An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. Two separate zero cross detectors are used such that timing information can be collected in both two and three wire installations. Both zero cross detectors are monitored and are used to automatically configure the electronic control. Over voltage circuitry senses an over voltage condition across a MOSFET which is in the off state and turns the MOSFET on so that it desirably will not reach the avalanche region. Over current circuitry senses when the current through the MOSFETs has exceeded a predetermined current threshold and then turns the MOSFETs off so they do not exceed the MOSFETs' safe operating area (SOA) curve. Latching circuitry is employed to keep the protection circuitry in effect even after a fault condition has cleared. Lockout circuitry is used to prevent one protection circuit from tripping after the other circuit has already tripped from a fault condition. The protection circuitry output is desirably configured such that it can bypass and override the normal turn on and turn off impedance and act virtually directly on the gates of the MOSFETs. Preferably, the system has a high efficiency switching type power supply in parallel with a low frequency controllably conductive device.

There are many applications where it is desirable to control the amount of average electrical power delivered to a load. One example of such an application is the use of a lighting dimmer to control the output of a lamp. A dimmer typically functions by controlling the conduction of current through the load. A controllably conductive device is synchronized to the AC line voltage and is controlled to conduct for a predetermined interval in each half cycle of the AC line voltage. That is, the load only receives power (is on) for a portion of the AC line voltage half cycle. The longer the conduction time, the more power delivered to the load. By the same logic, the shorter the conduction time, the less power delivered to the load.
There are primarily two methods for controlling AC loads such as lighting loads, forward phase control and reverse phase control. A controllably conductive device is a device whose conduction can be controlled by an external signal. These include devices such as metal oxide semi-conductor field effect transistors (MOSFET), insulated gate bi-polar transistors (IGBT), bi-polar junction transistors (BJT), triacs, silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs), relays, switches, vacuum tubes and the like. These two control methods utilize the conductive and non-conductive states of a controllably conductive device to control the power in a load and synchronize the conduction and non-conduction of the controllably conductive devices to zero crosses of the source of AC line voltage.
To energize the load, the method of forward phase control, as shown in FIG. 13, synchronizes a controllably conductive device to the source of AC power and controls the controllably conductive device to be non-conductive over the first portion of an AC line voltage half cycle, then controls the controllably conductive device to be conductive over the remaining portion of the AC line voltage half cycle. In the method of reverse phase control, as shown in FIG. 14, the periods of non-conduction and conduction are reversed with respect to time. That is to say, to energize the load, the controllably conductive device is controlled to be conductive during the first portion of the AC line voltage half cycle followed by a period of non-conduction in the same half cycle. The method of reverse phase control is often used for operation of capacitive loads such as electronic transformers.
In forward phase control based control systems the controllably conductive device is often a triac or an SCR. These devices can be controlled to be non-conductive or conductive. However, if they are controlled to be conductive, they can only be made non-conductive by allowing the current through them to go to zero. Due to this characteristic, these types of controllably conductive devices are not used for reverse phase control based control systems where the ability to enable and disable conduction is required.
Electronic controls need to derive a power supply in order to power their associated electronics. Additionally, many controls require line frequency related timing information. Controls which only have two power terminals have one of these terminals (the hot terminal) connected to a hot wire of a source of AC power and the other terminal (the dimmed hot terminal) connected to a first terminal of a load. Controls with this type of connection are often referred to as "two wire" controls. Two wire controls which are connected in series with their loads must charge their power supplies and obtain timing information through this load. The load can often have a wide range of input impedance. As such, the operation of the power supply and timing circuit is often compromised in the two wire connection scheme. However, a two wire connection is necessary when the control is wired in an application where a neutral wire is not available.
Controls which have connections to the hot wire, load, and neutral wire are often referred to as "three wire" controls. When a neutral wire from the source of AC power is available for connection to a neutral terminal of the control, the power supply and zero cross information can be derived independently of the connected load, thereby enhancing performance. In many applications, a neutral wire from the source of AC power is not available. Therefore, a control is needed that can operate correctly as either a two wire or three wire control, thereby allowing the control to be used in a broad range of field applications with great flexibility.
Prior art for developing a non-isolated low voltage power supply from a high voltage source, such as the AC line voltage, used circuits such as a cat ear power supply. Such a system would conduct at or near the line voltage zero cross so as to recharge an energy storage capacitor. Such systems typically operate properly in the region about 1 millisecond from the zero crossing of the line voltage. Operation outside that time window can cause excessive power to be dissipated in the power supply.
The cat ear power supply has relatively high peak and high average input currents with respect to the average current supplied to the connected DC load. This high average input current presents a significant problem when this supply technology is used with electronic low voltage (ELV) load types on phase control dimmers connected in a two wire mode. A supply for low voltage control circuitry is needed that has low average input currents through the high voltage load. Also, typical prior art power supplies have been relatively inefficient so that they require higher average input currents to supply the power requirements of typical prior art dimmers.
Another disadvantage of prior art power supplies for lighting control devices is that power losses in the power supplies increase with the amount of current required to be delivered by the power supply. The trend in modern lighting controls is to incorporate more features and functionality. These features and functionality require ever increasing amounts of current to be delivered by the power supply. Hence, it is desired to provide a power supply for a lighting control able to efficiently supply greater amounts of current than are presently available from typical prior art power supplies without the power losses associated with such prior art power supplies.
There are a variety of fault conditions to which lighting controls may be subject, including, for example, over voltage and over current conditions. Over voltage conditions can be caused by, for example, the turning on and off of nearby and connected magnetic loads, capacitive coupling to parallel wire runs with sharp transient loads, lightning strikes, etc. Over current conditions can be caused by, for example, short circuited loads, connected loads exceeding the controls rating, mis-wire conditions, etc. Semiconductor devices, such as MOSFETs, have limits as to how much voltage and current they can withstand without failure. In order to protect a control that uses these semiconductor devices from failure, these limits are preferably never exceeded. Fast detection of fault conditions, and fast reaction thereto is desirable in order to protect these devices.
In contrast, during normal operation, the rates of transition between conductive and non-conductive states of these semiconductor devices are controlled to be slow. These slow rates of transition are used, for example, to limit the voltage and current waveforms as seen by the load, to comply with radiated and conducted radio frequency interference (RFI) limits, or to limit voltage ringing caused by inductive power wiring. However, these slow rates of transition during normal operation are too slow for adequate protection of these semiconductor devices. Thus, there is a need for protection circuitry that operates to cause fast rates of transition under fault conditions, while still allowing these semiconductor devices to be operated with slow rates of transition under normal operating conditions.


The present invention provides paper glasses and a method for manufacturing the same including a lens frame connected in parallel to both sides of a central bridge to fix a lens; glasses temples which are extended integrally from both sides of the lens frame and bent at an angle perpendicular to the lens frame to wear the lens frame on the face; and a support piece of which one end is fixed to the lens frame and the other end is fixed to the front end of the glasses temples to ensure a support force of the glasses temples and maintain a predetermined angle of the glasses temples.

Generally, glasses have been developed as a tool for overcoming the visual impairment caused by ametropia, but recently, have been used for various purposes such as being worn for fashion. In particular, the use of glasses for temporary use until the eyes are stabilized after eye related procedures and operations such as LASIK and LASEK and stereoscopic image appreciation has been increased.
The glasses of the temporary use are often provided temporarily from the related company to the user for a required period, so that the company for providing the glasses wants to be able to manufacture the glasses at low cost. Also, even if the glasses are manufactured as an uncomfortable or rugged design during wearing, the glasses are temporarily used, so the user uses the glasses by considering it.
However, the glasses manufactured inexpensively as the temporary use are significantly deteriorated in the feeling of wearing even with slight repetitive wearing, and nevertheless, when the glasses are continuously used, it tends to be harder to wear the glasses by holding the glasses with a hand or requiring additional fixing the glasses with an adhesive or the like.
Even if the user takes the inconvenience and uses inexpensively the glasses for temporary use, it is difficult to take the difficulty of wearing itself. Therefore, there is a demand for a product which is inexpensive in terms of price but has a certain degree or more of strength and does not cause problems in the shape maintenance and wearing of the glasses for a temporary period in which the use of the glasses is required.
In recent years, the use of paper glasses with various colors, freely special expressions, and low costs has been enhanced in various events such as national and international fashion shows, beaches, clubs, baseball courts, golf courses, soccer fields, and festivals, starting with fashionistas who are pursuing new trends.
However, the paper glasses sold on the market generally have a weak fixing force of the temples of the glasses and a support force of the temples of the glasses due to a characteristic of a paper material because the glasses frame and the glasses temples are simply bent in a "¬" shape. As a result, there is a problem in that when the wind is blown or the movement is large during wearing the paper glasses, the paper glasses are easily removed from the face.
As such, currently, the paper glasses have many difficulties to be worn compared to high utilization and thus tend to be not practical use, and structural improvement is urgently required to faithfully perform functions as glasses.

