A digital-to-analog converter includes a decoder, a full differential type low-pass filter, and first to fourth switches. The decoder has first and second inputs and first and second outputs. The low-pass filter has first and second inputs and first and second outputs. The first switch has a first terminal connected to a first reference voltage source, a second terminal connected to the first input of the low-pass filter, and a third terminal as a control terminal connected to the first output of the decoder. The second switch has a first terminal connected to the first reference voltage source, a second terminal connected to the second input of the low-pass filter, and a third terminal as a control terminal connected to the second output of the decoder. The third switch has a first terminal connected to a second reference voltage source, a second terminal connected to the second input of the low-pass filter, and a third terminal as a control terminal connected to the first output of the decoder. The fourth switch has a first terminal connected to the second reference voltage source, a second terminal connected to the first input of the low-pass filter, and a third terminal connected to the second output of the decoder.

The present invention relates to a device (to be referred to as a D/A converter hereinafter) for converting a digital signal into an analog signal and, more particularly, to a local D/A converter applied to an oversampling type D/A converter.
In some D/A converters, an original digital signal is interpolated in an input digital signal at the timing of a clock having a transfer rate 10 or more times higher than that of the input digital signal, and the interpolated signal undergoes digital filtering. Thereafter, a 1-bit digital signal obtained by pulse-density modulation of the original signal is output from a .DELTA..SIGMA. (delta/sigma) modulator. A D/A converter using such a scheme is called an oversampling type D/A converter (refer to, e.g., NIKKEI ELECTRONICS, August 1988, No. 453, p. 220, and Technical Report, The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, ICD91-88, August 1988).
According to this scheme, since the proportion of an analog circuit to the overall device is low, and a weighting scheme using capacitors and resistors is not used, a high-precision D/A converter can be realized.
FIG. 6 shows an oversampling type D/A converter. A digital signal 31 is input to an interpolation filter 61 at the timing of a clock signal 32. Digital data is then interpolated in the digital signal 31 at the period of an oversample clock signal 34. The signal is then filtered by a digital low-pass filter 62. The resultant signal is then input to a secondary .DELTA..SIGMA. modulator 71. The .DELTA..SIGMA. modulator 71 is constituted by two digital integrators 64 and 66, digital subtracters 63 and 65, and a quantizer 67. If an input to the .DELTA..SIGMA. modulator 71 is represented by X; an output from the .DELTA..SIGMA. modulator 71, by Y; and quantization noise, by Q, the following equation (1) is established: EQU Y=X+(1+Z.sup.-1).sup.2 .multidot.Q (1)
A 1-bit digital signal 37 obtained by pulse-density modulation of the digital signal 31, i.e., an output from the quantizer 67 which is an output from the .DELTA..SIGMA. modulator 71, is input to a local D/A converter 72 in synchronism with the oversample clock signal 34. The local D/A converter 72 is constituted by a 1-bit D/A converter 68 and a low-pass filter 69. When the output from the quantizer 67 is converted into an analog signal by the 1-bit D/A converter 68, and the analog signal is filtered by the low-pass filter 69, a high-precision analog signal 33 can be obtained.
FIGS. 7A to 7F show operations of the respective portions of the circuit shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 7C, data is inserted in the digital signal 31 in FIG. 7A, at a period f.sub..PHI.S of the oversample clock signal 34 in FIG. 7F, by the interpolation filter 61, which receives the clock signal 32 shown in FIG. 7B, thereby obtaining an output 35. FIG. 7C exemplifies the case wherein zero data is inserted. In addition, an output 36 shown in FIG. 7D is obtained according to the characteristics of the digital low-pass filter 62. As indicated by equation (1), the input signal X (output 37) is directly obtained, as the output signal Y in shown in FIG. 7E, by the secondary .DELTA..SIGMA. modulator 71, except for quantization noise which is concentrated in a high-frequency range. That is, the data of the output 36 is equivalent to that of the output 35. In other words, the data of the output 37 is obtained by pulse-density modulation of the data of the output 36.
The example of an oversampling type D/A converter has been described above. Since the precision of a D/A converter of this scheme is greatly dependent on the precision of a local D/A converter, the local D/A converter has a full differential arrangement.
FIG. 8 shows a conventional example of the local D/A converter 72 in FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 8, the local D/A converter has the following circuit arrangement. A switch S1 is arranged between the first electrode of a capacitor 13 and a reference voltage source 7; a switch S2, between the first electrode of the capacitor 13 and a reference voltage source 8; and a switch S4, between the first electrode of the capacitor 13 and a reference voltage source 9. A switch S1 is arranged between the first electrode of a capacitor 14 and the reference voltage source 8; a switch S2, between the first electrode of the capacitor 14 and the reference voltage source 7; and a switch S4, between the first electrode of the capacitor 14 and the reference voltage source 9. A switch S3 is arranged between the second electrode of the capacitor 13 and the reference voltage source 9; and a switch S4, between the second electrode of the capacitor 13 and the inverting input of a full differential type operational amplifier 17. A switch S3 is arranged between the second electrode of the capacitor 14 and the reference voltage source 9; and a switch S4, between the second electrode of the capacitor 14 and the noninverting input of the full differential type operational amplifier 17. The inverting input and noninverting output of the full differential type operational amplifier 17 are connected to each other through a capacitor 15, while a switch S3 is arranged between the inverting input and the noninverting input. The noninverting input and inverting output of the full differential type operational amplifier 17 are connected to each other through a capacitor 16, while a switch S3 is arranged between the noninverting input and the inverting output. The noninverting and inverting outputs of the full differential type operational amplifier 17 are respectively connected to the first and second inputs of a full differential type low-pass filter 10. The first and second outputs of the full differential type low-pass filter 10 are respectively connected to analog signal output terminals 11 and 12. The reference voltage sources 7, 8, and 9 are respectively set at voltages Vr.sup.-, Vr.sup.+, and Vag. The output 37 from the .DELTA..SIGMA. modulator 71 is input to an input terminal 19, i.e., the first input of a decoder 18. The oversample clock signal 34 is input to an input terminal 20, i.e., the second input of the decoder 18. Outputs .PHI.1, .PHI.2, .PHI.3, and .PHI.4 from the decoder 18 serve to control the switches S1, the switches S2, the switches S3, and the switches S4, respectively.
FIGS. 9A to 9G show operations of the respective portions of the circuit in FIG. 8. When a pulse-density-modulated output 37 (FIG. 9A) from the .DELTA..SIGMA. modulator 71 is input to the input terminal 19 of the decoder 18 constituting the local D/A converter 72, and an oversample clock signal 34 shown in FIG. 9B is input to the input terminal 20 of the decoder 18, the outputs .PHI.1, .PHI.2, .PHI.3, and .PHI.4 are decoded at the respective timings shown in FIGS. 9C to 9F, thus ON/OFF-controlling the switches S1, S2, S3, and S4, respectively. With this operation, as shown in FIG. 9G, a differential voltage 113 is generated between a noninverting output 111 and an inverting output 112 of the full differential type operational amplifier 17. If, for example, the difference voltage 113 (Vr.sup.+ -Vr.sup.-) is represented by Vp; and a difference voltage (Vr.sup.- -Vr.sup.+), by Vm, the difference voltage Vp is obtained when the output 37, as a digital signal, from the .DELTA..SIGMA. modulator 71 is at logic "1", whereas the difference voltage Vm is obtained when the output 37 is at logic "0". That is, digital signals of logic "1" and logic "0" are converted into analog signals Vp and Vm. These analog signals are then filtered by the full differential type low-pass filter 10. The resultant signals are obtained, as full differential analog signals of higher precision, from the analog signal output terminals 11 and 12.
In this conventional local D/A converter, since a digital signal is converted into an analog signal by using a full differential type operational amplifier, the speed of local D/A conversion is limited by the infinite GB product of the operational amplifier. More specifically, the limit frequency of D/A conversion based on the infinite GB product of the full differential type operational amplifier is generally set to be several tens of MHz. In addition, in order to increase the speed of D/A conversion, the GB product of the full differential type operational amplifier must be increased. As a result, the power consumption and the circuit size are increased.


A method for synthesizing silicon compounds that contain a substituent bonded to silicon through a Si--C bond comprising a platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation reaction between SiH-substituted silicon compounds and unsaturated group-functional organic compounds or unsaturated group-functional organosilicon compounds and exhibits a high catalyst activity and stability and affords a high positional selectivity in the hydrosilylation reaction product.

