A communication control apparatus which includes a CRC circuit for performing a CRC calculation of the currently received cell data using an initial value "0" simultaneously with start of reception of data, and a CRC correction circuit for calculating a CRC correction value by performing a specific calculation of a CRC intermediate value in management data read out from a management data memory. Also included is an XOR circuit for XORing the CRC calculation result obtained by the CRC circuit and the correction value obtained by the CRC correction circuit which obtains a correct CRC intermediate value upon receiving data for one cell. The CRC calculation is started substantially simultaneously with the start of a reception of cell data, and is completed simultaneously with the end of reception, thus allowing easy read and write control of management data.

The present invention relates to a communication control apparatus for the ATM adaptation layer (AAL layer) in ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) communications and, more particularly, to a communication control apparatus for performing a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) calculation used in AAL type 5 (to be referred to as AAL5 hereinafter).
In ATM communications, the size of communication data is defined by a 53-byte long format called an ATM cell. As shown in FIG. 7, the ATM cell consists of a 5-byte ATM header including a VPI (virtual path identifier) and a VCI (virtual channel identifier), and a 48-byte payload (communication data). The advantage of this system is that since the unit of data transfer has a fixed length, switching in a cell switch that constitutes a communication network can be implemented in hardware and, hence, a very high communication speed is viable.
The protocol layers used in ATM communications have a hierarchical structure, as shown in FIG. 8. Note that an ATM layer is a layer for transferring the above-mentioned 53-byte long cell, and an AAL layer is a layer for segmentation and reassembly of variable-length communication data (called a frame) to be processed in higher layers.
Some types of AAL layers have been defined and, especially, AAL5 is important for a communication means between computers.
FIG. 9 shows the structural format of a frame (CPCS-PDU) used in AAL5.
Referring to FIG. 9, 4 bytes at the end of the frame are a check code for detecting errors, and a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) code is used.
In error detection, the absence of errors can be determined when mod-2 divisions using a generation polynomial (G(x)) are made from the first data of the frame, and the CRC result yields a specific value (V(x)). ##EQU1##
Since the frame with the above-mentioned structure is divided into ATM cells to be transferred discretely, it is difficult to simultaneously perform a CRC calculation for the entire communication data. In view of this problem, in the conventional method, each time an incoming cell is received, a CRC calculation is performed and the intermediate result is held. When the subsequent arriving cell is received, a CRC calculation is restarted from the intermediate value obtained so far.
The basic principle of error detection based on the CRC calculation will be explained below.
The CRC calculation uses mod-2 cyclic codes.
An information polynomial I(x) of degree n is given by: EQU I(x)=I.sub.0 +I.sub.1 x.sup.1 +I.sub.2 x.sup.2 +. . . +I.sub.n-1 x.sup.n-1( 2)
A generation polynomial G(x) of degree m is given by: EQU G(x)=G.sup.0 +G.sub.1 x.sup.1 +G.sub.2 x.sup.2 +. . . +G.sub.m-1 x.sup.m-1( 3)
The information polynomial I(x) is multiplied with x.sup.m, and the product is divided by G(x). Let Q(x) be the quotient, and R(x) be the remainder. Then, we have: EQU I(x)x.sup.m =Q(x)G(x)+R(x) (4)
Communication data A(x) is sent as: EQU A(x)=R(x)+I(x)x.sup.m ( 5)
In this case, since equation (6) below holds, A(x) can be divided by G(x) at the receiving side: ##EQU2## When some error has been generated in the communication data A(x), the data A(x) cannot be divided by G(x). Hence, the receiving side can detect the presence/absence of errors by determining whether or not A(x) can be divided by G(x).
In a CRC arithmetic circuit used in AAL5, it is defined that the initial value of an F/F (flip-flop) that constitutes the circuit is set to be all "1"s, and hence, CRC checking is attained by checking whether or not the calculation result is concordant with V(x) above.
The cell reassembly processing will be briefly explained below.
In reassembly processing of ATM cells upon reception of these cells, a management table shown in FIG. 10 is used to support a plurality of communication lines and to manage the intermediate state during reassembly of a frame.
The management table shown in FIG. 10 stores a reassembly status variable that indicates a state before start, a state during reassembly, disposal processing, and the like, and also stores frame length data that indicates the data length of already received data associated with ATM cells received so far, the start and end addresses of received data, the intermediate value of the CRC calculation, and the like.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a conventional AAL communication control apparatus, and FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing the operation timings of the apparatus shown in FIG. 11.
Referring to FIG. 11, the communication control apparatus comprises a cell reception unit 101 for receiving cells, a frame reassembly unit 102 for reassembling a frame using cells received by the cell reception unit 101, a data holding circuit 103 for holding data of cells received by the cell reception unit 101, a CRC circuit 104 for calculating the CRC value of the currently received cell on the basis of data held in the data holding circuit 103 and the CRC intermediate value of cells received so far, a checking circuit 105 for checking the received data for any errors on the basis of the CRC value calculated by the CRC circuit 104, and a memory interface 107 for interfacing with a management data memory 106 which stores the above-mentioned management data.
In this arrangement, when an ATM cell is received by the cell reception unit 101, a VPI and VCI stored in the ATM header are supplied to the memory interface 107 to specify a management table of the corresponding VC (Virtual Channel), and the specified management data are read out from the management data memory 106 that holds VC management data.
The frame reassembly unit 102 checks the reassembly status variable, and if the reassembly status variable indicates a state before start, frame management control data is initialized, and a value indicating the state during reassembly is set in the reassembly status variable. Received data is stored in the internal data memory (not shown) of the communication control apparatus, and its start and end addresses are written back to the management data memory 106 via the memory interface 107.
Since the first cell of the frame has been received, the CRC circuit 104 is set with a prescribed value (data of all bits="1"), and performs a CRC calculation for data of the currently received cell.
Note that a considerable amount of time is required until the VPI and VCI are supplied to the memory interface 107 and the reassembly status variable is confirmed, and a CRC calculation cannot be started before then. For this reason, the received data is temporarily stored in the data holding circuit 103. Upon completion of reception of the cell, the intermediate value of the CRC calculation is written back to the management data memory 106 via the memory interface 107.
When this VC receives the subsequent incoming ATM cell, since the reassembly status variable indicates the state during reassembly, the payload of this ATM cell is added to the end of the frame indicated by the end address, and the end address and the frame length are updated. The CRC calculation is performed for the currently received data using the value read out from the management data memory 106 as an initial value, and the calculation result is written back to the management data memory 106 upon completion of reception.
If the received ATM cell is normal and indicates the end of the frame, the calculation result is checked by the checking circuit 105 when the CRC calculation up to data at the end of the cell is completed, and if the calculation result is in agreement with V(x) above, the absence of errors is determined, thus ending the reassembly processing of the frame. Then, the entire frame is transferred to a higher layer.
Note that information indicating the end of the frame used in the AAL layer is stored in a portion of the ATM header, but a detailed description of its detailed structure will be omitted for the sake of simplicity.
As the state-of-the-art technique associated with the CRC calculation, the following inventions are known. That is, in the invention of a CRC code confirmation method and apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-15354, a partial CRC code is generated using a predetermined initial setting value in units of subblocks received by a transmission apparatus that transmits a data block while dividing it into subblocks, a CRC code for the entire data block is reassembled using partial CRC codes, and the reassembled CRC code is confirmed. In the invention of a cell synchronization circuit described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-98346, XOR (exclusive OR) circuit networks that perform partial CRC calculations are cascade-connected via latch circuits to realize a CRC calculation in a pipeline manner. In the invention of a CRC arithmetic method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-85923, ROM tables that store CRC calculation results in units of divided data sequences are arranged in correspondence with data sequences obtained by dividing an input data sequence, and the outputs from the ROM tables are XORed to calculate a CRC calculation result for the input data sequence. Furthermore, in the invention described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-53942, CRC codes in units of cells are calculated and are sent via special-purpose control wires to check CRC codes in units of cells.
As described above, the AAL layer must perform retrieval of the management table address using the VPI and VCI, and reading and updating of the table contents every time an ATM cell is received. In particular, the CRC calculation cannot be started for the currently received cell data until the CRC intermediate value is read out from the management table in the management data memory and is set in the CRC circuit, resulting in the following drawbacks.
(1) A large number of data holding circuits 103 (registers) for temporarily holding received data are required. For example, when data is input as an 8-bit parallel signal, and loading of management data is delayed by five clocks, data for 40 bits must be stored.
(2) Since the timing of the CRC calculation is delayed, the CRC calculation cannot be completed at the same timing as the end of reception of cells. Normally, the calculation continues after reception of the subsequent cell is started.
(3) Since the end timing of the CRC calculation is delayed, the write operation to the management data memory is delayed accordingly, and the determination timing of the end of frame reassembly is also delayed.
(4) When ATM cells that belong to an identical VC are successively received, management data for the subsequent cell must be immediately loaded. Meanwhile, since the write operation of management data for the previous cell is delayed, the updating and look-up operations of management data replace each other, thus disturbing proper accesses.

