The optical storage medium comprises a substrate layer, and a data layer having a mark/space data structure with data arranged in tracks on the substrate layer, , wherein between neighboring tracks alternatingly a groove section or a land section without a groove is arranged. The tracks, groove sections and land sections may be arranged by providing a single spiral, two spirals, or four spirals on the optical storage medium. The optical storage medium is in particular an optical disc comprising a nonlinear layer with a super-resolution structure arranged above the data layer.

Optical storage media are media in which data are stored in an optically readable manner, for example by means of a laser and an optical detector, for example a photodetector, being integrated within a pickup. The detector is used for detecting reflected light of the laser beam when reading data on the storage medium. In the meanwhile a large variety of optical storage media are known, which are operated with different laser wavelength, and which have different sizes for providing storage capacities from below one Gigabyte up to 50 Gigabyte (GB). The formats include read-only formats such as Audio CD and Video DVD, write-once optical media such as CD-R and DVD-R, DVD+R, as well as rewritable formats like CD-RW, DVD-RW and DVD+RW. Digital data are stored on these media along tracks in one or more layers of the media.
The storage medium with the highest data capacity is at present the Blu-Ray disc (BD), which allows to store up to about 50 GB on a dual layer disc. For reading and writing of a Blu-Ray disc an optical pickup with a laser wavelength of 405 nm and a numerical aperture of 0,85 is used. On the Blu-Ray disc a track pitch of 320 nm and a mark length from 2 T to 8 T or 9 T is used, where T is the channel bit length and wherein 2 T corresponds with a minimum mark length of 138-160 nm.
New optical storage media with a super-resolution structure offer the possibility to increase the data density of the optical storage medium by a factor of two to four in one dimension as compared with the Blu-Ray disc. This is possible by including a nonlinear layer, which is placed above a data layer of the optical storage medium, and which significantly reduces the effective size of a light spot used for reading from or writing to the optical storage medium. The nonlinear layer can be understood as a mask layer because it is arranged above the data layer and for some specific materials only the high intensity center part of a laser beam can penetrate the mask layer. Further, semiconductor materials can be used as a nonlinear layer, e.g. InSb, which show a higher reflectivity in the center part of the focused laser beam, and for which the center reflectivity is dependent on the pit structure of the corresponding data layer.
Therefore, the super-resolution effect allows to record and read data stored in marks of an optical disc, which have a size below the diffraction limit of a corresponding optical pickup. The diffraction limit of a Blu-Ray type pickup having a laser wavelength λ=405 nm and a numerical aperture NA=0,85 is about λ/2NA=238 nm. The nonlinear layer is often called a super-resolution near-field structure (Super-RENS) layer because it is assumed that for some specific materials, the optical effect of reducing the effective spot size of the laser beam is based on a near-field interaction between the marks and spaces of the data layer and the nonlinear layer. A Super-RENS optical disc comprising a super resolution near-field structure formed of a metal oxide, a polymer compound or a phase change layer comprising a GeSbTe or a AgInSbTe structure for recording of data and reproducing of data is known from WO 2005/081242 and U.S. 2004/0257968. Further examples of super-resolution optical media are described in WO 2004/032123.

Optical storage medium, mastering method and apparatus for reading of respective data


The present invention relates to plasticizer preparations based on triacetin with short gel time, and to their use, and to polyvinyl chloride preparations.

The expression "plasticizer" is used in the technical chemical literature for substances capable, simple by virtue of their admixture, of converting a hard, brittle substance into a soft, extensible, tough or elastic preparation. The expression is used in very many different contexts. By way of example, it is often used in concrete processing (see for example WO 98 58 887 A1) and in rocket fuel production (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,617,400). The expression "plasticizer" is used in the narrower sense to mean materials added during polymer processing which can alter the mechanical properties of thermoplastic polymers in the abovementioned manner. Examples of polymers processed with plasticizers are polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl butyral, polyamide and cellulose acetate. The largest quantitative use is in polyvinyl chloride.
The suitability of a substance as plasticizer for a particular polymer depends on the properties of the polymer. In the last 50 years, increasingly stringent technical and economic requirements placed upon production processes and on plasticized plastics have meant that the substances preferred as plasticizer differ as a function of the polymer. Substances having good suitability as plasticizer in a particular polymer here typically have low suitability or indeed no suitability in another polymer.
Triacetin (glycerol triacetate, Chemical Abstracts Registry Number 102-76-1) is described as plasticizer for cellulose acetate (see for example GB 317,443), starch (see for example WO 9005161 A1) and polylactide (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,928). However, triacetin is not known for use as plasticizer in polyvinyl chloride. The comparative examples presented below demonstrate that the solution temperature of triacetin in polyvinyl chloride is above 200° C. This confirms that triacetin has extremely poor compatibility with polyvinyl chloride.
In the context of plasticizers, the solution temperature is the temperature at which gelling produces a homogeneous phase from a polyvinyl chloride suspension in a plasticizer. A low solution temperature indicates that the plasticizer has good gelling power. This is often desirable, since it is then possible to process the material at low temperatures, saving energy. Substances with solution temperatures above 180° C. are unsuitable as plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride (L. Meier: "Weichmacher" [Plasticizers], in R. Gächter, H. Müller (Ed.): Taschenbuch der Kunststoffadditive [Plastics additives handbook], 3rd Edition, pp. 361-362, Hanser Verlag, Munich 1990).
When polyvinyl chloride is processed with plasticizers, there are other properties of the plasticizer that can play a decisive role, alongside a sufficiently low solution temperature. By way of example, an important factor in the production of polyvinyl chloride plastisols can be that the viscosity of the polyvinyl chloride suspension initially prepared in the plasticizer is low, enabling it to be processed easily. In many applications, the intention is that the subsequent gelling of the suspension on exposure to heat should proceed at maximum rate, in order to limit the amount of time and energy required. An example of a plasticizer used in such instances in the prior art is benzyl butyl phthalate.
The intended function of the plasticizer in the fully gelled, plasticized polyvinyl chloride preparation is not only to provide the desired softness but also by way of example to have maximum resistance to migration into adjacent media.
Further demands placed upon plasticizers result from the desire to avoid hazards to humans and the environment. By way of example, under European Union Directive 2005/84/EC it is no longer permissible to use the plasticizers di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, dibutyl phthalate and benzyl butyl phthalate in toys or baby items, or to use the plasticizers diisononyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate and di-n-octyl phthalate in toys or baby items which might enter children's mouths. There is therefore a particular requirement for suitable replacement materials for the abovementioned plasticizers di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, dibutyl phthalate and benzyl butyl phthalate.
In view of these restrictions, which to many consumers can appear to be confusing and worrying, many producers are actually adopting a generalized approach of avoiding all phthalate-containing plasticizers in the production of plasticized polyvinyl chloride. The result of this is a requirement for phthalate-free plasticizers which in terms of processability and service properties achieve the performance level of phthalate-containing plasticizers.
In relation to the abovementioned fast gelling, there is a requirement for a replacement material for benzyl butyl phthalate, in particular a requirement for a phthalate-free replacement material for benzyl butyl phthalate, or for a replacement material which is better than previous phthalate-free plasticizers in PVC but whose performance level is comparable with that of phthalate-containing plasticizers.
It was an object of the present invention to provide a plasticizer with low solution temperature and short gel time which is a suitable replacement material for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and for dibutyl phthalate, and in particular for benzyl butyl phthalate. The preparations according to the invention achieve this object.


A roof for a cab of a machine includes a roof surface with a rearward incline having a front portion higher than a rear portion. The roof surface has a recessed portion at the rear portion that receives a Heating Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC) unit. The recessed portion includes a rearward facing sidewall with a rearward incline, such that an upper end of the rearward facing sidewall is closer to the front portion than a lower end. The rearward facing sidewall has a lateral opening, a pair of lateral sidewalls, and a base with a rearward incline, such that a front end of the base is higher than a rear end. The base has an upright opening with a ridge protruding upward, defining a perimeter of the upright opening. The rearward facing sidewall, the pair of lateral sidewalls, and the base, define a contiguous peripheral portion of the recessed portion.

Operator cabs in construction machines, such as motor graders, are commonly provided with roofs with integrated heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units. Roofs with such provisions should satisfy a number of requirements. Among the many, a roof is needed to seal the cabin from outside weather. Further, roofs should provide ample overhead clearance for an operator stationed within the cabin, but is also required to be relatively compact so as to contain any excessive increase in the machine's overall height, and be in compliance with conventional storage and shipping requirements. Additionally, roofs are supposed to house various components of the HVAC unit, which include electrical/electronic items, electrical routings, controllers, blowers, heaters, evaporator cores, and several other accessories and components. With the HVAC unit integrated into the roof, it is generally a challenge to meet each of these conditions.
As additions to the above noted challenges, currently applied HVAC units in roofs of construction machines are generally exposed to frontal and overhead impacts. As a result, there is an increased vulnerability of damage to the HVAC units. Moreover, it remains pertinent to trade dress the roof and make an overall structure of the operator cab aesthetically appealing, while also making the configuration utilitarian for the operator stationed inside the operator cab. HVAC units may be positioned within the operator cab, but this may unduly use up cabin space, and inevitably restrict the operator's movement and may affect cabin ergonomics.
United States Patent Application US 20070205633 relates to a roof system for an agricultural vehicle, such as a tractor, with integrated heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) ducting. However, a focus of the '633 reference is to enhance an operator's visibility outside the agricultural vehicle. Further, a configuration of an HVAC ducting discussed in the '633 reference probably remains vulnerable to frontal and overhead impacts owing to the position provided for the HVAC ducting. Moreover, it is also pertinent to provide for an effective containment of condensed water, in and around HVAC units, from an undue drainage into the operator cab, a discussion to which is missing in the '633 reference.
Accordingly, the system and method of the present disclosure solves one or more problems set forth above and other problems in the art.


