The present invention provides systems and methods for measuring a load force associated with pulling a farm implement through soil that is used to generate a spatially variable map that represents the spatial variability of the physical characteristics of the soil. An instrumented hitch pin configured to measure a load force is provided that measures the load force generated by a farm implement when the farm implement is connected with a tractor and pulled through or across soil. Each time a load force is measured, a global positioning system identifies the location of the measurement. This data is stored and analyzed to generate a spatially variable map of the soil. This map is representative of the physical characteristics of the soil, which are inferred from the magnitude of the load force.

1 Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for measuring the physical characteristics of soil. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for collecting data representing the spatial variability of the physical characteristics of soil for use in precision farming.
2 Present State of the Art
Precision farming is intended to enable farmers to optimize their operations such that crop yields are maximized. There are many different factors that have a bearing on crop yield including the amount and type of fertilizer applied to the crops, the amount and type of pesticides and herbicides applied to the crops, the amount of irrigation that the crop receives, the machinery used to cultivate and grow the crop, expenses incurred to produce the crop and the like.
In particular, the physical condition of the soil can have a significant effect on the crop yield in both an agricultural and a financial sense. Agriculturally, the physical condition of the soil is related to environmental problems such as erosion, contaminated water runoff, over-watering, excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, over-tilling, and the like. Thus, an understanding of the physical characteristics of the soil can assist in determining how agricultural factors, such as fertilizer or water, may be spatially varied such that the resources are utilized more efficiently.
Financially, it is costly to obtain a map of the physical characteristics of the soil in a field. Conventional methods include physically collecting soil samples that are sent to a lab for analysis. Unfortunately, samples taken in this manner each represent relatively large areas. Often, a single soil sample is taken for every one to four acres and because soil conditions can vary widely over short distances, this method only provides a crude map of the physical characteristics of the soil in addition to being costly.
Another sampling method requires machinery that is explicitly designed to sense the conditions of the soil. This method requires the farmer to traverse the field an extra and unnecessary time with the special machinery such that the physical conditions may be measured. Traversing a field in this manner is expensive to the farmer and results in data that is still relatively crude. More specifically, these methods are costly, time-consuming and only provide limited data concerning the physical characteristics of the soil.
Precision farmers have come to realize, however, that an understanding of the physical characteristics of the soil can be used to reduce the expense incurred to cultivate the crop as well as increase the crop yield. The problem is being able to obtain an accurate measurement of those characteristics without increasing cost or otherwise interfering with crop development and growth. An understanding of the physical characteristics of the soil is particularly useful in xe2x80x9cno-tillxe2x80x9d farming. No-till farming is environmentally preferred for several reasons. Erosion can be reduced, fertilizer usage can be optimized, irrigation can be more effectively monitored, and the like.
The physical condition of the soil is therefore an important aspect of no-till farming operations. One of the problems associated with no-till farming, for example, is that the physical characteristics and crop residue that may be encountered near the surface of the soil can vary considerably. This variability has a direct effect on the condition of the furrows as well as on the depth that a seed is planted. In particular, wheel traffic can result in more dense soil. The density of the soil can have an affect on many aspects of farming. For example, when a particular crop is planted, it is often desirable to control the depth at which the seeds are placed in the soil. One of the problems associated with no-till farming is that the planter settings are typically fixed for the average condition of the soil and the planter will not perform optimally when other soil conditions are encountered. As a result, the crop yield is not maximized because the planting conditions are not optimized.
However, there is no affordable tool or system that is capable of sufficiently gathering information about the physical characteristics of soil. In order to effectively monitor or implement the physical characteristics into precision farming, it is necessary to have more specific data about the physical characteristics of the soil. What is needed are practical and cost effective systems and methods for better understanding and measuring the spatial variability of the physical conditions of soil. Understanding and managing the variability in soil conditions will also enable other aspects of precision farming to be improved and optimized.
The present invention relates to systems and methods for measuring the physical characteristics of soil. Accurate measurements of soil""s physical characteristics can be used to generate a map that represents the spatial variability of the soil""s physical characteristics. Understanding the spatial variability of soil characteristics is useful for precision farming because other agricultural inputs, such as fertilizer and water, can be spatially varied according the spatial variability of the soil. As a result, the crop yield is improved and resources can be used more efficiently. In addition, the expense of obtaining the data representing the spatial variability of the physical characteristics of the soil is minimal because the systems and methods of the present invention are preferably integrated with other farming operations.
The physical characteristics of soil include density and water holding capacity, which can be inferred by measuring the force required to pull or push machinery either through or across the soil. In one embodiment of the present invention, the force required to pull a farm implement, such as a plow, a planter or the like, is continually measured and collected as the field is traversed with the farm implement. As the force measurements are collected and recorded, a positioning system is used to identify and map the locations of each force measurement. The forces associated with the stored locations can be used to produce a spatially variable map that represents the spatial variability of the physical conditions of the soil. The amount of force is indicative of soil conditions such as texture, hardness, water-holding capacity, and the like.
In one embodiment, load sensors are integrated with a hitch pin that secures a draw bar to a tractor or other machinery. The load sensors measure the force against the hitch pin as a tractor pulls farm machinery through or across the ground or soil of a field. The force measured by these load sensors is recorded along with a position provided by a global positioning system. Because a position is associated with each measured force, the spatial variability of the force can be mapped and the physical characteristics of the soil can be inferred and used to support precision farming. Often, the resulting map is used as a factor by a decision support system which takes into account many factors when rendering a decision relating to the crop yield.
In one embodiment, the hitch pin may be incorporated as part of a tractor. The hitch pin may be connected to a draw bar of a tractor or the hitch pin may be incorporated with the three point hitch system of other tractors. The present invention, however, is not limited to agricultural equipment, but can be implemented with other machinery, such as construction machinery, to measure soil characteristics. For example, a grader or bulldozer may utilize the systems and methods of the present to measure the soil characteristics of the applicable surface or soil.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

Measuring spatial variability in soil characteristics


A catalyst solution for the anionic polymerization of lactones and/or lactams comprises a salt of at least one compound of the general formula I

The invention relates to a solution of an alkali salt, which is strongly basic, clear, stable in storage and liquid at room temperature, of aniline, which is amidated with a monocarboxylic acid, or its derivatives in an aprotic solvation agent, a method for production thereof and the polyamides produced with this solution.
Various developments have become known recently for accelerated anionic lactam polymerisation, which use so-called liquid systems in order to initiate the lactam polymerisation. A liquid multi-component system of this type for the implementation of anionic lactam polymerisation is described in DE 196 03 305 C2. This system essentially comprises sodium caprolactamate which contains lactam-acylating compounds and solvation agents.
It has thereby been shown that systems of this type have only a limited storage life.
A liquid system is likewise described in WO 01/46293 A1 which, in contrast to the system of DE 196 03 305 C2, is lactam-free. This liquid system thereby contains a conversion product of isocyanate with a protic compound and a base in an aprotic solvation agent. It has been shown that this solution has in fact improved stability in storage relative to the solutions known to date in the state of the art, however it has been established with these liquid systems that they always exhibit discolouration to various extents. It is hereby particularly unfavourable that, when storing these solutions, this discolouration is intensified and, when this solution is used, the result can be discolouration of the produced polyamides.
Starting herefrom, it is therefore the object of the present invention to make available an improved liquid system for anionic lactam polymerisation which, in addition to good stability in storage, has an invariable inherent colour which remains constant also for the duration of the storage. The liquid system should furthermore be easily producible and environmentally safe. A further object of the invention is to indicate a method for producing systems of this type and the polyamides produced with the liquid system.

Catalyst solution for implementing anionic lactam polymerization, method for production thereof and polyamide moulding compound

Abstract: In this formula (I), R1 is H or an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic radical with 1 to 12 C atoms which can also have heteroatoms or hetero groups, the radical R2, which is the same or different, is H, halogen, C1–C5-alkyl, ethoxy or wherein said solvation agent S comprises N-methylpyrrolidone, N-octylpyrrolidone, N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone, N-octylcaprolactam, tetrabutyl urea or mixtures thereof methoxy, and n=1, 2 or 3, and wherein the salt is dissolved in an aprotic solvation agent S.


The present disclosure generally relates to an engine with an integrated mixing of fluids device and associated technology for improvement of the efficiency of the engine, and more specifically to an engine equipped with a fuel mixing device for improvement of the overall properties by inline oxygenation of the liquid, a change in property of the liquid such as cooling form improved combustion, or the use of re-circulation of exhaust from the engine to further improve engine efficiency and reduce unwanted emissions.