Communication control apparatus in ATM communication


A shock mounting system for affixing a motor driven pump, a plurality of hydraulic valves and accumulators, and motion sensing devices to a vehicle to minimize the transmission of noises to the hydraulic unit and the vehicle. Each mounting point comprising a mounting stud fixed to the vehicle, a hole in the hydraulic unit, a resilient bushing received in the hole, and a plurality of cylindrical segments having outer surfaces contacting the bushing and inner surfaces contacting the stud. Each stud urges the corresponding segments radially outwardly into compressing engagement with an inner surface of the resilient bushing. Each segment includes a retaining rim and each mounting stud includes a corresponding retaining ledge which, upon adequate penetration of the stud into the bushing, allow the segments to collapse under the urging of the resilient bushing radially inwardly inter-engaging the rim and ledges to hold the stud within the bushing.

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for mounting components such as hydraulic units within vehicles and more particularly to a vibration transmitting isolator and technique for toollessly mounting a hydraulic unit in a vehicle.
There is a trend in the automotive industry to assemble individual components into a functional unit and then mount that unit in the vehicle. For example, motor driven fluid pumps, accumulators, valving and various sensors may be integrated into a vehicle braking unit. It is necessary that the hydraulic unit is not rigidly attached to the vehicle chassis in order to protect the hydraulic unit and its electronics from shocks and vibrations normally experienced by the vehicle. Additionally in the normal operation of the pump and motor system of the hydraulic unit pulsations are created which must be damped from the chassis to avoid excessive vehicle noise. One problem to be solved is finding a shock mounting packaging arrangement that reduces forces needed for hand assembly processes so they are reasonable for the customer. The package must satisfactorily cushion and retain the hydraulic unit in consideration of life of the vehicle and anticipated vibrational and shock excitation in an environment where corrosive substances and temperature extremes may be encountered. Several braking unit mounting techniques have been used such as in a current packaging concept which involves a sheet metal bracket that holds an automotive component (in this example ABS hydraulic unit) requires isolation to protect the component from vehicle vibration and reduce introduction of vehicle noise from the component. Shock mounting may be achieved by resilient washers interposed between mounting bolts and the vehicle framework, or by integrated resilient dampers pressed into the hydraulic unit housing which support bolts or threaded studs extending from the housing. With this concept, significant customer concern has been expressed at the high press in forces required to assemble hydraulic units into the bracket and there are often customer complaints regarding those high press-in forces as well as ongoing quality problems regarding torquing fasteners supplied as part of component. In one case, because of hydraulic unit geometry such as location of the electronic control unit (ECU) connector, this stamped geometry has small ears which are easily deformed causing quality problems at customer as well as additional preventative costs at bracket suppliers. By eliminating a sheet metal interface to the hydraulic unit and replacing it with more robust studs, this problem could be eliminated. In another case, integrated dampers have the problem that they do not significantly resist rotation about pin axes. This means that the isolator in the hydraulic unit housing begins to turn before a sufficient hold torque can be reached when torquing the nuts during customer assembly. By eliminating the thread and fastener this problem could be eliminated. Often, the distance of the hydraulic unit center of gravity from customer connection points has created a cantilevered mass which amplifies vibrations and causes isolator wear. This creates additional effort in finding adjustments to this packaging technique so that components meet endurance requirement
It is desirable to provide a packaging concept for antilock braking systems, traction control systems or electronic stability program (ABS/TCS/ESP) hydraulic unit connection to a vehicle which provides for ease of customer assembly while robustly retaining and isolating hydraulic unit throughout expected vehicle life.

Manual assembly to ABS/TCS/ESP hydraulic units


In a hard disk drive, the leading end portion of a main FPC is fixed to the bearing assembly of a carriage assembly. A plurality of connection pads are formed on the leading end portion in sets corresponding to the number of magnetic heads. The connection pads of each set are arranged in a straight line at predetermined intervals. The connecting end portion of a head FPC fixed to the surfaces of each arm and each suspension of the carriage assembly has a plurality of second electrodes pads. These second electrode pads have the same arrangement as that of the connection pads of a corresponding set. The second electrode pads are stacked and soldered on the connection pads of the corresponding sets.

The present invention relates to a magnetic disk apparatus having a plurality of magnetic heads.
In recent years, magnetic disk apparatuses have been widely used as memories for storing information in large quantities in computers such as personal computers, laptop computers, and notebook computers.
A magnetic disk apparatus of this type generally comprises a plurality of magnetic disks stacked inside, magnetic head assemblies having a plurality of magnetic heads for recording/reproducing information on/from the magnetic disks, a carriage for movably supporting the magnetic head assemblies with respect to the magnetic disks, and a voice coil motor for moving the magnetic heads to desired track positions on the magnetic disks by rotating the carriage.
The plurality of magnetic disks are fixed to the hub of a spindle motor and coaxially supported thereon at predetermined intervals in a stacked state. The magnetic disks are rotated at a predetermined speed by driving the spindle motor.
The magnetic head assemblies having the magnetic heads are provided in pairs for the respective magnetic disks. Each pair of assemblies are positioned to oppose the upper and lower surfaces of a corresponding magnetic disk. For example, in a magnetic disk apparatus having two magnetic disks, four magnetic head assemblies are arranged.
Each magnetic head assembly includes a slider, on which a magnetic head is formed, and a suspension for exerting a predetermined load on the magnetic head. The carriage includes a bearing assembly and a plurality of arms extending from the bearing assembly. The magnetic head assemblies are fixed to the corresponding arms.
In addition, the magnetic disk apparatus includes a circuit board for processing signals for the magnetic heads. This circuit board is electrically connected to the plurality of magnetic heads with the following arrangement.
A flexible printed circuit board (to be referred to as an FPC hereinafter) extends from the circuit board. The leading end portion of the FPC is fixed to the bearing assembly of the carriage. Many connection pads are formed on the leading end portion of the FPC.
For example, two lead lines extend from each magnetic head. These lead lines extend to a portion near the bearing assembly along the suspension and the arm. The distal ends of the lead lines are soldered to the connection pads of the FPC one by one.
As personal computers and the like equipped with magnetic disk apparatuses have recently become smaller in size and higher in performance, the demand for smaller magnetic disk apparatuses having larger capacities has grown year by year. In order to increase the capacity of a magnetic disk apparatus, the number of magnetic heads and the number of magnetic disks may be increased. Alternatively, high performance magnetic heads and high performance magnetic disks may be used.
On the other hand, as the demand for smaller magnetic disk apparatuses has grown, the packing density of the components of the apparatuses has increased, resulting in a deterioration in manufacturing efficiency. Problems are posed especially in association with the connection between the lead lines of magnetic heads and the circuit board.
That is, if the number of magnetic heads and the number of magnetic disks are increased to attain an increase in capacity, the number of head lead lines increases. Similarly, if high performance magnetic heads are used, since three or four head lead lines are required for each magnetic head, the total number of head lead lines increases. Accordingly, the number of connection pads of an FPC which extend from a circuit board must be increased.
Owing to the demands for a reduction in size, it is difficult to increase the area of the FPC. When the number of connection pads is to be increased, the area of each connection pad and the intervals between the pads must be decreased.
In the above conventional magnetic disk apparatus, however, each head lead line is soldered to a corresponding connection pad of the FPC which extends from the circuit board, and the operation of connecting each lead line to a corresponding connection pad becomes cumbersome with reductions in the area of each connection pad and the intervals between the pads. In addition, only experts can handle such a painstaking job. For this reason, the assembly efficiency for magnetic disk apparatuses deteriorates, and connection faults may be caused by errors such as connection point errors.


A system transfers radio frequency energy from a radio frequency power amplifier (RFPA) to a slab laser. The system includes a connector, a printed circuit board, a conductive plate and a first inductor element. The connector is configured to receive a radio frequency power from the RFPA. The printed circuit board has at least one conductive pad etched on the printed circuit board. One of the conductive pads is electrically connected to the connector. The conductive plate is attached beneath the printed circuit board. The first inductor is electrically connected to the connector and electrically connected to a first electrode or top slab of the slab laser.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a system and method for transferring radio frequency energy from a radio frequency power supply to a slab type gas laser.
2. Prior Art
Slab type gas lasers, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers, are used for industrial purposes and have developed into lightweight and economical devices for performing various industrial cutting, engraving and similar operations. Metal plates or slabs are utilized as electrodes having a large contact area and forming a chamber between the plates. Typically, cooling is provided within the slabs, such as a water cooling system, to prevent overheating of the laser.
Such a laser typically has a radio frequency power amplifier (RFPA) to provide radio frequency (RF) power to the slabs of the laser. The RF energy creates plasma in the chamber formed between the slabs. Typically, the impedance of the plasma between the slabs and the impedance of the RFPA are not the same. The difference in impedance between the plasma and the RFPA causes a significant loss of power transfer from the RFPA to the laser. This also increases accumulation of heat not only in a laser but in the entire RF circuit system of the laser.
To reduce the problem of energy loss and maximize the power transfer in RF circuits, several systems have been introduced to perform impedance matching between the RFPA and the electrodes of a laser. Combinations of transformers, resistors, inductors, capacitors and transmission lines have been typically used for impedance matching in RF circuits including slab type gas lasers. Although such systems may prevent some of the problems related to power loss and overheating, the systems have not been satisfactory and still have several drawbacks. For example, typical impedance matching systems are placed remotely from laser assemblies and thus require transmission lines or cables to connect the impedance matching systems to the laser assemblies, which cause additional power loss and overheating. Moreover, such systems employ high voltage capacitors, which are expensive and require additional cooling; thereby adding unwanted cost to the manufacturing of lasers.
It can be seen that a new and improved system for matching impedance between a RFPA and a slab type gas laser is required. Such a system should provide a simple and inexpensive adjustable configuration for impedance matching to reduce energy loss and maximize power transfer between a RFPA and electrodes of a slab type gas laser. Moreover, such a system should allow efficient dissipation of heat generated in the system so as to eliminate the necessity of a cooling device in the system. The present invention addresses these as well as other problems associated with impedance matching systems for gas slab lasers.