An improved shoe for a casement window hinge is disclosed. The hinge has a base with a front end and a rear end and two sides. The base has a ridge on the rear end for securing the base to a track and a tongue extending from one of the sides. The tongue has a plurality of teeth extending from a side of the tongue. A gear wheel is adapted to be rotatably secured to a track. The gear wheel has a plurality of teeth about its circumference which mesh with the teeth on the tongue. The rotation of the gear wheel causes the base of the hinge to move longitudinally in relation to the track.

In most construction there are a variety of window types that are available. These windows may include fixed, double hung, casement, transom, etc. Each window has certain benefits and drawbacks. Fixed windows for example are not able to be opened for ventilation. Double hung windows were originally designed to let cooler air in the lower portion and hotter air out the upper portion. Casement windows are advantageous in that the entire window can open.
Traditional double hung windows ride in a track and are raised and lowered for ventilation. Casement windows are windows that are mounted in a frame and are hingedly connected on one side to a frame, or to the top and bottom, by usually a pair of hinges. Casement windows typically open outwardly, although, there are some casement type windows that open inwardly instead. The pair of hinges that connect a casement window to a frame are usually situated at the tops and bottoms of the windows. The hinges have a track mounted to the window frame and a sash arm connected to the window. The sash arm is connected to the track by a support arm. The support arm is usually pivotally connected to both the track and the sash arm. The sash arm is also pivotally connected to a mounting shoe, which is supported and guided during movement by the track. Another type of hinge mechanism for casement windows has a link between the sash arm and the movable shoe to offset the sash arm.
The hinge mechanism in casement windows is subject to stress over time. There is a risk that the window may become misaligned whether through poor installation, the weight of the window, weathering or moisture or simply just settling of the house. The hinge mechanism has to compensate for these variations over time. In addition, the fixed track pivot must be properly located relative to the window sash. The fixed track pivot is usually positioned between the support arm and the window frame for proper operation of the window. One of the problems that may be encountered over time is the shifting of the fixed track pivot due to shifting of the window, the window frame, etc., which may result in sagging of the sash. In the event the sash sags, there is a risk that the window may not seal properly and permit moisture and cold air to enter. Another problem that may be caused by sagging of the sash is difficulty in opening and closing the window.
Prior art casement windows attempted to overcome problems with sagging of the sash by requiring precise installation of the hinge mechanism. Another approach has been to permit adjustment of the track to compensate for the sagging sash. In these windows, however, repeated adjustment of the track could result in the mounting assembly for the track undergoing fatigue and gradually loosening. In addition, to adjust the track of many casement windows the window must be open and it is difficult to determine whether the window will close satisfactorily when the adjustment is made. As a result, there is a need for the casement window hardware to be particularly strong and withstand the stresses of opening and closing these windows as well as the weight of the window and settling of the house.
As a result, there is a need for an improved hinge for casement windows which will permit the installer, repair person and/or home owner to adjust the hinge either during installation or later to compensate for sagging of the sash, frames being out of alignment, and other problems with the casement windows that made it difficult to install the windows or adjust their movement once they have been installed in a window.


A sliding door attached to a vehicle is supported on the body of the vehicle by way of a sliding door supporting apparatus, which comprises a center guide mechanism, an upper guide mechanism, and a lower guide mechanism. The center guide mechanism is provided with a holdback mechanism for restraining the sliding door from shifting its position in the transverse direction when the door is moved to a fully open position. The holdback mechanism includes a vertical wall formed on a center rail, inside and outside holdback rollers of which the positions in the transverse direction are restrained by the vertical wall. The upper and lower guide mechanisms are provided, respectively, with upper and lower check mechanisms for holding the sliding door in the fully open position. The center and lower guide mechanisms are each provided with a roller for supporting vertical load of the sliding door.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a sliding door, which serves to open and close an entrance in the flank of the body of a vehicle, on the vehicle body, and more particularly, to a sliding door supporting apparatus provided with means for restraining the sliding door in a fully open state from being dislocated in various directions.
In many vehicles, such as one-box-cars, station wagons, etc., in particular, an opening as an entrance for users is formed in a side wall of their body, and a sliding door is used to open and close the opening. A sliding door supporting apparatus for supporting the sliding door of this type comprises upper and lower guide mechanisms, attached to the upper and lower parts, respectively, of the entrance, and a center guide mechanism attached to the vertical middle part of an outer wall at the rear portion of the vehicle body.
Usually, these guide mechanisms include upper, center, and lower rails attached to the vehicle body and rollers on the sliding door. Each roller engages its corresponding rail so as to be rollable thereon.
In this case, the upper, center, and lower guide mechanisms support the load of the door in positions of rolling contact between the guide rails and the rollers. Accordingly, the center of gravity of the door is situated within a region surrounded by line segments that connect the upper, center, and lower rolling contact positions. This positional relationship never changes even though the door moves from its fully closed position to its fully open position. Thus, the sliding door supporting apparatus of this type can support the sliding door substantially steadily on the vehicle body. According to the supporting apparatus in which all the rails are provided on the vehicle body in the aforesaid manner, however, the center rail is attached to the outer wall at the rear portion of the vehicle body, so that the external appearance of the vehicle body is poor. There is a known sliding door supporting apparatus in which the center rail is provided on the door side, thereby solving this problem.
In a sliding door supporting apparatus shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, for example, an upper rail 3 and a lower rail 4 are attached to the upper and lower parts, respectively, of a side opening 2 of a vehicle body 1. Also, a center rail 6 is attached to the inner surface of a sliding door 5. The door 5 is provided with upper and lower rollers 7 and 8, which engage the upper and lower rails 3 and 4, respectively. A center roller 9 that engages the center rail 6 is provided on the vehicle body side.
In the sliding door supporting apparatus constructed in this manner, the door load is supported in positions p1, p3 and p2 of rolling contact between the guide rails 3, 4 and 6 and the rollers 7, 8 and 9. The upper and lower contact positions p1 and p3, among these rolling contact positions, move rearward in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle body as the sliding door 5 is moved to the fully open position. Despite the movement of the door 5 to the fully open position, on the other hand, the center rolling contact position p2 never substantially moves in the longitudinal direction X.
Thus, when the sliding door 5 is in the fully closed position, as shown in FIG. 25, the upper and lower rolling contact positions p1 and p3 are situated at a distance L1 from the center rolling contact position p2 with respect to the longitudinal direction X. In this case, the center of gravity G of the door 5 is situated substantially on the center of a region surrounded by line segments that connect the three rolling contact positions p1, p2 and p3, so that the door 5 can be supported with stability.
When the sliding door 5 is moved to the fully open position, as shown in FIG. 26, a center check member 10 and an upper check member 13 on the door side engage strikers 12 and 14 on the vehicle body side, respectively, thereby holding the door 5 in the fully open position. As this is done, the upper and lower rolling contact positions p1 and p3 approach the center rolling contact position p2 with respect to the longitudinal direction X, so that the distance L1' between the contact positions is considerably shorter than the distance L1 for the case where the door is fully closed (L1'<L1). Inevitably, therefore, the three rolling contact positions p1, p2 and p3 are concentrated on the front portion of the sliding door 5. Thus, the center of gravity G of the door 5 is situated behind the positions p1, p2 and p3, so that the door 5 is liable to be dislocated in its vertical direction A, longitudinal direction X, and transverse direction (perpendicular to the drawing plane of FIG. 26).
A sliding door supporting apparatus described in Jpn. UM Appln. KOKOKU Publication No. 50-1229 is provided with a narrower second center rail on the outer wall of the vehicle body, besides the center rail on the sliding door. When the door is fully closed, according to this supporting apparatus, it is supported in the position of rolling contact between the first center rail and its corresponding roller. When the door is fully open, it is supported in the position of rolling contact between the second center rail and its corresponding roller. In this manner, the sliding door can be restrained in some measure from being dislocated in the vertical and transverse directions.
According to the arrangement described in Jpn. UM Appln. KOKOKU Publication No. 50-1229, however, the second center rail must be provided on the outer wall of the vehicle body, so that the external appearance of the vehicle body is marred inevitably. In order to allow the sliding door to move smoothly in the longitudinal direction, moreover, a gap with some width must be secured between the second center rail and the roller. The presence of the gap causes the door to be dislocated in the vertical and transverse directions. Moreover, this sliding door supporting apparatus cannot restrain the sliding door from being dislocated in the
As shown in FIG. 26, for example, means for restraining longitudinal dislocation of the sliding door in the fully open position includes the center and upper check members 10 and 13 on the sliding door 5 and the strikers 12 and 14 on the vehicle body side, which can engage the members 10 and 13, respectively. This arrangement is described in Jpn. UM Appln. KOKOKU Publication No. 7-51386 (or Jpn. UM Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 3-13220). This conventional sliding door supporting apparatus comprises a center rail attached to the sliding door, a roller attached to the vehicle body and in rolling contact with the center rail, a check member attached to the door, etc. A part of a shaft for supporting the center roller is used as the striker. This striker and the check member constitutes a check mechanism. In this prior art supporting apparatus, however, the check mechanism is provided only on the vertical middle part of the sliding door, so that it is difficult to securely restrain the door from being dislocated in various directions.
The sliding door supporting apparatus shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 comprises a center check mechanism, including the center check member 10 and the striker 12, and an upper check mechanism, including the upper check member 13 and the striker 14, in order to restrain the sliding door 5 in the fully open position from being dislocated in the vertical and longitudinal directions A and X. However, these check mechanisms are situated at a relatively long distance from the lower end portion of the door 5 that is liable to be dislocated to the highest degree, so that the door 5 may not be able to be securely restrained from being dislocated in the vertical and longitudinal directions A and X, in some cases. Moreover, it is difficult to securely restrain the dislocation of the sliding door 5, especially the rear end portion thereof, in the transverse direction (perpendicular to the drawing plane).
Thus, the sliding door supporting apparatus having its center rail on the door side cannot easily support the sliding door in the fully open position with stability. Accordingly, there has been a demand that the dislocation of the sliding door (relative to the vehicle body) be restrained more securely by steadily supporting the door in the fully open state.

Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha


Included are embodiments for dynamically modeling a human internal pelvic environment for product interactions. Some embodiments include creating a computational simulation of biomechanical interactions between feminine product and a pelvic region for a predetermined body type and simulating dynamic contraction of pelvic floor muscles and movement of surrounding parts of the pelvic region as would be experienced in normal use of the feminine product. Similarly, some embodiments are configured to determine, from the simulation, positional changes and effectiveness of the feminine product, determine whether the feminine product is acceptable, and in response to determining that the feminine product is not acceptable, alter a feature of the feminine product. In some embodiments, in response to determining that the feminine product is acceptable, data related to the feminine product being acceptable may be output.

Historically, many feminine products have taken a one-size-fits-all approach. Many feminine product designers have created feminine products that fit the "average woman." While such a solution may accommodate many women and reduce production costs associated with a single design, oftentimes women differ in shapes and sizes and thus the feminine products designed in this manner fail to provide the desired wearer experience. Specifically, some women may experience discomfort while placing, wearing, or removing these products, while others may not receive the desired protection.
Additionally, many women differ in types and levels of activities. While a particular feminine product may provide the desired results during sleep or work, these products may provide less than desired comfort or protection during different activities. Similarly, some women may have different life experiences, such as activities that cause large or variable deformation in the pelvic cavity, child birth, etc. that affect the type and shape of feminine products that provide the desired comfort and results. Accordingly, there is a need for dynamically modeling the human internal pelvic environment to account for such activities and body types.

Systems and methods for dynamically modeling the human internal pelvic environment for product interactions


A diameter dimension of a chamfer 11 which is formed on axial end faces of a cylindrical roller 8 which is retained in each pocket 7 of a cage 2 whose axial positioning is realized by a roller guide at a portion which lies closer to an outside diameter side thereof is made such that a central flat surface 9 which lies on an inside diameter side of the chamfer 11 is not exposed from an external surface of an outside diameter side flat plate portion 14. Then, a difference between a minimum value ΔB of an amount by which the cylindrical roller 8 projects from the external surface of the outside diameter side flat plate portion 14 and a dimension W11 of the chamfer 11 with respect to a diameter direction thereof is made smaller than a thickness T2 of the cage 2.

