A moving vector detecting apparatus includes a horizontal low-pass filter for extracting a low-pass component in a horizontal direction of an input image signal; a first moving vector detector for detecting a moving vector in a vertical direction of an image, by an inter-frame correlation between a representative point and a pixel on a vertical straight line through the representative point, from the output signal of the horizontal low-pass filter; a vertical low-pass filter for extracting a low-pass component of an input image signal in a vertical direction; and a second moving vector detector for detecting a moving vector in a horizontal direction of the image, by an inter-frame correlation between the representative point and a pixel on a horizontal straight line through the representative point, from the output signal of the vertical low-pass filter. Therefore, the horizontal component of the moving vector is detected from the signal component having a high vertical correlation and the vertical component of the moving vector is detected from the signal component having a high horizontal correlation both by the one-dimensional moving vector detector, with the result that the moving vector can be detected with a few accumulated addition tables in short calculating time.

In order to detect an amount of movement of the image between frames, it is ideal to calculate how far and which direction each pixel in the image moved and this method ensures the best precision in vector detection. However, this method requires large-scale hardware and takes a lot of time, so that it is difficult to realize the above method. Thus, there is a general method for determining the moving vector in the whole screen by finding an amount of movement of several pixels (referred to as representative points hereinafter) in the screen.
FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a general representative point calculating circuit. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the relation between block and the representative point in the image according to the conventional example of FIG. 20. The image of one field is divided into the prescribed number of blocks 901 and one representative point R.sub.ij 902 is provided in the center of each block. The level difference between the representative point in the previous frame and the whole pixels P.sub.ij (x,y) 903 in the block is calculated in each block.
In FIG. 20, an input video signal (a) is A/D converted by the A/D converter 1. Then, the video signal converted to a digital signal by the A/D converter 1 is calculated as follows. A calculation according to the pixel in the block 901 will be described as an example. A prescribed pixel to become the representative point 902 in the block 901 is written in a prescribed region of a representative point memory 802 through a latch circuit 801. Data stored in the representative point memory 802 is read one frame later and applied to a difference absolute value calculating circuit 805 through a latch circuit 803. On the other hand, the other A/D converted data of the video signal is applied to the difference absolute value calculating circuit 805 through a latch circuit 804. The absolute value of the difference between the representative point signal (f) of the previous frame output from the latch circuit 803 and the pixel signal (g) of the present frame output from the latch circuit 804 is calculated by the difference absolute value calculating circuit 805. These calculations are per-formed in each block and an output signal (h) from the difference absolute value calculating circuit 805 is added one after another to tables corresponding to the same address of the pixel in each block of the accumulated addition table 806. The result of the addition in the tables is input to a table value comparator 807 and finally it is determined how far and which direction the image position moved for one frame, that is, a moving vector value (i) is determined from a block address in which the result of the addition is the minimum.
More specifically, the absolute value of the difference between the representative point R.sub.ij and a signal S.sub.ij (x,y) positioned in a horizontal direction x and a vertical direction y is found and then it is added to x and y of the same position to each representative point and then it is set as an accumulated addition table D.sub.xy, D.sub.xy is represented as follows; EQU D.sub.xy =.SIGMA..vertline.R.sub.ij -S.sub.ij (x,y).vertline.
Then, the minimum x and y in the D.sub.xy are set as moving vectors in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction, respectively.
In the above structure, however, since the moving vector is found in a plane manner, i.e., two dimensionally, the accumulated addition tables whose number corresponds to the number of whole pixels in the block are required. For example, if the number of the pixels are 32 in the horizontal direction and 16 in the vertical direction, 512 (=32.times.16) accumulated addition tables are required, with the result that the scale of the circuit is increased. In addition, when the moving vector is calculated, all the data in the accumulated addition tables is compared, with the result that the number of comparisons is very large and also it takes a lot of time.
Meanwhile, inventors of the present invention propose an improved moving vector detecting apparatus in Japanese Patent Published Application No. 1-277539, in which two intersecting one-dimensional moving vectors are obtained from an accumulated addition table corresponding to a pixel on a vertical straight line passing through a representative point and an accumulated addition table corresponding to a pixel on a horizontal straight line passing through the representative point and a two-dimensional moving vector is calculated from these two intersecting one-dimensional moving vectors.
FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the moving vector detecting apparatus for determining a vector on the screen by detecting two intersecting one-dimensional moving vectors, disclosed in the Japanese Patent Published Application No. 1-277539. In FIG. 22, an input video signal (a) is A/D converted by an A/D converter 1 and then a prescribed pixel in the block 2020 (shown in FIG. 23) to become the representative point 2021 is written in a representative point memory 813 through a latch circuit 812. The data stored in the representative point memory 813 is read one frame after and then applied to a vertical absolute value circuit 819 and a horizontal absolute value circuit 820 through a latch circuit 814. On the other hand, the data of the A/D converted video signal is applied to the the vertical absolute value circuit 819 through a vertical pixel latch circuit 816 which latches at a timing corresponding to the pixel in the vertical direction of the representative point and also applied to the horizontal absolute value circuit 820 through a horizontal pixel latch circuit 818 which latches at a timing corresponding to the pixel in the horizontal direction of the representative point. A representative point signal (c) in the previous frame which is output from the latch circuit 814 and a pixel signal (d) in the present frame which is output from the vertical pixel latch circuit 816 are calculated at the vertical absolute value circuit 819 to find the absolute value of the difference between them. The representative point signal (c) in the previous frame which is output from the latch circuit 814 and a pixel signal (e) in the present frame which is output from the horizontal pixel latch circuit 818 are calculated at the horizontal absolute value circuit 820 to find the absolute value of the difference between them. These calculations are performed every block and an output signal (f) from the vertical absolute value circuit 819 is added one after another to tables corresponding to the same address of the pixel in each block in the vertical accumulated addition table 821 and an output signal (g) from the horizontal absolute value circuit 820 is added one after another to tables corresponding to the same address of the pixel in each block in the horizontal accumulated addition table 822. The result of the horizontal accumulated addition table 822 and the result of the vertical accumulated addition table 821 are input to the one-dimensional vector detecting means 823 and then a vertical moving vector (h) and a horizontal moving vector (i) are detected therein. The vertical moving vector (h) and the horizontal moving vector (i) thus obtained, which are two intersecting one-dimensional vectors, are input to two-dimensional vector calculating means 824 and then it is found how far and in which direction the image position moved for one frame at the final stage, i.e., a two-dimensional moving vector value (j) is determined.
FIG. 23 is a view showing the relation between the block and the representative point of the image according to FIG. 22. The image of one field is divided into prescribed number of blocks 2020 and one representative point R.sub.ij 2021 is provided at the center of each block. The level difference between the representative point in the previous frame and a pixel S.sub.ij (0,y) 2070 in the vertical direction of the representative point and a pixel S.sub.ij (x,0) 2071 in the horizontal direction of the representative point in the block is calculated every block and then the level difference is added one after another to tables corresponding to the same address of the pixel in each block. It is found that how far and which direction the image position moved in the vertical and horizontal directions for one frame by a block address in which the addition result is the minimum in each area, i.e., the vertical moving vector value (h) and the horizontal moving vector value (i) are determined.
More specifically, a vertical accumulated addition table D.sub.y is obtained by finding the absolute value of the difference between the representative point R.sub.ij and a signal S.sub.ij (0,y) positioned apart from that in the vertical direction by y and adding the same over those at the same position y relation with respect to each representative point, and a horizontal accumulated addition table D.sub.X is obtained by finding the absolute value of the difference between the representative point R.sub.ij and a signal S.sub.ij (x,0) positioned apart from that in the horizontal direction by x and adding the same over those at the same position x relation with respect to each representative point. At this time, they are represented by the following equations, that is; EQU D.sub.X =.SIGMA..vertline.R.sub.ij -S.sub.ij (x,0).vertline. EQU D.sub.Y =.SIGMA..vertline.R.sub.ij -S.sub.ij (0,y).vertline.
Then, the minimum x and y in the D.sub.x and D.sub.y are set as the horizontal moving vector (i) and the vertical moving vector (h), respectively.
A description is given of the detecting precision in detecting two intersecting one-dimensional moving vectors from the vertical accumulated addition table and the horizontal accumulated addition table.
Generally, an auto-correlation function of an image has a statistical characteristic to be approximated by Laplace distribution (negative exponential function). However, for simplification, it is supposed that the correlation decreases in proportion to the distance, both in the horizontal and vertical directions, in the following description.
FIGS. 24(a)-(c) show a case where the image is at a standstill and FIGS. 25(a)-(c) show a case where the image moves in a diagonal direction. FIGS. 24(a) and 25(a) show the accumulated addition table corresponding to the whole number of pixels in the block in which a horizontal direction (x), a vertical direction (y) and a value of the accumulated addition table (z) are represented by three dimensions with the representative point as the origin. In addition, FIGS. 24(b) and 25(b) show the vertical accumulated addition table D.sub.Y obtained by finding the absolute value of the difference between the representative point R.sub.ij and a signal S.sub.ij (0,y) positioned in the vertical direction y thereof and adding the same over those at the same position y relation with respect to each representative point, in which the vertical direction (y) and the value of the accumulated addition table (z) are represented by two dimensions with the representative point as the origin. FIGS. 24(c) and 25(c) show the horizontal accumulated addition table D.sub.X obtained by finding the absolute value of the difference between the representative point R.sub.ij and a signal S.sub.ij (x,0) positioned in the vertical direction x thereof and adding the same over those at the same position x relation with respect to each representative point, in which the horizontal direction (x) and the value of the accumulated addition table (z) are represented by two dimensions with the representative point as the origin.
When the image is at a standstill, the accumulated addition table value is in the form of an inverted cone with the origin (0,0,0) as an apex as shown in FIG. 24(a). At this time, the value of the vertical accumulated addition table shown in FIG. 24(b) is the minimum when y=0 and the horizontal accumulated addition table shown in FIG. 24(c) is the minimum when x=0. Therefore, it is found that the vertical moving vector and the horizontal moving vectors are both 0 vector.
If the picture moves largely by x.sub.1 in the horizontal direction and slightly by y.sub.1 in the vertical direction for one frame, the accumulated addition table is in the form of the inverted cone with (x.sub.1,y.sub.1,0) as an apex as shown in FIG. 25(a). At this time, the vertical accumulated addition table is the value of a section of the cone at the plane of x=0 as shown in FIG. 25(b) and the horizontal accumulated addition table is the value of a section of the cone at the plane of y=0 as shown in FIG. 25(c). Then, as can be seen from FIG. 25(b), the value of the vertical accumulated addition table is the minimum when y=y.sub.1. Also, as can be seen from FIG. 25(c), the value of the horizontal accumulated addition table is the minimum when x=x.sub.1. Accordingly, it is found that the vertical moving vector (h) is (0,y.sub.1) and the horizontal moving vector (i) is (x.sub.1,0). However, because of the difference in amount of movement between the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, a steep hyperbolic curve is shown in FIG. 25(c) while a gentle hyperbolic curve is shown in FIG. 25(b).
In case of an actual horizontal accumulated addition table, an error of .DELTA.z in the direction of z exists because of a quantization error, an round-off error, a difference in horizontal correlation level of the image, a local movement or the like. Therefore, although detecting precision is high in the case of the steep hyperbolic curve shown in FIG. 25(c), it is low in the case of the gentle hyperbolic curve shown in FIG. 25(b).
As described above, when the moving vector is found in a plane manner, i.e., two-dimensionally, the number of the accumulated addition tables increases, with the result that the scale of the circuit is increased and the calculation takes a lot of time. In addition, in the case where two intersecting one-dimensional moving vectors are detected from the accumulated addition table corresponding to the pixel on a vertical straight line passing through the representative point and the accumulated addition table corresponding to the pixel on a horizontal straight line passing through the representative point, if the vector moves largely toward either axis, the moving vector detecting precision at the other axis is deteriorated.


Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes: a first terminal configured to receive a serial write data signal that includes at least four bits transferred in series with each other; a second terminal configured to receive a data strobe signal; a control circuit configured to produce a plurality of internal data strobe signals in response to the data strobe signal; and a serial-to-parallel conversion circuit configured to respond to the data strobe and internal data strobe signals to convert the serial write data signal into a parallel write data signal that includes at least four bits produced in parallel to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a semiconductor device that includes a data input circuit that writes a plurality of write data sets that are supplied in serial to a memory cell array in parallel.
2. Description of Related Art
DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) that is one of typical semiconductor storage devices generally includes a DLL (Delay Locked Loop) circuit to accurately perform high-speed data transfer with a memory controller. The DLL circuit generates a phase-controlled internal clock signal based on an external clock signal supplied from the memory controller. Because read data is output in synchronization with the phase-controlled internal clock signal, high-speed data transfer can be performed accurately.
However, the DLL circuit consumes relatively large amounts of power. Therefore, especially DRAMs that are required to consume small amounts of power for use in mobile devices may not include a DLL circuit. In the DRAM of this type, read data that has been parallel-to-serial converted by using an internal clock signal not phase-controlled is output to outside without being phase-controlled. Even during a writing operation, write data that has been input in synchronization with a data strobe signal is serial-to-parallel converted by using an internal clock signal not phase-controlled (See Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-108300).
Some of the DRAMs for mobile devices and the like adopt an edge-pad-type layout in which external terminals are arranged along two edges, that face each other, of a semiconductor chip. In this case, pads for command address signals are arranged along one edge of the two edges, and pads for data signals are arranged along the other edge of the two edges (See Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-108352).
However, in a semiconductor device having an edge-pad-type layout, peripheral circuits that perform command address operations are disposed away from peripheral circuits that perform data transfer operations. As a result, the length of a signal line is very long to connect those peripheral circuits. Accordingly, the signal line has a relatively large parasitic capacitance. Therefore, a charge-and-discharge current to drive the signal line becomes larger, and the amount of current consumed is increased.


A tire sealer and inflating composition and products made therefrom are described. The tire sealer and inflating composition includes a sealant, a non-flammable propellant with an ozone depletion potential of zero or substantially close to zero, and one or more aromatic hydrocarbons capable of lowering the vapor pressure of the non-flammable propellant. Moreover, the tire sealer and inflating composition has a vapor pressure less than about 180 psig at 130xc2x0 F. A preferred propellant is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, although other fluorocarbons can also be used. A preferred aromatic hydrocarbon is AROMATIC 150, which is a mixture of aromatic compounds. The tire sealer and inflating composition can either be aqueous or non-aqueous. The disclosed tire sealer and inflating composition is capable of inflating a flat tire or other inflatable objects and seal a puncture wound.

Not applicable.
Not applicable.
This invention relates to a composition and method for inflating and sealing inflatable objects. More particularly, the invention relates to a tire sealing and inflating composition and methods of using the composition.
Portable tire sealing and inflating devices have been used in emergency by a motorist to inflate and temporarily seal a pneumatic tire with a puncture wound when a service station or other repair facilities is not available to the motorist. The use of such devices, typically for an automobile, allows the motorist to drive the vehicle to a convenient location where the punctured or flat tire can be inspected and repaired. The availability of such devices obviates the need for the motorist to remove the flat tire from an automobile and replace it with a spare tire in order to reach a service station to repair the damaged tire. More importantly, such portable devices are extremely desirable if the motorist is stranded in a dangerous situation or if the motorist either does not have a spare tire or is physically unable to replace the flat tire with a spare tire.
Generally, a portable tire sealing and inflating device includes a conventional aerosol can containing a particular sealant composition which is introduced to the cavity of a flat tire through a valve stem. Typically, a length of flexible tubing connects a valve on the can with a threaded nozzle and connector on the remote end for attachment to and activation of the valve stem. Alternatively, the can is supplied with a pedestal valve for activation and dispensing of the contents without flexible tubing. A propellant within the can forces the sealant composition through the opened valve and into the tire. In this way, the tire is inflated and sealed.
At present time, most available portable tire sealing and inflating devices are based on aerosol, which is formed by a sealant composition and a propellant. Various hydrocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons have been used as propellants. However, hydrocarbon propellants are flammable, and the chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants have been found to have a detrimental effect on the earth""s ozone layer and use thereof has been severely limited.
As a result, there has been a continuing effort to develop suitable CFC substitutes. However, several problems should be resolved when replacing chlorofluorocarbon or hydrocarbon propellants/inflators used in existing tire sealant and inflator compositions with a nonflammable, non-ozone depleting propellant/inflator. These problems are due to the differences between the vapor pressures of existing propellant/inflators and suitable CFC substitutes, relatively poor solvent properties of CFC substitutes, relatively high diffusion rates of CFC substitutes, and difficulties in obtaining consistent discharge rates throughout the life of tire sealer and inflator products when using a CFC substitute.
Additional consideration is the safety issue. Tire sealant/inflator cans are frequently stored in the trunks of vehicles, or worse, are exposed to direct sunlight. Therefore, internal pressure and can strength are very important safety parameters, which must be considered in producing a tire sealant/inflator composition. The higher the vapor pressure of a propellant, the higher the chance a container may burst in hot weather. Needless to say, it is important that any non-flammable, non-ozone depleting propellant/inflator used in a tire sealer and inflator composition be capable of storage in canisters which can be safely transported. The U.S. Department of Transportation (xe2x80x9cDOTxe2x80x9d) has issued regulations regarding the minimum performance characteristics of containers which can be used in interstate transportation. For example, for an aerosol can of the 2Q type, the vapor pressure inside the can must not exceed 180 psig at 130xc2x0 F. As such, any tire sealer and inflator products must comply with this requirement if a 2Q aerosol can is used.
1,1,1,2,-tetrafluoroethane, commonly known as HFC 134a, was developed as a replacement for chlorofluorocarbons. It is non-flammable, non-corrosive, and non-toxic. More importantly, it has an ozone depletion potential of zero. Consequently, there has been some interest in replacing CFC propellants by HFC 134a. However, attempts to substitute HFC 134a for conventional CFC propellants/inflators have not been met without difficulties. This is because HFC 134a has a vapor pressure of about 200 psig at 130xc2x0 F., which is too high to meet the DOT requirements for use in aerosol cans. Moreover, HFC 134a is not miscible with aqueous solvents, and therefore, tire sealant/inflator compositions made by replacement of existing hydrocarbon or CFC propellants with HFC 134a would require vigorous and frequent agitation before and during use to prevent disproportionate dispensing of the sealant.
For the foregoing reasons, there exists a need for a safe tire sealer and inflating composition and products made therefrom. Preferably, the tire sealing and inflating composition should be non-flammable, non-toxic, and environmentally-friendly.
The above need is met by embodiments of the invention in one or more of the following aspects. In one aspect, the invention relates to a tire sealer and inflating composition. The composition includes: (a) a sealant capable of sealing an opening in an inflatable object; (b) a non-flammable propellant having an ozone depletion potential of zero or substantially close to zero; and (3) one or more aromatic hydrocarbons capable of lowering the vapor pressure of the non-flammable propellant. Preferably, the composition has a vapor pressure less than about 180 psig at 130xc2x0 F. In some embodiments, the propellant is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of sealing a puncture wound in an inflatable object. The method includes: (a) storing a tire sealer and inflating composition in a can having a vapor pressure less than about 180 psig at 130xc2x0 F., and (b) delivering the tire sealer and inflating composition to an inflatable object having a puncture wound. The tire sealer and inflating composition includes: (a) a sealant capable of sealing an opening in an inflatable object; (b) a non-flammable propellant having an ozone depletion potential of zero or substantially close to zero; and (c) one or more aromatic hydrocarbons capable of lowering the vapor pressure of the non-flammable propellant.
In still another aspect, the invention relates to a method of making a tire sealer and inflating composition. The method includes: (a) obtaining a sealant capable of sealing an opening in an inflatable object; (b) obtaining a non-flammable propellant having an ozone depletion potential of zero or substantially close to zero; and (c) mixing one or more aromatic hydrocarbons capable of lowering the vapor pressure of the non-flammable propellant with the sealant and the non-flammable propellant; wherein the composition has a vapor pressure less than about 180 psig at 130xc2x0 F.
Additional aspects of the invention and advantages provided by the embodiments of the invention are apparent with the following description.
Not applicable.

