Techniques are disclosed for forming transistor devices having reduced interfacial resistance in a local interconnect. The local interconnect can be a material having similar composition to that of the source/drain material. That composition can be a metal alloy of a group IV element such as nickel germanide. The local interconnect of the semiconductor integrated circuit can function in the absence of barrier and liner layers. The devices can be used on MOS transistors including PMOS transistors.

Increased performance of circuit devices including transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, and other passive and active electronic devices formed on a semiconductor substrate is typically a major factor considered during design, manufacture, and operation of those devices. For example, during design and manufacture or forming of, metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor semiconductor devices it is often desired to minimize the parasitic resistance associated with source/drain contacts otherwise known as external resistance (Rext).
As will be appreciated, the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale or intended to limit the present disclosure to the specific configurations shown. For instance, while some figures generally indicate straight lines, right angles, and smooth surfaces, an actual implementation of a transistor structure may have less than perfect straight lines, right angles, and some features may have surface topology or otherwise be non-smooth, given real world limitations of the processing equipment and techniques used. In short, the figures are provided merely to show example structures.

Local interconnect for group IV source/drain regions


The present invention provides a semiconductor laser devices of hologram laser type, constructed so that the configuration of the optical elements barely changes even if its package expands due to a rise in temperature or moisture absorption. In the semiconductor laser device, a body frame made of an insulating resin contains a semiconductor laser element, a mirror, a photo-detecting element for reading signals, a mirror-mounting base and a detector-mounting base. Also, a holographic element is mounted on the top of the sidewall of the body frame. The mirror-mounting base and the detector-mounting base are made of a resin, wherein each base is integrally formed with the base plate of the body frame and is separated from the sidewall of the body frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor laser for generating a laser beam and for receiving the laser beam reflected by an object, and to an optical pickup device using the semiconductor laser device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In optical recording apparatuses using CD-ROMs, MDs (MiniDisk™) or other optical discs as recording media, optical pickups are used for reading signals from the optical disc. Some optical pickups use semiconductor laser devices of hologram laser type. An example of such semiconductor laser devices is disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H06-203403. In this device, a semiconductor laser element, a holographic element and a photo-detecting element are built in a package. The semiconductor laser element generates a laser beam, and the holographic element diffracts the laser beam reflected by an optical disc so that the reflected beam is introduced into the photo-detecting element located apart from the semiconductor laser element.
In the semiconductor laser device disclosed in the aforementioned publication, a mounting part on which the semiconductor laser element is placed is formed in a semiconductor chip used as the photo-detecting element, and the semiconductor laser element is mounted on the photo-detecting element so that both elements constitute a unit. Therefore, when the relative position of the semiconductor laser element and the photo-detecting element should be changed due to, for example, some modification in specification, the position and/or height of the mounting section should be accordingly modified, so that the photo-detecting element itself needs to be newly produced. This is not desirable with respect to the production efficiency.
Accordingly, the applicant has proposed a construction wherein the semiconductor laser element is separated from the photo-receiving element, and both elements are mounted on different mounting bases, as disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-264332 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-066601). By this construction, the relative position of the semiconductor laser element and the photo-detecting element can be changed by newly producing only the mounting base having a simple structure, as opposed to the photo-detecting element having a complex structure.
FIGS. 6A–6D show the construction of this semiconductor laser device, where FIG. 6A is a plan view, FIG. 6B is a side view, FIG. 6C is a perspective view and FIG. 6D is another perspective view in which the holographic element is removed to show the inside of the device. In these drawings, numeral 1 denotes a semiconductor laser element, 2 denotes a reflecting mirror, 10 denotes a lead frame, 4 denotes a sub-mount with a monitoring photodiode, 5 denotes a photo-detecting element for reading signals (which consists of a photodiode integrated with a signal-processing circuit), and 6 denotes a holographic element. The holographic element 6 consists of a transparent member (made of glass or resin) having a grating pattern for generating a three-beam formed on its lower face and a holographic pattern for splitting the beam formed on its upper face.
In the construction of FIGS. 6A–6D, the package of the device consists of a body frame 60 made of an insulating resin with a base plate 60a and a sidewall 60b extending along the edge of the base plate 60a. The sidewall 60b has a pair of arc sections 60c facing each other and a pair of straight sections 60d facing each other. The holographic element 6 is mounted on the straight sections 60d. The lead frame 10 extending to the outside, the semiconductor laser element 1, the photo-detecting element 5 and the mirror 2 are located inside the body frame 60. The semiconductor laser element 1 is mounted on the sub-mount 4, which functions as the mounting base. The photo-detecting element 5 and the mirror 2 are each mounted on a separate mounting base made of a resin. The electrodes of the semiconductor laser element 1 and the photo-detecting element 5 are electrically connected to the lead frame 10 by Au (gold) wires 8.
The mirror 2 is located in front of the semiconductor laser element 1 and reflects the laser beam generated by the semiconductor laser element 1 so that the beam changes its direction by 90 degrees and enters the holographic element 6. The photo-detecting element 5 is located one a side of mirror 2 and receives the laser beam reflected by an optical disc and then diffracted by the holographic element 6 into a different direction.
FIGS. 7A–7C show the inside of the above-described semiconductor laser device, where FIG. 7A is the sectional view at line A—A in FIG. 6A, FIG. 7B is the sectional view at line B—B, and FIG. 7C is the sectional view at line C—C. FIGS. 7A and 7B correspond to Y-Z sections on the Cartesian coordinates shown in FIG. 6C. Similarly, FIG. 7C corresponds to an X-Z section.
The detector-mounting base 32 for the photo-detecting element 5 is connected to the straight section 60d of the sidewall 60b of the body frame 60 and located on the island plate 30 of the lead frame 10. Similarly, the mirror-mounting base 33 for the mirror 2 is connected to the straight section 60d of the sidewall 60b of the body frame 60 and located on the island plate 30 of the lead frame 10. The detector-mounting base 32 and the mirror-mounting base 33 are combined together.
In operation, semiconductor laser devices generate heat and have high temperatures. Also, they are often used under the conditions of high temperature and high humidity. As a result, the body frame and the mounting bases, both made of resin, expand due to a rise in temperature or moisture absorption. By the above-described construction, expansion of the body frame 60 causes the detector-mounting base 32 and the mirror-mounting base 33, both connected to the body frame 60, to change their positions. In particular, with reference to the aforementioned coordinates, the expansion of the body frame 60 causes the detector-mounting base 32 and the mirror-mounting base 33, both connected to the body frame 60, to move in the negative direction of the Y-axis. The expansion of the detector-mounting base 32 and the mirror-mounting base 33, which are combined together, cause them to move away from each other; the detector-mounting base 32 moves in the positive direction of the X-axis, and the mirror-mounting base 33 moves in the negative direction of the X-axis. In this case, either of the two bases that is less resistant to external forces will be displaced.
Displacement of these mounting bases 32, 33 would lead to an error in the optical configuration of the elements 1, 2, 5 and 6, which are normally adjusted to the optimal positions. Consequently, the convergence position of the laser beam on the photo-detecting element 5 would change, so that the photo-detecting element 5 could not receive the laser beam in the optimal condition. Such a condition of the photo-detecting element 5 would deteriorate the reliability of the optical pickup device in reading signals.

Semiconductor laser device and optical pickup device


Disclosed is an electrowetting display device including a plurality pixels. Each pixel includes a pixel electrode, a hydrophobic layer, a hydrophobic fluid, and a bank adapted to limit the range of movement of the hydrophobic fluid. The bank has a hydrophobic bank surface and a hydrophilic bank surface, which face each other. The hydrophobic fluid is moved from the hydrophilic bank surface towards the hydrophobic bank surface by the application of a voltage to the pixel electrode.

