In a three-terminal variable inductor, a pair of spiral coil electrodes and a plurality of trimming electrodes are disposed on an insulative substrate. The trimming electrodes are arranged so as to bridge the respective outer portions of the spiral coil electrodes without crossing any of the spiral coil electrodes, thus electrically connecting the spiral coil electrodes. Laser beams are irradiated onto the trimming electrodes, so that a groove is formed so as to cut the trimming electrodes one by one, whereby inductance is changed as desired.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to three-terminal variable inductors, and more particularly, to a three-terminal inductor for use in, for example, mobile communication devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is becoming more and more critical that current electronic devices have smaller sizes, and especially for mobile communication devices such as cellular phones and automobile phones, components incorporated therein must be severely restricted in size. In addition, as the operating frequency becomes higher, the circuit and components defining circuits in such devices become more complex, and the components tolerate less variations. Conventionally, in manufacturing a circuit having a center tap connected to the electric center of a coil, a pair of coil components 101 and 102 are mounted on a printed circuit board 106, and are electrically connected to each other via electrodes 103 and 104 and a center tap electrode 105 provided on the printed circuit board 106, as shown in FIG. 9. As methods of changing the values of inductance of the coil components 101 and 102, it has been proposed, for example, that the coil components 101 and 102 be replaced by other two coil components having different values of inductance which are balanced in advance, or variable coils be used as the coil components 101 and 102 and the values of inductance thereof be changed while maintaining the balance of the inductance values.
In accordance with these methods, however, due to component variations or displacements during mounting, the inductance values of the coil components 101 and 102 may not be well balanced. It may also occur that the center tap electrode is connected off the electric center of the coil defined by the coil components 101 and 102. In addition, because the two coil components 101 and 102 are electrically connected via the center tap electrode 105 provided on the printed circuit board 106, a considerable area is occupied on the printed circuit board 106.
Furthermore, as for the method which changes the inductance values by replacing the coil components 101 and 102 with other two coil components, the complex work of removing the coil components has inhibited automation and mass production. Similarly, as for the method which uses variable coils as the coil components 101 and 102 to change the inductance values of the coil components 101 and 102, the complex work of adjusting the inductance values while maintaining the balance therebetween has also inhibited automation and mass production.
In order to overcome these problems, a three-terminal variable inductor 110 shown in FIG. 10 has been proposed. In the three-terminal variable inductor 110, a pair of spiral coil electrodes 112 and 113 having identical dimensions are disposed on the top surface of an insulative substrate 111. The spiral coil electrodes 112 and 113 are electrically connected to trimming electrodes 116a to 116d via openings provided on an insulating protective film 115. The trimming electrodes 116a to 116d are connected to a center tap electrode 117, thereby being electrically connected to a common terminal electrode 122. One end of the coil electrode 112 and one end of the coil electrode 113 are electrically connected to a terminal electrode 120 and a terminal electrode 121, respectively.
In order to adjust the value of inductance of the three-terminal variable inductor 110, the trimming electrodes 116a to 116d are cut one by one as desired, for example, by irradiating laser beams on the three-terminal variable inductor 110. Accordingly, the value of inductance between the terminal electrode 120 and the common terminal electrode 122 and the value of inductance between the terminal electrode 121 and the common terminal electrode 122 can be changed in steps while maintaining the balance therebetween.
In the three-terminal variable inductor 110, however, because the trimming electrodes 116a to 116d are arranged to partially overlap the spiral coil electrodes 112 and 113, stray capacitance between the trimming electrodes 116a to 116d and the spiral coil electrodes 112 and 113 is large. Therefore, the three-terminal variable inductor 110 has a low self resonance frequency and fails to provide favorable frequency characteristics at higher frequencies. In addition, the trimming electrodes 116a to 116d shield magnetic fields generated by the spiral coil electrodes 112 and 113, resulting in inadequate Q characteristics of the three-terminal variable inductor 110.
In order to solve the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a three-terminal variable inductor which is very small, minimizes the occupied area on a printed circuit board when mounted thereon, achieves stable adjustment of inductance values while maintaining a good balance, and which achieves excellent characteristics.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a three-terminal variable inductor includes a first terminal electrode, a second terminal electrode, a third terminal electrode, a first spiral coil electrode electrically connected between the first terminal electrode and the third terminal electrode, an inner end portion thereof being associated with the first terminal electrode and an outer portion thereof being associated with the third terminal electrode, a second spiral coil electrode electrically connected between the second terminal electrode and the third terminal electrode, an inner end portion thereof being associated with the second terminal electrode and an outer portion thereof being associated with the third terminal electrode, and at least one trimming electrode arranged so as not to cross any portion of the first spiral coil electrode and the second spiral coil electrode, between the outer portion of the first spiral coil electrode and the outer portion of the second spiral coil electrode, the outer portions being disposed in proximity to each other, the at least one trimming electrode electrically connecting the first spiral coil electrode and the second spiral coil electrode.
In accordance with the unique construction of the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above, by trimming the at least one trimming electrode, the value of inductance between the first terminal electrode and the second terminal electrode can be changed without disturbing the balance of the inductance value between the first terminal electrode and the third terminal electrode and the inductance value between the second terminal electrode and the third terminal electrode. In addition, since the trimming electrode is arranged so as not to cross any portion of the first spiral coil electrode and the second spiral coil electrode, the three-terminal variable inductor has a small stray capacitance between the trimming electrode and the first and second spiral coil electrodes and therefore has a high self resonance frequency, thus exhibiting favorable frequency characteristics at high frequency bands. Furthermore, since the trimming electrode does not block magnetic fields generated by the first and the second spiral coil electrodes, Q characteristics are greatly improved.
The three-terminal variable inductor may further include a plurality of trimming electrodes, and a center tap electrode electrically connected to the third terminal electrode is disposed between the outer portion of the first spiral coil electrode and the outer portion of the second spiral coil electrode, the outer portions being disposed in proximity to each other, the plurality of trimming electrodes being electrically connected to the center tap electrode.
In accordance with the above-described unique construction, by trimming the at least one trimming electrode, the value of inductance between the first and second terminal electrodes, the value of inductance between the first and third terminal electrodes, and the value of inductance between the second and third terminal electrodes can be changed without disturbing the balance of the value of inductance between the first and third terminal electrodes and the value of inductance between the second and third terminal electrodes.
The first terminal electrode, the second terminal electrode, the third terminal electrode, the first spiral coil electrode, the second spiral coil electrode, and the at least one trimming electrode may be disposed on the surface of an insulative substrate of a chip component.
Alternatively, the first terminal electrode, the second terminal electrode, the third terminal electrode, the first spiral coil electrode, the second spiral coil electrode, and the at least one trimming electrode may be disposed on the surface of a circuit board provided with a circuit pattern.
In accordance with either of the above unique constructions according to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the at least one trimming electrode and the first and the second spiral coil electrodes are disposed on a single layer, so that the number of interlayer connections is reduced, thereby the inductance component having a high reliability of the connections between layers is obtained.
Furthermore, because the trimming electrode is connected to the outermost portions of the first and the second spiral coil electrodes, the electrodes can be arranged to be substantially parallel to each other efficiently using the region in the longitudinal direction of the insulative substrate. Thus, the trimming electrodes can be disposed in an extended area, and therefore, the variable range of inductance value can be increased by approximately 10% compared with conventional variable inductors. In addition, the first and second spiral coil electrodes can also be disposed in a larger area, achieving an improvement of approximately 5% in the maximum obtainable inductance value.
Other features, elements, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.


The disclosure relates to methods and systems for trace solutions in a computer processing system. More specifically, the disclosure relates to methods and systems for a multi-tier trace architecture. A method for separating raw trace data includes receiving raw trace data from one of more CPUs and/or busses in the system, separating the raw trace data into high bandwidth trace information (HBTI) and low bandwidth trace information (LBTI), recording the HBTI on an on-chip trace buffer until a specific event is triggered, and providing in parallel the LBTI over an off-chip trace interface. In one embodiment, the raw trace data are provided to a separate HBTI trace unit and a separate LBTI respectively. The HBTI trace unit processes the HBTI and generates a HBTI message, and the LBTI trace unit processes the LBTI and generates a LBTI message.

