An apparatus such as a light source is disclosed which has an OLED device and a structured luminescence conversion layer disposed on the substrate or transparent electrode of said OLED device and on the exterior of said OLED device. The structured luminescence conversion layer contains color-changing and non-color-changing regions arranged in a particular pattern.

Display and lighting systems based on LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) have a variety of applications. Such display and lighting systems are designed by arranging a plurality of photo-electronic elements ("elements") such as rows of individual LEDs. LEDs that are based upon semiconductor technology have traditionally used inorganic materials, but recently, the organic LED ("OLED") has become a potential substitute. Examples of other elements/devices using organic materials include organic solar cells, organic transistors, organic detectors, and organic lasers.
An OLED is typically comprised of two or more thin organic layers (e.g., an electrically conducting organic layer and an emissive organic layer which emits light) which separate an anode and a cathode layer. Under an applied forward potential, the anode injects holes into the stack of organic layers, while the cathode injects electrons. The injected holes and electrons each migrate (under the influence of an externally applied electric field) toward the opposite electrode and recombine in the emissive layer under emission of a photon. Similar device structure and device operation applies for OLEDs consisting of small molecule organic layers and/or polymeric organic layers. Each of the OLEDs can be a pixel element in a passive/active matrix OLED display or an single element used as a general area light source and the like. The construction of OLED light sources and OLED displays from individual OLED elements or devices is well known in the art. The displays and light sources may have one or more common layers such as common substrates, anodes or cathodes and one or more common organic layers sandwiched in between. They may also consist of photo-resist or electrical separators, bus lines, charge transport and/or charge injection layers, and the like. Typically, a transparent or semi-transparent glass substrate is used in bottom-emitting OLED devices.
The quality of lighting is given by the color rendering index (CRI) of the light source. The CRI is a measurement of the light source (lighting device) to render all the colors of the object under illumination. The CRI depends on the normalized output spectrum of a lighting device. For many applications, light sources, which emit light in the short wave range, are coated with one or more layers of luminescence converting materials (down-conversion layers) to form a higher CRI light source compared to the uncoated light source.
A color changing material (CCM) coated on a light source absorbs a part of photons emitted by the light source and emits them at a different wave length. A color-changing material is defined herein as a material which absorbs photons related to lower wavelength and re-emits all of them or a part of them (depending on the quantum yield of the CCM) at higher wavelengths. The non-absorbed fraction of the photons emitted by the light source and the photons emitted by the phosphor constitute the output spectrum of the coated device.
For lighting applications, cerium doped garnets, nitride phosphors, ionic phosphors like SrGa2S4:Eu2+ or SrS:Eu2+, fluorescent dyes, quantum dots or conjugated polymers are often used as luminescence converting materials. In most applications, these materials are dissolved or embedded in a transparent matrix, for example polycarbonate, silicone, epoxy or PMMA (polymethylmetharcylate). The matrix containing the phosphor is often directly coated on the light source or used as material of the device housing.
The disadvantage of conventional uniform coatings is explained by the following example. For instance, consider one or more uniform down-conversion layers on top of a flat light source. The light output of the light source is below the photon saturation limit of the down-conversion layer(s). In this case the shape of the output spectrum of the device is only adjusted by the thickness value(s) of the layer(s) and the concentration(s) of the phosphor(s) in the matrix. The multitude of all possible output spectra is given by the variation of these concentrations or thickness values. Thus, there is limited flexibility in designing output spectra.

Electroluminescent apparatus having a structured luminescence conversion layer


An optical frequency shifter which has no insertion loss polarization dependency and no polarization mode dispersion is formed by: at least one ultrasonic wave generator for generating ultrasonic waves; at least one electric acousto-optic element forming at least one diffraction grating therein upon being applied with the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic wave generator; at least one polarization rotator for rotating a polarization plane of a first primary diffracted light produced by the diffraction grating, by 90.degree.; and a light path through which an input light is entered into the electric acousto-optic element at a Bragg angle of the diffraction grating in a prescribed direction side, the prescribed direction being defined as either identical or opposite to a propagation direction of the ultrasonic waves, so that the first primary diffracted light is produced by the diffraction grating from the input light, a polarization plane rotated light produced by the polarization rotator is entered into the electric acousto-optic element at a Bragg angle of the diffraction grating in the prescribed direction side, and a second primary diffracted light produced by the diffraction grating from the polarization plane rotated light is outputted as an output light. An optical soliton-like return-to-zero pulse transmission system using a combination of this optical frequency shifter and a fixed optical filter in an optical amplifier repeater is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical frequency shifter using an electro-acoustic effect which has no insertion loss polarization dependency and no polarization mode dispersion, and to an optical soliton-like RZ (Return-to-Zero) pulse transmission system using such an optical frequency shifter which is suitable for an application to the optical submarine cables.
2. Description of the Background Art
The conventional optical frequency shifter using an electro-acoustic effect has a large insertion loss polarization dependency of about 0.5 dB for example, and a large polarization mode dispersion of about 10 ps delay for example, so that the conventional optical frequency shifter has been associated with a problem that the waveform deformation is caused for the high speed signals in random polarization states.
On the other hand, as a transmission system capable of realizing a very large capacity optical communication, there is an optical soliton transmission system using optical soliton pulses. In this optical soliton transmission system, an optical amplifier system using optical soliton pulses has various advantages over the usual optical amplifier system using non-return-to-zero pulses such as that a large capacity can be realized, that a multiplexing can be realized easily, and that there is a little degradation due to the non-linearity because the non-linearity of the optical fibers is utilized. For these reasons, the optical soliton transmission system has been studied very actively.
In the optical soliton communication, the optical amplifier noise affects the timing jitter of the optical pulses at a receiving terminal, and degrades the transmission characteristic. Namely, in the optical soliton to which the noise is superposed, there is a random jitter in the optical intensity and a shape of the optical soliton is slightly deformed from the ideal optical soliton shape, so that there arises a jitter in an amount of carrier frequency shift due to the non-linear optical effect. As this effect is repeated by repeaters, a random jitter in arrival times of the optical pulses is caused while the optical pulses are propagated through an optical fiber with a finite dispersion value. This phenomenon is called the Gordon Haus effect, which has been the major limitation of the transmission characteristic for the optical soliton communication.
In a case of transmitting a plurality of optical solitons having data, a shape of each soliton is not changed but adjacent solitons interfere with each other if an interval between adjacent solitons is narrow so that it is possible to observe a phenomenon in which adjacent solitons attract each other or repel each other. Such a phenomenon also causes a timing jitter at a receiving terminal, so that it is not desirable from a viewpoint of the application to the communication. In order to suppress the interference of the solitons, there is a need to provide a sufficiently wide interval between adjacent solitons.
In order to overcome the above described timing jitter, there have been active researches on the soliton control techniques for suppressing the timing jitter artificially, and the soliton transmission experiments have made rapid progresses in recent years. One available soliton control technique is a technique for controlling the random frequency shift in the frequency region by using the optical filter, and another available soliton control technique is a technique for directly controlling the timing jitter itself in the time region.
The control in the frequency region suppresses the timing jitter by bringing the random frequency shift which causes the timing jitter closer to the central frequency of the filter by using the optical narrow bandwidth band-pass filter provided behind the optical amplifier. This filter is called a frequency guiding filter as it guides the solitons which tend to move away from the center in the frequency region. The bandwidth of the filter is as narrow as 5 to 10 times the spectrum width of the soliton. Also, the noises will be accumulated in the frequency guiding with the fixed central frequency, so that there is a proposition of a method for slightly sliding the central frequency of the optical filter along distances, and such a filter is called a sliding frequency guiding filter.
This method is based on the principle that, the soliton components are non-linear waves that propagate while generating the frequency chirp by themselves so that the soliton components follow a slight change of the central frequency of the filter, but the noise components are linear waves which do not follow the filter frequency shift, so that the noise components are gradually set outside the filter bandwidth and the noise accumulation can be suppressed effectively. An amount for sliding the central frequency is approximately -6 GHz for 1000 km.
However, it is very difficult to apply these narrow bandwidth filters to the practical system for the following reason. Namely, the frequency of lights is approximately 200 THz but there is a need to shift an absolute value of the central frequency of the filter by about 200 MHz (which amounts to an accuracy of 0.0001% with respect to the central frequency) at each repeater in a case of the sliding frequency guiding filter, for example. However, in view of the current technological level and the environmental change such as a temperature change associated with the practical system, it is expected that such a minute control of the narrow bandwidth optical filter is nearly impossible in the practical system.
Also, when the application of the optical soliton communication to the optical submarine cables is taken into account, the conventional technique which requires a use of a very narrow bandwidth optical filter inside the repeater is not preferable because the repeater is required to have a high reliability from a practical viewpoint of the long term system reliability.
On the other hand, it is known that the effect effectively equivalent to the sliding frequency filter can be obtained by providing a frequency shifter and a fixed optical filter inside the repeater. In this case, the noises are set outside the bandwidth of the optical filter by the frequency shifter, but the optical solitons are trapped by the central frequency of the fixed filter.
However, the conventional frequency shifter has a large insertion loss polarization dependency and a large polarization mode dispersion so that there has been a problem that the conventional frequency shifter cannot be used in the practical system.

