An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device and a method for driving the same, are capable of achieving an enhancement in response characteristics of OLEDs and an enhancement in display picture quality through application of an overdriving (or accelerated driving) method taking into consideration intrinsic response characteristics of OLEDs. The OLED display device includes an image display panel including a plurality of pixel regions, and a driving integrated circuit for converting digital image data into an analog image signal, generating a plurality of gamma voltage levels through modulation, for overdriving or accelerated driving of the analog image signal, and modulating gray levels of the digital image data such that the modulated gray levels correspond to the modulated gamma voltage levels, for display of an image according to the modulated image data on the image display panel.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device and a method for driving the same, which are capable of achieving an enhancement in response characteristics of OLEDs and an enhancement in display picture quality through application of an overdriving (or accelerated driving) method taking into consideration intrinsic response characteristics of OLEDs.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Recently-highlighted flat panel display devices include a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, a field emission display (FED) device, a plasma display panel (PDP) device, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device, etc. Among such flat panel display devices, the OLED display device is usefully applied to mobile communication appliances such as smartphones or tablet computers because it exhibits high brightness, and employs a low drive voltage while having an ultra-slim structure.
Such an OLED display device includes a plurality of pixels, each of which includes an OLED pixel constituted by an anode, a cathode, and an organic light emitting layer interposed between the anode and the cathode, and a pixel circuit for independently driving the OLED pixel. The OLED display device also includes a driving control circuit for independently controlling driving of the pixel circuits of the pixels. Such an OLED display device converts digital data into analog image signals (current or voltage signals), using grayscale-based gamma voltages, and supplies the converted image signals to respective pixel circuits and, as such, an image is displayed through the OLED pixels.
There are conventional OLED display devices or LCD devices employing an overdriving (or accelerated driving) method in which image data to be displayed is modulated in order to reduce response time of pixels. In a conventional overdriving method, image data of a current frame is compared with image data of a previous frame, and the current frame image data is modulated in accordance with a difference between the current frame image data and the previous frame image data.
However, conventional OLED display devices have a limitation in improving response characteristics, using the above-mentioned conventional overdriving method, because OLEDs have intrinsic response characteristics, differently than liquid crystals.
In detail, LCD devices exhibit rapid response characteristics when image conversion is generated from a dark low-grayscale image (0-grayscale) into a bright high-grayscale image (255-grayscale). In such an LCD device, it may be possible to improve response characteristics only through modulation of an image data value into a lower or higher value. However, OLED exhibits very slow response characteristics when image conversion is generated from a dark low-grayscale image (0-grayscale) into a bright high-grayscale image (255-grayscale), differently than liquid crystals. Furthermore, there is a limitation in improving response characteristics of such an OLED through a conventional method of increasing or decreasing an image data value because the response characteristics of the OLED are also influenced by accumulated image data. For example, a data value of about 219-grayscale is required as an overdriving data value for display of an image in a state of being converted from a low-grayscale image (0-grayscale) into an intermediate-grayscale image (112-grayscale). For conversion from a low-grayscale image (0-grayscale) into a high-grayscale image (12-grayscale) having higher grayscale than the intermediate grayscale, however, even a maximum grayscale, namely, 255-grayscale, is insufficient to improve the response characteristics.

Organic light emitting diode display device with data modulator and a method for driving the same

INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION OF KYUNGHEE UNIVERSITY


A method for detecting hydrocarbons with an underwater vehicle equipped with one or more measurement components is described. The method includes navigating the UV within the body of water; monitoring the body of water with measurement components associated with the UV to collect measurement data. The collected data from the UV is used to determine whether hydrocarbons are present and at the location.

This section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. This discussion is believed to assist in providing a framework to facilitate a better understanding of particular aspects of the disclosed methodologies and techniques. Accordingly, it should be understood that this section should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art.
Hydrocarbon reserves are becoming increasingly difficult to locate and access, as the demand for energy grows globally. Typically, various technologies are utilized to collect measurement data and then to model the location of potential hydrocarbon accumulations. The modeling may include factors, such as (1) the generation and expulsion of liquid and/or gaseous hydrocarbons from a source rock, (2) migration of hydrocarbons to an accumulation in a reservoir rock, (3) a trap and a seal to prevent significant leakage of hydrocarbons from the reservoir. The collection of these data may be beneficial in modeling potential locations for subsurface hydrocarbon accumulations.
At present, reflection seismic is the dominant technology for the identification of hydrocarbon accumulations. This technique has been successful in identifying structures that may host hydrocarbon accumulations, and may also be utilized to image the hydrocarbon fluids within subsurface accumulations as direct hydrocarbon indicators (DHIs). However, this technology may lack the required fidelity to provide accurate assessments of the presence and volume of subsurface hydrocarbon accumulations due to poor imaging of the subsurface, particularly with increasing depth where acoustic impedence contrasts that cause DHIs are greatly diminished or absent. Additionally, it is difficult to differentiate the presence and types of hydrocarbons from other fluids in the subsurface by such remote measurements.
Current geophysical, non-seismic hydrocarbon detection technologies, such as potential fields methods like gravity or magnetics or the like, provide coarse geologic subsurface controls by sensing different physical properties of rocks, but lack the fidelity to identify hydrocarbon accumulations. These tools may provide guidance on where in a basin seismic surveys should be conducted, but do not significantly improve the ability to confirm the presence of hydrocarbon seeps or subsurface hydrocarbon accumulations. Other non-seismic hydrocarbon detection technologies may include geological extrapolations of structural or stratigraphic trends that lead to prospective hydrocarbon accumulations, but cannot directly detect these hydrocarbon accumulations. Other techniques may include monitoring hydrocarbon seep locations as an indicator of subsurface hydrocarbon accumulations. However, these techniques are limited as well. For example, satellite and airborne imaging of sea surface slicks, and shipborne multibeam imaging followed by targeted drop core sampling, have been the principal exploration tools used to locate potential seafloor seeps of hydrocarbons as indicators of a working hydrocarbon system in exploration areas. While quite valuable, these technologies have limitations in fidelity, specificity, coverage, and cost.
There are several methods proposed in the art to detect hydrocarbons from an underwater location (e.g., within or at least partially within the body of water). The typical sensors are associated with leak detection. For example, Great Britain Patent No. 2382140 describes a method that involves the use of acoustic or other signal pulses to detect pipeline leakage. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,728,291 describes a method that utilizes fluorescence polarization to detect viscous oil residues. Further, in Shari Dunn-Norman et al, "Reliability of Pressure Signals in Offshore Pipeline Leak Detection", Final Report to Dept. of the Interior, MMS TA&R Program SOL 1435-01-00-RP-31077, pressure safety low alarms are described as being utilized to detect pipeline leakage. Also, other methods of different hydrocarbon detection technologies may include the use of fluorometric sensors, acoustic sensors, a methane sensor or a temperature sensor mounted on a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to detect pipeline leakage, as noted by Neptune Oceanographics Ltd (NOL), http://www.offshore-technology.com/contractors/pipeline_inspec/neptune/2011 (visited on Jul. 25, 2012).
While these various different sensors may be utilized, the movement of the sensors typically involves operators and other personnel to control and manage the operation via umbilical cables. For example, certain systems utilize a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for subsea leak detection. The ROV is equipped with a sensor to detect leaks. Unfortunately, as the ROV has to be manually controlled, a large number of operator hours are required to conduct such a pipeline survey. Another example includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,764, which describes the use of a towing and recording boat to pull a SONAR sensor for detection of pipeline leakage. This system requires operators to manage the towing boat and associated equipment.
Also, other technologies may involve the use of vehicles to survey the seabed. For example, U.S. Patent Application No. 20110004367 describes a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), which may be utilized for certain missions. Further, a GOSL publication describes the use of a Marport SQX-1 AUV capable of operating to 500 meters water depth, which may utilize sensors including SONAR. See Geodetic Offshore Service Limited (GOSL) (http://www.goslng.com/marport.asp) (visited on Jul. 25, 2012). However, this reference appears to rely only upon a methane sniffer for leakage detection, which can result in reliability problems due to the lack of additional sensor information. Another reference is Intl Patent Application No. 2012052564. This reference describes an AUV to acquire gravity and magnetic data near the seafloor.
Other examples of academic research are described in Jakuba et al. (2011; Jakuba Michael V, Steinberg D, Pizarro O, Williams S B, Kinsey J C, Yoerger D R, Camilli R. Toward automatic classification of chemical sensor data from autonomous underwater vehicles. AIROS'11—2011 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems: Celebrating 50 Years of Robotics. IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (2011), pp. 4722-4727, arn: 6048757, 23 refs. CODEN: 85RBAH ISBN: 9781612844541 DOI: 10.1109/IROS.2011.6048757 Published by: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 445 Hoes Lane/P.O. Box 1331, Piscataway, N.J. 08855-1331 (US).; Camilli et al. (2010; Camilli, R., Reddy, C. M., Yoerger, D. R., Jakuba, M. V., Kinsey, R. C., McIntyre, C. P., Sylva, S. P., and Maloney, J. V. Tracking Hydrocarbon Plume Transport and Biodegradation at Deepwater Horizon, Science 330 (6001): 201-204; Kinsey et al. (2011; Kinsey J C, Yoerger D R, Camilli R, German C R, Jakuba M V, Fisher C R. Assessing the deepwater horizon oil spill with the sentry autonomous underwater vehicle. IROS'11—2011 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems: Celebrating 50 Years of Robotics. IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (2011), pp. 261-267, arn: 6048700, 30 refs. CODEN: 85RBAH ISBN: 9781612844541 DOI: 10.1109/IROS.2011.6048700 Published by: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 445 Hoes Lane/P.O. Box 1331, Piscataway, N.J. 08855-1331 (US)); Zhang et al. (2011; Zhang Y, McEwen R S, Ryan J P, Bellingham J G, Thomas H, Rienecker E, Thompson C H. A peak-capture algorithm used on an autonomous underwater vehicle in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill response scientific survey. Journal of Field Robotics (July 2011) Volume 28, Number 4, pp. 484-496, 21 refs. ISSN 1556-4959 E-ISSN: 1556-4967 DOI: 10.1002/rob.20399 Published by: John Wiley and Sons Inc., P.O. Box 18667, Newark, N.J. 07191-8667 (US)) along with Intl. Application Publication No. 2012/052564. Further, other references describe discriminating between thermogenic and biogenic hydrocarbon sources. See, e.g., Sackett W M., Use of Hydrocarbon Sniffing. Offshore Exploration. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 7:243-254 (1977).
Despite these different technologies, many frontier hydrocarbon exploration ventures result in failures. In particular, these failures are attributed to an inability to fully evaluate, understand, and appropriately risk the hydrocarbon system components, from source to seeps (e.g., source presence and maturity, migration, accumulation and leakage). As a result, an enhancement to the exploration techniques is needed. In particular, a method and system is needed to locate seafloor hydrocarbon seeps accurately and cost-effectively over the basin-to-play scale as a means to enhance basin assessment and to high-grade areas for exploration.

