A method for fabricating an organic electro-luminescence device, including: on a substrate, forming a first conductive layer including a first electrode and a first contact pattern electrically insulated therefrom; on the first conductive layer, forming a first mask including a release film, a base film disposed between the release film and the first conductive layer and an opening for partially exposing the first electrode and the first contact pattern; by shielding of a second mask, forming a patterned organic functional layer partially covering the first mask and the first electrode exposed by the first mask; removing the second mask; forming a second conductive layer over the structure aforesaid; and patterning the second conductive layer by removing the release film and the second conductive layer formed thereon to form a second electrode electrically connected to the first contact pattern and a second contact pattern electrically connected to the first electrode.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure generally relates to an organic electro-luminescence device and a method for fabricating the organic electro-luminescence device.
2. Description of Related Art
Organic electro-luminescent devices having high quantum efficiency and low power consumption are widely utilized in display and illumination fields. Since organic electro-luminescent devices are advantaged in light-weight and nice color rendering, organic electro-luminescent devices are considered as a mainstream of next generation displays and illumination devices. Currently, fabrication cost of organic electro-luminescent devices cannot be reduced easily, and different roll-to-roll processes and apparatuses designed for mass production are proposed accordingly.
However, the aforesaid roll-to-roll processes for fabricating organic electro-luminescence devices suffers serious alignment issue (i.e. mis-alignment between stacked layers of the fabricated organic electro-luminescence devices occurs) which causes low yield rate. The aforesaid roll-to-roll processes for fabricating organic electro-luminescence devices suffers throughput issue as well. Accordingly, solutions for resolving the alignment and throughput issues during the roll-to-roll processes are required.

Organic electro-luminescence device and fabricating method thereof

Industrial Technology Research Institute


Systems, methods and techniques for providing sensory input to a subject through non-invasive brain stimulation are generally described. In some examples, an input signal related to an environment may be received. In various further examples, a communication to the subject may be determined in response to the input signal. In some examples, an output signal corresponding to the determined communication may be generated. Some further examples may comprise non-invasively stimulating a portion of the subject's brain with the output signal with a stimulation subsystem positioned outside of the subject's scalp. In various examples, the stimulation of the portion of the subject's brain may be effective in producing a sensory response perceivable by the subject.

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have been developed which allow electrical activity within the brain to be detected and interpreted by a computer. Such BCIs may allow brain signals to control a wide variety of devices, such as cursors, robots, and communication devices BCIs are often directed to mapping, augmenting, and/or repairing human cognitive or sensory-motor functions. In some examples, BCIs may be used to allow persons with disabilities to better interact with their environments. For example, BCIs have been used to attempt to restore damaged hearing, sight, and movement. BCIs have also been used to decode brain activity in rhesus monkeys, allowing the monkeys to control a robotic arm through the BCI. Various techniques, such as electroencephalography (EEG) may be used to detect electrical activity in the brain. Such electrical activity may be encoded into a signal by a computer. The signal may be transmitted using traditional network technologies and may be used to control various devices or decoded by a recipient computer to provide information about the neural activity of the monitored subject.

Sensory input through non-invasive brain stimulation


A seed metering device includes a roller nip for mounting beneath a seed reservoir. The nip is formed by first and second opposed facing nip forming surfaces mounted beneath, and aligned with, the reservoir wherein the first nip forming surface is a radially-outer surface of a soft resilient roller. The roller is rotatable by a roller drive in a first rotational direction so as to draw down through the nip, by frictional engagement of the seeds in the nip with the surface of the resilient roller, seeds falling into the nip. The nip is an elongate, curved, thin wedge-shaped nip providing an increased dwell time for seeds being compressed in the nip.

This invention relates to the field of devices for metering agricultural seed from a seed hopper.
In the prior art, Canadian Patent No. 1,036,869 which issued Aug. 22, 1978 to Stocks for a Means For Metering Particulate Material teaches that it is known to provide a hopper mounted on a wheeled support where the floor of the hopper defines an exit closed by counter-rotatable rollers. Each of the rollers is covered with a layer of compressible material so as to provide a resilient nip between the rollers through which seed may be discharged from the hopper at a controlled rate. The device of Stocks discloses the use of a single neoprene covered roller forming a short nip between the roller and a glass metering plate, attached to the hopper, which bears against the roller. The metering plate may be mounted to the hopper by a hinge so as to allow adjustment of the position of the plate relative to the roller so as to vary the pressure of the plate bearing against the roller.
As with other conventional or prior art seed dispensers which rely on a roller or pair of rollers disposed beneath an opening in the floor of a bin, Stocks discloses allowing the seed to fall through the hole in the floor of the bin so as to accumulate in the nip a reservoir of seeds waiting to be fed through the nip by the rotation of the roller. The seed flow rate is regulated by the speed of rotation of the roller. What occurs in the prior art is that the seeds which flow into the nip may bunch or jam so that the flow rate of the seeds through the roller is not uniform.
The seed metering device of the present invention includes a roller nip beneath a seed reservoir such as a bin or hopper. The reservoir has a first aperture in a floor of the reservoir. The nip is formed by first and second opposed facing nip forming surfaces mounted beneath the first aperture so that seeds fall through the first aperture into the nip. The first nip forming surface is a radially-outer surface of a resilient roller. The second nip forming surface is a rigid control surface of a lower wall. The roller is rotatable by a roller drive in a first rotational direction so as to draw seeds down through the nip, by frictional engagement of the seeds in the nip with the surface of the resilient roller so as to slide or roll the seeds along the control surface and through the nip. The roller may be made entirely of resilient foam such as polyurethane foam. The roller surface may be either smooth or scalloped or notched transversely, for example to accommodate larger seeds. The roller drive is driven by a drive means such as a stepper motor, ground drive or other rotational drive for example acting through gearing such as reduction gearing.
An apertured slide may be slidably mounted adjacent the floor of the reservoir. The slide has a second aperture. The slide is slidably positionable into a position between an open position, wherein the second aperture is aligned with the first aperture to allow a flow of seeds from the reservoir into the nip, and a closed position wherein the second aperture is offset from the first aperture so as to block the first aperture with a seed-impervious portion of the slide.
The floor is preferably rigid and the slide may be mounted between the floor and the nip. The slide and the floor may be generally planar although this is not intended to be limiting.
In one embodiment, where restricted seed flow into the nip is desired, the second nip forming surface includes a rigid nozzle surface of a restrictor plate removably mounted beneath or in the first aperture, in which case the rigid nozzle surface may be a lower surface of a converging nozzle conduit extending through the restrictor plate so as to extend beneath the first aperture. Advantageously the restrictor plate has a curved lower surface flush with a portion of the surface of the roller and the nozzle conduit terminates in an aperture in the curved lower surface. The nozzle conduit and its corresponding aperture form a short secondary nip through which the seeds are drawn before falling into a primary nip.
In an embodiment where a greater seed flow rate is desired, the restrictor plate is removed allowing seeds to fall into the primary nip directly. The primary nip is a wedge-shaped elongate curved nip formed by the mounting of the roller in eccentric relation to a constant radius section of a lower wall of the roller housing, or otherwise forming the lower wall of the roller housing so that the primary nip extends in a curved gradually converging wedge over at least a 60 degree radiussed arc along the inner surface of the lower wall of the roller housing between generally the position of the secondary nip on the lower wall and a generally vertically aligned position on the lower wall, vertically aligned beneath the center of curvature of the lower wall, where the roller contacts the lower wall of the roller housing. In one embodiment the lower surface of the vertex of the wedge-shaped primary nip is a short flat substantially horizontal planar section or member for example formed by the use of a spreader plate. The spreader plate may have a downstream-most rolled rim-like lip providing a rounded edge as the exit surface downstream from the vertex.
In applicant""s experience, the elongate curved seed flow trajectory of seeds being drawn through the primary nip by rotation of the roller, under the softly resilient urging of the seeds against the lower wall of the roller housing by the resilient roller, tends to sort the seeds into a single seed thickness layer feeding into and through the vertex of the wedge-shaped primary nip without bunching, jamming or double-stacking of seeds, i.e. without being left as a double thickness seed layer in the nip. The use of the downstream spreader plate provides for a generally uniform xe2x80x9cwater-fallxe2x80x9d-like dispersion of seeds across the width of the spreader plate so as to result in an even curtain of falling seeds being metered from the vertex of the nip.
The roller may be mounted on a drive shaft of the roller drive. The roller may be sandwiched between a pair of rigid discs mounted one on each opposite side of the roller so as to leave the radially-outer surface of the roller exposed for rotation through the nip. In this embodiment, the pair of rigid discs are rigidly mounted on the drive shaft. The discs may be mounted to the roller by adhesive or otherwise so that rotation of the pair of rigid discs on the drive shaft simultaneously rotates the roller.
A pair of rigid walls may be mounted below the floor of the reservoir, generally orthogonal to the floor. The pair of walls may have apertures so that the drive shaft may be journalled through the apertures. The pair of walls sandwich the pair of rigid discs and the roller. In one embodiment each wall of the pair of walls has arcuate fairleads which form disc supports for sliding rotational mating of the pair of rigid discs in the disc supports.
In one aspect of the present invention, the roller may be one of a parallel array of rollers, the array of rollers extending the length of the first aperture.


