A universal electrical plug includes a first support, a second support, outer electrode slats, and inner electrode slats. An axis is defined from the second support to the first support. The outer and inner electrode slats are arranged on the second support, surround the axis, and extend to the first support in a direction parallel to the axis. The outer electrode slats are arranged on the second support and surround the inner electrode slats. Each outer electrode salt includes an outer deforming section bulged from the axis to fit insert holes of the electrical sockets with different sizes. Each inner electrode slate includes an inner deforming section depressed toward the axis to fit the electrode cores of the electrical sockets with different sizes. Through the outer and the inner electrode slats, the universal electrical plug is able to be adapted to the electrical sockets with different geometry specifications.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical plugs, and more particularly to a universal electrical plug adapted to the electrical sockets with different sizes.
2. Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, an electrical plug 1 in the prior art is disposed at an end of a power output cable of an electric transformer or a power supplier. The electrical plug is utilized to be inserted a corresponding electrical socket to electrically connect the electric transformer or the power supplier to the electrical socket, therefore supplying power to the electronic device equipped with the electrical socket.
Referring to FIG. 2, the electrical plug 1 includes a base portion 2, an outer sleeve 3, an inner sleeve 4. The base portion 2 is made of electrical insulating medium, and an end of the outer sleeve 3 is connected to the base portion 2. The inner sleeve 4 is disposed inside the outer sleeve 3, and the outer sleeve 3 and the inner sleeve 4 are spaced by an insulating ring 5 to prevent the outer sleeve 3 and the inner sleeve 4 from contacting each other. The electrical plug 1 further includes two leads 6, 7, buried in the base portion 2. The lead 6 is electrically coupled to the outer sleeve 3 while the lead 7 is electrically coupled to the inner sleeve 4, so as to connect the outer sleeve 3 and the inner sleeve 4 to the power output cable of the electric transformer or the power supplier.
Referring to FIG. 2, the electrical socket 8 corresponding to the electrical plug 1 includes a body 9, a conductive pin 10, and a plurality of contact reeds 11. The body 9 includes an inserted hole 12, and the conductive pin 10 is disposed at the bottom end of the inserted hole 12 of the inserted hole 12 and extends outwards in a central axis of the inserted hole 12. The contact reeds 11 are embedded on an inner wall of the inserted hole 12, and part of or the whole contact reed 11 protrudes beyond the inner wall of the inserted hole 11.
The following conditions are required for the sizes of the electrical plug 1 and the electrical socket 8 to inserting the electrical plug 1 into the electrical socket 8 and electrically connect the electrical plug 1 into the electrical socket 8. Firstly, the outer diameter of the outer sleeve 3 has to be smaller than or equal to the internal diameter of the inserted hole 12, so as to insert the outer sleeve 3 into the inserted hole 12. Furthermore, the external diameter of the outer sleeve 3 has to be large enough for the contact reed 11 to contact and clamp the outer sleeve 3. Secondly, the internal diameter of the inner sleeve 4 has to be slightly large the external diameter of the conductive pin 10, so as to insert the conductive pin 10 into the inner sleeve 4 to have the conductive pin 10 contacting and electrically connecting to the inner sleeve 4.
Referring to FIG. 2, the geometry specification of the electrical plug 1 has to match that of the electrical socket 8. If the internal diameter of the inserted hole 12′ of an electrical socket 8′ is to smaller than the external diameter of the outer sleeve 3, the outer sleeve 3 of the electrical plug 1 can not be inserted into the inserted hole 12′. On the contrary, if the inserted hole 12′ of the electrical socket 8′ is too large, the outer sleeve 3 can be inserted into the inserted hole 12′. However, under such condition, the outer sleeve 3 may not continuously contact with the contact reeds 11′, or the outer sleeve 3 may not be fixed in the inserted hole 12′ by the contact reeds 11′. Similarly, if the external diameter of the conductive pin 10′ of the electrical socket 8′ is larger than the internal diameter of the inner sleeve 4, the conductive pin 10′ of the electrical plug 1 can not be inserted into the inner sleeve 4. On the contrary, if the external diameter of the conductive pin 10′ is too small, the conductive pin 10′ will not well contact with the inner sleeve 4 after the conductive pin 10 is inserted into the inner sleeve 4. According to the abovementioned reasons, every electric transformer or power supplier can only match one or a few types of electrical sockets 8 having matched geometry specifications. To electrical sockets 8, 8′ having different geometry specifications, manufacturers of electronic devices have to reserve large amount of the electrical plugs 1 having different geometry specifications even the electrical specification of each electric transformer or power supplier can match the requirement of various types of electronic devices.
To solve the aforementioned problems, a solution in the prior art is to utilize detachable electrical plugs in electrical transformers or power suppliers. Such kind of electrical plug can be detached from the end power cable and replaced by another electrical plug having suitable geometry specification. However, the abovementioned solution has another problem that the user may lost the detachable electrical plugs detached from the power cable. Therefore, the electrical transformer or the power supplier may not be used any more if the frequently used detachable electrical plug is lost.


The subject disclosure is generally directed towards a technology by which non-contiguous channels of unequal bandwidth may be aggregated for use by communication devices. A data stream is partitioned (e.g., via puncturing) into partitioned data streams for communication over aggregated non-contiguous channels, one partitioned data stream per channel, in which partitioning is based upon each channel's bandwidth. Secondary puncturing may be used on any partitioned data stream that is to be transmitted over a channel associated with a regulatory constraint, e.g., a regulatory mask. Database querying, which may include providing device filter characteristics, may be used to obtain the set of channels available for use, along with any regulatory mask associated with a channel.

In dynamic spectrum access (DSA) systems, a DSA-enabled communications device typically has an available a set of radio frequency (RF) channels to use for broadband communications. Such a device selects a channel, which device software can subsequently change based upon database lookups and/or sensed interference. In general, DSA-enabled devices look for available channels across a wide range of spectrum in order to provide broadband networking to computing device users.
Conventionally designed DSA systems assume that channels are of equal bandwidth, and that data across the channels are designed (encoded, encrypted, and modulated) independently. These assumptions result in generally inefficient, and potentially highly inefficient, use of spectrum and power.

Error control coding for noncontiguous channel aggregation


Magnetic thin films 2 and 3 are stacked on a substrate 4 with a nonmagnetic thin film 1 interposed therebetween. An antiferromagnetic thin film 5 is arranged adjacent to one magnetic thin film 3. The inequality Hc.sub.2 <Hr is satisfied between a bias magnetic field Hr of the antiferromagnetic thin film 5 and coercive force Hc.sub.2 of the other magnetic thin film 2. At least a part of the antiferromagnetic thin film 5 comprises NiMn of an fct structure. Alternatively, the antiferromagnetic thin film 5 comprises a two-layer structure composed of a CoO layer deposited on a NiO layer to a thickness between 10 and 40 angstroms.

