A method of determining and utilizing an Energy Efficiency Indicator, the method initiating with a step of determining a distal or angular offset between a pair of coupled shafts provided between adjacent rotating machines. The offset is correlated to energy efficiency between the pair of coupled shafts. Correlation is referred to as an Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI). The Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) can be used to predict changes in alignment, changes in energy efficiency, and the like. Monitoring the coupled rotating machines and using the Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) can provide the operator with predictive information to enhance the reliability and extend the lifespan of the coupled rotating machines.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process of aligning and retaining alignment of a series of rotating equipment coupled together for cooperative operation. More specifically, the observation, recordation, and utilization of various characteristics of the equipment, equipment set up, and operational characteristics to predict, optimize, and retain alignment therebetween.
2. Background Art
Rotating machinery, equipment, or other devices can be provided in many form factors, such as an electrical motor, a combustion motor, a pump, a transmission or other gear box, and the like. Rotating equipment is commonly configured coupling at least two rotating devices together, referred to as a machine train. The configuration can couple two or more like devices together, such as motors, pumps, and the like to provide serial addition of power or parallel functionality, respectively. Alternatively, the configuration can couple two or more dissimilar devices together, such as coupling a motor and a transmission, coupling a motor and a pump, and the like to provide joint functionality. In any configuration, alignment between two adjacent components impacts the efficiency and reliability of the equipment.
Many factors can impact alignment between equipment. Alignment of the equipment dictates that the equipment remains stationary, and thus the alignment process is completed when the equipment is completion in a non-operational state. Additionally, the alignment process is commonly completed in an ambient environment. Unfortunately, this requirement removes a number of variables, which impact the alignment during operation, where those variables are only present during operation. Examples include thermal effects on each element of the equipment, balance of rotating elements, changes in compressive components such as soft feet, changes due to torsional effects, and the like. The operational environment commonly changes in temperature, which affects the mounting area, the equipment, and the like. In most operational scenarios, the equipment and operating environment increases in temperature, impacting the alignment between adjacent equipment.
Each individual machine arrangement is different resulting from each arrangements unique characteristics. Even identical sets of machinery can dictate different terms for alignment. Factors of each configuration including location, mounting schematics, and the like affect the alignment.
Laser alignment was introduced in the 1980's. This process utilized one or more diode lasers and detectors (PSD's). The PSD's were able to detect fairly accurately (within 10 μm's) relative positioning between two adjacent shafts. Information is provided to the service person through a display unit. The system determines what information needs to be conveyed to the service person in order to direct the service person on what is required to optimize alignment between two adjacent components. The display unit can be provided in any of many known form factors, including a computer, preferably comprising a wireless interface. Software converts the detector signals into a set of instructions in an understandable format for the operator or service person. Alignment or registration between two adjacent components is commonly defined in two components:                A. Angular misalignment        B. Parallel or offset misalignment
Parallel registration can be defined in two directions, horizontal and vertical, basically referring to respectively X-axis and Y-axis.
Another component that could be considered is end-to-end registration, ensuring sufficient gap is provided for thermal expansion, vibration, and the like.
The fundamental setup of the laser alignment instrumentation has remained unchanged since its inception in the 1980's, including a diode laser based system with a detector and a portable computer with standard alignment software.
As technology has evolved, the technological advances have been integrated into the process. Examples include the introduction of wireless technology changed the method of data transfer from the laser/detector to the portable computer, by removing cables previously connecting therebetween. Although technology has advanced and aided the user in certain areas, the overall fundamentals of the process, including the hardware and respective software have remained unchanged over the years.
Most craftspeople that align machinery already understand the phenomenon of what is usually called machinery "soft foot." Soft Foot is a common term used for machine frame distortion. The distortion is caused when one or more feet of a machine differ in height from the others. This in turn may be due to differences when the machine was manufactured, a squishy footage with oil film etc. between foot and base, a bent foot, or it may be induced by a pipe to which the machine is attached (e.g. a pipe on top of a pump), which prevents the machine from touching all its feet to its base.
As many vibration specialists have never actually aligned machinery, they may have heard of "soft feet" but may not always understand the result in vibration. Soft feet can cause increased vibration amplitudes. Although "soft feet" does not necessarily magnify machine vibration, it should be reduced for many reasons, including preventing vibration magnification.
The current alignment process includes the following steps:                A. Position alignment equipment as directed for aligning two adjacent rotating machines;        B. Measure the soft foot;        C. Correct the soft foot;        D. Measure the current alignment;        E. Enter a tolerance into the software, wherein the tolerance may be a target;        F. Correct any misalignment between two adjacent rotating machines until the alignment is within the established tolerance or target; and        G. Record the measurements, such as entering the measurements into an electronic database and optionally uploading the information to a remote database.
It is well know that unless soft foot conditions are checked, alignment may be impossible or the improvement in alignment may be short-lived.
The current alignment process is dependent upon the experience level of the alignment engineer. Most experienced alignment engineers are disappearing. Each configuration between adjacent rotating machines is different, thus being unique in alignment. The level of experience of the alignment engineer impacts the time and quality of the alignment. Lack of knowledge respective to the details is only a portion of the problem. The lack of awareness that results in not searching for the answer contributes to the problem. Another contributing factor is when the alignment engineer fails to apply the correct details, which is certainly a problem.
Long term reliability of the trained rotating machinery is dependent upon a sustained alignment. Misaligned shafts which are coupled together can cause inefficient transfer of energy or torque from a drive shaft to a torque receiving shaft. Misalignment can cause premature wear and failure of components, seal damage which allows leaks of lubricants and other fluids, and the like. Premature wear and failure can result in excessive downtime, higher operating costs, and the like.
Thus, what is desired is a process to identify when the alignment between coupled shafts of adjacent rotating machines shifts where the alignment is no longer within an acceptable tolerance range.

Method of assessing shaft alignment based on energy efficiency


A foldable stand includes a body having an approximately planar shape. The foldable stand further includes a first inner portion hingably attached to the body. The foldable stand further includes a second inner portion hingably attached to the body. The foldable stand further includes a third inner portion hingably attached to the body, wherein the first inner portion and the second inner portion rotate away from the approximately planar shape of the body to intersect and create an approximately triangular support having the first inner portion as a first side, the second inner portion as a second side, and the body as a third side; and the third inner portion rotates away from the approximately planar shape of the body, providing for an extended stand configuration which is configured to receive an approximately rectangular prism shaped item.

Mobile devices, such as phones, tablets, and other devices are easily held in the hand of the user. In many cases, it is desirable to hold the device perpendicular to the eyes of the user. Reasons for this configuration may include ease of view and minimization of glare among other reasons. When viewing a device for an extended period of time, the hands of the user may become tired; and it is desirable to have a stand for the mobile device to optimize viewing. It is also desirable that this stand be portable, so that the user may utilize it in many circumstances.


Silicon-bridged transition metal compounds and their use as .alpha.-olefin polymerization catalysts are disclosed. A chiral silicon-bridged metallocene catalyst polymerizes .alpha.-olefins to high isotacity with a minimum of inversions at high rates of catalyst activity. The catalyst is easily made in high yields and readily separated from atactic meso forms.