Diesel engines have different operating conditions than spark-ignition engines. They rely on different thermodynamic principles and different fuel cycles. Power is mostly controlled by a regulation of the fuel supply directly, not by the control of the air supply. When diesel engines run at low power, the mixture and combustion is not deprived of oxygen and few by products are created, but when load or effort (W) is added to these engines, a greater amount of carbon monoxides and impurities are produced.
In these systems, the fuel mixture is starved for oxygen to levels as low as 5% of the needed stoichiometric mixture or having a equivalence ratio of 20 to 1. The equivalence ratio (Φ) being defined as Φ=1/(oxygen levels/stoichiometric mixture oxygen levels) and where Φ=20 for a fuel starved at 5% of needed oxygen. The term stoichiometry is a calculation of a quantitative relationship of the reactants and the products in a balanced chemical reaction. If the oxygen level is at a stoichiometric mixture level, or a mixture where the equivalence ratio is 1, all of the given products and reactants are used by the chemical reaction. What is desired is a equivalence ratio as close to 1 as possible. Air fuel ratios of common fuels, include 14.7:1 for gasoline, 17.2:1 for natural gas, and 14.6:1 for diesel fuel. In mass these ratios correspond to 6.8%, 7.9%, and 6.8% respectively.
While oil refineries may help with removing sulfur and lead from the fuel and ultimately reduce associated emissions, systems forced to operate at fuel staved regimes must develop other processes to reduce soot emissions, fine particles, and nanoparticles found in the exhaust gasses of these engines while increasing their overall thermal efficiency of the engine. For example ceramic soot filters or other after burning system can be used in an effort to decrease unwanted emissions. What is needed is a system that may be inserted within the existing system and not external to the system to reduce soot emissions, and increase thermal efficiency of the engine.
While this invention is directed to any thermodynamic combustion cycle and related combustion device, and any device or engine, this disclosure describes mainly a current best mode directed at the diesel cycle for diesel combustion engines as invented by Rudolph Diesel in 1897. The concepts described here, when applicable are also used in other combustion cycles and other thermodynamic based devices.
The ideal diesel cycle is a four phase loop generally illustrated by a Pressure (P) v. Specific volume (V) diagram. In a first phase of the process, a compression is made at an isentropic regime, consequently the specific volume is decreased from V1 to V2 as the pressure is increased from P1 to P2. (Where the subscript is the number of the position of on the four step cycle). Work is done Win in this phase for example by a piston compressing a working fluid such as air. In the second phase of reversible constant pressure heating, heat Qin is added via the combustion of the fuel at constant pressure P2. The specific volume V increases a small fraction from V2 to V3 during this second phase. In a third phase of the process known as the isoentropic expansion phase, work is released Wout by the working fluid expanding on the piston creating a torque at a cam. During this phase, the pressure drops from P2 to P4 and the specific volume is increased to its maximum from V3 back to V1. Finally, in the fourth and last phase, the system is returned to the starting point in a reversible constant volume cooling by taking out heat Qout by venting the air out of the piston from a pressure P4 to the initial pressure P1, thus returning the system to the P1, V1 configuration.
Thermal efficiency (ηth) of the diesel fuel cycle is dependant upon several parameters including a compression ratio (r) and a cut-off ratio (α). The cut-off ratio (α) is defined as a ratio between the end and start volumes of the combustion phase α=V3/V2, and the compression ratio (r) is defined as r=V1/V2. Finally, a ratio of specific heats (γ) is used as part of the thermal efficiency calculation and is defined as γ=CP/CV. The ideal thermal efficiency for a diesel cycle is given as:
      η    TH    =      1    -                  1                  r                      γ            -            1                                            (                                            α              γ                        -            1                                γ                                      (                              α                -                1                            )                                      )
Thermal efficiency can also be calculated using temperatures instead of volumes since V3/V2=T3/T2 where T3 is the temperature of the fluid at the end of the third phase of the cycle and T2 is the temperature of the fluid at the end of the second phase of the cycle. What is desired is an effective cycle operating as close to thermal efficiency of 1 as possible (i.e. where the factor in the equation drops to 0).
Further, since hydrocarbons (HC) are released as part of the exhaust gasses, the thermal efficiency is lowered by this unburnt fuel released to the atmosphere in the overall cycle since a portion of the fuel is not used. Further, exhaust gas is emitted as a result of the combustion of fuels such as natural gas, gasoline, petrol, diesel, fuel oil, coal, etc. A large proportion of exhaust gas is discharged into the atmosphere through exhaust pipes, gas stacks, or propelling nozzles. Exhaust gasses are made mostly of harmless nitrogen (N2), water vapor (H2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2), along with a small part of undesirable noxious or toxic substances, such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), other partly unburnt fuel, and particulate matter (soot). Exhaust gasses of diesel engines may also contain a complex and harmful cocktail of impurities. For example, these gasses also include lead (Pb), or even sulfuric dioxides (SOj).
Exhaust fumes are used and recycled in an effort to limit knocking or lowering of the combustion point temperature in the cylinder. Further, exhaust gas reintroduced as fuel recycle unburnt HC particles and reduces the overall emission of unburnt particles associated with a oxygen deprived starvation combustion process. What is needed is a way system of introduction of oxygen into a oxygen deprived, rich mixture fuel cycle engine that improves thermal efficiency, lowers unwanted emissions, and soot particles without adversely affecting the engine performances.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Engine with integrated mixing technology


A tri wavelength diffracting modulation (TWDM) element, a TWDM imager, and methods of temporally and spatially modulating by using the same are disclosed. The TWDM element includes first and second sets of movable reflective rigid plates under independent electrical actuation, provides four different spatial configurations for reflecting and selectively diffracting incident radiation of three distinguished wavelengths. The TWDM imager is formed with a plurality of the TWDM elements in a regularly spaced planar array configuration on a planar substrate. Incident visible light is spatially modulated by the TWDM imager, either in a time sequential mode or via spatial combination with help of an aligned color filter array.

Widely used for microdisplay projection and other optical systems, spatial light modulators are solid state micro array devices that can control or modulate an incident beam of light in a defined spatial pattern that are correlated to a series of electrical inputs of image to the devices, through which, the incident light beam can be modulated in intensity, phase, polarization or direction.
Two of the most commonly used classes of spatial light modulators employ micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) devices in a two dimensional array configured to provide two-dimensional modulation of incident light: a digital mirror device (DMD) from Texas Instruments and a galvanic light valve (GLV) device from Silicon Light Machines. The appeal of the DMD has been evidenced in the widespread adoption, given its high optical efficiency, large etendue, wide bandwidth, high modulation speed and digitalized control algorithm for time sequential color combination and management.
Despite its success in projection display applications, however, the DMD has been recognized with certain shortcomings, such as high power consumption per pixel, particularly for high resolution microdisplay projection applications in cell phones and handheld devices.
The GLV array devices are also recognized with significant appeal in etendue, analog grey-scaling, optical efficiency, modulation speed and particularly, power consumption per pixel. However, the wavelength dependency under a digitalized control algorithm is evident on the GLV devices disclosed in the prior art, particularly for microdisplay projection applications which requires spatial modulation of incident radiation covering visible spectrum and in particular, in association with time sequential or spatial mosaic pattern color management schemes. Accordingly, it is expected to improve digitalization in control algorithm and integration of multi wavelength modulation in projection system applications.

TWDM element, imager, and method for temporally and spatially modulating by using the same

Shanghai Lexvu Opto Microelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


A device for adjusting an optical axial position of a lens is disclosed. The device includes a lens frame for mounting at least one lens, a lens frame supporting member rotatably engaged with the lens frame via screw threads for supporting the lens frame in such a way that the lens frame is rotatable relative to the lens frame supporting member, coupled to a stationary member for adjustment of the optical axial position of the lens relative to the stationary member. Set screws are provided for selectively locking the lens frame to the lens frame supporting member at one of a plurality of stepwise, predetermined, relative angular positions between the lens frame and the lens frame supporting member after the optical axial position of the lens has been adjusted relative to the lens frame supporting member. Since the lens frame can be locked to the lens frame supporting member at one of the plurality of stepwise, predetermined, relative angular positions by use of the set screws after the optical axial position of the lens has been adjusted, it is possible to improve the locking reliability and simplify the structure of the adjusting device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for adjusting the optical axial position of a lens, and more specifically to a device for adjusting the position of a lens in the optical axial direction thereof when the lens is assembled and adjusted into a complete optical unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When the lens or lenses are assembled into an optical unit, the position of a lens mounted in a lens barrel must be adjusted in the optical axial direction thereof, for effecting infinite focus distance adjustment, zooming adjustment, back focus distance adjustment, and the like. The lens barrel normally has a cylindrical stationary member to be coupled to a body of the optical unit, a lens frame supporting member coupled to the stationary member through helicoidal threads, and a lens frame to which a lens is to be mounted and which is coupled to the lens frame supporting member through screw threads.
The most conventional way of adjusting the optical axial position of the lens, is to extend or retract the lens frame axially relative to the lens frame supporting member, whenever the lens frame is rotated with respect to the lens frame supporting member.
In the above-mentioned method, it is possible to adjust the axial position of the lens continuously or steplessly relative to the lens frame supporting member by adjusting the amount of the thread engagement between the lens frame and the lens frame supporting member. After being adjusted, the lens position must be locked by means of an appropriate locking mechanism.
Conventionally, various lens frame locking mechanisms have so far been adopted as follows:
In a first example, a lens is mounted on a lens frame, the lens frame is engaged via screw threads with a lens frame supporting member (e.g., focusing ring), and the lens frame supporting member is coupled to a stationary member through helicoidal threads. After the lens frame has been adjusted relative to the lens frame supporting member by adjusting the amount of the thread engagement between the lens frame and the lens frame supporting member, a spacer washer having a selected thickness is sandwiched between a flange of the lens frame supporting member and a flange of the lens frame. Thereafter the lens frame is tightly screwed against the lens frame supporting member to lock the lens frame to the lens frame supporting member.
In this first example, however, there exist problems which result from the fact that the thickness of the spacer washer must be carefully selected and the lens frame must be removed from the lens frame supporting member before sandwiching the selected spacer washer between those two parts.
In a second example, after the lens frame has been adjusted relative to the lens frame supporting member in such a manner as stated above, the lens frame is locked by use of an additional locking unit. The additional looking unit is a locking nut which is to be screwed to an inner thread formed in the lens frame supporting member, whereby the rotational movement of the lens frame with respect to the lens frame support member is restricted by fastening the locking nut against the lens frame.
In this second method, however, there exist other problems. Namely, a special jig is required to screw the locking nut. As a result, the lens frame is likely to be dislocated or the lens is likely to be scratched when the locking nut is fastened too tightly toward the lens frame.
In a third example, after the lens frame has been adjusted relative to the lens frame supporting member, the lens frame is fixed to the lens frame supporting member by screwing a set screw or set screws from the outer circumferential surface of the lens frame supporting member to the lens frame in the radial direction of the lens.
Again, problems exist as a result of using the third method. Namely, the lens frame or the lens frame supporting member is likely to be deformed when the set screws are fastened too tightly.

