A method and kits for amplifying and detecting target nucleic acid sequences in a sample is disclosed. The method employs primers which have reactive pair members linked to them. The reactive pair members can be attached to a solid phase and/or detected by labeled conjugate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for detecting and amplifying a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample. In particular, this invention relates to a polymerase chain reaction which is amenable to automation. With a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), one can "amplify" (i.e., increase the number of) target oligonucleotide molecules in a sample to be analyzed for the presence of that target sequence.
2. Description of Related Art
One type of polymerase chain reaction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,202 and 4,683,195 which are incorporated herein by reference. In this type of polymerase chain reaction, two complementary polynucleotide strands are amplified by treating the strands with two oligonucleotide primers such that an extension product of each primer is synthesized which is complementary to each nucleic acid strand. The primers are selected such that the extension product of one primer forms a template for the synthesis of an extension product from the other primer once the extension product of the one primer is separated from the template. A chain reaction is maintained by a cycle of denaturing the primer extension products from their templates, treating the single-stranded molecule generated with the same primers to re-anneal, and allowing the primers to form further extension products. The cycle is repeated for as many times as it takes to increase the target nucleic acid segments to a concentration where they can be detected.
Typically, the amplified target sequence is detected by denaturing the double-stranded products formed by PCR, and treating those products with one or more reporter probes which hybridize with the extension products. The reporter probe has a detectable label, and is usually added in excess. The unhybridized reporter probe, therefore, must be separated from the hybridized reporter probe requiring a separation step. In another method of detecting the extension products without reporter probe and a separation step, the extension products are detected by gels stained with ethidium bromide.
Regardless whether reporter probes or gels are used, prior PCR methods are quite difficult to automate. Using reporter probes requires denaturing the extension products, annealing the reporter probe, and in some cases separating excess reporter probe from the reaction mixture. Using gels, of course, is time consuming, labor intensive, and thus impractical to automate if rapid results are desired.

Detection and amplification of target nucleic acid sequences


The data processing system of the present invention implements a multi-port memory cell and control therefor. In response to a single clock signal, the cell is accessed during multiple, non-concurrent intervals during a single clock cycle. Each of the accesses during the clock cycle are over a different line.

As technology advances, new semiconductor memory devices have been required to store more information and to communicate that information more quickly. A dual-port memory structure is one such memory device that provides data in an efficient manner desired by current data processing systems. In a dual port memory, two polts are implemented so that the contents of the memory may be concurrently accessed from two different sources. An example of such a dual port memory is illustrated in FIG. 1.
In the dual port memory cell of FIG. 1, transistors 106, 108, 110, and 112 form a latch for storing data within the memory cell. In contrast, transistors 104, 102, 114, and 116 are pass devices that allow data to be stored within and read from the memory cell. Through the selective enabling of the "latch" transistor and the "pass" transistors, data is stored within and read from the dual-port memory cell.
In such a dual port memory cell, two pass devices can potentially be driving concurrently current to a node (such as node N.sub.0). In this case, where two pass devices 114 and 116 are coupled at the node N.sub.0 to the memory cell latch devices 106/108, a beta ratio between the pass devices and the NFET latch devices must be increased by a factor of two, since there will be twice as much current to the node through the two pass devices than there would be through a single pass device. This increased beta ratio is reflected in increased circuit area requirements which, in turn, increase the costs associated with manufacturing the circuit. The issue of increasing current due to increasing number of ports is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,291 to Podlesny, et al., "Multi-Port Register File Memory Cell Configuration for Read Operations, at c.2, 11. 25f.
Therefore, a need exists for an apparatus and method for accessing dual port memories which reduces an amount of circuit area requirements, while maintaining the functionality typically associated with such dual port memories.

Method and apparatus for single clocked, non-overlapping access in a multi-port memory cell

International Business Machines Corporation


A data transmitting method for a memory controller is provided. A host system executes threads to transmit commands through a human interface device (HID) interface. The method includes: receiving a command packet from the host system; executing an operation corresponding to a command according to the command packet to generate responding data, which is divided into at least one responding data packet by the memory controller; transmitting a responding packet and the responding data packet to the host system by the memory controller; determining if one of the at least one responding data packet is lost according to the responding packet by the host system; if a responding data packet is lost, transmitting a retransmitting packet to the memory controller by the host system to request the memory controller to retransmit the lost responding data packet. Accordingly, the data transmission amount is improved, and the integrity of data is ensured.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to a data transmitting method, in particular, to a data transmitting method, a memory controller, and a data transmitting system related to a human interface device class.
2. Description of Related Art
While digital cameras, mobile phones, and MP3 players have been growing rapidly in the recent years, the consumers have higher demands on storage media. Rewritable non-volatile memory modules such as flash memories are well-suited to be built in each of the portable multimedia devices as illustrated above due to the characteristics of non-volatility, low power consumption, small volume as well as non-mechanical structure.
Generally speaking, a flash memory is controlled by a memory controller, and such memory controller is used along with a host system. A user may transmit vendor commands via applications on the host system to the memory controller. However, under some circumstances, the type of the vendor commands may be a small computer system interface (SCSI) command. If an administrator right of an operating system is not given to the user or the applications, the applications are not able to transmit the SCSI command to the memory controller. One of the solutions is to transmit data or commands through a human interface device (HID) interface. However, the transmitting bandwidth of the HID interface is limited and does not satisfy the requirements of the applications under some circumstances. Moreover, if there exist a plurality of threads to be sent to the memory controller on the host system, a piece of data may be transmitted to a wrong thread. Accordingly, the integrity of data between the host system and the memory controller is not ensured.
Hence, to improve the data transmission amount on the HID interface and to ensure the integrity of data are the concerned issues to those skilled in art.
Nothing herein should be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art of any portion of the present invention. Furthermore, citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention, or that any reference forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Data transmitting method, memory controller and data transmitting system


[Object] To enable a communication device which has received a response frame to identify a BSS to which a transmitting device of the response frame belongs while ensuring backward compatibility.

In recent years, standardization of new wireless LANs has been reviewed by a working group of IEEE 802.11 or the like, and among them, various reviews related to setting of a transmission prohibition period (hereinafter referred to as a "network allocation vector (NAV)" for the sake of convenience) have been conducted.
For example, for a setting of an NAV based on a response frame (CTS, ACK, or the like), a communication device which has received a response frame addressed to another device determining a basic service set (hereinafter referred to as a "basic service set (BSS)" for the sake of convenience) from which a signal corresponding to the response frame is transmitted and setting the NAV in accordance with a determination result is under review. Further, newly adding information used for this determination to the response frame is also under review. A method of adding an association identifier (AID) to a frame is disclosed in Patent Literature 1.

Communication device and communication control method

Abstract: [Solution] Provided is a communication device that transmits a response frame, including: a generating unit configured to generate the response frame in which information used for identification of a BSS to which the communication device belongs or information used for identification of an own device is included in or after a padding bit specified in IEEE 802.11; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the response frame.


