A method of mining substantially horizontal beds of trona ore, such as are found in the vicinity of the town of Green River, Wyoming, in which substantially all the ore within a given area is extracted. Mining is accomplished by driving substantially parallel entries into the trona formation approximately 100 to 200 feet apart, connecting the entries by at least one primary passage which thereby defines a trona panel, supporting the roof of the primary passage by movable roof supporting structures, and mining the exposed short face or wall of the trona panel. The mined material is removed and the roof supporting structures are advanced so that the structures remain essentially adjacent and parallel to the panel face being mined as it recedes. The roof supporting structures are continuously advanced incrementally to effect caving of the previously supported roof and facilitate mining of the exposed short face of the trona panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The rising economic and environmental cost of recovering natural resources has stimulated interest in utilizing methods of recovery to produce as little waste of the resources as possible without substantial increases in cost. Like other enterprises engaged in the extraction of mineral products, mining differs from manufacturing industries in that an increased productivity must inevitably result in a shortened mine life unless the increased productivity results from an improvement in recovery techniques. The invention relates to an improved method of mining trona mineral, such as is found in southwestern Wyoming and similar trona deposits situated elsewhere, with increased recovery of trona over conventional methods without substantial increase in cost.
2. Description of Prior Art
Trona mineral, or natural sodium sesquicarbonate, having the formula EQU Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 .multidot.NaHCO.sub.3 .multidot.2H.sub.2 O
is presently mined in the United States from trona deposits located in southwestern Wyoming, in the general region of the town of Green River, Wyo. The Wyoming deposits were formed from residues of Gosuite Lake, which covered Wyoming for four million years during the early and middle Eocene age, approximately seventy million years ago. The Eocene age was marked with vast structural depressions and an inland advance of the sea. With increasing dessication over hundreds of thousands of years, the level of Gosuite Lake sank below its outlet to the sea, shrinking until it reached an area of approximately 1000 square miles and its brine content became so concentrated that beds of trona were deposited. Other major trona deposits are located in Kenya at Lake Magadi and in California near Searles Lake and Owens Lake.
The Wyoming trona deposits are evaporites, as hereinabove described, and hence form substantially horizontal layers. The beds vary greatly in thickness, from about 1 foot to about 16 feet. However, the beds are persistent and extend for about 1000 square miles, thus providing reserves adequate for reasonably forseeable future needs. The beds are located approximately 800 feet to approximately 2000 feet below ground surface. In particular, a main trona bed, averaging a thickness of about 8 feet to about 11 feet is located approximately 1200 feet to approximately 1600 feet below ground surface. The main bed is located below substantially horizontal layers of sandstones, siltstones and mainly unconsolidated shales. In particular, within about 400 feet above the main trona bed are layers of mainly weak, laminated green-grey shales and oil shale, interbedded with bands of trona from about 4 feet to about 5 feet thick. Immediately below the main trona bed lie substantially horizontal layers of somewhat plastic oil shale, also interbedded with bands of trona. Both overlying and underlying shale layers contain methane gas.
The comparative compressive strengths, in pounds per square inch, of the main trona bed and of the overlying and underlying shale layers in average values is substantially as follows:
Shale 3,700 p.s.i. PA0 Trona 7,500 p.s.i.
Thus, both the immediately overlying and the immediately underlying layers are substantially weaker than the main trona bed. Recovery of the main trona bed, accordingly, essentially comprises removing the only strong layer within its immediate vicinity.
Presently, it is economical to recover from the Wyoming deposits only the trona located in the main trona bed. This recovery is presently achieved by underground mining. However, because the surrounding shale layers are substantially weaker than the main trona bed and because of the substantial depth at which the main trona bed is located, removal of the main trona bed will leave an essentially weak shale roof which is incapable of supporting itself over large spans. Special techniques have accordingly been devised to mine the trona bed and provide roof support for areas of active mining. No attempt is made to support the entire weight of the overlying materials, roof support in underground mining being generally designed only for the purpose of protecting areas of active mining; i.e., the roof is allowed to cave over mined out areas. These techniques are primarily designed to prevent the caving of the overlying shale layer into an area of active mining and to provide adequate ventilation due to the presence of methane gas in the surrounding shale layers, as hereinabove mentioned, which is released upon caving of the shale layers.
One technique generally used in mining the main trona bed in Wyoming, is the room and pillar system. In this system, trona is generally mined by driving a series of tunnels through the main trona bed in two directions at substantially right angles, so as to divide the bed into a number of blocks or pillars and generating a cellular (rooms) pattern. In particular, essentially rectangular tunnels are cut in the main trona bed, which tunnels are termed secondary entries. The vertical walls of the secondary entries form bases for support of the overburden and its pressure arch. The rectangular shape of the secondary entries, however, provides no support for the span of roof between the substantially vertical walls of the secondary entries. Accordingly, a substantial layer of trona, approximately 1 foot to 4 feet, is left adjacent the roof of the secondary entries. The roof is additionally supported by roof bolting and timbering. Substantially parallel rooms, which are about 15 feet wide and which are spaced about 50 to about 60 feet apart are driven into the main trona bed from the secondary entries, generally using a continuous mining machine. By use of the continuous mining machine, the rooms are elliptically shaped and conform to the pressure arch of the overburden. Accordingly, the roof span between the walls of the rooms is more adequately supported by leaving a layer of trona adjacent the roof of the room than the roof span in the secondary entries. Hence, less secondary support means such as roof bolting and timbering will be required for the rooms. The pillars of trona which remain between the parallel rooms are then extracted by driving tunnels, called lifts, through the pillars. The lifts are separated from the mined out area by a narrow wall or fender of trona, which fender is approximately 7 feet thick or less. When the lift is completed, the fender is removed by blasting and the resulting unsupported roof adjacent the previously mined area is caved. This caving relieves some of the overburden pressure within the pillar being mined. This sequence is repeated and, upon completion of one lift, the fender is blasted and the next parallel lift is begun.
As hereinabove mentioned, the primary disadvantage of any room and pillar system is that a substantial amount of the trona cannot be recovered but must remain to support the overburden. This unrecovered trona is generally left adjacent the roof and in the pillars. Further, as blasting is required to recover the fender, the roof supported by the trona layer and secondarily supported by roof bolting and timbering develops cracks and fissures, and unplanned caving very often results. The greater part of the fender ore is generally not recovered.
Another technique used in mining trona is the longwall mining system. In this system, the whole of the main trona bed within a specified area, called a panel, is extracted in one continuous operation by taking successive slices over the entire length of a long working face. No remnants of trona are left either to support the overburden or to serve as stress concentrators, such as the crushed supporting pillars mentioned hereinabove (while both blasting and crushing occur, they do not necessarily occur together). However, costly roof supporting structures must be used adjacent and parallel to the working face. The length of the trona face will usually be about 300 to about 500 feet, a length of about 300 feet often being considered necessary to achieve an output sufficient to justify the costs of this technique. Further, the machinery used in mining the face cannot be used in development of new mining areas.
In the longwall technique, two parallel tunnels are driven into the main trona bed, starting from the main haulage road of the mine at points approximately 300 feet to 500 feet apart, or however long the working trona face is to be. These parallel tunnels are termed gate roads and they are often driven at right angles to the main haulage road. As the gate roads are ultimately intended for use as transport, they are fairly large. After some distance has been advanced in both gate roads, a longwall trona face is opened up by driving a further tunnel, the height of the bed, between the remote ends of the gate roads. Trona is mined from the exposed longwall by use of either a double drum shearer loader or plow. The shearer or plow is pulled back and forth across the exposed longwall trona face, and loosened trona is dropped into a conveyor. Self-advancing hydraulic jacks or chocks support the roof and follow the plow or shearer as it slices into the trona bed. The hydraulic roof supports, whether chock or shield types, support the immediate roof and overlying layers. When advanced this support is removed and the weight of the overburden creates the fall necessary to remove the excess pressure at the exposed trona face, thereby providing protection from unplanned cavings. Furthermore, the hydraulic roof supports control the caved overburden, or gob, and segregates this caved material from the active working face. The mining can either proceed away from the main haulage road, in which case it would be termed advance longwall mining, or it can proceed towards the main haulage road, in which case it would be termed retreat longwall mining.
In particular, trona panels of about 2,000 feet to about 4,000 feet in length and about 300 feet in width have been successfully mined. In both retreat and advance mining, a waste area is left behind known as goaf or gob. The gob consists generally of the mined-out area in which the roof has collapsed once no longer supported by the self-advancing chocks. However, due to the length of the trona face being mined, it is quite often difficult to induce the initial cave and uneven caving may result, which places excessive weight on all or some of the supports. Further, the plow or shearer used to mine the exposed longwall cannot be used to develop new panels. Hence, the working of the longwall face and development of new panels must be properly spaced or else expensive machinery will be idled.
Another disadvantage associated with longwall mining of trona is cost. As hereinabove described, a typical longwall face is about 300 feet to 500 feet in length, and the practice has been usually to place supports approximately every three to five feet along the exposed trona face. These supports are very costly. Further, this usual length of longwall trona face is generally greater than the pressure arch of the overburden, and accordingly results in a tendency to overload the supports. Additionally, as hereinabove mentioned, the double drum shearer loader or plow cannot be used for development work, and so system development work must be properly paced or major pieces of equipment will be idled.
By the method disclosed herein, the problems associated with such prior art systems as the room and pillar system as well as the longwall mining system are overcome. Thus by the system described herein a more complete and effective recovery from the trona is accomplished. by mining the shorter face of the trona panel, more versatility of equipment results, fewer costly roof supporting structures are needed, and initial and unform caving is easier to achieve than in current practices. Additionally, more trona is recovered than in the predominantly used room and pillar mining of trona.


