A method, medium, and apparatus controlling a hard disk drive, and more particularly, a method, medium, and apparatus controlling a track seek of a hard disk drive, where the hard disk drive compensates for a gain distortion and a phase delay caused by a notch filter and a VCM driver using a sinewave acceleration trajectory. According to the method of controlling a track seek of a hard disk drive, an ideal sinewave for obtaining a position y*(n), a velocity v*(n), and an acceleration a*(n), according to a sinewave acceleration trajectory, and a sinewave indicating a gain distortion and a phase delay may be integrated and a VCM driving current u(n) can be generated by the integrated sinewave for compensating for gain distortion and phase delay, compensating for a value C(j2πf) of the gain distortion and the phase delay caused by the notch filter and the VCM driver.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, medium, and apparatus controlling a hard disk drive, and more particularly, to a method, medium, and apparatus controlling a track seek of a hard disk drive, where the hard disk drive compensates for a gain distortion and a phase delay according to a sinewave acceleration trajectory.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recording and/or reproducing apparatuses, e.g., hard disk drives (HDDs), may include a plurality of magnetic transducers that may write and/or read data by sensing and/or magnetizing a magnetic field(s) of rotating media, e.g., disk(s). Data may be stored in a plurality of concentric tracks, with each of the concentric tracks potentially having disk and track numbers. Tracks having the same track number, in a plurality of disks, may be referred to as a cylinder. Hence, each track may also be defined by a cylinder number.
Transducers may typically be integrated within a slider incorporated into a head gimbal assembly (HGA) when the recording and/or reproducing apparatus is a HDD. Each HGA may be attached to an actuator arm, which may have a voice coil located adjacent to a magnetic assembly that makes up the voice coil motor. Hard disk drives typically include a controller and a driving circuit that supplies current to excite a voice coil motor. Thus, the voice coil motor may rotate an actuator arm and move transducers across the surface of a disk(s).
When data is written or read, the hard disk drive may execute a track seek control routine for moving transducers from one cylinder to another cylinder. During the track seek operation, a voice coil motor may be excited to move transducers over a disk surface to a new cylinder. A controller may control the current applied to the voice coil motor such that the transducers are accurately moved to the center of a track of a new cylinder, for example.
In such an operation, it may be preferable to minimize the time required to read or write data from or to a disk(s). Hence, in the track seek control routine, executed by the hard disk drive, transducers should be moved to a new cylinder within a period of time as short as possible. Also, the time required to stabilize an HGA should be minimized so that transducers can quickly write or read data and may be accurately located adjacent to a new cylinder.
Conventionally, transducers may be moved rapidly from one track to a target track by performing a track seek control using a square wave acceleration trajectory. Unfortunately, since a square wave involves a harmonic frequency with a high frequency component, the mechanical components or assemblies of the HGA are excited by the high frequency component causing the HGA to resonate. Accordingly, residual vibration creates auditory noise, undesired vibration, etc., and thus, there is an increase in the settling time and the whole seek time required to write or read data.
A conventional technique developed to solve this problem is a track seek control method using a sinewave acceleration trajectory. A track seek controller, using the sinewave acceleration trajectory, is advantageous in lessening vibration and noise. The track seek control method using the sinewave acceleration trajectory has been discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 2002-133799 (May 10, 2002), 1990-7506 (Jan. 12, 1990), 1998-241306 (Sep. 11, 1998), and Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-52273 (Jun. 23, 2004), for example.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a conventional track seek control apparatus 100 using a sinewave acceleration trajectory. The track seek control apparatus 100 includes a sinewave trajectory producer 102, a notch filter 116, a voice coil motor (VCM) driver 126, a head gimbal assembly (HGA) 128, and a state estimator 104.
The track seek control apparatus 100 executes a track seek control routine to move a transducer to a target track that is a track seek distance XSK away from a first track. As defined below in Equation 1, the sinewave trajectory producer 102 may create a position y*(n), a velocity v*(n), and an acceleration a*(n) every sampling period 'n' according to the sinewave acceleration trajectory:
                              [                                                                                X                    cos                                                                          (                    n                    )                                                                                X                    sin                                                                          (                    n                    )                                                                                ]                =                              [                                                                                cos                                                                                (                                                                        2                                                    π                                                                          N                          SK                                                                    )                                                                                -                      sin                                                                                (                                                                        2                                                    π                                                                          N                          SK                                                                    )                                                                                cos                                                                                (                                                                        2                                                    π                                                                          N                          SK                                                                    )                                                                                sin                                                                                (                                                                        2                                                    π                                                                          N                          SK                                                                    )                                                                                ]                                          [                                                                                X                      cos                                                                                (                                              n                        -                        1                                            )                                                                                X                      sin                                                                                (                                              n                        -                        1                                            )                                                                                ]                                              (        1        )                                                                    a              *                                                  (              n              )                                =                                    K              A                                                  I              M                                                                  X                sin                                                          (                n                )                                                    ,                                                                      I          M                =                              2                        π                                                                                X              SK                                                          K              A                                                  T              SK              2                                                                                v            *                                          (            n            )                          =                              K            A                                          I            M                                                                        T                SK                                            2                                π                                                                [                              1                -                                                      X                    cos                                                                                (                    n                    )                                                              ]                                                                                y            *                                          (            n            )                          =                              K            A                                          I            M                                                                        T                SK                                            2                                π                                                                [                                                                                T                      SK                                                              N                      SK                                                                          n                                -                                                                            T                      SK                                                              2                                            π                                                                                X                      sin                                                                                (                      n                      )                                                                                ]
To calculate values of a sine function and a cosine function for producing the sinewave acceleration trajectory, the sine function and the cosine function are sampled every sampling period 'n', stored in a ROM table, and then read from the ROM table every sampling period n.
Meanwhile, a sine function and a cosine function, at one phase, can be derived from a sine function and a cosine function at another phase. Values of the sine function and the cosine function during a first sampling period are stored in the ROM table to calculate values of the sine function and the cosine function during other sampling period n, using the top sine/cosine equation of Equation 1, thereby reducing the necessary size the ROM table.
Values of a sine function and a cosine function, with respect to representative frequencies, during a first sampling period are stored in the ROM table and can be determined by interpolation. The frequency corresponds to a track seek distance and a track seek time. The track seek distance determines the track seek time, i.e., the frequency of a sinewave signal.
In the above Equation 1, constants KA, IM, XSK, and TSK denote an acceleration constant, a maximum volume of current, a track seek distance, and a track seek time, respectively. The track seek time (or a track frequency) is calculated based on an idealized dual integrator model, current, and voltage with respect to the track seek distance, the notch filter 116, and the VCM driver 122 and stored in the ROM table.
Referring to FIG. 1, in this conventional system, an acceleration trajectory a, a velocity trajectory v, and a position trajectory y are obtained by Equation 1. A temporal axis is based on the track seek time TSK. Thus, supposing that the track seek time TSK is 1, the acceleration trajectory a, the velocity trajectory v, and the position trajectory y can be obtained by Equation 1. The track seek time TSK corresponds to a period of the sinewave acceleration trajectory a. Here, the transducer is moved to the track seek distance XSK during the track seek time TSK, producing the acceleration trajectory a.
The acceleration constant KA, the maximum volume of current IM, the track seek distance XSK, and the track seek time TSK are given by the following Equation 2.
                              T          SK                =                                                            2                                π                                                              K                  A                                                                  I                  M                                                                                X              SK                                                          (        2        )
Thus, here, Equation 2 indicates that the track seek time TSK is a root of the track seek distance XSK.
FIG. 2 illustrates the track seek distance XSK versus the track seek time TSK. The state estimator 104, thus, estimates an estimated position y(n) and an estimated velocity v(n) of transducers based on positions of transducers at previous sampling periods n−1, n−2, . . . , and at a present sampling period n.
A gray code recorded on a sector of the disk is used to obtain a track position, i.e., a track number and read by transducers moving over the a disk. The gray code read by transducers is provided to the state estimator 104.
Referring to FIG. 1, a VCM driving current u(n) applied to the notch filter 116 is determined by the following Equation 3.u(n)=a*(n)+Kv(v*(n)−v(n))+KvKp(y*(n)−y(n))  (3)
The VCM driving current u(n), derived from Equation 3, is applied to the VCM driver 106 through the notch filter 116 to reduce vibration and noise caused by a track seek. The notch filter 116 is designed to control a frequency resonance. In such a system, the notch filter 116 and the VCM driver 126 are expressed as a constant gain in order to avoid complexity in the design of the seek trajectory. The HGA 128 is made up of a VCM, an arm, a head, and a disk in which the arm is moved by current that causes the VCM to move the head to a particular position to read the track position written on the disk, which is expressed as a dual integrator model in order to avoid complexity in the design of the seek trajectory.
Meanwhile, when the transducers move using the track seek control apparatus 100, a gain distortion and a phase delay are caused by the notch filter 116 and the VCM driver 126. While the track seek, based on Equation 1, is controlled by a dual integrator model combining the notch filter 116, the VCM driver 126, and the HGA 128, an actual system including the notch filter 116, the VCM driver 126, and the HGA 128 is actually different from the ideal dual integrator model.
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate gain distortion and phase delay caused by the notch filter 116 and the VCM driver 126. Referring to FIG. 3A, curves 302 and 304 indicate gain characteristics of the notch filter 116 and the VCM driver 126, respectively, and a curve 306 indicates the entire gain characteristics of the notch filter 116 and the VCM driver 126. Low frequencies have an ideal gain characteristic, whereas higher frequencies, i.e., shorter track seek distances, generate greater gain distortion.
Referring to FIG. 3B, curves 312 and 314 indicate phase characteristics of the notch filter 116 and the VCM driver 126, respectively, and a curve 316 indicates the entire phase characteristics of the notch filter 116 and the VCM driver 126. Similarly, Low frequencies have ideal phase characteristics, whereas higher frequencies, i.e., shorter track seek distances, generate greater phase distortion.
The real-life gain distortion and the phase delay caused by the notch filter 116 and the VCM driver 126, thus, differentiate the real-life system from the ideal model, thereby preventing the transducers from moving along correct trajectories.
To correct for an error between the notch filter and the VCM driver, the track seek control method must use a high gain controller, i.e., a very sensitive controller, or it must be designed to pursue conservative standard trajectories, i.e., relatively slow trajectories. However, the conventional high gain controller causes noise and makes the whole system insecure, and accordingly, conventional standard trajectory designs cause track seek times to increase.

