A workpiece to which a transfer pattern is to be applied is formed to have a rod-like element curved into a loop-like shape to form an apparent geometric plane. A transfer film used in the liquid pressure transfer is formed on a required portion thereof, and the transfer pattern for decoration is formed to have a configuration corresponding to that of the apparent plane. The workpiece is handled so as to downwardly approach the transfer film from a position corresponding to the transfer pattern, and is then immersed in the transfer liquid. Consequently, the transfer film bonds to the rod-like element of the workpiece so as to circumferentially surround the rod-like element continuously from a bottom of the rod-like element to a top thereof on the basis of a diametric section of the rod-like element. Thus, the transfer pattern is transferred to at least the rod-like element of the workpiece.

This invention relates to a liquid pressure transfer method, and more particularly to a liquid pressure transfer printing method for applying a pattern for decoration specifically intended for a workpiece such as a steering wheel for an automobile or the like which includes a rod-like element curved to form a predetermined apparent plane to the workpiece.
For example, a steering wheel for an automobile has a core made of a metal material so as to exhibit strength of at least a predetermined level. The core is provided therearound with a grip surface, which is formed of a material such as a plastic material, a wooden material, a leather material or the like, which is selected depending on requirements such as operability of the steering wheel, decorative characteristics thereof and the like. For example, a steering wheel provided thereon with a wooden surface is evaluated to be a high-quality article, because it exhibits both satisfactory operability and decorative characteristics and requires considerable labor and time for manufacturing. However, a recent tendency to reconsider the easygoing use of a natural material in view of protecting the natural environment, and a demand for reduction of a manufacturing cost had led to development of liquid pressure transfer printing techniques. These techniques involve transfer printing on a plastic steering wheel material in place of a wooden steering wheel material to apply a woodgrain pattern for decoration thereto.
Application of a decorative pattern to a workpiece by liquid pressure transfer permits formation of a natural pattern which exhibits satisfactory conformability to a configuration of the workpiece, resulting in the technique being extensively practiced on a variety of workpieces. However, application of such liquid pressure transfer to, for example, a steering wheel encounters some important problems. A conventional steering wheel made of a wooden material is manufactured by subjecting two wooden rod-like materials which are semicircular in section to a treatment by moistening and heating to bend them into an annular shape, and then bonding them to each other while interposing a core therebetween. Thus, of course the wooden materials are each so arranged that a straight grain extends in a circumferential direction of the steering wheel. Such arrangement of the straight grain permits a user to have a sense of security or a sense of reliability.
Unfortunately, in application of a decorative pattern to a workpiece by liquid pressure transfer, a transfer film having a transfer pattern formed thereon is supported on a surface of a transfer liquid while being floated thereon, so that exact positioning or registration between the transfer film and the workpiece is relatively difficult. Thus, in the prior art, a continuously-formed decorative pattern such as a woodgrain pattern, a natural stone pattern, or a carbon fiber pattern is arranged all over the transfer film so as to allow misregistration which occurs between the transfer film and the workpiece. Consequently, a decorative pattern similar to a natural material is provided irrespective of a portion of the pattern transferred to the workpiece. Nevertheless, development of techniques of reproducing a transfer pattern specifically intended for a desired product such as, for example, techniques of arranging a straight grain pattern in a circumferential direction of a steering wheel, are still demanded.
The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing disadvantage of the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid pressure transfer method which is capable of applying a decorative pattern specifically intended for a specific or desired workpiece such as a steering wheel or the like to the workpiece.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a transfer film which is capable of facilitating application of a decorative pattern specifically intended for a workpiece such as a steering wheel or the like to the workpiece.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a product decorated according to the liquid pressure transfer method described above.
In accordance with one aspect of the present a liquid pressure transfer method for carrying out liquid pressure transfer printing on a workpiece such as a steering wheel is provided. The liquid pressure transfer method includes the step of supporting a transfer film on a surface of a transfer liquid while floating it thereon. The transfer film has a transfer pattern for decoration printed thereon. The liquid pressure transfer method also includes the step of downwardly immersing a workpiece in the transfer liquid to transfer the transfer pattern to a surface of the workpiece, to thereby decorate the workpiece. The workpiece includes a rod-like element curved into a loop-like shape, resulting in it being formed in an apparent geometric plane which permits the workpiece to be recognized as a whole. The transfer pattern is formed to have a configuration corresponding to a configuration of the apparent plane of the workpiece, and is arranged on a required position of the transfer film. The workpiece is handled so as to approach the transfer film from a position above the transfer pattern corresponding to the transfer pattern and is then immersed in the transfer liquid. Therefore, the transfer film bonds to the rod-like element of the workpiece in a manner to circumferentially surround the rod-like element continuously from a bottom of the rod-like element to a top thereof on the basis of a diametric section of the rod-like element, resulting in the transfer pattern being transferred to at least the rod-like element of the workpiece.
The liquid pressure transfer method thus constructed permits the workpiece, such as a steering wheel or the like which includes the rod-like element curved to form a predetermined apparent plane, to be readily and positively decorated with a transfer pattern specifically intended for the workpiece.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an approach attitude angle defined between the apparent plane of the workpiece and the surface of the transfer liquid is set to be within a range of xc2x115xc2x0. This permits the optimum approach attitude angle to be set depending on a type of the transfer pattern, as well as a size of the workpiece, a configuration thereof and the like.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the workpiece is immersed in the transfer liquid in a substantially vertical direction. Such vertical lowering of the workpiece to the surface of the transfer liquid facilitates transfer of the transfer pattern to the workpiece.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transfer film is provided thereon with reference position marks for enabling relative registration between the transfer pattern and the workpiece. This permits positioning or registration between the transfer pattern and the workpiece to be readily attained while preventing misregistration of the transfer film.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a transfer film is provided. The transfer film includes a film body which has a transfer operation surface defined thereon. The transfer operation surface has a predetermined transfer pattern previously printed thereon in transfer ink. When transfer is to be carried out, the transfer operation surface is coated thereon with an activator to permit a portion of the transfer operation surface to which the transfer ink is applied to exhibit stickiness. The transfer film is supported on a surface of a transfer liquid while being floated thereon. The transfer pattern is transferred to a surface of a workpiece by a liquid pressure produced when the workpiece is downwardly immersed in the transfer liquid. The transfer film is applied to the workpiece including a rod-like element curved into a loop-like shape, resulting in the workpiece being formed with an apparent plane which permits the workpiece to be recognized as a whole. The transfer pattern is formed to have a configuration corresponding to a configuration of the apparent plane of the workpiece and arranged on a required position of the transfer film. The transfer film thus constructed permits the transfer pattern specifically intended for the workpiece to be readily applied to the workpiece, to thereby facilitate decoration of the workpiece.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the workpiece is a steering wheel. The transfer pattern is formed to have a substantially annular shape in correspondence to the apparent plane of the steering wheel. Thus, in the present invention, although distortion of the pattern is varied depending on a position on a circumference of a diametric section of the rod-like element of the workpiece, the pattern distortion in a circumferential direction of the whole steering wheel is substantially the same irrespective of a position on the rod-like element in the circumferential direction thereof. Thus, the transfer printing may be carried out while rendering the pattern distortion inconspicuous.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transfer pattern is formed to have a substantially annular shape by taking in pattern data having a plane rectangular shape and then converting the pattern data into pattern data having a round shape. This permits the transfer pattern specifically intended for the workpiece to be more exactly reproduced on the workpiece.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a decorated product to which a predetermined decorative pattern is applied by subjecting a workpiece such as a steering wheel or the like including a rod-like element to liquid pressure transfer printing in which the workpiece is downwardly immersed in a transfer liquid which supports a transfer film having a transfer pattern for decoration printed on a surface thereof while floating it on the transfer liquid. Therefore, the transfer pattern is applied to at least the rod-like element of the workpiece. The workpiece is operated so as to permit the transfer pattern to be printed on the rod-like element of the workpiece in a manner to circumferentially surround the rod-like element continuously from a bottom of the rod-like element to a top thereof on the basis of a diametric section of the rod-like element. Consequently, transfer of the transfer pattern to the workpiece is carried out according to the above-described liquid pressure transfer method while ensuring exact reproducibility of the transfer pattern.
Such construction permits the transfer pattern to be more exactly reproduced on a variety of workpieces of a closed loop shape or an open loop shape including, for example, a hula hoop, rings in gymnastic, a towel ring, a chair back, a handrail and the like in addition to the steering wheel while minimizing distortion of the transfer pattern.

Liquid pressure transfer method , transfer film therefor and product decorated thereby


The present invention relates to a system and method for capturing video of a real-world scene over a field of view that may exceed the field of view of a user, manipulating the captured video, and then stereoscopically displaying the manipulated image to the user in a head mounted display to create a virtual environment having length, width, and depth in the image. By capturing and manipulating video for a field of view that exceeds the field of view of the user, the system and method can quickly respond to movement by the user to update the display allowing the user to look and pan around, i.e., navigate, inside the three-dimensional virtual environment.

