The present invention relates to a product containing a glass substrate and a transparent conductive layer made of sub-stoichiometric metallic oxide coated with a metallic oxide overlayer protecting the conductive layer from oxidation. The indices of refraction of the two layers and the geometric thickness of the overlayer may be selected so as to offer a product which has a neutral color under reflection. The invention also concerns processes for obtaining said product.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a product containing a glass substrate supporting at least one thin conductive layer of a metallic oxide and possessing low emissivity, low resistivity, and transparency. The present invention further relates to a process for obtaining said product by application of pyrolysis techniques on organometallic compounds, and to applications of this product.
2. Discussion of the Background
A glass substrate supporting at least one thin conductive layer of a metallic oxide and possessing low emissivity, low resistivity, and transparency may be used in many applications. For example, a glass substrate coated with a low emissivity layer can be used to make a window. By increasing the far infrared reflection coefficient on the side of the window facing the inside of the room, it is possible to reduce energy losses through the window resulting from the leakage of radiation from inside the room to the outside. Thus, persons in the room may remain comfortable during the winter at a lower energy cost. Furthermore, the efficiency of an insulating double window may be increased by combining a transparent substrate supporting a low emissivity layer with another transparent substrate and separating the substrates by means of a gas section, and positioning the low emissivity layer on the third surface, counting from the outer surface.
A transparent substrate supporting a low resistivity layer may be used as a windshield or heated rear window in an automobile by providing current feeds. In addition, such a product can be used as a transparent electrode in optoelectronic devices.
The thin layers exhibiting these properties are, for example, layers of indium oxide doped with tin (ITO), zinc oxide doped with aluminum, indium, or fluorine, or tin oxide doped with fluorine. The metallic oxide layers may be deposited on a glass substrate by several different procedures. For example, by vacuum thermal evaporation, by cathodic spraying, by application of a magnetron, and by pyrolysis of organometallic compounds sprayed in liquid, solid, or gaseous form on the surface of the glass substrate and heated to a temperature lower than the melting point of the glass substrate. The organometallic compounds placed in contact with a heated surface decompose while oxidizing and form a metallic oxide layer. Pyrolysis techniques have been developed to such a state that the layer may be deposited on the glass substrate in a line, such as a float line, while the glass is transported at high speeds. While the glass still exists as a continuous strip transported at a given speed and temperature, "precursor" organometallic products are deposited using one or several nozzles as the glass leaves the float bath. Sometimes the glass leaving the float bath reaches speeds of 20 m/minutes.
It is believed the conductivity and low emissivity properties of these layers are attributable, at least partially, from oxygen gaps in the layers. However, if the deposition is effected by pyrolysis, the glass continues on the production line and passes through a reheating drying frame which relaxes the stresses in the glass by controlling the decrease in the glass temperature. When the metallic oxide layer comes into contact with the surrounding air during these operations, it tends to oxidize appreciably. Therefore, it is necessary to effect a reduction annealing operation to maintain the oxygen gaps in the layers. The reduction annealing operation consists of removing the substrate containing layer from the production line and allowing it to remain in a chamber heated to approximately 450.degree. C. under a reducing atmosphere for a determinate period of time. The additional step poses numerous difficulties. It is considered a recovery operation, thereby increasing the cost of production by requiring additional equipment and a reheating of the glass. The reduction annealing operation prohibits thermal treatments such as bending and tempering performed before or after the annealing step. For example, if air-hardening is carried out before the reduction annealing operation, the high temperature required by the reduction annealing operation could destroy, or at least lessen, the effects of the glass-tempering procedure. However, if tempering is performed after the reduction annealing operation, air-hardening which normally requires temperatures of at least 650.degree. C. could reoxidize the layer. Therefore, the discovery of a method for thermally treating a glass substrate supporting at least one thin conductive layer of a metallic oxide without the necessity of performing a reduction annealing operation to preserve the high performance of the layer would be quite useful.
Furthermore, metal oxide layers on a glass substrate, in particular conductive low emissivity layers having interferential thickness, exhibit a color under reflection which is dictated by the thickness selected. For example, an ITO layer exhibits a blue color under reflection when the thickness is 180 nm and a green color under reflection when the thickness is 360 nm. A color is assessed using two parameters. The length of the dominant wave indicates the tone of the color. The purity, expressed as a percentage, indicates the intensity of that tone. If the purity is low, the color is not intense. If the purity is high, the color is very vivid and can be reproduced using monochromatic light.
Because the tone of the color and/or the purity of the color of a substrate under reflection may not be the tone and/or purity desired, or may even be unacceptable for a planned use, especially in the automotive industry where strict aesthetic constraints apply, it is therefore necessary to be able to control the color of a substrate under reflection. For example, by incorporating a layer having a specific composition and thickness, it is possible to obtain a quasi-neutral color under reflection. In addition, slight variations in the thickness of a layer may induce non-aesthetic iridescence.
To reduce interferential coloring under reflection, it has been suggested to deposit at least one intermediate layer on the substrate before depositing the conductive layer. This intermediate layer is chosen so as to possess a predetermined refraction index and geometric thickness, so that the overall color under reflection incorporating these two layers approaches neutrality.
Conventional layers possessing a suitable refraction index include metallic oxide- and metallic nitride-based layers, and mixtures thereof. For example, aluminum oxide may be combined with other oxides such as SnO.sub.2, ZnO, TiO.sub.2, etc., and silicon oxycarbide or oxynitride. The intermediate layer may reduce the coloring under reflection, but may entail manufacturing constraints.

Protective layer on a conductive substrate


In an apparatus for detaching an article from a member attached thereto, the attached article and member are supported on a grid such that the member is in contact with a substantially rigid surface of the grid and the article is suspended away from the rigid surface. Holders hold the member to the rigid surface. While the member is held to the rigid surface, a punch detaches the article and the member. The member from which the article has been detached is gripped by a pin assembly and the gripped member is removed from the substantially rigid surface by raising the pin assembly.

1. Filed of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detaching an article from an attached member.
2. State of the Art
In various manufacturing operations, especially ones using thermoplastic materials, it is necessary to separate an article from a member to which it is attached. For example, portions of articles may be attached to a thermoplastic web base having perforations that allow easy separation of the articles from the thermoplastic web. In practice, the process of separating articles from one another and from the web is performed manually, usually by shaking apart the articles.


A magnet assembly includes a ring shaped magnet having a face with an inner surface that is removably attachable to a ferrous metal housing of a fluid filter. The face has a plurality of circumferentially spaced pairs of poles that concentrate the magnetic strength of the magnet on the face and form magnetic loops in the filter housing to cause any ferrous metal particles in the fluid being circulated through the filter housing to be trapped against interior walls of the filter housing.

This invention relates to a magnet assembly for removing ferrous metal particles from fluids including particularly engine oil and hydraulic fluids.
There are numerous filters on the market that are effective in keeping lubricating fluids such as engine oil for gasoline and diesel engines and hydraulic fluids used to drive various machinery free of most contaminants. However, many harmful ferrous metal particles of minute size are produced through normal wear that are not effectively removed by most filters. When the minute ferrous metal particles are allowed to flow freely through a lubrication or hydraulic fluid system, they will actually create more wear and more harmful ferrous metal particles.
In the past, numerous attempts have been made to use magnetic devices of various types to trap ferrous metal particles in a filter with varying degrees of success. However, there continues to be a need for a magnet assembly that is more effective in removing minute ferrous metal particles circulating through lubricating or hydraulic fluid filters.
The magnet assembly of the present invention is capable of removing virtually all minute ferrous metal particles that might otherwise freely circulate through lubricating or hydraulic fluid systems.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the magnet assembly includes a high strength disc shaped magnet that concentrates the magnetic strength on the face of the magnet giving the magnet a much higher magnetic face strength.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the high magnetic face strength of the magnet of the present invention forms magnetic loops in the ferrous metal walls of a fluid filter housing to cause the filter walls to collect and hold any ferrous metal particles in the fluid being circulated through the filter.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the inner surface of the magnet face has a conical taper that generally conforms to a rounded concave contour of the outer end wall of most canister type filter housings.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the magnet has a center hole to provide an opening for receipt of a nut on the outer end of some filters.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the magnet is contained within a cup-shaped plastic housing that provides some protection against breakage in the event that the magnet assembly is inadvertently dropped against a hard surface. Also, the housing covers the outer end of the magnet center hole preventing debris from entering the magnet assembly from the outside.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a ferrous metal disc may be placed in close proximity to the outer surface of the magnet face to aid in focusing the magnetic flux on the magnet face.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a friction pad may be interposed between the magnet assembly and outer end wall of the filter housing to prevent the magnet assembly from sliding sideways relative to the filter housing when the filter is mounted horizontally and is subject to high vibration while still permitting the magnet assembly to be peeled off the filter and reused over and over whenever the fluid is changed and the filter is replaced.
These and other objects, advantages, features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but several of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