In accordance with one or more embodiments, systems and methods for in-flight fuel delivery include an aerial refueling device adapted to provide fuel to a receiver aircraft, an optical component adapted to capture images of the aerial refueling device and the receiver aircraft, an operator input component adapted to interface with an operator and capture control signals as input from the operator, and a display component adapted to display images. A controller is adapted to receive the captured images and the captured control signals, process the control signals by generating graphic display symbology, process the images by generating a combined image having the generated graphic display symbology superimposed on the images, and display the combined image on the display component for viewing by the operator. The controller is adapted to superimpose the graphic display symbology on a portion of the images obscured by the aerial refueling device.

In the aviation industry, in-flight refueling extends the range and endurance of aircraft without requiring the aircraft to land. Although in-flight refueling is a relatively common operation, especially for military aircraft, the aircraft to be refueled (e.g., the receiver aircraft) must be precisely positioned relative to the tanker aircraft to provide safe engagement while the fuel is dispensed to the receiver aircraft. The precise relative spatial positioning of the two rapidly moving aircraft makes in-flight refueling a challenging operation.
One type of in-flight refueling system includes a boom refueling system that includes a rigid boom extending from the tanker aircraft, with a probe and nozzle at its distal end. The boom includes airfoils (e.g., rudders) controlled by a boom operator stationed on the refueling aircraft. The airfoils allow the boom operator to actively maneuver the boom with respect to the receiver aircraft, which usually flies in a fixed refueling position below and aft of the tanker aircraft. The boom operator typically monitors the aerial refueling boom with video displays to assist with guiding the boom nozzle into the receptacle of the receiver aircraft.
Conventional video displays provide essential information to the boom operator for readily cross-checking the status of the refueling system including boom elevation, azimuth, telescoping length, boom state, and fuel delivery without obscuring or otherwise losing sight of the receiver aircraft. Warning indicators are positioned so as to attract the boom operator's attention when concentrating on positioning the boom nozzle in the receiver aircraft's receptacle, without compromising safety by obscuring essential areas of the scene.
Some conventional video displays provide visual overlays of this essential information in the form of linear scales, numeric fields, and warning indicators that are displayed at fixed locations in the displayed images. Generally, the visual overlays displayed over the images of the receiver aircraft obscure the boom operator's view of the receiver aircraft during the aerial refueling process, which is typically unsafe. In some instances, conventional overlays may obscure dangerous situations in aerial refueling, which may increase the occurrence of damage to the aerial refueling boom and receiver. As a result, there is a need for an improved system and method for providing visual overlays in displayed images of aerial refueling operations that improve safety.

System and method for displaying aerial refueling symbology


The present disclosure is related to an air filter operation and use modification system. The system properly determines average filter resistance based upon determined air velocities in the air handling unit. Once accurate average filter resistance is determined, various energy use measurement determinations can be made for a proposed filter in the system. Such determinations can be based on estimated or desired filter energy use measurements. The system can modify the air handling unit operations to meet the proposed filter energy use measurements. Furthermore, the user will have the ability to review the range of potential operational points and then be able to select the service cycle based on the air handling unit owner's preferred preventive maintenance and budget cycles.

Air handling systems in commercial buildings utilize filtering apparatus for removing particulate material from the air flow passing through the air handling unit. These filtering apparatuses impact the measure of running the HVAC and air handling units because pressure drops caused by the filters directly increase energy requirements for moving air. Therefore, inherent within filtering air for particulate removal is an energy measure related to pressure drop across the filter.
Determination of the most appropriate filter apparatus to be utilized in the air handling unit can be dependent on multiple factors including whether the building is a standard office building or a clean room requiring HEPA or ULPA filters. Furthermore, with a wide variety of filtering apparatuses available for installation, determining the most appropriate or most efficient filtering apparatus can be exceptionally difficult.
Additionally, systems provided for the analysis of filtering use measurements often do not take into account appropriate building or air handling unit parameters. When determining energy measure calculations for a given filter, therefore, it is the case that the values determined are incorrect since they rely upon incorrect assumptions as to the data, and incorrect methods for measurement estimation. These incorrect assumptions may further magnify the total energy measure associated with filter use. As a result, selection of filtering apparatus options, or determination of particular filtering apparatus to be utilized in a specified environment, may be erroneously made based upon inaccurate measure estimations.

Air filter operation and use modification according to identify a filter resistance of an air handling unit


A device for driving a platen includes a motor for driving the platen, and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting the power of the motor to the platen. The power transmission mechanism includes a drive wheel having a pin and driven by the motor for rotation, and a driven wheel having a plurality of grooves in which the pin of the drive wheel is engageable. With this construction, the platen can be rotated and stopped.

This invention relates to a platen drive device for use in a printer, an electronic typewriter or the like.
A platen drive device has conventionally been used to drive a platen of a printer, an electronic typewriter or the like.
Such a conventional platen drive device will now be described. FIG. 4 is a side-elevational view of the conventional platen drive device. A drive gear 22 is mounted on a shaft of a motor 21, and a gear 24 having a worm 23 integrally formed therewith is in mesh with the drive gear 22. As best shown in FIG. 5, the worm 23 has teeth formed on a part of its outer peripheral surface, the teeth (hereinafter referred to as "spiral teeth") being disposed on a spiral line. A teeth-free portion, i.e. a portion at which the spiral teeth are cut off or removed is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the worm 23. A reflection plate 24a is mounted on one side or face of the gear 24. A worm gear 25 is engageable with the spiral teeth of the worm 23, and also is in mesh with teeth of a ratchet 27 mounted coaxially with a platen 26. An arm 29 is urged against the teeth of the ratchet 27. A photosensor 30 is fixedly mounted in such a position as to be opposed to the reflection plate 24a when the worm 23 is disengaged from the worm gear 25. A motor braking judgment portion 31 feeds a braking signal to a motor driver 32 (which drives the motor 21) when a detection signal is outputted from the photosensor 30.
The operation of the above platen drive device will now be described.
First, when the motor 21 is in its stopped condition, the worm 23 and the worm gear 25 are stationary, and are not engaged or meshed with each other. In this condition, when the motor 21 begins to rotate, the worm 23 is soon brought into meshing engagement with the worm gear 25, so that the worm gear 25 begins to thereby rotate to drive the platen 26. Then, the worm 23 is further rotated, and when the worm 23 is disengaged from the worm gear 25, the worm gear 25 is stopped. At this time, the platen 26 is retained in this position by the engagement of the arm 29 with the ratchet 27. Also, at this time, the photosensor 30 outputs a detection signal, and the motor braking judgment portion 31 is responsive to this detection signal to feed a stop signal to the motor driver 32, so that the motor driver 32 stops the motor 21. At this time, the stop position of the motor is irregular. However, if the range of this position irregularity is arranged to be within the range of the teeth-free portion of the worm 23, the platen can be angularly moved a certain amount regardless of the stop position of the motor 21. And besides, the only means for retaining the platen 26 in a braked condition when the motor 21 is stopped is the ratchet mechanism constituted by the ratchet 27 and the arm 29, and therefore, the platen 26 can be manually rotated.
However, with the above conventional construction, the plurality of teeth of the worm are intermittently engaged or meshed with the plurality of teeth of the worm gear, and therefore if the relation between the engaging position of the ratchet mechanism and the engaging position of the worm gear is not constant, the position of the worm gear is changed after the worm is disengaged from the worm gear. In such a case, the next engagement of the worm with the worm gear can not be done properly. For this reason, the design of the ratchet mechanism is difficult, and the manufacturing precision of the ratchet mechanism as well as the manufacturing precision of the worm and the worm gear must be enhanced. As a result, the cost has been increased.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The invention provides a device for efficiently mounting an original onto an image reading drum in an image scanning system. The mounting device includes a lower holder section and an upper holder section, each made of a flexible but hard plastic sheet. The original is held in between the lower holder section and the upper holder section and is attached onto the image reading drum, which has a predetermined thickness greater than a distance causing Newton's rings. Accordingly, image signals obtained by scanning the original effectively represent an original image without Newton's rings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a device for mounting an original onto an image reading drum in an image scanning system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Drum-type image scanning systems generally comprise a transparent image reading drum, on which an original to be scanned is mounted.
The original is manually attached and fixed onto the cylindrical surface of the image reading drum with adhesive tape, and is detached from the drum by peeling the adhesive tape off the original. This manual attachment, however, does not assure complete contact of the original with the image reading drum, and in many cases, its poor contact with or partial separation from the drum causes Newton's rings.
When the original is large in size, an operator can find Newton's rings without any difficulty and adjust the attachment of the original to the image reading drum. On the other hand, it is rather difficult to find Newton's rings on a small-sized original, and the obtained image signals sometimes include signals caused by Newton's rings. In other words, conventional manual attachment does not efficiently prevent occurrence of Newton's rings especially for a small-sized original.
There are some known techniques used for prevention of Newton's rings. One proposed technique is to spray powdery stone (particularly talc) on the lower surface of the original before mounting the original on the image reading drum, and another proposed technique is to use an image reading drum with a window. The former technique requires skill for evenly spraying the powdery stone, as well as considerable time and labor. The latter technique limits the position of the original to the window on the image reading drum, thus wasting the residual space on the drum.