Impedance matching system for slab type lasers


Aspects of the present disclosure provide a system for measuring an object, the system including a plurality of frame segments. The frame segments are configured to mechanically couple together to form a frame. The plurality of frame segments includes a plurality of measurement device link segments and each of the plurality of measurement device link segments includes a measurement device which together form a plurality of measurement devices having a field of view within or adjacent to the frame. Each of the plurality of measurement devices is operable to measure three-dimensional (3D) coordinates for a plurality of points on the object. The system further includes a computing device to receive data from the plurality of measurement devices via a network established by the plurality of measurement device link segments.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a modular inspection system for measuring an object.
Triangulation scanners generally include at least one projector and at least one camera, the projector and camera separated by a baseline distance. Such scanners use a triangulation calculation to determine 3D coordinates of points on an object based at least in part on the projected pattern of light and the captured camera image. One category of triangulation scanner, referred to herein as a single-shot scanner, obtains 3D coordinates of the object points based on a single projected pattern of light. Another category of triangulation scanner, referred to herein as a sequential scanner, obtains 3D coordinates of the object points based on a sequence of projected patterns from a stationary projector onto the object.
In the case of a single-shot triangulation scanner, the triangulation calculation is based at least in part on a determined correspondence among elements in each of two patterns. The two patterns may include a pattern projected by the projector and a pattern captured by the camera. Alternatively, the two patterns may include a first pattern captured by a first camera and a second pattern captured by a second camera. In either case, the determination of 3D coordinates by the triangulation calculation provides that a correspondence be determined between pattern elements in each of the two patterns. In most cases, the correspondence is obtained by matching pattern elements in the projected or captured pattern. An alternative approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,599,455 ('455) to Heidemann, et al., the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. In this approach, the correspondence is determined, not by matching pattern elements, but by identifying spots at the intersection of epipolar lines from two cameras and a projector or from two projectors and a camera. In an embodiment, supplementary 2D camera images may further be used to register multiple collected point clouds together in a common frame of reference. For the system described in Patent '455, the three camera and projector elements are arranged in a triangle, which enables the intersection of the epipolar lines.

Modular inspection system for measuring an object


A transmission unit, especially a multirange transmission, includes two superposition gears that are embodied as triple-shaft planetary gears, a continuously variable transmission in the form of a traction gear, and a way for controlling the transmission ratio on the traction gear. The individual superposition gears and the continuously variable transmission are coupled to each other via one respective connecting gear. The second shaft of the first superposition gear and a shaft of the second superposition gear can be alternatively joined to the gear output via a shiftable clutch. The second shaft of the first superposition gear can be connected in a torsion-proof manner to the third shaft of the second superposition gear. The first shaft of the second superposition gear is joined to a shaft of the first superposition gear via another shifting clutch.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a transmission unit, in particular a multirange transmission.
2. Description of the Related Art
Transmission systems in the form of power distribution transmissions embodied as superposition gears are known in numerous designs. Reference is made to the following documents by way of example:
1. U.S. Pat. No. 6,921,349 B2
2. DE 197 55 612 A1
3. EP 1061 287 A2
4. DE 43 08 761 A1
5. DE 887 457 C
The design according to DE 197 55 612 A1 includes a transmission input shaft and a continuously variable step-up gear coupled to the transmission output shaft in the form of a flexible drive having an input and an output, the input being connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the transmission input shaft, a fixed gear ratio stage, and a superposition gear having a first input stage which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the output of the continuously variable step-up gear. In addition, a second input stage is provided which by way of a first clutch may optionally be connected to the transmission input shaft via the fixed gear ratio stage, in addition to an output stage which is coupled to the transmission output shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. On the drive side the fixed gear ratio stage is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the transmission input shaft, and with respect to the fixed gear ratio stage on the output side the first clutch is positioned in such a way that it optionally connects the second input stage of the superposition gear on the output side to the fixed step-up gear. A functionally reliable multirange transmission may be easily provided by way of this approach. This approach offers the advantage that in a multirange transmission produced by a combination of a continuously variable step-up gear and a geared-neutral range, high meshing speeds in the region of the first clutch may be avoided, since as a result of the fixed gear ratio stage the clutch is provided at a location after a corresponding transformation of the high rotational speed of the drive shaft to the low rotational speed. This reduces wear and increases the service life of the first clutch. However, a significant disadvantage lies in the direct connection between the continuously variable transmission, also referred to as CVT, and the transmission input and, therefore, the drive shaft. The continuously variable transmission is thus always coupled to the rotational speed of the drive motor. Load is reduced on the superposition gear in a region of high rotational speeds of the drive shaft, i.e., lower gear ratios of the continuously variable step-up gear, by providing a second clutch which optionally connects the first input stage to the output stage of the superposition gear. This establishes a rigid connection between the output shaft of the continuously variable step-up gear and the output shaft, thereby bridging the superposition gear in the torque flow. Another significant problem of power transmission via the continuously variable step-up gear is that, as a result of its dimensions, the step-up gear is able to transmit only a maximum allowable torque, since otherwise impermissible slip conditions would be observed at very high loads which would result in increased wear on the traction way. Because of the direct coupling of the continuously variable transmission to the transmission input, however, the latter is continuously exposed to these conditions. In other words, the input of the CVT is impinged on by the rotational speed at the transmission input, and therefore, by the drive motor.
A transmission unit is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,921,349 B2 which has a structure that has been modified such that the load on the flexible drive transmission is significantly reduced, thus ensuring high power, in particular higher power than in a design according to DE 197 55 612 A1, to be transmitted via this flexible drive transmission. In this design the transmission unit is likewise embodied as a superposition gear unit. This superposition gear includes a transmission input and a transmission output, in addition to two superposition gears located between the transmission input and transmission output and connected to one another. Each of the two superposition gears is designed as a three-shaft planetary gear. Both are interconnected to form a four-shaft planetary gear. A continuously variable transmission in the form of a flexible drive transmission is connected between the first superposition gear and the second superposition gear. Each planetary gear includes a sun wheel, an internal gear, planet wheels, and a bridge. The individual shafts are formed by the sun wheel, internal gear, or bridge of the respective superposition gear. The transmission input is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a first shaft of the first superposition gear and to a first shaft of the second superposition gear. The transmission output is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a second shaft of the first superposition gear and to a second shaft of the second superposition gear. The coupling of the two three-shaft planetary gears to form a four-shaft planetary gear occurs by connection of the first and second shafts of the first and second superposition gears. The configuration of the continuously variable transmission in the form of a flexible drive transmission is achieved between the third shafts of the first and second superposition gears. The term "shaft" is understood in a functional sense, and includes either the individual elements of the planetary gear (sun wheel, internal gear, or bridge), or the elements connected thereto in a rotationally fixed manner, for example in the form of shafts or hollow shafts. Depending on the operating state, the individual shafts assume the function of inputs and outputs. Thus, for the transmission of power from the transmission input shaft to the transmission output shaft via the continuously variable transmission, the first superposition gear includes one input and two outputs. The input is formed by the first shaft, whereas the first output, which is at least indirectly connected to the continuously variable transmission, is formed by the third shaft, and the second output which is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the transmission output shaft is formed by the second shaft. In this operating state the second superposition gear includes one input and one output, the input likewise being coupled to the transmission input shaft and formed by the first shaft of the second superposition gear, and the output being formed by the second shaft. The third shaft is connected to the continuously variable transmission. In addition, a way is provided for changing the gear ratio at the transmission. One of the two superposition gears—the first or the second superposition gear—has pairs of intermeshing planetary gears between the sun wheel and the internal gear. The sun wheel and internal gear are rotatably supported on the bridge. The pairs of intermeshing planetary gears are also referred to as double-barreled planet wheels. On account of the design of the second superposition gear as a planetary gear having pairs of intermeshing planetary gears, also referred to as double-barreled planetary gears, for a portion of the overall operating range it is ensured that the CVT operates at maximum rotational speed, whereby a change may also be made with regard to the gear ratio at the individual disks at maximum engine speed; i.e., rotation above the zero level is possible, thus enabling a geared-neutral state as well as a change in rotational direction to be achieved by the transmission according to the invention. The double-barreled design offers the advantage that for an increased rotational speed thus produced at the output coupled to the continuously variable transmission, in particular the internal gear of this planetary gear, a reduction at the output of the other respective planetary gear, in particular the internal gear, which is coupled to the continuously variable transmission is achieved corresponding to the design of the other planetary gear. According to this design, however, it is not possible to allow the continuously variable transmission to operate multiple times over the entire operating range at maximum rotational speed.
A multirange transmission is known from EP 1 061 287 A2. This multirange transmission is characterized by a three-shaft planetary gear which may be connected to the transmission output via a continuously variable transmission. Three-shaft planetary gears are always traversed in parallel, the coupling to the transmission output being achieved by way of different gear ratios, which in this case are implemented via spur gear stages which may be respectively coupled to the transmission output via individual clutch units. In other words, only one gear ratio stage, which is fixed, is provided downstream from the continuously variable transmission. As a result, however, the continuously variable step-up gear is consistently varied via a fixed gear ratio. Depending on the output gear ratio selected, this results in individual maximum allowable gear ratio ranges. This also applies analogously to the design described in DE 887 457 and DE 43 08 761.
What is needed in the art is a multirange transmission which, in addition to the advantages achieved by the transmission configurations previously described, provides an improved transmission configuration, whereby in particular operation above the zero level is possible. What is also needed is to reduce the load on the flexible drive transmission during operation. What is further needed is a design having the improved transmission configuration, described on the basis of U.S. Pat. No. 6,921,349 B2, which overcomes the referenced disadvantages from the prior art.