Magnet assembly for removing ferrous metal particles from fluids


An auxiliary light source apparatus for radiating light onto a reflective liquid crystal display is disclosed. In the apparatus, a reflective display module is pivotally installed to a main body. An auxiliary light source is opened and closed from and to the reflective display module to radiate light onto a display area of the reflective display module. Accordingly, the auxiliary light source apparatus uniformly radiates light onto the entire reflective liquid crystal display panel.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 1999-13184, filed on Apr. 14, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reflective liquid crystal display, and more particularly to an auxiliary light source unit for radiating light other than natural light onto a reflective liquid crystal display.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) is a flat panel display device having advantages of small bulk, thin thickness and low power consumption. LCDs have been used in connection with portable computer devices, such as notebook personal computers, office automation equipment and audio/video machinery, etc. LCDs control an electric field applied to a liquid crystal material having a dielectric anisotrophy to transmit or shut off a light, thereby displaying a picture or an image. Unlike display devices that generate light internally, such as an electro-luminescence (EL) device, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a light emitting diode (LED) and so on, LCDs use external light rather than generating light internally.
LCD devices are largely classified into transmissive type devices and reflective type devices, depending on the method of utilizing light. Transmissive type LCDs include a liquid crystal panel having a liquid crystal material injected between two transparent substrates and a backlight unit for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel. However, it is difficult to make a transmissive LCD with thin thickness and light weight. Moreover, backlight units of transmissive LCDs have excessive power consumption.
On the other hand, reflective type LCDs includes a reflective liquid crystal display panel 10 that transmits and reflects natural light and peripheral light to and from the display screen without a backlight. As shown in FIG. 1, reflective liquid crystal panel 10 consists of a liquid crystal panel 2 in which a liquid crystal material is injected between two transparent substrates, and a reflector 4 arranged at the rear side of the liquid crystal panel 2 or arranged at the interior of the liquid crystal panel to reflect a light toward the viewing side. This reflective LCD reflects natural light or peripheral light by means of the reflector 4 to display a picture or an image. However, the reflective LCD has a considerably low brightness level when natural light or peripheral light is not sufficient. An observer cannot view the display image at such low brightness levels. In order to solve this problem, there has been suggested a reflective LCD using an auxiliary light source other than natural light.
FIG. 2 shows a reflective LCD disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,239. Referring to FIG. 2, the conventional reflective LCD shown includes a display module 24 attached pivotally to a main body 28. The display module 24 houses a reflective liquid crystal display panel 22, and auxiliary light sources 26a and 26b. Auxiliary light sources 26a and 26b are line light sources at the left and right sides of the reflective liquid crystal display panel 22. Each auxiliary light source 26a and 26b is installed in such a manner to be opened and closed on the display module 24, and to radiate light onto the surface of the reflective liquid crystal display panel 22 to the exterior of the display module 24. A film (not shown) is adhered to an upper glass substrate of the reflective liquid crystal display panel 22. This film includes a number of minute structures for reflecting light received at an inclination angle from the auxiliary light sources 26a and 26b toward the display screen of the reflective liquid crystal display panel 22. Each of the minute structures must have a different inclination angle and height at every position so that a light can be uniformly received at the display screen of the reflective liquid crystal display panel 22. Because of this, there is difficulty in designing and fabricating the minute structures. Because additional area is required for the display module 24 to house the auxiliary light sources 26a and 26b, the effective display area of the liquid crystal display panel 22 is reduced and the display module 24 is enlarged. Moreover, light incidence efficiency is low because of the difference in the quantity of light incident to the reflective liquid crystal display panel 22 at different positions. The quantity of light thus depends on the distance from the auxiliary light sources 26a and 26b to the position on the liquid crystal display panel 22.
FIG. 3 shows a reflective LCD disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,873. Referring to FIG. 3, the conventional reflective LCD includes a display module 34 installed pivotally at a main body 38 and mounted with a reflective liquid crystal display panel 32, and a light source 40 mounted releasably on the main body 38. The light source 40 includes a lamp 42 for generating light and a reflector 44 for reflecting light radiated from the lamp 42 toward the reflective liquid crystal display panel 32, thereby radiating light onto the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel 32. However, the main body 28 of the reflective LCD is bulky and the structure is complicated because of the light source 40. Moreover, light incidence efficiency is low because of the difference in the quantity of light incident to the liquid crystal display panel 32. The quantity of light varies with the distance between the reflector 44 and the reflective liquid crystal display panel 32.
As described above, conventional reflective LCDs have the disadvantage that light cannot be uniformly radiated onto the display screen because of the location of the auxiliary light source. Moreover, because of the added weight and size of the auxiliary light source, it is difficult to make a product using a conventional reflective LCD that is light weight and small in dimension.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an auxiliary light source unit for a reflective liquid crystal display (LCD) that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary light unit for a reflective liquid crystal display that is adapted to radiate light uniformly.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, an auxiliary light source apparatus for a reflective liquid crystal display according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body; a reflective display module connected pivotally to the main body; and an auxiliary light source, the auxiliary light source being opened and closed from and to the reflective display module, for radiating light onto a display area of the reflective display module.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Auxiliary light source unit for reflective liquid crystal display


In a receiver for digitally modulated signals in mobile communication systems, the reception signal can be represented as a complex vector. The signal undergoes homodyne or heterodyne incoherent conversion into the baseband by means of a mixing stage with mixers M. This involves splitting into the real component and the imaginary component. The signal components are filtered by low-pass filters (TP) and digitized with analog-digital converters (AD). The sampled values are converted into the magnitude and angle of the vector. The magnitude value (B) controls the gain of the preamplifier (VV) and of the low-pass filters (TP), the reception data (D) are recovered from the difference between two successive angle values (W).

The invention relates to a method of converting a digitally modulated reception signal from the radio-frequency range, in which the reception signal, which can be represented as a complex vector, is converted in-coherently into the baseband. The invention relates furthermore to a receiver for digitally modulated signals in a mobile communication system, the antenna of which is connected to at least one mixing stage for the reception signal which can be represented as a complex vector, the mixing stage being followed by two low-pass filters which are connected on the output side via an analog-digital converter in each case to a value converter.
A receiver operating by such a method is known from PCT International Publication WO 86/3356. The reception signal is converted by two mixers with a local oscillator in correct phase relation and phase-shifted by 90.degree.. Low-pass filters and analog-digital converters are followed by a digital filter. The decoding of the transmitted bits is performed with a ROM, operating as a value converter, which is followed by a multiplexer (FIG. 17).
A reception method and a receiver for cordless telephones is described in Telcom Report 10 (1987), issue 2, pages 130 to 137. The reception signal is mixed into the baseband via a radio-frequency stage and a plurality of intermediate-frequency stages. The demodulation is performed in phase-locked loop.
In general, digitally modulated signals are processed by synchronous or, more rarely, asynchronous heterodyne receivers. An image frequency suppression is performed at the radio-frequency stage, the main selection at one to two intermediate-frequency stages. Limiter amplifiers or gain controls provide the necessary compensation of the dynamic range of the input signal. Linear modulation methods divide into two-stage methods with binary amplitude modulation (BAM) and binary phase-shift keying (BPSK), four-stage methods with quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK), as well as multistage modifications. Customary non-linear modulation methods are FSK or frequency modulation-like methods, such as minimum-shift keying (MSK) and Gaussian minimum-shift keying (GMSK). The demodulation is performed for non-linear modulation methods by means of phase lock loop, Costa's loop or discriminators. For linear modulation methods, synchronous quadrature demodulators are used.

