A load control systems and methods. One embodiment of a load control system comprises at least two triac devices connected in parallel to a load, the at least two triac devices operable to deliver current to the load. At least one driver circuit is linked to the at least two triac devices. A controller is linked to the at least one driver circuit, the controller signaling the at least one driver circuit to actuate the at least two triac devices at about the same time.

Controls for adjusting the level of artificial lighting are commonplace, ranging from the simple household dimmer switch to extensive lighting circuits used in stage productions. These lighting controls play a significant role in the ambiance of a room.
Early lighting controls relied on variable resistors to dissipate power, thereby "dimming" the lights. Although functional, these early lighting controls wasted power and generated significant heat. Modern lighting controls use triacs. Triacs function by varying the point that a load is turned on during each alternating current (AC) cycle (in the United States, AC current has 60 cycles per second). That is, triacs vary the time at which the load is switched on after zero-cross during each AC cycle. This rapid "switching" serves to reduce the total current being delivered to the lights. But this rapid switching can also cause a "buzzing" sound in the light, as well as electromagnetic interference. Accordingly, most triacs include circuits with an inductor choke and an interference capacitor.
While simple lighting controls, such as the household dimmer switch, may be suitable for controlling a few lights, other lighting circuits may require different current-capacity triacs. By way of example, a banquet hall may require one or more higher current capacity triacs than the reception area of an office. In addition, a single room may have multiple light circuits requiring different current capacity triacs. For example, a higher-current capacity triac may be provided for the main lighting circuit in a room, and another, smaller capacity triac may be provided for a perimeter lighting circuit (e.g., to illuminate artwork hanging on the walls) in the same room.
Although triacs produce less heat than the early variable resistor dimmer switches, triacs still produce heat. Logically, triacs carrying higher current produce even more heat that needs to be dissipated. Accordingly, triacs carrying higher current are provided with larger heat sinks (e.g., having fins), or even fans to dissipate the heat that is generated by the triac. However, large heat sinks and fans are not aesthetically pleasing and fans can be noisy, typically requiring that these triacs be installed in utility closets or the like.
Manufacturing different current capacity triacs is also expensive. Not only is the related circuitry (e.g., inductor chokes and interference capacitors) more expensive for higher current capacity triacs, but the manufacturer must also maintain a large inventory of different size parts for manufacturing each of the different current capacity triacs. These direct costs are passed onto the installer, who incurs further overhead by having to maintain an inventory of different current capacity triacs. Eventually, these costs are passed onto the consumer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Supercoupling waveguides are provided in which acoustic impedance at an acoustic input port matches the acoustic impedance at an acoustic output port, where the acoustic path extending from the acoustic input port to the acoustic output port has a variable length. The supercoupling waveguides may be used in methods of sensing and measuring, and may be incorporated into sensors.

Over the past decade, significant attention has been paid to zero-index metamaterials (ZIMs), due their extreme capabilities for wave manipulation (N. Engheta, "Pursuing near-zero response," Science, vol. 340, no. 6130, pp. 286-287, 2013). These materials can be described by governing equations that are temporally and spatially decoupled, due to the unusual physics enabled by near-zero constitutive parameters.
Supercoupling in electromagnetics has been achieved in part because conducting waveguides naturally support effective zero-index properties at the cut-off of their dominant mode of propagation. This phenomenon has enabled electromagnetic supercoupling, without having to realize a metamaterial through periodic arrays of small inclusions, by operating a hollow waveguide at cut-off. Unfortunately, conventional acoustic waveguides typically do not provide a cut-off for their dominant propagating mode, as these modes are longitudinal in nature.
The analogue of zero-permittivity in acoustics, for the realization of acoustic supercoupling, is density-near-zero metamaterials. One approach theoretically showed that energy could be squeezed through ultranarrow acoustic channels by employing a waveguide filled with arrays of transverse membranes (R. Fleury and A. Alu, "Extraordinary sound transmission through density-near-zero ultranarrow channels," Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 055501 (2013)), which indeed realized an effective zero-density ultranarrow channel.
However, challenges with viscothermal loss and the accurate tuning of multiple membrane resonances have prevented the practical realization of density-near-zero acoustic supercoupling devices. A waveguide loaded with Helmholtz resonators in the form of low-pass filters was shown to support compressibility-near-zero properties and uniform phase through an intermediate channel (N. Cselyuszka, et al., "Compressibility-near-zero acoustic metamaterial," Phys. Lett. A 378, 1153-1156 (2014)). In order to achieve supercoupling, extreme precision in these arrays of resonators would be required. It would be difficult and impractical to assemble acoustic waveguides with membranes and resonators that are incorporated with the required degree of precision to achieve acoustic supercoupling.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art to provide acoustic waveguides that achieve supercoupling without requiring the use of membranes or resonators.

Supercoupling waveguides, and methods for making and using same

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A portable fender for protecting a watercraft hull from damage. The fender(s) length corresponds to the length of the watercraft likely to make contact with a dock, pier and/or pilings. An inflatable, waterproof bladder resides in a protective cover. The bladder's valve permits rapid inflation and deflation. The cover has diametrically opposed straps running its length. These straps are anchored to the cover in such a manner that loops are created at regular intervals. Mooring straps are passed through the loops and around the fender. The fender is secured between the watercraft and the dock/pier/pilings by attaching mooring straps to any convenient point on the watercraft, dock, pier, pilings or other suitable mooring point. Lengthening or shortening each individual mooring strap allows the fender to be placed in a position that will provide optimum protection. The fender is easily deflated for stowage. The watercraft does not have to be modified in any manner to use the fender.

Boat docks come in many styles and sizes. Many incorporate a structural design in which the pilings are located externally to the dock's side rails. When the length of the watercraft exceeds the length between the pilings, the watercraft must be moored against these external pilings. Therefore, a gap is created between the side of the watercraft and the side (rail) of the dock itself. Ordinary fenders, due to their inherent size and shape, fall into this gap negating any protection. If one attempts to place ordinary fenders between the watercraft and the pilings themselves, the fenders tend to roll out of place due to wave action. Additionally, if the side of the dock is higher than the gunwale, ordinary fenders do not prevent the craft from riding up and under the dock, causing further damage.
Ordinary fenders are bulky, difficult to stow and require multiple units of various sizes to remedy the unlimited variations in dock length, dock height and dock rail-to-hull distance. They are difficult to adjust, have limited attachment points on the watercraft, are bulky and difficult to stow. Other fill-length fenders require ballast, modification of the watercraft or permanent mounting to the watercraft.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,220,876—Attachment for Boat.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,435—Emergency Flotation Apparatus for Watercraft.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,997—Boat Fender.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,220,876 was designed as a buoyancy compensator for inflatable military craft. This device has four major shortcomings:
1) The patent has since expired.
2) The bladder of the device is elongated as opposed to round or nearly-round. This shape would permit the bladder to float on its flattest side, reducing the level of protection. The oblong shape also creates an uneven pressure levels on the seams, thus increasing the potential for seam failure.
3) The device is for use on inflatable boats: a limited application.
4) The device requires high inflation pressures. Specialized inflation equipment must be available. There is also and increased danger of seam failure and/or explosion.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,435 was designed as an Emergency Flotation Apparatus for Watercraft. This device has five major shortcomings:
1) The device is designed for temporary and/or permanent attachment to the craft and involves modifying the hull of the craft with various mounting devices. As one is altering the hull, there is the possibly of diminishing hull integrity. The device may require professional installation. Permanent installation may impede watercraft performance. Permanent installation detracts from the watercraft's appearance.
2) The device requires the use of heavy and dangerous to stow compressed bottle gas for inflation.
3) The bladder of the device is elongated as opposed to round or nearly-round. This shape would permit the bladder to float on its flattest side, reducing the level of protection. The oblong shape also creates an uneven pressure levels on the seams, thus increasing the potential for seam failure.
4) Due to the mounting method, the height of the bladder is not readily adjustable over the length of the watercraft.
5) Due to the mounting method, the fender cannot be employed on the dock or pier in lieu of the watercraft if the situation warrants.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,997 Boat Fender, was designed to protect the hull of a boat for use while traversing through locks. This device has five major shortcomings for my intended purpose.
1) The device is designed for temporary and/or permanent attachment to the craft and involves modifying the hull of the craft with various mounting devices. As one is altering the hull, there is the possibly diminishing hull integrity. The device may require professional installation. Permanent installation may impede watercraft performance. Permanent installation detracts from the watercraft's appearance.
2) The device requires a second, ballasted bag for proper function. This appendage obstructs portability and inhibits ease of use for the recreational boater.
3) The device requires a high-pressure tire inflator for inflation. Small, portable tire inflators inflate too slowly for recreational boating use. Tire inflators require a specialized valve. High volume tire inflators are bulky, heavy and are not practical to keep aboard the average recreational boat.
4) Due to the ballasted bag assembly, function of the device would be impaired as the height of the bladder would not be adjustable over the length of the watercraft.
5) Due to the mounting method, the fender cannot be employed on the dock or pier in lieu of the watercraft if the situation warrants.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide watercraft hull protection to the entire hull section adjacent to dock/pier rails or dock pilings.
It is another object of the invention that the protection device does not fall between pilings.
It is another object of the invention that the device provides protection from pilings when there are no dock or pier rails present between pilings.
It is another object of the invention to be easily and rapidly inflated using commercially available low-pressure inflators.
It is another object of the invention to be easily and rapidly deflated.
It is another object of the invention to be quickly and easily adjustable along its length with a series of individually adjustable straps.
It is another object of the invention to be quickly and easily attached to a watercraft, dock, pier or other mooring point.
It is another object of the invention to be quickly and easily detached from a watercraft, dock, pier or other mooring point.
It is another object of the invention that in operation, the watercraft does not have to be modified in any manner.
It is another object of the invention to be quickly and easily folded for stowage.


