An electronic apparatus includes a shelf part and multiple units mounted in the shelf part. Each unit includes first and second faces opposite each other, a cooling fan, and a third face different from the first and second faces. The first face has an inlet and the second face has an outlet. A cooling fan cools a circuit board inside the unit by letting in cooling air from outside through the inlet and letting out the cooling air through the outlet. The third face has an opening so that the space inside the unit communicates with the space inside the shelf part through the opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electronic apparatuses forming computer systems, and more particularly to a cooling redundancy function suitable for an electronic apparatus in which the same or different multiple units equipped with cooling fans are mounted.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a result of recent developments in computer systems, electronic apparatuses forming computer systems are required to be increased in reliability, and are also required to be reduced in price and size in order to be more competitive on the market. Accordingly, it is necessary to realize highly reliable electronic apparatuses reduced in price and size.
In a conventional electronic apparatus in which the same or different multiple units equipped with cooling are mounted, multiple cooling fans are provided in each unit in order to increase the reliability of the electronic apparatus. For instance, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 8-124375 discloses such a conventional electronic apparatus in which multiple cooling fans are provided in each unit.
FIG. 1 shows a common electronic apparatus configuration, showing a state before multiple units are mounted in a shelf. FIG. 2 shows a state where multiple units are mounted in the shelf of an electronic apparatus 100 of FIG. 1.
The electronic apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 is, for instance, a computer main body or a magnetic disk unit forming a computer system. An electronic circuit controlling the electronic apparatus 100 is provided in a housing having a front face 102 and a rear face 104, and a shelf part 101 is formed in the electronic apparatus 100. Two shelf part inlets 103 are formed in the front-side end face of the shelf part 101 in the electronic apparatus 100. The shelf part inlets 103 are formed so as to communicate with the outside of the electronic apparatus 100 through the internal mechanism of the electronic apparatus 100.
The shelf part 101 is sectioned into multiple unit mounting parts 105 so as to receive the same or different multiple units equipped with cooling fans. In the case of FIG. 1, the two unit mounting parts 105 are formed to receive two units.
As shown in FIG. 2, two units 10 are mounted in the shelf part 101 of the electronic apparatus 100. As described above, multiple cooling fans are provided in each unit 10 in the conventional electronic apparatus in order to increase reliability. A description is given herein, with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, of the configuration of each unit 10.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of the configuration of one of the units 10 to be mounted in a conventional electronic apparatus. FIG. 3A shows the front-side appearance of the unit 10, and FIG. 3B shows the rear-side appearance of the unit 10.
The unit 10 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is, for instance, a power supply unit to be mounted in a computer main body. The unit 10 includes two cooling fans (not graphically illustrated) to provide a cooling redundancy function. The unit 10 includes an inlet 3 formed in a front face 2, two outlets 5 formed in a rear face 4 opposite the front face 2, and the two cooling fans. The cooling fans draw in cooling air from outside through the inlet 3 and expel the air to and through the outlets 5, thereby cooling a circuit board inside the unit 10.
Next, a description is given of the cooling redundancy function in a case where one of the cooling fans of one of the units 10 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B fails while the other cooling fans are operating normally in a conventional electronic apparatus including the multiple units 10.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for illustrating the flow of cooling air in the multiple units 10 when the cooling fans are operating normally in the conventional electronic apparatus. FIG. 5 is a diagram for illustrating the flow of cooling air in the multiple units 10 when one of the cooling fans fails in the conventional electronic apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 4, when all the cooling fans are operating normally, in each unit 10, outside air from the corresponding shelf part inlet 103 of the electronic apparatus 100 is drawn in through the inlet 3 (inlet air 3a) and expelled to and through the outlets 5 (outlet air 5a). As a result, cooling air 6a flows through each unit 10 to cool a circuit board therein.
As shown in FIG. 5, when one of the cooling fans fails, in the unit 10 in which the failure occurs, the cooling air 6a hardly flows to the outlet 5 on the side of the failed cooling fan, but the cooling air 6a flows to the outlet 5 on the side of the cooling fan that is operating normally. Accordingly, in the unit 10 in which one of the cooling fans fails, it is possible to ensure a circuit board cooling function to some extent using the other cooling fan. A function for cooling each unit mounted in an electronic apparatus at the time of cooling fan failure as described above is referred to as the cooling redundancy function. However, the flow rate of the cooling air 6a ensured by the cooling redundancy function in the unit 10 in which one of the cooling fans fails is reduced compared with the flow rate of the cooling air 6a when the two cooling fans operate normally.
As described above, in the conventional electronic apparatus, two or more cooling fans including a cooling fan for cooling redundancy are mounted in each unit as a method of providing the cooling redundancy function for multiple units. However, in exchange for an improvement in reliability due to the cooling redundancy function, the mounting of multiple cooling fans in each unit causes an increase in the size of the apparatus as well as an increase in the noise and the price of the apparatus due to an increase in the number of cooling fans.

Electronic apparatus with a cooling redundancy function


A battery case houses a battery with a plurality of non-prismatic electrochemical cells and at least one electronic component. The battery case includes a plurality of cell housings and at least one electronic component housing that accommodates the at least one electronic component. The plurality of cell housings each (1) define an internal space sized to accommodate one of the electrochemical cells, and (2) include (a) an internal surface at least a portion of which is shaped to substantially correspond to a non-prismatic exterior surface of the one of the electrochemical cells to be housed by the cell housing, and (b) an external surface at least a portion of which follows contours of a corresponding portion of the inner surface.

Electrical batteries are used in a wide variety of applications requiring a portable power source. For example, portable devices such as laptops, tablets, mobile phones, portable flashlights, wristwatches, smoke detectors, vehicles, hearing aids and other medical devices, communications radios, light emitting devices, sound systems, night vision goggles, and even portable battery recharging units require a portable power source so that the devices may be used while they are in a portable mode. Some devices may be engineered to include a connected housing for a battery, such that the battery can be transported as an integral component of the device. Others devices may be engineered so that the battery can be carried separately, with interfaces to be plugged into a separately carried battery. These separately carried batteries may then serve as a power source for any variety of devices that have the appropriate interface for drawing electricity from the battery.

Contoured battery case based on cell shapes


A device for programming user-defined information into an electronic device is provided. The programmer allows a user to program customized information, such as user-selected audio, video, or Internet access information into his or her programmable device. Such electronic devices include wireless telephones, pagers, and personal digital assistants. The programmer allows a user to, among other things, customize the device to suit his or her particular taste.

This application relates to electronic devices, and more particularly to a programming apparatus that allows users to program user-defined information into their electronic device.
There are many types of electronic devices available to consumers today that have the ability to produce both audio sounds and video displays. Many of these devices provide users with the ability to select and play a particular piece of audio or video. A television viewer, for example, may tune to a TV channel and watch a particular program, or connect a VCR or DVD player to the television in order to view a specific program not currently being broadcast. Similarly, an audio system user may tune a receiver to a particular radio station to hear a certain genre of music, or connect a CD or tape player to the system in order to hear specific pieces of music. In both cases, the audio and video is user-selectable.
Currently, however, there are many electronic products that offer an audio/video playing capability that are not fully user-programmable. Users of such devices (e.g., wireless or cordless telephones, pagers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), hand-held computers and the like) have to choose from a limited selection of pre-programmed information (e.g., audio clips, video clips or frames, etc.) placed there by the manufacturer. This severely limits the user""s ability to customize the device to suit his or her particular taste. Furthermore, most pre-programmed audio tends to be rather generic and can be confusing when a device of a nearby user generates a sound similar to or the same as that of another user""s device. Although a programmable memory within many such electronic devices could support user-defined audio, currently, no system exists for programming such information into an electronic device.
The same is true for user-defined video. For example, certain types of user-defined video information, such as video clips, frames, and other digital or analog images could be programmed into an electronic device (e.g., PDA, wireless phone, or any portable display device) and displayed at a time of the user choosing. Although a programmable memory within such a device could support user-defined video, currently, no system exists for programming such information into the device.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that allows a user to program user-defined audio information into a programmable electronic device.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that allows a user to program user-defined video information into a programmable electronic device.
These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing methods apparatuses that allow a user to program user-defined information into his or her electronic device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the programming apparatus includes processing circuitry and first and second communications links. In operation, a user selects a piece of information from a source such as a computer disk drive, the Internet, or a remote database using the first communications link. The programming apparatus may download this information and compare its format with that required by the programmable device to determine format compatibility. If the two formats are compatible, the programming apparatus may download the selected information into the programmable device. If the formats are not compatible, the programming apparatus may convert the downloaded file to a format compatible with that required by the programmable electronic device. The programming apparatus may also provide the user with an opportunity to edit the converted file. Once editing is complete, the resulting file may then be programmed into the programmable device for subsequent use.
In another aspect of the invention, a user may send customized information such as an audio or video file called a xe2x80x9csignaturexe2x80x9d when placing a telephone call. This feature allows a user to select and send a signature file to the person receiving the telephone call such that the person receiving the call is alerted by that file.

