A filter has three filter elements, e.g., screens, for trapping particulate material while allowing passage of a fluid. The second sides of each of the first and second screens are connected to an intermediate passage, and the second side of the third screen, and the intermediate passage, are connected to a filter outlet port. The filter has two alternately selectable configurations. In a first configuration, the first side of the first screen is connected to a filter inlet port, and the first side of the second screen is connected to the first side of the third screen. In the second configuration the first side of the second screen is connected to the inlet port, and the first side of the first screen is connected to the first side of the third screen. The first and second screens alternately filter particulates which are subsequently flushed and then trapped by the third screen for periodic removal.

Filters are commonly used to remove solid material from a fluid by passing the fluid through a filter element. The filter element, which is typically a mesh or screen, or a porous material such as a solid foam block, wool, plastics, or the like, entraps solid materials that are insufficiently small to pass through passages in the filter element.
In one representative application, contaminated water from an aquarium is circulated through a filter to remove solids suspended or floating in the water. In aquaria, waste material can be converted by heterotrophic bacteria to ammonia which is extremely toxic to fish. Ammonia produced from an accumulation of waste can result in casualties to aquaria stock.
While present filters strain and remove solids from the re-circulated water. Known aquarium filters suffer from a number of disadvantages.
The filter element or media, particularly if made from polymer plastics, e.g., in the form of a sponge or floss, does not readily break down and can therefore be an environmental hazard when disposed.
Periodic maintenance is required to remove and clean the filter media. This can require a considerable amount of time and water to clean and 'unplug' particles trapped in the media.
Filtration efficiency depends upon the flow rate and volume passing through the surface area of the filter element or media. In general, a larger filter area will clog more slowly than a smaller filter area. However, as the filter media becomes more clogged, it begins to trap finer particles and gradually the filtering efficiency drops. Eventually, the filter becomes so clogged that it passes little or no water.
To eliminate, or at least delay the effects of clogging, the effective area of the filter element, and the pump used to circulate water through the filter, can be upsized. However, this upsizing involves additional expense.
During an initial phase of using a filter element, when the passages through the filter are relatively open and unclogged, large particles of uneaten food or fish excreta can become trapped in the filter. Such particles can decompose before the filter element matures or is cleaned. Products resulting from this decomposition can endanger the health of the fish and can cause casualties. Although this situation can be remedied, typically by changing the aquarium water, this is time consuming and inconvenient.
Filters that use a flushing flow to clean filter elements by removing clogged particles trapped by the filter element are known.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,347 describes a water filter in which a valve is opened to cause water to flow across a filter element to dislodge and flush dirt away from the filter element. However, there is no backflush or reversal of flow through the filter element and during flushing of the filter element, the normal outflow is interrupted.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,491 describes a flow diversion arrangement for a twin tank filter system. In a backwash mode, water comes in through a main inlet and is sent to an in-service filter tank in a normal flow direction. This flow, after filtering by the tank filter, leaves that tank and a regulated portion of flow returns to a second tank (that being backwashed) in a direction opposite the normal flow direction. The reverse flow cleans out the second filter tank and dirt, etc. flows out the tank inlet passage and exits through the backwash passage. The back wash outlet does not connect to the normal flow destination. It may be connected to another container for removal of dirt, or may simply be drained away.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,898 describes a filter device having a fluid supply duct which is connected with a fluid removal duct by at least two partial fluid ducts. A filtering element, a valve blocking element, and a stop valve are each located in each of the two partial fluid ducts. Each blocking element can be moved between a first (open) position, in which the fluid flowing through the partial fluid duct in which it is located is filtered, and a second (closed) position, in which the fluid is filtered in the other partial fluid duct, whereas at the same time the filtering element provided in the partial fluid duct in which it is located is washed by the fluid flowing in the reverse direction. Furthermore, each blocking element can be brought from the first position into the second position and vice versa by rotating the blocking element. The flushing fluid flowing in the reverse direction and carrying particulate matter flushed from the filtering element, is drained away externally of the device to the atmosphere.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,347 describes a backflushing water filter with a cylindrical element through which fluid being filtered flows radially inward. This flow direction is reversed during a flushing cycle. It is said that the filter can be periodically cleaned without interrupting the flow of filtered fluid to a user. However, a reduced output flow rate or pressure may occur because some of the fluid is flushed back through the filter element to a drain.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,794 describes a filter. During a normal flow phase, fluid to be filtered, e.g. water contaminated with solids, is passed from an inlet port, through a filter element, and to an outlet port. During a cleansing phase, the normal inlet and outlet ports are closed and flushing inlet and outlet ports are opened to cause a flushing fluid to flow through the filter element in a reverse direction to the normal flow. A pair of such filters may be arranged in parallel so that the normal fluid flow occurs in one filter while the other is being flushed with the reverse flow. A reversal of these roles occurs periodically, e.g. when the pressure differential across the in-service filter is indicative of a degree of contamination of the in-service filter. A separate supply of clean flushing fluid is required and the contamination removed from the filter element is entrained in the flushing fluid which is drained away.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,727 describes a self-cleaning backflushing water filter for filtering particulate from a fluid flow stream such as water. A segmented filter element is backwashed or flushed clean in response to a cyclic on-off supply of the fluid. The filter has a housing with inlet and outlet fittings for in-line connection along a water supply conduit, down stream of an on-off valve. The segmented filter element is supported within the filter housing, with a first filter segment aligned with an inlet port for filtering water. When the water supply is turned on, filtered water passing through the first filter segment initially backwashes through a second filter segment with increasing line pressure to flush prior-collected particulate thereon through a flush port. When the line pressure reaches a predetermined level, a normally open and pressure responsive flush valve closes the flush port. Thereafter, with further increased line pressure, a pressure responsive outlet valve opens an outlet port to permit flow of filtered water through an outlet fitting in the housing. When the water supply is turned off, a pressure responsive index mechanism rotates the filter element for reversing the positions of the first and second filter segments relative to the inlet and flush ports, so that water is filtered by the second filter segment and particulate is flushed from the first filter segment when the water supply is next turned on. The flushing fluid, with entrained flushed particulates, is flushed from the flushing port, and is therefore lost from the flow which issues as the filtered flow at the outlet.


A rotary magnetic field device for use in a dc motor or generator, or an ac motoer or generator. The device has a permanent magnet rotor, stator field windings and an outer cylindrical stator piece preferably being a continuous wire wrapping. The stator wire is magnetically permeable (silicon iron or steel). The stator wire, being transverse to the magnetic field assures low eddy current loss. The rotor is a material having a high energy product (BH.sub.max) preferably a neodymium-iron-boron compound. When used as a dc motor, the motor is characterized by exhibiting no ripple and economy of construction.

A number of traditional rotating field devices, particularly d.c. motors have been of the type having a permanent magnet (PM) stator rotating armature brush commutator design. In recent years, materials and electronic devices have become available which make possible the construction of permanent magnet rotating field devices in which the magnetic material is contained in the rotor and the electric fields which spin the motor are generated by stator windings surrounding the rotor. Since device efficiency is largely a function of the volume of copper in the windings, the extra copper contained in the stator region of such devices gives this design approach an efficiency advantage for the same size and weight.
In these devices, the electric current is supplied to the spinning windings by sliding contacts on the shaft (called the commutator). As the shaft turns, the direction of the electric current in the windings is automatically switched at the proper time by the placement on the shaft of pads which receive the brush contacts. In the case of brushless devices, the permanent magnet rotates and the windings are stationary so that the switching of the electric current at the proper time to cause the rotor to spin must be accomplished in another way. This is done by electronically switching the electic current supplied to the windings in response to sensing the position of the rotor, usually through the use of optical or magnetic sensors or by analysis of the back e.m.f. waveforms.
FIG. 1 is a sectional radial view showing the configuration of a state of the art PM brushless device such as a dc motor. There is shown a magnet rotor 12 surrounded by a yoke 14. The inner surface of the yoke is proximal to the outer surface of the rotor except that there is an array of slots 16 extending parallel to the axis of the motor in which the windings 18 are captured. The inner face of the yoke 14 is as close as feasible to the surface of the rotor 12 ending in a foot 20 that forms an arc concentric with the radial surface of the rotor magnet 12. The space between the feet 20 and rotor magnet 12 is called the "gap" and the construction is intended to concentrate the flux from the energized windings in the gap.
The flux in the gap of the conventional PM dc motor is, ideally, fixed by the magnet rotor 12 and is little affected by the armature currents. The slots 16 generate what is called "reluctance" torque due to the alternating attraction and repulsion forces between the rotor poles and the slots, causing a ripple in the motor torque.
FIG. 2 shows the form of the magnetic field flux pattern for a conventional PM rotating field device such as a dc motor. Only the left hand side of the pattern is diagramed - - - a diagram of the flux pattern of the right hand side would be a mirror image. The walls of the slots 16 form a "magnetic" circuit which defines a highly permeable path for the concentration of magnetic flux.
There are a number of distinct advantages for rotary field devices such as brushless PM motors. The electric energy supplied to the motor is (primarily) converted into kinetic energy (shaft rotation) and heat (friction and electric losses). Greater efficiency means that more of the electrical energy is converted into kinetic energy and less into heat. Radio frequency noise from brushes is absent, making the motor more interference friendly. Brushes wear out, necessitating maintenance, and also spark, making them dangerous to use in explosive atmospheres. At large rpm's the brushes tend to "fly" over the contacts, thereby increasing the contact resistance, which generates heat, limits the performance of the motor and accelerates the wear on brushes. The brushless motor has none of these disadvantages and therefore has more power, is more reliable and lasts longer than its brush commutated counterpart.
A major source of energy loss in rotating field devices such as a motor occurs in the yoke due to induced or "eddy" currents caused by the changing magnetic fields. To reduce this loss, the yokes are conventionally formed as a stack laminated from many patterns stamped from thin metal sheet. The laminations electrically insulate the sheets thus keeping the eddy currents from propagating in the induced direction. This process of stamping and lamination is one of the more costly steps in the manufacture of the conventional motor.
The development, starting in the mid-1980's, of permanent magnet materials formed of neodymium-iron-boron provides matrials having an extremely high energy product (BH.sub.max). Recently, grain oriented material with energy product values of 30-47 MGOe (mega-gauss-oersteds) have become generally available.
The primary disadvantage of brushless motors is the extra expense and technology required in the electric commutation of the windings.

