A device for mounting a ventilating fan in a portable computer that uses a combination boss and bracket to simplify the assembly process. The fan mounting device of the present invention allows the space occupied by the fan within a portable computer to be minimized and the number of parts necessary for mounting the fan to be reduced. This results in a timesavings during the fan assembly process and improves the total efficiency of the computer assembly process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable computer systems, and more particularly to installation of a ventilating fan in limited space of a portable computer. The invention is further directed to a mounting device which provides for an easy assembly and dismantlement of the components of the portable computer.
2. Background Art
Rapid technological developments in semiconductor devices have resulted in the reduction in size of large-capacity computers. This has led to the development of personal computers that in some cases are small enough to be easily portable. Typical examples of portable computers are the laptop computer, the notebook computer, and the palmtop computer. As these portable computers grow in speed and shrink in size, the power consumed within the computer per unit volume increases dramatically. This makes the dissipation of heat critical during the operation of the portable computer to ensure that the components remain within their normal operating temperature ranges.
Conventionally, computers have used fans to replace heated air within the computer with cooler air from outside the computer system. Critical components, such as the central processing unit are often cooled by having a fan directly propel air across the surface of the component. Computer systems may incorporate either a general fan, a fan oriented to blow air across a specific component, or a combination of both. With portable computers it is common to use a heat sink with the central processing unit to increase the heat-dissipating surface area of the central processing unit for more effective cooling. These heat sinks often have a plurality of heat-dissipating projections or elements on an upper surface that are used to increase the heat transfer surface area. A lower surface of the heat sink is placed onto the component and a retention clip is employed to wrap around the heat sink and to grip a lower surface of the component with inward-facing projections.
In addition to using heat sinks to cool the central processing system, a ventilating fan is often used in a portable computer to provide an efficient means to further dissipate the heat generated by the central processing unit. A fan is generally placed along a sidewall of the portable computer housing to act as an air exchanger for the computer system. Furthermore, a fan is often positioned to propel air flow over the central processing unit. Computers often use a biscuit-type fan driven by a motor to achieve the necessary cooling. The biscuit-type fan is designed as small as possible to allow the fan to fit within the dimensional limitations of the portable computer housing. Techniques for simplifying the mounting of fans that cool the central processing units in computers are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,605 to Tracy entitled Computer Cooling Fan Vibration Isolation Apparatus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,016 to Zupancic entitled Set of Structural Brackets that Allow Electronic/Electrical Assemblies to be Mounted Within a Computer Enclosure, U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,029 to Behl entitled Apparatus for cooling a Memory Storage Device, U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,321 to Remise entitled Module for Muffling a Fan and for Fixation to an Electronic Machine Chassis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,445 to Tragen entitled Electronic Computer Cabinetry Having Fan and Power Supply Drawers and Connector Port Arrangement, U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,872 to Lawson entitled Ventilation System, U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,438 to Heung entitled Circuit Module Fan Assembly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,442 to Daniels entitled Combined Fan Spacer and Wire Guide, U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,465 to Benck entitled Personal Computer with Tandem Air Flow Dual Fans and Baffle Directed Air Cooling.
The installation of fans inside computers remains difficult, despite the improvements made by the prior art, largely due to difficulties caused by the small size of the fan and the limited space available in which to place it. Furthermore, additional parts, such as a bracket and a multiplicity of screws, are necessary to mount the fan in the portable computer. The fan is often first attached to the bracket by using screws and then the fan assembly is mounted inside the portable computer. Thus, the fan assembly work is time-consuming and lowers the total assembly work efficiency. I believe it is possible to improve on the contemporary devices used for installing fans in computers by using a device that requires few individual parts and fasteners, that can be simply adjusted for fans slightly out of tolerance, and that reduces the amount of area occupied by the fan within the computer. By reducing the number of parts required to install the fan, the amount of time needed for assembly goes down, the cost of installation goes down, and the probabilities of a tolerance error occurring are reduced. The reduction in the number of fasteners used will further speed up the installation process.

Device for mounting fan in a portable computer


A volume sensing system includes electronic circuitry which is electrically connected to an ultrasonic transducer. The transducer is affixed by means of an adaptor to the base of a container having a known configuration. The container holds a liquid and a gas so that a liquid-gas boundary is formed within the container. The transducer generates ultrasonic pulses which propagate through the liquid, are reflected at the liquid-gas boundary, and are received again by the transducer. The received return pulse is converted into an electrical signal which is analyzed by the electronic circuitry to determine the level of the liquid within the container. The level of the liquid within the container is then employed to determine the volume of the liquid within the container in accordance with the configuration of the container. In a preferred embodiment, the adaptor includes an indicator which may be used to identify the configuration of the container.

The present invention relates to volume sensors for determining the volume of a fluid in a container. More particularly, the present invention relates to volume sensors of the type adapted for the continuous computation of the volume of liquid remaining in a container.
In a variety of applications, it is desirable to be able to determine at any given moment the remaining volume of fluid in a container. Examples in the medical field range from determining the remaining reagent in a source container for use in automated clinical instrumentation to remaining saline or other fluid volume in an intravenous infusion.
A variety of means have been devised in the past for permitting an attending physician or staff member to estimate a remaining fluid volume. In the most basic form, containers have been provided with transparent walls and a graduated scale which is visible from the outside. However, visual observation of fluid level is not always practical, such as when the container is not readily locatable within the clinician's view. In addition, in some applications it may be desirable to have a more precisely quantitative indication of remaining fluid level or volume, or the fluid volume data may be desirably utilized to trigger electronics such as alarm limits, pumps or other devices which add and/or drain fluid from the container, or other data processing activities.
Thus, there have been devised a variety of electronic fluid level detectors in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,457 to Zekulin, et al. discloses an ultrasonic sensing device for mounting within a storage vessel such as a bilge or railroad tank car. The sensing device comprises an elongate tubular body to be vertically oriented within the tank car, having a port at the lower end to allow fluid to enter the tube and rise to the level of fluid in the remaining tank. Spaced apart vertically within the tube are a series of pairs of piezo-electric transducers which serve as transmitters and receivers of ultrasonic energy. Because ultrasonic energy propagates more readily through liquid than through air, the system can determine which pairs of piezo-electric transducers are below the fluid level and which pairs of piezo-electric transducers are above the fluid level. Thus, each piezo-electric pair serves to determine simply the presence or absence of fluid at that level.
Another submersible probe-type liquid level indicator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,163,843 to Dieckamp. In this device, mechanical vibrations are propagated axially from a transducer through the probe which extends vertically within the fluid to be measured. Reflected transverse pulses are created at both the liquid surface and the submerged distal end of the probe, which are smaller in amplitude than the applied pulse. These reflected transverse pulses are propagated back to the transducer, and the waveforms of the various pulses are evaluated on an oscilloscope to determine the fluid level.
Another approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,517 to Baumoel. That patent discloses an externally mounted single transducer liquid level detector in which the presence or absence of liquid at a particular location of a tank or pipe is sensed through the wall of the container. The transducer may be secured to the outer surface of the container, such as by hand pressure, clamping or cementing. By comparing the rate of decay of the test signal following multiple wall reflections to known rate of decay values for filled and empty regions of the container, an output signal is produced which indicates the presence or absence of liquid in the container adjacent the transducer location.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, there remains a need for a volume sensor device which can be externally mounted to the container and which can provide remaining fluid volume data on a continuous basis from empty through full.


A network authentication system provides verification of the identity or other attributes of a network user to conduct a transaction, access data or avail themselves of other resources. The user is presented with a hierarchy of queries based on wallet-type (basic identification) and non-wallet type (more private) information designed to ensure the identity of the user and prevent fraud, false negatives and other undesirable results. A preprocessing stage may be employed to ensure correct formatting of the input information and clean up routine mistakes (such as missing digits, typos, etc.) that might otherwise halt the transaction. Queries can be presented in interactive, batch processed or other format. The authenticator can be configured to require differing levels of input or award differing levels of authentication according to security criteria.

