A gas chromatography instrument comprising a first autoinjector in communication with a first column, a second autoinjector in communication with a second column, a first flame ionization detector in communication with the first column, a second flame ionization detector in communication with the second column, wherein the first column is housed in a first compartment and the second column is housed in a second compartment.

Gas Chromatography is a means of chemical analysis used for separating chemicals in a complex sample. A gas chromatograph uses a narrow tube, known as a column, through which different chemical constituents of a sample pass in a gas stream. The gas stream is also called the carrier gas or mobile phase. Gas Liquid Chromatography (GLC), or simply Gas Chromatography (GC), is a type of chromatography in which the mobile phase is a gas. The mobile phase (i.e., a gas stream) is passed through a column with a phase coating, which is called the stationary phase and which is a microscopic layer of liquid on an inert solid wall of the column. The column is often flexible so that a very Jong column can be wound into a small coil. As the chemical constituents exit the end of the column, they are detected and identified electronically.
In GC, the chemical constituents within a sample pass through the column at different rates, depending on their various chemical and physical properties and their interaction with a specific column stationary phase. Chemical constituents are characterized by the different rates by which they flow through, or elute from, the column. This rate corresponds with the constituents' individual retention time (i.e., the length of time between the injection of the sample and the detection of the individual component). In many cases, constituents with different boiling points have different retention times. Other parameters can also be used to alter the order or retention time, such as the carrier gas flow rate and column temperature.
The column(s) in a GC are contained in an oven, the temperature of which is precisely controlled (e.g., electronically). The time it takes, a sample to pass through the column is directly proportional to the temperature of the column.
One application of GC is for the analysis of crude oil. Crude oil, for example, may contain a mixture of chemical compounds from a family of several hundred chemical compounds. Some chemicals that may be found in crude oil include n-paraffins (e.g., n-hexane), isoparaffins (e.g., isooctane), aromatics (e.g., benzene, toluene, xylenes), naphthene (e.g., cyclohexane), olefins (e.g., pentadiene). Crude oil also contains compounds of large molecular weight which are not capable to pass through GC columns. These compounds are called Asphaltenes.
One useful tool for analyzing crude oil is its boiling point (BP) curve, as boiling point range is often a key controlling parameter for manufacturing petroleum products, as well as pricing crude oil. GC is routinely employed for determining the boiling point range of oil products, as it is a fast and inexpensive method for providing information regarding the fuel-type present. A BP curve is a quantitative percent mass yield as a function of the boiling point of the hydrocarbon components of a sample.
However, in the case of crude oil, two column systems are often required since the crude oil BP curve obtained by high temperature columns is not accurate in the region of Initial Boiling Point up to 25% of the BP curve, generally comprising methane through n-dodecane. As a result, a second injection is conventionally made in a separate instrument to analyze the crude oil fraction in the region of methane through n-dodecane. This second injection is often analyzed and identified using a Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis (DHA) column. The identification on this longer DHA column is often used for providing the boiling point in the region up to 25% of the crude components. In many cases, the DHA column requires different temperatures than the high temperature columns, thereby preventing both columns from being housed in a single gas chromatograph oven. Generally DHA columns are designed such that they have a limited temperature range and cannot coexist in the same oven as a crude oil column, which is heated to high temperatures. In addition, because of the DHA column's limited temperature range, it generally is not capable of receiving and/or analyzing an entire crude oil sample. Rather, the DHA column is generally only capable of receiving and analyzing portions of a sample in the region of methane through n-dodecane.
A presentation directed to various aspects of related art was given on Oct. 22, 2015, in Houston, Tex., a copy of which is attached hereto and is incorporated herein in its entirety.

Method and system for contemporaneous analysis of a crude oil front end and a crude oil boiling point distribution via a single gas chromatograph


The present invention is directed to a helical drill configuration that allows substantially flat bottomed holes to be machined. At the cutting end of the body member, there are at least two cutting edges that are symmetrically oriented on apposing sides of the rotational axis of the drill. In an embodiment of the invention, first and second cutting edge portions form a continuous surface which provides strength and tool stability. The height of the second portions of each of the cutting edges remains relatively consistent along the horizontal for formation of a generally flat bottom hole. In the embodiment, a center point is defined by two sloped peak surfaces. A central straight chisel edge is formed by the intersection of the two sloped peak surfaces. The first cutting edge section extends from the chisel edge to the second cutting edge section. The first cutting edge section for both cutting edges is formed by symmetrically thinning the two peak surface. In the invention, stress at the center portion of the helical cutting tool is limited by the chisel edge and first sections of the cutting edge near the center portion having a balanced geometry. The balanced geometry of the helical drill also prevents the drill from wobbling and creating deviations in the hole being formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a tool for creating a flat bottom hole into a stock material.
2. Background
For many applications, it may be desirable to form a hole in a work piece substrate which terminates in a flat bottom surface. Many types of cutting tools and drilling systems have been developed for creating holes having flat bottoms.
Some cutting tools in the prior art utilize one type of drill for starting such a hole, and then using a second metal cutting tool to produce the desired flat bottom in the hole.
Prior art cutting tools that were designed to cut flat bottomed holes have various deficiencies. Some flat bottomed hole drills had cutting edge designs that could form a flat bottom hole, but these drill configurations resulted in a weakened area, point or line where these prior art drills would occasionally break or fracture. In other prior art flat bottom cutting drills, the drills were configured such that chips from the drilling process were not formed efficiently, causing excessive wear and chip control problems. Additionally, the nature of these cutting edges resulted in high cutting forces, specifically in thrust.


A magnetostrictive fuel level probe includes a spring-loaded foot. The probe shaft of the fuel level probe moves up and down within the spring-loaded foot as a function of fuel density. The spring-loaded foot includes a reference magnet whose height relative to the bottom of a fuel storage tank is fixed. Currents generated by the fuel level probe allow measurement of how much of the fuel level probe is positioned above the reference magnet, and from this measurement, the buoyancy of the fuel level probe may be measured. From the buoyancy of the fuel level probe, the fuel density may be calculated.

Fueling environments typically store fuel in large storage tanks located beneath the ground, sometimes referred to as "underground storage tanks" (UST). To comply with environmental laws, rules, and regulations, these storage tanks may be double-walled and equipped with various leak detection sensors and inventory reconciliation systems. One popular leak detection sensor is sold by Veeder-Root Company of 125 Powder Forest Drive, Simsbury, Conn. 06070, the assignee of the present application, under the name "The MAG Plus Inventory Measurement Probe" (Mag Probe). This probe is typically matched with a tank monitor, such as the TLS-350R, also sold by Veeder-Root Company. Such probes measure a height of fuel within the storage tank and may optionally measure a height of water (if present). The measurements are reported to the tank monitor for usage by the operator of the fueling environment to evaluate and reconcile fuel inventory and/or detect leaks, as is well understood.
While the United States has many rules and regulations relating to leak monitoring within fueling environments, other locales have additional requirements for fueling environments. For example, countries such as India and Russia have seen a rise in fraud at fueling environments, and have consequently taken steps to combat such fraud. Specifically, these countries have become aware that dilution of the fuel within storage tanks may be used as a technique to defraud a customer. One way in which the diluted fuel is created is through the addition of alcohol to the fuel storage tank. The alcohol allows the water at the bottom of the fueling tank to mix with the fuel, and the diluted mixture is then dispensed as normal through the fuel dispensers.
To combat this fraud, some governments have mandated that fuel density be measured. If the density is outside of a predetermined allowable range, it may be inferred that the fuel has been adulterated. Even if some countries or governments do not have such legislation requiring measurement of density of fuel, some fuel distribution companies that operate service stations may nonetheless find it desirable to monitor the density of their fuel for quality control purposes.
Density measurements also assist in calculation of the mass of fluid within a storage container. Differences in mass may be used to perform leak detection for fluids in situations where normal volume detection techniques are inadequate (e.g., waste oil storage containers). These situations create additional demand for density measuring devices.
All the devices currently known to be available commercially that are capable of measuring fuel density in a conventional fueling environment fuel storage tank are stand alone peripherals, requiring their own power and interface connections. Furthermore, these devices tend to have a limited range of values over which fuel density can be measured. Such stand alone peripherals are not desirable as a result of these deficiencies.
An additional concern that arises in the measurement of fuel density is that the density of the fuel is not typically uniform at all fuel levels in an underground storage tank. For example, there may be thermal stratification which results in non-uniform densities at particular levels within the fuel storage tank. Likewise, surface thermal effects can be large. That is, when the surface of the fuel is much warmer than the bulk of the stored fuel, the density of the surface fuel relative to the bulk of the fuel is reduced. If the density of the fuel is measured just at the surface, the measurement will not accurately reflect the density of the bulk of the fuel. Any density measuring device should be able to address these issues.
In response to these concerns, the Assignee of the present invention presented the fuel density measurement system of commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/048,145, filed Feb. 1, 2005. While the '145 Application provides one solution to the concerns raised above, there remains a need for a simpler solution.

Method using magnetostrictive probe buoyancy for detecting fuel density


An implant for insertion through a punctum and into a canalicular lumen of a patient. The implant includes a matrix of material, a therapeutic agent dispersed in the matrix of material, a sheath disposed over a portion of the matrix of material and configured to inhibit the therapeutic agent from being released from the matrix of material into the canalicular lumen and to allow the therapeutic agent to be released from a surface of the matrix of material to a tear film, and a retention structure configured to retain the implant within the canalicular lumen.

