An audio processor for processing an audio signal to acquire a subband representation thereof includes a cascaded lapped critically sampled transform stage and a time domain aliasing reduction stage, the former being configured to perform a cascaded lapped critically sampled transform on at least two partially overlapping blocks of samples of the audio signal, to acquire a set of subband samples on the basis of a first block of samples of the audio signal, and to acquire a corresponding set of subband samples on the basis of a second block of samples of the audio signal. The latter is configured to perform a weighted combination of two corresponding sets of subband samples, which are acquired on the basis of the first and second blocks of samples of the audio signal, respectively, to acquire an aliasing reduced subband representation of the audio signal.

Embodiments relate to an audio processor/method for processing an audio signal to obtain a subband representation of the audio signal. Further embodiments relate to an audio processor/method for processing a subband representation of an audio signal to obtain the audio signal. Some embodiments relate to time domain aliasing reduction in subbands of non-uniform orthogonal filterbanks based on MDCT (MDCT=modified discrete cosine transform) analysis/synthesis, e.g., in subbands of non-uniform orthogonal MDCT filterbanks.
MDCT is widely used in audio coding applications due to its properties like good energy compaction and orthogonality when used in a lapped fashion. However, MDCT exhibits a uniform time-frequency resolution [J. Princen, A. Johnson, and A. Bradley, "Subband/transform coding using filter bank designs based on time domain aliasing cancellation," in Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing, IEEE International Conference on ICASSP '87, April 1987, vol. 12, pp. 2161-2164]. When doing perceptually motivated audio processing, however, a non-uniform time-frequency resolution may be a more desirable representation.
One way of designing a non-uniform transform is the repeated application of one of several uniform transforms.
For subband merging first a long transform is applied, transforming the signal from the temporal to the spectral domain. The result is a spectrum with high spectral but low temporal resolution. Afterwards several spectral bins are transformed back to the temporal domain. This increases the temporal resolution while sacrificing spectral resolution in that selected subband.
Subband splitting is the complementary operation: First a short transform is applied. The result is a spectrum with low spectral but high temporal resolution. Afterwards, the spectral bins of two or more adjacent transform frames are transformed again, increasing their spectral resolution at the cost of temporal resolution.
These steps can be mixed and repeated at will. The choice of transform can be arbitrary, however the same or a similar transforms for each step is usually chosen.
There exist numerous ways of facilitating non-uniform time-frequency transforms:
Using two consecutive fast Fourier transforms, there exists the ERBLet transform, a subband merging transform with an ERB frequency scale [T. Necciari, P. Balazs, N. Holighaus, and P. L. Sondergaard, "The erblet transform: An auditory-based time-frequency representation with perfect reconstruction," in Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing (ICASSP), 2013 IEEE International Conference on, May 2013, pp. 498-502]. Recently, the same authors expanded their approach to a discrete cosine transform type 4 (DCT4) spectrum and a MDCT subband merging transform [Olivier Derrien, Thibaud Necciari, and Peter Balazs, "A quasi-orthogonal, invertible, and perceptually relevant time-frequency transform for audio coding," in EUSIPCO, Nice, France, August 2015].
However, both approaches were designed to involve very long, overlapping transform windows with non-critical sampling or even transforming the entire signal in one step. These long transform windows and non-critical sampling prohibit precise time-localization in the transform domain and make them unsuitable for coding applications due to a large look ahead and high redundancy.
A subband merging technique using MDCT and butterfly elements to combine selected coefficients of one MDCT frame were introduced in [J. Mau, J. Valot, and D. Minaud, "Time-varying orthogonal filter banks without transient filters," in Proceedings of the Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing, 1995. On International Conference—Volume 02, Washington, D.C., USA, 1995, ICASSP '95, pp. 1328-1331, IEEE Computer Society] and generalized to Hadamard matrices in [O. A. Niamut and R. Heusdens, "Flexible frequency decompositions for cosine-modulated filter banks," in Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing, 2003. Proceedings. (ICASSP '03). 2003 IEEE International Conference on, April 2003, vol. 5, pp. V-449-52 vol. 5].
The complementary subband splitting operation was introduced in [Jean-Marc Valin, Gregory Maxwell, Timothy B. Terriberry, and Koen Vos, "High-quality, low-delay music coding in the opus codec," in Audio Engineering Society Convention 135, October 2013].
While allowing direct integration into common lapped MDCT transform pipelines, these Butterfly- and Hadamard-based implementations only allow for very limited frequency scale designs with for example sizes constrained to k=2n with n∈. Additionally, the Hadamard matrix only very roughly approximates the DCT and thus allows for only very limited tempo-spectral-resolution, as will be described in more detail below.
Additionally, while some of these methods use MDCT they do not try to reduce the resulting aliasing in the subbands, producing a smeared temporal compactness of the resulting filterbank impulse.

Time domain aliasing reduction for non-uniform filterbanks which use spectral analysis followed by partial synthesis

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.


An apparatus and method which may comprise a pulsed gas discharge laser which may comprise a seed laser portion; an amplifier portion receiving the seed laser output and amplifying the optical intensity of each seed pulse; a pulse stretcher which may comprise: a first beam splitter operatively connected with the first delay path and a second pulse stretcher operatively connected with the second delay path; a first optical delay path tower containing the first beam splitter; a second optical delay path tower containing the second beam splitter; one of the first and second optical delay paths may comprise: a plurality of mirrors defining the respective optical delay path including mirrors located in the first tower and in the second tower; the other of the first and second optical delay paths may comprise: a plurality of mirrors defining the respective optical delay path including mirrors only in one of the first tower and the second tower.

Pulse stretching has been known in the past for high power pulsed DUV lasers such as are used for integrated circuit manufacturing photolithography processes as a photoresist exposure light source, as is shown, e.g., in the above referenced co-pending Ser. No. 11/805,583 patent application. With increasing pulse energy requirements to meet higher average power requirements, e.g., for new immersion lithography processes used to extend the DUV wavelength light source scanner capabilities to smaller CD nodes, there has developed a need for improved pulse stretching, which at the same time for economic and other reasons there is a need to keep the pulse stretcher in essentially the same footprint as in earlier laser light source systems. According to aspects of embodiments of the disclosed subject matter applicants propose a solution to this dilemma. Similarly Applicants' assignee has chosen to utilize a power amplification stage such as is disclosed in the above referenced co-pending Ser. No. 11/787,180 patent application. Certain optical considerations such as complex alignment issues have led applicants to propose, according to aspects of embodiments of the disclosed subject matter to solutions to problems arising from those considerations.

Immersion lithography laser light source with pulse stretcher


A probe head including an elastic membrane capable of exerting a restoring force when one of the surfaces of the elastic membrane is distorted. A conductive probe includes a beam having a first end and a second end, with a probe tip proximate the first end for contacting a device under test. A beam contact proximate the second end of the beam. The beam being movable to deform at least one surface of the elastic membrane.