Tire sealer and inflating composition and method of use


A wavelength-multiplexed light transmission module according to the present invention includes a plurality of lasers that respectively emit a plurality of laser beams having different wavelengths, a lens radially emitting the plurality of laser beams, a bandpass filter that has a transmission center wavelength which is shorter as an incident angle is larger, and a mirror for reflecting the plurality of laser beams, wherein the plurality of laser beams are incident to the bandpass filter such that the incident angle of a laser beam is larger as the laser beam has a shorter wavelength, whereby the plurality of laser beams are transmitted through the bandpass filter, and an inclination angle of the mirror with respect to the bandpass filter is provided such that the plurality of laser beams transmitted through the bandpass filter are reflected by the bandpass filter and the mirror to be multiplexed with one another.

NPL 1 discloses a wavelength-multiplexed light transmission module including four LDs (Laser Diodes) for emitting laser beams having different wavelengths from one another. This wavelength-multiplexed light transmission module multiplexes and transmits four laser beams. In addition, the wavelength-multiplexed light transmission module includes four collimating lenses, three bandpass filters for transmitting laser beams therethrough, and a total reflection mirror to multiplex the four laser beams having different wavelengths.

Wavelength-multiplexed light transmission module and method for manufacturing same


An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier unit that includes an image carrier and is configured to be capable of being housed in and removed from an image-forming-apparatus main body; an exposure device that is arranged close to the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image; a retracting mechanism that holds the exposure device close to the image carrier when the image carrier unit is housed in the image-forming-apparatus main body, and holds the exposure device away from the image carrier when the image carrier unit is being removed from the image-forming-apparatus main body; a covering member that covers the retracting mechanism in a state where backlash of the exposure device at least in a main-scanning direction is allowed; and a guide mechanism that positions the exposure device in the main-scanning direction when the exposure device comes closer to the image carrier through the retracting mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction peripheral including these.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some of electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction peripheral including these, are equipped with a unit body (a process cartridge) into which a developing unit and a photosensitive element unit are integrated.
In such image forming apparatuses, the process cartridge needs to be periodically replaced with a new one due to running out of toner or deterioration of a part such as the photosensitive element unit. Furthermore, some of the electrophotographic image forming apparatuses use an LED head in an exposure device; in such image forming apparatuses, a user has to open an upper cover installed on top of the main body of the image forming apparatus to replace the process cartridge.
Further, the LED head is located on a trajectory of the process cartridge when it is taken out. Therefore, as a method to replace the process cartridge, conventionally, the user has to bring an LED into a state where it is retracted away from a mounting position after or at the same time that the user opens the upper cover installed on top of the main body of the image forming apparatus, in order to take out the process cartridge from the main body of the image forming apparatus.
That is, because of the short focal length of the LED head, it is necessary to place the LED head such that an area irradiated by the LED head is located close to a photosensitive element. Therefore, in the replacement of the process cartridge or in the handling of a jam, the LED head needs to be retracted away from the photosensitive element.
As a method to retract the LED head away from the photosensitive element, there is already known a method in which a retracting mechanism is provided, and retract the LED head is retracted from and brought into contact with the photosensitive element in conjunction with opening-closing movement of the cover. As an example of the retracting mechanism, a link mechanism may be installed at an end of the LED head in a main-scanning direction. Furthermore, conventionally, there is proposed an image forming apparatus configured to be able to position an LED head without backlash (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-020845). This image forming apparatus includes a sliding member which can move between a close position for bringing the LED head close to a photosensitive element and a distant position for holding the LED head away from the photosensitive element, a positioning body which has a shaft not parallel to a moving direction of the sliding member, and a guide face which is formed approximately parallel to a shaft direction of the positioning body.
However, if the retracting mechanism is installed, a user may sometimes touch the retracting mechanism.
In view of this, there is a need to provide an image forming apparatus that includes a retracting mechanism of an exposure device and a covering member for covering the retracting mechanism, and can position the exposure device with respect to a photosensitive element (an image carrier) even if backlash of the photosensitive element (the image carrier) in a main-scanning direction (a longitudinal direction) is generated in the exposure device.

Image forming apparatus including a covered retracting mechanism


Shaped bodies of particulate material are produced by introducing an easily flowable slurry of water and particulate material into a mold with perforated walls and applying a sufficiently high pressure to the slurry in the mold so as to express a sufficient proportion of the liquid to allow physical contact and interengagement between the particles. The extrusion is carried out continuously in an extension process including: (A) introducing the slurry under high pressure, (B) conveying the slurry through a shaping section to (C) a draining and consolidation section with drain holds or slits (3), to leave the extruder through (E) an exit section in the form of a solid body (4).

A method for producing shaped bodies and associated apparatus are disclosed in BE-A-653,349 and SE-B-304,711 (both based on FR priority application No. 955,561 of 29 Nov. 1963). In this known method, an unhardened mixture comprising hydraulic cement and aggregate material (sand and gravel) with surplus water is compressed in an extruder of constant cross-sectional shape by means of a reciprocating piston, and in the terminal part of said extruder, the walls of which are suitably perforated, part of the water is removed by applying a vacuum to the outside of said walls, all this taking place while the material is moving slowly through the extruder.
Obviously, the pressure differential that can be produced by said vacuum arrangement is at the highest of the order of one bar. In addition to this, the reciprocating piston does, admittedly, exert a certain force, thus causing a corresponding increase in the pressure differential effecting the dewatering, but if sufficiently increased, this force will simply push the material out of the extruder, as no counter-force is provided to prevent this. This means, of course, that the total pressure differential across the perforated walls will at the most be of the order of a few bar. This in turn means that the ability of this previously known method to remove liquid from the spaces between the particles of the material is limited, and in many cases the quantity of the remaining liquid is sufficient: to prevent the shaped bodies produced from attaining more structural strength than just needed to keep their shape against the force of gravity, so that they, unless extreme care is taken, cannot be handled without deforming, collapsing or falling apart.
The above problem is, of course, less serious in the case of shaped bodies of clay, as such bodies can be allowed to or be made to harden respectively by well known methods before being moved, but the method referred to above is obviously insufficient, if the shaped bodies are to have a reasonable strength immediately upon having been produced by carrying out the method.

Extruder for producing bodies of consolidated particulate material


A head disk assembly includes a base, a cover attached to the base and a spindle motor mounted to the base. The spindle motor includes a shaft, an inner cylindrical portion surrounding the shaft, and an outer cylindrical portion surrounding the inner cylindrical portion. The outer cylindrical portion has an annular surface and the inner cylindrical portion has a cylindrical surface which extends above the annular surface. The head disk assembly also includes a disk mounted on the spindle motor such that the disk surrounds the outer cylindrical portion; the disk includes a recording surface which is substantially co-planar with the annular surface. The head disk assembly also includes a disk clamp for clamping the disk to the spindle motor and a washer positioned between the disk clamp and the recording surface for transferring radial loads to the inner cylindrical portion of the spindle motor. The washer includes an inner perimeter which defines a plurality of segments, each segment bounded by a pair of openings and each segment having a contact surface such that each contact surface contacts a respective portion of the cylindrical surface of the inner cylindrical portion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to disk drives. More particularly, it relates to a head disk assembly for a hard disk drive having a washer between a disk clamp and disk and method of making such a head disk assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art and Related Information
Typically, the main assemblies of a hard disk drive are a head disk assembly and a printed circuit board assembly.
The head disk assembly includes an enclosure including a base and a cover, at least one disk having at least one recording surface, a spindle motor for causing each disk to rotate, and an actuator arrangement; a disk clamp is typically used to clamp each disk to the spindle motor. The printed circuit board assembly includes circuitry for processing signals and controlling operations. Actuator arrangements can be characterized as either linear or rotary; substantially every contemporary cost-competitive small form factor drive employs a rotary actuator arrangement.
In the course of assembling a head disk assembly, one of the stages typically includes installing a disk stack to a spindle motor mounted in a base. A disk stack typically includes a plurality of disks and a spacer positioned between any two given disks. The plurality of disks includes at least a top disk and a bottom disk. After the disk stack is installed, a disk clamp is typically used for clamping the disk stack to the spindle motor using a plurality of screws; the disk clamp includes a bottom surface, a portion of which abuts a top recording surface of the top disk. When the disk clamp is initially installed, the screws are partially tightened to apply an axial load on the disk stack to allow the disk stack to rotate in unison during a subsequent balancing step. After the disk stack is balanced, the screws are finally tightened to securely clamp the disk clamp to the spindle motor.
When the screws are finally tightened, the portion of the disk clamp which abuts the top recording surface of the top disk transfers radial loads to the disk stack such that the disk stack shifts radially relative to a longitudinal axis of a shaft of the spindle motor. This shifting of the disk stack results in the disk stack becoming imbalanced if a sufficient amount of shift has occurred. When the imbalance occurs, the screws and the disk clamp must be discarded and new parts must be used to again clamp the disk stack to the spindle motor. Also, the disk stack must be balanced again which increases the assembly time of a head disk assembly.