Paper glasses and method for manufacturing the same


The present invention includes a plurality of color correction tables respectively corresponding to a plurality of groups into which a page-background color is sorted. It is determined which group a page-background color of image data in a block that belongs to a page-background region belongs to. Consequently, color correction processing is performed by using a color correction table corresponding to the group determined. This makes it possible to carry out appropriate color correction processing according to the page-background color of an original document.

In recent years, OA equipment digitalization has developed, and moreover, demand for color image output has increased. This has led to wide prevalence of an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotgraphic digital color copying machine, an electrophotgraphic complex machine, an ink jet color printer, or a thermal transfer color printer. For example, these image forming apparatuses are used for outputting image data or the like inputted into the image forming apparatuses from an image input device such as a scanner.
These image forming apparatuses need to output an image that properly reproduces a color of the image data inputted into the image forming apparatuses from the image input device or the like. Accordingly, color correction processing in which a digital image processing technique is used serves an important role in an image processing device for use in an image forming apparatus.
However, it is very troublesome work for an operator to set parameters for the color correction processing with respect to each original document. Moreover, in case, for example, the operator chooses an improper parameter, it is necessary to carry out another image formation after a parameter is newly set. This also means useless copy will be produced.
In an arrangement proposed for overcoming such a problem, a color correction processing is performed automatically.
For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 153022/2003 (Tokukai 2003-153022) published on May 23, 2003) discloses a technique of (i) preparing in advance a look-up table storing color correction data and (ii), with reference to this look-up table, converting image data made of colors in a first color space into image data made of colors in a second color space.
Patent Document 2 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 23771/2004 (Tokukai 2004-23771) published on Jan. 22, 2004) discloses a technique of (i) preparing a correction table on the basis of (a) a page-background color of an original document from which image data is read and (b) a page-background color of a recording sheet on which the image read from the original document is formed and (ii) performing a color correction processing according to the correction table thus prepared. Specifically, in Patent Document 2, the correction table is prepared so that a color correction processing is carried out in such a manner that (a) a color correction causing the page-background color of the original document to become visually recognized as an achromatic color is combined with (b) a color correction causing the page-background color of the recording sheet to become visually recognized as an achromatic color.
In contrast, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 performs a color correction processing with the use of a single look-up table no matter what color the page-background color of the original document is. Consequently, in a case where a page-background color removal is carried out, a color taste of a color which the user wishes it to stay unchanged changes largely. As a result, there arises a problem that a proper color reproduction becomes impossible. Especially, in a case of processing a light color image formed on a deep page-background color, a color reproducibility tends to deteriorate due to influence of the page-background color removal processing. Specifically, for example, a light pink image formed on a thick yellow page-background color may be reproduced as an orange image.
In Patent Document 2, since a color correction processing is carried out in such a manner that (a) a color correction causing the page-background color of the original document to become visually recognized as an achromatic color is combined with (b) a color correction causing the page-background color of the recording sheet to become visually recognized as an achromatic color, the technique of Patent Document 2, as well as the Patent Document 1, may reproduce a color improperly, depending on a combination of a page-background color of the original document and a page-background color of the recording sheet. Furthermore, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 requires, for each image formation, (i) operation of reading an image on the original document and the recording sheet and (ii) preparation of a correction table by identifying each page-background color of the original document and the recording sheet. This gives rise to problems such as an increase in complication of a device arrangement, an increase in size of the device, an increase in processing time, and an increase in power consumption.

Image processing device, image processing method, image forming apparatus, image processing program, and storage medium


A photovoltaic cell tab including: a front contact portion having a first profile; and a back contact portion having a second profile, wherein the first profile or second profile are complex shapes that may be dissimilar to each other. A system and method for forming photovoltaic cell tabs comprising: a feeding mechanism to feed wire; a first forming tool to trim and shape the wire to tabs; and a placement tool configured to match a profile of the tabs and place and attach the tabs on photovoltaic cells. In the system and method, the tabs may be formed to have a complex profile or shape that will affect incident light and/or mechanical or other characteristics of the tabs.

A typical photovoltaic cell has a photosensitive substrate and converts light into energy. Conductors, also known as tabs, are attached to the photovoltaic cells and are typically made of flat wire or ribbon wire. Flat wire is pulled from a spool, straightened, flattened and pretensioned then cut to length to form individual tabs. In some cases, a Z-bend may be formed in the ribbon wire to accommodate a transition from the front of one cell to the back of an adjacent cell. The conventional practice results in a trade-off between the surface area covered on the front side of the photovoltaic cell and the net series resistance of the photovoltaic cell string determined by the cross section of the tab. As the ribbon width is increased and, to a lesser extent, as the ribbon thickness is increased, the amount of surface area of the photovoltaic cell that is occluded increases, which tends to sacrifice optical efficiency for reduced series resistance. For example, a 156 millimeter (mm) cell with 2 mm tabs may have approximately 2.56% of the light blocked but may have significant series resistance. Increasing the tab to 3 mm may reduce series resistance by approximately 33 percent but increases the area blocked by 50 percent.
The use of a conventional fire-through metalization process can be used to form front metal contacts on a photovoltaic cell. A wider area of metalization forming a contact on the front of the cell in order to accommodate wider tabs may promote localized heating during the process, which may increase the degree to which shunts, that is, places where the semiconductor junction is damaged, are formed. On the other hand, reducing tab resistance by increasing thickness has the effect of increasing the overall thickness of the string of cells which can make the subsequent lamination process more difficult and induce additional mechanical stress on the cells. Commonly, a solder contact is produced by scavenging solder previously applied to the ribbon wire. This solder is typically applied to both sides of the wire resulting in increased thickness while more than half of this material is not used since it is on a surface that does not come into contact with a cell. Since lead free solders contain a substantial amount of silver, this is an objectionable expense. Generally, in order to accommodate variation in the width of ribbon wire as supplied, the front contacts of a cell are made at least as wide as or somewhat wider than the ribbon wire, with a minor loss of cell efficiency. An additional problem is that tabs experience thermal expansion and contraction during any thermal method of attaching tabs to cells which can result in stresses applied to the cell due to differential thermal expansion and contraction. This is generally ameliorated by pre-tensioning the wire during the tabbing-stringing process but this is generally considered a weak solution which is less effective as the thickness of solar cells is reduced.
Typically, tabs are formed from flat wire; however, another option may be to form the wire with a faceted top surface such that incident light is reflected at a sufficient angle to be trapped inside the module, by total internal reflection, and reflected onto the active area of the cells (for example Light-Capturing Ribbon supplied by Ulbrich). However, this option may have a negative impact on the attachment of tabs to back contacts where the facets can serve no optical purpose but provide a more difficult surface to attach to the back contacts of the cell. Furthermore, this approach results in a thickening of the tab along its entire length in order to form facets while maintaining the desired conductor cross section where only the front contact portion serves a purpose.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide systems and methods intended to overcome at least some of the problems of conventional systems and methods and improve the forming of the tabs for photovoltaic cells and the tabs themselves.

Photovoltaic cell tabs and method and system for forming same


An embodiment of device for generating an acoustic signal in a fluid includes an engine operable to repeat a thermodynamic process to vibrate a membrane of the engine to generate an acoustic signal having more than one period. The thermodynamic process includes heating mass inside a chamber of an engine to generate pressure inside the chamber; in response to generating the pressure, moving in a first direction a portion of a membrane of the engine; removing mass from inside the chamber to decrease the pressure inside the chamber; and in response to decreasing the pressure inside the chamber, moving the membrane portion in a second direction. Because the engine repeats the thermodynamic process, the engine can generate and sustain an acoustic signal for a significant amount of time.