This invention relates to a magnetoresistance effect film useful in a magnetoresistance effect device for reading as a signal a magnetic field intensity in a magnetic medium and, in particular, to a magnetoresistance effect film which exhibits a large rate of change in resistance in response to a small external magnetic field.
This invention also relates to a magnetic sensor for reading an information signal recorded on a magnetic medium.
In recent years, improvement in sensitivity of magnetic sensors and increase in density of magnetic recording are advancing. Concomitantly, development of magnetoresistance effect magnetic sensors (hereinafter abbreviated to MR sensors) and magnetoresistance effect magnetic heads (hereinafter abbreviated to MR heads) is making rapid progress. Each of the MR sensors and the MR heads is operable to read an external magnetic field signal as an electric resistance variation in a sensor in response to the external magnetic field. In these MR sensors and MR heads, reproduction outputs do not depend upon relative speeds with respect to recording media. This leads to high sensitivity of the MR sensors and high output levels of the MR head in high-density magnetic recording.
Recently, proposal is made of a magnetoresistance effect film which comprises at least two ferromagnetic layers or thin films stacked one over the other with a nonmagnetic layer or thin film interposed therebetween, and an antiferromagnetic layer or thin film underlying a first one of the ferromagnetic thin films so that the first ferromagnetic thin film is provided with antimagnetic force, that is, constrained by exchange anisotropy or exchange biasing.
A so-called soft magnetic material or a high permeability magnetic material is usually used for the ferromagnetic layers. The term "nonmagnetic" is usually used to mean "paramagnetic" and/or "diamagnetic".
When an external magnetic field is applied to the magnetoresistance effect film, the direction of magnetization of the other second one of the ferromagnetic thin films is rotated with respect to that of the first ferromagnetic film. Thus, change in resistance takes place. The magnetoresistance effect film of the type described is disclosed in, for example, Physical Review B, Vol. 43, pp. 1297-1300, 1991 and Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 358310/1992.
Disclosure is also made of a conventional magnetic read transducer, called an MR sensor or an MR head, which can read data from a magnetic surface with high linear density. The MR sensor detects a magnetic field signal through change in resistance as a function of the intensity and the direction of magnetic flux detected by a reading element. The above-mentioned conventional MR sensor is operated on the basis of an anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) effect. Specifically, one component of the resistance of the reading element changes in proportion to the square of the cosine of the angle between the magnetization direction and the direction of the sense current flowing through the element. The AMR effect is described in detail in an article written by D. A. Thompson et al and entitled "Thin Film Magnetoresistors in Memory, Storage, and Related Applications", IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. MAG-11, No. 4, pp. 1039-1049, July 1975.
More recently, disclosure is made of a further remarkable magnetoresistance effect. Specifically, change in resistance of a stacked-type magnetic sensor results from spin-dependent transmission of conduction electrons between ferromagnetic layers with a nonmagnetic layer interposed therebetween and from interfacial spin-dependent scattering accompanying the spin-dependent transmission. Such magnetoresistance effect is called by various names such as "a giant magnetoresistance effect" and "a spin-valve effect". Such magnetoresistance effect sensor made of an appropriate material has improved sensitivity and exhibits large rate of change in resistance. In the MR sensor of the type described, in-plane resistance between a pair of the ferromagnetic layers separated by the nonmagnetic layer changes in proportion to the cosine of the angle between magnetization directions in the two ferromagnetic layers.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61572/1990 claiming a priority of June 1986 discloses a stacked magnetic structure giving large rate of change in magnetoresistance resulting from antiparallel alignment of magnetization directions in ferromagnetic layers. In the above-mentioned publication, ferromagnetic transition metals and alloys are recited as a material which can be used in the stacked structure. The publication discloses the structure including an antiferromagnetic layer attached to one of at least two ferromagnetic layers separated by an intermediate layer and mentions that FeMn is suitable as the antiferromagnetic layer.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 358310/1992 with a priority claim of Dec. 11, 1990 discloses an MR sensor comprising two ferromagnetic thin film layers separated by a metallic nonmagnetic thin film layer. When an applied magnetic field is zero, magnetization directions of the two ferromagnetic thin film layers are orthogonal to each other. Resistance between the two uncoupled ferromagnetic layers changes in proportion to the cosine of the angle between the magnetization directions in the two ferromagnetic layers, regardless of the direction of electric current flowing through the sensor.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 127864/1996 discloses a magnetoresistance effect device comprising a plurality of ferromagnetic thin films stacked one over the other on a substrate with a nonmagnetic layer interposed there-between, and an anti-erromagnetic thin film arranged adjacent to one of the ferromagnetic thin films. A biasing magnetic field Hr of the antiferromagnetic thin film and a coercive force Hc.sub.2 of the other magnetic thin film satisfies Hc.sub.2 <Hr. The antiferromagnetic thin film comprises a superlattice composed of at least two materials selected from NiO, Ni.sub.x Co.sub.1-x O, and CoO.
Although the magnetoresistance effect device in the above-mentioned Japanese Publication No. 127864/1996 is operable in response to a small external magnetic field, a signal magnetic field must be applied in a direction of an easy magnetization axis when it is used as a practical sensor or magnetic head. When it is used as a sensor, no change in resistance is observed around the zero magnetic field and nonlinearity such as Barkhausen jumps appears.
In addition, ferromagnetic interaction is caused between the ferromagnetic thin films which are located adjacent to each other with the nonmagnetic layer interposed therebetween. As a consequence, a linear zone in an M-R curve is shifted from the zero magnetic field.
The antiferromagnetic thin film is made of FeMn which has a poor corrosion resistance. For practical use, a countermeasure against corrosion is required such as incorporation of an additive or application of a protective film.
Basically, change in resistance is obtained by the use of change in the length of mean free path of conduction electrons across the three layers of the ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic/ferromagnetic thin films. With this structure, change in resistance is small as compared with magnetoresistance effect films having a multilayer structure called a coupling type.
On the other hand, when a Ni oxide film having an excellent corrosion resistance is used as the antiferromagnetic thin film, the biasing magnetic field is small so that the coercive force of the adjacent ferromagnetic thin film is large. This makes it difficult to obtain antiparallel alignment of magnetization directions in the ferromagnetic thin films.
When the oxide film is used as the antiferromagnetic thin film, the adjacent ferromagnetic film is oxidized during heat treatment. This reduces the magnitude of the biasing magnetic field and change in resistance of the magnetoresistance effect film.
When the superlattice composed of NiO and CoO is used as the antiferromagnetic thin film, a large exchange-coupling magnetic field is obtained. However, a blocking temperature which is an upper limit of operation of the magnetoresistance effect film is lowered. In addition, production cost inevitably becomes high.
When the two-layer film composed of the NiO layer and the CoO layer deposited on the NiO layer to a thickness between 10 and 40 angstroms is used as the antiferromagnetic film, it is extremely difficult to obtain an antiferromagnetic phase of CoO.
Basically, change in resistance is obtained by the use of change in the length of mean free path of conduction electrons across the three layers of the ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic/ferromagnetic thin films. With this structure, change in resistance is small as compared with magnetoresistance effect film having a multilayer structure called a coupling type.
In the above-mentioned prior art, FeMn, which is easily oxidized in an atmosphere, is mainly recited as a candidate of the antiferromagnetic layer forming a spin-valve structure. For practical use, it is essential to take a countermeasure against the corrosion such as incorporation of an additive or application of a protective film. Even if such countermeasure is taken, deterioration in characteristics is still inevitable during manufacturing process. Under the circumstances, a manufactured device is often insufficient in reliability.
When the Ni oxide film or the CoPt film excellent in corrosion resistance is used to increase the intensity of a reverse magnetic field in one of the ferromagnetic thin films, the sandwich structure of the ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic/ferromagnetic thin films has a poor crystallinity. This results in frequent occurrence of the hysteresis on an R-H loop.
When the magnetoresistance effect device based on an SV (spin-valve) effect is used as the magnetoresistance effect sensor, optimization is required at an operation point (cross point) in the zero magnetic field, like the conventional magnetoresistance effect sensor using the AMR effect. In the magnetoresistance effect device using the SV effect, the reproduction output at the head is affected by the configuration of the device. In the SV device using a nonconductive material as the antiferromagnetic layer, the thickness of the antiferromagnetic layer affects the gap length of the shielded type magnetoresistance effect device and the off-track characteristic of the reproduction signal reproduced by the shielded-type magnetoresistance effect head.

Magnetoresistance effect film, a method of manufacturing the same, and magnetoresistance effect device


A geophysical prospecting method and apparatus that utilizes the harmonics and sub harmonics waves induced into the earth by the electric power grid. The amplitude-frequency data are converted to amplitude-depth data and further converted to a differential curve. The resulting differential curve is compared to known patterns of the interested geological features, such as hydrocarbon reservoir, to identify whether the features exist and at what depth such geological features lie.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the investigation of the earths subsurface, and in particular to methods and devices that utilize electromagnetic waves produced by power line harmonics to facilitate detailed subsurface investigations.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are numerous methods used to investigate the subsurface of the earth. The most widely used methods include seismic, gravity, magnetic, electrical, and electromagnetic. Electromagnetic techniques can be broadly divided into two categories based on the source of the electromagnetic waves (Dobrin et al). Natural field sourced methods include magnetotellurics (MT) and audio frequency MT (AMT). Artificially controlled source methods include transient soundings (TEM), ground penetrating radar, and controlled source audio magnetotellurics (CSAMT). These methods all have resolution and operational characteristics, which result in limited applicability and/or high costs.
It is desirable to have methods and devices that can be used in areas where the existing methods or equipment are not suitable technically, economically or logistically. It is desirable to have methods and devices that can have wide applicability, and are simple and inexpensive to operate, and provide high resolution.
References
Introduction to Geological Prospecting, Fourth Edition, Milton B. Dobrin and Carl H. Savit, McGraw-Hill, 1988.
"Using the natural-frequency concept in remote probing of the earth", R. J. Lytle and D. L. Lager, Radio Science, Volume 11, Number 3, pages 199-209, March 1976.
"Governing equations for the coupled electromagnetics and acoustics of porous media", S. R. Pride, Phys. Rev., B50, pages 15678-15696, 1994.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electric power grid induced geophysical prospecting method and apparatus


In an anodized electrode which comprises a substrate, a vacuum deposited porous coating thereon comprising at least one substance selected from valve metals, valve metal oxides and mixtures thereof, and at least one ectrolytically produced anodized layer selected from valve metal oxides and mixtures thereof, the effective surface area is increased prior to deposition of the at least one anodized layer, e.g. by oxidizing the surface of the porous layer and removing thus formed oxide, and/or by roughening the surface of substrate mechanically, chemically and/or electrochemically, prior to vapor deposition.