Aluminum alloy products comprising an aluminum alloy base and a sulfate-phosphate oxide zone integral therewith are disclosed. Methods of making the same are also disclosed.

Many metallic substrates, such as those including aluminum alloys, may be anodized to increase corrosion resistance and wear resistance of the substrate. Anodizing is an electrolytic passivation process used to increase the thickness and density of the natural oxide layer on the surface of metal parts. Anodic films can also be used for a number of cosmetic effects, either via thick porous coatings that can absorb dyes or via thin transparent coatings that add interference effects to reflected light. Anodic films are generally much stronger and more adherent than most paints and platings, making them less likely to crack and peel. Anodic films are most commonly applied to protect aluminum alloys, although processes also exist for titanium, zinc, magnesium, and niobium.
With respect to aluminum alloys, during anodizing an aluminum oxide coating is grown from and into the surface of the aluminum alloy in about equal amounts, so, for example, a 2 μm thick coating will increase part dimensions by 1 μm per surface. Anodized aluminum alloy surfaces can also be dyed. In most consumer goods the dye is contained in the pores of the aluminum oxide layer. Anodized aluminum surfaces have low to moderate wear resistance, although this can be improved with thickness and sealing. If wear and scratches are minor then the remaining oxide will continue to provide corrosion protection even if the dyed layer is removed.
While conventional anodizing processes may yield anodized substrates having good abrasion resistance and ability to color the surface with dyes, such substrates are not without their drawbacks. For instances, many anodized substrates are unable to provide durability and chemical stability in a corrosive environment, and also are generally unable to provide hydration stability in humid and outdoor environments. Protective compounds may be applied to the anodized surfaces, but it is difficult to maintain adhesion and chemical compatibility of these protective compounds with anodized surfaces while maintaining suitable abrasion resistance and coloring ability. In turn, the overall performance of the corresponding finished products may be inadequate for certain applications.

Corrosion resistant aluminum alloy substrates and methods of producing the same


Method of and apparatus for continuously manufacturing highly oriented super micro filaments with a diameter of 5 μm or less from most of thermoplastic polymers stably by a simple and convenient means without requiring any special apparatus of high accuracy and high level, characterized in original filaments supplied from a filament supply means are heated by infrared beams and the heated filaments are drawn by tension provided by their own weight or under an applied tension of 1 MPa or less, and are drawn to 1000 times or more.

Super microfilaments have been used in various applications such as artificial leathers, wiping cloths or filters. However, since special and complicate spinning methods such as islands-in-a-sea type fiber spinning (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-258940) or spinning by dividual fibers (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-220740) have been used, for the production of highly oriented super micro filaments and having high quality with the filament diameter of 5 μm or less, they are expensive and cannot be drawn simply and conveniently by using general-purpose fibers.
On the other hand, as a method of obtaining fibers of high tensile strength and high tensile modulus, the present inventors, et al. have proposed a zone drawing method (Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 60-24852), but further requirements are desirable for stable production of fine filaments by the zone drawing. Further, while the present inventors have already disclosed a prior invention for the method of obtaining super micro filaments (Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-353781), it has been found that further requirements are desirable for obtaining stable super micro filaments continuously.


Embodiments herein provide a cutter link having an end of life indicator to provide feedback to the user that the saw chain, and more specifically the cutter link(s), has been worn and/or sharpened to an undesirable state or degree. There is provided one or more disruptions to the cutting surface of a cutter link in a region that is past the manufacturer's recommended wear limit. When exposed, such disruptions in the cutting surface provide perceptible indications to the user that the chain should no longer be used.

Saw chain for a chain saw typically includes various links collectively designed to provide a cutting function. In various saw chains, these links may include such elements as tie straps, drive links, and cutter links. The cutter links are arranged in a sequence along with other components to form a complete chain.
Important to the function of a saw chain is a continuous and sharp cutting edge along the working surface or surfaces of the cutter links. This cutting edge dulls as it is exposed to the cut media during typical operation, and therefore needs to be refreshed/sharpened periodically. The cutting edge may be refreshed by removing a small amount of material through the use of a sharpening tool, such as a hand file or grinding wheel. After many instances of sharpening a cutter link over its useful lifespan, a substantial amount of material may have been removed. Once the amount of material removed exceeds certain limits, such as the manufacturer's specified limits, which are typically based on analysis of increased risk of material tear, use of the saw chain should be discontinued and a replacement chain used in its place. The current state of the art, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,853, utilizes visual markings to delineate the extent of material removal that the saw chain manufacturer deems safe, however these visual markings can themselves wear out during normal chain saw operation rendering them useless as an indicator of the end of life of the cutter link(s) when they are needed to provide such a function.

Saw chain cutter link having end of life indicator


A steam generator for a surface cleaning apparatus is described. The steam generator includes: a first chamber for generating steam and collecting scale; a water inlet disposed proximate a first end of the first chamber; a heater in thermal contact with the first chamber; a second chamber housed within the first chamber and in fluid communication with the first chamber; and a steam outlet for releasing steam and in fluid communication with the second chamber, wherein the steam outlet is disposed distal to the first end of the first chamber.

A need has been recognized in the surface cleaning industry for steam generating surface cleaner that has increased longevity. A requirement for many steam generating appliances is the use of distilled water in order to prevent scale buildup within a boiler. Prior art boilers and steam generators have a single internal chamber for generating steam. Distilled water is free of any contaminates or particulates, and thus does not produce scale within the boiler. Failure to use distilled water in prior art boilers produces scale within the boiler, eventually leading to clogged outlets, and reduced efficiency and performance. Because a consumer must purchase and store distilled water in order to properly utilize a steam generating vacuum cleaner, such units have increased expense and inconvenience associated with their use. As such, there exists a need for a steam generating surface cleaner that can reduce scale buildup thereby increasing the longevity of the steam cleaning appliance while reducing the operational costs associated with use of the surface cleaner.
Other deficiencies in the prior art can be inferred by the disclosure herein.

Scaling reduction in a boiler used in a surface cleaning apparatus

Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited


A rotary blade air conditioner compressor is provided which includes a compressor housing having a cylindrical chamber. Chamber covers are mounted to respective ends of the cylindrical chamber. A reservoir is fluidly connected to an outlet and an inlet of the cylindrical chamber. A drive shaft is eccentrically mounted within the cylindrical chamber, with a rotor mounted on the drive shaft which is axially movable along the drive shaft. A plurality of radial slots are formed in the rotor which receive blade members that move radially in the slots to continuously contact the inner wall of the cylindrical chamber for expelling a mixture of gas and oil from the chamber. The gas and oil mixture comes from the reservoir and is supplied through a conduit to each end of the cylindrical chamber to axially displace the rotor with respect to the chamber covers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an air conditioning compressor, and more particularly, this invention is directed to a rotary-blade air conditioner compressor equipped with an auto balancer and lubrication recirculation system.
2. Prior Art
Compressors used in vehicles can be categorized into the following four types, 1) Reciprocating Compressors; 2) Rotary Compressors; 3) Geared Compressors; and 4) Centrifugal Compressors.
The type most frequently used in vehicle air conditioners are the reciprocating compressors, shown in FIG. 1. As the crankshaft rotates through a cycle, the piston linked thereto will complete a compression stroke and an intake stroke. The deficiency of this type of compressor is that as the piston moves to its top dead center position, there is a clearance remaining between the piston and the cylinder head. This clearance ensures that the piston will move downward freely, but it will decrease the mechanical efficiency of the compressor since the air within the clearance cannot be expelled.
Prior art rotary compressors are seldom used in vehicles, such as buses. The installation and adjustment of these rotary compressors is quite inconvenient, thereby making the installation and maintenance costs relatively high. Beside, as the bearing is worn out, the rotating shaft will tilt and then cause the whole compressor to fail.

