A command decoder generates a command signal based on first to fourth control signals in response to a second chip select signal generated by delaying a first chip select signal for a predetermined interval.

Generally, a semiconductor memory device receives an external clock signal and operates by using the clock signal as reference timing of an internal operation. In particular, a synchronous DRAM of the semiconductor memory device performs data read and write operations in synchronization with an external clock signal applied from an exterior. Thus, the semiconductor memory device such as the synchronous DRAM includes a clock buffer that generates an internal clock signal for buffering the external clock signal.
The clock buffer is driven in response to a clock enable signal CKE. For example, when the clock enable signal CKE is at a high level, the clock buffer is driven to generate the internal clock signal by buffering the external clock signal. However, when the clock enable signal CKE is at a low level, since the clock buffer is not driven, the internal clock signal is not generated.
Meanwhile, if the clock enable signal CKE is shifted from the low level to the high level, since driving of the clock buffer is determined according to setup/hold time, the internal clock signal may be generated or vice versa. In a state in which generation of the internal clock signal is not clear as described above, a command signal for an internal operation of the semiconductor memory device should not be generated.
However, in the case of the conventional command signal generating circuit (not shown), when generation of the internal clock signal is not clear, the command signal may be generated. Hereinafter, the details will be described with reference to FIG. 1.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, if the clock enable signal CKE is shifted from the low level to the high level, a chip select signal CSB is enabled at a low level during a predetermined interval. During the interval in which the chip select signal CSB is enabled at the low level, when first to fourth control signals CA<0:3>, which control the internal operation of the semiconductor memory device, are at a low level "X", a MRW (mode register write) command signal generated from the command signal generating circuit is enabled at a high level.
In the conventional command signal generating circuit as described above, if the first to fourth control signals CA<0:3> are at a low level in a state in which the chip select signal CSB is shifted to the low level by the clock enable signal CKE shifted to the high level, the MRW command signal is enabled at the high level. During the interval in which the clock enable signal CKE is shifted from the low level to the high level as described above, since generation of the internal clock signal is not clear, the MRW command signal may cause an abnormal operation of the semiconductor memory device.

Command decoder and command signal generating circuit


The invention relates to a mannequin for presenting or photographing at least one clothing article (K) arranged appropriately on the mannequin (1), with a front side (10) and a back side (11) facing away from the front side (10). It is provided according to the invention that the mannequin (1) has at least one continuous cutout (100, 101) such that the back side (11) of the mannequin (1) is not visible in a plan view of the front side (10) of the mannequin (1) from a predefinable line of sight (3) in the area of at least one cutout (100, 101).

Mannequins of the initially named type are used in multiple manners for the presentation of items of clothing and accessories in display windows and display cases, at exhibitions and in other media (e.g. Internet, print media).
The growing product variety in the fashion industry on the one hand and the constantly growing cost pressure on the other hand represent a great challenge for fashion designers and retailers. Through an improved presentation of articles of clothing in sales, a potential buyer can be more effectively pointed to new products and motivated to purchase a product. Thus, the development of new presentation means in the fashion industry has considerable significance.

Mannequin for presenting or photographing clothing articles


A bell device includes a housing having two housing members secured together, and one or more peripherals rib extended into an opening of the housing, a securing device includes a shank engaged in the opening of the housing, and includes a peripheral flange extended from the shank for engaging with the peripheral rib of the housing and for anchoring the shank to the housing when the two housing members are assembled together, a bell member is supported in the housing with the securing device, a clapper includes a stem pivotally attached to the securing device and a striking member for striking onto the bell member. A push rod may actuate the clapper to strike onto the bell member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bell device, and more particularly to a bell device having a solid assembling or securing structure for solidly attaching or coupling the clapper into the bell device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical bell devices comprise a metallic outer shell, a pivotal or movable clapper disposed in the metallic outer shell, and an actuator or push rod slidably disposed in the upper portion of the metallic outer shell for being depressed or actuated to act onto the clapper and for forcing the clapper to strike onto or against the metallic outer shell.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 482,983 to Piper discloses one of the typical bell devices comprising a disk-shaped striker rotatably disposed in the inner portion of the metallic outer shell, and an actuator or push rod slidably disposed in the metallic outer shell for acting onto the clapper and for forcing the striker to strike onto or against the metallic outer shell.
For the typical bell devices, the metallic outer shell is exposed and may be easily contacted by people or by various objects, such that the bell device may not be used to generate sound when stricken by the striker and when the metallic outer shell is contacted by people or by various objects.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,282 to Yuan discloses another typical bell device comprising a metallic bell body suspended or supported in an outer housing with a securing device, and a clapper pivotally disposed in the inner portion of the metallic bell body, and an actuator or push rod slidably attached to the outer housing and extendible into the metallic bell body for acting onto the clapper and for forcing the clapper to strike onto or against the metallic bell body.
The securing device includes a conduit having a peripheral catch for engaging through an upper barrel from a lower portion of the outer housing and for coupling or attaching the clapper to the metallic bell body. In operation, the actuator or push rod will be depressed or pushed downwardly relative to the outer housing and the metallic bell body for acting onto the clapper.
However, when the actuator or push rod is depressed or pushed downwardly relative to the outer housing and the metallic bell body, the conduit of the securing device will also be slightly depressed or pushed downwardly relative to the outer housing and the metallic bell body, such that the peripheral catch of the conduit may have a good chance to be disengaged from the outer housing and the metallic bell body after use.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional bell devices.


The present invention discloses an operational model for simulating a manufacturing flow. The operational model includes an operational block, an operational library, a strategic block and a strategic library. The operational block is built in accordance with operational data of the equipments, and the operational library is built by integrating a plurality of operational blocks. The strategic block is built in accordance with throughput data of the equipments, and the strategic library is built by integrating a plurality of strategic blocks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an operational simulating model, and more particularly, to an operational model for simulating manufacturing flow and a simulating method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Semiconductor foundries and TFT-LCD foundries are complex manufacturing environments. Each product has to undergo tens to hundreds of different processes. The manufacturing equipments include each kind of process equipments, material transfer equipments, and storage equipments. Therefore, the types, amounts, position and motion flow have enormous influence on the manufacturing flow.
In the past, the semiconductor foundries and TFT-LCD foundries arranged the manufacturing flow in accordance with the specifications provided by the equipment vendors or in accordance with previous experiences. When the equipment is insufficient after being set up, the overall arrangement should be rearranged and sometimes more equipment is required. The prior art method not only makes optimization difficult, but also requires large amounts of time and money.
In addition, when the product is changed, the overall arrangement has to be readjusted. The method of prior art alteration is similar to building a new foundry in accordance with the specification provided by the equipment vendors or the previous experiences. There might be a shortage of equipments, or some equipments might be left unused. Rearrangement and readjustment are both costly and time consuming.
Therefore before building a new operational line or changing a manufacturing flow, it is compulsory to perform a simulation to reduce risks and expense. So far, equipment vendors have been performing manufacturing flow simulations for their own products. Some foundry simulation software has turned up in the market for manufacturing flow simulations to gain the best throughput layout. Nevertheless this type of simulating model cannot work out in accordance with a certain operational flow or a certain running strategy, i.e. the simulating model cannot perform in accordance with a specific requirement. Consequently, the model will not fit the requirements of foundry-building (ex: 12-inch wafer foundries) layouts in the future.

Operational model for simulating manufacture flow and simulating method thereof


The present invention provides systems and methods for logically organizing data for storage and recovery on a data storage medium using a multi-level format. The present invention also provides systems and methods for protecting data stored on data storage medium so that the data may be recovered without errors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to formats for information storage systems.
2. Related Art
All storage devices require a method for protecting and organizing data so that the correct data can reliably be retrieved as desired from a host system. The definition for doing this is referred to as the logical format.
Holographic storage presents many new challenges for the development of a logical format that haven't been dealt with before in other storage technologies. In holographic data storage, the basic unit of storage is a data image which is a 2 dimensional array of light and dark pixels with light pixels usually representing 1's and dark pixels usually representing 0's. This image is recorded into the media as 3D interference patterns that can be reconstructed during readout. An image can have thousands or millions of information symbols. This contrasts drastically with current conventional storage technologies that store and read back data a few symbols at a time either magnetically or optically. These devices may read data back in parallel on multiple tracks, but at most, only a few or 10s of symbols at a time.
For holographic data storage, recordings are interference patterns between a data beam and reference beam which are captured in some kind of holographic medium. The act of reading requires an incident beam that is recreation of the reference beam to illuminate the recorded area. This reconstructs an image of the original written image. Some types of media have an issue where exposure to light prior to data recording uses up some or all of the medium's dynamic range, rendering recording difficult to impossible. A key feature of this logical format is its ability to ensure that unexposed areas of the medium are not exposed prior to recording.
Since the configuration of holographic data is radically different than the way it is stored in current storage technologies, there exists a need for a logical format for holographic storage that is able to protect the data to ensure the reliability and that is able to organize the data so that the correct data can be addressed and read back.


