An electrical connector for horizontal insertion of a CPU module therein includes a connector body and a multiplicity of terminals fitted in the connector body. The connector body has a longitudinal insert slot for receiving a CPU module. The terminals form elastic contact ends at their outer ends for clamping a contact surface of a circuit board which have its two ends respectively fit into the grooves of a locking device of the connector body. Screws may be driven into through holes of the locking device to secure the connector body horizontally at the side of the circuit board for horizontal insertion of the CPU module into the insert slot of the connector body.

(a) Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates generally to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector which may be mounted easily and allow a CPU module to be horizontally inserted therein so as to effectively reduce the height of the computer mainframe.
(b) Description of the Prior Art:
Most conventional electrical connectors are mounted on circuit boards by means of the insertion of the pins of terminals at their lower sides into corresponding securing holes of the circuit boards. Although such a method of mounting has been widely adopted in the art, the CPU module must be vertically inserted into the longitudinal slot of the electrical connector. Under the trend of making everything compact, such vertical insertion of CPU modules into electrical connectors will not allow for reduction in the height of the computer mainframe. This problem intensifies with mainframes using large CPU modules.
Besides, there is another problem that some of the contact pins of the terminals of the conventional electric connector may become bent or broken so that they cannot fit smoothly into the securing holes of the circuit board.

Electrical connector for horizontal insertion of a CPU module therein


A method for characterizing base station processing and memory capabilities in a wireless communications system enables resource allocation to take these capabilities into account and to make allocations that avoid base station overload. A method for allocating resources in a wireless communication system including a base station and a radio network controller (RNC) begins by receiving an allocation request for a new service at the RNC. A set of resources is selected by the RNC to allocate to the new service, taking into account the capabilities of the base station. The allocation request is executed by the RNC if a set of resources can be found that does not exceed the capabilities of the base station.

In a third generation partnership project (3GPP) system, there is a separation of physical and transport resource management. The radio network controller (RNC) is divided in two logical entities: the controlling RNC (C-RNC) and the serving RNC (S-RNC). The C-RNC is responsible for managing the physical resources in a cell, such as allocating timeslots and channelization codes to a specific user in the cell. The S-RNC is responsible for managing the transport channel (TrCH) parameters, such as determining the coding type, coding rate, puncturing limits, data rates, and transport block sizes. These parameters are part of the transport format combination set (TFCS) of a coded composite transport channel (CCTrCH).
In order to support a service request from the Core Network, a radio access bearer (RAB) is allocated for each service of a specific wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), and each RAB can be serviced by a CCTrCH. During the CCTrCH allocation, once the TFCS is determined for that service by the S-RNC, a request for physical resources is sent to the C-RNC. The C-RNC uses the TFCS as an input in order to determine the physical resource allocation for the CCTrCH. During this allocation, WTRU capabilities must be considered.
The capabilities of the WTRU are defined in classes in specification TS25.306, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Technical Specification Group (TSG) Radio Access Network (RAN), UE Radio Access Capabilities. Each WTRU signals its capabilities to the universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) RNC. WTRU manufacturers can decide which capabilities their WTRUs will support based on their own criteria, such as services to be offered, hardware cost, ASIC gate count, power consumption, etc.
However, the standards do not define a way to characterize the processing capabilities of a base station (BS). The standards also do not require the RNC to know the capabilities of the BSs and to take these capabilities into account when determining allocations for services. The RNC can make allocation requests to the Node B without taking into account BS capabilities, and it is left to the Node B to accept or reject the request. The standards also do not require the Node B to reject requests that violate BS capabilities. If the Node B does not reject a request that exceeds a BS's capabilities, the BS would likely fail to operate correctly, resulting in loss of service to existing users. The Node B is a logical entity of UTRAN which consists of one or more cells or cell sectors. In this context, a BS is the portion of the 3GPP Node B that provides the air interface and the processing for the air interface of a cell or cell sector.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a method for characterizing the BS capabilities and to use the capabilities for allocation requests and to avoid rejecting allocation requests.

Method for characterizing base station capabilities in a wireless communication system and for avoiding base station overload


An advanced aircrew protection system comprising a helmet assembly adapted to sustain a full pneumatic pressure within the helmet adjacent to the head of the wearer; a suit assembly adapted to sustain a pressure adjacent to selected parts of the body of the wearer; a neck shroud operatively coupled with the helmet assembly and the suit assembly and adapted to pneumatically isolate the helmet assembly from the suit assembly; and controller adapted to independently supply fluid under pressure to the helmet assembly and to the suit assembly. Within the helmet is a dual compartment for an independent supply of fluid to an oral nasal mask separate from the remainder of the helmet assembly.

This invention relates to advanced aircrew protection systems and, more particularly, to an improved system, having integrated features for full life support of aircrew for providing full pressurization in the helmet, partial pressurization in the body during high altitude situations, and for providing independent face, chest, upper extremity, abdomen, lower extremity pressurization during high turning acceleration (gravity) situations in aircraft.


A transmission drive unit for adjusting a movable part in a motor vehicle has a support tube, a drive wheel, which is drivable using a drive assembly rotatably supported on the support tube and located on a spindle installed first in the support tube as a separate component and received in the bearing receptacle; a customer-specific receiving module, which subsequently and separately is attached to the support tube and includes a receptacle for a fastening device on the motor vehicle or the part to be adjusted, and the material of the receiving module has a higher strength than the material of the support tube.

The present invention relates to a transmission drive unit with a receiving module, in particular for adjusting a movable part in a motor vehicle.
Publication EP 0 759 374 A2 made known a device for adjusting a seat in a motor vehicle, which may absorb considerably greater forces than during normal operation. Forces such as these may be caused, e.g., by a traffic accident. It is important that the vehicle seat remain fixedly connected with the body, to ensure that the protective measures (seat belt, air bag) provided for the vehicle occupants may function. With the device described above, a counternut that accommodates a threaded spindle is fixedly connected with the body. The threaded spindle is driven via a worm gear pair by an electric motor, which is fixedly connected with the seat. The transmission housing of the worm gear pair is made of plastic and is connected with the drive motor via a further housing part. When the drive motor is actuated, the threaded spindle rotates and displaces the transmission housing, including the drive motor and seat, relative to the counternut. To prevent the transmission housing from tearing loose from the threaded spindle, e.g., when an accident occurs, an additional, metallic, U-shaped support part is provided, which connects the transmission housing via a hinged fastening bolt, as the fastening device, with the drive motor and, therefore, the seat. If the plastic transmission housing is unable to withstand the strong flow of force, it is held by the metallic support part using an additional counternut. The disadvantage of this design is that, when a change is made to the customer interface for attaching the transmission drive unit, the entire transmission housing—including the complex support design—must be redesigned in order to provide the desired mechanical interface for every customer. In addition, the formation of the screw-on eye for the pivot bolt takes up installation space in the axial direction toward the spindle, which is very limited in many applications.

Transmission drive unit with a receiving module for adjusting a movable part in a motor vehicle


A mobile communication device and other users form a communication network along with a position search server. When a position search request from the user terminal is sent through the position search server, the mobile communication terminal determines the urgency level of that search request by referring to a telephone book having preset urgency levels. The mobile communication device automatically sends its own position data to the requesting source in response to high urgency levels such as tracing a stolen vehicle, and automatically sends its own position data or stands by for terminal user approval as required in response to low urgency level—high priority requests.

Recently services are available for discovering stolen vehicles by utilizing the vehicle position information in GPS (Global Positioning System) for mobile communication devices. In other words, when for example, a request is made to the service center by a vehicle owner whose automobile was stolen, a telephone call is promptly made from the service center to the stolen vehicle instructing that position data be sent. The vehicle swiftly responds to the instruction from the service center and unknown to the thief, sends back position data to the service center.
However, when functions or service of this type are applied not only to tracking stolen vehicles but to general position search services such as for exchange of position data in vehicle-to-vehicle communication or finding the position of terminal users (elderly people, etc.) utilizing PHS, then a stranger may learn the terminal user's position without the knowledge of that terminal user. This creates the potential for invasion of privacy and so on.

Mobile communication device and method for determining whether to transmit position data


A rolling bearing is provided that includes an outer ring having a first portion which includes a first raceway and a second portion that includes a second raceway that has a larger diameter than the first raceway. An outer diameter of the first portion of the outer ring is less than an outer diameter of the second portion of the outer ring. The rolling bearing includes an inner ring having a first portion that includes a first raceway and a second portion that includes a second raceway that has a larger diameter than the first raceway. An inner diameter of the first portion of the inner ring is less than an inner diameter of the second portion of the inner ring.

