The present disclosure is directed to plants and plant cells that display an altered oil content phenotype due to altered expression of a HIO nucleic acid. The disclosure is further directed to methods of generating plants with an altered oil content phenotype.

The ability to manipulate the composition of crop seeds, particularly the content and composition of seed oils, has important applications in the agricultural industries, relating both to processed food oils and to animal feeds. Seeds of agricultural crops contain a variety of valuable constituents, including oil, protein and starch. Industrial processing can separate some or all of these constituents for individual sale in specific applications. For instance, nearly 60% of the U.S. soybean crop is crushed by the soy processing industry. Soy processing yields purified oil, which is sold at high value, while the remaining seed meal is sold for livestock feed (U.S. Soybean Board, 2001 Soy Stats). Canola seed is also crushed to produce oil and the co-product canola meal (Canola Council of Canada). Nearly 20% of the 1999/2000 U.S. corn crop was industrially refined, primarily for production of starch, ethanol and oil (Corn Refiners Association). Thus, it is often desirable to maximize oil content of seeds. For instance, for processed oilseeds such as soy and canola, increasing the absolute oil content of the seed will increase the value of such grains. For processed corn it may be desired to either increase or decrease oil content, depending on utilization of other major constituents. Decreasing oil may improve the quality of isolated starch by reducing undesired flavors associated with oil oxidation. Alternatively, in ethanol production, where flavor is unimportant, increasing oil content may increase overall value.
In many feed grains, such as corn and wheat, it is desirable to increase seed oil content, because oil has higher energy content than other seed constituents such as carbohydrate. Oilseed processing, like most grain processing businesses, is a capital-intensive business; thus small shifts in the distribution of products from the low valued components to the high value oil component can have substantial economic impacts for grain processors.
Biotechnological manipulation of oils can provide compositional alteration and improvement of oil yield. Compositional alterations include high oleic acid soybean and corn oil (U.S. Pat. Nos, 6,229,033 and 6,248,939), and laurate-containing seeds (U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,790), among others. Work in compositional alteration has predominantly focused on processed oilseeds, but has been readily extendable to non-oilseed crops, including corn. While there is considerable interest in increasing oil content, the only currently practiced biotechnology in this area is High-Oil Corn (HOC) technology (DuPont, U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,160). HOC employs high oil pollinators developed by classical selection breeding along with elite (male-sterile) hybrid females in a production system referred to as TopCross. The TopCross High Oil system raises harvested grain oil content in maize from about 3.5% to about 7%, improving the energy content of the grain.
While it has been fruitful, the HOC production system has inherent limitations. First, the system of having a low percentage of pollinators responsible for an entire field's seed set contains inherent risks, particularly in drought years. Second, oil content in current HOC fields has plateaued at about 9% oil. Finally, high-oil corn is not primarily a biochemical change, but rather an anatomical mutant (increased embryo size) that has the indirect result of increasing oil content. For these reasons, an alternative high oil strategy, particularly one that derives from an altered biochemical output, would be especially valuable.
The most obvious target crops for the processed oil market are soy and rapeseed, and a large body of commercial work (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,544; PCT Application No. WO9411516) demonstrates that Arabidopsis is an excellent model for oil metabolism in these crops. Biochemical screens of seed oil composition have identified Arabidopsis genes for many critical biosynthetic enzymes and have led to identification of agronomically important gene orthologs. For instance, screens using chemically mutagenized populations have identified lipid mutants whose seeds display altered fatty acid composition (Lemieux et al., 1990, Theor. Appl. Genet. 80, 234-240; James and Dooner, 1990, Theor. Appl. Genet. 80, 241-245). T-DNA mutagenesis screens (Feldmnann et al., 1989, Science 243: 1351-1354) that detected altered fatty acid composition identified the omega 3 desaturase (FAD3) and delta-12 desaturase (FAD2) genes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,544; Yadav et al., 1993, Plant Physiol. 103, 467-476; Okuley et al, 1994, Plant Cell 6(1):147-158). A screen which focused on oil content rather than oil quality, analyzed chemically-induced mutants for wrinkled seeds or altered seed density, from which altered seed oil content was inferred (Focks and Benning, 1998, Plant Physiol 118:91-101).
Another screen, designed to identify enzymes involved in production of very long chain fatty acids, identified a mutation in the gene encoding a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) as being responsible for reduced triacyl glycerol accumulation in seeds (Katavic V et al., 1995, Plant Physiol. 108(1):399-409). It was further shown that seed-specific over-expression of the DGAT cDNA was associated with increased seed oil content (Jako et al, 2001, Plant Physiol. 126(2):861-74). Arabidopsis is also a model for understanding the accumulation of seed components that affect meal quality. For example, Arabidopsis contains albumin and globulin seed storage proteins found in many dicotyledonous plants including canola and soybean (Shewry 1995, Plant Cell 7:945-956). The biochemical pathways for synthesizing components of fiber, such as cellulose and lignin, are conserved within the vascular plants, and mutants of Arabidopsis affecting these components have been isolated (reviewed in Chapel and Carpita 1998, Current Opinion in Plant Biology 1:179-185).
Activation tagging in plants refers to a method of generating random mutations by insertion of a heterologous nucleic acid construct comprising regulatory sequences (e.g., an enhancer) into a plant genome. The regulatory sequences can act to enhance transcription of one or more native plant genes; accordingly, activation tagging is a fruitful method for generating gain-of-function, generally dominant mutants (see, e.g., Hayashi et al., 1992, Science 258: 1350-1353; Weigel D et al., 2000, Plant Physiology, 122:1003-1013). The inserted construct provides a molecular tag for rapid identification of the native plant whose mis-expression causes the mutant phenotype Activation tagging may also cause loss-of-function phenotypes. The insertion may result in disruption of a native plant gene, in which case the phenotype is generally recessive.
Activation tagging has been used in various species, including tobacco and Arabidopsis, to identify many different kinds of mutant phenotypes and the genes associated with these phenotypes (Wilson et al., 1996, Plant Cell 8: 659-671; Schaffer et al, 1998, Cell 93: 1219-1229; Fridborg et al., 1999, Plant Cell 11: 1019-1032; Kardailsky et al., 1999, Science 286: 1962-1965; and Christensen S et al., 1998, 9th International Conference on Arabidopsis Research, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, June 24-28, Abstract 165).

Generation of plants with altered oil content


The invention relates to a fuel pressure control system for an electromechanical fuel injection system. The fuel injection system includes a fuel rail for receiving pressurized fuel from a fuel source and operable to supply pressurized fuel to a fuel injector. The fuel rail pressure control system includes a pressure regulator having a flexible diaphragm separating a reference pressure chamber and a fuel chamber. The fuel chamber has a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet. The flexible diaphragm operates to open and close the fuel outlet to balance forces between the reference pressure chamber and the fuel chamber. The fuel chamber is in fluid communication with the fuel rail at the fuel inlet and in fluid communication with a fuel return line at the fuel outlet. The fuel rail pressure control system further includes a bypass fuel inlet line in fluid communication with the fuel rail and the reference pressure chamber, a bypass fuel outlet line in fluid communication with the reference pressure chamber and the fuel return line, a variable valve component disposed within the bypass fuel inlet line, and an orifice disposed within the bypass fuel outlet line. The variable valve component operates to vary fuel pressure in the reference pressure chamber to thereby proportionately vary pressure in the fuel chamber and the fuel rail.

In certain engine applications it may be desirable to develop a flexible fuel delivery system that provides for a greater range of achievable fuel flow rates through the fuel injector. This range, referred to as the dynamic range, is defined as the ratio between the maximum and the minimum controllable fuel flow rates. In a pulse-width-modulated fuel injector, the fuel flow is not actually controllable at the upper and lower bounds of the injector flow range due to physical constraints. For example, a fuel injector will not open if the pulse delivered to the injector is shorter than the time required for the injector solenoid to energize and open the injector valve. Likewise, a fuel injector will not close if the time between pulses is shorter than the time required for the fuel injector solenoid to deenergize and close the injector valve. These physical conditions limit the dynamic range by bounding the minimum and maximum controllable flow rates.
The fuel flow rate through an injector is directly affected by two factors, fuel pressure and the time an injector is open. The flow rate may be modified by adjusting the open injector time while maintaining a substantially constant fuel pressure. Flow rate may also be varied by altering the fuel pressure with the fuel pump speed. This method requires an extensive electronic control system, specialized hardware, and a relatively expensive fuel pump.

Electronically variable pressure control


An electrical component includes an inkjet-printed graphene electrode. Graphene oxide flakes are deposited on a substrate in a graphene oxide ink using an inkjet printer. The deposited graphene oxide is thermally reduced to graphene. The electrical properties of the electrode are comparable to those of electrodes made using activated carbon, carbon nanotubes or graphene made by other methods. The electrical properties of the graphene electrodes may be tailored by adding nanoparticles of other materials to the ink to serve as conductivity enhancers, spacers, or to confer pseudocapacitance. Inkjet-printing can be used to make graphene electrodes of a desired thickness in preselected patterns. Inkjet printing can be used to make highly-transparent graphene electrodes. Inkjet-printed graphene electrodes may be used to fabricate double-layer capacitors that store energy by nanoscale charge separation at the electrode-electrolyte interface (i.e., “supercapacitors”).