Constant reluctance rotating magnetic field devices with laminationless stator


A recrystallized silicon carbide body is provided that has a resistivity of not less than about 1E5 Ω cm and a nitrogen content comprising nitrogen atoms bonded within the body, wherein the nitrogen content is not greater than about 200 ppm.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure is generally directed to silicon carbide bodies, and particularly directed to recrystallized silicon carbide bodies having a high electrical resistivity.
2. Description of the Related Art
The semiconductor device industry continues to move forward at a quickening pace driven by the need to produce smaller devices, particularly driven by the need to produce more devices per wafer. This has lead to the continued development of smaller devices produced on larger wafers, which naturally allows for a greater number of devices per wafer and thus increased production. In addition to the movement towards processing of devices on larger wafers, some industries are moving away from batch processing to single wafer processing (SWP) technologies. Many fabricators have found that a change from batch processing to single wafer processing enables improved control of the devices made on each wafer. Moreover, a change from batch processing to SWP notably reduces wafer-to-wafer variations. Accordingly, because processing control is essential when forming nanometer sized layers required for state of the art devices, SWP enables fabricators to improve their production. Additionally, because only one wafer is processed at a time, the scalability of the process is improved over batch processing platforms and therefore allows fabricators more flexibility in processing wafers of increasing size.
Providers of these platforms are continuously searching for components that will improve the capabilities of the SWP platforms. Accordingly, such components would have improved physical and chemical characteristics, as well as durability and compatibility with other components and the wafers being processed. As such, the industry, and particularly the SWP industry, continues to demand improved components and materials for incorporation into SWP platforms.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.


The disclosure provides novel programmable targeting sequences and applications thereof. The targeting sequences can be engineered for binding to proteins, polypeptides, and other macromolecules.

The harnessing of biological diversity is providing advances in human health, agriculture and industry. Available methods offer limited variability and do not offer the diversity of structure and function found in nature. The invention expands the repertoire of tools and techniques for targeting and modifying biological systems and components.
Citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.

Target recognition motifs and uses thereof


The module comprises an input/output access point at a first end of a waveguide with a square cross section, called a square waveguide, two access points made of waveguides with a rectangular cross section, called rectangular waveguides, placed side by side at a second end of the square waveguide and a septum positioned in the square waveguide at the end of a separation region common to the two rectangular waveguides in order to allow the production of two circular polarizations of opposite handedness each associated with a rectangular waveguide. The module is arranged so as to form a diplexer in which the septum is included and where the access points by rectangular waveguide are extended by filters, each access point being endowed with a filter provided in order to transmit a frequency band which is different. The steps of the septum are dimensioned so as to compensate for reflections.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a frequency-separator waveguide module with double circular polarization more particularly intended to serve as an antenna access module for a transmitter-receiver operating simultaneously in two frequency bands and with circular polarizations which are opposite for transmission and for reception.
2. State of the Art
This type of transmitter-receiver and, consequently, this type of module are especially intended to be used in systems transmitting and receiving at high bit rates via low-orbit satellites. The possibility of simultaneous transmission and reception with the same access point to a system means that it is possible to obtain high isolation between the transmission path and the reception path, at the antenna access point, and double circular polarization with a high degree of purity of polarization over a large frequency band. Right circular polarization for the transmission path and left circular polarization for the reception path are, for example, chosen. Cross-polarization of less than −25 dB, corresponding to an axial ratio of less than 1 dB, at the transmission access point and at the reception access point is, for example, sought.
A conventional approach for obtaining circular polarization from a linearly polarized field is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1. Said approach combines an exciter 1 with a polarizer 2 made using waveguide technology. The exciter 1 separates a frequency band Tx used in transmission and a frequency band Rx used in reception. The polarizer 2 generates circular polarization, the handedness of which depends on the orientation of the electric field vector, as symbolized by the labels RCP and LCP, one assumed to correspond to right polarization and the other to left polarization.
A known waveguide component which makes it possible to produce such circular polarizations is a system with a central septum where steps produced on the septum border create a horizontal field which recombines with a vertical input field in order to produce circular polarization. In a known embodiment, shown schematically in FIG. 2, the polarizer 2 comprises two access points 3A, 3B made of waveguide with a rectangular cross section, symmetrically arranged with respect to a central plane of line XX′, which join each other at an end which is extended by a septum 4, in order to open out into a waveguide portion 5 with a square cross section where the septum is placed. The right or left circular polarization is obtained by the progressive creation of a horizontal electrical field vector, by the steps on the plate forming the septum 4 and the recombination of this horizontal vector with the vertical vector corresponding to the linear polarization of the access point 3A or 3B from which it comes. The two access points 3A and 3B therefore make it possible to produce two circular polarizations having orientations which are opposite for two different frequency bands at the access point 3C which constitutes the end of the portion 5 with a square cross section. The latter may possibly be fitted with a normal transition (not shown), making it possible to pass from a square section to a circular section, if necessary.
The separator 1 is combined with the polarizer 2 in order to separate the transmission Tx and reception Rx paths for each of the access points 3A and 3B. Provision is made to absorb, via a load, the band which is not useful at each of these access points 3A, 3B.
This is because, if the access points 3A and 3B are used alone, without a separator as envisaged above, there is a reflection of the frequency band which is not used at one access point, that is therefore of the band used for reception in the case of an access point used in transmission and vice versa. The consequence of these reflections in the direction of the septum results in mismatching of the polarizer. This is the reason for inserting a load, in this case assumed to be 50 ohms, in one arm and, for example, in an arm 6A parallel to the arm 7A at the access point 3A where the arm 7A is used for transmission, and the reason for inserting a similar load in the arm 6B parallel to the arm 7B at the access point 3B where the arm 7B is used for reception.
However, this solution has the drawback of being bulky because of the use of a separator with multiple arms for access. Furthermore, it is expensive since the components employed, such as the filters, the transitions and the septum, are awkward to produce and assemble.

Frequency-separator waveguide module with double circular polarization


A headset device includes a headset body, a connection unit to move relative to the headset body, and a sensor unit having a light emitting element and a light receiving element to sense a biosignal, the sensor unit mounted to the connection unit to make contact with a human body. The sensor unit may measure a biosignal of a user, and the headset body and the sensor unit are indirectly connected by the connection unit. Accordingly, the sensor unit may be isolated from movement or vibration received through the headset body.

1. Field
One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a headset device, and more particularly, to a headset device and a method measuring a biosignal while a user is working out.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of sensors are used in order to measure biosignals such as an electrocardiogram or pulse. For example, an electrode sensor may be used for sensing a change of a current, or photo plethysmography (PPG) may be used for sensing a change of light. Such sensors may be installed in articles of clothing such as gloves, hats, and accessories. Sensors may allow the measurement in real time of a change in the physical condition of a user who is wearing the clothing. For example, a headset device including an earphone or headphones may be used to measure a change in the physical condition of a user who is exercising. A headset device is any device that may be placed on the head of a user, and may be used for easy measurement of a biosignal. Also, a headset device may provide music while measuring the biosignal. Accordingly, measurements may be performed with minimal interference to the user and an application range may be relatively broad.
In order to improve the sensitivity of a sensor and obtain reliable results, a user whose biosignal is being measured should remain relatively still. When the user is moving or exercising, any biosignal measured may be inaccurate. The inaccuracy may result from the movement of the sensor with respect to the user's body that results from jarring and movement during exercise. In addition, the change may be unpredictably irregular. Particularly, since the head is an area having a wide range of movement, any measurement made in the head area may be highly distorted during exercise.
Any distortion caused by user movement may vary depending on the direction of the movement in relation to a human body. As an example, a headset device may be more highly influenced by a movement in a perpendicular direction than a movement in a length-wise direction. The length-wise direction may indicate a direction parallel to the surface of the skin making contact with the sensor. The perpendicular, or transverse, direction may indicate a direction perpendicular to the surface of the skin making contact with the sensor, i.e. perpendicular to the length-wise direction.

