An optical connector for directly transferring data is disclosed. The optical connector includes a first input device connected to a first data source and to which a first input signal is applied, a first light emitting device connected to the first input device and generating a first optical signal corresponding to the first input signal, a first light receiving device positioned close to the first light emitting device in such a configuration that the first optical signal directly reaches the first light receiving device from the first light emitting device, the first light receiving device generating a first output signal corresponding to the first optical signal, and a first output device connected to the first light receiving device and to a second data source to which the first output signal is transferred. Large-sized data may be transferred at high speed and high reliability without light transfer units.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to an optical connector and a stack module including the same, and, more particularly, to an optical module for directly transferring optical signals without any optical transfer unit and a stack module for performing direct data communication with vertically neighboring modules using the optical connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electronic system having integrated circuit devices, electrical connections between chips, between circuit boards and between modules is usually structured by a conductive metal wiring. However, the electrical connections via the metal wiring have caused problems according to the recent technical trends of high speed and high performance of electronic systems. For example, the metal wiring has caused electric-based faults such as electromagnetic interference and high electrical resistance and device faults, such as low operation efficiency and an interrupt for high degrees of integration. Those problems caused by high speed and high performance of recent electronic systems have become more serious as multimedia-based mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablet PCs and digital interactive TV have become more widely spread.
An optical communication device has been widely used for transferring large-sized data at high speed.
A conventional optical communication device includes a light emitting diode electrically connected with a first data source, a photo detector electrically connected with a second data source, and a photo transfer unit interposed between the light emitting diode and the photo detector as an optical path. The optical signal generated from the light emitting diode passes through the photo transfer unit toward the photo detector. The light emitting diode and the photo detector may be located independently from each other due to the photo transfer unit.
The optical transfer unit is usually built in a communication package or an electronic system including an optical module. Otherwise, the optical transfer unit is additionally provided separately from the communication package or the electronic system. Particularly, when the light emitting diode and the photo diode are spaced apart far away from each other and it is difficult to provide the additional optical transfer unit, a flexible optical cable may be used for transferring the optical signal.
However, the conventional optical cable has disadvantages in that it is difficult to align the optical cable with the center of the photo diode and the volume of the optical cable could be a barrier to a small size communication package. In general, the center of the optical cable is aligned with the light source of the photo diode with an extremely small alignment margin on the order of micrometers and, thus, an additional alignment tool is generally used for aligning the optical cable with the photo diode, which increases manufacturing cost of the communication package including the optical cable and the photo diode and of the electronic system including the communication package.
In addition, when the first data source and the second data source are vertically stacked in the optical communication module, the optical transfer unit usually causes various limitations for modification of the optical communication module. The electronic system is usually manufactured by individually assembling a number of semiconductor packages, and, thus, the optical transfer unit cannot be formed into the semiconductor package together in one body. Further, when the flexible optical cable is adopted for the optical transfer unit, the optical cable is installed away from the printed circuit board (PCB) and, thus, the electronic system may not have a small size due to the additional optical cable.

Optical connector and stack module including the same


A microstrip antenna for receiving an RF signal from a satellite includes a radiation element and a ground plane disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from the radiation element. A first dielectric and a second dielectric are sandwiched between the ground plane and the radiation element, in a side-by-side relationship. The first dielectric has a first relative permittivity and the second dielectric has a second relative permittivity different from the first relative permittivity. A feed line electrically connects the antenna to an amplifier. A section of the feed line is disposed between the first and second dielectrics. The antenna produces the effect of tilting a radiation beam from a higher to a lower elevation angle to achieve a higher gain at lower elevation angles.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to an antenna, specifically a microstrip patch antenna, for receiving a circularly polarized radio frequency (RF) signal from a satellite.
2. Description of the Related Art
Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) providers use satellites to broadcast RF signals, particularly circularly polarized RF signals, back to Earth. SDARS providers use multiple satellites in a geostationary orbit or in an inclined elliptical constellation. The elevation angle between the respective satellite and the antenna is variable depending on the location of the satellite and the location of the antenna. Within the continental United States, this elevation angle may be as low as 20°. Accordingly, specifications of the SDARS providers require a relatively high gain at elevation angles as low as 20°.
Various microstrip antennas for receiving an RF signal are well known in the art. One example of such an antenna is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,057 (the '057 patent) to Evans et al.
The '057 patent discloses an antenna for receiving or transmitting an RF signal. The antenna includes a radiation element and ground plane spaced from each other. A first dielectric having a first relative permittivity is supported by the ground plane. A second dielectric having a second relative permittivity is supported by the first dielectric. The second relative permittivity is equal to the square root of the first relative permittivity. The radiation element has a generally rectangular shape and is disposed within or between one of the dielectrics. Due to the integration of the radiation element and the dielectrics, the radiation element has a length shorter than that of other antennas, thus reducing the overall size of the antenna. The beam radiation of the antenna of the '057 patent is directed normal to the plane in which the radiation element lies. However, the antenna of the '057 patent does not aid in the reception of the RF signal from a satellite at a relatively low elevation angle, unless the antenna structure is physically oriented such that the antenna beam is directed towards the satellite.
To date, the performance of antennas integrated with automotive glass in receiving SDARS signals has been disappointing. In particular, these antennas have failed to produce radiation beams that are not normal to the pane of glass. Therefore, there remains an opportunity to introduce an antenna that aids in the reception of the RF signal from a satellite. Specifically, there remains an opportunity for an antenna that aids in reception of the RF signal from elevation angles as low as 20°.

Non-uniform dielectric beam steering antenna


The invention relates to a copolyester having an inherent viscosity ranging from about 0.4 to about 1.4 and a cold crystallization temperature ranging from about 120 to about 160.degree. C. Such copolyesters comprise the reaction product of a glycol component comprising from about 85 to about 100 mole % of 1,3-propanediol, a dibasic acid component comprising from about 85 to about 100 mole % of a dibasic acid selected from terephthalic acid, napthalenedicarboxylic acid, anhydrides, acid chlorides, and lower alkyl esters thereof, and mixtures thereof, and from about 5 to about 15 mole % of a comonomer. The presence of the comonomer lowers the crystallization temperature of the copolyesters according to the invention such that amorphous preforms can be easily molded from the copolyesters. Such amorphous preforms are readily stretch blow molded into bottles or other container shapes or may be injection molded into various shapes or objects or extruded into film or sheeting. Accordingly, in another embodiment of the invention relates to film and containers prepared from the copolyester composition described above. The films and containers according to the invention have improved gas barrier properties such that they may be used for packaging perishable goods, such as beverages, foods, and cosmetics.

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) polyesters are known to be useful for the manufacture of transparent bottles, jars, food trays, and other containers used for packaging beverages and food products. Although PET containers have good clarity, the gas barrier properties of PET polymers with regard to gases, such as, oxygen and carbon dioxide are generally insufficient. For example, oxygen permeability into PET bottles which contain beer, wine, and food products cause these products to spoil. Accordingly, PET containers are generally not used to manufacture containers or films for food products requiring long shelf life.
However, polyester films and bottles useful for packaging food products are known in the art. For example, a polyester blend possessing reduced carbon dioxide permeability and improved oxygen barrier properties is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,437. The polyester blends of this patent comprise a mixture of from about 40 to about 95% by weight of one or more copolyesters having an inherent viscosity of from about 0.4 to about 1.0 and from about 5 to about 60% by weight of poly(ethylene isophthalate) (PEI).
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,623 describes a process for producing transparent and heat-resistant polyester films and containers by thermoforming techniques. The process forms a sheet from a molten polyester resin having ester units derived from 1,3-propanediol and terephthalic acid ester-forming derivatives thereof. The sheet is then quenched so as to form a solid resin sheet having low crystallinity. After aging, the sheet is shaped by thermoforming under specific conditions that result in a highly crystalline container.
Japanese Patent Application 08-104763 describes a polyester film made of poly(propylene terephthalate) (PPT). According to this Japanese application, improved film properties are obtained by limiting the number of carboxyl terminal groups in the PPT film to 40 Eq/t or smaller. Further, Japanese Patent Application 05-031789 (1993) describes a method for manufacturing a blown bottle made of polyester resin containing at least 80 mole % of repeat units comprising an ester unit prepared from terephthalic acid and 1,3-propanediol. This application teaches that to avoid problems associated with polyester blown bottles, i.e., heat shrinkage, a polyester having specific repeating units is used as the raw material which is drawn and blow molded under specific conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,433 describes a process for producing PPT. The process comprises effecting the ester interchange or direct esterification and polycondensation reactions through the use of a unique catalyst system which comprises a tin compound employed in the polycondensation reaction.
In spite of the polyesters and processes discussed above, there remains a need for a polyester having improved oxygen and carbon dioxide barrier properties as well as improved crystallization rates. Such polyesters should be readily processable into containers having these improved barrier properties. In particular, these improved properties should be achieved without requiring the specific process steps or parameters described above. The present invention answers this need.