Continuing advances in miniaturizing electronic devices have resulted in an increased demand for rechargeable power sources that have long cycle life and can be rapidly charged. The life time of rechargeable batteries is limited to less than thousands of cycles due to the reduction-oxidation (redox) reactions which induce constant expansion-contraction of battery electrodes during charge/discharge cycles and consequently cause their deterioration over time. Also, with electrochemical energy stored in batteries delivered by the means of volumetric redox reactions, the charge/discharge rate and specific power of the best available lithium-ion batteries are limited by the slow rate of solid-state diffusion.
Electronic double-layer capacitors, commonly referred to as "supercapacitors", are promising prospects for overcoming the life-time and power-density limitations of present rechargeable batteries. These supercapacitors store energy by nanoscale charge separation at the electrode-electrolyte interface. This charge storage mechanism involves no chemical reaction with the electrodes, and consequently results in fast charge/discharge rates in seconds while being able to withstand millions of charge/discharge cycles.
In order to obtain high energy density, supercapacitor electrodes are generally fabricated from electrically conductive materials having the high surface areas necessary for charge separation and storage at the electrode-electrolyte interface. Carbonaceous materials such as activated carbon are most commonly used. Recently, there has been interest in exploring carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene as electrode materials because of their high theoretical surface areas of 1320 m2/g and 2630 m2/g, respectively, and high electrical conductivity. CNT- and graphene-based supercapacitors have been demonstrated to possess high capacitance and fast charge/discharge characteristics. However, with regard to inkjet-printing these nanomaterials for practical applications, CNT and graphene suffer from: (1) high costs; (2) lack of commercial availability in large quantities, particularly for graphene; and, most importantly, (3) their tendency to aggregate in pure water due to their hydrophobic nature, even at very low concentrations of 5 ppm. The addition of surfactants can increase the stability of CNT and graphene dispersion, but most surfactants are found to have detrimental effects on capacitance.

Inkjet-printed flexible electronic components from graphene oxide

THE TRUSTEES OF THE STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A remotely controlled sensor platform apparatus useful in a dig-face characterization system is deployed from a mobile delivery device such as standard heavy construction equipment. The sensor apparatus is designed to stabilize sensors against extraneous motions induced by heavy equipment manipulations or other outside influences, and includes a terrain sensing and sensor elevation control system to maintain the sensors in close ground proximity. The deployed sensor apparatus is particularly useful in collecting data in work environments where human access is difficult due to the presence of hazardous conditions, rough terrain, or other circumstances that prevent efficient data collection by conventional methods. Such work environments include hazardous waste sites, unexploded ordnance sites, or construction sites. Data collection in these environments by utilizing the deployed sensor apparatus is desirable in order to protect human health and safety, or to assist in planning daily operations to increase efficiency.

FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for monitoring excavation sites in order to improve the safety and efficiency of hazardous waste retrieval or other excavation activities. More particularly, the present invention relates to a remotely controlled sensor apparatus suited for deployment from standard heavy equipment and used in a dig-face characterization system.

Remotely controlled sensor apparatus for use in dig-face characterization system

Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company


In the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention which uses MOSFETs as its components, the gate electrode of the MOSFET is constructed by using a silicide gate, a polycide gate or a metal gate. The source-drain region of the MOSFET for the internal circuit which does not require connection to an external circuit has a silicide structure, and the source-drain region of the MOSFET for the buffer circuit which requires a direct connection to an external device has a region which is not of silicide structure at least in a portion adjacent to the gate electrode. The gate electrode and the source-drain region of the internal circuit have low resistances so that it is possible to realize an increase in the operating speed by using them as a part of the wirings. Further, in the source-drain region of the buffer circuit there is provided a region of high resistance in the vicinity of the gate electrode so that it is possible to enhance the ESD resistance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device containing MOSFETs and a method of fabricating the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device including MOSFETs having metal silicide films on the surface of source and drain regions and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In semiconductor integrated circuit devices, reduction in the element dimension has been progressing rapidly due to increase in the device density and increase in the operating speed. Further, in semiconductor integrated circuit devices including MOSFETs, suppression of the short channel effect of the MOSFETs is also required. For this purpose, source and drain regions are made shallow. However, making the junction of the source-drain diffused layer shallow brings about an increase in the sheet resistance thereof. Since the source and drain diffused layers and the gate electrodes are used as a part of the wirings, the increase in the sheet resistance of the diffused layers and the reduction in the size of the gate electrodes causes an increase in the wiring resistance to lower the operating speed of the circuit.
The increase in the sheet resistance of the gate electrode due to the reduction in the size thereof can be prevented by using suitable material for the gate electrodes. In recent years, in place of a gate electrode only made of a polycrystalline silicon film (the so-called silicon gate electrode), a gate electrode having a structure of laminating a metal silicide film on a polycrystalline silicon film (the so-called polycide structure) or a gate electrode only made of a metal silicide film has been used. Further, a gate electrode made of a refractory metal has been employed.
On the other hand, concerning the sheet resistance, a structure for reducing the sheet resistance of regions was disclosed in IEDM Tech. Dig., 1982, pp. 714-717 by C. K. Lau et al. According to this structure, a metal film is deposited on the surface of a diffused layer (or region) formed in the surface portion of a silicon substrate, a silicification reaction is induced by heat treatment between silicon of the diffused layer and the metal film, the metal film left unreacted being thereafter removed. Thus, a metal silicide film is formed in a self-aligned fashion with respect to the diffused layer. The structure of the MOSFET obtained thus is called "salicide" (abbreviation for self-aligned silicide). The sheet resistance of the diffused layer is thereby converted from several tens to one hundred and several tens of ohms/square (.OMEGA./.quadrature.) into several ohms/square (.OMEGA./.quadrature.).
However, a MOSFET with the silicide structure has resistance against electrostatic discharge (called hereinafter "ESD resistance") that is remarkably smaller than the ESD of a MOSFET not having the silicide structure, as reported by K. L. Chen, et al, in IEDM Tech. Dig., 1986, pp. 484-487. According to the present inventor, moreover, ESD resistance of a MOSFET with the silicide structure is about one-third of that of a MOSFET not having the silicide structure.
The reason for this can be considered as follows. That is, the silicide structure reduces the resistance of the diffused layer itself. When a discharge current due to static electricity flows into the diffused layer (in particular the drain diffused layer) of a MOSFET, therefore, the current tends to concentrate at the portion of the layer just under the end part of the gate electrode. Consequently, a local thermal breakdown is apt to be generated in the gate insulating film in the vicinity of the gate electrode end part. The MOSFET is thereby destroyed. Thus, MOSFETs with the silicide structure in buffer circuits such as an input buffer circuit, an output buffer circuit and an I/O buffer circuit deteriorate EDS resistance of an integrated circuit device.

Semiconductor integrated circuit device including two types of MOSFETS having source/drain region different in sheet resistance from each other


Digital photographing apparatus for displaying panoramic images and methods of controlling the digital photographing apparatus are disclosed. A digital photographing apparatus is provided that includes a digital signal processor to enlarge and display a panoramic image based on a target spot set in the panoramic image. Thus, a horizontal or vertical panoramic image may be more easily identified. In addition, a desired portion of the panoramic image may be set, and the panoramic image may be enlarged based on the desired portion, thereby improving satisfaction of a user.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to digital photographing apparatus for displaying panoramic images and methods of controlling the digital photographing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A digital photographing apparatus may include a panoramic photographing function for capturing an image with a larger field of view than is conventional. A panoramic image that is captured using the panoramic photographing function is horizontally and/or vertically longer than a conventional image. Thus, the panoramic image is typically displayed as image slides by automatically scrolling the panoramic image through key manipulation. However, it may take a long period of time to display a panoramic image and the entire panoramic image is shown regardless of the importance of subjects in the panoramic image.

Digital photographing apparatus for displaying panoramic images and methods of controlling the same


A collapsible sports goal comprising goal posts, supporting members, and a folding means for selective pivoting of the supporting members between an erect configuration and a collapsed configuration without disassembly. Each goal post has a base portion. An upper supporting member includes a crossbar engaging the goal posts. A lower supporting member includes left and right support bars and a rear interposed member engaged therebetween. Forward portions of the support bars securely and pivotably engage the goal posts adjacent to the base portion. The folding means engages the upper and lower supporting members in secure pivotable relation. In the erect configuration, the support bars extend rearwardly and normal to the goal posts, and the folding means extends vertically. In the collapsed configuration, the support bars extend parallel to the goal posts in a vertical direction.

