A wound golf ball comprising a center, a cover, and at least one wound layer disposed between the center and the cover, wherein the at least one wound layer is formed of a tensioned elastomeric thread having at least one ply, wound about the center with a tension of less than about 700 g, and wherein the center has a first deformation value, formed by applying a load to the center within the range from an initial load of 10 kg to a final load of 130 kg, and the golf ball has a second deformation value, formed by applying a load to the golf ball within the range from an initial load of 10 kg to a final load of 130 kg, such that a difference between the second deformation and the first deformation is less than 0.4 mm.

This invention relates generally to golf balls, and more particularly to wound golf balls, having an improved center covered with elastomeric thread wound using a novel winding tension.
Golf balls can be divided into several general categories, such as solid golf balls having one or more layers and wound golf balls. Solid golf balls include both one-piece and two-piece balls. One-piece golf balls are easy to construct and relatively inexpensive, but are considered by most to have poor playing characteristics. These golf balls are generally limited for use as range balls. Two-piece balls are typically constructed with a solid polymeric core encased with a cover and are generally the most popular with recreational golfers because they are very durable and provide maximum distance. Typically, the core is formed from polybutadiene that is chemically crosslinked with zinc diacrylate and/or other similar crosslinking agents. Two-piece balls are generally easy to manufacture, but are regarded as having limited playing characteristics. Solid golf balls also include multi-layer golf balls that are comprised of a solid core of one or more layers and/or a cover of one or more layers. These balls are regarded as having an extended range of playing characteristics.
Wound golf balls are the preferred ball of more advanced players due to their high spin and soft xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d characteristics. Wound golf balls typically include a solid, hollow, or fluid-filled center surrounded by a tensioned elastomeric material and a cover, the combination of which results in a wound core. The wound core is then covered with a durable cover material, such as a Surlyn(copyright), or a softer xe2x80x9cperformancexe2x80x9d cover, such as balata or polyurethane.
Wound golf balls are generally softer in xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d and provide more spin than solid golf balls, which enables a skilled golfer to have more control over ball flight. This control is especially important for approach shots into the green, where the high spin rate of soft-covered, wound golf balls enables the golfer to stop the ball very near its landing position. The higher spin rate that aids in ball control on approach shots and around the green also causes wound golf balls to sacrifice some distance compared to hard-covered, solid golf balls. However, the advantages of wound constructions over solid ones are more related to targeting and accuracy than they are to distance.
To meet the needs of golfers having various levels of skill, golf ball manufacturers are also concerned with adjusting the compression of the ball. Compression is a measurement of the deformation or deflection of a golf ball under a fixed load. A golf ball with a higher compression feels harder than a golf ball having a lower compression. Wound golf balls generally have a lower compression that is preferred by better players, to whom xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d and control are more important than distance. Whether wound or solid, all golf balls become more resilient (i.e., have higher initial velocities) as compression increases. Manufacturers of both wound- and solid-construction golf balls must, therefore, balance the requirement of higher initial velocity afforded from higher compression with the desire for a softer xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d gained by lower compression.
It is well-known in the art that to make wound golf balls, manufacturers typically use automated winding machines to stretch the threads to various degrees of elongation during the winding process, with every effort made to avoid subjecting the threads to unnecessary incidents of breakage. As the elongation and the winding tension increase, the compression and initial velocity of the ball will increase accordingly. This increase in compression and velocity result in increased distance when the wound ball is hit with a club.
There are some drawbacks to the conventional threads used in golf balls. The thread occasionally contains weak points that can break during winding or during play. When a thread breaks during manufacturing, the winding machine either needs to be restarted or, in many cases, an operator must manually re-thread the machine prior to restarting. Both of these situations decrease productivity and are obviously undesirable. The thread can also break during play due to impact of a club with the ball resulting in, for example, a loss of compression and/or initial velocity. Additionally, for a fluid-filled wound ball, a broken thread can cut through the envelope containing the fluid, destroying the structural integrity of the ball, making it virtually unplayable.
To date, golf ball manufacturers have typically combined high-tension windings with very soft centers, the theory being that the tensioned windings provide the xe2x80x9cenginexe2x80x9d for the golf ball and the soft center provides the desired xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d characteristics. As one of ordinary skill in the art knows, winding tensions are typically greater than 700 g and can be as high as 1000 g or more. Manufacturers are generally careful to limit solid center diameter to allow a sufficient amount of wound material to provide the desired resilience in the golf ball.
It would be advantageous to manufacture a wound golf ball in which the tensioned thread was wound at a lower tension to decrease thread breakage, while still retaining desirable compression, velocity, distance, and spin characteristics afforded by a harder center. A combination previously thought to be unacceptable. The present invention discloses such an advantageous golf ball.
The present invention is directed towards a wound golf ball comprising a center, a cover, and at least one wound layer disposed between the center and the cover; wherein the at least one wound layer is formed of a tensioned elastomeric thread having at least one ply, wound about the center with a tension of less than about 700 g; and wherein the center has a first deformation value, formed by applying a load to the center within the range from an initial load of 10 kg to a final load of 130 kg, and the golf ball has a second deformation value, formed by applying a load to the golf ball within the range from an initial load of 10 kg to a final load of 130 kg, such that a difference between the second deformation and the first deformation is less than 0.4 mm.
In one embodiment, the deformation difference is no greater than about 0.3 mm. In another embodiment, the tension is less than about 500 g and is preferably between about 400 g and 500 g. In still another embodiment, the first deformation value, formed by applying a load to the center within the range from an initial load of 10 kg to a final load of 130 kg, is less than 3.5 mm. Preferably, the first deformation value, formed by applying a load to the center within the range from an initial load of 10 kg to a final load of 130 kg, is no greater than about 3.1 mm.
In a preferred embodiment, the cover is a single layer. In another embodiment the cover is formed of two or more layers.
In another embodiment, the tensioned elastomeric thread comprises two or more plies. Preferably, the tensioned elastomeric thread comprises cis-polyisoprene and more preferably, a blend of cis-polyisoprene and natural rubber. In one embodiment, the tensioned elastomeric thread has a thickness of between about 0.01 and 0.06 in. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness is between about 0.018 and 0.03 in. The tensioned elastomeric thread preferably has a width of between about 0.04 and 0.08 in, and more preferably, between about 0.06 and 0.07 in.
Preferably, the center comprises polybutadiene. In one embodiment, the center further comprises a metal salt diacrylate, a free radical initiator, and a filler. In another embodiment, the center has a center diameter of greater than about 1.3 in, and more preferably between about 1.3 and 1.4 in. In a preferred embodiment, the center diameter is between about 1.35 and 1.4 in. In one embodiment, the center has a hardness of between about 60 and 90 Shore D. In another embodiment, the center has a hardness of between about 70 and 80 Shore D.
In another embodiment, the cover has a thickness from about 0.03 in to about 0.12 in and preferably about 0.04 to 0.09 in. In a preferred embodiment, the cover has a thickness of about 0.05 to 0.085 in. In still another embodiment, the cover has a Shore D hardness of greater than about 60. Preferably, the cover has a Shore D hardness of between about 63 and 73 Shore D. In one embodiment, the cover comprises a blend of about 40 to 60 weight percent of a sodium ionomer and about 60 to 40 weight percent of a zinc ionomer.
In yet another embodiment, the golf ball has an outer diameter of greater than about 1.68 in. Preferably, the center and the at least one wound layer form a core having an outer diameter of between about 1.51 and 1.62 in. In a further embodiment, the outer diameter is between about 1.55 and 1.58 in.
The present invention is also directed to a wound golf ball comprising a center, a cover, and at least one wound layer disposed between the center and the cover; and wherein the at least one wound layer is formed of a tensioned elastomeric thread of at least one ply having an elongation of less than about 800 percent.
In one embodiment, the center has a first deformation value, formed by applying a load to the center within the range from an initial load of 10 kg to a final load of 130 kg, and the golf ball has a second deformation value, formed by applying a load to the golf ball within the range from an initial load of 10 kg to a final load of 130 kg, such that a difference between the second deformation and the first deformation is less than 0.4 mm. Preferably, the deformation difference is no greater than about 0.3 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the elongation is between about 500 and 800 percent.
In another embodiment, the first deformation value, formed by applying a load to the center within the range from an initial load of 10 kg to a final load of 130 kg, is less than 3.5 mm. Preferably, the first deformation value, formed by applying a load to the center within the range from an initial load of 10 kg to a final load of 130 kg, is no greater than about 3.1 mm.
In another embodiment, the tensioned elastomeric thread has a thickness of between about 0.01 and 0.06 in. Preferably, the thickness is between about 0.018 and 0.03 in. In still another embodiment, the tensioned elastomeric thread has a width of between about 0.04 and 0.08 in. Preferably, the width is between about 0.06 and 0.07 in.
In yet another embodiment, the center has a center diameter of greater than about 1.3 in. More preferably, the center diameter is between about 1.3 and 1.4 in. Most preferably, the center diameter is between about 1.35 and 1.4 in. In a further embodiment, the center has a hardness of between about 60 and 90 Shore D. Preferably, the center has a hardness of between about 70 and 80 Shore D.
In one embodiment, the cover has a Shore D hardness of greater than about 60. Preferably, the cover has a Shore D hardness of between about 63 and 73 Shore D. In another embodiment, the center and the at least one wound layer form a core having an outer diameter of between about 1.51 and 1.62 in. In sill another embodiment, the outer diameter is between about 1.55 and 1.58 in.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cAtti compressionxe2x80x9d is defined as the deflection of an object or material relative to the deflection of a calibrated spring, as measured with an Atti Compression Gauge, that is commercially available from Atti Engineering Corp. of Union City, N.J. Atti compression is typically used to measure the compression of a golf ball or its components. When the Atti Gauge is used to measure cores having a diameter of less than 1.680 inches, it should be understood that a metallic or other suitable shim is used to make the measured object 1.680 inches in diameter. However, when referring to the compression of a core, it is preferred to use a compressive load measurement. The term xe2x80x9ccompressive loadxe2x80x9d is defined as the normalized load in pounds for a 10.8-percent diametrical deflection for a spherical object having a diameter of 1.58 inches.
The term xe2x80x9cfluid,xe2x80x9d as used herein, includes gases, pastes, liquids, gels, or any combination thereof.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cfillersxe2x80x9d includes any compound or composition that can be used to vary the density and other properties of the subject golf ball core.
The term xe2x80x9cabout,xe2x80x9d as used herein, should be understood to refer to both numbers in a range of numbers.


