A method and system for determining the geolocation of a vehicle in the absence of a GPS signal includes determining the geodetic position of each of a plurality of airborne objects based on the relative position of at least one star and at least one satellite. The determined geodetic positions of each of the airborne objects is transmitted to the vehicle. A distance from the vehicle to each airborne vehicle is calculated. Based on the geodetic position determined for each airborne object and the distance from the vehicle to each of the airborne objects, the geodetic position of the vehicle is determined. A receiver receives the geodetic position of each airborne object, calculates a distance to each airborne object, and determines a current geodetic position based on the received geodetic positions of the airborne objects and the distance from the vehicle to each airborne object.

It is often necessary for many military and nonmilitary purposes to know the geolocation of a movable platform or vehicle. Precise geolocation data is typically provided via a global positioning systems (GPS) using satellites that orbit the earth. However, it is recognized that a GPS signal may not always be available. The GPS signal may be blocked due to environmental conditions, equipment failure, or through a hostile action that jams the GPS signals and/or prevents their detection/determination at a GPS receiver. Alternative systems and methods for accurately determining geolocation of a vehicle by means other than GPS are desired.

High altitude radio frequency positioning system


An illustrative apparatus includes a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein the first substrate includes a first plurality of adhering regions and a first plurality of print faces defined between perforated folds and the second substrate includes a second plurality of adhering regions and a second plurality of print faces defined between cut folds, and wherein the perforated folds and the cut folds are collinear. The second substrate may releasably adhere to the first substrate via the second plurality of adhering regions and the first plurality of adhering regions, respectively. Each of the second plurality of adhering regions may be individually released from each of the first plurality of adhering regions and separated along the cut folds to yield a first set of labels and each of the first plurality of adhering regions may be individually separated along the perforated folds to yield a second set of labels.

Printed advertisements are widely used to sell products and services. A printed advertisement may be sent to a customer or potential customer through the mail. A printed advertisement may also be present in a store, so as to be viewed by patrons in the store. Such printed advertisements may be placed in an advertisement holder that makes the advertisement visible to the consumers. Such an advertisement holder may be made of clear plastic to allow visibility of the advertisement held therein. In another embodiment, advertisements may be affixed to different objects inside or outside a store to be made visible to potential or current customers.
One type of advertisement that affixes to an object uses an adhesive on the back of the advertisement. For example, repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesives may be used to allow a printed advertisement to adhere to a surface while allowing reapplication of the object to a variety of different surfaces over an extended period of time without damaging or otherwise marring the surface. Other items than advertisements may also similarly utilize an adhesive, including masking tapes, removable labels or office notes, protective films, and medical tapes.
Conventionally, printed advertisements may be available as individual units packaged in cartridges or boxes. In some instances, printed advertisements may be available as perforated sheets packaged in boxes. Individually applying single tags typically requires peeling and disposing of a silicone coated liner piece, and returning to a tag supply retrieve another tag, which makes tag application a laborious and time-consuming process. Some printed advertisements require excessive processing to apply laminate, adhesives, or other products to enable application and/or adhesion of each advertisement. Furthermore, this type of advertisement may use an adhesive on a back of the printed side and a silicone coated liner to which it is adhered to on the opposing side. However, such packaging schemes require excess material for backing, create waste, and are, consequently, neither cost-effective nor resource-efficient. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide separable, printed advertisements that are labor-saving, are environmentally conscious, and are cost-effective.

Separation of individual labels from dual-faced labeling systems


Systems, methods, and apparatuses for estimating a user equipment link quality based on a positioning of user equipment are provided. One method includes determining a plurality of link qualities (LQs) of the user equipment (UE) for a plurality of positionings of the UE, wherein at least one of the plurality of positionings includes at least a location or an orientation of the UE, storing information associated with the plurality of LQs for the plurality of positionings, estimating at least one future positioning of the UE, and estimating a future link quality (LQ) of the UE at the at least one future positioning of the UE based on the stored information associated with the plurality of LQs at the plurality of positionings of the UE.

In many environments the link quality between a plurality of base stations and a plurality of user equipment varies significantly over time, space (for example movement of the user equipment), frequency band, etc., for example due to space/time/frequency selective fading, or shadowing from objects (buildings, trees, etc.), etc. For many wireless access technologies the base station and user equipment attempt to adapt the transmission mode to exploit high data rates while providing desirable robustness of the data communication. In some systems, for the link to be efficient and robust the link quality should be monitored over space/time/frequency. Link quality information exchanged between the base station and the user equipment may become stale (if not updated fast enough) and may take significant wireless communication resources (for example over a control channel). Therefore it is desirable to have improved systems and methods for estimating a user equipment link quality based on a positioning of the user equipment

User equipment link quality estimation based on positioning


In one aspect, the present invention relates to utilizing a spreadsheet by defining a parameter external to the spreadsheet and associating the parameter with the spreadsheet to define a parameterized workbook. In one embodiment, this utilization further comprises storing a location of the spreadsheet and storing the name of the parameter in the same storage module as the location. In another embodiment, it includes defining a result external to the spreadsheet, the result referencing one or more cells within the spreadsheet. In another embodiment, this utilization further comprises receiving a value for the parameter and generating the result based at least in part on the value and the spreadsheet. In another embodiment, it further comprises associating a type with the parameter. The type can define a range of values or attributes associated with the parameter.

Generally, spreadsheet application programs are used to automate numerical and symbolic calculations for business, financial and scientific uses. Spreadsheet programs are the tools of choice for many business and analysis tasks because they combine a very usable graphical interface with a simple formula language that allows non-programmers, within the limits of the simple formula language, to create computational models.
Spreadsheet programs visually present numeric and non-numeric data in a two-dimensional grid for easy assimilation by the reader. Each element of the two-dimensional grid is referred to as a cell. A cell can contain either a data value, or it can contain a formula that calculates a new value based on the values of other cells. Spreadsheet cells that contain formulas are automatically recalculated when there are changes to the other cells that the formula depends upon. This mechanism allows a spreadsheet user to perform what-if scenarios only by modifying cell values and viewing or saving the effects of the changes.
Individual two-dimensional spreadsheets can be organized into a larger entity known as a notebook or workbook. The terms spreadsheet or worksheet will be used interchangeably herein, as will the terms notebook or workbook.
When worksheets are grouped together to form a workbook, the workbook and all of its worksheets are stored together as a single file (i.e. the workbook becomes the unit of storage and transfer when moving data between the program 's memory space and disk storage). Formulas stored in worksheet cells can reference other cells that are in worksheets in the same workbook and/or cells that are in worksheets in a different workbook. When formulas refer to a different workbook, however, known prior art spreadsheet programs cannot automatically recalculate formula values unless that other workbook has also been loaded into the program's memory space. These prior art spreadsheet programs do not allow multiple copies of the same workbook to be loaded into memory simultaneously and they do not allow multiple what-if scenarios to be calculated simultaneously.
In existing spreadsheet programs, data values can be stored in cells either by user input (directly or through a user-input formula) or by the user associating the cells with an external data source, such as a query to a database. When cells are associated with an external data source, the user of the program can control how often the external data source should be checked for changes. However, no mechanism exists to automatically detect when data referenced from the data source has changed and to recalculate the spreadsheet if, and only if, such a change has occurred.
Spreadsheets in prior art spreadsheet programs perform at most a single calculation with fixed inputs to arrive at a fixed set of answers. Changes in external data sources can affect the results of computations performed by a spreadsheet, but the computation itself is fixed. Prior art spreadsheet programs make the user vary cell values if the user wants to perform different calculations, including what-if scenarios.
Some prior art spreadsheet programs support various facilities for programmatic control over the spreadsheets to automate spreadsheet tasks. Some of these programs implement a macro recording and playback facility, which allows repetitive tasks to be automated by recording the user 's actions and later replaying them. Some programs publish application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow computer programs to be written to manipulate the spreadsheets or to extend the user interface of the program. Because programming skills are required to use these application programming interfaces, they are not used by most spreadsheet users.
Some prior art spreadsheet programs cache internally the results of intermediate calculations (cell values) to improve the speed of recalculation. Prior art spreadsheet programs support re-execution of external data queries either when manually requested, on a periodic basis while the workbook is loaded into the program 's memory, or whenever the workbook is opened. None of these methods are optimal, and none of these methods are effective when the spreadsheet program is not running.