Method, medium, and apparatus controlling track seek in a recording and/or reproducing apparatus


In a tennis training device there is a curved track whose curvature corresponds to the correct path that a tennis racquet should travel during a proper serve. The track has a channel along its length. The channel is sized and configured to receive a coupling which is attached to the head of a tennis racquet. The coupling travels along the track and allows the head of the tennis racquet to rotate relative to the track. The tennis racquet coupling preferably is a clip configured for releasable attachment to a head of a tennis racquet and a connector having an elongated body and a head attached to the body.

A tennis player seeking to improve his or her game may hire an instructor who observes the player and then informs him or her orally whether or not he or she has executed the serve or other forehand stroke or backhand stroke properly. The instructor may then show the player the correct way to execute the stroke. An advantage of this type of practice is that the player receives individual attention from the instructor during the time period that the instructor is with the player. On the other hand this mode of practicing can be quite expensive and must be scheduled in advance at a time when both the instructor and the player are available.
The art has developed a number of training devices that a player can use without an instructor at a time and place that is convenient to the player. Many of these training devices employ sensors on the tennis racquet to detect movement of the tennis racquet and ball strikes. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,552 discloses an apparatus for facilitating the practice of tennis which has a housing that is attached to the neck of the tennis racquet. An elastic band is connected between the housing and a pole to limit movement of the tennis racquet during the swing and help define a path of travel. Sensors and bells are provided on the housing to indicate when the racquet reaches certain points in the path of travel.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,602,922 B2 discloses a method and apparatuses for enhancing performance in racquet sports. One or more sensors are provided on the tennis racquet. The sensor may be one or more accelerometers used to measure acceleration associated with racquet movement. An anemometer can be used to sense air speed relative to the racquet. A pressure sensor may be provided to measure tension on the strings or to measure the pressure exerted by the user on the handle while gripping the racquet. A strain gauge sensor may be provided to sense the strain applied to the strings or to sense the impact forces generated when a ball impacts against the strings. Piezoelectric sensors may be provided to identify locations where the ball strikes the racquet. A skin sensor may be provided on the grip to sense the player's heart rate. The sensors are connected to a processor on the racquet or remote from the racquet.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,266 discloses an electronic apparatus for providing player performance feedback in which sensors are provided on the racquet to indicate impact locations where a ball strikes the racquet.
While these devices can be helpful training aids, they can be expensive and require a power source. Furthermore, the sensors, bells and hardware used to attach them add weight to the tennis racquet and may change the center of gravity of the racquet. That weight is not present when the player plays a tennis match. Having added weight on the racquet makes the training conditions significantly different than the conditions that are encountered during play.
There is a need for a tennis training device that does not add much weight to the tennis racquet. This training device should be portable and more closely simulate playing conditions than the training devices that attach sensors to the tennis racquet.


A method of transitioning from a complex response flight state to a ground operation control state. Pilot intent is determined through collective position information to control the transition. An independent cockpit switch activates an emergency surface contact transition function for use with a fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system. Once the surface contact transition function is active, FBW control laws transition from a fully augmented flight state, through an augmentation deactivation state and into the surface contact state.

The present invention relates to a fly by wire flight control system for a rotary-wing aircraft, and more particularly to a full authority fly by wire flight control system which accommodates an emergency landing scenario.
Fly By Wire [FBW] flight control systems are increasingly state of the art in the control of rotary-wing aircraft. The highly specialized control laws in a FBW flight control system provide functionality for all states of aircraft operation including ground state operation. Rotary-wing aircraft with a partial authority flight control augmentation system do not require mode changes when the aircraft is on the ground, because there is little potential for unwanted feedback into the control system. A full authority FBW flight control system, however, requires a specific surface contact mode to prevent undesired feedback into the control system. The surface contact mode transitions between a fully augmented normal flight control state and a ground state once the majority of the aircraft weight is supported on the ground.
The surface contact mode is initiated through weight-on-wheels switches on the landing gear. As the aircraft touches the ground, landing gear struts compress, and switches activate the ground contact state. There are, however, landing scenarios where the weight-on-wheels switches will not function such as when the landing gear cannot be extended due to a malfunction, or when the aircraft must be landed in water, e.g., ditched.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a fly-by-wire flight control system which can transition into a ground contact state during an emergency landing scenario when weight-on-wheel switches may not be usable. This state would be referred to as a surface contact override transition mode.

Surface contact override landing scheme for a FBW rotary-wing aircraft


A cart immobilizing mechanism responding to signals prescribing a permitted use area for the cart is contained entirely within a wheel of the cart. This mechanism preferably includes a circuit board containing a radio frequency receiver, a decoder, and a logic driver. The mechanism also includes a solenoid device. When the receiver detects that the cart has been moved outside the prescribed use area, the solenoid device is energized to drive its armature into an opening in a non-rotating shaft supporting a wheel, thereby locking the wheel against rotation and immobilizing the cart.

