The invention relates to a technical field of light emitting diodes (LEDs), in particular to a self-adaptive drive circuit and an LED lamp with the same. The LED lamp comprises a plurality of series LED lamp strings, and each LED lamp string comprises at least one series LED lamp bead; and the self-adaptive drive circuit comprises a rectifying unit, a current limiting unit, a voltage detection and connectivity control unit and at least one controllable switch unit. According to the self-adaptive drive circuit and the LED lamp with the same, the LEDs can be driven normally in an extremely simple drive mode, which can work without using complex constant current drive circuit and electrolytic capacitor that is life limiting. At the same time, the stroboflash phenomenon is eliminated, the power factor is improved, harmonic distortion is reduced, electromagnetic interference is eliminated, and the cost is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a technical field of light emitting diodes (LEDs), in particular to a self-adaptive drive circuit and an LED lamp with the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
LED, having high luminous efficiency, long service life, solid light source, without polluting heavy metal elements, and other remarkable advantages, is now becoming a new generation of light source and leading a third illumination revolution after the incandescent lamps and the fluorescent lamps.
LED (light emitting diode) has electrical features similar to those of a diode, which is a constant voltage device and is very sensitive to an applied working voltage, and the I/V thereof is in a relation of exponential rise. Generally, the LED can work normally by incorporating a drive power supply that can provide a current-limiting function or a constant current function, and the input mains supply is converted to the constant DC (direct current) generally by adopting a special LED power supply to drive the LED to work stably.
The LED drive power supply generally adopts an AC to DC circuit such as a flyback, or a logical link control (LLC), which may contain an input filter, a rectifier, a constant current and control circuit, a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor, a transformer, an output rectifier filter and the like. Accordingly, the elements are numerous, the circuit is complex, the design is difficult, and the cost is therefore high. For example, the cost of high quality LED drive power supply is about 1.5-3 yuan/W. Since the circuit usually contains various elements, especially those with life limitation, such as electrolytic capacitor, the life of the drive power supply is limited, thereby limiting the life of the whole LED lamp as well. In most cases, the power supply malfunctions before the LED lamp beads reach the service lives, so the advantage of long life of the LED cannot be fully exerted. Moreover, since the circuit works in a high-frequency switch state, and electromagnetic interference is inevitably generated, which is easy to affect the power grid and bring to bad effects to surrounding radio equipment. Accordingly, the electro magnetic compatibility (EMC) design of the drive power supply is still a big problem that puzzles the designing engineers.
Recently, an alternating-current LED lamp without using a drive power supply appears in the market, wherein the alternating-current LED lamp beads (or reversed common lamp beads) are directly connected to the mains supply by the resistors that limit the currents. It is advantageous that the drive power supply is not used, the cost is low and the life is not limited by the power supply. However, since many LED lamp beads are connected in series and connected to the mains supply, the total voltage of the LED lamp beads approaches the effective value of the mains supply, leading to a fatal defect including the serious stroboflash phenomenon, and since the power factor is low, the harmonic may cause large disturbance to the power grid.
A patent "LED Working Mode Control Device (Chinese patent publication number 202503745U") also provides an LED driving mode which connects the LEDs to the power supply section by section to adapt to power supply voltage fluctuation (for example, after the mains supply is rectified). By utilizing a switchable short-circuit LED module, when the power supply voltage is low, fewer LEDs are connected; when the power supply voltage is high, more LEDs are connected, thereby making the LEDs being able to adapt to the power supply voltage fluctuation. However, the controllable switches in the disclosure are all connected in series to the LED circuits. Since the controllable switch may itself contain the saturation voltage drop or the turn-on resistance, it is bound to consume more powers. When the lower the input voltage is, the more the series controllable switches are, leading to higher resistance of the controllable switches and more consumed power. The efficiency of the circuit is therefore greatly reduced. Meanwhile, the voltage detection and switch control part provided by the patent is independent, so many elements are adopted, and the circuit is complex.

Self-adaptive drive circuit and LED lamp with the same

Guangzhou Iethai Lighting Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.


An improved corn head includes a reel device that prevents debris build-up in front of a feederhouse. The reel device includes support arms, a crossbar between the support arms, and a number of radial bars extending from the crossbar. The reel device has a number of adjustments to optimally position the radial bars for removing debris. The reel device rotates to reduce debris build-up in the feederhouse during harvesting. The reel device is moveable between operative and inoperative positions from the combine cab using hydraulics.

The present invention relates generally to corn heads for use with combines and specifically to an improved corn head using a reel device to reduce debris build-up.
Combines that harvest corn are provided with several snouts for directing rows of corn stalks to ear separation chambers, into an auger, through a feederhouse and into a combine's inner chambers which separate the corn kernels from the corn cob.
Combine operators routinely encounter difficulties when harvesting corn especially with debris building up in front of a feederhouse of the combine. Previously, combines that harvested only 4 or 8 rows encountered this debris build-up only occasionally because the corn yields experienced were low, the varieties of hybrid corn dropped their leaves sooner, thicker plant spacing resulting in more corn fodder to process, the speed of the combine moving through the field was slow, and not as many rows of corn were being harvested.
Advances in plant science have caused an increase in the amount of debris experienced by the combine operator. A modern combine experiences these problems much more frequently because today's corn varieties retain their leaves longer, utilizing corn planted more densely in the rows and more closely together, extremely high corn yields and operating the combine at much faster speeds. Much of the increase in corn yields has come from genetic improvements to the corn plant through biotechnology or genetic modifications. This yield increase has brought with it larger, healthier corn plants that produce larger amounts of debris that may potentially break off the stalk and have to be ingested by the combine. Still further creating problems, the typical size of a feederhouse has remained unchanged relative to the horsepower and threshing capacity of today's modem combines. Today's machines have in excess of 400 hp engines and can process more than 4000 bushels of corn per hour versus machines of 10 years ago that had 200 horsepower and could harvest 2000 bushels of corn per hour. While it would make sense to double the size of the feederhouse opening on these new machines in this process, that has not been the case. Instead the feederhouse opening has remained virtually unchanged.
Further complicating this problem is the plastic material from which much of the "snouts" or row dividers are made. This plastic material when constantly rubbed by plant material may develop a static charge which potentially causes the debris to adhere to the plastic material, to the steel on the backboard of the head, and to other plant material. Relative humidity in the fall typically drops to 20% or less in the corn belt which aids the buildup of this static charge.
Severe debris buildup results from dry harvest conditions. This debris is made up of corn stalks, leaves, and "fluff" which is fine particles of ground up stalks and leaves. The debris is not a problem once it moves past the feederhouse. Debris is processed by the combine into mulch and returned to the field to decay through the winter months. However, getting the debris into the feederhouse may be a problem because the debris and fluff together may form an obstruction which hinders and/or blocks corn from entering into a combine for processing. In order to prevent this obstruction, the operator must slow down or stop, thereby letting the feederhouse remove this debris. If the operator cannot prevent the debris from forming an obstruction, the operator must climb out of the combine cab and try to remove the debris by hand or using a tool. Any type of manual removal of this debris is hazardous to the operator and may cause injury or death to the operator. For example, the operator often must travel in between the snouts and reach up into the debris pile with a broom handle to clear the debris. Should the corn head be left on, the operator has risk of serious injury.
Therefore, the debris problem creates two issues. One, a time issue in which the operator is losing valuable time because they are removing debris or slowing down and stopping to have the machine removes the debris. Two, a safety issue in that the operator is exposed to risk of injury by trying to manually unclog an obstruction of debris in the feederhouse.
Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to overcome the problem of debris build-up in front of the feederhouse.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable device which optimizes the removal of debris in front of the feederhouse.
Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of rotating bars which can be actuated from the cab of the combine to unclog debris from the feederhouse.
Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a frame with rotatable bars which is moveable between operative and inoperative positions.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a debris clearing device which can be retrofit to various combines.
A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a device that is economical to manufacture, simple to install, and effective and durable in use.
These and other objectives will become apparent from the following specification and drawings.

Corn head with reel device and method of use


There is set forth herein a method comprising applying a drive signal to a drive element in a sensor assembly having a drive element and one or more sensor element so that responsively to the drive signal the drive element generates a magnetic flux that travels through a target, determining a strain of the target using a picked up output signal picked up by the one or more sensor element. In one embodiment, a sensor assembly can be employed for detecting a proximity of the target using a picked up output signal picked up by e.g., the drive element. In one embodiment, a drive signal can have a plurality of frequency components.

The invention relates generally to sensors and particularly to sensor assemblies for sensing characteristics of a target.
Non contact sensor assemblies are available for sensing characteristics of a target such as rotating shafts of turbines and other machinery. A drive element can be disposed and controlled to generate a magnetic flux that is transmitted through the target and a sensor element can be disposed to sense a returned magnetic flux. Changes in inductivity and resistance resulting from permeability fluctuations of a target under stress can be observed for detection of stresses and strain of the target. Magnetic flux sensor assemblies can be used for sensing strain in uniaxial stress environments, biaxial stress environments and complex stress environments.


