A system for synchronous alignment of cathode ray tube (CRT) rasters by application of time variable rotation driver signals to the CRT rotation coil during trace of the raster. The system may be implemented by either digital or analog means of measuring and storing cathode ray tube raster distortion data as rotational correction factor data. The rotational correction factor data is used by device circuitry to generate and apply the required time variable rotation driver signals, to the CRT rotation coil, to effect the desired CRT raster alignment.

A. Field of Invention
This invention pertains generally to cathode ray tube (CRT) signal alignment and more particularly to dynamic rotation of the raster upon the face of a CRT.
B. Definitions
Align means to cause a video image to be adjusted so that distortion characteristics are minimized and the video image that is displayed on the cathode ray tube forms an image that is pleasing to the eye.
Alignment camera means the video camera used to generate a signal that is representative of the image displayed on the cathode ray tube in a manner described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,504.
Bar code means any sort of optically encoded data.
Cathode ray tube means the tube structure, the phosphor screen, the neck of the tube, the deflection and control windings, including the yoke, rotation and other coils, and the electron guns.
Characterization module means a device that is coupled in some manner to a cathode ray tube and may include a storage device for storing correction factor data or an identification number for the cathode ray tube, and/or a processing device such as a micro-processor or other logic device, and/or driver and correction circuits, and/or control circuitry. The characterization module can also store term multipliers for use in aligning monitors that employ standard transformation equations.
Coordinate locations means the discrete physical locations on the face of the cathode ray tube, or a physical area on the CRT screen.
Correction and driver circuitry means one or more of the following: digital to analog converters, interpolation engine, pulse width modulators and pulse density modulators, as well as summing amplifiers, oscillators, op-amps, inverters comparators or any other components necessary to produce and condition correction signals to synchronously apply to control circuitry to generate an aligned video image.
Correction control signals means correction factor signals that have been combined in a manner to be applied to either horizontal control circuitry, vertical control circuitry, coils, or electron gun circuitry. Correction factor data comprises the encoded digital bytes or any other form of data, such as term multipliers that adjust standardized transformation equations, that are representative of the amount of correction required to align a video signal at a particular physical location on a cathode ray tube to counteract distortion characteristics at that location. Correction factor data may include data from the gain matrix table, data relating to electron gun characteristics and/or data relating to geometry characteristics of the cathode ray tube.
Correction factor parameters include various geometry characteristics of the cathode ray tube including horizontal size, raster rotation, vertical size, horizontal center, vertical center, pincushioning, vertical linearity, keystoning, convergence, etc., and various electron gun characteristics of the cathode ray tube including contrast, brightness, luminosity, focus, color balance, color temperature, electron gun cutoff, etc.
Correction factor signals means digital correction signals that have been integrated or filtered.
Correction signals means digital correction signals and correction factor signals.
Decoder means a device for generating an electronic signal in response to one or more data bytes that may include PWMs, PDMs, DACs, interpolation engines, on screen display chips, etc.
Device means any apparatus which incorporates a cathode ray tube as part of its implementation.
Digital correction signals means signals that are generated by decoders, such as pulse width modulators, pulse density modulators, digital to analog converters, etc. in response to correction factor data.
Digital monitor board means a circuit board that includes one or more of the following: vertical control circuitry, horizontal control circuitry, electron gun control circuitry, correction and driver circuitry, a logic device, digital to analog converters, and a memory. A Digital monitor board may comprise an actual chassis monitor board used with a particular monitor, an ideal chassis board, a chassis board that can be adjusted to match the characteristics or specifications of a particular monitor board, etc.
Digitized signal is any electrical signal that has a digital nature.
Direction means up, down, left, right, clockwise anti-clockwise, brighter, dimmer, higher, lower, etc.
Discrete locations may mean individual pixels on a cathode ray tube screen or may comprise a plurality of pixels on a cathode ray tube screen.
Distortion characteristics means the amount of any particular type of distortion as indicated by the distortion data measured at a number of different points on the cathode ray tube.
Distortion data is a measure of the amount of distortion that exists on a cathode ray tube with regard to the geometry characteristics of he tube, and/or electron gun characteristics of the tube. For example, distortion data can be measured as a result of misalignment of a video image or improper amplitude or gain of a video signal. Distortion data can be a quantative measure of the deviation of correction factor parameters from a desired quantative value. Distortion data can be measured at coordinate locations on the cathode ray tube.
Driver signals are the electrical signals that are used to drive the deflection and control windings, and electron guns of the cathode ray tube.
Frame grabber means an electronic device for capturing a video frame.
Gain matrix table means a table of values that are used to indicate how a change in correction factor data for one correction factor parameter influences the change in the correction factor data for other correction factor parameters, as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/611,098, filed Mar. 5, 1996, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Making Corrections in a Video Monitor".
Internal to raster means any part or section of a CRT raster as defined by its location on the raster.
Interpolation engine means a device for generating continuously variable signals, such as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/613,902 filed Mar. 11, 1996 by Ron C. Simpson entitled "Interpolation Engine for Generating Gradients."
Logic Device means any desired device for reading the correction factor data from a memory and transmitting it to correction and driver circuitry, including a micro-processor, a state machine, or other logic devices.
Magnetic strip means any sort of magnetic storage medium that can be attached to a cathode ray tube.
Maximum correctable distortion data means the limits of the distortion data for which an aligned video signal can be generated for any particular cathode ray tube using predetermined correction and driver circuitry, and control circuitry.
Memory comprises any desired storage medium including, but not limited to, EEPROMs, RAM, EPROMs, PROMs, ROMs, magnetic storage, magnetic floppies, bar codes, serial EEPROMs, flash memory, etc.
Non-volatile electronic storage device means an electrical memory device that is capable of storing data that does not require a constant supply of power.
Pattern generator means any type of video generator that is capable of generating a video signal that allows measurement of distortion data.
Processor means a logic device including, but not limited to state machines, micro-processors, etc.
Pulse density modulation (PDM) means a device for generating pulse density modulation signals in response to one or more data bytes, such as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/611,098, filed Mar. 5, 1996 by James R. Webb et al. entitled "Method and Apparatus for Making Corrections in a Video Monitor".
Pulse width modulator (PWM) means a device that generates pulse width modulated signals in response to one or more data bytes, such as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/611,098, filed Mar. 5, 1996 that is cited above and U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,504.
Raster means all or part of the horizontal traces produced on the face of a CRT.
Rotation coil means a coil or winding used to rotate the raster in a CRT.
Rotational correction factor data means electronic data generated by a vision system in response to rotational distortion characteristic measurements obtained the vision system. The rotational correction factor data may be stored as term multipliers which are used to modify standardized transformation equations and parametric data as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,504, issued Jun. 1, 1993 entitled "Automatic Precision Video Monitor Alignment System". Alternatively rotational correction factor data may be obtained by screen mapping with a vision system and stored for later use as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/638,222 filed Apr. 26, 1996, entitled "Screen Mapping of a Cathode Ray Tube".
Rotational distortion characteristics means the amount of rotational distortion as indicated by the rotational distortion data measured at a number of different points on a cathode ray tube.
Rotational distortion data is a measure of the amount of rotational distortion that exists on a specific cathode ray tube with regard to the geometry characteristics of the tube. For example, rotational distortion data can be a result of misalignment of a video image on the face of the CRT. Rotational distortion data can be a quantitative measure of the deviation of rotational correction factor data from a desired quantitative value. Rotational distortion data can be measured at coordinate locations on the cathode ray tube.
Rotation driver signals means time dependent analog signals generated, by various methods, and applied synchronously to the CRT rotation coil to dynamically align traces of the CRT raster display.
Storage disk comprises any type of storage device for storing data including magnetic storage devices such as floppy disks, optical storage devices, magnetic tape storage devices, magneto-optical storage devices, compact disks, etc.
Term multipliers means factors generated by measuring distortion characteristics of a CRT for use with transformation equations to produce a correction signal.
Time Variable Rotation Driver Signal means a changing level correction signal, with a maximum period of one vertical CRT scan, applied to a coil of a CRT to rotate the horizontal traces of the electron beam on the CRT face.
Transformation equation means a standard form equation for producing a correction voltage waveform to correct common distortion characteristics of a cathode ray tube.
Variable Resistor means an apparatus capable of producing a changeable value of electrical resistance.
Video image means the displayed image that appears on the cathode ray tube screen that is produced in response to a video signal.
Video pattern is the video image of a pattern that appears on the cathode ray tube raster as a result of the video signal generated by the pattern generator.
Video signal means the electronic signal that is input to the electron guns of the cathode ray tube.
Vision System means any automated method for measuring CRT distortion characteristics generating distortion data and producing correction factor data, including rotational correction factor data that is used in the alignment of a raster on a cathode ray tube.
Waveform Generator means an apparatus for producing an electronic signal with a desired shape amplitude and period.
C. Description of the Background
Recent developments in measurement of distortion and automated alignment of CRT displays in devices such as computer monitors and digital television have made it possible and desirable to dynamically correct video displays for various types of distortion. Raster rotational distortion has been a type of distortion that it has not been possible to correct dynamically because of the nature of the distortion and its complex relationship with other CRT alignment parameters. Although rotation coils are provided on many CRT's, these coils have not been able to correct various types of rotational distortion occurring internal to the CRT raster. Correcting internal raster distortion is important in providing overall distortion correction since other correction parameters necessary to minimize display distortion are extremely sensitive to raster rotational distortion.
Heretofore, CRT rasters were rotated statically in an analog circuit by adjusting a variable resistor to supply a direct current (DC) correction level to the CRT rotation coil. This method is inherently limited because the same correction is applied over the whole raster. In other words, the entire raster can be rotated in an attempt to correct rotational distortion. However, rotational distortion often varies significantly over the raster. It is not uncommon for the top of the raster to have a different horizontal alignment than the center or bottom. Since prior art devices have been unable to correct for distortion internal to the raster, it would therefore be desirable to provide a dynamic system to accurately maintain rotational alignment of a CRT raster over the entire raster surface.