Headset device and method measuring a biosignal


A shroud for use with a turbine blade is disclosed wherein the shroud provides at least one knife edge with at least one tooth for cutting a groove in a compliant rub strip that minimizes wear on the knife edge. The tooth is positioned along the knife edge inward of the ends of the knife edge and a distance from an airfoil stackline such that the moment created by the tooth mass and its effect on shroud bending stress is significantly reduced, thereby resulting in increased turbine blade durability.

Gas turbine engines have compressor and turbine blades of varying length in order to compress and expand the fluid flow passing through the engine. For the turbine section, as energy is extracted from the hot combustion gases, the fluid expands and the turbine section expands accordingly, including the stages of turbine blades. As turbine blade length increases, the blades become more susceptible to vibration and require dampening. In order to dampen the vibrations, a shroud is added to the blade, most often at the blade tip. The shroud serves to reduce blade vibrations by interlocking adjacent turbine blade tips, as well as to seal the blade tip region to prevent hot combustion gases from leaking around the blade tip and bypassing the turbine.
While this sealing and dampening design is effective, the use of a shroud causes additional load and stress on the turbine blade due to its shape, weight, and position. Specifically the shroud has a radial stress component on the blade attachment due to its weight and radial position. Furthermore, the shroud exhibits a bending moment at the interface region between the shroud and airfoil due to the large mass cantilevered along the edges of the shroud. This bending moment is further complicated by the mass due to a cutter tooth located along at the edge of the shroud knife edge. As the operating temperature of the turbine blade increases, it stretches radially outward and approaches an outer compliant rub strip that surrounds the row of turbine blades. The rub strip is typically fabricated from segments of honeycomb. The cutter tooth is designed to cut a groove in the honeycomb of the surrounding rub strip to allow the shroud sufficient area under all operating conditions to seal and not adversely contact the rub strip. Depending on the size and position of the cutter tooth, the bending moment between the shroud and airfoil increases, and the associated shroud bending stresses will increase by as much as 20%, thereby reducing the durability of the shroud.
An example of this type of shroud design is shown in FIG. 1. A shroud 10 is fixed to airfoil 11. Extending radially outward from shroud 10 is knife edge 12 having a cutter tooth 13 located at one end thereof. As discussed previously, cutter tooth 13 is designed to cut a groove in the honeycomb of the surrounding compliant rub strip to allow the shroud sufficient area under all operating conditions to seal and not adversely contact the rub strip. In this prior art shroud design, cutter tooth 13 is positioned at one end of knife edge 12 and while it cuts a sufficient groove into the surrounding rub strip for knife edge 12, cutter tooth 13 causes a large bending moment at the airfoil to shroud interface due to the distance from the center of the shroud to the cutter tooth. The present invention seeks to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a turbine blade shroud configuration having a cutter tooth design that results in lower shroud bending stresses.


A pixel circuit of a display device, an organic light emitting display device and a method for driving the same are discussed. The pixel circuit of the display device in one example includes an organic light emitting device emitting light through a current; a driving transistor controlling the current flowing in the organic light emitting device; a first capacitor connected between gate and source electrodes of the driving transistor; a second capacitor in which a data voltage is previously stored; and a switching unit charging the data voltage, which is stored in the second capacitor, in the first capacitor, and allowing the organic light emitting device to emit light by driving the driving transistor in accordance with the data voltage charged in the first capacitor and at the same time charging a data voltage of next frame in the second capacitor.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic light emitting display device, and more particularly, to an organic light emitting display device that may improve luminance while preventing picture quality from being deteriorated.
Discussion of the Related Art
A stereoscopic image display device allows a left-eye image and a right-eye image, which have binocular parallax, to be separated from each other and be displayed respectively for a left eye and a right eye of a viewer. In other words, the stereoscopic image display device allows the right-eye image to be perceived by only the right eye of the viewer and allows the left-eye image to be perceived by only the left eye of the viewer, whereby the viewer may view stereoscopic three-dimensional images. This stereoscopic image display device may be classified into a glasses mode and a glassesless mode.
The glasses mode realizes a stereoscopic image through glasses provided with a liquid crystal shutter. Such a liquid crystal shutter mode allows the left eye and the right eye to see their respective images different from each other. In other words, the stereoscopic image display device of the liquid crystal shutter mode alternately drives a left-eye liquid crystal shutter and a right-eye liquid crystal shutter of glasses to synchronize with an alternate display of a left-eye image and a right-eye image, thereby separating the left-eye image transmitting the left-eye liquid crystal shutter from the right-eye image transmitting the right-eye liquid crystal shutter and respectively providing the left-eye image and the right-eye image to the viewer.
Although this stereoscopic image display device of the liquid crystal shutter mode provides a stereoscopic effect by separating the left-eye image from the right-eye image, the stereoscopic image display device has a problem in that picture quality of a stereoscopic image is deteriorated due to crosstalk that allows a viewer to perceive a ghost image of the left-eye image and the right-eye image. In order to solve such a problem, as shown in FIG. 1, black frame insertion technique is used.
The black frame insertion technique inserts black image between every left-eye image L and every right-eye image R as much as sequential scan time periods scan 1 to scan 1080 of the left-eye image L and the right-eye image R and respectively opens a left-eye liquid crystal shutter L_LS and a right-eye liquid crystal shutter R_LS of glasses for three-dimensional image for a display time period of each of the left-eye image L and a display time period of the right-eye image R, whereby crosstalk of the left-eye image L and the right-eye image R is prevented from occurring.
However, the stereoscopic image display device of the liquid crystal shutter mode, to which the black frame insertion technique is applied, has a problem in that luminance is deteriorated due to the black image inserted between every left-eye image L and every right-eye image R.

Pixel circuit of display device, organic light emitting display device and method for driving the same


The present invention provides for a field emission device including an anode assembly and a cathode assembly, wherein the cathode assembly further includes a substrate, a plurality of electrically conducting strips deposited on the substrate, and a continuous layer of diamond material deposited over the plurality of electrically conducting strips and portions of the substrate exposed between the plurality of electrically conducting strips. The field emission device may further include a grid assembly including a perforated silicon substrate, a first dielectric layer deposited on the silicon substrate, and a first conducting layer deposited on the first dielectric layer, wherein the first dielectric layer and the first conducting layer have perforations coinciding with perforations of the silicon substrate. The grid assembly may further include a second dielectric layer deposited on an underside of the silicon substrate, wherein the second dielectric layer has perforations coinciding with perforations of the silicon substrate.

It has been discovered that certain diamond films with nanocrystalline diamond grains and with an inter-grain material consisting of a mixture of sp2 and sp3 structures are poor electron emitters, or do not emit electrons at all, after processing of the structure containing the diamond film with standard microelectronics processes, such as patterning, etching, and photolithography. Prior art techniques for utilizing diamond films as electron emitters within lamps or flat panel displays require such microelectronics processes in order to achieve the desired pixel structure for the lamp or a display. As a result, what is needed in the art is a structure and a method for manufacturing such a structure that does not require the application of such microelectronics processes on the diamond films.


A thermal printhead includes a substrate, a resistor layer formed on the substrate, an electrode layer formed on the substrate and electrically connected to the resistor layer, and an insulating layer. The electrode layer includes a first electrically conductive portion and a second electrically conductive portion spaced apart from each other. The resistor layer includes a heater portion that bridges the first electrically conductive portion and the second electrically conductive portion as viewed in the thickness direction of the substrate. The insulating layer includes a portion positioned between the electrode layer and the heater portion. This arrangement reduces formation of a eutectic region between the heater portion and the electrode layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermal printhead and a method of manufacturing a thermal printhead.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventionally known thermal printhead includes a substrate, a glaze layer, a heating resistor and an electrode. This type of thermal printhead is disclosed in e.g. JP-A-2012-51319. In the thermal printhead disclosed in this document, the glaze layer is on the substrate. The glaze layer serves to store the heat generated at the heating resistor. The heating resistor is on the glaze layer. The electrode includes two portions spaced apart from each other. The heating resistor has a heater portion that bridges these two portions.
During the use of the thermal printhead, the heater portion heats up to an extremely high temperature. When the heater portion heats up, a eutectic region may be formed at the portion where the heater portion and the electrode are in contact with each other. When a eutectic region is formed at the contact portion of the heater portion and the electrode, the characteristics of the heater portion or the electrode will change, which may cause the resistance of the thermal printhead to change to a value different from a desired value.

