A lid for a food storage container includes a lid body with a vacuum sense opening and a vent opening extending through the lid body, a releasable cover disposed over the vent opening, and a pressure-indicating protrusion. The cover impedes air flow into the container through the vent opening until the cover is released. The pressure-indicating protrusion, which has a cavity in it, is in hydraulic communication with the container through the vacuum sense opening. The pressure-indicating protrusion contracts toward the vacuum sense opening in response to negative container pressure.

Food storage can be improved by keeping food in a container under vacuum. Keeping the food in a container under vacuum helps to protect the food from certain microorganisms and pests, as well as mold and fungus growth. Furthermore, it helps prevent the food from oxidizing, thereby maintaining the moisture level and aroma of the food. However, with systems of this type it is often difficult to open the storage container because the vacuum inside the container draws on the container lid. In addition, it is often not possible for the user to recognize whether the desired vacuum is still present in the storage container. Furthermore, it can be difficult to maintain an adequate vacuum in the storage container, particularly over a prolonged period of time.
Food storage container lids with venting or aerating valves for pressure equalization during heating in a microwave oven are known. For example, EP 0 633 196 A2 describes a mechanism of this type. The venting or aerating valves can be used to prevent the build-up of overpressure in the interior of a food storage container when it is heated. Such a build-up of overpressure typically occurs when there are aqueous liquids in the interior of the container, and the liquids evaporate during heating, thereby building up an overpressure in the container interior. The result can be that sauces or other food within the container can spurt out suddenly when the container lid is opened. EP 0 633 196 A2 proposes a venting valve in the lid of the food storage container. The venting valve is to be opened before the container is placed in a microwave oven. The water vapor which develops during heating can then escape unhindered through the valve, without a corresponding build-up of vapor pressure in the interior of the sealed container. It is not intended to achieve thereby the improved storage of food under vacuum, or the indication of the pressure level in the food storage container.
In EP 0 820 939 A1, the object is to provide a food storage container with venting capability, so that food stored inside the container can be safely heated in a microwave oven with the container lid closed. Unlike EP 0 633 196 A2, a valve mechanism is described which can be opened by way of a joint like a rocker. Hence all that is required is to press in the rocker lever for the valve to open with ease. Here, too, there is no intention to use the valve mechanism to improve the storage of food under vacuum or to indicate the pressure level in the food storage container.
EP 0 644 128 A1 describes a food storage container having a container lid with a recess in which several vent openings are formed. The vent openings are closed by a seal when a vacuum exists in the holding space. The seal has pin-shaped anchor bars which project upwardly a small amount out of the recess and grow thicker at their ends. These anchor bars serve to lift the seal off the vent openings when air is to enter the holding space of the storage container from outside. Relatively high manual forces need to be applied to open this valve.
EP 0 644 128 A1 also describes a system for evacuating a container closable by a cover. EP 0 644 128 A1 describes a container with a cover that can be used to close the container and that includes a non-return valve located at the bottom of a depression. The annular periphery of the depression forms a sealing surface adapted to sealingly engage with a manually operable vacuum pump.
In accordance with FIG. 5 of EP 0 644 128 A1, if air is evacuated from the container space via the vacuum pump, then the non-return valve opens, and air flows from the container space through the valve into the vacuum pump. During the next idle stroke, after a non-return valve in the vacuum pump is closed, the air is transported outward to the atmosphere. The non-return valve in the cover closes as soon as the pressure in the container space is less than either the pressure in the vacuum pump or the atmospheric pressure. However, the non-return valve in the cover is also closed in the presence of atmospheric pressure in the container space as well as in the environment. The non-return valve opens as soon as the pressure in the vacuum pump is less than the pressure in the container space.
The non-return valve in the cover is formed by a diaphragm that is elastically pre-stressed in its initial position so that the diaphragm blocks the flow path when the diaphragm is in the rest state. If there is a sufficient vacuum in the container space, which is evidenced by the pump becoming increasingly difficult to operate, then an operator can separate the suction connection of the vacuum pump from the suction connection in the cover. This is possible because after every stroke of the vacuum pump, the non-return valve closes again so that no appreciable suction action results at the coupling connection.
In this manner, food that is located in the container space may be preserved longer than would be the case under atmospheric pressure. In the evacuated state, the cover can no longer be separated from the container because the force on the sealing surface between the cover and container is too great, due to the existing pressure difference. As a result, in order to subsequently open the container to remove the food, the vacuum in the container space must first be removed. This is achieved by manually pulling on a pin formed on the sealing sleeve until the sealing surface of the valve lifts away from the valve seat. Accompanied by hissing noises, atmospheric air is now able to flow into the container space until the pressure in the atmosphere and the pressure container space are equalized. After the pressure has been equalized, the cover can be easily removed from the container, and food can be removed from the container.
The arrangement described in EP 0 644 128 A1 can result in different vacuum pressures being produced in the container space via the manually operated vacuum pump, depending on the force exerted by an operator, and on the number of strokes that are completed at the vacuum pump. If in this process the vacuum becomes too strong in the container space, then bacteria that can attack the food can form in the container space. In fact, practice has shown that optimal storage life values may only be achieved within a certain pressure range in the container space. The arrangement described in EP 0 644 128 A1 can also result in other media (e.g. water) being transported by the vacuum pump, which can contaminate the food.
WO 88/00560 describes an opening mechanism for a plastic beverage can, and allows for a kind of visual check of pressure level. The beverage can has a plastic lid (the lids involved tend to be plastic, since one object is to avoid using metal lids) which bulges outward when the pressure inside the container is above atmospheric pressure. Such an arrangement does not allow for any quantitative conclusions about the magnitude of the pressure above atmospheric inside the container. Pressure equalization can occur by opening a venting valve, making it easier to subsequently remove the entire lid. The equalization of overpressure in the container interior (as a result of carbonated beverages, for example) plays a role in this case. This opening mechanism does not, however, allow for re-closure and the corresponding build-up of pressure.
CH 304 374 discloses a closure lid for an aluminum sterilizing container. The lid has an essentially circular-ring-shaped configuration, and is mounted on a cylindrical aluminum container. A rubber seal is placed between the edge of the lid and the upper brim of the container. In the middle of the container lid there is an additional opening which is covered by a rubber cap. The rubber cap provides a visual check, indicating whether there is a vacuum inside the container. As long as the pressure inside the container is adequately below atmospheric pressure, the rubber cap bulges inward a corresponding amount. This bulge diminishes continually as the vacuum decreases. Hence it is difficult for the observer to decide whether the pressure level inside the container is adequate for ensuring the freshness of the food inside the container.
DE 100 60 999 C1 describes a food storage container including a container lid with an opening mechanism for ventilating the evacuated container before it is opened. According to one embodiment, a sealing tongue is raised up from a vent via a driver. The sealing membrane and a pressure indicator are fastened directly on the container lid. The opening tab is connected non-releasably to the container lid via a film hinge. This mechanism provides an improved possibility for storing food under vacuum. The opening of the lid is facilitated by prior ventilation and the pressure indicator indicates the state of pressure in the container interior. However, disadvantages of this mechanism include the costly installation of the sealing components directly on the container lid, and the complicated driver mechanism of the one-way valve, which is susceptible to defects. Furthermore, the possibility of exchanging the valve mechanism is limited.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,427 describes another container evacuation system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,427 describes a vacuum container for storing food that is sealable in an airtight manner by a cover. A valve formed in a flow channel and functioning as a non-return valve is also located in the cover, as already described. The difference with respect to the previously described related art is essentially only that an electric vacuum pump held in the hand of an operator is used in the system, instead of a manually operated vacuum pump. To evacuate the container space, the pump is positioned or coupled in a sealing manner at the suction opening of the cover. The container evacuation system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,427 can result in, as described above, an undesirably high vacuum being created in the container space. In some cases, an undesirably high vacuum can adversely affect the storage life of food in the container. The vacuum pump described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,427 can also transport liquid food, for example, when the suction connection is submerged in water, cream, etc., and is then activated.


A wiper control device includes a wiper switch having a variable resistor which is switched to the respective resistance value corresponding to the respective operation mode of the wiper apparatus. An interface circuit is provided with a reference resistor and a capacitor. A microcomputer is provided with a reference charging port for changing the capacitor through the reference resistor, a detective charging port for changing the same capacitor through the variable resistor switched into various resistance values corresponding to the respective operation modes and a reading port for reading as to whether the capacitor is changed up to a predetermined potential level. The microcomputer determines the selected operation mode on the basis of a relative value calculated from the time required for charging the capacitor through the reference resistor by the reference charging port and the time required for charging the capacitor through the variable resistor of the wiper switch by the detective charging port.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a wiper control device for controlling a wiper apparatus for wiping a windshield of a motor vehicle, and more perticalarly to a wiper controller provided with a wiper switch having a variable resistor for selecting operation modes of the wiper apparatus according to corresponding resistance values of the variable resistor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a wiper control device in a type of selecting the operation modes of the wiper apparatus according to the resistance values selected through the variable resistor equipped in a mode selection switch of the wiper apparatus among the wiper control devices to control the wiper apparatus for wiping windshields of motor vehicles, there has been known a device having an analog circuit or a device having a microcomputer with an analog-digital conversion function.
However, in the device composed of the analog circuit among the aforementioned wiper control devices, many comparator circuits are required and there is a problem in that the number of elements in the circuit becomes larger and the circuit is very complicated generally. In the device having the microcomputer with the analog-digital conversion function, the number of elements becomes smaller as compared with the device having the analog circuit, but there is another problem in that it is unfavorable in the price to use the microcomputer having the analog-digital conversion function.