Existing three-dimensional image capture systems may capture images of limited field of view using two cameras mounted side by side and display these two images separately into each eye of a user by various means. Since the field of view of the originally captured images is limited, such systems do not readily permit the user to turn their head, for example 90° to the left or right, to see what is to the left or right of the originally captured images in the real-world scene. However, capturing video data of wide field of view images poses a number of difficulties which must be overcome in order to present the images to the user in a manner that accurately reflects the real-world scene and the user's movement relative to the real-world scene. Hence, it would be an advance in the state of the art to provide a system and method for creating a navigable, panoramic three-dimensional virtual reality environment of a real-world scene that permits the user to move around inside the environment.

System and method for creating a navigable, three-dimensional virtual reality environment having ultra-wide field of view


The present invention discloses an oil pipe connector including a connector cylinder (abbr. cylinder), and having an oil inlet at front and an oil outlet at rear end of the cylinder; a switch base with a pivot hole interconnected with the interior of the cylinder; a control device, including a connector cap which being a hollow conical shape, the front end having positioning shaft hole interconnected with the interior; a control mechanism including a connecting portion, a positioning shaft and a piston disc coupled together; the positioning shaft being disposed in a positioning shaft hole of the connector cap; a switch device, including a push rod which being a curved lever, a transmission shaft and a switch handle; an end of the push rod linking the control mechanism; the transmission shaft being pivotally coupled to the pivot hole of the switch base of the cylinder; the switch handle being coupled to the connecting shaft lever.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector technology, and more particularly to an oil pipe connector connected to an oil pipe of gas station for filling a large quantity of oil, making the oil pipeline smooth, and improving the oil filling efficiency.
2. Description of the Related Art
With reference to FIG. 1, a fuel oil storage tank is a standard equipment for present existing gas stations, and the fuel oil storage tank is used for storing fuel oil (such as petroleum) and supplying fuel oil to users who need the fuel oil anytime, and thus it is necessary to refill the fuel oil when the level of fuel oil in the fuel oil storage tank is low. In general, a tanker truck is driven to a location of a gas filling equipment of the fuel oil storage tank for the refill, and the tanker truck 100 has an oil pipe connector 80. During a refill operation, the oil pipe connector 80 is connected to an incoming oil pipe connector 104 of the fuel oil storage tank 103, a switch handle 86 of the oil pipe connector 80 is operated to allow the fuel oil in the tanker truck 100 to pass into the fuel oil storage tank 103 through the oil pipe connector 80 and the incoming oil pipe connector 103.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 for a structure of a conventional oil pipe connector, the oil pipe connector 80 comprises a hollow connector cylinder 81 having an inlet 81A at a front end of the connector cylinder 81, an outlet 81B at a rear end of the connector cylinder 81, and a hollow circular conical shaped connector cap 82 installed in the connector cylinder 81, wherein the connector cap 82 is connected to a slightly rear end at the inlet 81A in the connector cylinder 81 by a fixing rib 83 at the periphery of the connector cap 82, and the connector cap 82 contains a control shaft 90, and the control shaft 90 includes a connecting portion 91 having a positioning shaft 92 passed through a shaft hole 820 of the front end of the connector cap 82, a piston disc 93 at the rear end of the connector cap 82, and a spring 94 installed between the control shaft 90 and the connector cap 82. A switch handle 86 is pivotally coupled to an outer side of the connector cylinder 81 by extending a link shaft 85 therein, and an end of the switch handle 86 is embedded and linked by a positioning pillar 87, and the link shaft 85 is pivotally coupled to a control rod 84, and the control rod 84 is connected at the connecting portion 91. The switch handle 86 is operated to drive the link shaft 85, the control rod 84 and the connecting portion 91, so that the piston disc 93 is displaced to open or close the outlet 81B.
Although the foregoing conventional oil pipe connector 80 can use the piston disc 93 to determine whether or not to pass the fuel oil through the outlet 81B to achieve the effect of controlling the refill. However, the use of the conventional oil pipe connector 80 still has the following drawbacks. In the conventional oil pipe connector 80, the fixing rib 83 of the periphery is used for positioning the connector cap 82, such that when the fuel oil is entered from the inlet 81A into the connector cylinder 81, the fuel oil is blocked by the fixing rib 83 to form a turbulence at the fuel oil refilling position at the inlet 81A and the oil pipe will become unsmooth, and the connector cap 82 is in a circular conical shape, such that the room of the pipeline for filling oil between the connector cap 82 and the connector cylinder 81 becomes narrower to restrict the volume of incoming oil, and thus the efficiency of filling oil cannot be improved effectively. Since the control rod 84 for driving the operation of the connecting portion 91 and the piston disc 93 comes with a design of a straight rod, therefore the displacement of the piston disc 93 is restricted, and when oil is filled, the piston disc 93 cannot have a large displacement to increase the space between the piston disc 93 and the outlet 81B in the pipeline for delivering oil, and thus the efficiency of delivering oil is poor. Overall speaking, the efficiency of using the conventional oil pipe connector extends the filling operation time and incurs a high cost, which is not cost-effective and relatively reduces the overall competitiveness. Therefore, it is an important subject for the related industry to find a way of overcoming the shortcomings of the conventional oil pipe connector.
In view of the foregoing shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor of the present invention conducted extensive researches and experiments, and finally developed a cost-effective oil pipe connector in accordance with the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and promote the development of the related industry.


A semiconductor apparatus includes a signal source 7 that outputs a signal of predetermined frequency, a frequency divider 15 that receives the output signal of the signal source and is capable of switching the output signal to two or more frequency division ratios, a delta-sigma modulator 16 that controls the frequency division ratio of the frequency divider, and a bandpass filter 17 that receives an output of the frequency divider. The frequency of the input signal of the frequency divider is divided by the frequency division ratio controlled by the delta-sigma modulator, and quantization noise appearing in the output of the frequency divider generated by the delta-sigma modulator is attenuated with the bandpass filter. The semiconductor apparatus easily can convert a signal output by a single signal source to a signal of predetermined frequency and supply a plurality of signals of predetermined frequency using a simple configuration with reduced chip size.

FIG. 14 shows a simplified exemplary configuration of a conventional radio circuit apparatus. Only the desired reception band of a signal received by an antenna 1 is input to a low noise amplifier 3 via an antenna sharing device 2. The signal amplified by the low noise amplifier 3 is input to an orthogonal demodulator 4. The orthogonal demodulator 4 orthogonally demodulates the amplified signal using a local signal (frequency f2) supplied from a reception PLL circuit 100b and a signal obtained by phase shifting the local signal with a 90° phase shifter 5, and obtains a baseband signal I/Q from which the carrier component has been eliminated.
The reception PLL circuit 100b is composed of a voltage-controlled oscillator 101, a low-pass filter 102, a phase detector 103 and a frequency divider 104b, and outputs the signal of frequency f2 obtained by multiplying the frequency of the output signal of a TCXO (temperature controlled crystal oscillator) 105 by a frequency division ratio B of the frequency divider 104b.
An orthogonal modulator 106 on the transmission side uses the baseband signal I/Q to modulate a carrier signal composed of a local signal (frequency f1) supplied from a transmission PLL circuit 100a and a signal obtained by phase shifting the local signal with a 90° phase shifter 107, and outputs the result. The output of the orthogonal modulator 106 is amplified by a power amplifier 10 and supplied to the antenna sharing device 2. Only the desired transmission band is transmitted to the antenna 1 by the antenna sharing device 2.
The transmission PLL circuit 100a, similarly to the reception PLL circuit 100b, is composed of a voltage-controlled oscillator 101, a low-pass filter 102, a phase detector 103 and a frequency divider 104a, and outputs a signal of frequency f1 obtained by multiplying the frequency of the output signal of the TCXO 105 by a frequency division ratio A of the frequency divider 104a.
Note that in both the transmission PLL circuit 100a and the reception PLL circuit 100b, the frequency division ratios A and B are set in accordance with the channel of the desired frequency.
Incidentally, a configuration using a delta-sigma modulator (Δ-Σ modulator; also referred to as a sigma-delta modulator (Σ-Δ modulator)) in order to precisely obtain the output frequency of a frequency synthesizer that uses PLL circuits at small frequency intervals is disclosed in patent document 1, for example. This is a method that realizes a dividing ratio with decimal point accuracy as average data by periodically changing the dividing ratio. The delta-sigma modulator is used in order to periodically change the dividing ratio.
Patent document 1 further discloses a configuration that is able to add the modulation component to data for fractional control supplied to the delta-sigma modulator (see patent document 1, FIG. 17). A configuration thereby is obtained in which a frequency synthesizer using PLL circuits combines the function of an orthogonal modulator that performs modulation using a baseband signal I/Q with the generation of local signals.    Patent Document 1: JP 2001-237709A    Non-patent Document 1: "A 17-bit Oversampling D-to-A Conversion Technology using Multistage Noise Shaping," IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 24, No. 4, August 1989, p. 971, FIG. 4

Semiconductor apparatus and radio circuit apparatus using the same


The amount of electrically conductive finish that has been applied to a filament is determined by measuring the conductance of a length of the filament. The measurements are made independently of any difference in conductivity of finish mediums by means of a reference cell containing a sample of the particular finish medium used. An electric measurement circuit provides an indication of the amount of finish medium on the filament by determining the ratio of the conductance of the length of filament to the conductance of the reference cell. In one circuit embodiment, two operational amplifiers are placed in series. The reference cell takes the place of the feedback resistor of one operational amplifier and the length of filament takes the place of the input resistance of the other amplifier. The resulting output of the series circuit is a scaled ratio of the conductances of the finish along the length of filament and in the cell. In another circuit embodiment, voltages applied through the length of filament and reference cell are selectively switched into a dual slope integrating circuit. In its preferred form, the finish measuring apparatus is a hand-held device having contacts which may be connected to a filament using a trigger mechanism.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring the quantity of a finish medium coated on or dispersed through a fiber and more particularly to measuring electrically conductive finishes applied to the filament.
It is common quality control practice to periodically measure the amount of finish on a filament after the filament has passed through a finish applicator. Often, a sample of the filament is cut from the system and chemically tested in a laboratory. Such methods not only cause a delay in the overall operation when a sample filament is extracted from the system, they also result in a long delay before the results are received. Further, past methods do not permit continuous monitoring of the finish or selective trouble shooting throughout a system.
An object of this invention is to provide a finish measuring apparatus for continuously or selectively monitoring the amount of finish on a moving filament within a system without the need for interfering with the continued system operation.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a finish measuring apparatus the calibration of which requires no preliminary laboratory analysis of the particular finishing medium used.