Optical frequency shifter and optical soliton-like return-to-zero pulse transmission system using optical frequency shifter


A vehicle wheel in which an additional air chamber member in a tire air chamber is fixed on an outer circumferential surface of a well portion, includes: a first vertical wall surface rising outward in a radial direction from the outer circumferential surface of the well portion and extending in a circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface; and a second vertical wall surface formed in the well portion facing the first vertical wall surface. The additional air chamber member has an additional air chamber and a communication hole formed therein. The communication hole provides communication between the additional air chamber and the tire air chamber. The additional air chamber member is fitted between the first and second vertical wall surfaces. Side end portions of the additional air chamber member in a width direction of the vehicle wheel are secured between the first and second vertical wall surfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle wheel which reduces a noise emission accompanying an air column resonance (cavernous resonance) inside an air chamber of a tire.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, it is known that an air column resonance generated in an air chamber of a tire (hereinafter, referred to as tire air chamber) causes a road noise of a vehicle. The air column resonance is a phenomenon which generates a resonant sound in such a manner that an air in the tire air chamber is vibrated due to random vibrations transmitted from a road surface to the tire, and as a result, a resonant phenomenon occurs at around an air column resonance frequency of the tire air chamber.
Hitherto, a vehicle wheel described in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2004-90669 has been known as the vehicle wheel which reduces the noises accompanying the air column resonance. The vehicle wheel includes a plurality of additional air chambers along a circumferential direction of a rim. For more details, in the vehicle wheel, a circular space portion formed between a circular vertical wall which is vertically disposed at a well portion extending in the circumferential direction of the rim and a rising side wall of the well portion toward a bead seat portion side is covered with a cap member. Then, the circular space portion zoned by the cap member, the well portion, and the vertical wall is partitioned by a plurality of separators which are disposed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction to form each of the additional air chambers. In addition, the tire air chamber and each of the additional air chambers are communicated with each other through a communication hole formed in the cap member. According to the vehicle wheel described above, the communication hole and additional air chamber constitute a Helmholtz resonator and the air column resonance sound in the tire air chamber can be reduced.
However, the vehicle wheel described above has not a practical structure. That is, it has been necessary to accurately joint a plurality of separators and cap member by welding, bonding, fitting, and fastening, while keeping airtightness to the vehicle wheel where the vertical wall rising from the well portion is formed. Therefore, a mass production of the vehicle wheel has been unsuitable considering securing of the airtightness, a manufacturing manpower, and an increase in the manufacturing cost.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle wheel which can improve mass productivity of the vehicle wheel.


A body on frame vehicle includes a SORB impact load management system including front blocker structures for limiting transfer of the SORB impact loads from being transferred to the passenger compartment area. A SORB impact load transfer apparatus in the form of a cable extends between the front end horns of the side rails of the frame to transfer SORB impact loads from the impacted side across the vehicle frame. In a second embodiment of the impact load transfer apparatus, the ends of the cables are coupled to the front sides of the front blocker structures and the cable is routed through the front end horns of the side rails of the frame to transfer SORB impact loads from the impacted side across the vehicle frame.

It is generally known to provide a vehicle including a vehicle frame assembly of any known or appropriate type such as a unitary body on frame assembly. It is also generally known to provide a vehicle including various structures for improving the performance of the vehicle during a variety of types of impacts to the vehicle. The performance of a vehicle and its various structures, assemblies and components from an impact may be assessed using a variety of crash tests and analytical methodologies.
A frontal crash having a relatively small amount of overlap or offset may be designed to attempt to replicate what may happen when only a relatively small portion of the front corner of a vehicle collides with another object like a vehicle, tree, utility pole or the like. One known industry test is the small overlap rigid barrier (SORB) test. In the SORB test, a vehicle travels at 40 mph toward a 5-foot-tall rigid barrier and only the outer 25% of the vehicle width is impacted into the barrier. It is generally understood that most modern vehicles may be designed to have safety cages and other structures, assemblies and components for protecting the occupant compartment and built to help manage energy with controlled and limited deformation to the vehicle during a variety of impacts to the vehicle from most direction, including a head-on and overlap frontal crashes. The crush zones of the main body and frame structures are designed to manage the crash energy to reduce forces on the occupant compartment and its occupants. When a crash involves these structures, the occupant compartment may generally be protected from intrusion, and the airbags and safety restraints may perform to restrain and help protect vehicle occupants.
Small overlap or offset frontal crashes primarily affect a vehicle's outer edges, which may not be directly protected by some of the primary crush-zone structures. In such a scenario, crash forces may go directly into the front wheel, suspension system and potentially the vehicle firewall and body including the passenger compartment. In a small overlap crash which does not engage the main structures of the vehicle it may be possible for the wheel to be forced rearward towards the passenger compartment of the body of the vehicle.
Even though such crush-zone and body (or cab) on frame type structures have been known and have some certain advantages, there remains a continuing and significant need to provide improved impact or crush performance structures with optimized structural efficiencies including lower cost and improved performance. There remains a significant a need to address and improve the SORB impact performance of a vehicle and to develop alternative designs and components which improve the IIHS SORB structural and overall rating performance. In particular, there remains a continuing and significant need to provide additional improved SORB impact performance in a vehicle that will include better managing the impact forces for reducing intrusion of the forward structures.


A simulated toy hamburger maker includes a mixer grinder, a simulated cooking station, a condiment dispenser apparatus and a hamburger bun storage and dispenser. A mixture of edible food materials such as ground cereal and peanut butter together with edible colorant materials such as chocolate powder is combined and mixed within the grinder mixer station to form a simulated hamburger mixture. The simulated cooking station includes a hamburger press which conforms a quantity of the hamburger mixture into a realistic hamburger patty. The simulated hamburger patty is then placed upon simulated hamburger buns such as conventional vanilla wafer cookies or the like and positioned within a condiment dispensing station. Condiment dispensers are provided which receive a quantity of colored edible material such as cake frosting or the like to extrude upon the simulated hamburger patties. A second cookie simulating the upper bun portion of a hamburger sandwich is then placed upon the condiment bearing patty to complete the simulated hamburger.

