A lighting device includes a DC/DC converter (step-down chopper circuit) and a control circuit that includes a correction circuit. The correction circuit corrects the timing at which a switching element included in the DC/DC convertor is turned OFF based on a voltage value across a solid-state light-emitting element (LED unit). The correction is made such that an average value of a current flowing through an inductor included in the DC/DC converter is within a predetermined range regardless of a voltage value across the solid-state light-emitting element.

Solid-state light-emitting elements, such as LED elements, are expected to become light sources for various products due to their small size, high efficiency, and long life span.
The voltage-current characteristics of an LED element have a non-linear feature in which an electric current (hereinafter, simply referred to as current) starts flowing at a certain applied voltage or higher, and a forward voltage does not substantially change while a current near a rated current value is flowing. Hence, a light output of the LED element basically depends on a value of a current flowing through the LED element.
In illumination uses, an LED unit 1, illustrated in FIG. 1 and including a plurality of LED elements 2 connected in series-parallel, is used as a light source, so as to obtain a light output of a predetermined luminance.
As described above, the light output of the LED element depends on a value of a current flowing through the LED element. Hence, the current value corresponding to the light output of a predetermined luminance is set as a rated current value of the LED unit 1.
Accordingly, the lighting device that lights up the LED unit 1 is desirably controlled such that a constant current is supplied to the LED unit 1.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an example of a lighting device for an LED unit. FIG. 2 illustrates not only the lighting device, but also a DC power source E1 that supplies a DC power to the lighting device, and an LED unit 23 connected to the lighting device.
The lighting device includes a step-down chopper circuit 21 that is one type of a DC/DC converter, and a control circuit 22. The step-down chopper circuit 21 includes a switching element Q1, an inductor L1, a diode D1, an output capacitor C1, and the like.
The step-down chopper circuit 21 further includes a current detection circuit IS1 and a diode voltage detection circuit VS1. The current detection circuit IS1 detects a current value Isense1 flowing through the inductor L1. The diode voltage detection circuit VS1 detects a voltage value Vsense1 across the diode D1.
Examples of the DC power source E1 include a DC power source that includes a commercial AC power source and a full-wave rectifier circuit, and a DC power source that includes a commercial AC power source and a power factor improvement circuit.
Now, a brief description is given of an operation of the lighting device illustrated in FIG. 2.
When the switching element Q1 is turned ON in response to a command from the control circuit 22, a current flows through the LED unit 23 from the DC power source E1 via the switching element Q1, the inductor L1, and the output capacitor C1. The current flowing through the inductor L1 has a time rate of change of (Vin−Vout)/L that is determined by a voltage value Vin of the DC power source E1, a load voltage Vout applied to the LED unit 23, and an inductance value L of the inductor L1.
The switching element Q1 is turned OFF when the above current is detected by the current detection circuit IS1 and a detected value Isense1 reaches a target current value Iref.
When the switching element Q1 is turned OFF, energy stored in the inductor L1 is released with a current supplied while the switching element Q1 was ON.
While the energy stored in the inductor L1 is being released, the diode D1 is conducting. At this time, the diode has a forward voltage that has a very small value. When the diode D1 becomes non-conducting after the energy release, the voltage across the diode D1 rises to a value near the load voltage Vout.
The rise of the voltage across the diode D1 is detected through detection that a voltage value Vsense1 that is an output of the diode voltage detection circuit VS1 has exceeded a predetermined value Vref. When the rise of the voltage across the diode D1 is detected, the control circuit 22 determines that the release of the energy stored in the inductor L1 is finished, and turns ON the switching element Q1 again.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of the control circuit 22 that operates as described above.
The control circuit 22 includes comparators 31 and 32, and an RS flip-flop.
The comparator 31 is an element that detects a current flowing through the inductor L1. The comparator 32 is a circuit that detects a voltage generated in the diode D1.
The RS flip-flop is a circuit that receives I_detect that is an output of the comparator 31 as a reset signal, and receives V_detect that is an output at a connection point 35 of the comparator 32 as a set signal. The RS flip-flop that outputs a signal to a connection point 36 is formed by NOR circuits 33 and 34 illustrated in FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 is a timing chart illustrating operations of respective elements in the lighting device described above.
In FIG. 4, currents flowing through the switching element Q1, the diode D1, and the inductor L1 are respectively represented by I_Q1, I_D1, and I_L1.
By use of the lighting device that operates as described above, energy is continuously supplied to the lighting device, and a stable DC current is supplied from the output capacitor C1 to the LED unit 23 serving as a load. In addition, in principle, an appropriate setting of a current peak value of the inductor L1 allows the LED unit 23 to be lit up with a rated current.
Moreover, there are conventional techniques for enhancing stabilization of a current flowing through an LED unit. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-109141 (hereinafter, referred to as patent literature (PTL) 1) discloses a method below performed in a lighting device including a step-down chopper circuit. Specifically, the method is performed to keep a current flowing through an LED unit constant regardless of the variations in DC power source when an energy release of an inductor is detected by a voltage generated at a secondary winding of the inductor. In the technique disclosed in PTL 1, when a switching element is OFF, the voltage generated at the secondary winding of the inductor is used to keep a current flowing through an LED unit serving as a load constant even when a DC power source varies. In this way, the variations in current due to a power source voltage is reduced.

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


A modular fuel nozzle air swirler for a gas turbine engine has a body defining a fuel passage extending between an inlet end and a discharge end of the body. An annular cap is removably secured to the discharge end of the body via cooperating interlocking members.

Fuel nozzles are used to deliver a fuel/air mixture to combustors of gas turbine engines. The discharge end of such fuel nozzles and especially the air swirler thereof is exposed to elevated temperatures and to the harsh environment inside the combustor, and, is therefore subject to fretting and oxidation damage. Conventionally, once the damage on the air swirler of the fuel nozzle becomes too severe, the entire nozzle must be replaced. Due to the geometric configuration of the nozzles and the materials that are typically used for such nozzles, the manufacturing costs associated with producing these fuel nozzle can be relatively high.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide a solution for reducing the costs associated with replacing damaged fuel nozzles that are used in gas turbine engines.