A saccharide composition comprising maltooligosyl derivatives of turanose and palatinose which can be readily produced, separated, and purified in a relatively-high yield from maltooligosylsucrose by allowing non-reducing saccharide-forming enzymes to act on aqueous solutions containing maltooligosylsucrose. These saccharides are reducing oligosaccharides with a mild and high-quality sweetness and can be used orally and parenterally, as well as being readily metabolized and used by living bodies.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a saccharide composition comprising maltooligosyl derivative of turanose (hereinafter designated as "maltooligosylturanose") and maltooligosyl derivative of palatinose (hereinafter designated as "maltooligosylpalatinose"), its preparation and uses; more particularly, it relates to a saccharide composition comprising maltooligosylturanose and maltooligosylpalatinose, a process for producing the saccharide composition comprising a step of allowing a non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme to act on maltooligosylsucrose, and to a composition containing the saccharide composition.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Turanose and palatinose are reducing disaccharides consisting of glucose and fructose moieties and having chemical structures of 3-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-D-fructose and 6-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-D-fructose, respectively.
As is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.252,974/93, it is known that turanose is produced by allowing cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase to act on aqueous solutions containing amylaceous substances and fructose. While palatinose is known that, as disclosed in "Seito-Gijutsu-Kenkyu-Kaishi", No.34, pp.37-44 (1985), it is produced from sucrose using .alpha.-glucosidase from a strain of the species Protaminobacter rubrum. These saccharides are known that (i) they have a relatively-low sweetness and less induce dental caries, (ii) they are expected to be used as a material to sweeten food products, (iii) they are readily crystallized, (iv) they could not be readily prepared into high-concentration syrups, and (v) they should be treated or handled in a manner that they may not be crystallized even when used in highly sweetened food products such as bean jams and sweet jellies of beans. The development of non-crystalline oligosaccharides having a higher molecular weight, a satisfactory viscosity-controlling ability, a moisture-controlling ability, and a preferable sweetness, has been greatly expected.

Saccharide composition comprising maltooligosylturanose and maltooligosylpalatinose, its preparation and uses

Kabushiki Kaisha Hayashibara Seibutsu Kagaku Kenkyujo


Provided is a semiconductor device comprising a cooler in which, by improving the shape of the connecting portions of an inlet/outlet of a coolant or the like, the pressure loss in the connecting portion or the like can be reduced.

Equipment which uses a motor represented by a hybrid automobile, an electric automobile or the like utilizes a power conversion device for energy saving. The power conversion device usually utilizes a semiconductor module. The semiconductor module comprises a power semiconductor element for controlling large current.
The heat value of the power semiconductor element is large when the element controls large current. Since miniaturization or lightweight of a semiconductor module is demanded and the output density tends to rise, the power conversion efficiency depends on a method of cooling the power semiconductor elements in a semiconductor module comprising a plurality of power semiconductor elements.
In order to improve the cooling efficiency of a semiconductor module, a liquid cooling type cooler has been conventionally used. Such a liquid cooling type cooler contains a fin as a heat sink, and cooling is performed by passing a coolant to circulate in the cooler. In order to improve cooling efficiency, a variety of elaborations have been made on liquid cooling type coolers such as increasing the flow rate of a coolant, improving the heat transfer coefficient by micronization and complication of a fin, and improving the thermal conductivity of a material which constitutes the fin.
However, when the flow rate of a coolant in a cooler is increased or a fin has a shape by which an excellent heat transfer coefficient is obtained, a problem that the pressure loss of a coolant inside the cooler is increased or the like is likely to occur. In particular, there is disclosed a cooler which uses a plurality of fins for cooling multiple power semiconductor elements, wherein the fins are provided in series in a flow channel (Patent document 1), and an increase of the pressure loss is remarkable in a cooler having such a constitution. In order to reduce such a pressure loss, a constitution in which cooling efficiency is improved with a low coolant flow rate is needed, and fins are desirably arranged in parallel in a flow channel.
Examples of a cooler in which cooling performance is maintained and pressure loss of a coolant is reduced by arranging fins in parallel in a flow channel include those in which an introduction path for introducing a coolant and a discharge path for discharging a coolant are arranged parallel to each other and a plurality of fins are arranged in parallel in cooling flow channels therebetween (Patent document 2, 3, 4).

Abstract: A cooler 20 of a semiconductor device 1 includes: an inlet 27 and an outlet 28 provided on side walls 22b1, 22b2 of a case 22 opposing to each other at diagonal positions; an introduction path 24 which is connected to the inlet 27 and formed in the case 22; a discharge path 25 which is connected to the outlet 28 and formed in the case 22; and a cooling flow channel 26 between the introduction path 24 and the discharge path 25. The height of the opening of the inlet 27 is larger than the height of the introduction path 24, and a connecting portion 271 between the inlet 27 and the introduction path 24 includes an inclined surface 271b which is inclined from the bottom surface of the connecting portion 271 toward the longitudinal direction of the introduction path 24.


A small, high performance high frequency power amplifier enables easily adjusting and switching the impedance. The high frequency power amplifier module includes a first semiconductor chip including one or a plurality of high frequency amplification devices, and a second semiconductor chip including one or more high frequency matching circuit devices and one or more switching devices. The second semiconductor chip includes the matching circuit for a high frequency amplifier device. The second semiconductor chip also includes a circuit composed of a capacitance and a switching device connected in series or parallel to the capacitance. The switching device switches on or off so that the capacitance is connected or is not connected as a part of the matching circuit.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a high frequency power amplifier that is used in mobile communication devices.
2. Description of Related Art
High frequency power amplifiers that are used in cell phones, for example, have an amplification device such as a transistor, an input matching circuit for efficiently inputting a high frequency signal to the amplification device, and an output matching circuit for efficiently outputting the high frequency signal from the amplification device. The matching circuits have a capacitance and a high frequency matching device such as an inductor or microstrip line, and are typically rendered as a packaged chip mounted on a circuit board. A semiconductor chip containing the high frequency amplification device is also mounted on the circuit board, and combined these components render a high frequency power amplifier module.
Cell phones have come to offer a wide range of functions including multiband signal transmission capabilities and multimode functions for handling different modulation signals. Battery size has also decreased as cell phones have become smaller, thus requiring higher efficiency high frequency power amplifiers in order to assure sufficient communication time, and there is a need to emphasize efficiency during low power operation instead of only near the maximum output level. As known from the literature, optimizing the efficiency of the high frequency power amplifier requires matching the input and output impedance under various frequency, output, and other conditions, and plural individual high frequency power amplifiers having matching circuits with optimized impedance are required in order to provide multiband and multimode compatibility.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,748 (corresponding to Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-251202) teaches an arrangement having a control device affording such compatibility.
FIG. 19 shows an example of the prior art. The matching circuit on the output side of the last amplification device includes a variable capacitance 300 and capacitance 301, a switching diode 302 connected in series to the capacitance, and an arrangement including an inductor 303, a bypass capacitor 304, and a resistance 305 on the path connected to the control circuit, and the impedance of the output load circuit 306 can be varied by controlling these devices. If the devices 300 to 305 are rendered as chips mounted on a circuit board, the area of the power amplification module including the matching circuit is increased as shown in FIG. 20. The area is further increased and the module becomes even more complicated if sophisticated control techniques for multiband switching and output power switching are also incorporated.
The present invention provides a high frequency power amplifier that enables easily adjusting and switching the impedance while reducing the area of the power amplification module and assuring high performance and low cost.


An optical head device may include a frame type of laser beam emitting element provided with a heat radiating fin on which a laser chip is mounted, a device frame on which the laser beam emitting element, a light receiving element and an optical system are mounted, and a heat radiation member formed of material having a superior heat conduction property. The upper face of the laser beam emitting element is fixed to the device frame, and an under face of the heat radiating fin which corresponds to a portion where the laser chip is mounted is exposed on an outer side to form an exposed part, and the heat radiation member is disposed to extend over the exposed part and the device frame. The device frame may include a first protective cover covering the optical disk side of the optical elements, and a second protective cover which covers the optical disk side of the objective lens drive mechanism and which is separately formed from the first protective cover and made of material having a superior heat conduction property, and a part of the second protective cover is extended to a laser driver IC, which is disposed to be exposed on the optical disk side, to form a heat radiation part where heat generated in the laser driver IC is radiated.