Head disk assembly having a washer between a disk clamp and disk and method of making


The present invention discloses a multiphase waveform generator capable of performing phase calibration, and a related phase calibration method. The disclosed multiphase waveform generator includes a multiphase waveform generating module and a calibrating module. The multiphase waveform generating module receives an input signal and shifts edges of the input signal by a delay time according to a delay parameter to generate a phase-modified signal. The calibrating module is coupled to the multiphase waveform generating module for calibrating the delay time to reduce a difference between a characteristic value of the phase-modified signal and an expected value, which is calculated according to the delay parameter and characteristic values of a first and a second predetermined periodic signal.

The present invention relates to a multiphase waveform generator, and more particularly, to a multiphase waveform generator capable of performing phase calibration and phase calibration method thereof.
The write control waveform for optical disc drives is originated from a bit sequence to be recoded onto the optical disc. Whereas different optical storage medium or data pattern usually derives to different write strategies, in which the recorder laser power is strategically shaped by shifting the falling edges of the waveform of the bit sequence so as to adjust the write time duration in order to achieve proper read characteristics. Thus a multiphase waveform generator is required to support this edge shifting capability.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram shows a multiphase waveform generator of the related art. A multiphase waveform generator 100 receives an input signal SIN and a delay parameter n, shifts edges of the input signal SIN by a delay time DTn according to the delay parameter n to generate a phase-modified signal SOUT. The edges of the input signals SIN to be shifted can be the falling edges. On the other hand, the multiphase waveform generator 100 can also be used to shift the rising edges of the input signal SIN. In practical, the delay parameter n could be time-variant or time-invariant. Typically, the delay parameter n is an integer from 0 to a preset number N, which means to let the delay time DTn=n*ΔT with ΔT=T/N and T being the bit time interval. FIG. 2 shows an example. Suppose the bit sequence is 1101 in which the falling edge of the input signal SIN is positioned at t1. The edge shift according to a delay parameter n=2 shows a delay time DTn=2*ΔT such that the falling edge of the phase-modified signal SOUT is positioned at t1+2*ΔT.
Please refer back to FIG. 1. The multiphase waveform generator 100 comprises a delay module 110 and a selection module 130. The delay module 110 comprises M serially connected delay units 115 which delay the input signal SIN and generate M+1 delayed signals, denoted by D0, D1, D2 . . . , DM. Typically, M is a number much larger than N for a practical application. Note that, the delayed signal D0 with zero delay time is just the input signal SIN. The selection module 130 comprises a control signal generator 135 and a multiplexer 140. The multiplexer 140 selects one of the M+1 delayed signals (D0, D1, D2 . . . , DM) according to a control signal CTRL to form the phase-modified signal SOUT. The possible states of the control signal CTRL are denoted by CTRL0, CTRL1, CTRL2, . . . , CTRLM, which instructs the multiplexer 140 to select the delayed signal D0, D1, D2 . . . Dm, respectively. The control signal generator 135 receives the delay parameter n and generates the control signal CTRL accordingly. As is well known in the art, the phase-modified signal SOUT can be formed by properly toggling the state of the control signal CTRL between CTRL0 and CTRLK with K being a function of the delay parameter n. By this way, the delay time DTn will equal to the delay amount introduced by the first K delay units 115 in the delay module 110. Typically, the relationship between the K and the delay parameter n is stored in a lookup table TnK. Conventionally, the lookup table TnK is identical for each integrated circuit.
Nevertheless, the actual delay amount of the delay units 115 may have some fluctuation due to various conditions, such as fabrication process or temperature. Using identical lookup table TnK may result in that the practical amount of the edge shift, i.e. the DTn, deviates from the expected one, i.e. n*T.

Multiphase waveform generator capable of performing phase calibration and related phase calibration method


A vent plug for a milking liner has an outlet that discharges the vent air in the downstream direction. The vent plug has an outlet disposed in the downstream portion of the inner flange of the vent plug so that vent air is directed toward the outlet of the short milk tube. The vent plug outlet also may be disposed in the upstream portion of the inner flange while being configured to direct the vent air in a downstream direction.

1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to milking apparatus that use milking liners to draw milk from the teat. More particularly, the invention is related to the milking liners and the vents used to vent air into the short milk tubes of the milking liners.
2. Background Information
Automatic milking machines have been used to extract milk from different mammals through most of the past century. Most of these machines include a claw that typically has four nipples that are connected to teat cup assemblies that are attached to the teats during the milking process. The teat cup assemblies include a rigid (hard plastic or metal) shell with a resilient, elastomeric milking liner (also known as a milking inflation) disposed within the shell. A short milk tube extends from the liner. A vacuum source is applied to the short milk tube and an alternating vacuum is applied to the shell to cause the liners to collapse and expand and thereby massage the teats and suck milk from the teats. The milk flows from the liners, into the short milk tube, to the nipples of the claw, and from there through a conduit to a collection tank.
As shown in prior art FIGS. 1 and 2, an air vent 2 is used with the short milk tube 4 to prevent the milk 6 in the bottom of the liner barrel 8 or in the short milk tube 4 from being drawn back towards the teat 10 when the barrel 8 expands. A vent plug 2 may be used to provide a venting function to the short milk tube 4. Exemplary vent plugs 2 are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,055,931, 7,290,498, and 7,293,527. Each of the vent plug structures disclosed in these patents has an outlet 12 configured to direct the vent air into the flowing milk stream 16 of the short milk tube 4. A drawback with these vent plugs is that the vent outlet 12 has a discharge direction that is disposed substantially perpendicular to the flow direction 16 of the milk. The vent air pulled into the short milk tube 4 interferes with smooth laminar milk flow 16 and can reduce milking efficiency.


A catalyst composition obtained by contacting (a) a Group IVA metal compound of the general formula EQU (Cp).sub.p MeX.sub.4-p. wherein Cp is, independently, cyclopentadienyl groups substituted with one or more hydrocarbyl groups, and at least one cyclopentadienyl group is substituted with a single, optionally substituted, aryl group, Me is a Group IVA metal, X is one or more non-cyclopentadienyl substituents attached to the Group IVA metal, wherein the substituents are hydrocarbyl groups, hydrocarboxy groups, hydrocarbamide groups, hydrogen or halogen, and p is an integer of from 1 to 4; and (b) an aluminoxane. Further, a process for polymerizing one or more alpha-olefins by contacting the one or more alpha-olefins with the catalyst composition of the invention to produce polymers.

Catalyst compositions based upon a Group IVA metal compound of the general formula (Cp).sub.2 MeX.sub.2 wherein Cp represents identical or different cyclopentadienyl groups which may be substituted with one or more alkyl groups, Me represents a Group IVA metal and X represents halogen substituents attached to the Group IVA metal, and an aluminoxane are known. Further, the use of such catalyst compositions in the polymerization of one or more alpha-olefins is known from EP-A-283739.
In order to be effective in the polymerization, the known catalyst compositions contain a relatively large amount of the aluminoxane component. Such polymers typically contain a high amount of residual catalyst and further, the polymerization process is not cost effective.
The polymerization of alpha-olefins having at least three carbon atoms with a catalyst composition having cyclopentadienyl groups which are mono-, di-, tri- or tetraalkyl substituted, producing polyolefin polymers having a vinylidene end group are known. When propylene or butene-1 are polymerized, the polymer end group is of the formula --C(CH.sub.3).dbd.CH.sub.2 or --C(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).dbd.CH.sub.2, respectively. The application of polymers having a vinylidene end group, as an intermediate in the preparation of additives for lubricating oil compositions is the subject of the European patent application 0490454.
Various documents, such as EP-A-129368, EP-A-226463, EP-A-128046 and EP-A-260999, disclose polymerization catalyst compositions containing cyclopentadienyl Group IVA metal compounds and an aluminoxane. These documents teach that the cyclopentadienyl groups can be unsubstituted or substituted with a wide variety of hydrocarbyl groups, such as alkyl, arylalkyl, alkenyl, aryl and alkylaryl, but they do not indicate a preference for aryl or alkylaryl groups. For example, they do not contain any example of compounds with an aryl or alkylaryl substituted cyclopenta-dienyl group. The documents further teach that any number of alkyl groups can be present on the cyclopentadienyl group. For example, bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium compounds can have alkyl, dialkyl, trialkyl, tetraalkyl or pentaalkyl substituted cyclopentadienyl groups.
Although there are many well known high activity catalysts, it is still desired to improve the activity of the catalyst and produce polymers having a vinylidene substituent.


