A process for hydrogenation of an aldehyde selected from the group consisting of propanal, n-butanal, and i-butanal comprising contacting said aldehyde with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst comprising in the reduced state. 25% to 50% by weight of metallic nickel PA1 10% to 35% by weight of nickel oxide PA1 4% to 12% by weight of magnesium oxide PA1 1% to 5% by weight of sodium oxide PA1 the remainder being a water insoluble support material, wherein the total of said nickel and said nickel oxide is 40% to 70% by weight based on said catalyst, said catalyst having a total BET surface area of 80 to 200 m.sup.2 /g and a total pore volume, determined by mercury porosimetry, of 0,35 to 0.6 ml/g,. said total volume consisting of 30% to 60% of said volume from pores having pore radii equal to or less than 40 .ANG., 4% to 10% of said volume from pores having pore radii from more than 40 .ANG. to 300 .ANG., and 30% to 60% of said volume from pores having pore radii from more than 300 .ANG. to 5000 .ANG..

Catalysts based on nickel as the active catalyst component for the hydrogenation of aldehydes are part of the prior art. For example, EP-A-322 049 describes a hydrogenation catalyst comprising
1) a molar ratio of SiO.sub.2 /Ni=0.15-0.35 PA1 2) a molar ratio of (Mg or Ba)/Ni=0-0.15, PA1 25% to 50% by weight of (metallic) nickel PA1 10% to 35% by weight of nickel oxide PA1 4% to 12% by weight of magnesium oxide PA1 1% to 5% by weight of sodium oxide PA1 The reminder is support material. PA1 a) 5 to 10 atomic layers on the surface of the hydrogenation catalyst contain, as determined by SAM analysis, 18 to 30, preferably 20 to 28, atom % Ni, 1.2 to 3.0, preferably .5 to 2.5, atom % Na, and 2.8 to 4.8, preferably 3.2 to 4.5, atom % Mg; PA1 b) the metallic nickel surface area is, as determined by chemisorption of hydrogen, 100 to 130 m.sup.2/ g Ni; PA1 c) the catalyst contains aluminium oxide or silicon dioxide, particularly in the form of silicic acid, silica gel, kieselguhr, or siliceous earth, as the support material.
in which part of the nickel is present in metallic form.
The known hydrogenation catalysts based on nickel can be used in the hydrogenation of aldehydes only at temperatures up to about 100.degree. C., since increasing the hydrogenation temperature leads to the formation of undesired by-products which can sometimes only be removed by complicated distillation.

Hydrogenation catalyst, a process for its preparation and use thereof


A surface inspection apparatus includes a light source section for emitting first and second luminous fluxes; a first irradiation optical system which irradiates the first luminous flux on an inspected object at a first irradiation angle; a second irradiation optical system which irradiates the second luminous flux on an inspected object at a second irradiation angle; a light receiving optical system for receiving scattered light of the first and second luminous fluxes; first and second light receiving sections for converting the scattered light of the first and second luminous fluxes into first and second light receiving signals, respectively; a displacement section for relatively displacing an inspected object and an irradiation luminous flux of the irradiation optical system; and a discrimination section for discriminating the kind of inspection object based on the strength of the scattered light and the scattered range of the first and second light receiving signals.

The present invention relates to a surface inspection apparatus and a surface inspection method for inspection in objects, for example, such as foreign matter, scratches, or COP (Crystal Defect) on the surface of a wafer and other inspected objects.
In the prior art, foreign matters on the surface of an inspected object have been measured by placing a luminous flux incident in the form of high incidence or low incidence on the surface of an inspected object.
However, with the trend of higher sensitivity of the inspection apparatus and fineness of steps, in the conventional surface inspection apparatus and the surface inspection method, for example, in a Bare-Si, it has been impossible to correctly separate the grow-in defect (fine crystal defect) on the surface or extremely thin foreign matter of residual matter caused by the surface polishing from the conventional foreign matter to measure them.
There has been proposed an example in which data of a measuring apparatus on the high incident side and data of a measuring apparatus on the low incident side are superposed, and from comparison therebetween, the inspection object is discriminated from the foreign matter.
It has been impossible to separate the conventional foreign matter or thin crystal defect from extremely fine foreign matter which is a residual matter caused by the surface polishing step to detect them.
With the trend of higher sensitivity of the inspection and fineness of steps, particularly in a Bare-Si, it has been desired to correctly separate the grow-in defect (fine crystal defect) on the surface or extremely thin foreign matter of residual matter caused by the surface polishing from the conventional foreign matter to measure them.
Further, it has been desired apparatus and method for separating micro scratches or slurries caused by CMP (Chemical Mechanical Process) that cannot be avoided in the fineness art to detect them with high sensitivity.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a surface inspection method and a surface inspection apparatus in which at least two different luminous fluxes are incident at different angles, scattered light of not less than two luminous fluxes incident at respective angles are separated by wavelength or polarized light, and the inspection object is discriminated on the basis of the scattering strength of the respective scattered light and the range of the scattered light.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a surface inspection apparatus and a surface inspection method in which two different luminous fluxes are incident at different angles, scattered light of luminous fluxes incident at respective angles are separated by wavelength or polarized light, and the inspection object is discriminated on the basis of the scattering strength of the respective scattered light and the range of the scattered light and according to the kind of inspected objects.
The present invention relates to an improvement in a surface inspection apparatus and a surface inspection method for inspection objects, for example, such as foreign matter, scratches, or COP (crystal defect) on the surface of a wafer and other inspected objects.
According to one mode of the present invention, the surface inspection apparatus comprises a light source section for emitting a first luminous flux having a first characteristic and a second luminous flux having a second characteristic; a first irradiation optical system in which the first luminous flux is irradiated on the surface of an inspected object at a first irradiation angle; a second irradiation optical system in which the second luminous flux is irradiated on the surface of an inspected object at a second irradiation angle; a light receiving optical system for receiving the scattered light of the first luminous flux irradiated by the first irradiation optical system and generated from the inspection object on the surface of an inspected object and the scattered light of the second luminous flux irradiated by the second irradiation optical system and generated from the inspection object on the surface of an inspected object; a first light receiving section for converting the scattered light of the first luminous flux received by the light receiving optical system into a first light receiving signal; a second light receiving section for converting the scattered light of the second luminous flux received by the light receiving optical system into a second light receiving signal; a displacement section for relatively displacing an inspected object and an irradiation luminous flux of the irradiation optical system; and a discrimination section for discriminating the kind of the inspection object on an inspected object on the basis of the strength of scattered light of the first and second light receiving signals and the scattered range of the scattered light of the first and second light receiving signals.
Preferably, the first characteristic of the first luminous flux and the second characteristic of the second luminous flux emitted from the light source section are a wavelength of luminous flux or a polarized light component. The first irradiation angle of the first irradiation optical system is set to be smaller than the second irradiation angle of the second irradiation optical system.
Preferably, the discrimination section carries out the process of scattered light quantity ratio for obtaining the strength ratio of the scattered light of the first and second light receiving signals, and the process of scattered range detection for obtaining the scattered range of scattered light according to whether or not the first and second light receiving signals are at a level above a predetermined level. Further, the discrimination section carries out the discrimination processes as described below every position of the surface of an inspected object:
(A) When judgment is made that the scattered light generated from the inspection object is present in only one of either the first light receiving signal or the second light receiving signal, the first discrimination process for discriminating that the kind of the inspection object is a first inspection object is carried out.
(B) When judgment is made that the scattered light generated from the inspection object is present in both the first light receiving signal and the second light receiving signal, the ratio between the strength of scattered light of the first light receiving signal and the strength of scattered light of the second light receiving signal is obtained, and if the ratio is at a level above a predetermined level, the second discrimination process for discriminating that the kind of the inspection object is a second inspection object is carried out.
(C) When judgment is made that the scattered light generated from the inspection object is present in both the first light receiving signal and the second light receiving signal, the ratio between the strength of scattered light of the first light receiving signal and the strength of scattered light of the second light receiving signal is obtained, and the ratio is at a level above a predetermined level, and further, a first function due to the strength of scattered light and the scattered range of scattered light of the first light receiving signal and a second function due to the strength of scattered light and the scattered range of scattered light of the second light receiving signal are obtained, and when the ratio therebetween is at a value above a predetermined value, the discrimination process for discriminating that the kind of the inspection object is a third inspection object is carried out.
(D) When judgment is made that scattered light generated from the inspection object not falling under the process is present in the first light receiving signal or the second light receiving signal, the discrimination process for discriminating that the kind of the inspection object is normal foreign matter is carried out.
Preferably, the kind of the inspection object discriminated by the discrimination section is decided according to the kind of the inspected object.
For example, where the inspected object is a bare semiconductor wafer (Bare-Si), the discrimination section discriminates that the first inspection object is COP (crystal defect) by the first discrimination process; that the second inspection object is COP (crystal defect) by the second discrimination process; and that the third inspection object is extremely thin foreign matter by the third discrimination process.
Further, preferably, where the inspected object is a semiconductor wafer after CMP (chemical mechanical process) process of a wafer with a membrane, the discrimination section discriminates that the first foreign matter is COP (crystal defect) by the first discrimination process; that the second foreign matter is micro scratch by the second discrimination process; and that the third foreign matter is micro scratch by the third discrimination process.