Many commercial establishments provide shopping carts for the convenience of their customers in transporting merchandise through the stores and to the customer's vehicles. Some of these establishments experience substantial financial burdens through the loss of carts, be it through outright theft or simple removal from the premises and negligent abandonment.
Others have sought to solve the lost cart problem by providing means for automatically disabling, or immobilizing, the cart if it is being moved outside a prescribed use area.
One of the earliest such proposals is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,964,140, granted Dec. 13, 1960, to M. N. Brezny for "Anti-Theft Device for Carts". Brezny proposed that one or more of the cart casters be equipped with a mechanism for inserting a pin into an opening in the wheel in the caster to lock the wheel against turning. Brezny provided a mechanism for actuating the locking pin into locking position in response to the caster being moved over a magnetic strip at the perimeter of the prescribed use area.
There are several shortcomings to the Brezny anti-theft device. First, the device requires that the magnetic strip be installed about the entire perimeter of the prescribed use area or that the area be fenced and the magnetic strips laid in a limited exit, neither of which approaches may be practical. Secondly, the immobilizing mechanism of the Brezny system is exposed to the view of the cart user and, therefore, susceptible to being disabled and rendered ineffective by a person bent on removing the cart. Lastly, the Brezny system requires store personnel to carry a magnet for resetting the locking mechanism if the cart is retrieved.
Another approach to cart immobilization is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,242,668, granted Dec. 30, 1980, to W. Herzog for "Cart Theft Prevention System". Herzog's cart is immobilized by unlatching a support structure for the front wheels of the cart, allowing the front of the cart frame to fall down into contact with the ground. Unlatching of the front wheel structure is accomplished in response to a signal receiver detecting a signal from a transmitter at the exit of the prescribed use area or the receiver loosing receipt of a signal which covers only the prescribed use area. The principal disadvantage of the Herzog system lies in the rather extensive and complex modification required for the cart undercarriage, making the retrofitting of existing carts prohibitively expensive. And, again, like Brezny, Herzog leaves the immobilizing mechanism open to vandalism and destruction by a would-be thief.
A somewhat more practical theft deterrent system, one which can be readily adapted to existing carts, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,880, granted Sep. 20, 1988, to L. W. Goldstein, et al. for "Shopping Cart Anti-Theft System". The system disclosed in this patent utilizes a clamp-on assembly which houses a battery-powered receiver for sensing when the cart leaves the area adjacent the business and includes means for disabling a wheel of the cart when the cart is outside the area. Because the assembly is exposed, it is relatively easily removed or disabled.
There continues to be a need for a cart theft prevention system which is reliable in operation and which cannot be easily overridden or disabled by the cart user.


This present application discloses an improved valve configuration such that an indicator port is incorporated directly within the valve allowing a sensing device to be mounted directly to the valve or within the valve body, this application being directed to both suction and discharge valves which sense at least one condition within a compressor comprising a cylinder, a piston, at least one discharge valve, and at least one suction valve, the valve further including a valve guard, a valve seat, a hollow area adapted and configured for housing a sensing device and a sensing device disposed within the hollow area.

The present application relates to stationary compressors as used in power plants, refineries, pipeline compression of natural gas, and other installations where gasses are compressed for industrial purposes, and more particularly to the in-service monitoring and analysis, such as electronic analysis, of the condition and performance of such compressors, and most particularly to suction and discharge valves that are adapted and configured for facilitating in-service monitoring.
An industrial reciprocating gas compressor is a positive-displacement machine wherein the gas to be compressed is trapped in an enclosed space and then squeezed into a small volume by the action of a piston moving inside a cylinder. The gas is compressed to a pressure sufficient to overcome the discharge pressure plus the spring tension holding the discharge valve closed, at which time the discharge valve opens and allows the compressed gas to leave the cylinder. Because of the nature of the reciprocating piston, compression ceases at the limits of its stroke, the discharge valve again closes due to the action of the springs on the valve, the piston reverses direction, and the small amount of gas remaining in the cylinder expands, increasing in volume and decreasing in pressure. When the inlet pressure is higher than the pressure inside the cylinder plus the spring tension holding the suction valve closed, the suction valve then opens, allowing gas to flow into the cylinder. At the opposite limit of the piston stroke, the suction valve closes due to the springs acting on the valve, the piston again reverses direction, and the compression cycle begins anew.
The rate of pressure rise with respect to piston position in the cylinder, the exact moment of valve actuation, actual pressures attained, and other information concerning the compression, discharge, re-expansion, and inlet events taking place in the cylinder have long been recognized to be of value to engineers in assessing the operating condition of compressors. The first instrument used to record such information was a mechanical device which comprised a stylus attached to a pressure indicator and a rotating drum which was activated in proportion to the movement of the piston by a string attached to the crosshead of the compressor. The instrument was attached to the cylinder with a three-way valve, and sensed pressures inside the cylinder via passages (indicator ports) drilled during manufacture of the compressor.
The state of the analyzing art advanced during the 1960s with the introduction of the BETA 100, an oscilloscope device that utilized pressure transducers to sense pressure through indicator ports, and determined piston location from the angle of the crankshaft of the compressor. Further refinements of such electronic analyzers have been based on the principles of the early devices, and now include displays of pressure/volume or pressure/time, automatic calculation of horsepower consumed by the cylinder, and volumetric efficiency of the cylinder, as well as analysis of each valve event. Data from vibration transducers and ultrasound detectors (for analyzing the behavior of individual valves) are routinely superimposed on the pressure-volume trace to pinpoint operational problems and to determine the need for maintenance. Data from the analyzer may be sent to a personal computers for the automatic generation of reports. Significant savings in operational expenses and maintenance costs are attainable if the information is analyzed at routine intervals.
There was a time gap between the use of the drum-and-stylus instruments and the modem electronic instruments, however, and during that time gap manufacturers stopped providing indicator ports in cylinders and usually did not list indicator ports as an option when ordering a new machine. As a result, many compressors currently in operation do not have indicator ports and therefore cannot be analyzed properly.
Detailed description of a more or less contemporary monitoring system for reciprocating piston machines, including the use of pressure transducers, is given by Wiggins in U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,963, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. Other references to the use of pressure monitoring are given by Rice in U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,041 and Abnett et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,128, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. However, none of these references utilize pressure transducers to sense the cylinder pressure through the center bolt of a suction or discharge valve or disclose indicator ports incorporated within the valve body, as disclosed herein.
Installation of indicator ports after the manufacture of the compressor traditionally involves the complete disassembly of the compressor and tedious machine shop work to locate and drill the indicator ports. During this process, the compressor must remain out of service for extended periods of time with lost production costs accumulating. Often, the cylinder casting does not have provisions for adding an indicator port, and installing one may entail penetration and sealing the water jacket surrounding the cylinder. Without indicator ports, much of the intelligence necessary for analysis is lost. Thus, there is clearly a need for a simple and effective system and method to equip compressors that have not been manufactured with indicator ports with means for monitoring compressor cylinder condition and performance. Such systems and methods should provide a means for monitoring compressor performance without significantly increasing the space required to house the compressor and at the same time should provide adequate protection for the sensitive monitoring equipment.
This present application discloses an improved valve configuration such that an indicator port is incorporated directly within either a suction or a discharge type valve thereby allowing a sensing device to be mounted directly to the valve or within the valve body. It is generally understood that suction and discharge valves used in certain applications such as compressors, can be interchangeable and therefore, this application is directed to both of these types of compressor valves and the disclosure herein is applicable to both suction and discharge valves.
An object of the present application is to provide a simple and effective system and method to equip compressors with means for monitoring compressor cylinder condition and performance. Yet another object of the present application is to provide a location within the valve for the sensing device that inherently protects it from damage, enabling the device to function properly and increasing its expected service life.
Still yet another object of the present application is to simplify the installation of the sensing device by allowing it to be provided as part of a complete assembly. The sensing device can be provided already installed within a replacement valve for an existing compressor, or it can be provided as part of a valve assembly to be installed in a new compressor.
In accordance with these and further objects, one aspect of the present application includes a valve for sensing at least one condition within a compressor comprising a compressor cylinder, a piston, at least one discharge valve, and at least one suction valve. The valve includes a valve guard defining outlet flow ports and having a central aperture being disposed therein. The valve further includes a valve seat defining inlet flow ports and having a central aperture. An elongated structure such as an elongated stud is operatively engaged in the central aperture of the valve guard and valve seat and defines a central axis for the valve. The elongated structure has a hollow core which creates an indicator port extending from the interior of the compressor cylinder to an exterior terminus at the exterior of the valve. Additionally, a sensing device is operatively connected to the exterior terminus of the indicator port. The sensing device may comprises a pressure transducer for sensing pressure in the interior of the compressor cylinder. Alternatively, the sensing device may comprise a means for sensing the temperature, vibration, gas flow or the position of the piston within the compressor.
The present application is also directed to a valve for sensing at least one condition within a compressor comprising a compressor cylinder, a piston, at least one discharge valve, and at least one suction valve. The valve includes a valve seat defining inlet flow ports through which gas enters the valve and a valve guard defining outlet flow ports through which the gas exits the valve. A hollow area is operatively positioned in the valve guard or valve seat which is adapted and configured for housing a sensing device.
The valve further includes a bore in the valve seat for facilitating electrical communication with the sensing device. Electrical signal communicating structure, such as wiring, extends through this bore and connect the sensing device to a monitoring device. The monitoring device translates the signal received from the sensing device to data which can be interpreted by an operator, engineers or maintenance personnel in order to evaluate the condition and performance of the compressor. Preferably, the sensing device is a pressure transducer for sensing pressure in the interior of the compressor cylinder. Alternatively, the sensing device can be a means for sensing temperature or other condition within the interior of the compressor cylinder.
The present application is also directed to a system for sensing at least one condition within a compressor comprising a compressor cylinder, a piston, at least one discharge valve, and at least one suction valve. The valve includes a valve guard defining outlet flow ports, a valve seat defining inlet flow ports, a hollow area operatively positioned in the valve guard or valve seat, a sensing device operatively positioned within the hollow area, and a monitoring device located exterior to the valve in communication with the sensing device.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present application will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

Valve for sensing at least one condition within a compressor


An electrical disconnect locking device which can be installed at the weather head of a dwelling in order to connect and disconnect electrical flow from a power source to a dwelling. The locking device comprises a housing having rotating plates than can be rotated in a first direction to matingly engage a pair of female couplings such that electrical current flows freely and that can be rotated in a second opposite direction away from the pair of female couplings such that electrical current is disconnected. The locking device includes a unique key member which is configured to engage a rotating shaft which is in connection with the rotating plates. The use of the unique key member prevents unauthorized access to the locking device.