An integrated circuit design apparatus is provided with a power supply voltage variation analysis tool calculating variations of power supply voltages of respective instances integrated within a target circuit; a determination module comparing the variations of the power supply voltages with first and second reference levels, the second reference level being smaller than the first reference level; a redesign module adapted to redesign the target circuit when at least one of the variations of the power supply voltages is larger than the first reference level; a delay variation calculation module adapted to correct circuit delay data of the respective instances based on the variations of the power supply voltages of the respective instances; a static timing analysis tool performing timing verification of the target integrated circuit. The timing verification in connection with each of the instances is performed based on the corrected circuit delay data, when a variation of a power supply voltage of the each of the instances is in a range from the second reference level to the first reference level, and performed based on the circuit delay data uncorrected, when the variation of the power supply voltage of the each of the instances is smaller than the second reference level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus, method and computer program product for design verification of semiconductor integrated circuits. More specifically, the present invention relates to power supply variation analysis and delay variation calculation based on power supply variations.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there are remarkable technology progresses in power supply voltage reduction and operation speed enhancement of semiconductor integrated circuits. On the other hand, the power supply voltage reduction and operation speed enhancement, as well as the increase in the interconnection resistance due to the reduction in dimensions of layout patterns, lead to the situation in which the variations in the power supply voltage are not negligible for ensuring the stable operations of the semiconductor integrated circuit.
Recently, attention is paid to power supply variation analysis for power supply noise, that is, variations in the power supply voltage and the ground voltage caused by semiconductor integrated circuit operations. For example, Lin et al. discloses a vectorless dynamic power-ground noise analysis approach in a non-patent document entitled: S Lin, M. Nagata, K. Shimazaki, K. Satoh, M. Sumita, H. Tsujikawa, A. T. Yang, "Full-chip Vectorless Dynamic Power Integrity Analysis and Verification Against 100 uV/100 ps-Resolution Measurement", Proceedings of Custom Integrated Circuits Conference 2004, October 2004, Pp. 509-512. In the power supply variation analysis, variations in the power supply voltage and the ground voltage are calculated for desired one(s) of instances integrated within in the semiconductor integrated circuit.
In FIG. 5, typical models of power supply variation analysis are shown. In FIG. 5, instances A and B are instances incorporated within an integrated circuit for which the power supply variation analysis is to be performed. The output signals of the respective instances vary in response to signal level changes of the respective input signals. The signal level changes in the output signals cause generation of power supply currents through the power and ground lines, and the power supply currents cause variations in the voltage levels of the power and ground lines due to the resistances thereof. When the resistances of the power and ground lines of the instance B are larger than those of the instance A, the instance B experiences larger power supply variations. The magnitude of the power supply variations depends not only on the resistance of the power and ground lines but also by the buffer's drive capability, the output load capacitance, the slew rate of the input signal, the capacitance between the power and ground lines, and so on. The power supply variation analysis needs to be performed in light of these various factors.
One issue is that the analysis time necessary for power supply variation analysis undesirably increases as the increase in the integrated circuit scale, when the variations in the power supply voltage are analyzed for all instances integrated within the integrated circuit.
Also, one proposed approach for the reduction of the power supply variations is to integrate decoupling capacitors (or capacitor cells) within the integrated circuit. However, this approach suffers from the increase in the calculation time for determining the positions and capacitances of the decoupling capacitors.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-4268 (referred to as the '268 application, hereinafter) discloses a conventional method and apparatus for power supply variation analysis. A description is given of the disclosed method and apparatus in the following, referring to FIGS. 24 and 25.
FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the power supply variation analysis method disclosed in the '268 application. The disclosed method is directed to calculation time reduction of the power supply variation analysis by dividing the voltage calculation range, which is defined as the time period between the switching of the input signal Vin and the switching of the output signal Vout, into multiple time segments, by averaging or characterizing the voltage waveforms in the respective time segments.
A description is given next of the configuration of the power supply variation analysis apparatus disclosed in the '268 application, referring to FIG. 25. FIG. 25 is a block diagram of the conventional power supply variation analysis apparatus. Layout data of the target LSI (large scale integrated circuit) are generated by the placement and routing section 101 and circuit connection data extracted from the layout data are fed to a power supply variation analysis section 102. The power supply variation analysis section 102 analyzes the power supply variations to generate power supply variation report data 103 indicative of the power supply variations. The power supply variation report data 103 is fed to a delay calculation section 104. The delay calculation section 104 performs delay calculation and outputs SDF (standard delay format) data which are circuit delay data associated with circuit blocks for which STA (static timing analysis) is to be performed later. The SDF data are inputted to an STA (static timing analysis) section 105, and the STA section 105 generates timing report data 106. The timing report data 106 is fed to an optimization section 107, and the optimization section 107 performs circuit optimization.
Furthermore, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2000-99554 (referred to as the '554 application, hereinafter) discloses an example of a delay library used for the power supply variation analysis. In detail, the '554 application discloses that buffer delay times are expressed in the delay library with three parameters: the slew rate of the input signal, the output load capacitance, and the power supply voltage.
The '554 application also discloses a integrated design technique which involves obtaining operating voltage distributions of the respective logic blocks depending on the positions of the power supply lines, performing initial schematic placement of the logic blocks, calculating the delay times of the respective logic blocks using the delay library, performing schematic placement of the logic blocks again so as to reduce the calculated delay time for the improvement of the operation timings of the logic blocks, and then performing detailed placement of the logic blocks.
In the conventional techniques (such as the technique disclosed in the '268 application), delay calculation is followed by timing analysis based on the delay calculation result. This is followed by cell arrangement optimization based on the timing analysis result, such as insertion of capacitor cells or movement of instances, when any timing error is discovered by the timing analysis. This undesirably necessitates performing the power supply variation analysis and timing analysis again after the cell arrangement optimization to determine whether the problem is solved by the cell arrangement optimization. This approach undesirably requires a longer time for converging the calculation result.
Furthermore, an operation of a certain circuit may cause a malfunction of another circuit when the integrated circuit suffers from large power supply voltage variations; however, such malfunction is often overlooked by ordinary static timing verification. The above-described conventional techniques give no considerations to this problem.

Apparatus and method for integrated circuit design with improved delay variation calculation based on power supply variations


A steam purge method for a dishwasher includes a washing cycle, a steam purge cycle and a rinse cycle. During the steam purge cycle, a dishwasher tub is filled with fluid to a level below a heating element in a wash chamber, heated and at least partially converted to steam in the wash chamber. After the steam purge cycle, the dishwasher is drained and the rinse cycle commences. Optionally, a heated drying cycle may be performed upon termination of the rinse cycle. A single heating element arranged in the wash chamber is utilized for heating washing fluid during each of washing, purging and steam generation cycles, as well as for the heated drying cycle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of dishwashing and, more particularly, to a steam purge method for a dishwasher.
2. Description of the Related Art
Maintaining a high sanitation level in connection with the washing of dishes has been a long standing priority in commercial settings. However, the public has also become particularly concerned with minimizing the presence of germs in the home such that it is increasingly desirable to include sanitation options in domestic dishwashers. Typically, performing a sanitation operation in connection with a domestic dishwasher constitutes controlling a heating element during an overall washing cycle such that the washed dishware will be subject to high temperature washing, drying and sanitizing operations. To further enhance the degree to which dishware is cleaned, it has also been proposed to introduce steam into a dishwashing tub. Basically, steam has been utilized in dishwashers in order to aid in the removal of food debris from dishware. One such known dishwasher arrangement, as set forth in International Patent Application No. WO 2006/129963, incorporates a dedicated steam generator into the dishwasher, with the steam generator directing steam through pipes into a wash chamber containing the dishware.
Although the addition of steam can be advantageous, the requirement for additional components in a domestic dishwasher can add significantly to the manufacturing cost. In addition to the added component costs, the effectiveness of the added use of steam can greatly vary depending on both the manner in which the steam is provided and the time at which the steam is introduced in the overall washing cycle. Based on at least these reasons, it is considered desirable to effectively incorporate steam as part of an overall dishware cleaning strategy in a dishwasher, particularly in connection with a sanitation operation in a dishwasher, while avoiding the costs associated with the need for dedicated steam generating components.


A a method for generating and maintaining trusted data in a network environment includes: 1) initializing a data block [A]0 and shared computation rules, and broadcasting the same to the network; 2) acknowledging a node of the data block [A]0 as a participating node; when new data A needs to be added, n participating nodes independently computing a candidate data block [A]T of [A]1 according to the shared computation rules, and broadcasting the same to the other n−1 participating nodes, wherein [A]1 is a data block containing the newly added data A; 3) The n participating nodes determine an acknowledged candidate result [A]Y according to a monitored broadcast packet; and 4) the participating nodes computing the monitored [A]T/[A]Y, and, when the computation result satisfies a predetermined condition, the participating node determining the computation result thereof as an acknowledged result and broadcasting the same.