A conventional optical head device which is used for reproducing information from an optical disk such as a CD or a DVD includes a laser beam emitting element, an objective lens drive mechanism which is provided with an objective lens for converging a laser beam emitted from the laser beam emitting element on an optical disk and is driven in a focusing direction and in a tracking direction, a light receiving element which receives a return light reflected by the optical disk, and parts for an optical system for guiding the laser beam between the laser beam emitting element and the light receiving element. These optical parts are mounted on a base.
As shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-192720, a conventional frame type of laser beam emitting element 2 is held with a light emitting element holder 9 which is formed of a first holder member 91 and a second holder member 92 abutting with fins 24a, 25a from both sides to hold the laser beam emitting element 2 and is adhesively fixed to the base 10.
When the light emitting element holder 9 is to be adhesively fixed to the base 10, the position of an emitted light point of the laser beam emitting element 2 is required to be adjusted in a three-dimensional direction. Therefore, the light emitting element holder 9 and the base 10 are adhesively fixed to each other through a gap space in which the position of the emitted light point of the laser beam emitting element 2 can be adjusted in a three-dimensional direction.
With the speeding-up of disk dive device operation in recent years, the amount of heat generated in the laser beam emitting element 2 is also increased. In addition, with the miniaturization and thinning of an optical head device, since the light emitting element holder 9 of the laser beam emitting element 2 is downsized, heat radiation can not be sufficiently performed by only the heat radiating fins 24a, 25a. In order to solve the problem, for example, it is conceivable that the light emitting element holder 9 is formed of material, which is excellent in heat conductive property, to radiate heat from the heat radiating fins 24a, 25a to the light emitting element holder 9. However, with the miniaturization and thinning of an optical head device, since the light emitting element holder 9 is downsized, heat radiation can not be performed sufficiently even when such the light emitting element holder 9 is used. In the light emitting element holder 9 described in the above-mentioned patent reference, a gap space is provided between the light emitting element holder 9 and the base 10 so as to be capable of adjusting the position of the emitted light point of the laser beam emitting element 2 in a three-dimensional direction. Therefore, since heat radiation can not be sufficiently performed to the base 10 from the light emitting element holder 9, temperature of the laser beam emitting element 2 becomes higher and thus a service life time of the laser beam emitting element 2 maybe shortened.
Further, another conventional optical head device which is used for reproducing information from an optical disk such as a CD or a DVD includes an optical system having a laser beam emitting element as a light source, a laser driver integrated circuit (laser driver IC) for driving the laser beam emitting element, a frame on which the optical system is mounted, a cover fixed to a frame for protecting the optical system and the like.
In this optical head device, the cover for protecting the optical system is commonly formed of a metal plate made of stainless steel and heat generated in the laser driver is radiated through the cover. In other words, in a conventional optical head device, a cover which functions as a heat sink for a laser driver is used. A conventional structure of the optical head device will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.
As shown in FIG. 15, an optical head device 101 includes a laser beam emitting element 102 as a light source, a laser driver IC 104 mounted on a circuit 103 for driving the laser beam emitting element 102, and a frame 105 on which an optical system including the laser beam emitting element 102 is mounted. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, a cover 106 formed of a stainless-steel plate is fixed to the frame 105 with a mounting screw 108 to protect the optical system.
As shown in FIG. 16, the cover 106 is fixed so as to cover almost the whole portion of a bottom face side of the frame 105, and optical elements structuring the optical system is covered by the cover 106. The cover 106 contacts with the laser driver IC 104 through a heat transmission sheet (not shown) which is provided with heat transmission property and elasticity. Therefore, heat generated in the laser driver IC 104 is radiated to the frame 105 through the heat transmission sheet and thus the cover 106 functions as a heat sink for the laser driver IC 104.
A method for positively radiating heat generated in the laser driver IC is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-192751, in which a laser driver IC is disposed on an optical disk side and air is circulated by rotation of the optical disk to radiate the heat generated in the laser driver IC to the air through a heat radiation member.
When the conventional optical head device 101 is structured as shown in FIG. 16, since the cover 106 functions as a heat sink for the laser driver IC 104, temperature of the cover 106 rises with rising of the temperature of the laser driver IC 104. The cover 106 covers almost the whole portion on the bottom face side of the frame 105 on which the optical system is mounted and thus the temperature of the whole frame 105 also rises with rising of the temperature of the cover 106. Further, with rising of the temperature of the cover 106, temperature of the optical elements which are covered by the cover 106 also rises.
With higher-density recording and speeding-up for an optical disk in recent years, the amount of heat generated in the laser driver IC 104 which drives the laser beam emitting element is increased. On the other hand, with the miniaturization and thinning of an optical head device, the heat sink is also downsized. Therefore, the temperature of the whole frame 105 rises and the temperature of the optical elements covered by the cover 106 becomes higher and thus optical characteristics of the optical head device 101 are affected. In other words, fixed positions of the optical elements structuring the optical system are displaced by temperature rising of the frame 105 and thus optical characteristics of the optical head device 101 are affected.
Further, in the latter patent reference, adverse effects to the optical elements may be avoided by a laser driver IC which is arranged on an optical disk side and heat is radiated through a heat radiation member which is a different member from the cover. However, in this patent reference, the heat radiation member which is provided with both arm portions facing each other in a jitter direction is formed in a U-shape so as to avoid an actuator (objective lens drive mechanism). Therefore, although its outer shape is large, a sufficient heat radiation area is not obtained and thus heat radiation effect is not satisfactory. Further, a dedicated heat radiation member for the laser driver IC is required separately and thus the number of parts is increased. In addition, in a thin-type of optical head device used in a notebook-sized personal computer or the like, the heat radiation member is not exposed from an opening of a tray on which an optical disk is placed and thus cooling effect is not sufficient.

Optical head device and disk drive device


A tether is a net that kinks and is automatically deformed upon tension release. The tether has a length of several kilometers to several tens of kilometers upon deployment and is capable of shrinking to have a length of approximately several tens of meters to several hundreds of meters by kinking and automatically being deformed when the tension is released because of cutting or the like.

An electrodynamic tether, a momentum transfer tether, and the like have been proposed, and a tether having a length of several hundreds of meters to several tens of kilometers has been demonstrated in the outer space.
A tether in a wound state is launched into the outer space, and deployed by for example releasing an end-mass attached to one end of the tether with a spring or the like at several meters per second (see Non-Patent Literature 1).
The inventors of the present invention have proposed a space tether having light weight, a reduced occupation area, and high strength (see Patent Literature 1).

Net, tether storing apparatus, and manufacturing method for a net


An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) device, comprising: a first electrode and a second electrode. One or more organic layers are formed there-between, including an organic light-emitting layer. The second electrode is transparent. A contrast enhancement element is formed on a side of the second electrode, opposite the organic layer, and has a geometric area for controlling ambient light contrast ratio of the OLED device.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are a promising technology for flat-panel displays and area illumination lamps and backlights. However, OLED devices typically have a highly reflective back electrode to enhance the output of emitted light through one side of the OLED device. This highly reflective back electrode also reflects ambient light, thereby reducing the ambient contrast ratio of the OLED device. As is known in the prior art, circular polarizers can greatly reduce the reflected ambient light, but such circular polarizers are expensive.
Significant portions of emitted light may also be trapped in OLED devices. Scattering layers may be employed to improve the light emission of OLED devices, but may inhibit the effectiveness of circular polarizers, and do not selectively absorb ambient light. Chou (WO 02/37580, filed 9 Mar. 2001 in the name of 3M Innovative Properties Company) and Liu et al. (U.S. Publication No. 2001/0026124, filed 23 Mar. 2001), e.g., taught the use of a volume or surface scattering layer to improve light extraction. The scattering layer is applied next to the organic layers or on the outside surface of the glass substrate and has optical index that matches these layers. Light emitted from the OLED device at higher than critical angle that would have otherwise been trapped can penetrate into the scattering layer and be scattered out of the device. The light-emitting efficiency of the OLED device is thereby improved, but the ambient contrast is not significantly changed.
One prior-art approach to improving OLED device contrast is to employ a black matrix in all non-emitting areas of an OLED device, as described, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,936,960, issued 30 Aug. 2005 to Eastman Kodak Company, by Cok, entitled "OLED Displays Having Improved Contrast". The black matrix absorbs the fraction of ambient light incident upon the device between the light-emitting areas, without absorbing emitted light, thereby improving the contrast of the OLED. Generally, it is preferred to maximize the light-emitting area in an OLED device to reduce the current density in the light-emitting materials and extend the lifetime of the OLED. However, this reduces the amount of area available for a black matrix, thereby increasing the amount of ambient light reflected from the OLED back electrode and reducing the contrast of a top-emitting OLED device.
Other techniques for reducing ambient light reflection include the use of contrast enhancing films. For example, WO 2005/059636, filed 24 Nov. 2004 in the name of Konin-Klijke Philips Electronics N.V., by Kurt, describes a film having a plurality of waveguides separated by interstitial areas formed as narrowing recesses coated with a reflective layer. However, such a design requires small, high-precision features that are expensive to manufacture. Moreover, any imperfection in the reflective layer reduces the absorption of the ambient light and ambient contrast ratio of the device.
There is a need; therefore, for an improved organic light-emitting diode device structure that increases the ambient contrast ratio of an OLED device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