Device for mounting an original onto an image reading drum


A handle for a roller applicator. The handle is of heavy rod stock which, for the purpose of this invention, is substantially rigid. The rod is bent so that the roller may be operated with the axis of the roller vertical at locations above or below the locations which may ordinarily be painted with horizontal strokes by a person standing on the floor or ground. The longitudinal axis of the grip portion of the handle is skewed to the rotational axis of the roller at an angle in the order of 30.degree. and the common perpendicular between the two axes is longer than two inches and the point of intersection between the common perpendicular and the axis of rotation of the roller is near to the point where the handle enters the roller.

Roller applicators have greatly reduced the time required to paint broad surfaces such as walls and the like. However, the painting of walls above the point at which a painter can comfortably reach while standing on the floor or ground still requires the erecting of scaffolding or platforms.
The conventional paint roll has the grip in the same plane as the axis of the roller, and the axis of the grip intersects the axis of the roller at right angles near the midpoint of the roller. Therefore, the pushing and pulling forces of the user are directed through the axis of the roller at right angles to the axis. The strokes taken by the user are usually horizontal with the elbow and wrist flexing so as to permit the use of a uniform substantially horizontal stroke.
When painting near the floor or ceiling it is desirable to paint with strokes which are horizontal. In order for a painter to stroke horizontally near the ceiling it is customary for him to stand on a platform or scaffolding. In order for the painter to stroke horizontally near the floor it is customary for him to squat or kneel to position himself so that he can stroke horizontally.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a handle for a roller applicator which enables a standing user to stroke horizontally above and below the areas he would ordinarily be able to cover with horizontal strokes while standing.
It is further an object of this invention to provide a handle as described above wherein the handle is made from a single piece of substantially rigid rod material.
It is further an object of this invention to provide a handle as described above wherein the balance of the roller and handle combined makes the unit readily manipulatable.
It is further an object of this invention to provide a handle as described above wherein the shape of the handle permits the user to apply uniform pressure to the roller and against the wall when the roller is in the vertical position at locations above the head or below the knees of the user.
It is further an object of this invention to provide a handle as described above wherein the shape of the handle permits the user to comfortably roll the roller with horizontal strokes in the manner described above.
Other objects of this invention will be made apparent by the following descriptions, drawings and the appended claims.


A method of pulsed-air compacting of mold-sand in combination with compacting by compression supplements the pulsed-air compacting of the mold-sand by an operation of re-compacting the mold-sand by pressing which is performed with the pattern plate containing the patterns by the plate moving inside the cavity of the filling frame in the direction of the latticed pressing element which is subjected to a counter-pressure force corresponding in its value to the prescribed level of the half mold compaction. The method is realized with a device in which the pattern plate containing the patterns is mounted with the possibility of a reciprocal motion inside the cavity of the filling frame, and the pressing cylinder is mounted with the possibility to apply a force against the movable pattern plate.

A molder is known comprising a base, a lifter carrying pattern attachments and a casting box, and supporting columns carrying a pulsed-air head, a meter-filler and a filling frame, the meter-filler being spring-loaded against the filling frame and movable in the vertical direction into the internal cavity of the same; moreover, the device for filling the filling frame with mold-sand comprises a meter-filler spring-loaded against the filling frame and movable in the vertical direction into the internal cavity of the same, the meter-filler and the filling frame being provided with a drive for their translation, a gate being provided at the level of the upper surface of the meter-filler (see RF patent No. RU 2022684, Int. Cl. B22C 1/28, published on 15 Nov. 1994).
The method for the manufacture of casting molds realized by the above described molder comprises the following: the mold-sand is poured from a hopper into a meter-filler and a filling frame to further fill a casting box with the mold-sand, the rest of the last being kept in the filling frame, later the mold-sand is compacted by the pulsed-gas method, and the casting mold is re-compacted while moving the lifter up and displacing the remaining mold-sand from the filling frame into the casting box.
The use of the above described structures and of the method for manufacturing casting molds enables to increase productivity thanks to saving time and to combining operations. But the main drawback of the known technical solutions consists in the impossibility to provide efficient compacting of the mold-sand in the areas adjoining the casting box walls and the pattern plate, in particular in the narrow space between the patterns and the casting box walls, and in the casting box angles. The reason of the fact is a strong braking effect of friction against the casting box walls during the compacting by a pressing plate forcing the mold-sand out from the filling frame to the casting box as viewed from the drag portion of the mold. In this case, the distribution of the mold-sand compaction around the mold is not favorable and leads to a bad technology: the maximum is at the drag portion, and the minimum at the pattern plate. The combination of so called "upper" compaction with the pulsed action onto the mold-sand with compressed air somewhat reduces but does not completely eliminate this effect.
A method for the manufacture of sand molds is known, which comprises the steps of: compacting the mold-sand by a compressed gas impulse and additional mechanical pressing by upper compaction with a latticed pressing plate, and a device for realizing the mentioned process is known, comprising a base, a lifter, a casting box, a pulsed-gas head mounted fixedly above the casting box and linked to a system of compressed gas supply, a latticed pressure plate mounted in the lower part of the pulsed-gas head with the possibility of a reciprocal motion with regard to the same in the direction of the casting box, provided by a separate piston drive (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,483, Int. Cl. B22C 15/28, published on 30 Apr. 1974).
Nevertheless, the above mentioned method and device provide the mold-sand compacting in the casting box with the same drawbacks as in the previous case. What is more, the existence of a separate piston drive makes the structure more complicated and requires additional energy expenditures, and the static pressure of the plate to the upper surface of the mold-sand is less efficient than the plate compression in a dynamical regime. The mechanical compacting after the end of the pulsed-gas compaction is less efficient as well than when it is performed simultaneously with the last, while the mold-sand is in a fluid state.
A method for the manufacture of casting molds is known, which comprises the steps of: filling with mold-sand the casting box and the filling frame containing patterns located inside them, mounted on a pattern plate, leveling of the mold-sand surface by moving a multi-position (piston-type) pressing plate together with a prominent scraper fixed on the same, into a position above the casting box, complete lifting of the pattern plate in the filling frame, the mold-sand being moved without its compaction from the frame to the casting box and from the casting box to the free space above the same, pulsed-air pre-compacting of the mold-sand by the effect of the compressed air passing through the moving multi-position pressing plate, and active (full) compressing from above with the compressing elements of the controlled-pressure pressing plate, with the following pulling-through of the pattern, the mold-sand being poured into the casting box and the filling frame under the effect of gravity, and a device realizing said process is known as well, comprising a base, a pressing cylinder, a molding table with a carrier of the pattern plate with patterns, a filling frame with a casting box mounted on the last, a pulsed-air head located above the molding table and linked to a system of compressed air supply, a movable pressing plate with a multi-position (piston-type) pressing element, the filling frame being built-in into the molding table and made with the possibility to place molded casting boxes onto the frame and to take them away from the same, the pattern plate with patterns being placed with the possibility of a reciprocal motion in the cavity of the filling frame, and the pressing cylinder being placed with the possibility to apply force to the movable pattern plate (Advertising brochure of the company "Savelli", p. 12, November 2009).
The above described method and device remedy only in part the main drawbacks of the previous analogs: not rational and not uniform distribution of the mold-sand compaction.
The closest to the technical solution according to the present invention, as to its technical nature, are a method for filling a filling frame and a casting box with mold-sand, and for pulsed compacting of the mold-sand by compressed gas with a simultaneous dynamical re-compacting of the upper layer of the mold-sand with a movable latticed pressing plate moving under the effect of the energy of a compressed gas impulse, as well as a device for compacting the mold-sand, comprising a base, a lifter carrying a filling frame and pattern attachments, a casting box, a pulsed-gas head fixedly mounted above the casting box and linked to a system of compressed gas supply, a latticed pressing plate mounted in the lower part of the pulsed-gas head with a possibility of a reciprocal motion relative to the pulsed-gas head in the direction of the casting box, the pressing plate being linked to the pulsed-gas head via elastic elements made in the form of springs or cables, besides, the device is provided with a cylinder mounted in the pulsed-gas head with the possibility of free contact of its rod with the pressing plate (see the RF patent No. RU 2159165, Int. Cl. B22C 15/28, published on 20 Nov. 2000).
Said method and device increase the efficiency of the mold-sand compacting by a compressed-gas impulse and enable a better mold-sand 5 density distribution around the whole volume of the mold compared to the previous case.
Nevertheless, they show the same drawbacks of the compacting from above, characterizing two previous cases described, which represents the reason hampering a wide use of said invention. The dynamic character of compacting with a latticed element does not modify the nature of the image of problems characteristic for the compacting from above and that of the not rational mold-sand compaction distribution around the volume of the mold.