Methods and apparatuses for programming user-defined information into electronic devices


A die comprising two die cavities, with each capable of supplying polymeric material, and a distribution plate interposed between at least a portion of each of the two die cavities. The distribution plate has a dispensing edge and a plurality of extrusion channels. First and second extrusion channels extend from entrance openings at the first and second die cavities, respectively, to exit openings on the dispensing edge. The exit openings of the first and second extrusion channels are disposed in alternating positions along the dispensing edge. A method of extruding with such a die and an extruded article made therefrom are also disclosed. The method includes co-extruding a first polymeric composition and a second polymeric composition. The extruded article comprises a plurality of longitudinal first stripes of the first polymeric composition alternating with a plurality of longitudinal second stripes of the second polymeric composition.

Co-extrusion of multiple polymeric components into a single layer film is known in the art. For example, multiple polymeric flow streams have been combined in a die or feedblock in a layered fashion to provide a top to bottom multilayer film. It is also known to provide more complicated co-extruded film structures where the film is partitioned, not as coextensive layers in the thickness direction, but as stripes along the width dimension of the film. This has sometimes been called "side-by-side" co-extrusion. Extruded products with side-by-side oriented stripes are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,141 (Weisner et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,544 (Liu et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,887 (Hilston et al.), and U.S. Pat. No. 7,678,316 (Ausen et al.).
Even though extrusion devices are known for producing extruded products with side-by-side oriented extruded stripes, there is still a need for alternatives and improvements to such devices.

Method of co-extruding, co-extrusion die, and extruded articles made therefrom


The present disclosure relates to a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) package and a method of achieving differential pressure adjustment in multiple MEMS cavities at a wafer-to-wafer bonding level. In some embodiments, a ventilation trench and an isolation trench are concurrently within a capping substrate. The isolation trench isolates a silicon region and has a height substantially equal to a height of the ventilation trench. A sealing structure is formed within the ventilation trench and the isolation trench, the sealing structure filing the isolation trench and defining a vent within the ventilation trench. A device substrate is provided and bonded to the capping substrate at a first gas pressure and hermetically sealing a first cavity associated with a first MEMS device and a second cavity associated with a second MEMS device. The capping substrate is thinned to open the vent to adjust a gas pressure of the second cavity.

Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices, such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, and microphones, have found widespread use in many modern day electronic devices. For example, MEMS accelerometers are commonly found in automobiles (e.g., in airbag deployment systems), tablet computers, or in smart phones. MEMS devices may be advantageously bonded in a wafer to wafer bonding process, and for some applications, various MEMS devices need to be integrated into one MEMS package. These may include some MEMS sensors requiring different ambient pressure conditions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Wafer level integrated MEMS device enabled by silicon pillar and smart cap

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A user interface, for example for Internet and intranet agents, embodies the technical potential of automation and delegation into a cohesive structure. The invention also provides intelligent assistance to the client user interface and provides an interface that is centered on autonomous processing of whole tasks rather than sequences of commands, as well as the autonomous detection of contexts which require the launch of a process, especially where such context is time-based.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to accessing and using information. More particularly, the invention relates to an interface for user/agent interaction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Information management is no longer the enterprise administrator's exclusive domain. With the Internet and the increased use of intranets, each individual is becoming an information manager. In fact, individuals are more and more finding themselves awash in information. The point in an enterprise at which a user accesses and manipulates such information resides in a client process and is typically referred to as the graphical user interface. Traditional graphical user interfaces usually return the result of an action immediately in a direct manipulation situation, and tasks are generally handled in one-at-a-time fashion, where the user is directly involved in most of the steps.
FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram of an information system that comprises a client 10 that includes an information access/management tool, such as a browser 12. A user interacts with the browser to access resources at, or in communications with, a server 14. The server typically provides client access to a wide area network, such as the Internet or an intranet.
One approach to managing information across the Internet/intranets is the use of an intelligent agent. An intelligent agent 16 provides a tool for organizing user requests for resources, for example by filtering email messages sent to the user or by remembering various user preferences.
One presently available tool that provides improved management of enterprise wide information resources is SuiteSpot, which is manufactured by Netscape Communications Corporation of Mountain View, Calif. SuiteSpot provides a suite of Internet/intranet servers that comprise various modules, such as LiveWire Pro, which is a site management and JavaScript development tool, as well as any combination of an Enterprise Server, Web server, Proxy Server, Mail Server, News Server and Catalog Server.
All of the SuiteSpot servers share the same browser-based administration interface and JavaScript support. SuiteSpot uses Internet protocols directly for messaging, for example, rather than requiring gateways that translate Internet mail into their proprietary protocols.
LiveWire Pro includes a visual Site Manager for administering a Web site, an Application Manager, and a Navigator Gold browser which adds HTML editing features to the Netscape Navigator browser. LiveWire Pro automatically tracks and fixes interdependent links and checks all the external links on a site.
The Site Manager allows a user to view a graphical hierarchical list of all the pages, graphics, and links on a Web site. The Site Manager also supports drag and drop HTML pages and graphics around the site.
The Enterprise Server also supports full-text searching and indexing and has an AutoCatalog feature that lets administrators automatically index and classify all the data on their sites. The Enterprise Server includes configurable logging capabilities that allow a user to specify exactly what information the user wants recorded about each connection and easily customize the format of the log files. From the Enterprise Server logs it is possible to generate reports automatically.
The Catalog Server allows users to manage all of their on-line resources in a single index similar to the Yahoo Index on the Web. The Catalog Server allows users to index and classify information across numerous servers.
The open server software components in the Netscape SuiteSpot product (plus LiveWire Pro) include:
Netscape Enterprise Server for publishing live on-line content, with Java support; PA1 Netscape Messaging Server, a high-performance messaging solution with interoperability with both native Internet and proprietary LAN-based mail systems; PA1 Netscape Collabra Server, an open and secure discussion server; PA1 Netscape Calendar Server, for calendaring and scheduling of people, groups and resources; PA1 Netscape Media Server, an audio broadcasting and publishing extension to the Enterprise server with support for Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP); PA1 Netscape Catalog Directory, an automated search and discovery server for creating and managing an on-line catalog of documents residing on corporate intranets and the Internet; PA1 Netscape Directory Server, for managing white pages information such as names, email addresses, phone numbers, and certificates--all built on the Internet Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) standard developed by the University of Michigan in conjunction with the Internet Engineering Task Force, and used to query recipient capabilities dynamically; PA1 Netscape Certificate Server, that enables organizations to issue, sign, and manage public-key certificates using Secure Sockets Layer encryption; and PA1 Netscape Proxy Server, for caching frequently accessed documents.
While SuiteSpot provides a complement of Internet/intranet resource management/access tools, all user accessible via a common graphic user interface, it would be advantageous to provide a user interface, for example for Internet and intranet agents, that embodies the technical potential of automation and delegation into a cohesive interface, e.g. an interface that is centered on autonomous processing of whole tasks rather than sequences of commands, as well as the autonomous detection of contexts which require the launch of a process, especially where such context is time-based.


A fluorescent material having a composition formula represented as (Gd1-α-β-γLαCeβTbγ)3+a(Al1-u-vGauScv)5-bO12 (L is at least one element selected from Y and Lu), satisfying the following ranges: 0≦a≦0.1, 0≦b≦0.1, 0≦α≦0.3, 0.0003≦β≦0.005, 0.02≦γ≦0.2, 0.27≦u≦0.75, and 0≦v≦0.02. Preferably, 0<a≦0.07, 0<b≦0.07, 0<α≦0.15, 0.0003≦β≦0.004, 0.03≦γ≦0.15, 0.35≦u≦0.70, and 0≦v≦0.02.

Radiation imaging systems for irradiating an object with radiation and imaging the radiation that has passed through the object have been widely used in dentistry, mammography and chest radiography apparatuses. For the radiation detector section, flat panel detectors (hereinafter referred to as "FPDs") capable of converting radiation directly into digital data have been realized. FPDs are rapidly becoming widespread as they are advantageous in that the image can be checked immediately, as compared with conventional schemes where imaging plates are used.
Typical FPDs include those of the direct conversion type which use amorphous Se to convert radiation directly into an electrical signal, and those of the indirect conversion type which once convert radiation into light by means of a scintillator such as CsI:Tl and Gd2O2S:Tb, and then convert the converted light into an electrical signal by means of a photodetector such as a CCD. The direct conversion type has a problem in that a large amount of noise components is contained in the image. Therefore, at present, the indirect conversion type is used more often.
The radiation image conversion panel of an FPD is composed of a plate-shaped photoelectric converter, and a plate-shaped scintillator disposed on the photoelectric converter, for example. This radiation conversion panel has a structure in which X rays having passed through the subject impinge on the scintillator, and light generated by the scintillator is guided from the X-ray irradiation side toward the photoelectric converter side. The scintillator has a structure in which a fluorescent material is provided in the form of a plurality of fibers (hereinafter "fibrous phosphors"), which are disposed in parallel to one another, so as to guide light toward the photoelectric converter.
Patent Document No. 1 proposes a radiation image conversion panel using a combination of columnar crystals and non-columnar crystals as the plate-shaped scintillator, where the difference in refractive index between the columnar crystals and gaps therebetween is utilized to reflect light inside the columnar crystals so as to guide light to the photoelectric converter.
Also, a structure is known in the art in which a fluorescent material made of an oxide or an oxysulfide is spun into fibrous phosphors, which are bundled together with an adhesive material (Patent Document Nos. 2 and 3).

