Electroluminescent panels for use in battery operated devices include a driver circuit and a plurality of panel regions having a capacitance. Each panel region has a substitute capacitor with a capacitance substantially equal to the capacitance of the panel region concerned. The driver circuit switches between the panel region and the substitute capacitor, switching the panel region on and off. The capacitance of the load on the driver circuit does not change. The electroluminescent panels can have an elimination layer that eliminates noise produced by the emission layer in operation caused by changes in emission layer thickness. The elimination layer is added to the panel and operated in phase opposition to the emission layer. Changes in layer thickness occurring in operation in the emission layer are offset by changes in thickness in the elimination layer. Thus, the overall thickness of the panel is constant.

1. Field of the Invention
The inventions relate to electroluminescent lighting.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
Electroluminescent panels are thin planar light emitting devices commonly employed to provide backlighting in a variety of the display applications, including for example laptop computers, personal digital assistants, wristwatches and a myriad of other electronic devices. One product for which electroluminescent panels are becoming increasingly prevalent is mobile phones. Generally, many of the mobile phones which are currently being produced have large backlit displays. The large displays allow a user to operate the telephone by selecting options from a displayed menu, or to receive and display data via a wireless Internet service.
Electroluminescent (EL) panels are now also being used to light up cover parts of the phone, e.g. for lighting up the rear cover for signaling or fun. Hereto, an EL panel (thin film panel) is placed under the phone cover. The EL panel typically comprises a plurality of panel regions, that can be activated separately or simultaneously. The panel regions can be different in shape and size an may form a pattern that can be used to create animations. Thus, lighting patterns can be formed that can be used to signal different information to a user.
A typical EL panel comprises a thin emission layer including an EL phosphor—a compound that emits light when excited by an electrical field—in a dielectric substrate disposed between two thin, electrically conductive electrode layers. At least one of these layers is optically transparent at the wavelength of the EL emission. By applying a high voltage across the two electrode layers, an electric field is induced between them. The phosphor is thereby excited to a higher energy state. When the electric field is removed, the atoms fall back to a lower energy state, emitting photons as visible light in the process.
Due to its structure—two conductive electrodes with a dielectric layer between them—the EL panel functionally behaves as a capacitor. The electric field induced by the applied voltage thus decreases as a charge accumulates on one of the electrodes, and correspondingly the light production of the phosphor is attenuated or the phosphor will at charge saturation conditions even cease to emit light.
Alternating current (AC) voltage must accordingly be applied to the electrodes of the EL panel to maintain continuous illumination. Typically, AC voltage in the frequency range of 300 Hz to 3000 Hz is used to drive EL panels.
In most applications, e.g. battery powered devices, the driver circuit for the EL panel is required to convert a low direct current battery voltage, such as 1.5, 3.0, 3.7 or 12 volts, into a voltage across the electrodes of the lamp that is 100-300 Volts or more, and having an alternating polarity.
Numerous circuits and systems exist within the prior art for driving EL panels from low voltage batteries. Typically, these driver circuits comprise an inverter incorporating inductors to step-up and convert the DC voltage to AC.
As previously mentioned, EL panels functionally behave as capacitors. The prior art EL panel driver circuits are designed to operate with one EL panel with a matching capacitance. As an EL panel ages, the capacitance of the lamp decreases, and without compensation, this decrease in capacitance causes the intensity of the panel to dim over time since the impendence of the drive circuit no longer matches the load.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,150 discloses a driver circuit including an inverter for driving an EL panel that compensates for changes in capacitance of the EL panel by voltage feedback and an oscillator being responsive to the feedback voltage to generate a time varying signal. Thus, capacitance changes caused by aging can be substantially compensated.
One of the problems with EL panels that comprise a plurality of panel regions is—as experienced by the inventors—emission intensity changes of lit panel regions when other panel regions are switched on or off. These intensity changes are perceived by observers as flaring. The panel regions can be of different size and correspondingly different capacitance. The capacitance of the load connected to the driver circuit varies therefore significantly when EL panel regions are switched on and off. The driver circuit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,150, that may partially reduce these undesired effects, is however complex, expensive and undesirable from an economic point of view in mass produced articles.
Another inherent problem with EL panels is that in operation, such devices emit acoustic energy within the audible range of sound waves, producing an associated objectionable buzz or hum. Specifically, the front electrode and rear electrode vibrate due to the fact that they are alternately attracted to each other (when an electric field is present) and relaxed (when the electric field is not present). Due to this vibration, air is displaced as the volume between the two electrodes is alternately compressed and then returned decompressed. This audible noise is particularly problematic in applications such as mobile phones, which in operation are held in very close proximity to the user's ear and in which any appreciable noise interferes with the use and operability of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,789,870 discloses an approach to reducing the noise generated by EL panels. This patent describes a drive circuit, which predicts the transitions from positive to negative charge, and vice versa, and effectively damps these transitions. By increasing the rise and fall times of the voltage pulses applied to the electroluminescent lamp, the transitions of charge at the front and rear electrodes of the lamp are less abrupt. This in turn reduces the rate of physical deformation of the lamp electrodes resulting from opposite electrical charges, and reduces the audible output of the EL panel.
The solution described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,789,870, however, requires a complex electronic driving circuit, comprising a plurality of operational amplifiers, transistors, diodes, resistors, and capacitors. The component values of these circuit elements must be selected so as to operate properly at each desired frequency.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,563,271 discloses another approach to reduce the noise generated by EL panels. This patent describes a drive circuit for a lighting system with at least two panel regions and a driver circuit that is configured to alternately charge the electrodes of a first EL panel region while simultaneously discharging the electrodes of a second EL panel region and vice versa, preferably at the same rate. The noise produced by compression of the electrodes of the first EL panel region is thus cancelled by the noise created by the decompression of the electrodes of the second EL panel region, thereby substantially.
The solution described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,563,271, however, requires a complex electronic driving circuit, and is less useful for EL panels in which panel regions are selectively switched on and off, since the noise can only be canceled effectively if an even number of panel regions is active.


Capacity of space in a drawing furnace is decreased so as to reduce variations in pressure in the furnace and also the side of an insertion port of a glass perform is stably sealed. When drawing is started, an outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber glass preform 11 is sealed with a first seal part 17 of the seal mechanism. After a vicinity of a taper part of the optical fiber glass preform 11 starts to pass through the first seal part 17, switching to a second seal part 18 arranged above the first seal part 17 is performed, and an outer peripheral surface of a sleeve member 20 fixed so as to surround an outer periphery of the dummy rod 12 is sealed with the second seal part 18.