An apparatus for recording data having two transition states consisting of leading and trailing edges on the tracks of a disc rotating at a predetermined angular velocity via a head, includes a circuit for generating a plurality of modulated data whose leading edge transitions are synchronized with respect to a transitional state of the recording data and whose trailing edge transitions are delayed with respect the opposite transitional state of the recording data, according to the respective predetermined delay characteristics; a circuit for selecting one of the plurality of delayed data generated from the delayed data generating circuit according to the positions at which the data is to be recorded; and a circuit for modulating the data according to the delayed data selected by the selecting circuit and providing the modulated data to the head.

The present invention relates to a recording method and apparatus using the same for modulating recording data in such digital recorders as a floppy disc recorder, hard disc recorder, optical disc recorder or magneto-optical disc recorder.
In a constant-angular-velocity (CAV) type magneto-optical recorder/reproducer, the relative linear velocity of a head with respect to a disc is varied according to the head position. If the relative linear velocity is varied, the carrier-to-noise (C/N) ratio decreases when approaching the periphery of the disc. To solve this problem, in a conventional magneto-optical disc recorder, according to the change in head position, the power applied to a laser diode is controlled to improve the C/N ratio.
However, in such a write-power controlling method, controlling the power the laser diode is difficult and the associated circuitry is complicated.

Recording method and apparatus using the same for modulating recording data


Providing an antenna device and a portable radio communication device whose conductive plate for use in reducing the amount of the electromagnetic waves to be absorbed into a human body can be reduced in size. The portable radio communication device 1 includes a circuit board (not shown) necessary for performing radio communication, shield case 2 as a ground conductor which shields the circuit board, a conductive plate 3, an antenna feeding portion 4, and an antenna 5. The circuit board, shield case 2, and conductive plate 3 are enclosed by a housing (not shown) made of nonconductive material. The conductive plate 3 has its one end along the longitudinal direction connected to the shield case 2 to form a short circuit via the conductor 7, and has its other end electrically opened from the shield case 2. The conductive plate 3 has two slits 8a, 8b near the conductor 7.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna device and a portable radio communication device, and particularly to an antenna device and a portable radio communication device capable of reducing electromagnetic waves which are generated therefrom and are to be absorbed into a human body.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, portable data transmitting/receiving devices capable of transmitting/receiving information by radio communication are significantly developed. Of the portable data transmitting/receiving devices, portable radio communication devices for use in the Cellular Telephone System and Personal Communication System etc. are spreading rapidly.
As the portable radio communication devices spread rapidly, the number of communication lines in one radio communication system becomes insufficient. So, a radio communication system which shares another frequency band with another radio communication system is being under consideration to secure necessary communication lines. Thus, as the portable radio communication devices have been significantly reduced in size and weight, portable radio communication devices which can utilize two kinds of radio communication systems are being developed.
Generally, a portable radio communication device has an antenna for transmitting/receiving signals. Actually, whole the conductive portions in the portable radio communication device work as antennas, and the main body of the portable radio communication device other than the antenna portion also generates electromagnetic waves. So, it is required that, of the electromagnetic waves generated from the portable radio communication device, those to be absorbed into a human body should be suppressed. Specifically, of the electromagnetic waves generated from the portable radio communication device in use, amount of electromagnetic waves to be absorbed into a specific portion of a human body (radiation to a human body), particularly a head portion, per unit-time per unit-weight is defined as local average SAR (Specific Absorption Rate), and the maximum value of the local average SAR is required to be not more than a prescribed value.
So as to reduce the maximum value of the local average SAR to be absorbed into a human body, a conductive plate of a predetermined shape may be used. In this case, the conductive plate has its one end connected to a ground conductor which works as an antenna to form a short circuit, and has its other end electrically opened from the ground conductor. As a result, input impedance of the electrically opened end becomes approximately infinite. At this time, high-frequency current flowing to the ground conductor is suppressed, and thus amount of radiation of the electromagnetic waves is reduced.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a portable radio communication device 30, which can reduce the maximum value of the local average SAR. The portable radio communication device 30 includes a circuit board (not shown) necessary for performing radio communication, a shield case 31 as a ground conductor which shields the circuit board, a conductive plate 32, an antenna feeding portion 33, and an antenna 34. The circuit board, shield case 31, and conductive plate 32 are enclosed by a housing (not shown) made of nonconductive material. The conductive plate 32 and shield case 31 are connected by a conductor 35 to form a short circuit.
Since the circuit board is shielded by the shield case 31, various circuits including a transmitting/receiving circuit for communicating with a base station which are mounted on the circuit board do not have bad effects upon. each other, and also do not have bad effects upon the antenna 34 and other devices.
The transmitting/receiving circuit on the circuit board in the shield case 31 generates transmission signals of a predetermined signal form, and sends the transmission signals to the antenna 34 via the antenna feeding portion 33. Then, the antenna 34 transmits the transmission signals to the base station. The antenna 34 receives reception signals from the base station, and sends the reception signals to the transmitting/receiving circuit via the antenna feeding portion 33. Then, the transmitting/receiving circuit performs processing for the reception signals such as demodulating.
The antenna 34 is a rod antenna made of conductive wire materials, or a helical antenna made of conductive wire materials wound spirally. Otherwise, the antenna 34 may be an antenna of various types such as a stretch type antenna combining the rod antenna and helical antenna. When the portable radio communication device 30 performs radio communication, since the high-frequency current flows to the shield case 31 via the antenna feeding portion 33, not only the antenna 34 but also the shield case 31 as a ground conductor for the circuit board works as an antenna. That is, whole the portable radio communication device 30 works as an antenna.
When the portable radio communication device 30 is used, the user comes into contact with a speaker of the portable radio communication device 30. Since the shield case 31 as a ground conductor for the circuit board which is located behind the speaker also works as an antenna and radiates electromagnetic waves, there will be formed a portion where the value of the local average SAR becomes maximum around an ear of the user which comes into contact with the speaker, and this portion will be referred to as a hot spot.
The portable radio communication device 30 has the conductive plate 32 arranged such that the speaker (not shown) faces the conductive plate 32, and the conductive plate 32 and a front surface 31a of the shield case 31 are approximately parallel with each other with a slight interval therebetween. The interval between the conductive plate 32 and the front surface 31a of the shield case 31 depends on a radio communication frequency, and the portable radio communication device 30 can adjust the frequency bandwidth in accordance with the interval.
The conductive plate 32 has its one end along the longitudinal direction connected to the shield case 31 to form a short circuit via the conductor 35, and has its other end electrically opened from the shield case 31. The length L5 between the short circuit forming end and the electrically opened end is set to be a quarter of the wavelength of the radio communication frequency.
Accordingly, the impedance between the conductive plate 32 and the shield case 31 becomes close to zero at the short circuit forming end, while becoming approximately infinite at the electrically opened end. Thus, the high-frequency current has difficulty in flowing from the antenna feeding portion 33 to the conductive plate 32 and the shield case 31.
As has been described, as an example to reduce the maximum value of the local average SAR to be absorbed into a human body, the portable radio communication device 30 mounts a conductive plate 32 thereto, and reduces the amount of radiation of the electromagnetic waves from the conductive plate 32 and shield case 31. Thus, the local average SAR at the hot spot can be reduced.
However, in the portable radio communication device 30, since the length L5 between the short circuit forming end and the electrically opened end of the conductive plate 32 depends on the radio communication frequency in use, the length L5 may be too large, which prevents a liquid crystal display or a keypad for operation from being appropriately arranged on a front surface of the portable radio communication device 30.