The present invention relates to a method removing the fuel contained in the lubricating oil of an internal-combustion engine comprising an engine block with an air intake circuit for a fuel mixture, a burnt gas exhaust circuit, an oil sump and means for pumping the oil contained in the sump. According to the invention, the method consists in removing, after pumping the oil, the fuel diluted in the oil by heating intermittently the oil for a time ranging from 1/100 second to 10 second, in order to obtain vaporization of the fuel diluted in the oil.

As it is generally known, an internal-combustion engine comprises a closed lubrication circuit with an oil sump located in the lower part of the engine block, an oil pump for pumping the oil contained in this sump and passing it through an oil filter so as to free it of its impurities, and possibly through an oil radiator for cooling this filtered oil prior to feeding it back into the engine.
The main objective of lubricating oil is to facilitate the relative motion between two parts of the engine by minimizing or even preventing friction between these two parts. This oil therefore allows to create a viscous film that is interposed between these two parts so as to reduce or to prevent direct contact between the two surfaces of these parts.
This is notably the case for the piston of an engine that delimits, with the cylinder head and the cylinder, a combustion chamber wherein combustion of a fuel mixture occurs. This piston slides in the cylinder, with a rectilinear reciprocating motion, and a thin oil film must be continuously present between the outer surface of the piston and the wall of the cylinder. In the absence of this oil film, the motion of this piston undergoes a slowdown through friction in the cylinder, and the temperature of the piston and of the cylinder increases, which leads to a malfunction of this engine. This malfunction can lead to seizing of this piston, i.e. its sticking in the cylinder. Such seizure causes a sudden engine breakdown and requires a stage of reconditioning this engine, which is expensive.
This problem is all the more worrying since, for some types of diesel engines with combustion effluent post-treatment, the fuel injection strategies are such that part of the fuel injected is diluted in the oil film. In fact, during the engine running cycle, this fuel is fed into the combustion chamber in such a way that it is sprayed onto the oil film present on the major part of the axial area of the cylinder wall. This fuel mixes then by dilution with the oil of the film.
This oil containing diluted fuel then reaches the oil sump, generally through gravity under the effect of the scraper ring provided around the piston, from where it is pumped in order to be filtered and sent back towards parts to be lubricated, notably for creating the oil film between the piston and the cylinder. This film thus receives more fuel that is also diluted in the oil film. This oil with a still higher fuel dilution flows back into the oil sump where it is sucked by the pump for a new lubrication cycle.
Thus, after a certain number of lubrication cycles, the dilution ratio of the fuel in the oil is such that the oil film is impossible to obtain or it forms only locally between the piston and the cylinder, or it breaks upon motion of the piston. The two parts are therefore in direct contact, locally or totally, which slows down the motion of the piston through friction and increases its temperature, as well as that of the cylinder wall, eventually causing seizure of this piston.
The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by means of a method allowing to remove the fuel present in the lubricating oil before it is fed back into the engine.

Method of removing the fuel contained in the lubricating oil of an internal-combustion engine and engine using same


The invention relates to an adhesive. Provision is made for the adhesive to comprise    (a) 50 to 95% by weight of a heat-activable or pressure-sensitively adhesive polymer formed from a comonomer mixture comprising, based on the polymer,            (a1) 40 to 95% by weight of acrylic and/or methacrylic esters of the formula CH2═CH(R1)(COOR2), where R1 is H and/or CH3 and R2 is H and/or alkyl chains having 1 to 30 carbon atoms;        (a2) 5 to 30% by weight of a first copolymerizable vinyl monomer containing at least one carboxylic and/or sulphonic and/or phosphonic acid group;        (a3) 1 to 10% by weight of a second copolymerizable vinyl monomer containing at least one epoxy group or one acid anhydride function; and        (a4) 0 to 20% by weight of a third copolymerizable vinyl monomer containing at least one functional group which differs from the functional group of the first copolymerizable vinyl monomer and from the functional group of the second copolymerizable vinyl monomer; and also            (b) 5 to 50% by weight of an epoxy resin or a mixture of two or more epoxy resins.

The invention relates to an adhesive and to its use for an adhesive tape.
For industrial pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape applications it is very common to use adhesive tapes, which are required to withstand high temperatures. Some of the applications to which this applies are in the automotive sector. In that sector, particularly in the vicinity of the engine compartment, adhesive tapes are affected with particular severity by sharply fluctuating temperatures and by fuels. These properties are possessed in a very good form by crosslinked acrylate PSAs.
Additionally a very wide variety of substrates in the industrial sector may likewise be adhesively bonded. Here it may in some cases be of advantage to use heat-activable adhesives, which above a certain temperature soften, flow very effectively onto the substrates and then cool to form a solid bond.
In addition to the adhesive tapes already described there is an increasing demand—owing to more stringent environmental regulations, particularly for manufacturing—for particularly environment-friendly adhesive tapes which exhibit very little outgassing or none at all.
In order to achieve this for the requirements in the automotive industry, for example, two technologies are required for acrylate adhesive tapes. First the adhesive tapes ought not to contain resins, since resins evaporate out under prolonged temperature storage and so form deposits in the surrounding area. Secondly the adhesives ought to be prepared by the hotmelt technology: following polymerization, all of the remaining solvents and residual monomers are removed or stripped off and then the adhesive is crosslinked on the backing.
To date it is not proved possible to fulfil all of these requirements on the part of industry. U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,088, for example, describes thermally activable adhesives, and these adhesives on the one hand do not meet the requirements for low outgassing, owing to their composition and to the use of UV polymerization technology, and on the other hand cannot be processed from the melt, owing to the thermal curing agent present, since the thermal crosslinking reaction would be initiated even in the course of hotmelt processing.
It is an object of the invention to eliminate the disadvantages associated with the prior art. The intention is in particular to specify an adhesive which exhibits low outgassing and is fuel-resistant, which can be postcrosslinked under high temperatures, develops relatively high bond strengths and can be processed even from the melt. The intention is further to specify a use for an adhesive of this kind.


An exercise device includes a body having at least one recess formed therein, the recess being configured and dimensioned to receive a finger of a user, and an elastic member removably disposed around a periphery of the body.

Routines contemplating the exercising of fingers by flexing the fingers against the resistance of springs are frequently used to strengthen the fingers or hand, for example, in physical therapy regimens. One commercially available device for such routines is the DIGI-FLEX® line of products. (DIGI-FLEX® is a registered trademark of IMC Products Corp., Hicksville, N.Y.) The DIGI-FLEX® products provide an exerciser having different extents of resistance to individual finger exercise and entire hand exercise, wherein the latter is not merely the cumulative resistance of the former, so that the resistance is a function of the strength of the user in the selected exercise mode, and correspondingly provides maximum exercising benefit to the user. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,256.
Devices that provide resistance against extension of the fingers (as opposed to flexure of the fingers) have also been used for exercising the fingers and/or hand. Devices of this type are exemplified, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 623,592; 3,612,521; 4,828,249; 4,875,469; 5,013,030; 5,062,625; 5,366,436; 5,447,490; 5,492,525; 5,514,052; 5,613,923; 5,820,577; 6,179,751; 6,213,918; 6,817,967; and 6,288,001. There remains a need for a simple device that provide resistance against extension of the fingers, wherein the degree of resistance can be easily increased or decreased, depending on the desired exercise regimen.


A radiation crosslinked molding of a urethane resin composition comprising a thermoplastic urethane resing having incorporated therein a polyfunctional monomer selected from the group consisting of trimethylolpropane triacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate and triacrylformal., is disclosed. The molding according to the present invention has excellent resistance to hot water and heat.