An improved lead screw actuator for use in applications including power vehicle windows is provided that significantly reduces the amount of machining that must be performed on the lead screw to enable secure attachment of a gear or pulley. The lead screw has a plurality of threads on its outer annular surface and a first and second axially spaced circumferential groove. A gear or pulley disposed about the lead screw has a female thread formed into an inner annular surface that is configured to engage at least one of the plurality of threads of the lead screw between the first and second grooves. A pair of rings are disposed within the first and second grooves in order to restrict axial movement of the gear or pulley on the lead screw.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lead screw actuators and, in particular, to the connection of a driven member such as a gear or pulley to the lead screw.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Conventional methods for attaching gears or pulleys to a lead screw include a press-fit relationship, keying, splining, pinning or the use of set pins or set screws. Each of these methods requires significant machining of the lead screw that increases the cost of the actuator and products incorporating the actuator.
The inventors herein have recognized a need for a lead screw actuator and a method for attaching a driven member to a lead screw that will minimize and/or eliminate the above-identified deficiencies.

Actuator structure and method for attaching a gear or pulley to lead screw


An apparatus for scanning and sorting tobacco leaves includes a conveyor to convey a flow of tobacco leaves. The flow of tobacco leaves includes acceptable and unacceptable leaves and undesirable particles. An air flow source lifts and accelerates the flow of leaves and particles to a speed at which the leaves and particles are separated. A duct contains the lifted and accelerated flow. A scanning device scans the flow in the duct and generates a signal upon detection of an unacceptable leaf and/or undesirable particle. A rejection device responds to the signal and forces the unacceptable leaf and/or undesirable particle from the duct. A method of scanning and sorting tobacco leaves includes conveying a flow of tobacco leaves including acceptable and unacceptable leaves and undesirable particles, lifting and accelerating the flow to a speed at which the leaves and particles are separated, scanning the separated leaves and particles to detect unacceptable leaves and undesirable particles, and forcing unacceptable leaves and/or undesirable particles from the accelerated flow of leaves. The flow may be accelerated to a speed of between 4,000-6,000 ft/min. The scanning device may be an optical or laser scanning device that scans the flow between 2,000-12,000 times per second.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for scanning and sorting tobacco leaves. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for processing tobacco leaves by scanning the leaves and removing unacceptable leaves and other contaminants that are detected.
2. Description of the Related Art
Tobacco leaves obtained from farmers include discolored or damaged leaves and other contaminants which must be removed during the initial processing of the tobacco. Initial processing of tobacco leaves includes dividing the flow of tobacco over many slow moving conveyors. One or more inspectors were stationed at each conveyor to visually inspect each leaf and manually remove undesirable leaves and other contaminants, such as stems, stone, or portions of latex gloves used by tobacco leaf harvesters. This system of initial processing was costly as it required a lot of space, equipment and manpower. The system was also inefficient and inconsistent because the inspectors are unable to give full attention to every leaf and particle, despite the generally slow moving conveyors. The system also relied on the subjective judgment of the inspectors to identify and remove discolored or damaged leaves and other contaminants.
Machines were developed in the early 1970's to scan the flow of tobacco leaves on the multiple conveyors. The machines scanned the flow using light at different wavelengths. The machines were able to detect and reject different colors, as selected by the operators. Although the machines performed adequately, they were subject to changes in the light source, effects of ambient lighting, shadows and drift of the calibration parameters, which resulted in inconsistent performance. The machines were largely abandoned in the 1980's and human inspectors returned at a reduced level.
Technology improved in the 1990's and more efficient and consistent scanning devices were developed. These scanning devices used traditional optics with independent light sources and lasers. The scanning devices are used in many industries, and proved successful in scanning strip-tobacco and stems. However, each device is extremely expensive.
A need exists for a machine for scanning tobacco leaves to reject unacceptable (e.g., discolored or damaged) leaves and/or other undesirable particles before they are threshed into multiple small pieces. To divide the product over multiple conveyors in order to thin the flow enough so that each leaf can be viewed individually would require 50-100 machines per plant. The conveyor speed would also be limited because beyond a certain speed the leaves become airborne and cease to be conveyed. The cost of this many machines, the slow processing speed, and the space required would make plant construction and operation prohibitively expensive.

Apparatus for scanning and sorting tobacco leaves


A control circuit (1) includes two input terminals (2, 3) for respectively electrically connecting with the active and neutral conductors (4, 5) of a mains power source (6). Two output terminals (7, 8) electrically connect with a load in the form of a two pin domestic electrical appliance (9). Conductors (4, 5) terminate at a domestic power outlet socket, and terminals (7, 8) are incorporated into a two pin plug for insertion into that socket. That is, terminals (7, 8) include elongate bundled conductors for extending between the outlet socket and the circuit. Appliance (9) has a conductive component, in this instance a housing (10) that, under normal operating conditions, is electrically insulated or otherwise electrically isolated from conductors (4, 5). The housing provides a reference point for circuit (1), and is electrically connected to that circuit by way of a conductor (11).

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
The distribution of electrical power across an electricity grip from a generation site to a consumption site typically occurs by way of a high voltage AC signal that is conveyed by a plurality of coextensive conductors that are suspended on distribution structures such as poles, towers and the like. It is also known to use a neutral conductor that coextends with the other conductors for providing a common reference across the grid. Each, or most of, the structures provide an earth link for the neutral conductor by way of an earth stake that is electrically connected to the neutral conductor. This is referred to as a multiple carting neutral system (MEN) and it provides a convenient means for providing fault protection for the grid and protection of the assets within that grid, as well as protection for those persons who come into contact with those structures.
At a location close to the consumption site, the voltages are transformed to a lower AC voltage that is typically delivered to the site over two wires for a single phase system—an active and a neutral—or four wires for a three phase system—three actives and a neutral. At the consumption site use is made of a separate earth which is often referenced from an earth stake at that site. The neutral conductor is also tied to that earth.
A variety of protection devices have been developed for detecting and protecting against a fault condition associated with a mains wiring systems for commercial and domestic sites such as the consumption site referred to above. These devices generally detect an over-current condition, in that the current in the active conductor exceeds a predetermined threshold, or increases at a rate that suggests there is a low resistance current path between the active conductor and one or both of the neutral or earth conductors.
Notwithstanding these protection devices, there are still many electrocutions and electric shocks that occur due to electrical faults, whether those faults arise from the wiring used at the consumption site, the electrical appliance, the conditions of use of the appliance, or a combination of those factor. As it turns out, the most common form of electrocution is due to a person creating a conductive path between the active conductor and the earth.

Control circuit and a method for electrically connecting a load to a power source


A non-clogging type pump impeller includes: a fluid passage provided in an approximately cylindrical body and connecting a suction port to a discharge port. The fluid passage has a vortex shape as viewed from an axial direction. A first recess, which is sunk downwardly in the axial direction, is formed on a first end surface of the approximately cylindrical body so as to surround a boss. A second recess, which is sunk upwardly in the axial direction, is formed on a second end surface of the approximately cylindrical body so as to surround the suction port. At least one communication hole provides fluid communication between the first recess and the second recess. Sewage in the second recess is introduced into the first recess through the at least one communication hole to thereby effectively remove an air pocket trapped on the first end surface of the impeller and in the first recess.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a pump impeller suitable for use in a submersible pump for sewage treatment, and more particularly to an impeller capable of effectively removing air trapped in a region on a rear-surface side of the impeller. The present invention also relates to a submersible pump having such impeller.
2. Background Art
Conventionally, there is a submersible pump for use in sewage treatment installed in a manhole. Such a submersible pump for sewage treatment is installed with its suction pipe located in a depression which is slightly below a floor surface in the manhole, as shown in, for example, a patent document 1. In such a submersible pump, if a water level in the manhole is not enough, air pocket (i.e., trapped air) is formed on an inner surface of a pump chamber which houses an impeller therein or on a rear-surface side (i.e., an upper-surface side) of the impeller. This air pocket can be a cause of idling of the pump. Moreover, the air pocket may prevent sufficient supply of liquid (i.e., the sewage) to a mechanical seal of the pump, thus causing insufficient lubrication. In order to prevent such problems, the conventional submersible pump has an air vent valve near a ceiling of the pump chamber. This air vent valve can remove the air pocket remaining on the inner surface of the pump chamber or on the rear-surface side of the impeller.
The patent document 1 discloses, as one example of conventional submersible pump, a vortex type having a relatively flat main shroud of the impeller (the shroud is a plate that covers the rear-surface side). In this type of submersible pump, even if the air pocket is formed on the main shroud of the impeller, such air pocket can be removed sufficiently through the above-described air vent valve.
As another example of conventional submersible pump, there is a submersible pump having a non-clogging type impeller, as shown in a patent document 2. This non-clogging type impeller has a single vane with a fluid passage formed in its approximately cylindrical body. The fluid passage has a vortex shape as viewed from an axial direction of the impeller. In order to prevent the pump from being clogged with foreign substances when pumping the sewage, the fluid passage has a cross section with a substantially constant dimension such that the foreign substances are less likely to be caught in the impeller.

