A motor vehicle seat including a foldable backrest and a lowerable seat part, wherein the backrest is foldable toward the seat part and a mechanism is provided so the seat part is lowerable from a use position into a forward position, wherein a coupling element is provided to couple folding-down of the backrest to forward movement and lowering of the seat part, and a locking mechanism is provided to lock the seat part in the use position. The coupling element may unlock the locking mechanism as the backrest is folded forward toward the seat part at a predefined angle of inclination, so that inclination of the backrest can be changed while the seat part is locked by folding the backrest forward to the predefined angle of inclination and the unlocked seat part is lowered into the forward position by folding the backrest further forward.

Such a motor vehicle seat designed as the middle part of a rear seat is disclosed in DE 100 55 205 A1. The seat part is mounted such that it can be moved in a pivoting manner by means of a front and a rear pivot lever device between a seat position and a flat position in which it is moved forward and lowered. The backrest is connected to the seat part by means of a connecting lever device such that the seat part assumes the raised seat position in the folded-up position of the backrest and assumes the lowered flat position or storing position in the folded-forward position.
The connecting lever device comprises a two-arm lever element, a connecting lever element and a coupling lever element. The connecting lever device is arrested in the use position of the seat part and is released by actuating a cable pull. Unlocking thus requires a Bowden cable system so that the structure as a whole is relatively complex. The Bowden cable system requires additional components, and this increases the costs of a motor vehicle seat.
DE 199 32 214 A1 discloses a vehicle seat in which the seat part can be moved forward as the backrest is folded down from an articulation point of the backrest. The backrest can be folded down toward the seat part only following actuation of an unlocking button which releases a safety catch. In the process, on the one hand the backrest is unlocked and on the other hand a clip is released so that the seat part can move forward. In order to couple the movement of the backrest and of the seat part, a mechanism with a cable pull and a spring that is not continuously biased is provided, and this mechanism is relatively complex. Without prior actuation of the unlocking button, the inclination of the backrest can be changed only by turning a hand-wheel.
DE 199 04 009 C1 discloses a motor vehicle rear seat with a foldable backrest and a seat part that can be lowered. The seat part is mounted pivotably on an intermediate frame which in turn is mounted pivotably on the floor of the vehicle. The backrest is coupled by means of a mechanical coupling element to a rod system which couples the seat part to the intermediate frame such that it can be moved in a pivoting manner. The seat as a whole can be moved forward only when it is unlocked centrally by means of a handle. The seat is relatively complex and is composed of a large number of elements.
DE 195 33 932 A1 discloses a front seat for motor vehicles in which the backrest is articulated pivotably on a carriage, wherein the carriage is mounted such that it can be displaced longitudinally and on a carriage guide fixed to the floor of the vehicle. The seat part is first pivoted forward and then the backrest with the carriage is pushed forward to come to bear against the forward-pivoted seat part. A central locking hook is provided which unlocks the seat by actuating a cable pull. Additional locking elements are thus required, so that the seat is designed in a relatively complex manner.

Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg


An arrayed waveguide grating including at least one first optical waveguide, a first slab waveguide, a plurality of arrayed waveguides, a second slab waveguide, and a plurality of second optical waveguides. The plurality of arrayed waveguides are connected to the at least one first optical waveguide via the first slab waveguide. Each of the plurality of arrayed waveguides has a different length. The plurality of second optical waveguides are connected to the plurality of arrayed waveguides via the second slab waveguide. At least one of the first and second slab waveguides is partitioned to first and second segments at a partition surface intersecting a path of light which travels through the arrayed waveguide grating. At least one of the first and second segments is configured to be slid along the partition surface to compensate an optical transmitting center wavelength of the light according to a temperature of the arrayed waveguide grating.

