In an LED2 having a directionality in an emission direction of emitted light, light emitted from a light emitting surface of the LED 2 is refracted by a semi-cylindrical concave lens 3 to be enlarged in the circumference direction of an optical axis of a headlight 1; thus, even when the LED2 is applied to a headlight that is constituted by optical members that are similar to optical members that are compatible with conventional light sources having no directionality, such as an incandescent lamp, a discharge lamp and the like, it can be used as a light source for headlight that is capable of illuminating the right and left directions ahead of a vehicle with a sufficient brightness.

Recently, as a light source for in-vehicle headlights (driving lights, passing lights, and so on), an LED has become popular in place of a conventional tungsten-filament incandescent lamp and a discharge lamp by arc discharge. The LED can ensure required brightness with long life and less power, and further can emit light with stable brightness under a simple control that supplies a constant current thereto to be thus preferred as a light source for a vehicular lighting fixture.
Meanwhile, since the LED emits the light from a flat surface of a semiconductor chip, it has a directionality such that emission in a normal direction from the light emitting surface is intensive, but that emission in a direction parallel to the light emitting surface is very little; as a light source for the headlight that is constituted by optical members for a conventional light source that corresponds to a non-directional linear light source such as the incandescent lamp or discharge lamp, even if the LED having a light emitting part that is elongated in its optical axis direction like the conventional light source is used, the amount of light illuminating the right and left directions ahead of an vehicle is insufficient, and hence when the LED is used as the light source, the optical members for the conventional light source cannot be diverted thereto. Accordingly, for the headlight using a current LED as the light source, a newly-designed LED-dedicated optical member is generally used; however, when the above LED having the light emitting part elongated in its optical axis direction is used, and further the directionality thereof can be adapted like the conventional light source, the optical members for the conventional light source can be diverted thereto together with techniques cultivated so far, and thus compatibility with the conventional light source can be established, so that a more preferred light source for headlight can be achieved. In the following, conventional examples of the lighting fixture using the LED as the light source will be shown.
A vehicular lighting fixture according to Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which the number of LEDs to be lighted is increased in order to achieve sufficient brightness as a vehicular headlamp, in such a manner that the LEDs are arranged on the upward, downward, leftward and rightward faces of a rectangular-column base so as to arrange a large number of LEDs in a narrow space. In Patent Document 1, since the large number of LEDs that are arranged to solve the issue of the insufficiency of the amount of light are complemented in light-emission directionality with each other, there exists no problem regarding the light-emission directionality of the LED.
Accordingly, there is no description about measures to solve a problem where a light emitting element having a light-emission directionality in one direction is used alone.
Meanwhile, a vehicular headlight according to Patent Document 2 has the following configuration: while an LED with a light emitting surface elongated in a right-left direction of a vehicle is used with projector-type optical members, a concave lens is arranged between a reflection mirror and the LED in order to achieve a light distribution that is narrow in the right-left direction. In Patent Document 2, since an optical member that acts as the concave lens (typical concave lens) is provided over the front-back and right-left directions of an LED light emitting surface thereof, there exists no problem regarding the emission directionality of a rectangular-shaped LED that is elongated in an optical axis direction of the headlight (the same direction as the front-back direction of the vehicle).
Accordingly, there is no description about measures to solve a problem where a light emitting element having a light emitting surface that is almost planar and elongated in the optical axis direction is used.
Meanwhile, a vehicular headlight according to Patent Document 3 has a configuration that uses an LED with a light emitting surface elongated in the right-left direction of a vehicle, and a reflection mirror (optical member) comprising a parabolic free curved surface, in order to achieve a light distribution pattern for a low beam (passing light). In Patent Document 3, "energy distributions of a semiconductor-type light source" are disclosed in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, and thus it is conceived that the directionality of the LED is taken into consideration. However, since the headlight is configured by a combination of the rectangular LEDs each elongated in the right-left direction of the vehicle, there exists no problem regarding the light-emission directionality of the rectangular LED elongated in the optical axis direction.
Accordingly, there is no description about measures to solve a problem where a light emitting element having a light emitting surface that is almost planar and elongated in the optical axis direction is used.
Meanwhile, an LED valve according to Patent Document 4 is configured in consideration of compatibility between a filament-type light source and an LED light source, and has a configuration in which the LED light source is mounted in a head lamp for use of the filament-type light source. On this occasion, in order to emit light equal to that from the filament-type light source to a concave reflection mirror of the head lamp, the light emitting surface of the LED is aligned in a vertical direction thereto and a reflection member is provided just in front of the LED, so that the light emitted forward from the LED is reflected by the reflection member and led to the concave reflection mirror. In Patent Document 4, the LED of which the light emitting surface is aligned in the vertical direction is used as the light source, and the light-emission directionality of the LED is adjusted by the reflection member provided just in front of the LED, but the directionality of the light emitting element that is elongated in the optical axis direction is not adjusted.
Accordingly, there is no description about measures to solve a problem where a light emitting element that is elongated in the optical axis direction is used.

Light source for headlight and headlight


It is provided a method for detecting when a user equipment, UE, is airborne. The method is performed in a UE status detector and comprises the steps of: obtaining an indicator of variation of signal strengths for signals received in the UE, wherein the signals are transmitted for at least three different cells; and determining, based on the indicator of variation, when the UE is airborne.

In mobile communication systems, base stations provide communication ability to instances user equipment, UEs in one or more cells for each base station. When UEs transmit data uplink, towards the base stations, the uplink transmission can form interference for other radio communication.
UEs are sometimes provided in aerial vehicles, such as in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones. As long as an aerial vehicle is flying at a low altitude, relative to the antenna height of the base stations, the airborne UE behaves like a conventional UE on the ground. However, once an aerial vehicle is flying well above the antenna height of the base stations, the airborne UE has line-of-sight, and thus improved radio transmissions, to/from more base stations than a UE on the ground. This results in the uplink signal from the airborne UE becoming more prominent in multiple cells. The uplink signal from the airborne UE thus increases interference in neighbouring cells. The increased interference has a negative impact for UEs on the ground, e.g. smartphone, IoT device, etc. Similarly, such line-of-sight conditions to multiple cells lead to higher downlink interference to the aerial UE.
Moreover, many UAVs are used for transmitting a video feed to its flight controller, which implies large amounts of uplink streaming traffic for the network. Based on the traffic characteristics and the control characteristics, the mobile operators are thus likely to put the airborne UEs in a separate service class, and associating different policies on them. Thus, it is important that it is possible to identify if a UE is an airborne UE or a regular ground-based UE to provide the right service optimization for UAV UEs while protecting the performance of ground UEs from the potential interfering signals from UAV UEs.
For legitimate UAV UEs, mechanisms in standards can be enforced so that these UAV UEs can be identified by the networks. For example, it can be required that a UAV operator should acquire a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card that is designed or registered for UAV use if the UAV is to implement a UE making use of a cellular connection. Another method could be to introduce a direct indication mechanisms in the standards so that UAV UEs will inform the network when they are airborne. However, this method cannot be used by legacy UEs.
It is more challenging to identify rogue airborne UEs that either are not registered with the networks or do not support direct indication of flying mode. For example, there are some cases where a normal UE is attached to a UAV and is flown over the network, without indicating to the network of its airborne capability. The airborne UE may then generate excessive interference to the network and may not even be allowed by regulations in some regions. It is critical to identify these unlicensed airborne UEs from both an operator and a security perspective.
In the written submission R2-1713408 for 3GPP TSG-RAN WG2 #100, it is presented a method for UAV identification. It is shown that using measurement reports from the UE, it is possible to detect a potentially interfering UE and identify whether this UE is a flying UE at the same time. The detection is based on a combination of RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) and RRSI/RSRQ (Received Signal Strength Indicator/Reference Signal Received Quality) measurements. In the written submission, it is mentioned that RSRP measurements of serving and neighbouring cells alone are not enough to determine whether a UE is in the air or not.


Methods and apparatus for playing poker are provided. The method includes a step of placing an ante bet for each of one or more hands to be played. The player may optionally place a side bet for each of the one or more played hands. The side bet is that a set of cards (e.g., two) to be dealt to such hand will have a predetermined ranking. In any event, the set of cards are dealt to each played hand. For each of the played hands, the player takes one of the following actions: a fold action, a call action, or a raise action. Then, one or more community cards are dealt (alternatively, the cards are dealt into each hand directly). Then, a ranking is done each of the played hands, each played hand formed of the initial set of cards dealt plus the community card(s). A payout occurs for each of the played hands according to the wager, the ranking, the result of any side bets placed, and a predetermined paytable.

This disclosure relates generally to poker games and more particularly to a novel poker game and variants thereof suitable for casino, video poker and online gaming environments.
A variety of poker games are known in the art, including well known five and seven card stud poker games, variations on Hold'em games, and still others. The patent literature includes a number of different poker games, including those disclosed Webb, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,698,759 and 5,685,774. Moody's U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,823,873 and 6,007,066 describe a multi-play poker game wherein a player may play more than one hand during a turn of a game.
Proprietors of gaming establishments, including online gaming casinos operators, continue to have a need for new games that are attractive to players, in that players that play the same game repeatedly may become bored with the game and lose interest. The present game and variants thereof disclosed herein provide new poker games that are easy to learn and play, provide for a high level of interest, and provide the player with the opportunity for playing multiple hands simultaneously. However, the details on the play of the game are quite different from either the Moody or Webb patents cited above.