The present application is related to implants for use in or near the nasolacrimal drainage system, with embodiments providing canalicular implants, lacrimal sac implants, punctal plugs and punctal plugs with drug delivery capabilities.
A variety of challenges face patients and physicians in the area of ocular drug delivery. In particular, the repetitive nature of the therapies (multiple injections, instilling multiple eye drop regimens per day), the associated costs, and the lack of patient compliance may significantly impact the efficacy of the therapies available, leading to reduction in vision and many times blindness.
Patient compliance in taking the medications, for example instilling the eye drops, can be erratic, and in some cases, patients may not follow the directed treatment regime. Lack of compliance can include, failure to instill the drops, ineffective technique (instilling less than required), excessive use of the drops (leading to systemic side effects), and use of non-prescribed drops or failure to follow the treatment regime requiring multiple types of drops. Many of the medications may require the patient to instill them up to 4 times a day.
In addition to compliance, the cost of at least some eye drop medications is increasing, leading some patients on limited incomes to be faced with the choice of buying basic necessities or instead getting their prescriptions filled. Many times insurance does not cover the total cost of the prescribed eye drop medication, or in some cases eye drops containing multiple different medications.
Further, in many cases, topically applied medications have a peak ocular effect within about two hours, after which additional applications of the medications should be performed to maintain the therapeutic benefit. In addition, inconsistency in self-administered or ingested medication regimes can result in a suboptimal therapy. PCT Publication WO 06/014434 (Lazar), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, may be relevant to these and/or other issues associated with eye drops.
One promising approach to ocular drug delivery is to place an implant that releases a drug in tissue near the eye. Although this approach can offer some improvement over eye drops, some potential problems of this approach may include implantation of the implant at the desire tissue location, retention of the implant at the desired tissue location, and sustaining release of the drug at the desired therapeutic level for an extended period of time. For example in the case of glaucoma treatment, undetected and premature loss of an implant can result in no drug being delivered, and the patient can potentially suffer a reduction in vision, possibly even blindness.
In light of the above, it would be desirable to provide improved drug delivery implants that overcome at least some of the above mentioned shortcomings.

Nasolacrimal drainage system implants for drug therapy


A service valve for a refrigerant system comprising a valve body and a system port. The valve body has at least one fluid passage integrated therein including a longitudinal bore. An orifice is located at one end of the bore. An annular protrusion axially extends from the valve body and is symmetrical about the orifice. A valve seat generally surrounds the orifice. The system port includes a valve stem having a first end, a second end, and a bore integrated within. The stem is axially movable within the annular protrusion between at least a first position in which the orifice is closed when the valve stem first end sealingly abuts the valve seat and a second position in which the orifice is open when the valve stem first end is offset from the valve seat. The valve stem is restricted from moving further away from the valve body by the annular protrusion.

Service valves are used in refrigerant systems to conveniently, add and remove refrigerant. Referring to FIG. 13, a common type of service valve is the front-seat valve 730. An example of such a valve is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,973 to Itoh et al. Front seat valve 730 contains a charge port 735 through which the installation/service technician can gage the system pressure, evacuate the system, or add refrigerant charge to the system. Front seat valve 730 has a front seat 744 that seals against a mating portion of valve body 732. Charge port 735 is equipped with a valve core 737, which prevents refrigerant from escaping charge port 735 until a stem 738 of valve core 737 is depressed by the service hose connection. Valve core 737 is sealed with elastomeric seals which can lose their sealing characteristics over time. When connected to a service hose, a flow path through charge port 735 is opened and the system can be accessed. The volumetric flow rate of gas, into or out of the system, is restricted by this generally small flow path. Therefore, the time required to service the system is negatively increased due to the size.
Another well-known charge port configuration is found on the more costly and bulky back-seat service valve 780, shown in FIG. 14. The back-seat valve has both a front seat 794 and a back seat 791 which seal against sealing surfaces of valve body 783. Front seat 794 works the same way as front-seat valve 730. Back-seat valve 780 offers an isolated charge port without employing a valve core, therefore it must be capped (not shown). A valve stem 787 in this design is back-seated (at 791) during normal operation. Back seat 791 is typically a metal-to-metal seal and offers greater leak prevention than that of front seat valve 730. In the back-seated position, a charge port 785 is sealed off, or isolated, from the system. Thus, the charge port cap can be removed while valve 780 is back-seated without any concern of refrigerant escaping the system. Once the service hose is attached to charge port 785, valve's stem 787 is mid-seated so that charge port 785 is in communication with the system. Servicing the system (evacuation and charging of refrigerant) can be executed with a higher volumetric flow rate due to the lack of restriction in the flow path (no valve core). This larger flow path results in a shorter service time. However back-seat valve 780 is bulky and expensive to manufacture. Plus valve stem 787 has to be manipulated in order to access charge port 785, which is inconvenient for the end user.
Other prior art service valves utilize valve stems that have a component which must be rotated in order to add or remove refrigerant. For example, in many designs the valve stem is threadedly connected to the charging hose assembly in order to add refrigerant. The valve stem is also threadedly connected to the service valve body. Since the valve stem has to be rotated in order to open the service port, the stem may undesirably rotate relative to the service hose. This can be problematic since the sealed threaded connection between the valve stem and charging hose assembly may come unsealed. It is helpful to provide a valve stem that doesn't rotate when it is being opened and closed.
Other prior art service valves have valve stems that can be completely removed from the service valve. If this happens, then a complete loss of refrigerant from the system will occur. This, of course, is quite undesirable not only from an end user vantage point, but also from an environmentally friendly one. For example, the component, which typically is the valve stem, needs to be unseated from the valve body in order to add and remove refrigerant from the system. Prior art designs do not prevent the complete removal of this component and a complete loss of system refrigerant will occur when this happens.


The present invention is directed to a method and device to generate a chemical signature for a mixture of analytes. The present invention involves using a SPME surface to one or both absorb and adsorb the mixture of analytes. In an embodiment of the invention, the surface is then exposed to different temperature ionizing species chosen with appropriate spatial resolution to desorb a chemical signature for the mixture of analytes.

Dr. Edmond Locard (13 Dec. 1877-4 May 1966) formulated Locard's principle which states that the perpetrator of a crime will bring something into the crime scene and leave with something from it, and that both can be used as forensic evidence. That is there is a contact transfer between the perpetrator and the crime scene. This contact transfer is the basis for much of Forensic Science. In many cases what the perpetrator brings and leaves is their fingerprint, more specifically a representation that is made up of chemicals from the perpetrator's body. The visual record of a fingerprint is frequently used by forensic chemists to identify individuals who might have been present at a crime scene.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for rapid chemical analysis using differential desorption


A hearing system (1) capable of assisting a user of the hearing system (1) to find a location where satisfactory hearing performance is achievable is described. The hearing system (1) comprises at least one hearing device (11, 12) with an input transducer (20), an output transducer (40), and a processing unit (30) operatively connected to the input transducer (20) as well as to the output transducer (40). The hearing system (1) further comprises a first means (50) for determining from a signal of the input transducer (20) at least one parameter (60) representative of a current acoustic environment at a current location, and a second means (40, 200, 201) for indicating to a user of the hearing system (1) a degree of suitability of the current location to achieve satisfactory hearing performance based on the at least one parameter (60).

Communication inside a bustling restaurant or other crowded or reverberant location is one of the most difficult tasks for a hearing impaired person. The high level of background noise due to surrounding conversations reduces the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the speech signal from the desired communication partner. Impulse-like noises created by cutlery clanging against plates may cause unwanted reactions in the hearing aid, such as sudden changes in amplification. Restaurants are often decorated with hard surfaces, such as glass partitions between sections of the locality, which are intended to create a sense of privacy, but which also cause highly reverberant conditions with long echo time constants both for the interfering background noise as well as for the speech signal from the desired communication partner.
In order to help improve the hearing capability of a hearing impaired person modern hearing devices provide a number of means to reduce the adverse effects encountered in difficult listening environments such as restaurants. For instance U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,168 discloses a hearing aid with a directional microphone that is capable of emphasizing the speech from the front, i.e. from the direction where the desired communication partner is usually located, thereby increasing the signal-to-noise ratio. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,701 discloses a method and apparatus for enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio of a microphone array by adjusting its directivity pattern. Alternatively, the communication partner can wear a microphone where the microphone signal is transmitted to the hearing device via a wireless link, with the intention of emphasizing the direct component of the speaker's voice, picked up close to the speaker's mouth, thereby reducing noise and reverberation. Such solutions are for instance disclosed in WO 2005/086801 A2 and EP 1 460 769 A1. As a further means, EP 1 469 703 A2 discloses a reverberation cancelling algorithm that reduces the effect of long echo time constants. Moreover, WO 2007/014795 A2 discloses a method for acoustic shock detection and its application in a system applying anti-shock gain reduction when a shock event has been indicated, for instance to reduce the unpleasant sounds produced by clashing cutlery and plates. As yet a further means, U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,822 discloses a hearing aid providing a plurality of manually selectable hearing programs adapted for a variety of listening situations. A further improvement of such a multi-program hearing device is disclosed in WO 02/32208 A2 where a method for determining an acoustic environment situation is described, which enables the automatic selection by the hearing device of a hearing program suitable for processing the audio input signal in the momentary listening situation. Alternatively, EP 1 753 264 A1 discloses a method for the determination of room acoustics, so that the signal processing in a hearing device can be automatically adapted to the current room acoustics. Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 7,599,507 discloses a means for estimating speech intelligibility in a hearing aid in order to adjust the settings of the hearing aid. Despite the fact that the existing solutions for improving signal-to-noise ratio and reducing reverberation are effective to some extent, especially when applied in combination, the problem of reduced speech intelligibility under adverse listening conditions, such as encountered in restaurants, remains.
Within a noisy and reverberant environment such as a busy restaurant, some locations will be better suited for a hard of hearing person than others, because the level of background noise or reverberation will be lower than elsewhere. During the fitting and counselling procedure the audiologist or other hearing care specialist will often try to instruct the user of a hearing system on how to select an optimum location in a restaurant. However, such optimisation is difficult to understand and follow for someone who is not well versed in room acoustics and audiology.