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 11-270201, filed Sep. 24, 1999, entitled xe2x80x9cArrayed Waveguide Gratingxe2x80x9d, Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-021533, filed Jan. 31, 2000, entitled xe2x80x9cArrayed Waveguide Gratingxe2x80x9d, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-219205, filed Jul. 19, 2000, entitled xe2x80x9cArrayed Waveguide Gratingxe2x80x9d. The Contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) which is used as, for example, an optical multiplexer or demultiplexer. Further, the present invention relates to a method for compensating an optical transmitting center wavelength of light which travels through an arrayed waveguide grating.
2. Discussion of the Background
In the field of optical communications, active researches and developments of the WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) optical communications have been made over the recent years in order to dramatically increase transmission capacity. According to the WDM optical communications, for example, plural fluxes of light having different wavelengths are transmitted in multiplexing. The WDM optical communications system includes an optical transmitting device that transmits only the beams of light having predetermined wavelengths in order to extract the light beam of each wavelength from the multiplexed beams at a light receiving side.
FIG. 11 shows an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) of a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) by way of one example of the optical transmitting device. The arrayed waveguide grating has a waveguide pattern as illustrated in FIG. 11. The waveguides include cores and claddings composed of silica-based glass or the like. The waveguides are provided on a substrate 1 which is made of silicon or the like.
In the waveguide pattern of the arrayed waveguide grating, a first slab waveguide 3 is connected to an exit side of one or more optical input waveguides 2 provided in a side-by-side relation. A plurality of arrayed waveguides 4 provided side by side are connected to an exit side of the first slab waveguide 3. A second slab waveguide 5 is connected to an exit side of the arrayed waveguides 4. A plurality of optical output waveguides 6 provided side by side are connected to an exit side of the arrayed waveguides 4.
The arrayed waveguides 4 serve to transmit the light traveling through the first slab waveguide 3. The arrayed waveguides 4 are formed to have different lengths. The lengths of the arrayed waveguides 4 adjacent to each other are different by (xcex94L). Note that the optical input waveguides 2 and the optical output waveguides 6 are provided corresponding to the number of signal lights which have wavelength different from each other and which are demultiplexed or multiplexed by, for example, the arrayed waveguide grating. Normally, the arrayed waveguides 4 include a lot of waveguides, for example, 100 waveguides. Referring to FIG. 11, however, simply countable numbers of the optical input waveguides 2, the arrayed waveguides 4 and the optical output waveguides 6 are shown therein for simplicity of illustration.
Since optical fibers (not shown) of, for example, a transmission side are connected to the optical input waveguides 2, the WDM light is introduced. The light entering the first slab waveguide via the optical input waveguides 2 expands due to a diffraction effect thereof and enters the respective arrayed waveguides 4, thus traveling through the arrayed waveguides 4.
The light traveling through the arrayed waveguides 4 arrives at the second slab waveguide 5. Then, these fluxes of light are converged on and outputted to the optical output waveguides 6. However, all the arrayed waveguide 4 have their lengths different from each other. Accordingly, there occur phase shifts between the individual beams of light after traveling through the arrayed waveguides 4. A phase front of the converged flux of light inclines corresponding to a quantity of this phase shift, and a position of the convergence is determined based on an angle of this inclination.
Therefore, the converging positions of the beams of light having different wavelengths become different from each other. The optical output waveguides 6 are provided in those different converging positions. Accordingly, the demultiplexed beams of light having different wavelengths may be outputted from the optical output waveguides 6 provided in the positions different according to the respective wavelengths.
Namely, the arrayed waveguide grating incorporates an optical demultiplexing function of demultiplexing the beams of light having one or more wavelengths from the multiplexed beams of light inputted from the optical input waveguide 2 and having the plurality of wavelengths different from each other, and outputting the thus demultiplexed beams of light from each of the optical output waveguides 6. A center wavelength of the demultiplexed beams of light is proportional to an effective refractive index (nc) of the optical waveguide 4 as well as to the difference (xcex94L) in length between the arrayed waveguides 4.
The arrayed waveguide grating exhibits the characteristics described above and is therefore used as a WDM demultiplexer for a WDM transmission. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when WDM light beams having wavelengths (xcex1, xcex2, xcex3, . . . , xcexn) (n is an integer 2 or larger) are inputted from one single line of optical input waveguide 2, the light beams having these wavelengths are expanded through the first slab waveguide 3 and arrive at the arrayed waveguides 4. The light beams travel via the second slab waveguide 5, as described above, converge on the different positions according to the wavelengths and enter the different optical output waveguides 6. The light beams then travel through the corresponding optical output waveguides 6 and are outputted from the exit ends of these optical output waveguides 6.
Then, the optical fibers (not shown) for outputting the light are connected to the exit ends of the optical output waveguides 6. Therefore, the light beams having the above wavelengths are taken out via these optical fibers. Note that when connecting the optical fibers to the optical output waveguides 6 and to the optical input waveguides 2, for instance, an optical fiber array in which the optical fibers are fixedly disposed in a one-dimensional array is prepared and fixed to connection end surface sides of the optical output waveguides 6 and of the optical input waveguides 2. Thus, the optical fibers are connected to the optical output waveguides 6 and to the optical input waveguides 2.
In this arrayed waveguide grating, the light beams outputted from the optical output waveguides 6 exhibit an optical transmitting characteristic (a wavelength characteristic of an intensity of the transmitting light of the arrayed waveguide grating) as shown in FIG. 12. Referring to FIG. 12, an optical transmission becomes smaller as the wavelength shifts from the corresponding optical transmitting center wavelength (e.g., xcex1, xcex2, xcex3, . . . , xcexn). It should be noted that the optical transmitting characteristic does not necessarily have one maximal value and might have two or more maximal values in some cases.
Further, the arrayed waveguide grating utilizes the principle of the light reciprocity (reversibility), and therefore has a function of an optical demultiplexer and a function of an optical multiplexer as well. That is, in a direction reverse to the direction in FIG. 11, the light beams having a plurality of diferrent wavelengths enter the optical output waveguides 6 corresponding to the respective wavelengths, then travel through the transmission path in the reverse direction. These light beams are multiplexed in the arrayed waveguides 4 and exit through one single optical input waveguide 2.
In the thus constructed AWG, as explained above, the wavelength resolution of the grating is proportional to the difference (xcex94L) in length between the arrayed waveguides 4 constituting the grating. Hence, the WDM light having wavelengths with small differences may be multiplexed and demultiplexed by increasing the difference (xcex94L), which could not be realized in the conventional AWG. This design makes it feasible to perform the multiplexing/demultiplexing function for plural beams of signal light which is required for actualizing high-density WDM optical communications, i.e., the function of demultiplexing or multiplexing a plurality of optical signals whose wavelength differences are at most 1 nm.
When manufacturing the AWG described above, for instance, an under cladding layer and a core layer are formed on a silicon substrate by a flame hydrolysis deposition method. Then, sintering and vitrifying thereof are effected. Thereafter, photolithography is carried out through a photomask depicted with a waveguide pattern of the AWG, and the AWG pattern is transferred onto the core layer by a reactive ion etching method. Thereafter, an over cladding layer is formed by using the flame hydrolysis deposition method once again, and sintered and vitrified, thereby manufacturing the AWG.
The AWG is mainly made of a silica-based glass material which has a temperature dependency. Accordingly, the optical transmitting center wavelength of the AWG shifts corresponding to a change in the AWG temperature. This temperature dependency is expressed by the following formula 1:                                           ⅆ            λ                                ⅆ            T                          =                                            λ                              n                c                                                                                ⅆ                                  n                  c                                                            ⅆ                T                                              +                      λ                                      xe2x80x83                                                  α              s                                                          [                  Formula                                xe2x80x83                              1                ]
where (xcex) is the optical transmitting center wavelength of the light beam outputted from the single optical output waveguide 6, (nc) is an effective refractive index of the core that forms the arrayed waveguide 4, (xcex1s) is a thermal expansion coefficient of the substrate (e.g., silicon substrate) 1, and (T) is a temperature change of the AWG.
Herein, in the typical AWG, the temperature dependency of the optical transmitting center wavelength is obtained from the formula (1). The parameters in this AWG are given such as dnc/dT=1xc3x9710xe2x88x925 (xc2x0C.xe2x88x921), xcex1s=3.0xc3x9710xe2x88x926 (xc2x0C.xe2x88x921), nc=1.451 (a value when the wavelength is 1.55 xcexcm). These values are used in the formula (1).
Further, although the wavelength (xcex) differs corresponding to each of the optical output waveguides 6, the temperature dependency of each wavelength (xcex) is the same. Then, the AWG prevailing at the present is used in many cases for demultiplexing and multiplexing the WDM light in a wavelength band in the vicinity of a wavelength of 1550 nm, and hence xcex=1550 nm is herein used in the formula (1). The temperature dependency of the optical transmitting center wavelength in the typical AWG is shown by the formula (2):                                           ⅆ            λ                                ⅆ            T                          =                  0.015                                xe2x80x83                                          (                          nm                                            /                                          xc2x0                                            xe2x80x83                                                          C                .                                      )                                              [                  Formula                                xe2x80x83                              2                ]
Note that a unit of dxcex/dT is nm/xc2x0C. Supposing that the temperature of the AWG changes, for example, by 20xc2x0 C., the optical transmitting center wavelength of the light beam outputted from the single optical output waveguide 6 shifts to 0.30 (nm). If the temperature changes, for example, 70xc2x0 C. or higher, the shift amount of the optical transmitting center wavelength becomes 1 (nm) or greater.
The AWG may demultiplex or multiplex the wavelength at a wavelength differences of as small as 1 (nm) or under and thus is applied to the WDM optical communications. It is therefore a problem arises in that the optical transmitting center wavelength, as explained above, shifts by the amount described above due to the change in the environmental temperature.
Under such circumstances, there has hitherto been proposed an arrayed waveguide grating including a temperature control mechanism for keeping a temperature of the AWG constant so that the optical transmitting center wavelength does not shift due to the temperature change. This temperature control mechanism includes, for example, a Peltier device or a heater. The temperature control mechanism control the temperature of the AWG to maintain at a temperature higher than a room temperature.
In the AWG shown in FIG. 11, a Peltier device 30 is provided on the side of a substrate 1 of the AWG, and controls the temperature of the AWG to be constant on the basis of a temperature detected by thermistor 31.
Further, a temperature control mechanism including a heater as a substitute for the Peltier device controls the temperature of the AWG to be a constant high temperature.
When the temperature of the AWG is thus kept constant, neither an expansion/contraction of the substrate 1 nor a change in effective refractive index of the core occurs. It is therefore possible to compensate the temperature dependency of the optical transmitting center wavelength.
The AWG and the optical fiber array are connected generally by use of a bonding agent. If the temperature of the AWG is controlled at room temperature or higher by using the Peltier device or the heater, the bonding agent applied to the connection surface between the AWG and the optical fiber array, for example, expands or softens due to the temperature. Accordingly, if constructed to keep the temperature of the AWG constant by use of the Peltier device, etc., a problem arises in that there might increase a loss of connection between the optical fibers and the optical input waveguides 2 and optical output waveguides 6 of the AWG because of the expanded or softened bonding agent, and that a reliability of the connection between the AWG and the optical fibers might decline.
According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 11-218639, entitled xe2x80x9cPhasing Array Device, i.e., Phaser and Method of Manufacturing the Samexe2x80x9d (Claim for Right of Priority Number: 97 13440, Priority Date: Oct. 27, 1997, Country of Claim for Right of Priority: France (FR)), a phasing array device (which is the same as the AWG) includes a first piece and a second piece. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The first piece includes a part of a first slab waveguide and an input waveguides. The second piece includes the other part of the first slab waveguide and other components of the device. The first piece and the second piece are assembled into the complete phasing array device so that a wavelength of the device can be adjusted.
The wavelength of the phasing array device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 11-218639 is adjusted with respect to an initial shift of the optical transmitting center wavelength due to a scatter in manufacturing the phasing array device. After the adjustments of the plurality of pieces have been finished, the plurality of pieces are fixedly bonded to the support member with a bonding agent, etc.
According to an aspect of the invention, an arrayed waveguide grating includes at least one first optical waveguide, a first slab waveguide, a plurality of arrayed waveguides, a second slab waveguide, and a plurality of second optical waveguides. The plurality of arrayed waveguides are connected to the at least one first optical waveguide via the first slab waveguide. Each of the plurality of arrayed waveguides has a different length. The plurality of second optical waveguides are connected to the plurality of arrayed waveguides via the second slab waveguide. At least one of the first and second slab waveguides is partitioned to first and second segments at a partition surface intersecting a path of light which travels through the arrayed waveguide grating. At least one of the first and second segments is configured to be slid along the partition surface to compensate an optical transmitting center wavelength of the light according to a temperature of the arrayed waveguide grating.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method for compensating an optical transmitting center wavelength of light which travels through an arrayed waveguide grating includes partitioning at least one of first and second slab waveguides to first and second segments at a partition surface intersecting a path of the light, and sliding at least one of the first and second segments along the partition surface to compensate an optical transmitting center wavelength of the light according to a temperature of the arrayed waveguide grating.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a wavelength division multiplexing optical communication system includes an arrayed waveguide grating through which light travels. The arrayed waveguide grating includes at least one first optical waveguide, a first slab waveguide, a plurality of arrayed waveguides, a second slab waveguide, and a plurality of second optical waveguides. The plurality of arrayed waveguides are connected to the at least one first optical waveguide via the first slab waveguide. Each of the plurality of arrayed waveguides has a different length. The plurality of second optical waveguides are connected to the plurality of arrayed waveguides via the second slab waveguide. At least one of the first and second slab waveguides is partitioned to first and second segments at a partition surface intersecting a path of light which travels through the arrayed waveguide grating. At least one of the first and second segments is configured to be slid along the partition surface to compensate an optical transmitting center wavelength of the light according to a temperature of the arrayed waveguide grating.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, an arrayed waveguide grating includes a first slab waveguide, a plurality of arrayed waveguides, and a second slab waveguide. The plurality of arrayed waveguides connects the first slab waveguide and the second slab waveguide. Each of the plurality of arrayed waveguides has a different length. At least one of the first and second slab waveguides is partitioned to first and second segments at a partition surface intersecting a path of light which travels through the arrayed waveguide grating. At least one of the first and second segments is configured to be slid along the partition surface to compensate an optical transmitting center wavelength of the light according to a temperature of the arrayed waveguide grating.

