Personal watercraft and watercraft power systems that include a power pod for supporting a power plant and a propulsion unit. An engine or an electric motor and a pump assembly are enclosed in the power pod. One or more sponsons removably cooperate with the power pod via a mechanical interface, such as dovetail joints and/or interlocking channels, formed between the power pod and the respective sponsons. A plurality of tool-lessly operable mechanical interfaces, locking mechanism(s), and fluid or electrical signal connectors allow the sponson(s) to be selectively secured to the power pod such that the resultant watercraft is modular and transportable by a single person when necessary.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of watercrafts and more particularly to jet-powered personal watercraft (PWC). Specifically, a preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to jet-powered personal watercraft constructed of a modular design. The present invention is particularly applicable to a personal watercraft of the type that allows the user or operator to easily assemble and disassemble the watercraft into multiple parts for ease of transportation.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Historically, it was known in the prior art to provide a jet-powered personal watercraft of the type generally here under consideration. A conventional personal watercraft is typically understood as a watercraft constructed to support an operator and possibly as many as two passengers on water. Typically, such personal watercraft is transported via a trailer that is towed by a vehicle to a water environment such as a lake, river, or ocean. For example, an individual who does not own property with water access must provide his own transportation for a personal watercraft to the water. The added expense of owning a trailer and an automobile capable of hauling a traditional personal watercraft prevents many people from enjoying the sport of personal watercraft operation. Further, the operator of the personal watercraft may also live in an urban area where there are limited facilities for launching the personal watercraft with the use of a trailer and there also may be limited space for storing a trailer and personal watercraft when not in use.
Another drawback of conventional personal watercraft is the relative weight thereof. A majority of such watercraft is constructed of a single piece and is too heavy for a single person to lift or move. Additionally, most personal watercraft must be constructed of sufficient size to provide a buoyant force equal to the weight of the personal watercraft, as well as the weight of the operator and/or passengers. Accordingly, such conventional personal watercrafts are relatively large and bulky. The size of such devices complicates non-operating transportation and storage of the watercraft.
Another drawback of known personal watercraft systems is the relatively monolithic construction of such devices. Such devices commonly include a plurality of components, including an engine disposed within a one-piece waterproof hull. Frequently removing components from within the hull is a time-consuming and laborious process. Furthermore, servicing of the components of the personal watercraft requires either removal of the component directly therefrom or transportation of the entirety of the personal watercraft to a service destination. Such transportation is commonly facilitated via a trailer, which is configured to directly support the personal watercraft. That is, such watercraft is substantially non-shippable aside from commercial shipping services. The relatively unitary construction of such assemblies prevents convenient and economical transportation of the personal watercraft for servicing and the like. Such devices are commonly locally serviced due, in part, to the inconvenient transportation of the device or components thereof.
Therefore, it would be desirable to design a personal watercraft constructed of a modular design wherein the respective modules are conveniently separable and easily transportable. To facilitate assembly and disassembly by an operator, it is also desirable that each module attaches and detaches in a tool-less manner. Further desirable is to provide a watercraft power system that is removable, compact, and lightweight to allow separate transport of the watercraft and power system. Lastly, manufacturing methods that lower production costs are also desirable.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,918,804 discloses a personal watercraft. One disadvantage to such designs is that consumable fluids and engine operation systems such as fuel, oil, a battery, etc. are contained in a generally singular engine compartment defined by the unitary hull which adds undue weight when an operator wishes to transport the watercraft. As these materials are all hazardous, it is therefore desirable to place the fluids and battery in separate, detachable compartments allowing the user to transport the disassembled watercraft with greater ease.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,347 discloses another personal watercraft having a hull that is constructed of a monolithic design. Transportation of the watercraft necessitates a trailer and a vehicle capable of pulling the load of the watercraft and trailer. Furthermore, should any part of the watercraft necessitate service or repair, the entire watercraft must commonly be transported to a repair or service facility with a trailer, as the watercraft is too large to cost-effectively ship with conventional residential shipping methods and/or companies. It is therefore desirable to provide a personal watercraft that can be conveniently at least partly disassembled into individual components to facilitate shipment of only desired or damaged portions of the watercraft for servicing of the same.


A printer with a cutting function includes a cutting mechanism configured to cut a medium, a sensor configured to detect a cut portion of the medium, a printing mechanism configured to perform printing on the medium, and a control device configured and programmed to control the cutting mechanism and the printing mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer with a cutting function, and a method for cutting and printing.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, various types of printers such as an inkjet printer are configured to perform high-resolution printing in order to provide high-quality printing. Also, a printer having a cutting function in addition to a printing function has been proposed.
A printer having a cutting function is provided with an ink head and a cutting head. The ink head achieves an image creation function of creating an image on a medium by performing printing on the medium on the basis of image data. The cutting head achieves a cutting function of cutting the medium on the basis of cutting data.
A position at which a medium is cut out in a printer with a cutting function is determined, for example, in the manner described below.
First, an ink head prints a crop mark image at a prescribed position of a medium, for example, a position near the four corners of a printed image after performing printing on the medium on the basis of image data, and thereafter, the cutting head performs positioning for cutting on the basis of cutting data with reference to the crop mark image.
In a printer with a cutting function, there has been a problem that if a medium is cut before the ink ejected on the medium is dried, the ink rubbed by a cutting head bleeds on a printed image.
Therefore, cutting is performed after ink is sufficiently dried in order to solve such a problem. However, such a process needs time to sufficiently dry the ink before cutting, and thus has generated another problem that working hours are increased.
Further, since a medium is exposed to heat while the ink is dried, in a case where a medium susceptible to heat is used, the medium is easily twisted by heat when extending a period for drying. Thus, there has been a new problem that the above process, when a medium susceptible to heat is used, may shift the position of a printed crop mark image, making it difficult to perform high-accuracy alignment for cutting.

Printer with cutting function, and method for cutting and printing


In one embodiment, a wireless access point is disclosed comprising a housing that defines a compartment and a plurality of apertures configured to receive a plurality of fasteners; a gasket located along a perimeter of the compartment; an access cover for the compartment that defines a plurality of corresponding apertures (that align substantially with the plurality of apertures of the housing); and a hinge coupled to the housing and to the access cover. The hinge includes a first arm affixed to an interior portion of the compartment and extended substantially along a first axis; a second arm connected to the first arm at a first pivot point; a third arm connected to the second arm at a second pivot point; and a fourth arm affixed to an interior portion of the access cover and connected to the third arm at a third pivot point.

The Internet of Things, or "IoT" for short, represents an evolution of computer networks that seeks to connect many everyday objects to the Internet. Notably, there has been a recent proliferation of "smart" devices that are Internet-capable such as thermostats, lighting, televisions, cameras, and the like. In many implementations, these devices, while having the ability to communicate with one another, may be required to wirelessly communicate with one or more access points (APs) configured to provide access to the Internet, cloud services, etc. For example, a controller may report to an AP metric information gathered from both an IoT motion sensor and a smart lightbulb, where the IoT motion sensor is configured to actuate lighting in a room when a person enters the room.
Recently, IoT networks have been deployed in industrial environments that may present hazards to the physical hardware of APs. For example, APs that service IoT devices may be deployed on a factory floor, an oil rig, various inclement outdoors environments, etc. Such deployments pose challenges to the resilience and maintenance of AP hardware. For example, an AP may require the prevention of water and/or dust from entering compartments(s) of the AP, while still providing convenient access to port(s) located within the compartment(s).

Wireless access point for industrial and hazardous deployments


A lampholder for shrouded low-wattage metal halide lamps which include a contact button on an extension of the lamp base to distinguish them from unshrouded lamps. A hub with walls and top is placed about the entrance to an additional cavity in the lampholder body. A socket contact is arranged to only make contact with the contact button at the end of an extension which is able to enter the cavity and not make contact with a contact button not an extension which is prevented from entering the cavity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains generally to lampholders for receiving lamps and more particularly to a family of lampholders for use with low wattage mogul base metal halide lamps which accepts only lamps having a particular base structure while rejecting all others.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art teaches metal halide lamps which include a relatively centrally located arc tube situated within the confines of an outer glass bulb. These arc tubes are conventionally made of quartz and operate at extremely high temperatures and relatively high pressures. Under certain undesirable conditions, a system failure or internal factors will result in a safety hazard being created, whereby a violent shattering of the arc tube will send hot glass and lamp parts into contact with the bulb glass which, in turn, will break, releasing the hot glass and lamp parts into the surrounding environment. Under such conditions, there is an obvious risk of severe personal injury, fire and/or property damage.
For this reason, normally such conventional metal halide lamps are supported within what are referred to as "enclosed" fixtures whose structure is designed to contain violently released hot glass and lamps parts. A cover lens is used in such fixtures. In addition, significant reductions in such potential violent failures can be achieved by relamping before the rated end of the life of the lamp. Another conventional manner in which such potential violent failures is reduced includes the user's periodically turning off the lamp to permit its cooling, so that upon relighting, a non-violent or less violent lamp failure is facilitated.


