A surface plasmon resonance assay apparatus is loaded with a sensor unit. A sensing surface of a thin film detects reaction of a sample. A dielectric prism is overlaid with the thin film to constitute an interface. A reflection angle upon occurrence of attenuated total reflection of the illuminating light is changeable according to reaction of the sample on the sensing surface. Protecting panels are disposed to face outer surfaces of the prism, for covering and protecting at least partially the outer surfaces. A first window in one of the protecting panels is positioned on a path of the illuminating light traveling for incidence on the interface, for passing the illuminating light. A second window in one remaining protecting panel is positioned on a path of the illuminating light traveling upon reflection by the interface, for passing the illuminating light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sensor unit for assay in utilizing attenuated total reflection. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sensor unit for assay in utilizing attenuated total reflection, in which a prism as an optical element can be prevented from scratches, dirt or other damages.
2. Description of the Related Art
An assay apparatus assay in utilizing attenuated total reflection is used for various kinds of studies in a biochemical field or the like, for example to study interaction of protein, DNA and various biomaterials, and to select candidate drugs by screening. Also, the technique is useful in the fields of the clinical medicine, food industries and the like.
A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor is known as an assay apparatus in utilizing attenuated total reflection. A thin film/dielectric interface of a metal film is fitted on a dielectric block. Light is directed to the thin film/dielectric interface in a manner conditioned for total reflection. Surface plasmon is a term to mean the compressional wave created on the surface of the metal and included in plasmon as quantized expression of the compressional wave. Free electrons in a metal vibrate to generate the compressional wave.
In the assay apparatus, the sensing surface is positioned opposite to the interface where the metal thin film is connected with the dielectric block. The sensing surface is caused to create surface plasmon resonance. Reaction of samples is assayed by detecting the SPR on the sensing surface.
Upon the total reflection created on the metal/dielectric interface, a small component of the light passes through the metal film without reflection, and penetrates to the sensing surface. A wave of the penetrating component is called an evanescent wave. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is created when frequency of the evanescent wave coincides with that of the surface plasmon. In response to this, intensity of the reflected light attenuates remarkably. In the assay apparatus, the attenuation in the reflected light reflected by the metal/dielectric interface is detected, to recognize creation of the SPR on the sensing surface.
A resonance angle or an angle of incidence of light for creation of surface plasmon resonance depends upon a refractive index of a medium of transmission of evanescent waves and surface plasmon. In other words, a change in the refractive index of the medium of transmission causes a change in the resonance angle of creation of SPR. The substance or sample in contact with the sensing surface is the medium for transmitting the evanescent waves and surface plasmon. When binding, dissociation or other reaction occurs on the sensing surface between two molecules or samples, the resonance angle changes because of a change in the refractive index of the medium of transmission. The SPR assay apparatus finds the changes in the resonance angle, to assay the interaction between the molecules or samples.
An assay apparatus for assay in utilizing attenuated total reflection is used for various kinds of studies in a biochemical field or the like, for example to study interaction of protein, DNA and various biomaterials, and to select candidate drugs by screening. Also, the technique is useful in the fields of the clinical medicine, food industries and the like. A sample or biomaterial, such as protein, is handled as sample fluid for the purpose of preventing deactivation or modification due to drying. The sample fluid contains biomaterial and fluid medium, examples of which include pure water, physiological saline water, liquid buffer and the like.
JP-A 6-167443 disclose an SPR assay apparatus in which an optical system of Kretschmann configuration is used for incidence of light to the metal film. According to the Kretschmann configuration, the thin film/dielectric interface of the metal film is fitted on a prism, which condenses light and directs the light to the thin film/dielectric interface in a manner conditioned for total reflection. A sensing surface is overlaid inside the flow channel, for immobilizing the sample. Ligand fluid is introduced to the flow channel for immobilizing the ligand on the sensing surface. After this, analyte fluid is introduced for contact of the analyte and the ligand, to assay the interaction between those.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,589 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,264 (corresponding to JP-B 3294605) discloses a sensor of the chip type, which according to the SPR system is placed on the assay stage, the sensor including a glass base board which is dielectric and transparent, and metal film overlaid thereon. A plurality of sensors of the chip type are contained in a case. The case has a first opening for appearance of the sensing surface, and a second opening, positioned opposite to the first opening, for appearance of a back surface reverse to the sensing surface. The sensors are loaded in the assay apparatus removably in a state contained in the case. A prism is disposed on the assay apparatus. An upper surface and the glass substrate is connected by use of the matching oil. After the sensors of the chip type are loaded, the ligand is immobilized on the sensing surface, and then assayed for interaction with an analyte.
However, there is a problem in the above assay by use of the sensor of the chip type. As the sensing surface appears externally, the sensing surface is likely to dry if removed from the assay apparatus after the sample immobilizing flow. This is harmful to keeping characteristics of the ligand, for example, an enzyme characteristic of a protein as ligand is likely to deactivate. The assay must follow the sample immobilizing flow shortly for the purpose of preventing the drying of the sensing surface. The same assay stage is used for the immobilization and the assay process. The assay process would be impossible during the immobilization for next sample. The immobilization has a low speed of a rate-determining level defining the speed of the entire assay system even though the assay process is possible in a quick manner. Also, the necessity of the matching oil for the glass board and the prism causes high complexity of the placement of the sensor unit to the assay apparatus.
In U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2002/0127706 (corresponding to JP-A 2002-296177) and U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2003/0184755 (corresponding to JP-A 2003-240705), a sensor unit is disclosed in which a prism is used as a dielectric block, a sensing surface is constituted by an upper surface of the prism. A flow channel block is disposed higher than the sensing surface for flow of samples including a ligand and analyte. The sensor unit supports those elements fastened together. As the flow channel block is positioned at the sensing surface in the sensor unit, it is possible to preserve the sensing surface in a humid state after the sample immobilizing flow. Occurrence of failure due to the drying can be prevented. Also, high through-put can be obtained in operation because the sensor unit after the immobilization can be assayed serially one after another after collective immobilization of a plurality of the sensor unit.
In the sensor unit above having the prism, surfaces of the prism appears externally except for the sensing surface. There is a problem during handling of the sensor unit in occurrence of scratches or dirt outside the prism due to hands or fingers of a person conducting the assay. As the surfaces of the prism are used for entrance and exit of illuminating light, electric noise occurs due to absorption, attenuation or scattering of light caused by scratches or dirt. Precision in the assay is likely to be low. Specifically when the sensor unit includes the prism formed from plastic material, scratches are likely to occur because of the higher softness of the plastic material than glass. If dust sticks on the scratched surface, wiping of the prism may create additional scratches.

Sensor unit for assay in utilizing attenuated total reflection


A clock modulator spreads the frequency spectrum of an input clock to generate an output clock. A capacitor is connected to an intermediate clock node by a load-switching transistor. When the transistor is turned on, the capacitor increases the loading on the intermediate clock node, increasing delay. When the transistor is turned off, the delay is reduced. Output clock cycle periods are extended when delay is added, and reduced when the transistor turns off. A counter or sequencer is clocked by the input clock and drives the load-switching transistor. The transistor is turned on and off for alternate cycles when the counter is a toggle flip-flop, spreading the frequency over two frequencies every two clock cycles. Two capacitors of different sizes, connected to the intermediate clock node by two transistors, can be switched by a 2-bit sequencer, spreading the output clock over 7 frequencies every 7 clock cycles.

This invention relates to integrated circuits, and more particularly to clock buffers and drivers with reduced EMI.
Electronic devices and equipment can often generate interference that creates disturbances in other electronic equipment. For example, a portable computer may emit radiation that interferes with a television receiver. Intentional receivers, such as televisions, cellular phones, pagers, and wireless devices, are often affected by unintentional transmitters that emit electromagnetic radiation. As both types of electronic equipment become more common, interference becomes more noticeable to the consumer.
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a measure of the amount of interference that an electronic device (the unintentional transmitter) disturbs an intentional receiver. Government agencies such as the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) strictly regulate the amount of radiation or EMI that an electronic device can generate. Portable devices such as portable personal computers (PC""s) are particularly problematic since these portable devices are easily placed near televisions or other receivers. Cramped office and living spaces often force electronic equipment closer together. Since radiation rapidly increases with smaller distances, smaller and more portable equipment often appear to generate more interference.
Improving technology also worsens the EMI problem. Faster clock rates of higher-speed PC""s generate more radiation. Higher communication rates require that more data bits be transferred in a time period; a higher clock rate and more interference results.
A technique to reduce peak EMI is to vary or modulate the frequency of clocks in the electronic device. This technique known as spread spectrum, since the frequency spectrum of the clock is spread out over a wider range of frequencies. Phase-locked loops (PLL""s) have been developed that vary the control voltage to a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), or vary a feedback divisor to modulate the frequency generated. Unfortunately, noise and tracking can be a problem, especially when a clock generator and multiple clock buffer drivers are cascaded.
Another approach to reducing EMI is to insert controllable delays in parallel signal paths. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,144,242 by jeong et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,832 by Ikami et al. This technique is useful for staggering delays among signal lines in a wide data bus so that all signals do not have coincident edges.