There are four types of tacticity which have been described in poly-.alpha.-olefins: atactic, normal isotactic, isotactic stereoblock, and syndiotactic. Although all of these tacticity variations have been primarily demonstrated in the case of polypropylene, they are in theory equally possible for all poly-.alpha.-olefins. The random, or atactic structure is represented by a polymer backbone of alternating methylene and methine carbons, with randomly oriented branches substituting the methine carbons. The methine carbons randomly have R and S configurations, creating adjacent pairs either of like configuration (a meso or "m" dyad) or of unlike configuration (a racemic or "r" dyad). The atactic form of a polymer will contain approximately equal fractions of meso and racemic dyads.
In the normal isotactic structure of an .alpha.-olefin polymer, all of the monomer units have the same stereochemical configuration, with the exception of random errors which appear in the chain. Random errors will almost always appear as isolated inversions of configuration which are corrected in the very next insertion to restore the original R or S configuration of the propagating chain. These single insertions of inverted configuration give rise to rr triads, which distinguish this isotactic structure in its NMR from the isotactic stereoblock form. Long before anyone had discovered a catalytic system which produced the isotactic stereoblock form of a poly-.alpha.-olefin, the possible existence of such a structure had been recognized and mechanisms for its formation had been proposed based on conventional Ziegler-Natta mechanisms in Langer, A. W., Lect. Bienn. Polym. Symp. 7th (1974); Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 295, 110-126 (1977). The first example of this form of polypropylene and a catalyst which produces it in a pure form were reported in Ewen, J. A., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., v. 106, p. 6355 (1984).
The formation of stereoblock isotactic polymer differs from the formation of the normal isotactic structure in the way that the propagation site reacts to a stereochemical error in the chain. As mentioned above, the normal isotactic chain will return to the original configuration following an error because the stereochemical regulator, the metal and its surrounding ligands, still dictates the same stereochemical preference during insertion. In stereoblock propagation, the site itself changes from one which dictates an R configuration to one which dictates an S configuration. This occurs either because the metal and its ligands change to the opposite stereochemical configuration or because the configuration of the last added monomer, rather than the metal chirality, controls the configuration of the next added monomer. The former case, where the metal changes to the opposite configuration, has been sought but, as far as applicant is aware, has never been observed in a Ziegler polymerization; however, the latter case is now known to be responsible for stereoblock polymerization.
Unlike normal isotactic polymers, the lengths of individual blocks of the same configuration in the stereoblock structure vary widely due to changing reaction conditions. Since only the erroneous parts of the chains affect the crystallinity of the product, in general, normal isotactic polymers and isotactic stereoblock polymers of long block length (greater than 50 isotactic placements) have similar properties.
Syndiotactic polymers have a strong mechanistic similarity to isotactic stereoblock polymers; indeed, the force which results in syndiotactic propagation is the same steric interaction of the last added monomer with the incoming monomer. The most significant difference between the isotactic propagation mechanisms and the syndiotactic propagation mechanism is the mode of addition, which defines which carbon atom of the new monomer becomes bonded to the metal during the insertion step, as reported in Boor, Jr. J., Ziegler-Natta Catalysts and Polymerizations, Academic Press, New York 1979. The addition modes of isotactic and syndiotactic propagation are opposite.
Syndiotactic propagation has been studied for over 25 years; however, only a few good syndiospecific catalysts have been discovered, all of which are extremely sensitive to monomer bulkiness. As a result, well-characterized syndiotactic polymers are limited only to polypropylenes. The chain backbone of a syndiotactic polymer can be considered to be a copolymer of olefins with alternating stereochemical configurations. Highly syndiotactic polymers are generally highly crystalline and will frequently have higher melting points than their isotactic polymorphs. However, the frequency of errors in typical syndiotactic polymers (mr triads) is much greater than in the related isotactic stereoblock polymers, possibly due to weaker monomer orientation forces in these catalysts. A frequent error in syndiotactic polypropylenes is an isotactic block of monomers. Mechanisms for the formation of several hypothetical types of stereoregularity, consisting of non-random blocks of the above stereoregular structures, have been proposed in Boor and Langer mentioned above.
Chirality, whether it arises from catalyst crystal structure, surrounding ligand structure, or asymmetry of the growing chain, is essential to polymerize stereoregularly. Polymerization catalysts which lack chirality or have weak or distant asymmetry in their structures will produce either atactic polyolefins or ones of low stereoregularity. The mechanisms by which metallocene catalysts control chain tacticity are based on the same principles as for both conventional and metal-halide catalysts. The identification of two distinct types of catalyst chirality has given rise to two mechanisms for stereochemical induction during polymerization termed the `site control mechanism` and the `chain end control mechanism`. For many years there were ongoing arguments about what mechanistic step and what features of the polymerization process played the most important role in stereospecific polymerization. Today, while the arguments have quieted, there is still no single mechanistic interaction which fully explains stereoregular propagation for all of the known stereospecific catalysts, including the metallocenes. Some of the key proposals are reviewed by Boor mentioned above and include: (1) the crystalline asymmetry of the active site, (2) the asymmetry induced by cocatalyst binding, (3) asymmetry introduced by the attached polymer helix, and (4) the asymmetry of the assembled active site. Rather than to select any one effect as most important, the two present-day mechanisms of stereoregulation divide these steric and chiral effects either into catalyst site or chain-end interactions. Even though catalyst site chirality will almost always dominate over chain-end chirality, the chain-end control mechanism in achiral catalyst is responsible for two of the most interesting types of tacticity, steroblock isotacticity and syndiotacticity.
One of the key features of the chain-end control mechanism for coordinated olefin polymerization is the mode of olefin addition during the propagation step. The two types of olefin addition, primary addition and secondary addition, are shown in the following diagram for polypropylene: ##STR1## These addition mechanisms are also referred to as `1-2 addition` and `2-1 addition`, respectively, indicating the carbon number of the last monomer and the carbon number of the new monomer which will form the new bond. Primary addition is almost exclusively the mode of addition found for titanium and zirconium catalysts, including metallocene and non-metallocene types and most heterogeneous vanadium catalysts. Secondary addition is common for catalysts in which the alkyl is more `cationic`, such as soluble vanadium catalysts used in low temperature polymerizations. In all cases where the mode of addition has been studied in Ziegler-Natta catalysis, primary insertion has accompanied isotactic polymerization and secondary insertion has accompanied syndiotactic polymerization, although the converse is certainly not true. When visualizing the insertion step using (I) and (II), it is important to remember that olefin insertion in Ziegler-Natta polymerization always takes place in a CIS manner, as shown, meaning that the coordinated face of the olefin always attaches to the existing alkyl-metal bond. Inversion of neither the alkyl carbon configuration nor the olefin-metal carbon configurations occurs, as originally reported by Natta, G., et al, Chem. Ind. (Milan) 42, 255 (1960), and later confirmed by Zambelli et al, Makromol. Chem. 112, 183 (1968).
A close examination of the above figures (I) and (II) for points of steric interactions between the olefin side chain and the attached polymer chain leads to a conclusion that the overall steric influences are much greater for primary addition than for secondary addition. This steric difference manifests itself in several ways: (1) a lower relative reactivity of substituted olefins in the primary addition mode (higher copolymerization r values for titanium versus vanadium), and (2) a higher temperature at which chain-end controlled isotacticity (-10.degree. C.) can be achieved relative to chain-end controlled syndiotacticity (-60.degree. C.).
If the metal and its ligands (L) are achiral in these figures, the only chirality which develops during the insertion step is due to the chiral carbons along the polymer chain itself. In isotactic stereoblock and syndiotactic polymerization it is this rather weak chirality that directs the new monomer to one of two possible orientations relative to the polymer chain's last added monomer during insertion. Regardless of the fact that the growing chain can rotate freely and shift among the vacant coordination sites of the metal, the last added monomer, in each case, will exert an orienting effect on an olefin seeking coordination. If this orientation energy is large compared to the randomizing effects of kT, it can be shown with models that a tactic polymer will result. It can be shown, in fact, that an isotactic polymer will result from primary addition.
Although every second carbon of the polymer backbone of a growing poly-.alpha.-olefin chain is chiral, it has been shown in many different experiments that the effect of this chain chirality is not sensed beyond three bonds separation from the metal as reported in Zambelli et al, Macromolecules, v. 16, pp. 341-8 (1983). In addition, adequate chirality for tactic propagation may not be sensed when the differences between the groups forming the chiral center become smaller. Such effects can be quite profound. Propylene, which introduces a chiral carbon center bonded to a hydrogen, a methyl group, and a polymer chain, is the only .alpha.-olefin which is readily polymerized by the chain-end control mechanism to an isotactic stereoblock and a syndiotactic polymer. For higher .alpha.-olefins, the larger steric bulk of the olefin branch and its similarity to the polymer chain causes polymerization rates and/or stereoregularity to be severely depressed.
Heretofore, the most effective way to produce isotactic poly-.alpha.-olefins from metallocene-alumoxane catalysts has been to use a metallocene which has chirality centered at the transition metal as reported in Ewen, J. A., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., v. 106, p. 6355 (1984) and Kaminsky, W., et al, Agnew. Chem. Int. Ed. Eng.; 24, 507-8 (1985). The best known conventional Ziegler-Natta catalyst which polymerizes olefins to normal isotactic structures, TiCl.sub.3, also has metal centered chirality which the titanium acquires by being located at specific edge and defect sites on the crystal lattice. Both titanium and zirconium metallocenes containing a 1,2-ethylene bridged indenyl (or a tetra-hydroindenyl) ligand in the racemic form are good examples of such chiral metallocene catalysts which produce poly-olefins of the normal isotactic structure. The asymmetric steric environment of the metal in each of these catalysts induces a reproducible orientation of the incoming monomers, which is a mechanistic requirement in addition to CIS primary addition that must be met by a catalyst in order to polymerize stereoregularly. When catalyst site chirality is unchanging and primary addition occurs, normal isotactic polymers result.
FIGS. 1-4 demonstrate for TiCl.sub.3 and for two chiral forms and one non-chiral form of metallocenes how metal centered chirality can direct isotactic polymerization. In FIG. 1 a titanium trichloride center which is complexed to a dialkyl aluminum chloride and a growing polymer chain is represented. The chirality contributed by the crystalline TiCl.sub.3 site alone has been reputed to be of foremost importance in this mechanism in Natta, J. Inorg. Nucl. Chem. 8, 589 (1958). While additional chirality contributed by coordinated aluminum alkyls, bound chiral polymer chains, and added third components has been reported to produce observable effects in Boor, Langer and Zambelli et al (1983) mentioned above, these act primarily to enhance the isotacticity by increasing the steric bulk around the site. Generally such `modifiers` simultaneously decrease the polymerization rate at a site as they increase its isotacticity.
In FIG. 1, a vacant monomer coordination site is indicated by the open square. Monomer coordination at this site occurs only with the olefin branch pointing in one direction due to severe steric interactions in the other configuration. If the polymer chain Pn were to shift to the vacant position, monomer coordination must occur in the opposite configuration at the newly opened vacant site. Sites of both chiral configurations, created by a shift in the position of the polymer chain, as implied above, are though not to occur in crystalline TiCl.sub.3 systems as reported in langer, mentioned above. In these systems, the two sites clearly do not have equivalent steric and electronic requirements.
Chiral metallocenes which polymerize alpha-olefins to normal isotactic polymers have many structural similarities to the crystalline titanium catalysts. In these soluble metallocene-alumoxane catalysts, however, chirality is imposed on the metal center by the asymmetric metallocene ligand, rather than by a crystalline lattice of chloride ions. FIG. 2 shows the R and S (mirror image) forms of the racemic 1,2-ethylene bridged bis-tetra-hydroindenyl zirconium (IV) catalyst reported in Wild et al, J. Organomet. Chem. 232, 233-47 (1982) and Ewen and Kaminsky, mentioned above. FIG. 3 indicates how the monomer, on binding, is oriented by the chiral projections of the ligand. Both of the racemic indenyl catalyst structures satisfy all the criteria for stereoregular polymerization, including that shifting the polymer chain to the opposite coordination vacancy causes the catalyst to direct the monomer to bind in the opposite configuration. This criterion, thought not to be applicable to titanium chloride catalysts, may have greater importance for these metallocene catalysts since the two coordination sites where the polymer and monomer bind should be equivalent sterically and electronically.
The structure shown in FIG. 4, a bridged tetra-hydroindenyl isomer, is achiral since it has a plane of symmetry which intersects the metal atom between the planes of the metallocene rings. As expected, this meso isomer does not orient the monomer at either coordination vacancy and, as a result, does not polymerize stereoregularly by the catalyst site control mechanism. The chain end control mechanism would still enable this catalyst to form isotactic stereoblock polymer by the chain-end control mechanism under conditions described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,482.
Topping the list of metallocene structures which have been shown to polymerize stereoregularly are the ethylene bridged bis-indenyl and bis-tetra-hydroindenyl titanium and zirconium (IV) catalysts discussed above. These catalyst structures were synthesized and studied in Wild et al (1982) mentioned above, and were later reported in Ewen and Kaminsky et al, mentioned above, to polymerize .alpha.-olefins stereoregularly when combined with alumoxanes. It was further disclosed in West German Off. DE 3443087A1 (1986) without giving experimental verification, that the bridge length can vary from a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 hydrocarbon and the metallocene rings can be simple or bicyclic but must be asymmetric.
Another type of catalyst chirality is formed by arranging non-chiral ligands in a chiral manner around the catalytic metal center. Many chiral complexes of this type can be mentally formulated in a short time; however, since none of these structures have induced isotacticity in poly-.alpha.-olefins as far as the applicant is aware, only a few reported structures will be mentioned here, including those structures the stereoregulating ability of which has been tested. The failure of these structures to polymerize stereoregularly must indicate that their site chirality is either lost in the active state of the catalyst, such as might happen in a three-coordinate cationic intermediate, or is insufficient to orient the monomer. Martin et al, J. Organomet. Chem. 97, 261-273 (1975) and Couturier et al, J. Organomet. Chem. 195, 291-306 (1980), have reported the preparation of a large number of titanium and zirconium derivatives of this type as follows:
______________________________________ Metallocene Tacticity ______________________________________ (CpMe.sub.5) Cp Zr Me Cl No isotactic PP observed (CpR) Cp Zr Et Cl " (CpR) (CpR') Zr Me Cl " (CpMe.sub.5) Cp Ti (C.sub.6 F.sub.5) Cl " (Indenyl) Cp Zr Me Cl " ______________________________________
Metallocenes which are chiral but do not contain a bridge can be synthesized by introducing a chiral group into one of the ligands. In these examples, one of the ligands rather than the metal is the `center` of the chirality. The resultant complexes have non-superimposible mirror images and thus are chiral and exist as R and S isomers. This type of chirality will not be lost in a three-coordinate intermediate provided that the chiral ligand is not lost. Martin et al and Couturier et al mentioned above have also reported preparation of numerous compounds of this structure. The following compounds contain this type of chirality, but have not been shown to have the ability to polymerize propylene stereoregularly:
______________________________________ Metallocene* Tacticity ______________________________________ rac-(methyl H.sub.4 -Indenyl).sub.2 Zr Cl.sub.2 No isotactic PP observed (R,S) Cp.sub.2 Zr (isobutyl) Cl " (R'Cp) Cp Zr Cl.sub.2 " (R'Cp).sub.2 Zr Cl.sub.2 " ______________________________________ *R' = --CH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3)(C.sub.6 H.sub.5) --CH(CH.sub.3)(C.sub.2 H.sub.5) --CH(CH.sub.3)(C.sub.6 H.sub.5)
It can thus be seen that there is a need for a catalyst which polymerizes .alpha.-olefins to high isotacticity with a minimum of inversions, is easily made in high yield and easily separated from meso forms thereof, and is capable of being tailored to meet the needed requirements of polymerization activity and isotacticity.