Provided is an easy-to-design, inexpensive air-conditioning apparatus in which an external static pressure and an airflow are calculated without using a static-pressure detector and an indoor-unit-side fan is controlled using those values. An air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention is configured such that a control unit (indoor-unit-side control unit) stores an external static pressure of an indoor unit calculated from a rotation speed of an indoor-unit-side fan when the airflow of the indoor-unit-side fan is controlled to a predetermined rated airflow and controls the rotation of the indoor-unit-side fan so that the external static pressure of the indoor unit obtained thereafter from the rotation speed of the indoor-unit-side fan approaches the stored external static pressure.

Many conventional air-conditioning apparatuses that execute multi-room air conditioning have a plurality of air blowout ports that branch through ducts and static-pressure detectors provided in the blowout-side ducts and control fans on the basis of external static pressures detected by the static-pressure detectors. Such air-conditioning apparatuses have dampers in the vicinity of the air blowout ports, control the airflows with the dampers, and execute fan control on the basis of control values thereof.
For example, "a VAV air-conditioning system comprising a fan capable of automatic airflow control, an air blowing system communicating with the fan, a plurality of dampers installed in the air blowing system and capable of separately automatically controlling the individual opening-degrees, and a static-pressure detector installed in said air blowing system, wherein said fan is configured to be follow-up controlled so that a detected static pressure value detected by said static-pressure detector is held at a predetermined static-pressure set value" has been proposed (for example, see Patent Literature 1).


Provided is an information processing apparatus having a control unit that acquires a state of another information processing apparatus and executes instruction proxy processing in a case where an instruction from a user specifies the another information processing apparatus as an instruction target and the acquired state of the another information processing apparatus.

Nowadays, opportunities to use various information processing apparatuses in daily life and business are increasing. For example, there are cases where a plurality of various information processing apparatuses is installed even at home. Furthermore, as an information processing apparatus, a smart speaker that communicates with a user, or a robot capable of communicating and autonomous traveling (moving) has also been developed and commercialized. As described above, while a plurality of information processing apparatuses is used at home or in an office, performing processes in cooperation between the information processing apparatuses is also considered in Patent Documents 1 to 3.

Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method


A hybrid vehicle drive system including an electric motor operated by electric energy, an engine operated by the combustion of a fuel, a transmission, and a synthesizer mechanism. The synthesizer includes a hydraulically operated clutch system and mechanically synthesizes the output of the engine and the output of the electric motor for transmitting a resultant of these outputs to the transmission. The synthesizer mechanism and the transmission are disposed adjacent to each other, to simplify piping arrangements for supplying the clutch system with a working fluid and lubricating the synthesizer mechanism and transmission.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a so-called hybrid drive system for driving a motor vehicle, and more particularly to improvements in such a hybrid drive system including a synthesizer mechanism for mechanically synthesizing outputs of an electric motor and an engine and transmitting a resultant of these outputs to a transmission.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As a device for driving a vehicle such as an automobile, there has been proposed a hybrid drive system which is adapted to reduce exhaust gases and which includes (a) an electric motor operated by an electric energy, (b) an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, and (c) a synthesizer mechanism including hydraulically operated clutches and operatively connected to a transmission, for mechanically synthesizing an output of the electric motor and an output of the engine and transmitting a resultant of these outputs to the transmission. An example of such a hybrid drive system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,651, wherein a planetary gear mechanism is employed as the synthesizer mechanism, and the electric motor is disposed radially outwardly of the synthesizer mechanism. In this hybrid drive system, the synthesizer mechanism, electric motor and engine are disposed coaxially with each other as an assembly within a single housing, and the transmission is connected to the output shaft of the synthesizer mechanism through a chain and is not disposed axially adjacent to the assembly.
Generally, the transmission indicated above incorporates hydraulically operated clutches and brakes for shifting actions, and requires lubrication of its components. Similarly, the synthesizer mechanism incorporates hydraulically operated clutches disposed between its components and between the components and the engine, and requires lubrication of its components. In the hybrid drive system wherein the transmission and the synthesizer mechanism are not disposed adjacent to each other, the hydraulic arrangement for the working fluid for the clutches and brakes and the lubrication arrangement tend to be undesirably complicated and suffer from difficult piping and formation of oil passages.

Hybrid vehicle drive system, wherein mechanism for synthesizing engine and motor outputs is disposed adjacent to transmission


A tool performs automated documentation checking of program instructions written in a scripting language, such as Job Control Language JCL. The tool checks whether each of the identified procedures, programs and data definitions are properly documented. The tool operates by first processing the JCL instructions to identify what documentation should be included for the job and then processing the documentation to determine how it compares with what documentation should be included for the job. If the documentation is not complete and accurate, the tool produces error codes to identify the errors. The tool may prevent a job from being processed until it is properly documented. The tool may include a bypass mechanism that enables the job to be processed despite the tool not being properly documented.

Job Control Language (JCL) is a script language developed by International Business Machines Corporation to control execution of programs and batch systems run on the IBM MVS mainframe system. JCL includes scripts that tell a job controller what to do when the job controller attempts to run a job. JCL programs include a series of instructions that are typically placed at the beginning of a job to specify how the mainframe system should process the job. The instructions may specify computer resource allocations, the identity of physical and logical resources to which output data is to be written and the identity of physical and logic resources from which input data is to be received. The instructions are organized sequentially in the order in which they are to be executed.
Each JCL job controls a production job stream that consists of a series of software programs that perform some business process. Typically, production control personnel monitor the progress of a job stream to ensure the job stream is completed as intended. The production control personnel take action when a JCL job step exhibits an abnormal condition. The documentation for the job identifies what actions are to be taken in response to such an abnormal condition. For example, the actions may include restarting a job step or paging on-call support personnel.
A JCL job is typically kept in a separate partitioned data set relative to the documentation. Oftentimes, the documentation data set has the same name as the JCL job data set but is placed in a separate library. Hence, if the production control personnel need to reference documentation for a JCL job, they may search for the data set with the same name as the JCL job that is in the documentation library.
Unfortunately, JCL job documentation is often inconsistent, inaccurate or absent. In many instances, the JCL job documentation is kept in a freeform style of textual notes written by software developers. The difficulty with this lack of consistency in the documentation is that it makes it difficult for production control personnel to accurately respond to abnormal conditions. As a result, delays in job processing may occur, resulting in a loss of time and income.

Automated document checking tool for checking sufficiency of documentation of program instructions


A three-phase three-wire active power filter includes a dc power capacitor, a power converter, a filter inductor set, a reactive power compensating capacitor set, a combined capacitor/resistor filtering set and a control circuit. The dc power capacitor provides with a regulated voltage. The power converter includes a two-arm bridge power converter, and has a pair of ac terminals and a pair of dc terminals. A phase of the three-phase three-wire active power filter, without control of the power electronic switch set, directly connects with any one of the dc terminals. Consequently, the number of power electronic switches employed in the two-arm bridge power converter of the three-phase three-wire active power filter can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-phase, three-wire active power filter. More particularly, the present invention relates to the active power filter applied to a three-phase, three-wire power system for filtering harmonic currents generated therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
The power electronic devices with high-voltage rated, high-current rated, and high switching speed characteristics have been developed due to the improvement of semiconductor manufacturing technique, recently. Power electronic devices are applied in electric power facilities, such as switching power supply, uninterruptible power supply, motor driver, arc furnace, trolley car, battery charger, and lighting appliance etc. The electric power facilities may generate a large amount of harmonic current due to the nonlinear input characteristic of such loads. The harmonic current will pollute the power system and result in the problems such as transformer overheat, rotary machine vibration, degrading voltage quality, electric power components destruction, medical facilities malfunction etc.
In order to improve the problems of harmonic pollution effectively, many harmonic control standards, such as IEEE519-1992, IEC 61000-3-5, and IEC 61000-3-4 etc., have been established by international research institute. In Taiwan, there is also established a power control provisional standard for harmonic by Taiwan Power Company. Therefore, how to solve the harmonic problems is an important topic in today's power system worldwide.
Conventionally, the passive power filter is used to solve the problems of harmonic. The passive power filter generally consists of inductors and ac capacitors. However, the passive power filter causes the problems of resonance and neighboring harmonic current injection that may damage the passive power filter. Additionally, it is quite hard to obtain a better filtering effect of the passive power filter due to system reactance that may easily affect the filtering characteristic of the passive power filter.
Many other solutions employing an active power filter for solving the harmonic problem are disclosed in the well-known art, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,472,775, 5,977,660 and 5,321,598.
Referring initially to FIG. 1, a schematic circuitry of a conventional active power filter is illustrated. In the illustrated circuitry, a power source 1 supplies three-phase electric power to a load 3 with which to parallel-connect an active power filter 4. The active power filter 4 includes a dc capacitor 40, a power converter 41 and a switching ripple filter 42. The power converter 41 is employed to switch a voltage of the dc capacitor 40 that creates three-phase compensating currents via the switching ripple filter 42 to be injected into a power line. The power converter 41 is a power electronic switch set having a three-arm bridge structure. The switching ripple filter 42 is selected from an inductor or a combination of an inductor and a capacity which is used to filter high-frequency ripple currents due to switching power electronic switches of the power converter 41. Although the active power filter 4 performs a better filtering characteristic, the capacity of the power converter 41 of the active power filter 4 must be greater than the product of the harmonic current of the load 3 and the voltage of the power source 1. Therefore, the capacity and manufacture cost of the power converter 41 of the active power filter 4 must be significantly increased so that applications of the active power filter 4 are disadvantageously limited.
A hybrid power filter consisting of a passive power filter and a power converter is developed to overcome the high-capacity and high-price problems caused by the power converter of the active power filter because the passive power filter is used to lower the capacity of the power converter. For example, the hybrid power filter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,567,994, 5,731,965 and 6,717,465. However, these hybrid power filters have been applied to a three-phase, three-wire power system which constantly employs a power electronic switch set having a three-arm bridge structure. In the three-arm bridge structure, at least six power electronic switches must be given if each arm is configured a pair of power electronic switches.
However, there is a need for reducing the number of the power electronic switches for the power converter that may reduce manufacture cost of the hybrid power filter for increasing its market competitiveness.
The present invention intends to provide a three-phase, three-wire active power filter including a reactive power compensating capacitor and a power converter. The power converter only employs a power electronic switch set with a two-arm bridge structure and permits one of power lines of a three-phase, three-wire power system to be connected to either a positive or negative dc terminal of the power electronic switch set without passing through a power electronic switch. Consequently, the number of the power electronic switches employed in the three-phase, three-wire active power filter can be reduced.