Provided is a method and apparatus for managing an SCH in an MS in a mobile communication system are provided. The MS receives an SCH assignment message notifying assignment of the SCH from a BS. If the duration of the SCH expires, the MS receives at least one more frame on the SCH and performs an error check on the at least one frame. If the at least one frame turns out to not be erroneous in the error check, the MS extends the duration of the SCH.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for managing a physical channel in a mobile communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for managing a Supplemental CHannel (SCH) in a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system for providing a data communication service.
2. Description of the Related Art
Current mobile communication networks provide a high-speed data service in addition to a traditional voice service. A high-speed data service enables a multimedia service which includes the transmission of moving pictures as well as e-mail and still images through mobile terminals. Exemplary mobile communication systems that support the high-speed data service include the synchronous CDMA2000 1x system and asynchronous Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). A mobile communication system that supports the multimedia service transmits packet data having different properties than traditional voice data.
For example, packet data is bursty unlike voice data. Therefore, instead of having a continuous stream of a constant amount of data, as is the case with voice data, packet data typically occurs in short bursts of a large amount of data. Accordingly, the mobile communication system additionally assigns an SCH as well as a Fundamental CHannel (FCH) as traffic channels in order to stably transmit a burst of packet data. A mobile station (MS) and a base station (BS) each have a module for managing radio resources including network-specified channels like the FCH and the SCH.
FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified configuration of a conventional mobile communication system using the SCH. Referring to FIG. 1, an MS 10 and a BS 20 wirelessly communicate on channels in accordance with wireless communications standards. For this purpose, radio resource managers 11 and 21 in the MS 10 and the BS 20 assign and/or release radio channels, including the SCH, and provide control for the radio resources of the MS 10 and the BS 20. In particular, the radio resource controller 11 of the MS 10 controls the operation of receiving an SCH assignment message from the BS 20 and receiving data on an assigned SCH for a predetermined period of time.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an SCH managing method in a conventional mobile communication system. This procedure is carried out in the radio resource manager 11 of the MS 10 illustrated in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 2, upon the generation of a burst of packet data to be transmitted to the MS 10, the BS 20 transmits an SCH assignment message to the MS 10 on an FCH in order to assign an SCH to the MS 10. The SCH assignment message is known as Supplemental Channel Assignment Message (SCAM) in an IS-95B system and as an Extended SCAM (ESCAM) in an IS-2000 system. Upon receipt of the SCH assignment message in step 201, the MS 10 determines whether it is time to receive data on an assigned SCH in step 203.
The SCH assignment message typically includes information about an assigned time for data transmission on an SCH and a duration for which the data transmission is valid. If the assigned time has come in step 203, the MS 10 receives data from the BS 20 on the assigned SCH in step 205. In step 207, the MS 10 determines whether the duration has expired during the data reception. The data reception continues during the duration. Upon expiration of the duration, the MS 10 releases the SCH and ends the data transmission in step 209.
Meanwhile, to make the burst data transmission efficient, after transmitting an SCH assignment message to the MS 10, the BS 20 transmits another successive SCH assignment message before the duration expiration. The MS 10 receives the new SCH assignment message before the duration expiration of the assigned SCH and if it is determined that the SCH is again assigned, the MS 10 continues receiving burst data during a new duration. If the duration of the assigned SCH expires before receiving the new SCH assignment message on the FCH, the MS 10 releases the existing SCH and ends the burst data reception.
As described above, SCH assignment depends predominantly on the transmission of the SCH assignment message on the FCH. After transmitting an SCH assignment message, the BS transmits burst data on an assigned SCH during a duration that begins with the assigned time. Radio Configuration (RC) 3 or above, which defines the SCH, provides that a Frame Error Rate (FER) is maintained at or below a predetermined level through forward power control, and the FCH errors at all times are at or below a level set by the BS. RC 3 is a radio configuration provided in C.S0002-C v1.0 for the reverse power control sub-channel in CDMA2000 1x, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
In the case where the MS fails to receive the SCH assignment message on the FCH due to transmission errors, the BS still transmits burst data on the SCH at the assigned time because it has already transmitted the message. However, the MS cannot receive the burst data until after receiving the next SCH assignment message. Thus, the MS requests a retransmission of data to the BS with sequence numbers that it has not received and the BS correspondingly retransmits the data. As a result, the efficiency of the whole system and data reception throughput are decreased.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for managing a physical channel in a mobile communication system that doesn't decrease system efficiency or data reception throughput when an MS failed to receive the SCH assignment message on the FCH due to transmission errors.

Method and apparatus for managing a supplemental channel in a mobile communication system


A cleaning device includes a web sheet, a holding member, a reel member, a drive device, a pressing member, and a rotational load-applying device. The web sheet slides against and cleans a surface of a cleaning target object. The holding member holds the web sheet wound around the holding member to be reeled out. The reel member has the web sheet wound around the reel member to be reeled in. The drive device drives the reel member to rotate. The pressing member presses the web sheet against the cleaning target object. The rotational load-applying device applies a load to rotation of the holding member. The load is changeable depending on an amount of the web sheet held by the holding member.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to a cleaning device including a web sheet that slides against and cleans a surface of a cleaning target object, a fixing device including the cleaning device, and an image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a facsimile machine, or a printer, including the fixing device.
2. Related Art
An image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a facsimile machine, or a printer, includes a fixing device that fixes unfixed toner of a toner image formed on a sheet serving as a recording medium. The fixing device applies heat and pressure to the unfixed toner on the sheet in a fixing nip, in which a fixing member such as a fixing belt or a fixing roller and a pressing member such as a pressure roller are pressed against each other, to thereby fuse and fix the toner image on the sheet.
The toner fused in and passing through the fixing nip may not all be fixed on the sheet, and may instead partially adhere to the fixing member. The toner adhering to the moving fixing member may contaminate a surface of a sheet separation pawl, a fixing member surface temperature sensor, or the pressing member in contact with the fixing member, and adhere to the next fed sheet. To address this issue, a cleaning device employing a web cleaning system using a web sheet as a cleaning member may be used.

Cleaning device, fixing device including the cleaning device, and image forming apparatus including the fixing device


A moisture sensor for detecting moisture content of an object includes a light source to emit light having an infrared wavelength that is absorbed by water; an optical system to receive the light from the light source and output linearly polarized light having a first polarization direction in a direction toward the object, and to receive light scattered from the object and output linearly polarized light having a second polarization direction perpendicular to the first polarization direction in another direction other than the direction toward the object; and a photodetector to receive the linearly polarized light having the second polarization direction output from the optical system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a moisture sensor, a moisture detector, and an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In factories manufacturing foods or clothing, moisture sensors for detecting a moisture content of a product are used.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 3529516 discloses an optical measuring apparatus including a rotating plate that is installed obliquely to a light-projecting axis of a light source, has a filter and a reflector, and projects light onto a target of measurement through the filter when a measurement is to be conducted, a reflecting unit that folds and reflects the light reflected on the reflector included in the rotating plate so that the light passes through the filter on the rotating plate when no measurement is conducted, a collecting unit that collects the light from the target of measurement or the light from the reflecting unit and guides the light to a detecting element, and an operating unit that applies a correcting operation to an output of the detecting element.
Japanese Translation of PCT International Application Publication No. 2010-536050 discloses a method and an apparatus for electromagnetic detection for measuring parameters such as the moisture content or the basis weight of a fibrous web, e.g., paper or a non-woven.
Japanese Translation of PCT International Application Publication No. 2008-539422 discloses a sensor for measuring at least one component in a composition.
Japanese Patent No. 4499341 discloses a biometric authentication apparatus including an illuminating unit that outputs light having oscillation direction limited to one direction, and a blocking unit that blocks reflected light in a direction perpendicular to the oscillating direction of the light output from the illuminating unit.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 10-260142 discloses an image evaluation apparatus including an illuminating unit that illuminates an image to be evaluated with parallel light rays having a linear polarization characteristic of either p-polarization or s-polarization, and a polarizing element that separates reflected light from the image to be evaluated into reflected light having a polarization plane that is on the same plane as the polarization plane of the illumination and reflected light having a polarization plane perpendicular to the polarization plane of the illumination.
Therefore, there is a need for a moisture sensor having a small size and providing high-precision measurement.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Moisture sensor, moisture detector, and image forming apparatus


A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice making compartment remote from the freezer compartment, and a fresh food compartment duct riser extending upwardly along a back of the fresh food compartment. The refrigerator further includes a shroud associated with a freezer compartment evaporator, an ice compartment supply duct leading from the shroud to the ice making compartment, and an ice compartment return duct leading from the ice making compartment towards the freezer compartment evaporator. The ice compartment supply duct has a split pathway and is positioned behind the fresh food compartment duct riser.

In various configurations of refrigerators such as where the freezer is bottom mounted (below a fresh food compartment), a remote ice making compartment may be placed in the fresh food compartment to make ice which may then be dispensed through a dispenser on a door of the fresh food compartment. One of the problems with such a configuration relates to the routing of air to and from the remote ice making compartment. Another problem relates to routing air to and from the fresh food compartment in a manner that does not interfere with shelving in the fresh food compartment. What is needed is an improved refrigerator which addresses such problems.


An image recording device, including: a first sheet conveying path; a recording portion to record an image on a sheet; a first roller pair to convey the sheet in a first direction; a second sheet conveying path; a path changing portion; a second roller pair to convey the sheet in a second direction; a third roller pair to convey, to the first path, the sheet that has been conveyed to the second conveying path; and a control portion to control a sheet conveyance rate by the second roller pair to be higher than that by the third roller pair, whereby a part of the sheet between the second and third roller pairs is slacked for separating, from the second roller pair, a trailing end of the sheet before a leading end thereof reaches a position where the leading end is opposed to the recording portion in the first conveying path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image recording device configured to guide a sheet that is conveyed and to record an image on the sheet, and in particular to such an image recording device capable of recording images on both sides or opposite surfaces of the sheet.
2. Discussion of Related Art
There has been conventionally known an image recording device capable of recording images on both sides of a sheet. As one example of such an image recording device, there is known a duplex recording device in which a sheet fed from a tray is conveyed to a recording portion through a first conveying path by rollers of a roller pair (hereinafter referred to as a "first roller pair"). An image is recorded on a front surface of the sheet by the recording portion. The sheet whose front surface has been subjected to image recording by the recording portion is switchback-delivered to a second conveying path on a downstream side of the recording portion by rollers of another roller pair (hereinafter referred to as a "second roller pair"). The switchback-delivered sheet passes through the second conveying path and is subsequently conveyed back to the upstream side of the first roller pair in the first conveying path from the second conveying path by rollers of still another roller pair (hereinafter referred to as a "third roller pair") disposed in the second conveying path. The sheet conveyed back to the first conveying path is conveyed again to the recording portion by the first roller pair, and an image is recorded on a back surface of the sheet by the recording portion. Thereafter, the sheet in which the images have been recorded on both sides thereof is discharged outside the device by the second roller pair.