One of the basic principles which guide toy makers in their neverending quest for newer and more popular toys for young children is the realization that children enjoy mimicking or imitating the various actions of life which they see adults participating in as they go through their day. In accordance with this basic principle, practitioners in the art have found that children viewing food preparation and cooking activities by adults have a desire to imitate and mimic these activities themselves. In view of this popularity and need, practitioners in the art have endeavored to provide toy food cooking and preparation products. Several limitations exist, however, in the creation and provision of such toy products. For example, great care must be exercised in the structures utilizing heating or cooking elements to avoid the danger of burn injury to young children. In addition, the simulated food products themselves must be subjected to exhaustive safety inspection and consideration dealing with problems such as toxicity and the ever present danger of children ingesting simulated food products. Notwithstanding these limitations and difficulties, the pressure created by the extreme popularity of this market segment has continued to motivate practitioners in the toy arts to provide evermore realistic and exciting food preparation type toys.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,386 issued to Giordano, et al. sets forth a TOY SKILLET AND KNIFE HAVING SIMULATED SOUND PRODUCING CAPABILITIES in which a miniature frying skillet defines a simulated cooking surface have dielectric material areas formed thereon and an outwardly extending handle. A sound producing circuit within the handle responds to the presence of material within the skillet upon the cooking surface to produce a realistic frying sound thereby simulating the cooking of the material. Additional sound producing apparatus provides further sound enhancement such as the sound of a slicing knife or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,730 issued to Cooper, et al. sets forth a TOY OVEN having an interior simulated baking cavity within a toy oven housing. A tray within the baking cavity is operatively coupled to the oven door to be raised upwardly as the oven door is closed. A mold is suspended upon the upper surface of the baking cavity and defines a lower surface forming a mold member which replicates the upper surface of a baked food article. A dish having deformable simulated food material is positioned within the baking cavity upon the tray and raised by the operative mechanism as the toy is closed to be forced against the mold and have embossed thereon a simulated baking appearance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,753 issued to Robinson sets forth an APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC APPLICATION OF CONDIMENTS TO A SANDWICH having a computer control and a plurality of condiment material dispensers coupled to a computer controlled pump. A flexible spreader blade rotates over the condiment depositing area and is operated after each condiment deposit upon an underlying sandwich to smooth out the condiment material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,218 issued to Cresson sets forth a VENDING MACHINE FOR PREPARING AND DELIVERING HAMBURGERS which provides automatic operation for preparing and delivering hamburgers to a consumer utilizing a payment system. The vending machine includes an oven for cooking the meat portion, a first station for delivering rolls or bread to a conveyor and one or more successive condiment application stations followed by a wrapping or covering station.
U.S. Pat. NO. 4,202,260 issued to Weger sets forth an AUTOMATIC SANDWICH MAKING APPARATUS consisting of an upper and lower support for receiving and supporting a slice of bread. A sandwich station is formed on the lower support and apparatus is movable to lower the bread dispensing station. A selection panel controls the deposit of various condiments upon the sandwich bread as it is moved through the sandwich making stations.
While the foregoing described prior art devices have provided some measure of success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore improved toys which simulate the cooking process and which entertain and amuse young children.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved food preparation simulation toy. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved simulated toy hamburger maker which avoids exposing the child user to the risk of burn injury while producing an edible food product which the child may consume.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a simulated toy hamburger maker for use in combination with a malleable food mixture and a plurality of generally disk-shaped food articles, the simulated toy hamburger maker comprises: mixing means for receiving the constituents of the malleable food mixture and for forming a generally uniform mixture thereof; simulated cooking means for receiving a quantity of the generally uniform mixture and for forming a disk-like patty thereof; and condiment means for receiving an edible extrudible food material and for depositing a quantity thereof upon one of the disk-like patties, the disk-like patty and the deposited extrudible food material being combined with a pair of the disk-shaped food articles to form a simulated hamburger.


An information processing method and an electronic device are provided. The method includes: controlling a first lens of a first image acquisition unit to move from a first position in a first direction, and controlling a second lens of a second image acquisition unit to move from the first position in a second direction opposite to the first direction; obtaining at least one first focus value in a first focus area corresponding to the first image acquisition unit during said moving in the first direction, and obtaining at least one second focus value in a second focus area corresponding to the second image acquisition unit during said moving in the second direction; performing a first calculation on the at least one first focus value and the at least one second focus value to obtain a third focus value; and controlling the first and second image acquisition units to implement focusing based on the third focus value.

In 1939, Daguerre in France invented the first camera in the world, it dramatically changed the way to record people's life. With the development of electron-optical technology, photos taken for landscape, portrait and animal evolve from black-and-white to colorized and become more clear and vivid.
According to one technique, an active focusing approach is disclosed, which is primary used for traditional camera. According to another technique, a passive focusing approach is disclosed, which is popular for mobile phones and tablets. Furthermore, there are three approaches for a contrast detection method in passive focusing.
The first approach is a global ramping algorithm as shown in FIG. 1, in which focus values are compared one by one and a maximum focus value is determined after all the focus values have been compared, so as to drive a focus motor to implement focusing. The second approach is a fast ramping algorithm as shown in FIG. 2, in which once a maximum value is obtained through comparison, i.e., a current focus value is smaller than a previous focus value, a maximum focus value is obtained, and the comparison will no longer continue. The third approach is a global stepwise ramping algorithm as shown in FIG. 3, in which a ramping algorithm is executed respectively in steps based on Depth of Field (DOF), a representative node is selected in the same range of DOF, and focus values of various representative nodes are compared to obtain a maximum focus value.
However, the calculation time is long and the calculation speed is low for the above three focusing manners, which is difficult to meet users' requirements on quick focusing. Therefore, the time required to focus using the contrast detection method is long.

Information processing method and electronic device


A pre-treating method for plating a Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface includes the steps of: cleaning a Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface with ultrasonic energy; heat-degreasing the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface with a basic solution for removing accumulated grease; deterging the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface with an acid solution for eliminating corrosion produced in previous high temperature conditions; electrolyzing the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface with a basic solution for removing an oxidative layer; and neutralizing the basic solution remained on the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface with an acid solution; and plating the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface with corrosion-resisting materials.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pre-treating method for plating a Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pre-treating method for activating a Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface by means of cleaning with a high-concentrated basic solution and vibrating with ultrasonic engergy that may enhance adhesion of the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface for plating.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, nickel and chromium components contained in stainless steel are always rare and costly so Fe—Mn—Al alloy has replaced stainless steel. In mining industry, nickel and chromium are inexpensive and abundant in nature, and it is intended to replace nickel and chromium with manganese and aluminum respectively.
In metallurgical industry, chromium element is capable of enhancing corrosion-resisting ability of stainless steel. Generally, stainless steel contains more than about 12% in weight of chromium that may form an oxidative layer to resist further oxidation.
Taiwanese Pat. Appl. Ser. No. 89121645 titled "low-density high-ductility iron-base alloy for a golf club head" discloses Fe—Mn—Al alloy having poor corrosion-resisting ability. In 5percent salt moisture testing standard, Fe—Mn—Al alloy containing chromium less than 5.5% in weight performs poor corrosion-resisting and cannot pass. On the contrary, Fe—Mn—Al alloy containing chromium more than 9.0% in weight may improve corrosion-resisting ability but it performs with high brittleness and poor ductility that deteriorates mechanical characteristic. In the light of this task, it is hard that Fe—Mn—Al alloy contains adequate chromium for improving corrosion-resisting ability. In order to maintain desired mechanical characteristic, it is necessary that a Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface must require plating for corrosion resisting.
In manufacturing a golf club head, Fe—Mn—Al alloy has highly low density, excellent vibration-absorbability and high degree of hardness. Casting a golf club head with Fe—Mn—Al alloy, the center of gravity of the golf club head may be lowered, and a striking surface area and dimensions of the golf club head may be increased. In use, inevitably, the golf club head made of Fe—Mn—Al alloy has poor corrosion resisting. To avoid rustiness or corrosion, there is a cladding material on the surface of the golf club head to reduce the possibility of rusting. In order to improve plating quality, there is a need for a series of preparing steps for pre-treating the golf club head. Consequently, it can insure a plating layer to securely adhere to the surface of the golf club head and to avoid peeling off therefrom.
Referring initially to FIG. 1, it illustrates a pre-treating method for plating an alloy surface. The pre-treating method includes the steps consisting of an ultrasonic energy cleaning step, a degreasing step, a deterging step, an electrolysis step, an activating step and a plating step.
In ultrasonic energy cleaning step, the alloy surface is cleaned with ultrasonic energy for preliminary removing larger grime.
In degreasing step, the alloy surface is subsequently treated with a chemical solution, such as sodium hydroxide, and soaked in the chemical solution for two minutes for removing accumulated grease. Then, the alloy surface is further cleaned in water.
In deterging step, the alloy surface is subsequently treated with an acid solution, such as 5%–30% of hydrochloric acid, for eliminating corrosion produced in previous high temperature conditions. Then, the alloy surface is further cleaned in water.
In electrolysis step, the alloy surface is subsequently treated with anodic electrolysis, such as 5%–90% of sulfuric acid in current density of 5–40 A/dm2, for removing an oxidative or inactive layer. Then, the alloy surface is further cleaned in water.
In activating step, the alloy surface is subsequently treated with an acid solution, such as 15 g/l–150 g/l of hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, for activating. Then, the alloy surface is further cleaned in water.
In plating step, the alloy surface is finally plated with corrosion-resisting metal.
The above-mentioned method is widely used and suitable for treating alloy steel or low-carbon steel. However, the above-mentioned method is unable to enhance adhesion of the plating layer to a Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface, and unsuitable for treating Fe—Mn—Al alloy. In electrochemical analysis, aluminum element contained in Fe—Mn—Al alloy is highly activated and easily oxidized to inactivate the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface. In electrolysis step, when the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface is treated with anodic electrolysis for removing an oxidative layer, aluminum element contained in Fe—Mn—Al alloy is soaked in a high-concentrated acid solution, and then an electric current is conducted in the acid solution. At this time, not only the original oxidative layer (Al2O3) may be remained on the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface, but also more oxidative layers reacted with aluminum elements may be precipitated on the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface. Consequently, the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface is inactivated and unfavorable for plating process. Hence, there is a need for an improved pre-treating method for plating a Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface.
The present invention intends to provide a pre-treating method for plating a Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface which includes ultrasonic energy cleaning step, heat-degreasing step, ultrasonic energy deterging step and basic electrolysis step. In ultrasonic energy deterging step, the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface is treated with a high-concentrated basic solution for removing an oxidative layer, and ultrasonic energy for speeding activation. Thereby, the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface can provide activity and avoid inactivity for improving adhesion of a cladding material that may enhance plating quality and corrosion-resisting ability.