Dynamic alignment of cathode ray tube rasters


Methods and apparatus for providing a seal between two surfaces. Gaskets in accordance with the invention provide efficient and economical devices to seal spaces between two surfaces. The gaskets comprise frames for providing a rigid substrate to the gasket which are formed into a shape substantially conforming to a shape of one of the surfaces, clips interfaced to the frame for securing the gasket between the two surfaces, the clips being interfaced to the frame in a corresponding relationship to a receiving aperture in one of the surfaces adapted to fixedly hold the clips, thereby securing the gasket between the two surfaces, and resilient members fitted over the frame such that the frame resides in an interior space of the resilient member and the clips extend outwardly through the resilient member to be engaged with the receiving aperture for filling the space between the two surfaces and for ensuring that the gasket adequately seals the space between the two surfaces.

Articles and devices for providing a sealing arrangement between two surfaces are well known. Depending upon the particular type of seal which must be achieved and the environment in which the seal will operate, particular types of gaskets and seals have been developed to accomplish adequate sealing and to ensure that the outside environment does not impinge in the area which the seal is intended to protect. To accomplish these goals, prior seals and gaskets have generally been made up of a sealing strip and an attachment mechanism that is applied to the strip to ensure that the gasket or seal will adhere to a pair of surfaces and perform the sealing function.
Weather stripping is typical of the above-mentioned gasket arrangement for sealing a pair of surfaces. For example, weather stripping which is especially adapted for use on motor vehicles to seal the openings around doors and windows usually consists of tubular covers made of a soft material such as rubber, and a series of zigzag loops which are adapted to secure the rubber to the door or window of the car. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,060,353, Tea; 2,102,292, Tea; 2,121,854, Breer; and 2,121,893, Tea. The aforementioned patents generally teach a number of zigzag loops which encircle a core that is inserted through the tubular rubber covering and a fabric or panel member that covers the tubular covering to provide a unitary structure. The zigzag loops are not secured to the core, but merely slip onto the core after the zigzag loops are bent into a particular arrangement for insertion into the tubular member.
Weather stripping as taught in the above patents is typically only useful for protecting the interior of a car from inclement weather conditions. Such gaskets do not provide adequate sealing in high pressure or high temperature environments and suffer the infirmity of advanced degradation of the soft tubular material which provides the seal, and therefore of inadequate sealing once the seal ages in any significant manner. Therefore, the aforementioned weather strips do not satisfy long-felt needs in the art for adequate gasket and sealing arrangements which economically and efficiently attach to a surface defining an interior structure which must be protected from an outside environment.
As can be seen from the above-referenced weather strips, it is necessary to provide an attachment mechanism to the weather strip so that it can permanently seal the surfaces. To this end, prior clips and fastening devices for use in securing rubber weather seals and gaskets to doors have been utilized. In general, these fastening devices are embedded in a material such as plastic and consist of head and leg portions which may be formed from a single piece of wire. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,643,433, Scott, at col. 3, lines 38-43. The head portion is engaged with a metal piece in the surface while the wire shank or legs are inserted through an opening in, for example, an automobile body. See Scott at col. 3, lines 55-61. Individual fasteners with wire shanks and legs may have various shapes and may connect rubber gaskets to oven doors through a flange. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,988,788, Saponara, at col. 1, lines 12-17; U.S. Pat. No. 2,139,329, Fessler, at col. 1, lines 42-46.
Other various shapes and arrangements of clips or fasteners have been devised as attachment mechanisms for gaskets. Attaching clips may be looped out of wire to be engagable with a coil spring member in a weather strip and can comprise a base divided into two portions to provide a torsional action which holds a gasket in the door of a car in a firm matter. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,167,824, Berwanger and 3,059,299, Sarafinas. Individual fasteners may also consist of simple bent wire clips, or more complex tabs that project upward and which are deformable for grabbing the periphery of a sealing member which will adhere to a surface. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,867,464, Crampton and U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,087, DeCore et al.
Thus, prior attachment mechanisms for sealing weather strips and gaskets to surfaces are usually provided in multiple fashion and attach individually to a gasket to be clipped to a surface which the gasket is intended to seal. However, this arrangement is extremely costly since a large number of individual fasteners must be provided to the gasket in order to effect adequate sealing of the surface. Individual clips are therefore not economical and fail to solve a long-felt need in the art for an economic and efficient device for providing attachment of a sealing gasket to a surface.
In efforts to ensure that sealing gaskets are adequately fastened to surfaces, prior clips have been integrally attached to springs and frames, or molded from a single piece of wire. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,167,826, Watzl et al., col. 2, lines 27-31. This type of sealing gasket may be reinforced with a sinuous wire which is bent into a zigzag corrugated shape to provide snap fastener projections which are spaced lengthwise of the sealing strip and which conform to the shape of the door which the gasket will seal. See, e.g.. U.S. Pat. No. 2,938,249, Milne, at col. 2, lines 28-34; U.S. Pat. No. 2,579,072, Harris, at col. 3, lines 25-29.
Similarly, prior sealing gaskets for use with oven doors may be bendable into a rectangular shape and have a wire that is simultaneously drawn through the base of the gasket while the gasket is being extruded. In such an arrangement, resilient metal clips are used to grip a base and extend to apertures to secure the gasket to the oven. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,381, Vogel, at col. 2, lines 23-44. However, none of the aforementioned gaskets which are adapted to seal the space between surfaces provide adequate rigidity and structure to the gasket to ensure a good seal or reduce the number of integrally formed clips to hold the gasket against one of the surfaces. Thus, the above-mentioned gaskets and seals are not economical and are difficult to implement.
Other arrangements for sealing ovens and oven doors are disclosed in French Patent 2,491,120, Marchand. The Marchand patent teaches a tubular braid having a metallic wire inserted therein. Connection mountings are inserted into the holes of an oven door and have curved members with a free end and a sharp border. The free end with the sharp border pierces a glass tubular fitting during the mounting process and engages the metallic wire at a curved portion of the mounting. In operation of the connections disclosed in the Marchand patent, the connections are first mounted to an oven door and then pierce the tubular fitting to make connection with the wire inserted therein to cause the tubular fitting to provide a watertight seal between a watertight surface and the oven door. However, the apparatus disclosed in the Marchand patent fails to reduce the number of required clips to seal the tubular member to the door and does not teach integrally mounting clips to a frame to provide rigidity to the gasket.
Woven tubular gaskets with continuous integral attachments are known to provide sealing of a space between two surfaces. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,060, Moyer et al. The Moyer et al. patent teaches a woven tubular gasket having a continuous integral attachment which is contained within the woven tubular gasket and which has protrusions which extend through or are extendable through the walls of the woven tubular gasket to engage openings in a substrate. See Moyer et al., col. 2, lines 9-18. The protrusions are adapted to snap into the openings of a surface and the attachment also contains zigzag portions which line up substantially perpendicular to the plane of the protrusions to provide lateral stability for the woven tubular gaskets. See Moyer et al., col. 8, lines 33-53. Thus, the prior weather seals, gaskets, and sealing strips described above fail to fulfill long-felt needs in the art for rigid gaskets to seal the space between two surfaces. Gaskets provided in accordance with the present invention solve these long-felt needs as will be understood by those with skill in the art referenced to in the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method and apparatus for providing a gasket seal between surfaces