Thermal printhead and method of manufacturing the same


A device for continuous or semi-continuous casting of metal comprising a mould having a number of mould elements (1, 2) which together form a mould adapted for receiving a liquid metal (6), a mould supporting structure (30, 31) surrounding the mould and mechanically supporting it, and an induction coil (20) arranged close to the mould for reducing the contact pressure between the melt and the mould. At least one of the mould elements is divided into at least a first (1a, 2a) and a second (1b, 2b) part arranged so that they are electrically insulated from each other, the first mould element part being arranged before the second mould element part relative to the casting direction and said induction coil is arranged close to the first mould element part (1a, 2a).

In continuous or semi-continuous casting of metals and metal alloys, a hot melt is supplied to a chilled mould intended for continuous casting, that is, a mould that is open in both ends in the casting direction. The mould is normally water-cooled and surrounded and supported by a supporting structure. Usually, the supporting structure comprises supporting beams or supporting plates provided with inner cavities or channels for a coolant, such as water. The melt is supplied to the mould, whereby the metal solidifies and a cast strand is formed when it passes through the casting mould. When the cast strand passes out of the mould, it comprises a solidified self-supporting shell around a remaining melt.
To prevent the cast strand from adhering to the mould wall, an oscillatory motion is imparted to the mould. To further prevent the solidified self-supporting shell from adhering to the mould wall, a lubricant is usually supplied to the upper surface of the melt in the mould. Through the oscillations, so-called oscillation marks arise on the surface of the cast strand. If the solidified surface layer should adhere to the mould, this manifests itself as considerable surface defects and in certain cases as a ripping of the solidified surface layer.
One known way of preventing the occurrence of oscillation marks on the cast strand is to make use of electromagnetic casting (EMC). During electromagnetic casting, an ac field generates forces acting to separate the melt and the mould and thus reduce the contact pressure between the melt and the mould. Because of these separating forces, the risk of adhesion and the risk of oscillation marks are reduced. Further, improved conditions for lubricating the mould are achieved. In this way, the surface fineness of the finished casting may be improved.
The ac field that is needed during electromagnetic casting is obtained from a coil arranged at the upper end of the mould. This coil may have one or more phases. Preferably, a high-frequency alternating magnetic field is applied. Usually, the inductive coil is fed with an alternating current with a fundamental frequency of 50 Hz or more. For slabs, the frequency is preferably in the interval of 50–1000 Hz, but higher frequencies are feasible. The compressive forces that are generated by the high-frequency magnetic field reduce the pressure between the mould wall and the melt, whereby the conditions for lubrication are considerably improved. The surface quality of the cast strand is improved and the casting speed may be increased without jeopardizing the surface quality. A disadvantage that has occurred in connection with electromagnetic casting is that the induced power losses become very high.
A typical mould for casting of large castings comprises four plates made of copper or a copper alloy which together form a casting mould. These plates are supported by a supporting structure of plates and/or beams. To reduce the inductive power losses, it is known to use stainless steel in this supporting structure, but the power losses are still significant.
Swedish patent document No. 512691 discloses a device for casting of metal, where the power induced in the supporting beams and supporting plates of the mould is reduced, which in turn results in the total induced power losses being reduced. The disclosed device comprises a mould, an induction coil arranged at the upper end of the mould, and a mould supporting structure to mechanically support the mould. The mould comprises a number of mould elements, which are separated by means of partitions, each of which comprises an electrically insulating barrier. Each mould element is associated with a corresponding mechanically supporting mould supporting structure part and an electric conductor with an electrical conductivity that is higher than the electrical conductivity of the supporting structure.
The electric conductor is arranged close to the mould supporting structure part on that side of the mould supporting structure part that faces away from the mould. The barriers in the partitions break the current paths for the electric currents that are induced in the mould by the magnetic field, whereby the penetration of the melt by the magnetic field is facilitated and the induction power losses in the mould are minimized. The electric conductor provides an advantageous return path for the current that is induced by the high-frequency magnetic field, such that the induced power losses are minimized in the supporting structure. Admittedly, this mould arrangement reduces the induced power losses, but still the induced power losses are too high.