Three-phase three-wire active power filter


A welding machine power supply has two circuits for cooling air. A primary circuit comprises a magnetics chamber and a second chamber. A fan between the magnetics and second chambers draws atmospheric air through one end panel into the magnetics chamber and blows it through the second chamber. The second chamber is comprised of a pair of heat sinks. Major heat generating components are mounted to the heat sinks outside the second chamber. The fan is sandwiched between the magnetics chamber and the heat sinks such that all the air blown by the fan flows through the heat sinks and out a second end panel. A wind tunnel is also part of the second chamber. A counterflow circuit extends from the second end panel to the magnetics chamber. The negative pressure in the magnetics chamber draws atmospheric air through the second end panel to the magnetics chamber, thereby cooling minor heat generating components outside of the primary circuit and not associated with the heat sinks.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to electric arc welding power sources or machines, and more particularly to cooling tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding machine power supplies.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known that the power supplies of electric arc welding machines, including tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding machines, generate considerable amounts of heat. To assure continuous and proper operation, the heat must be removed from the power supplies. For that purpose, various types of air cooling designs have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,240 shows a welding machine power supply having end panels with louvers in them. A fan next to one of the louvers blows air through the power supply from one end panel to the other. Some of the cooling air passes through a heat sink to which several major heat generating components are mounted. A deficiency of the design of the Pat. No. 5,831,240 is that much of the cooling air does not flow through the heat sink. Thus, maximum efficiency is not attained for cooling the major heat generating components. In addition, dirty air is blown over delicate electronic components.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,260 describes a welding machine having an air tunnel between the two ends of the power supply housing. A fan at one end of the tunnel blows air through the tunnel. Some heat generating components are inside the tunnel. Others are located outside the tunnel but are mounted to two heat sinks that are inside the tunnel. The air flowing through the tunnel directly cools the heat generating components that are inside the tunnel. The cooling air also directly cools the heat sinks inside the tunnel and thus indirectly cools the-heat generating components that are outside the tunnel but that are mounted to the heat sinks. Components of the power supply that are neither in the tunnel nor mounted to the heat sinks are in a dead space, i.e., they are not directly cooled at all.
The Lincoln Electric Company of Cleveland, Ohio, markets an arc converter that includes a fan between two ends of a housing. The fan draws air into the housing from both sides of the housing and pushes the air through a tunnel and out one end of the housing. Both a heat sink and heat generating components are present in the tunnel. The cooling air directly cools the components inside the tunnel and indirectly cools the components mounted to the heat sink outside the tunnel.
Despite the various cooling systems incorporated into prior welding machine power supplies, there nevertheless is room for improvements to them.
In accordance with the present invention, cooling circuits for electronic equipment is provided that efficiently cools both major and minor heat generating components. This is accomplished by a counterflow circuit that cools the minor heat generating components in addition to a primary circuit that cools major heat generating components.
The primary circuit extends between upstream and downstream ends of a housing. A first chamber at the housing upstream end contains some minor heat generating components. Other minor heat generating components are located within the housing but outside of the primary circuit.
There is a second chamber at the housing downstream end. A fan divides the first and second chambers. The second chamber has a periphery that is aligned with the fan such that all the cooling air blown by the fan flows through the second chamber along the primary circuit. According to one aspect of the invention, the second chamber periphery next to the fan is composed of center and side walls of two symmetrically arranged heat sinks. All the air blown by the fan flows through the two heat sinks. In a preferred embodiment, the first heat sink reaches between the fan and the primary circuit downstream end. First major heat generating components are mounted to the first heat sink outside of the second chamber. Second major heat generating components are mounted to the second heat sink outside of the second chamber. There is a wind tunnel between the second heat sink and the primary circuit downstream end that contains third major heat generating components.
Operation of the fan draws cooling air through the housing upstream end into the first chamber of the primary curcuit. The fan blows the air through the second chamber and out the housing downstream end. The cooling air thus has a negative pressure in the first chamber and a positive pressure in the second chamber.
The cooling air directly cools the minor heat generating components in the first chamber. The cooling air further cools the heat sinks in the second chamber, which in turn cool the major heat generating components mounted to the heat sinks outside the second chamber. Finally, the cooling air in the primary circuit directly cools the major heat generating components in the wind tunnel.
It is a feature of the invention that the minor heat generating components outside the primary circuit are cooled by means of the fan along with the heat generating components associated with the primary circuit. Cooling the minor heat generating components and more delicate electronic components outside the primary circuit is achieved by the counterflow circuit. The counterflow circuit extends between the housing downstream end and the first chamber of the primary circuit. The negative pressure in the first chamber draws cooling air into the first chamber from the counterflow circuit, and into the counterflow circuit through the housing downstream end. The cooling air in the counterflow circuit flows parallel to but in the opposite direction as the air in the primary circuit. The air of the counterflow circuit enters the first chamber from its sides, where it mixes with the air in the primary circuit arriving through the housing upstream end. The fan blows the mixed cooling air in the downstream direction through the primary circuit second chamber. Thus, all the air under positive pressure from the fan flows through the second chamber. The temperature of the air entering the fan is only slightly above ambient, because only the minor heat generating components are cooled by the air in the counterflow circuit and by the air in the primary circuit first chamber. Accordingly, maximum cooling capacity is available to the air in the primary circuit second chamber. The air flowing past the heat sinks and through the wind tunnel provides adequate cooling for the major heat generating components mounted to the first and second heat sinks and for the major heat generating components located in the wind tunnel.
Other advantages, benefits, and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the invention.

Cooling air circuits for welding machine


A breakaway assembly including a first connector and a second connector releasably coupleable to the first connector. The assembly is movable between a first configuration in which the first and second connectors are releasably coupled and together define a fluid path through which fluid is flowable, wherein the fluid path includes an at least partially radially extending portion, and a second configuration in which the first and second connectors are not coupled together. The assembly is configured to move from the first configuration to the second configuration when a predetermined separation force is applied to the assembly. The assembly further includes a closure valve positioned in one of the first or second connectors, wherein the closure valve is configured to be in an open position when the assembly is in the first configuration to allow fluid to flow therethrough, and to move to a closed position blocking the at least partially radially extending portion of the fluid path when the assembly moves to the second configuration to generally block the flow of fluid therethrough.