Exploration method and system for detection of hydrocarbons with an underwater vehicle


An approach for enabling delivery and presentment of service provider notification messages to a subscribed user via a social networking service of the user is described. An integration platform determines whether a network identifier for accessing a social networking service via a communication network is associated with subscriber account information maintained by the communication service provider. The integration platform also generates a request for linking a social networking identifier associated with the social networking service with the subscriber account information based on the determination. The integration platform further initiates a rendering of a notification message received from the communication service provider to a user interface of the social networking service based on acceptance of the request.

Service providers are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience to consumers by providing compelling network services and advancing the underlying technologies. One area of interest has been providing users with convenient access to service related notification messages. Typically, users subscribed with the service provider utilize the network to access services such as social networking services and shared media platforms to communicate with friends, family and acquaintances. The users may also access subscriber related notification messages such as billing notices or product offers by way of a customer service portal. Unfortunately, each of these different services or portals is independent, and therefore requires an individual login in order to be accessed by the user.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need for enabling delivery and presentment of service provider notification messages to a subscribed user via a social networking service of the user.

Method and system for associating a social networking identifier with a network subscriber account


A database-processing method and system for answering a natural-language question by a computer system with a database. In one embodiment, the system analyzes the grammatical structure of the question. In the analysis, the system scans the question to extract each word in the question; then based on a pre-defined context-free grammatical structure, the question is parsed into its grammatical components using one or more grammatically rules and the database. After parsing the question, the system transforms the components into one or more instructions, using one or more semantic rules and the database. The instructions, when executed, at least access data from the database for generating the answer to the natural-language question. In another embodiment, the system compares the natural-language question with questions stored in the database; each question in the database has its corresponding answer. If there is a match, the system retrieves the answer to the corresponding matched question and presents the answer to the student.

The present invention relates generally to answering a question, and more particularly to answering a question by a computer using a database.
In the information age, those who have more information typically believe they have a competitive advantage. Actually, they are only partially correct. Not only do they need to have more information, the information has to be easily accessible and processable.
For decades, computer programmers have processed information in a database with programming languages. Though most people prefer to process information using a natural language, which is a language we use everyday, scientists still have not developed an effective way to search databases using a natural language.
When a manager wants information stored in a large database, he may not be able to retrieve it unless he knows specific programming techniques. So the manager may ask one or more programmers to write a program to search the database. The programmers serve as the "middle men" between the manager and the database. With the middle men involved, sometimes the manager might have to wait for a week before he gets his answer. The lack of an immediate response to his question hinders the manager's progress.
To access information directly from a large database, a programmer typically uses a programming language, such as SQL, which is a special language to query or to search for information in a database. A query may contain more than one SQL statement. Each query, when executed, searches the database for the requested information.
But languages such as SQL have some drawbacks. SQL is designed for retrieving information, and not for analyzing them. For example, it is difficult to use SQL to generate the answer to the question, "Who is the first President of the United States?" To answer this question, the computer not only has to retrieve information on all the US Presidents, the computer also has to determine among the retrieved information the first President who was inaugurated.
Many researchers have been working on ways to search a database using a natural language. They want to create the type of user-friendly technology shown in some television shows, where the captain of a space ship can get an answer or a task performed by asking a computer a natural language question. The captain can simply ask: "COMPUTER, chart the course away from the Klingons to the galaxy system Inner Nepula Two;" and the computer automatically performs the task. However, in real life, communicating with a computer using a natural language is an extremely complicated task. One reason is that practically every language has many exceptions to a set of basic rules. Actually, in many instances, the computer cannot understand its task because of those exceptions and permutations among the exceptions.
Thus, we still need a method and a system to access information from a database without requiring a user to use a programming language.


Various system embodiments comprise an implantable lead, an implantable housing, a neural stimulation circuit in the housing, and a controller in the housing and connected to the neural stimulation circuit. The lead has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is adapted to deliver neural stimulation pulses to the ventral nerve root and the dorsal nerve root. The proximal end of the lead is adapted to connect to the housing. The neural stimulation circuit is adapted to generate neural stimulation pulses to stimulate the ventral nerve root or the dorsal nerve root using the implantable lead. The controller is adapted to control the neural stimulation circuit to deliver a neural stimulation treatment.

Sympathetic over activation is involved in a variety of cardiovascular disease, such as ventricular arrhythmias, myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), etc. Therapies that are based on autonomic modulation have shown efficacy in a variety of cardiovascular diseases in both preclinical and clinical studies. The autonomic balance can be modulated to have more parasympathetic tone by stimulating parasympathetic targets or inhibiting sympathetic targets, and can be modulated to have more sympathetic tone by stimulating sympathetic targets or inhibiting parasympathetic targets.
Spinal cord stimulation has been proposed for a variety of treatments, such as pain control. One known system for delivering electrical stimulation to neural targets in and around the spinal cord uses a lead inserted one-dimensionally into the dorsal epidural space of the spinal cord.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for selectively stimulating nerve roots


A metal clinch fastener has portions thereof selectively hardened to enable use of the fastener with metal members of differing hardness values. The selective hardening of the fastener enables mounting with application of required forces for piercing and/or plastic deformation of the metal member without undesirable deformation or distortion of the fastener. The screw thread region or zone of the fastener has a relatively lesser hardness suitable and may be pre-threaded or later threaded by engagement with a thread forming screw.