Spread-spectrum clock buffer/driver that modulates clock period by switching loads


A player makes a wager for each pay line on a slot machine that the player wishes to play. On a first pay line of the slot machine, a first row of symbols is displayed to the player. The player selects none, one or more of the symbols from the first pay line as symbols to be held. The symbols that are held are duplicated from the first pay line into all of the other pay lines on which the player has wagered. Replacement symbols for the non-selected symbols are then randomly displayed on the first pay line for the symbols that were discarded. Additional symbols are also randomly displayed into all of the other pay lines wagered on by the player so that each pay line has the required number of symbols. The ranking of each pay line is determined by comparing the results of the displayed symbols to a pay table. The player is then paid for any winning pay lines based on the pay table and the amount of the player's wager.

This invention relates primarily to electronic video gaming devices, and more particularly to electronic video slot machines that display multiple pay lines. While the present invention has many variations, the basic principle common to all of the variations is that a first set of slot machine symbols are shown to the player and the player must then decide which of these first symbols to hold and which to discard. The symbols held by the player are duplicated into other active pay lines. Replacement symbols are then displayed for those symbols which were discarded to complete each pay line. The invention can also be applied to live casino table games as well.


A temperature measuring device includes an optical fiber, a metallic protective tube covering the optical fiber, and a heat insulation coating covering the metallic protective tube such that the optical fiber is covered with the metallic protective tube and the heat insulation coating to form a double-covered optical fiber. The heat insulation coating contains carbon particles as an additive. In addition, a radiation thermometer is connected to the double-covered optical fiber, and a tip of the double-covered optical fiber forms a temperature measuring element for collecting and transmitting radiation to the radiation thermometer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a temperature measuring device and a level measuring device using the temperature measuring device.
2. Description of the Related Arts
In a continuous casting process, for example, accurate measurement of temperature and surface level of molten steel during casting is necessary for improving the product quality and the production yield. A conventional technique for measuring the temperature of molten steel in a tundish and a mold involves preparing a solidification chamber inside of a carbon sleeve to introduce the molten steel, and determining the temperature in the solidification chamber using a contact thermometer of a consumable immersion thermocouple type a thermocouple covered with a ceramic protective tube. As for the method to determine the level of molten steel, conventional art uses an eddy-current distance detector.
The above-described consumable immersion thermocouple degrades after only one measurement because it directly contacts the molten steel. Therefore, the probe to measure the temperature is detachable at the tip of the thermometer, and the tip probe is replaced in every measurement. Since such probes are expensive and are discarded in every measurement, an increase of the number of measurements is difficult.
In the case that the thermocouple is covered with a ceramic tube, the thermocouple does not contact directly with the molten steel. Consequently, a continuous measurement is possible. In this case, however, the durability of ceramic protective tube has a limitation because of heat shock and erosion caused by slag. As a result, even if an expensive protective tube is used, it is generally durable only to 40 to 50 hrs., and repeated use for a long time is impossible.
Still further, with respect to the eddy-current distance detector which is used to determine the level of molten steel, it is useful to achieve level control in accordance with a precise measurement under a steady state condition. The conventional range of measurement, however is as narrow as 200 mm or less, so such detectors can not be used to determine the level during automatic start-up. Consequently, an automatization to achieve an automatic start-up mode is difficult.


An self-aligning biaxial loading apparatus for use in testing the strength of specimens while maintaining a constant specimen centroid during the loading operation. The self-aligning biaxial loading apparatus consists of a load frame and two load assemblies for imparting two independent perpendicular forces upon a test specimen. The constant test specimen centroid is maintained by providing elements for linear motion of the load frame relative to a fixed crosshead, and by alignment and linear motion elements of one load assembly relative to the load frame.

This invention relates to a biaxial loading apparatus and more particularly to a self-aligning biaxial load fixture for applying orthogonal axial loads to a test specimen while maintaining a constant specimen centroid during the loading operation.
Recent developments in carbon-carbon composites, ceramics and alloys have substantially advanced the state of the art and have resulted in the development of interest in such materials for use in structural applications. Currently, there is no way to test these materials in a multi-axial stress state without imparting some undesirable stresses to the materials being tested, due to alignment problems in the apparatus loading the test specimen.
Considerable effort has been made in an attempt to satisfy a long-felt need for determining properties of brittle materials such as carbon-carbon composites, ceramics and alloys. Most efforts have focused on compressive, torsional and tensile testing. A need exists for expanding capabilities to include biaxial testing, that is, axial compressive and/or tensile testing along orthogonal axes. Because brittle materials are extremely sensitive to misalignment during testing, it has not been possible to test these types of materials in orthogonal axial directions without introducing unacceptable moments in the test specimen. These types of tests are imperative, however, for developing design guidelines for structural applications of brittle materials. Accordingly, a means is needed that will maintain alignment of a brittle test specimen continually during a test involving biaxial loading.
Biaxial load testing machines are known in the art which apply a monoaxial load to a test piece from orthogonal directions. U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,303 describes such a device which applies monoaxial compression load to a test specimen. In this invention, the device provides two orthogonal compression assemblies carried independently on guides. However, with this type of device some amount of undesirable moments to the test specimen can occur during compression loading, resulting in inaccurate load bearing data of the specimen.
Also, a triaxial compression test apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,221 which tests cylindrically-shaped samples by imparting a compressive force along the longitudinal axis of the sample. This compressive force then creates a second force along the axial axis of the cylindrical sample through the use of hydraulic fluid surrounding the object. However, the application of this device is limited to compressive testing of cylindrical samples.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,860 describes a grip system for transmitting an uniaxial load to a ceramic specimen without introducing bending stresses into the specimen. In this device a multiplicity of hydraulic piston assemblies are equally spaced in a hydraulic housing assembly on a circle about the centerline of the tensile specimen. Use of a hydraulic fluid as a distribution medium to divide the applied uniaxial load into a multiplicity of equal parts counteracted by the circular array of miniature pistons is a key feature of this invention. However, frequently it is desired to apply a multiaxial load to a test specimen, including both tensile and/or compression testing.
A hydrostatic self-aligning axial/torsional mechanism is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,532 for testing specimens without introducing bending moments induced by other testing means. The test specimen can be tested by this invention for uniaxial strength, torsional strength, or a combination of the two. However, this invention does not test for compressive and/or tensile axial strength from orthogonal directions and accordingly does not consider the inducement of bending moments in the test specimen during the loading operation. It should be noted that the term "biaxial" as used in U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,532 refers to a combined axial and torsional loading, whereas in the present invention the term "biaxial" is understood to mean axial loading along orthogonal axes.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide for a means to test the compressive and/or tensile axial strength of a specimen in orthogonal directions.
It is another object of this invention to provide a means for maintaining the orthogonal alignment of the test specimen during testing.
Another object of this invention is to provide a means for applying orthogonal axial stress to a specimen without inducing significant moments in the specimen.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following and by practice of the invention.


The lamp comprises a discharge vessel (2) which is closed off in a vacuum-tight manner and is arranged in an outer bulb (12), a getter material being held on a support body inside the outer bulb (12). The support body is a support strip (31) to which the getter material is applied, the support strip being bent in such a way that it is automatically held in the outer bulb (12) without the need for any auxiliary means.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,127 has disclosed a process for producing a cap strip for discharge lamps, in which the cap strip is a support strip comprising a material which is to be introduced into the lamp, in particular mercury and/or getter material as a coating. The only application area envisaged for cap strips of this type in that document is as the discharge vessel of a low-pressure mercury lamp. In this case, the cap strip is often secured in the vicinity of an electrode, cf. in this respect also U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,603. A support strip with getter is also referred to as a getter strip.
An example of an incandescent halogen lamp with a getter in the outer bulb is to be found in CA-A 1,310,058.
Getters are usually used on a disk as a base in the outer bulbs of high-pressure discharge lamps in order to absorb impurities. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,042 uses a Zr getter on an iron sheet base which is securely welded to the frame. In the case of discharge vessels which are closed on two sides in an outer bulb which is closed on two sides, getters are usually secured in the pinch of the outer bulb using a piece of wire or at the outer supply conductor or at a sheet-metal shell placed around the pinch of the discharge vessel, cf. in this respect Technisch wissenschaftliche Abhandlungen der OSRAM-Gesellschaft, Vol. 12, Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1986, pp. 11 to 14.