Thermoplastic urethane resins have superior mechanical strength and wear resistance on account of which these resins find many uses such as for hoses, belts, coatings for electric wires, pipes, shoe soles and various other moldings. However, urethane resins have easily hydrolyzable ester urethane bonds and are not suitable for use in areas where they are exposed to moisture for a prolonged period of time or in applications where steam or hot water is used. Efforts are being made to improve the resistance of water of urethane resins by using polyols having ether bonds [e.g., poly(1,4-oxybutylene)glycol], or caprolactam-based polyols (e.g., .epsilon.-lactone ester polymers instead of the aliphatic esters having easily hydrolyzable ester bonds. However, the inherent problem of hydrolysis still exists in urethane resins. A further problem with urethane resins is that they melt at temperatures of 180.degree. C. or higher and cannot be used in applications where they are exposed to high temperatures as 150.degree. C. or above, such as in the operation of dipping electric wires in a solder bath, without causing deformation of the resin coat.
With the rapid increase in the use of NC controlled machine tools, the field in which materials having high mechanical strength (e.g., high wear resistance) are used is expanding and the development of urethane resins having high resistance to heat and hot water has been sought.
From the view point of preventing fire and other disasters, the requirements for flame retardancy are becoming increasingly strict and there is a great need to offer a molding of a urethane resin composition, such as a coated electric wire, that is flame-retardant and exhibits superior resistance to water and heat.
One conventional method for improving the resistance to heat of high-molecular weight materials is to crosslink individual polymer molecules as is frequently practiced with polyethylenes. Crosslinking is commonly achieved by chemical crosslinking with organic peroxides, by radiation crosslinking with electron beams or gamma rays, or by water crosslinking with a reactive silane. However, chemical crosslinking and water crosslinking are unsuitable for thermoplastic urethane resins because the temperature for molding is at least 180.degree. C., which is higher than the decomposition temperature of organic peroxides, and the addition of a reactive silane is uncontrollable.
The common technique for effecting radiation crosslinking is to add reactive polyfunctional monomers, to thereby cause accelerated crosslinking. It is generally held that a higher crosslinking efficiency is attained by polyfunctional monomers that have many functional groups and have a low molecular weight of monomers per functional group. Polyfunctional groups that are commonly employed include diacrylates such as diethylene glycol diacrylate; dimethacrylates such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate; triacrylates such as trimethylolethane triacrylate and trimethylolpropane triacrylate; trimethacrylates such as trimethylolethane trimethacrylate and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate; as well as triallyl cyanurate, triallyl isocyanurate, diallyl phthalate, trimethylmethacryl isocyanurate, trimethylacryl cyanurate, trimethylacryl isocyanurate and triacrylformal.
The present inventors added these polyfunctional monomers to thermoplastic urethane resins and studied their effectiveness in radiation crosslinking. To their great surprise, the urethane resin compositions having incorporated therein polyfunctional monomers other than trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, and triacrylformal experienced total deformation in a thermal deformation test conducted at 180.degree. C.
It is well known by, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,624,045 that to the thermoplastic urethane resin, N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide or N,N'-hexamethylene-bis-maleimide is added as a polyfunctional monomer, followed by effecting the radiation crosslinking. Although these polyfunctional monomers are an effective crosslinking monomer, urethane resins crosslinked with such a polyfunctional monomer are greater in terms of reduction in strength in hot water at 100.degree. C. than those crosslinked with trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, or triacrylformal and, therefore, the use of such polyfunctional monomers is not suited for attaining the object of the present invention.
Several of the polyfunctional monomers tested had the following molecular weights per functional group: 112.6 for trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (molecular weight: 338), 98.7 for trimethylolpropane triacrylate (molecular weight: 296), 83 for triacrylformal (molecular weight: 249), and 83 for each of triallyl cyanurate and triallyl isocyanurate (molecular weight: 249). In consideration of the generally held view about the reltionship between the number of moles of a functional group and the degree of crosslinking, triallyl cyanurate would be expected to achieve a higher degree of crosslinking than trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate added in the same amount. Accordingly, there was much reason to expect that urethane resin compositions having incorporated therein triallyl cyanurate and triallyl isocyanurate would experience less deformation at 180.degree. C., than those tested after incorporation of trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate and triacrylformal. Curiously enough, however, the improvement in resistance to thermal deformation which was attainable by radiation crosslinking was observed only with the urethane resin compositions having incorporated therein trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, or triacrylformal.
A hot water test which was subsequently conducted at 100.degree. C. showed that the urethane resin compositions that had been radiation crosslinked suffered from a smaller decrease in tensile strength than non-crosslinked urethane resins.


A method of making a connection to a surface of an electronic carrier, the method comprising the steps of: providing a mass of malleable material on the surface of the electronic carrier; connecting the mass to said surface; and extruding the mass into a bore of a tool in order to elongate the mass so as to create a pin, or pin-like, structure having an end to which a further connection may be made.

Particular problems arise with making connections to a host of various different materials and/or surfaces. Adhesives, welding, brazing, soldering, and other forms of bonding, such as thermoplastic bonding, molecular bonding and so on are but a few of the most common techniques available to the man skilled in the art. These examples are not intended to be limiting in any way. Bond strength is a major consideration in the selection of the type of bond and the method of implementing it. The ultimate bond strength can be determined by a variety of factors, such as the nature and properties of the materials to be bonded, the nature and properties of the bonding materials or media, the conditions under which the bonding process is carried out and the conditions of use of the article or device employing the bond once made. Likewise, these examples are not intended to be limiting but are mentioned merely as an aid to understanding the advances made by the present invention.
Although there are general problems, such as those outlined above, which may be encountered in a host of different technologies, there are specific problems that have to be faced in certain, well-defined technologies. One such technology relates to the provision of connections to/from electronic circuitry. These connections are primarily electrical but can also perform the function of a mechanical connection. The converse can also be true. For example, there are currently several known methods for forming electrical/mechanical connections between two carriers such as, for example, an integrated circuit (IC) and a ceramic interposer.
One common method of forming such connections involves bonding suitable conductive wires between bond pads formed on the IC, and respective pads carried by the associated carrier. The wires are bonded using well known thermosonic techniques that utilise ultrasonic and thermal energy to form the required bonds.
A second known method of such connection is known in the art as "bumped die" or "flip chip" bonding. This second method involves the formation of contacts, typically in the form of balls, studs or hemispherical bumps, on the bond pads of the IC. The IC can then be connected to the carrier by bonding the contacts of the IC to appropriate corresponding bonding surfaces of the carrier. The bonding can be carried out using known: thermal compression; thermosonic; soldering; and/or adhesive bonding techniques, including combinations thereof.
A third known method of such connection is known in the art as "tape automated bonding" or "TAB bonding". TAB bonding involves the bonding of a carrier's conductive trace directly onto the bond pads of the IC.
Each of the above three connection methods exhibits disadvantages, especially, for example, when applied to components having high pin counts and/or where there is a need for chip size/scale packages (CSP's). For example, thermosonic wire bonding and TAB bonding methods have a disadvantage in that the bond pads must be placed about the periphery of the IC. Another disadvantage of these methods is that the connections from the IC to the carrier are relatively long, and as such, present many well known and understood problems associated with the routing of signals, especially high frequency signals, due to unwanted parasitic elements. Furthermore, another disadvantage associated with thermosonic wire bonding and TAB bonding techniques is that, as the physical size of an IC gets smaller, the IC becomes bond pad limited. Bond pad limitation occurs when the size of the IC is determined by the number of connections that need to be made between the IC and the carrier, and not by the functionality of the IC. This is still the case even when multiple rows of the finest available pitch (typically less than 100 microns) of bond pads are used. For a given yield of die per wafer, the physical size of the IC directly affects the absolute number of "known good die" (KGD) per wafer, and so being limited to a minimum size by bond pad considerations has serious cost implications and such a situation is therefore undesirable and disadvantageous.
One disadvantage associated with flip chip technology is that it does not permit the use of the same fine pitch bond pads that are currently available for thermosonic wire bonding or TAB bonding connection techniques. Typical pitch values for current flip chip technology are greater than 200 microns. However, flip chip technology does have an advantage over thermosonic wire bonding and TAB bonding techniques in that the positioning of the bond pads is not limited. Using flip chip technology, operative bond pads can be placed, for example, in an area array all over the top surface of an IC. A disadvantage associated with flip chip technology is that the balls, studs or hemispherical bumps, that are employed are limited in height because of the fine pitch requirements i.e. the aspect ratio (AR) of a contact's height (h) to its diameter (d3) is typically less than one (AR h:d3 1) and quite often less than 0.7. The problem of having contacts with such low value aspect ratios is that the resulting connections of the IC to the carrier, for example, tend to transmit mechanical stresses, caused by the different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of the IC and carrier materials, between the IC and its associated carrier. One solution to the problem associated with the different CTE's of IC and carrier materials is to ensure that the difference between the CTE of the IC and the carrier are within acceptable limits for the size of the IC and its operating temperature range. However, matching such IC and carrier CTE's has an associated disadvantage in that the matching can involve the use of expensive specialist carrier materials. It should be noted that as the semiconductor industry moves towards greater system integration, i.e. system-on-chip and multi-chip-modules, the inherently larger IC's compound the present problems of CTE matching. These larger IC's result in greater mechanical stresses, which results in more attention having to be paid to solving the matching problems associated with the different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of the IC and its associated carrier.
In addition to the problems associated with bump-like connections of an electrical/electronic nature, as discussed above, there are also limitations as regards mechanical integrity and mechanical shock. These problems can also occur in a non-electrical/electronic applications. Prior art connections, whether they are of a mechanical or electrical/electronic nature, are of limited extension (height) relative to the plane on which they are made. Typical aspect ratio figures of less than unity have already been mentioned. One consequence not necessarily related to differential thermal expansion is the inherent rigidity in the transverse direction, i.e. parallel to the plane of the surface and/or device on which the connection is provided. Increasing the height would have the advantageous effect that the lateral stiffness would be reduced, thereby increasing the resistance of the device to lateral forces that might otherwise disturb or damage the connection between the surface and a device or other surface.
In light of the foregoing problems associated with the state of the art, it is desirable to provide an improved method of forming connections, such as electrical/mechanical connections, between a surface and another element, such as a connection between a plurality of electronic carriers. It is also desirable to provide an improved method of forming high stress tolerant electrical/mechanical connections that are suitable for use with a variety of electronic carriers.