For software debugging or performance analysis, a trace flow enables the reconstruction of a monitored program flow and is therefore useful to determine which kind of events took place before a particular software problem arose. A trace system or architecture is used to observe the behavior of a real time control system (e.g. automotive Electronic Control Unit ECU) on a higher level. Such a real time control system gets input values from sensors from which the control algorithm calculates actuator values. All these values are so called signals, which need to be observed for analyzing the system behavior.
FIG. 1 is a high-level block diagram illustrating a conventional trace architecture for a computer system 10. The conventional trace system is implemented on a microchip and may include one or more central processing units (CPUs) 12 with a trace adapter 12a, one or more busses 14 with a local trace adapter 14a, and a trace unit 16 coupled to receive trace data from the one or more CPUs 12 and the one or more busses 14. The trace unit 16 further comprises a message generator 18 for generating trace data and a message packer 20 for packaging the generated trace data. The message packer 20 then provides the packaged trace data to a multiplexer or replicator 22 which provides the option to output the data to different targets exclusively or in parallel. The packed trace messages are then output either to an on-chip trace buffer 24 or off-chip (not shown) via an off-chip trace interface 26 and pins 28. Typical architectures following this approach are ARM's CoreSight, Infineon's MCDS and Nexus standard compliant architectures.
Conventional trace units such as that shown in FIG. 1 have several disadvantages. Conventional trace units trace the activities of the CPU and bus and utilize the same stream for packed trace messages which are then output to either an on-chip buffer and/or to off-chip interface via pins. One disadvantage of conventional trace units is the limited bandwidth which limits a trace to just the program flow with no or only a few data accesses, e.g. qualified by an address range. For finding sporadic bugs in a hard real time system where tracing of all chip internal activities over a long period of time is desired, a high speed interface requiring a larger chip area and/or alternate packaging, board design and/or tooling is cost prohibitive.
Additionally, conventional chips have trace interfaces with limited bandwidth, which allow traces for the program flow with no or only a few data accesses. However, for multi-core devices running at high frequencies, even this approach is no longer feasible economically.
Another option is to have a small on-chip trace buffer and a powerful trigger logic where the trace unit is configured to use the on-chip buffer as a circular buffer and the trace recording is stopped when it reaches the trigger. A typical error case is that a program writes a data value to a forbidden or unallowed location due to a wrong address pointer. In this case, the trigger for stopping the trace would be located on the forbidden address. This approach is helpful in situations where the root cause for the effect occurs shortly before the effect, and it is possible to trigger on the effect which is then captured in the trace. However, this approach is not ideal for all cases, especially when a longer context of the error is needed, for example, in which task and why the particular function on level N was called. For such information, a longer history is needed.
Additionally, there are trace architectures with more than one parallel Trace Unit, MSG packer, FIFO and Pins path on-chip. However, these paths are dedicated to a specific CPU, bus or subsystem and cannot be used to observe the same CPU, bus or subsystem with different trace unit settings adapted for a different output target on-chip trace buffer and off-chip trace interface.
Thus, the current architecture of conventional trace units is inadequate to support observation of long history traces, and conventional trace systems cannot be easily extended due to the overhead wiring and restricted trace memory bandwidth.
Therefore, there exists a need for a system and a method for a multi tier trace architecture for tracing a longer history context which does not significantly increase cost, efficiency or observation units required. More specifically, there is a need for a multi tier trace architecture which separates the trace data output for lower bandwidth trace information and high bandwidth trace information.


A touch sensor including a plurality of first electrode films and a plurality of second electrode films which are formed on a surface of a substrate and are arranged in different directions from each other; and a manufacturing method for the same. The manufacturing method includes: a first transfer step, which uses a transfer ribbon made by at least an insulating layer and an electrode-imparting layer which are entirely sequentially stacked as a transfer layer upon an elongated release film, attaches to a substrate only a portion of the transfer layer to which heat and pressure have been applied, and by stripping the release film, transfers the transfer layer in at least the shape of a first electrode film; and a second transfer step including attaching only the portion of the transfer layer to which the heat and the pressure had been applied and stripping the release film.

Conventionally, various touch sensors have been devised. For example, a capacitance type touch sensor (hereinafter, "touch sensor") has been known, which includes a plurality of electrode films formed so as to intersect each other via an insulating layer and in which by moving a finger or the like close to a panel in which the electrode films are formed, a capacity is generated between, the electrode films of the panel, and a current that charges the generated capacity is detected, thereby performing position detection (see, e.g., Patent Document 1).
A touch sensor 100 disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a substrate 1, an input region 2, and routing wires 60. The input region 2 is a region surrounded by an alternate long and two short dashes line in (a) of FIG. 27 and is a region in which position information of a finger that is inputted to the touch sensor is detected, in the input region 2, X electrode films 10 are arranged as a plurality of first electrode films and Y electrode films 20 are arranged as a plurality of second electrode films. A plurality of the X electrode films 10 extend along an X axis direction as a first direction as shown and are spaced apart from each other in a Y axis direction. A plurality of the Y electrode films 20 extend along the Y axis direction as a second direction as shown and are spaced apart from each other in the X axis direction.
Each X electrode film 10 integrally includes a plurality of first island-like electrode portions 12 arranged in the X axis direction and first bridge wiring portions 11 each electrically connecting the adjacent first island-like electrode portions 12. Each first island-like electrode portion 12 is formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view and arranged such that one diagonal line thereof extends along the X axis.
Each Y electrode film 20 includes, as separate members (i.e., members formed in separate steps), a plurality of second island-like electrode portions 22 arranged in the Y axis direction and second bridge wiring portions 21 each connecting the adjacent second island-like electrode portions 22. Each second island-like electrode portion 22 is formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view and arranged such that one diagonal line thereof extends along the Y axis. The first island-like electrode portions 12 and the second island-like electrode portions 22 are arranged alternately with each other in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction, (arranged in a checkered pattern). In the input region 2, the rectangular first and second island-like electrode portions 12 and 22 are arranged in a matrix pattern in a plan view. The X electrode films 10 and the Y electrode films 20 intersect each other at intersection portions K within the input region 2 by causing the first bridge wiring portions 11 and the second bridge wiring portions 21 to intersect each other.
In addition, the X electrode films 10 and the Y electrode films 20 intersect each other with insulating films 30 interposed therebetween, the insulating films 30 being formed on the first bridge wiring portions 11 of the X electrode films 10, thereby ensuring insulation between the X electrode films 10 and the Y electrode films 20.
Meanwhile, in forming an electrode or the like on a substrate, if an electrode film or the like is formed by repeating a sputtering method, a photolithography method, an etching method, or the like a plurality of times, the manufacturing cost is increased. Thus, it is conceivable that an electrode film or the like is formed by using a printing method or the like, but also in this case, in forming a conductive film between electrode films via an insulating layer, if the area of connection of the conductive film to each electrode film is small, the contact resistance therebetween is increased.
In the invention described in Patent Document 1, as a solution to the above-described problem, as shown in (b) of FIG. 27, the film width W1 of each second, bridge wiring portion 21 formed on the insulating film 30 is made different from the film width W2 of each second bridge wiring portion 21 formed on the second island-like electrode portion 22, such that the film width W2 of each second bridge wiring portion 21 formed on the second island-like electrode portion 22 is larger than the film width W1 of each second bridge wiring portion 21 formed on the insulating film 30. By increasing the area of connection between each second bridge wiring portion 21 and each second island-like electrode portion 22, the contact resistance between each second bridge wiring portion 21 and each second island-like electrode portion 22 is attempted to be reduced.
It should be noted that the film width W1 of each second bridge wiring portion 21 formed on the insulating film 30 is set so as to be smaller than the interval W3 between the first island-like electrode portions 12 adjacent thereto. This is for dealing with causing the pitch between each first island-like electrode portion 12 to be fine, ensuring a desired interval between each second bridge wiring portion 21 and each first island-like electrode portion 12, and preventing contact between each second bridge wiring portion 21 and each first island-like electrode portion 12.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2011-13725

Touch sensor and manufacturing method for the same, as well as transfer ribbon for touch sensor manufacturing


