, the paper map being divided into a plurality of areas each having corresponding area information, the vehicle travel guide apparatus including position information inputting means for inputting position information of at least one destination, position information storage means for storing the position information therein, position detecting means for detecting the position of a vehicle, map information storage means for storing therein information of the plurality of areas of the paper map as map information, calculating means for producing area information of the map corresponding to the position of the vehicle and travel guide information from a result of the detection of the position detecting means and the map information stored in the map information storage means, and display means for displaying a result of the calculation of the calculating means. The position and a travel route of the vehicle may be recognized by the user's comparing the result of the calculation displayed on the vehicle travel guide apparatus with the area of the paper map.
The position information inputting apparatus for a vehicle travel guide system disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 3-373 is an apparatus adapted to be placed on a paper map which is divided into a plurality of areas of a same rectangular shape and having corresponding area information for each area. The apparatus, which allows a user to input position information of a designated spot in one of the areas into the vehicle travel guide apparatus, comprises a flat plate-shaped body having a window of a shape corresponding to one of the areas and having a shape a little greater than one of the areas, area selecting means for selecting one of the plurality of areas, designated area detecting means for dividing the inside of the plane of the window into a plurality of small division areas and for detecting that one of the small division areas is designated by a finger or the like, information storage means for storing therein area information corresponding to each of the areas and small division area information corresponding to each of the small division areas, and information sending means for sending out the area information of the selected area and the small division area information of the designated small division area to the vehicle travel guide apparatus in accordance with a result of the detection of the designated area detecting means and the information stored in the information storage means. This provides a means of inputting position information of a destination or the like into the vehicle travel guide apparatus by placing the information inputting apparatus on the paper map.
With the disclosed apparatus, however, there remains a problem that the input means and display means may be inadequate for the user. For example, a beginner using the system for the first time may require a substantial amount of time to learn how to use the system. Moreover, the displayed information may be insufficient to allow the user to easily navigate with reference to a paper map. The user may not be able to efficiently enter one or more destinations into the apparatus for subsequent computation and display.

Position information inputting apparatus for a vehicle travel guide system


The invention provides a method and system for hierarchical search retrieval. The method includes performing a text search on a hierarchy data structure of information. Forming a limited size hierarchy data structure using the search results. Assigning a location number for each search result in the hierarchy data structure. Sorting the hierarchy data structure. Clustering the sorted hierarchy data structure by categorizing the search results in the hierarchy data structure into groups that are related based on proximity. Limiting a hierarchical depth for each group in the clustered hierarchy data structure based on a configurable depth value to reduce hierarchical results for presentation. Providing the clustered hierarchical data structure as a list of search results as output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to search retrieval, and in particular to using proximity for clustering returned information.
2. Background Information
Current structured searching for content, such as an Internet search, is based on input text that is typically in the form of one or more words. The result of a typical search is usually a weighted index of text results, which can be based on many factors. Some of these factors include: weight based on a fee, weight based on probability of correctness, weight based on location, etc. A problem with text searching may arise when the results consists of a very large list. This can result in spending much time navigating through search results that are not relevant to what the searcher intended to find.

Search using proximity for clustering information

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a method of forming corrosion protection coatings on prestressing strands. It comprises the steps of untwisting sequential lengths of a prestressing strand; keeping the surrounding steel wires apart from the core steel wire to coat these steel wires with a synthetic resin; and twisting the coated steel wires to provide a prestressing strand of the original shape, thus permitting the separate coating of each steel wire, leaving, on the prestressing strand surface, the helical dent as deep and wide as the noncoated prestressing strand to assure the bond of the twisted wire to the surrounding concrete as firm as the noncoated prestressing strand. Also, an apparatus for carrying out such coating method is disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of forming corrosion protection coatings on prestressing strands to be used as tensioning members in a prestressed concrete structure, and particularly to a method and apparatus of forming individually protected strands by synthetic resin coatings.
2. Description of Related Art
To provide prestress in concrete by means of a pre-tensioning method or post-tensioning method, prestressing strands are used as tensioning members. At present, as such a prestressing strand, it is customary to use one having no corrosion protection coatings thereon.
Achievement of prestress in the concrete is mainly attributable to the bond between the surrounding concrete and the prestressing strand surfaces, specifically the helical dents of the strand surfaces formed by twisting of the side wires. Therefore, the forming of corrosion protection coatings on prestressing strand will reduce appreciably the width and depth of every helical dent of the strand, accordingly reducing the bond of the strand surfaces to the surrounding concrete.
To prevent reduction of the bond of the prestressing strand surfaces to the surrounding concrete, Japanese Patent 59-130960(A) (corresponding to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 437,274) proposed "anti-corrosion strand for use in prestressed concrete structure". It teaches a strand which has thick synthetic resin coatings on the strand surfaces and sand particles being blown against the coatings to be partly buried and exposed.
Conventional prestressing strands, however, have anti-corrosion coatings only on their outer surfaces, and no coatings are applied to the spaces between the core steel wire and the surrounding steel wires. If there should be pinholes in the anti-corrosion coating of the prestressing strand, damp air or water would invade inside of the coating through its pinholes, thereby corrosion could occur within in the core and surrounding wires.
As for the conventional prestressing strand having a sand-buried coating thereon, disadvantageously extra work is required for attaching sand particles on the strand, and if such rough-surfaced strands are gripped and pulled with hands, there is a fear of hurting the hands.

