Provided is a liquid crystal display panel having gate drivers. The LCD panel includes a gate line shift circuit setting a gate line scanning order such that the gate lines are sequentially scanned in units of n gate lines with k−1 gate lines between each pair of adjacent gate lines in each unit according to an interleaving method in response to a gate line-on signal received from a timing control unit outside the LCD panel, wherein the LCD panel reproduces source data output from a source driver outside the LCD panel in the gate line scanning order set by the gate line shift circuit. The LCD panel inverts the polarity of a common voltage for every unit of n gate lines, instead of every gate line, thereby reducing power consumption. In addition, since every kth gate line is scanned according to the interleaving method, deterioration of image quality such as a flickering phenomenon can be prevented, which is an advantage of a line inversion driving method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD), and more particularly, to a driving unit and a timing controller which control an LCD to drive gate lines included in the LCD in units of a predetermined number of gate lines, and a driving method used by the LCD.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional liquid crystal display (LCD) applies an adjustable voltage to a material having an anisotropic permittivity injected between two substrates to adjust the amount of light transmitted through the substrates, thereby obtaining a desired image. The LCD includes a plurality of scan lines transmitting gate select signals and a plurality of data lines crossing the scan lines and transmitting color data, i.e., image data. The LCD also includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix pattern, disposed at intersections of the scan lines and the data lines, and connected to one another by the scan lines, the data lines, and switching devices.
To transmit image data to each of the pixels of the LCD, on/off signals are sequentially transmitted to gate lines (scan lines). Then, the switching devices connected to the gate lines are sequentially turned on/off. Simultaneously, an image signal to be transmitted to a row of pixels corresponding to a gate line is converted into a gradation voltage that can take on a plurality of voltage levels, and the gradation voltage is applied to each data line. Here, during one frame cycle, gate signals are sequentially transmitted to all the scan lines such that pixel signals are transmitted to all rows of pixels. As a result, an image of one frame is displayed.
When an electric field is continuously applied to the LCD in one direction, characteristics of the LCD deteriorate due to inherent characteristics of a liquid crystal material. Therefore, the polarity of a common voltage must be inverted. In other words, if a positive voltage is applied to a pixel in a frame, a negative voltage should be applied to the same pixel in another frame. Consequently, the positive and negative voltages are repeatedly applied to the same pixel in an alternating fashion.
A method of inversion-driving an LCD includes a frame inversion driving method in which the polarity of a common voltage is inverted in units of frames, a line inversion driving method in which the polarity of the common voltage is inverted in units of gate lines whenever each gate line is scanned, and a dot inversion driving method in which the polarity of the common voltage is inverted in units of pixels.
Intermediate gradation screens, such as a screen displayed when Windows is closed, of LCDs using the dot inversion driving method experience shake. In addition, since data lines are driven at large amplitude in the dot inversion driving method, high power consumption is required. Thus, LCDs using the dot inversion driving method are seldom used for portable terminals.
FIG. 1A illustrates gate lines driven using the frame inversion driving method. Referring to FIG. 1A, the polarity of a common voltage Vcom is inverted in units of frames. A positive common voltage is applied to an Nth frame to sequentially scan all the gate lines for the Nth frame, and image data of the Nth frame is output. Then, a negative common voltage is applied to an N+1th frame to sequentially scan all the gate lines for the N+1th frame. If 60 frames are scanned per second, an LCD inverts the polarity of the common voltage Vcom every 1/60 of a second.
The LCD consumes power whenever the polarity of the common voltage Vcom is inverted. Thus, a frame inversion driving method in which the polarity of the common voltage Vcom is inverted less frequently has lower power consumption. However, since the polarity of all the gate lines is inverted each frame, all the gate lines have the same polarity. Therefore, a difference in liquid crystal transmittance of two frames is easily recognized, causing the screen to flicker. Thus, the frame inversion driving method is rarely used.
FIG. 1B illustrates gate lines driven using the line inversion driving method. Referring to FIG. 1B, the polarity of a common voltage Vcom is inverted whenever each of the gate lines for an Nth frame is scanned. For example, if positive-polarity data is transmitted to odd numbered scan lines, negative-polarity data is transmitted to even numbered scan lines. When an N+1th frame is scanned, the polarity of the even numbered scan lines and that of the odd numbered scan lines are inverted, thereby preventing deterioration of the liquid crystal material. In addition, since the polarity of the common voltage Vcom is inverted in units of lines, the problem of screen flickering can be solved.
However, since the polarity of the common voltage Vcom is inverted for each gate line, high power consumption is required. Such high power consumption puts an LCD using the line inversion driving method at a great disadvantage when the LCD is to be used in portable devices constrained by power. For example, if the LCD has 480 gate lines, the LCD inverts the polarity of the common voltage Vcom once every 1/(60×480) of a second, consuming much power.
FIG. 1C illustrates gate lines driven using an n-line inversion driving method. Referring to FIG. 1C, after n gate lines are scanned, the polarity of a common voltage Vcom is inverted. Then, another n gate lines are scanned. After a frame is scanned in this way, the polarity of the common voltage Vcom applied to the next frame is opposite to that applied to the previous frame.
Since the gate lines are scanned in units of n lines using the common voltage Vcom of the same polarity and then the polarity of the common voltage Vcom is inverted, the n-line inversion driving method can reduce power consumption to 1/n that used in the line inversion driving method. In other words, if the polarity of the common voltage Vcom is inverted every three lines, the polarity of the common voltage is inverted once every 3/(60×480) of a second. However, since the polarity of the common voltage Vcom is inverted every n adjacent lines, the n-line inversion driving method results in flickering.
FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating power consumption of each of the inversion driving methods. Referring to FIG. 2, while 1.35 mA are consumed in the frame inversion driving method, 1.85 mA are consumed in the line inversion driving method. It can be seen that a 2-line inversion driving method consumes 1.60 mA, which is between 1.35 mA of the frame inversion driving method and 1.85 mA of the line inversion driving method. On the other hand, a 3-line inversion driving method consumes 1.47 mA. Therefore, it can be understood that far less power is consumed in a 2- or greater line inversion driving method than in the line inversion driving method. However, when the 2 or more line inversion driving method is used, a number of adjacent lines have the same polarity, and thus the problem of flickering emerges.


A download control program of a client terminal transmits a request to a download server, which stores Download Descriptors that include attribution information of contents, for a Download Descriptor, and receives the Download Descriptor from the download server. The download server, before transmitting the Download Descriptor to the client terminal, adds information indicating that there is a difference between a Download Descriptor contained in the request from the client terminal and the Download Descriptor stored in data memory of the download server if the download server detects the difference between them. The client terminal transmits a content download request to a contents server based on the received Download Descriptor.

There are the Download Over The Air standardized by the OMA (Open Mobile Alliance) and the OTA (Over The Air) of MIDP (Mobile Information Device Profile), which define the scheme for a client terminal, for instance a mobile phone, to download contents from a contents server.
Especially, these standards define that the client terminal receives a Download Descriptor (hereinafter "DD"), which describes attribution information of the contents, before downloading contents, and the client terminal downloads the contents from the contents server based upon the URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) contained in the DD.
The contents to be downloaded from the contents sever are a movie, music, and a game program, etc.
By the way, in order to avoid the load of unnecessary fee collection or a network, it is desirable that the client terminal does not download the same contents as contents which the client has already downloaded from the contents server.
For example, Japanese Patent Disclosure (Kokai) No. 2003-216430 discloses a system where upgrade of unnecessary software is not performed. In this system, which consists of a client terminal and a server, the client terminal stores the operating frequency of each software, and client terminal requests the server to upgrade only software with high operating frequency for reducing useless access to the server.
However, if there are two or more contents from which only voice information differs, the above-mentioned scheme cannot solve the problem. That is, although it is desirable to download only the voice information in Japanese if the client terminal has already downloaded the content with image information and voice information in English, a scheme for downloading only voice information in Japanese is not provided.

System for downloading contents, and client terminal for downloading contents from contents server


Portable milling machine having a housing, a spindle and a clamping nut, which, as part of a tool holder, can be rotatably connected to the spindle and detached therefrom in order to clamp and unclamp a milling tool, and the portable milling machine having a spanner, which can be moved relative to the spindle axially between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the spanner interlockingly surrounding the clamping nut at least in portions in the circumferential direction in the engaged position and, when the spanner is in the disengaged position, the clamping nut being rotatable relative to the spanner, the spanner being connected to the housing of the portable milling machine for conjoint rotation such that, when the spanner is in the engaged position, the clamping nut can be connected to the spindle and detached therefrom by manually rotating the spindle.

A portable milling machine of the type mentioned at the outset is known in principle from U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,087 B1. In the portable milling machine described in this publication, a spindle of the portable milling machine is blocked by means of a locking pin. By rotating a spanner that can be interlockingly connected to the clamping nut, the clamping nut can be twisted off of a tool holder that is connected to the spindle for conjoint rotation.