As thrust cylindrical roller bearings each including a cage which can be produced at low costs by the application of press-cutting process and bending process to a single sheet of metal, techniques described in Patent Document Nos. 1 to 5 are known. FIGS. 15 to 18 show a conventionally constructed thrust cylindrical roller bearing 1 as a first example. This thrust cylindrical roller bearing 1 includes a single cage 2 and a plurality of cylindrical rollers 8, 8. This cage 2 is such as to be produced integrally by bending a metallic plate such as sheet steel and includes a cylindrical inside diameter side rim portion 4, a cylindrical outside diameter side rim portion 5, an intermediate plate portion 6 and a plurality of pockets 7, 7.
Among these, the inside diameter side rim portion 4 is such as to lie in an inner circumferential edge portion of the cage 2 and is formed into an annular shape which continues along the full circumference thereof. In addition, the outside diameter side rim portion 5 is such as to lie in an outer circumferential edge portion of the cage 2 and is formed into an annular shape which is concentric with the inside diameter side rim portion 4 and which continues along the full circumference thereof. In addition, the intermediate plate portion 6 is such as to lie between the inside diameter side rim portion 4 and the outside diameter side rim portion 5 and has a cross section which is bent in the radial direction. Furthermore, the individual pockets 7, 7 are such as to be formed in the intermediate plate portion 6 in such a manner as to be each oriented in a radial direction and arranged intermittently with respect to a circumferential direction of the intermediate plate portion 6, and the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 are individually rotatably held in the pockets 7, 7.
As is shown in FIG. 16, a central flat surface 9 which expands in a direction which is at right angles to a revolution center axis of each of the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 and chamfered portions 11 each having a partially circular coned convex surface shape or a convexly curved surface shape whose cross section is formed into a partially convex arc shape are formed on both axial end faces of each of the cylindrical rollers 8, 8. In the case of the conventional construction, of dimensions of the chamfered portion 11, a dimension L8 in an axial direction of the cylindrical roller 8 and a dimension W8 in a radial direction thereof are made substantially equal (L8≈W8). In addition, portions on the intermediate plate portion 6 which lie between the pockets 7, 7 which are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction make up pillar portions 12, 12.
In addition, the intermediate plate portion 6 is made up of a central flat plate portion 13, an outer diameter side flat plate portion 14, an inside diameter side flat plate portion 15, an inside diameter side connecting portion 16, and an outside diameter side connecting portion 17. Among these, the central flat plate portion 13 is formed at a portion of the intermediate plate portion 6 which lies radially (horizontally in FIGS. 15, 17, vertically in FIG. 18, and in a direction from near to far side or vice versa in FIG. 19) middle and axially closer to one end (a lower end in FIGS. 15, 17) thereof. In addition, the outside diameter side flat plate portion 14 is formed at a portion of the intermediate plate portion 6 which lies adjacent to a radially inside (a left side in FIG. 17) of the outside diameter side rim portion 5 and axially closer to the other end (an upper end in FIGS. 15, 17) thereof. The outside diameter side and inside diameter side flat plate portions 14, 15 are situated on the same plane. In addition, the inside diameter side connecting portion 16 connects an outer circumferential edge of the inside diameter side flat plate portion 15 with an inner circumferential edge of the central flat plate portion 13, and the outside diameter side connecting portion 17 connects an outer circumferential edge of the central flat plate portion 13 with an inner circumferential edge of the outside diameter side flat plate portion 14. A space between the inside diameter side and outside diameter side connecting portions 16, 17 increases as it goes farther away from the central flat plate portion 13. An external side surface of the central flat plate portion 13 and distal end edges of both the inside diameter side and outside diameter side rim portions 4, 5 are situated on the same plane, or the external side surface of the central flat plate portion 13 projects axially further than the distal end edges.
The cage 2 that is configured as has been described above is disposed between a pair of planes 40a, 41a, axially opposite and parallel to each other, which constitute raceway surfaces of a pair of members which make up the thrust cylindrical roller bearing in such a state that the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 are rotatably held in the pockets 7, 7, individually. Of the central, outside diameter side and inside diameter side flat plate portions 13 to 15 which make up the intermediate plate portion 6, portions which constitute both circumferential side edges of the pillar portions 12, 12 project slightly further inwards into the pockets 7, 7 than both the inside diameter side and outside diameter side connecting portions 16, 17.
Namely, of the outside diameter side flat plate portion which is positioned outwards in a diameter direction and the inside diameter side flat plate portion 15 which is positioned inwards in a diameter direction, portions which constitute circumferential end edge portions of the pillar portions 12, 12 are made to constitute outside diameter side locking portions 18, 18 and inside diameter side locking portions 19, 19, respectively. Then, as is shown in FIGS. 17(a) and 19(a), an axial displacement of the cage 2 to an axial end side (a lower side in FIGS. 17, 19) is controlled by the engagement of the outside diameter side and inside diameter side locking portions 18, 19 with a rolling surface 10 of each cylindrical roller 8 so that part of each cylindrical roller 8 is left projecting axially further than the distal end edges of the central plate portion 13 and both the inside diameter side and outside diameter side rim portions 4, 5.
In addition, of the central flat plate portion 13 which is positioned intermediate in a diameter direction, portions which constitute the circumferential end edge portions of the pillar portions 12, 12 are made to be central locking portions 20, 20, respectively. The, as is shown in FIGS. 17(b) and 19(b), an axial displacement of the cage 2 to the axial end side (an upper side in FIGS. 17, 19) is controlled by the engagement of the central locking portions 20, 20 with the rolling surface 10 of each cylindrical roller 8 so that part of each cylindrical roller 8 is left projecting axially further than both the outside diameter side and inside diameter side flat plate portions 14, 15.
In short, the axial displacement of the cage 2 relative to the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 is suppressed by bringing the respective locking portions 18 to 20 into engagement with the rolling surfaces 10 of the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 in such a state that the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 are held in the pockets 7, 7, respectively. Namely, the positioning of the cage 2 relative to the axial direction is realized by the so-called roller guide.
As the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 which constitute the thrust cylindrical roller bearing that has been described above, as is shown in FIG. 16, which has been described above, more cylindrical rollers in which central portions (portions inwards of chamfered portions which lie closer to an outer circumferential edge) of both axial end faces are made into flat surfaces have come to be used in recent years with a view to securing a load-carrying capacity. Namely, although among cylindrical rollers, there are some cylindrical rollers of which both axial end faces are formed into a partially spherical surface or a convex surface which is made up of a circular cone-shaped surface, in the case of these cylindrical rollers, the axial length (the effective length) of the rolling surface which can bear a load becomes short, and a load that can be borne by the rolling surface becomes small by such an extent. In contrast to this, with the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 in which the central portions of both the axial end faces are made into the flat surfaces, the effective length L (refer to FIG. 16) is secured, the securing of load-carrying capacity of the thrust cylindrical roller bearing 1 in which the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 is facilitated.
Incidentally, when the thrust cylindrical roller bearing that has been described above is in use, a force is exerted on the individual cylindrical rollers 8, 8 which is directed outwardly in a diameter direction. Then, of both the axial end faces of each of the cylindrical rollers 8, 8, the outside diameter side end face 21 which is situated in a diameter direction outer side of the cage 2 is pressed against, of circumferential edge portions of each of the pockets 7, 7, an outside diameter side circumferential edge portion 22 which is situated in the diameter direction outer side of the cage 2. As a result of this, the outside diameter side circumferential edge portion 22 and the outside diameter side end face 21 are caused to rub against each other at a portion shaded with lattice pattern in FIG. 19(a). However, it is not that this outside diameter side end face 21 is pressed against the outside diameter side circumferential edge portion 22 uniformly. In the real world, the outside diameter side end face 21 and the outside diameter side circumferential edge portion 22 are brought into sliding contact in such a state that a portion of the outside diameter side end face 21 which lies closer to the outside diameter side thereof is pressed against the outside diameter side circumferential edge portion 22 due to the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 skewing in the pockets 7, 7.
Namely, while the thrust cylindrical roller bearing 1 is in operation, although it is ideal that the direction of the revolving axis of the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 and the diameter direction of the cage 2 coincide with each other, in the real world, it is not possible to avoid the occurrence of skewing which causes a case where those directions do not coincide with each other. Skewing like this occurs because a frictional coefficient at rolling contact portions between the rolling surfaces 10 of the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 and the raceway surfaces is not uniform relative to a length direction of the rolling contact portions. In addition, an extent to which the outside diameter side end face 21 and the outside diameter side edge portion 22 are brought into offset collision becomes remarkable as a deviation angle (a skew angle) between the two directions increases.
In the event that a boundary portion between an outer circumferential edge portion of the central flat surface 9 and the chamfered portion 11 on the outside diameter side end face 21 and the outside diameter side circumferential edge portion 22 are caused to rub against each other while the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 are skewing, a local concentration of stress occurs at the portion where the rubbing is occurring, and moreover, the boundary portion and the outside diameter side circumferential edge portion 22 are caused to rub against each other at fast rubbing speed. Furthermore, an oil film for lubrication becomes difficult to be formed at this mutual rubbing portion, and a metal contact becomes easy to occur at the mutual rubbing portion. As a result of this, a concavely recessed portion 23, in which the degree of wear becomes remarkable on both sides in the circumferential direction of the cage 2 as is shown in FIG. 20, is formed on the outside diameter side circumferential edge portion 22 in part of the cage 2 which is made of a soft metal compared to a bearing steel of which the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 are made.
When the convexly recessed portion 23 so formed becomes large to some extent, so-called drilling wear occurs in which the chamfered portion 11 which is provided on the outer circumferential edge of part of each of the cylindrical rollers 8, 8 which faces in a diameter direction outer end portion of the cage 2 enters the interior of the concavely recessed portion 23 to thereby be displaced further outwards in the diameter direction of the cage 2 than the position of each of the pockets 7, 7. In the event that drilling wear like this occurs, the sliding resistance of the roller end face relative to the cage is increased, which increases the rotational resistance of the rotary supporting portion in which the thrust cylindrical roller bearing is built, whereby not only the performances of various mechanical apparatuses which have such rotary supporting portions are decreased but also in the event that that the increase in rotational resistance becomes remarkable, it causes a failure such as flaking and seizing. Wear which causes these drawbacks has become easy to occur as the revolution speeds of rotary portions of various mechanical apparatuses such as transmissions and automotive air conditioners are increased by the increase in performance of motor vehicles in these years.
On the other hand, in a case where a cylindrical roller 8a in which both axial end faces are made into a partially spherical convex surface as is shown in FIG. 21 is installed, as is shown in FIG. 22, in a cage 2 which has a similar construction to the conventional construction that has been described heretofore, whether or not skewing occurs, an end edge of an internal surface of an outer diameter side circumferential edge portion 22 of a pocket 7 in the cage 2 and an outside diameter side end face 21a of the cylindrical roller 8a which is formed into the partially spherical convex surface are caused to rub against each other (brought into edge collision with each other), whereby a partially arc-shaped concavely recessed portion 23a shown in FIG. 23 is formed in a central portion of the outside diameter side circumferential edge portion 22. Then, when this concavely recessed portion 23a becomes large, a problem like the one described above is also caused.
A construction described in Patent Document No. 5 has conventionally been known as a construction which reduces the drawback that has been described above. FIG. 24 shows a related art construction which follows an invention described in Patent Document No. 5. In the case of this related art construction, a pocket 7a in a cage 2 is formed to such an extent that it reaches a proximal portion of an outside diameter side rim portion 5a. In addition, a cylindrical roller 8, in which both axial end faces are formed into a partially spherical convex surface is retained within the pocket 7a, and the outside diameter side end face 21a of the cylindrical roller 8a is made to face an inner circumferential surface of the outside diameter side rim portion 5a. In the case of the related art construction which is constructed as has been described above, even in the event that both the surfaces are caused to rub against each other, since a diameter of the mutual rubbing portion is made small to thereby suppress the rubbing speed V to an extremely low level, the wear of the mutual rubbing portion is suppressed. In the case of the related art construction described in the cited document No. 5, since the cylindrical roller 8a in which the axial end faces are formed into the convex surface needs to be used, of this cylindrical roller 8a, the axial length L a of the rolling surface which can bear the load becomes short, and the load that can be borne becomes small by such an extent.
Patent Document No. 1: JP-A-6-94038
Patent Document No. 2: JP-A-2000-213546
Patent Document No. 3: JP-A-2002-206525
Patent Document No. 4: JP-A-11-351245
Patent Document No. 5: JP-A-2003-83333


Systems that: (a) select a current antenna subset; (b) receive signals in response to a transmission of pilot symbols using the current antenna subset: (c) determine a current objective function for the current antenna subset; (d) replace an antenna in the current antenna subset with another antenna not, in the current antenna subset, to form a next antenna subset; (e) receive signals in response to a transmission of pilot symbols using the next antenna subset; (f) determines a next objective function for the current antenna subset; (g) determines whether the next objective function is better than the current objective function, and if so creates a corresponding next occupation probability vector entry; and (h) determines whether the value for the corresponding next occupation probability vector entry is larger than a value for an optimal occupation probability vector entry, and if so sets the second antenna subset as the optimal antenna subset.

Certain high giga-Hertz communications techniques, such as 60 GHz millimeter wave communications, have received significant recent attention and are considered as promising technologies for short-range broadband wireless transmission with data rates up to multi-giga bits/sec. Wireless communications at such frequencies can possess several advantages including a huge clean unlicensed bandwidth (up to 7 GHz), a compact size of transceiver due to the short wavelength, and less interference brought by high atmospheric absorption. Standardization activities have been ongoing for 60 GHz Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPAN) (i.e., IEEE 802.15) and Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) (i.e., IEEE 802.11). The key physical-layer characteristics of this system include a large-scale MIMO system (e.g., 32×32) and the use of both transmit and receive beamforming techniques.
To reduce hardware complexity, typically the number of radio-frequency (RF) chains (which can include amplifiers, AD/DA converters, mixers, etc.) employed is smaller than the number of antenna elements, and an antenna selection technique is used to fully exploit the beamforming gain afforded by the large-scale MIMO antennas. Although various schemes for antenna selection exist in the literature, they all assume that the MIMO channel matrix is known or can be estimated. In some such systems, however, the receiver may have no access to such a channel matrix, for example, because the received signals may be combined in the analog domain prior to digital baseband due to an analog beamformer or phase shifter. Instead, in such cases, the receiver may only have access to the scalar output of the receive beamformer. Hence, it has been a challenging problem to devise an antenna selection method based on such a scalar only rather than the channel matrix.
Accordingly, new systems, methods, and media for selecting antennas and beamformers are desirable.