Method for the manufacture of casting molds and a device for realizing the same

Zakrytoe Aktsionernoe Obschestvo “Litaform”


A support supports an auxiliary component, like a circuit board, in a non-interferingly manner with electrical contacts in a watthour meter socket adapter housing. In one aspect, access is provided through the socket adapter to an electrical component mounted on the circuit board for external control of the component through the aperture in the socket adapter. The supports also releasably receive flanges on electrical components for direct mounting of the components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to electrical watthour meters and, specifically, to watthour meter mounting enclosures or socket adapters.
2. Description of the Art
Electrical power is supplied to an individual site or service by external electrical power line conductors located above or below ground. In a conventional arrangement, electrical power line conductors are connected to terminals in a watthour meter socket mounted on a building wall. Electrical load conductors are connected to another set of terminals in the meter socket and extend to the electrical distribution network in the building. A watthour meter is connected to both pairs of terminals in the meter socket to measure the electric power drawn through the load conductors.
Due to the current trend toward the use of plug-in watthour meters, A to S type socket adapters have been devised which convert A-base type bottom connected watthour meter sockets to receive plug-in watthour meters. Another type of socket adapter has been devised which allows the installation of other devices between the watthour meter socket and a plug-in watthour meter.
Such socket adapters employ a generally annular base having a shell joined thereto and extending outward from one side of the base. Jaw contacts are mounted in the shell and base. Each jaw contact has a female jaw portion disposed interiorly within the shell and a male blade terminal connected to the female jaw portion and extending outward through the base for plug-in connection to the terminals in the meter socket housing.
In previous watthour meter socket adapters, the jaw contacts were of two different constructions. In one construction, the jaw contacts have a folded over design formed of a base wall fixedly mounted by a fastener to the shell of the socket adapter and two spaced sidewalls extending therefrom. The outer ends of the sidewalls are folded over inwardly between the sidewalls and terminate in parallel end flanges which slidably receive a blade terminal of a watthour meter. A blade terminal is usually fixedly connected to the base wall of the jaw contact for connection to jaw contact in a meter socket.
In the second construction, the jaw contacts are formed of a generally planar terminal having opposed first and second ends. An angularly bent spring clip is riveted at one end to an intermediate portion of the terminal and extends to a contact edge disposed in separable engagement with the first end of the terminal to form a jaw for receiving the blade terminal of a watthour meter. The spring clip forcibly biases the watthour meter terminal into secure electrical engagement with the terminal. The second end of the blade terminal extends exteriorly from the base of the watthour meter socket adapter for releasable engagement in a socket jaw contact. A cotter pin is inserted through an intermediate aperture in the terminal to fixedly mount the terminal and jaw contact in position in the watthour meter socket adapter.
In certain applications, such as automatic metering, surge suppression, etc., it is necessary to mount one or more circuit boards in the socket adapter housing. Such circuit boards must be mounted in a manner so as not to interfere with the slide-in connection of the meter blade terminals with the jaw contacts in the socket adapter. In order to mount such circuit boards in prior socket adapters, modifications to the socket adapter housing were typically necessary.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,023,747 and 5,572,396 disclose circuit boards mounted in close proximity to or directly on the base wall of a watthour meter socket adapter. The circuit boards have planar electrically conductive extensions with a slot therein which overlays an aperture in the base wall and receives a blade terminal or contact in a watthour meter socket adapter to electrically connect the contact and the electrical elements carried on the circuit board. While the circuit boards shown in these patents do not necessarily require modification to the socket adapter housing, the planar extensions which receive the jaw contact therethrough consume a considerable amount of space within the socket adapter housing. This poses a problem due to the limited amount of available space within a conventional socket adapter housing and limits the overall size and, therefore, the amount of circuitry that can be mounted on a circuit board.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a watthour meter socket adapter which includes means for conveniently mounting one or more auxiliary component, like circuit boards, in the housing in a non-interfering position with respect to the jaw blades of the socket adapter. It would also be desirable to provide a watthour meter socket adapter which includes means for mounting one or more circuit boards in the socket adapter housing in engagement with a safety shield mounted in the socket adapter housing. It would also be desirable to provide a watthour meter socket adapter which includes a number of separate circuit board supports which may be employed to mount one or more circuit boards in a number of different positions within the socket adapter housing. It would also be desirable to provide a unique circuit board for use in a watthour meter socket adapter which is capable of receiving an external blade terminal. It would also be desirable to provide a circuit board construction for use in a watthour meter socket adapter which enables the circuit board to automatically and, specifically, the circuit or components on the circuit board make an electrical connection to one of the contacts mounted within the socket adapter.
The present invention is a watthour meter socket adapter having unique means for mounting one or more auxiliary components, like circuit boards in a non-interfering position with respect to the jaw blades or contacts of the socket adapter.
In yet another aspect of the invention, access is provided through the socket adapter to an electrical component mounted on the circuit board. Access is provided by an aperture formed in one of the sidewall and/or base wall of the socket adapter in which an electrical control component, such as a connector, switch, etc., can be electrically connected to the electrical component internally within the socket adapter housing and controllable externally of the socket adapter or connected to external control circuits in the case of a connector. Alternately, an aperture formed in an insulated shield mounted over the electrical contacts in the socket adapter housing may support a switch or connector to again provide electrical connection between the electrical component mounted on the circuit board and an external source.
In another aspect, the circuit board mounting supports described in the present invention are also adapted for receiving flanges carried or formed on electrical components, such as relays, timers, telephone modems, circuit breakers, etc. This enables such components to be releasably mountable in the housing of a socket adapter again without the need for mechanical fastening arrangements. This reduces the overall cost of manufacturing the socket adapter as well as making the socket adapter extremely versatile in receiving auxiliary components without the need for modification to the existing socket adapter housing and jaw blade structure.
In the various embodiments of the present invention, one or more circuit boards can be easily mounted in the housing of a watthour meter socket adapter housing. The circuit board supports can be positioned to support the circuit boards exteriorly of a safety shield in the space between the shield and the adjacent sidewall of the housing. Alternately, the circuit board supports may be employed without a shield and positioned at various locations around the periphery of the sidewall of the housing and/or on the base wall or on the base wall between the socket adapter jaw contacts for supporting one more circuit boards in various orientations about the jaw blades without interfering with the function of the jaw blades in releasably receiving blade terminals of a watthour meter.
The present invention also provides a unique snap-in connection of a circuit board in a socket adapter housing thereby eliminating the need for separate mechanical fasteners and manufacturing/assembling operations necessary to securely fasten the circuit board to the base wall of the socket adapter as in prior socket adapters.
The unique provision of a circuit board with outwardly projecting legs enables a circuit board to be mounted in any one or more pair of apertures typically disposed in a socket adapter. The circuit board provides a convenient location for mounting electrical components within a socket adapter, with access being provided to the electrical component through plugs or switches mounted in apertures in the sidewall or base wall of the socket adapter or in an aperture in a safety shield overlaying the jaw contacts of the socket adapter.
The provision of a resilient arm projecting from the circuit board and electrically connected to an electrical component or circuit on the circuit board enables an electrical circuit to be completed between a circuit or electrical component on the circuit board and one of the electrical contacts in the socket adapter, such as a line jaw blade or jaw contact, to provide electrical power or a ground connection to the circuit board.

