Embodiments of the invention achieve a decrease in electric power consumption while ensuring high recording density and high reliability in a magnetic disk apparatus. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk apparatus comprises a rotatable magnetic disk and a magnetic head slider to be able to fly above a surface of the magnetic disk. The magnetic head slider comprises an air bearing surface, by which the magnetic head slider is caused to fly and come near to the rotating surface of the magnetic disk with a predetermined spacing therebetween, recording and reproducing elements to perform at least one of recording on and reproduction from the magnetic disk, and a heating device to adjust a distance between the recording and reproducing elements and the surface of the magnetic disk. The heating device is mounted such that heating thereof causes a part of the air bearing surface to expand and project to increase a distance between the recording and reproducing elements and the surface of the magnetic disk.

The present invention relates to a magnetic disk apparatus, and is specifically suited to a magnetic disk apparatus provided with a flying-amount adjustment slider having the function of adjusting a distance between a magnetic disk and a magnetic head.
Magnetic disk apparatuses comprise a rotating magnetic disk and a magnetic head slider mounting thereon a recording and reproducing element and supported and positioned radially by a load beam, the magnetic head slider running relatively on the magnetic disk to read and write magnetic information recorded on the magnetic disk. The magnetic head slider flies as an air lubricated bearing due to the wedge film effect of air, so that the magnetic disk and the magnetic head slider do not come into direct solid contact with each other. In order to realize making a magnetic disk apparatus high in recording density and to thereby realize making the apparatus large in capacity, or small in size, it is effective to decrease a distance between a magnetic head slider and a magnetic disk, that is, a slider flying amount to increase a track recording density.
Conventionally, in designing a slider flying amount, an individual difference in flying amount due to dispersion in working and assembly, a difference in flying amount due to ambient, atmospheric pressure in use, a difference in flying amount due to ambient temperature in use, a difference in flying amount due to recording/reproducing, and a difference in flying amount due to a radial position (peripheral speed) are beforehand estimated at the time of designing, and a margin in flying amount is provided so as to eliminate contact between a magnetic head slider and a magnetic disk even under most severe conditions. As such, reliability in magnetic disk apparatuses is ensured. Here, when it is possible to realize a magnetic disk apparatus provided with a magnetic head slider having the function of adjusting a flying amount every individual head, or according to an environment in use, it is possible to reduce the margin to decrease a recording and reproducing element in flying amount while preventing contact between a magnetic head slider and a magnetic disk.
JP-A-5-20635 (Patent Document 1) shows a conventional magnetic disk apparatus provided with a magnetic head slider having the function of adjusting a flying amount. With the magnetic disk apparatus in Patent Document 1, a heating device composed of a thin film resistor is provided in the neighborhood of a recording and reproducing element to heat a part of the magnetic head slider at need to cause thermal expansion thereof, thereby causing the recording and reproducing element portion to project to adjust a flying amount of the recording and reproducing element.
Also, JP-A-2003-297029 (Patent Document 2) shows a conventional magnetic disk apparatus provided with a magnetic head slider having the function of adjusting a flying amount. With the magnetic disk apparatus in Patent Document 2, a temperature sensor, a heating element, and a Peltier element are provided in the neighborhood of a recording and reproducing element, and the recording and reproducing element is maintained constant in temperature by a control circuit to enable maintaining a flying amount of the recording and reproducing element constant.

Magnetic disk apparatus with heating device and magnetic head slider used therefor

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A perforated heat shield (20) is formed of a single layer and is implemented to be positioned between an aircraft brake assembly (34) and wheel assembly (28) in order to effectively protect the wheel assembly (28) and adjacent components from excessive thermal energy generated by an operation of the brake assembly (34) and to promote the cooling of the brake assembly (34) by allowing a partial amount of the thermal energy to radiate to the wheel assembly (28) through apertures (22) provided in the heat shield (20).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat shield for an aircraft, and in particular to a heat shield for an aircraft wheel and brake assembly.
2. Background of the Invention
Aircraft brakes operate on the basis of converting mechanical energy into thermal energy to stop an aircraft. Such braking operations generally result in the generation of significant heat within a brake disk stack, and the transfer of a significant portion of this heat to other components of the wheel and brake assembly.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional landing gear 1 that includes a strut 2 and a bogie beam 3. An axle 4 is provided on ends of the bogie beam 3. The axles 4 are each adapted to receive a wheel assembly 5 and a brake assembly 6. The brake assembly 6 includes a brake stack (not shown in FIG. 1) that has a plurality of alternating interleaved stator and rotor disks, the stator disks being affixed to the axle and the rotor disks being affixed to the wheel assembly. Brake actuation devices, such as pistons and return mechanisms, achieve a forceful inter-engagement of the rotor and stator disks in order to slow and stop the rotation of the wheel assembly. As such, the brake stack generates a considerable amount of heat energy that must be dissipated.
The successful development of carbon discs or carbon composite discs for aircraft brakes has significantly elevated the operating temperature of the wheel and brake assembly in contrast to steel discs. For example, modern aircraft brakes can attain a brake stack temperature of 1000-2000° F. after landing and taxiing into a gate. Thus, it is important to limit the heat transfer to the wheel assembly and the axle, in particular because excessive temperatures can damage the wheel, which loses strength at around 400° F.
Because of the high temperatures induced in the brake stack, heat shields are often used to thermally isolate the brake stack from the wheel assembly, bearings, pistons, axle, and other adjacent structures. In other words, these heat shields are used to prevent convection and radiation of heat energy to the wheel assembly that is generated by the brake stack. One skilled in the art recognizes that convection is defined as the transfer of heat energy through a medium by the circulation of currents from one region to another and that radiation is defined as the emission and propagation of heat energy in the form of rays or waves, which requires no medium for such transfer. In other words in order to radiate energy from one surface to another they must be able to see on another, e.g., there must be a direct line of sight.
FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional heat shield 7 that is provided between a brake stack 8 and the wheel assembly 5 in order to thermally isolate the wheel assembly 5 from the thermal energy (heat) that is generated by the brake stack 8 during a braking operation. These conventional heat shields 7 have a variety of configurations, however, they are commonly configured from two layers of sheet metal that have an insulating filler sandwiched between them.
These heat shields 7, however, produce an undesirable side effect in that the heat shields 7 retard heat loss from the brake stack 8. Thus, the brake stack 8 cools more slowly, thereby remaining at elevated temperatures. Such a complete blocking of the heat energy transfer is not desirable, as this leads to heat concentration in the brake stack 8, which can lead to premature failure under heavy-duty brake applications, for example, as in an abortive take-off. Furthermore, because the brake stack 8 remains at an elevated temperature, routine brake maintenance is hampered and thus departures of the aircraft from an airport gate are delayed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,968 discloses a honeycomb open cell structure that limits the radiant and convection heat energy transfer from the aircraft brakes. These honeycomb heat shield structures are formed by stacking a plurality of stamped metal sheets onto one another, with each metal layer having their stamped sections being placed onto the next metal layer in an inverted fashion, thereby forming the open cell structure. By this configuration, a partial amount of radiant heat energy is transferred from the aircraft brakes to an aircraft wheel because there is a direct line of sight between the aircraft wheel and the aircraft brakes through the open cell structure of the honeycomb shield. This honeycombed shield structure, however, is thick, cumbersome, fragile, and expensive to manufacture.
Thus, there remains a need for heat shields that are configured to increase the cooling rate of aircraft brakes, are economical, durable, and are adapted to fit within the limited space provided between the brake assembly and the wheel assembly.


Embodiments of the invention described herein thus provide implants and methods for manufacturing an implant having an outer cortical layer that is porous. The porous outer cortical layer can help encourage tissue ingrowth into the implant. The porous outer cortical layer may be positioned around a core structure this is solid or that has a hollow interior. The core structure may be spherical or any other appropriate shape for a medical implant.

Craniofacial surgery generally includes restructuring a damaged portion of a patient's bone or other tissues. For example, ocular implants such as spheres can be used in connection with enucleation and evisceration procedures. In one example, the orbit is the boney socket in the skull that contains and houses the eye, along with the associated structures that support eye function, such as the eye muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. In some instances, a variety of problems can occur in the eye socket, ranging from inflammatory diseases or other diseases, tumors, infections, birth defects, or injuries from trauma. When these problems occur, it may become necessary to reconstruct various portions of the orbital socket, including implantation of ocular implants, such as orbital spheres.
In some instances, it is desirable for an implant to allow fibrovascular ingrowth such that it becomes integrated with the patient's own tissues. It is generally accepted that providing ocular implants made of biocompatible porous material can help encourage vascularization and tissue ingrowth. Various materials for orbital implants have included silicone, high density polyethylene, porous alumina, and hydroxyapatite. However, improvements to surgical implants and materials are desirable.