A programmable monitoring unit which is adapted for simplifying the programming and display of user programs in a programmable controller using a sequential function charting technique. In a first embodiment, the display of the SFC data is easily compressed such that a combined display element chart is accessed by inputting a first and a second display element and a combined element representing the first and second inputs are displayed in a single display area. In a second embodiment, the present invention provides a means for readily displaying the functional status and changes of transactions based on a program's operational cycles in order to facilitate the debugging of the program.

In conventional programmable monitors that are associated with PCs, programs are developed by referring to standard symbols which form the fundamental elements of the Sequential Function Chart (SFC). Examples of such elements as shown in FIG. 4 include steps 10, transitions 12, converges 14 or deconverges to name a few. These elements are used as building blocks to represent a program on a display. In addition to employing these elements, individual numbers, as shown in the flow chart 20 illustrated in FIG. 5, can be employed as well. However, only one fundamental element can be displayed in each display area 110a or 110b (area a) which lines up vertically on the flow chart 20.
As a result, present programmable monitors have several disadvantages. First, in order to use the SFC format the user is required to make a large number of key operations to move through the particular SFC transactions identified on the display. Second, the resulting display area is inefficiently used and contains many blank spaces. Third, significant differences in the display size results. For a program having many converges a large amount of space is taken up in the display and therefore the display means becomes even less efficient than for a program having few converges. Thus, complex programs exhibiting a large number of converges become burdensome for the user to develop and cumbersome for the user to review.
A further problem with present programmable monitors is that when a user wishes to debug his program, the system will often limit the user to a display of the functional status of each of the contacts and/or channels effected by the program that are designated by the user. An example of this deficiency is shown in FIG. 11, which represents a typical display 600 which shows the status of a plurality of contacts 822. The status of each of the contacts 822 is represented either by an on-state 826 or an off-state 828 condition in a time chart 825. Sampling times represented on line 832 can be only conventional sampling times such as microseconds, milliseconds, seconds or alternatively cycles. In addition, the display also shows the status of each channel 824. The status is typically represented in hexadecimal format 830 coordinated by the designated time periods 832.
The disadvantage of the display of FIG. 11 is that a conventional monitoring unit can only display the status of the contacts or channels individually. The status of transactions represented on a respective SFC diagram, however, are not shown. To determine the SFC status, therefore, the user must analyze the channel and contact data and correlate that data with the SFC transaction. Such an effort becomes extremely burdensome for the programmer. Moreover, it may ultimately limit that programmer's understanding of the program only to its microscopic effects rather than provide that user with an understanding of the program's effects at the transaction level. As a result, it becomes difficult for the user to debug a program efficiently, thereby eliminating the advantages of structural programming techniques, such as SFC.

Method and apparatus for displaying sequential function chart elements


A circular saw and in particular a circular saw bench, including a supporting surface for a workpiece and a saw blade which is able to project from a groove in the supporting surface. The saw blade is pivoted to both sides at a longitudinal edge of this groove.

The invention relates to a circular sawing machine, comprising a supporting surface for the workpiece and a saw blade which projects from the supporting surface in the region of an opening, the saw blade being held and driven by a drive flange and the saw blade being mounted to pivot in the circular sawing machine.
Circular sawing machines of the above kind have long been known in the woodworking field, such as in carpenter""s shops, joiners"" shops and woodworking shops. They are used to carry out a wide variety of operations on workpieces made of wood or plastics material. One intended purpose is, for example, to trim workpieces in sheet form with such machines. At the same time it is also possible to use such machines to cut grooves or recesses of the same kind in the workpieces, which may be mouldings or panels for example.
The saw blade is held on a drive flange and the drive flange is situated, for example, on a mounting. Also provided on the drive flange are means for driving the saw blade, which means may be of considerable length in the axial direction. Provision may, for example, also be made for a drive motor to be positioned on the drive shaft driving the saw blade.
For making angled cuts it is known for the saw blade to be pivoted to one side about an axis which generally lies in the plane of the supporting surface. It is then possible for inclined grooves or mitres, for example, to be cut. Because of the large size of the drive on the flange there is only a limited capacity for pivoting. If, for example, it is desired to make a cut in an opposed, inclined direction, then there are machines known in the joinery field for example in which the complete mounting is designed to be rotatable about a substantially vertical axis and the whole arrangement including the saw blade is turned through 180xc2x0 about this axis to make a cut in the direction mentioned. It is clear that it is very complicated and expensive to produce adjustability of this kind.
Otherwise the only option which the woodworker has is to feed the workpiece in some other way and under certain circumstances this may not be possible. The range of uses to which such known machines can be put is therefore limited.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved circular sawing machine of the above kind, in which their adjustability and convenience to the user would be greatly increased.
The present invention provides circular sawing machine, comprising a supporting surface for the workpiece and a saw blade which projects from the supporting surface in the region of an opening, the saw blade being held and driven by a drive flange and the saw blade being mounted to pivot in the circular sawing machine, characterised in that provision is made for the saw blade to be pivotable to both sides in the region of the opening relative to a plane at right angles to the supporting surface.
A design of this kind provides an immense advantage in circular sawing machines according to the invention. The possibility of enabling various operations to be performed simply by pivoting the saw blade makes the work very much easier. At the same time it is possible for the pivotable mounting of the circular saw blade, which is known in principle, to be retained in the same form and simply to have added to it the appropriate means for obtaining a larger range of pivot, thus making the cost and complication of obtaining a machine of this kind considerably less than was needed in the prior art for a circular saw arrangement rotatable about a vertical axis.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for a mounting to be provided for the drive flange and for the mounting to be made narrow and slender in the direction of pivot below the supporting surface. In the prior art, particularly in the region of the drive spindle and on at least one side relative to the saw blade, a relatively wide arrangement has been produced to mount and drive the saw blade. Because of this arrangement of large size on one side it was impossible to achieve pivotability in both directions, given that the structure, being wide on one side, collided with the underside of the supporting surface if pivoted in this direction. The proposal according to the invention in the first place provides a slender mounting which is narrow in the direction of pivot, but whose strength is not reduced for this reason. The important thing in this case is that, in the region below the supporting surface the mounting, or rather the layout of the drive flange, is produced in such a way as to save as much space as possible, in order to provide sufficient range of pivot for a desired angle of pivot in both directions.
For this design, it is also possible for the members which hold the drive flange to be arranged on essentially one side of the mounting. It is for example conceivable in this case for the drive flange to be mounted in such a way as to be substantially overhanging.
In an alternative embodiment, the drive flange is provided on a mounting and the mounting extends on both sides of the saw blade, substantially symmetrically to the saw blade, in the area below the supporting surface. Optimum use is made of the space available by a design of this kind. In accordance with the invention, it is proposed that substantially symmetrical pivotability be obtained, i.e. pivotability in both directions relative to the opening from which the saw blade projects. In the final analysis it is the mounting of the saw blade on the drive flange which restricts the maximum range of pivot. To obtain as large as possible a range of pivot in both directions, an advantageous provision which is made in this case is for the means for supporting the saw blade on the mounting also to be symmetrically positioned in order to make optimum use of the space available.
Provision is further made for the drive flange to comprise a drivable spindle flange and a mating flange which co-operates with the spindle flange and is detachable therefrom. The design according to the invention in this case is selected to be such for example that the mating flange may also be in the form of a securing nut which can be screwed onto the spindle flange. The mounting of the drive flange in this case is substantially overhung, i.e. a bearing is provided on each side of the saw blade. As an alternative to this, provision may be made for the mounting to comprise two holding parts which are hinged together and for the first holding part to carry the spindle flange and the second to carry the mating flange, with the two flanges being mounted to rotate. In the arrangement described here, the symmetrical division of the respective functions relative to the plane of the saw blade is maintained and the mounting is split into two elements. Advantageously, the saw blade is centrally arranged, to rotate between two bearings.
Because of the hinged connection between the two holding parts, it is also possible for a quick-change arrangement for the saw blade to be produced easily. In an alternative embodiment, the two holding parts can be connected together substantially permanently, or in other words to be bolted together, although it would then be more laborious to change a saw blade.
What is achieved by the design according to the invention is that an angle of pivot of xc2x160xc2x0 is possible for the saw blade. This angle of pivot is possible in both directions, i.e. complex operations can be performed without any complicated re-orientation or re-positioning of the workpiece. What is preferably used is a range of angles of pivot of xc2x145xc2x0, which will allow even mitre cuts or the like to be made in workpieces without any lengthy setting-up times. The pivotability is relative in this case to the vertically orientated saw blade or to an imaginary plane extending at right angles to the supporting surface.
The above circular sawing machines preferably take the form of circular saw benches and are used in joiners"" shops, carpenters"" shops and woodworking shops. It is even possible for circular sawing machines of this kind to be employed as parts of woodworking systems or centres.