A method of baking bread using steam in an automated household oven with a cooking cavity and a steam system for introducing steam into the cooking cavity comprises determining a presence of bread in the cooking cavity and introducing steam into the cooking cavity upon a positive determination of the presence of bread. After the positive determination, the steam is introduced into the cavity to maintain a desired relative humidity in the cavity for a predetermined period of time to aid in formation of a moist, flexible crust on the bread, and the amount of steam introduced into the cavity decreases after the predetermined period of time. The cavity can be preheated and prehumidified prior to the determining of the presence of the bread in the cooking cavity.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for baking bread in an automated household oven using steam.
2. Description of the Related Art
The quality of baked bread depends on several factors, including preparation of the dough, including kneading, shaping, and rising, baking of the dough, and storage of the bread after baking. During the baking process, leavening agents expand the dough, and a crust forms at the outside layer of the dough. A commonly known leavening agent is yeast, which releases carbon dioxide as a by-product of digestion to expand the dough. The timing of the crust formation process is critical because it affects not only the properties (i.e., thickness, texture, and color) of the crust but also the expansion of the dough within the crust. The crust preferably forms first as a moist and pliable crust, which becomes rigid and crisp later in the baking process to give the bread a desired outer texture and appearance. The moist and pliable crust formed at the outer layer of the dough in the initial few minutes of baking the bread is generally flexible and expands with the dough so that the dough can fully expand. When the outside layer of the dough sets as a crisp and generally inflexible crust, gases in the dough can no longer expand to increase the loaf size; thus, it is preferred that the formation of the crisp crust does not occur until later in the baking process. If the crisp crust formation happens too early, the gases from the leavening agents cannot expand the dough and consequently build up pressure within the loaf. Eventually, the trapped gases undesirably crack the crisp crust for release to the surrounding environment. Adding steam to the baking environment helps form the desired moist, flexible crust in the initial stages of baking and delays the setting of the hard, crisp crust. As a result, the gases can fully expand the loaf and do not form cracks in the crust. During the last stages of baking, the steam is removed to create a dry oven, which is required for the formation of the crisp crust, and the presence of too much steam in the last stages of baking results in an undesirable crust. Additionally, the steam in the initial baking stages gelatinizes starch on the outside layer of the dough, which dries out near the end of baking after the steam is removed to help formation of the crisp, brown crust.
Ovens found in most homes today are usually not equipped with a system to introduce steam into the oven cavity during the bread baking process. In response, bread bakers have developed several home remedies for supplying steam into the oven cavity. Such remedies include spraying the dough with water while the oven preheats, placing a pan in the oven before preheating and filling the pan with water when placing the dough in the oven, spraying water onto the walls of the oven with a spray bottle after the placing the dough in the oven and continuing to do so until the loaf begins to color, and throwing ice cubes on the bottom of the oven to create steam. Another method involves forming holes in the bottom of a muffin tin, placing the tin on the bottom rack of the oven, filling the tin with boiling water about a minute before putting the dough in the oven so the water drips onto the bottom of the oven and creates steam, and removing the tin after about five to ten minutes.
While the home remedies succeed at introducing steam into the oven cavity, they are relatively inconvenient and unpredictable, thereby leading to inconsistent results. The water or ice introduced into the oven cavity vaporizes to create steam, which fills the oven cavity. The amount of steam in the oven can be quantified as a relative humidity, and the degree of relative humidity affects crust formation. Because the water or ice is manually introduced, the quantity of steam and, therefore, the relative humidity, are not regulated, and, further, the relative humidity is not regulated as a function of the cooking cycle time. As a result, the relative humidity in the oven cavity can differ from ideal conditions at various times during the baking process and lead to premature formation of the crisp crust or insufficient formation of the crisp crust at the end of the baking process. Further, some the methods require the baker to periodically check on the bread and add more water or ice to the cavity if necessary. This process can be inconvenient to a baker who desires to leave the bread unattended after placing the dough in the oven. Some higher end contemporary ovens incorporate an automated steam generating system that can be used to bake bread. These ovens eliminate the need for the baker to manually introduce water or ice into the cavity.


A solid electrolytic capacitor comprising a capacitor element including a positive electrode which contains tantalum as a principal component and is composed of a porous sintered body, a positive electrode lead which contains niobium as a principal component and has a first end part embedded in the positive electrode and a second end part extending from the positive electrode, a dielectric layer which is disposed on a surface of the positive electrode and a part of a surface of the positive electrode lead, and a negative electrode layer disposed on the dielectric layer; an positive electrode terminal electrically connected to the second end part of the positive electrode lead; a negative electrode terminal electrically connected to the negative electrode layer; and a resin outer body covering the surfaces of the capacitor element, a part of the positive electrode terminal and a part of the negative electrode terminal, wherein a linear expansion coefficient of the resin outer body is larger than all of linear expansion coefficients of the positive electrode, the positive electrode lead, the positive electrode terminal, and the negative electrode terminal.

Recently, as electronic equipment has been reduced in size, small-sized high-frequency capacitors having large capacitance have been demanded. As such capacitors, a solid electrolytic capacitor using a solid electrolyte layer made of a conductive polymer has been proposed, which comprises a positive electrode, a dielectric layer, and the solid electrolyte layer that is formed on the dielectric layer. In the solid electrolytic capacitor, the positive electrode is composed of a sintered body of valve metal such as tantalum, niobium, titanium, and aluminum, and then the dielectric layer is formed by anodizing a surface of the positive electrode.
A positive electrode lead connecting to the positive electrode terminal is disposed in the positive electrode. In Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-42520, a technology which uses a positive electrode lead made of niobium and the like, which is a valve metal different from tantalum, applying for a positive electrode made of tantalum is proposed in order to enhance adhesion between the positive electrode and the positive electrode lead.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A solid electrolyte cell and method for producing it in which the cell components are assembled within a ceramic frame which is closed on the top by a first terminal of the cell using a solder seal and closed on the bottom by a second terminal of the cell using a solder seal and said second terminal having the opposite polarity to that of the first terminal.

Ionic conductivity is commonly associated with the flow of ions through a liquid solution of salts. In the vast majority of practical uses of ionic conductors, i.e., as electrolytes for dry cell and sealed lead acid batteries, the liquid solution is immobilized in the form of a paste or gelled matrix or is absorbed in a separator to overcome the difficulties associated with handling and packaging a liquid. However, even after immobilization, the system is still subject to possible leakage, has a limited shelf life due to drying out or crystallization of the salts and is suitable for use only within a limited temperature range corresponding to the liquid range of the electrolyte. In addition, the use of a large volume of immobilizing material has hindered the aims of miniaturization and lowers the output capacity.
Improved microelectronic circuit designs have generally decreased the current requirements for each transistor which makes up the electronic devices. This in turn has enhanced the applicability of solid electrolyte power sources which usually can deliver currents only in the microampere range. These solid electrolyte systems have the inherent advantages of being free of electrolyte leakage, corrosion and internal gassing problems due to the absence of a liquid phase. In addition, they also have a much longer shelf life than the conventional liquid electrolyte power sources.
In attempting to avoid the shortcomings of liquid systems, investigators have surveyed a large number of solid compounds seeking to find compounds which are solid at room temperature and have specific conductances approaching those exhibited by the commonly used liquid systems. Solid electrolytes must be essentially electronic insulators so as not to internally short the cell while at the same time they must allow for ionic migration if the cell is to operate properly. There are many solid state electrolytes "disclosed" in the art that can be used for solid state cells but many can only operate efficiently at higher temperatures, have low operating voltages or have internal high resistance.
United Kingdom Patent No. 2,201,287B discloses a solid polymer electrolyte for us in solid electrolyte cells which comprises a complex of a solid polymer and an alkali metal salt, which polymer is capable of forming donor-acceptor type bonds with alkali metal ions and is capable of conducting alkali metal ions and wherein the complex is associated with a mixture of more than one substituted or unsubstituted 1,3-dioxolane-2-ones. The preferred mixture recited is ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate. This solid electrolyte has been found to produce a good lithium solid state cell that can operate at ambient temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,027 discloses a method for producing a solid electrolyte cell using the solid electrolyte disclosed in the U.K Patent No. 2,201,287B referred to above. In particular, an adhesive coated frame is deposited on the peripheral area of current collector sheets and the components of the cell are positioned within the frame of adhesive whereupon the current collector sheets are then secured together at the peripheral area containing the adhesive layer.
Several cell applications require that the cell be directly incorporated into a device to produce a portable finished package. This could require the cell to be encapsulated or molded into the device. In injection molding, for example, the cell must be highly planar in appearance and capable of withstanding high temperature processing up to 200.degree. C. These conditions tend to favor the use of a solid electrolyte cell. The polymeric cell components such as the one referred to above, function well at elevated temperatures.
Flat solid electrolyte cells have been assembled typically with an adhesive coated substrate as a spacer and seal. The adhesive generally used has melting points in the range of 80.degree. C. to 105.degree. C. and unfortunately, the seal integrity of the cells is subject to failure at high temperatures.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for assembling a solid electrolyte cell within a ceramic frame in which the ceramic frame functions as a housing for the cell components and said frame is soldered to a conductive terminal sheet on each of its top and bottom surfaces.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for assembling a solid electrolyte cell within a ceramic frame, said cell employing a solid electrolyte film containing poly(ethylene oxide) or a poly(ethylene oxide) type polymer in conjunction with ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a solder sealed solid electrolyte cell.
The foregoing and additional objects will become more fully apparent from the following description and drawings.