Copolyesters of 1,3-propanediol having improved gas barrier properties


A connection portion between a holder side part of a chip suction path and a main body side part of the chip suction path 12 is formed to have a non-contact structure, resulting in that not only a chip generated at a machining point but also a chip remained so as to be suspended in a machining atmosphere can be sucked and discharged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool holder for a chip suction device, and specifically to improvement in suction of chip in a machining atmosphere and in loadability with respect to a spindle.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a chip suction device that includes an external suction-type suction path provided so as to pass through the outside of a tool holder and a spindle. In a case where this type of external suction path is provided, when the tool holder is loaded to the spindle, there is a need to connect a suction passage on the tool holder side and a suction passage on the spindle side in an air-tight state. In this case, there is a problem that the connection is not securely conducted if there remains a chip in a connection portion between the both passages.
Accordingly, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3055019, a part on a tool holder side and a part on a spindle side of a suction passage are placed to face each other with a gap provided therebetween, in which either of the parts is formed so that it can be expanded/contracted to be deformed, and it is configured that when a value of suction negative pressure becomes a predetermined value or greater, the both parts are closely brought into contact with each other. Accordingly, by sucking a chip remained in a connection portion at a time of starting suction, it is possible to securely connect the both parts by preventing the chip from being sandwiched between the both parts.

Tool holder for chip suction device and machine tool including the same


The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which forms images on both surfaces of a sheet-shaped medium using the electrophotographic method. There is described a double-sided image forming apparatus, which includes a first and a second image bearing elements to bear toner images, a first and a second transfer units for transferring the toner images to the sheet-shaped medium from the first and the second image bearing elements, a fixing unit for fixing the toner images transferred to the sheet-shaped medium, a discharger to discharge electric charges residing on the sheet-shaped medium, a detector to detect thickness and/or stiffness data of the sheet-shaped medium, and a controller to control a first image forming mode which enables to form images on both surfaces of the sheet-shaped medium, and to control a second image forming mode which enables to form an image on only a single surface of the sheet-shaped medium.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which performs double-sided image formation on a sheet-shaped medium using the electrophotographic method, such as in a copier, a printer, a facsimile, etc., wherein toner images formed on an image bearing element are transferred and fixed onto both surfaces of the sheet-shaped medium after processing of the charging means, the exposing means and the developing means which are arranged around the periphery of the image bearing element.
Heretofore, in duplex copying, employed has been a method in which the first image formed on the image bearing element is transferred and fixed onto the sheet-shaped medium, and then this material is temporarily stored in a reverse paper feeding device for duplex copying, wherefrom it is conveyed out, synchronized with the formation of the second image on the image bearing element, so that the second image is transferred and fixed onto the other side of the sheet-shaped medium.
In the abovementioned duplex copying apparatus, since the transportation of the sheet-shaped medium is carried out twice in such a manner as to feed it to the reverse paper feeding device and to again pass it through the fixing apparatus, the reliability of the transportation is decreased, resulting in unacceptably frequent jam occurrences. To cope with this problem, there has been proposed an apparatus which fixes toner images transferred on both surfaces of the sheet-shaped medium all at once, after transferring operation, set forth in Tokkoushou 49-37535, 54-28740, Tokkaihei 1-44457, 4-21576, etc. Especially, Tokkaihei 1-44457, 4-21576, etc. have disclosed a method for forming a duplex copy with color images by means of a plurality of image forming means comprising a image bearing element, a charging means, an image exposing means and a developing means, which are arranged in parallel to a toner image receiving member.
The applicants of the present invention has been studying a duplex image forming method wherein a toner image formed on an image bearing element (a first image bearing means) is temporarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer element (a second image bearing means) one at a time, and, after another toner image is formed again on the first image bearing element, both toner images are transferred simultaneously onto both surfaces of the sheet-shaped medium. There have been problems, however, in the difficulty of the sheet-shaped medium separating from the image bearing elements which caused transportation defects and/or deformation of the sheet-shaped medium, causing a scattering of toner on the unfixed transferred image.


A light source of the present invention includes: a semiconductor light emitting device which has a light emitting face and emits light from part of the light emitting face; a container which has a light transmitting window for transmitting the light and accommodates the semiconductor light emitting device; and a gettering portion for performing gettering of a material containing at least one of carbon and silicon. The gettering portion is positioned, in the container, in a region other than the part of the light emitting face of the semiconductor light emitting device.

The present invention relates generally to a light source provided with a semiconductor light emitting device. The light source is widely used for various kinds of electronic apparatuses such as an optical disk apparatus, a copy machine, a printer, a lighting apparatus, optical communication application, and a laser display.
A semiconductor laser formed from a III-V group nitrogen semiconductor material (AlxGayIn1-x-yN (where 0≦x≦1, and 0≦y≦1)) is a key device for realizing ultra high density recording in an optical disk apparatus. Presently, as a light source required for data recording with higher density than DVD, a GaN blue-violet semiconductor laser is the closest one to the practical level. Increase in power of the blue-violet semiconductor laser enables high-speed writing to an optical disk to realize, and additionally, the increase in power of the blue-violet semiconductor laser is an essential technique for pioneering new technical fields such as an application to a laser display.
Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, a prior-art blue-violet semi-conductor laser will be described. The semiconductor laser 801 shown in the figures includes a substrate 701 and a multilayer structure formed on the substrate 701. The multilayer structure includes, from the side of the substrate 701, an n-AlGaN cladding layer 702, a quantum well active layer 703, a p-AlGaN cladding layer 704, and a p-GaN contact layer 705. In an upper portion of the semiconductor multilayer structure, the p-AlGaN cladding layer 704 and part of the p-GaN contact layer 705 are processed so as to have a stripe shape, so as to form a ridge stripe 706 for current confinement. Both sides of the ridge stripe 706 are covered with an insulating layer 707. A p-electrode 708 is formed on a top face of the ridge stripe 706, and an n-electrode 709 is formed on a back face of the substrate 701.
In the operation, according to an increase in current injected from the p-electrode 708 and the n-electrode 709, a carrier density in the quantum well active layer 703 is increased. When the value reaches a predetermined threshold carrier density, laser oscillation is obtained.
In a rewritable optical disk apparatus, a high-power semiconductor laser is desired. A conventional technique is used in which reflectivities of two end faces constituting a cavity (resonator) of a semiconductor laser are asymmetric for the purpose of realizing higher power.
In a semiconductor laser used for writing to an optical disk, cavity end faces are coated with dielectric multilayer films, so that reflectivities of the end faces are made to be asymmetric. One of the cavity end faces on the side from which laser light is emitted (a light emitting end face) is made to have a lower reflectivity, and the end face on the other side (a back end face) is made to have a higher reflectivity. For example, the reflectivity of the light emitting end face is set to be 10%, and the reflectivity of the back end face is set to be 90%. The reflectivity of the dielectric multilayer film can be controlled by a refractive index and a thickness of a dielectric layer to be deposited, and the number of layers to be stacked.
The semiconductor laser 801 shown in FIG. 7A is packaged in a can package (container) shown in FIG. 8A, and used as a light radiating element of short-wavelength light. The package (a short-wavelength light source) includes a base 803 and a cap 804. The semiconductor laser 801 and a sub-mount 802 functioning as a radiator are mounted on the base 803. The cap 804 includes a glass plate 806 functioning as a light transmitting window for taking out the light, and a metal foundation (can) 805. The semiconductor laser 801 is mounted on the base 803 via the sub-mount 802. In the base 803, openings for terminals are disposed, and the terminals are fixedly attached by a low-melting glass 807.
In order to maintain the air-tightness in the package, a gap between the glass plate 806 and the can 805 is closed by a low-melting glass 808 (fixed at several hundreds of degrees), as shown in FIG. 8B. An internal space enclosed by the base 803 and the cap 804 is filled with a nitrogen (N2) gas or the like.
However, the short-wavelength light source shown in FIG. 8A causes a problem that when the semiconductor laser 801 operates with high optical output power of about 30 mW for a long period of time, a foreign material is elliptically deposited on the light emitting end face of the semiconductor laser 801.
It is found by elemental analysis (mass spectrometry such as EDX) that the foreign material is a material mainly including carbon (C) or silicon (Si). It is also found that the deposition of the foreign material is increased in accordance with the increase in optical power of the semiconductor laser 801. Therefore, the phenomenon of the deposition of the foreign material is a serious problem for increasing the power of the light source and for realizing high-speed recording to a rewritable optical disk apparatus.
According to experiments by the inventors of the present invention, it is also found that the deposition of foreign material is not only caused in the inside of the package shown in FIG. 8A. Specifically, in various electronic apparatuses (an optical pickup apparatus, for example) provided with a short-wavelength semiconductor laser with an oscillation wavelength of 450 nm or less, it is observed that the foreign material is deposited on a portion irradiated with laser light (especially in a portion with higher optical density). On the contrary, since the phenomenon of the deposition of the foreign material is not observed in other semiconductor lasers (a red laser, or an infrared laser), it is considered that the phenomenon remarkably occurs in short-wavelength semiconductor lasers with oscillation wavelength of 450 nm or less. In addition, such a phenomenon may cause even in a visible range of wavelengths when the optical power is increased.
The C and Si deposited in the package shown in FIG. 8A can be derived from various materials of slight amounts existing in the air (hydrocarbon or siloxane). For this reason, it is extremely difficult to perform an assembly process in a condition where deposition causative materials such as C or Si are not mixed in the package. In addition, it is impossible in reality to prevent the causative materials existing in the air from entering the optical disk apparatus. Even if the inside of the package can be held in a condition of C-free or Si-free, it is impossible to prevent the materials including C or Si from depositing on optical components such as a lens which is irradiated with short-wavelength laser light emitted from the light source.