The Bentley-Harris Manufacturing Company


A water supply system includes a motor operated pump (12) which provides water upon demand to a remote location via a discharge pipe (13). When the demand 5 ceases, the pump (12) continues to operate to provide water to an annular chamber (21) which is under air pressure. The annular chamber (21) is formed by a storage pipe (20) generally concentrically positioned around the discharge pipe (13). A pressure switch (17) senses the water pressure in the discharge pipe (13) and stops the pump when a first predetermined pressure level is reached. Then upon the next water demand, water is provided from that in the storage pipe (20) until a second predetermined pressure level is sensed by the switch (17) at which time the pump (12) is activated to provide water through the discharge pipe (13). An air volume control unit (45) maintains the proper air pressure in the annular chamber (21).

Most water supply systems include a motor driven submersible pump located in a well to supply water to a residence or remote source of demand. To avoid rapid or frequent cycling of the pump motor, as during periods of small water demands, it has been necessary to provide pressure tanks, as separate units, with such water systems. These pressure tanks are usually located above the ground, such as in the basement of a home, in the line between the pump and the demand source.
While there are many types of pressure tanks, all generally perform the function of holding a supply of water under pressure to meet small water demands without the need for the pump to cycle. For example, in a typical tank a diaphragm or bladder separates air under pressure and the water supply. As such, before the pump shuts off at the end of a demand cycle, the lower part of the tank fills with water compressing the air above the bladder at the top of the tank. Then, at the time of a small demand, such as the opening of a faucet for a few moments, the supply of water to meet that demand is provided by the tank, with the air pressure above the bladder forcing the water to the location of the demand. Only when the water in the tank is essentially depleted, either by a series of small demands or upon a large demand, is it necessary for the pump to be activated thereby prolonging the life of the pump and particularly the motor thereof.
While such tanks adequately function for their intended purpose, they are not without their deficiencies. First, they represent significant initial and maintenance costs to the system. In addition, depending on the water system involved, they can be quite sizeable, some models being over six feet tall and two feet in diameter. As such, they take up a great deal of space for the consumer and represent a sizeable shipping cost to the manufacturer. Moreover, pressure tanks in the home represent a potential safety hazard in that the internal pressure, acting against the large surface area of the tanks, creates a significant force. As such, the pressure tanks have been known to fracture or explode, especially after they structurally deteriorate and yet are still exposed to the necessary internal pressures.
Thus, the need exists for a system which can supply small demands without the need for the expensive and potentially hazardous pressure tank.

Water supply system and method of operation thereof


A system for managing secure network connections among multiple FABs and OEMs is present that comprises: a plurality of VPN devices, one for each FAB and OEM; a plurality of dedicated isolation LANs, each one coupled to one of the plurality of VPN devices; and an e-diagnostic LAN, coupled to the plurality of dedicated isolation LANs, and operative to connect any OEM to any FAB according to authorization rules.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related generally to e-Manufacturing systems and methods that represent the foundation for inter-tool, manufacturer-to-manufacturer or manufacturer-to-supplier cooperation. More particularly, it is directed to an integrated system (hereinafter "eCentre") that allows collecting, propagating, distributing, storing and transforming data or information generated by the tools to different parties.
2. Related Art
High-technology manufacturing, such as integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing, often combines computerized manufacturing tools, tool operators, computer networks and other components to achieve an efficient, profitable manufacturing environment. The IC manufacturer often collects data from the manufacturing tools to keep watch on potential manufacturing problems and inefficiencies. The data collected are usually proprietary and often sensitive.
The IC manufacturers may need to provide the collected data to third party sources, especially, for example, the manufacturers of the tools. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM), also known as a toolmaker, usually provides maintenance of the tools, either directly or through a third-party contractor. The OEM must be able to access data from the tool as well, to service the machines, and also for internal purposes.
Many IC manufacturing sites use different tools that are made by more than one OEM, often by competing OEMs. Each OEM therefore wants to keep the data from its tools confidential.
Small IC manufacturing sites may not be readily accessible to the OEMs for service. It is usually not economical to maintain an on-site OEM representative for service, and such small IC manufacturing sites must often transport their service personnel to the site when service is needed. This is also costly, and can delay manufacturing, which reduces production and profits.
What is needed then is an improved method of sharing data remotely between OEMs and IC manufacturers, and other third-parties, that maintains data security for both the OEM and the IC manufacturer and that allows remote servicing of the tools.

Data sharing and networking system for integrated remote tool access, data collection, and control


In a ratchet wrench, a frictional force generation mechanism including a first guide bush and a disc spring is attached to a shank with a locking pin to form a shank assembly. Spring force of the disc spring acts only on the inside of the shank assembly. The shank assembly is inserted from a central space of a first annular hold portion toward a second annular hold portion, and the shank is held by an inner wall of the second annular hold portion. In the back side on which the shank assembly is inserted, the drop-out of the shank assembly from the central space side of the first annular hold portion is prevented by a snap ring attached to a groove of the first annular hold portion. With this arrangement, constant friction is applied to the shank.