Electric lamp with outer bulb and associated support body

Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für elektrische Glülampen mbH


The present invention provides a new customizable folio system that is useful for presenting selectable optical characteristics to one face of a folio cover. The selectable optical characteristics are presented at one face of the folio cover as the result of selective replacement of insert sheet(s) that are placed into a pocket formed between the outer folio cover sheet and an inner backing sheet. Either the outer front face of the folio cover, or the inner backing sheet has at least one cutout section(s) therein, of any desired shape or design, through which selective part(s) of the insert sheet(s) can be viewed. The insert sheet(s) have optical characteristic(s) that are different from those of either the outer front face of the folio cover or the inner backing sheet, at least in those areas of the insert sheet that can be seen through the cutout section(s). The different optical characteristics may include color and/or texture, as well as printing and/or designs that are added to the insert sheet(s) by the folio user, using any suitable imaging method. The different optical characteristics may further include textual, pictorial, and/or graphic material attached to the insert sheet(s) by the folio user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a folio system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new customizable folio system for presenting selected optical characteristics to one face of a folio cover.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of folios of different designs and configurations is known in the prior art. Such designs include:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,767 to Wyant that discloses a portfolio with photograph displaying cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,250 to Pacione that discloses a two-piece folder.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,590 to Papouchis that discloses a protective wrapper for printed material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,962 to Monckton et al. that discloses a straight line glued folder.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,093 to DuCorday that discloses a decorative portfolio-presentation folder that can be partially constructed by the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 868,758 to Bexell that discloses a transparent faced filing card.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,413 to Kaplan et al. that discloses a universal package for prerecorded computer disk and associated instructional material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,473 to Kuhns that discloses a method of laminating a customized presentation folder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,417 to Bromer et al. that discloses a presentation folder and method of making.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,584 to Wyant that discloses a portfolio with mirrorized cover.
While these devices fulfill their respective objectives and requirements, these prior patents do not describe or suggest a customizable folio system for presenting selected optical characteristics to one face of a folio cover through selective replacement of insert sheet(s), which are inserted into a pocket between outer and inner faces of the folio cover for viewing in selected part through cutout section(s) in either the inner or outer face of the folio cover. In this respect, the customizable folio system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides a folio primarily developed for the purpose of presenting selected optical characteristics to one face of a folio cover through selective replacement of insert sheet(s). Therefore, it can be appreciated a need exists for a new customizable folio system that can be used for presenting selected optical characteristics to one face of a folio cover through selective replacement of insert sheet(s). In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


The present subject matter relates to apparatus and methodologies for allowing old telephone line capacity to provide near DSL or superior DSL quality telephone connections. A method of handling a telephone call with an associated data package over a telephone system having a power pair of lines and a second pair of communication lines with the steps of: a) determining the types of data desired to create a data group from the group consisting of voice, picture, bio-marker (finger print, retinal scan, etc.), card holder information (credit card number, etc.), DNIS and ANSI call data, generating at least one first byte digital data from at least one first digital data generator; generating at least one second type digital data from at least one second digital data generator; prioritizing the data between the at least one first byte digital data and at least one second type digital data so that the at least one first byte digital data is given priority; determining the bandwidth associated with transmission of the at least one first byte digital data; preferentially sending the at least one first byte of digital data within the bandwidth associated therewith; and adding bandwidth as required to include the at least one second type digital data. The data is separated and forwarded on at a site remote from the phones. Data is carried to the phone as well as away from the phone using this prioritized process.

The prior art has numerous protocol methods utilized for the transmission of digital and analog data. Some of the types relevant from the prior art include the following:
DSL or Digital Subscriber Line: A general term for any local network loop that is digital in nature; technically, DSL equates to ISDN BRI, but this is decreasingly enforced terminology.
DSL technology is available in several varieties. See also ADSL, HDSL, IDSL, RADSL, SDSL, VDSL, xDSL. None of these are a good fit as the equipment cost, implementation requirements, standards, minimum requirements for functionality, integration into existing facilities, and particular application usage disqualifies all these types of solutions for communication in some systems. All of these involve some level of multiplexing, using several frequencies on the same channel to transmit several different streams of data, from different sources, simultaneously.
The amount of data that can be sent through a network connection is measured in bits per second (bps). The range of transmission frequencies the LAN network can use, known generically as bandwidth, is expressed as the difference between the highest and lowest frequencies of a transmission channel (in Hertz, or cycles per second). High bandwidth allows fast transmission or high-volume transmission.
ADSL. Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line is a term for one-way T1 transmission of signals to the home over single twisted-pair wiring already going to homes in the prior art. ADSL modems are attached to twisted pair copper wiring. ADSL is often provisioned with greater downstream than upstream rates (hence the term "asymmetric"). These rates are dependent on the distance a user is from the central office and may vary from as high as 9 Mbps to as low as 384 Kbps.
HDSL refers to High bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line. The oldest of the DSL technologies, HDSL continues to be used by telephone companies deploying T1 lines at 1.5 Mbps and requires two twisted pairs.
IDSL refers to ISDN Digital Subscriber Line. IDSL provides up to 144-Kbps transfer rates in each direction and can be provisioned on any ISDN capable phone line. Unlike ADSL and other DSL technologies, IDSL can be deployed regardless of the distance the user is from the central office.
RADSL rate adaptive Digital Subscriber Line. Using modified ADSL software, RADSL makes it possible for modems automatically and dynamically to adjust their transmission speeds. This often allows for good data rates for customers residing greater distances from the CO.
SDSL single-line Digital Subscriber Line or Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A modified HDSL software technology, SDSL is intended to provide 1.5 Mbps in both directions over a single twisted pair. However, the distance over which this can be achieved is less than 8,000 feet.
VDSL very high-rate Digital Subscriber Line. The newest of the DSL technologies, VDSL can offer speeds up to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. Similar to SDSL, the gain in speed can be achieved only at short distances. These maximum speeds can be achieved only up to 1,000 feet. Sometimes VDSL is called broadband digital subscriber line (BDSL).
XDSL a generic term for the suite of digital subscriber line (DSL) services, where the "x" can be replaced with any of a number of letters. See also DSL, ADSL, HDSL, IDSL, MDSL, RADSL, SDSL, VDSL.
The prior art involves the use of slow speed lines data associated with the telephone call.
New technology high speed lines are used in order to transfer the data within a telephone call. Often times, the telephone data is separated at a switching service (the CO, for example) for purposes of obtaining billing information, but the separated data portion of the telephone call is consistently restricted to telephone call identification.

Method for transferring and separating telephone call data


An apparatus and method for removing a temporary substrate from an optical disk is disclosed. A holding fixture (102) provides an optical disk supporting surface. A force imparting tool (118) imparts a force against an optical disk wherein a reaction force to the force imparting tool is provided by the supporting surface. The optical disk is flexed to break away and remove a temporary substrate of the optical disk.

Digital disks such as compact disks (CDs) or digital versatile disks (DVDs) may include a multiple layer process for manufacture. The disk may include a substrate having a pattern of microscopic pits or readout information applied thereto. The pattern of pits includes the digital readout information for the disk. The substrate may have one or more layers applied to it. The readout surface may have a metal applied to the surface using a surface transfer process (STP). The surface transfer process includes producing a single or dual-layer readout surface that includes a sputtered-on reflective (e.g., aluminum) layer on a temporary substrate. The temporary substrate may include polymethylmethacralate (PMMA). The metallized layer portion, which includes the metal and the temporary substrate, is transferred to the already-molded readout layer (with the readout information) having a lacquer layer formed thereon. The PMMA temporary substrate is bonded to the lacquer then, the PMMA temporary substrate is removed from the metallized portion.
Removal of the temporary substrate may be performed by a stripping procedure that typically includes three steps. In the first step, a mechanical device with a knife-edge is inserted between the two half disks at the inside diameter to force separation between the two disks. Next, air pressure is applied in the separation area to propagate the separation. Finally suction cups are employed on the top and bottom surfaces of the disk to pull the halves apart. The temporary substrate is then discarded.
This technique has several significant drawbacks. In the conventional mechanical stripping process, alignment of the knife edge to the inside diameter is critical. The mechanical stripping process described above also creates dust and debris, which may result in reduced product quality. Disks with lacquer or other materials in their moat (edge) area are difficult to separate using the conventional mechanical stripping technique. In addition, the reliability of the temporary substrate removal process often suffers from reliability problems due to surface defects in the metalization layer as a result of the stripping process.

Apparatus and method for removing a temporary substrate from an optical disk


There are provided embodiments for providing a color Doppler image based on qualification curve information. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to acquire ultrasound data corresponding to a living body including a moving target object; a storage unit for storing qualification curve information for determining blood flow signals of the target object, clutter signals and noise based on velocity and power components of Doppler signals; and a processing unit configured to form first Doppler signals based on the ultrasound data, perform a clutter filtering process upon the first Doppler signals to form second Doppler signals, calculate velocity and power components of the second Doppler signals, form a color Doppler image based on the calculated velocity and power components, and perform a blending process upon the color Doppler image based on the calculated velocity and power components and the qualification curve information.