Rolling bearings are widely used in various mechanical applications, including the automotive field. One type of rolling bearing is an angular contact rolling bearing. Tandem ball bearings are a type of angular contact rolling bearing and include two sets of rolling elements that run on axially and radially spaced apart raceways defined on an inner and outer ring. Tapered roller bearings are another type of angular contact rolling bearing and include a single inner and outer raceway with a plurality of rolling elements located therebetween. Both angular contact tandem roller bearings and tapered roller bearings are typically mounted on a shaft and abut a housing on an outer surface for supporting axial and radial loads. In both angular contact tandem rolling bearings and tapered roller bearings, the inner and outer rings must have proper contact with the housing and shaft to keep the rolling bearing assembled and working properly. Existing angular contact rolling bearings include inner and outer rings with large cross sectional areas for abutting the housing and shaft, and are generally rectilinear in cross-section, sometimes including radiuses or chamfered edge regions to allow a tight fit as well as provide for easier handling.
It would be desirable reduce the cross sectional areas of the inner and outer rings to reduce the mass of the angular contact rolling bearing while still providing adequate abutment surfaces for mounting the inner and outer rings between the shaft and housing. Additionally, reducing the cross sectional area of a rolling bearing would also lower the amount of material required to form the rolling bearing, reducing the cycle time to form the inner and outer rings, as well as post formation processing. The angular contact rolling bearing with the reduced cross sectional area should still provide proper stiffness and loading capacity to support the anticipated rolling bearing loads.

Rolling bearing having rings with stepped surfaces opposite to the raceways


Disclosed is a D-ring for use in sling systems, in particular firearm slings, where quick detachment and consistent behavior of the sling are of particular importance. At least two swivel sockets are provided on opposite sides of the D-ring for ambidextrous use and slots are provided to restrict rotational movement of the attached swivels. The D-ring may be formed from a single toroid or a conglomeration of different toroidal forms.

Slings are well known in the art, having been made since time immemorial to help individuals and animals carry various loads. Almost any type of load may be made easier with an appropriate sling. Firearms are no exception. Slings have long been devised as an aid to carry a long firearm. An appropriate sling for a firearm will not only securely fasten the firearm to the user, but will also readily release in a manner for use. One feature of some modern firearm sling designs is a D-ring. The D-ring presents a flat side onto which a strap of a sling may be affixed. It also presents a rounded side onto which one or more straps may thereon be connected. Often, these straps tend to be somewhat mobile on the rounded portion of the D-ring, that is to say they move relative to the D-ring while the strap on the flat side tends to stay in place due to the severe bend in the "D" shape. One particular need is that one or more of the straps on the rounded side may need detached.
The present invention is a D-ring for a firearm sling featuring dual sockets for ambidextrous connection and an anti-rotation feature. The use of a socket also prevents traveling of straps on the rounded side of a D-ring. This structure of the present invention allows for quick adaptation of the sling system as need arises and also provides for a regulated consistency in the behavior of the sling, which aids in training and developing familiarity with a system.
The present invention represents a departure from the prior art in that the D-ring of the present invention features at least two quick-detach sockets on opposite sides of the D-ring so as to facilitate ambidextrous use. It also features specially bored slots in those sockets for bearing locked sling fittings so as to inhibit rotation of the fitting within the socket.


In a recording suspension period when a recording head is accelerated or decelerated in a non-recording region on a recording medium, or stops moving in the course of performing a printing process (printing job), a second driving signal is generated from a driving signal generation portion. Second vibration driving pulses of the second driving signal are applied to all piezoelectric elements, so that a vibration operation is performed without ejecting the liquid. Since a second reference potential of the second driving signal is set to be lower than a first reference potential of a first driving signal generated in a recording period as much as possible, a general potential (driving voltage) of the second driving signal is reduced, and reduce power consumption in the recording suspension period is reduced. As a result, it is possible to contribute to the power consumption saving of a printer.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus, and a control method for controlling the liquid ejecting apparatus. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to a liquid ejecting apparatus which applies a driving signal to a piezoelectric element so as to drive the piezoelectric element, thereby ejecting a liquid from nozzles, and a control method for controlling the liquid ejecting apparatus.
2. Related Art
A liquid ejecting apparatus is an apparatus that includes a liquid ejecting head and that ejects various liquids from the liquid ejecting head. Examples of the liquid ejecting apparatus include, for example, an image recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer or an ink jet plotter. A liquid ejecting apparatus has been recently applied to various manufacturing apparatuses by utilizing a feature in which a very small amount of liquid can be accurately landed on a predetermined spot. For example, the liquid ejecting apparatus may be applied to or included in a display manufacturing apparatus which manufactures a color filter of a liquid crystal display or the like, an electrode forming apparatus which forms the electrodes of an organic electroluminescence (EL) display or a surface emitting display (FED), and a chip manufacturing apparatus which manufactures a bio chip (biochemical element). In addition, a recording head for the image recording apparatus ejects liquid ink, and a color material ejecting head for the display manufacturing apparatus ejects a solution of each color material of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). Further, an electrode material ejecting head for the electrode forming apparatus ejects a liquid electrode material, and a bioorganic compound ejecting head for the chip manufacturing apparatus ejects a solution of bioorganic compounds.
In these liquid ejecting apparatus, the nozzles are exposed to air during the ejection of the liquid or during a recording operation. The liquid includes a solvent component that easily evaporates through the nozzles. However, if the solvent component has evaporated, there is a concern that the liquid near the nozzles may thicken and that the ejection of the liquid droplets may thus be hindered. Various countermeasures have been taken in order to reduce the thickening of the liquid. For example, in the above-described ink jet printer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a printer), the nozzle surfaces are enclosed by a cap member so that solvent evaporation from the nozzles is minimized when the recording head is in a standby state in which the recording head does not perform ejection or when a recording operation is not being performed.
In addition, a flushing operation, that is, an idle ejection (throwing-away-shot) operation of ink droplets is performed whenever a recording operation is performed for a predetermined time. Thickened ink is discharged from the recording head during the flushing operation.
Further, during execution of a printing process (a liquid ejecting process executed by receiving printing data and a printing command), in a nozzle which does not eject ink, a vibration driving pulse is applied to a pressure generator (for example, a piezoelectric vibrator) corresponding to the nozzle. A meniscus of the nozzle or ink in a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle that does not eject ink is vibrated to an extent in which the ink in the pressure chamber is not ejected. In other words, the meniscus is slightly vibrated so as to allow the ink to be stirred without actually ejecting any of the ink from the nozzle. This prevents the ink from thickening. Furthermore, this slight vibration operation (e.g., vibration driving pulse) is also performed during the printing process when the recording head is moved to a region (non-recording region) which deviates from or is separated from a region (recording region) where the ink is ejected onto a recording medium (an ink landing target) such as recording paper (refer to JP-A-2003-039701).
Hereinafter, as appropriate, a vibration operation which is performed during a period when the recording head ejects the ink in the recording region in the printing process is referred to as "printing slight vibration", and a slight vibration operation which is performed during a period when the recording head is located at the non-printing region and does not eject the ink in the printing process is referred to as "non-printing slight vibration".
In a general printer, a reference potential of a driving signal in a recording region is made to match a reference potential of a driving signal (a driving signal including a vibration driving pulse for performing a non-printing slight vibration) in a non-recording region. However, in this configuration, the reference potential may be continuously applied to a pressure generator even in the non-recording region. As a result, the power consumption of the printer increases. In contrast, if the driving signal is not applied to the pressure generator in the non-recording region (an applied potential is 0), a non-printing slight vibration is not performed and it is hard to prevent thickening of the ink. Therefore, there is a problem in that the transition from a state in which the applied potential is 0 to a state of execution and restarting of the printing (execution of ejection of ink) is not smoothly performed. A time lag is necessary until a state occurs in which the ink can be ejected.
In addition, these problems occur not only the ink jet recording apparatuses in which recording heads which eject ink but also other liquid ejecting apparatuses which eject a liquid from nozzles by causing a pressure fluctuation in a liquid in a pressure chamber.

Liquid ejecting apparatus, and control method for liquid ejecting apparatus


Provided is a mesoporous particle having a flaky shape, having a single-layer structure, having a thickness of 0.1 μm to 3 μm, and having an average pore diameter of 10 nm or more. The mesoporous particle can be obtained by a production method including: feeding a metal oxide sol having a pH of 7 or higher and containing metal oxide colloidal particles as dispersoids and water as a dispersion medium, into a liquid containing a water-miscible solvent having a relative permittivity of 30 or lower (protic solvent) or of 40 or lower (aprotic solvent) at 20° C., and thereby forming a flaky aggregate of the metal oxide colloidal particles in the liquid; and subjecting the aggregate to treatment such as drying and heating, and thereby converting the aggregate into a flaky particle that is insoluble in water.

