A system for communicating data between a computer and a unit remote from the computer is provided, comprising receiving input information from a user in the remote unit and for producing data signals corresponding to the input information, producing error corrected message signals from the data signals, generating acoustical tones corresponding to the error corrected message signals, communicating said acoustical tones over a first communications link, said first communications link being bi-directional so that the remote unit communicates data with the computer, and receiving acoustic tones over said first communications link from the computer, the acoustical tones being adjusted for the conditions of the first communication link prior to transmission to the remote unit. The remote unit may also receive data from the computer over a second communications link, which is independent of the first communications link so that the remote unit receives data from two different communications links. A system for communicating a plurality of different types of data between a user and a computer during a single data session is also provided.

This invention relates generally to a system and method for communicating electronic data, and in particular to a system and method for communicating electronic data in which a portable electronic device transmits data over a telephone line to a central message distribution system. The system may also communicate electronic data using either a one-way communications protocol or a two-way communications protocol and the portable device may receive data from several different sources.
Prior to the proliferation of computers, people communicated store-and-forward style messages (i.e., messages that are first stored in some manner and then later forwarded) using facsimile machines and direct computer-to-computer data connections over existing and leased telephone lines. As computers became cheaper and easier to use, people began using more advanced facsimile machines, computer facsimile modems, and direct computer-to-computer modem connections to transfer information between each other.
More recently, people began to use commercial on-line services to communicate large amounts of store-and-forward style information (i.e., electronic mail) with each other. Now, a new medium for communicating, the Internet, is attaining general public popularity. In the last five years, the number of people connected to the Internet has increased because the Internet allows users who have an Internet account, a modem, and a computer to communicate great amounts of information with each other, regardless of each party's method of accessing the Internet or the geographic location of their Internet access point, at minimal expense. For example, for the cost of a local telephone call, a person in California can send a long electronic mail (e-mail) message to a friend (who also must have Internet access) anywhere in the world. Due in large part to the Internet, the popularity of electronic store-and-forward messaging, such as e-mail, has increased exponentially.
Initially, due to the large size of computers, people typically only accessed the Internet from a desktop computer. Later, as the size and weight of computers decreased from desktops to notebooks to palmtops, people may carry their computer with them wherever they go and access their e-mail account from any location where they could locate a telephone jack to connect, via modem, to the Internet.
At the same time that e-mail was increasing in popularity, paging technology was also increasing in popularity. Many people carry pagers to ensure that others can easily reach them at any time. In addition, a new product category of portable computer, known as a personal digital assistant (PDA) was introduced. The PDA's are basically very small handheld computers (several of which offer limited messaging capabilities, such as paging or e-mail) that are priced too high (i.e., in excess of $500) for purchase by the average consumer and do not offer communication features well-tailored to the average consumer user's needs.
Today, a number of PDA's are on the market. One well-known PDA has a small touch-sensitive screen controlled by special user-interface software. This PDA also has a modem that allows a user to communicate with a computer network and to send e-mail messages, facsimiles, and pager messages. This PDA and its accessories, however, are very expensive, and require that the user locate a phone jack for message transmission and reception. In these well known current PDA systems on the market today, all messages are transmitted and received over the same communications link, which requires an expensive modem and extensive handshaking time between the modem in the PDA and the modem to which the PDA is connected.
A second well known PDA is a cellular telephone with a touch-sensitive backlit display that acts as a keyboard. This second PDA has the ability to send facsimiles, to communicate with commercial on-line services, and to manage a user's schedule with a built-in time management system. This second PDA, however, is also very expensive and too large and heavy to carry around in a user's pocket. In addition, due to this PDA's circuit-switched communications, costs can be very high because it can only communicate over more expensive cellular telephone systems, rather than using less expensive landline telephones and short-burst packet data transmission protocol. In addition, because this PDA relies solely on cellular communications, it has relatively high power consumption, which leads to a very short battery life.
All of the known messaging systems that allow a user to both send and receive multiple types of electronic messages (i.e., facsimile, pager and e-mail) are too large, too expensive, too inconvenient (i.e., they require telephone connectivity through an RJ-11 telephone jack) or drain a battery too quickly. In addition, these known systems cannot send a message reliably over a normal public pay telephone line or many cellular links due to occasional line noise problems that cannot be corrected by known systems, and due to a lack of more convenient (i.e. appropriate acoustic) telephony coupling technology. In addition, none of these known systems provide an inexpensive way to send different types of messages and also provide the user with an audible acknowledgment signal from the receiving computer indicating whether or not the message is sent correctly. These known systems also do not offer two different communications protocols to communicate data or two different systems for receiving messages.
Thus, there is a need for an electronic messaging system that is inexpensive and transmits various types of electronic messages over any type of communications link. There is also a need for an electronic messaging system that has a system for sending an audible acknowledgment signal back to the user and a system for performing multiple levels of error detection and correction. Therefore, there is a need for an electronic messaging system and method that transmits electronic data to a central server over a telephone line and which avoids these and other problems of conventional messaging system and methods, and it is to this end that the invention is directed.

Electronic communications system and method


A virtual reality theater structure, including a reflection screen which has a view angle of up down 40-360° and left right 120-360°, an effective range for virtual reality, and has a reflection rate of 1.1 gain or more; a projection system for projecting the 2D or 3D image for left eye and the 2D or 3D image for right eye on the reflection screen; and a chair structure that is rotatable up and downward 40-120° and left and rightward 120-360° where each chair is rotated with area of independent range that is separated individually.

The present invention relates to a virtual reality theater structure through which an image range of up down 40-180° and left right 180-360° can be viewed in a theater structure.
Generally, a screen is arranged on only one surface among four of a front and rear surfaces and a left and right surfaces inside a theater, and the fixing type seats facing the screen are provided within left right 60° based on the seats arranged on a center of a middle row.
Recently, as the virtual reality image is developed, the 2D or 3D image can be viewed on the left right screens, the rear screen and the up down screens wherein the image is provided, corresponding to the moving direction of the view angle of a viewer, and the virtual reality image usually a wide view angle of up down 40-360° and left right 120-360°.
Referring to circular moving theater, disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-7023047, the screen structure is varied up and downward based on the fixed chairs, a viewer may view the images of a fixing direction of the chair unless he/she rotates his/her head on the chair.
Referring to a dome type theater, disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-1995-0016630, the chairs at every story, which are arranged along a vertical one line comparing to the vertical dome type screen fixed to a front surface of a theater, are only moved front and rearward but the view angle is not provided in accordance with the rotation direction of the chairs themselves.
Meanwhile, referring to "pneumatic support simulator device and a portable theater system using the same", disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0071429, the load of the theater is amended by pneumatic pressure and the motion driving part is driven by 3 shafts, but it is not the structure where the chairs are rotated front and rearward and left and rightward.
Referring to the structure, disclosed in Korean Utility Model Application No. 20-2004-0018973, a plurality of chairs are vibrated simultaneously but they are not rotated up and downward, and further referring to the structure, disclosed in Korean Utility Model Application No. 20-2010-0013407, a simple vibration device using 3 directional air springs is provided.
Accordingly, the theater structure and the chair structure for a theater cannot be applied to a virtual reality theater structure in which the view angle is moved up and downward and rotated left and rightward and the image corresponding to the view angle is felt.


A system for protecting data within a portable storage device. A self-destruct unit associated with the portable storage device is enabled. If the portable storage device is not within a pre-specified route tolerance or if the portable storage device is not at a pre-selected identification checkpoint, an alert message is sent. In response to receiving a particular response, a self-destruct signal is sent to the enabled self-destruct unit. Then the enabled self-destruct unit creates an electromagnetic pulse from a xenon flash tube to render confidential data within the portable storage device unusable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a computer implemented method and computer usable program code for protecting data within a portable storage device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, there are many cases in which data recorded on portable storage devices, such as magnetic tape, floppy disk, compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), memory stick, and the like, is considered private and highly confidential. This confidential data may include proprietary programs, trade secrets, customer lists, marketing data, and other highly valuable business and technical information. In view of this, owners of the confidential data have a duty to prevent unauthorized access to the data so as to safeguard the private information and secrets contained within portable storage devices against theft.
Conventional methods employed to safeguard such data includes the use of guards, fences, gates, identification cards, and security door codes to limit access to secure areas. In addition, lock boxes and safes may be utilized to store the portable storage devices, which contain the confidential data. However, these safeguard methods are only effective to the extent that the secure areas, lock boxes, and safes are secure from unauthorized entry.
Further, passwords, personal identification numbers (PINs), and data encryption also are known safeguards for preventing unauthorized access to confidential data contained within portable storage devices. However, as the technology for preventing unauthorized access to data advances, equal advances are made in the methods for gaining unauthorized access to confidential data. Such unauthorized access methods may include decoding or "hacking" user access codes, such as passwords, PINs, and encryption keys, or other independent credentials used to limit access to data or to hide the data making it unreadable.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to have an improved computer implemented method and computer usable program code in a distributed data processing system for protecting data contained within a portable storage device.