1. Field
The present invention relates to an electrowetting display device and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly to an electrowetting display device having banks of different hydrophilicities/hydrophobicities and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Discussion of the Background
An electrowetting effect refers to the change of contact angle between a conductive hydrophobic fluid and a hydrophobic layer positioned beneath the fluid, when a voltage is selectively applied to the fluid. Specifically, the smaller the voltage applied to the hydrophobic fluid is, the smaller the contact angle between the hydrophobic fluid and the hydrophobic layer becomes. The smaller the contact angle is, in turn, the larger the surface area of the hydrophobic fluid on the hydrophobic layer becomes.
An electrowetting display device is based on such an electrowetting effect. FIGS. 1A and 1B are sectional views of a pixel of a conventional electrowetting display device.
The electrowetting display device 10 includes a first substrate 100, a hydrophobic fluid 210 positioned on the first substrate 100, a hydrophilic fluid 230 positioned on the hydrophobic fluid 210 and which is immiscible with the hydrophobic fluid 210, and a second substrate 190 positioned over the hydrophilic fluid 230.
The first substrate 100 includes a first basic substrate 110, a first pixel electrode 120 formed on the first basic substrate 110, and a hydrophobic layer 130 formed on the pixel electrode 120. Banks 140 are formed on parts of the hydrophobic layer 130 to limit the movement of the hydrophobic fluid 210. The hydrophobic fluid 210 includes a pigment of a predetermined color. When the pixel electrode 120 is provided with no voltage, the hydrophobic fluid 210 is distributed over the entire hydrophobic layer 130, as shown in FIG. 1A, and the pixel displays the color of the pigment. The hydrophilic fluid 230 is transparent and is arranged on the hydrophobic fluid 210.
In order for the display device 10 to display a predetermined image, voltages of a predetermined gradation level are applied to the pixel electrode 120 of each pixel. When a voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 120, as shown in FIG. 1B, a part of the hydrophobic fluid 210 at the center of the layer is broken up, and then the hydrophobic fluid 210 moves towards the banks 140 positioned on edges of the pixel electrode. In order to guarantee that the breakup occurs at a constant position, the pixel further includes an auxiliary electrode 125 positioned separate from the pixel electrode 120 and provided with a voltage different from the pixel electrode 120. However, even the existence of the auxiliary electrode 125 cannot guarantee that the hydrophobic fluid 210 consistently brakes up.
Such breakup of the hydrophobic fluid 210 requires that a high voltage (e.g. 30 volts) be applied to the pixel electrode. However, high-voltage driving of the display device increases its power consumption, and the resulting electrolysis of fluids creates bubbles of oxygen or hydrogen gas as impurities inside the display device, degrading the display quality.
A satisfactory level of image display quality may require that the hydrophobic fluid of each pixel be distributed in the same position and area with regard to a predetermined gradation level. However, the inconsistency of the initial breakup position of the hydrophobic fluid makes it difficult to adjust the position and area of the hydrophobic fluid. Furthermore, the position and area of the hydrophobic fluid change, even if the pixel voltage is the same, during splitting and reunion of the hydrophobic fluid (hysteresis phenomenon), making it difficult to determine a voltage level with regard to a predetermined gradation level. Therefore, there is a need to design a display device in such a manner that fluids can also be driven at a low voltage, no unwanted gas is produced, and the fluids have the same position and area at a predetermined gradation level, as well as a method for manufacturing the same.

Electrowetting display device having banks of different hydrophilicities and method for manufacturing the same


A tape cassette comprises a pair of reels fixedly holding leading and trailing ends of a tape; and a cassette case containing the pair of reels with a forwardly exposed portion of the tape being extended at the front of the case. An opening is provided inside a forward portion of the case, and left and right side walls are arranged in the cassette case for defining the opening. Two or more tape guides are arranged adjacent to left and right ends of the opening, respectively, for guiding the forwardly exposed portion of the tape. A front lid is pivotably supported by the cassette case for covering the front of the forwardly exposed portion of the tape when closed, and an inner lid is pivotably supported by the front lid for covering the back of the tape when closed. Guiding grooves are arranged in the left and right side walls, respectively, for controlling a pivotal movement of the inner lid. At least one of the tape guides is spaced by a distance L from the opening-side end of its corresponding left or right side wall which has a thickness of T, such that L<T is established.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tape cassette and more particularly, a tape cassette suitable for use with a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, e.g. a video tape recorder.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In common arrangements, a tape cassette for use with a magnetic tape device such as a video tape recorder has encased therein a magnetic tape of which a forwardly exposed portion is arranged in the front of a casing along a path defined by a space between a front lid and an inner lid of the casing (for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 63-175279 (1988)).
The conventional tape cassette has one opening provided in the front thereof and extending approximately throughout the width thereof. The exposed portion of the magnetic tape which is protected between the front and inner lids can thus be guided through the opening with guiding members.
The front lid is mounted for pivotal movement by a pivot pin.
In addition, the front lid has a pair of brackets mounted in the upper inner side thereof. The inner lid has at both ends a couple of support pins which are engaged in the two brackets, respectively, so that the inner lid can turn about the support pins.
The inner lid also has at both ends a couple of left and right guide pins which are slidably engaged in guiding grooves provided in the casing. The left and right guiding grooves are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center line of the casing. Also, the relation between the support pins and the guiding pins has symmetry.
Each of the guiding members is fabricated by forming a resin into a semicircular shape for providing a wider area for tape passage.
The conventional tape cassette is provided with a locking member pivotably mounted on the casing for prevention of inadvertent opening of the front lid. The locking member is urged by a plate spring toward a forward leaning.
The front lid has a projection arranged on the side thereof for engagement with a hook of the locking member and can thus be prevented from rotating.
A tape cassette positioning portion is arranged at the front of the casing, where the locking member is not mounted, for determining the position of the tape cassette during loading.
The operation of such a conventional tape cassette having the foregoing arrangement will now be described.
When the tape cassette is loaded into a video tape recorder (referred to as a VTR hereinafter), the positioning portion arranged in the front of its casing comes into contact with a cassette stopper provided in the VTR and remains secured. Simultaneously, the locking member is allowed by a lock releasing member of the VTR to rotate against the urging force of the spring. As a result, the front lid is unlocked and turned upward.
As the front lid is opened, the inner lid moves upward with its support pins turning about the pivot pins. Also, its guide pins travel along their respective guiding grooves until the inner lid is completely opened and a loading post assembly of the VTR moves into the opening of the tape cassette.
The above is a description of the operation of loading the cassette into a VTR. The unloading will be carried out in reverse order of the loading.
However, the following disadvantages are inherent in the conventional tape cassette.
(1) The semicircular resin guiding members are provided for widening the tape path area to ease the feeding of the tape from the casing. This provides low guiding accuracy. Also, such an arrangement is critically affected by unfavorable environmental changes and suffers from deterioration with time and thus, damage to the tape will hardly be avoided. If the semicircular guiding post members are made of metallic materials, their production will create another difficulty and the overall cost will be increased.
If the guiding post members are of simple cylindrical shaped metal, the tape path area becomes reduced and the arrangement in the VTR will be greatly restricted in terms of freedom of design.
(2) The single opening in the casing restricts the tape loading path or the tape loading mechanism. For example, the use of an M loading arrangement, e.g. in the VHS VTR system, which is compact in size and mechanically simple, requires a wider opening of the tape cassette. If the opening in the casing is small with respect to the overall width of the tape cassette, the M loading arrangement will encounter great difficulty.
On the other hand, if the opening is widened, the forwardly exposed portion of the tape will easily be deflected causing direct contact with the inner lid. Accordingly, the opening cannot be widened arbitrarily or damage to the tape may result.
Another conventional tape cassette is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 60-214488 (1985) and has three openings arranged in its casing so as to solving the above problems. When this tape cassette is used with a U loading arrangement, e.g. of the .beta. or 8 mm VTR system, a plurality of guiding posts have to move across its three openings for loading. This loading operation can be facilitated by mounting the plural posts on one ring member. At the same time, the shape of the openings should have symmetry and extend continuously and widely for ensuring the efficient movement of the ring. However, the openings of the conventional tape cassette are narrow in width, are spaced apart from each other, and are not symmetrical. Also, they are not favorable in appearance.
(3) The locking member for prevention of inadvertent opening of the front lid and the positioning portion for determining the position of the tape cassette in loading are provided in different locations. This allows both the positional relation between the locking member and the positioning portion of the tape cassette and the positional relation between the positioning stopper and the lock releasing member of the VTR to develop an error in combination and thus, the locking and unlocking action will be conducted with less accuracy.

Tape cassette for cassette recording/reproducing apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A transmission unit mounted on the machine base of an office automation machine and covered with a cover and controlled to turn a first roller and a second roller, including a gear transmission mechanism, a first roller having a driven gear set at one end, and a second roller having a driven gear set at one end, wherein the gear transmission mechanism includes a motor, a rounded seat raised from the machine base, a drive gear mounted on the rounded seat and coupled to the motor, a first annular gear holder revolvably mounted around the rounded seat and having an upright gear shaft, a second annular gear holder revolvably mounted around the rounded seat and having two upright gear shafts, an auxiliary gear mounted on the machine base, a first planet gear revolvably mounted around the gear shaft of the first annular gear holder and driven by the drive gear to turn the driven gear set of the first roller, a second planet gear revolvably mounted around one upright gear shaft of the second annular gear holder and meshed between the drive gear and the auxiliary gear and driven by the drive gear to turn the driven gear set of the second roller, and a sector gear meshed with the drive gear and forced to turn the driven gear set of the second roller reversely through a fixed angle after the copy or incoming mode.

The present invention relates to fax machines, and relates more particularly to the transmission unit of a fax machine which prevents the gears from being jammed, and permits jammed paper to be conveniently pulled out of the machine.
The transmission unit of a fax machine comprises a first roller and a second roller. The first roller and the second roller are simultaneously rotated to advance the thermal paper during the copy or incoming mode. When at the outgoing mode, only the first roller is rotated to feed document. After the copy or incoming mode, the thermal paper is cut automatically or manually. When the thermal paper is cut off, the leading end of the rest thermal paper extends over the thermal printing head which cannot be used for printing. Furthermore, because the gears for power transmission from the motor to the first roller are maintained connected when a paper is jammed in the transmission unit, it is difficult to pull the jammed paper out of the transmission unit of the fax machine.