Device for adjusting axial position of lens


A helically-shaped hair trapping mechanism for drains is presented, which is a trapping mechanism that can be placed in a variety of drain sizes and shapes. The trap can be easily removed and cleaned or discarded and will fit in pop-up, plunger, or push-pull drains for showers, bathtubs, or sinks.

This invention relates to waste drain pipe filters and traps, and is usable with wash/bath tubs, shower drains, and sinks. The features of this invention are designed to stop, collect, and separate hair and other fibrous solid matter as it flows down a drain, rendering said fibrous matter collectable by drain maintenance personnel.
Existing hair traps and snares are placed above the drain opening, and are highly visible. This invention is placed in a concealed location within the plumbing openings, and the several embodiments are shaped specifically to fit each type of opening.
The prior art discloses various trap means for use with drain openings that trap solids while allowing liquids to flow freely by. These patents include U.S. Pat. Nos., 3,959,831, 4,207,631, 4,418,432, 4,539,718, and 4,825,477. Several patented devices fit within the standard U or gas-trap sections of pipe installed below drain openings, including U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,582.
Several of the above-listed patents separate solids from liquid flowing through drains, but none of them specifically target hair collection or are simple to install or remove. This invention differs from the above-listed devices by virtue of its ease of installation and removal and its improved ability to trap hair.
It is an object of this invention to provide a concealed drain trap system that specifically collects hair and fibrous materials flowing down a drain, and by virtue of its design makes removal of said material and hair easy to accomplish.
It is a further object of this invention that trap system can be sized to fit various drain openings and not interrupt in the operation of the drain opening and closing mechanism, including pop-ups, plungers, and push and pull stoppers.
It is a further object of this invention that the trap mechanism be entirely concealed within the drain and retain the clean look of the drain fixture.
It is a further object of this invention that the trap system also be available in a more-easily manufactured form where the collection mechanism is a series of concentric circles.
Further objects of this invention can be discerned by perusing the detailed description, drawings, specifications and claims of this application.


A ventilating system for a vehicle cab includes a blower which draws fresh air from the exterior of the cab into the interior of the cab. A filter housing is inserted generally transverse to the direction of air flow through a service opening in the ventilating system into the channel through which the fresh air flows. The filter housing encloses a fresh air filter. The blower also draws recirculating air from the interior of the cab through a recirculating air intake opening and blows it back through a recirculating air filter into the cab through an outlet opening. The recirculating air filter is also mounted in the filter housing. A filter insert includes a filter housing which contains the fresh air filter and the recirculating air filter, which are adjacent each other on either side of a separating wall, fresh air and recirculating air are separately filtered.

The invention concerns the ventilating system for a vehicle cab, in particular for the cab of an agricultural or industrial vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,519 shows a ventilating system of the aforementioned type in which a box-shaped filter housing can be exchanged for the evaporator of a cooling system. This ventilating system is obviously intended for passenger vehicles.
In agricultural or industrial vehicles, such as agricultural tractors, it is desirable for the conditioning of the air in the cab not only to draw in fresh air from the outside, but also to recirculate the air inside the cab. This permits the service interval to be lengthened, since the filters for the outside air do not become dirty as rapidly, and the power requirement for temperature equalization in the cab can be reduced. For example, EP-A-0 042 597 describes an air distribution arrangement with two blowers, of which a first blower, located downstream of a fresh air filter, draws fresh air from the outside into the operator's cab and a second blower, located downstream of a recirculating air filter, recirculates only interior air. The outside air drawn in by the blower and the interior air are combined in a mixing zone that is downstream of both blowers. Each filter can be removed separately for cleaning or replacement. This is relatively costly and an operator may forget to clean the recirculating air filter.
EP-B-0 070 636 describes a heating and ventilating system for a tractor cab, which includes only a fresh air circuit. The fresh air circuit contains a filter which is accessible from an opening above, in the roof region of the tractor. The filter can be inserted or removed from the fresh air flow through this opening. Recirculation of the air in the cab is not described.
DE-C-36 43 478 shows an air filter box for an operator's cab, in which the air flows through a filter unit arranged in a roof region projecting beyond the side wall of the cab. The filter unit consists of a filter box that accommodates a filter and is suspended so as to pivot, so that it can be swung downward for the removal and cleaning of the filter. Here too, there is no reference to recirculation of the air in the cab.


The present invention relates to video recording and playback apparatuses in which a video camera directly accesses a server via a network and can therefore send and receive data. A network access program 26c stored in a storage unit 26 controls a GMT program 26b; adds time-difference information for each area stored in area information 26a, which is stored in a RAM 24c built into a microcomputer 24, and information indicating whether or not summertime is in effect; and, based on time information generated by a real-time clock, which is set using date and time setting processing, calculates World Standard Time, that is to say, Greenwich Mean Time. The present invention can be adapted to video cameras, for example.

A function for setting the time is provided in electronic devices having an imaging function, as typified by video cameras.
In video cameras, not only is the time set by this time setting function displayed as a simple clock, but it is also recorded together with the captured images. Accordingly, management of the captured images can be simplified, and it can be used for a timer function and so on.
Recently, electronic devices for portable use can be allowed to access a server via a network by including a built-in communication function or by connecting a communication apparatus such as a mobile telephone and so forth. Devices which access a server via a network normally transmit a user login name and password information at access time, and in addition, they transmit World Standard Time (=Greenwich Mean Time: GMT) information for the transmission time. Based on this information, the server executes access time management and authentication processing to determine whether or not access is permitted.
However, in the time setting function built into conventional video cameras, no function for obtaining or setting World Standard Time is provided. For this reason, when, for example, accessing the server via the network with the communication function included in the video camera, as described above, there are problems in that it is usually not possible to transmit World Standard Time information, which is required for access, the server therefore cannot be accessed, and thus it is not possible to perform, for example, video mail and so forth using the video camera unit.
Furthermore, if the time set by the time setting function of the video camera is used instead of World Standard Time, in the case where the time in the vicinity of London or the like, which is used a reference point for World Standard Time, is set, since the time is actually World Standard Time, no problems occur. However, if, for example, Japanese Standard Time is used instead of World Standard Time, since the nine-hour time difference (Japanese Standard Time has a nine-hour time difference with respect to World Standard Time) is not taken into account, when performing transmission and reception of mail and so forth; delivered by the server via the network, there will be a nine-hour time difference at that time, and it is therefore impossible to correctly ascertain the time at which the mail was transmitted and received, which is a problem.

Imaging device with world standard time calculation and the ability to transmit said calculated time information


A vehicle seat including a seat back in which a seat back frame that is a flat plate is provided, wherein a reinforcement portion is provided to a surface of the seat back frame, the surface requiring reinforcement, and the reinforcement portion protruding in a shape of a line along the surface requiring the reinforcement from the surface requiring the reinforcement, and at least a part of the reinforcement portion is a stepped portion that is provided to continue from the other portion of the reinforcement portion and has a protruding height lower than a protruding height of the other portion, the protruding height being a height from the surface requiring the reinforcement.