Transmission unit, in particular a multi-range transmission


An apparatus for protecting a door gasket of a refrigerator is provided. The apparatus includes a cushioning member positioned either on a door or on a main body of the refrigerator to prevent any contact between the gasket and the main body of the refrigerator as the door tilts open to provide access to the storage space in the refrigerator. The cushioning member may include a roller, or a plurality or rollers, which form an interface between the door and the main body as the door is tilted relative to the main body, and which allow the outer periphery of the door to maintain sliding contact with the main body as the door continues to tilt. The sliding interface provided by the cushioning member precludes damage to the gasket, which would otherwise be compressed between the door and the main body as the door tilts relative to the main body, thus maintaining the integrity of the seal provided by the gasket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a door of a drawer type refrigerator, and more particularly, to a door for a drawer of a drawer type refrigerator, which is provided with cushioning members for preventing a door gasket from being pressed against a main body of the refrigerator and subsequently deformed when the tiltable door of the refrigerator is tilted.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a general drawer type refrigerator with a tiltable door for a drawer of the refrigerator. As shown in the figure, a storage space is provided within a main body 1 of the refrigerator and is caused to be open or close by the door 2 disposed in front of the storage space. A lower end of the door 2 is provided with a hingedly connectable structure so that the door 2 can be pivoted thereon when it is pulled forward. The door 2 is also provided with a link 4 for limiting tilting thereof to a predetermined tilting range. Further, a rubber gasket (not shown) is installed along the periphery of an inner surface of the door 2. The gasket prevents cold air within the storage space from leaking out in a state where the door 2 is closed.
Movable rails 9 are installed on both side surfaces of a drawer body 3 on the inner side of the door 2. The movable rails 9 are supported by fixed rails (not shown) installed on both inner side surfaces of the main body 1 of the refrigerator so as to be moved together with the door 2 when the door 2 is pushed or pulled, thereby enabling the drawer body to slide in and out in a drawer fashion.
The door 2 is connected to a lower end of the drawer body 3 through a hinge pin 7 to pivot thereon. The link 4 for limiting the tilting of the door 2 is connected to an upper end of the drawer body 3.
With such a constitution, the door 2 is slid out in a drawer fashion and also opened while pivoting on the hinge pin 7 when the door 2 is pulled forward.
However, when the door 2 is tilted, it is repeatedly pressed against the main body 1 of the refrigerator. If such tilting is consecutively repeated for a long time, a problem occurs in that a portion of the gasket disposed at the lower end of the door 2 may be deformed. This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2a to 2c that show operational states of the door.
FIG. 2a shows a state where the door 2 is not tilted. In such a state, the gasket 8 is in close contact with the main body 1 of the refrigerator to prevent cold air from leaking out.
FIG. 2b shows a state where the door 2 is slightly tilted. As the door 2 is progressively tilted, a portion of the gasket 8 is pressed against the main body 1 of the refrigerator.
FIG. 2c shows a state where the door 2 is fully tilted, wherein the portion of the gasket 8 is more strongly pressed against the main body 1 of the refrigerator. When such a state is repeated consecutively, the gasket 8 of the door would be deformed.
Accordingly, the prior art has a problem in that the repeated tilting of the door 2 causes the deformation of the gasket 8, thereby generating energy loss and noise and deteriorating an external appearance of the refrigerator.

Apparatus for protecting door gasket of refrigerator


An optical system having an input surface configured to receive an input optical signal having a polarization, and a polarization changer comprising the input surface and configured to generate two orthogonal polarization components from the input optical signal. The polarization changer also changes a direction of the polarization of the input optical signal in a controlled manner while maintaining coherence of the two orthogonal polarization components in order to reduce stimulated Brillion scattering.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to optical systems, and more specifically to suppressing stimulated Brillouin scattering in an optical system.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In long distance optical fiber transmission systems, it is desirable to launch signaling using as high an optical power as possible, enabling the lightwave signals to be transmitted with fewer additional components such as repeaters and amplifiers, which increase the cost of communication systems. However, the combination of high powered, narrow linewidth optical sources with low-loss single mode transmission fiber opens the possibility of signal degradation and increased bit error rates, attributable to a host of nonlinear fiber-related phenomena. These nonlinear phenomena include stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS), stimulated Raman scattering, and self-phase modulation. Similarly, in high power fiber laser systems, it is desirable to obtain as high a power as possible and to maintain narrow linewidth for high coherence. SBS is the primary power limiting mechanism for achieving high power with narrow linewidth due to its low threshold.
Brillouin scattering, which may be present within a fiber or other medium, results from photons being scattered by localized refractive index variations induced by acoustic waves. These refractive index variations are typically caused by thermal fluctuation in the medium. At the presence of a strong light field, the variation of the refractive index is enhanced, and more light is scattered. This process is commonly referred to as stimulated Brillouin scattering. Ultimately, light from an intense forward propagating signal (commonly referred to as a "pump" signal) can provide gain for a backward propagating SBS or "Stokes" wave or signal. This scenario is a classical description of SBS.
SBS threshold power may be defined as the power level of an input optical pump signal at which the power of the backward Stokes wave becomes equal to the power level of the input optical pump signal at the fiber input. SBS threshold power generally increases with the linewidth of the light being propagated along a medium. For this reason, concern over the adverse effects of SBS was minimal—until the introduction of narrow linewidth laser sources. As use of narrow linewidth sources increases, such lasers are likely to be the optical source of choice for future optical fiber transmission systems, among other types of systems. In such systems, SBS has the potential for significantly contributing to signal degradation at relatively low input power levels.
Some techniques to suppress the effects of SBS include broadening the laser linewidth via phase modulation, frequency dithering, and amplitude or phase noise addition. Examples of such techniques are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,146,110 and 6,166,837. In some systems, SBS suppression takes the form of polarization scrambling, such as that which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,414,772 and 5,787,211. Other techniques include increasing the mode area and/or reducing the fiber length to increase the SBS threshold. In some cases, fiber manufactures attempt to reduce the strength of acoustic wave in order to suppress SBS. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,8507,12 is directed toward an optical fiber transmission system which introduces incoherence between the polarization states in order to reduce SBS.

Optical system for reducing stimulated Brillouin scattering by controllably changing polarization direction of an optical signal


A capacitive transducer and manufacturing method thereof is provided. A multifunction device including a plurality of the capacitive transducers is also provided, where the capacitive transducers are disposed on a substrate and include at least one microphone and at least one pressure sensor or ultrasonic device.

In order to effectively reduce product size, micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) have been developed with better integration and lower cost to meet the recent trend of developing multi-function miniature electronic products.
Capacitive transducers use membranes which sense vibrations generated by pressure variations in various types of MEMS devices, such as MEMS microphones and pressure sensors. Capacitive transducers convert the pressure variation signals to electrical signals, and sense various types of pressure ranges. The sensing mechanism depends on these membranes, and the sensitivity of the MEMS devices can be adversely impacted by their material and structure, which may be easily deformed by ambient temperature and process residual stress variations. When capacitive transducers encounter a large impacting force from a device drop, the sensing membrane can also be damaged, which affects the sensitivity of the MEMS device and the sensing quality.

Capacitive transducer manufacturing method, and multi-function device

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A universal pole anchoring device for supporting utility poles vertically over a hard surface such as rock, concrete or the like is disclosed. The device comprises a harness assembly connected about a base section of a pole to be supported on the hard surface. The harness is secured by bolts all about the base section. The harness assembly is comprised of harness members each defined by an anchor bolt attachment pipe having a pair of pole engaging clamps connected thereto in spaced alignment. The clamps support the attachment pipe spaced from and at an outwardly depending angle when the harness is secured to a pole. The harness assembly also has a predetermined number of harness numbers interconnected by the connecting bolts about the base section and dependent on the diameter of the pole. An anchor bolt assembly is connectible to each of the attachment pipes of the harness members to anchor the harness assembly in the hard surface to support the pole vertically thereover.