Mesoporous silica is porous silica having mesopores with a diameter ranging from 2 nm to 50 nm, and is expected to be used, for example, as a carrier for functional materials or as an adsorbent. Known methods for producing the mesoporous silica include sol-gel methods using a surfactant micelle as a template, and methods forming a layered polysilicate as an intermediate.
Typical examples of silica-based particles currently mass-produced include glass flakes (scale-like pieces of glass). The glass flakes are used by being blended with matrix materials such as resin molded bodies and cosmetics. Flaky particles have a larger surface area than spherical particles. In addition, when a thin coating film is formed by a composition for application blended with flaky particles, the flaky particles are oriented in the coating film in such a manner that the principal surfaces of the flaky particles are parallel to the surface of the coating film, and a large proportion of the base material to which the coating film has been applied is coated with the distributed flaky particles. For these reasons, the flaky shape of particles is desirable in order to impart desired functions to matrix materials.
However, it has not been reported thus far that flaky mesoporous silica has been obtained which has mesopores suitable for treatments such as adsorption and decomposition of macromolecules such as proteins, and which is adapted to be blended with matrix materials.
The shape of mesoporous silica obtained by conventional sol-gel methods using a surfactant micelle as a template has been limited to a rod shape. In response, Patent Literature 1 discloses that sheet-shaped mesoporous silica can be obtained by using a surfactant that can form a ribbon phase or a nematic phase. However, the thickness of the sheet-shaped mesoporous silica obtained by this method is only less than 50 nm (claim 2 of Patent Literature 1). Such a thin sheet material is easily deformed, and is thus difficult to blend with matrix materials without any change in the shape.
In addition, in multi-layer mesoporous silica obtained by methods forming a layered polysilicate as an intermediate, pore channels extend along interlayer portions of the multi-layer structure, and therefore, surfaces that allow access to the mesopores are limited to only surfaces on which the interlayer portions are exposed. Accordingly, in the case of mesoporous silica having a structure composed of tabular crystals layered on each other, the mesopores cannot be accessed from the widest principal surface of the mesoporous silica. This makes it more likely that the exertion of functions via the mesopores is restricted. Also in view of mechanical strength, a multi-layer body has a problem in that part of the layers is likely to be separated by a stress applied when the multi-layer body is blended with a matrix material or when the matrix material blended with the multi-layer body is molded. The multi-layer structure having pore channels including mesopores and formed along the interlayer portions is not suitable as a basic structure of flaky mesoporous silica to be blended with matrix materials.

Flaky mesoporous particles, and method for producing the same


A razor includes a load and a voltage conversion system coupled to a voltage source and the load for transforming a variable voltage provided by the voltage source into a constant operating voltage for driving a load.

Recently, some wet shaving razors have been provided with battery-powered motors for vibrating a shaving cartridge. One such wet shaving razor is that sold by The Gillette Company under the trade name the Gillette® M3 Power™ razor. This razor features a battery disposed in a chamber within its handle, and a motor coupled to the distal tip, on which is mounted a replaceable cartridge. A user who presses a button on the handle actuates a mechanical switch which in turn activates a motor that drives an oscillating weight.


An electronic circuit having an input, an output with an input filter for delaying a change of an input signal and a control component for supplying an output signal and evaluating the input signal. The delay is a time constant. An industrial automation system is provide with the electronic circuit and a fail-safe component connected to an input and an output of the circuit. To increase the probability of detecting errors in the electronic circuit, the control component is provided for supplying a test signal for output through the output, for making a first evaluation of the input signal to be provided immediately after the output of a test signal and for making a second evaluation of the input signal after expiry of a time after output of the test signal which at least corresponds to the time constant. A method for testing an electronic circuit is also provided.

In fail-safe systems in particular there must be a high probability of all kinds of error being detected and thereby dealt with so that they do not trigger any impermissible reaction. This especially also relates to sensors and to electronic circuits which accept the signals of the sensors as their input signal. Such an electronic circuit is for example a digital input chip. An obstacle to the use of standard input/output chips for safety systems is frequently a common input/output driver chip. Specific internal short circuits in this driver chip in particular cannot be covered by conventional tests. The relevant input would also have to be tested from outside in such cases. For applications in safety systems however all short circuits and interruptions have to be covered, especially internal short circuits within modules as well. In process and manufacturing technology there are modules for a diversity of applications, which also feature outputs in addition to inputs. Such modules are for example the operating panels usually used. The inputs and outputs are frequently embodied as digital inputs or digital outputs. Keyswitches can be connected for example via digital inputs and signal lamps can be connected via digital outputs. Typically a relatively large number of such inputs and outputs are present, of which often only some are used. The use of at least a part of the inputs/outputs of standard circuits for fail-safe tasks usually fails due to the fact that the safety requirements cannot be fulfilled with the standard hardware.
The object of the invention is to increase the probability of error detection for an electronic circuit with at least one input and at least one output.
This object is achieved by an electronic circuit with at least one input and at least one output, with the input featuring an input filter for delaying the change to an input signal, with the delay being characterized by a time constant, with a control component being provided for supplying an output signal and for evaluation of the input signal, with the control component being provided for supply of a test signal for output via an output and for a first evaluation of the input signal directly after the output of the test signal and for a second evaluation of the input signal after a timer has expired after output of the test signal which corresponds to the at least one time constant.
This object is achieved by a system, especially an industrial automation system, with such a circuit, with the system featuring at least one fail-safe component, which is connected to at least one input and at least one output of the circuit such that the relevant input is connected electrically conductively to the relevant output in the safe state.
This object is achieved by a method for testing an electronic circuit, with the electronic circuit featuring at least one input and at least one output, by which method a modification of the input signal is delayed by an input filter of the input, where the delay is characterized by a time constant, with the input signal being supplied and evaluated by a control component, with a test signal supplied by the control component being output via the output and the input signal being evaluated for the first time immediately after the input of a test signal and for the second time after expiry of a timer after output of the test signal which at least corresponds to the time constant.
An embodiment of the invention skillfully employs the fact that inputs of an electronic circuit are usually provided with input filters for delaying a change in the input signal, especially for noise filtering. The electronic circuit can be tested for internal short circuits, cross-connection short circuits and interruptions by the value at the input being first tested immediately after the output of an output signal and subsequently again after the filter constant has expired. As a result of the delay function of the input filter, the value of the input signal in the error-free case may not change the first time that it is read, i.e. when immediately read or evaluated. The value of the input signal may not change until the filter time constant of the input filter has expired. If it changes before this point this indicates the presence of a hardware error, especially a short circuit or a cross connection within the electronic circuit.
In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention the control component for first evaluation of the input signal is provided within a period after the output of the test signal which corresponds to a maximum of 10 percent of the time constant. This ensures that the input signal is actually first evaluated immediately after output of the test signal and that no further change of the input signal after the input filter can be caused by a change in the input signal before the input filter. Both the first and also the second evaluation of the input signal are basically undertaken after the input filter, i.e. after the input signal has passed through the input filter. The input signal is thus not recorded and evaluated by the control component until after the input filter, either directly after it or further intermediate components, e.g. a driver chip.
Further indicators of errors in the electronic circuit can be determined, if, in accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention the control component is provided for comparing the first and the second evaluation with the test signal in each case.
Advantageously a fail-safe reaction is initiated by the control component, provided the first evaluation produces an input signal equal to the test signal. Since at the time of the first evaluation the input signal must not be equal to the test signal, a match indicates an error within the electronic circuit, which is handled by the fail-safe reaction. A fail-safe reaction brings the electronic circuit and a system connected to the circuit into a safe state, frequently achieved by immediate disconnection of all or at least one part of the actuators in the system.
In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention at least one driver chip is provided for converting the input and output signals, with the driver chip being arranged between the control component and the input or the output. The driver chip in particular allows a voltage or current conversion and/or an amplification of the input and output signals.
An especially simple evaluation of the input signals is produced, if, in accordance with a further advantageous embodiment, the at least one input is a digital input and the at least one output a digital output. In this case the test signal is executed as a signal change from zero to one or vice versa.
To meet increased safety requirements, especially for achieving a safety class greater than SIL 2 (SIL=Safety Integrity Level, in accordance with IEC 61508), in accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that at least two inputs and two outputs be provided. The safety is thus increased by the redundant detection of the sensor signals present at the relevant inputs/outputs.
In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the control component features fail-safe firmware components. These fail-safe firmware components are especially suitable for executing the provision of the output signal and for evaluation of the input signal. This allows standard electronic circuits which do not have any fail-safe hardware attributes to be made fit for handling fail-safe tasks by expansion of the firmware of the control component.
In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the circuit is particularly suitable for use within fail-safe systems because at least one fail-safe component is able to be connected to at least one input and at least one output such that the relevant input is connected to the relevant output so that it is electrically conductive in the safe state. The safe state is for example the state in which a fail-safe component, e.g. an emergency cutout button, is not activated, meaning that the conductive connection is established.
The invention is described and explained in greater detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures.

Electronic circuit, system with an electronic circuit and method for testing an electronic circuit


A method and an arrangement for discharging countermeasures from a carrier craft in the form of an aircraft or equivalent. The countermeasures are intended to be spread initially in the form of unit packs that, after they have left the carrier craft, are to screen the same from missiles approaching is guided by built-in sensors, or other threats. It is especially characteristic of the invention that the unit countermeasure packs are spread from the carrier transversely to the lying direction of the carrier craft.