Arrayed waveguide grating and method for compensating optical transmitting center wavelength of light traveling through the same


The disclosure herein describes a method for producing a structure, more particularly a wooden structure, in the surface of a hardened fibreboard, especially a medium-density fibreboard; it comprises the steps of: applying a resin-water mix to the surface of the fibreboard on one or both sides to soften and penetrate into the surface of the fibreboard; and pressing the fibreboard with a short-cycle press, under the action of pressure and heat, and using a structured pressure-plate. The water-part of the resin-water mix is caused to evaporate and the resin-part to cure, whereas the structure of the pressure-plate is moulded into the surface of the fibreboard.

It is known to fashion the surfaces of fibreboards in such a manner that they no longer appear as flat surfaces but have a specific structure, the structure varying as required. Structured surfaces of this kind are needed particularly in the manufacture of furniture. For example, in the manufacture of kitchen cupboards, but also in carcases, use is made of fibreboards and other panels made of wood where a structured surface in relief is desired.
The present invention is concerned with producing a structure on the surface of a fibreboard which has already been hardened, i.e. which has already been subjected to the usual production processes.
According to one known method of the type described at the beginning hereof, paper coated with melamine resin is placed upon the fibreboard, chipboard or the like after it has been hardened and the board is pressed, as the initial material, with the melamine-coated resin, in a short-cycle press. A short-cycle press is to be understood to be a known type of press using pressures of up to about 27 kp/cm.sup.2 and temperatures of up to about 180.degree. C. A structured pressure-plate is placed upon the layer of paper and this results in the structure of the pressure-plate being moulded into the paper, i.e. into the surface of the fibreboard. If smooth pressure-plates are used, glossy flat surfaces are obtained. In practice, the structure assumes only the surfaces of melamine-coated paper applied to the initial material, and the actual surface of the fibreboard is scarcely, or only slightly moulded. This structure then appears on the surface of the fibreboard. The advantage of this known method is that the surface of the fibreboard is protected, to some extent, by the melamine paper, and the surface of the paper is sealed or closed by the curing of the melamine resin. The known method is comparatively inexpensive and can thus compete with a lacquer-coating. The disadvantage is that the structure thus obtained are not very decorative. The surface of the paper usually remains visible and it is impossible, or very difficult, to obtain a natural wood appealing structure in this way. For this reason, this method of treating fibreboard surfaces is reserved mainly for furniture carcases and is not used for decorative surfaces.
There are also methods which, like the method according to the application, are concerned with applying a structure directly to the surface of a fibreboard. Such fibreboards are initially produced by conventional methods. The boards are then treated in a moire-calender, the rolls of which are structured on one or both sides. The structure is burned into the surface of the fibreboard under the action of pressure and heat. The temperatures used may reach about 1100.degree. C. at the surface of the rolls. The colour of the burned-in structure may be varied by varying the pressure, heat and the time taken for the board to pass through the calender. One advantage is that it is possible, with this method, to obtain a structure in the surface and not only on the surface of a fibreboard. There is also no need to use the melamine-impregnated paper. The disadvantage of this method is that the tinting of the burning-in is not always uniform. Nor is the appearance satisfactory if a natural wood structure is to be imitated. Furthermore, the surface of the board is rough and unprotected after the burning-in and, during subsequent processing, there may be mechanical damage or damage caused by moisture. This cannot be eliminated by grinding because this alters the burned surface to such an extent that the damage becomes even more obvious. Another disadvantage is that this process requires special installations and calenders and, if the results are to be in any way constant, pressure and temperature control must be extremely accurate.
In the case of another known method, especially for the decorative surfaces of furniture, the initial material used is a cured chipboard which is made particularly soft. The surface of this cured chipboard is indented and crushed by the use of pressure and heat, whereby macro-structures, such as grooves, ridges, reliefs and the like may be produced in the surface. Temperatures of up to about 180.degree. C. are used. The depth of the embossed grooves may be as much as 8 mm. Foils and papers may also be melted onto the surface. Surfaces thus treated may also be lacquered subsequently. Fortunately, this known method eliminates the need of a milling operation in order to produce the relief, but the optical effect is quite similar. The disadvantage of this method is that it requires presses having very high operating pressures. Furthermore, it can be used only for particularly soft chipboard.

Method of producing a structure, more particularly a wooden structure, in the surface of a hardened fibreboard


The objective of the present invention is to isolate and identify genes responsive to plant hormones, such as, brassinolide, and to provide these genes and their use. The present inventors found two novel genes (referred to as OsBLE1 gene and OsBLE2 gene) whose expressions are markedly increased by brassinolide and auxin, using DNA microarray techniques and Northern blotting. Transformed rice plants were produced using Agrobacterium EHA101 which comprise antisense polynucleotide against OsBLE1 and OsBLE2 under the control of the CaMV35S promoter in a binary vector pIG121-Hm. As a result, the transformed rice plants exhibited inhibition in stem and leaf growth as compared with controls which carried the vector alone.

Dwarfism in plants can be achieved by artificial mutagenesis via chemicals and radiation. However, these methods cause undesirable mutations in genes other than the gene involved in plant dwarfism. Moreover, the dwarf phenotype is largely hetero-recessive and therefore it is difficult to select desired transformed plants when additional genetic traits are to be added.
The dwarfism techniques employing recent biotechnology procedures can overcome the problems described above, in which plant shapes are controlled by introducing a single specific gene or antisense DNA into plants. The dwarf phenotype is inherited by subsequent generations as a dominant trait according to Mendelian inheritance.
A known method for controlling plant shapes using biotechnology is that of controlling gibberellin biosynthesis. For example, a method of dwarfing a plant by introducing the gibberellin 2β hydroxylase gene into the plant has been reported (Sakamoto T, et al., Plant Physiol., 25: 1508–1516, 2001). A method for semi-dwarfing a plant by introducing the antisense DNA against the gibberellin 3β hydroxylase gene into the plant has also been reported (Ito H, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 98: 8909–8916, 2001).
Brassinosteroids are a new class of plant hormones which function to enhance plant cell division, elongation and differentiation. Research of brassinosteroids has been underway, but the molecular mechanism of action thereof is not yet fully understood.

Plant brassinolide responsive genes and use thereof

National Agriculture and Bio-oriented Research Organization

National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences


The present invention is directed to a customer contact 100 in which a agent service function 136 to collect predetermined types of information regarding the contact and/or the contact center 100 and interface with the contact. The interface can include presenting service options to the contact. A mood detector 152 can be used to collect information about the customer's state of mind.

A customer contact center typically must balance the quality of service that it provides against the cost of providing such service. When personalized service is needed, an automatic call distribution system (or ACD) typically connects a customer to a contact center agent who has the skills that are needed to service the customer. The agent serves only one customer at a time. This personalized treatment generally leads to a high quality of service, with the main limitation on the quality of service being the number of available agents, but it can be very expensive. In some applications (particularly applications involving long queue wait times), ACD's can lead to customer frustration and dissatisfaction. Customers waiting in queues typically have few choices—namely the choices of either continuing to wait in the queue or calling back at a later time.
To reduce costs and queue wait times, many contact centers offer some form of automated self-service, such as an interactive voice response (IVR) system, to customers. Each customer is connected to a separate port of the IVR system for service. The cost of providing service via the IVR system is generally substantially lower, but a desirable quality of service is not always achieved, as the IVR system is not as flexible and responsive as a human agent. Moreover, some customers are reluctant to use such systems.
Traditionally, ACDs provide resource matching with clients in a way that is favorable to the call center. ACDs fail to consider the customer's preferences. This failure has lead to a high rate of customer dissatisfaction and concomitant business losses.


A system, method and apparatus for obtaining status information from a portable medical device and communicating said status information to a remote system or user. In one embodiment, the system comprises a sensing device that comprises an optical receiver for receiving status information from at least one status indicator of the portable medical device. The optical receiver is positioned in sufficient proximity to the status indicator to allow optical communication between the optical receiver and the status indicator. A circuit couplable to the optical receiver communicates the status information represented by the status indicator to the remote system or user. In another embodiment, the sensing device comprises a microphone to receive audible status signals from the portable medical device. In yet another embodiment, the sensing device is mounted to a housing, which allows sensing device to sense the status information of an enclosed portable medical device.