Methods and apparatus for playing poker games


A multi-application card for providing secure access to multiple card accounts. This system includes a multi-application card storing a readable identification number corresponding to the card, and a database located remotely from the card. The database correlates the identification number with a record associated with the card, and the record contains a list of card account numbers and associated indexes. The system also includes a translator that receives a transaction request including the identification number read from the multi-application card and one of the associated indexes obtained from a source other than the card. The translator then uses the received identification number to access the corresponding record in the database, and uses the received index number to retrieve the corresponding card account number and expiry date. The translator then transmits the card account number and expiry date in response to the transaction request. With this system, a cardholder can carry a single multi-application card that provides access to multiple accounts associated with different cards by using a simple index. Thus, the cardholder can use multiple credit, debit and other non-encoded, magnetically encoded, bar-coded and microprocessor based cards, without having to carry each individual card.

This invention relates to electronic transaction systems including credit cards, debit cards, and the like. More specifically, the invention relates to a multi-application card and associated transaction processing system for providing secure access to multiple card accounts.
Financial institutions and commercial companies issue credit and debit cards to individuals, groups of individuals, associations and businesses. In addition, people carry a variety of other types of cards including frequent flyer cards, video club cards, library cards, insurance cards and a driver""s license. A quick count of the cards in one""s wallet reveals how widespread this proliferation of cards has become. Typically, consumers carry numerous cards and accept the inconvenience of bulging wallets.
Even if the annoyance of carrying multiple cards and finding the right card when needed is ignored, a greater problem remains. By carrying numerous cards, the consumer exposes himself to a greater risk of loss or theft. Canceling and replacing lost or stolen credit cards, debit cards and charge cards can create substantial stress for the cardholder. The source of this stress may reside in remembering the lost cards, finding the appropriate account numbers, informing the card issuers and awaiting the issuance of replacement cards. Unauthorized use of a stolen card before cancellation may further exacerbate the stress a cardholder experiences.
Commercial institutions have developed various techniques aimed at reducing fraudulent transactions. Financial institutions, for example, have implemented a Personal Identification Number (PIN) system. This system requires that consumers enter a PIN into an automatic teller machine (ATM) before proceeding with a transaction. While the PIN system may partially reduce fraudulent purchases for debit cards, the application of this system does not cover the broad area of retail purchases. Many charge cards and credit cards only require the PIN when using an ATM, if at all. This poses a security risk to the cardholder because anyone with a lost or stolen card can charge purchases to the card account.
A more recent solution to the security issue is the smart card. While there are various types, most smart cards include an embedded microprocessor and memory that can store substantial cardholder information. This approach supposedly provides merchants more information when deciding if the consumer is the cardholder. Like the PIN system, smart cards partially address the security issue aimed at reducing fraudulent purchases. However, other security concerns emerge such as (1) information on the smart card could be accessed by an unauthorized user (2) unauthorized users could still make purchases and (3) smart cards do not protect privacy. For example, storing information on the card enables anyone with the ability to display the contents of a card to learn information about the cardholder. Even if the smart card could be used as a multi-application card and addresses the issue of too many cards, the inherent security risks inhibit its widespread implementation.
Therefore, there is a need for a system that substantially reduces the number of cards that a cardholder must carry while increasing the security of card-based transactions.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a system allowing a single card device to be utilized in accessing a plurality of applications. The system comprises a card processing system, a card reader communicatively coupleable to the card processing system, the card reader being operative to read a data identification number from the single card device and to receive an index number selected by a user of the card device through a data interface. The processing system, in response to receiving the data identification number and the index number from the card reader is operative to identify an account number associated with the data identification number and the index number when the index number is within a first subset of index numbers chosen by an authorized holder of the card device from a domain of potential index numbers. The system is also operative to disable the card device from further use when the index number is within a second subset of index numbers chosen by the authorized holder of the card device from the domain of potential index numbers. The system can also re-enable a disabled card device when the index is within a third subset of index numbers chosen by the authorized holder from the domain of potential index numbers.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method allowing a single card device to be utilized in accessing a plurality of applications. The method includes reading a data identification number from the single card device and receiving an index number selected by a user of the card device through a data interface. The method identifies an account number associated with the data identification number and the index number when the index number is within a first subset of index numbers chosen by an authorized holder of the card device from a domain of potential index numbers. The method also disables the card device from further use when the index number is within a second subset of index numbers chosen by the authorized holder of the card device from the domain of potential index numbers and re-enables a disabled card device when the index number is within a third subset of index numbers chosen by the authorized holder from the domain of potential index numbers.
The present invention meets the needs described above in a secure multi-application card system. With this system, consumers experience additional convenience by replacing numerous cards with a single multi-application card. This replacement can result in saving time by eliminating the search for the xe2x80x9crightxe2x80x9d card. Using the multi-application card also reduces the space needed by consumers for card storage. With the invented system, a cardholder can carry a single multi-application card, referred to as a xe2x80x9cSupracard,xe2x80x9d and using a simple index, access and invoke the use of multiple cards issued by multiple issuers and serving multiple purposes. Thus, the cardholder can use multiple credit, debit and other non-encoded, magnetically-encoded, bar-coded and microprocessor based cards without having to carry each individual card.
The present invention also provides secure access to one or more card accounts. By storing the cardholder""s record in a location remote from the multi-application card, the invention removes relevant account information, such as account number and expiration date, from easy access by an unauthorized user. To further increase security, the remote database may not contain personal identification numbers of the stored cards. As a result, potential hackers of the database still may not get information needed to use the cards. The invention also includes a lock feature where the multi-application card may be automatically locked from future transactions in the event of predefined actions. As a further advantage, cardholder may purposefully lock the card to prevent future transactions.
Generally described, the invention includes a multi-application card for providing secure access to multiple cards and accounts. The multi-application card stores a readable identification number that corresponds to the card. The invention also includes a database located remotely from the card. The database correlates the identification number with a record associated with the card. The record contains a list of card types, card numbers and expiry dates in positions relative to their associated indexes. The invention also includes a translator that receives a transaction request, which includes the identification number read from the multi-application card and an index obtained from a source other than the multi-application card. The translator then uses the received identification number to access the corresponding record in the database, and uses the received index to retrieve the corresponding card account number and expiry date. The translator then transmits the card account number and expiry date to the originator of the transaction request.
In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the secure multi-application card system improves over the drawbacks of prior systems. The specific techniques and structures employed by the invention to improve over the drawbacks of the prior systems and accomplish the advantages described above will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention and the appended drawings and claims.


A tool for use with a rotatable drill shaft and a source of pressurized fluidized solidifying agent. The tool member has upper and lower extremities. A coupler is coupled to the upper extremity of the tool member and is adapted to be secured to the drill shaft. A plurality of radially extending arms are secured to the tool member intermediate the upper and lower extremities of the tool member. A plurality of forwardly and downwardly extending teeth are secured to each of the radially extending arms and are spaced apart longitudinally of the arms. A plurality of nozzles are carried by the tool member and are spaced circumferentially of the tool member and are coupled to the source of pressurized fluidized solidifying agent.

This invention relates to a tool and apparatus incorporating the same and a method for constructing cylindrical columns utilizing the tool and forming a wall using the columns.
Columns have heretofore been formed typically by driving a steel casing down into the ground to the appropriate depth and then drilling out the casing. Thereafter, a reinforcing cage or soldier beam is placed in the steel casing and filled with concrete. Thereafter the steel casing is pulled out and used again. Such a procedure is costly and time consuming. There is therefore a need for a new and improved apparatus and method for reducing the time and expense in providing such columns.
In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool and apparatus incorporating the same and a method for constructing cylindrical columns and a wall utilizing the cylindrical columns.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tool and apparatus of the above character which can be utilized for constructing cylindrical columns having a central core of reduced solidifying material.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tool and apparatus of the above character and a method in which the central core of the column can be readily drilled out.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tool, apparatus and method of the above character in which the drilled-out column serves as a form for installing reinforced concrete columns.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tool, apparatus and method of the above character which substantially reduces the cost of the solidifying material utilized in providing a soil mix.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tool, apparatus and method of the above character in which the central core of the soil mix column can be readily drilled out to provide a form for a reinforced concrete column.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tool, apparatus and method of the above character in which reinforced concrete columns can be constructed to form a wall.
Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment is set forth in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Apparatus and method for making cylindrical columns


The invention relates to an inverter powering a lamp that uses a switch to vary the resonance of the resonance circuit for starting and for operating.

