An incandescent halogen lamp is operated under convection-free conditions. In this way, light yields of about 15 to 20 lm/W with service lives of about 2000 hours can be attained. The important parameters are the bulb dimensions, luminous element dimensions, and fill gas properties.

Lamps of the type to which the invention relates are known for instance from German Patent Disclosure DE-OS 22 31 520. Their cold fill pressure is typically approximately 5 to 15 atm of an inert gas, predominantly noble gases (argon, krypton, xenon), which optionally have a slight proportion (5 to 10%) of nitrogen. Traces of one or more halogen compounds are also added, whose partial pressure amounts to only a few millibars.
In such lamps, predominantly for general lighting purposes, the attainment of a relatively long service life (AB: 2000 hours, FO 200 hours and more) is a major goal. To achieve this, the assumption is generally made that the evaporation rate of the tungsten material of the luminous element must be damped by means of the highest possible fill pressure (in halogen lamps approximately 2.7 to 10.7 bar (approximately 2000 Torr), according to H. Lohmann, Electrotechnik Electrical Engineering!, 1986, pp. 33-36 and particularly page 35. At the same time, the halogen compound present as a fill component, with the aid of the convection occurring in the bulb, supports a cycle process for the tungsten particles evaporating from the luminous element (S. M. Correra, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 30, p. 663, 1987). However, the convection also causes a considerable heat loss, which is on the order of magnitude of 10% of the lamp power.
In general, it has until now been considered indispensible to maintain such operating conditions, in order to be able to achieve a high light yield (up to 25 lm/W) with a simultaneously high lamp life (at least 2000 hours).
For special reasons, it is true that special lamps with a low cold fill pressure have been individually developed (European Patent Disclosure DE-A 295 592), but on the precondition that nevertheless the convection that drives the halogen cycle takes place. A further example of this is French Patent Disclosure FR-A 2 436 495. It describes a photographic lamp pinched on both ends, in which the cold fill pressure is lowered to about 0.2 bar in order to reduce the risk of explosion. This is achieved at the usual cost of reducing the service life. Moreover, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,277, an incandescent halogen lamp with a cold fill pressure of about 0.8 to 0.93 bar is described. The low pressure is intended to enable the use of hard glass.
An essential role in the theoretical discussion of incandescent lamps is played by the concept of the Langmuir layer, which has been explained in detail, for instance in Techn. Wissenschaftl. Abhandlungen der OSRAM GmbH (TWAOG) Industrial Science Papers published by OSRAM GmbH!, Vol. 9, pp. 125-136, 1967, Springer-Verlag, Berlin. Here the existence of a horizontal stationary gas layer, in fact the Langmuir layer, adjacent to the luminous element, which is considered to be a cylinder, is assumed, and is observed to be homogeneous and of constant diameter. In it, heat removal takes place solely by heat dissipation, while outside this layer the heat losses are determined by free convection. In incandescent halogen lamps, the Langmuir layer thickness is on the order of magnitude of a few millimeters (see also the aforementioned German Patent Disclosure DE-OS 22 31 520). It is dependent on the fill pressure.
From European Patent Disclosure EP-A 0 241 911, an incandescent halogen lamp with a luminous element with a wire diameter on the order of magnitude of 100 .mu.m is known.
Special conditions pertain in soffit lamps, that is, elongated incandescent lamps pinched on both ends with an axially arranged luminous element. Here, if there is a deviation from the horizontal position (and particularly in a vertical burning position), severe problems arise in operation, having to do with the demixing that occurs between the fill gas and the halogen additive inside the bulb. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,435,272 and in an article in Illum. Engin., April 1971, pp. 196-204, the cooperation of diffusion and convection at a fill pressure of 0.5 to 15 bar is; said to be responsible for this thermally-caused demixing effect. This effect is suppressed by means of a glass tube introduced into the bulb and surrounding the luminous element. A similar concept is also presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,220. Here the glass tube is intended to partially suppress convection.
The invention describes an entirely new way to furnish incandescent halogen lamps as defined by the preamble to claim 1, which makes possible a relatively high light yield and at the same time a long lamp life.
This novel technical teaching is based on the characteristics of the body of claim 1. Especially advantageous features are found in the dependent claims.
While the prevailing teaching was based on a linear relationship between the fill pressure and service life, entirely surprisingly, it has also been demonstrated that under certain peripheral conditions, namely in lamps with thin wires as the luminous element material, values for the light yield and service life can be attained that are even equivalent to those at high pressures. The wires preferably have a maximum diameter of 200 .mu.m, and especially preferably-less than 100 .mu.m. Excellent improvements can be attained in lamps with wire diameters of below 50 .mu.m. The cause for this performance is that with small wire diameters, instead of the evaporation mechanism, some other failure mechanism determines the service life of the wire, namely the migration of the tungsten along the wire. At very small wire diameters, the grain structure of the wire makes itself strongly felt, since only from one to two grains are present across the wire diameter. The migration of the tungsten makes itself felt at the grain boundaries in the form of constrictions between the grains. This process is known as "grain boundary corrosion". This failure mechanism is independent of the fill pressure; on the other hand, it is highly dependent on the surface temperature of coiled wire (typical temperature values are approximately 2300 to 3200K). Under the operating conditions assumed here, this failure mechanism is surprisingly sharply reduced.
A decisive consequence of the altered failure behavior is the correspondingly altered failure characteristic. Typically, the failure behavior of a number of lamps follows a modified Gaussian distribution, which is known as a Weibull distribution. It is characterized by the mean value (time period until failure of 63.2% of a set of lamps) and a certain deviation range (variance). Until now, for a mean value of typically 7000 hours, this variance was typically 5000 hours.
In other words, the variance was very large in comparison with the mean value. By comparison, in lamps according to the invention, quite a different failure behavior can be observed. Although the mean value of the Weibull distribution is markedly low-voltage lamps (up to 60 V), the field of use of the invention is practically unlimited. In high- and medium- voltage lamps (more than 60 V operating voltage), the invention can be used without restriction only for tubular lamps.
With lamps pinched on one end, however, care must be taken to assure that sparkovers between current-carrying parts be avoided.
The maximum cold fill pressure that is attainable without convection is generally markedly higher in high-voltage lamps than in low-voltage lamps, specifically being between 1 and 5 bar. This is due to the generally larger dimensions of these lamps. In the8case of high-voltage lamps, the intended "convection-free", mode of operation is therefore advantageous only if certain disadvantages can be overcome. In general, it has in fact been demonstrated that lamps operated convection-free exhibit a markedly lesser dependency on the mounting location (for instance, this is of interest for tubular lamps). The background for this is the improved uniformity of temperature distribution at the bulb found in convection-free lamps (a 50% improvement in variance is typical) and in general the trend to lower luminous element and bulb temperatures. Both effects lead to an improvement in the service life.
As a consequence, such lamps can also especially advantageously be used in reflectors or light fixtures. This is true for both high-voltage and low-voltage versions. A reduction in the temperature load by 10%, measured at the lamp pinch, over "high-pressure lamps" is typical.
By suitable geometrical dimensioning of the lamp it is also possible in the mode of the convection-free fill pressure range, instead of a simple linear dependency of the power losses (when plotted logarithmically), to create one region of linear dependency at low pressures and one region (plateau) at higher pressures, in which the power loss is virtually independent of the pressure a longitudinal axis of the luminous element is defined. The luminous element may be located either parallel or vertical to the end of the bulb, which is typically closed with a pinch seal. The bulb shape may be cylindrical but may also assume some other shape. Typical internal dimensions (the inside diameter in the case of the cylindrical shape, for instance) are between 3 and 15 mm, but larger values are possible as well. Examples of photoelectric data are from 10 to more than 20 lm/W (minimum value 1 m/W) for a service life of 2000 hours.
The advantages of the invention are expressed particularly markedly in low-voltage, low-power lamps. The fill volume of the bulb in low-voltage lamps is on the order of magnitude of 0.05 to 1 cm.sup.3 and in high-voltage lamps up to 15 cm.sup.3. A noble gas, optionally with the admixture of nitrogen, is used as the fill gas. A typical cold fill pressure is 0.5 to 1.7 bar in low- voltage lamps and up to 5 bar in high-voltage lamps. Halogenated hydrocarbons are examples of suitable halogen compounds.
The luminous element dimensions themselves also have an influence on operating performance. For instance, the enveloping cylinder of the luminous element should advantageously be shaped such that its length is at least equal to the diameter; in particular, it can be more than 1.5 times and preferably more than 2 times greater than the diameter.
The core factor and pitch factor of the luminous element also have an influence on the convection behavior. A point of departure for the pitch factor is a value of less than 2.0. The specific value in an individual case, however, must be arrived at empirically.
The color temperature of the lamps of the invention is in a range from about 2400 to 3400K. In general, it is true that the present invention is advantageously applicable both to lamps closed on one end and lamps closed on both ends. The closure is typically done by pinching, but can optionally also be done by fusing. In lower (typically 4000 hours), the variance in the mean service life is so sharply reduced that the 3% value (that is, the service life until the first 3% of the lamps fail) can nevertheless be equally favorable or even more favorable than in lamps according to the known prior art. This means that the time period between the failure of 3% of the set of lamps and the failure of 63.2% of the set is sharply reduced, corresponding to a substantially steeper slope of the Weibull distribution. Thus despite a poorer mean service life, an approximately equivalent or even more- effectively usable service life (hereinafter called the rated service life) can be attained (defined as the time period defined by the service life of the first 3% of a set of lamps).
A further particular advantage of the invention is that under the operating conditions according to the invention, faceting of the surface of the coiled wire can be avoided. Faceting describes the phenomenon in which the individual grains of the wire material in lamp operation begin to grow in accordance with their actually cubic space-centered lattice structure. As a result, for one thing the wire surface becomes uneven, and for the other the radiant wire surface area is enlarged. This process generally leads to a reduction in the residual light flux that is normally measured after 75% of the rated service life. Lamps according to the invention now exhibit the astonishing phenomenon that the residual light flux is markedly greater than in comparison lamps. An increase in the light flux over the initial value can even occur. The cause is suspected again to be the tungsten migration along the surface, which has a smoothing and equalizing effect on the surface profile.
The incandescent halogen lamps according to the invention normally have a high-temperature-proof bulb of quartz glass or hard glass. The luminous element contained in it is shaped (typically as a single or double coil) cylindrically or at least approximately cylindrically (a slightly curved cylinder, for instance), so that range. This plateau behavior is especially suitable for attaining the operating state at relatively low pressure according to the invention even in high-voltage lamps. This is because the plateau makes it possible to choose the "operating point" not solely preferentially just below the transition point at which the convection ensues but rather to adjust the pressure to a markedly lower value within the plateau or also at the beginning of the plateau.
In general, the risk of sparkover in high-voltage lamps can be varied by means of a fill gas mixture of noble gas with a small (up to about 10%) addition of nitrogen.
Further advantages of the invention are reduced gas consumption (which is especially significant when expensive xenon is used) and increased security against bursting.
Finally, in terms of the strain on the coil, it should be noted that high-pressure lamps (that is, lamps impinged upon by convection) not only have a markedly higher coil temperature but also a smaller radiant surface area than corresponding low-pressure lamps (that is, operated convection-free) having the same photometric data.
Low-pressure halogen lamps overall exhibit quite a different failure behavior, similar to that of conventional incandescent lamps, from high-pressure halogen lamps. "Low pressure" here generally always means the pressure that assures the freedom from convection, in comparison with the higher pressure ("high pressure,") involving convection, for a particular lamp type. While in one lamp type a cold fill pressure of 2 bar can still belong to the "low-pressure" range, in another lamp type a cold fill pressure of 0.8 bar can already be considered part of the "high-pressure range". A reliable statement about this for each lamp type can be made by measurement of the power loss as a function of the fill pressure and by determination of the transition point.

