An optical motion and angle sensor comprising a chamber, a light source for emitting light into a first half of the chamber along an axis of the chamber, and a plurality of light detectors for receiving light exiting from a second half of the chamber, at an angle relative to the axis of the chamber. When applied as a motion sensor, the sensor facilitates discrimination between various types of motion, and specifically allows the discrimination of slight normal motion from motion associated with incapacity of a person wearing the sensor. In addition, the sensor can provide this discrimination regardless of orientation. When applied as an angle sensor, the sensor facilitates the detection of the angle of inclination of the sensor relative to an axis, as well as the direction of the inclination.

The present invention relates to optical sensors applicable as a motion sensor to distinguish between different types of motion, without regard to orientation of the sensor, and applicable as an angular position sensor to determine angular position in two degrees of freedom.
Motion sensors are used in Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) which are worn by personnel that work in isolated and dangerous environments such as, for example, firemen, industrial workers, chemical workers or security guards. Such PASS devices monitor, among other things, the movement of the person, and provide an alarm or other indication when sensed movement is determined to be abnormal, indicating incapacity of the person. Prior PASS devices incorporate various types of motion detectors for this purpose.
A first type of motion detector is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,946, issued Dec. 18, 1990, and comprises an electrically conductive enclosure including a conductive circuit and containing a conductive ball. Motion is detected when the ball makes contact to both the conductive enclosure and the conductive circuit.
Another type of detector is presented in German Offenlegungsschrift 28 48 747, published May 5, 1980, which includes a rotatable member having a peripheral surface with differing reflective characteristics. Light, reflected from the periphery of the rotatable member, is detected to evaluate motion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,353, issued May 22, 1984, presents an optical tilt detector which includes a chamber containing a ball in damping liquid, a bottom surface of the chamber being pyramidal. Tilting of the device is detected when the ball is displaced from an axis of the device, allowing light to strike a light detector located on the axis. The direction of tilt relative to the axis cannot be detected.
A problem with prior PASS devices has been the incidence of false alarms when a wearer is moving only slightly. Such slight movements are often erroneously detected as worker incapacity, and a false alarm is sounded. The occurrence of such false alarms may actually encourage a worker to deactivate the PASS device, a potentially dangerous situation. Another problem has been sensor orientation sensitivity. Often, a sensor will lose its ability to detect motion when inverted, or when located at an angle.
In addition, other applications, such as in the toy, automobile or aerospace industries, or other industrial applications such as robotic assembly, may have need for a motion sensor which is capable of distinguishing between various types of motion, despite the orientation of the sensor.

Optical motion and angular position sensing method and sensor


Shaped articles are produced from foam metal by a procedure wherein the foam is formed by heating a composite of a metal matrix and finely divided solid stabilizer particles above the solidus temperature of the metal matrix and discharging gas bubbles into the molten metal composite below the surface thereof to thereby form a stabilized liquid foam on the surface of the molten metal composite. According to the novel feature the stabilized metal foam in liquid form is shape cast by being pressed into a mould and permitted to cool and solidify. The density of the cast part is essentially unchanged from that of the starting liquid foam.

Lightweight metal foams have high strength-to-weight ratios and are extremely useful as load-bearing materials and as thermal insulators. Metal foams are characterized by high impact energy absorption capacity, low thermal conductivity, good electrical conductivity and high absorptive acoustic properties.
A particle stabilized metal foam of exceptional stability is described in Jin et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,358, issued Nov. 27, 1990. According to that patent, a composite of a metal matrix and finely divided solid stabilizer particles is heated above the liquidus temperature of the metal matrix. Gas is then introduced into the molten metal composite below the surface of the composite to form bubbles therein. These bubbles float to the top surface of the composite to produce on the surface a closed cell foam. The foam which forms on the surface of the molten metal composite is a highly stable liquid foam, i.e. the foam cells do not collapse under their own weight. This stable liquid foam is then cooled below the liquidus temperature of the melt to form a metal foam product having a plurality of closed cells and the stabilizer particles dispersed within the metal matrix.
A method for shaping metal foam is described in Niebylski et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,392, issued Mar. 25, 1975, in which solid metal foam is compressed such that cell walls are crushed. Although heat may be used, it is preferred that the temperature does not exceed about 38.degree. C. below the melting point of the base metal.
Another method for shaping a metal foam body is described in Erb, U.S. Pat. No. 3,595,059, issued Jul. 27, 1971. In this method, the forming device is reciprocated causing localized heating and crushing of the walls of the foam structure.
Shape casting of molten metals, such as aluminum, can be carried out in a wide variety of closed moulds. One such technique is squeeze casting, also known as liquid-metal forging, in which molten metal solidifies under pressure within closed dies positioned between the plates of a hydraulic press. The applied pressure and the instant contact of the molten metal with the die surface produces a rapid heat transfer condition that yields a pore-free fine-grain casting with mechanical properties approaching those of a wrought product. Semi-solid metal working is also used, which incorporates elements of both casting and forging. This may be referred to as rheocasting, thixocasting or stir casting. In this procedure a thixotropic material is formed which can be moved and handled.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a shape casting technique for particle stabilized metal foam which takes advantage of the unique characteristics of the particle stabilized metal foam.

Process for shape casting of particle stabilized metal foam


A door operator system capable of detecting a current-time position of a movable barrier comprises a current-time position detecting device comprising a first gear, a first angular position sensing unit, a revolution counting unit and an arithmetic unit. The first gear is coupled to an output shaft of a motor or a winding shaft. The first angular position sensing unit is provided for detecting a first angular position of the first gear. The revolution counting unit counts the number of revolutions of the first gear. The arithmetic unit calculates a number of total circumferential intervals of the output shaft of the motor or the winding shaft based on D=(La*X)+A/(360/X), where D is the number of the total circumferential intervals, La is the number of revolutions of the first gear, A is the first angular position, X is a number of circumferential intervals per revolution of the first gear.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a door operator system and particularly, to a door operator system capable of detecting a current-time position of a movable barrier.
Description of the Related Art
Generally, a conventional door operator is capable of completely opening a door or completely shutting the door by determining whether an upper stop point or a lower stop point of a movable barrier is reached or not. That is to say, the movable barrier can be stopped or held only at the upper stop point or the lower stop point. However, for some special purposes, the movable barrier is required to be stopped or held at a midway position between the upper stop point and the lower stop point.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,161,100 proposes a limit switch mechanism having a screw rod coupled to a winding shaft, wherein the screw rod is provided with two switch actuators thereon. The switch actuators are moved along the screw rod while the screw rod is rotated along with the winding shaft. If one of the switch actuators triggers a corresponding limit switch at the end of the screw rod, the triggered limit switch signals to the door operator that the upper stop point or the lower stop point is reached, thereby disabling the door operator.
However, as stated above, due to the intrinsic structure of this kind of prior art door operation, the conventional door operator is capable of determining whether the upper stop point or the lower stop point of the movable barrier is reached or not but incapable of detecting a current-time position of the movable barrier at any time. As such, the conventional door operator is incapable of stopping or holding the movable barrier at a midway position. In the case that at least one limit switch is in failure, the electric motor of the door operator may be still electrically energized even if the upper stop point or the lower stop point has been reached so that the components of the door operator may be damaged.
A variable frequency motor is a motor capable of operating at a variable speed, for example a descending speed or an ascending speed. Use of the variable frequency motor in the door operator is desired, but the absence of capability of detecting a current-time position of a movable barrier makes the use of the variable frequency motor in the door operator difficult.

Door operator system capable of detecting a current-time position of a movable barrier