A receiver for a digital communication signal has a first decision gate (DGa), which has a first decision threshold (xd) for outputting a first decision signal, a second decision gate (DGb), which has a second decision threshold (xm) for outputting a second decision signal, a counter (CNT) for counting events where the first and second decision signals of the first and second decision gates (DGa, DGb) differ from each other, and a controller (PROC) capable of controlling the decision thresholds of said first and second decision gates in accordance with count values delivered by said counter. The controller (PROC) determines an initial decision threshold value by performing a statistical analysis of the received signal and setting the decision threshold such that the distribution of logical ‘0’ and logical ‘1’ in the decided signal corresponds to the expected distribution, which is in typically 50%/50%.

In telecommunication networks, digital signals undergo signal distortion due to dispersion and other physical effects on their way through the network. At the receiver side, the received digital signal must be regenerated to recover the original signal. This regeneration includes a decision step wherein the received "analogue" signal, after O/E conversion, pre-filtering and/or dispersion compensation where necessary, is compared to a decision threshold at regular instants in time, which correspond to the data clock of the received signal, to decide the respective bit values of the corresponding signal bits.
This comparison requires an accurately adjusted decision threshold. The more noise the received signal carries, the more accurate must the decision point be adjusted to achieve correct decisions with sufficiently low bit error rate. Decision threshold and decision phase are, however, heavily signal dependent. These parameters must be adjusted automatically so as to obtain "good" decisions for all relevant signal waveforms.
The article "Decision-point steering in optical fibre communication systems: theory" by M. Sherif et al., IEE Proceedings, Vol. 136, Pt. J, No. 3 June 1989, describes a regenerator with a pseudo error monitor, which has a shifted threshold and which serves to produce a pseudo error signal that steers the decision threshold of a decision gate. Using the pseudo error signal as a feedback signal, the decision threshold is dynamically optimized.
This optimization requires "reasonable" starting values, particularly for optical signals that have, undergone massive signal dispersion. Fixed starting values can be used but which is not very flexible and is applicable only for restricted set of waveforms. Alternatively, it would be possible to use information on the signal quality, i.e., the bit error rate, from other, external sources to initially control the threshold and/or phase using this information. An external source may for example be the Forward Error Correcting code (FEC) or other higher layer protocols. Depending on the system architecture, however, such external sources are not always available and involve extra costs due to required interfaces to these devices.
EP 0 455 910 A2 describes a method for distortion compensation by adaptively setting the decision threshold based on at least one prior decision. In other words, prior decisions are used as feedback signal to adjust the decision threshold for subsequent bits. This is similar to the functional principle of a decision feedback equalizer.
EP 0 923 204 B1 uses a pseudo error monitor to control parameters of a pre-filter in an optical receiver.
The problem to be solved by the present invention is hence to provide a method and related apparatus for determining "good" starting values for a decision threshold and/or decision phase without requiring information on signal offset, noise and/or other signal distortion in advance.

Method and apparatus for controlling the decision point of a receiver for digital communication signals


This invention relates to an object having a display panel embedded in its top surface and processes for its manufacture. This invention also relates to an in-mold display transfer film or foil, which comprises a temporary carrier film, a release layer, a display panel, an adhesive or tie layer and optionally a durable layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an object having a display panel embedded in its top surface and processes for its manufacture.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, for an object having a display panel, the object and the display panel are manufactured separately and the two components are then assembled together. The assembly of such an object usually requires mechanical integration or lamination, which typically results in a large gap between the object and the display and also an increase in the total thickness or volume of the object. Therefore, the current methods cannot meet certain product requirements such as style, compactness and durability, which features are especially important for handheld devices.

In mold manufacture of an object with embedded display panel


An improved fuel injector for an internal combustion engine which produces highly accurate fuel delivery control by providing a precise closing of the valve without secondary openings caused by rebound or bouncing of the valve from its seat surface after initial closing. Valve rebound is eliminated by a hydraulic cushion formed between parallel surfaces of the movable valve and its stationary guide whereby a thin boundary layer of liquid fuel caught between closely spaced surfaces is compressed just prior to engagement of the valve with its valve seat. This generates an opposing force to the force tending to close the valve.