Antenna device and portable radio communication device


Pseudo three dimensional image data sets are generated by an imaging apparatus, such as a digital camera having face detecting functions, by a simple operation. Reference image data sets, which are employed to generate pseudo three dimensional images, are generated from first image data sets, which are recorded. When new faces are detected by a face detecting section, correlative values between through the lens image data sets that include the new faces and the reference image data sets are calculated. When the calculated correlative values are greater than a predetermined value, pseudo three dimensional images are generated from the recorded first image data sets and newly obtained second image data sets that include the new faces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an imaging apparatus equipped with a face detecting function. Particularly, the present invention is related to an imaging apparatus and an imaging method for generating pseudo three dimensional images from images that include detected faces.
2. Description of the Related Art
A pseudo three dimensional image generating method has been proposed, in which an imaging apparatus such as a stereoscopic camera obtains a plurality of images by photography from different angles, and then generates a pseudo three dimensional image from the obtained images. In the method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-251635, edges of the outlines and facial component regions are extracted from a plurality of image data sets of faces in profile and forward facing faces obtained by photography, based on positional data regarding predetermined portions. The extracted edges are used to generate pseudo three dimensional images.
It is desired to obtain image data sets of faces, which are photographed at angles suited for generation of pseudo three dimensional images, when obtaining the plurality of image data sets of faces in profile and forward facing faces to generate pseudo three dimensional images.


Precompression fins extending perpendicular from the wings of a high speed missile are judiciously located relative to an axisymmetric inlet of an airbreathing power plant such that the outwash angle induced by the body and wing of the missile enhances the performance of the inlet.

This invention relates to axisymmetric inlets for high speed missiles and particularly to means for improving inlet performance by controlling the outwash angle induced by the body and wings of the missile.
The requirement for highly maneuverable missiles at high altitude has led to winged missile designs in order to achieve adequate lift characteristics. As is well known, the air induction system must be closely integrated with respect to the missile airframe to hold drag to a minimum while satisfying close packaging restrictions and severe weight limitations. Also, it is known that axisymmetric inlets are attractive for these designs because of their relative simplicity and light weight. The problem presented by the use of axisymmetric inlets is that they are sensitive to flow angularity which can adversely affect the operation of the missile.
I have found that I can obviate the sensitivity problem alluded to in the above by providing a precompression member and take advantage of the outwash angle induced by the missile body and underneath surface of the wing. Not only does this invention afford a potential improvement in inlet performance, it eliminates the yaw condition that would otherwise degrade inlet performance.

Precompression fin for axisymmetric inlet on winged high speed vehicles


A low-order polyphase interpolation filter, such as for decoding video and image signals, employs interpolation to facilitate sample rate conversion from a first rate to a second rate, which can be greater or less than the sample rate of the input signal. The interpolation applies interpolation coefficients, which are non-linear with respect to an associated positioning vector, to a set of input samples to provide desired scaling and/or conversion of the input sample into the desired output sample.

A digital video image comprises an array of pixels, with a known number of pixels in each horizontal row and vertical column according to an associated image format. Oftentimes the image is to be displayed in a system that uses a different number of pixels in each row and/or a different number of columns from that of an input image. Accordingly, it is often desirable to scale the image for display in the new system. The particular scaling in the horizontal and vertical dimensions can be different based on the dimensions of the input image relative to the desired dimensions of the output image. Scaling also is utilized for zooming of images and/or for displaying such images in windows having freely definable size and position. Various approaches have been developed for scaling, which can vary according the source of the input video signal and the desired output format.
In general, a video signal is scaled spatially in two dimensions, namely horizontally and/or vertically. The scaling can be implemented by simple window-cropping, direct decimation, or direct repetition. One example of an existing scaling technique is to apply weighted averages to neighboring image pixels to scale a PC graphics image both vertically and horizontally to match a television resolution format. To help reduce flicker, a scan converter having frame storage capabilities sometimes is used. While this frame-based flicker reduction can improve image quality, such associated with television images, as well as have extra flexibility in its graphics interface requirements, it is not cost-efficient due to the large size required on a silicon device to provide adequate frame storage. Another type of flicker reduction technique attempts to limit each display point (pixel) on a line of an interlaced field to be vertically paired with the point (pixel) on the vertically neighboring line of the next field. Still another approach utilizes low-pass filters to filter out vertical high frequency components of original graphics in order to generate relatively smooth vertical contrast between neighboring pixels. This low-pass filtering process may include line averaging or a similar technique.
Different types of video signals have different frame rates for display on computer screens, television screens and film. For example, film material typically utilizes frame rates of 24, 25 and 30 Hz, and video usually employs frame/field rates of 50 and 60 Hz. Television displays are commercially available with picture rates of 50, 60 and 100 Hz, and can employ progressive or interlaced scanning. Simple picture rate converters repeat pictures until the next arrives, which can result in blur and/or judder when motion occurs. Similarly, de-interlacing sometimes results from repetition, or averaging of neighboring lines. The more advanced deinterlacing concepts further apply vertical-temporal processing, but even these can degrade those parts of images where motion occurs. Further complexities arise for conversion from a non-interlaced to an interlaced format, which if not accounted for can reduce imagerial details during conversion and/or to cause introduction of artifacts.

Image scaling and sample rate conversion by interpolation with non-linear positioning vector


A check valve assembly is designed for insertion in an existing fuel tank filler tube having a mechanical nozzle seal and a vapor recirculation port. The insert has an integrally formed ground strap/tab for grounding a refueling nozzle and an attached flexible flapper positioned adjacent the recirculation port by an integrally formed spring tab. The insert has friction tabs for engaging the inner surface of the filler tube for retaining the check valve assembly in the filler tube.

The present invention relates to filler tube assemblies for fuel tank installations of the type having a fuel vapor recirculation tube ported to the upper end of the filler tube in the enlarged nozzle receiving end. Fuel vapor recirculation tubes are employed in motor vehicle fuel tank filler tubes in order to provide vapor recirculation during refueling from a nozzle inserted in the filler tube with a mechanical seal provided about the nozzle. The recirculated vapor provides a make-up flow below the nozzle seal to prevent the flow discharging from the nozzle from creating a vacuum in the filler tube and prematurely activating the automatic nozzle shutoff.
In the aforesaid fuel tank filler tube installations having a vapor recirculation tube attached to a port in the filler tube below the nozzle seal, problems have been encountered where liquid fuel rising in the filler tube, upon the tank becoming filled, has resulted in liquid fuel entering the vapor recirculation tube and flowing into the vapor vent system. Liquid fuel in the vapor vent system can result in blockage of the vapor vent lines by fuel trapped in low regions or in some cases liquid fuel entering into the vapor storage canister causing degradation of the vapor storage medium in the canister.
Thus, it has been desired to provide a way or means of protecting a fuel vapor recirculation system from flow of liquid fuel into the vapor lines and to do so in a manner which is simple and low in cost and does not require substantial reworking or retooling of the fuel tank filler tube.

Check valve for use in filler tube vapor recirculation system and method of making same