Solder sealed solid electrolyte cell housed within a ceramic frame and the method for producing it


A zoom lens system is provided with a first lens unit, a second lens unit, and a succeeding lens unit. The first lens unit has a positive refractive power. The second lens unit has a negative refractive power. The succeeding lens unit has a positive refractive power. During zooming from the wide angle limit to the telephoto limit, the first and second lens units move toward the object side so that the distance therebetween is increased. When f1 is a focal length of the first lens unit, f2 is a focal length of the second lens unit, fw is a focal length of the entire zoom lens system at the wide angle limit, LBW is a back focal length at the wide angle limit, and Ymax is 1/2 of a diagonal length of an image plane, the following conditions are satisfied by the zoom lens system: EQU 2.0<f1/fw<4.0 EQU -0.90<f2/fw<-0.30 EQU 0.85<LBW/Ymax<1.30

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom lens system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A single-lens reflex camera has been well known which is structured so that the user views through the finder a luminous flux having passed through the zoom lens system and reflected by a reflecting mirror (hereinafter, referred to as TTL (through-the-lens) mirror). In the conventional single-lens reflex camera, the TTL mirror and the shutter are disposed between the zoom lens system and the image receiving plane such as film or a light receiving device. That is, in the conventional single-lens reflex camera, space for the TTL mirror and the shutter is necessary between the zoom lens system and the image receiving plane. This has been an obstacle to the size reduction of the single-lens reflex camera.
A conceivable way to reduce the size of the single-lens reflex camera is to incorporate in the zoom lens system the shutter which is disposed between the zoom lens system and the image receiving plane in the conventional single-lens reflex camera.
By doing so, the size of the single-reflex camera may be reduced because only space for the TTL mirror is necessary between the zoom lens system and the image receiving plane. However, the conventional zoom lens system is designed to have a back focal length (the distance between the vertex of the most image side surface of the lens system and the image plane) suitable for the conventional single-lens reflex camera where the TTL mirror and the shutter are disposed between the zoom lens system and the image receiving plane. For this reason, by merely incorporating the shutter in the zoom lens system, the distance between the zoom lens system and the image receiving plane cannot be reduced, so that the size reduction of the single-lens reflex camera cannot be achieved.


The present application describes a system and method for determining characteristics (e.g., exact band location, orientation and height and the spot shape and size of a single wavelength and the like) of an optical signal projected on a spatial light modulator. In an embodiment, images with sharper edges (i.e. clear boundary between ‘on’ pixels and ‘off’ pixels) on the spatial light modulator are used to obtain spectral information from a referenced broadband source. The spectral information can be used to determine the desired characteristics of optical signals projected on the spatial light modulator.

A pixel-based Spatial Light Modulator ("SLM") can be used to modulate an incoming optical signal. SLMs can be used in many contexts, such as in projection displays, printing, telecommunications, and in other types of optical signal processing. In a telecommunications context, an incoming optical signal can have multiple different channels or carrier wavelengths. Assembly variations of optical signal processing systems result in statistical variation of the characteristics, such as band location, orientation, and wavelength spot height, size and shape, of the optical signal on the surface of display systems. To accurately apply attenuation algorithms to optical signals, the characteristics of a single wavelength (e.g., band location, orientation, and single wavelength height, spot shape, and size) must be determined. It is further advantageous to determine this information after the assembly of optical signal processing systems is complete to calibrate the optical signal processing systems.
Typically, a significant amount of power data collection and analysis is required to determine the characteristics of an optical signal. The power data collection and analysis consumes the significant amount of time and sometimes leads to inaccurate determination of optical signal characteristics. Accordingly, a system and method is needed for efficient and real-time determination of optical signal characteristics

Method and system for determining characteristics of optical signals on spatial light modulator surfaces


Disclosed is a process for extracting and purifying EPA (Eicosapentanoic acid) ethyl ester from a crude fish oil feedstock using a combination of novel esterification and simulated moving bed (SMB) techniques. Crude fish oil diluted in non-polar solvent is esterified with an acid and then transesterified with a base. Following washing, the non-polar phase is directly passed to an SMB zone, comprising a normal phase separation with a hydrophilic stationary phase agent and a non-polar/organic polar mobile phase desorbent to provide an enhanced omega-3 product, comprising EPA. In a further embodiment, the enhanced omega-3 product is passed to a second and third SMB zones operating in reverse phase using a hydrophobic stationary phase and a polar mobile phase desorbent. The process is useful for producing high purity EPA at purities in excess of 97 wt-% which are not economically recoverable by conventional distillation methods combined with conventional SMB configurations.

The principle components of crude fish oil are triglycerides, which represent over 90 percent of the total composition of crude fish oil. The balance consists of partial glycerides, that is mono- or diglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids and a group of chemicals known as the unsaponifiable fraction. Crude fish oils are very similar to one another in their physical nature. They are considered as liquid oils; but, in fact, they contain sufficient triglycerides of intermediate melting point for the oils to be partially solid at 20° C.
Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of oily fish. Fish oils contain the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) along with other unsaturated triglyceride species including: docosapentanoic acid (DPA), stearadonic acid (SDA), alpha linolenic acid (ALA), gamma linolenic acid (GLA), linoleic acid (LIN) and oleic acid (OLE) and saturated triglycerides including stearic acid (STA) and palmitic acid (PAL). EPA is a poly unsaturated omega-3 fatty acid. In nature the fatty acids combine as triplets with a glycerol back bone forming triglycerides (oil). The structures of EPA and DHA are shown hereinbelow:

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential nutrients for health. Humans need omega-3 fatty acids for numerous normal body functions, such as controlling blood clotting and building cell membranes in the brain, and since human bodies cannot make omega-3 fatty acids, these omega-3 fatty acids must be obtained from food. Omega-3 fatty acids are also associated with many human health benefits, including protection against heart disease and possibly stroke. Recent studies are identifying potential benefits for a wide range of conditions including cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and other autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
The major source of EPA is from marine oils, or fish oil derived from oily fish tissues and are in triglyceride form. Separation of unsaturated fats and fat derivatives from saturated fats and fat derivatives is difficult because the unsaturated components are susceptible to thermal and oxidative degradation and because their physical properties do not differ from those of the saturated components. The concentration of the unsaturated components in the form of parent triglycerides is more difficult, because the fatty acids are randomly arranged on the glycerol backbone of the triglyceride. Therefore the parent oil is usually converted into free fatty acids (FFA) or fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) before separation into polyunsaturated and saturated fractions is carried out.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,491,522 to Haraldsson, for example, discloses a process for the lipase-catalyzed esterification of fish oil or marine oil. In Haraldsson, compositions which contain EPA and DHA as free acids or hexyl esters are esterified with ethanol in the presence of a lipase catalyst under essentially organic solvent-free conditions and separated by distillation. The process, the reaction is conducted at 40° C. under vacuum to remove co-produced water. At such conditions, at least a portion of the EPA is lost to isomerization into less valuable components.
The use of urea complexes to separate saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids from polyunsaturated fatty acids has been known since the 1950's. The separation procedure is typically performed by dissolving a mixture of FFA (or fatty acid derivatives) in a hot aqueous alcohol solution that contains the appropriate amount of urea. When the solution is cooled, the urea preferentially forms solid complexes with saturated fatty acids and these are removed by filtration. The aqueous alcohol filtrate solution, which is enriched in unsaturated fatty acids, also contains urea. Therefore the fatty acids are recovered from the filtrate by solvent extraction with a non-polar organic solvent, such as hexane or isooctane, in which the urea is insoluble. U.S. Pat. No. 7,709,668 discloses a process for extracting lipophilic compounds from urea-containing solutions comprising using a near-critical fluid to produce a urea containing precipitate and a near-critical fluid phase containing the lipophilic compound; separating the near-critical fluid phase from the urea containing precipitate; and reducing the pressure of the near-critical fluid phase to recover the lipophilic compound.
Heating fatty acids either in the transesterification of triglycerides to fatty acid esters, or in the subsequent separation of the desired fatty acid derivative from a solvent or co-solvent has been shown to isomerize the EPA molecules and reduce the overall recovery of these valuable components.
Previous methods for extraction of EPA, DHA and other useful polyunsaturated fatty acids from their triglycerides, have not been satisfactory for the purification of fatty acids from crude fish oils, or for the production of highly pure fatty acids. The term "purity" is used here to mean not only in the sense of being separated from all other fatty acids of different chain lengths and different number and placement of unsaturations, but also purity of the particular cis-trans structure. Prior art methods not only did not yield sufficient purity, but in many cases also required such extreme physical and chemical conditions as to cause some degree of degradation of the fatty acids, formation of peroxides, and/or conversion of at least some of the cis-bonds to the less desirable trans form.
All of the existing efforts in purifying EPA Ethyl Esters have revolved around chemical reconstitution, enzymatic treatment or crystallization. With the introduction of Simulated Moving Bed applications achieving a maximum EPA purity of 97% is possible at higher throughput and recovery.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a process for the recovery and purification of EPA from crude fish oils and for the production of a high purity EPA product.