This invention relates to a method for synthesizing silicon compounds that contain a substituent bonded to silicon through Si--C bond. This method is undertaken for the purposes of property improvement and imparting reactivity and proceeds through the reaction of unsaturated compounds with silane compounds.
The hydrosilylation reaction is a generally applicable method for the chemical modification of organic compounds by silane compounds. This method employs hydrosilylation between SiH-functional silane and an unsaturated bond-bearing organic compound and is applicable to a fairly broad range of SiH-functional compounds and unsaturated bond-bearing organic compounds. Platinum and rhodium catalysts are generally used to run the hydrosilylation reaction in industrial or commercial processes. Since these metals are very expensive, it is crucial that the catalytic efficiency in the hydrosilylation reaction also be very high. In addition, the hydrosilylation reaction is frequently accompanied by competing side reactions and may include reaction pathways that produce a number of isomers. As a consequence, the hydrosilylation reaction is generally accompanied by such catalyst-related issues as product yield, product selectivity, and production of a single isomer. Modification of the catalyst can be carried out in order to address these problems and issues. For example, various ligands can be added and/or chemically bonded to the catalyst, or the catalyst can be immobilized on any of various different supports. However, these chemical and physical modifications are typically problematic, for example, (1) their effects may rapidly disappear and (2) an improved catalytic selectivity is generally accompanied by a lower activity. In addition, since platinum catalysts gradually lose their activity under oxygen-free conditions, implementation of the hydrosilylation reaction in the presence of oxygen becomes unavoidable thereby increasing side reactions and risk of fire.
With regard to the platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation reaction between SiH-functional silicon compounds and unsaturated group-bearing organic compounds, the object of the present invention is to introduce a reaction method that provides a high catalyst activity and stability and that also provides a high positional selectivity in the hydrosilylation reaction product. An additional object is to achieve these features without the addition of oxygen and thereby reduce the risk of fire and explosion in the hydrosilylation reaction.

Method for synthesizing silicon compounds that contain a substituent bonded to silicon through a silicon-carbon linkage


A child resistant disk top closure system is provided that combines a disk top closure for a container with a child resistant locking mechanism system, which uses an automatic locking element that is depressed to enable a simultaneous rotation of a locking member to transition the disk top from a locked position preventing opening the disk top to dispense any substance in the container to an unlocked position, in which the disk top can be opened to enable dispensing of a substance in the container.

A typical standard disk top closure is comprised of two parts, a body and a disk. The main body consists of a closure feature, such as threading or a snap for a container providing a single dispense orifice, which is disposed below the disk. The body provides the structure and disk pivot features, which hold the disk in position to either seal the container orifice, or to be pivoted to the dispense position, which allows the contained product to flow out of the orifice and pass through the disk and out of the dispense port. However, most disk-top closures do not include any child-resistant locking mechanism, or may include a locking mechanism that is overly complicated and too difficult for some elderly patients to open. What is needed is a child resistant closure and locking mechanism integrated a disk top that addresses these shortcomings in the art.

Child-resistant disk-top closure and locking system for a container

PACKAGING CONCEPTS ASSOCIATES HOLDING, INC.


A method and system incorporating an integral power consumption monitor-circuit breaker panel for industrial or commercial buildings and facilities. The power consumption monitor-circuit breaker panel not only protects each end use within the building against harmful overloads, but also monitors peak power demands of each end use. Electrical current, voltage and phase information is provided by each monitor-breaker. This information is then fed to a processing circuit that provides a power consumption value. The power consumption value is then fed to recording device to provide a power consumption history for each end use. Each monitor-breaker is identified by its end use, as for example, by color coding. The monitor device of each circuit breaker is designed to provide a voltage that is proportional to the circuit load. Two methods may be used to provide such a voltage signal: a) the voltage signal can be developed across a built-in shunt in each circuit braeker; and b) a proportional voltage can be obtained by use of a circuit breaker with a built-in Hall effect device, wherin the product of the instantaneous current and voltage along with the phase angle between them, provides the power measurement. The current and/or instantaneous power information can be sent to the recording device via a powerline carrier, radio link, or optical fiber. The information can be integrated to provide either kW or kW/hr readings.

A need presently exists for an inexpensive, non-intrusive means of monitoring power consumption by end use, in an industrial or commercial building. Measurement of peak electrical demand for lighting, heating, cooling and air distribution in a building is useful for both research and billing purposes.
As early as 1953, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,654,068 issued to Mertens, entitled "Combined Fuse and Demand Meter," demand (current) meters were disposed in a housed fuse construction, and mounted on the door thereof. Those prior systems, however, provided an indicator only; no provision was made for recording or analyzing data either concurrently or subsequently, nor was an end use application anticipated.
A non-intrusive load monitoring system has been developed for monitoring appliances in private residences, as illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,141 issued to Hart et al, on Aug. 15, 1989, entitled "Non-intrusive Appliance Monitor Apparatus." The above-mentioned system utilizes harmonics to sense individual devices within a residence from the main meter. This system is generally expensive, despite the fact that it attempts to reduce cost by using sophisticated software in lieu of hardware.
One of the major drawbacks of this prior system is its inability to work effectively with multi-state or variable speed devices, albeit it was never designed to do so. The operational dependence of the aforementioned system upon individual device characteristics makes it impractical for monitoring commercial structures. This is so because commercial buildings have a wider variety of devices, which would require site specific customization. The cost alone of surveying a building for such customization would be prohibitively high. Also, the building industry is currently attempting to eliminate devices that result in disturbances through the electrical system. This would eliminate the ability of the aforesaid system to detect many of the power consuming units.
The present invention seeks to provide an inexpensive, non-intrusive system for monitoring power consumption by end use rather than by identifying a particular device. The invention is incorporated in the circuit breaker panels of commercial buildings, either by retrofit or as original equipment. Of course, economies of installation are achieved by incorporating power measurement into an existing building component (i.e., the circuit breaker), when possible, rather than designing a system having new components which must be interfaced with existing building systems.
The power consumed in any circuit is dedicated to a particular end function, such as lighting or cooling, etc. The measurement of any particular power drain is transmitted to a multiple end use register, where it is summed with similar measurements from other end use sources. Power consumption measurement can be integrated to provide both kW and kW/hr use.


A process for producing a laminate comprising individual layers, such process including a sequence of operations in which initially a support substrate is provided, to which at least two compositions, each of which is liquid under the processing conditions, are applied as individual layers, one on top of the other. Each composition comprises either one active pharmaceutical or cosmetic substance or one pharmaceutical or cosmetic auxiliary.

The invention relates to a process for producing a laminate comprising individual layers, comprising a sequence of operations in which
first a support substrate is provided, to which
a composition which is flowable under processing conditions is applied as a layer, to which layer
subsequently at least one further composition which is flowable under processing conditions is applied as a layer.
Laminates are multilayer sheetlike materials. Laminates in the form of plasters for application to the skin generally comprise at least one film and at least one pressure sensitively adhering layer. In the context of the invention, the term xe2x80x9claminatexe2x80x9d denotes a structure comprising individual layers, in some cases none of these layers comprising a film. In accordance with the prior art, multilayer laminates are normally produced by joining individual single-ply layers. A layer of this kind is produced by first providing a support substrate, generally in the form of a dehesively treated film, which is then coated with a xe2x80x9cliquidxe2x80x9d, i.e., solvent-containing, polymer composition. Subsequent drying of the coated substrate brings about evaporation of the solvent and, with it, crosslinking of the polymer chains in the applied layer. The dried polymer layer can then be lined with a removable film.
Following the abovementioned operations, a multilayer laminate is produced by joining two or more single-ply layers, the cover film of each individual layer being discarded.
The known production process is disadvantageous in a number of respects. First of all, it is necessary to produce individual layers in a sequence of operations and then to join these layers. Since, moreover, the cover films of each layer are discarded, the process is profligate in its use of materials.
Furthermore, the incorporation of volatile active substances and/or auxiliaries into solvent-containing compositions leads, during the drying of each layer and/or of the laminate, to the evaporation of axe2x80x94in certain instances considerablexe2x80x94fraction of the substances incorporated. Overall, the customary coating process associated with the production of a multilayer laminate is uneconomic and costly, and in some cases even unsuitable, for the majority of the active substances and auxiliaries of this class of substance.
The invention is based on the object of specifying a process for producing a laminate comprising individual layers, which process avoids the abovementioned disadvantages and difficulties, is suitable for an economically advantageous production of laminates comprising pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic ingredients, and minimizes evaporative losses on drying and the consumption of cover film material.
A more particular object of the invention is to provide a process for producing a laminate comprising individual layers, such process including a sequence of operations in which initially a support substrate is provided, to which at least on e composition which is liquid under the processing conditions is applied as a layer.