International Business Machines Corporation


A purge line changing block joint for enabling supply of different types of purge gas between lines without a significant remodeling of a fluid control apparatus and the fluid control apparatus is provided. A purge line changing block joint is connected to an upper side of a three-way valve channel portion in at least one line of the plurality of lines. The purge line changing block joint includes a process gas inlet channel communicating with a process gas inlet channel of the three-way valve channel portion, an outlet channel communicating the process gas inlet channel and an outlet channel of the three-way valve channel portion, a channel terminal not in communication with a purge gas inlet channel of the three-way valve channel portion but terminating the same, and a new purge gas inlet channel communicating with the outlet channel and opening on the top surface.

In the fluid control apparatus used in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, integration which configures the fluid control apparatus without intermediary of a pipe or a joint by installing a line on which a plurality of fluid control instruments are arranged side by side and mounted on corresponding supporting members on a base member in a parallel pattern is now in development. In Patent Literature 1, utilization of a manifold block joint in such a fluid control apparatus is disclosed.
FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 illustrate a fluid control apparatus of the related art which is an intended apparatus of the fluid control apparatus of the present invention.
The fluid control apparatus of the related art includes a plurality of (only three of those are illustrated) lines (P1), (P2), (P3) as illustrated in FIG. 4.
Each of the lines (P1), (P2), (P3) includes a plurality of fluid control instruments (2), (3), (4) arranged on an upper stage and a plurality of joint members (6), (7), (8), (9) arranged on a lower stage to support each of the plurality of the fluid control instruments (2), (3), (4) as illustrated in FIG. 5. Each of the lines (P1), (P2), (P3) includes the three block joints (6), (7), (8) having V-shaped channels (6a), (7a), (8a) opening on the top surface respectively, and a manifold block joint (9) having a plurality of line-to-line connecting bifurcated channels (9a) opening on the top surface as the plurality of joint members (6), (7), (8), (9).
The fluid control instruments (2), (3), (4) are fixed to the corresponding joint members (6), (7), (8), (9) via bolts (10) respectively.
Each of the lines (P1), (P2), (P3) includes a mass flow controller (2), a three-way valve (3) arranged immediately upstream side of the mass flow controller (2), and a two-way valve (4) arranged immediately upstream side of the three-way valve (3) as the plurality of fluid control instruments (2), (3), (4), respectively.
The two-way valve (4) is provided with a gas inlet channel for process gas (4a) and a gas outlet channel for process gas (4b) opening respectively on a lower surface thereof, and the three-way valve (3) is provided with a gas inlet channel for process gas (3a), a purge gas inlet channel (3b), and an outlet channel (3c) common to both gases opening respectively on a lower surface thereof.
The three-way valves (3) are supported by the two block joints (7), (8) and part of the single manifold block joint (9) common to the three lines (P1), (P2), (P3). In this manner, the three-way valves (3) are supported by the three block joints (7), (8), (9) in total, and a channel portion for a three-way valve including a process gas inlet channel (7a), a purge gas inlet channel (9a), and an outlet channel (8a) common to both gases opening respectively on the top surface is formed by these block joints (7), (8), (9).
In the respective lines (P1), (P2), (P3) of the fluid control apparatus, as illustrated in FIG. 6, process gas channels each extending from the two-way valve (4) to the mass flow controller (2) via the three-way valve (3) and purge gas (for example, N2 gas) channels each extending from the inlet channel for purge gas (9a) of the manifold block joint (9) to the mass flow controller (2) via the three-way valve (3) are formed.

Purge line changing block joint and fluid control apparatus


An impeller, a pressure generator using such an impeller, and a pressure support system and method using such a pressure generator to deliver a flow of breathing gas to a patient is disclosed. The impeller enables a pressure of a flow of breathing gas delivered by a pressure support system to a patient to remain substantially constant despite variations of the output flow rate. The impeller includes a plurality of impeller blades disposed on a face of the impeller body with an inlet area between each pair of adjacent blades being substantially equal a corresponding outlet area for each pair of adjacent blades.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an impeller, a pressure generator using such an impeller, and a pressure support system and method using such a pressure generator to deliver a flow of breathing gas to a patient, and, in particular, to an improved impeller that enables a pressure of a flow of breathing gas delivered by a pressure support system to a patient to remain substantially constant despite variations of the output flow rate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pressure support systems that provide a flow of gas to an airway of a patient at an elevated pressure to treat a medical disorder are well known. For example, it is known to use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device to supply a constant positive pressure to the airway of a patient throughout the patient's respiratory cycle to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as well as other cardiopulmonary disorders. An example of a CPAP device is the REMstar® and Solo® family of devices manufactured and distributed by Respironics, Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pa.
It is also known to provide a positive pressure therapy in which the pressure of gas delivered to the patient varies with the patient's breathing cycle. A conventional life support ventilator, such as the Esprit® Ventilator, also manufactured by Respironics, is an example of a pressure support system in which the pressure of gas delivered to the patient varies so as to replace or supplement the patient's own respiration. Another example of a pressure support device that provides "bi-level" pressure support in which a lower pressure is delivered during the patient's expiratory phase than during the inspiratory phase, is the BiPAP® family of devices manufactured and distributed by Respironics, Inc. It is further known to provide an auto-titration positive pressure therapy in which the pressure provided to the patient changes based on the detected conditions of the patient, such as whether the patient is snoring or experiencing an apnea, hypopnea or upper airway resistance. An example of a device that adjusts the pressure delivered to the patient based on whether or not the patient is snoring is the Virtuoso® CPAP family of devices manufactured and distributed by Respironics, Inc. An example of a pressure support device that actively tests the patient's airway to determine whether obstruction, complete or partial, could occur and adjusts the pressure output to avoid this result is the Tranquility® Auto CPAP device, also manufactured and distributed by Respironics, Inc.
In providing a respiratory therapy to a patient, a pressure support system, such as CPAP, ventilator, bi-level, or auto-titration pressure support device, typically delivers a flow of a breathing gas, such as air, oxygen, or an oxygen mixture, to an airway of the patient at a desired pressure, at least during a portion of the patient's respiratory cycle. A CPAP system, for example, delivers a constant pressure to the patient's airway throughout the patient's respiratory cycle. A typical pressure support system includes a source of gas, such as atmosphere, an oxygen tank or the like, or a combination thereof, a pressure generator with a pressure or flow control capability to generate and maintain a flow of breathing gas at the selected pressure, a patient circuit to deliver the flow of breathing gas to the patient, and a patient interface to communicate the flow of breathing gas with the patient's airway. The patient circuit typically is a flexible conduit having a patient interface device attached thereto. The patient interface is any device, such as a nasal/oral mask, nasal cannula, trachea tube, hood or the like, for communicating the flow of breathing gas with the patient's airway.
The pressure generator in conventional a pressure support system typically includes a motor driving a blower, which is an impeller within a housing, for placing the gas from the gas source under pressure relative to ambient atmosphere. In a conventional blower, the pressure output by the blower varies with the rate of flow in the patient circuit, assuming that the blower operates at a constant speed. For example, at a certain operating speed, the pressure in the patient circuit or patient interface decreases as the flow of gas in the patient circuit or at the patient interface increases. This occurs, for example, as the patient breathes into the patient circuit. For this reason, a conventional pressure support system typically includes a pressure/flow control system, which includes a sensor and a processor operating in a feedback fashion, to control and maintain the desired pressure or flow for the breathing gas delivered to the patient as the flow within the patient circuit fluctuates.
Various pressure/flow control techniques are known for controlling the flow of breathing gas output by the pressure generator and/or delivered to the patient so that the output pressure remains constant at the selected pressure despite variations in the flow of gas in the patient circuit or at the patient interface. In each of the conventional pressure/flow control techniques, either the pressure of gas in the patient circuit or at the patient interface, the flow of gas in the patient circuit, or a combination thereof, must be monitored, either directly or indirectly, for providing a feedback signal in the feedback pressure/flow control system.
In a first type of conventional pressure/flow control technique, during operation, the blower operates at substantially constant speed that is sufficient to deliver a pressure in excess of the selected pressure at to be delivered to the patient. The pressure output by the blower must be high enough above the selected pressure to be delivered to the patient's airway to allow the selected pressure to be delivered to the patient even if a pressure drop associated with an increase of flow occurs in the patient circuit. This pressure/flow technique also requires an exhaust valve to bleed off excess pressure or flow from the patient circuit, for example, when the flow in the patient circuit is relatively low. The amount of exhaust flow is controlled by the controller based on the feedback signals from the pressure and/or flow sensor to provide the selected pressure to the patient.
In a second type of conventional pressure/flow control technique, the motor in the blower does not operate at a constant speed, but is sped up or slowed down as needed to maintain the desired pressure. The motor speed is controlled by the controller based on the feedback signals from the pressure and/or flow sensor to provide the selected pressure to the patient. It is also known to use a combination of motor speed control and exhaust flow control to regulate the pressure or flow of breathing gas delivered to the patient.
These conventional types of pressure/flow control techniques, however, have certain drawbacks. In the exhaust flow control technique, bleeding off excessive pressure or flow requires the impeller to deliver more pressure than needed, which is inherently inefficient. In the motor speed control technique, cycling the motor speed is also inefficient and, due to the inertia of the impeller, does not allow for relatively rapid changes in the output pressure or flow. In addition, repeated cycling of the blower speed decreases the motor life as well as the efficiencies of the motor. It can be appreciated that either of these types of pressure control systems require a relatively expensive pressure and/or flow sensor to provide the feedback signal, as well as a relatively complicated pressure/flow control system that operates based on this feedback signal.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Impeller and a pressure support system and method using such a method