An image reading apparatus includes an original placing platen formed of a rectangular transparent member on which an original is placed; a photoelectrical conversion device for reading an image of the original-placed on the transparent member; an original pressing plate having an original pressing surface for pressing the overall surface of the original placing platen, the original pressing surface having a first area formed at a portion opposing a first side of the transparent member and a second area formed at a portion opposing a second side crossing at a right angle to the first side of the transparent member. The first and second areas are determined as a predetermined color by the photoelectrical conversion device. The apparatus further includes a size detecting device for reading by the photoelectrical conversion device the original sandwiched between the first and second areas of the original pressing surface and the transparent member so as to detect the size of the original based on the result of reading.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to image reading apparatuses, and more particularly to an image reading apparatus for detecting the size of paper such as an original.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a conventional image reading apparatus of this kind, the techniques disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 62-170948 can be proposed.
According to the above technique, colored light in spectral distribution in a complementary color relationship of color of a pressing plate for pressing an original is directed onto the original to be detected and to the pressing plate. Then, detecting the intensity of reflected light from the original and pressing plate decides whether the reflected light is from the original or the pressing plate so as to detect the presence and size of the original.
As another conventional image reading apparatus of this kind, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-4974 can also be proposed.
In an original exposing device including a platen on which the original is placed and an optical system moving relatively with respect to the platen so as to expose the original on the platen, the above technique comprises a light receiving element on which reflected light from the platen is incident and which provides an output dependent on the intensity of the incident light, comparison means for comparing the output of the light receiving element with a reference value irrespective of the original size, detection means for relatively moving the platen and optical system before exposure of the original to detect a variation of an output of the comparison means at that time, and decision means responsive to a detection signal from the detection means for deciding the size of the original placed on the platen to output a size signal indicating the decided original size. According to this technique, the platen and optical system are relatively moved before the original exposure, so as to detect the variation of the output of the comparison means at that time and decide the size of the original placed on the platen 9 in response to the detection signal thereof.
The former conventional image reading apparatus thus structured premises the use of the colored light in spectral distribution in the complementary color relationship of the color of the pressing plate for pressing the original. Further, this image reading apparatus needs to calculate the size of the original and hence requires a long time for calculation of the original size.
The latter image reading apparatus thus structured decides whether the original is placed on the overall surface of the platen. Therefore, this image reading apparatus needs to decide the state of the overall surface of the platen in order to decide the original size despite the frequent use of an original of normal size in general. Thus, it spends an unnecessarily long time to decide the original size before the original exposure, which is a main object of this apparatus. Consequently, a long time period is required for calculation of the size of the original.
Moreover, recently, a designation of an area to be read is more often carried out for designating a range to be read on the original placed on the platen. Alternatively, such a case occurs more frequently that only a predetermined area is shifted to a designated position in edition mode.
When the area designation of this type is carried out, the detection and calculation of the original size virtually become not only unnecessary operations but also a lost of rising time, becoming a waste of time before the entry to a reading operation of the original such as a copying operation.
Even if it spends a long time to decide the original size, the occurrence of an error in deciding the original size because of a misplacement of the original results in a reading operation to be carried out in accordance with erroneous information, thereby, for example, causing miscopying in case with a copier. That is, even the long time period required for deciding the original size may simply become a waste of time.
In addition, in case of automatic density control by the image reading apparatus of this kind, it is necessary to carry out scanning for the automatic density control after the original size is read by scanning. As described above, in the image reading apparatus in which the decision of the original size and the automatic density control are carried out by scanning, a preliminary scanning time for carrying out such decision and automatic density control becomes unnegligible.
As another conventional image reading apparatus of this kind, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 60-100157 can be proposed.
This technique comprises size outputting means for outputting original size data, variable scale magnification outputting means for outputting variable scale magnification data, area deciding means responsive to data from the size outputting means and from the variable scale magnification outputting means for deciding a desired image forming area, and area controlling means responsive to data from the area deciding means for controlling a direction of feeding the original and a width direction of the original with respect to the desired area. This technique makes it possible to control an image forming area on a photoreceptor in response to the data from the size outputting means and from the variable scale magnification outputting means.
The above conventional image reading apparatus thus structured needs to evaluate an image forming area in accordance with an output of each of the size outputting means for outputting original size data and the variable scale magnification outputting means for outputting variable scale magnification data. However, the calculation is variable in accordance with the original size data and variable scale magnification data and hence requires a long calculation time period. Further, in case of selecting edition mode or the like to move a predetermined image area, it is possible that the calculation time becomes still increased.
Now, the image reading apparatus disclosed in the above-identified document No. 60-4974, as shown in FIG. 39 showing an output waveform diagram of the foregoing conventional image reading apparatus, relatively moves the platen and the optical system before original exposure, decides the size of the original placed on the platen by the deciding means in response to the detection signal from the detection means for detecting the variation of the output of the comparison means at that time, and outputs a size signal of a rear end detecting output indicating the decided size of the original. At this time, the comparison means compares an output of the light receiving element with a reference value E1 irrespective of the original size. When this reference value E1 is set as a value lower than a white detecting level of the original as a value irrespective of the original size, it is necessary to employ "white" lighter than the white detecting level of the original for an original pressing cover. However, when the white of the original pressing cover lighter than the white detecting level of the original becomes darker, a detection level irrespective of the original size becomes variable, so that the original size may not be satisfactorily detected. If the reference value is set at a white detecting level slightly lighter than the white detecting level of the original in order to cope with the above problem, the image reading apparatus may cause an erroneous operation due to noise or the like upon decision of the kind and size of the original.

Image reading apparatus capable of detecting paper size


A system intended for use in time-of-flight mass spectroscopy for detecting at least one ion species in an ion spectra including a signal acquisition circuit for detecting the ions in the spectra and generating output signals indicative thereof, a sequence and storage control circuit for tagging certain ones of the signals to be stored, a memory circuit for storing the output signals tagged by the sequence and storage control circuit, and a digital signal processor circuit receiving the tagged signals from the memory for summing the tagged data and generating an output signal indicative of a value of the ion species detected. A method for collecting the data is also disclosed. Further, the system of the present invention allows for easy storage of signals to be stored in a mass mapped buffer and addressed via a look-up table without requiring additional software to tag the data. Also, the system and method further provide for two banks of gain memory to update the amplifier gain setting without loss or corruption of data collection.

This invention relates generally to the detection of ions in mass spectrometry, and more particularly to a data acquisition system including methods of operation and apparatus for determining ion abundances at pre-selected time intervals of one or more ionic spectra.
The science of mass spectrometry has been proven to be a valuable tool in analytical chemistry. Mass spectrometry is premised on the fact that electrically neutral molecules of a sample can be charged or ionized and their motion controlled by electric and magnetic fields. The response of a charged molecule to magnetic and electric fields is influenced by the mass-to-charge ratio of the ion so that ions of a specific mass-to-charge ratio can be selectively detected.
Mass spectrometers differ from each other primarily in the way in which ions of different mass-to-charge ratios are distinguished from each other. Magnetic sector mass spectrometers separate ions of equal energy by the ions' momentum as they are reflected or dispersed in a magnetic field. Quadrapole mass spectrometers separate ions based upon their rate of acceleration in response to a high frequency radio frequency field in the presence of a direct current field. Ion cyclotrons and ion trap mass spectrometers discriminate ions on the frequency or dimensions of their resonant oscillations in alternating current fields. Time-of-flight mass spectrometers discriminate ions according to their velocity over a fixed distance.
Although relatively straightforward in design, time-of-flight (hereinafter "TOF") mass spectrometers produce data at a very high rate. Because ions having different mass-to-charge ratios may be present in a single sample, they will strike the detectors at different times according to their velocity or kinetic energy. The detector output signal comprises a sequence of ion arrival responses which are compressed within a very short time interval, generally less than one-tenth of a microsecond. Within a hundred microseconds, all of the ions, including the heaviest, have traveled the length of the TOF spectrometer and arrived at the detector to produce a spectrum of this sample molecule. Up to as many as one million spectra may be produced for a given sample analyzed. Additionally, these spectra may need to be separated into chronologically ordered sets. The time scale would be on the order of one millisecond.
Only a small segment containing certain ionic compounds of all of the data produced by the analysis of a given sample may be of interest. In the past, however, scientists had to collect data over the entire spectra produced by the sample. To reduce the amount of data produced, and to focus in on the ionic compound of interest, it has been proposed to turn the detection circuit on just prior to the predicted arrival time or window of a selected compound. Details of such a system are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,162, owned by the assignee of the invention. This patent also provides a thorough discussion of the prior art and its disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. However, none of the prior devices are capable of continuous and uninterrupted detection, collection, and processing of time-of-flight spectra. More specifically, none of the prior art devices detect and continuously convert the analog signals to digital signals for selection, summation, and processing using a compact system operating at a substantially reduced power level than heretofore achieved.

Time-of-flight mass spectrometer data acquisition system


Trays having increased capacity and efficiency are described. The trays have a deck, and downcomers extending through the deck. There are a plurality of bubble promoters on the deck. Each bubble promoter defines a zone on the deck, and the zone has an opening in the deck. The opening is positioned adjacent to a solid support for the tray. The bubble promoters provide areas through which vapor can pass, turning blocked areas of the tray into active areas. Mass transfer columns containing the trays are also described.

FIG. 1 shows a design of a multiple downcomer tray 100. It is composed of deck 105 and terminated downcomers 110. The deck 105 has perforations 115. Downcomers 110 extend across the column cross section and are supported by support ring 145. The support ring 145 is attached to column wall 150. The deck 105 is supported by the downcomers 110 and the support ring 145.
The active area for vapor-liquid contacting on tray 100 is approximately 70-90% of the column cross-sectional area. The rest of the column cross-sectional area is blocked by the downcomers 110, tray support ring 145 and deck supports on the sides of downcomers (not shown).
It would be desirable to have a tray with a higher capacity than existing trays to increase throughput in existing columns.