This invention relates to circuitry which may utilize the resonance phenomenon to ignite and/or to operate a gas discharge lamp.
Gas discharge lamps, for example, fluorescent lamps, high pressure sodium lamps, neon signs, etc., usually require high voltages to fire. But, once they are ignited, the operating voltages are significantly lower. It is disclosed in above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,605 how a high frequency resonant inverter can very efficiently ignite and operate a gas discharge lamp.
A block diagram of a resonant inverter utilizing the integrated circuit (IC) SG2525 is shown in FIG. 1. The combination of CT2 and RT2 determines the oscillator frequency of the IC. A resistor R4 is usually required between the terminal 15 and 13. A resistor divider R5 and R6 determines the amount of DC voltage applied to non inverted terminal (pin 2) of the operational amplifier. This voltage, in turn, sets the magnitude of the duty cycle of the output pulses (pin 14 and pin 11). Depending on the requirement, an impedance Z2 is necessary between the inverted terminal (pin 1) and the compensation terminal (pin 9) of the error amplifier for loop stability of the IC.
Output signals from pin 11 and pin 14 periodically turn Q2 and Q3 on and off. Thus, when Q2 is on, Q3 is off, and when Q2 is off, Q3 is on. During the time when Q2 is on, energy flows through Q2 and the resonant inductor LR to charge the resonant capacitor CR. Then, when Q2 is off but Q3 is on, stored energy from CR flows back through LR and Q3. With this arrangement, if the pulse repetition frequency is identical with the resonance frequency of the LC (LR and CR) network, the circuit can be described as a resonant inverter.
One of the simplest, most efficient and economical ballast configurations based on a resonant converter technique is shown in FIG. 2.
In this case LR and CR form a resonant circuit and the lamp T1 acts like a load across CR. This is equivalent to the diagram of FIG. 3. The respective impedances of the circuit parameters of FIG. 3 can be described as follows: For the load, the impedance is RL, for the resonant capacitor, the impedance is 1/jw(CR)=-jXCR and for the resonant inductor, the impedance is jw(LR)=jXLR. Here, j is the complex number and w=2.pi.(fr)=x. fr is the excitation frequency. At resonance, XCR=XLR. Further, ##EQU1##
In the case of FIG. 3, under the resonance condition, the voltage across CR or RL depends on the quality or Q-factor of LR and CR, and value of RL. This is true because, at resonance, jXLR-jXCR=.phi., that is, the impedances offered by the inductor and the capacitor are mutually cancelled. In the present application, RL is replaced by the lamp T1. Initially, before the lamp T1 fires, it offers an infinite impedance (that is, no current flow therethrough) and as a result the voltage across CR or T1 (FIG. 2) continues to grow. However, once the voltage across T1 reaches the lamp firing potential, the lamp T1 fires and offers much lower impedance. At this instance, due to the lamp chracteristic, the voltage across T1 clamps down to the normal lamp operating potential and stays there. This is a very convenient and reliable mechanism for starting and operating a fluorescent lamp.
During the normal operation, the current through the resonant inductor LR is equal to the vector sum of the current through the resonant capacitor CR and the current through the load or the lamp T. This is true, because, during the normal operation the lamp T can be considered mostly a resistive load and, as a result, the current through the capacitor CR will have 90 degree phase difference, with respect to the lamp current. Thus, the current through LR, which is also the total circuit current, can be described as, ##EQU2## Further, during normal operation, the voltage across the resonant capacitor is the same as the voltage across the lamp, .sup.V lamp. Thereby, the current through CR is, .sup.i CR, running=.sup.V lamp/XCR. On the other Hand, during starting, before the lamp fires, the current through the capacitor CR is determined by the ratio of the lamp firing potential to the impedance of CR. That is, ##EQU3##
Moreover, during starting, .sup.i CR, firing equals the total load current, which is circulating between CR and LR through the power switches Q2 and Q3. For this reason, if the lamp firing potential is very high, depending on XCR, a very large amount of circulating current can flow through Q2 and Q3 before the lamp fires. This large circulating current during starting may exceed the maximum rated current through Q2 and Q3 and thereby, may destroy Q2 and Q3.

Resonant inverter circuitry for effecting fundamental or harmonic resonance mode starting of a gas discharge lamp


A ceramic and masonry power saw is constructed with a fluid cooling bearing assembly to drive a saw blade. The fluid cooling bearing assembly includes a bearing housing which has a coolant chamber embracing around the shaft sleeve. The coolant chamber has a C-shaped cross section and is extended along the shaft sleeve. The bearing housing also provides a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet for sealedly connecting the coolant chamber with the coolant conduit arrangement. Therefore, the coolant would not only be pumped to cool the saw blade and the work piece to be cut, but also be pumped to flow inside the bearing housing for cooling the rotating blade shaft in order to prevent overheating of the blade shaft.

Power saw is a common machine specially used in cutting and shaping tile or other construction materials made of granite, marble, slate, pave, brick, ceramics, and masonry. The conventional power saw simply includes a cutting table supported on a supporting frame, a cutting head arrangement overhanging the cutting table with a circular diamond saw blade that is powered by an electric motor via a bearing assembly.
The cutting head arrangement is built around the frame includes a proximal end attached to the frame and a distal end to which the saw blade is mounted. The saw blade is rotatably mounted to a power output end of the bearing assembly and driven by a drive belt connected between the motor and a power input end of the bearing assembly.
Liquid coolant must be pumped to the saw blade and the work piece during cutting to reduce the accumulated heat and flush away sawdust. A nozzle is connected to a guard that covers a top portion of the saw blade to supply a stream of coolant to the saw blade, wherein the coolant is pumped in from a reservoir. A coolant tray must be installed underneath the cutting table to catch the liquid coolant flowing off of the cutting blade and sludge formed from the coolant mixing with the saw dust.
However, the conventional power saw bears a plurality of drawbacks as follows.
First, most of the power saw would break down due to the overheated of the bearing assembly. A great amount of heat is accumulated during the rotary transmission of the bearing assembly that may destroy the internal bearing construction. Normally, if the bearing assembly were continuously working for more than one hour, permanent damage would be caused to the bearing assembly because of overheated.
Second, to ensure excellent cutting performance, the bearings installed inside the bearing assembly are preferred to replace periodically. But, the conventional bearing assembly fails to provide a detachable feature, so that the user must replace the entire bearing assembly in higher expense.
Third, the conventional power saw requires the user to oftenly remove the coolant tray for emptying the collected coolant therein and cleaning it by demantling or detaching the cutting table and/or the supporting frame. The most efficiency way, up to now, is to pivot the cutting table up at side for removing the tray at side, that causes inconvenient to the user.
Fourth, the whole power saw, including the supporting frame, the cutting table and the cutting head arrangement, is very heavy that even two persons are unable to unload from or to put on a transportation vehicle.

Power saw with fluid cooling bearing assembly


A first adjusting base made of a leaf spring material is supported on a holder in such a manner that the first adjusting base crosses the moving direction of the holder and is slightly pivotable about a first pivot axis which is parallel to a disk surface. A second adjusting base made of a leaf spring material is supported on the first adjusting base in such a manner that the second adjusting base crosses the first pivot axis and is slightly pivotable about a second pivot axis. The first and second adjusting bases are biased in a slightly pivoting direction by their own elasticity and, by turning screws which restrict the biasing, the first and second bases are pivoted to adjust the direction of an optical axis of a pickup head. Shaking of the pickup head is prevented and shock to the pickup head is absorbed by elasticity of the first and second adjusting bases whereby the device can be made compact and light.

This invention relates to a pickup device for a disk drive device for reproducing a disk on which signals are optically or magnetically recorded or writing signals on a disk and, more particularly, to a technique capable of adjusting an optical axis of a pickup device reading or writing signals on a disk and also capable of improving shock resistance of the pickup device.
In the disk drive device, a pickup device including a pickup head is disposed opposite to a disk surface (i.e., a surface on which signals are recorded) and is supported slidably in the radial direction of the disk. The pickup head reads and writes signals on the disk surface while the pickup device slides in the radial direction of the disk. For ensuring accurate reading and writing of signals on the disk surface, the optical axis of the pickup head must constantly cross the disk surface. An adjusting device for this purpose is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei-5-4095. In this adjusting device, a pickup head is mounted on two adjusting bases which are slightly pivotable about two pivot axes in the radial direction of the disk and a direction crossing the radial direction. By turning screws mounted on pivoting end portions of the respective adjusting bases, these adjusting bases are slightly pivoted and the optical axis of the pickup is thereby adjusted. A coil spring biasing the respective adjusting bases in one pivoting direction is provided between the respective adjusting bases and the screws and shaking of the pickup head is prevented and shock to the pickup head is absorbed by the coil spring.
In the prior art adjusting device, however, the provision of the shake preventing and shock absorbing coil spring makes the device large (particularly in the thickness) and heavy with the result that the moving speed and response characteristic of the pickup device are reduced and the manufacturing cost increases due to increase in the number of component parts.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a pickup device for a disk drive device which is made compact and light and thereby the moving speed and response characteristic are improved and the manufacturing cost is reduced.