System and method for efficiently and flexibly utilizing spreadsheet information


A stabilization device for use with a system for the percutaneous stabilization of adjacent vertebrae includes an elongated body having a radius of curvature, a leading end and a trailing end, wherein the trailing end is shaped and dimensioned to protrude from a pedicle surface once it is properly introduced within a vertebral body. It also an object of the present invention to a method for the percutaneous stabilization of adjacent vertebral bodies. The method includes inserting first and second elongated stabilization devices within the vertebrae such that they extend between adjacent vertebral bodies to securely stabilize the adjacent vertebral bodies, wherein the trailing ends of the first and second stabilization devices protrude from a pedicle surface once inserted within the vertebrae.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for percutaneous spinal stabilization. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus whereby a series of curved stabilization devices are employed in linking adjacent vertebrae.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is often necessary to stabilize adjacent vertebrae. Various devices and methods for stabilizing the spinal column have been employed over the years. For example, plates and rods have been secured between adjacent vertebral bodies for the stabilization, or fixation, of the adjacent spinal bodies.
As those skilled in the art will certainly appreciate, the human spine is made up of 24 small bones, called vertebrae. The vertebrae protect and support the spinal cord. They also bear the majority of the weight put upon your spine. Vertebrae, like all bones, have an outer shell called cortical bone that is hard and strong. The inside is made of a soft, spongy type of bone, called cancerous bone.
The vertebral body is the large, round portion of bone. Each vertebra is attached to a bony ring. When the vertebrae are stacked one on top of the other, the rings create a hollow tube for the spinal cord to pass through. Each vertebra is held to the others by groups of ligaments. There are also tendons that fasten muscles to the vertebrae.
The bony ring attached to the vertebral body consists of several parts. The laminae extend from the body to cover the spinal canal, which is the hole in the center of the vertebrae. The spinous process is the bony portion opposite the body of the vertebra. There are two transverse processes (little bony bumps), where the back muscles attach to the vertebrae. The pedicle is a bony projection that connects to both sides of the lamina.
Although a variety of techniques for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae have been developed, many of these techniques involve highly invasive procedures. As recent developments within the surgical area have shown, minimally invasive surgical techniques are particularly desirable. These minimally invasive surgical techniques are well suited for application to procedures affecting the spine.
The development of percutaneous, minimally invasive spinal procedures has yielded major improvements in reducing recovery time and postoperative pain. These procedures require minimal, if any, muscle dissection and may be performed under local anesthetic. As a result, minimal tissue disruption is encountered.
With the foregoing in mind, a need continues to exist for improvements in minimally invasive, percutaneous spinal stabilization techniques and apparatuses. The present invention provides such an improvement in percutaneous spinal stabilization.

Percutaneous spinal stabilization device and method


A sizer for a hanger lacking a hook boss includes a pair of longitudinal walls spaced apart from each other by a pair of end sections. The sizer may include a pair of protrusion, wherein a first is disposed on a first wall of the pair of longitudinal walls and directed toward a second wall of the pair of longitudinal walls. A first jaw is disposed on one of the pair of end section. The pair of longitudinal walls flexes apart when the jaw passes over a flange of the hanger. The first jaw includes a lower portion having a curved edge. The first jaw further includes an upper portion. The lower portion and upper portion meet at an abrupt jaw point.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a sizer for garment hangers, a combination thereof and a method of use. Specifically, the invention relates to a sizer that is removable from a first hanger and re-usable on the first hanger or on a second hanger.
2. Description of the Related Art
Garment hangers ("hangers") used in retail stores comprise a body on which an article of clothing is supported, a hook portion that suspends the hanger from a support, such as a rod, and a neck that joins the hook to the body. Hangers are provided with an indicator ("sizer") that provides suitable sizing information, i.e., small, medium, etc, about the clothing that is supported on the hanger.
One type of hanger is a garment-on-hanger hanger ("GOH hanger"). GOH hangers may have an integral body and hook, which is cost effectively manufactured by plastic injection molding. GOH hangers may also comprise a rotatable metal hook that is embedded in a plastic body.
Regardless of how it is made, most GOH hangers are notable for one or more hook bosses, i.e., tabs, that are located at the juncture between the neck and body and onto which a sizer is able to be locked. U.S. Patent Application Publication 2010/0270338, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes, teaches a hook boss, configured as a tab in the form of an integral protrusion that is disposed in a groove of the neck. The sizer includes one or more internal tabs that lock on to the hook boss and resists unintended removal and actively prevents malicious removal.
The securing feature of the hook boss on the neck and the tabs in the sizer is a strongly preferred feature of a GOH hanger, due to the time saving use of GOB hangers. After a garment is finished by a garment factory, the garment is placed on a GOB hanger while still in the garment factory. A sizer indicating the garment's size is then secured on the hanger. The securing feature in the GIH hangers advantageously prevents the unintended removal of the sizer due to jostling and handling during shipping, often halfway across the world.
Once the garment arrives in a store, store clerks need only hang the garment on display rack without having to place the garment on a hanger and fit the correct sizer. While on retail display, the securing feature prevents the unintended removal of the sizer due to handling by interested shoppers and the malicious removal of the sizer by uncooperative shoppers, thus, reducing time and costs in inventory management.
Upon sale of the garment, the GOB hanger and garment are separated. The hanger is then returned to a predetermined entity for reuse or material recycling. All the while the sizer preferably remains secured to the hanger via the hook boss. If the hanger is reused without the sizer, the sizer is forced from the hanger, typically causing breakage of the sizer.
Another type of hanger is a Swivel Hook hanger ("SH hanger"). An SH hanger is used by more upscale retailers, who typically receive garments that are not shipped on hangers. SH hangers have upscale feel and preferably have a more solid body. The retailers retain the SH hangers for reuse, often for many years.
Since hook bosses serve to prevent removal of the sizer, SH hangers do not have hook bosses. Consequently, sizers are rarely used on SH hangers. Retailers use other information to convey sizing information. One means is place the garment on an appropriate display using tags to indicate the beginning and/or end of a size's section.
To convey sizing information more easily for SH hangers and hangers that lack a hook boss, it is desirable to have a sizer that is interchangeable but has the advantageous securing feature used on GOH hangers to (a) prevent the unintended removal of the sizer due to handling by interested shoppers and (b) deter the malicious removal of the sizer by uncooperative shoppers.

Sizer for a hanger, a combination thereof, and a method of use


It is an object to provide an ultrasonic motor that can stably and finely (that is, minutely) move a driven body. The invention provides an ultrasonic motor comprising an ultrasonic vibrator which includes an electromechanical transducer and which is configured to simultaneously generate two different vibration modes to produce substantially elliptical vibrations at output terminals by supplying two sets of alternating-current voltages with a predetermined phase difference and a predetermined driving frequency to the electromechanical transducer; and a pressing unit for pressing the output terminals of the ultrasonic vibrator against a driven body. The output terminals include first friction-contact members disposed at positions substantially corresponding to antinodes of a flexural vibration and a second friction-contact member disposed substantially at the center in the longitudinal direction of the ultrasonic vibrator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic motor.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, ultrasonic motors have been drawing attention as a new type of motor replacing electromagnetic motors. Ultrasonic motors have the following advantages over known electromagnetic motors:
1) Ultrasonic motors are capable of high torque without using gears;
2) Ultrasonic motors have holding force when powered off;
3) Ultrasonic motors have high resolution;
4) Ultrasonic motors are quiet; and
5) Ultrasonic motors do not generate magnetic noise and are unaffected by noise.
A known ultrasonic motor is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-258277. The ultrasonic motor disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-258277 has a construction including at least three driving units on the surface of an elastic body opposing a driven body.
With the ultrasonic motor disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-258277, all of the driving units exhibit circular or elliptical motion in the same directions, and to finely (that is, minutely) move the driven body, it is thus necessary to reduce the vibration amplitude of the circular or elliptical motion. However, it is difficult to control the vibration amplitude of the elastic body while maintaining resonance, and as a result, there is the drawback that it is difficult to achieve stable, fine motion of the driven body.


A climbing wall route setting assembly and process for setting climbing wall routes. The route setting assembly includes a guide with climbing wall maps having a coordinate system. Cooperating sets of hand hold structures are provided with indicia to create climbing routes of varying difficulty utilizing the route maps.