Currently, utility companies experience tremendous loss of both electricity and electric meters in blighted and impoverished areas due to theft. For example, when an electric customer receives a disconnect notice and fails to pay his electric bill, the utility provider sends a service person to the customer's home to disconnect the electric service. Typically, the service person cuts the seal on the meter, pulls the meter, places plastic spacers in the meter base, replaces and reseals the meter. However, the delinquent customer can easily re-connect the service by carefully cutting the seal, removing the plastic spacers and replacing the meter and seal so that it looks like nobody tampered with the meter. A period of days, or even months, can pass before the utility provider discovers that electricity is being stolen. At that point, a service person once again pulls the meter, inserts the plastic spacers and then locks the meter with a conventional locking device.
Numerous locking devices have been developed in order to try and prevent delinquent customers from opening electric meter bases and hot wiring the electricity. A most simple locking device is a brass locking ring, which easily can be removed with a pry bar. Other locks can be removed with conventional bolt cutters. When the delinquent customer is persistent enough, he will break any locking device secured to the meter and hot wire the meter base. A major problem with this type of electricity theft is that a potentially very dangerous situation is created by the wide open hot meter base. For example, a person can reach up and touch the hot meter base and be electrocuted. When the utility provider discovers that the delinquent customer is stealing electricity again, a service technician usually cuts the service wires at the weather head of the home. If this action does not deter the delinquent customer, the utility provider can disconnect service at the utility pole. However, disconnecting service at the utility pole is not an option when the same service cable serves several homes. At this point, the service technician has made four trips to the site of the delinquent user.
None of the prior art locking devices are completely effective in deterring theft of electricity because the conventional locking devices are designed to lock the meter base. Thus, a need still exists for a locking device which will connect and disconnect power at the weather head of a dwelling. The installation of such a device should deactivate the meter base and render the meter base cold. Also, such a device should discourage the delinquent customer from destroying the meter base or stealing the meter. Moreover, such a device should require only one trip by a service technician. In addition, such a device should leave the meter base cold in order to prevent injury or death. Further, such as device should save the utility provider money by preventing theft of electricity and loss of meters, which in turn can help lower utility rates.


Disclosed is a method for network slicing, which includes: determining a service keyword of a service intention after receiving the service intention from a user; converting the service intention into a network request according to the service keyword of the service intention on the basis of a pre-established mapping model, wherein, the network request comprises at least one network requirement index; determining a set of network slicing configuration parameters according to the network request and current network environment state on the basis of a network slicing model, wherein the network slicing model is a deep neural network model for determining network slicing configuration parameters according to a network request and a network environment state; and performing a network slicing according to the set of network slicing configuration parameters. The present disclosure also provides a device for network slicing and a computer readable storage medium.

With rapid developments of communication networks, rapid growth of network users and devices, current networks are more complicated and flexible. Therefore, an end-to-end network slicing strategy is needed to handle different services.
However, as the network slicing technology brings flexibility to the network, the complexity of network management is also increased accordingly.

Method for network slicing, device and storage medium thereof

Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications


A method of forming an integrated circuit includes forming a gate structure over a semiconductor body, and forming a shadowing structure over the semiconductor body laterally spaced from the gate structure, thereby defining an active area in the semiconductor body therebetween. The method further includes performing an angled implant into the gate structure, wherein the shadowing structure substantially blocks dopant from the angled implant from implanting into the active area, and performing a source/drain implant into the gate structure and the active area.

Field effect transistors (FETs) are widely used in the electronics industry for switching, amplification, filtering, and other tasks related to both analog and digital electrical signals. Most common among these are metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), wherein a gate electrode is energized to create an electric field in a channel region of a semiconductor body, by which electrons are allowed to travel through the channel between a source region and a drain region of the semiconductor body. The source and drain regions are typically formed by adding dopants to targeted regions on either side of the channel. A gate dielectric or gate oxide is formed over the channel, and a gate electrode or gate contact is formed over the gate dielectric. The gate dielectric and gate electrode layers are then patterned to form a gate structure overlying the channel region of the substrate.
Conventionally, upon patterning a polysilicon gate electrode, the doping of the polysilicon is performed concurrently with the formation of the source/drains on opposing sides of the gate electrode in the semiconductor body. Typically, heavy doping at this stage is desirable in order to avoid poly depletion and thus keep Tox as small as possible. However, too much doping in the source/drain regions can lead to overrun of the extension regions, and lead undesirably to punchthrough and/or leakage.

Method to improve transistor Tox using high-angle implants with no additional masks


A print control apparatus receives front-side data and back-side data from an external apparatus and causes a printer to print the received front-side and back-side data on front and back sides of a recording medium. The print control apparatus includes a unit for detecting a jam in the printer. It also includes a unit for executing a jam recovery function if the detection unit detects a jam during printing on the front side, and executing no jam recovery function if the detection unit detects a jam during printing on the back side.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates a printing apparatus having a printing mechanism which is constructed in a manner such that printing data to be printed to a front side is first printed onto a recording medium with respect to all pages and, after that, printing data to be printed to a back side is printed onto the back side of the recording medium whose front side was printed with respect to all of the pages, thereby allowing both-sided printing to be performed.
2. Related Background Art
There is a printing apparatus having a printing mechanism which is constructed in a manner such that printing data to be printed to a front side is printed onto a recording medium with respect to all pages and, after that, printing data to be printed to a back side is printed onto the recording medium whose front side was printed with respect to all of the pages, thereby allowing a both-sided printing to be performed. Such a printing method has the following problems.
(1) Generally, when a paper jam (jam) occurs during the printing process, a printing apparatus itself performs a jam recovery process. However, in a printing apparatus having only a one-side printing mechanism, when a both-sided printing is performed, it is desirable to perform the jam recovery in front-side (odd page) printing. When the jam recovery is automatically performed at the time of back-side (even page) printing, however, all of the subsequent pages (sheets) cause a page deviation, so that a number of erroneous printing results are caused.
(2) When a paper discharge destination is properly selected at the time of the front-side (odd page) printing, a troublesome operation such that the operator exchanges sheets to be printed and outputted for the back-side (even page) printing occurs.
(3) In a host computer, further, in order to perform both-sided printing, data for the front-side (odd page) printing and data for the back-side (even page) printing have to be individually formed.

Print control apparatus and method for executing a jam recovery function when a jam is detected during printing on a front side of a recording medium


An apparatus and method for removing fractions of a pixel from bar code bars to maintain the correct distance between adjacent correctly sized code forming bars. Thus, the distance between adjacent code forming bars will be constant and accurate. The foregoing is accomplished by varying a parameter of the beam or ink droplet that is used to produce the bar so that the bar width and space between adjacent code forming bars will be accurately maintained. Hence, bars of a bar code will be accurately reproduced to enable the bar code to be accurately read.