Acoustic signals are used for many different things. In marine environments, acoustic signals are often used to map a region, such as the sea floor, or to navigate, discover, identify, and/or determine the range of an object such as a ship or submarine. In such marine applications where early discovery and/or identification of a ship or submarine is often desired, a sonar array is usually positioned in the water to monitor the region.
To discover and identify a vessel, the sonar array often includes a component that generates an underwater acoustic signal, and another component that senses the signal after the signal is reflected by an object in the region. For example, the sonar array 10 shown in FIG. 1A includes an explosive charge 12 (here two) to generate the underwater acoustic signal, and a buoy 14 that holds a component (not shown in FIG. 1A) for sensing underwater acoustic signals. To look for a vessel located within the region of the sonar array 10, one of the explosive charges 12 is released from its tether and exploded to generate a signal. The signal propagates through the water and reflects of off objects (not shown in FIG. 1A) in the region. The sensing component then senses the acoustic signal that is reflected back to buoy 14.
Unfortunately, using explosives to generate an underwater acoustic signal for the purpose of early discovery of a ship or submarine may be dangerous and/or ineffective. And the power of the signal may be often hazardous to the wildlife in the region. In addition, because the signal does not persist for a significant period, the signal only provides information about objects in the region at a specific moment in time; the signal does not provide information over a significant period of time. Thus, for example, a submarine traveling through the region is more likely to travel out of detection range between the times that a signal is generated, and consequently avert detection.
To overcome these shortcomings, some sonar arrays include an electro-acoustic transducer, such as a ceramic transducer, to generate acoustic signals under water for a longer period of time. For example, the sonar array 16 shown in FIG. 1B includes such an electro-acoustic transducer 18, and a buoy 20 that holds a component (not shown in FIG. 1B) for sensing underwater acoustic signals. To generate acoustic signals, the transducer 18 is typically powered by a battery (not shown in FIG. 1B).
Unfortunately, using a battery powered transducer to generate an underwater acoustic signal for the purpose of early discovery of a ship or submarine may be ineffective too. The life of the battery may be too short for some applications. Also, many batteries cannot provide enough power to generate a high-amplitude acoustic signal for a significant period. A high-amplitude acoustic signal might be desirable for many different reasons. For example, in a noisy littoral environment, one may need to generate a high-amplitude signal so that the signal can be distinguished in the noisy environment. Thus, in a noisy environment, such as in a littoral region, there may exist significant periods during which the signals generated by the transducer 18 are not effective. In addition, the electro-acoustic transducer may be unable to provide adequate pressure levels due to the physical constraints of the material (e.g., ceramic) from which the transducer is formed and/or the physical constraints in the environment such as the water pressure at substantial depths.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Engine and technique for generating an acoustic signal


A heat exchanger with a plurality of flow path assemblies disposed in a core body, a first and a second core surface of the core body provided with a plurality of throughholes. Each throughhole on the first and the second core surface mated individually with a flow path assembly seat, a coupling means providing independent positioning as well as longitudinal axial orientation means to each of the flow path assembly disposed in the core body, wherein each flow path assembly seat provided on the first core surface engages a first tubular section of a corresponding flow path assembly, while each flow path assembly seat provided on the second core surface engages a second tubular section of a corresponding flow path assembly. Each flow path assembly provided with at least one chamber section, each chamber section having a medium directing component disposed within for a desired medium flow effect.

In a typical heat exchanger, a core body comprising of a plurality of tube sections is provided wherein at least two heat exchange mediums are utilized to facilitate heat exchange between the two heat exchange mediums. A first heat exchange medium is generally contained inside the plurality of tube sections while a second heat exchange medium flows outside the plurality of tube sections. The purpose of using a typical heat exchanger is to generally transfer heat from the first heat exchange medium to the second heat exchange medium. The heat can be transferred from inside the heat exchanger to the outside, or vice versa. With the desire to effectively utilize a limited amount of packaging space provided for a heat exchanger in an application, the heat exchanger may not be provided with an environment that optimizes heat transfer performance. Namely, when free flowing external heat exchange medium such as air is used as an external heat exchange medium, it is vital that the heat exchanger is provided with an optimal flow path for the external heat exchange medium, facilitating effective transfer of heat between the first and the second heat exchange medium. In an automotive application, for example, heat exchangers vital for proper operation of a vehicle are typically located at the very front of the vehicle, to facilitate means to provide the heat exchangers with as much flow of air as possible to achieve optimum heat transfer. The location at the front of the vehicle is desirable, as the location generally provides the heat exchangers with the optimum flow of the external heat exchange medium, which in the automotive radiator application may generally be air.
However, as the desire to design a smaller, more compact vehicle is pursued, the traditional space at the front of the vehicle may no longer be available for the purpose of locating heat exchangers. As such, need arises to position the heat exchangers at non-traditional positions, such as to a side of a vehicle engine compartment, on a side fender panel, or on a bonnet of a vehicle, for example. As the alternative heat exchanger locations typically do not provide for optimum external heat exchange medium flow, a solution must be devised to provide the heat exchanger with an optimum external heat exchange medium flow regardless of the positioning of the heat exchanger within the vehicle, which may include space or shape limitations, for example. Similar constraints impacting optimal heat transfer efficiency is not only limited in an automotive application, therefore, a solution provided herein may be applied to a variety of heat exchanger applications. Similar constraints may be observed in other applications of heat exchangers, such as in general electronics, appliances, and industrial cooling systems, for example. The present invention relates to optimization of the external heat exchange medium flow, wherein individual flow paths provided within the heat exchanger for the external heat exchange medium are optimized for positioning as well as horizontal and vertical axial orientation to enhance the overall heat exchange performance, while achieving the desired effect in a cost effective manner along with enhancements made to the heat conduction effectiveness, yielding higher heat transfer performance in a smaller heat exchanger package.

Heat exchange apparatus having a plurality of modular flow path assemblies, encased in a core body with a plurality of corresponding flow path assembly seats, providing means for independent positioning and axial alignment for a desired effect


A dynamic correction arrangement for an electron beam projection/deflection system provides high order correction values for deflection in accordance with a correction equation. Particularly as applied to high accuracy telecentric deflection, the coefficients of terms of the correction equation may be determined by calibration for a small number of test points. Correction values may be stored in a look-up table or computed in real time by using a math co-processor in a processing pipeline. The correction provided corrects landing angle errors through the third order in telecentric projection/deflection systems such as systems utilizing variable axis immersion lenses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to high precision electron beam projection/deflection systems and, more particularly, to electron beam projection/deflection systems including at least one variable axis lens.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electron beam projection/deflection systems are used in many types of devices such as cathode ray tubes used for display, as in televisions, oscilloscopes and computer displays. Electron beam projection/deflection systems are also used in electron beam lithography systems, particularly for exposure of resists in the fabrication of masks for use in fabrication of integrated circuits and also direct writing for patterning of resists directly placed on substrates and other structures. As integrated circuit density has increased and pattern feature size correspondingly reduced, exposure of resists using an electron beam exposure system, sometimes referred to as an e-beam tool, in which an electron beam can be deflected over a surface with high speed and accuracy under computer control, has become highly advantageous and the exposure methodology of choice.
Electron beam projection/deflection systems (hereinafter also referred to simply as deflection systems) are typically pivotal. That is, the beam trajectory is deflected around a pivot point on the electron-optical axis of the system at a finite distance from the target. There are two major consequences of this property of electron beam projection/deflection systems. First, for a substantial portion of the travel of electrons through the electron beam projection/deflection system, the electrons are separated from the electron-optical axis and are therefore subject to "off-axis electron-optical aberrations which degrades the performance of the electron beam projection/deflection system. Second, the direction from which the electron beam impinges on the target plane through the electron beam projection/deflection system (e.g. the plane of the surface of a substrate or specimen) varies with the impact position in the field which can be written by the deflected beam. Therefore, any axial displacement of the target surface, due, for example, to variation in thickness of a substrate or tilt of its plane relative to a plane normal to the electron-optical axis of the system, translates into an undesirable lateral displacement of the beam. Compensation of this lateral displacement generally requires complicated special measures to obtain electron beam exposure at the desired location.
However, the above-described deficiencies are largely eliminated in advanced projection/deflection systems employing the Variable Axis Immersion Lens (VAIL) concept. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,544,846 to Langner et al and 4,859,856 to Groves et al, both assigned to the assignee of the present application are exemplary of the VAIL system and are hereby fully incorporated by reference herein.
Ideally, the VAIL system provides telecentric imaging as well as positioning of the electron beam within the exposure field of a lithography system. The term "telecentric" here means that at any location in the field the electrons in the beam appear to originate from an object on the optical axis infinitely remote from the target. This is accomplished by a collimator lens, which collimates the beam prior to deflection through complementary angles by a magnetic double-deflection device, and by altering the optical axis of the projection lens relative to the mechanical axis of the electron beam column to coincide with the location of the collimated beam. The latter is accomplished by superpositioning the magnetic field of an additional deflection device over the lens field. In practice, this arrangement seeks to maintain an angle of incidence on the target normal to the target plane.
However, it has been established that the VAIL system in its present implementation performs this function accurately only to a first-order approximation. Higher (mainly third) order effects lead to a landing angle variation and position distortion over the field of exposure large enough to be of concern for lithography of ever decreasing pattern feature dimensions for higher degrees of integration density of integrated circuits.
At higher component densities in integrated circuits, the tolerance for positional error in exposure by the electron beam becomes very much reduced. For pattern design rules having a particular minimum feature size, often referred to as a regime, the tolerance for errors of position and distortion of the electron beam is usually more than an order of magnitude smaller. These errors can originate from several sources and the total cumulative allowable error is commonly referred to as an error budget. For example, in a regime having a minimum feature size of a substantial fraction (e.g. about one-quarter) of a micron, the total error budget is on the order of a few tens of nanometers.
Keeping the shape and positioning of the electron beam deflection within this error budget is difficult. For example, in the VAIL system, the aforementioned third-order landing angle variation over a 10 mm deflection field amounts to a significant fraction of a degree. This can lead to positional errors of more than 100 nm, far more than is tolerable even for the 0.5 .mu.m regime. (Note that the angle variation of a pivotal (i.e. non-telecentric) projection/deflection system is more than an order of magnitude larger). Therefore, even with the superior performance of the Variable Axis Lens projection/deflection system the errors due to higher order variation from ideal telecentric performance are not acceptable for advanced semiconductor microfabrication.
Furthermore, the higher order angle and distortion aberrations of VAIL vary, by definition, not only non-linearly over the field, but also anisotropically (i.e. varying in both their radial and azimuthal components). Correction of these aberrations by design of the electron optics is not possible. Dynamic correction (i.e. beam position correction point by point) in the deflection field, based on a calibration procedure, is presently practiced. Dynamic correction, however, is excessively demanding as well as inadequate in its accuracy, particularly for the sub-half micron regime due to the need to obtain empirical correction data during calibration for a great number of points in order to approach the complexity of the aberrations.