The present invention relates to portable medical devices, and more particularly, to a system, method and apparatus for sensing and communicating status information from a portable medical device.
Portable medical devices, such as automated external defibrillators (AED""s), generally include a status circuit for communicating status information of the portable medical device to a user. In some existing systems, a status circuit of a portable medical device generally includes a visual display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a light-emitting diode (LED), for providing notice to a user that the portable medical device has a failed or expired internal component, e.g., a low battery, etc. Certain existing systems also include an audible alarm to communicate the status information of the portable medical device to a user.
Although existing status circuits are effective for communicating status information to a user in close proximity to the portable medical device, existing status circuits also present many disadvantages. For instance, when a portable medical device is stored in a cabinet, closet or other like enclosure, the visual display and audible alarm of the device are ineffective in communicating the status information because the device is in a confined location. Because of this drawback, many portable medical devices stored in enclosed areas are not properly maintained when the battery fails or when the device malfunctions.
Status circuits of existing portable medical devices present other communication problems in situations where a portable medical device is integrated into an external computing system. More specifically, the visual and audible alarms utilized in existing portable medical devices do not effectively communicate the device""s status information to other external systems, such as a building alarm system. Existing portable medical devices require substantial hardware modifications to retrofit the electronics needed for communicating the device""s status information to an external system. For example, a wired or wireless communication circuit may be installed in a portable medical device to facilitate the communication of the device""s status information to an external system. Such modifications are generally impractical because of the cost associated with the equipment and services related to the modification.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method that allows a portable medical device to effectively communicate its status information when the device is stored in an enclosed area. In addition, there is a need for a system and method that allows a portable medical device to effectively communicate status information with external systems without the need of substantial hardware and/or software modification to the portable medical device.
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for sensing and communicating status information from a portable medical device to a remote computing system and/or user. In one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a system that readily adapts to a portable medical device""s existing, external status indicators. Generally described, the system, method and apparatus of the present invention detects state changes of a status indicator configured in a portable medical device and electronically communicates the state changes of the status indicator to a remote system, such as a building alarm system. The system of the present invention may also be configured to communicate state changes of the status indicator to a user located at a remote location by generating a visual or audible alarm signal. By the use of the system, method and apparatus of the present invention, a remote system and/or remote user can readily determine if an internal component of a portable medical device has failed or expired. In addition, the remote system and/or user can readily determine if the portable medical device has been deployed, stolen, moved, etc.
In one embodiment, the system comprises a receiver for receiving status information from a visual display of a portable medical device. The receiver is positioned to align with at least one status indicator of the device, such as an LCD, LED, speaker or the like. The system also includes a circuit for controlling the receiver and for providing electronic communication between the receiver and a remote computer system. Accordingly, status signals such as a low battery warning light can be detected by a remote computer system without the requirement of retrofitting electronic components into existing portable medical devices.
In another embodiment, the system of the present invention further comprises audio and visual indicators that relay the status signals of a portable medical device to users and/or other external computing systems.

System, method and apparatus for sensing and communicating status information from a portable medical device

Medtronic Physio-Control Manufacturing Corp.


A method of making reinforcing elements for a vehicle tire includes laying down at least one continuous thread element on a support element of the tire according to a deposition path substantially concentric with a rotation axis of the tire. A tire for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a belt structure, a pair of sidewalls, a tread band, and reinforcing elements. The reinforcing elements include at least one continuous thread element formed into coils around a rotation axis of the tire. For the method and in the tire, the at least one continuous thread element is superposed on itself at a plurality of crossing points.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of making reinforcing elements for vehicle tyres, comprising the step of laying down at least one continuous thread-like element onto a support element, according to a deposition path substantially concentric with the rotation axis of the tyre.
The invention also relates to a tyre integrating reinforcing elements made in accordance with said method, said tyre being of the type comprising a carcass structure including at least one carcass ply having its ends in engagement with respective circumferentially inextensible annular anchoring structures; said carcass ply having two axially-opposite side portions separated from each other by a crown portion and each extending radially away from one of the annular anchoring structures until said crown portion; a belt structure applied to said crown portion at a radially external position relative to the carcass ply; a pair of sidewalls applied to said side portions at an axially external position relative to the surfaces of the carcass ply; a tread band applied to the belt structure at a radially external position thereof; reinforcing elements, each comprising at least one continuous thread-like element formed into coils substantially concentric with the rotation axis of the tyre.
2. Description of the Related Art
Manufacture of tyres for vehicle wheels involves formation of a carcass structure essentially made up of one or more carcass plies shaped in a substantially toroidal configuration and having their axially-opposite side edges in engagement with respective annular anchoring structures integrating circumferentially inextensible annular inserts usually referred as "bead rings" placed at the tyre regions usually identified as "beads".
Applied to the carcass structure, at a radially external position, is a belt structure comprising one or more belt plies in the form of a closed loop, essentially made up of textile or metallic cords suitably oriented with respect to each other and to the cords belonging to the adjacent carcass plies.
At a radially external position to the belt structure a tread band is applied which is usually comprised of a strip of elastomer material of appropriate thickness.
It should be pointed out that, to the aims of the present description, by the term "elastomer material" it is intended blends of rubber in there entirety, i.e. assemblies formed of at least one base polymer suitably amalgamated with reinforcing fillers and process additives of various types.
Finally, to the opposite sides of the tyre being processes, a pair of sidewalls is applied each of which covers a side portion of the tyre included between a so-called shoulder region, located close to the respective side edge of the tread band, and a so-called bead located at the corresponding bead core.
Tyres are generally classified into at least two categories, differentiated from each other according to the orientation exhibited by the cords being part of the carcass plies. In particular, there are the so-called "radial tyres" in which each of the cords arranged in the carcass ply or plies lies in a plane substantially radial to the rotation axis of the tyre, i.e. has an orientation substantially orthogonal to the circumferential extension direction hen there are the so-called tyres "of the conventional type" or "cross-ply tyres", the carcass structure of which generally comprises at least one carcass ply having cords oriented obliquely to the circumferential extension direction of the tyre, and a second carcass ply the cords of which exhibit a symmetrically-crossed oblique orientation with respect to them cords of the first ply.
Tyres of the radial type, as compared with those of the conventional type, offer advantages in terms of lightness, ride comfort, resistance to wear and structural strength to high speeds. Conversely, they have a sidewall of weaker structure than tyres of the conventional type, so that a possible failure at the sidewall usually involves the tyre being out of use.
The above features have caused the tyres of the conventional type to be practically fallen into disuse in those Countries in which a modern road network (minimising the risk of accidental failures to the sidewall) is present, in favour of tyres of the radial type.
Development in time of these tyres has led to a progressive reduction in their section height also for the purpose of obviating the feeling of ride unsteadiness generated by the sidewalls that are radially very extended.
In particular cases and/or for specific uses requiring for the tyre sidewalls a higher strength than that offered by the carcass ply, also in combination with a reduced section height, the sidewalls of a tyre must be strengthened by means of additional reinforcing elements.
The traditional production methods essentially involve that the above listed tyre components should be first made separately from each other, to be then assembled during a tyre-building step.
The Applicant's present trend however is of resorting to production methodologies enabling production and storage of semi-finished products to be minimised or, possibly, eliminated.
Practically, the research and development studies carried out by the Applicant are oriented to new process solutions enabling the individual components to be made by directly forming them on the tyre being built, preferably following a pre-established sequence.
This is made possible above all in the production of tyres of the radial type.
In this connection, production processes have been proposed which aim at obtaining given tyre components, such as tread band, sidewalls or others for example, by laying down onto a toroidal support carrying the tyre being worked, a continuous strip-like element of elastomer material having a reduced section as compared with that of the component to be obtained and disposed to form a plurality of coils around the rotation axis of the tyre, which coils are arranged consecutively in side by side relationship and/or superposed on each other so as to define the component itself in its final configuration.
In the European Patent Application No. 01830350.3 the Applicant has proposed adoption of annular stiffening inserts placed at the sidewalls of the radial tyres to increase stiffness of same, obtained by circumferentially winding at least one continuous thread-like element into several consecutive rings so as to form a series of coils disposed in radial side-by-side relationship and concentric with the geometric rotation axis of the tyre.
The Applicant has perceived that performance of tyres obtained by use of inserts formed of one or more thread-like elements spirally wound up can be further improved. For instance, increasing the sidewall stiffness in tyres intended for equipping two-wheeled vehicles is particularly advantageous because during the ride on a bend these tyres bank with respect to the vertical, according to camber angles of a very high value, thereby submitting the tyre sidewalls to important stresses.
These tyres have a marked transverse curvature at the crown which is normally defined by the particular value of the ratio between the distance of the tread centre from the line passing through the laterally opposite extremities of the tread itself, measured at the equatorial plane of the tyre, and the distance measured along the tyre chord between said extremities. In tyres for two-wheeled vehicles the value of the curvature ratio is generally at least about 0.15 and usually it is in the order of about 0.3 in the case of rear tyres and also higher, until about 0.45, in the case of front tyres, against a value usually in the order of about 0.05 in motor-vehicle tyres.