A portable, hand-held blower unit is powered by a small internal combustion engine having movable choke and throttle control elements linked to a single adjustment knob. Rotation of the knob between full throttle and full choke positions thereof simultaneously adjusts the engine's throttle and choke settings and maintains predetermined engine start and run positional relationships therebetween. The engine carburetor has mounted thereon a specially designed air intake box which substantially reduces engine air intake noise. In the normal operating position of the unit the engine drive shaft is generally vertically oriented, with the carburetor being secured to the top of the engine and the underside of the air intake box. The lower end of the drive shaft is coaxially secured to the unit's blower fan impeller which is spaced upwardly apart from a pull rope starter pulley rotatably carried by the fan impeller housing. When the starter rope is pulled, a toothed pinion member carried by the starter pulley is moved upwardly into rotationally driving engagement with a central toothed portion of the fan impeller to effect engine starting. Upon starter rope release, the pinion member is automatically moved downwardly out of driving engagement with the fan impeller.

The present invention relates generally to portable power tools, and more particularly relates to hand-held portable blower units used, for example, to remove grass clippings, leaves, debris and the like from sidewalks, driveways and other generally horizontal surfaces using a high velocity discharge air stream generated by the unit.
Hand-held gasoline engine-powered blower units of this general type are now quite common and are utilized to blow away a variety of ground debris. The typical unit comprises a hand-held housing secured to an elongated air discharge tube. A small gasoline engine disposed within the housing is used to rotationally drive a fan impeller which draws in ambient air and discharges the air, at a relatively high velocity, through an elongated discharge tube secured to the housing structure. By aiming the discharged air stream at ground disposed debris, such as leaves or grass clippings, a rapid cleanup of sidewalks, driveways and the like may be effected.
A variety of well known problems, limitations and disadvantages are typically associated with conventional hand-held blower units of this general type, including undesirably high weight and bulk, handling difficulties,
high engine noise levels, and engine choke/throttle coordination complexities often presented to the unit's operator.
For example, the usual engine, fan impeller and pull-starting system arrangement and configuration typically incorporated in conventional hand-held blower units tends to make them rather heavy and, due to the overall size and bulk of their engine and fan shroud housing, somewhat unwieldy to use. Moreover, the gyroscopic force effects arising during engine operation can render positional control of conventionally configured blower units somewhat difficult.
Conventional hand-held blower units of this general type are typically provided with separate engine throttle and choke controls which are independently adjustable by the unit operator. For each engine operating condition, and particularly during a cold start-up condition, there is a generally optimal relationship between the choke and throttle setting for the particular engine. However, particularly for an inexperienced or unskilled blower unit operator, precise matching of such settings across the full throttle to full choke range of engine operating conditions is often difficult to achieve using the typical independent throttle and choke adjustments.
Finally, while the typical blower unit's engine exhaust noise is conventionally attenuated using an exhaust muffler, it is often the case that the engine's air intake noise remains unacceptably high.
In view of the foregoing, it is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a hand-held blower unit in which the above-mentioned and other problems, limitations and disadvantages are at least substantially reduced.


Apparatus and method for forming cup-shaped metal container bodies or end shells from a metal blank in a double-acting press having inner and outer rams which operate in a timed relationship. Preferably, a plurality of blank and draw dies are mounted on a fixed base in opposed relationship to a plurality of draw horns mounted on the inner ram and movable toward the base. A corresponding member of cutting dies and draw pads are mounted on the outer ram and are movable toward the base, whereby the cutting dies cut blank disks from the sheet and the draw pads clamp the disks against the blank and draw dies, followed by the drawing of the container bodies or end shells by the draw horns. A plurality of stacked pressure-actuated pistons is carried by each of the outer rams and moves the draw pad into clamping engagement with the periphery of the blank disk. Spacings are provided between the individual pistons so that the clamping pressure is applied sequentially and cumulatively to the draw pad until the desired total clamping pressure is reached to reduce the impact forces and vibrations on the press, which occurs when the total clamping force is applied instantaneously to the disk blank.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to forming cup-shaped members such as container bodies from a blank of metal, and, in particular, to forming such bodies in a double-acting press which reduces the forces exerted on the press by incrementally increasing the pneumatic clamping force exerted on the blank of metal when drawing the container body.
2. Background Information
It is well known in the container-forming art to form two-piece containers, that is, containers in which the walls and bottom of the container are a one-piece member, and the top or end closure is a separate piece, by means of stamping disk-shaped blanks from a strip of metal sheet, and then subsequently drawing the desired configuration into the blank.
In broad terms, the prior art discloses, starting with flat material either in sheet or coil form, blanking material from the sheet stock, and then drawing it into a cup for further redrawing into a final container in the same press or in subsetlent operations. There are a considerable number of prior art patents illustrating various approaches to this formation using either single or double-acting presses. Generally, these prior art presses will simultaneously form a plurality of the container bodies in a single stroke of the single or double-acting press. For example, eight, ten, twelve or more container bodies are formed simultaneously by the single stroke of the press, whether it be a single-action or double-action press.
However, one problem that is encountered with these presses is that they produce excessive noise and forces on the press due to the simultaneous engagement of the initial blank sheet with the plurality of cutting dies or cut edges, followed by the simultaneous pressure holding or clamping engagement of the peripheral edges of the blanks, followed by the simultaneous drawing of all of the cups or container bodies by the movement of a plurality of inner punch or draw members by the inner ram of a double-acting press. These forces present maintenance problems on the dies and press, as well as limiting the number of container bodies or end closure shells which can be produced in a single stroke, or require a larger press having higher tonnages.
The largest forces on the press occur during the pressure-holding or clamping engagement of the peripheral edges of the blanks by the pressure or draw pads. These pressures and forces are considerably larger than those occurring on the press during the blanking of the disks from the sheet metal and the subsequent drawing of the container bodies from the held blanks.
This problem was recognized in U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,947, and in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 08/435,204, which application is assigned to the same assignee as is the present application. This problem appears to be reduced by the method and apparatus of Pat. No. 5,442,947 by providing shims at various locations in the apparatus, so that the clamping pressure is sequentially applied to the peripheries of the blanks to reduce the overall force exerted at the same instant of time on the press during each cycle of the press. This press-loading problem also is reduced by the apparatus and method of the above-identified co-pending application by sequentially blanking all of the disks prior to the sequential clamping of all of the blanked disks against the blank and draw dies, and then followed by the sequential drawing of the container bodies from the clamped disks after the clamping pressure has been sequentially applied to the disks.
However, even though the apparatus and method of the above-described patent and co-pending application helps to reduce the press-loading problem, the apparatus and method of the present invention achieves this result by a completely different operation and modification to existing press constructions.
Thus, it is desirable to produce an apparatus or forming dies and associated method which is capable of producing a single or plurality of container bodies or end shells from steel or aluminum or other stock materials, with a low tonnage press as possible, and with reduced noise and vibrations, while providing the maximum output from the press. However, as indicated above, the forces exerted on the press and dies during the initial blanking, pressure holding and subsequent drawing, limit the output of the press.
Therefore, the need exists for an improved method and apparatus for providing maximum output from a press with as low tonnage rating as possible, while reducing noise and working forces on the press.

