The invention relates to a synchronous motor (12) with a number of stator coils (15), with a rotor (16) with at least one permanent magnet (17), which induces a rotor magnetic field in a useful flux direction and with at least one coil winding (20), which is fitted on the rotor in order to induce a resultant magnetic field as a result of an alternating magnetic fields which is applied with the aid of the stator coils, in the direction of a winding axis of the coil winding, so that a resultant inductance of the stator coils (15) with respect to a direction of the winding axis is different given different positions of the rotor (16).

The invention relates to a synchronous motor, in particular an encoderless synchronous motor. Furthermore, the invention relates to an encoderless motor system with such a synchronous motor, and a method for operating the encoderless motor system.
A synchronous motor normally has a number of stator coils which are arranged in the vicinity of an armature with at least one permanent magnet in order to drive the armature. The armature is normally designed in the form of a rotor, the permanent magnet being arranged on the rotor so that it produces an armature magnetic field in a radial direction with respect to a rotor axis of the rotor. The armature of the synchronous motor is driven by applying an appropriate stator current to each of the stator coils with the help of appropriate control signals, thus giving rise to a resulting drive magnetic field. The stator currents are controlled in such a way that the drive magnetic field runs essentially perpendicular to the direction of the armature magnetic field produced by the permanent magnet in order to produce a greatest possible torque. In order to always apply the stator currents so that the direction of the magnetic field produced by the stator coils runs perpendicular to the armature magnetic field, the position of the armature or rotor position must be known. To operate the synchronous motor, the position of the armature must therefore be continuously determined or estimated so that the stator coils can be optimally controlled depending on the determined position of the armature. Position detectors are normally provided to determine the position of the armature or rotor position.
In the case of an encoderless synchronous motor, the position of the rotor is estimated with the help of an anisotropy of a resulting inductance in the stator coils of the stator, i.e. when the synchronous motor is operating, different resulting inductances can be measured in the stator coils depending on the rotor position, by means of which the position of the armature or rotor can be estimated. To do this, measuring signals are superimposed on the control signal for applying the stator currents for the stator coils so that, in addition to the drive magnetic field, an alternating magnetic field is produced, wherein the current flows through the stator coils produced by the measuring signals depend on the resulting rotor-position-dependent inductance of the synchronous motor. Because, as previously described, the resulting inductance of the synchronous motor depends on the position of the rotor, the rotor position can be estimated from the measuring currents which are produced by the measuring signals.
In order to determine the rotor position as accurately as possible, it is necessary that the characteristic of the resulting inductance of the synchronous motor changes as much as possible depending on the rotor position, i.e. it is anisotropic, the difference of the resulting inductance between one direction of the armature magnetic field and a different direction thereto being as great as possible. However, with conventional rotors, the low anisotropy of the resulting inductance leads to the rotor position only being estimated inaccurately, so that the drive magnetic field does not run exactly perpendicular to the armature magnetic field. As a result, the synchronous motor cannot be operated with the optimum torque.

Synchronous motor, encoderless motor system and a method for operating an encoderless motor system with a synchronous motor


An relatively small anti-personnel mine device having a housing about 2 to about 3 inches in diameter, by about 2 to about 4 inches in length, which device projects a dispersion pattern of ⅛ to ⅜ inch diameter hard fragments over at least a 3 to 4 inch radius circle to neutralize a typical, buried, anti-personnel mine. The device contains about 125 to 190 grams of plastic explosive, which when detonated impacts a gas push plate against which an array of the fragments are lodged—the gas push plate and the fragments being encased in a puck shaped matrix of plastic or resin. The effect of the device is such that in addition to neutralizing the mine, the overburden atop the buried mine is expelled exposing the mine, providing enhanced safety in removal and a warning if the mine is daisy-chained to other mines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an anti-mine system capable of effectively neutralizing buried mines, and in particular, to such a system which is readily portable and can easily positioned by small to medium scale robots to defeat buried anti-personnel.
2. Description of the Related Art
While buried land mines were first developed in the late 19th century and became widely used in WWI, during the early 20th century, an effective system to disable them has proven elusive—as the earth within which they are buried provides significant protection thereof. This difficulty in disabling such devices has been complicated with advances in the technology of the mines themselves; such as, blast resistant fusing, anti-handling features, and anti-tampering features.
In general, mine clearing, or breaching, during combat operations is conducted at a rapid operational tempo, and may be accomplished by using mine rollers or flails which either activate the mine's fuzing or damage the mine to the point where it will not function and detonate. Another option used has been to detonate bulk explosive charges on or over a known or potential minefield; which detonation creates a spike in pressure that is often sufficient to trigger a detoration of simple pressure fuzed mines. If the explosive charge is large enough, or is in sufficiently close proximity to the mine, the pressure spike may be sufficient to sympathetically decorate a mine. These techniques are usually employed over a broad area when individual mines' locations have not been identified. However, advances in mine technology have produced blast resistant mines; which have fuzes that are largely immune to being triggered by the brief pressure wave of a nearby bulk charge and require the more sustained pressure of a person or vehicle to detonate.
In non-combat situations, mine clearing is conducted at a slower tempo, primarily due to humanitarian concerns, such mine clearing is known as demining, and often involves the locating and neutralization of all individual mines in a given area. The most reliable approach to demining is to layout a search grid and manually probed each grid point to find all possible threats; however, this is very manpower intensive and time consuming. Alternative means of locating mines have been developed which are somewhat faster, such as using metal detectors and ground penetrating radar. However, such alternative detection equipment has a halo of uncertainty, wherein the mine itself may be within a given radius vs. the exact spot that the equipment is indicating. In general, within an approximately an 8 inch diameter circle about the detectors point of focus is considered a standard halo of uncertainty.
While the use of mine detection equipment greatly improved the rate at which demining could be accomplished, personnel still usually needed to remove the soil overfill material from over the mine to either manually disable the mine, or by any number of other means, including using a pyrotechnic torches, shaped charges or chemical means, disable the fuze or consume the explosive without it detonating. Or, alternatively, by simply placing a block of demolition charge in direct contact with the mine—trigger the fuze, or cause a sympathetic detonation of the explosive in the mine (and potentially other mines in the area—which may be dangerous to individuals in the vicinity). Further, these method's generally require the mine's footprint to be positively ascertained, since pyrotechnic torches, shaped charge, or chemical means generally have a single vector of attack, which is limited in cross-section. Also, the effectiveness of bulk charges in sympathetically detonating a mine greatly decreases with the distance from the mine—as the increased amount of overfill material dampens the pressure wave. However, the limits of current detection equipment do not allow the precise determination of the mine footprint; but, only the location of the mine within the 4 inch radius halo of uncertainty. Ensuring that a single vector defeat method contacts a buried mine within this halo is substantially more problematic in the case of small anti-personnel mines, which can be as small as 2 inches in diameter.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,298,763 and 7,182,011, utilize an explosively dart or plurality of darts that travel parallel to each other, downwardly to neutralize a mine. However, these darts in so traveling downwardly, perpendicular to face of the device, are limited in that they impact only a mine directly below the face of the device. Therefore, unless the device has a face large enough to cover the halo of uncertainty, or if the mine is located directly under the face—the device will fail to neutralize the mine.
An alternative anti-mine device is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,155. This device projects shattered fragments from a fragmentation component, to penetrate the overburden and neutralize the mines. However, such irregular fragments produced by such a device would not effectively penetrate the overfill/overburden, and the device would have to be very large and heavy—to realize the desired effect.
Robotic platforms, robots, have been increasingly deployed in demining operations to remove all humans from the danger zone. Increasingly, robots of this type have been created that are smaller and more portable. Due to the emergence of increased usage of such smaller robotics in the demining mission, a neutralization tool deployed from such a robot must not exceed its limited payload capability; but, still cover the halo of uncertainty.
Therefore, it can be seen that there is a need in the art for a device small and light enough to be utilized by small to medium scale robotic in demining operations; but, which has the penetrating power to penetrate the overfill and effectively and totally neutralize buried mines within the entire halo of uncertainty, even mines of the blast resistant variety.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


The present invention provides a portable power source comprising a fuel cell generating electricity using hydrogen as fuel, a hydrogen storage unit filled with hydrogen absorbing alloy for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell, a case enclosing the fuel cell and hydrogen storage unit, and a lid for sealing a part of the case when the portable power source is not in use, wherein the lid seals a surface of the case on which at least one air inlet for taking in the air necessary for the fuel cell to generate electricity and a reactant gas outlet for exhausting reactant gas produced by the generation of electricity are formed.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable power source, particularly, to a portable power source using a fuel cell.
(2) Description of Related Art
Since phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC), molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC), and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) convert chemical energy of supplied gas into electric energy, they retain superior efficiency in the generation of electricity. The fuel cells with capacity of 100 W to 100 kW are already in practical use, and particularly, the compact fuel cells are used as a power source for apparatus in outside transmissions, the civil engineering and construction, or the like.
Conventional power sources using compact fuel cells have a number of air inlets and a number of reactant gas outlets on the several surfaces of the cases enclosing the fuel cells, from which the air leaks into the cases when the power sources are not in use. Then electrolyte of the fuel cells(for instance, phosphoric acid) absorbs water in the air, deteriorating its concentration and therefore, cell characteristics. Accordingly, valves are formed at the inlets and outlets in order to shut off the air, even though satisfactory results are not obtained. In addition, forming the valves makes the construction of the power sources more complicated as well as adding weight thereto, which makes them unfavorable for portable ones.