Method of making reinforcement elements for a vehicle tyre, and a tyre for a vehicle wheel


Disclosed is a washing machine, a control panel assembly of which has an improved structure to minimize problems caused by a shaking of a rotary knob and the interference of the rotary knob with other surrounding parts. The control panel assembly of the washing machine includes a control panel, a knob guide installed on the control panel, and a rotary knob rotatably mounted on the knob guide and including a boss passing through the knob guide. The knob guide includes a boss insertion part restricting the boss to prevent the rotary knob from shaking. The boss insertion part includes an extension extended from the bottom surface of the knob guide and forming a boss insertion hole, into which the boss is inserted, therein.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine, a control panel assembly which has an improved structure to minimize problems caused by a shaking of a rotary knob and an interference of the rotary knob with other surrounding parts.
2. Description of the Related Art
Washing machines are apparatuses that wash clothes using electric power. In general, a washing machine includes a tub storing washing water, and a drum rotatably installed in the tub. When the drum is rotated or a pulsator installed in the drum is rotated under the condition that laundry and washing water containing a detergent are put into the drum, the laundry rubs against the drum and the washing water, thus being washed.
The washing machine further includes a control panel assembly installed on an upper end of a front surface of a main body forming the external appearance of the washing machine to control the operation of the washing machine. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a control panel assembly of a conventional washing machine.
The control panel assembly of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1 includes a substrate 3, on which various electric components, such as a rotary switch 1 and LEDs 2, are installed, and a control panel 4 covering the substrate 3 to protect the substrate 3 and provided with an opening 4a formed through one side thereof. A decoration window 5 is installed at the opening 4a of the control panel 4. The decoration window 5 transmits light irradiated from the LEDs 2, and is provided with a through hole 5a to pass a rotary knob 6 therethrough. An encoder bracket 7 covering the LEDs 2 to protect the LEDs 2 is installed on the substrate 3, and the rotary knob 6 is connected to a rotary shaft 1a of the rotary switch 1 installed on the substrate 3. When the control panel 4 and the substrate 3 are assembled, the rotary knob 6 is protruded forward from the control panel 4 through the through hole 5a of the decoration window 5.
In such a control panel assembly, when a user manipulates the rotary knob 6, the rotary knob 6 shakes and thus provides an unpleasant feeling to the user. That is, since the rotary switch 1 is fixed to the substrate 3 having a small thickness, the rotary knob 6, which is assembled with the rotary switch 1, is easily shaken together with the rotary switch 1. This problem can be solved by reducing the size of the through hole 5a to allow the decoration window 5 to prevent the shaking of the rotary knob 6. However, in this case, when the rotary knob 6 is manipulated, the rotary knob 6 interferes with the decoration window 5 and thus cannot be smoothly rotated, or the rotary knob 6 provides an unpleasant feeling to the user. Further, noise due to friction occurs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Washing machine and control panel assembly thereof


In the case where ohmic electrodes are formed on a semiconductor wafer, first of all, an insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor wafer, then a resist layer is formed on the insulating layer. Next, apertures for forming electrodes are formed in first regions of the resist layer corresponding to regions where the electrodes are formed, while dummy apertures are also formed in a second region of the resist layer in a rest part other than the first regions. Thereafter, the insulating layer is etched using the resist layer as a mask. With the resist layer remaining, electrode material is accumulated on the surface of the semiconductor wafer, and thereafter, the resist layer is removed. As a result, electrodes with desirable ohmic characteristics are stably formed.

In the case where a transistor is formed on a semiconductor wafer, electrodes of the transistor are formed on the wafer. In this case, each contact between the semiconductor wafer and each electrode is required to be an ohmic contact which has a small contact resistance. When, for example, a bipolar transistor is formed on a III-V compound semiconductor wafer using Ti/Pt/Au known as standard electrode material so as to form emitter electrodes or the like of the transistor, a problem described below arises. Since Ti in the electrode material is thermally unstable, it is difficult to form excellent ohmic electrodes on a region of the III-V compound semiconductor.
Therefore, conventionally used for forming ohmic electrodes on a III-V compound semiconductor wafer is thermally stable material with a high melting point, such as a metal nitride having a high melting point, or a metal silicide having a high melting point. Given as examples for the former are tungsten nitride (WN), molybdenum nitride (MoN), and titanium nitride (TiN). Given as examples for the latter are tungsten silicide (WSi), molybdenum silicide (MoSi), and titanium silicide (TiSi)
FIGS. 2(a) through 2(c) are process drawings illustrating a conventional method of forming electrodes. The conventional method of forming electrodes will be described below, with reference to these figures.
First of all, a resist layer 23 is formed on a III-V compound semiconductor wafer 21 having an insulating layer 22 on the surface (see FIG. 2(a)).
At the next stage, apertures 24 are formed at predetermined regions in the resist layer 23 which correspond to regions where electrodes are formed. Thereafter, etching is carried out to the insulating layer 22 utilizing the resist layer 23 as mask, so that a contact hole 25 is formed in the insulating layer 22 (see FIG. 2(b)).
Then, electrode material (for example, WN) is accumulated on the wafer 21, with the resist layer 23 unremoved. Thereafter, the resist layer 23 is removed, thereby completing formation of electrodes 26 at the predetermined regions (see FIG. (c)).
However, an ohmic contact failure sometimes occurs to the electrode 26 thus formed by the conventional method, which leads to an increase in a contact resistance (the contact resistance exceeds 1.times.4.sup.-4 .OMEGA..cm.sup.2, while a normal contact resistance is 3.times.10.sup.-7 .OMEGA..cm.sup.2). The ohmic failure causes a decrease in a yield of the semiconductors in the semiconductor manufacturing process.

Method of forming ohmic electrodes on semiconductor wafer


A cup consists of an inner body, an outer body and a rotatable base located between a hollow space formed between the inner body and the outer body. The rotatable base has a decorative paper and a plurality of magnets facing coils contained in an annular groove opening to the bottom of the outer body. A battery unit, a control circuit and the coils are contained in the annular groove. When the coils are energized by electricity of the battery unit, then the rotatable base together with the decorative paper is rotated by repelling force of magnetic fields produced by the coils interacting with the magnets of the rotatable base.

This invention relates to a cup, particularly to one having a rotatable disc provided in an outer body rotated by magnetic fields produced by coils and magnets provided on the rotatable disc located between the outer body and an inner body, producing interesting effect to attract consumers' curiousity.
At present most cups are made of one layer with monotonous shapes, and some are made of an outer body and an inner body with an intermediate hollow space filled with a liquid mixed decorative small pieces and golden bits as beautifying means. However, those kinds of cups are no longer so attractive to appeal to consumers' purchasing power.


A aqueous composition and method of use for cleaning tile and grout and the like, the composition is particularly suited to cleaning newly laid tile and the films that typically cover it. The composition is a basic solution of glucose and distilled water with optionally included colorant and fragrance. The composition contains no harsh acids or caustics. The composition is fully biodegradable. Because of the composition's basic and biodegradable advantages, the method of use is basic and uncomplicated, requiring no concerns in disposal.

Tile cleanup, especially tile cleanup in new construction, offers a challenge to many complex chemical cleaning agents. The grout film remaining on tile after initial installation, and the dust typical of construction environments, are a problem in cleaning. Quick and basic cleanup is atypical. Most workers have been forced to use agents that are not desirable with respect to the immediate environment, our overall environment, and the new tile and grout. However, the tile must be cleaned of the above-mentioned films.
Cleaners typically used present their own set of problems, none of which are desirable, but problems which include: remaining residue, environmentally undesirable effects, reactions with grout and especially new grout, added effort in application and removal of the cleaners themselves. The aqueous tile and grout cleaner, though, negates all of these concerns and others that arise. Other typical concerns include but are not limited to the chemical attack of caustic and acidic cleaners on surrounding trims and materials proximal to the tile, as well as the needs for complete rinsing of the chemical agents. Further concerns are the disposal of chemicals used and rinsed from floors.

Aqueous tile and grout cleaner and method of use


A control circuit for controlling a switching regulator that converts an input voltage to a regulated output voltage. The control circuit has an input-output comparator configured for comparing a difference between the input voltage and the output voltage, and producing a first sleep signal for placing the regulator into a sleep mode, when the regulator operates in a dropout mode, and the difference between the input voltage and the output voltage becomes less than a first predetermined value.