Method and apparatus for forming cup-shaped members


A tree stand includes a platform attachable to a tree so as to be substantially horizontal and a pivotally connected seat structure. The seat structure includes a first U-shaped member attachable to the tree, and a V-shaped member with its splayed arms pivotally connected to the U-shaped member. A flexible seat material is suspended between the apex of the V-shaped member and the transverse portion of the U-shaped member so as to make a seat conformable to the posterior of the outdoorsman, when seated. The seat element is pleated so as to be bowl-shaped to more naturally conform to the outdoorsman's posterior.

The present invention relates generally to a tree stand for use by outdoorsmen as elevated platforms. More particularly, the present invention deals with a tree stand having a retractable, conforming seat.
Outdoorsmen such as hunters, naturalists, and photographers use tree stands to gain an elevated vantage point to pursue their vocations, as well as avocations. However, outdoorsmen need a stable platform that is substantially free of instability during use, is comfortable, and portable. Moreover, salability of tree stands demands that manufacturing costs be low so that the resulting product can be attractively priced in the retail market.
Various designs for tree stands are known which assist an outdoorsman in concealing himself from wildlife in an elevated position to minimized disturbance of the natural surroundings of game animals and observation subjects. Numerous patents involving a variety of construction techniques for platforms attachable to a tree are, of course, known. Many of those devices do not have a seat, unless the base platform is used as such. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,130,180 and 4,168,765 both issued to Ferguson et al., 4,427,092 issued to Tentler, 4,597,473 issued to Peck, and 4,942,942 and 5,016,733 both issued to Bradley, are examples of tree stands and tree climbing devices which do not have separately defined seat areas.
Certainly, it will be appreciated that outdoorsmen using tree stands for extended observation periods will tire of standing and prefer to sit. Recognizing this elementary fact, a variety of tree stands have also been designed having seats of different characteristics. A tree climber having a simple bar as a seat is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,856,111 issued to Baker, while a seat fashioned from a flat narrow plate is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,203 to Sweat et al. Other designs and constructions for seats in tree-climbing devices are also known. For example, a seat fashioned from crossed rods arranged in an open pattern (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,240 issued to Cotton), heavy gauge screen (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,338 issued to Untz), and other planar grid-like arrangements (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,316,526 and 4,331,216 both issued to Amacker, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,953,662 and 5,167,298 both issued to Porter) are also known. Planar seats made of wood and other materials are also known (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,244,445 issued to Strode, 4,137,995 issued to Fonte, and 4,987,972 issued to Helms).
Various designs for a flexible seat are also known. Flexible seat material has been arranged with side to side suspension (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,321,983 issued to Nelson, and 3,485,320 issued to Jones), as well as in front to rear suspension (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,871,482 issued to Southard, 3,955,645 issued to Dye, 4,475,627 issued to Eastridge, 4,787,476 issued to Lee, 4,802,552 and 4,890,694 both issued to Williams, 4,813,441 issued to Kepley, and 4,474,265 issued to Shinkle). Padded seats have also bee proposed for tree stands and climbers (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,417,645 issued to Untz, and 4,474,265 issued to Shinkle). The seats of some tree stands are designed to fold away from the platform area (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,627 to Eastridge, for example).
One problem associated with known tree stands concerns their portability. Naturally, a tree stand must be sufficiently light that an outdoorsman can readily transport it into wooded areas without tiring. It is common for hunters to carry their tree stand for distances of several miles before positioning the stand in a suitable tree. Considering that a person can comfortably carry up to 35% of his weight, and recognizing that hunters usually carry a rifle or shotgun weighing 7 to 10 pounds, tree stand weight needs to be confined to the range of 10 to 15 pounds.
In use, outdoorsmen frequently occupy their tree stand for many hours waiting for game animals to appear as targets for cameras and weapons. To be successful, the outdoorsman needs to be as motionless as possible regardless of the light conditions, and the weather conditions. It is, therefore, important that the tree stand have a seat which will not make the outdoorsman uncomfortable. Seats of the known tree stands are deficient in this respect. Rigid seats, and planar seats are particularly uncomfortable during long periods of use. Even seats which are flexible but which are suspended side-to-side from structural elements of the stand are uncomfortable since the cylindrical contour of the seat does not conform with the occupant's anatomy. Even flexible seats which are suspended front-to-rear have the same problem. Moreover, seats suspended front-to-rear are typically suspended between transverse bars, one of which underlies the outdoorsman's thighs when seated. Such location of a transverse bar restricts blood circulation in the legs during long periods of quiet sitting, causing the legs to "go to sleep", or become abnormally cold, or otherwise be uncomfortable. Accordingly, the outdoorsman tends to move around in the seat generating noise that can signal his presence to the outdoorsman's quarry.
Other seat arrangements have planar supports with and without padding. Such seats also become uncomfortable in use since human anatomy of the buttocks generates pressure points. Those pressure points tend to become uncomfortable when the outdoorsman occupies the tree stand for extended periods of time. As a result, simple padded seat designs are also unsatisfactory.
Another problem experienced by outdoorsmen using tree stands is the awkward and potentially dangerous situation that exists when the outdoorsman stands up on the tree stand and the seat surface interferes with his movement on the stand. Being in an elevated location that can be 20 to 30 feet above the ground, being confined to a platform with a surface area of a few square feet, and managing a combination of items such as binoculars, cameras, lenses, rifles, lunches, and clothing, dangerous situations readily present themselves.
Accordingly, it is among the objects of this invention to overcome that type of problems in the prior art tree stands and tree climbers.


An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing with a plurality of filtering modules therein. Each filtering module has a housing and a magnetics assembly including transformer cores with wires wrapped therearound. An array of pins extend from the module housing for connection to the wires. A plurality of tails extend from the module housing for interconnection to a circuit board upon which the connector may be mounted. An interconnection is provided between the pins and tails that may include filtering or other signal modifying circuitry.