Pump impeller and submersible pump having such pump impeller


A probe made of copper and supported by a movable arm via a load cell and a jig has a joining surface having good wettability with solder at the tip end thereof and has a covering portion having poor wettability with the solder around the circumferential periphery. The solder and flux are stuck to the joining surface and the solder is put into contact with a bump electrode to be tested on a substrate in this state. Then, the solder is melted by an induction heating coil and then cooled down and solidified to join the bump electrode to be tested to the probe. The bump electrode is broken by pulling up the probe in this state at a constant speed and at the same time the pulling force exerted on the probe is measured by the load cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for testing the junction strength of an electrode formed on the surface of a substrate, for example, a bump electrode formed on a flip chip IC, to evaluate the junction strength of the same.
2. Description of Related Art
For example, U.S. Pat. No. proposes directly testing the junction strength of soldered bump electrodes by directly pulling the soldered bump electrodes on a flip chip IC with a pointed probe one by one. To be more specific, the above-described U.S. patent discloses a process comprising providing that a probe made of material having good wettability with solder, such as copper, striking the tip end of the probe in or pressing the end of the probe on the soldered bump electrode, heating the probe to melt the bump electrode, and cooling and solidifying to join the probe to the soldered bump electrode, and exerting a pulling force on the probe when the probe is pulled in a junction state. The pulling force is measured by a load cell.
However, in cases in which the above-described apparatus is actually used, it often has large variations in the measurement results and, hence, generally reduces reliability. Through experimental tests and analyses, it was found that those variations are caused by the amount of solder between the probe and the soldered bump electrode.
That is, since in this apparatus the junction between the probe and the bump electrode is made only at the soldered portion for composing the electrode, the amount of solder for joining the probe and bump electrode is relatively reduced. In the state in which the amount of solder for joining the probe to the electrode is small, the junction strength between them is apt to be insufficient and, hence, there may be many cases in which the junction strength between the probe and the bump electrode is smaller than that of the bump electrode to an IC substrate.
Moreover, it was found also that, even if sufficient junction strength between the probe and the bump electrode is provided, when the probe is pulled in the state where the amount of solder for joining the probe to the bump electrode is small, stress concentration is produced at the portion the cross sectional area of which is reduced by the deformation caused by the pulling and the above-described solder is broken before the bump electrode is separated from the substrate. That is, in the state where the small amount of solder is small, as described above, there may be cases where the pulling strength of the soldered portion is smaller than the junction strength of the bump electrode to the IC substrate. In such cases, it is also difficult to accurately measure the junction strength of the soldered bump electrode.
Furthermore, the above apparatus has the drawbacks that an object to be tested is limited to a soldered bump electrode having solder on the surface layer thereof and, hence, it is difficult to evaluate the junction strength of a gold-made bump electrode or a copper-made electrode, which results in the lessened range of applications.

Method and apparatus for testing junction strength of electrode


A semiconductor electro-optical phase shifter comprises a central zone (I1, I2) having a minimum doping level; first and second lateral zones (N+, P+) flanking the central zone along a first axis, respectively N and P-doped, so as to form a P-I-N junction between the first and second lateral zones. The central zone comprises first and second optical action zones (I1, I2) separated along the first axis. The second lateral zone is doped discontinuously along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Two electrical control terminals (A, C) are provided, one in contact with the first lateral zone, and the other in contact with doped portions of the second lateral zone.

FIG. 1 shows an optical modulator based upon the Mach-Zehnder interferometer principle, commonly referred to as a MZI modulator. The modulator includes an optical waveguide receiving an optical signal with power Pin, which is divided into two branches 12a and 12b at a point S. The two branches come together again at a point J. Each branch carries half of the original optical power.
Each branch comprises a static electro-optical phase shifter (SPS), i.e. (SPSa and SPSb), and a dynamic electro-optical phase shifter (DPS), i.e. (DPSa and DPSb). The static phase shifters SPS are used to define an initial phase difference φ0 between the two optical waveguide branches. They are controlled by respective bias signals IBa and IBb. The dynamic phase shifters DPS are used to perform a differential modulation around the initial conditions defined by the SPS phase shifters. They are controlled by respective modulation signals M and M/ varying in phase opposition. The waves from both branches of the modulator are added at point J. The resulting wave has a power of Pin·cos2(Δφ/2), neglecting the optical losses, where Δφ is the instantaneous phase difference between the waves of the two branches.
FIG. 2 shows the waveguide branches 12a and 12b incorporating phase shifters SPS and DPS, shown in gray. As shown, the waveguides are formed in transparent islands, made of intrinsic semiconductor material, having an inverted "T" section, the central portion of which transmits the optical beam. The phase shifters are configured to replace waveguide segments and have the same inverted "T" cross-section. The edges of the phase shifters bear electrical contacts used to control the phase shifters—they usually extend above the plane of the waveguide, as shown, to reach the metal levels.
FIG. 3A shows a DPS phase shifter referred to as a high-speed phase modulator (HSPM). The cross-section plane is perpendicular to the axis of the optical waveguide. A circle indicated with a dashed line, at the thicker central region, represents the area crossed by the optical beam. The phase shifter comprises a semiconductor structure, typically silicon, forming a P-N junction 14 in a plane parallel to the axis of the waveguide, and offset relative thereto. The junction 14 is shown, for example, at the right side face of the waveguide. A P-doped zone extends to the left of junction 14, which has a cross-section conforming to the cross-section of the waveguide, namely elevated in the center and lower at the edge. Zone P ends at its left by a P+ doped raised area, bearing an anode contact A. An N-doped zone extends to the right of the junction 14, conforming to the cross section of the waveguide. The zone N ends to the right by an N+ doped raised area, bearing a cathode contact C. The structure of the phase shifter may be formed on an insulating substrate, for example, a buried oxide layer BOX.
For controlling the phase shifter of FIG. 3A, a voltage is applied between the anode and cathode contacts A, C, which reverse biases the junction 14 (the '+' on the cathode and the '−' on the anode). This configuration causes a displacement of electrons e from the N region to the cathode and of holes h from the P region to the anode, and the creation of a depletion region D in the vicinity of the junction 14. The carrier concentration is thus based upon the magnitude of the bias voltage in the area crossed by the optical beam, which results in a corresponding modification of the refractive index of this area.
FIG. 3B shows a P-I-N junction SPS phase shifter. The P and N-doped central regions of the structure of FIG. 3A have been replaced by a single intrinsic semiconductor zone I, in practice, a zone having a minimal P doping level. For controlling this phase shifter, a current is applied between the anode and cathode contacts A and C, which forward biases the junction (the '−' on the cathode and the '+' on the anode). A current is established between the anode and the cathode, thereby causing the injection of carriers in the intrinsic zone I (holes h from the P+ region to zone I and electrons e from the N+ region to zone I). The carrier concentration, i.e. the refractive index, is thus changed as a function of the current in the area crossed by the optical beam. PIN phase shifters have a slow response compared to HSPM shifters, but they offer a wider range of adjustment, which is why they are used to set the quiescent conditions of the modulator.
An MZI modulator may achieve in theory a modulation frequency of several tens of gigahertz. However, this frequency may be affected by the matching between shifters DPSa and DPSb, and the matching between the control signals M and M/. As shown in FIG. 2, the shifters DPSa and DPSb may be inserted into separate waveguide branches. The fabrication constraints for these branches may impose a gap between the branches of the order of a millimeter, which is a considerable distance at the scale of the integration technologies used for the circuits producing the control signals. As a result, it may be difficult to achieve the desired optical and electrical matching.

Dual static electro-optical phase shifter having two control terminals


A shredder, crusher, hammermill, ringmill or the like is provided with a multi-sided rotor shaft to which spider arms and hammers are mounted. The rotor shaft has at least one pair, and preferably two or more pairs, of opposing sides. The hammers are pivotally mounted between supports in the shape of spiders or discs. The supports include openings which have straight sides corresponding to the number of straight sides on the rotor shaft. The straight sides of the support openings engage the rotor shaft straight sides. Hence, the supports are rotationally fixed in place relative to the rotor shaft without the use of keys and keyways, pins, bolts, or other types of fasteners, allowing for easier assembly and reduced maintenance costs for the crusher.