The present invention provides a method of imaging amyloid deposits and radiolabeled compounds useful in imaging amyloid deposits. The invention also provides a method of delivering a therapeutic agent to amyloid deposits, a method of inhibiting the aggregation of amyloid proteins to form amyloid deposits, and a method of determining a compound's ability to inhibit aggregation of amyloid proteins.

Amyloidosis is a condition characterized by the accumulation of various insoluble, fibrillar proteins in the tissues of a patient. The fibrillar proteins that comprise the accumulations or deposits are called amyloid proteins. While the particular proteins or peptides found in the deposits vary, the presence of fibrillar morphology and a large amount of .beta.-sheet secondary structure is seen in many types of amyloids. An amyloid deposit is formed by the aggregation of amyloid proteins, followed by the further combination of aggregates and/or amyloid proteins.
The presence of amyloid deposits has been shown in various diseases such as Mediterranean fever, Muckle-Wells syndrome, idiopathetic myeloma, amyloid polyneuropathy, amyloid cardiomyopathy, systemic senile amyloidosis, amyloid polyneuropathy, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis, Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome, Scrapie, Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, Kuru, Gerstamnn-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome, medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, Isolated atrial amyloid, .beta..sub.2 -microglobulin amyloid in dialysis patients, inclusion body myositis, .beta..sub.2 -amyloid deposits in muscle wasting disease, and Islets of Langerhans diabetes Type II insulinoma.
Thus, a simple, noninvasive method for detecting and quantitating amyloid deposits in a patient has been eagerly sought. Presently, detection of amyloid deposits involves histological analysis of biopsy or autopsy materials. Both methods have major drawbacks. For example, an autopsy can only be used for a postmortem diagnosis.
The direct imaging of amyloid deposits in vivo is difficult, as the deposits have many of the same physical properties (i.e., density and water content) as normal tissues. Attempts to image amyloid deposits using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer-assisted tomography (CAT) have been disappointing and have detected amyloid deposits only under certain favorable conditions. In addition, efforts to label amyloid deposits with antibodies, serum amyloid P protein, or other probe molecules has provided some selectivity on the periphery of tissues, but has provided for poor imaging of tissue interiors.
Thus, it would be useful to have a noninvasive technique for imaging and quantitating amyloid deposits in a patient. In addition, it would be useful to have compounds that inhibit the aggregation of amyloid proteins to form amyloid deposits and a method for determining a compound's ability to inhibit amyloid protein aggregation.


Multifocal PVCs are detected and prevented. If the PVCs being detected have variable coupling intervals and significantly different morphologies, they are deemed multifocal and a prevention therapy is activated for a short period of time. In another embodiment, multifocality and the need for prevention therapy are determined based on morphology alone. Feedback mechanisms are used to adjust thresholds for coupling interval and morphology if the PVCs are considered not multifocal, but ventricular arrhythmia still occurs. In an embodiment, only morphologies are compared.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an implantable device for detecting premature ventricular contractions ("PVCs") and performing prevention therapy based thereon.
2. Background Art
PVCs are a fairly common type of irregular heart rhythm. They occur when the ventricles of the heart beat before receiving the correct electrical signal from the atria. Following this extra beat, a brief pause may occur as the conduction system of the heart resets itself. Two PVCs in a row are classified as a couplet.
PVCs are generally harmless. However, in patients with underlying heart disease, frequent PVCs may signify an increased risk of ventricular tachycardia, a potentially fatal arrhythmia. In some cases, the cause of PVCs is unknown. In other cases, they may be due to known causes such as anxiety, stress, fatigue, cardiac ischemia, past damage to the heart, or congenital heart disease, among other problems.
Individuals with PVCs may notice palpitations—a feeling that their heart is galloping, pounding, or skipping beats. These palpitations may indicate more serious heart problems.
A cardiac device and method are needed to detect PVCs and perform preventative therapy on the heart so that further arrhythmias may be avoided.

Multifocal PVC detection for prevention of arrhythmias


An eye quality monitoring system may include an eye quality monitor that includes a charge pump that is configured to output (a) a first charge in a first direction upon detection of a first transition of a sampled non-return-to-zero (NRZ) data signal in a first region of a unit interval of an eye pattern, and (b) a second charge in a second direction upon detection of a second transition of the sampled NRZ data signal in a second region of the unit interval of the eye pattern. The first direction is opposite from the second direction. The eye quality monitor is configured to form an eye quality output that relates to a quality of the eye pattern based on the first and second charges.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a system and method for monitoring eye quality of data.
Non-return-to-zero (NRZ) is a form of digital data transmission in which binary low and high states are transmitted by specific and constant direct current voltages. In positive-logic NRZ, the low state may be represented by the more negative or less positive voltage, and the high state may be represented by the less negative or more positive voltage. For example, a logic state of 0 may be represented by 0.5 volts, while the logic state of 1 may be represented by represented by 1 volt. Conversely, in negative-logic NRZ, the low state may be represented by the more positive or less negative voltage, while the high state may be represented by the less positive or more negative voltage. For example, a logic state of 0 may be represented by 1 volt, while the logic state of 1 may be represented by 0.5 volts. In general, NRZ data includes binary code in which 1s are represented by one significant condition (such as a positive voltage) and 0s are represented by another significant condition (usually a negative voltage), with no other neutral or rest condition.
NRZ data may be displayed with respect to an eye diagram or pattern. In an eye diagram, a data signal from a receiver is repetitively sampled and applied to a vertical input, while the data rate is used to trigger a horizontal sweep. The display is referred to as an eye diagram because the pattern appears as a series of eyes between a pair of rails.
An eye diagram provides an indication of the quality of signals in high-speed digital transmissions, for example. An oscilloscope, for example, may generate an eye diagram by overlaying sweeps of different segments of a long data stream driven by a master clock. When many such transitions have been overlaid, positive and negative pulses are superimposed on each other. When many bits are overlaid, the resulting image appears similar to the opening of an eye.
Eye quality refers to the openness of an eye diagram. A perfect eye diagram is generally open such that all data transitions take place at the same multiples of a unit interval. However, when data transitions occur at different multiples of the unit interval, the quality of the eye diagram diminishes, such that the eye diagram begins to close. While a perfect eye diagram is open, a poor eye diagram exhibits smearing, fuzziness, or other distortions that encroach into (or close) the eye pattern.
Accordingly, assessing the quality of an eye diagram provides information as to the quality of data received by a system. However, known eye quality monitoring devices typically include complex circuits that utilize relatively high levels of power during operation.

Eye quality monitoring system and method


A battery having a stable internal resistance with a small deviation of internal resistance, and capable of suppressing a change or elevation of internal resistance due to external impact is provided. The battery comprises a battery can having a conductivity, serving also as a negative terminal, and including an opening, a spiral electrode group disposed in the battery can, a positive plate and a negative plate wound around a separator, an electrolyte member disposed in the battery can, and a sealing member serving also as a positive terminal, disposed in the opening of the battery can through an electric insulating member. In the inner wall of the battery can, contacting with the negative electrode positioned on the outermost circumference of the plate group, plural linear bumps vertical to the bottom of the battery can are formed. The height of each linear bump of the plural linear bumps ranges from 0.05 mm to 0.25 mm, and the pitch of the linear bumps ranges from 0.5 mm to 10 mm. The negative electrode member comprises a metal core and a negative electrode material covering the surface of the metal core, and linear bumps are formed on the inner surface of the battery can, and the bumps are contact the surface of the negative electrode material.