Halogen incandescent lamp with heat transfer by conduction

Patent Treuhand Gesellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluehlampen MBH


An optical system includes an optical device having waveguides defined in a first light transmitting medium. The optical device includes stops extending upward from a laser platform. The system also includes a laser bar having a plurality of lasers. The laser bar is positioned on the platform such that each laser is aligned with one of the waveguides. The laser bar includes alignment trenches that each includes a secondary stop extending upward from a bottom of the alignment trench. The secondary stop includes layers of material having different composition. The stops each extend into an alignment trenches such that each stop contacts one of the secondary stops.

Optical systems are increasingly being used for a variety applications such as communications between people and/or electrical devices. These networks often employ lasers as the source of the light signals that are processed by the network. The networks employ optical devices such as planar optical devices to process the light signals generated by the lasers. The optical devices often have one or more waveguides that must be accurately aligned with the lasers in order to achieve proper performance of the optical device. Acceptable horizontal alignment can often be achieved by aligning marks on the laser with marks on the optical devices, however, the quality of vertical alignment is often dependent on less accurate techniques such as etching. As a result, these is a need for improving alignment between lasers and optical devices.

Interface between light source and optical component


A structure and a method are provided to receive a high-impedance reference voltage signal and generate a desired output signal that is capable of sourcing enough current to meet the demands of a fixed-resistance load. In such a circuit, the signal from an accurate, wide output-swing voltage source circuit having low quiescent current is combined with the output of a current source circuit so that the voltage input to the load is maintained even as the necessary current is supplied. The current source circuit preferably includes a tracking resistance that sinks a control current which a current mirror multiplies by the same ratio as that between the tracking resistance and the load resistance. In addition, it is preferable for the tracking resistance to be large compared to the load resistance, in order to minimize quiescent current draw, and also for the tracking resistors to be created and located at the same time and place as the load resistance, to minimize the effects of sheet resistance variations and temperature changes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic amplification circuits, and in particular, to an efficient, accurate, wide-output, low-power amplifier for driving loads with known resistance.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In an integrated circuit, a reference voltage signal is often needed. This signal is typically high impedance and cannot source any significant amount of current, which means that the signal cannot be directly connected to a low-impedance input terminal. Therefore it is desirable to provide an intermediate circuit, or buffer, that receives the reference voltage as input and provides the necessary current at the reference voltage. One application of a reference voltage can be found in an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), which converts an analog input voltage to a digital output code. In many monolithic implementations, an ADC is achieved by comparing the analog input voltage to a series of reference voltages. These reference voltages are often generated by applying a reference voltage difference across a string of serially connected resistors, called a resistor ladder, as shown in FIG. 1a. In the figure shown, there are 256 serially connected resistors, each of resistance Rref, and the reference voltage difference applied across the resistor ladder is Vrefp minus Vrefn (often, Vrefn is simply at ground). Clearly, any change in Vrefp or Vrefn will change the values of voltage reference values Vref0 through Vref255. In general, because of the need to maintain stable voltage reference values, the total resistance of the ladder is low (e.g., 100-1000 .OMEGA.) and the reference voltage difference is large (e.g., 1-4 V). Typically, the sources of reference voltage inputs Vrefp and Vrefn are unable to source high currents, so it is common for on-chip voltage buffers to be used as intermediate circuits to provide the current in the resistor ladder, as shown in FIG. 1b. An ideal buffer would possess the following characteristics:
(a) Accurate voltage output (e.g., Voffset<5 mV)
Because the output of the buffer is intended to provide a reference voltage for other measurements, it is critical that the buffer input is accurately represented at the buffer output.
(b) Wide range of output currents (e.g., 1-25 mA)
In general, a load such as a resistor ladder will require as input a constant reference voltage. Because of thermal effects, the current demand of the load will change during normal operation. In addition, manufacturing process variations can lead to varying ladder resistance and, as a result, varying current supply requirements. Finally, different applications will generally involve changing reference voltage differences. Therefore, the buffer must be able to source a range of currents.
(c) Wide supply voltage range (e.g., 2.7-5.5 V)
In order to maintain functionality in a variety of situations, the buffer should be able to operate off a significant range of supply voltages.
(d) Wide output voltage range (e.g., rail-to-rail)
Because of (c), it is important to make the most use of whatever reference voltage is provided. A rail-to-rail output capability maximizes the allowable buffer output voltage range for a given reference input voltage.
(e) Low quiescent current (e.g., <500 mA)
Quiescent current is a current that is used by the circuit independent of the current used by the load itself. An increase in quiescent current translates directly into additional power required by the circuit.
A buffer can be implemented, for example, by an operational amplifier (op-amp) or any circuit providing a high-impedance input and accurate low-impedance output. Likewise, any such stand-alone buffer could be incorporated as the output stage of an op-amp, with standard input and gain stages making up the rest of the op-amp. In a conventional buffer, performance depends on a number of parameters. For instance, a common buffer circuit is the "source follower", in which a signal is fed into the gate of a transistor, and the output is taken from the source, as shown in FIG. 2a. This configuration can supply a wide output current range, but has a limited output voltage swing due to the unavoidable voltage drop between the gate and source. In addition, to ensure that the circuit remains a low-impedance source, resistor Re must be low resistance, which increases the quiescent current draw for any given supply voltage, and correspondingly, the power used by the circuit. This quiescent current draw can be minimized by replacing the fixed resistor Re with an active current sink, as shown in FIG. 2b. However, the improved power efficiency comes with a further reduction in output voltage swing, as the current sink starts to shut down at 0.2-0.3 V. Taking a different approach, circuit 203 in FIG. 2c depicts a type of output stage used in complimentary-output-stage op-amps such as the LMC660 (CMOS) or the LM10 (bipolar), both from National Semiconductor. Since the transistors behave like a small resistance when saturated, the output actually is able to swing from rail to rail. However, this configuration produces a high-impedance output stage, so the load current demand can overwhelm the current supply capability, and even small changes in the current draw cause output voltage fluctuations.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a buffer that is capable of accurate, low impedance, rail-to-rail output voltage swing, over a wide range of output current.