A filter for removing soluble, colloidal, and insoluble particles from a fluid, including lead using a first filter media for filtering soluble material from the fluid, a second filter media, adjacent and in fluid communication with, the first filter media, for filtering soluble material from said fluid, wherein the first and second filter media create a physical non-soluble particle barrier at their interface for capturing non-soluble particles, that when retained at the interface, become soluble over time in the fluid, and are subsequently removed by the second filter media. At least one of the filter media can be fibrillated nanofibers that are loaded with finely subdivided media of powdered ion exchange resins. A third filter media may be placed between the first and second filter media to enhance capturing and dissolving the physical non-soluble particles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to filters for removal of soluble and colloidal, non-soluble particles in a fluid. Specifically, the present invention relates to the removal of soluble and insoluble lead from a fluid, and more specifically, to the removal of soluble and insoluble lead from high pH fluid using fibrillated nanofibers as one of the filter media.
2. Description of Related Art
Certain water treatment applications are characterized by the need to remove both dissolved and suspended or colloidal materials. Although it has been used in numerous consumer products, lead is a toxic metal now known to be harmful to human health if inhaled or ingested. Important sources of lead exposure include: ambient air, soil and dust (both inside and outside the home), food (which can be contaminated by lead in the air or in food containers), and water (from the corrosion of plumbing). Materials such as ion exchange resins and reverse osmosis membranes effectively reduce or fully remove dissolved ionic species. Particulate lead at high pH exists primarily as colloidal lead carbonates. These colloidal particulate solids can be physically removed if the filter media provides for a fine enough mesh that can also accommodate pressure differentials.
Standards have been developed and promulgated to regulate the amount of contaminants allowed in drinking water. For example, one such standard is NSF/ANSI 53, entitled "DRINKING WATER TREATMENT UNITS—HEALTH EFFECT." This is an NSF International Standard and an American National Standard for establishing minimum requirements for materials, design, construction, and performance of point-of-use and point-of-entry drinking water treatment systems that are designed to reduce specific health-related contaminants in public or private water supplies. This standard, as well as other related standards and protocols, governs the amount of contaminants in drinking water, including lead, governs testing protocols for removal of those contaminants which provides a benchmark for the efficacy of water filters designed to remove or reduce such contaminants.
For example, pursuant to the NSF requirement, the influent challenge for total lead is 0.15 mg/L or 150 ppb of which 30% or 50 ppb is total particulate lead, and 20% of the total particulate lead or 10 ppb is fine lead between 0.1 and 1.2 microns in size. The maximum effluent lead concentration is 0.010 mg/L. The total lead requirement is applicable for lead pH 6.5 and lead pH 8.5 reduction testing. The lead particulate and fine lead values are of the greatest concern lead pH 8.5 testing only. A filter designed to specifications of the present invention is capable of meeting the NSF or other similar standard challenge requirements for the reduction of lead in drinking water.
For many years fibers such as cellulose have been utilized as filter aids to improve flow and reduce differential pressure across the surface of a bed or precoat. Fibers dramatically improve removal of colloidal materials, especially when used in conjunction with charged materials such as ion exchange resins. U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,532 issued to Halbfoster on Feb. 26, 1980, entitled "CHARGED FILTER AID MATERIAL AND ION EXCHANGE BED," first described the synergistic effects of combining charged ion exchange resins and charged filter aid such as treated cellulose fiber. The invention embodied in this patent is now widely used commercially in applications such as treating high quality condensate water in power plants.
A more recent patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,311 issued to Koslow on Mar. 29, 2005, entitled "NANOFIBER FILTER MEDIA," describes the use of nanofibers as an enhanced filtration medium. The patent teaches that a physical process called fibrillation enhances the performance of standard filter media such as cellulose fiber. Moreover, this patent also teaches a process for making an improved air filter medium with the incorporation of nanofibers. This process has also been commercialized for filtration purposes in combination with activated carbon.
There are a number of independent agencies, such as NSF International, UL, and WQA, to name a few, that evaluate and certify the performance of filtering devices that remove lead from drinking water. Generally, their seal of approval appears on the device and product packaging. New testing criteria from these agencies require the removal of lead in high pH fluid.

Uses of fibrillated nanofibers and the removal of soluble, colloidal, and insoluble particles from a fluid


A valve opening and closing timing control apparatus includes: a driving side rotor synchronously rotating with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a driven side rotor disposed coaxially with a rotary axis of the driving side rotor and synchronously rotating with a camshaft; a connecting bolt disposed coaxially with the rotary axis, and connecting the driven side rotor to the camshaft; and a position determination unit performing positioning between the driven side rotor and the camshaft, or in a case where an intermediate member is provided between the driven side rotor and the camshaft, between the driven side rotor and the intermediate member, or between the camshaft and the intermediate member, wherein the position determination unit includes an engaging pin, first and second hole portions, and a deformation absorbing unit.

An apparatus with a configuration enclosing a driven side rotor relatively rotatable with respect to a driving side rotor as a valve opening and closing timing control apparatus, connects and fixes the driven side rotor to a camshaft by a connecting bolt, and thus the camshaft and the driven side rotor are maintained at a determined relative phase relationship and the driving side rotor is relatively rotatably supported to the camshaft.
In JP 2002-295208A (Reference 1) as a specific example of the valve opening and closing timing control apparatus with such a configuration, a technology is disclosed in which a pin press-fitted into an end surface of a camshaft is inserted in a positioning hole of a driven side rotor in order to determine the relative phase relationship between the camshaft and the driven side rotor (vane rotor).
In JP 2006-183590A (Reference 2), a technology in which a camshaft and a driven side rotor (vane rotor) are connected via a press-fitted member and a positioning pin is fitted between the press-fitted member and the driven side rotor is disclosed.
Furthermore, JP 2012-172558A (Reference 3) has a configuration in which a connecting member is sandwiched between a camshaft and a driven side rotor (internal rotor). In Reference 3, a technology is disclosed in which a pin that passes through a pin inserting hole of the connecting member is provided, one end of the pin is inserted in the pin inserting hole of the driven side rotor, and the other end of the pin is inserted in the pin inserting hole of the camshaft.
In the apparatus that is provided with the pin which is fitted in the driven side rotor and the camshaft as illustrated in Reference 1, a relative rotational phase can be appropriately set in a case of connecting the driven side rotor to the camshaft by the connecting bolt.
However, in the apparatus in which the pin is press-fitted into the camshaft as illustrated in Reference 1, the vicinity of a portion of the camshaft where the pin is inserted is deformed in some cases by the press fitting. In a case where deformation is caused in this manner, a portion of a threaded hole portion of the camshaft is reduced in diameter due to the deformation, and thus an insertion of the connecting bolt becomes difficult, or an engagement with a male screw is not smoothly performed. Therefore, there is room for improvement.
In the configuration in which an intermediate member in contact with an end surface of the driven side rotor is provided and the pin is fitted between the intermediate member and the driven side rotor as illustrated in Reference 2 or Reference 3, it is considered that in a case of adopting the configuration in which the pin is press-fitted into one of hole portions of the driven side rotor and the intermediate member, deformation is caused in the same way as described above and the insertion of the connecting bolt is difficult.
Specifically, an advance angle flow passage communicating with an advance angle chamber and a retard angle flow passage communicating with a retard angle chamber are formed in the driven side rotor, and thus in a case where the pin is press-fitted into the driven side rotor, it is considered that a sectional area of the flow passage is reduced due to the deformation and deterioration of a response performance is caused.
Although it is considered to increase accuracy between an outer diameter of the pin and an inner diameter of a hole portion into which the pin is press-fitted to eliminate such inconvenience, in a case of performing processing with high precision, an increase in cost is caused, and thus there is room for improvement.
In a configuration in which positioning is performed using a pin, dropping of the pin is prevented by press-fitting the pin into one member and the pin is stably held, and thus transition to a process when the pin is inserted in a hole portion formed in the other member is easily performed.
For this reason, when connecting members configuring a valve opening and closing timing control apparatus to each other in a positioning state, it is required to eliminate the inconvenience caused by press-fitting of an engaging pin. Specifically, in a case where a member such as a rotor into which the engaging pin is press-fitted is low strength material such as aluminum, deformation is large at the time of the press-fitting, and thus the deformation becomes a problem.

Valve opening and closing timing control apparatus


The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) and a method for retreading a tire (16) having a worn surface (12). The worn surface (12) is made of a thermoplastic elastomer. The apparatus (10) includes a heater (34) and a 3D printer (18). The heater (34) is adapted to heat up the worn surface (12) to a desired temperature. The 3D printer (18) is adapted to lay one or more layers of the thermoplastic elastomer onto the heated worn surface (12). The or each layer of thermoplastic elastomer is capable of adhering to the heated worn surface (12) or previously laid layer without requiring an adhesive medium or agent.

Conventionally, when the treads of a tyre are worn to a certain degree, the grip of the tyre on the road surface, especially when it is wet is significantly diminished. The worn tyre is then required to be removed from service due to safety concerns.
Instead of abandoning the worn tyre and replacing it with a new tyre, retreading is a significantly cheaper option. For this reason, retreaded tyres are widely used in automobiles as well as large-scale operations such as trucking, busing and commercial aviation. Retreading tyres is also a very environmentally friendly way of recycling used tyres.
Retreading tyres involves a remanufacturing process designed to extend the useful service life of tyres. Existing retreading process involves the physical removal of the tread pattern (known as buffing) and regluing of new treads back into the same positions. As the treads, side walls and other components of a tyre are commonly manufactured, and react to movement, as an integrated unit, the retreading process described above has a major shortcoming in that it substantially reduces the overall integrity and handling of the retreaded tyre. The retreading process described above also has another shortcoming in that if the retread portions failed and hence spun off the tyre, the underlying surface resulting from buffing is typically close to the steel belts that are embedded in the tyre. As such, re-exposure of the underlying surface can potentially lead to a sudden failure of the entire tyre, particularly when the tyre is operating at high speeds.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for retreading tyres which may overcome or ameliorate the above shortcomings or at least provide a useful alternative.

Apparatus and method for retreading tires


A communication system includes a number of terminals, each allowing the input of a text message represented as digital symbols, and storing the text message, and including modems for encoding the text message for transmission via a public telecommunications network to a remote terminal, the terminals also being arranged to receive acknowledgements from the remote terminal that such text messages have been received, and to re-attempt transmission in the event of a transmission failure or the absence of such an acknowledgement, and the terminals further being arranged to automatically answer a call placed via the public telecommunications network, to receive and decode a text message from a remote terminal included in such a call, to store the received text message, to transmit a signal acknowledging receipt of the received text message to the remote sending terminal, and to allow retrieval of the stored text message.