The present invention relates generally to a climbing wall route setting assembly and a process for planning and setting the hand holds for climbing routes on climbing wall structures. Particularly, the invention relates to a climbing route setting guide having route maps to set climbing routes with identifiable hand holds on an associated climbing wall structure.
Artificial climbing and bouldering walls are increasingly used due to physical fitness awareness and interest in the climbing and bouldering sports. Climbing wall assemblies are also provided to introduce children to the climbing sports in a safe, convenient and educational manner. Various devices have also been introduced to make climbing for children a fun and educational experience. Exemplary climbing wall assemblies and devices are disclosed in Applicant's pending U.S. patent application, entitled Climbing Wall Assembly, having Ser. No. 10/236,728, filed on Sep. 6, 2002, in pending patent application entitled Safety Mat Securement Assembly having Ser. No. 11/061,583 filed on Feb. 18, 2005, and in pending patent application entitled Climbing Wall Assembly having Ser. No. 11/247,497 filed on Oct. 1, 2005, the teachings of said Applications being fully incorporated by reference herein.
Indoor and outdoor climbing walls typically have a plurality of hand holds positioned thereon to provide the climber one or more climbing paths or routes. It has been found beneficial, therefore, to provide climbing wall structures with means that allow the hand holds to be repositioned on the climbing wall surface. Preferably, hand hold mounting structures are provided in the climbing wall that permit relatively quick and easy mounting, removal and remounting of the hand holds with respect to the climbing wall surface. Further, the planned and definitive positioning of the hand holds on the climbing wall surface and with respect to each other is desirable for providing a preconceived climbing route.
There is a need in the climbing art to provide an assembly and process to create planned climbing routes for indoor and outdoor climbing wall structures. To keep climbers interested and challenged, the hand holds on a climbing wall are arranged and may be periodically changed to create climbing routes with different physical and educational challenges. The route setting assembly, which includes a climbing wall structure, route maps and cooperating labeled hand hold devices, provides organized, effective and planned methods of arranging the hand holds on a specified wall surface to create various climbing routes.

Climbing wall route setting assembly and process


A toothbrush construction is described in which a bristle head is made moveable with respect to a handle and contains adjustable springs to permit presetting of the brushing pressure. The springs are so formed as to have a break away feature. The user is thus made aware whenever he exerts more than the preset pressure and can learn to brush at a pressure which permits good cleansing and minimizes brushing damage to his teeth and gingival tissue.

The present invention relates to a toothbrush provided with adjusting means to control the maximum brushing pressure which may be applied to the teeth during use. Many studies have shown that low brushing pressure results in incomplete removal of dental plaque which acts as a breeding area for cavity-inducing mouth bacteria. Excess pressure on the other hand produces gingival laceration, wear of the enamel, exposure of dentin and subsequent damage such as gingival recession and root exposure. Reliance has been placed on the training of children and adults by dentists and dental hygienists on suitable brushing techniques and on the selection of brushes. Currently recommended brushes have rounded, soft nylon or natural bristles about 0.007 inches in diameter and 12 millimeters long and a density of approximately 3 bristles per square millimeter. Although the use of brushes with these characteristics and the application of recommended techniques represents progress in achieving improved cleaning and limiting abrasive damage, individual differences in brushing pressure tend to produce highly variable results.
Many newer toothbrush concepts have been devised but these have dealt with improvement in brushing efficiency alone. Relatively few of the newer brushes have reflected attempts to regulate the applied pressure. A recent design described in the Journal of Clinical Dentistry, Volume II, No. 4, p 107 of 1991 employs a spring incorporated in the brush handle so that brushing pressure can be more readily monitored by the user (as judged by the amount of flexion). Tests show however that individual differences were still present in judging the optimum pressure to apply.
Other designs have employed specially shaped handles which encourage light gripping--e.g. a "pen grip". The only previously-available effective controls on brushing pressure rely on the provision of hard, medium and soft bristles--or combinations--in individual brushes.
It is one objective of the present invention to provide a linear, flexibly coupled brush and handle which has a "break-away" limit so that pressure in excess of a preset amount causes the handle to move out of the plane of brushing. By maintaining the brush in a useable orientation, the user will automatically maintain the pressure at a value to optimize tooth cleaning and minimize erosive effects.
It is a second objective of the present invention to provide a calibrated adjustability of the break-away pressure so that the setting may be varied to apply to a wide range of individual characteristics.
These and other objectives will be presented in the description and claims given in the following specifications, drawings and claims.

Toothbrush having adjustable brushing pressure


A silylated polymer contains repeating units derived from butadiene. The polymer when partially silylated is especially useful for pressure sensitive adhesives where it imparts superior solvent resistance performance thereto.

This invention relates to silylated polymers and to pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) compositions containing same.
There are certain adhesive applications for which solvent resistance is highly desirable. These include automotive, aerospace, industrial and consumer labels where exposure to aromatic, aliphatic solvents and oils occurs. Solvent-resistant adhesives are also required for labels used by analytical laboratories such as environmental and medical laboratories to prevent loss of critical sample identification information. Further applications include electronic labels or masked areas undergoing further processes; dry cleaning labels for garments; degreasing operations where identification labels or masked-off areas are required, and the like. Adhesive properties of many pressure sensitive or heat-activated adhesives are well suited for use with labels on various substrates. However, these are not significantly solvent-resistant and therefore it is highly desirable that a solvent-resistant adhesive be provided.
Solvent-resistant adhesive compositions are known in the art.
JP 56082863 describes a thermoplastic polystyrene-polybutadiene block copolymer or a mixture thereof with another thermoplastic rubber of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer combined with an acryl-modified polybutadiene.
JP 57207663 describes a compound comprised of ethylenic ionomer resin, a polyurethane resin, a polyethylene resin, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, an agent for the thermal curing of a synthetic resin, and a thickener.
JP 59172575 describes a solvent-resistant hot melt adhesive comprised of a polyester amide containing terminal alkoxyl groups prepared by reacting an aminoalkylalkoxysilane compound with a polyester-amide containing terminal isocyanate groups.
JP 59174672 describes a solvent-resistant acrylic adhesive comprised of the reaction product a vinyl compound (e.g., methyl acrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, etc.) and a vinyl dioxazolone compound.
JP 61047774 describes a solvent-resistant adhesive comprised of amino group terminated polyamide resin reacted with a isocyanate group-containing alkoxysilane that is the addition product of, for example, hexamethylene diisocyanate and 3-aminopropyltriethoxy-silane.
JP 61218631 describes a solvent-resistant adhesive comprised of a silane-modified polyester resin obtained by reacting a polyester resin containing a hydroxyl group with an isocyanate group-containing hydrolyzable organosilicon compound.
JP 61218672 describes a solvent-resistant acrylic adhesive comprised of an unsaturated polyester resin having terminal ethylenic groups which is the reaction product of a ethylenic compound having isocyanate groups with terminal hydroxyl groups or carboxyl groups of an unsaturated polyester resin.
JP 61218673 describes a solvent-resistant acrylic adhesive comprised of an unsaturated polyester resin having terminal ethylenic double bonds obtained by reacting epoxy(meth)acrylate with the terminal carboxyl groups of an unsaturated polyester resin having ethylenic double bond in the molecule.
JP 62057480 describes a solvent-resistant adhesive comprised of a polyamide resin having terminal ethylenic double bonds obtained by reacting a compound having aziridinyl and ethylenic groups with terminal carboxyl groups of a polyamide resin.
JP 62057479 describes a solvent-resistant adhesive comprised of an unsaturated polyester resin having both terminal and in-chain ethylenic double bonds obtained by reacting a compound having aziridinyl and ethylenic groups with terminal carboxyl groups of an unsaturated polyester resin.
JP 62057478 describes a solvent-resistant adhesive comprised of an unsaturated polyester resin having terminal and in-chain ethylenic double bonds obtained by reacting a terminal hydroxyl group of an unsaturated polyester resin with an epoxy (meth)acrylate.
JP 62089782 describes a solvent-resistant adhesive obtained by reaction between a high-molecular weight diol, preferably a polyester diol of polyethylene-butylene-adipate, a divalent isocyanate compound, a chain extender and a hindered nitrogen atom compound such as one containing a piperizine ring.
JP 03259981 describes a solvent-resistant adhesive comprised of a composition prepared by compounding a block copolymer and an isocyanate pre-polymer. The block copolymer comprises a block consisting of at least two kinds of aromatic vinyl monomer and a block consisting of at least one kind of a conjugated diene monomer in which at least 50% of carbon-carbon double bonds in the block have been hydrogenated (e.g. a hydrogenated styrene-isoprene-styrene triblock copolymer). The isocyanate prepolymer is obtained by reacting an isocyanate compound with a liquid polymer which comprises a polymer of isoprene or isoprene-butadiene mixture and has 1.5-5.0 hydroxyl groups in the molecule and in which at least 50% of the carbon-carbon double bonds have been hydrogenated.
JP 09165565 describes a solvent-resistant adhesive composition which is a blend of a base polymer with a tackifier resin and, optionally, a softening agent or a wax, a block copolymer which comprises one or more hydrogenated butadiene polymer blocks, one or more of aromatic vinyl compound polymer blocks and one or more polymer blocks substantially having an olefin polymer structure.