In a data processing system, an output surface, such as frame to be displayed, is generated as a plurality of respective regions with each respective region of the output surface being generated from a respective region or regions of one or more input surfaces. When a new version of the output surface is to be generated 80, for each region of the output surface it is determined which region or regions of the input surface or surfaces contribute to the region of the output surface 84 and then checked whether the contributing region or regions of the input surface or surfaces have changed since the previous version of the output surface region was generated 85. If there has been a change in the contributing region or regions of the input surface or surfaces since the previous version of the region in the output surface was generated 86, the region of the output surface is regenerated 87.

The technology described herein relates to a method of and an apparatus for generating an output surface (such as a window to be displayed) from one or more input surfaces (such as input windows) in data processing systems.
Many known electronic devices and systems use windows for displaying information, such as a graphical user interface, game, demo, etc., to a user on a display screen (and for allowing a user to interact with an application or applications being executed). A common way of displaying such windows is to use a so-called compositing window system, in which the individual windows are first stored in (rendered to) respective window buffers, and then the individual window buffers (i.e. their content) are combined appropriately into a unified frame buffer for the display in question in order to display the windows to the user. In this arrangement, the individual input windows will accordingly form one or more input surfaces that are then combined by the compositing window system into an output surface (the unified frame buffer) for display.
While such compositing window systems are generally believed to be preferable to systems where each window is rendered to the frame buffer directly, they can still require significant resources in terms of memory bandwidth, processing and power consumption.
Studies have shown that with mobile device use, most of the time (around 75%) is spent on User Interface (UI) generation and composition, whereas around 15% is spent on basic 3D apps and 3D composition and the remaining 10% is spent on less basic 3D apps and games and their composition.
Composition uses a significant amount of memory bandwidth and power. For example, a study has shown that 2,179 MB/s is consumed for an Android type application for HD resolutions in many systems.
The Applicants believe that there remains scope for improvements to arrangements, such as compositing window systems, in which an output surface is generated from one or more input surfaces.
Like reference numerals are used for like features throughout the drawings, where appropriate.

Method and apparatus for generating an output surface from one or more input surfaces in data processing systems


In order to control the filming, a developer comprises developer primary particles, each comprising at least a resin and a colorant and an additive agent added to the developer primary particles and having a particle diameter smaller than that of the developer primary particles, wherein an extrication amount of the additive agent in the developer primary particles is smaller than 5.2×10−5 part by weight with respect to the developer primary particles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developer, a developer cartridge, and an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus by electrophotography comprises a photosensitive body, a charging device, an exposing device, a developing device, a transferring device, and a fixing device.
In the image forming apparatus, the surface of an image drum (a photosensitive drum) of the photosensitive body is equally, uniformly charged by a charging roller, and then, exposed by an LED head so that an electrostatic latent image is formed. In the developing process, a developer or toner, is adhered to the electrostatic latent image by the developing device to form a toner image. The toner image is transferred onto a print medium or paper by a transferring roller. The print paper carrying the toner image is fed to the fixing device so that the toner image is fused (fixed) on the paper. The developing device comprises a pair of fusing rollers to press the heated and melted toner of the toner image.
In order to provide a satisfactory fusion in the fixing device, it is necessary that the toner be easy to be melted. Also, a parting agent is added to the toner to easily part the toner from the fusing roller. Many of the parting agents have the property of being melted more easily than the resin contained in the toner.
Thus, it is possible to make the toner to be melted more easily by using this property, thereby increasing the fusing characteristic. Also, it is possible to prevent a hot offset phenomenon that the melted toner in the fixing device is adhered to the fusing roller. That is, the parting agent secures an offset margin.
A synthetic wax, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, or a natural wax, such as carnauba, is added alone or in combination to the resin, a main component of the toner. It is well known that a softener, such as a fatty acid ester, has a similar parting property and is used as the parting agent.
When an OHP sheet is used, the image forming apparatus of a color electrophotographic system, such as a color printer or a color copying machine requires a high OHP transparency in contrast to the image forming apparatus of a monochrome system. Consequently, the toner is required to be melted more readily than before.
A fluidizing agent (hereinafter "additive agents") is usually added to toner particles containing crystal resin (hereinafter "developer primary particle") to reduce the viscosity and increase the fluidization of the toner. Examples of the additive agent includes an inorganic abradant, such as a silicon oxide (silica), a surface-treated silica, titanium, a titanium oxide, a surface-treated titanium oxide, a clay, alumina, and calcium carbonate, and an organic abradant, such as a methacrylic resin abradant, a melanin resin abradant, and silicone resin abradant.
The particle diameter of the additive agent is smaller that that of the developer primary particle, that is, 2–5,000 nm, generally 5–2,000 nm.
In the manufacturing process of the toner, an adding apparatus, such as a Henschel mixer, is used for adhering the additive agent to the surfaces of the developer primary particles to make the finished toner.
In the conventional image forming apparatus, however, printing endurance tests show that a developing blade filming and/or an image drum filming occurred due to the adhesion of the toner and/or additive agent to the surfaces of a developing blade and/or an image drum, when the used toner has a viscosity coefficient of 1×104 (poise) at 105° C. measured by a flow tester and one part by weight of R972 (made by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) and one part by weight of RX50 (made by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) as the additive agent).
This developing blade filming occurred in printing a few hundreds of sheets in contrast to the usual blade filming that occurs in printing as many as a few thousands to a few tens of thousands of sheets. Especially in the color printing, photo-pictures and/or poster pictures of a high printing duty are continuously printed so that the developing blade filming occurs more frequently. In addition, when a toner having a low viscosity coefficient is used, the developing blade filming occurs even for a document having a low printing duty.
The probability of the image drum filming is slightly lower than that of the developing blade filming. However, when a toner having a low viscosity coefficient when melted and photo-pictures and/or poster pictures are continuously printed, the image drum filming occurs.