Breakaway connectors or assemblies can be utilized in fluid dispensing systems, such as refueling stations and the like. The breakaway assemblies are designed to provide a break in the fluid system which can be closed when a sufficient, predefined separation force is applied thereto. For example, in a drive-away event, the user of a refueling unit may inadvertently leave the nozzle in the tank of a vehicle or automobile and drive away. Breakaway assemblies are designed to provide a breakaway point at which the hose or system can be separated, and also provide a closing valve to prevent or minimize loss of fuel. However, many current breakaway assemblies have various drawbacks.
Single use breakaways typically use shear pins or shear grooves, but such shear elements cannot be fully tested during assembly, which can lead to unpredictable performance. Many existing reconnectable breakaways use using garter springs, canted coil springs, compression springs and deflectable members to provide a releasable connection mechanism. However such releasable connection mechanisms can have relatively high variances in the materials and/or tolerances, and thus lead to unpredictable separation force.
Existing breakaways can also have issues accommodating pressure pulses in the dispensed fluid. Since single use breakaways use a rigid member that is designed to shear or break when sufficient force is applied, and such components can undesirably separate when a sufficiently powerful pressure pulse is transmitted. Reconnectable breakaways can also be prone to separation due to force or pressure spikes and/or internal components can be damaged due to the force or pressure spike.
Finally, existing breakaways typically have valves that are designed to close after a breakaway event. However the valves may not close in a sufficiently predictable manner.


A paper receptacle is disclosed designed to improve the investment casting process in vacuum machines. The paper acts as both a vacuum liner and splash guard. It is fabricated as a perforated paper sheet having hooks, which is inserted in a cylindrical manner into casting flasks in order to provide a liner for congealing islands of solid investment plaster onto the surface of the casting flask resulting from the plaster slurry entering the holes; and a splash guard for investment slurry. After burnout, the liner facilitates the production of high-density metal porosity free castings at lower temperatures and in less time and with easy break away of investment plaster from the flask. The splash guard feature eliminates congealed slurry cleanup and prevents vacuum slurry boilover. The space saving resulting from this prevention enables more wax modules to be inserted into flasks increasing production.

This invention relates to the investment casting process also known as the lost wax process. More particularly, the present invention relates to the employment of a paper receptacle to facilitate said process by functioning as both a vacuum enhancement liner and splash guard. The primary application of the instant invention is to facilitate said process in vacuum investment casting machines and investing machines in contradistinction to other types of utilitarian machines utilized in said casting, such as centrifugal or sand casting. Accordingly, any liners or guards used to facilitate investment casting by means other than vacuum casting machines have no bearing on the design of the instant invention.
The instant invention employs a single piece of fabricated paper of special design which serves as both a vacuum liner and splash guard in the investment casting flasks utilized in the vacuum casting machines. As a liner; the instant invention results in better castings due to a strong draw on the metal being cast into the flask and lower casting temperatures that has theretofore been possible; as well as a reduction in casting processing time. As a splash guard; the instant invention prevents the accumulation of investment slurry on metal flask surfaces and on the investing machine resulting in decreased cleanup costs, eliminating associate time losses resulting in cleanup, as well as enabling more lost wax modules to be placed in the same attendant space than has been heretofore allowed.
Now the use of paper to facilitate investment casting is not new. U.S. Pat. No. 1,119,373; issued Dec. 1, 1914, by Elza Stealy describes using a round disk of paper in the investment process which is consumed. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,443,627 and 3,520,349 awarded to Claude H. Watts respectively, in 1969 and 1970, describes the construction of cardboard sprues to attach modules of wax to aid investment casting. This is not a vacuum liner or splash guard, nor is it utilized in vacuum investment casting. Subsequently, Kai was awarded U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,934 of May 2, 1989. It describes a paper cushioning sheet for exclusive use in denture casting to prevent special dental investment from cracking. While said sheet's appearance is similar in some respects to the instant invention, its function is not claimed to facilitate vacuum casting; and will not work in a vacuum casting machine.

Investment casting paper liner and guard


A method of operating a home-based network device, wherein said home-based network device is part of a telecommunications network. The method comprising the steps of: assigning an address to the home-based network device, wherein said address is a function of a public identity of a subscriber associated with said home-based network device. The method further comprising registering the address of said home-based network device in an addressing space containing addressing information of other home-based network devices and providing access to said home-based network device to users that are not associated with said home-based network device.

The consumer electronics market is exploding. The continued miniaturization of electronic components, enhanced processing power of chips, and reduced manufacturing costs has contributed to the proliferation of consumer electronic devices capable of processing digital media such as audio, video, images, animation, presentations, and other content. Media devices include for example, cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), MP3 players, video players, camcorders, game players, digital cameras, digital video recorders (DVRs), personal computers, stereos, etc. Many media devices are able to store large amounts of digital content, connect to the Internet, and in some instances wirelessly exchange data over short ranges with other electronic devices. The proliferation of devices capable of playing and recording digital media has resulted in large volumes of content within the household and workplace that is distributed across devices.
However, web-based storage services offered by various service providers as well as current network storage devices present a variety of drawbacks. One primary hurdle to the use of such solutions is that they limit the user to accessing stored content through a web browser or proprietary application as they were primarily designed for use with personal computers. Such solutions generally require the user to access their stored content through an intermediary server. Direct access to a personal storage device is possible by using a static Internet Protocol (IP) address or mapped domain name, but such options are generally difficult to configure, are time consuming, and result in additional fees for the user.
Addressing in telecommunication systems is broken down into three main groups: (1) Subscriber addressing: this addressing is used for keeping track of the mobility of users and making sure that a user can be contacted for any incoming call or message; (2) Network element addressing: this addressing is used for infrastructure node addressing and is mainly used by the network management; (3) Routing addressing: Network elements maintain a graph of connected nodes which allows them to keep information about their neighbouring environment, in order to be able to support call handover when subscribers move through their networks. These telecommunication addressing schemes take the position of treating the user as a subscriber identity module (SIM) and the infrastructure as two completely separate entities and do not enable addressing based on correlations between these two entities.
FIG. 1 shows how routing of a request from a subscriber 102 (or User Equipment—UE) to a content stored in a device 104 in friend's home 106 works in today's setting. The conceptual path from A's UE 102 to B's home 106 is labeled with 108. The real routing path of the request is labeled with 110. This real path will go through the access network 112, then through the packet core network 114 out on the Internet 116, where the IP address or DNS address of B's home 106 is used for reaching the edge node 104.

Direct addressing of content on an edge network node


A tilt apparatus for a marine propulsion device structure having a piston constituting a cylinder apparatus with a shock blow valve and a return valve, the return valve attaching a valve body to a return hole provided in the piston, and a valve body holding device provided in the return hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piston structure of a tilt apparatus for a marine propulsion device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been a tilt apparatus for a marine propulsion device structured such that a cylinder apparatus is interposed between a hull side and a propulsion unit side. The piston constituting the cylinder apparatus has a shock blow valve and a return valve. In this tilt apparatus, when an impact force in an extending direction is applied to the cylinder apparatus due to a collision with, for example, drift wood against the propulsion unit, the shock blow valve is opened at a set pressure so as to transfer a working fluid in a rod side oil chamber of the cylinder apparatus to a piston side oil chamber, thereby extending the piston rod and displacing the propulsion unit up. The return valve is opened due to pressure in the piston side oil chamber increased under operation of a dead load of the propulsion unit after absorbing the impact force, which returns the working oil mentioned above transferred through the piston side oil chamber to the rod side oil chamber, thereby returning the propulsion unit to its original position.
However, in the prior art, as shown in FIG. 9, when assembling a piston 2 in a piston rod 1, a ball 4 of a return valve is installed to a return hole 3 provided in the piston 2. Next the piston 2 is reversed so as to insert a ball, a valve seat and a valve spring of a shock blow valve (not shown) into a shock blow hole (not shown) provided in the piston 2. The piston 2 is attached to the piston rod 1 via a washer 5, and further fixed to the piston rod 1 via a washer 6 by a nut 7. Then, in order to prevent the ball 4 installed to the return hole 3 from falling down driving reversal of the piston 2 mentioned above, the structure is made such that a ball holding pin 8 is inserted to a horizontal hole crossing to the return hole 3 provided in the piston 2. Reference numeral 9 denotes an O-ring provided on an outer periphery of the piston 2.
In this case, in the prior art, in order to make the tilt apparatus compact, it is necessary to make the cylinder apparatus compact, so that it is necessary to make a diameter of the piston 2 small and a size thereof short.
The prior art has the following problems.
(1) Both the shock blow valve and the return valve are arranged with the piston 2. The O-ring 9 is provided on the outer periphery of the piston 2. Since the piston 2 is provided with the large-diameter shock blow hole to which the ball, the valve seat and the valve spring constituting the shock blow valve are inserted, it is necessary to prevent the diameter of the piston 2 from being increased. An O-ring groove 9A in a fixed thickness portion in an outer peripheral side of the piston 2 is formed so that the O-ring groove 9A is required to be formed in a thick portion above the shock blow valve (in a side of the rod side oil chamber). Then, unless the ball holding pin 8 is set further above the O-ring groove 9A (in a side of the rod side oil chamber), the oil in the piston side oil chamber leaks to the rod side oil chamber from a gap of the ball holding pin 8, whereby it is impossible to keep the piston position. As mentioned above, when the O-ring groove 9A is provided above the shock blow valve of the piston 2 and the ball holding pin 8 is provided further above the O-ring groove 9A, it is impossible to prevent the piston 2 from being extended in an axial direction, and it is impossible to make the piston 2 short.
(2) When the horizontal hole for the ball holding pin 8 is provided in the piston 2, it is necessary to apply a drilling process to the horizontal hole, and a spot facing and flattening process to a worked surface of the horizontal hole, whereby the number of processes is increased.
(3) The operation of inserting the ball holding pin 8 to the horizontal hole of the piston 2 is simple but can not be rapidly performed, so that the efficiency of assembly is deteriorated. The position of the horizontal hole must be determined by the operator with each new piece.
An object of the present invention is to provide a piston structure of a tilt apparatus for a marine propulsion device in which a piston is compact while preventing a return valve from falling off during assembly of a valve body. A further object is to improve workability and ease of assembly of the piston.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a piston structure of a tilt apparatus for a marine propulsion device structured such that a cylinder apparatus is installed between a hull side and a propulsion unit side. A piston constituting the cylinder apparatus has a shock blow valve and a return valve, wherein the return valve attaches a valve body to a return hole provided in the piston, and valve body holding means is provided in the return hole.