Silylated polymer derived from butadiene and solvent-resistant pressure sensitive adhesive composition containing same


A polyurethane catalyst composition comprises N,N'-bis(3-dimethylaminopropyl) urea and 3-dimethylaminopropyl urea in a ratio that can be varied to systematically control flowability, airflow, and force-to-crush physical properties for flexible polyurethane foam to enhance processibility. Increasing the N,N'-bis(3-dimethylaminopropyl) urea to 3-dimethylaminopropyl urea ratio increases the airflow and decreases the force-to-crush values of the foam whereas decreasing the N,N'-bis(3-dimethylaminopropyl) urea to 3-dimethylaminopropyl urea ratio improves the flowability of the foam.

The present invention relates to tertiary amine catalysts for producing polyurethane foam.
Polyurethane foams are widely known and used in automotive, housing and other industries. Such foams are produced by reaction of a polyisocyanate with a polyol in the presence of various additives. One such additive is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) blowing agent which vaporizes as a result of the reaction exotherm, causing the polymerizing mass to form a foam. The discovery that CFCs deplete ozone in the stratosphere has resulted in mandates diminishing CFC use. Production of water-blown foams, in which blowing is performed with CO2 generated by the reaction of water with the polyisocyanate, has therefore become increasingly important. Tertiary amine catalysts are typically used to accelerate blowing (reaction of water with isocyanate to generate CO2) and gelling (reaction of polyol with isocyanate).
The ability of the tertiary amine catalyst to selectively promote either blowing or gelling is an important consideration in selecting a catalyst for the production of a particular polyurethane foam. If a catalyst promotes the blowing reaction to a too high degree, much of the CO2 will be evolved before sufficient reaction of isocyanate with polyol has occurred, and the CO2 will bubble out of the formulation, resulting in collapse of the foam. A foam of poor quality will be produced. In contrast, if a catalyst too strongly promotes the gelling reaction, a substantial portion of the CO2 will be evolved after a significant degree of polymerization has occurred. Again, a poor quality foam, this time characterized by high density, broken or poorly defined cells, or other undesirable features, will be produced.
Tertiary amine catalysts generally are malodorous and offensive and many have high volatility due to their low molecular weight. Release of tertiary amines during foam processing may present significant safety and toxicity problems, and release of residual amines from consumer products is generally undesirable.
Amine catalysts which contain urea functionality (e.g., RNHCONHR') have an increase in molecular weight and hydrogen bonding and reduced volatility and odor when compared to related structures which lack this functionality. Furthermore, catalysts which contain urea functionality chemically bond into the urethane during the reaction and are not released from the finished product. Catalyst structures which embody this concept are typically of low to moderate activity and promote both the blowing (water-isocyanate) and the gelling (polyol-isocyanate) reactions to varying extents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,017 discloses the use of certain diffusion stable amino alkyl ureas having tertiary amino groups in the production of a polyisocyanate addition product which do not discolor or change the constitution of surrounding materials. Specifically taught are Catalyst A and Catalyst D which are reaction products of dimethylaminopropylamine and urea.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,140 discloses the use of N,N'-bis(3-dimethylaminopropyl)urea as a low odor catalyst for the manufacture of polyurethanes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,069 discloses the use of N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-(3-morpholino-propyl)urea, N,N'-bis(3-dimethylaminopropyl)urea and N,N'-bis(3-morpholinopropyl)urea as catalysts for producing polyurethane foams.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,827 discloses the use of certain alkyl substituted ureas including N,N-bis(3-dimethylaminopropyl)urea which provide lower odor and a delay in the foaming reaction that aids in the production of polyurethane foam.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,656 discloses the use of N-alkyl ureas as catalysts for the reaction of 1,5-napthylene diisocyanate with polyols or for the chain extension of prepolymers based upon 1,5-napthylene diisocyanate without accelerating atmospheric oxidation.
DE 30 27 796 A1 discloses the use of higher molecular weight dialkyl aminoalkyl ureas as reduced odor catalysts for the production of polyurethane foam.

Polyurethane catalyst compositions for improving foam performance


A mail case system facilitates sequence-sorting various types of mail together into individual bags that each represent delivery points. The mail case uses multi-bag inserts so that bags for a number of stops can be set up for sorting. At the end of the sorting operation, the entire insert may be pulled down from the case as a single unit to maintain the established delivery point sequence.

Each day more than 200,000 United States Postal Service (USPS) carriers deliver mail to approximately 100 million individual domestic addresses. Mail generally consists of three broad types of items, namely letters, flat mail that is larger than letter mail, and parcels. Before a carrier begins to walk through or drive through his or her delivery route, it is the carrier's responsibility to put all of this mail into an appropriate sequence for efficient delivery.
Under the present USPS procedure, the carrier assembles at least three sequenced stacks of mail, including letters, flats (including enveloped and non-enveloped magazines), and parcels. The carrier may also have one or more additional sequenced stacks, e.g., pre-sorted mass-mail items to be delivered to many or all of the stops on the delivery route. Thus, at each delivery stop the carrier selects the items for that address from each of the various stacks and puts them all into the postal patron's mailbox. This sorting and shuffling through various stacks of mail is time consuming, inefficient, and consequently expensive to the USPS.
Preliminary tests by the USPS indicate significant potential savings in carrier delivery time if all of the mail pieces for each stop are consolidated into a single package before the carrier begins delivery activities. However, with current mail sorting procedures and the mail-casing equipment now available to the carriers, the additional time required for the carrier to pre-consolidate the mail into individual packages essentially negates the potential savings in delivery time.
More efficient procedures and equipment can be deployed within the post office to make the operation more efficient, thus saving substantial amounts of time and money, by making use of a different sorting system and method as described herein. The current mail case into which the carrier pre-sequences the mail is shown in FIG. 1 as mail case 20. Mail case 20 is not ergonomically well designed to accommodate letters and flats together, nor highly suitable to facilitate expeditious containerizing most or all of each patron's mail for efficient delivery.
Two significant problems have been observed. Dividers 21 between stops in existing USPS mail cases are relatively rigid, and they cannot conveniently be repositioned during a sort. If a particular patron gets an excessive amount of mail on a given day, the carrier removes part or all of it temporarily. The carrier then must reconsolidate that patron's mail at the end of the casing operation. Also, as the slot fills, it becomes increasingly difficult to case additional mail into that slot. A more flexible partition between slots would help to remedy both of these shortcomings.
The slots are generally too small to accommodate flats without folding them over as shown in FIG. 1 (folded flat 22). This folding operation is time-consuming and thus costly, and it tends to fill the slot prematurely. In some cases the mail cannot be folded without incurring damage. In this case it must be handled separately, incurring additional handling time and associated labor cost. Larger slots eliminate some of this additional handling effort, but wastes space.
For efficient delivery, all of the mail for each postal patron should be individually containerized or wrapped. To accomplish this with the existing case 20, the contents from each slot must be removed and packaged one stop at a time. With the existing USPS case design, the time required to package each patron's mail stop-by-stop exceeds the resulting time savings along the delivery route.
The USPS has attempted a system wherein a grocery store-style frame holds a horizontal stack of plastic bags. One bag is torn off the pad and made ready for filling by stretching it open on the frame, while the remaining bags remain on the pad in a closed or completely collapsed (flat) condition. In pulling down the mail from the slots in the case, the postal carrier takes mail from one slot, puts it in a bag, removes the bag from the frame and puts it in a flats tub or letter tray, generally in delivery order. This exposes the next bag on the frame for the mail in the next case slot corresponding to a delivery address. This process makes use of bags to keep mail for a single destination together, but requires several steps and is thus labor intensive. The pull-down process is carried out one destination at a time.


A method of generating an output vector to identify a character-of-interest using a sparse distributed memory (SDM) module. The method includes obtaining a feature vector having a vector address. The feature vector is based on a character-of-interest in an acquired image. The method also includes identifying activated locations from hard locations by determining relative distances between the vector address and the stored vector location addresses. Stored content counters of the activated locations include first and second stored sub-sets of counters. The method also includes combining the counters of the first stored sub-sets of the activated locations using a first summation thread to provide a first combined sub-set of values. The method also includes combining the counters of the second stored sub-sets of the activated locations using a second summation thread to provide a second combined sub-set of values. The first and second summation threads are run in parallel.