Watthour meter socket adapter with auxiliary component mounts


A projection type display apparatus is arranged to be able to implement both brightness-priority display and color-reproduction-priority display by itself. In the display apparatus, white light from a light source 1 is separated into beams of three colors by a color separation optical system comprised of a combination of dichroic mirrors DM1, DM2, total reflection mirrors M1, M2, M3, etc., and the beams of the three colors are made incident to liquid-crystal display units 8R, 8G, 8B. After that, the beams are combined by a dichroic prism 9 and images of the liquid-crystal display units 8R, 8G, 8B are projected by a projection lens 10. In this display apparatus, a dichroic filter DF for transmitting light in a region not less than a certain wavelength (for example, about 600 nm) but intercepting light in the other region is arranged so as to be able to be put into or out of an optical path immediately before the liquid-crystal display unit 8R. When the dichroic filter DF is not put in the optical path, the light in the wavelength region not less than about 570 nm is used as projection light. When the dichroic filter DF is put in the optical path, the light in the region not less than about 600 nm is used as projection light in the red band.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a projection type display apparatus used for video display, large-screen display, and so on.
2. Related Background Art
In recent years the variety of use of display apparatus has increased in the fields of image processing etc. and thus there are needs for display devices capable of implementing optimum chromatic purity, chromatic balance, illuminance, and so on according to their use.
FIG. 10 shows an example of the conventional projection type display apparatus.
In the figure, white light emitted from a light source unit 1 having a reflector 2 travels through fly-eye lenses 3 and 4, a PS converter 5, a condenser lens 6, etc. and thereafter a dichroic mirror DM1 as a first optical system transmits red band light R but reflects green and blue band light. Then the red band light transmitted by the dichroic mirror DM1 is reflected by a total reflection mirror M1 to change its optical path by 90.degree. and it then travels through a field lens 7R and a trimming filter TR into a red liquid-crystal display unit 8R comprised of an image display element, in which the red band light is optically modulated according to an input signal. The light thus optically modulated is incident to a dichroic prism 9 for combining as a second optical system, and the dichroic prism 9 changes the optical path of the red light by 90.degree. into a projection lens 10.
On the other hand, among the green and blue band light reflected by the dichroic mirror DM1 so as to change its optical path by 90.degree., the green band light G is reflected by another dichroic mirror DM2 also acting as a first optical system to change its optical path by 90.degree. and then it travels through a field lens 7G and a trimming filter TG into a green liquid-crystal display unit 8G comprised of an image display element, in which the green band light is optically modulated according to an input signal. The light thus optically modulated is incident to the dichroic prism for combining 9 and then into the projection lens 10. Further, the blue band light B transmitted by the dichroic mirror DM2 travels via a condenser lens 11, a total reflection mirror M2, a relay lens 12, a total reflection mirror M3, and a field lens 7B into a blue liquid-crystal display unit 8B comprised of an image display element, in which the blue band light is optically modulated according to an input signal. The light thus optically modulated is incident to the combining dichroic prism, and the dichroic prism 9 changes the optical path of the blue light by 90.degree. into the projection lens 10.
Then trichromatic light combined by the combining dichroic prism is projected by the projection lens 10.
A light source of the light source unit 1 is normally selected from a halogen lamp, a metal halide lamp, UHP (available from Philips Inc.: registered trademark), and so on, the dichroic mirrors DM1 and DM2 have their spectral transmittances illustrated in FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B, respectively, and the trimming filters TR and TG have their spectral transmittances as illustrated in FIG. 11C and FIG. 11D, respectively.
In the conventional projection type display apparatus constructed as described above, where the contrast was sufficiently high in each of the liquid-crystal panels, the chromatic purity of the red band light was determined by the spectral property of the light-source light and the spectral transmittances of the dichroic mirror DM1 and the trimming filter TR, the chromatic purity of the green band light was determined by the spectral property of the light-source light and the spectral transmittances of the dichroic mirrors DM1, DM2 and the trimming filter TG, the chromatic purity of the blue band light was determined by the spectral property of the light-source light and the spectral transmittances of the dichroic mirrors DM1, DM2, and the optical elements were designed so as to gain the optimum chromatic balance and chromatic purity.
Incidentally, there are such various demands that bright display is required even with a penalty of size increase of the apparatus, that bright display is required even with a penalty of degradation of chromatic purity, that the chromatic purity is not required in a white/black mode, and so on, depending upon use purposes of the projection type display apparatus.
The convectional projection type display apparatus implemented the optimum chromatic balance and chromatic purity by cutting the light in the wavelength region of 570 nm to 600 nm in order to enhance the chromatic purity.
However, many lamps have a peak near 580 nm in their spectral distribution, and use of wavelengths near it contributes to increase of illuminance.
There is thus the known projection type display apparatus with a mechanism for putting a band cut filter as an optical element (DF) capable of varying the chromatic purity into or out of the optical path, which is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-72450.
This projection type display apparatus was a single device capable of implementing both brightness-priority display and color-reproduction-priority display, but it had a problem that in the color-reproduction-priority display the display became darker than necessary, because the band cut filter was likely to lower the transmittance even at the wavelengths necessary for the projection.


A method for calculating lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) that includes loading an aligned spinor and gauge matrix, and constructing a half-spinor for plus and minus from the aligned spinors. In a following step, the method may include calculating a half spinor minus to be transferred to a positive neighbor of the gauge matrix by multiplying the gauge matrix and half-spinor for minus. The half-spinor for plus (Hp) and the half spinor minus may be stored in a shared memory. In a following step, the method may continue with calculating a half spinor plus to be transferred to a negative neighbor of the gauge matrix by multiplying the gauge matrix and the half-spinor for plus. Thereafter, the sum of half-spinors may be calculated.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to lattice quantum chromodynamics.
Description of the Related Art
Lattice QCD is a well-established non-perturbative approach to solving the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) theory of quarks and gluons. A quark-gluon plasma (QGP) or quark soup is a state of matter in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) which is hypothesized to exist at extremely high temperature, density, or both temperature and density.
Lattice QCD is a lattice gauge theory formulated on a grid or lattice of points in space and time. When the size of the lattice is taken infinitely large and its sites infinitesimally close to each other, the continuum QCD is recovered. Analytic or perturbative solutions in low-energy QCD are hard or impossible due to the highly nonlinear nature of the strong force and the large coupling constant at low energies. This formulation of QCD in discrete rather than continuous space time naturally introduces a momentum cut-off at the order 1/a, where a is the lattice spacing, which regularizes the theory. As a result, lattice QCD is mathematically well-defined.
Lattice QCD provides a framework for investigation of non-perturbative phenomena such as confinement and quark-gluon plasma formation, which are intractable by means of analytic field theories. In lattice QCD, fields representing quarks are defined at lattice sites (which leads to fermion doubling), while the gluon fields are defined on the links connecting neighboring sites. This approximation approaches continuum QCD as the spacing between lattice sites is reduced to zero. Because the computational cost of numerical simulations can increase dramatically as the lattice spacing decreases, results are often extrapolated to a=0 by repeated calculations at different lattice spacings that are large enough to be tractable.
Numerical lattice QCD calculations using Monte Carlo methods can be extremely computationally intensive, requiring the use of the largest available supercomputers. Lattice QCD has been used as a benchmark for high-performance computing.

Innermost data sharing method of lattice quantum chromodynamics calculation

International Business Machines Corporation


A social network post subject area of a social network post is identified using text analysis. A longevity of social network posts related to the social network post subject area on each of multiple hosting platforms is determined using monitored multi-platform post-longevity information. A hosting platform with a determined highest longevity of the related social network posts is recommended from among the multiple hosting platforms. Responsive to user approval of the recommended hosting platform, the social network post is posted to the recommended hosting platform with the determined highest longevity of the related social network posts.

The present invention relates to social network posts. More particularly, the present invention relates to autonomous social network post longevity and access improvement.
Users of social networks may generate social network posts. The social network posts may include information that is of interest to the user that generates the respective social network posts. The social network posts may be viewed by other social network users.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


An isotope separation apparatus comprises a plurality of independent developing units, each comprising 2 to 20 adsorbent-packed columns forming a continuous developing circuit or passageway, and the developing units are connected to at least one common main pipe for supplying an isotope mixture solution, a regenerating agent solution, or an eluent solution. Also, in a further embodiment the developing units are connected to common liquid-discharge main pipes.. The separation or concentration of isotopes such as uranium isotopes, nitrogen isotopes, boron isotopes, etc., is performed by continuously developing the isotope mixture solution passed through the individual adsorbent-packed columns successively in each developing units.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for separating isotopes. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus for separating isotopes using a plurality of developing units connected to at least one liquid-supply main pipe.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In separating and concentrating an isotope from a mixture of isotopes on an industrial scale, a desired amount of separation and concentration thereof is generally obtained by combining a large number of separation units in the form of a network called a "cascade" since the separation factor of a single isotope separator is usually very small. For example, Kunio Higashi; Uranium Concentration (published by Nikkan Kogyo Shinbun Sha in 1971) teaches that in the case of producing 5% concentrated uranium-235 using natural uranium as the raw material by a gaseous diffusion method, it is necessary to form a cascade by combining, in series, separation units composed of 902 concentration stages and 500 recovery stages. Also, in the case of producing the uranium isotope on an industrial scale by gas centrifuging, it is necessary to form a cascade by combining, both in series and in parallel, several hundred thousands of centrifuges per plant and the entire separation apparatus used for this purpose is complicated and hard to control.
For example, either the cascade of 1400 stages in the gaseous diffusion unit or the cascade of several hundred thousand centrifuges acts as one separation apparatus where the stream of uranium hexafluoride gas in each stage must be accurately controlled in order to maximize the separation factor of the uranium isotope. Furthermore, if a part of a large number of the separation units shuts down, the resulting disturbance of the gas stream or the concentration of isotopes would extend all through the cascade. For recovering under the optimum separation conditions, complicated calculations and operation control may be required. Still further, in order to slightly change the uranium isotope concentration of a product by the operation, the concentration must be changed by controlling the operation conditions of each of the many separation units while trying to maximize the separation factor of the cascade.
In separating an isotope on an industrial scale, it has been a common observation that several thousands to several hundred thousand separation units must be assembled into one cascade, which causes various difficulties in operation.


A multipurpose light apparatus (100) is described for use with an electronic device (400) for indicating the occurrence of an event and providing a programming path for the electronic device (400). The light apparatus (100) includes an indicator light source (104) for indicating the occurrence of an event and a light adapter (102) having a plurality of terminals. One of the terminals (112) of the light adapter (102) is coupled to the indicator light source (104). The light apparatus (100) also includes a light sensitive detector (108) coupled to a second terminals (114) of the light adapter (102). The light sensitive detector (108) provides the means for receiving information to program the electronic device (400).