In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,218,858 and 4,248,025 there is described a pole anchoring system which is strapped about a lower portion of a wooden pole to support the pole vertically over a hard surface, such as rock, concrete or the like. These patents disclose various pole anchoring devices to attach to anchor bolts which are secured in bore holes drilled vertically within the ground surface about the pole. The anchor bolts are positioned quite closely to the pole to be secured to the anchoring devices which are attached to the pole. With these pole anchoring devices it has been necessary to provide harnesses of different sizes to fit wood poles of different diameters. Accordingly, it is necessary to carry large inventories of these anchoring devices including anchor bolt of different dimensions and lengths to adapt to poles of different sizes. Further, because the anchor bore holes are spaced close to the poles, it is necessary to anchor these bolts at a suitable depth to ensure proper anchoring.


A lithographic mask having a mask substrate (3) and a patterned mask layer (4) which includes mask structures (5) and can be transferred by lithography to a further substrate is disclosed. With masks of this type, it is customary for a protective layer to be provided in the form of a membrane positioned at a distance from the mask layer (4), in order to keep impurity particles or other impurities away from the focal plane of the mask layer (4). According to the invention, the protective layer (6) is applied in liquid form directly to the mask structures (5) and fills up spaces between the mask structures (4). Then, the protective layer (6), while it is still in the liquid state, is covered with a plane-parallel plate. The continuously dense protective layer (6) which is formed in accordance with the invention is even more reliable in preventing impurity particles or impurities (20) from penetrating into spacers between the structures (5) of the mask layer (4). The impurity particles or impurities (20) can only be deposited on the outer side (16) of the protective layer (6), at a still greater distance from the focal plane.

Lithographic masks (reticles) are used in semiconductor fabrication to transfer structure patterns, which are formed thereon, of a ready-patterned mask layer onto a substrate, in particular a semiconductor substrate or a wafer, on a reduced scale with the aid of lithographic exposure. Regions of the substrate that correspond to the transmissive mask regions are exposed and can be patterned, etched or exposed to ion implantations and other processing steps selectively with respect to unexposed surface regions. The mask may be a transmission mask or, as is customary in particular in the range of very short wavelengths of just a few nanometers, a reflection mask. Different transmission or reflection at mask structures and the spaces between them lead to the optical transfer of the mask pattern to the substrate, which is to be exposed.
A lithographic mask is exposed a number of times per wafer, in order for in each case different regions of the wafer to be exposed. Furthermore, in mass production a multiplicity of semiconductor wafers are exposed using a single mask.
Over the course of time, impurity particles and other impurities may be deposited on the mask, having an adverse effect on the quality of the optical imaging and leading to defects on the structure which is imaged on a reduced scale onto the exposed semiconductor wafers. In particular, in the region of the focal plane of the mask layer, the mask structures and spaces between the mask structures of the mask layer, defining the position of the unexposed and exposed regions on the semiconductor wafer, are distorted if, for example, a foreign particle enters a space between adjacent mask structures where it leads to local shadowing of a corresponding region on the semiconductor wafer, which as a result is not exposed as intended. This produces defects in the semiconductor circuits, which are fabricated.
To avoid such defects, it is true that it is possible for a mask to be cleaned at relatively long intervals, but this operation is complex and increases production costs.
To prevent the deposition of impurities or impurity particles in the focal plane of the mask layer, a flexible or fixed membrane, known as a pellicle, is often arranged at a certain height above the outer side of the mask layer. This membrane is secured along the edge of the mask with the aid of a membrane holder or pellicle frame. The membrane transmits light and does not impede the optical imaging, but also keeps impurity particles away from the outer side of the mask.
However, the membrane holder is provided with openings at the edge, in order to allow pressure compensation in the event of differing air pressure conditions, for example during transport in air, and to avoid pressure-induced damage. Therefore, even when a pellicle is fitted, contact with the clean-room air is possible via the openings in the pellicle frame, and over the course of time this leads to contamination to the patterned mask layer. These contaminations, for example caused by ammonium sulfide, amines, sulfur oxides or impurity particles, are present in trace amounts even in clean-room air and, once they have penetrated between the pellicle and the mask layer, cannot be removed again without complex cleaning. On the other hand, completely closing up the pellicle frame would no longer allow pressure compensation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,827 A and German Patent No. 38 42 481 A1 have disclosed lithographic masks whose mask structures are covered with a continuously dense protective layer. These continuously dense protective layers keep impurity particles away from the mask structures more reliably. However, the production of continuously dense protective layers involves more time and labor, since their surface, which is remote from the mask layer, has to be planarized at considerable cost in order not to adversely affect the quality of the optical imaging. In particular, on account of the greater layer thickness of the continuously dense protective layers compared to pellicle membranes, much lower roughness and deviations in the surface of the protective layer from the position parallel to the mask substrate are permissible in the case of the continuously dense protective layers.

Lithographic mask, and method for covering a mask layer


A sheet adsorption device includes a sheet adsorbing surface, a suction hole disposed on the sheet adsorbing surface, and a flow path shifting unit that shifts between a first state and a second state of a communication flow path that is communicated with the suction hole in accordance with existence of a sheet that covers the suction hole. The cross-section area of a flow path in the second state is smaller than that in the first state and the communication flow path is not closed in the second state.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates a sheet adsorption device, a transport device using the sheet adsorption device, and an image forming apparatus using the sheet adsorption device and the transport device.
2. Related Art
As devices that adsorb a sheet such as a recording medium, devices that adsorb one surface of a sheet by using a negative pressure generating unit have been known. In addition, devices using a method of pressing a sheet by using a unit using an electrostatic force, a magnet, or the like have been known.
A device that adsorbs a sheet by using the negative pressure generating unit has an advantage that affect of static electricity for electric components is small. In addition, since the device does not have a magnet or the like on one surface of a sheet, there are advantages that almost the entire area of one surface of the sheet can be used for a print operation and the like.
An adsorption unit that performs an suction operation through an air hole formed on a support plate by using a negative pressure generating unit with a porous belt having a adsorption surface, on which a plurality of air holes is formed, moved on a support plate having a plurality of holes and fixing a recording medium to the adsorption surface having the holes has been known (for example, see Japanese Patent 3707640 (pages 4 to 5, FIG. 3).
When a suction operation is performed by using all the plurality of air holes all the time, the ratio of air holes covered with a recording medium to air holes not covered with the recording medium is changed in a case where the size of the recording medium located on the adsorption surface having the holes changes. Accordingly, a stable adsorption effect cannot be acquired, or noise increases due to generation of an airflow. Thus, the adsorption surface having a plurality of holes corresponding to the size of the recording medium is disposed in the porous belt in advance.
When the size of a recording medium does not correspond to the adsorption surface having the holes which is disposed in advance or a recording medium is deviated from the adsorption surface having the holes due to tilt of the recording medium, a stable adsorption effect cannot be acquired, or an air flow is generated so as to increase noise. In addition, the load of the negative generating unit changes, and accordingly, redundant power is needed.

Sheet adsorption device, transport device, and image forming apparatus


A device for detecting edges of sheet-shaped print materials (1), especially of transparencies, that are moved along a transport path through a sheet-processing machine has a beam transmitter (31) and a beam receiver (32), whereby beam transmitter (31) and beam receiver (32) are mounted on different sides of the transport path in such a way that the beam path forms an acute angle to the surface of the sheet-shaped print material (1). Electronics (36) evaluate the beam received at the beam receiver (32), whereby the beam receiver (32) is at a lesser distance to the transport path in comparison to the beam transmitter (31).

Normally edge detection devices are used to determine the position of a sheet-shaped print material on its way through a sheet-processing machine in order to be able to signal when sheet-shaped print material is present, for example at the start of a printing or further-processing procedure. Examples of sheet-shaped print material are printed or unprinted paper or transparencies.
The detection of a leading or trailing edge of such a sheet-shaped print material is especially important when several processing steps within the sheet-processing machine will have a fixed spatial relationship to the sheet-shaped print material, e.g. the printing of different color separations and/or precisely positioned placement of holes, folds or other processes relative to each other.
To detect the edge of a sheet-shaped print material, many different techniques are used, including the use of optical sensors. Optical sensors may be either reflection or transmission sensors, depending on whether transmitters and receivers are located on the same side of the sheet-shaped print material or on opposite sides of the sheet-shaped print material.
An example of such a system A special problem occurs in the detection of edges of transparencies. An example of attempts to overcome this problem can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,339, which is hereby incorporated by reference. In that patent, one transmitter and two receivers for beams are mounted above the path of the paper in such a way that the first receiver can only receive light that is reflected diffusely from the surface of the sheet-shaped print material. On the other hand, the second receiver essentially receives a beam that is reflected directly from the surface of the sheet-shaped print material according to linear beam optics. In the absence of a sheet-shaped print material, neither of the receivers receives a reflection. Because of this arrangement, a differentiation can be made between opaque surfaces (e.g. paper), which essentially scatter diffusely and thus mainly generate a signal at the first receiver, and transparent surfaces that mainly generate a signal at the second receiver.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,859,440, which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses another principle for detection of edges of transparencies, which utilizes the shadow on an edge of a transparent material. If light is radiated at a flat or acute angle onto the edge of a transparent material, then total reflection occurs within the transparent material at the surface of the outer edge so that on the side of the edge opposite to the transmitter a shadowed area develops that can be detected by a suitable optical sensor. A shadow such as this also develops with opaque materials such that the sensor can also be used to detect edges of sheet-shaped print materials.
Japanese patent specification JP 62202206, which is hereby incorporated by reference, shows an optical device for detecting edges of sheet-shaped print materials, in which transmitters and receivers are located on different sides of the sheet-shaped print material. In this case, a broad light source is projected, by means of optics, on the other side of the sheet-shaped print material onto a wide detection line, which senses an exact position of the edge. In order to also detect edges of transparent sheet-shaped print materials, the optical axis between transmitter and receiver forms a flat or acute angle with the surface of the sheet-shaped print material.
Efforts regarding such systems have led to continuing developments to improve their efficiency, versatility, and practicality.