Portable milling machine having a spanner


Provided is a method for forming a metal line in a semiconductor device. The method forms round portions at top edges of an insulation film by means of a polymer and then etches the rest portion (i.e., sidewall parts) in an almost vertical direction, which makes it possible to shrink down a width of a patterned insulation film at maximum nevertheless of a dimension of a metal-line patterning mask. By way the method, an interval between adjacent metal lines is extended at maximum, preventing mutual interference between the metal lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for forming a metal line in a semiconductor device and more particularly, to a method for forming a metal line of a semiconductor device advantageous to preventing a malfunction of the semiconductor device.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In conventional technology, a metal line, e.g., a bitline, is formed from etching an interlevel insulation film by way of a damascene process. However, it is difficult to form an interval between interlevel insulation films during a bitline forming process, enough to a desired rate, due to the limit on the capability of a photo-masking equipment. Accordingly, an interval between adjacent bitline is insufficient to induce mutual interference, causing a malfunction of the semiconductor device. In recent, although efforts have been proceeded to enlarge the interval between the interlevel insulation films in order to prevent such a malfunction due to the mutual interference, evaporation and etch-back processes are added to increase the product cost and a turn-around time (TAT).

Method for forming a metal line in a semiconductor device


A bearing and a method for fabricating a bearing. The bearing is intended to be used in office automation equipment and the like is improved in impact resistance and load capacity. Its rotational accuracy will not deteriorate in long-term use and its quietness can be maintained over a long period of time. The bearing is an anti-friction bearing located between portions supporting a load and in relative motion to each other. The anti-friction bearing has an outer ring of 30 mm or less in diameter, in which high carbon chromium bearing steel constituting the anti-friction bearing includes the following compositions: C of 0.90-1.30 wt %, Si of 0.40-1.20 wt %, Mn of 0.90-1.0 wt %, and Cr of 0.90-1.70 wt %. After quenching, the tempering temperature used for this bearing is maintained in the range of 170xc2x0 C. and 250xc2x0 C. so that the amount of retained austenite in the surface layer after heat treatment is stabilized at 6 by volume or less.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an anti-friction bearing, and more particular to an anti-friction bearing which is high in resistance to impact, improved in load capacity, and has less tendency to produce increased sound levels as it ages; and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Anti-friction bearings have been conventionally used for rotating parts in various mechanisms. In recent years, due to the rapid diffusion of office automation equipment, the ball bearing type of anti-friction bearing has increased in importance as the bearings for electric devices used in office automation equipment such as video cassette recorders (VCRs), floppy disk drives (FDDs), hard disk drives (HDDs), and scanner motors, to such an extent that the characteristics of the ball bearings influence the characteristics of the equipment. For example in the case of driving 3.5 inch HDDs., the bearings used for the motors cannot cope with this amount of downsizing unless they have a diameter of 15 mm or less. Moreover, even those to be used for VCRs and scanner motors require a diameter not greater than 30 mm.
As described above, ball bearings have become smaller in outer diameter to meet the shrinking size of office automation equipment. In addition, with the miniaturization and the increase in track density of HDDs, the ball bearings used therein must meet more severe requirements for improved rotational accuracy (with long-term retention of this rotational accuracy), improved impact resistance and load capacity. Especially, to meet the recent trend for Personal Computer (PC) notebooks and mobile computing, further improvements are required in impact resistance and load capacity.
For higher load capacities, the material constituting the ball bearing should be harder. For ball bearings constructed conventionally from Type 2 high carbon chromium bearing steel (SUJ2), tempering is normally performed in the temperature range 160 to 200xc2x0 C. in order to give the ball bearings a hardness of HRC58 or more. However, although such low tempering temperatures result in higher hardness, they also yield a great amount of retained austenite. This austenite is unstable, and there is a high possibility that the austenite will be transformed into martensite during use, producing strain which will increase noise levels.
To lower austenite levels, the tempering temperature has conventionally been raised, even though the ball bearing is therefore softer and has a reduced load capacity, in order to reduce the amount of retained austenite and minimize changes with age.
The present invention aims to improve such conventional disadvantages, and an object thereof is to provide a bearing to be used in office automation equipment and the like, wherein the impact resistance and load capacity are improved, the rotational accuracy will not deteriorate in long-term use and the quietness can be maintained over a long period of time.
Bearings are used under various conditions and at various temperatures, and they must not change their dimensions (measured at a given temperature) even after having been used at various temperatures. However, even a bearing made from steel hardened at an appropriate temperature and tempered properly can suffer great dimensional changes in a short period of time when, for example, the bearing is operated beyond its maximum operating temperature. These dimensional changes are also influenced by stresses imposed on portions of the bearing. A cause of the dimensional changes is the retained austenite in the bearing material.
That is, in hardened bearing steel, the retained austenite appears to decompose under the influence of temperature and time, expanding in volume to produce dimensional changes. For example, in a case where a bearing in an operating HDD is subjected to extreme impacts or loads for even a short period of time, frictional heat elevates the temperature of the affected portion beyond the upper limit of the design specification temperature, and the heat decomposes the retained austenite to rapidly produce dimensional changes. Moreover, even in cases where the elevated temperature does not exceed the specification, the application of excessive stresses causes the decomposition of retained austenite to produce dimensional changes over time. These dimensional changes cause production of noise from the bearing as well as shorten the life of the bearing.
In a conventional small size bearing having an outer diameter of 30 mm or less, Type 2 high carbon chromium bearing steel (SUJ2), is normally used as both the the bearing ring and the ball bearing. The chemical compositions of SUJ2 are as follows:
C: 0.95-1.10 percent by weight (Wt %),
Si: 0.15-0.35 wt %,
Mn: 0.50 wt % or less,
P: 0.025 wt % or less,
S: 0.025 wt % or less, and
Cr: 1.30-1.60 wt %.
When the above material is quenched and them tempered at a temperature between 160 and 200xc2x0 C., the amount of retained austenite in the bearing is as high as 8-14 by volume %. Thus, a bearing using Type 2 high carbon chromium steel suffers from great dimensional changes resulting from the aforesaid decomposition of retained austenite . When the bearing is used as a bearing for a HDD, stable use over a long period of time cannot be expected of the bearing. To avoid such problems, retained austenite may be reduced by raising the tempering temperature or by repeating the tempering process, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-103241. However, like the repetition of the tempering over a plurality of times, the processing steps are complicated, which inevitably increases the man-hours required.
Accordingly, in the present invention, as compared with the chemical composition of the SUJ2, Mn (an austenite stabilizer) can be increased to form retained austenite which is stabler even at lower tempering temperatures, Si, which has high temper softening resistance, is added in increased amounts to suppress the lowering hardness at higher temperatures . Lastly, the range of the Cr content is enlarged in order to widen the quenchability range.
The chemical compositions of the high carbon chromium bearing steel to be used in the present invention are as follows:
C: 0.90-1.30 wt %,
Si: 0.40-1.20 wt %,
Mn: 0.90-1.60 wt %,
Cr: 0.90-1.70 wt %, and impurities of
P: 0.025 wt % or less, and
S: 0.025 wt % or less.
In view of the technical circumstances as described above, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application provides an improved anti-friction bearing. The improved bearing functions by means of rolling between portions supporting a load. The portions are in relative motion to each other. An inventive anti-friction bearing having an outer ring of 30 mm or less in diameter, wherein the high carbon chromium bearing steel constituting said anti-friction bearing is made from material which includes the following compositions, and which has an amount of retained austenite in its surface layer of less than 6% by volume.
C : 0.90-1.30 wt %,
Si: 0.40-1.20 wt %,
Mn: 0.90-1.60 wt %, and
Cr: 0.90-1.70 wt %.
In addition, another example of the present application provides a method for fabricating an anti-friction bearing, being a bearing functioning by means of rolling movements between portions supporting a load and which are in relative motion to each other, said anti-friction bearing having an outer ring of 30 mm or less in diameter, wherein the high carbon chromium bearing steel constituting the anti-friction bearing uses a material including
C: 0.90-1.30 wt %,
Si: 0.40-1.20 wt %,
Mn: 0.90-1.0 wt %, and
Cr: 0.90-1.70 wt %; and
where weight determinations are performed after quenching, at a tempering temperature in the range of 170xc2x0 C.-250xc2x0 C., the amount of retained austenite in its surface layer is less than 6 by volume % after the tempering, and the surface hardness is HRC60 or greater.

Anti-friction bearing and method for fabricating anti-friction and bearing


An electrical service device having a housing is disclosed, in which voltage-carrying components are accommodated which are accessible via openings in the housing of the service device. At least one opening can have at least one wall-like insulating barrier associated with it which consists of an electrically insulating material and with which it is possible for the air gaps and leakage paths between two adjacent openings to be increased. The insulating barrier can be fixed to the housing of the service device.