An optical fiber glass preform (hereinafter called a glass preform) is heated and melted by a heater etc. to thereby draw an optical fiber through a drawing furnace. Since the temperature of the inside of the drawing furnace becomes very high (2000° C. or higher), carbon is normally used in, for example, a furnace core tube for surrounding the glass preform. This carbon is oxidized and consumed in a high-temperature oxygen-containing atmosphere. In order to prevent this state, nitrogen gas or rare gas such as argon gas or helium gas (hereinafter called an inert gas etc.) is fed to the inside of the drawing furnace.
Also, normally, a diameter of the upper end of the glass preform is decreased in a taper shape and a dummy rod (also called a support rod) with a small diameter is connected and the glass preform is hung and supported inside the furnace core tube of the drawing furnace, but it is difficult to seal a joining portion of the dummy rod and the tapered portion with the diameter changing greatly, and it is difficult to fill the inside of the drawing furnace with the inert gas etc. As a result, there is a method in which an upper chamber is formed above the drawing furnace in a form of upwardly extending the furnace core tube and the glass preform including the joining portion of the dummy rod and the tapered portion is received inside the upper chamber and an outer peripheral surface of the dummy rod is sealed with the upper end of the upper chamber.
However, in this method, as drawing of the glass preform progresses and the glass preform is downwardly moved, capacity of space in the upper chamber is increased, with the result that pressure in the furnace varies and the flow of gas such as the inert gas fed to the inside of the furnace core tube changes with time and thereby, the amount of heat transfer of a melt part of the glass preform changes and the diameter of the glass fiber during the drawing varies.
On the other hand, for example, Patent Reference 1 discloses a method for forming a pipe with the same diameter as that of a glass preform above the glass preform and maintaining capacity of space in an upper chamber substantially constant even when drawing of the glass preform progresses.
FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of a drawing furnace disclosed in Patent Reference 1 described above. A glass preform 1 has a diameter contracted part 1c (also called a seed rod) in which a diameter of the upper end of a straight trunk part 1a (body part) is contracted through a taper part 1b, and is hung and supported by joining a dummy rod 2 (a shaft or a support rod) to the diameter contracted part 1c using, for example, a joining member 3. The outside of the dummy rod 2 is provided with a quartz pipe 10 having substantially the same outside diameter as an outside diameter of the straight trunk part 1a of the glass preform 1, and a pipe lower end 10a abuts on the peripheral edge of the taper part 1b of the glass preform 1.
A heating furnace is constructed by providing the outside of a furnace core tube 4 with a heater 5 and covering the outside of the heater 5 with a heat insulating material and surrounding the whole by a furnace cabinet 6, and an upper chamber 9 including a seal unit 7 is installed on an upper surface of the furnace cabinet 6. In addition, an inert gas etc. are supplied to the inside of the furnace core tube 4 from a gas supply port 9a formed in the upper chamber 9. According to this configuration of FIG. 5A, the quartz pipe 10 having the same diameter is downwardly moved together as the glass preform 1 is downwardly moved, with the result that space (capacity) in the drawing furnace can be maintained constant.
On the other hand, for example, Patent Reference 2 discloses a known method for continuously sealing a joining portion of a dummy rod and a tapered portion of a glass preform with a diameter changing greatly without using an upper chamber.
FIG. 5B is a diagram schematically showing a drawing furnace disclosed in Patent Reference 2 described above. This drawing furnace includes a first seal unit 7 with which a gap between a glass preform 1 and an insertion port into a heating furnace is sealed, and a second seal unit 8 for forming a seal so as to cover a taper part 1b when the taper part 1b with a contracted diameter of the glass preform 1 passes through the insertion port.
Like the example of FIG. 5A, the glass preform 1 has a diameter contracted part 1c whose diameter is contracted through the taper part 1b above a straight trunk part 1a, and is hung and supported by joining a dummy rod 2 to the diameter contracted part 1c using, for example, a joining member 3. The heating furnace is constructed by providing the outside of a furnace core tube 4 with a heater 5 and covering the outside of the heater 5 with a heat insulating material and surrounding the whole by a furnace cabinet 6.
An upper surface of the furnace cabinet 6 is provided with the first seal unit 7 with which the straight trunk part 1a of the glass preform 1 is sealed. And, the upper end side of the glass preform 1 is provided with the second seal unit made of a cap member 8 (cylindrical member) having a seal part 8a for sealing the dummy rod 2 insertably so as to surround the taper part 1b, the diameter contracted part 1c and the joining member 3. In addition, an inert gas etc. are supplied to the inside of the furnace core tube 4 from a gas supply port 7a formed in the first seal unit 7.
When drawing of the glass preform 1 progresses and the taper part 1b of the glass preform 1 reaches the first seal unit 7, the cap member 8 which is the second seal unit abuts on the first seal unit 7 as shown by a broken line, and the portions of the joining member 3 and the diameter contracted part 1c above the taper part 1b are sealed. As a result, after the taper part 1b of the glass preform 1 passes through the first seal unit 7, the drawing can subsequently be continued with a sealed state maintained.
In addition, other seal units include, for example, a structure of forming a seal using a pressing mechanism for bringing plural blade members into contact with an outer peripheral surface as disclosed in Patent Reference 3.

Optical fiber drawing method and optical fiber drawing apparatus


In a vehicle control system in which a large number of ECUs operate in coordination via a network, each node has an intra-network node status determination section, other node's status decision transmitting/other nodes' status decision receiving section, and failed-node identification section. The nodes exchange decisions made by the intra-network node status evaluation section with other nodes and thereby identify failed node.

The present invention relates to a vehicle control system in which a plurality of electronic control units are connected via a network.
Recently, vehicle control systems which reflect accelerator pedal, steering wheel, braking pedal, and other operations performed by a driver in driving force, steering force, and braking force generating mechanisms by means of electronic control rather than mechanical coupling have been developed actively to improve driving comfort and safety. In such a system, a plurality of electronic control units (ECU) distributed over the vehicle perform coordinated operation by exchanging data via a network. When an ECU within the network develops a fault, it is essential for fail-safe purposes that the remaining normal ECUs identify the faulty ECU accurately and perform appropriate backup control depending on the faulty spot. Incidentally, ECUs connected to a network may be referred to as nodes hereinafter.
To solve the above problem, JP-A-2000-47894 describes a technique in which each node of a system monitors status of the other nodes in a network.


Disclosed herein are methods and systems for flexible fast network switching. In an embodiment, a wireless-communication device has a first chipset compatible with first and second bands and a second chipset compatible with the first band and a third band. The device selects a mode for switching among two or more of the bands. In a first mode with respect to the first and second bands, the device obtains service on the first band via the first chipset. In the first mode with respect to the first and third bands, the device obtains service on the first band via the second chipset. In a second mode with respect to the first and second bands, the device obtains service on the first band via the second chipset. In the second mode with respect to the first and third bands, the device obtains service on the first band via the first chipset.

Many people in today's world engage in various forms of wireless communication via various wireless networks using various wireless-communication devices (WCDs), which are often also or instead referred to using terms such as access terminals, user equipment, mobile radios, mobile stations, mobile devices, and the like. Some example types of commonly used WCDs include cell phones, smartphones, tablets, laptops, mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, and the like.
WCDs are typically equipped, programmed, and configured to be able to engage in one or more types of wireless communication, according to one or more wireless-communication protocols. In a typical arrangement, a WCD includes one or more wireless-communication chipsets for each type of wireless communication in which that device is able to engage; moreover, some chipsets are capable of engaging in multiple types of wireless communication. In general, a given chipset is typically engineered to be compatible with one or more wireless-communication bands, each of which is typically associated with a given wireless network. Some chipsets are compatible with a set of bands that are all associated with the same network, while other chipsets are compatible with a set of bands that includes at least two different bands that are respectively associated with two different networks.
It is often the case that, in order to gain access to a given wireless network using a given chipset, that chipset includes or is connected by circuitry to a security credential for authenticating on that network. One common example form that such a security credential can take is that of a subscriber identity module (SIM), often referred to as a SIM card. Some wireless networks are commercial in nature, and associated WCDs are correspondingly equipped with compatible commercial SIMs; other wireless networks are operated by and/or for public-safety devices, and associated WCDs are correspondingly equipped with compatible public-safety SIMs. And certainly there are other types of SIMs as well.
Moreover, in the context of a WCD being compatible with multiple different wireless networks, it often occurs, for any one of a variety of possible reasons, that the WCD either makes its own determination or receives a (local or remote) command to switch from obtaining wireless service from one network on one band to obtaining wireless service from a different network on a different band. One common example of such a transition is known in the art as roaming. Some example reasons for a given transition from one network to another include loss of coverage and/or service from the first network, mobility of the WCD, relative cost of operating on the networks, network load-balancing considerations, the WCD being "homed" on a given network and not on another, and the like. Accordingly, there is a need for the present methods and systems for flexible fast network switching.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments. Moreover, the apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Method and apparatus for flexible fast network switching


A method for transmitting content data includes receiving content data, and passing at least a portion of the content data based on a size of the received content data. A method for transmitting content data includes receiving content data, and passing at least a portion of the content data based on a prescribed rate. A method for transmitting content data includes receiving content data, and passing at least a portion of the content data before performing policy enforcement on the content data.

1. Field
The field of the invention relates to computer systems and computer networks, and more particularly, to systems, networks, and methods for passing content of computer and network traffic.
2. Background
Policy enforcement is an important gateway function, which is performed between a gateway and a user. Policy enforcement performed by a gateway product may include, for examples, source verification, destination verification, user authentication, anti-virus, content scanning, content detection, and intrusion detection.
Generally, existing gateway products receive a request for policy enforcement sent by a user, perform policy enforcement, and then transmit the request to a server. In response to the user's request, the server sends a reply back to the gateway, which then performs further policy enforcement. After performing this second policy enforcement, the gateway passes the reply to the user.
The connection (i.e., the data transmission rate) between the gateway and the server is generally slower than the connection between the gateway and the user. As such, there may be a lag time before the gateway receives all of the data of a reply (or a prescribed amount of data) from the server. In addition, existing gateway products are generally configured to first receive all data of a reply from a server, and then perform policy enforcement on the reply before passing the reply to the user. Thus, the user may experience a lag time before the reply from the server reaches the user. When the user is a computer program, such as an email software or a web browser, this lag time may result in a timeout at the user side, or may give an end user the wrong impression that the reply did not come back or that a transmission error had occurred. In some cases, this lag time may lead to the user terminating or canceling the request.
Accordingly, systems and methods for passing content of computer and network traffic would be useful.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for passing network traffic content


Disclosed is a circuit including a sensor, a battery and a reservoir capacitance, the sensor being configured to generate sensor data and the capacitance being provided by one or more discrete capacitors. A first circuit component is configured to drain current from the battery to the reservoir capacitor to store energy in the reservoir capacitor at a safe rate. The safe rate does not adversely affect the battery's life. A second circuit component is configured to generate a series of data packets including sensor data at particular time intervals. A third circuit component is configured to transmit the series of data packets with the stored energy of the reservoir capacitor so that the transmitting does not drain the reservoir capacitor of all stored energy.