An apparatus for testing infrared cameras includes: a front plate which has holes arranged in line, and which is adapted to emit an amount of infrared light; and a back plate which is disposed in parallel to and behind the front plate as viewed from infrared cameras to be tested, and which is adapted to emit a different amount of infrared light when compared with the front plate. The back plate is disposed at lower portions of pillars. On the other hand, the front plate is made vertically movable in front of the back plate and along the pillars. By being controlled by a controller, the front plate is movable from the ground height to a level corresponding to approximately two times the height of the back plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for testing infrared cameras, which are installed on a vehicle, for measuring distances to objects.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-290234, filed Oct. 2, 2002, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
A three-dimensional measuring method has been known in the art in which a distance to an object is determined using parallax between a pair of object images taken by a pair of cameras (stereo cameras). In such a method, an apparatus for correcting images must be used in order to accurately measure a distance to an object by correcting shift of images due to distortions of lenses and variations in focal lengths thereof. In an example of such an apparatus, a specific image pattern, such as a regular grid pattern, for measuring an amount of correction is simultaneously taken in advance using both stereo cameras, and the amounts of corrections in the coordinates are calculated pixel by pixel with regard to each image taken by each of the cameras. The calculated results are stored as a correction table for the coordinates, and the data stored in an image memory are corrected pixel by pixel using the correction table for the coordinates so that accurate image data are obtained. In a method disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. Hei 11-325889, the corrections in shifting of images due to distortions of lenses and variations in focal lengths thereof are executed only in the vertical direction.
As an example to which the above-mentioned three-dimensional measuring method using stereo cameras is applied, a system is known which detects obstacles in front of a vehicle earlier than the driver of the vehicle does, and which notifies the driver of the existence of the obstacles. In this case, in general, infrared cameras, which enable taking infrared images, are used as the stereo cameras, in order to aid driving under poor visibility conditions.
As mentioned above, in order to correct shifting of images due to distortions of lenses and variations in focal lengths thereof, a specific image pattern, such as a regular grid pattern, for measuring an amount of correction is simultaneously taken in advance using both stereo cameras, and the amounts of corrections in the coordinates are calculated pixel by pixel with regard to each image taken by each of the cameras; however, in the case of infrared cameras used for the stereo cameras, a problem is encountered in that it is difficult to form a regular grid pattern which can be accurately taken by the infrared cameras.


A controller provides amplitude modulated power line coding of an output voltage waveform. A transformer has a first winding connected in series with the output. An input mains voltage supply and/or the output voltage are monitored, and the second winding of the transformer is configured in dependence on the monitored mains voltage supply, the monitored output voltage and a target output voltage. This target comprises a voltage which encodes a binary bit of digital information. This provides a feedback approach which enables the transformer to be used to provide an accurate modulation of the binary bit to be encoded.

Power line coding has become an interesting way to control devices without the need for additional control wiring. One example where power line coding has been proposed is in mains lighting.
Lighting fixtures have been designed that are capable of receiving control signals for controlling one or more aspects thereof. For example, some lighting fixtures receive control signals that may at least selectively dictate the dimming levels of such lighting fixtures.
One previous solution for transmitting such control signals utilized one or more stand-alone control wires that extend from a controller to the lighting fixtures. Data packets were then sent over the control wires to control the lighting fixtures. The data packets and communications may conform to a communications protocol such as DMX or DALI. Implementation of such a solution requires the running of one or more separate wires and involves limitations on wiring length and/or wiring method that may not be appropriate for certain applications such as street lighting.
Other previous solutions enable transmitting such control signals without installing new wires. For example, some solutions utilized wireless control signals or communications over the power wires. However, implementation of such solutions requires specific hardware modems and/or radios to be installed at each individual lighting fixture. Such specific equipment is often overly costly and/or may not be easily installed in existing lighting fixtures or light poles supporting lighting fixtures.
WO 2013/061206 discloses a power line coding method, described in connection with an application to lighting fixtures, in which a transformer is switched into or out of circuit to provide a voltage change (thereby implementing an amplitude modulation) which encodes a control signal. This provides a simple encoding method and enables decoding with simple decoding hardware and software.
Providing the desired voltage change consumes power and any power saving measures are of interest.

Controller for power line coding and power line coding method


A time-division duplex radio transceiver is disclosed which can avoid the deterioration of reception sensitivity and interferences in other radio communication equipments of the same kind which may be caused in the conventional transceiver by generation in the transceiver of an interfering signal of a transmission frequency or a frequency in the vicinity thereof, even upon reception. In the time-division duplex radio transceiver according to the present invention, in order to generate a carrier frequency signal in the transmission state or an intermediate frequency in a transceiver portion, there are provided an oscillator for oscillation at a frequency higher than the carrier frequency and the intermediate frequency, and frequency dividers for frequency-dividing an output of the oscillator, where the operation of the frequency dividers is stopped in the reception state. Accordingly, while the oscillation of the oscillator is always continued, it is possible to prevent the transmission frequency or the frequency in the vicinity thereof from being generated in the transceiver in the reception state.

The present invention relates to a radio transceiver for providing duplex radio communication by alternately transmitting and receiving on a time division basis by use of the same frequency.
Such a method of alternate transmission and reception in a time division fashion is called a time-division duplex (TDD) system or a pingpong system. This system has advantages that restrictions imposed on frequency allotment are lessened since the same frequency is used for both transmission and reception and that high control efficiency is obtained since all interferences between transmission and reception can be monitored even in the case where dynamic channel selection is made.
In a two-frequency duplex system, which is usually used for duplex radio communication, the transmission frequency and the reception frequency of one of opposing radio stations has a reverse relation with respect to the transmission frequency and the reception frequency of the other radio station. Therefore, two kinds of equipments are required and a parent and child relation results between the two kinds of equipments. On the other hand, the TDD system is an excellent system in which the same construction can be used in both of opposing radio equipments and communication between child equipments is also possible. Further, since the transmission frequency and the reception frequency are the same, the TDD system has an advantage that even when one equipment is not provided with a diversity circuit, a pseudo diversity effect can be expected if the other equipment is provided with two antennae and makes transmission by use of one of the two antennae which exhibits a better characteristic in a reception state.
Furthermore, the TDD system is applicable not only to duplex operation by the time division multiplexing of a single radio-wave channel, but also to time-division multiple-access (TDMA) communication in which a plurality of communications are made on the time division basis. The optimization of the TDD system for use for digital codeless telephone sets in offices having a large amount of traffic can be realized as a TDMA/TDD system by arranging the transmission and reception timings alternately with a modulation rate twice as high as that in the two-frequency duplex system.
However, when a transceiver is actually fabricated in accordance with the TDD system, expected performance often cannot be sufficiently attained due to various limitations inherent in the TDD system. One of the essential problems lies in the fact that it is very difficult to completely cut a transmission wave when transmission is to be stopped in the reception state. This is because if an oscillator, such as a quartz crystal or a synthesizer is once stopped, it takes time before it will stably oscillate again and hence it is hard to catch up with the timing of time-division transmission/reception in a high-speed pingpong system. In the conventional TDD system, therefore, the oscillation at the transmission frequency or a frequency in the vicinity is maintained in the transceiver in the reception state, and deterioration of reception sensitivity due to the transmission wave is prevented by cutting off a power source for a part of circuit or shielding the same. However, the countermeasure such as shielding has limitations in its performance. Also, if the frequency of the oscillator is shifted to an adjacent channel in the reception state to prevent the deterioration of reception sensitivity, there is a problem of causing interference in other transceivers or equipments of the same kind making communications in the neighborhood.