The present disclosure relates generally to modular telecommunications jacks and, more particularly, to a high data rate capable modular jack.
Modular jack ("modjack") receptacle connectors mounted to printed circuit boards ("PCBs") are well known in the telecommunications industry. These connectors are often used for electrical connection between two electrical communication devices. With the ever-increasing operating frequencies and data rates of data and communication systems and the increased levels of encoding used to transmit information, the electrical characteristics of such connectors are of increasing importance. In particular, it is desirable that these modjack connectors do not negatively affect the signals transmitted and where possible, noise is removed from the system.
When used as Ethernet connectors, modjacks generally receive an input signal from one electrical device and then communicate a corresponding output signal to a second device coupled thereto. Magnetic circuitry can be used to provide conditioning and isolation of the signals as they pass from the first device to the second and typically such circuitry uses components such as a transformer and a choke. The transformer often is toroidal in shape and includes a primary and secondary wire coupled together and wrapped around a toroid so as to provide magnetic coupling between the primary and secondary wires while ensuring electrical isolation. Chokes are also commonly used to filter out unwanted noise, such as common-mode noise, and can be toroidal ferrite designs used in differential signaling applications. Modjacks having such magnetic circuitry are typically referred to in the trade as magnetic jacks.
As system data rates have increased, systems have become increasingly sensitive to cross-talk between ports. Magnetic subassemblies that operate within a predetermined range of electrical tolerances at one data rate (such as 1 Gbps) may be out of tolerance or inoperable at higher date rates (such as 10 Gbps). Accordingly, improving the isolation between the ports of the magnetic jacks has become desirable in order to permit a corresponding increase in the data rate of signals that pass through the system. Cross-talk and electro-magnetic radiation and interference between ports may impact the performance of the magnetic jack (and thus the entire system) as system speeds and data rates increase. Improvements in shielding and isolation between ports as well as simplifying the manufacturing process of a magnetic jack is thus desirable.

Modular jack with enhanced port isolation


A sheet of loop material adapted to be cut into pieces to form loop portions for fasteners of the type comprising releasably engageable hook and loop portions, or to be incorporated into items such as disposable garments or diapers or into sheets of abrasives. The sheet of loop material includes a sheet of longitudinally oriented fibers having anchor portions and arcuate portions projecting in one direction away from the anchor portions, and a layer of thermoplastic backing material extruded onto the anchor portions to bond to the anchor portions and form at least a portion of a backing for the loop material. The thermoplastic backing material can also bond the sheet of fibers to a sheet of backing material.

Many sheets of loop materials are known that are adapted to be cut into pieces to form the loop portions for fasteners of the type comprising releasably engageable hook and loop portions. Such sheets of loop materials typically comprise a backing and a multiplicity of loops formed from longitudinally oriented polymeric fibers anchored in the backing and projecting from a front surface of the backing so that they may be releasably engaged with the hooks on the hook portion of such a fastener, and can be made by many methods including conventional weaving, or knitting techniques. Sheets of loop materials in which the loops are stitched into the backing are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,609,581 and 4,770,917. While the loop fastener portions made from many such sheets of loop materials work well with many different hook fastener portions, many of the processes by which the sheets of loop material are made are more expensive than may be desired, particularly when the loop fastener portions are intended for a limited amount of use, such as to attach a disposable diaper to an person.