Process for forming electrical/mechanical connections


Systems are provided for logging transactions in heterogeneous networks that include a combination of one or more instrumented components and one or more non-instrumented components. The instrumented components are configured to generate impersonated log records for the non-instrumented components involved in the transaction processing hand-offs with the instrumented components. The impersonated log records are persisted with other log records that are generated by the instrumented components in a transaction log that is maintained by a central logging system to reflect a complete flow of the transaction processing performed on the object, including the flow through the non-instrumented component(s).

There are many types of computing systems, ranging from simple standalone devices to complex distributed networks, each of which includes one or more components configured to perform specialized processing on data objects being handled by the computing systems. For instance, some components are configured to detect and/or generate data signals. Others are configured to update and/or render visualizations associated with the data objects. Yet others are configured to perform a variety of different computing processes.
Some components generate records of the processes they perform, including the handling of the arrival and/or departure of the data objects they process. These records can be sent to a centralized system to reflect the flow and overall processing performed on an object. These records, which are sometimes referred to as log records, can be particularly helpful when an object is processed by a variety of different components in a complex transaction. For instance, when a transaction fails, it can be helpful to have a record of all transaction processing that was performed to identify which of the system components failed. Likewise, it can be helpful to examine a transaction log to analyze the flow of data objects through various system components in a distributed processing system in order to identify bottlenecks and other inefficiencies in the system.
To generate a log record, a component must first be instrumented with code that instructs the component how and when to generate the log record. A component that is configured to generate log records is referred to herein as an instrumented component and/or a logging component.
It will be noted, however, that some components are incapable of generating log records. For instance, many components cannot, or cannot easily, be instrumented with the logic to perform the registrations required for generating the log records. For example, the instrumentation library might be written in C and rely on the ability to open a network connection to the central logging facility, but a database might not be able to host arbitrary C code and/or user functions might not be allowed to open the network connections required to connect with the central logging facility. If a component is incapable of generating and/or registering a log record, it is referred to herein as a non-instrumented component and/or a non-logging component.
In networks that include instrumented and non-instrumented components, the consolidated log maintained by the central logging facility will only include log entries originating from the instrumented components. This is a problem because an incomplete log cannot provide a view into the entire transaction that is performed on an object, thereby making it difficult or impossible to examine and identify the flow, inefficiencies and problems that may have transpired in the transaction.
For at least the foregoing reasons, there is an ongoing need to provide improved techniques and systems for logging transaction processing in heterogeneous networks that include a combination of instrumented and non-instrumented components. That said, the subject matter claimed herein is not limited to any specific embodiments that are determined to solve any particular disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Correlation across non-logging components


A wear indicator is incorporated on the slider of a magnetic transducer in a magnetic storage system for in operation on-the-fly detection of the state of wear of the transducer. The wear indicator involves monitoring a change in an electrical property of an electrical circuit structure as the transducer is worn by abrasion against the magnetic disk medium. In one aspect of the present invention, the resistance (or conductance) of the circuit is monitored during disk drive operations. Part of the resistance (conductance) circuit structure is mounted on the slider and it is physically worn along with the wearing of the transducer. A predetermined change in resistance (or conductance) gives an indication of the predetermined wear limit at which the transducer should be replaced prior to its actual failure. In a specific embodiment, the circuit is configured such that an open circuit (infinite resistance or zero conductance) indicates that the wear limit has been reached. In another aspect of the present invention, the capacitance between a probe mounted on the slider and the magnetic disk is monitored during disk drive operations. The capacitance of the circuit changes as the transducer wears. A predetermined change in the capacitance give an indication of the wear limit at which the transducer should be replaced prior to its complete failure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic transducer in a magnetic data storage system, and more particularly to a magnetic transducer having a wear indication feature which improves the reliability, availability and serviceability of the magnetic storage system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Magnetic disk drives are information storage devices which utilize at least one rotatable disk with concentric data tracks containing the information, one or more transducers (or "heads") for reading data from and/or writing data to the various tracks, and a head positioning actuator connected to the transducer for moving it to the desired track and maintaining it over the track centerline during read or write operations. Referring to FIG. 1, which shows a prior art head suspension assembly, the transducer 20 is attached to a slider 26 which is biased against the data surface of the disk 24. In alternative prior art assemblies, the slider may fly slightly above the surface of the disk supported by an air bearing generated by the rotation of the disk. The slider 26 is mounted on a support arm of the positioning actuator (not shown) by way of a suspension 25. The suspension 25 provides dimensional stability between the slider 26 and actuator, and controlled flexibility in slight vertical as well as pitch and roll motions (gimbaled motions) of the slider during its relative motion above the rotating magnetic disk surface.
With a push for higher data densities (the amount of data which can be recorded on a disk), it becomes a challenge to format the disk surface with narrower data tracks and narrower inter-track spacings in order to pack more data tracks on the disk surface. A significant limitation on data density is the spacing between the transducer and the disk surface. Generally, the smaller the spacing between a transducer and a disk, the higher the data density possible, as the magnetic flux in relation to the transducer is more focused at a smaller area on the disk surface so as to improve data resolution. As previously mentioned, one type of transducer in a magnetic disk storage system is designed to be mounted on a slider which rides on a cushion of air or an air bearing generated by the rotating disk in close proximity to the disk surface. For another type of transducer, it is designed to be mounted on a slider with the transducer in contact with the rotating disk surface. The transducer of the latter type is often referred to as contact transducer. With everything else being equal, it is possible to achieve a higher data density using a contact transducer than an air bearing type transducer.
The contact transducer is not without limitation. Referring to FIG. 1, the contact transducer 20 has a tip structure 22 (schematically shown) which is configured to detect a change in magnetic flux when reading data from the magnetic disk 24 and/or cause a change in magnetic flux when writing data onto the magnetic disk 24 as the transducer 20 is moved across the magnetic disk 24. This tip 22 has an operational thickness T in the order of a few microns thick. By nature of a contact transducer, the tip 22 is inevitably subject to wear from abrasion by the magnetic disk 24 once the disk drive has been placed into operation. The slider 26 which is made of a harder material than the tip 22 slows down the wear process to some extent. However, eventually, prolong wear of the transducer tip 22 would lead to inadequate or unreliable transducing functions and ultimate failure of the transducer 20, which would in turn lead to read and/or write failure of the disk drive system thereby putting it out of service. When the transducer fails, data integrity may be affected.
It is therefore desirable for an user of a disk drive system to be able to anticipate the wear induced failure point of the contact transducer `on-the-fly` during actual operation of the disk drive system, so that data can be safely archived prior to actual transducer failure, and so that the failing transducer or the entire disk drive system may be timely replaced at a convenient time with the least disruption to normal disk drive operations. Further, in accomplishing the foregoing, it is desirable to keep any additional structure to the transducer, slider or the suspension assembly therefor to a minimum. This is to minimize adding weight and inertia to the slider/suspension assembly which would otherwise negatively affect the mechanical performance of the disk drive system and increase complexity of manufacturing.

Magnetic transducer with wear indicator in a magnetic data storage system

International Business Machines Corporation


According to one embodiment, a radio has a memory for the storage of a number of records. Each record has a number of operating parameters that are used by a controller subsystem to control the radio's operation. The controller subsystem is operable to communicate with a first communication device using a first electro-magnetic signal while communicating with a second communication device using a second electro-magnetic signal configured according to one of the records. The first electro-magnetic signal uses a portion of the information transfer capacity of the radio and is devoid of a counter-intelligence signal. The second electro-magnetic signal comprises a counter-intelligence signal that is operable to eavesdrop or disrupt communication of the second communication device.

Radios communicate with one another using electro-magnetic signals. Electro-magnetic signals transmitted by a radio may include information modulated onto a carrier signal, which is subsequently emanated as electromagnetic radiation through an antenna. Another radio may receive the carrier signal through its antenna and demodulate the carrier signal to receive the information. Software-based radios or software defined radios enhance the versatility of conventional radios by implementing a portion of the radio's functional components with reconfigurable digital logic. In this manner, various operating parameters of electro-magnetic signals transmitted or received may be reconfigured or changed on an as-needed basis.