Process and device for converting digitally modulate high-frequency reception signals


The invention disclosed provides a method for the direct epoxidation of olefins in the liquid phase by reacting the olefin with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a boron containing catalyst while continuously removing water from the reaction mixture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for the direct epoxidation of olefins in the liquid phase by reacting the olefin with hydrogen peroxide at a temperature between 0.degree. C. and 120.degree. C. in the presence of a boron containing catalyst while continuously eliminating the water introduced with the hydrogen peroxide as well as the water formed in the course of the reaction by distillation, or azeotropic distillation, or entrainment or by combination with a reagent susceptible to react with water in the reaction conditions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Epoxidated olefins are important commercially and are used in great quantities as intermediates in the manufacture of urethanes, glycols, surfactants, plasticizers, and the like. However, processes available to the art for the epoxidation of olefins are becoming less and less suitable because they are subject to ecology restrictions while also being uneconomical.
It is well known that the chlorohydrin process, for example, wherein an olefin is reacted with chlorine in an alkaline medium, is unsatisfactory because producing considerable amounts of inorganic and organic chlorinated by-products which are difficult to dispose of and which have limited practical usage.
Another process known to the art which involves lesser pollutants is based on the catalytic epoxidation of an olefin in an anhydrous medium by means of an organic hydroperoxide resulting from the oxidation of a saturated hydrocarbon with molecular oxygen. Production of the epoxide is accompanied, however, by production of at least an equivalent quantity of the alcohol corresponding to the starting hydroperoxide. Production of the latter product presents a problem since it considerably influences the economy of the process.
Because of the inherent disadvantages in prior art processes for catalytic epoxidation of olefins, the industry continues to seek more direct methods for epoxidation of olefins, as well as methods which have a higher yield to avoid the problem of by-products.
Direct epoxidation of olefins by molecular oxygen has been the subject of numerous investigations. Thus far, however, this process has been limitedly used in epoxidation of ethylene with good yields using a silver base catalyst. When this technique is used on other olefins, there is a total lack of selectivity.
Hydrogen peroxide is a useful reactant because of its nature as a non-polluting oxidizing agent. However, its reactivity as an epoxidizing agent in regard to unactivated olefins is low and requires the presence of an activating agent to produce, in situ, a more active percompound. There have been proposed various epoxidation processes using, for example, peracids such as performic, peracetic or perpropionic acid, such as that disclosed in Belgian Pat. No. 838,068. However, because of the instability of epoxides in an acid medium, such processes are particularly difficult to use.
Various catalytic processes have also been described in the art which have the advantage over the above processes of not using stoichiometric quantities of percompounds whose synthesis complicates the process of obtaining epoxides. For example, there has been proposed the use, in an aqueous or water-alcohol medium, of oxides or oxyacids derived from transition metals such as molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, titanium, and the like. These processes are not satisfactory because the desired epoxide is not obtained, but instead the corresponding glycol or mixtures of products resulting from the opening of the oxirane cycle.
The use of peroxide complexes of some of these transition metals has also been proposed such as the technique described in French Pat. No. 2,082,811. These complexes are good epoxidazing agents but their in situ regeneration presents such a problem that industrial application of the process is not feasible.
Belgian Pat. No. 747,316 discloses the use of hydrogen peroxide as an epoxidizing agent in the presence of a catalyst on a base of an organic derivative of tin. It is difficult, however, to utilize this process on an industrial scale.
In French Pat. No. 2,245,582 there is described a process for the epoxidation of an olefin by means of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalytic system containing at least one derivative of lead and at least one derivative of the elements of Groups IVA, VA, VIA of the Mendeleev Periodic Table.
In French Pat. No. 2,300,765 applicants have described the use of various organic and mineral derivatives of arsenic in conjunction with a derivative of a transition metal belonging to Groups IVA, VA and VIA of the Periodic Table as catalysts for epoxidation of olefins by hydrogen peroxide in liquid phase. Also, there is a more recent proposal in Belgian Pat. No. 838,953 of a method for making oxides of olefins by action of hydrogen peroxide on olefins in the presence of an organic or mineral derivative of arsenic and in the absence of any trace of transition metal. However, in order to obtain good yields, these methods require the use of highly concentrated aqueous solutions of hydrogen peroxide which are not commercially available at present, and the manufacture and handling of which involves serious problems of safety. These major drawbacks are supplemented by the defect of an epoxidation reaction that is certainly effective but very slow and is difficult to economically scale to an industrial production unit.
It has now been found during continuing study of the epoxidation of olefins, that it is easily possible to overcome numerous prior art drawbacks by operating a method for production of olefins by using a boron containing catalyst and a substantial excess of olefin relative to hydrogen peroxide and by continuously eliminating from the reaction medium the water formed in the course of the reaction as well as any water introduced with the hydrogen peroxide either by direct distillation or by azeotropic distillation or by simple entrainment procedures or by combination with a reagent susceptible to react with water in the reaction conditions. Under these conditions, it is found that rates of conversion of the hydrogen peroxide and epoxide selectivities are very high, simply by using commercial aqueous solutions titrating between 30% and 70% by weight of hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, the boron catalyst is found to have a long life and thereby avoids frequent replacement.


An apparatus for retrieving marine seismic cable uses an endless traction member which defines a helical path of at least two turns for pulling the cable in a uniform fashion without forming overlapping layers.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for deploying and recovering marine seismic cables and in particular to a method and apparatus which will substantially reduce cable tension in both hauling and reeling the cables thereby substantially eliminating the risk of cable damage.
2. The Prior Art
It has long been known that there are substantial petroleum deposits located beneath the sea and that it is necessary to determine the exact location of these deposits in order to commence recovery operations. Marine seismic exploration has become an accepted and standardized practice using a number of different approaches. The most popular seismic exploration method utilizes an explosive source and at least one cable of substantial length equipped with a plurality of spaced hydrophones, and other supporting transducers and electronics, adapted to detect reflected energy from the sea's subbottom's geologic anomalies. The cables are generally referred to as streamers and range in length from one to four miles with from one to four cables or streamers being pulled behind a single survey vessel.
Each cable or streamer is formed by a number of segments or elements, each a water-tight tube about 3 inches in diameter and approximately 150 feet in length. The outer cover or jacket can be a single extrusion or a builtup laminate including reinforcement materials. Each cable segment contains an array of electronic devices including hydrophones and/or transducers and rigid cylindrical protective cans in a spaced configuration with the residue of the interior of the segment being filled with a special oil for flotation purposes. Each segment is connected to the adjacent segment by a rigid cylindrical can which is approximately 4 1/2 inches in diameter and 18 inches long. The total streamer will be an assembly of the above mentioned segments having an overall one to four mile length.
Each streamer is buoyant in that it will float unaided. Each streamer, while being rugged enough to withstand an ocean environment, is somewhat fragile in that it will not tolerate high line pulls or being wound under tension when stored. The previously mentioned cans and other internal blocks or spacers cause a particular problem when the cable is retrieved and/or stored in that, while the streamer is generally flexible, the blocks, spacers and cans are essentially rigid and therefore, will not tolerate being wound tightly either during recovery or in storage. The blocks, spacers and cans also cause a problem in that, if the streamer is wound too tightly, there is great danger of perforation of the outer cover by the sharp edges formed by the ends of these spacers, blocks and cans.
Normally, the cables are towed or streamed at about 5 mph, known as "shooting speed." This creates about 2500 ftlbs of tension on a 2 mile cable. Recovery of the cable necessarily increases tension on the cable and raises the possibility of damage. If only a single cable is deployed, then it is possible to back the vessel during the recovery operation thereby reducing tension. However, such a backing of the vessel is not possible when multiple cables have been deployed.

Apparatus for providing strain relief during retrieving of marine seismic cables


An automatic adjustment radio apparatus includes a transfer destination selecting unit and a data transfer unit. The transfer destination selecting unit selects a transfer destination of data set by a channel switch. The data transfer unit transfers the data set by the channel switch to a specific electronic volume and a specific address of a non-volatile memory selected by the transfer destination selecting unit. The data set by the channel switch is used as data to be set in the electronic volume and to be stored in the non-volatile memory upon adjustment.