Signal oscillation method for time-division duplex radio transceiver and apparatus using the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Circuits for voltage or current biasing static random access memory (SRAM) bitcells during SRAM reset operations are disclosed. Related systems and methods are also disclosed. To reset a plurality of SRAM bitcells in a single reset operation, a biasing circuit is provided and coupled to the plurality of SRAM bitcells. The biasing circuit is configured to apply a voltage or current bias to the SRAM bitcells during a reset operation after power provided to the SRAM bitcells is collapsed to a collapsed power level below an operational power level. The bias is applied as the power to the SRAM bitcells is restored to an operational power level, thus forcing the SRAM bitcells into a desired state. In this manner, the SRAM bitcells can be reset in a single reset operation without need for an increased drive strength from a reset circuit and without need to provide specialized SRAM bitcells.

I. Field of the Disclosure
The technology of the disclosure relates to static random access memory (SRAM) bitcells and resetting of SRAM bitcells.
II. Background
A memory cell is a basic building block of computer data storage, also known as "memory." A computer system may either read data from or write data to memory. There are different types of memory. For example, one type of memory is static random access memory (SRAM). As an example, SRAM may be used as cache memory in a central processing unit (CPU) system. A SRAM cache memory may be comprised of a tag array and a data array. The tag array receives a memory address as part of a memory access request from a CPU. A portion of the memory address is stored as a tag in the tag array and a remaining portion of the memory address is used to index a location. Each tag entry has one or more corresponding entries in the data array. The entries in the tag array can be valid or invalid.
A tag will be valid if the data stored in the data entry in the data array of the SRAM cache memory corresponding to the tag is valid. In the case of a valid tag, the data for the memory access request can be directly accessed from the data array in the SRAM cache memory as opposed to being accessed from a higher level memory. If a tag accessed as part of a memory access request is invalid, the data stored in the data entry of the data array of the SRAM cache memory corresponding to the tag is deemed invalid. For example, the data in the data array corresponding to the invalid tag may not be updated to be coherent with the data stored at the memory address of the memory access request in higher memory. To indicate whether a tag in a SRAM cache memory is valid or invalid, a valid bit can be provided in the SRAM cache memory. The valid bit can be comprised of a single SRAM bitcell. A plurality of valid bits can be provided over a column of the SRAM cache memory, with each valid bit corresponding to a row in the SRAM cache memory. The value or state of a valid bit can be set to a logical high ("1") to indicate that the tag is valid, and to a logical low ("0") to indicate the tag is invalid, or vice versa. A cache miss is generated by the SRAM cache memory when the valid bit corresponding to the memory address of the memory access request is invalid in the tag array to prevent invalid data in the data array from being used to fulfill the memory access request.
During operation of a device containing SRAM cache memory, the valid bits in the SRAM cache memory will power up in a random, unknown state (i.e., an unknown charge level) of either logical one ("1") or logical zero ("0"). Since the valid bits will power up in a random, unknown state, it may be desired to perform an invalidate operation to set or reset all of the valid bits in the tag array of the SRAM cache memory to an invalid state. In this manner, if the SRAM cache memory is accessed before being filled with valid data, the valid bits being set to an invalid state will cause a cache miss to occur.
One method of invalidating valid bits of SRAM cache memory involves individually resetting the state of each valid bit to an invalid state. However, this method of individually resetting the validity state of each of the valid bits is time consuming. Another method of resetting the valid state of an entire column of valid bits in an SRAM cache memory in a single reset operation involves providing the valid bits as specialized SRAM bitcells. The specialized SRAM bitcells include one or more additional transistors. Each of the additional transistors in the specialized SRAM bitcells is coupled to a voltage rail node and/or a ground rail node. Thus, an entire column of the specialized SRAM bitcells may be reset in a single reset operation by activating all of the additional transistors for each of the specialized SRAM bitcells to be coupled to the voltage rail node and/or the ground rail node to force the values of the specialized SRAM bitcells to an invalid state. However, providing the additional transistors for the valid bits increases the SRAM cache memory density. Specialized SRAM bitcells with additional transistors for an invalidate operation require a more complicated manufacturing process because of the smaller SRAM geometries.
One way to avoid the need to provide specialized SRAM bitcells while maintaining the ability to provide a single reset operation for valid bits in a SRAM cache memory is to provide a reset circuit having increased drive strength. The reset circuit may be the validity bitline driver that drives a bitline to a plurality of SRAM bitcells, such as a column of SRAM bitcells. The increased drive strength provides the additional current capacity for the validity bitline driver to be capable of forcing the load of an entire column of the valid bits in the SRAM cache memory to an invalid state in a single reset operation. However, providing additional drive strength in a validity bitline driver may increase the size of the validity bitline driver in the SRAM cache memory, thus increasing the size of the memory.
It is desired to provide for the capability of a single reset operation to reset a plurality of valid bits in the SRAM cache memory without the need to provide specialized SRAM bitcells or an increased drive strength validity bitline driver, each of which increase SRAM cache memory density.

Circuits for voltage or current biasing static random access memory (SRAM) bitcells during SRAM reset operations, and related systems and methods


A motion control system is applied to a vehicle, which has front wheel side suspensions with an anti-dive geometry and rear wheel side suspensions with an anti-lift geometry. A degree of an anti-lift effect of the anti-lift geometry is larger than a degree of an anti-dive effect of the anti-dive geometry. Normally, a controller controls a hydraulic unit such that a brake force distribution between front wheels and rear wheels during a braking-period is adjusted to a basic distribution. In contrast, in a state where abrupt application of brakes is started, the controller controls the hydraulic unit such that the brake force distribution is adjusted to a first distribution, at which a brake force respectively applied to the rear wheels is larger than that of the basic distribution only for a predetermined short time period upon starting of the application of the brakes.

Front wheel side suspensions, which have an anti-dive geometry, and rear wheel side suspensions, which have an anti-lift geometry, are well known in the art to limit pitching of the vehicle, which occurs during a braking period of applying brakes. With such front and rear wheel side suspensions, an anti-dive effect, which limits diving of a vehicle body (a phenomenon of sinking of a front side of the vehicle body) during the braking period, and an anti-lift effect, which limits lifting of the vehicle body (a phenomenon of floating of a rear side of the vehicle body) during the braking period, are implemented, so that the pitching is limited. Hereinafter, the terms "anti-dive" and "anti-lift" may also be collectively referred to as "anti-pitching".
It is conceivable to adapt an anti-pitching geometry, which shows the large anti-pitching effect for the brake force applied to the vehicle wheels, to increase a degree of limiting the pitching. However, when the anti-pitching geometry, which shows an excessively large anti-pitching effect, is adapted, a degree of conducting a vehicle's front-to-rear directional force, which is initially applied to ground contact points of the vehicle wheels (tires) at the time of driving the vehicle on, for example, a rough road, to the vehicle body is increased as a vertical force. This may result in deterioration of the ride feeling of an occupant(s) of the vehicle. In other words, the ride feeling of the occupant(s) is deteriorated during the time of driving the vehicle without applying the brakes (non-braking period).
Thereby, it is required to adapt the anti-pitching geometry, which does not show the large anti-pitching effect, to maintain the good ride feeling of the occupant(s) during the non-braking period and which effectively limits the pitching during the braking period. In view of this, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H11-151921 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H06-64436, strokes and locations of suspension components, which define the anti-pitching geometry, are changed during the braking period to increase the anti-pitching effect of the anti-pitching geometry. In this way, the pitching is effectively limited during the braking period while maintain the good ride feeling of the occupant(s) during the non-braking period.
However, in the systems described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H11-151921 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H06-64436, the strokes and the locations of the suspension components are changed during the braking period, and thereby a dedicated mechanism for implementing this needs to be installed in the suspensions. This will disadvantageously increase the manufacturing costs and deteriorate the installability of the system to the vehicle and manufacturability of the system.


The present disclosure provides a display panel and a display apparatus. The display panel includes a display substrate and a support layer one a side of the display substrate. The support layer has a patterned region. The display substrate further includes a spacer layer between the support layer and the display substrate. The spacer layer includes a first adhesive layer, a second adhesive layer and a base material layer between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer. The first adhesive layer is adhered to the display substrate, and the second adhesive layer is adhered to the support layer.