A recording medium post-processing apparatus includes: a stacker which is stacked with a plurality of sheet-like recording media with images being recorded thereon; an receiving device which receives at least one of information regarding the images to be recorded on the recording media and information regarding the recording media; an alignment device which applies an external force to the recording media stacked on the stacker so as to align the recording media; a controller which sets, on the basis of the at least one information received by the receiving device, at least one of (i) stacked-sheet number that is the number of the recording media, and (ii) a magnitude of the external force that is applied to the recording media and which controls the alignment device on the basis of the setted at least one of the stacked-sheet number and the magnitude of the external force.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a post-processing of a recording medium which is ejected from an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and the like, and, in particular, to a recording medium post-processing apparatus for aligning the recording medium, a printer unit having the recording medium post-processing apparatus, a recording medium post-processing method, and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing a recording medium post-processing program for aligning the recording medium.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, there is a sheet post-processing apparatus which is provided to an image forming apparatus such that the sheet post-processing apparatus is adjacent to the image forming apparatus. The sheet post-processing apparatus aligns a plurality of sheets after the sheets are supplied from the image forming apparatus There is known a sheet post-processing apparatus which has a waiting tray that temporarily accommodates a plurality of sheets supplied from the image forming apparatus, a processing tray that is placed below the waiting tray and applies an external force to the plurality of sheets dropped from the waiting tray so as to align them, and a sheet receiving tray which is stacked with the plurality of sheets after the sheets were aligned on the processing tray and then discharged from the processing tray. The number of the sheets to be stacked on the sheet receiving tray at a time is restricted on the basis of the number of the sheets that are allowed to be accommodated in the waiting tray. Therefore, before the sheets having been aligned on the processing tray is going to be discharged to the sheet receiving tray, the sheets that had been stacked on the sheet receiving tray in advance are forced out to prevent the sheets having been aligned on the processing tray from contacting with the sheets that had been stacked on the sheet receiving tray in advance so as to disarrange them.

Recording medium post-processing apparatus, printer unit with the same, recording medium post-processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing recording medium post-processing instructions


A fabrication method for a microstructure having a vacuum sealed cavity therein including the process steps of forming an aluminum filled cavity in a body of silicon material and heating the structure such that the aluminum is absorbed into the silicon material leaving a vacuum in the cavity. In one embodiment of the invention a cavity is etched into a silicon wafer and filled with aluminum. A silicon dioxide layer is formed over the aluminum filled cavity and the structure is heated to produce the vacuum cavity.

Microelectronic devices containing vacuum chambers or cavities are presently used for a number of applications including incandescent light sources, sensors, vacuum FET and vacuum tube on a chip device. The publication VACUUM-SEALED SILICON MICROMACHINED INCANDESCENT LIGHT SOURCE by C. H. Mastrangelo and R. S. Muller, IDEM 1989, pgs. 503-506 describes a vacuum-sealed silicon-filament incandescent light wherein a doped polysilicon filament wire with silicon nitride is enclosed in a vacuum sealed cavity with a silicon substrate. The cavity is an anisotropically-etched v-groove in the silicon substrate. A silicon nitride window over the V-groove hermetically seals the cavity after the filament is placed within.
The publications MICRO-DIAPHRAGM PRESSURE SENSOR by S. Sugiuam et al., IDEM 1986, pgs. 184-185 and FABRICATION TECHNIQUES FOR INTEGRATED SENSOR MICROSTRUCTURES by H. Guckel and D. W. Burns, IDEM 1986 pgs. 176-179 describe the use of vacuum cavities in micromechanical sensors wherein a cavity is etched in a silicon wafer, covered and sealed with a diaphragm and a vacuum is created in the cavity. In the publication THE COMEBACK OF THE VACUUM TUBE: SEMICONDUCTOR VERSIONS SUPPLEMENT TRANSISTORS? by Kathy Skidmore, Semiconductor International, August 1988, pgs. 15-17 a dielectric layer is etched to provide a cavity in which a metal emitter is located, a metal gate is formed above the emitter and a metal anode layer is fabricated over and seals the cavity, in which a vacuum is then created.
In all of the above devices and structures, the vacuum is created after the cavity is sealed by the application of an external vacuum pump. The external vacuum is typically produced in the fabrication process which seals the cavity (i.e. PECVD SiO.sub.2) hence the vacuum in the cavity is contaminated by the gases used in the process and is only as low in pressure as that used in the process.

Fabrication method for vacuum microelectronic devices

International Business Machines Corporation


A fabricating method of an array substrate, an array substrate and a display device are provided. The array substrate includes a substrate; a plate electrode, a gate electrode, a gate line, a gate insulating film, semiconductor silicon islands, a source electrode, a drain electrode, a data line, a slit electrode formed on the substrate, and the substrate is also provided with a gate line through hole and a data line through hole. The gate electrode and the gate line include the first transparent conductive material and gate metal material stacked sequentially; the slit electrode is directly connected to the drain electrode; a second transparent conductive material is connected to the gate line through the gate line through hole; and connected to the data line through the data line through hole.

The embodiments of present invention relate to a fabricating method of an array substrate, an array substrate and a display device.
With the maturity of the photoelectric display technique, the panel display apparatus has found increasingly wider applications. Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) has become the main research trend for the display device products so as to gradually replace the traditional ray tube display device in recent years, due to its characteristics such as longer service time, higher photo-efficiency, lower radiation and lower power consumption.
The TFT-LCD is formed with an array substrate and a color filter substrate by a cell-assembly process. A liquid crystal is injected between the array substrate and the color filter substrate. Generally, the array substrate comprises a substrate, and a gate metal film, a gate insulating film, a semiconductor film, a source-drain metal film and a transparent conductive film provided on the substrate. To ensure insulation among structural units in the array substrate, it's usually required to arrange insulating layers between the gate metal film and the transparent conductive film, and between the source-drain metal film and the transparent conductive film. The gate metal film is used to form a gate electrode and a gate line, the source-drain metal film is used to form a source electrode, a drain electrode and a data line, and the transparent conductive film is used to form a common electrode or a pixel electrode etc.
Conventionally, the drain electrode is usually connected to the pixel electrode through a via hole. Furthermore, it is also necessary to provide the array substrate with a gate line through hole and a data line through hole. It's necessary for the gate line through hole to pass through several layers above the gate metal film and reach the gate metal film, so as to achieve the connection between the gate line and an external signal input apparatus, and thus providing electrical signals to the gate line; whereas the data line through hole passes through several layers above the source-drain metal film and reaches the source-drain metal film, so as to achieve the connection between the data line and the external signal input apparatus and thus providing electrical signals to the data line.
In an example of a conventional array substrate operated in a fringe field switching mode using the Advanced Super Dimension Switch (ADS) technology, the fabricating method of the array substrate requires five patterning processes as following: forming a first transparent conductive film comprising a plate electrode pattern in a first patterning process, forming the gate metal film comprising a pattern of the gate electrode and the gate line in a second patterning process, forming the semiconductor film comprising a pattern of the source electrode, the drain electrode, the data line, the semiconductor silicon islands in the third patterning process, forming an insulating layer comprising the via hole for the electrical connection between the drain electrode and the slit electrode, the gate line through hole and the data line through hole in a fourth patterning process, and finally forming the second transparent conductive film comprising the slit electrode in a fifth patterning process.
It is found that a conventional fabricating method of the array substrate has at least the following problems such as long production cycle, high fabrication cost and low yield due to numerous patterning processes.

Method for fabricating array substrate of display using multiple photoresists


Perceptual quality of a processed signal obtained by processing an original signal having silent periods is evaluated. Silent portions and speech portions of the original signal and corresponding silent portions and speech portions of the processed signal are identified, and the silent portions of the processed signal are evaluated in accordance with a function of amounts of energy contained in the silent portions of the processed signal, corresponding silent portions of the original signal, and an amount of energy in speech portions of the original signal. In one embodiment, the original signal and the processed signal are segmented into frames, frames of the original signal that represent speech and frames of the original signal that represent silence are identified, and the evaluation produces a mean opinion score (MOS).