Pre-treating method for plating a Fe-Mn-Al alloy surface


A new Scaveola plant named ‘Bomy Whit,’ particularly distinguished by white flower color, early and abundant flowering response, medium green foliage, vigorous, initially semi-upright becoming decumbent to trailing habit with a well-branched plant habit.

The present invention comprises a new Scaveola, botanically known as Scaveola aemula, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'Bomy Whit.'
'Bomy Whit' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar 'Bomy Whit' has white flower color, early and abundant flowering response, medium green foliage, vigorous, initially semi-upright becoming decumbent to trailing habit with a well-branched plant habit.
'Bomy Whit' originated from a hybridization in a controlled breeding program in Gilroy, Calif., U.S.A. The female parent was an unpatented, proprietary hybrid seedling identified as '11-4' with white color. '11-4' has lighter foliage, is later to flower, and has fewer branches than 'Bomy Whit.'
The male parent of 'Bomy Whit' was 'Scawihatis' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,003) with white color. 'Scawihatis' has smaller flowers, smaller and darker foliage, fewer branches, and thinner stems than 'Bomy Whit.'
'Bomy Whit' was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May 2006 in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif., U.S.A. The pollination took place in August 2005 and the seed sowing in January 2006.
The first act of asexual reproduction of 'Bomy Whit' was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in the May 2006 in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif., U.S.A.
Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in May 2006 in Gilroy, Calif., U.S.A., and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for 'Bomy Whit' are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
'Bomy Whit' has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.
A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in Canada on Dec. 24, 2007. 'Bomy Whit' has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.


A dock-kit interface port on an in-tray of a mobile rack which includes casing, an interface circuit board mounted inside the casing and having an interface circuit, an in-tray connector soldered to the interface circuit board at one side and connected to an electric connector on the in-tray, and at least one interface connector soldered to the interface circuit board at an opposite side and adapted for connecting to a computer by a cable, a power connector mounted on the rear cover shell and connected to the interface circuit and adapted to receive power supply from a power supply outlet through a transformer circuit, a power switch mounted on the rear cover shell for power on/off control.

The present invention relates to a dock kit interface port for an in-tray of a mobile rack which has an in-tray connector for connection to an in-tray, at least one interface connector for connection to a computer, a power connector for connection to a power supply outlet through a transformer circuit, and a power switch for power on/off control.
Mounting a hard diskdrive in an in-tray inside a mobile rack is a well known technique. When a hard diskdrive is installed in an in-tray of a mobile rack, an interface circuit must be provided for communication between the hard diskdrive and the computer. FIGS. 1A and 1B show an in-tray and mobile rack assembly according to the prior art, in which a power inverter circuit 12', an interface circuit 18', a power connector 13', a fan 14', an interface connector 15', a ribbon cable 17, a power control circuit 11' and an in-tray connector 16' are mounted inside the metal mobile rack 10'; an insertion chamber 19 is defined within the metal mobile rack 10' for receiving the in-tray 20'. Because the mobile rack 10' has a variety of accessories mounted on the inside, the whole assembly of the mobile rack 10' is heavy and occupies much installation space. FIGS. 2A and 2B show a similar structure in which the metal mobile rack 10' has plastic strips 341' mounted on two opposite lateral sides for protection. However, this structure of in-tray and mobile rack assembly has the same drawbacks as before stated.

Dock kit interface port for in-tray of mobile rack

11F-2, No. 11, 202 Lane, Jing-Shing Rd., Wen-Shan


A method of manufacturing a drug delivery device includes forming a undercoat on an outer surface of a dipping mandrel, forming a tack coat on an outer surface of the undercoat, depositing granular particles on at least a portion of the tack coat, forming an overcoat on the formed tack coat, trapping the granular particles between the tack coat and the overcoat and removing an outermost portion of the overcoat to expose a portion of the granular particles. A system for treating a vascular condition includes a catheter having an inflation lumen, an elastomeric drug delivery device disposed on the catheter and in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, a plurality of expandable pores disposed within an outer layer of the elastomeric drug delivery device and at least one therapeutic agent disposed within at least a portion of the plurality of expandable pores.

Heart disease, specifically coronary artery disease, is a major cause of death, disability, and healthcare expense in the United States and other industrialized countries. A number of methods and devices for treating coronary artery disease have been developed, some of which are specifically designed to treat the complications resulting from atherosclerosis and other forms of coronary arterial narrowing.
One method for treating such vascular conditions is percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). During PTCA, a balloon catheter device is inflated to dilate a stenotic blood vessel. The stenosis may be the result of a lesion such as a plaque or thrombus. When inflated, the pressurized balloon exerts a compressive force on the lesion, thereby increasing the inner diameter of the affected vessel. The increased interior vessel diameter facilitates improved blood flow.
However, soon after the procedure, a significant proportion of treated vessels restenose. Various methods have been developed to prevent or inhibit this restenosis. One method is to provide a physical support in the form of a stent to maintain the increased interior diameter of the vessel lumen.
Stents are generally cylindrical shaped devices that are radially expandable to hold open a segment of a vessel or other anatomical lumen after implantation into the body lumen. Various types of stents are in use, including expandable and self-expanding stents. Expandable stents generally are conveyed to the area to be treated on balloon catheters or other expandable devices. For insertion, the stent is positioned in a compressed configuration along the delivery device. The stent may be crimped onto a balloon that is folded or otherwise wrapped about a guide wire that is part of the delivery device. After the stent is positioned across the lesion, it is expanded by the delivery device. For a self-expanding stents, a sheath is retracted that allows expansion of the stent.
Stents have been used with coatings to deliver drugs or other therapeutic agents at the site of the stent to assist in preventing inflammation, infection, thrombosis, and proliferation of cell growth that can occlude the vessel lumen. However, the coated stent can deliver drugs to only those portions of the vessel in contact with the stent. Because restenosis is often a greater problem in tissue adjacent to the ends of a stent than it is elsewhere along the stent, drug delivery using the stent alone may not be fully effective.
One drawback of current drug eluting stent technology is that the drug is combined with a polymer. In such drug coated stents the drug and polymer need to be combined in a common solution or suspension, thereby making it necessary to use a common solvent. In addition, when the drug is fully eluted the stent is left with non-functional polymer on the stent surface, which may be less biocompatible than the stent material itself.
Vascular delivery of drugs and other agents intended to inhibit restenosis has also been accomplished using devices that inject or otherwise infuse the agents into the treated portion of the vessel before, during, or after performing PTCA. Unlike coated stents, these devices deliver the anti-restenosis agents without providing physical support for the treated vessel. One drawback to these devices is that the drug is delivered in discrete targeted locations within the tissue wall which may limit the effectiveness of the drug for limiting restenosis.
Thus, coated stents support the lumen of a vessel in an open position following PTCA but may be limited in their ability to deliver an anti-restenosis agent to the wall of the treated vessel. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a system and method for treating a vascular condition that overcome the aforementioned and other disadvantages.

Methods for incorporating a drug into an elastomeric medical device


An ice chest or portable cooler is combined with a child stroller to transport small children in seat assemblies that are integral with the lid or cover of the cooler. The ice chest-stroller rolls along on a front and rear axle/wheel assembly and can be either pulled by means of a retractable tow bar or pushed by means of a fold-down push handle. Convenient drawer storage units are located under the front and rear child seats on top of the cooler body lid. To access food and beverages inside the cooler, the entire lid assembly with storage drawers and child seats is lifted up from the top on a hinge attached to the side of the lid assembly and cooler body.