The present invention relates to an automatic adjustment radio apparatus capable of automatically adjusting operation specifications.
Although adjustment is performed by rotating a volume by using a screwdriver in conventional radio apparatuses, many advanced radio apparatuses perform adjustment by means of a computer in recent years. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a computer 2 supplies predetermined data to an automatic adjustment radio apparatus 3 in accordance with an input from a keyboard 1, and the automatic adjustment radio apparatus 3 performs a predetermined operation in accordance with the supplied data. An operation state of the automatic adjustment radio apparatus 3 is measured by a measuring unit 4 connected to a measuring unit connection terminal 21, and the measurement result is supplied to the computer 2. The computer 2 supplies data to be adjusted to the automatic adjustment radio apparatus 3 in accordance with the measured data, thereby adjusting the automatic adjustment radio apparatus 3.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the automatic adjustment radio apparatus. Referring to FIG. 5, a signal from a computer is supplied to a processor 7 via a communication interface I/O terminal 5 and a communication interface 6. The processor 7 causes an EEPROM 8 to store the supplied data and supplies required data to electronic volumes 9.sub.1 to 9.sub.n and a frequency synthesizer 11 in accordance with the contents of the stored data. The, electronic volumes 9.sub.1 to 9.sub.n perform oscillation frequency adjustment, modulation factor adjustment, transmission output adjustment, and the like of an RF transmitter/receiver 12. In accordance with the data supplied from the computer 2, the frequency synthesizer 11 outputs a signal having a predetermined frequency to the RF transmitter/receiver 12. The frequency of the signal obtained from the frequency synthesizer 11 is a transmission frequency and a local oscillation frequency.
The EEPROM 8 also stores, in addition to the adjustment data for the electronic volumes 9.sub.1 to 9.sub.n, data for controlling an output signal frequency of the frequency synthesizer 11 corresponding to the transmission/reception frequency of each channel. A transmission/reception frequency of each channel input from the keyboard 1 is stored in the EEPROM 8 via the computer 2, the communication interface 6, and the processor 7. When a channel switch 13 is switched to the right in FIG. 5, a counter 14 counts up. When the channel switch 13 is switched to the left in FIG. 5, the counter 14 counts down. The processor 7 supplies the value of the counter 14 to a display unit 15 to display the value as a channel number. The processor 7 also has a function of supplying the data for controlling the output frequency of the frequency synthesizer 11 corresponding to the transmission/reception frequency of the channel stored in the EEPROM 8 to the frequency synthesizer 11. A monitor switch 16 is used to monitor the AF signals when muted by the CTCSS (continuous tone controlled squelch system) in the RF transmitter/receiver 12.
When a power source of this apparatus is switched off and then switched on again, the processor 7 supplies the adjustment data stored in the EEPROM 8 to the electronic volumes 9.sub.1 to 9.sub.n, thereby resetting the volumes.
In the conventional apparatus having the above arrangement, however, setting and adjustment of electronic volumes are performed by a computer via a communication interface. Therefore, readjustment cannot be performed where no computer is available.


A cutting machine for severing a moving strand portion includes an elongated support; the strand portion normally moves near the support in one direction of elongation thereof, and a carriage may be operably moved on the support in the one direction and in an opposite direction. A cutter is disposed on the carriage, and the movement of the carriage is synchronized with that of the strand by a rotatable roll in operative driven relationship from the strand. The rotation of the roll is selectively converted into a translatory motion of the carriage, so that the strand may be cut by the cutter, while it is moving in synchronism therewith.

The present invention relates to a flame cutter for severing a continuously movable strand; it includes feed means for the strand, and discharge means for a severed portion of the strand. A carriage, which carries a welding torch, may be moved on rails along the longitudinal direction of the strand, includes a device for measuring the length of a portion of the strand to be cut off.
Flame cutting means of the aforesaid type have been known from the prior art, for example, from German laid-open patent application DE-OS No. 2,262,949, German Pat. DE-AS No. 2,416,937, or from German Pat. DE-AS No. 2,411,972.
Reference is also made to the pending application by Rupert Auer, assignor to the assignee of the present invention, entitled, "Welding Torch for Arc Welding, including a Consumable Electrode", Ser. No. 13,516, filed on Feb. 21, 1979.
In devices of the prior art, the flame cutter is displaced itself by means of its clamping arrangement in a longitudinal direction from the movable strand during the flame cutting process. Following completion of the cut, the clamping arrangement is released, and the machine returns by means of its own drive to its initial position, so that it may be clamped again to the strand, and so that a new flame cut may be started.
It has already been proposed in German Pat. DE-AS No. 2,226,251 to set the machine by means of so-called carriers onto the movable workpiece, in lieu of such a clamping arrangement, so as to move the machine during the flame cutting process.
This type of motion of the machine or carriage by means of a clamping arrangement leads, however, to problems, if a plurality of strands is to be cut by a machine of this type. Here it is necessary, so as not to endanger the parallel course of these strands, in view of the pressing forces exerted by the clamping arrangement, to arrange a distance piece between the strands, as can, for example, be ascertained from German Pat. DE-AS No. 2,209,288, or to keep the two strands apart by means of an additional clamping arrangement acting from above, as has been, for example, proposed by German Pat. DE-OS No. 2,253,650.


Detecting machine utilization activity may be provided. Client machine activity within a computer network may be monitored to determine if the client machine is available for use, or if the computer is already engaged in one or more activities. During a predetermined receive period, machine activity information for a given client machine. The machine activity information for the client machine is compared to previously stored machine activity information to determine if an activity state for the client machine has changed. If the activity state of the client machine has changed, the activity state for the machine is updated. Machine activity information for all computers in the computer network may be used to track and optimize resources with the computer network.

Detecting machine utilization activity is a process for tracking computer activity for one or more computers in a computer network. In some situations, computers used in a lab environment, for example, a bank of compilers may be used for a variety of activities, for example, running tests, debugging code, installing computer applications, diagnostics and the like. While computers are involved in activities, the computers' capacity to engage in additional activities is diminished. Conventional systems fail to detect machine utilization activity accurately because a computer may be engaged in an activity, but the conventional system may not perceive the activity as computer usage. Accordingly, computers in the lab environment may be under utilized or over utilized because machine utilization activity is not monitored.
In view of the foregoing, methods and systems for detecting machine utilization activity more optimally are provided. Furthermore, there is need for detecting machine utilization activity that automatically monitors computer activity in a lab environment to determine if a computer within the lab environment is available to perform an activity. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made.