Rotary-blade air conditioner compressor for heavy-duty vehicle


A gesture recognition method includes detecting multiple pointers in close proximity to a touch surface to determine if the multiple pointers are being used to perform a known gesture. When the multiple pointers are being used to perform a known gesture, executing a command associated with the gesture. A touch system incorporating the gesture recognition method is also provided.

Touch systems are well known in the art and typically include a touch screen having a touch surface on which contacts are made using a pointer in order to generate user input. Pointer contacts with the touch surface are detected and are used to generate corresponding output depending on areas of the contact surface where the contacts are made. There are basically two general types of touch systems available and they can be broadly classified as "active" touch systems and "passive" touch systems.
Active touch systems allow a user to generate user input by contacting the touch surface with a special pointer that usually requires some form of on-board power source, typically batteries. The special pointer emits signals such as infrared light, visible light, ultrasonic frequencies, electromagnetic frequencies, etc. that activate the touch surface.
Passive touch systems allow a user to generate user input by contacting the touch surface with a passive pointer and do not require the use of a special pointer in order to activate the touch surface. The pointer can be a finger, a cylinder of some material, or any suitable object that can be used to contact some predetermined area of interest on the touch surface.
Passive touch systems provide advantages over active touch systems in that any suitable pointing device, including a user's finger, can be used as a pointer to contact the touch surface. As a result, user input can easily be generated. Also, since special active pointers are not necessary in passive touch systems, battery power levels and/or pointer damage, theft, or misplacement are of no concern to users.
For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/610,481 filed on Jul. 5, 2000 and International PCT Application No. PCT/CA01/00980 filed on Jul. 5, 2001 and published under No. WO 02/03316 on Jan. 10, 2002, assigned to SMART Technologies Inc., assignee of the present invention, disclose a camera-based touch system comprising a touch screen that includes a passive touch surface on which a computer-generated image is presented. A rectangular bezel or frame surrounds the touch surface and supports digital cameras at its corners. The digital cameras have overlapping fields of view that encompass and look across the touch surface. The digital cameras acquire images looking across the touch surface from different locations and generate image data. Image data acquired by the digital cameras is processed by digital signal processors associated with the digital cameras to determine if a pointer exists in the captured image data. When it is determined that a pointer exists in the captured image data, the digital signal processors generate pointer information packets (PIPs) and convey the PIPs to a master controller. Each PIP includes a header portion, a data portion and a checksum. The data portion includes a pointer ID field that stores a pointer identifier to allow multiple pointers to be tracked. The data portion also includes a pointer location parameter that identifies a pointer x-position and a pointer tip parameter that identifies a pointer z-position. A contact state field stores a value indicating whether the pointer is in or out of contact with the touch surface allowing pointer hover to be detected.
Upon receipt of the PIPs, the master controller processes the PIPs using triangulation to determine the location of each pointer in the captured images relative to the touch surface in (x,y) coordinates. In this manner, as PIPs are generated in response to captured images, the position and movement of pointers over the touch surface can be tracked. The pointer location data generated by the master controller is conveyed to a computer executing one or more application programs. The computer uses the pointer location data to update the computer-generated image that is presented on the touch surface. Pointer contacts on and pointer movement over the touch surface can therefore be recorded as writing or drawing or used to control execution of application programs executed by the computer.
As will be appreciated, since digital cameras at the corners of the bezels are used to capture image data, the touch system is able to determine when multiple pointers contact and move across the touch surface. This of course provides for enhanced functionality as compared to analog resistive touch systems that are only able to track a single pointer. Although enhanced functionality is provided by the above-described camera-based touch system, to-date, this enhanced functionally has not been fully exploited. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel gesture recognition method and touch system incorporating the same.

Gesture recognition method and touch system incorporating the same


A process is disclosed for treating aramid fibers with a dispersion of particulate material in a swelling solvent to yield embodiment of the particles in the surface of the fibers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to making yarns of aramid fibers having particulate material embedded in the surface of the individual fibers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,035 issued Jul. 9, 1974 on the application of Sanders, discloses suffusing carbon black particles into the surface of nylon monofilaments by dissolving nylon at the surface of the monofilament and contacting the dissolved nylon with the carbon black.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,046 issued Jan. 15, 1991 on the application of Hartzler discloses treating the surface of aramid fibers with concentrated sulfuric acid to make the fibers more receptive to dyes and dye-promoting agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,384 issued Jun. 25, 1985 on the application of Aoki et al. discloses a process for heat treating yarns of aromatic polyamide filaments which avoid interfilament adhesion by sticking particulate spacer material to the surface of the fibers by a coating process with an aqueous dispersion.

Method of making a yarn of particulate-impregnated aramid fibers


An intermediate toner transfer belt includes an endless member made of a layer of a material having an endless functional surface adapted to transfer a toner image. The layer of material is textured so as to define a multiplicity of protruding portions of the material spaced apart from each other and integral with and extending outwardly from a remaining base portion of the material. The protruding portions have outer tips spaced apart from one another with outer surfaces thereon also spaced apart from one another such that the endless surface of the endless member is formed by the spaced apart outer surfaces of the outer tips of the protruding portions of the material. Further, the protruding portions are irregular in pattern and shape relative to one another and generally undulate toward and away from the remaining base portion of the material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to toner transfer belts used in electrophotographic (EP) printers, also called "intermediate transfer belts", and more particularly to such a belt having a textured surface for enhanced toner transfer and to a method of forming the textured surface of the transfer belt.
2. Description of the Related Art
Single pass or multi-pass electrophotographic (EP) printers use single or multi layer intermediate transfer belts with very glossy, hard surfaces and pose toner transfer problems over the life of a customer replaceable unit (CRU) or a field replaceable unit (FRU) that adversely impact both print quality and CRU or FRU longevity.
Toner adheres to a photoconductive (PC) drum after the latent image development. The toner is held onto the PC by forces such as image forces (Coulomb forces), Van der Waals, and dispersion forces. These mechanical and electrical forces are relatively weak and without further plastic deformation or other large forces applied to the toner, the toner can be easily removed electrically or mechanically. Besides the mechanical forces applied to the toner, an electric field is present at the transfer nip which encourages the charged toner to transfer from the PC drum (toner bearing member) to the belt (toner receiving member).
As a result of the smooth and rigid nature of a typical transfer belt, the contact of the belt with isolated toner areas and the PC drum results in the creation of very high and localized pressures. Due to these highly localized pressures, the small toner features subsequently take on a large amount of pressure due to the very small and focused area of contact. Before the toner exits the transfer nip, it is believed that under the high, localized force, the toner particles adhere increasingly to one another as well as to the PC drum ("pressure fusing"). When the belt begins to separate from the PC drum at the exit of the transfer nip, regions of the compressed toner clumps remain adhered to the PC drum and do not transfer, despite the presence of the electric field and the other mechanical forces. These compressed toner clumps frequently produce print artifacts, such as voiding and in particular an example of bad voiding performance is illustrated in FIG. 3B. An example of good voiding performance is illustrated in FIG. 3A.
In order to compensate for these first transfer artifacts, a possible solution is to cover the outer functional surface of the transfer belt with a pure or mostly pure fluoropolymer. However, this can be expensive and its implementation as the solution would only be considered as a last resort. Thus, there is still a need for an innovation that solves the problem of first transfer print artifacts such as voiding of the transfer belt over the life of the belt in a more practical and cost effective manner.