A variety of items used in commerce include machine-readable markings that provide information about the items. The information may not only be used to determine a price of the item (e.g., when checking out at a supermarket) as in some cases, but can also be used to determine a production/usage history of an item (e.g., lot number, date of manufacture, and period of use). Items are often labeled with removable tags, or containers that bold the items can be labeled. In some instances, the markings are physically part of the item. For example, an automotive part can be directly marked through dot peening, etching, hammering, molding, casting, and the like.
Items that are directly marked may be exposed to conditions that are capable of damaging the physical markings. For example, a machine part may be used and then refurbished for a second lifetime of use. However, during use of the machine part or during the refurbishing process, the markings may become scratched, worm, soiled, or otherwise rendered more difficult to read. In some cases, if any one of the characters is unreadable for an individual or scanner, the part may be required to undergo more extensive analysis to identify the part or it may even be scrapped completely.
Regardless of how the items are marked, character-recognition systems can be memory intensive and take a substantial amount of time to identify the characters. If the markings have been rendered more difficult to read, character-recognition systems can be unreliable and provide incorrect information.

System and method for identifying a character-of-interest


A door framing apparatus provided wherein a set of four spacer/retainer clips permits easy installation of a pre-hung door jamb assembly by a single installer. The clips maintain a uniform reveal space around the door, protects the assemblies from damage during shipping and holds the door together during shipment and installation.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the packaging and installation of a pre-hung door jamb assembly.
In a large percentage of installed doors, either commercial or residential, builders purchase the doors as pre-hung door jamb assemblies. Namely, the door is already hung in the jamb assembly when it arrives to the builder. This is accomplished by attaching the door to one side of the jamb assembly by a hinge or hinges, or other equivalent securing means. The other side of the door is usually provided with a lockset and knob opening. The jamb member positioned immediately adjacent to the lockset and knob opening side is fixed with a latch or striker plate opening so that the door can be securely shut after it has been installed.
When a builder purchases a pre-hung door jamb assembly, the door will typically be shipped inside of the door jamb. That is, the door will be xe2x80x9cclosedxe2x80x9d as opposed to xe2x80x9copenxe2x80x9d in the jamb. To keep the door closed during shipping, the manufacturer may directly fasten the door and the jamb together on the side opposite the hinges. Alternatively, the manufacturer may space the jamb from the door by a plurality of shipping stabilizers. These stabilizers are often thin pieces of wood, paper or cardboard. The stabilizers are secured and held in place in between the door and jamb either by nail or by adhesive. The entire assembly may then be strapped with a cellophane material or the like. For commercial metal pre-hung doors, L-shaped stabilizing brackets may be bolted into the edge of the door and the front of the jamb. Stanley Tools uses these types of L-shaped brackets.
In most cases, when the pre-hung door jamb assembly arrives at the installation site, the builder frees the jamb member opposite the hinges by removing any nails or strapping that restricts the swinging of the door. Generally, the builder removes all of the pieces attached to the door jamb assembly during shipping, save the hinges. In this manner, the door may swing inside the jamb at the hinges, thus facilitating the installation of the assembly into the door frame. In order to install the door, the builder first aligns the assembly within the door frame. Then, the door is opened. Next, the builder nails the door jamb into the king stud. Finally, the door is opened and closed to test the reveal space of the door. The reveal space is the gap in between the closed door and the jamb. Typically, no ruler is used when measuring the reveal space. The builder completes the installation by making any necessary adjustments to the reveal, space.
Ideally, two installers work together while installing the door. One of the installers may keep the free swinging door shut, while the other aligns the assembly with the door frame. Typically, however, only one installer must attempt to align the assembly, while keeping the door shut at the same time. An installer cannot leave the nails or strapping in place to keep the door shut since they cannot be practically removed once the assembly is placed within the door frame. This one-man process usually results in a poorly aligned door. A single installer can generally install a pre-hung door jamb assembly in 20 to 30 minutes. While there is a significant time savings in the installation of pre-hung door jamb assemblies over the installation of doors that are not pre-hung, it is desirable to further reduce the time to install pre-hung doors while improving the alignment of the assembly in the frame.
Another difficulty inherent in the installation of a pre-hung door assembly is maintaining a desirable and uniform reveal space between the door and jamb. Although the manufacturer may secure the door to the jamb with hinges, leaving a desirable reveal space, the door may shift inside of the assembly during shipping. Thus, the installer may need to realign the door and jamb to reset the reveal space. This realignment adds time to the installation process. To circumvent this problem, manufacturers have used spacers positioned between the door and jamb to maintain the reveal space. The spacers have a thickness substantially equal to the desired reveal space, {fraction (3/32)}xe2x80x2 for an inside door and xe2x85x9xe2x80x2 for an outside door. Since the door and jamb may shift and separate, the spacers may become dislodged, necessitating the use of replacement spacers.
Another problem with pre-hung door jamb assemblies is the damage to the assemblies during the shipping process. When hinges are used to attach the door to the jamb, the hinges protrude from the assembly. That is, the hinges are not flush with the door. Thus, when the assemblies are stacked on top of or side-by-side next to each other or otherwise come into contact, the protruding hinges may dent, scratch or otherwise damage another assembly. It is desirable to avoid these types of damage.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a more efficient device that will aid in maintaining the reveal space between the door and jamb during shipping and installation. Additionally, it is desirable to provide a device that will allow a door to be installed easily by a single installer. Finally, it is desirable to provide a device which will protect the assemblies from damage during shipping. It is to these ends that the present invention is directed.
In accordance with this invention, a set of four spacer/retainer clips is provided wherein each of the clips comprise a plastic or substantially similar material that is shaped in such a way as to attach to the jamb and keep the door shut, while maintaining a uniform reveal space. between the door and jamb. The two clips that attach to the top corners of the door jamb assembly are physically identical, while the two clips that attach to the bottom of the door jamb assembly are similar, but are mirror images of each other.
To accomplish these functions, the invention involves the use of four spacer/retainer clips that hold the four corners of the door to the corresponding location inside the jamb. When the clips are properly attached to the jamb, the clips keep the door shut, while maintaining a uniform reveal space. Additionally, by keeping the door shut, a single installer may align the assembly with greater ease. Furthermore, when attached, the clips provide separation to prevent the protruding hinges from damaging other doors during shipping. The clips also protect the surface of the assembly from scratching and marring. Finally, the clips may be removed during the last stages of the installation process, leaving a negligible effect on the appearance of the assembly.
The invention allows a pre-hung door jamb assembly to be installed rapidly and precisely into any door frame, either residential or commercial. Furthermore, the invention facilitates the installation of the assembly by a single installer. Additionally, the invention allows the assembly to be shipped without fear of damage or misalignment of the reveal space.
Thus, in accordance with the invention, a clip for temporarily securing a door to a first door jamb member and a second door jamb member is provided. The clip has a base region and first and second flaps that extend down from the base region and attach to a first and second edge of the base region. The clip also has a support member that is attached to the base region at the intersection of the first and second edges of the base region so that the support member extending down from the base region. The clip also has a bracket having a first and second portion that is positioned underneath the base region of the clip wherein a first door jamb member is positionable between the first portion of the bracket and the first flap, a second door jamb member is positionable between the second portion of the bracket and the second flap and the ends of the first door jamb member and the second door jamb member are postionable within the support member.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a clip for temporarily securing a bottom of a door to a first door jamb member is provided. The clip comprises a base region and a first and second flaps that extend down from the base region and attach to a first and second edge of the base region. The clip also has a spacer that is positioned underneath the base region of the clip wherein a first door jamb member is positionable between the spacer and the first flap and a door is positionable between the spacer and the second flap.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a pre-hung door assembly is provided. The assembly has a first and second vertical door jamb members spaced apart from each other, a horizontal jamb member connected between the first and second vertical door jamb members and a door positioned between the first and second vertical door jamb members and the horizontal jamb member and secured to the first vertical door jamb member by hinges. The assembly also has a first top corner clip that secures the first vertical door jamb member to the horizontal jamb member and the door and a second top corner clip that secures the second vertical door jamb member to the horizontal jamb member and the door. The assembly also has a bottom left corner clip that secures the bottom of the second vertical door jamb member to the bottom of the door and a bottom right corner clip that secures that secures the bottom of the first vertical door jamb member to the bottom of the door wherein the first top corner clip, the second top corner clip, the bottom left corner clip and the bottom right corner clip each hold the door shut during installation.