An operation shaft receiving-type electric component capable of reducing the number of parts required therefor and preventing generation of noise. An electric component body which includes an electric component unit varied in electric properties due to a variation in rotation angle of the operation shaft is arranged between an operation section of an operation shaft and a mechanism unit. A push-type lock and release mechanism is constituted by a guide member held stationary, both a slider member and a rotary slider each rotatably fitted on the operation shaft, a spring holder and a spring member. The guide member is provided with a plurality of primary guide grooves and secondary guide grooves, in which projections of the slide member are fitted, respectively. The rotary slider is provided with a plurality of projections, which are fitted in the main guide grooves, respectively. The guide member and each of the projections of the rotary slider are provided with a guide surface and a contact surface, respectively, which cooperate with each other to successively rotate the rotary slide by a predetermined rotation angle.

This invention relates to an electric component of the operation shaft receiving type, and more particularly to an operation shaft receiving-type electric component including an electric component unit wherein application of pressing force to an operation shaft of which an operation section is at a first position or received position to displace the operation section toward a second position or receiving position renders the operation shaft locked, application of pressing force to the operation section kept at the second position renders the operation section returned to the first position and displacement of the operation section leads to a variation in electric properties of the electric component unit.
A basic or principal structure of a push rod mechanism for a typical operation shaft employed in a conventional operation shaft receiving-type electric component is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 98724/1978 (Laid-Open Publication No. 15741/1980). Such a push rod mechanism is referred herein to as "push-type lock and release mechanism". Also, an improvement in such a push-type lock and release mechanism is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 54757/1993, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 33621/1994, Japanese Patent Publication No. 85442/1995, Japanese Patent Publication No. 52563/1985 and the like. Such a push-type lock and release mechanism is typically constructed so as to move a pin in a cam groove of a heart-like shape. Unfortunately, the conventional push-type lock and release mechanism is complicated in structure and relatively highly deteriorated in operability due to wear of various parts thereof.
In view of the above, an operation shaft receiving-type electric component including a novel push-type lock and release mechanism intended to solve the above-described problem of the conventional typical push-type lock and release mechanism is proposed as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 41107/1998. The novel push-type lock and release mechanism proposed is advantageous in that it is simplified in structure and substantially prevents wear of various parts thereof from adversely affecting operability thereof.
The operation shaft receiving-type electric component proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 41107/1998 is constructed so as to arrange a push-type lock and release mechanism between an operation section of an operation shaft and an electric component unit. The operation shaft receiving-type electric component is mounted on a circuit board so that the electric component unit is positioned on the circuit board. Unfortunately, this fails to permit the electric component to be mounted on the circuit board while keeping a body of the electric component inserted through the circuit board for mounting as in a socket-type electric component disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,680.
Also, the operation shaft receiving-type electric component proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 41107/1998 causes an increase in the number of parts required because the push-type lock and release mechanism requires a couple of springs. Further, in the operation shaft receiving-type electric component proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 41107/1998, the push-type lock and release mechanism employs a rotational top or a member designated at reference numeral 29 in FIG. 1 of the publication, which is normally fitted in a hole 26 of a cross-like shape formed in a cylinder of a rotator 23 for rotating a contact section of the electric component unit. Such construction causes vibration occurring every time when the rotational top is released from the hole for rotation to be transmitted directly to the rotator. The vibration thus transmitted leads to vibration of the contact section, resulting in noise being possibly generated. In addition, the structure disclosed in the publication often fails to render the operation shaft locked when the operation section is rotated in a direction of rotation of the rotational top while being pushed or forced for locking of the operation shaft. Also, rotation of the operation section in the direction in which the rotational top is rotated while pushing the operation section for the purpose of releasing the lock causes a problem of failing in release of the lock. Such problems are due to rotation of the rotator formed with the cross hole.


This optical scanner for testing the validity of a bill transported through a bill validator includes lower and upper members spaced to allow a bill to pass therebetween, at least one member including a light transmissive area. A light emitting element is arranged to direct light through the light transmissive area and a light receiving sensor is arranged to receive light from the light emitting element during passage of bill (B) therebetween. The light transmissive area includes a recessed portion to provide non-contact face portions of the light transmissive area spaced from the bill to preclude the transfer and build-up of dirt and abrasion of these areas.

This invention relates generally to the validity testing of documents and particularly to the optical scanning of paper currency transported through vending machine bill validators.
In order to prevent the acceptance of invalid bills there are devices which perform validity tests on the bills after they are received into a bill validator acceptor opening, and while they are carried to a bill stacking position by a bill transport system, such as that shown in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,173.
A commonly used test is performed by an optical scanner which compares the effect of light passed through the received bill with the known effect of light passed through a valid bill. If the test is satisfactory the bill is stacked and if not, in general, it is returned to the depositor.
An early system for checking validity of bills is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,941,187 in which light is passed through specific areas of a paper currency bill to be received by a light responsive sensor. Circuitry connected to the light responsive sensor receives signals responsive to the light intensity and produces a signal responsive to the difference of the light intensity. A control system is provided to receive the signal and become active when the signal is of a predetermined intensity so that the value and denomination are accurately determined.
Other systems, generally more complicated, are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,543 discloses a document recognition system which provides an optical analyzer for watermark, surface print, wire band and paper density which includes a light source and two photosensitive elements which scan both sides of a bill as it passes over a guide plate aperture.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,916,914 discloses the use of a primary light source in one location and a secondary light source in another location and utilizes a lower support plate and an upper pressure plate having openings fitted with abrasive resistant light transmissive discs. The bill to be tested passes between the plates. At the primary light source the light is directed through the disc, the note, a grid and an opening in the bill support plate to be received by a sensor connected to an analyzer having output signals indicating the light intensity. At the secondary infrared light source the light is directed through the disc and reflected back to be received by an infrared detecting sensor having output signals. The note must be accepted by primary and secondary members receiving the signals for acceptance of the note.
In other, less complicated, known devices the bills are transported between upper and lower transparent plastic or glass sheets having light sources below the lower sheet and light sensors above the upper sheet. This is a simple, effective and economic means of testing the bills but, unfortunately, the surfaces of the light transmissive plastic or glass sheets through which the bills are transported become worn and collect dust or dirt. Most of the dirt is carried by the bills and tends to abrade and build up on the transparent sheet surfaces which degrades the light transmissive performance by scattering and reducing the light reaching the sensors and adversely affects the reading of the light sensors.
The present invention solves these and other problems in a manner not revealed in the known prior art.

Light transmissive device for optical testing of transported bills


A method includes receiving data characterizing a first acoustic signal reflected by a first defect in a target object, and a first depth of the first defect relative to a surface of the target object. The first acoustic signal is detected by a detector located at a first location on the surface of the target object. The method also includes assigning a defect color to the received data based on an amplitude value associated with the first acoustic signal and one or more of a first predetermined threshold value and a second predetermined threshold value associated with the first depth. The method further includes rendering, in a graphical user interface display space, a first visual representation of the first acoustic signal in a graph including a first axis indicative of target object defect depth and a second axis indicative of amplitudes of acoustic signals detected by the detector. The first visual representation of the first acoustic signal includes the assigned defect color.

Non-destructive testing (NDT) is a class of analytical techniques that can be used to inspect a target, without causing damage, to ensure that the inspected target meets required specifications. For this reason, NDT has found wide acceptance in industries such as aerospace, power generation, oil and gas transport or refining, and transportation, that employ structures that are not easily removed from their surroundings.
In ultrasonic testing, acoustic (sound) energy in the form of waves can be directed towards a target object (e.g., train wheel). As the ultrasonic waves contact and penetrate the train wheel, they can reflect from features such as outer surfaces and interior defects (e.g., cracks, porosity, etc.). An ultrasonic sensor can acquire ultrasonic measurements of acoustic strength as a function of time. Subsequently, these ultrasonic measurements can be analyzed to provide testing results that characterize defects present within a train wheel, such as their presence or absence, location, and/or size.