The present invention relates to electrodes for electrolytic capacitors and, to a method for producing such electrodes, particularly anodes but also cathodes, having increased effective surface area. The invention moreover relates to anodized electrodes which comprise non-cylindrical pores having a branched morphology.
Electrolytic capacitors are elementary electrical devices, intended to accumulate a static electric charge on their plates. One plate is metallic and the other plate is an electrolyte. Intervening between the two plates is a dielectric consisting of a surface oxide coating on the metal plate. Conventionally, the metal plate on which the dielectric coating is formed is referred to as the anode. The term "anode" is used herein to refer both to the metal plate itself and to the combination of the metal plate with the dielectric coating. It will be clear from the context which meaning of "anode" is intended.
To increase substantially the surface area of a metal electrode, and consequently the value of its specific capacitance, the etching process is carried out electrolytically with a chloride solution which dissolves metal and increases the surface area of the foil, forming a dense network like innumerable microscopic channels (pits). See for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,665 (Nguyen, et al.) which describes the manufacture of low-voltage aluminum foil electrolytic capacitor electrodes including etching the foil, cleaning and anodizing it, the cleaned foil being thermally treated at about 595-650° C., and then anodizing the treated foil in an adipate electrolyte.
In other prior etching technologies, the etching solutions typically contain Cl− ions, see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,706 (Hemphill, et al.), which employs hydrated AlCl3, HCl, H2SO4 and HClO4 or ClO4−. It is believed, however, that the presence of halogens in etching solutions is liable to cause serious ecological problems, complex and high cost disposal and in addition inhibit anodization.
In US 20020149902 A1, published Oct. 17, 2002, there is described an electrode foil for an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, comprising a plurality of main pits formed by etching on both surfaces of an aluminum foil to extend from the surfaces in a thickness direction of the foil, and sub pits branched away from the main pits and along the length of the main pits, as well as a multi-step etching procedure for creating and enlarging both main pits and sub pits. In practice, the main pits are vertical and have a uniform and apparently cylindrical cross section, while the sub-pits are formed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the main pits and appear also to have a uniform and apparently cylindrical cross section. Use in this procedure of chlorine-containing etchants necessitated a dechlorination step.
To overcome such disadvantages and also to reduce capacitor size by using thinner Al foil recently, vacuum deposition has been proposed for increasing the surface area of foil electrodes. Thus, e.g., Drake, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,810, teaches vacuum deposition of a metal vapor at a low angle onto a foil substrate, and presents an example of the deposition of aluminum on aluminum to give a columnar structure. However, Drake's foil has been found to be too brittle for use in electrolytic capacitors, because the columns break when the foil is rolled into a cylindrical roll, one of the standard procedures in the manufacture of electrolytic capacitors.
Another method of electrode manufacture by an improved vacuum deposition method, providing high surface area values, has been described by Katsir et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,673. This method utilizes condensation of metal vapor on a thin conducting substrate in an atmosphere of low-pressure inert gas/oxygen mixture, so as to produce a porous coating structure having a high surface area. Aluminum is generally a suitable material to be selected from the family of valve metals, due to its high electrical conductivity, low cost of high-purity aluminum foil and bulk metal, good dielectric properties of alumina, and other technological advantages. The required oxide film is produced by electrolytially anodizing the obtained coating, by DC current in a nonsolving or weakly solving electrolyte, such as the ammonium salts of boric, citric, oxalic and adipic acids or mixtures thereof.
The process of anodizing foils is accompanied, unavoidably, by gradual filling of its pores by oxide due to increasing thickness of the alumina layer, and of course filled pores do not contribute positively to the surface area. It is clear that the width and depth of pores are critical parameters of the obtained coating. If the initial sizes of trench-like pores are not large enough, the process of filling the pores during anodization leads to rapidly decreasing capacitance of the desired electrodes. On the other hand, the capacitance also decreases if the pore size is too large. For anode foils, it is necessary that pore diameter is substantially larger than the thickness of the dielectric coating (e.g. Al2O3) made by the anodization voltage. By way of example, a simplified estimation for Al2O3 thickness for 60 V forming voltage, i.e. the final voltage, is as follows: the Al2O3 thickness will be 14 Å per volt×60 volt=840 Å. Thus, it is necessary that—in this illustration—pore diameter will be larger than 840 Å (×2), and pore sizes with a smaller diameter will not contribute to the capacitance because the pores will be filled up by Al2O3. As the thickness of the dielectric layer increases, the capacitance decreases, but with a consequent increase in the working voltage of the capacitor.
Vacuum deposition methods per se are limited in their ability to create large pores. Therefore, high capacitance can be obtained only for an extremely low-voltage range using such known methods.
It would thus be desirable to provide a method free from the usage of Cl for manufacturing electrolytic capacitor electrodes and to obtain (for example) anode foils for aluminum electrolytic capacitors with increased values of specific capacity, suitable for a broader in-use voltage range up to and more than 100 volts.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide electrolytic capacitor electrodes based on vacuum deposition techniques, but with increased values of specific capacity, and a method for making such electrodes.
Other objects of the invention will appear from the description which follows.
The entire contents of the above-mentioned U.S. Patents and published U.S. Patent Application are incorporated by reference herein.

Electrodes for electrolytic capacitors and method for producing them


A receiver (300) includes input (I.sub.in), output (V.sub.out), forward path with filter (104, and 108), and feedback path with error amplifier (112) coupled into the forward path. Coupled to the feedback path is an error signal storage device (408, 508). A control circuit (320) responsive to input signal amplitude couples to the storage device (408, 508) and retrieves stored error signal information for use by the feedback path. During calibration, a forward path stage is stimulated with a plurality of signals of known amplitude to generate outputs (V.sub.out). The outputs are compared to a reference to generate error signals. Error signal values are stored in memory as a function of input signal amplitude. A plurality of error signal values are stored. During operation, stage input signals are detected and compared with the plurality of signals of known amplitude. Upon detection of a match, the error signal value associated with the signal of interest is retrieved from memory and employed during DC offset compensation.

FIG. 1 shows a block Diagram of a Direct Conversion receiver 10 as is known in the art. This Direct Conversion receiver 10 is extremely sensitive to problems typically associated with the existence of DC offset components in the baseband Intermediate Frequency (IF) output generated by the Direct Conversion receiver. These problems range from self interference to attack-time degradation. As will be appreciated, a major source of unwanted DC offset occurs when the Local Oscillator (LO) signal 20 applied to the down-mixing circuits 30 leaks into the radiofrequency (RF) input port 32 of the down-mixing circuits 30 and mixes with itself. Assuming this DC offset remains a fixed value, it can be compensated for by the use of several well known methods, such as, for example, trimming, offset null adjustments, or DC blocking capacitors. Unfortunately, the DC offset components generated by LO mixing are not fixed and may become time variant when Automatic Gain Control (AGC) is employed to stabilize the gain response of Radio Frequency (RF) amplifier 40 and LO signal 20 leaks into the RF amplifier input 42. Under these circumstances, the LO signal 20 that leaks into the RF amplifier input 42 is subjected to AGC action, thus causing a varying amount of LO signal 20 at the RF input port 32 of the down-mixer 30. This in turn, results in a varying DC offset in the baseband IF signal 110 of Direct Conversion receiver 10.
While fixed DC offset signals in the baseband IF can be compensated for by the techniques suggested herein above, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a varying DC offset signal, which by definition is an Alternating Current (AC) signal, cannot be completely canceled with fixed adjustments alone. It would be extremely advantageous therefore to provide a DC offset compensation circuit that also compensates for varying DC offsets in the baseband IF signal of a radio receiver 10 as a consequence of the before-mentioned LO mixing.