This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for objective perceptual quality measurement of an audio signal, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for measuring distortions introduced in silent passages by processing of speech signals.
Some objective measures of speech signal quality are known. For example, International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standard P.861 for Perceptual Speech Quality Measurement (PSQM) of voice signals is a perceptual objective algorithm for measuring quality of voice signals. This quality measurement is of interest, for example, when compressing and decompressing a voice signal through speech codecs.
Known perceptual speech quality measurement algorithms require both an original and a processed signal to be available. For example, PSQM computes a xe2x80x9cperceptual differencexe2x80x9d between an original and a processed signal to give an objective value that can be mapped to a Mean Opinion Score (MOS). PSQM and other known algorithms operate on active speech portions of the original signal. However, the assumption that only active speech portions contribute to an MOS value is correct only under special conditions. For example, when one attempts to characterize distortion introduced by a new speech compression algorithm, one simply processes an original speech signal through a codec and measures a difference between the original speech signal and the processed signal. There is very little distortion content during silent periods in such processing, resulting in no contribution by such periods to a MOS value.
However, when one is attempting to characterize an effect of other types of processors, for example, noise cancelers, distortions introduced during silence periods of speech signals are of considerable interest. It is of interest, for example, to determine whether a noise canceler blocks, removes, or reduces background noise in an original signal. More particularly, effects of noise cancellation are most noticeable during non-active, or silent, portions of a speech signal, as these are the portions in which a background signal annoyance is most readily perceived. Therefore, an unmodified PSQM algorithm does not provide a satisfactory indication of noise cancellation effectiveness in a MOS.
It would therefore be desirable to provide methods and apparatus that provide a satisfactory indication of noise cancellation effectiveness. It would further be desirable to provide methods and apparatus that provide a MOS indication of noise cancellation effectiveness. More generally, it would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus for evaluating a measure of MOS for silent periods of any processed speech signal to evaluate the effectiveness and/or usefulness of the processing applied to a speech signal.
The present invention is therefore, in one aspect, a method for evaluating perceptual quality of a processed signal obtained by processing an original signal having silent periods. The method includes steps of determining silent portions and speech portions of the original signal and corresponding silent portions and speech portions of the processed signal, and evaluating the silent portions of the processed signal as a function of amounts of energy contained in the silent portions of the processed signal, corresponding silent portions of the original signal, and an amount of energy in speech portions of the original signal. In one embodiment, the original signal and the processed signal are segmented into frames, frames of the original signal that represent speech and frames of the original signal that represent silence are identified, and the evaluation produces a mean opinion score (MOS). The present invention is, in another aspect, a corresponding device configured to perform steps of an embodiment of the method, and in another aspect, a machine-readable medium configured to instruct a processor to perform steps of an embodiment of the method.
It will be recognized that the present invention, in each of its aspects and embodiments, can be employed to provide measures of noise cancellation effectiveness, and can be used to provide a MOS indication of noise cancellation effectiveness. More generally, the present invention provides evaluations, such as a MOS evaluation, for silent periods of any processed speech signal to evaluate the effectiveness and/or usefulness of the processing applied to a speech signal.

Methods and apparatus for silence quality measurement


The present invention is in the field of personal care compositions; in particular skin lightening compositions. It is believed that niacinamide reduces the melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes thereby bringing about skin lightening. However, niacinamide is known to have little or no effect directly on the melanin content in the melanocytes. Thus a composition with multiple modes of action, that combines the reduction of melanosome transfer and the reduction of melanin content in the melanocytes remains to be desired. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a composition with synergistic amounts of picolinamide and niacinamide, providing improved melanosome transfer inhibition. It has been found that a synergistic skin lightening effect is obtained when niacinamide is combined with its isomer, picolinamide.

Most people are concerned with the degree of pigmentation of their skin. For example, people with age spots or freckles may wish such pigmented spots to be less pronounced, while others may wish to reduce the skin darkening caused by exposure to sunlight or to lighten their natural skin colour. To meet this need, many attempts have been made to develop products that reduce the pigment production in the melanocytes. However, the substances identified thus far tend to have either low efficacy or undesirable side effects, such as, for example, toxicity or skin irritation. Therefore, there is a continuing need for new cosmetic skin lightening agents, with improved overall effectiveness.
Conventional skin lightening compositions are based on the use of skin lightening agents that are believed to control dispersion of melanin or inhibit tyrosinase. These skin-lightening agents include niacinamide, carboxylic acids like azelaic acid and kojic acid, plant extracts, hydroquinone etc. Niacinamide is one of the widely used skin lightening agents in compositions for topical application.
Niacinamide is the amide form of vitamin B3 (Niacin). Vitamin B3 is an essential water-soluble vitamin and is found in the form of niacin or niacinamide in a wide variety of food including meat, fish, legumes, nuts, grains, mushrooms, yeast & coffee. It is implicated in various cellular functions like DNA repair, keratinocyte differentiation, lipid synthesis, pigmentation and inflammation, most important of them being in cellular bioenergetics. Niacinamide in the form of pyridine nucleotide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is important for energy metabolism. A diet deficient in B3 leads to disease called Pellagra characterized by skin conditions with dermatitis and pigmentation. This was the observation that led to the discovery of niacinamide as a skin lightening agent four decades ago.
It is believed that niacinamide reduces the melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes thereby bringing about skin lightening. However, niacinamide is known to have little or no effect directly on the melanin content in the melanocytes.
A composition with multiple modes of action, that combines the reduction of melanosome transfer and the reduction of melanin content in the melanocytes remains to be desired.
WO 2013/030794 relates to skin and/or hair depigmentation compositions comprising a pyridine derivative and dermatologically acceptable carriers. This document discloses picolinamide, preferably in a concentration of 0.001 to 30% by weight. WO 2013/030794 further discloses that the composition may include a skin and/or hair benefit agent from a list of agents including nicotinamide.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a composition with synergistic amounts of picolinamide and niacinamide, providing improved melanosome transfer inhibition.
It is a further object of the invention to achieve a high melanosome transfer inhibition at low concentration of actives.
It is a further object of the invention to achieve a reduction of melanin content in the melanocytes at lower concentration of actives.
Without wishing to be bound by a theory, it is thought that although picolinamide, is not a precursor for NAD+, it may have an effect on the various processes involved in pigmentation.
Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is thought that unlike niacinamide which has shown to affect the melanosome transfer, picolinamide has an effect on the melanin production with little or no effect of melanosome transfer. The invention thus relates to a composition comprising a synergistic combination of niacinamide and picolinamide for use in skin lightening.
It has been found that a synergistic skin lightening effect is obtained when niacinamide is combined with its isomer, picolinamide.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A solid-state imaging device includes: a plurality of pixels each including a first electrode, an organic photoelectric conversion film, and a second electrode in this order on a substrate, the organic photoelectric conversion film including a first inclined surface on a side wall; and a first sealing film formed, on the plurality of pixels, to cover the side wall of the organic photoelectric conversion film and the second electrode.

In recent years, in a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD image sensor and a CMOS image sensor, the number of photons entering a unit pixel is decreased with reduction of a pixel size, which deteriorates sensitivity and an S/N ratio as a result. Further, in such a solid-state imaging device, pixels of three primary colors are often two-dimensionally arranged typically with use of color filters of primary colors of red, green, blue, or other colors. In a case where the color filters are used, however, optical loss occurs to deteriorate sensitivity. For example, in a red pixel, green light and blue light are not photoelectrically converted because the green light and the blue light do not pass through the color filters, which causes optical loss as a result. Moreover, signals of respective colors are generated by interpolation processing between pixels, which generates so-called false colors.
Accordingly, a solid-state imaging device in which three photoelectric conversion layers of red, green, and blue are stacked in a vertical direction and photoelectric conversion signals of three colors are obtainable from one pixel has been proposed (e.g., PTLs 1 and 2). PTL 1 proposes a structure in which an organic photoelectric conversion film that absorbs green light to generate signal charges is provided above a silicon substrate, and two inorganic photoelectric converters (photodiodes) that detect blue light and red light are stacked in the silicon substrate. In addition, PTL 2 proposes a so-called back-illuminated device structure in which a light receiving surface is provided on side opposite to a circuit formation surface of the silicon substrate in such a structure in which the organic photoelectric conversion film respectively provided above the silicon substrate and the silicon substrate.
In the above-described solid-state imaging device including the organic photoelectric conversion film, it is desirable to form a sealing film in order to prevent moisture, etc. from entering the pixel (e.g., PTL 3).

Solid-state imaging device, and method of manufacturing solid-state imaging device

SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION


A zoom optical system comprises in order from an object side, the first lens group consisting of one cemented lens in which each of the surfaces contacted with air is aspherical, and having negative refracting power as a whole, the second lens group consisting of one positive single lens and one cemented lens, and having positive refracting power as a whole, the third lens group of one negative lens having an aspherical surface, and the fourth lens group consisting of one positive lens having an aspherical surface. When magnification is carried out, each of the lens groups is moved while changing each relative distance among the lens groups.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zoom optical system which is an optical system suitable for especially an electronic imaging optical system, and has a large aperture, and is excellent at an image forming performance, and an electronic imaging apparatus using the this zoom optical system.
2. Description of the Related Art
The technology of digital camera has reached to practical use level in realizing a high pixel number (high quality picture), or a small thinning in size. Consequently, the digital camera has taken place for silver halide 35 mm film camera not only in function but also in market. Under such circumstance, there is a performance such that a photographic subject can be finely photographed even in an environment with little amount of light as one of performances required in the next step. Thus, also in an optical system, while high image forming performance and thinning of it which have so far been achieved are kept as it is, a large aperture ratio has been demanded intensely.
So far, a positive refracting power preceding type zoom optical system has been known as a zoom optical system suitable for large aperture ratio. The positive refracting power preceding type zoom optical system comprises, in order from an object side, a first lens group having positive refracting power, a second lens group having negative refracting power, a third lens group having positive refracting power, and a fourth lens group having positive refracting power.
On the other hand, a negative preceding type zoom optical system has been known as a zoom optical system suitable for thinning. This negative preceding type zoom optical system comprises in order from the object side, a first lens group having negative refracting power, a second lens group having positive refracting power, and a third lens group having positive refracting power.