Recently, with the rapid progress in portable and cordless appliances, there is a mounting demand for a secondary battery having a small size and light weight and having a high energy density that can be used as the power source of these appliances. In particular, based on the lithium secondary battery and nickel-hydrogen storage battery, many new products have been developed. Moreover, in the nickel-cadmium storage battery which is low in cost and high in reliability, further enhancement of its characteristics is desired.
A conventional nickel-cadmium battery is composed of a battery can, a plate group contained in the battery can, and an electrolytic member. The inner wall of the battery can is a smooth surface, so that the spiral plate group can be inserted easily. The plate group comprises a positive plate, a negative plate, and a separator. The plate group is spiral, and the negative plate is positioned on the outermost circumference, and this negative plate contacts with the inner wall of the battery can. That is, the battery can serves also as the negative terminal. The plate group is only wound, and the lead of the negative plate is not spot-welded or bonded to the bottom of the battery can. In this structure, therefore, since the inner wall of the battery can confronting the outermost circumference of the negative plate is a smooth surface, the negative plate and battery can only contact with each other, and the contact pressure is small, and hence the internal resistance of the battery is often increased. Moreover, the plate group is likely to be moved by an external impact, and the internal resistance is not stabilized. As a result, when the internal resistance is large, sufficient charging or discharging cannot be conducted.
To reduce the internal resistance of an alkaline manganese battery, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-99686, it is proposed to form fine vertical stripes on the inner surface of the can. However, in the case of the alkaline manganese battery in which the positive electrode compound directly contacts the inner surface of the can, it is effective to form vertical stripes at a protrusion height of 0.005 to 0.02 mm and a stripe pitch of 0.002 to 0.4 mm as disclosed therein. However, in the case of a battery in which contact between the negative plate and the inner wall of the battery can is desirably maintained only by inserting a spiral plate group, composed by winding a positive plate and a negative plate around a separator, into the battery can, a negative compound material having a high resistance value is interposed between the negative plate on the outermost circumference of the spiral plate group and the inner surface of the battery can. Accordingly, if the vertical stripe pitch is less than 0.4 mm, the contact surface area of both the battery can and the negative electrode material is increased, but the material resistance of the negative electrode material is high, and hence the effect for reducing the internal resistance of the battery and the effect for suppressing changes of internal resistance due to external impact are small.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An apparatus for estimating channel effects is provided. A receiving module receives first data and first reference information arriving in a first time period, second data and second reference data arriving in a second time period, and third data and third reference data arriving in a third time period. An estimation module estimates channel effects corresponding to the first and third data, and the first, second and third reference data, respectively. A coefficient calculation module performs a Wiener filter coefficient calculation on the channel effects corresponding to the first, second and third reference data to generate a set of time-domain interpolation coefficients. An interpolation module interpolates the channel effects corresponding to the first third data according to the set of time-domain interpolation coefficients to generate a channel effect corresponding to the second data.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to digital signal broadcasting technologies, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for estimating channel effects of Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Developments of digital television broadcasting have gradually matured with progresses of communication technologies. Besides being transmitted by cables, digital television signals may also be transmitted in form of wireless signals via base stations or artificial satellites. Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) is a prevalent standard adopted in the field of digital television broadcasting. However, during a transmission process, wireless signals are inevitably affected and interfered by transmission environments. Therefore, in order to correctly parse received data, an ISDB-T receiver needs to first evaluate corresponding channel effects and thus eliminate influences posed by the channel effects upon signal contents.
Each data frame in an ISDB-T signal includes 204 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, each of which includes contents bits carried by multiple subcarriers. FIG. 1 shows an example of a content configuration of an ISDB-T signal, with the horizontal axis representing the frequency and the vertical axis representing the symbol number (the greater the number, the later the transmission time). As shown in FIG. 1, subcarriers at frequency indices in multiples of 3 (e.g., 0, 3, 6, 9 . . . ) carry a scatter pilot (SP) signal at every other four symbols.
Original contents of the above SP signal are known to a receiver, and may thus serve as reference for the receiver to determine channel effects. For example, an ISDB-T receiver may first identify a frequency-domain channel effect H(t=0, f=0) of the SP signal having a time index of 0 and a frequency index of 0, and a frequency-domain channel effect H(t=4, f=0) of the SP signal having a time index of 4 and a frequency index of 0. With time-domain interpolation, the ISDB-T receiver determines frequency-domain channel effects H(t=1, f=0), H(t=2, f=0) and H(t=3, f=0) between H(t=0, f=0) and H(t=0, f=0). Similarly, the ISDB-T receiver may also obtain frequency-domain channel effects H(t=2, f=3), H(t=3, f=3) and H(t=4, f=3) between H(t=1, f=3) and H(t=5, f=3) through interpolation.
In general, the ISDB-T receiver determines time-domain interpolation coefficients according to the ratio of time intervals. For example, it is determined H(t=1, f=0)=H(t=0, f=0)*0.75+H(t=4, f=0)*0.25; that is, the time-domain interpolation coefficients corresponding to H(t=1, f=0) are determined to be 0.75 and 0.25. Similarly, H(t=2, f=0)=H(t=0, f=0)*0.5+H(t=4, f=0)*0.5, and H(t=3, f=0)=H(t=0, f=0)*0.25+H(t=4, f=0)*0.75. In a situation where channel effects rapidly change as time progresses (e.g., in a propagation environment containing Doppler effects), the above method for selecting time-domain interpolation coefficients is likely to result in incorrect interpolation results.

Apparatus and method for estimating channel effects


An electromagnetic, reflective type, active proximity sensor includes a transmitter, the transmitter including a voltage controlled oscillator circuit, a transmitter circular waveguide and a transmitter polarization circuit. The voltage controlled oscillator circuit generates an output signal which is modulated such that the frequency of the output signal varies over time between a range of frequencies. The frequency varying, output signal is provided to the transmitter circular waveguide and propagated to the transmitter polarization circuit where it is circularly polarized in a first circular direction. The circularly polarized, frequency varying, output signal is radiated by the transmitter to the target, where it strikes the target and reflects back toward the sensor to form return signals. The return signals, upon being reflected, rotate in a second circular direction opposite to the first circular direction. The return signals also respectively exhibit one of the frequencies corresponding to the range of frequencies associated with the circularly polarized, frequency varying, output signal. The active proximity sensor also includes a receiver, the receiver including a receiver circular waveguide, a receiver polarization circuit and a detector. The receiver circular waveguide receives the return signals reflected from the target and the receiver polarization circuit circularly de-polarizes the return signals. Next, the detector receives and averages the return signals and generates an output signal which corresponds to the return signals. The active proximity sensor also includes an analog processor/driver circuit for processing the output signal provided by the detector.