Electrical service devices, for example line circuit breakers, have a housing, in which the components associated with the service device, such as connection terminals, for example, which consist of an electrically conductive material and carry voltage during operation, are accommodated. The housing has openings, through which the voltage-carrying components are accessible. For example, each connection terminal has two openings associated with it: the screw of the connection terminal is actuated through one opening, and the electrical conductor to be connected is inserted through the other opening.
If a plurality of line circuit breakers are assembled, for example, to form a single device, the opposing, further openings are provided in the broad side walls, through which openings a coupling part engages which couples the components, which are associated with one another, of the two switching devices, for example moveable elements associated with the latching points of the switching mechanisms, to one another, with the result that, in the event of a tripping process in one line circuit breaker pole, the other line circuit breaker poles are also switched off.
Minimum distances, which are determined in accordance with standards valid in Europe, in relation to the air gaps and leakage paths are provided between the voltage-carrying components of the two adjacent service switching devices, which standards are not valid in other countries. For example, the specifications UL 489 prescribe markedly increased air gaps and leakage paths for all voltage levels, which air gaps and leakage paths cannot be achieved using the line circuit breakers which are at present generally marketed in Europe.
These problems naturally also apply to residual-current circuit breakers and other switching devices and their accessories.
For this reason, special production processes are required for those countries in which higher air gaps and leakage paths are required than in Europe (in particular in the Federal Republic of Germany) in order that service devices exported to the USA and marketed there meet the standards in that country.
The production of special devices, in particular the outer housing, entails higher costs owing to special tools.

Electrical service device with depressions for increasing air gaps and leakage paths


Disclosed herein is a method of obtaining an image signal, comprising the steps of preparing an image recording sheet having a stimulable phosphor layer which emits photostimulated luminescent light in a quantity corresponding to stored energy when irradiated with stimulating light, scanning the image recording sheet in horizontal and vertical scanning directions with the stimulating light, and obtaining the image signal by detecting the photostimulated luminescent light emitted by the scanning, with a solid-state image detector having a photoconductor. The signal, output from the solid-state image detector when scanning a non-image region other than an image recording region on the image recording sheet with the stimulating light, is detected as a correction signal. A non-image component, contained in a signal output from the solid-state image detector when scanning the image recording region with the stimulating light, is suppressed with the correction signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for reading out image information, by scanning an image recording sheet having a stimulable phosphor layer with stimulating light, and detecting photostimulated luminescent light emitted from the sheet with an image detector that has a semiconductor as its primary portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known in the image reading field to utilize a stimulable phosphor sheet to obtain image information. The stimulable phosphor stores part of radiation energy when exposed to radiation, and exhibits photostimulated luminescence (PSL) according to the stored energy when exposed to stimulating light, such as visible light, etc. The radiation image information of a subject, such as a human body, etc., is temporarily recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet having a stimulable phosphor layer. The stimulable phosphor sheet emits photostimulated luminescent light when scanned with a stimulating light beam such as a laser light beam. The photostimulated luminescent light is detected photoelectrically and converted to an image signal carrying the radiation image information. As the image information reading apparatus, there have been proposed a wide variety of apparatuses that vary in manner of scanning a stimulating light beam and converting photostimulated luminescent light to an image signal.
For example, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 55(1980)-12492 and 56(1981)-11395, a photomultiplier has been widely employed as a photoelectric converter, which detects photostimulated luminescent light emitted from a stimulable phosphor sheet when scanned with a stimulating light beam. The photomultiplier, however, has the following problems:
1) The photomultiplier is low in shock resistance, large in size, and high in cost, because it is constructed of a hollow glass tube.
2) The photomultiplier is fairly difficult to make thin, as it uses a complex multistage dynode to double photons. The cost of manufacturing a long photomultiplier 17 inches in width would become unduly high.
3) The quantum efficiency of the photocathode utilizing an external photoelectric effect is low. The quantum efficiency with respect to photostimulated luminescent light of wavelength 300 to 500 nm (blue light band) is typically as low as about 10 to 20%, whereas the quantum efficiency with respect to photostimulated luminescent light of wavelength 600 to 700 nm (red light band) is relatively great, typically about 0.1 to 2%. For this reason, a special stimulating-light cut filter becomes necessary to obtain a satisfactory signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ratio) and results in an increase in the manufacturing cost.
Hence, in order to solve the problems associated with the photomultiplier, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 58(1983)-121874, 60(1985)-111568, 60(1985)-236354, xe2x80x9cRadiographic Process Utilizing a Photoconductive Solid-State Imager (772/Research disclosure, Oct. 1992/34264),xe2x80x9d and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7(1995)-76800, disclose that a semiconductor sensor (hereinafter referred to as a solid-state image detector) is used instead of the photomultiplier. The solid-state image detector employs a semiconductor (such as ZnS, ZnSe, CdS, TiO2, ZnO, xcex1-SiH, CdS(Cu), ZnS(Al), CdSe, PbO, xcex1-Se, etc.) as a photoconductor.
The solid-state image detectors consisting of the above-mentioned semiconductors, however, have the following problems: photostimulated luminescent light is feeble, so a photoconductor to be used is required to have extremely high dark resistance, but the disclosed photoconductors are all low in dark resistance; and since image reading is performed under a relatively strong electric field, the dark current increases and is superposed on the current component carrying an image signal and develops as dark latent image noise in a reproduced image. Particularly, xcex1-SiH, CdS(Cu), ZnS(Al), CdSe, and PbO, whose bandgap is small, have a large dark current resulting from thermal excitation, so it is extremely difficult to obtain a satisfactory S/N ratio.
xcex1-Se has relatively high dark resistance and can be employed with 1015xcexa9xc2x7cm (at 10V/xcexcm). However, in the case where xcex1-Se is used for detecting photostimulated luminescent light, the dark resistance thereof is insufficient to obtain an image with a satisfactory S/N ratio and is therefore desired to be greater than 1015xcexa9xc2x7cm. Furthermore, the solid-state image detector has not only the problem of dark current but also the problem that, because a pseudo signal occurs because of residual electric charge left unread, an image with a satisfactory S/N ratio cannot be obtained.
The present invention has been made in view of the aforementioned circumstances. Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an image information reading method and an image information reading apparatus that are capable of obtaining an image whose S/N ratio is satisfactory, without being subjected to the influence of dark current or residual electric charge, when reading out image information from an image recording sheet by use of an solid-state image detector.
To achieve the objects mentioned above and in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a first method of obtaining an image signal, comprising the steps of: preparing an image recording sheet having a stimulable phosphor layer which emits photostimulated luminescent light by a quantity corresponding to stored energy when irradiated with stimulating light; scanning the image recording sheet in horizontal and vertical scanning directions with the stimulating light; and obtaining the image signal by detecting the photostimulated luminescent light emitted by the scanning, with a solid-state image detector having a photoconductor; wherein a signal, output from the solid-state image detector when scanning a non-image region other than an image recording region on the image recording sheet with the stimulating light, is detected as a correction signal; and a non-image component, contained in a signal output from the solid-state image detector when scanning the image recording region with the stimulating light, is suppressed with the correction signal.
In the case where a light beam is used as the stimulating light, the aforementioned horizontal scanning direction refers to a direction in which the stimulating light and the scanning speed are relatively high, while the aforementioned vertical scanning direction refers to a direction in which the stimulating light and the scanning speed are relatively low. On the other hand, in the case where long line light is used as the stimulating light, the horizontal scanning direction refers to a direction in which the line light extends, while the vertical scanning direction refers to a direction in which the line light is moved with respect to the image recording sheet.
The expression xe2x80x9cnon-image region other than an image recording region on the image recording sheetxe2x80x9d is intended to mean a region where photostimulated luminescent light carrying image information is not incident on the solid-state image detector even if the stimulating light is scanned on the region. In connection with this meaning, it does not matter whether or not image information has been recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet. The non-image region may be a non-image region, formed so that photostimulated luminescent light carrying image information is not emitted, such as a region having no stimulable phosphor layer and a region formed so that radiation energy is not stored by intercepting radiation with a lead plate at the time of photographing. Also, it maybe a region on the stimulable phosphor sheet which corresponds to a portion formed so that photostimulated luminescent light is not incident on the detector with a member for intercepting photostimulated luminescent light, regardless of whether or not image information has been actually recorded. Furthermore, it maybe a region outside the stimulable phosphor sheet where no photostimulated luminescent light occurs.
In the aforementioned first method, the aforementioned correction signal is a signal obtained when scanning the vertical leading edge or trailing edge of the non-image region with the stimulating light. Alternatively, the correction signal is a signal obtained when scanning the horizontal leading edge or trailing edge of the non-image region with the stimulating light. Also, it is preferable that each of the vertical leading and trailing edges and horizontal leading and trailing edges of the non-image region be a region on the image recording sheet immediately before or immediately after the image recording region.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a second method of obtaining an image signal, comprising the steps of: preparing an image recording sheet having a stimulable phosphor layer which emits photostimulated luminescent light by a quantity corresponding to stored energy when irradiated with stimulating light; scanning the image recording sheet in horizontal and vertical scanning directions with the stimulating light; and obtaining the image signal by detecting the photostimulated luminescent light emitted by the scanning, with a solid-state image detector having a photoconductor; wherein a signal, output from the solid-state image detector when the stimulating light is in an OFF state, is detected as a correction signal; and a non-image component, contained in a signal output from the solid-state image detector when scanning the image recording region with the stimulating light, is suppressed with the correction signal.
The expression xe2x80x9cthe stimulating light is in an OFF statexe2x80x9d is intended to mean the state in which the stimulating light is not emitted from the stimulating-light source by switching off the stimulating-light source directly with an electrical signal, or switching off a power source for the stimulating-light source.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a third method of obtaining an image signal, comprising the steps of: preparing an image recording sheet having a stimulable phosphor layer which emits photostimulated luminescent light in a quantity corresponding to stored energy when irradiated with stimulating light; scanning the image recording sheet in horizontal and vertical scanning directions with the stimulating light; and obtaining the image signal by detecting the photostimulated luminescent light emitted by the scanning, with a solid-state image detector having a photoconductor; wherein a signal, output from the solid-state image detector when stimulating light incident on the image recording sheet is intercepted, is detected as a correction signal; and a non-image component, contained in a signal output from the solid-state image detector when scanning the image recording region with the stimulating light, is suppressed with the correction signal.
The expression xe2x80x9cwhen stimulating light incident on the image recording sheet is interceptedxe2x80x9d is intended to mean, for example, when stimulating light incident on the image recording sheet is intercepted by a shutter, etc.
In the first, second, and third methods of the present invention, it is preferable that the photoconductor of the solid-state image detector have amorphous selenium at its main component.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a first apparatus for carrying out the first method of the present invention. The first apparatus comprises scan means for scanning stimulating light in horizontal and vertical scanning directions on an image recording sheet having a stimulable phosphor layer which emits photostimulated luminescent light in a quantity corresponding to stored energy when irradiated with the stimulating light; a solid-state image detector with a photoconductor which generates electric charge when irradiated with the photostimulated luminescent light; acquisition means for obtaining an image signal in accordance with the quantity of the electric charge generated in the photoconductor; and suppression means for obtaining a signal, output from the solid-state image detector when scanning a non-image region other than an image recording region on the image recording sheet with the stimulating light, as a correction signal, and suppressing a non-image component, contained in a signal output from the solid-state image detector when scanning the image recording region with the stimulating light, with the correction signal.
In the first apparatus of the present invention, the correction signal obtained by the suppression means may be a signal obtained when scanning the vertical leading edge or trailing edge of the non-image region with the stimulating light. Also, the correction signal obtained by the suppression means may be a signal obtained when scanning the horizontal leading edge or trailing edge of the non-image region with the stimulating light.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a second apparatus for carrying out the second method of the present invention. The second apparatus comprises scan means for scanning stimulating light in horizontal and vertical scanning directions on an image recording sheet having a stimulable phosphor layer which emits photostimulated luminescent light in a quantity corresponding to stored energy when irradiated with the stimulating light; a solid-state image detector with a photoconductor which generates electric charge when irradiated with the photostimulated luminescent light; acquisition means for obtaining an image signal in accordance with the quantity of the electric charge generated in the photoconductor; control means for controlling an ON/OFF state of the stimulating light; and suppression means for obtaining a signal, output from the solid-state image detector when the stimulating light is in the OFF state, as a correction signal, and suppressing a non-image component, contained in a signal output from the solid-state image detector when scanning the image recording region with the stimulating light, with the correction signal.
The aforementioned xe2x80x9ccontrol meansxe2x80x9d refers, for example, to means for controlling the ON/OFF state of the stimulating light by sending an electrical signal directly to the stimulating-light source, and means for controlling the ON/OFF state of the stimulating light by controlling the ON/OFF state of the power source for the stimulating-light source.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a third apparatus for carrying out the third method of the present invention. The third apparatus comprises scan means for scanning stimulating light in horizontal and vertical scanning directions on an image recording sheet having a stimulable phosphor layer which emits photostimulated luminescent light by a quantity corresponding to stored energy when irradiated with the stimulating light; a solid-state image detector with a photoconductor which generates electric charge when irradiated with the photostimulated luminescent light; acquisition means for obtaining an image signal in accordance with the quantity of the electric charge generated in the photoconductor; interception means for intercepting stimulating light incident on the image recording sheet; and suppression means for obtaining a signal, output from the solid-state image detector when stimulating light incident on the image recording sheet is intercepted by the interception means, as a correction signal, and suppressing a non-image component, contained in a signal output from the solid-state image detector when scanning the image recording region with the stimulating light, with the correction signal.
In the aforementioned third apparatus, the xe2x80x9cinterception meansxe2x80x9d refers to a shutter, etc.
In the first, second, and third apparatuses of the present invention, it is preferable that the photoconductor of the solid-state image detector have amorphous selenium at its main component.
As described above, the first method and apparatus of the present invention use a signal, output from the solid-state image detector when scanning the non-image region with the stimulating light, in order to suppress a non-image component, contained in a signal output from the solid-state image detector when scanning the image recording region with the stimulating light. Thus, the first method and apparatus of the present invention are capable of reproducing a high-quality image, while removing a dark current component and a dark latent-image component which are steadily output from the detector.
The second method and apparatus of the present invention employ a signal, output from the solid-state image detector when the stimulating light is in an OFF state, in order to suppress the non-image component. Thus, the second method and apparatus of the present invention are capable of obtaining the same effect as the first method and apparatus of the present invention, with simpler construction and control.
The third method and apparatus of the present invention employ a signal, output from the solid-state image detector when stimulating light incident on the image recording sheet is intercepted, in order to suppress the non-image component. Therefore, the third method and apparatus of the present invention are also capable of obtaining the same effect as the second method and apparatus of the present invention.