In a distributed network or the Internet, when the operations of multiple network nodes rely on the same data set (acknowledged data in this document), it is necessary to ensure that the data is credible and accurate. For example, each computing node of an online game relies on the same set of global data to run. Some network transactions need to rely on the same set of historical transaction credentials to process a new transaction request; some network applications may still require accesses to sustainable and trusted acknowledged data sources when nodes dynamically join and exit the network. Existing methods usually use centralized storage and authentication to ensure the credibility and accuracy of data. While centralized processing ensures the consistency of acknowledged data, it is also inflexible, has high cost of maintaining the central node and high risk of single point of failure, and can suffer malicious attacks and other issues. In addition, centralized processing is applicable to the trust and mutual trust of specific user groups and specific data, and it is difficult to implement for non-specific data processing between non-specific nodes.
Network Distributed Computing
Computing units in the network environment (including but not limited to computers) operate independently and perform specific computation tasks through specific communication protocols and application software.
The use of digital signature technology to authenticate and sign acknowledged data can solve the problem of mutual trust between specific nodes for specific data, but cannot solve the problem of mutual trust between non-specific nodes and non-specific data.
Traditional multiple backup or storage also has the above described problems.
Digital Signature
Digital signature technology is the most common data integrity protection mechanism that can produce a more reliable "data fingerprint" than human fingerprints. It encrypts digest information with the sender's private key and sends it along with the original text to the recipient. The recipient generates digest information from the original text received, and compares with the digest information decrypted using the sender's public key to verify the integrity of the information. The present invention uses digital signature technology to provide guarantees for integrity and legitimacy of data sent between nodes. The digital signature technology does not solve the problem of mutual trust between nodes. In the present invention, digital signature technology is used for data communication between non-trusted nodes without being maliciously tampered with.
Digital Digest
A hash function turns a message of any length into a fixed-length short message, which is similar to a function whose argument is a message. A digital digest uses a single hash function to convert a plaintext "digest" that needs to be encrypted into a string of cipher text of a fixed length (128 bits). This string of cipher text is also known as a digital fingerprint. It has a fixed length. Different plain text will always be converted to different cipher text; and the same plain text will always result in the cipher text. The present invention uses digital digests to organize discrete acknowledged data into related data.
Combining digital signatures and node-independent storage can solve the drawbacks caused by centralized processing and storage to a certain extent. This method is only applicable to static data and specific nodes with trusted relationships. It is difficult to handle trust and mutual trust in dynamically generated data between dynamically joined non-specific nodes. The method is easily affected by malicious nodes or network transmission errors in a network environment.
Adding the traditional CA mechanism in the above method can solve the problem of mutual trust in non-specific data between non-specific nodes, and can eliminate the influence of malicious nodes, but it requires a specific organization to maintain a set of verification mechanisms. It is still a centralized process, suffering all the aforementioned drawbacks in centralized processes.
The use of peer-to-peer (P2P) networks to store and publish acknowledged data can maintain data's common attributes and redundant reliability. It can solve the mutual trust in specific data between non-specific groups. However, it is only applicable to static data storage, and cannot provide trust and mutual trust in non-specific data and dynamic data. In addition, P2P networks cannot properly handle data persistence and historical problems.
Peer-to-Peer Network
When there are no specific priority nodes and central control nodes in a network distributed computing environment, the computing nodes cooperate in distributed computing in a peer-to-peer manner.
None of the above methods can solve the problem of credibility of acknowledged data in a completely open scenario. In the present invention, "a completely open scenario" refers to an environment that is open to the entire network and an application scenario in which data needs to be retained for an indefinite time span.
In summary, a completely open scenario has the following features:
1. A message is sent to the entire network; the receiver or user is not determined;
2. The time span for information production and ultimate information utilization is undetermined;
3. There is no specific central processing node to undertake centralized processing; and
4. Information transmission and storage media are also unspecified.
As a result, several major issues need to be addressed in a fully open scenario:
1. Damages from malicious nodes;
2. Persistence and consistency of the acknowledged data; and
3. The long-term credibility of the acknowledged data.

Method for generating and maintaining reliable data in a network environment

SUZHOU SUPERBLOCK CHAIN INFORMATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A flexible circuit board connector includes a contact having a separable mating interface mounted to a contact pad of a flexible circuit board and a terminating end terminated to a wire. A housing holds the contact and has a main body including a wire barrel configured to receive the wire. A clip is coupled to the housing with an intermediate space between the clip and the main body. The clip is movable between an open position and a closed position. The intermediate space is configured to receive the flexible circuit board when the clip is in the open position, and the clip and housing are configured to capture the flexible circuit board when the clip is in the closed position. The spring beam is configured to be electrically connected to the contact pad when the clip is in the closed position.

The subject matter herein relates generally to flexible circuit board connectors.
Flexible circuit boards or "flex circuits" have many applications. The flexible circuit boards are typically connected to connectors or headers the are mounted to rigid printed circuit boards. The rigid printed circuit boards supply power to the connector and the power is supplied from the connector to the flexible circuit board. There is a desire to use flex circuits in applications that do not lend themselves to connection to a rigid circuit board. The rigid circuit board adds cost to the overall system and are unnecessary. There is a need to connect wires directly to the flexible circuit boards and eliminate the rigid circuit board altogether. For example, in some lighting applications where LEDs are mounted on the flexible circuit boards, there is a need for electrically connecting wires to the flexible circuit board to power the flexible circuit board. The flexible circuit boards may be mounted to any mounting surface, such as under cabinets for under cabinet lighting. Connection of wires to the flexible circuit board can reduce the cost for certain applications, such as under cabinet lighting. However, soldering of wires to the flexible circuit board is difficult and may require special tools and expertise.
A need remains for a cost effective and reliable system for connecting wires to flexible circuit boards.


A disc-based altitude-azimuth telescope mount for mounting and adjusting a telescope along altitude and azimuth axes. The telescope mount includes an azimuth disc assembly for facilitating adjustment of the telescope along the azimuth axis and an altitude disc assembly for facilitating adjustment of the telescope along the altitude axis. A friction adjusting mechanism operably engages the azimuth disc assembly and the altitude disc assembly to prevent inadvertent movement of the telescope along both axes. A digital setting circle may be operably connected to the disc assemblies to facilitate automatic adjustment of the telescope, as desired.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to telescope mounts, and more particularly, to a disc-based alt-azimuth mount for telescopes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A wide variety of telescope mounts are available for both astronomical and non-astronomical telescopes. These generally fall under two broad categories, namely equatorial and altitude-azimuth mounts. Equatorial mounts are designed to follow the celestial sphere by moving the telescope in one axis only. An alt-azimuth mount, on the other hand, is designed to move in two axes to follow both the celestial sphere and the vertical altitude dimension.
Because of its simplicity, the alt-azimuth mount has gained popularity in recent years as a multi-purpose astronomical and non-astronomical mount. The new professional telescopes are now being built with alt-azimuth mounts and computer driven motors moving in both axes to track celestial objects. The mount has also gained popularity with the advent of new precision-built and optically-correct wide field refractor (lens in front) telescopes being used for astronomical and terrestrial objects.
Unfortunately, existing alt-azimuth telescope mounts have proven to be quite amendable to vibrations and do not remain rigid to outside forces such as wind or touch. Such vibrations are most evident in single arm mounts and intensify as the length of the arms is increased. Although adding a second arm has reduced this problem somewhat, it has lead to a host of other design deficiencies, such as not being able to carry telescopes of varying widths. One notable drawback found in existing alt-azimuth telescope mounts is that they are not able to handle telescopes of varying sizes without the addition of counter-balance devices and do not permit the mount to swing freely without interference from the telescope hitting the base of the mount.
A further problem encountered with existing alt-azimuth telescope mounts is that they are not able to handle various size loads such as cameras, eyepieces and the like without unwanted movement caused by imbalance. Many telescopes allow the observer to interchange eyepieces, allowing an increase or decrease in magnification. Cameras may also be used in place of eyepieces in order to take pictures. Modern eyepieces weight can range from as little as two ounces for high magnification, to over two and a half pounds for a wide field low magnification. If the telescope is balanced for a heavy eyepiece and the eyepiece is removed, the telescope will rotate forward. Likewise, if the telescope is balanced for a light weight (or no eyepiece), then the telescope will drop in the rear. To overcome this problem, some mounts have locks to prevent the axis from moving. The observer moves the telescope to the object and locks the axis. However, the object seldom remains stationary (a sighted dear runs or the earth rotates, for example). In order to address this problem, designers have added slow motion mechanisms. These mechanisms, however, have generally proven cumbersome and inadequate in practice because the mount axis must be locked during use. Similarly, friction locks have not adequately addressed this issue.
Additionally, existing mounts often do not maintain all axes and planes perfectly orthogonal with each other as required for accuracy when electronic shaft encoders are utilized with computerized locaters, commonly known in the art as setting circles. Significant errors are introduced where the axes of the telescope mount are not perfectly orthogonal.
Accordingly, there is an established need for a disc based alt-azimuth telescope mount for use with any of a variety of existing telescopes that addresses and overcomes the aforementioned problems and disadvantages found in existing telescope mounting systems.


Methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling power distribution during transitory power-up period of multi-domain electronic circuits that are supplied by multiple power supplies. The power distribution is controlled by self-regulating power control circuits that operate based on power-up sequencing requirements. Described embodiments of the invention illustrate examples of power-switch and power-switch controller circuits used as elements of the power control circuitry.

Logic control signals generated by the power-up reset signals of various power supplies are commonly used to determine the power-up sequence logic in an integrated circuit device. However, during power-up of an integrated circuit device that has multi-power domains, there is no sequencing control by the integrated circuit device over the external power supplies, and the traditional methods cannot control the sequencing of power supplies within functional blocks where specific power-up sequences are required.
The transitional instability of the power level of different power supplies during the power-up process is an important issue during the power-up process. Conventional level shifters can be used to transfer logic signals among various power levels when power supplies are stable; however, during power-up mode, not all power supplies are stable. In most cases, during power-up process, some power supplies become stable while others either continue to ramp up or remain inactivated. Specially designed level shifting circuits are needed to handle the power-up processes.