As a seat for a vehicle (especially, a car), there is a seat including a seat cushion which supports buttocks of a passenger, a seat back which is provided at the rear end of the seat cushion, and a head rest which is attached to the upper portion of the seat back.
The head rest includes a head rest main body which contacts a head of the passenger, and rod-like pillars which protrude from the main body. The general head rest is attached to the seat back by inserting the pillars into insertion holes provided in the upper portion of the seat back.
The seat back includes a seat back frame which has a panel material formed of a metallic plate and a frame material joined to the panel material, and a pad which covers the seat back frame, in many cases.
Since the seat back frame is required to have a certain stiffness or more, conventionally, a predetermined stiffness or more has been provided to the seat back frame by forming a reinforcement portion (beads) which is the panel material bulging in a shape of lines in the region to which the frame material is not joined in the panel material (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).


A mechanical seal device includes a rotational seal ring connected to a rotational shaft, having a rotational seal surface and arc-shaped grooves arranged on the rotational seal surface. The grooves are sectionalized by partition walls. A stationary seal ring has a stationary seal surface facing the rotational seal surface of the rotational seal ring. A spring biases the stationary seal ring against the rotational seal ring. Outlet portions are formed on the stationary seal surface of the stationary seal ring and connect with a fluid supply path for supplying a pressure fluid. A circumferential direction length (W3) of each outlet portion is made to be ½ of a circumferential direction length (W1) of each partition wall or longer (W3≧W1/2); and a circumferential direction length (W3) of the outlet portions is made to be shorter than a circumferential direction length (W2) of the arc-shaped grooves (W3<W2).

A technique of the present invention is useful as a mechanical seal for sealing a fluid to be sealed in semiconductor production facilities, etc. In semiconductor production facilities, etc., when an impurity is included in a sealed fluid, it adversely affects the products. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent incorporation of an abrasion powder to the sealed fluid caused by wear of a seal ring at the time of rotation in the mechanical seal device. As a countermeasure, a non-contact mechanical seal device is used to prevent wear of seal surfaces of the seal ring.
As such a non-contact mechanical seal device, there is known a device comprising a rotational seal ring connected to a rotational shaft of a semiconductor production facility, etc. and having a rotational seal surface and a stationary seal ring having a stationary seal surface facing to the rotational seal surface of the rotational seal ring; wherein grooves (pockets) capable of connecting to a fluid supply path for supplying a pressure fluid is formed on the stationary seal surface (for example, refer to the patent articles 1 and 2).
Also, there is known a device wherein arc-shaped grooves are formed on the stationary seal surface and arc-shaped grooves are formed on the rotational seal surface of the rotational seal ring (for example, refer to the patent article 3).
In the above mechanical seal devices, a floating force of the stationary seal ring is made larger comparing with that of the rotational seal ring by forming grooves on the stationary seal surface, so that wear is prevented. Also, in such a mechanical seal device, a larger floating force can be obtained by increasing a volume of the grooves formed on the stationary seal surface.
However, as the volume of the grooves formed on the stationary seal surface increases, vibration arises in a behavior of the rotational seal ring. The vibration is a phenomenon called Pneumatic Hammer caused by compressibility of a pressure fluid supplied between the rotational seal surface and the stationary seal surface. On the other hand, when the volume of the grooves formed on the stationary seal surface is decreased to suppress the Pneumatic Hammer phenomenon, a sufficient floating force cannot be obtained and the rotational seal surface contacts with the stationary seal surface.
Also, in the above mechanical seal device described in the patent article 3, the grooves formed on the stationary seal surface and the grooves formed on the rotational seal surface have approximately the same size. Therefore, there is almost no volume difference and the effect of the grooves formed on the rotational seal surface cannot be obtained sufficiently, so that vibration also arises in a behavior of the rotational seal ring due to the Pneumatic Hammer phenomenon in this case.    Patent Article 1: Specification of the International Publication No. WO 00/075540    Patent Article 2: The Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H03-277874    Patent Article 3: Specification of the U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,289


An apparatus for controlling the position of a screen pointer for an electronic device having a display screen includes a light source for illuminating an imaging surface, thereby generating reflected images. The apparatus includes a single chip for receiving the reflected images, generating digital representations of the reflected images, and generating a first set of movement data based on the digital representations of the reflected images. The first set of movement data is indicative of relative motion between the chip and the imaging surface. The single chip includes a serial interface for outputting motion data in a serial format based on the movement data.

The use of a hand operated pointing device for use with a computer and its display has become almost universal. By far the most popular of the various devices is the conventional (mechanical) mouse, used in conjunction with a cooperating mouse pad. Centrally located within the bottom surface of the mouse is a hole through which a portion of the underside of a rubber-surfaced steel ball extends. The mouse pad is typically a closed cell foam rubber pad covered with a suitable fabric. Low friction pads on the bottom surface of the mouse slide easily over the fabric, but the rubber ball does not skid. Rather, the rubber ball rolls over the fabric as the mouse is moved. Interior to the mouse are rollers, or wheels, that contact the ball at its equator and convert its rotation into electrical signals representing orthogonal components of mouse motion. These electrical signals are coupled to a computer, where software responds to the signals to change by a ΔX and a ΔY the displayed position of a pointer (cursor) in accordance with movement of the mouse. The user moves the mouse as necessary to get the displayed pointer to a desired location or position. Once the pointer on the screen points at an object or location of interest, a button on the mouse is activated with the fingers of the hand holding the mouse. The activation serves as an instruction to take some action, the nature of which is defined by software in the computer.
In addition to mechanical types of pointing devices like a conventional mouse, optical pointing devices have also been developed, such as those described in the incorporated patents and patent application. In one form of an optical pointing device, rather than using a moving mechanical element like a ball in a conventional mouse, relative movement between an imaging surface, such as a finger or a desktop, and photo detectors within the optical pointing device, is optically sensed and converted into movement information.
Prior optical pointing devices have used an optical navigation sensor chip in conjunction with a micro controller. Agilent, Inc., the assignee of the present application, produces optical navigation sensor chips that are suitable for use in optical pointing devices, such as an optical mouse. Typically, the micro controller is under the design control of the mouse manufacturer. Optical navigation sensor chips optically sense movement (e.g., of an optical mouse relative to a work surface or imaging surface), and calculate and report motion information. The micro controller is typically responsible for the overall management of the mouse, including receiving motion information from the optical navigation sensor chip and reporting the motion information to the host computer (or other host device), handling all other communications with the host computer, handling universal serial bus (USB) interrupts, deciding when to turn components on/off, handling the buttons and Z wheel of the mouse, as well as other operational and regulatory functions.
It would be desirable to provide an optical screen pointing device that utilizes a single chip for gathering, processing, and outputting motion data in a serial format for direct use by a host computer or other host device.

One chip USB optical mouse sensor solution


The invention provides a protein scaffold and methods of preparing, screening, engineering and using the protein scaffold.

This invention relates to a protein scaffold useful, for example, for the generation of products having novel binding characteristics.
Interactions between molecules such as proteins and ligands are essential to multiple functions in organisms. The ability to obtain protein molecules with binding properties to a target of interest is of importance in biological sciences and medicine.
For example, the ability to diagnose disease can be facilitated by the ability to detect the presence of a target of interest associated with the diseased state. In another example, modulation of interactions between molecules within the body are known to have therapeutic effects and many drugs are developed by making use of molecules which bind to ligands, receptors, enzymes and other targets of therapeutic interest. Antibodies, by virtue of their relatively large and complex binding surfaces are known to generally have higher specificity for their targets than small molecule drugs, and in therapeutic applications they have been known to have a lower probability of inducing toxicity from indiscriminate binding. However it is known that the use of antibodies sometimes suffers from disadvantages, such as the typical need for mammalian cell production to obtain full length antibodies for therapeutic use, and the generally lower tissue penetration of full length antibodies compared to smaller molecules.
Although the use of antibody fragments can overcome some of these disadvantages, antibody fragments have a tendency to aggregate and be less stable than full-length antibodies. For example, because of instability issues of scFv molecules, for some applications time consuming stability maturation is sometimes necessary (Honegger A. et al., 2009), and lack of thermal stability can sometimes render scFv molecules useless in vivo (Willuda J. et al., 1999). In some situations, the instability of scFv can be an impediment to their use in engineering bispecific and multispecific constructs (Miller B. et al., 2010, Xu L. et al., 2013). This has generated an interest in engineering non-immunoglobulin protein molecules to overcome some of these disadvantages.
There have been efforts to develop non-immunoglobulin protein molecules by randomizing protein surfaces to generate libraries of novel binding proteins (for example, Binz H. et al., 2003, Vogt M., Skerra A., 2004). However, in some cases, engineering difficulties encountered during randomization can result in scaffold library members with stabilities only marginally better than those of antibody fragments. It is also generally thought that differences in the structure of individual scaffold proteins and the topography of the scaffold binding surfaces results in bias in the types of epitopes that each scaffold efficiently recognizes (Gilbreth R., Koide S., 2012). For example, the rigid and concave binding surface of DARPins is thought to limit the structural diversity of epitopes that are able to be recognized by this scaffold. (Schilling J. et al., 2014, Gilbreth R., Koide S., 2012). In a related example, the LoopDARPin scaffold replaces the concave binding surface of the DARPin by one with a protrusion in the middle, and is expected to bind to different shaped epitopes than DARPins (Schilling J. et al., 2014). In other examples, the basket like structure of the anticalin scaffold tends to cradle the bound target, and affibodies have a flat binding site architecture which tends to recognize similarly flat surfaces in their targets (Gilbreth R., Koide S., 2012). The topography of a scaffold binding surface is generally correlated with the types of epitopes that are recognized with high affinity.
Thus, there is a need to develop small, stable, artificial antibody-like molecules for a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic and industrial applications.
Citation or discussion of a reference herein shall not be construed as an admission that such is prior art to the present invention.