The invention relates to electronic communications, and more particularly to authenticating the identity of network users.
A variety of networks are used today. Computer networks include local area networks (LANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide area networks (WANs), intranets, the Internet and other types of networks. Communication networks include those for conventional telephone service, cellular networks of different varieties, paging services and others. Networks are used for many purposes, including to communicate, to access data and to execute transactions. For many reasons, including security, it is often necessary to confirm or authenticate the identity of a user before permitting access to data or a transaction to occur on the network.
One known approach to computer network authentication is the use of user-specific passwords. Passwords provide some level of protection, but they are not fail-safe. One reason passwords are vulnerable is that users often share them. Even if they are kept private, someone who wants to obtain a password badly enough often can, using random generators, keyboard monitors or other techniques. Moreover, when dealing with unknown users such as people who want to conduct an electronic transaction over the Internet, ad hoc passwords are not practical.
Various non-password schemes exist that perform some level of authentication before authorizing transactions or permitting access to data. These systems generally require a user to provide a sampling of basic identification information such as name, date of birth, social security number, address, telephone number and driver""s license information. This sort of information, sometimes known as wallet-type information, is compared to known data such as a credit file to determine how well the user""s input matches that source.
For various reasons, one-level authentication schemes are not totally reliable. In some instances, a user who provides accurate identification information may not be authenticated. This may occur, for example, because the user enters a nickname or a contraction rather than a proper name, and the authentication process does not check for a nickname or other variation. As a result, a user who should be entitled to access information or perform a transaction can not. Other inconsistencies may trigger a false negative, and often the false negative will terminate the transaction without further processing or corrective querying.
In other instances, a user who supplies fraudulent information may be authenticated. This may occur when lost or stolen wallet-type information is entered by an unauthorized user. Other situations may also lead to a false positive result. Both false positives and false negatives are undesirable.
Other reasons for unwarranted summary rejection, and other drawbacks, exist.
An object of the invention is to overcome these and other drawbacks of existing authentication systems and methods.
Another object of the invention is to provide an authentication system and method that perform a first level of authentication based on a first type of information and, based on the results of the first level of authentication, determine whether to perform at least a second level of authentication using another type of information.
Another object of the invention is to provide an authentication system and method that determine whether to perform at least a second level of authentication depending on available information and the level of certainty desired.
Another object of the invention is to provide an authentication system and method including an automatic interactive query feature.
Another object of the invention is to provide an authentication system and method which preprocess information supplied by the user to check, for example, the standardization, format, validity and internal consistency of that information before comparing it to known data.
Another object of the invention is to provide an authentication system and method which are customizable.
Another object of the invention is to provide an authentication system and method that access information from a variety of data sources.
Another object of the invention is to provide an authentication system and method that allow selection of data sources used for comparison, and the circumstances under which those comparisons are made.
Another object of the invention is to provide an authentication system and method that generate a score indicating the confidence or certainty level of authentication.
Another object of the invention is to provide an authentication system and method in which a minimum score or requirement may be set for particular data fields or sources.
In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a user who wishes to apply for an online transaction accesses a client/server network through a client terminal. The server side of the network includes an application server communicating with an authentication server. When the user wishes to initiate the transaction or at other times, the authentication server determines whether the user""s identity can be confirmed, and the level of authentication that may be accorded to the user""s identity based on rules specific to the vendor accepting the transaction.
The transaction the user is applying for, such as an electronic brokerage trade, is either carried out or not carried out or other action taken depending on the results of the authentication. The extent of authentication processing performed depends upon the nature of the transaction and vendor-specific requirements. Once the authentication process has been satisfied, the invention may generate a digital certificate recording authentication levels and other information related to the user. The digital certificate can then be presented in future transactions to avoid the need to reauthenticate the user for each new transaction event.
For example, in the context of electronic commerce, lower risk transactions such as relatively small purchases may not require an extensive authentication process. On the other hand, more sensitive or greater risk transactions such as large purchases or sensitive data access may require a more thorough authentication process and a greater level of certainty. A greater level of security could conceivably be attained by automatically performing a thorough authentication process for every transaction. However, this approach incurs unnecessary costs or resources in cases where only a lower level of certainty is needed.
The invention avoids this drawback by enabling different levels of authentication to be performed based on the level of security desired, reducing costs and unnecessary use of system resources.
Generally in the invention, the user is authenticated according to their ability to respond to successive queries for personal information and the level of match attained from comparing the information they provide with reliable data sources. The user is initially requested to provide a first type of identification information. The first type of information is preferably wallet-type information, that is, information such as name, address, driver""s license or other information that may be commonly carried on the person. This information is transmitted to the authentication server which carries out a first level authentication process on that information.
That first level authentication process compares the degree of match between the user-supplied first type of information and known data about the user from other sources. At the completion of this first level authentication process, the authentication server may allow the requested access, allow the requested access with restriction, refuse access or proceed to another level of authentication.
Preferably, the second and any additional levels of authentication request a second, non-wallet type of information from the user. The second type of information is preferably based on comparatively private information that only the user would know. For example, the second type of information may include mortgage loan or other information obtained from a credit report or another source. Such information is typically not carried with a person, and therefore the chances of fraud by someone who obtains lost or stolen information and attempts to execute a transaction are reduced.
The private financial or other data elicited in the second level authentication process may be requested using an interactive query. The interactive query may include multiple choice questions that are automatically generated based upon the information available in the known data sources. For example, the authentication server may access a credit file to identify loans of the user which are still in payback status. One or more loans may be selected and the lender""s name and corresponding monthly payment amount retrieved from the credit file.
The interactive query might ask the user for the lender""s name or payment amount on the identified loan and offer a number of choices for each of the lender""s name and the correct payment amount, only one of which is correct. Depending upon the responses, the user""s identity may be authenticated fully, or to a greater or lower degree of certainty compared with that based solely on the first level authentication process.
The invention may include a preprocessing stage executed before first or second level authentication. The preprocessing stage filters or corrects relatively minor mistakes in formatting and consistency in the user""s responses, preserving the transaction for further processing and avoiding needless termination before the upper stages are reached.

System and method for authentication of network users


A leak in a membrane on top of a horizontal roof deck is located by applying conductive wires on the membrane underneath the aggregate in a grid pattern. A measuring and switching circuit generates voltage having a positive attached to the roof deck and a negative attached to the wires. The circuit has a relay for each wire which can be switched between a current sensor system and the negative potential. The sensor system is arranged to sense at each of the wires in turn the current flowing from the roof deck through any leak in the membrane to the wire. A microprocessor operates the relays in turn to connect all the other wires to the negative as a shield while each wire is sensed. From the output of the grid the changes in current in the x and y directions are analyzed to locate the leak in the membrane.

The failure to detect, find and correct minor roof deterioration in the earliest stages is considered the greatest cause of premature roof failure. This is particularly true of roofing materials applied on low-slope or flat roofs. Costly roofing problems are often the result of design deficiencies or faulty application of the roof system. Even when properly designed and applied, all roofing materials deteriorate from exposure to the weather at rates determined largely by the kind of material and the conditions of exposure.
Several methods have been used to try and locate roof leaks after they have occurred. Electric capacitance meters identify leaks uses a low-frequency that measures dielectric constant changes in the roofing material as a result of moisture below the membrane. Infrared cameras allow technicians to scan roof surfaces for temperature differentials that signify moist areas through changes in thermal conductivity or evaporation. Electric field vector mapping uses a wire loop around the perimeter of the roof surface to introduce an electric potential between the structural deck and a selected roof area which is sprayed with water. The electric field potential caused by a conductive path to any roof membrane damage is then located using a sensitive voltmeter and a pair of probes.
All of the above methods are usually employed to assist in locating roof leaks after costly water damage has occurred.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,965 issued Jan. 21, 1986 to Geesen discloses an arrangement for detecting leaks in flat roofs covered with a gravel layer in which electrical pulses are transmitted through the moisture in the leak to the roof edge and then the roof is scanned by a pulse sensor to find the leak by locating the maximum amplitude.
Moisture detection sensors can also be placed under the roof membrane to detect the presence of moisture intrusion. However several roof designs incorporate membranes that are directly adhered to the roof deck thereby limiting the placement and effectiveness of this type of moisture sensor application.
In regard to pitched roofs which are of a different construction and hence provide different challenges and requirements, U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,422 issued Jan. 14, 1992 to Shih discloses an arrangement for detecting leaks in pitched roofs using parallel pairs of conductors to detect a change in resistance value therebetween caused by the presence of moisture where the pairs are arranged in an array of the pairs spaced in the x and y directions. Testing of each pair sequentially will locate the leak in the x and y direction. The pairs are typically located on the supporting plywood beneath the tar paper and shingles but can be located on top of the tar paper and underneath the shingles or tar/sand mixture. In all cases the conductors are provided in pairs at the same location in the roof construction.

Method and apparatus to detect and locate roof leaks


A doll includes a torso having a bodice portion assembled thereto and defining an interior cavity. A battery powered source and lamp are supported within the torso in an operative coupling arrangement. A plurality of fiber optic elements are optically coupled to the lamp source through a movable color filter having a plurality of differently colored filtered segments. The remaining ends of the fiber optic elements extend outwardly and upwardly from the junction between the doll bodice piece and the torso in a neckline array. A movable belt ornament is operatively coupled to the filter to provide selection of the filter segment aligned with and interposed between the lamp and the interior ends of the fiber optic elements.