Conventionally an electric or manual ratchet wrench is used to securely and rapidly fasten and loosen a bolt, a nut, or the like. Conventional ratchet wrenches are shown in Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and the like. A main-part structure of the conventional ratchet wrench will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a pair of annular hold portions including a first annular hold portion 12a and a second annular hold portion 12b is integrally formed at a front end of a housing 10. A crankshaft 14 is included in the housing 10, and the crankshaft 14 is rotated and reciprocally slid by a motor (not shown). An oscillation body 16 shown in FIG. 14 is included between the pair of annular hold portions 12a and 12b. A hole 18 is made in the center of the oscillation body 16, and an internal gear 20 is formed in an inner wall of the hole 18.
A shank 22 (FIG. 14) for intermittently rotating the bolt and the like is attached in the hole 18 in the center of the oscillation body 16. The shank 22 has a base portion 24, which includes a large-diameter portion 24a and a small-diameter portion 24b, and a cubic engagement portion 26 communicated with the small-diameter portion 24b side. A cylindrical switch button 30 to which a knob 28 is integrally formed is attached to the large-diameter portion 24a. Two wing members 34 are oscillatably included in a side face of the large-diameter portion 24a of the base portion 24, and plural pawls 32 are formed on both ends of the wing member 34. The large-diameter portion 24a of the base portion 24 is inserted into the hole 18 in the center of the oscillation body 16 to engage the pawls 32 of the wing members 34 with the internal gear 20 of the oscillation body 16.
In the ratchet wrench shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the crankshaft 14 is rotated and reciprocally slid by driving the motor (not shown), which allows the oscillation body 16 to be reciprocally oscillated to intermittently rotate the shank 22 engaging with the oscillation body 16. One end of a socket 36 shown in FIG. 13 is engaged with the engagement portion 26 of the shank 22, and the bolt or the like (not shown) is engaged with the other end of the socket 36, which allows the bolt or the like to be intermittently fastened or loosened.
When the shank 22 is attached between the first annular hold portion 12a and the second annular hold portion 12b, first an upper surface 38 (FIG. 14) of the base portion 24 (large-diameter portion 24a) is put on the front end, the shank 22 is inserted via a central space of the first annular hold portion 12a toward the second annular hold portion 12b, and the upper surface 38 of the base portion 24 abuts on and is engaged with a step portion 40 provided in the inner wall of the second annular hold portion 12b.
A washer 42, a disc spring 44 as a spring, and an annular guide bush 46 are sequentially inserted from the engagement portion 26 toward the small-diameter portion 24b of the base portion 24, and the washer 42 is brought into contact with a step portion 24c (FIG. 12) at a boundary between the large-diameter portion 24a and the small-diameter portion 24b to fix a snap ring 48 to the first annular hold portion 12a. Therefore, the washer 42, the disc spring 44, and the guide bush 46 are sandwiched between the step portion 24c of the base portion 24 and the snap ring 48.
The disc spring 44 as the spring is intended to impart friction to the shank 22 and not to generate rattle in the shank 22 between the pair of annular hold portions 12a and 12b. The disc spring 44 biases the components that are in contact with both sides thereof toward the direction causing the components to be separated from each other, so that the step portion 24c of the base portion 24 and the snap ring 48 are biased in a direction away from each other. The shank 22 (base portion 24) is in contact with the second annular hold portion 12b and the snap ring 48 is fixed to the first annular hold portion 12a, so that the disc spring 44 applies the force in the direction causing the first annular hold portion 12a and the second annular hold portion 12b to be separated from each other.
Since the forces in the opposite directions are applied to the first annular hold portion 12a and the second annular hold portion 12b by the disc spring 44 respectively, a distance between the first annular hold portion 12a and the second annular hold portion 12b is increased by long-term use, which results in a drawback that the friction applied to the shank 22 is decreased.
A ratchet wrench which overcomes this drawback is shown in Patent Document 3, and a main-part structure thereof will be described with reference to FIG. 15. A flange 50 is formed at an end portion of the base portion 24 of the shank 22 on the engagement portion 26 side thereof, and a groove 52 is formed in an outer periphery near an end opposite to the engagement portion 26 of the base portion 24. In the case where the shank 22 is attached between the first annular hold portion 12a and the second annular hold portion 12b, the side on which the groove 52 of the base portion 24 is formed is put on the front end, the base portion 24 is inserted into the washer 54, and the washer 54 is brought into contact with the flange 50. Then, the base portion 24 of the shank 22 is inserted from the outside of the first annular hold portion 12a toward the second annular hold portion 12b side while the side on which the groove 52 is formed is put on the front end. The insertion of the base portion 24 is stopped while the washer 54 (flange 50) is in contact with an outside surface of the first annular hold portion 12a. In the state in which the insertion of the base portion 24 is stopped, a position of the groove 52 is protruded toward the outside from the second annular hold portion 12b. Then, a washer 56 is inserted into the base portion 24 from the outside of the second annular hold portion 12b to attach a snap ring 58 to the groove 52 of the base portion 24. The description of the biasing means for imparting the friction to the shank 22 will be omitted here.
In the ratchet wrench shown in FIG. 15, the outside surface of the first annular hold portion 12a and the outside surface of the second annular hold portion 12b are sandwiched between the flange 50 formed in the base portion 24 of the shank 22 and the snap ring 58 attached to the base portion 24. As a result, the increase in distance between the first annular hold portion 12a and the second annular hold portion 12b is prevented to prevent the decrease in friction acting on the shank 22.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-30179 (pages 2 to 3, FIGS. 14 to 16)
Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,899 (columns 4 to 5, FIGS. 3 and 4)
Patent Document 3: U.S. Pat. No. 6,490,953 (columns 4 to 5, FIG. 9)
In the ratchet wrench shown in FIG. 15, the sandwiching means for preventing the outward increase in distance between the pair of first annular hold portion 12a and second annular hold portion 12b is included in the outsides of the first annular hold portion 12a and the second annular hold portion 12b, which prevents the decrease in friction caused by the outward increase in distance between the first annular hold portion 12a and the second annular hold portion 12b. However, in the ratchet wrench in which the sandwiching means for preventing the outward increase in distance between the pair of annular hold portions 12a and 12b is included in the outsides of the pair of annular hold portions 12a and 12b, the friction applied to the shank 22 is excessively increased, which causes the drawback that a torque is not increased due to resistance at the start of the operation. Therefore, an operation lever is intermittently operated at the start of the operation to generate the desired torque after a while. Thus, in the ratchet wrench including the means for preventing the outward increase in distance between the pair of annular hold portions 12a and 12b, there is the drawback that working efficiency is worsened because the torque is not increased at the start of the operation.