There are many different types of sensors that collect sensor data. For example, there are tyre pressure sensors, light sensors, motion sensors, smoke sensors, heat sensors, to name a few. Sensors of different types utilise batteries for power so that they can be used remotely. That is, there may be a need for a sensor to be installed or used where it is not hardwired into an electrical system. In such a case, a sensor would most likely be battery powered.
In certain applications, a sensor circuit can include a wireless transmitter. The sensor data collected by the sensor therefore can be wirelessly transmitted so that a receiver can receive the sensor data. The sensor data can be used in various applications.

Circuits and methods for current drain of a battery for wireless sensor data transmission


The invention relates to a cooling system for a fuel cell, comprising a main heat-transfer-fluid circuit including a circulation pump (6) and a heat exchanger (8) with the exterior, which feed an upstream pipe (12) supplying the fluid to the cells (4) of the fuel cell, said fluid leaving the cells via a downstream pipe (14) in order to return to the main pump. The invention is characterized in that the main circuit comprises a three-port controlled valve (10, 16) on each upstream (12) and downstream (14) pipe, the third available port (10c) of the upstream pipe (12) being connected to the inlet of the pump (6) and the third available port (16c) of the downstream pipe (14) being connected to the outlet of the pump in order to establish a secondary fluid circuit.

The present invention relates to a cooling system for a fuel cell that generates electricity and also relates to a method of operation of such a cooling system, as well as to an electricity-generating group and an automobile vehicle comprising a fuel cell equipped with this cooling system.
Fuel cells are developed today in particular for equipping vehicles as a replacement for internal combustion engines and they permit obtaining a better yield of energy than that of internal combustion engines by producing electricity used by an electrical traction machine.
Fuel cells generally comprise a stack of elementary cells comprising two electrodes separated by an electrolyte, and two conductive plates that supply the fuel and the oxidizer to the electrodes by internal conduits. The electrochemical reactions that take place upon contact with the electrodes generate an electric current and produce water while releasing a heat energy that heats the different components.
In order to function correctly the fuel cells must be at a certain temperature range, depending on the type, between 60 and 800° C. The heat released by the starting of the reactions when the cell is cold serves, at first, to heat the cells in order bring them to the desired operating temperature.
In order to regulate the temperature of the cells, the fuel cells comprise a cooling system comprising a heat-conveying fluid circuit put in circulation by a pump that comes in contact with these cells in order take on heat while heating up. The fluid then circulates in a heat exchanger in order to cool down, in particular by exchange with the ambient air.
A problem that is posed in the case of a starting of the fuel cell that is at a temperature lower than 0° C. is that the water produced by the electrochemical reaction is at risk of freezing as long as this temperature is below this threshold of 0° C. The fuel cell can then not function correctly and risks being destroyed.
In order to remedy this problem a known cooling system presented in particular in the document EP-A1-0074701 comprises a cooling circuit comprising a first circulation loop with the heat exchanger and a pump that always pumps in the same direction, and a second circulation loop that traverses the cells.
The two circulation loops intersect at a single point at the level of a four-way valve that can be placed in two positions. Two of the four channels always serve as one for the entrance and the other for the exit for the first circulation loop, and the two other channels allow the second loop to be arranged in series with the first loop in order to receive a circulation in one direction for one position of the valve and in the other direction for the other position.
While the pump is delivering in the first loop in a continuous manner in one and the same direction an automatic actuation of the four-way valve from one position to the other allows the direction of the passage of the heat-conveying fluid to be alternated in the second loop and therefore in the cells.
Thus, a cold frequent alternating of the direction of the circulation of the fluid in the cells is realized with a circulation of the same reduced volume of fluid traversing these cells in one direction then in the other direction. The same volume of fluid exits on one side of the cells as a function of the discharge of fluid and of the frequency of alternation in order to reenter thereagain after the changing of the direction of circulation.
The implementation of a low volume of fluid comprising an alternating movement allows obtaining a good uniformity of the temperature at all points of the cells and between the cells situated at the center of the stack and those at the ends by the fluid that exchanges and distributes the heat, as well as a concentration of the heat that remains in the cells and in the parts of the conduits close to these cells as the fluid does not circulate beyond these close parts.
Thus, a more rapid starting and rise of temperature of the fuel cell can be obtained before having to dissipate heat to the outside by the continuous manner of operation comprising a single direction of flow in which the fluid traverses the cells and passes into the heat exchanger in order to cool down.
A problem that is posed with this cooling circuit is that it requires a four-way valve that is relatively complex and expensive to produce. Moreover, the two loops intersecting at a single point form a specific circuit is not always easy to achieve in a simple manner starting from a conventional circuit comprising a single main loop.

COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES


According to one of aspects, an electronic device, includes: a first communication unit configured to perform communication using a first communication scheme; a second communication unit configured to perform communication using a second communication scheme; and a control unit. When the first communication unit detects an incoming call, the control unit transfers the incoming call to which information linked with an incoming call number of the incoming call is added from the second communication unit to a specific electronic device.

Techniques are known in which, when an incoming call is received by a mobile phone, communication related to the incoming call is performed using another electronic device. For example, a separated mobile phone of wireless headset type, which includes a wireless communication module supporting Bluetooth (registered trademark), has been developed. This technique allows a user to make or receive a phone call with a headset attached to his or her ear and a mobile phone placed inside a bag.

Electronic device and call transfer control method


The present invention provides a method for producing a waterproof organic thin film being capable of restraining the generation of defects such as a crack. The method for producing a waterproof organic thin film includes a waterproofing step of preparing a long laminate having an organic thin film and bringing at least the organic thin film into contact with a waterproofing-treatment liquid, a washing step of washing at least the organic thin film surface of the long laminate, and a conveying step to be performed between the waterproofing step and the washing step, the conveying step being a step of conveying the long laminate from the waterproofing step to the washing step, wherein in the conveying step, the long laminate is conveyed while the waterproofing-treatment liquid remaining on the organic thin film surface is caused to flow relatively to the organic thin film surface.

Hitherto, in order to waterproof an organic thin film containing an organic colorant, the organic thin film is subjected to waterproofing treatment of bringing a waterproofing-treatment liquid into contact with the film (Patent Documents 1 to 4).
In the waterproofing treatment of the organic thin film, the organic thin film easily causes defects, for example, the film is cracked or peeled from the substrate.
Patent Document 2 discloses that a waterproofing treatment liquid containing a tetrahydroxyborate anion is used to waterproof an organic thin film, thereby making it possible to restrain the film from being cracked.
Patent Document 3 discloses that an organic thin film is continuously waterproofed without damaging the film mechanically, thereby making it possible to restrain a crack or other defects from being generated in the film.
The methods of Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 are each preferable since the generation of defects can be restrained when an organic thin film is waterproofed.
In the meantime, in the production of a long waterproof organic thin film, a waterproofed organic thin film is generally conveyed and washed.
In this conveying step, a crack or other defects may be generated in the organic thin film. Thus, it is necessary to overcome this inconvenience.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2010-266507
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2010-197760
Patent Document 3: JP-A-2009-292074
Patent Document 4: JP-A-2009-199075

Method for producing waterproof organic thin film


The present disclosure provides a navigation method, a shopping cart and a navigation system. The navigation method includes: after a user has selected a shopping cart, associating the user with the shopping cart; acquiring a position of the shopping cart and a parking spot where a vehicle of the user is located; and generating a navigation route in accordance with the position of the shopping cart and the parking spot where the vehicle of the user is located.

Many users drive to a shopping mall. However, due to such reasons as a relatively large distance between the shopping mall and a parking lot and a complicated path in the parking lot, usually it may take a long time for the user to find a parking spot. In addition, a large shopping mall is provided with many entrances and exits, and after shopping, it is difficult for the user to return to the parking spot immediately. In this case, the user may spend a long time finding the closest entrance and then returning to the parking spot by the same way the user came, or the user may try to find the parking spot via any other routes inside or outside the shopping mall.
Further, when finding the parking spot, the user needs to push a shopping cart, resulting in a waste of physical energy.