The most serious threat to modern fighter aircraft and transport aircraft is the self-guiding missile equipped with radar, IR or laser sensors, which can be fired either from enemy aircraft or from the ground. In order to protect own aircraft, these are therefore now normally provided with equipment so as to be capable, when they are attacked or fear attack, of dispensing various types of countermeasure means. An example of such equipment is the BOL dispenser produced and patented by ourselves. In this connection, reference may be made to our U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,417,709 and 4,650,092. By means of this type of dispenser, the dispensing of countermeasure means can be simply controlled and adapted to the threat situation existing at the time. A very common form of our dispenser, which is of electromechanical type, is the kind which is built into the load-bearing beam of the aircraft and can therefore serve as a mounting for other load at the same time. This type of countermeasure dispenser, which has become widely used within a large number of different air forces, nevertheless has the disadvantage that the quantity of countermeasure means it can contain is limited by the normal outer dimensions of the load-bearing beam. Given that the various sensors of the missiles are becoming increasingly sophisticated, however, demands are becoming more exacting with regard to the quantity of countermeasure means necessary for each protective action and the rapidity with which the countermeasure means have to be spread in order for it to be possible for the sensors of an attacking missile to be deceived and the own aircraft to manage to move out of the way. At the same time, access to various missile weapons has increased markedly, as a result of which the need for it to be possible to perform more or longer protective actions within one and the same mission has increased to a corresponding extent.

Dispenser for discharging countermeasures and method therefore


An anatomic mattress has an external structure, and an internal structure located interiorly of the external structure, the internal structure including an upper part and a lower part, the lower part being formed as a continuous lower plate while the upper part being formed by a plurality of individual upper plates connected with the lower plate, by a plurality of projections located between the lower plate and each of the upper plates.

The present invention relates generally to anatomic mattresses which, due to their technical and construction characteristics, provide advantageous features when compared with other mattresses.
It is believed that currently existing mattresses do not provide a perfect rest to a user, since in many instances the user's body is not accommodated on a soft and comfortable surface which at the same time provides an equilibrium for the spine in a perfect manner. The foam mattresses are known, which are composed as a whole of a foam layer without an internal structure. However, if the foam is of a high density, the mattress becomes hard while if the foam is a low density, it becomes too soft and deepens too much where the body is heavy. There are spring mattresses with advantages of a high flexibility, but presenting the same problems of the foam mattresses, since they deepen too much where the body is more heavy. Known orthopaedic mattresses offer a partial solution of the excessive deepening problem at the portions where the body is more heavy by introducing a core formed as a rigid structure. However, these mattresses, depending on the weight of the user or even of his/her position in the bed, present problem of excessive rigidity, which can result in a bad blood circulation, pains at kidneys or junctions, when laying down on one side.

Alameda dos Limoeiros, n.degree. 176, Aruja Country Club, Aruja


The present invention is related to lawn maintenance and describes a system for mounting an accessory, such as a grass trimmer, to a lawn tractor or lawn mower. The mounting system provides a lawn tractor operator the ability to operate an accessory while seated in the lawn tractor. The mounting system is also advantageous in that the operator need not specifically align the tractor with any objects that present an obstacle for mowing, but may instead move the accessory to the object. The accessory mounting system includes a linkage arrangement that allows the accessory to be moved from side-to-side of the lawn tractor. The linkage arrangement includes a centered orientated vertical pivot member interconnected with a link member, which is defined by a pair of curvilinear members, that allows the link member to rotate to reposition the accessory. The linkage arrangement also allows limited vertical displacement of the accessory.

The present invention relates generally to lawn equipment and, more particularly, to a mounting arrangement for mounting an accessory, such as a grass trimmer, to a lawn vehicle, such as a lawn tractor.
One of the principal advantages of lawn tractors, especially those with a cutting deck, in the field of lawn maintenance is the time savings provided by the larger cutting deck when compared to conventional walk-behind mowers. In addition, a lawn tractor can typically traverse a lawn at a quicker pace than a person can push a walk-behind mower. Notwithstanding the aforementioned time-savings, frequently additional lawn tools are needed to complete the lawn maintenance thereby requiring the mower operator to make multiple trips around the lawn after having mowed it which effectively adds to the time needed to complete the lawn maintenance.
As such, it has been proposed to combine a lawn mower with other accessories to prevent the mower operator from having to make multiple trips around the lawn after having mowed it. However, the prior art shows that attempts to mount accessories such as grass trimmers, edgers, and so forth to the mower have been insufficient in some respects. For the most part, where simple accessory mounting systems are suggested, the accessory is relatively rigidly mounted to the mower so that the mower operator is required to position the mower in order to position the accessory. Where the accessory is mounted in such a way as to grant a wider range of movement, the accessory mounting system often is mechanically complex and therefore susceptible to damage and expensive repairs. What is needed therefore is an accessory mounting system that is simple, durable, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, but that also provides the mower operator with a wide range of accessory positioning options that are relatively independent of the mower position. It would also be desirous to provide an accessory mounting arrangement that allows a mower operator to position the accessory at various desired positions without requiring the mower operator to vacate the seat of the mower. This is particularly advantageous for lawn mowers that have an automatic shutoff that is activated when the mower operator unseats from the seat of the lawn mower.
The present invention contemplates a mounting arrangement for mounting an accessory, such as a grass trimmer, to a lawn vehicle such as a lawn tractor or lawn mower, e.g., zero-turn lawn mower. The mounting arrangement is designed to be mounted to a rear portion of the lawn vehicle and through a series of vertical pivot members allow an operator to swivel the accessory to both sides of the law vehicle as desired without vacating the lawn vehicle. The mounting arrangement also allows the accessory to be positioned independently of the position of the lawn vehicle.
It is thus on object of the invention to provide an accessory mounting arrangement that allows an accessory, such as a grass trimmer, to be mounted to a lawn tractor or other lawn equipment in a manner that allows an operator to quickly access and use the accessory.
Therefore, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, a system for mounting an accessory to a vehicle is provided. The system includes a bracket adapted to be mounted to a rear portion of the vehicle and a linkage arrangement adapted to be interconnected to the bracket. The linkage arrangement includes a first member coupled to the bracket via a swivel connection that allows the first member to swivel relative to the bracket and a second member coupled to the first member in a manner that allows the second member to rotate relative to the first member. An accessory is interconnected with the second member so as to be suspended from the ground and supported solely by the linkage arrangement. The aforementioned swivel connection permits repositioning of the accessory between a first position adjacent the vehicle and a second position adjacent the vehicle opposite the first position.
Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.

Accessory mount arrangement for a lawn vehicle


A method and system for cleaning the wafer after CMP is disclosed. A brush module having at least two brushes placed adjacent to each other and having the wafer placed in between. A dummy roller is in contact with an edge of the wafer and follows a rotation of the wafer, wherein when the wafer is rotated, the brushes clean both sides of the wafer, and the dummy roller detects a rotation speed and a rotation direction of the wafer for adjusting the rotation of the wafer.

The present invention relates generally to an improved system for cleaning wafers after going through chemical mechanical polish (CMP).
During manufacturing stages of an integrated circuit (IC), chemical mechanical polish (CMP) is commonly used for removing any unnecessary materials. CMP is considered to be a unique fabrication process, because a wafer is deliberately introduced into an environment with a high particle count. During the CMP process, a polishing slurry that is full of abrasive particles in the nanometer to micrometer scale is used. Once the wafer has finished polishing, work must be done to carefully remove those particles from the wafer surface or they will affect the further fabrication steps.
In order to remove those particles from the wafer surface, such that the possibility of defects can be minimized, a cleaning process, typically referred to as post-CMP cleaning, is necessary. After CMP, the wafer must be kept wet prior to cleaning because once the slurry is allowed to dry on the wafer, it becomes hard to remove. Due to electrostatic attraction forces, a simple water rinse may remove little, if any, of these particles after polishing. Consequently, conventional systems using a set of wafer brush cleaners were developed to clean and dry the wafer after CMP. These conventional systems typically use a set of PVA brushes to mechanically wipe the surfaces of the wafer and remove the abrasive particles. In the conventional systems, the wafer is typically cleaned by placing the wafer between a pair of spinning PVA brushes while the wafer itself is being rotated by a set of roller caps which are placed on the bottom of a brush module. The wafer in the brush module has forces exerted on it in two directions: one is exerted by the pair of rotating PVA brushes; the other is applied by the rotating roller caps. A friction force is exerted on the surface of the wafer by the pair of PVA brushes as they scrub in the down direction. This force will push and press the wafer down to contact the roller caps. Other tangent forces are applied by the rotating roller caps at the bottom of the brush module to make the wafer rotate by itself. These tangent forces must be greater than the friction force on the wafer surface exerted by the PVA brushes. Otherwise, the wafer will not rotate smoothly, and may stop at any time, thereby causing the slurry to reside in a certain area. This defect is known as a fan type defect. Since no tools are implemented in such a conventional system to measure the rotation speed and direction of the wafer and PVA brushes, fan type defects and an unstable etch rate can occur during the post-CMP cleaning process, thereby lowering the yield and efficiency in reducing defects.
It is therefore desirable to have a new improved system for post-CMP cleaning such that the yield and efficiency can be improved and that the abnormal wafer recovery success rate may be increased.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