The method is suitable for the micromachining of accurately aligned holes in the aerofoil surface of a component such as a jet engine turbine blade or vane which comprises a ground anchorage portion and a cast aerofoil portion. The method uses a laser machining apparatus which is preprogrammed to machine holes in the aerofoil surface when that surface is in a predefined reference position and orientation in the apparatus. Initially the component is mounted in the laser machining apparatus by means of its anchorage portion. At least one probe is then moved over the surface of the cast aerofoil portion to derive the positions of selected points on that aerofoil portion. From the derived position data, angular and linear offset data may be calculated to define the deviation of that cast aerofoil portion from the reference position and orientation defined in the computer memory of the laser machining apparatus. That angular and linear offset data is applied to the computer program resident in the laser machining apparatus to control the movement of the laser head relative to the aerofoil surface and to machine the air holes in the aerofoil surface without having to remove the component from the apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the micromachining of aerofoil surfaces, particularly the turbine blades and vanes of jet engines and other high precision turbines.
2. Description of the Related Art
A turbine blade or vane of a modern jet engine has two distinct parts: an anchorage portion and an aerofoil blade portion. The anchorage portion is ground to create one or more flat planar locating faces which securely and precisely anchor the blade or vane in the engine. The blade portion is cast, and therefore has a surface which is finished to a lower standard of accuracy than the ground faces of the anchorage portion.
Gas turbines generally, and jet engines in particular, run at very high internal temperatures, often higher than the melting point of the alloy used for the turbine blades or vanes. The blades or vanes are therefore protected from melting by creating a film of cooling air over all of the aerofoil surfaces that would otherwise be exposed to the hot combustion gases. The cooling air is discharged from a plenum chamber internally of the blade or vane, and out through an array of small and accurately aligned and located holes in the aerofoil surface. Those holes are typically micromachined using a laser mounted with five degrees of movement relative to the aerofoil surface of the blade or vane.
A problem associated with the micromachining of the air holes in the aerofoil surface is the need accurately to position the holes relative to the aerofoil surface itself rather than relative to the mounting. The aerofoil is typically mounted in the laser cutting machine by its machined mounting portion. Although that mounting portion is a high precision ground sub-element of the component, it may not be precisely aligned relative to the shaped aerofoil surface. Two alternative methods have been proposed for ensuring that the laser-drilled holes are accurately positioned relative to the aerofoil surface rather than relative to the mounting portion. Each method requires the use of a separate piece of setting or measuring equipment in the machine workshop, and each has its own associated disadvantages.
In a first method, in a setting apparatus the component is initially positioned in a compliant mounting which engages with the ground-flat faces of the anchorage portion of the component. The compliance of the compliant mounting is such as to provide the aerofoil surface of the component with at least three, and preferably five, degrees of movement in space. The compliant mounting is itself held in the setting apparatus, and jaws and probes of the setting apparatus are moved into abutment with the aerofoil surface of the component, to grip the aerofoil surface and hold the component by its aerofoil surface in a precise orientation in space. At that stage the compliant mounting is tightened and locked solid, prior to its release from the setting apparatus, so that when the assembly of component and compliant mounting is carried over to the laser drilling machine, the component may be held by anchoring the compliant mounting against datum surfaces of the laser drilling machine. Drilling can start immediately, because the aerofoil surface will be correctly aligned relative to those datum surfaces. Apart from the need for a separate piece of setting apparatus in the machine workshop, for the positioning of the component relative to the compliant mounting prior to tightening that compliant mounting, this method of component alignment suffers from the disadvantage that if the component is mishandled while being transported from the setting apparatus to the laser cutting machine, the component may move in its mounting so that the accuracy of alignment can be lost.
In a second method for ensuring the accuracy of the laser-drilled holes relative to the aerofoil surface, the component is first mounted in a measuring apparatus which engages directly the ground faces of the anchorage portion of the component. Probes or sensors of the measuring apparatus then map the position and shape of the aerofoil surface of the component relative to the ground faces of the anchorage portion, and from the output of those probes or sensors a laser drilling control program is compiled, for the control of the laser tool relative to the aerofoil surface in the subsequent micromachining step. The compiled laser control program and the component are then removed from the test rig and kept together until the micromachining is to take place. Then the component is mounted in the laser cutting machine, the control program loaded into the laser cutting machine, and the micromachining of the air holes takes place with accurate positioning of those air holes relative to the aerofoil surface. This method also requires a separate piece of workshop apparatus, and has the additional disadvantage that if the compiled laser control program becomes separated from the component prior to machining, then the component must be returned to the measuring apparatus for the re-measurement of the aerofoil surface position and the compilation of a new program. A potentially much greater disadvantage of this method is that if two components and their two accompanying compiled programs are interchanged accidentally between the measuring apparatus and the laser machine, then the laser cutting can take place with the holes being bored in each component using the program compiled for the other component. The exchange of program information may not be apparent from a visual inspection of the finished components, but the holes will be offset or misaligned from their optimum positions relative to the respective aerofoil surfaces, and the components will be liable to early failure in the extremely demanding conditions experienced in use.
The invention has as its object the avoidance of the above problems and the establishment of a method of micromachining holes in aerofoil components in which the holes are machined accurately and consistently relative to the aerofoil surfaces and in a manner more economical than previously.
The invention provides a method for micromachining the aerofoil surfaces of a component which comprises a ground anchorage portion and a cast aerofoil portion, which method comprises:
mounting the component in a laser machining apparatus by means of its anchorage portion, the laser machining apparatus being preprogrammed to machine holes in the aerofoil surface when that surface is in a predefined reference position and orientation in the apparatus;
moving a probe or probes over the surface of the aerofoil surface of the cast aerofoil portion to derive the positions of selected points on that aerofoil portion;
calculating from the derived position data angular and linear offset data to define the deviation of that cast aerofoil portion from the reference position and orientation defined in the computer memory of the laser machining apparatus; and
applying that angular and linear offset data to the computer program resident in the laser machining apparatus to control the movement of the laser head relative to the aerofoil surface and to machine the air holes in the aerofoil surface.
The method of the invention avoids all potential for misalignment of the laser head relative to a previously measured or set position of the aerofoil surfaces of the component being machined, because the component is never removed from one mounting and placed in another during the course of the method. The component remains in the laser machine from the beginning of the probe test run to establish the position and orientation of the aerofoil surfaces to the end of the machining process. Moreover only a single set of angular and linear offset data is created and stored according to the invention, and that data is applied to the program resident in the laser machine to control, in real time, the movement of the laser head.
Since the laser beam is likely to be a parallel focussed beam of circular section, only five pieces of offset data need to be derived: linear offsets along the x, y and z axes and angular offsets about the a and b axes.
The probe or probes may be mounted on the movable platform on which the laser head is mounted, or on a similar platform, so that essentially the same motors and/or software can be used for positioning the probe or probes relative to the component as will subsequently be used for aligning the laser head relative to the component.
Any suitable algorithm may be used for calculating from appropriate derived position data the angular and linear offsets of the aerofoil surface of the component. Preferably the derived position data are obtained from six probe measurements: four being the positions of two pairs of associated tangential points at which an outer curved edge of the aerofoil surface touches tangentially a linear probe; and two being the positions of points at which mutually perpendicularly aligned probes touch the aerofoil surfaces of the component.


There is provided a method for adapting the configuration of at least one application of a mobile terminal device to an accessible data connection, by the steps of obtaining properties of at least one data connection accessible from said mobile terminal device; and adapting the configuration of said application on said terminal device in accordance with said properties. Further, there is provided a mobile terminal device capable of adapting the configuration of applications to an accessible data connection, comprising data exchanging means, capable of accessing at least one data connection; data processing means, capable of running applications; means for obtaining properties of at least one data connection accessible by said data exchanging means; and means for adapting the configurations of at least one application according to said obtained properties.