A by-pass valve for a heat exchanger circuit includes a chamber, a fixed surface secured against movement relative to the chamber, a by-pass port including a valve seat located in the chamber, an actuator located in the chamber and that moves relative to the valve seat in response to a temperature of the actuator, a valve member, a spring contacting the surface and the valve seat and producing a force urging the valve member to engage the valve seat and to close the by-pass port, the spring having no structural connection to the actuator, and a return spring secured to the actuator and contacting the valve member for urging the actuator to retract and the valve member to open the by-pass port.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a heat exchanger circuit, and, in particular, to a bypass valve having a pressure bypass function that is insensitive to temperature changes of fluid in the circuit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
At low temperatures and while the engine of a motor vehicle is warming-up, transmission fluid is highly viscous, resulting in nearly no flow through an oil the cooler. High viscosity and low flow rate can compromise transmission durability because cooler return oil is usually routed to the transmission lubrication circuit.
A variety of thermal bypass valves have been designed to allow oil to bypass the cooler and return to the transmission to maintain desired flow rates to the lubrication circuit. Many of these valves use a thermal motor/actuator to actuate the valve to provide this function. When the transmission is hot, the thermal bypass valve closes. If the cooler is hot, the cooler and lubrication systems will function as intended. If, however, ambient temperature is very cold, oil in the cooler remains cold, and oil flow will is low.
A variety of thermal bypass valves have been developed to allow a pressure bypass function, wherein the valve opens to bypass the cooler when the oil temperature is high and the pressure drop across the cooler exceeds a designed threshold. However, an inherent problem exists in many of these thermal bypass valves with pressure bypass functions. Most will provide the desired function with features that involve a spring load balanced against a piston, washer or valve having a piston shape and piston function with a pressure differential across it. Many of these valves have a spring load that is grounded to the thermal motor/actuator, which continues to move as the oil temperature increases. This grounded relation causes the spring load to be a function of temperature and the pressure relief temperature is also a function of temperature.
Unfortunately, when the oil is very hot and the ambient air conditions are such that the cooler is still frozen and not flowing oil, these shortcomings cause the pressure difference to be so high that the pressure bypass function will not be available, and the transmission is at risk due to a lack of lubricating oil.

Heat exchanger bypass valve having temperature insensitive pressure bypass function


A lighting system includes a reflector housing with a LED light source having multiple LEDs and an induction light source located within the reflector housing.

As individuals and businesses are looking to reduce their utility costs, reducing energy consumption from the cost of lighting is one of the first places to look to reduce utility costs. As lighting becomes more efficient as evidenced, for instance, by the introduction of LED technology into homes and businesses, consumers are able to reduce their utility costs. However, with the introduction of new and more efficient lighting fixtures, there is a need for the light fixtures to meet the lighting demands that the users require while still offering a reduction in energy costs.

LED induction combination lighting system


A throttle body configured to supply air to an air-intake port of an engine is disclosed. The throttle body typically includes an air-intake passage through which air flows. The air-intake passage at least partially has a non-perfect circle portion with a cross-section of a non-perfect circle shape in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of an air flow of air taken in from outside. The non-perfect circle shape typically has long and short axes. At least one of a first throttle valve and a second throttle valve typically is mounted within the non-perfect circle portion of the air-intake passage. The first throttle valve and second throttle valve may include throttle valve members each having a shape conforming to the non-perfect circle shape of the cross-section of the non-perfect circle portion of the air-intake passage. Typically, the first throttle valve and the second throttle valve are each configured to control an amount of the air flow. At least one of the first throttle valve and the second throttle valve is configured to open and close to substantially open and close the air-intake passage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a throttle body configured to control an amount of air flowing toward an air-intake port of an engine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tandem valve type throttle body including a main throttle valve that is mounted within an air-intake passage formed in the throttle body and that is configured to be controlled to open and close by an accelerator lever, and a sub-throttle valve that is mounted within a region of the air-intake passage which is located upstream of the main throttle valve in an air flow and that is configured to be operated to open and close by an actuator such as an electromagnetic actuator, and an engine of a motorcycle having the throttle body.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional tandem valve type throttle body is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-83171, owned by one assignee of the subject application Keihin Corporation. Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4, a conventional tandem valve type throttle body is shown generally. A throttle body T is constructed to contain an air-intake passage 10 extending therein laterally relative to an engine. A main throttle valve member 12 is located within a downstream air-intake passage 10b of the throttle body T. As used herein, "upstream" and "downstream" are meant to define a direction of a flow of air taken in from outside. The main throttle valve member 12 is attached to a main throttle valve shaft 11 rotatably mounted to the throttle body T. The main throttle valve shaft 11 is rotatably operated through a mechanical or electric system by an operator (rider). The main throttle valve member 12 is configured to substantially open and close the air-intake passage 10 according to the rotation of the main throttle valve shaft 11.
A sub-throttle valve member 13 is mounted within an upstream air-intake passage 10a located upstream of the main throttle valve member 12. The sub-throttle valve member 13 is attached to a sub-throttle valve shaft 14 rotatably mounted to the throttle body T. The sub-throttle valve shaft 14 is configured to be operated to open and close by an electromagnetic actuator such as a motor. The sub-throttle valve member 13 is forcibly closed, for example, during traction control. The downstream air-intake passage 10b within which the main throttle valve member 12 is mounted has a cross-section of a perfect circle shape with a diameter "d". The upstream air-intake passage 10a within which the sub-throttle valve member 13 is mounted has a cross-section of a perfect circle shape with a diameter "D". The diameter "D" is larger than the diameter "d" (D>d). Such a construction is capable of reducing air-intake resistance of air flowing through the downstream air-intake passage 10b.
When applied to a multi-cylinder engine, a plurality of throttle bodies T are arranged to extend laterally relative to an engine block of the engine. In the case of a three-cylinder engine, as shown in FIG. 4, three throttle bodies T are arranged to extend laterally relative to the engine block in the following order from the left to the right: a first throttle body T1, a second throttle body T2, and a third throttle body T3.
When the plurality of throttle bodies T are arranged to extend laterally relative to the engine block of the multi-cylinder engine, the sub-throttle shafts 14 are formed by a common shaft, which extends transversely through diameters of the air-intake passages 10a of the throttle bodies T1, T2, and T3. The common shaft is rotatably supported by bearing holes (left and right bearing holes) 15a and 15b on left and right sides of the corresponding air-intake passage 10a.
As shown in FIG. 4, a right end of the common shaft protrudes rightward from the third throttle body T3 and is connected to a motor M which is configured to be controlled and driven by an ECU (engine control unit) via a gear mechanism (gear train). Air-intake pipes are respectively connected to the downstream air-intake passages 10b of the throttle bodies T1, T2, and T3 and are connected to cylinders of the engine, although the air-intake pipes and the engine are not shown in FIG. 4. The upstream air-intake passages 10a of the throttle bodies T1, T2, and T3 are respectively connected to an air cleaner box 16 (see FIG. 3). A filter element (air filter) such as a sponge (not shown) is accommodated within the air cleaner box 16. The filter element is capable of filtering air taken in from outside to remove unwanted substances therefrom, and the resulting clean air is supplied to the upstream air-intake passages 10a of the throttle bodies T1, T2, and T3.
In order to allow the air to flow efficiently from the downstream air-intake passage 10b toward the cylinders of the engine in the tandem valve type throttle body provided with the conventional sub-throttle valve member 13, a cross-sectional area of the upstream air-intake passage 10a located upstream of the sub-throttle valve member 13 may be increased. In this case, the cross-sectional area of the upstream air-intake passage 10a having a cross-section with a perfectly circular shape may be increased by increasing a diameter of the upstream air-intake passage 10a from "D" to "D1" (D1>D). As shown in FIG. 4, the upstream air-intake passage 10a with the increased diameter "D1" is represented by a dotted line.
In accordance with the construction of the air-intake passage 10a with the increased diameter "D1", the amount of the air flowing from the upstream air-intake passage 10a toward the downstream air-intake passage 10b increases, and hence efficiency of the air flow from the downstream air-intake passage 10b toward the cylinders of the engine increases. However, the following problems may arise.
First, a dimension G of an outer shape of the entire throttle bodies T1, T2, and T3 in a width direction of a motorcycle increases from G1 to G2 (G2>G1). If the dimension G of the outer shape of the throttle bodies T1, T2, and T3 increases, then the conventional air cleaner box 16 cannot be employed. So, there is a need for an air cleaner box having a larger size or another configuration. Such an air cleaner box is difficult to mount in a limited storage space of the motorcycle. In addition, if the sizes of the air cleaner box and the throttle bodies increase in the width direction of the motorcycle, then the motorcycle becomes larger, which may force the rider to open legs when straddling the motorcycle. That is, the rider cannot ride the motorcycle in a natural posture.
Second, since the bearing holes of the throttle body must be varied, a length of bearing portions of the sub-throttle valve shaft decreases. For example, the length of the bearing portion corresponding to the first bearing hole 15a decreases from "L1" to "L2" (L1>L2), and the length of the bearing portion corresponding to the second bearing hole 15b decreases from "L3" to "L4".
If the length of the bearing portion of the sub-throttle valve shaft thus decreases, it becomes necessary to re-conduct a durability test for the bearing portion. This significantly increases the number of steps for a check test of a material and treatment (heat treatment or surface treatment, etc) of the sub-throttle valve shaft 14.
As a solution to the first problem, pitches P1 and P2 of adjacent throttle bodies T1, T2, and T3 may be reduced to reduce the dimension G. As a solution to the second problem, the pitches P1 and P2 may be increased to increase the length "L" of the bearing holes 15a and 15b. However, the pitches P1 and P2 are determined according to the arrangement of the air-intake passages (intake ports) of the engine, and hence are incapable of being easily changed. The change in the arrangement of the air-intake passages unavoidably results in significant design change in the engine, and is extremely difficult.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-87118, owned by another assignee of the subject application, KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, discloses an air-intake pipe having a passage with a cross-section having long and short axes and a throttle valve pivotally mounted within the passage of the air-intake pipe.