Dynamic compensation of non-linear electron beam landing angle in variable axis lenses

International Business Machines Corporation


The modular cutter assembly for cutting composite material and for use in a composite placement machine wherein the cutter assembly includes a base and a cutting member. The cutting member being removably attachable to the base by a mechanical connection.

Cutting composite material is uniquely difficult when compared to cutting traditional building materials, such as wood, metal or other traditional building materials. Composite materials are made by combining two or more materials that often have different properties. Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) involves the use of composite materials that are often lighter than metals but have greater strength than metal.
Several difficulties are associated with cutting composite materials. For example, reinforcement fibers contained in the composite material, such as carbon fiber, fiberglass, Kevlar® or a fiber-reinforced matrix system, are abrasive and can quickly wear down a cutting tool. Delamination is another difficulty that may be encountered with the cutting of composite materials, and ideally, it is desired to achieve a clean cut of the composite materials so as to reduce the risk of delamination. Delamination of the composite material may occur if the blade of the tool is damaged, dull or chipped, or the blade contacts the composite material at the wrong angle. Also, some composite materials have a particular or specific orientation wherein a specific angle of cutting is desired.
Traditionally high performance cutting blades have been of unitary construct wherein the cutting tool is either a single one-piece design or a two-piece design in which the two pieces are permanently affixed together by, for example, brazing. For instance, a steel mounting body and harder carbon or diamond compound cutting insert are brazed together to permanently bond the two materials together. One of the reasons that the industry uses such unitary constructs is to reduce or eliminate failures in the cutting blade. As mentioned above, composite materials are very strong and oftentimes stronger than metal. As a result of the strength of the composite materials, the cutting blades are placed under extreme pressure during the cutting of these materials. It was believed that a blade of unitary construct was required in order for the blade to maintain its integrity, without failures or fractures, while enduring this extreme pressure. Furthermore, it was believed that blades of unitary construct are easier to control so as to make cuts at precise angles and orientations.
Although unitary cutting blades perform well at cutting composite materials, there are some drawbacks to their use. For example, if a blade chips or becomes dull, the machine is stopped and the whole blade is required to be replaced. Oftentimes, the blades are attached to a lever or actuator at a location of the machine that is difficult to access and/or because of the secure attachment of the cutting blade to the lever or actuator, it may take a long time to undo the attachment to remove the blade. When such blades are being replaced, the machine may be down for a considerable amount of time, which in turn slows down production. Also, when a blade is replaced, the whole blade is replaced, which may be a waste of material when some portions of the blade may have little or no wear and may still be useable.
Therefore, there remains a need for improved cutting blades for cutting composite materials and for use in AFP machines.

Modular cutter blade assembly and machines containing the same


A vehicle seat has a seat cushion having a cushion pad deformable to be flexed when a seating load of an occupant is applied. A seating sensor is disposed within the seat cushion for detecting a seating position of the occupant. The seating sensor is configured as a push-in switch and can detect the seating position of the occupant when the seating sensor is pressed by the cushion pad. A fragile region is interleaved between the seating sensor and the cushion pad at a pressure receiving region where the pressing force is applied to the seating sensor. The fragile region has rigidity lower than the cushion pad.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vehicle seats, and in particular to vehicle seats that have a seat cushion having a seating region.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known seats of industrial vehicles, such as forklifts, have seating sensors for detecting a seated position of an operator in order to allow the operator to operate machines and instruments on the condition that the operator is seated on the seat. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-329597 discloses a technique of providing a seating sensor disposed within a seat cushion for detecting a seated position of an occupant. More specifically, the seating sensor has a sheet-like configuration and is interleaved between a surface layer and a cushion pad of the seat cushion. According to this technique, when an occupant is seated on the seat cushion, a pressing force is applied to the seat sensor by the seating load, so that the seated position can be detected.
However, with the above technique, the resilient force of the cushion pad or a pre-tensioning force of the surface layer may be easily applied to the seating sensor. Therefore, if the resilient force of the cushion pad or the pre-tensioning force of the surface layer is strong, it is likely that the seating sensor may receive the pressing force due to the resilient force of the pre-tensioning force, causing false detection of the seating sensor.
Therefore, there has been a need for vehicle seats that do not produce such a pressing force that may result in a false detection of a seating sensor disposed at a vehicle seat.


An emulsifier-free lotion suspension of at least one liquid in another liquid, the lotion having high intrinsic stability. The lotion is prepared by combining microscopic particles of soft, porous, frangible polymer material containing at least a first liquid with a second liquid in free form. The amount of free liquid is sufficient to achieve a creamy texture without allowing bouyant movement of the particles. The softness of the particles is sufficient to enable the lotion to leave essentially no visible residue when rubbed onto the skin. The polymer material preferably takes the form of a microporous cellulosic powder.

The present invention relates to emulsifier-free, stabilized lotions.
Lotions are important cosmetic and health formulations, and are common vehicles for delivery of topical skin treatments. Such lotions, which are generally oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions, are perceived as convenient, easy to apply and perhaps elegant. They have a pleasant texture, and allow the simultaneous application of water-soluble and oil-soluble ingredients. (Hereinafter the terms "lotion" and "lotions" will be understood generally to encompass personal care cosmetic, health and medical lotions, creams, ointments and the like.)
One consideration in the formulation of lotions containing a mixture of dissimilar liquids is the likelihood of separation of the liquids. Highly emulsified liquids are in a high energy state, i.e., there is a high level of interfacial energy between the molecules of dissimilar liquids. In such mixtures, droplets of like liquid are attracted and are inclined to coalesce and the more bouyant of the mixed liquids is inclined to separate from the other liquid and to rise to the surface of the mixture. Hence, emulsions are inherently unstable and tend to separate, i.e., they tend to seek their low energy state.
In order to achieve adequate shelf-life, cosmetic lotions typically require ingredients, called emulsifiers, to stabilize the emulsion in its otherwise high energy state. Such emulsifiers reduce interfacial energy, making the emulsion less unstable. They may also impede droplet-to-droplet contact and thereby inhibit coalescence.
Emulsifiers serve an essential purpose in a lotion, but are undesirable in topical applications, since they tend to cause skin irritation. Many emulsifying agents are demonstrably irritating: sodium lauryl sulfate, perhaps the most common emulsifier, is employed as a standard irritant in human skin tests. Modern product lotions tend to use less irritating nonionic emulsifiers, but the complete elimination of dermatologically questionable ingredients such as emulsifiers is an increasingly important goal in the formulation of topical lotions.
A generic method for elimination of chemical emulsifiers would be an important step in the campaign against use of irritants. One alternative to the use of chemical emulsifiers might include solidifying the suspended droplets so they cannot merge or circulate. However, any physical method of emulsion stabilization must remain effective over a wide range of liquid surface tensions, densities and viscosities, given the wide range of ingredients compounded into lotions. Furthermore, the end product should be a soft lotion, rather than a gritty slurry, and one which does not leave a visible residue on the skin.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an emulsifier-free stabilized lotion.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an emulsifier-free stabilized lotion which is perceived as a soft emulsion, rather than as a gritty slurry, and does not leave a visible residue on the skin.


A sunlight exposure indicator device is disclosed that can determine the amount of time (e.g., hours) of PAR sunlight that occurs in a specific area for the optimal growth of a plant, as corresponds to the plant industry common designations of Full Shade, Partial Shade, Partial Sun and Full Sun. These designations can be used to determine plant selection for all types of plants including grasses, shrubs, flowers, vegetables and herbs, and trees. This device utilizes irreversible, slow-reacting, photochromic pigments applied to a substrate. Using multiple instances of this device will allow someone to easily test and accurately determine the amount of PAR sunlight (hours) received during a one-day sunlight cycle in multiple spots simultaneously. The sunlight exposure indicator device is a one-time-use, non-electronic, disposable device.