Method for manufacturing a laminate consisting of individual layers


A rear spoiler includes a depth end wall, which bounds an accommodation space, which accommodates a wiper blade upon positioning of the wiper blade in a stop position. A distance between the depth end wall and the wiper blade in the stop position measured in a direction generally parallel to a surface of a window glass, which is wiped by the wiper blade, is set such that the distance between the depth end wall and a first longitudinal side of the wiper blade, which is opposite from the pivot axis, is larger than the distance between the depth end wall and a second longitudinal side of the wiper blade, which is opposite from the first longitudinal side of the wiper blade.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wiper system.
2. Description of Related Art
For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. H07-39734 discloses a roof spoiler (a wiper system), which includes a wiper mechanism that wipes a surface of a rear window glass of a vehicle. The above roof spoiler is installed to a top end portion of the back door panel or a rear end portion of a roof panel and receives the wiper mechanism that wipes the rear window glass.
Furthermore, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-370626 discloses another technique. According to the disclosed technique, a recess, which is recessed inward of a vehicle, is provided in a top portion of a back door panel of the vehicle, and a rear wiper motor apparatus is installed in this recess. Upon installation of the rear wiper motor apparatus in the recess, an outer panel (a rear spoiler) is installed.
FIG. 11 is a descriptive view of a previously proposed wiper system, which should be only considered as an illustrative comparative example for illustrating advantages of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 11, the previously proposed wiper system includes an accommodation space 120a, which is formed in a spoiler 110 to accommodate a wiper arm 133 and a wiper blade 134.
In the previously proposed wiper system, the wiper blade 134 is accommodated in the accommodation space 120a of the spoiler 110 when the wiper blade 134 is placed in a stop position thereof. Thus, for example, at the time of snowfall, the snow, which is wiped by the wiper blade 134, is wiped into the accommodation space 120a and is accumulated therein.
Normally, a wiping surface area size of the wiper blade 134 is increased from a pivot axis side 134b of the wiper blade 134 to a distal end side 134a of the wiper blade 134 in conformity with an increase in a length of an arcuate wiping path of the wiper blade 134 along the length of the wiper blade 134. Thus, the amount of snow, which is wiped by the wiper blade 134 at the time of snowfall is larger at the distal end side 134a in comparison to the pivot axis side 134b. Therefore, one longitudinal side of the accommodation space 120a, which accommodates the distal end side 134a, tends to accumulate the larger amount of snow in comparison to the other longitudinal side of the accommodation space 120a, which accommodates the pivot axis side 134b.
However, in the previously proposed wiper system, a depth of the accommodation space 120a is made generally constant along the length of the accommodation space 120a regardless of the location along the length of the wiper blade 134. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, a distance S1 between the distal end side 134a of the wiper blade 134 and a depth end wall 122a is generally the same as a distance S2 between the pivot axis side 134b and the depth end wall 122a.
Thus, while the other longitudinal side of the accommodation space 120a, which accommodates the pivot axis side 134b of the wiper blade 134, may have a sufficient space for accumulating the wiped objects (e.g., snow), the one longitudinal side of the accommodation space 120a, which accommodates the distal end side 134a of the wiper blade 134, may not have sufficient space for accommodating the wiped objects. When the accommodation space 120a accumulates the large amount of the wiped objects, the distal end side 134a of the wiper blade 134 tends to be caught by the wiped objects, and thereby causing a damage to the wiper blade 134 or locking of the wiper motor apparatus upon continuation of the wiping operation due to the capturing of the wiper blade 134 in the wiped objects.


It is an object to provide a homogeneous semiconductor substrate in which defective bonding is reduced. Such a semiconductor substrate can be formed by the steps of: disposing a first substrate in a substrate bonding chamber which includes a substrate supporting base where a plurality of openings is provided, substrate supporting mechanisms provided in the plurality of openings, and raising and lowering mechanisms which raise and lower the substrate supporting mechanisms; disposing a second substrate over the first substrate so as not to be in contact with the first substrate; and bonding the first substrate to the second substrate by using the raising and lowering mechanisms to raise the substrate supporting mechanisms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus of a semiconductor substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, integrated circuits using an SOI (silicon on insulator) substrate, instead of using a bulk silicon substrate, have been developed. By utilizing characteristics of a thin single crystal silicon layer formed over an insulating layer, transistors formed in the integrated circuit can be electrically separated from each other completely. Further, each transistor can be formed as a fully-depleted transistor, and thus a semiconductor integrated circuit with high added value such as high integration, high speed driving, and low power consumption can be realized.
As a method for manufacturing an SOT substrate, a hydrogen-ion-implantation separation method in which hydrogen ion implantation and separation are combined is known. A typical process of a hydrogen-ion-implantation separation method will be described below.
First, hydrogen ions are implanted into a silicon substrate to form an ion implantation layer at a predetermined depth from the surface. Next, a silicon oxide film is formed by oxidizing another silicon substrate which serves as a base substrate. After that, the silicon substrate into which hydrogen ions are implanted is disposed in close contact with the silicon oxide film of the another silicon substrate, so that the two silicon substrates are bonded to each other. Then, by performing heat treatment, one of the silicon substrates is cleaved using the ion implantation layer as a cleavage plane.
There is a known method in which a single-crystal-silicon layer is formed over a glass substrate by using a hydrogen-ion-implantation separation method (e.g., Reference 1: Japanese Published Patent Application No. Hei 11-097379). In Reference 1, a separation plane is mechanically polished in order to remove a defect layer formed by ion implantation or a step which is several to several tens of nanometers in height in the separation plane.

Manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus of semiconductor substrate

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A regulating assembly for a controlled environment room including one or more work product openings comprising a positive pressure air chamber mounted in direct fluid communication with each of the work product openings and an airsupply assembly connected to each of the air chambers so as to supply a sufficient quantity of air thereto, such that a predetermined positive air pressure is created in each of the air chambers. The predetermined positive is at least minimally greater than the air pressure on the interior of the controlled environment room. The greater air pressure in each of the air chambers, results in concurrent paths of air flow directed from each of the air chambers into the interior of the controlled room and simultaneously outward therefrom to the surrounding environment. Contaminant material is thereby restricted from entering the interior of the controlled room through either of the work product openings and conditioned air is prevented or significantly restricted from escaping from the controlled environment rooms through the work product openings. Significant quantities of "make-up" air supplied to the controlled room are not required which results in substantial savings in energy costs.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to an assembly for reducing the cost of energy required to maintain the environment within an industrial enclosure known as a controlled environment room, particularly but not exclusively, of the type designed for applying a powder coating to a plurality of work products disposed on a conveyer which continuously passes through the controlled environment room during the coating process. The assembly of the present invention is also directed to significantly restricting, if not prohibiting, the entry of particulate material or like contaminants into the controlled environment room, by subjecting the continuously moving work products carried on the conveyor, as well as the interior of the controlled environment room, to concurrent paths of positively pressurized, air flow. The assembly of the present invention thereby minimizes the escape of "conditioned" air from the controlled room and significantly reduces the energy costs associated with its replacement.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of enclosures having a controlled environment is well known in industry and are often referred to as controlled environment rooms or controlled rooms. Such controlled rooms may be designed and structurally adapted for a wide variety of applications. However, common to virtually all of the various industrial applications is the attempted controlling of the interior environment of such controlled rooms or enclosures to the extent of controlling temperature, humidity, cleanliness and, in certain instances interior air pressure. While controlled environment rooms of the type referred to herein may include clean rooms, and even large, industrial size coolers or freezers, one common application of such controlled rooms is the application of powder coatings and/or paint, utilizing an electrostatic charge applied to each of a plurality of work products which may be mounted on a conveyor which continuously moves conveyor, with an opposite electrostatic charge provided to the powder coating or paint so as to facilitate application onto the work products. In this and other types of applications it is common for the controlled environment room to include at least two spaced apart and substantially opposing openings through which the moving conveyor, supporting the plurality of work products, passes. One of these openings is disposed so as to permit the entry of the plurality of work products into the controlled environment room and while the other opening is disposed to permit the exit of the work products from the controlled room, after the application of the powder coating thereon. In order to maintain the high quality standards expected, when products are processed in the above described manner, it is important that contaminant material from the environment or atmosphere surrounding the controlled room be restricted, if not prohibited, from entering the interior of the room, and thereby, interfering with the powder coating process. In addition, the maintenance of the temperature and humidity on the interior of the controlled room within certain preset or predetermined parameters is important, particularly because of the application of the electrostatic charge on the plurality of work products. In order to accomplish the required objectives in maintaining the interior of such processing rooms within acceptable industrial standards, air conditioning assemblies are used to deliver significant quantities of treated air to the interior of the controlled roms. The air conditioning assemblies also serve to maintain the temperature and humidity of such delivered air within the acceptable parameters. In addition, in an effort to reduce the entry of contaminants into the controlled room, the air pressure within the interior of such controlled rooms is maintained at a significantly greater level than the atmospheric pressure of the surrounding environment. Because of this increased interior air pressure, a continuous flow or quantity of air will pass out through each of the aforementioned work product openings. Contaminant material is, thereby, prevented or significantly restricted from entering through these work product openings, during the passage of the plurality of work products into and out of the interior of the controlled room. The recognized industry standard for the discharge of air from the interior of the controlled room is substantially one hundred and twenty (120') feet per minute. As such, a large volume of the treated and conditioned air being supplied to the interior of the controlled room by an air conditioning and treatment assembly is lost to the surrounding area or environment, on a continuing basis, and accordingly, in order to maintain an acceptable, high quality standard for powder coating applications, an additional supply of "make-up" air must be continuously returned to the controlled room in order to control the environment therein. However, the "make-up" air must also be treated and/or conditioned to have the same temperature and humidity characteristics as the air which is being continuously lost from the controlled room through the aforementioned work product openings. Therefore, in addition, to the problems associated with restricting the entry of contaminant material into the interior of the controlled rooms, an additional problem in this industry is the high cost involved in supplying the voluminous amounts of conditioned "make-up" air back to the interior of the controlled room.
In order to avoid problems of the type set forth above, attempts have been made to develop energy conservation systems for controlled environment rooms, particularly the type designed for powder coating applications of a plurality of work products. Specifically, in order to reduce the expense involved in returning "make-up" air to the interior of the controlled rooms, known attempts have utilized the application of negative air pressure to the areas immediately exterior of the work product openings in a controlled room. For example, one known assembly routes the air exiting the interior of the controlled room through such work product openings to a recycling assembly, which then reconditions the air and returns it to the interior of the room, instead of utilizing newly conditioned, "make-up" air. A drawback associated with this assembly, however, is that provision of the negative air pressure to the areas immediately exterior of the work product openings tends to accelerate the passage of contaminants, in the untreated air from the surrounding environment, toward the interior of the controlled room. More specifically, the existence of a negative air pressure is thought to have the effect of greatly accelerating the entry of contaminants in untreated air into an area where it is directly exposed to the work products, immediately prior to their entry into the interior of the controlled room, where the powder coating application would occur. This exposure to contaminated air at an accelerated rate and in greater quantities, could have the effect of depositing additional amounts of contaminants directly on the work products, just before they enter the controlled room. It could also have the effect of interfering with the application of an electrostatic charge to the work products, which may be needed in order to achieve a proper powder or paint coating on them as they pass through the controlled room. In addition, subsequent to an application of powder coating or paint within the controlled room, this known type of assembly would subject the work products again to the exposure of an accelerated flow of contaminated air as they exit through the corresponding work product opening. If, in fact, the drying or curing stage of the powder coating process was not complete at this point, such exposure could result in the depositing of additional contaminants thereon and in the forced removal of the powder coating and/or paint applied to the work product. Alternatively, if the application of the electrostatic charge to the work products was interfered with upon their entry into the controlled room, the quality of the coating would be lower and the drying or curing stage might take longer. In addition, the existence of the negative air pressure in the described, known assembly would appear to greatly increase the amount of conditioned air which exits the interior of the controlled room. Even if this increased volume of air is recycled, it must still have to be at least partially treated or conditioned again in order to raise or lower it to required temperature and humidity characteristics before it could be returned to the interior of the controlled room. The energy costs would, therefore, probably be increased because of the large quantity of recycled "make-up" air being treated and returned to the controlled room.
As set forth above, an important concern associated with controlled environment rooms such as large coolers or freezers is the escape of the conditioned air from the interior of the cooler/freezer rather than the entry of contaminants through a work product or other access opening formed therein. In this category of controlled environment rooms, it is well understood that the reduction of temperature and control of humidity within industrial size coolers/freezers involves extremely high energy costs. Accordingly, the escape of the conditioned air from such controlled rooms involves having to supply "make-up" air which has the same, significantly reduced temperature characteristics, and a significant increase in energy costs associated therewith. Attempts to reduce the escape of the conditioned air from the interior of this type of controlled room include the provision of plastic or like material curtains comprising a plurality of "ribbons" or "stringers" at the access opening to the cooler or freezer, which allows both personnel and products to pass therethrough. However, it is well known that such curtain-type of structures have been found to be less effective than desired at controlling the escape of air through the openings or portals which they attempt to cover. Another attempt to reduce the escape of conditioned air from the interior of such controlled rooms involve the use of "air curtains," which result in little or no savings in the energy cost associated with their operation for continuous or prolonged periods.
Therefore, there is a recognized need in the art associated with the utilization of controlled environment rooms or like enclosures for an improved assembly which can restrict, if not prevent, the entry of contaminated material into the interior thereof. Any such improved assembly should also be directed to reducing the energy costs associated with the maintenance of temperature, humidity, cleanliness and air pressure within the interior of such controlled rooms, such as by significantly reducing the amount of conditioned air escaping from the interior of the controlled rooms, and thereby, effectively eliminating the need for "make-up" air.