Throttle body and engine of motorcycle having throttle body


A workpiece transfer apparatus includes a stationary base, an elevation base, first and second arms, a workpiece-holding hand, and a driving mechanism for the hand. The first arm is supported on the elevation base so as to be rotatable about a first vertical axis. The second arm is supported on the distal end of the first arm such that the second arm is rotatable about a second vertical axis. The hand is supported on the distal end of the second arm so as to be rotatable about a third vertical axis. A motor is arranged in the first arm, whereas a transmission is arranged to extend in a region from the interior of the first arm through the interior of the second arm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a workpiece transfer apparatus for transferring workpieces in the form of a thin plate. Specifically, the invention relates to a workpiece transfer apparatus for transferring e.g. wafers in the process of manufacturing semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the manufacture of semiconductor devices, a robot for transferring workpieces such as wafers is used (see JP-A-2003-188231, for example). Such a workpiece transfer apparatus transfers workpieces between a load port storing wafers and a process chamber.
FIG. 7 shows an example of workpiece transfer system including a conventional workpiece transfer apparatus. The workpiece transfer system 90 illustrated in the figure includes two load ports 91, a transfer chamber 92, a process chamber 93 and a workpiece transfer apparatus 94. The workpiece transfer apparatus 94 comprises a horizontal articulated robot having the structure described below, and is arranged in the transfer chamber 92. On one side of the transfer chamber 92, the two load ports 91 are arranged side by side adjacent to the transfer chamber 92. Each of the load ports 91 accommodates a cassette for holding a plurality of workpieces W. On a side of the transfer chamber 92 opposite from the load ports 91, the process chamber 93 is arranged adjacent to the transfer chamber 92. In the process chamber 93, treatment such as heating, working, or testing is performed with respect to the workpieces W.
FIG. 8 is a side view showing a schematic structure of the workpiece transfer apparatus 94. The workpiece transfer apparatus 94 includes a hollow stationary base 941 having a vertically extending center axis, an elevation base 942, a lower arm 943, an upper arm 944 and a hand 945. The elevation base 942 is supported by the stationary base 941 and vertically movable by the operation of an elevation mechanism, not shown. The lower arm 943 is supported at its base end on the elevation base 942 and is rotatable around the vertical axis O1 by the operation of a lower arm driving mechanism, not shown. The upper arm 944 is supported at its base end on the distal end of the lower arm 943 and is rotatable around the vertical axis O2 by the operation of an upper arm driving mechanism, not shown.
The hand 945 is supported at its base end on the distal end of the upper arm 944 and is rotatable around the vertical axis O3 by the operation of a hand driving mechanism 946. The hand driving mechanism 946 includes a hand driving motor 947 supported by the elevation base 942 and a transmission mechanism 948 for transmitting rotational output of the motor 947 to the hand 945. The transmission mechanism 948 is provided with a speed reducer 949. The speed reducer 949 is arranged directly under the base end of the hand 945, and the base end of the hand 945 is connected to the output shaft of the speed reducer 949. With this arrangement, when the motor 947 is driven, the hand 945 rotates about the vertical axis O3.
In the workpiece transfer apparatus 94 having the above-described structure, workpieces W are transferred between each of the load ports 91 and the process chamber 93 by appropriately controlling the operation of the lower arm driving mechanism, the upper arm driving mechanism and the hand driving mechanism 946.
In recent years, the size of the workpieces W, which are the object to be transferred by the workpiece transfer apparatus 94, tends to increase. For instance, in the field of semiconductor device manufacture, wafers having a diameter of 450 mm and a relatively large thickness are expected to be used instead of the wafers having a diameter of 300 mm. Such an increase in diameter and thickness of the workpieces W leads to an increase in the transfer stroke of the workpieces W in horizontal and vertical directions.
In order that the transfer efficiency of the workpieces W does not decrease even when the transfer stroke in horizontal and vertical directions is increased, the transfer speed needs to be increased. However, with the conventional workpiece transfer apparatus 94 having the above-described structure, the hand driving motor 947 is arranged in the elevation base 942 so that the power transmission path from the motor 947 to the hand 945 is relatively long. This provides limitation on the increase in the workpiece transfer speed. As another means to increase the transfer speed, increasing the size of the motor 947 or the speed reducer 949 may be considered. With the above-described conventional structure, an increase in size of the motor 947 or the speed reducer 949 results in an increase in height of the work transfer apparatus 94, whereby the height of the hand 945 increases. Such an increase in height of the hand 945 is not desirable, because the lowest position where workpieces can be transferred in the load ports 91 cannot be changed in most cases due to various limitations. Thus, with the above-described conventional structure, it is difficult to achieve transfer of relatively large workpieces W at high speed by increasing the size of the motor 947 or the speed reducer 949.
A double-hand workpiece transfer apparatus including two hands arranged in the vertical direction is also known as an apparatus for realizing more efficient workpiece transfer. Such a double-hand workpiece transfer apparatus needs to include two motors and two transmission mechanisms. With the above-described conventional structure, however, the provision of two motors and two transmission mechanisms increases the height of the workpiece transfer apparatus 94 and hence increase the height of the hand 945, so that it is difficult to adapt such an apparatus for relatively large workpieces W.


A network customer may support a plurality of network connectivity services (such as an E-line). A network connectivity service may experience spikes of traffic, and therefore, spikes of bandwidth usage. Dynamic capacity allows a network connectivity service to increase its available bandwidth during such traffic spikes. A computer-implemented method is disclosed that facilitates identifying network customers that might be interested in purchasing dynamic capacity. The method comprises collecting bandwidth utilization data of network connectivity services supported by each network customer, and identifying those connectivity services that exhibit patterns (e.g., cogent peaks) in their utilization data indicating the network connectivity service is a candidate for dynamic capacity. A trained pattern recognition algorithm is applied on collected utilization data of all network connectivity services and identifies those connectivity services that match the patterns, within a range of tolerance, in their utilization.

Field
This field generally relates to identifying network connectivity services that may benefit from dynamic capacity.
Related Art
Many applications, such as data storage, processing, and presentation applications, utilize a communication network in their operation. The communication network may, for example, provide a network connection that allows data to be transferred between two geographically remote locations. The data may provide, for example, video streaming, voice over IP (VOIP), email, or web services.
The network connection may be provided by a service provider that has a common network it uses to provide service to many different users. A network customer, such as a business enterprise, may order a new network connectivity service, such as a point-to-point Ethernet service or E-Line. Such a request may require a connection that spans multiple links with different available bandwidths. The connection should be set up in a way that meets the Service Level Agreement (SLA) of the user, such as a specific level of bandwidth, latency, or jitter. For example, a business may request an Ethernet e-line connection between two of its locations with a bandwidth of 400 Mbit/second.
Network customers often request a particular service level for a network connectivity service based on how much they plan to use that network connectivity service. But use may vary with time. In one example, a customer may use more bandwidth during the weekends because that is when scheduled backups are scheduled for. In other examples, large ad hoc workloads (e.g., unanticipated multiple video streaming sessions) or even seasonal variations may result in a higher than usual bandwidth utilization.
To allow for varying demand, some service providers allow users to specify for the service level, such as the available bandwidth, of the network connectivity service to vary over time. In some situations, a change in the required service level may be known in advance. For example, an application may utilize a dedicated network connection between two locations at 400 Mbit/s. In addition, the application may have a scheduled backup that occurs between the two locations at a particular time period, such as when backups are scheduled from midnight to 6 am on Sundays. While 400 Mbit/s may be generally sufficient, during the backup, more bandwidth may be required, perhaps double. In one embodiment, a user may schedule an increase in bandwidth for that particular time period. At the start of the time period, the allocated bandwidth doubles to 800 Mbit/s, and, at the end of the time period, the allocated bandwidth returns to 400 Mbit/s.
In other circumstances, the specific change in the required service level may not be known in advance. To deal with these situations, some embodiments dynamically change the service level according to real-time usage of the network service. In these embodiments, a user may set up a business rule that specifies how to change a service level given a particular usage level. For example, a user may set up a business rule that states that allocated bandwidth should be doubled when the bandwidth utilized exceeds a particular threshold. A plurality of these rules may be determined based on the Service Level Agreement (SLA) between the service provider and the user. By dynamically changing bandwidth allocation, users can easily augment their network bandwidth to meet the fluctuating demand of their applications.
This ability to temporarily change the service level, either during a particular time period or when particular conditions are met, may be referred to as dynamic capacity or bandwidth calendaring. While useful, consumers may not be aware of this feature, or that this feature may be useful for their connectivity services. Systems and methods are needed to identify connectivity services that may benefit from this feature.