Hearing system and method for operating a hearing system


A fiber optic tamper switch is disclosed, wherein a moveable member is moved to actuate the switch. The switch includes a component subassembly block and a cover. The switch includes a toggle arm extending through the cover, contacting the moveable member and configured to rotate when the moveable member is moved. The switch includes a fiber capture bar configured to receive a fiber optic cable and a fiber press bar coupled to the fiber capture bar configured to actuate upon the movement of the toggle arm and translate the fiber capture bar in a first direction, effecting a bend in the fiber optic cable. The fiber optic cable is configured to attenuate a light signal when bent. The switch includes a locking mechanism preventing the unbending of the fiber optic cable.

Security systems are commonly used to alert security personnel when sensitive areas are accessed by unauthorized persons. The ability of security systems to safeguard sensitive areas is limited by the potential of unauthorized persons to thwart these security measures. The greater importance of the security concern often necessitates the development of more comprehensive and developed security measures.
Security systems used for access points (e.g., doors or windows) have traditionally used an electrical current to carry a signal between the point of entry and a monitoring system. However, electrical monitoring systems are not recommended for extreme environments (e.g., underground or submerged areas) and can be easily thwarted by bypassing the electrical signal. More recently, security systems based on transmission of light thought fiber optic cable security systems have been developed. These systems are more stable in hostile environments than electrical monitoring systems.
Sensors for fiber optic security systems alter the signal of light transmitted through the optical fiber of a fiber optic cable after detecting movement (e.g., of a door or object). These sensors are often sealed to prevent water, dust or other environmental contaminants from entering and breaking the fragile components of the sensor. Over time, however, the seals deteriorate, resulting in sensor failure. Installing and replacing fiber optic sensors also require the optic cable to be spliced at each sensor. Splicing fiber optic cables is a complicated and time-consuming process that requires training. Consequently, there is need for a fiber optic sensor that allow easy installation and is impervious to harsh environmental conditions.


A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including preparing a multi-chamber system having at least first and second chambers, the first chamber for forming a film and the second chamber for processing an object with a laser light; processing a substrate in one of the first and second chambers; transferring the substrate to the other one of the first and second chambers; and processing the substrate in the other one of the chambers, wherein the first and second chambers can be isolated from one another by using a gate valve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for annealing a semiconductor, in particular, to an annealing process for obtaining a polycrystal semiconductor used in a thin film device such as an insulated gate field effect transistor by laser irradiation.
2. Description of Prior Art
Thin films of polycrystalline silicon semiconductor for use in a thin film device such as a thin film insulated gate field effect transistor (abbreviated hereinafter as a TFT) have been fabricated heretofore by first depositing amorphous silicon films by plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or thermal CVD processes, and then irradiating a laser beam thereto to crystallize the thus deposited amorphous silicon films.
The process of crystallizing an amorphous silicon film by irradiating a laser beam comprises, in general, first irradiating a low energy density laser beam to the amorphous silicon film to allow desorption of hydrogen having incorporated into the starting amorphous silicon film, and then irradiating a laser beam at an energy density well above the threshold energy density (a minimum energy density necessary to initiate melting of silicon).
A laser beam having a sufficiently low energy should be irradiated to the amorphous silicon film for the purpose of releasing the hydrogen being incorporated in the film because, if a beam of a high energy density corresponding to the threshold value or higher were to be irradiated, there occur two problems. One is a problem which involves abrupt evolution of a considerable amount of hydrogen from the surface of an amorphous silicon film upon irradiating the laser beam. Such a phenomenon greatly impairs the smoothness of the film surface; the resulting film cannot provide a favorable interface level when an insulator film is established on the surface of the thus crystallized silicon film, because a level develops at the interface between the silicon film and the insulator film. The other problem is the hydrogens present in large amount in the amorphous silicon film; they not only evolve out of the surface upon irradiation of a high energy laser beam having an energy density not lower than the threshold value, but also move inside the melting silicon film with a large kinetic energy to impede the crystallization of the silicon itself.
Accordingly, a conventional laser annealing processes involves a so-called pre-laser annealing step which comprises irradiating a low energy density laser beam to sufficiently drive out hydrogen atoms having incorporated inside the film, followed by the irradiation of a laser beam having a satisfactorily high energy density to effect crystallization of the film. In this manner, the influence of the hydrogen inside the film on the film crystallization can be eliminated.
The conventional laser annealing processes, however, suffer disadvantages as follows.
Firstly, the laser annealing process should be conducted in two steps. Such a process is not suitable for processing large-area substrates. Moreover, it suffers poor efficiency.
Secondly, the most generally used excimer lasers which are operated in a pulsed mode are not suitable for completely driving hydrogen out of the film; the duration of the laser irradiation per pulse is too short.
Furthermore, any laser apparatus for use in the laser annealing inevitably suffers a non-uniform laser beam output and a fluctuation in power output. Those attributes make the hydrogen distribution non-uniform inside the film upon driving hydrogen atoms out of the film. Such a film having a non-uniform hydrogen distribution therein results in a crystallized film consisting of crystal grains of non-uniform grain diameter.
The present invention relates to a laser annealing process having overcome the aforementioned problems.
More specifically, the present invention provides a method for annealing a semiconductor comprising the steps of:
thermally annealing an amorphous semiconductor in vacuum or inactive atmosphere at a temperature not higher than a crystallization temperature of said amorphous semiconductor; and
irradiating said amorphous semiconductor with a laser light in vacuum or inactive atmosphere after said thermally annealing step to crystallize said amorphous semiconductor.
The laser to be used in the process in general is an excimer laser, but it should be noted that the construction of the present invention is by no means restricted to the use thereof, and hence, any type of laser can be employed in the process.
The generally used amorphous semiconductor, but not limiting, is a silicon semiconductor. In the description of the present invention hereinafter, however, a silicon semiconductor is used for purpose of explanation.
The thermal annealing of the amorphous semiconductor in vacuum or in an inactive gas atmosphere at a temperature not higher than the crystallization temperature of said amorphous semiconductor is conducted for the purpose of driving hydrogen oat of the amorphous semiconductor. If this step of thermal annealing were to be conducted at a temperature not lower than the crystallization temperature of the amorphous semiconductor, crystallization would occur on the semiconductor, thereby making the subsequent crystallization by laser irradiation insufficient. Accordingly, it is an important point that the thermal annealing is conducted at a temperature not higher than the crystallization temperature of the semiconductor.
The thermal annealing step should be effected in vacuum or in an inactive gas atmosphere to avoid formation of an undesirable thin film, such as an oxide film, on the surface of the amorphous semiconductor.
Hydrogen can be uniformly and thoroughly driven out of the film by annealing the amorphous semiconductor at a temperature not higher than the crystallization temperature. The semiconductor films thus obtained have improved uniformity for both the intra-planar distribution of crystallinity and the size of the constituting crystal grains. Such semiconductor films enable fabrication of polycrystalline silicon (abbreviated sometimes as xe2x80x9cp-Sixe2x80x9d, hereinafter) TFTs having uniform characteristics over a large-area substrate.
The crystallization of the amorphous semiconductor in vacuum or in an inactive gas atmosphere by irradiating a laser beam thereto is conducted to prevent the dangling bonds, which have once formed upon driving hydrogen out of the amorphous semiconductor, from bonding with oxygen and hydrogen and nitrogen present in the active gas, i.e., air.
The present invention is characterized in one aspect that a large amount of dangling bonds are produced(d in the amorphous semiconductor to accelerate crystallization of the film. This is based on the fact obtained experimentally by the present inventors, which is described below. It has been found that the crystallinity of an amorphous silicon film having subjected to a thorough driving out of hydrogen remarkably improves by irradiating an excimer laser light (a KrF laser emitting light at wavelength 248 nm) to the film.
An amorphous silicon film in general contains a large amount of hydrogen to neutralize the dangling bonds within the amorphous silicon film. The present inventors, however, realized the important role which the dangling bonds play at the crystallization of the film from its amorphous molten state, and therefore intentionally allowed the dangling bonds to form in the amorphous state to enhance instantaneous crystallization from the molten state. In the course of the crystallization taking advantage of the thus formed dangling bonds, it is very important to irradiate the laser beam in vacuum or in an inactive gas atmosphere, as mentioned earlier, because the exposure of the surface of the thus obtained semiconductor film to air causes bonding (neutralization) of the dangling bonds with oxygen, etc., to form an oxide film and the like on the surface of the film.
The annealing according to the process of the present invention should be conducted at a temperature not higher than the crystallization temperature of the amorphous semiconductor. The crystallization temperature as referred herein signifies the temperature at which the amorphous semiconductor initiates crystallization by thermal annealing. The thermal annealing at a temperature not higher than the crystallization temperature according to the process of the present invention is conducted on the basis of an experimentally derived fact that the improvement of crystallinity is hardly observed by irradiating a laser beam to a once crystallized film, and that those crystallized films are considerably low in crystallinity as compared with the films having crystallized by irradiating a laser beam to films still in their amorphous state.
It can be seen, accordingly, that it is of great importance to drive the hydrogen atoms out of the amorphous semiconductor film at a temperature not higher than the crystallization temperature of the amorphous semiconductor film. However, hydrogen atoms are preferably driven out of the amorphous semiconductor by thermal annealing at a temperature as high as possible, provided that the film does not initiate crystallization; it is of grave importance in the process according to the present invention to form as many dangling bonds as possible in the film while thoroughly driving hydrogen out of the film.
The thermal annealing of the film to drive hydrogen out of the film is characterized by that, unlike the conventional processes which use laser beams at a low energy density, it enables a uniform and thorough elimination of hydrogen from the amorphous semiconductor film.
The process according to the present invention therefore is of great advantage concerning that it realizes a polycrystalline semiconductor film composed of large and uniform crystal grains.