A hot melt ink comprising, a eutectic composition and an image-forming agent, wherein the melting point of the eutectic composition is from about 80.degree. C. to about 130.degree. C. and the compounds present in the eutectic compositions have melting points of at least about 100.degree. C. Also disclosed is a method for ink jet printing comprising:. (a) providing a thermally reversible hot melt ink which is a solid at ambient temperature and a liquid at temperatures between about 80.degree. C.-130.degree. C., said ink comprising: PA0 (b) elevating the temperature of said eutectic composition to between about 90.degree. C. and about 140.degree. C., to cause said ink to form a liquid solution or suspension of said image-forming composition; PA0 (c) jetting said ink onto a substrate in the form of images; PA0 (d) allowing said ink to crystallize upon cooling on said substrate.. (i) a eutectic composition; and PA1 (ii) an image-forming composition;

This invention is related to the field of ink-jet ink compositions, particularly solid inks, which are used in thermal ink-jet printers, typically termed hot melt inks and, more particularly, to a new and improved hot melt ink.
Liquid inks have been used in many types of ink-jet printers of which the major categories are "Drop-On-Demand" ink-jet and "Continuous" ink-jet. For Drop-On-Demand ink-jet, ink is normally stored in a reservoir and delivered by capillary action to a nozzle in the print head of the printer. A means exists to force a single drop of ink out of the nozzle whenever it is needed to print a single spot on the printed medium (for example, paper). For Continuous ink-jet, ink is forced out of the nozzle in the form of a jet of ink which is unstable and subsequently breaks up into a steady stream of droplets. The trajectory of each drop is controlled typically by either electrostatic or magnetic forces. The drop can be directed either to a catcher for recycling through the main ink system or can be directed to the printed medium to form a printed spot.
Most ink jet inks are liquids at room temperature. Liquid inks suffer from various difficulties, however, especially since they do not respond the same to different printing media. Typically, liquid ink on office papers will produce a feathered appearance because it penetrates and spreads into the paper following fiber lines. Liquid inks that are designed for minimum feathering still require time to set, which may limit the rate that printed pages are stacked.
The print quality usually depends on the type of paper used, which also has an effect on the drying time and on waterfastness. Although water-based inks have been widely used, they exhibit poor waterfastness. Also, in order to prevent the ink from drying in the jet, high concentrations of humectant such as diethylene glycol have been used. This also leads to a long drying (set) time for the print on the medium and poor print quality.
Liquid inks without curable additives typically are not useful on nonporous surfaces, such as metal, glass or plastic, because they are too prone to smearing.
Further, liquid inks are very sensitive to temperature changes which influence the ink viscosity and interfacial tension, which, in turn, influences the ink interaction with the medium.
It is clear from the foregoing that major problems with liquid ink-jet inks are (i) media dependent print quality, (ii) poor reliability, (iii) poor waterfastness, and (iv) a long drying (set) time for the printed ink.
One method of solving several of the above mentioned problems is to use a phase change or hot melt ink. The ink is normally solid at room temperature. When the ink is heated, the ink melts to form a low viscosity fluid which can be ejected as droplets.
Hot melt ink was originally used by Berry et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,932, Apr. 1972) in electrostatically controlled continuous ink-jet printing. The ink was comprised of a waxy component which is solid at room temperature. The term "hot melt ink" defines an ink that is in a solid phase at room temperature and in a fluid phase at the operating temperature, which is above the melting temperature of the waxy material. Many different types of hot-melt inks have been used.
These inks are also referred to, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,490,731, 3,653,932, 3,715,219 and 4,390,369, entitled "Natural Wax-Containing Ink Jet Inks", and its continuation Ser. No. 507,918, filed Jun. 27, 1983; U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,843, entitled "Improved Ink Jet Compositions and Methods"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,215, entitled "Improved Ink Jet Formulation for Reduced Start-Up Problems", and its continuation application U.S. Ser. No. 522,837, filed Aug. 12, 1983; U.S. Ser. No. 394,54, filed Jul. 1, 1982, entitled "Stearic Acid Containing Ink Jet Inks" now abandoned, and its continuation application, U.S. Ser. No. 565,124, filed Dec. 23, 1983; U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,961, entitled "Heterologous Ink Jet Ink Compositions", and its continuation application, Ser. No. 501,074, filed Jun. 5, 1983; U.S. Ser. No. 668,095, filed Nov. 5, 1984, now abandoned, and its continuation Ser. No. 006,727, filed Jan. 23, 1987; U.S. Ser. No. 672,587, filed Nov. 16, 1984, entitled "Low Corrosion Impulse Ink Jet Ink", now abandoned, and its continuation U.S. Ser. No. 037,062, filed Apr. 13, 1987.
These "hot-melt" inks normally comprise vehicles, such as natural waxes, resins and/or long chain fatty acids, esters or alcohols which melt when the ink is heated to jetting temperatures. Upon jetting, heated droplets impact the substrate and immediately freeze on the substrate surface. This phenomenon is advantageous in several respects in that dark, sharply defined print may be produced. This print may be slightly raised, suggesting that the print is engraved. Since the ink is solid at room temperature, during storage and shipment the colorant systems have less of a tendency to separate out of the ink. This has facilitated the use of various colorant systems, such as certain pigment based systems, which would not normally have been used in liquid inks.
By way of example of the types of hot-melt inks employed to date, one may refer to U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,932 which discloses an ink containing a dialkyl ester of sebacic acid; U.S. Pat. No. 3,715,219 which discloses an ink containing a higher aliphatic alcohol; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,390,369 and 4,484,948 which disclose inks containing a natural wax; EP 99,682 which discloses an ink containing stearic acid; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,383 which discloses an ink that contains an acid or alcohol of C20-C24 chain length, optionally in the presence of a ketone having a comparatively high melting point.
Not all of the aforementioned hot-melt inks exhibit high solubility of dyes and the types of dyes that can be used are limited. In addition, these inks have not necessarily been stable against prolonged heating or repeated heat cycles. EP 181,198 discloses a hot-melt type ink that has a solid pigment dispersed in a wax having a melting point higher than 65.degree. C. or an aliphatic acid or alcohol of C.sub.18 --C.sub.24 chain length. This ink, however, has the problem of poor dispersion stability.
Another disadvantage to many hot-melt phase change inks includes the fact that the physical properties of the printed images, such as resistance to abrasion and the like is limited because the inks, when cooled are only as hard as their principal components, which are typically resinous in nature. The inks must be liquid at operating temperatures, and because operating temperatures are naturally limited due to practical consideration, including the fact that the inks when applied to the substrate, such as paper cannot cause burning or charring of the substrate.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,932 the composition is required to have a melting point which does not exceed 51.degree. C. and contains a didodecyl sebacate which is a highly viscous material. In order to overcome the problems associated with that formulation, U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,369 proposes the use of a composition which comprises a natural wax and has a melting point below about 75.degree. C. The use of natural waxes is also proposed in European application No. 097823, where the composition comprises a mixture of paraffin wax and stearic acid. However, such compositions do not adhere satisfactorily to plastics substrates, suffer from smudging, and problems are encountered due to the high viscosity of the components where synthetic materials are used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,332 discloses a low-corrosion hot melt ink that contains 0.5% to 10% by weight of a metallo-organic compound such as overbased calcium sulphonate, basic barium sulphonate and overbased sulphurized calcium alkyl phenate as a corrosion inhibitor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,167 teaches an ink jet ink including a waxy carrier that is solid at 25.degree. C. and liquid at the operating temperature of an ink jet nozzle and a driver having a critical pressure greater than 10 atmospheres, the carrier and driver being miscible in liquid phase.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,079 relates to a dispersed, pigmented hot melt ink that contains a thermoplastic vehicle, a colored pigment, and a dispersing agent to inhibit settling or agglomeration of pigment when the ink is molten comprising an isocyanate-modified microcrystalline wax or lignite wax in an amount of 2 to 100 weight percent of the weight of the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,084 relates to an ink jet ink in the form of a microemulsion of an organic vehicle phase having a colorant dispersed therein and an aqueous phase containing a surfactant, the vehicle phase preferably being liquid at 70.degree. C. and solid at 20.degree. C.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,161 relates to jet inks that comprise vehicles, such as glyceryl esters, polyoxyethylene esters, waxes, fatty acids, and mixtures thereof, which are semi-solid at temperatures between 20.degree. C. and 45.degree. C.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,802 relates to impulse ink or bubble jet inks are disclosed which comprise 90-99.9% by weight of aqueous sol-gel medium and 0.1-10% by weight colorant. The inks are thermally reversible sol-gels which are gels at ambient temperatures and sols at temperatures between about 40.degree. -100.degree. C.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,786 relates to an ink composition for use in an ink on demand ink jet printer includes a first component, second component having a higher melting point than the first component and colorant is provided. During printing, the ink is melted and jetted onto a recording medium. The first component is selected to permeate from the melted dot of ink into the recording medium. As its concentration in the dot of ink decreases and the temperature of ink cools, the second component with the colorant will solidify and the first component will fix the second component and colorant to the recording medium. The second component is indicated to be any of many, various compositions, including o-toluenesulfonamide and p-toluenesulfonamide. In all instances, a first component is present that typically is a wax-type of material, such as a petroleum wax or a candelilla wax having a high melting point but not more than about 70.degree. C, such as paraffin, paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax or solid-type wax formed from a combination of the compounds of these materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,095 relates to an ink for hot-melt ink-jet printing comprising a benzoate solvent which is solid at room temperature. This ink is suitable for jetting onto an opaque substrate such as paper for directly readable print, or onto a transparent substrate, such as an acetate or polycarbonate sheet, to make a projectable transparency.