Assembly for reducing energy costs and restricting the entry of contaminants into a controlled environment room


An optical-branching unit enables suppression of deterioration of the transmission characteristic of a survivor signal without executing complex control of constant-power output. Optical-amplification means amplifies and supplies a input optical signal, and when not receiving the optical signal, amplifies and supplies amplified spontaneous emission that the optical-amplification means generates. Detection means detects whether the optical signal is input to the optical-amplification means. When the optical signal is not input to the optical-amplification means, control means sets gain that determines the magnitude of amplification in the optical-amplification means to a predetermined value greater than gain at the time the optical signal is input to the optical-amplification means. Add/drop-multiplexing means receives the output light from the optical-amplification means and other output light and multiplexes an optical signal of a predetermined wavelength in the output light from the optical-amplification means and an optical signal of a specific wavelength in the other output light.

An optical add/drop multiplexer that can add and drop light of different wavelengths is used in, for example, optical communication systems in which light having different wavelengths is transmitted by a single optical fiber. An optical add/drop multiplexer is also referred to as an OADM. In a submarine cable system, an optical add/drop multiplexer is installed in an optical branching unit.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an optical submarine cable system that includes optical add/drop multiplexers.
In FIG. 1, optical branching unit 101 receives two optical signals on an uplink line: optical signal (hereinbelow referred to as "trunk signal") 102a from trunk station 102 and optical signal (hereinbelow referred to as "branch signal") 103a from branch station 103.
Optical signal 102a1 includes an optical signal of a wavelength that belongs to trunk signal band 102a and an optical signal of a wavelength that belongs to drop signal band 102a2. Trunk signal band 102a1 and drop signal band 102a2 are determined by wavelength. Trunk signal band 102a1 and drop signal band 102a2 have no overlapping portions (bands) each other.
Optical signal 103a includes an optical signal having a wavelength that belongs to add signal band 103a1. Add signal band 103a1 is further determined by wavelength. In addition, add signal band 103a1 and drop signal band 102a2 are in the same wavelength band.
Optical add/drop multiplexers 101a transmit, from among optical signal 102a, optical signals that belong to trunk signal band 102a1 and supply, from among optical signal 102a, an optical signal belonging to trunk signal band 102a1 toward trunk station 104. Optical add/drop multiplexers 101a further branch and do not transmit, from among optical signal 102a, an optical signal that belongs to drop signal band 102a2 and supply, from among optical signal 102a, an optical signal that belongs to drop signal band 102a2 toward branch station 103. In addition, optical add/drop multiplexers 101a add, from among optical signal 103a, an optical signal belonging to add signal band 103a1 to the optical signal belonging to trunk signal band 102a1 that was transmitted and supply the multiplexed optical signals toward trunk station 104.
The optical signal that is supplied to trunk station 104 from optical branching unit 101 (the multiplexed signal of the optical signal belonging to add signal band 103a1 and the optical signal belonging to trunk signal band 102a1) is received at trunk station 104 by way of optical repeaters 106. Optical repeaters 106 compensate loss of the optical signal due to the optical fiber in transmission line 105.
In the optical submarine cable system shown in FIG. 1, the above-described operation is also carried out on downlink lines.
In the optical submarine cable system such as shown in FIG. 1, in the event a no-input state in one of the two optical signals that are to be applied as input to one of the lines of optical branching unit 101 due to a fault such as a cable break, only the other optical signal (hereinbelow referred to as the survivor signal) is sent to the receiving station from optical branching unit 101.
Because optical repeaters 106 in a submarine cable system are operated by APC control (Automatic Pump Power Control), the output power of optical repeaters 106 is substantially fixed. As a result, when only a survivor signal is supplied from optical branching unit 101, this survivor signal is excessively amplified even more than in amplification carried out when there is an optical signal in a no-input state. As a result, the optical signal level per wave is increased, leading to deterioration of transmission characteristics due to a nonlinear optical effect.
In particular, when a cable breakage fault occurs in a cable between optical branching unit 101 and optical repeater 106 that is closest to optical branching unit 101, input (one optical signal) to optical branching unit 101 from the cable is completely cut off, and deterioration of the transmission characteristic of the survivor signal becomes prominent.
FIG. 2 shows how the signal level of another optical signal changes between a case in which one optical signal (signal B in FIG. 2) is present and the case of a no-input state. As shown in FIG. 2, when one optical signal enters a no-input state, the signal level of the other optical signal is higher than for a case in which one optical signal exists.
Patent Document 1 discloses an optical add/drop multiplexing system that can prevent excessive amplification of the other optical signal when one optical signal enters a no-input state. This optical add/drop system includes an optical amplifier unit, an output-power constant-control part, and an OADM unit.
Upon receiving the optical signal as input, the optical amplifier unit amplifies the optical signal. When an optical signal is not received as input, the optical amplifier unit supplies ASE (Amplified Spontaneous Emission) noise. ASE noise results from amplification by the optical amplifier unit of amplified spontaneous emission that occurs in the optical amplifier unit itself.
The output-power constant-control part monitors the output of the optical amplifier unit. The output-power constant-control part controls the optical amplifier unit such that the level of ASE that is supplied from the optical amplifier unit is the same level as the optical signal that is amplified by the optical amplifier unit when an optical signal is applied as input to the optical amplifier unit.
The OADM unit adds/drops an optical signal of a predetermined wavelength to the output light from the optical amplifier unit.
Essentially, this optical add/drop multiplexing system detects that an optical signal is not applied as input to the optical amplifier unit by monitoring the output of the optical amplifier unit. Then, upon detecting that an optical signal is not applied as input to the optical amplifier unit, this optical add/drop multiplexing system sets the level of ASE from the optical amplifier unit to the same level as the optical signal that is amplified by the optical amplifier unit when an optical signal is applied as input to the optical amplifier unit.
Thus, in a state in which an optical signal is not applied as input to the optical amplifier unit in this optical add/drop multiplexing system, ASE noise is used in place of the optical signal that is amplified and is supplied as output in the optical amplifier unit. As a result, the excessive amplification of the survivor signal can be prevented.
This optical add/drop multiplexing system is made up of an optical amplifier unit, an output-power constant-control part, and an OADM unit, these components being mutually independent.