A hidden drawstring apparatus includes a housing and a rotatable hub positioned within the housing. The hub is configured to receive an end of a drawstring to be wound about the hub. A handle assembly is rotatably connected to the housing. A drive member has a first end connected to the handle assembly and a second end connected to the rotatable hub.

Drawstrings are well known for closing or tightening items such as articles of apparel and duffle bags. When drawstrings are used on a hood of a coat or jacket, for example, the hanging drawstring can be cumbersome and an annoyance, and may create a safety issue due to the drawstring getting caught in or on another object. This can be especially dangerous for children.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hidden drawstring assembly that reduces or overcomes some or all of the difficulties inherent in prior known devices. Particular objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable or experienced in this field of technology, in view of the following disclosure of the invention and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments.


The present invention relates to a system and method that models computer programming language concepts in a plurality of objects and enables a computer programmer to interact with multiple programming languages through one code model interface. This allows the computer programmer to identify objects or functionality available in an application without having to know or specify an underlying language that implements that object or functionality. The computer programmer can employ the code model to locate an object that implements a specific functionality and return a code model object that implements that functionality. The computer programmer may then interact with that code model object rather than having to interact with the computer programming language.

Computer programs are written in one or more programming languages and generally have their own syntax. Computer programming languages also have their own set of axiomatic semantic concepts, features and functionality. The axiomatic semantic concepts define a language in terms of discrete entities that are implemented by that language. For example, a language may implement entities such as objects, subroutines, functions, data structures, control structures, decision structures, statements and expressions. Differences in syntax, semantics and functionality introduce complexity into computer programming, however, since programmers must decide which languages to work with, and must learn the syntax, semantic concepts, features and functionality of various languages. Unfortunately, valuable time, energy and resources are expended interacting with various languages.
Computer programming has become more tool-based. Thus, tools like wizards, modeling tools, code analyzers and code generators, for example, have become more common. But creating such tools is hampered by the necessity of the tool maker having to create a parser for each language with which the tool interacts.
Differences in accessing object attributes and invoking object methods may also add complexity to computer programming. For example, some languages pass parameters by reference while others pass parameters by value and yet others may use a combination. Thus, interacting with different languages may require adherence to different parameter passing protocols. Consequently, there is a need for an interface model to simplify programming and interactions with various languages.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for interacting with computer programming languages at semantic level


A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate controlled access to a communication device in accordance with predefined security levels in an independent manner that does not require a network connection. In the context of a method, a combination lock code is associated with a predefined security level for the communication device. The method also includes receiving input indicative of rotation of a multi-function physical dial carried by the communication device. The method also determines whether the input corresponds to the combination lock code and, in an instance in which the input does correspond to the combination lock code, permits access to the communication device in a manner consistent with the predefined security level.

Communication devices are utilized for a wide variety of purposes including communication with other devices, access to network services, such as internet services, or the like. Communication devices may be utilized by a wide variety of users ranging from relative novices or other casual users who utilize a communication device for its more basic functionality to administrators or other more advanced users who may be involved with programming the communication device so as to define or enhance its functionality.
Security levels may therefore be defined for a communication device in order to provide controlled access to various functions and features of the communication device. For example, a relatively low security level may be associated with novice users of the communication device to permit the novice users to utilize the more basic functionality of the communication device, but to prevent access by the novice users to more advanced functionality, such as by preventing novice users from loading additional applications or otherwise modifying the applications executed by the communication device. In contrast, a relatively high security level may be associated with more advanced users, such as administrators, programmers or the like, to permit the more advanced users to load additional applications onto the communication device or to otherwise modify the performance of the communication device. For example, the security level associated with a more advanced user of a communication device may permit access to the application programming interfaces (APIs) and software development kits (SDKs) of the communication device so as to permit the more advanced users to upload applications written utilizing the APIs and SDKs of the communication device in order to modify the functionality of the communication device.
The various security levels of a communication device may be associated with respective codes that may be entered by a user in order to gain the desired access to the communication device. For example, the codes associated with the different security levels may be stored by a network device, such as by being stored within cloud storage. As such, a user may enter a code, such as via the keypad, a touchscreen or other software-based user interface. The code entered by the user may be transmitted by the communication device to the network for a comparison with predefined codes associated with the various security levels. The network may, in turn, inform the communication device as to whether the code entered by the user matches the code for a respective security level and, if so, the communication device may grant access to the user of the various privileges associated with the respective security level. This process requires the communication device to have a network connection such that in instances in which the communication device is offline or otherwise does not have a network connection, the user is unable to be verified in accordance with the various security levels and, as such, is unable to take advantage of the various privileges associated with the respective security level until the communication device secures a network connection and the code entered by the user is able to be verified.

Method and apparatus for providing security with a multi-function physical dial of a communication device


A rail clip for securing a strip heater to a rail that resists removal when subjected to intense vibration, such as when rail cars are passing overhead. The rail clip is configured with a U-shaped rail flange receiving area wherein the opposite sides of this receiving area are configured with at least one tooth each for securing the rail therebetween. For greater securement, multiple teeth on each side of this U-shaped receiving area would be employed and with at least one tooth on each side thereof being in alignment with the other. Furthermore, the teeth on at least one side of this receiving area would include multiple teeth, both pointed and elongated.

Rail heater clips are used to secure a strip heater, a heat sensor or other items to a rail line (such as a commuter or freight rail). In colder climates, portions of rail lines need to be heated to prevent them from freezing. This is especially important at rail switch points or wherever the rail is to be shifted or moved. Strip heaters and other items are used at these locations to prevent snow or ice from blocking or otherwise restricting any such rail movement.
Rail heater clips have existed for quite some time and they come in many different variations depending on the size and/or shape of the rail as well as the item they are to secure to the rail. Rail heater clips also vary depending on the part of the rail the heat is to be applied to.
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing these clips is the need to remain attached to the rail during times of intense vibration, such as when rail cars are moving directly overhead. This requirement along with avoiding mechanical breakage and deterioration are paramount in designing and manufacturing rail heater clips.
At the same time, ease of installation is an important consideration. If the installation is complicated or requires special equipment, there is a greater chance that the installation will be faulty. Hence, welding or gluing clips in place are less viable alternatives since both require pre-preparation to adhere properly. Furthermore, the employment of magnetic properties to secure the clip to the rail will not suffice since such magnetic properties will be adversely affected by the electro magnetic fields generated by the passing cars. The current method was seen to be the most viable for production at this point in time. However, it may transpire that at some later stage with advances in cleaning technology or capabilities to overcome electro-magnetic effects that these other methods of installation will become more viable for manufacture.
Thus it is an object of this invention to develop a rail heater clip that is not only easy to install, but which will also resist vibration loading. Another object of this invention is to develop a rail heater clip that can accommodate a variety of different rail strip heaters and associated equipment as well as secure such items in place upon the rail. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a rail heater clip whose gripping capability is not diminished or affected whether the heating equipment is to be secured to the side or to the bottom of the rail. Still another object of this invention is to provide a rail heater clip that can be altered to accommodate any variety of differently sized and/or shaped rails. Another feature is to provide a rail heater clip that provides a more balanced grip upon the rail and one that is specially configured to resist removal. These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be come apparent upon further investigation.