Direct current (DC) offset compensation method and apparatus


A turbine blade used in a gas turbine engine, the blade includes a plurality of cooled zones each with a plurality of radial extending cooling passages formed within the wall of the blade and connected to a separate collection cavity. A leading edge collection cavity is supplied with cooling air through a plurality of radial extending cooling channels located in the wall around the leading edge of the blade. Film cooling holes connected to the leading edge collection cavity discharge film cooling air to the leading edge. A pressure side collection cavity is supplied with cooling air from a plurality of pressure side radial extending cooling channels and discharges cooling air through film cooling holes on the pressure side. A suction side collection cavity is supplied with cooling air through a plurality of suction side radial cooling channels and discharges cooling air through suction side film cooling holes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fluid reaction surfaces, and more specifically to turbine airfoils with a cooling circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Turbine airfoils, such as rotor blades and stator vanes, pass cooling air through complex cooling circuits within the airfoil to provide cooling from the extreme heat loads on the airfoil. A gas turbine engine passes a high temperature gas flow through the turbine to produce power. The engine efficiency can be increased by increasing the temperature of the gas flow entering the turbine. Therefore, an increase in the airfoil cooling can result in an increase in engine efficiency.
Prior art airfoil cooling of blades with serpentine airfoil cooling circuits allows for the cooling air to communicate in between the mainstream pressure side and suction side. This cooling circuit design has to compromise the mainstream heat load and pressure distribution on the airfoil pressure and suction walls. FIG. 1 shows a prior art serpentine flow cooling circuit with a cooling cavity to provide cooling air for both the pressure and suction sides of the blade. A leading edge of the blade is cooled with a showerhead arrangement in which cooling air is supplied through a leading edge cooling supply channel 11, passes through a plurality of metering holes 12 and into a leading edge cavity 13, and then the cooling air is discharged out film cooling holes 14 that form the showerhead and gill holes. A mid-chord region of the blade is cooled by cooling air supplied through a first leg 15 of a three-pass serpentine forward flow circuit, and flows through the serpentine path into the second leg 16 and the third leg 17 in a forward direction from the trailing edge to the leading edge of the blade. Blade tip exit holes 23 also discharge cooling air from the serpentine flow circuit and out through the blade tip to provide cooling thereof. The first leg 15 of the serpentine flow circuit passes the cooling air through a series of three impingement holes 18, 19, 20 formed along the trailing edge of the blade before exiting out exit cooling air holes 21 spaced along the trailing edge of the blade. Film cooling holes 22 are located along the pressure side and suction side of the blade and connected to the first leg 15 of the serpentine flow circuit to provide film cooling to the outer surface of the blade. FIG. 1 also shows a schematic diagram representing the cooling air flow paths through the blade in FIG. 1.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,033,136 B2 issued to Botrel et al on Apr. 25, 2006 entitled COOLING CIRCUITS FOR A GAS TURBINE BLADE discloses a gas turbine blade best seen in FIG. 4 of this patent. The blade includes a first admission opening and a second admission opening formed in the root of the blade to supply pressurized cooling air to the blade cooling circuit. Cooling air from the admission openings flow into the suction side cavity or the pressure side cavity along the spanwise direction of the blade. The cooling air in these side cavities then flows into a common central cavity extending radially in the central portion of the blade between the suction side cavity and the pressure side cavity. According to FIG. 2 of this patent, two rows of film cooling holes are connected to the central cavity to discharge film cooling air onto the pressure side surface of the blade. One major difference between the Botrel patent and the present invention is that the pressure and suction side cavities are cavities and not individual radial channels. As such, the channels cannot be individually sized such that specific pressure and flow can be designed depending upon the hot metal temperature occurring on the blade. Another major difference is the use of a common central cavity used for both the pressure side supply cavity and the suction side supply cavity. Both supply cavities discharge into the common central cavity. In the present invention, separate collector cavities are used, one for the pressure side supply channels and one for the suction side supply channels. The use of separate collection cavities for the pressure and suction sides allow for better control of the pressure and flow distribution of the cooling air around the sections of the blade.
The object of the present invention is to provide for a turbine blade with multiple individual zones having independent designs based on the local heat load and aerodynamic pressure loading conditions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide for a turbine blade with near wall cooling so that the airfoil can be made thin to increase the airfoil overall heat transfer convection capability.
Still another object of the present invention is to separate the pressure side flow circuits from the suction side flow circuits in order to eliminate back flow margin design issues and high blowing ratio for the airfoil suction side film cooling holes.

Near wall compartment cooled turbine blade


The invention relates to a drink receptacle (1), especially in the form of a drinking bag, having a wall (2) composed of a flexible composite material (3), the composite material (3) being water-impervious and gas-impervious and being at least essentially impervious to chemical and biological toxins, in particular warfare agents, or at least retarding their passage, and comprising an outer backing layer (4) and a film-like inner layer (5), wherein the backing layer (4) is textile-like and the inner layer (5) is laminated onto the backing layer (4), in particular at least essentially coextensively. The drink receptacle (1) of the invention combines good NBC protective or resistance properties with high mechanical stability, in particular puncture resistance, and also with a greater ease of manufacture.

The present invention relates to a drink receptacle, especially in the form of a drinking bag.
There are a whole series of entities which, on contact with the human body or on absorption by the human body, lead to serious physical harm. Examples include chemical warfare agents, for example the vesicatory mustard gas (Yellow Cross) and the nerve agent sarin. People likely to come into contact or take in such poisons have to be effectively protected against such poisons through suitable protective measures.
Biological warfare agents similarly represent an enormous potential hazard to people likely to come into contact with or take in such substances.
There are appropriate protective suits to protect the body, in particular the extremities and trunk. The head and in particular the face and also the respiratory tract are generally protected by wearing respirators with or without hoods. In addition, there are specific protective gloves that provide a protective function with regard to chemical and biological warfare agents, to protect the hands.
As well as protecting the body surface and the respiratory tract, it is similarly necessary to avoid any contamination through a possible uptake of chemical and biological warfare agents in the human body, as for example through the uptake of contaminated foodstuffs. This is because, in military deployment, people and soldiers have to be supplied with food, in particular with liquid, even in environments contaminated with chemical and biological toxins, for example battle areas, since the high level of physical exertion requires an increased intake of liquid in military deployments in particular. Regarding this, it must be ensured that the supply with liquid, for example with water or other beverages, is effected without endangering the person to be supplied; that is, the intake of poisons in the human body through infected or contaminated liquids is prevented. Since participants in military deployments for example cannot always simply be withdrawn from the territory which may be contaminated with chemical and biological toxins, it must be ensured that the foodstuffs to be transported into the territory, in particular liquids, such as beverages, are not contaminated to thereby safeguard the supply of liquid. In addition, a safe and secure intake of liquid has to be ensured during deployment in the field as well.
It is prior art to use drink receptacles for military or nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) deployment that are said to provide a certain degree of protection against chemical and biological toxins.
WO 2005/011437 A1 relates to a portable drinking fluid carrier in two or more parts which comprises a flexible fluid container entirely encased within an NBC-protective cover produced from a chemically hardened material. The method of making such a two-part drink receptacle is relatively costly and inconvenient, and handling is not ideal in practice, since it is absolutely necessary that the inner fluid container be accommodated in the separate NBC-protective housing. This is disadvantageous in military deployment in particular, since fast and simple handling is required there and any degree of protection afforded according to WO 2005/011437 A1 does not become effective until the fluid container has been inserted into the housing.
US 2002/0179647 A1 relates to a hydration system for aircrew personnel in military deployment, the hydration system comprising a bladder configured to hold a fluid, the bladder comprising an outer layer of a fluorinated rubber composite. The inner layer of the bladder consists of a thermoplastic polymer. This hydration system has by virtue of the laminated plastics construction of the bladder little mechanical stability, in particular with regard to point penetration resistance puncture. This is because the absence of a stabilizing construction means that the bladder has only little resistance to point loads, in particular to puncturing by pointed or sharp articles. The hydration system is optimized for use in aircraft in that it only needs to be optimized against large area-based loads as might arise in the event of decompression in particular. For use in the field, in particular in a battle area, however, this system is unsuitable, since it precisely does not have good mechanical stability, in particular not a high point penetration resistance puncture as is required to counter pointed or sharp articles, corners, edges, etc. for example.
The present invention accordingly has for its object to provide a drink receptacle, in particular in the form of a drinking bag, having a protective function with regard to chemical and biological toxins which is suitable for military deployment or NBC deployment in particular and at least partially avoids, or at least ameliorates, the above-described disadvantages of the prior art.
The present invention further has for its object to provide a drink receptacle, in particular in the form of a drinking bag, having a protective function with regard to chemical and biological toxins, in particular NBC warfare agents, which is suitable for military deployment or NBC deployment and combines simplicity of manufacture and of construction with sufficient mechanical stability, especially a high puncture resistance (i.e. point penetration puncture resistance).
This object is achieved according to the present invention by a drink receptacle, especially in the form of a drinking bag, according to the disclosure. Further, advantageous embodiments of the drink receptacle of the present invention form the subject-matter of the dependent claims.
The present invention has for its fundamental idea that a drink receptacle having a wall composed of a flexible composite material which is water-impervious and gas-impervious and also at least essentially impervious to chemical and biological toxins, in particular warfare agents, or at least retards their passage and further comprising an outer backing layer and a film-like (foil-like) inner layer be endowed with an enhanced or improved protective performance with regard to chemical and biological toxins and with an improved mechanical stability by the backing layer being made textile-like and the inner layer being laminated onto the backing layer at least essentially coextensively. The term "coextensive" with respect to the lamination designates a continuous all-over lamination, i.e. a lamination over the whole surface of the two material pieces.
The specific construction of the composite material, featuring a textile backing layer and an inner layer laminated onto it, ensures that any chemical and biological toxins, for example chemical warfare agents or NBC warfare agents, which have succeeded in passing through the outer backing layer are effectively prevented by the blocking function of the inner layer from penetrating into the interior of the drink receptacle of the present invention. In other words, the drinking bag of the present invention possesses a high barrier effect with regard to chemical and biological toxins. In addition, the textile-like backing layer of the composite material endows the drink receptacle of the present invention with remarkable stability—especially with regard to improved point penetration/puncture resistance—so that the drink receptacle of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in a military territory or battle area.
More particularly, the drink receptacle of the present invention combines good NBC protective properties with high mechanical stability, especially point penetration/puncture resistance, and also with a greater ease of manufacture.
For the purposes of the present invention, the term "inner" identifies that region of the drink receptacle, of a wall of the drink receptacle or of a composite material of the drink receptacle that faces the drink receptacle's interior which is intended to accommodate a liquid. In other words, it refers to that region which, in the filled state, faces or is in contact with the liquid accommodated in the drink receptacle.
Furthermore, for the purposes of the present invention, the term "outer" identifies that region of the drink receptacle, of the wall of the drink receptacle or of the composite material of the drink receptacle that is disposed on the outer surface of the drink receptacle. It thus refers to that region which is in direct contact with an ambient atmosphere and not in contact with the liquid accommodated in the drink receptacle.
The term "equiareal" (as e.g. in an equiareal piece of fabric for example) refers in the context of the present invention to an at least essentially identical area size, although slight differences with regard to shape and/or size can be possible. The term "congruent" (as e.g. in congruent pieces of fabric for example) is to be understood as meaning that there is an essentially identical area size and/or an at least essentially identical shape.
"Food-compatible" (as e.g. in food-compatible inner layer for example) is to be understood in the context of the present invention as meaning in particular that a material used is at least essentially inert towards any food with which it is in contact. In other words, the materials of the constituents of the drink receptacle which are in contact with the liquid are to be chosen in the context of the present invention such that, first, the liquid is protected for example against evaporation with or without loss of aroma and, secondly, the emission of noxious entities into the accommodated liquid from the material used is avoided. For example, no dyes, plasticizers or the like should be released in particular.
Finally, "laminating" shall for the purposes of the present invention be understood as meaning the bonding together of two or more plies of identical or different materials (specifically for example the bonding together of the inner layer and of the backing layer) with or without use of suitable laminating agents. Laminating agents useful for the purposes of the present invention include for example adhesives suitable for laminating, such as hotmelts, waxes, polyethylene compounds, reactive plastics and certain natural or synthetic latex products. Laminating may be effected for example by the materials which are to be laminated together being conjoined under a contact pressure as may be exerted for example by rollers, rolls, calanders, and the like. A laminating agent may perhaps be superfluous in the case of thermotacky materials. For further observations in this regard, see Römpp Chemielexikon, 10th Edition, Volume 3, 1997, Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart/New York, Page 2088, Headword: "Kaschieren" [Lamination], and also the literature cited there.
Further advantages, properties, aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred operative examples depicted in the drawings.