Currently, in a foldable display apparatus, a metal support member is usually provided on a backside of a flexible display substrate. The metal support member has high elastic modulus and high hardness and rigidity, and can provide a good overall support and a rigidity supplement for the flexible display substrate.
Through holes are usually formed in the metal support member at a bendable region in order to improve bending resistance of the metal support member and prevent the metal support member with high hardness from breaking and failing due to excessive stress during bending.

Display panel and display apparatus including multi-adhesive spacer layer


An anchor assembly for a watercraft comprises a spherical stainless steel-lead filled heavy body to be removably coupled to the hull of the watercraft by a stainless steel coupling cable, the heavy body being so designed as to provide a xe2x80x9cdead bodyxe2x80x9d with the watercraft in an anchored condition.

An anchor assembly for watercrafts in general, characterized in that said anchor assembly comprises a heavy body, which is removably coupled to a vessel of a said watercraft and connected to a coupling cable, and that said heavy body, as said watercraft has been anchored, provides a xe2x80x9cdead bodyxe2x80x9d.
The present invention relates to an anchor assembly for boats and watercrafts in general.
As is known, a very important problem for anchoring boats and watercrafts in general, and, in particular sail boats and high tonnage vessels, is that of providing an anchor assembly or apparatus effective to provide a firm and safe anchoring.
Conventional anchor means provide to use an anchor element, fixed to an anchor chain.
If the anchor element, which has a comparatively small weight, is thrown on a sand bottom, it will have poor anchoring properties, and would be subjected to undesired movements because of the sea waves and streams.
Moreover, on rock bottoms, prior anchor elements can undesirable easily jam, thereby they could be recovered only by difficult and dangerous recovering operations.
Another problem is that prior anchor elements are conventionally coupled to a galvanized iron chain, which must be necessarily washed by sweet water, in order to prevent any corrosion problems, with a consequent waste of sweet water.
Moreover, the links of the chain, in particular those arranged at the mooring and nose portions of said chains, are subjected to a comparatively quick wear, which cannot be always easily detected, thereby the anchor chain can be easily broken with a consequent loose of the watercraft.
Yet another drawback is that conventional anchor-chain anchoring devices involve a displacement of the watercraft from the bottom anchoring point, with a possible danger that other chains or cables or bodies could overlap on an anchoring chain at an anchoring place, with consequent undesired jammings.
Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing an anchor assembly for boats in general, adapted to modify the conventional anchoring technique, and including an anchoring element specifically designed to provide a firm anchoring to the bottom of the sea, thereby allowing to use a length of the anchoring chain much smaller than that which would be necessary in conventional anchoring apparatus.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such an anchor body which is not subjected to slip movements the conventional anchors are subjected to.
In fact, the latter, because of their small weight, have anchoring properties which are negatively affected by the natural characteristics of the sea and the like bottoms.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such an anchor assembly which is not subjected to jammings, even in the presence of a water bottom including a lot of differently contoured rocks.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such an anchor assembly which can be easily recovered without any dangers of tangling with other anchoring chains or elements which could be present on the water bottom.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an anchor assembly for watercrafts in general, characterized in that said anchor assembly comprises a heavy body, to be removably coupled to the shell of a watercraft, and connected to a coupling cable, and that said heavy body is adapted to provide, as it is anchored to said watercraft, a xe2x80x9cdead bodyxe2x80x9d.

Anchor assembly for boats and watercrafts in general


Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an apparatus for separating a second fluid or a particulate from a host fluid. That apparatus comprises a flow chamber with at least one inlet and at least one outlet. A drive circuit configured to provide a drive signal to a filter circuit configured to receive the drive signal and provide a translated drive signal. An ultrasonic transducer is cooperatively arranged with the flow chamber, and transducer includes at least one piezoelectric element configured to be driven by the current drive signal to create an acoustic standing wave in the flow chamber. At least one reflector opposing the ultrasonic transducer to reflect acoustic energy.

Acoustophoresis is the separation of particles and secondary fluids from a primary or host fluid using acoustics, such as acoustic standing waves. Acoustic standing waves can exert forces on particles in a fluid when there is a differential in density and/or compressibility, otherwise known as the acoustic contrast factor. The pressure profile in a standing wave contains areas of local minimum pressure amplitudes at standing wave nodes and local maxima at standing wave anti-nodes. Depending on their density and compressibility, the particles can be trapped at the nodes or anti-nodes of the standing wave. Generally, the higher the frequency of the standing wave, the smaller the particles that can be trapped.
At a micro scale, for example with structure dimensions on the order of micrometers, conventional acoustophoresis systems tend to use half or quarter wavelength acoustic chambers, which at frequencies of a few megahertz are typically less than a millimeter in thickness, and operate at very slow flow rates (e.g., μL/min). Such systems are not scalable since they benefit from extremely low Reynolds number, laminar flow operation, and minimal fluid dynamic optimization.
At the macro-scale, planar acoustic standing waves have been used in separation processes. However, a single planar wave tends to trap the particles or secondary fluid such that separation from the primary fluid is achieved by turning off or removing the planar standing wave. The removal of the planar standing wave may hinder continuous operation. Also, the amount of power that is used to generate the acoustic planar standing wave tends to heat the primary fluid through waste energy, which may be disadvantageous for the material being processed.
Conventional acoustophoresis devices have thus had limited efficacy due to several factors including heat generation, use of planar standing waves, limits on fluid flow, and the inability to capture different types of materials.
Control of power supplied to an ultrasonic transducer is challenging to implement, and in particular is challenging to implement with efficient performance. Promoting multimode behavior in a resonance-cavity system may depend on providing sufficient electrical power to an ultrasonic transducer in the system.

Electronic configuration and control for acoustic standing wave generation


Described herein are frameworks, devices and methods configured for enabling display for facility information and content, in some cases via touch/gesture controlled interfaces. Embodiments of the invention have been particularly developed for allowing an operator to conveniently access a wide range of information relating to a facility via, for example, one or more wall mounted displays. While some embodiments will be described herein with particular reference to that application, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such a field of use, and is applicable in broader contexts.

Any discussion of the background art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
There are a wide range of information systems configured to provide access to information regarding facility information, for example building systems such as HVAC, access control, surveillance, and so on. These information systems tend to rely on tree-structures for navigation, and are optimised for use via a traditional PC-style interface (i.e. keyboard and mouse).

Frameworks, devices and methods configured for enabling touch/gesture controlled display for facility information and content with resolution dependent display and persistent content positioning


Shaped lyocell cellulose articles are provided for binding heavy metal ions and radioactive isotopes thereof. The shaped articles include one or more hexacyanoferrates that are incorporated in a cellulosic matrix and uniformly distributed therein. The shaped articles can be fibers, fibrids, fibrous nonwoven webs, granules, beads, self-supporting films, tubular films, filaments, sponges, foams or bristles. They are useful for water treatment and water decontamination, for metal beneficiation, for treatment of wound with wound dressings, for air and gas filtration and in protective apparel.