It is known to transmit messages using a telex. In telex communication, coded digits are transmitted from one terminal to another, which is dialled up using a number found from a publicly available directory. The receiving terminals signals back to indicate that contact has been made, and acknowledge receipt of a message. The message is printed at the receiving terminal.
It is also known to communicate messages by facsimile. In facsimile transmission, a document is scanned and encoded using image compression coding. The encoded image (not the text it represents) is transmitted to a facsimile receiver, where it is printed out.
Text may also be transmitted using electronic mail systems, in which a transmitting terminal dials up a central message storage computer and transmits a message to be stored under a designated mailbox therein. The intended recipient of the message will then later dial the central computer and read his message. Similar text communication systems include bulletin board systems, in which messages are stored in a bulletin board computer and subsequently read by the intended recipient.
The above systems may thus be divided into point to point systems (telex and facsimile) in which messages are transmitted direct to the recipient, and stored and collect systems (electronic mail) in which a message is deposited in a mailbox and then subsequently read.


A measurement device comprises a high permittivity dielectric resonator (10) with a low microwave loss tangent and having at least a first symmetry axis (z-i); an electrically conductive resonance chamber (100) containing and geometrically similar to the resonator (10) and having a second symmetry axis (z2) coincident with the first symmetry axis (z-i); the resonance chamber (100) having a plurality of similar ports (104) orthogonal to the first symmetry axis (z-i), each such port (104) having a microwave antenna (114), either to inject microwaves into the resonance chamber, thereby to excite an electric field in the resonator, or to receive microwaves from the resonance chamber; and a comparator circuit (200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800) connected to a first one (P1) of the plurality of ports (104) to inject microwaves into the resonance chamber and to another (P2, P3) of the plurality of ports (104) to receive microwaves from the resonance chamber; wherein the measurement device further comprises an electrically conductive tuning screw (106) in electrical contact with the resonance chamber (100), the tuning screw being at least partially positionable in the electric field thereby excited in the resonator; and a source of magnetism (18) to apply a magnetic field to a sample brought into proximity with a top surface (12) of the resonator (10) substantially parallel or anti-parallel to the first symmetry axis (z-i); and wherein one (P3) of the other of the plurality of ports (104) to receive microwaves from the resonance chamber (100) is orthogonal to the first one (P1) of the plurality of ports (104) to inject microwaves into the resonance chamber. Such a measurement device may be used to measure both the conductivity or sheet resistance of a thin film (30), as well as the carrier mobility of the thin film, without contacting the resonator (10) with either the thin film or a substrate (20) on which the thin film is formed.

The inventors have previously described a technique for measuring the conductivity and sheet resistance of thin-film samples of graphite comprising monolayers and very few layers of graphene in their paper "Non-contact method for measurement of the microwave conductivity of graphene" in Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 103, pp. 123103-1-123103-4 (2013). This technique uses a high Q-factor dielectric resonator, made of a single crystal of a high permittivity material with a low microwave loss tangent, such as sapphire, which is excited by microwaves in a conducting chamber, to measure the conductivity of such thin-film samples in a non-contacting manner. As described at the end of that paper, the present inventors indicated that it would also be desirable to find a technique for measuring the carrier mobility of thin-film samples in a similarly non-contacting way.
Until now, the carrier mobility of thin-film samples such as monolayers and very few layers of graphene has been measured using a contacting method, which comprises patterning a thin-film sample into a Hall bar device on a substrate, such as an oxidised silicon wafer, and attaching electrodes to the sample in order to determine the carrier mobility of the sample from field-effect and magneto resistance measurements, as described, for example, in "Electrical Field Effect in Atomically Thin Carbon Films" by K. S. Novoselov, A. K. Geim et al. in Science, Vol. 306, pp. 666-669 (22 Oct. 2004) and in "Two-dimensional atomic crystals" by K. S. Novoselov et al. in Proceedings Nat. Acad. Sci., Vol. 102, no. 30, pp. 10451-10453 (26 Jul. 2005).
Such techniques can exhibit the disadvantages of being time-consuming and inefficient to prepare the samples as Hall bar devices and destructive of the thin-film sample to be measured.
On the other hand, it is also known to measure the carrier mobility of a semiconductor sample in a non-contacting way by placing such a sample in a rectangular cavity resonator and injecting the cavity with microwaves to excite the sample into an orthogonal mode in the presence of a static magnetic field. However, this technique has the disadvantage that although the sample is not destroyed by such a technique, it is difficult to characterize the Hall coefficient of the sample and its mobility with any accuracy. This is for several reasons. Firstly, it is difficult to achieve a high Q-factor in the cavity. Secondly, only samples of very small volume can be used and usually the shape and position of the sample within the cavity are critical, since the complicated geometry of the rectangular cavity relative to the sample makes calculation of the coupling between the sample and the cavity problematic. Furthermore, there is a direct effect of the magnetic field on the conducting walls of the cavity, which arises from the small but finite Hall coefficient of the metal from which the cavity is made. This technique is therefore not favoured.
Reference is also made to the article Measurement Science and Technology, Vol. 24, 2013, Jerzy Krupka, "Topical Review; Contactless methods of conductivity and sheet resistance measurement for semiconductors, conductors and superconductors; Contactless methods of conductivity and sheet resistance measurement for semiconductors, conductor". This discusses microwave techniques in Section 5 and microwave measurements of charge carrier mobility and charge carrier concentration in Section 6.

Measurement technique for thin-film characterization


According to some embodiments, data about a plurality of remote energy efficient light fixture networks may be received, and each energy efficient light fixture network is associated with a customer of an enterprise and includes a plurality of energy efficient light fixtures equipped with wireless communication devices. Based on data indicative of energy consumption by a first customer, a first energy savings amount may be determined for the first customer in connection with a pre-determined period of time. An allocation of the first energy savings amount between the first customer and the enterprise may be dynamically calculated and an indication of the allocation between the first customer and the enterprise may be transmitted.

Energy efficient light fixtures, such Light Emitting Diode ("LED") light fixtures, may consume less energy during use as compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, and use of the energy efficient light fixtures over time will result in an energy savings amount. In some cases, however, the energy efficient light fixtures may cost more to purchase or install as compared to less efficient lighting solutions. As a result, some customers may be unable or unwilling to use energy efficient light fixtures (even though the use of less efficient fixtures will eventually cost the customer more money in the long run).

System and method to dynamically allocate energy savings amounts for remote energy efficient light fixture networks


A system and method are disclosed for automatically refreshing a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) under a plurality of different operational conditions of an associated processor. When the processor is normally executing instructions it generates active signals which enable a generator circuit to generate timing signals. A hidden refresh circuit uses status signals and a first part of these timing signals to generate a refresh pulse during an opcode fetch cycle of each instruction being executed by the processor. A control circuit uses each refresh pulse and a second part of the timing signals to generate a row refresh signal to refresh a row in the DRAM indicated by a row address from a counter and a row address clock to increment the counter to the next row to be refreshed by the following row refresh signal. When a keep alive circuit senses that the processor has not run for a preselected period of time due to the incircuit use of a piece of test equipment, it generates pulses to enable the hidden refresh circuit to cause the control circuit to periodically refresh the DRAM until after the processor starts running again. When a halt/power-down circuit senses that the processor is executing a HALT instruction, it forces the processor to branch off into a subroutine to execute a preselected number of instructions to refresh an associated number of rows before allowing the processor to return to its HALT instruction. This operation periodically repeats until the processor has completed its HALT instruction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of dynamic random access memories and more particularly to a control system for periodically refreshing such a memory under a plurality of different operational conditions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Dynamic random access memories, (DRAM's) offer one of the lowest cost per bit alternatives to memory for microprocessor (or processor) based systems. However, a DRAM has some inherent characteristics associated with it which make it more difficult to use than other types of information storage devices.
Some of the problems associated with the use of DRAM's include: refresh requirements, de-selection prior to selection and multiplexing of address lines--row vs. column.

Dynamic random access memory refresh control system


The device includes at least two abutting detection elements (16, 18) having, on one face, a plurality of photodetectors (22, 24). A complementary detection element (26) has, on one face, a plurality of detectors (28) and is positioned astride the two abutting elements. The photodetectors of said complimentary element are positioned facing the faces of the two abutting elements and have no photodetector facing the photodetectors of the complementary element. The invention is useful in thermal imaging.