Piston structure of tilt apparatus for marine propulsion device


A fluid-operated power booster includes a housing having a main piston slidably mounted therein and a regulating chamber formed in the main piston. A regulating piston is mounted within the regulating chamber and is fixed to an input shaft. The input shaft has a valve mounted on it so that movement of the input shaft and regulating piston in a first direction permits the flow of working fluid into both a working chamber and the regulating chamber, while movement of the input shaft in a second direction causes working fluid to be exhausted from the working chamber. The regulating piston is biased by a mechanical spring whose force must be overcome to initiate movement of the regulating piston and thereby the flow of working fluid to achieve booster action. The output of the device is by way of an output shaft connected to the main piston.

Power boosters are well known in the art and are used in applications where human input force must be amplified or boosted to act upon a device that requires a force beyond the normal human ability to provide it. One example is in the operation of a clutch in a large commercial truck. N%le it may be possible for certain drivers to exert sufficient force to disengage the clutch once or twice, typically, the clutch force is high enough that the repeated application of such force, as is required in regular driving of the truck, is a burden that is not easily borne by the driver. Also, the requirement of high force to operate the clutch would limit the available pool of truck drivers. Through use of a power booster the input force to the booster can be kept at a more comfortable and attainable range while the amplified output force from the power booster is used to operate the clutch.
A similar concept is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,113,489 to Cruse et al. Cruse et al. provide a servomotor that acts to amplify an input force. However, the arrangement of the valving in the Cruse et al. servomotor is such that the pressurized air used to act on the main piston also acts on the valve member that must be moved to allow such air to reach the main piston. The Cruse et al. arrangement requires that, in order to actuate the valve to begin airflow to the main piston, the force of the air must first be overcome. This produces a relatively high initial bias force that must be overcome before the power booster begins to act.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a power booster that amplifies mechanical input force in which the amplification factor is not sensitive to the position of the piston.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a power booster that has a minimum bias force that must be initially overcome to initiate booster action.
It is another object of the invention that the power booster include a mechanical linkage that can transfer force between the input and output of the booster, even in the event of a failure in supply of pressurized fluid, so that the power booster is operable, albeit without force amplification.

Fluid operated mechanical power amplifier


The present invention is a process for converting a high-boiling component resulting from the reaction of an organochloride with silicon into commercially more desirable monosilanes. The process comprises contacting the high-boiling component with hydrogen chloride and hydrogen gas at a temperature within a range of about 250.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst selected from a group consisting of activated carbon, alumina, silica, zeolite, AlCl.sub.3, AlCl.sub.3 supported on a support selected from a group consisting of carbon, silica, and alumina; platinum supported on a support selected from a group consisting of carbon, silica, and alumina; and palladium supported on a support selected from a group consisting of carbon, silica, and alumina.

The present invention is a process for converting a high-boiling component resulting from the reaction of organochloride with silicon into commercially more desirable monosilanes. The process comprises contacting the high-boiling component with hydrogen chloride and hydrogen gas at a temperature within a range of about 250.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst selected from a group consisting of activated carbon, alumina, silica, zeolite, AlCl.sub.3, AlCl.sub.3 supported on a support selected from a group consisting of carbon, silica, and alumina; platinum supported on a support selected from a group consisting of carbon, silica, and alumina; and palladium supported on a support selected from a group consisting of carbon, silica, and alumina.
The high-boiling component useful in the present process results from a process typically referred to as the "Direct Process," where an organohalide is reacted with silicon metalloid in the presence of a suitable catalyst to form monosilanes. The Direct Process as described by, for example, Rochow, U.S. Pat. No. 2,380,995, issued Aug. 7, 1945, and Barry et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,487, issued Nov. 15, 1949. is the main commercial process by which organohalosilanes (i.e. monosilanes), for example, dimethyldichlorosilane and trimethylchlorosilane are formed. These organohalosilanes are reactive compounds which can undergo numerous reactions to form a variety of useful silicon containing compounds and polymers. A major commercial use of organohalosilanes is in the production of polysiloxane polymers which are useful as heat transfer fluids, lubricants, and the like and which can be further processed, for example, to form silicone elastomers, resins, sealants, and adhesives.
Operation of the Direct Process results not only in the production of the desirable monosilanes, but also in a high boiling component typically considered to be all materials with a boiling point higher than the particular diorganodihalosilane produced in the process. The high-boiling component is a complex mixture that includes compounds containing SiSi, SiOSi, SiCSi, SiCCSi, and SiCCCSi linkages in the molecules. Some typical compounds found in a high-boiling component are described, for example, in Mohler et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,598,435, issued May 27, 1952, and Barry et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,681,355, issued Jun. 15, 1954. The high-boiling component may also comprise silicon containing solids and soluble and insoluble compounds of copper, aluminum, and zinc.
In current commercial operations for performing the Direct Process, the high-boiling component can constitute as much as ten percent of the resultant product. Therefore, it is desirable to convert the high-boiling component into commercially desirable products to both reduce low value byproducts and to improve raw material utilization.
Mohler, U.S. Pat. No. 2,598,435, issued May 27, 1952, describes a process for converting methylpolysilanes present in a Direct Process residue to monosilanes, the process comprises heating the residue at a temperature above 250.degree. C. and below the decomposition point of the formed monosilanes.
Barry, U.S. Pat. No. 2,681,355, issued Jun. 15, 1954, observed that the process taught in Mohler, U.S. Pat. No. 2,598,435, can result in significant coking of the reactor making the process unsuitable for commercial cracking processes. Barry, supra, teaches that this coking can be reduced if the Direct Process residue is contacted with at least four percent by weight hydrogen chloride at a temperature from 200.degree. C. to 900.degree. C. Barry also suggests that the process can be run in a reactor packed with either an inert material such as quartz or a catalytic material such as activated alumina or silica alumina.
Bluestein, U.S. Pat. No. 2,709,176, issued May 25, 1955, reports a process for converting the polysilanes present in a Direct Process residue into monosilanes by the use of a tertiary organic amine catalyst. Bluestein reports that when the Direct Process residue is contacted with a hydrogen halide and a tertiary organic amine catalyst, the process can be conducted at temperatures of about 75.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. with acceptable yields of monosilanes being obtained.
Atwell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,105, issued Feb. 1, 1972, describe a process where hydrosilanes are produced by contacting disilane with hydrogen gas under pressure. The resulting mixture is heated in the presence of a transition metal catalyst at temperatures within a range of 25.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. Atwell et al. teach that at temperatures in excess of 250.degree. C catalyst and/or disilane decomposition tends to occur which deleteriously affects the reaction.
Calas et al., U.S. Pat, No. 4,059,608, teach a process for hydrogenating disilanes where a catalyst system containing an aprotic compound and a nickel catalyst is used. Calas et al. teach that the process can be conducted at a temperature within a range of 50.degree. C. to 200.degree. C.
Neale, U.S. Pat. No. 4,079 071, issued Mar. 14, 1978, teaches a process for preparing hydrosilanes by reacting methylchloropolysilanes with hydrogen gas under pressure at a temperature of from about 25.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. in the presence of a copper catalyst.
Takeda et al., Kogyo Kagaku zasshi (Journal of Industrial Chemistry), Vol. 60, No. 11, p. 1392-1395 (1957), describe the use of alumina, carbon, and pumice as catalyst for the catalytic cracking of disilane in a hydrogen stream.
An objective of the present process is to provide a high yield process for the conversion of a high-boiling component produced by the Direct Process to monosilanes. The present inventors have unexpectedly discovered that the stated objective can be achieved by the catalytic conversion of the Direct Process high-boiling component to chlorosilane monomers in the presence of hydrogen chloride and hydrogen gas. This discovery is even more unexpected in view of the present inventors observation that in the absence of a catalyst, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen gas in combination result in a very poor yield of chlorosilane monomer production.