A commercially available power source is rectified by a diode bridge and a capacitor and supplied to a transformer via a terminal. One end of a primary coil is connected to the terminal and the other end is connected to a switching device. One end of a feedback coil is connected to the switching device and the other end is connected to the terminal. A negative feedback circuit is provided between the switching device and the terminal. A rectifying circuit comprising a diode and a capacitor is provided on a secondary coil. A node of the coil and the capacitor is connected to the terminal via a resistor. In detecting circuits, a voltage across the terminal is detected and a current across the resistor is detected. When the detected voltage and current are equal to predetermined values, a control signal is supplied to a feedback circuit.

Hitherto, for a switching power supply circuit, a separately-excited switching power supply system in which switching is made by an output of an OSC (Oscillator) and a self-excited switching power supply system which does not use the OSC are used. According to the self-excited switching power supply system, although it can be constructed at a lower cost than the separately-excited switching power supply system, when a load decreases, an oscillation phenomenon occurs inevitably.
In the self-excited switching power supply system, therefore, in order to suppress the oscillation phenomenon, the switching power supply circuit is designed to have only low efficiency. In other words, it cannot be designed so that high efficiency is obtained at the maximum load.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a switching power supply apparatus and a power control method in which even in the self-excited switching power supply system, a switching power supply circuit is designed so that the high efficiency operation is executed at the maximum load and, even if a capacity of a load fluctuates, a voltage and a current can be stably outputted.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Switching power supply using controlled negative feedback in series with a switching device and responsive to the voltage and/or current to a load


Cone crushers with differing main bearing styles therein being manufactured with interchangeable parts and with a common exterior configuration so that a roller bearing cone crusher could be replaced at a crushing site by a plain bearing cone crusher without the need for any modification to either the plain bearing crusher or the crushing site. Methods of manufacturing roller bearing cone crushers which have components therein which are interchangeable with components in a plain bearing cone crusher is also disclosed.

Cone crushers used in material processing can often be broadly categorized as either roller bearing or plain bearing cone crushers (a.k.a. plane bearing cone crushers). Indeed, in the past decades, a typical cone crusher customer might have a strong preference to either roller main shaft bearings or plain main shaft bearings. If a plain main bearing preferring cone crusher customer were to purchase a crushing business with a pre-existing crushing operation utilizing a roller main bearing cone crusher, there often might be a desire to eventually replace a worn out roller main bearing cone crusher with a plain main bearing cone crusher. However, this could, at times, be substantially more difficult and time consuming than merely purchasing a replacement cone crusher of the same make and model. A plain main bearing style of crusher will typically be made by a different manufacturer, because typically, in the past, cone crusher manufactures have made either roller bearing cone crushers or plain bearing cone crushers, but not both. Consequently, plain bearing cones have different exterior configurations and interfaces, e.g. chassis mounting structures and bolts and input and output conveyors etc. than would a roller main bearing style machine; even if the two types of machines have roughly the same size and performance characteristics. Therefore, the replacement of an existing crusher with one having a different style main bearing would typically result in a need to make non-desired and non-trivial site modifications or even less desirable modifications to the new replacement cone crusher.
While prior art cone crushers have enjoyed considerable success in the past, there exists a need for improvement in several respects. The following description of the present invention is intended to address some of these needs.

Roller bearing cone crusher and plain bearing cone crusher with a common exterior configuration


A gas turbine engine includes an inlet duct, a compressor section, a combustor section, and a turbine section connected to drive the compressor section. The compressor section includes circumferentially-spaced blades having abrasive blade tips. A seal is disposed radially outwards of the blades. The seal includes a substrate that has a substrate hardness, an abradable layer that has an abradable layer hardness, and a hard interlayer between the substrate and the abradable layer. The hard interlayer has an interlayer hardness that is higher than the abradable layer hardness and higher than the substrate hardness.

Gas turbine engines include a compressor that compresses air, a combustor that ignites the compressed air and a turbine across which the compressed air is expanded. The expansion of the combustion products drives the turbine to rotate, which in turn drives rotation of the compressor.
In order to increase efficiency, a clearance between the tips of the blades in the compressor and the outer diameter of the flowpath is kept sufficiently small. This ensures that a minimum amount of air passes between the tips and the outer diameter. Some engines include an abradable outer air seal to further reduce tip clearance. The tips are designed to, at times, rub against the seal. The rubbing wears the abradable material of the seal. The tips have a reduced tip clearance relative to the idealized geometry formed in the abradable surface, thereby increasing efficiency.

Turbine engine seal for high erosion environment


A system to design an integrated circuit and a method of fabricating an integrated circuit include performing a design change for a net among a plurality of nets of the integrated circuit. An extraction is performed for the net and includes re-computing values for a resistor-capacitor (RC) circuit representation of the net. Re-computed values resulting from the re-computing and a timestamp of the extraction are recorded. A capacitance value of a capacitor coupling the net with a neighboring net in the RC circuit representation of the neighboring net is changed to be the capacitance value of the capacitor coupling the net with the neighboring net that was re-computed for the RC circuit representation of the net. Timing and noise parameters are for the net and the neighboring net are updated to updated timing and noise parameters, and timing analysis is performed based on the updated timing and noise parameters.

The present invention relates to integrated circuit design, and more specifically, to the approximation of resistor-capacitor (RC) circuit extraction for thread-safe design changes.
The processes involved in designing and implementing an integrated circuit or chip include place and route. The place and route process refers to determining a location for each component (e.g., logic element) of the design and determining a path for the wiring that interconnects components of the design. The design and the physical arrangement of the design must comply with design criteria such as timing requirements. Thus, the place and route process is generally performed iteratively to ensure that the final design that is implemented in the physical chip complies with all design criteria.

Approximation of resistor-capacitor circuit extraction for thread-safe design changes

International Business Machines Corporation


A frame synchronization method and device. The method determines the frame start position D. That position D is the same as a position of a window H sliding along the received frame Tr. For various possible positions of the window H and for various blocks Bi of the window H, the method computes a syndrome Sd(i), and the start position D of the received frame Ti is that for which the number of null elements of a syndrome Sd(i) is highest.

Digital communications are making more and more use of more or less sophisticated channel coding. The principle of channel coding is to add controlled redundancy to information bits to enable the receiver to detect and possibly correct transmission errors. The existing codes include in particular block codes which cause a code word of size nc to correspond to a block of nb information bits, with nc>nb. These additional bits are used to correct some transmission errors; the greater the number of redundant bits, the greater the correction capability of the code. To decode and correct errors, the receiver must be in a position to find the beginning of the code words in the bit sequence in order to be able to decode them correctly. This operation is usually referred to as frame synchronization.
The invention is concerned with frame synchronization techniques.
Frame synchronization is generally effected by periodically adding to the message to be transmitted an uncoded synchronization sequence known to the receiver. That sequence is then detected in the receiver to enable synchronization of the frame to be decoded. This kind of sequence is described in the following papers: "Optimum Frame Synchronisation", James L. Massey, IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol. Com-20, No. 2, April 1972, and "Frame Synchronisation Techniques" Robert A. Scholtz, 0090-6778/80/0800-1204$00.75, 1980 IEEE. The enormous advances in channel coding, in particular with the introduction of turbo codes, means that data can now, be sent with low signal-to-noise ratios, which leads to numerous errors in the synchronization sequence and therefore to somewhat unreliable synchronization. A number of authors propose inserting a coded sequence; this means that some of the improvement in coding can be exploited and synchronization reliability thereby increased. One such sequence is described in the paper "Decoder-Assisted Channel Estimation and Frame Synchronisation of Turbo Coded Systems", M. Mostofa, K. Howlader, 0-7803-7484-3/02/$17.00, 2002 IEEE.
Those known techniques have the drawback of requiring the addition of a known sequence, which reduces spectral efficiency, i.e. lowers the usable bit rate.