The microwave antenna includes a substrate, an antenna element supported on a surface of the substrate, and a power feeding electrode connected to the antenna element. The antenna element includes a carbon nanotube structure constituting a network structure having plural carbon nanotubes electrically connected to each other. The process for producing the microwave antenna includes applying plural carbon nanotubes each having a functional group to a surface of the substrate and crosslinking the functional groups with a chemical bond to form a crosslinked part, so as to form the carbon nanotube structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microwave antenna using carbon nanotubes as a material for an antenna element, and a process for producing the same. More specifically, the invention relates to a microwave antenna capable of being utilized for high capacity wireless communication, such as UWB (ultra wide band), and a process for producing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of communication antennas, various studies have been made with respect to the design of antennas to have a high efficiency, a wide bandwidth and a small size, associated with the enlargement of usable range of radio wave. Among the studies, Douglas Werner, et al. of Pennsylvania University, have theoretically noted that the efficiency is improved by disposing antennas in a fractal form, and the number of antennas can be reduced to ¼. Nathan Cohen of Boston University has noted that the use of the Sierpinski's triangle forms capacitance and inductance owing to the zigzag configuration thereof, so as to enable a wide bandwidth and to reduce the area to ⅙. Both the studies can be referred in Nikkei Science, September 1999, page 10.
A specific form and structure of the fractal antenna is disclosed in WO 97/06578, WO 99/25044and WO 02/01668A2. Specifically, in WO 02/01668A2, a wide bandwidth of from 1 GHz to 9.5 GHz as an area of equal to or lower than −10 dB under an evaluation of reflection coefficient is concretely disclosed.
However, there is a limitation in reduction in size even in a fractal antenna since it contains a polygon corresponding to a particular wavelength and the limited repetition of similar figures thereof. Due to the limitation in size, a strict fractal form are not achieved, thus there is a deviation from the ideal state in the low frequency range. In order to solve the problem, a multilevel antenna having plural polygons combined with each other has been proposed (as shown in JP-T-2003-510871), but it is still insufficient to cope with further demands including small size and wide bandwidth.
A carbon nanotube (CNT) has been considered to be applied various applications owing to the peculiar shape and characteristics thereof. A carbon nanotube has a tubular shape with one-dimensional nature formed by winding a graphene sheet constituted by six-membered rings of carbon atoms. A carbon nanotube having a structure containing one graphene sheet is referred to as a single wall nanotube (SWNT), and a carbon nanotube having a multi-layer structure is referred to as a multi-wall nanotube (MWNT). An SWNT has a diameter of about 1 nm, and an MWNT has a diameter of several tens of nanometer, which are extremely thinner than conventional products that are referred to as carbon fibers.
A carbon nanotube has such a characteristic feature that it has a length in micrometer order and a significantly large aspect ratio of the length with respect to the diameter. Furthermore, a carbon nanotube is a substance that has such an extremely rare characteristic nature that it has both properties of metal and semiconductor owing to the spiral structure of the arrangement of six-membered rings of carbon atoms. Moreover, a carbon nanotube has an extremely high electroconductivity and can flow an electric current of 100 MA/cm2 or more in terms of an electric current density.
A carbon nanotube also has excellent features in mechanical properties in addition to the electric characteristics. That is, it is constituted only carbon atoms, and therefore, it has a Young's modulus exceeding 1 TPa and is considerably tough in spite of the significant light weight thereof. Furthermore, it is a cage material and is rich in elasticity and restoration property. Thus, a carbon nanotube is extremely attractive as an industrial material owing to such various excellent properties.
Such a method for utilizing the excellent characteristics of a carbon nanotube has been developed that carbon nanotubes are formed into a film and applied to wiring and patterning. For example, pattern formation of carbon nanotubes has been made by utilizing the screen printing process and the photolithography technique. These techniques are excellent from the standpoint that a large area can be patterned at a time and are used for patterning an electron source of a field emission display (FED). In these techniques, however, carbon nanotubes are simply dispersed in a solvent and then coated, or coated after mixing with a binder, and therefore, they are insufficient in performance, such as mechanical strength and electroconductivity. Accordingly, they are difficult to be applied to an electrode and an electric circuit.
An example of applying the techniques to an antenna is disclosed in JP-A-2002-7992. However, the antenna having the constitution disclosed in the document is an antenna in coiled form since it is a simple electromagnetic induction type, but the bandwidth thereof is about from −20% to +20% of the designed frequency, and it has not been considered in bandwidth characteristics in the microwave region.
JP-T -2002-503204 discloses that carbon nanotube having a three-dimensional structure can be formed by using functionalized carbon nanotubes. JP-T-2002-503204 discloses such a material to be used simply as a flow cell electrode for chromatography that carbon nanotubes having functional groups bonded thereto for separation and adsorption of substances to be passed thereto are accumulated on a metallic mesh to form a porous material, and such a material that is formed by bonding carbon nanotubes by using an alkoxide of aluminum or silica (the alkoxide itself is an insulating material) as a crosslinking agent. However, JP-T-2002-503204 fails to refer to an application to an antenna.

Microwave antenna and process for producing the same


An injection molding apparatus includes an injection manifold having an inlet and a melt channel. The manifold melt channel branches to a plurality of melt channel outlets. A hot runner injection nozzle includes an axial melt channel extending along a central axis and communicating with one of the manifold melt channel outlets. The nozzle further includes at least two angled melt channels disposed at an angle to the central axis. At least two nozzle tips are provided, and each includes a nozzle tip melt channel in communication with one of the angled melt channels. A valve pin is disposed at least partially within the axial melt channel coaxially with the central axis and movable within the axial melt channel. Lateral valve pins movable within the nozzle tip melt channels are disposed at an angle to the valve pin. Linkage elements continuously connect the lateral valve pins to the valve pin. Axial movement of the valve pin is transmitted through the linkage elements to the lateral valve pins to open and close communication between the nozzle tip melt channels and the lateral mold gates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an injection molding apparatus and, in particular, to a valve pin mechanism for use in an edge-gated injection molding apparatus.
2. Related Art
Edge gating from a nozzle of an injection molding apparatus through a number of edge gate tips is well known. A multi-cavity edge, or side, gated injection molding apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,433 to Gellert, issued Feb. 27, 1996, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference thereto. Generally, the multi-cavity edge-gated injection molding apparatus includes several nozzles that are coupled to a manifold to receive a melt stream of moldable material therefrom. Each nozzle is mounted in a cylindrical opening in a mold to convey pressurized melt through a nozzle melt channel to mold gates, which lead to mold cavities in the mold. The mold cavities are spaced radially around the nozzle. Each mold gate extends through a gate insert, which is held in position by a gate insert retainer plate. Each mold gate is aligned with a gate seal that is threadably coupled to the nozzle. As such, the location of the gate seals is generally fixed relative to the mold.
A multi-cavity edge gated injection molding apparatus with a first nozzle, a nozzle link, and a second nozzle is described in U.S. Published Application Publication No. 2005-0196486 A1, published Sep. 8, 2005, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference thereto. U.S. Published Application Publication No. 2005-0196486 does not disclose a valve pin mechanism for opening and closing communication to the mold gates.
An edge gated injection molding nozzle including a valve pin mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Published Patent Application Publication No. 2006-0233911 A1 to Spuller, published Oct. 19, 2006. However, the nozzle of the Spuller publication includes a nozzle melt channel on either side of the valve pin. In such an arrangement, melt distributed to the cavities on either side of the valve pin travel different distances, and may therefore lead to a melt flow imbalance towards the lateral gates.


Terminal equipment on a reception side comprises a telephone number detection section for detecting a calling subscriber's number transmitted from the communication network, a memory for storing specified calling subscribers' numbers, and control section for calling back to the terminal equipment on the transmission side in case that it is detected in the memory by the telephone number detection section. Consequently, the terminal equipment on the transmission side promptly proceeds to a call or communication with the terminal equipment on the reception side only by dialing the telephone number of the terminal equipment on the reception side without dialing a call to the communication network, so that the terminal equipment on the transmission side can put the communication expense to an account of the terminal equipment on the reception side. It is also possible that the communication expense is put to an account of the terminal equipment on the reception side only for specified calling subscribers.

The present invention relates to an communication system consists of terminal equipment on a transmission side terminal equipment on a reception side, and a communication network with calling subscriber's number information service which informs the terminal equipment on the reception side of a telephone number of the terminal equipment on the transmission side before establishment of a call or communication, in which the terminal equipment on the reception side is operative to automatically call back in response to only calls from specified terminal equipment on transmission sides so that a communication expense for the call or communication is put to an account of the terminal equipment on the reception side.
In public networks, reception prepaid services such as the collect call and the toll-free dial have already been available.
The collect call is established as follows.
First, a transmitter dials a prescribed telephone number to call a switchboard and inform the operator of a telephone number of a receiver. Next, the operator makes a call to the receiver corresponding to the telephone number informed by the transmitter to confirm that a communication expense for the call in question will be put to an account of the receiver. When compliance is given by the receiver, the operator establishes a call between the transmitter and receiver. After that time, the communication expense is put to an account of the receiver.
On the other hand, the toll-free dial is established as follows. First, a transmitter dials a prescribed telephone number, e.g., "10120" (which corresponds to "800" in the USA). A switching system automatically recognizes it. When the telephonic communication between the transmitter and receiver is established, the switching system automatically puts a communication expense for the call in question to an account of the receiver.
A drawback with respect to the collect call is that it takes much time for the operator to establish a call or communication between the transmitter and receiver. In the other hand, a drawback with respect to the toll-free dial is that the receiver must response to every call, so that communication expenses for all calls even including calls from unspecified persons are put to accounts of the receiver.