Power distribution control circuit for multi-power domain electronic circuits


This invention relates to a method for overcoming system administration blockage and refers particulars, though not exclusively, to a method for overcoming system administrator blockage of a device newly connected to a computer.

When a computer is operating not as part of a network, the computer operator is generally the administrator. Therefore, the user has control over system administration functions. However, when the computer is operating as part of network, be it a local network or a wide area network, the system administrator has control over some of the functions of each computer connected to the network.
In the "WINDOWS"™ operating system, the system administrator has an administrative privilege function to enable the system administrator to block certain services on the computer in which it is operating. The services that can be controlled by the system administrator in this way include directory services, files, printers, security, terminals management, and peripheral devices. This normally includes a blocking function for access to certain devices connected to the computer. For example, if a device with a private memory is connected to the computer, a password will be required to be entered to gain access to the private memory. Normally the password will not be able to be sent to the device, so access will be denied. Therefore, as a result the exercise of the blocking function by the system administrator the "WINDOWS"™ operating system might not be able to communicate with the peripheral or other device operatively connected to the computer.

Method for overcoming system administration blockage


An optical fiber arrangement providing uniform illumination of a region in a plane beyond the end of an optical fiber and normal to the fiber axis. An array (12) of four prisms (A,B,C,D) is disposed adjacent to, but spaced from, an end (11) of an optical fiber (5). By appropriate choice of the prism angle (.theta.) and its spacing (d) from the fiber (5), the prism array (12) modifies the angular distribution of light from the fiber (5) in two ways. The shape of the illuminated region is changed from circular to square and the illumination becomes substantially constant over the square region. In an assembly of fibers, each modified in this way, the amount of overlap needed between the outputs of neighbouring fibers can thus be reduced and a more uniform light output can be achieved. Other non-circular regions of illumination, for example of pentagonal and hexagonal shape, can be produced using different optical components and the same benefits obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to optical fibre arrangements in which one or more optical fibres or bundles of optical fibres provide illumination or collect radiation at the fibre ends.
2. Description of Related Art
Since an optical fibre has a circular cross-section, and assuming it terminates with a normal end-face, its angular response function (radiation characteristic) is circularly symmetric. The response falls off with increasing angle with respect to the fibre axis. FIG. 1 shows a typical response curve for one plane containing the fibre axis. It will be appreciated that by virtue of the symmetry essentially the same curve will be obtained for any plane containing the fibre axis. FIG. 2(a) shows a computer-generated 3D model of the characteristic and FIG. 2(b) a corresponding contour map. Similar characteristics are obtained for a bundle of fibres end, as used herein, any reference to an optical fibre is to be taken to include a bundle of optical fibres, unless the context requires otherwise. In FIG. 2(b), the contours represent steps of 10 per cent change from the peak response (at the fibre axis 15), the map axes indicating the angle a ray makes with the axis 15 in two orthogonal planes containing the axis 15. The apparent non-uniformities in the response for different planes containing the fibre axis are attributable to errors in the modelling process.
In many applications the circular symmetry in the radiation characteristic is undesirable. One such application uses an assembly of fibres to illuminate a region which is of greater extent than can be covered by a single fibre. However, the individual fibres must be arranged so that the outputs of neighbouring fibres overlap in order to ensure that there are no `holes`, i.e. areas of inadequate illumination, in the combined output. This problem arises whether the fibres are arranged parallel to one another, for example to illuminate a planar surface, or the fibres are angularly spaced so as to cover an angular field greater than that which can be covered by a single fibre. The situation is illustrated, by way of a simplified example, in FIG. 3, in which response contours 1,2,3 corresponding to 25% of the peak light output are shown for three equi-angularly spaced fibres. The shaded overlap areas 4 ensure that no significant part of the triangular region defined by the three fibre axes receives illumination at a level which is below 75% of the peak output of the individual fibres. Although the illumination may fall slightly below the 75 % level at the mid-points of the overlap areas 4, dependent on the individual fibre characteristics, it is otherwise substantially uniform at this level within the triangular region.

Optical fiber arrangement for uniformly illuminating a space region beyond a fiber end


A reaming tool includes a tool body having an axially rearward shank portion and an axially forward cutting portion, the forward cutting portion having at least one peripherally arranged cutting insert. The reaming tool also includes an inlet coolant channel formed in the tool body and an inlet opening at an axially rearward end of the shank portion. An outlet coolant channel is formed in the tool body and is in fluid communication with the inlet coolant channel, wherein the outlet coolant channel defines an outlet opening proximate to the cutting insert. In one particular aspect, at least a portion of the outlet coolant channel is non-linear. A method of making a component of the reaming tool by performing a printing operation on a substrate to form the component is also provided.

The invention relates to a metal-cutting tool and, in particular a rotary cutting tool and a method of making the same. In one aspect, the rotary cutting tool can be, for example, a reaming tool.
Reamers typically are used for the finishing of boreholes. In this context, highly accurate roundness and straightness, as well as a high surface quality of the inner wall of the bore, are of material importance. In the case of a plurality of simultaneously machined boreholes, a precise coaxiality of a plurality of boreholes is additionally of importance. A typical application is the inner surfaces of bearing components, for example in engines.
In order to obtain the best possible drilling results (roundness, straightness etc.), in reaming tools of this type, which often have only a single reaming cutter, guide elements, usually in the form of bars, are attached to the periphery of a tool main body. The radially outermost points of the guide elements lie at a same radial distance to the center axis and, upon an imaginary rotation about the center axis, define a guide circle. Correspondingly, the cutter, upon rotation about the center axis, defines a cutting circle. The diameter of the guide circle is here consistently smaller than the diameter of the cutting circle.
In the machining operation, the tool is deflected due to the generated metal-cutting forces until the guide elements come to bear against the inner wall of the bore. During such operation of the reaming tool, heat is generated at the interface between the cutting insert and the location where material is being removed from a workpiece (i.e., the insert-workpiece interface) and at the interface between the guide elements and the inner wall of the bore (i.e., the guide element-bore interface). It is well-known that excessive heat at the insert-workpiece interface and the guide element-bore interface can negatively impact upon the useful tool life of the cutting tool and its various components. As can be appreciated, a shorter useful tool life increases operating costs and decreases overall production efficiency. Hence, there are readily apparent advantages connected with decreasing the heat at the insert-workpiece interface and at the guide element-bore interface. Thus, it is known to provide a coolant material to these insert-areas to decrease the heat and increase the useful tool life.
However, it will be appreciated that most known systems for providing a coolant material to the insert-workpiece interface and/or to the guide element-bore interface are difficult and/or expensive to manufacture while still maintaining the overall integrity of the cutting tool components and while also being able to efficiently deliver and direct the coolant material to the desired areas. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved metal-cutting tool and, in particular a rotary cutting tool such as, for example, a reaming tool that overcomes limitations, shortcomings and/or disadvantages of known such tools.

Metal-cutting tool, in particular a reaming tool and method of making the same


A developer cartridge includes: a casing that stores a developer and is provided with a window hole; a stopper nail provided adjacent to the window holes; and a window member having a transmission portion that transmits light passing through the window hole, and a stopped portion in which the stopper nail is fitted, wherein the window member is closely retained in the window hole by fitting the stopper nail in the stopped portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer and to a developer cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a configuration for detecting the residual amount of toner in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, there has been heretofore known a light transmission type detection technique in which a photo interrupter having a light-emitting element and a photo acceptance element provided opposite to the light-emitting element is used for performing light irradiation to detect whether toner is present or not (e.g. see JP-A-7-219412) For example, in this technique, window holes are provided in opposite surfaces of a casing in which a developer is stored. Light-transmissive window members are fitted into the window holes respectively. A light-emitting element is provided in the outside of one of the window holes, whereas a photo acceptance element is provided in the outside of the other window hole. Light is transmitted through the casing, so that a judgment is made on the basis of the output value of the photo acceptance element as to whether toner is present or not.

Developer cartridge and image forming apparatus


An image processing apparatus and method using a depth image are provided. The image processing apparatus may include a region determination unit to determine a foreground region and a background region in a color image using a depth image, and a color compensation unit to compensate a color with respect to the foreground region and the background region.

1. Field
One or more example embodiments of the following description relate to an image processing apparatus and method to process a color image using a depth image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Development is underway for an image processing technology for increasing image quality of a color image or enhancing quality of a color image by applying additional effects to the color image. For example, the image processing technology may increase resolution of a color image by processing a color image so that a particular object is emphasized or by removing natural phenomena that reduce the resolution of the color image.
However, some additional effects or natural phenomena vary differently depending on a distance to a camera. In addition, a region of an object included in an image may also vary in size according to the distance between the object and the camera. In this regard, since the conventional image processing technology uses only the color image, the effects according to the distance between the object and the camera or object tracking is difficult to be implemented by the conventional image processing technology.
Accordingly, there is a demand for an image processing technology that uses a depth value of the object included in the image.