A back-flow prevention apparatus includes a screw which includes a metering portion and a screw head; a seal ring which is removably disposed on a rear portion of the screw head and which has a first resin passageway formed therein; a back-flow prevention ring which is disposed on a front portion of the screw head in such a manner as to be rotatable with respect to the seal ring and which has a second resin passageway formed therein; and a drive unit for selectively rotating the screw in a regular or reverse direction. A first positioning mechanism is disposed between the screw head and the seal ring and adapted to position the seal ring at a predetermined position with respect to the screw head. A second positioning mechanism is disposed between the screw head and the back-flow prevention ring and adapted to establish communication between the first resin passageway and the second resin passageway when the screw is rotated in the regular direction and to break the communication between the first resin passageway and the second resin passageway when the screw is rotated in the reverse direction. The second positioning mechanism also positions the back-flow prevention ring with respect to the screw head. The back-flow prevention apparatus can prevent resin movement associated with suck-back.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a back-flow prevention apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an injection molding machine has an injection unit. The injection unit has a heating cylinder in which a screw is disposed rotatably and in an advancingly-retreatively movable manner. Drive means rotates and advances or retreats the screw. In a metering step, the screw is retreated while being rotated in a regular direction, so that resin drops from a hopper and is melted and stored in a space located ahead of a screw head. In an injection step, the screw is advanced so as to inject the resin melt into a mold from an injection nozzle.
FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a main portion of a conventional injection unit.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a heating cylinder. The heating cylinder 11 has an injection nozzle 13 at its front end (left-hand end in FIG. 1). In the heating cylinder 11, a screw 12 is disposed rotatably and in an advancingly-retreatively movable manner. Unillustrated drive means rotates and advances or retreats the screw 12.
The screw 12 extends rearward (to the right in FIG. 1) within the heating cylinder 11. The screw 12 is connected at its rear end to the drive means and has a screw head 14 at its front end. A spiral flight 15 is formed on the surface of a metering portion 18 to thereby form a groove 16 along the flight 15.
In the thus-configured injection unit, in a metering step, the drive means is activated so as to retreat (move to the right in FIG. 1) the screw 12 while rotating the screw 12 in a regular direction. Resin pellets contained in an unillustrated hopper enter the heating cylinder 11 and are advanced (moved to the left in FIG. 1) through the groove 16. While being advanced through the groove 16, resin pellets are melted by an unillustrated heater, and resin melt is stored in a space located ahead of the screw head 14.
In an injection step, the drive means is activated so as to advance the screw 12. The resin stored in the space located ahead of the screw head 14 is injected into an unillustrated mold cavity from the injection nozzle 13, thereby filling the cavity.
In order to prevent backflow of the resin stored in the space located ahead of the screw head 14 in the injection step, a back-flow prevention apparatus is disposed.
Specifically, the screw head 14 has a conical head body portion 21 formed at its front section and a small-diameter portion 19 formed at its rear section. An annular back-flow prevention ring 20 is disposed around the circumference of the small-diameter portion 19, thereby defining a resin passageway 24 between the small-diameter portion 19 and the back-flow prevention ring 20. A seal ring 22 is disposed at the front end of the metering portion 18 such that the seal ring 22 can contact or separate from the rear end of the back-flow prevention ring 20.
Accordingly, in the injection step, when the screw 12 is advanced, the resin stored in the space located ahead of the screw head 14 is urged to move rearward, i.e., to flow rearward. However, resin pressure causes the back-flow prevention ring 20 to move rearward with respect to the screw 12. Thus, the rear end of the back-flow prevention ring 20 abuts the seal ring 22 to thereby effect sealing. As a result, the resin stored in the space located ahead of the screw head 14 is prevented from flowing rearward.
In contrast, in the metering step, when the screw 12 is retreated while being rotated in a regular direction, resin pressure causes the back-flow prevention ring 20 to move forward with respect to the screw 12. Thus, the front end of the back-flow prevention ring 20 abuts the rear end of the head body portion 21. Since axially extending cuts 25 are formed in the head body portion 21 in a plurality of circumferential positions, resin flow is not hindered.
However, in the above-mentioned conventional back-flow prevention apparatus, when suck-back is performed after the metering step is completed and before the injection step is started, the resin contained in the metering portion 18 is moved forward into the space located ahead of the screw head 14, causing variation in resin quantity stored in the space located ahead of the screw head 14.
Also, since through advancement of the screw 12 the flow-back prevention ring 20 is moved rearward with respect to the screw 12 to thereby effect sealing, sealing timing varies depending on the state of kneading and dispersion of resin, resin viscosity, resin temperature, and acceleration to a predetermined speed of the screw 12 at the time of starting the injection step. Accordingly, the quantity of back-flow resin varies.
Thus, there is devised a back-flow prevention apparatus which prevents resin movement associated with suck-back and variation in timing for effecting sealing.
FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a main portion of another conventional injection unit.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 32 denotes a screw which is disposed rotatably and in an advancingly-retreatively movable manner in an unillustrated heating cylinder. The screw 32 includes a metering portion 33 and a screw head 34 disposed at the tip end of the metering portion 33. A spiral flight 35 is formed on the surface of the metering portion 33 to thereby form a groove 36 along the flight 35. An internal-thread portion 42 is formed at the front end (left-hand end in FIG. 2) of the metering portion 33.
The screw head 34 includes a conical tip portion 37 formed at its front end, a cylindrical body portion 38 formed at its central section, a seal ring portion 39 formed at its rear section and in the form of a flange integral to the body portion 38, and an external-thread portion 41 formed at its rear end. Through screw-engagement between the external-thread portion 41 and the internal-thread portion 42, the screw head 34 can be fixedly attached to the metering portion 33. First resin passageways 45 are formed through the seal ring portion 39 between the front end face of the portion 39 and the rear end face of the portion 39 at a plurality of circumferential positions.
An annular back-flow prevention ring 43 is disposed around the circumference of the body portion 38 such that the rear end of the ring 43 is in the proximity of or in contact with the front ends of the first resin passageways 45. Second resin passageways 46 are formed through the back-flow prevention ring 43 between the front end face of the ring 43 and the rear end face of the ring 43 at a plurality of circumferential positions. A pin 51 is disposed through the body portion 38 at a predetermined position so as to stop rotation of the back-flow prevention ring 43, to bring the rear end of the back-flow ring 43 in the proximity of or into contact with the front end of the seal ring portion 39, and to prevent the back-flow ring 43 from coming off the screw head 34.
Arc engagement grooves 52 are formed in a front end portion of the back-flow prevention ring 43 at positions corresponding to the pin 51, so that both ends of the pin 51 engage the grooves 52. Each of the engagement grooves 52 is formed over a predetermined circumferential angle .theta.. As both ends of the pin 51 move along the engagement grooves 52, the screw head 34 and the back-flow prevention ring 43 rotate relative to each other by the angle .theta.. The first resin passageways 45 and the second resin passageways 46 are formed such that the passageways 45 are circumferentially shifted from the passageways 46 by the angle .theta.. Accordingly, as the screw head 34 and the back-flow prevention ring 43 are rotated relative to each other, the ring 43 assumes either a communication position where the first resin passageways 45 and the second resin passageways 46 align with each other to establish communication therebetween or a shutoff position where the communication between the passageways 45 and 46 is broken.
In the thus-configured back-flow prevention apparatus of an injection unit, in a metering step, when the screw 32 is retreated while being rotated in a regular direction, the screw head 34 is rotated in the same direction as is the screw 32. Accordingly, the seal ring portion 39 and the pin 51 are rotated in the same direction as is the screw 32. However, the back-flow prevention ring 43 remains stationary until the pin 51 abuts end walls of the engagement grooves 52. When the pin 51 abuts the end walls of the engagement grooves 52, the back-flow prevention ring 43 is in the communication position where communication is established between the first resin passageways 45 and the second resin passageways 46. Subsequently, the back-flow prevention ring 43 is rotated in the same direction as is the screw 32.
Accordingly, as the screw 32 is retreated while being rotated in the regular direction, resin contained in the metering portion 33 moves forward through the first and second resin passageways 45 and 46 and is thus stored in a space located ahead of the screw head 34.
When the metering step is completed as above, suck-back is to be performed. Before suck-back is performed, the screw 32 is rotated in a reverse direction by a predetermined angle not smaller than the angle .theta.. As a result, the screw head 34 is rotated in the same direction as is the screw 32. Accordingly, the seal ring portion 39 and the pin 51 are rotated in the same direction as is the screw 32. However, the backflow prevention ring 43 remains stationary until the pin 51 abuts the other end walls of the engagement grooves 52. When the pin 51 abuts the other end walls of the engagement grooves 52, the back-flow prevention ring 43 is in the shutoff position where the communication between the first resin passageways 45 and the second resin passageways 46 is broken. Subsequently, the back-flow prevention ring 43 is rotated in the same direction as is the screw 32.
Next, suck-back is performed so as to reduce resin pressure within the space located ahead of the screw head 34, thereby preventing the resin stored in the space from oozing through the tip of an unillustrated injection nozzle. At this time, even when the screw 32 is retreated, resin contained in the metering portion 33 does not move forward, thus preventing variation in resin quantity stored in the space located ahead of the screw head 34.
In the subsequent injection step, when the screw 32 is advanced, the resin stored in the space located ahead of the screw head 34 is urged to flow rearward. However, since the back-flow prevention ring 43 is in the shutoff position, the communication between the first resin passageways 45 and the second resin passageways 46 is broken.
As a result, the resin stored in the space located ahead of the screw head 34 can be prevented from flowing rearward. Thus, the quantity of resin to be injected remains constant, thereby preventing molded products from suffering short shot, burrs, or like defects.
In the thus-configured back-flow prevention apparatus, when the back-flow prevention ring 43 is in the communication position, communication is established between the first resin passageways 45 and the second resin passageways 46; and when the back-flow prevention ring 43 is in the shutoff position, the communication between the passageways 45 and 46 is broken. In order to properly effect the communication/shutoff function, the second resin passageways 46 must be adequately positioned in a circumferential direction with respect to the first resin passageways 45. This positioning can be easily attained through integral formation of the seal ring portion 39 with the body portion 38 and through adequate selection of position of a hole formed in the body portion 38 for receiving the pin 51.
However, the integral formation of the seal ring portion 39 with the body portion 38 involves a drawback that in the case of breakage of the seal ring portion 39, the entire screw head 34 must be replaced, resulting in higher cost.


A ridged base with a ridge above/adjacent to a platform zone providing surface(s) for a baby. The system preferably includes ridged base positioned over support base. Support base provides layer of flexibly firm material of depth. The ridged base may approximate any of multiple shapes. Wearer of system may chose shape optimized for them and/or best supports baby's positioning needs. The width of the baby feeding system preferably fits most nursing chairs. A separable cover attaching to a belt. Using the belt includes the belt adjustably fastened, after going around a person wearing the system. The worn version of the baby feeding system is a product of using the belt. The belt releases without tending to wake baby allowing wearer to create released baby feeding system, as a product of this process. A process choosing invention's components with commitment to pay revenue. Chosen component(s), system and revenue are process products.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to support pillow or pads that can be worn around the waist to support a baby during nursing, and/or to provide support of the forearms and free up wearer's hands while engaged in an activity such as reading.
2. Description of Related Art
Breastfeeding an infant is generally beneficial for both the mother and the child. Mother's milk provides the infant with needed antibodies to build healthy defenses against germs, essential fatty acids that promote strong development of the brain and nervous system, and proteins specifically designed for infant growth. Nursing provides benefits for the mother as oxytocin, which is released in the mother's body during nursing, contracts the mother's uterus to its pre-pregnant size. The mother-infant interaction of breastfeeding also provides time for the baby to bond with his or her mother and for the mother to learn how to respond to the baby's needs.
However, as mother's and infants often nurse over 1000 times during the first three months, muscle stress can develop in the mother's arms, neck, shoulders, and back, as well as tendonitis, myofibrositis, myofascitis, and/or carpel tunnel can develop in the mother's arms. Tendonitis will refer herein to an inflammation of the tendons. Myofibrositis will refer herein to the inflammation of the perymysium. Myofascitis will refer herein to the inflammation of the thin layer of fibrous tissue known as fascia, which surrounds muscles and attaches to bones. Carpel tunnel syndrome will refer herein to conditions involving the compression of a hand's median nerve as it passes through the wrist.
Stress on the back and hands can lead to improper positioning of the infant. The improper positioning makes satiating the infant difficult. Improper position may make breast problems, such as infections, more likely to develop in the mother due to incomplete drainage of the breast.
Many mothers give up on nursing in the early weeks or months following birth, rather than after the one-year period recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This decision may be in response to the physical distress discussed above, in addition to ongoing muscle fatigue that results from sleep deprivation and repetitive movements while caring for a newborn. Other factors contributing to this include but, are not limited to, mothers who have limited use of their hands due to a physical disability or pre-existing condition, and mothers who have fuller breasts, experience greater difficulties with positioning new-born babies properly at the breast.
Some pillows or pads have been designed to provide support of a nursing mother's forearms and lumbar region, in addition to the baby, and some previous devices attach directly to the wearer's waist through a waist belt or strap bringing the support pillow near the body of the wearer. Some nursing pillows elevate the infant's head higher than the infant's stomach.
However, currently available pillows or pads do not adequately support the newborn baby in a position that is in close enough proximity to the mother's nipple to make positioning of the newborn infant easy and head elevation of the infant fully optimal for feeding.
Another problem: none of the known prior pillows offer enough structural support of the baby to free up the mother's use of her hands, or to reduce apprehension of the baby rolling off the surface.
The existing pillows do not grow with the baby, but rather are designed as a single unit offering the same support to newborns, as well as to older and larger babies.
There are claims to simultaneously provide support for a baby and for the elbows, arms and hands of the feeder, easing the burden of holding the baby during feeding and freeing one or both arms for caressing the baby during feeding. However, the support offered to the baby, is inadequate. There is nothing that helps to reduce the baby's ability to roll from the surface or to hold the baby in the correct feeding position. If the mother were to remove both her hands from holding the baby, the baby could easily lose its latch from the mother's nipple and even roll from the support surface.
What is needed is an attachable device, which reduces the wearer's use of her hands while nursing. What is needed is an attachable device, which reduces the baby's ability to role from the surface. What is needed is an attachable device, which helps to support the baby's back so that the baby can be properly positioned on his or her side for nursing.
There are devices claiming to place the newborn infant in close proximity to the mother's nipple. However, newborn infants are often several inches short of reaching the mother's nipple while resting on the front support surface of these devices.
What is further needed is a support surface system that has specific features to aid with nursing newborns and that can then be modified to aid with nursing older babies and toddlers.
What is further needed is a support surface that can reduce the wearer's use of hands while reading.
What is further needed is a back support pillow with enough surface area to be positioned not only behind the lumbar area of the back but also extend support into the thoracic area of the back. Consequently, for extended periods of nursing, no additional pillow or pads would need to be inserted behind the wearer's upper-back for additional support.
What is further needed is a back support pillow, which adequately fits when mothers shift the device in order to place the baby in the football hold position.
There are devices, which describe built in elevation wedges on each end of the front surface support the baby in a feeding position. However, the front surface does not place the baby in close enough proximity to the mother's nipple making its capacity for elevating the baby's head ineffective. The inadequate elevation, size, and graduated slope built into these wedges do not adequately elevate the baby's head far enough above his or her abdomen.
Some devices have a surface described as sloping downwardly from side-to-side such that an infant supported on the midportion can be positioned with their head above their abdomen. However, it does not include a surface that supports the baby's back so that the baby can be properly positioned on his or her side for nursing. This lack of structural back support for the baby makes belly-to-belly contact between the mother and infant while nursing in the cradle-hold and cross-hold positions more difficult to achieve, and, tends to lessen the baby's ability to latch on to the mother's nipple for optimal feeding.
A big complaint about at least one prior art baby nursing system is that the hook and loop awakens baby. The inventor noticed that his wife used to put the baby down with the baby nursing system on, then go to another room and close the door to undo the hook and loop. Sometimes the baby still heard it and woke up. Women who put their babies to sleep in cribs cannot put the baby down with a baby nursing system on, so they remove it and wake up the baby.