Communication system and its accounting method


A waste heat recovery system (100) is provided. At least one heat exchanger (104) is fluidically coupled to a waste heat source (102) and is configured for selectively recovering heat from the waste heat source (102) to heat a working fluid (108). An energy conversion device (112) is fluidically coupled to the at least one heat exchanger (104) and is configured to receive the working fluid (108) and to generate an energy for performing work or transferring the energy to another device using the heat recovered from the waste heat source (102). A condenser (122) is fluidically coupled to the energy conversion device (112) and configured to receive the working fluid (108) from the energy conversion device (112) and to condense the working fluid (108) into a liquid phase.

Internal combustion engines are available in a variety of different configurations. Some are spark-ignited wherein a mixture of air and fuel (e.g., gasoline) is delivered to each of the engine's cylinders and ignited by, for example, a spark plug at a specific time during the engine cycle to cause combustion. The combustion moves a piston in the cylinder, causing rotation of a crankshaft, which delivers power to a drivetrain. Other engines are compression-ignited wherein a mixture of air and fuel (e.g., diesel) is delivered to each of cylinder which combusts as a result of compression of the mixture in the cylinder during the compression stroke of the piston. During operation, the engines often generate more heat and energy than needed for operation of the piston, the crankshaft, and the drivetrain.
Conventional waste heat recovery systems to recover heat generated by the engines that would otherwise be lost through cooling and heat rejection provide means to improve engine efficiency. Heat is generally recovered from sources of high temperature, for example, the exhaust gas produced by the internal combustion engine (ICE), or compressed intake gas. Such high grade waste heat recovery systems include components which are configured to extract the heat from the high temperature source. These components can include exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) boilers, pre-charge air coolers (pre-CAC), exhaust system heat exchangers, or other components configured to extract heat from the high grade source of heat.
However, the conventional waste heat recovery systems do not offer higher levels of performance and are not as compact, or as easily integrated into existing applications. Drawbacks of the conventional waste heat recovery systems include high weight, high manufacturing and operation cost, and difficulties in assembly and fabrication. Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a waste heat recovery system that addresses one or more of the drawbacks mentioned above.

Waste heat recovery systems with heat exchangers


Some embodiments are directed to an adjustable arm rest attachment mechanism that includes an outer bearing non-rotatably fixed to a seat and defining a first guide groove. An inner bearing is non-rotatably fixed to an arm rest, and defines a second guide groove. The inner bearing is rotatable relative to the outer bearing, and is disposed over the outer bearing. A pin extends through the second guide groove and into the first guide groove. The pin and the first and second guide grooves are configured such that, if the arm rest is rotated downward within an adjustment zone, then wall surfaces of the first guide groove selectively engage and disengage the pin, and simultaneously, wall surfaces of the second guide groove selectively engage and disengage the pin, thereby creating a varying frictional force capable of impeding further rotation of the arm rest.

The disclosed subject matter relates to adjustable arm rests, and methods of manufacture and use thereof, including but not limited to arm rests for use with seats. More particularly, the disclosed subject matter relates to arm rests that are adjustable in terms of orientation relative to an occupant of the seat.
Some related art seats include arm rests that are movable between a deployed state that can support a user's arm, and a stowed position that does not enable support of the user's arm. Some of these and other related art seats allow a user to manually adjust a lowest position of the arm rest in the deployed state, which is referred to herein as the maximum deployment position or full down position. This adjustment of the maximum deployment position can be performed by a related art rotatable knob, wherein rotation of the knob adjusts the maximum deployment position, or alternatively by a related art tightening coil that provides one-way locking or ratcheting of the arm rest.

Adjustable arm rest and methods of manufacture and use thereof


A tubular digestive screen for use in controlling the caloric intake of persons having morbid obesity is disclosed. The screen is made up of a thin-walled membrane-like tube, which has a firm ring at the top of the tube, a funnel-shaped portion below the firm ring, a tubular portion of constant diameter beginning below the funnel-shaped portion, and a distal end of the tube having a brush. The screen can be inserted and maintained in the digestive system of a patient without the need for an anchoring chain within the tube.

Morbid obesity is a behavioral disorder which may render a person unable to lose weight by normal procedures. Morbid obesity is defined by Dorland's Medical Dictionary as "the condition of weighing two or three or more times the ideal weight; morbid obesity is often associated with serious and life threatening disorders." No pathology can be demonstrated in the stomach and small intestine in this eating disorder. The digestive system is normal. It is well established in the medical world that obesity of this magnitude lead to a much shorter than normal life span. There is severe strain on the heart, lungs and musculoskeletal systems, and threats to the general health comes from many directions.
For several decades, various bold and courageous surgeons have subjected a very limited number of patients having morbid obesity to surgical modifications, including:
1) Removing part of the stomach and rearranging the small bowel;
2) Stapling part of the stomach and rearranging the small bowel; and PA1 3) Bypassing the stomach by rearranging the jejunum and making a pouch of the upper intestines. See for example, Halmi, Gastric Bvpass for Massive Obesity, Chapter 20 of "Obesity", edited by Stunkard, pages 25-38; and Kral, Surgical Therapy, Chapter 3 of "Obesity" edited by Greenwood, pages 25-38.
Many of these procedures seemed encouraging and promising at the time but none of them resulted in happy, healthy patients recovering from morbid obesity. For one thing, all of these techniques are irreversible and commit the patient to suffer symptoms related to, for example, indigestion, poor vitamin assimilation, diarrhea, malnutrition and the like. The surgeon cannot rearrange these organs without danger to the patient.


An overlay metrology tool and diffraction-based overlay measurements are described herein. The tool includes a light source for generating an incident light that illuminates stacked overlay targets formed within material layers of a wafer and a light sensing system for measuring characteristics of a diffracted light beam reflected from the surface of the wafer. During a single illumination of the wafer and without rotating a polarization of the incident light beam, the light sensing system generates three components of the diffracted light beam having one or more polarizations and intensities, according to an overlay recipe associated with the stacked overlay targets.

Semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) fabrication involves forming multiple material layers with designed patterns on a semiconductor wafer. Each layer has to be aligned with previous layers such that the formed circuit can function properly. Various marks are used for this purpose. For example, overlay targets are used to monitor overlay deviation between the multiple layers as they are being formed on the wafer. In another example, overlay targets are used for alignment between a photomask and the semiconductor wafer. As semiconductor technology continues progressing to circuit layouts having smaller feature sizes, the alignment requirement becomes more stringent, the overlay targets are expected to take less wafer area, and the number and complexity of overlay mark measurements increase. As such, the number of processing steps and the amount of processing time during wafer fabrication continues to increase, resulting in higher manufacturing costs and chip costs.