Field of the Invention
This application concerns an improved electronic fuel injector for an internal combustion engine with structure to precisely control the closing characteristic of the injector's valve which opens and closes to regulate fuel flow to the engine. This precise control produces an extremely accurate fuel delivery for each opening and closing cycle. In contrast, other fuel injectors exhibit relatively imprecise valve control which is usually characterized by a severe impact on valve closing followed by one or more valve rebounds with respect to the valve seat surface. Valve rebounding produces secondary valve openings and causes unplanned and increased fuel delivery to the engine. This excess fuel flow decreases combustion efficiency. Also, it has been found that the fuel delivered during valve rebound is usually poorly atomized, further resulting in combustion inefficiencies.
The subject fuel injector hydraulically cushions the valve closing impact. The hydraulic cushioning is produced by a pair of relatively movable surfaces of the injector which compresses liquid fuel caught therebetween. The resultant force acts on the valve to cushion closing impact of the valve against the seating surface.

Fuel injector with a hydraulically cushioned valve


A display device and a driving circuit are discussed. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to stably maintain the output signal of the driving circuit when the lock signal indicating the synchronization state of the clock signal is changed due to an operation error such as overcurrent in a display device using a point-to-point interface. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent damage to the display panel due to an overload generated in the output signal of the driving circuit by an operation error. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent overload of the driving circuit and damage to the display panel by controlling the operation of the driving circuit through a differential input voltage between the timing controller and the driving circuit.

As the information society develops, the demand for display devices for displaying images is increasing in various forms. Various types of display devices such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD) and an organic light emitting display device (OLED) have been used for this purpose.
Among such display devices, the organic light emitting display device utilizes an organic light emitting diode emitting light by itself, so that there can have advantages in the rapid response speed, contrast ratio, luminous efficiency, luminance and viewing angle.
Such a display device can include light emitting elements disposed in each of a plurality of subpixels arranged on a display panel, so that it is possible to control the luminance displayed in each subpixel and display the image by controlling the voltage or current flowing through the light emitting element to emit light.
Recently, as the resolution increases along with high-speed driving of display devices, the number of subpixels and data lines supplying a data voltage to the subpixels increases, and various signal lines are needed between the driving circuit for driving the display panel and the timing controller controlling the driving circuit.
Accordingly, in order to minimize the number of signal lines placed between the timing controller and the driving circuit and to stabilize signal transmission, there is being researched an interface that serializes digital image data, inserts clock information, converts into a packet unit and transmits a data packet in a point-to-point manner.
In such a point-to-point interface, a lock signal indicating the synchronization state of a clock signal can be transmitted serially between the timing controller and the driving circuit. However, there can cause damage to the display panel due to an overload occurring in the output signal of the driving circuit by an operation error such as overcurrent.

Display device and driving circuit having improved stability


The present invention is a reclosable carton in the form of a rectangular box, having opposed parallel substantially single layer front and rear walls, opposed parallel substantially single layer side walls and a closed bottom end forming a carton body. The carton includes a top end flip-top reclosable hood. The hood includes a hood skirt and is formed by an outside main hood panel foldably connected to the carton body, an inside hood panel foldably and severably connected to the front carton wall and including a transverse fold line defining a front hood skirt panel, and two minor hood forming flaps foldably and severably connected to the carton side walls and foldably connected to the inside hood panel. The transverse fold line extends collinearly across the side panels and the carton is provided with an opening tear strip extending completely across the hood forming panels and flaps and parallel to the transverse fold line. The invention provides a friction group of panels to enhance the frictional engagement between the hood and the carton body to ensure that the hood remains closed after it is opened and reclosed, yet prevents the outermost fold score lines associated with the skirt from expanding outwardly and rupturing.

Hooded cartons having a hinged, flip-top cover are well known and generally, although not exclusively, used to contain fungible material, such as soap powder or other particulate material. This type of carton usually of carton usually comprises a box or carton having a cover or hood with a skirt. One example of such cartons is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,078,030 (to Gorton), wherein the carton is intended to be opened and closed a number of times and, in at least one embodiment of the carton, may have an additional piece of paperboard secured to the upper front portion of the box to engage the top when closed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,343 (to Stone) discloses a flip-top reclosable carton wherein, after opening, the top includes a positive locking arrangement accomplished by means of a cut-out portion on the interior surface of the front wall which includes a proximal flap and an island portion disposed in forcibly displaceable mutual engagement. The Stone patent also notes that in reclosable flip-top or hooded cartons, a relatively common reclosable carton design involves the use of a friction fit between the front panel of the container and the corresponding front panel of the lid hingedly connected to the back panel of the carton. Stone further notes that one problem with such friction fit designs is that the lid may not be held securely closed even though the blank used to form such a reclosable carton is dimensioned to ensure the requisite frictional engagement between the lid and the carton. U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,052 (to Tolaas) discloses a reclosing feature somewhat similar to that disclosed by Stone.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,420 (to Gunn et al.) discloses a package for housing granular or similar products wherein a liner sticks up past the outer body of the carton to provide a structure for the lid to rest on in closed position. There is no disclosure of a friction fit to ensure that the top remains closed.
The above-noted patents disclose improvements in reclosable hooded or flip-top cartons, but one problem is that each requires a liner or multi-ply carton wall to prevent the contents from leaking out of the package. While the Stone and Tolaas patents disclose a way to create a positive closure arrangement for a flip-top hooded carton, the arrangement requires additional die cutting and a liner is also required. Because of the required liners and additional die cutting, the consumption of expensive paperboard is increased and the fabrication process is complicated.
A reclosable hooded carton for containing particulate or powdered products which is easy to open and reclose securely, yet which can be produced efficiently and inexpensively, would be a decided improvement over the hooded containers currently available.


A flickerless television receiver displays image signals having the horizontal/vertical scanning frequencies thereof increased to two times the horizontal/vertical scanning frequencies of the broadcast signals to be received. Flickerless display performance can be confirmed with a single television receiver by generating signals to extract every other field for image displaying and showing two kinds of image signals, namely double-speed image signal and extracted image signal. A display unit displays double-speed image signals having horizontal and vertical scanning frequencies of image signals increased to two times by conversion, wherein extracted image signals formed by extracting every other field or frame from screen images are generated and two kinds of images formed of the double-speed image signals and extracted image signals are simultaneously displayed on one screen.

Standard television signals such as NTSC, PAL for example, are usually formed of image signals to produce 60 or 50 fields per second. When the image signals of the television signal systems are displayed on a screen, there are some flickers observed on the displayed picture. So called flickerless television receivers with a provision of making the flickers less conspicuous have been on the market. In a typical conventional flickerless television receiver in FIG. 6 a tuning/detecting circuit 20 amplifies and detects the broadcasting signal. A double-speed signal generating circuit 21 converts the detected signal to image signals having the horizontal and vertical scanning frequencies thereof increased to two times the horizontal and vertical scanning frequencies of the inputted image signals. The converted image signals are referred to as double-speed image signals and the image displayed on a television receiver is referred to as double-speed image.
In the so called flickerless television receiver, the same image is displayed twice, in 1/60 sec or 1/50 sec repeatedly and then the number of fields per second is converted to 100 or 120 and vertical frequency is 100 Hz or 120 Hz, which is twice the ordinary frequency. When the double-speed image signals are displayed on the television receiver, flickers are reduced.
However, flickers of a television receiver inherently tend to be difficult to notice in certain environments. Therefore, in order to show clearly the advantages of flickerless television receivers, it would be desirable to make a direct comparison of displayed images by placing a flickerless television receiver and an ordinary television receiver side by side.
Regretfully, however, ordinary TV viewers do not have opportunities to watch a standard television receiver and a flickerless television receiver at the same time and to compare pictures displayed on respective screens to see the difference in picture quality. Rather, TV viewers usually tend to recognize the excellent picture quality or not so good picture quality just by watching the screen of a flickerless television receiver. Therefore, it is difficult for TV viewers to truly appreciate the excellent picture quality of the flickerless television receiver.

Double-speed image signal display method, display unit and television receiver

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A microsensor for sensing a substance comprises a substrate, a source of light, an optical microresonator or semiconductor optical ring microresonator fabricated in the substrate exposed to the substance to allow an interaction between the microresonator and substance, a waveguide coupling the source of light to the optical microresonator, and a detector coupled to the microresonator to measure the resonant frequency of the microresonator, the absorption loss of whispering gallery modes in the microresonator or the quality factor of the microresonator, which are sensitive to interaction of the substance with the optical microresonator. A polymer coating disposed on the microresonator is reactive with the substance. The microsensor may comprise a plurality of microresonators corresponding to a plurality of different resonant frequencies to generate an absorption spectrum of the substance.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to the field of integration between semiconductor optical circuits and electrical circuits, and in particular as utilized as chemical or biosensors.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has recently become possible to define optical filters and fiber optic mode couplers with excellent performance in silicon on insulator (SOI) chips. The combination of low fiber-coupling insertion losses, low waveguide losses and high refractive index contrast enables the miniaturization of high quality optical elements in silicon waveguides surrounded by SiO2. By leveraging the fabrication quality provided by silicon microelectronics foundries, high resolution optical elements can now be fabricated with excellent reproducibility and uniformity on 8″ wafers.