The present invention relates to a radiation detection device having abutting or butting detection elements, as well as to a process for the production of said device.
The invention more particularly applies to the production of very long linear optical detection arrays, particularly for thermal imaging.
In the field of optical signal detection, it has progressively become necessary to produce ever larger components. For example, one of the major objectives of manufacturers is to manufacture very long linear photodetector arrays having more than 1000 pixels in line.
The high number of reading pixels required for such "array" type detectors excludes the manufacture of monolithic components for reasons of the fault rate and the limited sizes of the substrates on which said detectors are manufactured.
The most widely used procedure for producing very long photodetector arrays is the so-called butting or abutting method, which is e.g. described in the article "Recent developments on 12.5 .mu.m infrared detection buttable linear arrays", whose authors are J. P. Chamonal, C. Lucas, P. Bouchut, D. Blachier and P. Angelbaut, published in the Proceedings of SPIE Infrared Detectors and Focal Plane Arrays, vol. 1685 on 23.4.1992.
This method consists of juxtaposing on an interconnection substrate elementary photodetector arrays without any pixel loss, the total size of the equivalent array then no longer being limited by the aforementioned factors, namely the fault rate and the limited size of the substrates on which the photo-detectors are manufactured.
One of the possible abutting methods consists of producing detection elements or components incorporating photodetectors or pixels and cutting the ends of said components as close as possible to their end pixels in order to be able to mechanically juxtapose these components whilst maintaining the detection step size.
One of the methods permitting such a juxtapositioning is the so-called flip-chip hybridization method, according to which the components are hybridized by welding balls on an interconnection network support or on a reading circuit. In this case, the components receive the radiation to be detected by their rear faces.
The major difficulty of such methods is the cutting of the components without deteriorating the pixels close to the edge of the cuts or recesses (due to mechanical stresses inevitably caused by the cutting operation).
FIG. 1A is a diagrammatic view of two abutting detection elements 2, 4 hybridized on an interconnection network support 6 according to the flip-chip hybridization method.
FIG. 1B is the section I--I of FIG. 1A.

Radiation detection device having abutting detection elements and process for the production of said device


A switch valve configured to control a hydraulic fluid flow, the switch valve including a capture element which is arranged in a valve housing and displaceable into a first switching position or a second switching position, wherein a first hydraulic connection is connected with a supply connection in the first switching position and a second hydraulic connection is connected with the supply connection in the second switching position, wherein at least two pass through bore holes are provided in the capture element and extend through the capture element, wherein a first pass through bore hole provides a fluid connection between the first hydraulic connection and the supply connection in the first switching position and a second pass through bore hole provides a fluid connection between the second hydraulic connection and the supply connection in the second switching position.

In internal combustion engines a high compression ratio has a positive effect upon efficiency of the internal combustion engine. Compression ratio is typically designated as a ratio of an entire cylinder volume before compression to a remaining cylinder volume after the compression. In internal combustion engines with external ignition, in particular gasoline engines which have a fixed compression ratio the compression ratio may only be selected high enough so that a so called knocking of the internal combustion engine is at full load operation is prevented. However, for much more prevalent partial load operation of the internal combustion engine thus with a lower cylinder filling the compression ratio can be selected with higher values without "knocking" occurring. The important partial load operations of the internal combustion engine can be improved when the compression ratio is variably adjustable. In order to adjust the compression ratio for example systems with a variable connecting rod length are known which actuate an eccentrical element adjustment device of a connecting rod using hydraulically or mechanically actuatable switch valves.
A generic switch valve can be derived from example from DE 10 2012 112 461 A1. A capture element of the switch valve described therein has a T-shaped groove through which drain conduits are connectable with a supply conduit. The known switch valve is arranged in a portion of the connecting rod above the crank bearing eye.

Switch valve for controlling a hydraulic fluid flow and connecting rod with the switch valve


Armature current is maintained at a predetermined level by a chopper circuit, and part of the magnetic energy stored in magnetic cores of armature coils is transferred to a small-capacitance capacitor to be stored as an electrostatic energy in accordance with a chopper frequency when the armature coil is deactivated. The charged electrostatic energy is utilized to compensate energy loss such as iron loss and copper loss occurring when activation of the armature coils is switched so as to make the armature current build up quickly, thereby realizing a reluctance type motor capable of operating in a high-speed region with large torque. The above-described technical feature can be applied to a three-phase DC motor with a magnet rotor and a stepping motor in the same manner to obtain similar function and effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-speed motor, such as brushless motors, reluctance type motors, stepping motors, and DC motors, which are required to be capable of rotating in a high speed region without causing fall of output torque.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a reluctance type motor has so many disadvantages that few reluctance type motor have ever been practically utilized, regardless of its advantages such as large output torque and no need of magnet rotor. A utilization of a stepping motor, having a large output, is restricted only to a special purpose because of its slow stepping speed. Although high-speed DC or brushless motors have been available, they have never widely been used because of their low efficiency in a high-speed region.
The first problem of the motor according to the above-described conventional prior art lies in that it requires respective armature coils to be controlled by switching elements connected to both ends thereof for activating or deactivating these armature coils, necessitating to use a number of expensive power elements, which entails the increase of manufacturing cost.
Furthermore, switching elements provided at a positive terminal side of an electric power source require input electric signals to be supplied from another electric power source for controlling currents supplied to the armature coils, thereby contributing to the increase of manufacturing cost.
The second problem of a reluctance type motor rises from that it has a rotor equipped with numerous salient poles, thereby causing large inductance; this further causes increases of magnetic energy amount stored into or discharged from magnetic poles or salient poles and increase in repetition frequency of such energy storage and discharge during one complete revolution of the rotor, which eventually leads to a problem that the reluctance type motor is unable to rotate in a high-speed region regardless of its large output torque. Also, in the case of a DC motor, similar problem would occur if required to rotate at a higher speed. Here, a low speed should be referred to as around 300 r.p.m, and a high speed as around 20 thousands rpm.
The third problem rises from that, in the case of a motor having a large output, an extraordinarily large inductance of the armature coil will cause a slow building-up of exciting current at an initial stage of the current supply period, as well as from a slow trailing-edge at a terminating stage of the current supply period. The former will cause a lower output torque, and the latter a counter torque.
If power source voltage is increased in order to rapidly building up armature current in the initial stage of the current supply period, the armature current will build up sharply after the magnetic saturation point. This will cause vibrations and electric noises of the motor, thereby adding to the disadvantages coupled with the fact that the above-described building-up section of the armature current corresponds to a section where the torque is small.
In other words, the problem lies in that a high-speed rotation (i.e. several tens of thousands rpm) cannot be realized due to above-described fall of torque and occurrence of counter torque. Even if the rotational speed is reduced to a generally used speed region (i.e. several thousands rpm), a significant amount of torque fall and counter torque still occur, thereby causing the fall of the efficiency of a motor. A possible measure for increasing a rotational speed will require an electric power source voltage to be increased up to 1000 volts or more, which will lack in practical utility.
Finally, the fourth problem would be that a solution of the first problem by providing one switching element only at a negative terminal side of the armature coil may render the circuit configuration complicated, because an additional circuit will be required for reducing charge/discharge time of magnetic energy in the armature coil.

High-speed plural-phase reluctance type motor including a plurality of semiconductor switching elements each repectively connected to one of a plurality of armature coils for quickly reducing or building up exciting current


Apparatus for cooking a food product, for example a hamburger, comprises a mould assembly for cooking the hamburger. The mould assembly is formed from first and second moulds (3,3') formed on upper and lower bodies (1,2). Each mould is formed with a pair of radially opposed arcuate side wall portions (5,6). The side wall portions (5, 6) on respective moulds (3,3') are so located and dimensioned that when they are brought together they define a substantially continuous side wall. When the moulds are moved apart spaces between the side wall portions allow the hamburger to be easily removed.

Cooking appliances are known which comprise upper and lower bodies which are hinged together so as to be opened and closed. Each of the upper and lower bodies comprise complementary mould portions such that when the upper and lower bodies are brought together into the closed configuration a mould is formed in which a food product may be cooked. Normally both the upper and lower bodies are formed with electric heating elements to cook the food product.
Examples of such prior known cooking appliances are toasted sandwich makers, waffle makers, and the present applicant has previously proposed an electric pie maker. Such a cooking appliance has been proposed for hamburgers, but in contrast to other food products such as sandwiches hamburgers present particular problems.
In particular because of the constituency of hamburger meat it is important that the mould when formed should completely define the shape of the resultant hamburger. However if this is simply achieved by bringing together two half-mould portions each corresponding to one half of the hamburger, it can be difficult to remove the cooked hamburger from the mould afterwards. It may for example be necessary to insert a knife, spatula, or similar utensil between the edge of the mould and the hamburger, and this may cause the hamburger to break up, or worse may damage the surface of the mould--especially if the surface is provided with a non-stick coating.