The present invention relates to probing assemblies of the type commonly used for testing integrated circuits (ICs) and, in particular, to a probing assembly providing finely pitched, compliant probes having very low inductance.
Integrated circuit technology permits fabrication of a number of discrete electronic circuit elements on a single substrate or "wafer." After fabrication, this wafer is divided into a number of rectangular-shaped chips or dies where each die includes a rectangular or other regular arrangement of metallized contact pads or bond pads through which input and output connections can be made to the electronic circuit on the die. Although each die is eventually packaged separately, for efficiency, testing of the circuit formed on each die is preferably performed while the dies are still joined together on the wafer. One typical procedure is to support the wafer on a flat stage or "chuck" and move the wafer in X, Y, and Z directions relative to the head of a probing assembly so that probe tips projecting from the probing assembly can be moved from die to die for consecutive engagement with the contact pads of each die. Respective signal, power, and ground conductors connect the probe tips to test instrumentation enabling each circuit to be sequentially connected to and operated by the test instrumentation.
One type of probing assembly used for testing integrated circuits utilizes a plurality of needle-like contacts arranged in a pattern matching the pattern of the contact pads on the device to be tested. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a probing assembly 20 that includes a needle card probe head 22 comprising an array of needle-like probes 24 restrained by upper 26 and lower 28 needle cards. The upper and lower needle cards 26, 28 contain patterns of holes that correspond to the contact pad arrangement of the IC or other device to be tested with the probing assembly 20. The lower end of each of the probes 24 extends through one of the holes in the lower needle card 28, terminating in a pointed probe tip. The upper end of each of the probes 24 is restrained by a hole in the upper needle card 26. The holes of the upper needle card 26 are covered by electrically conductive pads 32 arranged on a surface of a space transformer 30 (indicated by a bracket) preventing the upper ends of the probes from sliding through the upper needle card 26 when the lower ends of the probes are brought into pressing engagement with the contact pads on the device under test. The space transformer is a rigid, multilayer plate having electrically conductive contacts 32, 36 on the opposing surfaces that are electrically connected by conductive traces 34 that extend through the plate. The space transformer 30 re-routes the electrical signals from the finely pitched pattern of the needle probes 24 to a more coarsely pitched pattern obtainable on a probe card 38, a printed circuit board through which the test instrumentation is connected to the probing assembly.
The exemplary probing assembly 20 also includes an interposer 39 disposed between the space transformer 30 and the probe card 38. The interposer 39 typically includes a plurality of elastically deformable contacts electrically connected through a substrate to provide compliant electrical connections on opposing sides of the substrate. The compliance of the conductors compensates for variations in the distances separating the respective terminals of the space transformer 30 and the probe card 38 promoting reliable electrical connections there between.
The needle probes 24 typically comprise a wire including complementary bends that form an upper section and a lower section that lie generally parallel to, but offset from each other, adjacent, respectively, the upper and lower ends of the probe. The hole pattern of the lower needle card 28 is offset from the hole pattern in the upper needle card 26 to accommodate the offset of the ends of the probes. When the lower end of a probe is pressed into engagement with the contact pads on a die, the substantially columnar probe can bend at the offset, acting like a spring. The compliance provided by the elastic bending of the probe accommodates variations in probe length, probe head planarity, and wafer topography.
Needle card probing assemblies have been used extensively in wafer testing, but the trend in electronic production, and, in particular, IC production, to higher frequency, more complex circuits having smaller circuit elements and geometries has exposed several limitations of this type of probing device. First, the pitch, the distance between the probes, is limited by manufacturing tolerances and assembly considerations to about 125 □m, a spacing greater than desirable for many ICs having finely pitched contact pads. In addition, the metallic contact pads of the dies oxidize rapidly and the tip of the probe must sharpened so that it can be pushed into the surface of the contact pad to achieve the good conductivity required for accurate measurements. This causes rapid dulling of the pointed probe ends, frequent bending or breaking of the probes, and may damage the contact pad if penetration is too great. The contact pad material also adheres to the probe and frequent cleaning is required which often damages the probes. Moreover, the inductance of parallel conductors is a function of the length and distance between the conductors. Typically, the relatively long, closely spaced, needle-like probes exhibit a single path inductance of 1-2 nH which is sufficient to substantially distort high frequency signals, limiting the usefulness of needle-type probes for testing high frequency devices.
A second type of probing assembly is described by Gleason et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,386 B2, incorporated herein by reference. Referring to FIG. 3, a membrane probing assembly 40 includes a probe card 52 on which data and signal lines 48, 50 from the instrumentation are arranged and a membrane probing assembly 42. Referring to FIGS. 3-4, the membrane probing assembly 42 includes a support element 54 formed of incompressible material such as a hard polymer. This element is detachably connected to the upper side of the probe card by screws 56 and corresponding nuts 58 (each screw passes through a respective attachment arm 60 of the support element, and a separate backing element 62 evenly distributes the clamping pressure of the screws over the entire back side of the supporting element). Different probing assemblies having different contact arrangements can be quickly substituted for each other as needed for probing devices having different arrangements of contact pads.
Referring to FIGS. 4-5, the support element 54 includes a rearward base portion 64 to which the attachment arms 60 are integrally joined. Also included on the support element 54 is a forward support or plunger 66 that projects outwardly from the flat base portion. This forward support has angled sides 68 that converge toward a flat support surface 70 so as to give the forward support the shape of a truncated pyramid. Referring also to FIG. 4, a flexible membrane assembly 72 is attached to the support after being aligned by means of alignment pins 74 included on the base portion. This flexible membrane assembly is formed by one or more plies of insulative polyimide film, and flexible conductive layers or strips are provided between or on these plies to form the data/signal lines 76.
When the support element 54 is mounted on the upper side of the probe card 52 as shown in FIG. 5, the forward support 66 protrudes through a central opening 78 in the probe card so as to present the contacts which are arranged on a central region 80 of the flexible membrane assembly in suitable position for pressing engagement with the contact pads of the die or other device under test. Referring to FIG. 4, the membrane assembly includes radially extending arm segments 82 that are separated by inwardly curving edges 84 that give the assembly the shape of a formee cross, and these segments extend in an inclined manner along the angled sides 68 thereby clearing any upright components surrounding the pads. A series of contact pads 86 terminate the data/signal lines 76 so that when the support element is mounted, these pads electrically engage corresponding termination pads provided on the upper side of the probe card so that the data/signal lines 48 on the probe card are electrically connected to the contacts on the central region.
The probing assembly 42 is capable of probing a dense arrangement of contact pads over a large number of contact cycles in a manner that provides generally reliable electrical connection between the contacts and pads in each cycle despite oxide buildup on the contact pads. The membrane assembly is so constructed and connected to the support element that the contacts on the membrane assembly wipe or scrub, in a locally controlled manner, laterally across the contact pads when brought into pressing engagement with these pads.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the central region 80a of the membrane assembly 72a illustrating an embodiment in which the contacts 88 are arranged in a square-like pattern suitable for engagement with a corresponding square-like arrangement of contact pads on a die. The membrane assembly provides space transformation from the very fine pitch of the densely packed contacts 88 to the more coarsely pitched contact pads 86 terminating the data/signal lines 76.
Referring also to FIG. 9a, which represents a sectional view taken along lines 9a-9a in FIG. 8, each contact comprises a relatively thick rigid beam 90 at one end of which is formed a rigid contact bump 92. The contact bump includes thereon a contacting portion 93 which comprises a nub of rhodium fused to the contact bump. Using electroplating, each beam is formed in an overlapping connection with the end of a flexible conductive trace 76a to form a joint therewith. This conductive trace in conjunction with a back-plane conductive layer 94 effectively provides a controlled impedance data or signal line to the contact because its dimensions are established using a photolithographic process.
The membrane assembly is interconnected to the flat support surface 70 by an interposed elastomeric layer 98, which layer is coextensive with the support surface and can be formed by a silicone rubber compound. The flat support surface, as previously mentioned, is made of incompressible material and is preferably a hard dielectric such as polysulfone or glass. When one of the contacts 88 is brought into pressing engagement with a respective contact pad 100 of a die, as indicated in FIG. 10, the resulting off-center force on the rigid beam 90 and bump 92 structure causes the beam to pivot or tilt against the elastic recovery force provided by the elastomeric pad 98. This tilting motion is localized in the sense that a forward portion 102 of the beam moves a greater distance toward the flat support surface 70 than a rearward portion 104 of the same beam. The effect is such as to drive the contact into lateral scrubbing movement across the contact pad with a dashed-line and solid-line representation showing the beginning and ending positions, respectively, of the contact on the pad. In this fashion, the insulating oxide buildup on each contact pad is abraded so as to ensure adequate contact-to-pad electrical connections.
A locally scrubbing, membrane probing assembly provides contacts which can be finely pitched to engage contact pads on physically smaller devices and combines high conductivity with ruggedness and resistance to wear and damage. Membrane suspended probes can also combine a greater section and shorter length to exhibit much lower inductance than typical needle probes permitting their use at higher frequencies and producing less signal distortion at all frequencies. However, the probes and the signal and data lines are created on the surface of the membrane and connect to probe card terminals arranged around the periphery of the membrane. Heretofore, membrane suspended probes have not been adaptable for use with the probe cards and space transformers suitable for use with a needle card-type probe heads where the signal paths pass through the center of the probing assembly and are arranged substantially parallel to the central axis of the probing assembly. What is desired, therefore, is a device and method for adapting robust, finely pitched, low inductance membrane suspended probes for use with the components of a probing assembly suited for use with a needle-type probe head.

Probe head having a membrane suspended probe


Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and systems associated with a power management system are disclosed. In one such embodiment, a power management system includes a state machine, capable of transitioning the power management system to a safe state when an input signal and/or an output signal from a component of the power management system indicates occurrence of an error in the component.

Electrical and/or electronic circuits operate using a power source. Some power sources provide direct current (DC) electricity in the form of DC current and/or DC voltage. An associated issue with such electrical and/or electronic circuits may be lower power operation modes and/or well-defined power initiation sequences. Low power operation modes may assist manufacturers in complying with regulations designed to result in lower power consumption. Such regulations continue to lower the power consumption standards for electronics, computer equipment, computers, monitors and/or peripherals, such as printers, appliances, and the like. Meeting these regulations can cause difficulty with attaining design objectives, such as cost, complexity, and size.