A spring may include an annular plate having a central aperture; a plurality of spring members protruding from the annular plate, the plurality of spring members being resiliently flexible and radially disposed around the central aperture; and a plurality of alignment tabs protruding from the annular plate.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Fire protection sprinklers are commonly mounted to ceilings of residential and commercial buildings. Such sprinklers are often housed within an opening in the ceiling in such a manner that the sprinkler does not protrude below the surface of the ceiling when not in use. A decorative cover plate assembly may be installed over the opening in the ceiling to conceal the sprinkler, improving the aesthetic qualities of the sprinkler system.
In response to heat from a fire, solder holding the cover plate in place melts and the cover falls away from the sprinkler and the sprinkler trigger mechanism is then activated by the heat of the fire to release a plug device to allow the sprinkler to discharge water below the ceiling. The sprinkler cover assembly may include a spring which may force the cover plate to fall away from the sprinkler once the solder begins to melt. Such springs are often difficult to install, and difficult to properly align within the cover plate assembly.

Self-aligning cover spring for a concealed sprinkler


The present invention provides a cancellation signal which may be combined with a radio or television program signal to provide a mix minus signal for use in IFB communication with the talent. A cancellation signal circuit is responsive to a talent signal to delay and gain adjust the talent signal to provide the cancellation signal. The amount of gain and delay necessary may be adjusted by an operator, or automatically determined or set in response to the program signal or the mix minus signal. Automatic operation is provided even in the presence of changing delay and amplitude of the program signal or the talent signal component thereof.

The invention relates to the use of Interrupted Feed Back (IFB) systems in production of television and radio like programs. The invention shows a method of reducing or removing annoying delayed versions of the talent audio signals from the communication link from the program director back to the talent (IFB). In a common application of the invention, the delayed version of the talent's voice can be removed from the program audio which is mixed with the director's voice instructions to be fed back to the talent's headset. Other uses and purposes for the present invention will also become known to one skilled in the art from the teachings herein.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of audibly communicating with remotely located actors and reporters in radio and television systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the Prior art it is known to provide audible communications from a director who is physically located at a television or radio station to the talent (a reporter or actor) who is physically located at a remote site. Such communications are desired to contain both the director's voice instructions to the talent and the program audio. The program audio which is sent back to the talent is intended to not include the talent's voice (commonly called mix minus) but otherwise is the program as it is broadcast from or stored at the facility. This IFB audio allows the talent to both hear the director's instructions, for example to get ready for joining the broadcast "live" and to hear the other actors voices, for example so they can directly respond to questions. Examples of these situations are often seen on local news programs where a reporter at a remote news location joins the news broadcast and converses with the news anchors at the station.
Generating the mix minus audio is performed in parallel with generating the normal program audio, thus two separate mixing facilities are required. Such system allows the talent to hear both the director's instructions and the program audio, without the annoying effect of hearing his own voice. Such systems are called IFB systems (interrupted feed back). It is important that the talent not hear his own voice, as this is disconcerting and makes it difficult for the talent to speak.
Unfortunately, at times it is inconvenient or impossible to create the mix minus version of the program audio in which the reporter's voice is absent but all other audio content is present. In these situations, the regular program (with the reporter's voice) is sent over the IFB channel. This causes an annoyance to the reporter, especially when there is a significant delay in his voice. These situations often happen when the station runs out of space on its audio mix board, or a news event happens suddenly and there is no time to set up a mix minus or IFB link to the reporter.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the prior art in which the invention finds use. FIG. 1 represents a television or radio production system in which a talent is located some distance from a station. The talent speaks into a microphone 10 and the audio signal from 10 is amplified and sent back to the station over a return microwave or satellite link via an ENG truck 11, transmitter 19, and microwave receiver 3. There is frequently some delay involved in this return link, especially when it is via satellite. This delay is one cause of the problems which the present invention addresses. At the station the talent's audio is mixed into an audio program in a mix board 4. The program audio is then passed through a delay 5 to the program transmitter 17, recorder and/or other use. This delay is another cause of the problems which the present invention addresses. The FIG. 1 system demonstrates the case where there is no separate mix-minus signal generated to feed the IFB return.
If there were a separate mix-minus signal generated, a separate mix board 4 would mix all of the program audio, the same as 4, except it would not mix the talent audio from 3. This mix minus signal would be coupled to the switch instead of the program audio. The program or IFB signal or a signal similar to the program or IFB which is fed back to the talent will be referred to herein as the feedback signal. The feedback signal is that signal from which the talent signal is removed to provide the mix minus signal, and may or may not have the director's voice or other nonprogram signals mixed in.
The IFB signal shown in FIG. 1 is simply the program audio (containing the talent's delayed voice) with the director's voice instructions switched in at the director's discretion. This IFB is then transmitted back to the talent's headset 9 via IFB transmitter 6 and IFB receiver 18. In this fashion the talent can both receive instructions from the director, and listen to the program audio to receive appropriate time cues and possibly to carry on conversations with another talent. It might be noted that in some instances, even the IFB link is not available and the talent must operate solely by receiving the program broadcast from 17.


An induction synchronous motor includes a unitary rotor having first and second pole type rotor cores, first and second stators, a voltage phase shifting means, and DC magnetic excitation circuits. Both of the rotor cores are mounted on a common rotor axis with a predetermined space between them. The first and second rotor windings are wound on the first and second rotor cores, respectively. A plurality of diodes is each connected in parallel between series-connection nodes of the first and second rotor windings. A plurality of rotor conductors is provided on the peripheries of and extend through the first and second rotor cores. A pair of short-circuit rings short-circuits both ends of the plurality of rotor conductors. The first and second stators surround the first and second salient pole type rotor cores, respectively, and have the same number of poles as the first and second rotor cores. The voltage phase shifting means selectively produces a phase difference of 0.degree. for starting and accelerating operations and 180.degree. for synchronous operation. The DC magnetic excitation circuits face the first and second salient pole type rotor cores, and have a different number of poles from the first and second stators.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates an induction synchronous motor of a brushless type.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a synchronous motor requires a starting means for accelerating its rotor to a rotating speed of rotating magnetic fields produced by stator windings, that is, approximately to a synchronous speed, and a means for effecting DC excitation of rotor windings for the normal running operation.
An induction synchronous motor has been devised for omitting a starting means and having the synchronous motor itself posses a starting torque, so that the motor can first start as an induction motor with the rotor windings being short-circuited whereby no special means for starting the motor is required. However, such motor requires brushes since the rotor windings must be excited by DC current for synchronous operation of the motor. When the rotating speed of the rotor approaches the synchronous speed, the short-circuiting of the rotor windings is released so that the DC current is allowed to flow to the rotor windings through the brushes from the external DC current power source thereby producing magnetic poles in the rotor. These magnetic poles are attracted by the rotating magnetic fields produced by the stator windings so that the rotor is caused to be rotated at a synchronous speed. The brushes require maintenance checks resulting in extra costs for maintenance so that the development of a synchronous motor having a brushless configuration is strongly desired.
As conventional synchronous motors having a brushless configuration, there are motors of permanent magnet types or reluctance types but these are all limited to small capacity motors because induction starting is not possible and the starting torque is small. Such motors of an inductor type have disadvantages because magnetic passages therein are complex resulting in an increase in the size of the motors. The same is true in the motors using therein an AC exciter and a rotary rectifier means. A three-phase synchronous motor of a brushless type utilizing a harmonic magnetic field through a square wave voltage of an invertor by having a diode connected to the rotor windings has a disadvantage in that the magnetic magnetizing power of the rotor is insufficient and the output is not strong enough.
Also known is a brushless three-phase synchronous motor of a self-exicitation type. In such motor, a diode is inserted in one phase of three-phase stator windings whereby a static magnetic field is superimposed over a positive phase component rotating magnetic field and an alternating current voltage due to the static magnetic field is induced in the rotor windings to rotate in the synchronous speed. By having the voltage thus induced rectified through the diode, the rotor winding is DC-excited and a positive phase component of magnetic field acts thereby producing a synchronous torque. However, a drawback in such motor is that an induction starting is impossible since the starting is effected by eddy currents and the starting torque itself is small.

Brushless induction synchronous motor with two stators


A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that has a support structure constructed to support a patterning object, the patterning object being capable of imparting a radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam, a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate, or both, wherein the support structure, the substrate table, or both, has a contact surface with which the patterning object, the substrate, or both, are configured to be in contact, respectively, the contact surface having a plurality of sub-contact surfaces to increase a mutual adhesion between the support structure and the patterning object, the substrate table and the substrate, or both.