A method of segmenting the field of motion of an image, particularly a video image, including forming a blockwise field of motion from motion vectors allocated to image pixels, processing the blockwise field of vectors in order to extract from this field a set of dominant vectors of motion, by elimination of the vectors close to the dominant vectors, so as to retain only representatives of widened classes of motion. Then a vector of the reduced set of dominant vectors is reassigned to each block, and the resulting field, after time filtering, is used for the encoding of the image by "quad-tree" encoding. This disclosed method applies in particular, to the setting-up of the coding-auxiliary digital data to the limit of 1 Mbt/s.

The invention relates to the domain of the encoding/decoding of video images, in particular with the aim of transmitting high-definition images via a transmission channel which allows the addition of decoding-auxiliary digital data with a throughput equal to 1 Mbit/s. The subject of the invention is in particular a method of segmenting a pointwise field of motion of images with a view to encoding it to the limit of 1 Mbit/s, and its application to the encoding of video images.

Method of segmenting the field of motion of an image and its application to the encoding of video images


A cutting tool having a positioning block inserted between the cutting insert and the insert-receiving seat is disclosed. The disclosed cutting tool demonstrates excellent resistance to damage by severe vibration caused by the milling process. The cutting tool of the present invention comprises (a) a tool body having a recess formed at a forward end thereof and defining a insert-receiving seat; (b) a cutting insert; (c) a positioning block to be placed between the cutting insert and said insert-receiving seat, having a top and bottom faces and having a hardness thereof which is lower than that of a surface of an insert-receiving seat; and (d) clamp means for securing the cutting insert and the positioning block on the insert-receiving seat. The above described positioning block is able to absorb some extent of vibration of the cutting insert during the milling process. According to the present invention, there is also provided the cutting tool in which a positioning block has two layers. A hardness of a surface of the insert-receiving seat is higher than that of the first layer but is lower than that of the second layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cutting tools having a releasable and disposable cutting insert secured to an insert-receiving seat, including milling cutters and the like. Particularly, the present invention relates to a cutting tool having a positioning block between the cutting insert and the insert-receiving seat.
2. Prior Art
There are two basic types of insert-clamped cutting tools provided with the disposable cutting inserts.
For one type of conventional cutting tools, for example, a lever clamping type byte is depicted in FIG. 9. In this figure, the cutting tool comprises a tool body 1 having an insert-receiving seat or recess 2 formed at its forward end. The tool body 1 also has a L-shaped lever 3 provided in a hole opening to the insert-receiving seat 2 and a bolt 4 provided in a hole adjoined to the first hole. In this example, a throwaway cutting insert 6 with a mounting bore 7 formed therethrough is received on the insert receiving seat 2, while the L-shaped lever 3 is received in the first hole so as to protrude its head portion 5 from the seat 2 to engage with the mounting bore 7 of the insert 6 when the end portion of the lever 3 is pushed downwardly by the bolt 4. In this example, a positioning block 8 is provided between the insert 6 and the seat 2.
FIG. 10 depicts another type of the conventional insert-clamped cutting tool which comprises a tool body 10 having an insert receiving seat or recess 11 formed at its forward end and a bolt-receiving hole opening on the insert-receiving seat 11. A positioning block 12 with a bore formed therethrough is provided on the insert receiving seat 11, and a bolt 13 is inserted through the bore to engage the bolt therewith. Furthermore, a throwaway cutting insert 14 is mounted on the positioning block 12 and pressed against the seat 11 by clamping means including a clamp 15 and a clamping bolt 16.
In general, the positioning blocks 8 and 12 are made of materials such as cemented carbide, high speed steel or the like. Accordingly, these conventional blocks are characterized by their hardness which is lower than that of the cutting insert but higher than that of the surface of the seat to avoid wearing the insert down.
However, the conventional positioning block is made of hard material and thus it is difficult to absorb severe vibration of the cutting insert during the milling process. Consequently, the conventional cutting tool using the above described positioning block has some problems i.e., slipping off of the insert from the insert-receiving seat, damaging the cutting edge of the insert, chipping the insert, or the like, caused by the vibration of the cutting insert.


An amplifier is provided for audio or instrumentation applications which exhibits radically improved performance over existing amplifiers of comparable cost. In a preferred embodiment, the amplifier comprises two operational amplifiers (A.sub.1, A.sub.2) connected in cascade, where feedback elements (Cf.sub.2, Rf.sub.2) are connected across the second op amp (A.sub.2) to cause an intermediate voltage signal (Z) to be substantially advanced in phase. In this embodiment, a capacitor (Cf.sub.1) is also connected across the first op amp (A.sub.1), and an outer DC loop is provided with damping circuitry (Cf.sub.3) to reduce the closed loop gain at high frequencies, stabilizing the combination. The composite amplifier has performance far exceeding a conventional stand-along op amp and is very cheap to construct.