Apparatus for forming corrosion protection coatings on prestressing strand


A fiber optical system for pressure measurement has a pressure sensor element (4) with at least two parallel partially reflecting surfaces (5, 7), one of which is arranged on a diaphragm (6) movable with respect to another fixed said surface as a consequence of pressure differences across said diaphragm. Said surfaces are arranged so as to cause interference phenomena of light inciding substantially perpendicularly onto and reflected by the two surfaces depending upon the actual 10 distance between these surfaces. The pressure sensor element is made of material being stable at a continuous temperature up to at least 800° C. At least said diaphragm (6) of the sensor element is made of Si C, and at least a part (23) of the optical fiber (3) connecting to said sensor element is made of a material able to withstand a continuous temperature of at least 800° C.

The present invention relates generally to a fibre optical system for pressure measurement. However, although the invention is directed to fibre optical systems with ability to carry out pressure measurements such systems may be configured to be used to measure other physical quantities, such as temperature. Furthermore, fibre optical systems for measuring static and/or dynamic pressures are comprised.
Fibre optical systems have several advantages over systems based on electronic sensors, since transmission of signals through optical fibres is not sensitive to electromagnetic noise, so that a preferred use of such fibre optical systems for pressure measurements is where severe electromagnetic disturbances may occur. Furthermore, optical pressure sensor elements of such systems can have a higher temperature capability than corresponding electronic sensors.
The present invention relates more particularly to a fibre optical system for pressure measurement comprising                a pressure sensor element having at least two parallel partially reflecting surfaces, one of which is arranged on a diaphragm movable with respect to another fixed said surface as a consequence of pressure differences across said diaphragm, said surfaces are arranged so as to cause interference phenomena of light inciding substantially perpendicularly onto and reflected by the two surfaces depending upon the actual distance between these surfaces,        a light source configured to emit light,        an optical fibre configured to receive and transmit light from said light source to said pressure sensor element in one direction and a measurement signal in the form of light reflected by said surfaces in the opposite direction, and        an arrangement configured to receive said measurement signal and evaluate this signal so as to determine a value of a pressure at said diaphragm,as well as use of such a system.
A fibre optical system of this type is known through for example SE 510 449 and US 2002/0003917 A1 and is accordingly based on studying interference phenomena of light inciding upon said two surfaces of a so-called Fabry-Perot cavity for determining a pressure value. These interference phenomena will then be a function of the distance separating said two surfaces and accordingly the movement of said surface on the diaphragm with respect to the other, fixed surface. Such known fibre optical systems are able to deliver reliable pressure measurements in many situations, but it is an on-going attempt to improve such systems for making the measurements more reliable and extend the field of use of such fibre optical systems.


Described is an improved method, system, and computer program product for implementing performance kits. Test data for the performance kit is preloaded into an installation image that is distributed with a vendor's product. This avoids the need for the customer himself to have to perform the tasks of installing the test data at the customer site.