Drink receptacle, in particular drinking bag, composed of flexible composite material


In a method of and an apparatus for creating a reproduced wobble signal by subtracting an estimated crosstalk signal, expressed by a sine waveform having a frequency approximately equal to the meandering frequency of grooves, from an original wobble signal and recording or reproducing an information pattern at a predetermined position of an optical disc, a carrier signal, which is caused to correspond to the meandering of the groove by being subjected to phase synchronization, is assumed based on the reproduced wobble signal, a crosstalk remaining component is estimated from the amplitude and phase of the region, which meanders in approximately the same phase as the estimated carrier signal in the reproduced wobble signal, and from the amplitude and phase of the region which meanders according to a signal different from the estimated carrier signal, and the estimated crosstalk is updated to cancel the remaining component.

A recording type DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) has become widespread as a large capacity optical disc. In the recording type DVD, spiral grooves are engraved on the recording surface of a disc as tracks for recording an information pattern. In a DVD-R disc, the grooves are formed to slightly meander according to a carrier signal composed of a sine wave. In a recording and reproducing apparatus for DVD, a light beam emitted from an optical head is positionally controlled so as to converge on a groove acting as a recording track. Further, the number of rotation of an optical disc is controlled such that a light beam carries out scanning on a recording track at a predetermined linear speed. To control the rotation of the optical disc easily, a carrier signal reproduced from the meandering of a track is used. Since the grooves meander at a predetermined space frequency, the linear speed can be kept constant by controlling the number of rotation so that the frequency of a reproduced carrier signal is made constant. When the linear speed is kept constant, an information pattern which is recorded in synchronization with a recording clock kept to a predetermined frequency is formed on grooves as patterns having a predetermined line density.
In the DVD-R disc, digital information including address information is represented by prepits disposed between grooves as emboss pattern. The prepits are disposed in addition to the meandering of the grooves. When data is recorded to a particular address on a disc, a recording start position is controlled by decoding the information of the prepits.
An address information showing a position on a disc can be represented by a method of modulating the meandering phase of grooves as in DVD+R, in place of a method of representing it using prepits as in DVD-R. In the DVD+R, a signal, which is caused to represent digital information including address by inserting a sine wave whose phase is locally different 180° from a sine wave carrier signal into the carrier signal, is used as a wobble signal, and grooves are meandered according to the signal. Address information can be obtained by decoding a reproduced wobble signal.
A recording and reproducing method of related art and the functions of the respective blocks in an optical disc apparatus will be explained below based on a block diagram of an optical disc apparatus shown in FIG. 13.
A light beam emitted from an optical head 2 is converged on an optical disc 1, and the light reflected therefrom is received by a photodetector (not shown in FIG. 13) divided into two portions in a direction along a groove. A signal which changes along the meandering of the groove can be obtained by calculating the difference of current outputs obtained from respective detectors by a regenerative amplifier 3. However, the light beam converged on the optical disc 1 also partly covers adjacent grooves in addition to a target groove.
FIG. 14 conceptually shows the grooves on the optical disc and a light beam converged thereon. A light beam 201 emitted from the optical head 2 is converged on the optical disc 1, and although the greater part of the components of the light beam 201 intensively distribute within an circle shown by a dotted line, a part of the component also distribute to the outside of circle. Accordingly, a part of the reflected light includes the light in the vicinity of the circle. The original wobble signal obtained from the regenerative amplifier 3 is a signal in which a crosstalk component and noise corresponding to the meandering of the adjacent grooves are mixed. However, conventionally, the crosstalk and noise are treated as a disturbance, and a wobble clock synchronized with the original wobble signal is obtained by a wobble clock extraction circuit 6 based on the output from the regenerative amplifier. A circuit such as a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) synchronization circuit provided with a high frequency stability by absorbing a phase variation due to noise is used as the wobble clock extraction circuit 6.
The address information is extracted by using a wobble signal decoding circuit 5 on the basis of the original wobble signal and wobble clock. The wobble signal decoding circuit 5 includes, for example, a band-pass filter 501, a sampling circuit 502, a synchronization circuit 503, and an address decoder 504. The band-pass filter 501 has a pass band in the vicinity of wobble frequency and removes an out-of-band noise component from the original wobble signal, the sampling circuit 502 samples the output from the band-pass filter in synchronism with the wobble clock, the synchronization circuit 503 binarizes and synchronizes the output from the sampling circuit 502, and the address decoder 504 decodes the output from the synchronization circuit 503 and extracts the address information.
When the number of rotation of a spindle motor 13 is controlled using a spindle control circuit 12 so that the frequency of the wobble clock obtained by the wobble clock extraction circuit 6 is made constant, the scanning speed of a light beam is kept to an approximately constant linear speed. A disc system control circuit 10 creates a record pattern in synchronism with a recording clock kept to a predetermined frequency on the basis of the address information obtained from the wobble signal decoding circuit 5, and the intensity of the light beam is modified through a recording control circuit 11, thereby an information pattern can be formed on the optical disc 1 at a predetermined line density.
Further, the disc system control circuit 10 detects the total amount of the light reflected from the optical disc 1 by the current output of the photodetector output from the optical head 2 through a regenerating (reproducing) control circuit 16 on the basis of the address information obtained from the wobble signal decoding circuit 5 and reads the information pattern on the optical disc 1.
A clock synchronized with the wobble clock may be created and used by a multiplying circuit (integral multiplication circuit) in place of using an oscillator having a fixed frequency, as a recording clock creation (generation) circuit. Although the oscillator having the fixed frequency is excellent in a frequency stability, it does not follow to the variation of the linear speed caused by the decentering of the optical disc. Accordingly, it is difficult for the oscillator to suppress the accuracy of an information pattern forming position to equal to or less than an amount of phase variation. In contrast, when a recording clock is created by integral multiplication of the wobble clock, since an information pattern can be recorded following to the linear speed detected from the wobble frequency, a high positioning accuracy can be obtained.
When grooves meander at a predetermined space frequency as in DVD-R and DVD+R, phases of the meandering do not match with each other in grooves adjacent to each other and are gradually dislocated. Accordingly, the variations of the amplitude and phase of a frequency corresponding to the difference between the meandering frequency of the groove corresponding to a track to be processed and the meandering frequency of grooves adjacent to the groove appear to the original wobble signal with which a crosstalk is mixed. When it is intended to directly extract a wobble clock from an original wobble signal by using the PLL as in the example of the related art, phase dislocation also appears in a reproduced wobble clock due to a crosstalk.
When it is necessary to produce information including an address by decoding the meandering phase of grooves as in DVD+R, a problem arises in that a decoding error is liable to occur because the phase of a wobble clock which must act as a phase determination standard is dislocated.
Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a decoding apparatus for stably reproducing an address even if a wobble signal is deformed by a crosstalk component and the like.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-134009 (paragraph Nos. [0034], [0035], FIG. 8)

Signal processing method of wobble signal, recording and reproducing method of optical disc, optical disc apparatus, program, and recording medium


The present invention provides a mobile communications device and a method of operating such a device to reduce data download costs incurred in downloading data from a bearer to which the mobile communications device is connected. The mobile communications device is capable of storing for a bearer to which the mobile communications device is configured to connect with, cost information relating to the cost of downloading data from that bearer. Also, the mobile communications device is capable of adapting the quantity of data downloaded to the mobile communications device from the bearer to which the mobile communications device is presently connected in dependence on the cost information for that bearer.

Known mobile communications devices are frequently capable of downloading data from a variety of different sources such as, for example, other mobile communications devices, the internet and personal computers. Additionally, such devices are often capable of downloading data from such sources via a variety of different connection types such as, for example, WiFi, GPRS, Bluetooth® and 3G. Further, a rich variety of different downloadable data can be available for download to known communications devices from these different sources via these different connections such as, for example, individual contact information, emails and websites.