Silicon on insulator resonator sensors and modulators and method of operating the same


An automobile air intake system is provided that channels air from inside the automobile engine compartment to an air intake enclosure leading to the engine. Air inside the engine compartment is channeled via a passageway in the hood to an air intake enclosure leading to the engine. The intake path through the hood may be an alternate path for providing air to the engine when a primary path is at least partially obstructed. According to an embodiment of the invention, the automobile air intake system includes an intake enclosure and a hood having a passageway formed between the hood skin and the hood frame for channeling air from the within the engine compartment to the intake enclosure.

Air intake systems provide necessary air to internal combustion engines to aid in the combustion process. Conventional intake systems either draw air from inside the engine compartment, or they draw air from outside the vehicle via an exterior intake port. Systems designed where the air is drawn from inside the engine compartment commonly suffer a drawback of drawing in warmer and less dense air than exterior air. This reduces the efficiency of the engine compared with the use of cooler exterior air. A solution to address the shortcoming of these systems is to draw in cooler exterior air. However, systems designed where the air is drawn in via an exterior intake port commonly suffer a drawback of drawing in air that includes water or particles, which can block the engine intake, inhibit airflow, or damage the engine. Solutions have been proposed to address the shortcomings of these exterior intake port systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,513 to Wible et al. discloses an exterior air intake system for an internal combustion engine that includes an intake port disposed under the vehicle hood in front of the radiator. The intake port includes a filter for removing solid particulates from the intake air and for separating water from the air. The intake port, however, requires a large space forward of the radiator under the hood of the vehicle, which is difficult to fit within the compact engine compartments of contemporary vehicles. Further, due to the filter's proximity to the exterior opening of the port, the filter may have a propensity to clog quickly to inhibit airflow and may require frequent changing.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,832 issued to Maurer et al. discloses an exterior air intake system for an internal combustion engine that is aimed at avoiding water intake by providing a main air inlet to exterior air, an auxiliary air inlet, a moisture sensor, and an electric valve to close the main air inlet. When moisture is sensed in the main inlet, the electric valve closes the main inlet and air is drawn from the engine compartment into the auxiliary air inlet. The Maurer system, however, requires pneumatic or electro-pneumatic drives and an electrical moisture sensor. These complicated elements may be subject to an increased chance of failure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,479 to Kiser et al. discloses a rectangular channel formed in the vehicle hood that includes a forward ambient air inlet and a rear air outlet. The channel includes a series of baffles to capture moisture from air flowing therethrough. A sealing sleeve is provided to bridge between the channel and the engine air cleaner. The Kiser system has drawbacks in that it occupies a large amount of hood space and relies upon a special sleeve design to connect with the air cleaner system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,172 to Hoffman et al. discloses air ducts formed in the hood of a truck to eliminate water and heavier particles from the air stream. The intake pathway includes vertical ducts with drainholes to permit the drainage of water collected in the pathway. The intake pathways occupy a large amount of hood space and create a long conduit to the intake system, which inhibits efficient airflow.
Accordingly, a need exists for an improved air intake system. In addition, a need exists for a method of efficiently obtaining cool exterior air for an internal combustion engine having low moisture and/or particulate content.

Secondary path automobile air intake system


An alternating current power control device for controlling the amount of power energy supplied to an electric load by controlling the cycle numbers of an alternating current power source in a predetermined cycle period is disclosed. The control device includes a voltage zero-crossing detecting circuit, a current detector, a power adjusting circuit, a control unit, an output driving circuit, and a switching circuit. The switching circuit is connected in series between the alternating current power source and the load. The control unit generates a control signal to control the switching circuit according to a voltage counting pulses generated by the voltage zero-crossing detecting circuit, a current counting pulse generated by the current detector, and a power adjusting signal generated by the power adjusting circuit to determine the cycle numbers of the alternating current power source supplied to the load.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an alternating current power control device, and more especially to an alternating current power control circuit capable of controlling the amount of power energy supplied to an electric load by controlling cycle numbers of an alternating current power source in a predetermined cycle period.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In industrial applications, it is often necessary to control the power energy of an alternating current. For example, in controlling the rotary speed of an alternating current motor, various known approaches may be used to control the electric power energy supplied to the motor by using means, such as an inverter, a TRIAC, a mechanical gear, or by changing the winding turns of the motor.
In case that the rotary speed of the motor is required to be controlled precisely, a known inverter is frequently used in the prior art. However, the control circuit of the inverter commercially available in this art is relatively complex and the cost is very high. Thus, in some applications where precise control is unnecessary, the conventional inverter does not meet the requirements in economic consideration.
For example, in the rotary speed control of a conventional heat radiating fan, it is desired to control the rotary speed of the fan motor according to the temperature of environment so to save more power energy. That is, when the environment temperature is high, the rotary speed of the fan is increased to enhance the heat dissipating capability; while when the environment temperature is low, the rotary speed of the fan may be decreased to save power energy.
In order to control the rotary speed of the fan motor in prior art, a TRIAC is frequently used. Basically, the TRIAC controls the amount of power energy supplied to the load by controlling the phase angle of each cycle of the alternating current power source. However, the control circuit by using TRIAC will generate serious electromagnetic interference during turn on or turn off the current flow.

Alternating current power control device

4F, No. 10, Alley 59, Lane 42, Min Chuan Road


An encapsulation structure for an optoelectronic component, may include: a thin-film encapsulation for protecting the optoelectronic component against chemical impurities; an adhesive layer formed on the thin-film encapsulation; and a cover layer formed on the adhesive layer and serving for protecting the thin-film encapsulation and/or the optoelectronic component against mechanical damage, wherein the adhesive layer is formed such that particle impurities situated at the surface of the thin-film encapsulation are at least partly enclosed by the adhesive layer.

In the manufacture of optoelectronic components or devices, in particular organic optoelectronic devices such as, for example, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), OLED displays or organic solar cells or photovoltaic cells (organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells), it is desirable firstly to hermetically seal the devices against air (in particular against moisture (water) and oxygen contained in the air), and secondly to protect them against mechanical damage (e.g. scratches), in order to avoid failure of the device.
The sealing of the device or the protection of the device against mechanical damage can be achieved by means of an encapsulation of the device.
For the encapsulation and mechanical packaging of organic optoelectronic components (e.g. OLEDs) on glass substrates, the encapsulation by means of glass cavities is known. In this technique, a glass cover is adhesively bonded onto the component (device) using a specific adhesive. This technique can largely prevent the ingress of harmful influences. However, in the region of the adhesive bond, water and oxygen can still diffuse into the component. As a countermeasure in this respect, water- and oxygen-binding materials (so-called getters) can be introduced (e.g. adhesively bonded) into the cavity. By way of example, non-transparent getters composed of zeolite can be adhesively bonded into the cavity. The getters can absorb the water and oxygen before the organic materials are damaged. The glass cover can simultaneously afford sufficient mechanical protection.
FIG. 1 shows an arrangement 100′ including an organic light emitting diode (OLED) 100 and conventional encapsulation by means of a glass cavity in accordance with one example.
The OLED 100 includes a substrate glass 101. A functional layer stack (OLED stack) 102 is arranged on the substrate glass 101. The functional layer stack 102 may include one or a plurality of organic functional layers (i.e. layers that serve for generating light). Furthermore, electrodes can be provided for making electrical contact with the organic functional layers. An encapsulation glass 103 (also designated as cover glass or cap glass) is adhesively bonded onto the substrate 101 and encloses the functional layer stack 102 in such a way that a cavity (a hollow space) 104 is formed. A getter 105 is introduced into the cavity 104 (by adhesive bonding onto the inner side of the encapsulation glass 103 above the functional layer stack 102), which getter is intended to absorb water and/or oxygen penetrating through the adhesive bond between substrate 101 and encapsulation glass 103 and in this way is intended to prevent the water and/or oxygen from damaging the layer(s) of the functional layer stack 102. The OLED 100 is embodied as a bottom emitter, i.e. the light emission takes place through the transparent substrate glass 101. The getter 105 may consist of a non-transparent material (e.g. zeolite).
FIG. 2 shows an arrangement 200′ including an organic light emitting diode (OLED) 100 with conventional encapsulation by means of a glass cavity in accordance with another example.
The arrangement 200′ differs from the arrangement 100′ shown in FIG. 1 in that, instead of one individual large getter 105 (as in FIG. 1), two smaller getters 205 are introduced into the cavity 104. The two getters 205 are adhesively bonded on the inner side of the encapsulation glass 103 in edge regions of the encapsulation glass 103. The OLED 100 can be embodied as a transparent OLED (light emission both downward through the substrate glass 101 and upward through the encapsulation glass 103), or as a top emitter (light emission only upward through the encapsulation glass 103). As an alternative to the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 including two getters 205 arranged in edge regions, one or a plurality of perforated getters can also be introduced or provided in the cavity 104.
The method of cavity encapsulation is very cost-intensive overall. Moreover, the use of (rigid) glass covers or glass cavities is not suitable for the manufacture of flexible (i.e. pliable) components (e.g. flexible OLEDs).

Encapsulation structure for an opto-electronic component


An electronic package that includes a substrate and an electronic component attached to the substrate. A laminated layer is attached to an upper surface of the substrate such that the laminated layer covers the electronic component. The electronic package may further include a stiffener mounted on the laminated layer where the stiffener is over the electronic component.