Overlay metrology tool and methods of performing overlay measurements

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A semiconductor laser diode capable of achieving an improvement in kink level and an improvement in catastrophic optical damage (COD) level. The semiconductor laser diode includes a first-conductivity type semiconductor substrate, a first-conductivity type clad layer formed over the substrate, an active layer formed over the first-conductivity type clad layer, a second-conductivity type clad layer formed over the active layer, and provided with a ridge, and a light confining layer formed on the second-conductivity type clad layer, and made of a first-conductivity type semiconductor material, the light confining layer including higher-order mode absorption layers having an energy band gap lower than optical energy produced in the active layer, and refractive index control layers having a refractive index lower than that of the higher-order mode absorption layers. The higher-order mode absorption layers and refractive index control layers are laminated in an alternate manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor laser diode, and more particularly to a semiconductor laser diode in which higher-order mode absorption layers of a super-lattice structure are formed, thereby being capable of achieving an improvement in kink level and an improvement in catastrophic optical damage (COD) level.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, semiconductor laser devices are used for light sources of optical pickup devices in optical disc systems such as CD-RW and DVD-RW. Also, they are widely applied to diverse technical fields such as information and image processing, measuring, communication, and medical treatment. Such semiconductor laser diodes used in diverse technical fields are required to exhibit high power, a high COD level, and a high kink level.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a conventional high power semiconductor laser diode. As shown in FIG. 1, the high power semiconductor laser diode includes a first-conductivity type semiconductor substrate 12 formed with a first electrode 11 at a lower surface thereof. The high power semiconductor laser diode also includes a first-conductivity type clad layer 13, an active layer 14 having a multi-quantum well structure, and a second-conductivity type clad layer 15 formed with a ridge 15a, which are sequentially formed over an upper surface of the first-conductivity type semiconductor substrate 12. A current confining layer 16 is formed on the second-conductivity type clad layer 15 around the ridge 15a. A contact layer 17 is also formed to cover the upper surfaces of the current confining layer 16 and ridge 15a. A second electrode 18 is formed over the contact layer 17.
In the conventional semiconductor laser diode having the above mentioned structure, its ridge 15a is narrow while having a sharp slope in order to achieve an increase in laser power. In order to form the ridge 15a having such a sharp slope, a dry etching process using plasma is carried out. Where such a narrow ridge having a sharp slope is used, it is possible to achieve an improvement in kink level and an increase in laser power because the laser generating region x in the active layer 14 is narrowed. However, such a narrow laser generating region causes an increase in the optical density per area, thereby resulting in an increase in COD. As a result, a decrease in optical power occurs. In severe cases, oscillation of light may be ceased. This is because the light oscillated from the active layer may be absorbed into the light emitting facet of the semiconductor laser diode, thereby increasing the temperature of the light emitting facet, or fusing the light emitting facet in severe cases, and thus, breaking the device.
Furthermore, where the dry etching process using plasma, damage caused by the plasma remains at the etched region. As a result, there is an adverse affect on the characteristics of the semiconductor laser diode and a degradation in the reliability of the semiconductor laser diode.
FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a conventional high power laser diode. As shown in FIG. 2, the high power semiconductor laser diode includes a first-conductivity type semiconductor substrate 22 formed with a first electrode 21 at a lower surface thereof. The high power semiconductor laser diode also includes a first-conductivity type clad layer 23, an active layer 24 having a multi-quantum well structure, and a second-conductivity type clad layer 25 formed with a ridge 25a, which are sequentially formed over an upper surface of the first-conductivity type semiconductor substrate 22. A light confining layer 26 is formed over the second-conductivity type clad layer 25. The light confining layer 26 has a ridge 26a having a width larger than that of the ridge 25a formed at the second-conductivity type clad layer 25 while having a refractive index lower than that of the second-conductivity type clad layer 25. A current confining layer 27 made of a first-conductivity type semiconductor material is formed on the light confining layer 26 around the ridge 26a.
In this semiconductor laser diode, formation of a desired ridge structure is achieved by forming the ridge 25a made of a material having a high refractive index at the second-conductivity type clad layer 25 through a wet etching process, forming the light confining layer 26 having a refractive index lower than that of the second-conductivity type clad layer 25 through a secondary growth process without using any oxide film, and subsequently forming the current confining layer 27 made of a first-conductivity type semiconductor material through a third growth process. In the semiconductor laser diode having such a structure, the ridge 25a formed at the second-conductivity type clad layer 25 forms a light confining region y, whereas the ridge 26a formed at the light confining layer 26 forms a current confining region z.
Thus, the above mentioned conventional semiconductor laser diode increases the width of the ridge structure by separating regions for carrier confinement and optical confinement from each other, thereby achieving an improvement in COD level. In this semiconductor laser diode in which its optical density per area is reduced in accordance with an increase in ridge width, thereby achieving an improvement in COD level, however, there is a problem in that when the optical power of oscillated lasers increases, higher-order modes may be generated, thereby causing a degradation in kink level. Now, generation of a kink will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b.
FIG. 3a is a graph depicting a variation in laser power in a lateral (width) direction of a semiconductor laser diode. When the semiconductor laser diode begins to operate, and subsequently performs a normal operation, the laser power thereof is exhibited in the form of a Gauss curve. That is, the laser power has a peak at the width center of the active layer, that is, a portion of the active layer corresponding to the center of the ridge width, as shown in FIG. 3a. This laser power is referred to as a "fundamental mode laser power". However, when the laser power increases, respective numbers of electrons and holes present at the width center of the active layer are decreased. When such a reduction in the numbers of electrons and holes reaches a certain level, two laser power peaks are exhibited at portions of the active layer spaced apart from the width center of the active layer by a certain distance at opposite sides of the width center of the active layer, respectively (regions A and B). The laser power with such peaks is referred to as a first-order mode laser power". As the laser power further increases, the number of peaks increases. Such modes other than the fundamental mode are referred to as "higher-order modes". In such higher-order modes, the output power of the semiconductor laser diode may be degraded. Such a problem is called a "kink".
FIG. 3b is a graph depicting the relation between the current injected into the semiconductor laser diode and the optical power of the semiconductor laser diode. Referring to FIG. 3b, it can be seen that although the optical power of the oscillated laser increases linearly to a certain level Po in accordance with an increase in the amount of the injected current, such a linear increase is no longer obtained after the optical power reaches the level Po. This is because a kink occurs due to oscillation in a higher-order mode. In FIG. 3b, the bent graph portion corresponds to a point where a kink occurs.
Thus, a kink occurs when oscillation in a higher-order mode occurs. Due to such a kink, there is a problem of a degradation in the laser characteristics associated with irradiation position of a laser, laser power, etc. Accordingly, it is important to raise the level at which a kink occurs (that is, the kink level), so as to achieve a stable oscillation of a high-power laser.
Therefore, in the technical field, it has been required to provide a new semiconductor laser diode which can prevent generation of COD while suppressing oscillation in a higher-order mode even when a high-power laser is generated, thereby raising the kink level, so that it can stably oscillate a high-power laser.

Semiconductor laser diode with higher-order mode absorption layers


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating receiver deghosted output according to a receiver deghosting model. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an offshore seismic dataset of a surveyed subsurface that includes a seismic wavefield and is collected by receivers that comprise a streamer that is deployed relative to a water surface; determining an initial plane value for the water surface reflectivity and an initial location value for a position of the streamer; generating a receiver deghosting model by backward and forward propagating the seismic wavefield at the water surface to streamer locations, the receiver deghosting model including tuning parameters; adjusting the tuning parameters according to an adaptive target residue and an inversion target residue; generating receiver deghosted output according to the tuned receiver deghosting model; and determining a productivity of the surveyed subsurface based on the receiver deghosted output.

In the exploration for hydrocarbons, geophysical structures under the bed of a body of water can be mapped through a marine seismic survey that includes recording and processing seismic data. For example, recorded seismic data may include pressure or particle motion related data regarding the propagation of seismic waves through the earth. An image or model depicting the various layers that form the surveyed subsurface may be generated based on this recorded seismic data. This imaging information is useful in determining the presence of reservoirs of various hydrocarbons.

Adaptive receiver deghosting for seismic streamer


Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for implementing, via a communication device, a set of algorithms to learn about user's usage of the device and provide automated customization to the device's user interface to improve ease of use and productivity of the end-user. This approach does not require the user's involvement by manually customizing the user interface, such as by setting up a speed dial list or a screen layout. The system automates rendering decisions and the content that is rendered based on the usage information. For example, if a user consistently calls a number every Tuesday and Wednesday morning regardless of scheduled calendar information, the communication device can provide a dynamic widget in the user interface for easy access to that number every Tuesday and Wednesday morning. The user can dial the number easily via the widget without the dial pad or a contacts application.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to user interfaces and more specifically to adapting communication device user interfaces based on usage patterns and context.
2. Introduction
Many communication devices provide a set of capabilities to their users via a user interface in a deterministic and static way. A user usually interacts with a set of pre-determined rules and screens that have some degree of rendering flexibility or customization options. This customization typically allows the user to select rendering themes or options that customize the look and feel of the device. Users can arrange or create icons, folders, or groups of applications, widgets, and other user interface elements. Some devices allow a user to set up templates of multiple different configurations of icons, between which the user can easily switch. Users can also customize other 'look and feel' aspects of the user interface by manipulating icon placement on a screen, resizing icons, selecting themes for colors, sounds, background, ringtones, and so forth. However, these interface customizations are based on explicit user instructions to modify the user interface.
The current solutions do not automatically improve user interfaces for communication devices without explicit user instructions, customizations, or static rendering selections that user has previously made. Some users may be unaware of such available options to customize their user interface, or may be intimidated by the prospect of 'messing up' what already works. Further, if a user makes the changes on one device and becomes accustomed to those changes, the user must manually remember and recreate those changes on another device to maintain a consistent experience.
Some Internet-based vendors, such as Amazon.com, use purchase and search history to provide custom suggestions to on-line shoppers. However, this requires shoppers to interact with the vendor's web site to read about suggestions made by the system and is not directly applicable to telecommunications devices.