Zoom optical system and electronic imaging apparatus using the same


There is provided apparatuses to detect occurrence and location of damages on optical fiber links in advance by converting an optical span in optical network to an interferometry based sensing media. The interferometry based sensing media may enable detection of mechanical perturbation or mechanical vibration occurred on optical fiber links across optical network. The system employed with the interferometry based sensing media can detect occurrence of mechanical perturbation or mechanical vibration as well as discover the location of such event occurred using standard interferometry based sensing techniques.

In today's networks, the quality of an optical link (e.g. an optical fiber or optical cable) is considered important by network operators (e.g. Bell Canada, Verizon, Google, etc.), in order for desired service levels to be provided. Any loss or quality degradation of optical fibers may directly affect the corresponding link quality metric, which typically is measured in Optical Signal-to-Noise Ratio (OSNR) and decrease the reliability of the network. Hence, a branch of optical performance monitoring (OPM) focuses on monitoring and checking statuses of optical fiber links (e.g. optical cables) for potential degradation.
Considering the amount of traffic carried on today's optical networks, the reliability of fiber optic networks has become more important, and therefore methods and systems for minimizing network outages are considered more desirable. When damage occurs to optical fiber links (e.g. fiber cuts), the network service operators may bear significant costs, such as the costs associated with the lost traffic and network outage (e.g. network down time), the costs associated with troubleshooting the problem to identify a cause, and the costs associated repair of the fiber based network infrastructure. If damage occurs to fiber optic cables under the ocean, the costs associated therewith can significantly increase. For instance, ships and boats operating close to shore may inadvertently cause damage to submarine cables, and repair of these damaged submarine optical cables can often costs millions of dollars.
Currently, optical fiber links (e.g. fiber optic cables) are deployed in a variety of diverse locations (e.g. undersea, underground and elevated in the air). For example, there are a plurality of submarine cables deployed throughout the oceans as illustrated in FIG. 1. As such, fiber optic links are exposed to potential risks associated with natural disasters, human activities, or both. In the case of terrestrial network cables (e.g. underground optical fiber links), human activities (e.g. construction, train operation, etc.) or natural phenomena (e.g. lighting, floods, earthquakes, etc.) or issues on network components (e.g. network component aging, network component failure, etc.) may cause detrimental damage to optical fiber links. In the case of submarine cables, the fiber cables can be damaged by a number of different factors. For instance, the submarine cables may be damaged by ship anchors accidentally snaring and dragging the cable, fishing trawlers nets entangling with the cable, turbidity currents, earthquakes or shark attacks.
Fiber cuts and fiber damage may occur quite frequently as illustrated in the TABLE 1 which summarizes the number of fiber cuts reported in 2016.
TABLE 12016 Fiber Cut (Backbone vs. Metro/FTTx)ImpactsTrafficNon-TrafficType ofCount ofAffectingAffectingNetworkFailure%(%)(%)Backbone18953.549.5290.48Metro/FTTx16446.4649.3950.61Total353
Given the importance of the network reliability and the high risk of damage to optical fiber links, many network operators have network control and management system(s) (e.g. transport software-defined networking (T-SDN)) to effectively control and re-route traffic when damage occurs, for example fiber cuts.
However, with currently available network control and management systems, the timing and location of cable damage may be difficult to identify quickly. For example, in the case of terrestrial networks, most data traffic may pass through legacy fibers, for example cables deployed a long time ago and in such cases it may be difficult to rapidly identify where the damage has occurred (e.g. location of damaged part in the optical network) because the cable map may not be known due to a lack of data or security purposes.
Therefore there is a need for methods and apparatuses to detect the occurrence and location of damage to optical fiber links that is not subject to one or more limitations of the prior art. Due to the increasing amount of network traffic, it is desired to predict or quickly identify whether any damage has occurred to optical fibers in order that the network service providers or network operators can take appropriate actions as soon as possible, and in some instances in a proactive manner. Knowing the occurrence and location of potential cable damage in advance can be valuable when considering that accidents like fiber cuts typically occur in sub-seconds. Thus knowing of potential damage in advance may provide a sufficient amount of time for T-SDN to decide and perform appropriate actions (e.g. planning a new topology for wave division multiplexing (WDM) channels in order to re-route network traffic in response to predicted cable damage) thereby mitigating the effect of the potential cable damage.
This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

Method and apparatus for detecting operational conditions of an optical link in an optical network


A suspension arm (1) for a vehicle including a bearing (4) and a journal (2). The bearing (4) has at least one elastic sub-element (4c) and the bearing (4) is arranged on the journal (2) of the suspension arm (1) and encloses the journal (2). The journal (2) and the bearing (4) are designed to co-operate with one another in such manner that the bearing (4), relative to the journal (2), has a transition fit. The bearing (4) is fixed on the journal (2) of the suspension arm (1) by a fastening element (3).

In the manufacture of various assemblies the automobile industry values using structural elements which are as simple and inexpensive to produce as possible and which, for servicing and repair work, can be exchanged easily.
From DE 200 041 49 U1 a transversely elastic bearing arrangement for a suspension arm in a wheel suspension is known, which comprises a bearing bolt and a bearing, the bearing being in the form of a rubber bearing. This rubber bearing comprises both an outer and an inner sleeve, such that between the sleeves —at least in part—an elastomer body is provided. The bolt is pressed into the inner sleeve, this also being known as a press fit. In the case of a press fit, if the rubber bearing has to be replaced, then both the bearing itself and the bolt can easily be damaged because of the high press-on and extraction forces.
Such a connection of a journal and bearing in the manner of a press fit, known from the prior art, is explained below with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 shows a journal 22 of a suspension arm 11, which has a single step. The journal 22 has a stepped area 22a and a contact surface 22b for a bearing 44.
The bearing 44 comprises an inner sleeve 44a and an outer sleeve 44b. Between the inner sleeve 44a and the outer sleeve 44b is arranged an elastomer body 44c.
The bearing 44 is fitted onto the journal 22 by a press fit. A press fit between the two components means that in the area 22b the diameter of the journal is larger than the diameter of the inner sleeve 44a. The disadvantage of this is that in the area 22b the inner sleeve 44a of the bearing 44 and the journal 22 can be damaged during the assembly or dismantling of the bearing 44 because of the large pressing-on or extraction forces involved.
In the contact area 22b, the bearing 44 comes into contact with the journal 22. The stepped area 22a serves as a stop for the bearing 44, i.e. the bearing 44 can be pressed onto the journal 22 up to that area 22a.
Furthermore, searches by the applicant have revealed that from the prior art it is also known to connect a rubber bearing with one journal end of the suspension arm in a form-enclosing manner, and fix it additionally by means of a screw connection. The transverse and longitudinal forces are absorbed by the preferably conical shape interlock and by a screw head. On the other hand, the radial forces are transferred by friction. The bearing does not enclose the bearing element, and this impairs the stability of the connection. Moreover, severe demands are made in the connection area on the interlocking structure between the end of the suspension arm and the bearing, so that the production costs of those components are relatively high.
This is described with reference to FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 shows a journal 222 of a suspension arm 111 and a bearing 444. The journal 222 and the bearing 444 are connected to one another in the area 222a with interlock by means of a matching conical shape.
The bearing 444 comprises an inner sleeve 444a, an outer sleeve 444b, and an elastomer body 444c arranged between the inner sleeve 444a and the outer sleeve 444b.
To fix the bearing 444 on the journal 222, fastening means in the form of a screw 333 are provided.
Besides ensuring shape interlock, the screw 333 serves as a further connecting element between the journal 222 and the bearing 444. The screw head comes in contact with the bearing 444 and the screw connector is screwed into the journal 222 of the suspension arm 111.
In contrast to FIG. 1, in the prior art according to FIG. 2 the bearing 444 does not comprise the journal 222 of the suspension arm.