Light source, optical pickup, and electronic apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An improved water delivery system for a liquid ring vacuum pump which delivers water through the side of the pump wall. A manifold system aligns outlet ports of the manifold with the inlet ports of the pump itself. Access ports with plugs or caps are also aligned with the pump inlet ports, to provide a quick and easy access to clean out sediment from the manifold. The improved manifold system allows efficient employment of secondary plant liquid in the operation of a liquid ring vacuum pump.

Liquid ring vacuum pumps, as exemplified by Roe et al U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 29,747, which is incorporated herein by reference, use "seal water" for two purposes, first to form a liquid ring of working pistons that compress the gas and push it out of the pump, and second to form a seal between high pressure gas being discharged and low pressure gas entering the pump. This seal is formed in the angular segment land area of the 360 degree cycle, where the liquid ring pistons contact the cone surface. As used herein, the land, or land area, of the cone shall mean that portion of the cone which is in closest communication with the working water pistons. The efficiency of the pump depends on the seal created by both the clearance of the metal surfaces of the rotor vanes and cone surface and the pistons contacting the cone land area.
Shaft packing rings in a "stuffing box" require water for both sealing and cooling. If secondary (or recycled) water is pumped into the liquid ring pump through the center of the cone, then fresh water is piped separately into the stuffing box to avoid erosion of the shaft.
Metal parts of a liquid ring pump, particularly the vane surface at the inner tapered diameter of vanes and the cone land area surface, become worn during operation, causing an opening of clearances and subsequent loss of efficiency. After an extended time in operation, costly replacement or repair of the worn parts is required to rebuild the pump in order for it to perform anywhere approaching its original efficiency. Using only clean fresh water with known liquid ring vacuum pumps will reduce the cause for repair of such pumps, but with ever increasing costs for use of fresh water, and sometimes limited fresh water availability, use of 100% fresh water has become expensive or prohibitive. Also, the pre-treatment/filtration equipment necessary to remove suspended particulates from the secondary plant water to produce water with the degree of cleanliness that would minimize the erosive wear is both costly to purchase and expensive to operate and maintain. Additionally, a problem with using secondary plant water for sealing water is that it contains erosive particulates and will wear away the metal, both on the inner surface of the rotor vanes at the small diameter end of the tapered cone, and on the land area of the cone. This loss of metal weakens the liquid seal in the land area and causes an early loss of pump efficiency, thereby causing the need for costly pump repairs.
It is not recommended to use secondary plant water to seal and cool the shaft packing rings, since secondary plant water contains particles that would be captured between the shaft and packing, and cause excessive wear of the shaft material. Clean fresh water is piped separately to the stuffing box that holds the packing rings.
Secondary plant water can be used to form the piston of the pump, thereby saving fresh water. Secondary plant water contains sediment and particulates which over time will accumulate in the manifold delivery system. The result is an inadequate supply of secondary water to assure adequate cooling. To correct this condition it would be necessary to remove the manifold to clean out the accumulated sediment which is costly both in terms of down time of the pump and in labor costs.

Manifold for a liquid ring vacuum pump-compressor


A novel pager and paging system assist a traveler, particularly a business traveler, with itinerary reminders and information regarding local services that is coordinated to the place and time of the items on the traveler's schedule. The paging system includes a database of the traveler's itinerary information and a database of information regarding locally available services. Items from the itinerary database are matched with similarly located or related services and transmitted to the traveler's pager in a timely manner to remind the traveler of his or her schedule and commitments.

Portable radio receivers and transceivers, such as wireless pagers, have become increasingly popular as a means of communication. Pagers are typically carried by users who wish or need to receive communications when they are away from a telephone or computer, or are unable to predict where they may be reached at a given time.
In general, the user of a pager purchases the unit and enters into a contract with a service provider. As shown in FIG. 1, when someone 12 wishes to page a particular user, they contact the user's service provider 11, identify the user to be paged (perhaps with a personal identification number), and may give a message to the service provider 11 that is to be broadcast to the user's pager 15.
The service provider 11 maintains a network of radio transceiver base stations 13, 14 which are spread throughout the service area covered by the service provider. The transmitting base stations 13 are distributed so that transmissions from at least one base station can be received by a pager 15 anywhere in the service area.
In a simplistic system, when the service provider 11 receives a request to page a user 15, the page is broadcast by all the base stations 13 in the system. Thus, if the pager 15 is located anywhere in the service area, it will receive the page. The pager 15 will then alert the user that a page has been received with, for example, an audible or vibratory alert signal.
In a more sophisticated system, the pager 15 may have the capability to not only receive a transmission from the service provider's system, but may have the capability to transmit an answer back to the system. This is referred to as two-way paging.
With these advances, the usefulness of pagers as a means of communication has expanded rapidly. Service providers have encouraged this expansion by experimenting with pagers as a means to disseminate information of interest to pager users. For example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,695 to Nelson et al., incorporated herein by reference, a one-way pager system is used to relay sports or financial information to a pager user who has contracted with the service provider for that service.
However, there are many potential, undiscovered applications of pager technology which may provide pager users with, as yet unheard of, abilities to communicate. This is particularly true of the developing two-way pager systems. Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods and applications of pager technology to meet the information and communication demands of pager users.
Pagers are of particular value because of their ability to receive communications from any location within the service area at any time. Accordingly, pager users are often business people who keep exhausting meeting schedules with a variety of clients. The logistical problems associated with conducting such business are multiplied when the businessperson is traveling and in an unfamiliar area for a client meeting.
When traveling to an unfamiliar area, a businessperson may often find it difficult to get basic information about the area when and where needed. Accordingly, there is a need to for a way to adapt pager technology to assist business travelers in maintaining an itinerary and obtaining needed information about an unfamiliar area.


A package comprising a tray-shaped bottom part (1) provided with an opening covered by a cover (2) being sealed to the bottom part (1) along a circumferential rim (10) so as to form a sealed compartment. With a view to forming a peelable cover part (15), the cover (2) is peelably sealed to the bottom part (1) along a portion of the rim thereof by means of a first sealing line. The first sealing line extends between two terminal points arranged on a line (23) extending across the opening of the bottom part (1). Moreover, the cover (2) is sealed firmly to the rim (10) of the bottom part (1) at least in the rim portions of the bottom part immediately adjacent said points by means of other sealing lines. At least in the portion of said line (23), the cover (15) is formed of a first flexible plastic sheet (14). The peelable cover part (15) is formed more rigid than the first plastic sheet (14) at least in the portion being furthest spaced apart from the connecting line (23) between the two terminal points.