Different species and varieties of plants have many different requirements for optimal growth. One important requirement is the number of hours and intensity of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) sunlight exposure the plant receives during a one-day period. Plants use the full spectrum of visible light, the spectrum range from 400-700 nm, in order for photosynthesis to occur and for the plant to grow, flower, reproduce and survive. This spectrum range is known as Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR). Plants exposed to insufficient or excessive PAR sunlight can fail to thrive, to develop strong roots, to leaf-out or to grow larger; become susceptible to disease; produce less flowers or fruit; or even die. Thus, it is important to know the amount of PAR sunlight a particular landscape area experiences before selecting and installing plants in those areas. However, it can be difficult to determine how many hours and the intensity of PAR sunlight a particular spot in a landscape area experiences during a one-day time period, due to various factors such as the direction of the sun in relation to the area, whether there are obstructing buildings, trees or other shrubs that block sunlight at certain times of the day, whether the area gets full sun in the morning hours or the more intense later afternoon hours, and the time of year. Attempting to estimate the number of hours of PAR sunlight exposure a certain area may experience by observing the outside area multiple times per day is time-consuming and not very reliable. Residential gardeners as well as professional landscapers and commercial nurseries, who often guarantee their plants, lose time and money on lost plants if their own or their customer's estimation of sunlight is incorrect and they install plants in an area not suitable to the plant's requirements.

PAR sunlight exposure indicator for optimal plant placement


Described is a method for making thin channel silicon-on-insulator structures. The inventive method comprises forming a set of thin spacer abutting a gate region in a first device and a second device region; forming a raised source/drain region on either side of the gate region in the first device region and the second device region, implanting dopants of a first conductivity type into the raised source drain region in the first device region to form a first dopant impurity region, where the second device region is protected by a second device region block mask; implanting dopants of a second conductivity type into the raised source/drain region in the second device region to form a second dopant impurity region, where the first device region is protected by a first device region block mask; and activating the first dopant impurity region and the second dopant impurity region to provide a thin channel MOSFET.

In order to be able to make integrated circuits (ICs), such as memory, logic, and other devices, of higher integration density than currently feasible, one has to find ways to further downscale the dimensions of field effect transistors (FETs), such as metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETS) and complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS). Scaling achieves compactness and improves operating performance in devices by shrinking the overall dimensions and operating voltages of the device while maintaining the device's electrical properties. Additionally, all dimensions of the device must be scaled simultaneously in order to optimize the electrical performance of the device.
Thin channel silicon-on-insulator (SOI) devices are a promising option to further continue SOI complementary metal oxide semiconducting (CMOS) device scaling. Ultra-thin silicon channel devices provide a sharper sub-threshold slope (measure of the abruptness of the switching of the device), higher mobility, and better short channel effect control than silicon-on-insulator devices having a conventional thick channel.
A disadvantage of thin silicon channel devices is that as the SOI film is thinned the series resistance increases. One solution to the increasing series resistance inherent in thin channel devices is the use of elevated source/drain regions that may be formed by selective epitaxial silicon growth.
In prior thin channel devices, the extension implants are implanted prior to the formation of the raised source/drain regions; creating at least the following problems. By implanting the thin silicon layer using a high dose and high-energy implant, the silicon crystal layer can be amorphized. Additionally, during activation of the source/drain regions, the anneal processing step causes re-crystallization of the amorphous layer, which can result in the formation of polysilicon and the introduction of defects to the thin channel region resulting in a high resistivity. In addition, it is also difficult to clean the surfaces when P-type regions are formed due to electrochemical reactions since the P-type material has a greater affinity for oxide material and thus requires intensive surface preparation. The epitaxial growth process requires a clean surface having a crystalline structure. Therefore, it is highly desirable to provide a device that overcomes the above limitations.
Moreover, prior art thin ultra-small gate-length devices require an offset spacer for the formation of P-FET extension regions resulting in a high resistance region formed beneath the spacer. The silicon region directly outside the channel is thinner than the channel thickness underlying the gate stack due to over-etching during gate stack processing. When the offset spacer is deposited over the thin silicon region, a high resistance region is formed which limits device performance. The spacer dimension is directly related to resistance. Larger spacers cause higher resistance. Furthermore, since the extension implants are formed prior to the raised source/drain regions, they are subjected to the significant thermal budget of the raised source/drain process, which results in the unwanted diffusion of the dopant species. Typical raised source/drain process temperature is about 850° C., which is enough to cause significant diffusion. Another problem with the raised source/drain process is that the high temperature causes dopant loss since the Si surface is not protected during the growth process. Dopant loss also contributes to high resistance since the dopant is needed to make the semiconductor conductive. Adding a greater dose of the dopant species to compensate for the dopant loss further aggravates the diffusion problem since a greater dose of the dopant species is well known to cause greater diffusion of the dopants.
Additionally, the surfaces of P-type doped regions and N-type doped regions have different epitaxial growth rates, because the incubation time for epitaxial growth of raised source/drains on P-type doped regions differs from the incubation time for the epitaxial growth of raised source/drains on N-type doped regions. The difference in epitaxial growth rate can result in a substantially different raised source/drain thickness for the P-type and N-type regions, when processing both regions using the same incubation time. Finally, the surface concentration of the dopants must be uniform across the wafer as well as from wafer to wafer, which is a major challenge for manufacturing.
In one prior art thin channel device, a wide disposable spacer is utilized to grow the raised source/drain regions. High-energy implants are then performed to form deep source/drain regions. Following the source/drain implant, the wide disposable spacer is removed and the extension regions are implanted. The above prior art process overcomes excessive extension diffusion and the epitaxial Si growth rate differential between P-type and N-type regions, but does not overcome the formation of high resistance regions outside the raised source/drain area which are key to the performance of ultra-thin SOI MOSFETs. The formation of high resistance regions outside the raised source/drain area is also cost ineffective.
It would be highly desirable to provide a thin channel CMOS device that overcomes the above described high resistance region and exposure to high thermal budgets during processing.

International Business Machines Corporation


Various embodiments of a wireless connector system are described. The system has a transmitter module and a receiver module that are configured to wirelessly transmit electrical energy and/or data via near field magnetic coupling. The wireless connector system is designed to increase the amount of wirelessly transmitted electrical power over a greater separation distance. The system is configured with various sensing circuits that alert the system to the presence of the receiver module to begin transfer of electrical power as well as undesirable objects and increased temperature that could interfere with the operation of the system. The wireless connector system is a relatively small foot print that is designed to be surface mounted.