An ultrasound system has become an important and popular diagnostic tool since it has a wide range of applications. Specifically, due to its non-invasive and non-destructive nature, the ultrasound system has been extensively used in the medical profession. Modern high-performance ultrasound systems and techniques are commonly used to produce two-dimensional or three-dimensional ultrasound images of internal features of a target object (e.g., human organs).
The ultrasound system may provide ultrasound images of various modes including a brightness mode (B mode) image representing reflection coefficients of the ultrasound signals reflected from a target object of a living body with a 2D (two-dimensional) image, a Doppler mode (D mode) image representing speed of a moving target object with spectral Doppler by using a Doppler effect, a color Doppler mode (C mode) image representing speed of a moving target object with colors by using the Doppler effect, and an elastic mode (E mode) image representing mechanical characteristics of tissues object before and after applying a pressure thereto. Particularly, the ultrasound system may transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from the living body to thereby form Doppler signals corresponding to a region of interest (ROI), which is set on a B mode image. The ultrasound system may further form a C mode image that represents the speed of the moving target object such as blood flow, heart, etc. with colors based on the Doppler signals.
The color Doppler image may be formed based on Doppler signals obtained by alternately transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals to and from a target object. The Doppler signals may include a low frequency signal (so-called clutter signals) due to the motion of a cardiac wall or valve of a heart. The clutter signals may have amplitude, which is over 100 times than that of the blood flow signals indicative of velocities of the blood flow. The clutter signals may be an obstacle for accurately detecting a velocity of the blood flow. Thus, it is required to remove the clutter signals from the Doppler signals for an accurate velocity detection of the blood flow.
The ultrasound system typically adopts a clutter filter that may be a high pass filter to remove the clutter signals from the Doppler signals. However, this presents a problem since the clutter filter cannot completely remove the clutter signals from the Doppler signals.

Providing color doppler image based on qualification curve information in ultrasound system


A method and an apparatus for preload display of object information are provided. The method includes following steps: capturing an external object information on a side of the transparent display opposite to a user by using the first information capturing device; pre-identifying at least one object in the external object information and tracing the at least one object according to an identification result; capturing information of the user by using the second information capturing device for pre-identifying and tracing a pointing range of the user, and determining whether the traced objects appear within the pointing range; and preload displaying object information of the objects appearing within the pointing range on the transparent display.

Transparent displays may be categorized into transmission transparent displays and projection transparent displays according to their technical principles. The transmission transparent display is designed by manufacturing the display panel as transparent in a see-through manner, and the projection transparent display is designed by using the projection method to project an image onto a reflective and transparent substrate to achieve the transparent display effect.
The transparent display is transparent, lightweight, and combines the virtual images displayed on the display with the scenario in real world, providing viewers with an intuitive and instinctive interactive experience. The viewer not only can see the physical object through the transparent display, but also can see the information overlapping or displayed around the physical object on the transparent display, and even can interact with the display information on the transparent display through touch technologies.
Transparent displays have been widely used in applications such as vehicle head-up displays, vending machines, windows display, museum exhibits, and sightseeing vehicle tours. However, since it requires a large amount of calculation and calculation time for identifying the object, for an object that moves fast, if the object is identified while it is captured by human eye, the object may have left its original position when the identification is completed. In that case, the display position of the object information is different from the position of the object.
For example, FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic views illustrating display of object information. Referring to FIG. 1A, even when the object 10 in the image is in a stationary state, it takes a certain amount of time (for example, about 250 milliseconds) to identify the object 10, and since the object 10 does not move, the object information 10a (for example, "kangaroo" shown in the drawing) generated through the identification may be displayed at an appropriate position around an object frame 10f of the object. However, when the object 10 in the image is in a moving state (for example, moving to the left at a speed of 60 km/h), after the identification time elapses, the object 10 has moved forward by a certain distance (for example, the object frame 10f has been moved to the left by about half the width of the frame as compared to the object frame 10f that is originally displayed), which causes that the object information generated and displayed through the identification apparently falls behind the object 10 and results in a negative use experience for the user.

Method and apparatus for preload display of object information

Industrial Technology Research Institute

Intellectual Property Innovation Corporation


A lens module includes a lens panel and a lens driving part. The lens panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes first electrodes and second electrodes alternately disposed thereon that partially overlap each other and are electrically insulated from each other. The second substrate is opposite to the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The lens driving part provides a substantially equal voltage to both ends of each of the first and second electrodes.

1. Technical Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a lens module and a display apparatus having the lens module. More particularly, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a lens module for a display apparatus that can display a 3-dimensional (3D) stereoscopic image and a display apparatus having the lens module.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a display apparatus displays a 2-dimensional (2D) image. Recently, due to increased demand for 3-dimensional (3D) stereoscopic images for films, games, etc., stereoscopic image display apparatuses have been developed that can display a 3D stereoscopic image.
A 3D stereoscopic image may be displayed by exploiting the binocular parallax of both eyes. Methods of displaying a 3D stereoscopic image may be classified as either shutter-glasses type methods or auto-stereoscopic type methods. Auto-stereoscopic type methods include barrier type methods, lenticular type methods, liquid crystal lens type methods, etc.
A lenticular type method uses a convex lens or a Fresnel lens. A Fresnel lens is thinner than a convex lens. A Fresnel lens has a plurality of circular arcs on its surface and refracts light through the circular arcs thereof.
Liquid crystal directors may be controlled by an electric field, from which a liquid crystal lens may be fabricated. A liquid crystal lens includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate and a liquid crystal layer between the upper substrate and the lower substrate. A liquid crystal director having a liquid crystal layer may be challenging to control, and may have a slow response time with respect to mode changes. Thus, a display apparatus having a liquid crystal lens may be slow in switching between a 2D mode and a 3D mode.

Lens module and display apparatus having the same


A method, device and system is provided for providing global illumination of a scene. For example, global illumination may be provided in a rendered 3-dimensional image that may contain objects and/or light sources. Radiance functions or visibility functions may further be represented by scaling of spherical harmonics functions in the spherical harmonics domain. For example, scaling of spherical harmonics coefficients corresponding to a spherical function may be performed based on a spherical harmonics scaling transformation matrix based on an angular scaling function.

Realistic rendering of computer-generated images has become increasingly important in a variety of areas including, for example, graphic design, illustration, video games, and the like. 3-dimensional computer-generated images of environments typically include a source of light and resulting lighting and shadow effects on objects in the scene. Such global illumination effects often require a large amount of computation from the computer system. This may take long periods of time and an abundance of resources. Typically, such computations can be costly and/or inefficient. Despite recent interest in the areas of simulating global illumination effects in 3-dimensional computer generated scenes, no method or system has been devised that can perform the computations in an efficient manner while providing realistic illumination effects in a generated scene.
Thus, there is a need for a method or system in which global illumination effects may be efficiently and effectively rendered in a scene such as a computer-generated environment.


An electronic cabinet includes a base, and an electronic cabinet frame which extends vertically from the base. The electronic cabinet frame is configured to support electronic circuitry. The electronic cabinet further includes a power supply positioning assembly having (i) a mounting mechanism mounted to the electronic cabinet frame, (ii) a carrier which is configured to carry at least one power supply and move along a vertical axis within the electronic cabinet frame while carrying the power supply, and (iii) control linkage which is configured to guide movement of the carrier while the carrier carries the power supply and while the carrier moves along the vertical axis.

In general, an electronic cabinet is a large enclosure which houses electronic equipment. Such a cabinet typically provides access to the electronic equipment through a front opening at a front of the cabinet and a rear opening at the rear of the cabinet. Accordingly, manufacturers typically position electronic circuitry requiring relatively frequent access adjacent the front opening, and other electronic circuitry requiring relatively frequent access adjacent the rear opening. For example, some conventional data storage systems have arrays of hot-swappable disk drives at the front opening of the cabinet, and hot-swappable processor and memory modules at the rear opening of cabinet to service the disk drives.
Additionally, manufacturers typically locate power units that provide power to the electronic equipment in static locations which are out of the way of the electronic circuitry which requires frequent access. One conventional data storage system layout has power units statically located at the bottom of the cabinet where the power units do not interfere with access to the disk drives and the circuit board modules. Access to these components is unobstructed because the power units are (i) adjacent the front opening at the bottom of the cabinet or, alternatively, (ii) adjacent the rear opening at the bottom of the cabinet. Accordingly, a technician has easy access to circuits at both the front and rear of the cabinet without removing a power unit thus enabling the data storage system to remain powered-up and operational.
Another conventional data storage system layout has power units, which are elongated in shape, stacked in a static column in the middle of the cabinet. Here, a front portion of each power unit is adjacent the front opening of the cabinet and is flush with an array of disk drives which are distributed on both sides of the column of power units and which are also adjacent the front opening of the cabinet. Additionally, a rear portion of each power unit is adjacent the rear opening of the cabinet and is thus accessible through the rear opening. Again, a technician has easy access to circuits at the front and rear of the cabinet without removing a power unit from the middle column thus allowing the data storage system to remain powered-up and operational during access.