Danish patent application No. 1524/92 discloses a package of the above type, in which the peelable cover part extends in an overlapping manner onto a cover part sealed to the bottom part, the peelable cover part also being peelably sealed to a second cover part and provided with a gripping member. By gripping about the gripping member, the peelable cover sheet may be completely or partially removed from the package to allow easy access to the interior thereof. By not completely removing the upper cover sheet, said sheet may be used to reclose the package. However, the closure obtained thereby is not very tight, as subsequent to peeling, the peelable part tends to fold or crease, thus preventing abutment thereof with the rim of the bottom part.
Moreover, a package is known comprising a cup-shaped bottom part sealed by means of a peelable cover sheet peelably sealed to the rim of the bottom part, and a separate cover arranged on top of the cover sheet and interengaged with the rim of the bottom part. This additional cover serves to reclose the package subsequent to opening thereof by peeling of the peelable cover sheet. This solution is expensive due to the additional separate cover.
Furthermore, EP 0 488 452 discloses a package (confer FIGS. 3 and 3b) comprising a tray-shaped bottom part and a cover fixed to the rim of the bottom part along a circumferential sealing seam. The cover part is peelably sealed to the rim of the bottom part in a first zone A and fixedly sealed to the rim of the bottom part in a second zone. The varying strength of the sealing seam in the two zones is obtained by controlling the sealing temperature and/or sealing pressure. The seams of the two zones connect at points arranged on a line extending across the opening of the bottom part. Even though it is not described, it is seems obvious from FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b that a detachable tab of the bottom part outside the seam is attached to the cover part to form a gripping member. Thus, the cover part is formed of a single sheet layer.
Finally, EP 0 093 442 discloses a lid construction for a container comprising a cover member adapted to be secured to the upper open end of a container. The cover member is provided with a tongue defined by a curved cut and a perforated line, the tongue pivotting upwards about said line to form an opening in the cover member. The lid construction further comprises a main paperboard insert secured to the top surface of the cover member and provided with an end area superposed over the tongue. The main paperboard insert is provided with a hinge line being substantially superposed immediately above the perforated line in the cover member. A secondary paperboard insert having a pull tab is arranged between the main paperboard insert and the cover member and extends from the rim of the main paperboard insert to the hinge line. The secondary paperboard insert is secured to the tongue of the cover member such that said tongue and the superposed end area of the main paperboard insert pivot about their respective hinge lines when the pull tab is pulled to form the opening in the cover member. The publication thus relates to a completely different and more complicated type of lid construction than the present invention.

Package comprising a tray-shaped bottom part and a cover


The present invention includes a method and apparatus for providing quick access to menu and selection items of a user interface using an input device having a limited capability. For example, a standard television remote control does not have a pointing device or a button for each letter of the alphabet. One button is used to activate on-screen pop-up symbols that map selection items to keys on the remote. If a user does not select one of the selection items within a predetermined amount of time, the on-screen pop-up symbols disappear. The on-screen symbols can also be used to allow a user to select menus and submenus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for entering data and navigating in a user interface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hand held remote controls are becoming more popular with consumer electronics. Products which historically have not included remote controls are now being sold with remote controls. For example, remote controls can now be purchased for personal computers.
Recently, computer makers have proposed a network computer. The network computer is an easy to use computer that costs much less than typical personal computers. The network computer does not include a disk drive and will receive software and data from a server over a network. To keep costs down and allow the network computer to be easy to use, some network computers include a remote control.
Many consumer electronics that come with a remote control, including the network computer, include a user interface that allows the user of the electronic device to interact with the device. Traditional user interfaces have been designed to work with a pointing device and a full keyboard. Examples of pointing devices include a mouse, a trackball, a touchpad, a joystick, etc.
A hand held remote normally has a limited number of buttons. For example, a typical hand held remote control will have buttons for numbers zero through nine, four arrow navigation keys and two to five other keys that are available for specific functions. Because of the limited number of keys, typical computer interfaces would not be suitable for devices using hand held remotes. Specifically, there are at least three problem areas. First, quickly selecting an item on the screen can be difficult without a traditional pointing device or keyboard. Second, entering alphanumeric characters in a text field is cumbersome without a full keyboard. Third, selecting an item from a large list of items can also be cumbersome if the user needs to use arrow keys or does not have a full keyboard.
Previous solutions to the above described problems have been inadequate. For example, some systems use arrow keys to cycle through all the buttons on the screen until reaching the desired option. Other systems always display a number next to the text of each item on the screen. The number corresponds to a key on the remote control. By pressing the corresponding remote control key, the item on the screen will be activated. Some systems will display an onscreen keyboard complete with forty to fifty keys. The user can press the arrow keys on a remote control to navigate to and highlight the desired alphanumeric key. Other systems predefine each of the functions on a remote control, thereby, limiting the options on screen. Instead of using the arrow keys, some systems allow a user to press a single key which cycles through all the choices on the screen.
Some of the above described solutions require the user to perform a large number of keystrokes in order to make a selection. Furthermore, some of the options require the menu or screen to be continuously cluttered with the display numbers, an onscreen keyboard, or other information.
Therefore, a system is needed that allows a user to enter data and navigate through a user interface without requiring undue amounts of keystrokes and without unnecessarily cluttering the screen with information at a time when the user does not need that information.

System for data entry and navigation in a user interface


A device for shifting bicycle gears. The device includes a housing part and a rotary element. The housing part has a circumferential surface and a plurality of notches formed in the circumferential surface. Each of the plurality of notches corresponds to a gear-shifting position. The rotary element has a circumferential wall and is selectively rotatable relative to the housing part, the housing part being disposed concentrically within the circumferential wall of the rotary element. The device further includes a detent spring configured as a wrap spring and arranged circumferentially around the housing part, the wrap spring having a wrap diameter and a wrap angle of between approximately 180.degree. and 360.degree..

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices for shifting of bicycle gears and, more particularly, to a gear-shifting device having a compact wrap spring which rotatably couples a rotary element to a notched inner housing portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
German publication DE 44 42 953 discloses a click-stop gear shift for bicycle gears. The gear shift has a notching element with notches, a detent spring having a notching projection and two projections, and a slider with different pre-bias stages for the detent spring. The two ends of the detent spring are supported by the slider, while the projection located at the center of the detent spring engages the notches in the notching element. The detent spring is arranged in an annular space of the housing. The circumferential length of this annular space exceeds that of the spring by a predetermined amount along a desired override path. This click-stop gear shift meets the following operational requirements: shifting of gears can be felt; different levels of operating force can be attained by an adjustable spring pre-bias; override paths through dead travel space exist; different rotary resistance is possible in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions by configuring the notches to have a different groove angle.


The invention seeks to improve the transfer function of drive devices such as pulleys and other coupling means, and it proposes creating zones of shear in the inserted deformable material forming a decoupling element. In an embodiment, the decoupling element is made in the form of a ring (2) presenting at least one meshing face (21e, 21i) complementary to a corresponding meshing face (31, 41) formed on the facing support (3, 4), the meshing projections (2e, 2i, 3e, 4i) engaging in one another to take up power transmission torque by working in shear by being blocked against each other during rotation. The invention is applicable to all drive devices including a filtering, damping, or absorbing element, e.g. for use in the automotive industry.

The invention relates to a decoupling element of deformable material, such as rubber or elastomer, for a rotary drive device such as a pulley, a wheel, etc. in a power transmission system for a compressor, alternator, starter, or any other type of accessory that needs to be driven in rotation.
As shown in the diagrammatic longitudinal and cross-section views of FIGS. 1a and 1b, pulleys or other rotary coupling means generally interpose a portion A of annular shape made of rubber having a section that is rectangular or shaped, between a rim B and a central hub C. By deforming in shear, between a rest position K0 and a position K in rotation, this piece allows a certain amount of angular offset to occur, thereby performing its decoupling function, in particular as a frequency filter and damper between the exciter (arrow E) and the response (arrow R). FIG. 1c shows a cross section similar to that of FIG. 1a with a link insert or friction layer D. The link insert is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,962 to Ochs et al.
The ring A is generally fixed via its inside and outside faces by overmolding or bonding to cylindrical supports made of metal or plastics material and forming respectively the inner hub and the outer rim. It is generally also appropriate to bond the ring to strength members which are themselves force-fitted between the rim and the hub.
That solution, as disclosed for example in patent EP 0 740 077 presents numerous drawbacks, and in particular:                bonding requires coating and molding operations that are unsatisfactory in terms of cost and harm to the environment due to the use of adhesives and solvents;        the inserts which are generally made of metal give rise to non-negligible extra cost;        overmolding implies an additional swaging step to release differential stresses by radial deformation, and thus also leads to extra cost;        force-fitting the inserts leads to stresses in the parts; and        the system cannot be disassembled.
In other documents, for example patent EP 0 793 031, the ring has successive concave and convex undulations of essentially continuous curvature facing complementary shapes made on the hub and the rim. The undulations perform two functions, that of filtering without bonding and that of limiting torque. The concave and convex shapes allow the parts to slip relative to each other beyond a cutoff torque, and also to return to a driving configuration below the cutoff.
That type of solution leads to non-linearity in the torque exerted as angular offset increases, and thus to non-linear stiffness, which is harmful to the filtering function. To be effective filtering must be tuned to specific cutoff frequencies that differ depending on the structure of the system or the type of transmission that is to be provided. However since the system is non-linear, its resonant bandwidth is very broad and filtering is not performed correctly.