A voltage regulator converts an input voltage VIN from an input power supply to produce a regulated output voltage VOUT. For conserving power and extending the life of the input power supply, it is essential to maintain low quiescent current of the voltage regulator. Providing a low level of quiescent current is especially important for battery powered applications.
To reduce quiescent current and extend battery life, a voltage regulator may be placed into a sleep mode during which power supplied to internal circuits is cut or reduced. A conventional voltage regulator monitors its regulated output voltage to determine when it would enter and exit sleep mode. If its output voltage is higher than a pre-programmed regulation point, it would go into a sleep mode. If the output voltage is reduces below the regulation point, the voltage regulator would wake up to recharge the output.
However, this conventional scheme of a sleep mode control would not work in a dropout mode when the input voltage VIN approaches the output voltage VOUT, and a difference between VIN and VOUT becomes less than a dropout voltage, which is the smallest possible difference between VIN and VOUT that allows the regulator to remain inside the regulator's intended operating range. Dropout voltage may vary depending on the load on the regulator, usually increasing at higher load, due to the internal resistance of the regulator's pass transistor and circuitry. Dropout voltage may also vary depending on temperature.
When a difference between VIN and VOUT becomes less than the dropout voltage, the output voltage VOUT starts to drop out of regulation. At that point, the conventional regulator would stay awake all the time because its VOUT is now always below its programmed regulation point.
However, for battery powered applications, it would be desirable to create a new voltage regulator sleep control scheme that would allow a voltage regulator to go into a sleep mode even when the output voltage VOUT has fallen below its programmed regulation point, so as to reduce quiescent current and maximize operational lifetime.

Voltage regulator sleep control in dropout mode


The present invention discloses an 802.1X protocol-based multicasting control method. According to the method, an authenticated subscriber intercepts the message while sending a request message for joining in a multicasting group, then obtains the port and MAC address information from the intercepted message, searches corresponding subscriber account information from the authenticated data according to said port and MAC address, then authenticates the subscriber's account number and multicasting IP address, and adds the subscriber to the multicasting group after successful authentication; therefore, controlled multicasting, authentication of the legality of adding to multicasting, and accounting can be achieved according to the method, which can also protect existing investment and compatibility with existing software of the subscriber.

In communications networks, for data forwarding device such as switch or router, it is advantageous for data security and utilization of network resources to forward network data by subscriber groups. For instance, suppose there is a multicasting group G in a communication network, a query message is sent a certain time period after the router forwards the data for said multicasting group G to verify whether any member of said multicasting group G still exists, and members in said multicasting group G sends Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) messages again to respond to said query message; in case that no member of said multicasting group exists in the network, the router receives no response, then the router tries to query again, and if the router still receives no message, it deems no member of said multicasting group G exists in the network and then stop forwarding data for said multicasting group G. Due to the fact that data forwarding with said multicasting group management method is more specific when compared to broadcasting mode, data security and forwarding efficiency are higher.
However, traditional LANs using IEEE 802.1x protocol can only implement port-based multicasting control, i.e., add subscribers to multicasting groups through adding ports to those multicasting groups. When a request for joining in a multicasting group is sent from a subscriber's terminal, the network switching device, according to the circumstance, adds the MAC address of said terminal to said multicasting group so as to add the subscriber to said multicasting group. Such a method only provides port number and MAC address of the subscriber's terminal rather than subscriber information, therefore any control related with said subscriber can't be performed due to lack of subscriber information. Though IEEE 802.1X protocol is a port-based network access control protocol, which supports subscriber management and accepts multi-subscriber authentication through a single port, such capability can't be utilized to control addition of subscribers to a multicasting group, resulting in uncontrollability of addition of subscribers to a multicasting group.


Composite members, a fuel cell and manufacturing method, where the composite members are mounted on a base and comprise a first insulator and a second insulator layered on either side of an interconnector, exposed in a chamfered portion on opposite corners. Between a pair of the composite members is formed an electrolyte film. An anode is formed so as to cover the anode surface of the electrolyte film and an anode-side protrusion. The anode formed at the top of anode-side protrusion is stripped, forming a flat exposed surface on the top of the anode-side protrusion. A cathode is formed so as to cover the cathode surface of the electrolyte film and a cathode-side protrusion. The cathode formed on the top of the cathode-side protrusion is stripped using a spatula, a blade, etc., forming a flat exposed surface on the top of the cathode-side protrusion.

A fuel CELL is a device configured to generate electrical energy from hydrogen and oxygen and achieves high power generation efficiency. The main features of fuel cell are as follows. Since electricity is directly generated without thermal or kinetic energy processes such as in the case of previous power generation methods, high power generation efficiency can be expected even from a small-scale plant. Moreover, fuel cell are environmentally friendly since they discharge less nitrogen compounds and the like and make less noise and vibration. In sum, fuel cell can effectively use the chemical energy of the fuel and offer environmental advantages. Thus, fuel cell are expected to become an energy supply system for the 21st century and are gathering much attention as a novel, prospective power generating system that can be used in various applications ranging from space use to automobile use and portable device use and from large-scale power generation to small-scale power generation. Technical development toward practical implementation is now in full swing.
In particular, polymer electrolyte fuel cell have low operating temperature compared to other types of fuel cell and feature high output densities. In recent years, polymer electrolyte fuel cell are expected to be used as power sources for portable devices (such as cellular phones, laptop personal computers, PDAs, MP3 players, digital cameras, electronic dictionaries, and electronic books). One example of polymer electrolyte fuel cell for potable devices is a flat arrangement-type fuel CELL that includes a number of single cells in a flat arrangement.
As the size of portable devices becomes smaller and the output density increasingly higher, there arises a growing need for high integration of cells of fuel cell for portable devices. In order to achieve higher integration of cells, the number of cells needs to be increased and the miniaturization of the cell structures and other structures such as interconnectors and gaps between the cells is needed. Because the cells are to be highly integrated, it becomes difficult to individually fabricate cells in producing a fuel CELL. Thus, currently, a technique of first forming an anode and a cathode that extend across electrolyte membranes of a plurality of sections and then removing specific regions of the anode and cathode by laser processing to form individual cells is now being implemented.

Fuel cell and method for producing the same


A dynamic seal assembly for a rotating member comprising a first split housing carrying a first split seal, a second split housing carrying at least one second split seal, each split seal being resiliently closed so that sealing contact is maintained when the rotating member wobbles. The free ends of the second split seal overlap with one another in either a side-by-side relationship or an over-under relationship, or both.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a sealing assembly for a rotating member. More particularly, this invention relates to a dynamic seal assembly for apparatus having a rotary shaft and containing a particulate product.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Although this invention will, for sake of clarity and brevity, be described in respect of a drying drum for polyethylene powder, it is not so limited. This invention is applicable to other types of apparatus that operate in a similar manner.
A conventional polyethylene powder drying drum has a large, hollow drum body pierced longitudinally at its opposing ends with a hollow shaft. The drum is fixed and the shaft turns within the drum. The shaft carries a torus disk rotor for conveying powder in the interior of the drum from one opposing end of the drum to the other, and in so doing drying (separating) the powder (polyethylene particles) from its carrier fluid (hexane).
The hexane wet powder is inserted into the interior of the drum at one end thereof, moved by the torus disk rotor through the longitudinal length of the drum to the opposing end thereof, and dried powder removed from the interior of the drum at that opposing end.
The shaft carrying the torus disk rotor extends out of each of the opposed ends of the drum and rotates in order to turn the torus disk rotor. For polyethylene drying the shaft turns at about 10 revolutions per minute. The shaft is hollow in order for steam to pass through its interior thereby providing drying heat to the interior of the drum and the wet powder. Outside the drum, and close by either opposed end of the drum, the shaft carries a bearing assembly for supporting the rotating shaft.
The polyethylene powder being dried in this apparatus is quite fine, from about 0.5 to about 200 microns. Preventing this powder from seeping out of the drum at the points where the turning shaft extends through the opposing ends of the drum is problematic.
Heretofore, a seal has been used that employs a packing gland with a mating follower, a recess in the gland containing no less than five Teflon based packing rings, and what is known as a lantern ring that is made of Teflon. These packing rings are made of braided rope, and, therefore, are fibrous in nature. All these packing rings are formed from a length of braided packing rope, and are wrapped around the shaft they are to seal against. This can be seen in greater detail by reference to FIG. 2 herein.
These prior art packing rings do not compact evenly when put under pressure by tightening of the packing gland follower for sealing purposes. The packing rings closer to the follower compacted significantly, while the rings further removed from the follower did not compact as much, if at all. These rings tended to leak powder when they became worn. More significantly, leakage occurred when the shaft inevitably wobbled to some, even slight, degree. This was due to the rings not always following the shaft back as it resumed its original position after the wobbling stopped. However it occurred, the leakage resulted in the release of powder from the interior of the drum to the surrounding atmosphere in an uncontrolled and undesired manner.
Also, this prior art seal assembly, with its multitudinous fibrous packing rings, required so much follower tightening for sealing purposes that the rings generated sufficient heat from friction with the shaft that powder that contacted the seal assembly was melted to some degree. This melted powder created a tenacious deposit inside the drum that was difficult, at best, to remove, and added time loss and expense to the routine maintenance of the drying apparatus. This melted powder, in time, gradually destroyed the packing rings causing increased leakage of powder from within the drum to outside the drum.
Further, due to the shaft supporting bearing assemblies that are carried outside and close to each end of the drum, it was quite difficult and expensive to replace the prior art seal assemblies with new assemblies of the same type. This also added time loss and expense to the maintenance of the drying apparatus.
Accordingly, this type of drying apparatus cried out for a more effective seal assembly that produced less frictional heat, and could be removed and replaced in a timely manner without undergoing the expense of removing the bearing assemblies that supported the shaft outside the opposed ends of the drum.
This invention solves all these problems at the same time. This invention provides a dynamic seal that maintains its seal when the shaft wobbles by moving with the shaft, and does so with less frictional heating of the seal assembly. The seal of this invention does not depend on tightening of the follower for sealing purposes, and can be removed from the shaft and a new seal of the same type mounted on the shaft without touching the bearing assemblies that support that shaft.