Dolls and toy figures have enjoyed great popularity among children for many years. Beginning with the simplest and most primitive of hand fashioned dolls and toy figures, the development has progressed to provide a virtually endless variety of such toys and amusement articles. To maintain the popularity of dolls and toy figures, practitioners in the art have endeavored to provide a variety of amusement and entertainment features for such toys. As a result of this effort, dolls and toy figures have been provided which have articulated limbs and body components which facilitate action and movement as well as other related activities such as changing outer garments or apparel or the like. Another active feature in such enhanced dolls and toy figures has been the provision of dolls and toy figures which are capable of changing appearance when manipulated by the user.
An interesting example of a changeable appearance feature doll is found in U.S. Pat. No. 1,341,985 issued to Kemp which sets forth a DOLL includes a partially translucent or transparent outer skin and a plurality of liquid fillable reservoirs within the doll body. The reservoirs are interconnected by coupling tubes. In its preferred form, the liquid is colored to impart a corresponding color tone to the doll's skin in the area of the liquid reservoirs. The user is able to manipulate the doll to transfer liquid between reservoirs and thus alter the color tone of the doll's skin in the reservoir areas.
In the general field of liquid filled toys and amusement devices, a variety of illuminated toy objects have been provided which utilize the combination of a liquid reservoir, a light illuminating the liquid, and a plurality of suspended light reflecting objects often referred to as "glitter" suspended within the liquid. One example of such amusement devices is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,321 issued to Cimock which sets forth a FLASHLIGHT WAND having a handle housing which includes an elongated transparent enclosure. A plurality of light reflecting objects are supported within the transparent enclosure and an illumination source within the wand transmits light through the enclosure to the reflecting objects.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,974 issued to Lew, et al. sets forth an OPTICALLY DECORATED BATON which includes a transparent tube having an active or passive light emitting tube of a smaller diameter disposed coaxially therein. The annular cylindrical space between the transparent tube and the light emitting tube is filled with a liquid having numerous suspended light reflecting particles therein. Means are provided for illuminating the light emitting tube to cause light to permeate outwardly through the liquid and interact with the reflecting particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,346 issued to Cimock sets forth a TOY FLASHLIGHT having an elongated cylindrical housing supporting a plurality of batteries and a flashlight bulb together with a flashlight reflector. A globe is secured to the elongated housing and includes reflective objects having various colors and shapes therein. A plurality of colored filters are interposed between the flashlight bulb and the globe to impart a selected color to the light illuminating the objects within the globe.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,688 issued to Jones sets forth an ARTICLE OF CLOTHING having a transparent pouch secured to the outer surface thereof. The transparent pouch is filled with a liquid representative of a beverage.
U.S Pat. No. 5,010,461 issued to Saotome sets forth a MULTI-COLOR PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ILLUMINATING DISPLAY PLATFORM for exhibiting an object illuminated by a selectable plurality of colors and/or light patterns. A generally planar housing includes a rest surface for the object having a light emitting area upwardly directed therefrom. A plurality of light filters are positioned beneath the rest surface and an illumination source is positioned within the planar base to provide an upwardly directed light beam passing through the filter and the to-be-illuminated object.
While the foregoing described toys and amusement devices provide additional variety and amusement for their respective users, there remains a continuing need in the art for evermore interesting, amusing and enjoyable appearance featured dolls and toy figures.

Doll having illuminated color change fiber optic feature


There is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method including performing at least one of: processing, when forming the first redistribution layer, of forming the first electrically conductive material layer by growing the first electrically conductive material using electroplating, and polishing the first resist film and the first electrically conductive material layer from the main surface side to flatten their surfaces; and processing, when forming the second redistribution layer, forming the second electrically conductive material layer by growing the second electrically conductive material using electroplating, and polishing the second resist film and the second electrically conductive material layer from the main surface side to flatten their surfaces.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and to a method of manufacturing method thereof, and in particular to a WCSP semiconductor device having a multilayer redistribution structure and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Related Art
In conventional integrated circuit packages of packaged semiconductor chips, such as semiconductor integrated circuits and the like, demands are increasing for size reduction and reduction in thickness. Recently, development is progressing in Chip Sized Packages (CSP's), centered around integrated circuit packages in fields with particular demands for reduced thickness. CSP's have spherical shaped external connection terminals, called bumps, disposed in a lattice on the surface of a semiconductor chip. A structural body that includes plural individual semiconductor devices formed on a semiconductor wafer by wafer processing, from which CSP's are obtained by dicing, is referred to as a WCSP (Wafer-level Chip Size Package).
Recently, multilayer redistribution structures are being introduced even in WCSP's, in order to obtain a higher degree of integration. In such multilayer redistribution structure WCSP's, in order to obtain an even higher degree of integration, a "stacked structure", formed by via portions corresponding to each layer superimposed on an electrode pad, is proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2002-252310). So-called stacked vias exist. For example, FIG. 2 of JP-A No. 2002-252310 is a diagram of a WCSP having a structure of a first metal layer (redistribution layer) formed on a semiconductor wafer 2, with a first insulating pattern layer in between, so as to be connected to a signal electrode pad 4a, and with a second metal layer (redistribution layer) additionally formed thereon, with a second insulating layer in between.
However, there is the problem that in a conventional multilayer redistribution structure WCSP there is variation in the thickness of the redistribution layers along the wafer surface, generating variation in the electrical properties, as represented by the Quality Factor, or the like. In particular, there is significant variation in electrical properties in WCSP's of stacked structure. For example, in the structure shown in FIG. 2 of JP-A No. 2002-252310, due to the step in the vicinity of the opening of the signal electrode pad 4a portion, and the like, local variation is generated in the thickness of the first metal layer (redistribution layer) formed thereon. Furthermore, there is also variation in the thickness of the second insulating layer formed on the first metal layer, and there is also variation in the thickness of the second metal layer (redistribution layer) formed on the second insulating layer. As a result, there is variation in the thickness of the redistribution layers of the WCSP overall.
In a process where redistribution layers are grown by "electroplating", variation in thickness of the redistribution layers has conventionally been controlled by controlling various parameters, such as the current density, electroplating flow rate, and the like. However, demands for raised electrical properties, such as Quality Factor, have recently been increasing, and a further reduction in the variation in thickness of the redistribution layers is required. It has become difficult to contain the variation within the desired range by means of conventional parameter control alone.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device


The invention relates to a method and an electrical protection and monitoring device with an insulation monitoring instrument and a differential current monitoring instrument in an electric vehicle for safe driving operation and also for safe charging and energy recovery operation of the electric vehicle at a charging station. The invention further relates to a device for the safe charging and energy recovery operation of an electric vehicle at a charging station with electrical protection and monitoring devices.

As developments in electromobility have advanced, electrical safety considerations have also increasingly come to the fore. These relate on the one hand to the electrical risk potential emanating straight from the vehicle's own energy supply system. In electrical vehicles of the future, this on-board electrical system is usually designed as an insulated DC voltage system (high-voltage system) that supplies energy to the high-voltage consumers. Insulation faults can lead to system damage and cause high contact voltages that endanger individuals. On the other hand, since the electric vehicle's electrical energy stores are regularly charged, the risks occurring during the charging process of the electrical energy stores at a charging station must also be taken into account. In this case, a charging station may be located in the domestic environment or it may be a public charging station. Consequently, the network configurations of the power supply systems feeding the charging station and the resulting charging operating modes are also different. Hence, starting from earthed and unearthed power supply systems, different operating modes exist, such as single-phase and three-phase charging with AC or DC charging currents of different intensities. In addition, there are plans for charging stations that make it possible for energy to be recovered from the electric vehicle's mobile energy store into the stationary power supply network.
The combination of different power supply network configurations and the DC voltage network in the electric vehicle produce various requirements in relation to the electrical safety of the overall charging station/vehicle system. These safety challenges have hitherto been met by means of individual measures that are each separately implemented in the electric vehicle and in the charging station. Insulation monitoring and residual current devices are therefore adequately known and established for stationary power supply networks. Likewise, insulation monitoring instruments for hybrid vehicles have also be proposed that monitor the insulation level of their high-voltage systems.
Problems arise particularly when the electric vehicle is connected to the charging station for charging or recovery operation. As a result of the electrical connection between the electric vehicle and the charging point, a comprehensive earthed network with AC and DC voltage components results from the previously unearthed (IT) network of the electric vehicle in conjunction with a stationary, earthed (TN) current network. This shared network is usually monitored by a type A residual current device (RCD) fitted in the charging station that detects residual alternating currents and residual pulsating direct currents and is only allowed for pure residual direct currents up to maximum 6 mA, as higher residual direct currents can lead to functional impairment. When test currents are supplied by the vehicle's insulation monitoring instrument, (residual) direct currents may however occur that exceed the standard limit of 6 mA for a maximum permitted residual direct current and can therefore interfere with the function of the residual current device at the charging end. In the case of "unknown" electrical outlets, there is also uncertainty as to whether there is a residual current device in the electrical installation or whether the appropriate protection is guaranteed in the event of residual direct currents.
One disadvantage of the known protective measures that has therefore emerged is that they do not take full account of the special features of the respective network configurations and do not therefore exhaust the potential for comprehensive electrical protection against electric shock, particularly during the charging and recovery operation of the electric vehicle at a charging station.