The present invention generally relates to self-attaching fasteners and, more particularly, to clinch nuts.
Self-attaching fasteners are used in many industries such as, for example, the automotive and appliance industries to secure various components to metal members. A clinch nut typically includes a central pilot or punch portion, which at least partially extends into an opening in a metal plate or panel member. If the clinch nut is self-piercing, the central pilot portion cooperates with tooling to form the opening in the metal panel as the clinch nut is attached to the metal member.
The clinch nut is attached to the metal member by a die member, which forms a mechanical interlock between the clinch nut and the metal member. The die member typically deforms the metal member about the opening into contact with the pilot portion and adjacent bottom end face of the clinch nut. The pilot portion of the clinch nut may be provided with an undercut and the bottom end face may be provided with an annular groove and/or lugs to enhance the engagement with the metal member. For example, SPAC® brand clinch nuts are provided by RB&W Manufacturing LLC containing such features. The clinch nuts and the mounting thereof to metal members are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,220,804 and 6,409,444, the teachings of these patents being incorporated herein by reference.
When clinch nuts are attached to the metal members, screws or bolts are threaded into the clinch nuts and tightened to prescribed torque values. To that end, the clinch nut is provided with a central bore that is threaded for engagement with such screws or bolts. The central bore can also be sized to be threaded by engagement with a thread forming screw during the final assembly or installation so that different threads may be formed in accordance with specific fastening requirements. It is also desirable to form the screw thread after the clinch nut has been affixed to the metal member to avoid distortion of the screw thread during the nut mounting process.
In order to provide lighter weight products of comparable strength, there is a tendency to form the panel or plate members of high-strength low alloy (HSLA) steel, ultra high-strength low alloy (UHSLA) steel or martensitic HSLA steel. Such high-strength materials have a significantly increased hardness ranging in value from Rb 80 up to Rc 45 and require clinch nuts of increased compressive strength to assure self-piercing and/or attachment without undesirable deformation or distortion of the fastener as it is affixed to the metal member. That is, increased piercing loads and setting forces to deform the metal member into engagement with the clinch nut are required to mount the nut to the higher strength and harder metal members. Such increased piercing and setting forces may result in unwanted deformation or distortion of the fastener.
The hardness and strength of the clinch nut may not be simply increased to resolve the foregoing problems without loss of the manufacturing flexibility of thread forming by engagement with a self-threading screw. This is true since self-threading screws are intended for use with relatively ductile metals having hardness values in the range of less than 32 Rc.
It is not desirable or competitive to provide specialty self-threading screws useful with metals of differing higher hardness values and/or clinch nuts with a variety of hardness values for use with metal members of differing strength and hardness properties. This has heretofore resulted in a trade-off between the required increases in compression strength of clinch nut, especially self-piercing nuts, and the manufacturing flexibility of subsequent thread formation by engagement of the mounted clinch nut with a thread forming screw. That is, a limited number of clinch nuts of differing hardness values may be used with a number of different metal members.


A gas turbine apparatus has a gas turbine and a plurality of burners for providing combustion gas to drive the turbine. A flow control means of each burner for fuel or combustion air is adjusted by control means to control each said burner individually in dependence on a predetermined combustion characteristic of the respective burner. Sensed quantities relating to the combustion performance of the burners are input to the control means which adjusts the flow control means of each burner in dependence on the sensed quantities and the predetermined combustion characteristic of the respective burner.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to gas turbine apparatus having a gas turbine and a plurality of burners which burn fuel in combustion air to supply combustion gases to drive the gas turbine. The invention is particularly concerned with the control of the burners, particularly the fuel-air ratio of the burner or of an individual stage of the burner, and thus also provides methods of control or operation of a gas turbine having a plurality of burners.
2. Description of Prior Art
Large power output gas turbines are nowadays usually supplied with combustion gas by a plurality of burners, which are often arranged in a ring, with each burner supplying its combustion gas to a different part of the first stage of the turbine. A number of proposals for control of the burners in such an apparatus have been made in the prior art, and include methods of pre-setting the burners for operation, and also adjusting the burners collectively or even separately during operation. Such methods are generally concerned with control of the fuel-air ratio.
One arrangement for setting the fuel-air ratio of a pre-mixing combustion stage of a plurality of burners is described in JP-A-61-195214. A pre-mixing combustion stage is one in which the fuel and combustion air meet and pass along a passage in which they are pre-mixed before reaching a combustion zone. This device is illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 8 show the burners 3 arranged in a ring to supply combustion gases to one gas turbine 1, whose inlet stage 1a is seen in FIG. 7. Each burner 3 as shown in FIG. 8 includes a diffusion combustion chamber 7a in which diffusion combustion having high combustion stability is effected, and a pre-mixing combustion chamber 6a in which pre-mixing combustion having a high NO.sub.x reduction ratio is effected. However, in the pre-mixing combustion, the combustion stability range is relatively narrow.
Diffusion fuel nozzles 9 for injecting a primary fuel F1 into the diffusion combustion chamber 7a are disposed at the upstream end of the diffusion combustion chamber 7a. Air A1 for the diffusion combustion enters through openings 7b. A pre-mixing gas formation chamber or passage 23 for pre-mixing a secondary fuel F2 and air A2, with pre-mixing fuel nozzles 19 for injecting the secondary fuel F2, is disposed at the up-stream end of the pre-mixing combustion chamber 6a. A movable member 28 of an inter-flow control device (hereinafter referred to as "IFC") is disposed near the inlet of the pre-mixing chamber 23 in order to regulate the rate of the combustion air flowing into the chamber 23 from the space between a burner casing 18 and a transition piece 105 and between the burner casing 18 and a cylinder 6 bounding the pre-mixing combustion region 6a. The air is supplied into this space as a flow A from a compressor 1.
The IFC device comprises the movable member 28, an IFC opening setter 29a for determining the amount of opening of the movable piece 28 and an IFC driving mechanism 17a for driving the movable member 28. One IFC opening setter 29a is provided for the plurality of burners 3. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the IFC driving mechanism 17a comprises a control ring 45 disposed around the outside of the annular ring of burners 3, a hydraulic cylinder 46 for rotating this control ring 45 and a lever link mechanism 47 for driving the movable member 28 of each burner 3 in accordance with the operation of the control ring 45. The movable member 28 of the IFC device and the lever link mechanism 47 are provided for each of the burners 3, but other parts are in common for all the burners 3. In FIGS. 8 and 9, the arrows indicate the movement of the parts in the opening (O) and closing (C) directions.
As another means for adjusting the air distribution inside the burner, it is known to provide a bypass valve 104 for passing part of combustion air, supplied from the compressor to the gap between the gas turbine casing 18 and the transition piece 105, directly into the transition piece 105 as shown in FIG. 10. In the same way as in FIGS. 7 to 9 described above, only one bypass valve opening setter 100a, one motor and one control ring 102, etc, constituting the bypass valve driving device 100a are provided, to control all the bypass valves 104 of all the burners 3a, respectively. A link mechanism 103 for driving the bypass valve 104 in accordance with the operation of the control ring 102 is arranged for each bypass valve 104.
As for control of the fuel-air ratio (the proportion of the fuel to air) in such a gas turbine equipment, the fuel-air ratio has been set to a constant value by changing the flow rate of air in accordance with the flow rate of the fuel that is predetermined for the operation of the gas turbine as described in JP-A-60-66020 for example. In this case, the air flow rate is determined only on the basis of the fuel flow rate which is in match with the gas turbine load. Determination of the air flow rate based on only the fuel flow rate has been practised in other gas turbine equipments.
In such conventional gas turbines one control ring 45, 102 is driven for a plurality of burners. Therefore, the control of the fuel-air ratio for each burner individually cannot be made.
A proposal for the separate control of each burner has been made in JP-A-59-7739, which shows fuel control for each burner performed, on the basis of the sensed temperature at the inlet to the first stage of the gas turbine. Each burner is controlled in dependence on the temperature pattern sensed all around the turbine, so as to minimize the temperature differences measured around the gas turbine, resulting from different performance of the burners, by means of feed back from the sensed temperatures. Overall improvement of the performance of the gas turbine, particularly in respect of a reduction of nitrogen oxide content in the exhaust gas and of stability of the burner operation, was not under consideration. This method also does not control each burner in dependence on a performance characteristic thereof.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 5,024,055, there is described a device for gas turbine control in which sensors are provided at the outlet of the turbine, to detect the presence of unburned gas components in the exhaust gas. Such unburned components suggest that one or more of the burners is operating incorrectly or has blown out, and from the angular position of such unburned components, is possible to determine which burner is in such a condition. The proposal then is to adjust the flow rate of air and/or of fuel to the respective burner, in order to maintain the fuel flow rate above a certain minimum and the air flow rate below a certain maximum.
A proposal for separate control of two rings of burners on the basis of detected fuel calorific value has been made in EP-A-278699.

Gas turbine apparatus and method of control thereof


A tool joint comprising a male member a female member. The male member having a coupling portion rearwardly from a body portion. The coupling portion having a frustoconical forward portion and a threaded rear portion. The thread having an intermediate section of uniform depth and terminating in forward and rear end parts. The female member having a bore extending rearwardly from a front surface. The bore having a frustoconical forward portion and a threaded rear portion. The thread having an intermediate section of uniform depth and terminating in forward and rear end parts. Upon threaded coupling of the male and female members to form a tool joint connection, the threaded portion of the male member engages the threaded portion of the female member.