An imaging lens which uses a larger number of constituent lenses for higher performance and features compactness and a wide field of view. The imaging lens is composed of seven lenses to form an image of an object on a solid-state image sensor. The constituent lenses are arranged in the following order from an object side to an image side: a first lens with positive refractive power; a second lens with positive or negative refractive power; a third lens with negative refractive power; a fourth lens with positive or negative refractive power as a double-sided aspheric lens; a meniscus fifth lens having a convex surface on the image side; a sixth lens with positive or negative refractive power as a double-sided aspheric lens; and a seventh lens with negative refractive power, in which an air gap is provided between lenses.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to imaging lenses which form an image of an object on a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD sensor or a C-MOS sensor used in a compact image pickup device. More particularly, the invention relates to imaging lenses which are built in image pickup devices mounted in highly functional products such as smart TVs and 4K TVs, information terminals such as game consoles and PCs, and mobile terminals such as smart phones, mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants).
Description of the Related Art
In recent years, highly functional products, such as a smart TV as a TV with a personal computer function and a 4K TV as a TV with four times higher resolution than a full high-definition TV, have been attracting attention. As for smart TVs, there has been a tendency towards more multifunctional models such as ones which incorporate an image pickup device capable of taking a high resolution image and can transmit the image through a communication network, in addition to the high functionality. Also, due to its high resolution, a 4K TV can reproduce an image which is so realistic as if the object were there. These products are expected to provide a wider range of functions than before: for example, a security function combined with a high-accuracy face recognition function and a moving body detection function, a pet monitoring function, and a function of editing an image captured by image processing technology in various ways. If these products have an ability to take higher resolution images or moving images, they are expected to become products which increase the satisfaction of the general consumers. On the other hand, recently introduced into the market are smart phones which use an image sensor with a resolution of more than 40 megapixels to provide a professional quality digital camera function. Therefore, there is a growing demand for higher camera performance for these products.
However, in the conventional techniques, it is difficult to provide an imaging lens which satisfies the performance requirement of the devices as mentioned above. For example, the image pickup device used in a smart TV or smart phone with a high resolution imaging function is assumed to adopt a relatively large image sensor suitable for high resolution images. In that case, since a larger image sensor is used, there arises the following problem: the optical system should be larger, so it is difficult to correct various aberrations and it is impossible to maintain the high optical performance achieved so far with a conventional smaller image sensor. In addition, in the case of a monitoring camera, the following problem may arise: the camera is required to use a wide-field of view imaging lens and when the lens is designed to provide a wide field of view, correction of aberrations may be very difficult particularly in the peripheral area regardless of image sensor size and it may be impossible to deliver satisfactory optical performance.
Furthermore, when an imaging lens is used in an image pickup device with an autofocus function which is recently popular, high optical performance must be ensured in both imaging of an object at infinity and imaging of an object at close range, but this is very difficult particularly when the image sensor in use is large. In addition, for mobile terminals including smart phones, the imaging lenses must be always compact enough to meet the product design need.
As an imaging lens built in an apparatus with an image pickup device, the imaging lens described in JP-A-2010-262270 (Patent Document 1) or the imaging lens described in JP-A-2012-155223 (Patent Document 2) is known.
Patent Document 1 discloses an imaging lens which includes, in order from an object side, a first lens with positive refractive power having a convex shape on the object-side surface near an optical axis, a second lens with negative refractive power, a third lens with positive refractive power having a concave shape on an image-side surface near the optical axis, a fourth lens with positive refractive power having a convex shape on the image-side surface near the optical axis, and a fifth lens with negative refractive power near the optical axis. The imaging lens described in Patent Document 1 includes five constituent lenses (elements), each of which is optimized to deliver high performance.
Patent Document 2 discloses an imaging lens which includes, in order from an object side, a first lens group with positive refractive power, a second lens group with negative refractive power, a third lens group with positive refractive power, a fourth lens group with negative refractive power, a fifth lens group with positive refractive power, and a sixth lens group with negative refractive power. In the imaging lens described in Patent Document 2, the lens configuration of the optical system is concentric with an aperture stop so as to suppress astigmatism and coma aberrations and achieve a wider field of view.
In the imaging lens described in Patent Document 1, five constituent lenses are used for higher performance and the lens system provides a relatively wide field of view with a half field of view of about 38 degrees. However, its ability to correct aberrations with the five constituent lenses is limited and insufficient to respond the recent demand for higher resolution.
According to the use of six lens groups, the imaging lens described in Patent Document 2 provides a relatively wide field of view and can correct aberrations properly. However, in imaging of an object at infinity and imaging of an object at close range, a specific lens group must be moved in the optical axis direction for focusing, so there is a problem that the structure is complicated. Also, if the lens configuration described in Patent Document 2 is employed to provide a wide field of view, correction of aberrations will be difficult particularly in the peripheral area and high optical performance cannot be delivered.
As stated above, in the conventional techniques, it is difficult to provide a compact imaging lens which can take a high resolution image as demanded in recent years with a wide field of view and delivers high performance in both imaging of an object at infinity and imaging of an object at close range.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A unique a method for memory dialing for cellular telephones includes storing a recall sequence having a variable number, and replacing the variable number with a directory number in response to a prompt from the telephone when employing memory dialing. In particular, the method comprises the steps of selecting a memory location in a telephone for designating a recall sequence and storing within the memory location the recall sequence including at least one predetermined number which is automatically dialed by the cellular telephone and at least one variable number to be inserted by the user (59); accessing a memory location (60); responding to a prompt from the telephone (64); and replacing the variable number to complete a calling sequence (66). Finally, the present method provides for the transmission of both data and DTMF tones.

Telephones have included memory dialing features to limit the number of digits required when placing a call. Previously, memory dialing features in telephone devices were limited to dialing predetermined stored numbers which were called frequently. By recalling the directory number which was stored in memory, the number of "keystrokes" required could be significantly reduced. For example, a long distance number comprising ten digits could be dialed by selecting one or two keys on a telephone keyboard.
However, conventional memory dialing has certain limitations. For example, the length of a storing which could be stored in a single memory location, or the amount of total memory space available to store selected numbers is often limited. Further, the number of digits which may be required when making a long distance call is also increasing. For example, when using a credit card number for billing purposes, a large number of digits is required to complete the call in particular, an access code is often required before the director number can be dialed. This access code can commonly include as many as 11 digits. Further, a personal identification number (PIN) may be required to make a connection. Such PINs can also include as many as 11 digits. Finally, control commands may be required for automatic dialing. For example, pauses may be required to be inserted in the sequence to enable automatic dialing.
Presently, some long distance credit card numbers may require as many as 44 digits to complete the call. Such dialing can often be tedious. The user will have to start the dialing process over if an error in dialing has occurred. Further, credit card dialing can be particularly dangerous when a user dials from a cellular telephone while driving a vehicle.
While there have been efforts to reduce the number of digits required in making a long distance call, such efforts have many shortcomings. For example, one system will automatically place a call to the area code of last called number to prevent the user from having to insert the area code each time. However, plating a call to the last called area code will only be beneficial if a single area code is frequently called, or a list of directory numbers in a particular area code must be called. Further, this improvement only reduces the number of digits by three for each call.
Also, in certain cellular telephones manufactured by Oki Electric Industry Company, Ltd. of Japan, a long distance caller may select an automatic credit card calling mode. When the phone is placed in this mode, any calls will automatically be billed to the users credit card number. However, the user is limited to a single credit card. Further, other stored memory locations can only be linked with the credit card information if the stored memory locations include ten digits or less. Finally, the user may inadvertently be in the automatic credit card calling mode. Attempts to make local calls when in the automatic credit card calling mode may result in error and local calls may be billed to the credit card.
Accordingly, there is a need to effectively and conveniently reduce the number of digits required when making calls having a large number of digits. Further, in view of the number of different credit cards available, and the unique calling formats for each of the cards, there is a need to eliminate the requirements for entering credit card numbers with each long distance call. Such a need is heightened by the increased use of cellular telephones in vehicles where the requirement to dial a large number of digits can be dangerous.

Method for memory dialing for cellular telephones


The present invention relates to umbrellas having various canopy shapes which shapes can be altered during use. A multiple position rib formed of a telescoping rib girder in combination with a hub slide assembly with multiple hubs allow the umbrella to be opened to two or more functional positions. An embodiment is an umbrella that can be used as a car shade having two open canopy configurations. In a first open position, all multiple position ribs are in an extended position so that the umbrella serves as a conventional rain umbrella. In a second open position, at least one of the multiple position ribs is folded to allow the umbrella to fit inside a vehicle windshield thereby serving as a sun shade. The multiple position rib can be formed of a rigid inner support assembly and a flexible outer cantilevered assembly. Flex strength properties of the outer cantilevered assembly can be varied within a rib and between ribs to provide a stable frame for certain unconventionally shaped umbrellas, including domes with flattened centers, asymmetric rib configurations, and ribs of differing lengths. Flex strength properties of the outer cantilevered assembly can be also varied to increase the flexibility of rib ends without compromising open canopy integrity. On contact rib ends can bend down toward the pole altering the shape of the canopy perimeter. The rib ends can return to their original positions when contact is terminated.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a configurable umbrella which can be converted into different shapes having a rib assembly which includes a rigid portion and a flexible portion that provides non-uniform flex strength of the ribs.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional umbrella typically has a cloth covered, dome shaped canopy that is symmetrical to a central pole and is supported by ribs that are secured to the pole and radiate outward. The ribs are evenly spaced around the pole and their cantilevered outer portions are equally flexed. Each rib is exactly the same and all are operated in unison via a single slide on the pole. In operation the umbrella is opened to its functional configuration or closed for storage by collapsing the ribs against the pole.
Conventional ribs of an umbrella have the same flex strength since each rib is formed of the same material and construction. The cantilevered portion of a conventional rib is composed of one material and is constructed with uniform thickness throughout its length. Thus, the flex strength of any rib is uniform throughout its cantilevered length. Accordingly, all conventional ribs share a common curvature profile when pressure is applied along the rib length. The curvature rate peaks in the first third of the distance from the fixed end to the free end, declines almost to zero in the middle third, and the third nearest the free end is essentially straight.
An open conventional canopy holds its intended shape since each rib of the umbrella is flexed in the same manner, the canopy is symmetrical to the pole, the cantilevered portions are the same length and the canopy cover is contoured to fit the flexed ribs. When these conditions are met the restraining force of the fabric and the restoring force of the flexed ribs can be sufficiently in equilibrium throughout the canopy to hold its shape. Conventional umbrellas have the shortcoming that if any of the above-described conditions are not met the ribs will not fit the fabric contour because they will seek equilibrium outside their intended positions, and the canopy will not hold its shape.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,221 describes a modification to the typical dome configuration of an umbrella with off-center support. The umbrella is symmetrical along a central vertical plane rather than the pole. Ribs of differing lengths are used to form a canopy having an elongated dome. A similarly shaped umbrella is described in Italian patent number 0372882. U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,290 describes a hat shaped umbrella with asymmetric properties, having cantilevered rib portions of differing lengths.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,307,827 and 5,355,903 issued to one of the inventors of this disclosure describe a dual function asymmetric umbrella. The primary embodiment of these patents is an umbrella in which the configuration can be altered to form a shade for auto windshield interiors. Ribs are unevenly spaced around the pole having cantilevered portions of differing lengths. The canopy has a flattened center in order to fit against a windshield and does not have a conventional dome shape.
In the closed position all ribs of the dual function umbrella are folded against a collapsed pole. From the closed position the umbrella can be opened and latched in either of two positions, each producing a different canopy configuration. In one open position, some of the ribs are partially extended and some are fully extended causing the canopy configuration to be approximately rectangular so it can be placed against the inner surface of a vehicle windshield as a shade. In the other open position all ribs are fully extended to produce an oval canopy to function as a conventional rain umbrella. The ribs that can be either partially or fully extended are referred to as "multiple position ribs." Their outer portion can be extended or folded by moving two slides on the pole. The other ribs are conventionally constructed and operated. The multiple position rib inner portion supports and controls the outer flexible portion using a push bar that runs the length of a girder from the pole to a piston housed at the other end of the girder. The piston is connected to the rib by a hinge. The above-described dual function umbrella has several shortcomings such as: the multiple position rib has a limited range of motion; the multiple position rib lacks the rigidity to hold a fully extended rib firmly in place; the use of multiple position ribs and conventional ribs in the same umbrella causes canopy surface unevenness; push bars used in the multiple position rib are vulnerable to damage; when the umbrella is to be used as a car shade four ribs are fully opened to extend the canopy horizontally which makes it difficult to place against the windshield if the entire upper surface of the dashboard is not flat; and the rib construction poses a sizing problem for the car shade umbrella in that one size umbrella fits a limited number of vehicles and is either too large or too small for most windshields.
Conventional rib construction causes the rib tips of umbrellas to be inflexible and therefore hazardous when the canopy is being opened or is in use. It is well known that the rib tips can cause eye and other injuries. This disadvantage has always been considered inherent to umbrellas and inescapable.
It is desirable to provide an umbrella which can be varied in shape and provide improved stability, safety and reduced vulnerability to damage.