Fluorescent material, scintillator and radiation conversion panel


A cubic boron nitride sintered material includes: more than or equal to 50 volume % and less than 80 volume % of cubic boron nitride grains; and more than 20 volume % and less than or equal to 50 volume % of a binder phase, and when an oxygen content is measured in a direction perpendicular to an interface between cubic boron nitride grains using TEM-EDX, a first region having an oxygen content larger than an average value of an oxygen content of a cubic boron nitride grain exists, the interface exists in the first region, and a length of the first region along the direction perpendicular to the interface is more than or equal to 0.1 nm and less than or equal to 10 nm.

A cubic boron nitride sintered material (hereinafter, also referred to as "cBN sintered material") is a high-hardness material used for cutting tools and the like. The cBN sintered material is normally constituted of cubic boron nitride grains (hereinafter, also referred to as "cBN grains") and a binder phase. Depending on a content ratio of the cBN grains, characteristics of the cBN sintered material tend to differ.
Hence, in the field of cutting, different types of cBN sintered materials are applied to cutting tools in accordance with the material of a workpiece, required precision in processing, or the like. For example, a cubic boron nitride sintered material (hereinafter, also referred to as a "low-cBN sintered material") having a low content ratio of cubic boron nitride (hereinafter, also referred to as "cBN") can be suitably used for cutting of a hardened steel or the like.
For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 11-268956 (PTL 1) discloses a cutting insert composed of a cubic boron nitride-based ultra-high pressure sintered material having a composition including 30 to 70 area % of cubic boron nitride in a structure observation with an electron microscope.


An Al film is formed on a barrier metal covering a thin film resistor to have a first opening. A photo-resist is formed on the Al film and in the opening, and is patterned to have a second opening having an opening area smaller than that of the first opening and open in the first opening to expose the barrier metal therefrom. Then, the barrier metal is etched through the second opening. Because the barrier metal is etched from an inner portion more than the opening end of the first opening, under-cut of the barrier metal is prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a thin film resistor, and particularly to a method of etching a metallic thin film on the thin film resistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional method of manufacturing a CrSi resistor device including a CrSi resistor and a TiW barrier metal will be explained referring to FIGS. 1A to 1D. First, as shown in FIG. 1A, a CrSi film is deposited on a silicon substrate 101 through a silicon oxide film 102 interposed therebetween, and is patterned in to a shape of a CrSi resistor 103. Then, as shown in FIG. 1B, a TiW film 104 as barrier metal is deposited to cover the CrSi resistor 103, and an Al film 105 is deposited as electrodes. After that, as shown in FIG. 1C, the Al film 105 is patterned by etching using a photo-resist 106 as a mask. As shown in FIG. 1D, an unnecessary part of the TiW film 104 is further removed by wet etching using the photo-resist 106 as a mask again.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a portion around the CrSi resistor 103 formed by the conventional method described above. As shown in the figure, the conventional method is accompanied by Al over-hanging such that the Al film 105 is inversely tapered by the wet etching for the TiW film 104, and TiW under-cut such that the etching of the TiW film 104 progresses under the Al film 105. As a result, the Al film 105 and the TiW film 104 form an inversely tapered cross-sectional shape as a whole. The inversely tapered cross-sectional shape adversely affect a shape of an intermediate insulation film which covers the CrSi resistor device, and further affects not only a shape of a wiring pattern formed on the insulation film but also a shape of a protective film for covering the wiring pattern. This may result in breakage of the wiring pattern and cracks in the protective film.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when the under-cut amount of the TiW film 104 is large, it becomes difficult for an intermediate insulation film 108 to fill the under-cut portion. This results in deterioration of step-coverage, and allows invasion of water or the like. As a result, the reliability of the device is lowered. Incidentally, FIG. 3 omits the over-hanging portion of the Al film 105.

Method of etching metallic thin film on thin film resistor


A personalized service method using a user history in a mobile terminal is provided. The personalized service method using the user history in the mobile terminal includes: checking at least one of event information and context information which occurred due to a user; checking a user's location, a user's condition, a user's emotional state, or an event occurrence time when the at least one of event information and context information occur; reflecting the user's location, the user's condition, the user's emotional state, or the event occurrence time in the at least one of event information and context information, and recording the at least one of event information and context information, having reflected the user's location, the user's condition, the user's emotional state, or the event occurrence time, in a database in a diary type; and displaying a representing image corresponding to the at least one of event information and context information, having been recorded in the diary type.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a personalized service method using a user history in a mobile terminal and a system using the method, and more particularly, to a personalized service method using a user history in a mobile terminal and a system using the method which can provide the user with a differentiated personalized service using the user history by collecting sequential interactions or context information occurring between a mobile terminal and the user, and by managing the collected sequential interactions or the context information as the user history.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, a mobile terminal can perform a simple function such as a call, and also can perform multi-functions with a single terminal by blending various digital multimedia services such as an MPEG Audio Layer-3 (MP3) play service, Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) service, navigation service, the Internet service, and the like. Also, the mobile terminal can perform a function of a portal storage device since the mobile terminal has sufficient memory space for contents due to a decrease of a memory price, and miniaturization.
With this trend, the mobile terminal comes to be positioned as a most popular interactive target device for a user, and is required to provide the user with a personalized service by using interactive information which is capable of understanding user's inclination or a motion pattern.
In a conventional mobile personalized service method, a wireless Internet service is provided, however a process mechanism which can correspond to personalized feature information, such as a personal inclination, a personal location, and a personal taste, and a personal request, is not provided.
In a conventional mobile personalized service system, the system includes: a client module in which the user inputs a user context, and generating the inputted user context as ontology data; an agent module analyzing the inputted user context from the ontology data, and recommending service candidates appropriate for the inputted user context; a server module being received the service candidates appropriate for the inputted user context from the agent module to transmit service candidates which fulfill the user context to the agent module, and transmitting the service candidates which are recommended by the agent module to the client module. However, since the conventional mobile personalized service method collects the user context information, transmits the collected user context information to a personalized service engine based on a wireless network or an Internet protocol (IP), and just provides an individual with a differentiated web service, various personalized services according to a personal history can not be provided to the individual.
In a conventional user context diary method in a mobile terminal, there is provided an application program which records to manage the context information from the mobile terminal, this just provides the context information of the mobile terminal in a diary type, and this can not adopt the user history.
In a conventional personalized information recommendation service method, personalized information such as contact information, public documents, caller/receiver numbers, user information of a recommended group is provided based on opening information between users. However, the conventional personalized information recommendation service method can not variously fulfill personalized service requests since the conventional personalized information recommendation service method defines items of sharing information and a degree of the sharing information in a user terminal and associated user services, recommends lists and contact numbers which are determined to be necessary to the user, and just provides the users with the caller/receiver numbers and personal information of the caller/receiver via the mobile terminal.

Personalized service method using user history in mobile terminal and system using the method


A control system for controlling an oil or gas burner heating system comprises an ultraviolet flame sensor. Flame is detected and preanalyzed by the control for flame quality factors reflecting the degree of drift from optimal operating conditions including the average flame intensity, and the peak intensity frequencies. Other sensors detect other drift indications including exhaust-gas-stack temperature. A modem can automatically transmit data to a remote computer used by fuel providers and service personnel or upon a call request from the personnel to the control. Software installed in the remote computer calculates the next fuel delivery date and next servicing date based on data transmitted from the control system and from the service personnel.