Toner transfer belt with textured surface for enhanced transfer and method of forming textured surface


The present invention concerns novel complexes, suitable in particular for use as catalysts in the asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones, of formula 1

This invention relates to ruthenium complexes bearing a chiral diphosphine and a chiral diamine and their use as catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation processes.
A large and constantly growing number of catalysts and methodologies are at present available for the homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation of functionalised ketones. Such ketones bear an auxiliary group that is positioned at the appropriate distance from the carbonyl group and which is capable of binding to the metal of the catalytically active species. This binding arrangement presumably allows chelation of a functionalised ketone to the metal center of the catalyst. The references to these catalysts and methodologies are comprehensively listed by R. Noyori in Asymmetric Catalysis in Organic Synthesis (John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1994) and by I. Ojima in Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis (VCH, New York 1994).
Catalytic asymmetric reduction of unfunctionalised ketones presents a greater challenge. Unfunctionalised ketones are those lacking a secondary metal-binding group. EP-A-0718265 describes a method for producing alcohols from carbonyl compounds by hydrogenation in presence of a ruthenium catalyst, a base and a nitrogen-containing additive. When a ruthenium complex bearing a chiral diphosphine was used as catalyst in presence of a chiral diamine and a base, highly productive and enantioselective hydrogenation of aromatic ketones was achieved. Examples of chiral diphosphines examined were BINAP, Tol-BINAP, Xylyl-BINAP, H8BINAP and CHIRAPHOS Examples of useful chiral diamines were DPEN and DAIPEN. These respective compounds have the formulae
It also has been disclosed by Noyori et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 107, 2675 and 10417) that a diphosphine-ruthenium-diamine complex could be isolated and used as a pre-catalyst for the reduction of aromatic ketones. The use of such a preformed catalyst is advantageous for industrial applications. In particular, high productivity and high enantioselectivity were always associated with the use of the chiral biaryl-phosphines BINAP, Tol-BINAP and Xylyl-BINAP and the chiral diamines DPEN and DAIPEN, Xylyl-BINAP/DAIPEN being the optiumum combination (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1998, 37, 1703 and J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 13529). For a review, see also Noyori, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2001, 40, 40-73.
A wide array of diphosphines with a chiral backbone different from the biaryl backbone is known (see references listed by Noyori and Ojima in the references mentioned above). So far no chiral diphosphine, other than the BINAP-based ligands indicated above, has been reported to be useful in the efficient and highly enantioselective hydrogenation of unfunctionalised ketones according to the methodology described by Noyori.
PHANEPHOS (structure shown below), first described by Rossen et al. in J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 119, 6207, is a chiral diphosphine based upon the rigid [2.2]-para-cyclophane backbone. In particular, PHANEPHOS-ruthenium complexes (described in Tetrahedron Lett. 1998, 39, 4441) have found an application, although limited, as catalysts for the asymmetric hydrogenation of xcex2-ketoesters (functionalised ketones). Good levels of activity and enantioselectivity were achieved only by working at high catalyst loading (0.4-0.08 mol%) and at low temperature (xe2x88x925xc2x0 C.). In addition, the PHANEPHOS-ruthenium complexes were reported to be of limited stability and to produce inconsistent results unless an external halide source (Bu4NI) was added.
There is a fundamental structural difference between pseudo-ortho[2.2]para-cyclophane-diphosphines and the biaryl-diphosphines used by Noyori. This difference is highlighted by the contrasting results obtained in the ruthenium-catalysed hydrogenation of xcex2-ketoesters (see data reported in Tetrahedron Lett. 1998, 39, 4441 compared with those reported in Tetrahedron: Asymmetry Report Number 30, 1997, 20, 3327).
GB-A-2351735 (published Oct. 1, 2001, i.e. after the priority dates claimed herein) discloses the asymmetric hydrogenation of 1-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethan-1-one, using a ruthenium-phosphine catalyst and a chiral diamine. In the Examples, DIOP is used; in the description, PHANEPHOS is mentioned as one of several possible alternatives. The procedure involves forming the catalyst in situ, the amine being added last.
This invention is based on the unexpected discovery that the parent ligand PHANEPHOS and its derivatives form stable ligand-ruthenium-diamine complexes of general formula 1
wherein each Ar is an aromatic or heteroaromatic group of up to 20 atoms;
X is halide or carboxylate; and
R1, R2, R3, R4 are independently hydrogen, aryl or alkyl, optionally linked or part of a ring.
The novel complexes are highly active and enantioselective catalysts for the asymmetric hydrogenation of unfunctionalised ketones, in the present of a catalytic amount of base.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, rather than use a preformed complex 1, equivalent catalysis may be achieved by forming the catalyst, e.g. the complex 1 or an active species that can be generated therefrom, in situ. This will usually be done by the reaction of the diamine with a ruthenium complex of the ligand in the presence of, or followed by the addition of, the base required for the hydrogenation.
Despite their structural difference, complexes 1 perform as well as, and in several cases better than, the BINAP-Ru complexes described by Noyori as catalysts for the hydrogenation of a wide range of unfunctionalised ketones.
As is evident from the Examples presented below, the PHANEPHOS backbone produces inherently more reactive and selective catalysts then the BINAP backbone. The influence of the Ar substituents on phosphorus is surprisingly less marked and allows for fine-tuning of the catalyst for a particular application Typically, in order to achieve high ( greater than 95% ee) enantioselectivity, the choice of BINAP-based catalysts is restricted to those prepared from Xylyl-BINAP and the costly diamine DAIPEN.
In addition, it has been found that the group X does not necessarily have to be a halide, as it transpires from all the examples so far published, but a carboxylate group can be used instead. A compound of general formula 1 where X=CF3COO has been shown to catalyse the asymmetric hydrogenation of unfunctionalised ketones, giving results comparable to complexes where X=Cl.
The novel ruthenium complex includes a diphosphine moiety that is a (R) or (S)-pseudo-ortho-bisphosphino-[2.2]-para-cyclophane where each phosphorus atom bears two additional aromatic groups. Ar is any aromatic group of up to 10 or 20 carbon atoms and is typically phenyl, optionally bearing one or more substituents. For many applications, the simplest ligand, where Ar=Ph, is applicable. In other applications, it is beneficial to use ligands in which Ar=phenyl substituted with one or more alkyl or alkoxy groups. Particular examples are Ar=3,5-dimethylphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl and 4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl. In a preferred embodiment, Ar=3,5-dimethylphenyl (alternatively defined as xylyl) and the phosphine is referred to as 3,5-di-Me-PHANEPHOS.
The chiral diamine is preferably any 1,2-diamine with at least one stereogenic centre and R1, R2, R3, R4 are independently hydrogen or aromatic or alkyl groups, typically of up to 10 or 20 C atoms, optionally linked or part of a ring. Suitable diamines are of formulae 2 to 6
or the opposite enantiomer thereof.
For example, the diamine is DPEN or DACH; both are readily available in either enantiomeric form, and as cheaper than DAIPEN.
X is a halogen atom or carboxylate. Suitable carboxylates are derived from a carboxylic acid of formula R5COOH, wherein R5 is an aromatic or alkyl group of up to 20 atoms, optionally bearing fluorine atoms. For example, X is Cl or CF3COO, and is preferably Cl.
This invention involves the synthesis of ruthenium complexes of general formula 1 and their use as catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones in the presence of a base, according to the procedure already described by Noyori (EP-A-0718265; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1998, 37, 1703; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 13529). Examples of hydrogenation of acetophenone under different conditions are given below (see Tables 1 and 2). Examples (see Tables 3-5) are also given where a range of differently substituted aromatic ketones and xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated ketones are hydrogenated with high activity (typically, full conversion, 0.0033 mol% catalyst, 0.5-3 hours) and selectivity (typically  greater than 97% ee). In such hydrogenations, it is preferred that a particular enantiomer of the disphosphine ligand is matched with the correct enantiomer of the diamine. This is evident from entries 4-7 in Table 2.
Complexes 1 of the present invention are prepared by combining the diphosphine, the diamine and an appropriate ruthenium precursor in a solvent. According to the published literature, diphosphine-ruthenium-diamine complexes 1 may be prepared from [ruthenium-benzene-Cl2]2 in DMP, followed by reaction with the diamine in any suitable solvent, e.g. DMF or dichloromethane. An alternative procedure for the synthesis of complexes of formula 1 (for example where X=Cl) involves initial synthesis of the cationic intermediate [diphosphine-ruthenium-benzene-Cl]Cl which subsequently is reacted with the diamine in DMF (Scheme 1). Such complexes are solids suitable for storage under an inert atmosphere, by that can be handled in air.
Complexes of general formula 1, where X=CF3COO, may be prepared according to a modified procedure, which involves reacting the complex [3,5-di-Me-PHANEPHOS-Ruxe2x80x94(OOCCF3)2]2 (see K. Rossen et al. in Tetrahedron Lett. 1998, 39, 4441, for preparation of [PHANEPHOS-Ruxe2x80x94(OOCCF3)2]2) with a diamine in DCM/EtOH (Scheme 2). An example is given where the diamine is DPEN. An example of hydrogenation of acetophenone using this complex is given in Table 2 (final entry).
A catalyst of the invention is particularly suitable for the stereoselective hydrogenation of a ketone. For example, the ketone has the formula R6xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94R7, wherein R6 is an aromatic group and R7 is an alkyl group or the formula R8xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94R7, wherein R8 is alkenyl and R7 is an alkyl group. Such hydrogenation requires a base additive. Typically, the base is an alkali metal alkoxide or hydroxide and is preferably potassium tert-butoxide. At least one molar equivalent of the base relative to the catalyst is used, and typically 10 or 20 to 200 molar equivalents are used. Such hydrogenation reactions may be carried out by procedures that are known to those skilled in the art.
The following Examples illustrate the invention. More specifically:
Examples 1 to 3 illustrate some specific preparations of the ruthenium pre-catalysts derived from 3,5-di-Me-PHANEPHOS.
Examples 4 and 5 illustrate two general procedures for the synthesis of ruthenium pre-catalysts derived from PHANEPHOS and its derivatives. Various procedures are possible, producing equally effective pre-catalysts.
In Example 6 (Table 2), the hydrogenation of acetophenone is used to show that a strong matching/mismatching effect is displayed by a number of different PHANEPHOS derivatives and diamine ligands, the (R)-ligand-(S,S)-diamine diastereoisomer (or the opposite enantiomeric pair) being the most effective combination. In addition, it is apparent that the best results are obtained when the PHANEPHOS derivatives are matched with the diamines DPEN and DACH.
Example 6 (Table 1) compares the results obtained with the catalysts based on the parent ligands PHANEPHOS and BINAP. Rate and selectivity obtainable with the PHANEPHOS catalysts clearly indicate that the effectiveness of the catalyst depends mainly on the structure and chirality of the backbone rather than on the substituents at the phosphorus atom.
Examples 7 to 9 show that the hydrogenation of acetophenone with [3,5-di-Me-PHANEPHOS-Ruxe2x80x94Cl2-DPEN] can be easily and conveniently scaled up, to hydrogenate up to 100 g of substrate at very economical catalyst loadings.
Examples 10 and 11 demonstrate the scope of the hydrogenation catalysed by [3,5-di-Me-PHANEPHOS-Ruxe2x80x94Cl2-DPEN]: a number of aromatic, hetero-aromatic and xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated ketones are smoothly hydrogenated under mild conditions.
Examples 12 and 13 show the advantages obtainable with PHANEPHOS-ruthenium catalysts in the hydrogenation of a specific, sterically hindered substrate, i.e. 2-MeO-acetophenone. Rates, selectivity and catalyst loadings compare very favourably with the results reported in the literature for the best BINAP-ruthenium catalysts.
In Examples 6-13, hydrogenation reactions in which the catalyst contains a (R)-PHANEPHOS ligand give as major product the (R) alcohol. Likewise, the (S) ligand gives primarily the (S) alcohol.