An electronic device can include at least one fingerprint image sensor that obtains fingerprint image information, where the fingerprint information can include at least a first partial fingerprint image and a second partial fingerprint image. At least one fingerprint navigation sensor can be disposed to receive navigation information responsive to at least one of movement or orientation of a user's finger with respect to the at least one fingerprint image sensor. At least one processing unit can combine the first partial fingerprint image and the second partial fingerprint image into at least one combined fingerprint image utilizing the navigation information.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This application generally relates to fingerprint recognition sensors.
2. Background of the Disclosure
Fingerprint recognition systems generally provide for collection of fingerprint images and comparing those images against a database of known fingerprint information. For example, after collecting and processing a set of fingerprint images for an authorized user, an accessing user can be authorized by collecting one or more fingerprint images from that accessing user, and comparing those collected fingerprint images, for that accessing user, against known fingerprint information for that authorized user.
It sometimes occurs that, when collecting fingerprint images, whether from an authorized user, from an accessing user, or from a new user, the user's finger might move, twist, yaw, pitch, or undergo a change in orientation with respect to another axis with respect to the fingerprint image sensor during the fingerprint image collection process. For example, if multiple portions of the image are collected at different times or by different sensors, it would be useful to know whether the user's finger has moved, or changed orientation with respect to any axis, during collection of those multiple portions of that fingerprint image, such as for piecing those multiple portions together into a single unified fingerprint image.
It sometimes occurs that, when collecting and processing portions of fingerprint images, similarly, whether from an authorized user, from an accessing user, or from a new user, involves determining an amount of motion, or change in orientation with respect to any axis, of the user's finger with respect to the fingerprint recognition sensor. For example, if the user's finger has moved between fingerprint recognition sensing of a first portion of the user's fingerprint (a first "swatch", as described below) and a second portion of the user's fingerprint (a second "swatch", as described below), it might be desirable to adjust the positioning or orientation of the first portion of the user's fingerprint and the second portion of the user's fingerprint before attempting to stitch them together into a unified fingerprint image, with the effect that the collected unified fingerprint image from the known user, the accessing user, or a new user, can be more accurately processed for fingerprint information.
Each of these examples, as well as other possible considerations, can cause one or more difficulties for the fingerprint recognition sensor, at least in that stitching together a first portion of the user's fingerprint and a second portion of the user's fingerprint might introduce errors if changes in positioning or orientation of the user's finger between collection of that first portion of the user's fingerprint and that second portion of the user's fingerprint are not accounted for. When such errors are introduced, fingerprint enrollment and fingerprint recognition may be subject to undesired failures, to the possible document of the effectiveness and value of the fingerprint recognition device.

Navigation assisted fingerprint enrollment


A dispenser has a multi-piece, multi-material, screw, user-engagable element, and reciprocal compliance spring arrangement.

The invention relates to personal care. More particularly, the invention relates to applicators for underarm antiperspirant and/or deodorant.
A well-developed art exists regarding dispenser/applicators for personal care products. One particular area involves applicators for solid or gel antiperspirant and/or deodorant compositions. Applicators for solid and gel compositions are typically thoroughly similar to each other, with a piston (platform) upwardly movable within a cylinder (barrel) to progressively drive the composition out the barrel upper end. Due to the relative lack of stiffness of many gels and soft solids, dispensers for such compositions commonly include apertured applicator elements across the upper end of the barrel.
Certain compositions are particularly sensitive to pressure. Accordingly, the imposition of residual pressure after the initial discharge of composition may be problematic. Soft solid compositions (especially those containing silicone oils) are particularly sensitive to pressure-induced microstructural changes. PCT/US98/09656, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein as if set forth at length, discloses exemplary such compositions. Thus pressure relief mechanisms have been provided. Exemplary pressure relief mechanisms are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,000,356, 5,547,302, 5,697,531, and 5,961,007, and pregrant publication US2005/0002883. One marketed dispenser resembles the cover page embodiment of the '356 patent, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein as if set forth at length. That dispenser includes a one-piece molded combination elevator screw and handwheel. Superimposed reciprocal movement of the screw is caused by camming interaction of respective groups of ratchet teeth on the molded element and barrel. The downstroke of this superimposed reciprocal movement provides pressure relief. The reciprocal movement is permitted by compliance of spring unitarily formed as a portion of the element. The spring is formed of a spiral-armed flange of the handwheel. The element is formed from a material appropriate for spring operation, specifically Celcon® polyoxymethylene acetal copolymer by Celanese Corporation.

Applicator for personal care compositions


A side door extension support assembly for a vehicle includes a side door movably mounted on a vehicle body of the vehicle and an extension member mounted to the vehicle body. The side door is longitudinally moveable between a closed position and an open position. The extension member is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position for supporting the side door. Movement of the extension member corresponds to movement of the side door such that the extension member moves to the extended position when the side door is moved from the closed position to the open position, and the extension member moves to the retracted position when the side door is moved from the open position to the closed position.

Side doors on vehicles (e.g., minivans) continue to evolve. One advancement is the use of four-bar linkages to control movement of the side door when the door is moved longitudinally between closed and open positions. Such opening mechanisms potentially result in the side door having a lower stiffness as compared to conventional three-rail side doors. Such lower stiffness is particularly noticeable when the side door is pushed or pulled at the rear-most edge thereof. This potentially creates a negative impact in perceived quality by the customer when pushing or pulling on the side door, which has the potential to give the impression that the door is "cheap" or structurally flimsy, whether this perception is actual or not. Additionally, some market case studies have shown that rigidity of side vehicle doors is important to customers, in particular as concerns leaning against a fully open door and/or waxing the side door when in the open state.


The spacing distance D between a scale and a scanner element of a scanner unit is adjusted simply through the use of a positioning element which is part of the scanning unit. The scanner unit has a mounting element on which the scanner element is supported. The scanner element is displaceable perpendicularly to a surface of the scale from a first reference position to a second reference position. A screw is used to actuate for the displacement and the reference positions are predetermined by stop faces of the screw and stop faces of the mounting element.

The invention relates to a method and structure for assembling a scanning unit in a position measuring instrument.
In position measuring instruments a scale is scanned by a scanning unit. The scanning unit generates position-dependent electrical scanning signals which are delivered to tracking electronics, such as a counter or a numerical controller to determine the amount of movement of the scale with reference to the scanning unit. The quality of the scanning signals depends on the spacing between the scanning unit and the scale which makes it necessary to mount the scanning unit at a precisely defined spacing relative to the scale.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,851 describes a position measuring instrument including a graduation unit and a scanning unit. The graduation unit has a centering flange, a scale and a graduation located on the scale. The scanning unit has a scanning component which includes a scanning graduation and a stop. During assembly, the scanning unit is positioned radially with respect to the scale by positioning the stop against the centering flange. The scanning component may then be moved along a guide towards the scale. As the scanning component is moved towards the scale the stop no longer makes contact with the centering flange. A spacing foil, removably sandwiched between the scale and the scanning graduation, is used to position the scanning graduation at a predetermined distance from the scale. A locking means is then used to prevent further movement of the scanning component along the guide. A disadvantage with such a position measuring instrument is the necessity of using a separate foil as a spacer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,250 discloses a position measuring instrument and, more particularly, a rotary angle encoder that has no bearing of its own. Such rotary angle encoders are known as built-in rotary angle encoders. The relative position of the scanning unit and a scale is not defined until the scanning unit and scale are mounted on the objects to be measured. To simplify the mounting, a fixation element is integrated with the rotary angle encoder and is in contact with a hub of the scale and defines the position of the scale during the mounting. Once the scale has been mounted on one of the objects and the scanning unit has been mounted on the other object, the fixation element is removed from the hub. A disadvantage with such a position measuring instrument is the necessity of using a separate element, the fixation element, in order to position the scanning unit. Another disadvantage with this system is that the scale cannot be fastened independently of the housing and the fixation element on the shaft. At assembly the scale already has a clear association with the fixation element and the scanning unit.
It is desirable to provide a position measuring instrument that is simple in design and with which the requisite spacing between the scanning unit and the scale can be adjusted easily. It is also desirable to provide a position measuring instrument in which the scale can be fastened independently of the further components of the measuring device thereby simplifying assembly of the instrument. It is also desirable to provide a method that assures the simple and correct mounting of a scanning unit in a position measuring instrument.
An advantage of the invention is that the correct spacing required between the scanning unit and scale is defined by the components of the scanning unit itself without the need for additional components.