An array antenna can control directions of beams by phase-shifting signals received and/or transmitted by a plurality of antenna elements. When the antenna elements are arranged two-dimensionally, sidelobes and beamwidth are determined according a distance between two adjacent antenna element columns. The distance between the adjacent columns can be reduced by arranging the antenna elements in a staggered manner, thereby suppressing the sidelobes, and enlarging the width of beams around an XEL axis. A stabilized antenna system controls the direction of the array antenna and beam directivity by compensating for inclination of a moving platform, so that the array antenna can always track a satellite reliably.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stabilized antenna system on a moving platform like a ship to be used for satellite communications or for receiving the satellite broadcasting signal, and more particularly to a stabilized antenna system having a function to stabilize an array antenna against roll and pitch of such moving platform.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, directional antennas such as parabolic reflector antennas have been used for satellite communications. Historically, the maritime satellite communications was started in 1976 by using the MARISAT system. It was handed over in 1982 to the internationally organized INMARSAT system and has been in operation since then.
According to the technical requirements document for the standard-A ship earth station in the present INMARSAT system as of June 1987, the ship earth station should have G/T of -4 dBK at least. To meet this requirement, a parabolic reflector antenna should be about 0.8 meters (or more) in diameter, for example.
Further, a radome is necessary to make the parabolic reflector antenna resistant to rainwater and rough weather. Such radome should be about 1.2 meters in diameter for the parabolic reflector antenna of 0.8 meters in diameter. The radome is a dome-shaped housing made of material which can pass the microwaves (of approximately 1.5 GHz) for the satellite communications. Generally, FRP (Fibre Reinforced Plastics) is used for the radome. The radome is usually mounted on a radome base and the radome base has an access hutch to facilitate maintenance and repair work.
A stabilized antenna system has been known as a system described as above. This antenna system has a stabilization function as well as a satellite tracking function.
The antenna should be steered so that the antenna system installed on a moving platform such as a ship can well receive radio waves from the satellite. To track the satellite under roll and pitch motions, the antenna should be stabilized by mechanical or electronical means. A variety of technologies have been developed to steer the antenna to track the satellite under roll and pitch.
Sometimes the parabolic reflector antenna is steered by an antenna mount with three mechanical axes, such as an AZ-EL-XEL (Azimuth-Elevation-Cross Elevation) mount, for example.
An AZ axis is for steering the antenna in azimuth. An EL axis is for steering the antenna in elevation. Further, an XEL axis is perpendicular to the EL axis.
In the 3-axis antenna mount, when all the three axes are mechanical, the entire antenna mount tends to become heavy, large and complicated. To overcome such inconvenience, an antenna mount having two mechanical axes has been proposed.
Examples of such two-axis antenna mounts, AZ-EL mounts, are disclosed in "Control Method of 2-Axis Az-El Antenna Mount," by Yuki, et al., Electronic Communications Society, SANE83-53, page 1-6, and "Development of a Compact Antenna System for the INMARSAT standard B SES in Maritime Satellite Communications," by Shiokawa, et al., Electronic Communications Society, SANE 84-19, page 17-24.
However, an AZ-EL mount has a problem of a singular point in the direction for the zenith.
To cope with such singular point, each axis of the AZ-EL mount should be controlled by a highly sophisticated wideband servo control means. Such a wideband servo control means tends to be costly. Even when these sophisticated measures are taken, there are data showing that a tracking error of about 10.degree. exists in the vicinity of the singular point.
To overcome the foregoing inconveniences, there is currently known an antenna system which steers the beam electronically. Such electronic steering is realized by a so-called phased array antenna.
An antenna system with phased array antenna is disclosed in "Phased Array Antenna for MARISAT Communications," Folkebolinder, Microwave Journal, 1978, 12, pp 39-42. This system includes an AZ axis for mechanical steering in azimuth and two planar array antennas including a plurality of antenna elements arranged on two panels and variable phase shifters for controlling the beam directivity thereof. (For the simplicity, variable phase shifter may be described as "phase shifter".)
Specifically, the phase shifters are connected to the individual antenna elements. The phase shifters control the amount of phase of signals related to the antenna elements. By controlling the amount of phase shift, beam directivity of the antenna can be varied as desired.
However, even when the electronic steering is performed as described above, the phase shifters should be mounted for the respective antenna elements one to one basis, so that the overall antenna will become large, complicated and expensive. Therefore, application of the foregoing antenna system has been somewhat limited.
Antenna systems are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. SHO 51-110950 to cope with the above-described inconveniences. The publication describes a plurality of array antennas to be installed on ships for the maritime satellite communications. One of the antenna systems comprises AZ and EL axes for mechanical steering to control beam patterns by combining outputs from a plurality of array antennas. This system is simplified, small, less expensive, and easy to maintain.
A further example of the antenna system allowing electronic steering is disclosed in the co-pending "Method of Antenna Stabilization and Stabilized Antenna System", Japanese Patent Application No. HEI 2-339317. The citation relates to an X1-Y-X2 antenna mount without AZ and EL axes. The X1 and Y axes are mechanically steered, and the X2 axis is electronically steered. Therefore, the whole antenna system is simplified and less expensive.
However, in any of the above-cited examples, the array antennas have antenna elements arranged in the shape of lattice. In the so-called AZ-EL-XEL mount, if the AZ and El axes were mechanical and if the XEL (cross-elevation) axis were electronical, there would be an inconvenience that the phase shifters would have to control a large angular area, because a horizontal distance between the adjacent antenna elements would be relatively large as described later.
FIG. 18 of the accompanying drawings shows an array antenna with a (2, 2, 2) element arrangement.
As shown in FIG. 18, antenna elements 10 are arranged in the shape of lattice on a base plate 12. The horizontal distance between the two adjacent antenna elements 10 is expressed by dx, and the vertical distance is expressed by dy. Theoretically, a diameter of each antenna element is about .lambda./2 (.lambda.: wavelength). In the illustrated arrangement, both dx and dy should be .lambda./2 or more to prevent overlapping of the antenna elements 10.
FIG. 19 shows the configuration of the AZ-EL-XEL mount, which has AZ, EL and XEL axes. The AZ axis is steered to adjust the azimuth, and the EL axis is steered to adjust the elevation angle. The XEL axis is steered to adjust the cross-elevational angle in a plane parallel to the EL axis. If the AZ and EL axes were mechanically steered to angularly move the array antenna 10 and if signals received by the antenna elements 10 on the array antenna 12 were phase-shifted by a phase shifter to steer the beams around the XEL axis perpendicular to the EL axis, an AZ-EL-XEL mount which includes an electronically controlled XEL axis could be realized. For example, if the array antenna 12 were lengthwisely mounted in parallel to the EL axis and if one variable phase shifter were disposed for each pair of vertically aligned antenna elements, the antenna beam could be steered for the XEL axis by giving the phase shift commands to the phase shifters. In other words, the XEL axis could be electronically steered.
FIG. 20 shows radiation patterns of the array antenna 12 having the mechanically steered AZ-axis and EL-axis, and the electronical XEL-axis of FIG. 18.
In FIG. 20, the radiation pattern A0 is obtained when phase shift of the phase shifter is 0.degree. for each antenna element 10. The radiation pattern A1 is obtained when phase shift are plus/minus 90.degree. for the two antenna elements in the left/right columns, respectively and is 0.degree. for the two central antenna elements.
In these radiation patterns A0 and A1, a first sidelobe has peaks at positions deviating about plus/minus 45.degree. from the main lobe (beam). The peak of first sidelobe related to the radiation pattern A0 is about -13 dB for the peak of the main lobe, and the first peak of the first sidelobe related to the radiation pattern A1 is about -10 dB for the peak of the main lobe.
When such remarkable sidelobes appear, the antenna system decreases its efficiency and radiates radio waves in unnecessary directions, thereby possibly interfering other communication systems.
If an array antenna of the conventional lattice arrangement such as in FIG. 18 were adopted for an example antenna in the electronic XEL axis and the electronic XEL axis were inclined, the remarkable sidelobes should appear. In FIG. 18, the larger the phase shift of the phase shifter, the more remarkable sidelobes occur. In other words, the more the electronic XEL axis is inclined, the more remarkably the sidelobes occur. For example, minimum requirements of the roll angle and pitch angle for the INMARSAT-M Ship Earth Station are plus/minus 25.degree. and plus/minus 15.degree., respectively. (Reference will be made to "INMARSAT-M SYSTEM DEFINITION MANUAL (issue 2) MODULE 2 18.104.22.168 Recommended Environmental Conditions for Maritime Class MESs.) If the ship inclines together with the antenna system when a satellite as a tracking target exists in the direction along the bow and stern of the ship and near the zenith, the XEL axis should be inclined most extensively. In the above-described case, the antenna beam should cover at least a range of about plus/minus 25 degrees around the XEL axis. Unfortunately, if an antenna beam of the conventional lattice arrangement array antenna were inclined to cover the range of plus/minus 25 degrees around the XEL axis, the disadvantage of remarkable sidelobes would appear.

Array antenna and stabilized antenna system


The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a ceramic article (3) from a metal or metal matrix composite preform (1) provided by 3D-printing or by 3D-weaving. The preform (1) is placed in a heating chamber (2), and a predetermined time-temperature profile is applied in order to controllably react the preform (1) with a gas introduced into the heating chamber (2). The metal, the gas and the time-temperature profile are chosen so as to induce a metal-gas reaction resulting in at least a part of the preform (1) transforming into a ceramic. Preferred embodiments of the invention comprises a first oxidation stage involving a metal-gas reaction in order to form a supporting oxide layer (5) at the surface of the metal, followed by a second stage in which the heating chamber (2) is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the metal to increase the kinetics of the chemical reaction. The invention also relates to a number of advantageous uses of a ceramic article manufactured as described.