System and method for powering on after verifying proper operation of a charge pump and voltage regulator

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A switchgear assembly includes a tank housing encapsulating switching contacts which are viewable through a transparent viewing port after illumination of the contacts. A reflective optical device for observing the position of the switching contacts is used to view the contacts at a safe distance outside of the tank housing through the transparent viewing port. An illuminating device is used to illuminate the switching contacts by directing the light from the illuminating device on the switch contacts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical equipment. In particular, this invention relates to systems for detecting the state of electrical contacts in enclosed electrical equipment such as switchgears. More particularly, this invention relates to viewing the rotary knife blade contact earthing or grounding system in electrical equipment such as switchgears.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Switchgears are used in the electric power systems or grids and basically refer to the combination of disconnectors, fuses and/or circuit breakers used to isolate electrical equipment from the mains or alternating current (AC) electrical power supply. Switchgears are used to de-energize equipment to allow work to be done and to clear faults in the electrical equipment. This type of equipment is important because it is directly linked to the connectivity of the electricity supply.
The earliest central power stations used simple open knife switches, mounted on insulating panels of marble or asbestos. However, increasing power levels and voltages have made open manually-operated switches very dangerous to use for anything other than isolation of a de-energized circuit. By the early 20th century, a switchgear line-up was made up of a metal-enclosed structure with electrically-operated switching elements, using oil circuit breakers. Today, oil-filled equipment has largely been replaced by gas insulated equipment allowing large currents and power levels to be safely controlled.
High voltage switchgears were invented at the end of the 19th century for operating motors and others electric machines. The technology has been improved over time and is used with voltages up to 1,100 kV. However, until this date there is a need to manually view the contacts. Since it is tedious to view the contacts in an enclosed housing, and the result yielded by the sensors is not 100 percent guaranteed, there is a need for a manual mechanism to view the internal parts in the enclosed electrical equipment.
In case of gas insulated switchgears, the position of the switch and contacts cannot be viewed from the front side even if a front inspection window is provided due to its design restrictions. Further, it is not advisable to risk the life of workers during maintenance work if the state of the equipment cannot be properly determined. In the prior art, a cut-out was directly provided on the front side of the equipment to view the position of the contacts. However, such solution has not been successful due to the construction, position and design limitations. Further, variable case sizes and switch orientation has limited implementation of this technology. Also, the presence of gas within the housing further reduces visibility of the operator. In another arrangement, the position of the switch was changed to bring the earthing or grounding switch on top with linear motion contacts inside transparent glass insulation so that the position of the contacts can be seen clearly. However, this arrangement escalates the cost of the equipment due to the requirement of a new switch to meet such design changes.
German Patent No. 296 08 127 discloses endoscope devices wherein the endoscope devices are directly guided through guide tubes to the inspection windows of the switch panels, to be able to view the contact points arranged behind these inspection windows. The guide tubes of the switch panels are accessible from the front side, so that the operating personnel can directly manipulate the endoscope devices from the operating side of the switch panels.
The endoscope devices are equipped with an optical lens at their free end and also have a light source, allowing the contact areas arranged in the housings of the switch panels to be observed using these endoscope devices. At the same time, endoscope devices must be positioned in such a way that both the image segment and the image brightness are adequate to be able to assess the contact points with sufficient reliability.
Therefore, there is a need to view and provide illumination inside enclosed electrical equipment in a more efficient and cost effective manner.

Switchgear assembly including a transparent viewing port for visual observation of contacts

Schneider Electric Infrastructure Limited


A method of practicing electrical impedance tomography produces three-dimensional images of a body. First, one applies certain special current patterns to the body through an array of electrodes attached to the surface. For each current pattern, one measures the voltage at each electrode, thus obtaining a corresponding pattern of voltages. These data are then used in a certain special reconstruction process, which enables a full three-dimensional reconstruction to be done in a short time. The result is a display of an approximation to the electric conductivity and/or electric permittivity in the interior of the body.

The present invention relates in general to electrical impedance tomography and in particular, to a new and useful method and apparatus for producing a three-dimensional impedance image of the interior of a body, despite the tremendous number of computations which were hitherto thought essential in creating such an image.
The present invention has applications in medical imaging, clinical monitoring, non-destructive evaluation, process control and the imaging of multiphase fluid flow.
Although superficially similar to X-ray computed tomography or positron emission tomography, electrical impedance tomography (EIT) encounters fundamentally different problems when attempting to create an image In X-ray computer tomography, for example, the paths of photons through the body are essentially straight lines In contrast, current paths in EIT are functions of an unknown resistivity distribution. This gives rise to a non-linear reconstruction problem.
The physiological basis for EIT, relies on the fact that biological tissues contain free charge carrier that permit them to act as relatively poor electrical conductors. This ability to conduct electricity varies substantially among the various body tissues. Some typical values for resistivity of biological tissues are disclosed in Table 1. The goal of EIT is to compute and display the spatial distribution of resistivity inside the body.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Resistivity Material (.rho.) ohm-cm ______________________________________ Blood 150 Plasma 63 Cerebrospinal Fluid 65 Urine 30 Skeletal muscle 300 Cardiac muscle 750 Lung 1275 Fat 2500 Copper 1.724 .times. 10.sup.-6 ______________________________________
The present invention is related to the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,490 issued to one of the co-inventors of the present application and incorporated here by reference.
This invention is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/727,075 entitled A LAYER STRIPPING PROCESS FOR IMPEDANCE IMAGING, which is also incorporated here by reference and which discloses mathematical theories and manipulations which are useful in understanding the present invention. For additional disclosure concerning hardware useful in practicing the present invention, see U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/734,591 entitled CURRENT PATTERNS FOR ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY which is also incorporated here by reference.

Three-dimensional impedance imaging processes


The present invention provides an operation method of a plant which has a low-pressure feed water heater, a deaerator and a high-pressure feed water heater sequentially arranged in a feed water pipe reaching a steam generator from a condenser, and leads high-temperature feed water to the steam generator, wherein an oxidant is injected onto a surface of a structural material from an oxidant injection line in order to form a film that suppresses an elution of an element constituting the structural material such as the feed water pipe, the low-pressure feed water heater, the deaerator and the high-pressure feed water heater, which come in contact with the high-temperature feed water, and a corrosion suppression substance is further introduced from a corrosion suppression substance introduction line in order to deposit the corrosion suppression substance on a surface of the structural material in which corrosion accelerated by a flow of the feed water occurs.

In various plants, each of which is provided with a boiler, a steam generator and the like and uses high-temperature water, including a thermal power plant and a nuclear power plant, there may cause a case where a metal of a structural material is subjected to an aged deterioration phenomenon such as ionic elution and the formation of a corrosion product. Deposition of the corrosion product disturbs a flow channel in a pipe, resulting in a cause of vibration.
Furthermore, the vibration under a high flow-velocity condition may cause a crack or damage in the structural material, and in addition, when the corrosion product deposits on a heat transfer surface in the steam generator of a pressurized-water nuclear power plant, a feed water heater or the like of a boiling-water reactor power plant or a thermal power plant, the corrosion product may cause the decrease of the heat transfer coefficient.
In such steam generator and feed water heater, an impurity concentration in feed water is kept at low concentration by continuous blow water in the apparatus, but in a narrow portion such as a crevice portion between a heat transfer pipe and a support plate, water quality occasionally differs from a controlled value, which may result in that the impurities are concentrated in the narrow portion, a corrosive environment is created in the portion, and it may also be assumed that a scale (oxide) or the like deposits therein. In addition, even in the piping in a pipeline having an orifice, a valve or the like, a liquid passes through the inner space at a high speed, and accordingly, in such case, it is necessary to take measures against erosion, corrosion, flow-accelerated-type corrosion and the like.
These are representative phenomena occurring in high-temperature water environment, and exert various influences such as a problem on an operation caused by corrosion and increase of maintenance frequency on the piping and other members including the structural material. In addition, in recent years, such a phenomenon occurs in a carbon steel pipe that the thickness of the pipe decreases due to a wall-thinning phenomenon. Thus, the elution, the corrosion phenomenon and the like of metal are gradually accumulated during a plant operation in a long period of time, and potentially show a possibility of suddenly erupting into a disaster at some point.
In any power plant, in a pipeline on a downstream side of a condenser, iron and the like elute, and in a pipe disposed downstream side of a deaerator, the temperature rises and a condition of causing the flow-accelerated-type corrosion is formed. Because of this reason, the suppression of these phenomena leads to the enhancement of the soundness and the operation period of equipment. The method of suppressing the above descried phenomenon includes injecting a chemical agent having a corrosion-suppressing effect into the system to impart a quality of causing little corrosion to the water, for example, in the thermal power plant, the PWR power plant and the like.
For example, in a secondary system of the thermal power plant or the pressurized-water-type nuclear power plant, pH control or water quality control has been performed by injecting ammonia for reducing the elution of iron from the inside of the system and preventing the inflow of the iron to the steam generator. Furthermore, in order to eliminate the alkali concentration of the crevice portion in the steam generator, various water quality controls are implemented in an actual plant, such as an Na/Cl ratio control and a chloride ion concentration control for reducing an influence of a chlorine ion on corrosion. In recent years, the water-quality control method has been adopted by using improved chemicals such as ethanolamine and morpholine.
As for the improvement of chemicals to be injected, there is provided a method of utilizing an organic acid such as tannic acid and ascorbic acid as an oxygen scavenger (for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 4-26784: Patent Document 1). In addition, as for the water-quality control method, there are proposed an operation method of controlling a molar ratio of all cations/SO4, a method of introducing at least one of a calcium compound and a magnesium compound into feed water to a steam generator for a nuclear reactor so that the ion concentration becomes 0.4 to 0.8 ppb (for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-12162: Patent Document 2), and the like. In addition, a technology for injecting a precious metal for protecting a material and injecting oxygen is also proposed (for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-339793: Patent Document 3).
However, the methods of controlling the water quality proposed in the Patent Documents 1 and 2 inject the chemical agent into the feed water of the pressurized-water-type nuclear power plant, and accordingly, this technology may apply an influence upon the purity of the feed water, the environment and the like.
Furthermore, although the method of controlling the water quality disclosed in the Patent Document 3 shows clear criteria for the injection of the precious metal such as platinum (Pt) and ruthenium (Ru), there is no disclosure concerning a necessary injection amount and an injection method for a metal compound such as titanium oxide (TiO2).