Ruthenium-disphosphine complexes and their use as catalysts

Abstract: or a diastereoisomer thereof, wherein

Abstract: X is halide or carboxylate; and

Abstract: R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently hydrogen, aryl or alkyl, optionally linked or part of a ring.


A display includes: a light emitting layer; a reflective section reflecting light, that enters through the light emitting layer, to a display surface; an absorption-type polarizing plate provided on the display surface; a retardation film provided between the light emitting layer and the absorption-type polarizing plate; a reflection-type polarizing plate provided between the retardation film and the absorption-type polarizing plate, and reflecting, among light transmitted by the retardation film, light in a predetermined light-axis direction; and an outside-light reflection suppression layer provided between the light emitting layer and the reflection-type polarizing plate, and absorbing part of outside light.

The present application relates to a self-luminous display such as an organic electroluminescence (EL) display and an electronic system including the display.
A display device having higher performance has been demanded with development of the information and communication industry. For example, each of an organic electroluminescence (EL) display, an inorganic EL display, and a field emission display (FED) is a display including a self-luminous display device, and has been notified as a next-generation display due to its wide viewing angle, high contrast, and high response speed. For example, the organic EL device includes a lower electrode, a light emitting layer, an upper electrode, and a counter substrate in order of closeness to a drive substrate, and is roughly classified into a bottom emission type where display light is extracted through the drive substrate, and a top emission type where display light is extracted through the counter substrate.
A technique of the self-luminous display, in which a reflective section is provided on a side opposite to a display surface with respect to the light emitting layer, has been proposed in order to efficiently extract light emitted from the light emitting layer. For example, in the case of the top emission type, the lower electrode is configured of a light-reflective metal such as aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), or an alloy of such a metal so as to serve as the reflective section. This enables extraction of reflected light, as display light, of light emitted from the light emitting layer to a direction of the lower electrode, in addition to light directly emitted from the light emitting layer to a direction of the counter electrode.
However, the reflective section also reflects outside light entering through the display surface, which may reduce effective contrast, leading to a reduction in image quality and in visibility. In particular, this greatly affects the image quality and visibility during use of the display in the open. There has been provided a configuration, in which a circularly polarizing plate is provided on a display surface side of the counter substrate, in order to suppress such reflection of outside light. The circularly polarizing plate includes an absorption-type polarizing plate combined with a quarter retardation film. In the display including the circularly polarizing plate, outside light entering through the display surface passes through the absorption-type polarizing plate, and thus changes into linear polarization that then passes through the quarter retardation film. The linear polarization passes through the quarter retardation film and thus changes into circular polarization. The circular polarization is then reflected by the reflective section (lower electrode), and then passes through the quarter retardation film again and thus changes into linear polarization. The linear polarization, which has passed through the quarter retardation film two times, is shifted in phase by λ/2 with respect to the linear polarization before the first action of passing through the quarter retardation film. Hence, the linear polarization does not go to the display surface but is absorbed by the absorption-type polarizing plate.
According to the above mechanism, the circularly polarizing plate substantially perfectly suppresses reflected light of outside light. However, the circularly polarizing plate greatly attenuates light emitted from the light emitting layer. As a result, light output is reduced, leading to an increase in power consumption and a reduction in life due to an increase in current density. For example, light transmittance of the circularly polarizing plate is about 40%. To address such a difficulty, a technique has been proposed, in which a reflection-type polarizing plate having the same light-axis direction as that of an absorption-type polarizing plate is interposed between the absorption-type polarizing plate and the quarter retardation film in order to improve light output (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2010-243769 and 2001-357979). In this technique, among light emitted from the light emitting layer, light, which has a light-axis direction orthogonal to that of the reflection-type polarizing plate or the absorption-type polarizing plate, is reflected by the reflection-type polarizing plate and the reflective section in this order, and thus passes through the quarter retardation film two times. Consequently, the light is shifted in phase by λ/2, and extracted through the display surface. As a result, light output increases to twice the square root (√) of light transmittance (in a parallel direction) of the absorption-type polarizing plate, or about 90% of light emitted from the light emitting layer.


A method for forming a CdTe film of good quality by an improved close-spaced sublimation process is disclosed. This method comprises: a step of applying a paste which contains material for CdTe semiconductor on a supporting member, thereby to form a coating film which contains the material for the semiconductor on the surface of the supporting member; a step of closely arranging the supporting member and a substrate on which a CdTe film is to be formed, to make the coating film to face the surface of the substrate; and a step of forming a CdTe film on the substrate, by heating the coating film and the substrate, and causing the material for the semiconductor in the coating film to evaporate.