Apparatus and method for processing color image using depth image


A camera device (1) comprising a support structure (10), a primary camera (16) carried by the support structure, and a secondary camera (15) carried by the support structure. When the primary camera (16) is operated to capture an image of an object, the secondary camera (15) captures an image of a user of the camera device (1). An orientation detector (17) is connected to the secondary camera (15), configured to identify images features in the image captured by the secondary camera, such as the eyes and mouth of the user, and to determine rotation orientation of the image relative to a reference orientation. A data storing device (20, 21) is configured to store image data of images captured by the primary camera in an orientation dependent on determined rotation orientation. This way all images may be stored in a common orientation, regardless of which orientation the camera device was held in when the images were captured.

Digital cameras have increased tremendously in popularity over the last decade, as high quality image sensor cameras have become affordable. Miniaturization of both optics and electronics have resulted in extremely compact camera modules, and it has therefore become a common approach to introduce digital cameras in mobile phones. Initially, still image cameras were employed, but also video recording cameras are commonly included in state of the art mobile phones. A mobile phone with a built in digital camera is often referred to as a camera phone.
For the purpose of capturing high quality images, i.e. still pictures or video, the mobile phone is often equipped with a primary built in camera with an image sensor of several mega pixels. When operating the primary camera, the display is typically used as a viewfinder, by presenting the images presently captured by the primary camera. The primary camera is therefore normally aimed in the opposite direction of the display. Upon pushing a button or similar, a snapshot may be taken, or a video recording may be initiated. Captured images may be stored in a memory of the phone, and shared with other users, e.g. by presenting them on a display or by sending an mms.
Since the introduction of the so called 3rd generation (3G) type of mobile telephony systems, such as WCDMA, mobile video conferencing services have also been developed. In a typical mobile video conferencing scenario, a user captures a video signal of his or her own face with a built in camera, and sends the video signal to a remote party, while a video signal received from the remote party is presented on a display of the phone. Normally, a small image of the signal captured of the user's own face is simultaneously presented in a smaller frame of the display, so as to guarantee that the camera is properly aimed. A separate video conference camera, or secondary camera, is therefore typically included. The secondary camera is aimed in a direction substantially common with a normal viewing direction of the display, and therefore also in a substantially opposite direction compared to the primary camera. Video conferencing systems are often defined to make use of a fairly low resolution, such as VGA or QCIF, in order to minimize the required communication bandwidth, and the video conference camera may therefore be fairly simple.
Digital images captured by a primary camera of a mobile phone are presented on the display of the phone, or on a connected external computer screen. The user is often free to compose images in any way, including changing the orientation of the camera. Horizontal or "landscape" orientation is displayed correctly on the display. However, when using a vertical or "portrait" orientation, the image is still saved to file in the orientation used, which means that it will be displayed as rotated by 90 degrees. In many mobile phones the user has an option to use a software application to rotate the image in the correct direction. However, this is a manual operation and can be quite time-consuming if many images have been captured. If it is not done, viewing a slideshow of the images means that you have to rotate the phone when ever the orientation of the images change. If you are viewing the images on a computer screen or a TV, this operation becomes almost unthinkable.
The problem of image orientation in digital cameras is not confined to the art of mobile phones, but to digital cameras as such, and different solutions for more or less automatic image orientation adjustment in digital cameras as such have been suggested.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,900,909 to Parulski et al. discloses an electronic still camera provided with an electronic image sensor for generating an image signal corresponding to a still image of a subject and an orientation determination section for sensing the orientation of the camera relative to the subject. The orientation determination section provides an orientation signal recognizing either the vertical or the horizontal orientation of the camera relative to the subject. An image processor is responsive to the orientation signal for processing the image signal and correcting the orientation thereof so that the still image is output from the image processor in a predetermined orientation. In this way, the electronic still camera can be positioned in a variety of orientations relative to a subject, including both clockwise and counterclockwise vertical "portrait" orientations and a horizontal "landscape" orientation, without affecting the orientation of the images output by the camera. In order to determine the orientation of the camera, an orientation sensor is included in the camera, in the form of mercury-filled switches or photo-interrupter type switches.
US 2004/0017506 A1 to Livingston discloses a similar approach, in which a camera includes a camera orientation sensing system configured to determine the orientation of the camera, the sensing system including an orientation sensor that is fixedly positioned relative to the camera body in an angled orientation such that the longitudinal axis of the sensor is not parallel to either of the horizontal or vertical axes of the camera body. Each orientation sensor typically includes a gravity-sensitive switch, such as a mercury-filled switch.
However, any inclusion of physical auxiliary means for orientation detection, such as switches, also involves increased cost and requires some space within the camera device in question.

Device and method for adjusting image orientation


A tool having a handle and including a sleeve and a spring is provided which is simple and cost effective to manufacture. The sleeve is provided with a slot and the spring is positioned so that a portion of the spring extends through the slot. The sleeve is positioned in a bore in the handle. A removable, reversible bit is held in the handle by the sleeve and the spring. The spring applies sufficient force to the bit to retain the bit within the handle. The sleeve also prevents the bit from rotating relative to the handle. The bit may be removed from the handle by pulling the bit away from the handle. The same end of the bit, another end of the bit, or a different bit may be reinserted in the handle.

The present invention relates to tools such as hand tools, and more particularly to tools such as screwdrivers having reversible bits and methods of assembling such tools.
Tools, including screwdrivers, are known which include a handle, a work-engaging tip or bit, and some structure for mounting the bit to the handle. Some tools, including screwdrivers, are also known in which the mounting of the bit to the handle is temporary such that the bit may be removed and replaced with another bit. Still other tools include reversible bits in which opposite ends of a shaft contain different bits (such as a flat blade and Phillips head), and the shaft can be removed from the tool handle and the bit reversed.
Examples of such tools include Wagner, U.S. Pat. No. 772,593; McLogan et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,455,355; Peters, U.S. Pat. No. 2,158,728; Lieser, U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,874; and Elvebak, U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,409. All of these references describe different parts and methods of construction for reversible bit tools. There remains a need in this art for such tools, including screwdrivers, which are reliable, easy to use, and simple and cost effective to manufacture.

Tool with reversible bit and method of assembly


A lighting system and method are disclosed. Specifically, the lighting system includes a hybrid canopy that can provide an optimum light beam shape for a number of different lighting applications. The hybrid canopy is equipped with lighting clusters of different types, thereby enabling a broader beam output without sacrificing beam intensity or brightness.

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have many advantages over conventional light sources, such as incandescent, halogen and fluorescent lamps. These advantages include longer operating life, lower power consumption, and smaller size. Consequently, conventional light sources are increasingly being replaced with LEDs in traditional lighting applications. As an example, LEDs are currently being used in flashlights, camera flashes, traffic signal lights, automotive taillights and display devices. LEDs are also becoming more prevalent in residential, commercial, and industrial lighting applications.
Canopy lighting is one type of lighting commonly used in commercial and industrial lighting applications. Currently available LED-based canopy lighting employs monolithic lighting techniques. Specifically, canopy lighting often employs multiple sub-units and it is the current practice to use the same type of sub-units within a single lighting canopy. Specifically, the sub-units often have the same distribution of LEDs and use the same type of reflector cup for every LED. This rigid design approach does not afford a design freedom and limits a canopy's usefulness across multiple lighting applications.

Hybrid canopy lighting for optimum light beam shaping

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A processing system includes a processing circuit having one or more buses, a memory interface unit to control access by the processing circuit to a memory, and a metrics module. The metrics module includes one or more metrics registers and a metrics controller to monitor one or more operations selected from memory interface unit operations and bus operations, and to store metrics information corresponding to the monitored operations in the metrics registers. The monitored operations can include memory access operations, arbitration operations, bus operations, and the like. The metrics information can be analyzed to provide a basis for improving performance of a program that is executed on the processing system.

Embedded processors may include a digital signal processor, a microcontroller, one or more DMA controllers and memory on a single integrated circuit chip. The performance of the embedded processor is largely determined by the associated memory system and, in particular, by a memory system that is external to the processor chip.
In an embedded system application, memory management is a critical part of developing a high performance system. In particular, because the data buffers and the instruction code are often too large to fit within internal memory, care must be taken in placing code and data to achieve the best performance. When an external memory, such as DDR SDRAM (double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory) is used in a system, there are many factors that can negatively impact performance. As an example, accesses to inactive rows within DDR SDRAM require a row activation command by the external bus controller, which takes multiple memory clocks to execute. There are further performance penalties if consecutive accesses are made to different rows in the same internal bank of a SDRAM, in which case the controller must first deactivate the current row before it can activate the new row. If the external bus controller can keep track of rows in external memory that have been already activated, excessive row activation commands and the corresponding extra clock cycles can be avoided. Also, because of latencies associated with consecutive read and write accesses on the external bus, intermixing accesses can result in slower performance than accessing data in a more pipelined fashion.
Currently, there is no good way for a programmer to monitor what is happening in an application being executed on hardware. While simulation tools may exist, there is no good way to profile the activity at the external buses as reads and writes are made by the DMA controller and the core. As a result, programmers are forced into a trial and error method of moving data and code within external memory in search of the best performance.