Plant operation method and plant operation system


An autostereo projection system uses multiple projectors to form a seamless and extended field of view. Each projector is registered to a CRT display. Shutter elements in each projector create multiple pupils for each CRT display. Each CRT display is driven with different images for each shutter pupil.

Three-dimensional displays are used to create an illusion of a three-dimensional image to a viewer by displaying a different two-dimensional image to each eye of the viewer. Each view is taken at a slightly different angle so the viewer perceives the illusion of a three-dimensional scene. Such three-dimensional display systems are preferred for virtual reality and gaming applications.
One example of a three-dimensional display employs a movable vertical slit in combination with an image source. The slit is moved between a plurality of positions in sequence with images displayed by the image source. The images can be viewed by a viewer with each image displaced in space based on the position of the slit.


A method for manufacturing an injection-enhanced insulated-gate bipolar transistor, comprising the following steps: an n-type substrate (12) is provided; a p-type doped layer (14) is formed on the n-type substrate (12); a hard layer (20) is formed on the p-type doped layer (14); a groove (40) extending to the n-type substrate (12) is formed by etching on the p-type doped layer (14); an n-type doped layer (50) is formed on the sidewalls and bottom of the groove (40); the hard layer (20) is removed; p-type impurities of the p-type doped layer (14) and n-type impurities of the n-type doped layer (50) are driven in together, where the p-type impurities are diffused to form a p-type base region (60), and the n-type impurities are diffused to form an n-type buffer layer (70); a gated oxide dielectric layer (80) is formed on the surface of the groove (40); and, a polysilicon layer (90) is deposited in the groove having formed therein the gate oxide dielectric layer (80). In the method for manufacturing the injection-enhanced insulated-gate bipolar transistor, the p-type doped layer (14) and the n-type doped layer (50) are driven in together to form the p-type base region (60) and the n-type buffer layer (70), as only one drive-in process is required, production cycle is shortened in comparison with a conventional method for manufacturing the injection-enhanced insulated-gate bipolar transistor.

Currently, in an injection-enhanced insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), the buffer layer is formed by generally implanting an N-type dopant, and then a drive-in is performed, a body implantation is performed, then a drive-in is performed again, such that a time period of the drive-in for forming the buffer layer is longer than a time period of the drive-in for forming the body, which results in that a junction depth of the N-type dopant to be deeper than a junction depth of the body. Therefore, when such IGBT manufacturing method is adopted, it requires an additional drive-in to the buffer layer before performing a drive-in to the body, the N-type dopant is distributed and diffused by virtue of a long time period of drive-in, causing the junction depth of the N-type dopant to be deeper than the junction depth of the body, an N+ is formed beneath the body, such that an enhanced injection can be achieved. However, the method of manufacturing the injection-enhanced IGBT requires additionally adding a drive-in process, the production cycle thereof is long.

Method for manufacturing injection-enhanced insulated-gate bipolar transistor


A robot device (1) has a central processing process (CPU) having a plurality of objects and adapted for carrying out control processing on the basis inter-object communication carried out between the objects, the central processing process controlling accesses by the plurality of objects to a shared memory shared by the plurality of objects and thus carrying out inter-object communication. Specifically, the central processing process generates pointers P11, P12, P13, P21, P22 in accordance with accesses by the objects to predetermined areas M1, M2 on a shared memory M, then measures the pointers by the corresponding number-of-reference measuring objects RO1, RO2, and controls the accesses in accordance with the number of pointers measured, thereby carrying out inter-object communication. This enables easy realization of smooth inter-process communication.

In the case of carrying out communication (inter-process communication) between a plurality of distributed processes for executing tasks in real time, the proceeding status of the task is different depending on the weight, priority, processing cycle and the like of the processing of each process. For example, if the processing result (data) of a process A which is executed at a high speed is transmitted from the process A to a process B which is executed at a low speed, the process B is filled with the received queues from the process A and the received queues overflow. Such a problem of overflowing queues occurs at various sites in a system operating in real time. In order to prevent this problem, handshaking between the processes must be carried out by a certain technique. For example, the following three techniques are proposed (Basics and Application of OS, A. S. Tannenbaum, Toppan, p.464):
(1) blocking transmission;
(2) non-blocking transmission which involves copying; and
(3) non-blocking transmission which involves interrupt.
These three techniques (1) to (3) are proposed. The blocking transmission (1) is a transmission technique in which The transmitting side waits until transmission is completed and the queues at destination are emptied. The non-blocking transmission which involves copying (2) is a transmission technique in which data is copied into an area of the system so as to let the process on the transmitting side proceed. The non-blocking transmission which involves interrupt (3) is a transmission technique in which writing to a transmission buffer is carried out by interrupt processing.
Meanwhile, though it can be said that the above-described blocking transmission (1) is a safe and secure transmission technique, this technique is not practical because when freely changing the connection of software or process as a component (for example, object-oriented software, hereinafter referred to as object), a deadlock may easily occur depending on the way of connection.
Object-oriented software is constituted, for example, in a pet-like robot device or the like. A pet-like robot device makes, for example, gestures similar to those of a certain animal in accordance with various processing (for example, data communication) through inter-object communication (or inter-process communication).
The above-described non-blocking transmission which involves copying (2) is less efficient because it repeats redundant copying. For example, in inter-object communication where communications (or connections) between a plurality of objects and a plurality of objects are permitted, an increase in the number of connections causes an increase in the number of times of copying and hence the number of memories used as buffers.
In the above-described non-blocking transmission which involves interrupt (3), no redundant copying from the transmission buffer is carried out, thus saving the time for carrying out the subsequent processing. However, since the interrupt notifies the user of the information that the transmission buffer has been made writable again, it becomes more difficult for the user to handle the programming. Therefore, the non-blocking transmission which involves interrupt (3) is considered to have more problems than advantages.
Thus, it is desired to realize the elimination of redundant copying from the transmission buffer as in the non-blocking transmission which involves interrupt (3) while solving the problems of this technique so that the user will not feel the handling troublesome.

Information processing device, information processing method, and robot apparatus


A direct current (DC) remote power controller for remotely controlling DC power between a DC power source and a DC load, comprises: a current sensor for sensing the level of current that the power source supplies to the load and generating a current feedback signal representative of the sensed current level; a current limit controller that compares the current feedback signal to a reference current level and generates a current regulation signal representative of the value of sensed current level above the reference current level; a current limiting device that is responsive to the current regulation signal to limit load current to the reference current level up to a first predetermined level of potential difference across the current limiting device; a load resistance; and a switched-mode DC-to-DC converter in parallel with the current limiting device that senses potential difference across the current limiting device and diverts a portion of the load current from the current limiting device through the load resistance above the first predetermined level of potential difference to reduce power dissipation of the current limiting device and maintain the load current at the reference current level.

A remote power controller (RPC) is a form of switching circuitry that offers remote switching of a high power electrical load from its source with a low power control signal bus. RPCs are particularly useful in aerospace applications to reduce weight, bulk, cost and power loss associated with high power remote power switching, which type of switching requires advanced features including an overload trip function, status outputs, and, often, current limiting.
Current limiting provides control of excessive currents in electrical systems when the outputs experience a fault condition. RPCs limit load current by controlling the load current to some value in excess of normal value whilst sustaining the electrical potential difference between the power source and the load. A short in the load circuit maximises power dissipation in the RPC, since the full electrical potential difference of the power source voltage then exists across the RPC.
Since RPCs have semiconductor-based current limiting devices, these devices must dissipate significant amounts of power. Since some applications may require the dissipation of hundreds of watts, RPCs may require tens of semiconductor-based current limiting devices to operate in parallel to achieve such power dissipation. Certain RPC designs have used so-called "helper" circuits that divert some of the load current to a resistor under fault conditions, reducing power dissipation for the semiconductor-based current limiting devices. Under ideal conditions, the "helper" circuit can reduce the power in the semiconductor-based current limiting devices by 75 percent. With practical tolerances, the power reduction is less than 60 percent at best.