A dual/differential spin valve sensor of a magnetic head includes a first spin valve having an antiparallel (AP) “pinned” layer structure and a second spin valve having an AP “self-pinned” layer structure. The AP pinned layer structure has a magnetization direction which is fixed by an adjacent antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer, whereas the AP self-pinned layer structure has a magnetization direction which is fixed by magnetostriction as well as air bearing surface (ABS) stress. The magnetization direction of the AP pinned layer structure is fixed in a direction antiparallel to the magnetization direction of the AP self-pinned layer structure. The dual/differential spin valve sensor may be configured to have either a top AP pinned layer structure and a bottom AP self-pinned layer structure, or a top AP self-pinned layer structure and a bottom AP pinned layer structure. Advantageously, the dual/differential spin valve sensor is relatively thin and overcomes the difficulties of the AFM polarity setting process when two AP pinned layer structures are utilized.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to spin valve sensors of magnetic heads, and more particularly to a differential spin valve sensor utilizing both an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure and an AP self-pinned layer structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computers often include auxiliary memory storage devices having media on which data can be written and from which data can be read for later use. A direct access storage device (disk drive) incorporating rotating magnetic disks are commonly used for storing data in magnetic form on the disk surfaces. Data is recorded on concentric, radially spaced tracks on the disk surfaces. Magnetic heads including read sensors are then used to read data from the tracks on the disk surfaces.
In high capacity disk drives, magnetoresistive read (MR) sensors, commonly referred to as MR heads, are the prevailing read sensors because of their capability to read data from a surface of a disk at greater linear densities than thin film inductive heads. An MR sensor detects a magnetic field through the change in the resistance of its MR sensing layer (also referred to as an "MR element") as a function of the strength and direction of the magnetic flux being sensed by the MR layer.
The conventional MR sensor operates on the basis of the anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) effect in which the MR element resistance varies as the square of the cosine of the angle between the magnetization of the MR element and the direction of sense current flow through the MR element. Recorded data can be read from a magnetic medium because the external magnetic field from the recorded magnetic medium (the signal field) causes a change in the direction of magnetization in the MR element, which in turn causes a change in resistance in the MR element and a corresponding change in the sensed current or voltage.
Another type of MR sensor is the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor manifesting the GMR effect. In GMR sensors, the resistance of the MR sensing layer varies as a function of the spin-dependent transmission of the conduction electrons between magnetic layers separated by a non-magnetic layer (spacer) and the accompanying spin-dependent scattering which takes place at the interface of the magnetic and non-magnetic layers and within the magnetic layers.
GMR sensors using two layers of ferromagnetic material (e.g. nickel-iron, cobalt-iron, or nickel-iron-cobalt) separated by a layer of nonmagnetic material (e.g. copper) are generally referred to as spin valve (SV) sensors manifesting the SV effect. In an SV sensor, one of the ferromagnetic layers, referred to as the pinned layer, has its magnetization typically pinned by exchange coupling with an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer (e.g., nickel-oxide, iron-manganese, or platinum-manganese). The pinning field generated by the AFM pinning layer should be greater than demagnetizing fields to ensure that the magnetization direction of the pinned layer remains fixed during application of external fields (e.g. fields from bits recorded on the disk). The magnetization of the other ferromagnetic layer, referred to as the free layer, however, is not fixed and is free to rotate in response to the field from the information recorded on the magnetic medium (the signal field).
The pinned layer may be part of an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure which includes an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer formed between first and second AP pinned layers. The first AP pinned layer, for example, may be the layer that is exchange coupled to and pinned by the AFM pinning layer. By strong antiparallel coupling between the first and second AP pinned layers, the magnetic moment of the second AP pinned layer is made antiparallel to the magnetic moment of the first AP pinned layer. The AP-pinned structure is preferred over the single pinned layer because the magnetizations of the first and second pinned layers of the AP-pinned structure subtractively combine to provide a net magnetization that is less than the magnetization of the single pinned layer. The direction of the net magnetization is determined by the thicker of the first and second pinned layers. A reduced net magnetization equates to a reduced demagnetization field from the AP-pinned structure. Since the antiferromagnetic exchange coupling is inversely proportional to the net pinning magnetization, this increases exchange coupling between the first pinned layer and the antiferromagnetic pinning layer. The AP-pinned spin valve sensor is described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,185 to Heim and Parkin which is incorporated by reference herein.
In a "self-pinned" spin valve sensor, however, the first AP pinned layer is not pinned by any AFM pinning layer but is rather "self-pinned". A spin valve sensor of this type relies on magnetostriction of the AP self-pinned layer structure as well as the air bearing surface (ABS) stress for pinning. The AFM pinning layer, which is typically as thick as 150 Angstroms, is no longer necessary for pinning so that a relatively thin sensor can be fabricated.
A dual/differential spin valve sensor is made of two spin valve structures which are separated by a relatively thick gap layer. The two spin valve structures yield signals of opposite polarity under common mode excitation, thereby resulting in rejection of common mode noise and providing a higher read resolution determined by the gap layer which separates the two structures. Both spin valve structures typically include an AP pinned layer structure with an associated AFM pinning layer. Unfortunately, the AFM setting process to establish 180° out-of-phase pinned structures becomes difficult for these types of sensors. Specifically, after setting the polarity of the first AFM pinning layer for the first spin valve structure, setting the opposite polarity of the second AFM pinning layer for the second spin valve structure disturbs the polarity of the first AFM pinning layer.
There is an existing need for a relatively thin dual/differential spin valve sensor which overcomes the difficulties of the AFM polarity setting process.

Thin differential spin valve sensor having both pinned and self pinned structures for reduced difficulty in AFM layer polarity setting

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


There is provided electrochemical biosensors with a sample introducing part, comprising a sample introducing passage, an air discharge passage, and a void. The sample introducing passage communicates with the air discharge passage, and the void is formed at the point of communication. Also, disclosed is the electrochemical biosensor with the said sample introducing part and a fluidity determining electrode.

Periodic monitoring of blood glucose levels is needed for the diagnosis and prophylaxis of diabetes mellitus. The conventional analyzers for detecting the level of glucose in blood are strip-type analyzers based on either a colorimetric method or an electrochemical method.
The colorimetric method depends on a glucose oxidase-colorimetric reaction:glucose+O2→gluconic acid+H2O2 (catalyst: glucose oxidase)H2O2+dye→product (catalyst: peroxidase)
As shown in the reaction, glucose reacts with oxygen and is oxidized to gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of glucose oxidase. With the aid of peroxidase, the hydrogen peroxide is then reduced to water while oxydizing chromophoric oxygen receptor. This reaction result in color change proportional to the level of glucose in blood.
This colorimetric method, however, requires precise care, because the change of the color (or intensity) depends on the degree of sample transport and sample pre-treatment, quantity of sample, reaction time and coloration time. In addition, blood coagulation or the presence of interfering materials (for example, uric acid, ascorbic acid, and bilirubin) may disturb the colorimetric analysis.
Electrochemical method may avoid the above problems, providing high selectivity and sensitivity. For example, an electrochemical biosensor enables samples to be introduced without pre-treatment, even if the samples are turbid, and makes it possible to accurately analyze the level of glucose within a short period of time.
Both colorimetric and electrochemical methods which use oxygen as an electron transfer mediator are called as the first-generation biosensor. The second-generation electrochemical adopt organometallic compounds (e.g., Fe, Os, Ru containing derivatives), quinones, quinone derivatives, organic conducting salts or viologen as an electron transfer mediator. The second-generation electrochemical sensors are based on the reaction:glucose+GOx−FAD→gluconic acid+GOx−FADH2 GOx−FADH2+Mox→GOx−FAD+Mred (wherein, GOx represents glucose oxidase; GOx−FAD and GOx−FADH2 represent an oxidized state and a reduced state of glucose oxidase, respectively; and, Mox and Mred denote the oxydized and reduced electron transfer mediator, respectively.)
As shown in the reaction, glucose is oxidized to gluconic acid by reducing GOx−FAD to GOx−FADH2. The reduced glucose oxidase transfers an electron(s) to the electron transfer mediator Mox and then returns to the initial state. During this reaction, the redox current thus generated is measured at the surface of the electrode.
The electrochemical biosensor strip comprises: a) at least one substrate on which an electrode system (a working electrode, an auxiliary electrode and/or reference electrode) is printed, b) an oxidase and an electron transfer mediator immobilized on the electrode system, and c) a sample introducing part. The electrochemical biosensor strip may be classified into four types: (1) a flat-type biosensor in which a working electrode and an auxiliary electrode (or a reference electrode) are printed on the same base substrate; (2) a converse-type biosensor in which a working electrode and an auxiliary electrode are facing each other and; (3) a differential flat-type biosensor; and (4) a differential converse-type biosensor.
Most commercially available biosensors have a sample introducing part that might be classified as either an i-type or a horizontal line-type.
The i-type sample introducing part comprises base substrate, a thin film spacer (typically, 100-500 μm) with U-shaped cut-out portion, and the cover plate with a vent hole for discharging the air. The vent hole may be formed at the base plate as well. This type of biosensor provides a rapid introduction of liquid sample through the i-type capillary, but suffers from the disadvantages that the amount of the sample introduced is not precisely controlled because the U-shaped channel is often over filled or under filled around the vent hole; the filling of the sample channel significantly depends on the fluidity of blood which varies largely with the hematocrit level. Another disadvantage of i-type is that improper handling of the strip easily contaminates the user with the blood squeezed through the vent hole.
The horizontal line-type sample introducing part is formed by the spacer arranged to form a narrow flow channel crossing the strip between the base and cover substrates; the sample is introduced through the inlet formed on one lateral side, while an air within the space is discharged through the outlet formed on the other lateral side. This type of biosensor also suffers from the disadvantage that a sample should be introduced laterally, often forcing the user to place the strip in an awkward position over the sampling area.
Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrochemical biosensor equipped with a sample introducing part that enables a rapid introduction of a blood sample at the tip of the strip in accurate amount for electrochemical determination.
Human blood contains solid particles (hematocrits) such as erythrocytes, white cells and other proteins, which can be separated from the plasma; These particles change the fluidity and electrical conductivity of blood. It is noted that the sample is introduced in different speed to the capillary channel of a biosensor strip, and the sample filling time is a function of hematocrit level.
Therefore, according to the second aspect of present invention, there is provided an electrochemical biosensor equipped with a fluidity determining electrode that measures the sample fill-up time in the capillary, and a method to correct the values with respect to those at a given hematocrit level.