Decoupling element of deformable material in a power transmission system


Nizatidine is prepared by reacting N-[2-[[[2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-thiazolyl]methyl]thio]ethyl]-N'-methyl-2-nitro -1,1-ethenediamine, with an aryl- or tert.alkyl-sulfonyl halide in the presence of a tertiary amine base and a sulfonation catalyst to form the corresponding sulfonate ester, reacting the sulfonate ester so formed with an excess of dimethylamine, and recovering the nizatidine so formed.

A commercially attractive process for the preparation of nizatidine should yield the product in a highly pure form, or at least in an easily purifiable form. This is particularly advantageous for the last step in a pharmaceutical product synthesis. One general approach to this is the design of a process in which the immediate precursor compound of the final pharmaceutical product differs therefrom, to a significant degree, in respect of acidity or basicity, so that acid/base reactions can be used in separating final product from unreacted precursor.
Nizatidine has Bronsted basicity, i.e. basicity towards protons, derived essentially from the dimethylamino group on the thiazole ring acting in concert with the nitrogen of the thiazole ring. If, therefore, in the final synthetic step of making nizatidine, there is used a precursor which is much more weakly basic than nizatidine, separation of the nizatidine products from the precursor and other by-products can be achieved using simple acid/base reactions and extractions. Such processes are rugged, in the sense that they can be readily scaled up and are relatively insensitive to parameter variables.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,335 Manning, issued Jul. 30, 1996, discloses one such process. According to this patent, nizatidine is prepared by reacting N-[2-[[[2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-thiazolyl]methyl]thio]ethyl]-N'-methyl-2-nitro -1,1-ethenediamine, of formula: ##STR1## with excess dimethylamine and an (N,N-dimethylamino)phophonium halide such as (N,N-dimethylamino)triphenylphosphonium bromide. The hydroxymethyl reactant has a much lower basicity than the dimethylamino product, nizatidine, thereby allowing ready separation and purification of the product mixture. However, the phosphonium reagents and the solvents proposed for use in this process are complex and costly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,574 054 Kitagawa et al. (Zeria), issued Nov. 12, 1996 discloses quaternary ammonium salts and nizatidine salts of nizatidine and the like, for use in treating gastrointestinal disorders. In one process for preparing these compounds N-[2-[[[2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-thiazolyl]-methyl]thio]ethyl]-N'-methyl-2-nitr o-1,1-ethenediamine is first prepared and is then chlorinated with phosphorus oxydichloride to the corresponding 2-chloromethyl compound. Preparation of corresponding acid residue compounds, e.g. by reaction with methanesulfonic acid chloride and toluene sulfonic acid chloride, is also suggested.


The invention generates moving image information obtained by compositing a moving image of a user and objects selected by the user, and provides the generated moving image information to the user. For instance, when the user has inserted a coin or coins into a device, a select menu of pre-stored stories is displayed, and the user selects one story from the menu. Then, the user selects a desired background scene and feature player in that story to determine pre-stored objects. After that, an image of the user is sensed, and is stored as a moving image object. The moving image object is then composited with the previously selected objects according to MPEG 4 to generate single stream information. The generated moving image information is then delivered to the user.

A print system which composites an image obtained by sensing a user who inserted a coin or coins, and an image prepared in advance, and prints the composited image as a sticker is known. As such system, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 04-104572 or 04-506264 is available. Such system basically stores some background images, and comprises a camera for taking a picture, a computer for controlling composition of the sensed image with one background image selected from the plurality of background images, image sensing of the camera, and an image print process (to be described below), and a printer for printing out an image obtained by compositing the sensed image and the selected background image. However, these systems and patents are not designed for a moving image.
A system that expands the above system to process a movie-like image is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-115866 or 10-117344. However, the "movie-like image" in such system is a series of photos or panel which can be printed out by a printer, and several still images are merely combined using the aforementioned mechanism. Hence, such system is not designed for an actual moving image.
The reasons why the conventional systems are not designed for a moving image, i.e., problems to be solved upon building a system for a moving image, are as follows.
1) A moving image has a considerably larger information size than a still picture, and the apparatus components such as a memory, image processing means, and the like cannot be efficiently implemented.
2) A still image can easily undergo an image process such as composition between a background image and sensed image, but means for editing a moving image by a simple process is not easily available (except for expensive means such as editing apparatuses for TV, movie, and the like).
3) A moving image is hard to output as a printed image, and is not suitable as a medium that everyone can use.
4) The user can exchange printed images output as stickers with friends, but cannot do so for a moving image due to its large information size.
Even when a moving image is allowed to be easily sent as digital data, the following problems concerning copyrights are additionally posed.
5) When an output is printed matter, it is rarely illicitly copied (image quality inevitably deteriorates even by color copying or the like), but when an output is digital data, copies that are free from deterioration of image quality can be easily formed. If data corresponding to a background scene or feature player is copyrighted, it is difficult to attain copyright protection.
6) Even a copyright-free movie of a certain user violates the right of likeness or privacy of that user if it is illicitly copied and sent.
7) If an output is a sticker or the like, a fee can be charged for one set of a predetermined number of stickers. However, when a digital data output is used to implement the same function, a copy count must be controlled, and a charging system corresponding to the copy count must be built, thus requiring a new technique.

Moving image generation apparatus, moving image playback apparatus, their control method, and storage medium


The warp and weft yarns are woven either conventionally, one over the other, or with certain reinforcing yarns being woven over several yarns. The majority of the warp and weft yarns have a tensile modulus of 100 grams/denier or less. The reinforcing yarns have a tensile modulus of 500 grams per denier or greater. The majority comprise Dacron type polyester yarns. The reinforcing yarns (every 5th-100th) are Kevlar or Spectra.

In recent years the sail making industry has adopted laminated sailcloths incorporating scrims of high modulus materials to reinforce the underlying sailcloth. These laminates have consisted of one or more layers of nonwoven plastic film (such as polyester, nylon or tedlar) adhered to the sailcloth substrate. Another approach has been to provide a woven ply on the sailcloth substrate and adhering the two plies together. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,205 issued to Peter Mahr in 1985.
These types of laminated sailcloth are designed to minimize the stretch of the cloth in the sail under wind loading by providing the reinforcements in line with the high load directions within the sail. The film on the sailcloth controls the stretch in the bias direction (that is in a direction at an angle between the warp and the weft thread line directions). Experience has shown that these laminated sailcloths eventually delaminate with age, use and exposure to the elements. In addition, the films used tend to crease and exhibit a shrinkage with use which tends to degrade the designed in shape provided by the sailmaker so that the sail will assume that shape when deployed.
The object of the present invention is to provide a single ply woven sailcloth capable of absorbing wind loadings both in the direction of the thread line yarns and in the bias direction without the use of laminates.


A storage organizing article, comprising a foundation comprising a horizontal floor; a vertical wall comprising a plurality of vertical wall segments; wherein the plurality of vertical wall segments are releasably connectable to each other; wherein the plurality of vertical wall segments are releasably connectable to the foundation via a plurality of engagement footings of the plurality of vertical wall segments; wherein the horizontal floor has a base wall, a plurality of retention members and a plurality of engagement receptacles; wherein each engagement receptacle is formed by a sub-grouping of the plurality of retention members, respectively; and wherein, when the foundation and vertical wall are connected, each of the engagement footings is disposed one of the engagement receptacles, respectively, and forms a releasable interference fit with the sub-grouping of the plurality of retention members which form the engagement receptacle, respectively.

The storage and organizing of articles within a motor vehicle has led to a variety of designs for the consumer. Along such lines, the need remains for a storage organizing article that allows a consumer the ability to customize and provide locations within the vehicle where articles maybe stored and isolated from other items within the vehicle.


A jointed robot capable to move on a surface is provided. It is known to limit to a predefined fixed value the torque that the motors of the joints of the robot can develop. A rigidity coefficient corresponding to the limit torque is calculated by solving a dynamic equilibrium model of the robot. The contact points of the characteristic effectors are determined by a selection from a list of potential effectors, notably as a function of a criterion of distance from a virtual ground plane. The contact forces for said effectors are calculated by optimal resolution of the equilibrium equations. Finally the torques applied in the dynamic equilibrium model of the robot and the coefficients of corresponding rigidity are calculated.