By way of background, it is well known that hockey is an extraordinarily popular winter sport in many of the northern climes of the world and otherwise. Adults and children of all ages commonly spend many of their free waking hours playing hockey during the winter months, whether in an attempt to better hone their skills or merely for love of the game. In fact, the game is so popular that many ponds, roadways and streets—in rural, suburban and urban centers alike—may frequently play winter host to impromptu hockey games among the residents. Given the popularity of hockey, many have attempted to design a readily collapsible hockey goal that both is portable and takes up a small storage envelope when not in use.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,501,150 (Frischman) teaches a series of separable tubular sections assembled to form a hockey goal. These tubular sections may telescopically connect when assembled. As with the aforementioned patent to Frischman, U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,715 (Browning et al.) discloses a collapsible goal which requires some preliminary disassembly, such as the removal of diagonal braces or wing nuts, prior to collapsing same into a storage configuration. In another example from the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,957 (Schmidt) discloses a collapsible goal having an articulated frame which, although it does not require any preliminary disassembly, collapses in three dimensions and is extremely complicated to shift between the collapsed and erect configurations. In a last example from the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,808,463 (Stockwell, III) discloses a soccer goal assembly which is more easily collapsible, but which is not portable due to anchor members which are required to be embedded in an associated playing surface. Moreover, the mere side folding and bracing means of the goal assembly disclosed in the patent to Stockwell, III are not particularly rugged and would make it difficult, if not impossible, to maintain the goal in an erect configuration were it not for the embedding of its anchor members in the playing surface.
What is needed, therefore, is a readily collapsible and rugged hockey goal that is suitable to withstand the rigors of a spirited game of hockey and is yet easily portable, without requiring any preliminary disassembly before collapsing same into a storage configuration that takes up a small storage envelope and may be hung substantially flat against a wall when not in use. Preferably, the design concept behind such a hockey goal would also make it capable of use in other sports contexts, and would allow a child of young age to assemble or dissemble same without requiring any hand tools, parental supervision or assistance.
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a readily collapsible sports goal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible sports goal which might be used as a hockey goal.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible hockey goal that is capable of withstanding the rigors of a spirited game of hockey.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible sports goal that is easily portable.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible sports goal that does not require any preliminary disassembly before collapsing same into a storage configuration.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a readily collapsible sports goal that occupies a small storage envelope and may be hung substantially flat against a wall when not in use.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible sports goal that allows a child of young age to assemble or dissemble same without requiring any hand tools, parental supervision or assistance.
It is a still yet further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible sports goal that has an improved net attaching means.


A high torsional stiffness, low axial, angular and radial deflection stiffness tape drive coupling apparatus is used for driving a cassette reel with a drive motor. The apparatus includes a base which is attached to the drive motor, a compression spring disposed against the base, and a flexure member positioned adjacent the base. The flexure member includes a plurality of orthogonally extending flexible arms, at least two of the arms having a distal end connected with the base. A driver is engageable with the cassette reel and is connected with at least two of the flexible arms. An apparatus is provided for limiting axial separation of the base and driver while allowing radial and angular misalignment therebetween. Accordingly, the driver is movable axially and angularly with respect to the base by compression of the spring between the driver and base. The driver is movable radially with respect to the drive axis by flexion of at least two of the plurality of flexible arms. The driver is relatively torsionally rigid with respect to the base to facilitate rotational driving engagement of the cassette reel when there exists axial, radial, or angular misalignment between the driver and cassette reel.

Coupling a drive motor to a cassette reel can be problematic as a result of radial, axial, or angular misalignment between the drive motor output shaft and the cassette reel axle. One option in addressing this problem is to use a data cartridge which incorporates a drive belt. This solution generally only solves the radial misalignment problem. Another option, which is used in all audio and video cassette systems, is to allow the tape reel to float inside the cartridge. The tape reels in such systems do not rotate on axes that are rigidly attached to the cartridge. The reels can move within a certain range to align with the drive axes. Usually, the engagement method has some kind of self-centering device, such as multi-toothed couplings, or the reel is allowed a certain amount of wobble. A third option is to have the tape reels rotate on axes that are rigidly connected to the cassette housing, and allow the driveshaft axes to adjust to the cassette reels. The advantage of this kind of system is that a precision tape path can be defined entirely within the cassette for excellent guiding, low debris generation, etc. In this option, each reel includes an axle with a bearing that is designed to have a close fit, however, the axle will rock slightly if the tape driving mechanism is not aligned with it. This rocking motion results in an unreliable tape path which can cause low quality recording or playing of the tape.
Referring to FIGS. 1--3, an apparatus 10 for driving a tape reel is shown in accordance with a prior art embodiment. The tape drive apparatus 10 includes a multi-toothed coupling 12 which is connected to an output shaft 14 of a motor 16. The output shaft 14 has an axis of rotation 18. The tape reel includes a multi-toothed coupling 20 and is mounted for rotation about an axis 22 by an axle 24 which is connected to a cassette housing 26. As shown in FIG. 1, the motor shaft axis 18 and reel axis 24 are radially misaligned. This will cause the multi-toothed couplings 12,20 to improperly mesh, which will result in rocking of the tape reel 28 on the axis 22 and undue wear between the gears.
Turning to FIG. 2, another meshing problem is illustrated. In this Figure, it is shown that the multi-toothed couplings 12,20 are axially misaligned, in that the multi-toothed couplings are undesirably too far apart. This axial misalignment creates difficulty in multi-toothed coupling meshing.
Turning to FIG. 3, another problem associated with prior art tape drive assemblies is illustrated in that the axes 18 and 22 are angularly misaligned, which will lead to improper multi-toothed coupling meshing, which may lead to backlash and other quality problems.
The typical off-center drive problem is addressed in various art areas by mechanical devices, such as universal joints in automobiles, elastic joints in heavy machinery, and bellows couplings or Oldham couplings in precision equipment. None of these prior art devices provide the high torsional stiffness and low axial deflection stiffness required in a tape drive assembly while being capable of supporting a thrust load. The high torsional stiffness is required to rotate the cassette reel and the low axial deflection stiffness is required to prevent the exertion of a tipping torque on the reel axle. Large tipping torques can result in rocking of the reel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,020 to IBM teaches one effort to overcome the above-referenced problem experienced with prior art assemblies. In effect, this design incorporates a version of a universal joint used in cooperation with a telescoping joint for addressing the radial and axial misalignment problems. However, this assembly is very complex and expensive to manufacture, and it exhibits undesirable backlash and the torsional stiffness is too low. Also, the design is very tall, so it consumes substantial space.


Provided is a detecting apparatus including a light source emitting an illumination light flux, a light receiving element receiving a reflected light flux from an object, a deflection unit deflecting illumination light flux toward the object to scan the object and deflecting reflected light flux toward light receiving element, a splitting unit allowing illumination light flux from light source to proceed toward deflection unit and allowing reflected light flux from deflection unit to proceed toward light receiving element, and a first telescope increasing a diameter of illumination light flux deflected by deflection unit, and decreasing a diameter of reflected light flux from the object in which the deflection unit is arranged so that a light path of a principal ray of illumination light flux at a center angle of view in a scanning range of deflection unit is prevented from coinciding with an optical axis of first telescope.

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), in which the distance to an object is calculated from how long it takes to receive reflected light from the object after the object is illuminated, or from the phase of the detected reflected light, is known as a method of detecting an object and measuring the distance to the object.
In recent years, LiDAR is attracting attention as a method of measuring the distance to an object for, for example, automated driving of automobiles.
In automated driving of automobiles, an automobile is required to identify a vehicle, a person, a hazardous object, or the like as an object, and take an action suitable for the distance to the identified object, for example, following or avoiding the object.
In Patent Literature 1, there is disclosed a detecting apparatus in which an object is scanned with illumination light that has been emitted from a laser, passed through a splitting unit, and deflected with a scan mirror, and reflected light that is reflected by the object is deflected toward a light receiving unit via the scan mirror and the splitting unit to measure the position of the object and the distance to the object from the reflected light that is received at the light receiving unit.

Optical apparatus for scanning an object with illumination light flux to detect reflected light flux from the object, and on-board system and mobile apparatus including the same


Systems and methods for indicating applied manipulation pressure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for indicating applied manipulation pressure includes affixing a pressure sensitive material to a coupling component. The pressure sensitive material is capable of displaying visual indications that correspond to different levels of applied manipulation force. A manipulation force is applied to the component. Subsequently, the pressure sensitive material displays the visual indications. In a specific implementation, the method also includes stopping the application of manipulation force when one of the visual indications is displayed.

A vehicle, such as an aircraft, may have many hydraulic connections that are located within confined spaces. For example, hydraulic connections are typically present in aircraft wheel wells. Generally, it is important to complete all hydraulic connections prior to running pressure checks on an aircraft's hydraulic system. Workers typically rely on memory and visual inspections to ensure that hydraulic system connections are properly made.
However, in some instances, faulty memory, discomfort associated with working in confined spaces, as well as interruptions and distractions, may cause workers to fail or improperly tighten (i.e., under-tighten or over-tighten) connections in an aircraft's hydraulic system during assembly or maintenance. Moreover, visual inspections of the hydraulic connections may not always identify connections that are not tightened to the correct torque. Therefore, novel systems and methods which reduce or eliminate instances of failure to tighten or improperly tightened hydraulic connections would have utility.