Method and apparatus for reading image information


The system for redirecting airflow includes multiple electronic assemblies arranged adjacent to one another. Each electronic assembly includes a substrate having a substantially flat first surface and an opposing substantially flat second surface. Electronic devices are coupled to each of the first and second surfaces. Each surface also has one or more tabs coupled thereto, where each tab is configured to redirect the airflow over a least one electronic device.

Electronics, such as processors or memory, generate heat during operation. If left unchecked, this heat can reduce system performance and even lead to partial or complete system failure. As such, many existing technologies attempt to remove or dissipate heat through the use of heat sinks, cooling fans, etc.
While these technologies may be effective for cooling a single electronic component that is not located near other sources of heat, these technologies fall short when it comes to more complex systems that include multiple heat generation sources, such as server racks or storage arrays. Some storage arrays, like those that include multiple solid state drives (SSD), generate a significant amount of heat during operation.
Existing cooling systems for such systems typically include multiple high-speed fans. These high-speed fans are noisy; add significant expense to the system; increase the overall energy consumption of these systems; and decrease system efficiency. Moreover, existing cooling systems do not always alleviate localized hot-spots that form within the systems, which in turn shortens the life of the individual components within the system.
In light of these and other issues, it would be desirable to provide a system and method for more effectively cooling electronic components, especially those found in larger systems that contain multiple heat generating components.

System and method for redirecting airflow across an electronic assembly


A cleaning composition contains all natural ingredients and is both environmentally safe and hypoallergenic. One embodiment of natural glass cleaner contains white vinegar, natural aloe vera gel, fresh rosemary, filtered water, pure eucalyptus oil, lauryl glucoside, green food color, and a preservative. One embodiment of natural scrub wash multi-purpose cleaner contains lemon juice, fresh rosemary, lauryl glucoside, filtered water, fresh peppermint and a preservative. One embodiment of natural shine furniture cleaner contains lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, pure orange oil, pure lemon oil, pure eucalyptus oil, filtered water, and a preservative.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cleaning compositions and, more particularly, to compositions containing natural ingredients having good cleaning properties and which are both environmentally safe and hypoallergenic. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to cleaning compositions for use on glass surfaces. In a second embodiment, the present invention relates to cleaning compositions for use on furniture surfaces. In a third embodiment, the present invention relates to general purpose cleaning compositions to be used on hard surfaces.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The development and progression of cleaning formulations has always been focused on meeting the demands of the consumer. In the interest of always improving on previous cleaning formulations, most cleaners have, in the past, been created using an increasing number of synthetic surfactants and solvents. While such synthetically formulated cleaners can be extremely effective at killing germs and cleaning surfaces, they also pose a significant danger to the consumer and the local environment. Many chemicals found in homes have been linked to allergies, cancer, birth defects and psychological abnormalities. Millions of pounds of these toxic ingredients are poured down drains each day and are not adequately removed by water treatment. These ingredients are returned to rivers and other water sources from which drinking water is obtained. The use of synthetic surfactants and solvents continues to leave consumers and the environment suffering the health consequences.
Because of the significant dangers posed by synthetic cleaners and the ever increasing desire for renewable resources, there has been an increased demand for entirely natural cleaning compositions. However, in the past, natural based cleaning compositions have suffered from at least one of two shortcomings. Firstly, many such compositions have used all natural ingredients but failed to perform at the level of synthetically composed cleaners, forcing consumers to choose between their health and effective cleaning. Secondly, many other of such compositions have achieved similar performance to that of the synthetically composed cleaners but only use several natural ingredients in combination with several synthetic surfactants and solvents. Compositions of this type merely slow and reduce the negative health and environmental effects of the toxic ingredients as opposed to eliminating them altogether.
Prior art compositions fail to combine entirely natural compositions with effective cleaning that can be competitive with synthetic cleaners. Accordingly, there is an immediate need for a more effective natural cleaning composition which can compete with the top synthetic cleaners in terms of cleaning effectiveness and which can also be composed of almost entirely natural ingredients.