Metrics modules and methods for monitoring, analyzing and optimizing bus and memory operations in a complex integrated circuit


A pinch roll delivers a respective rolled product. A control device opens the pinch roll at a respective trigger time and at a respective transport speed of the respective rolled product. The control device determines the respective trigger time and/or the respective transport speed using a model that depends on a coefficient of friction. After opening the pinch roll, a measuring device detects iteratively a position or a derivation in time of the position of the respective rolled product. The detected positions or the detected derivations in time of the position are provided to the control device. The control device in dependency on the positions or the derivations in time of the position updates the coefficient of friction and uses the updated coefficient of friction for determining the respective trigger time and/or the respective transport speed for the next rolled product delivered by the pinch roll.

A starting point is a control method for a pinch roll for delivering rolled products,                wherein the pinch roll delivers a respective rolled product,        wherein a control device for the pinch roll opens the pinch roll at a respective trigger time and at a respective transport speed of the respective rolled product.
A further starting point is a computer program comprising program code which is executable by a control device for a pinch roll wherein executing the program code by the control device effects the implementation of such a control method.
A further starting point is a control device for a pinch roll wherein the control device is programmed with such a computer program so that the control device controls the pinch roll according to such a control method.
A further starting point is a transport device for delivering a rolled product,                wherein the transport device comprises an openable pinch roll for transporting rolled products,        wherein the transport device comprises a control device of the above-mentioned type.
After rolling a product—especially a bar-shaped product—the rolled product in many cases is delivered by a pinch roll to a cooling bed where it cools down. During cooling and after cooling the rolled product is transported in a direction rectangular to the previous direction of transport. Then the rolled product is processed further. To enable an easy further processing, the rolled products should be positioned on the cooling bed in a defined position.
In the related art, an operator determines the correct trigger time and/or the correct transport speed. Especially, the operator issues an opening command to the control device. In response to the opening command, the control device opens the pinch roll. The method of the related art requires an experienced operator to achieve good results.

Sliding transport of rolled product with adaptation of friction


A generally planar substantially rigid backing supports a transparent plastic blister on the front surface thereof. The blister defines an open rear portion and an encircling attachment flange. The lower edge of the attachment flange defines interleaved notches and tabs extending downwardly. The blister further defines a rib having an interior groove formed therein extending along each side and across the front portion of the blister. A generally planar support sheet formed of a rigid material defines a plurality of upwardly extending retainers having engagement apparatus formed therein. A cosmetic card formed of a decorative material defines a plurality of slots aligned with the retainers and is received upon the support sheet with the retainers passing through the slots. The retainers engage the to-be-packaged articles and secure them upon the cosmetic card. The support sheet includes a plurality of interleaved tabs and notches extending downwardly from the rear edge thereof. The tabs and notches of the blister and support sheet are offset to allow interleaving thereof and common attachment to the backing to secure the blister to the rigid backing.

Blister card packaging has been developed in various forms through the years for providing a convenient packaging which facilitates displaying the packaged article upon shelves or hanging from shelf hangers. Such blister package use has greatly enhanced the attractiveness of displaying and handling small product articles such as small toys or the like. While the design of blister type packaging has varied substantially, the most common type of blister packaging utilizes a relatively stiff card or backing element usually printed with attractive designs and pleasing materials intended to catch the potential consumer's eye. The card or backing is generally configured to be hung from shelf hangers or able to stand on product shelves as needed. A clear plastic "blister" is secured to the card or backing and captivates the product therein. Early blister card packaging utilized blisters formed of relatively thin material which was vacuum drawn to generally conform to the product shape. This form to fit type blister typically defines an outer flange or lip which is glued to or otherwise secured to the card or backing.
Later developed blister card packages utilizes a decorative or aesthetically pleasing card hanger formed of a stiff cardboard material or the like together with a non form-fitting clear plastic "bubble" container. The non form-fitting bubble container is typically larger than the packaged product and thus various means have been utilized for securing and maintaining the product within the clear plastic container bubble. In many such packages, an interior platform often formed of a brightly colored or aesthetically interesting material is supported within the clear plastic bubble. With the advent of non form-fitting blister packaging, a need arose to secure the product to the interior platform. In most instances, conventional tie-down wires or "twist ties" are utilized. In other packaging systems, and interior form-fitting bubble is employed.
With increased pressure on manufacturers to more economically package their products and with increased need to package products in an attractive eye catching manner, a substantial number of different packaging configurations and designs have been created. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,138 issued to Klawiter sets forth a PACKAGING FOR A TOY having a bottom, top, front, back and sidewalls defining a box sized to receive a toy. The bottom surface of the box has an opening aligned with the toy slot so that a key may be passed through the bottom box opening into the toy's body and slot. Portions of the package are provided with clear transparent windows to facilitate viewing of the product.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,739 issued to Wilford sets forth RETENTION OF ARTICLES ON A SHEET having an assembly for an article, for example a toy vehicle, retained on a sheet in which the article is located on one side of the sheet and is held by a retainer. The retainer comprises a body portion of the opposite side of the sheet from the article and projections extend from the body portion such as a toy vehicle wheel set to engage recesses in the sheet.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,003 issued to Miller, et al. sets forth a BOOK AND MOUNTED CONTAINER having a book and a formed thin-walled hollow shell with one side thereof open and defining a flange closed by one of the book covers to form a closed container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,547 issued to Pallasch, et al. sets forth a STACKABLE PIGGY BACK CARTON FOR BASKETBALL BACKBOARD AND RIM having positioning tabs on the package which position and hold a basketball rim on the backboard package.
U.S. Pat No. 5,060,798 issued to Braastad sets forth a PAPERBOARD HOLDER FOR FLOWER VASES AND THE LIKE having a paperboard or cardboard blank defining a plurality of upwardly foldable tabs configured to encircle the base of a vase or similar article. A tie string is passed through the upper portion of the tabs to encircle and confine the vase.
British Patent 471,746 sets forth IMPROVEMNTS IN DEVICES FOR CARRYING PRODUCTION THEREOF utilizing a generally planar cardboard or paper card having a plurality of apertures formed therein each having opposed tabs folded upward therefrom. The apertures and tabs are arranged in pairs to receive and captivate a plurality of pencils in a linear array.
British Patent 1,419,022 sets forth IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PACKAGING having a combination of a tubular or box-like carton receiving an article to be packaged. The carton defines end panels which extend through slots formed in the back panel of the product carton to foldably secure the product carton.
British Patent 507,644 sets forth IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SUPPORTS FOR DISPLAY CARDS FOR ARTICLES having a planar support card defining a plurality of apertures having folded tabs extending outwardly therefrom. The apertures and tabs are arranged in a linear arrangement to facilitate holding an article such as a comb or the like. The rear portion of the card supports a foldable support stand element for positioning and supporting the card display upon a suitable display surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,549,023 issued to Shinoda sets forth a CONTAINER FOR CUT FLOWERS having a transparent blister secured to a backing formed of a paper or cardboard. A foldable tab is formed in the backing which defines a slot to receive the stem of a flower or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,270,084 issued to Schmidt sets forth a DISPLAY DEVICE for supporting and displaying articles such as toy soldiers having support pedestals. The display device includes a generally planar paperboard or cardboard having a plurality of apertures and folding tabs defined therein. The apertures receive the pedestals of the soldiers while the folding tabs secure the pedestals in place.
U.S. Pat. No. 511,088 issued to Lunbeck, et al. sets forth an EXHIBITING DEVICE adapted to hold and display irregular forms such as mineral specimens or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,156,074 issued to Hahn sets forth a PACKING CASE FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES while U.S. Pat. No. 1,643,421 issued to Rowan sets forth a DISPLAY CARD for securing a doll or toy figure having folding tabs extending from a generally planar support base.
While the foregoing described prior art devices as well as the above-described conventional blister packaging have, in some instances provided improvement in the art and in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains a continuing need in the art for a blister package system which provides optimum display and attractiveness of the packaged article while maintaining the article securely within the blister pack without the need of unattractive and inefficient tie-downs or twist ties.