Counter-intelligence signal enabled communication device


Disclosed herein is a latch apparatus. The latch apparatus includes: a base formed with an opening; a latch gear formed with a mounting groove to lock a striker entering the mounting groove through the opening; a pawl rotatably disposed on the base and engaging with the latch gear to prevent rotation of the latch gear; a release lever disposed to adjoin the pawl, transmitting constraint force of pressing the pawl, and rotating the pawl to release the latch gear; a support shaft secured to the base, supporting a lateral surface of the pawl and transmitting the constraint force of pressing the pawl; and a guide portion rotatably provided to the support shaft, pressed to rotate by the release lever, and guiding movement of a projection pin provided to the pawl.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a latch apparatus, and more particularly, to a latch apparatus which allows a latch gear to be easily opened even by small force.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in a latch apparatus for vehicles, a latch gear having a mounting groove and a pawl for restricting a locking end of the latch gear are rotatably disposed on a base plate having an opening.
The pawl receives rotational force from a handle and releases the latch gear from restriction, thereby allowing a door to be opened.
The latch gear includes a first locking portion and a second locking portion, thereby forming a two-stage locking condition in which the latch gear locking a striker is locked by the pawl.
When the striker enters the mounting groove of the latch gear, the latch gear rotates in one direction and the pawl is locked to the first locking portion of the latch gear, thereby forming a first locking stage.
When the latch gear is pushed by the striker and thus completely rotated, the pawl is locked to the second locking portion of the latch gear, thereby forming a second locking stage.
To move the latch gear from a locking location of the second locked state to a release location, releasing force is transmitted to the pawl such that the pawl can be separated from the latch gear.
If the pawl receiving manipulation force from the handle is separated from the latch gear, the latch gear is rotated in a releasing direction when opening force is applied to the door, thereby separating the striker from the latch gear.
A door seal is disposed along an edge of the door of the vehicle to block water and dust from entering the door.
The door seal is made of rubber and has elasticity. Thus, when the door is closed, the door seal applies force to the door in an opening direction.
In addition, the striker applies torque to the latch gear in a direction of releasing from the latch apparatus. The torque applied to the latch gear generates resistance to engagement between the latch gear and the pawl, thereby increasing a constraint force of the latch apparatus locking the striker increases.
A background technique of the present invention is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 1998-0018831 (published on Jun. 5, 1998 and entitled "LATCH APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE REAR DOOR").
When the door seal is compressed as the vehicle door is closed, the door is urged in an opening direction by restoring force of the door seal, thereby increasing torque transmitted to the latch gear. To release the pawl from the latch having the increased torque, a force for operating the pawl must also be increased, thereby making it difficult for old persons or the like to operate the handle and open the door. There, there is a need for a latch apparatus overcoming such a problem.


A coloring composition comprising a polymeric dye, a dye vehicle, and an anionic dyeblocker. The coloring compositions enhance fugitivity from skin, fabrics and other household surfaces. More specifically, the invention is, in one preferred embodiment, a marker ink comprising a polymeric dye, water, and an aromatic organic sulfonate dyeblocker.

Children's coloring markers often contain coloring compositions which are aqueous solutions of dyes commonly known as "acid dyes." The term "acid dye" is somewhat of a misnomer in that it does not describe any particular chemical type of dye, but rather refers to the traditional practice of dyeing fabrics from acidified solutions. These coloring markers have been used by children to write and color on a wide variety of substrates, but primarily on porous surfaces such as, for example, paper. Not all acid dyes are suitable for use in coloring compositions. Generally, only those acid dyes having good chroma, color intensity, and water-solubility are utilized. One drawback of acid dyes, however, is that generally they stain the skin and few are completely washable from children's clothing. Acid dyes also tend to stain many household surfaces.
Coloring compositions often also include such ingredients as humectants, biocides, and surfactants. Humectants function to improve freeze/thaw stability and to control drying out of the marker tip, while biocides serve the obvious function of preventing spoilage in the ink during the expected shelf life of the marker product. To limit a grainy appearance of the ink as it is applied and/or to enhance the flow characteristics of the ink, a small amount of surfactant is ordinarily employed.
A well known deficiency of children's coloring markers is their propensity to leave enduring stains on skin, clothing and other surfaces. While permanence is a desirable characteristic of the so-called "permanent" markers, it is one of the most objectionable properties for coloring instruments used by young children. Accordingly, much effort has been expended over many years by producers of these instruments to reduce or eliminate staining. This is attested by the rather numerous offerings of so-called "washable" markers, which, on close examination, are often found to leave stains on certain substrates, including skin and fabrics typically used in children's clothing. Most such markers achieve their limited washability by utilizing dyes which have good fugitivity from fabrics and by utilizing lowered dye concentrations in an effort to minimize skin staining. In most cases, these "washable" products still leave objectionable stains on the skin. The inks used in such markers therefore lack fugitivity from skin.
In a recent approach, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,410, an aromatic organic sulfonate is added to enhance the washability of a marker ink composition. However, the colorants utilized in the disclosed compositions are conventional acid dyes.
European Patent Application 0 557 115 discloses a washable dye-containing coloring composition containing a sulfonated phenol-formaldehyde condensation product. The compositions disclosed, however, were directed toward conventional acid dyes.
It is therefore one general object of the invention to provide a method of imparting skin fugitivity to a coloring composition.
Another object is to provide a coloring composition which, in addition to being washable from skin, exhibits enhanced launderability from fabrics and other surfaces.
A related object is to provide non-toxic coloring compositions, such as inks, which are suitable for use by young children who may make marks on themselves and their clothing.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the invention and the appended claims.


A head gimbal assembly (HGA) for a disk drive unit that includes a micro-actuator, a slider and a suspension to load the slider and the micro-actuator. The micro-actuator includes a pair of actuator side arms, a PZT element extending between and connecting the actuator side arms; a rotatable plate positioned between the actuator side arms, wherein the slider is mounted on the rotatable plate; and a pair of connection elements that connect the rotatable plate to the actuator side arms, respectively. The rotatable plate rotates in a first direction when the PZT element contracts and a second direction when the PZT element expands.