Composition for all natural cleaning products


Methods, compounds, and kits for the diagnosis or screening of osteonecrosis are described, and the development of animal models for COL2A1 function in osteonecrosis is put forth. Novel mutations in the COL2A1 gene are identified that are associated with avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Methods of treatment of osteonecrosis and avascular necrosis of the femoral head, including gene therapy approaches comprising introduction of COL2A1 nucleic acid are contemplated.

Osteonecrosis, including avascular necrosis, is a relatively common disorder that has been associated with a wide range of conditions, affecting patients with a variety of risk factors. The majority of cases are secondary to trauma. However, for non-traumatic cases, there often remains a diagnostic challenge in defining the cause of bone death. Non-traumatic osteonecrosis has been associated with corticosteroid usage, alcoholism, infections, hyperbaric events, storage disorders, marrow infiltrating diseases, coagulation defects, and some autoimmune diseases. However, a large number of idiopathic cases of osteonecrosis have been described without an obvious associated risk factor. (Assouline-Dayan et al., Semin. Arthritis Rheum. 32(2):94-124 (2002)).
Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) is a debilitating disease that usually leads to destruction of the hip joint in the third to fifth decade of life. The disease prevalence is unknown, but it has been estimated that 10,000-20,000 new cases per year are diagnosed in the United States. (Mankin, N. Engl. J. Med. 326:1473-1479 (1992); Mont et al., J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., 77:459-474 (1995)) Nearly half the patients with ANF require hip replacement before 40 years of age. Despite continued improvement in the design and technique of hip arthroplasty, the durability of total hip arthroplasty in young and active patients remains poor. Furthermore, the failure rate of arthroplasties is around 30%, after an average of 10 years follow-up. (Duffy et al., J. Arthroplasty, 16:140-144 (2001))
It has been suggested that a common pathogenesis pathway of ANFH involves the interruption of blood circulation to the antero-lateral part of the femoral head, leading to ischemic insult and bone collapse. The disease is aggravated by mechanical disruption (e.g., trauma, hip fracture), external pressure on or damage to a vessel wall (e.g., vasculitis, radiation therapy, systemic lupus erythematosus), arterial thrombosis or embolism (e.g., sickle cell disease, corticosteroid use, alcohol abuse) and venous or blood outflow occlusion (e.g., infection). Cases of ANFH that were initially considered idiopathic have been associated with heritable thrombophilia (an increased tendency for intravascular thrombosis) or hyperfibrinolysis (a reduced ability to lyse thrombi). (Glueck et al., Clin. Orthop., 43-56 (1997); Glueck et al., Clin. Orthop, 19-33 (2001); Jones et al., J. Rheumatol. 30:783 (2003)). Although many ANFH cases are associated with known underlying risk factors and classified as secondary ANFH, 15-30% of patients showing no apparent risk factors are classified as primary or idiopathic avascular necrosis of the femoral head (idiopathic ANFH). (Assouline-Dayan et al., Semin. Arthritis Rheum. 32:94-124 (2002)).
Accordingly, early detection of osteonecrosis is important for surgical and other medical treatment options because a patient's prognosis may depend on the stage and location of the lesion. If the development of osteonecrosis can be detected early, corrective surgery or alternative therapy can be effectively carried out with more successful prognosis. Further, the development of additional treatment options for subjects with ANFH or osteonecrosis is desirable, including gene therapy and cell therapy approaches.

Methods and compositions relating to COL2A1 gene mutations and osteonecrosis


A door assembly for a vehicle includes an outer panel. A support panel is operatively connected to the outer panel and configured such that the support panel provides bending resistance to the outer panel when the outer panel is deflected toward the support panel during a first deflection distance of the outer panel. A cable is operatively connected in the door assembly between a first end and a second end of the outer panel such that the cable provides additional bending resistance to the outer panel when the outer panel is deflected toward the support panel during a second deflection distance of the outer panel, greater than the first deflection distance.

A typical door assembly of a vehicle extends between a front end and a rear end. The door assembly includes an outer panel and an inner panel. The outer panel is attached to the inner panel at the front and rear ends of the door assembly to define a door cavity there between. An intrusion beam or panel is disposed within the door cavity and extends between the front and rear ends. The intrusion beam is typically formed from steel. The intrusion beam is operative to provide energy absorption through bending resistance to the door assembly in an impact event as the outer panel is deflected toward the inner panel.


A magnetic concealed carry pocket system includes a concealed carry pocket coupled to a surface of an object for concealing a firearm and a magnet pouch coupled to the surface of the object and at least partially covered by the concealed carry pocket. The magnetic concealed carry pocket system also includes a magnet sized to fit within the magnet pouch and rated to hold the firearm in position within the concealed carry pocket.

The present invention relates generally to concealed carry pockets and, more particularly, to a concealed carry pocket having a magnet.
Many countries have enacted laws that permit their citizens own firearms for various reasons such as, for example, self-defense and hunting. The laws of some countries also permit their citizens to carry their firearms in public. In carrying a firearm in public, citizens may be subject to open carry laws and/or concealed carry laws. Open carry refers to the practice of openly carrying a firearm in public, and concealed carry refers to the practice of carrying a firearm in public such that a casual observer will not see the firearm. Therefore, the practices of open carry and concealed carry are opposites of each other.
Citizens that desire to carry a firearm in public will choose gear or equipment for carrying the firearm based on whether they are practicing open carry or concealed carry. Citizens practicing open carry will choose equipment that ensures their firearms are visible. On the other hand, citizens practicing concealed carry will choose equipment that keeps their firearms hidden. In either case, citizens will also consider the accessibility and safety of the carrying equipment. Ideally, the equipment will provide quick and easy access to firearms and also adequately secure the firearms such that the firearms are not subject to falling out of the equipment, to theft, or to accidental discharge. However, in practice, equipment for carrying firearms may fall short with respect to at least one of the above-referenced features. This is especially true for equipment meant for practicing concealed carry, as concealing a firearm and providing both accessibility and security for the firearm is a difficult task.
As a non-limiting example of equipment for practicing concealed carry, manufacturers may provide hidden pockets within clothing for the purpose of concealing a firearm. Although these hidden pockets provide some utility, they often suffer from one or more issues. Some hidden pockets are placed in a position that provides security against theft, but is not readily accessible to those wearing the clothing. Other hidden pockets might be easily accessible, but the firearms within those pockets cannot be drawn quickly due to the method of securing the firearm. Still other hidden pockets only allow for firearms to be placed loosely therein such that the firearms are not adequately secured. In that case, the loose firearm could cause discomfort to those who wear the article of clothing or even fall out of the pocket.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a system for practicing concealed carry that provides both strong security for firearms and easy access to firearms.


A rotary drum for thickening pulp from a slurry, the drum including drainage channels delivering filtrate from a pulp mat on an outer surface of the rotary drum to at least one filtrate chamber at an end of the rotary drum, a flat face valve and plenum chamber assembly in the filtrate chamber. The flat face valve juxtaposed against drainage outlets of the drainage channels, wherein the flat face valve does not block the drainage outlets during a majority of the rotation of the rotary drum. At least one opening on the flat face valve extending through the front surface and aligned with the drainage outlets to provide a fluid passage through the flat face valve and to a plenum chamber behind the flat face valve such that air in the filtrate is collected in the upper portion of the plenum chamber and removed from the rotary drum.

The field of the invention generally relates to rotary drum vacuum washer filters for washing pulp and increasing the consistency (dewatering) of pulp in the pulp and paper industry, and for washing and dewatering suspensions of solids and liquids on other industries (such as but not limited to wastewater treatment, food processing, cement production and mining). In particular, the invention relates to a filtrate suction control valve for rotary drum vacuum washer filters.
Pulp is typically formed of wood chips or other cellulosic material. The pulp has been processed to separate the fibers in the cellulosic material. The pulp flows in a slurry. The rotary drum vacuum washer filter separates the pulp from the liquor in the slurry. The rotary drum vacuum washer filter is also referred to as a filter because it removes liquor and wash liquid from the pulp.
The removed liquor and wash liquid drain into a filtrate chamber at the end of the rotary drum and flow down a drop leg conduit. The downward flow of liquor and wash liquid create a suction that draws the liquor and wash liquid through the pulp mat and porous surface of the rotary drum.
The suction may be disrupted if excessive air or other gases are in the drop leg conduit. Air and gases fill the drainage channels of the rotary drum during a portion of the rotation of the drum. To prevent the air and gases in the drainage channels from entering the filtrate chamber and drop leg conduit, a valve is typically used to block the drainage channels while they are filled with air and gases. One type of conventional valve is mounted on a stem extending through a trunnion supporting an end of the rotary drum, as is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,981,248. Another type of valve is the conventional flat-face valve plate (no openings in the plate) that blocks the outlets to the drain channels during the portion of their rotation when the drain channels have large amounts of air or other gases.
To maintain high levels of suction in the rotary drum, air and gases should not flow into, or at least not become excessive in the filtrate chamber, elbow or drop leg conduit. A difficulty with the conventional flat-face valve plate is that air and other gases captured in the drain channels are released into the filtrate chamber as the drain channels pass the flat-face valve plate.