The present invention relates generally to portable coolers and more specifically to a portable cooler which is used to transport small children and supplies as well.
Portable coolers predominantly used for cool storage and transport of food and beverages are well known. There are a large variety of these types of products ranging widely in size, shape, materials, and colors/styles. Some are made with metal exteriors and plastic interiors or insulated liners. Others are constructed entirely from lightweight, molded plastic. Larger models have generally been designed with a set of small wheels and a tow handle to make them easier and more convenient for transportation to parks, sporting events, or other types of gatherings.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,681 to Bartholomew, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,493 to Mason, U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,438 to Rahaney et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,230,0062 to Sokolis, U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,662 to Manner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,188 to Naloof, U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,198 to Baltzell, U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,157 to Ciminelli et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,018 to Lin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5, 660,296 to Greenwich, U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,472 to Lien, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,467 to Henkel, none of which were designed to transport children, disclose rolling coolers of various constructions having pull handles. Some of the known embodiments of the rolling coolers include table tops and chairs associated with the cooler. However, none of the prior art discloses or suggests the improved ice chest stroller as claimed herein.
The present invention provides an ice chest cooler that can be used to transport small children, food and beverages. The present invention also provides a compact and lightweight combined cooler-stroller that may be conveniently stored and transported in a vehicle. In some embodiments, the rolling cooler stroller can be pulled like a wagon or cart or pushed from behind like a stroller or carriage.
In preferred embodiments, the cooler is rectangular in shape, adequate in size and capacity to hold a fair portion of food, beverages, and cooling ice, molded and assembled from lightweight plastic materials and adequately insulated to maintain and keep its contents cool. The cooler and body is preferably supported by a system of axles and wheels near each end, a front end and rear end defined opposite short sides of its rectangular shape, each having an axle adjacent to said ends with a wheel-tire assembly attached to each end of both axles, four wheels in all. The front axle-wheel assembly preferably swivels to allow steering from the front end of the rectangular shaped cooler body. The front end of the cooler body is attached, at a point central to the end and on its lower extreme surface by means of a swivel pin mechanism, to a bar of sufficient length protruding in a forward direction and terminating in a handle. The forward protruding bar, or tow bar, provides a means by which the cooler body is easily towed by a person. The tow bar may also be molded from a lightweight plastic material and the handle grip at the terminating end opposite the cooler body is of such a shape and size that it allows a comfortable ergonomically designed grip for the person pulling the unit along. The length of the tow bar is preferably such that an adult ranging in stature will be able to comfortably tow the unit in a normal walking posture without suffering the difficulty of having to twist, stoop, or bend. In some embodiments, the length of the tow bar is adjustable. The opposite end of the tow bar attaches to the forward wheel-axle assembly terminating in a swivel mechanism that allows for a wide range of vertical and lateral movement, thereby providing a means of steering the unit. In a preferred embodiment, the tow bar is designed to retract completely underneath the cooler body so that the unit can be pushed from the rear by means of upwardly extending push handles. The rear push handles preferably extend slightly rearward and upward from the lower portion of the cooler body immediately behind the rear axle-wheel assembly. The rear push handles also generally extend upwards to a height that is comfortable for a user to grasp when pushing the unit along. The rear push handles are preferably foldable to permit storage during transport in a vehicle.
The cooler lid assembly is hingedly attached to one side or end of the cooler body, and is preferably secured in the closed position by a latch attached to the opposite side or end of the cooler body. The lid assembly covers the food/ice storage compartment inside the cooler body and is preferably manufactured from molded plastic.
In a preferred embodiment, the lid assembly is divided into two sections forming forward and rear storage compartments, which can optionally house sliding drawers. The drawer units can include handles on the outside surfaces and a latch may be attached to each drawer unit to secure it in place.
The top surface of the lid is preferably molded in such a way as to provide one or more seat units for small children to sit on. Each seat unit can independently comprise a seat and a seat back that is removable from the lid or fold down toward the seat on the lid. A seat unit can also include a safety bar that surrounds the position where the child would be seated to prevent the child from falling out of the seat.
Other preferred embodiments of the ice chest stroller include one or more drink or beverage holders, lock down mechanisms for removable seat backs, draw organizers, a drain plug for the insulated storage area, and a rack or shelf within the enclosed storage area, and a seat belt or strap to secure passengers to the seats. Still other preferred embodiments of the invention include lock downs for securing portable infants seats to the lid of the cooler.
Accordingly one aspect of the invention provides a rolling combination ice cheststroller comprising: an insulated open chest having a top and bottom, front and rear ends, and left and right sides; a lid pivotally attached to the chest for covering and closing the chest, the lid having upper and lower surfaces; at least one seat assembly on the upper surface of the lid, the seat assembly comprising a seating area integral with the upper surface of the lid and a seat back engaged with the lid; at least one handle assembly for pushing or pulling the ice chest-stroller; and a plurality of wheels engaged with the chest.
A steering assembly is preferably pivotally mounted to the bottom of the chest and engaged with the handle assembly. In general, the steering assembly with comprise at least two wheels. The handle assembly can be made retractable or foldable so that it will retract to a position below the ice chest-stroller or will be foldable to a position adjacent to the front or rear ends of the chest. A foot support can be included in the ice chest-stroller to support the feet of a person sitting in the seat. Preferred embodiments of the ice chest-stroller will have at least two wheel assemblies, at least one flap which is engaged with the chest to form a table, at least one restraining device per seat assembly to maintain a person seated in the seat, and/or one storage compartment within each seat assembly. The storage compartments can also comprise drawers. In the most preferred embodiments the ice chest-stroller will comprise at least four wheels each disposed adjacent a respective one of the four comers of the ice chest-stroller.
Another aspect of the invention provides a rolling combination ice chest-stroller comprising: an insulated open chest having a top and bottom, front and rear ends, and left and right sides; a lid pivotally attached to the chest for covering and closing the chest, the lid having upper and lower surfaces; at least one seat assembly on the upper surface of the lid, the seat assembly comprising a seat back pivotally engaged with the lid and a seating area integral with the upper surface of the lid; at least one retractable handle assembly for pushing or pulling said ice chest-stroller; a steering assembly pivotally engaged with the chest; and a plurality of wheels engaged with the ice chest-stroller.
Depending on the embodiment of the invention employed, at least two of the plurality of wheels will be pivotally engaged with the chest or the steering assembly will be pivotally engaged with the chest. The steering assembly can be engaged with at least one handle. The steering assembly and at least one handle can be disposed adjacent to the same end and/or adjacent to opposite ends of the chest.


A method is described for providing a body of first material and a body of second material in a chemical environment wherein the first material contains first constituents having a lower and higher oxidation state and wherein the second material contains constituents having an oxidation state of energy greater than lower oxidation state of the first constituent. The environment is further provided with first cations energetically disposed for receiving electrons from the first constituents but not energetically disposed for receiving electrons from the second constituents. Electrons transfer from the first constituents to the first cations which are transformed thereby into second cations of lower oxidation state resulting in first body releasing into the environment third cations which are cations of the first (lower) oxidation state of the first constituent. The environment is further provided with an agent which consumes the second and third cations thereby permitting release into the environment additional ones of the third cations resulting in the first body being preferably etched with respect to the second body. The method is useful to etch copper in the presence of more highly reactive materials such as chrome, lead, tin, titanium, aluminum, iron, cobalt, and galvanically more active gold and nickel. The method is useful for forming structures containing copper having an overlying layer of the more highly reactive material without the requirement of the use of a resist material.