Most homes, businesses, and other dwellings have some type of heating system which includes some sort of heating system that is safely shutdown should the heater flame be lost or inadequate for continued safe and efficient operation. There are several methods of sensing flame in a combustion based heating system such as, for example, various light spectrum sensors, sensors of conducted heat, and sensors of ionized gaseous products of combustion. Light spectrum sensors generally detect a specific range of frequencies within the electromagnetic spectrum such as infrared, visible light and ultraviolet light. Proper detection of flame requires that the radiation detected correlates with the presence of flame—and only flame. A drawback with visible and infrared sensors is that they usually detect the afterglow of the fuel combustion chamber—in addition to flame—so as to be imprecise in determining when flame is lost. Another drawback with visible spectrum light detection involves its tendency to pick up stray ambient light. Yet another drawback with visible and infrared sensing of flame is a comparatively poor detection of flames from combusting gaseous fuel.
Ultraviolet (UV) flame sensors have broader application without the above-mentioned drawbacks with infrared and visible light sensors. However, most UV sensors used for flame sensing have the drawbacks of high operating voltages, and nonlinear correlation of signal generated to flame intensity received. The high operating voltage requires more expensive safety protection measures. The nonlinear flame to signal correlation requires more complex signal manipulation and analysis, which usually results in greater expense and reduced accuracy.
Conventional heating systems generally are periodically tuned by skilled personnel, either as needed, or on a predetermined schedule (typically annually). The 'as needed' conditions generally involve a response to an obvious malfunctioning of the heating system by the end user of this heating equipment. This mode of malfunction detection is usually very erratic, involves detection most often by unskilled observers, and frequently results in heating equipment needing extensive servicing. Periodic scheduled servicing is generally done annually. Most often, however, the average heating system receives this scheduled service more frequently than is necessary for continued safe and efficient operation. This equates to excessive service expense.
Another aspect to conventional combustible fuel based heating systems involves the need to periodically replenish the fuel for continued operation. Conventional procedures for fuel replenishment generally involve either delivery-on-demand by the personnel overseeing the heating system, or, more often, by estimations by the fuel dealer of when the specific heating system will be needing additional fuel. The later estimates are usually based on the history of the particular heating system, along with analysis of probable fuel usage based on the record of daily outdoor temperatures. These fuel usage estimates are usually very inaccurate (typically about 25% in error). Additionally, the negative effects of having a customer run out of fuel, coupled with this inaccurate usage estimation procedure combine to motivate fuel dealers to factor in a significant margin of remaining customer fuel at the time of delivery. This equates to more frequent deliveries of fuel than desirable, resulting in greater fuel delivery expense.

Flame quality and fuel consumption monitoring methods for operating a primary burner


The present invention discloses a light source (10) for the illumination of microscopic specimens. The invention also discloses a scanning microscope system that possesses a light source (10). The light source (10) emits a combined light beam that is emitted by a first laser (4) and a second laser (6). In the combined light beam, the light of the first laser (4) is synchronized with the light of the second laser (6).

The field of STED microscopy (for which see DE 44 16 558 C1 and DE 100 63 276 A1), two lasers are usually used, i.e. one to excite a sample region and another to generate the stimulated emission. Generating the stimulated emission, in particular, requires high light power levels and at the same time the greatest possible flexibility in wavelength selection. Optically parametric oscillators (OPOs) are often used for this. For efficient frequency conversion, it is useful to pump an OPO optically with a high-power laser. These are usually mode-coupled pulsed lasers, which as a rule are very expensive. There are also costs for the excitation light source, which normally also comprises a mode-coupled pulsed laser. All the lasers must furthermore be exactly aligned in order to strike the individual sample regions exactly. In the case of pulsed excitation, it is important to ensure that the light pulses generating the stimulated emission arrive within a specific time frame (which depends on the lifetime of the excited states of the sample material) after the excitation light pulses. Since the two laser sources are independent of one another, exact synchronization of the emitted laser pulses is necessary. Synchronization of the pulsed lasers with one another is usually achieved by means of an active control system. This is complex, and often unsatisfactory and unstable in operation.
German Patent Application DE 100 56 382 discloses a light source for illumination in scanning microscopy, and a scanning microscope. The light source and the scanning microscope contain an electromagnetic energy source that emits light of one wavelength, and a means for spatial division of the light into at least two partial light beams. An intermediate element for wavelength modification is provided in at least one partial light beam. The advantage of this arrangement is that the light pulses in the two partial light beams are always synchronized with one another. It is disadvantageous, however, that two partial light beams must be generated, thereby reducing the intensity in each of the partial beams. Since the power level of the electromagnetic energy source, which for example can be a Ti:sapphire laser, is split, insufficient power is often available for the application.
A passive synchronization of pulse trains coming from two different lasers is disclosed, for example, in W. Seitz et al., Opt. Lett. Vol. 27, No. 6, p. 454 (2002). This describes a method and an arrangement for passively synchronizing two completely different lasers (in the specific case a Ti:sapphire laser and a Nd:YVO4 laser) with one another by optically modulating the intra-resonator losses of a slave laser (here the Nd:YVO4 laser) by means of a master laser (here the Ti:sapphire laser). A Fabry-Perot mirror, comprising a semiconductor whose energy band boundary lies between the photon energies of the two lasers, is used for this. This method is particularly simple and practical compared to other synchronization methods. The document gives no indication, however, that the system can be used as a light source for microscopic examinations.

Light source for the illumination of microscopic specimens and scanning microscope system


The present invention embraces a manually operated arrangement (“A”) and a method, adaptable for a transfer along a longitudinal extension of a rail (1) and intended to be able to secure said rail to a subjacent crosstie (2) by a horizontal transfer of clips (3: 3a), included in fastening elements (4), and displaceably oriented in relation to a holder (5) included in the fastening element (4), where the holder (5, 5a) co-operates firmly with said crosstie (2). The respective one of said clips (3; 3a) is adapted to, by a movement, allow displacing the clips (3: 3a) horizontally for a clamping of the rail base (1c) in relation to the holder (5). An opposed first pair (6a, 6b) of a first lever-shaped means (6) is adapted to, via its lower end areas (6aa, 6ab) co-operate with the clips. For this purpose, the invention provides a means (20, 21, 23) lifting the crosstie (2) with holders (5) and clips (3) up to the rail base, which means is adapted adjustable in height (“D”).

Methods, arrangements and designs related to the above-mentioned technical field and nature are previously known in a plurality of different embodiments.
As a first example of the background art and technical field to which the invention relates, what is shown and disclosed in the patent publication SE-528 641-C may be mentioned.
Here, in FIG. 1, an arrangement (1) easily manoeuvrable by an operator (O) is shown and described, which is adapted for a displacement along a railway track (2) and has a tool assembly (1b) that is provided with a pliers function and is in the form of a piston-cylinder arrangement (22), adapted to, via the movement of a piston part within a cylinder part, allow displacing pliers' branches (20, 21) to and from railway track sections and securing parts (A; B) related thereto.
More particularly, here, it is shown that said tool assembly (1b) is allocated a first coupling device (31), included in a first two-piece coupling means (30), adapted for a co-operation with a second coupling device (32), related to an operating rod or handle (1c), and that said tool assembly (1b) is allocated a second coupling device (42), included in a second two-piece coupling means (40), adapted for a co-operation with a first coupling device (41) related to a power unit (1a).
The embodiment shown here provides means for a securement of paired clips to the upper surface portions of a rail base.
Considering the present invention and its function to secure a rail base to a holder and its crosstie, it could be mentioned that it is previously known to provide an arrangement, adapted to the crosstie with holders and clips, and a means that is co-ordinated to the arrangement and lifts the crosstie up to the rail base, and where said means may comprise an extensible and a shortenable device, such as a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly.
Accordingly, an arrangement is known marketed by ROBEL for lifting the sleeper up to the lower surface of the rail base, and then securing the clips to the upper surface portions of the rail base.
For this purpose, there is utilized a vertically oriented piston-cylinder assembly fixedly united to the chassis, which with its piston part only will be able to move up and down vertically and thereby be able to press vertically against the wear surface of the rail head.
This firm co-operation of the piston-cylinder assembly to the chassis has turned out to give adverse drawbacks. Here, the piston-cylinder assembly is fixed next to and beside the arrangement that, by turnable levers, should execute the proper securing function.


A controlled slew rate output buffer has an input stage that generates a charging current in response to the rising edge of an input signal and that generates a discharging current in response to the falling edge of the input signal so that both the charging current and the discharging current are substantially constant over a temperature range and a power supply voltage range. A charging stage responds to the charging current by charging an intermediate node at a first slew rate that is substantially constant over the temperature range and the power supply voltage range. A discharging stage responds to the discharging current by discharging the intermediate node at a second slew rate that is substantially constant over the temperature range and the power supply voltage range. A charging output stage responds to the charging of the intermediate node and charges an output node at a third slew rate that is substantially equivalent to the first slew rate and that is substantially constant over the temperature range, the power supply voltage range, and an output capacitance range. A discharging output stage responds to the discharging of the intermediate node and discharges the output node at a fourth slew rate that is substantially equivalent to the second slew rate and that is substantially constant over the temperature range, the power supply voltage range, and the output capacitance range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor integrated circuits and, in particular, to a TTL-compatible, high-speed output buffer that has a switching delay substantially independent of output loading over a specified loading range and that provides controlled output edge rates that are substantially independent of loading, temperature, supply voltage and edge transition.
2. Description of the Related Art
An output buffer is a circuit which may serve a number of functions. First, output buffers are frequently required to translate an input family of voltages levels to a different output family of voltage levels. Output buffers are also often required to generate TTL compatible output signals even though the output buffer is internally designed with emitter coupled logic. Additionally, output buffers are commonly required to drive heavily capacitively loaded signal and bus lines on a printed circuit board through large voltage swings.
Output buffers which are utilized in complex high speed digital systems are often required to possess not only voltage translation and capacitive drive properties, but are also required to meet tight timing constraints. These timing constraints can include 1) a constant buffer delay which is independent of the output loading, changes in the surrounding temperature, the power supply voltage, and the transition polarity and 2) output edges which exhibit controlled ramp rate characteristics.
The tight timing constraints are especially important when an output buffer is used as an output clock driver buffer. An output clock driver buffer provides critical system clock signals to other integrated circuits on the printed circuit board and may also be fed back into the integrated circuit from which it was generated.
An output clock driver buffer may have multiple drivers wherein each driver drives a clock signal which is phase offset from the other clock signals. Even when each driver has a different output loading, each driver must still meet the critical timing relationships between the different clock signals.
Thus, there is a need for an output buffer which has a fixed delay independent of its loading over temperature and power supply ranges. Since the time required for the output to transition from either high or low or low to high is the major portion of the buffer delay, a buffer which exhibits a controlled output slew rate over variations in loading, temperature, VCC voltage, transition polarity, will be able to meet this critical timing requirement.
In addition to being able to meet critical timing requirements, another advantage to controlled output slew rate is that it can be set to a value which will lead to a minimum of overshooting and undershooting on the output waveform. Buffers with uncontrolled fast edges can, when used in an environment with inductive leads, cause ringing on the output signals, which can cause timing errors in circuits fed by the output. It would, therefore, be desirable to have available an output buffer that provides controllable, smooth output transitions independent of loading, temperature, and polarity of transition.