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,208 relates to a process for applying a thermoplastic composition as a series of discrete droplets from a non-contact ink jet printing apparatus to form separate drops on a substrate moving relative to the apparatus, characterized in that the molten composition is thermally stable at the temperature of application and is applied at a temperature in excess of 100.degree. C. The process is said to be used to apply the molten composition to a variety of substrates using on-demand or continuous non-contact ink jet application techniques and to be of especial use in the application of thermoplastic inks to non-porous substrates using an on-demand ink jet printer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,671 relates to a hot melt ink composition consisting of a resinous binder which is prepared by the condensation reaction of about one stoichiometric equivalent of polymerized fatty acid, about two stoichiometric equivalents of a diamine and about two stoichiometric equivalents of a monocarboxylic acid; and a colorant distributed through the resinous binder in an effective amount sufficient to impart a predetermined color to the resulting hot melt ink composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,418 relates to an ink jet composition for use in drop on demand ink jet printers comprising 85-99 weight percent of a vehicle consisting essentially of dibutyl sebacate and oleic acid. In the preferred embodiment, the dibutyl sebacate comprises between about 40 to 65, preferably about 60 weight percent of said ink. The subject ink, when utilizing an infrared readable colorant such as nigrosine base, is particularly suited for generating IR readable bar codes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,276 relates to a stearic acid-containing ink jet ink for use in an ink jet apparatus which features good print quality. The ink jet ink is discharged from the ink jet ink apparatus at elevated temperatures above ambient.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,930 relates to color printing characterized by high color density and color contrast is provided by jetting an ink composition composed of an optically clear, phase change base material and a primary subtractive color dye which is soluble in the base material onto the surface of a printing medium to form a multiplicity of closely spaced color dots or spots arranged to define a line or character on the medium. Each dot consists of one or more well defined, optically clear, semitransparent color layers each of which has a different color so that the observed color of each dot is a true subtractive mixture of the colors in the layers. Specific ink compositions are also disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,956 relates to a process for applying a thermoplastic image forming composition as a series of discrete droplets from a non-contact ink jet printing apparatus to form separate drops on a substrate moving relative to the apparatus, characterized in that the molten composition is thermally stable at the temperature of application and is applied at a temperature in excess of 100.degree. C.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,383 relates to a hot melt impulse ink jet ink which comprises a C20-C24 acid or alcohol containing vehicle, preferably behenic acid, and a suitable coloring agent. The preferred ink has a melting point above about 65.degree. C., exhibits very good jettability, good heat stability at a reservoir temperature of 90.degree. C., good material compatibility, and an improved print quality. The preferred ink comprises about 80% natural behenic acid, 15% of a ketone (such as stearone), 3% coloring agent, and 2% of a plasticizer intended to improve print quality. The subject inks are jetted at relatively high temperatures (80.degree. -90.degree. C.) using impulse ink jet devices.
In related application Ser. No. 394,153, filed Jul. 1, 1982 (Lin et al), a number of hot melt impulse ink jet inks are disclosed which are described as being solid or semi-solid at ambient temperature. In addition to stearic acid, the Lin et al. application discloses that additives such as oleic acid, typophor black, nigrosine base, benzyl ether, compounded or chemically modified waxes (including natural or other synthetic substances), a coloring agent or dye, such as oil or solvent soluble dye, etc. may be used in formulating the disclosed hot melt inks.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,170 relates to hot melt ink compositions suitable for ink jet printing which comprise a colorant, a binder, and a propellant. In one embodiment, the binder comprises a liquid crystalline material. The hot melt inks with liquid crystalline binders are said to exhibit sharp melting points, which enables rapid melting of the ink and rapid solidifying of the ink on the printing substrate, thereby enabling rapid printing speeds. In addition, hot melt inks with liquid crystalline binders are said to exhibit high shear thinning behavior, which means that under shear or stress, the melt viscosity is lowered. The inks are subjected to shear or stress as they pass through the jetting nozzle of the printer, and the ink viscosity is lowered during the printing process, which enables increased printing speed and also results in enhanced print quality, since the lowered viscosity of the ink enables a high degree of interaction between the ink and the printing substrate. Examples of suitable liquid crystalline materials for the inks include certain alkyl thio- beta -D-glucosides.
Other types of inks containing liquid crystalline materials include those of U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,742, which discloses an electrically conductive aqueous base ink for use in printing on a cellulose containing base member by formation of discrete droplets. The ink comprises a water soluble dye, a water soluble inorganic conductive material in an amount of 1 to 20 percent, a water soluble polyol in an amount of from 5 to 50 percent, an organic crystallizable material in an amount of from 5 to 20 percent, which organic material acts temporarily as a plasticizer for cellulose, and water. Typical crystallizable materials include sugars such as glucose, sucrose, fructose, and the like, including glucono D-lactone.
Inks containing aromatic sulfonamides have been suggested in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,946 relates to a hot-melt type ink for thermal ink-jet printers that comprises an oil-soluble dye dissolved in at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a phosphoric acid ester, an aromatic sulfonamide, a hydroxybenzoic acid ester and a phthalic acid ester, the compound being in solid state at room temperature. The dye solvents that are suggested include phosphoric acid esters such as triphenyl phosphate, tri-p-tolyl phosphate, etc; aromatic sulfonamides such as N-cyclohexyl-p-toluenesulfonamide, N, N-dichloro-p-toluenesulfonamide, N-butyl-p-toluenesulfonamide, benzenesulfonamide, p-toluenesulfonamide, o-toluenesulfonamide, benzylsulfonamide, etc; hydroxybenzoic acid esters such as ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate, n-propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, iso-propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, n-butyl p-hydroxybenzoate, iso-butyl p-hydroxybenzoate, n-heptyl p-hydroxybenzoate, n-nonyl p-hydroxybenzoate, phenyl salicylate, octyl salicylate, p-tert-butylphenyl salicylate, etc; and phthalic acid esters such as dicyclohexyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dodecyl phthalate, diphenyl phthalate, dimethyl iso-phthalate, dimethyl terephthalate, diethyl terephthalate. The only sulfonamide actually employed in a working example, however, is N-cyclohexyl-p-toluenesulfonamide,
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,346 relates to a hot-melt ink for an ink jet printer that is formed from a solid organic solvent having a melting point less than 150.degree. C., that may contain a sulfonamide, or mixture thereof, and a low molecular weight thermosetting resin having a high hydroxyl number, together with a dye. The ink is said to have excellent jetting characteristics, form a hard, stable print raised above the surface of the substrate, provide high dot resolution, and remain colorfast both in the ink jet printer and on the paper, even when exposed to continued high temperatures. The solid organic solvent, in a preferred embodiment, comprises one or more aromatic sulfonamides. In particular, primary alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.9) benzenesulfonamides are said to have given excellent results. Particularly good results purportedly were obtained when the alkyl group was para to the sulfonamide group. One preferred solvent was a mixture of p-toluenesulfonamide and p-ethylbenzenesulfonamide. Preferably, the solvent mixture also comprised up to about 5 wt. % of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.9 alkylbenzenesulfonamide, with particularly good results supposedly being obtained using about 2 wt. % p-n-butylbenzenesulfonamide or about 2 wt. % p-n-nonylbenzenesulfonamide. Good results were also alleged to have been obtained using solvent mixtures of ortho- and para-toluenesulfonamide, such as that sold under the tradename "Santicizer 9" by the Monsanto Chemical Corporation. In all instances, the solid organic solvent was used in combination with a low molecular weight thermosetting resin having a high hydroxyl number, as shown by the following table.
______________________________________ Example II-A II-B II-C II-D ______________________________________ p-toluene- 45 45 43 43 sufonamide p-methoxybenzene- 45 solfonamide p-ethylbenzene- 45 45 45 sulfonamide p-n-nonylbenzene- 2 sulfonamide p-n-butylbenzene- 2 sufonamide Desmophen 650 10 10 10 10 Ultranox 626 1 1 1 1 dye <2 <2 <2 <2] ______________________________________
As denoted in Example 4 (comparative) below, the formulations listed under columns II-B, II-C, and II-D were tested as to the possibility that eutectic compositions were present, inherently in the examples of the '346 patent, and it was determined that eutectic compositions were not present in these formulations, as described in said comparative example.
Japanese published specification 55-54368 also discloses the use of certain limited crystalline compositions for use in hot-melt ink jet compositions. The utility of the crystalline materials disclosed therein is limited by the materials' lower melting points and other undesirable properties, such as excessive volatility and decomposition at operating temperatures. Another problem associated with such hot-melt inks is the tendency of the molten formulation to "super-cool", that is to continue to exist in the liquid stage at temperatures far below the melting point of the crystalline material, without crystallization occurring. This is undesirable because it lengthens the time necessary for the printed images to sufficiently set to resist smearing, abrasion, and feathering.
Crystalline materials that would be capable of forming desirable, hard images, have not, in general, been used as components in hot-melt inks, because of their high melting points. If they have been used, it has only been in combination with a principal additional component having a lower melting point, such as a waxy material, thus causing such ink formulations to suffer from the same type of problems as the other compositions in the prior art that employ such soft, waxy, low melting components as the principal solvent.