Remote power controller with power sharing circuit


A system and method for rapidly labeling a blow-molded hollow container made of a plastic composition subject to out-gassing after de-molding. Otherwise, conventional high speed silk screen labeling technology and processing is employed shortly after container fabrication de-molding in order to accurately deposit a continuous liquid layer of conventional silk screen ink over an external container surface area designated for application thereon of a self-adhering pre-printed label. The label is rapidly and accurately transfer applied over the silk screen coated area immediately after the same has dried, and even while out-gassing is still occurring from the de-molded container. However, the protective ink barrier coating prevents formation of bubbles beneath the label. Those gases in the container wall resident beneath the label-affixed area can then nevertheless out-gas by migrating out of the container internal wall surface. Also, labeling may be silk screen imprinted on the container surface in a designated label-receiving area, and/or on non-designated surface area concurrently with barrier coating of the designated area. A gas-blocking clear ink barrier layer may be silk screened over the silk screen imprinting, and then the label applied over the gas-blocking layer of clear ink when dry. The label may be xe2x80x9cpeelablexe2x80x9d for customer rebate return without thereby altering the labeling information remaining on the container. The pre-printed label may be a replicate of the label-covered imprinting so that the xe2x80x9ctrade dressxe2x80x9d need not be altered by the peelable label, and so that the container surface area available for permanent labeling is maximized.

This invention relates to applying labels to articles and more particularly to applying labels to containers of molded plastic composition.
In the application of labels by what is known as transfer labeling, it is customary to position labels on a web and thereafter transfer the labels to the articles to be labeled. In one type of such labeling, heat-sensitive labels are used that must be heated and applied to the articles. In another type, pressure-sensitive labels are used that must be removed from the web and applied to the article. An improved apparatus that can be readily changed for use either for applying heat-sensitive labels or for applying pressure-sensitive labels is that disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,129 issued in the name of Terence J. Twele and assigned to Owens-Illinois Plastic Products Inc., of Toledo, Ohio, assignee of record herein, which is incorporated herein by reference.
When applying such labels to articles of molded plastic composition, particularly blow-molded plastic containers composed of high density polyethylene or the like, in accordance with conventional technology it is necessary to delay application of the labels for a prolonged period of time, such as 24 hours, after removal of the containers from the mold in which they are fabricated to allow de-gassing of the container walls. Gases are trapped within the plastic material of the container walls as a result of the fabrication process, particularly in blow molding processes, and these gases must be allowed to migrate out of the container walls before running the containers through a labeling apparatus or process. Otherwise, if a pressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive label, particularly one made of non-breathable material such as a metalized pressure-sensitive label, is placed on the container prior to de-gassing, the residual gases that migrate out of the container wall material beneath the label will create bubbles beneath the label, thereby resulting in a defectively labeled product requiring costly re-processing and/or scrapage.
Of course, the prolonged delay period required for de-gassing after molding prior to transfer labeling of such plastic articles adds to production and hence product costs, particularly in a high volume mass production set-up. The de-gassing delay period entails mechanized transport equipment, storage space requirements, and added potential for damage to the article in such de-gassing processing intermediate the molding and labeling stations.
It is also common practice in the plastic container manufacturing art to imprint labeling information indicia on mold-fabricated plastic containers by employing a silk screening operation. Upon removal from the mold, the fabricated container is placed on a conveyor and conveyed successively through several stations, at one or more of which labeling information is silk screened onto one or more exterior surfaces of the container wall. Multiple stages are employed for multiple-color labeling and decorating. Typical apparatus for printing or decorating by silk screening is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,005,649 and 4,398,627, and an improvement thereover is disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,047 issued Jan. 16, 1996 in the name of John A. Plenzler and assigned to Owens-Illinois Plastic Products Inc., the aforementioned assignee of record herein, which is also incorporated herein by reference.
Such labeling of molded plastic articles by silk screen imprinting with typical silk screen ink materials, even when practiced on blow-molded plastic containers, does not require the aforementioned de-gassing delay period in the production process inasmuch as the labeling so applied to the container wall is inherently highly gas pervious or permeable since the ink-imprinted alphabetical and numerical characters are spaced from one another throughout the labeling and thus cover only a minor percentage of the exterior wall surface area available for out-gassing.
Accordingly, among the objectives of the present invention are to provide an improved system and method that enables conventional transfer labeling methods and equipment to be employed to apply pre-printed labels made of gas impermeable material to the appropriate surface area of the article, such as the container wall, while de-gassing from the plastic material of the article is still occurring but nevertheless preventing formation of gas bubbles beneath the applied label, thereby eliminating the need for the aforementioned de-gassing delay period between de-molding and transfer labeling and thus eliminating the attendant production cost penalties.
Another object is to provide an improved system and method of the aforementioned character that also enables conventional silk screening technology, apparatus, methods and materials to be employed during de-gassing of the molded article, and that enables composite labeling of the finished article by both silk screen and transfer labeling while still eliminating the aforementioned de-gassing delay period prior to transfer labeling.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved article of manufacture made of a molded plastic composition having silk-screen-imprinted labeling on the exterior surface thereof wherein all or a portion of such silk screen is covered by a removably attached label pre-printed with indicia that is a replicate of the silk screen imprinted indicia covered by the label, thereby enabling the article to have a label that is end-use customer removed for rebate-type return or similar merchandising promotion while thereafter still leaving the article fully labeled, thereby maximizing the available labeling surface area of the article without altering the point-of-sale trade dress of the article.
In general, and by way of summary description and not by way of limitation, the present invention achieves the aforementioned objectives by employing conventional silk screen label technology and processing shortly after container fabrication de-molding in order to deposit a layer of conventional silk screen ink over the entire predetermined area of the external container surface designated for application thereon of a self-adhering label of either the pressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive type. This silk screen ink covering of the label receiving area of the container surface customarily drys very quickly so that the self-adhering label may be transfer applied over the silk screen area immediately after silk screening and even while out-gassing is still occurring from the molded article. However, the silk screen ink layer is sufficiently gas impermeable so as to prevent migration of gases out of that portion of the container exterior surface disposed beneath the applied label, and hence this protective ink barrier in turn prevents formation of bubbles beneath the label. Those gases in the container wall resident beneath the label-affixed area can then nevertheless out-gas by migrating out of the internal wall surface from the interior of the container and/or from the marginal exterior surface area surrounding the labeled area. Preferably the silk screen ink layer deposited beneath the self-adhering label is clear (non-pigmented) and compounded to be non-transmissive to ultraviolet energy.
It is also contemplated in accordance with the present invention to provide a silk screen imprinted label on the container beneath the transfer-applied self-adhering label. In this embodiment, the gas-blocking ink layer is silk screened over the silk screened label imprinting, and then the self-adhering label transfer applied over the gas-blocking layer of ink. This provides a new article of manufacture in which the self-adhered label may be xe2x80x9cpeelablexe2x80x9d by a customer for return to obtain a rebate, for example, without thereby altering the contents of the labeling information remaining on the container after removal of the peelable label. Hence the xe2x80x9ctrade dressxe2x80x9d of the article need not be altered in order to provide a peelable label on the same, and the available surface area available for labeling is thus maximized.


The present invention provides for an electroacoustic driver for use within an explosion proof loudspeaker or sounder and comprising a housing enclosing a coil of an electromagnet, the coil operatively coupled to an electromagnet core, a diaphragm located outside the housing for generating audible sound waves, a magnetic element located outside the housing and coupled to the diaphragm, wherein the electromagnet core extends through a wall of the housing from inside to outside of the housing to interact with the said magnetic element to cause movement of the diaphragm.

Sound output devices such as speakers and sounders are commonly employed within, for example, industrial and/or processing environments comprising hazardous areas and environments. Such areas and environments include in particular those where there is the danger of explosion due for example to the possible presence of explosive gages and/or dust. For such areas classified as hazardous, it can prove essential that an electroacoustic driver unit is present so as to provide for audible sounds/signals such as for communication and/or alarm purposes.
The required use in such hazardous areas dictates that the electroacoustic driver unit has to exhibit a housing offering a sufficient degree of sealing so as to prevent any potentially explosive event occurring within the housing travelling to the hazardous area/environment within which the housing is located.
One form of speaker or sounder arranged for use within a hazardous area employs a sintered material to seal the housing and which, while allowing an audible signal to pass through, provides a sufficient degree of isolation to prevent any explosive event within the housing travelling into the hazardous area/environment.
However, various limitations and disadvantages are exhibited by such known arrangements. While allowing the required sound to be output into the area/environment, the sintered element nevertheless serves to attenuate the sound output from the driver thereby limiting the effective volume of its output. Sintered elements are also relatively expensive features of such known designs. Also, such sintered elements commonly allow for water ingress and, if insufficiently dense, can also allow for dust ingress making such known driver units unsuitable for explosive dust-laden atmospheres.
Further, should an explosive event occur within the housing, the sintered element will experience a rise in temperature which reduces the threshold minimum temperature of the atmosphere into which such a known sintered sound/speaker can be safely deployed. It is also required to limit the gas volume within the housing behind the sintered element to reduce any temperature rise resulting from an internal explosive event and also to reduce mechanical stress on the sintered element. Such requirement for limitation of the gas volume serves to complicate the mechanical design of such known explosion-proof speaker/sounder and thereby disadvantageously increasing cost.
Also, and partly to compensate for the sound attenuation by the sintered element, such known speakers/sounders require a relatively large magnet and can prove restrictively expensive.
Various attempts to overcome the limitations of such known sounders/speakers have been made so as to provide for electrostatic drivers not requiring a sintered element such as for example GB 2 461 867 A. However, the strength required for the housing disadvantageously restricts the coupling of the magnetic flux and thus the operation and efficiency of the driver. Also, the particular dimensions required for restricting a flame path through any required openings in the housing also serve to limit the practicalities of known arrangements.