Various embodiments of electronic communication systems and methods in which an infrastructure in-motion adapts from a first set of communication parameters to a second set of communication parameters while moving from one geographical region to a second geographical region, and associated transmission pattern of the infrastructure in-motion may be modified to either avoid a problem of multiple-region-coverage or to resolve such a problem once it has arisen. The infrastructure in-motion may be a base station or other infrastructure, and any or all of multiple techniques such as beam switching, beam selection, phased array, and null-steering, may be used to modify a transmission pattern. In various alternative embodiments, infrastructure in-motion in one geographical region establishes a first backhaul link with a first core network, moves to a second geographical region, and then establishes a second backhaul ink with a second core network.

In many electronic communication systems, the infrastructure is geographically fixed, and services consumer client units which are either mobile or portable. The infrastructure includes at least base stations and a network control center. Although in some systems the infrastructure is geographically fixed, alternative systems can be imagined in which base stations move, while continuing to serviced consumer client units that may be mobile, portable, or fixed in space for a period of time. Advantages may be possible for systems in which the base stations are not fixed geographically.


A supporting structure and a docking station using the same are provided. The supporting structure includes an elastic member, a sliding member, a lifting element and a damper. The sliding member having an inclined plane is connected to the elastic member. When the elastic member receives a force, the elastic member forces the sliding member to move along an axis line with the inclined plane facing to the lifting element. The lifting element is arranged over a travel path of the inclined plane and has an abutting portion. When the lifting element receives another force so that the abutting portion abuts against the inclined plane, the sliding member stops moving and the height position of the lifting element is fixed. The damper is mated with the sliding member to slow down the velocity of the sliding member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a supporting structure and a docking station using the same; in particular, to a supporting structure and a docking station using the same adapted for a portable electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
The laptop is usually required to have light weight, a small size and thin wall for easy carry-on convenience so that a user can use the laptop in different situations. However, compared to desktop computer, the number of the function expansion slots, such as USB, VGA, HDMI and so on, and the expandability of the laptop are limited by the smaller size. In addition, when the user wants to use the peripheral equipment through the laptop, the connections between the peripheral equipment and the laptop must be established. The aforementioned peripheral equipment could be a displaying screen, a mouse, a keyboard, a printer an external hard drive, a network interface card, a scanner and so on. However, when the user wants to put away the laptop, all of the connections of the peripheral equipment need to be pulled out from the laptop.
To omit the acts of inserting or pulling the connecting plugs of these peripheral equipment into or out from the laptop, the connections between the peripheral equipment and the laptop can be established through an expansion base. The expansion base can make and keep available connections to the peripheral equipment. Additionally, the expansion base can determine whether the laptop is electrically connected to the expansion base so as to operate the peripheral equipment. Thus, when the laptop is connected to the expansion base, the user can operate the peripheral equipment by controlling the laptop. When the user wants to take the laptop away, the user simply interrupts the connection between the expansion base and the laptop so that the connection between the peripheral equipment and the laptop can be immediately stopped.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of portable electronic device placed on the conventional expansion base. For example, the two portable electronic devices 13 and 13′ are laptops, respectively. In addition, the conventional expansion base 1 includes a base 10, a plate 11 and at least one supporting pillar 12. The plate 11 and the supporting pillar 12 are disposed on the base 10. When the portable electronic device 13 or 13′ is placed on the conventional expansion base 1, a connecting port (not shown in FIG. 1) of the portable electronic device 13 or 13′ connects a connector 14 of the conventional expansion base 1 to establish an electrical connection. Meanwhile, the bottom surface of the portable electronic device 13 or 13′ abuts the plate 11 and the supporting pillar 12.
However, because the height of the supporting pillar 12 protruded from the base 10 cannot be adjusted, the conventional expansion base 1 is only suitable for the portable electronic device 13 having specific thickness or special shape. When another portable electronic device 13′ having larger size in shape is placed on the conventional expansion base 1, it is likely that the portable electronic device 13′ having larger size in shape may not be connected to the connecter 14 of the conventional expansion device 1 since the height of the supporting pillar 12 protruded from the base 10 is fixed. As such, the electrical connection between the portable electronic device 13′ having larger size in shape and the conventional expansion base 1 may not be made well.

Supporting structure and docking station using the same

UNIVERSAL SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIAL (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.

UNIVERSAL GLOBAL SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.


A brake assembly (1) for the coupling of two components, especially two stabilizer-halves of a motor vehicle stabilizer, with a brake housing (2), a motor shaft (3) penetrating through the brake housing (2), a magnet component (6) and an electrically connectable armature (9), rigidly connected with the brake housing (2) and the motor shaft (3). To assure a reasonable degree of security, provision is made that the magnet component (6) and the connectable armature (9) are longitudinally displaceably bound to the brake housing (2) and the motor shaft (3) and that, on the motor shaft (3), a spindle nut (5) is threadedly placed and that, in the event of a longitudinal displacement of the spindle nut (5) into axial end domains, respectively, the magnet component (6) or the armature (9) are so moved that a separative distance (d) between them is greater than the distance (d) is during mid-positioning and that the brake assembly (1) in both end positions of the spindle nut (5) are always closed and in the mid-position are open with or without application of electrical power.

Rotative drives have been installed to serve as servo or control means in many applications, especially in machine tools and motor vehicles. In the case of electrically activated rotative drives, as a rule, blocking or brake apparatuses are present for prevention of under or over runs. Besides some shape fit mechanisms, the blocking or braking apparatuses can often be found as electro-magnetic shifting frictional clutches and brakes.
In accordance with the character of a major interruption, one must make a distinction between power loss during operation wherein engagement of the brake can only be attained by residual voltage and, contrarily, a power loss while equipment is idle wherein disengagement of the brake can only be executed by possible backup voltage.
In a case of backup voltage braking, if this voltage should fail, then the brake engages itself. Some known designs have the capability of overcoming a field of a parallel placed permanent magnet, via an electrically energized coil, whereby the brake is held in its disengaged position. On the other hand, in a case of total voltage failure, only the magnetic field of a permanent magnet can exist whereby a brake will engage. This type of assembly is adapted to applications, which require an absolute engagement of a brake when voltage is lost so that, for example, a positioning or a control operation can be brought to a stop. For example, one application to the furnish acting stabilizers for roll control of motor vehicles wherein the stabilizer halves, when brakes are disengaged, are such that the halves positionally oppose one another. Contrarily, if brakes are disengaged then the stabilizer halves become firmly coupled together. In the case of an electric power failure, a rigid stabilizer is required so that the brake is immediately blocked.
If power failure should occur in the use of rotative bodies which turn toward each other, then their relative positioning is immediately fixed. In the case of the above mentioned application, where an activated stabilizer is involved, it is possible for a drive-dynamic maneuver in the interface area to be carried out at the instant of engagement. Consequently, in a case of defection, during a turn into a fast lane, a stabilizer with rotated halves is blocked. Upon a renewed change back to a travel lane, then the stabilizer is so stressed that its action is largely suspended or can only be put into action by a very large chassis rolling. Thereby, driving stability is lost up to the point of danger of upset.
DE 693 02 712 T2 teaches that a vehicle with stabilizers on the front and rear axles, the stabilizing halves can be pivoted toward one another by a servo motor. In this arrangement, no braking assembly is provided between the stabilizer halves.
With this background, the purpose of this invention is to achieve improvements with regard to the state of the technology and to create a backup current apparatus, which can assure increased safety even in the case of an external defect in dynamically critical situations. This relates especially to applications involving stabilizers on motor vehicles.