System and method for adaptive communication user interface


A gypsum board having roughened surface glass fiber reinforcement. The roughened surface of glass fiber is created by incorporating nano or micro particles of colloidal silica or clay or other inorganic particles in a silane based sizing composition. The sizing coating is partially or completely cured and incorporated in gypsum wet mix either as additions of chopped fibers or as placement of roughened surface glass fiber mats at selected locations within a cast gypsum sheet. The roughened surface of glass fiber with nano or micro particles compliantly bonded with silane polymer transfers load from gypsum to glass fibers providing improved strength and flexure resistance of gypsum boards.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to glass fibers and mats for gypsum boards having improved surface finishes; and more particularly to surface finishes comprising nano or micro particles irreversibly attached to the fibers' external surfaces to thereby provide an improved bond with the gypsum matrix that provides superior board strength.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many patents address issues related to the use of glass fibers in various composite matrix compositions. Treatment of glass fibers to improve the bonding properties with the matrix has been addressed. None of these patents, however, relate to a method of irreversibly attaching nano or micro particles to a glass fiber, which is incorporated in a gypsum matrix as a strengthening reinforcement.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,253 to Elmer discloses bonding glass fibers to rubber. An aqueous alkaline dispersion of a rubbery vinyl pyridine copolymer, a stabilized colloidal silica sol, and a heat reactable resorcinol-formaldehyde resole, in certain amounts, is useful in forming an adhesive for bonding glass fiber reinforcing elements or cords to rubber compounds or stocks. After dipping the glass fiber cord in the one-step adhesive dip, the coated cord is heated to dry it and heat cure or heat set the adhesive on the cord. Thereafter, the adhesive containing glass fiber cord is combined or laminated (calendered) with a curable rubber compound and the resulting assembly is cured to form a composite in which the glass fiber cord is bonded to the rubber by means of the adhesive. The aqueous alkaline dispersion composition is made from 100 parts by weight (dry) of a rubbery vinyl pyridine copolymer, about 0.5 to 20 parts by weight of silica as a stabilized colloidal silica sol, about 10 to 75 parts by weight of a heat treatable water soluble resorcinol-formaldehyde resole, about 0 to 3 parts by weight of an alkaline material selected from the group consisting of NH40H, KOH and NaOH, and about 150 to 1100 parts by weight of water. The '253 patent discloses bonding glass fibers to rubber. The glass fibers are coated with colloidal silica with a resorcinol-formaldehyde resole binder to produce a smooth finish to avoid blister formation. No disclosure is contained therein concerning use of nano or micro particles irreversibly attached to glass fibers providing a rough surface for use as reinforcement in a gypsum matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,272 to Sakaguchi et al. discloses a process for preparing resin-impregnated glass fiber mats in which the binder resin has a high rate of dissolution in vinyl monomers. The binder resin is a styrene resin or copolymer composed mainly of styrene, which has a melting point of 100° to 150° C. and a molecular weight of 2500 to 7000, or a mixture of said styrene resin or copolymer with an unsaturated polyester resin having a melting point of 80° to 130° C. The glass fiber mat prepared according to the process disclosed in the '272 patent is used as a reinforcement in the fabrication of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) products. More specifically, in accordance with conventional procedure, an unsaturated polyester resin or vinyl ester resin, as the matrix resin component for preparing the FRP, is dissolved in a vinyl monomer, the above glass fiber mat is immersed in the thus-formed solution with no nano or micro particulate matter, and the matrix resin is cured at a low pressure in the presence of a catalyst at room temperature or at an elevated temperature to prepare a FRP product. The use of the glass fiber mat whose binder can rapidly be dissolved in vinyl monomers results in good moldability of the FRP product, high speed production of planar plates or undulating plates or sheets of FRP molded. The '272 patent discloses a process for the preparation of glass fiber mats; but does not disclose glass fibers coated with nano or micro particles to produce a roughened external surface. In addition, the matrix disclosed in the '272 patent is not a gypsum matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,195 to Self discloses polymerizable compositions containing unsaturated polyester resins and aqueous alkali metal silicate. Also disclosed is a method of preparing shaped articles from such compositions and thermoset products. Polymerizable unsaturated polyester resin syrups can be extended with aqueous alkali metal silicate in compositions containing from 0.1 to 10.0 parts by weight of aqueous alkali metal silicate for each part by weight of the unsaturated polyester resin syrup. The preferred alkali metal silicate is aqueous sodium silicate. Compositions further can be extended (a) by the addition of reactive fillers such as metal oxides or hydrated metallic salts; (b) by the addition of inert fillers such as clay, silica, glass fibers, perlite; or (c) by the addition of both (a) and (b). The fillers also may include fibrous reinforcing materials such as dispersed glass fibers, randomly oriented fiber mats, wound filaments and woven fabrics. The fillers may be present in amounts from about 0.1 to about 5 times the combined weight of aqueous alkali metal silicate and unsaturated polyester resin syrup. Compositions thereby produced can be employed in coatings, laminates, cast articles, molded articles, or other shaped articles. The polymerized products are resistant to combustion, have low fuel content, low flame spread properties and are useful thermal insulating materials. Such products furthermore have a low smoke content. When exposed to fire, the organic content of these materials is burned and the residual inorganic content is converted to a refractory ceramic material, which resists further thermal deterioration and functions as a thermal insulator to resist thermal transfer. The '195 patent discloses polymerizable compositions containing unsaturated polyester resins extended with aqueous alkali metal silicate and fillers including glass fibers. Further disclosed is a method of preparing shaped articles from such compositions, and thermoset products composed thereof. Articles prepared in accordance with the '195 patent teaching are heat resistant, polyester articles impregnated with metal silicates, glass fibers, clay and inorganic materials which remain even after the article is burnt. The glass fibers are not coated irreversibly with nano or micro particles; and are not incorporated into a gypsum matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,502 to Dunbar discloses a glass fiber mat for reinforcing polyamides. The mat comprises randomly disposed multi filament glass strands of indefinite length bonded to each other within a binder. Such binder consists essentially of the dried residue of an aqueous dispersion of emulsified polyurethane or epoxy resin having an average particle diameter of at least about 0.6 μm and an amine-functional organosilane. Individual filaments are sized with a mixture of an amine-functional organosilane and an amide reaction product of a fatty acid with an aliphatic polyamine. The reaction product has residual amine functionality and provides improved impact strength when used to reinforce thermoplastic, and especially polyamide, laminates that are stamped to form shaped articles. The '502 patent discloses a glass fiber mat for reinforcing polyamides. The glass fibers are bonded with an aqueous dispersion of polyurethane or epoxy together with organosilane compositions. The organosilane allows bonding of the glass fiber mat with thermoplastic resin such as polyamide to form stampable laminates and articles. The glass fibers are not bonded to nano or micro particles and the matrix is a thermoplastic polyamide, not a gypsum matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,890 to Glover et al. discloses film forming silicone microemulsions. A curable, reinforced polydiorganosiloxane microemulsion is prepared by adding from 5 to 30 parts by weight of colloidal silica per 100 parts by weight of polydiorganosiloxane in the microemulsion and from 1 to 5 parts by weight of dialkyltindicarboxylate catalyst per 100 parts by weight of the microemulsion to a polydiorganosiloxane microemulsion. The curable, reinforced polydiorganosiloxane emulsion can be cast into coherent, elastomeric films of less than 0.4 micrometer thickness. The '490 patent does not discloses a silane based composition with nano or micro particles providing a roughened glass fiber surface and incorporated into a gypsum board.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,827 to Hansen discloses reinforcing fibers made from polyolefin and polyolefin derivatives, the fibers having a thickness of 10-100 μm and containing inorganic particles of a size of 1-10 μm in an amount of at least 12% by weight, calculated on the total fiber weight. The particles are embedded in the polyolefin or polyolefin derivative, with substantially none of the particles being exposed at fiber surfaces. The inorganic particles are preferably chalk or barium sulfate. The fibers are prepared from a fibrillated, stretched, blown or cast film, which may have been subjected to a surface treatment such as a corona treatment or application of avivage. The reinforcing fibers are useful in composite materials comprising an inorganic binder such as cement and puzzolane. The '827 patent also discloses a method of producing the reinforcing fibers with embedded particles. However, none of the added inorganic particles are present at the surface of the fiber. In addition, this fiber is used as reinforcement in cement or puzzolane, not gypsum. The fiber used is polymeric. It is not a glass fiber, and has particles incorporated within the fiber; but not bonded to a glass fiber surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,080 to Andersen et al. discloses compositions and methods for the deposition of ettringite (3CaO-Al2O3.3Ca(SO4).30-32H2O) onto the surfaces of fibers, aggregates, or other fillers. The ettringite is produced in situ within an aqueous suspension while in proximity of the fibers, aggregates, or fillers, to form a mineralized composite material comprising ettringite coated fibers, aggregates or other fillers. The ettringite-coated materials can be added to hydraulically settable materials to improve the chemical and mechanical bond between the fibers or other substrate within the resulting hardened hydraulically settable materials, particularly cementitious or concrete material. The presence of the coated fiber materials is said generally to increase the toughness, flexibility, tensile strength, and flexural strength of the composite and articles made therefrom. It is indicated that the ability of fibers to modify the mechanical properties of a composite is dependent on the strength of the bonding between the fibers and the matrix material. The ettringite process is said to increase the roughness of the coated fibers, thereby enhancing the mechanical interlocking with the matrix over that achieved with relatively smooth glass fibers. The ettringite composition is an inorganic coating and does not have nano or micro particles incorporated within the coating. The ettringite composition is a brittle inorganic coating. It is not a silane based coating, and does not have the compliant properties of a silane based polymer. Moreover, the ettringite composition does not function to capture a nano or micro particle to provide a roughened glass fiber surface. In addition, the ettringite deposition does not result in a gypsum board that is flexure resistant or exhibits superior nail pull out.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,846 to Rorabaugh et al. discloses a rigidized fibrous ceramic insulation. A slurry is molded from ceramic fibers and/or microparticles to form a soft felt mat which is impregnated with a sol prior to drying the mat. A catalyst for the sol is caused to diffuse into the mat by exposing the mat to the catalyst and subjecting the mat to a soak time during which the catalyst diffuses into the mat and causes the sol to gel. The sol-gel binder forms bonds so that the mat is dimensionally stabilized. The mat is dried to produce ceramic insulation. Ceramic insulation having a consistent microstructure and a fully gelled sol-gel binder through its entire thickness is also provided. The '846 patent discloses a rigidized fibrous ceramic insulation. The ceramic fibers employed are not glass fibers and the particles are not coated onto ceramic fibers. Instead, such particles are part of the sol gel matrix. Clearly, there is no gypsum matrix in the ceramic insulation article.