Flat-face valve for pulp rotary drum vacuum washer filter and method


The present disclosure relates to a position detecting system. The position detecting system includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels. The position detecting system also includes a data driving unit configured to apply a first data voltage and a second data voltage to the display panel, wherein the first data voltage is associated with display of an image on the display panel during a first frame and the second data voltage is associated with display of patterns on the display panel during a second frame. The position detecting system further includes a position detecting sensor configured to capture an image of the patterns when a position detecting mode of the position detecting sensor is turned on.

(a) Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a position detecting system and a driving method thereof, and more particularly, to a position detecting system including a display capable of detecting a position on a display panel and a driving method thereof.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A display device (such as liquid crystal display (LCD), organic light emitting diode display (OLED display), or electrophoretic display) typically includes a field generating electrode and an electro-optical active layer. An LCD may include a liquid crystal layer as the electro-optical active layer; an OLED display may include an organic light emitting layer as the electro-optical active layer; and an electrophoretic display may include a layer having charge-carrying particles as the electro-optical active layer. The field generating electrode may receive a data signal by being connected to a switching element (e.g. a thin film transistor). When a data signal is applied to the switching element, the electro-optical active layer displays an image by converting the data signal into an optical signal.
In addition to the image display function, a display device may include a touch detecting function. The touch detecting function allows a user to interact with the display device when contact information is received (or detected) from the user. For example, a display device having a touch detecting function can detect whether an object has approached or made physical contact with the screen of the display device, as well as the actual contact position on the screen (if contact has been made). The touch detecting function may be accomplished using, for example, a touch sensor to detect a change in pressure, charge, or reflected light in the display device when a user approaches or touches the screen with a finger or touch pen. The detected information is then converted into an image signal for displaying an image on the display device.
The touch sensor may include resistive sensors, capacitive sensors, electro-magnetic type (EM) sensors, optical sensors, or other types of sensors.
A capacitive touch sensor may include a sensing capacitor having a sensing electrode capable of transferring a sensing signal. Specifically, the capacitive touch sensor can detect whether contact has been made and the actual contact position, by sensing the change in capacitance of the sensing capacitor when a conductive element (such as the user's finger) approaches the sensor.
In a resistive touch sensor, a pair of electrodes spaced apart may come into contact due to external pressure from an object. When the two electrodes make contact at a particular position, the resistance of the electrodes changes. The contact position is then determined by measuring the corresponding change in voltage.
The resistive touch sensor typically works well for a single point of contact. However, if a user simultaneously touches a plurality of points on the screen of the display device, the resistive touch sensor may not be able to obtain touch information pertaining to the plurality of points since the voltages registered across the points are the same. A capacitive type touch sensor may be capable of obtaining information pertaining to a plurality of points. However, the capacitive type touch sensor may not be able to obtain contact information if an insulator makes contact with the screen (e.g. when a user is wearing hand-gloves).
It is noted that various technologies of obtaining contact information relating to contact positions on the display panel have been developed. For example, a touch pen may be used to contact the display panel, capture an image of patterns formed on the display panel, and determine contact information based on the captured image of the patterns. However, the conventional method for detecting contact positions on a display panel may require forming patterns permanently on the display panel, which may increase manufacturing costs as well as the size and/or thickness of the display panel. Furthermore, the patterns for detecting contact positions may overlap with other image frames, which may subsequently reduce image quality.
In some cases, it may be useful if the display devices can sense contact strength in addition to contact position. Contact strength refers to the amount of pressure that a user applies on a particular spot on the screen of the display device. However, conventional display devices including the above touch sensors may lack the capability of sensing both contact position and contact strength.

Position detecting system and driving method thereof


A synchronous induction motor features improved assemblability of a rotor, significantly reduced production cost, and improved operation performance of the motor. A plurality of die-cast secondary conductors is provided around a rotor yoke constituting the rotor of the synchronous induction motor. End rings are die-cast integrally with the secondary conductors on the peripheral portions of both end surfaces of the rotor yoke. Permanent magnets are inserted into slots formed such that they penetrate the rotor yoke. The openings of both ends of the slots are closed by a pair of end surface members formed of a non-magnetic constituent. One of the end surface members is secured to the rotor yoke by one of the end rings when the secondary conductors and the end rings are formed. The other end surface member is secured to the rotor yoke by a fixture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a synchronous induction motor constituted by a plurality of secondary conductors provided on the peripheral portion of a rotor yoke, an end ring which is positioned on the peripheral portions of both end surfaces of the rotor yoke and which is integrally formed with the secondary conductors by die casting, and a permanent magnet embedded in the rotor yoke.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an air conditioner or a refrigerator, for example, incorporates a hermetic electric compressor for the refrigerating cycle of a cooling unit of the air conditioner or the refrigerator. As an electric constituent for driving the compressor, an induction motor, a DC brushless motor, or a synchronous induction motor driven by a single-phase or three-phase commercial power supply has been used.
The rotor of the synchronous induction motor is constituted by a stator having stator windings and a rotor rotating in the stator. A plurality of secondary conductors positioned around a rotor yoke that makes up the rotor are die-cast. Furthermore, end rings are integrally formed with the secondary conductors by die-casting onto the peripheral portions of both end surfaces of the rotor yoke. Slots are formed through the rotor yoke, permanent magnets are inserted in the slots, and the openings at both ends of the slots are respectively secured by end surface members.
The permanent magnets to be provided in the rotor are inserted in the slots formed in the rotor yoke, then secured by fixing members. Furthermore, in order to ensure good rotational balance of the rotor, balancers are installed in the vicinity of the end rings positioned on the peripheral portions of the end surfaces of the rotor yoke. In this case, after forming the end rings by die casting, the end surface members for fixing the permanent magnets in the slots and the balancers are separately installed. This has been posing a problem in that the assembling efficiency of the synchronous induction motor is considerably deteriorated.
Furthermore, in order to secure the space for the slots for fixing the permanent magnets in the rotor, the end rings have to be made small. This inevitably leads to small sectional areas of the end rings. As a result, the heat generated by the rotor during operation increases, leading to a problem in that running performance is degraded due to degraded magnetic forces of the magnets, and, if rare earth type magnets are used for the permanent magnets, then significant demagnetization occurs.

Synchronous induction motor and manufacturing method and drive unit for the same, and hermetic electric compressor


Disclosed is an open top hopper window with a hopper window and a frame. The frame includes top edge and bottom edges, and left and right sides. The inn part of the right and left sides of the frame has a guide groove located at the bottom of the side, with a hole in the frame located above such guide groove. The joining between the hopper window and the frame uses two bolts at the outer bottom sides of the hopper window sliding into the guide grooves and two arms linking the holes at the frame with two holes at the hopper window wherein the two holes are located at the 35%-40% range of the total length of the hopper window on the outer sides of the hopper window always achieving an equilibrium position which allows positioning the hopper window at different opening angles and positions without effort.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,648,878 relates to a fully reversible hopper window. Such window has two arms that support the window and bottom guides in which it slides. However, the position of the arms is in the middle (50%) of the hopper window, preventing its imbalance that eases lifting it by very little effort.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,718,675, similar to the above patent, shows a reversible hopper window frame with two arms and sliding guides. However, this patent uses sliding arms that do not allow its imbalance that eases lifting it by very little effort.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,825,939 relates to assemblies for hopper windows. On this invention, the guides for hopper windows on top of the frame, thus it is a bottom open window; once opened, users get the air directly into their bodies without proper regulation. Furthermore, there is no imbalance allowing easy lifting by very little effort.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,721,044 shows a hopper window with double arms on each side which also improves the braking system. As on the above patent, the guides are on top of the frame and it has grooves therein. Furthermore, the guide system has a rotatable flange circulating on the frame groove that works as guide. It has no imbalance that eases lifting it by very little effort.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,142 shows a brake system for hopper windows using crossed arms. This system is very different than the above ones; it is used in open bottom hopper windows different than the one of this invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,102,012 relates to sliding hopper windows with upper and lower arms on each side, being also a system different to the one shown herein. As above, this system is used in open bottom hopper windows different than the one of this invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,131 relates to a locking system for cupboard doors. It has similar movements than the ones of this invention, as well as side guides for sliding on the bottom of the door.


A method and structure for forming deep trenches in a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method comprises: providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a pad oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate; forming a pad nitride layer on the pad oxide layer; forming a borophosphosilicate glass layer on the pad nitride layer; forming a borosilicate glass layer on the borophosphosilicate glass layer; and forming deep trenches through the borosilicate glass layer, through the borophosphosilicate glass layer, through the pad nitride, through the pad oxide, and into the semiconductor substrate. The borosilicate glass layer and the borophosphosilicate glass layer function as a composite hard mask in forming the deep trenches. With the borophosphosilicate glass layer, the composite hard mask can be easily removed by dry etch process using hydrogen fluoride vapor after the deep trenches have been formed.