The present invention relates to a tool joint employing threaded coupling to be used in particular in cutting tool assemblies employing different heads that are used on a single tool holder.
Tool joints with male and female members employing threaded coupling are known in the art. Such a male member usually comprises an external thread portion that matches a corresponding internal thread portion in the female member. An example of such a tool joint coupling mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,286. As shown in ""286, a male coupler (11) is axially aligned with a female coupler (13). The male coupler (11) has a helical male thread (21) which is sized and shaped to match a corresponding helical female thread (23) in the female coupler (13). A disadvantage of the coupling mechanism of the kind described is shown schematically in FIG. 1 (and shown clearly in FIGS. 1 and 5 of ""286). It involves the fact that forward to the forward most thread crest 14 of the male member 12 there is formed a narrow neck portion 16 which weakens the forward end of the male member. The term xe2x80x9cnarrow neck portionxe2x80x9d refers, herein, to a section of the male member having a diameter equal to the root diameter of the thread.
Another problem involved with such tool joints relates to the fact that the forward most thread crest, and, also the rear most thread crest, are incomplete, having narrowing runout portions at their open ends. This is clearly shown, for example, in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 1,407,335 to Reynolds. Such narrow end portions are too weak to transfer axial loads between the male and female members.
A solution to the problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,537 to Rath, which teaches how to reduce the narrow neck portion. In the threaded portion of the male member of ""537, the inner end portion of the thread has its full dimension almost to the point where it terminates. This enables the transition section to be made shorter.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a tool joint with male and female members having matching threads in which the threads in both the male member and the female member do not have the conventional runout of incomplete cross-section, thereby providing a shorter and stronger tool joint.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a tool joint having an axis A and comprising a male member and a female member;
the male member having an axis B and comprising:
a male body portion; and
a male coupling portion projecting rearwardly from the male body portion, the male coupling portion having an unthreaded forward portion adjacent the male body portion and a rear threaded portion terminating at a rear end;
the threaded portion of the male coupling portion having a thread terminating in a forward end part adjacent the forward portion of the male coupling portion and in a rear end part adjacent the rear end of the rear portion of the male coupling portion, the thread having an intermediate section of uniform depth between the forward and rear end parts;
the forward end part of the thread of the male coupling portion being a thread root having a variable depth gradually decreasing from a depth equal to the uniform depth of the thread to no depth;
the rear end part of the thread of the male coupling portion being a thread crest having a variable height gradually decreasing from a height equal to the uniform depth of the thread to no height;
the female member having an axis C and comprising:
a female body portion; and
a female coupling portion comprising a bore for accepting the male coupling portion, the bore extending rearwardly from a front surface of the female member towards the female body portion, the bore having an unthreaded forward portion adjacent the front surface and a rear threaded portion terminating adjacent the female body portion;
the threaded portion of the female coupling portion having a thread terminating in a forward end part adjacent the unthreaded forward portion of the female coupling portion and in a rear end part adjacent the female body portion, the thread of the female coupling portion having an intermediate section between the forward and rear end parts, the thread of the female coupling portion having a depth equal to the uniform depth;
the forward end part of the thread of the female coupling portion being a thread crest having a variable height gradually decreasing from a height equal to the uniform depth to no height;
the rear end part of the thread of the female coupling portion being a thread root having a variable depth decreasing from a depth equal to the uniform depth of the thread to no depth;
wherein, upon threaded coupling of the male and female members to form a tool joint connection, the threaded portion of the male member engages the threaded portion of the female member;
the forward end part of the thread of the male coupling portion and the forward end part of the thread of the female coupling portion have a gap between them of a first angular extent; and
the rear end part of the thread of the male coupling portion and the rear end part of the thread of the female coupling portion have a gap between them of a second angular extent.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the male body portion further comprises a rearwardly facing annular shoulder adjacent the unthreaded forward portion of the male coupling member and the front surface of the female member is a forwardly facing annular shoulder; and
wherein, upon threaded coupling of the male and female members to form a tool joint connection, the annular shoulder of the male body portion abuts the annular shoulder of the female body portion.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the unthreaded forward portion of the male coupling portion is frustoconical in shape, rearwardly tapering towards the rear threaded portion of the male coupling portion and the unthreaded forward portion of the bore of the female coupling portion is frustoconical in shape, rearwardly tapering towards the female body portion; and
wherein, upon threaded coupling of the male and female members to form a tool joint connection, the unthreaded forward portion of the male coupling portion abuts the unthreaded forward portion of the female coupling portion.
Typically, the first angular extent is in the range of 20xc2x0 to 90xc2x0.
Preferably, the first angular extent is 70xc2x0.
Typically, the second angular extent is in the range of 20xc2x0 to 90xc2x0.
Preferably, the second angular extent is 70xc2x0.
In accordance with the present invention, the forward and rear end parts of the male and female threaded portions each have an angular extent in the range of 5xc2x0 to 30xc2x0.
Preferably, the forward and rear end parts of the male and female threaded portions each have an angular extent of 15xc2x0.
Typically, the male member is made of cemented carbide and the female member is made of steel.
In accordance with the present invention, during the threaded coupling of the male and female members the unthreaded forward portion of the male coupling member abuts the unthreaded forward portion of the female coupling member before the annular shoulder of the male body portion abuts the annular shoulder of the female body portion.
Preferably, when the unthreaded forward portion of the male coupling portion comes into initial contact with the unthreaded forward portion of the female coupling portion the annular shoulder of the male body portion is spaced a distance L from the annular shoulder of the female body portion.
Typically, the distance L lies in the range of 0.1 to 0.6 mm.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the distance L equals to 0.3 mm.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the annular shoulder of the male body portion and the annular shoulder of the female body portion are perpendicular to the axis A.
Typically, the annular shoulder of the male body portion and the annular shoulder of the female body portion are ground.
Further typically, the unthreaded forward portion of the male coupling portion and the unthreaded forward portion of the female coupling portion are ground.
Still further typically, the thread portion of the male member is ground.
Preferably, the unthreaded forward portion of the male coupling portion taper at an angle xcex11 with respect to the axis B, the unthreaded forward portion of the female coupling portion taper at an angle xcex12 with respect to the axis C, the angle xcex11 being equal to the angle xcex12.
Typically, the angles xcex11 and xcex12 are in the range of 2.5xc2x0 to 3.5xc2x0.
Further typically, the angles xcex11 and xcex12 are 3xc2x0.
Optionally, the angle xcex11 is greater than the angle xcex12 by 0.25xc2x0.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the thread portion of the male member and the thread portion of the female member are a single lead threads.