An exemplary jointed robot is a humanoid robot, that is to say one possessing certain attributes of the appearance and functionalities of man: a head, a trunk, two arms, two hands, two legs, two feet, etc. Over and above appearance, the functions that a humanoid robot is capable of fulfilling will depend on its ability to perform movements, to speak and to "reason". Some humanoid robots are capable of walking, of making gestures, with the limbs or with the head. The complexity of the gestures that they are capable of performing is ever increasing. Some robots of this type such as NAO™ developed and marketed by the applicant, may possess tens of joints whose movements are actuated by electric motors. The command-control logic of said motors determines at one and the same time the rigidity of the joints and the electrical consumption (and therefore the evolution of the temperature) of the robot. It is thus one of the determining elements in respect of the safety of the robot (impact on stability), the possible duration of its use (compulsory shutdown onwards of a limit temperature) and the experience felt by a user in his interaction with the robot, too great a rigidity of the articular chains distancing the robot from an ideal humanoid type. A problem area of the same type is also present in respect of other types of robots, non-humanoid, such as animal robots or more generally robots comprising jointed chains.
The command-control logic can use setpoints of position of the joint (generally based on angle), of velocity of the joint (derivative of the angle) and/or of torque. Such logic is controlled by sensors and may or may not comprise feedback loops making it possible to guide convergence toward the setpoint. Command-control using a torque setpoint or current setpoint is the most expensive and the least widespread. Indeed, it is in this case necessary to use an accurate sensor for the value of the current, and this will be expensive, notably in the case where the number of joints is very high.
Jointed-chain robots may have a fixed base, such as for example industrial jointed arms, notably to carry out assembly tasks. This then entails objects whose unit cost price may be as much as a few tens or hundreds of thousands of euros, with a still small number of joints. In this case, torque-based command-control logic may be suitable insofar as the unit cost price is not the main consideration.
In the case of jointed-chain robots with mobile base, that is to say not fixed to the ground, a category to which humanoid robots belong, the number of joints being higher and the cost price constraint very significant, use is generally made of command-control logic for the joints based on position and/or angular velocity which is much less expensive for a given level of accuracy. However this command-control logic has several significant drawbacks, notably the fact that, if an obstacle prevents the motor from attaining the constraint defined by a target position, the motor will continue to want to attain the position, unattainable in reality, and therefore in so doing will consume electricity and raise the temperature of the joint and of the whole until it causes disabling of the robot in order to avoid damage thereto. This problem is all the more troublesome as a simple lack of horizontality of the feet of the robot when standing upright suffices to trigger the phenomenon of overheating.
To cope with problems of this type, it is known from earlier versions of NAO™ to define a rigidity parameter for each joint which makes it possible to limit the torque applied to the latter to a level substantially lower than the physical limits defined by the constructor, so as to reduce the occurrences of setting to safety mode. However, this solution does not make it possible to avoid overconsumption of energy, notably when one of the chains of the robot encounters an obstacle on its travels. Indeed, a uniform limitation, necessarily fixed at a relatively high level to avoid overly frequent shutdowns, will not allow early interruption of the consumption of the joints in question.
It is also known, notably from patent application US2008/258670, to calculate a value of torque to be applied to a joint and to convert it into an angular velocity setpoint. However, no account is taken in this embodiment of the reaction forces at the points of contact of the robot with its environment, said forces being the main origin of applications of overly high torques which generate overheating.

Robot with joints of variable rigidity and method for calculating said optimized rigidity


The invention provides systems and methods for provisioning a site with an energy system such as a solar energy system. A system according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a user interface module providing a graphical user interface for receiving information from a user, for example a potential purchaser. The information includes location information for the site to be provisioned. An image retrieval module is coupled to the user interface module and to a source of geographical information. The image retrieval module retrieves at least one image of the site corresponding to the location provided by the user. A sizing module is configured to enable a user to measure an installation surface represented in the image. Energy system components are selected based on the measurements.

Environmental and cost concerns associated with traditional energy systems are increasing in today's energy conscious society. Concerns about oil and natural gas prices, and environmental concerns highlighted by recent hurricanes and other natural disasters have focused attention on alternative energy sources and systems.
So called 'clean energy' offers much hope for alleviating today's energy concerns. For example, today's solar technologies provide significant economic and environmental advantages for homeowners. Deployment of solar technologies is widely encouraged through financial incentives offered by local, regional as well as federal energy rebate programs.
Yet, despite these advantages and incentives many homeowners remain reluctant to convert from conventional fuel based systems to advanced solar and other alternative energy technologies. Part of the reluctance stems from the time, expertise and cost associated with converting from a conventional energy system to an alternative energy system such as a solar energy system. The current marketplace does not offer consumers sufficient information about costs and benefits of energy systems to allow a potential purchaser to make an informed choice when considering alternative energy systems.
For example, sizing a homeowner's particular roof-space including all the relevant features of that particular roof space typically requires an on-site visit by a technician. Further, it is presently not possible to remotely evaluate shading issues or other local factors that might impact the performance of a particular system. Nor is it possible for potential purchasers to visualize a system as it would appear installed on the purchaser's actual roof. As a result, information available to a purchaser about engineering requirements, aesthetic results, cost and environmental impact of a system considered for purchase is limited.
What are needed are systems and methods that provide consumers, contractors, third party vendors and others with convenient, comprehensive and site-specific information for use in provisioning a site with a solar energy system. Further needed are systems and methods that provide a potential purchaser with site specific information related to energy system costs, benefits and aesthetics of alternative energy systems.

System and method for provisioning energy systems


The invention provides a packaging machine support device having a frame with side walls and feet which bear the latter, and having at least one workstation borne by this frame, the side walls being in profile form. The packaging machine support device in accordance with the invention is suited to comply with the increasingly stringent hygiene requirements for packaging machines. This is achieved according to the invention by providing a frame profile (7) that is essentially open at the sides.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a packaging machine support device having a frame, side walls and feet for bearing the frame and having at least one workstation borne by the packaging machine support device. More particularly the invention pertains to a packaging machine support device haying an open profile with stiffening lugs disposed along the open profile to partially close a side of the open profile at predetermined locations.
(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Such a packaging machine is described, for example, in EP 0 569 935 B1. The profile described in the latter document for the purpose of forming the frame is designed with an essentially U-shaped cross section which is open in the downward direction. This profile is closed, i.e. not internally visible, in the direction of the outside of the packaging machine. Spaced-apart connecting elements are fixed to the ends of the U profile at regular intervals from the underside.
Packaging machines of the type mentioned have to meet increasingly stringent hygiene requirements.
The frame profile of the packaging machine according to the prior art is difficult to access from beneath for cleaning purposes. It is likewise the case that a visual inspection of the cleaning result can only be carried out with extreme difficulty, if at all.

Multivac Sepp Haggenmuller GmbH & Co. KG


A developing apparatus, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which can obtain a good image, and an end portion regulating member provided in them. The end portion regulating members for regulating the layer thickness of developer passed through interstices between a developing blade for forming a layer of the developer having a predetermined thickness on the surface of a developing roller and magnetic seals provided on the longitudinally opposite end portions of the developing roller in opposed relationship with the surface of the developing roller is provided downstream of the developing blade with respect to the rotating direction of the developing roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a developing apparatus, a process cartridge, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and an end portion regulating member.
2. Description of Related Art
Heretofore, a process cartridge system has been adopted in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process. This process cartridge system refers to a system whereby an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge, which is made detachable mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus. According to this process cartridge system, the maintenance of the apparatus can be done by an operator himself without resort to a serviceman. Therefore the operability of the apparatus can be markedly improved. So, this process cartridge system is widely used in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses.
Also, in a developing apparatus used in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a stationary magnet is disposed in a hollow cylindrical developing roller. By the magnetic force of the magnet, a developer (hereinafter referred to as the "toner") is attracted to the surface of the developing roller. The layer thickness of the toner adhering to the surface of the developing roller is regulated by a developing blade. By the developing roller being rotated, the toner is carried to a developing portion for visualizing a latent image.
As a method of preventing this toner from leaking out of a developing chamber, there is known a method of bringing a seal member such as belt into contact with the developing roller within the range outside an image formable area.
Also, there is known a method of disposing a ferromagnetic material as a seal member in non-contact with the developing roller, and holding the toner by the magnetic force thereof.
Also, there is known a construction in which a scraping-off member is disposed downstream of a seal member with respect to the rotating direction of the developing roller and a portion of the scraping-off member is brought into contact with the developing roller. This scraping-off member returns the toner having come out from the aforementioned seal member to the downstream side by the rotation of the developing roller again into a developing area so as not to leak outwardly (U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,304).
However, it has sometimes been the case that the developer leaks out along the rotating direction of the developing roller through interstices formed between the developing blade and the seal members provided on the end portions of the developing roller. When the amount of the developer leaking out through the interstices increases, there has been the possibility of the developer adhering to the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Developing apparatus, process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and end portion regulating member


Methods for rowgroup consolidation with delta accumulation and versioning in distributed systems are performed. The systems provide performant methods of row storage that enable versioned modifications of data while keeping and allowing access to older versions of the data for point-in-time transactions. The accumulation of valid rows, deletes, and modifications is maintained in blobs for rowgroups until a size threshold is reached, at which point the rows are moved into a columnar compressed form. Changes to data and associated metadata are stored locally and globally via appends, maintaining logical consistency. Metadata is stored in footers of files allowing faster access to the metadata and its associated data for transactions and instant rollback via metadata version flipping for aborted transactions, as well as lock-free reads of data.