Optical branching unit, optical communication system, and optical multiplexing method


A manuscript picture is inputted at a picture input unit (10) as a set of pixels having a density value. On the plate, cells corresponding to inputted respective pixels are engraved by a stylus (32). The stylus is vibrated by a drive device (33) and is scanned on the plate by a scanning mechanism (31). Functions (A, B, C, D) for converting density values for respective pixels to cell width values indicating sizes of cells to be engraved are prepared. Thus, cell width values corresponding to density values provided at the picture input unit are generated. The stylus engraves cells corresponding to cell width values generated. The manuscript picture is dealt separately every a plurality of picture areas (A0, A1, A2). Conversions using different functions are applied to pixels within different picture areas. To the picture area of character/solid tone, new unique functions (B, D) are applied in order that a more distinct pictorial image is provided.

For making a plate for gravure printing, two kinds of methods are mainly known at present. One is a method called a corrosion system. This method is a method to implement chemical corrosion processing to a plate thus to form a press plate. The other is a method called an electronic engraving process system. This method is a method to engrave cells corresponding to pixels while scanning the stylus onto a plate thus to form a press plate. With the corrosion system, there are many uncertain elements because of necessity of the chemical processing. One the contrary, the electronic engraving process system has a merit that processing is easy because of physical processing. However, the electronic engraving process system has a problem that the picture quality is lower than that of the corrosion system. Particularly, a contour portion of a printing type becomes indistinct, so a sharp printing type cannot be provided. A printing type is difficult to read according as the size of the printing type becomes small.

Electronic gravure engraving apparatus including photo tone and character/solid tone processing


A semiconductor light emitting device has a semiconductor light emitting element section and an n-type semiconductor substrate with a through hole which serves as a window through which light generated by the semiconductor light emitting element section is emitted. The device further includes a p-type region formed in the semiconductor substrate and facing the through hole. The p-type region and the semiconductor substrate constitute a photodiode.

The present invention relates to a solid state light emitting device and, more particularly, to a side surface emission type semiconductor light emitting device.
Semiconductor light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes and laser diodes have greatly contributed to the development of optical fiber communication techniques.
In optical fiber communication systems, the brightness of the light source is set at a desired value by controlling a drive current flowing through the semiconductor light emitting element The light output of the semiconductor light emitting diode is increased upon an increase in drive current. Conversely, when drive current decreases, light output is reduced accordingly. However, the light output of the semiconductor light emitting diode depends not only on drive current but also on a change of temperature or fatigue of the semiconductor light emitting element The light output from the element varies even if the drive current is constant. Recently, an automatic power controller has been used to stabilize the light output. This controller monitors changes in the intensity of light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element and controls the drive current accordingly.
Conventional semiconductor light emitting elements are classified, in accordance with the direction of light emission, into two groups: edge emission type semiconductor light emitting elements and surface emission type semiconductor light emitting elements. In edge emission type semiconductor light emitting elements, light is emitted in a direction parallel to the pn-junction plane or substrate, and guided to an optical fiber cable. When a light emitting element of this type is optically coupled to the light receiving section of an automatic power controller, no problem occurs. This is because the optical fiber cable is coupled to one of the side surfaces of the semiconductor light emitting element and the light receiving section of the controller faces the other side of the light emitting element. Thus, a light beam emitted from the light emitting element can be directly received by the light receiving section.
In surface emission type semiconductor light emitting elements, a light beam is emitted in a direction perpendicular to the pn-junction plane or substrate, and guided to an optical fiber cable. In order to effectively guide the light beam to the optical fiber cable, reflection in directions other than the cable direction must be prevented. For this reason, when a surface emission type semiconductor light emitting element is optically coupled to the light receiving section of a power controller, an arrangement different from that used for the edge emission type semiconductor light emitting element is necessary. According to a known method, a beam splitter is arranged between the semiconductor light emitting element and the optical fiber cable. The beam splitter guides some of the light beams emitted from the light emitting element to the optical fiber cable, to the light receiving section of the automatic power controller.
Monitoring the light output from the surface emission type element, however, complicates, the structure of the optical system such that the cost of manufacturing a light source unit constituted of a semiconductor light emitting element and a power controller is increased beyond that of a light source using an edge emission type element. Furthermore, a prior art surface emission type element is not positively used due to its low transmission efficiency compared with that of an edge emission type element.


An ultrasound high velocity flow measurement apparatus uses cross-correlation between consecutive echoes of coded pulses which are matched filtered at the receiver to determine velocity profiles of flowing blood. Because coded pulses are used, the interval between two pulses can be made arbitrarily small, effectively removing the peak velocity limitation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasound flow measurement apparatus and, more particularly, to an ultrasound high velocity flow measurement apparatus using time domain correlation.
2. Background Information
A primary use of ultrasound high velocity flow measurement apparatus is for blood flow velocity measurement and two dimensional mapping of blood flow velocity. One conventional apparatus is known as an ultrasonic Doppler velocimeter. The Doppler velocimeter transducer emits a continuous or pulsed beam of ultrasound generally in the range of 1 to 10 MHz in peripheral and deep-lying vessels. The frequency of the returned signal, backscattered from moving red blood cells, is different from the frequency of the signal transmitted. The difference in frequency is known as the Doppler shift frequency, .DELTA.f, given by: ##EQU1## where f is the transmitted frequency, v is the velocity of blood, x is the angle between the ultrasound beam and flow direction, and c is the velocity of sound in tissue.
Because of the random motion of the blood particles within the flow and because of the velocity variation across the vessel, the Doppler signal has a spectrum with a finite width rather than a single frequency. The method of measurement utilizing the Doppler methodology is sensitive to velocity components that are parallel to the ultrasound beam but are relatively insensitive to flow components that are perpendicular to the ultrasound beam.
Another conventional apparatus used in performing the blood flow velocity measurement and profiling is known as a cross-correlation velocimeter. Ordinarily, in the conventional cross-correlation velocimeter, a single pulse is transmitted to a blood vessel from a transducer and the echoes are received before a second pulse is transmitted. Normalized cross-correlation is then used to determine a time shift (t.sub.2 -t.sub.1) of a segment of the first echo with respect to a similar segment of a second echo of the second transmitted pulse. The magnitude of the velocity v of the blood at the distance corresponding to the penetration depth of a relevant segment of the first pulse is given by the following expression: ##EQU2## where c is the velocity of sound in the medium, T.sub.PR is a pulse repetition (PR) interval and x is the angle that the ultrasound beam makes with the blood vessel. This is shown in FIG. 1. The time difference (t.sub.2 -t.sub.1) is determined by cross-correlating segments of two consecutive signals which carry the flow information. The pulse repetition interval is set by the depth at which the vessel is located in the body. Therefore, the larger the depth, the larger the pulse repetition interval. On the other hand, equation (1) illustrates that for a given (t.sub.2 -t.sub.1), the larger T.sub.PR the smaller the velocity v that can be measured. Furthermore, when the velocity v is high, the larger T.sub.PR increases the chances for the signals from two successive signals to be de-correlated. This de-correlation results because either during the time T.sub.PR scatterers flow out of the ultrasound beam, or in the case of turbulent flow, due to the random nature of the flow, the scatterers change their relative position and therefore, the signal from two successive signals become de-correlated.
Thus, the use of a conventional cross-correlation scheme for measuring high velocities at large depths presents two conflicting requirements. One requirement is a large pulse repetition interval so that the echoes can be separated between two successive signals. The second requirement is a small pulse repetition interval so that the signals remain correlated.
The issue of de-correlation of signals is rather complex. De-correlation depends on the time repetition interval and the flow velocity. Beam geometry and diameter further play important roles in determining the de-correlation time.
For a Gaussian beam with full width of w, the maximum measurable velocity at a pulse repetition time of T.sub.PR is: EQU w/(3.5 T.sub.PR sin (x))
As shown in FIG. 2, when pulse repetition time of 200 microseconds is used, the maximum depth of the vessel has to be less than 150 mm inside the body. With this repetition time, a beam diameter of 1 mm yields a maximum measurable flow velocity of 2 m/s for a vessel that intersects the ultrasound beam at 45.degree.. In cardiology or peripheral vascular applications of ultrasound, however, situations exist where measurements must be made with flow jets having velocities in excess of 10 m/s. Neither Doppler nor conventional cross-correlation schemes are capable of measuring such velocities.
The conventional cross-correlation velocimeter discussed above utilizes single, or uncoded, pulses. Coded pulses, or frequency modulated pulses with frequencies that increase or decrease with time, however can be used in ultrasound apparatus. Coded pulses historically have been used in radar and acoustic imaging systems in order to increase the signal-to-noise ratio. In the general radar system, a ramp-up coded pulse, which is a frequency modulated pulse that has a frequency increase with time, or a ramp-down coded pulse, which is a frequency modulated pulse that has a frequency decrease with time, is transmitted to a target, and a resultant reflected signal is subsequently decoded utilizing a ramp-down or a ramp-up, respectively, decoding matched filter. Utilizing coded pulses increases the signal-to-noise ratio because a matched filter can suppress all signals except the appropriately coded echoes.