A convex structure, where a servo signal is recorded, of a perpendicular magnetic recording medium is set to a truncated quadrangular pyramid shape and a specification of the truncated quadrangular pyramid shape and so forth are determined according to properties of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium to be used, so that the influence of a demagnetizing field that accelerates thermal fluctuation of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium can be reduced in a servo area of the medium which is most affected by the thermal fluctuation of the medium. Therefore, it is possible to provide a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus having the magnetic recording medium that can suppress degradation of the servo signal caused by the thermal fluctuation of magnetization of perpendicular magnetic recording layers forming a convex-concave structure in the servo area to thereby ensure a stable servo function over the long term.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus including a magnetic recording medium having a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern on a substrate and thus having so-called servo areas and information data areas (a magnetic recording medium of a discrete type) and a magnetic head for detecting servo signals on the magnetic recording medium and recording and reproducing information data on and from the medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Improvement in areal recording density of magnetic recording mediums such as hard disks has conventionally been achieved by techniques of both (1) improving the linear recording density and (2) improving the track density. In order to achieve further and higher densification in future, it is necessary to improve the areal recording density based on the foregoing both techniques.
With respect to improving the track density, there have been raised problems of processing limitation about magnetic heads, side-fringe or crosstalk caused by expansion of magnetic fields of magnetic heads, and so forth, and therefore, it can be said that the improvement in areal recording density by progressing the track-density increasing technique for magnetic heads, which is merely an extension of the conventional improvement technique, has reached the limit.
On the other hand, as a technique of improving the linear recording density, reduction in layer thickness and higher coercive forces have been achieved in conventional longitudinal magnetic mediums. However, in terms of further and higher densification of the mediums and stability of recording magnetization against thermal fluctuation, attention has been paid to perpendicular magnetic recording mediums.
Under these circumstances, as a technique of improving the areal recording density and supplementing the higher track densification of the magnetic heads, there have been proposed magnetic recording mediums of a discrete track disk type in which a recording layer is formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern. For example, JP-A-H11-328662 discloses a magnetic recording medium in which predetermined convex and concave portions are formed on a substrate and a perpendicular magnetic layer in the form of a single layer is formed along the convex and concave portions.
A reduction in spacing is necessary for accomplishing an increase in recording density. However, there is a possibility that the convex-concave shape of the recording layer may impede the stable flying characteristic of a magnetic head and thus cause a problem of head crash or the like. From this point of view, JP-A-H10-222944 discloses a recording medium in which the convex-concave shape changes in a track width direction for the purpose of achieving the flying stability of a magnetic head.
Further, JP-A-2000-195042 proposes a discrete type magnetic recording medium in which concave portions in the convex-concave shape are filled with a nonmagnetic material or another material for ensuring the stability in flying characteristic of a magnetic head.
On the other hand, JP-A-H06-111502 discloses a technique that defines a relationship among the width of each of rectangular tracking servo burst patterns formed by a convex-concave structure on a longitudinal recording medium, the track pitch, and the read width of a reproducing head.
In general, on a magnetic recording medium used in a magnetic disk drive, servo areas necessary for a magnetic head to perform tracking are recorded by a servo track writer.
The servo area generally includes an ISG (Initial Signal Gain) portion, an SVAM (SerVo Address Mark) portion, a Gray code portion, a burst portion, and a pad portion which are in the form of various magnetic patterns for exhibiting predetermined functions, respectively.
The magnetic patterns of the burst portion are each recorded with a width equal to that of one track in a radial direction of the magnetic recording medium. On the other hand, the ISG portion, the SVAM portion, the Gray portion, and the pad portion are each recorded continuously in the disk radial direction over several tracks or entirely.
The recent increase in recording density of magnetic recording apparatuses has been remarkable and, following it, the sizes of recording bits recorded on magnetic recording mediums have been reduced. Consequently, a reduction in size of magnetic grains is also required for ensuring high S/N ratios. In this regard, it is said that, in connection with the longitudinal magnetic mediums which have been widely used, when a value of KuV/kT, i.e. a ratio between a magnetic grain magnetization energy KuV (Ku: magnetic anisotropy constant, V: magnetic grain volume) and an ambient temperature thermal energy kT (k: Boltzmann's constant, T: absolute temperature), becomes smaller than about 60 as a general standard, the so-called phenomenon of thermal fluctuation occurs wherein the magnetization fluctuates with certain probability due to disturbance of the thermal energy and decreases with the passage of time.
In view of this, in order to increase the magnetization energy of the magnetic grains, attention has been paid to the perpendicular magnetic recording mediums that can increase the thickness thereof even at high density.
The perpendicular magnetic recording medium becomes more stable in its magnetization and thus becomes stronger against the thermal fluctuation as the density increases, while, since a demagnetizing field serving to reduce the magnitude of the magnetization increases at low recording density, i.e. in an area where the bit length is large, the influence of the thermal fluctuation tends to be accelerated to reduce the recording magnetization.
Therefore, the area that is most affected by the thermal fluctuation is the servo area where servo signals are recorded at relatively low recording density.
Once recorded, the servo signal is normally not recorded again by the magnetic head, and therefore, it is susceptible to the influence of thermal fluctuation over the long term so that there may arise a problem that the servo signal is degraded due to a reduction in recording magnetization, resulting in reduction of the tracking servo signal quality.
In view of such a problem, JP-A-H11-25402 discloses a technique wherein, in recording magnetization of tracking servo signals in a perpendicular magnetic recording medium having no convex-concave structure, the bit lengths of the servo signals are set such that a maximum demagnetization field at the time of magnetization saturation in recording bits becomes smaller than a coercive force of a recording layer, and wherein relational expressions for the setting are derived.
In this proposed technique, the servo signals are continuously arranged while perpendicular magnetizations M of rectangular bits are alternately inverted as shown in figures of this publication, and therefore, a demagnetizing field Hd generated at a certain bit is reduced in its demagnetizing field due to magnetic fields H from the most adjacent bits. Particularly, the demagnetizing field theoretically becomes zero in a boundary between the bits and it is thus considered that the value approximate to the saturation magnetization is ensured in the vicinity of ideal magnetization transition.
However, as shown in JP-A-H06-111502, in case of the discrete track disk having the convex-concave structure, rectangular recording bits are normally arranged at intervals of one bit in a burst portion having the convex-concave shape formed by magnetic recording layers corresponding to the servo patterns. Further, rectangular bits each elongate in the disk radial direction are arranged at intervals of one bit in an ISG portion, an SVAM portion, and a Gray code portion.
In the discrete track disk having the magnetic recording layers formed into the convex-concave structure as described above, as is different from the system in which the inverted magnetizations are continuously recorded on the perpendicular magnetic medium as described in JP-A-H11-25402, the convex-portion magnetic recording layers where servo signals are recorded are completely isolated from each other so that there exist no such most adjacent bits that are inversely magnetized and serve to weaken a demagnetizing field. Further, those bits distanced from each other by one bit length are magnetized in the same direction so that the effect of reducing the demagnetizing field is hardly expected and they rather serve to increase the demagnetizing field.
Further, in the discrete track disk, the demagnetizing field does not become zero even at end surfaces of the rectangular bits and the boundary where the demagnetizing field would otherwise become free in magnetization transition between the bits is subjected to the influence of the demagnetizing field. Therefore, the influence of the thermal fluctuation in the servo area is larger as compared with the case where the conventional perpendicular magnetic recording medium with no convex-concave structure is used, and therefore, the reliability of the servo signals over the long term cannot be said to be sufficient.
The present invention has been made under these circumstances and has an object to provide a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus including a perpendicular magnetic recording medium in the form of a discrete track disk having a convex-concave structure, wherein the magnetic recording medium can suppress degradation of a servo signal caused by thermal fluctuation of magnetization of perpendicular magnetic recording layers forming a convex-concave structure in a serve area to thereby ensure a stable servo function over the long term.

Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus with recording layer having predeterminded convex-concase pattern


In the electrical connecting apparatus, a plurality of pins on a ceramic base plate so as to project from one face of the ceramic base plate, a resin base plate including a plurality of conductive portions electrically connected to those pins on the other face of the ceramic base plate and a plurality of recesses opening on the side of the ceramic base plate in the socket device so as to receive pins individually are disposed, and a plurality of pairs of holding members for releaseably holding the pins received in the recesses are provided, thereby coupling the ceramic base plate with the socket device and coupling the socket device with the wiring base plate.

One of the electrical connecting apparatus of this type is provided with a so-called ceramic base plate made of ceramic, and a resin layer disposed on one face of the ceramic base plate, has a plurality of contacts formed in the resin layer (Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Patent Document 1—Patent Application Public Disclosure No. 6-140484 Official Gazette.
Patent Document 2—Patent Application Public Disclosure No. 11-160356 Official Gazette
In the invention described in Patent Document 1, the resin layer is a made as a multilayered wiring layer in which wiring, contacts and the like are formed on the ceramic base plate by photolithography, and thus, the resin layer is adhered to the ceramic base plate.
In the invention described in Patent Document 2, the ceramic base plate is made as a multilayered wiring base plate having a number of wirings, wherein the resin layer is made contacts by opening a plurality of holes in a film with a resin thin film and a cupper thin film laminated, and the holes are filled with a metal material by electroplating and by removing unnecessary parts of a cupper thin film by etching. The resin layer is adhered to the ceramic base plate through anisotropic conductive rubber sheet.
On the other hand, integrated circuits as devices under test are different in position, function, dimension, arrangement pitch and the like, depending on the kinds of the integrated circuits of their electrodes.
In any of the above-mentioned prior arts, ceramic base plates hard to manufacture should be manufactured and prepared for each type of the integrated circuit; therefore, the ceramic base plate itself is expensive.


Provided is a composition comprising, in an aqueous phase at least one anionic surfactant, at least one amphoteric and/or zwitterionic surfactant, at least one alkyl(poly)glycoside nonionic surfactant, at least on polymer chosen from cationic polymers of cationic cellulose, cationic alkyldiallylamine or dialkyldiallylammonium cyclopolymer, amphoteric polymers which comprising one or more units derived from a monomer of (meth)acrylate or (meth)acrylamide type, a monomer of (meth)acrylamidoalkyltrialkylammonium type, or a monomer of (meth)acrylic type, or a mixture thereof, and at least on fatty acid ester of glycerol and/or of polyglycerol.

It is known to the art to use detergent and conditioning hair care composition, or shampoos, based essentially on surfactants, in particular of the anionic, nonionic, and/or amphoteric type, in combination with conditioning agents.
Surfactants such as anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, or a mixture are commonly known for the ability of removing the various kinds of soil initially present in the hair, and thus possess good washing power. However along with this property, the surfactants may bring to the hair damages due to their aggressive nature of such a cleansing treatment, which leading to the pronounced damage to the hair, such as progressive removal of the lipids or proteins contained in or at the surfactant of the hair.
In order to improve the cosmetic properties of the above detergent composition, and more especially detergent compositions for application to sensitized hair, i.e., hair which is damaged or weakened, in particular through the chemical action of environmental agents and/or of hair treatments such as permanent-waving, dyeing or bleaching, it is known to introduce into these compositions conditioning agents. The main purpose of these conditioning agents is to rectify or limit the undesirable effects induced by the various treatments or types of attach to which the hair fibers are more or less repeatedly subjected to and, of course, they can also improve the cosmetic behavior of natural hair.
The conditioning agents most commonly used to date in shampoos are cationic polymers, silicones and/or silicone derivatives which impart to washed, dry or wet hair a disentangling, softness and a smoothness which are markedly enhanced in comparison to what can be obtained with corresponding cleansing compositions which do not contain them.
Moreover, it is also known to combine more than one conditioning agents in shampoos to obtain even better conditioning effect to the hair, especially to the sensitized hair. Different types of silicones and its derivatives, natural or synthetized oils are most commonly combined to achieve this purpose.
More particularly, it is known to use compositions for hair, containing surfactants such as cationic and amphoteric surfactants, coco-glucoside, glycerol oleate, and a type of guar gum. The composition as such is used in anti-hair loss and hair nourishing shampoos.
However, the conditioning effect of the compositions as mentioned above is not satisfying, especially for reducing the force during dry combing, and especially on natural hair. Moreover, the guar gum may make the composition not transparent.
There is thus a need for new products displaying improved performance in respect to the cosmetic properties mentioned above.
More particularly, there is a need for a new product which possesses a pleasant transparent or translucent appearance.
The present invention is directed towards meeting this need.