The present invention relates to mobile terminal devices having the capability of communicating via different communication connections. The present invention relates to user devices that can access services via more than one data transfer connection, e.g. via UMTS and Bluetooth. It also relates to programs and applications executable in a mobile terminal device with a minimized requirement of user interaction. More specifically the invention relates to a simple method to adapt the settings of applications in a mobile terminal device, according to actually accessible, available or selected communication connections.
Future devices will have the ability to access remote services via multiple interfaces, e.g. via UMTS (when travelling), via a short range wireless connection like a wireless LAN or Bluetooth (when not moving fast), or via a wired connection such as the Ethernet or the like (when stationary).
As such access technologies have significantly different characteristics, users may wish to change the configurations of applications depending on the access technology currently used. As an example, limited bandwidths of UMTS may be suitable for the use with services that require low data rates, while a Bluetooth connection would permit using the same service at much higher data rates and thereby quality. Furthermore, cost might be different depending on the access technology and users do not want to waste money by using cost-ineffective data connections.
As an example, limited data rates of GSM (<50 kbit/s) may be suitable for the use with services that require low data rates, while a Bluetooth connection (>500 kbit/s) would permit the use of the same service at much higher data rate and thereby quality. Furthermore, the cost of accessing a network might be different depending on the access technology (Bluetooth for free, UMTS maybe costly) and it would be beneficial for the user if the device would be configurable taking such differences into account.
The state of the art provides e.g. a "Method and system for increasing the quality of service at or below a threshold cost" of EP 0 848 560 A2 by Siemens Business Communication systems, which relates to the control of the selection of a data transfer connection in accordance with a predetermined threshold cost. In this document the selection of the data transfer connection is executed according to predetermined optimization algorithms, to provide the service with the best transmission quality at a given cost. The document describes an automatic data transmission connection selection, but not a simplification of the access or application parameters of a certain application.
The cited document further describes an automated data transfer channel selection, but does not adapt the configurations of applications of the mobile terminal device, because the selected channel has to provide a predefined quality of service, to be selected. If a channel does not fit the desired quality standard of the application, the channel is not selected, and therefore the characteristics of the application do not need to be adapted.
The state of the art also provides document WO 01/35689 A1 by NOKIA NETWORKS OY relating to a "Data transmission method and Network system" that is capable of selecting a data bearer according to predetermined data bearer selection parameters. This document also does not describe an easy and simple way to set the parameters of certain applications.
Both documents fail to describe the adaptation of application configurations according to the selection of a certain data transfer connection.
If the selectable data connections depend on different transfer modes, with different transfer properties, it is desirable to fit the performances of the transfer channel and an application using that channel, to optimize the overall performance.

Method and device for adapting the configuration of an application of a mobile terminal to an accessible data connection


The present invention relates to an apparatus and method that control a vessel deviating from an anchorage using wide-range sensor-based spherical trigonometry. In the method, vessels anchored in an anchorage are monitored. The anchorage is defined as a group, and the group of the anchored vessels is managed. Leaving of a vessel, needing to deviate from the anchorage, from the group is controlled. If a vessel recognized as a vessel identical to one that left the group requests anchoring after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the anchoring-requesting vessel is controlled.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for controlling a vessel deviating from an anchorage and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method that control a vessel deviating from an anchorage using wide-range sensor-based spherical trigonometry.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the rapid development of Information Technology (IT) has created a new synergy by combining an IT environment with various fields and developing various convergence services. Among these convergence services, a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) has become an essential national base project for improving the efficiency of port management by guaranteeing the safety of vessel navigation, and research into VTS has been actively conducted and commercialized. However, VTS systems which are currently being developed and investigated are focused only on basic sensor components, such as radar devices, Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs), and Very High Frequency (VHF) sensors for monitoring the movement of vessels.
For example, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2011-0109276 entitled "Remote support service system for vessel equipment using Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT)" discloses technology which improves existing insufficient information and delayed information via the transmission of information between vessels and a land control center, and then supports the safe and economic navigation of vessels.
However, since these systems are focused on basic sensor components for monitoring the movement of vessels, it is difficult to promptly cope with an accidental emergency, and research into the solution of this problem has appeared as a primary research consideration.
For example, a decision-making framework scheme is a scheme proposed by John et al., in 2005 and is configured to propose an information analysis and design scheme so as to design an efficient framework for the decision-making system of a military vessel. This scheme considers a decision-making system using Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions. Further, such a scheme proposes a method of configuring a decision-making system for a military vessel by additionally applying a Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) scheme. In order to apply MCDM, the complexity and typical requirements of Weighted Sum (WS), Hierarchical Weighted Sum (HWS), Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Multi-Attribute Utility (MAU), etc. have been described.
In particular, the decision-making framework scheme has proved the efficiency thereof by analyzing and implementing entities in an area based on Survivability of Suspected Target Search at the End of Burst (STS-EB) and Survivability of Suspected Target Search at the End of Search (STS-ES). However, the decision-making framework scheme has the following vulnerabilities.
First, there is area-based vulnerability. In detail, when a decision-making system is configured based on areas, it is difficult to promptly cope with an emergency situation and an additional situation that may occur in a single area. In particular, whether the area of a detected target has deviated from a current area is monitored, and only a situation is considered, via the division of areas, and thus a separate algorithm and service for controlling various problems that may occur in each area are required.
Second, there is vulnerability related to the problem of the management of individual targets. The decision-making framework scheme is intended to implement an efficient vessel design by introducing a decision-making system which is designed via the STS-ES prediction of sea level and which uses various criteria so as to detect and recognize targets. In particular, a decision-making system having the decision-making framework scheme predicts the route of a target based on sea level and meteorological information, and thus proves association between mobility and marine meteorology. However, such a decision-making system is problematic in applicability to a special (military use) environment because external factors (meteorological conditions) rather than detailed information about a target are regarded as important upon making a single detailed decision.
A routing, ship size, and sailing frequency decision-making scheme is a scheme proposed by Chaug et al., in 2006, and is configured to propose a model for efficient shipping and ship determination so as to route containers in consideration of cargo costs and shipping costs. In order to support such a model, an optimal decision-making scheme is proposed, and efficient decision making is supported by analyzing a cost-effective scheme. However, such a routing, ship size, and sailing frequency decision-making scheme has the following vulnerabilities.
First, there is vulnerability related to applicability to the calculation of an optimal route based on the attribute information of a ship. This scheme calculates a cost-effective optimal route based on the attribute information of ships. However, in this case, contents related to meteorology information and sea level information in addition to the attribute information of ships are not considered, and only costs for maximizing cost efficiency for two entities are considered, so that various variables that may occur in an actual situation are not taken into consideration, and thus the applicability thereof comes into question.
Second, there is vulnerability related to the inefficiency of the management of a single ship. This scheme proposes a decision-making scheme in consideration of shipping cargo. However, since this scheme considers only a single ship, a separate management scheme is required so as to manage a plurality of ships due to the unified management of a large vessel or a high-speed ship.

Apparatus and method for controlling vessel deviating from anchorage

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A novelty calculator and system of input and data manipulation for amusement. The preferred embodiment of the device contemplates a calculator having a body, keyboard for input of numerical data and functions, and a display similar to standard calculators. However, the calculator of the present invention is programmed to provide manipulated, erroneous responses or answers in response to data entered for a humorous or surprising reaction by an observer. The preferred embodiment of the present system includes function controls to provide predetermined manipulation of the of the data for amusement tailored to select themes. For example, a tax function key may be provided which would result in an indication of an inflated amount of taxes due, a stock market function could be provided to indicate exaggerated losses in response to a query, a contractor function could provide an exaggerated or diminished fee for work to be done, or a finance payment function could be provided to indicate an exaggerated or diminished payment amount.

The prior art revealed various patents on calculator and amusement devices, but none as contemplated in the present invention.
Calculators having function keys for specialized operations are not per se new. For example, U.S. Pat No. 3,955,074 to Hewlett-Packard teaches a calculator having programmable keys. Certain simulated calculators or computers for amusement or novelty purposes have also been tried, although not as contemplated in the present invention. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,758 for a "Simulated Computer" providing user operable keys for selecting a simulated computer function. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,771, U.S. Pat. No. Des 284,017, or U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,621.
Other simulated similar devices are shown in toy cash registers or the like, wherein input of numbers and certain keys may lead to a predetermined result, i.e., a cash drawer opening and auditory signal such as a bell as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,295,036, 4,307,534, or 4,195,423.
While the prior art teaches a variety of calculators and related devices, none seem to teach or contemplate a system configured to provide manipulated, erroneous answers for amusing effect as set forth in the invention of the present system.


A cosmetic composition for use in the treatment of hair. The cosmetic composition contains a conditioning agent and the improvement resides in the conditioning agent being a mixture of (i) a polydiorganosiloxane gum and (ii) an amine functional siloxane polymer. A method of treating hair is also described in which the mixture is applied to hair for the purpose of improving wet and dry combing and imparting durable conditioning benefits to the hair.