Interconnection circuitry and bonded terminal pad structures in microelectronic packages and devices are most commonly fabricated by additively pattern plating or vapor deposition. This is done through a mask with the required wiring and pad metallurgy disposed on top of a blanket base layer. Subsequently the exposed layer which is not below the pad metallurgy and the wiring metallurgy is subtractively etched. In this process, situations can occur wherein the top or second layer or stack of layers contain a metal that might be more vulnerable to attack by the etchants used to etch the base layer. An example of this is Cr/Cu/Co/Au bonding and terminal metallurgy which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,310 which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the teaching of which is incorporated herein by reference. The metallurgy described therein can be fabricated by starting with a Cr/Cu base blanket layer and pattern plating Co/Au thereover and then etching the Cr/Cu base layer.
In this metallization, the Co in the second stack will be attached by the etchant used to etch the Cu in the first stack. This is because Co is more reactive than Cu, in particular in aqueous red-ox reactions. This situation is not restricted to this particular application only. Other etching techniques in which there is a concern are the chemical-mechanical polishing of multi-layer metal stacks with incompatible combinations of metals to achieve planar metal-dielectric structures; and patterning of metal layers to form mask plates.
In the broadest sense the methods described herein are methods of etching a less reactive material in the presence of a more reactive material. The degree of reactiveness is defined on the basis of aqueous red-ox reactions.
Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide methods for etching a less reactive material in the presence of a more reactive material, using a non-aqueous etching medium.
The methods described herein are directed to an etching process which overcomes the disadvantages of etching in aqueous media described above. For example, FIGS. 1-4 show an example of a process generally described above wherein on a substrate 2 is disposed a layer 4 of a less reactive material on which is disposed a patterned lift off layer 6 having a pattern hole 8. Over the light off layer 6 is disposed a layer of the more reactive metal 10 of which 10' is disposed in pattern opening 8 of lift off layer 6. Layer 6 is removed as shown in FIG. 2 to leave the pattern 10' of the more reactive material. In order to remove that part of less reactive material beyond the periphery of the reactive material 10', 10' is coated with a resist material 12 as shown in FIG. 3. The structure of FIG. 3 is then exposed to an etchant which etches away that part of the less reactive material beyond the periphery of pattern 10' leaving the structure as shown in FIG. 4 with a patterned reactive material 4' below the pattern 10' of the more reactive material. The resist material 12 is removed leaving the structure shown in FIG. 5.
According to the present invention, the structure shown in FIG. 2 uses the pattern of more reactive material 10' as a mask for the etching of the layer 4 of the less reactive material to directly go from the structure of FIG. 2 to the structure of FIG. 5, thereby, avoiding the need to passivate the more reactive material layer 10' with a resist 12 as shown in FIG. 3. This is achieved by appropriately choosing the chemistry of the etchant system to selectively etch the less reactive material in the presence of the more reactive material 10.
In the chemistry of the method, the less reactive material has a lower and higher valence state and the more reactive material has an oxidation state of energy greater than the lower oxidation state of the less reactive material. Chemical environments are provided containing cations of the higher oxidation state of the less reactive material which react with the zero oxidation state of the less reactive material to produce cations of the lower oxidation state of the less reactive material. The chemical environment also contains an agent capable of complexing the lower oxidation state cations of the less reactive material, such that the concentration of the lower oxidation state does not reach an equilibrium condition, thereby permitting continued dissolution of the less reactive material.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,950 described a chemical etching solution particularly adapted to selectively dissolving copper from laminated printed wiring boards in the presence of metal selected from the group consisting of tin, lead, nickel, gold and alloys thereof. There is no mentioned of etching copper in the presence of a highly reactive metal such as cobalt. The method uses high concentration of ammonia which is difficult and hazardous to use in a manufacturing environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,717,520 describes an aqueous etchant for stripping Cu and Ni from ferrous metal and plastic substrates.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,153 describes a process for anisotropically etching Cu through a Ni-Au mask in an aqueous solution in a reactor by providing an electrical connection between the reactor wall and the Cu to maintain them at the same potential.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,727 describes an aqueous nitric acid based etchant for copper with a solder based etch resist.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,661 describes nitric acid based aqueous anisotropic etchants with selectivity to different copper crystal planes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,768 describes substrates covered with a layer of Ni, Co, Mn and Ni/Fe or Ni/Co followed by electroless Cu and pattern plating. After plating both the electroless Cu and under layer Ni/Co are removed by etching with a single solution without any selectivity between materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,275 describes a non-aqueous solution to selectively etch Cu but not Ni, Ti, Cr which contains dimethyl sulfoxide and a halo carbon compound such as ethyl chloroacetate and carbon tetrachloride which are hazardous and difficult to use in a manufacturing environment. In contradistinction, the etch methods described herein are environmentally safe and compatible with manufacturing needs, and provide selectivity to etch the material that is normally less reactive in an aqueous medium.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 33, No. 2, July 1990, p. 258-9 describes a subtractive etch technique for selectively removing Cu in a wet etch where certain regions are protected from the Cu wet etch by regions of Cr.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 27, No. 5, October 1986 p. 2197 describes dry etching below an etch resistant mask of Co/Cu where the Co is between a W underlayer and Cu.
None of the above referenced claims teach a method wherein a less reactive metal is wet etched selectively in the presence of a more reactive material.
These and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, claims and the figures appended thereto.

Methods for etching a less reactive material in the presence of a more reactive material

International business Machines Corporation


An ink set (TS) containing of a plurality of inks (T1, T2, T3, T4, T . . . ) of various ink colors, containing at least one red or magenta-colored ink, one blue or cyan-colored ink and one yellow ink plus optionally also a black ink, in particular for use in ink jet printers, where each ink (T1, T . . . ) contains at least one soluble dyestuff (FS1, FS . . . ) as the essential coloring agent (FM) and water (W) and/or organic solvent as the main solvent (LM) and one or more drying retardants (TV) and optionally preservative(s) (KM) and/or other additives (Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z . . . ).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns water-based inks and ink sets and use thereof for writing, drawing, painting, printing and specifically also for ink jet printing and other machine writing, printing, painting or labeling processes, where the inks are preferably applied to coated media.
2. Description of Related Art
In principle, such inks and ink sets are known, e.g., for ink jet printers. For example, European Patent No. 526 731 B1 describes an ink jet ink set with red (magenta), blue (cyan) and yellow ink for use in ink jet printers.
In this process, 1.75% to 4% dyestuffs selected from the following groups are added to a vehicle consisting of 5% to 11% glycols and/or glycol ethers and water: Reactive Red 180, Acid Red 52, Acid Yellow 23 and/or Acid Blue 9.
One disadvantage of this process in particular is that whether mixed or used individually, these inks and their impressions do not have good lightfastness or uniform, i.e., equal, rates of fading.
European Patent No. 0 345 763 B1 discloses printing ink solutions that are said to yield especially bright, lightfast, and moisture-resistant impressions. These printing ink solutions, which are to be used in particular to produce magenta or blue ink, essentially contain at least two different dyestuffs. Each of these dyestuffs is produced or formulated according to specific requirements, and at least one other dyestuff (according to C.I.=Color Index) is a dyestuff to be selected from the group: Acid Red 131, Acid Red 274, Direct Red 227, Direct Red 9, Direct Yellow 86, Direct Yellow 142, Direct Blue 199, Direct Blue 86 and/or Acid Blue 198. The proposed dyestuffs should be dissolved or dispersed in a liquid medium, where the solvent should include a polyhydric alcohol or an aliphatic monohydric alcohol.
A disadvantage of these printing ink solutions is that one of the dyestuffs contained in each ink is not a conventional commercial product and therefore is not readily available. Furthermore, a plurality of dyestuffs mixed together are always required, so that, first, it is not necessarily always possible to manufacture inks and, second, they are very expensive. Furthermore, it is not readily apparent how the individual inks of a complete ink set consisting of at least three different ink colors can or should be prepared, or whether or how it is possible to guarantee good lightfastness and relatively uniform color constancy even with mixed colors.
In addition, there are known pigment inks with a relatively high lightfastness on the market, but they sediment readily and do not have a long shelf life and they also frequently cause blockage of extremely fine capillaries and nozzles of the reservoirs and/or printing wicks or ink jet heads. Such pigment inks have previously been considered the most lightfast inks of all, and it seemed practically impossible or extremely difficult to obtain comparable good values with dyestuff inks.

Water-based inks and ink sets and use thereof


An apparatus for heating food is provided which is comprised of a heat distributing device, a base upon which the device rests, a heat source underneath the device, and a lid resting on the base and covering the device. The device is comprised of a heat conductive element presenting a surface for receiving food and a heat distributing concave shield coupled to the element and defining an air cavity under a substantial portion of the element. This apparatus may be used to keep food warm, moist, and/or crisp for hours.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for heating food. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus that evenly and efficiently heats food through the use of a low cost heat source such as a candle or the like.
Once food is taken out of the oven or off the stove, it is desirable to keep it warm throughout a meal, party or other event where the food is eaten gradually over a period of time. While hot foods may be served on plates or platters, they quickly lose heat when sitting at room temperature. In addition, foods which are set out in the open tend to dry out. Furthermore, if the food remaining on the plate or platter is reheated in a microwave, it becomes soggy and has an undesirable texture.
An electric skillet may be used to keep food warm throughout a meal, party or other event. However, food may be overcooked and even burned if left in an electric skillet. Furthermore, since an electric skillet requires an electrical outlet, it is only somewhat portable. In addition, one may trip on its cord causing it to be knocked off a table or other surface.
Commercial buffets have used metal serving dishes placed over a canned fuel source such as is marketed under the trade name STERNO. However, such a device does not insure even heating throughout the metal dish without stirring. Furthermore, the metal lids on these serving dishes are hot and thus are usually left open. Commercial buffets have also used chafing dishes which try to insure even heating through the use of a heated water pan placed underneath a metal dish containing food. These water pans are difficult to set up and further often create spillage, splattering and sanitation problems.
Other devices have also been suggested which use air flow to distribute heat throughout the flat bottom of a warming surface. However, much of the heat in such devices is wasted because it dissipates into the surrounding air.
An apparatus is needed which is able to evenly and effectively heat food. Further, a fully portable apparatus not dependent on an electrical power source is needed which can be placed safely on any table top. Still further, an apparatus is needed which is able to keep food warm without burning it or causing hot spots and which utilizes an efficient and economical heat source.