OLED display with planar contrast-enhancement element


A voltage supply circuit is provided which is capable of rapidly terminating a fluctuation in the voltage at the voltage output terminal of a feedback type voltage supply and restoring the voltage to a steady-state value. The feedback type voltage supply has a voltage output terminal to which a current supply circuit and a current absorbing circuit are connected. The current supply circuit comprises a voltage source for generating a voltage slightly less than the steady-state voltage at the voltage output terminal, a first diode 33 having a cathode connected to the voltage output terminal, a second diode having a cathode connected to the voltage source, and a current source having a current output terminal connected to the junction between the anodes of the first and the second diode. The current absorbing circuit comprises a voltage source for outputting a voltage slightly above the steady-state voltage at the voltage output terminal, a third diode having an anode connected to the voltage output terminal, a fourth diode having an anode connected to the voltage source, and a current source having a current output terminal connected to the junction between the cathodes of the third and the fourth diode.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a voltage supply circuit provided with a feedback type voltage supply or source, and in particular, to a voltage supply circuit suitable for use in supplying a given voltage to a load through which an operating or working current having a peak value greater than a steady-state current flows upon inversion of its operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
A general arrangement of an example of the feedback type voltage supply or source which has been used in the prior art is shown in FIG. 3. The illustrated feedback type voltage supply 10 comprises a first operational amplifier 11 having a non-inverting input terminal which is connected to a point of a common potential (ground) and an inverting input terminal which is supplied with a constant voltage Vin from a voltage source 18, a voltage output terminal TO to which a voltage V.sub.0 outputted from the operational amplifier 11 is fed through a current measuring resistor 13, a negative feedback circuit connected between the voltage output terminal TO and the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier 11, the negative feedback circuit including a second operational amplifier 12, a switching element 14 connected in parallel with the resistor, and a phase compensation capacitor 15 also connected in parallel with the resistor 13.
The voltage V.sub.0 given to the output terminal TO is supplied to a load 25 as a given operating or working voltage, and is also negatively fed back to the inverting input terminal of the first operational amplifier 11 through the second operational amplifier 12. The voltage source 18 which feeds the constant voltage Vin to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier 11 is generally formed by a D/A (digital-analog) converter so that the magnitude of the constant voltage Vin fed to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier 11 can be set to an arbitrary value depending upon a digital value given to the D/A converter.
The feedback type voltage supply 10 constructed in the manner mentioned above is often used, as a power supply or source, in a semiconductor device testing apparatus (commonly called IC tester) for testing various kinds of semiconductor devices such as IC memories, for instance, each formed into a semiconductor integrated circuit (hereinafter referred to as IC), the power supply supplying a predetermined operating voltage to semiconductor devices to be tested on testing them.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the feedback type voltage supply 10 is used in a current measuring circuit for measuring a current flow through a semiconductor device under test as a power supply for applying a given operating voltage to the semiconductor device under test. For this end, there is provided current measuring means 20 including a differential amplifier 21 for taking out a voltage developed across the current measuring resister 13 connected between the first operational amplifier 11 and the voltage output terminal TO, and an A/D (analog-digital) converter 22 for converting a voltage value detected by the differential amplifier 21 into a digital value. However, it should be noted that this shows merely an exemplary one and that the circuit arrangement of the feedback type voltage supply 10 may be changed or modified depending on its application.
When the load 25 which is connected between the output terminal TO of the Voltage supply 10 and the common potential point is a semiconductor integrated circuit having a complementary MOS structure (hereafter referred to as CMOS type IC), for example, a current IL flowing through CMIOS type IC changes in a manner illustrated in FIG. 4A each time an active element (field effect transistor) or elements within the CMOS type IC inverts or invert in its or their operation. That is, during a steady-state operation of the IC in which no inverting operation of active elements occurs, a steadystate current .DELTA.I of very small magnitude flows therethrough, and during inverting operation thereof, an operating current IP having a very large magnitude flows therethrough, and upon completion of the inverting operation, the current is restored to the steady-state current .DELTA.I of very small magnitude, again. The ratio of the operating current IP to the steady-state current .DELTA.I is very high, on the order of 1000:1, for example.
Even if the load 25 is not a CMOS type IC, the current flowing through the load 25 changes in the similar manner as illustrated in FIG. 4A where it is one through which an operating current having a peak value greater than the magnitude thereof in the steady-state flows when there occurs an inversion in operation thereof. As a consequence, the voltage V.sub.0 given to the voltage output terminal TO from the voltage supply 10 changes in a manner depicted in FIG. 4B, requiring a significant length of time until it is restored to the original steady-state voltage Vin.
As is recognized, an increase in the operating speed of IC is being ever demanded recently, and with an IC which operates at a higher speed or rate, its inverting operation takes place more quickly. It will then be seen that the period during which the operating current IP with a higher magnitude flows is significantly shortened. As the period during which the operating current IP flows is reduced in time, the time interval during which the steady-state current .DELTA.I of very small magnitude flows becomes shortened, resulting in a situation that the operating current IP of a high magnitude occurs again before the steady-state current .DELTA.I can be stabilized. Accordingly, for an IC having a high operation speed, it follows that the current measurement must be made before the steady-state current is stabilized, making it difficult to measure the steady-state current exactly. In addition to the measurement of the steady-state current, there is also a need to return the voltage V.sub.0 supplied to the voltage output terminal TO of the voltage supply 10 to the original steady-state voltage Vin quickly to assure a stable operation (or to increase the reliability) of the IC which is operating at a high speed.
For this end, in the current measuring circuit shown in FIG. 3, a bypass capacitor 16 is connected between the output terminal TO and the common potential point (and thus in parallel with the load 25), and is normally charged to the steady-state voltage V.sub.0 (and accordingly, to the steady-state voltage Vin), the arrangement being such that when the operating current IP flows through the load 25, the switching element 14 is turned on to bypass the resister 13, thus allowing an increased current flow. Subsequent to the flow of the operating current IP, the switching element 14 is turned off to allow a measurement of the steady-state current .DELTA.I.
However, in order to turn the switching element 14 on as the operating current IP flows and to turn it off subsequent to the flow of the operating current IP, it is necessary that the turn on/off of the switching element 14 be effected in accordance with a change in the current IL flowing through the load 25 in real time, thus presenting a difficulty that a complicated control is required.
As the current IL flows through the load 25, a change in the voltage V.sub.0 at the output terminal TO of the voltage supply 10 (namely, a load fluctuation characteristic) is determined by the magnitude of the current IL, the capacitance of the bypass capacitor 16 and the response of the voltage supply 10. To obtain a rapid load fluctuation characteristic, it is necessary to increase the frequency response of the voltage supply 10, thus accelerating the response. On the other hand, it is necessary to choose a small capacitance for the bypass capacitor 16 in order to increase the frequency response of the voltage supply 10.
As the operating current IP flows, the initial current is fed to the load 25 from the bypass capacitor 16. If the bypass capacitor 16 has a reduced capacitance, the reduced stored charge causes an increased initial voltage change .DELTA.V.sub.0 in the voltage V.sub.0 at the output terminal TO. In such case, because of the increased frequency response of the voltage supply 10, a time interval during which the voltage V.sub.0 continues to change (or a time interval from the beginning of a change in the voltage V.sub.0 until it resumes the original steady-state voltage Vin) is relatively short. However, there is a limit on the degree to which the response of the voltage supply 10 can be accelerated with a reduction in the capacitance of the bypass capacitor 16 alone. It then follows that the circuit cannot be used as a power supply for a load which operates with a degree of rapidness.
By contrast, when an increased capacitance is chosen for the bypass capacitor 16, the initial voltage change .DELTA.V.sub.0 in the voltage V.sub.0 at the output terminal TO can be reduced as the operating current IP flows. However, because the frequency response of the voltage supply 10 is decreased, its response becomes retarded, resulting in an increased length of time during which the voltage V.sub.0 continues to change. Hence, it cannot be used as a power supply for a load which operates rapidly.

Voltage supply circuit for a load absorbing high tentative peak current


The invention relates to an adapter (1) for sleeves (20) with elastomer cable seals (28), comprising at least one tubular element (3) and a support element (2), the support element (2) comprising means for fastening the support element (2) to a lower housing part (21) of a sleeve (20) and to a method for introducing a fiber-optic cable into a sleeve (20) using an adapter (1).

The invention relates to an adapter for sleeves with elastomer cable seals and to a method for introducing a fiber-optic cable into such a sleeve.
Sleeves for optical-fiber cables have two sealing systems that differ in principle, namely elastomer cable seals in the lower housing part of the sleeve and shrink collars.
Recently, new types of optical-fiber cables known as blown-fiber cables have been developed. They comprise a multiplicity of ducts, through which fibers are subsequently blown by means of compressed air. These cables are extremely rigid, so that their direct introduction into the sleeve causes difficulties when the sleeve is subsequently moved.
To solve the problem, it is conceivable to strip some of the sheathing from the cable and introduce the ducts directly into the sleeve. The ducts could then be protected outside the sleeve by a flexible tube, which is then brought up to the sleeve. However, this causes problems at the elastomer cable seal.

Adapter for sleeves with elastomer cable seals and method for introducing a fiber-optic cable into a sleeve


Disclosed herein are an ultrasonic probe having a backing layer formed of a structure which varies acoustic impedance and a manufacturing method thereof. The ultrasonic probe includes a piezoelectric layer and a backing layer provided on a rear surface of the piezoelectric layer, and the backing layer includes a plurality of kerfs formed on a front surface thereof in a lengthwise direction, the front surface being adjacent to the rear surface of the piezoelectric layer, and the kerfs are formed such that the intervals between the kerfs are varied.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments relate to an ultrasonic probe having a backing layer which varies acoustic impedance and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus irradiates an ultrasonic signal toward a target region of the interior of a body of an object from the surface of the body of the object, and acquires an image regarding soft tissue tomography or a blood stream through a non-invasive technique using information of a reflected ultrasonic signal (an ultrasonic echo signal).
The ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus is small and inexpensive, executes display in real time and has a high safety level without radiation exposure, as compared to other image diagnosis apparatuses, such as an X-ray diagnosis apparatus, an X-ray computerized tomography (CT) scanner, a magnetic resonance imager (MRI) and a nuclear medicine diagnosis apparatus, and is thus widely used for heart diagnosis, celiac diagnosis, urinary diagnosis and obstetrical diagnosis.
Particularly, the ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe which transmits an ultrasonic signal to an object and which receives an ultrasonic echo signal reflected by the object to acquire an ultrasonic image of the object.
The ultrasonic probe includes a piezoelectric layer in which a piezoelectric material vibrates to execute conversion between an electrical signal and an acoustic signal, a matching layer which reduces an acoustic impedance difference between the piezoelectric layer and the object so as to maximally transmit ultrasonic waves generated from the piezoelectric layer to the object, a lens which concentrates ultrasonic waves proceeding in the forward direction of the piezoelectric layer on a specific point, and a backing layer which prevents ultrasonic waves from proceeding in the backward direction of the piezoelectric layer to prevent image distortion.
The lens has a convex structure in the outward direction so as to concentrate ultrasonic waves, and such a structure attenuates the intensity of ultrasonic waves. Particularly, the intensity of ultrasonic waves at the central region of the lens requiring a high output is more reduced than the intensity of ultrasonic waves at the side regions of the lens.