Pre-hung door corner spacer/retainer clips and pre-hung door assembly


An electrical connector structure is provided. The electrical connector structure is applicable in an electronic device having a printed circuit board (PCB), and is electrically connected with the PCB via a flexible flat cable (FFC). The electrical connector structure includes a plurality of electrical terminals disposed on the PCB, and a sleeve lid disposed at the position corresponding to the electrical terminals. The sleeve lid is formed with an opening. The FFC extends into the opening to contact the electrical terminals. A blade spring disposed on the surface of the sleeve lid is used to press the FFC, making its contact with the electrical terminals compact.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector structure, and more particularly, to an electrical connector structure applicable in a flexible printed circuit board or a flexible flat cable.
2. Related Art
A connector is an important component for connecting circuits or signals between electronic apparatuses. The application field of the connector is quite wide. Industries such as computer, communication, and data transmission, even medical treatment, industrial electronic measuring instruments and automobiles all need to use connectors. However, with the trend of development of smaller and thinner electronic apparatuses, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) board and flexible flat cable (FFC) are widely used in electronic apparatuses such as mobile phones, keyboards, hard disk drivers, fax machines and other multimedia apparatuses. Thus the FPC/FFC electrical connector used to connect the flexible printed circuit board and the motherboard or connect the flexible flat cable and the motherboard is correspondingly applied in the above-mentioned electronic apparatuses. Currently, in the field of the FPC/FFC electrical connector, the electrical connector used for electrically connecting the FPC board mainly includes an insulating body, a plurality of terminals accommodated in the insulating body, and a card board moveably assembled to the insulating body. When the FPC board is inserted into the insulating body, the card board presses against the FPC board, so that the FPC board is electrically contacted with the plurality of terminals.
As disclosed in U.S. patent publication No. U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,797, an electrical connector for electrically connecting a FPC circuit board is provided. As shown in FIG. 1 of the patent No. U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,797, a pair of arm receptacles 26 is formed at the external side walls of an insulator 1, which has a clamping slot disposed thereon. A handling portion 11 can be moved in the clamping slot via the arm 23, so that a space for inserting is left between the handling portion and the insulating body. When the FPC board is inserted, the handling portion 11 is pressed into a socket of the insulating body 1. Here, a pressing part of the handling portion 11 presses the FPC board, so that its conductive part closely contacts with the plurality of terminals to form the electrical connection between the FPC board and the electrical connector.
As shown in FIG. 2, a connector 20a is electrically connected to a FPC board 30a, and the connector 20a includes a plug terminal 23a and a slot 24a. The slot 24a is provided for inserting a FFC 40a. The FFC 40a is electrically connected with the FPC board 30a via the connector 20a.
However, the electrical connector stricture establishing the electrical connection via this indirect manner has a highly complicated structure and is hard to be assembled. In addition, when the material department is performing an incoming material operation, it should be considered that, when a single electrical connector is used with other electronic devices, the complexity in processing is caused. Also, the price of the electrical connector is an important factor influencing the incoming material operation. For example, with the increase of the number of plug terminals in the electrical connector, the price of the electrical connector also becomes higher. Meanwhile, in order to connect the single electrical connector to different electronic devices, its volume and occupied space is quite large, which is not suitable for being used in the current electronic devices required to be flat.

Connector for electronically connecting a cable and a printed circuit board


A system includes an anchor body, having a head and a hollow chamber shaft coupled to the head. The system includes a housing component configured to support the anchor body. The system also includes one or more fasteners supported by the housing component. At least one of the fasteners is coupled to the head of the anchor body, and an apex of each fastener is positioned to be above the head of the anchor body.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of anchoring systems, and more particularly to anchoring systems assembled within a concrete deck. Specifically, the present embodiments are related to anchoring systems that are utilized to fasten various construction elements to the concrete deck.
In typical construction sites, deck construction (e.g., decking) is often utilized to build the floors and ceilings of multiple story buildings. In such buildings, anchoring systems may be installed to suspend various construction elements (e.g., pipes, sprinkler systems, HVAC components, conduits, electrical elements, etc.) from the ceiling. In certain situations, the anchoring systems may be positioned during the construction of the deck, before concrete is poured. For example, a wood form, a fluted, and/or a corrugated metal sheet of alternating peaks and valleys may be installed as a base. Further, various anchoring systems are positioned throughout the deck based on the desired function and position of the construction elements that the anchoring systems are configured to support within the building. After the anchoring systems are properly positioned in the base, concrete is poured over the base, thereby securing and embedding the anchoring system. After formation of the deck (e.g., the floors and ceilings of the building), a male or female connection may be threaded into the anchoring system to securely suspend or fasten the construction element from the ceiling.
In certain situations, the anchoring systems (or a feature of the anchoring system) may be dislodged or displaced after positioned throughout the deck and before the concrete is poured. For example, after an anchoring system is positioned on the deck, various activities around the job site (e.g., individuals walking around, concrete pouring, concrete vibrations, etc.) may lead to accidental displacement of the anchoring systems. Further, in certain situations, user error while positioning the anchoring system into the deck may cause deformation of various features of the anchoring system. Furthermore, in certain situations, concrete may ingress into the anchoring system while it is poured, thereby hindering the desired functionality of the anchor system. Accordingly, it may be beneficial to design an anchoring system that improves these and other concerns.

Systems and methods for a cast-in anchor


A semiconductor device which controls output of a plurality of voltages is provided. A power supply control circuit which drives the semiconductor device includes a reference voltage generating circuit and a stabilized power supply circuit. The stabilized power supply circuit has a function of outputting a voltage input from a sample-and-hold circuit and amplified by the amplifier circuit. A control circuit has a function of setting an output voltage of the power supply control circuit. The sample-and-hold circuit in the stabilized power supply circuit includes a transistor whose on/off state is controlled. In such a configuration, a voltage set by the control circuit can be held and output.

1. Field of the Invention
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a semiconductor device and an electronic device.
Note that one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above technical field. The technical field of one embodiment of the invention disclosed in this specification and the like relates to an object, a method, or a manufacturing method. The present invention relates to a process, a machine, manufacture, or a composition of matter. In particular, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a semiconductor device, a display device, a light-emitting device, a power storage device, a storage device, a driving method thereof, or a manufacturing method thereof.
In this specification and the like, a semiconductor device means a device, a circuit, an element, and the like that can function by utilizing semiconductor characteristics. An example of the semiconductor device is a semiconductor element such as a transistor or a diode. Another example of the semiconductor device is a circuit including a semiconductor element. Another example of the semiconductor device is a device provided with a circuit including a semiconductor element.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor device serving as a power supply circuit outputs different power supply voltages. A power supply circuit which outputs a power supply voltage to an active matrix display device outputs different power supply voltages to a driver circuit for driving a data line and a driver circuit for controlling a scan line, for example.
In a power supply circuit in Patent Document 1, for example, voltages input from an analog multiplexer and a sample-and-hold circuit are calculated using a voltage arithmetic circuit, and input and output of applied voltage are controlled.
For example, a power supply circuit in Patent Document 2 supplies a voltage output from a direct current voltage conversion circuit and a voltage output from a stabilized power supply circuit to each driver circuit as a power supply voltage. As the stabilized power supply circuit, a switching regulator or a linear regulator is used.