An optical transmitter module includes light-emitting devices with coaxial type packaging. Coplanar anode and cathode electrodes of one light-emitting device are mounted on a substrate so that heat generated from the light-emitting device can be effectively dissipated through the substrate. Furthermore, the direct electric connection between the light-emitting device and the substrate eliminates the requirement of wire boding for electric connection, increasing the performance of the optical transmitter module in high speed signal operation.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an optical transmitter module. In particular, the invention relates to an optical transmitter module constructed with coaxial type packaging.
2. Related Art
The optical communication industry has rapidly progressed to meet the demand of high-speed communication. A high-speed transmission system based on an optical-fiber requires a high-quality transceiver module. Techniques for optical transceiver module including high-speed devices technique, optical sub-modules technique, alignment technique and packaging technique. In the present state of the art, an optical sub-module is conventionally constructed with so-called coaxial type packaging, e.g. TO-CAN (transistor outline can) packaging.
Recently, the signal-processing speed of the optical sub-module has become increasingly higher. Because electrical connection in the convention TO-CAN packaging devices is achieved by wire bonding. The signal transmission speed in the conventional coaxial type or TO-CAN packaging device is usually limited to 2.5 Gbps. When the signal transmitting speed is up to 10 Gbps or higher, the coaxial type packaging device cannot efficiently work due to parasitic inductance of wire bonding and capacitance of package in high-frequency operation. The higher the signal transmitting speed, the more serious is the degradation of the signal quality, due to parasitic inductance, and capacitance of package and poor heat dissipation. Therefore, the reduction of parasitic inductance, and capacitance of package and better heat dissipation are critical to the future of coaxial type packaging products.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2002/0141142 discloses a coaxial type packaging, e.g. TO-CAN packaging device, that reduces the parasitic effects by adding a capacitor. However, the device is still need wire bonding, which also has the same prior problem in high speed signal transmission up to 10 Gpbs.
EP Patent No. 1267459 teaches mounting a light-emitting device on a large heat sink. The direct contact of the device with the heat sink increases the heat dissipation. Furthermore, conductive traces are formed on the heat sink to increase high-frequency features. However, forming traces on an edge of the heat sink is very difficult, and the electrical connection of the light-emitting device is still achieved by wire bonding, which adversely affects the yield and high-speed signal transmission.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


Generating a computer model to display a position of a person in a defined location is disclosed. A method includes the operation of selecting a substantially overhead image of a defined location having spatial coordinates. A perimeter of the defined location is marked using a graphical user interface. The marked perimeter is related to the spatial coordinates of the defined location. A computer model of the defined location is generated based on the marked perimeter. Multiple levels can be added to the computer model. Spatial coordinates of the person can be determined. The position of the person can be displayed relative to the computer model of the defined location based on the spatial coordinates of the person relative to the spatial coordinates of the defined location.

The ability to accurately track and locate personnel can be critical to a mission's success or failure. Mission commanders leading an emergency response team are often limited in their ability to determine where critical assets are located, including human assets that have been dispatched into the field. Certain technologies have been developed that can enable tracking of assets. Tracking can be achieved through the use of continuous radio frequency communications, such as global positioning satellite (GPS) systems, or other types of radio frequency triangulation systems.
In situations where radio frequency reception may be spotty, or non-existent, the radio frequency tracking of human assets can be supplemented by deduced reckoning techniques that can be used to provide substantially accurate positional information to enable mission commanders to make more informed decisions in time critical situations.
However, even the most accurate tracking technologies are of little use without the ability to display a location of the assets in the field. In certain situations, displaying a location of assets may be reasonably straight forward. For example, when a three dimensional computer model of a building has been previously designed, the model can be used to show a location of the assets within the building. At some point in the future, first responders such as police and firemen may have accurate three dimensional computer models of most buildings in their coverage area. However, at the present time, the existence of such pre-existing three dimensional computer models for most buildings in a city is sporadic at best. This lack of pre-existing three dimensional computer models can diminish the effectiveness of the use of tracking technologies for first responders.
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.

System and method for generating a computer model to display a position of a person


A method and system are disclosed for reporting incidents occurring during operation of a distributed computing environment including a multitude of hardware and software resources. The method comprises the steps of whenever a defined incident occurs, generating a respective one incident report; and keeping with each incident report, selected information relating to the incident. Preferably, this information that is kept with the incident report identifies (i) selected resources associated with the defined incident, and status of said selected resources at the time of the defined incident, (ii) dependencies among said selected resources at the time of the defined incident, and (iii) service level agreements and operating level agreements impacted by the defined incident.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to distributed or enterprise computing systems, and more particularly, to incident reporting in such systems.
2. Background Art
The data processing resources of business organizations are increasingly taking the form of a distributed computing environment in which data and processing are dispersed over a network comprising many interconnected, heterogeneous, geographically remote computers. Such a computing environment is commonly referred to as an enterprise computing environment, or simply an enterprise. Managers of the enterprise often employ software packages known as enterprise management systems to monitor, analyze, and manage the resources of the enterprise. Enterprise management systems may provide for the collection of measurements, or metrics, concerning the resources of individual systems.
In enterprise systems, various types of reports are commonly generated. For example, some reports may be generated at regular intervals, such as daily or weekly, to record activities and use of resources of the enterprise. Other reports may be generated when certain specified or defined incidents or events occur. Such reports, referred to as incident reports or incidents, may be generated when certain changes are requested or made or when error or fault or other types of conditions are detected that require the attention of an administrator or that, for other reasons, need to be recorded. These incident reports may be created, for example, by a service desk that services or administers the enterprise, or in a change management database (CMDB).
Incident Reports created in Service Desks or Change Management Databases (CMDB) lack critical pieces of information. This information that is lacking includes the resource dependencies identified as potential causes of the incident, and the status that the monitoring sources were reporting for those resources at the time the incident was created, the business services, applications or processes that depend upon those resources and SLA or OLA information associated with the resources, services, applications or processes. Without this information, the incident report is not able to accurately provide a snapshot of what was occurring in the enterprise when the incident report was created. This information is extremely valuable when attempting to resolve the incident (at a point in time that is after the incident was created and things in the enterprise may have changed) and in the ITIL Problem Management process when performing root cause analysis.

Storing dependency and status information with incidents

International Business Machines Corporation


A suction cup for engaging and lifting an object is disclosed, comprising a lip, a bellows, and an upper portion sealingly connected to the bellows for connecting an inner volume of the suction cup to a source of vacuum, which cup, in an operative state, is capable of being locked in an at least partly compressed state of the lip and/or bellows. Locking is accomplished by air entrapped in a sealed exterior volume formed between the lip and bellows and/or between one or more segments of the bellows in an operative state being evacuated through one or more through open holes provided in the lip and/or bellows when vacuum is connected to the suction cup. A corresponding lip and a corresponding bellows for use in the suction cup are also disclosed.

Suction cups are frequently used in automated industry for engaging and lifting various objects by means of using a reduced pressure in the suction cup. A suction cup may also be referred to as a vacuum pad. Conventionally used suction cups may also comprise a bellows, such as e.g. for enhanced compressibility and flexibility of the suction cup.
Many suction cups tend to lose their stability and friction when lifting objects at about ⅓ of their maximum load limit. Some cups, for example friction cups, heavily depend on being fully compressed to maximize their friction. A friction cup may typically include a hub which is rigidly connected to the upper attachment portion of the cup. If the hub of a friction cup loses contact with the object, a major source of friction and stability is lost. Since the hub can be considered as almost rigid, if the upper portion of the cup is displaced upwards from the original actuated position in relation to the object to be lifted, the contact between hub and object may be lost. In this state the cup is less stable, and also produces significantly less friction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,229 discloses a vacuum cup having a convoluted bellows, which cup is stated to have increased holding force without increasing the overall size of the cup or level of vacuum, as compared to suction cups of the prior art as shown in FIGS. 1, and 2 therein. The suction cup disclosed therein is provided with an annular volume extending from the main cavity of the cup over the bellows when in the collapsed operative state. Adjacent external surfaces of the bellows convolutes are provided with complementary ridges and grooves which interlock when the bellows is in the collapsed operative state. The cup may also include means for reducing slipping. In the collapsed operative state the vacuum cup disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,229 will however be fully compressed, as can be seen from FIG. 4 therein, and will consequently be very rigid. Also, the vacuum cup disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,229 requires for its function a workpiece stop member (also referred to as a hub in the art). When high forces are exerted by the stop member on workpiece surface, marking or indentations may result from the hub.