This invention relates to crushers, such as shredders, hammermills and ringmills used to process ferrous and non-ferrous scrap material, and, in particular, to an improved rotor shaft for use with the crusher/shredder.
Crushers, shredders, hammermills, ringmills, and the like, are often used to process scrap material and stone, to crush or reduce the size of the material so that it can more easily be handled by other equipment for further processing or use.
Such crushers typically include a plurality of hammers or rings mounted about a rotatable shaft. As the shaft rotates, the hammers or rings engage and crush whatever media is introduced into the crusher. The hammers or rings can be mounted between supports in the form of spiders or center discs which are positionally fixed relative to the rotor shaft. Typically, the rotor shaft is cylindrical. The use of a cylindrical shaft requires that the supports be positively keyed to the shaft, for example, using a square or rectangular key on the support and a corresponding keyway on the shaft, so that the support cannot rotate relative to the shaft. The use of a keyway weakens the main shaft and makes removal of the supports and end discs a much more difficult task. Further, the key will weaken over time, and eventually the rotor assembly will shift between the shredder housings. Obviously, this can necessitate a repair of the crusher/shredder, requiring that operation of the crusher/shredder be stopped for the duration of the repair. Depending on the location of the support which is no longer positively fixed with respect to the shaft, the crusher/shredder can be shut down for a considerable period of time.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The invention relates to a growth substrate comprising at least one layer of short transversally extending mineral wool fibers and at least one surface layer of mineral wool fibers, wherein preferably the layer of short transversally extending mineral wool fibers is interposed between two surface layers of mineral wool fibers, or wherein preferably the layer of short transversally extending mineral wool fibers is interposed between two surface layers of horizontally extending mineral wool fibers.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to growth substrates which predominantly consists of mineral wool fibres formed into a coherent matrix and mutually bonded by a cured binding agent and if appropriate impregnated with a wetting agent for rapid water uptake before use. These mineral wool fibres may be stone wool fibres, glass fibres, slag fibres and the like.
2) Description of the Prior Art
The air and water distribution within the growth substrate is dependent on the hydraulic pressure over the height of the growth substrate, but also dependent on the internal surface.
The internal surface is a function of the density of the growth substrate, of the fibre diameter of the mineral wool fibres used and of the content of non-fibre material (shot).
Growth substrates have a total density within the range of 5-200 kg/m.sup.3, preferably between 20-180 kg/m.sup.3, more preferably 40-120 kg/m.sup.3, and practically 50-70 kg/m.sup.3.
The fibre diameter is normally within the range of 1-20 micrometer, preferably 2-10 micrometer, such as 3-8 micrometer.
The amount of shot varies between 0-50 Wt % such as 0-40 Wt %. For stone wool it is normally 30-35 Wt % and for glass wool it is 5-10 Wt %.
Furthermore the aspect ratio (length over diameter ratio) is normally less than 5 for shot.
The value for the internal surface varies between 5,000 and 20,000 m.sup.2 /m.sup.3. A high internal surface is in the range of 16,000-20,000, low in the range of 5,000-8,000 and moderate in the range of 9,000-15,000 m.sup.2 /m.sup.3.
The invention has for its object to provide new growth substrates which possess better properties, such as a better water distribution, a better air distribution, a better root penetration and distribution, and further a better compression or bending strength.

Growth substrate comprising short transversally extending mineral wool fibres


A differential transmission apparatus. The differential transmission apparatus includes a base, a fixed gear, a rotating member, an output shaft, a reduction gear, an acceleration gear, a shifting device, at least one transmission shaft, at least one first gear, at least one second gear, and at least one third gear. The fixed gear is fixed on the base. The rotating member is adjacent to the fixed gear. The output shaft rotatably fits in the rotating member, fixed gear, and base. The reduction gear is slidably disposed on the output shaft. The acceleration gear is slidably disposed on the output shaft and connected to the reduction gear. The shifting device is disposed on the base and output shaft. The first, second, and third gears are fixed on the transmission shaft and the third gear is between the second gear and the rotating member.

The present invention relates to a differential transmission apparatus, and in particular to a differential transmission apparatus that provides functions of reduction and accelerated output.
A gear reduction mechanism is commonly used in power transmission devices. Gear reduction mechanism can reduce rotational speed of a power source, such as a motor or an engine, and thereby increase torque output therefrom.
To obtain a high reduction ratio, a conventional gear reduction mechanism requires multiple gear sets matching with each other and complex components. Moreover, since the conventional gear reduction mechanism has a complicated housing to accommodate the gear sets and complex components, the size or volume thereof is inevitably large. The total weight of the conventional gear reduction mechanism is thus increased, causing inconvenience in application with other mechanical devices requiring reduction output.
Additionally, the conventional gear reduction mechanism has many drawbacks as follows. Manufacture, processing, and assembly of components can be complicated, and material for components not easily obtained. Further, when multiple gear sets are inter-matched, loss of power transmission among gears, backlash between gears, and assembly or accumulated errors can directly affect operative precision of the conventional gear reduction mechanism.


A container transport system includes a gooseneck assembly for towing by a medium duty truck and a dolly for supporting the weight of an intermodal freight container. The gooseneck assembly includes a pair of platforms each configured to support a corner casting of the transported intermodal freight container and having a post matingly received through a bottom orifice of the supported corner casting. A hoist assembly is provided to lift an end of the intermodal freight container for placing the container on the dolly or removing the container from the dolly. A pair of barrel slide bolt assemblies is provided for securing the intermodal freight container in place atop the platforms. In order to facilitate placement of the dolly beneath the freight container, the dolly also includes a gin pole assembly, which is stowable in a recess so as to not interfere with placement of the container.

In addition to their primary use for the transportation of goods, intermodal freight containers are known to provide extremely secure storage structures. To be sure, a break in generally requires a blow torch or dynamite. As a downside, however, even a small intermodal freight container weighs several thousand pounds. As a result, an expensive and special use tilt bed roll off truck, a small crane or a huge forklift is generally required to move and position such containers and transportation of even empty containers is virtually limited to semi trailer type trucks aided by loading equipment at each end of the journey. Even if such trucking facilities are available, transportation of substantially empty intermodal freight containers is extremely wasteful as a result of fuel consumption alone.
With the shortcomings of the prior art clearly in mind, it is an overriding object of the present invention to improve over the prior art by providing a shipping container transport system that enables a medium duty truck to be utilized for the efficient transportation over any distance, short or long, of a substantially empty intermodal freight container. Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a shipping container transport system that also makes provision for picking up and placing containers. Still further, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a shipping container transport system that is capable of picking up and placing containers with the most limited access to the sides of the container, thereby accommodating containers that cannot be handled by forklifts.