Developer, developer cartridge, and image forming apparatus


An apparatus and method for neutralizing electrostatic charges in non-conductive pipe, such as polyethylene pipe used in natural gas pipelines, which provides a simple and inexpensive apparatus and method to discharge, or otherwise neutralize, electrostatic charges in existing, as well as new, pipelines without requiring specialized pipe or extensive modification of existing pipelines. An apparatus according to the invention includes a housing having inlet and outlet openings and defining a hollow interior portion containing an anti-static cartridge having a cationic substance associated therewith, which, when installed in-line in a gas pipeline, functions to disperse microscopic cationic particles into the gas stream, which particles are carried through downstream pipeline components and neutralize static electrical charges accumulating on said pipeline components.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pipelines wherein static electrical charges are present, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for eliminating the build-up of static electrical charges in gas pipelines.
2. Description of the Background Art
The use of pipelines for transporting fluids, such as natural gas, is well known in the art. Such pipelines typically comprise a series of interconnected sections of pipe and fittings through which a fluid, typically consisting of liquid or gas, flows. The majority of modern gas distribution pipeline installations are fabricated from polyethylene pipe (hereinafter "PE pipe"). It has been estimated that there is about 350,000 miles of plastic pipe in gas distribution service in the U.S. and a substantial portion of that is PE piping.
One major problem with the use of PE pipe is relates to the electrical insulating properties of polyethylene. Specifically, gas flowing through a pipeline is capable of generating static electrical charges thereby creating an electrical potential in non-grounded, or electrically insulated sections of the pipeline, in a process known as triboelectrification. Specifically, when two relative electrical insulators rub against one another (e.g. gas and polyethylene), electrons are displaced from one molecule to another due to friction. Thus, when gas and particulate flow through PE pipe, electrons are displaced and have been found to accumulate on the inside wall of the pipe. Since the PE pipe has a high surface resistivity (electrical resistance), accumulating electrons are unable to dissipate to ground, and therefore generate varying voltage potentials between the inner and outer pipe surfaces. There does not appear to be a predictable pattern to charge accumulation. It has been found that voltages as high as 9000 volts may accumulate in PE pipe.
In pipelines fabricated from non-conductive materials the non-conductive nature of the piping materials prevents discharge by grounding. Thus, unless the static electrical charge is discharged by grounding, or otherwise neutralized, the voltage potential between the inner and outer pipe surfaces may reach levels sufficient for arcing to occur. The spark created when an electrostatic potential arcs represents a serious danger of explosion or fire, particularly when the fluid within the pipeline is flammable, or where the pipeline is in an otherwise hazardous environment. Furthermore, the electrostatic charge build-up in non-conductive pipe presents a hazardous problem to pipeline workers attempting to repair damaged pipelines, particularly those pipelines carrying flammable fluids such as natural gas. It has been found that the build-up of electrostatic charges can cause electrical shock to personnel that come in contact with a charged pipeline as well as triggering a fire and explosion when discharged by arcing.
In addition, the buildup of static electrical charges on the inside walls of PE pipe may cause arcing through the pipe wall resulting in the formation of a relatively small hole, commonly referred to as a "pinhole". As gas passes through buried PE pipe, voltages build up to a point exceeding the dielectric of the pipe causing arcing to occur between the inside and outside wall of the PE pipe as the electrons pass therethrough to ground. As is apparent, the presence of pinholes in natural gas pipe is highly undesirable. However, until technology is available to prevent the buildup of static electricity in the pipe the problems associated with arcing and pinholing persists.
The background art reveals a number of attempts directed to overcoming the dangers and problems associated with the presence of static electrical charges in pipelines. Most attempts, however, are limited to eliminating accumulated static electrical charges. Such attempts are not ideal, since it is difficult to determine whether static electrical charges have accumulated to problematic levels. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,273, issued to de Putter, discloses an electrically conducting plastic pipe system comprising a male plastic pipe part and a female plastic pipe part with conducting covering layers which are interconnected by means of a conducting sealing ring. The conducting components function to discharge static electrical charges by providing an electrically conductive path to ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,162, issued to McLaughlin, discloses conductive flanges for pipe fittings comprising a non-conductive flange including at least one strand of conductive yarn in conductive contact with the conduit and extending to the flange rim where it intersects one or several bolt holes. The flange is conductively attached to the conduit such that any static electrical charges are conducted by the yarn to the mounting. bolt, or bolts, disposed in the bolt holes. The bolts are grounded for discharging the potential by grounding the static charge thereby preventing sparking.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,333, issued to Tranbarger et al., discloses an apparatus and method for discharging static electricity on the internal surface of plastic pipe. Tranbarger's apparatus and method include providing a saddle for mounting on a section of pipe and a shaft having a cutter for penetrating the pipe upon engagement. The shaft also has a nozzle formed adjacent to the cutter for spraying an anti-static fluid into the plastic pipe for discharging or otherwise neutralizing static electricity. The devices and methods of the background art, however, possess a number of significant disadvantages. For example, the devices disclosed by de Putter and McLaughlin include complex pipe structures which are difficult to fabricate and thus have not realized great commercial success. Furthermore, those devices are not readily adaptable to discharge static electrical charges in existing pipelines without requiring the replacement of large sections of pipeline or pipe fittings. In addition, the device disclosed by Tranbarger et al. is affixed external to the pipeline and requires that the pipe be penetrated thereby breaching the integrity of the pipeline. Furthermore, since the Tranbarger et al. device is affixed external to the pipeline it is subject to damage, and, should the device become dislodged, the pipeline is subject to substantial leakage. Lastly, the Tranbarger device requires a complicated and unreliable mechanical device for injecting an anti-static fluid into the plastic pipe.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,304, the present inventor has addressed the problem of neutralizing static charges which build up between sheets of paper stock, which patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference. That patent discloses an apparatus for eliminating static buildup in paper stock used within a paper handling machine, wherein an anti-static air enhancer cartridge is inserted in an airstream. The airstream passes across the enhancer cartridge where positively charged ions are released into the airstream. The positively charged ions are directed toward a supply of paper stock to neutralize static electrical charges associated therewith.
There still exists a need, however, for an apparatus and method for preventing the accumulation of static electrical charges on the inner surfaces of non-conductive gas pipe, which apparatus and method is adaptable to new as well as existing pipelines.

Apparatus and method for neutralizing static electrical charges in gas pipeline


A packaging container with a base and a cover hinged together is provided. Base and cover are hinged together by first and second cooperating formations formed integrally with the base and the cover. One of the first and second cooperating formations provide sockets and the other cooperating formations provide pin portions removably receivable in the sockets to be rotatable therein to allow the cover to be rotated relative to the base between an open position and a closed position. Number and locations of the first and second formations are such that one or more are used for hinging, while others provide structural support between the base and the cover when the container is in the closed position.

Packaging enclosures in the form of a base and a hinged lid are well known. Conventionally, hinges are separate components comprising two base plates joined by a hinge pin, and are fastened to the parts to be hinged by screws or the like. This arrangement is relatively expensive and labour intensive.
It is also known to hinge two parts together by means of an integral hinge. For example, optical discs (CDs, DVDs) are sometimes supplied in a box having a base and lid of moulded plastic joined by an integrally moulded web along one edge. In arrangements of this nature, the base and lid can only be opened in one direction and cannot be separated. Moreover, the web constituting the hinge is necessarily thin, and is likely to rupture with repeated use.

Siemens Milltronics Process Instruments, Inc.


A method includes receiving an input text sequence to be synthesized into speech in a first language and obtaining a speaker embedding, the speaker embedding specifying specific voice characteristics of a target speaker for synthesizing the input text sequence into speech that clones a voice of the target speaker. The target speaker includes a native speaker of a second language different than the first language. The method also includes generating, using a text-to-speech (TTS) model, an output audio feature representation of the input text by processing the input text sequence and the speaker embedding. The output audio feature representation includes the voice characteristics of the target speaker specified by the speaker embedding.

Recent end-to-end (E2E) neural text-to-speech (TTS) models enable control of speaker identify as well as unlabeled speech attributes, e.g., prosody, by conditioning speech synthesis on latent representation in addition to text. Extending these TTS models to support multiple, unrelated languages is nontrivial when using language-dependent input representations or model components, especially when an amount of training data per language is imbalanced.
By way of example, there may be little or no overlap in text representations between some languages, such as Mandarin and English. Because recordings from bilingual speakers are expensive to collect, in the common case where each speaker in the training set speaks only one language, speaker identify is perfectly correlated with language. This makes it difficult to transfer voices across different languages, which is a desirable feature particularly when the number of available training voices for a particular language is small. Moreover, for languages with borrowed or shared words, such as proper nouns in Spanish (ES) and English (EN), pronunciations of the same text might be different. This adds more ambiguity when a naively trained model sometimes generates accented speech for a particular speaker.

Multilingual speech synthesis and cross-language voice cloning


A charging station which has a battery cell balancing system is disclosed. The charging station includes: a number of balancing charging units, each has: a detecting element for detecting a state of charge of a battery cell; and a charging element for processing charging to the battery cell; a power unit for providing electric power; and a charging control unit, linked to the balancing charging units, and the power unit, for controlling the electric power from the power unit to the charging element to charge the battery cell. The battery cell is linked in serial or parallel with other battery cells in a battery pack. The charging control unit stops the power unit to charge the battery cell when the state of charge of the battery cell detected by the detecting element is full or exceeds a predetermined value.

With the battery becoming increasingly popular as a power source, there has been an equally strong demand, maximizing battery life. Battery imbalance (that means mismatch of the state of charge of battery cells in a battery pack) in large lithium-ion battery pack is a problem. This problem is caused by differences in manufacturing processes, working conditions and battery aging. The imbalance may reduce the total capacity of the battery pack, and may damage the battery pack, too. The imbalance of the battery from charging to discharging state can not be traced. If it is not closely monitored, the battery may leads to overcharge or over-discharge, which will permanently damage the battery. For car-used battery, the above issue becomes more significant, especially for lithium batteries.
In general, the voltage of each lithium battery is not high and the current is not strong enough. Therefore, lithium iron phosphate batteries are developed to enhance voltage and current. However, when such batteries are connected in series and parallel, it is also easily cause "imbalance" to shorten caused discharge time of the battery pack (i.e., the lifetime time is shortened), and accelerate the aging of the battery pack.
BMS (Battery Management System) is a protection mechanism. It is used for monitoring the whole battery pack. When the battery pack is detected to have some battery cells which are imbalance, it will turn off the entire battery pack system and the battery pack no longer supply power. The BMS uses a balance loop to achieve the above goal. Most of the balance loops are used during battery pack charging. It is scarcely used in battery pack discharge. The balance loop can be divided into two type, the active type and passive type. The active type balance loop has advantage of high efficiency, but it also has drawback of high cost and big size. Passive type balance loop has advantages of cheap cost. However, the disadvantage is low efficiency which will generate heat. Balance effect is limited. Although the active type is highly efficient, considering the price, most of the battery packs are chosen to built-in passive type balance loop.
For an electron vehicle, it is not desired that the battery pack which is used is too large. Therefore, the BMS of the battery should be designed properly. A prior art can be a good example. Please refer to FIG. 1. US Patent Application No. 20120105001 discloses a battery management system. The battery management system includes several subsystem blocks, an energy storage master unit 100, and battery pack systems 104. The energy storage master may interface with the vehicle master controller (ZR32-A) 101 with a pass through from the energy storage master 100 by way of CAN or other communication method to an external charger 102. The vehicle master controller 101 may interface with the external charger 102 either directly or through a charging station interface. The energy storage system may include several strings of batteries 103 in an electric vehicle. Within each of these strings 103, there may be packs 104, and each pack is comprised of several battery modules. The battery packs 104 may communicate to the energy storage master 100 by way of a second CAN bus. Two battery packs 104 may make up a string 103. The packs may be controlled by a pack master, which may communicate with the energy storage master 100 using a single CAN bus for the entire system. Each pack master may communicate with its local module unit using an serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus. The local module unit and pack master communications may be isolated. The battery packs containing 10 prismatic battery cells each. There are 2 packs per string, and a variable number of strings per vehicle (typically 3 to 4).
According to the invention, the battery pack comes with the battery cell balancing system would still be bulky. However, it provides people a way to reduce the size: taking the battery cell balancing system out of the battery pack. If one or more sets of battery cell balancing systems can be setup out of battery packs, the cost of battery cell balancing system can be saved. In addition, the battery pack size can be smaller. More economic and convenient, a charging station can combine the battery cell balancing system to provide power to battery pack while monitors state of each battery cell or pack. It is the point the inventor created the present invention.