Equipment for forming a sheet of loop material

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A radiation image reading and erasing apparatus for deriving image signals in such a manner that an accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object, onto which radiation images are accumulated and stored, is scanned with an excitation light, and an accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light, which is emitted from the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object, is received. The apparatus is designed to obtain image data free of unwanted noises, and to occupy less space. The accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object is irradiated with a laser beam passing through a slit member to photomultipliers through reflection between sheets. The slit member may move with up-and-down motions. The sheets are taken-up or sent out by or from the associated take-up rollers, respectively, in accordance with the movement of slit member. The apparatus also has an erasing unit with a movable reflector to erase image information from the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radiation image reading apparatus for deriving image signals in such a manner that a slab-like shaped accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object, on which radiation images are accumulated and stored, is scanned with excitation light, and an accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light, which is emitted from the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object, is received.
2. Description of the Related Art
Radiation images such as x-ray images have been often used for a medical diagnosis. For example, in case of x-ray images, an x-ray transmitted through a subject is applied to a fluorescent material layer (fluorescent screen) so as to be converted into a visible light. The visible light is applied to a silver halide film to form a latent image. The x-ray image is obtained by developing this silver halide film. The x-ray images thus obtained are used for medical diagnosis. Recently, there has been adopted a system for obtaining a high quality of reproduced image wherein the x-ray image formed on a silver halide film as described above is read photoelectrically by a so-called film digitizer to derive image signals and these image signals are subjected to an image processing to improve various image characteristics which determine the image qualities, such as definition, dynamic range, graininess and the like.
Instead of the above-described system using silver halide films, a system using an accumulative fluorescent material (accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material) has begun to be used. The system using the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material is a system in which the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material in a shape of sheet or panel is irradiated with an x-ray transmitted through the subject so that x-ray images are accumulated and stored in the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material, then the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material is scanned with an excitation light to emit an accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light carrying the x-ray images stored therein, and the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light is photoelectrically read to derive image signals and the image signals thus derived are subjected to an image processing to obtain reproduced images. The basic method of this system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,859,527. Here, the term "accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material" refers to a fluorescent material which accumulates therein part of energy of radiation for a while or a long period of time when it is irradiated with radiation such as X-rays, .alpha.-rays, .beta.-rays, .gamma.-rays or the like, and emits the accumulated energy as an accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light when it is irradiated with an excitation light such as infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation or the like during such an accumulation. In this case, a type of radiation the energy of which is prone to be accumulated, a wavelength of an excitation light which facilitates the emission of an accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light and a wavelength of an accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light to be emitted differ depending on the type of a fluorescent material to be used.
According to a system using such an accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material, it is recognized that an energy of radiation applied to the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material is proportional to a light quantity of the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light emitted by irradiation of the excitation light over the wide range of energy and the ratio of proportion can be changed in accordance with the light quantity of the excitation light. Thus, it is possible to obtain a radiation image which will not be affected by variations of exposure of radiation. In case of a system in which X-ray images of a human body is obtained, it is possible to reduce the exposure on the human body in the X-ray radiography.
A system using the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material as mentioned above involves the following four steps throughout the radiography of X-ray images. First, X-ray image information of a subject is accumulated and stored in the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material. This step is referred to as "storage". Next, the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material, which is subjected to the "storage" process, is scanned with the excitation light such as a laser beam so as to emanate the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light. The accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light is condensed and received with a photoelectric converter, thereby deriving an electric signal which is proportional to the intensity of the accumulated radiation. This step is referred to as "reading". Thereafter, the electric signal thus derived is subjected to an image processing in accordance with necessity and a visible radiation image is obtained by means of printing on a silver film or displaying on a CRT. This step is referred to as "display". Even after the "reading", the radiation energy still remains in the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material. The residual energy is removed in such a manner that after the reading the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material is irradiated with a relatively strong excitation beam to emanate the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light. This step is referred to as "erasing". In case of the radiography of a plurality of sheets of X-ray image, the above-mentioned four steps or three steps of "storage", "reading" and "erasing" are repeated but with "display" in the final step.
FIG. 18 is an illustration showing the basic arrangement of constituents of a radiation image reading apparatus using an accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material. FIG. 19 is a sectional view of a substage condenser which is used in the radiation image reading apparatus as shown in FIG. 18.
First, a slab-like shaped accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object 1, which is accommodated in a cover member (not illustrated) for the apparatus, is irradiated with x-rays emitted from an x-ray source 2 passing through a subject 3, so that an x-ray image of the subject 3 is accumulated and stored in the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object 1. In reading, a laser beam source 4 emits a laser beam 4a as an excitation beam. The emitted laser beam 4a is reflected by a mirror 5 and then deflected by a polygonal mirror 6. Thereafter, the deflected beam is corrected by an f-.theta. lens 7 so that a laser spot runs straight in uniform motion on the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object 1, and then applied via a first aperture 8a and a second aperture 8b of a substage condenser 8 to the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object 1. The accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object 1 is scanned with the beam thus generated in a main scanning direction. An accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light, which is emanated through scanning once in the main scanning direction with the laser beam 4a (excitation beam), is incident upon the substage condenser 8 through the second aperture 8b thereof. The substage condenser 8 is provided with a cavity 8c inside thereof. The accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light incident upon the substage condenser 8 through the second aperture 8b travels in the cavity 8c toward a photomultiplier 9, while repeating the reflection from the inner wall of the cavity 8c.
Between the substage condenser 8 and the photomultiplier 9, there is provided an optical filter (not illustrated) which inhibits light having a wavelength of the excitation laser beam from being transmitted and permits only the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light to be transmitted. The accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light selectively derived through such an optical filter is converted into an electric signal by the photomultiplier 9, and the electric signal thus obtained is amplified in signal level by an amplifier 10 to a level which is optimum for an A/D conversion. The electric signal thus amplified is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 11 so as to derive a line of time-sequence data as to an image corresponding to one scanning by the excitation beam (laser beam).
A single unit, which is referred to as a reading unit, is constituted of: a scanning system comprising the laser beam source 4, the mirror 5, the polygonal mirror 6, the f-.theta. lens 7 and the like; a light receiving system comprising the substage condenser 8, the photomultiplier 9 and the like; and an erasing light source 12 for emanating an erasing light. The reading unit is arranged to be freely movable in both the directions of arrows X and Y as shown in FIG. 18. In reading, first, the reading unit is located at the topmost position in the direction of arrow Y, and then the above-mentioned main scanning is repeated while the reading unit is moved (sub-scanning) in the direction of arrow X. In this manner, the image accumulated and stored in the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object 1 is read in its entirety and be converted into image data.
When the reading unit reaches the lowest position in the direction of arrow X through the reading mentioned above, the laser beam source 4 turns off, whereas the erasing light source 12 turns on and the reading unit moves in the direction of arrow Y. During a movement of the reading unit, the erasing light emanated from the erasing light source 12 is applied to the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object 1 so that the energy (residual image) remaining in the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object 1 is erased.
FIGS. 20 and 21 are each a view showing by way of example a substage condenser which is different in type from the substage condenser 8 shown in FIG. 19.
Hitherto, as a substage condenser for guiding the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light into a photoelectric converter, there are further known, in type other than that having the cavity shown in FIG. 19, a so-called bundle type of condenser in which a number of plastic fibers or glass fibers are bundled, as shown in FIG. 20, and a so-called light guide sheet type of condenser in which a plastic plate such as an acrylic sheet is bent. The substage condensers shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 have each a configuration adapted to guide the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light, which is emanated on the scanning line in straight, into a photoelectric converter having a circular photoelectric surface.
The radiation image reading apparatus mentioned above as the related art has been associated with the following drawbacks with respect to the reading.
It is known that vibrations of a photomultiplier involve the superposition of noises upon an electric signal outputted from the photomultiplier. A mechanical movement of the photomultiplier as shown in FIG. 18 involves such a problem that minute vibrations involved in the movement are transmitted to the photomultiplier whereby noises are superposed upon a reproduced image.
A traveling path for the reading unit forms a dead space which inhibits other parts from being disposed. Thus, for example, a power supply, a circuit substrate and the like, which are needed to be arranged in the apparatus, are obliged to be disposed in a place other than the dead space. This causes an apparatus of a larger size to be needed.
In order to prevent the superposition of noises due to vibrations of the photomultiplier, it is considered that the photoelectric converter is fixed, whereas the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object is moved. However, since the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object has a slab-like shaped wide area, it will be needed to provide a larger dead space which enables the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object to be moved.
The radiation image reading apparatus mentioned above as the related art has been associated with the following drawbacks also with respect to the erasing.
In order to perform the erasing efficiently with a low electric power and in a short time, it is desired that a wavelength band of a relative spectral energy distribution of the erasing light source is within a wavelength band of an accelerated phosphorescence excitation spectrum, and in addition a lamp efficiency (luminous flux per unit dissipation power) of the erasing light source is high. By the way, when the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object Ba Br.sub.2 :Eu is used for a latent image storage, the wavelength band of an accelerated phosphorescence excitation spectrum is approximately coincident with the visible light region, whereas the wavelength band of a relative spectral energy distribution of the tungsten halogen lamp used usually as the erasing light source overlaps with the visible light region but in major part spreads over the infrared region. In other words, an amount of energy for use in the erasing, among the energy supplied to the tungsten halogen lamp, is only a small amount converted as the visible light, and the remaining major part of the energy is emitted as heat.
When it is intended to perform the erasing in a short time, there is a need to apply the strong visible light to the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object. Consequently, in order to obtain the strong visible light with the use of the tungsten halogen lamp having the characteristics as mentioned above, it is necessary to use a tungsten halogen lamp which is of very high dissipation power in the order of several kilo-watts, and disposes the lamp near the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object and move it along the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object.
A high dissipation power of tungsten halogen lamp emanates intense heat. This heat diffuses within a cover member of the radiation image reading apparatus to increase the temperature within the cover member of the apparatus. Increased temperature causes the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent light emanated on the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object to vary in level. This affects a signal level of the X-ray image. Further, this affects thermally various electric circuits which are incorporated in the cover member. This will cause a malfunction. In view of the foregoing, in order to prevent a thermal diffusion from the tungsten halogen lamp, generally, there is provided an ventilating arrangement for exchanging warm air surrounding the tungsten halogen lamp and cool air outside the cover member. Thus, a large occupation space is needed. This requires a large sized apparatus.
On the other hand, there is known a system in which an erasing light source is fixed and an accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object is irradiated with erasing light in its entirety all at once. However, according to this system, there is a need to provide an optical path from the erasing light source to the accelerated phosphorescence fluorescent material object. In other words, the optical path forms a dead space. This requires a large sized apparatus, since the units, which are to be incorporated in the cover member of the apparatus, cannot be disposed on the optical path and there is a need to install the units outside the optical path.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a radiation image reading apparatus capable of obtaining image data while reducing noises.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a radiation image reading apparatus which contributes to miniaturization of the apparatus.