Ultrasonic probe and manufacturing method thereof


A friction drive for an agricultural planter has a linear actuator, which may be hydraulically or pneumatically controlled, to selectively raise or lower a drive wheel into frictional engagement with a carrying wheel. A valve network is fluidly associated with the linear actuator and allows the operator or pilot to variably define the degree of frictional engagement. This allows the operator to vary the amount of frictional engagement of the drive wheel and the carrying wheel, the output of which is used by a material dispensing system to deposited planting material onto a planting surface.

Conventional agricultural planters include a tow behind material dispensing implement that deposits planting material, such as seed and fertilizer, onto a furrowed farmland or similar planting surface. The implement may consist of multiple dispensing units that are supported by a common or shared frame that is towed by a tractor or similar vehicle. The dispensing units, commonly referred to as row units, for some planters may be grouped into two sets—a left side set and a right side set. Each of these sets may be independently controlled, which allows the operator to selectively dispense material from either of the left and right side units or both.
Each dispensing unit is associated with a material hopper and includes a material metering system that regulates the flow of material from the associated material hopper. The amount of material that is deposited is generally a function of the rotational speed of the seed meter. The rotational speed is transmitted from a transmission assembly that includes a friction or drive wheel that is maintained in frictional engagement with a carrying wheel. A planter will typically include at least two carrying wheels that collectively support the planter above the planting surface. For material to be deposited, the drive wheel and the carrying wheel must be engaged with one another.
The dispensing units of a planter can be separated into multiple sets, with each set associated with a respective friction drive. The transmissions can be separately controlled using electric clutches. Thus, when the transmissions are both engaged, all the dispensing units are allowed to deposit material onto the planting surface. When one or both of the transmissions are disengaged, the respective dispensing units will not deposit material onto the planting surface. This effectively allows the operator sectional on/off control during the planting or fertilizing process.
The rotational speed set by the transmissions controls how much material is deposited. Generally, if no rotation is transmitted by a transmission, i.e., from a disengaged transmission, the dispensing units associated therewith will not dispense any material. As noted above, an electric clutch can be used to disengage a transmission, but is also possible for no torque to be transmitted even when the transmission is engaged. During wet or muddy conditions, the carrying wheel may slip. Similarly, when the carrying wheel engages an obstruction and is momentarily suspended above the planting surface, no rotation is transmitted by the transmission. For rotation to be transmitted, the drive wheel must be rotated. Thus, when the carrying wheel is slipping, rotation is not passed through to the metering system resulting in no material being deposited. Conventional friction ground drive planters have used springs mounted to the frame to pull the drive wheels down into frictional engagement with the carrying wheels. Since the pull strength of the springs is constant, the degree of frictional engagement, if any, cannot be varied. As a result, there is very little flexibility in adjusting to match the operating conditions and torque generated by the seed meters. For example, during ideal operation conditions, less frictional engagement may be tolerated as the operator may not be expecting the carrying wheel to slip. For normal operation, the carrying wheel must overcome the bias placed thereon by the drive wheel to rotate and propel the planter forward. If the bias is set for less than ideal operating conditions however, more work is required for the towing vehicle to pull the planter. On the other hand, if the bias is set for ideal conditions, it may be difficult to plant or fertilize effectively during non-ideal conditions, such as wet or otherwise muddy conditions.
Additionally, the amount of torque required to drive the material metering systems is not universal for all seeds and granular fertilizers. For example, for some planters, more torque may be required for dispensing cotton seed than corn seed.

Friction drive population control for a planter


A circular polarized antenna having an electrically conductive element having a generally annular outer portion and first and second inner members coupled to the outer portion. A ground shield is spaced from the element, the ground shield providing an effective ground plane. A dielectric material is positioned between the element and at least a portion of the ground shield.

Newer designs and manufacturing techniques have driven electronic components to small dimensions and miniaturized many communication devices and systems. Unfortunately, antennas have not been reduced in size at a comparative level and often are one of the larger components used in a smaller communications device. For instance, directional RF antennas use plates as the radiating conductor. However, to achieve good performance, such devices tend to be very large, as the antenna diameter depends on the operating wavelength. The wavelengths of 46-49 MHz signals are 18 feet, while 900 MHz signals are about one foot long. Modern technologies such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) would benefit from smaller antenna size.
In current, everyday communications devices, many different types of patch antennas, loaded whips, copper springs (coils and pancakes) and dipoles are used in a variety of different ways. These antennas, however, are sometimes large and impractical for a specific application. For instance, a 900 MHz directional antenna requires a 1 foot diameter footprint. Current attempts to produce smaller directional antennas are often referred to as patch antennas. Conventional patch antennas typically have a ground plane diameter about equal to, or larger than, the operating wavelength, e.g., typically have a diameter of about 6-8 inches at 900 MHz. Such antennas provide a gain on the order of +8 dBic or +6 dBi, where dBic refers to antenna gain, decibels referenced to a circularly polarized, theoretical isotropic radiator and dBi refers to antenna gain, decibels referenced to a theoretical isotropic radiator.
However, to achieve the reduced size, patch antennas have heretofore been constructed with high dielectric constant materials, e.g., ceramics, metal oxides, etc., making them both expensive, and very heavy. The additional weight makes such antennas impractical for implementation in portable devices, cost more to ship, etc. A further drawback of antennas implementing the high dielectric constant materials is that they only operate in a narrow bandwidth.
Thus, it would be desirable to not only reduce antenna size and weight, but also to do so without significant degradation of gain and bandwidth.

Applied Wireless Identification Group, Inc.


A recombinant polypeptide and nucleic acid constructs capable of expressing the recombinant polypeptide are provided. The recombinant polypeptide comprises a chimeric polypeptide including an antigenic peptide being capable of binding a human MHC class I, a functional human β-2 microglobulin and a functional human MHC class I heavy chain.