Bar codes have been used in a wide variety of applications as a source for information. Typically bar codes are used at a point-of-sale terminal in merchandising for pricing and inventory control. Bar codes are also used in controlling personnel access systems, mailing systems, and in manufacturing for work-in process and inventory control systems, etc. The bar codes themselves represent alphanumeric characters by series of adjacent stripes of various widths, i.e. the universal product code.
A bar code is a set of binary numbers. It typically consists of black bars and white spaces. A wide black bar space may signify a one and a thin black bar or space may signify a zero. The binary numbers stand for decimal numbers or letters. There are several different kinds of bar codes. In each one, a number, letter or other character is formed by a pre-established number of bars and spaces.
Bar code reading systems or scanners have been developed to read bar codes. The bar code may be read by having a light beam translated across the bar code and a portion of the light illuminating the bar code is reflected and collected by a scanner. The intensity of the reflected light is proportional to the reflectance of the area illuminated by the light beam. This light is converted into an electric current signal and then the signal is decoded. Bar codes are read by taking the ratio of the bars width to the width of the adjacent spaces.
Bar codes may be placed on objects with many different types of technology i.e., ink jet printing, laser or LED-based xerography, etc. When bars are recorded on objects with ink jet printers or by LED-based xerographic techniques, the bars will be reproduced differently. The bars have a tendency to grow in width. Consequently, the spaces between adjacent code forming bars become smaller and the code becomes more difficult to read. The prior art has attempted to solve the foregoing problem by incorporating a time compensating set of bars in the body of the bar code. The time compensating bars were used to compute the printer induced growth of the bars and then to compensate for bar growth.
The prior art also utilized pixel shaving techniques to compensate for increases in the size of bar code bars. Pixel shaving techniques were only able to partially compensate for correct increases in the size of bar code bars. The reason for the above is that only complete pixels were removed or added to adjacent code forming bars. Thus, the space between adjacent code forming bars would still not be constant.
Historically postage meters have been mechanical and electromechanical devices that: maintain through mechanical or "electronic registers" (postal security devices) an account of all postage printed and the remaining balance of prepaid postage; and print postage postmarks (indicia) that are accepted by the postal service as evidence of the prepayment of postage.
Soon small business mailers may be able to use their desktop computer and printer to apply postage directly onto envelopes or labels while applying a address. The United States Postal Service Engineering Center recently published a notice of proposed specification that may accomplish the foregoing. The title of the specification is Information Based Indicia Program Postal Security Device Specification, dated Jun. 13, 1996. The Information Based Indicia Program specification includes both proposed specifications for the new indicium and proposed specifications for a postal security device (PSD). The proposed Information - Based Indicia (IBI) consists of a two dimensional bar code containing hundreds of bytes of information about the mail piece and certain human-readable information. The indicium includes a digital signature to preclude the forgery of indicia by unauthorized parties. The postal security device is a unique security device that provides a cryptographic digital signature to the indicum and performs the function of postage meter registers.
Recent studies have shown that the code format tolerances promulgated in the IBIP specification can only be met by some of the available printers. Both resolution (dots/inch) and positional accuracy seem to be the major limiting factors. Furthermore, the printing technology used is yet another major factor, specifically when combined with the type of paper used to form the envelope. Current estimates suggest that 2-3% of the IBIP indicium that are affixed to mail pieces will not be able to be read due to the use of incorrect printers, defective printers or improper envelopes.
Two dimensional bar codes and many other types of codes do not have an element that allows for the increase in width of bar code bars caused by reproducing the bars on objects.

Pixel splitting to improve bar code readability


The enhanced oil recovery (EOR) system includes a solar tower that heats air, which is fed to an ion transport membrane (ITM) unit. The ITM unit separates oxygen from the preheated air. The separated oxygen is injected into the oil well to burn part of the well's oil, thereby generating the heat required for thermally enhance oil recovery. Combustion of part of the well's oil reduces the viscosity of the remainder, enhancing extraction of oil from the well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to oil recovery technology, and, more specifically, to an enhanced oil recovery system that includes a solar-assisted ion transport membrane to produce oxygen for combustion in the well for thermally enhanced oil recovery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditional methods of primary and secondary oil production generally recover about one-third of the oil in the reservoir while leaving the rest behind, since the cost to extract the remaining oil would likely be greater when compared to the cost to extract oil from a newly discovered oil field. Regardless, to maintain a high rate of oil recovery, many oil producers have started utilizing enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques to extract heavy oil from aged reservoirs.
Typically, EOR techniques utilize different methods, such as thermal recovery or injection of gas, chemicals, or brine water. Thermal injection represents the largest EOR implemented technology and accounts for approximately 51.5% of the EOR techniques currently on the market. Gas EOR technology and chemical EOR technology are expected to increase to 38.5% and 10.3%, respectively, of the EOR technology market by 2023.
However, although in situ combustion and down-hole heating have great potential as new thermal EOR technologies emerge, many current in situ combustion and down-hole heating thermal EOR technologies require the use of large amounts of natural fuel, such as natural gas. As such, due to their associated carbon dioxide emissions, thermal EOR technologies typically leave a significant environmental footprint. Moreover, as a result of the quantity of natural gas consumed, utilizing the current in situ combustion down-hole techniques is not only very expensive, but can also be an inefficient use of a region's natural gas reserves.
Thus, an enhanced oil recovery system solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

Solar power and ion transport-based enhanced oil recovery system and method

KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS


The zoom of this invention comprises a first lens group having a positive refracting power, a second lens group having an negative refracting power, a third lens group having a positive refracting power, a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power, and a fifth lens group having a negative refracting power from an object side in this order, wherein a zooming is carried out by moving the second and the fourth lens groups, wherein the first lens group comprises, a foreside lens group having an negative refracting power, an optical element for folding an optical path, and a backside lens group having a positive refracting power from the object side, and a condition of 1.0<β5<1.9 is satisfied, provided that an imaging power of the fifth lens group where an object distance is at infinity is β5.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a zoom lens, and an imaging apparatus using this zoom lens as an image taking lens, and particularly to a rear focus type zoom lens suitable for a small-sized imaging apparatus such as a digital still camera, a home use video camera, and the like, and also capable of performing a zooming rate of 3 to 5 times, and an imaging apparatus using such zoom lens.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a digital still camera and a digital video camera have widely spread as home use apparatuses, and further a miniaturized design has been required to those small-sized imaging apparatuses. On this account, an image taking lens to be mounted, particularly a zoom lens is required to be miniaturized in its total length and shortened horizontal depth. Further, an improvement in the lens performance is also required for such image taking lens for a digital still camera use with reference to an increase of the number of pixels in such imaging device in addition to the miniaturized design.
It has been known, for example, that so-called rear focus type zoom lens, where a lens groups other than a first lens group which is provided at the most object side are moved to focus, are made possible to easily miniaturize a total lens system, and to obtain an imaging performance suitable for a solid state imaging device having a larger number of pixels. As such rear focus type zoom lens, a zoom lens having 5 lens groups is well known, wherein the zoom lens is configured to have a first lens group having a positive refracting power, a second lens group having a negative refracting power, a third lens group having a positive refracting power, a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power, and a fifth lens group having a negative refracting power from object side in this order, and a zooming operation is carried out by moving the second and fourth lens groups, and a focusing operation is carried out by moving the fourth lens group. For example, in the Patent Document 1 mentioned later, there is disclosed a zoom lens which satisfies following Equations (1) to (3), wherein focal lengths of the third lens group and the fifth lens group are f3, and f5, of the fifth lens group at a position where an object distance is at infinity, a focal length of the second lens group is f2, and focal lengths in this total system at a wide-end and a tele-end are fw, and ft, respectively.0.8<|f5/f3|<2.1  (1)1.2<|β5|<1.6  (2)0.25<|f2/√{square root over (fw·ft)}|<0.37  (3)
Recently, it has been considered to delete a projected portion of lens system upon an image taking by folding an optical path in the middle from the first lens group to an image plane, by shortening the length of the lens when assembled in the imaging apparatus, and by setting a movable direction of the lens upon zooming operation in the up and down directions. For example, such zoom lens that comprises a first lens group having a positive refracting power, a second lens group having an negative refracting power, a third lens group having a positive refracting power, and a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power from an object side in this order is known as disclosed in a Patent Document 2 as mentioned below. That is, this conventional zoom lens is configured to include a lens construction having 4 lens groups that performs a zooming operation by moving the second and fourth lens groups, wherein the first lens group includes a first lens of a single lens having an negative refracting power, a prism for bending an optical path, and a second lens of a single lens having a positive refracting power from the object side in this order.
Patent Document 1: JP 3015192
Patent Document 2: JOP 2000-131610
By the way, in the zoom lens having the optical system where the optical path is folded by a prism, it is possible to realize further miniaturization and a low-profile model design by miniaturizing a size of the prism. However in the zoom lens disclosed in the Patent Document 2, there is a problem that if a diameter and a thickness of lenses included in the first lens group is made small, it is difficult to further miniaturize the prism because of the deterioration of the optical performance.