Devices and methods for the safe driving, charging and energy recovery operation of an electric vehicle


Disclosed herein is a process for feeding a tool relative to a workpiece in a machining process such as a process for forming bevel and hypoid gears. The method comprises feeding the tool from an initial contact position with the workpiece to a full depth position in the workpiece along a feedpath at least a portion of which is defined by a feed vector having at least two feed vector components lying in an axial plane. The first feed vector component being substantially in the direction of the axis of a theoretical generating gear and the second feed vector component being substantially in a direction perpendicular to the generating gear axis. The feed vector may include a third feed vector component lying in a normal plane. With this feedpath undesirable tool shifting and workpiece spiral angle changes are significantly reduced.

In the production of bevel and hypoid gears, two types of processes are commonly employed, generating processes and non-generating processes.
In generating processes a rotating tool is fed into the workpiece to a predetermined depth. Once this depth is reached, the tool and workpiece are then rolled together in a predetermined relative rolling motion, known as the generating roll, about the axis of a theoretical generating gear as though the workpiece were rotating in mesh with the theoretical generating gear, the teeth of the theoretical generating gear being represented by the stock removing surfaces of the tool. The profile shape of the tooth is formed by relative motion of the tool and workpiece during the generating roll.
Generating processes can be divided into two categories, face milling and face hobbing. In generating face milling, each slot (adjacent tooth sides of consecutive teeth) of a workpiece is formed individually. After the tool has been fed to its predetermined depth, the generating roll is commenced.
In the generating roll, tooth surfaces may be formed by any of several known cycles. One tooth surface of a slot may formed by a forward generating roll and the adjacent tooth surface formed by a generating roll in the reverse direction. Alternatively, both sides of the tooth slot may be cut in a single forward generating roll and if a secondary or finishing cut is required, this may be accomplished by a reverse roll to produce the desired tooth surfaces. Once the tooth sides are completed, the tool is withdrawn relative to the workpiece and the workpiece is then indexed to the next slot position. This intermittent indexing is continued until all tooth surfaces on the workpiece are formed.
Generating face hobbing is a continuous indexing process wherein a predetermined timed rotation between the tool and workpiece is superimposed on the generating roll. In this manner, all slots (and therefore all tooth surfaces) on the workpiece are formed by a single generating roll. The tool and workpiece are rotated in a timed relationship and the tool is then fed into the workpiece thus removing stock from all slots as it is fed to depth. Once full depth is reached, the desired generating cycle is commenced to completely form all teeth on the workpiece.
Non-generating processes, either intermittent indexing or continuous indexing, are those in which the profile shape of a tooth on a workpiece is produced directly from the profile shape on the tool. The tool is fed into the workpiece and the profile shape on the tool is imparted to the workpiece. While no generating roll is employed, the concept of a theoretical generating gear known as a "crown gear" is applicable in non-generating processes. The crown gear is that theoretical gear whose tooth surfaces are complementary with the tooth surfaces of the workpiece. Therefore, the cutting blades on the tool represent the teeth of the crown gear when forming the tooth surfaces on the non-generated workpiece.
In non-generating and generating processes, the first step is to engage the cutting or grinding tool with the workpiece and then feed the tool to the predetermined depth in the workpiece. The tool may be moved toward the workpiece, the workpiece may be moved toward the tool, or, both the tool and workpiece may be moved toward one another. Regardless of which of the tool and/or workpiece is moved, the tool must reach its predetermined plunge depth in the workpiece before the stock removal is complete and the tool withdrawn (non-generating processes) or the generating roll is commenced (generating processes).
The path along which the tool travels from its initial contact with the workpiece to its predetermined or "full" depth may vary. As discussed by Goldrich in "CNC Generation Of Spiral Bevel and Hypoid Gears: Theory and Practice", The Gleason Works, Rochester, N.Y., 1990, in conventional mechanical gear cutting and/or grinding machines comprising a cradle, which emulates the theoretical generating gear, the feedpath is in a direction along the cradle (generating gear) axis. While this type of tool feeding is well established, uneven tool loads or stresses have been noted.
The same Goldrich publication also discloses a CNC multi-axis gear generating machine wherein the feedpath of a tool into a workpiece may be in a direction along the tool axis. In feeding along the tool axis, the feedpath lies in a plane defined by the tool axis and a tooth normal vector at the design point (the point around which the geometry of the tooth is calculated). This plane is referred to as the "normal plane". The design point is usually the mean point of the tooth, the mean point being a point midway root-to-top and toe-to-heel on the tooth. This type of feeding is advantageous in cases where tool entrapment may occur when the feedpath is along the cradle axis. Tool entrapment is the condition whereby the tool removes excess stock material due to its particular presentation and motion relative to the workpiece. Feeding along the tool axis presents the tool to the workpiece in a manner that tool entrapment is prevented. However, feeding along the tool axis has exhibited excessive uneven tool loads especially in generating face hobbing processes.
Goldrich further discloses that feeding of the tool may take place at an angle relative to the tool axis in order to balance chip loads for cutting blades having unequal pressure angles. When cutting tools having unequal pressure angles are utilized, one side of the blades may remove more stock material than the other side thus causing one set of blades to wear faster than the other set of blades. When feeding a tool along the tool axis, the condition of uneven tool loads is further aggravated by utilizing tools having such unequal pressure angles. In this situation, the feedpath may be changed to an angle relative to the tool axis, but, the feedpath remains within the normal plane. This angled feedpath within the normal plane allows the tool to contact the workpiece in a manner such that stock removal between the two sides of the tool is balanced and blade wear due to unequal stock removal is alleviated. However, it should be noted that while feeding in the normal plane at an angle relative to the tool axis may reduce the wear and vibrational problems associated with unequal tool pressure angles, this type of tool feeding has not been found to remedy the excessive and uneven tool loads associated with feeding along the tool axis especially in generating face hobbing processes as noted above.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of feeding a tool relative to a workpiece wherein uneven tool loads associated with prior art feedpaths are reduced or eliminated.

Tool feeding method in gear manufacturing processes


A display device includes a timing control circuit and a data driving circuit. The data driving circuit receives the first clock embedded training data from the timing control circuit, performs a first clock training to adjust a work frequency of the data driving circuit to be equal to the frequency of a first clock signal, and receives the first clock embedded image data from the timing control circuit. The data driving circuit also receives a second clock embedded training data from the timing control circuit, performs a second clock training to adjust a work frequency of the data driving circuit to be equal to the frequency of a second clock signal, and receives the second clock embedded image data from the timing control circuit. The frequency of the first clock signal is different from a frequency of the second clock signal.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a display device, a driving method of the display device, and a data processing and outputting method of a timing control circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
Display devices usually include many integrate circuits with different functions, such as timing control circuits, data driving circuits, gate driving circuits and so on. Generally, these integrate circuits need transmit data between each other. However, due to high work frequencies of the integrate circuits, electromagnetic interference (EMI) during data transmission has become more serious.
What is needed is to provide a means that can overcome the above-described limitations.

Display device, driving method of display device and data processing and outputting method of timing control circuit


An optoelectronic component and a method for producing an optoelectronic component are disclosed. In an embodiment an optoelectronic component includes a semiconductor chip including a plurality of pixels, each pixel configured to emit electromagnetic primary radiation from a radiation exit surface and conversion layers located on at least a part of the radiation exit surfaces, wherein the conversion layers comprise a crosslinked matrix having a three-dimensional siloxane-based network and at least one phosphor embedded in the matrix, and wherein the conversion layers have a thickness of ≤30 μm.

In certain light-emitting diode (LED) or laser diode (LD) lighting applications, such as automotive forward lighting, display lighting, or information protection, there is a need to be able to finely pixelate the light source in order to precisely guide, and actively change, where the light is directed. If the necessary pixel for a given application is, for example, less than approximately 300 μm in length, there is a need to be able to place a conversion element comprising a phosphor material in close proximity to the pixelated light source like, for example, a pixelated LED, while maintaining optical separation between neighboring pixels in order to prevent crosstalk. In this context, crosstalk refers to how much light, generated by one pixel, spreads through a conversion element to neighboring pixels. Further requirements on conversion elements of pixelated lighting applications are, for example, color uniformity and thermal stability.
For example, known ceramic, single crystal, and thin-film-based conversion elements cannot produce the required spectrum from a single conversion element, e.g., a down conversion element, if more than one phosphor is needed. Additionally, they all require a glue layer, which is disadvantageous for crosstalk and thermal management. Single crystals may not even be able to work for single phosphor applications, because they can tolerate only very little activator ion within themselves. At such low thicknesses, depending on the phosphor, it may not be possible to incorporate enough activator to reach the desired color point. Phosphor-in-silicone, phosphor-in-glass, and phosphor-on-glass down-converting elements can accommodate multiple phosphor compositions, i.e., phosphor blends, with some restrictions, but the phosphor-in/on-glass options require a glue layer with the disadvantages mentioned above.
Known red LED or laser diode phosphors are based on nitride hosts. The nitrides are easily damaged when exposed to elevated temperatures in air. Even the lowest melting glasses require hundreds of degrees Celsius to make them flowable, so it is not straightforward to include a nitride phosphor in-glass without at least some damage being done to the phosphor. While red phosphors are easily mixed into standard silicone matrixes, those matrixes are not stable under the high heat and flux conditions needed.
Micro-pixelated lighting applications with a pixel size of approximately 300 μm require conversion elements to be very thin, i.e., ≤20 μm. Such a low thickness creates complications with traditional converter element types. Single crystal, ceramic, and the phosphor-in/on-glass converters are all very fragile at those thicknesses, which would make the handling difficult, if not impossible. The thin-film-type phosphor is normally deposited on a carrier wafer to circumvent the handling difficulty, but the carrier wafer must be later removed by an additional step, which is possible but expensive and challenging.