To enhance the accuracy of the delay time of the delay device by reducing the change in the power supply voltage for the delay device, and a delay device that delays an incoming transmission signal, comprising: a delay element that operates on a power supply voltage Vdd and a power supply voltage Vss and delays the transmission signal, the voltage Vdd being larger than the voltage Vss; an addition circuit that outputs to an output of the delay element, a predetermined voltage that is larger than the voltage Vss and smaller than the voltage Vdd. This delay element includes a digital circuit that outputs one of output voltages of two possible values in correspondence with an input voltage. Furthermore, the addition circuit outputs a voltage substantially similar to a threshold voltage that said output of the digital circuit inverts from one of the output voltages of two possible values to another thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a delay device, a semiconductor testing device, a semiconductor device, and an oscilloscope and in particular to a delay device, a semiconductor testing device, a semiconductor device, and an oscilloscope provided with an addition circuit that applies a predetermined voltage to a delay element.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows the delay device D 12 as a related art. The delay device D12 includes a plurality of delay elements DL in series with each other. The incoming transmission signal is delayed by each delay element DL producing a delay time of Td.
FIG. 2 shows the current that flows in the delay device D12. Once a unit pulse is fed to the delay device D12 as shown in FIG. 2(A), the current applied to the delay element DL changes to flow in a burst as shown in FIG. 2(B). The period of time during which the current flows is equivalent to the delay time Td. When successive pulses are fed to the delay device D12 as shown in FIG. 2(C), whilst the initial current generated by the first pulse flows, another current generated by the following pulse also flows, as shown in FIG. 2(D). When the current of two or more delay elements DL simultaneously changes in this way, the sum of the current flowing in the delay device D12 changes as shown in FIG. 2(E). Since the change in the current alters the power supply voltage Vdd and Vss of the delay device D12, the accuracy of the delay time Td of the delay device D12 is decreased.
FIG. 3 shows another delay device D12 as a related art. The delay device D12 includes a plurality of selectors SEL in series with each other, and a plurality of delay elements DL each of which delay the incoming transmission signal and feed it to a following selector SEL. The delay element DL has one or more inverters in series with each other. The selector SEL selectively outputs the signal that passes through the delay element DL as well as the signal that does not pass through. The timing of the electric power consumed in the delay device D12 differs depending upon the selection by the selector SEL. For example, if all the selectors SEL select the outputs of the delay elements DL, the transmission signal advances slowly; accordingly, when the selector SEL closest to the output terminal consumes the electric power, the selector SEL closest to the input terminal also consumes the electric power. That is, the electric power is consumed at two or more selectors SEL. The end result is a reduction in accuracy of delay time because the power supply voltage of the delay device D12 differs when the electric power is consumed at two or more selectors SEL compared to when consumed at only one selector SEL.
FIG. 4 shows a circuit electrically equivalent to the delay element DL of FIG. 3. A wiring capacitance CL arises in the signal line LIN that connects the drive circuit DR and the receipt circuit RC while an input capacitance CG arises at the input terminal of the receipt circuit RC. The input capacitance CG is proportional to the number of receipt circuits RC to be connected, while the wiring capacitance CL is proportional to the length of the signal line LIN. If the input capacitance CG and the wiring capacitance CL are increased, permitting the delay device D12 to pass the signal requires a larger current. The increase in the current enlarges the change in the current as shown in FIG. 2(E), thus decreasing the accuracy of the delay time Td.
If the power supply voltage sharply changes due to the operation of the drive circuit DR, an electromagnetic wave noise is radiated. If the change in the power supply current and power supply voltage increases because the signal line LIN is long, the electromagnetic wave noise radiated from the delay device D10 increases also. The electromagnetic wave noise radiated from the electronic instrument must be below a given level, so it is therefore necessary to prevent the electromagnetic wave noise from arising in the electronic instrument provided with the delay device D10.

Delay device, semiconductor testing device, semiconductor device, and oscilloscope


Complex-shaped articles formed by gas-pressure-molding composite preforms of liquid crystal polymer and porous polytetrafluoroethylene material are described. Processes for making the composite material preforms and parisons needed for gas-pressure-molding methods, such as vacuum-molding and blow-molding, are also described.

Liquid crystal polymers are a family of materials that exhibit a highly ordered structure in the melt, solution, and solid states. They can be broadly classified into two types; lyotropic, having liquid crystal properties in the solution state, and thermotropic, having liquid crystal properities in the melted state.
Further discussion of liquid crystal polymers hereinbelow refers only to thermotropic liquid crystal polymers, i.e., those liquid crystal polymers and liquid crystal polymer alloys which are processed in the melted state. Also, liquid crystal polymer, as used herein, is meant to include polymer alloys having a liquid crystal polymer component as well as liquid crystal polymers alone. For convenience, the term "liquid crystal polymer" is used herein to include material of both kinds.
Most liquid crystal polymers exhibit excellent physical properties such as high strength, good heat resistance, low coefficient of thermal expansion, good electrical insulation characteristics, low moisture absorption, and are good barriers to gas flow. Such properties make them useful in a broad range of applications in the form of fibers, injection molded articles, and, in sheet form, as electronic materials for printed circuit boards, packaging, and the like.
Many of the physical properties of liquid crystal polymers are very sensitive to the direction of orientation of the liquid crystal regions in the polymer. The ordered structure of the liquid crystal polymer is easily oriented by shear forces occurring during processing and highly aligned liquid crystal chains can be developed that are retained in the solid state, and result in highly anisotropic properties. This can be highly desirable for certain products, for example, in filaments, fibers, yarns, and the like. Anisotropic properties are often not desirable, however, in products having planar forms, such as tape, films, sheet, and the like.
A number of methods are used to produce liquid crystal polymer materials in planar forms that have more balanced, less anisotropic properties. These include the use of multilayer flat extrusion dies which are fashioned such that they extrude overlapping layers at intersecting angles, use of static mixer-agitators at the die inlets, and the like. More recently, dies having rotating or counter-rotating surfaces have become known in the art and successfully used. These extrusion techniques, used separately or in combination with other methods known in the art, such as film blowing, can produce liquid crystal polymer film and sheet that are multiaxially oriented, that is, oriented in more than one direction, and have more balanced physical properties.
Also known in the art are methods to produce planar forms in which a liquid crystal polymer film is laminated to a porous polymeric support membrane to form a composite sheet, and the composite sheet then stretched in one or more directions to multiaxially orient the liquid crystal polymer. Such methods are disclosed in European Patent Application No. EP 0 612 610 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,209 (to Moriya).
Unlike most other thermoplastic polymer resins, thermotropic liquid crystal polymers form high-viscosity melts having thixotropic characteristics. The melt viscosity of such materials, and the orientation of the liquid crystal polymer domains, are substantially altered in response to shear forces applied to the melted material. As noted above, these attributes can be very useful and are taken advantage of in the manufacture of articles having anisotropic properties and, to a large degree, can be controlled in the manufacture of articles having planar forms such as sheet, film, or other flat-shaped objects in which more balanced properties may be desired. However, due to these attributes, it is extremely difficult to form hollow or other complex-shaped articles of liquid crystal polymers using molding techniques commonly used with many other thermoplastic polymer resins, especially techniques such as blow-molding or vacuum-forming, in which a gas pressure differential across a polymer preform is used to force the preform against the molding surfaces. Consequently, molded articles of liquid crystal polymers formed by such techniques have yet to be developed.
It is a purpose of this invention to provide complex-shaped articles comprising a liquid crystal polymer, and further to provide methods by which such articles can be made by gas-pressure-differential molding techniques.

Method of blow-molding an article of liquid crystal polymer and porous PTFE


An optical lens includes a lens body and an anti-reflection film. The lens body includes an optically effective portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the optically effective portion. The optically effective portion is configured for transmitting light therethrough. The optically effective portion has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first and second surfaces each have a curvature of greater than zero. The anti-reflection film is formed on the first surface of the optically effective portion. A reflectivity of the anti-reflection film to light rays has wavelengths in a range from about 400 nm to about 850 nm being lower than 2%.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an optical lens with an anti-reflection film and a lens module having the optical lens.
2. Description of Related Art
Lens modules may include at least one lens and a filter positioned at an image side of the lens. The filter may include a transparent substrate and an infrared filtering film formed on an object side of the transparent substrate. The filter is for reflecting infrared light rays while allowing the passage of visible light rays. However, about 5% or more of visible light rays are also reflected by the infrared filtering film. The reflected visible light rays form a glare in the image after multiple reflections in the lens module.
An anti-reflection film is formed on a surface of an optical lens of the lens module for reducing the glare in the lens module. FIG. 6, illustrates a reflection spectrum chart of a conventional anti-reflection film. The optical lens includes an optically effective portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the optically effective portion. Surfaces of the optically effective portion are generally spherical or aspheric surfaces. When the anti-reflection film is applied to the surface of the optical lens, the reflection spectrum chart of the anti-reflection film in the center region of the optically effective portion is different from that in the periphery region of the optically effective portion. FIG. 7, illustrates a reflection spectrum chart of the anti-reflection film formed on the optically effective portion of the optical lens. The solid line represents a reflection spectrum of the anti-reflection film in the center region of the optically effective portion, and the dashed line represents a reflection spectrum of the anti-reflection film in the periphery region of the optically effective portion. It is seen that, a reflectivity of the anti-reflection film in the periphery region of the optically effective portion is higher than 5% when a wavelength of light rays striking on the anti-reflection film are greater than 650 nanometers (nm), giving rise to glare during image capture.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an optical lens with an anti-reflection film and a lens module having the same, which can overcome the limitations described.