In recent years, global environmental problems such as global warming due to carbon dioxide, depletion of the ozone layer, and the like have been highlighted. For that reason, expectation for development of new energy, in particular, that for solar cells have become glowingly great. However, for popularization of the solar cells, there are a number of problems which must be solved. In particular, an improvement in conversion efficiency of the solar cells and a reduction in price are desired.
A CdS/CdTe solar cell uses CdTe which has an forbidden band gap (=1.44 eV) being suitable for a light absorption layer, and thus it is one of the solar cells which are expected to yield a high conversion efficiency.
In the manufacturing process of the CdS/CdTe solar cell, a cadmium telluride (CdTe) film is formed on a surface of a cadmium sulfide (CdS) film in general. As a method for forming the CdTe film, the close-spaced sublimation process which can produce the CdTe film of high quality is attracting attention. The close-spaced sublimation process is a kind of the vapor deposition process. A CdTe solar cell which has a conversion efficiency of the world highest level (15.8%) at present is obtained by this process. The close-spaced sublimation process is disclosed in, for instance, "HIGH EFFICIENCY CdS/CdTe SOLAR CELLS FROM SOLUTION-GROWN CdS FILMS" (The Conference Record of the 22nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (1991) Vol. 2, p.952) by T. L. Chu et. al., or the like. According to this process, a material for forming the CdTe film (hereinafter referred to as a source) and a substrate are so placed as to face each other, with a gap of about 0.5-5 mm, and heated under a reduced pressure. In this manner, the source is caused to sublime and then deposit on the substrate.
According to this process, since the sublimed source is rearranged and crystallized on the substrate placed at a short distance as long as the mean free path level, a CdTe film which has a high crystallinity is obtained. Further, since the treatment is performed under the reduced pressure, the film-forming speed is high.
However, the above-mentioned conventional close-spaced sublimation process has the following problems.
In general, in the close-spaced sublimation process, as a source, a CdTe powder placed on a dish-shaped container so as to cover over it is used. In the above-mentioned literature for instance, a commercially-available polycrystal of CdTe with a purity of 5N, or a powder produced by pulverizing a polycrystal ingot of CdTe obtained by directly implanting a dopant as one of the constituting element, is used as the source.
In addition to the fact that this process uses an expensive CdTe powder, it has a low utilization efficiency. In this process, it is difficult to evenly place as much amount of the source for forming the film just once for covering over the container. For that reason, the same source is repeatedly used for forming the CdTe films. It is difficult to control the CdTe powder or the source since it changes in particle size, powder density, stoichiometric ratio and the like by the sublimation, and hence, with the repetition of the film-forming, dispersions in thickness and in quality of the CdTe film increases gradually. Therefore, the obtained solar cell has a large dispersion in performance. For that reason, in order to make the dispersion in performance of the solar cell small, of the source placed for covering, only about 10% is actually consumed for the film-forming, and the rest is discarded without being used.
Further, according to this process, since the film is formed under the reduced pressure, an equipment must once be stopped when the source is exchanged. Therefore, the production efficiency is also low.
When a CdTe film is formed by this process, on a substrate which has a large area, a central part of the obtained CdTe film is made thicker than that of a peripheral part because the central part of the source is liable to trap a heat flowed from circumference, as opposed to the peripheral part where the heat is liable to escape. Therefore, the variation in thickness within the same film is large.
Moreover, according to this process, when the source is used repeatedly, the particle diameter of the material decreases gradually and the surface area of the material increases, and in addition, the surface temperature of the source rises because the particles combine together by sintering. Therefore, the thermal conductivity increases and the film-forming speed increases gradually. When the same source is used repeatedly still more and the remaining amount of the source decreases accordingly, pores are produced between and among the particles and the thermal conductivity of the source is gradually lowered, thereby to decrease the film-forming speed conversely. For that reason, even when the manufacturing is performed under the same conditions, the thickness of the obtained CdTe film varies for every film-forming processes.
As previously described, according to the conventional close-spaced sublimation process, it is difficult to obtain CdTe film having uniform quality and thickness within the same film and between a plurality of the films. For that reason, although the CdTe film theoretically has the forbidden band gap which is the most ideal for converting the solar light as a compound semiconductor, a CdTe film as an ideal p-type semiconductor has not actually been obtained by the conventional close-spaced sublimation process.
In order to improve the conversion efficiency of the CdTe solar cells, means of making the CdTe film a weak p-type one by diffusing copper or the like into the CdTe film from the electrode side has widely been used, as reported, for instance, by B. E. Mccandless et. al., in "A treatment to allow contacting CdTe with different conductors" (Conference record of the 24th IEEE photovoltaic specialists conference 1994 volume II, p. 107-110). However, according to this method, a solar cell having a satisfactory conversion efficiency has not been obtained.

Method for preparing CdTe film and solar cell using the same


An ink jet recording head including: a vibrating plate made of ceramic; a pressure producing chamber forming member, made of ceramic, for forming a plurality of pressure producing chambers in rows; and drive electrodes formed on a surface of the vibrating plate so as to confront the pressure producing chambers. A width of the drive electrode is smaller than a width of the pressure producing chamber. A width of a piezoelectric vibrating element is larger than the width W2 of the drive electrode and smaller than the width of the pressure producing chamber, so that the operation region of the piezoelectric vibrating element is regulated by the width of the drive electrode and the peripheral portions of the piezoelectric vibrating element are bonded to the peripheral portions of the drive electrode reliably.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an on-demand ink jet recording head that forms characters and graphics on a recording medium with dots by expelling ink droplets thereto in accordance with input information. More particularly, the invention is directed to a structure having electrodes and piezoelectric vibrating elements formed on a surface of a vibrating plate as well as to a method of manufacturing such structure. The vibrating plate constitutes part of pressure producing chambers. The electrodes and the piezoelectric vibrating elements are formed integrally with the pressure producing chambers by baking.
1. Related Art
Since an ink jet recording head has a structure such that an ink droplet is expelled by causing a piezoelectric element to be abutted against a small pressure producing chamber and increasing the pressure of ink within the pressure producing chamber by displacement of a vibrating plate, precision working and fabricating techniques are required in the manufacture thereof, which elevates the cost.
To overcome this problem, a structure shown in FIG. 19 has been proposed attaching importance to the fact that the piezoelectric vibrating element, the vibrating plate constituting the pressure producing chamber, and the pressure producing chamber forming member can be made of ceramic. That is, a vibrating plate 90 formed by rolling a green sheet, which is a ceramic material, to a predetermined thickness and a pressure producing chamber forming member 94 having a pressure producing chamber 91 formed in advance by punching or machining with a laser beam a green sheet, which is also a ceramic material, are pressed and baked. Then, an electrode 93 is formed on the vibrating plate 90 and a piezoelectric vibrating element 92 is formed on the electrode 93 by baking.
Such an integrally baked ink jet recording head has the advantage of simple fabrication that involves only the steps of coating and baking a paste-like piezoelectric element by means of a printing technique. Further, since the pressure producing chamber forming member is integrated with the vibrating plate by baking, defective bonding such as observed in bonds formed by adhesives can be eliminated, which is an advantage in reliably preventing ink leakage.
However, the piezoelectric vibrating element, being such a small piece, is hard to uniformly coat to the corresponding drive electrode. Particularly, inconsistency in the bond of each piezoelectric vibrating element 92 with a peripheral edge 95 of the electrode 93 leads to inconsistency in the effective operation region between the piezoelectric vibrating elements, which in turn causes inconsistency in the ink expelling characteristic of each nozzle opening.
By the way, if the steps of depositing the electrode 93 on the surface of the vibrating plate 90, which is made of ceramic, and depositing the piezoelectric vibrating element 92 on the surface of the electrode 93 by baking are taken, the vibrating plate 90 generally flexes as shown in FIG. 20. That is, the vibrating plate 90 flexes toward the pressure producing chamber 91 at a central portion of the pressure producing chamber 91 due to a difference in the rate of contraction between the piezoelectric vibrating element 92 and the electrode 93 at the time of baking. As a result, such a permanent deformation that a part 92a (the cross-hatched region in FIG. 20) of the lower region of the piezoelectric vibrating element 92 projects toward the pressure producing chamber 91 tends to occur.
When the piezoelectric vibrating element 92 that has been deformed is caused to contract for expelling ink by applying a drive signal thereto, contracting forces in such horizontal directions indicated by arrows A1, A1 are generated as far as to the part 92a of the lower region, thereby drawing in the horizontal directions the vibrating plate 90 that has already been flexed. As a result, a part of the contracting force draws walls 94a, 94b of the pressure producing chamber forming member 94 in directions indicated by arrows C1, C2 through the vibrating plate 90. Since the walls 94a, 94b of the pressure producing chamber forming member 94 are shared in common with the adjacent pressure producing chambers 91, the contraction of a single pressure producing chamber 91 is transmitted to other pressure producing chambers 91, causing crosstalk or cancelling out a force B1 that contributes to the ink expelling operation when adjacent piezoelectric vibrating elements 92, 92 are driven simultaneously, which impairs ink expelling efficiency.
That is, the displacement of the vibrating plate 90 in the case where a single piezoelectric element is driven is different from that in the case where a plurality of adjacent piezoelectric vibrating elements 92 are driven simultaneously, the difference being approximately twice. This causes differences in the ink droplet expelling speed and the amount of ink expelled, the differences being approximately 1.5 times.