Techniques for moving a power supply within an electronic cabinet


A pressure equalizing system comprising a high pressure pump, a low pressure pump, a pressure adjusting device, a fluid interface separator, and a chamber; wherein the system is transitionable between loading and discharging configurations via a pressure equalizing configuration; wherein the fluid interface separator is downstream of the high pressure and low pressure pumps, and upstream of the pressure adjusting device and chamber; wherein the fluid interface separator is configured to transition the system between loading and discharging configurations; wherein, when the system is in pressure equalizing configuration and transitioning from discharging to loading configuration, the pressure adjusting device decreases pressure of chamber from first pressure to within ±100 psig of second pressure; and wherein, when the system is in pressure equalizing configuration and transitioning from loading to discharging configuration, the pressure adjusting device increases pressure of chamber from second pressure to within ±100 psig of first pressure.

This disclosure relates to pressure equalizing systems and methods of using same. More specifically, it relates to pressure equalizing systems that can reduce noise, vibration, and erosion in pressure exchange interfaces, such as valves; and methods of using same.
Many industrial processes employ relatively high pressure fluids (e.g., fracturing fluids, acidizing fluids, etc.), where such high pressure fluids are provided at the desired pressure via high pressure pumps. However, some high pressure fluids may contain a variety of materials that can be undesirable in the high pressure pumps, such as abrasive materials and/or corrosive materials. Generally, high pressure pumps are expensive, and abrasive and/or corrosive materials can substantially decrease the life of a high pressure pump or its components.
Conventionally, energy recovery or exchange devices can be used to transfer pressure energy from "clean" fluids (e.g., fluids lacking abrasive materials and/or corrosive materials) pumped at high pressure via high pressure pumps to "dirty" fluids or "unclean" fluids (e.g., fluids containing abrasive materials and/or corrosive materials), in order to avoid pumping the unclean fluids via the high pressure pumps. However, conventional energy recovery devices are subject to high noise levels, high vibrations, and high erosion owing to the system employing the energy recovery devices being cycled between high and low pressures. While some conventional systems employ erosion resistant materials for making conventional energy recovery devices, such systems still display high noise levels, and high vibrations.
Conventional energy recovery devices can employ valves that open and close with high differential pressures, wherein such high differential pressures cause high levels of noise, vibrations, and erosion. Thus, an ongoing need exists for systems that can mitigate the high levels of noise, vibrations, and erosion in energy recovery devices, and methods of using same.

Noise, vibration and erosion reduction in valves


An electro-optical apparatus is provided that has a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of signal lines, and electro-optical devices that are each being placed at an intersection of each of the scanning lines and each of the signal lines. The electro-optical apparatus is driven according to the amount of drive current supplied to the electro-optical devices. The electro-optical apparatus includes a lighting time measuring unit to measure a lighting time of the electro-optical devices, a lighting time storage unit to store the lighting time obtained by the lighting time measuring unit, and a drive current amount adjusting unit to adjust the amount of drive current based on the lighting time stored in the lighting time storage unit so as to correct the brightness of the electro-optical devices.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an electro-optical apparatus, a driving method thereof, and an electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
In related art organic EL display apparatuses, for example, the degradation of the luminous brightness of organic EL devices of the organic EL display apparatuses over time is much more rapid than that of inorganic EL display apparatuses. That is, as the lighting time accumulates, the reduction in brightness becomes noticeable. As an example, in the organic EL display apparatuses, the lighting time with a luminance of, for example, 300 cd/m2 is up to approximately 10,000 hours.
Accordingly, this drawback can be addressed or overcome by enhancing the manufacturing process so that the reduction in brightness is prevented, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-154596, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-214157.

Electro-optical apparatus, driving method thereof, and electronic device


A method for producing neodymium-iron-boron rare earth permanent magnetic materials mainly comprises processes of: alloy smelting, coarsely pulverization, milling, magnetic compaction, sintering, machining, vacuum heat treatment, and etc. Magnetic performance of permanent magnetic devices is increased by improving technologies of hydrogen pulverization, milling by jet mill, and vacuum heat treatment, in such a manner that usage amount of rare earth is decreased. The present invention is applicable in producing rare earth permanent magnetic materials having high performance.

Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a field of permanent magnetic device, and more particularly to a method for producing a neodymium-iron-boron rare earth permanent magnetic device having a high performance.
Description of Related Arts
Neodymium-iron-boron rare earth permanent magnetic materials are widely applied in the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of medical industry, hard disk drivers of computers, loudspeaker boxes, mobiles, etc., because of its excellent magnetic property. To meet the requirements of energy-saving and the low carbon economy, the neodymium-iron-boron rare earth permanent magnetic materials are applied in fields of auto parts, household appliances, energy-saving and controlling motors, hybrid electric vehicles, wind power generation, etc.
In 1982, Japan Sumitomo Special Metals Co. firstly published Japanese patents about the neodymium-iron-boron rare earth permanent magnetic materials, i.e., JP1,622,492 and JP2,137,496, and then Japan Sumitomo Special Metals Co. applied for United States patents and European patents. The characteristic, ingredients, and producing method of the neodymium-iron-boron rare earth permanent magnetic materials were disclosed. The main phase is Nd2Fe14B phase, and the grain boundary phases are Nd-rich phase, B-rich phase, and impurities comprising rare earth oxides.
On Apr. 1, 2007, Japan Hitachi Metals Co. was merged with Japan Sumitomo Special Metals Co., and took up the rights and obligations of the patent licenses of the neodymium-iron-boron rare earth permanent magnetic materials of Japan Sumitomo Special Metals Co. On Aug. 17, 2012, Japan Hitachi Metals Co. submitted a case to United States International Trade Commission (ITC), based on the fact that Japan Hitachi Metals Co. owns the U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,565, U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,765, U.S. Pat. No. 6,537,385, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,874 applied in United States.

Method for producing neodymium-iron-boron rare earth permanent magnetic device

China North Magnetic & Electronic Technology Co., LTD.


Reflector for technical lighting purposes, having a reflecting surface of aluminum and a protective, transparent, pore-free barrier layer of aluminum oxide produced by anodizing having a dielectric constant .epsilon. of 6 to 10.5 at 20.degree. C., where the barrier layer is of thickness d that either satisfies the condition. a) for constructive interference: EQU d.multidot.n=k.multidot..lambda./2.+-.20 nm PA1 or PA1 b) for achieving a color-toned reflector surface: EQU k.multidot..lambda./2+20 nm!<d.multidot.n<(k+1).multidot..lambda./2-20 nm ! PA1 or PA1 c) for using as starting material to produce reflectors with LI/HI multi-layer coatings that increase reflectivity. EQU d.multidot.n=l.multidot..lambda./4.+-.20 nm. where n is the refractive index of the barrier layer, .lambda. is the average wave length of the light striking the surface of the reflector, k is a natural number and l is a natural number that is uneven. The thickness of the barrier layer lies between 60 and 490 nm and does not vary by more than .+-.5% over the whole of the aluminum surface.