A cage of a cylindrical roller bearing includes an annular section, a plurality of pillars that extend axially in an integrated, continuous manner from the inside surface of the annular section, and a plurality of pockets, which are formed between the inner circumferential direction side faces of adjacent pillars, and hold the cylindrical rollers in a freely rotatable manner. The circumferential direction side faces of the pillars incorporate a circular arc surface formed in both the inside and outside diameter directions from the pocket PCD which passes through the pocket center of the pocket, and a roll-off section (lubricant reservoir) provided at the tip end inner circumferential section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cylindrical roller bearing comprising a cage made of a synthetic resin, and particularly to a cylindrical roller bearing used to support a rotating member that rotates at high speed, such as the main spindle in a machine tool.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known that in machine tools such as machining centers, CNC lathes, and milling machines, the main spindle is usually supported by a bearing in a freely rotatable manner relative to the housing. The orientation of this main spindle is divided into two broad categories, vertical (where the axis lies along the vertical) and horizontal (where the axis lies along the horizontal), depending on the type of machine. Furthermore, although dependent on the actual conditions of use, oil lubrication such as grease lubrication and air oil lubrication and the like are typically used as the lubricating method for the bearing which supports the spindle, and combined angular contact ball bearings or cylindrical roller bearings or the like are the most widely used types of bearing.
In this case, cylindrical roller bearings used to support the spindle of the machine tool typically comprise a cage, which holds a plurality of cylindrical rollers at predetermined intervals between an inner ring and an outer ring. Conventionally, cages machined from high strength cast brass have been the most widely used, but from the perspective of factors such as lubricant degradation due to abrasive powder produced by the cage during operation, and weight reduction, a move has recently begun toward cages made of a synthetic resin.
With this transition in technology, one known example of a synthetic resin cage that is currently in use within cylindrical roller bearings is the so-called comb type cage, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 11-166544 (referred to as patent reference 1 below) and International Patent Publication No. WO 03/029670 (referred to as patent reference 2 below). This comb type cage comprises a ring section, a plurality of pillars extending in one axial direction from the inside surface of the ring section, and a plurality of pockets formed between the surfaces on the circumferential direction side of pillars positioned adjacently in the circumferential direction, the pockets holding the cylindrical rollers in a freely rotatable manner. However, in a synthetic resin cage of this construction, because the tips of the pillars are free edges, the pillars undergo a comparatively large amount of outward elastic deformation due to the effect of centrifugal force generated during rotation, particularly at high rotation speeds, and the inner circumferential sections of these tips on the circumferential direction side faces can come into strong contact (abnormal contact) with the rolling contact surfaces of the cylindrical rollers, causing a deficiency of oil film between the contacting parts, which can generate abnormal abrasion or a rise in the bearing temperature.
In response to these problems, in the patent references 1 and 2, the circumferential direction side face 14b11 of a pillar 14b that extends in the radial direction from an annular section 14a of a cage 14 is divided into an outside diameter region and an inside diameter region, with the rolling element PCD that passes through the center O of a pocket 14c acting as the boundary, as shown in FIG. 23. The outside diameter region is formed as a circular arc surface (cylindrical surface) 14b11 that follows the rolling contact surface of the cylindrical roller 13, and the inside diameter region is formed as a straight surface 14b12 along the entire radial length, in parallel with a radial line r1 that passes through the pocket center O, thereby preventing contact pressure from occurring in the radial direction between the inside diameter region 14b12 of the circumferential direction side face 14b1 of the pillar 14 and the rolling contact surface of the cylindrical roller 13 when the centrifugal force generated during rotation causes outward elastic deformation of the pillar 14b.
Examples of essential properties required of a main spindle in a machine tool are the ability to undergo high speed rotation {normally where the dmn value (=pitch circle diameter of the rolling element (mm)×number of revolutions (rpm)) is at least 1,000,000} and that non repeatable run-out (NRRO) is minimal, and these characteristics are primarily determined by the axial bearing function of the bearing that supports the spindle. However, for the reasons described below, with the cylindrical roller bearings disclosed in the patent references 1 and 2, it is difficult to obtain the level of non repeatable run-out (NRRO) required for the main spindle of a machine tool.
In other words, in the cage 14 of the cylindrical roller bearings disclosed in the patent references 1 and 2, as described above, the region of the circumferential direction side face 14b1 of the pillar 14b from the rolling element PCD toward the inside diameter is formed as a straight surface 14b12 along the entire radial length, meaning that contact pressure in the radial direction does not occur between the inside diameter region 14b12 of the circumferential direction side face 14b1 and the rolling contact surface of the cylindrical roller 13 when the centrifugal force produced during rotation causes outward elastic deformation of the pillar 14b. However, although this construction is effective in terms of preventing abnormal contact between the circumferential direction side face 14b1 of the pillar 14b and the rolling contact surface of the cylindrical roller 13, forming the inside diameter region of the circumferential direction side face 14b1 of the pillar 14b as the straight surface 14b12 described above has the result of promoting further outward elastic deformation of the pillar 14b. In other words, by forming the inside diameter region of the circumferential direction side face 14b1 of the pillar 14b as the straight surface 14b12 described above, there are fewer locations where outward elastic deformation is restricted than in the normal pocket shape (in which the entire region of the circumferential direction side face of the pillar is formed as a circular arc surface that follows the rolling contact surface of the cylindrical roller). Furthermore, the circumferential direction wall thickness of the inside diameter region of the pillar 14b is also reduced, which lowers the rigidity of the pillar 14b, resulting in the promotion of outward elastic deformation by the pillar 14b.
FIG. 24 shows a schematic representation of a state where the pillars 14b of the cage 14 of the cylindrical roller bearing disclosed in the patent references 1 and 2 have undergone outward elastic deformation due to the centrifugal force generated during high speed rotation (the solid lines), and a state prior to such deformation (the dashed lines). As shown in the figure, with the cage 14 of the cylindrical roller bearing disclosed in the patent references 1 and 2, when the pillar 14b undergoes outward elastic deformation, the pocket gap g between the circumferential direction side face 14b1 of the pillar 14b and the rolling contact surface of the cylindrical roller 13 increases from the initial gap (the gap prior to deformation). Moreover, as a result of the promotion of further outward elastic deformation of the pillar 14b described above, the pocket gap g is further increased. An increase in this pocket gap g causes a reduction in the equalization capacity of the cylindrical roller and run-out of the center of revolution of the cylindrical roller, and non repeatable run-out occurs, leading to unstable shaking of the inner ring. In particular, with roller guiding cages, increasing the degree of freedom of the cage in the radial direction produces locations where the pocket gap g increases and locations where the pocket gap g shrinks, and the positions of these locations are not constant, which increases the degree of non repeatable run-out. This non repeatable run-out (NRRO) increases in proportion to the number of revolutions, and causes a variety of problems, including a deterioration in the machining accuracy of tools mounted to the main spindle of the machine tool.
FIG. 25 is a representative longitudinal cross-sectional view (FIG. 1 in the patent reference 1) showing the relative dimensional relationship between the annular section 14a and the pillar 14b of the cage 14, and the cylindrical roller 13 in the cylindrical roller bearing described in the patent references 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 25, the length (thickness) Ta in the axial direction of the annular section 14a of the cage 14 is set to approximately 25% of the length Td in the axial direction of the cylindrical roller 13. In other words, as can be understood from the other diagrams in the patent references 1 and 2, in conventional synthetic resin cages, the dimensional relationship above was generally set to a value of approximately 25%. The reasons for such settings are because the relationship between the length Te in the axial direction of the inner ring 11 and the outer ring 12 and the length Td in the axial direction of the cylindrical roller 13, taking into consideration the function of the cylindrical roller bearing, is substantially the same value each time. If the design is based on this value and the characteristics of the resin material of the cage 14, then the length Ta in the axial direction of the annular section 14a of the cage 14 must naturally be set to approximately 25% of the length Td in the axial direction of the cylindrical roller 13.
However, while a cylindrical roller bearing according to this conventional design demonstrates adequate capabilities at low rotation speeds, at high rotation speeds there is a danger of elastic deformation of the pillars 14b of the cage 14 causing the bearing temperature to rise excessively. Furthermore, even when the method disclosed above in the patent references 1 and 2 is used, and a straight surface 14b12 is formed on the pillar 14b of the cage 14 with the conventional design described above, at high rotating speeds in excess of 13,000 rpm or thereabouts for example (or when the dmn value exceeds 1,650,000 or thereabouts), the bearing temperature may still rise excessively. It is fair to say that the cause of this phenomenon is the effect of centrifugal force causing the pillars 14b of the cage 14 to undergo a large amount of outward elastic deformation.
Furthermore, the inventors of the present invention have discovered, as a result of considering measures for preventing contact between the pillars 14b of the cage 14 and the cylindrical roller 13, that the phenomenon wherein the bearing temperature rises excessively at high rotational speeds due to elastic deformation of the pillars 14b depends largely on the length Ta in the axial direction of the annular section 14a of the cage 14. Accordingly, if the dimensional relationship between the length Ta in the axial direction of the annular section 14a of the cage 14 and the length Td in the axial direction of the cylindrical roller 13 is set as in conventional designs, there is a concern that this may greatly impede the ability to adequately reduce the elastic deformation of the pillars 14b caused by the effect of an extremely large amount of centrifugal force.
In addition, with such a cage 14 of a cylindrical roller bearing, if the pillars 14b are held such that they are in contact with the cylindrical roller 13, then the relationship between the two causes abrasion and the like due to contact resistance and sliding resistance, and to counter this, a film of a lubricant such as grease or air-oil is formed between the two. However, when a simple straight surface 14b12 is formed on the circumferential direction side face 14b1 of the pillar 14b, as in the cage 14 of the cylindrical roller bearing disclosed in the patent references 1 and 2, contact during rotation, and particularly contact or sliding during rotation over long periods of time, increases the probability of a deficiency of oil film occurring between the pillar 14b and the cylindrical roller 13, which inevitably leads to a deterioration in the lubrication properties. Despite this, the above patent references give no consideration to countermeasures for reliably preventing deterioration of the lubrication properties, and there is not even any indication or suggestion that the inventors were aware of such a problem. At present, an appropriate solution to this problem is still required.


A driving method includes providing a field emission cathode device. The field emission cathode device includes a cathode electrode, an electron emission layer electrically connected to the cathode electrode, a first gate electrode spaced from the cathode electrode by a first dielectric layer, and a second grid electrode spaced from the first gate electrode by a second dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer has a second opening. A first voltage is supplied to the cathode electrode, a second voltage is supplied to the first gate electrode, and a third voltage is supplied to the second grid electrode, to extract electrons from the electron emission layer to a space formed by the second opening, until the electrons of the space saturate. The third voltage is greater than the second voltage, such that the electrons of the space are emitted through the second grid electrode.

1. Technical Field
The present application relates to a field emission cathode device and a driving method.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A conventional field emission cathode device includes an insulating substrate, a cathode electrode fixed on the insulating substrate, a plurality of electron emitters fixed on the cathode electrode, a dielectric layer fixed on the insulating substrate, and a gate electrode fixed on the dielectric layer. The gate electrode provides an electrical potential to extract electrons from the plurality of electron emitters. When a field emission display using the field emission cathode device is operated, an anode electrode provides an electrical potential to accelerate the extracted electrons to bombard the anode electrode for luminance.
The gate electrode generally has an opening, such that the plurality of electron emitters is exposed. Therefore, the electrons extracted from the plurality of electron emitters will directly go through the opening of the gate electrode to bombard the anode electrode. However, it is difficult to control emission of the extracted electrons to the anode electrode. The emission of the extracted electrons is uneven and unsteady.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide a field emission cathode device and a driving method of the field emission cathode device to overcome the shortcomings.