Zoom lens, and an imaging apparatus using such zoom lens


The amino acid derivative of the present invention provides a novel compound that shows excellent analgesic action. The amino acid derivative of the present invention is a novel compound that shows excellent analgesic action to not only a model animal for nociceptive pains but also a model animal for neuropathic pains, so that the amino acid derivative is very useful as a drug for treating various pain diseases.

At present, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), non-narcotic analgesics, narcotic analgesics, and the like are used against general "pains," so that therapeutic methods therefor have begun to be established. However, there are hardly any analgesics that can satisfy the neuropathic pains under the current situation.
"Pains" are roughly classified by causes of diseases into nociceptive pain (so-called general "pain") caused by a strong stimulus (nociceptive stimulus) that would result in damages to body tissues, and neuropathic pain (neurogenic pain), which is a disease pain resulting from an injury or malfunction of the central or peripheral nerve. This neuropathic pain causes, in addition to a spontaneous pain, a symptom such as a hyperalgesia that lowers the pain thresholds against the nociceptive stimulus and a severe pain (allodynia) caused by tactile stimulation that usually does not induce the pain. Once the morbid state is completed, it turns chronically whereby the outcome is very intractable.
As a result of intensive studies on the compounds that show effects on various pains, the present inventors have found that the amino acid derivative of the present invention has excellent analgesic actions to not only a nociceptive pain model animal but also a neuropathic pain model animal. As amino acid derivatives, N-cinnamoyl-tryptophan as an intermediate of a compound having an anti-allergic action (Non-Patent Publication 1), N-cinnamoyl-L-tryptophan, N-cinnamoyl-D-tryptophan, and N-3-chlorocinnamoyl-tryptophan that suppress excitation of gigantic neural cells of East African land snail (Non-Patent Publication 2), p-coumaroyl-L-tryptophan and caffeoyl-tryptophan, which are isolated substances from coffee beans (Non-Patent Publication 3), N-acrylyl-L-tryptophan and N-acrylyl-L-leucine, which are monomers of a copolymer (Non-Patent Publication 4) are disclosed; however, any one of the publications do not describe at all that these compounds are useful as pharmaceutical agent, and especially as analgesics. In addition, Patent Publication 1 describes p-coumaroyl-L-tryptophan, N-caffeoyl-L-tryptophan, p-coumaroyl-L-tyrosine, or the like that is extracted from a plant; however, the publication does not describe that these have analgesic actions, and the like.


A method of molten metal plating, comprising the steps of: bringing a travelling steel strip into contact with a revolving roll; applying a molten metal on the roll through a nozzle disposed near the roll; and transferring the applied molten metal from the roll to the steel strip by the revolution of the roll. An apparatus for molten metal plating, comprising: a coating roll capable of being brought into contact with a travelling steel strip; a nozzle disposed near said roll for applying a molten metal on said roll; and means for supplying a molten metal to said nozzle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of molten metal plating and an apparatus therefor.
Steel strips plated with Zn, Al, Sn, or Pb or alloys thereof are widely applied for automobiles, architecture, electric equipment, and cans and improved quality and production efficiency is desired.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional method of molten metal plating comprises: heating a steel strip in a reducing atmosphere to clean the surface thereof; directing the strip into a bath of a molten metal to be deposited; lifting the strip deposited with the metal out of the bath; and then immediately subjecting the strip to a gas sprayed from a slit-shaped nozzle to remove an excess deposit metal and thereby control the deposited metal amount. Another conventional method brins a steel strip into contact with a molten metal only on one side thereof and the deposited metal amount is controlled in the same way.
This hot-dip plating is applied in the production of blank materials currently widely used, typically in Zn-plating, Al-plating, and turn plating.
The hot-dip plating has a disadvantage in that a strip is partially dissolved in a plating bath when the strip passes through the bath and most of the dissolved iron from the strip forms an intermetallic compound with the bath components and floats in the bath as a floating dross. The dross is entrained in the plated layer during plating process and degrades the appearance, corrosion resistance and formability of a plated product.
Another disadvantage is the plating bath which must have a large volume sufficient to introduce and dip a steel strip therein by using a pot roll. To change the composition of such a large volume of plating bath, particularly when the kind of product is to be changed, it is necessary to bail out part of the bath and replenish or add a plating metal or an additive metal. This requires a lot of cost, time and labor and only a limited kind of product can be processed in the same plating line.
Another disadvantage is that dipping requires a long time causing a reaction between a steel strip and a plating metal to form a thick brittle alloy layer which impairs the formability of the plated product. Additives are fed to the plating bath to reduce the thickness of the alloy layer, but this measure becomes insufficient when the plated products are subjected to heavier forming.
Moreover, the ambient atmospheric oxygen reacts with the molten metal to generate an oxidized dross causing an undesirable consumption of the metal bath, depositing on the strip surface and thereby imparing the product appearance.
The most general method of controlling the deposited metal amount is the above-mentioned gas spray. When a line speed is 160 m/min or higher, the excess metal removed from a steel strip violently splashes and adheres again to the strip, and the amount of metal lifted by the strip and the amount of generated dross are also increased. The line speed is therefore limited.
To solve the above-mentioned problems, U.S. Pat. No. 3,201,275 proposed a method in which a resin solution is sucked up by capillarity from a level lower than a coating nozzle to form a meniscus of the solution on the coating nozzle and the meniscus is brought into contact with a tape to apply the solution on the tape. When this method is used in molten metal plating, the following problems arise. To ensure a satisfactory suction of a molten metal by capillarity, a suction pipe must be made of a material having a good wettability with the molten metal. Such a material, however, also easily reacts with the molten metal and thereby causes contamination of the molten metal during the suction and blockage of the pipe. Moreover, a molten metal has a specific gravity greater than that of a resin solution and is difficult to suck stably, with the result that when the travelling speed of a metal strip is high the molten metal supply is insufficient to ensure a good coating. The high speed travelling of a metal strip also has a problem in that the ambient gas, dragged by the travelling strip, collides with the meniscus at a high speed and is engulfed in the meniscus, to cause the formation of a discrete coating which is not practically applicable.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 61-207555 proposed a method capable of solving the above-mentioned problem of an insufficient supply of a molten metal, in which method a meniscus of a molten metal is formed on the outlet opening of a nozzle and a metal strip is brought into contact with the meniscus while travelling. This increases the outflow of the molten from the outlet opening in comparison with an outflow of a metal freely flowing out of the opening and the deposited metal amount can be easily controlled. This increase in outflow is caused by the wetting adhesion of the molten metal to the strip and the deposited metal amount is controlled to a constant value in accordance with the travelling speed of the metal strip. When the control of the deposited metal amount is effected by adjusting the distance between the nozzle outlet opening and the metal strip, there is a tendency for the deposited metal amount to abruptly change at a certain value of the distance and does not significantly vary at distances greater or smaller than this value. To ensure stable control, the distance need be set at a value not causing a significant change in the deposited metal amount, and therefore, a desired deposited metal amount is not always obtained.
To solve this problem, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 61-235550 proposed a method in which a dam is provided within the opening of a plating nozzle to provide a constant gap at the dam and partially close the opening or decrease the sectional area for the passage of a molten metal, whereby the amount of sucked molten metal is controlled. Specifically, the dam is composed of a plurality of members respectively slidable in the gap-ward direction and part of the members are moved down towards the gap at a constant interval.
This method, however, has a disadvantage in that the flowout speed is difficult to control precisely and uniformly over the width of a metal strip to be plated and that the nozzle gap of 0.6 mm varies because of thermal distortion, etc., to cause a non-uniform deposited metal amount over the strip width, which cannot be restored by any means. Therefore, this method cannot be applied to practical use. Likewise in the previously recited U.S. Pat. No. 3,201,275, the high speed travelling of a metal strip also has a problem in that the ambient gas, dragged by the travelling strip, collides with the meniscus at a high speed and is engulfed in the meniscus, to cause the formation of a discrete coating which is not practically applicable.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 59-67357 disclosed a method based on a production process of amorphous ribbons, in which a molten metal is sprayed on a travelling steel strip, instead of a rotating disc, either through a slit-shaped nozzle or a multiple opening nozzle and the sprayed molten metal is cooled by the steel strip to form a metal coating on the strip. Specifically, a vessel containing a molten metal and having a slit-shaped nozzle or a multiple opening nozzle, is disposed above a steel strip travelling on a drum, with the nozzle tip being close to the strip, usually at a distance of not more than 1 mm. The flowout speed of the molten metal is controlled either by the level of the nozzle head or by a pressure of an inert gas such as argon.
This method also has a problem in that a non-uniform flowout speed over the strip width directly causes a non-uniform deposited metal amount over the strip width and a widthwise control of the flowout speed is essentially important to ensure a uniform plating over the strip width, but such a control is not disclosed for practical application. Likewise in the previously recited methods, the high speed travelling of a metal strip also has a problem in that the ambient gas, dragged by the travelling strip, collides with the meniscus at high speed and is engulfed in the meniscus, to cause the formation of a discrete coating which is not practically applicable, and therefore the travelling speed is limited.
This problem due to the high travelling speed is also experienced in the extrusion of a molten resin by "T-die" process, and in the same manner as in this process, the ambient atmospheric gas may be evacuated to provide a vacuum. In a continuous production line, however, expensive equipment such as a differential evacuation system is required and the evacuation capacity must be increased when using a high travelling speed, which cannot practically be applied.
The above-recited conventional methods commonly have the following problems.
A problem arises when a metal strip is plated on both sides thereof. In a method in which a fluctuation of the strip passage line, including the vibration of a travelling strip, is suppressed by support rolls and the strip is plated first on one side and then on the other side by using a nozzle disposed near the strip, the side to be later plated is brought into contact with the support rolls upon plating. In molten metal plating processes, a steel strip is maintained at a temperature near the melting point of a plating metal, and therefore, the metal deposited on the first side of the strip is in a molten or semi-molten state and the contact with the support rolls causes a non-uniform appearance and quality.
Another problem resides in continuous productivity. Continuous production requires that strip coils be bonded with each other by welding, the welded joint has an uneven profile along the strip width due to thermal distortion and collides with the plating nozzle disposed near the strip. The collision may be avoided by retreating the nozzle, but it is not actually possible to move the nozzle at a precision of several to several tens of micrometers together with the associated heavy equipment including a molten metal pot, a runner, etc. Moreover, a steel strip to be plated may not have a flat shape but may have corrugations across the width or length of the strip. Such a strip shape also makes it difficult to stably maintain a constant distance between the strip and a plating nozzle.