The present invention relates to a reflector for technical lighting purposes, having a surface of aluminum which is protected from physical and chemical effects by a protective layer of aluminum oxide, and relates also to its use and to a process for its manufacture.
Reflectors with brightened surfaces of high purity aluminum or AlMg alloys are known for the purpose of reflecting light in a directional or diffuse manner. In order to achieve lasting brightness, the brightened surfaces are normally protected by an organic or inorganic coating or by an oxide layer. The oxide layers may be produced by chemical or anodic oxidation. Organic coatings may be produced by paint-type coatings, powder coatings or by laminating or coating with a plastic foil. Inorganic coatings may be made by PVD (physical vapor deposition), CVD (chemical vapor deposition), enamelling or plasma coating.
A widely used practice for manufacturing reflector surfaces is the deposition of very thin, high purity PVD Al layers on glass; such layers are usually protected by a layer of e.g. PVD-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, PVD-SiO.sub.2 or a paint-type layer. Because of the thinness of the layer, PVD-Al layers generally cannot be anodized. Deposition of PVD-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 or PVD-SiO.sub.2 layers is however expensive and, because of the homogeneity required to achieve good reflecting properties, the deposition of paint-type layers is complicated. Furthermore, paint-type layers generally exhibit only modest mechanical properties such as resistance to scratching, and often poor stability with respect to UV-radiation.
Another protective layer often used today for reflector surfaces is made by anodic oxidation utilizing direct current in a sulphuric acid electrolyte. The resultant protective layer exhibits a uniform layer thickness but, as a result of the process itself, exhibits high porosity. Anodic oxidation in sulphuric acid electrolytes is normally called a dc process. To achieve sufficient reflectivity using that method, the aluminum surfaces that are to serve as the reflector surfaces are normally brightened chemically or electrolytically, and subsequently protected by a transparent protective layer e.g. by a dc process. The concentration of sulphuric acid in the dc process is typically 20 wt %, the electrolyte temperature 15.degree. to 30.degree. C., the applied voltage 12 to 30V and the current density 1 to 3 A/dm.sup.2. The thickness of layer achieved is typically 1 to 10 .mu.m; the layers obtained are colorless to yellowish.
The oxide layer produced by the dc process is generally comprised of two layers viz., a pore-free, very thin base or barrier layer and a porous outer layer. The pores are produced as a result of the oxide layer being partially re-dissolved, chemically, at the surface exposed to the electrolyte. The total thickness of the oxide skin reaches its upper limit when growth and dissolution are balanced, which depends on the composition of the electrolyte, the current density and the temperature of the electrolyte.
In order to achieve adequate protection from corrosion, the porous layers produced by the dc process have to be sealed. This is normally carried out using boiling water (>96.degree. C.) or water vapor (>98.degree. C.). During this hydrothermal sealing the aluminum oxide swells as a result of absorbing water and the pores are closed. In the process a part of the aluminum oxide is transformed to aluminum monohydrate.
On sealing in boiling water or steam, however, often an undesired, tightly adherent sealing deposit (so called smut) is formed. As a result of atmospheric effects this smut leads to disturbing deposits which are matt to iridescent and lead to interference colors. For that reason the sealing deposits have to be removed by abrasive means. One possibility for preventing such sealing deposits is to employ special sealing baths.
The only anodic oxide layers produced in sulphuric acid that are colorless and clear are those produced on high purity aluminum and AlMg or AlMgSi alloys with high purity aluminum (> or=99.85 wt % Al). In most construction alloys, as a result of heterogeneous precipitates present in the structure, more or less cloudy oxide layers are formed. Also, in most alloys, if the heat treatment is unfavorable, precipitation occurs in the structure leading to grey discoloration such as e.g. spots due to local thermal effects.
In the case of most protective surface layers produced on aluminum using the dc process, said layers for reflectors typically being 1 to 10 .mu.m thick, and in particular in the case of less pure materials such as e.g. Al 99.85, Al 99.8 or Al 99.5, alloying elements such as e.g. Fe-rich or Si-rich intermetallic phases may be incorporated in the oxide layer leading to undesired absorption or scattering of light i.e. the light is reflected at various angles. As a result, the technical characteristics of reflected light after the brightening treatment i.e. values such as e.g. the total reflectivity or the directional reflectivity, are influenced in a detrimental manner.
Due to the large thickness of the oxide layers produced by a and integral to, the dc process, the reflectivity of the surface is reduced by the absorption and scattering of light. Finally, the oxide layer in the normal thickness range of 1 to 3 .mu.m often exhibits disturbing interference effects, so called iridescence.

Aluminum surfaces for technical lighting purposes


A variable speed control system for a single phase AC induction motor wherein a controllable switch is in series with the main winding of the motor, while the auxiliary winding of the motor, which is in series with a capacitor, is continuously energized. The switch is opened whenever the current through the main winding passes through zero. While the switch is open, the back e.m.f. in the main winding is sensed to provide a measure of the speed of the motor. This is compared with a desired speed signal and the comparison is utilized to control closure of the switch. The speed of the motor then remains constant at the desired speed, even with a varying load.

This invention relates to a speed control system for a single phase AC induction motor and, more particularly, to such a system which maintains a desired speed for the motor under varying load conditions.
Single phase AC induction motors are widely used for driving various types of equipment, from small home appliances to refrigerators to climate control system fans. It is often desirable to be able to control the speed of the motor and maintain a desired speed under varying load conditions. It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a speed control system for a single phase AC induction motor.
Different types of motor speed control systems are presently available. One such type is the inverter type which varies the frequency of the electrical power applied to the motor to control its speed. This is accomplished by an intermediate step of converting the incoming AC power into DC power and then providing a square AC waveform at the desired frequency. Such a system has among its disadvantages the fact that it is relatively expensive to implement and further, that the square AC waveforms produce more heat and noise than conventional sinusoidal AC waveforms. Another common speed control system utilizes the principle of voltage reduction, which lowers the voltage to the motor and allows the rotor to slip under its synchronous speed. While inexpensive, such a system produces waste heat in the motor as well as excessive motor noise or hum. Additionally, the motor can stall in response to a small change in the load. It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a motor speed control system which does not suffer from any of the aforementioned disadvantages.

Single phase AC motor speed control system


Ink jet printing method, in which the jet (14) is broken up in small and large drops at a fixed point (B), and the drops (16a, 16b) are charged according to the length (l, L) of the break segment (18), in other words according to their diameter. This configuration overcomes transition problems.

Typical operation of a continuous jet printer may be described as follows: electrically conductive ink is kept under pressure in an ink reservoir. The ink reservoir feeds a chamber that contains ink to be stimulated by means of an ink stimulation device. Working from the inside outwards, the stimulation chamber comprises at least one ink passage to a calibrated nozzle drilled in a nozzle plate: pressurised ink flows through the nozzle, thus forming an ink jet.
The ink jet thus formed breaks up at a well defined point downstream the nozzle plate and produces ink droplets at regular time intervals under the action of the periodic stimulation device housed in the ink chamber; this forced fragmentation of the ink jet is induced at a point called the drop break up point by the periodic vibrations of the stimulation device located in the ink contained in the ink reservoir.
Starting from the break up point, the continuous jet is transformed into a sequence of ink drops. A variety of means is then used to select drops that will be directed towards a substrate to be printed or towards a recuperation device commonly called a gutter. Therefore the same continuous jet is used for printing or for not printing the substrate in order to make the required printed patterns.
Such continuous jet printers may comprise several print nozzles operating simultaneously and in parallel, in order to increase the print surface area and therefore the print speed.
Usual drop selection means comprise a first group of electrodes close to the break up point called charging electrodes, the function of which is to selectively transfer a predetermined electrical charge to each drop. All drops in the jet, some of which having been charged, then pass through a second arrangement of electrodes called the deflection electrodes generating an electrical field that will modify the trajectory of the drops depending on their charge.
This electrostatic deflection of liquid drops issued from fragmentation of a continuous jet is a solution widely used in ink jet printing. For example, the deviated continuous jet variant described in document U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,275 (Sweet) consists of providing a multitude of voltages to charge drops with a predetermined charge, at an application instant synchronised with the generation of drops so as to accurately control a multitude of drop trajectories. The positioning of droplets on only two preferred-trajectories associated with two charge levels results in a binary continuous jet print technology described in document U.S. Pat. No. 3,373,437 (Sweet).
For all these devices, the charging signal is determined according to the trajectory to be followed by the drop, and other factors. The main disadvantages of this concept for use with multiple jets are firstly the need to place different electrodes close to each jet, and secondly to control each electrode individually.
Another approach consists of setting the charging potential and varying the stimulation signal to move the jet break up location: the quantity of charge carried by each drop and consequently the drop trajectory will be different, depending on whether the drop is formed close to or far from a charging electrode common to the entire array of jets. The set of charging electrodes may be more or less complex: a multitude of configurations is explored in document U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,387 (Hertz). The major advantage of this approach is the mechanical simplicity of the electrode block, but transitions between two deflection levels cannot be easily managed: the transition from one break up point to another produces a series of drops with uncontrolled intermediate trajectories.
Solutions have been considered to overcome this difficulty comprising a modulation of the break length in EP 0 949 077 (Imaje), but with a tight tolerance on the break up length (typically a few tens of microns) that is difficult to control; or management of partially charged portions of the jet with a length equivalent to the distance separating two clearly defined break up locations in EP 1 092 542 (Imaje), but this requires management of two break up points and the useful drop generation frequency has to be reduced, with the production of unusable jet segments.
In general, even for recent developments such as developments made by the Kodak company for its drop generator based on a thermal stimulation technique allowing exceptional drop production ways (for example EP 0 911 167), the solutions put forward always have the problem of transitions between the deflected position of the jet and the undeflected one.
One alternative suggested the presence of different sized drops and selective deflection according to the drop sizes by crosswise projection of an airflow, as described in US 2003/0222950. However in this case, the production, circulation and recovery of a uniform airflow are difficult to implement without increasing air induced fluctuations along the trajectory of the drops.

Drop charge and deflection device for ink jet printing

Abstract: The charging means (22) can also selectively deflect drops (16b).