The present invention relates to a biphasic process for the epoxidation of an organic compound by organic compound by organic hydroperoxide. More particularly, the present invention relates to a biphasic process for the epoxidation of an organic compound by organic hydroperoxide to the corresponding epoxide, using chromate or dichromate anions as the catalyst in aqueous medium.

Epoxides are a general class of compounds, which contains an oxarine ring,
They are conventionally produced by epoxidation of olefinic compounds containing olefinic group, C═C. A few processes for the liquid phase epoxidation of olefinic compounds, to corresponding epoxides, using both the homogeneous and heterogeneous solid catalysts, have been described in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,041 (1989) discloses a process for the homogeneous epoxidation reaction of an olefinic organic substrate, using transition metal-substituted polyoxometallate catalyst, the transition metal used was Co, Mn, Cu, Fe, or Cr. U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,241 (1992) styrene oxide is prepared by reacting styrene and hydrogen peroxide in biphasic liquid system in the presence of a bis (tri-n-alkyltinoxy) molybdic acid and an inorganic anion. U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,613 (1993) discloses an olefin epoxidation process in which an olefinically unsaturated substrate is converted with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a catalytic amount of a bimetallic complex, each of the two metallic elements of which is selected from V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, W, Re, Os, Ir, and Pt. U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,516 (1996) discloses a process for epoxidation of unsaturated acrylates by contacting it with hydrogen peroxide or organic peracids in the presence of alkali metal molybdates or tungstates or heteropolyacid.
A few processes utilizing heterogeneous solid catalysts for the epoxidation of olefinic organic compounds have also been described in the prior art. According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,114 (1994), olefins are converted to epoxides by reacting them with an organic peroxide in the presence of a heterogeneous catalysts comprised of a carbon molecular sieve containing transition metal from the group IVA, VA, VIA, and VIIA transition elements, such as Ti, W, Cr, V, Mo, Ni, or Re. However, there is always a high possibility of leaching out of transition metals from the colid catalyst during the epoxidation process, causing a loss of catalytic activity and/or selectivity and also making difficult the separation of the leached out components from the reaction mixture [Reference I.W.C.E. Arends and R. A. Sheldon, Applied Catalysis A: General. Volume 212, page 175–187, 2001]
European Patent 0568336A2 discloses a process for producing an epoxide by contacting an olefin with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a titanium silicate zeolite catalyst. U.S. Pat. No. 6,194,591 (2001) also discloses an olefin epoxidation process using a titanium zeolite catalyst modified with Pt, Pd, or Cu compound. However, since the titanium silicate zeolite catalysts are acidic in nature they also catalyze the epoxide isomerisation and/or epoxide ring opening, thereby reducing the selectivity for the formation of epoxide in the epoxidation process over these catalysts. For example, the isomerisation of styrene oxide over Ti containing zeolite catalyst is quite fast and hence phenyl acetaldehyde instead of styrene oxide is formed in the epoxidation reaction [European Patent 0,100,117A1 (1984); Z. Fu et al. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, volume 29, page 351–359, 1999].
Conventionally, epoxides are produced by reacting organic olefinic compound with peracids. For example styrene oxide is generally prepared adopting a procedure described in Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 149271 (1990), which involves the epoxidation of styrene by an organic peracid. However, this process has drawbacks, such as i) low epoxide selectivity or yield due to decomposition of peracid resulting free radicals which are involved in the reaction with styrene, ii) organic acid by products produced from the [peracid cause styrene oxide cleavages, ultimately causing low epoxide selectivity or yield, iii) even peracetic acid which is commercially easily available among organic peracids is very expensive and iv) handling and use of organic peracid are dangerous and hence the epoxidation of olefinic compound by organic peracid is hazardous, need close attention.
This invention is, therefore, made with the following objects so that most of the drawbacks or limitations of the prior art processes for the epoxidation of olefinic organic compounds could be overcome:

Biphasic process for epoxidation of olefinic compound using chromate or dichromate catalyst


The mounting structure of the circuit board connector 1 which is conductively connected with a circuit board 3 installed in a case 2 and fixedly mounted to the case 2 comprises a connector housing 4 for joining the circuit board connector 1 with a mating connector, and a terminal 7 including first contactors 5 to be coupled with corresponding terminals of the mating connector and second contractors 6 to be conductively connected to the circuit board 3, wherein the connector housing 4 is located closer the case 2 than the circuit board between the circuit board 3 and the case 2 and fixedly tightened to screw retaining portions 8 of the case.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mounting structure of a circuit board connector, which is conductively connected to a circuit board.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, such a circuit board connector is conductively connected to a circuit board with its housing fixedly mounted directly by screwing to and with one end of its terminal soldered to the circuit board which is then mounted together with the connector to the casing or the like of an apparatus.
While the connector housing is mounted to one side of the circuit board, electronic components are surface mounted on the opposite side of the same for security. Accordingly, when the circuit board is installed in the casing of the apparatus, the connector housing will extend outwardly from the casing thus increasing the overall dimensions.
For overcoming the above drawback, a modification of the connector is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-307802 where the connector is mounted as sandwiched between the casing of an apparatus and a circuit board which has an opening for clearing a mating connector to be connected. As the connector housing is installed in, so called a dead space where electronic components are not surface mounted on the side where electronic components are mounted, hence preventing the overall dimensions from being increased and downsizing.
However, when the connector is secured by screwing to the circuit board or coupled to a mating connector, its housing may be displaced along the bottom of the casing of the apparatus. This will exert an unwanted stress on the soldered regions where the circuit terminal is connected to the circuit board and, if worse, a conductive state can not be secured.

Mounting structure of a circuit board connector


The power supply apparatus includes a first power device, a second power unit, and controlling means. Each of the first power device and the second power unit supplies DC power to a DC supply line. The first power device makes constant voltage control. The second power unit includes a second power device configured to make inclination control of monotonically decreasing its output voltage with an increase of its output current, and of monotonically increasing its output voltage with a decrease of its output current. Upon acknowledging that a measurement (a magnitude of a current flowing through the DC supply line) exceeds an optimal current magnitude (a magnitude of a current supplied to the DC supply line from the first power device operating at maximum conversion efficiency), the controlling means outputs an instruction such that a magnitude of a current supplied to the DC supply line from the second power unit is identical to a difference between the measurement and the optimal current magnitude. The second power device modifies a condition of the inclination control, thereby adjusting its output current to a current corresponding to the instruction without varying its output voltage.

In the past, there have been proposed various power supply apparatus which simultaneously operates plurality of power devices to supply DC power from the power devices to one or more load devices connected to the power devices.
As an instance of the prior power supply apparatus, power supply apparatus including two power devices each configured to decrease monotonically its output voltage with an increase of its output current (see Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 10-248253). In this power supply apparatus, the two power devices shows individual output current-output voltage characteristics of which lines have different gradient from each other. This means that, when the two power devices varies their output current by the same extent, one of the power devices shows a variation of the output voltage different from that of the other power device.
In this power supply apparatus, each of the power devices operates to reach a balance point determined by its output current-output voltage characteristics and the load current in accordance with a magnitude of a total consumed current (load current) of all the load devices. Therefore, each of the power devices can output the desired output voltage and output current.
However, in this power supply apparatus where the two power devices shows individual output current-output voltage characteristics of which lines have different gradient from each other, the output voltages (that is, supply voltages for the load current) of each of the power device are varied due to a magnitude of the load current. Therefore, the power supply apparatus fails to output the stable supply voltage. In this power supply apparatus, in order to keep the supply voltage to the load device at a constant level irrespective of changes of the output currents of the each of the power devices, both of the power supply apparatus have to vary their output current-output voltage characteristics. For satisfying this requirement, the power supply apparatus needs to have a more complex configuration.
Now, in order to solve the above problem, there has been proposed power supply system including the power devices which are operated simultaneously. One of the power devices is configured to make constant voltage control, and the remaining is configured to make inclination control of outputting its output voltage of a DC voltage decreased with an increase of its output current. In this power supply apparatus, the power device performing the inclination control supplies a current to the load device while having its output voltage identical to an output voltage (reference voltage) of the power device performing the constant voltage control. In this situation, the power device performing the constant voltage current compensates for a shortage a current supplied to the load device. Therefore, according to the power supply apparatus, the supplied voltage for the load device is kept constant voltage (the output voltage of the power device performing the constant voltage control) irrespective of the variation of the load current. Consequently, this power supply apparatus can successfully supply power to the load device.
For example, a commercial power source is used as a power source connected to the above power device. The power device to be connected to the commercial power source includes a DC/DC converter. The DC/DC converter suffers from internal loss such as conduction loss (loss caused by an on-resistance of a switching element, a parasitic resistance of an inductor, or the like). As a result, a variation of conversion efficiency of the power device (a proportion of output power of the power device to input power of the power device) with an output current is expressed by a characteristics line having an output current maximizing the conversion efficiency, as shown in (a) of FIG. 9. With operating the power device connected to the commercial power source so as to supply an output current which is identical to a current supplied from the power device operating at the maximum conversion efficiency, it is possible to operate the power device efficiently.
However, in the prior power supply apparatus, each power device varies its output current depending on a magnitude of the load current. Therefore, the prior power supply apparatus is likely to operate inefficiently the power device connected to the commercial power.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An electronic circuit includes an illustrative low voltage CMOS power on reset circuit. The electronic circuit can comprise a power on reset circuit coupled between a supply voltage terminal and a signal node. The illustrative power on reset circuit comprises a voltage detector coupled to the supply voltage terminal which is configured to track CMOS thresholds and deactivate when supply voltage reaches a level for proper operation of CMOS logic.