One known type of information storage device is a disk drive device that uses magnetic media to store data and a movable read/write head that is positioned over the media to selectively read from or write to the disk.
Consumers are constantly desiring greater storage capacity for such disk drive devices, as well as faster and more accurate reading and writing operations. Thus, disk drive manufacturers have continued to develop higher capacity disk drives by, for example, increasing the density of the information tracks on the disks by using a narrower track width and/or a narrower track pitch. However, each increase in track density requires that the disk drive device have a corresponding increase in the positional control of the read/write head in order to enable quick and accurate reading and writing operations using the higher density disks. As track density increases, it becomes more and more difficult using known technology to quickly and accurately position the read/write head over the desired information tracks on the storage media. Thus, disk drive manufacturers are constantly seeking ways to improve the positional control of the read/write head in order to take advantage of the continual increases in track density.
One approach that has been effectively used by disk drive manufacturers to improve the positional control of read/write heads for higher density disks is to employ a secondary actuator, known as a micro-actuator, that works in conjunction with a primary actuator to enable quick and accurate positional control for the read/write head. Disk drives that incorporate a micro-actuator are known as dual-stage actuator systems.
Various dual-stage actuator systems have been developed in the past for the purpose of increasing the speed and fine tuning the position of the read/write head over the desired tracks on high density storage media. Such dual-stage actuator systems typically include a primary voice-coil motor (VCM) actuator and a secondary micro-actuator, such as a PZT micro-actuator. The VCM actuator is controlled by a servo control system that rotates the actuator arm that supports the read/write head to position the read/write head over the desired information track on the storage media. The PZT micro-actuator is used in conjunction with the VCM actuator for the purpose of increasing the positioning speed and fine tuning the exact position of the read/write head over the desired track. Thus, the VCM actuator makes larger adjustments to the position of the read/write head, while the PZT micro-actuator makes smaller adjustments that fine tune the position of the read/write head relative to the storage media. In conjunction, the VCM actuator and the PZT micro-actuator enable information to be efficiently and accurately written to and read from high density storage media.
One known type of micro-actuator incorporates PZT elements for causing fine positional adjustments of the read/write head. Such PZT micro-actuators include associated electronics that are operable to excite the PZT elements on the micro-actuator to selectively cause expansion or contraction thereof. The PZT micro-actuator is configured such that expansion or contraction of the PZT elements causes movement of the micro-actuator which, in turn, causes movement of the read/write head. This movement is used to make faster and finer adjustments to the position of the read/write head, as compared to a disk drive unit that uses only a VCM actuator. Exemplary PZT micro-actuators are disclosed in, for example, JP 2002-133803, entitled "Micro-actuator and HGA" and JP 2002-074871, entitled "Head Gimbal Assembly Equipped with Actuator for Fine Position, Disk Drive Equipped with Head Gimbals Assembly, and Manufacture Method for Head Gimbal Assembly."
FIG. 1a illustrates a portion of a conventional disk drive unit and shows a magnetic disk 101 mounted on a spindle motor 102 for spinning the disk 101. A voice coil motor arm 104 carries a head gimbal assembly 100 that includes a micro-actuator 105 and a read/write head 103. A voice-coil motor (VCM) is provided for controlling the motion of the motor arm 104 and, in turn, controlling the slider 103 to move from track to track across the surface of the disk, thereby enabling the read/write head to read data from or write data to the disk. In operation, a lift force is generated by the aerodynamic interaction between the slider, incorporating the read/write head, and the spinning magnetic disk. The lift force is opposed by equal and opposite spring forces applied by a suspension of the HGA such that a predetermined flying height above the surface of the spinning disk is maintained over a full radial stroke of the motor arm 104.
FIG. 1b illustrates the head gimbal assembly 100 (HGA) of the conventional disk drive device of FIG. 1a incorporating a dual-stage actuator. However, because of the inherent tolerances of the VCM and the head suspension assembly, the slider 103 cannot achieve quick and fine position control which adversely impacts the ability of the read/write head to accurately read data from and write data to the disk. As a result, a PZT micro-actuator 105, as described above, is provided in order to improve the positional control of the slider and the read/write head. More particularly, the PZT micro-actuator 105 corrects the displacement of the slider 103 on a much smaller scale, as compared to the VCM, in order to compensate for the resonance tolerance of the VCM and head suspension assembly. The micro-actuator 105 enables, for example, the use of a smaller recording track pitch, and can increase the "tracks-per-inch" (TPI) value by 50% for the disk drive unit, as well as provide an advantageous reduction in the head seeking and settling time. Thus, the PZT micro-actuator 105 enables the disk drive device to have a significant increase in the surface recording density of the information storage disks used therein.
As shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, one known type of micro-actuator is a U-shaped micro-actuator 105. This U-shaped micro-actuator 105 has two side arms 107 that hold the slider 103 therebetween and displace the slider by movement of the side arms. However, movement of the side arms generates a reaction force in the mounting area that will be propagated to a suspension tongue and, in turn, to the suspension itself. The reaction force causes a suspension resonance, or vibration, that will negatively impact the dynamic performance of the HGA. The suspension resonance resulting from operation of the micro-actuator is one factor that limits the bandwidth of the disk drive device.
Referring more particularly to FIG. 1c, a conventional PZT micro-actuator 105 includes a ceramic U-shaped frame which has two ceramic beams or side arms 107 each having a PZT element thereon. With reference to FIGS. 1b and 1c, the PZT micro-actuator 105 is physically coupled to a flexure 114. Three electrical connection balls 109 (gold ball bonding or solder ball bonding, GBB or SBB) are provided to couple the micro-actuator 105 to the suspension traces 110 located at the side of each of the ceramic beams 107. In addition, there are four metal balls 108 (GBB or SBB) for coupling the slider 103 to the traces 110.
FIG. 1d generally shows an exemplary process for assembling the slider 103 with the micro-actuator 105. As shown in FIG. 1d, the slider 103 is partially bonded with the two ceramic beams 107 at two predetermined positions 106 by epoxy 112. This bonding makes the movement of the slider 103 dependent on the movement of the ceramic beams 107 of the micro-actuator 105. A PZT element 116 is attached on each of the ceramic beams 107 of the micro-actuator to enable controlled movement of the slider 103 through excitation of the PZT elements. More particularly, when power is supplied through the suspension traces 110, the PZT elements expand or contract to cause the two ceramic beams 107 of the U-shape micro-actuator frame to deform, thereby making the slider 103 move on the track of the disk in order to fine tune the position of the read/write head. In this manner, controlled displacement of slider 103 can be achieved for fine positional tuning. FIG. 1e illustrates the micro-actuator and slider after being assembled as shown in FIG. 1d. FIG. 1e also shows the two possible translational movements, illustrated by arrows 117a and 117b, that the micro-actuator can produce upon excitation, as well as the resulting reaction forces (118a and 118b, respectively) generated in the base-part plate of the micro-actuator as a result of the translational movement.
While the PZT micro-actuator described above provides an effective and reliable solution for fine tuning the position of the slider, it also results in certain disadvantages. More particularly, because the PZT micro-actuator 105 and the slider 103 are mounted on the suspension tongue, a suspension resonance is generated, as a result of, for example, the reaction forces 118a and 118b, when the PZT micro-actuator 105 is excited. In other words, the translational motion of the micro-actuator used to displace the slider 103, combined with the weight of the slider and micro-actuator, causes a vibration in the suspension due to the structure and constraint of the U-shaped frame of the micro-actuator. This suspension vibration resonance resulting from operation of the micro-actuator has the same effect as the resonance of the shaking suspension base plate which will cause the slider to be off-track when the head reads data from or writes data to the magnetic disk, thereby limiting the servo bandwidth and the capacity improvement of the disk drive device.
FIG. 1f shows a graph of the resonance gain verses frequency for both the excited base plate and excited PZT element on the micro-actuator. As shown in FIG. 1f, the numeral 201 represents a resonance curve when the suspension base plate is excited and numeral 202 represents a resonance curve when the micro-actuator 105 is excited. The graph of FIG. 1f shows that under a frequency of 20 kHz, there are several large peaks and valleys in the suspension frequency response which demonstrate an adverse resonance characteristic for the device. In addition to the vibration problems, the ceramic U shaped micro-actuator of the prior art is subject to damage or malfunction when exposed to mechanical shock. In addition, the alignment and mounting procedures for the two PZT elements on the prior art micro-actuators are very complex.
Thus, there is a need for an improved micro-actuator for use in head gimbal assemblies and disk drive units that does not suffer from the above-mentioned vibration problems, yet still enables fine tuning of the read/write head.

Rotational PZT micro-actuator, head gimbal assembly, and disk drive unit with the same


A system for connecting electrical connectors to a mounting track. The track can have signal connectors snap-lock connected to it. The track can also have grounding connectors connected to it. The track has a snap-lock ledge, a cam surface located proximate the ledge, and a toe ledge. The signal connector has a toe located on one side of the connector adapted to be positioned under the toe ledge, a spring ledge adapted to cooperate with the cam surface to bias the connector towards the toe ledge, and a snap-lock latch adapted to keep the signal connector retained with the track. The connector can include a key to prevent connection of the signal connector to the track unless the signal connector is located at a predetermined position relative to the track.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to a system for connecting electrical connectors to a mounting track.
2. Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,982 to Glaesel discloses a mounting arrangement for mounting electrical terminals on channel-section supporting rails. U.S. Patent 4,157,858 to Debaigt discloses a terminal block with three fixing tabs for mounting the terminal block on different types of support bars. U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,018 to Stenz discloses modular electrical plug and socket connectors mechanically coupled together side-by-side on a supporting rail U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,382 to Borne et al. discloses a structure for fixing an electrical device on two different types of support bars. U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,489 to Nozick discloses a modular connection system for a telephone distribution frame with a snap-fixing hook. U.S. Pat. No. 3,506,947 to Leskosek discloses a channel with resilient flanges and grooves for holding a socket. U.S. Pat. No. 3,576,520 to Stauffer discloses a mounting means for terminal junction modules having arms to locate modules and, latching and retaining means. U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,517 to Debaigt discloses a junction block with four resilient fixing legs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,764 to Malsby et al. discloses a modular electrical connector having individual modules assembled in a side-by-side relationship in a supporting device. French Patent 2,605,464 shows a mounting channel and electrical terminal blocks with snap-lock arms. Other relevant art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,456,231; 3,725,852; 3,397,384; and 4,580,863.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved track connection system for electrical connectors.

Track connection system for electrical connectors


A test specimen holder includes at least one pair of wedges, a plurality of pistons and a tie bar connected to each of the pistons. A single cylinder body is operable with each of the pistons and the wedges. The cylinder body is adapted to urge the wedges together with relative movement of the cylinder body with respect to the pistons.

The discussion below is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Test specimen holders or grips are well known in the material testing art and are used frequently to hold a test specimen in a material testing system. The holder includes opposed jaws or wedges operated by a piston that grips the test specimen therebetween. Fluid pressure (hydraulic or pneumatic) pressurizes the piston chamber to operate the jaws. Preferably, the jaws grip the test specimen without altering the vertical position of the jaws on the test specimen, thereby making it possible to preselect the exact point at which the specimen will be held in order not to impart tension loads during placement of the test specimen in the material testing system. Difficulties arise when large test specimens are to be tested, particularly when a planar test specimen must be gripped along a long lateral edge.


A frictional forced power transmission belt transmits power to a pulley with its belt body wound around and in contact with the pulley. At least a contact part of the belt body with a pulley is formed of a rubber composition in which powdery or granular polyolefin resin is contained in ethylene-α-olefin elastomer.