Charging station having battery cell balancing system


This invention relates to quinacridone pigments of formula (I) ##STR1## wherein X is O, S, or NR;. R is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl, or C.sub.7 -C.sub.16 aralkyl; PA1 Y is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, or halogen; PA1 the dashed line represents an optional double bond; PA1 R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.16 aralkyl, nitrile, or carboxyl or an ester or an amide thereof, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together form a C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 cycloaliphatic ring or a fused-on aromatic or heteroaromatic ring; PA1 R.sup.3 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl; and PA1 m is 0, 1, or 2.. This invention further relates to the preparation and use of such quinacridone pigments.

This invention relates to novel heterocyclic-substituted quinacridone pigments that are useful for the coloring of plastics and other macromolecular materials, coating compositions and paints, and printing and ink jet inks.
The use of quinacridones as pigments is known. E.g., W. Herbst and K. Hunger, Industrial Organic Pigments, 2nd ed. (New York: VCH Publishers, Inc., 1997), pages 454-474, and S. S. Labana and L. L. Labana, "Quinacridones" in Chemical Review, 67, 1-18 (1967). Ring substitution of quinacridones can produce pigments having different coloristic and physical properties but the substituents of commercially useful pigments are typically alkyl, alkoxy, or halogen groups. E.g., Herbst and Hunger at pages 464-465. Quinacridones having more complex substituents are generally not themselves used as commercial pigments but are instead more commonly used as pigment additives to enhance physical and coloristic properties of other quinacridone pigments. E.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,457,203, 5,453,151, 5,424,429, 5,368,641, 5,334,727, 5,286,863, 5,264,032, 5,137,576, 5,229,515, 5,194,088, 5,145,524, 4,895,949, 4,844,742, 4,541,872, 4,478,968, 4,455,173, 4,439,240, 4,256,507, and 4,310,359. Nevertheless, novel substituted quinacridones having suitably modified coloristic and physical properties would still be desirable. It has now been found that the introduction of certain heterocyclic substituents into quinacridones gives unusual properties, including colors not easily attained with quinacridone.


Disclosed is a reflection mirror of a projection television to prevent the frame of the projection television from being deformed and to fabricate the projection television with ease. The reflection mirror is fabricated by forming a plurality of ribs at a section of the frame and inserting a soft shield plate between the ribs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reflection mirror of a projection television and a fabrication method thereof, and more particularly, to a reflection mirror of a projection television and a fabrication method thereof in which a frame for supporting a reflection film placed on an optical path of the projection television is improved to realize a more definitive picture quality.
2. Description of the Related Art
A projection television is provided, between a projection light source and a screen, with a reflection mirror so as to reduce the overall volume. Images projected from the projection light source are reflected by the reflection mirror and displayed on the screen in a size that is greater than the original image size.
In particular, the reflection mirrors can be classified into a glass type reflection mirror formed of glass and a film type reflection mirror formed from a film obtained by fixing a soft reflection film with a predetermined flatness to the frame.
Although the glass type reflection mirror shows outstanding flatness and endurance characteristics, it is not used any more due to its disadvantages such as heavy weight, danger of fracture and high costs. Recently, the film type reflection mirror is being widely used.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional projection television.
Referring to FIG. 1, a projection television 1 includes a projector serving as a light source for projecting a projection light, a reflection mirror 20 for reflecting the projected light, and a screen 45 on which the projected light is incident to form a picture.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional reflection mirror.
Referring to FIG. 2, a conventional reflection mirror 20 includes a trapeziform frame 22 in which the upper side is shorter than the lower side, and a reflection film 21 formed on the frame in a state that a tight tension is maintained on the upper surface of the frame.
The reflection film 21 generally includes a thin metal film with an outstanding reflection performance, and a resin layer having a superior transparency performance and for maintaining the flatness of the thin metal film and completely reflecting an incident light.
The frame 22 is shaped to have a strength enough to maintain the tension of the reflection film and to satisfy a minimum weight condition.
In the meanwhile, considering the characteristic of the reflection surface of the reflection mirror 20, it is most important to maintain the flatness of the reflection film 21. In case the flatness of the reflection mirror 20 is not perfect, the image displayed on the screen seems curved or distorted abnormally.
Then, the conventional reflection mirror 20 does not have an enough strength for the frame 22. Hence, in case the conventional reflection mirror 20 is continuously used, a dull curved face or a wrinkle is formed at the conventional reflection mirror 20, so that images formed on the screen are frequently distorted.
In particular, in case the temperature variation of a place where the projection television is positioned is serious, a wrinkle is generated at the reflection film 21 due to a difference in the thermal expansion coefficient between the frame 22 made of metallic aluminum (Al) and the reflection film 21 made of resin. For instance, when a surrounding temperature is low, a contraction amount of the reflection film 21 is larger than that of the frame 22, so that the tension of the reflection film 21 is not maintained at the same level as the tension of when it was fabricated.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate occurrence of wrinkle in a conventional reflection mirror structure.
Referring to FIG. 3, if the tension for allowing the reflection film 21 to be maintained in a tight state is continuously applied to and exceeds the endurance limit of the frame 22, the frame 22 is deformed as shown in the drawing.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B′ of FIG. 3, and shows that upper side edges of the frame 22 are inwardly pushed due to the tension of the reflection film 21 occurring at the upper side edges of the frame 22. In FIG. 4, the dotted lines show that the frame 22 is deformed.
As aforementioned, when a larger tension is applied to the reflection film 21 in order to prevent wrinkle from being generated due to the variation in temperature, the deformation of the frame is further accelerated while high and low temperatures are repeatedly applied, so that permanent wrinkles may be formed.

Reflection mirror of projection television and fabrication method thereof


A continuously variable fiber optic attenuator 10, particularly for attenuating single mode fibers, has means 20 for supporting a section 25 of an optical fiber 24 substantially along the length of the section 25 and means 22 for bending at least a portion of the supported optical fiber section 25 in a controlled manner for attenuating light passing through the optical fiber 24. Preferably, the support means 20 comprises a deformable support means such as a spring 15 or an elastomeric body 71 for supporting the optical fiber 24 as it is bent. Most preferably, the deformable support means supports a section 25 of optical fiber 24 formed in one or more loops around the deformable support means, and the bending means is a plunger 22 movable to an extended position pressing against the support means 20 to bend portions of the loops of optical fiber 24 in a controlled manner. The fiber optic attenuator 10 of the present invention provides accurate control over the amount of attenuation of the light passing through the fiber 24 without damaging the optical fiber 24 or the signal passing therethrough.

The use of optical fibers in signal transmission systems has prompted the use of optical fiber attenuators that allow high-powered transmission signals to be processed directly into fiber optic receivers. Fiber optic receivers are incapable of processing incoming optical signals if those signals have a power level that is too large. The maximum acceptable power level is a property of each receiver and is known as the upper limit of that receiver's dynamic range. Because the optical loss of fiber optic systems may vary, provisions must be made to allow the optical power level delivered to the receiver to be modified.
Fiber optic attenuators are devices which reduce the amount of power present in an optical signal. Fiber optic variable attenuators are fiber optic attenuators in which the amount of this reduction may be adjusted.
In the past, fiber optic variable attenuators have involved, for example, the use of lenses and variable neutral density optical filters (e.g. as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,938), the variation of the relative orientation the ends of two fibers (e.g. as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,645,294 and 4,519,671), and movement of a reflective surface, thereby effecting change of the coupling between two fibers (e.g. as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,827).
These techniques are labor intensive, especially when applied to singlemode fibers, in that very precise alignment of the two fibers is necessary to ensure a low loss when the device has been adjusted to provide a minimum of attenuation. In addition, costly optical components, such as lenses and filters, are used in the construction of the majority of currently available variable fiber optic attenuators. In general, many prior art devices are expensive and complex, imprecise in control, and susceptible to external shocks and vibrations.