A molded case circuit breaker includes a generally "Z" shaped intermediate latch structure which has upper and lower substantially planar sections that are each bent at an angle with respect to a center pivot section. The upper portion of the intermediate latch includes one or two latch surfaces. One of these latch surfaces engages the cradle of the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker, to latch the operating mechanism when the circuit breaker is closed. The other latch surface engages a trip bar or an intermediate latch bar, which is rotated by the trip unit when an overcurrent condition occurs. The lower portion of the intermediate latch structure also includes a latch surface which may engage a trip bar. This latch surface is sloped such that when the latch surface of the trip bar is moved along this sloped latch surface, the trip bar rotates. This rotation of the trip bar adjusts the spacing between the trip bar and a bimetallic strip or magnetic armature of a thermal and magnetic trip unit to allow the rating of the circuit breaker to be changed in the field. The pivot portion of the intermediate latch structure includes two mounting tabs, one on either side of the latch. The mounting tabs have a generally rectangular cross-section and, due to the angled relationship between the pivot portion and the upper and lower portions of the intermediate latch, the latch pivots on an edge of the mounting tabs. This edge is aligned with an angular opening in the mechanical frame to mount the intermediate latch. The mounting tabs also retain a biasing spring which biases the intermediate latch toward the cradle and biases the trip bar or latch bar toward the intermediate latch.

Molded case circuit breakers are well known in the art. The principal components of a molded case circuit breaker are a movable upper contact arm and a movable or stationary lower contact arm. When the circuit breaker is closed, the upper contact arm is in electrical contact with the lower contact arm to allow current to flow through the circuit breaker. The operating mechanism of a typical circuit breaker is designed to protect an electrical system, coupled to the circuit breaker from high level overcurrent conditions, requiring high speed tripping and longer duration low-level overload conditions by separating the upper contact arm from the lower contact arm to open the circuit breaker. Typically, the contact arms of a molded case circuit breaker are opened and closed by an overcenter toggle mechanism. When the contacts of the circuit breaker are closed, this toggle mechanism is latched such that when the latch is released the toggle mechanism causes the upper contact arm to quickly move away from the lower contact arm, opening the circuit breaker.
The latch of a typical toggle mechanism is positioned adjacent to a trip bar which, when engaged, opens the latch, causing the electrical contact arms to open. The trip bar is typically engaged by apparatus such as a bimetallic element which bends in response to an overcurrent condition and, in so bending, causes the trip bar to rotate and release the latch. Prior art circuit breakers have also included an armature which is responsive to the magnetic field generated by current flowing through the breaker to engage the trip bar.
The overcenter toggle mechanism and the trip mechanism are relatively complex structures. As the features provided in molded case circuit breakers increase, the complexity of the operating mechanisms also tends to increase. This increasing complexity may make it difficult to produce a circuit breaker which opens consistently responsive to the same force applied to the trip bar. This inconsistency in the operation of the circuit breaker results from uncertainty in the position of the various components of the operating mechanism and trip mechanism. Because of this inconsistency in the operation of the circuit breaker, it may be difficult to produce a molded case circuit breaker which accurately conforms to a predetermined rating or which is difficult to calibrate.

Intermediate latch for a molded case circuit breaker


The invention is directed to method for making a dielectrically isolated metal base transistors and permeable base transistors. The first step is the production of a silicon/metal silicide/silicon heterostructure. Thereafter the surface of the heterostructure is oxidized so as to provide a bonding surface. A second silicon substrate has its surface oxidized and is bonded to the heterostructure. The surface of the heterostructure is then etched back so as to expose individual transistors which are disposed on the oxidized surface of the second substrate. With suitable processing of the metal silicide layer it may act as the base region for a metal base or permeable base transistor.

This invention relates to methods of manufacturing metal base transistors and permeable base transistors. Specifically, this invention relates to a method for making dielectrically isolated metal base transistors and permeable base transistors.
Recently, because of their superior high frequency and high current gain characteristics, interest has been generated in metal base transistors, which are transistors in which the base of the transistor is a metal, or more particularly a metal silicide such as cobalt silicide. Furthermore, a variant of the metal base transistor, known as the permeable base transistor is also of interest as it also has favorable operating characteristics. In a permeable base transistor the electrons will tunnel directly through so-called "pin holes" in the metal base. Both of these transistors have high gain and fast response characteristics which makes them particularly suitable for high frequency applications.
For high frequency operation each of the metal base or permeable base transistors must be dielectrically isolated from the others. The most common method for providing dielectric isolation to these transistors has been by p-n doping of the underlying substrate. However, the individual transistor and its accompanying doping region has a small, but far from insignificant, capacitance. Furthermore, the effect of this residual capacitance becomes significant at higher and higher frequencies. This capacitance will limit the effective speed of the device. The present invention is directed towards a method of making metal base transistors and permeable base transistors which are completely dielectrically isolated.

Method of making dielectrically isolated metal base transistors and permeable base transistors


SCSI commands are used over IP (iSCSI) to trigger digest calculations of block span ranges. The parameters of the digest-calculation command include the command itself a block range, and the digest-calculation method to be used. A related combined command compares the digest-calculation result with a preexisting digest-calculation result. The parameters of the combined command include the parameters of the digest-calculation command, and the preexisting digest calculation result. Another command initializes a block range.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to digest calculations. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of iSCSI to send digest-calculation commands.
2. Background Information
In the area of network storage, it is sometimes necessary or desirable to compare some or all of the contents of storage resources. However, it is not practical to send all of the data across a communications link, which itself may be slow, or even if not, the resulting performance decrease may be unacceptable. Thus, checksum or "digest" calculations are used as a means for fast comparison with a reasonable level of accuracy.
In the past, triggering of such digest calculations has been accomplished by custom network protocols, not necessarily compatible with standard transport protocols, and typically requiring additional handling by the network infrastructure team.
Thus, a need exists for a simpler way to trigger digest calculations that are compatible with standard transport protocols.

Generating digest for block range via iSCSI


There is provided a control method of a compression-ignition internal combustion engine capable of easily coping with a wide range of required loads by a single fuel.

In recent years, consideration has been given to a compression-ignition internal combustion engine typified by a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine in order to improve fuel consumption of internal combustion engines and to reduce emission. The compression-ignition internal combustion engine leads an oxygen containing gas and a fuel capable of compressed self-ignition into a cylinder and compressing the same for self-ignition.
It is, however, hard to control the ignition timing of the compression-ignition internal combustion engine, unlike a spark-ignition internal combustion engine. In addition, the compression-ignition internal combustion engine is susceptible to knocking in high required load of the compression-ignition internal combustion engine if a fuel of high ignitability is used and is susceptible to misfire in low required load of the compression-ignition internal combustion engine if a fuel of low ignitability is used. Therefore, the compression-ignition internal combustion engine has a problem of a narrow stable operating range.
To resolve the above problems, there is a conventionally known technology for supplying the compression-ignition internal combustion engine with a mixture of a fuel of high ignitability and a fuel of low ignitability provided therein (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-355471). According to this technology, a stable operation is achieved in a wide range of required loads by adjusting the mixture ratio of the above fuels corresponding to the required load of the compression-ignition internal combustion engine. In this technology, however, the fuel of high ignitability and the fuel of low ignitability need be prepared individually and stored separately from each other.
On the other hand, there is also a known technology for using a single fuel to generate a ignitability suppressive substance by partially oxidizing a part of the fuel in the case of an increase in the required load of the compression-ignition internal combustion engine (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-213444). Specifically, the technology is for use in generating a ignitability suppressive substance such as formaldehyde by partially oxidizing a part of hydrocarbon fuel such as light oil.
The technology, however, has a problem of requiring a high-temperature and long-term reaction to generate formaldehyde by partially oxidizing the hydrocarbon such as light oil.

Method of controlling compression-ignition internal combustion engine

Abstract: A compression-ignition internal combustion engine includes a first tank (2) for storing a blended fuel that contains alcohol and liquid hydrocarbon at predetermined percentages and a second tank (4) for mixing the blended fuel supplied from the first tank (2) with water and storing a liquid mixture of the water and the alcohol mixed with each other and the liquid hydrocarbon with the liquid mixture and the liquid hydrocarbon separated from each other, and a supply of the blended fuel stored in the first tank (2) and a supply of the liquid hydrocarbon stored in the second tank (4) are varied according to a required load of the compression-ignition internal combustion engine (1).


Method for the identification in operation of the drive train main vibration frequency of a wind turbine, comprising online steps of: a) obtaining a input signal (r) of the generator speed (Ω); b) filtering the generator speed input signal (r) for obtaining a generator speed signal (r1) in a suitable band for representing the oscillating signal (o) comprised in the input signal (r) of the generator speed (Ω); c) extracting the drive train main vibration frequency (f) from said filtered signal (r1). The invention also comprise a method of damping the drive train vibrations of a wind turbine comprising steps of setting the generator torque reference (Trref) as a function of the generator speed (Ω) and of the drive train main vibration frequency (f) identified by the above mentioned method and wind turbine control system implementing said damping method.