Device for detecting edges of sheet-shaped materials


A modular foldaway table is disclosed to be installed behind a backrest of a seat. It includes: (a) a pair of spaced table legs, each table leg having a top bent portion and a bottom bent portion; (b) the top bent portion having a spindle aperture and a curved groove spaced from the spindle aperture; (c) a front board having two lateral sides and a spindle and a pin on each of the two lateral sides, wherein the pin is spaced from the spindle, the spindle is pivotedly screwed to the spindle aperture of the top bent portion of the table leg, the pin is movably engaged with the curved groove for limiting the swinging angle of the front board about the spindle; and a rear board pivotedly engaged with the front board via a pair of spaced hinges. The bottom bent portion has an opening with a slit for snap-installation to the seat and a protrusive ankle spaced from the opening for substantially conforming the bottom bent portion of the table leg against the seat.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a foldaway table to be disposed behind the backrest of a seat and particularly to a modular foldaway table installed behind the backrest of a passenger seat in a transportation vehicle or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional long-ranged transportation means such as airliners, passenger ships, long-distance coachs and trains usually have a foldaway table installed behind the backrest of the passenger seat or in the armrest for passenger usage. These foldaway tables are provided for holding a meal plate, a notebook computer, or for writing. The type installed behind the backrest of the seat is generally the more popular type. Conventional foldaway tables behind the backrest are usually structured in a simple manner. However, they mostly do not adapt the modular design concept. Therefore, they are relatively difficult to assemble or disassemble. FIG. 1 illustrates one of such structures disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,071 (to Hank Roca).
The foldaway table 2 disclosed in the Roca invention includes a pair of table legs 21, a pair of positioning arms 22, a first board 23, a second board 24 and a hinge 25 for connecting the first board 23 to the second board 24. The table leg 21 has one end pivotally engaged with a rear side of the backrest. Another end of the table leg 21 is pivotally engaged with the first board 23. Each positioning arm 22 has one end pivotally engaged with the first board 23 and has a slot at another end thereof engaging with the table leg 21. Therefore the first and second boards (23 & 24) can be flipped open and extended to form a table when in use, or they can be folded and latched behind the backrest when in storage.
Obviously, the structure of the foldaway table disclosed in the Roca invention is quite complicated. It is difficult to assemble or disassemble. The edges of the first and second boards (23 & 24) facing each other have two asymmetrical bow surfaces and, thus, are difficult to be manufactured. As a matter of fact, such difficulty in manufacturing and assembling of Roca's or other conventional foldaway table leads to a higher cost.
Furthermore the transportation means have to provide more diversified facilities to meet a wide variety of today's customer needs. These include video gears, computer support, entertainment equipment, etc. While undergoing the changing of these facilities, it usually needs to disassemble the foldaway table from the seat and then reassemble it again after the change is completed. Apparently, for the conventional foldaway tables, it is both difficult and time-consuming for carrying out any small structural modification.

Foldaway table behind the backrest of a seat

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A method for treating water and apparatus therefor. The water is treated by applying high-frequency saw-tooth AC voltage to electrodes in the water. The apparatus have a DC voltage source; a low current-and-output voltage setting unit connected to the DC voltage source; an alternate switching circuit having first and second switching sections connected to the DC voltage source through the low current-and-output voltage setting unit; an alternate switching commander circuit receiving high frequency signals from a high-frequency oscillator to produce rectangular wave output signals for controlling the first and second switching sections, alternately; a capacitor connected between output terminals of the first and second switching sections to receive DC voltage through one of the first and second switching sections alternately, a polarity of the DC voltage being changed at a high frequency by the control signals from the alternate switching commander circuit, to produce saw-tooth voltage at high-frequency; and first and second electrodes connected to said capacitor and arranged in the water to be treated to give the high-frequency saw-tooth voltage to the water.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating water to change washing or cleaning capability and surface activity of water by giving electric energy thereto.
2. Related Arts
A conventional method or apparatus for changing the quality of water uses first and second electrodes soaked in water, and the water is given energy by applying DC voltage between these electrodes. Such a method or apparatus is shown, for instance in Japanese Patents (Hei) 1-317592(A) and (Hei) 3-258392(A).
The former discloses a method of obtaining acidic water from an anode chamber separated by a membrane from a cathode chamber in an electrolytic cell, to kill Escherichia coli and other bacteria. The latter discloses a method of sterilizing water, which comprising steps of introducing water to be treated into cathode and anode chambers in an electrolytic cell, and adding a predetermined amount of a hypochlorite salt in the anode chamber until pH of the hypochlorite salt containing solution in the chamber becomes 3 to 7, to attain a relatively high sterilization effect with a relatively low chlorine remaining concentration.
In conventional water treating methods, one of the electrodes is used as one with positive polarity, whereas the other with negative polarity, and therefore, the electrodes are liable to be covered with deposited substance caused by the electrolysis after a while, thereby preventing transfer of electricity therebetween. For preventing the deposition on electrodes, there is a way to periodically change the polarity of DC voltage to be applied for the electrodes.
With recourse to the periodic change of polarity in DC voltage, however, a single water treating apparatus cannot be adjusted to meet requirements for different water treatments. Also, the periodic change of polarity in DC voltage necessitates an extra polarity reversing circuit for a constant voltage source and a low current circuit, and accordingly increasing cost of the apparatus.


A tapered, collarless femoral hip joint prosthesis formed of Co-Cr-Mo alloy with highly polished surfaces is provided.

The present invention relates to a hip joint prosthesis and more particularly to the femoral component of such a prosthesis.
Many methods and devices have been developed to improve the fixation of hip joint prostheses including the femoral component thereof in the body so that the device implanted therein becomes as permanent as possible. Many orthopedic implants use a cement to anchor the stem portion of a femoral component in the femur. For example, United Kingdom Patent Specification No. 1,409,054 in the names of Robin S. M. Ling (one of the co-inventors of the present application) and Alan J. C. Lee (incorporated herein by reference) discloses a hip joint prosthesis having a double-tapered stem which, among other advantages, enhances extrusion of cement caused by penetration of the stem during fixation. U.S. Pat. No. 3,793,650, (incorporated herein by reference) one of the co-inventors of which is also Robin S. M. Ling, discloses an intramedullary stem for a prosthetic bone joint device having a base with spring members intended to centralize the position of the stem in the canal or bore of the bone in order to insure a relatively uniform or, at least minimum thickness of cement between the wall of the bone and the stem. It is desirable that there be at least two millimeters (2 mm) of cement between the stem and the bone. By providing a means for insuring that there will be at least a certain minimum thickness of cement between the stem of the prosthesis and the interior wall of the canal formed in the femur bone for receiving such stem, the likelihood of the stem protruding through the cement and contacting the interior of the femur bone itself is minimized. Thus, in those types of implants using cement, it is important to insure that the stem is completely encapsulated by the cement and does not protrude through to contact the bone.
One type of bone cement utilized to retain the stem of a femoral hip joint prosthesis in the canal of a bone comprises a mixture of polymethylmethacrylate (hereinafter PMMA) polymer and methyl methacrylate monomer and optionally including a styrene co-polymer of PMMA. This and other types of cement utilized for such purpose may be packaged in two separate components which are mixed into a paste which is placed in the canal of the femur immediately prior to insertion of the stem of the prosthesis. Such paste then sets to a relatively rigid material providing excellent adherence to the interior wall of the bone.
Heretofore, it has been the belief that it is desirable to have good adhesion between the stem and the cement. Many prior art devices were specifically directed to providing a design for the prosthesis intended to maximize adhesion between it and the cement. For example, the CML Cemented Medullary Locking Hip System manufactured by DePuy Division of Boehringer Mannheim Corporation, Warsaw, Indiana, is a hip system in which the upper portion of the stem is provided with a roughened textured surface intended to enhance the bond of the cement to the prosthesis at the prosthetic interface. It also utilizes a "Macro-Textured" waffle design which is intended to increase the surface area and the mechanical interlock between the cement and the prothesis in the area of such waffle design.
Osteonics Corp., Allendale, N.J., manufactures the OMNIFLEX Femoral System of a titanium alloy having a normalized surface to promote good adhesion of the cement thereto.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,420 (incorporated herein by reference) is directed to maximizing the strength and durability of the prosthesis/cement adherence.
Other types of devices which disclose the use of cement within a bore or canal of the femur are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,829,904; 3,874,003; 4,012,796; and 4,080,666, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Copies of such patents are enclosed.
Still other types of prostheses are intended for use without cement. Many of these are designed to provide a porous or roughened surface in order that the bone may grow into the porous surface of the prosthesis. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,606 discloses a prosthesis possessing porous surfaces for fixation by tissue ingrowth. U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,794 discloses prosthetic devices having outer foamed or sintered porous coatings of selected bioengineered thermoplastics which enables the device to become firmly anchored to the bone by tissue ingrowth into the coated material.
In both the cemented and non-cemented types of devices used heretofore, problems have arisen, particularly after a number of years of implantation. With respect to the cemented type devices, part of the problem arises from the fact that the cement utilized to retain the stem of the device in the canal of the femur bone is subject to a phenomenon known as creep. Thus, while the bone cement appears to be rigid when set, it is subject to minute amounts of movement over time. The amount of creep encountered with such cement following implantation is exaggerated by virtue of the fact that the body temperature controls the temperature of the implanted cement and prosthesis. Thus, PMMA and other types of bone cement at body temperature are subject to a greater degree of creep than bone cement maintained at room temperature of, say, 72.degree. F. This may be readily observed by mounting a bar of PMMA so that its ends are supported and applying a fixed load at the center of the bar. Tests have shown that a bar so supported and subjected to a load of 5 pounds for eight hours at 98.6.degree. F. will deflect to an extent 3.5 times greater than an identical bar supported and loaded in an identical manner for eight hours at 72.degree. F.
Over a period of time, the phenomenon of creep may result in disruption of the micro-interlocking of the cement-bone interface, especially if the cement mantle is firmly bonded to the femoral prosthesis. As is well known in the field of hip replacements, it is important that there be a good bond between the cement and the bone and that there be no disruption in the micro-interlocking of the cement-bone interface.
Subsidence of the femoral component occurs in various degrees with prostheses of different designs regardless of the presence or absence of collars. Any firmly bonded or fixed prosthesis to the cement will disrupt the cement bone interface which will inevitably lead to clinical loosening and subsequent failure necessitating revision.