Power supply, temperature, and load capacitance compensating, controlled slew rate output buffer


A liquid drop ejector is provided. The ejector includes a liquid chamber and a liquid supply. Portions of the liquid chamber define a nozzle bore. A liquid supply passageway is positioned between the liquid chamber and the liquid supply. The liquid supply passageway is in fluid communication with the liquid chamber and the liquid supply. A plurality of pillars is suspended in the liquid supply passageway. A wall of the liquid chamber can extend to the liquid supply passageway. A center pillar can also be included with a portion of the center pillar being positioned in the liquid chamber and another portion of the center pillar being positioned in the liquid supply passageway.

Inkjet printing systems are extensively used throughout the world for the reproduction and generation of text and images. Inkjet printing systems eject liquids in the form of droplets that are deposited upon a suitable receiver in an image-wise fashion. Common uses include the printing of text and the reproduction of images. Liquids that are ejected can be inks or pigments and the applications vary widely but include printers, plotters, facsimile machines and copiers. For purposes of convenience the concepts of this invention are discussed in the terms of a thermal inkjet printer that employ one or more supplies or reservoirs of liquids to be deposited upon a medium such as paper.
Ink is supplied to a liquid ejector mechanism, also known as a print head, through a supply channel and into a chamber of the liquid ejector that contains thermal resistors as firing mechanisms. Sending an electrical current through the thermal resistors causes the heating of the resistor and forces the formation of a vapor bubble within the chamber. The expanding vapor bubble within the chamber then causes an ink droplet to be forced out of an orifice situated upon the chamber. As ink is expelled from the orifice, energy is removed from the thermal resistor, the bubble collapses and ink refills the chamber to begin another sequence.
As the need for ejection speed increases, so does the optimization of the operation of the chambers to maximize ink flow. Additionally the throughput requirement also means the need for more chambers and ejection orifices. It is a constant engineering challenge to maintain the proper balance that is required to enhance inkjet system performance.
In typical inkjet printing systems, a filter element is generally placed at the inlet to the supply port of an inkjet chamber. Reference U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,064 by Cruz-Uribe et al., of Hewlett-Packard Company, Houston Tex., that describes integrated fluid filters constructed from stacks of stacked thin film layers with openings that function as filters. Reference also U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,927 by Nozawa of Canon Kabushiki Kaisha of Tokyo, Japan that describes pillars as filters. These filters have several functions such as that of an ink conduit and function to preclude the delivery of impurities, debris and air bubbles that could enter the chamber of a liquid ejector and cause clogging of the chamber or orifice thus rendering a firing chamber inoperable.
Chambers and geometries are commonly configured to enhance operational performance. Reference U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,410 by Prasad, et al. of Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, Calif. that attempts to balance a higher inkjet droplet generator density with structures that attempt to achieve proper control of ink flow. Reference also U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,945 by Kitakami of Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, of Tokyo, Japan that attempts to correct for image quality by using a "windshield liquid droplet" that prevents the displacement upon a recording medium of the ink droplet discharged in a high density "full discharge" mode even when the ink droplet has a fine volume.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,399 by Weber et al. of Hewlett-Packard Company of Palo Alto Calif. discloses shaped barrier geometries that prevent stray particles from reaching ink feed channels. The barriers are configured to have a plurality of inner barrier islands each associated with a chamber and a particular heater resistor. These barrier islands commonly occupy a common area between the ink firing chamber and the ink plenum, commonly known as an ink supply.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,335 by Touge et al. of Canon Kabushiki Kaisha of Tokyo, Japan discloses an ink jet printhead for preventing problems that are caused by air bubbles caught in the printhead. Bubbles are left in the printhead after liquid discharge, and the invention enables the ejection of droplets with high reliability by controlling the residual bubble.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,137,510 by Sato et al. of Canon Kabushiki Kaisha of Tokyo, Japan discloses the additions of pluralities of ribs that provide increased mechanical strength to the orifice plate and additionally reduce the detrimental effects of air bubbles. These ribs reduce the effects of these retained bubbles thereby achieving reliable ink droplet discharge.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,843 by Murthy et al. of Lexmark International of Lexington, Ky., discloses pillars extending vertically into the firing chamber but not into the common area.
Filter elements also play an important role in the hydraulic interactions between neighboring nozzles. As the inkjet recording process has matured over the years, so too has the demand for ink jet recording heads to achieve higher recording speeds. Pluralities of nozzles that reside adjacent one another within a given printing system have to be addressed in relationship to one another within a short period of time. As these blocks of nozzles are fired, the stability within adjacent unfired or recently fired nozzles is negatively affected, thereby substantially increasing the interaction between adjacent nozzles. The generation of this adverse hydraulics, coupled with the internal filtering elements, affects the chamber refill time and limits how quickly a particular chamber can be ready to be reused. Since the chamber refill time is directly proportional to how quickly a chamber can be fired, the matching of filter properties is important. Properties that improve the refill efficiencies and additionally satisfy the need to filter impurities such as dust is critical, and most prior art suggests that attempts at doing both well have not been entirely successful.


Compounds of Formula (I):

The CB1 receptor is one of the most abundant neuromodulatory receptors in the brain, and is expressed at high levels in the hippocampus, cortex, cerebellum, and basal ganglia (e.g., Wilson et al., Science, 2002, vol. 296, 678-682). Selective CB1 receptor antagonists, for example pyrazole derivatives such as rimonabant (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,432,984), can be used to treat various conditions, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome (e.g., Bensaid et al., Molecular Pharmacology, 2003 vol. 63, no. 4, pp. 908-914; Trillou et al., Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol. 2002 vol. 284, R345-R353; Kirkham, Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol. 2002 vol. 284, R343-R344), neuroinflammatory disorders (e.g., Adam, et al., Expert Opin. Ther. Patents, 2002, vol. 12, no. 10, 1475-1489; U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,258), cognitive disorders and psychosis (e.g., Adam et al., Expert Opin. Ther. Pat., 2002, vol. 12, pp. 1475-1489), addiction (e.g., smoking cessation; U.S. Patent Publ. 2003/0087933), gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., Lange et al., J. Med. Chem. 2004, vol. 47, 627-643) and cardiovascular conditions (e.g., Porter et al., Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2001 vol. 90, 45-60; Sanofi-Aventis Publication, Bear Stearns Conference, New York, Sep. 14, 2004, pages 19-24).
However, there is still a need for improved cannabinoid agents, particularly selective CB1 receptor antagonists, with fewer side-effects and improved efficacy. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide substituted piperazines useful in the treatment of diseases or conditions mediated by CB1 receptors.
WO 95/25443, U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,788, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,504 describe N-arylpiperazine compounds useful for treating preterm labor, stopping labor, and dysmenorrhea. However, none of the N-aryl piperazines exemplified therein have an aryl and/or heteroaryl substituent at both the 1- and 2-positions of the piperazine ring.
WO 01/02372 and U.S. Published Application No. 2003/0186960 describe cyclized amino acid derivatives for treating or preventing neuronal damage associated with neurological diseases. However, none of the 3-aryl piperazine 2-ones exemplified therein have an aryl and/or heteroaryl substituent at both the 1- and 2-positions of the piperazine ring.
WO 96/01656 describes radiolabelled substituted piperazines useful in pharmacological screening procedures, including labeled N-aryl piperazines. However, none of the N-aryl piperazines exemplified therein have an aryl and/or heteroaryl substituent at both the 1- and 2-positions of the piperazine ring.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,780,480 describes N-aryl piperazines useful as fibrinogen receptor antagonists for inhibiting the binding of fibrinogen to blood platelets, and for inhibiting the aggregation of blood platelets. However, none of the N-aryl piperazines exemplified therein have an aryl and/or heteroaryl substituent at both the 1- and 2-positions of the piperazine ring.
WO 03/008559 describes choline analogs useful for treating conditions or disorders. However, the only substituted piperazine derivative exemplified is N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N′-(2-pyridylmethyl)-piperazine.
JP 3-200758, JP 4-26683, and JP 4-364175 describe N,N′-diarylpiperazines (i.e., 1,4-diarylpiperazines) prepared by reacting bis(2-hydroxyethyl)arylamines with an amine such as aniline. However, no 1,2-disubstituted piperazines are exemplified.
WO 97/22597 describes various 1,2,4-trisubstituted piperazine derivatives as tachykinin antagonists for treating tachykinin-mediated diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, rhinitis, cough, expectoration, etc. However, none of the 1,2,4-trisubstituted piperazine derivatives exemplified therein have an aryl and/or heteroaryl substituent at both the 1- and 2-positions of the piperazine ring.
EP 0268222, WO 88/01131, U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,896, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,544 describe compositions for enhancing the penetration of active agents through the skin, comprising azacyclohexanes, including N-acyl and N,N′-diacylpiperazines. However, none of the N-acyl or N,N′-diacylpiperazines exemplified therein have an aryl and/or heteroaryl substituent at both the 1- and 2-positions of the piperazine ring.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,528,529 describes compounds, including N,N′-disubstituted piperazines, which are selective for muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and are useful for treating diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. However, none of the N,N′-disubstituted piperazines exemplified therein have an aryl and/or heteroaryl substituent at both the 1- and 2-positions of the piperazine ring.
NL 6603256 describes various biologically active piperazine derivatives. However, none of the piperazine derivatives exemplified therein have a substituted aryl and/or heteroaryl substituent at both the 1- and 2-positions of the piperazine ring.
Wikström et al., J. Med. Chem. 2002, 45, 3280-3285, describe the synthesis of 1,2,3,4,10,14b-hexahydro-6-methoxy-2-methyidibnzo[c,f]pyrazine[1,2-a]azepin. However, none of the piperazine intermediates described therein have a substituted aryl and/or heteroaryl substituent at both the 1- and 2-positions of the piperazine ring.