An electronic apparatus of the present invention includes: a storage unit for storing data having time data; a retrieval word input unit for inputting a retrieval word having an expression representing at least a period of time in order to retrieve the data stored in the storage area; a conversion unit for converting the retrieval word into date information; a comparison unit for comparing the date information with the time data; and a display unit for displaying data having time data which matches with the date information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus equipped with a schedule management function, such as an electronic organizer, small electronic equipment (e.g., a portable information terminal), and a personal computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the case where stored schedule data including time data is read and displayed in conventional electronic apparatuses equipped with a schedule management function, a user inputs date information such as a year/month/day to the conventional electronic apparatuses, and schedule data corresponding to the date information is read and displayed.
However, in conventional electronic apparatuses, only schedule data on a specified date is read, and schedule data on a certain period of time cannot be read. Thus, the conventional electronic apparatuses lack general versatility, causing inconvenience.

Electronic apparatus having a schedule management function


There is disclosed an electron microscope equipped with a magnetic microprobe. The microscope can apply a strong electric field to a local area on a specimen made of a magnetic material. The magnetic flux density per unit area of the microprobe is high. The microscope includes a biprism for producing interference between an electron beam transmitted through the specimen and an electron beam passing through a vacuum. The specimen is held to a holder. The microprobe is made of a magnetic material and has a needle-like tip. The microscope further includes a moving mechanism capable of moving the microprobe toward and away from the specimen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electron microscope equipped with a magnetic microprobe.
2. Description of Related Art
In the prior art, in a transmission electron microscope, a specimen has been observed by directing an electron beam at the specimen such that the beam is transmitted through the specimen to create a specimen image, magnifying the specimen image by a magnetic lens, and projecting the image onto a screen. A technique for inserting a biprism into such a conventional transmission electron microscope is known as described, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-117800 (pages 3 and 4; FIG. 1). The biprism creates interference fringes (hologram) by interference between the electron beam passing through a vacuum and the beam transmitted through the specimen. Information about variations in the phase of the beam is taken from the hologram. Information about the thickness distribution across the specimen, the electric field, or the magnetic field is obtained.
Furthermore, a technique utilizing a mechanism for removing contamination from a wire forming such a biprism is known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H9-80199 (pages 2, 3, and 4; FIG. 2)).
In a further known technique, a magnetic field application means is installed between the polepieces of the objective lens of an electron microscope. A DC current produced by a magnetic field application power supply or an AC current having an arbitrary phase, period, or amplitude is applied to the magnetic field application means with an arbitrary synchronizing signal to obtain information about magnetic domain structure while observing an electron microscope image of a magnetic material to which a magnetic field is applied (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H8-96737 (pages 2 and 3; FIG. 1)).
In the prior art electron microscope, an external magnetic field is applied to a magnetic material to induce variations in the magnetic field inside and near the specimen. The induced variations are observed by application of a magnetic field. The following methods are available to apply this magnetic field.
1. The magnetic field produced by the objective lens of the electron microscope is used as the field applied to the specimen.
2. A coil used only for the application of the magnetic field is mounted either in the specimen chamber of the microscope or in a specimen holder.
FIG. 8 illustrates the prior art method of applying a magnetic field to a specimen. The specimen, indicated by numeral 1, is made of a magnetic material and held by a specimen holder 2. An excitation coil 3 is used to apply a magnetic field to the specimen 1. Indicated by e is an electron beam. Magnetic flux going out of the N pole of the excitation coil 3 enters the exciting coil 3 on the S-pole side. At this time, the magnetic flux 4 produced by the excitation coil 3 for producing a magnetic field penetrates through the specimen 1 of magnetic material, thus applying a magnetic field to the specimen 1. The beam e is directed at the specimen 1.
In the above-described prior art method, the magnetic field produced by the excitation coil is applied to the specimen of magnetic material. With this method, a substantially uniform magnetic field is applied to the whole specimen. However, if the applied magnetic field is strong (e.g., more than hundreds of gauss), the incident electron beam is deflected to a great extent by the magnetic field because the uniform magnetic field is applied over a wide range and over the whole specimen in this way. That is, with the prior art method described above, a strong magnetic field cannot be applied to the specimen of magnetic material. Consequently, imaging under environments of such strong magnetic fields cannot be performed.

Electron microscope equipped with magnetic microprobe


A method and device for detecting and stabilizing a fishtailing trailer using wheel forces. In particular, a method for stabilizing a vehicle combination made up of a towing vehicle and a trailer in which lateral forces acting on at least one wheel or at least one tire are ascertained with the aid of a sensory system that detects wheel forces or tire forces, the existence of a fishtailing movement of the trailer is detected from the ascertained lateral forces and, in the event of a detected fishtailing movement of the trailer, a braking intervention and/or steering intervention is performed.

When a vehicle combination becomes unstable, this becomes noticeable in that the trailer is fishtailing. In this case, the trailer periodically transmits alternating forces via the trailer hitch onto the towing vehicle. These alternating forces lie essentially in the direction of the roadway perpendicular to the plane of travel. The frequencies of such trailer movements lie approximately between 0.5 Hz and 1.5 Hz.
German patent document no. 199 64 048 discusses a method and a device for stabilizing a road vehicle, in particular a passenger car having a trailer towed by the road vehicle. In this instance, the road vehicle is monitored with respect to fishtailing movements. When a fishtailing movement is detected, a yaw moment is automatically applied on the road vehicle, which is essentially in phase opposition to the fishtailing movement.
German patent document no. 100 41 093 discusses a sensor system and evaluation methods, which are suitable in a roller bearing for detecting physical quantities, particularly for detecting and evaluating quantities that are a function of rotational speed during the movement of the components supported in the roller bearing. The expansion forces caused by roller elements of the roller bearing and acting on the fixed bearing shell of the roller bearing are detected using expansion-sensitive sensors in that two sensors are attached on the bearing shell such that they are in each case offset with respect to each other by half of the angular distance of the roller elements in the direction of rotation. This invention is suitable for example for detecting braking, acceleration, lateral and vertical forces.

Method and device for detecting and stabilizing a fishtailing trailer using wheel forces


A center support including a steering member and a mounting member integral with the steering member. The center support may be mounted on an internal support member within a catheter without the use of a ferrule.