Many electronic devices are equipped with processors and/or controllers that must be programmed for proper operation. The operating program for these devices is normally stored in non-volatile memory. In some applications, this non-volatile memory is erasable and updatable for performance improvements. The reprogramming of these devices is performed via a connector which is available for this and other optional features that the device may be equipped with. Generally, a programming device is coupled to this connector which then communicates the programming information to the device being programmed. It is obvious that while the device is being programmed no other options using the same connector can be utilized. Furthermore, as it is the nature of accessory connectors, they are highly prone to corrosion resulting in intermittences and even total failure. Additionally, as it is the nature of electrical connectors, they have limited reliability. It is clear that a need exists to provide a more reliable method of communicating programming information to a device without using their accessory connector. Optical communication between two electronic devices is well known in the art. This communication is generally provided via the use of fiber optic cables or via proximity. In the latter, the two devices having optical transmitters and receivers, are placed close to each other allowing them to communicate. Remote control appliances use this technique to establish communication between a remote control unit and the appliance in use.
As size restrictions become more predominant in the design of electronic devices, particularly portable communication devices, the approach has been a departure from dedicated interfaces. Furthermore, any additional connectors that are added to the electronic device must be sealed to protect the interior components. It is therefore clear that a need exists for an alternative programming interface that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art.

Communication device with optical communication interface


A variable array dual-function touch sensor, dual-function touch control detection system, dual-function touch module and display device with a dual-function touch module. The sensor includes a variable array dual-function touch sensing antenna array, including first and second-direction antenna array sets. The first set includes more than two parallel first-direction transparent electric conductors; the second set includes more than two parallel second-direction transparent electric conductors. The conductors are formed by a continuous metal net composed of very fine metal wires, tin doped indium oxide, or nanometer silver filaments. The system includes a touch main control board, first and second array switches, the board including an electromagnetic-capacitive switching circuit, capacitive touch signal scanning detection circuit, electromagnetic touch signal scanning detection circuit and processor. The dual-module includes a variable array dual-function touch sensor and dual-function touch control detection system. The display device includes a dual-function touch module and display screen module.

With the development of touch technology, much convenience is brought to people's daily work and lives. A user can directly contact a touch screen by his hand or other object to input information, thus reducing or even eliminating the user's dependence on other input device and facilitating operation of the user. However, different touch ways are also restricted in their application scopes. Hand touch operation is supported by capacitive touch operation function, and electromagnetic stylus touch operation and writing operation with original handwriting are supported by electromagnetic touch operation function. However, products with such touch functions must be correspondingly provided with a capacitive touch sensor module and an electromagnetic touch sensor module respectively. The two sets of touch sensor modules thus lead to a thick structure, complexity, a high cost and unfavorable market promotion and implementation.
Furthermore, various touch ways also have many shortcomings. A capacitive screen, though capable of achieving multi-point touch and stylus touch function, is slow in response speed and low in resolution for stylus and hand touch, and has the shortcoming of relatively low positioning precision. An electromagnetic screen can be used extensively in large size applications and is precise in positioning, but it cannot achieve multi-point touch convenience and man-machine interaction.

Variable array dual-function touch sensor, control detection system, touch module and touch display device

GUANGDONG ZONGHUA TOUCH CONTROL TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.


A transport apparatus of an X-ray inspection system includes an inspection region with an entrance and an exit. The transport apparatus further includes a loading region disposed at the entrance of the inspection region, the loading region. The loading region includes a first set of X-ray attenuating curtains and a first curtain mover, which moves the curtains of the first set of X-ray attenuating curtains into and out of the loading region between areas that support objects for inspection. The transport apparatus further includes a conveyor device which moves an object for inspection residing in one of the areas from the loading region to the inspection region for inspection.

An X-ray inspection system, such as a luggage and/or baggage X-ray based inspection system at an airport security checkpoint and/or other location, includes a transport apparatus (e.g., a conveyor belt) that transports an object for inspection from a first or loading location to a second or inspection location, where it is exposed to X-rays and imaged by an imaging apparatus, and then to a third or unloading location where the scanned or inspected object can be retrieved.
X-rays include ionizing radiation, and human exposure to ionizing radiation may cause damage to living tissue, which can result in mutation, radiation sickness, cancer, and death. As such, the transport apparatus has included X-ray shielding tunnels, inside of which the conveyor belt moves the object from the loading location to the inspection location and from the inspection location to the unloading location, with static vertical strips of an X-ray attenuating material such as lead at entrance and exit ports of the X-ray shielding tunnels.
As an object for inspection traverse the entrance port, the object (and/or a container carrying the object) physically contacts and displaces the static vertical strips. Unfortunately, this temporarily reduces the X-ray shielding, allowing X-rays to leave through the entrance port. Likewise, when the object traverses the exit port, the object (and/or the container carrying the object) physically contacts and displaces the static vertical strips. Again, unfortunately, this temporarily reduces the X-ray shielding, allowing X-rays to leave through the exit port.
Furthermore, as the object moves through the static vertical strips, friction between the object (and/or the container) may cause the object (and/or the container) to move in a manner which results in the object (and/or the container) becoming jammed in the X-ray shielding tunnel. Furthermore, when multiple objects are serially transported in the tunnel in different transporting areas and individually inspected, it may not be readily easy to ascertain when a particular object of a subject has moved to the unloading location where the subject can retrieve the object.

X-ray inspection system X-ray radiation shielding curtains


In an improved bakeout process for a rotating anode type X-ray tube, the anode, during the course of baking out at temperatures between 500.degree. to 700.degree. C. is rotated by external magnets to prevent cold brazing of the metal lubricant-coated bearing and bearing race.

The rotating anode of an X-ray tube typically is mounted upon bearings as a means of rotation about an axis. In order to ensure a consistent rotatability over the life of the tube, lubrication is added in some form to the bearings. Use of a liquid is not feasible since it easily evaporates within a short time in the evacuated tube once its boiling point has been reached. Therefore, a solid lubricant is preferred. Soft metal lubricants such as silver, gold and some rare earth metals such as an ultra thin (1 micron or less) layer of titanium carbide have been proposed.
In order to remove gases incorporated into the anode and other tube components during manufacture, it is necessary to subject the tube to a high temperature bakeout under vacuum. This is especially necessary where the cathode is porous and has been impregnated with an electron emissive material; an "impregnated cathode" type tube. The standard procedure has been to bakeout the entire vacuum tube at 425.degree. or less. Better liberation of gaseous impurities, however, occurs under higher temperatures. In general the more complete the bakeout, the longer will be the useful life of the tube.
One limitation to subjecting the tube to higher temperatures has been the glass casing of the vacuum tube itself. Now casings are composed of Pyrex with Kovar fittings. A further limitation, however, existed in the fact that at higher bakeout temperatures, even though they are below the melting point of the lubricant metal, the bearing sometimes freezes up under the weight of the anode itself when subjected to these higher temperatures. The combined action of a temperature close to the melting point of the metal lubricant and the pressure caused by the stationary anode produces a cold braze of the bearings.

High temperature bearing bakeout process


A method for driving a display having display cells with capacitors coupled to gate lines. The method comprises the steps of floating the gates of the transistors of the Nth and (N+1)th display cell, applying a high voltage level to the gate of the transistor of the Nth display cell to turn it on and keeping the gate of the transistor of the (N+1)th display cell floated, applying a low voltage level to the gate of the transistor of the Nth display cell to turn it off and the first voltage level to the gate of the transistor of the (N+1)th display cell to turn it on, and floating the gate of the transistor of the Nth display cell and applying the low voltage level to the gate of the transistor of the (N+1)th display cell to turn it off.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for driving a display, and particularly to a method and apparatus for driving a display having display cells with storage capacitors coupled to gate lines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a portion of a conventional display driving circuit. A scan driver 11 provides gate signals GS to display cells 12 for pixel scanning. The display cells 12 receive pixel data carried by data signals DATA from a data driver (not shown) during scan periods. As the display cells 12 are scanned row by row, the pixel data of each frame is stored into the display cells.
The (N+1)th display cell 12 comprises a transistor 121, a liquid crystal cell 122 and a storage capacitor 123. The transistor 121 has a gate coupled to receive the (N+1)th gate signal (N+1)th GS, a drain coupled to receive the data signal DATA and a source coupled to one end of the liquid crystal cell 122. The other end of the liquid crystal cell 122 is coupled to a common electrode (not shown) receiving a common signal Vcom. The storage capacitor 123 has two ends respectively coupled to the source of the transistor 121 and to receive the Nth gate signal Nth GS.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing timing of the signals of the conventional display driving circuit in FIG. 1. The signal Vcom is an AC signal swinging between voltage levels V1 and V0. Each transistor of the display cells 12 is turned on when the scan driver 11 outputs a high-level gate voltage signal VGH as the gate signal GS and turned off when the scan driver 11 outputs a low-level gate voltage signal VGL as the gate signal GS. Since each of the capacitors 123 is coupled to the gate line of a previous row of the display cells 12, it is necessary for the low-level gate voltage signal VGL to swing with the common signal Vcom in order to maintain a proper voltage difference across the liquid crystal cell 122. The low-level gate voltage signal VGL must be an AC signal swinging between voltage levels V3 and V4 wherein (V3–V4)=(V1–V0). As a result, the gate signal GS is a three-state signal swinging among the voltage levels V2, V3 and V4 wherein V2>V3>V4.
However, the power consumption of the driving circuit using an AC signal as the low-level gate voltage signal VGL is much higher than that using a DC signal.