Substituted piperazines as CB1 antagonists

Abstract: Compounds of Formula (I):

Abstract: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, or esters thereof, are useful in treating diseases or conditions mediated by CB1 receptors, such as metabolic syndrome and obesity, neuroinflammatory disorders, cognitive disorders and psychosis, addiction (e.g., smoking cessation), gastrointestinal disorders, and cardiovascular conditions.


An electric powered rotary saw for cutting medical cast or the like includes a cylindrical housing, a removable longitudinally extending mounting member and a rotary circular saw blade disposed at one end of the mounting member. The saw blade is fixed to a shaft for rotation about an axis which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mounting member, but slightly offset therefrom. A variable speed electric motor is disposed in the housing and includes a shaft which extends forwardly in a direction parallel with a mounting portion of the longitudinal member. A frusto-conical driver member of an elastomeric material is fixed to the end of the shaft and engages the circular blade to displace a portion of the blade out of its normal plane of rotation by an angle of about 5 degrees and for rotating a circular blade.

Annular saws that rotate and which are driven by the friction of a roller acting on a saw blade are well known. For example, the Santilli U.S. Pat. No. Re 27,716 discloses an annular saw with a circular safety guard. As disclosed therein conical rollers rotate an annular saw blade about an axis. This saw blade includes a plurality of cutting teeth about the periphery of the blade. A portion of the saw blade is protected by a casing. As disclosed, in the patent, the saw blade is provided with a circular guard which conceals nearly the entire saw blade's tooth periphery and gradually exposes it only when the workpiece is fed to the saw.
Apparatus for damping vibrations of rotary cutting blades are also known. For example, the U.S. Patent of Allison, U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,354 discloses such apparatus. As disclosed therein, the planar surface of a rotary cutting blade is frictionally contacted by a damping means comprising a plurality of coaxial independent rotatable discs each presenting a relatively narrow peripheral surface in contact with the planar surface and intersecting the axis of rotation of the cutting blade. The apparatus includes a frusto-conical surface or a plurality of spaced coaxially frusto-conical roller segments. Means are provided for adjusting the frictional contact between the damping means and the planar surface.
My copending application entitled Electric Powered Rotary Hacksaw, Ser. No. 10/314,979 which was filed on Dec. 10, 2002 discloses an electric powered rotary hacksaw which includes a cylindrical housing, an integral longitudinally extending mounting member and a rotary circular hacksaw blade disposed on one end of the mounting member. The hacksaw blade is fixed to a shaft for rotation about an axis which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a mounting member. A variable speed electric motor is disposed in the housing and includes a shaft, one end of which extends outwardly out of the housing in a direction which is generally parallel with a longitudinal member. A frusto-conical driver made of an elastomeric material is fixed to the end of the shaft and engages the circular blade to displace a portion of the blade out of the normal plane of rotation by an angle of about 5° and for rotating the circular blade.
Notwithstanding the above, it is presently believed that there may be a commercial demand for an improved electric powered rotary saw in accordance with the present invention. It is believed that there may be a demand for an improved electric powered rotary saw for cutting medical casts and for other applications. It is also believed that there may even be a greater commercial demand for an adapter in accordance with the present invention which enables an individual to convert a conventional electric powered rotary saw to an electric powered rotary saw in accordance with the present invention.
Further, the improved electric powered electric saw and adapter in accordance with the present invention are relatively light in weight, free from unnecessary vibration, durable, can be manufactured and sold at competitive prices and adaptable to various applications.


A display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a thin film transistor on the first substrate, a color filter and a black matrix on the first substrate, a column spacer on the first substrate and electrically connected to the thin film transistor, a pixel electrode on one surface of the second substrate, a common electrode on the pixel electrode on the one surface of the second substrate, and a transparent electrode on the other surface of the second substrate. The column spacer is electrically connected to the pixel electrode.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device that can implement a maximized aperture ratio.
2. Description of the Related Art
Display devices, in particular, liquid crystal display devices, have wide applications in medium-sized or large-sized products, such as monitors and TV sets, as well as small-sized products such as cellular phones, personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), and portable multimedia players ("PMPs") owing to their notable advantages in that they are smaller and lighter, and in addition to having low power consumption.


The vacuum suctioning unit of the present invention includes: a cover provided with an air entrance; an impeller for circulating air that enters the air entrance; a motor provided with a shaft connected to the impeller; a guide device for guiding the flow of air that exits an exit of the impeller; and a motor housing that houses the motor and is provided with an air exit. The guide device includes: a guide body disposed below the impeller; a first guide vane formed on a side surface of the guide body and guiding air discharged from the impeller; and a second guide vane formed on the bottom surface of the guide body and connected to the first guide vane to guide air that is moved by the first guide vane. The entrance angle of the first guide vane is within the range of 10 to 27 degrees.

Vacuum suctioning units are generally provided in electric cleaner and used to suction air containing dusts.
A vacuum suction unit is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2013-0091841 (Published Date: Aug. 20, 2013), which is a prior art document.
The vacuum suction unit includes a motor, an impeller connected to the motor through a rotation shaft to suction air through rotation thereof, and a guide member disposed adjacent to the impeller to guide air discharged from the impeller.
The guide member includes a body part disposed below the impeller, a first guide vane disposed on a side surface of the body part to guide air discharged from the impeller, and a second guide vane disposed on a bottom surface of the body part and connected to thee first guide vane to guide the air moving by the guidance of the first guide vane.
In case of the guide member according to the prior art document, the first guide vane is inclinedly disposed to allow air to flow in a direction in which the air discharged from the impeller flows, thereby reducing a flow loss. However, in the even case, the first guide vane has a large entrance angle to cause a problem in flow loss.


A device for compensating for changes in temperature and strain in electro-optic modulators without altering the voltage field effects. Devices for modulating light intensity in response to a varying electrical signal are particularly useful with optical fiber information sensing systems. Such modulators basically receive a light signal, collimate and polarize the light, then pass it through a wave plate to cause circular polarization. The light signal then is passed through a modulator material which rotates the beam polarization in response to varying voltage signals imposed on the modulator. Unfortunately, changes in temperature and strain also change the state of polarization. I have now found that by transmitting the light signal through two equal crystals in series that are rotated 180.degree. from each other, a uniform strain or temperature change will result in canceled polarization effects. Thus, effects of changes in temperature and/or strain are canceled without affecting the voltage field effects.