Electroacoustic driver and related loudspeaker/sounder


A fleet charging system includes a plurality of chargers. A controller is programmed to predict charge demand for fleet and nonfleet vehicles over a predetermined time interval. The controller generates a charge strategy for the predetermined time interval that minimizes a total energy cost and includes storing energy in the fleet vehicles for sale to the nonfleet vehicles. The controller charges and discharges the fleet and nonfleet vehicles according to the charge strategy.

Battery-electric vehicles (BEV) have limited range based on the amount of electrical energy that can be stored on-board. The time necessary for recharging a BEV may be much longer than the time for refueling an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. In addition, there is currently less public infrastructure available for recharging BEVs than for refueling ICE vehicles. Such limitations can discourage wide-spread adoption of BEVs to the general public.

System and method for battery-electric vehicle fleet charging


An apparatus is provided for establishing at least two open access door positions relative to an opening of a compartment. The apparatus includes a position defining member having at least one engagement element, and a stop member. The position defining member is adapted to be coupled to the compartment. A housing member is adapted to be coupled to the access door for movement therewith, and has an opening for translatable receipt of the position defining member. The housing member further includes an engagement element operable to engage the at least one engagement element of the position defining member to establish a first open access door position. The stop member contacting the housing member establishes a second open access door position approximately perpendicular to the compartment.

Currently, most motor vehicles employ mechanisms which enable access into the interior of the passenger compartment of the vehicle through at least one door. The current door systems, however, only enable the occupant to open the door to approximately seventy degrees, which tends to restrict the ingress and egress of the occupants into the vehicle. In addition, by restricting the opening to approximately seventy degrees, the ability of the occupant to load cumbersome items into the vehicle is also reduced.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a motor vehicle which has a door opening mechanism which allows the door to open beyond seventy degrees to facilitate easier ingress and egress to the motor vehicle.

Vehicle door with selective full open positions


An adjustable sliding door and window track rod comprising an elongated hollow rod into which a dowel fits telescopically, the dowel having a plurality of alternating slots and raised teeth, a locking pin, which frictionally fits into the hollow tube, and has a central bore through which passes the dowel. A locking clip fits over the locking pin and engages the teeth of the dowel, locking the dowel from moving into or out of the hollow rod, fixing the length of the track rod.

The invention relates to the field of door and window stops.
Theft from homes is a major problem in society today. One particularly vulnerable location in a home is any sliding glass door or window. They are easily broken and the door or window slid open. Also, homeowners often desire to leave the door or window open for ventilation purposes. In doing so, no security exists, as there is no method to secure the open door or window, which can easily be slid further open and the home entered by unwanted persons.
Existing technology for door and window stops exist but suffer from the problem of being unstable and not strong enough to be safe. Examples of such stops are described in U.S. Pat. 4,792,168 and 4,971,374. These stops, while usable to adjustably hold a door closed, or to allow it to be open somewhat, are adjustable by placing pins through one of a series of holes in the device. These pins can be easily lost or broken, so that the devices shown are not secure. In addition lining up the holes in which to place the pins can be a frustrating or difficult experience.
Applicant""s track rod is a sliding door and window stop that can be adjusted to fit any standard size sliding door or window. The track rod can be adjusted for an opening to allow for ventilation while still keeping the sliding door or window from being opened any further. The track rod is fully adjustable and yet locks to any length, in a manner which makes it very secure and extremely difficult to break or defeat. The track rod is preferably made of high-impact Acrylonitryl-butadyene-styrene (ABS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic that can withstand up to 3,500 pounds of lateral pressure. In addition, it withstands the deteriorating effects of heat, sunlight and ultraviolet light, will not rust or warp and is designed to fit any standard sliding door or window track. No tools are required for installation. The hollow tubing is best manufactured from PVC, the dowel and the other connecting parts, from ABS.
Accordingly, objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fully adjustable door or window stop which is strong, secure and easily installed.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a fully adjustable door and window stop that is easily adjustable, durable and provides security for the homeowner.


An apparatus and method for preventing asphyxiation of an infant due to breathing of exhaled carbon dioxide. A mattress with optional mattress pad provides an even air flow that removes exhaled carbon dioxide that accumulates at or near the surface of the mattress or mattress pad. The infant may be located anywhere on the surface of the mattress or mattress pad as the even air flow disperses carbon dioxide across the entire surface. In a preferred embodiment, the even air flow is accomplished by forcing air into a cavity, or plenum chamber, in the body of the mattress which air distributes equally to air flow holes on the top surfaces of the mattress and mattress pad. Optional temperature regulating or medicine dispensing devices respectively heat or cool the air flow, or introduce medicine into the air flow. In another embodiment, the mattress is itself a mattress pad. That is, the mattress pad provides an even air flow as described and may be placed on the sleeping surface of a conventional mattress.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) claims the lives of thousands of infants in the United States each year. These infants generally appear to be normal and healthy, but succumb without warning in their cribs. The cause of SIDS is not known, and thus there is no certain means of preventing these tragedies. Medical specialists have, however, advanced several theories to explain the onset of SIDS. U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,711 issued to Hargest et al. reviews these theories, provides statistics regarding the impact of SIDS in the United States, and explains the advantage of placing an infant on its stomach for rest or sleep to prevent choking on regurgitated fluids. This advantage may be accentuated in the case of a premature or newborn infant with relatively undeveloped lungs. However, placing the infant on its stomach has certain drawbacks. As noted in Hargest, one theory regarding the cause of SIDS is that an infant sleeping or resting on its stomach, and thus with its mouth near the mattress or mattress pad of its crib, inhales the carbon dioxide products of breathing that have accumulated near the top surface of the mattress or mattress pad resulting in "carbon dioxide poisoning." This result may alternatively be described as suffocation due to an insufficient amount of oxygen in the carbon-dioxide rich air near the infant's mouth. The presence of bedding may contribute to such accumulation and thus contribute to the possibility of suffocation by the infant.
As a result, there are reasons to conclude that SIDS may be prevented by avoiding the accumulation of carbon dioxide near the top surface of the mattress or mattress pad of an infant's crib. Known apparatuses for attempting to prevent such accumulation, and in some cases for attempting to provide a fresh flow of air or oxygen, include that of Hargest and also the mattresses disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,618 issued to Beedy et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,906 issued to Varndell et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 3,339,216 issued to Ormerod.
These known mattresses and mattress pads, however, suffer from the limitation, among others, that the mechanism or method for preventing the accumulation of carbon dioxide or introducing fresh air is localized in the region where the infant's mouth is expected to be located. Thus, such mattresses or mattress pads are ineffective for their intended use if the infant moves its position so that its mouth is no longer situated near the region where carbon dioxide is discharged. Moreover, this localization prevents the achievement of an even temperature over the top surface of the mattress or mattress pad if the discharged air is heated or cooled. Also, the flow of air over the mattress top surface may be irregular or difficult to regulate. Such undesirable temperature gradients and drafts may be addressed by covering the infant with a blanket or other bedding, but the use of such bedding may, as already noted, introduce an additional mechanism that causes carbon dioxide accumulation.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of prior art apparatuses and methods, such as by preventing the accumulation of carbon dioxide across the entire top surface of the mattress or mattress pad, maintaining an even flow of air over the top surface of the mattress or mattress pad, maintaining an even temperature over the mattress or mattress pad top surface, and/or avoiding the need for bedding.

Apparatus and method for preventing sudden infant death syndrome


The present invention relates to a medicated dental floss comprising a dental floss and at least one dental desensitizing agent. Depending upon the structure, formulation, and final effects desired a binder may also be used to attach, adhere or otherwise incorporate a dental desensitizing agent onto or into the dental floss. In order to provide various other qualities one or more other ingredients, compounds or substances such as fluorides, peroxide based compounds, abrading agents, pigmenting agents, sweeteners, and flavoring agents may also be incorporated into or utilized by the medicated dental floss disclosed herein. Regular use of such a medicated dental floss will significantly reduce the incidence of dental hypersensitivity as well as providing all other benefits normally associated with flossing and in a way that is convenient, inexpensive, and safe.