A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In that instance, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g. comprising part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g. a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned. Known lithographic apparatus include so-called steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion at one time, and so-called scanners, in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through a radiation beam in a given direction (the "scanning"-direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. It is also possible to transfer the pattern from the patterning device to the substrate by imprinting the pattern onto the substrate.
A conventional lithographic apparatus, typically comprises a support structure (also referred to as a mask stage) that is provided and constructed to support the patterning device. Similarly, the apparatus comprises a substrate table which is constructed to hold the substrate. Conventionally, the mask is clamped by vacuum to the mask stage chuck which is fixedly held on the mask stage. The maximum acceleration of the patterning device or mask is limited in conventional lithographic apparatuses by the vacuum pressure, the vacuum clamp area, friction between the mask and the chuck and the mask mass, in order to prevent the mask from micro and macro slip. The support structure and substrate table are movable in a scanning (Y) direction. In particular, at the beginning and towards the end of a scanning cycle, the support structure and substrate table are subject to acceleration and deceleration forces to reach a scanning velocity and to come to a standstill, respectively. In order to increase the throughput of the machine, i.e. the number of substrates that can be processed with the lithographic apparatus in a certain time, it is desirable that the support structure and substrate table reach and decelerate from the scanning speed as quickly as possible. To achieve this, the acceleration and deceleration of the support structure and/or substrate table must be increased. It has been found, however, that this results in an increased inertia force to the mask and/or substrate, and an increased risk of micro and macro slip of the mask and/or substrate. This leads to imaging errors. In particular, with respect to the mask stage when it is subject to increased inertia forces, conventional vacuum clamps may not be able to clamp the mask with sufficient force.

Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method


In one embodiment, a pallet comprises a top deck comprising a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the substrate comprises a first plastic material; and a layer disposed on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the layer comprises a composition comprising reinforcing fibers, polyimide fibers, and polymeric binder fibers, wherein the polymeric binder fibers have a melting point that is lower than the polyimide fibers; a bottom deck; and supporting columns disposed between the second surface and the bottom deck.

There are many types of pallets, which are used throughout the world to facilitate shipment and transportation of goods. The purpose of the pallet is to provide support for cargo particularly during shipment and storage. There has been an increasing requirement for such pallets to become more sophisticated due to varying standards and demands. Pallets can be formed from timber (i.e., wood), but these pallets suffer from several disadvantages because of the inherent characteristics of wood. For example, wooden pallets are naturally heavy, bulky, and can be expensive because of the nature of the material used in their construction. In addition, wooden pallets suffer deterioration due to inclement weather conditions and can suffer damage from water that may be present in the location in which the pallets are being used.
The presence of water can result in decomposition of the wood and resultant weakening of the structure of the pallet. Furthermore, wooden pallets are generally held together with the use of glue, adhesives, and/or metal nails or staples. These fixation methods can also suffer as a result of the inclement conditions the pallet may be subjected to and are manifested by deterioration of the adhesive and/or corrosion of the nails or staples. Wooden pallets can also be subjected to insect infestation, which can also result in deterioration of the pallet and can transmit undesirable insect infestations from one location to another. Many countries (e.g., United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and China) require wooden pallets to be certified pest free, which means that the pallets have to undergo a process, e.g., heat treatment or fumigation, in order to be certified pest free.
Plastic pallets can be used as an alternative to wooden pallets, due to their moisture resistance, toughness, and flexibility in design through injection molding, structural foam, and extrusion/thermoforming processes not available in wooden pallets. However there can be concerns regarding the fire properties of plastic pallets. With fire control infrastructure (e.g., sprinkler systems) designed around wooden pallets, a challenge arises to ensure plastic pallets perform satisfactorily to meet the large-scale burn standards, e.g., UL 2335 (Second Edition, Jul. 28, 2010). Without the proper pallet design and construction materials, plastic pallets could fail due to molten plastic flow during fires, spreading burning material, and could generate levels of heat beyond their wooden counterparts, resulting in conditions that can overwhelm sprinkler systems' ability to control a fire. Because of these risks, the use and storage of plastic pallets which do not meet large-scale burn standards can be challenging. A desired feature of pallets is that the pallets do not spread flames from one pallet to another in the case of a fire during use or storage of the pallets. The use of flame retardant additives compounded into a plastic resin has been the primary solution to retarding flame spread and fire growth, but the drawbacks can be considerable, including loss of material mechanical properties, loss of toughness, and environmentally unfriendly flame retardant additive systems (for example, non-restriction on hazardous substances (ROHS) compliant Halogen additives) Thus, there is a need for environmentally friendly pallets with flame retarding and resisting properties and also a continual need for an improvement in the design and use of plastic pallets.

Pallet and methods of making and using the same


A method for determining component misalignment in a multi-modality imaging system including a first modality unit, a second modality unit, and a table, includes imaging an object with the first modality unit to generate a first image, imaging the object with the second modality unit to generate a second image, and determining a table alignment status using the first and second images.

This invention relates generally to imaging systems capable of scanning objects in multi modalities and more particularly to a method for determining an alignment status of the multi-modality system.
The present invention is directed toward multi-modal imaging systems capable of scanning using different modalities, such as, for example, but not limited to, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography (CT). The difference between multi-mode and multi-modality is that in multi-mode systems the same hardware is utilized to perform scans in different modes (e.g., a radiation source and a radiation detector is used in both a flouro mode and a tomosynthesis mode), while in a multi-modal system (multi-modality system), although some of the same hardware is utilized to perform different scans (e.g., an image produced by PET is processed and displayed respectively, by the same computer and display, as an image produced by CT), the data acquisition systems (hereinafter sometimes termed "modality unit") are different. For example, on a CT/PET system, a radiation source and a radiation detector are used in tandem to acquire CT data, while a radiopharmaceutical is typically employed in tandem with a PET camera to acquire PET data. It is contemplated that the benefits of the invention accrue to all multi-modality imaging systems, such as, for example, but not limited to, a CT/PET imaging system as well as systems utilizing currently unknown modalities as well as currently unfeasible combinations, such as, for example, but not limited to, a combination PET/ultrasound system and/or a CT/MRI system.
In such multi-modality systems, such as, for example, an integrated PET-CT system there is an inherent registration of the PET and CT images the system acquires. Since the patient lies still on the same table during the PET and CT portions of the acquisition, the patient will be in a consistent position and orientation during the two acquisitions, greatly simplifying the process of correlating and fusing the CT and PET images. This allows the CT image to be used to provide attenuation correction information for the reconstruction of the PET image, and allows an image reader to easily correlate the anatomic information presented in the CT image and the functional information presented in the PET image.
This inherent registration assumes a perfect alignment of the PET and CT detector coordinate systems, or at least a known spatial transformation between the two coordinate systems. This should be readily apparent, since a misalignment of the coordinate systems will directly result in a misregistration of the images.
Proper PET and CT image registration also requires an alignment of the axial (z-) axis of the PET and CT coordinate systems not only with each other and with the travel axis of the table that transports the patient during the PET and CT acquisitions. This may be less obvious, but it is a consequence of the differing nature of the PET and CT acquisitions. A volume of CT image data is acquired slice-by-slice, or, in the case of a multislice helical scan, by a detector system with a small axial extent of a few centimeters. By contrast, a PET scan is acquired in a number of frames of data, each of which may cover an axial extent of 15 cm or more. Even if the CT and PET are perfectly aligned, a misaligned table will produce different artifacts in the CT and PET volumes, which cannot be properly registered. Accordingly it is desirable to provide a method for determining an alignment status of the multi-modality system.