Ink jet recording head with vibrating element having greater width than drive electrode


A CPU clock signal generated from a phase lock loop (PLL) circuit and a feedback signal of the PLL circuit are used in generating a JBUS clock signal. The CPU clock signal and the feedback signal include the same amount of static phase offset introduced by the PLL circuit. The CPU clock signal and the feedback signal are input to an alignment detection circuit and used in generating the JBUS clock signal. In one embodiment, the JBUS clock signal is generated in synchronization with the CPU clock signal and having the frequency of the feedback signal. The present invention reduces or eliminates misalignment of the leading edge of the JBUS signal with reference to a specific leading edge of the CPU clock signal due to the presence of static phase offset introduced by the PLL circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the field of microprocessors, and more particularly, to alignment of clock signals in microprocessors.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, many of the digital circuits that make up a microprocessor are synchronously designed to transfer a digital signal in accordance with a clock signal and, thus, require precise timing to function properly. To manage the timing requirements throughout the microprocessor, the microprocessor is typically divided up into several clock domains.
When a digital signal travels across two clock domains, the clock signals used within the two clock domains should be synchronized so that the data signal will be received in a specific window of time in order for it to be utilized by a receiving component. Typically, this specific window of time is defined in terms of set up and hold times which define a period of time during which a data signal must be stable to be correctly received, e.g., sampled.
The synchronization of two clock signals that is particularly important in a microprocessor is the synchronization of the central processor unit (CPU) clock signal and the address/data bus clock signal, such as a JBUS clock signal, as these clock signals control the flow of information between the CPU and elements peripheral to the CPU.
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a prior art circuit 100 used for generating a JBUS clock signal 118 utilizing a system clock signal 110 and a CPU clock signal 114. In circuit 100, system clock signal 110 was generated at a fixed frequency and was input to a phase lock loop (PLL) circuit 112 to generate a CPU clock signal 114. Unfortunately, generation of CPU clock signal 114 using PLL circuit 112 typically resulted in some static phase offset being introduced into CPU clock signal 114 due to current leakage in PLL circuit 112 as well as other well known problems inherent to PLL circuit 112.
Static phase offset, also known as phase error, is typically a measure of the time difference between the averaged input reference clock signal and the averaged feedback input signal when a PLL circuit is locked and the input reference frequency is stable. In prior art circuit 100, static phase offset measured the time difference between the averaged leading edge of system clock signal 110 and the averaged leading edge of CPU clock signal 114.
Although PLL circuit 112 typically utilized a feedback signal in the generation of CPU clock signal 114 to maintain synchronization, some static phase offset still remained and resulted in delay of the leading edge of CPU clock signal 114 with reference to the leading edge of system clock signal 110. Consequently, CPU clock signal 114 and system clock signal 110 were typically not synchronized, e.g., the leading edges were not in alignment, when they were input to an alignment detection circuit 116 used in generating JBUS clock signal 118.
In alignment detection circuit 116, system clock signal 110 and CPU clock signal 114 were used in generating JBUS clock signal 118. However, due to the static phase offset introduced by PLL circuit 112 into CPU clock signal 114, the leading edge of JBUS clock signal 118 was frequently generated with an adjustment back one or more clock cycles from where it should, under ideal conditions, have been aligned with CPU clock signal 114. Consequently, synchronization, e.g., alignment of the leading edges, of JBUS clock signal 118 to CPU clock signal 114 often became uncontrollable.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a timing diagram 200 for prior art circuit 100 including system clock signal 110, CPU clock signal 114, and resulting JBUS clock signal 118. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 together, assume JBUS clock signal 118 was to be generated at a two clock cycle delay from system clock 110 which had a frequency fPA—SYS and was to be in alignment with the leading edge of CPU clock signal 114. When system clock signal 110 was input to PLL circuit 112, resulting CPU clock signal 114 was generated with a frequency fPA—CPU and had a non-synchronous leading edge due to a static phase offset 202 introduced by PLL circuit 112.
When system clock signal 110 and CPU clock signal 114 were input to alignment detection circuit 116, JBUS clock signal 118 was generated with a frequency fPA—JBUS that was equal to frequency fPA—SYS of system clock 110. However, rather than the leading edge of JBUS clock signal 118 being synchronized with the leading edge of CPU clock signal 114 at a two clock cycle delay from system clock 110, for example, clock cycle 3 (indicator A), the leading edge of JBUS clock signal 118 was generated with a misalignment 204, for example, to clock cycle 4 (indicator B).
In earlier generations of microprocessors, the static phase offset of CPU clock signal 114 was not a significant problem in the generation of JBUS clock signal 118 due to slower clock speeds, smaller leakage current, and comparatively larger timing tolerances. However, as clock speeds increased and component sizes decreased, timing tolerances became smaller, for example, smaller set up and hold times, and the static phase offset introduced into CPU clock signal 114 became excessive, and a more pronounced problem in generation of JBUS clock signal 118. The misalignment of the leading edge of JBUS clock signal 118 often resulted in set-up and hold time failures with consequent data loss.

Method and apparatus for static phase offset correction


An LC type plug with a shutter includes: a plug frame; a square cylindrical front housing arranged slidably on the plug frame and including a shutter; a locking housing connected to the plug frame; and a spring provided between an upper part of the front housing and the locking housing. The front housing includes a front portion storage space for storing a front portion of the spring, the locking housing is provided with a rear portion storage space for storing a rear portion of the spring, a rear end side of the front portion storage space and a front end side of the rear portion storage space are formed so as to overlap with each other, and the spring is not exposed to an outside even in a non-connected state of the plug, and the entire part is stored in the both storage spaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an LC type plug with a shutter used for a connecting end of an optical fiber cable.
2. Prior Art
In the prior art, as a known LC type plug, there is an LC type plug 15 including a cylindrical plug frame 18 having a ferrule 16 and a spring 17 configured to bias the ferrule 16 forward in the interior thereof; a cylindrical front housing (movable) 19 surrounding an outside of the plug frame 18 in sliding contact therewith; an elongated spring 21 obtaining a reaction force from a locking housing 20 so as to always bias the front housing (movable) 19 forward; a light-shielding plate (shutter) 22 having a curved shape, fixed at one end portion thereof to a front inner wall of the front housing 19, and configured to block light at a position in front of the ferrule 16; and the locking housing 20 configured to be fitted from the rear of the plug frame 18 as illustrated in FIG. 9A to FIG. 13.
In the LC type plug 15, the front housing 19 is biased forward by the spring 21 in a non-connected state so that the light-shielding plate 22 fixed to the front housing 19 protects eyes or the like by blocking laser beams from the ferrule 16, and the light-shielding plate 22 comes into abutment with an opening of the plug frame 18 by the retracted front housing 19 against a biasing force of the spring 21 in a connected state to extend the light-shielding plate 22 from the curved shape to a straight shape. Accordingly, the ferrule 16 protrudes from an opening end portion of the front housing 19 moved rearward, and the ferrule 16 on the LC type plug 15 side and a ferrule of an LC type adapter 24 as a connection counterpart (see FIGS. 2A and 2B) are connected (see JP-A-2011-13606).
However, in the LC type plug 15 with a shutter of the prior art, part of the elongated spring 21 that biases the front housing 19 always forward is exposed to the outside except for both end portions thereof as illustrated in FIG. 12. Therefore, there are probabilities of breakage during operation and corrosion after a long time of use. In addition, there is a problem that the number of components is increased and the number of assembly steps is also increased due to the usage of a pin 21a for preventing buckling of the elongated spring 21. The LC type plug with a shutter of the invention is proposed for solving the above-described problems.

LC type plug with a shutter having a spring stored in both a front housing and a locking housing


An amplifier circuit for a millimeter wave (mmW) communication system includes an amplifier coupled to a matching network, and a variable gain control circuit in the matching network, the variable gain control circuit having an adjustable gain control resistance, the adjustable gain control resistance having adjustable segments and a center node therebetween, the center node coupled to an alternating current (AC) ground.