Navigation method, shopping cart and navigation system


An AC line voltage compensation method and controller for use with an AC welding system that is adapted to weld an article. Welding parameters are provided by an operator that are suitable for welding the article. A desired heating percentage is also input by the operator that is determinative of an RMS output voltage supplied by the AC welding system. The AC line voltage supplied to the AC welding system is measured by means of a voltmeter. The difference between the measured AC line voltage and a desired nominal AC line voltage is determined. The time at which heat is applied to the article is adjusted as a function of the measured difference to maintain the RMS output voltage supplied at the output of the AC welding system at a relatively constant level for all AC line voltages supplied to the AC welding system. More specifically, gain adjustment which provides for improved line voltage compensation, and which is controlled by means of a user programmed digital control panel, has been added to a line voltage compensation computational algorithm employed in an AC resistance welding controller. The use of the user programmed gain factor allows an operator to adjust the amount of compensation for a specific welding setup. The user adjusts the gain factor to modify a mathematically calculated term for line voltage compensation. The computed gain factor is used to set a variable time delay, after which an SCR is turned on. The variable time delay determines the phase angle of the AC pulse applied during each weld.

The present invention relates generally to resistance welding and thermocompression bonding systems, and the like, and more particularly, to line voltage compensation for AC resistance welding controllers employed in AC resistance welding and thermocompression bonding systems in which output power remains constant.
Prior schemes for line voltage compensation employed in AC resistance welding controllers have included analog and digital methods. Resistance welding controllers manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Company and Unitek, for example, have utilized an analog line voltage compensation scheme wherein weld phase angle varies with line voltage. In addition, Hughes Aircraft Company has employed a digital line voltage compensation scheme in certain resistance welding systems where line voltage is measured periodically and a compensation factor is adjusted based on the line voltage.
However, these schemes do not have the ability to compensate for the frequency response (transfer function) of the load circuit comprising welding pulse transformer, cables, and weldments. Without the ability to compensate for the aforementioned, traditional compensation methods are subject to overcompensation. When line voltage increases, and compensation is applied, the energy delivered to weldments decreases, or vice-versa.
Careful measurements have indicated that conventional line voltage compensation methods, either analog or digital (based on computational analysis only) is capable of overcompensating for line voltage variations. That is, a line voltage change (230 volts to 240 volts, for example) which would theoretically cause an 8.8% power increase actually yields a reduction of 3% after compensation. It is believed that the cause of overcompensation is a somewhat complex response between the load resistance, the transformer inductance, and the harmonic of the phase controlled, voltage waveform.
Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide for a line voltage compensation method for use in welders, such as resistance welding and thermocompression bonding systems, and the like, that eliminates the above-described overcompensation problem.

Line voltage compensation for AC resistance welding systems and the like


A bi-directional back stopping clutch having improved output pins connecting between brake shoes and an output member. During driving, the output pins transfer torque to the output member. When a sufficient back driving force is applied to the output member, the output pin is skewed to move the brake shoes into forceful contact with a brake drum surface. The contact surfaces between the pins and the brake shoes are flat meeting surfaces, and the pins may be spaced apart by including at least one spring or a combination of springs and spacers. The inner surface of the input yoke and the output member openings are laser hardened. The output member and the input member may be provided with a dual keyed hub at both ends, with the hub formed by machining a bore through the part and cutting the keys by broaching.

Bi-directional torque generator devices are well known which are adapted to selectively rotate an output shaft in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Usually, the output shaft of the device is connected to an input shaft of a driven device for rotation therewith, and rotation of the output shaft transmits torque to the driven device. In certain situations, however, the driven device may tend to back drive torque to the device. To prevent this back driving action, a back stopping clutch is usually coupled between the output shaft of the device and the input shaft of the driven device. A typical bi-directional back stopping clutch includes an input yoke connected to a pair of opposed brake shoes disposed within a hollow cylindrical brake drum. The brake shoes are generally semi-circular in shape, having arcuate braking surfaces which correspond to the inner surface of the brake drum. A pair of drive pins are disposed between the brake shoes, normally in parallel alignment. The drive pins extend into apertures formed in an output member, which is connected to the input shaft of a driven device.
Under normal operating conditions, the input yoke rotates the brake shoes, the drive pins, and the output member within the brake drum, thereby transmitting torque through to the driven device from the torque generating device. However, if the driven device attempts to back drive torque through the clutch, rotation of the output member causes the drive pins to become skewed. As a result, the brake shoes are spread apart from one another into locking frictional engagement with the inner surface of the brake drum. In this manner, the clutch prevents back driving of the torque generating device by the driven device.
The generally semi-circular brake shoes, which may include hardened wear-resistant inserts at the braking surfaces, are mounted in an opposing relationship. It is known in the prior art to form circular openings between the brake shoes at locations equally spaced on opposite sides of the axis of rotation for the input yoke. A pair of output pins extend between these openings and aligned openings on an output member. The output member is connected to an output shaft. These prior art shoe designs that utilize circular openings between the brake shoes require very tight tolerances, typically on the border of manufacturability, within the circular openings. As a result, a slight mismatch of pin radius and the circular openings formed between the brake shoes will prevent assembly or at least significantly compromise the clutch's performance. Additionally, the complicated geometry requires the use of castings which are then subjected to rough machining operations, increasing manufacturing time and expense.
Also in the prior art, the input yoke and the output member include "blind" holes requiring shaper cutting of key slots for both the input and output shafts. Again, tight tolerances are required for both the shaper cutting and the blind holes, and the shaper cutting keying process is very time consuming, difficult and expensive.
Prior art output pins have a generally cylindrically body with a quasi-spherical head at the end which fits into an output member opening. The spherical head allows the pin to tilt or skew in the output member opening sufficiently to engage the brake without interference between the skewed pins and the output member. The portion of the output pin between the brake shoes is formed with a uniform cylindrical body terminating at a flat end. Alternatively, it is known to construct an output pin having a generally spherical head and having two annular ridges, one adjacent the flat end of the pin and the other spaced between the two ends of the pin. In both cases, the generally cylindrical body of the pin engages the brake shoes within the generally circular openings formed between the brake shoes at locations equally spaced on opposite sides of the axis of rotation for the input yoke. A spring pocket is also formed in each brake shoe along the common border in a location between the circular openings formed between the brake shoes. The spring pocket requires machining a blind hole into each opposing brake shoe surface, and also requires tight manufacturing tolerances.
Thus, the manufacturing tolerances required for each respective component results in an overall total assembly stack-up tolerance. The total tolerance varies from one assembly to another. Further, the total tolerance can vary within each clutch assembly due to internal clearances of the parts. These differences can lead to a substantial variation in clutch performance between different assemblies.


A hand-held dispenser for precisely controlling the flow rate of water therethrough and for precisely controlling the metering of a liquid chemical into the water passing through the apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hand-held dispenser and more particularly to a hand-held dispenser which is capable of controlling the flow rate of water therethrough and for controlling the metering of a liquid chemical into the water passing through the dispenser.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many types of dispensers have been previously provided which may be connected to the end of a water hose or the like wherein the device introduces chemicals into the water flow so that a lawn or the like may be sprayed. The devices of the prior art are also able to inject liquid chemicals into a water stream so that a mop bucket, etc., may be filled with water, detergent or other chemicals.
To applicant's knowledge, none of the prior art devices are able to conveniently and economically not only precisely control the rate of water flow through the device but to also precisely control the metering of liquid chemicals into the precisely controlled flow of water.


A vehicle door handle device, which is mounted on a side of a vehicle door facing a passenger compartment, includes: a door lock knob provided on a base member such that the door lock knob is pivotable between a locking position for placing the door in a locked state and an unlocking position for placing the door in an unlocked position; and a stopper provided on the base member between the locking position and the unlocking position for limiting pivoting movement of the door lock knob. The stopper has an elastic section, and the door lock knob has a locking surface section for abutting against the elastic section of the stopper when the door lock knob is in the locking position and an unlocking surface section for abutting against the elastic section of the stopper when the door lock knob is in the unlocking position.