Composition for washing and conditioning the hair


A power-split transmission (28) with a first power path and a second power path. In this case, the first power path is a mechanical power path and includes a primary planetary gearset (P1), a secondary planetary gearset (P2) and a tertiary planetary gearset (P3). Furthermore, the power-split transmission (28) is equipped with at least four shifting elements. In addition, a method for operating such a power-split transmission (28) is disclosed. Moreover, a drive-train (10) of a working machine with a power-split transmission (28) of the type concerned is presented.

Power-split transmissions are often used in the drive-trains of working machines and are basically known from the prior art. Examples of working machines are agricultural working machines such as tractors or working machines on building sites, such as wheel loaders.
In known power-split transmissions a number of operating ranges are usually available, which comprise different gear ratios. As a rule the operating ranges can be changed without traction force interruption. Particularly in applications in which the power-split transmission is used in a drive-train for traveling, both forward operating ranges and reversing operating ranges must be provided, which are also known as forward traveling and reverse traveling ranges. In known applications this is ensured by virtue of so-termed switchover units or turning units which are connected downstream from a main transmission in the form of a power-split transmission. A further, alternative term for a switchover unit is a reversing unit.
Starting from a power-split main transmission, the switchover or turning unit is arranged along a transmission axis of the main transmission close to the latter, which, starting from the main transmission, increases the axial fitting space occupied by this transmission group.
In general, however, in the field of transmission technology the effort is made to construct transmissions as compactly as possible, particularly where their axial length is concerned. This is important particularly in the case of electric-mechanical power-split transmissions, with which fitting space has to be provided for the electric machines.

Power split transmission and method to operate a power split transmission and powertrain


A self locating check arm assembly, including an elongated arm pivotally mounted to a base portion. A spring is provided for biasing the elongated arm toward a first position. A housing portion is provided having an opening therethrough for receiving the elongated arm. The housing supports arm engaging portions and is adapted to be mounted to a door of a vehicle. A surface locator defines the first position against which the elongated arm is biased by the spring. The self locating check arm allows a door to be fully opened without disabling the check arm whereby when the door is opened beyond a predetermined position, the elongated arm disengages from the housing and the elongated arm is biased by the spring against the surface locator such that an end of the elongated arm is properly aligned with the opening in the housing when the door is returned to the predetermined position and is automatically reengaged with the housing when the door is moved beyond the predetermined position toward a closed position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a check arm assembly for cargo doors of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a self locating check arm assembly which can be disengaged and reengaged to the door automatically.
2. Description of Background Art
In hingedly supported vehicle doors, such as the rear or side cargo doors of a van, it is common to provide a check arm assembly that maintains the door at an opened position of approximately 90.degree.. The check arm assemblies are designed to provide a stop position for the cargo doors so that the doors are prevented from swinging all the way open (full open). In addition, the check arm assemblies are also designed to maintain the door at an open position so that cargo may be easily loaded without the door swinging closed. It is often desirable, however, to be able to open the door farther to a fully opened position, beyond the approximately 90.degree. opened position, so that the door can be swung fully clear of the door aperture or pillar. Thus, it is desirable to provide a check arm assembly which can be disengaged to allow the door to swing to a fully open position.
A known door check is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,801 to Malopolski, Jr. in which a door check is disclosed which provides a positive stop at a hold-open position, as well as being disengageable to provide a fully opened position, and is automatically reengageable upon door closing. A check strap is pivotally mounted to a vehicle body and resiliently biased into sliding engagement with a stop pin fixed to the vehicle door. As the door is opened, the stop pin slides along a working surface of the check strap, and into a catch portion hook to block the stop pin and provide a positive stop to maintain the door at a hold-open position. The door may be moved back toward the closed position to move the stop pin out of the hook, and the check strap is moved by an external force away from the stop pin enough so that the stop pin will miss the hook as the door is moved back to the hold-open position. From there, the door can be moved to a fully opened position, as the stop pin slides along the surface of a keeper portion on the check strap. The keeper portion surface is oriented so that the stop pin will slide over the catch portion and automatically back into engagement with the working surface under the resilient bias as the door is closed. A problem with the device of Malopolski, Jr. is that the door check is not capable of automatically disengaging from the door. In other words, an external force is required to move the check strap away from the stop pin enough that the stop pin will miss the hook as the door is moved to the hold-open position.
Thus, it is desirable in the art of door checks to provide a check arm that can automatically disengage and reengage with the vehicle door to allow the door to swing to a fully open position.


A flat-type display device is provided. The flat-type panel display includes a cathode panel having a plurality of electron emitter areas formed on a support; and an anode panel having formed on a substrate a plurality of fluorescent regions and an anode electrode covering at least the fluorescent regions, in which the cathode panel and the anode panel are joined together at their edges with a joint member in between. In the display device, the anode panel has formed on the anode electrode an electron absorbing layer for absorbing electrons from any one of the fluorescent regions and the anode electrode or both, and the anode panel has an adhesion improving layer formed between the anode electrode and the electron absorbing layer.