In fabricating semiconductor devices, trenches are formed in a semiconductor substrate to isolate active devices therein, or serve in part as a structure for fabricating dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The process for fabricating the trench typically includes defining an opening of the trench through a photolithography process and performing an anisotropic etching. Subsequent processes may be carried out according to the material characteristics of the semiconductor device.
FIGS. 1 to 4 are cross-sectional views of a conventional semiconductor structure 10 illustrating deep trenches formed in a semiconductor substrate 12 by a known method. As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional method of forming the deep trenches in the semiconductor substrate includes forming a pad oxide layer 14 on the semiconductor substrate 12 of the semiconductor structure 10, depositing a pad nitride layer 16 on the pad oxide layer 14 and depositing a borosilicate glass (BSG) layer 18 on the pad nitride layer 16. The borosilicate glass layer 18 will serve as a hard mask in subsequent deep trench silicon etching process. An un-doped silicate glass layer 20 is deposited on the borosilicate glass layer 18 for the purpose of anti-humidity and protection. The structure 10 is then subject to an annealing process. Subsequently, a photolithography process is imposed on the structure 10, which includes coating a photoresist layer 22 on the un-doped silicate glass layer 20, patterning and exposing the photoresist layer 22, and removing a portion of the photoresist layer 22 to form openings 24, so as to facilitate the formation of desired deep trenches 28 residing at the position shown by the dashed lines 26 under the openings 24.
As shown in FIG. 2, after etching process, the un-doped silicate glass layer 20 beneath the openings 24, the borosilicate glass layer 18, the pad nitride layer 16, the pad oxide layer 14 and semiconductor substrate 12 are etched away, and then deep trenches 28 are formed at the position shown by dashed lines 26 of FIG. 1. In addition, the photoresist layer 22 and the un-doped silicate glass 20 have been removed as well. The etching process includes removing the un-doped silicate glass layer 20 beneath the opening 24, the borosilicate glass layer 18, the pad nitride layer 16 and the pad oxide layer 14 by known anisotropic etching process. The silicon substrate 12 no longer covered by the hard mask may be etched by dry etching process known in the art.
After the deep trenches have been formed, the borosilicate glass layer 18 in FIG. 2 is removed. As shown in FIG. 3A, when using the vapor of hydrogen fluoride (VHF) to remove the borosilicate glass layer 18, it is difficult to completely remove the borosilicate glass layer 18 away, such that a portion of the borosilicate glass layer 18 still remains thereon. This is because when performing the aforementioned annealing process, due to elevated temperature, the boron in the borosilicate glass layer 18 would tend to diffuse upward from the junction of the borosilicate glass layer 18 and pad nitride layer 16 (i.e., toward the direction of the un-doped silicate glass layer 20 of FIG. 1), such that the region in the borosilicate glass layer 18 adjacent to the junction forms an un-doped silicate glass layer. In comparison with a doped silicate glass layer, the un-doped silicate glass layer is more difficult to be removed by using the vapor of hydrogen fluoride.
On the other hand, when utilizing liquid hydrogen fluoride (HF) to etch the borosilicate glass layer 18, undercut 17 would form in the pad oxide layer 14, as shown in FIG. 3B. The results shown in both FIGS. 3A and 3B adversely influence the subsequent processes, increase the fabrication costs and may degrade the fabrication yields. Therefore, we do not desire these to occur.
Attempt has been made to avoid the conditions shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B by omitting the annealing process in the aforementioned trench forming process, however, this would result in defective profiles of the deep trenches. It is believed that the annealing process is carried out to facilitate obtaining better profile of deep trenches after performing the deep trench etching steps. However, the approach of omitting the annealing process to prevent the boron in the borosilicate glass layer 18 from diffusing upward, in order to obtain better hard mask removal, would result in abnormal critical dimensions of the deep trenches for the 0.11-micron technology generation, for example, inconsistent width of deep trenches 28′ and 28″ as depicted in FIG. 4.
It is desirable to provide a method and structure for forming deep trenches in a semiconductor substrate which ensure good profile of the deep trenches and easy removal of the hard mask.

Method and composite hard mask for forming deep trenches in a semiconductor substrate


The invention relates to a winder guard in a two-drum winder which combines the web cutting and the winder guard functions to one device. The winder guard is movable in an arcuate path around the front (downstream) winding drum. The winder guard has an upstream edge on which a cutting blade is mounted so as to align with the winder guard, and pass between the two winding drums and then to be bent to engage the rear (upstream) winding drum so as to cut a plurality of partial fiber webs WP slit from a machine web W in a slitter and wrapped around the rear winding drum onto winding cores 14 around which customer rolls 10 are wound. Adequate space beneath the winding drums for maintenance and broke cleanup is provided by winder guard movement along an arcuate path around the front winding drum.

The present invention relates to a slitter-winder of a fiber web production line in general, and in particular to guards for increased safety of a slitter-winder and severing of the fiber web in the slitter winder.
It is known that a fiber web, e.g. paper, is manufactured in machines which together constitute a paper-manufacturing line which can be hundreds of meters long. Modern paper machines can produce over 450,000 tons of paper per year. The speed of the paper machine can exceed 2,000 m/min and the width of the fiber web can be more than 11 meters.
In paper-manufacturing lines, the manufacture of paper takes place as a continuous process. A fiber web completing in the paper machine is reeled by a reel-up around a reeling shaft, i.e. a reel spool, into a parent roll, the diameter of which can be more than 5 meters and the weight more than 160 tons. The purpose of reeling is to modify the fiber web manufactured as planar to a more easily processable form. On the reel-up located in the main machine line, the continuous process of the paper machine breaks for the first time, and shifts into periodic operation.
The web of the parent roll produced in paper manufacture is full-width and can be more than 100 km long so it must be slit into partial webs with suitable width and length for the customers of the paper mill and wound around cores into so-called customer rolls before delivering them from the paper mill. This slitting and winding up of the web takes place as known in an appropriate separate machine, i.e., a slitter-winder.
On the slitter-winder, the parent roll is unwound, the wide web is slit on the slitting section into several narrower partial webs which are wound up on the winding section around winding cores, such as spools, into customer rolls. When the customer rolls are completed, the slitter-winder is stopped and the wound rolls, i.e., the so-called set, is removed from the machine. Then, the process is continued with the winding of a new set. These steps of so-called set change are repeated in sequences periodically until paper runs out of the parent roll, whereby a parent roll change is performed and the operation starts again as the unwinding of a new parent roll.
Slitter-winders employ winding devices of different types depending on, inter alia, the type of the fiber web being wound. On slitter-winders of the two drum winder type, the web is guided from the unwinding via guide rolls to the slitting section where the web is slit into partial webs which are further guided to the winding (support or carrier) drum of the two drum winder, and slit component webs are wound around a winding core supported on two drums or one drum or a set of drums or two sets of drums. The present invention relates to two-drum winders with two winding drums.
On many two drum winders, space beneath the winding drums is limited, making maintenance and paper broke (scrap) cleanup difficult. In some cases the limited space is also a safety concern.
In two drum winders various web cutting blade arrangements have been used to sever the web from a completed wound roll during the set change sequence so it can be started onto a new set of cores, and to sever the web during the threading process. The most prevalent method has been a blade mounted from a support beam with the blade coming up between the front and rear winding drums, which requires various linkage and cam roller guides to guide the cross-machine support beam and considerable space is required under the winding drums.
During recent years a splice guard (a guard) has been used on some winders to cover the top of the rotating front (downstream) winding drum to protect operators from contact or entry into the nip produced by the front drum and a partially wound roll when threading the winder to a partially wound roll after a web break. The movable winder guard is typically pivoted about the axis of the front winding drum.
The cutting operation has been provided either with a cutting blade moving vertically in the space between the winding drums or with a cutting blade moving in an arcuate path around the rear (upstream) winding drums. On many winders, space beneath the winding drums is limited making maintenance and paper broke (scrap) cleanup difficult. In some cases the limited space is also a safety concern. Thus providing also the safety guard with the front winding drum has been problematic as the construction space needed raises further problems in this limited space beneath the winding drums.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,855 is disclosed a known web winding apparatus comprising a pair of space apart support rolls (winding drums) for a core tube (winding core) to be placed thereon, means for driving at least one of said rolls, means for delivering a web onto a core tube supported on said rolls, and means for cutting (severing) the web when it is desired to replace the core tube, wherein said cutting means comprises an elongated blade extending longitudinally of the rolls, and means for advancing and retracting said blade in the space between said rolls so as to contact and cut said web in advanced position and to withdraw said web into standby position between cuttings. The blade can be caused to move in a straight line or an arcuate path between active and inactive positions and guide means may be provided to prevent skewing. It is disclosed that in this known arrangement the cutting means move in the straight line in a vertical direction between the support rolls or in the arcuate path around the rear, i.e. the upstream support roll.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,085 is disclosed a winding splicing nip guard, which is mounted for rotation about the downstream drum of a winder having two spaced apart winding drums which support a customer roll. The guard has a D-shaped leading-edge which approaches the customer roll. The leading-edge is articulated so that if an operator hand becomes wedged between the leading-edge and the customer roll, articulation on the leading-edge closes a switch which brings the winder to a stop. A hydraulic actuator extends between a lowermost radial edge of each sector shaped extension and a fixed support. Operation of the hydraulic actuator causes the guard to rotate about the axis of the downstream winding drum so as to be between the operator and the downstream side of the winding drum. The leading edge of the guard is positioned to limit operator access to the nip formed between the customer roll and the downstream winding drum.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,698 discloses a winding machine comprising a winder drum, and a roll core at least partially supported on the winder drum, and a web of material being wound around the roll core to form a web reel in response to rotation of the winder drum and the web reel, the point where the web reel rotates into contact with the support drum being called the nip. The winding machine further includes a nip safety guard having a finger presence sensor, the nip safety guard supporting the finger presence sensor adjacent the web reel and the support drum. A moving mechanism moves and locates the nip safety guard and the finger presence sensor thereon depending on the size of the web reel so that the finger presence sensor is located closely spaced from the web reel and thus spaced a safe distance from the nip. The safety guard moving mechanism further is controlled by a controller which receives input from a web reel height measuring instrument, which allows proper positioning of the guard by the moving mechanism to position the finger sensor. More particularly, the winding machine nip safety guard comprises a safety shield that covers the support drum and is mounted for rotation about the support drum, the safety shield having an edge which can be moved to closely approach the web reel. The moving mechanism is used to move the safety shield away from the nip during higher speed winding and towards the nip before the operator approaches the winder.