Some of the work leading to the present invention was done within the field of thruster technology for space applications. Here the decompositions of the propellant, such as hydrazine or hydrogen peroxide, is activated by passing the propellant over a hot catalytic bed containing PGM elements, such as platinum, palladium, or iridium. The current state-of-the-art is to use a powdered ceramic material containing an active catalyst and to press the loose powder between metallic top and bottom gauzes in order to make a porous powder pack. One of the known problems with loose powder in between gauzes is that the powder can sometimes remove itself and fall out of the thruster into the exhaust system. This leads to an accelerated degradation of the pack, a reduction in its performance, as well as fine powdered material being emitted as space debris.
An alternative is open-cell ceramic foams which can be used in applications such as catalytic converters for exhaust treatment and other high-temperature applications taking advantage of the high-temperature and chemical resistance as well as the high strength-to-weight ratios achievable by the ceramic foams. It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,558 to manufacture ceramic foam from an open-cell, reticulated precursor metal. Hereby ceramic articles of randomly interconnected cells or channels have been made. The inner structure of such an article is closely related to the available types of metal foams. Furthermore such random structure may result in a turbulent fluid flow which can be advantageous for some applications. However, for other applications other types of flow would be desired.
Hence, an improved method of manufacturing a ceramic article would be advantageous, and in particular a method with which a high degree of freedom to design parts with controlled internal and external details previously considered too intricate. This fits with the requirement of many applications.

Manufacturing of a ceramic article from a metal preform or metal matrix composite preform provided by 3D-printing or 3D-weaving


An apparatus for moving upper and lower molds toward and apart from each other and giving additionally increased clamping force to the engaged molds. The apparatus includes a pair of reversible small power prime movers, a plurality of screw rod pairs, each of which consists of a first screw rod having an unthreaded extension and a hollow second screw rod embracing the unthreaded extension therein so as to freely rotate relative to the first screw rod, a pair of transmission mechanisms for transmitting rotary forces from the pair of prime movers respectively to the first screw rods and to the hollow second screw rods, a plurality of nut member pairs, each of which consists of a first nut member and a second nut member respectively threadedly engaged with the first and second screw rods so as to move up or down when the screw rods are rotated in one or other direction therealong, first and second molds respectively connected to the first and second nut members so as to move toward or apart with each other, and a piston device for giving additionally increased mold clamping force to the engaged two molds when the prime movers are stopped.

The most typical apparatus for mold clamping comprises a lower table and an upper table respectively having molds mounted thereon and thereunder, four guide posts for guiding the two tables to stably move up or down therealong, and lower and upper hydraulic piston-cylinder devices so that when the molds are contacted the piston-cylinder devices are actuated to give additionally increased clamping forces thereto.
However, such piston-cylinder device must be of a few to several tons of power in general and since the machine casing parts must endure such high power, they must be made of a material having high tenacity and rigidity. Forthermore, it takes so much time in order to complete one cycle of operation inclusive of finally exerting additionally increased clamping force.


A method and system for determining strain impressed on an optical fiber at a possibly indeterminate temperature. The fiber (14) is formed with at least two sensors having different strain and temperature characteristics, preferably a Bragg Fabry-Perot sensor having a Fabry-Perot cavity (16) formed between two like Bragg gratings (10, 12) and another Bragg grating 18 of a different pitch written into the Fabry-Perot cavity. Many such pairs can be written if the Bragg gratings reflect in different bands. The fiber is irradiated with broadband light, and the reflection is spectrally separated to produce separate spectra for all sensors. Wavelength shifts from two types of sensors can be correlated with strain and temperature according to predetermined variations of the shifts with known strain and temperature changes.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to optical measurement systems. In particular, the invention relates to a method of measuring strain induced in an optical fiber during its manufacture or other processing.
2. Background Art
Optical fiber is being manufactured in large quantity for use as the transmission medium in communications networks. Numerous performance and reliability requirements imposed on the manufactured fiber can be met only by continued monitoring of the manufacturing process and its effect on the fiber. The manufacture and further processing of optical fiber involves several processes subjecting the fiber to a degree of mechanical stress and to moderately high temperatures, for example up to 125° C. The stress may be imposed by wrapping the fiber around a pulley as it is being continuously pulled through the processing station, as it is stretched between two pulleys, or as it is pulled through a die. Even if the total time that the fiber is being stressed at any point is relatively short, that time may be sufficient to induce sub-critical growth of preexisting flaws within the fiber. Such flaws are likely to impact the ultimate mechanical strength of the fiber, thereby decreasing the reliability of the field fiber. Reliability models have been created to estimate the strength of the fiber and associated fiber optic cables after their manufacture and processing. Reliability models for optical fiber are typically based on three sets of data: the size distribution of flaws or cracks with the fiber; growth parameters of fatigue cracks; and, the stress-time profile which the fiber experiences during processing. Heretofore, direct measurements of the stresses exerted on an optical fiber during high-speed processing has not been possible. As a result, the stress-time profile of the fiber has been induced from other measurements.
Furthermore, measurement of stress and strain in a manufacturing environment would be valuable for process monitoring, for equipment design, and to trouble shoot manufacturing lines.
For these reasons, it is desirable to be able to dynamically measure the stress to which an optical fiber is being subjected in a realistic manufacturing environment.

Measurement of fiber strain during processing


Apparatus for providing reactive compensation and positive real power compensation in an ac electric power transmission system, utilizes a solid state inverter to inject a series compensation voltage into the transmission line at a controllable magnitude and a controllable phase angle between + or -90 electrical degrees relative to transmission line current. The positive real power needed by the inverter is drawn from the transmission line by a rectifier shunt connected to the line.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus for controlling the flow of power and dynamic voltage regulation on ac transmission lines, and more particularly, to economical apparatus for providing reactive and positive real power compensation in such ac transmission lines.
2. Background of Information
Traditionally, the only device available to power system engineers for controlling the direction and magnitude of power flow in a transmission line was the Phase-Angle Regulator (PAR). PARs typically consist of inter-connected transformers, one of which is essentially a large load tap changer.
Despite the flexibility that PARs introduce to the system operator, they never acquired widespread usage because they are slow and they have a relatively poor reputation for reliability. Also, they introduce a high series impedance in the line. The slow speed and poor reputation for reliability are mainly attributable to the use of mechanical load tap changers. Recent improvements in load tap changers seem to have improved reliability perceptions, but the slow speed (several seconds per tap change and a minute or more for major angle changes) renders these devices unusable for all but steady-state concerns. The high series impedance results from the connection of the two transformers. The leakage reactance of the series winding always appears in series with the supply transmission line whenever the PAR is in service. The leakage reactance of the excitation winding also appears in series with the supply transmission line, but varies with the angle shift.
The reactance inserted in a line by a phase shifter can be quite significant. Indeed, it is not uncommon, particularly on cable circuits, for the reactance of the PAR to exceed the reactance of the line with which it is placed in series. An additional consequence of the relatively high impedance of PARs is that they can consume significant amounts of reactive power at high power transfer levels; normally, a large reactive power source must be located close to a PAR to ensure adequate voltage regulation during contingencies.
Because of its slow control and relatively high impedance, the existence of a PAR on the system is normally considered detrimental during incidents where transient or dynamic stability may be a concern. Even though there has been some consideration recently to increasing the switching speed (by using thyristor switching) for transient and dynamic stability situations, the inherent high reactance of PARs can be a significant problem. Considering these problems, it is no surprise that Phase-Angle Regulators have been infrequently used on transmission systems, even though they provide the system operator with a degree of control of transmission line flows that could not be matched by any other existing device.
Recently, the concept of using a three-phase inverter to insert a voltage into a transmission line via a series transformer to facilitate transmission of power has been proposed. In essence, the exciting transformer is replaced by a three-phase inverter. The inverter, employing Gate Turn-Off (GTO) thyristors, is capable of either supplying vars to the transmission line or absorbing vars from the transmission line as a free-standing device. When the inverter is used in this fashion, the device is called a Series Power-Flow Controller (SPFC). Such a controller is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. No. 5,198,746.
The SPFC injects a voltage in quadrature with the line current. Thus, the SPFC can only provide reactive power compensation. It has no capability to absorb or generate real power. Although it is convenient to think of the SPFC as analogous to a variable series capacitor or reactor, it is considerably more powerful than this. However, a short coming that the SPFC shares with variable series capacitors is that it has little capability to transfer real power at very low system angles because of its limited capability to introduce a phase shift at low system angles.
To introduce a phase shift, an additional dimension is required. Specifically, real power must be injected by the series inverter. To the extent that the real and reactive power insertions differ from real and reactive power consumption of the line, the difference shows up as an injected phase angle. If the real power interchange can be effected in both directions (i.e., from the device to the system and vice-versa), the resulting device is called a Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC). Such a device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,139. This device has the capability of controlling reactive power flow, transmission line impedance, transmission line voltage magnitude, and transmission line voltage phase angle. The real power is drawn from the transmission line by an ac to dc converter and supplied to the series inverter through a dc link. The UPFC provides a great deal of flexibility in power flow control; however, the shunt ac to dc converter adds significantly to the cost and complexity of the apparatus.
Commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/368,947 filed on Jan. 5, 1995 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,044), suggests that for applications in which the control requirements are asymmetrical, the MVA ratings of the series inverter and shunt converter can be reduced by vectorially adding a bias voltage to the voltage generated by the series inverter. However, this arrangement still requires the series inverter and a shunt connected AC to DC converter. Commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/366,646 filed on Dec. 30, 1994 discloses a series-connected inverter which can supply both positive and negative real power in addition to reactive power compensation to control oscillations on a transmission line. The real power requirements are provided by devices which are independent of the transmission line. Both positive and negative real power can be provided by an energy storage device such as a battery or a super-conducting magnet. Where less dynamic compensation is required to control oscillations, only positive real impedance in the form of a resistive impedance can be used to absorb real power from the transmission line during positive real power surges. These devices require switching control to regulate the flow of real power.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,222 discloses a dynamic voltage restorer in which a series inverter injects a voltage into the transmission line to compensate for voltage sags. The real power needed to generate this injected voltage is provided by an energy storage device such as a capacitor, and preferably a converter such as a chopper is utilized between the capacitor and the converter to provide a constant dc input to the series inverter.
There are applications where only positive real power needs to be injected for controlling power flow or for dynamic voltage regulation.
There is a need, therefore, for apparatus for controlling power flow on an alternating current transmission system which does not require a shunt converter or energy storage devices with the accompanying switching apparatus in order to provide real power compensation.
There is a related need for an improved apparatus of this type which is economical.