Compressible suction cup having additional vacuum compartment, as well as lip, and bellows therefor


A CLB-based PLD with logic cells having improved logic, register, arithmetic, logic packing and timing functions and capabilities is disclosed. The CLBs of the PLD are arranged in rows and columns of an array and are interconnect by a plurality of interconnect lines. Each of the plurality of CLBs has a first slice of logic cells and a second slice of logic cells arranged in a first column and a second column. First and second carry chains are provided between each of the logic cells of each column. At least one of the logic cells includes one or more Look Up Tables for implanting logic functions on a set of inputs provided to the one logic cell and an arithmetic logic circuit configured to receive a carry-in signal and to generate a carry-out signal forming part of the first carry chain. In one embodiment, the logic cell further includes a first output register and a second output register and the set of outputs generated by the logic cell are partitioned among the first output register and the second output register. In another embodiment, an output of one of the registers is provided as an input to one of the Look Up Tables of the cell through a register feedback connection. In yet another embodiment, the set of inputs provided to a first and a second of the Look Up Tables are different, enabling a higher degree of logic efficiency or “packing” by enabling each cell to perform logic functions on two different sets of inputs as opposed to only the same set of inputs. Finally, in another embodiment, the arithmetic logic circuit is capable of generating two SUM output signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to Complex Logic Block (CLB) based Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), and more particularly, CLBs including a plurality of slices, each having one or more logic cells with improved logic, register, arithmetic, logic packing and timing functions and capabilities.
2. Description of Related Art
A Programmable Logic Device (PLD) is a semiconductor integrated circuit that contains fixed logic circuitry that can be programmed to perform a host of logic functions. In the semiconductor industry, PLDs are becoming increasingly popular for a number of reasons. Due to the advances of chip manufacturing technology, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) designs have become incredibly complex. This complexity not only adds to design costs, but also the duration of time needed to develop an application specific design. To compound this problem, product life cycles are shrinking rapidly. As a result, it is often not feasible for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to design and use ASICs. OEMs are therefore relying more and more on PLDs. The same advances in fabrication technology have also resulted in PLDs with improved density and speed performance. Sophisticated programming software enables complex logic functions to be rapidly developed for PLDs. Furthermore, logic designs generally can also be easily migrated from one generation of PLDs to the next, further reducing product development times. The closing of the price-performance gap with ASICs and reduced product development times makes the use of PLDs compelling for many OEMs.
The architecture of most PLDs defines a two-dimensional array of logic blocks. Row and column inter-logic block lines, typically of varying length and speed, provide signal and clock interconnects between the blocks of logic in the array. In one type of commercially available PLD, the blocks of logic are referred to as Complex Logic Blocks or CLBs. Each CLB includes a pair of slices. The two slices in each CLB do not have direct connections with one another and are organized in different columns. The slices in each column, however, are connected to the slices of the above and below CLBs, creating independent carry chains. For example, the slices in the first and second columns each receive a carry in (Cin) signal from the previous CLB and generate a carry out signal provided to the next CLB respectively.
Each slice typically includes four logic cells (hereafter simply referred to as "cells"). Each cell includes a 6-input logic function generator, typically referred to as a Look Up Table (LUT), arithmetic circuitry for receiving and generating Cin and Cout carry signals, an output register for generating a registered output, a non-registered output, and storage elements for performing ROM functions. The LUT can be configured as either a single 6-input LUT, or two five input LUTs, both receiving the same set of inputs (e.g., A1-A5).
For more details on CLB based PLDs having slices, see for example the "Virtex-5 User Guide", UG190 (v3.0), Feb. 2, 2007, published by Xilinx Corporation, San Jose, Calif., pages 155-181, incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
The problem with the aforementioned cells is its lack of flexibility and limitations in performing logic, various register, arithmetic functions and a lack of flexibility for efficiently packing logic functions into the cell.
A PLD with CLBs defining slices having one or more logic cells with improved logic, register, arithmetic, logic packing and timing functions and capabilities is therefore needed.

Programmable logic device having complex logic blocks with improved logic cell functionality


A photovoltaic power station includes, for example, a plurality of solar panels at a first location, the plurality of solar panels operable to provide a maximum power output, a controller operable to supply, from the plurality of solar panels, a predetermined power output less than the maximum power output to an electrical grid, and wherein the photovoltaic power station is operable to maintain, from the plurality of solar panels, a reserve power output to provide the reserve power output to the electrical grid, the reserve power output being the difference between the maximum power output and the predetermined power output.

A multi-filter rotating shadowband radiometer is a sun photometer that collects sky radiation through a diffuser, and uses a rotating shadowband to separately measure the global and diffuse components of the radiative field. The direct component is derived as the difference between the two measurements.
Images of the sky, commonly referred to as "sky images," are employed in diverse applications. For example, astronomers utilize sky images for analyzing cosmic movements and meteorological departments use these images to predict local weather conditions. In one application, sky images may be utilized to observe the sun and clouds and to predict cloud cover, cloud movement over a given period, and solar radiation received at a particular location over a given time period. Determination of such cloud characteristics and solar irradiance may be employed in solar plants (employing solar panels or photovoltaic power grids) to ascertain or predict power output of the solar PV panel array for particular time intervals and to control the solar power output for the grid based on cloud movement.
A photovoltaic power station is a large-scale photovoltaic system designed for the supply of merchant power into an electricity grid. A grid-connected home solar electric or PV system receives back-up power from a utility's grid when the PV system is not producing enough power. When the system produces excess power, the utility is required to purchase the power through a metering and rate arrangement. Solar panels of photovoltaic power stations may be disposed in a fixed tilt or fixed or use a single axis or dual axis solar tracker. Solar panels for grid-connected home PV systems are typically disposed in a fixed orientation.
Solar panels produce direct current (DC) electricity, which is typically converted by an inverter to alternating current (AC) which is necessary for transmission across power grids. To maximize efficiency, maximum power point trackers, either within the inverters or as separate units are employed to keep the system close to its peak power point or peak power output by periodically adjusting the tilt of the solar panels. There are many kinds of MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracker) products in the market, some of them are independent MPPT, and some of them are integrated into the solar inverters. However, the products work in MPPT mode, making the PV array output maximum solar power.

Photovoltaic system power output control with retained reserve power output

THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK


A method of controlling a current of a three-phase electric motor with a three-phase controller. The firing angles are adjusted so as to leave a range of firing angles in which DC components appear.

Starter devices for electric motors, such as asynchronous motors, comprising semi-conductor elements have been used for some time. By controlling the voltage applied to the motor in one, two, or three of the phases a reduction of the torque and current provided to the motor is achieved during start and stop operation. The phase gating or firing angle is used as a measure of the amount of energy supplied to the motor. Current half-cycles of alternate polarity flow through the load which is connected to the output of the three-phase controller with there being a time interval during which no current flows and which is determined by the phase gating between each two successive current half-cycles.
Three-phase controllers are normally provided with three pairs of semi-conductor elements, such as thyristors, which are connected back-to-back in parallel, so called anti-parallel configuration. Since the thyristors become the cost-determining factor, three-phase controllers having only two pairs of thyristors are also used. In these so-called two-phase three-phase controllers, the remaining third phase is in the form of a conductor, which cannot be switched.
However, when the control is limited to only two of the three phases, unwanted effects in the form of for example a DC component in the motor current appear. During start up operation a smooth and gradually increased torque is desired but this DC component appearing during start up sometimes creates a retarding or oscillating torque. This can be both disturbing and damaging to the controller system, the electric motor, and to the motor driven load.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,930,459 B2 discloses a method for reducing the influence of a DC current component in the load current of an asynchronous motor by applying two different control methods. It has proven to be difficult to entirely remove the DC component by applying control methods since the control point is unstable and the DC current appears momentarily.