Process for purification of EPA (eicosapentanoic acid) ethyl ester from fish oil


A uniplanar bone anchor including a housing and a bone screw is provided. The lower region of the housing defines mating elements that mate with engaging elements on the bone screw to limit movement of the housing relative to the bone screw to a single plane.

The spinal column of a patient includes a plurality of vertebrae linked to one another by facet joints and an intervertebral disc located between adjacent vertebrae. The facet joints and intervertebral disc allow one vertebra to move relative to an adjacent vertebra, providing the spinal column a range of motion. Diseased, degenerated, damaged, or otherwise impaired facet joints and/or intervertebral discs may cause the patient to experience pain or discomfort and/or loss of motion, thus prompting surgery to alleviate the pain and/or restore motion of the spinal column.
One possible method of treating these conditions is to immobilize a portion of the spine to allow treatment. Traditionally, immobilization has been accomplished by rigid stabilization. For example, in a conventional spinal fusion procedure, a surgeon restores the alignment of the spine or the disc space between vertebrae by installing a rigid fixation rod between pedicle screws secured to adjacent vertebrae. Bone graft is placed between the vertebrae, and the fixation rod cooperates with the screws to immobilize the two vertebrae relative to each other so that the bone graft may fuse with the vertebrae.
In some cases, it may be desirable to use an anchor that provides a range of motion in only one plane.


A system and method of selectively carrying out a vehicle passive door lock function. The method carried out by the system includes: (a) detecting a vehicle operator's exit from a vehicle having at least one lockable door for passenger entry and exit, wherein the vehicle is configured to automatically carry out a passive operator departure process following the operator's exit, (b) determining whether the vehicle is at a lock function exempt location; (c) automatically carrying out the passive operator departure process in a first mode when it is determined that the vehicle is not at the exempt location; and (d) automatically carrying out the passive operator departure process in a second mode when it is determined that the vehicle is at the exempt location, wherein the second mode comprises at least one less door lock function than is carried out in the first mode.

Passive entry technology (PET) allows vehicle operators the ability to configure the vehicle to automatically lock and unlock at entry and exit, respectively. This eliminates the need for manual action by the operator such as pressing of the door unlock and lock buttons on the vehicle's remote control device. In a typical PET scenario, when the operator exits the vehicle and walks away carrying the vehicle's PET key or keyfob, the exit and/or departure of the keyfob from the vicinity of the vehicle is detected and used to automatically lock the vehicle if it is so configured. This may be accompanied by a confirmatory vehicle horn honk and/or flash of exterior vehicle lights to alert the operator that the vehicle did automatically lock successfully. Although the automatic locking and associated confirmatory alert is normally very useful, the inventors have discovered that there are some situations in which one or both of these features are not necessary or desired. For example, vehicle operators may not want their vehicle's horn to sound upon exiting their vehicle at their home or, when the vehicle is secure in their home garage, may not want the vehicle locked at all.

Selective passive door lock functions for vehicles


A thermally and mechanically stable wavefront reference source which produces a collimated output laser beam. The output beam comprises substantially planar reference wavefronts which are useful for aligning and testing optical interferometers. The invention receives coherent radiation from an input optical fiber, directs a diverging input beam of the coherent radiation to a beam folding mirror (to produce a reflected diverging beam), and collimates the reflected diverging beam using a collimating lens. In a class of preferred embodiments, the invention includes a thermally and mechanically stable frame comprising rod members connected between a front end plate and a back end plate. The beam folding mirror is mounted on the back end plate, and the collimating lens mounted to the rods between the end plates. The end plates and rods are preferably made of thermally stable metal alloy. Preferably, the input optical fiber is a single mode fiber coupled to an input end of a second single mode optical fiber that is wound around a mandrel fixedly attached to the frame of the apparatus. The output end of the second fiber is cleaved so as to be optically flat, so that the input beam emerging therefrom is a nearly perfect diverging spherical wave.

Stable, substantially planar, reference wavefronts (stable, collimated reference beams of coherent electromagnetic radiation, typically having relatively large beam diameter) are needed in a variety of applications. For example, such reference wavefronts are needed for alignment and calibration of optical interferometers, and are employed in wavefront measuring systems to characterize and modify laser beams for use for laser isotope separation (and other purposes).
A thermally and mechanically stable source of reference wavefronts of this type would be useful in laser isotope separation plants, in optical testing laboratories, in adaptive optical systems, and for other research and commercial applications.

High stability wavefront reference source

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


Aspects of the disclosure provide a terminal device that includes an antenna element and an interface component. The antenna element is mounted on a casing of the terminal device to transmit/receive electromagnetic waves. The interface component is configured to couple an external device with the terminal device for a wired transmission. The interface component includes a metal shell configured to have a fixed potential state to shield the wired transmission from noise when the interface component is active for the wired transmission, and to have a floating state to avoid affecting the antenna element for transmitting/receiving electromagnetic waves when the interface component is idle.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
A user of a terminal device, such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, and the like, may desire a terminal device of a relatively smaller size for portable convenience. To reduce size, components of the terminal device can be closely arranged with high density.

Method and apparatus for wired and wireless communication


Methods for stabilizing portions of a subterranean formation and controlling the production of water from those subterranean formations. In one embodiment, the methods of the present invention comprise: providing a consolidating agent; introducing the consolidating agent into an unconsolidated portion of a subterranean formation using a fluid diversion tool; allowing the consolidating agent to at least partially consolidate the unconsolidated portion of the subterranean formation; providing a relative permeability modifier; introducing the relative permeability modifier into the subterranean formation using a fluid diversion tool; and allowing the relative permeability modifier to modify the relative permeability of at least a portion of the subterranean formation.

The present invention relates to the treatment of subterranean formations. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for stabilizing portions of a subterranean formation and controlling the production of water from those subterranean formations.
Hydrocarbon wells are often located in subterranean formations that contain unconsolidated particulates (e.g., sand, gravel, proppant, fines, etc.) that may migrate out of the subterranean formation with the oil, gas, water, and/or other fluids produced by the wells. The presence of such particulates in produced fluids is undesirable in that the particulates may abrade pumping and other producing equipment and/or reduce the production of desired fluids from the well. Moreover, particulates that have migrated into a well bore (e.g., inside the casing and/or perforations in a cased hole), among other things, may clog portions of the well bore, hindering the production of desired fluids from the well. The term "unconsolidated particulates," and derivatives thereof, is defined herein to include loose particulates and particulates bonded with insufficient bond strength to withstand the forces created by the production of fluids through the formation. Unconsolidated particulates may comprise, among other things, sand, gravel, fines and/or proppant particulates in the subterranean formation, for example, proppant particulates placed in the subterranean formation in the course of a fracturing or gravel-packing operation. The terms "unconsolidated subterranean formations," "unconsolidated portions of a subterranean formation," and derivatives thereof are defined herein to include any formations that contain unconsolidated particulates, as that term is defined herein. "Unconsolidated subterranean formations," and "unconsolidated portions of a subterranean formation," as those terms are used herein, include subterranean fractures wherein unconsolidated particulates reside within the open space of the fracture (e.g., forming a proppant pack within the fracture).
One method of controlling particulates in such unconsolidated formations has been to produce fluids from the formations at low flow rates, so that the near well stability of sand bridges and the like may be substantially preserved. The collapse of such sand bridges, however, may nevertheless occur, possibly due to unintentionally high production rates and/or pressure cycling as may occur from repeated shut-ins and start ups of a well. The frequency of pressure cycling is critical to the longevity of the near well formation, especially during the depletion stage of the well when the pore pressure of the formation has already been significantly reduced.
Another method of controlling particulates in unconsolidated formations involves placing a filtration bed containing gravel (e.g., a "gravel pack") near the well bore to present a physical barrier to the transport of unconsolidated formation fines with the production of desired fluids. Typically, such "gravel-packing operations" involve the pumping and placement of a quantity of certain particulates into the unconsolidated formation in an area adjacent to a well bore. One common type of gravel-packing operation involves placing a screen in the well bore and packing the surrounding annulus between the screen and the well bore with gravel of a specific size designed to prevent the passage of formation sand. The screen is generally a filter assembly used to retain the gravel placed during the gravel-pack operation. A wide range of sizes and screen configurations are available to suit the characteristics of the gravel-pack sand used. Similarly, a wide range of sizes of gravel is available to suit the characteristics of the unconsolidated particulates in the subterranean formation. To install the gravel pack, the gravel is carried to the formation in the form of a slurry by mixing the gravel with a treatment fluid, which is usually viscosified. Once the gravel is placed in the well bore, the viscosity of the treatment fluid may be reduced, and it is returned to the surface. The resulting structure presents a barrier to migrating sand from the formation while still permitting fluid flow.
However, the use of such gravel-packing methods may be problematic. For example, gravel packs may be time consuming and expensive to install. Due to the time and expense needed, it is sometimes desirable to place a screen without the gravel. Even in circumstances in which it is practical to place a screen without gravel, it is often difficult to determine an appropriate screen size to use as formation sands tend to have a wide distribution of grain sizes. When small quantities of sand are allowed to flow through a screen, formation erosion becomes a significant concern. As a result, the placement of gravel as well as the screen is often necessary to assure that the formation sands are controlled. Expandable sand screens have been developed and implemented in recent years. As part of the installation, an expandable sand screen may be expanded against the well bore, cased hole, or open hole for sand control purposes without the need for gravel packing. However, expandable screens may still exhibit such problems as screen erosion and screen plugging.
Another method used to control particulates in unconsolidated formations involves consolidating unconsolidated particulates into stable, permeable masses by applying a consolidating agent (e.g., a resin or tackifying agent) to the subterranean formation. Such resin application may be problematic when, for example, an insufficient amount of spacer fluid is used between the application of the resin and the application of the external catalyst. The resin may come into contact with the external catalyst in the well bore itself rather than in the unconsolidated subterranean producing zone. When resin is contacted with an external catalyst, an exothermic reaction occurs that may result in rapid polymerization, potentially damaging the formation by plugging pore channels, halting pumping when the well bore is plugged with solid material, or resulting in a downhole explosion as a result of the heat of polymerization. Also, using these conventional processes to treat long intervals (e.g., over about 20 feet) of unconsolidated regions is not practical due to the difficulty in determining if the entire interval has been successfully treated with both the resin and the external catalyst. Further, conventional consolidation techniques have often resulted in limited or inadequate penetration distances of consolidating agent into formations.
Unconsolidated formation particulates also may migrate out of the formation when water is produced from the formation. This migration of formation particulates is due, in part, to the fact that most natural cementation between formation sand grains disintegrates when in contact with an aqueous moving phase. The production of water from a subterranean producing zone is disadvantageous, among other reasons, both because of this effect of mobilizing formation sands, and because water production constitutes a major expense in the recovery of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations, especially in light of the energy expended in producing, separating, and disposing of the water. In order to combat these problems of water production, treatment fluids comprising relative permeability modifiers may be pumped into the subterranean formation that, among other things, may block water from entering certain portions of the subterranean formation and/or reduce the water-wettability of certain portions of the subterranean formation. These treatments may, inter alia, reduce the amount of water produced out of the subterranean formation. However, the addition of a separate treatment for applying a relative permeability modifier to a subterranean formation may add cost and complexity to the operations in that formation.