The present invention relates to methods of generating a functional mammalian single chain MHC class I complex in prokaryotic expression systems and a functional human single chain MHC class I complex in eukaryotic or prokaryotic expression systems, which complexes are capable of presenting specific antigenic peptides restricted to class I MHC and recognizable by specific CTL clones or CD+8 T-cells. The present invention further relates to a method of generating a functional mammalian single chain MHC class I-peptide complex in eukaryotic, or preferably prokaryotic expression systems, to nucleic acid constructs encoding said single chain MHC class I complexes and to a novel human single chain MHC class I polypeptide.
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a complex of antigens encoded by a group of linked loci, which are collectively termed H-2 in the mouse and HLA in humans. The two principal classes of the MHC antigens, class I and class II, each comprise a set of cell surface glycoproteins which play a role in determining tissue type and transplant compatibility. In transplantation reactions, cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) respond mainly against foreign class I glycoproteins, while helper T-cells respond mainly against foreign class II glycoproteins.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules are expressed on the surface of nearly all cells. These molecules function in presenting peptides which are mainly derived from endogenously synthesized proteins to CD8+ T cells via an interaction with the αβ T-cell receptor [1-4]. The class I MHC molecule is a heterodimer composed of a 46-kDa heavy chain which is non-covalently associated with the 12-kDa light chain β-2 microglobulin. Class I MHC-restricted peptides, which are typically 8-10-amino acid-long, bind to the heavy chain α1-α2 groove via two or three anchor residues that interact with corresponding binding pockets in the MHC molecule. The β-2 microglobulin chain plays an important role in MHC class I intracellular transport, peptide binding, and conformational stability [5]. For most class I molecules, the formation of a heterodimer consisting of the MHC class I heavy chain, peptide (self or antigenic) and β-2 microglobulin is required for biosynthetic maturation and cell-surface expression [5].
Research studies performed on peptide binding to class I MHC molecules enable to define specific MHC motifs functional in displaying peptides derived from viral or tumor antigens that are potentially immunogenic and might elicit specific response from cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) [6,7].
The realization that CTLs have an important role in the control of many diseases, including chronic viral diseases, such as AIDS, and cancer have lead to an increased need to produce sufficient amounts of stable class I MHC complexes for functional and structural studies.
Soluble MHC molecules bound to various peptides are a valuable tool for the study of disease-related immune responses, for characterizing MHC-T-cell receptor (TCR) interactions [6], for structural studies [4], and more recently for direct visualization of antigen-specific T cells [8]. These molecules can be also used to activate specific CTLs in vitro as well as to study their phenotypic characteristics.
In recent years, various approaches have been used in attempts to develop an in vitro protocol for the induction of cytotoxic T cell responses against viral and tumor antigens [9-10]. To effectively activate T-cells, a high density of MHC-peptide complexes on the surface of the antigen presenting cells must be utilized [7-10]. Thus, a desirable approach for in-vitro T-cell activation would be to use soluble MHC-peptide complexes.
To overcome the low affinity binding of TCRs to soluble MHC molecules and as such to provide efficient T-cell activation, multimerization of the MHC-peptide complexes must be effected.
Soluble MHC multimers posses a higher avidity for T-cells since they provide multi-point binding of TCRs with their MHC-peptide ligands. As such, multimeric forms (tetramers) of MHC-peptide complexes have been the center of much interest recently, because they can be used for direct phenotypic characterization of T cell responses in normal as well as pathological conditions, thus, providing insight into the pathopysiology and mechanisms of various diseases.
However, such studies require a reproducible method for producing large amounts of soluble and functional multimeric MHC-peptide complexes. Thus, attempts were made to produce recombinant MHC class I and class II complexes [11-23] which are soluble and which can be produced in large quantities.
Early studies utilizing recombinant techniques, separately expressed the heavy chain and β-2 microglobulin components of the MHC complex in E. Coli and subsequently refolded them in-vitro in the presence of an antigenic peptide [11].
More recently, recombinant MHC complexes were expressed in eukaryotic expression systems and secreted therefrom in the form of a single polypeptide which included the heavy chain covalently linked to the β-2 microglobulin chain thus forming a stable and functional MHC complex which can be subsequently bound to a peptide of interest [12-15, 19, 21-23]. The expression of functional MHC complexes in eukaryotic cells suffers from several inherent limitations. Since the expressed polypeptides form a functional MHC complex they bind peptides endogenously derived from the cells utilized for expression and as such the purified MHC complex must be subjected to a peptide exchange step following purification [13]. In addition, the production yields of these single-chain MHC-peptide complexes was limited, typically reaching levels of several hundred micrograms per liter of culture supernatant.
The present invention provides a novel approach for the production of unprecedented large amounts of soluble, stable and functional MHC-peptide complex by utilizing high level bacterial expression of a single-chain MHC class I polypeptide or co-expression of the single chain MHC class I polypeptide and an MHC class I restricted antigenic peptide followed by in-vitro reconstitution of the scMHC class I-peptide complex via redox-shuffling and refolding in the presence of the antigenic peptide.
The present invention further provides a novel human single chain MHC class I polypeptide which is functional and which can therefore be utilized in either the monomeric or preferably the multimeric form to present MHC class I restricted antigenic peptides to CTL clones or to CD8+ T-cells from various sources.

Single chain class I major histo-compatibility complexes

Technion Research & Development Foundation Ltd.


A log saw for cutting convolutely wound logs of web material is disclosed. The log saw includes a cutting blade operating in a cutting plane, a log saw clamp for the retention of a convolutely wound log of web material such that the convolutely wound log of web material extends in a log advancing path through to the cutting plane, and controls connected to the clamping device.