Many vehicles include a door handle device mounted on a side of a vehicle door facing a passenger compartment, one example of which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. HEI-8-184222 (hereinafter referred to as "the relevant prior patent literature").
The door handle device disclosed in the relevant prior patent literature comprises: a base member as a body mounted on the door; a door lock knob pivotably mounted on the base member for switching between locked and unlocked states of the door; and an operation handle mounted beneath the door lock knob and operable by a user to perform a door opening/closing operation.
The vehicle door handle devices proposed in recent years are constructed in such a manner that, as a user or vehicle occupant pivots the operation handle in a door opening direction with the door lock knob kept in a door locking position, the door lock knob is pivoted to a door unlocking position. Further, as the vehicle occupant gets out of the vehicle with a key held by the vehicle occupant and reaches a predetermined distance away from the vehicle, the door lock knob can be automatically pivoted to the door locking position. It is desirable if sound generated by the pivoting movement of the door lock knob can be suppressed, because such suppression of the sound can significantly enhance a high-class feeling of the vehicle.


Alkoxides with polymerizable groups are single source precursors for organic-inorganic hybrid composites possessing good mechanical properties. Additional function groups of the alkoxides provide enhanced adhesion to other surfaces, such as dentin. The selection of specific organic monomers having functional groups that are responsible for enhanced properties of the organic-inorganic hybrid composites is important. Single source precursors containing the desired functional groups are condensed and polymerized into the organic-inorganic hybrid composites with enhanced properties which are particularly useful as dental composites.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of organic-inorganic hybrid composites prepared by sol-gel chemistry for use as dental restorative material or as a bone substitute for bone repair.
2. Background Information
Composites have been used as dental restorative materials since 1962. Bioceramics, such as hydroxyapatite are widely used as bone substitutes; however, they are brittle in nature. Composites described in the present invention combine the properties of polymers and that of the ceramics to provide the necessary strength and toughness. Though the formulation of the composite materials have changed in the last three decades, the underlying chemical process involved has not changed. An acrylate monomer is used as the source of resin, and silica is used as the filler material. Though these composites have superior aesthetic qualities, there are still problems with the mechanical properties such as toughness and wear resistance, problems with adhesion to the dentin of the tooth, and problems with shrinkage of the composite material once it has been placed in the tooth and is cured. These problems are more of an issue when the composite is used for posterior restoration.
Durability is a major problem with posterior composite restoration material. Life spans of large fillings are usually fewer than five years, which can be attributed to inadequate resistance to wear of composites under masticatory friction. The insufficient interaction between the reinforcing filler and the resin binder may be responsible for the lack of wear resistance of these composite materials. It has been demonstrated that an ultra fine compact filled composite has a Young's modulus higher than that of dentin. These composites also have good Vickers hardness and high compressive strength. This improvement and the mechanical properties of the ultra fine compact filled composite may be the result of better binding of filler particles with the resin.
Two of the other major problems associated with the present day dental restorative materials are lack of adhesion to the dentin and shrinkage of the resin during polymerization. The lack of adhesion results in micro leakage and formation of secondary cracks along the interface between the tooth and the restorative material. The shrinkage often occurs during the conversion of monomer to polymer and works against the formation of an adhesive bond between the resin and the dentin of the tooth. The new fourth generation composite materials use a hydrophilic primer which can penetrate into the dentin and produce enhanced adhesion of the composite material. Conditioning of the dentin of the tooth and the use of hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as a primer results in sheer bond strengths of 17-20 megaPascal (MPa). Even though the use of these materials and the conditioning of the dentin increases sheer bond strengths to acceptable levels, shrinkage is often a problem.
The shrinkage of commercially available filled composite resin ranges from 2.6%-7.1%. These shrinkage values differ as a result of their monomer composition, various degrees of polymerization, filler type, and filler concentration. Use of oxaspiro monomers have been considered as the precursor for the resin, but these monomers expand 3.5%-3.9% in volume under polymerization conditions, which is not acceptable.
The properties of a composite material are greatly influenced by the degree of mixing between the inorganic (filler) and the organic (resin) phases. In a molecularly tailored system, an organically modified ceramic precursor will result in the synchronous formation of inorganic (silica) and organic (resin) components. Such a composite could be obtained by using sol-gel chemistry. The mixing of the inorganic and organic matrix in these composites is at the molecular level, and the particles are often nanometer sized. As expected, these hybrid nano-composite materials have toughness three orders of magnitude higher than the ceramic alone. Depending upon the morphology, phase behavior and organic-inorganic ratios, these composite materials comprise a continuum ranging from glass reinforced organic polymer to polymer modified glass.
Composites obtained using conventional sol-gel chemistry suffer from shrinkage problems as a result of evaporation of excess solvents and water. Ellsworth et al. (Chem. Mater. 5:839-844 (1993)) disclose the synthesis of non-shrinking sol-gel composites with higher glass content using a modified esterification process for synthesizing poly-silicic acid esters with unsaturated alcohols. This method eliminates most of the shrinkage problems and long drying times required with conventional composites. However, the materials produced according to these methods are solids which are not particularly useful as dental restorative material, which requires a liquid to gum-like consistency. Additionally, these materials will have problems adhering to the dentin, and thus do not address the adhesion problems of composites.
Goodwin and Kenney in Inorg. Chem. 29:1216-1220 (1990) disclose a method of converting a silicate to an alkoxysiloxane using very simple alcohols, such as methanol, butanol, and ethanol in the presence of hydrochloric acid. No transformation of these compounds to composites is disclosed. Further, there is no suggestion to select and use alcohols containing particular functional groups responsible for imparting improved properties to ceramics produced from these compounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,918 to Ehrnford discloses a method of producing a dental restorative composite of organic resin and inorganic porous particles; however, the composite is not a "true" organic-inorganic composite. Sol-gel chemistry is not used to obtain this composite.
Other patents disclose processes of making organic-inorganic hybrid polymers, which are not disclosed to be useful as dental restorative materials. U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,877 to Nass et al. disclose a process of fixing inorganic species in an organic matrix. Monomeric compounds were reacted with complexing agents which have polymerizable functional groups. Hydrolysis and condensation took place prior to polymerization and polycondensation. The concentration of inorganic species in the matrix was small. U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,156 discloses the preparation of organic-inorganic hybrid polymers. A 5%-25% R.sub.x Si(OR').sub.4-x was mixed with 95%-75% of an organic monomer capable of a polymerization reaction with the R group.
A good dental material should possess a long lifetime, high toughness or durability, high abrasion resistance, superior adhesion to dentin, approximately 0% shrinkage/expansion, good esthetics, and comparable radiopacity to the enamel. At the present time, there are no dental restorative materials available which have all of these characteristics. Thus, there is a need in the dental field for a restorative material which has all of these characteristics.
The present invention provides a unique approach to producing a hybrid composite for dental restorative purposes or as a bone substitute. By selecting specific monomers (alcohols) having desired functional groups, alkoxides (single source precursors) containing these functional groups are obtained via esterification, and then transformed to hybrid composites having advantageous properties. These hybrid composites possess good adhesiveness attributable to the presence of the functional groups of the monomer which during the method are transferred by esterification to the single source precursor. Polynuclear alkoxides of silicon, aluminum, titanium, or zirconium can be obtained which will function as single source precursors for organic-inorganic hybrid composites of the present invention. These single source precursors can also contain mixtures of silicon, aluminum, titanium, and zirconium according to the present invention which are transformed to obtain mixed organic-inorganic hybrid composites. None of the prior art organic-inorganic composites possess the properties of low to no shrinkage, and good adhesion. As a result of being produced from a single source precursor, the components of the composite of the present invention are consistently mixed each time, whereas the prior art methods may result in the lack of uniform consistency due to mixing of components within a single preparation or among multiple preparations. None of the prior art discloses the use of a single source precursor containing the functional groups which result in enhanced properties of the resultant hybrid organic-inorganic composites.
The hybrid composites of the present invention consist of a net work of very fine, probably nanometer sized SiO.sub.2 network, which is penetrated by acrylate based polymers. Because of the very small size of the SiO.sub.2 particles, the composites of the present invention are transparent and translucent making them good candidates, particularly for dental restorative materials.

Organic-inorganic hybrid composites for dental restorative material


The invention relates to a method for the observation of a number of objects, which move in a space monitored by a number of sensors, are recorded by the sensors and followed with continuous updating of at least the sensor track defining the kinematics of the object, whereby those provided sensor tracks amongst the sensor tracks from various sensors, which correspond to the same object are automatically assigned to a system track. In order to improve the method with regard to an efficient assignment of the sensor tracks, which is reliable, has a reduced error probability and runs essentially automatically, an assignment of a sensor track to at least one system track is always carried out if a decision on the non-correspondence to the system track can not be securely taken. Subsequently, assigned sensor tracks are continuously monitored for the continued assignment thereof to the assigned system track and on determining the non-correspondence thereof, are removed from said system track. For each system track whose correspondence to a system track is securely excluded, a new system track is generated. The determination of non-correspondence is irreversible.