Radiation image reading and erasing apparatus


Disclosed is an example for determining miss distance and bullet speed of a burst of bullets. In one example, shock wave (SW) vectors emanating from bullets are estimated using a first sensor. Further, firing point (FP) vectors and closest-point-of-approach (CPA) vectors emanating from the bullets are estimated using a second sensor. The first sensor and the second sensor are disposed on a platform. The SW vectors, the FP vectors and the CPA vectors are determined as emanating from the burst of bullets. The miss distance and bullet speed of the burst of bullets are determined using the FP vectors, the SW vectors, and the CPA vectors that are emanating from the burst of bullets.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to determining gunfire detections, and more specifically, utilizing sensors for determining miss distance and bullet speed of a burst of bullets.
Brief Description of Related Art
During high tension gunfights, sensors may be used in a platform, such as a stationary structure or a vehicle (e.g., aircraft) to determine the origin and trajectory of fired rounds/bullets. Example bullet may be any projectile such as a bullet, artillery shell, missile, bombs, or other object that exhibit the characteristics consistent with a bullet in flight. The bullet may be propelled from a firearm. Some existing methods may use electro-optic (EO) sensors to detect the gunfire, while some other methods may use acoustical sensors. Further, some existing methods may attempt to combine utilizing both EO and acoustical sensors, however, this may require an increased correlative element and certainty that data points collected from the EO sensors match the associated data points collected by the acoustical sensors. Failure to do so may result in irrelevant correlations of data points with respect to bullets from multiple gunmen interfering.
Typically, the EO and acoustic sensor detections may be fused "round to round", i.e., attempting to correlate between a single EO detection and a single acoustic detection. In the single round approach, one sensor may detect a round while the other fails to detect the round. For example, the EO sensors can only detect some of rounds whereas acoustic sensors can potentially detect all the rounds. Further, in case where both sensors detect a round, the EO round detection may be paired with an incorrect acoustically detected round.

Determining miss distance and bullet speed of a burst of bullets

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


In order to supply an AC motor control apparatus which identifies the type of motor automatically, the AC motor control apparatus has a motor type identification means by which the type of motor connected to the motor control apparatus is identified by issuing the appropriate voltage command for motor type identification and judging from the detected current whether the motor rotor is equipped with a magnet and has magnetic salience. The AC motor control apparatus has a control scheme selection means which selects the appropriate control scheme according to the above-identified type of motor and controls the driving of the motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to control apparatus intended for alternating-current motor use; it relates more specifically to control apparatus capable of driving alternating-current motors different in type.
2. Prior Art
Alternating-current motors (hereinafter, referred to as AC motors) are divided into a plurality of types, including an induction type and a synchronous type, according to the particular principles of torque generation. Conventional control apparatus for driving AC motors consists of several units each having the appropriate control scheme according to the particular type of AC motor and each unit is used according to the type of AC motor to be driven. For example, as described in Japanese Application Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-265607, when an induction motor (hereinafter, referred to as IM) is to be driven, auto-tuning with an IM driving inverter is provided to measure motor constants automatically for improved torque performance prior to the start of operation. Also, only IM is controlled by a unit generally called the general-purpose inverter, which has versatility with respect to the motor constants of IM.
Among inverter units of the vector control type is a unit constructed so that as disclosed in Patent Official Gazette Issue No. 2708479, the unit can drive an induction motor and asynchronous motor. For this type of unit, however, the types of motors to be driven need to be specified beforehand.
Recently, new types of motors such as an inserted permanent magnet-type motor (hereinafter, referred to as IPM), a surface-attached permanent magnet-type motor (likewise, referred to as SPM), and a synchronous reluctance motor (likewise, referred to as SynRM), have been developed and commercialized as motors other than IM. Control apparatus for driving and controlling these new motors has also been developed. To drive each such motor, however, it has been necessary to use special control apparatus for each.
An object of the present invention is to supply the method and AC motor control apparatus that enable automatic identification of the types of not only IM but also other AC motors (such as IPM, SPM, and SynRM) that are connected to the apparatus, even if the user does not understand the types of motors. Another object of the present invention is to supply equipment that automatically selects the appropriate motor control schemes for each motor type which has been identified using the above-mentioned method, and drives each motor by using the motor constants that have been obtained during motor type identification, as the settings of the motor constants for conducting variable-speed control of the motor mentioned above.
The AC motor control apparatus pertaining to the present invention has a motor type identification means by which the type of motor connected to the motor control apparatus is identified by issuing the appropriate voltage command for motor type identification and judging from the detected current whether the motor rotor is equipped with a magnet and has magnetic salience. The AC motor control apparatus pertaining to the present invention also has a control scheme selection means which selects the appropriate control scheme according to the above-identified type of motor and controls the driving of the motor.

Control apparatus for alternating-current motor


A protective cover for a portable electronic device includes a housing and a cover detachably mounted to the housing. The housing includes a first bottom wall, a first compartment, and a second compartment. The first compartment and the second compartment defined at two opposite sides of the housing. The first compartment is configured to receive the portable electronic device; the second compartment is configured to receive a card. The cover is configured to cover the second compartment.

1. Technical Field
The exemplary disclosure generally relates to protective covers, and particularly to a protective cover for a portable electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
Integrated chip (IC) cards, such as traffic pass cards, access cards, or identity cards for example, are widely used in people's life. These cards are typically received in a special bag to take. However, it is inconvenient to use.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

Protective cover for portable eletronic device


A vehicular security system includes an electronic supervisory control unit which communicates with a remote signalling unit to provide both conventional alarm system functions typically associated with securing an unoccupied vehicle as well as anti-carjacking functions. The anti-carjacking functions may be remotely initiated by the vehicle operator who has been forcibly removed from the vehicle or passively initiated and include locking the vehicle doors, closing the vehicle windows, and thereafter disabling the engine to confine a criminal carjacking perpetrator within the vehicle to wait apprehension by law enforcement authorities.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to vehicular security systems and more particularly to a security system capable of initiating counteractive action for the apprehension of criminal perpetrators.
2. Related History
The term "carjacking" has been employed to describe the crime wherein the rightful driver and/or occupants of a vehicle have been forced to surrender control of the vehicle under the threat of bodily harm. Statistics have shown an alarming increase in incidents of carjacking. As a deterrent signal recent legislation has been passed by the federal government which provides that the theft of a vehicle through the employment of a gun constitutes a violation of Title 18.
Automotive anti-theft systems heretofore have been primarily designed for the purpose of preventing the theft of unoccupied vehicles. As such, they were configured to, for example, detect unauthorized entry into an unoccupied vehicle by sensing movement, the opening of doors, glass breakage, attempted lifting or towing of a vehicle, etc. and by generating an audible and/or silent alarm.
Other anti-theft devices were configured to inhibit the starting of the vehicle engine by disabling the starter relay and/or disabling the ignition circuit, or preventing the vehicle from being driven by locking the fuel line. Still other devices have been suggested for preventing rotation of the vehicle steering wheel while others have been employed to provide an armor plate around a steering column vehicle ignition lock to deter removal of the lock.
As previously mentioned, however, the prior anti-theft devices were intended to deter theft of an unoccupied vehicle through audible and/or visible signals and/or by disabling the vehicle. Such devices were incapable, however, of functioning as a deterrent to carjacking, which occurred after any of the prior anti-theft systems had been disabled by the authorized driver.

Vehicular security system with remote signalling for auto carjacking functions


The invention concerns a method for compressing and decompressing a structured document, associated with at least a tree diagram structure defining a document structure and comprising nested structure elements, associated with a type of information, and representing sets of data, the method comprising steps which consists in: performing a syntactic analysis of the structure diagram and standardizing it so as to obtain a single predefined sequence of the elements of the diagram; compiling the standardized diagram to obtain finite automata, each automaton comprising states interconnected by transitions respectively representing the elements of the structure; and compressing the document, and executing at least a compression algorithm associated with a type of information, when a set of data having the type of information is encountered in the document.