Ultrasound high velocity flow correlation measurement using coded pulses


A solution for evaluating the condition of a vehicle component based on resonant response profiles across a set of bands of vibrations. The vibrations can be induced into the target component during normal operation of the target component. The resonant response profile of the vehicle component can vary depending on wear or damage, and thus can be used to determine whether the vehicle component can safely remain in use. An embodiment comprises an isolated segment of rail of a length selected to allow a single railroad wheel on it at a time, with a set of devices which can induce specific vibrations into the wheel as it passes, and another set of devices which can acquire the resonance signals from the wheel.

Evaluation of the resonance of an object to various acoustic input frequencies has been known as a method for determining the condition of metallic or otherwise highly rigid objects or components for centuries. In fact, some uses of this principle may pre-date the industrial revolution. With respect to rail, early British railroad engineers would tap the wheels of a train and use the sound to determine if a crack was present. Of course, bell makers rely on resonances for their products to work at all. In one approach, a simple physical striker (similar to a ball-peen hammer under automatic control) and comparison of the resulting acoustic spectra of wheels on both sides of an axle is used to determine if one wheel is bad, under the assumptions that (A) the spectra of two good wheels should be very similar, and (B) that it is very unlikely for two wheels on one axle to have defects so similar as to produce nearly-identical spectra. Note that this second assumption may not be entirely valid. For example, slid-flats are caused by the locking of a brake and the subsequent friction between wheel and rail causing flat wear in one location on the wheel. In this case, one would expect the flat area of wheels on the same axle to be very nearly identical. In another proposal, a preliminary acoustic-signature inspection system using a similar hammer-based approach was designed and tested, but only achieved 45% identification of known flawed wheels with a false alarm rate of almost one third.
Other methods of using sound to determine the presence of a defect in such objects are known. For example, the inventors previously proposed electromagnetically inducing acoustic signals into a wheel (electromagnetic acoustic transduction) and tracking the nature and timing of the returned signals. However, this method, and related ultrasonic inspection methods, are specifically focused on locating and identifying very specific flaws.
Resonant frequencies are dependent on the material characteristics of an object. In general, this relationship may be described as follows:
            f      r        ∼                  k        m              ,where fr is a resonant frequency of the object, k is a measurement of the "stiffness" of the object (Young's Modulus), and m is a general symbol for mass which may take into account the dimensions and density of the object. As a complex object is made up of material which may have multiple boundaries and even differing compositions and stresses there within, it is in effect made up of many different sub-objects, and just as a combination of a violin body and string resonate in a specific way, the sub-objects themselves as well as the various combinations of these sub-objects may have resonances. Thus, there may be many thousands of resonances in any given object. In theory, as all components of a heterogeneous solid have their own resonances, and the interaction of these components will introduce resonances and resonance shifts directly related to the size, shape, and composition of those components, it is possible to completely describe the entire object—crystalline structure, inclusions, shape, size, material composition—in terms of its resonances.
While this ultimate application of resonances may be forever relegated to theory due to physical and computational constraints, the important point is that any significant wear on a component will change its dimensions (and thus m and resonant frequencies), and a defect (such as a crack) in a component will change the stiffness of the component in that location, leading to an overall change in k and thus also in one or more of the relevant resonant frequencies. Conversely, for objects manufactured to adequate tolerances which are in good condition, all resonances would be expected to be very close together. This means that a "resonance spectrum"—a scan across all the emission frequencies of the vibrating object which shows all of the significant resonant peaks—for any "good" component should be very similar, and any flawed component will noticeably depart from that spectrum, regardless of what the exact nature of the defect may be. This differs significantly from the previously described approach comparing wheels on opposing sides of an axle as a specific spectrum or spectra are known for "good" components and there is no reliance on assumptions of goodness. Moreover, the previously described approach of comparing wheels on opposing sides of an axle does not focus on resonances, which are specific characteristics of the spectrum, focusing instead on the general correspondence of the spectra overall.
Numerous patents and commercial applications are found for this basic approach, which is generally called resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS). A group of related approaches teach the use of this method to determine when manufactured components fall outside of some set of specifications. These teach various additions and extensions of the principle, such as using the method to determine sphericity of a given component, temperature compensation for resonant spectra, prediction of resonant frequencies of specific components to allow limiting of the scanned bandwidth in diagnostic testing, and using shifts between "wet" and "dry" spectra to determine the presence or absence of cracks or crack-like flaws in a component. Together, these approaches have resulted in several commercial applications for testing of manufactured components and for determination of characteristics of materials, such as those offered by Magnaflux′ Quasar systems and Mechtronic's Vibrant NDT.
All of the above approaches apply to components of a known shape (with some variation depending on dimensional specifications, etc.) placed in a testing location, and isolated from all other components. To date, none of these approaches have been used in field settings, in general because most mounted components have connections/attachments to other components which can suppress, damp, or unpredictably change the expected resonances. The other generally related methods, faced a number of additional difficulties in that they had a bandwidth-limited approach, did not isolate the rail segment, could not use current signal-processing techniques, and so on. Current uses of RUS are for isolated and relatively small components, generally either undergoing post-manufacture inspection or being examined for suspected flaws, or for materials characterization. In both cases, the sample or component is placed in a very specialized holder and isolated. Large components have historically presented issues with the amount of energy needed to properly evoke the resonances.

Resonant signal analysis-based inspection


A system and method for printing on a continuous web of imaging material in an inkjet printing machine having a turnbar reverser to reverse the direction of the web for duplex printing. The turnbar reverser includes at least one turnbar having a predetermined pattern of apertures formed in a surface of the turnbar. The optimized apertures direct a flow of air provided by a blower to provide an air flow to float the web above the surface of the turnbar, allow for higher operating tensions, and reduce acoustic noise generation.

In general, inkjet printing machines or printers include at least one printhead unit that ejects drops of liquid ink onto recording media or an imaging member for later transfer to media. Different types of ink can be used in inkjet printers. In one type of inkjet printer, phase change inks are used. Phase change inks remain in the solid phase at ambient temperature, but transition to a liquid phase at an elevated temperature. The printhead unit ejects molten ink supplied to the unit onto media or an imaging member. Such printheads can generate temperatures of approximately 110 to 120 degrees Celsius. Once the ejected ink is on media, the ink droplets solidify. The printhead unit ejects ink from a plurality of inkjet nozzles, also known as ejectors.
The media used in both direct and offset (transfix) printers can be in web form. In a web printer, a continuous supply of media, typically provided in a media roller, is entrained onto rollers that are driven by motors. The motors and rollers pull the web from the supply roller through the printer to a take-up roller. The rollers are arranged along a linear media path, and the media web moves through the printer along the media path. As the media web passes through a print zone opposite the printhead or heads of the printer, the printheads eject ink onto the web. Along the feed path, tension bars or other rollers remove slack from the web so the web remains taut without breaking.
Existing web printing systems use a registration control method to control the timing of the ink ejections onto the web as the web passes the printheads. One known registration control method that can be used to operate the printheads is the single reflex method. In the single reflex method, the rotation of a single roller at or near a printhead is monitored by an encoder. The encoder can be a mechanical or electronic device that measures the angular velocity of the roller and generates a signal corresponding to the angular velocity of the roller. The angular velocity signal is processed by a controller executing programmed instructions for implementing the single reflex method to calculate the linear velocity of the web. The controller can adjust the linear web velocity calculation by using tension measurement signals generated by one or more load cells that measure the tension on the web near the roller. The controller implementing the single reflex method is configured with input/output circuitry, memory, programmed instructions, and other electronic components to calculate the linear web velocity and to generate the firing signals for the printheads in the marking stations.
Another existing registration control method that can be used to operate the printheads in a web printing system is the double reflex method. In the double reflex method, each encoder in a pair of encoders monitors one of two different rollers. One roller is positioned on the media path prior to the web reaching the printheads and the other roller is positioned on the media path after the media web passes the printheads. The angular velocity signals generated by the two encoders for the two rollers are processed by a controller executing programmed instructions for implementing the double reflex method to calculate the linear velocity of the web at each roller and then to interpolate the linear velocity of the web at each of the printheads. These additional calculations enable better timing of the firing signals for the printheads in the marking stations and, consequently, improved registration of the images printed by the marking stations in the printing system. Ejection of ink from the inkjet nozzles can be adjusted based on the calculations. A double reflex printing system is disclosed in issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,665,817.
Some continuous feed inkjet printers form printed images on only a first side of the continuous web, a process referred to as a simplex printing operation. Simplex continuous feed inkjet printers have printhead assemblies with printheads that are configured to eject ink across a printing zone on the continuous web that is less than the width of the web. The printing zone is typically centered on the web with appropriate margins on each side of the printing zone. During a simplex printing operation, the continuous web makes only one pass through the printer. Specifically, a rewinder pulls the continuous web through the printer along the web path only once during a simplex printing operation.
Some continuous feed inkjet printers are configured to form printed images on a first and a second side of the continuous web, which is known as a duplex printing operation. In a duplex printing operation, the continuous web makes two passes through the printer, and is referred to as a half-width dual-pass duplex printing operation. In particular, the continuous web is routed from a web supply through the printer to receive ink on the first side. After the continuous web exits the printer, the continuous web is inverted by an inverting system and is then routed again through the printer to receive ink on the second side. One type of duplex continuous feed printer includes an external continuous web inverting system. In another type of duplex continuous feed printer, the web inverting system is incorporated as part of the printer itself. As used herein, the term "inverting", "inverter", or "inversion" refers to manipulation of the web to turn the web from a first side to a second side to enable an unprinted side of the web to be presented to a printhead assembly for printing.
In duplex printing on a continuous web, an image on one side is registered with an image on the other side to insure that portions of an image are not lost when the continuous web is cut into sheets or that an image on a first side is not misaligned with an image on a second side. To insure that proper registration is achieved, the speed of the transport rollers is controlled according to a variety of factors including web and environmental humidity, temperature, atmospheric pressure. For instance if the web either stretches, shrinks, or otherwise becomes distorted during transport through the printer or during imaging, poor quality images can occur. Likewise, the amount of ink deposited on the continuous web can affect the material properties of the web and result in misregistration of images as well. Consequently, improvements to a printing system and to printing images by taking into account the types of media, the amount of ink being deposited on the continuous web, and conditions occurring in the printer are desirable.