In electronic circuits, power on reset (POR) is an electronic device incorporated into an integrated circuit (IC) which is operable to detect power applied to the IC and generate a reset pulse through the entire circuit to enable the IC to attain a known state. A simple POR circuit can be composed of an RC device that charges as the supply voltage rises. A device such as a Schmitt trigger can be used so that the rising charged voltage of the RC network generates a pulse based on the two threshold voltages of the Schmitt trigger. When the input voltage at the Schmitt trigger from the RC network reaches the first threshold voltage the output signal generated by the Schmitt trigger switches to generate a first edge of the POR signal. Charging of the RC network is intended to have sufficient duration that the POR can reset all internal circuits before charging voltage reaches the second threshold voltage of the Schmitt trigger to deactivate.
The power on reset pulse is used to initialize sequential logic circuits upon power-up. If the sequential logic powers up in the wrong state, catastrophic system malfunction can result.


A semiconductor device is created in a doped silicon layer at most one-tenth of a micrometer thick formed on and having an interface with a sapphire substrate. An oppositely doped source region is formed in the silicon layer. A gate electrode is formed above part of the silicon layer. A diffusion layer doped with the same type of impurity as the source region but at a lower concentration is formed in the silicon layer, extending into a first area beneath the gate electrode, functioning as a drain region or as a lightly-doped extension of a more heavily doped drain region. The depth of this diffusion layer is less than the thickness of the silicon layer. This comparatively shallow diffusion depth reduces current leakage by inhibiting the formation of a back channel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device in which a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor is formed in a silicon-on-sapphire substrate with a comparatively thin silicon layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Forming semiconductor devices in silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) substrates with a comparatively thick layer of silicon, typically a layer about 0.3 micrometer (0.3 μm) thick, is an established art. To form a lightly doped drain (LDD) layer in a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) in such a substrate, for example, for an n-channel MOSFET, it is known to implant ions of phosphorus, which is an n-type impurity, into the body area of the MOSFET with a dose of 3×1013 ions/cm2 and an energy of thirty kilo-electron volts (30 keV), forming an LDD layer with a thickness of about one-tenth of a micrometer (0.1 μm), as described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-69033 (paragraphs 0024-0025 and FIG. 1).
Recently, however, SOS substrates with comparatively thin silicon layers, 0.1 μm thick or less, have come into use. These substrates have the advantage of enabling MOSFETs to operate in a fully depleted mode, but if the conventional technology described above is used, the resulting LDD layer, which is itself about 0.1 μm thick, may extend to the silicon-sapphire interface, causing a problem of increased leakage current in the off-state, when the gate-source voltage is zero volts (Vgs=0 V). This problem is particularly serious in short-channel MOSFETs with a gate length of 1 μm or less. Use of thin-silicon SOS semiconductor devices with transistors of this type in battery-powered apparatus results in reduced battery life due, for example, to increased current flow in the standby state.
For reference, FIG. 1 shows an n-channel MOSFET 101, also referred to below as an nMOS device, having an LDD layer that reaches the silicon-sapphire interface. The nMOS device 101 is formed on an SOS substrate 4 comprising a sapphire substrate 2 and a silicon layer 3 at most 0.1 μm thick, which meet at an interface 5 indicated by a bold line. The nMOS device 101 includes: a source 6 and a drain 7 that are formed as n-type diffusions; a body region 8 formed as a p-type diffusion in the area between the source 6 and drain 7, where a channel forms when the device is in the on-state; a gate electrode 10 facing the body region 8 and insulated therefrom by a gate oxide film 9 such as a silicon oxide (SiO2) film; side walls 11 formed as silicon oxide films or other dielectric films on both sides of the gate electrode 10; and lightly doped n-type diffusion layers referred to as LDD layers 113, 114 formed in the body region beneath the gate electrode 10 on both the source side and the drain side, adjoining one end of the source 6 and one end of the drain 7, having a lower n-type impurity concentration than the source 6 and drain 7.
The inventor has investigated the cause of current leakage in this type of nMOS device 101, having a source side LDD 113 and a drain side LDD 114 that reach the interface 5, by using a device simulation program. FIG. 2 shows a simulation result indicating drain current characteristics of an nMOS device with a short channel; FIG. 3 shows a simulation result indicating the electron density distribution in this nMOS device when current leakage occurs; FIG. 4 shows a simulation result indicating ideal characteristics of an nMOS device with a short channel.
These simulation results were calculated for a short-channel nMOS device 101 formed on an SOS substrate 4 comprising a silicon layer 3 0.1 μm thick formed on a sapphire substrate 2, having a gate length of 0.25 μm. As shown in FIG. 2, the drain current per unit width (1 μm) of the gate 10 is 10−8 A/μm when the drain-source voltage Vds is 2.5 V and the gate-source voltage Vgs is 0 V (the off-state) This result shows a current leakage significantly higher than in the ideal off-state (drain current 10−10 A/μm).
FIG. 3 shows the electron density distribution in the device during this high leakage current flow, showing contours of electron density increasing by factors of ten from E=1014/cm3 to E=1020/cm3. The electron density contours equal to and less than E=1017/cm3 fold back to form an inversion layer in the body region 8 on the interface 5 between the silicon layer 3 and the sapphire substrate 2, in the area circled with the dashed line, forming an undesired back channel.
This simulation result indicates that current leakage in the off-state is caused by a back channel formed when a positive drain-source voltage is applied while the gate-source voltage is zero. This back channel differs from the channel (front channel) formed on the gate side of the body region 8 when a positive voltage is applied to the gate 10.

Silicon-on-sapphire semiconductor device with shallow lightly-doped drain


A method of unwinding material in a process system for producing a product includes the steps of loading a roll of material in an unwind system, programming a controller with an unwind equation, the controller in communication with the unwind system, computing a material feed rate based on a predetermined product circumference and an average stretch-to-stop roll profile, and putting a diameter of the roll of material and the material feed rate in the unwind equation of the controller, and unwinding a varying amount of material from the roll of material at a varying unwind speed, the controller being responsive to the unwind equation to vary the unwind speed for forming a plurality of products, each product defining a respective circumference substantially equal to the predetermined product circumference.

In the paper and plastic film industries, a dancer roll is widely used to maintain constant tension on a continuous web of raw material as the raw material unwinds in a conventional unwind system. More specifically, the unwind system typically uses an air-loaded or weight-loaded dancer bar, roll or festoon carriage to actively control the web tension from the top of a roll of raw material to its core. The conventional unwind system also uses a closed loop software program and a position sensor to determine the dancer or festoon carriage position and to adjust unwind spindle speed to maintain consistent position and through-roll web tension levels.
The conventional unwind method works well for materials with consistent machine direction (MD) stretch, tension and thickness. However, some MD elastomeric raw materials used to produce personal care products contain stretch, basis weight and thickness properties that change from the top of the roll to the core. These variable through-roll stretch properties affect material consumption, product size and fit and overall process control. Conventional unwinds will not compensate for variable MD elastomeric properties, which results in an increased raw material consumption, increased machine cull waste, and products that do not conform to target design criteria.
A process system is needed in the industry that compensates for varying MD elastomeric properties in order to reduce elastomeric material consumption, product variability and overall process variability and down time.

Through-roll profile unwind control system and method


A deflection yoke is used for a cathode ray tube (CRT) including a glass tube having a screen surface and a straight portion for accommodating an electron gun. The deflection yoke includes a main deflection yoke including first and second horizontal deflecting coils and first and second vertical deflecting coils, and a sub-deflection yoke provided at a side of the main deflection yoke towards the electron gun of the CRT. The first and second horizontal deflecting coils have substantially saddle shapes and includes first and second coil-connection-wire sections and first and second horizontal deflection sections, respectively. The first and second coil-connection-wire sections are wound in a direction perpendicular to a tube axis of the CRT and along the straight portion, respectively. The first and second horizontal deflection sections are located towards the screen surface from the first and the second coil-connection-wire sections, respectively. In the deflection yoke, magnetic lines emitted from a rear end of the horizontal deflecting coil towards the electron gun decreases. An induced voltage generated at the sub-deflection yoke accordingly decreases, and thus, a noise on a screen noise produced due to the induced voltage is reduced.