This invention is directed to the treatment of hair with a composition which includes the combination of a silicone gum and an amine function polysiloxane fluid. Such blends have been found to impart conditioning benefits to the hair.
Hair preparations are compositions which are employed on the scalp or hair. The most important hair preparations are shampoos, conditioning products, colorants, hairstyling preparations including setting lotions and hairsprays, and permanent wave preparations.
Shampoos are mild cosmetic products for cleaning the hair and scalp. Hair becomes soiled due to skin flakes, sebum, perspiration, dust, and residues from sprays, lotions and conditioning agents. Shampoos are designed to leave the hair clean, pliable, lustrous, possessing a pleasant odor, and easy to untangle, comb, manage, and style. The principal ingredient of a shampoo is a surfactant which functions to release dirt from the hair and to transport it to the aqueous medium. Since consumers equate lathering with cleanliness, anionic surfactants such as alkyl sulfates and sulfonates are preferred because of their high lather. Numerous other constituents are included in shampoos such as thickeners to prevent the shampoo from running down the face into the eyes, opacifiers to provide a rich pleasing pearlescent appearance, buffers to adjust the pH of the shampoo to a value which is gentle to the skin, and fragrances to impart a pleasant aroma to the washed hair following rinsing. Most frequently, shampoos are marketed as clear products although gels having a higher viscosity and packaged in tubes, and pearlescent compositions are available.
With the advent of consumer trends toward daily hair washing, conditioning shampoos have emerged which are designed to render the hair easy to comb and tangle free in the wet state, as well as glossy and soft when dry. Such conditioning is provided by the inclusion in the shampoo of a cationic polymer which upon rinsing produces a thin film on the hair. This film functions as a lubricant when the hair is wet and prevents static charge and "flyaway" when the hair is dry.
Conditioning may also be provided by hair conditioning products designed solely for that purpose such as rinses, mousses, aerosols, and pump sprays, which conditioners are applied following shampooing. These conditioning products are rinsed from the hair a short time following their application. Such conditioners prevent excessive split ends and other mechanical hair damage and roughening, and seek to neutralize the adverse effects which hair undergoes due to humidity, temperature, exposure to sunlight, frequent washing, combing, and brushing, and cosmetic treatments such as bleaching, dyeing, and waving.
It is known in the art to employ an amine functional silicone fluid in a hair conditioning shampoo as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,227 issued Dec. 17, 1985. It is also known in the art to employ silicone gums in hair conditioning shampoos as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,272 issued Nov. 3, 1987. What is not taught by the prior art and what constitutes the novel feature of the present invention is the use of a blend of both an amine functional silicone fluid and a silicone gum in the treatment of hair.
While silicone gums and non-polar fluids such as polydimethylsiloxanes have been shown to provide effective conditioning benefits to hair, the conditioning effect is relatively non-substantive. According to the present invention, this disadvantage is overcome by blending the silicone gum with a silicone having polar amine groups along the siloxane chain. Such blends have much improved deposition properties versus blends of silicone gums with non-polar fluids. Not only do the blends of the present invention improve wet combing, but they impart durable and long-lasting conditioning benefits. Further, the blends are low in viscosity with the result that pumping and mixing are facilitated.


The present invention provides devices for improved radiation attenuation in devices which generate x-ray radiation. A high voltage receptacle is disclosed, the receptacle being adapted to accommodate a high voltage connector to supply power to an x-ray tube and being formed of a mixture of a dielectric material and an x-ray attenuating material, such as an x-ray attenuating metal compound. X-ray radiation impinging upon the high voltage receptacle that would otherwise pass through the unshielded receptacle is absorbed or scattered by the x-ray attenuating material without the need for additional x-ray shielding. Also disclosed is an x-ray housing assembly including an x-ray housing adapted to contain an x-ray tube, and a high voltage receptacle, wherein the high-voltage receptacle and optionally a portion of the x-ray housing is formed of a mixture of a dielectric material and an x-ray attenuating material.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to x-ray tubes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a high voltage connector receptacle having combined radiation attenuating and dielectric properties, and to an x-ray tube housing incorporating the high voltage connector receptacle.
2. The Relevant Technology
X-ray generating devices are used in a variety of medical and industrial applications. A typical x-ray device consists of an x-ray tube disposed within an outer housing, sometimes referred to as the xe2x80x9ccan.xe2x80x9d The x-ray tube itself is usually comprised of an evacuated housing that encloses an anode and a cathode. The outer housing/can is typically filled with a dielectric oil, or similar coolant, to remove heat from the x-ray tube during operation. Electrical leads are provided through the outer housing and connected to the x-ray tube so that in operation, power can be supplied to a filament portion of the cathode, thereby causing the release of electrons by thermionic emission. Electrical leads are also connected to the x-ray tube in a manner so as to provide a voltage potential between the cathode and the anode. The voltage potential causes the released electrons to accelerate towards the anode at high speeds. Upon striking the target surface of the anode, which is comprised of a material having a high atomic number, a portion of the resulting kinetic energy is converted to electromagnetic waves of very high frequency, i.e., x-rays.
The resulting x-rays emanate from the target surface, and are then collimated through windows formed through the evacuated housing and the outer housing for penetration into an object, such as a patient""s body. As is well-known, the x-rays that pass through the object can be detected and analyzed so as to be used in any one of a number of applications, such as x-ray medical diagnostic examinations or material analysis procedures.
Although a majority of the generated x-rays are emitted from the target surface so as to be directed towards the x-ray transmission windows, some of the x-rays may be directed in other directions. These xe2x80x9coff focusxe2x80x9d x-rays can potentially present health hazards to nearby personnel, including equipment operators and patients, and are thus preferably attenuated so that they are not released from the x-ray device. For example, the outer housing/can may be provided with a shielding or liner made from an x-ray absorbing material, such as lead or a similar dense material. However, the use of such materials (e.g., lead) can be problematic. For instance, care must be taken in the manufacturing and assembly processes to protect workers and the environment from excessive lead exposure. Further, care must be taken in the disposal of such potentially hazardous materials. Moreover, it is difficult in practice to effectively shield all parts of the x-ray device to completely prevent x-rays from exiting in unwanted locations. In particular, the electrical leads or conductors used to provide the filament power and the high voltage potentials to the x-ray tube must be supplied via connectors through a openings formed through the x-ray tube housing. Because of the high voltages involved, to avoid arcing and/or related electrical problems, such connectors are usually provided in the form of a receptacle that is made of a dielectric material. Unfortunately, and depending upon the specific geometry of the x-ray device, a fraction of the off-focus x-rays produced can travel along paths that can allow them to escape the x-ray tube housing through the openings provided to accommodate the high voltage receptacle/connector. Consequently, further shielding of the high voltage receptacle is required. However, this adds additional cost and complexity to the manufacturing and assembly process, and often entails more extensive handling of, and consequent exposure to, lead materials by assembly personnel.
Thus, it would be an improvement in the art to provide a high voltage receptacle that effectively prevents x-rays from exiting the x-ray device. Moreover, it would be desirable if the connector would be implemented in a manner such that the additional costs, complexities, and health risks associated with conventional x-ray shielding materialsxe2x80x94such as leadxe2x80x94were minimized.
It is therefore a general objective of the present invention to provide a high voltage receptacle for use with an x-ray device that is capable of attenuating x-ray radiation.
Another objective is to provide a high voltage receptacle that does not require the use of lead lining or separate shielding structures to provide x-ray attenuation.
Still another objective is to provide a receptacle that is comprised of a dielectric material that permits use in the high voltage environment of an x-ray tube.
A related objective is to provide an x-ray tube housing assembly formed integrally with the high voltage receptacle so as to provide improved attenuation of off-focus radiation.
In accordance with these and other objects, embodiments of the present invention are directed to high voltage receptacles and x-ray tube housing assemblies wherein at least a portion of the receptacle or housing assembly is formed of a material having both dielectric and radiation attenuating properties. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a high voltage receptacle formed of a dielectric material, such as a dielectric thermoset plastic, which is doped or filled with an x-ray attenuating material, such as a metal-containing compound. In a preferred embodiment, the high voltage receptacle is molded from a mixture of a dielectric plastic and a heavy metal sulfate or oxide, thereby providing both dielectric and radiation attenuating properties within a single structure. This eliminates the need for additional radiation shielding components, such as lead liners or shields, and thus minimizes related health and/or environmental risks. Moreover, the elimination of traditional shielding components reduces the manufacturing complexity and costs.
In another preferred embodiment, an x-ray tube housing assembly having an x-ray tube housing and a high voltage receptacle is provided. In this embodiment, the high voltage receptacle and at least a portion of the x-ray tube housing are formed as a single integral structure from the dielectric material and an x-ray attenuating material. Again, this provides for an improved and less complex assembly that exhibits superior shielding of off-focus x-rays.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention use conventional dielectric materials such as thermoset plastics in combination with metal-containing compounds having good radiation attenuation properties, such as heavy metal sulfates and heavy metal oxides. Preferred metals include lead, bismuth, barium, tellurium and strontium, and preferred x-ray attenuating compounds include lead oxide, bismuth oxide, barium sulfate, tellurium oxide and strontium sulfate. hi practice, the combination of a dielectric material and an x-ray attenuating material in the high voltage receptacle and optionally in a portion of the x-ray tube housing essentially prevents x-rays from exiting the x-ray device through the receptacle opening.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.