A transport vehicle has a seat for a patient of a hospital or the like, and luggage space behind the seat. The vehicle has handles so one person can transport a patient and the patient's luggage at the same time. The vehicle has sockets to receive various support members for IV poles, legs rests and the like for use by patients during transport. The front of the vehicle has a platform for the patient's feet, and the platform has an opening so the patient can stand on the floor while being seated. The vehicle may include a power lift for the seat to assist a patient in standing.

Wheelchairs are well known in the art, and have changed but little in the many years of their use. The wheelchair is the primary vehicle for moving non-ambulatory patients in a hospital, nursing home or the like, and for use anywhere by those who have no legs, or who do not have the use of their legs. More recently, it has become common practice for everyone being discharged from a hospital to be transported from the hospital in a wheelchair.
The wheelchair has some disadvantages. One of the primary drawbacks is that the conventional wheelchair has no storage space. Even a person carrying a pocketbook or brief case has no place in a wheelchair to put the item to allow manipulation of the chair. The prior art solution to the problem is to provide a small vehicle, usually motorized, having a basket for receiving small articles. While such vehicles are reasonably popular, and constitute some improvement over the conventional wheelchair, the storage space is s limited that the vehicle is not practical for many purposes. Furthermore, such vehicles are generally constructed for the person who has good use of the body and arms, and are not constructed to care for the very sick or disabled.
When patients in hospitals or the like must be transported with their baggage, the presently conventional method is to place the patient in a wheelchair, and use two or more people to push the wheelchair and to carry the baggage. Alternatively one must make two or more trips to transfer all the baggage. It will of course be understood that skilled people are used to transport patients in order to care for the patient during transport. Use of two or more of these skilled people therefore substantially increases the labor cost in transporting patients, whether transportation from one room to another or transporting for discharge.


A display apparatus includes: a signal controller to generate first to fourth image data from first to third input image signals; a pixel to subsequently receive first to fourth data voltages corresponding to the first to fourth image data during first to fourth subframe periods; a backlight including first to third light emitting elements configured to generate light of first to third colors, respectively; and a backlight driver. The backlight driver is to selectively switch the first to third light emitting elements based on color information of the first to fourth image data, to turn on at least one of the first to third light emitting elements during each of the first to fourth subframe periods, and to switch the first to third light emitting elements to provide light of a same color to the pixel during two subframe periods from among the first to fourth subframe periods.

One or more aspects of example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a display apparatus, and more particularly, to a display apparatus having improved display quality.
Typically, a liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by using the light transmittance of liquid crystals and a backlight unit disposed under the liquid crystal display panel to provide light to the liquid crystal display panel.
Recently, a dimming technique of increasing the amount of light transmitted through pixels has been applied. The dimming technique is a control technique of dividing the backlight unit into a plurality of blocks and emitting light with different luminance according to the blocks. The plurality of blocks include light sources for emitting light of different colors.


The invention relates to an aircraft landing gear comprising a landing gear leg, wherein the landing gear leg or one or more parts of the landing gear leg consists partly or completely of a fiber composite material.

The invention relates to an aircraft landing gear having at least one landing gear leg.
It is in particular of essential importance in aeronautics that the technical aeronautical components are manufactured in lightweight design. Landing gear components subject to high strain have previously been produced in a metallic lightweight design which is very complex and/or expensive in part, with the lightweight potential already having been largely exhausted due to long years of development and optimization processes.


A multi-level nonvolatile memory device using variable resistive element with improved reliability of read operations is provided. A multi-level nonvolatile memory device comprises a multi-level memory which includes a resistance element, wherein the resistance level of the resistance element is variable depending on data stored in the multi-level memory cell, and a read circuit which provides the multi level memory cell with a read bias and performs a sensing operation in response to the read bias, wherein the read bias has at least two levels during a read cycle.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to multi-level nonvolatile memory devices and methods of operation, more particularly, to multi-level nonvolatile memory devices whose memory cells include variable resistance element.
2. Description of the Related Art
The bit data of DRAM (Dynamic RAM) and flash memory devices are usually determined by the level of charge stored in memory cells. However, in the case of some nonvolatile memory devices bit data can be determined by the level of current which flows through resistance materials of memory cells. These nonvolative memory devices include PRAM (Phase change Random Access Memory), RRAM (Resistive RAM), and MRAM (Magnetic RAM). The variable resistance material can be phase-change materials such as chalcogenide alloy (PRAM), or MTJ (Magnetic Tunnel Junction) thin films.
Because bit density in a traditional memory chip is determined by the number of memory cells in a chip, fine patterning is an key area to increase the bit density. In most cases, the technique is very costly because it needs more sophisticated lithography equipments and/or pattern correction techniques. An alternative approach, which is widely researched and applied in nonvolatile memory devices, is multi-level memory cell techniques in which a memory cell can store more than one bit.
For example, a PRAM can store more than one bit in a cell by changing the resistance level of the phase changing material into four or more levels.
While the accuracy of write/read operation is a great concern of this technology, minimizing read access time is also a concern of this technology because read access time usually increases as the number of stored bits in a cell increases.

Multi-level nonvolatile memory device using variable resistive element


A fan coupling device controls the transfer of torque from a rotating shaft to a closed housing having an oil basin chamber and a torque transfer chamber by varying the effective contact area of oil in a torque transfer gap defined between a driving disc secured to the rotating shaft and the inner wall surface of the closed housing. To incorporate a sub pumping function, a sub dam member is attached to the inner circumferential surface of the closed housing, a sub circulatory passage is formed which leads from around the sub dam member inside the torque transfer chamber to the oil basin chamber, and a temperature-sensitive valve element is provided inside the oil basin chamber to open and close the outlet port of the sub circulatory passage in accordance with the internal temperature of the closed housing.