Wireless communication devices and technologies are becoming ever more prevalent. Wireless communication devices generally transmit and receive communication signals. A communication signal is typically processed by a variety of different components and circuits. One of the circuits that process a communication signal is a transceiver. A transceiver may include a transmitter and a receiver. Some wireless communication devices may be configured to operate on a variety of different communication bands. For example, a modern wireless communication device may be configured to operate on radio spectrum covering both 5G and 4G LTE frequencies. In some instances, a modern wireless communication device may be configured to operate simultaneously on 5G and 4G LTE frequencies in what can be referred to as carrier aggregation (CA) in which a wireless communication device may simultaneously communicate over multiple carriers.
A millimeter-wave (mmW) transmitter typically used in 5G or new radio (NR) communication systems uses a number of transmit chains, each having one or more amplifiers, and each coupled to one or more antenna elements of a phased-array antenna system that may be configured to perform beamforming. Beamforming refers to altering a phase of a transmit and/or a receive signal provided to different antenna elements of the phased-array antenna system to affect the directionality of the resulting communication beam.
It is desirable to have a way to provide fine gain control for a mmW communication system that uses a phased-array antenna system.

Variable gain control system and method for an amplifier


There is provided a negative electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery in which when a battery is formed, the energy density is high, and moreover, the decrease in charge and discharge capacity is small even if charge and discharge are repeated. By using silicon oxide particles having a particle diameter in a particular range as a starting raw material, and heating these particles in the range of 850° C. to 1050° C., Si microcrystals are deposited on the surfaces of the particles. Then, by performing doping of Li, a structure comprising a plurality of protrusions having height and cross-sectional area in a particular range is formed on the surfaces. The average value of the height of the above protrusions is 2% to 19% of the average particle diameter of the above lithium-containing silicon oxide particles. By using the lithium-containing silicon oxide particles obtained by the above means as a negative electrode active material, a negative electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is fabricated.

With the rapid expansion of markets for notebook computers, cellular phones, electric cars, and the like, secondary batteries with high energy density are required. Generally, a method using a negative electrode active material with large charge and discharge capacity is known as means for increasing the energy density of a secondary battery. Patent Literature 1 describes an example of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery using lithium metasilicate (Li2SiO3) that is silicon oxide containing lithium or silicon dioxide (SiO2), as a negative electrode active material with large charge and discharge capacity, and using an electrolyte solution containing ethylene carbonate, as a solution of a nonaqueous electrolyte. Here, Patent Literature 1 discloses, as means for obtaining a secondary battery with high energy density, the step of electrochemically reacting silicon oxide, such as lithium metasilicate or silicon dioxide, with lithium or a substance containing lithium to obtain a negative electrode active material comprising silicon oxide containing lithium.
On the other hand, Patent Literature 2 relates to an electrode for a secondary battery in which a silicon thin film as an active material is formed on a surface of a current collector, and this silicon thin film has a configuration comprising a plurality of columnar structures. The purpose of the above configuration in Patent Literature 2 is the prevention of the occurrence of wrinkles in an electrode caused by a current collector with a silicon thin film due to repeated charge and discharge, because of a large change in the volume of the silicon thin film in the rapid charge and discharge of a secondary battery. In Patent Literature 2, by forming the shape of the above silicon thin film in such a manner that a plurality of columnar structures are arrayed, the change in the volume of the silicon thin film caused by charge and discharge is absorbed by the voids among these plurality of columnar structures, thereby preventing the deformation of the silicon thin film.
In the electrode for a secondary battery, comprising this silicon thin film, a pattern is formed on a surface of a copper foil or the like that is a current collector by a method, such as printing an ink, and after a silicon thin film is formed on the surface by sputtering or the like, the above pattern is removed by a method, such as immersing in an alkali solution. By this method, the silicon thin film according to the shape of the above pattern is formed on the current collector. By making the shape of this pattern a circular perforated pattern or the like, it is possible to form a silicon thin film comprising a plurality of columnar structures on a surface of a current collector.

Negative electrode for nanaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery using the same, and method for manufacturing negative electrode for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery


The present invention is a novel device, system, and method for simultaneous selection of filters and loop proportional gain for a closed loop system. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method provides an automated selection of the portion of the controller known as the speed loop compensator. The method may operate on a frequency response function that represents the dynamic response from an actuation force (e.g. motor torque) to the sensor used for feedback of speed control (e.g. motor encoder angle). The frequency response function may be represented as a series of complex numbers each with a corresponding frequency value. The tuning method determines the combination of filter parameters that allows the loop proportional loop gain (Kp) to be maximized while meeting a specified set of criteria for stability margins. Methods for selecting integral gain and reference model are also presented.

Deployment of filters, proportional gains, and integral gains to comprise a speed controller's compensation equations is well established and this particular invention does not make new proposals in terms of the form or type of equations that execute in the control itself. Automation of "servo tuning" or controller "optimization" is less established, but nonetheless is also an area of significant prior art.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,246, to Yutkowitz, Yutkowitz describes that an optimum value for a speed controller's proportional gain (Kp) could be determined by iteratively adjusting loop shaping filters to find the combination that yields the maximum Kp while maintaining requirements for gain and phase margins (stability margins). The process involves manipulation of the system's open-loop frequency response function to evaluate the stability margins that result at each iteration. A specific set of rules for the automation of such a technique was not described, instead the Yutkowitz outlines an environment that would involve the interaction of a setup technician with the software via a graphical user interface, where the user would be responsible for selecting the optimal values based on immediate feedback from the graphical interface.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,255, to Moser, Moser describes a technique for selecting notch filters to cancel mechanical resonances and enable increased gain. The Moser patent does not offer any guidelines for iterating the filter selection parameters. Rather, it describes only iteration of the proportional gain to match a predetermined template representing a model for approximate system dynamics. Once the proportional gain is determined filter selection is carried out in a single step. The two components of the compensator are determined separately, thus the interaction is not considered and the result will be less than optimal. Another difference is that the selection of proportional gain is based on amplitude of closed loop response rather than the examination of stability margins. Finally it does not offer suggestions of how to represent the concepts and algorithms in terms of object classes.
Accordingly, a need exists for a device, method, and system for quickly and efficiently selecting filters and loop proportional gain for a closed loop system.

Automating tuning of a closed loop controller


A substantially full wig is provided which is designed to be integrated with the hair of a person wearing the wig. The wig has a wefting construction with spacing between adjacent wefts which is sufficient to form a pattern of openings in the construction, at least most of which openings are of sufficient size to permit a tuft of the wearer's hair which is to be integrated to be pulled through the opening. At least one element is provided on the construction which permits the construction to be fitted to the wearer's head and to be maintained on the wearer's head. Hair fibers, either natural or artificial, of selected color, length and style are attached to the wefts of the construction.

People, particularly women, wear wigs for a variety of reasons, including to cover thinning or balding hair, to permit the wearer to look good when the wearer has not had time to have their hair styled or to style their hair themselves, and to permit the wearer to have a variety of hair styles and lengths without altering their own basic hair length and style. Hairpieces (i.e., partial wigs) are generally not suitable for performing most of these functions and, while full wigs are useful for these and other functions, there are also a number of limitations in wearing existing such wigs.
In particular, the physical properties of existing wigs may oftentimes reduce the wearer's overall sense of comfort. For example, existing wigs tend to add weight and may feel heavy on a wearer's head, and because of their close weave, the air flow, or breathing, of the wearer's scalp may be minimalized or inhibited. This reduction in air flow results in trapped excess heat, and may cause the wearer's scalp to itch. Also, because wigs oftentimes appear noticeably thicker and heavier than natural hair, they may be noticed and identified as a wig, sometimes causing undue embarrassment to the wearer. Lastly, a percentage of wigs are made with human hair instead of synthetic fibers, and because significant human hair is needed to achieve full wig coverage, such wigs can become relatively expensive.
A need therefore exists for an improved wig which is lighter, more comfortable to wear, more natural in appearance, and less expensive. Greater wearer comfort includes a design which facilitates air flow/breathing for the wearer's scalp, thereby substantially eliminating weighty feeling and the heat/itching resulting from the wearing of a wig, and a design which more positively secures the wig to the wearer's head so that the wearer can move her head freely without concern that the wig will move or fall off.

Integrated wig having a wefting construction