Automatic customer bandwidth utilization analysis for promoting dynamic capacity


A method and apparatus for processing electronic documents is provided. A request, from a first user, to issue an alert to a second user that may have submitted a print request to the printing device is received at the printing device. The printing device may be attempting to process the print request submitted by the second user when the printing device receives the request from the first user. The first user may not know the identity of the second user. The printing device consults contact data that identifies how to contact the second user. The printing device thereafter issues the alert to the second user in accordance with the contact data. Upon receiving the alert, the second user is informed of the current condition of the printing device, e.g., the printing device may be experiencing a problem that prevents the second user's print request from being fully processed.

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
Typically, printing devices in an office environment are often shared by many people. For example, it is not uncommon for a single color printer to be shared by as many as one hundred people.
The functionality that printing devices are capable of provided has steadily grown over time. To illustrate, certain printing devices, referred to as multi-function peripherals (MFP), are not only capable of performing printing functionality, but are also capable of performing copying, faxing, and/or scanning functions as well. As printing devices become capable of providing more services, the need to share access to printing devices will likely continue in the future.
Printing devices are often left unattended and are operated without a dedicated operator. An IT department or a local administrator is often responsible for managing a printing device. Typically, the primary focus of an IT department or a local administrator is the general maintenance of the devices and networks they support. As a result, the party responsible for maintaining a printing device may not be aware that the printing device is experiencing a problem until long after the problem occurred. Illustrative examples of problems that a printing device may encounter in operation include the printing device running out of paper, the printing device becoming jammed, and the output tray of the printing device becoming too full to accommodate additional output. Often, a printing device may encounter a problem that prevents it from operating normally.

User initiated alerts in a document processing environment


A freeze resistant filter cartridge assembly, includes a filter cartridge including a filter housing and a filter media and having at least one component selected from a list of components including: the filter housing being formed of an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer having elongation and glass transition properties that allow for stretching of the housing during a freezing event rather than rupturing; a sleeve having a volume of air entrapped therein within and being disposed in the interior of the filter cartridge; and the filter housing formed of a conventional polyolefin having a wall thickness great enough to resist freeze induced expansion stresses. A method of forming a freeze resistant filter cartridge assembly is further included.

A common feature found in many of the refrigerators sold today is an internal water filtering system capable of supplying filtered water to either a drinking dispenser or to an icemaker. In most applications, these filter systems use a filter medium having the capacity to remove chlorine and particulate matter from the source water resulting in cleaner, better tasting water and ice.
When designing these filter systems, an important design consideration is the amount of space that the filter will occupy. This is because any space occupied by the filter will reduce available food storage space within the refrigerator. One way to reduce the space consumed by a water filter system is to use a replaceable cartridge filter. The replaceable cartridge filter typically has enough filtering capacity to last months at a time before it needs to be replaced by a fresh filter.
Previous refrigerator water system designs have included means to protect the water filter by integrating an isolation solenoid valve before the house connection and filter. This valve is only open while filtered water is called for and thus eliminates the potential for flooding in the event of a structural filter failure. In a effort to reduce system complexity and cost, refrigerator manufactures have sought to eliminate the isolation valve and run the filters at a continuous high pressure. One way of replacing the isolation solenoid valve has been to incorporate shut-off means within the filter system itself. One example of such shut-off means is a spring valve within a manifold that closes the water supply line when a filter cartridge is removed.
While the filter shut-off means are effective when a filter cartridge is removed from the system, these shut-off means are ineffective when an event causes a structural failure of the filter cartridge while it is still engaged with the manifold. If a refrigerator lacks the isolation valve, water will continue to flow into and out of the damaged cartridge. The potential exists for such continuous spills to cause damage to flooring in the area surrounding the refrigerator. One way in which a filter cartridge can suffer structural damage is when standing water within the cartridge freezes solid. As the water turns to ice, it expands which can lead to the cracking or bursting of the filter housing.
Present filter cartridge designs utilize conventional, rigid polyolefin polymers, usually unmodified talc-filled polypropylene, due to their fatigue and chemical resistance, low cost, low creep and low toxicity. Unfortunately, these materials tend to have glass transition temperatures that cause them to become brittle at temperatures in the freezing range. In addition to becoming brittle, conventional polypropylene resins have an ultimate elongation percentage of approximately 5-30% while above the glass transition temperature. This combination of limited elasticity and brittleness at freezing temperatures makes polypropylene a less than ideal polymer for use in a refrigerator water filter cartridge that must survive freezing conditions.
The present invention is a freeze resistant filter cartridge assembly, and includes a filter cartridge including a filter housing and a filter media and having at least one component selected from a list of components consisting of:
the filter housing being formed of an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer having elongation and glass transition properties that allow for stretching of the housing during a freezing event rather than rupturing;
a sleeve having volume of air is entrapped therein within and being disposed in the interior of the filter cartridge; and
the filter housing formed of a conventional, rigid polyolefin having a wall thickness great enough to resist freeze induced expansion stresses. The present invention is further a method of forming a freeze resistant filter cartridge assembly.


A method of concentrating waterborne pathogenic organisms from water potentially contaminated by dilute densities of the organisms is described. Potentially contaminated water is directed along an elongated flow path which rests generally within a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation, and is subjected to centrifugal forces by rotating the flow path about the rotational axis. The method may be executed by use of a conventional continuous flow channel-type blood plasmapheresis centrifuge. The method has been tested for its capability for recovering pathogenic protozoan parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia from contaminated water, and recovery rates of up to 100% have been observed.