Ratchet wrench and method of assembling the same


A method is described for providing a discontinuous radio link for user equipment in a telecommunication network in a physical radio transmission layer while receiving packets during a packet service mode (i.e. maintaining the logical connection in higher protocol layers). The user equipment enters into a discontinuous reception mode receiving either a) two or more slots of each radio frame, or b) one or more frames; and powers down its receiver circuitry for either a) the remaining slots of the radio frame or b) one or more predefined periods, signaled by the telecommunication network. The two or more slots may be consecutive or non-consecutive slots in the radio frame.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a telecommunications network; and more particularly to a new wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) discontinuous radio link operation mode which is intended to be used in long packet service sessions to save battery life for user equipment (UE) in a packet service mode, where the telecommunications network has not released the connection, but no data is transferred.
2. Description of Related Art
In WCDMA, the packet service session can be active for a relatively long period of time, and due to a bursty nature of transferred data there is no data flow activity between an end-user and the communications network. During this period, the UE is only performing neighbor cell measurements, and not even performing these measurements if radio conditions are stable and new commands from the network have not been received. From a user's point of view, the terminal is consuming power but not providing good performance (long service time).
In the prior art, the UE receiver is active during a whole packet connection. (In WCDMA, during a packet transfer session the UE can be in CELL-FACH and CELL-DCH states.) A mechanism to provide power saving in the UE receiver by discontinuous reception during a packet session does not exist in the prior art.
The operation time of the UE in the packet mode is fully dependent on operator radio bearer (RB) release settings (which are not specified) and how fast the connection is released after the packet transfer session.
In one case, since packet transmission can start in any frame, all slots in the frame in the downlink (DL) have to contain transport format combination indicator (TFCI) bits, the receiver (rx) has to be on during the whole frame in all frames in order to decode the TFCI, and TFCI decoding has to be performed in each frame. (Handover measurements are also assumed to be running continuously.) With the help of the TFCI, the UE detects whether the dedicated physical data channel (DPDCH) (packet) exists. If not all slots in the frame in the DL contain TFCI bits, then the UE has to use a pilot energy comparison method first to evaluate whether the DPDCH exists in the frame. In this case, all the slots only contain pilot & TFCI information only if DPDCH exists. In both of these cases, it means that the rx side has to be on and doing decoding in each slot in the frame. Thus, no rx side battery savings can be achieved during the dedicated physical control channel (DPCCH) gating.
Alternatively, in case the network is able to schedule the time instants when new packets are transferred to the UE, it is possible to signal to the UE an activity period value, which indicates the radioframe(s) the UE's have to be able to receive and decode from the network. During the same activity period, the UE is able to send measurement messages in reverse link (uplink) to the network.

Method and apparatus for discontinuous reception scheme and power saving mode for user equipment in packet access mode


The present disclosure provides for many different embodiments of a multiple patterning technology method and system. An exemplary method includes receiving a pattern layout having a plurality of features; coloring each of the plurality of features one of at least two colors, thereby forming a colored pattern layout, wherein the coloring includes coloring match-sensitive features a same color; and fabricating at least two masks with the features of the colored pattern layout, wherein each mask includes features of a single color.

Integrated circuit (IC) technologies are constantly being improved. Such improvements frequently involve scaling down device geometries to achieve lower fabrication costs, higher device integration density, higher speeds, and better performance. Photolithography is frequently used for forming components of an integrated circuit device. Generally, an exposure tool passes light through a photomask or reticle and focuses the light onto a photoresist layer of a wafer, resulting in the photoresist layer having an image of integrated circuit components therein. Printing device patterns with small spacings is limited by a minimum pitch printing resolution of the exposure tool. Multiple patterning technology (MPT) has thus been implemented to improve pattern resolution as device densities increase. MPT separates a pattern layout into more than one mask, essentially assigning features of the pattern layout to several masks. The masks associated with the pattern layout are then used to transfer the pattern layout to a wafer, thereby pushing photolithography's limits.
To achieve pattern layouts that are MPT compliant, an exemplary MPT method assigns each feature of the pattern layout either a first color or a second color based on various MPT rules. Features assigned the first color are formed on a first mask, and features assigned the second color are formed on a second mask. Each mask is then used in a photolithography process to transfer the features assigned on the first mask and the second mask to a wafer, such that the wafer includes the pattern layout. It has been observed that when portions of the pattern layout that are associated with a given device are split into more than one mask, and thus, more than one lithography step, routing and device characteristic variations may occur. This can lead to device performance degradation. Accordingly, although existing multiple patterning technology methods have been generally adequate for their intended purposes, as device scaling down continues, they have not been entirely satisfactory in all respects.

Multiple patterning technology method and system for achieving minimal pattern mismatch

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


ITQ-34 (INSTITUTO DE TECNOLOGÍA QUÍMICA number 34) is a new crystalline microporous material with a framework of tetrahedral atoms connected by atoms capable of bridging the tetrahedral atoms, the tetrahedral atom framework being defined by the interconnections between the tetrahedrally coordinated atoms in its framework. ITQ-34 can be prepared in silicate compositions with an organic structure directing agent. It has a unique X-ray diffraction pattern, which identifies it as a new material. ITQ-34 is stable to calcination in air, absorbs hydrocarbons, and is catalytically active for hydrocarbon conversion.

Microporous materials, including zeolites and silicoaluminophosphates, are widely used in the petroleum industry as absorbents, catalysts and catalyst supports. Their crystalline structures consist of three-dimensional frameworks containing uniform pore openings, channels and internal cages of dimensions (<20 Å) similar to most hydrocarbons. The microporous structures of these materials allow them to absorb molecules whose size is equal to or less than the size of the pore openings. The composition of the frameworks can be such that they are anionic, which requires the presence of non-framework cations to balance the negative charge. These non-framework cations, such as alkali or alkaline earth metal cations, are exchangeable, either entirely or partially with another type of cation utilizing ion exchange techniques in a conventional manner. If these non-framework cations are converted to the proton form by, for example, acid treatments or exchange with ammonium cations followed by calcination to remove the ammonia, it imparts the material with acid sites having catalytic activity. The combination of acidity and restricted pore openings gives these materials catalytic properties unavailable with other materials due to their ability to exclude or restrict some of the products, reactants, and/or transition states in many reactions. Non-reactive materials, such as pure silica and aluminophosphate frameworks are also useful and can be used in absorption and separation processes of liquids, gases, and reactive molecules such as alkenes.
The family of crystalline microporous compositions known as zeolites exists as mineral and synthetic species. Their microporous frameworks contain tetravalent silicon tetrahedra atoms connected by bridging oxygen atoms. It is possible that some or all of the silicon atoms can be substituted with other tetravalent atoms capable of tetrahedral coordination, such as germanium, titanium, or zirconium. Some of the tetrahedral atoms can also be replaced with trivalent metal atoms such as aluminum, gallium, and/or iron to form an anionic framework as described above. U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,941 discloses one such microporous zeolite composition designated ITQ-13, which has a three-dimensional framework of channels containing 9, 10, and 10 tetrahedral atoms in the pore openings along the three crystallographic directions.
Another family of crystalline microporous compositions known as molecular sieves, which exhibit the ion-exchange and/or adsorption characteristics of zeolites is the aluminophosphates, identified by the acronym AlPO, and substituted aluminophosphates as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,310,440 and 4,440,871. U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,871 discloses a class of silica aluminophosphates, which are identified by the acronym SAPO and which have different structures as identified by their X-ray diffraction pattern. The structures are identified by a numerical number after AlPO, SAPO, MeAPO (Me=metal), etc. (Flanigen et al., Proc. 7 th Int. Zeolite Conf., p. 103 (1986) and may include Al and P substitutions by B, Si, Be, Mg, Ge, Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, etc.
ExxonMobil and others extensively use various microporous materials, such as faujasite, mordenite, and ZSM-5 in many commercial applications. Such applications include reforming, cracking, hydrocracking, alkylation, oligomerization, dewaxing and isomerization. Any new material has the potential to improve the catalytic performance over those catalysts presently employed.
There are currently over 160 known microporous framework structures as tabulated by the International Zeolite Association. There exists the need for new structures, having different properties than those of known materials, for improving the performance of many hydrocarbon processes. Each structure has unique pore, channel and cage dimensions, which gives its particular properties as described above. ITQ-34 is a a new molecular sieve having a unique framework structure.