Methods of controlling sand and water production in subterranean zones


Data is recorded in a phase-change optical storage medium having data layers. A first recording pulse sequence is generated for recording to a first data layer located most remote from a beam-incident surface. The first sequence has a recording pulse carrying an erasing power and a recording power rising from the erasing power, and a cooling pulse carrying a bottom power lower than the erasing power. A second recording pulse sequence is generated for recording to a second data layer. The second sequence has recording pulse carrying an erasing power and a recording power rising from the erasing power, a cooling puse carrying a bottom power lower than the erasing power, and an erasing top pulse carrying an erasing top power higher than the erasing power.

The present invention relates to an optical storage medium in or from which data is recorded, erased or reproduced with irradiation of a light beam (for example, a laser beam), and also an optical recording method and apparatus for such an optical storage medium.
Phase-change optical storage media are data-rewritable storage media utilizing a reversible change phenomenon between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase, such as, modern CD-RW, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM. Especially, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM are used for recording and rewriting a large capacity of data, such as video data. What are required for phase-change optical storage media now increasingly popular for video recorders, personal computers, etc., are high-density recordability for long-time recording and storage of a large capacity of data, in addition to recording and overwrite characteristics.
One particular technique that allows a larger storage capacity for phase-change optical storage media is to make physically smaller a signal to be recorded to raise recording density per unit of area. Known methods for such a smaller signal are, for example, shorting a wavelength of a laser beam for recording and increasing an aperture ratio (NA) for an objective lens.
An example using such methods is a Blu-ray disc with 23 GB/surface area in recording density compared to 4.7 GB/surface area for DVDs. A recording/reproducing apparatus for Blu-ray discs employs a 405 nm-laser beam with 0.85 in NA for an objective lens different from a 660 nm-laser beam with 0.60 in NA for DVDs.
Another technique that allows a larger storage capacity for phase-change optical storage media is a multi-layered structure (multi-layered storage medium) in which several recording films are stacked. Already in the market is DVD-ROM with a dual-layer structure of two recording films. The same idea has been applied to write-once and rewritable types (DVD-R, DVD-RW, etc.) to achieve about double and quadruple recording density for dual and quadruple layers, respectively.
Also already in the market are write-once dual-layer storage media having two organic-resin recording films, such as, DVD+R and dual-layer (DL) discs.
Such high density multi-layered storage media accept a long-wavelength laser beam and a conventional low-NA objective lens, thus recordable and reproducible with a conventional pick-up, which achieves low prices for recording/reproducing apparatus.
Discussed below are a known phase-change optical storage medium (single-layer optical storage medium) with a single rewritable recording film and a recording method for such a storage medium.
A known single-layer optical storage medium has a structure in which at least a dielectric film, a recording film, another dielectric film and a reflective film are stacked in order on a substrate having a bottom surface to be irradiated with a laser beam carrying a recording or reproducing power, or an erasing power.
In recording, recording pulses are applied (emitted) onto a recording film with a laser beam having a specific power, to melt and rapidly cool down the recording film, thus forming amorphous recorded marks thereon.
Reflectivity of the recorded marks lower than that of the crystalline-phase recording film allows optical reading of the marks as recorded data.
In erasing the recorded marks, a laser beam having a constant power (erasing power) lower than the recording power is emitted onto the recording film. The laser beam raises the temperature thereof to the crystallization temperature or higher but lower than the melting point to change the recording film from the amorphous phase to the crystalline phase to erase the recorded marks, thus overwriting being enabled.
A basic structure of a multi-layered phase-change optical storage medium is such that two or more of layer structures are provided on a substrate. Each layer structure has at least a dielectric film, a recording film, another dielectric film and a reflective film, like the single-layer optical storage medium discussed above.
In the following discussion, a layer structure having a recording film in addition to several kinds of films is referred to as a data layer.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-45085 discloses a phase-change optical storage medium having two or more of phase-change data layers each including a recording film. Excellent erasability is achieved with adjustments to the thickness and thermal conductivity of a protective film and a heat dissipation film that constitute each data layer, in addition to the recording film.
Confirmed by the inventor of the present invention in this phase-change optical storage medium are: comparatively acceptable C/N for 3T (unit clock cycle)-marks, whereas unacceptable overwrite characteristics (under adjustments to the thickness and thermal conductivity of the protective and heat dissipation films) to recording with a modulated signal which is actually used in data recording, such as, a random signal under 8-16 modulation.
The inventor of the present invention examined advantages discussed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 2003-6923 (adjustments to the thermal conductivity of the protective film at 50 W/m·deg or higher) and No. 2003-242687 (selection of cubic boron nitride for the heat dissipation film formed on the reflective film that constitute a data layer closer to a laser-incident surface). Nevertheless, both were unacceptable in random-signal recording discussed above.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 2003-22572 evaluates random-signal recording with Al, Si and N as elements of a material of the protective film. Nevertheless, the inventor of the present invention confirmed unacceptable recording and overwrite characteristics.
The inventor of the present invention employed a particular recording pulse sequence in evaluation of the multi-layered phase-change optical storage media disclosed in the above Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications. This is the same as a known recording pulse sequence used in recording to single-layer phase-change optical storage media.
This known recording pulse sequence is referred to as a recording pulse sequence 1. Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a recording pulse sequence 1 for use in forming 3T and 5T recorded marks, which is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 3266971. The sequence 1 is modulated as having a high power (Pw) pulse and a low power (Pb) pulse.
The inventor of the present invention also employed the recording pulse sequences under the 2T-multi pulse strategy defined in DVD-RW Version 1.2 and the non-multi pulse strategy defined in DVD-RAM 5×-SPEED Optional Book, and confirmed unacceptable recording and overwrite characteristics particularly on data layers, except for the one most remote from the laser-incident surface.
Recording/erasure to/from phase-change optical storage media controls a laser beam to heat/cool recording films. Under the laser control, multi-layered phase-change optical storage media require data layers, except for the one most remote from the laser-incident surface, to be highly transparent to a laser wavelength for recording/erasure.
The former data layers and the latter one are referred to as highly transparent data layers and the furthest data layer, respectively, in the following discussion.
Such highly transparent data layers have a thinner recoding film and also a thinner reflective film than the furthest data layer.
The inventor of the present invention confirmed unacceptable recording and overwrite characteristics on those highly transparent data layers under a known recording technique with the same recording pulse sequence as for the furthest data layer.
As discussed above, the multi-layered phase-change optical storage media, having the highly transparent data layers with thinner recoding films and thinner reflective films than the furthest data layer, suffer unacceptable recording and overwrite characteristic under the known recording technique.