A camera of the present invention comprises a stationary frame adjustable in position with respect to a camera body in the direction of an optical axis; a cam frame disposed around an outer circumference of the stationary frame to be rotatable about the optical axis and movable in a direction of the optical axis with respect to the stationary frame; a finder optical system provided on the camera body; and a finder optical system driving cam provided integrally with the cam frame for driving the finder optical system. In-focus position adjustment of a photographing optical system of the camera is performed during assembly by moving only the stationary frame in the direction of the optical axis, while the cam frame is kept immobile with respect to the camera body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a camera of the type that in-focus position adjustment of a photographing optical system is performed during assembly.
2. Related Art Statement
In a conventional camera having a zoom lens, it has been usual to perform, when assembled, in-focus position adjustment (hereinafter referred to as fc adjustment) of a photographing optical system and adjustment (hereinafter referred to as Zp adjustment) for making a difference in amount of the fc adjustment between a wide-angle state and a telephoto state of the zoom lens not larger than a predetermined value.
Taking a zoom lens barrel disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,372, assigned to the applicant, as an example, a description will be given of how the fc adjustment and the Zp adjustment have conventionally been carried out. The teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,372 are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the disclosed zoom lens barrel.
The zoom lens barrel has a cam ring 124 fitted radially outwardly of a stationary frame 122 in a rotatable manner which is fixed to a camera body (not shown). A movable frame 128 is fitted radially inwardly of the stationary frame 122, with a second group frame 136 and a third group frame 150 being fitted radially inwardly of the movable frame 128. Further, an adjuster ring 126 is screwed to a distal end of the cam ring 122 and a retainer ring 127 is fixed in a circumferential groove at a distal dnd of the stationary frame 122. A stepped portion formed by the retainer ring 127 and the stationary frame 122 serves to restrict a movement the adjuster ring 126 in the direction of an optical axis. Radially outwardly of the cam ring 124, an interlock plate 156 is fixed by screws to be integral therewith. A geared portion 157 is provided around an outer circumference of the interlock plate 156, and an arm 165b of a frame 165 and an arm 166b of a frame 166, both being provided in a finder lens group, are arranged to respectively come into abutment against opposite end faces 155a, 155b of the interlock plate 156 in the direction of the optical axis. Note frames 65 and 66 of finder 16 in FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,372.
A first lens group 131 is held by the movable frame 128 through a first group frame 134, a second lens group 132 is held by the second group frame 136 through a front group holding frame 142 and a rear group holding frame 144, and further a third lens group 133 is held by the third group frame 150 through a holder frame 154, respectively.
Operation of the above prior art thus constructed will be explained below.
When the geared portion 157 receives an output from a zoom drive unit (not shown), the cam ring 124 fixed to be integral with the interlock plate 156 is rotated about the optical axis with respect to the stationary frame 122. The rotation of the cam ring 124 causes the first lens group 131, the second lens group 132 and the third lens group 133 to move through respective appropriate distances in the direction of the optical axis according to the relationship between a straightforward groove defined in the stationary frame 122 and a cam groove defined in the cam ring 124.
The Zp adjustment is provided to make a difference in amount of the fc adjustment between a wide-angle state and a telephoto state of the zoom lens not larger than a predetermined value, as mentioned above, and is carried out, for example, in the foregoing prior art by moving the holder frame 154 back and forth with respect to the third group frame 150.
The fc adjustment is carried out in the foregoing prior art by rotating the adjuster ring 126 to move the cam ring 124 back and forth in the direction of the optical axis with respect to the stationary frame 122, thereby moving the first lens group 131, the second lens group 132 and the fourth lens group 133 back and forth in the direction of the optical axis.
With the fc adjustment carried out in the prior art as explained above, however, the position of the cam ring 124 in the direction of the optical axis is not definite with respect to the stationary frame 122, i.e., the camera body (not shown).
On the other hand, a finder unit (not shown) is fixed to the camera body. Therefore, if the arm 165b of the frame 165 and the arm 166b of the frame 166 are not in preset reference positions with respect to the camera body, the lens-to-lens spacing in the finder would not be determined by the fixed positions and hence the relationship between the photographing lens and the finder could not be kept normal. Accordingly, adjusting means has been required which is used to shift the position of the interlock plate 156 with respect to the cam ring 124 in the direction of the optical axis after carrying out the fc adjustment, so that the interlock plate 156 is always located at a fixed position with respect to the camera body and the finder.
Further, because of the need of adjusting the relative position between the cam ring 124 and the interlock plate 156 fixed to each other, as mentioned above, the cam ring 124 and the interlock plate 156 can not be formed into a one-piece unit, thus resulting in a larger number of parts and an increased cost.


A level shifting circuit can include a first input junction field effect transistor (JFET) having a gate coupled to receive an input signal having a first voltage swing that provides a controllable impedance path between a first supply node and a first terminal of a first bias stack including at least one JFET. A driver circuit can be coupled to receive an output from the first bias stack that provides a level shifted output having a second voltage swing that is less than the first voltage swing.

Level shifting circuits can translate an input signal that varies within one voltage range, to an output signal that varies within another, different voltage range. Typically, level shifting circuits can be utilized to translate between logic signals operating at different signal voltage levels (e.g., TTL to CMOS). Level shifting circuits for metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) type technologies, particularly CMOS type technology are well known.
Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/452,442 filed on Jun. 13, 2006 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/799,787 filed on May 11, 2006, both by Ashok K. Kapoor, show examples of novel circuits that include junction field effect transistors (JFETs) that operate at relatively low voltage levels (e.g., 0 to +0.5 volts). Such circuits can form integrated circuits that include few, or preferably no MOS type transistors. JFET transistors may have manufacturing advantages over MOSFETs due to the lack of a thin gate oxide layer. Accordingly, CMOS type level shifting circuits are of no benefit in shifting voltage levels of signals in a device that includes only JFET technology.
Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/495,099 filed on Jul. 28, 2006 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 11/495,908 filed on Jul. 28, 2006, both by the present applicants, show examples of novel level shift circuits that include junction field effect transistors (JFETs). U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/495,099 shows level shift circuits having complementary JFETs that may shift from a relatively low voltage level (e.g., 0 to +0.5 volts) to a relatively high voltage level (e.g., 0 to +2.5 volts).

Junction field effect transistor input buffer level shifting circuit


The present invention provides a method for calculating the resolution of blood glucose which corresponding with the peak value of the rising curve. The average peak value is obtained from calculating the plurality of peak value, which determined after the pre-setting sampling time. Then, the average peak value is calculated with the resistance of the measuring circuit, reference resistance, and reference voltage to obtain the resolution of the blood glucose. Furthermore, the mapping table can be fabricated by the different height of maximum peak value and outputted voltage in different presetting sampling time, such that the resolution of blood glucose can be obtained in different outputted voltage values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method for determining the resolution of blood glucose, and more particularly to a peak value of the rising curve method to determine the resolution of the blood glucose.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, many systems have been developed for monitoring blood characteristics. For example, devices have been developed which are capable of determining such blood characteristics as blood oxygenation, blood glucose concentration. However, significant difficulties have been existed when attempting to specifically determine blood glucose resolution accurately using noninvasive blood monitoring systems such as by means of spectroscopic measurement.
The difficulty in determining blood glucose resolution accurately may be attributed to several causes. Firstly, within the bloodstream, the blood glucose is typically found in very low resolution (e.g., on the order of 100 to 1000 times lower than hemoglobin) so that such low resolutions are difficult to detect noninvasively, and require a very high signal-to noise ratio. Additionally, with spectroscopic methods, the optical characteristics of glucose are very similar to those of water that is found in a very high concentration within the blood. Thus, where optical monitoring systems are used, the optical characteristics of water tend to obscure the characteristics of optical signals due to glucose within the bloodstream.
Furthermore, dry phase reagent test strips incorporating enzyme-based compositions are used extensively in clinical laboratories, physicians' offices, hospitals and homes to measure the resolution of the compositions in the biological fluids. These strips have, for example, measured glucose, cholesterol, proteins, ketones, phenylalanine, or enzyme in blood, urine, or saliva. Measuring glucose resolution in samples of whole blood is a particularly common use. In fact, test strips have become an everyday necessity for many of the nation's several million people with diabetes.
Test strips are known that contain a testing reagent that turns a different shade of color, depending on the resolution of glucose in a blood sample that has been applied to the strips. The blood glucose resolution is measured by inserting a strip into a meter that is basically a reflectance photometer, which determines the resolution from the change in color caused by the reaction between the testing reagent and blood glucose. The testing reagent typically contains an enzyme, such as glucose oxidase, which is capable of oxidizing glucose to glucose acid lactone and hydrogen peroxide; an oxidizable dye; and a substance having peroxidative activity, which is capable of selectively catalyzing oxidation of the oxidizable dye in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.

Method for determining the resolution of blood glucose


A dedicated electronic book reader device and accompanying accessory are described. When the accessory is used with the electronic book reader device, the accessory unlocks content that would otherwise be unavailable to the device. The accessory may be configured to provide a password that unlocks content stored on the electronic book reader device, stored on the accessory, or stored remotely. In one implementation, the accessory is a cover which also physically protects the electronic book reader.