This invention relates in general to electro-optic modulators and, more specifically for arrangements for compensating for strain and temperature changes in such a modulator.
Over the years, systems have come into use which use electrical signals passing through wires from input means to sense information and return the information to a distant location for use. These systems are much lighter in weight, occupy little space and provide redundant wiring paths to protect against loss of contact if one wire is damaged. Unfortunately, these systems are subject to short circuits or other damage to the wires, electromagnetic interference (EMI) from nearby wiring or electrical devices and are potentially subject to destruction by electromagnetic pulses (EMP) from nuclear blasts or other sources. There is a particular need to overcome these problems in military aircraft, missiles and ships and in numerically controlled machine tools and robotics where EMI and EMP pose serious problems.
Recently, considerable interest has developed in using optical fiber systems for passing information rapidly and accurately from a remote sensor over long distances. Optical fiber systems have many advantages over the wired electrical circuits EMI and EMP, short circuit potential and are lighter in weight which is very important for aerospace applications. Typical fiber optic control systems are disclosed by Sichling in U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,478 and Blackington in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,226.
Many specialized devices have been used in optical fiber systems for transducing electrical or mechanical position or quantity signals into a proportional light signal suitable for transmission through a fiber. Typical of these are the systems disclosed by Walker in U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,418 and Lockett et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,264. In many cases it is necessary to transmit light from a friendly environment (e.g., low temperature with no electro magnetic interference such as an aircraft electronics bay) to a hostile environment (e.g., flight controls, engine controls) encode data by modulating the light beam with an electrical signal, and returning the modulated light back to the friendly environment for translation and use. A number of such electro-optic modulators are in use, such as those described by R.A. Becker in his paper, "Broad-Band Guided-Wave Electro-optic Modulators", IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, Vol. QE-20, No. 7, July 1984.
A particularly effective electro-optic modulator is described in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,000. That electro-optic modulator system basically comprises a device and method for modulating light intensity in accordance with a varying electrical signal and which can receive constant amplitude light through an optical fiber, modulate the light and return the modulated light to the source through the same fiber. The device includes several components positioned within an elongated cavity in a supporting body. a lens at one end of the cavity is arranged to receive light from and end of an optical fiber held against the lens. The lens collimates the incoming light into a narrow collimated light beam. The beam is then polarized and partially retarded to circular polarization and passed through a modulating material to a mirror, which reflects the modulated light back through the cavity and back into the optical fiber.
The modulator materials is capable of rotating beam polarization in response to voltages between two electrodes which are on opposite sides of a thin rib of the modulator material running the entire length of the modulator thus reducing the voltage in proportion to its length and width. Since light passes through the modulator twice, the optical effect of the modulator will be double that in prior art single-pass modulators, effectively further doubling system efficiency. The required voltage is halved and the second or output set of polarizer and lens is eliminated. The returning beam is attenuated by the polarizer as a function of the beam rotation in the modulator, so that the light level returning into and through the fiber is a function of the voltage imposed on the electrodes.
The device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,884 provides outstanding performance. However, changes in strain and temperature adversely affect performance of that electro-optic system, as with other somewhat similar systems.
Thus, there is a continuing need for improved devices and modulator arrangements that eliminate the undesirable effects of temperature and strain changes while leaving the voltage fields unaffected.

Strain and temperature compensation in electro-optic modulators


A DC to DC power converter is described that includes a transformer, a primary side connected to a primary transformer winding, and a secondary side connected to a secondary transformer winding. The secondary side comprises inductor-capacitor (LC) circuitry at an input, and a plurality of diodes providing uncontrolled rectification. A controller controls switching of the switching circuitry to apply voltage pulses to the primary transformer winding. The voltage pulses are separated by zero-voltage periods. A switching frequency of the switching circuitry is less than the resonant frequency of the LC circuitry.

Wind turbines generate electrical power by converting the rotation of turbine blades, driven by wind, into an electrical signal, which can then be pushed onto an electricity grid. This can be considered in three stages. In the first stage, the wind drives rotation of the turbine blades. In the second stage, the rotation of the turbine blades is turned into electrical energy by a generator. In the third stage, the electrical energy is converted into a suitable form and pushed onto the grid. It will be appreciated that the overall efficiency of energy generation is a function of the efficiency of each of the three stages. The present invention is concerned with the third stage, that of efficiently converting the electrical energy output from the generator into a form suitable for injection to the grid at reduced cost of installation.
It is against this background that the invention has been devised.

Sub-resonant mode dual control of DC-DC converter with secondary-side resonant tank


The subject matter relates to a structural improvement of computer desk, or more specifically to a type of computer desk that can be disassembled or collapsed, with sufficient utilization of storage space, with the height of its desk plate adjustable to suit its application at a regular location, in an office or a Japanese-style room. The subject matter comprises mainly a skeleton and no less than one desk plate, wherein on each of two sides of the skeleton is respectively a leg rack that can rotate freely around a radial shaft lever, with a transverse fixing lever to fix the distance between two radial shaft levers; at each of the front of the two sides of the desk plate is respectively an adjustable bolt hook that can be hooked to the adjustable bolt hole on the leg rack, and at its rear side is an arched hook, so designed that the rear side of the desk plate can be hooked onto the transverse fixing lever or the support ladder that corresponds to the adjustable bolt holes, and the front of the desk plate can be hooked with adjustable hooks to a pair of adjustable bolt holes on the leg rack.

The subject matter relates to a type of structural improvement of a computer desk, or more specifically to one that can be disassembled or collapsed, with sufficient utilization of space, and one on which the desk plate height can be adjusted to suit its use in a regular location, an office or a Japanese-style room.
To boost its structural strength, a regular computer desk is normally made of thick and solid materials; to facilitate transportation, all components have been designed to enable their assembly with screws. Solid and thick wood plates are screwed together to form a computer desk, to assure excellent joining strength between respective components, and to facilitate transportation; but when the user tries to assemble the computer with screws, the user may often be confused by the similar measurements or shapes of the components, resulting in the consumption of an extended time period during the assembling process. In case of delivery to the computer company for servicing purposes, a major cleanup of the house, relocation of house or remodeling, etc. the disassembly of the computer desk may prove quite troublesome.
Furthermore, a computer desk in a Japanese-style room is normally placed on a tatami, therefore, the user's legs cannot stretch to the front. On the other hand, an extended period of sideways leg placement will result in disorders to the spine or bones, and, a computer desk that is not designed for use in a Japanese-style room environment will not be applicable therein; therefore, the conventional type of computer desk requires improvement.
In view of the above shortcomings, the subject inventor has devoted research, based on many years of experiences engaged in the manufacture of computer desks and related appliances and accompanied by technical applications, and has finally presented a reasonably designed subject matter of computer desk structure that is quite different from the prior art, with effective improvement on the two major shortcomings of said conventional computer desk, for which the subject application is filed for. Your favorable consideration shall be appreciated.


A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) provides an output signal with an output frequency that varies only minimally for any given input control voltage despite variations in the manufacturing process, temperature and supply voltage. The VCO also includes a multistage ring oscillator which includes a plurality of series-connected current-starved inverter stages. The VCO utilizes a first current source to provide a substantially constant current independent of process, temperature and supply voltage and a second current source to provide a variable current that varies in response to process, temperature and supply voltage. Both current sources generate a respective current signal independent of the input signal to the VCO. An attenuator, responsive to the VCO's input voltage signal (typically from a phase-locked loop filter) provides a control current signal to the ring oscillator. The attenuator receives a supply current created by subtracting the second current from the first current, and utilizes a differentiation subcircuit that attenuates the supply current in response to changes in an input voltage to produce a current control signal that sets the current level in the ring oscillator's cells. The frequency of oscillation of the ring oscillator is determined by the control current signal. Additionally, the VCO circuit may include a current mirror for receiving the control current signal from the attenuator and mirroring the control current signal to the ring oscillator.

The present invention is a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) designed to automatically compensate for processing, temperature and voltage supply variations. A patent assigned to National Semiconductor Corporation and issued to Rasmussen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,907, had similar goals, but achieves process, temperature and voltage supply immunity using somewhat different techniques from the present invention.
In summary, Rasmussen discloses a VCO that includes a multistage ring oscillator, a voltage-to-current converter, process compensation circuitry, and a trip-point compensation circuit. The voltage-to-current converter linearly converts the input signal (typically from a phase-locked loop filter) to an output current signal that is independent of the transistors in the ring oscillator, i.e., independent of varying temperature and process. Thus, the linear voltage-to-current converter in Rasmussen provides a variable control current rather than a constant current source as used by the present invention. The process compensation circuitry in Rasmussen responds to the tuning voltage input signal to provide a current dump output signal that is dependent on transistor strength, i.e., dependent on temperature, process and supply voltage. The trip-point compensation circuit in Rasmussen generates a net current created by subtracting the process compensation current from the current generated by the voltage-to-current converter, and then steers a variable percentage of that net current to the ring oscillator in accordance with the strength of the N- and P- channel transistors in the device.
The output currents from both the voltage-to-current converter and the process compensation circuitry in Rasmussen are dependent on the tuning voltage input signal. The dependence of the process compensation circuitry on the tuning voltage input signal, however, can create an unstable current dump output signal. The present invention avoids this dependence by providing a current source and a process compensation circuit that are not dependent on the tuning voltage input signal.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a VCO where process spread, temperature and supply voltage variation has minimal effect on output frequency and the open loop gain of the VCO.