Flow optimization for compact turnbar reversers


A method of masking areas of an object during galvanizing of the object to prevent galvanizing material from adhering to the masked areas comprising the step of applying a polyurethane adhesive to the area.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of masking an area of an object or member to prevent the area from being galvanized during the galvanizing of the member or object.
2. Description of the Related Art
Galvanizers have always had a very difficult time protecting threads and other areas from being galvanized on a galvanized product. In times past, the assignee of this invention, and other galvanizers, have used silicone to try and protect or mask the threads and other areas which they did not want to be galvanized during the galvanizing process. The theory behind using silicon is that it would protect the designated areas from the acid or pickling process and the flux process. Protecting these areas from these processes prevented the hot dip galvanizing from bonding to the surface. However, the process of using silicon in an attempt to protect or mask the areas is not effective. In general, about 80% of the areas protected with silicon need additional clean up, including tapping threads and reheating or melting the galvanizing off the protected areas. The failure of the prior art methods of masking areas or threads of the member being galvanized spurred the inventors named herein to develop an improved process.

Method of masking areas of an object during galvanizing


A composition for injection molding well-balanced in rigidity, impact resistance, appearance of molded products and moldability is obtained by using as an essential component a partially crosslinked product being prepared by dynamically heat-treating:. (A) 40-100% by weight of an .alpha.-olefin (co)polymer resin having 2 to 8 carbon atoms; PA1 (B) 0-60% by weight of rubbery substance; 0.01-0.07 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of said components (A)+(B), of at least one crosslinking agent selected from: PA1 (C) a dihydroaromatic compound or a polymer thereof, PA1 (D) an ether family compound, PA1 (E) a tetrahydroaromatic compound, and PA1 (F) a cyclopentane family compound; and PA1 (G) 0.01-7 parts by weight of a polyfuncational monomer based on 100 parts by weight of said components (A)+(B).

The present invention relates to a composition for injection molding and a composition for vehicular exterior material. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a composition for injection molding and a composition for vehicular exterior material both containing a partially crosslinked product prepared by dynamically heat-treating an .alpha.-olefin (co)polymer having 2 to 8 carbon atoms and a rubbery substance as well as, if necessary, an inorganic filler and/or a softening agent in the presence of a specific crosslinking agent and a polyfunctional monomer. The compositions of the present invention are well-balanced in rigidity, impact resistance, appearance of molded products and moldability, and are employable for baskets and bamboo baskets for documents sorting, kitchen use, dressing room use, fruits and refuse, for lids of various things of daily necessities, namely, for caps of wide-mouth bottles, toy parts, and also for vehicular exterior materials such as rear finisher, sill, rear coater panel, engine hood, trunk lid, fender, door panel, protector, bumper fascia, energy absorber, air spoiler, side molding, weather strip, shock absorber, dust boots, vacuum connector, rack and pinion boots, and mud guard.
Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is mentioned as one of those commonly used heretofore as thermoplastic resins for injection molding. Above all, olefinic thermoplastic elastomers are used frequently because they are inexpensive.
Generally, such olefinic thermoplastic elastomers are blends each comprising as a hard segment a crystalline polypropylene (hereinafter referred to simply as "PP") or polyethylene and as a soft segment an ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer rubber, e.g. ethylene-propylene rubber (hereinafter referred to simply as "EPR") or ethylene-propylene-diene random copolymer rubber, or an olefinic elastomer such as polyisobutylene or polybutadiene. Partially crosslinking is often conducted for the improvement of physical properties.
For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 41950/1979 there is disclosed a composition prepared by kneading PP and EPR with polyethylene having a density of 0.915 to 0.97 and peroxide. Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 139445/1980 there is proposed a composition comprising PP, EPR, a high-density polyethylene and talc, and in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 42643/1983 and 80335/1983 there is proposed a composition comprising PP, EPR and a linear ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer.
The conventional processes for the preparation of such injection molding compositions are broadly classified into the following two.
The first process is a mere blending of a thermoplastic resin with a rubbery substance. This process involves problems such as deterioration of mechanical characteristics and of heat resistance, ineffective improvement of impact resistance, and poor appearance of molded products such as the presence of weld mark and flow mark.
According to the second process, an organic peroxide is added at the time of kneading of a thermoplastic resin and a rubbery substance to enhance the effect of improving mechanical characteristics as compared with that obtained in the aforementioned simple blending. Thus, an organic peroxide is used in this process, so when a peroxide degradation type resin such as polypropylene is used as the hard segment, there rapidly occurs thermal decomposition of the organic peroxide, with the result that a molecular cutting reaction is unavoidable, thus leading to deterioration in mechanical characteristics such as flexural modulus and yield tensile strength.
In the case of using a peroxide crosslinking type resin such as polyethylene, a crosslinking reaction of the hard segment proceeds and fluidity is deteriorated markedly, resulting in that the moldability is deteriorated to the extent of molding being difficult, and in order to ensure good moldability it is necessary to use an extremely small amount of an organic peroxide. Thus, the handling is difficult.
Anyhow, even in a crosslinking reaction using a peroxide, deterioration of mechanical characteristics is unavoidable as in the foregoing simple blend; besides, the surface appearance of a molded product obtained is inferior, such as the presence of weld mark or flow mark.
Recently, the use of TPO for injection molding has been expanded to the automobile industry, i.e., automobile parts, and at the same time performance conditions required have been more and more diversified.
For example, as to automobile exterior materials, not only high heat resistance and low-temperature impact resistance but also good moldability, product appearance and coatability are required. It is difficult for conventional thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) to satisfy all of these requirements. Particularly, with conventional TPE's, the balance between low-temperature impact resistance and the surface appearance of molded products, such as whether weld mark or flow mark is present or not, is still unsatisfactory.
Particularly, where the inorganic filler is a metal oxide (or hydroxide), the receptivity of polyolefin resins is low and the dispersibility is poor, so molded products obtained are inferior not only in the appearance thereof but also in the mechanical characteristics thereof. To avoid this, it is necessary to add a soft substance or a high-molecular compound having a polar group.
Thus, the thermoplastic resin compositions for injection molding prepared by the above conventional processes are not fully satisfactory in practical use, so the provision of an improved and superior composition is desired.
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-mentioned points and it is an object thereof to provide a composition for injection molding well balanced in mechanical characteristics, appearance of a molded product obtained using the composition and moldability, and having improved compatibility with thermoplastic resin compositions and inorganic fillers, by using a partially crosslinked product prepared by dynamically heat-treating an .alpha.-olefin (co)polymer and a rubbery substance in the presence of a special crosslinking agent and a polyfunctional monomer, and, if necessary, also using an inorganic filler and/or a softening agent, all in specific proportions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a composition for vehicular exterior material of high performance superior in low-temperature impact resistance and having a beautiful surface appearance, which composition is constituted by a thermoplastic resin composition containing a partially crosslinked product obtained by dynamically heat-treating a specific amount of a polypropylene resin, or a polyethylene resin if desired, and a rubbery substance in the presence of a special crosslinking agent and a polyfunctional monomer, or such thermoplastic resin further containing a softening agent and/or an inorganic filler.