Method and apparatus supporting babies being fed


A bi-directional log splitter having at least two stationary splitting wedges and a moveable ram therebetween for splitting wood, said splitter being mounted on a trailer where the splitter exerts a substantially equal force for both the exertion and the retraction strokes to increase the production of split wood.

Log splitting has been going on as long as man has been burning wood for fire. Until recently, logs were either split by hand using an ax, or using a pneumatic or hydraulic log splitter. The earliest log splitters were single direction log splitters, where a log was placed near a wedge and a ram pushed the log against the wedge, thereby splitting the log. However, these log-splitting devices were slow, and were not amenable to production methods and quantities required because each log required a single stroke of the ram, and the ram needed to be returned to the original position. In the spirit of increasing production, in the recent history, bi-directional wood splitting devices were invented in order to speed up the log splitting procedure.
In the past, certain attempts were made to make a log-splitting device which included two splitting wedges with a hydraulic ram therebetween in order to utilize each stroke of the ram to split logs, in both directions. These bi-directional log-splitting devices did not meet with much success, because the forces of the hydraulic ram were greater in one direction than in the other. For instance, most of the devices known to the inventor have a capacity of nearly 20,000 pounds of force in one direction, while only 8,000 pounds of force may be exerted on the return stroke. This meant that the operator of the log-splitting device needed to carefully select the logs that he would be splitting in order to match the logs with the force being exerted in either direction. Needless to say, this is cumbersome and unwieldy.
Such an attempt was made by Joseph T. Butas, Jr., in the disclosure in his U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,867 issued Aug. 17, 1996, in which a log splitter for use in a high production environment utilizes a four-way, step knife blade at either end of a longitudinal stroke. Although this invention utilizes a self-centering circular ram connected to a two-way hydraulic cylinder, it is apparent that unequal forces are experienced between the extension and the return of the hydraulic stroke.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,377 issued Sep. 28, 1982, to Daniel L. Hamel discloses a bi-directional log splitter, although it uses a double-faced log-splitting wedge secured to the rail generally mid-way of the stroke motion of the log transporting bed. The log-splitting wedge is arranged to engage and split logs traveling within the bed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,313 issued Nov. 22, 1983, to Richard E. Seeger discloses a double acting log splitter utilizing a carriage which is driven in opposite directions by an operating mechanism which includes a nut carried by the carriage for movement and a screw having one end fixed axially by and rotatably supported in bearings located at one end of the frame. A reversible drive motor is connected to the supported end of the screw for rotatably driving the screw in one direction or in its reverse. U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,759 issued Jan. 3, 1984, also issued to Richard E. Seeger, discloses an electrically powered log splitter, again with a reversible electric motor.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,960 issued Aug. 7, 1990, to Christopher J. McCauley discloses a double action vertical wood splitter, with a removable double edged blade mounted on a elongated carriage which telescopically interacts with the frame resulting in a log splitter which can be used in either direction.
Therefore, it would be advantageous for an equal force bi-directional log splitter to be provided to increase the yield and production of the log splitting operation. It would also be an advantage to have this log splitter be small, convenient, and trailerable. It would be of special advantage if the cylinders were arranged to exert an equal lateral force, providing the same degree of compressibility in both directions.
It would furthermore be an advantage to utilize a double direction log splitter to increase production of split logs while exhibiting a minimal leverage effect on the log splitter itself. Further, it would be an even bigger advantage to include the use of a four-way knifed wedge with a double action equal force log splitter, whereby each log would be split into four pieces once the four-way star-shaped splitting head was compressed through a log.


A material analysis system configured to determine whether a circuit is defective includes a magnetic field generator configured to generate a first magnetic field that is configured to induce at least one eddy current in a conductive portion of the circuit, wherein the eddy current induces a second magnetic field; a set of magnetic field sensors configured to detect the second magnetic field and generate a set of image information therefrom; a database that includes circuit information for the circuit; and a computing device configured to receive the image information from the set of magnetic field sensors and retrieve the circuit information from the database, wherein the computing device is configured to compare the image information to the circuit information to determine whether the circuit is defective.

The present invention relates generally to circuit analysis, and more specifically relates to generating images of circuits via dual-mode magnetic field induction for defect analysis.
The testing and analysis of circuits, printed circuit boards (PCBs) and the like is a complex and a costly step in the manufacture of these devices. Moreover, the complexity and the cost of circuit test and analysis continues to rise as circuits and PCBs are continually made smaller. As used hereinafter, the term "circuit" refers to circuits, PCBs, PCBs having attached circuits and the like unless otherwise indicated. The rise in the complexity and the cost of testing and analysis of circuits is attributable, in part, to the tester interfaces used to contact circuits for passing electrical test signals to the circuits and receiving response signals therefrom. Traditional tester interfaces include bed of nails interfaces, sockets, probe cards and the like. As the pitch of circuit interface contacts (e.g., contact pads, bonding pads, solder balls, solder mounds, leads, and the like) enter the sub-millimeter range, the micron range, and the sub-micron range, the pitch of adjacent tester contacts on tester interfaces similarly enter these ranges. The costs associated with the manufacture of such tester interfaces and the maintenance fees therefore, rise to relatively high levels yielding testing and analysis of circuits relatively costly.
Testing and analysis of circuits are costly due not only to the relatively high cost for development, manufacture, and maintenance of tester interfaces, but also because for each unique circuit, a unique tester interface is typically manufactured for the circuit. Moreover, unique test programs are typically generated to drive each unique circuit and its associated tester interface. Test program development typically takes a few days to several months and even a year or more for relatively complex circuits.
Further, contact testing of circuits often fails to expose flaws that lead to relatively early failure (often referred to as infant mortality) of circuits. For example, contact testing is often of limited use for detecting flaws in metal lines (e.g., cracks, voids, etc.) and circuit elements (e.g., transistors, inductors, resistors, etc.) that are operational, but that have defects that may lead to uneven heating and the like, which in turn often leads to relatively high infant mortality. Flaws that lead to high infant mortality are often detected through destructive techniques that ultimately render devices unsuitable for their intended use.
Therefore, new apparatus and methods are needed that provide for limited physical contact with circuits under test, have a relatively low dedication to specific circuits, and that are configured to non-destructively detect internal flaws that may not be detected via contact testing techniques.

Apparatus and method for circuit analysis using magnetic and electromagnetic stimulation of the circuit for dual magnetic field imaging


A fixture for magnetically coding a card key includes a front plate with areas for North and South magnetic polarity coding each with a number of holes, an optional code template having a lesser number of holes corresponding to selected holes in the front plate and attachable to the front plate, and North and South permanent magnet encoding tools sized to be inserted into the holes in the code template and front plate. The device further includes a card key holder preferably coupled to a tool holder and slidably connected to the fixture for placing the card key proximate the North or South area of the front plate and positioning the appropriate encoding tool for easy access. The device provides for convenient, accurate and error-free magnetic coding of card keys.