Systems, methods, and media for selecting antennas and beamformers

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


A vehicle steering wheel lock with a burglar-proof alarm device comprises a burglar-proof alarm circuit, A wireless signal detecting unit, an air pressure detecting unit; supersonic detecting unit for detecting movements of objects; an infrared receiver for receiving infrared signals from the portable alarm device. The wireless wave emitting unit includes a receiving antennal circuit, a high frequency amplifier, a band pass filter, a local oscillating circuit, a mixing circuit, a middle frequency circuit, and a second middle frequency IC; the receiving antenna circuit being for adjusting the harmonic receiving frequency for receiving high frequency signal, which is then passed through the high frequency amplifier, band pass filter, local oscillating circuit, and the mixing circuit; the local oscillator circuit having a baseband oscillating circuit, a nine-time amplifier circuit, a nine-time frequency modulating circuit for generating an oscillating frequency signal to the mixing circuit.

The prior art vehicle mechanic locks only have the function of delaying the time period for the thief to stealing the car. They cannot completely prevent the car from being stolen. Thereby electronic locks are developed. They use the batteries of the cars as power supplies. When abnormal conditions occur, such as collision, destroy of the lock, etc., the detectors of the electronic locks will trigger the burglar-proof alarm circuits of cars so as to generate great sounds. However since such kinds of locks use the batteries of the cars, the installation of the circuits are complicated and the circuits are easily found so as to be cut to lose of functions. Furthermore, the mechanic locks and electronic locks are independent means. The uses must pay twice fees to have the two kinds of locks. Furthermore, the electronic locks easily act by mistakes, such as a careless collision. Thereby the owners will lose their attentions when they use the locks for a long time. Furthermore, the prior art burglar-proof alarm circuits are not wireless devices. Except that the owners are nearby the car, otherwise they cannot find the accidents about their cars. Thus, the prior art locks are not effectively.

Vehicle steering wheel lock with a burglar-proof alarm device


A solid state laser apparatus comprises a laser medium having a pair of optically flat surfaces confronting to each other, and side surfaces intersecting the optically flat surfaces along an optical axis, the laser medium having a rectangular cross section; heat insulators adhered to the side surfaces of the laser medium; and reflective films for shielding the thermal insulators from pumping light. A solid state laser apparatus may comprise heat conductors bonded to the side surfaces of the laser medium, the heat conductors removing heat which occurs at bonding surfaces, the amount of removed heat from the side surfaces being smaller than that from the optically flat surfaces.

The present invention relates to a solid state laser apparatus having a slab geometry laser medium whose cross section is rectangular, particularly relates to reduction of thermal lensing in the laser medium.
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the structure of a conventional slab geometry solid state laser apparatus which is disclosed in a magazine (Laser Focus/E-0 TECHNOLOGY, SEPTEMBER, 1983 P. 106). In the figure, numeral 1 designates a laser medium; 1a, optically flat surfaces of the laser medium 1; 1b, optically non-smooth surfaces which intersect the optical flat surfaces 1a along the optical axis; 2, thermal insulators bonded to each of the non-smooth surfaces 1b; 5, a flow path of a coolant 4 for cooling the laser medium 1; 6, a circulating direction of the coolant 4; 7, a pumping lamp; 8, a pair of reflecting mirrors; and 71, pumping light.
By referring to FIG. 1, the operation of the apparatus will be described in the following.
In FIG. 1, the pumping light 71 radiated from the pumping lamp 7 is reflected by the reflecting mirrors 8 and then absorbed by the laser medium 1. Part of the energy is extracted by a pair of resonance mirrors (not shown in the figure) to the outside of the laser medium as a laser beam. The absorbed energy which is not used for the laser oscillation is converted into a thermal energy in the laser medium 1. The thermal energy heats up the laser medium 1. The laser medium 1 is cooled by the coolant 4 which is circulated in the flow path 5 so as to keep it at a predetermined temperature.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a heat flow, a temperature distribution, and thermal lens distribution generated by a temperature distribtion of the aforementioned laser medium 1.
If the heat generation in the laser medium 1 is uniform, the cooling effect on the optically flat surfaces 1a is uniform, and the heat insulation of the non-smooth surfaces 1b is perfect, then the temperature distribution in the width direction of the laser medium becomes uniform and thereby a thermal lens does not take place.
Even if the heat generation and cooling of the laser medium are uniform, the perfect insulation of the heat flow from the non-smooth surfaces 1b is impossible. When the temperature of the thermal insulators 2 becomes very high, much heat flows from the thermal insulators 2 to the laser medium 1 and then a temperature distribution is formed in the width direction A of the laser medium 1.
Actually, the thermal insulators 2 absorb the pumping light 71 from the pumping lamp 7 and thereby the temperature of the thermal insulators 2 becomes very high as shown by curve B of FIG. 2. Although the members 2 bonded to the side surfaces 1b are the thermal insulators, much heat flows to the laser medium 1 as shown by arrow 9 of FIG. 2. Thus, a temperature distribution as shown by curve B of FIG. 2 is formed. In the figure, To represents a water temperature. Consequently, a thermal lens is formed as shown by curve C of FIG. 2. In the figure, f is a focal length. It is clearly understood that a negative lens is formed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, even if the laser medium 1 is uniformly irradiated with the pumping light, strong heat generation may occur in bonding layers 30 with which the thermal insulators 2 are bonded to the laser medium 1. Since the thermal conductivity of the laser medium 1 is large enough compared with that of the thermal insulator, the heat generated in the bonding layers 30 is removed by the laser medium as shown by arrow 9 of FIG. 3. Thus, as shown by curve B of FIG. 3, a temperature distribution takes place in the width direction A of the laser medium 1, and a thermal lens takes place as shown by curve C of FIG. 3.
As was described above, in the conventional slab geometry solid state laser apparatus, a temperature distribution takes place in the width direction of the laser medium 1. Thus, a thermal lens occurs. The thermal lens results in distorting a laser beam pattern and decreasing the wall plug efficiency of the laser oscillation.


A sample analyzer is disclosed that comprising: a light source section for emitting light; a first optical information acquiring section for illuminating a sample with the light emitted by the light source section, and for acquiring first optical information; and a second optical information acquiring section for illuminating a measurement specimen, to be prepared by adding a reagent to the sample, with the light emitted by the light source section, and for and acquiring second optical information. A sample analyzing method, intended for use in an automated sample analyzer, is also described.

Devices are known which measure the light absorption (optical information) of a serum sample (sample) using a probe (first optical information acquiring section), and thereafter optically measure the serum sample (main measurement) using clinical detection device (second optical information acquiring section) (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,468).
The device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,468 transports a serum sample that is measurable by a clinical analysis device to a clinical analysis device based on the light absorbance of the sample after having measured the light absorbance of the sample within a needle by illuminating a serum sample aspirated by the needle of a probe using light emitted from a light emitting diode. This device analyzes the existence of hemolysis, icteris, and lipemia a serum sample in a needle by illuminating the serum sample in a needle with light of five different wavelengths emitted from five light emitting diodes. When hemolysis, icteris or lipemia present in the serum sample exceeds a predetermined value, the probe is moved to a position corresponding to a waste container, and the serum sample aspirated in the needle is disposed of in the waste container. Conversely, when hemolysis, icteris or lipemia present in the serum sample is less than a predetermined value, the probe is moved to a position corresponding to a clinical analysis device, the serum sample aspirated in the needle is moved to a container of the clinical analysis device and optically measured (main measurement) by the clinical analysis device.
The device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,468 disadvantageously requires the provision of a light source separate from the five light emitting diodes for illuminating the serum sample within the needle of the probe when performing an optical measurement (main measurement) by the clinical analysis device. As a result, the size of the device is enlarged by the addition of the light source for performing the optical measurement by the clinical analysis device.
Moreover, when the light source for illuminating the serum sample accommodated in the container of the clinical analysis device is provided separately from the five light emitting diodes, light from that light source differs in quality from the light of the light emitting diodes that illuminate the serum sample within the needle of the probe, and that different quality light from that separate light source illuminates the serum sample in the container of the clinical analysis device. Therefore, the estimation as to whether or not to perform a measurement (main measurement) using the clinical analysis device must be completed based on the results of the measurements using light of different quality from that of the light used in the main measurement (probe measurement results). The reliability of such an estimation is not necessarily high. There is, therefore, a possibility that a sample that is measurable by the clinical analysis device may be disposed of prior to being moved to the clinical analysis device. As a result, there is less serum sample available for analysis in the main measurement.

Sample analyzer and sample analyzing method


A stabilized, pressure-hydrated magnesium hydroxide slurry and a process for its production from burnt magnesite are described. According to an embodiment of the invention, a mixture comprising burnt natural magnesite and water is pressure hydrated to provide a pressure hydrated slurry. The pressure hydrated slurry is then deagglomerated. If desired, chloride ions and cationic polymer can be added to further stabilize the slurry.