This invention is directed to an electromagnetic wave proximity sensor. In the context of this invention, the term "electromagnetic wave" includes both "microwave" and "millimeter wave," as well as other frequencies. Further, in the context of this invention, the term "microwave" refers to a frequency of less than about 30 GHz, and "millimeter wave" refers to a frequency greater than about 30 GHz. In order to keep the size of the proximity sensor as small as possible, the invention preferably operates at frequencies above about 30 GHz (millimeter wave). Hence, the following description of the invention will refer to the proximity sensor as being a "millimeter wave" proximity sensor, in order to simplify the description, but it should be realized that the invention is not limited to frequencies above about 30 GHz, or millimeter waves, and proximity sensors including the features of this invention operating at different frequencies are envisioned to be within the scope of this invention.
A proximity sensor is a non-contacting device for detecting the presence or absence of an object. Proximity sensors presently in use are of the following types:
a) Capacitive PA1 b) Inductive PA1 c) Photoelectric PA1 d) Ultrasonic PA1 e) Microwave Doppler (Motion) PA1 1) A means for short range proximity sensing in harsh industrial or natural environments such as dust (e.g. grainery, mines), smoke, fog, vapor (e.g. degreaser, steam, hydrocarbon exhaust), hydrocarbon fluids (oil, grease), cleaning liquids or sprays (hydrocarbon or organic based, e.g. carbon tetrachloride, benzene, xylene, trichlorethylene), dirt, flames (fire fighting, furnaces). PA1 2) A means to provide uniform detected output of an object arbitrarily located in the spatial range of the millimeter wave proximity sensor herein disclosed. PA1 3) A means to provide a low cost transmitter source for the disclosed sensor. It is based on a new Gunn diode oscillator circuit with the following novel features: PA1 a transmitter for transmitting radiated energy to a target, the transmitter including a Gunn oscillator circuit, the Gunn oscillator circuit including a Gunn oscillator and a Gunn driver coupled to the Gunn oscillator, the Gunn oscillator, driven by the Gunn driver, generating a pulse modulated signal which is radiated by the transmitter to the target; PA1 a receiver, the receiver including first and second waveguides and first and second detectors respectively coupled to the first and second waveguides, the first and second waveguides receiving radiated energy reflected from the target and providing the radiated energy to the first and second detectors, respectively, each of the first and second detectors generating an output signal which corresponds to the radiated energy received by the first and second waveguides, the receiver further including a summer, the summer being coupled to the first and second detectors and being responsive to the output signals of the first and second detectors, the summer generating an output signal corresponding to the sum of the output signals of the first and second detectors; and PA1 an analog processor/driver circuit, the analog processor/driver circuit being responsive to the output signal of the summer, the processor/driver circuit including a pulse modulator generating a pulsed signal and providing the pulsed signal to the Gunn driver, an amplifier receiving the output signal of the summer and generating an amplified signal in response thereto, a synchronized demodulator signal conditioner being responsive to the amplified signal and generating an output signal in response thereto, and an output stage responsive to the output signal from the synchronized demodulator signal conditioner and generating an output signal in response thereto.
It is the purpose of the new millimeter wave (frequency greater than 30 GHz) active proximity sensor, herein disclosed, to provide short range (from face of sensor to a few feet) sensing capability in a harsh environment, said capability not being presently available with known proximity sensors. The new features of the millimeter wave sensor are as follows:
An inductive type proximity sensor may be used in a harsh environment but it lacks in sensor range (0.6 inches typical for a 30 mm sensor diameter). The inductive sensor is also known to detect only metallic objects and that an increase in target size will not produce an increase in sensing range. The disclosed millimeter wave proximity sensor of the present invention provides at least a 6 times increase in detection range, relative to an inductive sensor, and its sensing range increases with target size, as optimally & theoretically shown by the graph in FIG. 1. In addition, the millimeter wave proximity sensor can detect a variety of materials, including metals, dielectrics and various liquids.
Capacitive sensors have a greater range (1.6 inches max.) than an inductive sensor, as disclosed in The Basics of Inductive and Capacitive Proximity Presence Sensing, Eaton Corp. Milwaukee, Wis., but are unsuitable for harsh environments due to the very significant and unacceptable effect that a harsh environment has on the operating mechanism of a capacitive sensor. Photoelectric and ultrasonic sensors rely on a non-absorbing and non-dispersive medium between their respective transmitter and the object to be detected. Most harsh environments are absorptive and dispersive, and hence are unsuitable for an ultrasonic or photoelectric proximity sensor. By contrast, the harsh environments previously exemplified are essentially transparent to millimeter wave electromagnetic radiation and the millimeter wave proximity sensor of the present invention can function effectively in said environments to detect the presence or absence of an object.
Doppler based microwave or millimeter wave sensors are intended for far field detection rather than near field (short range) detection of an object in motion and not for the detection of a stationary object. The Doppler type sensor is also not suitable for slow motion sensing due to detection sensitivity limitations incurred by the return signal being in a frequency region very close to the transmitter frequency. The signal frequency offset from the carrier decreases as the speed of the object in motion decreases.
The sensor operational range is in what is known as the near field region of the transmitter output. There is a known spatial non-uniformity of the electromagnetic field in this near field region as the output of the transmitter transitions from the transmitter output waveguide port to free space. The radiated wave is non-planar in the near field region. (It transitions to a plane wave in the far field.) Due to the non-uniform spatial field distribution, it is known that sensor detection nulls from an object will be experienced at some locations in the spatial range of the sensor. A unique feature of the disclosed proximity sensor is a means to alleviate these detection nulls.
A means for self frequency compensation with temperature. PA2 Elimination of the need for an output isolator that is conventionally required to prevent excessive frequency change, frequency discontinuity or performance drop out with changes in output load. PA2 Elimination of the need for a matching circuit between the output waveguide and the oscillator circuit. A matching circuit is conventionally used to ensure maximum output power to the load. PA2 Use of the Gunn oscillator output waveguide directly as a slot type antenna, thereby eliminating the need for an external antenna. PA2 Use of a Gunn oscillator waveguide circuit that has been reduced to an elemental form. The discrete circuit elements are a Gunn diode and a chip capacitor.
One of the objects of this invention is to provide a low power, low cost, millimeter wave (MMW) proximity sensor that provides over a 6:1 increase in minimum detection range (55 mm minimum) compared to standard 18 mm inductive proximity sensors. The design preferably includes a low cost MMW Gunn oscillator, MMW detector and analog processing/driver circuitry. The sensor is preferably designed for 3-wire operation and will fit in a standard 18 mm tube.
An initial cost analysis of the sensor assembly has been completed and results indicate that a manufactured cost of less than $100, in quantities of greater than 10,000, can be achieved.
The sensor provides approximately a 6:1 improvement in minimum detection range compared to 18 mm inductive sensors. For an 18 mm target, a standard 18 mm inductive sensor would provide 9 mm of sensing range as compared to the MMW sensor which will provide 55 mm of sensing range. An important difference between the MMW proximity sensor and conventional inductive sensor technology is that the sensing range of the present invention is a function of target size. Therefore, the sensing range of the proximity sensor of the present invention will be significantly greater for larger targets (i.e. >30:1 theoretical improvement for a 100 mm target).
A perspective view of the low cost, low power, MMW Gunn oscillator of the present invention is presented in FIG. 4. A simple monopole element is used as both the tuning circuit and interface between the Gunn diode and the output of the sensor. This greatly simplifies the circuit topology and therefore the assembly cost. This simple, robust circuit design results in a low manufactured cost and eliminates any need for circuit alignment. Two breadboarded oscillators both achieved +10 dBm output power at 35 GHz, thus meeting a 0 dBm nominal output power design goal. Excellent repeatability was observed from breadboard to breadboard.
A perspective view of the low cost MMW detector circuit of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. The circuit was realized using a simple printed circuit and a low cost, commercially available, GaAs Schottky diode which was designed for pick and place type assembly. This resulted in an extremely simple, highly produceable, low cost circuit. Two breadboarded MMW detector circuits provided good sensitivity and very flat performance over the 30 to 37 GHz frequency range, thereby permitting a decrease in the oscillator frequency accuracy. Excellent repeatability was observed from breadboard to breadboard.
The MMW proximity sensor and a photoelectric sensor product manufactured by Eaton Corporation are similar from a functional point of view. Due to this similarity, the Eaton photoelectric ASIC was able to be used in the analog processing/driver circuitry of the present invention. This greatly reduces the circuit complexity and therefore reduces the manufactured cost. A breadboard of the analog processor/driver circuits was built and evaluated. Initial results looked excellent and the board met all design goals. A top plan view of the analog processor/driver board is presented in FIG. 6.
In accordance with one form of the invention, an electromagnetic wave, reflective type, active proximity sensor comprises:
It is to be appreciated, as will be described in greater detail later, that the two waveguide/two detector embodiment described above may be implemented in order to eliminate detection nulls. Further, while the particular embodiments of the receiver of the present invention, discussed herein, refer to a direct detection technique of detecting the reflected signal, it is to be understood that the receiver may be in the form of a homodyne mixer whereby the received signal is actually mixed with a delayed version of itself. Such a configuration may provide improved detector sensitivity.
In accordance with another form of the present invention, an electromagnetic wave, reflective type, active proximity sensor includes a transmitter, a receiver and means for substantially eliminating a leakage signal (i.e., portion of transmitted output signal that leaks into the receiver) which is received by the receiver after being radiated by the transmitter. In one embodiment of the leakage signal elimination means, a beam splitter with a pre-determined thickness is positioned between the sensor and the target at a pre-determined separation distance. Accordingly, the output signal radiated by the transmitter strikes the beam splitter, and in response, the beam splitter generates a reflected signal portion and a transmitted signal portion. The transmitted signal portion continues on toward the target where it is reflected back to the sensor and received by the receiver. However, the reflected signal portion, which is approximately 180 degrees out of phase with the leakage signal, reflects back to the receiver from the beam splitter and substantially cancels the leakage signal, resulting in improved detector sensitivity. It is to be appreciated that the function of the beam splitter, in one embodiment of the present invention, may be provided by the dielectric cover shown in FIG. 3b of the drawings.
In another embodiment of the leakage signal elimination means, the transmitter and receiver each include a circular waveguide and a polarization circuit. The circular waveguide and polarization circuit of the transmitter serve to circularly polarize the output signal generated by the oscillator circuit in a first circular direction (i.e., either clockwise or counter-clockwise). The circularly polarized output signal is then radiated toward the target where it strikes the target and reflects back in the form of a return signal rotating in a second circular direction opposite to the first circular direction. Next, the return signal is received by the circular waveguide of the receiver and circularly de-polarized (i.e., returned to a linear polarization) by the receiver polarization circuit. The circularly de-polarized signal is then processed by the detector. In this manner, the receiver is responsive only to signals polarized in the second circular direction and, thus, the leakage signal radiated by the transmitter, polarized in the first circular direction, is not de-polarized by the receiver and, therefore, not processed by the detector.
In accordance with yet another form of the present invention, an electromagnetic, reflective type, active proximity sensor includes a transmitter having a voltage controlled oscillator circuit which generates an output signal which is modulated such that the frequency of the output signal varies over time between a range of frequencies. In this manner, return signals which correspond to the radiated energy reflected from the target and respectively exhibit one of the frequencies corresponding to the range of frequencies associated with the frequency varying, output signal radiated by the transmitter, are received by the receiver. The detector of the receiver averages the return signals and, in response, generates an output signal corresponding to the return signals. It is to be appreciated that the output signal generated by the voltage controlled oscillator circuit may discretely vary between at least two frequencies or, in another embodiment, sinusoidally vary between at least two frequencies.
It is to be appreciated that another object of the present invention is to provide an oscillator circuit which oscillates, thereby generating an output signal, without the need for a separate resonator. In other words, the present invention provides a self-resonating oscillator circuit in the form of a novel Gunn oscillator circuit. The discrete circuit elements, which will be described in greater detail later, preferably include a Gunn diode and a chip capacitor coupled by an inductive line having a length of approximately one quarter wavelength. It is to be appreciated that, in a preferred embodiment, the chip capacitor and the inductive line constitute a low pass filter for applying bias voltage to the Gunn diode. A post is coupled to the Gunn diode in order to provide the output signal, generated by the circuit, to a waveguide to which the circuit may be coupled. It is also to be appreciated that the oscillator circuit may be modified such that the Gunn diode may be replaced with other active elements such as an Impatt diode, an FET or an HEMT device, while still achieving the advantages of the present invention discussed herein.
A comprehensive description of the preferred forms of the proximity sensor are presented in the following section, with reference to the drawings.