It is known to use the compounds from the group of hexacyanoferrates to remove different isotopes of heavy metal ions of the elements cesium, strontium, thallium, cadmium and lead from aqueous systems. The hexacyanoferrates used are advantageously immobilized in a supporting material so as to prevent them passing into the aqueous or moist gaseous phase surrounding the material. Known supporting materials for hexacyanoferrates are porous materials, such as ion exchange resins, sawdust, wood-base materials, fiber pulp materials, paper, natural fibers or regenerated cellulose fibers. Enrichment is always purely surficial. The uptake capacity of such supporting materials for hexacyanoferrates is limited by their surface area and pore structure.
It is known to use compounds from the group of hexacyanoferrates to remove heavy metal ions of the elements cesium, strontium, thallium, cadmium and lead from aqueous systems. Hexacyanoferrates bind the recited heavy metal ions by ion exchange and incorporation in their ionic lattice. The group of hexacyanoferrates is made up of electrically neutral compounds which are comprised of the negatively charged hexacyanoferrate anion and positively charged counter-ions, preferably metal cations.
Preference among this group is given to the use of representatives which are sparingly soluble in water. Typical examples are Prussian blue Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 or AxBy[Fe(CN)6] (A=NH4/Li/Na/K, B=Fe/Ni/Co/Cu/Ti/Cr). The patent DE 3735304 and the IAEA Report "The use of Prussian Blue to reduce radiocaesium contamination of milk and meat produced on territories affected by the Chernobyl accident" of February 1997 describe the use of hexacyanoferrates to bind Tl+ and Cs+ isotopes in human and veterinary medicine. The orally administered hexacyanoferrates are secreted again by the body. These uses require no separation or supportation, so pure hexacyanoferrates can be used. When hexacyanoferrates are used to remove heavy metal ions from aqueous systems, however, it is desirable for these to be completely separated from the system. The insoluble microcrystalline hexacyanoferrates such as NH4Fe[Fe(CN)6] or Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 form colloidal solutions in water.
Colloidal particle sizes between 1 and 100 μm and below 1 μm limit the use of pure hexacyanoferrates in filter layers. Filter layers comprising hexacyanoferrates of this type are associated with substantial pressure drops over the length of the filter bed. The colloidal solubility further leads to a drag-out of the hexacyanoferrate even through barriers having pore sizes of less than 0.1 μm.
EP 0 575 612 A1 describes porous, particulate or fibrous supporting materials which have been treated with a suspension of hexacyanoferrates. The supporting materials thus treated bind radioactive cesium, rubidium and strontium ions in particular. The attempt to load cellulose fibers, especially lyocell cellulose fibers, with hexacyanoferrates revealed several disadvantages. The fibers could only be loaded with a limited amount of hexacyanoferrates. The hexacyanoferrate particles moreover displayed low adherence and so were easily washed off. The poor adherence of the hexacyanoferrate particles to the cellulose fibers moreover led to dusting in the course of processing. The distribution of the hexacyanoferrate particles on the fibers was also not homogeneous.
The problem addressed by the present invention is therefore that of incorporating hexacyanoferrates such as NH4Fe[Fe(CN)6] or Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 in a matrix, ideally without impairing their ability to adsorb or absorb particular heavy metal ions, and thus preventing the formation of colloidal solutions. The incorporated hexacyanoferrates shall be firmly attached in the matrix and form a homogeneous distribution therein. The corresponding shaped articles shall be useful as filter material having high uptake capacity for heavy metal ions.
Various methods and solutions have been described for this problem, which all have disadvantages.
One proposed solution to the stated problem is to fix hexacyanoferrates to ion exchange materials. Thus, EP1419009 utilizes a composite material based on a supporting material having a coating of ion exchange material to effect ionic fixing.
RU2033240 further describes binding hexacyanoferrate to viscose fibers with ion exchanger functionalization. Even porous natural materials such as sawdust are stated by EP575612 to be capable of sorbing and hence binding hexacyanoferrates. With ionic fixation, displacement off the ion exchanger by other ions is possible. Surficially coated porous supporting materials, by contrast, are known to have limits with regard to adherence and mechanical stability.
A further approach to solving the stated problem is based on the idea of insoluble hexacyanoferrates being generated, and hence fixed, in the pores of porous supporting materials. This method is adopted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,722. Disadvantages here are that the method needs several individual steps for the synthesis and that the binding to the support is purely mechanical only. A further disadvantage is that the sorption kinetics of heavy metal ions are constrained by the degree of accessibility to the inner region of the pore structure.
Accordingly, there continues to be a need for shaped cellulose articles for selective binding of monovalent heavy metal ions, especially thallium and cesium ions and radioactive isotopes thereof.

Formed lyocell articles for selective binding of monovalent heavy metal ions, especially thallium and cesium ions and radioactive isotopes thereof

THUERINGISCHES INSTITUT FUER TEXTIL-UND KUNSTSTOFF-FORSCHUNG E.V.


A second impurity region is surrounded by a first impurity region at a first main surface. A third impurity region of the first main surface sandwiches the second impurity region with the first impurity region. Fourth and fifth impurity regions of a second main surface sandwich the first impurity region with the second impurity region. A control electrode layer is opposite to the second impurity region with an insulating film interposed. That portion of the second main surface which is opposite to the portion of the first main surface where the first impurity region is formed surrounds the regions for forming the fourth and fifth impurity regions of the second main surface, and it is a region of the first conductivity type or a region of the second conductivity type having impurity concentration not higher than that of the first impurity region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Background Art
Recently, in view of saving energy, an inverter circuit has come to be widely used for controlling home electric appliances and industrial power apparatuses. In an inverter circuit, power control is effected by repeating on and off of voltage or current, using a power semiconductor device. When rated voltage is 300 V or higher, an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is mainly used, considering its characteristics.
It is often the case that the inverter circuit drives an inductive load such as an induction motor. In that case, back electromotive force generates from the inductive load. Therefore, a free wheel diode for circulating a current generated by the back electromotive force opposite in direction to the main current of IGBT, becomes necessary.
A common inverter circuit having an IGBT and the free wheel diode as separate parts connected in parallel has been used. In order to reduce size and weight of the inverter device, however, a semiconductor device having the IGBT and the free wheel diode integrated as one chip has been developed.
Conventionally, a semiconductor device having the IGBT and the free wheel diode integrated as one chip as described above has been proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 05-152574, 06-085269 and 07-153942.
When the free wheel diode of the semiconductor device described above is in a forward conductive state, a large number of carriers for carrying current are stored in the semiconductor device. Therefore, immediately after switching of the current to the reverse direction, a phenomenon in which a large current flows instantaneously in the reverse direction (recovery operation) occurs.
According to the conventional art described above, in the recovery operation, a current may possibly flow to cause carriers stored in a region around an outer periphery of IGBT and free wheel diode forming regions (cell region) to concentrate at an end portion of the cell region, causing breakdown of the semiconductor device (recovery breakdown).
When recovery breakdown occurs, the semiconductor device can no longer function well as an IGBT or a free wheel diode, because, for example, a simple resistor in electric equivalence is formed between electrodes. Further, failure such as melting of metal electrode may sometimes be observed. Crystal structure analysis of the end portion of cell region sometimes reveals destruction of original single-crystal structure.
It is noted that the longer the carrier life time in a semiconductor device, the larger the current that flows in the recovery operation, and the higher the possibility of recovery breakdown. Though the carrier life time can be made shorter by electron beam irradiation, for example, such an additional process step increases manufacturing cost.

Semiconductor device preventing recovery breakdown and manufacturing method thereof


A bearing isolator assembly comprises an inner support member, an outer support member, a resilient member, and an elastomeric ring. A path of travel is defined between the inner support member and the outer support member. The resilient member is disposed between the inner support member and the outer support member and is configured to resist compression between the inner support member and the outer support member within a first portion of the path of travel. The outer support member defines a ring envelope, in which the elastomeric ring is disposed. The inner support member defines a ring compression surface, and the elastomeric ring is configured to resist compression between the ring compression surface of the inner support member and the ring compression surface of the outer support member within a second portion of the path of travel.

The present invention relates to bearing isolators and more particularly to bearing isolators including a resilient member for providing a first force characteristic within a first range of travel and including an elastomeric member providing a second force characteristic within a second range of travel.
Existing bearing isolator assemblies seek to absorb manufacturing tolerances of associated components, pre-load bearings with axial loads to eliminate looseness and unwanted bearing noise, and control worm travel and rate of deceleration. Absorption of manufacturing tolerances of worm and bearing assemblies may be accomplished while limiting travel of the components by modulating a quantity of elastomer disposed within a pair of steel cups such that the elastomer compensates for part-to-part dimensional variations. In accordance with such methods, the shape of the cups and the shape of the elastomer are such that a specific force curve is generated when the assembly is compressed. Bearing pre-load is sought to be accomplished by applying an axial force to the inner race and resisting that force on the opposite side of the bearing on the outer race. Worm travel is controlled by limiting the amount of elastomer inside the two steel cups, and retention of conventional assemblies is provided through use of adhesives.
Unfortunately, such conventional bearing isolators may be limited in their ability to provide sufficient range of travel together with desirable force characteristics. Such bearing isolators may also lack the ability to be tuned so as to provide desirable force characteristics through necessary ranges of travel along the worm axis. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a bearing isolator providing tunable force characteristics over an increased range of travel.

Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation


Garment snugly fitting to a body, in particular a bathing suit, having a front section (1), a back section (2), a crotch section (4) and at least one suspended section (5), the front section and the back section being circularly knitted substantially in a hose-like configuration from elastic yarn which over the extend of the garment is knitted at different tensions and/or mesh sizes, so that the garment follows the contour of the body, the elastic yarn in each row consisting of an elastic core yarn and at least one surface yarn covering it.

1. Field Of The Invention
The invention relates to a garment fitting snugly to a body, in particular a bathing suit having a front section, a back section, a crotch section and at least one suspender section, the front section and the back section being circularly knitted in a substantially hose-like fashion from elastic yarn which over the extend of the garment is knitted at different tension and/or mesh size so that the garment follows the contour of the body, the elastic yarn in each row consisting of an elastic core yarn and at least one surface yarn covering
2. The Prior Art
As a rule, in garments, particularly in bathing suits which are to fit snugly to the body of their wearer, front and back sections are made of two parts which are sewn together at their side. Openings at least in the region of the upper thighs or hips and at shoulder sections are fabricated manually. Such a design suffers from the disadvantage of being very labor intensive because front and back sections have first to be cut and sewn together so as to conform to a body and before they are sewn together. The seems are bothersome and impede an optimal fit of the garment on the body. Finally, the desired snug fit of the garment to a body and its elasticity are not always ensure because of the hitherto used yarns and because the cloth is usually stretched on a frame and subjected to a heat-treatment whereby the memory of the cloth and of the garment made with it are reduced.
A garment of the kind mentioned in the introduction is also known from EP-A1-0,599,266, which may also be used as underwear and which is provided with long sleeves, the garment being provided with zones of different knits and stretch properties in its sleeves as well as in the waist and chest zones, in order to provide improved conformity to a body. Moreover, it is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,425,246 to manufacture, for instance, of one-piece circularly knitted bathing suits, stockings, brassieres and the like with different mesh structures varying the size of the meshes in certain zones, using covered spandex yarns on circular knitting machines, for the accommodating body curves.


An apparatus receives an input encoded audio data signal comprising a base layer and at least one enhancement layer. A reference unit (103) generates reference audio data corresponding to audio data of a reference set of layers. A layer unit (105) divides the layers of the input signal into a first subset and a second subset. A sample unit (107) generates sample audio data corresponding to the audio data of the first subset. A comparison unit (109) generates a difference measure by comparing the sample audio data to the reference audio data based on a perceptual model. An output unit (111) then determines if the difference measure meets a similarity criterion and generates an output signal without audio data from a layer of the second subset if the similarity criterion is met and including the audio data of the layer otherwise. The invention may provide reduced data rates without an unacceptable degradation of quality.

Digital encoding of audio signals has become increasingly important and is an essential part of many communication and distribution systems. For example, communication of speech and background audio in a cellular communication system is based on encoding of the audio at the source followed by the communication of the encoded audio data to the destination where this is decoded to recreate the source signal.
In general, there is a trade-off between the data rate (or file size) of an encoded signal and the quality that can be provided. In order to adapt the operation of an audio codec to the desired application, coding standards have been developed that provide different quality levels and data rates. In particular, coding standards have been proposed which encode audio in a base layer comprising encoded audio data corresponding to a low quality. Such a base layer may be supplemented by one or more enhancement layers that provide audio data which can be used together with the base layer audio data to generate an audio signal with improved audio quality. For example, when encoding the audio signal to generate the base layer, a residual signal representing the difference between the audio signal and the audio data of the base layer can be generated (typically by decoding the audio data of the base layer and subtracting this from input audio signal). This residual signal may then be further encoded to provide audio data for an enhancement layer. The process can be repeated to provide further enhancement layers.
An example of a layered audio encoding standard is the Embedded variable Bit Rate (EV-VBR) codec standardized as ITU-T Recommendation G.718 by the International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Standardization Sector, ITU-T.
G.718 is an embedded scalable speech and audio codec which provides high quality wideband (50 Hz to 7 kHz) speech at a range of bit rates. The codec is particularly suitable for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and includes functionality making it robust to frame erasures.
The ITU-T Recommendation G.718 codec uses a structure with a discrete layering for mono wideband, stereo wideband, superwideband mono and superwideband stereo layers. Currently the G.718 codec comprises five layers which are referred to as Layer 1 (the core or base layer) through to Layer 5 (the highest enhancement or extension layer) with combined bit rates of 8, 12, 16, 24, and 32 kbit/s. The lower two layers are based on ACELP (Algebraic Code Excited Linear Prediction Technology) with Layer 1 specifically employing a variation of the 3GPP2 VMR-WB (Variable Multi Rate—WideBand) speech coding standard comprising several coding modes optimized for different input signals. The coding error from Layer 1 is encoded in Layer 2, consisting of a modified adaptive codebook and an additional algebraic codebook. The error from Layer 2 is further coded for higher layers in the transform domain using the Modified Discrete Cosine Transform (MDCT). In order to improve the frame erasure concealment, as well as convergence and recovery after erased frames, a few supplementary concealment/recovery parameters are also determined and transmitted in Layer 3.
Layered audio coding provides increased flexibility and allows codecs to be modified to generate additional data for enhancement layers while still providing compatibility with legacy equipment. Furthermore, the layers facilitate the adaptation of the audio data to the specific conditions experienced. For example, when distributing audio data in a communication system, a network element may strip one or more enhancement layers in order to suit a data link with insufficient capacity to carry the whole audio data stream. For example, in a cellular communication system, the audio data may be transmitted over the air interface to a User Equipment (UE). During low load intervals, all data layers may be transmitted to the UE. However, during peak loading only a reduced communication resource may be available for the communication and accordingly the base station may strip one or more layers in order to enable communication using a reduced resource allocation. As a specific example, during low loading, a 32 kbit/s downlink channel may be allocated to the audio communication whereas only 16 kbit/s may be allocated at high loading. In the former case, all layers may be communicated and in the latter case only Layers 1, 2 and 3 will be communicated.
However, although such an approach may work well in many scenarios, it also has associated disadvantages. Specifically, it tends to result in an inflexible and suboptimal resource usage and/or a reduced perceived audio quality. Indeed, when the air interface resource availability is restricted, the perceived quality is continuously degraded.
Hence, an improved approach would be advantageous and in particular an approach allowing increased flexibility, reduced resource consumption, increased audio quality, facilitated implementation and/or improved performance would be advantageous.