Optical lens with anti-reflection film and lens module


A tread is inserted into a shoe sole. The tread includes a base portion having a periphery and an interior portion within the periphery. A stem portion extends away from a first side of the base portion and is connectable to the shoe sole. A projection portion is disposed generally at the periphery of the base portion and extends away from a second side of the base portion.

The present invention deals with shoe treads. More specifically, the present invention deals with a removable tread connectable to the sole of a shoe.
The game of golf has been very popular for many years and has gained significant popularity in recent years. This is specifically true with respect to women golfers.
Conventional golf shoes include a sole, the exterior portion of which has a plurality of threaded apertures therein. The apertures are threaded to receive removable golf spikes. Traditional removable golf spikes have a circular skirt with a threaded stem extending away from the skirt in one direction, and a metal cleat extending away from the skirt in the opposite direction. The threaded stem is threadable into the threaded apertures in the shoe sole such that, when the golfer wears the shoe, the projecting metal spike is in engagement with the ground or turf.
In temperate climates, golf courses are open all year round. Such courses are typically seeded with one type of grass that grows during the summer, and is dormant during the winter months, and another type of grass which grows during the winter months. For example, many courses are planted with Bermuda grass which grows during the summer months and goes dormant in the winter. Then, in the winter months, the golf course is overseeded with rye grass which grows during the winter months, and then dies.
Walking on the dormant grass with the conventional metal golf spikes can be highly detrimental to the dormant grass, and therefore detrimental to the condition of the course. Also, many golf courses, both public and private, have decided that the conventional metal golf spikes cause an undesirable amount of damage to both the fairways and greens, even on courses which are only open during one season, or on courses on which play is not allowed when the grass is dormant. Therefore, many golf courses no longer allow conventional metal golf spikes to be used at all.
In an effort to provide alternative spikes which do not damage the golf course, others have attempted to provide "spikeless" golf treads for use with golf shoes. For example, the Deacon et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,259,129 and 5,367,793 show a skirt which has a threaded stem extending from one surface of the skirt. A plurality of radially, outwardly extending ridges are also provided, and extend from a second side of the skirt. The radially extending ribs purportedly provide some amount of traction, over and above flat shoes, but do not damage the course as much as conventional metal golf spikes.
However, the treads discussed in the Deacon et al. patents suffer from at least one significant drawback. Applicants have found that the radially extending ribs define channels which tend to catch and trap mud and other debris therebetween. When the debris fills in the area between the ribs, the traction-providing capacity of the treads is significantly diminished.
Also, traditional spikes, such as those shown in the Deacon et al. patents, are formed with the skirt portion being concave against the shoe sole. Such a surface is undesirably sensitive to unevenness and wear.

Tread insert for insertion into a shoe sole


A semiconductor power device having shielded gate structure in an active area and trench field plate termination surrounding the active area is disclosed. A Zener diode connected between drain metal and source metal or gate metal for functioning as a SD or GD clamp diode. Trench field plate termination surrounding active area wherein only cell array located will not cause BV degradation when SD or GD poly clamped diode integrated.

Shielded gate technology shrinks device die size about 30%˜70% or above for voltages ranging from 30V to 200V, however, avalanche capability is degraded about the same ratio. In order to solve the issue, Drain-Source (SD) or Gate-Drain (GD) clamp diode is hence installed into the device for protection of Drain and source.
FIG. 1A is a circuit diagram of a MOSFET with gate-drain clamp diodes and FIG. 1B is the cross section view of a MOSFET of prior art (U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,187) where the cell is formed on N substrate 200. On the top surface of the substrate 200, there is an N+ source region 210 surrounded by a P body region 211. A metal layer 220 makes electrical contact to both the N+ source region 210 and P body region 211 acting as a source electrode. Meanwhile, metal layer 222 and 221 are deposited to function as a gate electrode and a drain electrode of the cell structure, respectively. Between the gate electrode and drain electrode, a serial of back-to-back polysilicon diodes 230 are formed across over the termination to enhance the avalanche capability of the semiconductor power device. A guarding region (GR) 212 located in termination region near the polysilicon diodes 230 serves as part of a metal field plate for sustaining breakdown voltage of the termination.
The prior art discussed above (U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,187) is encountering a technical difficulty which is that, as the gate-drain (or gate-collector for IGBT) clamp diode must crosses over termination because the termination surrounds both gate metal pad and active area, a problem of breakdown voltage degradation will be arisen due to electric field in termination region is blocked by polysilicon. The prior art (IEEE Electron Device Letters Vol. 20, No. 8, August 1999; Page 424˜427) shows breakdown voltage degradation when Field Limiting Rings (FLR) under Poly Clamped diode.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a new and improved device configuration to prevent the degradation of breakdown voltage from happening.

Trench MOSFETs integrated with clamped diodes having trench field plate termination to avoid breakdown voltage degradation


Intravenous ferumoxytol is used to effectively label mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vivo and is used for in vivo tracking of stem cell transplants with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The method eliminates risk of contamination and biologic alteration of MSCs associated with ex-vivo-labeling procedures.

Each year, arthritis results in 44 million outpatient visits, 992100 hospitalizations, and 700000 knee replacement procedures (www.cdc.gov/arthritis). The need for knee replacement is rapidly increasing, with 3.48 million expected procedures by 2030. However, artificial implants are associated with potential complications, such as periprosthetic fractures, loosening, and metal sensitivity. Even in the absence of complications, the lifetime of an artificial prosthesis is limited to approximately 10 years as the implant wears out.
Cell transplants, particularly stem cell-scaffold nanocomposites, could overcome these problems by providing long-term biologic restoration of joint defects. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been established as a promising source for stem cell-mediated joint repair in a clinical setting. MSCs can be obtained with a bone marrow aspirate, are expanded in vitro, and can differentiate into all joint components. However, interactions between transplanted MSCs and the patient's host environment are still poorly understood.
To monitor successful engraftment and recognize complications such as graft failure or tumor formation, MSC therapies require tracking of the transplanted stem cells. In the past, stem cell tracking has been achieved on the basis of the concept of ex vivo contrast agent labeling. This approach requires multiple ex vivo manipulations of stem cells between their harvest and transplantation.
Clinical translation of ex vivo-labeling procedures is complicated from a regulatory point of view as these manipulations greatly enhance the risk of cell sample contamination, alterations in stem cell biology, or in vivo side effects from added transfection agents. Most transfection agents (LIPOFECTAMINE 2000 [Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.] or poly-L-lysine [Sigma-P4707; Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, Mo.]) are not U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved. In addition, some ultra-small super-paramagnetic iron oxide-transfection agent combinations have induced cytotoxic effects or altered the stem cell biology.
Accordingly, the art is in need of more immediately clinically applicable methods for stem cell labeling, which would not require ex vivo manipulations of harvested cells and which would eliminate the need for transfection agents, that then could be used to track transplanted MSCs. The present invention addresses this need.

In vivo iron labeling of stem cells and tracking these labeled stem cells after their transplantation

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


A method and apparatus for depositing emitter material (3) on a wire cathode by means of electrodeposition. An amount (13) of a suspension comprising an alkaline-earth compound is transferred by a drop holder (11) which is positioned around the wire (2), by movement in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the wire (2), whereafter an electric voltage is applied to the drop holder (11) and the wire (2) to deposit the emitter material (3) on the wire (2), after which the drop holder (11) is withdrawn from the wire (2) again. During the electrodeposition process the drop holder (11) and the wire (2) can be moved with respect to each other along sections of the wire (2) where the emitter material (3) has to be deposited.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a wire cathode covered with an emitter material, in which method a material is deposited on a wire by means of electrodeposition.
The invention also relates to an apparatus for depositing an emitter material on a wire, said apparatus comprising a means for holding the wire, a drop holder comprising a suspension and means for applying an electric potential to the wire and the drop holder.
Wire cathodes are used for instance in flat electroluminescent picture display devices such as flat CRTs, or in lamps.
It is known to manufacture wire cathodes by means of a method in which an emitter material is deposited on a wire by means of electrodeposition. Such a method is known, e.g. from German Patent No. 874,337. In said method, a wire cathode wound on a reel is passed through a suspension in which an alkaline-earth metal compound is dispersed, which compound is electrodeposited on the wire. To enable electrodeposition, the wire is used as a cathode, while a pipe of metallic material, which is connected to a supply pipe to continuously provide the pipe with the suspension, is used as an anode. The cylindrical pipe forms an electrophoretic cell through which the wire is led. The movement of the cathode wire through the electrophoretic cell is temporarily interrupted at the sections of the wire that need to be coated whereupon the polarisation voltage is switched on and the electrophoretic process is started. Once the cathode wire is provided with the desired coating, the polarisation voltage is switched off again and transport of the wire is resumed until the next section of the wire to be coated is positioned in the electrophoretic cell. Eventually, the coated cathode wire is wound on a second reel.
A disadvantage of the known method is that undesired deposits are obtained on those parts of the cathode wire that need not be coated. In operation, this leads to electron emission on parts of the wire where it is not desired. Furthermore, soldering of the wire to connection means is adversely affected by such unwanted deposits.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method for depositing an alkaline-earth metal compound on a wire cathode in which one or more of the above cited problems are obviated or at least alleviated.
For this purpose a method of the type described in the opening paragraph is characterized in that a suspension comprising the material is transferred by a drop holder, which is positioned around the wire, by movement in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the wire, whereafter an electric voltage is applied to the drop holder and the wire to deposit the emitter material on the wire, after which the drop holder is withdrawn from the wire again.
In the known method it is required that all parts of the wire pass through the electrophoretic cell, including those parts which need not be coated. This implies that all parts of the wire are in contact with the suspension for a certain period of time, leading to undesired deposits on those parts of the cathode wire that need not be coated. Apart from the above-mentioned problem of unwanted deposits, this also leads to an early depreciation of the suspension or unwanted changes in the composition of the suspension requiring frequent renewal of the solution.