Single mode fiber optic variable attenuator with supported optical fiber


Described is a system that improves the performance of brokers that store partitions of data within a distributed data streaming platform by performing an efficient data redistribution process. The system may obtain data (e.g. metadata) describing the distribution storage partitions amongst storage brokers and determine the current (or initial) distribution may negatively impact the performance of the platform. Accordingly, the system may perform an efficient redistribution by performing a particular sequence of partition reassignments amongst brokers.

"Cloud computing" services provide shared resources, applications, and information to computers and other devices upon request. In cloud computing environments, services can be provided by one or more servers accessible over the Internet rather than installing software locally on in-house computer systems. As such, users having a variety of roles can interact with cloud computing services.
As service providers grow (in terms of numbers of customers and/or amount of customer data), scalability becomes an issue. Accordingly, various distributed storage platforms are available to address such scalability issues. For example, distributing streaming platforms are available that allow large amounts of data to be accessed across many servers as part of the distributed environment. However, such a configuration may suffer from performance issues when certain servers become overloaded. Moreover, traditional load-balancing techniques often require prohibitive amounts of server downtime to be implemented. Accordingly, there is a need to improve techniques to improve performance of servers within a distributed environment.

Dynamically balancing partitions within a distributed streaming storage platform


A contact lens comprising first and second orientation indicia to determine an orientation of the contact lens.

In order to function properly, a contact lens must be placed right side in (as opposed to inside out) on the eye. It can be difficult to determine if a contact lens is properly oriented prior to placement on the eye. The problem is exacerbated by the use of soft contact lenses due to their thin thickness and pliability. Even experienced contact lens users and medical practitioners sometimes find it difficult to determine the correct orientation of the contact lens.
There is a need to provide an aid so people, including users and medical practitioners, can easily determine the correct orientation of a contact lens prior to placing the lens on the eye of the user.


Comfort noise functions monitor background noise picked up by microphones in radiocommunication systems. These functions provide comfort noise information which is transmitted by remote units during periods of silence, so that the receiving party's equipment can output the proper background noise while the transmitting side can deactivate the transmitting circuitry to conserve power. Muting functions are accommodated by continuing to provide signals to the comfort noise functions so that the background noise is continuously monitored. When the muting mode of a remote unit is enabled, the transmitter receives comfort noise frames or silence frames instead of information output from a voice (speech) encoder.

The present invention is generally directed to radiocommunication systems and, more particularly, to techniques and apparatus for muting a microphone used in radiocommunication systems.
The cellular telephone industry has made phenomenal strides in commercial operations both in the United States and the rest of the world. Growth in major metropolitan areas has far exceeded expectations and is rapidly outstripping system capacity. If this trend continues, the effects of this industry's growth will soon reach even the smallest markets. Innovative solutions are required to meet these increasing capacity needs as well as to maintain high quality service and avoid rising prices.
In addition to the challenges posed by a need for greater system capacity, the designers of the remote units used in radio communication systems, e.g., mobile phones, have their own unique set of challenges. For example, a well known challenge in the industry is to extend the time between recharging batteries used to power these remote units, while at the same time continuing to provide additional functionality to satisfy subscriber demand. These competing desires lead remote unit designers to search for creative ways in which to further reduce energy consumption in remote units.
As the radiocommunication industry matures, various subscriber usage patterns have been recognized, For example, it has been found that during a typical voice connection between two subscribers, the actual voice activity transmitted over the air interface accounts for only about 35% of the total connection time. Accordingly, remote units have been designed to take advantage of this fact by actuating the transmission circuitry only during the voice-active portion of a call and rendering the transmission circuitry inoperative during periods of silence. This has been implemented, for example, using a detector for detecting voice activity and a discontinuous transmitter which becomes inoperative when the voice activity detector detects a pause in the user's speech,
While this technique has been shown to reduce the power consumption of remote units by turning off the transmitting circuitry for extended periods of time, it poses a problem for reproduction of the voice signal at the receiving side. Specifically, since the transmitter is turned off during periods of silence, the background noise which would otherwise be transmitted over the air interface is not received by the other subscriber's equipment. This, in turn, results in a reproduced voice which is discontinuous and includes audible artifacts, e.g., popping sounds.
One way to overcome this difficulty is to generate artificial background noise for reproduction at the receiving side when no voice signal is transmitted. This artificial background noise is commonly referred to in the art as "comfort noise". Comfort noise can be generated by adaptive functions which monitoring the background noise picked by the microphone of a remote unit. When a pause in speech is detected, the comfort noise functions generate comfort noise information which is transmitted over the air interface instead of speech codes. This information takes relatively little time to transmit, thereby allowing the transmitter to be turned off during most of each period of silence, At the receiving end (or at the base station), the comfort noise information is used to generate background noise so that the listener is not troubled by the discontinuity in transmission.
The comfort noise functions resident in the transmission circuitry of the remote stations are, as described above, adaptive in nature so that they gradually adjust the comfort noise information to reflect changes in the background noise. Thus, the comfort noise functions need to continuously receive information from the microphone in order to accurately determine the background noise to be replicated at the receiving side.
Another function which subscribers desire in remote terminals is the capability to selectively mute transmissions, e.g., by pressing a mute button. Conventionally, this function has been provided by interrupting the signals transmitted from: the microphone to the rest of the transmitting circuitry. This muting solution is problematic, however, from the point of view of the comfort noise functions, since these functions then receive only complete silence from the microphone. This leads to background noise being generated at the receiver which has a lower level than expected by the listener.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide for a muting function which allows a user to selectively mute transmissions from a remote unit, but which does not affect the ability of the system to accurately gauge and reproduce background noise during periods of silence in a conversation.

Muting a microphone in radiocommunication systems


An operating for a circuit breaker including a pivoting handle for controlling opening and closing of the circuit breaker and resetting of the latch after tripping. The handle bears a resetting roller which cooperates with a cam surface of the latch, which surface has a first cam section and a second cam section separated by a slope change point. The second section corresponds to the reset position and the slope of this section is chosen in such a way as to obtain a stable reset position of the handle.

The invention relates to an operating mechanism of a molded case low-voltage electrical circuit breaker comprising:
a latch articulated on a fixed spindle and having a cam surface; PA1 a toggle formed by a toggle spindle, a first lever linked on the one hand to the movable contact and on the other hand to the toggle spindle, and a second lever articulated on the one hand on the latch and on the other hand on the toggle spindle; PA1 a spring attached on the one hand to the toggle spindle and on the other hand to the handle; PA1 a lock designed to cooperate with the latch to hold the latter in the locked position; and PA1 a cam-follower roller actuated by the handle and designed to cooperate with the cam surface of the latch to move the latch to the locked position, the handle being able to move to three distinct positions, a closed position in which the spring urges the toggle to an extension position, a manual opening and resetting position where the spring urges the toggle to a broken position wherein latch being in the locked position, and a tripped position in which the latch is unlocked and the toggle broken.
A circuit breaker of the kind mentioned above, for example described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,738, comprises an operating handle whose pivoting in either direction causes opening and closing of the circuit breaker contacts. When a fault occurs, notably an over-load or short-circuit, the contacts open automatically due to the action of a trip device and the handle moves to an intermediate tripped position between the closed position and the open position. To reset the circuit breaker, the handle has to be moved beyond the open position to a reset position where the latch is moved to the locking position. This reset position is an unstable position and the handle automatically returns to the open position when released. The latch being locked, the circuit breaker can again be reclosed and opened by a manual operation, or open automatically when a fault occurs. Nuisance unlocking of the latch may occur when the circuit breaker is open. Unlocking naturally causes the mechanism to be disarmed and the handle to return to the tripped position. Nuisance unloading can result from a wrong control or a mechanical action on the circuit breaker, or for any other reason, and a second resetting operation is necessary before the circuit breaker can be reclosed. Operating malfunctions of this kind can be bothersome, notably when remote controls are involved.
The object of the present invention is to achieve a circuit breaker mechanism holding the handle and latch in the loaded position, when nuisance tripping occurs.

Operating mechanism of a molded case circuit breaker


Eyeglasses include a pair of temples, and a lens frame assembly. Each of the temples has a front end portion that is formed with a recess. Each temple includes a first positioning protrusion that is disposed in the recess and that defines a first abutment face formed with a plurality of first teeth. The lens frame assembly includes a pair of connectors extending rearwardly, and that are pivotally and respectively disposed in the recesses. Each connector has a rearward end defining a second abutment face that is formed with a plurality of second teeth that mesh selectively with the first teeth to thereby allow for vertical adjustment of the temples. Each of the first and second abutment faces has a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge, and is slanted such that the first vertical edge is more forwardly positioned than the second vertical edge.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to eyeglasses, more particularly to eyeglasses with angle-adjustable temples.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, conventional eyeglasses include a frame 11, a pair of pivot parts 12 respectively mounted to lateral ends of the frame 11, and a pair of temples 13, each of which is coupled to a respective one of the pivot parts 12 so that it is rotatable in a vertical direction. Each of the pivot parts 12 includes a plurality of vertically spaced apart first ridged teeth 121. A front end of each of the temples 13 includes a recess 131 for receiving the respective one of the pivot parts 12, and a front abutting face 132 for abutting against the respective one of the pivot parts 12. The front abutting face 132 is formed with a plurality of vertically spaced apart second ridged teeth 133 that mesh with the first ridged teeth 121 in a manner to permit the vertical movement of the temples 13.
A problem associated with the conventional design is that the second ridged teeth 133 may not tightly mesh with the first ridged teeth 121. That is, with reference to FIG. 2, a wearer typically applies an outward force to the temples 13 immediately prior to effecting vertical adjustment of the same. Due to the application of such a force, the first and second ridged teeth 133, 121 may no longer tightly engage each other, particularly at areas adjacent to inner surfaces of the temples 13. As a result, precise adjustment of the temples 13 may not be possible. For example, the wearer may not readily perceive the extremely slight sensations involved in adjustment of the temples 13, such that the wearer may face difficulty in adjusting the temples 13 by only a minute amount.