A large and growing population of users is enjoying entertainment through the consumption of digital media items, such as music, movies, images, electronic books, and so on. The users employ various electronic devices to consume such media items. Among these electronic devices are electronic book ("eBook") readers, cellular telephones, personal digital assistant (PDA), portable media players, tablet computers, netbooks, and the like.
These electronic devices are often accompanied by one or more accessories. Existing accessories for electronic devices generally contribute to aesthetics and provide protection (e.g., cover or case) or alternatively enhance the functionality of the electronic device (e.g., memory stick or wireless card). Carrying numerous accessories may detract from the portability of a mobile electronic device and the purpose of some accessories may be obscure to users who are not familiar with the functionality included in modern electronic devices.
As the popularity of such devices continues to grow, there is an ongoing need for ways to enhance or improve functionality of these devices through the use of accessories without detracting from the user experience.

Content enabling cover for electronic book reader devices


A noise compensating device in a discrete time control system, such as a R/W system for hard disks, including: a control loop generating a first timing signal, a signal indicative of a quantity to be controlled, and a control signal, which have a first frequency; and an open loop control line which generates a compensation signal synchronous with the control signal and includes a sensor. The sensor includes a sensing element, generating an analog signal, an acquisition stage, connected to the sensing element and generating a disturbance measure signal correlated to the analog signal and synchronous with the control signal, and a synchronization stage. The synchronization stage includes a frequency generator having an input receiving the first timing signal and a first and a second output connected to the acquisition stage and generating, respectively, a second timing signal and a third timing signal.

It is known that high precision control devices frequently have, in addition to a feedback control system, closed loop systems for compensating external noise. These compensation systems use sensors detecting the presence of external noise and generating compensation signals that are added to the control signals used in the feedback loop.
In particular, discrete time control systems are required to synchronize the control signals and the compensation signals so that they may be correctly added.
An application of this compensation technique, to which reference will be made hereinafter, are hard disk read/write devices for controlling the position of reading heads.
As is known, R/W devices, referred to as hard disk drives (HDDs), normally comprise a set of magnetic disks, rotating all together, a head-actuator assembly, and an electronic control unit. The head-actuator assembly comprises a plurality of arms turning about a same rotation axis, integral with one another and actuated by a motor, and reading heads, each reading head being carried by a respective arm and facing respective surfaces of the disks.
Control information is stored in preset control sectors on the disks, is picked up by the heads and enables detection of the position of the heads with respect to the tracks on the magnetic disks. In particular, the heads generate an analog signal that is sampled at a preset rate (depending upon the rotation rate of the disk) to generate a numeric position signal. The electronic control unit detects a position error on the basis of the numeric position signal and generates a numeric control signal for controlling the head-actuator assembly and keeping the heads in optimal reading positions.
In addition, the control system comprises an open loop compensation line for compensating the effects of external disturbance. In particular, an acceleration sensor (for example, a sensor made using MicroElectroMechanicalSystemxe2x80x94MEMSxe2x80x94technology), mounted so as to be integral with the casing of the R/W device, detects any disturbance mechanical vibration and supplies an acceleration signal which is, in turn, sampled at a compensation rate and used by the electronic control unit to generate a numeric compensation signal to be added to the control signal.
The data supplied by the sensor and the control signal are not, however, synchronous, and thus cannot be immediately summed. To overcome this problem, synchronization techniques normally used carry out a sampling rate conversion.
In practice, the sequence of data supplied by the sensor is initially expanded by interposing, between two consecutive samples, a first preset integer number L of null samples corresponding to instants comprised within a same sampling interval. The expanded sequence of data is then filtered using a low pass filter to replace the null samples with interpolated samples. Next, a decimator reduces the expanded sequence of data, maintaining one sample every M samples (where M is a second preset integer number) and eliminating all the others. By selecting the numbers L and M so that the condition       F    c    =                    L        +        1            M                  F      s
is satisfied, wherein FC is the control sampling rate and FS is the sensor sampling rate, the sequence of data at the output of the decimator is synchronous with the control signal and can thus be used to generate the compensation signal.
Known devices, however, have a number of drawbacks. In fact, performing frequency conversions increases the phase delay of the compensation signal with respect to the control signal. This is particularly disadvantageous because, as is known to those skilled in the art, the phase delay is a critical parameter for the effectiveness of open loop compensation and must therefore be contained as far as possible. In addition, the frequency conversion is carried out by microprograms (firmware) which, on the one hand, require a physical encumbrance as they must be stored in a nonvolatile memory and, on the other hand, cause an increase in the required processing power.
A further drawback of known devices results from the high frequency noise (approximately 4-5 kHz) normally introduced during the noise measure and the acceleration signal generation. This high frequency noise must be reduced by filtering which, once again, is carried out by microprograms.
The present invention is embodied in a system and method for noise compensation in a discrete time control system. In an exemplary embodiment, the device comprises closed loop control means for generating a first timing signal, a signal indicative of the quantity to be controlled, and a control signal, which have a control frequency. The device further includes open loop control means for generating a compensation signal synchronous with the control signal and supplied to the closed loop control for correcting the control signal. The open loop control means comprises a sensing means for generating an analog signal correlated to a disturbance quantity, sampling means for receiving the analog signal and generating a sampled signal having a sample frequency correlated to the control frequency and a decimator stage for receiving the sample signal generating the compensation signal.
In an exemplary application, the noise compensating device may be used in a read/write (R/W) device, such as a disc drive and comprises a rotatable computer-readable media, a R/W head positioned in proximity with the computer-readable media to read data stored on the computer-readable media and write data to the computer-readable media, and an R/W device control circuit. The control circuit comprises a closed loop control circuit and an open loop control circuit. In one embodiment, the R/W device is a hard disc and the signal indicative of the quantity to be controlled is a track position and the disturbance quantity is a disturbance acceleration.

Noise compensation device and method in a discrete time control system


An automatic document feeder for an image forming apparatus comprising a separation roller for separately carrying a plurality of paper sheets picked by a pickup roller, a feeding roller for carrying the paper sheets, a discharge roller for discharging the scanned paper sheets, and a transmission unit for transmitting a driving force from a driving motor. The transmission unit comprises an internal roller installed on the same axis as the feeding roller, the internal roller having an internal gear, a swing arm rotatably attached to a bracket, the bracket being inserted into the internal roller, and a swing gear rotatably installed on one side of the swing arm, the swing gear being engaged with the internal gear for rotating the internal roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder for an image forming apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automatic document feeder for an image forming apparatus that automatically separates and delivers sheets of paper.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus is generally a device used to form a visual image onto a sheet of paper with regard to an image signal. During the process of forming an image, a developer receives a digital image signal and then causes toner to be attached to an electrostatic latent image made on a photosensitive medium. Accordingly, a toner image is then transferred to a sheet of paper and heated thereon by a fixing roller such that the heated toner image is fixedly melted and thereby forming a visual image.
Such an image forming apparatus, especially a multi-functional device or a scanner, employs an automatic document feeder for automatically separating sheets of an original document to be scanned, and then supplying them to a scan module.
FIG. 1 is a lateral sectional view which shows a configuration of a conventional automatic document feeder for an image forming apparatus. FIGS. 2 and 3 are lateral sectional views for explaining an operation of the conventional automatic document feeder depicted in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, an automatic document feeder 10, mounted on an image forming apparatus (not shown), includes an upper cover 11, a scan module 20 installed under the automatic document feeder 10 to scan sheets of paper P, a glass plate 22 over which the sheets of paper are transferred during scanning and which is placed above the scan module 20, and a white bar 21 to guide the sheets of paper P closely along the glass plate 22 during scanning.
The automatic document feeder 10 further includes a document loading tray 12 for storing the sheets of paper P, a pickup roller 13 for drawing the sheets of paper P stacked in the document loading tray 12, and a separation roller 14 for separating the sheets of paper P drawn up by the pickup roller 13 one by one, and moving them in a scanning direction via a friction difference. The automatic document feeder 10 also includes a friction pad 15 installed opposite to the separation roller 14, a pair of feed rollers 16 and 17 installed along the path of the sheets of paper P for moving them to the scan module 20, a discharge roller 18 for unloading sheets of paper P scanned by the scan module 20, and a compression roller 19 installed opposite to the discharge roller 18 for pressing the sheets of paper P against the discharge roller 18 during scanning.
The rollers in the automatic document feeder 10 are actuated by a single driving motor (not shown) and are engaged with one another via a mechanism, such as gears (not shown). When the driving motor rotates, the rollers also rotate. However, if all rollers are designed to rotate simultaneously, the sheets of paper P cannot be separately carried. For this reason, clutches (not shown) are respectively employed so that the corresponding rollers do not rotate when necessary.
Referring to FIG. 2, when the driving motor rotates forward, the pickup roller 13 and the separation roller 14 rotate clockwise to respectively pick up and separate the sheets of paper P. In this case, the clutches prevent the feeding rollers 16 and 17, and the discharge roller 18 from rotating clockwise to prevent scanned and discharged sheets of paper P from being inserted back into the automatic document feeder 10. When a front end of the sheets of paper P reaches the feeding rollers 16 and 17, the driving motor then starts to rotate backward.
Referring to FIG. 3, due to the backward rotation of the driving motor, the feeding roller 16 and the discharge roller 18 rotate counterclockwise to discharge scanned sheets of paper P. While respective clutches make the pickup roller 13 and the separation roller 14 rotate counterclockwise due to the backward rotation of the driving motor, the pickup roller 13 is detached from the sheets of paper P and the separation roller 14 is placed in an idle rotation state due to a feeding force of the sheets of paper.
As described above, since a clutch is employed for each roller to control its rotation direction, the cost of the feeder 10 increases. In addition, since the motion transfer is achieved via gears, the feeder 10 has an increased and complicated volume.
Accordingly, a need exists for an automatic document feeder system having a smaller structure and requiring fewer clutch mechanisms to further reduce paper jams and manufacturing costs.