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,393 to Luhman discloses a microparticle enhanced fibrous ceramic baffle for cryogenic liquid containers. A ceramic composite comprising ceramic fibers and glass microparticles bound together as a porous matrix with a ceramic binder provides baffles for cryogenic fluids in a storage container. The microparticles enhanced fiber ceramic ('MEFC') is particularly applicable for containers for cryogenic fluids such as the liquid propellants, liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, especially where the containers for these liquids are subject to rapid motion, such as in an aircraft or spacecraft. The microparticle enhanced fiber ceramic is made by (i) forming a slurry comprising ceramic fibers and microparticles, preferably glass microballoons and or diatoms, in a liquid; (ii) dispersing the slurry over a form-defining surface and separating the liquid by vacuum therefrom to form a wet mat of fibers and glass microparticles; (iii) drying the mat; (iv) soaking the mat with a sol-gel ceramic precursor binder, preferably an alumina precursor; and (v) drying and curing the binder and mat at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to convert the sol-gel precursor to ceramic, thereby forming the microballoon enhanced fibrous ceramic. Additives may be utilized in addition to the ceramic fiber and microballoons, such as single crystal whiskers (silicon carbide, silicon nitride, alumina, etc.) and diatoms, which may impart desirable properties to the MEFC, such as increased thermal resistance and bulk porosity, and reduced weight. The '393 patent discloses a microparticle enhanced fibrous porous ceramic baffle for cryogenic liquid containers. It uses ceramic fibers with micropartices of glass microballoons and diatoms together with other crystalline additives of silicon carbide and the like to form a porous container held together by a sol gel, which is preferably an alumina based composition. The '393 patent does not specifically disclose glass fibers, and nano or micro particles are not irreversibly bonded to the ceramic fibers. In addition, the matrix binding the ceramic fibers is a sol gel derived material, not a gypsum matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,955,387 to Garrigus discloses a microform composite with intermediate reinforcing fiber cloth. A ceramic composite is provided comprising ceramic fibers, glass microballoons and/or diatoms, bound together with a ceramic reinforcing cloth with a sol-gel ceramic binder. The composite is particularly useful as a high strength, high temperature insulation material. The '387 patent discloses a reinforced ceramic composite comprising a felted mat of ceramic fibers having an intermediate reinforcing fiber cloth with a sol-gel binder infused into the mat. The ceramic fibers have micropartices of glass balloons and diatoms and form a high strength, high temperature insulation material held together by a cured sol gel composition. Specifically, the ceramic fibers are not glass, and nano or micro particles are not irreversibly bonded to the glass fiber. Moreover, the matrix binding the fibers is a sol gel derived material, not a gypsum matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,406 to Randall discloses a glass mat with reinforcing binder. In a gypsum board faced with a fibrous mat, for example, a mat of glass filaments adhesively bound together, improvements are realized by the use of a reinforcing binder in the mat. The gypsum board has a set gypsum core with a non-woven glass fiber mat having a predetermined thickness adhered to at least one of the surfaces of the gypsum board. The glass fibers in the mat are bound together by an adhesive and a reinforcing resinous binder extending partway through the thickness into the interstices of the mat. Improved gypsum board properties are achieved by use of amounts of a reinforcing resinous binder which do not significantly change the drying characteristics of the board. The '406 patent discloses a glass mat with reinforcing binder. A glass mat with resinous binder is placed on one surface of the gypsum slurry with the mat partially penetrating into the slurry. Additional resin is applied over the mat to penetrate the interstices in the mat. The glass mat reinforcement is on top of one of the surfaces of the gypsum board and contains a resin, which partially fills the mat. The gypsum also partially fills the mat. Thus, the glass mat disclosed in the '406 patent is not located within the gypsum matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,405 to Doucette, Jr. et al. discloses a three dimensionally reinforced ablative/insulative composite. The three-dimensionally reinforced ablative/insulative composite includes a high density fabric-based ablative layer and a low density resin-based insulative layer that is chemically bound to the ablative layer. This composite further includes stitches composed of temperature-resistant thread, which extend through the ablative layer and form reinforcing loops within the insulative layer. These loops are preferably chemically and mechanically bound to the insulative layer. This three dimensionally reinforced ablative/insulative composite is a lightweight material, which is suitable for use as a heat shield against ablative heating during ballistic flight and thermal soak heating during non-ballistic flight. The bond, between the ablative layer and the insulative layer, has been multi-directionally reinforced to reduce the likelihood of separation of the layers. This is a heat shield material for rockets and missiles wherein carbon fibers are bonded together with charrable resins or siliconizable resins. The fibers used are not glass fibers and are not bonded to nano or micro particles. In addition, the matrix is sol gel based and is not a gypsum matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,417,125 to Rorabaugh et al. discloses a ceramic insulation. A fibrous ceramic mat is molded from a slurry of ceramic fibers and/or ceramic micropartides and/or a metal. The slurry includes ceramic fibers and/or microparticles and/or metal particles, water or another appropriate carrier fluid and, optionally, a dispersant, a flocculant, or both. The mat is impregnated with a sol prior to drying. A catalyst for the sol is introduced into the mat to cause the sol to gel. The sol-gel binder forms bonds so that the mat is dimensionally stabilized. The mat is dried to produce the desired ceramic insulation that has preferably a consistent microstructure and a fully gelled sol-gel binder through its entire thickness. Use of metal results in corrosion or reaction with refractory binder. The metal particles are oxidized or nitrided in-situ to form a refractory binder or to enhance the sol binder. The refractory metal oxides or nitride reaction products augment or replace ceramic whiskers often included in the slurry. The process forms a mat from the slurry by injecting the slurry into a mold with sufficient back pressure to force a portion of the liquid out of the slurry through a porous surface of the mold and to leave a mat on the porous surface. It may also be used for forming ceramic insulation. Such ceramic insulation is a porous body comprising ceramic fibers and ceramic microparticles including glass microballoons bound together by a cured sol gel composition. The fibers disclosed in the '125 patent are not glass fibers and are not bonded to nano or micro particles. In addition, the matrix is sol gel based and not a gypsum matrix.
US Patent Application No. US 2003/0114065 to Peng et al. discloses fiber mats for materials of construction having improved tear strength. A coated fiber mat exhibits improved tear strength upon dividing pieces of the coated mat. The coating comprises a cured, non-woven, fiber glass mat containing a polysiloxane wherein the fibers are fixedly distributed in a formaldehyde type binder containing a binder modifier which is a crosslinked styrene/acrylic polymer. In addition, the '065 patent application discloses a process for the preparation of the mat. The '065 patent application discloses fiber mats for materials of construction having improved tear strength and a process for making the fiber mats. This process involves the manufacture of tear resistant asphalt roofing shingles provided with glass fiber reinforcement cured with siloxane. The glass fiber is not bonded to a microparticle and the matrix is asphalt, not gypsum.
US Patent Application US 2003/0211305 to Koval et al. discloses an interior wallboard and a method for making the wallboard. The gypsum wallboard comprises a paper-covered first face with shaped regions formed along side portions near the wallboard edges, and a fibrous mat-covered second face. The fibrous mat material covering the second face extends around the wallboard edges and is overlapped by portions of the paper on the first face. The wallboard can be manufactured by depositing a gypsum slurry onto a moving web of the fibrous mat material, applying a web of the paper to the deposited gypsum slurry, and forming shaped regions in the side portions of the top surface. The gypsum wallboard has a paper-covered first face with shaped regions near the edges, and a second face covered with a water-resistant facing material, preferably a fibrous mat material, and more preferably a coated fibrous mat material. The paper-covered first face presents a good surface for painting or wallpapering. The second face, because of its preferred coated mat facing material, is resistant to water infiltration. The '305 patent application discloses interior wallboard and a method for manufacturing same. The gypsum board has a water resistant fibrous mat on one side as a facer and a paper facer on the other side suitable for painting. The fibrous mat disclosed by the '305 patent application does not use glass fibers with bonded micro particles. In addition the fibrous mat is not incorporated within the gypsum matrix, but only functions as a facer.
Foreign Patent No. JP 5009041 to Kagawa discloses fiber reinforced glass and a method for manufacture thereof. The fiber reinforced glass is a glass laminate with glass fibers of a different composition than that of the present invention. In addition, the fiber reinforced glass is not situated in a gypsum matrix.
Foreign Patent Application No. JP 2002088627 to Jaffee discloses a fiber glass mat, method and laminate. The '627 patent application discloses a fiber glass mat, method and laminate. A mat of glass fibers is disposed in a novolac phenolic matrix. The '627 patent application does not disclose a gypsum matrix having reinforcing glass fibers. In addition, the fibers disclosed by the '627 patent application are not coated with particles to produce a rough fiber surface.
Foreign Patent No. RU 2209789 to Velpejri discloses fiberglass strands coated by inorganic particles and products composed thereof. Disclosed therein are mainly inorganic particle-coated glass fiber strands for printed circuit boards. The particles are chosen from graphite, metallic particles that are softer than the glass fiber. The methodology used to coat the glass fibers is not indicated. Rather there is produced a printed circuit board reinforced with inorganic powder coated reinforced glass fibers; not a gypsum board.
The Publication in Journal of Composite Materials (2003) v. 37(20), p. 1821-1837 discloses S2-glass/epoxy polymer nanocomposites: manufacturing; structures; thermal and mechanical properties. The nanoparticles of clay or nanosilicates are applied to glass fibers and the monomer of the epoxy composite is vacuum impregnated and cured. The improved strength of the composite is attributed to increased interfacial area between the nanoparticles and the epoxy matrix due to intercalation and or exfoliation of the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are not bonded to the glass fiber. The matrix is epoxy based and is not a gypsum matrix reinforced with glass fibers.
The Publication in Society of Plastic Engineers, Brookfield, Conn.(US) (2002), ca. 5p. of CD-ROM Conference discloses injection molding of glass fiber reinforced PA-6 nanocomposites. The nanocomposite is an injection moldable polymer composite with short length fibers and low volume % of organoclay. The nanoparticles of clay are not bonded to the glass fiber. In addition, the Publication does not disclose a gypsum matrix composite with glass fiber reinforcement.
The Publication from the 10th International Workshop on Glass and Ceramics, Hybrids and Nonocomposites from Gels (2000 Graphs, 128 ref. p. 39-51) discloses sol-gel process as a basic technology for nanoparticle-dispersed inorganic-organic composites. The publication discloses a sol-gel process as a basic technology for nanoparticle-dispersed inorganic-organic composites. A glass fiber mat is coated with TEOS or METEOS and cured to develop a bond between fibers so that the mat has flexibility and strength and can withstand temperatures up to 600° C. The mat is not incorporated into a gypsum matrix, and nanoparticle-dispersed inorganic-organic composites are not bonded to the glass fiber. TEOS, MTMOS and MTEOS merely cure to create a bond between fibers.
The Publication in Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals (2000) vol. 353, p. 165-79.26 refs. discloses nanoparticles for ceramic and nanocomposite processing. Nanoparticles of various compositions have been fabricated by chemical processes. Sol-gel processes and precipitation processes have been used to prepare the nanoparticles and surface modifiers act as vehicles to tailor surface chemistry; the zeta-potential and to avoid agglomeration. In the first described industrial product development, SiO2 nanoparticles have been modified with CH3 groupings, and materials with high adhesive strength being flexible despite the low organic content have been obtained, and a binder system for glass fiber mats; temperature resistant up to 500 degrees C. has been developed. The second development is based on SiO2 nanoparticles coated with methacrylic groupings and TiO2 nanoparticles coated with epoxy groupings. The corresponding sols form high density coatings (approximately=65% kg volume) and are densified by crosslinking of the organics. These coatings have been used for the fabrication of interference layers (SiO2: n approximately 1.45; TiO2: n approximately 1.92) on plastic and glass. The Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals publication discloses nanoparticles for ceramic and nanocomposite processing. Sol gel and precipitation processes have been used to produce nanoparticles and surface chemistry of these nanoparticles is modified to prevent agglomeration. A binder system is used to incorporate nanoparticles into glass fiber mats or to create interference coatings. There is no suggestion of use of these coated fibers in a gypsum matrix. Since the fiber mat is already bonded together, it no longer has individual reinforcement fibers and cannot be distributed in a gypsum matrix.
The Publication in Macromol. Symp. (2000) discloses sol-gel derived nanoparticles as inorganic phases in polymer-type matrices. The nanoparticles are formed within a polymeric matrix or as thin coatings of ormosil layers. There is no suggestion concerning application of coatings to glass fibers to roughen the glass fiber surface to improve bonding with a gypsum matrix.
The Polymer (April, 2001) vol.42, no.9, p.3957-72. 189 refs. publication discloses chemical deposition of conducting polymers. The coating of different materials with conducting electroactive polymers (CEP), i.e.—polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, and their derivatives, provided by means of chemical polymerization, is briefly reviewed. The topics covered include the deposition of CEP (i) by bulk oxidative chemical polymerization, (ii) by surface-located polymerization, and (iii) by coating of micro- and nanoparticles. The coating of different materials like polymers, polymer particles, ion-exchange membranes, glass, fiber, textile, soluble matrices, and inorganic materials is reviewed. Literature reviewed covers a 5-year period, beginning from 1995. The Polymer publication discloses the chemical deposition of conducting polymers. The conducting polymers are coated on various substrates including glass fibers. There is no disclosure concerning the use of surface roughened glass fibers for use as reinforcement in a gypsum composite matrix.
There remains a need in the art for enhanced strength gypsum boards that are reinforced with glass fibers having surface structures that enable reliable load transfer from a gypsum matrix to the reinforcing glass fibers.