Developments in water processing technology have significantly decreased the incidence of illness from waterborne pathogenic organisms. However, isolated cases of illnesses owing to such organisms are common, and occasionally large-scale outbreaks of illness occur. As an example, severe outbreaks of gastroenteritis have been caused by the environmentally resistant intestinal protozoan parasites Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Microsporidia, and Cyclospora. These organisms are often waterborne, existing in very dilute densities in public water supplies, and many have only recently been recognized as causing a health problem. As an example, Cryptosporidium has been linked to waterborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis only since 1981, when widespread cases of acute gastroenteritis in a Texas community were traced to the presence of Cryptosporidium in the drinking water supply. Numerous other cities have experienced outbreaks since then. Cryptosporidium oocysts are exemplary of waterborne protozoan parasites in that they can survive for long times in water and are resistant to routine water treatment methods such as chlorination. The presence in source waters of even small numbers of Cryptosporidium oocysts is a matter of concern because the infective dose for humans is possibly as low as one oocyst. Additionally, exposure to protozoan parasites or other waterborne pathogens can be life-threatening, particularly to infants, the elderly, and people whose immune systems are impaired. In fact, many waterborne pathogens are only now receiving significant scientific attention after having been traced to fatalities in this population, e.g., Microsporidia.
Clearly, the detection of pathogenic organisms such as Cryptosporidium in water supplies is a critical societal problem. The central issue in detection of such organisms is how to concentrate dilute densities of the organisms from large volumes of water so as to detect their presence.
Regarding protozoan parasites such as Cryptosporidium, the method currently recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) concentrates the parasites by sampling 100 liters (or more) of water through a polypropylene yarn cartridge filter. As summarized in Nieminski et al., Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 61(5): 1714-1719, 1995, in the ASTM method, after sampling, particulates from the cartridge filter are extracted by cutting the filter apart and washing the fibers. The extracted particulates are then concentrated by centrifugation. The concentrated particulates are then processed to selectively concentrate parasite cysts and oocysts by floatation in 50-mL tubes on a Percoll-sucrose gradient. Particulates recovered at the interface of the Percoll-sucrose gradient are stained with fluorescently tagged antibodies on 25-mm-diameter, 0.2 .mu.m-pore-size cellulose acetate filters. After mounting on slides, the membrane filters are scanned with an epifluorescent microscope for objects having the size, shape and fluorescence characteristic of Cryptosporidium oocysts. On finding such objects, the microscope optics are switched to phase contrast to look for internal morphological characteristics inside the detected organisms. Organisms determined to meet the fluorescence detection criteria are counted as presumptive Cryptosporidium oocysts. Organisms with the right fluorescence characteristics and shown to have the respective internal morphological characteristics are counted as confirmed Cryptosporidium oocysts.
However, the ASTM method is costly and consumes substantial time and labor. It is also not very effective since losses of oocysts occur throughout the procedure. Large numbers of oocysts pass through the filter, or adhere to the filter material and are not recovered. Losses also occur during centrifugation because oocysts are destroyed or resuspended during removal of the supernatant fluid. During a recent blind test of commercial laboratories in the United States, spiked samples were submitted to sixteen laboratories to evaluate their ability to recover and detect Cryptosporidium oocysts using the ASTM method. Six laboratories--over one third of the total--failed to recover any parasites, and the remaining ten had an average recovery rate of only 2.8%. Aldom et al., Letters in Applied Microbiology 20: 186-187, 1995. A more detailed description of losses of Cryptosporidium oocysts during the detection procedure can be found in LeChevallier et al., Applied and Environmental Microbiology 61 (2): 690-697, 1995.
Several studies have been conducted on techniques to improve the efficiencies of methods for concentrating the dilute protozoa. The general protocol in such studies is to spike a water sample with a known amount of Cryptosporidium oocysts and determine the percentage of oocysts recovered for each method tested.
A number of studies evaluated other types of filtration, including vortex-flow, cross-flow, and sand column filtration. Whitmore et al., Wat. Sci. Tech. 27 (3-4): 69-76, 1993. In the Whitmore et al. study, the vortex-flow filtration technique gave fairly consistent recoveries of 30% to 40%. While this retention rate is superior to that of the ASTM method, the comparatively long process times would prevent the use of this method for monitoring purposes. The crossflow filtration module also gave relatively good recoveries (approximately 40-80%) at moderately high flow rates. The laboratory scale sand columns evaluated gave satisfactory retention within the column material at low flow rates, but were judged inadequate for monitoring purposes because of the poor retention of oocysts within the column matrix at realistic flow rates. Another study tested a filter matrix dissolution method to recover Cryptosporidium oocysts from water. The average recovery rate observed was 70.5%. Aldom et al., Letters in Applied Microbiology 20: 186-187, 1995. Cryptosporidium oocysts have also been concentrated from water by "sweeping" water with a settling calcium carbonate precipitate. Vesey et al., Journal of Applied Bacteriology 75: 82-86, 1993. The Vesey et al. study resulted in a 68% recovery of oocysts from seeded samples of deionized, tap, and river water.
Continuous flow bowl centrifugation has also been studied as a means to concentrate dilute concentrations of Cryptosporidium oocysts. An exemplary continuous flow bowl centrifuge commonly referred to as a Latham bowl centrifuge is shown at 20 in FIG. 1. Liquid is introduced into the end (top or bottom) of a spinning bowl 22 from an axially-directed input line 24 with length r1 located near the rotational axis of the bowl 22. As the liquid flows up the height h of the bowl 22, centrifugal force forms a density gradient in the liquid with the densest (heaviest) matter (sand or other detritus) located near the wall of the bowl 22 and the lighter matter (e.g., water) being located closer to the rotational axis. As liquid is introduced into the bowl 22, the lighter portion of the liquid is emptied at the same flow rate from an axially-situated and axially-directed exit line 26 with length r2 which exits the end of the bowl 22 opposite the input line 24. Continuous flow bowl centrifugation has been used in conjunction with heating to kill bacteria present in beverages, as described by U.S. Pat. No. 3,217,982 to Wilsmann et al. However, studies evaluating use of a continuous flow bowl centrifuge for concentrating protozoan parasites have not described increases in recovery rates. The Whitmore et al. studies cited above evaluated use of a bowl-type continuous flow centrifuge for concentration of oocysts and reported recovery between 11% to 31.2%. Goatcher et al., American Society of Macrobiology Abstracts Q-212, 1995 also tested a bowl-type continuous flow centrifuge system and reported obtaining recovery rates of between 2 to 20 times those observed with conventional filtration methods; therefore, such recovery rates are still well under 50%.
In view of the importance of protecting water supplies from pathogenic organisms such as protozoan parasites, and the lack of apparata or methods for concentrating and/or detecting such organisms with high recovery rates, it is clearly desirable to develop improved methods and apparata for reliably concentrating waterborne pathogenic organisms.

Concentration of waterborne pathogenic organisms

Marshfield Medical Research and Education Foundation, A Division of Marshfield Clinic


A magneto-optical recording medium includes first, second, and third magnetic layers laminated in this order. The first magnetic layer, made of a rare earth-transition metal alloy, has a great coercive force at room temperature and is transition metal rich in a temperature range between room temperature and a Curie temperature of the first magnetic layer. The second magnetic layer, made of a rare earth-transition metal alloy, has a Curie temperature higher than that of the first magnetic layer and is rare-earth metal rich at room temperature. The third magnetic layer, made of a rare earth-transition metal alloy, has a Curie temperature higher than that of the first magnetic layer, and a compensation temperature falling in a temperature range between room temperature and the Curie temperature of the third magnetic layer. A magnetization of the third magnetic layer is transferred to the first magnetic layer at a temperature higher than room temperature. A perpendicular magnetic anisotropy Ku3 satisfies 0.3.times.10.sup.6 erg/cc<Ku3<1.0.times.10.sup.6 erg/cc. This arrangement ensures recording by the light modulation overwriting method while achieving the compatibility with other recording/reproducing apparatuses in accordance with the ISO standard, and enables miniaturization of recording/reproducing apparatuses for the magneto-optical recording media.

The magneto-optical recording method is a method for recording and reproducing, in a manner described below, to and from a recording medium composed of a substrate and a perpendicularly-magnetized film made of a magnetic substance which is formed on the substrate.
The recording operation begins with initialization of the recording medium by a strong external magnetic field or the like, whereby the magnetization of the recording medium is directed in one specific direction (either upward or downward). Thereafter, a laser beam is projected on an area where information is to be recorded, so that the area of the recording medium is heated to not lower than around a Curie temperature of the magnetic film or not lower than around a compensation temperature of the magnetic film. As a result, the heated area of the magnetic film has no coercive force (Hc), or substantially no coercive force (Hc). In this state, an external magnetic field (bias magnetic field) with a magnetization direction opposite to that of the magnetization for the initialization is applied so that the magnetization direction of the area is reversed. When the projection of the laser beam is suspended, the temperature of the recording medium falls to the room temperature, whereby the magnetization thus reversed is fixed. Thus, information is thermal-magnetically recorded.
For reproducing information, a linearly polarized laser beam is projected on the recording medium, so that optical reading-out of information is carried out by making use of a phenomenon that the plane of polarization of reflected light or transmitted light of the laser beam rotates in accordance with the magnetization direction (the magnetic Kerr effect, and the magnetic Faraday effect).
The magneto-optical recording method has been viewed with interest as a method for recording with respect to rewritable high density and large capacity memory device. As such a method for reusing (rewriting) the media, a so-called light modulation overwriting method has been proposed. According to this method, overwriting by the light intensity modulation is carried out with respect to a recording medium which has a recording layer composed of two exchange-coupled films, by using an initializing magnetic field (Hi) and a recording magnetic field (Hw).
An magneto-optical recording medium to which the light modulation overwriting method is applicable is proposed in the Japanese Examined Patent Publication 5-22303/1993. As shown in FIG. 8, a recording layer of the recording medium disclosed in the publication is triplicated with a second magnetic layer 14 being provided between a first magnetic layer 13 and a third magnetic layer 15, so that the initializing magnetic field (Hi) is allowed to be smaller and that the recording medium has superiority in the stability of recording bits. The following description will depict steps for overwriting the described recording medium.
FIG. 9 is a view illustrating states of respective magnetizations of the first through third magnetic layers 13 through 15, wherein the horizontal axis indicates temperature. Since the layers are rare earth-transition metal alloys, each has a total magnetization and respective sub-lattice magnetizations of rare-earth and transition metal. Voided arrows represent the directions of the transition metal sub-lattice magnetizations of the respective layers.
Initialization is carried out by applying the initializing magnetic field Hi so that, as shown in FIG. 9, only the magnetization direction of the third magnetic layer 15 is directed in one specific direction (upward in the figure). Since a strength of the initializing magnetic field Hi is smaller than that of a coercive force of the first magnetic layer 15 at room temperature while greater than that of a coercive force of the third magnetic layer 15 at room temperature, the magnetization direction of the first magnetic layer 13 is not reversed. The second magnetic layer 14 has an in-plane magnetic anisotropy at room temperature. Therefore, it has an effect of preventing exchange-coupling between the first magnetic layer 13 and the third magnetic layer 15.
Recording is carried out by applying the recording magnetic field Hw while projecting the laser beam whose light intensity is modulated either to a high power or a low power.
The high power of the laser beam is set so that the projection of the high power laser beam causes the recording medium to be heated to the vicinity of a Curie temperature of the third magnetic layer 15. The low power of the laser beam is set so that the projection of the low power laser beam causes the recording medium to be heated to the vicinity of a Curie temperature of the first magnetic layer 13.
Therefore, on the projection of the high power laser beam, the magnetization direction of the third magnetic layer 15 is reversed downward as shown in FIG. 9, by the recording magnetic field Hw. The magnetization direction of the third magnetic layer 15 is copied, by the exchange coupling force exerted to an interface in the cooling process, to the second magnetic layer 14 having a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, and then to the first magnetic layer 13. As a result, the magnetization direction of the first magnetic layer 13 is directed upward.
On the other hand, the magnetization direction of the third magnetic layer 15 is not reversed on the projection of the low power laser beam, since in such a state a strength of the coercive force of the third magnetic layer 15 is greater than that of the recording magnetic field Hw. The magnetization direction of the first magnetic layer 13 is directed in the same direction as that of the magnetization of the third magnetic layer 15 by the exchange-coupling force exerted to the interface in the cooling process, as described above. Therefore, the magnetization of the first magnetic field 13 has a downward direction as shown in FIG. 9.
Note that FIG. 10 illustrates, about a conventional magneto-optical recording meidum, a relation between a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy Ku3 at room temperature of the third magnetic layer 15 of the conventional magneto-optical recording medium and the recording magnetic field Hw, and a relation between the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy Ku3 and the initializing magnetic field Hi. As shown in the figure, the recording magnetic field Hw is set considerably smaller than the initializing magnetic field Hi. A reproduction-use laser power is set considerably smaller than the recording-use low laser power.
The above-described conventional technology thus has provided a magneto-optical recording medium (1) to which the light modulation overwriting method is applicable, (2) which allows an initializing magnetic field to be relatively small, and (3) which is superior in the stability of the recording bits. The technology, however, has still presented a problem that the initializing magnetic field Hi greater than the recording magnetic field Hw is required, which leads to a problem that apparatuses cannot be miniaturized.
Furthermore, in the case of a disk-type magneto-optical recording medium, an apparatus which can generate such a great initializing magnetic field to be used with the disk-type magneto-optical recording medium does not meet the standards of the International Organization for Standization (ISO). Therefore, arises a problem that the foregoing conventional magneto-optical recording medium cannot be compatible with other recording-reproducing apparatuses in accordance with the ISO Standard.