Commercial database systems and data warehouses execute queries having extended execution times against large tables of data. Such queries may be received and executed while other queries are currently running, and this concurrency leads to operations on changed data by the executing queries that are not intended or desired. The modification, insertion, and deletion of rows in tables are tracked and independently or individually stored for rowgroups in a columnar format as segments within small file blobs (binary large objects), and metadata associated with these changed rows is locally stored.

Rowgroup consolidation with global delta accumulation and versioning in distributed systems


A housing for a railway car draft gear assembly for cushioning buff and draft shocks includes a rear portion engageable with the rear stops of such railway car and a front portion configured for attachment to a coupler arm. Opposed ends of the front and rear portions are provided with complimentary flanges for removable attachment of the front portion to the rear portion with threaded fasteners.

Draft gear assemblies are widely used in the railroad industry to provide protection to a railway car by absorbing shocks in both draft and buff conditions. They are installed in alignment with a railway car center sill having a pair of front stops and a pair of opposed rear stops that form a draft gear pocket and cooperate with a separate yoke member attached to a coupler of such railway car. It is well known that various railroads now use a standard draft gear pocket of 24.62 inches in length. As a result, it has been mandated that draft gear assemblies of different designs must fit into such standard draft gear pocket.
It has been further mandated and accepted to provide a standard draft gear assembly for use with a 24.62 inch long pocket which is capable of 3.25 inch travel in both buff and draft directions.
Lately, draft gear assemblies having an integrated yoke have been gaining acceptance in various railway applications. The draft gear assemblies with an integrated yoke have a number of advantages. One advantage is that they fit into a smaller pocket and its adjacent areas in the freight railway car or provide for a higher shock absorbing capacity and longer travel when installed into a standard 24.625 inch long pocket.
Another advantage is that they offer reduced weight and can be delivered from a manufacturer in a fully assembled condition ready for immediate installation and reduce the need for a railroad to procure a separate yoke and shock absorbing member.
Related patent applications teach one type of draft gear assembly with an integral yoke that utilizes a friction-type cushioning and release mechanism. A compressible cushioning element of such friction-type draft gear assembly is positioned within the rear portion of the housing, while a friction cushioning element is disposed in the front portion of the housing. A spring release mechanism for continuously urging the friction cushioning element outwardly from the compressible cushioning element thereby releasing such friction cushioning element after compression of such draft gear. The compressible cushioning element is typically either of an all coil spring configuration as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,152,409, 5,529,194 and 5,590,797 or of a coil spring and hydraulic assembly combination as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,368,698.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,820 to Barker et al. teaches another type of draft gear assembly with an integral yoke that has a front resilient compressible elastomeric pad stack and a coupler follower disposed within the yoke portion and a rear resilient compressible elastomeric pad stack disposed intermediate the rear portion of the yoke and the rear follower. A center rod extends through the yoke, the rear resilient compressible elastomeric pad stack and the rear follower.
It has been accepted that, due to wear, the yoke portion must be reconditioned about every 8 years, while the remaining housing portion, particularly in the friction-type draft gear assemblies may be reconditioned about every 16 years. Therefore, a disadvantage of the friction-type draft gear assemblies with an integrated yoke is that the entire assembly must be sent back to the manufacturer for reconditioning thus increasing the complexity and cost of such reconditioning.
It has been further accepted that coupler types presently in use vary between different railroads and car manufacturers with E-shank, F-shank and rotary shank couplers being the most widely used coupler types. Therefore, another disadvantage of the draft gear assembly with an integral yoke member is that it must be configured for use with a particular type of coupler which increases the complexity and cost to interchange the cars with different couplers within a train consist.

Two piece draft gear housing having an integral yoke


A muffler with a housing for receiving exhaust gasses from an engine is disclosed. The muffler includes a housing with an inlet and an exit, a baffle plate partitioning the housing into first and second chambers. The baffle plate includes a catalyst receptacle in the first chamber, the second chamber includes the exit of the housing. A catalytic converter element with a longitudinal axis is housed within the catalyst receptacle, the catalytic converter element is positioned within the catalyst receptacle such that exhaust gas passes through the catalytic converter element in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the catalytic converter element and through the second chamber to exit the housing.

Small gasoline-powered internal combustion engines, especially two-cycle engines, have a known problem of relatively high emissions of harmful combustion products, such as hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide. These gasses have been found to cause environmental problems. In an effort to reduce the amount of harmful exhaust gasses released from an engine, many small internal combustion engines are equipped with catalytic converter elements.
While many small internal combustion engines have included catalytic converter elements, many of the old designs have drawbacks. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,690 entitled "Muffler With Catalytic Converter" discloses a complicated design to form a muffler having an internal catalytic element. Because the muffler has a structurally complicated design, the muffler would be expensive to produce, thereby increasing the cost of the product using the combustion engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,066 entitled "Muffler For Internal Combustion Engine" features a muffler that contains, an internal catalytic element and a venturi at the outlet of the muffler. Similar to the design of U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,690, this patent describes a muffler that has many complex parts that form numerous distinct chambers inside the muffler as well as a complex structure to hold a catalytic element within the body of the muffler. The process to manufacture the components of this muffler will be time-consuming and the complexity of the muffler will increase the cost of the final product using the muffler.


A direction finding system for finding the angle of arrival of a target signal from a transmitter. The system includes a plurality of directional antennas positioned to face different directions for receiving the target signal. The antennas are mounted as an antenna array on a rotatable mount for supporting and rotating the antenna array. A receiver unit down converts the RF target signal to IF signals that are digitized by an A/D converter providing digital values. A computer computes the power in the signals from the A/D samples. A computer stores calibration information for the directional antennas, processes the digital values and the calibration information to determine a rotation angle α for rotating the antennas to provide new digital values, processes the new digital values and the calibration information to determine an intersection angle, and subtracts the rotation angle from the intersection angle to determine the final value for the angle of arrival of the target signal.

This invention relates to direction finding (DF) systems and more particularly to systems for finding the angle of arrival of radio frequency signals received from a transmitter.
DF systems have receiving antennas located at a DF site for receiving a target signal from a transmitter located at some bearing angle from the DF site. DF systems determine the angle of arrival (AOA) of the target signal at the DF site but typically do not determine the distance between the DF site and the transmitter.
Geolocation systems find the geolocation of a transmitter within a region. By knowing the location of the transmitter in the region, a geolocation system can determine the angle of arrival of the target signal at any receiving antenna in the region and can determine the distance between the transmitter and the receiving antenna.
Geolocation systems determine the location of a transmitter using two or more antennas at spatially separated antenna sites. Two DF systems can determine the location of a transmitter by finding the intersection of the lines from the DF system at the measured AOA's. Geolocation systems can use time difference of arrival (TDOA) of signals from the transmitter to the antennas to determine the geolocation of the transmitter. TDOA systems require three or more sites to be highly synchronized in time (to less than 10 nsec), require a broadband network to transfer signals to a central processor, produce large errors when the main signal is blocked by a building or something else and produce very large errors if the transmitter is not within the triangle defined by the three sites.
DF systems in general are simpler and less expensive than geolocation systems. DF systems are of two main types, phase-comparison and amplitude-comparison.
In phase-comparison DF systems, two or more antennas are configured so that the relative phases of the antenna outputs are unique. The angle of arrival is computed by analyzing the relative phases of the antenna outputs. Interferometer systems are examples of phase-comparison DF systems. Interferometer systems have relatively high angle of arrival (AOA) measurement accuracy (1°-3°), but their costs are high and extensive phase calibration is required. The interferometer systems must be thermally calibrated or compensated and multiple antennas are needed for each band to resolve ambiguities. For lower frequencies, the antenna arrays can get quite large.
In Watson-Watt systems, two co-located sets of antennas are oriented perpendicularly and the signals from the sets of antennas are subtracted. The bearing angle is computed by taking the arctangent of the ratio of the subtracted signals. The subtraction is done at RF and requires the phase of the two antennas, cables and subtraction circuit to be well matched. This operation inherently makes Watson-Watt systems phase sensitive. Watson-Watt systems are inexpensive and compact with medium AOA accuracy (4°-7°), however, they usually only cover up to 1 GHz.
In amplitude-comparison DF systems, two or more unique amplitude outputs are obtained from one or more directional antennas positioned at different angles. The angle of arrival is computed by analyzing the relative amplitudes of these outputs.
The antennas in DF systems are connected to one or more radio receivers. The radio receivers have various configurations including single-channel and multi-channel radio receivers. The antenna systems include, for example, configurations such as (i) a single-channel receiver connected to a single antenna, (ii) a single-channel receiver connected to multiple antennas and (iii) a multi-channel receiver connected to multiple antennas.
In one example of an amplitude-comparison DF system, a single antenna for receiving the transmitter signal is attached to a rotating pedestal and is connected to a single-channel receiver. The angle of arrival of the transmitter signal is determined as the pedestal angle where the received signal is strongest.
In another example of an amplitude-comparison DF system, a multi-antenna array is connected to one or more receivers for receiving the transmitter signal. The power levels of the signals received by the different directional antennas are used to determine the angle of arrival of the transmitter signal. With well selected antennas, the power levels of the received signals at the strongest two adjacent antennas in a multi-array of antennas are unique for determining the angle of arrival of the signal.
The multi-antenna array systems using amplitude comparison of the power level have the following advantages over other DF systems: no phase calibration/stability requirements; no precise timing requirements; inexpensive; one set of antennas can cover a wide frequency range; simple power calibration; the package containing the system can be light weight and compact; insensitivity to aging and thermal issues since these effects tend to be common mode to all antennas and hence are cancelled in the ΔPower calculations.
The multi-antenna array systems using amplitude comparison of the power values have the disadvantages of low accuracy and high sensitivity to RF local field amplitude variations caused by multipath and other problems.
Some direction finding systems are mobile and are located on vehicles. As the vehicles move, the systems calculate the angle of arrival of received signals. To do so, the angle of arrival outlier measurements are discarded and the rest of the measurements are processed to calculate a weighted mean angle of arrival. Some direction finding systems are stationary and operate to determine the angle of arrival of a stationary transmitter.
While many amplitude-comparison DF systems have been employed, the systems suffer from poor accuracy or high sensitivity to multipath interference and non-ideal antenna and system characteristics. Many of these problems cannot be corrected by calibration. While such amplitude-comparison DF systems are inexpensive, compact and relatively free from thermal and phase problems, they generally have low AOA accuracy (10°-15°) where higher AOA accuracy of from 1°-3° is needed.
In consideration of the above background, there is a need for improved multi-antenna array amplitude-comparison DF systems with higher accuracy and with reduced sensitivity to problems which cannot be corrected with calibration.