Electromagnetic wave, reflective type, low cost, active proximity sensor for harsh environments


A distinctive article has first and second waistband sections, and an intermediate section which interconnects the waistband sections. The article comprises a backsheet layer, a liquid permeable topsheet layer superposed in facing relation with the backsheet layer, and an absorbent body interposed between the backsheet and topsheet layers. At least one adhesive tape member connects to the first waistband section. The tape member has a factory-bond section for connecting the tape member to the first waistband section, and a user-bond section for securing the article on a wearer. The user-bond section connects to a finger tab which includes a non-securing grasping section thereof. In particular embodiments, the grasping section can comprise a layer of absorbent material.

Conventional disposable absorbent articles have typically employed adhesive fastening tapes for securing the article on a wearer. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 2,714,889 issued Aug. 9, 1955, to U. Chambers and U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,462 issued Sep. 27, 1977, to L. Woon et al. Conventional adhesive tape fastening systems have employed adhesive tape tabs which include a non-adhesive section located at the distal free end of the tape tab. This adhesive-free region has typically referred to as a finger tab for facilitating the grasping of the end of the adhesive tape. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,182 issued Oct. 25, 1977, to R. Mack describes an end tab formed folding the end region of the tab back onto itself. Other adhesive tape structures have included a finger tab formed by placing a separate piece of material at the terminal free end of the tape member. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,971 issued Feb. 23, 1988, to P. Pape et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,114 issued Oct. 26, 1971, to T. Hamaguchi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,480 issued Jan. 31, 1989, to V. Panza et al.
The finger tabs on conventional adhesive fastening tapes, such as those described above, have had relatively small or relatively narrow grasping areas. As a result, the finger tabs can be hard to locate and the adhesive bearing, securing sections of the tape have been susceptible to undesired contamination from oils or powders carried on the fingers of the user.


It has been discovered that irradiating the cut side of sugarcane billets, preferably 2-50 mm, with UVB or UVC light or combinations thereof initiates stilbene production, particularly resveratrol and piceatannol. In an embodiment the cut sides of sugarcane billets of a predetermined thickness are irradiated with Ultraviolet-C or Ultraviolet-B light or combinations thereof at an intensity and for a duration of time sufficient to produce a significant increase in a level of one or more stilbenes in the irradiated billets compared to a level of stilbenes in billets that are not irradiated; and the irradiated sugarcane billets are maintained for at least about three days up to about 20 days, to optimize stilbene levels.

Beneficial health effects associated with the consumption of dietary fruits and vegetables and free radicals especially have been associated with reducing the risk of various diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, atherosclerosis and other age-related diseases induced. Phenolic compounds are the most abundant hydrophilic antioxidants in the diet and the most active antioxidant compounds. Nijveldt R J, et al., Am J Clin Nutr 74:418-426 (2001). Hodgson J M, J Sci Food Agric 86:2492-2498 (2006). Erlejman A G, Free Radic Biol. Med 41:1247-1256 (2006). Moon Y J, Toxicol Vitro 20:187-210, (2006). Stangl V, Mol Nutr Food Res 50:218-228 (2006). Dudonn′e S, J Agric Food Chem 57:1768-4774 (2009). Jacobo-Vel′azquez D J Food Sci 74:R107-R113 (2009). The balance between antioxidation and oxidation is essential for maintaining health.
Stilbenes are a type of phenolic compound that include trans-piceatannol and trans-resveratrol (hereafter "piceatannol" and "resveratrol," respectively). Stilbenes in general, and resveratrol in particular, have beneficial biological properties that include antibacterial and antifungal effects, as well as cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and anticancer actions. Resveratrol also has positive effects on longevity and age-related deterioration. Piceatannol and viniferins are other phenolic compounds that are usually found in lower concentrations than resveratrol in grapes and, as a result, their bioactivity has been studied less than that of resveratrol; nevertheless, some of their health-promoting properties including anticancer properties have been investigated. Raúl F. Guerrero et al; Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies 11 (2010) 231-238. Research has linked the antitumor activities of piceatannol to its ability to inhibit cell proliferation and arrest cells in the S phase. When compared to resveratrol, piceatannol is a stronger antioxidant and inducer of apoptosis.
Resveratrol is found in many different plants in significant quantities, including grapes, Japanese knotweed, peanuts, cocoa, strawberries, and Vaccinium berries; it is also found in red wine. Resveratrol became important in diets when examined in association with the so-called "French Paradox". A diet high in fats but also high in red wine consumption results in a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease. The main component of red wine attributed to this benefit has been resveratrol.
Piceatannol is found in only a limited number of natural sources and at low levels. Piceatannol was first isolated as an antileukemic agent from the seeds of Euphorbia lagascae, and is also present in grape and Vaccinium berries. Other plants, such as Rheum spp., Machura pomifera, and Senna spp., have also been reported to contain piceatannol in very low concentrations. Due to the low levels of these stilbenes and their many health beneficial properties, new sources of the resveratrol and piceatannol are important. Of particular interest are methods of processing and methods of enhancing levels of these natural stilbene compounds in existing plants that would have beneficial uses in supplements, foods, and beverages.

Postharvest production and enhancement of resveratrol and piceatannol in sugarcane

The Administrators of the Tulane Edcational Fund


A distributed wireless sensor network node is disclosed. The wireless sensor network node includes a plurality of sensor modules coupled to a system bus and configured to sense a parameter. The parameter may be an object, an event or any other parameter. The node collects data representative of the parameter. The node also includes a communication module coupled to the system bus and configured to allow the node to communicate with other nodes. The node also includes a processing module coupled to the system bus and adapted to receive the data from the sensor module and operable to analyze the data. The node also includes a power module connected to the system bus and operable to generate a regulated voltage.