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A system for applying a working pressure to a content of a pressure package. The system comprises a pressure package configured to hold a content to be delivered, a high-pressure chamber configured to hold a propellant, a pressure controller connected to the high pressure chamber by a feed-through and configured to control the working pressure on the content of the pressure package with the aid of the propellant on the basis of a predetermined reference pressure, and a movable member positionable in at least a control position and a neutral position. The movable member, in the control position, clears the feed-through to enable control of the working pressure. The movable member, in the neutral position, blocks the feed-through, so that control of the working pressure is then impossible. The movable member has a handle for positioning the movable member in the neutral position or in the control position.

The invention relates to a system for applying a working pressure to a content of a pressure package with the aid of a propellant, the system being provided with: a pressure package and a gas supply device comprising a pressure controller and a high-pressure chamber for storage of the propellant, the gas supply device being provided with a feed-through connecting the high-pressure chamber and the pressure controller for supplying propellant from the high-pressure chamber to the pressure controller, the pressure controller being further arranged to control the working pressure on the content of the pressure package with the aid of the propellant on the basis of a reference pressure.
Such a system is known per se. Typically, the known systems are arranged for, shortly after the manufacture of the pressure package with the content, providing a working pressure on the content with the aid of the propellant. However, after a working pressure has been provided; it may take a long time yet before the content is to be expelled from the pressure package under the influence of the working pressure. In fact, it may be that the pressure package with the content, as a product, is still to be traded, transported, possibly stored, sold, etc., before the product is eventually put to use. To prevent the initially applied working pressure from decreasing in the period between the provision of the working pressure and the use of the product, for instance as a result of diffusion of propellants through pressure package material, the pressure package material should be of a very high quality. As a consequence, the required pressure package material is of an expensive quality. The protracted exertion of the working pressure on the content and inner walls of the pressure package can moreover have adverse effects both on the content and on the pressure package.

System for applying a working pressure to a content of a pressure package with the aid of a propellant


A driving circuit providing a driving signal at a driving terminal to drive a power switch. The driving signal has a first driving period and a second driving period. Both the first driving period and the second driving period have a first driving time interval. The driving circuit has a first equivalent on resistor established during the first driving time interval and located between a first voltage node and the driving terminal. The first equivalent on resistor has a first equivalent on resistance during the first driving time interval of the first driving period and has a second equivalent on resistance during the first driving time interval of the second driving period. The first equivalent on resistance and the second equivalent on resistance are not equal.

In the design of a switching mode power supply, the electromagnetic interference (EMI) issue must be considered. The "frequency jittering" technology is one conventional method to reduce the EMI energy showing up in a narrow frequency range. By periodically or non-periodically changing a driving frequency with which a power switch is driven, the EMI energy will be dispersed to a wider frequency range and the corresponding switching mode power supply can thus meet the EMI standards. However, although the above-mentioned method has a good suppression on the EMI showing up in the low frequency band and in the medium frequency band, it has little suppression on the EMI showing up in the high frequency band. Another conventional method to suppress the EMI is to reduce the driving speed for driving the power switch of the switching mode power supply. By making the rising rate of the rising edge or the falling rate of the falling edge of the driving signal smaller, the high order harmonics EMI energy can be reduced. This method can suppress the EMI generated by the high-order harmonic component, but it will also reduce the efficiency of the switching mode power supply. Especially, there is a risk that the high-side power switch and the low-side power switch in the switching mode power supply may break through if the driving speed is too low.
Thus, there is a need for a switching mode power supply with good EMI suppression, which can at least overcome the above drawbacks.

Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.


The image processing device divides image data into regions corresponding to a first pixel row, a second pixel row, a third pixel row, and a fourth pixel row, and generate output data, in which a generation rate of an ink droplet with a relatively large size, a generation rate of an ink droplet with a relatively small size, and the amount of ink discharged per unit area vary depending on a gradation value of the image data, for each of the divided regions. At the time of the generation of the output data, different output data items are generated for a third nozzle corresponding to the third pixel row when the first gradation value indicates a relatively high gradation and when the first gradation value indicates a relatively low gradation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing device, an image processing method, a non-transitory computer readable medium storing an image processing program, and an inkjet recording device, and more particularly, to a technique for correcting streak unevenness caused by a defective nozzle of an inkjet head.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a single-pass-type inkjet printer (inkjet recording device), streak unevenness occurs in the transportation direction of a sheet due to a defective nozzle such as a non-discharging nozzle or a nozzle which discharges ink in an incorrect direction. In order to solve the problem, a technique is known which masks a defective nozzle and controls concentration in the vicinity of the defective nozzle to reduce the visibility of streaks.
As a method for controlling concentration in the vicinity of the defective nozzle, a technique is known which modulates a plurality of pixels in the vicinity of the defective nozzle. For example, JP2006-76086A discloses a technique which corrects a gradation value in the vicinity of a defective nozzle on the basis of the amount of correction that is reduced as the distance from the defective nozzle increases and controls a recording head such that a larger dot is recorded as the gradation value becomes larger.
In addition, as another method for controlling concentration in the vicinity of the defective nozzle, a technique is known which changes a dot size and fills a streak that occurs due to, for example, a curved discharge with dots to correct the streak.
For example, JP2006-130904A discloses a technique which, when the occurrence of a banding phenomenon is expected on the basis of the characteristic information of a head, converts image data such that the size of some or all of the dots related to the banding phenomenon is changed to a size different from the size of the dot when the occurrence of the banding phenomenon is not expected.
In addition, JP2006-182023A discloses a technique which changes a dot size on the basis of the discharge accuracy information of a head to generate printing data and performs printing on the basis of the generated print data.
JP2007-98937A discloses a technique which determines the generation rate of dots with a different size for each predetermined region of image data on the basis of acquired concentration unevenness information and converts the image data into N-values on the basis of the determined generation rate.

Image processing device, method, and program, as well as inkjet recording device


An apparatus consistent with the present invention comprises a sensor for receiving a signal representing eye tremor and a processor for monitoring eye tremor while receiving the signal. A method consistent with the present invention includes receiving a signal representing eye tremor, comparing the received signal representing eye tremor to at least one reference value, and classifying a patient's brain stem function using the comparison of the received signal representing eye tremor to at least one reference value. An embodiment consistent with the present invention includes an ocular micro tremor (OMT) sensor and associated signal processing hardware and software for clinical analyses.

The present invention relates generally to signal processing systems and methods, and more particularly to systems that monitor eye tremor signals.
Presently the diagnosis of brain stem death is made by judging clinical criteria alone such as pupillary response to light, corneal reflex, absent motor response with painful stimulus to both trigeminal distribution and periphery, gag reflex, cough reflex, oculocephalic reflex, vestibule ocular reflex and apnoea test. Clinical evidence alone, which is subject to human error, may not be sufficient to establish such an important diagnosis as brain stem death. Research effort in recent years has been directed to the problem of early prognosis in coma. Accurate early prognosis would allow the concentration of expensive, emotionally draining and time consuming therapeutic measures on patients with a real prospect of recovery. Currently accepted methods of measuring depth of coma include the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), pupillary responsiveness, systolic hypotension, age, intracranial pressure, radiographic findings, and the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). These methods, however, have not had a widespread impact on clinical management of comatose patients, as the likelihood of false prediction is as high as 20%.
A variety of clinical monitors have also been used in order to assess depth of anesthesia and other brain stem activity including, for example, autonomic signs, EEG, isolated forearm technique, auditory evoked responses, oesophageal contractility and surface EMG, but each method has its limitations. At present, the anesthetist's main source of information on the depth of anesthesia is the patient's somatic and autonomic response to surgical stimuli. These responses are modified by neuromuscular blocking drugs and drugs affecting the autonomic nervous system. The presence or absence of these responses does not, however, correlate with conscious awareness and at times they can be inadequate indicators of a satisfactory depth of anesthesia. Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus to adequately measure depth of anesthesia and other conditions correlated with eye tremor.