Traditional convolutely wound web material products are typically produced as elongate "logs" for reasons of ease and speed of manufacture. As used herein and in the appended claims, the term "web material" refers to any porous or non-porous product that can be found in sheet form, regardless of length or width. Preferred embodiments of the present invention described below are used with reference to operations to be performed upon elongate logs of paper web materials (i.e., including without limitation—paper toweling, bath tissue, napkins, tissues, and the like.). However, other illustrative examples of web material can include foil, film, fabric, cloth, cellophane, wrapping paper, wax paper, and the like.
As used herein, a "log", or a "log of convolutely wound web material", or a "log of web material" and other variations thereof is a convolutely wound product of any web material having any set of dimensions. Many types of paper are produced in logs for ease of manufacture. As used herein and in the appended claims, the term "convolutely wound log of web material" or "log" is meant to include rolls of paper products such as napkins, paper towels, facial tissue, toilet tissue, newsprint, and the like. However, the present disclosure is not limited to rolls of paper products. The term "convolutely wound log of web material" and the variations thereof is also meant to include rolls of products made from other materials including without limitation cellophane, plastic sheeting, and other synthetic materials, fabric, woven, and non-woven textiles and cloth, foil, etc., regardless of product porosity, density, and dimensions. Generally, elongate logs of convolutely wound web material are generally sawed into smaller rolls to be used by consumers. In many conventional log sawing devices, the sawing process generally involves a cutting blade, a clamp to hold the logs, and an advancing mechanism to move the logs. Typical automated sawing processes can utilize a reciprocating saw, or an orbital radial saw, or band saw in combination with a stationary log clamp.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary prior art continuous motion log saw 20 that includes a main drive shaft 21 rotatably mounted on a frame 22. The frame includes a skew plate 23 supporting a main bearing housing 24. Bearings 25 and 26 inside of the bearing housing rotatably support the main drive shaft 21 for rotation about an axis S which is skewed relative to the linear path P along which the product to be cut is advanced. The skew axis extends at a minor acute angle, Θ, relative to the path P.
A skew arm 28 is attached to the left end of the main drive shaft 21 and supports an orbital head assembly 29. The orbital head assembly 29 includes a disc blade 30 and grinding stones 31. The invention will be explained with reference to a single disc blade and a single set of grinding stones. However, it will be understood that a log saw can include two or more blades and associated sets of grinding stones. Additionally, a log saw can incorporate any means to effectively transversely cut a log of convolutely wound web material including, but not limited to, water jets, saw blades (circular, linear, or chain), blade knives, water knives, air knives, lasers, and the like, and combinations thereof.
The orbital head assembly 29 includes an angular differentiator 35 which is rotatably mounted on the skew arm 28 for rotation about an axis, A, which is parallel to the skew axis, S. The angular differentiator includes a generally cylindrical housing 36 which is rotatably supported by bearings 37 and 38. Bearing 37 is mounted on the skew arm 28 and bearing 38 is mounted on bracket 39 which is attached to the skew arm. As the skew arm 28 is rotated by the main drive shaft 21, the angular differentiator 35 is caused to orbit in planetary motion by a sun pulley 42, a planet pulley 43, and a belt 44. The sun pulley 42 is formed as part of the stationary main bearing housing 24 and is concentric to the skew axis, S. The planet pulley 43 is mounted on an angular differentiator and is concentric to axis A. Pulleys 42, 43 and belt 44 can be provided with teeth to prevent slippage. Tension on the belt 44 can be adjusted by belt tighteners 45 and 46 which are mounted on the skew arm. The sun pulley 42, planet pulley 43, and belt 44 could be replaced by equivalent mechanisms, for example, sprockets and a chain.
A generally cylindrical grinder base 50 is rotatably mounted on the left end of the angular differentiator by a bearing 51. The grinder base is also supported by an arm 52 which is attached to the grinder base and to a bearing housing 53 which is rotatably mounted on the middle of the angular differentiator by a bearing 54. The axial centerline of the grinder base is concentric to axis B, which is parallel to path P and remains so during the entirety of the orbit by virtue of the planetary motion of the angular differentiator.
An elongated blade arbor or shaft 56 is rotatably supported inside of the grinder base by bearings 57 and inside of the angular differentiator by bearing 58. The axis of the blade arbor is aligned with the axis B. The disc blade 30 is mounted on the left end of the blade arbor and extends in a plane which is perpendicular to the path P.
Grinding stones 31 can be attached to the grinder base 50 by a support arm 61. The grinding stones are mounted radially inwardly of the blade and the grinder base, and a retaining guide 62 positions and holds the grinding stones radially inwardly throughout the orbit as it moves parallel to axis B within retainer arms 63. The retainer arms are attached to the skew arm 28. The grinding stones are driven by a conventional air motor 64 for sharpening the blade at the appropriate time during the cycle.
The disc blade 30 is driven by a blade drive motor 68 and an intermediate drive assembly 69. The intermediate drive assembly includes a pulley 70 which is rotatably mounted on the main bearing housing 24 by bearings 71 and 72. The pulley 70 is mounted on the main bearing housing so that the axis of rotation of the pulley is aligned with an axis E which is eccentric (i.e., offset and parallel) with respect to the skew axis S. The amount of eccentricity is dependent on the skew angle, Θ, in conjunction with the position of the intersection of axes A, B.
The intermediate drive assembly 69 can also include a pulley 74 mounted on the right end of the blade arbor 56. Pulley 75 is mounted on the drive shaft of the blade drive motor 68 and is connected to the pulley 70 by belt 76. The pulley 70 is connected to the pulley 74 on the blade arbor by belt 77.
The planetary motion of the orbit head compensates for the skew angle and ensures that the disc blade 30 remains perpendicular to the path P throughout the orbit. Rotatably mounting the grinder base on the angular differentiator ensures that the grinding stones remain radially inwardly of the disc blade throughout the orbit. The distance between the grinding stones and the skew axis remains substantially constant throughout the orbit. Centrifugal forces on the grinding stones are thereby reduced, and cyclic loading is substantially eliminated.
Logs of paper product are often not very strong radially and are typically clamped to provide support and to prevent the logs from being crushed by the saw. Such logs are preferably clamped on both sides of the blade to facilitate a straight cut through the logs. Most prior art clamps use elastic straps, flexible cylindrical strips, guide troughs, semi-cylindrical shells, or grippers to support a log during the sawing process.
Exemplary current log clamping mechanisms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,509,336; 5,357,833; 5,647,259; 5,038,647; 5,315,907; and 3,049,954. All current clamping assemblies have one or more significant design limitations. Exemplary problems, or limitations, in these prior art designs include generally weaker designs, speed limitations caused by inherently slower designs and frictional engagement, excessive wear and stress on parts, and complex assemblies requiring numerous parts. Weaker log clamp designs typically result in clamps that are difficult to adjust or ineffectively clamp. Prior art clamping devices allow slight movement during the clamping process that can cause bias cutting (product flaws). Some prior art clamping devices apply uneven pressure around the circumference of the log causing log deformation resulting in bias cutting or product flaws. Bias cutting and inadequate clamping of the log reduce the yield of these prior art sawing processes. Tremendous pressure is placed on the saw blade as it cuts into the log because the saw blade is normally toothless to avoid shredding the log. Thus, the cutting process requires greater force to shear the log than a process involving a blade with teeth, increasing bias cutting and log core crushing problems.
Because upstream equipment is usually capable of producing logs of varying diameter, the clamps should be manually or automatically adjustable to accommodate logs having different diameters. However, several prior art clamps are not easily adjustable. Those prior art clamps that are adjustable generally require extra tooling or screws to set the clamps in desired positions.
For example, a semi-cylindrical shell clamp generally has one fixed side and one spring-loaded resiliently mounted side. The spring-loaded resiliently mounted side requires the adjustment of small screws to alter the compression of the spring and the diameter of the clamp. This system of adjustment requires the operator to stop the saw while changing the setting because of the proximity of the screws to the saw. The semi-cylindrical shell device can only accommodate slight changes in log diameter due to the small range of movement of the resiliently mounted side. Because there are only two shells, a large variation in the log diameter causes the edges of the shells to cut into a larger log, while a smaller log does not receive an adequate clamping force and clamp forces would be undesirably concentrated. Either one of these situations can cause product flaws.
Additionally, vertical clamp adjustment can be problematic. In most conventional log saws, the log is advanced on guides at a fixed height. These guides support the bottom of the log. When logs of varying diameter are passed through the system, the bottoms of the logs are each located at a constant height rather than the centers of the logs. Some prior art clamps can be adjusted to change the diameter of the clamp while keeping the center of the clamp unmoved. When the diameter of such a clamp is adjusted, the bottom of the clamp must move. Therefore, these clamps must be mounted to move vertically as well as radially to align the bottom of the clamp diameter with the bottom of the incoming log. This extra motion step makes adjustments more time consuming and complicates the clamp design.
Additionally, most prior art clamps can be grouped into two general categories: constant pressure clamps and intermittent clamps. Constant pressure clamps use a spring or other resilient member to apply constant pressure on the log or to provide a resilient restraining structure about the log. Intermittent clamps only clamp the log during cutting operations and then release to allow the log to advance forward for the next cut. Intermittent clamps experience rapid cycle times between the clamp and release positions. This constant cycling creates two major problems: speed limitations and increased wear on parts. Because the intermittent clamps must clamp the log for each cut and then release the log for advancement, the speed of the log saw is limited by the speed of the clamp. Even with rapid cycle times, log saws with intermittent clamps are slower than log saws with constant pressure clamps.
Due to the rapid cycle times of intermittent clamps, parts are exposed to wear and tear from constant rubbing. For example, adjustable clamps that utilize flexible cylindrical strips and elastic strap clamps experience excessive wear and friction between adjacent parts. This style of clamp includes an elastic belt that is pulled down over two contacting strips with rapid cycle times to clamp the logs. The constant friction between the belt and the strips slows the clamp's adjustment to different diameter logs and can cause the belt to wear out. Additionally, these clamps may allow slight movement during the sawing process, especially for logs of large diameter and heavy density. A clamp should hold the log stable when the blade applies large forces while penetrating the log. As shown in FIG. 2, the elastic belt only contacts a portion of the circumference of the log. This unevenly applied pressure causes the log to deform as depicted from a purely circular cross-section and can result in an uneven, or biased, cut.
In order to possess flexible properties, the strips must be relatively thin. Due to the thin construction of the strips, the strips are easily bent or damaged. The flexible strips also can suffer from plastic deformation and lose their resistive properties because of the constant cycling. These strips are especially likely to deflect when a hard log is clamped. As a result of the above limitations, these parts may need to be frequently replaced.
Additionally, highly compressible logs of web material can cause significant, and even catastrophic, log saw failures. It has been observed that highly compressible logs of web material require additional force by the log saw blade in order to completely sever the web material as compared to logs of web material that are not compressible. Without desiring to be bound by theory, it is believed that the interaction between the log saw blade and the log of web material involves two main physical phenomena, local deformation and fracture. As soon as the log saw blade contacts the log of web material, the log of web material locally deforms. When the deformation reaches a desired level, fracture occurs and the log of web material is separated. Highly compressible logs of web material experience a higher degree of deformation; less compressible logs of web material experience a lower degree of deformation. Since highly compressible logs of web material experience a higher degree of deformation, the log saw blade exerts more force on the log to reach the point in the deformation process where fracture occurs. The additional force exerted by the log saw blade causes the blade to elastically deform locally. Repeated elastic blade deformation can cause structural weakening of the blade and eventual plastic deformation. A plastically deformed log saw blade can contact portions of the log saw clamping assembly causing catastrophic log saw blade failure and significant damage to the clamping assembly requiring significant downtime to effect repairs. Further, a rotating log saw blade has significant inertia. A plastically deformed log saw blade having high inertia can shatter after contact—a clearly dangerous situation. A log saw clamp that can effectively contain highly compressible logs of web material can suitably alleviate these manufacturing issues.
One of skill in the art will readily appreciate that wear and tear on parts is closely related to the problem of overly complex designs. Numerous small parts and assemblies are difficult to access in the log clamp device. Complex designs are relatively expensive to manufacture, assemble, maintain, and repair. The deterioration of parts due to friction and wear creates significant maintenance problems of accessing small and often concealed parts and replacing them in close quarters. Replacing parts is time consuming and can require the log saw to be stopped while performing maintenance. The inability to consistently run the log saw therefore costs the manufacturer a significant amount of money and increases machine inefficiency.
In light of the problems and limitations as described supra, a need exists for a log saw clamp that is easily adjustable, substantially rigid, strong, effectively clamps the log, does not require that logs be slowed during cutting operations, has relatively few moving parts, does not have an overly complex design with small intricate parts, has a design permitting ease of manufacture and maintenance, is easy to adjust without requiring system shutdown, and which has a minimum number of moving parts subject to wear. Each embodiment of the present disclosure achieves one or more of these results. Such a new clamping method and apparatus that provides this enhanced performance and results in improved product quality would be clearly be welcomed by those in the art.

Device for transversally cutting convolutely wound logs of web materials


A composite article comprising a fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) matrix, electrically conductive particles, and energy expandable, electrically nonconductive hollow polymeric particles, which composite is conductive and allows for the flow of electricity and which, upon attaining a temperature which causes expansion of the expandable polymeric particles, becomes insulating and causes the flow of electricity to cease. The articles are thin and can be used as electrical circuit breaking elements.

Specially designed mechanical switching devices are known for making, carrying, and breaking electrical circuits under normal conditions as well as performing in a special way under abnormal conditions. These are common devices to protect a circuit against excess current flow, a useful example of which is called a fuse.
Thermal fuses useful in electrical or electronic applications are known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,542 describes a device for a thermal fuse for use with an electrical apparatus in which easy access to the thermal fuse element (not specifically described) is allowed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,047 describes a fuse element which provides thermostatic control and thermal fuse overtemperature protection for an electrical heating device. U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,674 describes a thermal fuse element comprising an alloy having a eutectic composition at a predetermined threshold. Upon exposure to excessive heat, the alloy melts and the circuit opens. U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,423 relates to a fuse for an electronic component which incorporates a pad of a fusible material, preferably comprised of metal coated polymeric particles. Upon overheating, the metal melts and is dispersed within the polymer.
Midwest Components, Inc., Product Data Sheet (1987) and Raychem Product Data Sheets (5/88, 11/87, 10/89, 6/90, and 4/91) disclose PolySwitch.TM. Products for reversible circuit breaking applications. The articles contain a homogeneous mixture of polyolefin and carbon and have an electrical resistance which increases with temperature or overcurrent.
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene-containing articles are known to provide thermal insulation. Related U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,953,566, 3,962,153, 4,096,227, and 4,187,390 teach a porous product comprising expanded, amorphous locked PTFE which can be laminated and impregnated to provide shaped articles. The more highly expanded materials of that invention are disclosed to be useful, for example, as thermal insulators and shaped articles.
PTFE fibrillated matrices are known. The background art teaches several formulations for blending an aqueous PTFE dispersion with various additives and/or adjuvants designed for specific purposes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,544 teaches a gasket comprising a fibrillated PTFE resin and dispersed therein a fine inorganic powder. U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,296 teaches an expanded, porous PTFE film containing filler material which is purposely compressed to provide thin films where space reduction is desirable.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,971,736, 4,906,378, and 4,810,381 disclose a chromatographic sheetlike article and method of preparing a composite chromatographic sheetlike article comprising a PTFE fibril matrix and nonswellable sorptive hydrophobic particles enmeshed in the matrix. References cited in these patents relate to other PTFE matrices containing particulates, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,153,661, 4,373,519, 4,460,642, and 4,565,663.
It is known that metals can be incorporated in fibrillated PTFE, as in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,661. U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,737 discloses a method for a "metal cloth" prepared from fibrillated PTFE containing metal or other particles entrapped in the fibrils.
A composition comprising fibrillated PTFE in combination with a polyamide has been disclosed to provide articles by extrusion blowmolding as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,941, and with molybdenum disulfide and optionally an elastomer to provide articles with increased durability as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,136.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,125 teaches a process of producing a fibrillated semi-interpenetrating polymer network of PTFE and silicone elastomer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,156 describes a blow moldable composition comprising a polyether, an epoxide polymer, a source of catalytic cations, and a fibrillatable PTFE. U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,747 discloses a blow moldable polyarylate composition containing fibrillatable PTFE.
Vermicular expanded graphite has been incorporated into PTFE. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,265,952 and 4,199,628 relate to a vermicular expanded graphite composite blended with a corrosion resistant resin such as PTFE with improved impermeability to corrosive fluids at high temperatures.
Conductive compositions comprising a polymeric binder system having dispersed therein electrically conductive particles and deformable non-conductive spherical domains have been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,945. Similar compositions have been disclosed to be useful as fuses in R. Woolnough, Electronic Engineering Times, Dec. 2, 1991, p 39.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,889 teaches a method for making a foam composite material comprising a fibrous matrix, expandable polymeric microspheres, and a formaldehyde-type resin.