Methods and apparatus for determining component alignment

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC


A bias-control circuit that provides operating point control for a Mach-Zehnder modulator experiencing optical absorption at their interferometric arms. The bias control circuit generates compensation signals that are used to counter the thermally induced index shifts as a result of absorption. In addition, an operating point with desirable transmitter characteristics can also be arbitrarily chosen by over-compensating or under-compensating thermal effects.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to Mach-Zehnder modulators, and more particularly, to a bias-control for optical Mach-Zehnder modulators with voltage-induced optical absorption.
2. Description of the Related Art
(Note: This application references a number of different publications as indicated throughout the specification by reference numbers enclosed in brackets, e.g., [x]. A list of these different publications ordered according to these reference numbers can be found below in the section entitled "References." Each of these publications is incorporated by reference herein.)
Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs) operate by modulating the optical phase difference between two waveguides, which then interfere constructively or destructively to achieve an amplitude modulation (AM) on the output. They have traditionally been made from lithium niobate (LiNbO3) materials.
These LiNbO3 MZMs have been a vital component in modern optical communications systems. These modulators, in various configurations, are able to show good transmitter performance, such as high extinction ratios, low insertion loss, high bandwidth and low transient chirp. These desirable characteristics have led to wide scale deployment of LiNbO3 MZMs in both analog and digital optical communications systems.
However, to maintain good transmitter performance, the phase difference between the two waveguides must be precisely controlled in order to counteract the effects of environmental changes or component aging. Thus, a bias control loop is required to counteract slowly-varying changes in the average phase difference. The bias control loop generates a direct current (DC) compensation signal that keeps the MZM operating about a quadrature point on its transfer characteristics.
DC bias control loop designs for LiNbO3 MZMs are well established in prior art. The control loop typically takes the form of a low-frequency AM dither of the radio frequency (RF) drive signal for the MZM, sensing of that narrow-band frequency component on the output, and adjusting DC bias to keep the low frequency output signal at zero.
With ever increasing demand for capacity, there is a need to reduce cost, power consumption and footprints of all components. Co-packaging laser and modulator into a single package works well in reducing both the footprint and the cost of the transmitter, but further reduction in size and power consumption can only be achieved through monolithic integration of both laser and modulator [1,2]. This potential has led to the development of semiconductor MZMs, such as indium phosphide (InP)-based MZMs.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a typical semiconductor MZM 100 that includes an optical input 102, a 1×2 multimode interference (MMI) coupler 104, two modulator arms 106, 108 with either 0° or 180° (PI) phase delays or shifts, respectively, relative to each other, an M0 (0°) electrode 110 on arm 106, an M0-phase (0°) electrode 112 on arm 106, an MP (180°) electrode 114 on arm 108, an MP-phase (180°) electrode 116 on arm 108, and a 2×2 MMI coupler 118, which is the output of the MZM 100. The two outputs 120, 122 of the 2×2 MMI coupler 118 are called DATA 120 and DATABAR_TAP 122. The DATA output 120 is fiber-coupled by a collimating lens 124 to one or more output fibers 126, as well as an optical tap 128, while the DATABAR_TAP output 122 is coupled to a power tap photodiode 130. By applying a voltage on one of the modulator arms 106,108, the phase difference between the two optical waves that propagate through the arms 106, 108 is altered through the electro-optic effect, and this is converted to intensity variations as a result of interference at the output. This results in a theoretical sinusoidal electrical-to-optical (E/O) transfer function in which MZM 100 operates at the quadrature (differential phase of PI/4) point when used as an intensity modulator.
As noted above, to maintain consistent transmitter characteristics over an extended period of time, a MZM control loop is typically required to counter various effects such as drifts, aging of components and temperature variations that prevent the MZM from always operating at the quadrature point. The use of a control loop in MZM is critical and the schemes for controlling a LiNbO3 MZM can broadly be divided into two categories:
(a) Distortion-based LiNbO3 MZM control that seeks to minimize the ratio of even order terms (2nd order typically) to the fundamental, resulting in the MZM always operating at quadrature point of the E/O transfer function [3, 4]. This control scheme uses the fact that at quadrature point, the Taylor's series expansion has non-zero odd order terms with all even order terms identically zero. A typical implementation uses a small amplitude dither signal at frequency Fm applied to the bias voltage. A photodetector is used to provide optical-to-electrical conversion and to detect small variations in optical power as a result of the dither signal. The amplitudes of the fundamental (at frequency Fm) and 2nd order (at frequency 2×Fm) components of the detected signal are measured. The control scheme seeks to change the bias voltage such that the ratio of 2nd order to fundamental of the monitored signal is minimized.
(b) MZM bias-control based on amplitude modulation of a RF drive signal [5]. This control scheme uses the symmetrical property of the sinusoidal E/O transfer function, such that the slopes at any two points equidistant from a quadrature operating point are equal. Thus, an Amplitude Modulation (AM) electrical input signal at quadrature operating point will result in minimum amplitude detected at the AM frequency (Fm Hz), since the out-of-phase AM modulations at the optical-one level and optical-zero level cancel each other given the symmetric nature at the quadrature point. A typical implementation applies a low frequency dither Fm Hz on the gain control of the RF amplifier driver of the MZM. The optical signal is tapped off and detected using a photodetector and, upon optical-to-electrical conversion, the amplitude at Fm Hz is measured. The control scheme seeks to change the operating point such that the detected signal is at a minimum, as any deviation from the quadrature point will result in increase in the amplitude detected, since AM at the optical levels no longer results in perfect cancellations.
The major difference between a LiNbO3-based MZM and that of a semiconductor-based MZM is that, in a semiconductor MZM, the voltage induced phase shifts are accompanied by electro-absorption. This absorption of optical waves is usually non-linear with voltage and results in the heating of the MZM arm.
Thus, the semiconductor MZM differs from the LiNbO3 MZM in two major ways:
(1) The E/O transfer function no longer corresponds to the usual sinusoidal function.
(2) The electro-absorption results in a photocurrent and hence heating of the MZM arm. This causes thermally-induced optical index shifts, which complicates the operation and control of the semiconductor MZM.
The implications of (1) and (2) are that control schemes based on (a) and (b) described above will have difficulty in generating suitable control signals that can be used to bias the semiconductor MZM for proper operation.
In the case of (a), the half-power point of the E/O transfer and the point with maximum slope efficiency no longer coincide with each other, requiring modifications to control schemes that minimize the ratio of 2nd order to fundamental harmonics. Depending on the frequency of the dither signal, the control scheme also has to deal with any additional influence as a result of thermally induced index shifts.
For (b), the thermal index shifts have been shown experimentally to result in a single-sided AM optical output for a reasonable range of extinction ratios. FIG. 2 illustrates the physics of why a single-sided AM optical output is produced, in the presence of optical electro-absorption, using a PI phase shifted semiconductor MZM as an example. In FIG. 2, A is a plot of electrical input, B is a plot of the E/O transfer and electro-absorption versus input voltage, and C is a plot of the optical output with electrical input A. With an amplitude-modulated drive signal shown in A of FIG. 2, in addition to modulating the optical power amplitude, is also modulating the thermally induced index shift as a consequence of absorption, particularly at the voltage that corresponds to a high absorption slope. This thermally induced index shift shifts the transfer curve of the modulator, displacing it in an out-of-phase fashion with respect to the amplitude-modulated drive signal at the high absorption slope region. The out-of-phase transfer curve displacement now tracks the amplitude-modulated drive signal at the low absorption end, canceling or significantly reducing the optical amplitude modulations, thus resulting in a one-sided AM modulated output in which the tapped-off and E/O converted signal will no longer show any minimum signal for the control loop to lock to. This effect is shown in B and C in FIG. 2.
As a result, there is a need for improved control of semiconductor MZMs. Specifically, there is a need for control schemes that prevent bias control loops from erroneously controlling to the wrong operating point due to distortion of the normally sinusoid transfer characteristic. Furthermore, there is a need for control schemes that prevent the heating that is accompanied by optical absorption from causing the control loop to fail to bias the semiconductor MZM at the desired operating point, because the thermal and amplitude modulation effects destructively interfere with each other. The present invention satisfies this need.

Bias-control for optical Mach-Zehnder modulators with voltage-induced optical absorption


Disclosed are 4-amino-2-butenamides of Formula (I) having pharmacological activity, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and methods for the treatment of diseases mediated by the cathepsin C enzyme such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Cathepsins are a family of enzymes included in the papain superfamily of cysteine proteases. Cathepsins B, C, F, H, K, L, S, V, and X have been described in the scientific literature. Cathepsin C is also known in the literature as Dipeptidyl Peptidase I or "DPPI."
A number of recently published studies have begun to describe the role cathepsin C plays in certain inflammatory processes. See e.g. Adkison et al., The Journal of Clinical Investigation 109:363-371 (2002); Tran et al., Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 403:160-170 (2002); Thiele et al., The Journal of Immunology 158: 5200-5210 (1997); Bidere et al., The Journal of Biological Chemistry 277: 32339-32347 (2002); Mabee et al., The Journal of Immunology 160: 5880-5885; McGuire et al., The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 268: 2458-2467; and Paris et al., FEBS Letters 369: 326-330 (1995). From these studies, it appears that cathepsin C is co-expressed in granules with certain serine proteases and functions to process the pro-forms of these proteases to active forms, which are then released from the granules of inflammatory cells recruited to sites of inflammation. Once activated, these proteases have a number of functions including degradation of various extracellular matrix components, which together can propagate tissue damage and chronic inflammation.
For example, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ("COPD") is a chronic inflammatory disease where cathepsin C appears to play a role. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema usually occur together in COPD patients. Chronic bronchitis is generally characterized by a chronic productive cough, whereas emphysema is generally characterized by permanent enlargement of the airspaces distal to the terminal bronchioles and airway wall destruction.
Cigarette smoking is a significant risk factor for developing COPD. Exposure to cigarette smoke and other noxious particles and gases may result in chronic inflammation of the lung. In response to such exposure, inflammatory cells such as CD8+ T cells, macrophages, and neutrophils are recruited to the area. These recruited inflammatory cells release proteases, which are believed to play a major role in the disease etiology by a number of mechanisms. Proteases believed to be involved in this process include the serine proteases neutrophil elastase ("NE"), cathepsin G, and proteinase 3, all released from neutrophils; granzymes A and B, released from cytotoxic T cells or natural killer cells; and chymases, released from mast cells. Cathepsin C appears to be involved in activating all of these enzymes. Additionally, cathepsin C knockout mice are resistant to lung airspace enlargement and inflammatory cell infiltration in both cigarette smoke and ozone exposure models of COPD. See Guay et al., Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 2010, 10, 708-716; See also Podolin et al. (2008), Inflammation Research, 57(Suppl 2) S104.
Rheumatoid arthritis ("RA") is another chronic inflammatory disease where cathepsin C may play a role. Neutrophils are recruited to the site of joint inflammation and release cathepsin G, NE, and proteinase 3, which are believed to be responsible in part for cartilage destruction associated with RA (Hu, Y. and Pham, C. T. (2005) Arthritis Rheum 52: 2553-2558).
Other conditions where cathepsin C may play a role include osteoarthritis, asthma, and Multiple Sclerosis. See e.g. Matsui, K.; Yuyama, N.; Akaiwa, M.; Yoshida, N. L.; Maeda, M.; Sugita, Y.; Izuhara, K., Identification of an alternative splicing variant of cathepsin C/dipeptidyl-peptidase I, Gene. 293(1-2):1-7, 2002 Jun. 26; Wolters, P. J.; Laig-Webster, M.; Caughey, G. H., Dipeptidyl peptidase I cleaves matrix-associated proteins and is expressed mainly by mast cells in normal dog airways, American Journal of Respiratory Cell & Molecular Biology. 22(2):183-90, 2000.
One approach to treating these conditions is to inhibit the activity of the serine proteases involved in the inflammatory process, especially NE activity. See e.g., Ohbayashi, "Neutrophil elastase inhibitors as treatment for COPD", Expert Opin. Investig. Drugs 11(7): 965-980 (2002); Shapiro, "Neutrophil Elastase: Path Clearer, Pathogen Killer, or Just Pathologic?", Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 26: 266-268 (2002). In light of the role cathepsin C plays in activating certain serine proteases, especially NE, it is desirable to prepare compounds that inhibit its activity, which thereby inhibit serine protease activity. Thus, there is a need to identify compounds that inhibit cathepsin C, which can be used in the treatment of a variety of conditions mediated by cathepsin C.
There are additional activities of cathepsin C that may also be related to disease etiology. Cathepsin C has been demonstrated to have a role in neutrophil migration in the development of aortic aneurysms by a mechanism which has not been clearly elucidated (Pagano, M. B. et al. (2007) PNAS 104: 2855-2860). Thus, disease processes that involve neutrophil migration, as well as proteolytic enzyme release can be modulated by cathepsin C inhibition. Also, cathepsin C is highly expressed in the lung epithelium where it may play a role in the processing of other enzymes not yet identified. Cathepsin C has also been reported to cleave kallikrein-4, which is believed to play a role in dental enamel maturation (Tye, C. E. et al. (2009) J. Dental Res. 88: 323-327). Finally, cathepsin C is itself released from cells and may play a direct role in the degradation of matrix proteins.