Voltage controlled oscillator with efficient process compensation


A device for creating a laminar flame front in an internal combustion-engined tool having a combustion chamber (1) with two walls (14, 18) extending parallel to each other, the device including a cage (51) located between the two walls (14, 18) and having a plurality of openings (53) formed in an otherwise solid circumferential wall of the cage (51), and an ignition element (52) located in a cage interior for igniting a combustible gas mixture located between the two walls (14, 18).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for creating a laminar flame front in an internal combustion-engined tool, in particular in a setting tool for setting fastening elements, including a combustion chamber with two walls extending parallel to each other and spaced from each other, with the device including an ignition element located between the two walls for igniting a combustible mixture located between the walls.
2. Description of the Prior Act
The internal combustion-engined tools, such as, e.g., setting tools for setting fastening elements, operate in accordance with Adams principle. In these tools, an ignition element is arranged between the two combustion chambers for igniting a combustible mixture, in particular an air-fuel gas mixture, an oxygen-fuel gas mixture or the like located between the two walls.
The two walls limit a fore-chamber, in which the ignition element is located, with one of the walls being provided with openings which communicate the fore-chamber with at least one further partial combustion chamber. When a further partial combustion chamber is present, it is designated as a main chamber and is adjoined by the operating piston of the setting tool. In each of the chambers, there is located an air-fuel gas mixture, possibly, with different mixing ratios. The combustion of the air-fuel gas mixture in the fore-chamber is initiated by an electrical spark produced by the ignition element, and a flame front spreads from the center of the fore-chamber, where the ignition element is usually located, with a relatively small speed, over the volume of the fore-chamber. The flame front pushes the unconsumable air-fuel gas mixture ahead of itself, and the unconsumable mixture flows, through the openings formed in one of the walls, into the adjacent further chamber creating there turbulence and pre-compression.
When the flame front propagates through the wall openings into the adjacent or main chamber, because of a small cross-section of the openings, it is accelerated and enters the adjacent chambers in a form of flame jets, creating there a further turbulence. The intermixed, due to the turbulence, air-fuel gas mixture is ignited over the entire surface of the flame jets. It burns with a high speed which results in a noticeable increase in the efficiency of the combustion, as the losses due to cooling remain small.
A drawback of the above-described process consists in that after the ignition of the air-fuel gas mixture in the fore-chamber, the formed laminar flame front spreads rather slowly. Therefore, the flame penetrates into the main chamber relatively late which reduces the efficiency of the combustion due to high cooling losses. Further, the initial pressure increase in the main chamber can result in a premature displacement of the piston though a complete ignition in the main chamber has not yet taken place.
Because of this, the air-fuel gas mixture in the main chamber becomes decompressed and is cooled off, which further reduces the efficiency of the combustion.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a device which would permit to obtain a more rapid propagation of the flame front.
This and other objects of the present invention, which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by providing, between the combustion chamber walls, a cage for receiving the ignition element and which has, in an otherwise closed circumferential wall thereof, a plurality of openings extending parallel to the combustion chamber walls.
It has been found out that when the ignition element is surrounded by a cage, the spreading of the flame front after the ignition takes place only through the openings, which permits to obtain, already in the fore-chamber, a high flame spreading speed. Thereby, the flame penetrate into the main chamber more rapidly. This increases the combustion efficiency due to the smaller cooling losses. In addition, the observation has shown that the flame front after exiting the openings of the cage becomes again closed so that, it practically, reaches all of the openings in the combustion chamber wall which are equidistantly spaced from the ignition element, simultaneously.
Preferably, the openings, which are formed in the cylindrical wall of the cage, are equidistantly angularity spaced from each other. This provides for a symmetrical spreading of the flame front.
The cage itself can be formed as a hollow cylinder a longitudinal axis of which extends transverse to the combustion chamber walls. The cage forms part of a lug fixedly connected with one of the walls and sealingly extending through an opening formed in another of the walls.
The two combustion chamber walls can be made displaceable relative to each other and can lie on one another to provide for evacuation of the exhaust gas accumulated there between. Usually, both walls have a circular shape and are arranged coaxially with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the cage.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the adjacent wall portions of the adjacent openings butt-join each other, forming common edges. This insures that the flame front, which propagates parallel to the combustion chamber walls, would never strike any portion of a cage wall that extends transverse to the spreading direction of the flame front. Thereby, a conversion of the flame front speed in an undesirable turbulence is prevented.
The novel features of the present invention, which are considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional advantages and objects thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, when read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Device for creating a laminar flame front


An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device comprises an antenna module, a direction detecting module and a signal processing module. The antenna module is provided for communicating with a wireless communication device. The direction detecting module is provided for detecting strength of N wireless signals that the antenna module received from a first offset angle to N-th offset angle with respect to the wireless communication device to determine a directivity of the wireless communication device, in which N is a positive integer larger than 1. The signal processing module is provided for comparing the offset angles corresponding to the strength of the N wireless signals at the directivity of the wireless communication device with a look-up table for obtaining an angle of the wireless communication device with respect to the electronic device.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a search system and, more particularly, to an electronic device provided for searching a wireless communication device.
Description of the Related Art
More and more consumer electronic device, such as earphone, MP3 player, mouse and so on, combine Bluetooth and/or IR communication due to the promotion of short-ranged communication technology, such as Bluetooth and IR. Moreover, a portable electronic device having a corresponding communication function, such as mobile phone, tablet or notebook and so on, can control the consumer electronic products. Transitionally, the consumer electronic products can combine with an electronic element, such as a buzzer or a light-emitting element. When the portable electronic device starts communicating with the consumer electronic products, the consumer electronic products can indicate a user where is the consumer electronic products located by the sound from the buzzer or the light emitted from the light-emitting element. However, when the consumer electronic product is located around the noisy or bright environment, the abovementioned method will not correctly present the location of the consumer electronic products in order to be found by the user.


A sensor is associated with a mounting surface. An O-ring is then positioned between the sensor and the mounting surface, such that the O-ring is compressible when the sensor is fixed to the mounting surface. A fixing mechanism is generally provided for permanently fixing the sensor to the mounting surface, such that the O-ring located between the sensor and the mounting surface provides a proper tension thereof which prevents the sensor from being adversely affected by vibration resulting from a harsh vibration environment in which the sensor operates. The fixing mechanism can be implemented as a fixing joint between the sensor and the mounting surface. Additionally, the O-ring and the sensor are configured with respect to one another and the mounting surface to maintain tension in the fixing joint.

A wide variety of solid-state sensors are used in a variety of commercial and industrial applications. For example, such sensors are actively used in pressure and temperature sensing applications. In general, a sensor can be thought of as a device that responds to a stimulus, such as heat, light, or pressure, and generates a signal that can be measured or interpreted. Such sensors typically incorporate some form of a sensing element, which is a basic component that usually changes some physical parameter to an electrical signal for detection purposes.
Some sensors are based on magnetic components. For example, magnetic position sensors can include digital and analog Hall Effect position sensors, magnetoresistive digital sensors, Hall Effect vane sensors, gear tooth sensors, Hall Effect basic switch, and magnets. Magnetic Position Sensors are reliable, high speed, long life sensors and are directly compatible with other electronic circuits.
These sensors respond to the presence or the interruption of a magnetic field by producing either a digital or an analog output proportional to the magnetic field strength. Digital and analog "sensor-only" devices are operated by the magnetic field from a permanent magnet or electromagnet. Actuation mode depends on the type of magnets used. Integral magnet position sensors can be operated by either a vane passing through a gap or a magnet mounted on a plastic plunger. Positions sensors, for example, are typically used in applications that require accurate, reliable outputs. They are found in brushless DC motors, utility meters, welding equipment, vending machines, home appliances, computers, and so on.
Other types of sensors include force sensors, mass airflow sensors, silicon pressure sensors, and stainless steel pressure sensors. Force sensors, for example, are utilized for precise reliable performance in compact commercial grade packages. Amplified and unamplified microbridge mass airflow sensors typically provide a sensitive and fast response to the flow of air or other gas over the chip. Silicon pressure sensors usually contain sensing elements that include piezoresistors buried in the face of a thin, chemically-etched silicon diaphragm. A pressure change causes the diaphragm to flex, inducing a stress or strain in the diaphragm and the buried resistors. Resistor values change in proportion to the stress applied to produce an electrical output. Stainless steel pressure sensors, on the other hand, range from miniature surface mount sensors to high-end stainless steel isolated transmitters used for stringent process control.
One of the problems with current sensors and sensor packaging technology is that such devices require expensive over-molds or post-mold inserted bushings along with costly components such as bolts with thread locking mechanisms. Such devices are particularly susceptible to assembly errors or damage caused by vibration in a high vibration environment. Vibration can often result in so-called "cold flow" or other deformations of the sensor or sensor mounting surface, which can negatively affect the sensor performance.
Based on the foregoing it is believed that an improved sensor method and system is necessary to overcome these problems. Such an improved sensor, including methods and systems thereof, is disclosed herein.

Methods and systems for mounting sensors for use in a harsh vibration environment