Method and apparatus for driving a display


A cutting apparatus, such as a lawn mower is described comprising a substantially endless housing having an open bottom, air intake opening and a discharge port. The housing cooperates with a plate member projecting inwardly from a bottom part of the housing to define a substantially enclosed centrifuge chamber. A rotatable cutting blade is mounted in the chamber and an air impeller is provided for pressurizing air in the chamber. The plate member and impeller enhance the centrifugal movement imparted to the cuttings by the rotating cutting blade. A mulch recycling system is provided for receiving the grass cuttings and for delivering the cuttings to a predetermined location adjacent the housing for mulching. The mulch recycling system is adapted for use in connection with cutting apparatus supported by wheels, or roller members, as well as air-floated cutting apparatus.

Mulching of cut grass and other vegetation has significant ecological benefits. Heretofore, it has not been possible to effectively mulch grass clippings and the like with conventional lawn mowers for several reasons, including the problem of clippings falling to the ground beneath the blade after the initial cut. It would therefore be desirable to provide a lawn mower with an improved mulching capability.


A semiconductor device includes a first substrate carrying semiconductor chips on both upper and lower major surfaces thereof, a second substrate carrying the first substrate, and a resin package body having a first part for embedding the semiconductor chips on the upper major surface of the first substrate and a second part for embedding the semiconductor chips on the lower major surface of the first substrate, wherein the second substrate carries on a lower major surface thereof solder bumps forming a BGA structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to semiconductor devices and more particularly to a semiconductor device that has a BGA (ball grid array) structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the demand for high speed, high performance and low cost, semiconductor devices are continuously increasing in integration density. In order to meet the intense demand for increased integration density in particular, various package structures have been proposed, including a QFP (quad flat package) structure as well as the BGA structure mentioned before, wherein a QFP device uses a flat resin package body having interconnection leads projecting laterally from a circumferential edge of the package body. In a BGA device, on the other hand, metal spheres or balls are provided on a bottom surface of a Dackage body as electrodes. By arranging the metal balls in rows and columns, it is possible to increase the number of the electrodes even when the size of the package body is small.
FIG.1 shows the construction of a typical QFP device 1, wherein the device 1 includes a package substrate 2 carrying thereon a plurality of semiconductor chips 3 on upper and lower major surfaces 2a and 2b. The package substrate 2 may be formed of a ceramic, and is encapsulated in a flat resin package body 5, wherein a number of interconnection leads 4 are provided at the peripheral edge of the package body 5. Each of the interconnection leads 4 is formed of an inner lead part 4a held within the resin package body 5 and an outer lead part 4b projecting outside the package body 5. The inner lead part 4a is connected to a conductor pattern 6 provided on the package substrate 2 by means of a bonding wire 7. The bonding wire 7 is also encapsulated in the resin package body 5. Further, the outer lead part 4b of the interconnection lead 4 is bent in the downward direction in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the package body 5 to form a gull wing structure, wherein there is formed a part laterally bent at the distal end of the outer lead part 4b for contacting with a wiring pattern provided on a printed circuit board. Thus, the QFP device of FIG.1 is suitable for mounting using the art of SMT (surface mounting technology).
In the semiconductor device 1, it is possible to mount the semiconductor chips 3 on both the upper and lower major surfaces of the package substrate 2 as already noted. Thus, the device 1 is advantageous for increasing the density of mounting of the chips on a package substrate. On the other hand, such a construction of increased number of chips on a single chip substrate raises a problem in that the number of the leads 4 extending from the resin package body 5 increases significantly. With such an increase in the number of the leads 4, the pitch between the leads 4 has to be correspondingly reduced. Further, each lead has to have a reduced width. Thereby, the leads 4 become fragile and easily cause a short circuit when the device 1 is mounted upon a printed circuit board. In addition, high precision is required when mounting such a high density semiconductor device upon a printed circuit board.
FIG. 2 shows the construction of a conventional BGA device 11 that overcomes the foregoing problem of QFP device, wherein the illustrated device 11 has a plastic package body as will be described later.
Referring to FIG. 2, the BGA device 11 includes a printed circuit board 12 of a multiple layer structure, wherein the printed circuit board 12 has an upper major surface 12a on which a single semiconductor chip 13 is mounted by a die bonding process, and the like. Further, the printed circuit board 12 has a lower major surface 12b on which a plurality of solder bumps 14 are formed for external connection. Corresponding to each of the solder bumps 14, there is provided a through hole 16 in the printed circuit board 12, wherein the through holes 16 are connected to a wiring pattern (not shown) provided on the upper major surface 12a of the printed circuit board 12. Further, the printed circuit board 12, having a multiple layer construction as noted before, may include a plurality of such wiring patterns in a plurality of layers, each in electrical connection with a through hole 16. Thereby, the wiring pattern or patterns on the surface 12a of the printed circuit board 12 are connected to the semiconductor chip 13 by way of bonding wires 15. The semiconductor chip 13, the bonding wires 15 and the wiring patterns are encapsulated in a resin package body 17.
In the BGA device 11 of FIG. 2, an increase in the number of external connections is easily accomplished by increasing the number of the solder bumps 14 that may be provided on the entire bottom surface 12b of the printed circuit board 12, without reducing the pitch between the solder bumps 14. On the other hand, the BGA device 11 has a disadvantage in that the side of the printed circuit board 12 that can carry the semiconductor chip 13 is limited to the surface 12a. It has not been possible to provide the semiconductor chip 13 on both the upper and lower major surfaces 12a and 12b of the printed circuit board 12.

BGA semiconductor device including a plurality of semiconductor chips located on upper and lower surfaces of a first substrate


A display device and an operation method thereof are provided. The display device includes a frame scaler, a timing controller, a LCD panel and a source driver. The frame scaler provides a plurality of image data according to an image signal and determines whether the image data are repeatedly transmitted according to a frame control signal. When the image data are repeatedly transmitted, the image data transmitted firstly are set to correspond to gray scale data, and the image data retransmitted are set to correspond to a display image transmitted by the image signal. The timing controller receives the image data to provide a plurality of image display data and receives the frame control signal to determine a data transmission rate of the image display data. The source driver provides a plurality of display voltages to the LCD panel according to the image display data.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a display device and, more particularly, to an operation method of the display device.
Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystal displays (LCD), rather than a cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, are widely used and become popular in daily life. As the semiconductor technology develops, the LCD has advantages of power-saving, thinner and lighter, high resolution, high color saturation, and long life. Consequently, the LCD is widely used in electronic products, such as a computer or a television.
Conventionally, a response speed of liquid crystal (LC) is low (generally 1 ms˜16 ms), when the LCD displays a dynamic image, the LCD utilizing a holding type backlighting module has an image sticking phenomenon due to persistence of vision effect, which is called as a motion blur phenomenon.

Display device and operation method thereof


A grill insert enclosure including a framework of interconnected frame members and support members adapted to receive a grill insert. The construction and utilization of the grill insert enclosure includes adjustably locating the support members to accommodate the configuration and dimensions of various grill inserts.

Conventional grill inserts can substantially vary in configuration and dimensions. Accordingly, these variations necessitate production of a plurality of support structures each having different fixed dimensions to accommodate each of the different configurations of grill inserts.
There would be a substantial advantage in a grill insert enclosure that allows ready, on-site adjustment to provide a support frame adaptable to receive any one of a plurality of differently configured and dimensioned grill inserts.


A photographic image exchange system includes an imaging device having an imager that performs imaging, a communicator that performs communication with a server, and a controller that controls the communicator such that an image that includes a registered target among images captured by the imager is transmitted to the server, and the server provides the image received from the imaging device to a device used by a user who is related to the registration.

It is known in the related art that, in an information processing system in which information is provided to a vehicle when a central server cooperates with the vehicle, the vehicle includes a camera that provides image information and a communication device that transmits the image information to the central server, and the central server includes a communicator that receives image information from the vehicle, an access right determination unit, an upload result management unit, and an image quality confirmation unit that change a provision manner of the image information with respect to the vehicle according to a reception state of the image information, (refer to, for example, Patent Document 1).

Photographic image exchange system, imaging device, and photographic image exchange method


A pretensioner and a seat belt device are provided. A pretensioner includes a wire connected to webbing that restrains an occupant, a piston disposed to the wire, a cylinder that slidably accommodates the piston, a gas generator that applies driving force to the piston, and a housing that integrally connects the cylinder and the gas generator. The housing includes an insertion hole that guides the wire, a communication part that is communicated with the cylinder and the insertion hole, and a gas-supply port that supplies gas generated by the gas generator to the communication part. The pretensioner includes a wire guide disposed at a boundary portion of the insertion hole and the communication part, and a holding member that is inserted into the communication part and locked to the gas-supply port, thereby to position the wire guide.