Magnesium hydroxide in slurry form is useful as a pumpable source of magnesium hydroxide for various chemical processes, including but not limited to the following: (1) pH adjustment, including waste acid and acidic wastewater neutralization; (2) wastewater treatment, including precipitation of heavy metal contaminants; (3) scrubbing and neutralization of acidic vapors in flue gases or process off-gases; and (4) production of specialty magnesium compounds (e.g. MgSO.sub.4, MgNO.sub.3, MgCl.sub.2, etc.) as a source of magnesium.
By providing magnesium hydroxide in slurry form of at least moderate quality, capital extensive and potentially dangerous (due to the hydration exotherm) MgO powder slaking operations are eliminated for the end user. Magnesium hydroxide slurries of such quality have additional advantages including the ability to be easily handled and stored, and the ability to be reliably dosed to chemical processes as desired. In fact, such magnesium hydroxide slurries can be transported to the point of application and stored for time periods of days to several weeks under intermittent to constant agitation without incurring adverse effects such as settling of solids and excessive viscosity.
Lower quality atmospheric hydrated magnesium hydroxide products produced from burnt natural magnesite are common, but in many cases do not have the above desirable characteristics and can cause numerous processing difficulties including the following: product inhomogeneity; obstruction of transport pipelines, valves, processing equipment and storage equipment; formation of an impacted bed of non-pumpable magnesium hydroxide solids at the bottom of storage tanks and process vessels: inconsistent or insufficient feed rate to processes: excessive energy costs for transporting/pumping the product; and high maintenance costs for systems incorporating the product.
At present, however, the only moderate to high quality magnesium hydroxide slurries available are believed to be synthetic magnesium hydroxide products produced from the soluble magnesium present in brine fields and seawater. For economic reasons, these synthetic magnesium hydroxide slurries are generally produced in close proximity to sources or brine or seawater.

Stabilized pressure-hydrated magnesium hydroxide slurry from burnt magnesite and process for its production

Martin Marietta Magnesia Specialties, Inc.


The present invention relates to a process for making bread, specifically, a process which involves the storage of dough under freezing and then under refrigeration or the storage of dough under refrigeration and then under freezing, and further relates to a freezing and refrigeration resistant yeast to be used in the process.

In recent years, in the bread manufacturing industry, a method for making broad with frozen dough is used as one of the means of rationalization of production. In this method, a process for making bread is interrupted by freezing dough and the frozen dough can be baked after the final proof following thawing, which enables the control of the process. As frozen dough endures a long-term storage, dispersion of the work in the bread-making process becomes possible. Further, if large-scale bakeries can send frozen dough from their factories to local bakeries, they can bake frozen dough in their ovens and offer just baked bread to the consumers at the stores. However, frozen dough has, at the same time, some defects; for example, the operation must be started earlier, because frozen dough takes much time to be completely thawed, and frozen dough must be baked soon after being thawed, because, after thawing, fermentation proceeds and dough cannot be preserved.
As another means of rationalization of production, a method for making bread with refrigerated dough is used. In this method, prepared dough is stored at a low temperature in such a range that dough may not freeze and is baked after the final proof as occasion demands. Compared with the method using frozen dough, this method saves cost in freezing, freeze-storage, freeze-transportation, thawing, etc., and also saves time up to the step of baking, for thawing is not necessary.
However, in cases where refrigerated dough is used, not only undesirable effects appear on dough, but also yeast in the dough will have a problem with respect to the storage stability and will deteriorate, because yeast ferments even during the storage of refrigerated dough. Consequently, the bread obtained by baking such dough has a small volume (specific volume) and is poor in appearance and crumb properties.
To solve these problems, the following are known as methods for making one-loaf bread, pizza, etc. using bread yeast having the refrigeration resistance: a method for making one-loaf bread and bins using bread yeast belonging to the genus Saccharomyces which is capable of controlling fermentation at a low temperature (-5 to 15.degree. C.), e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae IAM4274 (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 195637/86); a method for making frozen bread dough using Saccharomyces cerevisiae IAM4274 (Japanese Published Examined Patent Application No. 58536/88); a method for making one-loaf bread, buns, etc., using bread yeast belonging to the genus Saccharomyces which shows the low-temperature-sensitivity and the freeze-resistance (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 234939/92); a method for making pizza using bread yeast belonging to the genus Saccharomyces which is inactive but shows viability under refrigeration (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 76348/93, EP487878A); a method for making one-loaf bread, etc. using bread yeast belonging to the genus Saccharomyces which shows the low-temperature-sensitivity and doesn't reduce the fermentability even when dough is refrigerated (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 284896/93); and a method for making one-loaf bread, buns, etc. using yeast of which the fermentability is low-temperature-sensitive (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 336872/93). Also is known bread yeast belonging to the genus Saccharomyces which shows the low-temperature-sensitivity at 0 to 10.degree. C. (EP556905A).
The present inventors obtained some of the yeast strains described in the above publications and measured the amount of carbon dioxide gas generated from dough containing the yeast strains after the storage under freezing and refrigeration to observe the fermentability of dough as shown in Table 1 below. However, the results were not satisfactory and the quality of the bread made from said dough was not good enough.
An object of the present invention is to make bread which is excellent in specific volume, etc., even with dough containing yeast which underwent storage under freezing and refrigeration.


A method and apparatus for operating an electronic device is provided. The electronic device, which includes a phase lock loop (PLL) receives sensor indicators from at least one sensor. Upon receiving sensor indicators, the device identifies a motion indicator based on the sensor indicators. A parameter of the PLL is adjusted based on the motion indicator, the PLL having at least one component susceptible to microphonics. When the PLL includes a charge pump, a parameter that may be adjusted is a pump current of the charge pump. When the PLL further comprises an oscillator for generating a reference signal, the parameter that may be adjusted is a trim of the oscillator.

A phase lock loop (PLL) is a control system that generates an output signal whose phase and/or frequency is related to the phase of an input signal. While there are several differing types, in some implementations, a PLL may be formed of an electronic circuit consisting of a frequency oscillator providing a periodic input signal or a reference signal, a controlled oscillator that generates an output signal and a comparator. To enable the comparator to perform a comparison, the output signal is typically fed back toward the reference signal, creating a feedback loop. The comparator thus compares the phase of the reference signal with the phase of the feedback signal and causes the controlled oscillator to be regulated to keep the phase of the reference and output signals synchronized or locked.
The reference and output signal frequencies may also be related. Consequently, in addition to synchronizing signal phases, a phase-locked loop may track a reference frequency, or generate a frequency that is related to, such as being a multiple of, the input frequency. These properties of a PLL allows it to be applied to variety of uses including computer clock synchronization, signal demodulation, frequency synthesis and frequency locking.
In some implementations, components of a PLL may be subject to microphonics, where the electrical behavior of the components may change in response to mechanical motion such as mechanical vibrations. For example frequencies generated by some oscillators and controlled oscillators may vary in response to mechanical vibration. The change in electrical behavior of components may thus degrade or impair the performance of a PLL. Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for countering the effects of microphonics in a phase locked loop.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

System and method for countering the effects of microphonics in a phase locked loop


Distal protection devices (“DPDs”) and methods of use thereof for capturing and removing vascular debris are provided. The DPD may include a catheter having a distal region sized and shaped to be advanced in a target vessel of the patient. The distal region of the catheter may include a filter basket and fibrous filter disposed thereon, the fibrous filter upstream of the filter basket. The fibrous filter and the filter basket may both transition between a collapsed delivery state and an expanded deployed state. For example, the fibrous filter may be made of a frame coupled to a plurality of fibers, and may exhibit a helical shape in its expanded state such that the plurality of fibers capture and store vascular debris within the blood vessel. The filter basket may capture any vascular debris not captured by the fibrous filter, and may be collapsed and removed from the patient while retaining the vascular debris.

Distal protection devices ("DPDs") are used to capture and remove atherosclerotic and thrombotic debris that dislodges during percutaneous interventions, e.g., percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, stenting, atherectomy, etc. Embolization of this debris may result in procedural complications and poor patient outcomes. Commercially available DPDs are available to protect end-organ parenchyma including the brain, myocardium, kidney and infrapopliteal/pedal vasculature. These DPDs have specific design features that reflect the vascular anatomy in which they are deployed/retrieved and the characteristics of the embolic debris (e.g., particulate size, quantity) they capture. Widely used DPDs include the SpiderFX™ Embolic Protection Device (available by Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) and the Emboshield NAV6™ Embolic Protection Device (available by Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, Ill.). These commercially available DPDs all employ a filter system comprised of a conical-shaped colander contained within a Nitinol frame, attached or tethered to a steerable guidewire. The colander portion of the DPDs may include ultrathin polymer materials with numerous apertures of varying quantities, diameters and patterns, which serves to filter the blood. However, these DPDs require deployment and retrieval methods of varying complexity. Other DPDs such as those disclosed in U.S. 2008/0147110 to Wijeratne, are designed to improve navigation through tortuous vessels, but suffer from the same potential operational issues.
A known drawback of these filter DPD designs is the propensity for embolized debris to occlude blood flow through the distal most segment of the basket apertures, as shown in FIG. 1, resulting in a "slow flow/no flow" condition. "Slow flow/no flow" results when a static column of blood occurs above the occluded filter basket, thereby preventing perfusion of the distal vasculature, resulting in the inability to visualize the distal vascular bed and its possible ischemia. This is an emergency situation that may require the premature recapture and retrieval of the DPD, thereby interrupting the interventional procedure and releasing embolic debris contained in the static column of blood into the distal parenchyma. Depending on the organ at risk, this may result in a cerebrovascular accident ("CVA"), transient ischemic attack ("TIA"), myocardial infarction ("MI"), renal infarction, or acute limb ischemia and occlusion of small arteries in the foot resulting in ischemia and tissue necrosis (also known as "trash foot").
In addition, DPDs such as those disclosed in U.S. 2013/0006296 to McGuckin, which includes first and second expandable struts having different dimensions when expanded to deploy filter materials, may fail to capture vascular debris and further may release embolic debris during the removal and recapture process.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an improved DPD that prevents accumulation of a substantial amount of atheroembolic debris in the distal most portion of the DPD, thereby minimizing the possibility of a "slow flow-no flow" state within the arterial treatment segment and minimizing the loss of captured embolic material during the DPD retrieval process.