Method of molten metal plating with slit nozzle


An apparatus for holding a disk-like article such as a compact disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD) is disclosed. A shell has a pair of grooves inside the sidewalls. A tray for holding the compact disc has a pair of hooks which engage the grooves to allow the tray to slide into and out of the shell. The compact disc is held by a heart shaped as a cylinder including bumps around the cylinder to prevent the compact disc from sliding off the heart. Alternatively, a continuous rib may be used instead of the bumps. Another version of the heart is made of a flexible but resilient material which allows the compact disc to snugly fit over the heart. In the latter embodiment, one can remove the compact disc by pressing down onto the heart to release the compact disc.

This invention relates to containers for storing and displaying a disk-like article such as an information storage medium commonly known as a compact disc (CD).
A conventional CD holder is essentially a plastic box with a hinged lid, the so-called "jewel box" design. Swinging the lid open reveals a circular recess for receiving a CD. The user forces the CD against a circular projection at the center of the recess, causing clasps on the projection to securely grip the CD. The projection and the clasps arranged in a circle are collectively referred to as a "rosette". To remove the CD, the user typically grasps it from the sides and pulls it off the rosette.
Although in widespread use, the above described CD holder has several drawbacks. At the outset, the user may find it difficult to immediately tell which end to lift in order to open the box. Moreover, repeated opening and closing of the lid weakens the plastic hinges, eventually resulting in their breaking. To overcome this particular problem, the use of a drawer-type container has been suggested.
Another difficulty associated with the current jewel box design arises when trying to remove the CD itself. Unless the proper amount of force is applied to a precise location on the rosette at the same time the compact disc is lifted, removing the compact disc without bending it becomes virtually impossible as the clasps firmly grip the CD.
Inserting and removing the booklet accompanying the CD has also been problematic with existing jewel box designs. The tabs which hold the booklet against the lid are difficult to clear when trying to insert the booklet into place. Removing the booklet presents a no less challenging task. The booklet typically lies tightly and entirely against the lid, making it difficult to simply grab and pull out the booklet.
A new CD holder is therefore needed to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages. In particular, the CD should be easily removable from the holder by a person using bare fingers. Such a new design, however, must also be inexpensive to manufacture in large quantities, and preferably have the same outside dimensions as the current design to remain compatible with existing CD holder storage racks.


The present invention relates to a magnetic mono-component toner composition, and more particularly to a mono-component toner composition that comprises magnetic toner particle comprising a binder resin, a magnetic component, and a charge control agent; a hydrophobic treated silica having a specific surface area of 20 to 80 m2/g; a hydrophobic treated silica having a specific surface area of 130 to 230 m2/g; and a metal oxide fine powder. A magnetic mono-component toner composition of the present invention has such good flowability that it provides smooth toner supply even when the developing roller surface has been worn due to long time use, and it has such excellent uniform chargeability that it prevents image deterioration (“wave” patterns of toner may form on developing roller, that is, magnetic sleeve) by forming an uniform toner layer on the developing roller.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic mono-component toner composition, and more particularly to a magnetic mono-component toner composition having such good flowability that it provides smooth toner supply even when the developing roller surface has been worn due to long time use, and having such excellent uniform chargeability that it prevents image deterioration ("wave" patterns of toner may form on developing roller, that is, magnetic sleeve) by forming an uniform toner layer on the developing roller.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Generally, the dry-type developing methods of the electrophotography can be classified into two-component developing method using a two-component developer comprising a magnetic carrier and a toner, and mono-component developing method using a mono-component developer comprising a toner only without a carrier. In general, the mono-component developing method can realize smaller developing unit, lower manufacturing cost and easy maintenance. Therefore, the number of copiers and printers using the mono-component developing method has been spreading recently, and also the printing speed is improving significantly.
Differing from the two-component developing method using a two-component developer comprising carrier particles that carry toner particle, the flowability of toner particle themselves greatly affects movement of toner in the magnetic mono-component toner.
The non-magnetic mono-component toner applies pressure on the developing roller using a blade made of metal or polymer to control the thickness of toner layer formed on the developing roller, and the two-component toner moves the toner particle by triboelectrification resulting from friction with the carrier particles. In magnetic mono-component developer, on the other hand, a toner regulating member (doctor blade) is arranged so as to make contact with a developing roller, and the mono-component toner is triboelectrically charged by passing between toner regulating member and developing roller, and the charged toner is maintained on the surface of the developing roller by electrostatic force.
Accordingly, enough flowability to easily transport to the toner regulating member is required for a magnetic mono-component toner. If the surface of the developing roller (sleeve) is worn by long time use, that is, if the sleeve surface becomes relatively smooth, the triboelectrification becomes non-uniform and the toner particle may agglomerate to form a wave pattern on the surface of the developing roller, and thereby cause image deterioration.
To solve this problem, a method of reducing folwability of the toner to increase pressure applied to the toner when it passes through the toner regulating member and to reduce formation of the wave pattern has been developed. However, this method inevitably worsens supply of toner and makes it impossible to obtain an uniform image density.
Accordingly, research on a magnetic mono-component toner having such good flowability that the toner is supplied without problems, and having such excellent uniform chargeability that an uniform toner layer is formed on the developing roller even after long time use, are highly required.

Magnetic mono-component toner composition


In a spectroscopic process a sample for producing a test spectral line or spectrum of at least one component contained in the sample is stimulated and the transmitted and/or emitted electromagnetic rays are used to create the test spectral line or spectrum. In order to improve such a spectroscopic process to such an extent that variations of certain parameters, which alter the shape and/or occurrence of a spectral line, are compensated, a comparison spectral line or spectrum of a known comparison material is produced under substantially the same parameters as the sample. The comparison spectral line or spectrum is compared with an ideal comparison spectral line or spectrum in order to calculate a transfer function, and the transfer function is applied to the test spectral line or spectrum in order to calculate a corrected test spectral line or spectrum.