Prior art electrical connectors are traditionally constructed with a plurality of pins that physically plug into a corresponding receiving port. Each half of these connectors are typically assigned a male and a female designation which are subsequently mated to form an electrical contact.
Fundamentally, an electrical connector is an electro-mechanical device comprising electrical conductors that are used to electrically and mechanically join other conductors, electrical terminals of apparatus and equipment to create an electrical circuit. The term electrical connector generally covers a wide range of devices designed to connect, for example, small conductors employed in communication circuits to large cables and bus-bars. They are typically passive and consist of plugs (male) and jacks (female). The connection may be temporary, as for portable equipment, or may serve as a permanent electrical joint between two wires or devices.
Examples of prior art connectors include USB and HDMI plugs. The power levels for these connectors range from a few Watts to about 100 Watts (as, for example, for the recently released USB-C). These connectors are also constructed and rated to provide data capabilities of up to 10 Gbps or higher. In addition, there are numerous types of connectors, ranging from a simplistic "Wire Nut" to more complex USB connectors or RF connectors, which mostly comply with known connection interface standards, for example, Ethernet, CAN, IO-Link, and RS485. The power levels for these connectors can range from microwatts to megawatts.
Typical connector types are in-line splice couplers, T-tap connectors, terminal lugs, and stud connectors. Couplers join conductors end to end. T-tap connectors join a through conductor to another conductor at right angles. Terminal lugs join the conductor to a drilled tongue for bolting to the terminals of equipment. Stud connectors join the conductor to equipment studs. The stud clamp is typically threaded or smooth to match the stud.
Other connector types include split-bolt connectors that are generally of a compact construction and are widely used for splicing and taping wires. The split-bolt connector comprises a bolt-shape casting having a wide and deep lengthwise slot. Conductors are inserted in the slot and a nut clamps the conductors together inside the bolt.
Yet another type of connector is an expansion or flexible connector that allows for limited motion between the connected conductors. The clamp portions of the connector are joined by short lengths of flexible copper braid and may also be held in alignment by a telescoping guide.
Another type of traditional connectors include separable type connectors that generally consist of matched plugs and receptacles. Separable type connectors are designed to separate or disconnect a conductor or group of conductors from a circuit or system. Separable type connectors are commonly used for the connection of portable devices and appliances to an electric wiring system.
Traditional connectors also include locking type connectors that are designed such that a plug is inserted and twisted through a shaped opening, locking it securely in place. Thus, when connected, locking type connectors are generally not separated by a mechanical strain such as a pull on the connected cord.
Electrical connectors are generally characterized by a variety of parameters which include, but are not limited to, the number of electrical connections (i.e. pins), physical construction, size, shape, contact resistance, insulation between electrical connections, ruggedness to vibration, resistance to contaminants and pressure, reliability, estimated lifetime (number of connect/disconnect operations before failure), and ease of connecting and disconnecting. The physical electrical connections, such as pins, of traditional connectors, provide a passage for electrical energy and data. In addition, characteristics of electrical power and data, such as power ratings and data rates are also utilized to characterize various electrical connectors.
Operation of these prior art connectors is typically dependent on the physical connection between two electrically conductive components, such as a pin and a respective pad, port or jack within which the pin is received. The physical connection occurs at a microscopic level over a relatively small interface area between the physically contacting electrically conductive components, such as a pin and a corresponding receptacle. Furthermore, traditional connectors generally require a significant amount of mechanical force to ensure an adequate physical connection of the connecting members so that an electrical signal is safely passed therethrough. This microscopic connecting area may become affected by different factors, such as harsh environments, vibration as well as wear and tear over time under normal operating conditions.
As such, the performance and reliability of these prior art connectors are largely dictated by the integrity of their physical connection. Furthermore, these traditional mechanical connectors generally require physical contact at a precise alignment to function properly.
Furthermore, wired connectors typically do not allow any relative motion between the male and the female portions. Over time, due to this physical contact, these mechanical connection points typically experience forces that can fatigue and damage the pin or port, thereby preventing proper functionality. Such prior art connectors may wear, flex, or may become corroded or damaged. As a result, the physical connection between the corresponding male and female portions such as a pin and respective port may become compromised, thereby resulting in a loss of data or electrical energy transfer therebetween due to an impaired or inoperable connector. Contamination, moisture and liquid ingress in a consumer, medical, military or industrial environment may pose undesirable problems, including outright failure to perform which may result in hazardous, unsafe or threatening conditions. In addition to improper functionality due to faulty physical connections, methods of wired communication, such as Universal Asynchronous Receiver and Transmitter Protocol (UART), Inter-Integrated Protocol (I2C), and Serial Peripheral Interface Protocol (SPI), may have limited bandwidth capabilities in comparison to various wireless methods of communication.
Moreover, developments in automation and robotics have increased the demand for transferring electrical power between dynamically moving parts and assemblies of many different industrial devices. There is a significant challenge to transfer power under these conditions using conventional wired electrical connectors.
In addition to the deficiencies given above, such prior art connectors typically comprise an electrical cord that extends from the connector. Such electrical cords are generally not desired as they may also become damaged, resulting in a loss of data or energy transfer. Furthermore, such electrical cords may excessively occupy critical space and become an impediment to the user. Moreover, exposed or damaged cords may contaminate a sterilized environment. Furthermore, such exposed or damaged cords, for example, cords that have lost their electrical insulation, may become a hazard and potentially cause electrical shock to both humans and animals.

Method of making a wireless connector transmitter module


A power converter, based on a modular architecture, in which a boost power factor correction circuit is provided as an input stage for both a primary power source and a battery power source. This arrangement permits the same power conversion stages which follow the boost power factor correction circuit to be used regardless of whether the primary or battery power source is in use. The power supply includes a controller for monitoring the primary power source voltage and the DC voltage produced at the output of the boost circuit and comparing each to a preselected reference. When a sufficiently large difference appears between each of those voltages and its respective reference, the controller connects the battery power source to the input of the boost circuit and simultaneously disconnects the primary power source therefrom. This switching of power sources is transparent to the load whose input voltage is maintained at a substantially constant level by the boost power factor correction circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of "uninterruptable" power supplies and, more specifically, to an uninterruptable power supply which includes an apparatus for controlling the application of a primary power source and a battery power to a load.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Many types of electronic equipment are powered by batteries to achieve desired functionality. In smaller equipment, such as laptop computers, it is often desirable to use a battery power supply for portability. Larger equipment, such as a "minicomputer" or mainframe computer, may rely on a battery power source as a back-up which is switched on-line during a failure in a primary power source (i.e., the local electric utility). Such "uninterruptable" power supplies are thus intended to maintain a continuous supply of power in order to prevent or reduce down time of costly, critical equipment and also prevent loss of data during interruptions of utility supplied power.
A conventional uninterruptable power supply is connected to an AC primary power source, sometimes referred to herein as the "line." If the load served by the power supply requires DC as well as AC voltage, then the power supply includes one or more rectifiers to produce a DC voltage. The power supply also typically includes an array of batteries connected together to form a back-up power source capable of delivering sufficient current to power the load for a short time period. Finally, one or more power conversion stages are usually provided to convert the AC line voltage or rectified line voltage (or DC battery voltage) to appropriate levels for the load. Such conversion stages may also perform filtering or regulation functions. One type of conversion stage, known as an inverter, may be used to convert a rectified line voltage or DC battery voltage to a regulated and filtered AC voltage which is suitable for application to the load.
Conventional uninterruptable power supplies exhibit several disadvantages, however. One major disadvantage is that a separate battery power conversion stage is often required to convert the DC voltage produced by the battery power source to appropriate AC or DC levels for the load. This battery power conversion stage is costly to implement, yet little used, since it is needed only during presumably short, infrequent failures of the primary power source. Moreover, the presence of the battery power conversion stage adds to the packaging volume of the power supply and may interfere with or prevent the attainment of other design objectives such as "modularity" (i.e., the ability to construct the power supply from discrete units having common interfaces).
A conventional alternative arrangement to providing a battery power conversion stage is to connect the battery power source directly to a DC bus, which in turn is connected to the power conversion stages which normally receive the rectified line voltage. The major disadvantage of this arrangement is that the inputs of the power conversion stages directly sourced by the batteries must be designed to accommodate input voltages which typically vary over large dynamic ranges. This is due to the fact that the magnitude of the voltage produced by the battery power source varies significantly as the batteries discharge. Again, such power conversion stages tend to be more expensive to implement than those with a more limited input range and also tend to adversely affect other design objectives.

Power converter with controller for switching between primary and battery power sources


An elongated frictional drive pad is attached to an uppermost surface of a drive chain for powering a plurality of rollers in a roller bed. The drive pad is connected to the chain by a plurality of fastening pins which have body portions and enlarged end caps connected to the body portions. The enlarged end caps have diameters greater than the body portions.

Discrete commodity handling has become increasingly important in the information age. Presently, computer processing and telecommunication technology enable businesses to explore the global marketplace, often processing orders for products from distant markets in a matter of seconds. However, such international market access, while theoretically broadening the product market, is often limited by the logistical challenges presented in moving a product from producer to international consumer.
The logistical process utilized by industries to hasten the response to this seemingly instantaneous demand has been through the streamlining of their internal production and shipping practices. One tool utilized by industry to effectuate such streamlining is roller bed conveyor technology. Conveyor technology has grown from the basic inclined bed of skate wheel rollers in which products are propelled by their own inertia or simple gravity, to multi-level computer-controlled delivery systems. Automated conveyors in particular offer industry the ability to move and channel articles in bulk to any location within a facility quickly, offering substantial reduction in time and labor.
Automated conveyor systems such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,281 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,659 exemplify the type of frictional drive means common throughout the industry. Typically, a frictional sheet belt comprised of rubber or similar material is utilized to drive a plurality of skate wheel rollers. Despite the technological advances in "smart" accumulating conveyor control, modular conveyors etc., the dependability of such automated conveyors is in large part a function of their drive system.
The present state of the art in automated roller bed conveyor drives suffers from the drawbacks of the present frictional drive configuration. Specifically, the frictional drive belt element has a lifespan naturally limited by the loading and usage of the conveyor roller bed, but as often the case with the present configuration, uneven loading decreases the lifespan of the frictional drive belt by increasing the wearout rate and necessitating more frequent belt replacement. Moreover, uneven loading in conveyors utilizing the present configuration is likely to demand careful alignment and/or special devices such as idler rollers, pulleys, etc. to insure proper tracking of the frictional belt over the free moving caster rollers. Mistracking is further aggravated when uneven loading of the belt occurs, as when products accumulate more on one or the other side of the belt.
Decreased lifespan of drive belts due to premature wear necessitates simple belt replacement. However in high volume industries, particularly those with multiple conveyer tracks, such repeated loss of distribution capacity or "down time" frustrates the sole purpose of the system by further delaying product processing. Similarly, belt slippage and mistracking further frustrates the purpose of efficient and cost effective product processing by increasing the risk of product damage. Unpredictable drive forces may impel closely placed products together, damaging precision and fragile products, if not jolting them from the conveyor bed altogether.
The utilization of tracking and belt guidance mechanisms in the art has in some cases decreased belt wear and mistracking at the expense of overall conveyor reliability through the introduction of this additional system hardware.
Presently, an automated conveyor drive design is desired which offers the traditional components of frictional drive systems, that is, frictional conveyor bed coupling in a low cost belt design, but having the added feature of increased belt reliability absent the added requirement of belt guidance hardware.
A current drive system replaces the conventional belt with a chain having a drive pad mounted along one side of the chain. The chain has a run which extends along the length of the roller bed where the rollers are to be driven such that the drive pad frictionally engages the rollers to rotate them as the chain is advanced along the roller bed. The driver pad is subject to wear, damage, and/or contamination, and it must be replaced after intervals of use.