Systems and methods for capturing and removing vascular debris


An electronic assembly is provided, having a plurality of spring elements interconnecting corresponding terminals of first and second arrays of terminals on first and second electronic devices. The arrays have rows and columns extending in x- and y-directions, respectively. Each spring element has a cantilever portion extending diagonally in the x- and y-directions between corresponding terminals of the first and second arrays.

1). Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electronic assembly of the kind that may have a socket with spring contacts for making contact with terminals on a semiconductor package substrate.
2). Discussion of Related Art
Integrated circuits are usually manufactured in and on wafers that are subsequently singulated into individual dies. A die may then be mounted to a package substrate for purposes of providing rigidity to the entire package and for purposes of routing of signals to a side of the package of the substrate opposing the die.
A socket may be mounted to a circuit board, which may be shaped and dimensioned to receive the semiconductor package. The package substrate and the socket typically have matching substrate and socket contact terminals through which signals can be provided between the package substrate and the socket.
The socket may have a plurality of socket springs. The substrate contact terminals may come into contact with free ends of the socket springs and then bend cantilever portions of the springs by movement of the substrate contact terminals toward a body of the socket. Forces created by the springs ensure good contact between the free ends of the springs and the socket contact terminals.
Such cantilever portions are usually aligned with rows or columns of an array of contact terminals to which they are attached. By aligning the cantilever portions in such a manner, the number of contact terminals in a particular row or column is limited by the lengths of the cantilever portions. The cantilever portions of the springs thus limit the number of electric signals that can be routed over a given surface area.

Electronic assembly having angled spring portions


A method and a device is used for reducing vibrations on at least two rotating elements, such as cooperating cylinders, which roll in opposite directions while situated in contact with each other. At least one of the elements has a surface protrusion that projects from an essentially circular contour of an active lateral surface. A height of this protrusion can be altered in a radial direction. A circumferential position of the protrusion can also be altered, all in accordance with a quality that characterizes a machine state or vibration.

EP 0 194 618 B1 discloses a device for reducing vibrations which are caused by rolling over a groove located on the surface area. A raise in height of the circular contour for affecting the force change behavior, is provided in this device in the entry or exit area of the groove.
A method for compensating for vibrations of rotating components is disclosed in WO 01/50035 A1. An actuator is arranged in the area of the surface of the rotating component, which actuator counteracts the vibration by the provision of a force component in the axial direction when the actuator is activated as a function of an angle of rotation position of the rotating component.

Method and device for reducing vibrations on rotating parts, and vibration-damped rotating part


A method, an apparatus, a base station and user equipment for reducing interference in a wireless communication system are provided. The wireless communication system comprises a first cell and a second cell. The method includes mapping a resource grid of at least one of a first type of sub-frame and a second type of sub-frame to reserve at least one resource element in the first type of sub-frame and corresponding to a resource element in the second type of sub-frame and mapped for at least reference signal and a common control channel, and a resource element in the second type of sub-frame and corresponding to a resource element in the first type of sub-frame and mapped for at least one reference signal and a common control channel, for not transmitting information; and transmitting a mapping result of the mapping.

Theoretically speaking, a Long-Term Evolution Time-Division Duplex (LTE TDD) system can deploy different uplink/downlink sub-frame configuration for adjacent cells, which is claimed as one of the important advantages. However, deploying different uplink/downlink sub-frame configuration for adjacent cells will result in implementing an uplink sub-frame at a first cell while implementing a downlink sub-frame at a second cell, thereby producing inter-cell interference. The produced inter-cell interference could be disastrous for the system. The inter-cell interference thus produced may be divided into an interference of an uplink User Equipment (UE) on a downlink UE and an interference of a downlink base station, e.g. an Evolved Node B (eNB) on an uplink eNB. How to reduce the inter-cell interference has been addressed by many papers.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new scheme for reducing or even eliminating the inter-cell interference resulting from deploying different uplink/downlink sub-frame configuration for adjacent cells.

Method, apparatus, base station and user equipment for reducing interference in a wireless communication system


The present invention relates to biodegradable hydrophobic composite materials and a process for the preparation of said hydrophobic biodegradable materials from the seaweed polysaccharides through grafting reaction with vinylated monomers e.g. vinyl acetate. The said composites can be used as a substitute for synthetic ropes for varied applications including seaweed cultivation in the open sea. The results of cultivation experiments showed that ropes are suitable for cultivation of seaweeds in the sea environment, and exhibit higher biomass yield as compared to synthetic ropes. The prepared composites are very flexible and can be used for making handles for carry bags and for the preparation of biodegradable designs, bowls, pots, jars, gift items, stud caps and bracelets.

Conventionally, ropes are made out of coconut fibre and other natural materials. Such ropes are widely used in seaweed cultivation, but in general, the durability of the ropes is low in seawater. Ropes are also available which are made up of synthetic/semi-synthetic fibres such as nylon, polyester, etc. Such ropes are routinely used in seaweed cultivation but their low/poor biodegradability is a great concern.
Reference may be made to the publication of Ghosh et al. (Polymer International, 53, 339-343; 2004) wherein it has been stated that grafting of vinyl acetate onto the low density polyethylene (LDPE)-starch blend films makes them suitable for printing and packaging applications. They used commercially available blend films made of synthetic polymer and starch under inert atmosphere using hazardous chemicals (e.g. HNO3) during process, and used for printing and packaging applications. It is pertinent to mention here that the said reference does not mention the use of seaweed phycocolloids for making biodegradable hydrophobic composites for aqueous applications including seaweed cultivation.
Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,202B1, wherein disclosed is a process for making water-insoluble biodegradable composition containing polyanionic polysaccharides and hydrophobic bioabsorbable polymers to prepare film, foam, mesh matte, or to cast on top of any surface. It is pertinent to mention here that the said reference reports the formation of compositions containing polyanionic polysaccharides and hydrophobic bioabsorbable polymers or copolymers. However, there is no report on the formation of biodegradable hydrophobic composites based on seaweed polysaccharides for novel applications including seaweed cultivation in sea water.
Reference may be made to US20040171545A1, wherein synthetic protein copolymers with plastic and elastic properties, and methods producing the copolymers, are disclosed. The process producing synthetic protein copolymer comprising at least one hydrophilic block and at least one hydrophobic block. It is pertinent to mention here that the said reference reports the formation of synthetic protein copolymers with plastic and elastic properties and does not describe any composition or process for the preparation of biodegradable hydrophobic composites based on seaweed phycocolloids for potential applications including seaweed cultivation.
Reference may be made to US20050161857A1, wherein recited is a method of producing a polymeric fibre (poly caprolactone) comprising: dissolving at least one fibre forming polymer in a solvent so as to form a polymer solution, and feeding the polymer solution under gravity through an orifice directly into a non-solvent to cause formation of a polymeric fibre in the non-solvent. It is pertinent to mention here that the said reference reports the formation of polymeric fibres from the synthetic polymer (e.g. poly-caprolactone) and does not describe any composition or process for the preparation of biodegradable hydrophobic composites based on seaweed phycocolloids.
Reference may be made to US20030118692A1, wherein reported is a method for the preparation of biodegradable elastomeric material from glycerol and diacid like malonic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, glutaric acid, pimelic acid etc. to prepare different shapes of particles, tubes, spheare, strand, coiled strands capillary network, film, fibers, mesh and sheet. It is pertinent to mention here that the said reference reports the formation of biodegradable elastomeric materials using glycerol and diacids and does not describe any composition or process for the preparation of biodegradable hydrophobic composites based on seaweed phycocolloids for novel applications including seaweed cultivations in sea water.
Reference may be made to JP2000-093080, wherein disclosed is the use of polysaccharides like polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, sodium alginate, etc. in preparation of antibacterial and antifungal agent composition, which is soluble when used. It is pertinent to mention here that the said reference reports the formation of soluble materials and does not describe any composition or process for the preparation of biodegradable hydrophobic composites which are insoluble in water.
Reference may be made to Polymer International. 2001 50: 1103-1108, wherein use of poly(vinyl alcohol) and K-carrageenan in preparation of films based on poly(vinyl alcohol)/K-carrageenan blends and their gelling properties is reported. However, there is no report on the formation of hydrophobic materials including ropes and other materials in this article.
Reference may be made to WO 2006059180 A3, wherein use of inexpensive semi-refined kappa carrageenan as a seaweed polysaccharide in preparation of tough, biodegradable films with improved performance over films obtained from refined kappa carrageenan is disclosed. However, these films are highly moisture sensitive and readily soluble in water and thus cannot be applied in activities such as seaweed cultivation in open sea water environment.
In short, it may be summarized that the hitherto reported prior art shows that the polymeric composites prepared from purely petrochemical substances or entirely natural substance have some inherent drawbacks. Totally synthetic polymeric materials have problems of degradation, while natural polymeric materials are highly moisture sensitive and not suitable for aqueous applications owing to their solubility. For instance, seaweed derived phycocolloids such as agar, carrageenans, agarose, alginate are excellent gel formers and used as thickeners, but are highly moisture sensitive. Further, due to their high solubility in water and hydrophilic nature, these can be used only for the formation of films and are not good for aqueous applications because the hitherto reported composites made from them readily solubilise in water. In order to be eco-friendly as well as suitable for applications in water the composites must be hydrophobic.
Therefore, the inventors of the present invention realized that there exists a dire need to solve the issues discussed above and provide a composite through copolymerisation technique, to obtain controlled/completely hydrophobic biodegradable materials. It is evident from the prior art that there are no examples wherein polymers derived from seaweeds are utilised for preparation of hydrophobic composite materials which can be used for varied aqueous applications including seaweed cultivation in the sea water conditions.