The invention relates to a method of observing a multitude of objects which move in a space monitored by several sensors, wherein the objects are detected by the sensors and are followed under continuing actualization by sensor tracks that supply object data; and wherein, from the available sensor tracks, those sensor tracks which originate from different sensors and which belong to the same object, are automatically associated with a system track.
Floating platforms, such as surface vessels, are provided with a multitude of various sensors for reconnoitering and monitoring the sea area about the platform as well as the air space thereabove. The sensors deliver measuring results, termed as tracks, concerning the detected objects and continuously update the tracks at time intervals, designated as updating the tracks. Examples of such sensors are navigational radar, long and short range monitoring radar, electro-optical equipment with laser distance measurement, etc. By a track there is meant a set of object data which indicates the position and the velocity vector (the so-called kinematics) of the object as well as classification attributes of the object.
For observing the behavior of the individual objects, the tracks of the individual sensors, termed as sensor tracks, have to be brought together and displayed for an operator in a manner as clearly as possible on a position map which cartographically represents the monitoring space. For this purpose the earlier-noted process associates the tracks of the different sensors (that is, the sensor tracks), inasmuch as they relate to the same object, with a system track which determines the representation of the object on the position map.
According to the earlier-outlined processes, for this purpose always an unequivocal decision of association (positive or negative) has been made and the validity of the decisions has been verified either in fixed time intervals or by updating the sensor tracks. The number of computing operations increases quadratically with the number of the available sensor tracks. Thus, in case of a large number (for example, 1000) objects, a substantial computer capacity is required which would no longer be available for other purposes.
It is an object of the invention to improve a process of the earlier-mentioned type in such a manner that the decision of association is made particularly efficiently, reliably and substantially fully automatically, that is, without an operator's intervention, and further, that it is adapted for the simultaneous handling of a large number of objects with the simultaneous reduction of requirements as concerns computer capacity.

Method for the observation of a number of objects


The present invention provides a martensitic heat resistant alloy having a composition (A) comprising, % by weight: 0.03 to 0.15% of C; 0.01 to 0.9% of Si: 0.01 to 1.5% of Mn; 8.0 to 13.0% of Cr; 0.0005 to 0.015% of Al; no more than 2.0% of Mo; no more than 4.0% of W; 0.05 to 0.5% of V; 0.01 to 0.2% of Nb; 0.1 to 5.0% of Co; 0.008 to 0.03% of B; less than 0.005% of N: and Fe and inevitable impurities as the remainder, wherein (B) the contents (% by weight) of Mo, W, B and N satisfy the following formulae (1) and (2).B−0.772N>0.007  (1)W+1.916Mo−16.99B>2.0  (2)

In the conventional martensitic heat resistant alloy, the content of B is generally controlled to be in a range of: 0.008% by weight or less and the content of N is generally controlled to be in a range of 0.02 to 0.06% by weight. The content of N is set in the above-mentioned range because: N is an element which is naturally mixed into the alloy from raw steel or atmosphere and the element is inevitably contained in the alloy by the content of 0.02% by weight or so, regardless of any attempt to remove it; the presence of N in the alloy results in precipitation of carbonitrides of Nb and V, thereby enhancing the creep strength of the alloy; when the content of N is added in such large quantity as exceeds 0.1% by weight, the creep rupture ductility, welding property and workability are deteriorated; and the presence of N in the alloy is rather preferable as long as the content thereof does not exceed 0.06% by weight.
With regards to B, B contained in the alloy has an effect of minutely dispersing precipitates and suppressing the growth thereof, thereby stabilizing grain boundaries. Therefore, addition of B by a very small content significantly enhances the creep rupture strength. However, as B exhibits a strong affinity with N, addition of B by a large content results in the precipitation of itself as BN, whereby the effects, by B and N, of improving the characteristics of the alloy are all lost, and the welding property and workability of the alloy are significantly deteriorated. Due to this, in the conventional, the content of B in the alloy is reduced to an extremely small value of 0.008% by weight or less, in consideration of the content of N.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 6-10041, 8-218154, 8-22583 and 9-122971 disclose a ferritic heat resistant steel or a martensitic heat resistant steel and welding materials thereof, to which a relatively large amount of B has been added. However, in any of these references, the content of B has still to be limited due to the reason described above, and the B content thereof remains insufficient with respect to the N content. Thus, the effect of drastically enhancing the creep rupture strength by adding B, which effect would be obtained if the B were to be added by a sufficient content and work without being disturbed by N, were not achieved yet.
JP 8-294793A discloses a welding material for a ferritic steel containing Al of specific type, a relatively large amount of B and a small amount of N. However, the workability and the like of the material disclosed in JP 8-294793A are not fully satisfactory. Further, the material does not achieve a sufficiently high creep strength in a range of relatively long rupture time at a high temperature.
Further, in recent years, JP 11-12693A has proposed an attempt to maximize the effect of addition of B by decreasing the content of N as much as possible. However, in JP 11-12693A, the added amount of B is still insufficient with respect to the added amount of N and the characteristic-improving effect by 9 is not fully exhibited. Thus, high creep strength in a range of relatively long rupture time at a high temperature cannot be achieved.
The present invention has been contrived in consideration of the problems as described above. On object of the present invention is to provide a martensitic heat resistant alloy which solves the problems of the prior art, maximizes the characteristic-improving effect by the presence of B of a large content, has high creep rupture strength in a range of relatively long rupture time at a high temperature, has excellent oxidation resistance, hot workability and ductility. The present invention also aims at providing a method for producing such a martensitic heat resistant alloy.

Heat-resistant martensite alloy excellent in high-temperature creep rupture strength and ductility and process for producing the same

Abstract: The martensitic heat resistant alloy of the present invention has excellent oxidation resistance, hot workability and ductility and exhibits high creep rupture strength in a range of relatively long rupture time at a high temperature.

National Institute for Materials Science


The invention concerns a pickup coil to measure components of gradients. The coil consists of two pairs of loops connected in series; these pairs are then connected in parallel. The coil so formed has a low inductance, and no shielding currents are induced to superconducting coils in homogeneous magnetic fields. One coil can be employed to measure several field components simultaneously when the coil is coupled to current sensing elements, for example to SQUIDS, so that the current components measured by the sensing elements do not couple magnetically because of the symmetry. This can be accomplished by connecting the said elements between terminals between the loops (5, 6 and 7, 8). The inductance of this coil can be further reduced by subdividing the loops into parts connected in parallel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention describes a single coil that can be used to measure simultaneously two components of the magnetic field or two components of the gradient of the field; in particular, we describe a coil, primarily intended for measurement of one component of the gradient, having several attractive properties and that is easily modified to measure two independent gradient components simultaneously.
Weak magnetic fields are often measured by placing a pickup coil to the field to be measured, and connecting it to a current sensing element. When ultimate sensitivity is required, the coil is most often made of superconducting material, and it is connected to a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). Such an instrument has been described in detail, for example, in an article appeared in Journal of Low Temperature Physics, vol. 76 (1989), issue 5/6, pp. 287-386. The pickup coil can be either coupled to a signal coil laid on top of the SQUID, thus coupling the signal magnetically to the SQUID, or the pickup coil can be a galvanically coupled part of the SQUID loop. It has been shown that in order to reach the best sensitivity, the inductance of the SQUID has to be very small, only of the order of 10.sup.-11 H, and that stray capacitances across the loop have to be minimized.
An optimal pickup coil has, in general, an equal impedance to that of the input of the measuring element. When a SQUID is used to measure the current flowing in the pickup coil, it is advisable to use a pickup coil with a small inductance. Then, the signal coil laid on top of the SQUID can have only a small number of turns and thus a small parasitic capacitance across the SQUID loop; this means better sensitivity. This follows from the fact that the inductance of the signal coil, that is the input inductance of the current sensing element, is directly proportional to the product of the square of the number of turns in the signal coil and the inductance of the SQUID loop. The requirement that the inductance of the SQUID loop should be as small as possible makes it difficult to use the pickup coil as a galvanically coupled part of the SQUID.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ultrasensitive magnetic field detectors are needed, for example, when the extremely weak magnetic signals generated by the human brain are measured. In medical research and diagnostics this method is gaining more and more attention since with it it is possible to locate the source currents associated with the brain activities with a spatial and temporal resolution of a few millimeters and milliseconds. The measurement must be performed simultaneously at several locations; even the measurement of over one hundred magnetic signals all over the skull is necessary. It has been shown that it is advantageous to measure, instead of the magnetic field itself, certain components of the gradient of the field; especially this applies to the planar gradients .differential.B.sub.z /.differential.x and .differential.B.sub.z /.differential.y (see, for example, SQUID'85: Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices and their Applications, edited by H. D. Hahlbohm and H. Lubbig, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin (1985), pp. 939-944. One such instrument, containing 24 channels, has been described in the book Advances in Biomagnetism, edited by S. J. Williamson, M. Hoke, G. Stroink and M. Kotani, Plenum, New York (1989), pp. 673-676.
FIG. 1 shows two different two different prior-art coil configurations measuring the planar gradient: the parallel (a) and the series (b) configuration. The series configuration has been more popular (see, for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,341, EP 210 489, EP 399 499). This mainly because in the parallel configuration, a shielding current is induced in a homogeneous field, tending to cancel the homogeneous field; in the series coil this current is absent. Especially in thin-film pickup coils it is possible that the shielding current exceeds the critical current of the film, and the film becomes non-superconducting. In addition, the shielding currents due to a homogeneous field causes a local inhomogeneous component; in multichannel magnetometers this unwanted gradient is coupled as an error signal to neighbor pickup coils. The parallel configuration has, however, a much smaller inductance, only 1/4 of that of a series coil of the same dimensions. Therefore, parallel connection of loops has been used in devices where the pickup coil is a galvanically coupled part of the actual SQUID loop, as for example in the article appeared in Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 58 (1985 ), no. 11, ss. 4322-4325. Parallel loops have been applied also to reduce the inductance of the SQUID, as in Journal of Applied Physics, volume 42 (1971), issue 11, pp. 4483-4487 and Applied Physics Letters, volume 57 issue 4 (1990), pp. 406-408.
The transverse, planar gradient components must be measured in one single point; thus one must fabricate a structure having two orthogonal gradiometers on top of each other. Such a structure, realized by conventional means, as described in aforementioned publications (U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,341, EP 210 489, SQUID'85: Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices and their Applications, (1985), ss. 939-944) is necessarily relatively complicated.