Eutectic compositions for hot melt jet inks


Embodiments are disclosed for systems and methods for controlling operation of an in-vehicle computing system. In some embodiments, an in-vehicle computing system includes a processor, an external device interface communicatively coupleable to an extra-vehicle server, and a storage device storing instructions executable by the processor to receive information from a navigation subsystem and one or more sensors of the vehicle. The information may include user information identifying one or more occupants of the vehicle with one or more accounts of a social media network. The instructions may also be executable to send the received information to the server, receive instructions from the server, and transmit control instructions to one or more vehicle systems based on the identified action. The instructions may identify an action to be performed based on the received information.

A user experience within a vehicle may be generated and/or augmented by an in-vehicle computing system configured to control one or more systems within the vehicle. For example, the in-vehicle computing system may present media, navigational assistance, and/or other information to occupants of the vehicle via a speaker system and/or one or more display systems. Often, in-vehicle computing system operation is controlled based on user input. Vehicles may be equipped with a wide array of sensors for monitoring vehicle status, driver and/or passenger behavior, vehicle environment, and other data. The in-vehicle computing system may be in communication with one or more of the vehicle sensors during operation.
The increasing popularity of social media networks and other account-based web services has resulted in an accumulation of a vast array of knowledge regarding behaviors, preferences, demographics, and other information for a user. Such information may provide insight into a status of the user and other contextual information associated with the user.

Controlling in-vehicle computing system based on contextual data

Harman International Industries, Incorporated


A wheeled vehicle includes front and rear wheels. A frame supports the front and rear wheels. A leg shield shields legs of a rider. A portion of the frame extends in front of the leg shield. The leg shield has a forward end and a rear end. The rear end is positioned generally at a height of the forward end. The leg shield has first and second portions and at least one third portion. The first portion generally extends upward and rearward from the forward end. The second portion generally extends downward and rearward from the forward end. The third portion generally extends upward from the second portion. The third portion defines a pocket at least together with the first or second portion. The third portion is positioned generally farther forward than the rear end or positioned adjacent to the rear end in the rear of the rear end.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wheeled vehicle including a leg shield, and more particularly to a wheeled vehicle including a leg shield having a pocket.
2. Description of Related Art
Wheeled vehicles such as, for example, scooters and mopeds typically include a frame that supports front and rear wheels, an engine unit, a seat and other components. The frame typically is covered with multiple covers. The covers include a leg shield that shields the legs of a rider. The leg shield is disposed in front of the seat and behind a steering shaft.
The leg shield may include a pocket or inner rack on a surface that faces the rider. For example, Japanese Patent No. 2794485 discloses such a pocket. The rider may store relatively small articles in the pocket.
The pocket, however, may protrude rearward and adversely affect the appearance of the vehicle. The protrusion of the pocket also may interfere with the rider mounting or dismounting the wheeled vehicle. In addition, the knees of the rider may abut against the pocket if the rider is a relatively large person. A smaller pocket does not have such drawbacks. However, the capacity for receiving articles is limited.


The present invention proposes an over-voltage protection apparatus for a power converter. The over-voltage protection apparatus has an oscillator outputting a clock signal. Simultaneously, by comparing a sense signal with a threshold signal, an over-voltage comparative unit outputs a protection signal to an accumulating trigger unit. Next, the accumulating trigger unit is accumulating and counting the protection signal in response to the clock signal. The accumulating trigger unit further outputs an off signal to a latch unit as a period of the protection signal reaches a predetermined clock count. In response to the off signal, the latch unit outputs a latch signal to a driving output unit for disabling a switching signal to a power switch. Therefore, the power switch is turned off, and the object of the over-voltage protection can be accomplished.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an over-voltage protection circuit, and more specifically to the over-voltage protection circuit used for a switching mode power converter.
2. Description of Related Art
Various power converters have been widely used to provide a regulated voltage and current. For the sake of safety reasons, an over-voltage protection circuit must be provided to protect both the power converter itself and the system it powers. Thus an output voltage is limited in order to avoid the output voltage for the power converter is too high, which will cause an over-high output voltage during the period of feedback open loop or a higher supply voltage.
FIG. 1 illustrates the topology of a conventional power converter. The power converter includes a switching controller U1 coupled to control the power converter. A resistor RST and a capacitor CST provide an initial power source to start up the switching controller U1. In order to regulate the output voltage VO of the power converter, the switching controller U1 generates a switching signal VPWM to a power switch Q1 so as to switch a transformer T1. Wherein, the transformer T1 includes an auxiliary winding NA, a primary winding NP, and a secondary winding NS.
After switching the transformer T1, the auxiliary winding NA generates a reflect voltage VAUX, which provides a further power source to a VDD terminal of the switching controller U1 via a rectifier DA. Since the reflect voltage VAUX is correlated to the output voltage VO, a supply voltage VDD at the VDD terminal is correlated with the output voltage VO too. The pulse width of the switching signal VPWM is regulated in accordance with a feedback signal VFB at a FB terminal of the switching controller U1. An error amplifier 80 is connected to the output of the power converter for receiving the output voltage VO. The feedback signal VFB is coupled to the output of the power converter through the error amplifier 80 and an optical-coupler 90. Thus the output of the power converter is regulated in accordance with the feedback signal VFB. Wherein the supply voltage VDD can be expressed as equation (1):
                    VDD        ≈                              [                                                            TN                  AUX                                                  TN                  S                                            ×                              (                                                      V                    O                                    +                                      V                    F                                                  )                                      ]                    -                      V            D                                              (        1        )
where VF is the voltage drop of the output rectifier DO; VD is the voltage drop of the rectifier DA; TNAUX is the winding turns of the auxiliary winding NAUX of the transformer T1; and TNS is the winding turns of the secondary winding NS of the transformer T1.

Over-voltage protection circuit for power converter


A positive charge pumping circuit which is capable of reducing a sheet resistance and a threshold potential drop. The pumping circuit includes a pumping node, a power supply node, a first diode and at least one pumping stage, The pumping node provides a pumping potential. The supply node provides a power supply potential. An anode of the diode is coupled to the power supply node. The pumping stages are coupled in series between the pumping node and a cathode of the first diode. Each of the pumping stages includes a driving node and a control node, a pumping driving circuit, a transfer control circuit, a charge pumping circuit, and a potential control circuit.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, more particularly to a positive charge pumping circuit for generating a high voltage, for instance 13 volts, using a low power supply voltage, for example 3 volts or 5 volts, in a non-volatile memory device such as flash EEPROM.
Generally, in a semiconductor memory device, if there is required the higher voltage than the power supply voltage VCC which is applied from outside of the semiconductor memory device chip, it should be generated in the chip. For this generating, a positive charge pumping circuit is used.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional positive charge pumping circuit, through which the prior art and its problem will be explained.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional positive charge pumping circuit includes a plurality of MOS transistors 12 and 13, and a plurality of MOS transistors 14 and 15 and it performs a positive pumping from the power supply voltage VCC to the required potential VPP (e.g. 12 volts). For a plurality of MOS transistor 12 and 13, the drain-source paths thereof are coupled in series between the power supply potential VCC and the pumping potential VPP and each is diode-connected where each gate and source thereof is coupled together. Here, the connection nodes between the plurality of MOS transistors 12 and 13 constitutes a plurality of pumping line nodes PN1 and PN2. In the plurality of MOS transistors 14 and 15, each has capacitor-connection, that is, the source and the drain of the transistor 14 or 15 are coupled together, in which the common source/drain is applied with corresponding clock CLK1 or CLK2 and the gate is coupled to corresponding pumping line nodes PN1 or PN2.
However, in this conventional positive charge pumping circuit, since the driving potential as much as the depth of VCC is applied to the driving transistors (that is, the MOS transistors 14 and 15) by the clocks CLK1 and CLK2 which are swung between the power supply potential VCC and the ground, many stages of diode-connected MOS transistors and capacitor-connected MOS transistors are needed to provide the desired potential VPP. This results in that the sheet resistance generated at the respective stages and the respective threshold voltage loss are increased in proportion to the number of the stages, which in turn the efficiency thereof is deteriorated.
In other words, if the VCC is 5 volts and the threshold voltage Vt is 2 volts, while the pumping line nodes PN1 and PN2 are primarily boosted by 5 volts due to the operation of the driving capacitive MOS transistors 14 and 15, only 3-volt boosting is transferred to the next upper stages PN1 and VPP because of the potential-drop of the threshold voltage Vt of the diode MOS transistors 12 and 13. Thus a four stage pumping is required in order to provide the desired 12 volts.
The above-mentioned sheet resistance also causes the problem in that the current transfer speed of the pumping circuit is reduced.