Biodegradable hydrophobic composite materials and process for the preparation thereof

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research


An aqueous ink composition for inkjet printing on non-porous substrates and a method for forming the same are disclosed. For example, the method includes preparing a primary polymer latex with an aromatic functional group, a hydrogen-bonding group, a flexible side-chain, and an ionic functional group and mixing the primary polymer latex with a secondary latex binder and one or more co-solvents.

Digital printing, specifically inkjet printing of inks, can be done on porous paper substrates. The ink may dry and hold onto the porous paper substrates without smearing. Inks used in ink jet printing may have certain properties to allow the ink to be controlled and jetted through printheads used in ink jet printers. The ink jet printers may be digitally controlled to dispense or eject the ink from nozzles of the printheads.
Printing on non-porous substrates may be desirable as plastic films are used in packaging. For certain packaging, such as food packaging, the inks must have low toxicity to prevent potential health issues that can be caused by migration of ink components. However, inkjet inks that can be printed on non-porous substrates, such as UV-cured inks, have chemical components that can migrate from packaging into products and pose concerns for consumers. Alternatively, currently available aqueous inks with low toxicity cannot be effectively printed on non-porous substrates.

Aqueous ink compositions for inkjet printing on non-porous substrates


A waterproof removable panelized wall system permanently resistant to water damage. The present system may be included as part of a complete basement fit out, or may be utilized in a restoration of an area that has incurred water damage and may be used to repair of a wall structure that has been compromised or damaged by a wet condition. A plurality of waterproof, non-absorbent panels are arranged in a wall structure and are removable from and reinstallable on the wall structure. An attachment mechanism in the form of a magnetic component, such as, a magnetic strip or a plurality of magnets is provided to releasably secure the panels and moldings to the wall frame structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of wall construction and more particularly a wall system for providing a waterproof, removable wall panel and panel arrangement for use in wet environments or conditions.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
As was unfortunately made evident due to the flooding caused by "Superstorm Sandy", in the year 2012, when flooding occurs inside homes and buildings which have wall structures that are finished with drywall, the water from the flooding destroys all the drywall the water comes in contact with, and the water creeps behind the drywall creating wet or at least damp conditions behind the drywall, which can lead to the formation of harmful mold and the like. As a way to handle this water damage problem, it is routine to cut out the wet, damaged portion of the dry wall from the remainder of the wall (such as by cutting away the lower portion of the drywall), and remove the wet, damaged portion of the drywall from the remainder of the wall so as to allow the wall structure behind the drywall to dry and/or be treated for mold prevention/remediation. Then, after the flooded area has been dried and/or treated with mold prevention/remediation methods, replacement drywall portions are cut to match the portions of the drywall that have been removed from the wall structure. The replacement drywall portions are mounted on the wall structure in place of the wet, damaged drywall portions that have been removed. After the installation of the replacement drywall portions, various coats of drywall joint compound and drywall tape are applied to the seams between the replacement drywall panels and between the replacement drywall panels and the original drywall panels that remain on the wall structure adjacent to the newly mounted replacement drywall panels. The drywall joint compound must be allowed to dry, and then replacement drywall and any joints are sanded. When the sanding and finishing of the drywall surface has been completed, the replacement drywall must be coated with a primer and painted.
Replacing wet, damaged drywall is expensive and burdensome. In addition, failure to take remedial steps to replace damaged drywall or replace drywall damaged by water, such as water from a flood, creates not only a visually unpleasing wall, but also creates bad odors and may lead to the formation of dangerous molds which are hazardous to the health of people living or working in the home or business that was damaged by flood waters.
One acknowledgment of wet conditions is found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,882,668 B2, which discloses a wall shoe that is placed under the bottom edge of a sheet of drywall such that the drywall is elevated above the floor level. The wall shoe may be installed during construction or thereafter. The wall shoe has channels through the wall shoe to allow the lowest portions of a wall to be dried without removing either the drywall or the wall shoe. U.S. Pat. No. 8,297,015 B2 discloses a system for drying wall cavities that includes a permanently installed wall cavity and filtration system having molded base dry block members that are installed along the base of a wall between the floor and the bottom edge of drywall, gypsum board or other conventional interior wall construction material.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,852,935 relates to providing a common wall between two rooms and discloses a metal stud which on oppositely disposed sides thereof holds a magnetic strip within one or more longitudinal open channels. Corresponding metal strips are secured to the wallboards which in turn are supported on each side of the stud by the magnetic force exerted on the strips in order to support the common wall between two rooms. U.S. Pat. No. 3,982,370 discloses a demountable partition panel system and method of assembling a wall structure by using removable panels on which magnetic elements or units are provided to mount the panels on a frame of the wall structure. U.S. Pat. No. 3,609,934 discloses plasterboard mounted to studs according to common practice, there being magnets embedded in the mounted plasterboard, and a surface paneling with magnets is provided so that the surface may be removed from the plasterboard panel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,434 discloses a composite wall panel assembly and method of production.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,950 discloses simulated window pane molding using magnetic elements. U.S. Pat. No. 8,225,562 B2 discloses improved simulated authentic divided-light windows, where an internal muntin grid structure, equipped with multiple neodymium magnets, is sandwiched between the panes of a double-glazed, sealed window pane, and an external muntin grid is removably attached to each side of the sealed window pane.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,119 relates to a movable wall or partition assembly having panels magnetically secured to studs by magnetic clips. U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,441 B1 relates to wall modules formed with steel upstanding support modules with integrally formed vertical spaced apart support components with forwardly facing panel support surfaces, and discloses thin, typically flexible panels having strip magnets adhesively bonded to the rearward surface about their periphery. U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,312 relates to a demountable wall assembly, and US Patent Application US 2004/0255539 A1 relates to a wall system that utilizes a u-shaped connector to compressibly hold together vertical support component edges.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,522 relates to a demountable ceiling molding using magnetic mounting bars that are installed on a wall. US Patent Application no. 2006/0070329 A1 relates to a modular wall paneling system, wall panels and an installation method that utilizes upper and lower rails for panel mounting, for example, to wainscot an existing wall. U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,138 relates to a drywall system where a metallic frame structure utilizes filler strips to secure drywall panels. The filler strips are formed to encompass and bridge gaps between drywall panels. The '138 patent discloses that the filler strips include a planar forward strip mounting a rearwardly extending longitudinally aligned projecting strip with a magnetic strip mounted to a rear end surface of the projecting strip to secure each filler strip to an associated metallic rail.


A method for receiving data from an input device to a computing device through a touch interface. The method includes detecting an input device, synchronizing with the input device by receiving a position signal and activating an input device scan of the touch interface, receiving a data signal from the input device through at least one of a sense line or a drive line of the touch interface, and scanning the touch interface for a touch input by applying a stimulation signal to the at least one drive line and analyzing the at least one sense line.

Many types of input devices may be used to provide input to computing devices, such as buttons or keys, mice, trackballs, joysticks, touch screens and the like. Touch screens, in particular, are becoming increasingly popular because of their ease and versatility of operation. Typically touch screens can include a touch sensor panel, which may be a clear panel with a touch-sensitive surface, and a display device that can be positioned behind the panel so that the touch-sensitive surface substantially covers the viewable area of the display device. Touch screens allow a user to provide various types of input to the computing device by touching the touch sensor panel using a finger, stylus, or other object at a location dictated by a user interface. In general, touch screens can receive a touch event and a position of the touch event on the touch sensor panel, and the computing system can then interpret the touch event in accordance with the display appearing at the time of the touch event, and thereafter can perform one or more actions based on the touch event.
Some capacitive-sense touch sensors can be formed from a matrix of row and column traces, capacitive sense elements or nodes present where the rows and columns cross over each other while being separated by a dielectric material. Each row can be driven by a stimulation signal, and touch locations can be identified through changes in the stimulation signal. Typically, a touch location is sensed based on an interference of the stimulation signal, such that a touch location may correspond to a location where the stimulation signal is the weakest.
In some instances it may be desirable for input devices, such as styli, to be able to transfer data, in addition to the touch location data, to the touch screen. For example, a stylus may have a finer tip than a user's finger and may be better able to transmit fine characters or symbols (such as those used in handwriting) better than a user's fingers. Additionally, using different input devices with a touch screen may allow an enhanced user experience, as data from the input devices (such as force, angle or tilt, or the like) may be communicated to the touch screen, which may use that data to change an output of the display or the like. However, in many instances, data communication between input devices and touch screens may require each of the input devices to be a slave to the touch screen, which may require a significant amount of power as the input devices may have to continuously listen to signals from the touch screen in order to start transmission in the correct window of time, to avoid colliding or otherwise interfering with the touch screen scan for touch inputs, such as from a user's fingers.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Input device for touch sensitive devices