Apparatus for depositing cathode material on a wire cathode


A communications apparatus (2) in a communications network (100 or 110) is provided for communication among a plurality of communication apparatuses. The communications apparatus (2) routes messages for neighboring apparatuses. The communications apparatus (2) includes a memory (4, 7 or 8), a processor (3) and a transceiver (6). The memory has a plurality of routing managers (12, 13, and 14) stored thereon, and each manager maintains at least one network table including one or more entries. The processor 3 selects at least one network table from those maintained by the plurality of routing managers (12, 13 and 14) that are stored in the memory (4, 7 or 8), based on an address indicator and/or on a type-of-service of a message. The processor 3 extracts network information from the selected network table or tables. The processor (3) also controls transmission of the message according to the extracted network information. The transceiver (6) transmits and receives messages.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an architecture, apparatus and method for communications in networks, such as ad-hoc networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mechanism and architecture through which multiple tables maintained by multiple routing managers can be efficiently handled by a single forwarding module.
2. Background and Related Art
Wireless ad-hoc networks preferably do not rely on base stations or other fixed infrastructure. Accordingly, ad-hoc networks are extremely important in military, emergency and temporary (e.g., business meetings, campaign headquarters, etc.) environments. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, in some ad-hoc networks, each node is responsible for routing "packets," or message signals, for other network nodes. An example of this type of network 100 is shown in FIG. 1a. As illustrated, node X can route packets between nodes W, Y and Z, for example. Nodes in an ad-hoc network preferably employ known routing protocols to accomplish their routing requirements.
For example, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,857, issued to R. Poor on Feb. 22, 2000, and assigned to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in a "link state" routing approach, each network node maintains a routing table that specifies an "optimal" path toward each network destination. In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,857 the term "optimal" is used to generally mean the shortest path, but may account for other factors such as load balancing.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a shortest-path calculation can be performed via a shortest-path first algorithm, for example, Dijkstra's algorithm as explained in Chapter 5 of "Routing in Communications Networks," M. Steenstrup, ed., 1995. As will also be understood by those skilled in the art, many other procedures exist for routing messages over a network, even when a configuration of the network may change. There are also many procedures for measuring or rating the connectivity of a network in a particular configuration (e.g., metric generation) that are well known in the art.
As discussed in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,857, when a node in a link state routing system transmits a message to a destination node, it first fetches from a routing table an entry for the specified destination. The routing table entry specifies which neighbor of an originating node should relay the message and the identification of that neighbor is installed in a message header as the recipient. The originating node then transmits the message. Many of the originating node's nearby neighbors receive the message, since radio frequency ("RF") transmissions are essentially omni-directional. However, of all the neighbors that receive the transmission, only the specified recipient acts on the message. The recipient relays the message in the same manner, according to an entry in its routing table corresponding to the destination node. This process continues until the message reaches the ultimate destination. The nodes in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,857, however, do not maintain these types of routing tables, but rather maintain "cost tables" that indicate the costs of transmission to other nodes in the network.
Other forms of ad-hoc wireless networks simplify routing and minimize routing traffic by organizing nodes (e.g., network members) into hierarchical groups called clusters, with each cluster having a cluster head. A cluster may include a single cluster head and zero or more cluster members. A cluster head represents affiliated cluster members to the network. Cluster head stations communicate with each other to form a network backbone, and cluster member stations relay messages to the network through affiliated cluster heads. In mobile systems, cluster members move into and out of clusters depending on their physical location and radio connectivity. An example of this type of mobile communications network 110 is shown in FIG. 1b, in which areas 1a, 1b and 1c represent individual clusters. In FIG. 1b, a double-circle indicates a Cluster Head ("CH"), whereas a single circle indicates a Cluster Member ("CM"). In the FIG. 1b example, CM2 and CM3 are affiliated with a cluster headed by CH1, and CM6 and CM7 are affiliated with a cluster headed by CH5. CH4 is the head of its own cluster, and does not have any currently affiliated cluster members.
Another example of a mobile communications network is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,592, issued to S. Ramanathan on Dec. 15, 1998, and assigned to the same assignee of this present application. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,592 discloses a method for a plurality of mobile stations to automatically organize them into a hierarchical network, in which some of the stations operate as message gateways for a cluster of mobile stations. Initially, mobile stations search for available cluster heads and initiate an affiliation procedure to establish them as cluster members. If the affiliation procedure is successful, a mobile station operates as a cluster member. Otherwise, a mobile station promotes itself to operate as a cluster head.
In the arrangement of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,592, each station operates in at least two basic modes. In the first mode, the mobile station serves as a message gateway for a cluster of other member stations. The second mode allows the mobile station to operate as a non-gateway (or "cluster member") station. Each mobile station determines which out of the two modes to operate in, as discussed above. The mobile stations disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,592 can operate at two different power levels. When there are no other available cluster heads, a mobile station operates as a cluster head, and transmits at a relatively high power level. A cluster head transmits at the relatively high power level to communicate with other cluster head stations and to typically provide longer distance network links. Although a cluster head communicates at a higher power level with other cluster heads, a cluster head can still communicate with its cluster members using a relatively lower power level.
One object of these types of ad-hoc networks is to route packets from an originating node to a destination node (or nodes). As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, there are various operational modes or types of routing that can be used to accomplish this objective. For example, "broadcast" routing directs a packet to all network destinations simultaneously, whereas "multicast" routing directs a packet only to a well-defined group of nodes. "Unicast" (or point-to-point) routing directs a packet from an originating node to a single network destination.
Known system architectures typically employ a complexly interwoven routing manager (e.g., a software module) and forwarding layer to support either broadcast, multicast or unicast routing. These prior techniques typically create "stove-piped" solutions, meaning that a single forwarding layer is built for a single routing manager and a particular radio device. Porting this type of architecture to a new radio, or modifying the routing mechanisms, results in significant time, cost and complexity. With known system architectures, it is difficult, if not impossible, to support multiple routing schemes within a mobile radio station.
A radio frequency (RF) device that is typically a part of a wireless communications node generally has competing interests that produce performance trade-offs. Power, data rate, spread spectrum chipping code rate, and error correction methods are just a few examples of these different interrelated interests. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, often a selection of a value for one of these interests is not independent among the many interests present in a mobile radio and may have consequences for the network as a whole. For example, increasing the power for a particular transmission increases signal reliability, but may also drain a battery at a sending (or source) node and/or may cause more interference at other local network nodes. Accordingly, a problem exists in that a type-of-service (or a "quality or service") for a particular transmission must be balanced and integrated with a particular routing scheme and the radio parameters used for transmission (e.g., power, data rate, etc.).
These types of problems are not adequately addressed in the art. Thus, there is a need for a wireless packet router that seamlessly maintains multiple forwarding tables and radio parameters necessary to support quality of service guarantees. There is another need for an architecture that enables multiple routing mechanisms to co-exist with a single forwarding layer. There is also a need to handle quality of service mechanisms across different routing mechanisms in a packet radio router. There is a further need for a forwarding layer that allows extensive modification of radio parameters on a packet-by-packet basis, but does not require the forwarding layer to know the details of the particular radio layer. There is also a need for compact and efficient routing mechanisms and/or tables, and for a method for forwarding table decomposition.