Optoelectronic component and method for producing an optoelectronic component


A reaction apparatus including: a main body having a reaction chamber with an upper opening thereof, a lid hinge, and a lid combined to the lid hinge, rotationally opening and closing the upper opening; a lifting member having a first end part separated from a rotation axis of the lid and rotatably combined with the lid, and a second end part rotatably combined to the main body, that moves in opening and closing directions; and a driver activating the lifting member. With this configuration, the present invention provides a reaction apparatus, with a lid that is opened and closed readily, and in which the lid parallelly contacts a sealing member, and thereby creating a vacuum in the reaction chamber with ease.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reaction apparatus, and more particularly, a reaction apparatus to open and close a lid, and parallelly contact a sealing member, thereby forming a vacuum condition with ease.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a reaction apparatus, a semiconductor manufacturing process is generally performed in a vacuum condition. Hereinafter, the reaction apparatus used in the vacuum condition will be described.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional reaction apparatus. As shown therein, the conventional reaction apparatus comprises a main body 1 with a reaction chamber (not shown) having an opening part (not shown) in an upper part thereof; a lid 2 which rotationaly opens and closes the upper opening using a lid hinge 3; a gas spring 5 having a first end side separately placed from a center of rotation of the lid 2, and a second end side combined to the lid 2; and a handle 4 provided at an end of the lid 2 to aid opening and closing of the lid 2.
A process of opening and closing in the conventional reaction apparatus is accomplished as follows. When the lid 2 is opening, the vacuum condition is released, and the user gives a predetermined amount of force to the handle 4 of the lid 2 toward an opening direction of the lid 2, then the lid 2 is rotationally opened centering on a shaft line of the lid hinge 3 by a repulsive force generated from the gas spring 5.
When closing the lid 2, the user gives a predetermined force to the handle 4, exceeding the repulsive force from the gas spring 5, in a closing direction, to close the lid 2. Then, air in the reaction chamber is discharged by a vacuum pump (not shown). At this time, if the user further pushes the handle 4 in the closing direction, the vacuum is formed in the reaction chamber, thereby closing the lid 2 and creating an airtight seal.
But the user has to open and close the lid 2 by himself/herself, and he/she is required to generate a force to overcome the repulsive force of the gas spring 5. Therefore, it may be difficult for one person to open and close the lid 2 by himself/herself. Also, if the user wants to form the vacuum condition in the reaction chamber with the lid 2 being closed, the user has to continuously apply force to the lid 2 in the closing direction, to exceed a repulsive force generated by a sealing member (not shown) disposed in the main body 1.


An image forming apparatus determines process items needed as exchanged components and an order of executing the process items needed for a plurality of kinds of exchanged components based on priority order information of the process items and causes a display unit to control a display for ordering to execute process items needed for the components according to the determined order of execution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming technique. Specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that can display a process relating to an exchanged component on display unit according to a determined sequence of execution.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine and the like requires regular exchanging or maintenance of components so as to keep predetermined image forming performance. For example, a service person calls at a place of a customer to perform exchange of components and calibration executed as maintenance of an image forming apparatus. At this moment, the service person checks a state of the apparatus or orders to start execution of various calibrations via an information display device such as a liquid crystal panel, a CRT or the like mounted on a manipulation unit of the image forming apparatus.
On the other hand, as the technical advancement of the image forming apparatus increases the number of components and the number of kinds of adjustment items, it has problems in that it complicates the maintenance operation and increases time spent for the maintenance.
As image forming apparatuses are improved in the image quality and speeded up, applications in the field called "Print On Demand: POD" of conventional image forming apparatuses mainly used in offices, which treats printed materials such as variable printing or on-demand publication involved in book binding used in the printing industry as commodity product, have been widened. In the field of POD, technical knowledge is necessary to manipulate an image forming apparatus in many ways, and if a trouble occurs, restore the apparatus in a short time to prevent the throughput from being lowered.
For example, the operator needs to execute the same operations as maintenance conventionally performed by a service person in a short time such as checking or exchanging operation of consumable components or components to be exchanged, image adjustment or the like after exchanging operation. Accordingly, operations by an operator are highly prone to operation errors than those performed by an experienced service person. If a time spent in the operations is long, it may affect shipment of printed materials as products.
As a technique for solving the problems, the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-215985 discloses a technique for improving operability of the device by aiding operations of the operator with display/audio guidance on a maintenance processing procedure described in a manual or the like.
The Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-56638 discloses a technique for eliminating worker's trouble by automatically executing an adjustment operation in exchanging components; otherwise the operation is performed by a service person in exchanging components.
If common processing is executed for a plurality of times in exchanging a plurality of kinds of components to which the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-215985 is applied and exchanging of each component is executed in order according to processing steps, however, common processing becomes redundant. That is to say, when an operation of exchanging each component is focused on, a correct operation according to processing is possible. If a processing step relating to exchanging of a plurality of kinds of components is focused on, the operation becomes inefficient as it executes the redundant processing steps.
A case where a service person or an operator performs adjustment processes (process 1, process 2) after exchanging a plurality of kinds of components, for example, three components of a component A, a component B, and a component C as shown in FIG. 12, according to the description of a manual, will be described.
First, an operator or the like performs a clearing process of a counter A (process 1) indicating the frequency of use of the component A and a calibration process 1 (process 2) for image adjustment, after exchanging the component A. Next, in exchanging the component B, the operator performs clearing process of a counter B (process 1) indicating a frequency of use of the component B and a calibration 1 (process 2) for image adjustment in exchanging the component B. Then finally, the operator or the like performs clearing process of a counter C (process 1) indicating a frequency of use of the component C and a calibration process 2 (process 2) for image adjustment after exchanging the component C.
In the case of the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-215985, display/audio guidance can save an operator a trouble of reading a manual.
When the component A, the component B and the component C are exchanged at the same time, the "calibration 1" required in exchanging the component A is the same as the "calibration 1" required in exchanging the component B. Therefore, if an exchanging operation of components is serially executed in order according to processing steps, execution of the calibration 1 will be redundant.
When a plurality of kinds of components are exchanged at the same time and an adjustment operation required for each component is independently executed at the same time according to the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-56638, processing which cannot be executed may be occur depending on a timing of an adjustment operation. In some cases, it may be more preferable to operate in serial according to processing steps than to operate in parallel.

Image forming apparatus that displays process information requiring execution relating to exchanged components,controlling method of the same