Method and structure for assembling a scanning unit in a positioning measuring instrument


A knuckle connector is used to connect spacedly end knuckles of a chain strand to form a chain loop. The knuckle connector includes a pair of link units, each of which has a link pin and an oval-shaped link plate formed with a circular through-hole on one end and a retaining hole on an opposite end. The link pin has a head secured in the through hole and a tail end formed with a peripheral channel. The link pin of one of the link units extends through a pin hole formed in a corresponding one of the end knuckles such that the peripheral channel initially extends into a large insert part of the retaining hole in the link plate of a remaining one of the link units. The peripheral channel of the link pin of one of the link units engages the link plate of the remaining one of the link units in a diameter-reduced retaining part of the retaining hole when the end knuckles are pulled apart. The link plate of each link unit is provided with an inclined stop member that includes a cantilevered tab and terminates at an end knuckle abutment face. The inclined stop member is formed by punching the link plate at one side of the insert part of the retaining hole opposite to the retaining part. The stop members of the link plates extend into a space between the end knuckles and face a respective one of the end knuckles. The stop members prevent movement of the end knuckles toward one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a knuckle connector for connecting spacedly end knuckles of a chain strand, more particularly to a knuckle connector which is easy to assemble and which has provisions to prevent untimely disengagement of the end knuckles of the chain strand.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional chain manufacturing process, a chain strand is formed by interconnecting adjacent knuckles thereof by means of rivets. During use, the end knuckles of the chain strand are joined together by means of a rivet so as to form a chain loop. Riveting of the end knuckles by the end user makes difficult the assembly of the chain loop.
In order to overcome the above drawback, a knuckle connector has been developed so as to simplify the connection of the end knuckles. Referring to FIG. 1, a knuckle connector (1) is used to interconnect the end knuckles (21, 21') of a chain strand (2) in order to form a chain loop. The knuckle connector (1) comprises a pair of link units (11, 11'), each of which includes a link pin (12, 12') and a link plate (13, 13'). The link pin (12, 12') includes a shank with a head (121) and a tail end that is formed with a peripheral channel (122, 122'). The link plate (13, 13') is oval-shaped and is formed With a circular through-hole (131) on one end and a retaining hole (132, 132') on an opposite end. The retaining hole (132, 132') has an outline similar to the number "8" and includes a large insert part (133, 133') and a diameter-reduced retaining part (134, 134') that is communicated with the insert part (133, 133'). During manufacture of the knuckle connector (1), the link pin (12, 12') is extended into the circular through-hole (131) in the link plate (13, 13') such that the head (121) of the former is secured in the through-hole (131) of the latter.
Referring to FIG. 2, when the knuckle connector (1) is used to interconnect the end knuckles (21, 21') of a chain strand (2), the link pins (12, 12') of the link units (11, 11') are extended through a pin hole formed in a corresponding one of the end knuckles (21, 21') such that the peripheral channel (122, 122') extends into the insert part (133, 133') of the retaining hole (132, 132') in the link plate (13, 13') of a remaining one of the link units (11, 11'). The end knuckles (21, 21') are then pulled apart so that the peripheral channel (122, 122') of the link pin (12, 12') of one of the link units (11, 11') engages the link plate (13, 13') of the remaining one of the link units (11, 11') in the retaining part (134, 134') of the retaining hole (132, 132') of the latter, thereby forming a chain loop.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that no additional tool is needed to join the end knuckles (21, 21') of the chain strand (2) if the knuckle connector (1) is employed. However, the main drawback of the conventional knuckle connector (1) is as follows:
It is common for two adjacent knuckles to experience oppositely oriented forces when the chain loop is in use. Referring once more to FIG. 2, if the distance between the link pins (12, 12') is instantaneously reduced due to the presence of the oppositely oriented forces, the peripheral channels (122, 122') of the link pins (12, 12') may simultaneously move from the retaining part (134, 134') of the retaining hole (132, 132') to the insert part (133, 133'), thereby causing the untimely disengagement of the link pins (12, 12') from the link plates (13, 13'). Therefore, untimely disengagement of the end knuckles (21, 21') can occur when the conventional knuckle connector (1) is in use.

Knuckle connector for connecting end knuckles of a chain strand


An offshore well drilling system for drilling a subsea well, including a floating platform, an external riser extending from the subsea well, and an internal riser extending from the subsea well to the platform. The internal riser is nested within the external riser. The system also includes an external riser tension device to apply tension to the external riser. The system also includes an internal riser tension device, separate from the external riser tension device, to apply tension to the internal riser.

Drilling offshore oil and gas wells includes the use of offshore platforms for the exploitation of undersea petroleum and natural gas deposits. In deep water applications, floating platforms (such as spars, tension leg platforms, extended draft platforms, and semi-submersible platforms) are typically used. One type of offshore platform, a tension leg platform ("TLP"), is a vertically moored floating structure used for offshore oil and gas production. The TLP is permanently moored by groups of tethers, called a tension leg, that eliminate virtually all vertical motion of the TLP. Another type of platform is a spar, which typically consists of a large-diameter, single vertical cylinder extending into the water and supporting a deck. Spars are moored to the seabed like TLPs, but whereas a TLP has vertical tension tethers, a spar has more conventional mooring lines.
The offshore platforms typically support risers that extend from one or more wellheads or structures on the seabed to the platform on the sea surface. The risers connect the subsea well with the platform to protect the fluid integrity of the well and to provide a fluid conduit to and from the wellbore.
The risers that connect the surface wellhead to the subsea wellhead can be thousands of feet long and extremely heavy. To prevent the risers from buckling under their own weight or placing too much stress on the subsea wellhead, upward tension is applied, or the riser is lifted, to relieve a portion of the weight of the riser. Since offshore platforms are subject to motion due to wind, waves, and currents, the risers must be tensioned so as to permit the platform to move relative to the risers. Accordingly, the tensioning mechanism must exert a substantially continuous tension force to the riser within a well-defined range.
An example method of tensioning a riser includes using buoyancy devices to independently support a riser, which allows the platform to move up and down relative to the riser. This isolates the riser from the heave motion of the platform and eliminates any increased riser tension caused by the horizontal offset of the platform in response to the marine environment. This type of riser is referred to as a freestanding riser.
Hydro-pneumatic tensioner systems are another example of a riser tensioning mechanism used to support risers. A plurality of active hydraulic cylinders with pneumatic accumulators is connected between the platform and the riser to provide and maintain the necessary riser tension. Platform responses to environmental conditions that cause changes in riser length relative to the platform are compensated by the tensioning cylinders adjusting for the movement.
With some floating platforms, the pressure control equipment, such as the blow-out preventer, is dry because it is installed at the surface rather than subsea. However, jurisdiction regulations and other industry practices may require two barriers between the fluids in the wellbore and the sea, a so-called dual barrier requirement. With the production control equipment located at the surface, another system for accomplishing dual barrier protection is needed.

Offshore well drilling system with nested drilling risers


A nonvolatile memory device comprises multiple memory blocks each comprising multiple memory cells arranged at intersections of wordlines and bitlines, an address decoder configured to electrically connect first lines to wordlines of one of the memory blocks in response to an address, a line selection switch circuit configured to electrically connect the first lines to second lines in different configurations according to the address, a first line decoder configured to provide the second lines with wordline voltages needed for driving, and a voltage generator configured to generate the wordline voltages.

The inventive concept relates generally to nonvolatile memory devices and related methods of operation. More particularly, certain embodiments of the inventive concept relate to nonvolatile memory devices and related wordline driving methods.
Semiconductor memory devices can be roughly divided into two categories according to whether they retain stored data when disconnected from power. These categories include volatile semiconductor memory devices, which lose stored data when disconnected from power, and nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices, which retain stored data when disconnected from power. Examples of volatile semiconductor memory devices include dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and static random access memory (SRAM), and examples of nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices include read only memory (ROM), flash memory, magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM), and phase change random access memory (PRAM).
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices allow data to be stored in permanent or reprogrammable fashion, depending on the fabrication technology used. They can be used for user data, programs, and microcode storage in a wide variety of applications in the computer, avionics, telecommunications, and consumer electronics industries.
There is a continuing demand for nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices having improved qualities, such as better performance, lower cost, higher reliability. Accordingly, researchers are engaged in ongoing efforts to improve these and other aspects of nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices.

Nonvolatile memory device and related wordline driving method


According to one embodiment, a system for gathering intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance information comprises a synthetic aperture radar that is housed within an enclosure coupled to a land vehicle. The synthetic aperture radar includes an antenna array that transmits and receives electro-magnetic radiation for generating images of objects around the land vehicle while the land vehicle is in motion.

Radars detect remote objects by transmitting a beam of electro-magnetic energy and subsequently measuring reflected electro-magnetic energy from these objects. Synthetic aperture radars (SARs) are a special type of radar that uses signal processing techniques to generate two-dimensional images from objects that are moving relative to its antenna. A synthetic aperture radar utilizes movement of its antenna relative to objects to derive additional information about these objects that may otherwise not be obtained using stationary radars. This additional information may be combined by the synthetic aperture radar to generate useful imagery of various objects of interest.

Vehicular surveillance system using a synthetic aperture radar


A plurality of semiconductor devices are provided on a carrier for testing or burning-in. The carrier is then cut up to provide single chip-on-carrier components or multi-chip-on-carrier components. The carrier is used as a first level package for each chip. Thus, the carrier serves a dual purpose for test and burn-in and for packaging. A lead reduction mechanism, such as a built-in self-test engine, can be provided on each chip or on the carrier and is connected to contacts of the carrier for the testing and burn-in steps. The final package after cutting includes at least one known good die and may include an array of chips on the carrier, such as a SIMM or a DIMM. The final package can also be a stack of chips each mounted on a separate carrier. The carriers of the stack are connected to each other through a substrate mounted along a side face of the stack that is electrically connected to a line of pads along an edge of each carrier. The carrier is formed of a flex material. It can also be formed of printed circuit board material. A window in the flex permits invoking redundancy on each chip after burn-in is complete, significantly improving yield as compared with present schemes that do not permit repair after burn-in.