Vehicles, such as automobiles, are generally mounted with seat belt devices that restrain an occupant in a seat that includes a seat portion on which the occupant sits and a backrest portion positioned back of the occupant. Such a seat belt device has webbing that restrains the occupant, a retractor that winds the webbing, a guide anchor that is provided on a vehicle body side and guides the webbing, a belt anchor that fixes the webbing to the vehicle body side, a buckle disposed on a side surface of the seat, and a tongue disposed to the webbing. The tongue is fitted into the buckle, thereby to restrain the occupant in the seat with the webbing.
The webbing in restraining the occupant can be classified into a lap belt that restrains the occupant's waist with the webbing between the belt anchor and the tongue, and a shoulder belt that obliquely restrains the occupant's shoulder with the webbing between the guide anchor and the tongue.
In such a seat belt device, it has been already proposed to arrange a pretensioner capable of retracting the lap belt of the webbing in the belt anchor, in order to improve performance of restraining the occupant in a vehicle collision.
Such a pretensioner includes, for example, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-173103, a wire connected to the lap belt, a piston disposed at an end of the wire, a cylinder that slidably accommodates the piston, a gas generator that applies driving force to the piston, and a housing that communicatively connects the cylinder and the gas generator. Additionally, the wire inserted into the housing is inserted into a protection-seal body, which is integrally formed by a protection member and a seal member, and the protection-seal body is fixed inside the housing by a retaining ring.


Systems, devices, and methods for automating laboratory protocols utilizing cooperative efforts between differing components including fluidics, agitation and thermal control for processing a wide variety of disparate laboratory protocols are provided. In one aspect, a sample processing module is provided, including a housing configured to accommodate a pre-identified sample process, a temperature input capable of interfacing with a temperature controller, a fluid input capable of interfacing with an input fluid controller, a fluid output capable of interfacing with an output fluid controller, and a standardized agitation connector capable of interfacing with an agitator. A control system interfaces with the temperature input, fluid input, fluid output, and agitation connector to enable the system to perform laboratory protocols that require complex, sequential fluidic steps in association with the temperature and agitation control.

A large number of analytical methods and tools exist today in the scientific work place that can be used for testing samples of a wide variety. Examples of such tools include various forms of chromatography, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), micro array hybridizations, flow cytommetry, etc., utilize a number of different equipment types. While the equipment in support of such testing has come into being and greatly evolved over recent years, many short comings and challenges still exist.

Analytical system for performing laboratory protocols and associated methods


The present invention provides an improved color picture tube having a viewing screen and a shadow mask mounted adjacent to the screen. The mask has an apertured contoured portion and a peripheral skirt. The improvement comprises the skirt having a reverse bend therein, wherein a first portion of the skirt that connects with the apertured contoured portion extends away from the screen and a second portion of the skirt more remote from the apertured contoured portion extends towards the screen.

A color picture tube includes an electron gun for forming and directing three electron beams to a screen of the tube. The screen is located on the inner surface of a faceplate of the tube and comprises an array of elements of three different color emitting phosphors. An apertured mask, called a shadow mask, is interposed between the gun and the screen to permit each electron beam to strike only the phosphor elements associated with that beam.
The shadow mask is a thin sheet of metal, such as AK steel or an iron-nickel alloy, that is contoured to somewhat parallel the inner surface of the tube faceplate. The shadow mask includes a large central apertured portion, a solid border portion surrounding the apertured portion, and a peripheral skirt portion. The skirt portion is angled from the other portions of the mask and is usually welded to a peripheral frame that supports the mask within a faceplate panel of a tube.
To make the shadow mask, a flat sheet of metal is etched to form the apertures, which are usually elongated slots or circular holes. Thereafter, the sheet is formed into the desired contour, such as spherical or biradial, and a skirt is formed by sweeping back the peripheral edge of the sheet. When a mask is cold-formed out of AK steel, a certain amount of springback occurs in the apertured portion of the mask, and the skirt flares slightly outwardly. For a 27 V tube, this skirt flare can be about 4.5.degree.. When an iron-nickel alloy, such as Invar (36% nickel-TM Reg. #63,970), is cold-formed into a mask contour, the springback and skirt flare are considerably greater than they are in the same size AK steel mask. For a 27 V tube with an Invar mask, the skirt flare is about 18.8.degree.. The springback and skirt flare in Invar masks are caused by the residual stresses that are created in the masks when they are formed into their contours. In the prior art, these residual stresses are at least partially controlled by hot-forming, instead of cold-forming, the masks. One hot-forming method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,226, issued to Ohtake et al. on Aug. 20, 1985. In the method disclosed in that patent, a fiat mask is first annealed at a temperature in the range of 1173.degree. K. to 1473.degree. K. Then, the mask is pressed into a domed contour at a temperature in the range of 298.degree. K. to 473.degree. K. This hot-forming method is expensive, because of the heating involved. Also, it has been found that small deviations in temperature across a mask, during pressing, can create random variations in the stresses across the mask, which result in unpredictable springback. Because of these disadvantages of hot-forming, there is a need to develop iron-nickel masks that can be cold-formed accurately with acceptable springback and skirt flare.

Color picture tube with iron-nickel alloy shadow mask


Provided are constituent particles containing a water-soluble material with high flowability in the form of powder, the constituent particles being capable of forming a support member that can be removed with a water-containing solvent in a process for producing a three-dimensional object. The constituent particles used for the production of a three-dimensional object each include a core and a shell that covers at least part of a surface of the core, the core containing a water-soluble material most abundantly, and a material contained in the shell most abundantly having a lower water solubility than the water-soluble material contained in the core.

An additive manufacturing process for manufacturing a three-dimensional object (target object) by depositing a constituent material in a layer-by-layer manner on the basis of the cross-sectional data of the target object has recently been receiving attention.
PTL 1 discloses a method in which particles serving as a constituent material (constituent particles) are arranged according to the cross-sectional data of a target object by an electrophotographic process and then thermally fused together in a layer-by-layer manner.
PTL 2 discloses a method in which a layer composed of constituent particles is formed on a base and then the constituent particles are fused together in a layer-by-layer manner by spraying a liquid binder to partially dissolve the constituent particles or by irradiating the constituent particles with a laser beam according to cross-sectional data of a target object.
When a complicated form including, for example, an overhang structure or a structure including a moving part is manufactured by the additive manufacturing process, it is necessary to form a structure on a region where a structure of a target object is absent. In this case, a support member that supports the structure is provided on the lower side of the structure in the direction of gravity. That is, the support member is formed in the region where the target object is absent in the course of the build-up, as needed.
The support member is unnecessary for the target object and thus removed after the completion of the build-up. Accordingly, the support member is desirably composed of a material that can be easily removed from a surface of the structure composed of a structural material.
In PTL 1, a laminated article is formed of particles (support material particles) containing a material constituting a support member and particles (structural material particles) containing a material that constitutes the target object and that is composed of a resin having a higher softening temperature than the support material particles after the build-up of the laminated article. After the build-up of the laminated article, the laminated article is heated to a temperature which is equal to or higher than the melting temperature of the support material particles and at which the structure is not melted to selectively melt and remove the support member, thereby providing the structure, i.e., the target object.
PTL 2 discloses a formation process with particles each including a core composed of metal, ceramic, plastic, or the like, a first coating film on the core, the first coating film being composed of a polar material, and a second coating film on the first coating film, the second coating film being composed of a surfactant. In PTL 2, steps of disposing a layer composed of the particles on a base and spraying a liquid binder on the layer, the liquid binder dissolving the first and the second coating films, or irradiating the layer with a laser beam according to a predetermined pattern are repeated to bind the particles together, thereby building up an object. A region of the particles that have not been sprayed with the liquid binder or not irradiated with the laser beam and thus are not fused with each other serves as a support member and supports a laminate of the particles to be formed into a structure.

Constituent particles used for production of three-dimensional object, powder including constituent particles, and method for producing three-dimensional object from constituent particles


When chroma keying, the colors to be removed from a video are first selected from an image of the background set using an eyedropper. The colors of the pixels that are selected form part of the chroma key, which also includes a tolerance range based on the colors. Colors to be removed are selected by clicking, or clicking and dragging the eyedropper. Portions of the image that are keyed are removed after each selection. The chroma key is expanded as more areas of the image are selected, until all the entire background set is selected. Chroma keying is carried out using the HSB (hue, saturation, brightness) convention.

Chroma keying is used in real time and post-processed video production for the removal of a green screen background from presenters or actors so that their images can be superimposed onto other scenes.
Chroma keying is generally performed through the comparison of RGB (red, green and blue) values for a specified "key" color with the color of each pixel in the captured video frame. By excluding or reducing the display of the pixels that closely match the key color, or making them transparent, the presenters or actors can be isolated from the background set and rendered onto other graphics. Typically, the background set is a solid green or blue evenly lit surface.
Determining the "key" color for chroma keying, which is the central color of typically a small range of colors, is often unintuitive for the majority of video production users. The determination of an additional threshold parameter, is also unintuitive for the majority of video production users. The problems stem from the fact that the way the colors are represented is not conceptually straightforward, and users therefore have to rely on trial and error. The fields for selecting the key color and calibration are represented as sliders, if at all, in many existing solutions, which compounds the issue of unintuitive representation with controls that are difficult to use.
This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.