The invention is directed to an approach for implementing performance kits for computing systems.
Many computer software and hardware vendors provide performance kits that are used to test the functionality and performance of computer hardware, software, and software-hardware combinations. For example, a database vendor may provide a performance kit that is used to test and measure the performance of that vendor's database products on various types of computing hardware, data, and/or operating systems.
One purpose of the performance kit is to provide "benchmarks" that can be used to compare one set of hardware/software against another set of hardware/software. In general, a benchmark is the result of running a computer program, or a set of programs, in order to assess the relative performance of the program, the hardware, and/or software/hardware configuration by running a number of standard tests and trials.
Hardware vendors may use the benchmark results during the development and testing phase of computing products. The hardware vendors may also use the benchmark results to compare performance capabilities against the capabilities of rival companies, e.g., for marketing or competitive analysis purposes.
The end customers of the vendors may also wish to obtain and implement performance kits for the products provided by the vendors. There are many reasons for a customer to desire the results of performance testing. For example, the customer may want the performance test to perform "system sizing", to verify the correct set of hardware and software that should be purchased by the customer to handle an anticipated workload. The performance tests and benchmarks may also be used by the customer to implement and optimize configuration settings for the computing system being used by the customer. For example, it is important for a database administrator (DBA) to understand the point at which system resources and performance are and are not adequate to handle different types of workloads. Performance kits may be used by DBAs to obtain this information. Once the DBA has this type of information, the DBA can use that data to determine system bottlenecks that can be corrected to optimize database performance.
Many computing vendors distribute performance kits that a customer will separately obtain and install onto a given software/hardware platform. Currently, however, there is no easy delivery model which can make that performance kit easily and efficiently consumable for the vendors' customers. Instead, the customers must undergo a lengthy and complex integration process to get the performance kit to work in the customer's target environment.
To address this and other problems, the present invention provides an improved approach for implementing and distributing performance kits that avoids the problems of the prior approaches. Other and additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention are described in the detailed description, figures, and claims.

Method and system for implementing performance kits


Methods and systems for training cognitive skills are disclosed. The methods and systems include: providing, via a computing device and user interface display, musical rhythm training comprising at least one trial comprising: displaying on the user interface display, via the user computing device, a rhythm track comprising at least one stationary beat timing mark and at least one moving beat timing mark repeatedly moving along the rhythm track at a uniform speed; receiving via a user interface input an indication from the user that the user perceives a moving beat timing mark to be coincident with a stationary beat timing mark; and providing, via the user interface, an indicator that the user is correct or not correct.

Scientific studies have revealed links between musical skills, including rhythm, and cognitive performance in areas such as attention, perception, working memory, speech, and language. Among other theories as to why, it is possible that the intense concentration and flow in musical skill development, along with the deep levels of passion and engagement in that development, contribute to improvements in other cognitive skill areas. As examples, see: Pedia Staff Blog, August 2011, Music Therapy and Speech Language Pathology—A Collaboration (Parts 1 & 2, Rachel See Smith, M A, MTBC, Board Certified Music Therapist, http://www.pediastaff. com/blog/guestblogmusictherapyandspeechlanguagepathologyacollaborationparts124364; How arts Training Improves Attention and Cognition, Michael I. Posner and Brenda Patoine, Sep. 14, 2009, http://dana.org/news/cerebrum/detail.aspx?id=23206; Music Moves Brain to Pay Attention (Stanford Study), Mitzi Baker, Aug. 5, 2007, http://www. sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070801122226.htm; A Brain for Rhythm: A legendary rock and roll drummer teams up with a neuroscientist to explore the role of rhythm in brain function, The Scientist, Dan Cossins, Nov. 9, 2012, http://www.thescientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/33213/title/ABrainforRhythm/; Music, memory, and Alzheimer's disease: is music recognition spared in dementia, and how can it be assessed?, Lola L. Cuddy and Jacalyn Duffin, Medical Hypotheses, Volume 64, Issue 2 (2005), Pages 229-235, http://www.sciencedirect. com.ezproxy.stanford.edu/science/article/pii/S0306987704005158; ShortTerm Music Training Enhances Verbal Intelligence and Executive Function, Moreno et al., Psychological Science, May 2011, http://pss.sagepub. com/content/22/11/1425.
This research suggests that regular use of a rhythm training game could help users experience cognitive benefits. A variety of music-related games are available on the market, which have been shown to be quite popular, but while they may be fun and engaging, they are not designed to improve cognitive abilities. Accordingly, the present application discloses a method and apparatus for the utilization of rhythmic training in the form of a rhythm training game for purposes of user cognitive skill development. The engaging game involves a musical skill, such as rhythm, without requiring the user to engage in actually learning to play and playing a musical instrument or learning to read and reading music. The game becomes adaptively more difficult as the individual improves by utilizing more complex musical or rhythmic skills or rhythms.

Rhythm brain fitness processes and systems


A booster actuator 10 may be positioned between the solenoid 12 and a valve 14, and increases the energy output from the solenoid to activate the valve. The booster actuator 10 may include a force input member 28 and a force output member 30 each linearly movable with respect to a body 20 from an initial position to an activated position. A coil spring 46 biases the input member to the initial input position, while a plurality of disk springs 48 bias the output member 30 to the activated output position. A plurality of linking members 32 each pivotable with respect to the body normally retain the force output member in the initial position, but upon movement of the input member to the activated position release the force output member in response to the disk springs.