A deflection yoke deflects an electron beam emitted from an electron gun of a cathode ray tube (CRT) in order to display a screen, and includes a pair of horizontal deflecting coils and a pair of vertical deflecting coils.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a deflection yoke. Sub-deflection yoke 1 is provided at a rear end of main deflection yoke 2 having the horizontal deflecting coils and the vertical deflecting coils towards the electron gun. A pair of centering magnets 3 are provided on cover 4 which covers the sub-deflecting coil. The deflection yoke is fastened to CRT 6 with metallic fastening band 5 attached to the cover 4. CRT 6 has straight portion 6a towards the electron gun and substantially-conical portion 6b towards a screen surface.
FIG. 2 shows an operation of the deflection yoke. The deflection yoke is fitted on CRT 6, and forms horizontally and vertically deflecting fields that create a picture on the screen surface of CRT. In a projector, such as a projection type receiver and a projector, plural number of lens 7 (a single lens in FIG. 2) provided at the screen surface of CRT 6 expands a picture on the screen surface and projects picture 9 on screen 8.
FIG. 3 shows a distortion of the picture to be corrected by the sub-deflection yoke 1. The projector includes CRTs of three colors, red, green and blue, which provides a color picture by having three pictures of three colors overlap on one another. In order to having the three pictures from different angles overlap without a displacement, the sub-deflecting coil 1 corrects the position of each picture and pincushion distortion shown in FIG. 3, thereby aligning the three color pictures.
A conventional sub-deflection yoke disclosed in Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No.63-95160 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 3-257742 shown in FIG. 4, and an another conventional sub-deflection yoke shown in FIG. 5 include ring-shaped ferrite core 10, horizontal sub-deflecting coil 11, and vertical sub-deflecting coil 12 which are wound toroidally on core 10. Glass tube 13 of CRT passes through the center of the core 10.
FIG. 6 shows centering magnet 3 for aligning respective centers of pictures of three colors, red, green and blue on the screen 8. The paired centering magnets 3 magnetized to have two poles, N pole and S pole, are provided at the cover 4 with fitting rib 4a provide at the cover 4 of the deflection yoke.
FIG. 7 shows one of conventional centering magnets 3. The centering magnet 3 includes knob portion 3b and knob portion 3c on ring body 3a. The centering magnet 3 is magnetized to have N pole near knob portion 3b and S pole near knob portion 3c, and produces magnetic lines 14 inside the ring body 3a.
FIG. 8 shows the conventional centering magnets 3. The centering magnet 3 can change the strength of the magnetic lines by superposing magnetic lines 14-1 generated inside ring body 3a-1 on magnetic lines 14-2 generated inside ring body 3a-2, and change the direction of the magnetic line by rotating the centering magnets.
The centering magnet disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2002-75250 is manufactured by injection-molding of plastic resin mixed with ferromagnetic material powder, and then polarizing it. The ferromagnetic material powder may include Alnico-based metal, which has a coercive force of magnetic lines varying little according to a temperature.
FIG. 9 shows a conventional horizontal deflecting coil 101 and a conventional vertical deflecting coil 102. The horizontal deflecting coil 102 has deflection section 15 where copper wires run in parallel to a tube axis of the CRT, coil-connection-wire section 16 at a rear end towards the electron gun, and coil-connection-wire section 44 at the end towards the screen surface. In coil-connection-wire sections 16 and 44, copper wires run in a direction perpendicular to the tube axis of the CRT. Since having a direction identical to the direction of the electron beam emitted, Magnetic lines produced by the coil-connection-wire sections 16 and 44 do not contribute to a deflection of the electron beam.
FIG. 10 shows a main deflecting coil and a conventional sub-deflecting coil. Sub-deflecting coil 1 provided at the rear end of the main deflecting coil towards the electron gun receives magnetic line 17 generated by the coil-connection-wire section 16 at the electron gun side of the horizontal deflecting coil. Thus, an induced voltage is generated at the sub-deflection yoke 1, thereby causing noise in the picture.
The induced voltage that is generally called "CY cross talk" is about 19V when a voltage of 1,200V is applied to the horizontal deflecting coil. The vertical deflecting coil 31 has a similar coil-connection-wire section 103. But, the voltage applied to the vertical deflecting coil does not exceed 100V, and thus does not generate magnetic lines from the vertical deflecting coil to induce a voltage generating the noise.
When the correction of the screen position is not necessary, conventional centering magnets 3 inversely superpose the magnetic lines 14-1 generated inside the ring body 3a-1 and the magnetic lines 14-2 generated inside the ring body 3a-2 for canceling the lines, as shown in FIG. 8, thereby creating no magnetic line inside the ring body. However, it is practically difficult to completely eliminate the magnetic lines inside the ring body by superposing the centering magnets for the following reason.
FIG. 11 shows directions of resin that flows during the injection molding of the centering magnet. FIG. 12 shows the magnetic lines in the conventional centering magnet. As shown in FIG. 11, plastic resin mixed with ferromagnetic powder flows from port 18 along a direction of arrow 19 and reaches the knob portion 3c at a side opposite to the port 18. Alnico resin powder has a grain size of about 90 μm and is heavier than the resin. The resin including the ferromagnetic material powder at a higher density has a smaller viscosity, thus flowing more easily. Accordingly, the ferromagnetic material powder of high density gathers at the knob portion 3c at the side opposite to the gate 18. Upon such centering magnet being polarized, the magnetic lines is strong at a portion near the knob portion 3c, as shown in FIG. 12, including a high density of the ferromagnetic material powder.
FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 show the magnetic lines created by the conventional centering magnet. Even if the knob portions 3b and 3c of the magnets having magnetic lines asymmetrical to each other as described above are placed one on another for canceling the magnetic lines, their internal magnetic lines are not completely canceled and remains a 4-pole magnetic field. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 14, electron beam 20 passing through the interior of the centering magnet receives force 22 due to the magnetic line 21 and thus has a spot deform into an oval shape, thus causing deterioration of a focus on the screen.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Operational management of an integrated circuit device can be performed by a microcontroller based on information associated with the notification messages generated by the integrated circuit device. The notification messages may include timestamps and metadata for different notification types which can be used to build a timeline. The microcontroller may use the information to monitor the operational health and performance of the integrated circuit device or can communicate this information to a remote management server.

Computer systems may encounter different types of errors during runtime operations which can affect their performance and availability. These errors may be caused due to problems in the hardware or in the code being executed by different devices in the system. Generally, the errors may cause an interrupt to the main processor which may have to halt other operations to service the interrupt. In some cases, a device may need to be taken offline to debug the problem.


The invention relates to a catapult drive for an object to be accelerated, preferably the car of a fairground ride, wherein the object is accelerated by means of a driving element. The movement of the driving element is produced by a flexible drive and a hydraulic cylinder via which all movements of the driving element can be controlled. The invention also relates to a control system for suitably controlling the inventive catapult drive.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a hydraulic catapult drive in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hydraulic catapult drives of this type are used for accelerating an object, for instance an aircraft along a launching pad or a passenger train of a roller coaster or the like. In WO 01/66210 A1 a catapult drive is shown by which a car of a fairground ride can be accelerated along an acceleration track. The catapult drive comprises a driving car driven by a hydraulic motor and a flexible drive on which the car to be accelerated is supported. The hydraulic motor drives a winch which is wrapped in opposite sense by two pull ropes both of which act upon the car. Upon acceleration one of the pull means is wound on the winch, while the other pull rope correspondingly unwinds. When resetting the car into its home position the direction of rotation of the hydraulic motor is reversed so that the former pull rope is wound and the latter pull rope is unwound. The flexible drive is tensioned via a tensioning rope of a further flexible drive during acceleration and resetting.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,166 B1 discloses a catapult drive for a fairground ride in which the driving element is accelerated via a flexible drive and a hydraulic cylinder by which a movable set of pulleys of the flexible drive is axially movable. In this catapult drive, at the driving element a pull rope of a further flexible drive is additionally fixed the end portions of which similar to the afore-described embodiment—can be wound onto a winch or unwound from the same so that the driving element is reset to the home position by appropriately driving the winch, wherein then also the hydraulic cylinder is returned to its home position by the movable set of pulleys.
In WO 2004/024562 A1 a catapult drive is disclosed in which the acceleration of the driving element takes place via a flexible drive and a hydraulic cylinder in the form of a differential cylinder the bottom-side cylinder chamber of which can be pressurized by the pressure in a high-pressure reservoir when extending the piston rod. The piston rod of the differential cylinder supports two movable sets of pulleys which are wrapped by a common pull rope to which the driving element is fixed. The hydraulic cylinder is reset to its home position via a separate resetting cylinder which is likewise in the form of a differential cylinder and the piston rod of which returns that of the differential cylinder used for acceleration against the force applied by the hydraulic reservoir to its home position.
The above-described catapult drives require a comparatively high expenditure in terms of devices, because for acceleration and resetting of the driving element different actuating members are used which have to be controlled in an appropriate manner.


‘FLR12-11’ is a new and distinct southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) variety distinguished by a low chilling requirement, semi-upright growth habit, and large, firm fruit that are aromatic with a small, dry picking scar.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid variety of southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) named 'FLR12-11'. 'FLR12-11' is a blueberry clone distinguished by its very low chilling requirement, very good performance when grown in an evergreen production system, early ripening, and high production of large berries with excellent flavor. Several thousand plants of 'FLR12-11' have been propagated and established in Lalla Mimouna, Morocco, and the resulting plants have all been phenotypically indistinguishable from the original plant. 'FLR12-11' originated as a seedling from a cross between 'Snowchaser' as the female (seed) parent and 'Emerald' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,165) as the male (pollen) parent. This cross was made in Lalla Mimouna, Morocco in 2012. The seedling was planted in a high-density field nursery in 2014 and the first fruit were evaluated during the same year. Due to its early fruit production and excellent fruit quality, 'FLR12-11' was selected and first asexually propagated in Lalla Mimouna, Morocco by softwood stem cuttings. In 2015, an experimental 10-plant test plot was established as part of a variety test at Lalla Mimouna Morocco. Based on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of this plot, 'FLR12-11' was repropagated by softwood stem cuttings and in 2016 experimental test plots were established at two other farms in Morocco. These plots have been observed during flowering and ripening each year, and no mutations or off-type plants have been observed.
'Snowchaser' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,503) is an important southern highbush blueberry variety widely planted in the United States. 'FLR12-11' is believed to be most similar to 'Snowchaser'. Nonetheless, 'FLR12-11' and 'Snowchaser' are distinguishable at least in their fruit production, leaf shape, and leaf pubescence at the margins. Specifically, the volume of fruit (kg/plant) produced by the claimed plant is roughly forty-five percent (45%) greater than 'Snowchaser'. The fruit of 'FLR12-11' is also twice as large as the fruit of 'Snowchaser' throughout the harvest season. Additionally, 'FLR12-11' exhibits an elliptic leaf shape with an absence of leaf pubescence at the margins, while 'Snowchaser' exhibits an ovate leaf shape with sessile glands along the margins of the leaf blade.