The present disclosure relates to a flat-type display device. As image display devices which will possibly replace cathode-ray tubes (CRTs) currently widely spread, flat (flat panel type) display devices are vigorously studied. Examples of the flat display devices include a liquid crystal display (LCD), an electroluminescence display (ELD), and a plasma display (PDP). In addition, flat display devices having incorporated therein a cathode panel having an electron emission device are also developed. As electron emission devices, a cold cathode field emission device, a metal/insulating film/metal element (also called an MIM element), and a surface conductive-type electron emission device are known, and a flat display device having incorporated therein a cathode panel having the above electron emission device composed of a cold cathode electron source has attracted attention since it advantageously achieves color display with high resolution and high luminance and causes low power consumption.
A cold cathode field emission display device (hereinafter, frequently referred to simply as "display device") is a flat display device having incorporated therein a cold cathode field emission device as an electron emission device. This type of display device generally has a structure having a cathode panel CP and an anode panel AP disposed so that they face each other through a high-vacuum space, and joined together at their edges through a joint member. The cathode panel CP has a plurality of cold cathode field emitter elements (hereinafter, frequently referred to simply as "field emitter element(s)"), and the anode panel AP has a fluorescent region with which electrons emitted from the field emitter elements collide and which are excited to emit light. The cathode panel CP has electron emitter areas arrayed in a two-dimensional matrix form and corresponding to respective subpixels, wherein each electron emitter area has formed one or a plurality of field emission devices. Examples of field emitter elements include those of Spindt type, flattened type, edge type, or flat type.
A schematic fragmentary end view of a display device having a Spindt-type field emission device as an example is shown in FIG. 10, and a partial, schematic exploded perspective view of a cathode panel CP and an anode panel AP separated from each other is shown in FIG. 12. The Spindt-type field emission device constituting the display device includes a cathode electrode 11, an insulating layer 12, a gate electrode 13, openings 14, and a conical electron emitter 15. Herein, the cathode electrode 11 is formed on a support 10. The insulating layer 12 is formed on the support 10 and the cathode electrode 11. The gate electrode 13 is formed on the insulating layer 12. The openings 14 are formed in the gate electrode 13 and insulating layer 12, in which a first opening 14A formed in the gate electrode 13 and a second opening 14B formed in the insulating layer 12. The conical electron emitter 15 is formed on the cathode electrode 11 at the bottom of each opening 14.
A schematic fragmentary end view of a display device having a so-called flattened field emission device having a substantially planar electron emitter 15A is shown in FIG. 11. This field emission device is similar to the Spindt-type field emission device as described above, and is different in having an electron emitter 15A formed on the cathode electrode 11 at the bottom of each opening 14, instead of the electron emitter 15. The electron emitter 15A is composed of, for example, a number of carbon nanotubes, part of which is buried in the matrix.
In these display devices, the cathode electrode 11 is in the form of a strip extending in a first direction (corresponding to the X direction shown in the figures), and the gate electrode 13 is in the form of a strip extending in a second direction (corresponding to the Y direction shown in the figures) different from the first direction (X direction). Generally, the cathode electrode 11 and the gate electrode 13 are formed in strips in respective directions such that the images from the electrodes 11, 13 cross at a right angle. An area where the strip-form cathode electrode 11 and the strip-form gate electrode 13 overlap is an electron emitter area EA, and corresponds to one subpixel. The electron emitter areas EA are generally arrayed in a two-dimensional matrix form in an effective region of the cathode panel CP. The effective region herein means a display area at the center having a practical function of the flat display device, i.e., display function, wherein an ineffective region is present on the outside of the effective region and in the form of a frame surrounding the effective region.
On the other hand, the anode panel AP has a structure including fluorescent regions 22 having a predetermined pattern formed on a substrate 20 wherein the fluorescent regions 22 are covered with an anode electrode 24. The fluorescent regions 22 include, specifically, a red light-emitting fluorescent region 22R, a green light-emitting fluorescent region 22G, and a blue light-emitting fluorescent region 22B. A light absorbing layer (black matrix) 23 composed of a light absorbing material, such as carbon, is buried between the fluorescent regions 22 to prevent the occurrence of color mixing in the display image, optical cross talk. The barrier 21 has a flat form of lattice-like form, that is, form of parallel crosses, surrounding one subpixel or a fluorescent region. In the figure, a reference numeral 40 designates a spacer, a reference numeral 25 designates a spacer holder, a reference numeral 26 designates a joint member, a reference numeral 17 designates a focusing electrode, and a reference numeral 16 designates an interlayer dielectric layer. In FIGS. 11 and 12, the barrier, spacer, spacer holder, and focusing electrode are not shown.
One subpixel is composed of the electron emitter area EA on the cathode panel side, and the fluorescent region 22 on the anode panel side opposite (facing) the above electron emitter area EA. The pixels on the order of, e.g., several hundred thousand to several million are arrayed in the effective region. In the display device making color display, one pixel is composed of an assembly of a red light-emitting subpixel, a green light-emitting subpixel, and a blue light-emitting subpixel.
The electrons emitted from the electron emitter areas EA collide with the anode electrode 24 and pass through the anode electrode 24, and collide with the fluorescent regions 22, so that the fluorescent regions 22 are excited to emit light. Part of the electrons, which have collided with the anode electrode 24 or fluorescent regions 22, bounce in the direction from the anode panel AP to the cathode panel CP. Further, the collision of the electrons with the fluorescent regions 22 causes the fluorescent regions 22 to emit secondary electrons in the direction to the cathode panel CP. The bouncing electrons and the secondary electrons are collectively referred to as "backscattering electrons".
By the way, it is known that, with respect to the lowering of the contrast due to the backscattering electrons on the cold cathode field emission display device is remarkable, as compared to a case of a cathode-ray tube. Specifically, backscattering electrons collide with, for example, the adjacent fluorescent region to cause light emission from an undesired fluorescent region, thus lowering the contrast. Examples of reasons that such a phenomenon is likely to occur in the cold cathode field emission display device include:
(1) a fact that the potential gradient in the space between the anode panel AP and the cathode panel CP is as large as about 20 to 70 times that in the cathode-ray tube;
(2) a fact that irradiation of electrons to the fluorescent regions is conducted in a linear sequential mode, and therefore a period of time during which the electrons collide with the fluorescent regions is long, namely, the total number of electrons which collide with the fluorescent regions is large and, consequently, the absolute value of backscattering electrons is large; and
(3) a fact that the cold cathode field emission display device does not have a color identification mechanism which contributes to absorption of the scattering electrons and which is inherent in a cathode-ray tube that has been subjected to surface treatment, for example, oxide film treatment.
A technique for avoiding the adverse effect of the backscattering electrons, in which, for example, a carbon layer is formed on the anode electrode composed of, e.g., an aluminum layer, has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication (KOKAI) No. Hei 10-321169. The carbon layer has a lower scattering coefficient for primary electrons than that of the aluminum layer, and hence it is believed that the carbon layer reduces the number of electrons which enter the fluorescent regions to scatter.
However, this technique has the following problem. After the carbon layer is formed on the anode electrode composed of an aluminum layer, the anode panel having the carbon layer is processed through various thermal steps. The carbon layer is adversely affected by heat shrinkage due to heating and cooling or the heating atmosphere in the thermal steps, so that the carbon layer is partially or completely peeled off the aluminum layer or a crack is caused in the carbon layer. Such a phenomenon results in particles or a sharp portion on the carbon layer, so that the application of a high voltage to the anode electrode induces discharge, thus lowering the reliability or shortening the life of the display device.
Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the figures.


A semiconductor substrate is presented which is manufactured from hollow, gas-filled glass or ceramic microspheres, which are bound together in a dried or fired matrix. The microspheres may be glass-coated microspheres, which are bound together by sintering the outer layers of glass together. The semiconductor surface may be smoothed by glazing the surface.

Electronic components, such as integrated circuits are becoming more and more common in various devices. Under certain circumstances, it is important for the integrated circuit substrate to have various qualities or attributes. Often certain qualities are balanced against other qualities. It is sometimes important for the substrate to have low thermal conductivity, low mass, low cost, low dielectric constant, high strength, etc. Depending upon the application, some of these qualities may be less important than others and the design team makes trade-offs to maximize the desired qualities with the minimum weaknesses and costs.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the industry for materials that can be used for integrated circuit substrates that meet the different electrical and physical requirements of current electronics.

Integrated circuit substrate material and method


Techniques are provided for unifying filter operators in exchange, transform, load (ETL) plans. Such a technique includes a method that may include receiving, by a computer system, an ETL plan including a split operator and a plurality of filter operators. The may include identifying, by the computer system, that the plurality of filter operators are configured to act on data output by the split operator in the ETL plan. The method may include generating, by the computer system, a unified filter operator using the plurality of filter operators. The method may include generating, by the computer system, an updated ETL plan comprising the unified filter operator providing filtered data to the split operator. The method may also include storing the updated ETL plan in a data store.

Cloud-based platforms provide scalable and flexible computing resources for users. Such cloud-based platforms, also referred to as infrastructure as a service (IaaS) may offer entire suites of cloud solutions around a customer's data, such as solutions for authoring transformations, loading data, and presenting the data. Extract, transform, load (ETL) is the general procedure of copying data from one or more data sources into one or more destination systems that represent the data differently from the source(s) or in a different context than the source(s). An exemplary application of ETL operations is in data integration as part of IaaS data management. Data extraction involves extracting data from homogeneous or heterogeneous sources that may integrate data from multiple systems or applications, typically developed and supported by different vendors or hosted on separate computer hardware. Data transformation, by contrast, processes data by various operations effected on the data, such as data cleaning and transforming, to prepare the data for a storage format and/or structure for the destination system(s). Data loading describes the insertion of data into the destination system(s), which may include a database such as an operational data store.
In the data transformation stage, a series of transform operators may apply rules or functions to the extracted data to prepare it for loading into the destination system. The transform operators may include joining data from multiple sources (e.g., lookup, merge) and deduplicating the data. The transform operators may include splitting a column into multiple columns (e.g., converting a comma-separated list, specified as a string in one column, into individual values in different columns). The transform operators may also include filtering the data, for example, by selecting only certain columns to load, as when a data table is categorized by column attributes.

Techniques for unifying ETL filter operators


A new and improved AC-to-DC adapter for providing DC input to a portable computer which is operable with a removable rechargeable battery is disclosed in this invention. The adapter is enclosed in an adapter box which is formed with a shape identical to the rechargeable battery. The adapter can therefore be fitted into the pocket made for the rechargeable battery to replace the rechargeable battery when AC power source is available.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a power supply adapter for a portable computer. More particularly, this invention relates to a one-body integratable plugging-in type of AC-to-DC adapter for portable computer wherein one of the preferred embodiment is a battery shaped plug-in adapter for saving of space and convenience of use.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For a portable computer, e.g., a notebook computer or a palm-top computer, the requirement to carry a separate AC-to-DC adapter with its long electrical cords often becomes a nuisance. FIG. 1 shows a notebook computer 10 with a conventional AC-to-DC adapter 20 with a connecting cord 25 and a plug-in jack 30 for plugging into a external power receptor 40 on the notebook computer 10 and an AC outlet plug 35 for plugging in an external AC outlet. The conventional adapter 20 with the electrical cord 25 connected on both ends occupy more space when connected to an external AC outlet. A user also has to manage the electrical cords in order to avoid entanglement during operation and in packaging and carrying the notebook system. The adapter 20 when employed with the portable computer 10 causes inconveniences and requires more space thus limiting the usefulness of such system when the working space is limited as in many modern offices and in the 'mobile or portable office', e.g., on a van or in the field where the work has to be performed on-site with the portable computers.
Therefore, there is still a need for a new AC-to-DC adapter design and configuration in the art of adapter for portable computer in order to resolve these difficulties and limitations. Specifically, this new adapter design and configuration must be able to provide space savings and operation conveniences to satisfy modern portable and mobile operational requirements for micro-computers.