The present invention relates to a method for compressing/decompressing structured documents.
It applies particularly, but not exclusively, to the transmission of documents such as images or image sequences, video or sound data, via digital data transmission networks, and to the storage of such documents.
There are currently in existence a number of digital document compression algorithms. Some compression algorithms are designed to process the document's binary data directly, without taking account of the data type. These algorithms have the advantage of being able to process any document, but are ineffective (low compression rate) in processing bulky documents, which are generally of the sound or image type.
Furthermore other compression algorithms are known which are more efficient, but specially adapted to one data type, for example image or sound, with the result that they cannot be used or are ineffective if they are applied to documents which do not exclusively contain data for which they are designed.
Increasingly however, the documents being used and circulating on data transmission networks contain several information types integrated in one structure.
A structured document is a collection of data sets each associated with a type, and arranged together according to mainly hierarchical relationships. These documents employ a structuring language such as SGML, HTML, XML, making it possible particularly to distinguish the different data sets composing the document. In contrast, in a so-called linear document, the document's content information is mixed with the presentation and typing information.
A structured document thus includes locators or markers separating the different data sets of the document. In the case of SGML, XML or HTML formats, these locators known as "tags" are of the form "<XXXX> and "</XXXX>", the first marker indicating the start of the data set "XXXX" and the second the end of this set. A data set may be composed of several lower level data sets. In this way, a structured document has a hierarchical or tree structure schema, each node representing a data set and being connected to a higher hierarchical level node representing a data set which contains the lower level data sets. The nodes located at the end of a branch of this tree structure represent data sets containing data of a predefined type, which cannot be broken down into data subsets.
A structured document is generally associated with what is called a structure schema setting out in rule form the structure and type of information of each data set of the document. A schema is constituted by nested groups of data set structures, these groups being for example ordered sequences, alternative element groups or necessary element groups, sequenced or non-sequenced.
A structured document is thus associated with a structure schema and contains separation markers represented in the form of textual or binary data, these markers delimiting data sets which are themselves able to contain other data sets delimited by markers. The result is that a document structured in this way is able to include not only textual data, but also any other type of information (for example sound data, images, etc.). Consequently the specific compression algorithms of one particular type of data are ineffective and ill adapted in respect of processing this type of document.

Method for compressing/decompressing structure documents


Attaching a fuel injector to a common rail may utilize a fuel injector and an integral tab that has a solid head portion from which a first flexible prong and a second flexible prong protrude and define a gap therebetween. A fuel injector cup may define a notch through which the first prong and the second prong reside to secure the fuel injector to the fuel injector cup, which is attached to the rail. A first prong interior straight wall surface and a second prong interior straight wall surface may face the gap and be parallel. The prongs may define entry contact surfaces and exit contact surfaces that meet at prescribed angles to aid in insertion and hinder retraction of the injector tab from the injector cup. The tab defines a solid head portion below the gap that resides in the notch.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. Internal combustion engines such as direct injection engines may employ fuel injectors that provide a fluid conduit between a pressurized fuel rail and a combustion cylinder of an internal combustion engine. While current fuel injectors and corresponding fuel rails have been satisfactory for their given applications, such components are not without need for improvement.
Engine assemblers desire a tight, secure and aligned assembly of the fuel injector to the fuel rail to prevent disassembly during part shipment and during installation of the fuel rail and fuel injectors onto the engine. Additionally, prevention of a fuel injector from becoming misaligned with the fuel rail during assembly onto an engine or prior to assembly onto an engine or during engine operation is also desired. Typically, a fuel rail will employ a fuel injector cup that is brazed, welded or otherwise secured to a fuel rail. An injector may reside within the injector cup with the aid of a compressed O-ring, which resides over the injector inlet. During shipment of fuel injectors or during assembly of a fuel rail and an injector combination onto an engine, because only an O-ring is compressed against an interior of the injector cup, the integrity of the holding force of the compressed O-ring may be compromised, resulting in parting of the injector from the injector cup or misalignment of the parts prior to installation onto an engine. Moreover, during operation, fuel injectors may become stuck or seized onto the engine cylinder head due to soot or carbon build-up at the tip of the injector. In such a case, it is desirable to have the rail and injector separate easily. Thus, during servicing of a fuel injection system, service technicians desire a relatively quick disconnect of the fuel injector from adjacent components.
What is needed then is a device that quickly permits alignment and secure connection of a fuel injector with an injector cup and injector rail but that also permits quick and easy separation of the fuel injector from an injector cup.

Integrated fuel injector orientation and retention device


A single group of signals interfaces a computer system to either an analog display or a digital display. A video signal in digital format and a video signal in analog format are both supplied to a circuit that multiplexes the digital signal and the analog signal, generating an appropriate output signal for the display, either analog or digital, that is coupled to the computer system. In one example, the signal connector interfaces the computer system to either an analog CRT display or a digital FPD display. The multiplexer multiplexes the analog signal and the digital signal supplied by the computer system and generates an output signal that is suitable for the CRT display or the FPD display, depending on the type of display coupled to the computer system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to interfaces between computers and video monitors, and more particularly to an interface that multiplexes analog and digital signals for the purpose of using one set of lines between a computer system and either an analog monitor or a digital monitor.
2. Description of the Related Art
The substantial growth of the personal computer is due, in part, to the technological breakthroughs in computer design. A typical personal computer system available today includes a plethora of peripheral devices undreamed of in years past. Today a computer system available to a typical consumer might include a system processor, associated memory and control logic, and a number of peripheral devices, including a display monitor, a keyboard, a mouse-type input device, floppy and hard disk drives, CD-ROM drives, a laser printer, a color scanner, a modem, network capabilities and even a voice recognition device.
An important peripheral available in a personal computer system is the video monitor. From the time of the television set to today""s newer digital-type displays, technology has expanded the capabilities of video monitors. As a result of technological breakthroughs in video monitors, higher resolutions, faster refresh rates, and different types of video monitors are available at reasonable prices. One type of video monitor, the digital video monitor, has been improved upon and is becoming increasingly popular. A typical computer system may provide a connector for both digital and analog video monitors. What is needed is one set of lines that can connect either a digital or an analog video monitor to a computer system.
A connector with a single set of signal lines interfaces a computer system to either an analog display or a digital display. A video signal in digital format and a video signal in analog format are both supplied to a circuit that multiplexes the digital signal and the analog signals, generating appropriate output signals for the display, either analog or digital, that are coupled to the computer system.
In one example, the set of signals interfaces the computer system to either an analog cathode ray tube (CRT) display or a digital flat panel display (FPD). The multiplexer multiplexes the analog signal and the digital signal supplied by the computer system and generates an output signal that is suitable for the CRT display or the FPD display, depending on the type of display coupled to the computer system.
In one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus includes a video controller, a connector and a circuit coupled to the video controller and coupled to the connector, the circuit selectively coupling one of either an analog video signal and a digital video signal received from the video controller to a video monitor. In another embodiment, an apparatus includes a switch, a first input terminal coupled to the switch for receiving an analog signal, a second input terminal coupled to the switch, for receiving a differential digital signal, and an output terminal coupled to the switch, the switch for multiplexing the analog signal and the differential digital signal, and the output terminal for supplying a multiplexed signal. In a further embodiment, a computer system includes a processor, a video monitor coupled to the processor, a controller, and a circuit coupled to the video controller and coupled to the connector, the circuit selectively coupling one of either an analog video signal and a digital video signal received from the video controller to a video monitor.