Automatic document feeder for image forming apparatus


A brewing container particularly for use in the making of beer, wherein the container includes a container lid received upon an uppermost end of the container, having an annular flange, with the annular flange including securement rods arranged for reception through the flange for fixed securement of the lid to the flange. An outlet valve mounted in adjacency to the floor of the container permits selective flow of fluid from within the container subsequent to brewing procedure.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to container apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved brewing container wherein the same is directed for the securement of pressurized cooking of a fluid.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,371,550 and 3,573,928 are indicative of prior art brewing procedures for beer, wherein the instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by directing a container structure specifically for the brewing of beer and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


Systems and methods for removing deposit in an aftertreatment system for an engine are disclosed herein. The method comprises determining an amount of deposits accumulated in the aftertreatment system, determining combustion targets for the engine in response to determining the amount of deposits exceeds a deposit threshold, and modulating an air mass flow for the engine based on the determined combustion targets. The air mass flow can be modulated by changing the position of the wastegate or the geometry of the variable geometry turbine (VGT).

Aftertreatment systems are widely used in internal combustion engine applications for the aftertreatment of engine exhaust gas to meet emissions regulations. For example, diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC), selective catalytic reduction (SCR) devices, and diesel particulate filters (DPF) have been used for handling and/or removing regulated pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide (NOx), unburned hydrocarbons, sulfur, and soot in the exhaust gas of an engine. SCR devices may be subject to deterioration in performance resulting from deposits such as urea accumulated on the SCR catalyst. Some aftertreatment systems include, for example, active particulate filter regeneration, that can serve in part as a regeneration event for the SCR devices and other devices to remove urea deposit. However, certain aftertreatment systems do not include a particulate filter that requires periodic regeneration. To improve the efficiency of SCR devices, it is desirable to remove deposit accumulated on the SCR devices.

Methods and systems for removing deposits in an aftertreatment system


The present invention provides an electrostatic charging member excellent in dispersibility of electrically-conducting agent and uniformity in resistance which causes no contamination of the material to be charged for a prolonged period of time. The present invention relates to an electrostatic charging member which electrostatically charging uniformly the surface of a material to be charged such as photoreceptor and dielectric material while pressing the material. An electrostatic charging member 1 has a two-layer structure comprising an electrically-conductive elastic material layer 1b formed on an electrically-conductive substrate 1a, and a resistance-controlling layer 1c covering the elastic material layer 1b. The resistance-controlling layer 1c comprises an electrically-conducting agent such as carbon black having a pH value of not more than 6 dispersed in an amine-modified polyurethane resin as a base polymer. The amine-modified polyurethane resin preferably comprises an amine component incorporated therein in an amount of from 0.02 to 1.0 mmol per g of the resin. The thickness of the resistance-controlling layer 1c preferably falls within the range of from 1 to 50 .mu.m.

A contact charging method which comprises applying a voltage while pressing against the surface of a material to be charged such as photoreceptor to electrostatically charge the surface of the material to be charged is advantageous in that the required applied voltage is lower than that in corona charging method. As such an electrostatic charging member there has been widely used an electrically-conductive elastic material layer or an electrically-conductive material-coated roll, belt or blade. In order to render these electrostatic charging members electrically-conductive, a high molecular material such as rubber and resin comprises carbon black, a metal oxide or an ionically-conducting agent dispersed therein.
However, it is extremely difficult to obtain a solution having an electrically-conducting agent such as carbon black and metal oxide uniformly dispersed in a high molecular material. The coating layer formed by the insufficiently-dispersed solution has a high resistance moiety and a low resistance moiety. The resulting electrostatic charging member has a nonuniform resistance. Thus, image defects such as black streak and blank area attributed to uneven charging can occur. Further, leakage can occur between the low resistance moiety and pinholes present in the material to be charged, similarly causing image defects such as black streak.
For countermeasure against these troubles, an action such as incorporation of a dispersing aid in a high molecular material has been studied. For example, JP-A-5-134515 (The term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") proposes an electrostatic charging material comprising an electrically-conductive material and a material having a chemical interaction with the electrically-conductive material as a dispersing aid for the electrically-conductive material dispersed in an elastic matrix polymer.
However, the foregoing method comprising the incorporation of a dispersing aid is disadvantageous in that the uniformity in dispersion of electrically-conducting agent is not always sufficient and the dispersing aid or its unreacted components separate out from the high molecular material as bleedout, causing tack with the material to be charged. The foregoing method is also disadvantageous in that the bleedout of dispersing aid contaminates the material to be charged, resulting in the occurrence of image defects such as black streak and blank area.
Further, the ionically-conducting agent is excellent in resistance uniformity but is disadvantageous in that when kept in contact with the material to be charged over an extended period of time, ionic materials can migrate to the material to be charged, similarly causing image defects such as black streak and blank area.

Electrically-conductive member and image forming apparatus using the same


A light-emitting device includes a support body having a quadrangle planar shape, a wiring pattern on the support body, a light-emitting element on the wiring pattern, a recognition target portion on a corner portion of the support body, the recognition target portion including a conductive material, an insulation layer reflecting light emitted from the light-emitting element and covering a periphery of the recognition target portion, and a light-transmissive member including a lens portion covering the light-emitting element and a flange portion on a periphery of the lens portion and covering a portion of the recognition target portion that is covered with the insulation layer. The portion of the recognition target portion covered by the flange portion is arranged in a non-point symmetry around a center of the support body, and a difference in reflectivity between the support body and the insulation layer is larger than between the support body and the recognition target portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-emitting device.
2. Description of Related Art
There have been known light-emitting devices that include a mark utilized for various purposes and disposed on a surface of a substrate (see Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-199487). In Patent literature 1, the mark is formed apart from a light-emitting element on the surface of the substrate. For example, the mark is used when a shift in the position of the light-emitting element or a shift in the position of a lens-like sealing unit for sealing the light-emitting element is inspected, or when light-emitting modules array made of a plurality of light-emitting modules is divided into each module. As one of such light-emitting devices with aforementioned mark, a light-emitting module including the mark integrally formed with feeder patterns (wiring patterns) is proposed. See Patent Literature 2: WO 2012/057038.
In Patent Literature 2, however, the mark of the light-emitting module is made of the same material as that of the feeder patterns (in other words, wiring patterns). Accordingly, in a case where a difference in reflectivity between the substrate and the feeder patterns (in other words, wiring patterns) is small, the difference between the substrate and the mark in reflectivity is also small. And thus, with such a combination of the substrate and the feeder patterns, the mark may not be recognized during visual recognition or digital recognition, even if other aspect of the combination such as heat-dissipation and sulfur resistance is good.


A data writing and reading method and apparatus, and a cloud storage system. The data writing method includes an access node receiving a data write request, identifying domain identification information contained in the data write request when failing to obtain an available management node, and querying a pre-saved index according to the domain identification information, wherein the index includes a correspondence between a resource pool and domain identification information, identifying a target resource pool that matches the domain identification information, each resource pool including at least one storage server, determining, from at least one storage server included in the target resource pool, one of the storage servers as a target storage server, and writing data to be written into the target storage server, to ensure that the cloud storage system operates normally without additional cost when all management nodes are at fault or the management node cluster network is abnormal.

Cloud storage is a new concept extended and developed from the concept of cloud computing, which is an emerging network storage technology. It refers to a system that integrates, by cluster application, network technology, or distributed file system, various types of storage devices in the network through application software to enable them to work cooperatively and provide functions of data storage and service access.
The cloud storage system is a distributed system with a master-slave architecture. The master node, that is, the management node, plays a vital role in the normal operation of the entire system. In the event that the management node is at fault, all services of the entire system cannot be performed normally. For example, when an access node in a cloud storage system receives a data write request, the access node needs to send the data write request to the management node, so that the management node allocates a corresponding storage server for the data write request.
However, when the management node is at fault, the management node will not respond to the data processing request sent by the access node, thus the data processing will fail.
The architecture of a video cloud storage system shown in FIG. 1 is taken as an example to describe the corresponding processing flow when failing to obtain an available management node. When failing to obtain an available video cloud storage management node (CVM, Cloud Video Manage) 130, the video cloud storage management node 130 will not respond to a data processing request sent by a video cloud storage access node (CVA, Cloud Video Access) 120. Therefore, the video cloud storage access node 120 will not receive a video cloud storage server (CVS, Cloud Video Storage) 140 allocated by the video cloud storage management node 130 for the data processing request, and the data processing will fail. The same problem exists for other cloud storage systems similar to the above video cloud storage system.
Therefore, in the actual operation of the cloud storage system, when the management node is at fault and the cloud storage system cannot provide services, data may be lost or data cannot be read, causing significant losses to users.
In the prior art, in order to ensure the stability of the cloud storage system, the main way is to increase the number of management nodes, and through HA (High Availability) or cluster technology to ensure that when some management nodes are at fault, normal management nodes takes over the task to continue to provide services, or add standby management nodes to replace the fault management nodes to provide services. However, adding management nodes or adding standby management nodes increases the project cost. Moreover, adding management nodes or adding standby management nodes can only ensure that the cloud storage system runs normally when some management nodes are at fault, and cannot guarantee that the cloud storage system is running normally in the event that all management nodes are at fault or the management node cluster network is abnormal.