Field emission cathode device and driving method


In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a ferroelectric LC layer is formed between first and second substrates of a LC panel. The LC panel is cooled at a low temperature, for example at −20° C., where the ferroelectric LC maintains a smetic phase. Due to the cooling, molecules are uniformly aligned for their early alignment state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal panel for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal panel that implements a ferroelectric liquid crystal.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
LCD devices have characteristics of low power consumption and light weight and are widely used for a word processor, a personal computer, and a navigator system and the like.
Conventional LCD devices include display panels. Such display panels have upper and lower substrates that are attached with each other, and a liquid crystal (LC), such as a nematic, a smetic, or a cholesteric liquid crystal, interposed there between. Such display panels are operationally divided into a plurality of liquid crystal cells. On exterior surfaces of the upper and lower substrates, polarizers or retardation films are selectively attached. The liquid crystal display devices use an electro-optic effect of the liquid crystal.
A major consideration in the design of liquid crystal cells is the characteristics of the particular liquid crystal that is used. A good liquid crystal should have a fast response time, a good gray scale, a wide viewing angle, and low driving voltages. A nematic LC, a smetic LC, and a cholesteric LC are conventionally used for the LCD devices.
Among the various types of TN liquid crystal display, 90° twisted TN mode could satisfy neither wide viewing angle nor fast response time. An in-plane switching (IPS) mode has the wide viewing angle, but the response time thereof is too slow. The slow response time of the LCD results in decrease of the luminance and motion picture. To overcome the problem of the slow response time, various technologies are proposed. For the fast response time, LTN (low twisted nematic) and OCB (optically compensated birefringence) modes are studied. However, these technologies could not provide such a fast response time as CRT's in spite of further adopting a film compensation method.
The ferroelectric LC including anti-ferroelectric LC, surface stabilized ferroelectric (SSF) LC and a deformed helix anti-ferroelectric (DHF) LC becomes of interest due to their great optical properties. The ferroelectric LC basically has a chiral smetic C (SmC*) structure and shows a very fast response time of below 1m/sec.
Conventionally, in each molecular layer of the SmC* structure, or the liquid crystal in the SmC* phase, the longitudinal axes of the molecules tilt with respect to the layer normal. When a first electric field is applied to the ferroelectric LC in the SmC* phase, dipole moments of the molecules rotate in a definite direction according to the direction of the first electric field such that the molecules have a uniform alignment direction. Once aligned, the ferroelectric molecules maintain their alignment direction after the electric field is stopped.
In addition, when a second electric field having an opposite direction to that of the first electric field is applied to the once aligned ferroelectric LC molecules in the SmC* phase, the molecules quickly rotate to have a different alignment direction. This means that the molecular alignment of the ferroelectric LC depends on the direction of the electric field. Due to a spontaneous polarization of itself, the ferroelectric LC has a fast response time.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional LCD panel. As shown in FIG. 1, the LC panel has lower and upper substrates 2 and 4 with a LC layer 10 interposed between the lower and upper substrates 2 and 4. The lower substrate 2 has the TFT "S" as a switching element to change an orientation of the LC molecules and includes a pixel electrode 14 to apply a voltage to the LC layer 10 according to signals of the TFT "S". The upper substrate 4 has a color filter 8 of implementing colors and a common electrode 12 on the color filter 8. The common electrode 12 serves as an electrode for applying a voltage to the LC layer 10. The pixel electrode 14 is arranged over a pixel portion "P", i.e., a display area. Further, to prevent leakage of the LC injected into a space between the two substrates 2 and 4, the two substrates 2 and 4 are sealed by a sealant 6.
FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the SmC* structure that is aligned at its early state. As shown, each molecule is tilted with respect a normal line 23 normal to the layer.
FIG. 3 shows a molecular alignment of the ferroelectric LC. As shown, longitudinal axes of the molecules 31 gradually rotate to form a helical structure. In forming the SmC* phase, a chiral group exists in the molecules, and the molecules form the helical structure to achieve a thermodynamic stability.
However, in the helical structure, since each dipole moment in the molecules also is rotating along the helical axis, a net dipole moment of the ferroelectric LC becomes zero. Therefore, a macroscopic spontaneous polarization throughout the molecules does not appear.
When an electric field is applied to the molecules aligned stably as shown in FIG. 1, each dipole moment is directed in the direction of the electric field such that each LC molecule is aligned again in one orientation. Further, when the electric field changes its direction, each LC molecule rotates to have an opposite tilt angle such that the LC serves as a switching for light.
That is to say, with first and second polarizers respectively having perpendicular transmittance axes and formed on exterior surface of the upper and lower substrates, when one of the transmittance axes corresponds to a first tilt angle of the molecules, a black state is achieved. On the contrary, when the molecules rotates to have a second tilt angle, a white state is achieved.
In the white state, the transmittance of the above-mentioned ferroelectric LC is calculated from a relation 1 of T=sin24Θsin2 (πΔnd/λ), where "Θ" is the first or second tilt a of the LC molecules, "d" is a thickness of the LC layer, and "λ" is a wavelength of an incident light.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the thickness d is between 1.5 and 2, the transmittance has the highest value. Therefore, in fabricating the LCD device implementing the ferroelectric LC, the LC layer thickness is conventionally designed to be 2 μm.
The ferroelectric LC has a better viewing angle than the TN-LC. That is to say, in case of the TN-LC, since refraction index rapidly changes between "on" state and "off" state, a gray scale inversion occurs and the viewing angle is narrow. However, in case of the ferroelectric LC, when the molecule rotates, one end of the molecule is fixed while the other end rotates on a plane parallel with the substrate such that the viewing angle of the ferroelectric LC is much wider than that of the TN-LC.
However, in case of the ferroelectric LC, due to the complicated structure, a contrast ratio declines, and the spontaneous polarization of the ferroelectric LC and the orientation films mutually affect each other such that afterimages are produced.
To compensate the above-mentioned disadvantage of the ferroelectric LC, the anti-ferroelectric LC is developed. Now, with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, an alignment structure of the anti-ferroelectric LC will be explained.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the anti-ferroelectric LC 41 conventionally has the helical structure similar to the SmC* structure of the ferroelectric LC shown in FIG. 3.
However, as shown in FIG. 5B, if the helical structure is discounted, the molecules alternately tilt in different directions and each molecule contacts an adjacent molecule such that the net dipole moment becomes zero.
Returning to FIG. 5A, if the molecules are selected from the helical structure in an alternate order, they form the same structure as what is shown in FIG. 3. In other words, a main helical structure of the anti-ferroelectric LC includes first and second helical sub-structures that have a phase difference of 180 degrees from each other and have the same helical structure as shown in FIG. 3.
At the early alignment state when the electric field is not applied and the molecules are the most stable, a main transmittance axis of the anti-ferroelectric LC is normal to the layer such that only a normal light to the layer travels through the layer.
However, when the electric field is applied over a threshold voltage, all the dipole moments are directed to the direction of the electric field such that the layer has a spontaneous polarization. Namely, the molecules tilt to the first or second tilt angle with respect to a line normal to the layer. At this point, if one transmittance axis of the first and second perpendicular transmittance axes in the first and second polarizers is formed corresponding to the normal line normal to the layer, the white state is achieved.
At the same configuration, if the electric field is stopped, the spontaneous polarization disappears and the black state is achieved, in other words, there are three operation modes used for switching light in the anti-ferroelectric LC. When the tilt angle is 45 degrees, the contrast ratio reaches its maximum for the anti-ferroelectric LC though it varies according to the arrangement of the polarizers.
The ferroelectric LC should satisfy the following conditions:
First, the smetic phase and non-zero angle between the molecules and the normal line normal to the layer;
Second, the molecules including a unsymmetrical carbon but not a racemic body; and
Third, non-zero dipole moment normal to longitudinal axes of the molecules.
A DOBAMBC (2-methylbutyl p-[p(decyloxybenzylidene)-amino]-cinnamate) is the typical anti-ferroelectric LC. As the temperature falls down, the DOBAMBC changes its phase from smetic A to SmC*. With the phase transition temperature of the above-mentioned phase transition being a Curie transition temperature, the DOBAMBC obtains the ferroelectric property at a low temperature below the phase transition temperature of the SmC* phase.
Further, most of the ferroelectric LCs including the DOBAMBC has the unsymmetrical carbon such that the longitudinal axes of the molecules gradually rotate to a definite angle layer by layer to form the helical structure, with the tilt angle of the molecules fixed.
When the ferroelectric LC having the above-mentioned characteristics is adopted for a normally black mode, there occur a lot of actual problems such as a declination of the contrast ratio because the early alignment state of the ferroelectric LC is poor.
To improve the early alignment state of the ferroelectric LC, a lot of methods have been proposed. For example, an electric field such as an alternate electric field is conventionally applied to the molecules during the early alignment state, around the phase transition temperature of the SmC* phase. However, those methods still have troubles in the black state of the liquid crystal display.

Fabricating method for liquid crystal panel implementing ferroelectric liquid crystal and operating in a monostable state


Computer file copy systems and methods in which a list of files to be transferred from storage on a source file storage computer is sorted by one or more processors of a copy computer in ascending order from a smallest file size to a largest file size. Thereafter, files having the smallest file sizes are selected from the sorted files such that a total size of the selected files is equal to or less than a total size of memory available on the copy computer, the selected files are copied concurrently with one another from storage on the source file storage computer to the available copy computer memory by the one or more processors, the files are written concurrently with one another from the memory on the copy computer to storage on a target file storage computer by the one or more processors, and the process is performed iteratively.