1. Field of the Inventions
The present inventions relate generally to catheters.
2. Description of the Related Art Catheters, which are in widespread medical use today, allow physicians to gain access into interior regions of the body in a minimally invasive manner. Catheters are frequently used to advance electrodes, biopsy devices, and other operative elements through bodily lumens to an intended treatment site. In cardiac treatment, for example, the catheter is advanced through a main vein or artery into the region of the heart that is to be treated.
Although precise control of catheter movement is of paramount importance in all catheter-based procedures, the need for careful and precise control over the catheter is especially critical during certain procedures concerning the heart. These procedures, called electrophysiological therapy, are becoming more widespread for treating cardiac rhythm disturbances. Cardiac tissue coagulation (sometimes referred to as xe2x80x9cablationxe2x80x9d), where therapeutic lesions are formed in cardiac tissue, is one procedure in which the ability to precisely position the distal end of the catheter is especially important. Incremental distal end movements of 1 mm to precisely position electrode(s) carried on or near the catheter tip are not uncommon and it can take up to an hour to precisely position the tip. In those instances where multiple electrode distal assemblies are employed, it is important that all of the electrodes achieve intimate tissue contact.
Some catheters are steerable in that the distal tip can be manipulated with a distal tip steering mechanism that is operably connected to the catheter handle by a steering control wire. The steering mechanism consists primarily of a center support (also referred to as a xe2x80x9csteering springxe2x80x9d). The center support is mounted on the distal end of an elongate guide coil and extends to the distal tip of the catheter. The guide coil extends to the proximal end of the catheter. A ferrule, which is a cap-like device that may be positioned on the distal end of the guide coil, is used to mount the center support. The ferrule includes a slot for the center support and one or more openings through which the steering wires pass.
Steerable catheters also typically include a catheter body formed from two tubular parts, or members. The proximal member is relatively long and is attached to the handle, while the distal member, which is relatively short, carries the electrodes or other operative elements. In addition, the proximal member is typically formed from material, such as braided Pebax(copyright), which has better torque transmission properties than the distal member, which is typically formed from a softer, more flexible material such as Pebax(copyright) that is better for steering.
In addition to steerability, torque transmission is important because physicians will often attempt to control the position of the distal end of the catheter by rotating the handle at the proximal end. The ability of the physician to precisely control the location of the distal end is directly related to the fidelity of the catheter""s transmission of torsional forces exerted on the proximal end to the distal end. Torque is transmitted to the tip from the proximal member by way of the distal member. Torque is also transmitted to the tip from the guide coil by way of the center support. To that end, the ferrule prevents rotation of the center support relative to the guide coil so that torque transfer can take place.
The inventors herein have determined that conventional steerable catheters are susceptible to improvement. More specifically, the inventors herein have determined that the configuration of the distal tip steering mechanisms in conventional steerable catheters is unnecessarily costly. For example, the inventors herein have determined that the configuration of the steering center support in conventional steerable catheters necessitates the use of a ferrule to mount the center support within the catheter.
Accordingly, the general object of the present inventions is to provide a catheter that avoids, for practical purposes, the aforementioned problems. One object of the present inventions is to provide a steerable catheter that can be manufactured in a more economical manner than conventional steerable catheters. Another object of the present invention is to provide a steering center support that can be mounted within the catheter without the use of a ferrule.
In order to accomplish some of these and other objectives, a center support in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention includes a steering member and a mounting member integral with the steering member. Such a center support provides a number of advantages over conventional center supports. For example, the integral mounting member allows the present center support to be mounted directly onto a guide coil or other internal support member. As such, the present center support eliminates the need for the ferrules that were required to mount the center supports onto the guide coils in conventional catheters. The integral mounting member also allows the center support to be fixedly secured to the guide coil or other internal support member, which results in high fidelity torque transmission from the internal support member to the catheter tip.

Steerable catheter and self-mounting center support for use with same


The semiconductor integrated circuit (RF IC) for a mobile telephone capable of transmitting/receiving the signals of plural bands reduces the DC offsets of the amplifiers located in the following stages of the mixers that demodulate or down-convert the reception signals. The invention scrambles the signal lines to transmit the outputs of the plural mixers that demodulate or down-convert the reception signals of different bands, so as to avoid the adjacent signal lines from making the same combination from the starting ends to the finishing ends.

The present invention relates to a technique effective in application for the wirings that transmit to the following stage amplifier the output of a mixer of the direct down-conversion system that synthesizes a reception signal and an oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency to produce a frequency-converted signal, in a semiconductor integrated circuit used in a radio communication system; especially, it relates to a technique effective in use for a semiconductor integrated circuit having a function that modulates/demodulates a transmission/reception signal, which is used in a radio communication system capable of transmitting/receiving signals of plural bands.
A radio communication system such as a mobile telephone generally uses a VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) that generates an oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency that is synthesized with a reception signal or a transmission signal. Some of the conventionally proposed mobile telephones take on the so-called dual band system that can handle the signals of two frequency bands such as the GSM (Global System For Mobile Communication) of 880 to 915 MHz band and the DCS (Digital Cellular System) of 1710 to 1785 MHz band.
In recent years, there appears a demand for the triple band system that can handle the signal of the PCS (Personal Communication System) of 1850 to 1915 MHz band, in addition to the GSM and DCS. It is also conceivable that there will increase a demand for a mobile telephone capable of handling more bands.


The method of repair paint curing for an automotive production line having a prep area, a spray booth, and an infrared oven, with a plurality of longitudinally spaced infrared heating panels upon its opposite sides and top includes the steps of conveying a vehicle from the prep area into a spray booth, locating upon the vehicle body the prepped area to be painted, and manually inputting a code to a computer control for selectively energizing only one of the heating panels immediately adjacent the prepped area. Additional steps include spray painting the prepped area, indexing the vehicle into the oven, and automatically energizing only the selected heating panel to apply preset heating and drying temperatures to the painted area for preset temperatures and time periods in accordance with a preselected program for the computer for drying and curing the painted area, all of the other heating panels remaining inactive. An apparatus in disclosed to practice the method of repair paint curing.

Previously in connection with painting and curing for production lines of automotive bodies, after prepping and painting it was necessary to advance the entire vehicle through a conventional predelivery convection oven, usually a gas-type oven where a temperature throughout was maintained at approximately 225.degree. F., for illustration, and wherein often parts of the vehicle were damaged during this heating experience. These parts included shock absorbers, viscosity of the oil, plastic parts, tires, belts and other parts.
Previously the predelivery convection oven maintained a constant temperature throughout its interior exposing all portions of the vehicle to such constant heat during curing and drying of the painted area without regard to the particular areas painted. It required the use of large masses of exhaust flow of air for the removal of paint solvent and for maintaining the environment sufficiently clean to avoid damage to the repaired and painted areas of vehicle bodies.

Method of repair paint curing for production lines and apparatus


A liquid crystal display capable of improving the brightness without depending on the aperture ratio. By setting a lower polarization plate between an array substrate and a color filter substrate, the light reflected from a metal film formed on the array substrate can directly return to a light guide plate. Therefore, the light recycling efficiency is improved and the brightness of the liquid crystal display is improved.

In the case of a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display device, the aperture ratio and the angle of visibility are important parameters for controlling the quality of the device.
A recently-developed In-Plane-Switching (IPS)-mode liquid crystal display device attracts a good deal of public attention as a liquid crystal display capable of realizing a very large angle of visibility. The IPS-mode liquid crystal display device generates an electric field in a direction horizontal to the array substrate by forming not only the display electrode but also the common electrode on the array substrate with the TFT formed on it and applying a voltage between the display electrode and the common electrode. Therefore, the liquid crystal material being present between the array substrate and the color filter substrate rotates in a plane while being kept horizontal to both the substrates. As the result, the IPS-mode liquid crystal display realizes an angle of visibility larger than that of the conventional Twisted Nematic (TN)-mode liquid crystal display device.
An IPS-mode liquid crystal display is superior in angle of visibility but it is inferior to the conventional TN-mode liquid crystal display in aperture ratio. A TN-mode liquid crystal display has a display electrode and a common electrode respectively constituted of a thin film made of transparent Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), while an IPS-mode liquid crystal display has a common electrode constituted of an ITO thin film and a display electrode made of a metal film of Aluminum (Al) or Molybdenum Tungsten (MoW). Because the display electrode made of the metallic thin film is opaque, the IPS-mode liquid crystal display has a low aperture ratio. As the aperture ratio lowers, the screen becomes darker. To improve the brightness of the screen, it is necessary to increase the number of backlights or the capacity of the backlight. And then, the liquid crystal display device is increased in size and weight and moreover, increased in power consumption. Therefore, the IPS-mode liquid crystal display having the superior characteristic such as a large angle of visibility is applied to a large liquid crystal display. However, application of the IPS-mode liquid crystal display to a notebook-type personal computer having many restrictions on power consumption, size, and weight has been suspended. Moreover, it can be considered that a large liquid crystal display lowers in the aperture ratio as the minuteness of the liquid crystal display is further improved and it is difficult to apply the IPS-mode liquid crystal display to the large liquid crystal display.
The TN-mode liquid crystal display has a large aperture ratio compared to the IPS-mode liquid crystal display. However, it is needless to say that it is preferable to obtain higher brightness at the same aperture ratio in order to improve the display characteristic and decrease power consumption.
Japanese Published Examined Patent Application No. 60-34095 and Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 63-121823 respectively disclose a liquid crystal display panel in which a polarization layer is set between two glass substrates. However, neither of them disclose any configuration for improving the light-recycling efficiency.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display device capable of improving brightness without depending on the aperture ratio.