A terminal apparatus and a transaction information management system consisting of the terminal apparatus and a management apparatus that can revise transaction information, which is stored in the management apparatus, connected to a previous transaction when a customer purchases an additional item of merchandise or returns merchandise that has been purchased. By looking up price information stored in the management apparatus each time the transaction information is revised, the revised transaction information can correctly reflect a quantity discount, for example. A new receipt indicating all the merchandise purchased as a result can be printed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a terminal apparatus, transaction information management system, transaction information management method, and a computer program thereof. The present invention more particularly relates to a terminal apparatus, a transaction information management system, a transaction information management method, and a computer program thereof with which transaction information such as goods and services that are dealt with by customers and suppliers is registered, and the goods and services are managed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Large and middle-sized retail shops have been equipped with point-of-sale (POS) systems. A POS system is configured by POS terminal apparatuses and upper rank apparatuses connected to a network. A POS terminal apparatus registers each transaction by scanning a bar-code attached to merchandise and generates transaction information that is sent to an upper rank apparatus. The upper rank apparatus receives the transaction information and manages it as a transaction log.
Once the transaction information is registered by the upper rank apparatus, the transaction information cannot be altered easily in order to avoid illegal alteration. In real businesses, however, POS operators often wish to add and/or cancel an item after the transaction information is registered. It is often desired that the transaction information that has already been registered by the upper rank apparatus be revised.
As one of the related arts, a sales registration data processing apparatus has been proposed as described in the Japanese Laid-open patent application No. 7-168976.
In the Japanese Laid-open patent application No. 7-168976 describes a technique in which a POS operator (cashier) can retrieve the transaction information from the upper rank apparatus and revise it. The sales registration data processing apparatus of the Japanese Laid-open patent application No. 7-168976 can correct the transaction information that was registered in the past, but cannot add an item at all. The sales registration data processing apparatus of the Japanese Laid-open patent application No. 7-168976 can print a receipt of the item that is corrected, but cannot print a receipt corresponding to the transaction information in which the new item is included.
The sales registration data processing apparatus described in the Japanese Laid-open patent application No. 7-168976 only corrects the transaction information that has been registered, but cannot add new items at all. In the case of conventional POS systems, an addition of a new item is regarded as a new transaction, and transaction information corresponding to the new item is registered separately from the existing transaction information. The receipt corresponding to the new item is issued separately from the receipt of the existing transaction information. A receipt corresponding to the new item is issued in addition to the receipt issued for the past transaction.

POS terminal and system including the same by which a transaction log can be revised and registered as a new transaction


A stratified charge burning internal combustion engine with a fuel injection time controlling function wherein production of smoke upon high load operation of the engine can be reduced by control of the fuel injection time. Fuel injection time setting means sets a fuel injection end time and further sets a fuel injection start time from the fuel injection end time and a required fuel amount, and injector driving means drives an injector in accordance with the fuel injection times. Consequently, air fuel mixture and air from a pair of intake ports are flowed into the combustion chamber to make laminar tumble swirls so as to effect laminar combustion. Then, if judging means judges that the engine is operating but not in the proximity of the full load operation, then partial load time setting means sets a partial-load-time fuel injection end time, but if the judging means judges opposite, then full load time setting means sets a partial-load-time fuel injection end time to a predetermined time after starting of an intake stroke so as to reduce production of smoke.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stratified charge burning internal combustion engine wherein air fuel mixture and air are introduced from intake air ports into a combustion chamber such that they may make laminar tumble swirls in the combustion chamber to effect combustion of the air fuel mixture, and more particularly to a stratified charge burning internal combustion engine with a fuel injection time controlling function wherein the fuel injection end time is set differently depending upon whether or not the operating condition of the engine is in the proximity of a full load operation.
2. Description of the Prior Work
It is effective, as means for enhancing combustion of an internal combustion engine, for example, to produce, at the intake stroke, such vertical whirling flows, i.e., so-called tumble swirls, as shown in FIG. 7 in a cylinder.
FIG. 7 schematically shows structure of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine adapted to produce such tumble swirls Fa and Fm. Referring to FIG. 7, reference numeral 22 denotes a cylinder block, 24 a cylinder bore, 26 a piston, 28 a cylinder head and 30 a combustion chamber. A pentagonal roof 34 is formed at an upper wall of the combustion chamber 30, and a pair of intake ports 40 and 42 for intake air passageways are provided for each cylinder. An intake valve not shown is provided for each of the intake ports 40 and 42.
An injector 66 is disposed in the proximity of the intake port 42 such that fuel is injected from the injector 66 may be mixed into an air flow from the intake port 42 to make air fuel mixture, which is advanced into the combustion chamber 30.
The pentagonal roof 34 has such inclined faces that can guide air and air fuel mixture from the intake ports 40 and 42 downwardly along an inner wall face of the cylinder bore 24 on extension lines of axial lines of the intake ports 40 and 42.
Consequently, the flows of air and air fuel mixture from the intake ports 40 and 42 form, also by the guidance of the pentagonal roof 34, such laminar tumble swirls as indicated by arrow marks Fa and Fm, respectively, in the combustion chamber 30.
As a result, the fuel air mixture is likely burnt completely. Thus, for example, even if the air fuel ratio of the entire air and air fuel mixture is higher than the stoichiometric air fuel ratio, in short, even if the air fuel mixture as a whole is lean, the air fuel mixture can be burnt. Consequently, not only the fuel cost of the engine can be enhanced, but also reduction of hazardous exhaust substances such as CO or NO.sub.x contained in exhaust gas of the engine and prevention of knocking of the engine can be achieved.
However, such a stratified charge burning internal combustion engine as described above is disadvantageous in that, when the air fuel ratio becomes rich upon high load operation or the like, smoke is produced in the exhaust gas. The disadvantage is liable to take place particularly when fuel is injected from only one of a pair of intake ports of an internal combustion engine of the two intake valve type.
While it may seem a promising idea, as means for suppressing production of such smoke, to limit the spraying spreading angle of fuel at an injector so that fuel injected from the injector may not stick to an inner wall of an intake port, since production of smoke depends upon a burning condition of fuel in the combustion chamber, production of smoke can be reduced by a fuel injection time.

Stratified charge internal combustion engine with fuel injection time controlling function

Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha


An all-quadrant measurement method for a middle-large magnetic field includes the steps of placing four orthogonally configured magnetic resistances in an external magnetic field; determining two magnetic resistances with the minimum resistance values, thereby determining that the other two magnetic resistances are in an S1 status, and making resistance values of the two magnetic resistances which are in the S1 status be R1 and R2, and at the same time taking an initial reference layer magnetization direction of the two magnetic resistances as a given reference layer magnetization direction when there is no magnetic field; respectively calculating an included angle between a free layer magnetization direction and the reference layer magnetization direction of the two magnetic resistances; respectively calculating the free layer magnetization direction of the two magnetic resistances; and solving a magnetic field amplitude and direction of the external magnetic field.

A tunneling magnetic resistance has a good linearity and relatively high measurement accuracy when a magnetic field to be measured is relatively small, but it can hardly measure a middle-large magnetic field (the intensity of which is about 4˜6 HAF. HAF is an anisotropy field of a free layer of the magnetic resistance, and different magnetic resistances have different HAF which is generally dozens Oe. Oe is the unit of the intensity of the magnetic field—Oersted). The reasons are as below: 1) as a sensing curve of the tunneling magnetic resistance tends from linearity to saturation in the middle-large magnetic field, showing severe nonlinearity, it is necessary to build a nonlinear model for calculation; 2) a reference layer of the tunneling magnetic resistance would rotate significantly, so its influence must be taken into consideration; and 3) a magnetic domain direction of the tunneling magnetic resistance may possibly rotate irreversibly, which will lead to resistance value jumping and form two different bifurcate sensing curves.

All-quadrant measurement method for middle-large magnetic field

SICHUAN ENERGY INTERNET RESEARCH INSTITUTE, TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY


A ceiling pivot arm to hold equipment that can be rotated, especially medical equipment which is held on a mount through a pivot bearing. Simple assembly of the rotary hinge is possible, whereby it is also easy to make and disassemble the connection between the mount and the pivot arm, so that high functional reliability is produced for operation. To do this, it is provided that the pivot bearing consists of a threaded ring (1) constituting the mount, in whose threads (3, 4) is engaged a threaded collar (2) movable relative to the mount and connected to the pivot arm.

Such a ceiling pivot arm was disclosed by British Patent specification 1,558,426 corresponding to DE-OS 26 10 140. In the known ceiling pivot arm, one or more outriggers are held by a mount in the ceiling of a room, for example an operating room, with ability to rotate. The known pivot bearings have to permit easy-running rotating motion, on the one hand, and on the other hand they have to be designed so that considerable loads, typically up to 100 kg, can be held by more or less extended overhanging articulated arms. The two conflicting requirements of easy running of the pivot bearing on the one hand and precision power transmission exposed to the enormous lever forces on the other, with no possibility of tilting from the vertical from the weight, depending on the excursion of the pivot arm, make a costly design necessary for the pivot bearing that is costly in assembly and associated with some inadequacies with regard to operating reliability.

Ceiling pivot arm with a threaded pivot bearing