Semiconductor device and electronic device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A method for manufacturing sliders from a bar has: a radiating step which includes radiating an electromagnetic wave on at least a part of each space on a second surface of said bar, wherein said second surface is a back surface of a first surface of said bar, said first surface being formed into an air bearing surface of said slider, wherein said space is sandwiched between said elements, and wherein said electromagnetic wave is radiated such that an entire portion of said bar forms a curved shape such that said first surface forms a convex surface; a lapping step of lapping said first surface while pressing said bar against a lapping surface such that said first surface of each element forms a concave shape; and a dicing step of dicing said bar along said spaces to separate said bar into said sliders.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a slider that is used for a hard disk drive, and particularly relates to a method for forming a camber on the air bearing surface of a slider.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hard disk drive, which is a recording medium that is high-speed, large-capacity, high-reliability and low-cost, is widely used for recording digital information. The hard disk drive has a magnetic head slider (referred to as a slider hereafter) that is provided with at least either of a write head portion for writing information to a recording medium and a read head portion for reading information from the recording medium. A read/write portion, which merges the write head portion and the read head portion, is arranged at one end of the slider. The surface of the slider that is opposite to the recording medium is called an ABS (air bearing surface).
The air bearing surface (ABS) has rail-like protrusions in order to improve flying characteristics and operating characteristics of the slider. Further, the air bearing surface is often formed into a curved surface called a crown and a camber. The crown is a curved surface in a plane that includes the depth direction (the direction along which air flows) of a slider. The camber is a curved surface in a plane that includes the width direction (the direction that is orthogonal to the direction along which the air flows) of a slider.
A lot of methods for forming the camber, which is the subject matter of the present invention, have been disclosed. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 84312/94 (Patent Document 1) discloses a method for forming a camber in a predetermined shape by radiating laser on an element that is to be formed into a slider. Residual stress is caused in the element by forming rails and lapping the slider. The camber is formed in a predetermined shape by radiating laser on the slider from the side that is opposite to the air bearing surface, and thereby selectively removing the surface layer of the opposite surface to change the stress state of the element.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 110934/99 (Patent Document 2) discloses a method for forming a camber in a predetermined shape by blasting micro particles that are made of hard material onto a bar at a high speed, while protecting rails, which are formed on the air bearing surface, with a resist film for ion-milling, thereby causing compressive stress in the surface layer of the air bearing surface other than the rails.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-3570 (Patent Document 3) discloses a process of forming grooves in a predetermined shape on a surface of a bar that is to be formed into the air bearing surface, and lapping the bar by pressing the bar against a plate having a curved surface. Since the grooves formed on the bar open and the bar bends when the bar is pressed against the lapping plate, a camber is formed with a desired curvature according to the curvature of the lapping plate.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 213368/99 (Patent Document 4) discloses a process of bonding a slider to a jig having a concave curved shape using an adhesive on the back surface of a surface that is to be formed into the air bearing surface, deforming the slider in a curved shape by curing the adhesive, and lapping the surface flat that is to be formed into the air bearing surface. When lapping is finished and the slider is removed from the jig, the adhesive force is released, and a camber having a predetermined curvature is formed on the air bearing surface.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 203051/96 (Patent Document 5) discloses a method for lapping a bar by pressing the bar against a lapping surface whose height differs at an inner peripheral portion and at an outer peripheral portion. The bar is formed in a spherical shape that extends from the inner peripheral portion to the outer peripheral portion.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 334643/93 (Patent Document 6) discloses a process of forming micro grooves called scribed lines which extend on the air bearing surface except for rails in a longitudinal direction of the slider. The mechanical stress, which is generated when the scribed lines are formed, makes the machining marks open on both sides thereof, and the air bearing surface is deformed in a curved shape having a camber.
In the techniques which are described in Patent Documents 2 to 6, a slider is directly machined or a lapping plate having a specific surface is used in order to form a camber. In recent years, as a hard disk drive is miniaturized in order to mount the hard disk drive on a cellular phone etc., the slider itself is miniaturized from a conventional 30-percent slider (a slider having a dimension of approximately 1.0 mm×1.235 mm×0.3 mm) to a 20-percent slider (a slider having a dimension of approximately 0.7 mm×0.85 mm×0.23 mm) and a further miniaturization has been studied. Further, a flying height has been becoming smaller and smaller in recent years, because reduction in the flying height of a slider is effective for increasing recording density of a recording medium. In order to meet those requirements, accuracy in machining operation and the lapping surface need to be enhanced in accordance with the size and flying height of a slider. However, these methods, such as machining a slider, have their limitation and may worsen the cost and yield of the product.
The technique described in Patent Document 1, which utilizes a quite different principle, i.e. radiation of laser, is less restrictive to the requirement for miniaturization and reduction in the flying height of a slider. However, there is a problem that the stress state (compressive stress) that is generated by the radiation of laser tends to be released during inspections in the manufacturing process of a hard disk or by thermal shocks during operation of the hard disk, leading to a worsened reliability for the stability of the shape.

Method for manufacturing a slider using electromagnetic wave


A rotor of an induction motor includes a core assembly including a plurality of core discs formed with a plurality of slots; a plurality of conductive bars passing through the slots, each of the conductive bars having a first end and a second end respectively extended out of a first end surface and a second end surface of the core assembly; a first end ring assembly including a plurality of first conductive rings stacked on each other and penetrated by the first ends of the conductive bars; and a second end ring assembly including a plurality of second conductive rings stacked on each other and penetrated by the second ends of the conductive bars; wherein the first conductive rings and the second conductive rings are respectively welded to the first ends and the second ends of the conductive bars by electron beam welding or laser welding.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotor of an induction motor, and more particularly, to a rotor of an induction motor with end ring assemblies formed by electron beam welding or laser welding.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A rotor of an induction motor generally comprises a shaft and a laminated magnetic core mounted to the shaft. The laminated magnetic core is formed with a plurality of slots for allowing a plurality of conductive bars to pass through. The conductive bars extend out of both ends of the laminated magnetic core, and an end ring or end cap at either end of the laminated magnetic core is configured to mechanically and electrically connect to the conductive bars.
In one well known method of rotor production, the conductive bars and the end rings are integrally formed by casting. However, the conductive bars may shrink after formation, such that the conductive bars are loose in the slots. In addition, bubbles may form in structures of the conductive bars and the end rings, and layers of insulation material on surfaces of the laminated magnetic core may be damaged during the casting process. The prior art provides several techniques for solving the above problem by forming the conductive bars and the end rings (or end caps) separately. For example, US patent application number 2014/0339950 discloses a rotor assembly with end caps welded to conductive bars by electron beam welding. However, the end caps are formed by forging, which requires more complex manufacturing processes. Moreover, each of the conductive bars is welded to the end cap at one single position, thus connection reliability between the conductive bars and the end caps may not be sufficient for long term operation.

Rotor of induction motor and method for manufacturing the same


A method of modifying screened image data so that there is no visible seam when the image is printed repeatedly in a circumferential direction, for example using a drum output device. One version applicable to images screened using a supercell includes cutting the image so that the image size in the circumferential direction is an integral number of screen supercells. Another version includes displacing halftone dots in a neighborhood of the seam such that the seam is not visible in a repeated print.

The invention relates to pre-press, and in particular to preparing data for repetitive imaging of a screened image on a flexographic printing sleeve or roller.
At present, flexography is one of the main printing processes. A flexographic ("flexo") sleeve, normally rubber or photopolymer, is fabricated in such a way that the areas corresponding to zones to be inked are geometrically higher than the areas corresponding to zones not to be inked. Contacting the flexo sleeve with an inking roller, such as an anilox roller, inks the flexo sleeve. Only the geometrically higher zones of the flexo sleeve are inked, other areas are not inked. Subsequently, the inked flexo sleeve is brought in contact with a substrate and the inked parts transfer ink onto the substrate, thus producing the desired image on the substrate.
In flexography, there is demand for printing continuous designs such as wallpaper, decoration and gift wrapping paper. In general, such flexography applications use a cylindrical form, usually a printing sleeve or a cylindrical printing cylinder formed by fusing the edges of a sheet together to form a seamless, continuous element. Such continuous printing elements are well suited for mounting on conventional laser exposing equipment ("imagers") such as the Esko-Graphics Cyrel® Digital Imager (Esko-Graphics, Gent, Belgium) or flexography engravers available from ZED Instruments Ltd. (Hersham, Surrey, England) or Applied Laser Engineering Ltd. (West Molesey, Surrey, England).
Many designs typically need to be screened (halftoned) before being output on an imagesetter or engraver. Screening of separated data is performed using a Raster Image Processor (RIP), that converts the continuous-tone (contone) data of each of a set of color separations into a binary image, e.g., a bitmap by replacing the "gray" values in the original color separation data by screening dots of proper area density. FIG. 1 shows a color separation 100 after screening with an area 102 enlarged so that the screening pattern of screening dots such as dot 104 is visible. Most modern screens are defined by a screen resolution, a screen angle, a line-count (also called screen ruling), and a dot shape. Each of the color separations is thus screened. The characteristics of the different colors' screens are chosen so that they can combine to form a color image having negligible artifacts such as Moire patterns.
For continuous designs, it is desirable to select the screen characteristics so that the screen repeats exactly with the circumference of the sleeve or roller in the fast-scan direction of the imager, e.g., the circumferential direction in the case of a drum imager. The circumferential zero-line position is the line of repetition, i.e., the circumferential position where the imaging commences on the sleeve of the drum, and every circumferential position that is an integral number of rotations away. If the screen does not repeat with the circumference, the mismatch between the screening on the sides of the line of repetition—the circumferential zero-line—results in a visible seam in the print. The circumferential zero-line is thus also called the seam herein. FIG. 2A shows a drum 202 with a sleeve or roller 204 attached. FIG. 2B shows in enlarged form the image 208 on the drum region that includes the circumferential zero line shown as 206. The circumferential direction is shown as the fast-scan direction 212 and the axial direction as is the slow-scan direction 214. As can be seen, unless care is taken, an undesirable mismatch pattern forms at the seam.
Special screens and screening techniques have been developed for continuous printing to prevent the appearance of such a visible seam. However, using such special "seamless"screens may have some limitations. For example, forcing the seamless property may restrict the combinations of line-counts, imaging resolution, and dot shapes that are available. Furthermore, there are many RIPS already installed that are not able to generate such seamless screens. Furthermore, there the separations may include one or more areas of pre-scanned, pre-screened art, and for such art, the screens are pre-determined.
There thus is a need for a method to process a set of already screened separations, at least one of which has a mismatch in the screening pattern along the circumferential zero-axis of the sleeve or roller in order to either eliminate or at least hide the mismatch so that continuous designs may be printed without a visible seam.