A method of heavy particle separation, including a primary separation stage which includes the steps of dropping, accumulating, concentrating and discharging of heavy particles and/or a secondary separation stage for concentrating heavy particles which includes the steps of infeeding, stilling and retaining such particles.

The inventor is aware of a variety of apparatus and processes that have been used for extracting heavy particles, such as gold, platinum, lead and the like, from ore, gravel or sand, earth, including placer ore for example in respect of alluvial gold, and the like. Such apparatus and methods suffer from certain problems including an inability to deal with a broad range of particle sizes and a failure to recover fine particles. This reduces the efficiency and hence the profitability of such recovery systems.
Another disadvantage is that certain recovery systems involve the use of large quantities of water. Such large quantities of water are not always available at a site where, for example, gold-bearing placer ore is found and processed. Even in localities where large quantities of water are available, such usage can impact negatively on the environment, and hence large holding ponds or holding tanks are required.
Another disadvantage of conventional placer ore recovery systems is that a surge is created in water flowing through the system with each new load of gravel that is added to the system. This results in loss of fine gold particles.
Further disadvantages of for example existing gold recovery systems include an extended clean-up time and a large volume of concentrate which add significantly to the cost of operations; the large size of equipment; high capital cost and difficulty of transporting such equipment.
The inventor is also aware of the apparatus and process disclosed in his U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,584, which was granted and published on 28 Apr. 1992. This patent describes an outer and inner barrel arrangement. The inner drum has an upper fragmentation section, an intermediate trommel section and a lower discharge section. A spray of water is directed into the inner barrel. The ore is separated into large tailings that are discharged from the lower end of the inner drum and fine, light tailings from the outer drum. Heavy, fine portions of the material are carried by a spiral on the inside surface of the outer drum and discharged into the upper end of a sluice box from the upper end of the outer drum. The sluice box includes the plurality of landings upon which heavy material, such as gold, collect. The outer drum may be vibrated to assist in the recovery process.


Examples of apparatus and methods for transmutation of an element are disclosed. An apparatus can include a neutron emitter configured to emit neutrons with a neutron output, a neutron moderator configured to reduce the average energy of the neutron output to produce a moderated neutron output, a target configured to absorb neutrons when exposed to the moderated neutron output, the absorption of the neutrons by the target producing a transmuted element, and an extractor configured to extract the desired element. A method can include producing a neutron output, reducing the average energy of the neutron output with a neutron moderator to produce a moderated neutron output, absorbing neutrons from the moderated neutron output with the target to generate a transmuted element, and eluting a solution through the target to extract a desired element. In some examples, the target includes molybdenum-98, and the desired element includes technetium-99m.

Field
The present disclosure relates generally to apparatus and methods for transmutation of elements, and in particular, to apparatus and methods for the transmutation of molybdenum-98 to generate technetium-99m.
Description of the Related Art
Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) is a workhorse isotope in nuclear medicine and is widely used in diagnostic medical imaging. Tc-99m is typically used to detect disease and study organ structure and function. Technetium-99m is a metastable nuclear isomer of technetium-99 (Tc-99) with a half-life of 6 hours and emits 140 keV gamma ray photons when it decays to technetium-99. The gamma rays can be used for medical imaging. The U.S. supply of Tc-99m is generally produced by irradiating highly enriched uranium (HEU) in a reactor, extracting the fission product molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) from the HEU targets, and collecting Tc-99m that is produced when Mo-99 spontaneously beta decays with a half-life of 66 hours.

Apparatus and methods for transmutation of elements


A method of providing memory accesses for a multi-core processor includes reserving a group of pins of a multi-core processor to transmit either data or address information in communication with one or more memory chips, receiving memory access requests from the plurality of processor cores, determining granularity of the memory access requests by a memory controller, and dynamically adjusting the number of pins in the group of pins to be used to transmit address information based with the granularity of the memory access requests.

The present application relates to high-performance multi-purpose computer processors, and in particular, to processors that include internal memory controllers that control accesses to external memory chips.
The number of processor cores in a multi-core processor has increased rapidly in recent years. The computing performance of the multi-core processors is becoming increasingly limited by the bandwidths of the multi-core processors' accesses to external memory chips. Let P denotes the overall bandwidth (in GB/s) of data and address pins of the chip, D be the data bandwidth (in GB/s), and A be the bandwidth of address information (in GB/s), we have P=D+A. Given a fixed total number of data and address pins (i.e. constant P) and a clock rate, the D-to-A ratio is fixed in conventional processor architectures.
In some designs, data and address buses (and pins) are separated. If there is only a single memory controller, most pins are used for transferring data, and D is almost equal to P. For example, if there are 256 data pins connected to DDR3 chips (with consecutive data transmissions of burst length 8), the ideal granularity of memory accesses is 256 Bytes. Shorter memory accesses will not fully utilize the bandwidth. Most applications in cloud computing and transaction-processing use 4˜8 bytes (integers and floats) per operation. For a computing task with mostly 8-byte accesses, data utilization is only 3% for such a single memory controller configuration.
Adding memory controllers with independent address buses decreases the above described memory-access granularity, requires more address pins, and reduces the data bandwidth D. The D-to-A ratio remains fixed. For example, 32 memory controllers are needed to reduce 256-byte granularity to 8 bytes per memory channel. Addressing GB-scale memory requires up to 32 bits for addressing. Theoretical limit for D is 67% of P (64 bits/(64 bits+32 bits)=67%). In reality, when the timing for addressing in typical DDR3 is considered, the actual data bandwidth D for computing tasks is below 50%.
In another design that is commonly seen in low-end processors in embedded systems, data and address buses are shared and reused alternately for data or addressing purposes over time. This type of processors has the benefit of simple packaging configuration with the total pin count close to the number needed for addressing only. However, since the D-to-A ratio is also fixed, this type of design has the same drawbacks as the previously described designs; it also cannot provide both addressing and data performances.
Other techniques have attempted to enhance the utilization of bandwidth by exploiting data locality, but have only achieved limited improvements. These techniques assume the conditions of fixed memory access granularity and constant D/A ratio. They depend on cache hierarchies to store perfected or to-be-reloaded data. However, cache is not scalable in multi-core processors: more processor cores in a multi-core processor results in smaller cache per processor core, which decreases hit rate. Moreover, during the short span of a cache, it is unlikely that the cache line acquired by one processor core happen to be requested by another processor core. As a result, caching becomes less effective when the number of processor cores is increased. In General Purpose Graphics Processing Unit (GPGPU), every 32 threads are grouped into a warp unit to execute vector instructions in a Single-Instruction Multi Data (SIMD). It enables, within a single task, alternate accesses to different memory addresses among multiple threads, without explicit data exchanges among threads in source codes, thus simplifying programming. But this approach is only effective for large data blocks each associated with continuous addresses (for GPGPU, 32 bytes typically). In practice, many processing tasks have data blocks less than 8 bytes with distributed memory addresses, which leads to very low data bus utilization. Consequently, although GPGPU technology can rarely double the performance of graphic computing (such as finding the shortest path between two points), even if it can speed up scientific computing by tens of times. In conclusion, if the D/A ratio is high at the processor-memory interface, data exchange within the multi-core processor can enhance data utilization and simplify coding, but cannot solve the problem of low memory bandwidth utilization in the presence of distributed access patterns.
There is therefore an urgent need for improving computing performance of multi-core processors in different types of computation applications.