(a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to frictional forced power transmission belts for transmitting power with their belt body wound around and in contact with a pulley, and relates to belt drive systems with the same.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Widespread use is made of serpentine belt drive systems for transmitting power from a crank shaft of an automotive engine to accessories such as a power steering, an air compressor and an alternator via a single V-ribbed belt in order to reduce the space for an engine room. Under these circumstances, such a V-ribbed belt is required to have a high power transmission capacity. In addition, the V-ribbed belt is also required to have a high noiselessness during belt run for the pursuit of a comfortable ride on a vehicle and other purposes. For these purposes, a typical V-ribbed belt is reinforced by short fibers mixed in a compression rubber layer that makes contact with pulleys so as to be oriented in a belt widthwise direction, and the short fibers protrude beyond the belt surface to reduce the coefficient of friction of the belt surface, resulting in reduced noise production and improved abrasion resistance.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-63241 discloses a power transmission V-belt comprising an adhesion rubber layer in which a cord is embedded along a belt lengthwise direction and a compression rubber layer which adjoins the bottom face of the adhesion rubber layer and in which short fibers are embedded along a belt widthwise direction so that some of the widthwise short fibers protrude beyond the belt side faces. In this V-belt, the short fibers in the compression rubber layer are formed of para-aramid and/or meta-aramid fibers of 2 mm to 10 mm length oriented in the belt widthwise direction, and pulp-like para-aramid fibers some of which have a largest length of 2 mm and 80% or more of which have a length of 1 mm or less. This publication describes that the power transmission V-belt sufficiently exhibits the effects of aramid fibers mixed in the compression rubber layer of the belt and concurrently improves the abrasion resistance and non-stickiness of the compression rubber layer.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-165244 discloses a V-ribbed belt in which a compression rubber layer contains short cotton fibers and short para-aramid fibers some of which protrude from the rib surface, the protruding short para-aramid fibers are fibrillated, and the contents of the short cotton fibers and the short para-aramid fibers are 10 to 40 parts by weight and 5 to 10 parts by weight, respectively, with respect to 100 parts by weight of rubber in the compression rubber layer. This publication describes that in use as an automotive belt for an engine having large variations in rpm, the V-ribbed belt can eliminate noise production by suppressing minute slips during wet run.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-227934 discloses a V-ribbed belt that has a structure in which a cord is embedded in an adhesion rubber layer along the belt lengthwise direction, a compression rubber layer with a plurality of ribs extending in the belt lengthwise direction is stacked on the bottom of the adhesion rubber layer, a cover fabric is stacked as a tension layer on the top of the adhesion rubber layer, and the compression rubber layer contains 5 to 40 parts by mass of short fibers with respect to 100 parts by mass of its rubber component. The publication describes that there can be obtained a power transmission belt having excellent power transmission capacities during both normal and wet runs and a high noise reduction effect at low tension.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-12871 discloses a V-ribbed belt formed of an elastic body layer including an adhesion rubber layer in which a cord is embedded along the belt lengthwise direction and a compression rubber layer, wherein out of the elastic body layer consisting of the adhesion rubber layer and the compression rubber layer, at least the compression rubber layer is made of a vulcanizate of an ethylene-α-olefin elastomer compound, the ethylene content of the ethylene-α-olefin elastomer is 60 to 75 mass %, one or more kinds of short fibers of 0.5 mm to 3 mm length are contained as reinforcing fibers in the compression rubber layer, and the total amount of addition of the short fibers is 10 to 30 parts by mass to 100 parts by mass of the ethylene-α-olefin elastomer. This publication describes that such a short fiber-containing rubber composition excellent in sheetability is used at least for the compression rubber layer, thereby providing a high-durability power transmission belt having excellent flexural fatigue resistance and heat resistance, cold resistance, abrasion resistance and sticking abrasion resistance.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-288439 discloses a power transmission belt which is made of urethane elastomer but in which powders of polyolefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene are dispersed. This publication describes that there can be obtained a power transmission belt of urethane elastomer that has an excellent abrasion resistance, does not break even when driven at high load and high speed under high-temperature conditions, and thereby exhibits a long life.
When the amount of short fibers mixed into the compression rubber layer of a V-ribbed belt is increased, the number of short fibers exposed at the belt surface is also increased and therefore the effects of improving noise reduction performance and abrasion resistance becomes large.
Increasing the amount of short fibers mixed, however, makes it difficult to uniformly knead the rubber composition containing short fibers for the formation of a compression rubber layer and mould it in the shape of a sheet. For this reason, only at most 25 parts by mass of short fibers can be mixed into 100 parts by mass of a rubber component of the compression rubber layer. Furthermore, the short fibers are fabricated by cutting long fibers, and need to be subjected to adhesion treatment in order to be given adhesiveness to the rubber, resulting in high material unit cost. Therefore, an increase in the amount of short fibers mixed leads to a rise in the material cost of the belt.

Frictional forced power transmission belt and belt drive system with the same


Techniques for dynamically adjusting Connected Mode Discontinuous Reception (CDRX) parameters are discussed herein. For example, a base station may receive information associated with downlink data to be sent to a user equipment (UE) and/or information associated with the UE itself. The base station may adjust CDRX parameters to be implemented on the UE based on the received information in order to maximize performance of the UE. In some examples, the base station may adjust CDRX parameters based on a traffic type (e.g., voice traffic, video traffic, data traffic, etc.) associated with the downlink data, UE state parameters associated with the UE, and/or Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) data associated with the UE.

User equipment (UEs) connected to a telecommunications network (also referred to as "the network") are required to listen for data from the network even when there is no traffic between the UE and the network. In order to save battery consumption, the network may implement Connected Mode Discontinuous Reception (CDRX) parameters on the UE to coordinate time periods for the UE to be connected to the network for receiving data and for the UE to be in a sleep mode. Determining proper CDRX parameters for the UE conserves power while ensuring the UE receives data from the network.

Connected mode discontinuous reception enablement and parameter adaptation


The invention concerns a trim panel arrangement for trimming a body element of a vehicle, with a pivotably mounted air guide device which is movable by means of a kinematic arrangement into a retracted first function position and a fully extended second function position and vice versa. At low speeds and also at high speeds, this should ensure an optimum aerodynamics of the motor vehicle in the air flow. This is achieved in that the air guide device is formed in two parts and comprises a first and a second trim part which are pivotably connected together, and that the kinematic arrangement is formed from a primary and a secondary lever drive. The invention furthermore concerns a method for forced movement of the air guide device.

This section provides information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
The side member (side sill) is a region of the self-supporting body of a motor vehicle and is situated along the bottom of both sides thereof between the front and rear wheel arches.
In the region of the side member and floor, motor vehicles comprise trim elements which are provided in order to improve the aerodynamics or appearance or to protect the metal panelling.
Many motor vehicles in the lower side region only have a fixedly installed vehicle sill, the design of which is based on aerodynamic and aesthetic aspects and on legal requirements. Because of these requirements which influence the design of the vehicle sill, from an aerodynamic aspect compromises must be made. The ground clearance in particular is taken into account in the design of the vehicle sill, wherein this is usually designed for low speeds.
As a result, the air flow below the vehicle is not optimally aerodynamic at higher speeds.
DE 36 13 301 A1 describes a car with a side trim panel in the region of a side sill. The side trim panel can be retracted and extended by adjustment elements depending on vehicle speed. At higher vehicle speeds, the side trim panel in the extended position improves the aerodynamics of the vehicle. In the retracted position when the vehicle is stationary however, it does not detract from the vehicle's appearance.
DE 20 2011 005 504 U1 discloses a motor vehicle with an air guide device. The air guide device is arranged on a base fixed to the body and comprises a guide element extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction. This guide element can be moved by means of an actuating mechanism between a retracted rest position and an extended operating position.
DE 10 2019 128 309 B3 describes a drive device for an adjustable air guide element of a motor vehicle. The air guide element may be adjusted between an extended position and a retracted position. The angle of attack of the air guide element may also be changed.
Furthermore, US 2019/0 161 123 A1 discloses a motor vehicle with side trim panels arranged pivotably in the region of the side sills. The side trim panels are produced in two pieces and can be extended.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,975,490 B1 describes a motor vehicle with side steps, brackets with a base plate and a flat plate, and an actuating mechanism with a first connecting member, a second connecting member and an actuator. The side steps may be moved, speed-dependently, into at least one of an access step position, an aerodynamic position and a stowage position.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,702,152 B1 presents an extendable air flap arrangement for a motor vehicle. The air flap assembly comprises an air deflector plate which is adapted such that it can be mounted next to a front bumper of a vehicle and moved by means of a linear actuator between a stowed position, in which the air deflector plate is at least partially covered by the front bumper, and an extended position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,351 A describes front and rear bumpers which may be raised and lowered hydraulically. The bumpers can be locked in the set position.

Trim panel arrangement for trimming a body element for a motor vehicle, and method for forced movement of an air guide device of a trim panel arrangement


A pressing apparatus includes a lower die (24) fixed to a lower plate (11), and first and second plate (11), and first and second upper die punches (33 and 34) capable of being lifted and lowered along with an upper plate (12). The first upper die punch (33) supported by a spring (49) is capable of being lifted and lowered relative to the second upper die punch (34). The upper plate (12) is lifted and lowered, while intermittently feeding a band-shaped work (W) one pitch by one pitch from the right to the left along an upper surface of the lower die (24), thereby pressing the work (W) to form grooves in the work (W) continuously. When the groove is formed in the work (W) by pressing the work (W) by the second upper die punch (34), the groove formed at the last time by pressing the work (W) by the second upper die punch (34) is retained and positioned between the first upper die punch (33) and the lower die (24). Therefore, the formation of the grove by the second upper die punch (34) can be carried out accurately.