Blister card package for holding and displaying small items


A tow hook connection system which may be universally and efficiently secured to a vehicle in a manner which reduces the risk of damaging the vehicle. The tow hook connection system generally includes a spread bar, a first connector, a second connector, and a tow member. The first and second connectors are adapted to be secured to a vehicle. The spread bar is secured between the first and second connectors, such as by fasteners and/or nuts. A tow member having a tow loop may be fixedly or removably secured to the spread bar. By connecting an object to the tow loop, the force of towing may be spread between the first and second connectors by the spread bar to reduce the risk of damage to the vehicle while towing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a tow hook and more specifically it relates to a tow hook connection system which may be universally and efficiently secured to a vehicle in a manner which reduces the risk of damaging the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Tow hooks are commonly used on a wide range of vehicles, from small ATV's to large semi-trucks. Conventional tow hooks can be difficult to install and operate. In the past, prior art tow hooks often include a single point of connection, which can cause damage to the vehicle or the vehicle's frame when heavy loads are towed or pulled. Because there is no uniform distribution of force, the single point of connection can also weaken the frame of the vehicle and reduce its durability. If a tow hook becomes dislodged or disconnected during use, it can result in injury to individuals or damage to property, including the object being towed or the vehicle itself.
Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a need for a new and improved tow hook connection system which may be universally and efficiently secured to a vehicle in a manner which reduces the risk of damaging the vehicle.


A gas turbine combustor 1 prevents an inequality of distribution of temperatures at the outlet of the combustor which might otherwise be caused by cooling air introduced into the combustor. A liner 2 having an outer liner 2' and an inner liner 2", is disposed within a casing 3 of the gas turbine combustor 1. The liner 2 is composed of a liner inner cylinder 15, having liner cooling paths 16, and a liner outer cylinder 14. Fuel supplied via upstream side manifolds 9 and 10 flows through the liner cooling paths 16 and is discharged from a downstream side manifold 11 after cooling the liner 2. The fuel is boosted by a pump and is supplied to a fuel-air pre-mixer 13 from a fuel supply port 12 so as to be burned in the combustion chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas turbine combustor using liquid fuel as its fuel and more particularly to a gas turbine combustor for an aircraft engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 11 shows a prior art gas turbine combustor. In the figure, the gas turbine combustor 1 comprises a cylindrical casing 3 composed of an outer casing 3' and an inner casing 3" centered on a center line of rotation 50 of a turbine rotor blade 6. A cylindrical liner 2 is composed of an outer liner 2' and an inner liner 2" and is disposed within the casing 3 concentrically therewith.
Formed through the outer liner 2' and the inner liner 2" are an air hole 40 for supplying combustion air to a combustion chamber to form a flame holding area and a slot 41 for supplying dilution air to the combustion chamber to lower the temperature of combustion gas to a predetermined turbine inlet temperature and to reduce NOx.
Air supplied from a compressor to a space between the casing 3 and the liner 2 flows toward the turbine along the liner 2 and cools the outer surface of the liner 2. During the flow of air, a part of the air flows into the combustion chamber from the air hole 40 described above and the other part thereof flows into the combustion chamber from the slot 41 and cools the inner surface of the liner 2.
It is noted that a guide vane 20 at an outlet of the compressor is provided at the upstream side of the casing 3. A turbine nozzle 30 is provided at the downstream end of the casing 3. A fuel supply inlet 12, a fuel-air pre-mixer 13 and an igniter 71 are provided as shown in the figure.
Because the air cooling the liner 2 flows into the combustion chamber partially from the air hole 40 and the slot 41 as described above, there have been problems in that the liner 2 is not cooled equally, and a hot spot is apt to be created at an area downstream of the air hole 40. This causes a melt-down in which a part of the liner is melted and lost.
The hot spot is caused, partially, because the balanced temperature of the liner 2 can only becomes high, because the liner 2 is cooled by air having poor heat transfer characteristics, and because, due to the poor heat transfer characteristics, it can only use a liner material such as hastelloy X whose thermal conductivity is poor, though its high temperature strength is good.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a gas turbine combustor which prevents such a hot spot, which leads to a melt-down, from being produced, by use of a material having good thermal conductivity, though the high temperature strength thereof is small, as a liner material by cooling the liner 2 equally with liquid fuel having a heat transfer characteristic higher than that of air.

Gas turbine combustor with liquid fuel wall cooling


A dynamoelectric machine rotor comprising a plurality of substantially trapezoidal prism-shaped permanent magnets mounted on a magnetic yoke. Each of the magnets has magnetic pole faces in circumferential plane, side surfaces in a plane perpendicular to the rotary shaft and a front and a rear skewed surface slanted in different directions with respect to a plane parallel to the shaft. The magnetic pole faces of the magnets have alternating magnetic polarities in the circumferential direction, and the front and rear skewed surfaces of the neighboring permanent magnets are in parallel to each other. A ferromagnetic end material may be attached on the magnetic pole face of the magnets, and a ferromagnetic side material may be attached to at least a front and a rear skewed side surfaces of the magnets for increasing of the magnetization of the magnets by a stator flux. Also, slits may be provided in the magnetic yoke where the magnets are mounted for increasing a reluctance of a magnetic circuit passing through a common magnet.

This invention relates to a dynamoelectric machine rotor and, more particularly, to a dynamoelectric machine rotor with a permanent magnet type field magnets for use in a synchronous machine.
FIG. 11 illustrates one example of a conventional dynamoelectric machine rotor or permanent magnet type disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-39355. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 1 designates a rotor 1 in which a permanent magnet 3 magnetized in an axial direction is secured on a rotary shaft 2. On the both sides of the permanent magnet 3, magnetic yokes 4 and 5 are secured to the rotary shaft 2. Claw poles 4a and 5a axially extend from the outer circumference of the magnetic yokes 4 and 5. The axial dimension of a surface of the claw poles 4a and 5a facing to the stationary iron core (not shown) through an air gap is arranged to vary in a sine wave fashion in the circumferential direction. This causes the intersecting magnetic flux passing through the stator winding (not shown) to vary as a sine wave in accordance with the change of the facing surface of the claw poles 4a and 5a.
In the conventional permanent magnet type rotor as above described, the magnetic flux generated from the permanent magnet 3 passes through the magnetic yoke 4, the claw pole 4a and an air gap and into the stationary iron core so that it intersects with the stationary winding. In this case, since a magnetic circuit extending from the magnetic yoke 4 to the outer circumference surface facing the inner surface of the stator iron core of the claw pole 4a has a different cross-sectional area and a different magnetic path length, the magnetic fluxes generated from the outer surface of the air gap are not constant. Therefore, even when the claw poles are modified into a sine wave configuration, the magnetic flux intersecting with the stator winding does not accurately vary as a sine wave and is distorted, This causes a non-smooth varying rotation torque when the rotor is used in an electric motor and generation of magnetic noise when the rotor is used in a generator. Also, the outer circumference of the claw poles 4a and 5a have different magnetic flux densities, i.e., an increased magnetization portion and a decreased magnetization portion appear due to the armature reaction by the energized stator windings, so that the output power is disadvantageously decreased.

Permanent magnet type dynamoelectric machine rotor


A method of making a thermally-protective coating on a thruster structure, the method consisting in: continuously measuring out and mixing (14) at least one polyurethane and a mixture of polymerization agents in which specific fillers have previously been dispersed; coating a rotating cylindrical support surface (2) by continuously casting a strip (18) of touching turns of the resulting mixture; and pre-polymerizing the resulting coating at ambient pressure so that said polyurethane becomes polymerized sufficiently to be capable of being stressed mechanically.