Temperature sensitive circuit breaking element

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


Disclosed is a primarily reflective-based head mounted display device, for displaying and viewing visual content from a visual display source, including a frame, at least one optics housing connected to said frame, wherein the optics housing and frame are configured such that the optics housing may be positioned at least partially in front of an eye of a user, and wherein the optics housing includes a light-emitting visual source disposed within the optics housing for projecting visual content, and a plurality of reflective optical surfaces in optical communication with the light-emitting visual source that are configured to reflect a projection of the visual content into the eye of the user.

A head-mounted display, abbreviated "HMD", is a display device that is worn on a user's head that has either (1) a single small display optic located in front of one of the user's eyes (monocular HMD), or (2) two small display optics, with each one being located in front of each of the user's two eyes (bi-ocular HMD), for viewing a wide range of visual display content by a single user. A bi-ocular HMD allows for the possibility that the user may view visual content in 3-dimensions. The HMD devices that can currently be found in today's military, commercial, and consumer markets are primarily either goggles/eyeglasses type devices that are worn the way a pair of goggles or eyeglasses are worn, or they are helmet-mounted devices that are attached to a helmet that is worn on the user's head. Additionally, the HMD devices that can currently be found in today's market primarily rely on three different technologies, and thus fall into three different categories; refractive, diffractive, and laser writer.
The first category of HMD devices currently found on the market is the refractive HMD. Refractive HMD's use the optical physics principle of refraction in order to transmit the projection of visual content from a visual display source to a user's eye. Refractive HMD's work by transmitting a projection of visual content from a display source through a light transmission medium, typically a transparent plastic such as acrylic, to produce a final coherent and often magnified image to the user's eye. The light transmission medium is essentially a lens or series of lenses that bend and magnify the light waves from the visual source as they enter and exit the transmission medium so as to form the magnified cohesive image, similar to the operation of a magnifying glass. This is the dominant methodology employed in most HMD's on the market today.
While the refractive HMD may be the dominant methodology used in the HMD market, it does have several drawbacks. The problem with such refractive HMD's is that, with the transmission medium typically being large blocks of heavy plastic located in the optical path of the HMD, this type of HMD is very heavy, bulky, and cumbersome for a user to wear on either his head or face. This limits the overall comfort for the user wearing such an HMD. In addition, such a bulkier fit for the user significantly limits the styling that may be applied to such a device. Furthermore, because the refractive lenses of refractive HMD's are often located in the user's direct field of view, creating a refractive HMD that gives a user adequate "see-through vision," or the ability to simultaneously see the projected visual content and at the same time clearly see through the projected content to the real-world outside surrounding environment, a "mixed-reality" view, becomes very complicated. Another drawback of refractive HMD's is that they can often prevent a user from seeing anything other than the projected visual content or can severely limit a user's peripheral vision, which can ultimately leave the user feeling claustrophobic. A further drawback of refractive HMD's is that, for those commonly found in the consumer or commercial markets, they have a very limited field-of-view ("FOV") angle, with the typical FOV being about 25-degrees and the high-end FOV being about 40-degrees. When trying to increase the FOV of refractive HMD's commonly found in the consumer and commercial markets above the typical FOV of 25-degrees, the cost and weight of the device increases dramatically, which can be a significant prohibitive factor in two already competitive markets. This situation is apparent in the military market where refractive HMD's with FOV's between 40-degrees and 120-degrees are much more common, however as previously stated, they are extremely heavy and very expensive.
The second category of HMD devices currently found on the market is the diffractive HMD, or more accurately, a hybrid refractive/diffractive HMD. Diffractive HMD's use the optical physics principle of diffraction and diffraction gratings as well as refraction in order to transmit the projection of visual content from a visual display source to a user's eye. With this type of HMD, the projection of the visual content is passed through both a transmission medium and a diffraction grating contained within one of the refractive transmission medium elements to produce a final coherent and often magnified image to the user's eye. The light waves from the projected visual content that are passing through the transmission medium ultimately pass through the diffraction grating, which serves to present a single coherent image to the user. The main drawback to such hybrid HMD systems is that they require a high intensity light source and therefore they are very inefficient when it comes to power consumption, they consequently require a substantial amount of power to operate at acceptable levels, and they have a significantly reduced display lifetime. Additionally, they have somewhat limited FOV capabilities due to the physics of how diffraction gratings operate.
The third category of HMD devices currently found on the market is the laser-writer HMD. The laser-writer HMD uses a remote laser light engine, often consisting of a triad of red, green, and blue lasers, and a set of laser writers to bend and beam the laser lights, according to an input visual display signal, into a coherent visual image. The lasers and laser writer are connected to a head mounted display unit by coherent fiber optic cable in order to transmit the images to the head mounted unit. The images are then projected from the coherent fiber optic cable onto the final viewing screen, typically a transparent lens in the HMD unit, for viewing by the user. One drawback associated with this type of HMD is that the coherent fiber optic cable required for such a system is very expensive. Another downside to such HMD systems is that, as the image comes out of the fiber optic cable, the head unit will still need some type of refractive optic to magnify the image, which in turn translates to a limited FOV and increased weight of the head unit. Furthermore, another downside related to laser-writer HMD's becomes apparent when using such a system to view visual content in 3D. To do so, the HMD system would either be required to beam two distinct images to the head unit at the same time over a single fiber optic cable, thus requiring the head unit to incorporate a beam splitter to separate the two images for each eye, or the HMD system would require a second laser system working simultaneously with the first laser system in order to produce the second image necessary to deliver 3D visual content. In either case, this can become extremely expensive. An additional downside to the laser-writer HMD device is that the power consumption necessary to run such a device is extremely high. Lastly, transmitting an image to the head mounted unit via fiber optic cables can be potentially problematic if care is not taken to observe the required minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cable. If the cable is bent at too tight a radius, this will result in significant signal losses.
None of the three categories of HMD systems that are available today are capable of providing magnified coherent visual content for viewing by a user from a single device that is all at once inexpensive, lightweight, comfortable, and that can be considered a near-to-eye HMD device. Consequently, because of the shortcomings and problems associated with the three types of systems currently available, there is a need in the industry for a new type of HMD device that is fairly inexpensive, lightweight, compact, comfortable, and is a near-to-eye device.


An airfoil includes a body. The body includes leading and trailing edges adjoining pressure and suction sides to provide an exterior airfoil surface. First and second cooling passages extend in a radial direction from a root to a tip. The first cooling passage includes a tip flag passage that is radially inboard from the tip and extends in a chord-wise direction to a first end that penetrates the trailing edge. The second cooling passage includes a second end terminates adjacent the tip flag passage and a dirt purge passage interconnects the second end to the tip flag passage. A core for making the airfoil is also disclosed.

This disclosure relates to an airfoil for a gas turbine engine. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a core and corresponding airfoil that provides adequate dirt purge.
Airfoils for gas turbine engines typically include rather complex internal cooling passages receiving cooling fluid from a cooling source. The passages are provided by core structures constructed from ceramic and/or refractory metal cores, which provide correspondingly shaped cooling passages within the airfoil.
One type of cooling passage includes a trailing edge cooling passage extending in a chord-wise direction from a radially extending cooling passage. The trailing edge cooling passage exits the trailing edge and can be relatively narrow. Depending upon the size of the trailing edge cooling passage, which may be as little as 0.008 inch (0.20 mm), dirt may become lodged in the trailing edge cooling passage thereby adversely impacting cooling of the airfoil.

Gas turbine engine airfoil with dirt purge feature and core for making same