Liquid crystal display panel and device thereof

International Business Machines Corporation


A motor is provided with a speed reducer. The motor includes a rotatable motor shaft having an end face and a threaded portion. The speed reducer includes a gear for communicating with the threaded portion of the motor shaft. A speed reduction case encloses at least a part of the speed reducer and includes a thrust receiving portion facing the end face of the motor shaft. An end spacer is disposed between the thrust receiving portion of the speed reduction case and the end face of the motor shaft. The end spacer includes a press-fitting portion secured at the thrust receiving portion of the speed reduction case to prevent the end spacer from rotating relative to the speed reduction case. The end spacer also includes a protrusion. A thrust force applied to the motor shaft presses the end face of the motor shaft to the protrusion of the end spacer to brake the rotation of the motor shaft by friction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor with a speed reducer for use with electrical equipment, and more particularly to such an apparatus having a reversal prevention mechanism use with a power window system of a car.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide a motor with a speed reducer for use with a power window system of a car. The speed reducer includes a worm gear mechanism that has a reversal prevention function so as to prevent reversal due to an external force. However, when the speed reducer is used to drive the power window system, the window can be forced open by applying a strong downward force to the window. Thus, in order to deter crime, a separate reversal prevention mechanism is provided to compliment the reversal prevention function of the worn gear mechanism. However, conventional reversal prevention mechanisms are undesirable since they include many parts and are difficult to assemble.
Therefore, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-36476, discloses an apparatus to brake the rotation of a motor shaft, that is integrated with a worm gear, by a frictional force generated by an end spacer. The end spacer is provided for an end face of the motor shaft. A thrust force applied to the motor shaft is communicated to the end spacer. The end spacer thereby presses and contacts the inner wall of a case (motor yoke or speed reduction case).
The yoke for supporting an end of the motor shaft is made of a very ferromagnetic metal because it must form a magnetic path. However, the speed reduction case that houses the worm gear mechanism is typically made of a lightweight resin. Therefore, a metallic plate is provided at the thrust receiving portion of the speed reduction case in order to prevent the speed reduction case from abrading due to the friction with the end spacer and from when the end spacer is forcibly brought into contact with the metallic plate.
A problem arises in that frictional heat is produced between the end spacer and the metallic plate. The frictional heat is transmitted to the metallic plate which has a heat conductivity larger than that of the plastic end spacer. Therefore, the portion of the speed reduction case to which the metallic plate is set can be softened by the frictional heat, depending on the operating condition.
Additionally, a setting hole for preventing rotation must be formed by inserting the end spacer at the front end of the motor shaft. Therefore, it is difficult to form the setting hole when the front-end diameter of the motor shaft is small, which makes assembly impossible. Thus, the industry lacks a speed reducer having a reversal prevention mechanism which is simple to manufacture and to assemble. The industry also lacks a reversal prevention mechanism which minimizes damage to the speed reduction case due to frictional heat.

Motor with speed reducer having reversal prevention mechanism


Disposable hygiene pants with a front portion (2), a rear portion (3) and a crotch portion (4) provided with two leg openings (5, 6), the longitudinal edge portions (21, 22) of the front portion being connected by longitudinal weld seams (7, 8) to the longitudinal edge portions (31, 32) of the rear portion (3) in order to form a waist opening (9) and the two leg openings (5, 6) in the crotch portion, which leg openings are outwardly delimited in the transverse direction by the inner end portions of the weld seams as seen in the longitudinal direction of the hygiene pants. The hygiene pants have an outer elastic cover (10) and have an absorption unit (11). The cover is made of an elastic laminate having an elastic film applied between two nonwoven layers. The weld seams (7, 8) are each reinforced by at least one nonwoven strip (15, 16) containing thermoplastic fibers and have a tensile strength, in a direction transverse to the weld seam, in excess of 5 N/25.4 mm at least in the portions reinforced with said nonwoven strip (15, 16).

For hygiene pants, in the form of diaper pants for children and adults and in the form of sanitary towel pants, very high demands are placed on fit and comfort. The hygiene pants must have such elasticity in the transverse direction that they are easy to take off and put on by the user, by a parent or by a care provider. There is also a requirement that they should be soft and textile-like. The hygiene pants, in particular for adult users, must be discrete and they should not be bulky, at least in the areas outside the actual absorption unit. Since they are disposable products, the cost aspect is very important. For cost reasons, the material layers included must be as thin as possible. At the same time, quality and strength requirements must be fulfilled. The hygiene pants, such as diaper pants, must of course resist wear during use. Hygiene pants are exposed to considerable stresses when being put on. The hygiene pants are stretched when they are being pulled over the users hips, and said weld seams are exposed to great stresses. Especially critical areas are the ends of the weld seams at the leg openings or the waist. A break in the weld starts in these critical areas.
In traditional diaper pants, the covers are made up of double nonwovens and of elastic threads lying between these. In the weld seams on this type of cover, there are no fewer than four layers of bonded nonwoven, which gives a sufficiently strong weld seam. The expression bonded nonwoven used here means a nonwoven in which the bonds have not been broken open or weakened in connection with the production of the cover.
Hygiene pants of the type mentioned at the outset have a cover in the form of an elastic laminate composed of an elastic film applied between two nonwoven layers. The weld seams on this type of elastic laminate are affected, in respect of the strength of the seams, by the structure and make-up of the laminate. One object of elastic covers in the form of an elastic film between two nonwoven layers is to give the cover optimal elastic properties at the same time as the fibers in these nonwoven layers give the cover a soft textile feel. The structure of the laminate should therefore be configured such that elastic stretching of the cover is not impeded by the nonwoven layers.
An example of elastic laminates of the type mentioned at the outset is described in WO 03/047488. This publication discloses an elastic laminate composed of an elastic film applied between two nonwoven layers. During production of the elastic laminate, these nonwoven layers have been connected to the film, after which the laminate has been stretched until the bonds in the nonwoven layer have been broken. The elasticity of the laminate is therefore made largely the same as the elasticity of the elastic film. An important disadvantage of this solution is that the weld seams have considerably less strength than the weld seams on said traditional diaper pants.
Other examples of elastic laminates of the type mentioned at the outset are described in the two PCT applications 2004/001004 and 2004/001005. In contrast to the production method according to WO 03/047488, the bonds of the at least one nonwoven layer have not been completely broken open and, instead, the layer has a certain residual strength. The PCT applications 2004/001004 and 2004/001005 describe solutions where elasticity has been combined with softness and with resistance to puncture. In these constructions too, the weld seams are weaker than in said traditional diaper pants.


The invention describes a method and an arrangement for the regulation of the rail pressure in an internal combustion engine. In the method, the rail pressure is regulated, with a target high pressure being predefined. Said target high pressure is filtered, before being input, by way of a target high pressure filter which is configured as a dynamic target high pressure filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and arrangement for the regulation of the rail pressure in an internal combustion engine, wherein the rail pressure is regulated by way of a control unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various fuel injection systems are commonly used in internal combustion engines. Common rail fuel injection describes a fuel injection system wherein a high pressure pump brings fuel to a high pressure level. The fuel comes into a pipe system, known as the rail, where it is under pressure. The common rail system allows separation of the pressure generation from the actual injection process. The rail pressure is regulated by a pressure control valve or a suction throttle and is monitored by a rail pressure sensor. An automatic control is provided for this, wherein the target rail pressure is preset.
The internal combustion engine can basically be in a steady state operational state or a transient operational state. In the steady state operational state the rotational speed, as well as the rail pressure are already stable. In the transient operational state this is not the case. In order to reduce fluctuations of the target high pressure in the steady state operational state, a target high pressure filter having a long dwell time is required. In contrast, in the transient operation a target high pressure filter having a very short dwell time is required. In the prior art, a PT1-filter with a constant time constant was used. In order to enable a good steady state performance of the high pressure control circuit this time constant must be set very high. This had the disadvantage that the target high pressure is delayed too much during transient operations.

Method for rail pressure regulation in an internal combustion engine


Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for managing a packet network to deal with a problem of dropped audio packets. A triggering event signal indicates that audio marked packet traffic in the packet network has exceeded a capacity limit. Upon receiving the triggering event signal, a transmitting device transmits audio packets marked as non-audio packets through the packet network. The transmitting device, for example, is a VoIP telephone. The triggering event signal, for example, is generated when the audio marked packet traffic exceeds a dropped packet threshold, or when monitoring of audio marked packet traffic indicates that audio marked packet traffic approaches a committed data rate (CDR) threshold.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to network management and more specifically to handling audio traffic when the audio traffic approaches a committed data rate (CDR).
2. Introduction
In packet networks, packets can be marked for processing. Such markings can identify a packet as an audio packet, video packet, or data packet. Typically network infrastructure grants an audio packet the highest priority, followed by video packets and then data packets. A problem arises when the audio traffic approaches a committed data rate (CDR) for audio packets in the network. If the overall audio marked packet traffic exceeds the CDR for audio packets, then the network drops packets in excess of the CDR. Audio transmission quality is especially susceptible to dropped packets.
To avoid dropped audio packets, a packet network typically includes a Communications Manager (CM) responsible for management of the available audio bandwidth. The CM should be aware at all time of the number of audio sessions that are established and of the CDR for audio packets. When a call is attempted that would commit an amount of traffic that exceeds the CDR for audio packets, then the call is denied with a message that all circuits are busy. This process is called the Call Admission Control (CAC) process.
Unfortunately, the CM sometimes is informed that an audio session has been terminated when in fact the audio session improperly continues after termination has been reported to the CM. It also is possible for network devices to either intentionally miss-mark non-audio packets as audio packets for higher priority, or network devices can be mistakenly plugged in to the wrong part of the network causing non-audio packets to be marked as audio packets. In either case, the non-audio packets marked as audio packets use up a portion of the audio bandwidth of which the CM is unaware. When the audio traffic reaches the audio CDR, the CAC process continues to admit new audio sessions so that audio traffic exceeds the audio CDR and audio packets are dropped.