Catalytic conversion of direct process high-boiling component to chlorosilane monomers in the presence of hydrogen chloride and hydrogen


A protective device for an interior of a motor vehicle having flexible flat structure stretched in a rigid frame. The frame is mounted to move between a resting position and a protective position.

The invention relates to a protective device for an interior of a motor vehicle with a flexible flat structure that can be transferred from at least one stored resting position into at least one protective position that separates a cargo area from a passenger area and back into the at least one resting position.
In station wagons it is known to use a roller-shade housing to store a flexible flat structure in the form of a safety net that separates a cargo area from a passenger area of the vehicle interior, said net being rolled up and pulled out upward when needed. The roller-shade housing is releasably mounted in the vicinity of a rear surface of a backrest of a front seat bench. The safety net can be pulled out upward approximately vertically both when the backrest is upright and when it is folded forward, and can be suspended from mounts that are integral with the roof. Since the safety net is flexible, it is possible that during violent vehicle deceleration, cargo can be hurled laterally against the safety net in the vicinity of the side edges of the net, between the side edges of the net and the side windows or the side interior trim and pass forward from the cargo area into the passenger area.
A goal of the present invention is to provide a protective device of the type generally described above to provide improved protective for the passenger area.
This and other goals have been achieved according to the present invention by stretching the flexible flat structure in a rigid frame, said frame being mounted so that it can move between the resting position and the protective position. By using a rigid frame, the flat structure has an increased retention capability in the vicinity of its side edges as well, resulting in improved separation between the cargo area and the passenger area and thus offer improved protective for the passenger area as well.
In one embodiment of the invention the frame is pivotably mounted on the roof interior trim and arranged to rest flat in its resting position against the roof. In its resting position the frame, including the flat structure stretched therein does not reduce the available space in the interior and especially in the cargo area, since it lies against the roof. Especially advantageously, the frame is mounted so that it is recessed in its resting position in a matching depression in the roof.
In another embodiment of the invention, holding receptacles are provided on the roof, running lengthwise of the vehicle and spaced apart from one another, in which receptacles the frame can optionally be releasably secured to form a pivoting mount. It is then advantageously possible to lock the frame, in the vicinity of its upper cross member as well as in the vicinity of its lower cross member, in the retaining receptacles so that with a suitable spacing of two adjacent retaining receptacles with respect to one another, the frame can be secured to lie flat against the roof.
In another embodiment of the invention, a retaining receptacle is located on the roof at the location of the backrests of the front seats and at the location of the backrests of the rear seats. In this way the frame can produce a separation between the passenger area and the cargo area both at the location of the backrests of the rear seats and also at the location of the backrests of the front seats when the backrests of the rear seats are folded down.
In another embodiment of the invention the height of the frame is greater than the distance between the roof and the backrests of the front seats or of the rear seats. If the frame is pivotably mounted on the roof, locking of the lower part of the frame in the protective position on the backrests is not required since the frame is in any case supported in this area at the rear on the respective backrests and thus offers secure retention for cargo in the cargo area in the-event of a violent vehicle deceleration.
In another embodiment of the invention, a small additional frame is integrated into the frame and is mounted movably thereon, and can be transferred independently of the frame into a protective position. This is especially advantageous when the protective device is intended to offer a secure separation between the cargo area and the passenger area both when the backrests of the rear seats are upright and when the backrests of the rear seats are folded forward, since the smaller additional frame and the large frame can have dimensions such that the additional frame forms the protective position when the backrests are upright and the large frame forms the protective position when the backrests are folded down.
In another embodiment of the invention, a flexible covering is provided on the underside of the frame, said covering covering a space between the front seats when the frame is in a forward protective position, with the covering having associated with it a mount integral with the floor to hold it in its protective position. This additional flexible covering is advantageous either when the frame is mounted in the vicinity of the roof or when the frame is held releasably on the backrests of the rear seats, and is removed from these mounts on the backrests to assume its protective position when the backrests are folded down and is then fastened in the vicinity of the roof. In both cases the flexible covering is pulled downward from the frame and connected to the vehicle floor.
In another embodiment of the invention the frame has mounting receptacles for a roller-shade housing of a safety net that can be pulled out. As a result the roller-shade housing can be optionally mounted on either the backrest or the frame when the backrest is folded down, and in the second case the safety net can be pulled out of the frame into its protective position.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Protective device for an interior of a motor vehicle


An ultrafast recovery diode. In a first embodiment, a rectifier device comprises a substrate of a first polarity, a lightly doped layer of the first polarity coupled to the substrate and a metallization layer disposed with the lightly doped layer. The ultrafast recovery diode includes a plurality of wells, separated from one another, formed in the lightly doped layer, comprising doping of a second polarity. The plurality of wells connect to the metallization layer. The ultrafast recovery diode further includes a plurality of regions, located between wells of said plurality of wells, more highly doped of the first polarity than the lightly doped layer.

An important factor in the efficiency of a switching power supply is the performance of the diodes used in such circuits. More particularly, the reverse recovery of such diodes can reduce turn-on loss of the transistor switch in such power supplies. For example, a reverse recovery current transient appears as an additional component of current during the turn-on of the switch, with the result that the turn-on loss of the switch is significantly higher that it would otherwise be without such reverse recovery component. Consequently, reducing metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) body diode reverse recovery charge (Qrr) and/or reducing reverse recovery time (trr) is important for improving the efficiency of switching power supplies.
Unfortunately, however, if the reverse recovery is too abrupt, then the current and voltage will experience undesirable oscillations. Such oscillations can result in, for example, low efficiency power supply operation, a deleteriously noisy output, e.g., power supply ripple and/or electromagnetic interference, and/or extremely high and possibly damaging voltage spikes.


Provided is a carrying case that utilizes two straps, e.g., for looping over the top of a cellular telephone or similarly sized item. Attachment devices are located on the body of the carrying case, and in certain implementations often can provide flexibility in how the carrying case is configured and used.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a dual-strap carrying case, and is particularly applicable to a small carrying case that may be used to hold a cellular telephone or similarly sized electronic device and that may be attached to a user's belt or other article of clothing.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of different cell-phone holders have been provided. However, each conventional cell-phone holder has its own disadvantages. For instance, certain cell-phone holders do not provide adequate access to the telephone. Others do not adequately secure the telephone within them. Still others rely on a tight fit to secure the telephone, raising the possibility of inadvertent depression of the telephone buttons.


A clock oscillator system for use in providing the switching regulator duty cycle control in a fixed frequency (no cycle skipping) operation is provided. In one embodiment, the circuit according to the invention uses an analog feedback loop to extend the switch ON time of the clock cycle by controlling the oscillator charging current and, thereby, increase the duty cycle. Preferably, this circuit can achieve very high switching duty cycle and/or very low switching duty cycle in a PWM switching regulator operated in very low drop-out operation when very high duty cycle is required or in other conditions when very low duty cycle is required.