Composite pickup coil for measurement of magnetic field components in a superconducting quantum interference device


A gas meter with integrated gas shut-off valve has a housing with a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A device to record the gas flow, a meter mechanism, a gas shut-off valve and optionally a pressure reducer are positioned in a gas flow path between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. The gas shut-off valve is an electrically operated valve with a spherical or cylindrical valve element.

Gas meters are measurement devices to record the amount of gas passed through per unit time. The area of use of gas meters is not restricted to just domestic or industrial gas supply, but also exact amount determination in laboratory investigations. For special applications gas meters are equipped with interfaces or potential-free contacts, which permits remote query of meter states or further processing of the measured consumption.
A modular gas meter is already known for this purpose from EP 0843287 B1, which has a base meter unit, an additional component, a gas closure valve, a gas flow meter arrangement and a first communication interface to transmit control data from or to the valve control system. The base meter unit is then configured so that it can be combined operationally with the additional component in order to expand the functions of the meter in so doing. The additional components include a component control system, set up so that it can control the functionality. The component control system has a second communication interface, via which communication signals are sent to control the base meter unit. The characteristic of this invention is that the additional component is arranged so that it calculates a closure-volume index which is sent to the base meter unit, which compares this value with the actual volume index volume and is arranged so that it trips the closure valve for interruption of gas supply as soon as the current volume index value reaches or surpasses the closure volume index value.
DE 101 293 00 A1 discloses a mass flow meter-detector, especially gas meter, as well as a method for data exchange. A gas meter includes a mass flow meter-detector, a control and a display. The gas meter can also be equipped with a card reader and a valve. The mass flow-detector is based on a sensor element, which is integrated on a semiconductor component together with a digital and analog evaluation. Since the mass flow rate and not the flow rate or volume of the consumed gas is measured, a value independent of pressure is obtained, which is essentially determined by the calorific value of the gas.
A gas meter and a method for determination of a consumed amount of gas are known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,741. The gas meter is characterized by a mass flow rate detector to measure the mass flow rate of a gas flowing through a main channel and also with means for integration of the mass flow rate over time.
A connection device for gas meters can be deduced from DE 4007279 C2. The connection device includes a shut-off valve, pressure regulator and an overpressure safety valve, which are connected in a feed line. A connection piece with three connectors is connected to the feed line, a first connector of which is provided for connection of the gas meter, a second for connection of the consumer and the third connection is provided with a gas shut-off valve, whose shut-off element is adjustable by means of a rotatable pin in a closed and open position. A characteristic of this invention is that the rotary pin is provided with a through hole, which runs axially in the rotary pin and is connected gastight to a removable closure or a closure being opened.
A device to secure against unauthorized gas removal from pressurized gas lines is also known from DE 38006261 C2, from which the gas meter is disassembled. A characteristic for this invention is that a plug inserted into the gas line is provided with at least one rubber hollow cylinder or ring, which is sealed against the walls of the gas line, imparts a fixed seat to the plug and is configured so that it can only be removed with a special tool.
A dry gas meter is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,587,315, which includes a number of measurement chambers and a single valve. This valve always prevents direct gas flow between an inlet and an outlet. A working cycle is run, during which each of the individual chambers of the gas meter is connected for a specified time via a passage opening specially assigned to it to an inlet and for additional time to an outlet and for the remaining time of the work cycle is sealed relative to the inlet, the outlet and all other chamber passages. A characteristic of this invention is that the valve has a valve slide, which simultaneously rotates and moves in translational fashion in the same plane to execute an oscillating movement.
The gas meters known from the prior art have the drawback that, on the one hand, the shut-off valves present as separate components are connected in front of the gas meter and can therefore also be operated by unauthorized third parties. In the past this has often meant that consumers have replaced line sections, bypassing the gas meter and therefore enjoyed free and therefore illegal gas supply. In solutions of gas meters with integrated shut-off valves, on the hand, high pressure losses are registered, since these shut-off valves are functionally optimized but are not optimized in terms of flow.

Gas meter with integrated gas shut-off valve


A tailgate support structure is formed by a rear vehicle structure that pivotally supports a tailgate using first and second hinge assemblies. The rear vehicle structure has a pair of laterally spaced side supports that pivotally support the tailgate between an upright closed position and a horizontal open position. The first and second hinge assemblies have first and second lateral adjusters that adjust a lateral position of the tailgate along the pivot axis between the first and second side supports. The first and second lateral adjusters are configured to center the tailgate between the side supports so as to form equal gaps on each side of the tail gate and the respective side support. Also preferably, the first and second lateral adjusters are configured to take up lateral play so that the tailgate does not move laterally between the first and second side supports.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an adjustment structure for a tailgate. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tailgate adjustment structure that centers a tailgate between two side portions of a tailgate support structure and reducing side-to-side endplay of the tailgate between the portions of the tailgate support structure.
2. Background Information
Pick-up trucks have increased in popularity in recent years. Basically a pick-up truck has a storage bed in which a tailgate is pivotally mounted to side support portions of the storage bed. Tailgates in vehicles such as pickup trucks are typically designed to include a gap between the sides of the tailgate and the side support portions of the vehicle. One problem that often arises is the centering of the tailgate between the side support portions. This problem can result in the tailgate having an awkward appearance if not adequately centered between the side support portions.
Further, the hinge assemblies on such tailgates can sometimes have endplay where the tailgate can move from side-to-side between the side supports. When there is sufficient endplay, the tailgate can rattle when the vehicle goes over a bump or is being driven on a rough road. This noise can be annoying to the passengers.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved hinge assembly for a tailgate that includes lateral adjustment for centering the tailgate and/or reducing endplay of the hinge assembly. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Tailgate support structure with lateral tailgate adjustment

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.