A system may determine to provide content in a multimedia content message to a user. The user may be associated with a recipient account that is associated with content type preferences that identify a plurality of permitted content types. Each content type, of the plurality of permitted content types, may identify a type of content that is permitted to be included in the multimedia content message. The system may obtain the content type preferences to determine the plurality of permitted content types. The system may determine one or more selected content types of the plurality of permitted content types. The one or more selected content types may be content types of content to be obtained by the system and included in the multimedia content message. The system may obtain content of the one or more selected content types. The system may provide the multimedia content message including the content.

A user device may provide, to a user of the user device, content that is received from another user device. The user device may receive the content based on the other user device attempting to contact the user device. For example, the user device may receive a voicemail, a text message, or the like, from the other user device, based on an unanswered call from the other user device. The content may be of a variety of content types, such as audio content, video content, image content, text content, and so on.


A separating corona discharger 40 is provided with a first separating discharge wire 42 and a second separating discharge wire 43. The wire diameter of the first separating discharge wire 42 is set to, for example, 60 .mu.m, and the wire diameter of the second separating discharge wire 43 is set to, for example, 100 .mu.m. The first separating discharge wire 42 and the second separating discharge wire 43 are connected in parallel to an AC high-voltage power supply of a constant current type at the offset current. Accordingly, a large number of minus current components flow from the AC high-voltage power supply 46 into the discharge wire 42 having a small wire diameter from which discharge having minus components is easily induced, to obtain a desired distribution of a discharge having a large number of minus current components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a separating device in an apparatus for forming an image using an electrophotographic system, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, a laser beam printer and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An electrophotographic copying machine, for example, is provided with a photosensitive drum. At the time of copying, the surface of the photosensitive drum is charged to a predetermined potential. The charged surface of the photosensitive drum is exposed to light corresponding to a document image. Consequently, charged charges are selectively eliminated from the surface of the photosensitive drum, so that an electrostatic latent image of the document image is formed. The electrostatic latent image is then developed using toner. Specifically, toner is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum from which the charged charges are selectively eliminated by the exposure, so that the toner is electrostatically adsorbed only on a portion where the charged charges remain.
Thereafter, recording paper adheres to the photosensitive drum, so that transferring discharge is applied to the reverse surface of the paper (the surface opposite to the surface adhering to the photosensitive drum). For example, when the photosensitive drum using selenium for a photosensitive layer, the photosensitive drum is first positively charged. On the other hand, the toner is negatively charged, so that it is electrostatically adsorbed on positive charges which exist on the surface of the photosensitive drum. In this case, positive DC discharge is used as the transferring discharge. By this transferring discharge, strong positive charges are applied to the paper, so that the toner negatively charged which is electrostatically adsorbed on the positive charges on the photosensitive drum is electrostatically attracted by the positive charges on the paper.
After transfer, separating discharge is applied to the reverse surface of the paper. The separating discharge is induced so as to discharge the respective charges on the photosensitive drum, the paper and the toner and separate from the photosensitive drum the paper and the toner which are electrostatically adsorbed on the surface of the photo-sensitive drum. AC discharge having an offset value set to the minus side is generally used as the separating discharge. The positive charges on the paper are discharged by the separating discharge.
Meanwhile, in a separating corona discharger for inducing the separating discharge, various devices have been conventionally considered so as to reliably separate the paper from the photosensitive drum.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette Nos. 115068/1980 and 115069/1980 have proposed a separating device in which a separating corona discharger is provided with two discharge wires and the respective discharge wires produce the effects of discharging which differ in magnitude, and a separating device in which at least two separating corona dischargers are provided and the respective dischargers produce the effects of discharging which differ in magnitude.
Furthermore, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Gazette No. 194759/1984 discloses a separating device in which a separating corona discharger is provided with two discharge wires, and the two discharge wires are made equal to each other in wire diameter and are made different from each other in height from the bottom surface of a shielding case to make discharge characteristics to paper by the discharge wires different from each other.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette No. 56978/1987 discloses a separating device in which a plurality of discharge electrodes having an equal shape are arranged in a separating corona discharger, and the respective electrodes are arranged at an equal distance from the surface of a photosensitive drum.
Various improvements have been thus conventionally proposed with respect to the separating devices using discharge. The reason for this is that the frequency of occurrence of inferior separation in separating the paper from the photosensitive drum is high due to, for example, the change in the use conditions, the environment or the like.
On the other hand, if paper is subjected to too excessive discharging by the separating device, a toner image once transferred to the paper is transferred again to the photosensitive drum, which is not preferable, as also described in the foregoing Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette No. 56978/1987. Alternatively, the toner image transferred to the paper is distorted even if it is not transferred again.
In the separating device, therefore, devices must be considered so as to discharge charged on the paper by transferring discharge, to satisfactorily separate the paper and the toner from the photosensitive drum and as not to distort the toner image transferred to the paper. In considering the devices, it is necessary to meet such conflicting conditions that the toner image is distorted if the separating performance is thought too important, while the separating performance is lowered if the image quality is thought important.
In the conventional separating devices, various devices are considered so as to meet the above described conflicting conditions. Examples are such a device that a so-called double wire structure in which two discharge wires are provided is used and the respective discharge wires are made different from each other in height from the bottom surface of a shielding case to make discharge characteristics by the discharge wires different from each other (for example, a separating device described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Gazette No. 194759/1984), and such a device that separate power supplies are respectively connected to two discharge wires and different discharge voltages are applied to the discharge wires (for example, a separating device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette No. 115068/1980).
In the separating device so constructed that the two discharge wires are made different from each other in height from the bottom surface of the shielding case, however, it is difficult to adjust the positional relationship between the path for paper and the separating device. The reason for this is that the distance between the discharge wire whose height is made large and the photosensitive drum is naturally decreased, so that the wire is easily brought into contact with the paper. In addition, if the height of the discharge wire is made large, shielding effects by the shielding case are degraded, so that stable discharge is not easily obtained and interference is liable to occur between separating discharge and transferring discharge. Furthermore, the ratio of minus and plus components cannot be altered for each wire.
On the other hand, the separating device so constructed that the discharge voltages are respectively supplied to the two discharge wires from the separate power supplies has the disadvantage in that two power supplies are required, thereby to complicate the separating device and increase the manufacturing cost.

Separating device for image forming apparatus


Electronic device package technology is disclosed. In one example, an electronic device package can include a bottom surface and a side surface extending from the bottom surface. The side surface can be oriented at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the bottom surface. In another example, an electronic device package can include a top planar surface having a first area, a bottom planar surface having a second area, and a side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The second area can be larger than the first area. In yet another example, an electronic device package can include a substrate defining a plane, an electronic component disposed on the substrate, and a layer of material disposed about a lateral side of the electronic component. The layer of material can be oriented at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the plane.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding is routinely used on electronic device packages with small form factors. EMI shielding is important when electronic components are positioned close together in order to reduce or prevent disturbances in operation. One mechanism for creating EMI shielding is with a conformal sputtering technique. In this case, the material of the EMI shield is sputtered or deposited on an exposed outer surface of the electronic device package to a desired thickness in order to create an EMI shield layer.
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope or to specific invention embodiments is thereby intended.

Electronic device packages with conformal EMI shielding and related methods