Typically, employees of all types of enterprises, also referred to herein as users, are furnished computers, such as desktop computers, running software, such as MICROSOFT OFFICE® suite of desktop business applications, which they may use to create documents, referred to as files, such as MICROSOFT WORD® document files or POWERPOINT® document files. It is to be understood that such files may be referred to collectively herein as "desktop data". It is to be further understood that the terms "file" and "document" may be used interchangeably herein and that the terms "user" and "employee" may likewise be used interchangeably herein. For example using a word processing application, such as MICROSOFT WORD®, such users may create documents that are stored on their computers as files whose names end, for example, with ".doc" or ".docx".
It is well known that users' computers may be damaged by any number of different causes resulting in the destruction of documents which the users have created on such computers and that users' computers may be lost or stolen resulting in loss of such documents. It is also a relatively common occurrence for a user who normally uses a particular computer to need or wish to work with documents created on a different computer. To address such issues, enterprises may typically make available separate, highly-reliable enterprise computers on the enterprises' computer networks, the only purpose of which is to store files, for example, in a centralized location instead of on the users' desktops, which may be damaged or stolen resulting in loss of the users' files.
Thus, when a user saves a file, such as a WORD® document or a POWERPOINT® document, the file actually travels over the enterprise's computer network and is stored into such separate enterprise computer which may be referred to herein as a file server. A file server may be a computer having one or more processors that is attached to a computer network. The primary purpose of a file server may be to provide a location, for example, for shared disk access for shared storage of computer files, such as documents, sound files, photographs, movies, images, and databases, that can be accessed by users' computers that are attached to the same computer network. Such file servers may be connected to users' computers on an enterprise computer network and thus store documents for many different users in the enterprise. One such file server may be used, for example, by hundreds of enterprise users, and there may be hundreds of file servers in a large enterprise which may be used by multiple business units in multiple different geographical areas.
It is to be understood that desktop data of a large enterprise may include billions of files created by thousands of employees of the enterprise located throughout the world. Further, for various reasons, it may be necessary to continually copy many thousands of those files from one enterprise file server to another. For example, file servers may comprise computer hardware and software that are depreciable by an enterprise, and when fully depreciated, such file servers may be retired and replaced with newer file servers by the enterprise. When that occurs, all of the files stored on the file servers being retired and replaced must be copied from the file servers being retired to the newer file servers.
For another example, an enterprise's file servers may typically be located in the enterprise's data centers with other information technology (IT), and it is not uncommon for enterprises to close and replace existing data centers with new data centers to align with an enterprise's business strategy and/or for cost reasons. Further, when users move between regions of a global enterprise, as often happens, it may typically be desirable for such users to have their files stored on the nearest enterprise file server in order to assure optimum performance when working with their files.
In addition, in some cases, copies of user files may be required to be stored on a designated file server from which the user may not delete the files. This may be true, for example, in regulated industries, such as financial institutions, in which particular user documents may comprise business records that must be retained for specific periods of time. Additionally, as technology advances, new types of file servers that provide higher performance and/or reliability at a lower cost may become available to replace existing enterprise file servers. For example, object storage file servers may be currently gaining popularity over traditional Server Message Block (SMB) and Network File Systems (NFS) file servers.
As noted, an enterprise user may typically have thousands of files stored on an enterprise file server; there may be hundreds of enterprise users using the same file server; and there may be thousands of file servers across the enterprise. Thus, it is self-apparent that when it becomes necessary to copy such massive numbers of files, for example, from one enterprise file server to another enterprise file server, the process may require an enormous amount of computer processing time and computer memory.
For example, in the current file copy process, a copy application may be written that runs on one or more processors of a copy computer to access the file server from which files are to be copied, referred to herein as a source file server, over an enterprise computer network and request the files. The source file server processor may then acknowledge the command, perform the requested processing, and send the requested data to the processor running the copy application.
When the processor running the copy application sends commands over the enterprise network to the source file server processor, a finite amount of time is required for the command to reach the source file server, and a finite amount of time is likewise required for the response from the source file server processor to reach the processor running the copy application. Similarly, when the processor running the copy application accesses the processor of the target file server processor over the enterprise network to write the copied files to the target file server processor, every command and response sent requires a finite amount of time to travel over the enterprise network.
These respective finite amounts of time may be referred to as "network latency", a term used to describe any type of delay that occurs in data communication over a network, such as an enterprise computer network. Since there is at least some associated network latency in every transaction between the processor running the copy application and the processors of the source file server and the target file server, it will be appreciated that network latency associated, for example, with hundreds of thousands of such transactions may be significantly large. Further, it is self-apparent that in copying large numbers of small files from a source file server to a target file server, such network latency may be especially large and especially significant.
There is a present need for technological solutions that address the network latency problems of legacy file copy approaches and to provide mechanisms that employ, for example, one or more algorithms that enable far more effective and efficient utilization of computer processing and memory in rapidly reading and copying extremely large numbers of small files from a source file storage computer to a target source file storage computer in spite of network latency. The problem that is solved by embodiments of the invention is rooted in technological limitations of such legacy approaches. Improved techniques and in particular an improved application of technology is needed to address the problems of currently employed mechanisms. More specifically, the technologies applied in the aforementioned legacy approaches fail to achieve the sought-after capabilities of the herein-disclosed techniques for improved file copy systems and methods


There is provided a method of generating a high dynamic range (HDR) image, including obtaining an image sequence with similar exposure times, obtaining a plurality of still images with different exposure times, which temporally correspond to at least one image among the image sequence, and generating a matched image having an HDR from the plurality of still images by using the image sequence.

1. Field
One or more exemplary embodiments relate to a method, apparatus, and system for generating a high dynamic range (HDR) image, and more particularly, to a method, apparatus, and system for generating an HDR image from a plurality of images.
2. Description of the Related Art
A range of radiance that may be recognized by a camera is limited since an image may be displayed by 256 values of each RGB channel. However, a range of radiance in an actual environment is much larger.
In order to solve the limited range of radiance that may be recognized by a camera, an apparatus may capture a number of still images and may match the captured images to generate a high dynamic range (HDR) image.
However, when there is motion of an object among the still images, a ghost artifact may be generated in the generated HDR image due to the motion of the object.

Method, apparatus, and system for generating high dynamic range image


An apparatus and a method for driving a light source are provided. The apparatus includes a power converting unit which converts a direct current (DC) power into an alternating current (AC) power for driving the light source, and a control unit which controls the power converting unit to convert the DC power into the AC power according to a pulsewave.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to driving a light source, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for driving light sources of alternating current (AC) pulse waveforms of different specifications, and a display apparatus using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) is a flat-panel display that uses liquid crystal. LCDs are used in many industries due to their advantages such as relatively thinner products, and lower requirements for power consumption and driving voltage.
Because liquid crystal used in a display panel is non-radiant element, the LCD requires a separate light source to emit a light of a predetermined brightness.
A cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) having a straight glass tube form, has been widely used as a light source. CCFL light sources are mainly classified into an edge light type and a direct light type, according to locations where the light sources are placed.
An edge type light source uses a transparent light guide panel, in which the light source is placed beside the light guide panel such that the light from the light source is multi-reflected against one side of the light guide panel and falls onto the LCD panel. The direct type light source uses a plurality of light sources disposed immediately below the LCD panel, with a diffusing plate provided on the front side of the light source and a reflective plane provided on the rear side of the light source, such that the light from the light source is reflected and diffused before falling onto the LCD panel.
However, the LCD usually has a considerable amount of light loss due to the presence of optical elements such as light guide plate, diffusing plate, or the like, and also has shortcomings of high manufacture cost due to complex structure, and degradation of brightness uniformity.
A surface light source device has recently been developed as a solution to the problems mentioned above. The surface light source device includes a light source having a radiation area, and electrodes to supply radiation voltage to the light source. The surface light source device generates plasma radiation in the radiation area, using the supplied radiation voltage, and emits a ray of light.
The surface light source device includes a radiation gas which is filled in the radiation area, and a first and second electrodes for receiving radiation voltage to form a radiation area and generate plasma radiation. Because the surface light source device requires a predetermined level of capacitance, alternating current (AC) power such as sine wave, is required as radiating voltage.
Examples of a method or a circuit to provide AC power to the surface light source device have been disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0018590, Korean Patent No. 10-0467875, and Japanese Patent No. 2006-338897.
Factors that determine driving efficiency of the surface light source device include pulse form and pulsewidth of the AC power which is separated during a pause. The general duty ratio of the pulse ranges from 1:5 to 1:10.
However, most of the previously suggested techniques considered only one factor to determine the driving efficiency, in which either the monopole pulse separated during a pause is provided, without considering the time required for the charging or discharging of the capacitor, or bipolar pulse is provided without considering the pause.
Accordingly, when the related art apparatuses or methods as the ones disclosed in the abovementioned publications are applied, lifespan of the light source is shortened due to use of monopole pulse and subsequent generation of bias stress. Furthermore, on a designing part, it is hard to ensure a sufficient length of pause to achieve the desired light source driving efficiency.
Furthermore, due to a requirement of a boost converter to provide light source driving efficiency, and sufficient level of AC power, product size and manufacture cost increase.
Furthermore, because AC power of a fixed pulsewidth or a fixed length of pause is supplied to the light source, an apparatus or a method is required, which is capable of providing a customized pulsewidth and length of pause according to the types of radiating gases, and thus achieving maximum light source driving efficiency.