Sensor network nodes are used in many applications. For example, sensor network nodes are used to monitor: seismic activities; atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity; indoor and outdoor agriculture to increase yield; environmental variation on a fine grained scale; vibration in factories to predict machine failures; a ship's hull for cracks in a distributed fashion; and HVAC systems in large office buildings.
FIG. 1(a) is a block diagram of a conventional sensor network 100(a). The sensor network 100(a) can be used in many applications such as, for example, detection of sound, radiation, pollution, etc. The sensor network 100(a) includes a plurality of nodes 104(a), 108(a), 112(a), and 116(a). The nodes 104(a)-116(a) communicate with each other wirelessly. The sensor network 100(a) includes a base station 124(a) that communicates with the nodes 104(a)-116(a) wirelessly.
FIG. 1(b) is a block diagram of a conventional sensor network 100(b) where the nodes 104(b)-116(b) are connected to each other by a communication link 120, such as a wired link, an optical link, the Internet or any other communication link. The nodes 104(b)-116(b) can communicate with each other over the communication link 120. The sensor network 100(b) includes a base station 124(b) that communicates with the nodes 104(b)-116(b) over the communication link 120. The nodes 104(a)-116(a) and 104(b)-116(b) monitor their environment for data collection or event or object detection purposes. The nodes 104(a)-116(a) and 104(b)-116(b) may process and analyze the data to evaluate the event or the object. The nodes 104(a)-116(a) and 104(b)-116(b) can also transmit collected data to the base station 124(a) and 124(b), respectively, for analysis or storage.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one of the nodes 104(a)-116(a) and 104(b)-116(b) (shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b)) in more detail. For ease of description, the node of FIG. 2 will be designated as the node 104. The node 104 includes sensor modules 204, 208, 212, 216 connected to a central processor 224. The sensor modules 204-216 sense the environment for data collection or event or object detection purposes. The sensor modules 204-216 typically do not have capability to process and analyze the data. Accordingly, the data collected by the sensor modules 204-216 are transmitted to the central processor 224. The central processor 224 processes the data to evaluate the event or the object. The node 104 transmits the processed data to the base station 124(a) or 124(b) (shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b)) for storage and/or further analysis.
At present, two system level architectures are used for the wireless sensor network node. The first architecture incorporates an optimized, less powerful system that is specific to a single application. The first architecture generally includes a less powerful (i.e., low processing power), optimized central processor that is designed or chosen only for a specific application. Since the first architecture is specific to a single application, it is inflexible and cannot be extensively modified for other applications. For example, a wireless sensor network node may be designed exclusively for seismic applications. The central processor can be designed or chosen for only seismic related applications including processing and analyzing seismic data, and therefore the central processor need not be a powerful processor. Since these specific central processors typically have low processing power, they consume relatively less power.
The second architecture incorporates a non-optimal, more powerful system that can be adapted for different applications. The second architecture includes a powerful central processor that can be used for different applications. Since the second architecture can be used for different applications, it is flexible. For example, a wireless sensor network node can be designed to monitor seismic events, radiation, or atmospheric pressure and temperature in different applications. The central processor is designed or chosen to be more general, flexible, and computationally powerful to process different types of data, and therefore the central processor needs to be a powerful processor (i.e., high processing power). Since the central processor must possess high processing power, it consumes a large amount of power.
The first architecture, which is the inflexible system, is generally a one time solution. The first architecture cannot be extensively adapted to different applications, but consumes relatively small amounts of power. The second architecture, which is the flexible system, consumes large amounts of power, but can be adapted to different applications. The second architecture is unsuitable for applications in locations where the sensor network node 104 (shown in FIG. 2) must operate on a limited power supply such as battery power. Thus, neither of these systems is satisfactory to produce efficient and flexible sensor systems.
Furthermore, the two architectures are essentially implemented around a central processor. The central processor is typically a microprocessor that performs all functions of the nodes. The central processor is required to perform complicated tasks as well as simple tasks simultaneously. For example, the central processor is required to perform complicated tasks such as processing and analysis of the sensed data, and also perform simple tasks related to the management and control of the node 104 including polling of the sensors 204-212. Thus, the two architectures utilize the central processor inefficiently.
Accordingly, there is a need for a wireless sensor network node system that is flexible and adaptable, yet that does not consume large amounts of power and is efficient for general use.


The present disclosure provides a thermal superconductive finned heat sink and an electrical equipment cabinet. The thermal superconductive finned heat sink includes: a base plate; a plurality of thermal superconductive fins inserted into the surface of the base plate; the thermal superconductive fin has a composite plate structure, a thermal superconductive channel line is formed in the thermal superconductive fin, the thermal superconductive channel line is a closed channel line, and is filled with heat-transfer working medium; the thermal superconductive fin has a U-shaped plate structure, including a flat plate main body and sides which bend relative to the flat plate main body; the projection area of the plurality of thermal superconductive fins, onto the plane where the base plate is located, is greater than the area of the base plate.

With the rapid development of power electronics technology, the requirements for modularization, integration, light weight, low cost and high reliability are getting higher and higher, thus, power device such as MOS field-effect transistors (MOSFET), Diodes, insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT) are widely used in electrical equipment including solar inverters, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), charging piles, power converters (PCS), active power filter (APF), static var compensator (SVC) and frequency converters. The integration of these power components is getting higher, the power density is getting larger, and the heat generated by the power components is getting larger. If the heat generated by the power device cannot be dissipated in time, the temperature of the chip in the device will increase. It will reduce the efficiency and shorten the service life, even result in the failure of power devices and the burning and blasting of chips. Therefore, heat radiation of high-power devices has always been one of the core problems that plague packaging and using manufacturers of high-power devices.
In order to effectively solve the heat radiation problem of the power device, the power component is usually fixed on the base plate of the heat sink, and the heat is transmitted to the fins of the heat sink through the base plate. The fins have a large contact area with the air, through the heat convection between the air and the surface of the fin, the heat will be dissipated to the surrounding environment.
At present, natural convection or forced convection aluminum profile heat sinks are widely used, including aluminum insert type heat sink, aluminum shovel type heat sink, aluminum extrusion type heat sink and aluminum welded fin type heat sink. The thermal conductivity of aluminum and aluminum alloy is within 220 W/m·K, the fins have low efficiency and poor thermal diffusivity, thus the fins are restricted by cost and weight. The fin thickness is 0.8 mm-2.0 mm, the fin height is within 90 mm. As shown in FIG. 1b, in the existing dislocation-type heat sink, the base plate 11 and the fins 12 have the same length. The power devices 13 are evenly distributed on the base plate 11 to reduce the thermal resistance of the base plate diffusion and improve the heat radiation capacity of the heat sink. Therefore, the heat sink is bulky and heavy. With the improvement of the performance of high-power devices, the increase of the heat flux of individual device, and the increasing of the requirements for small size and light weight, the conventional aluminum heat sink can no longer meet the heat radiation requirements of high-power modules with high heat flux.
Therefore, it is urgent to develop a kind of universal and efficient heat sink which can not only meet the requirements of high heat flux and high-power module cooling, but also be efficient and reliable, small in size, cost-effective and can replace liquid-cooling heat sink

Thermal superconductive finned heat sink and electrical equipment cabinet


A battery charging method for a hybrid electric vehicle, may include a step of receiving a vehicle gradient value through a transmission control unit (TCU) or an inclination sensor when the vehicle stops, a step of converting a transmission stage into an N stage and driving an engine to recharge a battery by a main motor when the received vehicle gradient value a preset gradient value or less, and a step of charging the battery by Generating the main motor by engaging an engine clutch after the engine driven.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a battery charging method for hybrid electric vehicles capable of supplementing battery by charging a main motor when the hybrid electric vehicles stop.
2. Description of Related Art
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is generally configured to transfer power to wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in a form in which an electric throttle control (ETC) is added to an engine and an electric motor is directly connected thereto.
The hybrid electric vehicle is controlled to correspond to traveling conditions so as to make fuel efficiency of the engine highest. Meanwhile, the hybrid electric vehicle is transferred with inertial energy of a vehicle through wheels at the time of braking and deceleration and converts the inertial energy into electric energy through a motor so as to recharge a battery, thereby achieving fuel efficiency higher than that of the existing gasoline engine.
As described above, when charging the battery of the hybrid electric vehicle, there are no cases in which conditions of vehicle speed, deceleration demands, and the like, are instantly same, and as a result, the battery may not be recharged with constant voltage. Further, even when the charging state of the battery is low, generation efficiency needs to be maximized and thus, the charging of the battery with constant voltage applied only in a special case.
Meanwhile, in the case of the existing parallel type hybrid electric vehicle, the battery recharged by a main motor only during the traveling when the remaining capacity of the battery is insufficient and recharged with a small amount by a hybrid starter generator (HSG) rather than by the main motor when the vehicle stops.
That is, as shown in FIG. 1, in the case of the existing parallel type hybrid vehicle, the engine stops when the vehicle stops and the vehicle waits in a state in which an engine clutch is separated. Thereafter, when the vehicle starts again, the engine is ignited and driven. In this case, the battery is recharged by the HSG and the driving RPM of the motor synchronizes with the RPM of the engine and then, the engine clutch is locked and the motor starts.
However, the driving conditions may be variable and therefore, the case in which the remaining capacity of the battery is insignificant may always occur in the hybrid vehicle. In this condition, when the vehicle stops at a drive stage (D stage) as in the past, the charging amount of the battery by the HSG is limited and thus, the battery cannot be fully recharged. The phenomenon hinders the sufficient use of the motor at the time of traveling, which leads to the reduction in the drivability of a vehicle and the fuel efficiency.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Battery charging method for hybrid electric vehicles


A shielding device having an embossement affixed at one end, and also having a mounting fixture affixed to the enclosure at or near center and having another mounting fixture at the remaining end of the enclosure and it being relieved of radiused and linear portions at each end.