A dynamic quantity measuring apparatus includes a strain sensor, a resin member, a strain body, and a boding portion. The strain sensor has a plurality of piezoresistance elements and a plurality of electrode pads formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The resin member for electrical wiring is provided with a plurality of wires electrically connected to the plurality of electrode pads. The strain body is joined to a back surface of the strain sensor. The bonding portion is configured to bond the resin member for electrical wiring to the strain body. A groove is provided in a region of the resin member for electrical wiring located in a vicinity of the strain sensor.

There is a known semiconductor strain sensor (hereinafter referred to as a strain sensor), for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 as a sensor to detect strain generated in various kinds of structural members. A strain sensor is a device utilizing a semiconductor piezoresistance formed by doping a semiconductor such as silicon (Si) with impurities. The strain sensor can measure minute strain because a resistance change rate to strain is several tens times of a strain gauge using a metal thin film.
Additionally, since resistance change is little in the strain gauge of the metal thin film, an external amplifier to amplify an obtained electric signal is necessary. Since the strain sensor has large resistance change, an obtained electric signal can be used without using any external amplifier, and furthermore, an amplifier circuit can be built in a semiconductor chip of the strain sensor, and therefore, application and convenience of use are expected to be largely broadened.
Additionally, as a module using this strain sensor, for example, there is a strain sensor module obtained by attaching a strain sensor to a member such as a metal plate as disclosed in Patent Document 2. A module suitable for a strain state desired to be measured can be implemented by changing a structure of the member to which the strain sensor is attached.

Dynamic quantity measuring apparatus having a strain sensor disposed in a groove


The present invention relates to a method, such as a surgical method for assisting a surgeon for placing screws in the spine using a robot attached to a passive structure. The present invention also related to a method, such as a surgical method for assisting a surgeon for removing volumes in the body of a patient using a robot attached to a passive structure and to a device to carry out said methods.

Spine Surgeries
Background
Spine surgeries often use fixations and implants attached to vertebrae using screws. It is important to place the screws properly so they do not touch or violate neither spinal cord nor arteries. It can be a difficult task due to the needed precision, high density and constrained access to the vertebrae. For these reasons surgeons use support systems that can enhance the accuracy of the screw placement.
In spine surgeries there are the following methods used for placing the screws:
1. Purely manual
2. Manual using navigation systems
3. Using robotic systems
Manual Methods
In the traditional manual technique, a surgeon on the basis of the pre-operative CT scans visually judges the screw trajectory. During drilling, the fluoroscopic images are taken to verify if the trajectory is correct. An advantage of this technique is that except standard reconstruction systems no additional tools are needed and it can be always used in case of an emergency. On the other hand it strongly relies on the surgeon's experience and can be subject to his changing predisposition. Security is also doubtful as the fluoroscopic images are taken only after the drilling is done. The accuracy and information shown on those images can also vary. Drilling is technically difficult because the tools are held in hand. Surgeon needs to have a very good coordination and be able to simultaneously do many tasks. Due to those disadvantages a screw misplacement rate on the level of 30-50% in the cervical spine was reported.
Manual Methods Using Navigation Systems
Navigation systems can measure the position of surgical tools and a patient in the operating room. Currently most often the optical tracking is used for measurements but other methods such as electro-magnetic tracking can be used. Procedures involving those systems will be referred as the image-guided surgeries. Because of the improved accuracy image-guided procedures made the screw placement in the cervical spine possible for certain patients. The image-guided surgeries in the spinal domain are still done manually. For this reason the surgical tools though tracked can be wrongly positioned because of the human constraints. Precision can be a subject of a variable human factor. These techniques demand increased attention from the surgeon as he needs to coordinate operations with virtual indications on the screen. In case of a procedural error big inaccuracies can appear and for this reason a staff training is important. Problems with the verification of the registration accuracy are common
Methods Using Robotic Systems
Few attempts have been done to introduce robotic systems for spinal surgeries. One of them is developed at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Miro/KineMedic robotic system. It is designed for a surgical telemanipulation. The robotic part of the system consists of three lightweight robotic arms. Each joint is equipped with a force sensor and uses a sophisticated control system with the force feedback and the gravity compensation. The robot's redundancy is used for the workspace optimization and allows to fulfill additional criterias in the operating room. Proposition of the possible setup for a pedicle screw placement with the Miro/KineMedic system would consist of the DLR lightweight robotic arm, an optical tracking system and the software. The surgeon plans the surgery in advance. In the operating room several robot control modes are available. Initially the robotic arm is moved to the planned position by the surgeon using a hands-on impedance control. When it is in place, the surgeon can start drilling using a driller held by a passive tool holder attached to the robot's end effector. The robot compensates for the position errors while surgeon does axial movement. Authors do not specify in which parts of a spine the robot could work. The proposed registration method using a surface matching only could be insufficient in a general situation as those algorithms need a good starting point and converge to the closest local minimum. It is not specified if in this system standard surgical reconstruction tools could be used which can be crucial for the acceptance in the medical domain. A relatively big robotic arm can have disadvantages in a dense environment of an operating room. It is not said how it would be interfaced with the equipment of an operating room. Sophisticated impedance-control algorithms can be difficult to certify in the medical domain and till now no such arm was certified. Expected accuracy of the system is not mentioned. Accordingly to the author's knowledge no further publications concerning this proposition are available.
Other robotic system for the spinal surgery is the Mazor's SmartAssist. It consists of a miniature robot attached to the spine with a base platform and a workstation for planning and navigation. Registration is based on the matching between pre-operative CT scans and intra-operative fluoroscopic images acquired with a calibrated device. In the next step the robot moves to planned spacial position and the surgeon performs a surgery via the tool guide. The robot does not move during the intervention acting as a tool holder (passive guidance). The system was tested with good results. The SpineAssist can be used only in the thoracic and lumbar parts and can not be used in the cervical spine where high accuracy is most important. Fluoroscopic registration has certain disadvantages and needs a calibrated C-Arm. Possible hard to detect errors were reported. The robotic arm does not compensate for random vertebral movements while drilling. Drill slippage on the surface of the vertebrae causing big inaccuracies was reported.
Another robotic system for spinal surgery is the Cooperative Robotic Assistant. It consists of a 6 degree of freedom robot with a kinematically closed structure. It uses a new drill-by-wire mechanism for placing the screws and uses a 1 degree of freedom haptic device to provide the force feedback for the surgeon. Achieved accuracy below 1 [μm] of the robotic part was reported. Authors claim that closed construction was chosen for rigidity reasons. The robot is taking a lot of space in the operating room. Equipment of the operating room should be strongly adapted to be used with this system. The drill-by-wire mechanism needs its own tools which can be a limit for acceptance in the medical field. The system does not perform any external measurements so nothing about registration methods is known. The precision of the registration will strongly influence the accuracy of the robotic arm measured separately. Other robotic system is the Spinebot system for the lumbar spine surgery. It consists of a 3 degree of freedom positioner, gimbals and drilling tool having 2 degree of freedom each. It uses an optical tracking system for registration and measurements. Big advantage of the system is that during the surgery holes in spine can be drilled percutaneusly (through the skin). The system can work only in lumbar part of the spine. In this area needed accuracy is much lower than in cervical part and access is easier.

Robotic system and method for spinal and other surgeries

Abstract: The present invention further concerns a device suitable to carry out the methods according to the present invention.

ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE


Disclosed are an automatic position information transmission system and a method using a wireless data network capable of improving convenience of search by registering icons associated with keywords on search screens of corresponding mobile phones and registering icons representing a search position range on the search screens while improving convenience of use by automatically transmitting position information regarding the corresponding mobile phones during a call attempt to a pre-authorized specific mobile phone through a wireless Internet network and automatically transmitting the position information regarding the corresponding mobile phones for each predetermined period or at the time of a call connection failure. The automatic position information transmission system and the method using the wireless data network can automatically transmit the moving routes or positions of children to the mobile phones of a parent as being previously set without performing the separate operations on the mobile phones.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic position information transmission system and a method using a wireless data network, and more particularly, to an automatic position information transmission system and a method using a wireless data network capable of improving convenience of search by registering icons associated with keywords on search screens of corresponding mobile phones and registering icons representing a search position range on the search screens while improving convenience of use by automatically transmitting position information regarding the corresponding mobile phones during a call attempt to a pre-authorized specific mobile phone through a wireless Internet network and automatically transmitting the position information regarding the corresponding mobile phones for each predetermined period or at the time of a call connection failure.
2. Description of the Related Art
As known, with the recent development of information and communication technologies, a development of information providing technologies capable of providing information regarding various fields to a plurality of subscribers in real time via at least one host server using a long-distance data communication network has been actively conducted.
Based on the development of peripheral technologies such as cache memory extension technology, or the like, for more rapidly providing accurate information to subscribers and information sorting technology and information compression technology for more conveniently approaching a subscriber's taste and preference have been recently under development. Further, with the development of such technologies, development of various contents and solutions thereof has also been actively conducted.
Owing to the rapid technology development, mobile phones equipped with wireless data technologies capable of more rapidly transmitting larger-capacity data to mobile phones located at a remote place have been recently released.
Generally, when a receiver receives unwanted calls, he/she can reject the calls. However, when a telephone number of a caller is not previously registered in a mobile phone of a receiver, the receiver cannot confirm the corresponding caller and therefore, has no choice but to confirm the caller through a telephone call.
In addition, new mobile phones are equipped with a GPS module, which may recognize its own position coordinates. Therefore, the new mobile phones may transmit the corresponding position information according to a demand of an authorized third party (for example, parent), such that the third party can know where an owner of the corresponding mobile phone is positioned.
However, in order to use the function, the third party needs to request the position information regarding the corresponding mobile phones whenever he/she intends to receive the position of the specific mobile phone for each predetermined period. Therefore, there are problems in that the operation is complicated, more key operations are needed, and whenever the position information is requested, the request needs to be stored.
In addition, even though the third party requests the position information regarding the specific mobile phones, new mobile phones cannot transmit position information when the corresponding mobile phones are not present in an area in which the wireless data can be transmitted.
Meanwhile, new mobile phones can perform wireless Internet and therefore, need to frequently perform a local search when intending to search specific positions or places. Therefore, since there is a need to input keywords and a search radius whenever the local search is performed, it is very inconvenient to use new mobile phones.
In addition, the inconvenience of users that cannot skillfully input keywords or users that cannot skillfully determine whether or not to input any word as the keywords may be further increased.

Automatic position information transmission system and method using wireless data network


A thermal convection type angular accelerometer includes an insulating substrate and an angular acceleration sensing device. The angular acceleration sensing device is disposed on the insulating substrate. The angular acceleration sensing device is configured to measure an angular acceleration of a rotation axis. The angular acceleration sensing device comprises a sensing group. The sensing group comprises two temperature sensing members and a heater disposed between the two temperature sensing members. The distance between two ends of the two temperature sensing members near the rotation axis is greater than the distance between the other two ends of the two temperature sensing members that are farther from the rotation axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an angular accelerometer, and relates more particularly to a thermal convection type angular accelerometer.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,509 discloses a thermal convection type accelerometer which comprises a silicon substrate, a heater, and a pair of temperature sensitive elements. The silicon substrate has a chamber, across which the heater and the pair of temperature sensitive elements extend, and the two temperature sensitive elements are equidistant from the heater.
In order to form a heater and two temperature sensitive elements extending across a chamber, a fabrication method initially forms an oxide layer on the substrate. Next, a polysilicon layer is formed on the oxide layer. Thereafter, an oxidation process is performed to form another oxide layer on the polysilicon layer. Subsequently, the polysilicon layer is patterned to form three polysilicon bridges. Afterward, another oxidation process is performed to form oxide layers on the lateral sides of the polysilicon bridges. Next, a deep cavity is formed by etching the substrate using EDP, which is a mixture of ethylenediamine, pyrocatechol, and water.
From the above statement, it can be seen that the fabrication method for forming a heater and two temperature sensitive elements extending across a cavity is complex; thus, the thermal convection type accelerometer is expensive. Moreover, the slender polysilicon bridges are easily damaged during fabrication, resulting in low yield. Further, the slender polysilicon bridges are easily deteriorated during long term use. In addition, the substrate is of silicon, and heat from the heater can easily dissipate due to silicon having a high thermal conductivity (1.48 W/(cm-K)). Thus, the heater should be suspended over a cavity in order to consume less energy. However, when a cavity is applied, the silicon substrate still dissipates significant amounts of energy, causing such a thermal convection accelerometer to consume more energy.
Moreover, the thermal convection accelerometer can have a chamber, which is filled with carbon dioxide or air. The carbon dioxide or air may oxidize the heater and the temperature sensitive elements, resulting in poor performance and a shorter lifespan.
In addition, conventional angular accelerometers comprise piezoelectric transducers or mechanical gyroscopes. The conventional angular accelerometers are large and complex, and they can be expensive or require extended lengths of time when being repaired. With the development of MEMS technologies, small MEMS-based gyroscopes are introduced. A MEMS-based gyroscope may comprise a comb structure, and acceleration can be determined by measuring a change of parasitic capacitance or resonant frequency of the comb structure. However, the movable comb structure may be subject to mechanical fatigue. As a result, the MEMS-based gyroscope usually has a short lifespan.

Thermal convection type angular accelerometer


A flow meter (30) is provided that includes first and second flow tubes (103, 103′). The flow meter (30) also includes a stationary plate (250). At least a portion of the stationary plate (250) is positioned between the first and second flow tubes (103, 103′). At least one of a driver component or a pick-off components is coupled to the stationary plate (250).

It is generally known to use Coriolis effect mass flow meters to measure mass flow and other information for materials flowing through a conduit in the flow meter. Exemplary Coriolis flow meters are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,524, U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,025, and Re. 31,450 all to J. E. Smith et al. These flow meters have one or more conduits of straight or curved configuration. Each conduit configuration in a Coriolis mass flow meter has a set of natural vibration modes, which may be of simple bending, torsional, or coupled type. Each conduit can be driven to oscillate at resonance in one of these natural modes. Material flows into the flow meter from a connected pipeline on the inlet side of the flow meter, is directed through the conduit or conduits, and exits the flow meter through the outlet side of the flow meter. The natural vibration modes of the vibrating, material filled system are defined in part by the combined mass of the conduits and the material flowing within the conduits.
When there is no flow through the flow meter, all points along the conduit oscillate due to an applied driver force. The points can oscillate with identical phase or a small initial fixed phase offset, which can be corrected. As material begins to flow through the flow meter, Coriolis forces cause each point along the conduit to have a different phase. For example, the phase at the inlet end of the flow meter lags the driver, while the phase at the outlet leads the driver. Pick-off sensors on the conduit(s) produce sinusoidal signals representative of the motion of the conduit(s). Signals output from the pick-off sensors are processed to determine the phase difference between the pick-off sensors. The phase difference between the two or more pick-off sensors is proportional to the mass flow rate of material through the conduit(s).
Although there are many pick-off arrangements, one particularly popular driver and pick-off arrangement comprises a magnet-coil assembly. Typically in a dual flow tube arrangement, a magnet is affixed to one flow tube and a coil is affixed to the other flow tube and positioned proximate the magnet. In this arrangement, the driving coil is supplied with an alternating current which induces the flow tubes to vibrate. The pick-off sensor magnet-coil assembly then produces an induced voltage which is proportional to the motion of the flow tubes. Typically, there is one pick-off sensor at an inlet end of the flow tubes and another pick-off sensor positioned at the outlet end. Therefore, each flow tube includes at least a driver component and two pick-off components. The operation of the magnet-coil assembly is generally known in the art.
One problem with the above arrangement is connecting the wires to the coils on the moving flow tubes. In the past, this has been dealt with in a number of ways. The first way is to attach the wires to the flow tubes using some sort of tape or adhesive. Another approach, particularly in smaller tube diameter flow meters, is to use thin flexible conductors (flexures). Both of these approaches have drawbacks. The use of tape or adhesives provides an unsatisfactory solution because the tape or adhesive is generally a high damping material, with the damping changing unpredictably with both time and temperature. These changes can result in erroneous flow signals and errors in the meter's performance. While the flexures have little damping, they typically have very distinct natural frequencies and exciting them at a natural frequency can result in rapid failure. In addition, they are extremely fragile due to their size.
A number of patents have disclosed proposed solutions to the problems outlined above. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,198 discloses welding a coil mount to the flow meter housing. The coils are then mounted to the coil mount with only the magnets being attached to the flow tubes. A problem with the '198 patent's solution is that the wires hang freely from the coils. Thus, while this proposed solution provides an improvement over attaching the coils to the flow tube, the same problems are encountered with loose wires.
Another proposed solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,872. The '872 patent discloses removing the coils from the flow tubes and mounting them on two printed circuit boards (PCB), one positioned above the flow tubes and another positioned below the flow tubes. While this solution solves the loose wire situation of the '198 patent, it incorporates an excess of components and creates the possibility of errors caused by inconsistent gaps.
Therefore, there is a need to provide a flow meter that does not require the coils to be attached to the flow tubes and at the same time uses a minimum number of components. The present invention overcomes these and other problems and an advance in the art is achieved.

Dual tube coriolis flow meter with a central stationary plate serving as support for driver and pick-off components