ITQ-34, new crystalline microporous material

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company


The present application provides a data transmission method which includes: obtaining statistical characteristics of interferences; determining a total number of coding layers of multi-layer coding and a code rate and transmitting power of each coding layer according to the statistical characteristics of the interferences; processing to-be-transmitted information bits through data re-organization according to the determined total number of coding layers of the multi-layer coding to obtain information bits of each coding layer; coding the information bits of each coding layer respectively according to the determined code rate of each coding layer to obtain a coded data stream of each coding layer; processing the coded data stream of each coding layer through layer mapping and modulation according to the determined transmitting power of each coding layer to obtain a symbol stream to be transmitted; and transmitting the symbol stream to be transmitted.

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) can remarkably improve the uplink and downlink transmission performances of cell edge users and system throughput. Further, a Grant-free contention-based mechanism proposed for uplink transmission can significantly reduce the access delay of users and signaling overheads. In the Grant-free contention-based mechanism, however, since not all interferences can be accurately known, it is one of the currently to-be-solved problems how to perform coding and modulation for data at the transmitting device to reduce inter-user interferences to optimize the transmission performances and throughput of the mobile communication systems.

Data transmission method, apparatus and storage medium


Disclosed are a method for measuring a acoustic transfer function of a predetermined space to be secured or monitored through a correlation between sound signals acquired from a sound source generating device and a sound measuring device and a method and a system for judging whether there is an intrusion object by using a difference between an initially set acoustic transfer function information and varied acoustic transfer function information by using the method for measuring the transfer function. In the present disclosure, when an object moves or an intrusion object is generated in a predetermined space, intrusion or no intrusion is monitored by variation of the acoustic transfer function varied by the intrusion object even though there is no noise generated by the intrusion object.

A security/monitoring system is a field that has been researched for a long time and security and monitoring technologies in the related art include a security camera type, an IR type, an ultrasonic type, a sound measurement type, and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,045 (Intrusion Detection Systems with Turbulence Discrimination, Stockdale, Roy Huntington NY US) discloses a method adopting the ultrasonic type. When there is no intrusion, upper and lower parts of an ultrasonic waveform are generated as the same amount and when intrusion occurs, turbulence of the waveform occurs. When the turbulent waveform is integrated through digital processing, it is possible to judge intrusion or no intrusion according to a degree of the turbulence waveform.
Since the method has a simple principle and transmits ultrasonic waves, and receives and processes the ultrasonic waves again by using an ultrasonic transducer, the method can be easily implemented. However, the method has a limit that no obstacle should be provided in the monitoring space. The reason is that when the ultrasonic waves start under a turbulent state by the existing object or condition, an abnormality in which an intrusion signal is generated occurs regardless of whether an intrusion or no intrusion occurs.
As another method, Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-0128558 (Vehicle Ultrasonic Intrusion Detection Warning System and Method) is very similar to the above-mentioned first patent, but the application thereof is limited to the side of a vehicle. This method presents the vehicle ultrasonic intrusion detection warning system and method that can digitally modulate the ultrasonic waves, reduce misdetection by echoes or noise from the outside, and improve detection precision and further includes a technology that performs initialization setting through the amount of accumulated data in an initial setting step.
However, a disadvantage of the method is in that a dead zone is generated when the security space is extended to a wide space other than the vehicle because the ultrasonic waves are high in linearity. Further, this method has another disadvantage in that intrusion can be detected when omission of the ultrasonic waves are between an ultrasonic wave generator and an existing object is detected in the security space; however, intrusion at the back of the existing object cannot be detected. That is, security and monitoring in a space with an obstacle becomes difficult. Further, since a transfer function which is a unique characteristic of the monitoring space is not measured but variation to the initial setting is shown, it is difficult to overcome an influence by disturbance.
As yet another method, Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-0056986 (Security device and method using environmental sound) discloses a method for monitoring whether an abnormality occurs in a monitoring place by using the environmental sound generated according to an environment of a predetermined place to be monitored. That is, a characteristic extracting unit extracts a predetermined characteristic from a sound signal by installing a microphone in the predetermined place to be monitored and an abnormality occurrence judging unit judges whether the abnormality occurs in the predetermined place by comparing the extracted characteristic with an environmental sound reference model stored in a memory, and a warning outputting unit generates a warning signal and warns a monitoring person when it is judged that the abnormality occurs.
A disadvantage of this method is that a maloperation possibility increases when the surrounding environment is quiet at the time of the initial setting, and since a sound state of a predetermined pattern is learned, it is very sensitive to surrounding noise after the initial setting through learning, such that a maloperation level is even larger when the surrounding noise is generated than in the intrusion state. Further, when an intruder or an intrusion object intrudes in state in which the surrounding environment is quiet, such that environmental sound does not vary, the method still maloperates even during intrusion.
As the last related art, Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-0123752 (Low Power Security/Monitoring System Using Measurement of Sound Field Variation) discloses a method for judging intrusion or no intrusion in a predetermined space by using a difference between an initially set sound field and a sound field by the intrusion.
A disadvantage of the method is in that when intrusion is merely judged through the sound field difference, IF noise pollution is generated from the outside while measuring, and as a result, it is difficult to actually implement the method. In addition, when sound or noise is introduced from the outside, there is no method for solving an abnormality that occurs at the time of calculating the transfer function of the monitoring space.

Low-power security and intrusion monitoring system and method based on variation detection of sound transfer characteristic

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A nickel electrode for an alkaline secondary battery includes an electrically conductive base plate, and an active material particle supported on the conductive base plate and including a complex particle with a surface layer that mainly formed of a high-order cobalt compound whose oxidation number of cobalt is higher than +2 on a surface of a core layer particle that forms a high-order nickel hydroxide whose oxidation number of nickel is higher than +2. Lithium (Li) is contained to be a solid solution in the active material particle from 0.01 to 0.5 wt % of a converted amount as a lithium metal by weight of lithium metal divided by a total weight of the high-order nickel hydroxide, the high-order cobalt compound and the lithium metal.