1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to a fan coupling device which controls the rotation of a fan for cooling a car engine in accordance with the external/ambient temperature of the device such that the engine is cooled by the controlled flow of cooling air of the fan.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
A conventional fan coupling device of the above type comprises a closed housing whose inside is divided into two chambers: a torque transfer chamber and an oil basin chamber. A so-called pumping mechanism is formed by a dam member which is attached to the inner circumferential surface of the torque transfer chamber where oil is accumulated during rotating and a circulatory passage which leads from around the dam member inside the torque transfer chamber to the oil basin chamber. A flow adjusting hole leading from the oil basin chamber to the torque transfer chamber is opened and closed by a valve member provided inside the oil basin chamber which is actuated by a temperature sensing member (provided in front of the closed housing) for sensing the external or or ambient temperature of the closed housing. Therefore, the effective contact area of oil in a torque transfer gap in which a driving disc is disposed is regulated to control the transfer of turning torque to the closed housing (on the driven side).
In the foregoing type of fan coupling device, when the engine comes to a stop with the flow adjusting hole opened due to a high external/ambient temperature, or when the flow adjusting hole is sunk in the oil inside the oil basin chamber during engine stoppage, the amount of oil inside the torque transfer chamber increases due to the natural flow of oil through the flow adjusting hole to the torque transfer chamber.
Accordingly, the conventional pumping mechanism causes "accompanying rotation" on the fan side immediately after engine starting, as illustrated by the characteristic curve B of FIG. 7. This imposes a bad influence on the engine or over-cools the engine, especially in the winter or cold season, to hinder warming up and result in large fan noise.


Systems and methods are provided for adding security to client data by maintaining keys providing access to the client data remotely from the client data. In some circumstances, the systems encrypt a cluster of data using an encryption key, associate the cluster of encrypted data with a unique identifier and send the unique identifier and the decryption key to a server for storage. The decryption key is then received from the server and is used to decrypt the cluster of encrypted data. A server can also perform policy checks or trigger additional authentication such as SMS, phone, or email notification before allowing access to a key. Furthermore, in some instances, the server can also prevent access to the stored keys in response to anomalies, such as decommissioning and other asset management events.

In contemporary computer systems and networking, computer users access data that is stored and managed in a variety of storage configurations, including traditional on-premise environments and in data server center environments. Such data may be subject to theft or tampering. For instance, it is possible for disks to be mishandled during decommissioning and it is also possible for malware and spyware to be installed on the storage devices or host system.
Physical access to an organization's secure areas, equipment, or materials containing sensitive data make it possible for a malicious insider to steal or damage the stored data. For example, a janitor or other building contractor may steal physical disks, other storage devices or even an entire computer system. Further, beyond physical theft and/or mishandling of the storage hardware, an operating system may be implanted with malicious software by unauthorized personnel that have physical access to the storage media. Malicious software could infiltrate or destroy data, or maintain persistent unauthorized access, amongst other problems.
Additionally, in computer networking, a hacker may manipulate the normal behavior of network connections and connected systems. Hackers may use scripts or other software to attack computer networks, manipulating data passing through a network connection in ways designed to obtain more information about the target system or obtain access to the data. According to some estimates, there are over one million new unique malware samples discovered each year. Unlike worms and mass-mailers of the past, many new viruses are extremely targeted to particular industries, companies and even users, making them more difficult to detect and prevent.
Most computer systems are eventually cycled out of service. However, sensitive data often remains on the storage devices of these systems. Sometimes, that computer or storage device is recycled, resold, left to collect dust in a closet, or can fall into a malicious person's hand. There are several popular methods that companies use to remove data from decommissioned storage devices. However, deleting data with the operating system may only remove pointers to the data, not the data itself, so the data can actually still be recovered. Other processes for removing the data can be bulky, time consuming to use, expensive and dangerous, and in the end, the data may still be readable.
Accordingly, there is an ongoing need to provide methods for adding security to data that is maintained on storage devices, particularly for storage devices that are susceptible to theft and/or tampering.

Theft and tamper resistant data protection


When an adjustment of an optical path followed by a laser beam is performed by using an adjusting laser beam emitted by a laser oscillating source to obtain a condition such that the laser beam introduced in a robot unit of a laser robot is correctly directed to a light condensing device (36) provided at an extremetity of the robot unit after changing the direction thereof due to a reflection by light reflecting mirrors arranged at respective joints in the robot unit, a position of the optical path of the adjusting laser beam projected by the light condensing device (36) in the interior of the robot unit (30) is detected by an optical sensor (46), and a different position of the optical path of the adjusting laser beam is simultaneously detected by a separate optical sensor (45) arranged at a position on the optical path for the laser beam located upstream with respect to the light condensing device (36), and an adjustment is carried out so that the center of movement of each of the joints of the robot unit (30) is in alignment with the optical path to be followed by the laser beam when detected at the two detecting positions.

A laser robot such as a polar coordinates laser robot is disclosed in International Application No. PCT/JP90/01627. The disclosed laser robot receives a laser beam emitted by a laser oscillator, i.e., a laser light source provided outside the robot unit and transmitted to the robot unit. The laser beam is further transmitted by laser beam reflecting mirror units disposed respectively at the joints of the robot unit to travel along an optical path aligned with the axes of rotation of the joints to an extremity of the robot unit, and irradiates an irradiation object while being focused by a focusing device provided on the extremity of the robot unit and including a parabolic focusing reflector and an irradiating nozzle.
The position and angle of incidence of the laser beam on the laser beam reflecting mirror unit disposed at each joint must be accurately adjusted so that the laser beam is accurately transmitted to the focusing device provided on the extremity of the robot unit. When the laser beam is transmitted from a laser beam receiving position on the robot unit along an ideal optical path to the focusing device, the laser beam can be focused on a spot having a maximum energy density at an objective point on an object of irradiation, to enable the most effective cutting, welding or photochemical reaction.
Accordingly, the position and orientation of the laser beam reflecting mirror units disposed respectively in the joints of the robot unit of a laser robot are adjusted to adjust the optical path followed by the laser beam.
Referring to FIG. 8, when adjusting the optical path of a laser beam in a prior art laser robot by a prior art optical path adjusting method, an adjusting laser beam 8 emitted by a laser oscillator 7 is introduced through laser beam reflecting mirror units 9, 10 and 11 provided in a laser beam conduit line extended outside the robot unit of the laser robot into the robot unit. The adjusting laser beam is then reflected by laser beam reflecting mirror units 12, 13 and 14 provided respectively in the joints of a rotary robot body and robot arms, to thereby fall on a parabolic reflecting mirror 15 accommodated in a focusing device arranged on a robot wrist. The optical path followed by the adjusting laser beam reflected by the parabolic reflecting mirror 15 is detected by an optical sensor 16 disposed after the parabolic reflecting mirror 15 with respect to the direction of travel of the adjusting laser beam. For example, if the laser beam reflecting mirror unit 11 is shifted from a correct position indicated by continuous lines to a position indicated by dotted lines, the adjusting laser beam travels along an optical path, indicated by broken lines, not aligned with a correct optical path and falls on the parabolic reflecting mirror 15. Accordingly, if the adjusting laser beam moves in the optical sensor 16 when any one of the joints of the robot unit is turned, it is judged that the optical path followed by the adjusting laser beam is not aligned with the correct optical path and the position and orientation of the laser beam reflecting mirror units 12, 13, 14 and 15 provided in the joints are adjusted to adjust the position and angle of incidence of the adjusting laser beam on the laser beam reflecting mirror units 12, 13, 14 and 15 so that the adjusting laser beam does not move in the optical sensor 16 even if any one of the joints is turned.
The optical sensor 16 comprises a known semiconductor position detecting device, such as a position sensitive detector, and the adjusting laser beam is a beam of visible laser light, such as laser light emitted by a Helium-Neon laser. Therefore, the adjusting laser beam is focused in a visible luminous spot P on the matrix coordinate plane 16a of the optical detector 16 as shown in FIG. 9. Accordingly, it is possible to decide whether or not the optical path followed by the adjusting laser beam is in alignment with the axis of rotation of the joint from the observation of the luminous spot P of the adjusting laser beam on the matrix coordinate plane 16a; that is, if the optical path followed by the adjusting laser beam is in alignment with the axes of rotation of all the joints of the robot unit, the position of the luminous spot P remains unchanged even if any one of the joints is turned. Thus, if the position of the luminous spot P on the matrix coordinate plane 16a remains unchanged when any one of the joints is turned, it is determined that a correct adjustment of the optical path followed by the laser beam has been achieved, and thus the optical path followed by the laser beam in alignment with the axes of rotation of all the joints and the laser beam can be properly projected onto the object to be irradiated.
On the other hand, when the optical path followed by the adjusting laser beam is not correctly adjusted and the luminous spot P moves along a circular path on the matrix coordinate plane 16a, the laser beam reflecting mirror units are adjusted, to thereby adjust the optical path.
Nevertheless, when measuring and adjusting the optical path followed by the laser beam according to the prior art optical path adjusting method, that the luminous spot P of the adjusting laser beam on the matrix coordinate plane 16a of the optical sensor 16 may remain fixed at one point on the matrix coordinate plane 16a as shown in FIG. 9, and the measurement shows the optical path followed by the laser beam in alignment with the axis of rotation of the joint when only the same joint is turned, because the prior art optical path adjusting method is a single-point laser beam detecting system that detects the adjusting laser beam by the optical sensor 16 disposed at a point on which the adjusting laser beam is focused by the parabolic reflector 15.
For example, the laser beam reflected by the parabolic reflecting mirror 15 of the focusing device may fall on the optical sensor 16 along an optical path inclined at an angle .theta. to a true optical path, as shown in FIG. 9. Accordingly, if the laser robot is an articulated laser robot and the laser beam reflected by the parabolic reflecting mirror 15 falls on the optical sensor 16 along the optical path inclined at the angle .theta. to the true optical path, the luminous spot P on the matrix coordinate plane 16a may show the measured optical path following the laser beam to be correct.
Thus, the prior art method of adjusting an optical path followed by a laser beam is unable to accurately adjust the optical path followed by the laser beam when the optical path adjusting method is applied to an articulated laser robot.