Some electronic products (e.g., mobile phones, smart phones, tablet computers, etc.) are typically very restricted in available space because there are often severe limitations for chip and package area and height (among other physical and electrical parameters). Therefore, it is extremely important to reduce the size of electronic components (e.g., dies) on a substrate.
However, when electronic components/packages are made relatively thin in order to accommodate this need for reduced sized electronic components, there can be difficulties that are associated with fabricating such components. As an example, thin components/packages have historically been a huge challenge for the semiconductor industry.
Some electronic components/packages include a silicon die that has a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) attached to a substrate that has a high CTE. Therefore, manufacturing difficulties often arise because the die is attached to the substrate which warps with temperature changes during fabrication of the components/packages. The differences in the CTE between the die and the substrate can make it extremely difficult to balance the design and material properties in a component/package in order to obtain a flat package at (i) room temperature; and (ii) solder ball melting temperature.
One approach to addressing manufacturing difficulties that are caused by the differences in the CTE between the die and the substrate is to include a mold material in the component/package in order to provide rigidity. Adding a mold material to the component/package suffers from several drawbacks.
Adding a mold usually increases the overall size of the component/package (especially the Z height of the component/package). In addition, some high performance components/packages commonly need to remove sections of the mold in order to expose parts of the component/package from the mold. Removing parts of the mold may reduce the effectiveness of the mold relative to warpage reduction.
During a molding process, the molding material may cure as it flows into and through various cavities and channels. Therefore, the properties of the mold may be different as a function of location and may also include location-dependent residual stresses. In addition, molding is usually a complicated process where the package shape and residual stresses within the mold are highly dependent on process conditions (e.g., mold curing temperature, post mold curing temperature, etc.).

Electronic package that includes lamination layer


An oil/air separator (10) condenses and collects oil vapors carried by blow-by gases from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine. The oil/air separator comprises an inlet vent (17), an outlet vent (56), a first filter means (32), a second filter means (34), a third filter means (44), an oil collection chamber (28), an excess oil return line (64), and a drain plug (61). The integrity of the combustion chamber in preventing air/fuel vapors and exhaust gases from passing into the crankcase can be determined by the amount of accumulated oil (62) in the collection chamber.

During normal operation of an internal combustion engine, a small portion of the air fuel mixture fed to the engine cylinders passes by the pistons and the piston rings into the crankcase before combustion occurs. Also, after combustion of the air fuel mixture in the combustion cylinders, combustion exhaust gases are forced past the piston rings into the crankcase. The unburned air fuel vapor mixture and combustion exhaust gases include water vapor, oil vapor, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and soot combustion materials and are collectively called "blow-by" gases. The blow-by gases occur due to a breakdown in the integrity of the combustion chamber, primarily caused by damage or prolonged wear to the piston rings during operation cycles. However, blow-by gases can also occur from damage to the pistons, the combustion cylinder walls, or the valve guides and valve stems, which, for simplification, shall collectively be referred to as the combustion chamber.
The releasing of such vapors and gases from the crankcase into the ambient atmosphere is a direct cause of the oil residue that collects along roadways. To reduce the emission of blow-by gases to the atmosphere, many types of engines employ a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system, wherein engine blow-by gases are recycled back into the air fuel induction system of the engine. However, in certain engines, particularly in diesel engines and internal combustion engines employing fuel injection, a PCV system is not entirely advantageous in terms of fuel efficiency and hydrocarbon exhaust reduction. In fact, many diesel engines vent their blow-by gases directly into the ambient atmosphere, thereby creating the oil residue seen on roadways.
An efficient method for reducing the formation of these blow-by gases is periodic inspection of the pistons and the piston rings for excessive wear or possible damage. However, inspection of these parts is an expensive process. Since the extent of blow-by gas formation in the crankcase is directly related to the integrity of the combustion chamber, a method and apparatus for measuring the extent of blow-by gas formation in the crankcase would provide a much less expensive means for gauging the performance of the combustion chamber, in general, and the piston rings, in particular, in preventing the formation of blow-by gases.
In addition, while PCV systems help minimize contamination of the oil lubrication system and can increase the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines, they can create the potential for damage to the engine. In the event of a substantial leak within the combustion chamber caused by, for example, a blown piston ring, a burned piston, or a dropped valve, a substantial amount of the oil can be blown out of the crankcase. With a PCV system, this oil is routed to the air intake manifold and, eventually, burned along with the air-fuel mixture, depriving the lubrication system of needed oil, which could result in serious damage to the engine.
Accordingly, there is a heretofore unaddressed need in the industry for a method and apparatus for gauging the condition of the combustion chamber as well as preventing complete oil blow out upon damage to the pistons or the piston rings.


The invention relates to an optical scanning device for scanning in a first mode a first information layer (111) of an information carrier and in a second mode a second information layer (112) of the information carrier. The optical scanning device comprises a radiation source (101) for generating a radiation beam (102), an objective system (105) for focusing an entrance beam on an information layer and an optical element (103) arranged between the radiation source and the objective system, for converting said radiation beam into a diverging entrance beam in the first mode and a converging entrance beam in the second mode.

Information carriers having a plurality of information layers are widely used. For example, some DVDs (DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc) comprise a first and a second information layers, which can be scanned by means of a radiation beam, in order to read from or record to one of these information layers. The expression "scanning" means either reading or writing data from or to an information layer.
An optical scanning device for scanning such a dual-layers DVD comprises a radiation source for generating a diverging radiation beam, a collimator for converting this diverging beam into a parallel beam and an objective lens for focussing said parallel beam on one of the two information layers. The optical scanning device comprises an actuator for moving the objective lens axially in order to focus the parallel beam on the desired information layer.
When the objective lens is moved in order to jump from the first information layer to the second information layer, a certain amount of spherical aberration occurs. However, in the case of a DVD, this amount of spherical aberration is relatively low, because the numerical aperture of the radiation beam is relatively low and the wavelength relatively high. The amount of spherical aberration is indeed within the tolerances of the optical scanning device, so that no spherical aberration correction is needed. Hence, when jumping from one information layer to another, only a refocusing action is required.
Now, in order to increase the capacity of an information layer, a next generation optical disc system has been designed, which uses a higher numerical aperture and a lower wavelength of the radiation beam. For example, a BD player and/or recorder uses an objective lens with a numerical aperture of 0.85 and a radiation beam with a wavelength of 405 nanometers. As a consequence, the amount of spherical aberration that occurs when jumping from one layer to another is higher than for a DVD player. Actually, the amount of spherical aberration is proportional to the fourth power of the numerical aperture, which means that a slight increase in the numerical aperture leads to a large increase in the amount of spherical aberration. Typically, for a dual-layer BD, the amount of spherical aberration that occurs when jumping from one layer to another is about 250 ml rms, which is out of the tolerances of the optical scanning device. As a consequence, it is necessary to correct for the spherical aberration when jumping from one layer to another.
A way of correcting for the spherical aberration when jumping from the first information layer to the second information layer consists in designing the objective lens so that no spherical aberration occurs when a parallel entrance beam is focussed on the first information layer, i.e. when an infinite conjugate is used. When jumping to the second information layer, the vergence of the entrance beam is changed, i.e. a finite conjugate is used. For example, a converging entrance beam is focussed on said second information layer. The objective lens is designed to significantly comply with the sine condition in order to have a substantial field of view. A lens designed to comply with the sine condition is known to give rise to spherical aberration when the conjugate distance compared to the design situation is changed. This is explained, for example, in "Principles of Optics", by M. Born and E. Wolf, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1993, p166-169. As a consequence, by changing the conjugate distance, i.e. the vergence of the entrance beam, it is possible to generate spherical aberration, which compensates the spherical aberration that occurs when jumping from one layer to another.
However, due to eccentricity of the spirals of the information carrier, the objective lens has to be moved away from its central position during scanning, that is to say a decentring of the objective lens occurs during scanning. Now, when a finite conjugate is used for scanning the second information layer, the objective lens is sensitive for decentring. The higher the vergence of the entrance beam, the more sensitive for decentring the objective lens. As a consequence, the possible decentring of the objective lens of an optical scanning device as described above is limited, and such an optical scanning device cannot scan an information carrier presenting a relatively high eccentricity of the spirals.


The present invention relates to a method of reducing a peak-to-average power ratio of a signal to be transmitted. The method comprises the steps of detecting a portion of the signal being above a clipping threshold level, decomposing the portion of the signal into a number of functions, the number of functions being proportional to a duration of the portion of the signal, performing the number of soft-clippings on the signal by means of a reference function, the positions of the soft-clippings being given by the positions of the functions and the respective scalings of the reference function being determined by the amplitudes of the functions.