This invention relates to dental flosses and, specifically, to a medicated dental floss which reduces dental decay and dentinal hypersensitivity.
It is generally recognized by the dental profession that plaques, including those that are found between the interproximal surfaces of teeth, are a major cause of both dental decay and inflammatory periodontal disease. These plaques, which can contain 250 or more separate microbial species, use sugars and other fermentable carbohydrates to produce polymers which bind the organisms to the tooth surface and acids which cause its demineralization. In the first stages a carious lesion does not contain an actual cavity but with prolonged and repeated demineralization by the plaque created acids a cavity will form. Thus, each time something sweet is consumed plaques can produce at least 20 minutes of acid in the mouth which, in turn, seriously contributes to dental demineralization.
Furthermore, plaques, if not removed will in time form calculus, and calculus, is the mineralized bacterial plaque deposits found on the teeth or other solid oral structures such as restorations. Invariably, calculus is covered by a film of plaque, the organisms of which also occupy its porous structure. Its composition is generally made up of seventy percent organic salts, and thirty percent micro-organisms and organic material. Moreover, its formation is always preceded by plaque accumulation which serves as an organic matrix for the subsequent mineralization of the deposit. Mineralization, by precipitation of mineral salts in plaque can start at any time from the second to the fourteenth day of plaque formation, but some individuals can begin to calcify plaque in four to eight hours. Initially, small crystals develop close to bacteria; gradually the intermicrobial matrix becomes entirely calcified and eventually the bacteria also become mineralized. Consequently, the presence of calculus not only makes effective oral hygiene impossible but can also seriously irritate gum tissues. Thus, its prevention and or removal to help control the inception or progression of inflammatory periodontal disease is of great importance.
As a result, dental professionals now highly recommend flossing, in addition to the conventional practice of using a brush and dentifrice, for flossing clears the interproximal surfaces of the teeth in a manner that a toothbrush, with or without a dentifrice, cannot achieve. With this two step cleaning method effective oral hygiene is greatly improved.
In addition to the various problems created by plaques it has also been estimated that as many as one in seven people in the population have suffered from dentinal hypersensitivity at some time. Treatments for this condition are, however, only available from professional dental practitioners, certain dentifrices, and some mouthwashes. Unfortunately, professional dental practitioners are invariably expensive, time consuming, and not always effective, whereas, a brush and dentifrice alone are ineffective in cleaning, let alone therapeutically treating, the interproximal surfaces of teeth. Mouthwashes have been suggested by the prior art but as yet no commercial products have been realized that can efficiently clean interproximal dental surfaces or provide any notably relief. As a result, there is presently a very great need in the general public for a convenient, effective, and inexpensive solution to help alleviate the pain associated with dentinal hypersensitivity.
With these thoughts in mind it becomes self-evident that there is a large deficiency with contemporary dental flosses in providing satisfactory remedies to the aforedescribed problems. In consequence, the invention detailed within this disclosure can provide a more effective and optimal solution than can be currently achieved.


The present invention relates to RS 1-{4-[2-(allyloxy)-ethyl]phenoxy}-3-isopropylamino propan-2-ol of the formula (1), process for preparation thereof by selective allylation of p-hydroxy phenyl ethanol and use thereof in a preparation of RS betaxolol of formula (2)

Racemic betaxolol of formula (2) is a β-adrenoreceptor antagonist with a pharmacological and pharmacokinetic profile for the treatment of chronic cardiovascular diseases like glaucoma. The disease glaucoma is characterized by progressive damage to the optic nerve caused by the increased pressure within the eye. Glaucoma is a serious disease of the eye, which may lead to the loss of peripheral vision and if untreated total blindness.
β-adrenoreceptor antagonist (β-blockers) are popularly used to lower intraoccular tension, other conditions of increased intraoccular pressure and management of essential hypertension. The principle effect of β-adrenoreceptor blocker is to reduce cardiac activity by diminishing or preventing β-adrenoreceptor stimulation i.e. by reducing the rate and force of contraction of the heart.
The processes employed for the preparation of betaxolol in the art involve protecting the phenol functional group so that the alcohol functionality can be alkylated. The resulting protection and deprotection steps extend the length of synthesis.
Manoury et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,984) describes the preparation of betaxolol which involves the benzylation of the phenolic alcohol of 4-hydroxyphenethanoic acid. The ester group is then reduced to alcohol and then condensation of 2-(4-benzyloxyphenyl)ethanol with cyclopropyl methyl halide to yield cyclopropyl methyl2-(4-benzyloxyphenyl)ether. It is then debenzylated and treated with epichlorohydrin to yield the compound, which on treatment with isopropylamine gives the betaxolol.
In another U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,182 by Ippolito et al., 4-hydroxyphenethanol is converted to a phenoxide anion with a base and then reacting it with epichlorohydrin to yield 1-(4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenoxy)2,3-epoxypropane.
Wang et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,463 ) describes selective alkylation of the 4-hydroxy phenethanol via an oxygen dianion to produce intermediate which on reaction with epichlorohydrin and subsequent addition of isopropylamine produces the end product betaxolol.
In all the above processes cyclopropylmethyl halide has been employed for introducing cyclopropyl group as a reactive intermediate. The cyclopropylmethyl halide, is expensive, highly lachrymetric and unstable. These limitations make the reported processes economically unviable and difficult to scale up.
Therefore it is necessary to develop a short, simple, an economically viable alternative process for RS betaxolol wherein the use of cyclopropylmethyl halide is avoided, and steps involving protection and deprotection are avoided.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

RS 1-{4-[2-(allyloxy)-ethyl]phenoxy}-3-isopropylamino propan-2-ol, process for preparation thereof and process for preparation of RS betaxolol

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research


A system that implements a distributed lock service may include a failure detector for servers and sessions, and may track the state of sessions on a per-client-connection basis. It may include an external lock information database that stores lock state information and that supports a higher write throughput rate than a distributed state manager. Each database record may store an identifier of a session during which a lock on a respective item was obtained (if any) and a staleness indicator. A distributed state manager may maintain a session identifier and a respective staleness indicator for each established session, and may push updates to this session information to interested client processes, which may cache the information. A client process wishing to lock an item may determine whether it can do so dependent on the information in a corresponding database record and on its own cached session information.

Implementing computing systems that manage large quantities of data and/or service large numbers of users often presents problems of scale. For example, as demand for various types of computing services grows, it may become difficult to service that demand without increasing the available computing resources accordingly. To facilitate scaling in order to meet demand, a particular computing service might be implemented as a distributed application that executes on a number of instances of computing hardware. For example, a number of different software processes executing on different computer systems may operate cooperatively to implement the computing service. When more service capacity is needed, additional hardware or software resources may be deployed.
However, implementing distributed applications may present its own set of challenges. For example, in a geographically distributed system, it is possible that different segments of the system might become communicatively isolated from one another, e.g., due to a failure of network communications between sites. As a consequence, the isolated segments may not be able to coordinate with one another. If care is not taken in such circumstances, inconsistent system behavior might result (e.g., if the isolated segments both attempt to modify data that they would ordinarily coordinate access to). More generally, the larger the distributed system, the more difficult it may be to coordinate the actions of various actors within the system (e.g., owing to the difficulty of ensuring that many different actors that are potentially widely distributed have a consistent view of system state). Depending on the granularity at which state information is shared among different components of distributed systems, the networking and computation overhead associated with sharing state information using traditional techniques such as polling may potentially grow to unsustainable levels.
Distributed lock services may allow workers in a distributed system to stake a claim on a particular job or other lockable item (e.g., a shared data item or other shared resource) for their own exclusive use. However, these distributed systems typically only support a limited degree of write throughput, which may limit their ability to be scaled.
While embodiments are described herein by way of example for several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments are not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit embodiments to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include," "including," and "includes" mean including, but not limited to.

Distributed lock service with external lock information database


A copying machine as an example of electrophotographic printing machines is composed of a main body which permits both black-and-white copying and full color copying, and a reverse and retransport unit provided under the main body, for reversing and retransporting a sheet after being copied on one surface thereof to the main body. The main body has a fixing means including upper and lower fixing portions formed between three heat rollers. The lower fixing portion placed closer to the reverse and retransport unit is associated with the black-and-white copying, and the upper fixing portion is associated with the full color copying. Upper and lower discharge transport paths for discharging the sheet out of the device are provided so as to respectively extend from the upper and lower fixing portions. Further, a retransport path is provided so as to extend from the lower fixing portion. Since the above three paths are provided without having any crossing point, the structure of the paths is simplified. Furthermore, when carrying out a black-and-white copying on one surface of the sheet and a color copying on the other surface, the black-and-white copying is carried out first, thereby eliminating the problem of the sheet being stuck in the device.