Method of adjusting an optical path followed by a laser beam in a laser robot and an apparatus for carrying out the same


Coated abrasives are described comprising a backing substrate having coated thereon a moisture-cured polyurethane hot melt make coating and abrasive particles at least partially embedded therein. Methods of making the inventive coated abrasives are also presented.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to coated abrasives and to their preparation, and in particular to coated abrasives employing a moisture-cured polyurethane hot melt adhesive as a make coating.
2. Related Art
Coated abrasive products are normally prepared by coating one surface of a substrate with a first binder layer having adhesive properties, often referred to in the art as the "make" coating. Particles of abrasive material are applied to the coated substrate and partially embedded therein. A layer of a second binder, often referred to as the "size" coating, is then applied over the abrasive particles and make coating. The thickness of the second binder layer regulates the amount of the abrasive material extending above the binder medium. Anti-loading materials have generally been included in a further optional layer, referred to in the art as the "supersize" coating.
The adhesives used to form the make coating are generally water- or solvent-based and include phenolic resins, urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde and combinations thereof. Other adhesives which have been used are based on animal hide glue and starch. Similar adhesives have been used for the size coating.
Many of the known adhesive systems which have been used in the above constructions are of low solids content requiring a high energy input for drying and the careful selection of backing materials. In the case of solvent-based adhesives, apparatus to extract solvent emissions can also be needed. Such extraction apparatus may also extract the fines from the abrasive particles leading to processing problems.

Coated abrasives utilizing a moisture curable polyurethane hot melt make coating

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A process for making smoking article wrappers so as to modify the mass burn rate of the smoking article.

The present invention generally relates to a process for making wrappers for smoking articles such as cigarettes, and more specifically to a process for making cigarette wrappers which modify the mass burn rate of the cigarette.
It is beneficial to make cigarettes in commercial quantities which will have a reduced burn rate if not drawn on by the smoker but which will look, feel, taste and burn like a conventional cigarette when being drawn on by the smoker at normal intervals. It is recognized by those skilled in the art that the wrapper construction of the cigarette strongly, influences these characteristics.
Cigarettes made to have a reduced burn rate through a modification of the wrapper have been described previously. For example, Weinert U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,650 describes a cigarette in which the interior surface of the wrapper is coated with clay. In Cohn U.S. Pat. No. 4,044,778, the cigarette wrapper includes rings or areas coated with an alkali silicate which renders the wrapper non-burning in the coated areas.
Durocher U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,345 describes a wrapper made of a cellulose fiber base which normally does not sustain burning when the wrapper is incorporated into a cigarette. The wrapper is treated in selected zones with an alkali metal burn promoter such as the potassium salt of citric acid. It is described that a cigarette made with a wrapper so treated will smolder without being drawn on by the smoker when in the treated zone but when the treated zone is consumed will extinguish itself unless the cigarette is drawn on by the smoker. Cigarette wrappers of the character described in Durocher have not been found to produce cigarettes which look, feel, taste and burn like a conventional cigarette.
Hampl U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,775 also describes a cigarette wrapper which will sustain burning only if drawn on by the smoker at normal intervals. Bands of a cellulose fiber base web which will not sustain burn are added to a conventional cigarette wrapper. The bands are selected and positioned to create a cigarette with the desired burning characteristics. While cigarette wrappers of the character described in Hampl have been found to exhibit the desired look, feel, taste and burn qualities, there was no known process for making such cigarette wrappers in commercial quantities.
Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a process for making wrappers in commercial quantities which produce cigarettes which will have a reduced burn rate if not drawn on by the smoker but which look, feel, taste and burn like a conventional cigarette when being drawn on by the smoker at normal intervals.
Another object of this invention is to provide a process for making wrappers in commercial quantities which produce cigarettes which exhibit the burning characteristics described in Hampl U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,775 or Durocher U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,345.
A further object of this invention is to provide a process for making wrappers which modify the mass burn rate of the cigarette by applying circumscribing bands of paper of specified width at intervals along the longitudinal axis of a cigarette wrapper. Both the bands of paper and the cigarette wrapper may be selected from conventional materials or specially selected or chemically treated materials so as to provide a cigarette with the desired mass burn rate.

Process for making wrappers for smoking articles which modify the burn rate of the smoking article


A jamb liner for a window assembly permits tilt-takeout sashes to be assembled to form a standard window assembly without tilt or takeout capabilities. The liner has an extruded body with a pair of channels for engaging the sashes. The channels are interconnected by two webs. One of the webs forms adjacent portions of sash runs, and the other web forms a bow-shaped spring for urging the channels against the sashes.

Standard window assemblies with double sash runs are made with sashes that cannot be removed from the sash runs without disassembling the window. However, so-called tilt-takeout window assemblies that permit sash removal are also in widespread use.
Generally, both the window sashes and jamb liners forming the sash runs are designed much differently for use with either standard or tilt-takeout window assemblies. Since both types of assemblies are widely used, window manufacturers are required to stock inventories of the different sashes and jamb liners. Of the two, the sashes are much more costly to stock in inventory than the jamb liners.
Accordingly, a number of attempts have been made to make both standard and tilt-takeout sashes compatible with one or the other window assembly types. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,131 to Schnormeier discloses special jamb liners for adapting standard window sashes to tilt-takeout window assemblies. However, Schnormeier's attempt requires costly slots be formed along jambs to receive the special liners.
Other jamb liners have been designed to adapt tilt-takeout sashes to standard window assemblies. These other liners have also not been very successful because they have not provided appropriate tracking for the tilt-takeout sashes. The liners are not well reinforced, and pairs of springs built into the liners for urging the liners against the sashes tend to warp the liners away from jambs along portions of sash runs not currently occupied by the sashes. Ordinarily, only one or the other of the springs is compressed by one of the sashes along most of the jamb liner length. The other spring is free to urge an adjacent portion of the liner away from the jamb.


Provided is a construction machine capable of achieving an energy conservation effect while restraining overcharge of an electrical storage device, including an engine, a slewing electric motor, an electrical storage device, a generator-motor, and an assist controller which causes the generator-motor to assist the engine to consume an electric power equal to or more than an electric power equal to a difference between the regeneration power and the maximum allowable charge amount, when a regeneration power regenerated by the slewing electric motor is equal to or more than a maximum allowable charge amount which is a maximum amount of an electric power within which the electrical storage device can be charged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hybrid type construction machine using both an engine power and an electric power.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is conventionally known a hybrid construction machine such as a hybrid shovel. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-283107 discloses a construction machine including a hydraulic pump, a generator-motor, an engine which is a power source for driving the hydraulic pump and the generator-motor, a hydraulic actuator which is driven by a hydraulic fluid delivered by the hydraulic pump, an electrical storage device which is charged with an electric power generated by the generator-motor, and a slewing electric motor which is driven by the electric power stored in the electrical storage device.
According to the construction machine, there is a possibility of ignition or fail of the electrical storage device due to an increase in a charging rate of the electrical storage device beyond an upper limit, namely, overcharging. Consequently, there is need for controlling a charge amount of the electrical storage device so as to prevent the charging rate of the electrical storage device from exceeding the upper limit.
However, regulating the charging rate of the electrical storage device in a prescribed range under all the conditions narrows a range of the charging rate and hinder the hybrid type construction machine from sufficiently achieving its performance. Furthermore, it involves a problem of impossibility of using a full capacity of the electrical storage device and obtaining an energy-conservation effect.

Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.