A large peak-to-average power ratio reduces the efficiency of a transmission power amplifier. In particular this is a problem for multi-carrier multiplexed signals such as OCDM and OFDM signals as for such signals the maximum possible peak power is much larger than the average transmitted power.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,551 shows a method for reduction of the peak-to-average power ratio by means of soft-clipping. Soft-clipping means that a scaled reference function is subtracted from the sampled signal, such that each subtracted reference function reduces the peak power of at least one signal sample. Preferably the reference function has approximately or exactly the same bandwidth as the transmitted signal. In this way it is assured that the peak power reduction does not cause any out-off band interference. One example of a suitable reference signal is a sinc function.
A common disadvantage of prior art soft-clipping methods is that the subtraction of the reference function from the over shooting signal portion can result in multiple maxima. This problem of the prior art is illustrated by making references to FIGS. 1 to 3:
FIG. 1 shows the magnitude signal 100 of an I,Q signal to be transmitted. Signal 100 has portions which are above clipping threshold 102. Those portions of signal 100 respective peaks are detected and marked by peak markers 104 to 114.
FIG. 2 shows reference signal 116 in the time domain. Scaled reference signal 116 is subtracted from the I and Q components of signal 100 at the peak locations which are identified by peak markers 104 to 114. The result of this soft-clipping operation is shown in FIG. 3 where magnitude signal 118 is the clipped signal.
For example, the first peak of signal 100 which is identified by peak marker 104 is transformed into two new peaks 120 and 122 of signal 118. Likewise a large number of new peaks is created in the signal portion consisting of the peaks identified by peak markers 108 to 114. Hence additional soft-clipping iterations are required to interatively bring signal 100 to clipping threshold 102.
Therefore the present invention aims to provide an improved method of reducing a peak-to-average power ratio of a signal to be transmitted for improved soft-clipping.

Method of reducing a peak-to-average power ratio


A method and apparatus for improving image quality in a reflector-type telescope are provided, through utilization of one or more nozzles disposed about the periphery of a reflecting mirror of the telescope, for directing a flow of air from a backside of the mirror across a concave reflecting surface of the mirror, to thereby sweep away and/or preclude formation of image distorting thermal boundary layers, or other impediments to image quality, resulting from the mirror not being in thermal equilibrium with ambient air surrounding the mirror. Supply nozzles are provided around a portion of the periphery of the mirror, and exhaust pick-up nozzles are provided around another portion of the periphery of the mirror, to thereby cause a flow of air to closely adhere to the concave surface of the mirror.

In a typical Newtonain reflector-type telescope, a mirror, having a concave face, is located at one end of an elongated tube, or frame, and adjusted such that the concave face of the mirror will reflect and focus an image for viewing through an eyepiece axially disposed from the concave face of the mirror at an open end of the tube or frame of the telescope. By virtue of this arrangement, light entering the open end of the telescope from a distant object, such as a star or planet, is focused by the mirror and magnified by the eyepiece in such a manner that the distant object may be clearly viewed in a magnified state through the eyepiece.
It is well known that the image quality which can be achieved in a Newtonian reflector-type telescope is affected significantly by thermal boundary layers, created adjacent the concave surface of the mirror, when the mirror is at a temperature higher than the ambient air surrounding the mirror. Light from the distant object must pass through this boundary layer twice, once while approaching the mirror, and a second time after being reflected by the mirror, before reaching the focal point at the eyepiece. This phenomenon is discussed in significant detail, and a number of photographic and graphical illustrations are provided, in Attachment 1 to U. S. Provisional application, No. 60/733,027, the benefit of which is claimed herein, in an article from the September 2000 issue of Sky and Telescope magazine, entitled "Understanding Thermal Behavior in Newtonian Reflectors", by author Bryan Greer.
In order to achieve an optimal image, with a given reflector telescope, therefore, it is necessary that the mirror be allowed to reach thermal equilibrium with ambient air surrounding the mirror. For a telescope which is normally stored inside of a building at an elevated temperature, it can typically take two to three hours or more for the mirror of the telescope to reach thermal equilibrium with the surrounding ambient air, after the telescope is moved outdoors for viewing stars and/or planets, for example. Having to wait this long in order to utilize the telescope is a source of considerable frustration to astronomers and star gazers. The problem of achieving thermal equilibrium is further exacerbated, in areas of the country where the ambient air drops significantly after sundown, such as in desert areas, where the nighttime temperature can easily drop ten to fifteen degrees in the hours after sunset. Where the mirror is of a large diameter, of six to eight inches or more, for example, the mirror may have too much mass to ever reach equilibrium with ambient air temperature, even in a non-desert area, during the nighttime hours.
The article by Greer provides a number of suggestions for designing a reflector-type telescope in a manner which will reduce the length of time required for cool-down of the mirror. Greer suggests utilizing a fan directed at the backside of the mirror, in a manner utilized in large Newtonian telescopes, for shortening cool-down times in smaller, portable, reflector-type telescopes.
The findings and suggestions of Greer are further developed in a mirror cooling apparatus disclosed in the January 2002 issue of Sky and Telescope magazine, in an article entitled, "Thermal Management In Newtonian Reflectors", by Alan Adler, included in the form of Attachment 2 to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/733,027 patent application. Adler discusses several approaches to utilizing a fan for enhancing cooling of the mirror of a reflector-type telescope, and recommends placement of one or more inlet fans in one side of the telescope tube in such a manner that air flow from the fan is directed at the front concave surface of the mirror, and exits out through the telescope tube through exit holes in the side of the telescope tube of a reflector-type telescope.
Greer also briefly address the problem of so called "tube currents," which are caused when a mirror, which is warmer than the ambient air, sets up an air flow down along one portion of the inner wall of the tube and back up another portion of the inner wall of the tube. These tube currents cause distortion of the periphery of the image.
Furthermore, although not specifically addressed in the articles by Greer or Adler, under certain conditions, such as where a ground fog exists, where a telescope has been stored and/or transported in an air-conditioned building or vehicle, or where the ambient temperature rises during a viewing session to a point where humid ambient air is at a higher temperature than the mirror, it is possible to encounter conditions where the mirror may initially be at a temperature lower than the ambient outdoor temperature, and perhaps even be enough lower that condensation may tend to occur on the reflective face of the mirror. Under such conditions, it may be desirable to direct ambient air around and across the mirror in such a manner that the mirror is actually being heated by the ambient air, in a manner allowing use of the telescope soon after it is set up outdoors, and with the goal of maintaining thermal equilibrium between the mirror and the ambient air during a viewing session.
While the approaches disclosed by Greer and Adler, to utilization of a fan for expedited cooling and management of a thermal boundary layer adjacent the concave face of a mirror provide some improvement in addressing the problems described above, inter alia, these and other prior approaches are not entirely satisfactorily, and further improvement is desirable. For example, with the approach advocated by Adler, of mounting the fan to blow directly on the concave reflecting surface of the mirror, the fan is also blowing dust, moisture or other contaminates directly onto the reflecting surface of the mirror, thereby requiring that extreme care be taken to keep the mirror free of contamination, and that frequent, undesirable cleaning of the mirror be performed to maintain optimal performance of the telescope.
It is also noted, by both Greer and Adler, that the mirror mounting arrangement, commonly known as a cell, can also substantially affect the time required for the mirror and cell structure to reach thermal equilibrium with the ambient air. Directing air flow from a fan at or across the concave face of the mirror does little to help remove heat from the cell at an expedited rate.
It is desirable, therefore, to provide an improved method and apparatus for minimizing image distortion resulting from a thermal boundary layer adjacent the reflecting face of the mirror of a reflecting telescope, tube currents, and/or other impediments to clarity of image caused by lack of thermal equilibrium between the mirror of a reflecting telescope and the ambient air around the mirror, through judicious management of air flow across the reflecting face of the mirror, and through providing enhanced forced convection cooling and/or heating of the mirror and its related structures to bring the mirror into thermal equilibrium with the ambient air surrounding the mirror, at a rapid rate, and to maintain the mirror in thermal equilibrium with the ambient air while the telescope is in use.