GlaxoSmithKline Intellectual Property Development Limited


A surface-coated cutting tool having a rake face and a flank face includes a base material and a coating formed on the base material. The base material is a cemented carbide or a cermet. The coating includes an aluminum oxide layer containing a plurality of aluminum oxide crystal grains. The aluminum oxide layer includes: a first region made up of a region A on the rake face and a region B on the flank face; a second region on the rake face except for the region A; and a third region on the flank face except for the region B. The aluminum oxide layer satisfies a relation: b−a>0.5, where a is an average value of TC(110) in the first region in texture coefficient TC(hkl), and b is an average value of TC(110) in the second or third region in texture coefficient TC(hkl).

Various techniques have been proposed with the aim of improving the performance of a surface-coated cutting tool, such as a technique for improving the quality of the coating by varying the texture coefficients of Al2O3. For example, Japanese Patent No. 5904389 (PTL 1) discloses a surface-coated cutting tool including a base material and a coating on the base material. In the coating, TC(006) in texture coefficient TC(hkl) in the vicinity of the cutting edge is made lower than that in the remaining region to thereby suppress sudden chipping of the cutting edge while maintaining a high thermal conductivity.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2012-213853 (PTL 2) discloses a coated cutting tool insert produced by forming a coating layer on a base material and performing a surface treatment on the coating layer. The insert has wear resistance and toughness improved by controlling the diffraction intensity ratio I(012)/I(024) under x-ray diffractometry.

Surface-coated cutting tool and method for manufacturing the same


An emergency lamp for use in an area during ambient low light conditions is provided. The emergency lamp comprises a hand-held housing having a first end and a second end with at least one light emitting source within the housing. A power mechanism mounted within the housing illuminates the light emitting source. An activation mechanism activates the power mechanism only during low light conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a Light Emitting Diode (L.E.D.) emergency lamp and, more particularly, the invention relates to a portable L.E.D. lamp having a smoke triggered power on and combines an emergency lamp and glass cutter hammer pick.
2. Description of the Prior Art
During emergency conditions, ambient light levels typically become obscured by smoke or darkness. While many buildings have emergency lighting in fixed locations for use during these emergency conditions, many times the lighting does not illuminate enough of the area or through thick smoke levels for people to exit the buildings safely. For instance, in the building, the lighting may be blocked by thick smoke. This could lead to serious injury by obscuring a person's vision and/or objects in the egress path.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a portable L.E.D. lamp which provides ample lighting for a person attempting to escape close to the floor in emergency conditions in a building. Additionally, a need exists for a portable L.E.D. lamp which is automatically powered upon a drop in ambient light such as caused by smoke or darkness. Furthermore, there exists a need for a portable L.E.D. lamp and communication and location device which can also be used to score and/or break glass to assist a person from leaving a building during emergency conditions.

Combination L.E.D. emergency lamp, glass cutter hammer pick with smoke triggered power on


A memory device includes a plurality of resistive memory units configured to receive a voltage of a corresponding line of a plurality of program/read lines, a plurality of switch units configured to each electrically connect a corresponding one of the resistive memory units with a corresponding line of a plurality of column lines in response to a voltage of a corresponding line of a plurality of row lines, where the program/read lines correspond to the row lines, respectively, a row control circuit configured to turn on the switch units by selecting at least one of the row lines and apply an external voltage to a program/read line corresponding to the selected row line in a first test mode, and a column control circuit configured to select at least one of the column lines and couple the selected column line with a ground voltage terminal in the first test mode.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a memory device, and more particularly, to a technology for measuring resistance of a memory cell in the memory device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a fuse may be programmed in the wafer stage of a memory chip because data are sorted out depending on whether the fuse is cut or not by a laser. The fuse mounted in the package stage of the memory chip may not be programmed.
To more easily program the fuse of the memory chip, an e-fuse is used, which stores a data by using a transistor and changing resistance between a gate and a drain/source of the transistor.
FIG. 1 illustrates an e-fuse formed of a transistor and operating as a resistor or a capacitor.
Referring to FIG. 1, the e-fuse is formed of a transistor T, and a power supply voltage is applied to a gate G of the transistor T while a ground voltage is applied to a drain/source D/S thereof.
When a power supply voltage having such a level that the transistor T may bear is applied to the gate G, the e-fuse operates as a capacitor C. Therefore, no current flows between the gate G and the drain/source D/S. When a high power supply voltage having such a voltage level that the transistor T may not bear is applied to the gate G, a gate oxide of the transistor T is destroyed to cause the coupling between the gate G and the drain/source D/S and the e-fuse operates as a resistor R. Therefore, current flows between the gate G and the drain/source D/S. According to this phenomenon, a data of an e-fuse is recognized based on the resistance value between the gate G and the drain/source D/S of the e-fuse. Here, the data of the e-fuse may be recognized by 1) enlarging the size of the transistor T without additionally performing a sensing operation, or by 2) using an amplifier and sensing the current flowing through the transistor T instead of increasing the size of the transistor T. The two methods, however, have a dimensional restriction because the large size of the transistor T is to be designed or an amplifier for amplifying a data is to be added to each e-fuse.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,269,047 discloses a method for decreasing the area occupied by an e-fuse by forming an e-fuse array.
FIG. 2 is a block view illustrating a conventional memory device formed of an e-fuse array.
Referring to FIG. 2, the memory device includes a cell array including a plurality of memory cells 201, 202, 203 and 204, a row control circuit 210, a voltage supplier 220, and a column control circuit 230.
The memory cells 201, 202, 203 and 204 include memory units M1, M2, M3 and M4 and switch units S1, S2, S3 and S4, respectively. Each of the memory units M1, M2, M3 and M4 is an e-fuse that has characteristics of a resistor or a capacitor depending on whether the e-fuse is ruptured or not. In other words, the memory units M1, M2, M3 and M4 may be regarded as resistive memory devices for storing data based on their resistance values. The switch units S1, S2, S3 and S4 electrically connect the memory units M1, M2, M3 and M4 with column lines BL0 and BL1 under the control of row lines WLR0 and WLR1.
The row control circuit 210 includes a row decoder 211 and a plurality of voltage transformers VT 212 and 213. The row decoder 211 activates a signal of a selected row line, among the row lines WLR0 and WLR1, into a logic high level by decoding an address ADD to turn on a switch unit of the corresponding row. The voltage transformers VT 212 and 213 supply program/read lines WLP0 and WLP1 with a voltage of a logic low level when receiving deactivated signals through the row lines WLR0 and WLR1. When receiving activated signals through the row lines WLR0 and WLR1, the voltage transformers VT 212 and 213 transfer a voltage P/R BIAS, which is received from the voltage supplier 220, to the program/read lines WLP0 and WLP1.
The voltage supplier 220 supplies a high voltage that may destroy the gate oxide of the e-fuses M1, M2, M3 and M4 to the voltage transformers VT 212 and 213 during a program operation, which is a rupture operation of a fuse. The high voltage is generated by pumping a power supply voltage. During a read operation, the voltage supplier 220 supplies a voltage appropriate for the read operation, which is usually a power supply voltage, to the voltage transformers VT 212 and 213.
The column control circuit 230 includes a column decoder 231, a current limiter 232, and a sense amplifier 233. The column decoder 231 electrically connects a selected column line among column lines BL0 and BL1 with the current limiter 232 by decoding the address ADD. The current limiter 232 is formed of a transistor that is controlled based on a bias voltage. The current flows from the selected column line among the column lines BL0 and BL1 to a ground voltage terminal. The sense amplifier 233 senses a data by comparing a voltage of an upper node of the current limiter 232 with a reference voltage VREF. When a memory cell selected by the row decoder 211 and the column decoder 231 is ruptured, current flows through the current limiter 232. Therefore, the sense amplifier 233 generates an output data OUTPUT in a logic high level. When the selected memory cell is not ruptured, no current flows through the current limiter 232. Therefore, the sense amplifier 233 generates an output data OUTPUT in a logic low level.
In a memory device including an e-fuse array, a data is recognized based on the resistance value of a memory cell. Therefore, when the resistance value of a memory cell that is ruptured or not ruptured may be accurately measured, reliability of the memory device may be improved considerably. However, since memory cells are arranged in the form of an array and there are many peripheral circuits, it is difficult to accurately measure the resistance value of a memory cell.