The invention relates to a spectroscopic process whereby, in a spectroscopic device, at least one sample for producing a test spectral line or spectrum of at least one component contained in the sample is stimulated and the transmitted and/or emitted electromagnetic ray is conducted through an optic system, possibly with a spectrometer, of a detector device in order to record the test spectral line or spectrum.
Such a spectroscopic process is common, for instance, in atomic absorption spectroscopy. There, a corresponding sample is vaporized, for instance in a graphite furnace, and the vaporized sample is stimulated by monochromatic or continuously electromagnetic radiation. With atomic absorption spectroscopy, part of the electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by at least one component of the sample. Absorption of the electromagnetic ray thus corresponds to a stimulation of the component. Because the absorbed ray is absent in the transmitted electromagnetic ray, there is a corresponding spectral line, which is characteristic for the corresponding component of the sample. The transmitted electromagnetic ray in the spectroscopic process and also in the atomic absorption spectroscopy is conducted in the direction of a detector device by means of an optic system and possibly through the use of a spectrometer. The detector device serves to record the test spectral line, which is characteristic for the absorption, by the corresponding component of the sample. If a continuous electromagnetic ray is used, then an entire test spectrum can also be recorded. Hereafter, the term "spectral line" is used, although it should be understood that this term is also meant to encompass the situation where an entire "spectrum" is recorded.
A disadvantage of the spectroscopic process known in general practice is that changes, for instance of certain parameters such as temperature, pressure, and so on, which can result in a modification of the test spectral line are not recorded and can result in a displacement of, and possibly also a change in the intensity of, the spectral line. As a result, in an extreme case, with closely situated spectral lines of various components of a sample, misdiagnosis can occur concerning at least one of these components. In addition, even with correct coordination of the spectral lines with respect to a certain component of the sample, the result can be various spectral lines at various points of measurement for various spectroscopic devices on various days with the same component.
The invention therefore is concerned with improving a spectroscopic process of the aforementioned type to such an extent that variations of certain parameters, which alter the shape and/or occurrence of a spectral line, are compensated, so that, independently of modifications of these parameters, an ideal test spectral line is received.

Method of instrument standardization for a spectroscopic device


A linear actuator includes a spindle nut, where the spindle nut and the spindle between a first and a second point, indicating the length of stroke, can move axially in proportion to each other, depending on whether the spindle or the spindle nut is being driven around via the transmission, and where the position is determined with incremental position sensors, such as at least two Hall sensors or Reed-switches. For determining the position an initiating procedure, where the nut/spindle is moved from a first point on the spindle/nut to a second point on the spindle nut is carried out, and that the number of pulses from the incremental position sensors appearing by it are registered as a measurement for the length of stroke, and the position is subsequently determined in relation to that. It is noted that the control is active before, during and after the operation of the motor. Hereby, absolute position detection is achieved with incremental sensors, where one formerly was obliged to use rotary potentiometers. Simultaneously an optional determination of the length of stroke and its position and immediate possibility to change the same at any time is achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a linear actuator.
2. The Prior Art
The explanation of the invention departs in a linear actuator of the type comprising a linear sliding tubular activation element. A linear actuator comprises an electric motor, which over a transmission drives a spindle. On the spindle is mounted a spindle nut, to which the tubular activation element is secured with its one end. The other end of the tube section is secured with a front fixture to the movable element in the construction, in which the actuator is built in, while the actuator with a rear fixture is secured in the stationary part of the construction or vice versa. During the fastening of the spindle nut, it will either move outwards or inwards on the spindle depending on the direction of rotation, and the tube section thus moves axially outwards or retracts in a manner corresponding to the piston rod on a telescopic cylinder.
Determination of the position of the tube section is typically done by counting the number of rotations of the spindle. The number of rotations multiplied by the thread pitch of the spindle determines the position of the tube section. An absolute determination of the position can be carried out by means of a rotary potentiometer, which over a gear is driven by a motor. When the gear ratio is known the number of rotations done by the spindle can be calculated. A more prevalent way of determining the position is by using a magnetic encoder. A magnetic encoder comprises a magnetic frame yoke with a number of poles, which activate a Reed-switch or a Hall-sensor every time one of the poles passes by the switch, alternatively the Hall-sensor, at which an electric signal is discharged.
For a more detailed description of the Reed switch is referred to U.S. Pat. No. 2,264,746 to Ellwood. In short, a Reed-switch is an electro mechanical component, in which a contact set, consisting of two springy metal terminals, forms an electric connection under the influence of a magnetic field. As it is a component with movable parts it will limit the physical dimensions, choice of materials, life span and operation velocity.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,003,828 B2 is shown an actuator system with an arrangement for position detection, consisting of a pulse provider in the form of a Reed-switch, influenced by a magnetic frame yoke. For the system the limitation outlined in column 3 line 61 to column 4 line 3 applies. The imperfection is that the inertia in the mechanical system leads to unregistered counting steps. The imperfection arises in that the counting system depends on an activation of the control buttons. For one thing to indicate the direction of movement and with that, if the counter should count up or down, but also in order for the counter basically to register and count the activations of the Reed-switch. As the imperfection over time will accumulate, a reset function of the counting cycle is introduced in a well-defined position, namely when the piston of the actuator is fully retracted.
Unlike a Reed-switch, a Hall-sensor is a non-mechanical component, which varies its output voltage depending on the strength of a printed magnetic field. It is distinguished between Hall-transducers, which respond with a voltage analogously proportional to the strength of a printed magnetic field and Hall switches, which discharges a digital signal corresponding to whether a magnetic field of a given strength is printed or not. This will typically appear by a voltage level on the exit of the component, which jumps between a low level close to 0 volt and a high level, close to the supply voltage of the component, without being in other states than these two extremes. Even though the signal level of the exit here is described as a source system it is, however, not excluded that output can be of the open collector type, which is a drain system. It is intended not to be able to supply an output voltage, but serve as an electronic contact with connection to the negative pole of the supply voltage. By fitting out with extern components the output signal can be designed in preparation for adaptation for interface with micro processor or another counting mechanism. Internally in the Hall switch mechanisms are implemented, which counteract bounce by defining a suitable hysteresis for the transition states. This counteracts the need for calibration, as the number of erroneous counting pulses is minimized. Simultaneously a Hall sensor is a fully semiconductor based component with the advantages in consequence in the form of size, price and life span. For further information concerning Hall sensors reference is made to manufacturers of these for instance the company, Micromagnetics.
It is therefore noted that each time a magnetic pole is lead past a Reed switch or a Hall sensor, this will release a signal. When using a magnetic encoder, with a magnetic ring with four poles, the position is thus determined for each quarter of a rotation of the spindle. Two Hall sensors can be used, at which the position is determined eight times per rotation.
Alternatively to a magnetic encoder an optical encoder may be used, which works in the same manner, namely with a rotating disk with penetrations and a light source. When a penetration passes by the light source, a light beam temporary passes through to a photoelectric cell, which with that releases a signal. On the basis of the signals, the position is calculated by means of a micro processor in the control unit.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,429 an actuator system is known, where optical sensors are used for determining the position from the rotations of the motor (FIG. 6). However, it is not described here how the control unit determines the direction of rotation of the spindle. This will result in that a potential manual adjustment can influence a wrong position indication. The price level for optical sensors compared to magnetic alternatives, however, makes this solution less attractive as the marked for actuators is submitted to a heavy price competition.
An absolute determination of the position is preferred, but when Hall sensors and Reed switches are uses it is partly due to costs and partly due to reliability reasons. Potentiometers are relatively expensive and are from a purely mechanical point of view worn-out in time. This wear appears as fully or partially interruption of connection between the guide shoe of the potentiometer and the resistive distance on the potentiometer. The wear can over time cause a change in the resistive linearity of the potentiometer over the full dynamic range, which will influence the accuracy of the position determination. Furthermore, the regulation area at the ends cannot be fully used. Another and more unnoticed moment is that it takes about a year to test the reliability of a potentiometer in an actuator, which means that it is not possible just to replace a potentiometer with another kind. If the supplier changes the construction of the potentiometer, the testing must be redone.
The object of the invention is to provide a solution to the outlined problem, namely to achieve an absolute positioning without the disadvantages of rotary potentiometers.