An apparatus and method for multi-phase clock generation are disclosed. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a clock divider generating first and second intermediate signals having edges delayed from first edges of a clock signal having a first frequency. Each of the first and second intermediate signals has a second frequency that is half of the first frequency. The first and second intermediate signals have a phase difference of 180° from each other. The apparatus also includes a first delay element delaying the first intermediate signal by a first delay amount; a second delay element delaying the first intermediate signal by a second delay amount; a third delay element delaying the second intermediate signal by a third delay amount; and a fourth delay element delaying the second intermediate signal by a fourth delay amount. The third delay amount is equal to the first delay amount. The fourth delay amount is equal to the second delay amount. The apparatus also includes a delay detection loop to adjust the second and fourth delays.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to electronic devices, and more particularly, to multi-phase clock generation for electronic devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Certain electronic devices, such as DRAM, use clock signals for timing data transmission over communication channels. A clock signal typically has rising edges and falling edges. A rising edge is the transition of the clock signal from a low level to a high level. A falling edge is the transition of the clock signal from a high level to a low level.
Recently, the data processing speed of processors, such as a central processing unit (CPU), has been significantly improved. In order to match the improved data processing speed, high-speed data transmission schemes have been developed. For example, double data rate (DDR) schemes have been used with certain memory devices for data transmission. Examples of DDR schemes include DDR, DDR2, and DDR3. Memory devices using a DDR scheme transfer data on both the rising and falling edges of an external clock signal.

Apparatus and method for multi-phase clock generation


A locking assembly is disclosed. The locking assembly is for coupling a first member including a receiving area, and a second member having a receiving region. The locking system includes an interference element including an interfering portion that is received within the receiving area of the first member when the locking system couples the first member and the second member together, a biasing element, a cam, wherein the cam is adapted to cause the biasing element to be in a biased position or an unbiased position, and a wedge shaped structure.

Excavation bucket assemblies are used in the construction and mining. The bucket assemblies are used with a variety of different excavating apparatuses such as backhoes, power shovels, front-end loaders, dragline equipment, etc. Excavation bucket assemblies typically have a bucket body with a rear wall, sidewalls, and a bottom wall. The walls cooperatively define a region where excavated material can be contained and moved. The bottom, front edge of the bucket body can be coupled to a lip. Tooth assemblies are coupled to the lip to form an excavation bucket assembly.
Each tooth assembly can include an adapter and a tooth. The adapter can be coupled to the lip and a tooth can be coupled to the adapter. Pins can be used to couple the parts of the tooth assembly together and can be used to couple the tooth assembly to the lip. When a tooth becomes worn or damaged, the pin coupling the tooth to its corresponding adapter can be removed so that the tooth can be uncoupled from the adapter. A new tooth is then mounted in the place of the worn or damaged tooth.
During the tooth replacement process, the pin is knocked out with a large hammer. If the pin is damaged during this process, it is replaced with a new pin. Frequently replacing broken pins is undesirable as doing so increases the cost of maintaining the excavation bucket assembly. Moreover, using a large hammer to remove a pin can be dangerous. When striking the pin with a hammer, flying debris such as metal chips and sand can be created. The flying debris can potentially harm persons in the vicinity of the hammering.
An improvement over the conventional pin-based coupling systems is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,368 by the same inventor as the present invention. It discloses a wedge-locking system that couples an adapter and a tooth together without the use of pins. Other details about the wedge-locking system are described in the U.S. patent, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. The wedge-locking system is present in a depression in the adapter. In this example, the depression is in the form of a rectangle and is defined by four slightly raised walls.
Over a period of time, particles such as grit or sand can get into the depression and can abrade the parts of the wedge-locking system and the adapter. Accordingly, when the operator uncouples the adapter and the tooth, the operator also cleans the depression of sand and grit. If the operator does not clean the depression well, particles can remain in the depression. When the wedge-locking system is in use, the particles lodged in the depression can continue to abrade the parts of the wedge-locking system and the adapter. The abrasion reduces the useful life of the wedge-locking system and the adapter. More frequent replacement of the wedge-locking system parts and the adapter may be required.
Embodiments of the invention address these and other problems.


There is provided a method for fabricating a device. On a top surface of a substrate, a first layer of a first deposition material is formed. The first layer of the first deposition material is patterned to create a seed pattern of remaining first deposition material. Homoepitaxy is used to grow a second layer of the first deposition material on the seed pattern.

Quantum computing is a class of computing in which inherently quantum mechanical phenomena, such as quantum state superposition and entanglement, are harnessed to perform certain computations far more quickly than any classical computer could ever be capable of. In a "topological" quantum computer, calculations are performed by manipulating quasiparticles—called "non-abelian anyons"—that occur in certain physical systems. Anyons have unique physical characteristics that distinguish them from both fermions and bosons. Non-abelian anyons also have unique properties with respect to abelian anyons. It is these unique properties that serve as a basis for topological quantum computing, in which information is encoded as a topological property of non-abelian anyons; specifically, the braiding of their space-time worldlines. This has certain benefits over other models of quantum computation. One key benefit is stability, as the quantum braiding is unaffected by perturbations on a scale that could cause error-inducing quantum decoherence in other types of quantum computer.
Broadly speaking, to date, two types of physical system have been considered as potential hosts of non-abelian anyons, namely "5/2 fractional quantum Hall" systems in condensed matter physics, and (more recently) semiconductor-superconductor (SE//SU) nanowires. Regarding the latter, a key advance in the field was the realization that non-abelian anyons, in the form of "Majorana zero modes" (MZMs) can be formed in semiconductor (SE) nanowires (NWs) coupled to a superconductor (SU).
One of the issues encountered in the context of SE//SU nanowires is the existence of so-called "soft gap" states. The soft gap issue has been documented in publically-available literature, and suffice it to say that these soft gap states, when present, are a source of decoherence for the MZMs. Analysis and experiments indicate that a source of the soft gap is disorder in the SE//SU interface, and there has been recent work in the field on improving the quality of the SE//SU interface with the aim of providing more stable MZMs.

Fabrication method for semiconductor nanowires coupled to a superconductor


A computing system comprising a central processing unit (CPU), and memory coupled to the CPU and having stored therein instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to execute operations to generate a radiation treatment plan. The operations include accessing a minimum prescribed dose to be delivered into and across the target, determining a number of beams and directions of the beams, and determining a beam energy for each of the beams, wherein the number of beams, the directions of the beams, and the beam energy for each of the beams are determined such that the entire target receives the minimum prescribed dose. The operations further include prescribing a dose rate and optimizing dose rate constraints for FLASH therapy, and displaying a dose rate map of the FLASH therapy.

The use of radiation therapy to treat cancer is well known. Typically, radiation therapy involves directing a beam of high energy proton, photon, ion, or electron radiation ("therapeutic radiation") into a target or target volume (e.g., a tumor or lesion).
Before a patient is treated with radiation, a treatment plan specific to that patient is developed. The plan defines various aspects of the therapy using simulations and optimizations based on past experiences. In general, the purpose of the treatment plan is to deliver sufficient radiation to the target while minimizing exposure of surrounding normal, healthy tissue to the radiation.
The planner's goal is to find a solution that is optimal with respect to multiple clinical goals that may be contradictory in the sense that an improvement toward one goal may have a detrimental effect on reaching another goal. For example, a treatment plan that spares the liver from receiving a dose of radiation may result in the stomach receiving too much radiation. These types of tradeoffs lead to an iterative process in which the planner creates different plans to find the one plan that is best suited to achieving the desired outcome.
A recent radiobiology study has demonstrated the effectiveness of delivering an entire, relatively high therapeutic radiation dose to a target within a single, short period of time, in one fraction or possible a handful of fractions. This type of treatment is referred to generally herein as FLASH radiation therapy (FLASH RT). Evidence to date suggests that FLASH RT advantageously spares normal, healthy tissue from damage when that tissue is exposed to only a single irradiation for only a very short period of time. FLASH RT thus introduces important constraints that are not considered in or achieved with conventional radiation treatment planning.
Ultra-high dose rate radiotherapy or FLASH therapy delivers high doses of radiation at very high-speed achieving dose rates of 40 Gy/s and above. Pre-clinical studies have shown that delivering radiotherapy at such ultra-high dose rates allows comparable tumor control while sparing the healthy tissue thereby reducing toxicities. The mechanism of action behind this so-called FLASH effect is still under investigation but it is becoming increasingly clear that the time a tissue is irradiated, the dose applied and therefore the dose rate are critical parameters that play a role in the FLASH effect.
Current treatment planning systems (TPS) are restricted to prescribing dose and displaying dose as a distribution overlaid on a patient's CT scan. Since dose rate and such FLASH relevant parameters are now of importance, being able to prescribe dose rate of a certain threshold to a certain specific tissue structure (healthy tissue, organs at risk, margin, and clinical tumor volume) will be crucial for treating humans with Flash. Furthermore, this input of prescription will provide clinicians and researchers valuable information that can further be correlated with biological parameters and patient outcome.

Flash therapy treatment planning and oncology information system having dose rate prescription and dose rate mapping

Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GMBH & Co. KG