This invention relates to voltage regulators. In particular, this invention relates to switch-mode voltage regulators.
Switch-mode regulators, or switching regulators as they are commonly known, are typically used as voltage regulators because they exhibit higher efficiency than an equivalent linear regulator circuit at heavy loads. A typical switching regulator operates by repeatedly turning a power switch fully on and then fully off, generating a pulse-width modulated signal that is averaged to the final voltage with an inductor.
For simplicity, the present invention is particularly described in a step-down converter embodiment. Nevertheless, the invention is not limited to this particular embodiment and, in fact, may be implemented on any suitable switching regulator. The basic invention, as well as alternative implementations of the invention, will be discussed in more detail below.
FIG. 1 shows a basic, conventional switching regulator system 100. FIG. 1 includes an oscillated clock 102 of a pulse-width modulated (PWM) system, an inverter 104, a flip-flop 106, a switch 108, an inductor 110, a current source 112, an output capacitor 114, a resistor divider 116 and 118, a voltage feedback amplifier 120 (or any suitable amplifier), a feedback capacitor 122, and a current comparator 124 (or any other suitable comparator). It should be noted that inverter 104 preferably causes the PWM switch to turn ON coincident with the end of the ON cycle of clock 102. At least in this respect, the clock and the PWM switch are preferably out of phase with one another.
In general, a switching regulator generates an output voltage proportional to the input voltage, with the proportionality set by the duty cycle of the pulse width signal at the power switch. Accordingly, the switch duty cycle (the percentage of the total switching cycle that the power switch is ON) of a PWM step-down voltage regulator is determined by:
d=VOUT/VIN wherein:
d is duty cycle;
VOUT is the regulator output voltage; and
VIN is the regulator input voltage.
As the input voltage of the power supply system becomes smaller—e.g., when a battery's voltage drops as a result of usage of the battery—, the switching regulator is forced to operate at a very high clock cycle rate to maintain a substantially constant VOUT. As the clock cycle rate increases, and, consequently, the clock cycle time decreases, it becomes difficult to achieve a very high and/or a very low switch-ON duty cycle as operating conditions may at times require.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show clock-oscillated signals generated by the clock 102 of PWM system 100 shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows a conventional clock oscillator 300 of the PWM system shown in FIG. 1. Clock oscillator includes a charging current source 302, an oscillating capacitor 304, a first comparator 306, a switch 308, a discharging current sink 310, and a second comparator 312. Also indicated are Vramp and VN (which is compared to Vramp using comparator 306 for opening and closing switch 308).
The most common method of generating constant repeating switching clock cycles for the clock oscillator 300 of the PWM system is by charging oscillator capacitor 304 with a current using charging source 302 until the capacitor voltage is charged up to the preset level VTH (Voltage Threshold High) and resetting the oscillator to VTL (Voltage Threshold Low) after the capacitor reaches VTH.
The clock cycle time T=T1 +T2 as shown in FIG. 2B may be obtained using the following equations:
                              T                                                              1                =                  Cosc                                    (              Icharge              )                        ×                          (              VTH              )                                                                        T                                                              2                =                  Cosc                                    (              Idischarge              )                        ×                          (              VTH              )
Cosc is the capacitance of the oscillator;
Icharge is the charge current;
Idischarge is the discharging current;
VTH is the Voltage Threshold—High; and
VTL is the Voltage Threshold—Low.
Preferably, this oscillator reset process takes a fraction of the total clock cycle time.
In a basic PWM regulator, the switching cycle of the PWM switch 108 begins when switch 308 turns ON at the beginning of T1 (see FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3). The switch-ON duration is determined by the duty cycle which is a function of VIN and VOUT of PWM switching regulator 300, as described above. The switch-ON duration may end at any time during T1. If switch 108 has not been switched OFF by the beginning of T2 and switch 308 is not allowed to turn ON longer than one clock cycle (no cycle skipping) then, switch 308 is typically forced to turn OFF at the beginning of T2 when the oscillator resets.
As the switching frequency increases, each clock cycle becomes so short that it is critical to keep T2 as short as practically possible for high maximum switch duty cycle. In practice, T2 is usually determined by the power transistor switch 108 (see FIG. 1) turn-OFF/ON time.
Typical maximum duty cycle with no cycle skipping ranges from 90% to 95%. When the VIN/VOUT condition of the PWM regulator requires a duty cycle that is higher than the oscillator maximum duty cycle can provide, the output loses regulation. This condition may occur, for example, when a step down converter has a VIN (Input Voltage) that is very close to VOUT (Output Voltage).
In order not to lose output regulation when a higher duty cycle is required, the most common prior art approach is to skip cycles by not turning OFF switch 308 at T2. This method extends the switch-ON time of the PWM longer.
An example of cycle skipping is as follows: a 10 microsecond clock cycle time with OFF time T2 of 1 microsecond and maximum ON time T1 of 9 microsecond gives maximum duty cycle of 90%. If the regulator operation requires a 91% duty cycle, then it follows there will be one non-reset cycle with 10 microseconds ON time for every 9 reset cycles at T2 with 9 microseconds ON time each. This one cycle skip in every 10 cycles on the average has duty cycle of 91%.
One problem with this approach is that it often generates troublesome audible noise because of a low frequency modulation phenomenon associated with the cycle skipping.
Another prior art method uses an open loop comparator approach. The system remains in the oscillator-based constant frequency PWM mode until the OFF time reaches the preset level. To extend the duty cycle, the system then switches to the fixed off time variable frequency mode with no oscillator involved. The disadvantage of this is that a frequency hysteresis is needed to switch back to the other mode when the duty cycle reduces and the abrupt mode change sometimes cause system frequency instability.
It would be desirable to increase the duty cycle of the clock oscillator of a PWM system operating in a voltage regulator without skipping cycles and without abrupt mode changes.

Switching regulator duty cycle control in a fixed frequency operation


An apparatus for identifying defects within the volume of a transparent sheet, such as a glass sheet, is provided. The apparatus includes an illumination device that directs incident light onto at least a portion of a surface of the sheet so as to illuminate the sheet, and an image detector onto which the light backscattered from the sheet is directed to image the sheet. The apparatus generates at least two interference images under different capturing conditions in order to perform identification of defects by evaluating the at least two interference images.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The invention generally relates to quality control in the manufacturing and/or processing of a transparent sheet, preferably a glass sheet, and more particularly relates to the identification of imperfections or defects within the volume of the sheet.
2. Description of Related Art
In glass manufacturing, defect inspection is usually implemented by optical imaging methods. That is, defects in the material of a test object are imaged on a CCD chip by illuminating the test object, for example based on a bright field or dark field method, and using a lens system. The image so generated is evaluated in a computer unit, and based on the image information it is decided whether there is a defect in the glass, and optionally what kind of glass defect. Defect sensitivity of such systems depends on the pixel resolution, the resolution of the objective lens, and the signal-to-noise ratio of the recording unit.
The data rates of the image sensors which are typically implemented in form of line scan cameras are limited. A line scan camera having a horizontal frequency from 25 to 50 kHz, for example, can be employed with a feeding rate of the test object from 15 to 30 m/min. Usually one illumination channel is used. When using a plurality of channels, a plurality of camera benches would be needed accordingly.
An increase of the feeding rate of the production line would mean that with unaltered illumination less light would be available per image line, so that the signal-to-noise ratio would decrease. Alternatively, in order to avoid such deterioration, pixel resolution in the feeding direction could be reduced. This, however, would reduce the defect sensitivity.
In optical imaging systems, an increase in optical resolution causes a reduction in the depth of field, which should at least correspond to the glass thickness of the test object to be examined. Usually, even greater depths of field are required, due to feeding tolerances and because of a possible deflection of the glass.
Thus, for resolutions of less than 20 μm per pixel and feeding rates of 35 meters per minute, for example, imaging systems would become complex, difficult to control, and expensive.
Approaches for inspecting the skin or the volume of objects for defects are known in the prior art.
JP 4576962 B2 discloses a method for identifying defects in test objects, for example variations in thickness of a planar film due to a foreign body. For this purpose, light is irradiated onto the test object, and the backscattered light is analyzed. The analysis is based on an analysis of the polarized components of the backscattered light.
WO 2006/108137 A2 discloses an identification of defects in a glass sheet using a system which directs the light from a laser diode onto the glass sheet to be checked and evaluates the light backscattered from the front and rear surfaces of the glass sheet onto a line scanner as an interference pattern.
A problem of the prior art methods is that the line scanners used have a sensor area of approximately the dimension of the test object. Further, due to contaminations, the measured images frequently provide patterns without the presence of any defect in the test object, so that automatic evaluation of the images may be prone to errors. Furthermore, due to the sample geometry, patterns caused by minor defects may adversely be superimposed by a primary pattern, so that the defect cannot be detected reliably.

Apparatus and method for identifying defects within the volume of a transparent sheet and use of the apparatus