A cutting tool having a cutting portion located proximate to one end. The cutting tool including a recessed chip flute formed along the shank of the tool away from the cutting edge. The tool includes a chamfering cartridge which is clamped to the tool shank along the chip flute. The chamfering cartridge performs a chamfering or deburring operation while allowing chips from the cutting portion to pass through the flute and away from the tool and workpiece.

Currently, cutting tools used to make a hole in a workpiece typically leave a sharp edge or burr at the entry-point of the cutting tool. This edge or burr is dulled or chamfered in a later cutting operation by another tool. This later cutting operation is inefficient and increases machining time to finish the workpiece.
Several forms of chamfering structures are known for mounting a chamfer cutter to a boring tool to reduce the number of cutting operations required to finish a workpiece. Art that has addressed this problem include U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,285 issued Aug. 6, 1985 to Charles A. Jorgensen for a Cutting Attachment For Boring Tool.
The broad purpose of the present invention is to provide a boring tool having an adjustable chamfering cartridge that is mounted along the outer edge of one of the chip flutes in tool. The boring tool having a cutting edge mounted to the lower end of an elongated shank and a chip flute running along the shank away from the cutting edge. The chamfering cartridge mates with an elongated rib that includes one wall of the chip flute.
The present invention overcomes the above-referenced and other disadvantages of prior art techniques by mounting an adjustable chamfering tool to a boring tool. The chamfering tool is compact enough to maintain a clear path for cutting chips to exit the boring tool and workpiece, while remaining rigidly mounted to the boring tool.
The present invention provides a combination boring and chamfering tool that can perform two machining operations in rapid succession (or simultaneously). The chamfering cartridge is slidably adjustable along the tool's chip flute permitting a user to cut various depth holes and still chamfer/deburr those holes with the same tool.
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a boring tool having an elongated cylindrical shank, comprising at least one bore cutting portion mounted proximate to one end of the shank. Each cutting portion including a recessed chip flute formed in the shank and running away from the cutting portion. The tool further comprises a cartridge including a chamfer cutting portion mounted to a body. The body including means for mounting the cartridge to the shank where the cartridge is adjustably coupled to a single chip flute along the chip flute.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a boring tool, comprising an elongated cylindrical shank, an indexable cutting insert having a cutting face and is mounted to the shank proximate to a bottom end of the shank. The shank includes a recessed chip flute adjacent to the cutting insert. The flute runs longitudinally along the shank away from the cutting insert, wherein the flute includes a first wall that is generally collateral with the cutting face. The shank also includes an elongated mounting recess that runs longitudinally along the shank. The mounting recess including a second wall that is parallel, adjacent, and coextensive to the first wall, wherein the first and second walls cooperate to define an elongated rib. The tool further comprises a chamfer cutting cartridge having a body. The cartridge including an indexable chamfering insert and means for retaining the chamfering insert to the body. The body including a pair of spaced mounting lugs extending from the body. The lugs having opposed walls which define a channel, wherein this channel receives the rib such that the first wall and second wall each abut one of the opposed walls and the chamfering insert extends beyond the cutting insert radially.
It is still another advantage of the present invention to provide a method of adapting an indexable insert boring tool to also perform a chamfering operation, the boring tool having at least one cutting insert and a chip clearance flute running away from the cutting insert along a cylindrical shank. The method comprising the steps of: forming a mounting recess in and along the shank parallel and adjacent to the flute, wherein a portion of the shank remains between the flute and mounting recess to form an elongated rib; providing a cartridge having a chamfer cutter and a pair of spaced mounting lugs defining a channel; mating the cartridge to the shank by straddling the lugs over the rib; and adjusting the chamfering cartridge along the rib such that the chamfer cutter is a desired distance from the cutting insert.
It is yet another advantage of the present invention that the chamfering cartridge abuts the shank along substantially all of the shank facing surfaces, this abutting engagement prevents cutting debris, such as chips, from jamming in the boring tool.
Still further objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the following detailed description.

Boring tool with adjustable chamfer cutter


A forward acting stapler includes a unique linkage for driving a firing lever. The linkage includes two links that are each connected to the trigger lever by a roller. The roller is movable within a spot in the trigger lever. As the handle is driven, the two links cause the triggering level to pivot. As the trigger lever pivots it lifts a plunger against a spring force. At some point, the trigger portion releases the plunger allowing the plunger to be returned by the spring force by a staple.

This invention relates to a forward acting stapler.
Forward acting staplers are known in the art, and have a handle which is pivoted at one end of a stapler body. The handle is pivoted downwardly with the hand of the user received on an end of the handle remote from the pivot point. This end is generally vertically spaced above the location where a plunger and knife combination will drive a staple or nail into a workpiece. For purposes of this application, the term "plunger" should be understood to also include the knife which moves with the plunger. The forward acting stapler is an improvement over staplers which have the pivot point of the handle on the end of a stapler body which receives the plunger in that the force of the hand can be applied more directly to the plunger.
In the prior art, such forward acting staplers have been known for decades. However, the forward acting staplers known to date have had complex linkages which have made them difficult to use and sometimes unreliable.

Forward acting stapler with unique linkage


A lift enhancing device for a solid wing is disclosed wherein a where a mr driven, flap dynamically oscillating flap mechanism produces an increase in the lifting capabilities of the wing.

This invention relates to improved lifting capabilities of a solid wing that has a motor driven, flap mechanism that oscillates over a range of frequencies and over a range of angular deflections.
Over the past few years, there has been a great deal of interest in unsteady aerodynamics in several areas of air vehicle research from fighter aircraft to missile dynamics. Generally, the research falls into two basic categories: unsteady effects that produce destructive vibrational effects with detrimental stability and control, and those effects that may be used in a positive way. Aerodynamic research involving wings and airfoils continues to search for ways to improve the lifting characteristics of airfoils by whatever means for purposes of improved flight parameters, larger payload capability or better handling characteristics at predetermined velocities. Towards this end, U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,396 to Barnaby S. Wainfan, issued on Sep. 19, 1989, and assigned to the Lockheed Corporation discloses that it is known to fixedly attach a small flap-like device to the trailing edge of an airfoil to improve the coefficient of lift and reduce the coefficient of drag. The flap is a flat, single plate-like member having a length of between 0.5% to 1.50% of the chord of the airfoil and is fixedly positioned at a downward angle to the chord of between 5.degree. and 25.degree.. Preferably, the length of the flap is approximately 1% of the chord and the preferred angle to the chord is 20.degree.. It has been found that the above change in the aerodynamic characteristics provides an overall increase in fuel efficiency. However, this improvement still falls short of providing the dramatic improvement in lift characteristics that is obtained by the present invention.
Also in Arena, U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,043, a flap is rotatably connected to a wing and the flap is deflected in a purely static manner. The present invention is a dynamically oscillating flap that produces an increase in the lifting capabilities of the wing. This increase in the lift is particularly effective at set frequencies and at predetermined angular deflections.