The present invention relates to a shield and more particularly to a shield to protect the feeder assembly selector solenoid switch from damage during removal, transportation, and installation of feeder assembly housing, making feeder assembly solenoid inoperable, as used on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle's 25 mm cannon.
By working closely with the armies TIACOM officers and local LAR representatives for the U.S. Army, we have been able to discuss reoccurring problems and solutions to eliminate these problems.


Improvement in Combination bed (4) and desk (3) is disclosed: an articulated parallelogram (6, 8, 10, 11) based system and mechanism that links bed frame (4) and desktop (3) to elements (6, 10) fixed to a wall (or support or furniture body). Bed rotates as a wallbed, and desktop goes down and up always leveled. In raised position, bed lies against the wall, bedding concealed, and cantilever desktop at standard height rests against bed bottom. In the lowered position, the bed is deployed at normal height and desktop goes underneath at floor level. Desktop can admit objects as a PC monitor (up to 0.4 m height) that can remain undisturbed through conversion and stowing.

The wall bed, (or Murphy Bed, a 1900 patent), a well known piece of furniture, allows a double use of a certain area of a room. It usually has a very simple mechanism, which includes springs to balance the weight and diminish effort for stowing or deploying the bed. Some versions become a Combination Bed and Desk, adding a folding desktop that can be deployed when the bed is stowed in a vertical position. The desktop must be cleared to stow it, and then the bed can be deployed. The desktop normally uses part of the area that the bed was occupying.
A great number patents combine a bed and a desk in fixed positions or folding the bed to stow it, but, few designs exist that can stow a loaded desktop and deploy a bed in the same area.
Similar existing proposals are compared with our invention as follows: Patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,715 dated Jan. 31, 1978, proposes a Combination Bed and Desk which consists of a wall bed and a desk that moves down and up.
The mechanism used is complex, having chains, pinions, shafts, racks and it almost always needs a motor. When the desk lowers from the use position, a mechanism keeps the desktop leveled thus allowing objects to remain on it. Simultaneously, the bed that was stowed against the wall turns, deploying at a normal level. Strokes only permit a reduced height for objects left on the desktop.
The bed land the desk, the main components of the furniture, when in use, come in turn to occupy the same floor area. The height of the desktop and the bed are normal in their use positions. In comparison, our design has only two or three pairs of simple auxiliary parts, with remarkable cost and simplicity advantage.
In summary, the system is different, stowed positions and mechanical means used are different.
Patent DE 4318785, issued Feb. 9, 1995, proposes a Combination Bed and Desktop without an additional furniture body unit. The described mechanism guides bed and desktop, linking bed and desktop to some wall fixed elements. The weight of moving parts and mechanism lever action is handled by four wheels that roll on the floor. In final stowed position, the bed lies flat against the wall with one side next to the floor. This mechanism is more complex than ours: it has five pairs of parts (or six or more according to the criteria), and also requires adequate quality of the floor for the wheels rolling on it. If floor lacks the required quality, some work should be done to it, or additional rails must be installed. Moreover, its main links are much longer and loaded in flexion, so our design has greater rigidity and solid feel for the user. Our design has only two or three pairs of simple auxiliary parts, with a remarkable cost and simplicity advantage.
In summary, the '785 system is different, the stowed positions and the mechanical means used are different.


A semiconductor device in which the space between a semiconductor chip and an auxiliary wiring plate is sealed with resin. The auxiliary wiring plate has insulating layers and on both sides of the routing conductor, the insulating layer on the side of the semiconductor chip has a hole being led from the routing conductor to the electrode of the semiconductor chip, the metal filled in the hole and the metal bump formed so as to protrude from the hole serves as an inner electrode. The semiconductor device can be manufactured by the TAB technique.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chip scale package (CSP) type of semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing it.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The structure of a semiconductor device as shown in FIG. 9 is previously known in which with the inner lead portion 122 of a lead 102 connected (bump-connected) to an electrode 111 of a semiconductor chip 101 and while the outer lead portion 123 of the lead 102 is protruded, a semiconductor chip 101 is sealed with resin 103.
This semiconductor device can be manufactured by the "TAB" (Tape automated bonding) technique.
Specifically, a film carrier tape (having sprocket holes) with a large number of leads (copper foils being formed by etching) formed at regular intervals, each having an inner lead portion and outer lead portion, is intermittently transported by sprockets. At a chip attachment station, an electrode of the semiconductor chip is connected to the inner lead portion of each lead on the film carrier tape using a bump. Further, at a resin applying station, sealing resin is dropped and applied onto the surface of the electrode side of a semiconductor chip. Thereafter, the film carrier tape is stamped around the semiconductor chip. Thus, the semiconductor device can be manufactured.
The above package structure, however, requires the pitch of the outer lead portions of the leads to be greatly extended from the point of view of accuracy of soldering, which results in a large scale of package. This is disadvantageous to realize the semiconductor device with a high density.
To solve the above problem, several proposals have been made for a chip scale package type of semiconductor device. The semiconductor device as shown in FIG. 10 belongs to a chip scale package type. In addition, without being restrained by the arrangement of the electrodes 411 of a semiconductor chip 401, the arrangement of the outer electrodes 422 soldered to the conductor end of a circuit board to be packaged can be freely set within the chip scale so that the interval of the outer electrodes 422 and 422 can be sufficiently increased.
In FIG. 10, reference numeral 401 denotes a semiconductor chip and reference numeral 402 denotes an auxiliary wiring plate in which routing conductors 424 are printed on the one side of an insulating supporting plate (ceramic plate) 425. A metallic bump 412 is adhered to each of electrodes 411 of the semiconductor chip 401. The metallic pump 412 is connected to the end 441 of the routing conductor 424. The space between the semiconductor chip 401 and the auxiliary wiring plate piece 402 is sealed with resin 403. Holes 421 are provided at the positions corresponding to the conductor ends of a circuit board. The holes 421 are filled with solders 422. A soldering bump 423 is formed on each of the solders 422. The semiconductor chip 401 is fixed on the molding circuit board using the soldering bumps 423 by the reflow method.
In the chip scale type package type of semiconductor device, the metallic bumps 412 must be previously adhered to the electrodes 411 of the semiconductor chip 401. This makes the process of manufacturing a semiconductor chip complicate, deteriorates the yielding rate of products and hence increases the production cost of semiconductor chips.
Since the insulating supporting plate 425 of the auxiliary wiring plate 402 is made of the ceramic plate, it is difficult to adopt the TAB method for manufacturing the semiconductor device according to the above invention.

Chip scale package type of semiconductor device


A system subsidizes telephone calls over a network. The system includes a service provider 120 that establishes a telephone call between a calling party terminal 130 and a called party terminal 140 over the network 110. During the telephone call, the service provider causes at least one advertisement 312 to be displayed at the calling, or called party terminal. At any time during, or after, the telephone call, the service provider generates a bill based on a subsidized billing rate related to the display of the at least one advertisement.

The present invention relates generally to telecommunication systems and, more particularly, to a system and method for subsidizing PC-based telephony service.
The provision of long distance telephone service is very competitive in today""s marketplace. Presently, long distance telephone calls are typically provided by an Inter-eXchange Carrier (IXC). This IXC charges the consumer a per-minute fee for placing long distance calls.
An emerging service is IP-based telephony from a personal computer (PC), known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), in which the subscriber places an outgoing telephone call over a network, such as the Internet, from his PC. In general, the caller subscribes to VolP service and is charged a per-minute usage fee associated with the long distance call.
Because of intense competition, there is a continuing need for telecommunication companies to reduce the cost of existing telecommunications services.
Systems and methods consistent with the present invention address this need by providing a mechanism through which the charges for telephone calls can be reduced or eliminated.
A method consistent with the present invention includes authorizing, via a service provider, telephone services over a data network to a client terminal. The service provider establishes a telephone call between the client terminal and a receiving terminal over the data network. During the telephone call, at least one advertisement is displayed at the client terminal. Upon termination of the telephone call, the service provider calculates a bill based on a subsidized billing rate.


In an index signal generator for generating an index signal for use in a direct-drive motor having a rotation axis and comprising a stator and a rotor, a particular at least one of M magnetized elements is used as an index detection magnet having magnetic force which is different from those in remaining ones of the M magnetized elements. Wound around one of a specific one of particular three cores in the stator, an index detection coil detects variations of the magnetic force generated by the ring-shaped permanent magnet to produce a detected signal. On the basis of the detected signal, the index signal is generated.