In recent years, there has been a tendency of a rapid increase in electrically-powered equipment such as hybrid electric vehicle and electric power tools which require high rate discharge. As the electric source of the equipment, alkaline secondary batteries such as nickel metal-hydride batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries are widely used. As an active material for the nickel electrode, powder of high density nickel hydroxide {Ni(OH)2} is extracted via amine complex salt to reduce the self-discharge. Also, by adding solid solution of zinc (Zn) to nickel hydroxide, the formation of γ-NiOOH is inhibited. Furthermore, some modifications such as the charge efficiency improvement by inhibiting the generation of oxygen at the nickel electrode during charging through the forming of cobalt (Co) solid solution have been studied.
Also, for the secondary battery electrodes which use particles with poor conductivity such as metal oxides and hydroxides, it is a common method to improve the current collection function inside the battery plate by mixing the electrical conductive material such as a carbon powder or metal powder with the active material particle and then supporting the compound in the base plate. As for the nickel electrode for alkaline secondary battery, a method of building up an electrically conductive network is used by consisting of high-order cobalt compound in the aggregation of the active particle that consists of Ni(OH)2 and high-order nickel compound supported in the base plate in order to raise the active material packing density and secure the current collection function.
The electrically conductive network consisting of the aforementioned high-order cobalt compound can be formed by adding divalent cobalt compound such as cobalt monoxide {CoO} or cobalt hydroxide {Co(OH)2}, and the like to an active material powder that consists of nickel hydroxide, and forming a cobalt hydroxide layer on the surface of the core layer particle that mainly consists of Ni(OH)2, then assembling the alkaline secondary battery using a nickel plate filled with the active material powder on the base plate, and then generating a high-conductive and high-order cobalt compound with an oxidation of aforementioned cobalt compound whose oxidation number of cobalt is +2 by charging.
However, this method has a defect that the discharge capacity of the battery will decrease due to the increased amount of the discharge reserve production. In order to eliminate the defect, for example, a method has been proposed that forming a layer of Co(OH)2 on the surface of the core layer particle that mainly consists of nickel hydroxide, then oxidizing the active material powder with oxidant in the existence of alkaline solution, then turning the aforementioned cobalt compound on the surface layer to high-conductive and high-order cobalt compound before embedding it into a battery, and furthermore, increase the oxidation number of Ni higher than +2 by oxidizing a part of the Ni(OH)2 at the core layer. Although this method is able to decrease the discharge reserve, it has been quite difficult to increase the capacity of the nickel electrode itself or the charge efficiency.
As a reforming method of the active material for a nickel electrode (hereinafter referred simply as "active material", too), one method is proposed by adding of alkaline metal (for example, Li) to the active material. It is reported that the capacity decay during the overdischarge can be inhibited by adding an alkaline solution containing Li+ to the active material which containing Zn and the like under the solid solution state, and then heating-up the system. In particular, an example is reported that adding the mixture solution of NaOH and LiOH to the mixture powder of hydrated nickel powder containing 2 mol % of zinc solid solution and Co(OH)2 powder and then heating-up at 100° C. under the atmosphere. (See Patent Reference 1 as an example.)    Patent Reference 1: Japanese Published Unexamined Application No. H8-148146 (page 4, paragraph 0029 and page 6, paragraph 0044)
However, in the method described in Patent Reference 1, as Li is not incorporated into Ni(OH)2 particles, it would not result in increase of Ni(OH)2 capacity per unit weight (mAh/g, hereinafter referred simply as "capacity density"). The reason maybe due to that Li is not captured in Ni(OH)2.
When it is charged up to the high oxidation state such as 3.5 oxidation number of nickel, in order to prevent positive electrode inflation by inhibiting generation of γ-NiOOH, for example, a nickel hydride battery equipped with a positive electrode which has an active material as a nickel hydroxide solid solution comprising at least one kind of transition metal and at least one kind of alkaline metal is proposed, and the preferable solid solution amount is 2 to 10 atomic % (atm %) of transition metal 5 to 10 atm % of alkaline metal against Ni of Ni(OH)2. (See Patent Reference 2 as an example.)    Patent Reference 2: Japanese Published Unexamined Application No. H10-289715 (page 3, paragraph 0017)
According to the description of Patent Reference 2, it is possible to improve the capacity density because it can be charged to the high oxidation number of Ni that is contained in the active material; however, it has a deficit such as an insufficient cycle characteristic.
Also, an active material for alkaline secondary battery that mainly consists of Ni(OH)2, having nickel hydroxide whose Ni valence is higher than divalent, having high-order cobalt compound containing the first alkaline cation on the surface of nickel hydroxide, and a positive electrode containing the nickel hydroxide whose valence is higher than the aforementioned divalent and containing the second alkaline cation has been proposed. (See Patent Reference 3 as an example.)    Patent Reference 3: Japanese Published Unexamined Application No. 20000-223119 (page 5, paragraph 0026-0027)
According to the description of Patent Reference 3, it can prevent peeling-off of the compound of high-order nickel hydroxide and high-order cobalt each other, and as the electrical conductivity of the positive electrode can be kept in a higher level, the utilization rate of the active material can be improved. For example, a type of nickel hydroxide compound that contains about 0.2 wt % of sodium ion and a type of nickel hydroxide compound that contains about 0.7 wt % of lithium ion are reported. However, in the method stated in Patent Reference 3, although the electrical conductibility would be increased, there is a tendency to deteriorate the charge/discharge cycle characteristic maybe because of the excessive lithium ion in the active material, and also as for cobalt compound, it only reports the one containing sodium ion but lithium ion.
Also, when the alkaline solution containing LiOH for the reaction bath is used in the process of oxidation treatment to oxidize a raw material powder consisting of Co(OH)2 and Ni(OH)2, which is reported that Li+ penetrates into the powder or adheres to the surface, resulting in obtaining a material with a high utilization rate. And then, it is reported that the concentration of alkaline solution is preferably 1 mol/l (1M/l) or higher. (See Patent Reference 4 as an example.)    Patent Reference 4: Japanese Published Unexamined Application No. 2002-110154 (page 5, paragraph 0032)
According to the method stated in Patent Reference 4, the utilization rate of the active material can be improved; however, in this method, even in normal charging condition, it has a tendency be overcharged, possibly due to the fact that the Li content ratio in the active material of nickel electrode is not controlled. Therefore, same as aforementioned Patent Reference 3, there is a tendency to deteriorate the charge/discharge cycle characteristic.
Also, at the nickel electrode that contains nickel hydroxide and cobalt hydroxide as an active material, when a lithium compound that consists of a salt of strong acid and strong base, or a salt of weak acid and strong base is added to the active material, lithium ion is incorporated into the nickel hydroxide crystal lattice, and by increasing the lattice defect, electron transfer would be accelerated and electrical conductibility would be improved. Also, the generation of the poor charge/discharge reversible γ-NiOOH would be inhibited, resulting in an improved utilization rate of the active material. (See Patent Reference 5 as an example.)    Patent Reference 5: Japanese Published Unexamined Application No. 2001-6679 (page 3, paragraph 0014)
However, in the Patent Reference 5, as an active material particle has not been previously oxidized and then Li might be difficult to be fixed in the active material particle during the addition of Li to the active material, when the utilization rate of the active material at 288 mAh per gram of the active material particle is 100%, the obtained highest utilization rate of the active material is just 100%, which is not necessarily satisfactory in the viewpoint of achieving a high capacity

Nickel electrode for alkaline secondary battery and alkaline secondary battery


A hybrid antenna unit includes a circuit board having top and bottom surfaces, a planer antenna element which is mounted on the top surface of the circuit board and which receives first and second radio waves, an antenna base and a top cover that cover the circuit board and the planer antenna element. A bar antenna element stands on the top cover in a slanting position. A processing unit is mounted on the bottom surface of the circuit board and is connected to the planer antenna element. The processing unit processes the first and the second radio waves. A shielding case is mounted on the bottom surface of the circuit board and shields the processing unit. A booster circuit is mounted on the circuit board and is for use in the bar antenna element.