Method and apparatus for monitoring eye tremor


There is disclosed a method for handling a module IC and a carrier of a module IC handler used for transferring the carrier containing a plurality of module ICs between the processes. While a separate carrier containing the produced module ICs is transferred between the processes, the tests for the module ICs are performed. Thus, the reliability of the product discharged can be further improved, and the operation rate of a high-cost test apparatus is maximized. For this, a plurality of module ICs 1 vertically loaded in the carrier are transferred inside a heating chamber 22, the tests for the module ICs 1 are conducted at a test site 7 under the state that the module ICs 1 are contained in the carrier 18, and then at an unloading position 20, the module ICs having been tested are held by pick-up means 8 in an unloading side and classified based upon the test results and the classified module ICs are placed in customer trays 9.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a module IC handler used to handle the module IC as a final product in testing the performance thereof, and more particularly to a method for handling a module IC and a carrier of the module IC handler that tests the same while the carrier containing a plurality of module ICs is transferred between the processes.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
Typically, a module IC 1 refers to, as shown in FIG. 1, a structure provided with a substrate whose one side or both sides is used for fixedly mounting a plurality of ICs and electric components, for example, by soldering, and has a function for extending a capacity when it is coupled to a mother substrate.
Such a module IC provides higher added-value when sold, as compared with individual sale of each IC as a final product. To this end, the IC manufactures tend to develop it as a main product and sell it.
However, the module IC as a product available from the market is relatively expensive and thus entails higher reliability as an important factor therefor. This requires stringent quality test for passing only products determined to be good, and otherwise, discarding all the module ICs determined to be not good.
In the prior art, there has been no apparatus for automatically loading the module ICs as final products into a test socket, testing the same, classifying into respective categories depending upon the test results and then unloading the classified modules into the customer trays (not shown).
To test the final product of the module IC, the operator manually has to pick up one piece of the module IC from the test tray in which the module ICs are contained therein, load it into a test socket, conducts the tests for a time period preset, and finally classify the module IC depending upon the test result in order to put it into the customer tray. This results in lower work efficiency due to manual work.
Further, such tedious repeated manual work contributes to lower productivity.
To solve such a problem, the inventors developed an automatic module IC handler adapted to test the module ICs, which was disclosed in Korean patent and utility model applications.
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a conventional module IC handler. Referring to FIG. 2, a method for handling the module ICs 1 contained in a loading side tray 3 will be described below.
A pick-up means 6 in the loading side can be moved along X and Y axes 4, 5, respectively. Such a pick-up means 6 is transferred toward the tray 3 located in the loading side and then lowered to hold a plurality of module ICs 1 from the tray 3.
After the pick-up means 6 holds the module ICs 1 from the tray 3, the steps of elevating, transferring along the X and Y axes 4, 5, respectively, and then lowering of the pick-up means 3 are sequentially made, so that the plurality of module ICs can be placed on an upper side of a test socket provided at a test site 7.
The plurality of module ICs 1 are placed on the test socket by such an operation. This operation is repeatedly performed several times to place respective module ICs 1 on all the test sockets located at the test site 7.
When the plurality of module ICs 1 are placed on the test sockets, all of the module ICs are simultaneously downward pressed so that patterns 1a formed at both sides of the module IC are contact with terminals of the test socket. Thereby, the performance tests for the module ICs are conducted using a tester (not shown) during a time period preset of the tester. The test results are reported to a central processing unit (CPU).
After the performance tests for the module ICs 1 are completed, a separate pusher removes the module ICs from the test socket, and an unloading side pick-up means 8 provided on the Y axis 5 holds the plurality of module ICs 1 from the test socket and classifies the module ICs based upon the test results.
The following describes the details of the foregoing, referring to the korean patent application No. 98-1519 filed by the present applicant, relating to a module IC hander for handling the module IC.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, when the loading side pick-up means 6 is transferred towards the tray 3 to hold a plurality of module ICs 1 contained in the tray 3, a finger 10 for holding both ends of the module IC remains maximally opened.
Under such a condition, the maximally opened finger 10 of the pick-up means 6 is moved to the tray 3 along the X and Y axes 4, 5, respectively, until the finger 10 becomes positioned at a position on the module IC1. Thereafter, the finger 10 descends, and then is closed by a cylinder 11. By such an operation, the loading side pick-up means 6 can hold the module IC 1 from the tray 3.
After the loading side pick-up means 6 holds the module IC 1 from the tray 3, the loading side pick-up means 6 is moved to where the test socket 12 is located for testing, as shown in FIG. 3. The pick-up means 6 is lowered and then the finger 10 holding the module IC is opened again, and the module IC is placed on the test socket 12.
After a plurality of module ICs 1 are placed on the test socket 12 by the loading side pick-up means 6, the loading side pick-up means 6 is transferred to the tray 3 side to hold a new module IC 1 to be handled.
Such an operation is repeated. With the repeated operations, all the module ICs 1 to be tested can be loaded into the test socket. Then, with the sequential driving of the cylinder 13 and a poking cylinder 14 being made, the pusher 15 descends as shown in FIG. 4, during which a top surface of the module IC 1 placed on the tests socket 12 is pressed. This makes it possible an electrical connection between the pattern 1a of the module IC 1 and the terminals of the test socket 12, by which the desired performance tests for the module IC become possible.
In the meantime, after the tests for the module IC 1 are completed, the module IC 1 inserted into the test socket 12 is pulled out by rotating a discharging lever 17 using a discharging cylinder 16. Thereafter, another pick-up means 8 positioned at the unloading side is transferred to the test site along the X and Y axes 4, 5, respectively, to hold the module IC 1 after testing and to unload the module IC classified by the test results into a customer tray 9.
However, since the conventional handler directly transfers the module IC 1 held by the loading side pick-up means 6 towards the test socket 12 provided at the test site 7, the following problems occur.
Firstly, since the pick-up means 6, 8 designed to hold the module IC and load/unload it into/from the test socket cannot be used to handle the module IC in a sealed chamber, there is a problem in that the module IC has to be tested at a normal temperature.
Therefore, the module IC 1 determined to be good and discharged is the module IC tested only at a normal temperature. Because the module IC is actually driven at a higher temperature in using such a module IC mounted on the appliances, there occurs a difference between both conditions at the test and at an actual use of the IC, thus resulting in lower reliability of the product discharged.
Secondly, since the module ICs 1 in the tray and in the test socket 12 are held and transferred by the pick-up means 6, 8, the transfer of the module IC cannot be made during the tests. Therefore, an elongated cycle time is introduced, by which lots of module ICs cannot be tested during a given time interval.
Finally, since the module IC 1 is directly handled by the pick-up means, this permits only a horizontal installation of the test socket in the test site. In case another type of the module IC is to be tested, an inconvenience exchanging work of the socket assembly is caused.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a module IC handling apparatus and method therefore by which the module IC accommodated in a carrier is transferred between the test processes for the purpose of further improving the reliability of the product discharged and of maximizing the operation rate of a high-cost apparatus.
Theses objects are accomplished by the present invention providing a method for handling module ICs of a module IC handler, characterized in that while a plurality of module ICs are vertically loaded in a carrier and the carrier containing the module ICs is transferred between the processes, the module ICs are tested at a test site with the module ICs being contained in the carrier, and then, at an unloading position, the module ICs tested are held by pick-up means in an unloading side and classified based upon the test results and the classified module ICs are placed in customer trays.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for handling module ICs of a module IC handler, the method comprising the steps of: holding the module ICs from a tray using a loading side pick-up means and loading the module ICs into a carrier which is horizontally placed and positioned at a loading position; horizontally transferring the carrier containing the module ICs towards a loading side rotator to lock the same to the loading side rotator; opening a shutter of the heating chamber, standing the carrier upright and then lowering the upright carrier, and thereafter releasing the locked state of the carrier; heating the module ICs at a temperature suitable for the test conditions, while the carrier is within the heating chamber; opening the shutter located between the heating chamber and the test site, and horizontally moving the carrier in the heating chamber to the test site; pushing the carrier arrived at the test site in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the carrier to contact patterns of the module IC to terminals of the test socket, and then performing the tests for a preset time period; opening the shutter located between the heating chamber and the test site, horizontally moving the carrier away from the test site and locking the carrier to an unloading side rotator; horizontally returning the unloading side rotator; discharging the carrier from the unloading side rotator to transfer the carrier to the unloading position; holding the module ICs from the carrier which is horizontally placed and positioned at the unloading position, and unloading the module ICs held onto customer trays based upon the test results; and horizontally transferring the carrier from which the module ICs are completely unloaded, to the loading position.

Method for handling a module IC and a carrier of a module IC handler


A vehicle identification and locator card for vehicle parking and servicing establishments includes an upper portion made of paper board and a lower portion made of synthetic paper. An ignition key tag is die cut from the lower synthetic paper portion, which retains its strength when wet. The lower portion has a backing of a dry release laminate patch. The lower portion may be attached to the upper portion by an adhesive tape or it made be attached by having a part of the dry release laminate patch extend beyond the lower portion and beneath the upper portion.