Eyeglasses with angle-adjustable temples


A printing device, including a fuser section for printing operations and first and second fuser rollers for the fuser section arranged to: displace a plurality of sheets of print material in a process direction; and substantially simultaneously disengage from a trailing edge of a first sheet from the plurality of sheets; and engage a leading edge of a second sheet from the plurality of sheets. A printing device, including: a fuser section for printing operations and including first and second fuser rollers; a motor arranged to rotate the first and second fuser rollers to displace a plurality of sheets of material in a process direction; and a control system configured to measure a torque produced by the motor and according to a value of the measured torque, control a speed at which the first and second fuser rollers displace the plurality of sheets of print material in the process direction.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of prior art printer device 200. Device 200 includes photoreceptor belt PBR, fuser section 202, transfer device 204, and prefuser transports PT arranged to move sheets of material S in process direction P from transfer device 204 to fuser section 202. Section 202 includes fuser rollers 206 and 208 arranged to displace sheets in direction P.
FIG. 5 is a graph showing torque load TL on a motor driving fuser rollers 206 and 208. FIG. 5 shows load TL as a sheet enters and exits rollers 206 and 208. Torque spike TL-1 occurs when the sheet engages rollers 206 and 208. Torque spike TL-2 occurs when the sheet disengages from rollers 206 and 208. As a thickness of sheet S increases, respective amplitudes of spikes TL-1 and TL-2 increase. If the thickness is large enough, respective jolts are caused by engagement of the sheet with rollers 206 and 208 disengagement of the sheet from rollers 206 and 208. These jolts cause undesirable disturbance in a photoreceptor section (not shown) with subsequent image artifacts.
FIG. 6 is a graph showing fuser drive velocity DV for fuser section 202. DV is substantially a mirror of TL. Spike DV-1 occurs with spike TL-1 and spike DV-2 occurs with spike TL-2. As a thickness of sheet S increases, respective amplitudes of spikes DV-1 and DV-2 increase. Further, increasing the thickness of sheet S delays the time at which a trailing edge of the sheet disengages from the fuser rollers.
Another problem associated with device 200 is increasing length L of sheet S to be greater than distance D between transfer device 204 and rollers 206 and 208, that is, sheet S is simultaneously engaged by roller the transfer device and rollers 206 and 208. Such simultaneous engagement causes undesirable image artifacts. Further, to prevent crumpling or distorting sheet S, the transfer device and fuser rollers 206 and 208 must displace sheet S at the same rate. In addition, an inter-document zone IDZ is typically maintained between sheets to facilitate test patterns and other quality control operations in photoreceptor section 202.

Printer device using inter-document gap to reduce motion disturbance and method thereof


A radiological imaging orientation indicator includes a linear indication member having a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape and means for positioning the indication member adjacent a patient's body. When the indication member is located adjacent the patient's body and a sectional scanning image is produced, a cross-section of the indication member will appear in the scanning image, indicating an orientation of the patient's body with respect to the scanning image. The linear indication member is in the form of either of an extruded letter, number and symbol which may be hollow with one or more liquids trapped inside to indicate vertical orientation. The means for positioning the indication member include pants, vests, caps, visors, eyeglass frames, sandals, gloves and collars that can only be attached to a patient's body in one way, thereby preventing confusion in determining the orientation of a scanning image. The invention includes orientation indicators for standard X-rays.

Modern radiological scanning systems are capable of providing detailed imaging of a patient's body in the nature of a cross-sectional view. That is, these systems can provide a "thin slice" image of various organs and portions of the body taken at different orientations including different elevations and from different points of view. These images require annotation of orientation, including sidedness, for left versus right orientation. Typical systems involve a patient being introduced into a scanning system on a sliding horizontal platform, either head first or feet first. Presently the system operator will key in the orientation of the patient on the platform and the resulting images will bear an indication of this orientation. Often major surgery is performed based upon these scan images and the orientation indication is critical to performing the surgery on the correct side of the patient. As the orientation input is under the control of the system operator, errors are possible. If the operator enters "feet first" instead of "head first" the image will be marked incorrectly by the machine. Similar problems can occur when an operator enters "prone" versus "supine."
For example, due to symmetry of anatomy, it is not possible to examine a brain sectional image and determine which side is the left side of the brain and which is the right. An error here could result in surgery on the wrong side of a patient's head. Even for body areas with inherent asymmetry, for example the chest and abdomen, any person born with situs inversus, this anatomy is reversed, leading to confusion and possible errors. To-date, no foolproof system has been developed to determine the orientation used in producing these scanned images. Similarly, with standard X-ray a technician can mislabel left versus right when he manually places a marker on the film cassette.
Various systems have been developed to identify the orientation used in scanning systems. U.S. Pat. No. 6,678,353, issued to Graumann et al., discloses a method applied and an x-ray system for determining a spatial relationship of X-ray datasets measured independently of one another, an x-ray apparatus registers X-ray datasets of a patient and a scale is provided that makes position data available that are identifiable in at least one of the registered dataset. The position data serve for the determination of the spatial relationship between at least two X-ray datasets that were registered from different body portions of the patient.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,538, issued to Onik et al. is directed to a method and apparatus which allow for CT guided biopsies of the body. The method is based on the finding of a reference point on the patient's body that exactly correlates to a point on the CT scan. This is accomplished by means of a localization device placed on the patient's skin which can be identified in cross section on the CT scan. Measurements of the localization device on CT scan can then be correlated to the device on the patient.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,136, issued to Jinkins disclose a data transfer for cranial computerized tomography images that is substantially form-fitting and dome-shaped. First and second groups of elongated depth markers are positioned in front and in back, diametrically across from each other, and each depth marker extends from the peripheral edge of the cap toward the apex of the cap, the markers are positioned parallel to one another and each marker is graduated in length and terminates at its upper end in an enlargement. A plurality of longitudinal or circumferential markers are positioned between the first and second groups of depth markers and also extend from the peripheral edge of the cap toward the apex of the cap.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,060, issued to Schneider et al. is directed to an apparatus worn by a patient to provide a geometric reference for medical diagnostic data obtained from the patient has an element rigidly attachable to the patient, this element being connected to other components which emit a known and recognizable signal during the acquisition of medical diagnostic data, those components being used to establish a geometric reference for the data obtained from the patient. In one embodiment, a bite-down plate having a shape corresponding to the dentition of the patient is held in the mouth of the patient, and is connected to a rigid carrier having markings for geometrically referencing a tomographic image.
In another embodiment, the worn element is a rigid ring worn by the patient as a headband, having a number of length-variable indicators, each of which having a scale, and also being connected to a member having a recognizable shape, or having markings, for a reference in tomographic imaging. Both embodiments can be used with other examination equipment, such as devices for obtaining biomagnetic signals, so that the respective data obtained from multiple examination devices can be geometrically correlated.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,220, issued to Perry discloses X-ray detectable fiducial markers are associated with a stereotactic surgery frame. The frame is fixed with respect to a patient's anatomy and defines a predetermined three-dimensional coordinate system in which surgical devices may be precisely positioned. A desired target area of the anatomy is detected in a cross-sectional CT scanner depiction of the combined stereotactic frame and patient anatomy. The target's coordinates with respect to the frame are calculated based on three non-collinear fiducial points also located within the cross-section and having known coordinates both with respect to the frame and with respect to the target. In the exemplary embodiment, detachable fiducial point-defining members are associated with a stereotactic surgical frame.
For example, each member may be a plate having a series of parallel grooves or slots which progressively increase in length from one slot to the next. The frame coordinates of the end points of each slot are predetermined and known. Thus three fiducial points with respect to the frame can be determined by simply counting the number of slots or grooves contained within the cross-sectional depiction and thereby determining which end point is within such cross-section.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a failsafe method of identifying the orientation of a patient in a scanning procedure, especially sidedness, right versus left. It is a still further objective of the invention to provide this method of identification through apparatus adaptable to various types of scanning procedures. Finally, it is an objective of the present invention to provide such identification through inexpensive and disposable fixtures or apparatus that do not interfere with the scanning procedures.
While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified.