An electronic balance is provided, which adequately exhibits quick response and displaying stability when being used to measure a number of objects. The electronic balance includes a number-of-objects calculating section, for counting a number (Nwa) of objects from the moving average (Wa) and the unit weight (Wu) when the moving average process is being executed and counting a number (Nw) of objects from the load value (W) and the unit weight (Wu) when the moving average process stops; and a display section, for displaying the calculated numbers (Nw, Nwa) of the to-be-measured objects.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electronic balance, in particular, to an electronic balance capable of weighing a desired number of to-be-measured objects by placing the to-be-measured objects with the same mass on a weighing pan.
The abovementioned "electronic balance" mainly refers to an electronic balance with an electromagnetic force balance mechanism, and a load cell type, tuning fork type, capacitance type electronic balance, as well as all the weighing devices for measuring and weighing by using a load weight of a to-be-measured object as an electric signal.
2. Description of Related Art
When an electronic balance is used for measuring an object, the to-be-measured object is placed on a weighing pan, and a weighing value shown in the display is read only after the vibration of the weighing pan caused by placing the object thereon is attenuated and stabilized. However, besides the vibration caused by placing the to-be-measured object on the weighing pan, the weighing pan may also generate continuous vibrations due to the surrounding environment (such as vibration of the base on which the electronic balance is disposed, and airflow change), and such continuous vibrations may not cease completely. If no measure is taken to prevent the vibrations of the electronic balance, when the displayed value is read, the weighing value shown in the display may vary due to the vibrations caused by the surrounding environment. As a result, it is difficult to read the displayed value.
Therefore, for some electronic balances, in order to stabilize the displayed weighing value for being read by a user, a moving average process is executed to calculate an average value of the latest weighing value data and a specified number of previous weighing value data obtained within a fixed period, so as to stabilize the displayed value (with reference to Patent Document 1).
The moving average process is executed to avoid the influences caused by the vibrations of the weighing pan, so as to realize a stable display. Generally, when the specified number of weighing value data maintains stable continuously, a sign (stability sign) for indicating a stable status is shown on the display, and the user can proceed weighing after confirming that the displayed stability sign.
If the moving average process is executed to stabilize the displayed weighing value, the stability of displayed weighing value is indeed improved. However, on the other aspect, the tracking and response capabilities to the load deteriorate. That is, when a dramatic load change occurs on the weighing pan and the moving average process is executed, the moving average process may not only cause noises as a vibration component, but also restrain the variation of the practical load change. Ultimately, the response to the load change slows down.
Therefore, when the moving average process is being executed, a threshold of the load change amplitude is preset as a criterion. Then, whether the moving average process is switched to "stop" or "start" is determined according to a comparison result between the practically produced load change and the preset threshold of the load change amplitude. That is, when the load applied to the weighing pan changes and during the period when the load change is greater than the preset threshold, the moving average process stops. When the load applied to the weighing pan changes and during the period when the load change is smaller than the preset threshold, the moving average process starts.
Furthermore, when the to-be-measured object is in a form of powder or liquid such as medicine, simply weighing a desired weight of the to-be-measured object is sufficient. When a powder object is being weighed, before the load of the powder reaches a target weight, the load of the to-be-measured object is continuously added onto the weighing pan for several times. As the weight on the weighing pan approaches the target weight, the increment of the load gradually reduces each time when the load is added onto the weighing pan. However, if the variation produced by one increment of the load fails to reach the preset threshold of the load change amplitude in the balance, the moving average process maintains, and the response to the added load slows down. Accordingly, some patents have disclosed the following situations. Whether a weighing operation is performed or not according to the threshold of the load change amplitude and a load change rate threshold is determined When the weighing operation is performed in order not to execute the moving average process before the added load gets smaller to improve the response capability, the threshold of the load change amplitude is altered to a small value, and the calculation operations of the moving average process stop before reaching the threshold. Hence, a measurement with a preferred response capability is performed. On the other aspect, if the load change rate is determined to be smaller than the load change rate threshold, and an additional load is not added for the weighing, the threshold of the load change amplitude recovers to a regular value, and the calculation operation of the moving average process is performed to improve the operation efficiency. Hence, the displaying stability is maintained (with reference to Patent Document 2).
Patent Document 1: Japan Patent Publication Gazette No. H11-311566
Patent Document 2: Japan Patent Publication Gazette No. 2006-84192

Counting scale with a moving average start calculating section, for determining whether or not to calculate a moving average


A modulating array transmitter that employs a power recycling method and power recovery circuit. The modulating array transmitter uses a plurality of multiphase power stages to generate a multi-point QAM constellation. Outputs of the plurality of multiphase power stages are combined in an output power combiner. The output power combiner uses terminating resistors on its difference power port(s). Using the present invention, power normally dissipated in the terminating resistors is recovered. Instead of dissipating this difference RF power, the present invention converts this power to DC power using rectifiers of the power recovery circuit. The rectified DC power may be used to supplement the DC power required for power amplifiers in the multiphase power stages. In this manner, the difference power is "recycled" and thus may be reused.

The present invention relates generally to modulating array transmitters, and more particularly, to a power recycling method and power recovery circuit for use with modulating array transmitters that improves the prime power efficiency.
A modulating array transmitter developed by the assignee of the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,651, entitled "Modulating Array QAM Transmitter", discloses the combination of saturated phase shift key modulated power stages (comprising a phase shift keyer driving a power amplifier) that produce various constellations of amplitude-phase keyed digital signal constellations. For many of the smaller amplitude output power states, pairs of power stages are combined so that their output signals cancel. Since these states require full prime power to drive the power amplifiers and since their outputs do not contribute to useful output power, these states result in a decrease in prime power efficiency.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide for a power recycling method and power recovery circuit for use with a modulating array transmitter that improves the prime power efficiency.

Power recycling for modulating array transmitters


A circular shape characteristic measuring device includes a shape measuring device that obtains measured data by measuring a profile shape of a circular cross-section of an object to be measured having the circular cross-section, and a computation device that calculates a circular shape characteristic of the circular cross-section. The computation device includes: an input device configured to input one of three parameters including a cutoff value of the filtering process, a minimum number of samples, and a ratio of a radius of the circular cross-section to a radius of a gauge head; a parameter table that stores a relationship between the three parameters, and based on the input parameter, determines the other two parameters; and a sampler configured to perform sampling of the measured data based on the minimum number of samples.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method, a device and a program that calculate a circular shape characteristic, such as roundness, cylindricity, concentricity, coaxiality, radial run-out, total run-out, or the like, based on measured data obtained by measuring an object to be measured.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, a shape measuring device has been developed, which has a sensor, such as a roughness sensor, a non-contact sensor, or the like, that enables high density constant pitch sampling. Such a shape measuring device can detect very small unevenness, and thus, can measure surface roughness at high resolution.
On the other hand, when circular shape characteristics, such as roundness, cylindricity, or the like, are measured, a rolling circle process or a filtering process may be performed to remove noise caused by very small surface roughness of a workpiece (Reference 1). In such measurement of the circular shape characteristics, it is desirable to appropriately set parameters, such as a cutoff value used in the filtering process, a minimum d/r ratio used in the rolling circle process, a number of samples used in a sampling process, or the like.
However, in many cases, due to limitations of experience and time, it is difficult for an operator at a measuring site to set these parameters appropriately. Accordingly, the number of samples appropriate for a measuring condition may not be set, the computation may require more time than necessary, and a measured value may not have appropriate accuracy.    Related Art 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-225380

Method of measuring a circular shape characteristic and circular shape characteristic measuring device and program


False signals and noise are reduced in a device such as a digital still camera having a solid-state electronic image sensing device. To achieve this, a luminance signal generating circuit generates luminance signals Y1 and Y3 having different reproduction frequency bands. The larger the sum Cd of the absolute values of color difference signals Cr and Cb, the greater the proportion of R- and B-color components in the image of a subject. Accordingly, the luminance signals Y1 and Y3 are combined in such a manner that a reproduction frequency band based upon the R- and B-color components will dominate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for modifying the reproduction frequency band of a video signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a single-chip color CCD, color filters having characteristics that transmit an R, G or B color component are formed on photodiodes. The color filters are arrayed differently for each of the colors R, B and G. As a consequence, the reproduction frequency band of the R, G or B color signal output from the single-chip color CCD differs from one color signal to another. For example, the reproduction frequency band of the G color signal is broader than the reproduction frequency band of the R and B color signals.
In order to raise image resolution, it will suffice to widen the reproduction frequency band. However, the reproduction frequency band is decided on a per-color-signal basis. If the reproduction frequency band is always widened beyond the decided reproduction frequency band, false signals are produced and image quality declines. Though band limiting processing may be executed on a per-color-signal basis in order to eliminate false signals, such processing cannot be executed with an optical LPF (low-pass filter).
Further, the amount of noise increases in proportion to the reproduction frequency band. If the reproduction frequency band is widened in order to improve resolution, therefore, image quality declines, even in the case of a monochrome video signal. For these reasons, modifying the reproduction frequency band has not been considered viable heretofore.