Direction finding using antenna array rotation


In a backlight which arranges light emitting diodes on a side surface of a light guide plate, irregularities of radiation light from the backlight can be decreased. In a liquid crystal display device having a backlight which radiates light to a liquid crystal panel, LEDs which constitute a light emitting element are mounted on a light guide plate formed on the backlight, and teardrop-shaped lenses are formed on a light radiation surface of the light guide plate. By changing the advancing directions of lights radiated from the light emitting element using the teardrop-shaped lenses, it is possible to decrease irregularities of a planar light source by scattering the radiation lights from the light guide plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light source of a non-self-luminous display device, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display device having a backlight which includes a light guide plate and uses an LED as a light source.
2. Background Art
Recently, the liquid crystal display device has been popularly used as a display device. Particularly, the liquid crystal display device is used as a display part of portable equipment because the liquid crystal display device is thin and light-weighted, and consumes small electric power.
However, the liquid crystal display device is not self-luminous and hence, the liquid crystal display device requires a lighting means. In general, as a lighting device which is used for the liquid crystal display device, a planar lighting device referred to as a backlight is popularly used. Conventionally, although a cold cathode fluorescent tube has been used as a light emitting element (also referred to as a light source) of the backlight, an LED (light emitting diode) has been also recently used as the light emitting element.
The backlight includes a plate-shaped light guide plate. A material of the light guide plate is a light transmitting resin or the like, and light incident on the light guide plate from the light emitting element propagates in the inside of the light guide plate. A reflection/scattering member such as grooves, projections or a printed material is formed on the light guide plate, and the light which propagates in the inside of the light guide plate due to such a reflection/scattering member is directed and radiated toward a liquid-crystal-display-device side.
When the LEDs are used as the light emitting element, the LED is a spot light source and hence, there arises a drawback that the uniform radiation of light from the light guide plate is difficult. Accordingly, for example, JP-A-2007-121675 or the like proposes a technique which uniformly diffuses light of LEDs which constitute a spot light source, wherein the constitution which forms conical lenses on an optical sheet is disclosed. However, in the technique described in patent document 1, the lenses are formed on the optical sheet but are not directly formed on the light guide plate. Further, JP-A-2001-296407 discloses a meandering lens. However, the lens is formed on an optical sheet but is not directly formed on the light guide plate.


A modular device payment module includes a chassis. A modular device connector is located on the chassis. A payment module database in the chassis stores funding source information and security information. A payment module engine in the chassis determines that the modular device connector has been connected to a modular device frame of a modular device, and retrieves modular device identifying information from the modular device. The payment module then determines that the modular device identifying information matches an authorized modular device identified by the security information in the payment module database and, in response, enables the transmission of at least some of the funding source information from the payment module database to conduct a payment transaction.

Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure generally relates to online and/or mobile payments and more particularly to a modular device payment system.
Related Art
More and more consumers are purchasing items and services over electronic networks such as, for example, the Internet. Consumers routinely purchase products and services from merchants and individuals alike. The transactions may take place directly between a conventional or on-line merchant or retailer and the consumer, and payment is typically made by entering credit card or other financial information. Transactions may also take place with the aid of an on-line or mobile payment service provider such as, for example, PayPal, Inc. of San Jose, Calif. Such payment service providers can make transactions easier and safer for the parties involved. Purchasing with the assistance of a payment service provider from the convenience of virtually anywhere using a mobile device is one main reason why on-line and mobile purchases are growing very quickly.
The use of phones and other user devices for making online and/or mobile payments is growing rapidly, as traditional payment devices such as cash and credit cards are being replaced by wireless payment systems that allow the user to use their phone or other user device to transmit payment information to a merchant device of a merchant in order to complete a purchase.
Traditionally, phones have been provided by manufacturers to users as an integrated device that must be entirely replaced when one or more components fail or become obsolete. However, recently the concept of a modular phone has been proposed, which provides a modular phone frame to which different modular components of the phone may be attached (e.g., a screen module, a battery module, a storage module, a camera module, a speaker module, etc.) The use of modular components, along with the provision of a modular component ecosystem that allows for phone manufacturers and third party suppliers to provide users with modular components, allows a user to replace modular components rather than the entire phone when one of the modular components on the phone fails or becomes obsolete.
The concept of the modular phone provides for several advantages in online and/or mobile payments via phones and/or other user devices that are described in detail below.
Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, wherein showings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Various embodiments may include a method for actuating a fuel injector with a solenoid drive and a nozzle needle. The solenoid drive has a solenoid and a movable armature. The fuel injector has an idle stroke between the armature and the nozzle needle. An example method includes: applying a precharging current to the solenoid drive during a precharging phase to move the movable armature into mechanical contact with the nozzle needle; and applying a voltage pulse to the solenoid drive during a boost phase until the current intensity of the current flowing through the solenoid reaches a predetermined peak value.

During operation of directly operated fuel injectors having a solenoid drive (also referred to as coil injectors) with the same actuation parameter values (in particular current and voltage values), electrical, magnetic and mechanical tolerances generally result in different temporal opening and closing behaviors of the individual injectors and therefore in variations in the respective injection quantity. The relative differences in injection quantity from one injector to another become larger as the injection times become shorter. Up until now, these relative differences in quantity were small and without practical significance. However, development in the direction of relatively small injection quantities and injection times means that the influence of the relative differences in quantity can no longer be ignored.
In practice, a specific temporal voltage or current profile is applied to a fuel injector, said profile usually beginning with a boost phase in respect of the opening process. Actuation ends directly after the boost phase for so-called hydraulically ballistic operation (in which the fuel injector is not completely opened), wherein at least one first holding phase and possibly also a second holding phase (the actual holding phase) follows/follow for so-called hydraulically static operation (in which the fuel injector is completely opened and held open for a while).
Injector concepts with an idle stroke have proven advantageous for hydraulically static operation, in particular at high rated operating pressures of, for example, 500 bar. The electrical energy required, e.g., the electric boost current, can be low since the process of beginning hydraulic opening is driven not only by the applied magnetic force but rather additionally by the armature pulse. If a fuel injector of this kind with an idle stroke is now used in hydraulically ballistic operation, fuel injection takes place, under certain circumstances, by way of opening being driven only by the armature pulse and the current which generates the magnetic force already being switched off. In this case, the injection quantities are subject to a relatively high degree of scatter, this probably being attributable to the lack of magnetic force and associated stability.