System and method for automatically adapting audio packet marking in a packet network


The present invention relates to a flaw detector imaging apparatus for detecting and visualizing a flaw in a target material to be investigated, comprising an ultrasonic phase-array probe comprising an array of ultrasonic transducers and a flaw detector. The flaw detector includes at least one trigger channel to trigger ultrasonic emitting transducers of the array at respective time delays to produce an ultrasonic beam propagating through the target material, and a single receiver channel to receive echo signals produced by ultrasonic receiving transducers of the array in response to ultrasonic wave echoes reflected from a flaw in the target material. The single receiver channel comprises a delay circuit imparting to the received echo signals the respective time delays as used in the triggering of the ultrasonic emitting transducers and a combiner of the delayed echo signals. A processor is responsive to the echo signals produced by the ultrasonic receiving transducers, received by the single receiver channel and time delayed by the delay circuit to produce an image of the flaw from which the ultrasonic wave echoes are reflected. A display connected to the ultrasonic processor displays the image of the flaw.

Typical ultrasonic flaw detectors are similar to oscilloscopes, and generally incorporate special features designed to help detecting and characterizing flaws in materials. Flaw detectors are widely used for material evaluation and they are designed as small, hand-held microprocessor-based devices suitable for both laboratory and industrial applications. A schematic block diagram of a typical ultrasonic flaw detector is illustrated in FIG. 1.
A typical, conventional flaw detector uses one channel pulse generator to excite an ultrasonic transducer and create sound waves (traveling mechanical vibration) propagating through the inspected material. Reflected echoes (energy) from the boundaries and/or flaws are converted by the ultrasonic transducer into electrical signals which are amplified, and sent to a receiver channel. The electrical signals are then digitized, filtered and displayed on a screen as ultrasonic waveforms (A-scans) that can be interpreted by the operator. Alarm gates (amplitude thresholds) are often employed to monitor signal levels at selected points in the A-Scan to flag echoes from flaws.
The conventional ultrasonic flaw detector technology is reliable and well accepted; it is also relatively simple to use, particularly for slightly oriented, accessible and relatively big flaws. Straight and angled beam testing is generally employed to find flaws. In many instances, however, simple display of A-Scans is cumbersome and difficult to interpret. Moreover, conventional hand-held flaw detectors do not offer imaging capabilities for flaw visualization and are typically limited to a single ultrasonic transducer. Since beam orientation is necessary for accurate flaw detection, conventional flaw detectors also use a series of angle wedges to cover a small range of beam orientated inspection.
With such a typical flaw detection configuration, it is not possible to visualize and adequately characterize small volumetric flaws. It is also more complex to reach flaws in hidden regions and visualize them at the same time. One way to produce real-time flaw visualization without moving the transducer in time-consuming raster scan pattern is to use echographic images based on phase-array technology using an array or matrix of ultrasonic transducers.
Ultrasonic phase-array probes generate focused beams by controlling the time delays of the excited ultrasonic waves which in turn are generated from a plurality of separate and spaced apart ultrasonic transducers such as piezoelectric elements. Beam focusing and steering is also achieved by phase-array probes at the reception of the returned echoes by applying the same control delay(s) as for the emission. These delays have a specific profile called focal law profile. Therefore, the ultrasonic beams can be focused and/or steered within a volumetric working space to probe for flaws and discontinuities in the material propagating the ultrasonic waves. Flaws in the body of material can be detected on the basis of ultrasonic echoes that are returned or deflected from such flaws. As phase-array beams are generated electronically, electronic raster scanning permits very rapid structural flaw imaging, flaw detection and volumetric characterization. Electronic raster scanning also allows to circumvent problems associated with a fixed mechanical lens of transducers, to eliminate all moving transducer parts, and to avoid many problems related to ultrasonic coupling.
Phase-array probes can create simple echographic sectorial scans (S-Scans) representation where multiple A-Scan signals with different angles are stacked and presented as a global electronic scan image. S-Scan can represent a color coded 2-D layout of the tested structure. It provides quick information since it gives the true depth representation and 2-D representation of the flaws.
Phase-array ultrasonic technology moved from the medical field to the industrial sector at the beginning of the 1980s. By the mid-1980s, piezocomposite materials were developed and made available to manufacture complex-shaped phase-array probes. The company R/D Tech Inc., whose address is 505, boul. du Parc-Technologique, Québec, Québec, Canada, G1P 4S9 has widely investigated and implemented the phase-array concept for industrial standardization and transfer of the technology. Phase-array development at R/D Tech Inc., has been based upon a series of portable phase-array instruments that can be operated in the field by a single operator, and collect data from engineering structures for remote analyses.
A need still exists for a hand-held, lightweight, portable flaw detection device that can be easily used to detect defects in materials and, then, to rapidly visualize these defects on a display, for example a LCD display, for better characterization, and in which simple display software algorithms can be used to locate and categorize the detected defects.

Hand-held flaw detector imaging apparatus


Viscous flowable material dispensing apparatus for dispensing viscous flowable material such as food material. The apparatus is provided with a supply manifold for receiving and distributing the viscous material with air actuated reciprocating pump connected to the manifold to force the material therethrough, facilitated by one way inlet and outlet valves in the manifold. A pattern plate adapted to receive the material from the manifold into a flat chamber with a dispersing pattern plate supported in the chamber to disperse the material throughout the chamber. A pattern plate covering the plate chamber to receive the dispersed material and dispense same in a pattern over object to receive the material. Pneumatic control valves are utilized for operating the pump to continuously provide repeated movement of material through the apparatus.

Existing known types of apparatus for dispensing flowable materials often provide a single inlet or supply valve that requires separate means for actuating same and which thereby is not directly operable by the amount of source to be applied by the apparatus. This type of apparatus operation requires a synchronization of separate sub-apparatus to try to control the amount of material entering the apparatus relative to that to be dispensed by the apparatus. This tends to cause a lack of unison of action and corresponding flow through the apparatus and which, in turn, detracts from the accuracy and control of flow of material.
Also, existing known types of apparatus for dispensing flowable materials often have a relatively small diameter, and relatively long stroke, piston pump sub-apparatus for pumping material through the apparatus; and a separately actuatable and adjustable much larger cross-sectional area for an ultimate dispensing pump apparatus piston pump structure for dispensing material from the apparatus. In this situation, a small adjustment of the movement of the separately actuated larger area dispensing sub-apparatus can result in a large corresponding variation in the amount of the material ultimately dispensed, defeating the desirable precision often required by a dispensing apparatus.
Some existing known types of apparatus for dispensing flowable material even require a mold plate with a shear plate and knife plate to provide positive cyclic dispensing in lieu of provision of structure to provide precision in the amount of material to be dispensing.
Still further, the existing known types of apparatus for dispensing flowable material usually provide a controlled source of air under pressure for directly operating the material dispensing structures which provide an undesirable source of possible direct contamination of the material to be dispensed, particularly when dispensing food material.
Also, existing known types of apparatus, although having a sub-apparatus dispensing chamber for ultimately dispensing the flowable material, do not provide any appropriate means for diffusing the material throughout the sub-apparatus dispensing chamber to augment the even and accurate dispensing of material, over a given area, from the sub-apparatus ultimate dispensing structure.

Apparatus for dispensing a quantity of flowable material


The present disclosure discloses a vent and cover plate assembly for dust-free workshop floor, including a plurality of vents arranged on the dust-free workshop floor and cover plates that are each associated with a corresponding vent. The vents each include a hole and clamping slots arranged at an outer periphery of the hole, and the cover plates each include a cover body and clamping feet arranged at an outer periphery of the cover body. The cover body engages with the hole, and the clamping feet engage with respective clamping slots. The vent and cover plate assembly for dust-free workshop floor is firm and secure in engagement clamping and thus has small possibility of rolling over.

To ensure the cleanness of production areas in a dust-free workshop for liquid crystal panels, a plurality of vents is typically arranged on a dust-free workshop floor. Purified air is blown downwardly through the vents by means of air purification equipment, and the air inside the workshop flows back to the air purification equipment from the two sides of the workshop, so as to be purified for subsequent circulation. To ensure the airflow direction inside the dust-free workshop, cover plates with different hole ratios are arranged above the vents in different areas, so that air can blow downwardly along a vertical direction in the production areas, and thus these production areas can be kept clean.
The vents in the prior art are circular holes, and the cover plates which are used with these vents are circular also. The vents and cover plates in the prior art have the following defects. On the one hand, the clamping engagement between the circular cover plate and the circular vent is infirm and insecure, and therefore the cover plate will be easy to be loosened after being trodden by vehicles or persons for long. On the other hand, when the circular cover plate engages with the circular vent, their contact surface will be likely to be unsmooth and uneven due to such factors as processing errors, and thus the circular cover plate can roll over easily when being trodden on. Since the vent is generally large in area with a diameter in the range from 20 to 50 cm, objects or persons will fall down from the cover plate if the poorly mounted cover plate rolls over.

Vent and cover plate assembly for dust-free workshop floor

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.