Brake mechanism for coupling two components


A register punch system for printing plates has several punch modules for an interior drum printing plate exposer in which the printing plate is arranged inside a cavity formed of a segment of a circle. The punch modules are arranged next to one another on a base plate at one end of the cavity outside an inside of the cavity in which the printing plate is located. The punch modules each have a guide block arranged on the base plate, a stamping punch guided inside the guide block, a connecting rod for actuating the stamping punch and a stripper plate arranged on the base plate at the end of the base plate facing the cavity and through which the stamping punch is furthermore guided. The stamping punch has a cutting finger at the end that reaches through the stripper plate, the cutting finger reaching over the end of the printing plate. The stamping punch is actuated through the connecting rod, so that a punching is carried out at the end of the printing plate during the drawing back of the stamping punch. The punched-out material of the printing plate is transported away by the cutting finger through the stripper plate.

The invention concerns a punch module for printing plate exposers. In printing technology, printing plates are normally provided with a register punching with which, during clamping onto the printing cylinder of sheet-fed or rotary offset machines, they are positioned at their outer dimensions. The dimensional relation of the printing surface in relation to the printing cylinder is thus produced.
The printing plates are previously exposed in a printing plate exposer and are provided with a register punching. Today, what are known as interior drum exposers are used for this purpose, which are already in use for film exposure. Reference is made here to DE-PS-41 24 004. In the figure of this letters patent, it is shown how a film is placed in the interior drum is exposed. In a printing plate exposer of this type, in place of the film the unexposed printing plate is guided into the cavity from one side and is brought into the exposure position. The interior space of the cavity is occupied by the exposure optics and the transport system, and there is no room to attach a punch in the interior space, with which the register punching could be carried out on the end of the plate.

Punch module for printing plate exposers


A semiconductor memory device is constituted by arranging a plurality of memory cells in a matrix format, each of which includes a thin-film capacitor having a ferroelectric film and a pair of electrodes facing each other via the ferroelectric film, and a transfer gate transistor connected to the thin film capacitor. A voltage corresponding to the width of a hysteresis curve obtained when the thin-film capacitor is saturated and polarized falls within the range of 5% or higher to 20% or lower of the voltage difference between the positive and negative directions in a writing operation. A remanent polarization amount obtained when the thin-film capacitor is saturated and polarized falls within the range of 5% or higher to 30% or lower of the total polarization amount obtained upon application of a voltage in the writing operation.

The present invention relates to a thin-film capacitor device and a RAM device which use a ferroelectric film consisting of, e.g., a ferroelectric material having a perovskite crystal structure.
Recently, memory devices (ferroelectric memories) using a thin ferroelectric film as a storage medium have been developed, and some have already been used in practical applications. The ferroelectric memory is nonvolatile and does not lose its memory contents after the power supply is turned off. When the film is sufficiently thin, spontaneous polarization can be quickly inverted to enable high-speed writes and reads, like the DRAM. Further, a large capacity is also attained because a 1-bit memory cell can be constituted by one transistor and one ferroelectric capacitor.
A thin ferroelectric film suitable for the ferroelectric memory is required to have large remanent polarization, low temperature dependency of remanent polarization, a long holding time (retention) of remanent polarization, and the like.
At present, as a ferroelectric material, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is mainly used. PZT is a solid solution of lead zirconate and lead titanate. PZT having a molar ratio of almost 1:1 is considered to be excellent as a storage medium because its spontaneous polarization is large to allow reversal even with a low electric field. Since the transition temperature (Curie temperature) of PZT between the ferroelectric phase and the paraelectric phase is as relatively high as 300.degree. C. or higher, the polarization are hardly lost by heat within the use temperature range (120.degree. C. or lower) of a normal electronic circuit.
However, a high-quality thin PZT film is difficult to fabricate due to the following reason. First, since lead as the main component of PZT easily evaporates at 500.degree. C. or higher, the composition is difficult to accurately control in sputtering and subsequent annealing. Second, PZT exhibits ferroelectricity only when it forms a perovskite crystal structure. PZT having this perovskite crystal structure is rarely obtained, and a crystal structure called pyrochlore is easily obtained. When PZT is applied to a silicon device, lead as the main component is difficult to be prevented from diffusing into silicon, and is easily reduced in a reduction atmosphere in the device process to lose the ferroelectricity.
Barium titanate (BaTiO.sub.3) is known as a typical ferroelectric, other than PZT. Barium titanate also has a perovskite crystal, like PZT, and its Curie temperature is about 120.degree. C., as is known well. Since Ba rarely evaporates as compared to Pb, the composition is relatively easily controlled in forming a thin barium titanate film. When barium titanate crystallizes, most crystal structures are of the perovskite type.
Regardless of these advantages, a barium titanate thin-film capacitor is hardly examined as the storage medium of the ferroelectric memory because the remanent polarization of barium titanate is smaller than that of PZT, and the temperature dependency of its remanent polarization is high. This is because the Curie temperature of barium titanate is low (120.degree. C.). When a ferroelectric memory is formed using barium titanate, its memory contents may be lost during use at a high temperature of 100.degree. C. or higher. In addition, the temperature dependency of remanent polarization is high even in the normal use temperature range (85.degree. C. or lower) of an electronic circuit, and the operation is unstable. Therefore, a thin-film capacitor using a thin ferroelectric film of barium titanate is considered to be unsuitable as the storage medium of the ferroelectric memory.

Thin-film capacitor device and RAM device using ferroelectric film


A method of forming double and/or multiple numbers of fins of a FinFET device using a Si/SiGe selective epitaxial growth process and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a Si pillar in an oxide layer, the Si pillar having a bottom portion and a top portion; removing the top portion of the Si pillar; forming a SiGe pillar on the bottom portion of the Si pillar; reducing the SiGe pillar; forming a first set of Si fins on opposite sides of the reduced SiGe pillar; removing the SiGe pillar; replacing the Si fins with SiGe fins; reducing the SiGe fins; forming a second set of Si fins on opposite sides of the SiGe fins; and removing the SiGe fins.

With the increasing miniaturization of integrated circuits (IC) and increasing higher requirements for ICs, transistors need to have higher drive currents with increasingly smaller dimensions. Doubling or multiplying the number of fins in a FinFET device can double or multiply drive current as compared to a single fin structure. However, forming double or multiple fins is complicated by material and process technology limits.
A need therefore exists for methodology for simply forming double or multiple numbers of fins for FinFET devices, and the resulting device.

Double/multiple fin structure for FinFET devices


Atomic layer deposition apparatus for depositing a film in a continuous fashion. The apparatus includes a process tunnel, extending in a transport direction and bounded by at least a first and a second wall. The walls are mutually parallel and allow a flat substrate to be accommodated there between. The apparatus further includes a transport system for moving a train of substrates or a continuous substrate in tape form, through the tunnel. At least the first wall of the process tunnel is provided with a plurality of gas injection channels that, viewed in the transport direction, are connected successively to a first precursor gas source, a purge gas source, a second precursor gas source and a purge gas source respectively, so as to create a tunnel segment that—in use—comprises successive zones containing a first precursor gas, a purge gas, a second precursor gas and a purge gas, respectively.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a thin film deposition method that allows for the deposition of films having thicknesses on the order of nanometers in a precisely controlled way. Typically, ALD uses two or more gaseous precursors that are alternately and repeatedly applied to a substrate. A series of sequential steps in which a surface of the substrate is exposed to all precursors is called a deposition cycle. Each deposition cycle grows a single monolayer of film, or a fraction of a monolayer. This is due to the fact that in ALD the film growth depends on chemisorption, a process whereby a precursor molecule adheres to a substrate's surface through the formation of a chemical bond without further thermal decomposition of the precursor molecule taking place. Chemisorption stops naturally when all substrate surface sites available for chemical bonding with a precursor have been covered. Exposing the substrate to the second precursor results in a chemical reaction of the second precursor with the chemisorbed first precursor under the formation of a solid film, until all of the chemisorbed first precursor has been reacted and the substrate is covered with a layer of chemisorbed second precursor in a self-limiting manner. Consequently, ALD is a self-limiting layer-by-layer deposition method that offers highly conformal coating and excellent thickness control. These characteristics make it a method of interest to various industries, among which in particular the semiconductor, and more specifically, the solar cell industry.
In the solar cell industry, ALD may be used to deposit aluminum oxide (Al2O3) films for the passivation of advanced mono-Si solar cells. To this end typical film thicknesses of 5-15 nm are required, which can be achieved using traditional single or multi-wafer ALD systems. Currently, the throughput of the most efficient multi-wafer ALD systems at said film thickness is about 60 wafers per hour. The amount of surface area to be treated in order to obtain—for example—a solar cell panel for use on a rooftop, is considerable however. And with the demand for solar cell panels on the rise, there is an increasing need for ALD apparatus featuring a higher throughput.
The above-described ALD application is exemplary, and merely one of many in which the continual pressure within the semiconductor industry and related industries, such as solar cell industry or flat panel display industry, for an increased throughput is felt. It is therefore on object of the present invention to provide a device and a method for atomic layer deposition offering a much improved throughput capacity.

Apparatus and method for high-throughput atomic layer deposition