Businesses concerned with parking or servicing vehicles have a problem of correlating the ignition key and the vehicle owner with a particular vehicle. Paper cards with three segments separated by perforations and carrying the same number have been provided so that one segment serves as a claim check, a second segment is placed in the vehicle and a third segment has a key ring stapled to it. A computer type multiple copy form with perforated tear-off strips has been proposed for correlation of ignition key, vehicle and customer which includes perforation lines permitting separation of the form into sections—one to be placed on the vehicle, one to be connected to the ignition key in some undisclosed manner and one to be given to the automobile owner as a claim check. The vehicle locator and identification card disclosed in the above identified related patent application included an arrow shaped vehicle key tag, which is die cut from the lower segment of the paper card. In use, particularly in inclement weather, it has been found that the paper vehicle key tag can become wet; causing it to lose strength, thereby increasing the risk of it breaking and a consequential loss of the key.


A bend restrictor device includes at least two bend limiter units coupled together and having at least one stiffness ring disposed therebetween.

1. Field of the Disclosure
Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to bend restrictor devices for flexible pipes and umbilicals. In particular, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a bend limiting stiffener installed on umbilicals and flexible pipes.
2. Background Art
Flexible pipes, flowlines, power cables, and umbilicals are usually connected to a rigid structure such as a subsea riser base, pipeline end manifold (PLEM), wellhead or other structure. To prevent these pipes from overbending at the interface between flexible and rigid structures, bending restrictors may be installed on the pipe. Bending restrictors, or bend limiters, are devices used where static (or quasi static) loads act on a pipe, while bend stiffeners are separate devices that act to resist dynamic loads. The bending restrictor usually includes a number of interlocking elements which articulate when subjected to an external load and lock together to form a smooth curved radius known as the locking radius. The locking radius may be chosen to be equal to or greater than the minimum bend radius of the pipe. Once the elements have locked together the bending moment present is transferred into the elements and back through an interface between the flexible and rigid structure, thereby protecting the pipe from potentially damaging loads.
The installation of bend stiffeners and limiters may be very costly, as current technology allows for the units to be installed only during the umbilical manufacturing process. Because of this, the larger umbilicals now require limiters of immense inner diameter to fit over the terminal end of the umbilical. Because of this, there are large gaps between the outer diameter of the umbilical and the inner diameter of the limiters (i.e., an annulus space).
Accordingly, there exists a need for a device capable of providing bend limiting and stiffening characteristics along with rapid installation.

Bend limiting stiffener and related methods


Electrochemical devices which incorporate cathode materials that include layered crystalline compounds for which a structural modification has been achieved which increases the diffusion rate of multi-valent ions into and out of the cathode materials. Examples in which the layer spacing of the layered electrode materials is modified to have a specific spacing range such that the spacing is optimal for diffusion of magnesium ions are presented. An electrochemical cell comprised of a positive intercalation electrode, a negative metal electrode, and a separator impregnated with a nonaqeuous electrolyte solution containing multi-valent ions and arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode active material is described.