Magnetic key cards such as described in Sedley U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,242 "Metal Magnetic Key" require a substantial amount of magnetic energy to encode discrete magnetic areas in specific locations to operate card locks that utilize magnetic pin tumblers to form the code of the lock, for example, the "Magnetic Key Operated Door Lock" as described in Sedley U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,194. The method that has been utilized for many years is an electronic device such as described in Sedley U.S. Pat. No. 4,128,851 "Hand Held Magnetic Encoder."
Developments of new permanent magnetic materials in recent years, such as Neodymium which has very strong magnetic properties, have been found to be of sufficient strength so that by forming a magnet of the proper size and simply touching it to the said magnetic key creates a magnetic area of sufficient strength to actuate the magnetic pin tumblers in a lock. As the permanent magnet has North and South opposing poles, the polarity of the magnetic area created on the key can be either North or South, depending on which end of the magnet was used to create the magnetized area on the key.
The advantage of using a device that can encode magnetic keys in this manner is that electric power does not have to be utilized for the encoding device, and the parts which often fail in those devices such as the electric switches that turn on the device or change its polarity are no longer a source of faulty encoding. When the electric encoding device is battery operated there has always been the problem that when the batteries become weak so does the resulting magnetic area on the key, and the person doing the encoding may not be aware that the code is not of sufficient strength, and the person to whom the key is issued is not able to unlock the lock using that key.
To encode a key with specific magnetic areas in the form of a code to actuate magnetic tumbler pins, the location of the area must be accurately made or the pin may not be moved out of locking position in the lock. A coding fixture such as described in the Sedley '851 patent is normally used into which the key to be encoded is manually placed behind a plate pierced with holes at the exact location where magnetic areas could be applied to the inserted key. The holes are sized to accept the tip of the encoding device which, when energized by the electronic circuit inside the device, creates a strong magnetic field of either North or South polarity which is transferred into the key at the location of the selected hole.
So that a record is made of where to encode the said magnetic areas on a card, a code template is first created which is a paper or plastic sheet on which is printed the pattern of the complete array of magnetic areas that could be encoded on a key for a particular type of magnetic lock or locks. Typically specific holes are punched out of this code template with a hole punch or other tool. In a preferred embodiment of such a code template, there are two identical array fields printed on the card side-by-side. The hole locations are numbered to identify which pin tumbler in the lock would be affected by a magnetic area of the key when said key is inserted into the card lock.
Typically one of the arrays of numbers is for encoding all the North magnetic areas and the other is used for encoding all the South areas. Using two separate areas reduces the potential error if both polarities were punched into one array and the person doing the encoding had to change the polarity while selecting holes in the card to be coded. Also it is easier to miss one or more holes while encoding in this way.
The use of such a card with two arrays of numbers along with a code fixture that has only a single key slot for insertion of the key to be coded, however, requires that the code template card be moved after encoding the first polarity section so that the second array overlays the key to be encoded and then those areas can be encoded on the key.

Mechanical device to encode magnetic cards


When monitoring a workspace to determine whether scheduled tasks or chores are completed according to a predetermined schedule, a video monitoring system monitors a region of interest (ROI) to identify employee-generated signals representing completion of a scheduled task. An employee makes a mark or gesture in the ROI monitored by the video monitoring system and the system analyzes pixels in each captured frame of the ROI to identify an employee signal, map the signal to a corresponding scheduled task, update the task as having been completed upon receipt of the employee signal, and alert a manager of the facility as to whether the task has been completed or not.

Due to the advances and increased availability of surveillance technology over the past few decades, it has become increasingly common to capture and store video footage of retail settings for the protection of companies, as well as for the security and protection of employees and customers. However, this data has also been of interest to retail markets for its potential for data-mining and estimating consumer behavior and experience. Modern retail processes are becoming heavily data driven, and retailers therefore have a strong interest in numerous customer and store metrics such as queue lengths, experience time in-store and drive-through, specific order timing, order accuracy, and customer response.
There is a need in the art for systems and methods that facilitate monitoring employee task completion by detecting employee-provided task completion signals in captured video, while overcoming the aforementioned deficiencies.

Employee task verification to video system


An inflatable curtain airbag assembly has a tubular rolled or folded curtain airbag, and at least one stiffening member provided at the tubular rolled or folded curtain airbag. The stiffening member is fixed by an adhesive connection, a sewing connection, a welding connection or a melting connection directly to the curtain airbag.

The inflatable curtain airbag is a special airbag, which is arranged at the upper side rim of the interior roof structure of the vehicle. The purpose of the inflatable curtain is especially the protection of the occupant in case of a side impact and to prevent the occupant from hitting onto the interior side structure or from moving out of an open window.
The inflatable curtain airbag itself may have a length in length direction of the vehicle from 1.00 m to more than 2.5 m. In the inflated status the curtain airbag extends downwards from the roof structure up to an upper rim of the door structure. The curtain airbag is rolled or folded to a tube and mounted under the roof lining together with a gas generator which inflates the curtain airbag by generating a certain gas flow within a short time when activated.
One general problem of curtain airbags to be solved is that the curtain airbag must not be twisted when being mounted at the vehicle structure. To prevent the twisting of the curtain airbag it is known from the US 2005/0057023 A1 to provide the curtain airbag with at least one stiffening member. The stiffening member is made of a plastic beam which extends along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the rolled or folded curtain airbag. The stiffening member itself is fixed to the curtain airbag via separate attachment tabs.


The distortion compensator which compensates the nonlinearity of a power amplifier in a radio communication device stops the operation of updating the automatic phase adjustment, automatic delay adjustment, equalizer adjustment, and distortion compensation table when something wrong is detected in the input to a distortion compensation unit such as a reference signal, feedback signal, address of the distortion compensation table, and phase value so that the distortion compensation coefficients may not be improperly updated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adaptive predistortor type distortion compensator which operates an adaptive algorithm so that errors of a reference signal and a feedback signal outputted from an amplifier may be minimized in order to calculate a distortion compensation coefficient and increase the efficiency of the amplifier by compensating the nonlinear distortion of the amplifier using this distortion compensation coefficient.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows an example of the basic configuration of a conventional adaptive predistortor type distortion compensator. An input baseband signal (1) is a complex baseband signal comprising I signal and Q signal.
The input baseband signal (1) is multiplied by a distortion compensation coefficient in the multiplier 18 and is inputted to the quadrature modulator 19. A signal modulated by the quadrature modulator 19 is converted into an analog signal by the digital-to-analog converter 20. This analog signal is multiplied by a periodic wave of the local oscillator 21 in the multiplier 22, and is converted into a signal of an intermediate frequency (IF). The signal of the intermediate frequency generated in this way passes through the band-pass filter 23; is multiplied by the periodic wave of the local oscillator 24 in the multiplier 25; is converted into a radio frequency (RF); is amplified and transmitted by the (power) amplifier 26.
The input baseband signal (1) is converted into a power value by the power computing unit 11, and is used to index a distortion compensation coefficient from the distortion compensation table 10 which stores the distortion compensation coefficient in a memory using the power value of the input baseband signal (1) as an address.
The input baseband signal (1) is also inputted as a reference signal (3) to the subtractor 16 which obtains an error signal e (t) from a feedback signal (2) and the input baseband signal.
The output from the amplifier 26 is separated by the feedback path 32 and is attenuated by the attenuator 27. The output is multiplied by the periodic wave of the local oscillator 28 in the multiplier 29 and is returned to the intermediate frequency. Also, the output is converted into a digital signal in the analog-to-digital converter 30; is demodulated in the quadrature demodulator 31; and I signal and Q signal are generated. I signal and Q signal pass through the low-pass filter 17, and are inputted to the rotator 13, and at the same time are also inputted to the subtractor 16 as a feedback signal (2).
An error signal e(t) which is a difference between a reference signal (3) and a signal in which a feedback signal (2) from the amplifier 26 is attenuated to a reasonable amplitude by the attenuator 27 (which is shown by ATT in FIG. 1) is computed as a digital signal. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a clipped LMS algorithm is used as an adaptive algorithm, and the distortion compensation coefficient hn(p) (p is the power of the reference signal) is updated for the quantitized amplitudes of the signals using e(t) by the following expression.hn(p)=hn−1(p)+μe(t)det[hn−1(p)]det[y(t)*], wherein
            det                                [              R        +        jI            ]        =                  1                  2                                  [                              sgn                                                                                (              R              )                                +                      j                                                                                sgn                                            (                I                )                                                    ]                        sgn                    (        x        )              =          {                                    1                                              (                              x                ≥                0                            )                                                                          -              1                                                          (                              x                <                0                            )
Note, however, that y(t) indicates a feedback signal; * indicates a complex conjugate; j indicates an imaginary unit; and p indicates an update step of a distortion compensation coefficient. This computing is conducted by the rotator 13, update storage unit 12, multiplier 15, adder 14 and distortion compensation table 10 shown in FIG. 1. This algorithm is the one in which a circuit configuration is simplified by multiplying the part to be multiplied by an error signal in which complex multiplication is required in an ordinary LMS algorithm by det [hn−1(p)] det [y(t)*] i.e. by conducting only the phase rotation of 0, π/2, π and 3π/2.
Refer to Kokai (Jpn. unexamined patent publication) No. 9-68733 for the details of an adaptive predistortor type distortion compensator.
If the signal level of the reference signal (3) or the feedback signal (2) becomes 0 (zero) or only a noise component, various functions of the distortion compensator do not properly operate.