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.


A method of making a rapid setting composition for cement boards is disclosed. Compositions including portland cement, fly ash, gypsum, alkanolamine and phosphate are disclosed. A synergistic interaction between the alkanolamine and phosphate increases the effectiveness of accelerating reactions thus allowing for quick setting and increased early-age compressive strength compositions.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,869,474 to Perez-Pena et al., incorporated herein by reference, discusses extremely fast setting of cementitious compositions for producing cement-based products such as cement boards achieved by adding an alkanolamine to a hydraulic cement such as Portland cement, and forming a slurry with water under conditions that provide an initial slurry temperature of at least 90° F. (32° C.). Additional reactive materials may be included such as high alumina cement, calcium sulfate and a pozzolanic material such as fly ash. The extremely rapid set permits rapid production of cementitious products. Triethanolamine additions have been found to be a very powerful accelerator capable of producing formulations with relatively short final setting times with increased levels of fly ash and gypsum and without the need of calcium aluminate cements. However, formulations with triethanolamine also had relatively lower early-age compressive strength compared to cement board formulations containing the calcium aluminate cements.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,909 to Galer et al., incorporated herein by reference, discusses cementitious compositions capable of rapid setting. The compositions permit high speed production of carbon dioxide resistant cement boards by forming essentially all of the potential ettringite within about 20 minutes after the composition is mixed with water. The essential components of the cementitious composition are portland cement, high alumina cement, calcium sulfate and lime. Pozzolans such as fly ash, montmorillonite clay, diatomaceous earth and pumicite may be added up to about 25%. The cement composition includes about 14 to 21 wt % high alumina cement, which in combination with the other components makes possible the early formation of ettringite and other calcium aluminate hydrates responsible for early setting of the cementitious mixture. In their invention, Galer et al. provided aluminates using high alumina cement (HAC) and sulfate ions using gypsum to form ettringite and achieve rapid setting of their cementitious mixture.
Ettringite is a calcium aluminum sulfate compound having the formula Ca6Al2(SO4)3.32 H2O or alternatively 3 CaO.Al2O3.3 CaSO4.32 H2O. Ettringite forms as long needle-like crystals and provides rapid early strength to cement boards, so that they can be handled soon after being poured into a mold or over a continuous casting and forming belt.
In general, Galer et al's rapid setting formulation suffers from several limitations. These limitations, as highlighted below, are even more of a concern for the production of cementitious products such as cement boards.
The final setting times of the cementitious mixtures are typically greater than 9 minutes. The final setting time is defined further in the examples below, but more generally, the cementitious mixtures have set to the extent that the cement-based products made thereof can be handled and stacked, although chemical reactions may continue for extended periods.
The amount of high alumina cement (also known as calcium aluminate cement) in the reactive powder blend is very high. Typically, the high alumina cement is greater than 14 wt % of the reactive powder blend.
The amount of pozzolanic materials is limited to 25 wt % of the reactive powder blend.
Lime is required as an additional ingredient to obtain rapid set. Presence of excess lime in cement boards is detrimental to their long-term durability performance. Cement boards often are reinforced with polymer coated glass fiber mesh that degrades, losing strength and ductility in a high alkaline environment. Presence of excess lime increases the alkalinity of the cementitious matrix and thereby negatively impacts the long-term durability performance of the polymer coated glass fiber mesh and the resulting cement boards. In addition, presence of excess lime also makes the concrete susceptible to sulfate attack thus influencing its durability.

Very fast setting cementitious composition with high early-age compressive strength


An apparatus front panel has a mechanical user interface in the form of a mechanically controllable regulation and setting elements on the face of the front panel. The front panel is manufactured at least in part from a transparent material in which electrical conductors and components are arranged in order to electrically connect the controllable regulation and setting elements from the face of the front panel with the electrical equipment present in the apparatus via a front panel connection. The front panel is constructed so that it can be attached at least in part to a substantially flat indicia-bearing element such as in front of a screen, in front of a display, or over a printed base or the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus front panel with a mechanical user interface in the form of mechanically controllable regulation and setting elements on the face of the front panel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is often necessary to alter the appearance of the apparatus front panel, e.g. the language of a text on the front panel, indicates associated with scales or dials, or to carry out other changes, e.g. as a result of a changed function in the apparatus. Heretofore, this problem has been solved by exchanging the front panel and the associated electronics, displays and control means. This has the disadvantage that a number of different front panels has to be kept in reserve for a single apparatus.
Touch screens, having several different transparent layers on which conductive patterns are printed, are known. The layers are touch-sensitive in such a way that the impedance in the conductive pattern is altered upon pressure or upon touching the layer on the screen, and this change in impedance is used to call up various functions in an associated computer. German OS 34 09 532, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,653,086 and 4,566,001 describe such devices, in which resistive changes upon touching the touch-sensitive layers are used, and German OS 32 30 919 describes a technique in which capacitive changes arising upon touching are used to control a display device. These known techniques are suited in particular for applications in which the user has to choose between a number of information images, as in menu selection, process control in the field of industry, different instruments, etc.

Apparatus front panel allowing indicia on an indicia-bearing element to be read therethrough


Described herein is an apparatus and method for estimating the amount of power that is to be consumed by an amplifier. An estimation section may be determined based on frame data of an input signal that is to be input to the amplifier. The estimation section may be stored to in a predetermined section, and the amount of power to be consumed by the amplifier may be estimated in advance based on the stored signal. The predetermined section may be determined in consideration of response a characteristic of a power supply of the amplifier. The amount of power may be calculated by assigning weight to the stored signal.

1. Field
The following description relates to signal processing technology and amplification processing technology, and more particularly, to technology for controlling an output distortion that may arise due to a change in supply voltage.
2. Description of the Related Art
A digital amplifier functions to modulate and amplify input signals. In an output terminal of a digital amplifier, active elements such as transistors may be formed in a bridge structure. In operating the digital amplifier, it may be desirable to have constant external power supplied to the output terminal.
If a supply voltage to be applied to the output terminal is cut off intermittently or fluctuates, an output signal of the digital amplifier may be distorted. In the case of a digital amplifier which processes audio signals, such fluctuations in supply voltage may cause the sound-quality deterioration.
In attempt to address the above, two approaches have been considered.
A first approach is to adopt a power supply with a sufficient capacity. However, this method is believed to face limitations in terms of manufacturing costs. The expense of constantly maintaining enough voltage can be expensive, and unnecessary. The other approach is to compensate for supply voltage fluctuations by controlling changes in characteristics caused by the supply voltage fluctuations. A representative example is a feedback control scheme that controls the differences between output signals and ideal signals. However, since such a feedback control scheme uses error signals generated in the previous step, there are difficulties in real-time control. Furthermore, there is no solution for supply voltage fluctuations that occur in transitional periods such as at the start and the end of a control operation.

Apparatus and method for estimating power for amplifier


Polyacetal resin compositions, including a polyacetal copolymer, 0.2 to 2 parts by mass of a hindered amine material and 0.2 to 10 parts by mass of powdery aluminum, with respect to 100 parts by mass of a polyacetal copolymer, and 0.3 to 10 parts by mass of a fatty acid having a carbon number of 10 to 30, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the powdery aluminum. Methods of making the compositions, and end products including the resin compositions are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polyacetal resin composition with small environmental impact capable of maintaining mechanical properties inherent in polyacetal resin and stably providing a molded body having an excellent appearance.
2. Description of Patent Literature
Polyacetal resin has high mechanical strength and rigidity; excellent oil resistance, organic solvent resistance, and self-lubricating property; a good balance in a wide temperature range; and an easy processability. Thus, the material is widely used, as representative engineering plastics, in mechanism parts and sliding parts for precision equipment, home appliances, OA equipment, vehicles, industrial materials, general merchandise, and the like. With recent expansion in applied areas of polyacetal resin, higher performance has currently been demanded. In such a trend, trials have been performed to enhance designability of molded bodies formed of polyacetal resin, by improving appearance and providing metal glossiness.
For instance, a production method of a molded body formed from adhesive resistant resin is proposed, in which a surface of a base material is blasted, and a metal film is formed on the surface through vacuum vapor deposition (for example, Patent Literature 1). When coating is employed to enhance appearance, coating material is also improved. A metal pigment dispersion is proposed, for instance, which is formed from a metal pigment in flake form and a binder or binder solution, the metal pigment having an extremely low content of products generated in fatty acid reaction or decomposition (for example, Patent Literature 2). Further, a powder coating composition is proposed, which contains thermoset resin powder on which a flake pigment is bound to a surface (for example, Patent Literature 3).
In addition, resin containing a glossy pigment is molded so as to display metal glossiness for designability. For instance, a method is proposed in which an optically changeable metallic pigment and a colorant are included for a predetermined amount into thermoplastic resin (for example, Patent Literature 4). Alternatively, a method is proposed in which a glossy pigment to be added in resin is included, the glossy pigment having particular aluminum particles (for example, Patent Literature 5).
Further, polytrimethylene terephthalate resin is proposed having excellent appearance, light resistance, and rigidity, the resin being included in vehicle exterior parts formed from resin (for example, Patent Literature 6).    [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2007-191738    [Patent Literature 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H8-510294    [Patent Literature 3] WO Publication No. 2002/094950    [Patent Literature 4] Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-261978    [Patent Literature 5] WO Publication No. 2004/026970    [Patent Literature 6] WO Publication No. 2003/022926
The coating methods described in Patent Literatures 1 to 3 achieve a good appearance; however, the methods are not efficient since they require an extremely large number of controlled processes. In addition, the methods are not necessarily satisfactory given an impact of solvents on an environment or human bodies. Further, when the methods described in Patent Literatures 4 and 5 are applied to polyacetal resin in the above described trials, there are cases where mechanical properties inherent in the resin are deteriorated or an improvement in appearance is insufficient, because of an impact of heat generation during melt-mixing or an active site of a metal surface. Further, it is described in Patent Literature 6 that polyacetal resin and a glass fiber are mixed; that aluminum powder is added to the mixture; and that the materials are melt-kneaded. The method, however, does not achieve a good appearance, thus not providing a satisfactory molded body. Furthermore, no improving method for obtaining a good appearance was mentioned.
For polyacetal resin molded bodies used as design parts including a mechanical portion or a sliding portion in particular, a polyacetal resin composition with small environmental impact is thus demanded capable of maintaining mechanical properties inherent in the resin and stably providing molded bodies having an excellent appearance.