This invention relates to an index signal generator which generates an index signal. The index signal generator is used for a disk drive that handles a recordable medium, and provides the disk drive with hardware compatibility for the same kind of disk drives. For example, a recordable medium may be a flexible disk and a disk drive may be a flexible disk drive.
In the manner which is well known in the art, the flexible disk drive (which may be hereinafter called "FDD" for short) of the type is a device for carrying out data recording and reproducing operation to and from a disk-shaped magnetic recording medium of the flexible disk (which may be hereinafter called "FD" for short or may be called "a medium") loaded therein. In addition, such a flexible disk drive is mounted or loaded in a portable electronic equipment such as a laptop personal computer, a notebook-size personal computer, a notebook-size word processor, or the like.
The flexible disk drive of the type comprises a magnetic head for reading/writing data from/to the magnetic recording medium of the flexible disk, a carriage assembly for supporting the magnetic head at a tip thereof with the magnetic head movably along a predetermined radial direction to the flexible disk, a stepping motor for moving the carriage assembly along the predetermined radial direction, and a spindle motor for rotatably driving the magnetic recording medium with the flexible disk held. The spindle motor is one of direct-drive (DD) motors.
In order to control such a flexible disk drive, an FDD control apparatus is already proposed. By way of example, Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. H9-97493 discloses, as the FDD control apparatus, one-integrated circuit (IC) chip which incorporates first through third control circuits therein. The first control circuit is a reading/writing (hereinafter called "R/W") control circuit for controlling reading/writing of data. The second control circuit is a stepping motor (hereinafter called "STP") control circuit for controlling drive of the stepping motor. The third control circuit is a general controlling (hereinafter called "CTL") control circuit for controlling whole operation of the flexible disk drive. The CTL control circuit may be called a logic circuit. This IC chip is generally implemented by a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) IC chip where a number of MOS field effect transistors (FETs) are integrated therein.
The FDD control apparatus comprises not only the one-IC chip but also a spindle motor IC chip for controlling drive of the spindle motor. The spindle motor IC chip is implemented by a bipolar IC chip where a number of bipolar transistors are integrated therein.
Now, flexible disk drives have different specifications due to customers or users. The specification defines, for example, drive select 0 or 1, the presence or absence of special seek function, the presence or absence of an automatic chucking function, a difference of logic for a density out signal, a difference of logic for a mode select signal, 1 M mode 250 kbps or 300 kbps, and so on. If development is made of one-IC chips which individually satisfy the different specification, a number types of one-IC chips must be prepared. In order to avoid this, a one-IC chip having a selectable function circuit is already proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. H9-97839 wherein all functions satisfying all specifications are preliminarily incorporated therein and one of the functions is selected in accordance with a particular specification.
In the manner which is well known in the art, the flexible disk driven by the flexible disk drive includes a disk-shaped magnetic recording medium accessed by the magnetic head. The magnetic recording medium has a plurality of tracks on a surface thereof that serves as paths for recording data and that are formed in concentric circle along a radial direction. The flexible disk has eighty tracks on one side which include the most outer circumference track (which is named "TR00" and the most inner circumference track (which is named "TR79"). The most outer circumference track TR00 is herein called the most end track.
It is necessary to position the magnetic head at a desired track position in a case where the flexible disk is accessed by the magnetic head in the flexible disk drive. For this purpose, the carriage assembly for supporting the magnetic head at the tip thereof must be positioned. Inasmuch as the stepping motor is used as a driving arrangement for driving the carriage assembly, it is possible for the flexible disk drive to easily carry out the positioning of the carriage assembly. In spite of this, it is necessary for the flexible disk drive to detect only the position of the most end track TR00 in the magnetic recording medium of the flexible disk loaded therein. In order to detect the position of the most end track TR00, the carriage assembly is provided with an interception plate which projects from a base section thereof downwards and a photointerrupter is mounted on a substrate in the vicinity of a main frame opposed to the carriage assembly. For example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. H9-91859. That is, it is possible to detect that the magnetic head is laid in the position of the most end track TR00 in the magnetic recording medium of the flexible disk because the interception plate intercepts an optical path in the photointerrupter. Such a track position detecting mechanism is called a "00 sensor" in the art.
In the flexible disk drive where the DD (direct-drive) motor such as a spindle motor is used for rotatably driving the flexible disk, an index signal is generated on the basis of operation in periphery of a rotor of the DD motor. More specifically, a single-pole magnetized magnet (e.g. only a north pole is exposed to the outside) is provided with a peripheral side surface of a disk-shaped casing composing the rotor. Such a magnet is called an index detection magnet. In addition, on a main frame on which a stator of the DD motor and so on are mounted, a main printed wiring board on which a predetermined circuit is formed is disposed. A Hall element is located on the main printed wiring board at a predetermined position corresponding to the outside of the rotor. The Hall element is called an index detection Hall element.
Herein, the Hall element is a semiconductor element applying a Hall effect. The Hall effect is a phenomenon where an electric field occurs in a conductor in a Y-direction perpendicular to both of an X-direction and a Z-direction when the electric current flows in the X-direction in the conductor and when the magnetic field is applied in the Z-direction perpendicular to the X-direction. The electric field caused thereby is a Hall electric field and an output of the Hall element in response thereto is a Hall output.
In addition, Hall elements are used not only as the index detection Hall element but also for detecting a position in the rotor of the spindle motor. Such Hall elements are called position detection Hall elements. A spindle motor using the position detection Hall elements is called a Hall motor.
Although the Hall motor requires three position detection Hall elements, in order to omit their position detection Hall elements, proposal is made to a new motor where states of currents flowing in three-phase coils of the stator are switched on the basis of polarity of an electromotive force induced in one of the three-phase coils that is put into a high-impedance state (e.g. see Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2000-245125).
In the manner which is described above, in prior art, a single-pole magnetized magnet is used as the index detection magnet. It is difficult to obtain a stable generation timing for the index signal. Accordingly, in order to obtain the stable generation timing for the index signal, the present co-inventors already proposes and files an application to use, as the index detection magnet, a double-pole magnetized magnet (that is, one where a south pole and a north pole are put side by side) (see Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2001-190055). According to the proposed application, when the pole passing in front of the Hall element changes from the north pole to the south pole, a zero cross point occurs at a Hall output signal. The zero cross point is constant independent of temperature. The index signal is generated based on the zero cross point. It is therefore possible to generate the index signal at stable timing.
A conventional flexible disk drive comprises not only a main frame but also a motor frame for mounting the spindle motor for rotatably driving the medium thereon. This is because it is necessary to form a frequency generation pattern for detecting a rotation speed of the spindle motor on a printed wiring board and it is necessary to mount the printed wiring board on the motor frame. Accordingly, the conventional flexible disk drive is disadvantageous in that it requires a lot of parts and the number of processes for assembling increases. In order to resolve this problem, the present assignee has already proposed a method of controlling the rotation speed of the spindle motor without use of the frequency generation pattern (see Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2001-178185) and has already proposed a flexible disk drive comprising a motor frame portion for mounting the spindle motor thereon that is constituted by one piece integrated by the main frame (see Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2001-184774).
In the conventional flexible disk drive, the index detection magnet mounted on the rotor and the index detection Hall element located on the printed wiring board are disposed so that they are apart from each other at a magnetic field detection position by a little distance. The printed wiring board is disposed so as to extend in a direction normal to a rotation axis of the spindle motor. Accordingly, a conventional index detection Hall element necessarily has a magnetic detection surface which is disposed to extend in parallel with a direction of the magnetic field generated by the index detection magnet. Therefore, the conventional index detection Hall element is disadvantageous in that it has a poor sensitive condition for the magnetic field. In order to resolve this problem, the present co-inventors have already proposed a flexible disk drive which is provide with an index detection Hall element having an improved detection sensitive condition for a magnetic field (see Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2003-85940). According to this proposed flexible disk drive, a motor rotatably driving a flexible disk has a rotor having an external peripheral side surface on which an index detection magnet is mounted. A main circuit board mounts a control circuit for carrying out a driving control of the motor and extends in a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of the motor. Attached to the main circuit board, a sub circuit board extends in a direction in parallel with the rotation axis of the motor at a position close to the external peripheral side surface of the rotor. Mounted to the sub circuit board, an index detection Hall element has a magnetic field detection surface which is disposed so as to oppose to the external peripheral side surface of the rotor.
In spite of the above-mentioned improvements, a reduction in costs due to a cut of parts and reinforcement of operation stability are desired in the flexible disk drive. This is because, inasmuch as an exclusive index detection magnet and the index detection Hall element are disposed outside the external peripheral side surface of the rotor, miniaturization of the motor due to a cut of a part including the exclusive index detection magnet and the index detection Hall element is desired. In addition, reinforcement of inductance for ensure a back electromotive force in a case of coil detection with the miniaturization is also desired.

Method of generating an index signal with reduced parts