A variety of new secondary electrochemical cells that exhibit high energy density have been demonstrated. However, commercial systems remain primarily based on lithium ion (Li-ion) chemistry. Such cells frequently consist of a layered transition metal oxide cathode material, an anode-active lithium metal or lithium intercalation or alloy compound such as graphitic carbon, tin and silicon, and an electrolytic solution containing a dissolved lithium-based salt in an aprotic organic or inorganic solvent or polymer. Today there is great demand for energy storage devices that exhibit higher volumetric and gravimetric energy density when compared to commercially available lithium ion batteries. Consequently an increasingly sought after route to meeting this demand higher energy density is to replace the monovalent cation lithium (Li+) with multi-valent ions, such as divalent magnesium cations (Mg2+), because these ions can enable many times the charge of Li+ to be transferred per ion.
Furthermore, alkali metals, and lithium in particular, have numerous disadvantages. Alkali metals are expensive. Alkali metals are highly reactive. Alkali metals are also highly flammable, and fire resulting from the reaction of alkali metals with oxygen, water or other active materials is extremely difficult to extinguish. Lithium is poisonous and compounds thereof are known for their severe physiological effects, even in minute quantities. As a result, the use of alkali metals requires specialized facilities, such as dry rooms, specialized equipment and specialized procedures.
Gregory et al., "Nonaqueous Electrochemistry of Magnesium; Applications to Energy Storage" J. Electrochem. Soc., Vol. 137, No. 3, March 1990 discloses Co3O4, Mn2O3, Mn3O4, MoO3, PbO2, Pb3O4, RuO2, V2O5, WO3, TiS2, VS2, ZrS2, MoB2, TiB2, and ZrB2 as positive electrode materials for a magnesium battery. However, only the first cycle discharge is shown and all materials exhibit significant polarization for medium current densities.
Novak et al., "Electrochemical Insertion of Magnesium in Metal Oxides and Sulfides from Aprotic Electrolytes," JECS 140 (1) 1993 discloses TiS2, ZrS2, RuO2, Co3O4 and V2O5 as positive electrode materials of a magnesium battery. However, only layered V2O5 shows promising capacity and reversibility. Furthermore, Novak et al. show that Mg2+ insertion into this oxide depends on the ratio between the amounts of H2O and Mg2+ as well as on the absolute amount of H2O in the electrolyte. According to Novak, water molecules preferentially solvate Mg2+ ions, which facilitate the insertion process by co-intercalation.
Novak et al., "Electrochemical Insertion of Magnesium into Hydrated Vanadium Bronzes"Electrochem. Soc., Vol. 142, No. 8, 1995 discloses Mg2+ insertion into layered vanadium bronzes, MeV3O8(H2O)y where (Me=Li, Na, K, Ca0.5, and Mg0.5). Variations in the content of bound lattice water in the bronzes were found to be responsible for a difference in the electrochemical properties of the same starting material dried at different temperatures. The presence of this water was deemed essential but the lattice water is removed during cycling after which the capacity deteriorates. Furthermore, attempts to cycle the compounds in dry electrolytes failed. The beneficial effect of water was speculated to be due to its solvation of the Mg2+ ion.
Le et al., "Intercalation of Polyvalent Cations into V2O5 Aerogels" Chem. Mater. 1998, 10, 682-684 discloses multi-valent ion insertion into V2O5 areogels where the small diffusion distances and high surface area are regarded as beneficial for multi-valent intercalation. X-ray diffraction of the aerogel shows an interlayer spacing of 12.5 A (due to retaining acetone), as compared to the 8.8 A characteristic of the V2O5*0.5H2O xerogel.
Amatucci et al., "Investigation of Yttrium and Polyvalent Ion Intercalation into Nanocrystalline Vanadium Oxide," J Electrochem Soc, 148(8), A940-A950, Jul. 13, 2001, show reversible intercalation of several multi-valent cations (Mg2+, Ca2++, Y3+) into nano-metric layered V2O5 but with significant polarization (e.g., energy loss) and at a low rate of 0.04 C which signifies the low diffusivity of the Mg ions.
The current, proven state of the art high energy, rechargeable Mg cell is described by Aurbach et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,316,141, issued Nov. 13, 2001, as a cell comprised of a magnesium metal anode, a "Chevrel" phase active material cathode, and an electrolyte solution derived from an organometallic complex containing Mg. Chevrel compounds are a series of ternary molybdenum chalcogenide compounds first reported by R. Chevrel, M. Sergent, and J. Prigent in J. Solid State Chem. 3, 515-519 (1971). The Chevrel compounds have the general formula MxMo6X8, where M represents any one of a number of metallic elements throughout the periodic table; x has values between 1 and 4, depending on the M element; and X is a chalcogen (sulfur, selenium or tellurium). Furthermore, in E. Levi et al, "New Insight on the Unusually High Ionic Mobility in Chevrel Phases," Chem Mat 21 (7), 1390-1399, 2009, the Chevrel phases are described as unique materials which allow for a fast and reversible insertion of various cations at room temperature.
Michot et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,367, issued May 28, 2002, is said to disclose ionic compounds in which the anionic load has been delocalized. A compound disclosed by the invention includes an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion Mm+ in sufficient numbers to ensure overall electronic neutrality; the compound is further comprised of M as a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO+, an ammonium NH4+, a metallic cation with the valence m, an organic cation with the valence m, or an organometallic cation with the valence m. The anionic load is carried by a pentacyclical nucleus of tetrazapentalene derivative bearing electroattractive substituents. The compounds can be used notably for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorant, and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,164 B1 to Yamaura et al., issued Jul. 30, 2002, is said to disclose a non-aqueous electrolyte battery capable of quickly diffusing magnesium ions and improving cycle operation resistance, incorporating a positive electrode containing LixMO2 (where M is an element containing at least Ni or Co) as a positive-electrode active material thereof; a negative electrode disposed opposite to the positive electrode and containing a negative-electrode active material which permits doping/dedoping magnesium ions: and a non-aqueous electrolyte disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and containing non-aqueous solvent and an electrolyte constituted by magnesium salt, wherein the value of x of LixMO2 satisfies a range 0.1≦x≦0.5. It is also said that for Li concentrations x 0.1, the host material becomes unstable and for higher Li concentrations x≧0.5, there are not enough available Mg lattice sites available. Specifically, there is no mention of interlayer distance.
Michot et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,841,304, issued Jan. 11, 2005, is said to disclose novel ionic compounds with low melting point whereof the onium type cation having at least a heteroatom such as N, O, S or P bearing the positive charge and whereof the anion includes, wholly or partially, at least an ion imidide such as (FX1 O)N− (OX2 F) wherein X1 and X2 are identical or different and comprise SO or PF, and their use as solvent in electrochemical devices. Said composition comprises a salt wherein the anionic charge is delocalised, and can be used, inter alia, as electrolyte.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20090068568 A1 (Yamamoto et al. inventors), published on Mar. 12, 2009, is said to disclose a magnesium ion containing non-aqueous electrolyte in which magnesium ions and aluminum ions are dissolved in an organic etheric solvent, and which is formed by: adding metal magnesium, a halogenated hydrocarbon RX, an aluminum halide AlY3, and a quaternary ammonium salt R1R2R3R4N+Z− to an organic etheric solvent; and applying a heating treatment while stirring them (in the general formula RX representing the halogenated hydrocarbon, R is an alkyl group or an aryl group, X is chlorine, bromine, or iodine, in the general formula AlY3 representing the aluminum halide, Y is chlorine, bromine, or iodine, in the general formula R1R2R3R4N+Z− representing the quaternary ammonium salt, R1, R2, R3, and R4 represent each an alkyl group or an aryl group, and Z− represents chloride ion, bromide ion, iodide ion, acetate ion, perchlorate ion, tetrafluoro borate ion, hexafluoro phosphate ion, hexafluoro arsenate ion, perfluoroalkyl sulfonate ion, or perfluoroalkyl sulfonylimide ion. These additives are aimed at increasing the stability of the electrolyte in atmospheric air and facilitate the production process for said electrolytes.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20100136438 A1 (Nakayama et al. inventors), published Jun. 3, 2010, is said to disclose a magnesium battery that is constituted of a negative electrode, a positive electrode and an electrolyte. The negative electrode is formed of metallic magnesium and can also be formed of an alloy. The positive electrode is composed of a positive electrode active material, for example, a metal oxide, graphite fluoride ((CF)n) or the like, etc. The electrolytic solution is, for example, a magnesium ion containing nonaqueous electrolytic solution prepared by dissolving magnesium(II) chloride (MgCl2) and dimethylaluminum chloride ((CH3)2AlCl) in tetrahydrofuran (THF). In the case of dissolving and depositing magnesium by using this electrolytic solution, they indicate that the following reaction proceeds in the normal direction or reverse direction.
According to this, there are provided a magnesium ion-containing nonaqueous electrolytic solution having a high oxidation potential and capable of sufficiently bringing out excellent characteristics of metallic magnesium as a negative electrode active material and a method for manufacturing the same, and an electrochemical device with high performances using this electrolytic solution.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20110111286 A1 (Yamamoto el at. inventors), published on May 12, 2011, is said to disclose a nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing magnesium ions which shows excellent electrochemical characteristics and which can be manufactured in a general manufacturing environment such as a dry room, and an electrochemical device using the same are provided. A Mg battery has a positive-electrode can, a positive-electrode pellet made of a positive-electrode active material or the like, a positive electrode composed of a metallic net supporting body, a negative-electrode cup, a negative electrode made of a negative-electrode active material, and a separator impregnated with an electrolytic solution and disposed between the positive-electrode pellet and the negative-electrode active material. Metal Mg, an alkyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, a quaternary ammonium salt or/and a 1,3-alkylmethylimidazolium salt, more preferably, an aluminum halide are added to an ether system organic solvent and are then heated, and thereafter, more preferably, a trifluoroboraneether complex salt is added thereto, thereby preparing the electrolytic solution. By adopting a structure that copper contacts the positive-electrode active material, the electrochemical device can be given a large discharge capacity.
Nazar et al, "Insertion of Poly(p-phenylenevinylene) in Layered MoO3", J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992, 114, 6239-6240 discloses insertion of high molecular weight PPV into a layered oxide by intercalating the PPV precursor polymer between the layers of MoO3, by ion exchange. The layer spacing was reported to increase from 6.9 Å to 13.3 Å. No electrochemical investigations of the host material were performed.
Nazar et al, "Hydrothermal Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a Novel Layered Vanadate with 1,4-Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane as the Structure-Directing Agent: C6H14N2—V6O14.H2O" Chem. Mater. 1996, 8, 327 discloses Li insertion into organic cation (C6H12N2 or 'DABCO')—templated vanadium oxide resulting from hydrothermal synthesis. The host crystal structure possesses a structure composed of a new arrangement of edge-shared VO5 square pyramids that are corner-shared with VO4 tetrahedra to form highly puckered layers, between which the DABCO cations are sandwiched. The results show that Li insertion is hindered in the DABCO-filled host and improved performance is obtained when the DABCO ion is removed.
Goward et al, "Poly(pyrrole) and poly(thiophene)/vanadium oxide interleaved nanocomposites: positive electrodes for lithium batteries", Electrochimica Acta, 43, 10-11, pp. 1307, 1998 reports on synthesis and electrochemical investigation of conductive polymer-V2O5 nanocomposites that have a structure comprised of layers of polymer chains interleaved with inorganic oxide lamellae. It was found that for modified [PANI]-V2O5, polymer incorporation resulted in better reversibility, and increased Li capacity in the nanocomposite compared to the original V2O5 xerogel. For PPY and PTH nanocomposites, the electrochemical response was highly dependent on the preparation method, nature of the polymer, and its location. In conclusion, Goward et al note that the results, though promising, were still short of theoretical expectations.
Chirayil et al, 'Synthesis and characterization of a new vanadium oxide, TMA-V8O20' J. Mater. Chem., 1997, 7(11), 2193-2195 discloses synthesis of a layered vanadium oxide with a new monoclinic structure in which the tetramethylammonium ions reside between the vanadium oxide layers. The powder X-ray diffraction pattern indicate that this new vanadium oxide has an interlayer spacing of 11.5 Angstrom. Electrochemical investigation of the compound indicates that Li insertion is hindered due to the TMA ions between the layers.
Lutta et al, "Solvothermal synthesis and characterization of a layered pyridinium vanadate, C5H6N—V3O7" J. Mater. Chem., 2003, 13, 1424-1428 reports on synthesis and properties of a layered vanadate which has an aromatic intercalate (pyridinium ion) between the vanadium oxide layers: pyH-V3O7. Chemical lithiation show some reactivity with Li but better performance was obtained when the pyridinium was removed from the vanadate. Indeed, Lutta et al concludes with saying that none of the aromatic V3O7 based structures (TMA-V3O7, MA-V3O7, pyH-V3O7) or their decomposition products lead to electrochemically interesting materials.
The results described above show that slow diffusion of multi-valent ions in layered cathode materials is a limiting factor in rechargeable multi-valent electrochemical cells.
Furthermore, the results above also show that it is commonly believed that organic-inorganic hybrid host materials do not improve intercalation performance, specifically for lithium ions.
There is a need for systems and methods for making improved positive electrode layered materials with high energy density as well as facile Mg ion diffusion.

Layered materials with improved magnesium intercalation for rechargeable magnesium ion cells


A first base station is associated with a first quiet period, and a second base station is associated with a second quiet period. The quiet periods are coordinated so that an amount of overlap between the quiet periods is acceptable. For example, the quiet periods could be coordinated so that no overlap exists between the quiet periods. During the first quiet period, the first base station and/or an associated device (such as a CPE served by the first base station) performs in-band sensing to detect wireless devices that use a first frequency or channel also used by the first base station. During the second quiet period, the first base station and/or a coordinate device (such as a CPE served by the first base station and assisting the second base station) performs out-band sensing to detect wireless devices that use a second frequency or channel also used by the second base station.

Many different types of wireless communication systems include base stations or access points in wireless local area networks (WLANs). The base stations or access points typically include components for wirelessly transmitting and receiving information. The base stations or access points typically interact with wireless devices (such as mobile telephones and computing devices) to provide wireless services (such as wireless voice and data services) to the wireless devices. Often times, the base stations or access points "overlap," which means that multiple base stations or access points have overlapping coverage areas and can provide service to the same physical area. In this document, the phrase "base station" and its derivatives may be used to collectively refer to base stations, access points, and other similar structures.
Communication systems routinely engage in various sensing activities to identify sources of interference that can interrupt or degrade wireless communications. For example, in a wireless regional area network (WRAN), base stations often need to engage in "incumbent user" sensing. In these or other types of networks, the base stations may represent transmitters having a lower priority or right to use a particular wireless frequency or frequency channel. Other devices called "incumbent users" typically represent transmitters having a higher priority or right to use a particular wireless frequency or frequency channel. As a specific example, a television broadcaster may represent an incumbent user having a higher priority to use a particular wireless frequency or frequency channel.
The base stations in these or other types of networks often need to sense whether they are or could be interfering with an incumbent user. This may involve simply detecting the presence of an incumbent user that could experience interference due to the operation of one or more of the base stations. If an incumbent user having a higher priority to a frequency or frequency channel is detected, a base station could take suitable corrective action. For instance, the base station could change the wireless frequency or frequency channel it uses to communicate with wireless devices in the network. Also, the base stations may engage in incumbent user sensing to determine if a particular wireless frequency or frequency channel is currently available for use by the base stations (i.e. no incumbent users are detected on a particular wireless frequency or frequency channel).