A compact syringe pump having a high quantitative accuracy and a high durability is provided. The syringe pump comprises a motor, a rotating cylinder, a moving element, a guide means for introducing the moving element in an axial direction of the rotating cylinder, a piston rod disposed on the moving element and a cylinder within which the piston rod moves, wherein the guide means comprises a guide pin extending through the moving element in the axial direction of the rotating cylinder and a pair of upper supporting member and lower supporting member for supporting both ends of the guide pin so that the guide pin becomes in parallel to the axial direction of the rotating cylinder, the upper supporting member rotatably supports the rotating cylinder at an upper end portion of the rotating cylinder and the lower supporting member rotatably supports the rotating cylinder at an upper surface portion of the bottom portion of the rotating cylinder, thereby preventing the rotating cylinder from swinging.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a syringe pump for sucking and discharging a fluid, which is used for an automatic analyzing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art:
Conventionally, there is a syringe pump for sucking and discharging a fluid, which comprises a lead screw connected to a rotational shaft of a motor, a moving element screwed to the lead screw, a piston mounted to the moving element and a cylinder in which the piston slides. Generally, since the lead screw in a driving side and the piston in a load side have parallel axes to each other, the load from the piston uniformly acts on the driving side so that there is problems in a quantitative accuracy and a durability, for example, engagement between the lead screw and the moving element lacks smoothness, rotation of the motor lacks in uniformity and the like.
Then, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,666, an apparatus in which the axes of the driving side and the load side are linearly disposed on a line so as to coincide the axis of the drive side with the axis of the load side has been considered. The apparatus comprises a sleeve 29 having a threaded portion in an inner peripheral portion, a nut 25 engaged with an inside of the sleeve 29, a piston 16 provided in a center of the nut 25 and movable within an inner portion of a cylinder 15 and a motor 33 for rotating the sleeve 29 through a belt 32 meshed with an outer peripheral lower portion of the sleeve 29, in which the motor 33 is disposed side by side with the sleeve 29. Further, two brackets 34 extends through the inside of the sleeve 29 from an upper portion of the sleeve 29 and are fastened to each other in a lower portion of the sleeve 29 by a plate 36 so that when the sleeve 29 is rotated, the brackets 34 restrict the rotation of the nut 25 and act as a rotation preventing means for introducing the nut 25 in an axial direction of the sleeve 29. The outer peripheral lower portion of the sleeve 29 is supported by a radial ball bearing 30.
In the above syringe pump, since the motor 33 and the sleeve 29 are disposed side by side in a lateral direction although the axis of the piston 16 and the axis of the sleeve 29 are disposed on a line, the apparatus is totally widened toward the lateral direction, thereby preventing a miniaturization. Accordingly, it can be considered that the motor 33 is disposed immediately below the sleeve 29 so as to directly rotate the sleeve 29, however, since the bracket 34 extends through the sleeve 29 in a vertical direction, it is difficult to rotatably hold the sleeve 29.
On the contrast, since the sleeve 29 is pivotally supported in the lower portion of the body thereof, the sleeve 29 is easily swung in a radial direction and an axial direction, particularly, the upper portion thereof is swung in a radial direction so that a straight drivability of the piston 16 is hardly secured, thereby generating problems in view of the quantitative accuracy and the durability.


An image processing method converts an N-value image into an M-value image (N<M). The method obtains an appearance frequency distribution of M-value image data corresponding to a predetermined N-value pattern around an objective pixel of N-value image data, to which an M-value image (M<N) is converted, for each of N-value patterns different from each other. The method then estimates M-value image data corresponding to a given N-value image on the basis of the appearance frequency distribution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for decoding an N-value image to an M-value image (N<M).
2. Related Background Art
As a conventional technique for decoding a binary image to a multivalue image, a technique for smoothing binary data by a smoothing filter to consequently obtain multivalue data is known. For example, if filter coefficients are all "1"s, the number of dots in the filter is directly obtained as multivalue data.
There is also proposed a technique for detecting a pattern of dots of binary data using a rectangular window or a window having another shape, and switching smoothing data in accordance with the detected pattern.
However, according to the conventional multivalue image decoding technique using the smoothing filter, edge sections of characters or line images are blurred, and a completely smooth gradation expression cannot be made in a halftone section. Thus, dot patterns of a binary image often cannot be completely removed.
In the technique for switching smoothing windows for a specific pattern of a binary image, an uneasy or noisy image may be obtained in a boundary section due to an excessive density difference between a switched decoded pixel and surrounding non-switched pixels.
In either technique, it is difficult to perform perfect multivalue image decoding using the smoothing filter. In particular, binary characteristics upon conversion from a multivalue image into a binary image are not taken into consideration at all, and it is difficult to perform good multivalue image decoding.

Method and apparatus for converting N-value image to M-value image, for < NM


Disclosed herein is a packaged integrated circuit device having symmetrical structure to minimize package warpage and to prevent the formation of voids. The packaged integrated circuit device includes an integrated circuit chip having pads in the form of the respective grooves on its both sides opposite to each other. Each pad groove in the integrated circuit chip is formed such that it penetrates vertically the integrated circuit chip. The surface of each pad groove is coated with solder. A plurality of inner lead structures each including an inner lead and a stopper are inserted into the pad grooves and are electrically connected with the pads. In each of the inner lead structures, solder is coated on a surface of portion being in contact with the pads. Each inner lead has a plate shape and is inserted vertically into the respective pad grooves. Each stopper has a plate shape and is formed in the respective inner leads such that it is laid horizontally upon the upper surface of the integrated circuit chip to prevent the inner lead from breaking away from the pads. In one embodiment, on a top end of the respective inner leads is placed the top portion of each of the outer leads to be electrically connected to the respective inner leads, and each of the stoppers is formed at middle height portion of the respective inner leads.

The semiconductor integrated circuit package having a plurality of leads located on a surface of the semiconductor integrated circuit chip or a substrate, is sometimes called as "lead- on- chip" or "lead- over-chip" (LOC) type package. Typical structure of the LOC type package is shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, the LOC type package includes an integrated circuit chip 1 and a lead frame 2 attached on a surface of the integrated circuit chip 1 by an adhesive 6. The lead frame 2 comprises inner leads 21 for carrying the signals to the chip 1 and outer leads 22 which are electrically connected with an exterior device such as the printed circuit board. The inner leads 21 are electrically connected with bond pads of the chip 1 by metal wires 5 such as gold wires. The chip 1 and inner leads 21 are encapsulated in a plastic mold 3.
The LOC type package is advantageous in that it has reduced thickness and the crack phenomena are basically prevented from occurring.
However, the LOC type package has asymmetrical structure, in particular in its vertical direction. This is attributed to non-smooth flow of the mold 3 during the molding process. When flow of the mold 3 is not smooth, package warpage leading to package failure may be generated and voids can be formed in the mold 3. Moreover, the LOC type package shown in FIG. 1 is slow in carrying the signals, because the electrical connection between the chip 1 and inner leads 21 is accomplished by the metal wires 5. In addition, the LOC type package shown in FIG. 1 has a shortcoming that the resistance of solder joints of the outer leads to a substrate is low because lead height LH is low. Additionally, the LOC type package shown in FIG. 1 is not easy in dissipating heat generated from the chip 1.