A carbon dioxide gas mist pressure bath apparatus for preventing, improving or curing a myocardial infarction by contacting a carbon dioxide gas mist to a skin and a mucous membrane of a living organism directly or through a clothing, thereby to improve or promote a circulation of a blood, includes a carbon dioxide gas mist-enclosing unit for enclosing the living organism; a gas supply unit for supplying a carbon dioxide gas; a carbon dioxide gas mist generating and supplying unit for pulverizing and dissolving the carbon dioxide gas into a liquid, and supplying the carbon dioxide gas mist into the carbon dioxide gas mist-enclosing unit; an exhausting device for exhausting the gas in the carbon dioxide gas mist-enclosing unit to an outside thereof; and a control device for controlling a supplying amount of the carbon dioxide gas mist from the carbon dioxide gas mist generating and supplying unit.

Carbon dioxide (carbonic acid anhydride: CO2) has properties of being not only soluble in water (water-soluble) but also soluble in fat (fat-soluble) together, and therefore it has conventionally been known that, if carbon dioxide contacts the skin and mucous membrane of the living organism having both properties of water and fat, carbon dioxide penetrates under a subcutaneous layer of the living organism and expands blood vessels around penetrated parts of carbon dioxide, and works to improve the blood circulation.
Further, if penetrating subcutaneously, carbon dioxide has possibilities of displaying various physiological effects such as expanding the blood vessels, accelerating the blood circulation, dropping blood pressure, improving metabolism or accelerating to remove pain substance or waste products. In addition, it has also anti-inflammation and anti-bacterial. Therefore, carbon dioxide has recently been given attentions also from viewpoints of improving health or beauty other than the purpose of medical cares.
In the organization of the living organism, carbon dioxide works to release oxygen having been carried in combination with hemoglobin in a red blood cell. Around parts at the high concentration of carbon dioxide, the red blood cell releases more oxygen. Thus, supply of oxygen to cells by the red blood cell is mainly controlled by carbon dioxide. In short, being without carbon dioxide, hemoglobin remains as having been combined with oxygen and the cell becomes unable to receive oxygen. Carbon dioxide serves to play in fact very important roles also in metabolism within the living organism. Thus, carbon dioxide is not mere waste products resulted from energy action of the cell, and it has gradually cleared that carbon dioxide exerts various important services in the living organism.
Then, for causing carbon dioxide to be absorbed directly in the skin and mucous membrane of the living organism, various apparatuses have been proposed such as utilization of bath agents for generating carbon dioxide in hot water of a bathtub (for example, refer to patent documents 1 to 3).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Carbon dioxide gas mist pressure bath apparatus for preventing, improving or curing myocardial infarction


A method of processing an input image comprises receiving the input image, storing the image in a memory, and accessing, by an image processor, a computer readable medium storing a trained deep learning network. A first part of the deep learning network has convolutional layers providing low-level features extracted from the input image, and convolutional layers providing a residual image. A second part of the deep learning network has convolutional layers for receiving the low-level features and extracting high-level features based on the low-level features. The method feeds the input image to the trained deep learning network, and applies a transformation to the residual image based on the extracted high-level features.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to image processing and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a method and a system for end-to-end image processing.
The use of high resolution cameras in mobile phones has become increasingly popular. However, due to space constraints, their hardware is limited with respect to the pixel size and the quality of the optics. Moreover, mobile phones are usually hand-held, thus, not stable enough for long exposure times. Therefore, in these devices image signal processors (ISPs) employ various methods to compensate for these limitations.
Image signal processors perform image processing pipelines that re-sample and spatially filter (e.g., interpolate) raw image data. Such pipelines encompass a sequence of operations, ranging from low-level demosaicing, denoising and sharpening, to high-level image adjustment and color correction. Typically, each task is performed independently according to different heavily engineered algorithms per task.

Method and system for end-to-end image processing


A window pane mounting arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a molded-on edge part which has an adhesive application surface for the application of an adhesive to connect the edge part to a fastening flange in a window opening of the motor vehicle, the connection between the edge part and the fastening flange being releasable by a pushing or pulling force applied to the window pane. In order to reduce the consumption of adhesive, to shorten waiting times until the adhesive has hardened, and to prevent soiling of adjacent components, the adhesive application surface is formed on an adhesive application profile which is releasably connected to the edge part and can be released from the edge part by exerting the pushing or pulling force on the window pane.

This invention relates to window panes for motor vehicles having a molded-on edge part with an adhesive application surface for the application of an adhesive to connect the edge part to a mounting flange in a window opening for the motor vehicle in which the connection between the edge part and the fastening flange is releasable by exerting a pushing or pulling force on the window pane. The invention furthermore relates to a motor vehicle having at least one such window pane, to an adhesive application profile for such a window pane, and to a method of producing such a window pane.
Motor vehicle window pane mounting arrangements of the foregoing type are disclosed in German Offenlegugsschrift No. 43 01 026 and European Published Application No. 0 620 134. In those publications, an adhesive application surface is provided on the arms and the yoke of a portion of the edge part which is U-shaped or pinetree-shaped in cross section. That portion is in the form of a polymer profile in which the arms have undercuts serving as anchoring projections for a bead of adhesive introduced into the space between the arms and the yoke. The releasability of the connection between the frame-like edge part of the window pane and the fastening flange is achieved in the disclosed arrangements because the bead of adhesive and the polymer profile do not become adhesively bonded, so that, after hardening, the bead of adhesive is engaged in a positive-locking manner with the polymer profile, with the arms meshing, but is not bonded thereto. Under pressure applied to the window pane from the inside, the arms of the polymer profile bend elastically outwardly and thus separate from the hardened bead of adhesive so that the window pane can readily be removed from the window opening.
These window panes, mounted according to the so-called pop-out principle, have the advantage that they are not only easy to remove, but can also be inserted again later without reworking.
However, the conventional pop-out window panes have some disadvantages. Since the entire space between the arms of the edge part has to be filled with adhesive, the consumption of adhesive is relatively high which, on the one hand, slows down the working process and, on the other hand, reduces the availability of the adhesive application device because the replenishment of the adhesive supplied in drums is often interrupted. Moreover, the nozzle of the adhesive application unit must be inserted into the space between the arms of the U-shaped profile, which likewise slows down the working process somewhat and necessitates the use of a reduced nozzle diameter. This makes it difficult or impossible to mix the installation of panes having the said U-shaped profile and conventional panes in which a wedge-shape ramp of adhesive has to be applied directly to the glass or to a spacer. Additionally, in the case of a smaller nozzle diameter, the pressure in the adhesive application unit must be higher, which results in greater wear.
Since the adhesive is surrounded after application by the U-shaped profile, no air moisture, which is necessary for the adhesive to harden, reaches the adhesive. For this reason, in the conventional window pane fastening arrangements, hydroxyl ions or a wet curing solution have to be applied to the inner side of the U-shaped profile, as described in European Published Application No. 0 620 134, to accelerate curing and thereby avoid the necessity for providing large parking areas at the motor vehicle manufacturers' on which the otherwise finished motor vehicles would have to be parked until the adhesive hardens. Additionally, in the event of high demand, substantial losses of income will also be caused due to the delay in supplying the parked vehicles. Furthermore, since the adhesive and the edge part of the window pane must not become adhesively bonded, only very specific material pairings can be used, which are not always optimally suited with respect to other properties, such as extrusion capacity, material costs, etc.

Arrangement for releasable mounting of a window pane in a motor vehicle


An array of composite polymer-metal contact members adapted to form solder free electrical connections with a first circuit member. The contact members include a resilient polymeric base layer and an array of metalized traces printed on selected portions of the base layer. Conductive plating is applied to the metalized layer to create an array of conductive paths. The resilient polymeric base layer, the metalized layer, and the conductive plating have an aggregate spring constant sufficient to maintain distal portions of the contact members in a cantilevered configuration and to form a stable electrical connection between the distal portions and the first circuit member solely by compressive engagement.