Radiological scanning orientation indicator


Methods of cleansing skin comprise the steps of contacting the skin with a cleansing compositions comprising a fatty ester in combination with a lipid, and either rinsing the composition from the skin with water or wiping the composition from the skin with a dry or damp substrate. The cleansing compositions can comprise at least 8%, by weight of the composition, of fatty ester and/or further comprise a nonionic surfactant and less than about 50%, by weight of the composition, of an alcohol solvent such as ethanol, isopropanol, or mixtures thereof. The methods and compositions provide skin cleansing and hydration benefits.

Personal cleansing products, especially products for cleansing facial skin, are very popular consumer products in today's market. There are several cleansing benefits that such facial cleansing products attempt to achieve, such as removing makeup, removing dead skin, unclogging pores, sebum removal, and the like. While many facial cleansing products are effective in providing these cleansing benefits, many products can irritate the skin or cause the skin to lose moisture and become dried out. Even water alone, when used to cleanse skin, can cause the skin to lose moisture.
As a result, many consumers resort to using both a facial cleansing product, for achieving cleansing benefits, followed by a skin lotion product to provide hydration benefits to the skin and prevent the skin from drying out.
There thus remains a desire to develop skin cleansing compositions, especially for facial cleansing, that provide effective skin cleansing while improving skin hydration, provide a rich creamy lather, and are easily rinsed from the skin with water or wiped from the skin with a dry or damp substrate.

Methods of cleansing skin and rinse-off or wipe-off compositions therefor


A support structure is provided to accommodate a flat computer thereon and allows convenient viewing and manipulation of the flat computer. The support structure has a socle, a carrier platform, a first bi-directional adjustment mechanism, fixedly mounted to the socle, a second bi-directional adjustment mechanism, fixedly mounted to the carrier platform, and a connecting rod having two ends. One end of the connecting rod is connected to the first bi-directional adjustment mechanism, and the other end is connected to second bi-directional adjustment mechanism so as to enable adjustment of the inclination angle of the carrier platform and the connecting rod relative to the socle.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a multimedia broadcasting device and a support structure thereof, and more particularly a multimedia broadcasting device having a support structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flat computers have recently appeared on the market of electronic appliances. A flat computer has the characteristics of being flat and having a flat display, and currently constitutes a next generation of the notebook computer. The flat computer usually is provided with a digital stylus that allows the user to write directly on the computer screen. The user can also use a keyboard and a mouse to input data into the flat computer.
However, the flat computer may have the following disadvantages in utilization:
1. Due to its flat dimension, the flat computer has a good portability and is convenient for outdoor use. However, if the user wishes to use the same flat computer on a desk, the inclination angle of the flat computer cannot be easily adjusted, and its manipulation is less convenient.
2. Input and output of multimedia signals are usually achieved via the connection of external devices. The connection of several external devices can result in numerous cable connections, which may affect the aesthetic aspect and further necessitates manipulation from the flat computer.

Multimedia broadcasting device and a support structure thereof


Computer system, method and program product for facilitating a chat session. An icon or a definition of the icon and a corresponding intelligent agent program are received at a workstation. In response, the workstation displays the icon in a chat session window. A selection of the icon is received during the chat session. In response, the workstation invokes the intelligent agent program. In response, the intelligent agent program obtains information about the workstation or information about a participant in the chat session at the workstation and automatically renders the information in the chat session at the workstation. In response to a request to send the rendered information to other participants in the chat session at other workstations, the rendered information is automatically sent to the other participants in the chat session at the other workstations.

Chat sessions, such as provided by Microsoft Instant Messenger program, IBM SameTime program, Microsoft MSN Messenger program, Microsoft Windows Messenger program, Yahoo Instant Messenger program, and AOL Instant Messenger program, are well known today. Typically, a person at a client workstation initiates the chat session by invoking his or her chat session client program and identifying one or more other people to participate in the chat session. The person can identify the other people to participate in the chat session by accessing a directory, selecting individuals from a predefined list of people or selecting a predefined group of people. Then the person requests that his or her client computer send to a server the identifications (such as e-mail addresses) of the people to participate in the chat session. In response, a chat session server program tries to connect to the client workstations of the other people selected to participate in the chat session to determine if the other people are currently on-line. For any of the client workstations of these other people that are currently on-line, the server creates the chat session by invoking their respective chat session client program and identifying all the active members of the chat session. For any of the client workstations of these other people that are not currently on-line, the server notifies the originator that such people are not available for a chat session at this time. Next, any of the members of the chat session can type a message into a message text field on their client workstation, and then "send" the message. In response, the respective chat session client program sends the message to the server, and the server sends it to the other participants in the chat session. In some implementations of chat client programs, communication between clients is done on a peer to peer level, i.e. directly from client workstation to client workstation without mediation by or assistance from a server program. In either implementation, the effect is the same and there is the appearance that the clients are communicating directly to each other in the chat sessions. In response to a chat session message, the client workstations that receive the message will display the message, along with the identity of the sender. In the same manner, other participants can subsequently type a new message at their respective client workstation, and that new message along with the identity of the sender appears on the client workstations of the other workstations, nearly in real time.
A MessageLAN program was previously known to facilitate entry of text into a message text field of a chat session, as follows. The MessageLAN program provides icons or buttons in the chat session window, and if a user selects the icon or button, the MessageLAN program automatically enters predefined text, corresponding to the icon or button, in the message text field of the chat session window. (The text was predefined by the creator of the corresponding icon or button.) Then, the user can select to "send" the text in the message text field, and in response, the chat session client workstation will send this text to the other workstations (typically via a chat session server) in the same manner as if the user manually typed the text into the message text field.
A Lotus Notes electronic mail program was previously known. With this program, a user can define an icon or button and corresponding text for a predefined location of an e-mail, such as a signature block at the end of an e-mail. Subsequently, if the user selects the icon or button, the Lotus Notes electronic mail program automatically enters the corresponding text at the predefined location of the e-mail.
An object of the present invention is to facilitate entry of messages in a chat session.

System, method and program for facilitating an electronic chat session

International Business Machines Corporation


The present disclosure provides systems and methods for computerized methods and systems for processing transaction disputes and processing transactions associated with compromised accounts. According to one exemplary method, a server receives, from a user device, an instruction for disputing a transaction associated with a user account. The server can initiate, based on a record of the transaction, a dispute investigation, and issue provisional credit to the user account for the transaction. Based on a transaction history associated with the user account, the server can determine a plurality of expected transactions associated with the user account and cause the determined expected transactions to be displayed on the user device. After receiving a transaction authorization for at least one of the plurality of expected transactions, the server can process payments for the at least one of the plurality of expected transactions, and generate a notification indicating a status of the dispute investigation.

With a wide range of financial services, transactions between a financial service user and various entities (such as vendors, merchants, and other users) can occur anytime via various transaction platforms. Transfer of cash or cash-substitutes may be accomplished using negotiable instruments and/or electronic payment means including debit cards, credit cards, electronic fund transfers, etc. Each transaction may be subject to different procedures and protocols associated with a particular payee. Within one day, a user may be conducting a number of transactions with different entities via different payment networks, either in person or online. A user may further set up automatic payments for certain recurring transactions, allowing funds to be withdrawn from his or her account at a scheduled time.
Accompanying the increasing ease and convenience in conducting transactions, data breaches have become a rising threat to data security of financial service accounts. When a data breach occurs, an account number (e.g., a credit or debit card number) of a user (e.g., an individual or a corporation) may be compromised and exposed to third parties, subject to the risk of potential unauthorized transactions. Once a user becomes aware of the data breach or occurrence of unauthorized transactions (e.g., fraudulent charges or payments on his or her account), the user may report to a corresponding financial service provider by calling the customer service to dispute the unauthorized transactions. The financial service provider may protect the user's account by freezing the user account underlying the compromised account number, cancelling transactions under the compromised account number, and issuing a new account number to the user. The financial service provider may also initiate an investigation into the user-reported unauthorized transactions.
Such reporting and dispute resolution systems have at least the following problems. Initiation of transaction disputes are not real-time. A user needs to connect with an available representative of the financial service provider to report the unauthorized transactions. While the user attempts to connect with the representative to initiate the investigation and freeze the account, the compromised account is under continuing risk. Further, while the investigation is pending and a user awaits delivery of a new card, the user cannot process any payments using assets in the compromised account. The user may further need to revisit each previously scheduled or upcoming transaction, contact the corresponding payee to provide alternative payment information. In addition, when the user receives the new card, the user would have to update payment information for each future transaction, including those automatic payments linked to the previous account number. Delays in updating the payment information caused by the dispute resolution process may subject the user to various late charges or disruptions of services.
Given the above and other problems, there is a need for efficient and more user-friendly solutions for processing transaction disputes and processing transactions using compromised accounts.

Systems and methods for processing transaction disputes and processing transactions associated with compromised accounts