Efficient method for memory accesses in a multi-core processor


An RFID events processing system includes a rules database having filtering rules and complex event rules, a primitive event filtering unit for receiving a plurality of primitive events to generate filtered events based on the filtering rules, and a complex event detection engine which receives the filtered events and detects complex events based on the complex event rules.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to processing of radio frequency identification (RFID) events, and, more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for processing complex RFID events.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
RFID technology uses radio-frequency waves to transfer data between readers and moveable tagged objects. Thus it is possible to create a physically linked world in which every object can be numbered, identified, catalogued, and tracked. RFID is automatic and fast, and does not require line of sight or contact between readers and tagged objects With such significant technology advantages, RFID has been gradually adopted and deployed in a wide area of applications, such as access control, library checkin and checkout, document tracking, smart box, highway tolls, supply chain and logistics, security, and healthcare.
RFID technology enables the identification and tracking of physical objects though an Electronic Product Code (EPC) tag. Electronic Product Codes are part of an identification scheme for universally identifying physical objects and are defined by EPCGlobal. By tagging objects with an EPC, the identifications and behaviors of these objects can be precisely observed and tracked.
A simple RFID system is illustrated in FIG. 1. The RFID system consists of a host computer 110, an RFID reader 120, an antenna 130 (often combined with a reader), and an RFID tag 140.
The RFID tag 140 can be read-only or read-write, and the RFID tag's 140 memory can be factory or field programmed. The RFID tag 140 is uniquely identified by an EPC stored in its memory. EPCglobal classifies RFID tags into five classes as shown in Table 1. Class 0 and 1 are read-only; Class 2 tags are read-write by readers; Class 3 tags come with onboard sensors that can write data into the tags; Class 4 tags are actually wireless sensors used for sensor networks; and Class 5 tags are readers.
TABLE 1EPC Classes of RFID tags.ClassDescription0Read-only. Factory Programmed ID.1Write once read only. Factory or user programmed ID.2Read-write. Users can read and write to tag's memory froma writer (also a reader).3Read-write with onboard sensors. Sensors write measurementto tags' memory.4Read-write with integrated transmitters. Active tags thatcan communicate with other class 4 tags or readers.5Readers. Wireless networked readers that can communicatewith each other.
The RFID reader 120 sends energy through radio frequency (RF) signal to the RFID tag 140 for power, and the RFID tag 140 sends back a modulated signal with data with includes the EPC and possibly some additional data. The RFID reader 120 then decodes and sends the data to the host computer 110.
RFID readers can be mounted at a fixed point such as a warehouse entrance/exit or point of sale. RFID readers can be deployed at different locations and networked together, which provides an RFID-based pervasive computing environment. This is illustrated in FIG. 2, where L1-L6 denote different locations mounted with readers. Tagged objects moving in this environment will then be automatically sensed and observed with their identifications, locations and movement paths. RFID readers can also be mobile: tethered, hand-held, or wireless.
Data recovered by RFID Readers from RFID tags are also known as observations. Such observations are raw data and provide no explicit semantic meanings. They have to be transformed into semantic data properly represented with their own data models before they can be integrated into applications.
There are generally two types of RFID applications: i) history oriented object tracking and ii) real-time oriented monitoring. Both application types need to transform RFID observations into logic data. In history oriented tracking, RFID data streams are collected from multiple RFID readers at distributed locations, and transformed into semantic data stored in an RFID data store. The semantics of the data include location, aggregation, and temporal.
Location can be a geographic location or a symbolic location such as a warehouse, a shipping route, a surgery room, or a smart box. A change of location of an EPC-tagged object can be signaled by certain RFID readers. The location histories of RFID objects are then transformed automatically from these RFID readings, and stored in a location history relation in an RFID data store.
Aggregation is the formation of hierarchical relationships among objects. A common case is the containment relationship, illustrated in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 3, on a packing conveyer, a sequence of tagged items move through Reader A and are observed by the readers as a sequence of observations. Then a tagged case is read by Reader B as another observation. After that, all the items of this sequence are packed into a case. An aggregation relationship often implies important semantics. For example, a case with its contained items shares the same locations. Another similar concept is association, where tagged objects are associated with certain relationships. For example, a laptop may be associated with a list of authorized users; and a surgery kit may include a list of tools belonging to the kit.
RFID observations and their collected data are highly temporal-oriented. All events (e.g., observations) are associated with timestamps when the event happens. Observations can represent different semantics, including (1) location changes, (2) aggregation/association relationship changes, (3) start (or end) of operations/processes; and (4) occurrences of new events. Thus, a history oriented data model is essential to preserve the event and state-change histories, which are the key to tracking, tracing, and monitoring physical objects in a pervasive computing environment.
RFID is also widely used for real-time applications, where patterns of RFID observations implying special application logic can trigger real-time responses. For example, a company could use RFID tags to identify asset items and employees in the building, and only allow authorized users to move an asset item out of the building. When an unauthorized employee or a criminal takes a laptop with an embedded RFID tag out of the building, the system sends an alert to security personnel for response.
RFID events however, have their own characteristics and cannot be easily supported by traditional event systems. RFID events are temporally constrained Both the temporal distance between two events and the interval of a single event are critical for event detection. Such temporal constraints, however, are not well supported by traditional Event-Condition-Action (ECA) rules detection systems. In addition, non-spontaneous events, including negative events and temporal constrained events, are important for many RFID applications but difficult to support in past event detection engines. The actions from RFID events are quite different as well. They neither trigger new primitive events for the system, nor lead to a cascade of rule firings as in active databases. Thus, there is an opportunity to build a scalable rule-based system to process complex RFID events.

Method and apparatus for complex RFID event processing


A method of adjusting imaging apparatus including: (a) charging a photoreceptor surface to a first voltage; (b) selectively discharging portions of the charged photoreceptor surface, with a beam of electromagnetic energy such as a laser beam or LED output, having a controllable power, to form a predefined electrostatic latent test image on the photoreceptor surface; (c) developing, using a second voltage different from the first voltage, a layer of charged toner particles onto the selectively discharged portions of the photoreceptor surface, thereby providing a developed test image corresponding to the latent test image; (d) measuring the apparent optical density of portions of the developed test image, including a solid print portion and a predetermined gray level portion; (e) comparing the measured solid and gray level optical densities with predetermined, desired, solid and gray level optical densities; and (f) adjusting the second voltage and the power of the laser beam based on the comparison between the measured and desired solid and gray level optical densities.

A substantial number of factors affect the stability and calibration of electrophotographic imaging equipment such as printers and copiers. In general, a number of voltages are controlled to produce the required image density and other required properties. Such voltages include a voltage for charging a photoreceptor on which a latent image is formed, such as a roller voltage, a corotron voltage or a scorotron voltage. The voltage of the developer, both for liquid and powder toner development, is also controlled. Furthermore, control of the intensity of light used for selective discharge of the photoreceptor in forming the latent image is also important in optimal formation of the latent image. In laser printers, the intensity of light is controlled through control of laser power.
Repetitive use of the imaging apparatus requires systematic, gradual, changes in some of the factors mentioned above, such as the charge and discharge voltages of the photoreceptor to preserve proper operation of the system, while other factors are not dependent on time or the environment of the imaging apparatus.
Direct control of the physical parameters of the imaging apparatus has proven to be inadequate. Therefore, calibration methods are generally used for controlling the color of the printed image.
As known in the art, the color density of the final image generally depends on two factors, namely the optical density (OD) of solid printing and a look up table (LUT) of the imaging apparatus. The LUT is adapted to compensate mainly for the dot gain of the imaging apparatus, i.e. the difference between the actual, printed, dot area and the dot area defined by the corresponding digital input.
According to one known calibration technique, one of the voltages mentioned above is varied manually in accordance with variations in the solid optical density (OD) of the final image. For example, the voltage between the photoreceptor and the developer roller, also referred to as the "brightness voltage", may be varied in accordance with the solid OD of the final image. However, since the brightness voltage has an effect on the gray level density balance of the final image, this technique is insufficiently accurate for high quality printing.
Density-balance inaccuracies are particularly crucial in color printing, where the balance between colors is extremely sensitive to density balances within the different base colors, e.g. cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Therefore, complex calibration procedures, in which comprehensive adjustments are performed, must be frequently carried out on the imaging apparatus. Existing calibration procedures, which generally include the derivation of a new LUT, are highly time consuming, typically taking a few hours to perform.
Examples of existing calibration techniques are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,839,722, 5,070,413, 5,258,810 and 5,262,825.

C/A method of calibrating a color for monochrome electrostatic imaging apparatus


A glove electronic device includes a plurality of peripherals, each of which is affixed to an adhesive cover and attachable to a location in at least one of finger portions, a wrist portion and a hand portion of the glove electronic device. Configuration of the plurality of peripherals on the glove electronic device is adaptable during use of the glove electronic device. The device also includes a transceiver for sending information captured by one or more of the plurality of peripherals and for transmitting information to one or more of the plurality of peripherals. The device further includes a processor configured to operate one or more of the plurality of peripherals responsive to a movement associated with the glove electronic device or body signals being sensed from sensors attached or worn on the body.

Wearable computers are typically miniature electronic devices worn by a user. These devices enable interactions with users and capture data based on user interactions and movements. However, the information processed by wearable computers or other types of computers is typically unrelated to the ordinary movements of a hand performing a task. Consider an example where a delivery driver has to process address information on a package. A computer/scanner may be used to scan the address separate from hand movements, such as lifting of the package. Accordingly, the delivery person must perform separate actions to, for example, move the package and scan the package. In order to increase productivity and reduce the time associated with performing certain tasks, it is desirable to provide a computing device that takes into account hand movements.
Accordingly, there is a need for a wearable glove electronic device.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.