Method and apparatus for eliminating seams in screened image data for repetitive printing


A sensor is installed in a building management system by determining a sensor type of the sensor from among a plurality of supported sensor types based on information collected by a mobile device of a user; identifying configuration information required by the building management system for the determined sensor type; obtaining the required configuration information from the user using an interface on the mobile device, wherein at least a portion of the interface is generated to accommodate one or more requirements of the building management system with respect to the determined sensor type; and providing the obtained required configuration information to the building management system. The sensor type and unique identifier of the sensor can be automatically determined. Portions of the required configuration information for the determined sensor type can be automatically populated using default information for the determined sensor type.

Building management systems (BMSs) are computer-based control systems that are installed in buildings to monitor and manage environmental conditions and/or the equipment in the building, such as mechanical and electrical equipment (e.g., lighting, power, ventilation and alarm systems). For example, the building management system may control the heating and cooling of a building, and the distribution of air throughout the building.
A building management system is typically comprised of a centralized BMS controller, as well as a plurality of sensors distributed throughout the building. The installation of the sensors typically requires a technician to make a number of trips back and forth between the area where the sensor is being installed and the location of the BMS controller, to install and configure the sensor and to verify that the sensor was successfully installed and is correctly reporting data. In addition, the installation of a single sensor may require coordination among multiple technicians as several systems must be directly configured to work with the new sensor (e.g., BMS hardware, BMS software and possibly other software or hardware directly interfacing with the sensor).
A need therefore exists for more efficient and accurate techniques for installing a sensor in a building management system.

Sensor installation in a building management system

International Business Machines Corporation


A seed counter for counting seeds flowing through a duct includes a light transmitter on one side of the duct and light receiver on the opposed side of the duct together with an electronic circuit effecting analysis of the signals received by the receiver to generate a seed count value which represents accurately as possible the number of seeds passing through the duct. The transmitter and receiver each comprise a channel-shaped body with diodes at a base of the channel with the channel filled with a translucent potting material facing into the duct. The circuit receives the signals which include for each passage of a seed or a clump of seeds a temporary reduction in light intensity which is converted to a reduction in voltage. Prior to start up the steady state voltage is measured and the current to the transmitter varied to provide a predetermined level of signal at the receiver. The circuit includes a DC compression circuit and a AC compression circuit at an amplifier so as to provide an output signal in a required amplitude range. An autobiasing section maintains a steady state signal at a required level. The amplitude of the signal is compared to a threshold by generating a first signal which is offset by the threshold and a second signal which is delayed by a predetermined time period, the comparison generating a square wave output when one of the signals crosses the other signal. The seed counter is used in a monitoring system having a central monitor which can be operated to vary the parameters of the comparison circuit including the time delay. The use of the comparison circuit assists in determining the difference between a single seed and a clump of seeds passing the transmitter/receiver simultaneously.

While various techniques have been explored for detecting seeds falling in a tube, the most commonly used technique is that of a light source and photo sensor which detect the passage of seeds by counting pulses generated by the momentary reduction in light intensity from the steady state intensity caused by the passage of a seed between the light source and the sensor.
The vast majority of products of this type actually manufactured and sold in the marketplace have been manufactured by Dickey-John Corporation and they have obtained issue of a number of patents in this field. In particular the following patents of Dickey-John have some relevance in this field.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,989 (Fathauer) discloses an arrangement in which the intensity of the light source is varied to accommodate changes in reception by the sensor due to dirt or dust collecting between the light source and the sensor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,624 (Steffen) discloses a technique for analyzing the pulses generated by the momentary change in intensity value by following the changes in direction in the pulse and by generating individual positive and negative square-wave pulses in response to each change in direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,390 (Steffen) discloses an arrangement including a plurality of light sensitive sensors and an arrangement in which the number of counts or pulses recorded is increased relative to the number of input signals in dependence upon which one or ones of the plurality of light sensitive sensors are activated and in dependence upon the rate at which the signals are produced.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,948 (Steffen) discloses an arrangement in which the amplitude of the pulses is maintained above a predetermined minimum value by the sensor circuit, despite reductions in light intensity due to the accumulation of dirt and dust.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,215 (Friend assigned to Deere & Company and issued Jan. 6, 1987) provides a yet further technique which has not achieved any commercial success. U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,855 of the same inventor is filed on the same date issued on the same date and includes exactly the same disclosure. These patents utilize a technique in which the signal is amplified by an operational amplifier and then is analyzed using an analog to digital technique in which the area under each pulse is detected by integrating the sequential digital signals. This area is then compared with the area generated by other pulses to determine those which are representative of more than one seed.
As set out in the above patents, one problem which arises in relation to seed counters of this type is that it is necessary to include in the count those seeds which pass the sensor simultaneously or partly overlapping or otherwise simply counting a number of pulses would significantly undercount the number of seeds actually passing. This correction factor varies in dependence upon the type of seeds involved in the counting including the size of the seeds, the rate of passage of the seeds, and the geometrical shape of the seeds, since some seed shapes tend to produce a dipped pulse similar to an appearance to overlapping pulses from two seeds.
A further problem relates to the accumulation of dust and dirt which can vary the intensity of light normally received by the sensor.
A yet further problem relates to the geometry of the light source and the sensor which can either leave areas of the duct which are not properly monitored or can generate spurious reflections thus distorting the pulses. This invention relates to a method for communication between components of a machine which can be used for monitoring operation of a machine and/or for actuating or controlling various aspects of the machine. The invention is particularly but not exclusively designed for use with agricultural machines such as seeders, planters and the like.
Devices for monitoring seeders, planters and the like have previously been proposed, and generally these include sensors or transducers at various locations on the device for detecting various parameters of the operation of the machine. Thus one well known requirement for a sensor is that of detecting seed flow or seed movement. In an air seeder it is often desirable to detect the flow of seeds in an air tube to provide an indication of the rate of flow which can be also used to detect a blockage or zero flow. Further sensors have been provided for detecting the rate of rotation of shafts of the machine either for detecting seed supply rate or for detecting other parameters such as ground speed as detected by rotation of an axle. Yet further sensors have been provided for detecting a level of filling of a supply tank.
Generally the detection apparatus includes a central control unit with a key pad for allowing manual data entry, a display for providing information to the operator and a communication system for communication between the central control unit and the individual sensors. Generally devices of this type have used sensors which are simply switches or transducers which therefore provide a simple detection of a parameter to be detected and transmit a signal to the central control unit on detection of the parameter. Thus the conventional sensor does not include any memory or logic control so that the information is not acted upon or stored at the sensor itself. Such sensors require direct communication from the sensor itself to the control unit thus requiring individual wiring from each sensor to the control unit.
As the monitoring devices of this type become more complex and require more parameters to be monitored, the complexity of such individual wiring arrangements significantly increases cost and installation complication.
In addition to the monitoring function the present invention can also be used in relation to combined monitoring and control functions and also in relation to communication protocols between elements of a control system which does not include any monitoring function.

Seed counting apparatus for a planter monitor


A device includes a decoder, a selector, and a plurality of registers. The decoder is configured to generate a plurality of test signals. The selector is coupled to the decoder. The selector is configured to sequentially select a test signal from the plurality of test signals and to sequentially output the test signal selected. The plurality of registers is coupled in series to each other. The plurality of registers includes a first stage register. The first stage register is coupled to the selector to sequentially receive the test signal from the selector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a semiconductor device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device that has a test circuit that generates a test signal that performs operational adjustment of internal circuitry.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-280571, filed Dec. 16, 2010, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the shrinking of semiconductor elements, manufacturing variations in process dimensions have come to greatly affect the electrical characteristics of semiconductor elements, and the operational characteristics of a semiconductor device have come to be easily influenced by manufacturing variations. For this reason, there is an increased need to use a test circuit provided within a semiconductor device to generate a test signal so as to perform an operational test of internal circuitry included in the semiconductor device. Given this, in order to have a test circuit generate a test signal to perform a test of the operating margin of internal circuitry, the internal power supply voltage and the internal signal timing are varied so as to cause malfunctioning of the semiconductor device to surface, and to detect the semiconductor device as a malfunctioning product having a small operating margin.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JPA 2001-243796 discloses a semiconductor device having a test circuit that generates a plurality of test signals.