Optical recording method, optical recording apparatus and optical storage medium


A brush head for one-time use is equipped with a bundle of bristles (11) that is fashioned from flat strip of material (1).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a brush head for one-time use with bundled bristles.
2. Description of the Related Art
WO 01/15587 A1 describes a toilet brush with such a brush head that features a sleeve that can be attached to the front end of a handle and in which sleeve a bundle of bristles is fastened The brush head as a whole consists of a water-soluble material, e.g. of pulp, paper, or the like, with each bristle being formed by a rolled-up strip of paper or the like. After use, the brush head is stripped off, or, respectively, thrown off and can thus be flushed off together with the wastewater. The brush heads can be kept in storage in a dispenser, with the bristle bundle being held together by a protective cover that is to be removed prior to use.


This disclosure describes a radar system configured to estimate a yaw-rate and an over-the-ground (OTG) velocity of extended targets in real-time based on raw radar detections. This disclosure further describes techniques for determining instantaneous values of lateral velocity, longitudinal velocity, and yaw rate of points of a rigid body in a radar field-of-view (FOV) of the radar system.

Aspects of the invention relate to an improved method of determining the instantaneous values of lateral velocity, longitudinal velocity and yaw rate of any point of a rigid body in the radar field-of-view (FOV). Aspects are applicable (but not limited) to the estimation of vehicles for automotive perception systems and can be used in Active Safety, Driver Assistance and Autonomous Driving applications.
When an automated or autonomous host-vehicle is preceded by a target-vehicle traveling forward of the host-vehicle, it is advantageous for the system that controls the operation (e.g. steering, brakes, engine) of the host-vehicle to have knowledge of the yaw-rate of the target vehicle. Knowledge of the yaw-rate of the target vehicle can be useful to, for example, temporarily allow a closer following distance because the target-vehicle is turning out of the travel path of the host-vehicle.
In prior art, no algorithm was reported for an instantaneous estimation of full planar motion of rigid body target objects based on raw detections of a single radar.

Method of determining the yaw rate of a target vehicle


A transporting device includes a support frame, a driving mechanism, a first picking mechanism, and a second picking mechanism. The driving mechanism is mounted on the support frame. The first picking mechanism includes a first sliding member slidably mounted on the support frame and driven by the driving mechanism, a first driving member mounted on the first sliding member, a hinge member comprising a hinge portion driven by the first driving member, a first connection portion rotatably connected to the hinge portion, and a second connection portion rotatably connected to the first connection portion. The second driving member includes a driving portion capable of telescoping and selectively latching with the second connection portion. Thus, the first connection portion and the first picking member are rotatable relative to the second connection portion.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to transporting devices, and particularly to a transporting device capable of loading and unloading workpieces.
2. Description of Related Art
Transporting devices include a support frame, a driving mechanism mounted on the support frame, a first picking mechanism, and a second picking mechanism. The first picking mechanism and the second picking mechanism are movably mounted on the support frame and driven by the driving mechanism. The first picking mechanism and the second picking mechanism move toward each other so that workpieces can be loaded and unloaded simultaneously. However, the workpiece picked up by the first picking mechanism may collide with a workpiece picked up by the second picking mechanism.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

FU DING ELECTRONICAL TECHNOLOGY (JIASHAN) CO., LTD.


A measurement device is provided for determining the oxygen activity in molten metal or slag with a measurement head, which is arranged at one end of a carrier tube and on which an electrochemical measurement cell is arranged. The electrochemical measurement cell has a solid electrolyte tube, which is closed at one end and which contains a reference material and an electrode at its closed end. The electrode projects from the opposite end of the solid electrolyte tube. The outer surface of the solid electrolyte tube has a coating of a mixture of calcium zirconate with a fluoride. The measurement device can be used for calculating the sulfur, silicon and/or carbon content of the molten metal or slag from reaction of the sulfur with the calcium zirconate, which releases oxygen, and measurement of the resulting change in oxygen activity of the melt or slag at the outer surface of the solid electrolyte tube.

The invention relates to a measurement device for determining the oxygen activity in molten metal or slag with a measurement head, which is arranged at one end of a carrier tube and on which an electrochemical measurement cell is arranged. The electrochemical measurement cell has a solid electrolyte tube, which is closed on one end and which contains a reference material and an electrode at its closed end, wherein the electrode projects out of the opposite end of the solid electrolyte tube. In addition, the invention relates to a solid electrolyte tube for an electrochemical measurement cell.
Such measurement devices are known, for example, from German Patent DE 31 52 318 C2. The sensor described in this document is used to measure the concentration of oxygen in molten metal. Similar measurement devices are also known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,578,578, German published patent application DE 28 10 134 A1, or German Patent DE 26 00 103 C2.

Measurement device for determining oxygen activity in molten metal or slag


‘Kakegawa S91’ is a new Petunia-Calibrachoa hybrid particularly distinguished by having a terracotta (apricot with pinkish-red vein) flower color and a mounding growth habit.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia×calibrachoa hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Kakegawa S91'. It is characterized by having a bright terracotta (apricot with pinkish-red veins) flower color and mounding growth habit. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization in Kakegawa, Japan in May of 2003. The male parent was a proprietary hybrid Calibrachoa line named '571-2', which had a deep yellow flower color, medium flower size and a creeping plant habit. The female parent was a proprietary hybrid Petunia line named '04H-73', which had a light magenta flower color, medium flower size and mounding plant habit.
In May 2003, the new Petunia-Calibrachoa variety was developed using an intergeneric cross between a Petunia hybrid and a Calibrachoa hybrid species. After crossing the parent lines, 1,320 ovules were removed from flowers on the female parent and cultured by standard ovule culture techniques. In December 2003, 6 intergeneric hybrid plantlets were transplanted to soilless media for greenhouse culture and acclimatization.
In March 2004, 6 plants out of 6 hybrid lines were vegetatively propagated to produce rooted cuttings. In April 2004, the 6 plants were transplanted to an open field and evaluated for flower color and plant growth habit through July. In August 2004, 'Kakegawa S91' which has a bright terracotta (apricot with pinkish-red vein) flower color and mounding plant growth habit was selected and vegetatively propagated. In September 2004, 10 cuttings were evaluated in an open field through November 2004. The selection subsequently was named 'Kakegawa S91' and found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Petunia-calibrachoa plant named ‘Kakegawa S91’