Modularized computer peripherals formed with universally adaptable shape for integration as an unit-body with a portable computer


There is described a nocking point assembly in which two differing plastics compositions are used in nocking point components. A softer, elastomeric first material physically engages the bowstring to provide enhanced, non-damaging gripping, while an oversleeved, second arrow-nock-contacting component of a harder plastics composition serves to ensure wear resistance in use. Each component is in the form of a hub-like disc with an integrally-joined tubular shank, the disc and the shank being slit to obviate any need to detach the bowstring when mounting the nocking point components. A separate split or open metallic ring is crimped in place over the intersleeved shanks to secure the assembly as a unit. The slits in the plastic elements, as assembled, are preferably misaligned and are staggered with the split in the locking ring to establish and preserve a round cross-sectional configuration.

The present invention relates to a nocking point or nock set for attachment to an archery bowstring. More particularly, the invention is directed to a 3-piece cushion nocking assembly, nock set or nocking point which may easily and conveniently be firmly affixed in a selectable position on the bowstring of an archery bow.
The art is replete with nocking points of varying physical form and fabricated of different types of structural materials. Each device has the general purpose of defining a desired position for placement of the arrow nock preparatory to releasing the arrow. One example is a plastic lined clamp-type string nock mounted on the bowstring above the arrow to define the nocking point on the bowstring. A nock may also be mounted on a bowstring between a bowstring release device and the arrow. In still other arrangements nocking points are affixed above and below the nock on the bowstring, with yet another, or third nock, attached below a release device to prevent the release device from sliding along the bowstring.
As has been widely recognized and appreciated, a bowstring clamping nock should be formulated and fabricated so that the string-encircling structure is sufficiently elastomeric and resilient to ensure positive gripping while precluding physical damage to the bowstring itself. That is, the material gripping the bowstring must be relatively "soft", and resilient. However, the forces impressed on the string nock by the arrow nock (the bowstring engaging tip of the arrow) and by the release device may be damaging to string nocks composed of compositions formulated to meet the requirement of safeguarding the bowstring from clamping damage. Moreover, the material which embraces the bowstring must grip the string frictionally, while that part of the string nock which comes into abutting and stressing contact with the nock of the arrow is desirably characterized by low-friction, wear resistance, the markedly increased lubricity. String nocks of the prior art have failed effectively to deal with the challenging problem posed by the requirement, in a single device of the incongruous properties identified.
It is, therefore, a principal aim of the present invention to provide a simple and practical solution to the dilemma posed, and to ensure duo-functional optimization in the fabrication and use of string nocks for archery use. The present invention is believed to obviate important inadequacies and shortcomings of prior art devices.


An approach is provided for providing transactional operations in an event-driven polyglot language runtime environment. Native functionalities of a transaction processing system are exposed as interfaces to multiple languages and frameworks in the runtime environment. The transactional operations are called from modules. The transaction processing system is integrated with the modules. A prepare operation is sent to a resource manager (RM) via a resolution thread. For a committed transaction outcome of the resolution thread, the commit is logged, an indication of the commit is sent to the RM, the commit is performed, a completion indication of the commit is sent, and a forget operation is logged. For a rollback transaction outcome of the resolution thread, the rollback is logged, an indication of the rollback is sent to the RM, the rollback is performed, a completion indication of the rollback is sent, and the forget operation is logged.

The present invention relates to managing transaction processing systems, more particularly to integrating transactional operations into an event-driven polyglot language runtime environment.
As requirements of end users change, new computer programming paradigms are created to fulfill these requirements. Because of advancements in internet technology and mobile phones, application developers attempt to develop and release applications as quickly as possible, thereby triggering a development of a new set of programming languages. The new programming languages allow software development to avoid the lifecycle of (1) code, (2) compile, (3) link, (4) test, and (5) deploy and instead use (1) code, (2) test, and (3) deploy because the new programming languages are dynamically typed and interpreted, which allows development time to be significantly compressed.
Due to their ease of use and the expressive power they provide to software developers, many of the new programming languages have rapidly expanded beyond the particular purposes for which they were originally designed. As one example, the JavaScript® programming language was originally written as a language to be embedded in a web browser to provide web pages with a limited set of programmable content, but the recent popularity of the JavaScript® language with developers has caused its use to be expanded from the browser to the server side and to the data center. By using frameworks such as the Node.js® runtime environment, the JavaScript® language is now a high quality server side programming language. JavaScript® is a registered trademark of Oracle America, Inc. located in Redwood Shores, Calif. Node.js® is a registered trademark of Joyent, Inc. located in San Francisco, Calif.
Many enterprise customers have existing applications that are transactional applications, many of which use transactional middleware platforms. These transactional middleware platforms are well-integrated with traditional programming languages in existing procedural and object oriented transaction processing systems.

Integrating transaction processing system interfaces with event-driven polyglot runtime modules

International Business Machines Corporation


A subscriber line interface circuit which includes a transient signal detector with temporal hysteresis. During steady state operation, the drive current for the subscriber loop allows the loop to respond to changes in loop conditions according to a steady state time constant of the loop filter. Upon detection of a line voltage transient which exceeds a predetermined threshold in either a positive or negative direction, the filter time constant is significantly reduced (e.g., 100:1) and held at such reduced value following the initial transient and for a predetermined time period after the line voltage has fallen back below such predetermined threshold. This allows the transient conditions to be fully compensated prior to resetting the filter time constant back from the lower transient value to the higher steady state value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to transient signal detectors, and in particular, transient signal detectors for use with subscriber line interface circuits for detecting and compensating transient signals while allowing such transient signals to settle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many types of circuits require some form of transient signal detection whereby signals within the monitored signal path which exceed some predetermined voltage threshold, and which are frequently transient in nature, can be reliably detected. Rapid and reliable detection of such signals allows such circuits to then either filter out or attempt to compensate or suppress such transient signals.
One such type of circuit is that of a subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC) for telecommunications. Signal transients in a telecommunications environment are quite common. For example, aside from any transient signals introduced by the operating environment (e.g., electrical motors, lightning strikes, ground loops, etc.), transient signals due to transitions between on-hook and off-hook conditions and normal dialing impulses caused by older rotary telephones are often encountered. In many applications such transient signals can cause the circuit operation to become, at best, unreliable and, at worst, fail.
Conventional transient signal detectors generally rely upon the detection of the level, or magnitude, of the transient signal. Typically, when the transient signal magnitude exceeds some predefined threshold, the transient detector indicates the presence of the transient signal, and continues to do so for as long as the transient level remains higher than the threshold. Once the transient signal decreases back below such threshold, the transient detector changes state to indicate that the transient signal has terminated. However, since the threshold value at which the transient detector switches between its positive and negative transient indication states has a non-zero value, even when the transient signal has fallen below such threshold and the transient detector indicates that the transient signal has terminated, the transient signal nonetheless remains, albeit at a reduced level, for some period of time until it actually settles out, or decays, completely. In other words, a positive indication of the presence of a transient signal in a conventional transient signal detector lasts only as long as the transient signal exceeds the predefined threshold, and once the transient signal ceases to exceed such threshold, albeit with some amount of magnitude-dependent hysteresis, it is then identified as having settled when, in fact, some residual amount of transient signal energy remains for some period of time thereafter.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a transient signal detector which, notwithstanding a significant reduction in magnitude of the transient signal, maintains a positive indication of the presence of a transient signal for a period of time sufficient to allow the transient signal to more completely settle out.

Transient signal detector with temporal hysteresis


A personal protection arrangement in a vehicle includes a gas generator for fluid communication with a reservoir and a control unit. The control unit is arranged to activate the gas generator upon fulfillment of at least one predetermined criterion such that gas is released by the gas generator into the reservoir and the pressure in the reservoir is increased. The gas generator comprises at least one electrochemical cell which is arranged to generate gas when the electrical status of the electrochemical cell is changed from a first state to a second state by a state-changing action.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
The present invention relates to a personal protection arrangement in a vehicle. The personal protection arrangement comprises a gas generator for fluid communication with a reservoir. The personal protection arrangement also comprises a control unit arranged to activate the gas generator upon fulfillment of at least one predetermined criterion such that gas is released by the gas generator into the reservoir and the pressure in the reservoir is increased.

Device for creating gas inflating an airbag