Apparatus for modifying reproduction frequency band of video signal


In a supercharged 4-cycle engine including an intake passage connecting a fuel-air mixture forming section to a crank chamber, and a supercharging chamber connecting the crank chamber through an intake port to a combustion chamber, wherein when a piston is reciprocated to change a volume of the crank chamber, a fuel-air mixture is sucked from the intake passage into the crank chamber, and the fuel-air mixture compressed in the crank chamber is discharged into the supercharging chamber; a space accommodating a valve operating mechanism inclusive of a rocker arm is communicated with the supercharging chamber. Accordingly, even when a volume of the supercharging chamber itself is small, a supercharging volume 10-20 times a displacement of the engine can be substantially ensured.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a supercharged 4-cycle engine adapted to supply a fuel-air mixture through a crank chamber into a combustion chamber and compress the fuel-air mixture by utilizing a change in volume of the crank chamber in association with reciprocation of a piston.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally known from Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 47-35516 and 61-200330 is a supercharged 4-cycle engine adapted to supply a fuel-air mixture through a crank chamber into a combustion chamber and compress the fuel-air mixture by utilizing a change in volume of the crank chamber in association with reciprocation of a piston. A typical structure of such a supercharged 4-cycle engine will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.
FIG. 2 shows a general structure of a single-cylinder supercharged 4-cycle engine. A cylinder 2 is mounted to an upper portion of a crank case 1. A cylinder head 3 is mounted to an upper portion of the cylinder 2. A crank shaft 5 is provided in a space (crank chamber) 4 of the crank case 1 so as to be rotatably supported to bearings (not shown). A piston 6 adapted to be slidably reciprocated in the cylinder 2 is connected through a connecting rod 7 to the crank shaft 5. A cam shaft 8 is provided in the crank chamber 4 so as to be rotatably supported to bearings (not shown). A crank gear 9 is press-fitted to the crank shaft 5 at one end thereof. A cam gear 10 is press-fitted to the cam shaft 8 at one end thereof. The crank gear 9 is in mesh with the cam gear 10. The number of teeth of the cam gear 10 is set to be twice the number of teeth of the crank gear 9. An intake cam 11 and an exhaust cam (not shown) for respectively driving an intake valve and an exhaust valve to be hereinafter described are fixed to the cam shaft 8.
A rocker cover 12 is mounted on an upper end of the cylinder head 3 to define a valve operating mechanism accommodating space 13. A valve operating mechanism 18a is accommodated in the space 13 surrounded by the rocker cover 12. An intake port 15 is formed in the cylinder head 3 so as to communicate with a combustion chamber 14 in the cylinder 2. An intake valve 16 is supported in the cylinder head 3 so as to open and close the intake port 15. Similarly, an exhaust port (not shown) is formed in the cylinder head 3 so as to communicate with the combustion chamber 14, and an exhaust valve (not shown) is supported in the cylinder head 3 so as to open and close the exhaust port. The valve operating mechanism 18a includes a spring 17 for biasing the intake valve 16 in a valve closing direction thereof, a spring (not shown) for biasing the exhaust valve in a valve closing direction thereof, and a rocker arm 18 for biasing the intake valve 16 in a valve opening direction thereof. An adjusting screw 19 is threadedly engaged with the cylinder head 3, and the rocker arm 18 is rockably mounted at its central portion to the adjusting screw 19 over the cylinder head 3. An upper end of the intake valve 16 is in contact with one end of the rocker arm 18. The other end of the rocker arm 18 is in contact with an upper end of a push rod 20. A tappet 21 is fixed to a lower end of the push rod 20, and is in contact with the intake cam 11. Although not shown, another valve operating mechanism for operating the exhaust valve is similarly constructed. A push rod passage 22 is formed around the push rod 22. The push rod passage 22 is communicated through a communication hole 23 with the crank chamber 4. Accordingly, the valve operating mechanism accommodating space 13 is in communication with the crank chamber 4.
A carburetor 24 for forming a fuel-air mixture is connected through an intake passage 25 to the crank chamber 4. A reed valve 26 is provided at a connecting portion between the intake passage 25 and the crank chamber 4 so as to permit suction only of the fuel-air mixture into the crank chamber 4. Further, the crank chamber 4 is connected through a supercharging chamber 27 to the intake port 15. A reed valve 28 is provided at a connecting portion between the crank chamber 4 and the supercharging chamber 27 so as to permit discharge only of the fuel-air mixture from the crank chamber 4 into the supercharging chamber 27.
In a compression stroke and an exhaust stroke of the engine, the piston 6 is lifted to increase a volume of the crank chamber 4 and reduce a pressure in the crank chamber 4. Accordingly, the reed valve 26 is opened as shown in FIG. 3, and the fuel-air mixture formed in the carburetor 24 is sucked through the intake passage 25 into the crank chamber 4. On the other hand, in an explosion stroke and an intake stroke of the engine, the piston 6 is lowered to decrease the volume of the crank chamber 4 and increase the pressure in the crank chamber 4. Accordingly, the reed valve 28 is opened as shown in FIG. 4, and the fuel-air mixture in the crank chamber 4 is discharged into the supercharging chamber 27. Accordingly, the fuel-air mixture in a compressed and high-pressure condition is stored in the supercharging chamber 27. This mixture having a high pressure is supplied through the intake port 15 into the combustion chamber 14 when the intake valve 16 is opened in the intake stroke.
The provision of the supercharging chamber 27 brings about an increase in quantity of the fuel-air mixture to be supplied into the combustion chamber 14 by 30-40% as compared with a normal aspiration type engine. Further, in order to reduce a fluctuation in supercharging pressure and effect stable supply of the fuel-air mixture, a volume of the supercharging chamber 27 is set to a value 10-20 times a displacement of the engine.
An output of such a supercharged engine can be improved by increasing a compression ratio of the fuel-air mixture in the crank chamber 4 to increase a supercharging efficiency. The compression ratio in the crank chamber 4 can be expressed as follows:
Compression ratio=(V.sub.D +V.sub.C)/V.sub.C =V.sub.D /V.sub.C +1
where V.sub.D represents a displacement of the engine, and V.sub.C represents a volume of the crank chamber 4 at a bottom dead center of the piston 6 plus a volume of the space communicated with the crank chamber 4 (i.e., the valve operating mechanism accommodating space 13 and the push rod passage 22). Accordingly, in order to increase the compression ratio, it is necessary to reduce the value of V.sub.C.
Regarding lubrication in the crank chamber 4, a lubricating oil is preliminarily mixed with a fuel, and such a mixed fuel containing the lubricating oil is atomized in the carburetor 24 to become a fuel-air mixture which is in turn sucked into the crank chamber 4, thereby effecting lubrication in the crank chamber 4. Further, the fuel-air mixture containing the lubricating oil in the crank chamber 4 is partially supplied through the communication hole 23 and the push rod passage 22 into the valve operating mechanism accommodating space 13, thereby effecting lubrication in the space 13 accommodating the valve operating mechanism 18a (especially, a contact portion between the rocker arm 18 and the push rod 20, and a contact portion between the rocker arm 18 and the intake valve 16).
As apparent from the above expression relating to the compression ratio, it is optimum to reduce the volume of the space 13 constituting the space communicated with the crank chamber 4, in order to increase the compression ratio of the fuel-air mixture. However, since the rocker arm 18 adapted to be rocked is accommodated in the space 13, it is difficult to greatly reduce the volume of the space 13. Accordingly, it is difficult to expect the improvement in engine output by increasing the compression ratio.
Further, as mentioned previously, it is necessary to set the volume of the supercharging chamber 27 to a value 10-20 times the displacement, in order to reduce a fluctuation in supercharging pressure. Accordingly, the supercharging chamber 27 is constructed in an expanded condition as shown in FIG. 2, and it is therefore difficult to make the engine compact.
Further, the valve operating mechanism 18a is one of the most necessary portions to be lubricated, and the lubricating oil for lubricating the valve operating mechanism 18a is supplied together with the fuel-air mixture through the communication hole 23 and the push rod passage 22 into the space 13. However, replacement of the fuel-air mixture between the crank chamber 4 and the space 13 through the communication hole 23 and the push rod passage 22 cannot be well performed. Accordingly, the lubrication of the valve operating mechanism 18a cannot be sufficiently effected.

Ishikawajima-Shibaura Machinery Co., Ltd.


To design an air bag in such a manner that a joint between synthetic resin sheets composing the air bag is directed to an instrument panel when the air bag is deployed, an air bag 1 is formed by joining together a circular front panel 2 and a circular rear panel 3 having an opening 4 through which an inflator is inserted in the center of the rear panel 3. The front and rear panels 2 and 3 are each made of synthetic resin sheet. The thickness of the front panel 2 is greater than that of the rear panel 3 so that a joint 5 is directed to an instrument panel when the air bag is deployed.

The present invention relates to an air bag made up of resin sheets joined each other. The purpose of an air bag device is to protect an occupant by deploying an air bag when a vehicle comes into collision.
Conventionally, an air bag is typically made of woven textile of fiber, such as polyamide fiber, surfaced with a silicone rubber coating. In recent years, however, an air bag made of resin film (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-31965/1990) and an air bag made of elastomer (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-266544/1992) have been proposed as alternatives to the conventional air bag.


The invention relates to a wavelength converter including an interferometer structure for delivering an output optical signal, in which converter a first branch contains a first semiconductor optical amplifier and a second branch contains a second semiconductor optical amplifier, the amplifiers being coupled to a common probe laser, and said first amplifier being organized to receive a modulating input signal, said converter including regulator means for acting on the total optical power delivered to said amplifier in response to a negative feedback signal representative of the extinction ratio of the output signal. The invention is applicable to making routing systems using wavelength-division multiplexing.

In such systems, the information is often in the form of binary data represented by pulses modulating an optical carrier wave. A binary value is thus determined as a function of the amplitude (or power) level of the modulated optical wave.
During transmission, the signal can be subjected to degradation that makes it more difficult for receivers to detect the high levels and the low levels of the received signal.
In the amplitude domain, the quality of an optical signal is usually defined by two parameters: the signal-to-noise ratio and the extinction ratio.
The signal-to-noise ratio is defined as the ratio of the optical power of the signal to the noise power in a wavelength band including the wavelength of the carrier of the signal.
The extinction ratio is defined as the ratio of the power corresponding to the high level of the signal divided by the power corresponding to the low level of the signal. This ratio must be high enough in spite of variations in the input signal.
Optical signal wavelength converters are used in telecommunications to convert the transmitted optical signal from one wavelength to another wavelength while retaining signal performance.
Such changes in wavelength are used in particular when routing the signals to solve problems of conflict.
Thus, a converter must be capable of using a poor-quality modulated input signal to deliver an output signal whose high levels are stabilized to a constant optical power, and whose low levels have almost zero power, while also having high signal-to-noise ratio.
One possible solution for increasing the extinction ratio when making wavelength converters consists in using an interferometer structure of the Mach-Zehnder type or of an equivalent type.
Such a structure is shown in FIG. 1 and is made up of two branches conveying two coherent waves coupled together to form the output signal. One of the branches comprises a medium whose refractive index varies as a function of the optical power that it conveys, and an input signal is fed into this branch. Variations in the power of the input signal then modulate the refractive index, and the two waves interfere either destructively or constructively as a function of the power level of the input signal.
Such a structure does indeed make it possible to improve the extinction ratio, but it suffers from the drawback that the conditions for destructive and constructive interference are very restrictive on the input signal, in particular with respect to its wavelength, its power level in the high state, and its polarization.
Operation of wavelength converters based on Mach-Zehnder type interferometer structures having semiconductor optical amplifiers is thus very sensitive to fluctuations in those parameters.