Architecture and mechanism for forwarding layer interfacing for networks


A pneumatic radial tire including one or more belt layers, wherein cords are used as cords for reinforcing at least one belt layer. These cords are formed by impregnating and attaching a resin having a modulus in tension of not more than 150 kg/mm.sup.2 to bundles of cord-like fibers composed of a number of filaments having a tensile strength of not less than 15 g/d and a fineness of 1-15 deniers, an impregnated and attached amount of the filaments being in a range of 30% to 70 wt % relative to a weight of the filaments, and each of the cords has an elliptical or rectangular cross-section shape having an aspect ratio of a major axis (b)/a minor axis (a) being 1.5 to 5. Each of the bundles of the fibers are not twisted.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pneumatic radial tires. More particularly, the invention relates to pneumatic radial tires having high speed performances, flexural fatigue resistance and cornering stability improved.
(2) Related Art Statement
Since pneumatic radial tires have improved cornering stability, high speed durability and wear resistance as compared to conventional bias tires owing to the radial structure, the radial tires have become popularized.
In general, the radial tire has the structure in which a carcass having cords arranged in radial directions of the tire is held by a pair of beads and a belt surrounds the carcass. The belt consists of two or more cord layers having cords arranged at an angle of 10.degree. to 30.degree. with respect to a circumferential direction of the tire. The carcass is constituted by one or two plies having carcass cords arranged at substantially 90.degree. with respect to the circumferential direction.
The carcass and the belt have an important role to keep strength of the radial tire together with the bead portions. A primary feature of the radial tire lies in the belt and the carcass. The carcass affords flexibility upon the tire, whereas the belt restrains the carcass and functions as a hoop.
Tires having excellent high speed performance have been demanded due to the propagation of high speed roads, and it is necessity to develop new materials for the belts. Although steel cords are mainly used for belts in conventional radial tires, cords have the great problems for tires required for high speed use. That is, since a radially outer growth of the tire becomes greater by centrifugal forces during turning at high speeds due to heavy steel cords, movement inside the tire becomes greater and rolling loss becomes greater. Further, such rolling loss causes heat generation, which results in fracture of the tire. Therefore, steel cord belts are not suitable for tires required to have high speed performance.
On the other hand, research of organic fibers have recently been remarkably advanced. Particularly, light fiber materials having the possibility of replacing the steel cords have appeared. Such fiber materials are produced by crystal spinning, super-drawing, gel spinning or the like, and have high strength and high modulus of elasticity. For examples, they are aramid fibers, carbon fibers, super high tenacity polyethylene fibers, high strength PVA fibers, polyoxymethylene fibers or whole aromatic polyester fibers. These fibers are about one fifth as heavy as the weight of the steel cords, but have strength and modulus of elasticity comparable to those of the steel cords.
However, the organic fibers are each constituted by a number of fine filaments. Therefore, when the organic fibers are used in the state that they are twisted and bundled same manner as in the conventional tire cords made of organic fibers, the modulus of elasticity in tension is lowered owing to twisting. Furthermore, since flexural rigidity and compression rigidity are low due to flexibility of fine filaments, rigidity of the belt in the radial tire decreases. Because of this, sufficient belt rigidity cannot be obtained unlike the case of the steel cords, so that cornering stability, high speed durability and wear resistance are deteriorated.

Pneumatic radial tires including fiber/resin belt cords having elliptical or rectangular cross-sectional shape


A multi-modal wireless controller can include a processor, memory storage, a radio frequency (RF) engine, outputs, power inputs, switches, a mode input, and a RF input. The memory storage can have machine-readable instructions that define the functionalities of a multi-modal wireless controller. The RF engine can be configured to transmit and receive wireless RF signals. The outputs can provide electrical power and a direct current (DC) voltage control signal. The power input can be configured to receive electrical power from a power source. The switches can be configured to switch the electrical power between one of the power input and outputs on or off, responsive to the processor. The mode input can include a switch element that designates an operating mode. The RF input can be coupled to the RF engine and can include a switch element that designates an operating frequency of the RF engine and/or a zone.

The present invention relates to the field of lighting and, more particularly, to an improved means for controlling a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system.
LED lights have become an energy-efficient alternative to conventional incandescent and fluorescent lights. The focused light provided by LED lights have made them popular in areas, particularly outdoors, where decreased light pollution is desired. The LED lights are often retrofitted to an existing lighting system, and bound to the existing lighting control programs of that system.
The electronic nature of LED lights, over conventional wired systems, allow for greater versatility in control options. A variety of wireless controllers have been developed to utilize wireless communications to control operation of LED lights in a lighting system. However, conventional wireless controllers are each designed for use with a specific element of the lighting system (e.g., a light source controller, a motion sensor controller, etc.). This limits the flexibility of the wireless controller for reconfiguration purposes.
Further, conventional wireless controllers are better-suited for indoor LED lighting systems, not for handling an existing layout of widely-spaced lights. That is, a conventional wireless controller generally has multiple outputs to control multiple LED lights in a relatively confined area like a large room. Such a configuration does not lend itself well to controlling LED streetlights for a city block or parking lot.

Multi-modal wireless controller for controlling an LED lighting system


The control of an apparatus within a grain holding device for feeding grain to an unloader conveyor operable for conveying the grain from the holding device, includes sensing a predetermined condition or conditions representative of capacity of the unloader conveyor for receiving grain, and adaptively controlling the apparatus for feeding grain to the unloader conveyor in advantageous varying manners responsive to the conditions, including to delay initiation of feeding until the receiving capacity is increased, and to match the grain feed to the capacity. The automatic control can be overridden, to allow user control of unloader speed, and can be configured to allow cleanout of the unloader conveyor.

U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/128,483, filed May 22, 2008, is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Current grain holding systems, such as combine grain tank unloading systems of combine harvesters, typically consist of single or multiple apparatus, typically, a cross conveyor or conveyors, that feed grain to an unloader conveyor or conveyors, typically a vertical unloader conveyor including an unloader conveyor element, such as an auger, operable for lifting the grain to a generally horizontal conveyor or auger that conveys the grain to a truck or other holding bin. Currently, most cross, vertical and horizontal conveyors or augers start and shut off simultaneously. This simultaneous action causes several issues, namely, one can only operate the system at a maximum unload or discharge rate, and, in situations in which the system is halted in the loaded condition, start up torques of a loaded conveyor can be excessive and result in failure.
As a result, it would be desirable to have a capability to control the maximum unload rate of an unloader conveyor, for instance, to more accurately meter grain to top off trucks or other receptacles, and to fill smaller wagons and receptacles. Likewise, it would be desirable to have a capability to shut off the horizontal cross conveyor or augers to stop the feed of grain to the vertical unloader conveyor or auger in advance of shutdown. This would allow the vertical unloader conveyor or auger to empty before shutdown. A reason for this is that the vertical unloader auger is typically more inefficient and takes longer to empty than a horizontal auger. Another reason would be to eliminate the subsequent gross start up torque and power requirements, which, as noted above, can reduce the working life of components due to early failure, and can require higher product cost. In this latter regard, the system must be designed to handle the initial peak start up torque, which will typically last for just two seconds or so, and is significantly greater than normal operating torque.
Additionally, after use, if the unloader conveyor is not cleaned out, remaining grain has been observed to have a tendency to settle in the enclosed lower region of the vertical unloader conveyor around the lower end of the auger therein and the adjacent end of the cross conveyor adjacent to the inlet opening. As a result, an additional problem that can occur if the cross conveyor and unloader conveyor are started simultaneously, or the cross conveyor is started first, is that the cross conveyor can force or pack the grain into and against the grain in the lower unloader conveyor housing, thereby causing grinding, cracking of, and other damage to the grain.
Reference Talbi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,452,180, which discloses a grain tank unloader and clean out control, which, when an unload command is received, will automatically initiate operation of the unloader conveyor, then, after a delay, automatically initiate operation of the grain tank or cross conveyor for feeding grain into the inlet end of the unloader conveyor, to overcome some of the start up problems. And, during operation, when a cleanout command is received, the control will automatically cease operation of the grain tank conveyor, then, after a sufficient time period for the unloader conveyor to empty, automatically cease operation of the unloader conveyor. These are desirable features, but an initial or start up delay is not always required, and in some instances, can be more advantageously shortened, or lengthened. Additionally, no provision is provided for controlling operation for topping off and the like.
What is sought therefore, is a manner of controlling feeding of grain to an unloader conveyor of a grain holding device, which overcomes one or more of the problems, and provides one or more of the features, set forth above.

Adaptive rate control for feeding grain to a grain unloader conveyor


An X-ray generator 1 includes an X-ray tube 11 having a cathode portion 16, a grid electrode 15 and a target 22, a voltage controller 27 and 32 for controlling voltages to be applied to the cathode portion 16 and the grid electrode 15, and switches 33 and 34 for operating ON and OFF of the X-ray generator 1 and of X-ray emission. The voltage controller 27 and 32, based on an ON-signal for the X-ray generator 1 and an OFF-signal for the X-ray emission, applies a positive standby voltage Vf1 to the cathode portion 16 and applies a negative cutoff voltage Vc1 to the grid electrode 15.

Such an X-ray generator includes one disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7 (1995)-29532. This X-ray generator includes a cathode portion which emits thermoelectrons, a grid electrode which controls the thermoelectrons emitted from the cathode portion, a target which generates X-rays by collisions of the thermoelectrons, and a voltage controller which controls voltages to be applied to the cathode portion and the grid electrode. The cathode portion includes a cathode made of porous tungsten impregnated with an excellent electron emitting material such as BaO, and a heater for heating and thereby allowing the cathode to emit the thermoelectrons.