Sheet folding means comprising a triangular frame structure having an apex over which a web of sheet material is passed for forming one or more folds therein, with a single fold forming a multi-ply web from a single web, and with multiple folds forming gussets within the web. In the device, continuous linear surfaces are provided for both defining the fold, and ultimately preserving the fold in the film moving across the folder structure. The folder includes a pair of mutually convergent arm members which converge toward an apex point adjacent to tip ends of the convergent arm members. First and second tip plates are provided for mounting upon the first and second converging arms respectively, with the tip plates each being polygons with linear edges, and being dimensioned so as to span the space between the converging arm means to form a selected apex point with the apex point being projected outwardly from the tip ends of the convergent arm members. When gussets are being formed, a gusset forming member having a pair of converging surfaces forming an apex is secured to the frame means and is adjustably disposed with the apex of the gusset forming member being positioned generally between the edges of the first and second tip plates and the projected apex of the converging arm members.

The present invention relates generally to an improved sheet folding apparatus, and more particularly to an adjustable sheet folder which is provided with linear surfaces for defining the fold zones or lines in the film, with the structure having the capability to accommodate formation of either single or multiple folds at a predetermined lateral position along the web. Sheet folders of the present invention are particularly adapted for use in combination with bag making machines and the like wherein the converter may utilize the machine for preparation of a variety of bag styles from time-to-time depending upon demand. Bag making machines are, of course, well known with such apparatus being disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,947,345, 3,043,532 and 3,059,549.
In a normal converting operation, the machine operator may be charged with the responsibility of producing bags of differing styles, depending upon the demand for finished bag product. In certain instances, a single machine may be called upon to produce bags with and without gussets, with the bag making machine being utilized for the selected production, and with equipment being changed from time-to-time to accommodate the preparation of bags of differing shapes, styles and configurations. As such, a folder, in order to be universally acceptable, is desirably provided with means to modify the configurations so as to provide a single fold, or a tucked-in portion to ultimately form gussets in the finished bag product. Folders are, of course, well known in the art and are widely used in the film converting industry.

V-Board folder for flexible plastic films


A housing 2 for a vehicular transmission comprises a first room R1 which accommodates a continuous speed change mechanism and a second room R2 which accommodates a driving force transmission mechanism including a starting mechanism, a reduction train, a differential mechanism, a power supply mechanism for an oil pump, etc. In each room, inlet openings 72 through 74 for oil discharge passages are provided near and above both the sides of an oil pan 26 in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the input and output shafts of the continuous speed change mechanism, to return lubrication oil to the oil pan 26. Also, walls 61 through 65 are provided in the rooms to lead the lubrication oil into the respective inlet openings. In this construction, the lubrication oil returning from each room to the oil pan 26 is stabilized at each room and discharged to the oil pan 26, and thereby the lubrication oil achieves homogeneity in the oil pan 26.

Power transmissions which transmit power by a belt disposed around a pair of pulleys have been well-known and are widely used. As such a transmission, a belt-type continuously variable transmission comprises a pair of pulleys, each pulley having a variable groove width, and a belt disposed therearound. The V-belt pitch radii of the pulleys are variably changed by adjusting the groove widths of the pulleys, so that the speed ratio of the transmission is continuously varied. It has been known that this type of transmission can be used on a vehicle as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H4(1992)-258528, which was filed by the same applicant as for this application.
This vehicular continuously variable transmission comprises a drive and driven pulleys, a belt, a forward-reverse selector mechanism, a starting mechanism, a reduction train, a differential mechanism, etc. in a hosing, and for lubricating these mechanisms, forced-feed lubrication or sprinkled lubrication by gear rotation is carried out. The oil used for this lubrication is also used as a hydraulic pressure controlling fluid (hydraulic oil) for controlling the adjustment of the groove widths of the drive and driven pulleys and for controlling a clutch.
The hydraulic pressure which is used for the forced-feed lubrication and for the hydraulic control is generated by a hydraulic pump which is driven by an engine through a gear or a chain mounted on a shaft that is coupled to the engine, and the hydraulic pressure is delivered to the components which require lubrication and to the components which require hydraulic pressure control. After the hydraulic pressure is used for the respective purposes, the hydraulic oil flows downward from the respective components. Therefore, the transmission includes an oil well or an oil pan to collect the hydraulic oil, which is then recirculated by the hydraulic pump.
In this vehicular transmission, the hydraulic oil, which has been used for forced-feed lubrication and hydraulic pressure control, flows on and along the inner surface of the housing, which accommodates the continuous speed change mechanism, the starting mechanism, the reduction train, the differential mechanism, etc. of the transmission, and the oil flows through an opening which is provided in the lower portion of the housing, to the oil pan. In the housing, the space for accommodating each mechanism is partitioned with a cover, or the wall of the housing is configured to partition the accommodation space for each mechanism. In this case, an independent oil outlet is provided in the accommodation space partitioned for each mechanism.
However, in this construction of the continuously variable transmission, the position of each mechanism, i.e., the above mentioned continuous speed change mechanism, the starting mechanism, the reduction train, the differential mechanism, etc. in the housing is not arranged evenly equidistant with respect to the oil pan, and the lubrication oil, after being used, comes out of the rooms which are partitioned for the respective mechanisms in different amounts. Therefore, the hydraulic oil returning from each mechanism to the oil pan joins in the way back and forms a complicated flow in the housing, which may tend to produce bubbles and vortices in the hydraulic oil in the oil pan. As a result, the lubrication oil which is sucked from the oil pan into the oil pump may include mingled air, which may cause a shortage in the real amount of lubrication oil that is supplied to each mechanism and a decline of the pressure that is needed for proper lubrication. Also, the oil may acquire a high temperature, which renders the oil to lose viscosity and less effective as a lubricant.


A laminated printed circuit board with over-molded light guide includes a printed circuit board having electronic components mounted on a first face of the printed circuit board, and a bore extending through the printed circuit board. A light emitting diode is mounted on the first face proximate to the bore. An opaque film is fixed onto a second face of the printed circuit board, the opaque film creating an end wall of the bore. A light transmissive polymeric material is applied over each of the electronic components, the light emitting diode and a portion of the first face of the printed circuit board. A portion of the polymeric material extends into the bore and contacts the opaque film defining the end wall of the bore to create a light guide for transmitting light from the light emitting diode through the bore.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art.
Electronic assemblies with backlit visual elements may be manufactured via several processes. Most commonly, a plastic part is molded with some portion of the plastic being clear or translucent, with electronic components including one or more light sources attached mechanically to the part after molding, so that light is visible through the clear or translucent portion, resulting in a backlighting effect. More recently, methods have been developed of embedding one or more light sources in a molded plastic part. One such method is to encapsulate light sources and associated electronic components (collectively "package") in a clear resin via low-pressure molding or any optically clear thermoplastic resin molding or a combination of low pressure molding and thermoplastic molding and then to injection-mold plastic over or around the encapsulated package. The encapsulated package is thereby embedded in the plastic, with some portion of the plastic being clear or translucent so that light from the encapsulated package is visible through the clear or translucent plastic, resulting in a backlighting effect.
Another such method is to mount light sources and associated electronics ("package") onto a polymer film, form the film into a desired shape, insert the formed film into an injection mold having substantially the same shape, and then injection-mold plastic onto the film such that the package is embedded between the film on which it is mounted and the plastic that has been molded onto it, with portions of the film and/or plastic being clear or translucent such that light from the light sources is visible from the part exterior, resulting in a backlighting effect.
Electronic components may also be printed onto a film. The film is then inserted into an injection mold, where plastic is molded onto the film, the electronic components being embedded in the molded plastic so that when the plastic part is removed from the mold the film is peeled away from the plastic part, leaving the electronic components embedded in or adhered to the surface of the plastic part.
While current printed circuit board parts with electronic components including backlit components are satisfactory, this field can benefit from the improved laminated printed circuit board with over-molded light guide of the present disclosure.

Laminated printed circuit board with over-molded light guide


A jump shift of an automatic transmission with multiple shift speeds such as, e.g., ten forward speeds involves operation of many engagement elements. The shifting operation for the jump shift is therefore complicated, making it difficult for the automatic transmission to respond quickly. After shifting to the seventh speed as a direct coupling speed is completed by engaging three clutches C1, C3, C4, the remaining other clutch C2 is also engaged at the seventh speed. In the case of a jump shift, e.g., a shift from the seventh speed to the fifth speed, shifting to the fifth speed is completed by disengaging the clutch C1 and performing control to disengage the clutch C3 and to engage a brake B1 with the remaining other clutch C2 kept in the engaged state. This facilitates the shifting operation from the direct coupling speed and allows the automatic transmission to respond quickly.

A multi-stage automatic transmission is conventionally proposed in which a simple planetary gear and a dual planetary gear having a common carrier are combined with two simple planetary gears, and which attain ten forward speeds and one reverse speed by changing a power transmission path by using four clutches and two brakes (Patent Document 1).
In this multi-stage automatic transmission, the seventh speed is a direct coupling speed at which input and output portions make the same rotation, and the direct coupling speed is attained by engaging three clutches.

Control device of automatic transmission