Memory device and method for measuring resistance of memory cell


An upper electrode is provided on one main surface of a piezoelectric layer, and a lower electrode is provided on the other main surface thereof. A vibration section is an area in which the lower electrode, the piezoelectric layer and the upper electrode overlap in a vertical projection direction. Line electrodes for respectively connecting the lower electrode and the upper electrode to input/output electrodes are provided on the one main surface and the other main surface of the piezoelectric layer. The vibration section is placed on (connected to) the substrate via the support section. The support section is provided on an area of the piezoelectric layer excluding the area on which the vibration section is provided and the area on which the input/output electrodes and the line electrodes are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piezoelectric resonator, using a piezoelectric thin film, usable for wireless communication apparatuses represented by, for example, mobile phones and wireless LAN apparatuses, and a method for producing such a piezoelectric resonator.
2. Description of the Background Art
Components built in mobile communication apparatuses or the like are demanded to be more compact and more lightweight while having high performance. For example, filters or duplexers used in mobile phones for selecting RF signals are demanded to be compact and small in insertion loss. One known filter for fulfilling such demands is a filter including a piezoelectric resonator using a piezoelectric thin film. See, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-374144.
FIG. 8A is a plan view schematically showing a structure of a conventional piezoelectric resonator. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the conventional piezoelectric resonator shown in FIG. 8A taken along line Y-Y in FIG. 8A.
The conventional piezoelectric resonator includes a substrate 705, a lower electrode 702 provided on the substrate 705, a piezoelectric layer 701 provided on the lower electrode 702, and an upper electrode 703 provided on the piezoelectric layer 701. An area in which the lower electrode 702, the piezoelectric layer 701 and the upper electrode 703 overlap in a vertical projection direction acts as a vibration section 704. In the substrate 705, a cavity 706 for guaranteeing the vibration of the vibration section 704 is formed. The vibration section 704 is positioned on the substrate 705 so as to cover the cavity 706. Owing to such a structure, a part of the lower electrode 702 and/or the piezoelectric layer 701 which is not included in the vibration section 704 acts as a support section for supporting the piezoelectric resonator on the substrate 705. In an actual product, line electrodes 708 are provided for respectively connecting the lower electrode 702 and the upper electrode 703 to input/output electrodes 707.
The conventional piezoelectric resonator having such a structure is produced as follows.
First, the lower electrode 702, the piezoelectric layer 701, and the upper electrode 703 are sequentially formed on the substrate 705 by vapor deposition or sputtering. Next, the upper electrode 703, the piezoelectric layer 701 and the lower electrode 702 are patterned into a desired shape by photolithography. In the case where the input/output electrodes 707 and the line electrodes 708 are formed of the same material as that of the lower electrode 702 and the upper electrode 703, the input/output electrodes 707 and the line electrodes 708 are formed at the time of the patterning. Finally, the cavity 706 is formed by dry etching or the like performed from a surface of the substrate 705 on which the above-mentioned elements are not provided.
The piezoelectric resonator having such a structure operates as follows. An electric field is applied between the lower electrode 702 and the upper electrode 703 to mechanically distort the piezoelectric layer 701. The distortion is converted into an electric signal. Thus, the piezoelectric resonator acts as a resonator. There are a great number of vibration modes by the piezoelectric layer 701, but a thickness longitudinal mode having a high resonance frequency is used for wireless communication apparatuses represented by, for example, mobile phones and wireless LAN apparatuses.
As is well known, when a piezoelectric resonator is in a free vibration state in which the vibration section is floating in the air, the Q value which represents the resonance sharpness, and Δf which is the difference between the resonance frequency and the anti-resonance frequency, are optimum. However, it is impossible to produce a vibration section which is physically floating in the air, and a support section is indispensable.
In the above-described conventional piezoelectric resonator, a part of the lower electrode 702 is in contact with the substrate 705 acting as a support section. Therefore, there is a problem that the vibration of the vibration section 704 leaks to the substrate 705 and thus the frequency characteristic is deteriorated. Even in a structure in which a part of the lower electrode 702 is not in contact with the substrate 705, the line electrode 708 is in contact with the substrate 705. Therefore, there is also the problem that the vibration of the vibration section 704 leaks to the substrate 705 and thus the frequency characteristic is deteriorated.

Piezoelectric resonator and method for producing the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


In a mobile communication system comprising at least two base stations coupled to a common base station controller, each base station with which a particular mobile station is communicating sends its received frame quality message to the common base station controller. The base station controller combines the received messages to provide an improved estimate of the correct message and thus a correct power level for the forward link signal. Each base station preferably responds independently to error messages it receives from the mobile station and also sends the error message to the base station controller. After receiving power control commands from the base station controller, the base station then determines whether it responded properly at the time when it received the error message from the mobile station.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel and improved method and apparatus for providing forward power control in a mobile communication system.
II. Description of the Related Art
The use of code division multiple access (CDMA) modulation techniques is one of several techniques for facilitating communications in which a large number of system users are present. Other multiple access communication system techniques, such as time division multiple access (TDMA) and frequency division multiple access (FDMA) are known in the art. However, the spread spectrum modulation techniques of CDMA has significant advantages over other modulation techniques for multiple access communication systems. The use of CDMA techniques in a multiple access communication system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307, entitled "SPREAD SPECTRUM MULTIPLE ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING SATELLITE OR TERRESTRIAL REPEATERS," assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is incorporated by reference herein. The use of CDMA techniques in a multiple access communication system is further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,459, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING SIGNAL WAVEFORMS IN A CDMA CELLULAR TELEPHONE SYSTEM," also assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is incorporated by reference herein.
CDMA by its inherent nature of being a wideband signal offers a form of frequency diversity by spreading the signal energy over a wide bandwidth. Therefore, frequency selective fading affects only a small part of the CDMA signal bandwidth. Space or path diversity is obtained by providing multiple signal paths through simultaneous links from a mobile user or mobile station through two or more cell-sites. Furthermore, path diversity may be obtained by exploiting the multipath environment through spread spectrum processing by allowing a signal arriving with different propagation delays to be received and processed separately. Examples of path diversity are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,501 entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A SOFT HANDOFF IN COMMUNICATIONS IN A CDMA CELLULAR TELEPHONE SYSTEM," and U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,390 entitled "DIVERSITY RECEIVER IN A CDMA CELLULAR TELEPHONE SYSTEM," both assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated by reference herein.
If the transmission power of signals transmitted by the base station to a mobile station are too high, it can create problems such as interfering with other mobile stations. Alternatively, if the transmission power of signals transmitted by the base station are too low, then the mobile station can receive multiple erroneous frames. Terrestrial channel fading and other known factors can affect the transmission power of signals transmitted by the base station. As a result, each base station must rapidly and accurately adjust the transmission power of the signals which it transmits to the mobile stations.
In a useful method for controlling the transmission power of signals transmitted by a base station, the mobile station transmits a signal to the base station when a transmitted frame of data is received in error. In response to this message, the base station increases its transmission power for signals transmitted by the base station. A method and apparatus for controlling transmission power is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,109, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TRANSMISSION POWER IN A CDMA CELLULAR TELEPHONE SYSTEM" (the '109 patent), assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated by reference herein.
A delay necessarily exists under the above CDMA closed loop communication system. The delay is the time between the time the base station transmits the frame with inadequate power and the time when, in response to an indication from the mobile station, the base station adjusts its transmission power. The delay includes the time when the base station transmits the frame with inadequate power, when the mobile station receives the erroneous frame, when the mobile station recognizes the error (e.g., a frame erasure), when the mobile station transmits the error message to the base station, and when the base station receives the error message and appropriately adjusts its transmission power. The CDMA communication system typically transmits packets of data as discrete frames. As a result, the CDMA communication system cannot rapidly compensate for transmission power fluctuations.
In order to optimize the transmission power of the base station, it is desirable for transmission power to be controlled by a centralized base station controller (BSC). However, centralized power control introduces an additional delay in the round trip path from the base station to the BSC, with the received information fed back, and from the BSC back to the base station. Therefore, a need is felt for a method to reduce the additional delay incurred by providing BSC power control while retaining the benefits of such a system.


Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward microfluidic systems, apparatus, and methods for measuring a quantity of cells in a fluid. Examples include a differential white blood cell measurement using a centrifugal microfluidic system. A method may include introducing a fluid sample containing a quantity of cells into a microfluidic channel defined in part by a substrate. The quantity of cells may be transported toward a detection region defined in part by the substrate, wherein the detection region contains a density media, and wherein the density media has a density lower than a density of the cells and higher than a density of the fluid sample. The substrate may be spun such that at least a portion of the quantity of cells are transported through the density media. Signals may be detected from label moieties affixed to the cells.

A variety of diagnostic techniques utilize a cell count from a fluid sample, such as a differential white blood cell count. For example, a differential white blood cell count may be utilized in medical diagnostic techniques for detecting sepsis, leukemia, AIDS, radiation exposure, as well as other conditions. Typical methods for measuring white blood cell count include flow cytometry, electrical impedance counting, and visual counting from a fluid sample under a microscope. See, for example, Holmes, D., et. al. "Leukocyte analysis and differentiation using high speed microfluidic single cell impedance cytometry," Lab Chip 9, 2881-2889 (2009), which article is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for any purpose. These commonly used techniques may require a large fluid sample for analysis, and may occur as a stand-alone diagnostic procedure. Further, the techniques may require operation by a skilled technician.
Microfluidic systems, including "lab on a chip" or "lab on a disk" systems continue to be in development. See, Lee, B. S., et. al., "A fully automated immunoassay from whole blood on a disc," Lab Chip 9, 1548-1555 (2009) and Madou, M. et. al., "Lab on a CD," Annu. Rev. Biomed Engr. 8, 601-628 (2006), which articles are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for any purpose.

Microfluidic devices, systems, and methods for quantifying particles using centrifugal force


A layered composite which includes the following layers (I) and (II), wherein layer (I) includes (a) from 0 to 80 part by weight of at least one particular polyamide; (b) from 0 to 100 parts by weight of at least one polyamine-polyamide copolymer; and (c) from 0 to 80 parts by weight of at least one particular polyamide which is different from (a), wherein various monomer units are present in at least 20 parts by weight of the entirety of (a) and (b) and various other monomer units are present in at least 20 parts by weight of the entirety of (b) and (c); and layer (II) includes at least one ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a composite having two or more layers and including a barrier layer made from EVOH, and also including a layer made from a molding composition which includes a polyamide blend. The invention further relates to a molding composition of this type which includes a polyamide copolymer.
2. Discussion of the Background
When composites hang two or more layers are developed, for example, for use as a tube for carrying liquid or gaseous media in motor vehicles, the molding compositions must have sufficient chemical resistance to the media to be carried, and the tubes must meet all the mechanical requirements placed upon them, even after long exposure to fuels, oils or heat. In addition to meeting the requirement for adequate fuel resistance, the automotive industry demands improved barrier action from fuel piping, in order to reduce emissions of hydrocarbons within the environment. This has led to the development of tube systems having two or more layers, for example using EVOH as barer layer material. However, EVOH is incompatible with PA11, PA12, PA612, PA1012 and PA1212, which can be used for the outer layer since they have good mechanical properties, good water absorption performance, and low susceptibility to environmental effects. It is therefore impossible to obtain the adhesion between the two layers that is indispensable for the application.
However, EVOH is compatible with PA6, PA66, PA6/66, and with maleic-anhydride-functionalized polyolefins. Molding compositions based on polymers of this type are, however, unsuitable as outer layer material.
DE-C 40 01 125 describes a motor vehicle pipeline composed of a tubular outer layer made from PA11 or PA12, an intermediate layer made from PA6, a barrier layer made from EVOH, and an inner layer made from PA6. A thin adhesion-promoter layer made from polyethylene or polypropylene, these being functionalized with maleic anhydride, is arranged between the outer layer and the intermediate layer.
A similar system is described in DE-C 40 01 126, where the motor vehicle pipeline is composed of a tubular outer layer made from PA11 or PA12, of a barrier layer made from EVOH, and of an adhesion-promoter layer situated between these and made from polyethylene or polypropylene, these being maleic-anhydride-functionalized.
However, the automotive industry has for some time required increased stability at relatively high temperature. This excludes solutions which include a polyolefin layer, since these have low heat resistance.
It has also been found that prolonged contact with aqueous liquids or alcohol-containing fuel, in particular with heat, rapidly reduces the layer adhesion between functionalized polyolefin and polyamide, and this adhesion finally falls to values which are unacceptable in industry. The cause of this is thought to be alcoholysis or hydrolysis reactions.

Composite having two or more layers, including an EVOH layer


A method utilizing a vacuum cup for a material handling system including a body portion and a perimeter seal that functions to substantially seal against an object. Engaging the vacuum cup with an object to substantially seal the cup perimeter against the object. Substantially closing a relief port, via the sealing member, as the vacuum cup is engaged with the object. Transporting the object to a targeted location while the perimeter seal is substantially sealed against the object. Moving the vacuum cup in a direction generally away from the object at the targeted location. At least partially opening the relief portion to at least partially vent the cavity from the vacuum cup. Removing the vacuum cup from the object.

It is known to provide material handling systems that include vacuum cups or the like that are adapted to be engaged with an object, such as a substantially flat object or panel or the like, and to lift and move the object to a desired location. Such vacuum cups or suction cups may be moved into engagement with the object, and a vacuum source may be actuated to create a vacuum between the object and the cup such that the object is retained to the cup as it is transported to the targeted area. An example of such a vacuum cup is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,668, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a typical bellows-type vacuum cup 10 may include a body portion or back panel portion 12 and a bellows-type or pleated skirt or seal 14 extending from body portion 12. The body portion may include a vacuum port or opening or aperture 16 therethrough for receiving or connecting to a vacuum source to draw air out of a cavity 18 defined between the vacuum cup and an object 20. The bellows-type pleated skirt 14 may comprise a flexible, resilient, elastomeric material or the like, and may flex to engage the object 20 and to provide a substantially airtight seal between the vacuum cup 10 and the object 20. The vacuum cup 10 may further include a bushing or fitting or the like 22, such as a threaded brass fitting or bushing, for connection to the vacuum source. Optionally, the bushing or fitting may be adapted or configured to connect to a proximity sensor (not shown), such as to a threaded end of a proximity sensor of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,668. The sensor may detect the presence of an object, such as the object 20 in FIG. 4, that is at or proximate to the sensor. In such an application with an object sensor at the central port or opening of the vacuum cup, the vacuum cup may include a separate vacuum port (such as shown in phantom at 17 in FIGS. 1 and 3) for connection to the vacuum source.
The vacuum source is operable to draw air through the vacuum port and out of the cavity to create a partial vacuum between the vacuum cup and the object. Often, the vacuum source remains operational to maintain the partial vacuum between the object and the vacuum cup to retain the object on the vacuum cup throughout transportation of the object from one location to the other. When the vacuum cup and object arrive at the targeted location, the vacuum cup may be pulled away from the object, while the object is substantially retained in a particular location, such that the object is stripped from the vacuum cup, all while the vacuum source remains operational to create/maintain the vacuum.
For example, vacuum cups often may engage and substantially seal against objects, and may carry the objects to a magnetic belt or conveyor that is positioned above the objects. In such applications, the vacuum cups may lift or raise the object up to the overhead or raised magnetic conveyor and may release the article at the overhead conveyor. Typically, the vacuum cups are pulled upwardly until the panel or object engages the magnetic conveyor. The vacuum cups are then pulled further upwardly (while the panel or object is retained at the magnetic conveyor) to strip or dislodge the cups from the panel or object, whereby the object is retained on the magnetic conveyor via the magnetic attraction between the metallic object and the magnetic conveyor.
The entire process of engaging the object, lifting the object upward to the magnetic conveyor and stripping the cups off of the object at the conveyor is typically performed with the vacuum source activated, such that the vacuum source creates the partial vacuum at the vacuum cup and does not release the vacuum to assist in releasing the cup from the object or panel. The vacuum source may remain operational throughout this process to avoid having to activate and deactivate the vacuum source multiple times while moving multiple objects from one location to the next. However, the pulling of the vacuum cup or cups from the object while the vacuum is applied between the vacuum cup and the object may cause excessive wear to the vacuum cups and, thus, may lead to premature failure of the vacuum cups over time.

Vacuum cup with relief port and method of moving and releasing an object