Slitter-winder of a fiber production line


This invention discloses a method of controlling the multimedia audio and video playback by installing an audio/video playback program, a playback control program, and a data storage medium in a computer device, wherein the audio/video playback program adjusts a setup value for each of the playback setup options and saves the adjusted setup value into the data storage medium, such that after the computer device is booted every time, the playback control program detects the execution of the audio/video playback program and determines whether or not a multimedia file is waiting to be executed; if yes, it loads the setup value of the playback setup option from the data storage medium, so that the audio/video playback program can play the multimedia file according to the content of the setup value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of controlling the multimedia audio and video playback.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nowadays, people pay more and more attention on entertainment, but with the concept of personal privacy and freedom, many people are unwilling to wait in a line for a ticket, or stay in a public place (such as a cinema) with poor air ventilation, and sit in a small seat next to a group of total strangers to watch a movie. It is not regarded as an enjoyment, but is a torture instead. On the other hand, since the audio and video equipments and information products are improved constantly and integrated perfectly to show the audio and video effects, it has reached an excellent state. Based on the description above, people prefer staying at home to appreciate a program on CD or an online satellite program.
Due to the popularity of computer devices (such as a notebook computer or a desktop computer), many people usually run the multimedia file (such as an audio/video CD) directly on a notebook computer or a desktop computer as a main playback tool in order to save the money for buying an audio/video playback device (DVD player or VCD player). In general, if a computer is used to watch a movie, it is necessary to install an audio and video playback program (Win DVD or Media Player). Such playback program has a plurality of playback setup options (such as volume, language, screen, and caption, etc.), so that users may freely adjust the setup values (such as the volume, sound quality, screen size, image brightness, and external screen, etc) for the playback options according to personal preferences. However, the procedure of adjusting such playback options is minute and complicated, and thus it is common for a movie being played for a while before the user completes the adjustment and setup of such playback setup options. Furthermore, since the setup value of these playback setup options cannot be saved, the users have to reset the setup every time when they play a movie, leaving us no alternative but annoyance.
Since movies have different natures (such as war movies, horror movies, and romantic movies, etc.), it is necessary to play it with different playback environment to maximize the audio and video effects. Therefore, viewing a movie of different natures requires adjusting the setup values of the playback option. What would it be if a user just prefers to watch war movies? It is unbearable to the user if it is necessary to readjust the setup for the optimal audio and video effect every time when the user watches the movie of the same nature.
Therefore, it is an urgent need to have a novel invention that allows users to watch a movie or listen to a song by using a computer device without having to go through the complicated setup procedure. The function of playing a movie according to the content and nature easily and quickly is definitely a contribution to the extensive consumers.

Method of controlling multimedia audio and video playback


Electric connector, including first and second connector parts (10, 20) which can be coupled together and which comprise respectively first and second contact elements (11, 21) and first and second supports (1a, 3a) which support respectively the first and second connector parts and can be assembled together by means of screwing engagement. The first and second connector parts comprise, respectively, first and second support ring structures (13, 23) which carry the first and second contact elements respectively. Pins and corresponding locating and drive means (31, 32) are designed to make the first and second support rings structures rotationally integral during relative engagement of first and second supports and cause first and second contact elements to align with one another. The first connector part also comprises a base structure (15) on which the first support ring structure is movably mounted. Cam members (18) are arranged between base structure and support ring structure.

The present invention relates to a connector including:                a first connector part and a second connector part which can be coupled to each other and comprise at least one first end part of a conduit or transmission line and at least one second end part of a conduit or transmission line, respectively, for contacting with one another when first and second connector parts are coupled to each other; and        a first tubular element and a second tubular element which support the first and the second connector parts, respectively, and can be assembled with one another by means of an engaging movement so as to obtain coupling between the first and second connector parts, said engaging movement comprising a component of relative rotation of first and second tubular elements, about a longitudinal axis thereof,        wherein said first and second connector parts comprise a first support ring structure and a second support ring structure, respectively, which carry the first end part of a conduit or transmission line and the second end part of a conduit or transmission line, respectively.
An example of connectors of this type consists of connectors used in the oil and gas industry for forming electric lines inside drill strings used to drill wells. These electric lines are used to transmit to the surface signals indicating the operating condition of the drilling equipment or the environmental or geological conditions inside the well.
Generally the drill strings used comprise hundreds of pipes and any other components connected in series. The electric lines must therefore transmit their signals through all the joints between successive components in the strings. Consequently, a single defective connection may result in the entire line malfunctioning.
There are different factors which affect the reliability of the connectors. Firstly, since in general the connection between components of the drill string is performed by means of screwing and since the manufacturing tolerances of the drilling components generally do not guarantee the degree of precision required by electrical equipment it may happen that, once assembly has been performed, the electrical contacts of successive components are not aligned with each other and/or there remains between them an axial gap which prevents contact from being achieved. Moreover a certain relative angular displacement between two components may occur accidentally during operation of the drill string, resulting in misalignment of the contacts.
These problems have been considered for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,929,493 which describes a connector of the type defined at the start. The connector in U.S. Pat. No. 6,929,493 comprises a pair of annular contacts which are housed in respective annular seats, being embedded in an elastic material. Although this device appears to solve the problems mentioned above, it appears however that it is able to offset only partially manufacturing tolerances which are not very large.

Connector for tubular elements, provided with a force transmitting member


A transmission apparatus and a method for operating the apparatus comprises means for controlling flow of frame based data transmitted from a local frame based data channel interface over a synchronous digital network. The method of operation comprises the transmitter receiving frame based data at a first rate whereafter a buffer is configured to receive the frame based data. A data amount threshold level for the buffer is pre-determined whereafter, with respect to the threshold level, an amount of transmitted frame based data that has been received is monitored. In response to monitoring the amount of data received, a signal, in the form of a pause frame, is generated wherein the signal is configurable to adapt the rate of transmission from the frame based data channel interface. Working in conjunction with the transmission means there is also provided a receiver for controlling flow of frame based data, received from a synchronous digital network, to a frame based data channel interface. The receiver is configured to receive the frame based data at a first rate whereafter a buffer is configured to receive the frame based data. Upon pre-determining a data amount threshold level for the buffer an amount of frame based data received is monitored with respect to the threshold level. In response to monitoring the amount of data received, a signal is generated in the form of a pause frame, wherein the pause frame signal is configurable to adapt the first transmission rate of the frame based data over the synchronous digital network to a second rate. In this way, the rate of transmission from a local Ethernet switch may be controlled and the rate of receipt of Ethernet based frame data from a synchronous digital network may be controlled. In the latter case pause frames may be incorporated into one or more synchronous digital hierarchy virtual containers.

In the applicant's co-pending patent application entitled "Frame Based Data Transmission Over Synchronous Digital Hierarchy Network", there is disclosed a method of carrying frame based data over a synchronous digital network, such as a synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) network or the U.S. counterpart "SONET" network. The applicant's aforementioned disclosed system may provide OSI layer 2 switching functionality (which was only previously available in prior art local area networks) extended over a geographical coverage area which has been historically considered to have been provided only by a prior art wide area network.
In order to accommodate data communications frame based data, which is characterised by its own set of data rates and control data characteristics, and to contain such frame based data in conventional synchronous digital networks, there is a problem that the frame based data communications data rates are not well matched to conventional telecommunication data rates, for example E1, E3, T1, STM-1 data rates. These standard telecommunications interfaces are used by the data communications industry to provide wide area networks formed from point to point links. However, this is inconvenient for data communications service providers since data communications protocols have developed using a completely different set of interfaces and protocols, for example carrier sense multiple access collision detection (CSMA/CD) systems, subject of IEEE standard 802.3, such as the Ethernet which is available in 10 MegaBits/s, 100 megabits/s and 1 gigabits/s versions. Conventional data communications protocols do not match up very well to conventional telecommunications interfaces because of a mismatch in data rates and technologies between conventional data communications and conventional telecommunications.
Several prior art attempts have been made to carry frame based data over telecommunications networks, and are briefly summarized in the applicant's aforementioned co-pending patent application. However, prior art schemes suffer from various disadvantages such as, in certain schemes, a substantial packetization header overhead, which can comprise up to 20% of an SDH packet payload.

Flow control of frame based data over a synchronous digital network