A solid floor board assembly with duct raceway is composed of a plurality of base blocks, layer plates, and floor boards. A hollow cavity is formed between the base blocks and the layer plates and is partitioned to accommodate a variety of wire ducts and conduit installations neatly and orderly in desired configuration, and the surface thereof is covered with the floor boards so as to further improve the appearance of the whole structure. The solidarity of structure ensures a high compressive strength, and the number of unit floor board for assembly, the size and the configuration is left to the decision of the building owner. Slip resistant stripes, flower-like striae or a picturesque pattern may be provided on the surface of the floor boards. Duct and conduit exits are provide on the surface of the floor boards for extension of wire ducts and conduit installation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to solid floor board assembly with duct raceway cavity to accommodate various ducts and conduits necessary for installation of building facilities.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Interior decoration is necessary for all buildings including factory office, residential housing and hotel etc. It is very often that those expensive floor material made of tiles of plastic, ceramic, wood, marble or even carpet have to be removed and replaced with other materials wasting a lot of money in case the owner or dweller of the building is changed so as to meet the new owner's requirement or taste. And sometimes in such cases, the partition walls must be detached or removed to a new position in order to match the new interior design requiring large amount of labor.
Modern buildings generally use assembly of layered floor board to avoid scratching its surface when moving furniture or other heavy objects, to conceal ducts and pipes, and then to apply some picturesque patterns on the floor board according to the owner's taste. However, in addition to poor quality of workmanship, the random use of primitive accessories such as tie wires and nails, the appearance of finished floor has never been satisfactory.
There has been attempts to use elevated floor board structure which preserved a sufficiently hollow cavity to conceal ducts and piping installation therein so as to maintain the interior of the building in a clean and neat appearance. But such floor board design inducted an in negligible problem of noisy echoing sound fed back from the cavity underneath the floor.
For these defects noticeable on the prior art, an improvement is seriously required. The applicant has plunged into this matter for years to studying and rectifying these defects and has came up with a novel solid floor board assembly with duct raceway cavity as provided in this invention to eliminate the defects mentioned above.

Solid floor board assembly with duct raceway cavity


A system for identifying an aspect of interest on a vehicle that includes a local AI system that can analyze sensor data from an on-site sensor to make an attempt to identify the aspect of interest according to first criterion. The aspect of interest can be information printed on the vehicle and/or on a seal of the vehicle. If the local AI system is unable to identify and validate the information on the first effort, it can consult with a central/global AI system that can leverage its own database and other local systems at other locations for subsequent attempts at identifying and validating the aspects of interest.

The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
A critical part of transporting containers is ensuring their integrity from the point of origin to their destination. For example, a truck trailer or container that was loaded and shut in Tampa, Fla. must remain unopened along the route until it arrives at its unloading destination in Toronto, Canada. To do so, seals are attached to the doors of a container once the container is shut. The integrity of this seal is then checked at the point of destination for tampering, and the seal is also checked against an identifier of a truck to make sure that the entire transport system (tractor plus trailer/container) is consistent with the information at departure.
Unfortunately, reviewing identifying information such as trailer numbers, seals and seal numbers at the point of arrival is time-consuming. This leads to back-ups of trucks at a receiving site, which results in wastes of time and fuel as trucks wait to be admitted and verified. Additionally, in certain areas having a line of trucks outside of a facility can be dangerous as some of these receiving stations are located in dangerous areas.
The location of the seals and the identifiers for a truck and/or container is not industry standard. It can vary from company to company, from manufacturer to manufacturer, and even from journey to journey. Numbers printed on a tractor or a trailer can be vertically arranged, can be of different sizes and colors, of different fonts, etc. Seals are not universal either. All of this presents a challenge in automation because this information must first be found before it can be used to identify and validate the truck and the integrity of the shipment.
Moreover, it is important to be able to track the progress of a truck and container as it makes its journey from origin to destination, as it might stop at stations along the way to change drivers, or truck tractors.
Thus, there is still a need for a system that can rapidly and accurately locate and verify necessary information on a truck while accounting for these variables, and that can leverage knowledge gathered across a network of locations.