The present invention relates to devices intended to be actuated by a low energy input, and which output a high energy to the device to be actuated. More particularly, the present invention relates to a booster actuator which uses mechanically stored energy to move an actuator shaft with a force and stroke sufficient to actuate various types of devices.
Those involved in system designs have long required devices which provide a boost or energy level increase to actuate a device. Electric energy input to a solenoid is directly proportional to the output force, which practically limits the use of solenoids in conventional low power electrical systems. A relatively small and inexpensive electrical solenoid may send a signal which will stroke a solenoid plunger, although the force and/or the stroke of the plunger in many cases is insufficient to activate the device intended. Accordingly, boosters have been used between such low energy products, such as solenoids, and a device to be activated to provide the desired energy level to actuate the intended device.
In the fire safety industry, various systems have been devised so that pressurized gas maybe released when a device is manually or automatically actuated. In some applications, a booster or booster actuator may be positioned between a solenoid and a valve, with that valve in turn being actuated to release agents, such as CO2 or a mixture of nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide, into the hazard area.
Prior art booster actuators have used magnetized components to hold the actuator in the set or armed position. Many of these actuators require an input force proportional to the desired output force, or require additional electrical circuitry to return the actuator to the set position.
Prior art actuators also include pressurized gas cartridges which are punctured, so that the release of the pressurized gas in response to the puncture may be used to activate a pneumatic device which releases the agent gas to the hazard area. Other types of actuators utilize explosive components to generate the increased energy to activate a valve or otherwise release the agent gas to the hazard area.
Many prior art boost devices have significant disadvantages which have limited their use. Prior art boost devices are relatively complex and/or are not highly reliable, and other devices cannot be easily reset. In still other booster devices, it is difficult to vary the force which activates the boost device and/or to vary the output force from the boost device. The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, and an improved booster actuator is hereinafter disclosed.
In a typical application, the booster actuator of the present invention may be located between a solenoid and a valve. The actuator body houses a cam shaft or force input member which is biased by a coil spring to the initial input position. The body also houses an actuator shaft or force output member which is biased to the activated output position by a plurality of disk springs. A plurality of circumferentially spaced links engage the force input member at one end and the force output member at the other end, and control of the release of the force from the disk springs to the output member in response to movement of the cam shaft. In another embodiment, an electrical coil is provided about the cam shaft, so that a combination solenoid and booster is provided.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a booster apparatus with a force input member and a force output member each movable relative to the actuator body, a biasing member for biasing the force output member to the activated output position and at least one linking member between the force input member and the force output member and pivotably movable with respect to the body from the engaged position to a disengaged position for releasing the force output member to the activated output position in response to the biasing member. The linking member engages both the force input member and force output member, and may cooperate with recesses in the input member and output member for achieving the desired function.
It is another feature of the invention to provide a booster actuator with a force input member, a low force biasing member for exerting a biasing force on the input member, a force output member, another biasing member for exerting a high biasing force on the force output member, and a linking member between the force input member and force output member. Control of the actuator may be reliably obtained by providing two biasing members each of which exert a force independent of the other biasing member on the input member or output member.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a booster actuator wherein the output force from the actuator may be easily revised without redesigning the remainder of the actuator. Moreover, the change in the output force is independent of the energy required to trigger activation of the booster, and the input energy required to trigger the actuator may be separately selected without regard to the output requirements from the actuator.
It is another feature of the invention that the booster actuator is highly reliable, and may be mechanically reset without the use of electrical devices. The reset may be accomplished quickly and easily, and no replacement of parts is necessary.
It is a further feature of the invention to provide a booster actuator wherein a solenoid coil is provided to control movement of the force input member relative to the actuator body.
It is an advantage of the present invention that the booster apparatus is highly reliable and may be economically manufactured. The booster body preferably seals the internal components from the environment.
These and further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, wherein reference is made to the figures in the accompanying drawings.