Wind turbines are devices that convert mechanical wind energy to electrical energy. A typical wind turbine includes a nacelle mounted on a tower housing a drive train for transmitting the rotation of a rotor to an electric generator and other components such as a yaw drive which orientates the wind turbine, several actuators and sensors and a brake. The rotor supports a number of blades that capture the kinetic energy of the wind and cause the drive train rotational motion. The rotor blades have an aerodynamic shape such that when a wind blows across the surface of the blade, a lift force is generated causing the rotation of a shaft which is connected—directly or through a gearing arrangement—to the electrical generator located inside the nacelle. The amount of energy produced by wind turbines depends on the rotor blade sweeping surface that receives the action from the wind and consequently increasing the length of the blades leads normally to an increase of the power output of the wind turbine. The blades are controlled to stay in autorotation regime during normal phase, and its attitude depends on the wind intensity.
The dynamic coupling of the first symmetric in-plane mode of the 3 bladed rotor with the drive-train main frequency results in a coupled mode which is practically undamped in the wind turbine operation. This coupled mode may even be excited when operating at nominal power for high wind speeds leading to unaffordable loading on the drive-train. A wind turbine control operation without considering such dynamics can easily lead to damaging levels of fatigue loading on the gearbox.
The prior art teaches the use of the generator torque reference for damping said vibrations. This technique is highly dependant of a good identification of the drive train main frequency vibrations.
US 2006/0066111 discloses a vibration damping technique for variable speed wind turbines that not only aids damping of drive train vibrations caused by variation in wind speed, but also mitigates tower loads caused by side-to-side oscillations of the tower. Further, the technique advantageously reduces power fluctuations of the generator coupled to the wind turbine rotor. Said vibrations are determined as a function of the rotor speed using Fourier transforms in real-time operation.
A drawback of said proposal regarding particularly to the identification of the drive train vibrations is that the Fourier transforms require time windows of data of a certain size that may cause important delays in the processing of the generator speed signal.
The present invention focuses on finding a solution for said drawback.

Method for the identification of the drive train main frequency in a wind turbine


A pumping unit is provided that controls fluid pressure in a pipe being traversed according to the degree of resistance encountered by a pig traversing the pipe under fluid pressure. Increasing fluid pressure in constricted areas enables an intelligent pig to traverse the pipe with a more uniform speed by controlling the fluid velocity.

Oil refineries frequently include many kilometers of pipes that require cleaning, as for example in fired heaters, where oil is heated during the refining process. One well established cleaning technique is to run a pig through the pipes under hydraulic pressure to clean the pipes. Pigs are typically polyurethane or strangulated foam cylinders or balls that are studded with scraping elements. The inventor has been a pioneer in the art of pigging, and has obtained U.S. Pat. No. 6,569,255 for a Pig and method for cleaning tubes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,391,121 for a Pig and method for cleaning tubes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,359,255 for a Pipe inspection device and method, U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,493 for a Method of cleaning a heater, U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,041 for a Pipe pig with abrasive exterior, U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,475 for a Scraper for a Pipe Pig, U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,573 for a Method of cleaning a pipe with a cylindrical pipe pig having pins in the central portion, U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,074 for a Plug for a furnace header, U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,302 for a Pipeline Pig and U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,493 for a Pipeline Pig.
Intelligent pigs that carry sensors are run through pipes, as for example the pipes in fired heaters, to inspect the pipes with the sensors. It is preferred that the intelligent pigs run at a constant speed. However, the intelligent pigs tend to slow down when encountering obstacles in the pipe. This can cause problems for the operator of the intelligent pig.


An apparatus for cutting toenails and fingernails includes a sleeve that extends over a pair of blades that are each attached to a first end of a first and second member, respectively. The first and second members are attached at an opposite second end thereof and provide a spring action intermediate the first and second members sufficient to urge the blades away from each other. A lever is attached to the sleeve proximate the first end of the first and second members and is adapted to pivot about an axis to urge the first end of the first and second members towards each other for cutting nails.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention, in general, relates to personal grooming devices and, more particularly, to toe and finger nail clippers.
Nail clippers, the term herein including either toe or finger nail type of clippers, are generally well known.
Nail clippers have certain problems. For example, prior art designs tend to spray the clippings into a room. The clippings may be sharp and can even spread infection. Therefore, it is desirable to contain clippings.
However, prior art nail clippers include a center post that engages with a pivoting lever. The pivoting lever, pressing upon a ridge in the center post applies pressure to the clipper sufficient to urge a pair of opposite sides, and therefore also the blades, toward one-another during use.
The center post, though necessary, provides an obstruction that certain of the clippings inevitably must impact. The clippings bounce off of the center post and are scattered. Any prior art type of modification intended to retain the clippings has proven to be ineffective when they are bouncing off of the center post.
Other prior-art types of nail clippers do not fold sufficiently flat for storage. Others do not apply leverage that can create sufficient force to cut through difficult nails without requiring a great deal of force by the user.
Accordingly, there exists today a need for a nail clipper that helps ameliorate the above-mentioned and other difficulties.
Clearly, such an apparatus would be a useful and desirable device.
2. Description of Prior Art
Nail clippers are, in general, known. While the structural arrangements of the above described known types of devices may, at first appearance, have similarities with the present invention, they differ in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for the effective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages that are not available with the prior devices.


A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an electronic component, a ring structure and an adhesive layer. The substrate has a first surface. The electronic component is over the first surface of the substrate. The ring structure is over the first surface of the substrate, wherein the ring structure includes a first part having a first height, and a second part recessed from the bottom surface and having a second height lower than the first height. The adhesive layer is interposed between the first part of the ring structure and the substrate, and between the second part of the ring structure and the substrate.

Semiconductor devices are subject to a wide range of temperature variations. Due to differences in the thermal coefficient of expansion (CTE) of various structural layers, the semiconductor devices suffer from warpage issue. To control this warpage, ring structures e.g., stiffeners are incorporated into the semiconductor devices. The stiffener rings provide extra support to the semiconductor devices thus reducing warpage. However, the stiffener rings tend to delaminate due to temperature variations during thermal cycle, and thus inversely affects reliability of the semiconductor devices.

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.


A liquid crystal display device eliminating an uneven display, which is a D-STN type liquid crystal display device having a compensation cell and a liquid crystal cell for display wherein a difference between the average thicknesses of at least two adjacent glass substrates among glass substrates existing in the compensation cell and the liquid crystal cell for display is 4 μm or more, and preferably not more than 50 μm.

Heretofore, various types of liquid crystal display devices such as TN (twisted nematic), STN (super-twisted nematic) type and the like have widely been employed. The TN type has such a system that a nematic liquid crystal is sandwiched by two glass substrates wherein long axis directions of liquid crystal molecules are twisted 90° between the two glass substrates. The STN type has such a system that the twist angle is 180° or more in order to produce a steep change in intensity of transmitting light with respect to an applied voltage. When a dichroic display using a light source color and a black color is to be performed in the STN type, a compensation cell is employed in addition to a liquid crystal cell for display. Such system that a dichroic display with a light source color and a black color is performed by the aid of a compensation cell is called as a D-STN type.
In such D-STN type liquid crystal display device, when a black color was to be produced by blocking light from the backlight, there was a problem that light leaked from a second polarizing plate to thereby cause an uneven display.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a liquid crystal display device is proposed (in for example, Patent Document 1) in which a difference between the thickness of a frontside glass substrate of a liquid crystal cell for display and the thickness of a backside glass substrate of a compensation is 50 μm or more.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2004-4805

Liquid crystal display device having particular differences in average thickness of adjacent glass substrates


A system and method are provided for monitoring a pressure of fuel supplied to the fuel injector, and providing a control input voltage to the piezostack in response to the pressure to cause the injector to provide a fuel injection having a desired shape. In the system and method, providing a control input voltage includes applying a model-based algorithm to the pressure to determine the control input voltage.

Various fuel injectors are known, including solenoid actuated fuel injectors and piezoelectrically actuated fuel injectors. Compared with solenoid actuated fuel injectors, piezoelectrically actuated injectors have a higher bandwidth, which allows for the delivery of more complex injection rate profiles, examples including tightly-spaced pulse trains and rate shaping. As is known in the art, injection rate shaping may reduce overall fuel consumption and improve the trade-off between NOx and particulate matter emissions.
A boot shape injection profile is depicted in FIG. 1, and is an example of rate shaping. Profile 100 includes a "toe" 102 and a "shank" 104. Profile 100 may provide benefits for diesel engines operating at high load and medium speed. Various techniques may be employed for rate shaping. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,641, a piezoelectric fuel injector with open-loop control is disclosed for producing rate shaped injections. In Kohketsu, S., Tanabe, K., and Mori, K., 2000, "Flexibly controlled injection rate shape with next generation common rail system for heavy duty DI diesel engines," SAE Technical Paper (2000-01-0705), a system with two common rails is disclosed for creating rate shaped injection profiles. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,896,257, a position sensor is disclosed for estimating fueling rate for the purpose of closed-loop injection rate control and failure diagnosis. In Wu, C., and Sun, Z., 2013, "Design and control of a direct fuel injector with rate shaping capability," American Control Conference 2013, Washington, D.C., an injector design is outlined which can enable rate shaping by utilizing an internal feedback mechanism.

Method and apparatus for dynamic surface control of a piezoelectric fuel injector during rate shaping