Multi-tiered transportation identification system


An LCD device includes a data line, a dummy layer, and source and drain electrodes formed on a substrate; an ohmic contact layer formed on the data line, the dummy layer, and the source and drain electrodes; a semiconductor and a gate insulating layers formed on the substrate; a plurality of contact holes formed through the ohmic contact layer, the semiconductor layer, and the gate insulating layer, wherein at least one contact hole exposes the drain electrode; a gate line formed on the gate insulating layer perpendicular to the data line; a gate electrode formed extending from the gate line, the gate electrode positioned between the source and drain electrodes; pixel regions defined by intersections of the gate and data lines; and a pixel electrode connected with the drain electrode through another contact hole, wherein the pixel electrode is formed of a same material as the gate line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to an LCD device and a method for fabricating the same, to obtain a simplified fabricating process by forming a gate electrode and a pixel electrode from the same material.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Recently, many efforts have been made to research and develop various types of flat display devices, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display panel (PDP), electroluminescent display (ELD), and vacuum fluorescent display (VFD). Today, some of the flat display devices are already used in the various applications. Among the types of flat display devices, liquid crystal display (LCD) devices have been widely used because of the advantageous characteristics of thin size, light weight, and low power consumption. In addition, the LCD devices provide a popular substitute to replace a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT). Furthermore, some LCD devices, for example, an LCD TV and mobile type LCD devices such as a display for a notebook computer, are developed to receive and display broadcasting signals.
However, despite the various technical advancements in developing the LCD technology, research in enhancing the picture quality of the LCD device has been, in some respects, lacking the attention as compared to other features and advantages of the LCD device. To use the LCD devices in various fields as a general display, the key to developing the LCD devices depends on whether the LCD devices can realize a high quality picture, such as high resolution and high luminance with a large-sized screen, while still maintaining lightness in weight, thin size, and low power consumption.
In general, the LCD device includes an LCD panel for displaying an image and a driver for supplying a driving signal to the LCD panel. In addition, the LCD panel includes first and second substrates bonded to each other. A liquid crystal layer is interposed in a cell gap between the first and second substrates. The first substrate (referred to as a TFT array substrate) includes a plurality of gate lines arranged in a first direction at fixed intervals, a plurality of data lines arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction at fixed intervals, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix-type configuration within the pixel regions defined by the gate and data lines, and a plurality of thin film transistors formed at appropriate intersection of the gate line and data line, in which each TFT transistor transmits signals from the data lines to the pixel electrodes in accordance with the signals supplied to the gate lines.
The second substrate (referred to as a color filter array substrate) includes a black matrix layer that prevents a light leakage from corresponding portions of the first substrate except at the pixel regions, an R/G/B color filter layer for displaying various colors, and a common electrode for producing an image. Alignment layers are respectively formed on the opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, wherein the alignment layers are rubbed to align the liquid crystal layer. Then, the first and second substrates are bonded together by a sealant, and liquid crystal is injected between the first and second substrates. In the meantime, the first and second substrates are fabricated by photolithography using several masks, for example, a 5-mask process. Instead of the 5-mask process, a 4-mask process using a diffraction exposure method is gaining popularity for improving the TFT transistor yield.
A method for fabricating an LCD device using a diffraction exposure according to the related art will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1G. As shown in FIG. 1A, a substrate 40 including a plurality of pixel regions is prepared. Then, a metal layer is deposited on an entire surface of the substrate 40, and then selectively patterned by photolithography. Thus, a gate line (not shown) and a gate electrode GE are formed in each of the pixel regions (first mask).
Referring to FIG. 1B, a silicon oxide layer SiOx or silicon nitride layer SiNx is formed on the entire surface of the substrate 40 including the gate electrode GE. Then, a semiconductor material 41 of genuine amorphous silicon, an impurity semiconductor material of amorphous silicon having impurity ions, and a metal layer 43 of chrome or molybdenum are deposited in sequence.
As shown in FIG. 1C, a photoresist PR layer is disposed on an entire surface of the metal layer 43, and then selectively exposed and developed using a diffraction mask M. At this time, the diffraction mask M includes an open part m1 penetrating light, a closed part m2 cutting off the light, and a diffraction part m3 comprised of a slit penetrating some of the light and cutting off some of the light. The diffraction part m3 corresponds to a channel region of the thin film transistor.
When performing the exposure and development process to the photoresist PR by irradiating ultraviolet ray through the diffraction mask M, the photoresist PR corresponding to the open part m1 is removed, the photoresist PR corresponding to the closed part m2 remains as it is, and the photoresist PR corresponding to the diffraction part m3 is removed at a predetermined thickness (second mask). Generally, the photoresist PR corresponding to the diffraction part m3 will result in reducing the original photoresist PR thickness in half.
After that, the exposed metal layer 43, the impurity semiconductor material of amorphous silicon with impurity 42, and the semiconductor material of genuine amorphous silicon 41 are removed by an etching process using the patterned photoresist PR as a mask. As a result, a semiconductor layer 41a, an ohmic contact layer 42a, and a source/drain metal layer 44 are formed on the gate insulating layer GI above the gate electrode GE.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1D, the entire surface of the patterned photoresist PR is ashed by plasma. At this time, the photoresist PR corresponding to the diffraction part m3 is removed because it has less thickness compared to the other parts of the photoresist PR. Accordingly, the source/drain metal layer 44 corresponding to the diffraction part m3 is exposed.
As shown in FIG. 1E, the exposed source/drain metal layer 44, and the ohmic contact layer formed under the source/drain metal layer 44 are simultaneously etched by using the remaining photoresist PR as the mask. Accordingly, a channel region is formed by exposing the portion of first semiconductor layer 41a. At this time, because of a gap formed on the source/drain metal layer 44 within the channel region, it is possible to form a source electrode SE overlapping one edge of the semiconductor layer 41a, and a drain electrode DE overlapping the other edge of the semiconductor layer 41a.
As shown in FIG. 1F, a passivation layer of organic insulating layer is deposited on the entire surface of the substrate 40 including the source electrode SE and the drain electrode DE, and then selectively patterned by photolithography, thereby forming a drain contact hole C1 which exposes some of the drain electrode DE (third mask).
As shown in FIG. 1G, a transparent conductive layer is deposited on the entire surface of the substrate 40 including the passivation layer 45, wherein the transparent conductive layer is electrically connected with the drain electrode DE through the drain contact hole C1. Then, the transparent conductive layer is patterned by photolithography, whereby a pixel electrode 46 is formed in the pixel region P (fourth mask).
However, the related art method using the 4-mask process has the following disadvantages. In the related art method using the 4-mask process, the production yield is still low. In addition, when using the 4-mask process, it is difficult to obtain an etching uniformity.

Liquid crystal display device and method of fabrication thereof having dummy layer and plurality of contact holes formed through ohmic contact, semiconductive and gate insulating layers


Novel excitation signals are specifically designed for testing a high-frequency mixer such that all of the desired intermodulation products are measurable after being converted by a sampling frequency converter. This is achieved by using excitation frequencies which are equal to an integer multiple of the sampling frequency of the sampling frequency convertor plus or minus small frequency offsets. The offset frequencies are carefully choosen such that the frequencies of all the significant intermodulation products after being converted by the sampling frequency converter are within the bandwidth of the sampling frequency converter output.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus to characterize the behaviour of high-frequency mixers under large-signal operating conditions.
2. Description of the Related Art
In "The Return of the Sampling Frequency Converter," 62nd ARFTG Conference Digest, USA, December 2003, Jan Verspecht explains how sampling frequency converters are used in "Large-Signal Network Analyzers" (LSNAs) in order to characterize the behaviour of high-frequency devices-under-test (DUTs). It is explained in the above reference that the measurement capabilities of any prior art LSNA are limited to the use of periodic signal excitations and periodically modulated carrier signals. The above excitation signals are often sufficient for a practical characterization of microwave amplifier components. This limitation makes it impossible, however, to measure all of the significant intermodulation products which are typically generated between a local oscillator signal and a radio-frequency (RF) signal at the signal ports of a mixer. As such the prior art LSNA can in general not be used for the characterization of mixers.

Method for characterizing high-frequency mixers


An edge clip is disclosed for electrically connecting a conductive pad on the surface of a printed circuit board or its edge to an external connector. The edge clip is substantially U-shaped, with first and second opposing, non-parallel sides defining a space therebetween. For connection, the printed circuit board edge is fitted into the space such that the opposing sides provide spring-like deflective force against the pad and the printed circuit board, thereby providing a more reliable connection. The edge clip may include an alignment feature for facilitating alignment prior to soldering. The alignment feature may include small projections formed on the edge clip to align with, and fit into, holes on the print circuit board. Scored sections may be disposed on one edge of the clip to facilitate removal of the edge clip from a carrier during assembly. Further, the edge clip may include a center beam extending away from one of the opposing surfaces to provide contact with another metallic surface, such as a miniature card case, thereby providing additional grounding capabilities which can provide protection against static discharge.

The use of removable, self-contained electronic devices such as memory cards designed according to the MCIF Specification is known. Such devices offer advantages because of their relatively convenient size, typical plug and play compatibility and ease of removal, among other things. However, these advantages are dependent upon providing reliable electrical connection between the removable device and the host device. It is therefore desirable to have small, reliable connectors for interfacing such removable devices and host devices.


A fiber reinforced article having an integrally molded heat shield is produced using a liquid resin injection molding technique. One or more layers of heat shielding material are placed adjacent a preform. The preform contains a non-porous inner core and a porous fibrous mat exterior surface. The core is either a foam core, blow-molded core or a metal reinforced core. The heat shielding material is at least partially porous and includes a heat insulating material and/or a heat reflecting material. The heat shield also contains a layer of nonporous insulating material designed to prevent liquid resin from passing therethrough. The preform and heat shielding material are placed in a mold and resin is injected into the mold to impregnate the fibrous mat and partially impregnate the heat shielding material so that the heat shielding material is integrally molded to the product.

Molded articles are useful in a variety of applications. Molded articles include both thermoset composite and thermoplastic material. Thermoset composite materials are made by combining a fiber reinforcement with a liquid resin. The resin wets the fiber reinforcement material and then cures. Thermoplastic material is thermoformable and may be injection molded or blow-molded to form articles having very complex shapes. Blow-molding is especially useful for manufacturing articles for holding fluids such as containers.
Both types of molded articles are generally sensitive to exposure at elevated temperatures. Thermoplastic and thermoset composite articles tend to soften when exposed to temperatures above their melting point. Thermoset composite articles tend to oxidize the resin portion of the composite material. In both cases, the molded article becomes structurally weakened by the exposure to elevated temperatures. When localized areas are exposed to elevated temperature, these localized areas tend to weaken.
A variety of methods have been used to protect a molded article from exposure to high temperatures. Various types of heat shields have been affixed either to the elevated temperature source or the molded article. These heat shielding devices include various layers of perforated metal sheets containing spaces or baffles to insulate the molded article from high temperatures. Problems with add-on heat shields of this type include the added bulk and cost of incorporating add-on heat shields to molded articles. In some applications, the weight saved between a molded article and a steel article has been more than made up by the requirement for add-on heat shields.
Another method of protecting molded articles from elevated temperatures is the use of high temperature resistant resins and thermoplastic materials. These new materials may permit molded articles to withstand elevated temperatures without need of add-on heat shields. The disadvantage of these new high temperature resistant materials is they are not capable of withstanding very high temperatures in excess of 1000.degree. F. Their cost and the difficulty in processing these materials do not make them commercially feasible in large production situations.
In many applications, the exposure of the molded article to elevated temperature is localized. Manufacturing an entire molded article with these high temperature resistant materials is unnecessary. It is one object of the present invention to provide an integral heat shield for protecting localized areas of molded articles from elevated temperatures. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a low cost method of fabricating a molded article with an integral heat shield. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lightweight molded article having and integral heat shield to protect localized areas from elevated temperatures.

Method of molding an article with integral heat shield