Apparatus and method for generating an output audio data signal


A lanthanum chromite ceramic powder consisting essentially of 1 mol of LaCr.sub.1-x M.sub.x O.sub.3, where M is a divalent metal selected from the group of zinc, copper and mixtures thereof and x ranges from about 0.02 to 0.2, y mols of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, where y ranges from 0.0005 to 0.04, and z mols of La.sub.2 O.sub.3, where the ratio z/y ranges from 1 to 3, the powder is sintered to high density by firing a compact thereof at a temperature of about 1400.degree. C. in air or other atmosphere, and is particularly suited for use as interconnect material for solid oxide fuel cells.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of electroceramics and more particularly to a sinter-reactive lanthanum chromite ceramic especially suited for use in a solid oxide fuel cell.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) have high potential in producing electrical energy from cheap fuels or byproduct waste gas streams of the petrochemical and metallurgical industries. The potential of these fuel cells lies in the high efficiency of converting chemical to electrical energy and could find extensive applications in the domestic, commercial, defense, and aerospace sectors of the economy. The realization of this potential is contingent on the development of reliable and cost efficient methods of cell fabrication.
One of the solid oxide fuel cell designs resembles a heat exchanger with a honeycomb structure in which the electroactive ceramic components also serve as the structural members and eliminate the need for inert supports. This design is referred to as the monolithic solid oxide fuel cell (MSOFC). The honeycomb structure of the MSOFC is made up of thin layers of four components: (1) anode, usually made of a nickel-zirconia cermet; (2) electrolyte, made of a fully stabilized (cubic) zirconia; (3) cathode, made of strontium-doped lanthanum manganite (LaMnO.sub.3); and, (4) interconnect, made of doped lanthanum chromite (LaCrO.sub.3). The adjacent anode, electrolyte, and cathode layers make up one cell while the interconnect serves as an internal electrical connection between individual cells.
The monolithic solid oxide fuel cell offers lower material costs, the potential for reduced manufacturing costs, and a higher efficiency over other geometries and designs. However, fabrication of these cells is expected to be more complicated because the individual components in thin sheet format must be formed into multilayer sheets which are then converted into a honeycomb structure and must be cosintered at the same relatively low temperature (about 1400.degree. C.) in air. Of particular importance is the sintering behavior of the interconnect material, that is, lanthanum chromite which must be sintered to closed porosity or at least about 94% of its theoretical density.
Lanthanum chromite is a refractory material with a melting point of 2510.degree. C. which requires very high temperatures and controlled atmospheres, i.e. extremely low partial pressures of oxygen for sintering to near theoretical density. Groupp and Anderson (L. Groupp and H. U. Anderson, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 59, 449 (1976)) have shown that LaCrO.sub.3 does not sinter in air even at temperatures as high as 1720.degree. C. According to the data reported by these investigators, LaCrO.sub.3 could be sintered to 95.3% TD only at 1740.degree. C. and in an atmosphere of nitrogen having an oxygen partial pressure of 10.sup.-11 atm. The main inhibition to densification appears to be the volatilization of chromium oxides in oxidizing atmospheres. The oxidation and volatilization of lanthanum chromite in oxidizing atmospheres at temperatures higher than 1400.degree. C. has indeed been reported by Meadowcroft and Wimmer (75th Annual Meeting of the Am. Ceram. Soc., Cincinnati, (1973) and D. B. Meadowcroft and J. M. Wimmer, Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull., vol. 58, 6I0 (1979)) and involves the oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) and formation of fugitive CrO.sub.3 which is a gas at the high temperatures of sintering. Therefore, the preparation of lanthanum chromite powders which sinter to closed porosity at temperatures below 1650.degree. C. so that Cr volatilization is minimized is critical for the development of monolithic solid oxide fuel cell fabrication technology. One method of fabricating lanthanum chromite (LaCrO.sub.3) electrodes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,108. This patent teaches the preparation of strontium-doped lanthanum chromite, i.e., lanthanum chromite in which lanthanum is partly substituted by strontium, from lanthanum oxide, strontium carbonate and chromic acid by slurry mixing these materials, drying the slurry and then firing the dried powder mixture in air at temperatures in the preferred range of 1200.degree. to 1500.degree. C. The resultant fired powder is strontium-doped lanthanum chromite which sinters only at temperatures in excess of 1700.degree. C.
An alternative approach is to use sol-gel technology to prepare high surface area, i.e., very fine grain, and sinter reactive LaCrO.sub.3 powders, compacts of which sinter to full density at temperatures lower than 1700.degree. C. Reduction in sintering temperature is achieved by controlling the composition, homogeneity, grain size, and morphology of the powder. This control is brought about by solution chemistry and improved powder separation and processing technology. One such method for preparing lanthanum chromite has been disclosed by C. N. Rao et al. "Synthesis of Complex Metal Oxides Using Hydroxide, Cyanide and Nitrate Solid Solution Precursors", J. Solid State Chem., vol. 58, 29-37 (1985). This method consists of coprecipitation of lanthanum and chromium hydroxides which are intimately mixed and essentially constitute a solid solution of LaCr(OH).sub.6. This hydroxide solid solution is converted to LaCrO.sub.3 by calcination at 850.degree. C. for 12 hours.
Specifically, Rao et al. teach the coprecipitation of LaCr(OH).sub.6 by adding an aqueous nitrate solution of metal ions to a sodium hydroxide solution with subsequent extensive washing of the resultant hydroxide gel to remove sodium ions. Removal of sodium ions from the gel is required because even a very low concentration of sodium ion markedly changes the properties of the gel and degrades the properties of the resultant lanthanum chromite powder. Moreover, Rao et al. state that ammonium hydroxide base could not be used to coprecipitate a hydroxide containing a divalent metal such as magnesium or strontium which are frequently used as dopants of lanthanum chromite.
Another sol-gel method has been disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,780, to Olson et al., for the preparation of lanthanum chromite doped with the divalent ions of magnesium, strontium, calcium or barium by coprecipitation from salt solutions of lanthanum, chromium and dopant ions with ammonium hydroxide. In this patent disclosure, extensive washing of the precipitated gel is allegedly not needed because residual ammonium ion is removed via the gas phase during powder calcination. Upon calcination at temperatures of about 600.degree. C., the gel converts to a single compound with the huttonite structure, LaCrO.sub.4, which upon further calcination at 900.degree. C. converts to pure lanthanum chromite, LaCrO.sub.3, with average particle size of about 0.5 .mu.m. The single phase composition of this powder and its fine grain size are in sharp contrast to the powder which is derived by following the teachings of Rao et al. The lanthanum chromite powder prepared according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,780 could be sintered to 95.7 % theoretical density at 1650.degree. C. for 4 hours in a graphite furnace and to 78% theoretical density at 1600.degree. C. for 2 hours in a furnace with oxygen partial pressure of 10.sup.-10 atmospheres. Densification of this lanthanum chromite to the indicated densities was much better than what was achievable by the powders of the prior art, as for example, stated by Groupp and Anderson. However, this preparation method does not control the material stoichiometry well.
S. Hayashi et al. utilize another approach for lowering the sintering temperature of lanthanum chromite. In J. Mater. Sci. Lett., vol. 7, p. 457 (1988), Hayashi et al. are said to have prepared chromite powders in which chromium was partially substituted by zinc, copper or strontium/zinc. They prepared these zinc- or copper-doped chromite powders by standard ceramic techniques, that is, mixing of component oxide powders, calcination of the powder mixtures, and size reduction. Hayashi et al. formed compacts of the chromite powders by uniaxial pressing under 100 MPa pressure, followed by cold isostatic pressing under 300 MPa pressure. These compacts had a very high green density of about 60% of theoretical and upon firing in air at 1600.degree. C. for 2 hours achieved a density of about 98% of theoretical when the concentration of zinc was 10 or 15 mol % or the copper concentration was 5, 10 or 15 mol %. The sintering of the zinc- or copper-doped chromites, prepared by Hayashi et al., to high density in air, i.e., oxidizing atmosphere, is in sharp contrast to the behavior of strontium- or magnesium-doped chromites which require a reducing atmosphere. However, the sintering temperature of 1600.degree. C. for the powders of Hayashi et al. is much higher than what is needed for the fabrication of the monolithic solid oxide fuel cell.
Densification of lanthanum chromite at much lower temperatures in air has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,632 to Flandermeyer et al. This was achieved by the incorporation into the lanthanum chromite of a sintering aid, that is, a compound or mixture of compounds which have melting points much lower than 1400.degree. C. For example, lanthanum chromite mixed with 10 w % boric acid powder was formed into a tape and fired at 1377.degree. C. to a density of about 94% of theoretical. Note that boric acid, H.sub.2 BO.sub.3, melts at about 160.degree. C. with simultaneous dehydration to HBO.sub.2, while boron oxide, B.sub.2 O.sub.3, a product of boric acid upon further dehydration, melts at about 460.degree. C. In another example, the sintering aid was made up of 8 w % (Ca,Cr) oxide, which has a eutectic point at about 1022.degree. C., and 6 w % B.sub.2 O.sub.3 and, because of the low melting point of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, the melting point of this sintering aid mixture would be expected to be very much lower than 1000.degree. C. A mixture of lanthanum chromite with the [B.sub.2 O.sub.3, (Ca,Cr) oxide] sintering aid was fired to about 90% of theoretical density at 1277.degree. C.
Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,632 teaches sintering of lanthanum chromite at low temperatures in air by the incorporation of relatively large quantities of compounds which melt at low temperatures and are referred to as sintering aids. However, the use of relatively large quantities of low-temperature melting compounds results in migration of some of the sintering aid ions into the adjacent layers during sintering thereby adversely affecting the sintering behavior and electrical performance of these layers. The large amounts of these sintering aids are deleterious to the fabrication and operational performance of the monolithic solid oxide fuel cell.
The need remains in the art for lanthanum chromite materials which sinter at lower temperatures (i.e. close to 1400.degree. C.) and which are especially suited for use in the monolithic solid oxide fuel cell.

Fluxed lanthanum chromite for low temperature air firing