A petroleum wax-free chewing gum with enhanced flavor release, particularly chewing gums with increased perception of breath freshening, are disclosed. Enhanced flavor release is obtained with wax-free chewing gums where the Solubility Parameter, defined as ##EQU1## of at least 5% of the flavoring agent is at least 0.5 units greater than, or less than, the average weighted Solubility Parameter of the gum base used to formulate the wax-free chewing gums of our invention.. The greater the difference in Solubility Parameter of flavoring ingredients to the average weighted Solubility Parameter of the wax-free gum bases, the greater the tendency for enhanced flavor release.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,574, issued to Comollo, which patent is incorporated herein by reference, discloses abhesive chewing gums and abhesive chewing gum bases where non-tack properties are achieved by eliminating conventional chewing gum base ingredients found to contribute to chewing gum tackiness and by substituting therefore non-tacky ingredients. Specifically, Comollo discovered that three classes of materials account for conventional chewing gum tackiness. These tacky materials were certain natural elastomers, certain resins and the petroleum waxes.
Comollo eliminated natural and certain synthetic elastomers from his chewing gum bases and substituted in their place one or more non-tacky synthetic elastomers such as polyisobutylene, polyisoprene, isobutylene isoprene copolymer, and styrene-butadiene copolymers. Comollo also eliminated the tack producing natural resins and modified natural resins and used instead relatively high amounts of hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils or animal fats. Finally, Comollo completely excluded waxes from the gum bases but substituted polyvinyl acetate, fatty acids, and certain mono and diglycerides of fatty acids.
Comollo did not specifically recognize any particular difference in the release of flavoring agents or flavoring ingredients from his reformulated wax-free gum bases or chewing gums. We have now discovered that certain wax-free chewing gum bases and wax-free chewing gums formulated with these wax-free bases provide for very rapid and perceptually seemingly immediate release of certain flavoring agents. This apparent rapid rate of flavor release is not observed with chewing gums formulated with paraffin waxes, or in general with petroleum waxes. This rapid release is also not observed with certain flavors. We have now determined those characteristics of the flavoring agents and their flavoring ingredients which, when formulated with petroleum wax-free gum bases, lead to rapid release of flavor. When certain flavoring ingredients are selected, these phenomena can lead to wax-free chewing gums having perceived rapid cooling effects and perceived rapid breath freshening.

Petroleum wax-free chewing gums having improved flavor release


An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder structure in which a crankshaft assembly is journalled for rotation about a main axis of a main crankshaft segment having a main axis. A crank web is attached to the main crankshaft segment and projects from the main crankshaft segment, and a crank pin structure is attached to the crank web and has a central axis that is parallel to the main axis and is spaced from the main axis by a distance D. A first mechanism attaches the inner end of a connecting rod to the crank pin structure and permits substantially longitudinal movement of the connecting rod relative to the crank pin structure. A second mechanism permits selective adjustment of the distance D. The second mechanism is coupled to the first mechanism in a manner such that an increase in the distance D is associated with longitudinal movement of the connecting rod toward the central axis of the crank pin structure and a decrease in the distance D is associated with longitudinal movement of the connecting rod away from the central axis of the crank pin structure.

This invention relates to a variable displacement mechanism for an internal combustion engine.
FIGS. 1 and 1A illustrate in simplified form a conventional radial engine. The engine shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A comprises a main cylinder structure 2 defining five cylinders 4 and journaling a crankshaft 6. Five pistons 8 are fitted in the cylinders respectively and are connected to the crankshaft by respective connecting rods 10. As the pistons reciprocate in the cylinders in phased relationship, the crankshaft rotates relative to the main cylinder structure.
The stroke of the piston depends on the eccentricity of the crankshaft. In the conventional radial engine, the eccentricity of the crankshaft, and hence the stroke of the piston, is fixed.
The power output and fuel consumption of an internal combustion engine depends on the engine displacement, i.e. the volume that is swept by the pistons during one complete cycle. In order to minimize fuel consumption, it would be desirable to be able to adjust the displacement of an internal combustion engine depending on operating conditions.
One approach to adjusting the engine displacement depending on operating conditions has been to interrupt fuel supply to one or more cylinders in low load conditions so that combustion takes place in fewer than all the cylinders of the engine. This and other approaches to varying engine displacement have not generally met commercial success.

Variable displacement mechanism for internal combustion engine


An improved pluggable insulated terminal block includes a terminal block and a plurality of terminal-protecting pieces. The terminal block comprises a first cover, a second cover and a plurality of terminals. An inner wall of the first cover is provided with a plurality of first terminal holders. An inner wall of the second cover is provided with a plurality of second terminal holders. Each terminal penetrates through one of the first terminal holders and one of the second terminal holders. The first cover is connected with the second cover. The terminal-protecting pieces are provided between the first terminal holders and the second terminal holders. The terminal-protecting pieces are arranged on the terminals. The two ends of each terminal extend beyond the terminal-protecting piece. Via this arrangement, the terminals will not be pushed inside the terminal block, when the terminals are inserted into a circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved pluggable insulated terminal block, and in particular to an insulated terminal block having a terminal-protecting assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
Shown in FIG. 1, is a conventional pluggable insulated terminal block, well known in the industry, which comprises a first cover 1a, a second cover 2a and a plurality of terminals 3a. The first cover 1a and the second cover 2a are engaged with each other. The inner walls of the first cover 1a and the second cover 2a are provided with a plurality of terminal holders 4a. Each terminal holder 4a is provided with a plurality of terminal-accommodating through holes 41a. The terminal 3a is inserted into the terminal-accommodating holes 41a, and both ends of the terminal 3a extend beyond the terminal-accommodating holes 41a. When the terminal 3a is inserted into a circuit board, the terminal 3a will be subjected to a pushing force exerted by the circuit board. If the fit between the terminal 3a and the first and second cover 1a, 2a is insufficient, the terminal 3a is often pushed through the terminal-accommodating holes 41a into the terminal block, causing a loss of functionality and thus a reduction in production yield for the circuit board assembly.
Therefore, in view of the above drawbacks, the inventor proposes the present invention to overcome the above problems based on his deliberate research.


A service tray for use on a table and received about a projection, such as an umbrella pole, is disclosed. The tray comprises a tray member defining a slot and a closure member for mounting to the tray member and closing the slot to define a central aperture in which an umbrella pole or the like is receivable. The connection of the closure member to the tray member is readily released, allowing the slot of the tray member to be opened to permit insertion around or removal from the umbrella pole or the like. The tray includes a plurality of compartments for receiving items such as vegetables and dips, condiments, etc. Rollers are positioned on the underside of the tray member to facilitate rotation of the tray on a supporting surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to trays, and particularly to an annular food tray adapted for ready installation and use around an umbrella pole.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In certain designs of outdoor patio furniture, a table is provided which includes an umbrella having a pole extending through a hole in the center of the table. Although the umbrella serves a desirable purpose in providing shade for persons using the table, the pole presents an obstacle for placement of food, condiments or other articles at the center of the table for access by all persons seated around the table.
To overcome this problem, the prior art has proposed trays which include a central opening through which the umbrella pole is received. A portable tray for attachment to a beach umbrella is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 291,635, issued to Dickman on Sep. 1, 1987. The umbrella tray comprises a solid disc with a central aperture and a pair of collars with set screws for locking onto the beach umbrella. A two-piece table tray defining a central opening for reception of an umbrella pole is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,256, issued to Intardonato on Nov. 24, 1987. This tray includes two half-circle shapes which are separable from one another, and which include connecting means on each side of the umbrella pole for securing of the halves together. This patent also suggests use of a bearing assembly under the base of the tray to facilitate rotation of the tray upon the table.
Service trays of the foregoing types have not received significant commercial success. Perhaps one reason for this is the fact that it is awkward for these units to be installed upon a table around an umbrella pole. For unitary devices, it is necessary to remove the umbrella pole and then place the large and relatively heavy pole and umbrella assembly through a tight fitting aperture in the service tray. Other devices have provided separable tray elements which can be connected around the pole while it is in place, but these devices are not readily transported in disassembled form, nor easily aligned and connected about the pole. There has remained a desire for a service tray that is easily disassembled and assembled, thus facilitating both transportation of the tray and installation of the tray around an umbrella pole. These and other features and advantages are provided by the present invention.

Table tray adapted for installation around an umbrella pole