Traditional IC sockets are generally constructed of an injection molded plastic insulator housing which has stamped and formed copper alloy contact members stitched or inserted into designated positions within the housing. These contact members can be in a flat or "blank" format, or they can be produced with a series of forms, bends, and features to accommodate a desired function such as retention within the plastic housing.
The designated positions in the insulator housing are typically shaped to accept and retain the contact members. The assembled socket body is then generally processed through a reflow oven which melts and attaches solder balls to the base of the contact member. During final assembly onto a printed circuit board ("PCB"), the desired interconnect positions on the circuit board are printed with solder paste or flux and the socket assembly is placed such that the solder balls on the socket contacts land onto the target pads on the PCB. The assembly is then reheated to reflow the solder balls on the socket assembly. When the solder cools it essentially welds the socket contacts to the PCB, creating the electrical path for signal and power interaction with the system.
During use, this assembled socket receives one or more packaged integrated circuits and connects each terminal on the package to the corresponding terminal on the PCB. The terminals on the package are held against the contact members by applying a load to the package, which is expected to maintain intimate contact and reliable circuit connection throughout the life of the system. No permanent connection is required. Consequently, the packaged integrated circuit can be removed or replaced without the need for reflowing solder connections.
As processors and electrical systems evolve, several factors have impacted the design of traditional sockets. Increased terminal count, reductions in the terminal pitch (i.e., the distance between the contacts), and signal integrity have been main drivers that impact socket and contact design. As terminal count increases, the IC packages get larger due to the additional space needed for the terminals. As the IC packages grow larger the relative flatness of the IC package and corresponding PCB becomes more important. A certain degree of compliance is required between the contacts and the terminal pads to accommodate the topography differences and maintain reliable connections.
The contact geometries are typically designed as a compromise of size, shape and features to accommodate the required deflection, plastic deformation, contact retention, assembly features, etc. Contacts often include retention features that add electrical parasitic effects. Pitch reduction often reduces the available area for spring members. The cost of the contact members as a component is often directly related to the material content, the speed at which the contacts are stamped, and the amount and type of plating. The contact itself may only be a portion of the material in the coil of raw alloy used, with the excess either discarded or recycled.
For mechanical reasons, longer contact members are preferred because they have desirable spring properties. Long contact members, however, tend to reduce the electrical performance of the connection by creating a parasitic effect that impacts the signal as it travels through the contact. Long contact members also require thinner walls in the housing in order to meet pitch requirements, increasing the risk of housing warpage and cross-talk between adjacent contact members. The demands of pitch reduction often reduce the available area for spring features. Often such contact members require retention features that add electrical parasitic effects.
The contact members are typically made from a selection of Copper based alloys. The copper based alloys represent a compromise of material properties. Stainless steel has too much resistance, copper is too ductile, and silver is too expensive. Since copper oxidizes, the contacts are typically plated with nickel to prevent migration, and a final coating of either a precious metal like gold or a solder-able metal such as tin. In very cost sensitive applications, the contacts are sometimes selectively plated at the interface points where they will connect to save the cost of the plating.
Next generation systems will operate above 5 GHz and beyond. Traditional sockets and interconnects will reach mechanical and electrical limitations that mandate alternate approaches.

Composite polymer-metal electrical contacts


A chain connecting link has a C-shape main part having a pair of ends with confronting and spaced end surfaces and a filler part engaged between the ends and having a pair of oppositely directed end surfaces confronting the end surfaces of the main-part ends. Respective bodies of weld metal are engaged between the main-part end surfaces and the filler-part end surfaces so that the filler part solidly interconnects the ends of the main part. The parts are both made of tempered and annealed steel. Each of the end surfaces can be formed by a pair of substantially planar faces meeting at a straight edge. The straight edges extend generally in a plane including a longitudinal center axis of the link and the faces form four laterally open V-shaped notches each holding a respective such body of weld metal. The faces of each surface lie at an obtuse angle to each other. Normally the edges are rounded.

In large-scale underground mining operations, for instance of coal, it is standard to use conveyors that incorporate very long endless chains, and to use similar chains to convey back and forth the plow that actually cuts material from the face. Such chains are subjected to considerable stress and work in gritty conditions where they are subjected to great wear.
A connecting link with a pivoting and lockable side piece or a double-clevis link is used to join together the ends of the chain into the desired endless loop. Such links are actually the weakest link in the chain, which itself is subjected however representing an annoying maintenance task and unproductive do time for the machine in question.

Connecting link for steel conveyer chain


In a magnetic recording medium including a servo pattern region having a servo pattern formed of a concave/convex pattern having convex portions and concave portions and a data recording region, the region having a data track pattern, the convex portions are formed in an address pattern region of the servo pattern region such that the maximum opening lengths, which are located in the respective same radius regions of the respective opening lengths along the rotating direction of a substrate of the concave portions constituting the concave/convex pattern are set to first lengths that are double the minimum opening lengths along the rotating direction of the concave portions in the respective same radius regions. With this arrangement, the magnetic recording medium can securely read a magnetic signal and has a servo pattern having excellent surface smoothness.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium having a servo pattern formed of a concave/convex pattern in a servo pattern region, to a recording/reproducing apparatus having the magnetic recording medium, and to a stamper for manufacturing the magnetic recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,905 discloses nanoimprint lithography (an imprint method of forming a concave/convex pattern of nanometer size: hereinafter, also called "imprint method"). According to the nanoimprint lithography, in a process of manufacturing semiconductor devices, information recording mediums, and the like, a concave/convex pattern of nanometer size is formed on a substrate by transferring a concave/convex shape of a stamper onto the substrate by pressing the stamper on which a concave/convex pattern of nanometer size is formed. In the imprint method described above, first, a stamper (mold) having a concave/convex pattern of nanometer size (as an example, a minimum width of about 25 nm) on a transfer surface is manufactured. Specifically, a resin layer is formed to cover a thin film (molding layer) of silicon oxide and the like formed on the silicon substrate, and a desired pattern is drawn on the resin layer using an electron beam lithography apparatus. Subsequently, the thin film is etched by a reactive ion etching apparatus using the resin layer as a mask, and a concave/convex pattern having a plurality of convex portions (features) is formed in the thickness of the thin film, thereby the stamper is manufactured.
Next, a resin layer (thin film layer) having a thickness of 55 nm is formed by spin coating polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA: resin material) on a surface of, for example, a silicon substrate. Subsequently, after both a laminated body, which is composed of the substrate and the resin layer, and the stamper are heated, the respective concave portions of the stamper are pressed against the resin layer on the substrate. At the time, since the resin material in the portions into which the convex portions of the stamper are forcibly inserted moves to the concave portions of the stamper, concave portions (regions) are formed (transferred) to the portions in which the convex portions are forcibly inserted. Next, after the laminated body against which the stamper is pressed is left as it is until the temperature thereof is lowered to a room temperature, the stamper is exfoliated from the resin layer. With this operation, the respective convex portions of the concave/convex pattern of the stamper are transferred onto the resin layer and a concave/convex pattern of nanometer size is formed on the substrate (resin layer). Subsequently, a substrate is etched using the resin layer on which the concave/convex pattern is formed as a mask, thereby a plurality of concave portions are formed on the substrate. Accordingly, when concave portions are formed on a resin layer of a substrate for an information recording medium by the above technology (imprint method), an information recording medium having a concave/convex pattern of nanometer size can be manufactured executing etching processing using the resin layer as a mask.

Magnetic recording medium, recording/reproducing apparatus, and stamper


An electric motor has a DC link circuit (30, 32), a permanent-magnet rotor (104), and a control circuit having a full bridge (114). A program-controlled calculation arrangement (80) is configured to supply the semiconductor switches of a first bridge half with a PWM signal (136, 136′) and to supply the semiconductor switches (118, 122) of the second bridge half with a commutation signal (O1, O2; 150, 150′). An energy storage device (170) is provided which, during normal operation of the motor (102), is chargeable from the DC link circuit (30, 32) and serves, upon cessation of the signals from the calculation arrangement (80), to make the semiconductor switches (118, 122) of the other bridge half conductive, and thereby to short-circuit the stator winding arrangement (106) through those semiconductor switches (118, 122) in order to decelerate the permanent-magnet rotor (104) and to thereby minimize risk of human injury.

Such fans are used, among other purposes, to cool electrical cabinets. When such an electrical cabinet is opened, the fans are automatically switched off, but they continue to rotate for a while, and the risk therefore exists, that someone may bring his or her hand into contact with the sharp rotating blades on the rotor of such a fan. It is therefore important that, as soon as such a fan becomes currentless (for whatever reason), it is automatically decelerated very quickly, in order to minimize the risk of human injury.