Apparatus and method for coordinated sensing of wireless devices in a communication system


A tee tether including a retaining clip for fastening to a golf tee, an anchoring peg for insertion into the ground remote from the clip, and a flexible cord connecting the clip and the peg. The retaining clip includes a lower member having a receptacle at its outer end with a conical aperture for snugly receiving the head of a golf tee and a first retaining arm extending from the receptacle. An upper member has a cap normally positioned above the receptacle and a second retaining arm extending from the cap substantially parallel to the first retaining arm. The cap has a concavity in its top for receiving and supporting a golf ball.

The present invention relates generally to games using tangible projectiles and, more particularly, to golf tee tethers.
In executing some golf shots, a tee is used to elevate a golf ball above the ground for striking by the head of a club. As is well known, a traveling club head will often contact the tee along with the ball, sending both flying. Frequently, finding a just-struck tee is made difficult by long grass within which the tee may fall and bury itself and, also, by a profusion of discarded, broken tees left behind by other golfers. Because finding of one""s own tee on a golf course can be a xe2x80x9cneedle in a haystackxe2x80x9d proposition, a need presently exists for an uncomplicated device that makes finding a golf tee an easy task on a golf course.
In light of the problems associated with golfers losing tees after striking a ball, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a tethering device that retains a tee in close proximity to golfers after making drives. Use of the device makes finding tees easy and makes lost tees a thing of the past.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a golf tee tether of the type described that elevates a golf ball on a tee for easier striking with a golf club. Thus, the golf tee tether increases the effective height of a tee to which it is attached.
It is another object of the invention to provide a golf tee tether of the type described that can be employed as either a stance aid by assisting a golfer in positioning his feet at the optimal distance from the ball or a sighting aid by permitting a golfer to better aim a shot at a desired target.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a tee tether as described above that serves to partially absorb impacts from golf club heads thereby limiting damage to golf tees. Use of the tee tether, then, can increase the useful life of a tee.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a tee tether for the purposes described which is lightweight in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and dependable in use.
Briefly, the tee tether in accordance with this invention achieves the intended objects by featuring: a retaining clip for fastening to a golf tee, an anchoring peg for insertion into the ground remote from the clip, and a flexible cord connecting the clip and peg. The clip includes a lower member having a receptacle with an aperture for receiving the head of a tee and a first retaining arm extending from the receptacle. The clip also includes an upper member having a cap normally positioned above the receptacle and a second retaining arm extending from the cap to a distal end joined to the first retaining arm. The cap has a concavity in its top for receiving and supporting a golf ball and has a projection extending from its bottom for engaging the top of a tee. The anchoring peg, however, has a spike and a crosspiece with upwardly bowed ends for easy handling. The flexible cord is provided with ruled markings.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.


A direct injection spark ignition internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector for directly injecting fuel into a cylinder and intensifies a tumble flow using the fuel injected into the cylinder bore at a time near an intake stroke bottom dead center during homogenous combustion. The thrust force of the fuel injected from the fuel injector is set to intensify the tumble flow based on at least one of the state of the combustion chamber, the temperature of the injected fuel, and the orientation of the injection hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a direct injection spark ignition internal combustion engine and a fuel injection method for the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Homogenous combustion is performed by forming a homogenous air-fuel mixture in each cylinder and igniting it at the ignition time that comes at the end of each compression stroke. During such homogenous combustion, a tumble flow is created in the cylinder and the created tumble flow is maintained active until the ignition time at the end of the compression stroke. By doing so, the movement of air-fuel mixture can be maintained until ignition, and this air-fuel mixture movement accelerates the combustion speed, whereby the homogenous combustion progresses in a good condition.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication JP-A-2005-180247A proposes a direct injection spark ignition internal combustion engine that has an intake flow control valve in each intake port. In this engine, the intake flow control valve guides the intake air to flow along the upper wall of the intake port and enter the cylinder. By doing so, a tumble flow having a high intensity is created in the cylinder, so that the tumble flow can remain active until the time of ignition at the end of the compression stroke.
According to the direct injection spark ignition internal combustion engine, however, the passage of the intake port needs to be narrowed down by the intake control flow valve when guiding the intake air to flow along the upper wall of the intake port and enter the cylinder. According to this structure, when the required intake air amount is relatively small, a tumble flow can be created in the cylinder without causing any particular problems. However, when the required intake air amount is relatively large, if the passage of the intake port is narrowed down by the intake flow control valve as described above, it may cause a shortage of intake air. In this case, a tumble flow having a high intensity can not be created in the cylinder.
However, in direct injection spark ignition internal combustion engines, even if such intake flow control valves are not provided, each tumble flow can be intensified by setting the fuel injection direction appropriately and injecting a fuel having a large thrust force at the end of each intake stroke. However, in this case, a portion of the injected fuel having a large thrust force may reach the surface of the cylinder bore wall and attach there by being absorbed by the engine oil. If the temperature of the surface of the cylinder bore wall is high, the fuel absorbed in the engine oil will readily evaporate, so no particular disadvantages are concerned. However, if the temperature of the surface of the cylinder bore wall is low, the absorbed fuel will remain absorbed in the engine oil, thus diluting the engine oil. Further, if the temperature of the injected fuel is too high, the injected fuel easily evaporates due to the decompression boiling effect, and therefore the tumble flow can not be intensified appropriately. Further, the tumble flow can not be intensified efficiently using the injected fuel if the fuel injection direction is inaccurate.

Direct injection spark ignition internal combustion engine and fuel injection method for same


A fluid conduit quick connector includes first and second releasably connectable bodies. A tapered bore in the first body receives one end of a first conduit. A tubular extension projecting from one end of the second body is coaxially received in the conduit when the first and second bodies are releasably joined together. The conduit is sealingly compressed between the tapered bore and one or more projections on the extension. A third body carries another conduit and is releasibly connected to the second body. The third body also includes mounting members to fixedly mount the third body to a support.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to fluid couplings, and more specifically, to quick connector type fluid couplings.
2. Description of the Art
Connectors are used to interconnect two fluid conduits or hoses in a fluid delivery system. In particular, connectors are used in the windshield wiper/washer system of an automobile to interconnect various portions of the washer fluid delivery system on the vehicle. This is necessary due to the manufacture of different components of the wiper/washer system at different times and/or by different manufacturers.
One part of the wiper/washer system includes a conduit extending from a fluid supply reservoir to a connector fixedly mounted at or adjacent to the vehicle cowl screen. A second conduit or hose is mounted in each windshield wiper and must be connected to the connector on the vehicle cowl screen. Typically, such interconnection is done by an installer who manually urges the end of each wiper mounted conduit or hose onto the connector mounted on the vehicle cowl.
However, the conduits or hoses employed in windshield wiper/washer systems have extremely small diameters and are typically extremely flexible. Due to the small diameter of conduit and the small size and diameter of the connector, it is difficult for an installer to fully urge one end of wiper mounted conduit onto the connector to form a sealed, fixed connection between the wiper mounted conduit and the connector. The installer further lacks any feedback as to whether the conduit has been fully sealingly coupled to the connector. As a result, a large number of leaks occur in vehicle wiper/washer systems due to a non-fully seated hose/connector joint.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a quick connect fluid coupling which can be advantageously employed in a vehicle windshield wiper/washer system to overcome the deficiencies encountered in previous fluid couplings used in vehicle wiper/washer systems. It would also be desirable to provide a quick connector fluid coupling which provides a more ergonomical assembly to insure a fully sealed fluid joint. It would also be desirable to provide such a quick connect fluid coupling which has a low insertion force to insure a fully sealed coupling as well as providing a positive indication of a fully sealed fluid coupling to the installer.


A time accumulator is adjustable to provide sufficient calculation time regardless of the clock frequency. The time accumulator includes a first register storing a current time and a second register storing a time increment value corresponding to a multiplier multiplied by an original time increment associated with a clock pulse of a clock signal. The clock signal is divided into computation intervals, in which each computation interval includes a predetermined number of clock pulses equivalent to the value of the multiplier. The time accumulator further includes a summation node for adding the current time to the time value to produce an updated current time each computation interval.

Time (or phase) accumulators are commonly used to track the current time in a digital circuit. A time accumulator operates by adding a time increment to the current time at a rate called the clock frequency. The time increment may be fixed, variable or time-varying. An example of a time-varying implementation is a servo-loop that is used to vary the time increment in order to keep the time accumulator in sync with an external time reference. The higher the clock frequency, the higher the resolution of the time accumulator and the more accurately the time accumulator can be used to time events. For example, a time accumulator can be used to set a timer value, record the time of an external event (i.e., a timestamp) or generate a trigger signal for an external event at a given time.
However, a higher clock frequency necessarily reduces the time available to calculate the addition of the time increment and any other operations that need to be performed on the time increment value (e.g., servo-loop calculations). If the time accumulator is implemented in a device that operates at a high clock frequency that does not allow enough time for the time accumulator to complete all of its calculations before the next clock, the current time recorded by the time accumulator may be inaccurate. Solutions to this problem include using faster hardware in the time accumulator or relaxing the accuracy requirements of the device and using a lower clock frequency, thereby giving the time accumulator more time between clock pulses in which to perform the calculations. However, faster hardware is usually more expensive and, in many applications, reducing the accuracy of the device may not be desirable. Therefore, there is a need for a slower time accumulator that is capable of operating at a high clock frequency.