The copying machine shown in FIG. 8 is known as a conventional electrophotographic machine wherein upper and lower heat rollers 914a and 914b are provided on a fixing means 914. The copying machine permits both black-and-white copying and full color copying. The copying machine is arranged so as to scan a document placed on a document platen 903 using a lamp 902 of an optical system 901. Further, a photoreceptor 905 is exposed using a light reflected from the document through a filter 904, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor 905. The electrostatic latent image is developed using a color toner in developers 906 through 908, or using a black toner in a developer 909 so as to form a toner image. The toner image is transferred on a sheet supplied from one of sheet cassettes 911 through 913 through an intermediate transfer belt 910. The upper and lower heat rollers 914a and 914b of the fixing means 914 are in tight contact with one another. The toner of the toner image is melted in a fixing portion provided between the heat rollers 914a and 914b, whereby the toner image is permanently affixed onto the sheet.
On the other hand, the copying machines disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,331 and Japanese Laid-Open patent publication 98036/1976 (Tokukaisho 51-98036) have the following arrangement: A fixing means is provided with upper, intermediate, and lower heat rollers. An upper fixing portion is formed between the upper and intermediate heat rollers, and a lower fixing portion is formed between the intermediate and lower heat rollers. A transport belt for conveying the sheet either to the upper fixing portion or to the lower fixing portion can be moved up and down according to the fixing portion to be used. In the above arrangement, by selecting an appropriate material for the upper, intermediate, and lower heat rollers, the copying machines can be made applicable to recording material made of various material such as paper, polycarbonate, polyethylenetelephthalate, etc.
However, in the above-type of fixing means provided with the three heat rollers, when both of the upper and lower fixing portions are made applicable to both full color copying and black-and-white copying in order to enable both full color copying and black-and-white copying, the following problems will arise as in the case of the aforementioned type of fixing means provided with two heat rollers.
Because a control is required in each fixing portion according to a selected copying mode, i.e., black-and-white copying or full color copying, the control system becomes complicated, or an appropriate fixing process is difficult to be obtained.
Because the heat roller for full color copying is arranged so as to make a three-layered color toner adhere onto the sheet without adhering onto the surface of the heat roller, i.e., without offsetting the toner image, a smooth surface is required for the heat roller. This results in a higher manufacturing cost and a lower durability compared with the heat roller for black-and-white copying. Therefore, in the case where the heat roller for full color copying is adopted for both upper and intermediate heat rollers in order to make the upper and lower fixing portions applicable to both full color copying and black-and-white copying, a frequent exchange is required for both of the heat rollers. Moreover, a high cost is required for processing the black-and-white copying.
Furthermore, compared with the black toner used in the monochrome copying, the softening temperature and the melting viscosity of the color toner used in the full color copying are required to be set significantly lower in order to fully mix it for the three-layered color toner. Therefore, the offset is likely to be generated, and in order to surely prevent this, a large amount of silicone oil is required for both of the upper and intermediate heat rollers when a fixing process for full color copying is carried out in both of the upper and lower fixing portions. For this reason, in both cases where the fixing process for black-and-white copying is carried out in the upper fixing portion and in the lower fixing portion, the silicone oil used in the fixing process for the full color copying adheres onto both surfaces or one surface of the sheet. Furthermore, when copying on both sides of the sheet, the silicone oil adhering onto the sheet will adhere onto a transport roller in a retransport path. If this happens, the transporting ability is lowered, and the sheet is likely to get stuck in the apparatus. Moreover, if the silicone oil adheres onto the photoreceptor, etc., or gets inserted in the developer vessel, the image quality will be lowered.
In the copying machines designed for both black-and-white copying and full color copying, in order to prevent the above problems, the fixing means provided with the upper, intermediate, and lower heat rollers is arranged such that either one of the upper and lower fixing portions is associated with the black-and-white copying, and the other fixing portion is associated with the full color copying as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent application 191979/1990 (Tokukaihei 2-191979) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,148.
However, with the above-type of copying machine, in the case where a reverse and retransport unit is provided for reversing the recording material discharged from the fixing means and retransporting it to the main body in order to enable the image to be formed on both sides of the copying material in the black-and-white copying process, the transport path for the copying material discharged from the fixing means becomes highly complicated.
More concretely, with the above arrangement, two discharge transport paths for guiding the recording material out of the device, one being associated with the full color copying and the other being associated with the black-and-white copying, and a retransport path for guiding the copying material to the reverse and retransport unit in the both sided copying mode are provided on the recording material discharge side of the fixing means. In this case, since these paths cross, the structure of the paths is complicated, and the apparatus becomes larger in size. Thus, a high manufacturing cost is required. Moreover, the copying material is likely to get stuck in the apparatus, and the clearing of the copy material when this happens is also difficult.
Depending on the use of the copied image, such copying may be demanded wherein a black-and-white image is copied on one side of the recording material, and a full color image is copied on the other side of the copying material. Therefore, the development of a device which enables the above copying without presenting the above problems is desired.
Furthermore, in a successive image forming process wherein single sided black-and-white image forming processes and the single sided full color image forming processes are combined (mixed copying process) with respect to a plurality of documents including monochrome documents and color documents, the following problems arise. Each time switching from the full color copying to black-and-white copying, or from the black-and-white copying to the full color copying, the transport belt is required to be moved. Moreover, because each of the heat rollers is switched off when it is not used, readjustment of the temperature is required. Therefore, a long time is required for the mixed copying process.

Electrophotographic printing machine providing both monochrome and color images


A lamp driving circuit, an inverter board and a display apparatus having the inverter board, the lamp driving circuit receiving a direct current voltage and provides the direct current voltage to a square wave generator, and the square wave generator outputting a first square wave voltage having a duty ratio corresponding to a voltage level of the direct current voltage. An inverter controller compares the first square wave voltage with a reference voltage and outputs a second square wave voltage. An inverter provides an output of a lamp driving voltage according to the duty ratio of the second square wave voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lamp driving circuit, an inverter board and a display apparatus having the inverter board. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lamp driving circuit, an inverter board and a display apparatus having the inverter board, capable of preventing a flickering phenomenon of a light from a lamp.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a liquid crystal display panel displaying images and a backlight providing the liquid crystal display panel with light. Some backlights employ a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) as a light source.
Recently, LCDs have utilized a dimming method to control brightness of the backlight thereof in order to increase a contrast ratio of the images displayed thereon or to decrease electric power consumption of the backlight. Dimming methods for the backlight include (i) a pulse width modulation (PWM) control method and (ii) tube current control.
In the PWM control method, the CCFL is repeatedly turned on and turned off in accordance with a duty ratio of the PWM signal. That is, the PWM control method controls turn-on and turn-off periods of the CCFL to adjust the brightness of the backlight. The tube current control method controls a voltage level applied to the CCFL to vary the tube current of the CCFL, thereby adjusting the brightness of the backlight. However, since the tube current control does not work when the tube current is low, the PWM control method has been mainly used for the LCD instead of the tube current control method.
In order to employ the PWM control method, a lamp driving circuit for a backlight receives a direct current voltage or a square wave voltage from an external device. In case of receiving the direct current voltage, the lamp driving circuit compares the direct current voltage with a triangle wave voltage that is self-generated in order to generate the square wave voltage. However, noise occurs between the triangle wave voltage and the direct current voltage, so that the square wave voltage is distorted. When the turn-on and turn-off of the lamp is controlled based on the distorted square wave voltage, the flickering phenomenon occurs on a screen of the display device that employs the lamp driving circuit.

Lamp driving circuit, inverter board and display apparatus having the same


A flexible EL dome sheet uses a polymer insulation layer having a thickness of 5 to 50 μm as a substrate, and therefore, the thickness of the flexible EL dome sheet is 50 to 150 μm. The flexible EL dome sheet comprises a flexible EL sheet having key patterns formed thereon and metal or poly domes attached to the EL sheet. Since the flexible EL sheet and the metal or poly domes are used, the flexible EL dome sheet has excellent flexibility and durability, and an additional process for silicon molding is not necessary. Furthermore, the tactile feel of the flexible EL dome sheet keypad is improved. Electric connection between an EL driver of a flexible printed circuit board and the flexible EL sheet is achieved using a contact pad terminal structure, whereby no additional connector is necessary, and therefore, an FPC connecting process is not required.

Generally, a dome sheet used in a keypad for mobile phones or a membrane switch is manufactured by attaching a plurality of metal or poly domes on predetermined positions of a dome retainer film.
An electro luminescence (hereinafter, referred to as "EL") dome sheet comprises a dome switch and an EL sheet integrally formed at the dome switch. The EL dome sheet is disposed between a printed circuit board and a keypad for illuminating the keypad without an additional light source, such as an LED.
The EL device used in the conventional EL dome sheet uses an ITO sputtered PET film (hereinafter, referred to as "ITO Film") as a substrate. As a result, the thickness of the EL device exceeds 200 μm, which is very large. Consequently, when the EL device is folded or bent, the surface of the ITO film is damaged, and therefore, luminescence is not properly accomplished, and flexibility of the EL device is very poor.
The remainder of the EL device excluding key patterns must be cut, such that the flexibility of the EL device is considerably increased, to utilize the EL device as a keypad, which requires an additional cutting process and an additional high-temperature and high-pressure forming process for silicon molding. In addition, an FPC connecting process for providing a connector to an electric source terminal is required. As described above, several additional processes are necessary, and therefore, productivity is decreased and process difficulty is increased.

Flexible EL dome sheet and flexible EL dome sheet keypad using the same