This invention relates to a hybrid or compound antenna unit and, in particular, to a hybrid antenna unit for mounting a plurality of different antennas therein.
In the manner which is known in the art, recently, various different antennas are mounted in a vehicle such as an automobile. For example, there are, as such antennas, a GPS (Global Positioning System) antenna, an SDARS (Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service) antenna, a cellular phone antenna, an AM/FM radio antenna, or the like.
The GPS (Global Positioning System) is a satellite positioning system using artificial satellites which are called GPS satellites. The GPS is a system which receives radio waves (GPS signals) from four GPS satellites among twenty-four GPS satellites orbiting the Earth, measures, on the basis of the received waves, a position relationship and a time error between a mobile object and the four GPS satellites, and accurately calculates, on the basis of a principal of triangulation techniques, a position and/or a height of the mobile object on a map.
In recent years, the GPS is used in a car navigation system for detecting a position of a running automobile or the like and becomes widespread. In the car navigation system, a car navigation apparatus comprises a GPS antenna for receiving the GPS signals, a processing unit for processing the GPS signal received by the GPS antenna to detect a current position of the vehicle, a display unit for displaying, on the map, the position detected by the processing unit, and so on. A plane antenna such as a patch antenna is used as the GPS antenna.
On the other hand, the SDARS (Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service) is a radio service according to a digital radio broadcasting using artificial satellites (which will called "SDARS satellites" hereinafter) in the United States of America. That is, in recent years, a digital radio receiver, which receives the satellite wave from the SDARS satellites or the terrestrial wave so as to listen to the digital radio broadcasting, has been developed and is put to practical use in the United States of America. Specifically, two broadcasting stations called XM and Sirius provide radio programs on 250 or more channels in total. The digital radio receiver is generally mounted on a mobile object such as an automobile and is adapted to receive a radio wave having a frequency of about 2.3 gigahertz (GHz) as a received wave to listen to the digital radio broadcasting. In other words, the digital radio receiver is a radio receiver capable of listening to mobile broadcasting. Inasmuch as the received wave has the frequency of about 2.3 GHz, a reception wavelength (resonance frequency) A thereof is equal to about 128.3 mm. It is noted here that the terrestrial wave is a radio wave obtained by receiving the satellite wave at a ground station, slightly shifting the frequency of the satellite wave, and retransmitting the linear polarized wave. Thus, the terrestrial wave is the linear polarized wave exhibiting linear polarization while the satellite wave is a circular polarized wave exhibiting circular polarization. A plane antenna such as a patch antenna is used as the SDARS antenna.
An XM satellite radio antenna apparatus normally serves to receive circular polarized radio waves from two stationary satellites and, in an insensitive zone of the circular polarized waves, receives a radio wave by using a terrestrial linear polarization portion of the radio antenna apparatus. On the other hand, a Sirius satellite radio antenna apparatus normally serves to receive circular polarized radio waves from three orbiting satellites (synchronous type) and, in the insensitive zone, receives a radio wave by a terrestrial linear polarization portion of the radio antenna apparatus.
As described above, the radio wave having the frequency of about 2.3 GHz is used in the digital radio broadcasting. Therefore, an antenna for receiving the radio wave must be located outside as known in the art. If the digital radio receiver is mounted in the mobile object such as the automobile, the antenna unit is often attached to a roof of the mobile object (car body).
A hybrid antenna unit is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2006/0290580 A1 which will be called a first patent document. The hybrid antenna unit disclosed in the first patent document comprises a main circuit board having first and second surfaces opposite to each other, a first antenna unit, mounted on the first surface, for receiving a first radio wave from a first kind of artificial satellites, and a second antenna unit, mounted on the first surface, for receiving a second radio wave from a second kind of artificial satellites. The first antenna unit comprises the GPS antenna for receiving the first radio wave from the GPS satellites as the first kind of artificial satellites. The second antenna unit comprises the SDARS antenna for receiving the second radio wave from the SDARS satellites as the second kind of artificial satellites.
At any rate, the hybrid antenna unit disclosed in the first patent document comprises a first plane antenna used as the GPS antenna and a second plane antenna used as the SDARS antenna which are put side by side with each other. In addition, the hybrid antenna unit disclosed in the first patent document further comprises an antenna element and an antenna case in which the antenna element is inserted. The main circuit board is mounted in the antenna case. The antenna element comprises a first pole antenna element and a second pole antenna element The first pole antenna element is for receiving a radio wave of AM/FM radio bands while the second pole antenna element is for receiving and transmitting a radio wave for a cellular phone (e.g., a mobile telephone or a car telephone). That is, the second pole antenna is a cellular antenna. On the second surface of the main circuit board, a booster circuit for the first pole antenna element is mounted.
The hybrid antenna unit disclosed in the first patent document comprises two antenna units which put side by side with each other. The hybrid antenna unit is therefore disadvantageous in that it is upsized.
An antenna element is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2009/0002229 A1 which will be called a second patent document. The antenna element disclosed in the second patent document can receive a GPS signal and a SDARS signal as two kinds of electric waves. The antenna element comprises a dielectric board, a first antenna radiation electrode formed on a top surface of the dielectric board at an outer region, a second antenna radiation electrode formed on the top surface of the dielectric board at a central portion, a ground electrode formed on a bottom surface of the dielectric board, a feeding pattern formed on the side surface of the dielectric board for feeding to the first antenna radiation electrode by electromagnetic coupling, and a feeding pin having an end connected to the second antenna radiation electrode. A combination of the first antenna radiation electrode, the ground electrode, and the feeding pattern serves as a first antenna portion for receiving a first radio wave. A combination of the second antenna radiation electrode, the ground electrode, and the feeding pin serves as a second antenna portion for receiving a second radio wave.
The second patent document further comprises a hybrid antenna unit comprising the antenna element and a bar antenna. The bar antenna receives both of a radio wave of AM/FM radio bands and a radio wave for a mobile telephone or a car phone. The antenna element is mounted on a circuit board. The circuit board comprises a first processing circuit for processing the first radio wave to produce a first processed signal, a second processing circuit for processing the second radio wave to produce a second processed signal, and a combining circuit for combining the first processed signal with the second processed signal to produce a combined signal. A combination of the antenna element and the circuit board serves as an antenna unit. The antenna unit is covered by an antenna base and a top case. The bar antenna stands on the top case in a slanting position.
A composite antenna module is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-267843, namely, JP-A-2001-267843 which will be called a third patent document. The composite antenna module disclosed in the third patent document comprises a circuit board having an upper surface and a rear surface opposite to each other, a plurality of types of antennas arranged on the upper surface of the circuit board, and a circuit including a signal combining circuit part formed on the rear surface of the circuit board. The signal combining circuit part forms a combined signal of high frequency signals of the various antennas. The various antennas are for S-DAB, for VICS, for GPS, and for remote keyless entry.
A composite antenna device is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-013293, namely, JP-A-2007-013293 which will be called a fourth patent document. The composite antenna device disclosed in the fourth patent document comprises a board having a principal side and a rear side opposite to each other, a feeding electrode, a planar antenna element, an electric circuit, and a pole antenna element. The principal side of the board is connected to ground except its prescribed region (installation base). The feeding electrode is formed to the prescribed region. The planer antenna element is mounted to the principal side of the board. The electric circuit is connected to the planer antenna element and is mounted to the rear side of the board. The pole antenna element stands upright from the feeding electrode apart from the planar antenna element on the principal side of the board. The pole antenna element includes a coil part wound in a form of a coil. The planar antenna element comprises a patch antenna and for GPS. The pole antenna element is for wireless LAN.