A control circuit for controlling the output voltage of a primary-controlled switched mode power supply. The switched mode power supply includes a primary-side switch and a transformer with a primary winding, a secondary winding and a secondary-side auxiliary winding. The control circuit is connected to the auxiliary winding and a voltage tapping point between the secondary winding and the auxiliary winding. The control circuit includes a secondary-side switch and an RC element. The secondary-side switch short-circuits the connection between the output terminal and the voltage tapping point and the RC element provides positive and negative control pulses having a predefined time constant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to switched mode power supplies, and, in particular, to a control circuit for controlling a switch which temporarily short-circuits the secondary diode of a switched mode power supply and reduces the power loss in this way. The invention especially relates to a control circuit in a primary-controlled switched mode power supply, which comprises a primary-side switch and a transformer with a primary winding, a secondary winding and a secondary-side auxiliary winding. A voltage tapping point is provided between the secondary winding and the auxiliary winding, the control circuit being adapted to be connected to a connection of the auxiliary winding and to said voltage tapping point. The control circuit is adapted to be connected to an output terminal of the switched mode power supply and the output voltage is adapted to be tapped parallel to the secondary winding. The invention additionally relates to a switched mode power supply for generating an output voltage, said switched mode power supply making use of the control circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Switched mode power supplies are clocked power supply units which chop a rectified, filtered mains voltage. Such switched mode power supplies are nowadays preferred to conventional power packs with power transformers for many cases of use, since, from a certain performance category onwards, they have a better efficiency and require in particular less space.
The use of electronic switches causes, essentially, only switching losses, the voltage transformed being, instead of the mains voltage, a high-frequency a.c. voltage. Instead of the normal mains frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz, the high-frequency a.c. voltage can e.g. be in the range of from 20 kHz to 200 kHz.
Since the necessary numbers of windings of the transformer decrease inversely proportional to the frequency, the ohmic losses can be markedly reduced in this way and the transformer required becomes much smaller. Control is effected either by varying the pulse duty ratio at a constant frequency or by varying the frequency at a fixed or variable pulse duty ratio.
The output voltage can be determined by the clock ratio with which the electronic switch is closed. The voltage chopped by the electronic switch can be transformed into any other voltage and rectified. When, for controlling a desired d.c. output voltage of a switched mode power supply, the pulse duty ratio of a switch is varied on the primary side, the switched mode power supplies in question are referred to as primary-clocked switched mode power supplies. Primary-clocked switched mode power supplies are normally preferred because of their higher efficiency.
In order to optimize the efficiency still further, especially primary-clocked switched mode power supplies are known in the case of which the frequency generated by the switch, e.g. a bipolar transistor, on the primary side of the high-frequency transformer is controlled in dependence upon the load applied to the secondary side of the power pack, so as to avoid saturation of the high-frequency transformer. The feedback required for this kind of control is realized e.g. in that a voltage tapped at an auxiliary winding is used as a reference value.
Generating a reference value by making use of an auxiliary winding is shown e.g. in German patent application DE 100 18 229 A1. The method described in DE 100 18 229 A1 and used for controlling the output current and/or the output voltage of a primary-controlled switched mode power supply comprises the use of a reference value so to as to make the current and voltage control independent of the input voltage, said reference value being formed within the circuit and used for influencing the voltage controller.
Switched mode power supplies of this kind often operate a secondary circuit comprising a plurality of diodes, capacitors and other electronic components. For converting the a.c. voltage generated by the switched mode power supply into a d.c. voltage, diodes are used. Since these diodes cause a non-negligible voltage drop during the current flow, an undesirable power loss will be caused. In order to reduce this power loss, a switch, e.g. a field effect transistor, is switched on parallel to the diode, if necessary. This has the effect that the voltage drop decreases and that the power loss will be reduced.
Such a circuit is referred to as synchronous rectifier. Such synchronous rectifiers require in some cases a considerable investment in circuit technology for controlling the switch; it is desirable to reduce this investment in circuit technology so as to be able to offer the switched mode power supply in a more compact structural design which can be produced at a more reasonable price.
Moreover, from WO99/5777 a continuous mode flyback converter is known, wherein an FET transistor is provided for reducing the voltage drop at the secondary side of the transformer. The use of the FET transistor makes the converter more suitable for low voltage applications since smaller power losses are imposed in the secondary side of the converter than in a conventional converter. The converter also has a DC-blocking capacitor for further reducing the power losses at the secondary side. The secondary side further comprises a PNP transistor, the emitter of which is connected to the gate of the FET transistor, the collector of which is connected to the source of the FET transistor, and the base of which is connected to the first terminal of the auxiliary winding.
This circuit, however, suffers from the problem that by providing said PNP transistor the circuitry is still too complicated and expensive, and that the reliability may still further be improved.

Short-circuiting rectifier for a switched-mode power supply


An improved magneto-rheological (xe2x80x9cMRxe2x80x9d) fluid damper includes a damper cylinder containing a volume of MR fluid. The cylinder includes an inner surface. A piston assembly is disposed in the cylinder and has an outer surface in slidable contact with the cylinder inner surface. The piston assembly includes a flow gap formed thereabout and an external coil surrounding a portion of the cylinder, the external coil capable of generating a magnetic field across at least a portion of the flow gap.

The present invention relates to a magneto-rheological (xe2x80x9cMRxe2x80x9d) fluid damper, and more particularly, to a linear-acting fluid damper suitable for vibration damping in a vehicle suspension.
Magneto-rheological fluids are materials that respond to an applied magnetic field with a change in rheological behavior (i.e., change in formation and material flow characteristics). The flow characteristics of these MR fluids change several orders of magnitude within milliseconds when subjected to a suitable magnetic field. In particular, magnetic particles noncolloidally suspended in fluid align in chainlike structures parallel to the applied magnetic field, thus increasing the viscous characteristics, or apparent viscosity, of the MR fluid.
Devices, such as controllable dampers and struts, benefit from the controllable viscosity of MR fluid. For example, linearly acting MR fluid dampers are used in vehicle suspension systems as vibration dampers. At low levels of vehicle vibration, the MR fluid damper lightly damps the vibration, providing a more comfortable ride, by applying a low magnetic field or no magnetic field all to the MR fluid. At high levels of vehicle vibration, the amounts of damping can be selectively increased by increasing the density of the magnetic field and by applying control integration into vehicle suspension systems that sense and respond to vehicle load, road surface condition, and driver preference by adjusting a suspension performance accordingly.
Generally, current linearly acting MR fluid dampers are based on a monotube design with a coil positioned in a piston of the damper. In the monotube design, the piston moves within the fixed length cylindrical reservoir in response to force from a piston rod that extends outside of the cylinder. The monotube approach simplifies sealing of the MR fluid within the monotube reservoir; however, monotube dampers may experience reliability problems arising from the electrical wiring leading to the coil, etc., necessary for generating a magnetic field in or around parts of the piston. Typically, the electrical wiring passes up through a passage in the piston rod to a coil in the piston. Elaborate assembly procedures are required to seal this passage. Even if adequately sealed, the electrical wiring may flex with the movement of the piston, sometimes resulting in breakage of the wires.
In some dampers, it is known to reduce failure from wire flexing by holding the coil stationary with respect to a portion of the reservoir of (e.g., either the inner or outer tube). In particular, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,281, a reduced diameter piston moves within a reduced diameter inner tube. A coil, separate from the piston, acts as a valve control for a flow passage between the inner and outer tubes, rather than a coil integral to the piston controlling flow past the piston. Although wire flexing is reduced, the reduced piston diameter correspondingly reduces damping. Also, leaks due to introducing wiring into the reservoir are not avoided.
Consequently, a significant need exists for an MR fluid damper that is more reliable and inexpensive to manufacture while being tolerant of side loads on the damping components and furthermore, reduces the likelihood of pressure leaks from the MR fluid reservoir.
The present invention provides an MR fluid damper that is of a simpler construction then known dampers and can be manufactured for less cost. However, the MR fluid damper design of the, present invention provides an improved, more reliable performance and substantially increases the reliability of the electrical connection to the coil. One aspect of the invention provides an improved magneto-rheological (xe2x80x9cMRxe2x80x9d) fluid damper including a damper cylinder containing a volume of MR fluid. The cylinder includes an inner surface. A piston assembly is disposed in the cylinder and has an outer surface slidably contacting with the cylinder inner surface. The piston assembly includes a flow gap formed therein and an external coil surrounding a portion of the cylinder, the external coil capable of generating a magnetic field across at least a portion of the flow gap. A pair of ferromagnetic rings are provided, one of which is positioned above and the other of which is positioned below the external coil for directing the magnetic field or flux through the flow gap.
Other aspects of the invention provide a damper wherein the piston assembly includes a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter, the first diameter being less than the second diameter, the second portion including the outer surface in contact with the cylinder inner surface. The MR damper flow gap can be formed along the first portion of the piston assembly. The second portion of the piston assembly can include a plurality of openings. The MR damper can further include a piston rod, a major portion of which is disposed in the cylinder and wherein the piston assembly is secured to an inner end of the piston rod. The piston assembly can be secured to the rod by a pin. The pin can secure the first portion of the piston assembly to the inner end of the piston rod. The outer surface of the second portion of the piston assembly may include a wear resistant coating. The wear resistant coating can include a nickel plating. The wear resistant coating can include an iron alloy including from about 27-50% cobalt and alternately, about 2% vanadium. The wear resistant coating can be sprayed onto the outer surface of the second portion of the piston assembly. The outer surface may be turned and roller burnished. The MR damper may further include a first pair of retaining members positioned in grooves formed in the piston rod at positions above and below the piston assembly and a Belleville spring positioned between one of the first pair of retaining members and the piston assembly to secure the piston assembly to the piston rod. The retaining members may be retaining rings. The extending end of the piston rod opposite the inner end is secured to a housing of the damper by a threaded member. The extending end of the piston rod opposite the inner end may be secured to a housing of the damper by a second pair of retaining members positioned on the inside and the outside of the housing and a Belleville spring can be positioned between one of the pair of retaining members and the housing to secure the piston rod to the housing. The piston rod can be a solid rod. The cylinder can be made of a material that saturates at about 0.5 to about 2 Tesla. The MR damper can further include a gas cup slidingly contained within the cylinder, the gas cup defining a gas chamber containing a gas in one portion of the cylinder, the gas cup configured to seal the MR fluid from the gas chamber. The ferromagnetic rings may include a pair of inner bearings for allowing the ferromagnetic rings and the coil positioned therebetween to slidingly contact the cylinder. The vertical span of the coil and ring assembly may be a length at least equal to a vertical span of the piston.

Magneto-rheological damper with an external coil