A pressing apparatus for forming a corrugated foil for a foil-type fluid bearing by allowing a band-shaped metal plate to bite into between a pair of gears is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,689. A pressing apparatus is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 7-88564, which is designed to press a metal plate into a corrugated shape and bend it by forming a first groove in a lengthwise central portion of the metal plate by a central piece of a lower die and a central piece of an upper die and further forming a pair of second groove on opposite sides of such groove by two sets of the lower and upper die end pieces.
In the apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,689, corrugated plates having various shapes can be formed only by exchanging the gears. However, this pressing apparatus suffers from a problem that it is necessary to fabricate the gears in correspondence to a required shape of a corrugated plate, resulting in an increase in cost. Moreover, the following problem arises: the spring-back of the metal plate is liable to occur, and the dimensional accuracy of the corrugated plate is lower because the corrugated shape is formed only by the meshing of the gears, and the dimensional accuracy of the corrugated shape formed with the working accuracy of the individual tooth of the gear is dispersed.
In the apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 7-88564, when the first groove is formed in the lengthwise central portion of the metal plate by the central piece of the lower die and the central piece of the upper die, portions of the metal plate on opposite sides of the central portion are fed into the first groove, but when the second grooves are formed on the opposite sides of the first groove by the lower and upper die end pieces, a portion of the metal portion on the side of the first groove retained by the central pieces of the lower and upper dies cannot be fed into the second groove. Therefore, there is a problem that the spring-back amounts are not regular between the central portion of the metal plate and the portions on the opposite sides thereof, and when the continuous corrugated plate is formed, the working accuracy is lowered.


A cold gas-dynamic spraying method for applying a coating to an article introduces into a gas particles of a powder of a metal, alloy, polymer or mechanical mixture of a metal and an alloy, the particles having a particle size of from about 1 to about 50 microns. The gas and particles are formed into a supersonic jet having a temperature considerably below a fusing temperature of the powder material and a velocity of from about 300 to about 1,200 m/sec. The jet is directed against an article of a metal, alloy or dielectric, thereby coating the article with the particles.

Protection of structures, equipment, machines, and mechanisms made of ferrous metals from corrosion and effect exerted by aggressive media, an improvement of specifications of materials, including obtaining materials with prescribed properties, and development of resource-saving processing technologies are important scientific, technical and practical problems.
These problems can be solved by various methods, including applying powder coatings with widely usable gas flame-spray, electric arc, detonation and plasma methods.
The gas flame-spray method is based on gas combustion products used at 1000.degree. to 3000.degree. C., creation of a flow of these gases in which powder particles being applied are fused. A velocity of 50 to 100 m/s is imparted to said particles, and the surface is treated with the gas and powder flow containing the fused particles. This treatment results in a coating. The low values of velocity and temperature of the applied particles substantially limit application of this method.
The explosive method eliminates these disadvantages in part, according to which the energy of detonating gases at 2000.degree. to 3500.degree. C. is used owing to which fact the velocity of the particles is substantially increased up to 400 to 700 m/s and their temperature is increased up to 2000.degree. to 3500.degree. C. to ensure application of coatings of powders of metals, alloys, and dielectrics. This method is highly disadvantageous in low productivity explained by the impact acceleration process of deposition: a resulting shock wave and a gas flow following it cause a high level of a thermal and dynamic pulse effect produced upon the product and also of acousting noise which restricts the possibilities of application of this method.
The most promising is a method of plasma deposition consisting in application of a powder coating to the surface of a product with a high-temperature gas jet (5000.degree. to 3000.degree. C.).
Known in the art is a method for applying coatings to the surface of a product whose material is selected from the group consisting of metals, alloys, and dielectrics, said method comprising introducing into a gas flow a powder of the material selected from the group consisting of metals, alloys, their mechanical mixtures or dielectrics to form a gas and powder mixture to be directed onto the surface of the product (the book V. V. Kudinov, V. M. Ivanov. Nanesenie Plazmoi Tugoplavkikh Pokryty /Application of Refractory Coatings with Plasma/. Mashinostroenie Publishing House, Moscow. 1981, pp.9 to 14).
The prior art method is characterized in that powder particles of a size of from 40 to 100 .mu.m are introduced into a high-temperature gas flow (5000.degree. to 3000.degree. C.) in the form of a plasma jet. Said powder particles are heated to the melting point or higher, the powder particles are accelerated by the plasma jet gas flow and directed to the surface being coated. Upon impingement, the powder particles interact with the surface of a product thus forming the coating. In the prior art method, the powder particles are accelerated by a high-temperature plasma jet and transferred, in molten state, to the product being coated; as a result, the high-temperature jet runs in the product to exert a thermal and dynamic effect upon its surface, i.e., causes local heating, oxidation and thermal deformations. For instance thin-walled products are heated up to 550.degree. C., oxidized and twisted while the coating peels off.
The high-temperature jet flowing into the surface of a product intensifies chemical and thermal processes, causes phase transformations and appearance of oversaturated and non-stoichiometric structures, and hence, the structural changes in the material. Also the high level of a thermal effect on the coating results in hardening heated melts and gas liberation during crystallization which bring about the formation of evolved porosity and appearance of microcracks, i.e., impairs specifications of the coating.
It is known that, with an increase in the temperature of a plasma jet, plasma density in comparison with gas density under normal conditions linearly decreases, i.e., at 1000.degree. C., density of the jet becomes scores of times a factor that results in a lower resistance coefficient of particles. To sum up given a plasma jet velocity of 1000 to 2000 m/s (which is about equal to, or slightly below then, the sonic velocity), the particles are accelerated up to 50 to 200 m/s (even up to 350 m/s at best), i.e., the process of acceleration is not efficient enough.
As is known with a decrease in a size of powder particles heating, melting, and overheated thereof in a plasma jet are enhanced. As a result, the, fine fractions of powder of a size from 1 to 10 .mu.m are heated to a temperature above the melting point, and their material intensively evaporates. For this reason, the plasma deposition of particles having a size below 20 to 40 .mu.m causes great difficulties and particles of a size from 40 to 100 .mu.m are normally used for this purpose.
It should also be noted that the prior art method makes use of plasma jets of energy-consuming diatomic gases which call for application of high power which explains stringent requirements imposed upon the structure of apparatuses. It is only natural that limitations of the method of deposition on small-size objects are rather essential and can be eliminated through the complete removal of energy applied by cooling or providing a dynamic vacuum, i.e., by evacuation of high-temperature gases which requires high power consumption.
Therefore, the prior art method has the following disadvantages: the high level of thermal and dynamic effect on the surface being coated; substantial changes in properties of the material being applied during the coating application, such as electrical conductance, heat conductance, and the like; changes in the structure of material as a result of phase transformations and appearance of oversaturated structures following from the chemical and thermal effect of the plasma jet and the hardening of overheated melts; ineffective acceleration of powder particles resulting from low density of plasma; intensive evaporation of fine powder fractions of a size from 1 to 10 .mu.m; stringent requirements imposed upon the structure of apparatus in view of hightemperature processes of the prior art method.
Known in the art is an apparatus for carrying out the prior art method for applying coatings to the surface of a product, comprising a metering feeder having a casing accommodating a hopper for a powder communicating with a means for metering the powder formed as a drum having depressions in its cylindrical surface, a mixing chamber and also provided with a nozzle for accelerating powder particles communicating with the mixing chamber, a source of compressed gas, and a means connected thereto to supply the compressed gas to the mixing chamber (in the book V. V. Kudinov, V. M. Ivanov, Nanesenie Plazmoi Tugoplavkikh Pokryty /Application of Refractory Coatings with Plasma/. Mashinostroenie Publishing House, Moscow. 1981, pp.20 to 21, FIG. 11; p.26, FIG. 13).
The prior art apparatus is characterized by a plasma sprayer (plasmotron), comprising a cylindrical (subsonic) nozzle having passages for supplying a plasma-forming gas and water for cooling thermally stressed units of the plasma sprayer (namely, the nozzle) in which refractory materials are used. Powder particles are introduced from the metering feeder at the edge of the nozzle.
Since energy for forming plasma jet is applied in the form of an arc in the passage of a plasmotron nozzle, the nozzle is subjected to intensive electric erosion and high-temperature exposure. As a result, a rapid erosion wear of the nozzle occurs, the service life of which is 15 to 20 hours. With the sophisticated construction and use of refractory materials and water cooling service life can be prolonged to 100 hours.
The introduction of the particles at the edge of a nozzle and erosion of the inner duct of the nozzle lower the efficiency of acceleration of the powder particles. Thus, in combination with a low density of plasma, the prior art apparatus ensures a velocity of powder particles of up to 300 m/s with a gas escape velocity of up to 1000 m/s.
As a result of the powder getting into the space between moving parts of the metering feeder (e.g., between the drum and casing), the drum tends to be jammed.
Therefore, the prior art apparatus has the following disadvantages: short service life which is mainly determined by the service life of a nozzle of 15 to 100 hours and which is associated with the high density of a heat flux in the direction towards the plasmotron nozzle and erosion of the electrodes a factor that makes one to use expensive, refractory, and erosion-resistant materials; the inefficient acceleration of the deposited particles because the nozzle design is not optimal and is subjected to changes entailed by the electrical erosion of the inner duct; unreliable operation of the metering feeder of is the drum type which is caused by the powder getting into the space between the moving parts thus causing their jamming.

Gas-dynamic spraying method for applying a coating