Data writing and reading method and apparatus, and cloud storage system

Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd.


A swirl vane air duct cuff assembly includes a tubular body and a swirl vane cuff extending from the tubular body. The swirl vane cuff has an exterior surface which has a cuff groove, and an interior surface which has at least one inward radially extending vane.

Air ducts of various lengths and sizes are used to transfer clean, filtered air from an air filter through an engine air intake system. It is also well known to use air ducts to transfer cooled or heated air from within the engine compartment to the passenger compartment of an automobile. Air ducts are widely used in other applications wherever air or any other gas-like substance is transferred between components.
Air ducts have been formed by using a rubber molding process. Although the rubber molded air ducts are effective, they are considered too heavy for use in vehicles requiring lighter weight to improve fuel efficiency. Additionally, rubber molded air ducts are bulky and difficult to mold in the serpentine configurations desired for automobiles which have limited space in the engine compartment.
An alternative to using a one-piece rubber molded air duct is a two-piece construction which utilizes a thermoplastic blow molded tubular body with an injection molded rubber cuff, sometimes called a seal, affixed to an end thereof. Although lighter and more compact than a rubber air duct, the two-piece construction has its own inherent problems. The tubular body must be mechanically secured or adhesively bonded to the cuff to affect a connection therebetween that can withstand the vibration and heat within an engine compartment.
Seals or cuffs are typically made of a very soft elastomeric polymer material. The cuffs are attached to a connection port in many ways including, but not limited to, thermoplastic welding, worm-gear clamping, or overmolding. Overmolding is the most robust process for forming the cuff because it creates a uniform melt bond to the hard polymer duct.
In a specific application, air ducts are used to supply air and/or exhaust gases to a turbocharger. In such applications, it has been determined that introducing a swirling motion to the air or gases, which are fed to the turbocharger, improves the efficiency thereof. Introduction of the swirling motion can be achieved by incorporating vanes into the air duct. However, depending upon the placement of the vanes in the duct the swirling motion may be minimized or lost. It is also known to use swirl vane rings that are separately injection molded and snap-fit into the air duct. However, these rings tend to rattle and/or fall out during assembly or shipping and may also become dislodged during use, thus minimizing the effectiveness of the turbocharger.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a swirl vane cuff that creates a desired air flow pattern but which also provides a standard cuff clamp seal. There is also a need for a swirl vane cuff that is overmolded directly to the air duct and which creates a leak-proof chemical bond between the two.

Swirl vane air duct cuff assembly and method of manufacture


A system for supplying a driving voltage to move an optical pickup unit to a predetermined position includes a storage unit, an output unit, and a drive module. The storage unit is used for storing instructions. The instructions include a move-outwards instruction, a move-inwards instruction, and a move discriminate-position instruction. The output unit is constructed and arranged for outputting the instructions. The drive module is coupled to the output unit for supplying the driving voltage to move the optical pickup unit toward an outermost position based on the move-outwards instruction, move the optical pickup unit to an innermost position based on the move-inwards instruction, and move the optical pickup unit from the innermost position to the predetermined position based on the move discriminate-position instruction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to optical disc drives and, more particularly, to control system and control method for moving an optical pickup unit to discriminate optical discs.
2. Description of Related Art
Nowadays, optical discs are widely used for storing information. There are various types of optical discs, such as CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs, with various specifications.
An optical disc drive is usually required to be capable of recording and/or reproducing data onto and/or from the different type optical discs. Generally, during recording/reproducing, the optical disc drive needs to move a pick-up unit to a predetermined position so as to make light beams emitted by the pick-up unit to be accurately focused at a predetermined track on the disc. In order to move the pick-up unit to the predetermined position, a moving direction and a moving distance should be accurately calculated. For example, when a disc is loaded into the optical disc drive, a first thing is to discriminate the type of the loaded disc. Therefore, the optical pickup unit is needed to be moved to a predetermined position for discrimination of the type of the loaded disc.
Referring to FIG. 6, a traditional optical disc drive 10 which is capable of discriminating types of optical discs is illustrated. The optical disc drive 10 includes a spindle motor 12, an optical pickup unit 14, and a driving apparatus 16 for moving the optical pickup unit 14. The driving apparatus 16 includes a sled motor 162, a sled shaft 164, and a sensor 166. An optical disc 20 is arranged on and rotated at a predetermined velocity by the spindle motor 12. The optical pickup unit 14 is disposed to face a read-out surface of the optical disc 20. The optical pickup unit 14 can be moved along a radial direction of the optical disc 20 by the sled motor 162 and the sled shaft 164.
The optical disc 20 includes a plurality of spiral recording tracks (not shown) extending from an inner side to an outer side thereof. Generally, data recorded on the optical disc 20 is read from the inner side to the outer side. Therefore, the optical pickup unit 14 is moved from the inner side to the outer side along the radial direction of the optical disc 20 during a reproducing process. Before the reproducing process, the optical disc 20 should be discriminated. A preferred predetermined point to discriminate the optical disc 20 is a start point of a data area 22. To discriminate the optical disc, the optical pickup unit 14 is first moved to an innermost position A of the optical disc 20 and then moved from the innermost position A to the predetermined point.
The optical disc drive 10 employs the sensor 166 to detect whether the optical pickup unit 14 has reached the innermost position A. The sensor 166 can be a switch. If the optical pickup unit 14 reaches the innermost position A, the sensor 166 is triggered and generates a detecting signal to indicate that the optical pickup unit 14 has reached the innermost position A. The detecting signal is used to prevent the optical pickup unit 14 from further moving. After reaching the innermost position A, the optical pickup unit 14 goes astern toward the predetermined position to discriminate the optical disc 20.
However, the structure of the traditional optical disc drive 10 is complex as the sensor 166 is critical and must be employed to detect whether the optical pickup unit 14 has reached the predetermined innermost position A.
Therefore, an optical disc drive with a simplified structure is desired.

System and method for controlling optical pickup unit


A NMR pelvic coil includes an anterior housing with a support arm projecting rearwardly therefrom, and a posterior housing with a base arm projecting rearwardly therefrom, the two housings pivotally connected at the rearward ends of their respective support and base arms, for pivotal movement towards and away from one another. The anterior and posterior housings each support a plurality of NMR coils, and are curved from side edge to side edge towards one another to closely conform to the patient anatomy as well as the curvature of the patient table. An adjustment bar is pivotally connected to the base arm and extends upwardly and through an aperture in the support arm, and includes teeth thereon so as to selectively engage the support arm to hold the anterior housing in the desired position relative to the posterior housing.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) refers generally to one form of gyromagnetic spectroscopy which is conducted to study nuclei that have magnetic moments. Any nucleus which possesses magnetic moment attempts to align itself with the direction of the magnetic field in which it is located. The nucleus precesses around the direction of the magnetic field at a characteristic angular frequency known as the Larmor frequency. The Larmor frequency is dependent upon the strength of the magnetic field and on the properties of the specific nuclear species.
Subjecting human tissue to a uniform magnetic field will cause the individual magnetic moments of the paramagnetic nuclei in the tissue to attempt to align with this magnetic field, but will precess about it in random order at their characteristic Larmor frequency. If the tissue is irradiated with a magnetic field (excitation field B.sub.1) which is in the perpendicular plane relative to the direction of the polarizing field B.sub.z, and which is near the Larmor frequency, the net aligned moment M.sub.z, can be rotated into the perpendicular plane (x-y plane) to produce a net transverse magnetic moment M.sub.1 which is rotated in the x-y plane at the Larmor frequency. Once the magnetic field (excitation field B.sub.1) is terminated, an oscillating sine wave (referred to as an NMR signal) is induced in a receiving coil by the rotating field produced by the transverse magnetic moment M.sub.1. The frequency of the signal is the Larmor frequency, and its magnitude is determined by the magnitude of M.sub.1.
A weak nuclear magnetic resonance generated by the precessing nuclei may be sensed by an RF coil and recorded as an NMR signal. From this NMR signal, a slice image may be derived according to well known reconstruction techniques. The quality of the image produced by the MRI techniques is dependent, in part, on the strength of the NMR signal received from the precessing nuclei. For this reason, an independent RF receiving coil is placed in close proximity to the region of interest of the imaged object to improve the strength of this received signal. Such coils are referred to as "local coils" or "surface coils".
"Whole body" NMR scanners are sufficiently large to receive an entire human body, and to produce an image of any portion thereof. Such whole body scanners may employ an excitation coil for producing the excitation field and a separate receiver coil for receiving the NMR signal. The excitation coil produces a highly uniform excitation field throughout the entire area of interest, whereas the receiver coil is placed near the immediate area of interest to receive the NMR signal.
The smaller area of the local coils permit them to accurately focus on NMR signal from the region of interest. The smaller size of the local coil makes it important that the local coil be accurately positioned near the region of interest. For "whole volume" coils, employing two antenna loops to receive the NMR signal from a volume defined between the loops, accurate positioning of the coils is particularly important. This leads to the development of local coils which conform to the anatomy of interest, yet function to permit ease of use.