Wavelength converter for binary optical signals


This invention relates to a vivarium for keeping, raising, and/or observing animals or plants. The present invention provides a vivarium comprised of a generally rectangular tank having four side walls and a base. A pair of guide tracks extend generally along the upper edge of two of the side walls. A cover is provided which slides horizontally onto the vivarium along the guide tracks. A stop along one edge of the cover engages a clip, hanging over one of the side walls of the vivarium, when the cover is in a closed position. When the stop has engaged the clip, a locking pin may be inserted through the stop to prevent the unauthorized access to the interior of the vivarium.

This invention relates to a vivarium for keeping, raising and/or observing animals or plants.
Vivariums typically include glass side walls bonded to each other along the corners and to a base. A cover made of screen material is placed on top of the vivarium to allow the flow of air into the interior of the vivarium and to prevent the animals, insects or reptiles within the walls from escaping. Access to the interior of the vivarium is usually accomplished by simply lifting the cover off the side walls. While this allows for easy access to the interior of the vivarium, it also allows for easy escape from the vivarium by the animals kept inside.
The present invention provides for a vivarium comprised of a generally rectangular tank having four side walls and a base. A pair of guide tracks extend generally parallel along the upper edge of two side walls. A generally rectangular cover is provided. The cover slides along the guide tracks in a horizontal relation between a first position, which allows access to the interior of the vivarium, and a second closed position which prevents access to the interior of the vivarium. A stop is provided to insure that the cover does not slide horizontally past the closed position so as to allow access to the interior of the vivarium.
A clip having a recess for receipt of the stop when the cover is in the closed position is also provided. The clip hangs generally equidistant from each of the guide tracks over the edge of a side wall. The clip has a downwardly sloping ramp extending away from the side wall on which it is hung such that the stop slides forwardly up the ramp and down into the recess when the cover is slid into the closed position. An aperture extends downwardly through the ramp of the clip for receipt of a locking pin. When a padlock is locked on the locking pin, the pin cannot be removed from the clip, and the cover cannot be slid from the closed position. As a result, access to the interior of the vivarium is prevented .


In an information transmitting system for radio-transmitting information between a fixed station and a mobile station moved within a predetermined moving range, an antenna apparatus is provided on the fixed station side. The antenna apparatus includes a large number of unit antennas, each of which functions as an antenna. These unit antennas are mutually connected to each other, and are arranged along the moving range of the mobile station. The information is transmitted/received in a radio transmission mode between the mobile station and the fixed station via an antenna of the fixed station and the antenna apparatus.

The present invention relates to an antenna apparatus and an information transmitting system with using this antenna apparatus capable of effectively receiving such information as video (picture) information and audio (voice) information transmitted under low power or very low power is radio (wireless) signal forms from such moving objects as a self-drive robot traveled on a rail or a limited range, an automobile, a car to an elevator, and a train.
In general, when video signal is transmitted/received between a moving object and a fixed station, a large-scaled antennas are installed on the respective units, the video information is transmitted by using public-allowed relatively strong electromagnetic waves in a specific frequency. For instance, JP-A-63-92104 (publication No. 1) discloses one of the conventional plane antenna. That is, only when the moving object has passed such a range covered by the signal projected from the plane antenna, this moving object may receive the information from the plane antenna.
Another conventional plane antenna is disclosed in "Current Plane Antenna Technique" (publication No. 2) issued by SOGO GIJUTSU CENTER K.K. on Mar. 25, 1991, on pages 18 to 20 and 401 to 408, and further "Radio Engineering Handbook" (publication No. 3) issued by Ohm Sha K. K. on Jan. 31, 1962, vol. 11, on pages 580 to 581, FIG. 90.

Antenna apparatus and information transmitting system


An aerosol spectrometer combines the features of forced motion instruments and optical particle sizers. The motion of suspended particles in multiple force fields is used to obtain density, diameter, electrical charge, magnetic moment and other physical attributes of individual particles. Measurements are possible without the need for precision size standards. Optical scattering parameters are also extracted, namely scattering magnitude and visibility. This allows calibration of the optical sizer based on independently measured size parameters also without the need for precision standards. Since the optical counter is extremely rapid, it is possible to apply feedback control to the application of force on the particles and to the sample dispensing apparatus as well. Because of the large amount of information extracted from single particle events, and because of the speed with which the measurements are made it is possible to characterize the distribution of particle attributes in an ensemble of particles such as a naturally occurring aerosol or a dispersed powder sample.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for automatically conducting single particle experiments which includes subjecting the particles to external forces, using laser Doppler velocimetery to monitor the motion of the particles, summarizing the particle response to a database, analyzing the information contained in the database and, thus, determining physical properties of the particles in a sample. These physical properties may include particle size, density, charge, magnetic moment and various optical scattering attributes.
2. Description of the Related Art
This and other forced motion particle measurement schemes are descendants of R. A. Milikan's oil drop experiment of 1911. The original experiment exposed small particles simultaneously to gravitational, viscous and electrical forces. By direct observation, the settling velocity and the electrical migration velocity of single particles was measured. Data were interpreted using Stokes law and Coulombs law to yield the aerodynamic diameter and the electric mobility of the individual particles. Many extensions and improvements of the Milikan cell have been used in both experimental physics and in analytical instruments for fine particle assay.
Forced motion experiments other than those involving electricity and gravity make use of acoustic force, magnetic force and fluid gradient forces. Instruments such as the TSI Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (available from Thermo Systems Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.), the Malvern Aerosizer (available from the Malvern Instruments Ltd., Malvern, U.K. are in this category.
Historically, the most important document on the acoustical aerosol sizing technique is Gucker and Doyle, "Amplitude of Vibration of Aerosol Droplets in a Sonic Field", Journal of Physical Chemistry, vol. 60. pp 989-996, (1956). In conclusion, the authors describe an instrument which would use the combination of a linear gradient filter and a photomultiplier tube to accomplish the transduction of particle velocity into an electrical signal. Further description suggests that the velocity magnitude may be processed by "a rapid electronic circuit to obtain the combined count and size distribution, while the phase lag of the particle also could be studied with a rapid electronic phase meter".
The use of LDV (laser Doppler velocimitry) to implement the acoustical sizing technique was first described by Kirsch and Mazumder, "Aerosol Size Spectrum Analysis Using Relaxation Time Measurement", Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 26, No. 4, 15 Feb. 1975. U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,741 discloses an extension of this method for performing simultaneous charge and size measurements in which a combination of an acoustic field and a static electrical field are used.
Sasaki and Sato in "Laser Doppler Particle Measurement Using Forced Vibrations and Power Spectral Analysis", Appl. Optics, Vol. 17, no. 2, pages 230-234 (Jan. 15, 1978), and in "Simultaneous Determination of Particle Size and Density by LDV", Appl. Optics, Vol. 19, no. 15, pages 2565-2568 (Aug. 1, 1980) describe some improvements to the LDV assisted acoustic motion technique. Wilson and Liu in "Aerodynamic Particle Size Measurement by Laser-Doppler Velocimetry", Journal of Aerosol Science, Vol. 11, pp.139-150 (1980), review other previous work in this field pertaining to LDV assisted forced motion. In all cases the LDV system is used to replace the eye or camera used in early work. The experimental formats were formulated before the advent of lasers and hence LDV. Examples of prototype single particle instruments are referenced in N. A. Fuchs, Mechanics of Aerosols, Dover (1964). Experiments involving combinations of alternating electrical fields, magnetic fields, gravity, thermal gradients and acoustic forces are all described and referenced therein.
So far this discussion has omitted an important class of optical particle sizing instruments: Those which use the magnitude and spatial distribution of scattered light to estimate particle size. An excellent summary of the history of this class is to be found in Milton Kerker, The Scattering of Light, Academic Press (1969). With regards to the current invention, the reader is directed to Son and Giel, "Circuit for Simultaneous Measurements of Particle Sizing Interferometer Signal Characteristics", Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 58 Number 3, pages 393-400 (1987) and Bachalo's U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,704, for a review of similar art.

Method and apparatus for particle analysis