Oscillating flap lift enhancement device

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


A lid including one or more messages relating to a product is provided. The lid can store and play one or more audio messages on an audio device attached thereto. The audio messages can be recorded onto the audio device, loaded onto the audio device at a point of sale, and/or pre-loaded on the audio device at a factory. The lid can also include one or more visual and/or surface texture indicia corresponding to the product, such as the product name, color(s) uniquely corresponding to the product, and/or the like.

Many products sold to the public are packaged in containers such as cans and bottles. Many of those products have product specific information which is relevant to the buyer of that product. Existing methods of disclosing such information rely on written and/or graphic presentations included on the container's label.
One such product category is medication. Medications, whether prescribed or over-the-counter, typically involve a variety of dosage instructions, warnings, medical contraindications and other specific instructions and information. Existing methods for conveying such information and instructions typically consist of: textual and/or graphical packaging; point of sale or prescription instructions from sellers and other experts in the field, such as pharmacists, doctors, nurses, and the like. Various approaches have sought to provide reminders and alerts, including audible reminders and alerts, indicating when to take a medication or when a medicine bottle was last opened. However, the existing methods fail to provide any sort of post-sale means of easily determining or recalling specific medical instructions or information, such as warnings, medical contraindications, and specific treatments for which the medicine was prescribed, as well as other specific instructions and information. To date, these instructions and information are related orally or in writing and/or graphics by the sellers and/or field professionals or are provided using disassociated packaging elements which may be lost or result in confusion since the information is not integrated into the medicine packaging.
Although some existing methods convey dosage instructions as well as other warnings and relevant information via packaging text, the associated explanatory text is typically too small for many patients and other users or administrators of the medication to read without assistance. When legible, the instructions are often difficult to understand such that the meaning can be misconstrued. Additionally, the text for describing what the medicine is meant to remedy is typically absent. Further difficulties with current solutions are strongly correlated to the specific lexicon used for medical descriptions. When instructions, warnings, etc., are communicated orally, particularly to a spouse or other caregiver and not the patient, there is no post point-of-sale means to determine or easily recall said instructions, warnings, et al.

Container and/or container lid with recordable audio player


A food utensil which is useful for picking up and delivering food to a mouth of a consumer comprises a gripping portion and a food adhering portion. The gripping portions allows a consumer to hold the utensil. The food-adhering portion adheres food thereto and provides enough surface adhesion to attract and nominally retain food having a residue which would otherwise be deposited onto the consumer's hands.

When eating popcorn or certain other foods having oils or other external residue, the consumer usually utilizes his/her fingers to transport the popcorn from its container to the consumer's mouth. When the popcorn is seasoned, for example with cheese seasoning or butter and salt, the seasoning and certain oils come off the popcorn onto the consumer's fingers, resulting in messy fingers, which must be frequently cleaned or wiped before touching clothing, furniture or handling other objects without spreading or smearing this residue onto these objects. This invention overcomes this problem.


A method and apparatus for initialization of a double-sided memory module having a least one pair of mirrored pins. In one embodiment, the method includes the generation of an opcode to initialize a first side of the memory module according to a first side pin routing. In one embodiment, the opcode is written to a host address selected for the first side of the memory module according to a system host address to memory address mapping. In one embodiment, the opcode is altered if a routing of address pins of the opposed side of the memory module are interchanged with reference to the first side pin routing. Subsequently, a unique host address is selected to produce the altered opcode at the address pins of the opposed side of the memory module according to a defined host address to memory address mapping. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Currently, memory packages, such as dual, in-line memory modules (DIMM) may reside on both sides of a printed circuit board (PCB) or other substrate, referred to herein as a double-sided DIMM. This increases memory density for the system. Signals for the memories may route through the substrate, which may have several layers. With memory packages on both sides of the substrate, signal routing and integrity may become an issue.
Signals being routed through the substrate may connect to balls or connections to the DIMM on opposite sides of the packages. For example, signals going to the closest side of the package on the one side of the substrate will generally end up having to go to the farthest side of the package on the other side of the substrate. The DIMM for the other side of the package is turned "upside down" to mount it on the other side, causing the relevant connection to be on the other side of the package from the signal origination.
Furthermore, such DIMM devices may include a double data rate (DDR) memory, such as, a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM). SDRAM is a volatile and complex memory device; that is, when power is removed from an SDRAM device, all contents and operating configurations are lost. Hence, each time an SDRAM device is powered up, the device requires a defined procedure to initialize the internal state machines and to configure various user-defined operating parameters.

Apparatus and method for initialization of a double-sided DIMM having at least one pair of mirrored pins


A transmitter in a base transceiver station in a wireless telephony network uses a direct up-conversion scheme to convert an input signal with in-phase and quadrature phase (I, Q) components to a radio frequency within a transmit band. A low-pass filter filters noise from the input signal components and a phase equalizer equalizes the phase distortions caused by the filtering in the input signal components. The signal components are then provided to an up-converter, such as a quadrature modulator, for conversion to a radio frequency signal within a transmit band. The transmitter of the present invention complies with the TIA'S 15-54 emission requirements.r connected to the first low pass filter and a second phase equalizer connected to the second low pass filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to noise reduction in a transmitter and, more particularly, to noise reduction in a transmitter in a cellular base transceiver station using a direct up-conversion scheme.
2. Description of Related Art
In a wireless telephony network several base transceiver stations are connected to a central switching office which serves as an interface between the base transceiver stations and a public wired telephone network or other wireless telephone switching offices. The base transceiver stations also communicate with mobile telephones or a multiscriber telephone system (such as an office or hotel) over selected radio frequency channels.
Some prior art transmitters in base transceiver stations include quadrature modulators, which are well known and have been widely used in digital and some analog modulation schemes. A typical prior art quadrature modulator 10 is shown in FIG. 1A signal having an in-phase component (I) and a quadrature phase component (Q) is input to the quadrature modulator 10. A first mixer 12 mixes an output of a local oscillator 14, operating at a center frequency .omega..sub.c, in phase with the I signal components resulting in a signal Icos(.omega..sub.c t). A second mixer 16 mixes the output of the local oscillator 14, which is phase shifted by 90.degree. by a phase shifter 18, with the Q signal component, resulting in a signal Qsin(.omega..sub.c t). A summer 20 then combines the two signals, resulting in a quadrature modulated signal Icos(.omega..sub.c t)+Qsin(.omega..sub.c t).
In a wireless telephony network, the frequency band is divided in 30 KHz channels. Wireless transmissions over a selected channel must comply with the Telecommunications Industry Association's (TIA) IS-54 specification, including emissions specification 18.104.22.168.B-(2) which states that the emission of a transmitter must be 80 dBc or lower than an unmodulated carrier at .+-.45 KHz or greater offset from the intermediate frequency in a 300 Hz bandwidth In order to meet this IS-54 specification, prior art transmitters in base transceiver stations implemented dual (or even triple) conversion techniques to filter out noise at the intermediate frequency. Such prior art systems used expensive surface acoustic wave (SAW) or crystal filters for noise filtering. Other prior art systems which implemented direct up-conversion techniques required expensive and bulky radio frequency filters to filter out noise.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a prior art dual conversion transmitter 22 using a SAW filter for noise reduction. Digitally modulated I and Q components of an input signal are provided to digital to analog (D/A) converters 24 and 26, respectively, where they are converted to analog signal components. The I and Q analog signal components are then provided to a first converter 28, which up-converts the signals to an intermediate frequency.
The first converter 28 comprises a quadrature modulator, as described in connection with FIG. 1, wherein a first mixer 30 mixes the I input signal component in-phase with an output of a local oscillator 32. A second mixer 34 and a phase shifter 36 mix the Q input signal component 90.degree. out of phase with the output of the local oscillator 32. The outputs of the first and second mixers 30 and 34 are combined by a summer 38. The modulated signal output from the summer 38 is then passed through a bandpass SAW filter 40 with a center frequency equal to the intermediate frequency. The bandpass SAW filter 40 filters the noise at all frequencies outside of .+-.45 KHz of the intermediate frequency. Often, more than one SAW filter is required to adequately filter out noise from the signal.
The output from the SAW filter 40 is then provided to a second converter 42, wherein a third mixer 44 combines the signal with the output of a synthesizer 46 to convert the signal to a radio frequency within a transmit band or channel. The radio frequency signal is then passed through a band pass filter 48, which filters out any spurious signals outside of the transmit channel. The resultant signal may then be amplified and transmitted to, for example, a mobile phone or a multisubscriber telephone system.
The prior art dual conversion system of FIG. 2 is complicated and expensive to implement because of the use of the SAW filter 40 and the need for the two separate converters 28 and 42. Thus, there remains a need for a simple, inexpensive system that allows for a direct up-conversion scheme in a transmitter that meets the stringent IS-54 emission requirements.

Use of low pass filter and equalizer for noise reduction in direct up-conversion schemes