Disclosed is a semiconductor fuse structure having a low power programming threshold and anti-reverse engineering characteristics. The fuse structure includes a substrate having a field oxide region. A polysilicon strip that has an increased dopant concentration region lies over the field oxide region. The fuse structure further includes a silicided metallization layer having first and second regions lying over the polysilicon strip. The first region has a first thickness, and the second region has a second thickness that is less than the first thickness and is positioned substantially over the increased dopant concentration region of the polysilicon strip. Preferably, the first region of the silicided metallization layer has a first side and a second side located on opposite sides of the second region, and the resulting fuse structure is substantially rectangular in shape. Therefore, the semiconductor fuse structure can be programmed by breaking the second region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor circuits and, more particularly, to a method of forming low power programmable elements, and semiconductor devices including low power programmable elements formed by such method.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are a significant number of integrated circuit applications that require some sort of electrically programmable memory for storing information. The information stored varies widely in size ranging from a few bits used to program simple identification data, to several megabits used to program computer operating code. To accommodate the increased demand for electrically programmable memory in modern integrated circuits, a number of well known memory technologies that include, for example, programmable read only memories (PROMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and antifuse devices have been readily used. However, fabricating these types of memory devices along with core logic integrated circuitry adds a number of additional processing steps that unfortunately drive up product costs. The additional product costs are often times difficult to justify when only relatively small amounts of electrically programmable elements are needed for a particular integrated circuit application.
To reduce costs, semiconductor designers have been implementing "fuse" structures that are made out of existing doped polysilicon layers that are typically patterned to define transistor gates over a semiconductor structure. Once formed, the fuse structure may be "programmed" by passing a sufficiently high current that melts and vaporizes a portion of the polysilicon fuse. In the programmed state, the fuse structure typically has a resistance that is substantially greater than the non-programmed state, thereby producing an open circuit. This is of course counter to antifuse devices that become short circuits (i.e., substantially decreased resistance) in a programmed state. Although traditional fuse structures work well, they typically consume a large amount of power in programming that may make them unfit for a variety of low power integrated circuit products.
For example, the power dissipated in programming a fuse structure is given by the expression V.sup.2 /R, where V is the voltage applied to the fuse, and R is the resistance. As is well known, the applied voltage must be sufficiently large in order to cause a programming event (e.g., produce an open circuit) in the doped polysilicon fuse structure. Oftentimes, these voltage levels may be larger than the power supplies used by many advanced integrated circuits.
Besides consuming substantial amounts of power to cause the doped polysilicon fuse structure to be programmed, special high voltage transistors are typically designed routed and interconnected over the semiconductor chip itself to direct the increased programming voltages to selected fuses. Consequently, the special high voltage transistors occupy additional chip surface area, thereby causing an increase in chip dimensions, and thereby increasing product costs.
Further, fuse technology has been gaining increased popularity in a variety of consumer electronics, that store confidential information such as pin numbers, bank account numbers, social security numbers and other confidential information directly on a chip. Because this type of information is of such confidential nature, it is critical that such integrated products having fuse programmed data be difficult to reverse engineer. However, a number of fuse structures having distinct advantages are patterned in distinguishing "bow-tie" shapes to facilitate programming in the vicinity of a narrow neck area. For more information on the advantages of bow-tie shaped fuse structures, reference may be made to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/774,036, which is incorporated by reference herein. Although the narrow neck area facilitates programming, it also makes fuse detection rather straight forward for persons attempting to reverse engineer the fuse structures to illegally gain access to confidential information programmed therein.
Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, there is a need for a method of fabricating fuse structures that utilize relatively small amounts of programming power and are difficult to identify during improper reverse engineering attempts.

Low power programmable fuse structures and methods for making the same


A Koch functionalized product, which is the reaction product of at least one hydrocarbon with carbon monoxide and a nucleophilic trapping agent, is derivatized with a heavy polyamine and a second amine. The hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon compound or a hydrocarbon polymer. A heavy polyamine is a mixture of polyamines containing small amounts of lower polyamine oligomers such as tetraethylene pentamine and pentaethylenehexamine and containing primarily oligomers with more than 6 nitrogens and more extensive branching. Rubber seals embrittlement is reduced or minimized.

U.S. Ser. No. 992,403 filed Dec. 17, 1992, discloses amidation (derivatization) of polymers functionalized by the Koch reaction with amine and is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.
Polyalkenyl succinimides are a widely used class of dispersants for lubricant and fuels applications. They are prepared by the reaction of, for example, polyisobutylene with maleic anhydride to form polyisobutenyl-succinic anhydride, and then a subsequent condensation reaction with ethylene amines.
EP-A1-475609 discloses the use of "heavy polyamine" which is disclosed to be a mixture of polyethyleneamines sold by Union Carbide Co. under the designation Polyamine HPA-X.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,714 discloses the use of "polyamine bottoms" derived from an alkylene polyamine mixture. "Polyamine bottoms" are characterized as having less than two, usually less than 1% by wt. of material boiling below about 200.degree. C. In the case of ethylene polyamine bottoms, the bottoms were disclosed to contain less than abut 2% by wt. total diethylene triamine (DETA) or triethylene tetraamine (TETA). A typical sample of such ethylene polyamine from Dow Chemical Company, designated as "E-100" was disclosed to have a percent nitrogen by weight of 33.15 and gas chromatography analysis showed it to contain about 0.93% "Light Ends" (DETA), 0.72% TETA, 21.74% tetraethylene pentamine and 76.61% pentaethylene hexamine and higher (by weight).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,881 similarly discloses the use of "polyamine bottoms".
U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,101 discloses the polybutenylsuccinimide of polyamines, wherein the polyamine has a specific formula.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,435 discloses a polyalkylenesuccinimide prepared from a polyalkylenesuccinic acid or anhydride reacted with a polyalkylene polyamine of a specific formula. Hexaethylene heptamine is disclosed to be a suitable amine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,551 discloses a polybutenyl succinic anhydride reacted with Dow E-100 heavy polyamine (weight average molecular weight ("M.sub.w ")=303, available from Dow Chemical Company).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,003 discloses succinimides derived from amines of a specific formula. Various suitable low cost polyethylene polyamine mixtures are disclosed to be available under various trade designations such as "Polyamine H", "Polyamine 400", "Dow Polyamine E-100" and "Dow S-1107".

Dispersants derived from heavy polyamine and second amine


Disclosed herein is an organic light emitting display device capable of stably compensating for a threshold voltage of a driving transistor. The organic light emitting display device according the present invention includes pixels, each for storing a voltage of a data signal in a storage capacitor through a first threshold voltage different from a second threshold voltage of a driving transistor for driving the pixel; scan lines and light emitting control lines respectively coupled to the pixels; and data lines for supplying the data signal to the pixels.

1. Field of the Device
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an organic light emitting display device having pixels and a method of driving the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, various flat panel display devices capable of reducing weight and volume as compared to a cathode ray tube have been developed. These flat panel display devices include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display (FED), a plasma display panel (PDP), an organic light emitting display (OLED) device, and the like.
Among them, the organic light emitting display device, which displays an image using organic light emitting diodes that generate light by recombining electrons and holes, has a rapid response speed and can be driven at a low power.
The organic light emitting display device includes a plurality of data lines, scan lines, and a plurality of pixels arranged in the form of a matrix at crossing regions of the data lines, the scan lines, and/or the power lines. Each of the pixels generally includes an organic light emitting diode, two or more transistors including a driving transistor, and one or more capacitors.
The organic light emitting display device described above has low power consumption, whereas an amount of current flowing to the organic light emitting diode is varied according to the threshold voltage variation of the driving transistor included in each pixel, which causes non-uniformity of the display. That is, according to a production process variable of the driving transistor included in each pixel, characteristics of the driving transistor may be changed. In practice, it is impossible or very difficult that all transistors in the organic light emitting display device are manufactured in currently known process steps so as to have the same characteristics. Therefore, the threshold voltage variation of the driving transistors occurs.
In order to solve the problem described above, a method of adding a compensation circuit formed of a plurality of transistors and capacitors to each pixel has been proposed. The compensation circuit allows the driving transistor to be connected in a diode form during a scan-on time, thereby compensating for the threshold voltage variation of the driving transistors.
Recently, in order to improve image quality, a method of driving an organic light emitting display device at a high definition and/or a high driving frequency has been proposed. However, in the case in which a panel is driven at the high definition and/or the high driving frequency, a supply time of the scan signals is reduced, and as a consequence, it is impossible or very difficult to compensate for the threshold voltage of the driving transistors.

Organic light emitting display device having pixels and method of driving the same


A power distribution assembly comprising a chassis having at least one wall, a deformable material layer positioned on the at least one wall of the chassis and configured to deform in response to a triggering even. The power distribution assembly further comprising a conductive sense layer positioned on the deformable material layer opposite the at least one wall of the chassis.

Electrical systems, such as those found in a power distribution assembly, employ electrical bus bars and a larger amount of wiring for delivering power from electrical power sources to electrical loads. In the event of an electrical arc fault or other failure condition, high currents might be transmitted through a normally nonconductive medium, such as air, with unexpected consequences for the power distribution assembly at or about the arcing failure point.

Power distribution assembly having a fault detection system


A pocket plug is made by making a first angled cut and a second angled cut relative to proximate a first line and a first side of an elongate member having a length. A plurality of pocket plugs are made by repeating the first angled cut and the second angled cut a distance apart from the previous second angled cut along the length of the elongate member. Thus, by alternating between the first angled cut and the second angled cut the distance along the length of the elongate member, the plurality of pocket plugs are made.

There are many applications, such as woodworking, in which two members must be secured together by fasteners in such a way that the fasteners are not exposed proximate the exterior surfaces of the resulting structure. Bores in which the fasteners are inserted, commonly referred to as pocket holes or mortises, are commonly used so that the fasteners do not extend outward proximate the exterior surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,719, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses a method and an apparatus for forming a counterbore and a fastener receiving bore in a workpiece for toe-fastening the workpiece to a second workpiece. To conceal the fasteners, wood putty is commonly used. A screw cover such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,229 is also commonly used. These devices may not be aesthetically pleasing and it may be difficult to blend these devices with the finish applied to the resulting structure.
The present invention addresses the problems associated with the prior art devices and provides for a pocket plug and a method of making a pocket plug.

Method of making a plurality of pocket plugs