Both standard module burn-in and wafer burn-in schemes are wasteful of time space and resource. Module burn-in requires dicing, bond, assembly, and test before burn-in, adding considerable expense to modules that fail burn-in. Wafer burn-in permits burn-in before dicing, saving the packaging cost for failing chips, but it obviously requires the inclusion of the failing chips on the wafer in the burn-in apparatus. Provision must then be provided for disconnecting shorted chips or handling very high currents while providing voltage uniformity. Thus, wafer burn-in is most cost effective for high yielding wafers.
Chip or die burn-in schemes like IBM's R3 process and TI's Diemate process avoid the packaging steps required by module burn-in. Only tested bare chips are burned-in. The R3 process permits simultaneous burn-in of a large array of chips. The chips are solder bump mounted on a ceramic substrate which can be reused a number of times. This provides advantage over the Diemate process which burns in only one chip at a time in each fixture. But the cost of the R3 process can still be expensive since the substrate can only be reused about ten or twenty times. And there is substantial cost for aligning and attaching chips to the substrate and then for removing them and preparing them for reattaching to a final substrate once burn-in is complete. Therefore the cost of producing known good die with module burn-in, wafer burn-in, the R3 process, or the Diemate process can be quite high. Thus, a better solution for test and burn-in is needed that lowers the cost, and that solution is provided by this invention.

Carrier for test, burn-in, and first level packaging

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention is directed to a method and a system for computer-based visual data evaluation which allows on-the-fly viewing, evaluation and querying of complex databases with simple user operations. A visual chart representation of the data set is used to select for display data subsets through interaction between the user and the system within the chart of the data set. The results of the user's data subset selections are displayed in the chart. A chart of only the data subset may then be selected and displayed through interaction between the user and the system within the displayed data subset. The steps of selecting and displaying the results of data subset selections may be continued in an iterative visual data evaluation process. A record of the user selected data subsets is maintained, including a textual record of the data subset and distinct visual symbols for each of the data subsets created. The visual symbols and textual records are arranged and displayed representing the structural hierarchical relationship among the data subsets as defined by the user's data subset selection. The visual symbols may be used as software buttons for selecting for display the associated data subset and other operations. The present invention thus provides a computerized interactive method for providing visual data evaluation including browsing, querying and manipulation of data and other information within a database by providing chart representations of database data and operating only on the attributes of the chart and within the data area of the chart.

This invention generally relates to a process for database querying, and more particularly concerns an interactive interface for chart-based graphical data browsing, querying and manipulation.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document pertains to material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in Patent and Trademark patent file or records once the patent issues or the file is otherwise made available to the public according to law, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
Visual data evaluation is an important part of information processing. For many objectives such as pattern recognition, outlier analysis and general data exploration, human visual data evaluations are far superior to other options such as automated statistical procedures.
Visual data evaluation embodies two related activities: browsing and querying. Browsing is an information-seeking process which utilizes chart displays of data including bar charts, scatter plots and the like to detect patterns, to develop an intuitive understanding of relationships exhibited by the data and to determine the next desired chart presentation of the data. "Querying," which is a mechanism for accessing information stored in a database, specifies and selects data subsets which can then be used for additional browsing, querying or other information processing. Browsing can be considered the primary visual information gathering step while querying allows the user to "navigate" through the data.
Visual data evaluation, however, is necessarily constrained by the limits of human cognitive abilities which permit only relatively small quantities of data to be evaluated at one time. For example, a data series with one hundred observations can easily be inspected visually while one with ten thousand observations cannot. Consequently, large data series must be divided into subsets to conduct visual data evaluations. Furthermore, graphical representations quickly become confusing when a third or fourth dimension is added. Therefore, most visual data evaluation is conducted on pairs of data items or variables. Finally, the limits of human memory make it difficult to remember and process important information from more than a dozen or so data subsets or pair-wise visual evaluations.
Commercially available software can provide data manipulation, querying and charting functions required to conduct visual data evaluation. While the general class of software referred to as spreadsheet software is most suited and most frequently used to conduct these evaluations, its application is cumbersome and tedious.
Spreadsheet software represents data in a column and row tabular format. Spreadsheet data is selected for use in a chart by specifying desired columns and rows either through a series of keyboard entries or with mouse operations on the tabular data display. Chart specifications are determined with a series of choices presented in menus, dialogue boxes, or other user-interactive devices. Finally, the chart is presented in a separate display area. Changing one of the variable series presented in the chart is initiated by returning to the spreadsheet display and then repeating the data selection process and updating the chart display.
Examining a noncontiguous subset of spreadsheet data requires a separate data query to extract the desired data and place it in another area of the worksheet. Queries are performed after users specify the data to be queried, query parameters and the area in the spreadsheet that will hold the query results. The columns and rows containing the new data subset are then referenced and incorporated in new chart displays. Spreadsheet data manipulation is also often applied to compute statistics for query results at intermediate points in the evaluation. Additional charting, querying and data manipulation continue through as many additional repetitions as desired.
While the results of spreadsheet-based visual data evaluations are recognized to have substantial value, only limited evaluations can be undertaken before the detailed, cumbersome, and error-prone nature of identifying and developing new charts and keeping track of the relationships between the new queries and charts and the query and chart histories overtakes the ability of the user to interpret the information.
Commercially available database management software (DBMS) also represents data in a tabular format; however, instead of the row and column terminology, database data is generally referenced as records and fields. DBMS typically provides greater flexibility in query operations including the computation of a limited number of statistics. Although queries of great complexity may be formulated using DBMS, this software is much more difficult to use than is spreadsheet software. The standard Structured Query Language (SQL) is entered in English-like commands; however, complicated and rigorously structured syntax makes SQL querying a difficult process for users to master. Table or form-based procedures such as Query-by-Example (QBE) have been developed to convert form and table input into query results, and while these developments have decreased the burden of SQL query formulation somewhat, they certainly have not eliminated it.
More recent DBMS and spreadsheet software systems apply graphical user interface (GUI) techniques which allow users to select icons, symbols or other representations presented on the display to specify query details. While software in this later category is often said to provide "graphical" queries (applying the word "graphical" as it is used in the term GUI), a more appropriate characterization is "symbolic query". That is, the user selects symbols from the display to specify a query. Symbols include icons, tables, text, pictures and other representations which connotate data or query operations.
While symbolic systems provide a more intuitive query process than SQL thereby reducing the number of errors inexperienced SQL users might otherwise make, they still require the user to conceptually comprehend complicated database or spreadsheet processes and structures in order to master a series of detailed procedures to define query criteria and relationships.
One of the most important DBMS operations is the "join" operation which is applied to relational databases to combine data from two separate database tables into a single table for further processing. Users must specify commands in SQL text or use mouse selections in symbolic systems to select the tables to be joined and to identify the variables to be included in the resulting table. The problem with this process is that each time the user wants to combine a new set of variables from different tables or wants to include another variable in the current table, a new join operation must be completed. While the relational database approach of storing data in separate tables provides an efficient and flexible model for maintaining the physical database system, it also adds the additional burdens on the user who possess an understanding of the table structure of the database and must perform table joins each time variables are used from different tables.
DBMS also requires the same kind of detailed, sequential step-by-step data manipulation, query and charting process described for spreadsheet software. As a result, DBMS is even more difficult to use in its application to visual data evaluation. Consequently, the currently available spreadsheet and DBMS software, except in the simplest cases, is woefully inadequate in its application to visual data evaluation.
One problem that limits the value of the currently available spreadsheet and DBMS software systems in visual data evaluation is that the large number of detailed steps required in data manipulation, querying and charting severely limit the user's ability to remember and process database information.
Another problem with such software systems is that the charting process, which is the primary visual mode for presenting and discovering information, is provided only as a final visual documentation of data selection and manipulation which have already occurred rather than as an integrated part of the visual data evaluation process itself. Consequently, users do not receive interactive, visual feedback from manipulation of the database that occurs with queries and browsing activities.
Yet another problem with existing DBMS and, to a lesser degree, spreadsheet software is the complex, highly structured and non-intuitive nature of database and spreadsheet query processes and the resulting difficulty in mastering such systems.
Yet another problem with existing software systems is that separate "join" operations must be applied to data from different tables prior to accessing the data in a single combined table.
Still another problem is that the visual data evaluations quickly become confusing as the user loses an understanding of the evolution of previous graphical, statistical and query steps.
The problems with currently available software are becoming even more severe as increased use of databases and greater need for information is occurring at the same time that rapidly increasing communications networks and workstations are making these data available to users who are generally less proficient in the tools needed to efficiently and accurately access database information.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a new, simpler software system for visually evaluating information in complex databases. This new system should support rather than tax human cognitive abilities throughout the data evaluation process. The system should also provide a new intuitive visual context for browsing and querying data by means other than lengthy, detailed procedures employing formal language statements or symbolic query representations. Rather, users should be able to directly view, evaluate and query data with simple operations on a single comprehensive dynamic representation of the database. Such new method should also be able to accomplish complex queries while at the same time be easily understandable to novice database users. Further, the method should also allow users to select all database variables without having to conduct separate join operations prior to accessing the data. Finally, the system must be directly applicable to a broad base of existing database systems and network environments.