Method and apparatus for improving image quality in a reflecting telescope


A high speed frequency generator is disclosed. The frequency generator includes a frequency oscillator producing an output signal of a predetermined frequency, a first frequency divider frequency-dividing the first frequency oscillator's output signal, and a second frequency divider frequency-dividing an input signal by a predetermined factor. A flip-flop receives a signal generated from the second frequency divider and produces an output signal in accordance with an input clock signal. A pulse-width detector detects a width of the output signal of the flip-flop. A comparing part compares an output signal of the pulse-width detector with a reference value to control a counter that counts to a prescribed digital value that corresponds to a desired frequency. A digital-analog converter converts an output digital value from the counter into an analog value. A voltage controlled oscillator produces a clock signal in response to an output signal of the digital-analog converter and feeds the clock signal back to the second frequency divider.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and in particular, the present invention relates to a frequency generator.
2. Background of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a related art clock synthesizer. The related art clock synthesizer includes a quartz crystal oscillator 11, a first frequency divider 13, a phase and frequency detector 15, a low-pass filter 17, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 19 and a second frequency divider 21. The quartz crystal oscillator 11 is connected to the first frequency divider 13. The first frequency divider 13 divides an output frequency of quartz crystal oscillator 11 by a predetermined factor. The second frequency divider 21 divides an output frequency of the VCO 19 by a predetermined factor. The phase and frequency detector 15 receives output signals from each of the first and second frequency dividers 13 and 21 and detects its phase and frequency. The low-pass filter 17 produces an output signal of the phase and frequency detector 15 as a direct current (DC) component signal. The VCO 19 produces a frequency of the output signal of the low-pass filter 17.
In the related art clock synthesizer, a final output value is determined by the output frequency of the first frequency divider 13 and the output frequency of the second frequency divider 21. If the first frequency divider 13 output frequency is faster than the second frequency divider 21 output frequency, the output signal of the phase and frequency detector 15 attains a high level. On the contrary, if the first frequency divider 13 output frequency is slower than the second frequency divider 21 output frequency, the phase and frequency detector 15 output signal attains a low level. If the first frequency divider 13 output frequency is the same as the second frequency divider 21 output frequency, the phase and frequency detector 15 output attains a tri-state.
The output signal of the phase and frequency detector 15 in each of the above cases is input to the low-pass filter 17. The low-pass filter 17 then produces the DC component signal. The DC component signal is input to the VCO 19, and the VCO 19 produces the frequency corresponding to its input signal.
The output frequency of the VCO 19 is again input to the second frequency divider 21. The operation is repeated until the first frequency divider 13 output frequency is the same as the second frequency divider 21 output signal, which is depicted in FIG. 2. If the first frequency oscillator 13 output frequency F1 and the second frequency divider 21 output frequency F2 are initially not the same, the sequence of the above operations is repeatedly executed to obtain the same output frequencies.
However, the related art clock synthesizer has various disadvantages. The sequence of the above operation is executed repeatedly until the frequency lock is realized (i.e., the first frequency divider 13 output frequency is the same as the second frequency divider 19), which is time consuming. Further, in the low-pass filter that is formed by a resistor and a capacitor, the space that the capacitor occupies is too large, and the device size is increased. Thus, the related art clock synthesizer has a disadvantageous layout aspect.


A process for joining a stainless steel part and a silicon carbide ceramic part, comprising steps of: providing a stainless steel part, a SiC ceramic part, and a Al foil; bringing surfaces of the stainless steel part, SiC ceramic part, and Al foil into contact, with the titanium foil inserted between the metal part and ceramic part; applying a pulsed electric current to the stainless steel part, SiC ceramic part, and Al foil, heating the stainless steel part, SiC ceramic part, and Al foil to a joining temperature of about 500-650° C., and simultaneously applying a joining pressure of about 50-100 MPa to the stainless steel part, SiC ceramic part, and Al foil while the current is applied, and maintaining the joining temperature and the joining pressure for about 10-30 minutes.

1. Technical Field
The exemplary disclosure generally relates to a process for joining a metal part and a ceramic part, especially to a process for joining a stainless steel part and a silicon carbide ceramic part, and an article made by the process.
2. Description of Related Art
It is desirable to join stainless steel parts and silicon carbide ceramic parts. However, due to distinct physical and chemical properties, it can be difficult to join stainless steel and silicon carbide ceramic by implementing typical bonding methods such as braze welding, fusion welding, and solid diffusion bonding.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

Process for joining stainless steel part and silicon carbide ceramic part and composite articles made by same

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


A printed circuit board (PCB) structure with a heat dissipation function is provided, including: a package substrate; a landing pad formed over a portion of the package substrate from a first surface thereof, wherein the landing pad has a rectangular configuration and has a plurality of corners; a plurality of ground traces formed over various portions of the package substrate, physically connecting to the bond pad from at least two of the corners thereof, respectively; a first through hole formed through the landing pad and the package substrate from substantially a center portion of the bonding pad; and a plurality of second through holes formed through the landing pad and the package substrate from substantially one of the corners of the bonding pad, wherein the second through holes are adjacent to the ground traces, respectively.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printed circuit board (PCB), and more particularly to a printed circuit board (PCB) structure with a heat dissipation function.
Description of the Related Art
With computer technology development, electronic devices now operate at high speeds. It is well known that the higher the speed the electronic devices operate at, the more heat they generate. If the heat is not dissipated duly, the operation stability of the electronic devices will be impacted severely. Generally, in order to ensure that the electronic device will run normally, a heat dissipation device is used to dissipate the heat generated by the electronic device.
Conventionally, a heat dissipation device contacting with an electronic device mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) includes a heat sink made of solid metal, such as copper alloy, having a fin-like configuration.
Using the heat sink, however, increases fabrication costs and time for an electronic device package comprising the PCB and the electronic device. What is needed, therefore, is a novel PCB structure with a heat dissipation function which eliminates usage of the heat sink.

Printed circuit board structure with heat dissipation function


A head portion has an open front portion through which a face mask extends. The front portion is elastically biased into engagement with the mask to provide a good seal between the front portion and the face mask. A skirt extends from the lower part of the head portion and flares downwardly and outwardly to overlap the collar of a firefighter coat to provide a good seal with the coat and prevent entry of debris between the skirt and the collar. A flap has one end permanently secured to the head portion and the skirt; and the opposite end of the flap is detachably connected to the head portion. A thermal liner is permanently secured to the head portion and skirt and is spaced from both the topmost part of the head portion and the opposite end of the flap.

The present invention relates to a protective hood used by a firefighter who is wearing a face mask and a firefighter coat having a collar. This invention is an improvement over my U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,217, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
My previous patent discloses a construction which overcame certain problems encountered in the prior art. However, such a construction proved to have certain deficiencies which need to be rectified.
A particular problem with the structure shown in my patent is that the hood does not interface well with the collar of a firefighter suit worn by a firefighter. The lower portion of the hood is designed to fit within the collar so that the coat overlaps the bottom of the hood. This arrangement does not provide an effective seal between the hood and the coat, and debris can enter the coat through at this location which of course is extremely undesirable. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a satisfactory seal between the hood and an associated firefighter coat.
A further problem with the structure shown in my patent occurs between the hood and a face mask worn by a firefighter during firefighting operations. The hood has an open front portion through which the face mask extends. The interface between the open front portion and the mask does not always protect the face of the firefighter because gaps may be formed in the interface through which debris may enter into the face mask. A further object of the invention is to provide a good seal between the open front portion of the hood and the mask.


Hill hold control for a vehicle that is executed in response to idling stop of an engine is cancelled on the condition that a command to restart the engine for recovery from the idling stop is issued and an engine rotation speed is higher than or equal to a predetermined determination value; whereas, cancellation of the hill hold control is prohibited when the engine is in process of being stopped through the idling stop.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a control device and control method for a vehicle, which execute hill hold control for applying braking force to wheels independent of driver's brake operation in response to an idling stop of an engine.
2. Description of Related Art
In a vehicle that is configured to couple an engine to a transmission via a fluid coupling, such as a torque converter, a set torque is applied to wheels due to creep torque even during idling of the engine. Therefore, in such a vehicle, even when a brake pedal is not depressed, it is possible to hold the vehicle in a stopped state on a hill by torque transmitted to wheels, that is, so-called creep torque, so a hill start of the vehicle is easy.
On the other hand, in recent years, for the purpose of improvement in fuel economy, there has been practically used a vehicle that performs idling stop in which engine operation is automatically stopped during a stop of the vehicle. In such a vehicle, when idling stop is performed during a stop of the vehicle on a hill, creep torque is not generated, and wheels are not braked during a pedal change operation from a brake pedal to an accelerator pedal, so the hill start performance of the vehicle deteriorates.
Then, in an existing art, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-313253 (JP 2000-313253 A) describes a control device for a vehicle. The control device executes hill hold control for applying braking force to wheels independent of driver's brake operation in response to an idling stop of an engine. By so doing, even when a brake pedal is released during a stop of the engine resulting from idling stop while the vehicle is stopped on a hill, the vehicle is maintained in a stopped state to allow easy hill start. Note that, in the control device for a vehicle, described in JP 2000-313253 A, hill hold control is cancelled on the condition that, after a command to restart the engine through cancellation of idling stop, an engine rotation speed is higher than or equal to a rotation speed at which it is possible to generate sufficient creep torque.
Incidentally, depending on circumstances, in process of stopping the engine through idling stop, that is, during coasting of the engine after operation of the engine is stopped, a command to restart the engine may be issued in response to driver's accelerator operation, or the like. In such a case as well, with the above described control device for a vehicle, when the engine rotation speed at the time of issuance of a restart command is sufficiently high, hill hold control is cancelled at that point in time. However, the engine rotation speed, at which it is possible to restart the engine with the use of a starter, has an upper limit, and a restart of the engine by driving the starter in response to a restart command cannot be performed until the engine rotation speed is sufficiently low. Therefore, in the above described case, the engine rotation speed decreases after cancellation of hill hold control and then sufficient creep torque may not be transmitted to the wheels. Then, in such a case, the wheels cannot be braked during a change operation from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal, so the hill start performance of the vehicle deteriorates.
In addition, in process of stopping the engine through idling stop, a restart of the engine may not be initiated immediately after issuance of a restart command, so there occurs a delay from depression of the accelerator pedal to generation of propelling force of the vehicle. Therefore, when hill hold control is cancelled in process of stopping the engine through idling stop, even when a change operation from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal is quickly performed, the vehicle cannot temporarily be held in a stopped state, so the hill start performance of the vehicle may deteriorate.

Control device and control method for vehicle