The present invention relates to a method of making an internal and/or external thermally-protective coating for a thruster structure, in particular a structure forming part of a solid-propellant thruster. The invention also relates to a method of making a thruster structure, and to the thruster structure obtained thereby.
The structure of a solid propellant thruster essentially comprises a casing, e.g. made of composite material and generally provided with an internal thermally-protective coating that needs to perform three essential functions: providing the composite casing with thermal protection against attack from the hot gas that results from combustion of the propellant; attenuating the mechanical stresses generated by the casing deforming under pressure during combustion of the propellant; and sealing the casing against gas leaks.
Various methods exist for applying thermally-protective coatings to the inside of the casing of a thruster structure. One of them consists in starting by using means that are conventional in the rubber industry (open mills, kneaders, . . . ) to prepare a rubber of viscous consistency in the semi-manufactured non-vulcanized state, and in transforming the rubber into elastomer sheets for cutting out and then draping on a mandrel prior to performing vulcanization in an autoclave. The various thermal protection elements formed in that way are then disassembled from their respective mandrels in order to be assembled on another mandrel (generally a dismountable mandrel made of metal) used for winding the filaments of the composite casing onto the thermal protection prepared in that way. That method leads to long manufacturing cycles which cause that technology to be particularly expensive to implement. It requires a large amount of tooling and also presents a succession of operations that are discontinuous and some of which are manual. The use of a plurality of different mandrels during the various steps in implementation of the method is also time-consuming and lengthens the duration of the manufacturing cycle.
Another type of known method enables implementation costs to be reduced. It consists in covering a mandrel in a layer of elastomer prior to forming the casing of the thruster structure by winding the filament of a composite material. In such a method, the elastomer layer is made by depositing an extruded strip over the entire outside surface of a rotating mandrel. The coating obtained in that way is then vulcanized in an autoclave prior to winding on the filament. Although such a method simplifies the method of making the internal thermally-protective coating, it still requires complex tooling to be used such as an extruder, and therefore still presents implementation costs that are high. In particular, it is necessary to vulcanize the coating in order to give it the desired mechanical and thermal characteristics. The operation of vulcanization in an autoclave takes place under the combined effects of pressure (generally of the order of 1 megapascal (MPa) to 3 MPa), and of temperature (typically of the order of 140° C. to 180° C.). As a result, it is necessary for the mandrel to be mechanically dimensioned relative to the autoclave pressure, which leads to mandrel designs that are much more complex than would be necessary when using a mandrel specific for the operation of winding the filament of the structure.
Furthermore, flexible thermally-protective coatings make use of rubbers (a specific association of ingredients) that are specially formulated to perform the three above-specified main functions, i.e. withstanding ablation in the face of thermal and mechanical attack from the propergol combustion gas, providing thermal insulation for the structure, and attenuating mechanical stresses. In addition, given that optimizing the performance of a solid propellant thruster requires its dead weight to be reduced (i.e. including the weight of its internal thermal protection), the ideal material for forming this internal thermal protection needs to present very good resistance to ablation by the thermal mechanical attack from the combustion gas, associated with low density, and low thermal conductivity. Unfortunately, the formulation techniques for obtaining good resistance to ablation and the formulation techniques for obtaining low density (which is generally associated with low thermal conductivity) are mutually antagonistic, so that when only one material is used for performing the thermal protection function, it is necessary to find a compromise in terms of thermal characteristics and ablation characteristics. Finding such a compromise generally leads to a solution that is not good for thruster performance. To mitigate that drawback, it is possible to envisage thermal protection solutions that include function gradients. Such solutions consist in using a material having good resistance to ablation, generally associated with high density, for those layers of the coating that are directly exposed to the combustion gas, while using a material of low density, generally associated with low thermal conductivity, for the underlying layers that are not exposed throughout the time the thruster is in operation. However such solutions are very rarely applied because they lead to additional manufacturing costs, both in terms of preparing the rubber in a non-vulcanized semi-manufactured state, and in terms of actually fabricating the thermal protection elements.

Method for making a thermally protective coating for a propulsive unit structure


A microfluidic device adapted for use with a power source is disclosed. The device includes a substrate and a heater member. The substrate and heater member form a first portion. A second portion is formed adjacent to the first portion. The second portion includes a high activating power polymer portion, at least one resin layer and a shield member. The second portion is selectively shaped to form a thermal expansion portion. A diaphragm member encapsulates the thermal expansion portion so that when power is applied to the heater portion, the high activating power polymer expands against the diaphragm member, causing the diaphragm member to deflect. This device is adapted for use as a microactuator or a blocking microvalve.

The present invention relates to microdevices and, in particular, to a microdevice using a high molecular weight polymer to deflect a membrane.
In the past decade many low voltage electromechanical microactuators based on electrostatic, magnetic, bimorph, thermopneumatic, and shape-memory forces have been developed. A parameter that characterizes the ability of an electromechanical actuator to exert work on a load is its actuation energy. Actuation energy is defined as the product of actuator force times minimum displacement. Preferably, actuators can be scaled and operate under various conditions. A more suitable parameter, energy density Pa, is the actuation energy divided by the total actuator volume, when the actuator is operated under low voltages.
The table below shows Pa values for several different low voltage microactuators. The majority of these devices can provide either a large deflection without a large force or vice-versa. From Table 1 below, it is clear that electrostatic actuators have the lowest energy density and thermal actuators have the highest energy density. Among these, thermopneumatic microactuators and shape memory alloy (SMA) microactuators develop the largest energy density, Pa. These latter two microactuators convert electrical to mechanical work through a high density working substance.
SMAs provide very large forces, but their linear deformation strain is limited to about 8%. Therefore, SMAs often use mechanical advantage schemes to increase displacement. Thermopneumatic actuators provide both large displacements and forces, but their fabrication and integration into large microsystems is often cumbersome. This is due to the difficulty of encapsulating the working substance, typically a liquid, into a sealed cavity.
The working substance in a microactuator, however, can be a solid. A desired general property of a solid working substance is a large thermal expansion range at the solid-liquid phase transition. Typically, this property is found in long chained polymers. Paraffins are long chained polymers which have this large thermal expansion characteristic plus a low transition temperature which is also a desired property. Thus, long chained polymers including paraffins, have the ability to generate very large energy density Pa actuators. Such polymers are hereinafter defined as xe2x80x9chigh actuating power polymersxe2x80x9d or HAPP. Macroscopic paraffin actuators have been developed for many applications including automotive thermostats and more recently in satellite antenna positioning systems and medical devices. As with conventional thermopneumatic actuators, once the polymer melts it transmits pressure, a useful hydraulic property for force and deflection multiplication. These two properties make HAPP actuators particularly attractive for the fabrication of microactuators or simple integrated miniature valves in microfluidic systems.
Over the past decade, elaborate microfluidic valves have also been constructed based on electrostatic, magnetic, piezoelectric, bimorph and thermopneumatic actuation methods. Because of their complexity, the majority of these devices are made by bonding many thick glass or silicon substrates together, some even requiring external cavity fills for the working fluid. This complexity makes for a bulky device and makes these valves large and difficult to integrate with other components in microfluidic systems.
Applications requiring many active microfluidic devices such as valves and actuators on a single die are rapidly emerging. Integrated microgas chromatography and mass spectrometry systems are being developed which require effective microdevices. In addition, microfluidic systems, such as DNA analysis systems, require microvalves in order to control the transport of samples and reagents throughout different parts of the system. Typically these systems require many, independently operating microvalves and microactuators in order to perform complex or parallel functions.
Therefore, what is needed is a microfluidic device that uses a high actuating power polymer and which overcomes the above disadvantages. Specifically, a microdevice is needed that uses simple micromachining fabrication techniques to incorporate a high actuating power polymer that can be patterned using micromachining techniques without requiring any working fluid filling or post-processing sealing operations. Additionally, a microdevice that produces a large deflection and a large force that is easily integrated into microsystems and which can be easily integrated with other fluidic components and that will provide a microdevice which operates independently of other devices, is also desired. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a microfluidic device and process for fabricating the device using a high actuating power polymer (HAPP) with these features.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a high actuating power polymer (HAPP) for use in a microfluidic device and its method of fabrication are disclosed. The HAPP, when melted, undergoes a volumetric expansion and/or a phase change in a constrained volume to produce a large deflection and force which is used to move or control an object.
In one preferred embodiment, a microfluidic device is adapted for use with a power source. The device includes a substrate with a heater member. The substrate and heater member form a first portion. A second portion is adjacent to the first portion. The second portion includes a HAPP portion, at least one resin layer and a shield member. The second portion is selectively shaped to form a thermal expansion portion. A diaphragm member encapsulates the thermal expansion portion so that when power is applied to the heater portion, the HAPP portion expands against the diaphragm member and deflects.
In another preferred embodiment, a process for forming a microfluidic device on a substrate is disclosed. The microfluidic device is adapted for use with a power source. The process includes forming a heater on the substrate. The heater portion and the substrate form a first portion. Then, a second portion adjacent to the first portion is constructed. The second portion includes a HAPP layer, at least one resin layer on the HAPP layer and a mask on the resin layer. Next, the second portion is shaped to form a thermal expansion portion. The thermal expansion portion is encapsulated with a diaphragm so that when power is applied to the heater portion, the HAPP layer expands against the diaphragm member so that the diaphragm member deflects.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a microfluidic device that uses a long chained polymer which, when melted, undergoes a large volumetric expansion and/or phase change in a constrained volume to produce a deflection to form an actuator member.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a microfluidic device that uses HAPP which, when melted, undergoes a large volumetric expansion and/or phase change in a constrained volume to form a blocking microvalve.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a microfluidic device that uses HAPP which, when melted, undergoes a volumetric expansion and/or phase change in a constrained volume with support posts to produce a large deflection in a membrane which operatively engages an outlet port in a reservoir.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The Regents of the University of Michigan