Disclosed is a motor fixing structure of a reciprocating compressor comprising: a front frame having a predetermined shape; a middle frame positioned with a certain interval from the front frame; an outer stator positioned between the front frame and the middle frame so that an inner stator can be positioned with a certain interval therein; a coupling means for fixing the outer stator positioned between the front frame and the middle frame by coupling the front frame and the middle frame to each other; and a sliding preventing means installed between the outer stator and the front frame contacting each other and/or between the outer stator and the middle frame contacting each other for preventing sliding. According to this, a motor assembly is simplified, and abrasion and damage of components are prevented by preventing a motor assembly dimension variation during driving.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reciprocating compressor, and more particularly, to a motor fixing structure of a reciprocating compressor capable of simplifying a motor assembly and preventing an assembly dimension variation after the motor assembly.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
Generally, a reciprocating compressor is an apparatus for sucking and compressing refrigerant gas in accordance with a piston reciprocates in a cylinder. The reciprocating compressor is largely divided into two methods by a driving mechanism. One is a method that a rotary motion of a motor is converted into a linear reciprocation motion thus to be transmitted to a piston, and the other is a method that a linear reciprocation motion of a motor is directly transmitted to a piston.
FIG. 1 is a view showing one embodiment of a reciprocating compressor in which a linear reciprocation motion of a motor is directly transmitted to a piston. As shown, the reciprocating compressor comprises a casing 10 to which a gas suction pipe 1 and a gas discharge pipe 2 are coupled, a front frame 20 and a middle frame 30 installed in the casing 10 with a certain interval by being elastically supported, a driving motor 40 installed between the front frame 20 and the middle frame 30 for generating a driving force, a cylinder 50 inserted into the front frame 20, a piston 60 for receiving a driving force of the driving motor 40 and thus linearly reciprocating in the cylinder 50, a rear frame 70 for covering the piston 60, a resonance spring 80 for inducing resonance by elastically supporting the piston 60, and a valve assembly 90 for opening and closing a gas channel in order to suck and compress gas into the cylinder 50 according to a linear reciprocation of the piston 60.
The driving motor 40 includes an outer stator 41 mounted between the front frame 20 and the middle frame 30, an inner stator 42 inserted into the outer stator 41 with a certain interval and mounted at the front frame 20, a winding coil 43 coupled to the outer stator 41, and a mover linear-movably inserted between the outer stator 41 and the inner stator 42. The mover 44 is composed of a holder 45 of a cylindrical shape and a plurality of magnets 46 coupled to the holder 45, and the holder is connected to the piston 60.
An unexplained reference number 100 denotes a coupling bolt, 101 denotes a nut, 102 denotes a discharge cover, and 103 denote a valve spring.
Operation of the reciprocating compressor will be explained as follows.
First, when an electric power source is applied to the driving motor 40, a flux is formed at the outer stator 41 and the inner stator 42 by an electric current applied to the winding coil 42 of the driving motor 40. By an interaction between said flux and a flux formed by the mover 44, the mover 44 linearly reciprocates and thereby the piston 60 linearly reciprocates in the cylinder 50. By a pressure difference inside of the cylinder 50 by the linear reciprocation of the piston 60, the valve assembly 90 opens and closes a gas channel thus to suck gas into the cylinder 50, compress, and discharge. Said processes are repeated and thereby gas is continuously compressed.
A performance and a reliability of the reciprocating compressor are influenced by an air gap between the outer stator 41 and the inner stator 42 into which the mover 44 of the driving motor is inserted. Accordingly, at the time of assembling the reciprocating compressor, it is important to assemble the driving motor 40 in a condition that the air gap of the driving motor 40 can be maintained as it is. Also, it is important to maintain the air gap constantly even at the time of driving the reciprocating compressor.
In the conventional motor fixing structure of the reciprocating compressor, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inner stator 42 is fixedly coupled to a cylindrical body 21 of the front frame, and one side surface of the outer stator 41 is in contact with an inner side surface of a plate portion 22 of the front frame extending and formed at one side of the cylindrical body 21 with a certain area. Also, one side surface of the middle frame 30 having a predetermined thickness and an area is in contact with the other side surface of the outer stator 41. A plurality of coupling bolts 100 are inserted into the front frame 20 and the middle frame 30 with a certain interval, and the nuts 101 are coupled to the coupling bolts 100 thus to couple the front frame 20 and the middle frame 30 to each other. By the coupling between the front frame 20 and the middle frame 30, the outer stator 41 is fixedly coupled.
The outer stator 41 is formed in accordance with thin plates L1 of a predetermined shape are radially stacked as a cylindrical shape. At this time, the thin plates L1 are radially stacked on the winding coil 43 of a ring shape. The outer stator 41 and the winding coil 43 positioned in the outer stator 41 are molded with a plastic resin material for insulation and shape maintenance.
The inner stator 42 is formed as a cylindrical shape having a certain length in accordance with thin plates L2 of a quadrangular shape are radially stacked at an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 21 of the front frame.
The construction components are assembled by using a jig in order to constantly maintain an interval between an inner circumferential surface of the outer stator 41 and an outer circumferential surface of the inner stator 42 and an interval between the inner/outer circumferential surfaces and the mover 44 inserted therebetween.
In the conventional motor fixing structure, the outer stator 41 is fixed by coupling the plurality of coupling bolts 100 and the nuts 101 in a state that the front frame 20 and the middle frame 30 are respectively in contact with both side surfaces of the outer stator 41, thereby simplifying the structure, reducing an assembly dimension modification for the air gap maintenance, and thus enabling a great quantity of production. However, a fixing of the driving motor 40 becomes inferior by a vibration generated when the compressor is operated, that is, when gas is sucked and compressed while the piston 60 linearly reciprocates in the cylinder 50, so that the air gap is not constantly maintained. Additionally, when the motor is operated for a long time, a dimension of the outer stator 41 is diminished by a molding of the outer stator 41, thereby increasing a dimension variance of the air gap. According to this, the mover 44 linearly reciprocating between the outer stator 41 and the inner stator 42 is in contact with the outer stator 41 and the inner stator 42, thereby causing abrasion and damage of the components and thus degrading a reliability of a product.

Motor fixing structure of reciprocating compressor


The invention is directed to a running wheel for traveling units which are movable on rails, especially for traveling cranes. The running wheel includes an outer running ring, a resilient damping hub inserted in central opening of the running ring. The hub transmits torque received from a drive shaft to the running ring. The resilient damping hub effectively intercepts occurring torque peaks forward of the gear unit and drive shaft, by elastically deforming while maintaining a connection at the central opening of the running ring without play.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a running wheel for traveling units which are movable on rails, especially for traveling cranes. More specifically, the present invention relates to a running wheel in which destructive torque peaks are effectively damped by a resilient hub positioned between the drive shaft and the running rim, said running rim contacting the rail on which the running wheels roll.
2. Description of the Related Art
The German Utility Model DE 83 13 096 U1 discloses a driven running wheel for a vehicle which is movable on rails, especially for a crane, which has a running ring (roller lining) and an internally-toothed wheel hub being shrunk within a central opening of the running ring. The internal toothing of the wheel hub is arranged symmetrically to a vertical center plane of the running wheel. The running wheel is supported via roller bearings on the tubular axle of the running wheel. The axle is in turn connected with a supporting structure of the running wheel so that it is fixed with respect to rotation relative to it. A drive shaft of a transmission or gear unit projects into the hub and is in a frictional engagement for transmitting torque. For this purpose, the connection between the drive shaft and the hub is effected via a plurality of cooperating toothed wheels which form a planetary gear set arranged within the hub.
A disadvantage in this prior art running wheel is that torque peaks, such as those occurring when the direction of the running wheel is changed, are directly applied to the gear unit, which results, at best, in a reduced life of the gear unit. At worst, in the event of extreme overloading, the gear unit is destroyed. A further disadvantage of this prior art running wheel is that the hub of this running wheel is complicated and therefore difficult to manufacture.
To prevent bending moments and transverse forces from being transmitted to a drive shaft, it is known, for example, from German reference DE 40 21 054 C2, to arrange a resilient element between a gear unit and a connection steel plate (housing), forward of the gear unit, in a torque converter bearing not of the generic type. For this purpose, the resilient element is constructed as an outer ring with internal toothing which is produced from plastic that is deformable under tension.
Another prior art crane running wheel is known from German reference DE-OS 2 034 107. This prior art crane running wheel is formed entirely from plastic and an internal toothing of this prior art running wheel engages the toothing of a drive shaft. Such prior art crane running wheels can only be used with relatively small carried loads, since plastic does not have the strength of steel or cast iron.

Running wheel for traveling units which are movable on rails, especially for traveling cranes