It is an object of one embodiment of the present invention to manufacture a light-emitting display device by simplifying a manufacturing process of a transistor, without an increase in the number of steps as well as the number of photomasks as compared to those in the conventional case. A step for processing a semiconductor layer into an island shape is omitted by using a high-resistance oxide semiconductor which is intrinsic or substantially intrinsic for the semiconductor layer, used to form transistors. Formation of an opening in the semiconductor layer or an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor layer and etching of an unnecessary portion of the semiconductor layer are performed at the same time; thus, the number of photolithography steps is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for manufacturing a light-emitting display device including a transistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, thin film transistors that are formed using a semiconductor thin film having a thickness of several nanometers to several hundreds of nanometers over a substrate having an insulating surface such as a glass substrate have been attracting attentions. Thin film transistors have been widely used for ICs (integrated circuits) and electronic devices typified by electrooptic devices. Thin film transistors have been rapidly developed particularly as switching elements for image display devices typified by EL (electroluminescence) display devices and the like.
In an active matrix EL display device, a voltage is applied between one electrode and another electrode which sandwich an EL layer (including a light-emitting layer), of a light-emitting element provided in a selected pixel, whereby a current is generated in the EL layer and the light-emitting layer emits light. A viewer perceives this light emission as a display pattern. In an active matrix EL display device, pixels arranged in a matrix are driven with switching elements, thereby forming a display pattern on a screen.
The application range of the active matrix EL display devices is expanding, and demands for larger screen size, higher definition, and higher aperture ratio are increasing. In addition, it is demanded that the active matrix display device have high reliability and that a production method of the active matrix display device offers high yield and reduces production cost. Simplification of a process is one way for increasing productivity and reducing manufacturing cost.
In an active matrix display device, switching elements are mainly constituted of thin film transistors. Thin film transistors are broadly classified into top gate thin film transistors, in which a channel formation region is provided below a gate electrode, and bottom gate thin film transistors, in which a channel formation region is provided above a gate electrode. These thin film transistors are generally manufactured using a plurality of photomasks.
In manufacture of thin film transistors, it is important that the number of photolithography steps be reduced or the photolithography steps be simplified in order to simplify a process as a whole. For example, when one photolithography step is added, the following steps are further needed: resist application, prebaking, light exposure, development, postbaking, and the like, and moreover other steps before and after the aforementioned steps, such as film formation and etching and further resist removal, cleaning, drying, and the like. Therefore, even when only one photolithography step is added in the manufacturing process, the number of steps relating to the photolithography step is significantly increased. Thus, many techniques for reducing the number of photolithography steps or simplifying the photolithography steps in the manufacturing process have been developed.
Further, as conventional techniques for simplifying the photolithography steps, complicated techniques such as backside light exposure, resist reflow, and lift off are often used and a particular apparatus is required in many cases. Using such complicated techniques may cause various problems, which leads to a decrease in yield. Furthermore, there has often been no option but to sacrifice electric characteristics of thin film transistors.
As typical means for simplifying the photolithography steps in the manufacturing process of a thin film transistor, a technique using a multi-tone mask (called a half-tone mask or a gray-tone mask) is widely known. As a technique for reducing the number of manufacturing steps by using a multi-tone mask, Patent Document 1 is disclosed, for example.
Reference
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2003-179069

Method for manufacturing light-emitting display device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A broom having a handle with a threaded end and a broom head connected to the handle which includes a generally cylindrical sleeve made of plastic having a first end which defines an open surface extending axially therethrough and a second end which defines a forward threaded open surface partially extending axially through the second end in communication with the open surface of the first end and further defines an open keyed surface of a predetermined configuration axially extending from the forward threaded open surface through a remainder of the second end, wherein the open surfaces of the first end and forward threaded open surface are configured to receive the threaded end of the handle and wherein the sleeve is employed in a method for winding a broom head which includes mating the sleeve to a shaft having a portion of an outer diameter of a size to be received within the open surface of the first end and a keyed end portion of an outer configuration to be complimentary received within the keyed surface, disposing broom corn or grass about the sleeve, securing an end from a winding wire through the broom corn to the sleeve, rotating the shaft such that the winding wire wraps about the broom corn in a manner to secure the broom corn to the sleeve and connecting another end of the wire to the sleeve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in brooms wherein the broom head is made separate from the handle. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel broom having a broom head which includes a broom head sleeve and method of making a broom using the same.
2. Related Art
The art of broom making is very extensive including myriads of designs for various purposes. Brooms commonly include a handle and broom head which has a plurality of debris gathering fibers. The fibers are arranged in rows in a side by side lengthwise manner and are bound together and attached to the handle directly or to a head which is then attached to the handle.
To save in costs of packaging, shipping and shelf storage space, various designs for separate broom heads and handles have been made. This is desirable to the consumer for reasons that a consumer may need only replacement of a worn broom head or a broken handle.
Nevertheless, the art of making conventional wooden handle brooms with sewn broom corn fibers wound to the handle has remained popular and relatively unchanged. This is due to the fact that such broom making equipment is relatively simple and provides a consumer with an inexpensive product. In making such brooms, broom corn fibers are placed adjacent an end of the handle to become the broom head and a piece of winding is tacked through the broom corn fibers or grass to the wooden handle end. A clockwise rotatable collet attaches to another end of the wooden handle and the handle is rotated to draw the winding about the broom corn fibers in a manner to secure the broom corn fibers to the handle wherein a terminal end of the winding is stapled or tacked to the wooden handle.
There is a desire and need to continue making this type of broom yet have a separate broom head and handle, and, for the reasons stated, employ the described conventional broom making equipment to accomplish the same. Additionally, it is desired that broom handles be made from other materials, such as metal or plastic, and integrated into the conventional broom making process. Presently, no such methods or devices are available to satisfactorily accomplish this.


An emulsifier suitable for emulsifying steam, air and milk for preparing frothed milk for cappuccino and similar beverages. The emulsifier comprises a first steam inlet, an air inlet, a first milk inlet, a first suction chamber and a mixing chamber. The first steam inlet, the air inlet and the first milk inlet open into the first suction chamber. The first suction chamber is in fluid communication with the mixing chamber. The emulsifier further comprises a second steam inlet, a second milk inlet and a second suction chamber. The second steam inlet and the second milk inlet open into the second suction chamber. The second suction chamber is in fluid communication with the mixing chamber for preparing hot, non-frothed milk under supply of steam to the second steam inlet.

Such an emulsifier and coffee-making apparatus are known from European patent application 0,243,326.
This known emulsifier is often used in coffee-making apparatuses for professional use, that is, in the catering industry. In this apparatus, for the purpose of preparing cappuccino, first an amount of coffee extract, that is, black coffee, is introduced into, for instance, a cup. Then, using the emulsifier, an amount of frothed milk is supplied to the cup.
For preparing the frothed milk, an amount of steam is supplied under pressure to the first steam inlet. This steam will move to the first suction chamber. As a result of the venturi effect, a reduced pressure will be created in the first suction chamber, as a result of which air is sucked to the first suction chamber via the air inlet and milk is sucked to the first suction chamber via the first milk inlet. The united air, milk and steam then move from the first suction chamber to the mixing chamber to be properly mixed there, so that frothed milk of a good quality is obtained. Via an outlet of the mixing chamber, frothed milk can thereupon leave the emulsifier to be supplied, for instance, to the cup.
It is desired to be able to prepare not only frothed milk, but also hot, non-frothed milk, for instance for the purpose of obtaining `cafe au lait`. To that end, the emulsifier according to European patent application 0,243,326 comprises a controllable valve with which the air inlet can be shut off, the idea being that when no air is supplied to the suction chamber and so only milk and steam are supplied to the suction chamber, the emulsifier will not dispense hot milk that frothes. A problem presents itself, however, in that such an apparatus is rather costly. Moreover, it appears that directly after the air inlet is shut off, yet milk that frothes slightly is dispensed. Also, a temperature problem arises in that the tube passage is unchanged. A further disadvantage is that the emulsifier must be operated by hand and is not adapted for automatic, remote operation for the selection between hot milk or hot frothed milk.

Emulsifier for preparing frothed milk and hot milk

Vroonland; Christoffel Antonius Johannes