A thermoplastic saddle (6) for renovating or repairing a pipeline (1) with a branch pipe (2). The saddle comprises two saddle parts (20, 22) being movable with respect to each other. The first saddle part (20) comprises a flexible saddle plate (6') and a first connecting part (21) being integral therewith. The second saddle part (22) comprises a branch (8) provided with a second connecting part (23). The part (21) tapers towards its open free end (12') and the second connecting part has a spherical circumference (23a). The position of connecting parts (23, 23a) with respect to connecting part (21) ensures that branch (8) is retained in connecting part (21) if said branch is subjected to pulling forces. In a renovated or repaired pipeline (1) the saddle is fixed by fixing means preferably an expanded plastic fixing sleeve (13). However, fixation by a glued connection (112) and/or sealed connection (113) is also possible. The branch (8) is widened by heat so that it clampingly engages the inner wall of branch pipe (2). Sealing means may be used for sealing saddle parts and opposite lying parts. Widening of branch (8) and/or fixing sleeve (13) is performed by means of an inflatable balloon device e.g. as shown in FIG. 7.

The invention relates to a branch saddle of thermoplastic material suitable for use in a pipeline to be repaired or renovated, said pipeline having at least one branch pipe connected therewith through a branch pipe opening, said saddle at least comprising a saddle plate and a branch being accomodated from the inner side of the pipeline into said branch pipe and branch opening.
Such a saddle of a thermoplastic is known in the art.
It presents some disadvantages. First of all the length of the branch of the saddle must be held as small as possible in order to be able to transport the saddle through the pipeline to the position of the branch pipe. This involves the use of a branch of an unacceptable short length in case of small differences in diameter of the pipeline and the branch pipe.
Secondly the branch of the saddle is often too rigid so that it is difficult to accommodate the saddle in the right position in the branch.
Thirdly, the production of such saddles is difficult and at last, the saddle must meet close tolerances.
It is now the aim of the invention to provide a saddle overcoming these disadvantages.
This aim is attained by mean that the saddle is divided in two saddle portions comprising a saddle part and a branch part being movable with respect to each other, thus allowing transport of the saddle through the pipeline for accommodation of the saddle with a decreased projecting length of the branch in comparison with the projecting length of the branch in its final accommodated state.
By using a branch saddle designed in two parts the length of the branch can be increased as the branch is able to move towards the direction below the saddle plate.
Moreover, due to the higher flexibility of the branch with respect to the saddle plate the branch can be more easily pushed into a branch pipe.
A branch saddle according to subclaims 1 to 7 present the advantages of a good flexibility between saddle plate and branch.
Simple production and accommodation of the saddle is possible by means of a saddle having a saddle plate with an integral first conical connecting saddle part which forms a first saddle part and branch having formed thereon a second connecting part forms a second saddle part second conical connecting part being detachably accommodated in first conical connecting part and provided with means for sealingly interconnecting first connecting part and second connecting part.
Flexibility is even more improved by means of a saddle in which the second connecting part is rounded preferably spherical and the saddle portion engaging said rounded, preferably spherical part is conically narrowing towards its free end.
The invention also relates to a repaired or renovated pipeline with at least one branch pipe having a branch pipe inner wall, interconnected by means of a branch pipe opening in which an external surface of a branch saddle inserted from the inner side of the pipeline is made to mate in a sealing manner by sealing means, with the inside of an opposite-lying pipe wall and the branch of this branch saddle extends into a branch pipe while fixing means mating with a pipe wall and the pipe saddle fix the pipe saddle.
Such a renovated or repaired pipeline is known, in particular a sewer pipe in which a tubular lining is pushed from the outside and a branch saddle is pushed outwards from the inside of the pipeline through a bore in the lining. In this case the saddle is drawn from the outside against the tubular lining by means of a moving nut, fitted on an external thread of the branch of the saddle, and a shoulder element.
This known method has the great disadvantage that a pit virtually always has to be dug to form the branch connection, since it is difficult to form the branch connection in existing underground branch pipes; as generally occurs in the case of existing sewer pipes of concrete and the like.
Besides, in the event of use of such a branch connection without digging, a considerable reduction in the existing throughput from or to the existing branch pipe will occur.
Finally, in the case of the known branch connection there is no guarantee of a good seal being obtained between plastic saddle and plastic lining, so that medium such as effluent conveyed through such pipelines can penetrate into the space between tubular lining and inside of the pipeline.
Since, however, it is just such tubular linings which are fitted in sewer pipes which over the years have become damaged, this is unacceptable from the environmental point of view.
Besides, for sewer pipes lying below ground water level, the existing undesirable situation that soil particles and water wash into the pipe through leakage, with risks of sagging and undesirable strain on sewage treatment plants, is not, or is inadequately, eliminated.

Thermoplastic saddle in two parts for repairing or renovating a pipe line with branch pipe and repaired or renovated pipe with a saddle