Apparatus and method for driving a light source, and display apparatus using the same


From the data of diffusion-length-dependent parameters extracted from the parameters of the transistor model of MOS transistors and from the parameters of transistors having various diffusion lengths, a diffusion-length-dependent parameter correcting unit creates approximate expressions of the diffusion length dependence of these parameters, and calculates parameter correction values to be used instead of original parameter values by using the created approximate expressions. Hence, the correction values can be used easily instead of the original parameter values, whereby a transistor model of MOS transistors having a different diffusion length DL can be created easily. Circuit simulation in consideration of the diffusion length dependence of the drain currents of MOS transistors can thus be carried out, whereby highly accurate simulation can be attained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvement in circuit simulation accuracy and, more particularly, to a circuit simulation apparatus incorporating diffusion length dependence of MOS transistors, having not been considered so far, and to a method for creating a transistor model.
2. Description of the Related Art
As MOS transistors are being miniaturized in the development of semiconductors, simulation accuracy of a circuit simulator typified by SPICE is requested to be improved further.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional circuit simulation apparatus. A simulation executing unit 1 is the main body of the simulator typified by SPICE and is actually a simulation executing program running on a computer. The simulation executing unit 1 reads a circuit net list 3 in which the connection descriptions of a circuit to be simulated are stored and calculates changes in the current and voltage of the circuit to be simulated, by referring to a transistor model 2 of MOS transistors.
For higher simulation accuracy, a transistor model is absolutely required to have higher accuracy. For higher accuracy of the transistor model, methods for extracting model parameters, such as threshold voltage, narrow-channel effect coefficient, short-channel effect coefficient, mobility and carrier speed saturation voltage, have been improved (for example, refer to FIG. 1 in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-035930).
In addition, in creation of the BSIM3 and BSIM4 transistor models being famous as SPICE transistor models, in the case when device conditions are modified, a method for creating a transistor model in a short time by modifying extracted parameters into parameters corresponding to the changed conditions has been disclosed (for example, refer to FIG. 1 in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-322456).
"However, in recent years, it has been pointed out by Gregory Scott et al. that the drain current of a MOS transistor changes depending on the diffusion length DL thereof, and this has attracted attention as a new factor for lowering simulation accuracy ("NMOS Drive Current Reduction Caused by Transistor Layout and Trench Isolation Induced Stress" by Gregory Scott et al, IEDM Technical Digest, U.S.A., IEEE, 1999, IEDM-99, p. 827–830). In the case of transistors based on isolation technology, such as STI (Shallow Trench Isolation), as the isolation between transistors becomes finer, it is assumed that the mobility in the channel region under the gate electrode changes under the influence of crystal strain induced in the diffusion layer and the channel region owing to the existence of the isolation regions in the circumference, thereby resulting in the change in drain current."
FIG. 2A is a plan view of an N-channel MOS transistor, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line II—II of FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2A, the diffusion length DL designates the length of a field pattern 31 representing the diffusion layer and the boundary between the channel formation region and the isolation region by STI in a direction perpendicular to a gate electrode 32. The length corresponds to the total length of the source length, channel length and drain length. In FIG. 2B, numeral 41 designates a silicon substrate, numeral 42 designates a P-type well, numeral 43 designates an N-type source-drain region, numeral 44 designates an N-type LDD (Lightly Doped Drain) region, numeral 45 designates a gate insulating film, numeral 46 designates a gate electrode, numeral 47 designates an STI region, and numeral 48 designates an insulating film. The STI region 47 is formed by filling a trench dug into the surface of the silicon substrate 41 with insulating material and makes contact with the N-type source-drain region. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, an N-channel MOS transistor is shown. A P-channel MOS transistor has a similar structure that is obtained only when an N-type impurity is replaced with a P-type impurity.
However, the dependence of the drain current on the diffusion length DL is not incorporated in the transistor model 2, such as the BSIM3 and BSIM4 transistor models, for use in the present circuit simulation apparatus. In other words, as shown in FIG. 3 by the diffusion length dependence of the drain current of the N-channel MOS transistor, when the diffusion length DL is small, the measurement value (black dot) of the drain current ID is small. However, in the present MOS transistor model, as indicated by the straight line L0, the value of the drain current ID is constant which is obtained when the diffusion length of the transistor used for model parameter extraction is DL0. Hence, in the present circuit simulation apparatus typified by SPICE, simulation is carried out regardless of the presence of the DL dependence. This is a factor that impairs improvement in simulation accuracy.
Even in the case when the present circuit simulation apparatus not incorporating the diffusion length dependence is used, by creating many kinds of transistor models through parameter extraction for individual MOS transistors having different diffusion lengths DL beforehand, by selecting a transistor model having diffusion length DL and used for a circuit to be simulated from among the many kinds of models, and by using the selected transistor model, the accuracy of the simulation can be improved. However, since many kinds of transistor models having different diffusion lengths DL are created, a long time is required for parameter extraction and parameter fitting. In addition, MOS transistor models must be used selectively depending on the diffusion length DL during simulation. This proves complicated and human errors are apt to occur.

Circuit simulation apparatus incorporating diffusion length dependence of transistors and method for creating transistor model


To increase the difference between the thermal conductivity of the carrier gas and the thermal conductivity of each component of the sample gas. The analysis method is an analysis method that performs analysis using a gas chromatograph including a thermal conductivity detector. The analysis method includes introducing a carrier gas and a sample gas into a separation column, introducing the sample gas separated in the separation column into a gas introduction chamber including an element having an electrical characteristic changed by temperature, detecting a change in the electrical characteristic of the element due to the sample gas being introduced, and switching the carrier gas from a first carrier gas to a second carrier gas that is a different type from the first carrier gas, while a component of the sample gas is passing through the separation column.

The present disclosure relates to an analysis method and an analysis device.
In gas chromatography, a thermal conductivity detector (TCD) can detect components of various sample gases that have passed through a separation column, on the basis of the difference in thermal conductivity of the gases. However, when the difference between the thermal conductivity of the component of the sample gas to be detected and the thermal conductivity of the carrier gas is small, there is a problem of lowering the strength of the detection signal corresponding to the component of the sample gas, thereby lowering the sensitivity.
In a method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-132797, a first column and a second column are used for quantitatively analyzing a small amount of nitrogen gas component in argon gas or oxygen gas, and a part of the argon gas or oxygen gas that is discharged before the small amount of nitrogen gas component is removed in advance, by separating the argon gas or oxygen gas in the first column. Consequently, it is possible to use helium or hydrogen gas having a large difference in thermal conductivity from nitrogen as the carrier gas.
The method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-132797 is significantly limited because a plurality of separation columns are to be used. Consequently, it is preferable to increase the difference between the thermal conductivity of the carrier gas and the thermal conductivity of each of a plurality of types of components of the sample gas by using a more general method, to detect the sample gas including the components having different thermal conductivities.


Disclosed are DNA sequences that play a critical role in regulating plastid division in plants. Also disclosed is a method for obtaining transgenic plants with novel phenotypes, characterized by alterations in plastid number and size.

The agriculture industry has devoted considerable resources toward the development of phenotypically distinct plants with economically advantageous qualities. Valuable features in food crops include increased vigor, disease resistance, greater yields, extended shelf-life, and enhanced nutritional content.
The development of high yielding food crops is particularly important. Each year, the tillable land available for agricultural production is reduced as more acreage is devoted to alternative uses. At the same time, the human population is rapidly increasing. Therefore, it is essential to increase agricultural productivity in order to meet the nutritional needs of the world's burgeoning population.
Efforts to develop crop plants that produce higher yields have been directed toward pest control, or toward the selection and breeding of varieties that bear greater numbers of fruit, or that produce larger fruit. These crop breeding endeavors are very time-consuming and labor-intensive, but have historically increased crop yields incrementally over time. Modern techniques of recombinant DNA manipulation and genetic engineering offer the prospect of the more rapid creation of new plant varieties with novel traits.
Photosynthesis in plants is a critically important biosynthetic process upon which virtually all living organisms depend for our very existence. Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells. In the process of photosynthesis, energy in the form of light is converted to ATP, which fuels a series of enzymatic reactions that catalyze the synthesis of carbohydrates. Molecular oxygen (O.sub.2) is an essential byproduct of photosynthesis. Since photosynthesis is the source of metabolic energy in plants, photosynthetic efficiency is a significant factor associated with general plant growth and vigor.
It is known that photosynthetic activity is positively correlated with chloroplast number (Leech and Baker, "The development of photosynthetic capacity in leaves. In: J. E. Dale and F. L. Milthorpe (eds), The Growth and Functioning of Leaves. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. pp 271-307, 1983). Despite the centrality of the photosynthetic function of chloroplasts to life, relatively little is known about the manner in which chloroplast number and size are regulated.
Chloroplasts are also the site of several important biochemical processes in plant cells that contribute to nutritional content of CRO plant. Amino acids and lipids are synthesized in chloroplasts. Plastids are also the site of synthesis of some important secondary metabolites and vitamins.
What is needed in the art is a means for manipulating the number and size of chloroplasts in agronomically and horticulturally important plants to achieve greater plant productivity and nutritional quality.