Dynamic power and voltage regulator for an ac transmission line


Three leads L1, L2, and L3 connected to an MR stripe of an MR read transducer are arranged in a circuit for eliminating: (1) thermal asperity noise, (2) damage from shorting from the transducer to a magnetic medium, and (3) signal reduction from shorting between the conductive layers of the transducer at the ABS. The first and second leads L1 and L2 are connected to the MR stripe adjacent its top edge and the third lead L3 is connected to the MR stripe adjacent its bottom edge, the bottom edge being at the ABS of the transducer. A current of equal magnitude is applied to each of the first and second leads to flow at an angle from each of these leads to the third lead L3, this angle being preferably 45.degree. to the longitudinal axis or ABS of the MR stripe. A differential preamplifier is connected across the first and second leads L1 and L2. With this arrangement, thermal asperity noise is cancelled by common mode rejection at the differential preamplifier. The third lead L3 and the support device for a magnetic medium are grounded to prevent sensor damage from shorting between these components. The third lead also electrically interconnects the MR stripe to one of the shield layers S1 or S2 and both shield layers are grounded to prevent signal loss from shorting between these conductive layers at the ABS.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates a thin film magnetoresistive (MR) read transducer and, more particularly, to an arrangement of leads for an MR read transducer which enables cancellation of thermal asperity noise upon contact of the transducer with moving magnetic media.
2. Description of the Related Art
An MR read transducer employs an MR stripe or layer which changes resistance in response to magnetic flux incursions from a moving magnetic medium, such as a rotating magnetic disk. A sense current, which is passed through the MR stripe, varies proportionately with changes in resistance of the MR stripe. The response of the MR stripe is based on how well the resistance change follows the change in flux density sensed from the magnetic medium.
In a conventional read head configuration, the MR stripe is a thin film layer which is sandwiched between bottom and top insulation layers G1 and G2 which, in turn, are sandwiched between bottom and top shield layers S1 and S2. The distance between the shield layers is called the "read gap". The smaller the read gap, the greater the resolution of the MR read transducer. The MR read transducer has considerable promise for handling the high data rates being developed by present technology.
One of the problems encountered with MR read transducers is that large signal transients are generated in an MR stripe by contact of the transducer with asperities on the magnetic medium. This is referred to as "thermal asperity noise". When the transducer contacts asperities on a rotating disk, for example, heat is generated within the MR stripe, which changes its resistance to produce a large signal transient. In a disk drive, such signal transients are reflected as noise when the readback signal generated by the transducer is amplified.
Another problem with MR read transducers is that electrical shorting can occur between an air bearing surface (ABS) of the transducer and the magnetic storage medium. If the ABS of the transducer is not at the same potential as the medium, then on contact between the two a current flows between the sensor and medium. The likelihood of a short is increased by contact or near-contact with the storage medium. In the event of a single short, the MR read transducer can be severely damaged, rendering it inoperable. The higher the potential difference between the MR read transducer and the medium, the greater the risk of damage to the transducer.
Still another problem of an MR read transducer is that shorting may occur between the shields S1 and S2 and the MR stripe when the shields are constructed of NiFe. The shorting occurs during head-disk contact during operation when the NiFe from the shields, which is conductive, is smeared across the ABS. This renders the head inoperable unless the portion of the MR stripe exposed at the ABS is at or nearly at an equipotential. The prior art overcomes this problem by constructing the shields of Sendust, which is resistant to smearing. Sendust requires high temperature processing, which has been shown to greatly increase stress in the substrate, thereby requiring much tighter control of the MR stripe magnetostriction. Sendust also introduces noise during quasistatic testing of the MR read transducer. On the other hand, NiFe requires relatively simple processing steps, is easy to incorporate into a head manufacturing process, and would be preferable to Sendust, with a solution to the shorting problem.

MR read transducer with thermal noise cancellation

International Business Machines Corporation


A method includes providing a semiconductor structure having a substrate and a plurality of fins extending upwards from the substrate. A CT pillar layer is disposed over the semiconductor structure. A CT mask is lithographically patterned over the CT pillar layer. The CT mask is anisotropically etched to remove exposed portions of the CT pillar layer and to form a CT pillar between the fins. A dummy gate structure is disposed across the CT pillar. The dummy gate structure is replaced with first and second metal gate structures that are electrically isolated from each other by the CT pillar.

CT pillars terminate the tip ends of gate structures in a semiconductor structure (or semiconductor). CT pillars provide tip to tip electrical isolation between gate structures disposed in separate active (Rx) regions of a semiconductor. In a semiconductor, Rx regions are where a plurality of active devices, such as Fin Field Effect Transistors (FinFETs), are disposed. The Rx regions are separated by isolation regions which have no active devices.
More specifically for FinFETs, these active devices include a source and drain region separated by a channel. The source, drain and channel are embedded in fins which extend longitudinally across an Rx region. The FinFETs also include gate structures which extend longitudinally perpendicular to the fins across the entire width of the Rx region.
Herein, the direction longitudinal to the fins is designated the "Y" direction and the direction perpendicular, or lateral, to the fins is designated the "X" direction. Therefore, the fins extend longitudinally in the Y direction and the gate structures extend longitudinally in the X direction.
In order to assure proper functioning of the FinFETs, the tip end of a gate structure cannot be terminated by a CT pillar at an edge of the last fin in an Rx region. Rather, the gate structure must be designed to overextend a predetermined minimum distance in the X direction beyond the Rx region, and into the isolation region, before being terminated by a CT pillar. Therefore, the minimum distance between one FinFET in one Rx Region and another FinFET in another adjacent Rx region must at least include the thickness of a CT pillar plus two minimum overextensions of gate structure beyond each Rx region. With constant down-scaling and increasingly demanding requirements to the speed and functionality of ultra-high density integrated circuits, it becomes increasingly desirable to reduce the thickness of such CT pillars, and therefore, reduce the minimum distance between Rx regions.
Prior art CT pillars may be formed by first lithographically patterning CT openings into a hardmask layer and then anisotropically etching a CT trench (or CT cut) into an underlying polysilicone dummy gate structure (for example, by a reactive ion etching (RIE) process). However, at about the 14 nanometer (nm) class of semiconductors and beyond, the required thickness of the CT pillar becomes too small to be reliably resolved by conventional lithographic techniques. As such, an exemplary embodiment of a lithographically patterned CT pillar will have a minimum width of about 20 nm or greater.
An alternative method of forming prior art CT pillars can include lithographically patterning CT openings into an amorphous carbon layer (ACL) of a lithographic stack, wherein the ACL is disposed above an array of polysilicon dummy gate structures (or dummy gates). Carbon spacers can then be formed on the side walls of the CT openings to reduce the width of the CT openings. The underlying dummy gates can then be RIE etched to form CT trenches in the dummy gates. The CT trenches can then be refilled with an insulator such as silicon nitride (SiN) or similar to form the CT pillars. However, the CT trenches become increasingly difficult to refill completely and uniformly at smaller semiconductor class sizes (such as 10 nm and beyond) due to their high aspect ratio (for example an aspect ratio of 10 or greater). Accordingly, the refilled CT trenches may include voids or air gaps in them that can cause electrical shorts when the polysilicone dummy gates are replaced by metal gates during a subsequent replacement metal gate (RMG) process.
Accordingly, there is a need for methods of forming CT pillars in gates that will enable reliable formation of such CT pillars with widths of less than 20 nm. Moreover there is a need for methods of forming CT pillars that are less susceptible to the resolution limitations of lithographic techniques. Additionally, there is a need for methods of forming CT pillars that do not require refilling high aspect ratio CT trenches in gate structures, and which can avoid voids and gaps in the CT pillars.