Amplifiers for use in audio applications and many instrumentation applications must have a closely linear frequency response from DC (0 Mz) to a high frequency, typically of the order of 20 kHz in the case of audio amplifiers, preferably well beyond.
One way of obtaining the required linearity is to design a set of cascaded amplifying stages, with the output of one amplifying stage feeding the input of an adjacent amplifying stage in the sequence, to obtain an amplifying circuit with a open loop gain much larger than required at DC, and, apply an outer negative feedback loop to the system which is frequency independent over the desired operating range, thereby producing an amplifier with a lower closed loop gain and an extended linearity in comparison to the open loop characteristics. Such an amplifier is shown schematically in FIG. 1 with two cascaded stages .mu..sub.1 and .mu..sub.2 inside a DC feedback loop with gain 1/.beta.. FIG. 2 illustrates this general principle, showing typical gain versus frequency on a log-log plot for a single pole compensated Op. Amp. Curve A shows a typical frequency response of the cascaded amplifier stages .mu..sub.1 and .mu..sub.2 shown in FIG. 1 with the negative feedback .beta.. The frequency response is linear up to a frequency f.sub.o whereafter the frequency response D decreases at an increasing rate and for stability must usually be engineered to decrease at a uniform 20 db/decade (halving each octave) or not considerably more. Curve B shows the gain of the circuit in FIG. 1 with frequency-independent feedback loop .beta. installed, reducing the gain to a value much less than the open loop gain and thereby extending the linear frequency response to a value f.sub.c much larger than f.sub.o.
An operational amplifier, hereafter referred to as an Op. Amp., is an electronic circuit or device which amplifies a signal which is the difference between the separate signals on its inverting and non-inverting input terminals (or +& - inputs). The output from the output terminals is typically symmetrical about a ground reference, and the device is powered by symmetrical positive and negative supply rails: exceptions are well known, along with the methods for making them behave in a similarly useful way to the typical case Op. Amps.
An Op. Amp is typically used as a linear amplifier for which feedback means are provided to its input terminals from its output terminal, in order to maintain a linear relation between the input signal and the amplified output signal. Without feedback, Op. Amps typically have a very high gain .mu. measuring from 10,000 to 100,000 or more.
Feedback means for linear operation is typically a resistive voltage divider from the output, with the inverting input connected to the junction of the voltage divider. The ratio characteristic of the voltage divider, by which it reduces the output voltage for feedback purposes, is known conventionally as .beta., and regarded as a fractional gain. When the + input is grounded, and a signal applied to the bottom of the voltage divider constituting the feedback means, the Op. Amp will invert the signal on the output, and have a closed a loop gain of 1/.beta. for all practical purposes. The signal actually amplified is very small, approximately -1/.mu. times the output signal. The term .mu..beta. is known as the Loop Gain. The limiting case is where .beta.=1, and Loop Gain equals .mu., otherwise of course Loop Gain is less than .mu.. Conversely, when the bottom of the voltage divider is grounded, and a signal connected to the + input, the Op. Amp will non-invert, and have a closed loop gain of 1+1/.beta..
Both the inverting and non-inverting configuration of an Op. Amp are used commonly, each having different advantages for various purposes. For practical purposes, linear amplification using Op. Amps must use one or the other, or more rarely both.
Both configurations are subject to the same limitations which place an upper limit on the .mu. of Op. Amps which can be usefully stabilised. This limitation imposes restrictions on the performance of Op. Amps. and restricts the usefulness of negative feedback in maintaining linearity and reducing distortion or errors on the output. Consequently a great deal of design effort is put into giving Op. Amps as high a .mu. as possible, consistent with stability or reliable operation under given feedback conditions and this depends also on expected loads the Op. Amp has to drive. With power amplifiers the problem is especially acute.
All operational amplifiers degrade in performance when required to deliver current into a load, and this applies especially to high quality audio power amplifiers, discrete or integrated. The better quality required the more difficult the design and production problems, and the greater the expense. It is generally agreed that high open loop gain is the only way to enhance the performance of an otherwise sound design.
The fundamental limitation on .mu. is associated with the work of Bode and Nyquist, whose conclusions are commonly summarised as follows: At low frequencies the input and output signals are precisely related in phase; 0.degree. for non-inverting, and 180.degree. for inverting configuration. At high frequencies however the output lags or retards in phase due to many unavoidable mechanisms in active devices like transistors, as well as parasitic capacitances. At the same time, and for similar reasons, the .mu. of an Op. Amp falls off with frequency, and at a progressively faster rate. At some frequency the output will be phase shifted by 180.degree., and if the Loop Gain (1/.mu..beta.) is not less than one at this point, and amplifier will oscillate and be useless for other purposes. Most often, loads on the Op, Amp's output induce this condition, and then it is said to be unstable. Loop Gain=1/.mu..beta. (for inverters), so the more feedback applied to an Op. Amp, or the larger the fraction .beta. in the feedback network, the closer the amplifier is to instability. The worst case is when .beta.=1, and the amplifier is at Unity Gain (voltage follower), Integrated Op. Amps are commonly made with internal frequency compensation so they are stable at Unity Gain. Still others are said to be decompensated, and have a minimum 1/.beta. (AV) at which they are stable. Further types can be compensated externally as desired. In all cases there is a stability margin or safety factor, expressed in terms of the phase shift when .mu..beta.=1. Different standards apply for different classes of use, but 135.degree. is one accepted standard for common commercially available low level integrated Op. Amps (commonly known as "mini-DIP" in the 8 pin DIP form, but available in many other packages, e.g.: 14 pin DIP, 16 pin DIP, SIP, surface mount etc), giving a stability margin of 45.degree..
Frequency compensation comprises the various methods for making on Op. Amp's .mu. roll of with frequency at a (nearly) uniform rate, so that .mu. crosses the unit gain (.mu.=1) point at a convenient frequency which will guarantee a suitable stability margin.
Since reducing an Op. Amp's .mu. degrades its performance, frequency compensation is always a question of arriving at an acceptable stability margin, leaving as high a .mu. as possible. A satisfactory minimum of frequency compensation is thus chosen.
Special care is required in power amplifiers, since instability can rapidly destroy output devices, and often the loads to which they are attached. The problem is especially acute in high quality audio amplifiers, whose performance practically depends on their .mu., while their stability must be guaranteed under unpredictable load conditions.
Stability problems can be local or global and have many causes, all of which are exacerbated by higher open loop gain however it is produced, for example by adding more stages, or stages with inherently more voltage gain or by adding current buffers. In particular, it is generally thought impossible to construct a linear amplifier from two cascaded operational amplifiers inside the same linear DC feedback loop in which each operational amplifier operates at its open loop gain at DC. The resulting open loop gain of such a circuit is the product of the separate open loop gains at DC, and must roll off at higher frequencies at a rate of at least 40 dB per decade. Theoretical texts and practical experience typically suggest that such a combination cannot be stabilised and could not produce a useful linear amplifier with a useful power bandwidth.
It is well-known and demonstable experimentally that differentiated feedback is radially more effective than DC or restive feedback in correcting errors generated within the Op. Amp itself, otherwise known as distortion. In practice, differentiated feedback is commonly used in conjunction with DC feedback for frequency compensation, and also for reducing distortion. This is most usually done using capacitance, though inductors can sometimes be used.
It is known, although not commonly practised, to use nested differentiating feedback loops for stabilisation of multi-stage amplifiers. European Patent Application 92200283.7 (publication No 0499308A1) describes the use of nested capacitive feedback to stabilise amplifiers with 3 and more cascaded stages. Similar techniques have been previously described by Cherry (Australian Patent 521165) to result in an audio amplifier of low distortion and very high open loop gain. However such designs have been restricted in their practical applications, being rather complex to design and construct, and difficult to troubleshoot. No such techniques have previously been demonstrated to product a stable amplifier when the amplifier stages themselves have gain and impedance characteristics typical of complete stand along operational amplifiers. Such techniques have been restricted at best to stabilising amplifier stages, each being of relatively low gain and limited transconductance within an operational amplifier. Technical Handbooks supplied by Op. Amp manufactures (National Semiconductor Linear Applications Databook application notes AN272, AN 446, page 1063 for example) invariably describe cascaded op amp circuits with a substantial DC feedback component applied to the second Op. Amp, resulting in some improvement in distortion over a single Op. Amp, but limited in scope compared with what might be achieved if a composite open Loop Gain at DC approaching the product of the gains of the two Op. Amps could be reliably stabilised.


A downhole drilling efficiency sensor (DES) apparatus for use with drilling operations in oil and gas exploration, that accurately measures important drilling parameters at or near the drill bit in order to increase the effectiveness and productivity of the drilling operation. The parameters measured include weight-on-bit (WOB), torque-on-bit (TOB), bending-on-bit (BOB), annulus pressure, internal bore pressure, triaxial vibration (DDS--drilling dynamics sensor), annulus temperature, load cell temperature, and drill collar inside diameter temperature or thermal gradient across such drill collar. The direction of the bending-on-bit measurement is also determined with respect to the low side of the hole while rotating (or stationary) by using a triaxial vibration sensor and magnetometer array. Each of the parameters are known to be important factors in determining the direction, rotation, and rate of drilling. The device described combines sensors capable of collecting all of the indicated parameters and presenting them to the drilling operator such that an accurate view of the downhole drilling parameters can be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices and tools for the measurement of downhole environmental parameters during oil and gas drilling operations. The present invention relates more specifically to a downhole drilling efficiency sensor for use with oil and gas drilling operations that accurately measures drilling parameters at or near the drill bit in order to increase the effectiveness and productivity of the drilling operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,458 issued to Ho entitled Method and Apparatus for Bottom Hole Measurement and commonly assigned with the present application describes a downhole tool with strain gauges and includes measurements for weight-on-bit (WOB), torque-on-bit (TOB), bending-on-bit (BOB), and side forces.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,821,563 and 4,958,517, both issued to Maron and both entitled Apparatus for Measuring Weight, Torque, and Side Force on a Drill Bit, each describe an apparatus that includes strain gages located in radial holes in the wall of the drill collar sub. The strain gages are position in a non-symmetrical arrangement.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,724 issued to Das et al. entitled Load Cells for Sensing Weight and Torque on a Drill Bit While Drilling a Well Bore also describes the use of an array of load cells made up of strain gages for measuring weight and torque parameters. The Das et al. disclosure includes a recent review of the relevant art and a description of selected methods for calculating strain using strain gages of the type employed herein and is therefore cited and incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Apparatus for measuring downhole drilling efficiency parameters


A carbonated water production unit for a refrigerator includes a coupler to which a container is coupled to be detachable, a cylinder configured to store carbon dioxide, a nozzle module configured to inject carbon dioxide into the container, a regulation member, a first valve, a second valve, a user interface which receives a command for production of carbonated water and an input of concentration of the carbonated water, and a controller which controls the first valve to supply water when the command for the production of carbonated water is input, determines information on injection of the carbon dioxide corresponding to the concentration of the carbonated water when the supply of water is completed, controls the regulation member to inject the carbon dioxide based on the determined information on the injection, and controls the second valve to regulate the pressure of the container when injection of the carbon dioxide is completed.

1. Field
Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a carbonated water production unit for producing and supplying carbonated water, a refrigerator provided with the carbonated water production unit, and a method of controlling the carbonated water production unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a refrigerator is an apparatus for maintaining the freshness of stored groceries, such as food, drinks, etc., and storing the stored groceries for a long time, the refrigerator may include a storage room which may freeze or refrigerate and store the groceries, and a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator which are provided in a mechanical compartment and perform a freezing cycle having compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation processes, etc.
Such a refrigerator maintains a temperature of the inside of the storage room at a freezing or refrigerating temperature using a heat exchanged cold air during the evaporation process of the freezing cycle.
Recently, as the standard of living is improved, the capacity of a refrigerator has been increased to store various kinds of and more numerous groceries, and functions thereof have also been diversified to improve the convenience of users.
Further, the refrigerator may also include an ice making unit which makes ice and a dispenser from which users may get water or the ice outside without opening doors according to the requirements of the users.

Carbonated water production unit, refrigerator having the same and method of controlling the same