Methods of forming a CT pillar between gate structures in a semiconductor


A method of automatically controlling welding using a welding apparatus having a heat-source and a wire feed. The method includes: setting at least one welding parameter; setting a stable wire interaction position where the wire fed by the wire feed interacts with the heat generated by the heat-source so as to produce an acceptable weld; and monitoring the wire interaction position during welding. If the wire interaction position deviates from the stable wire interaction position by more than an allowable tolerance at least one welding parameter is automatically altered to return the wire interaction position to within the allowable tolerance of the stable wire interaction position. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically controlling welding, in particular, a method and apparatus for automatically controlling welding by monitoring the wire interaction position.
Welding is widely used in many manufacturing processes in order to join components together. If the particular welding process is carried out repeatedly then it may be carried out by a robot as opposed to by an operator. This provides a number of benefits including improved repeatability. However, it is still necessary for an operator to monitor the welding process.
An operator continually visually assesses the weld deposition through monitoring a visual display unit (VDU) which is attached to a camera that is focussed on the weld point arc. Using a hand-held teach pendant that is connected to the robot, the operator can control the robot, the wire feed and the welding parameters. When the operator visually determines from the VDU that the weld deposition is not ideal, the wire feed and the welding parameters are manually overridden using the teach pendant.
For example, if the wire makes contact with the component during the welding deposition process, the integrity of the weld will be compromised at these locations. This is because the wire will not become fully molten at these locations and there is the possibility of partial wire fusion, which will affect the surface roughness of the weld deposition and the uniformity of deposition build-up. This is known as the "stubbing" effect. Further, if left unchecked, partial wire fusion can lead to the wire leaving the weld arc and solidifying on the substrate or on a previous deposited layer. This may result in activation of a robot collision control system as the robot tries to continue along a pre-programmed path. This will cause a process emergency shutdown. Therefore, when a skilled operator notices that stubbing may be about to occur, a parameter, such as the wire feed rate, is altered using the teach pendant to avoid it.
In another example, if the wire is fed in too slowly then the integrity of the deposition will be compromised at these locations. The semi-plastic relationship between the wire and the weld pool becomes intermittent and will break. This will cause an intermittent balling effect on the end of the wire, which will ultimately fall off leading to an interrupted supply of material and inconsistent weld deposition. This "blobbing" effect is known as burnback. The aforementioned effect will have an effect on subsequent deposition layers unless it is rectified by adding additional wire at those specific locations. Therefore, when a skilled operator notices that burnback may be about to occur, a parameter, such as the wire feed rate, is altered using the teach pendant to avoid it.
Whilst the manual intervention of the operator is satisfactory, it is not ideal and has a number of drawbacks. The process relies heavily on operator judgement and skill which will vary between operators. This means that the quality of the welding process may differ depending on who is operating the machine. The manual intervention also relies on the reaction time of the operator and on the system reaction time. This can result in a delay in appropriate action being taken. It also may not be possible for the operator to look at the VDU for long periods of time. This can result in the welding process having to be periodically suspended. Further, the process is reliant on the attention span of the operator which again may vary between operators.
It is therefore desirable to provide an automatic welding method and apparatus which reduces the reliance on an operator.


Granular compositions which comprise a block copolymer containing blocks of rigid rod polybenzazole polymer and blocks of thermoplastic polybenzazole polymer can be compression molded to provide a molded article having physical properties superior to molded articles made from the thermoplastic polymer alone.

The present invention relates to the art of polybenzazole (PBZ) polymers and polymer compositions containing blocks of those polymers.
PBZ polymers, i.e., polybenzoxazole, polybenzothiazole and polybenzimidazole, and their synthesis are described in great detail in the following patents which are incorporated by reference: Wolfe et al., Liquid Crystalline Polymer Compositions, Process and Products, U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,103 (Oct. 27, 1987); Wolfe et al., Liquid Crystalline Polymer Compositions, Process and Products, U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,692 (Aug. 6, 1985); Wolfe et al., Liquid Crystalline Poly(2,6-Benzothiazole) Compositions, Process and Products, U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,724 (Aug. 6, 1985); Wolfe, Liquid Crystalline Polymer Compositions, Process and Products, U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,693 (Aug. 6, 1985); Evers, Thermoxidatively Stable Articulated p-Benzobisoxazole and p-Benzobisthiazole Polymers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,359,567 (Nov. 16, 1982); Tsai et al., Method for Making Heterocyclic Block Copolymer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,432 (Mar. 25, 1986) and 11 Ency. Poly. Sci. & Eng., Polybenzothiazoles and Polybenzoxazoles, 601 (J. Wiley & Sons 1988).
Polybenzazole polymers, and particularly "rigid rod" PBZ polymers, are noted for high tensile strength, high tensile modulus and high thermal stability. However, many polybenzazole polymers are difficult to fabricate into useful articles. Rigid and semi-rigid polybenzazoles do not have glass transition temperatures at any temperature at which they are stable. Therefore, the polymers are ordinarily spun from solution to form fibers, which serve as reinforcement within a thermosetting matrix, such as epoxy resins, to form composites. However, the fibers and the cured composites are not moldable or thermoformable.
Many moldable and thermoformable polymers are known. Exemplary polymers include thermoplastic polyamides, polyimides, polyquinolines, polyquinoxalines, poly(aromatic ether ketones) and poly(aromatic ether sulfones). However, those polymers do not have the high tensile strength and modulus which are characteristic of polybenzazole polymers.
Attempts have been made to synthesize articles which combine the processability of the thermoplastic polymer with the superior physical properties of the polybenzazole polymer. To this end, molecular composites of rigid rod polybenzazole and flexible polymers have been studied. Such molecular composites are described in numerous references, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,207,407; 4,377,546; 4,631,318; 4,749,753 and 4,810,735, and Hwang et al., "Solution Processing and Properties of Molecular Composite Fibers and Films," 23 Polymer Eng. & Sci. 784 (1983); Hwang et al., "Phase Relationships of Rigid Rod Polymer/Flexible Coil Polymer/Solvent Ternary Systems," 23 Polymer Eng. & Sci. 789 (1983); and Hwang et al., "Composites on a Molecular Level: Phase Relationships, Processing and Properties," B22 J. Macromol. Sci.-Phys. 231 (1983), which are all incorporated herein by reference.
However, polybenzazole, and particularly rigid and semi-rigid polybenzazole, are incompatible with many thermoplastic polymers. When dopes containing polybenzazole and a thermoplastic polymer are coagulated, the polybenzazole agglomerates and/or phase separates. The resulting shaped articles either have poorer properties in all directions than the corresponding thermoplastic alone, or have superior properties in one direction and inferior properties in all other directions. Such compositions are useful for fibers, but not for molded articles.
What are needed are materials and processes which can be used to make molded articles containing reinforcing amounts of polybenzazole polymer which have superior properties in at least two dimensions and/or are not substantially phase separated.

Shaped articles containing copolymers of polybenzazoles


A horizontally-extending bellows for enclosing a light beam in optical interferometer apparatus and the like, which incorporates means for maintaining the bellows straight as it is extended along a horizontal path, whereby the bellows is maintained in alignment with the light beam for all lengths of the bellows.

While not limited thereto, the present invention is particularly adapted for use with optical laser interferometer apparatus wherein a light beam from a laser passes through a beam splitter, with a portion of the beam passing to a retroreflector mounted on a member movable with respect to the beam splitter. The reflected beam is then applied to an interferometer which will produce, through interference phenomena or the Doppler effect, a number of output pulses proportional to the travel of the member on which the retroreflector is mounted with respect to a fixed point. Such devices have utility, for example, in machine tools where the travel of one or more workpiece support tables must be measured.
In applications of this sort, it is essential to completely enclose the retroreflector and laser beam for all measurements of the member on which the movable retroreflector is mounted. In this respect, it is essential to reduce or eliminate contamination of the laser optics and/or environmental effects on the laser light. Oil-mist, dust, moisture and other materials present in the atmosphere have a tendency to collect on exposed optical surfaces, thus reducing the effective reflected or transmitted laser light energy. In addition, air temperature gradients, which cause the laser beam to move spatially about its line of sight, tend to reduce the effectiveness and reliability of the laser measuring device. The solution is to enclose the optics in an enclosure and to enclose the laser light beam in a flight tube.
A flight tube of this type must be sufficiently rigid to maintain a straight-line orientation when mounted in a horizontal attitude. In the past, rigid tubing has been employed as a support mechanism with one end (usually the end closest to the laser optics) held rigid. The other end is permitted to slide through a hole in the retroreflector support bracket. The problem with this technique, however, is that when the flight tube length is a minimum, the excess support tubing length extends beyond the end of a machine or the like on which it is used, thus causing a hazardous condition and wasted space. Also, rigid support tubes have a tendency to droop downwardly or bend when the flight tube is at a maximum length, thus interfering with the laser beam itself.
Theoretically, the problems encountered with rigid flight tubes comprising one rigid tube which slides within another can be obviated by means of a flexible bellows. The ordinary flexible bellows, however, will sag and cannot be maintained straight when it is extended.