Glass fibers and mats having improved surface structures in gypsum boards


A soil tilling device that is pulled by a tractor vehicle comprises at least one tool holder that is supported at a supporting element and is rotatably drivable. At least two circular disk-shaped soil tilling tools are connected to a respective one of the tool holders and are distributed over a circumference of the tool holder at a uniform distance from one another. Each one of the soil tilling tools is connected to a shaft whereby the shaft is supported at a support that is connected to the tool holder. The soil tilling tools are rotatable about an axis of rotation thereof corresponding to the shaft. This shaft is slanted relative to an axis of rotation of the tool holder such that the soil tilling tools have an angle of 20.degree. to 40.degree. to a surface of soil to be tilled whereby circumferential sections of the soil tilling tools form tilling surfaces. With this embodiment it is possible to achieve a clean soil tilling without soil parts or rocks being pulled from the soil and thrown into the air. With the soil tilling tools, which are rotating about the axis of rotation of the tool holder, but are freely rotatable about their shafts, an intensive and uniform soil tilling at a uniform tilling depth is ensured. The soil surface is cut and smoothed by the soil tilling tools which roll on the soil surface opposite to the direction of rotation of the tool holder without damaging roots of cultivated plants.

The present invention relates to a soil tilling device with at least one tool holder that is connected to a support frame or a swivel arm whereby the tool holders are rotatably drivable and are provided with soil tilling tools.
Soil tilling devices of the aforementioned kind are known in various embodiments. The tool holder is usually provided with a soil tilling tool in the form of a disk that is provided with a vertically extending prong whereby the disk is fixedly connected to the tool holder. The tool holder is generally drivable by a pulling vehicle or tractor to which the soil tilling device is connected.
With forcedly driven tools of the aforementioned kind an intensive soil tilling is possible; however, the prongs often tear up the soil to an undesirably great extent and furthermore, a tilling of a uniform depth is not possible. Another disadvantage is that when using such soil tilling devices with the aforementioned tools the rotatingly driven prongs throw rocks and pieces of soil in the air. Also, the roots of cultivated plants between which the soil is tilled are often damaged. Furthermore, driving such a tool holder requires a great drive power. When working with the aforementioned soil tilling devices the danger of having accidents is therefore quite great, and extensive constructive measures must be taken, especially to prevent rocks and soil parts from being thrown in the air, and to prevent accidents due to the prongs rotating at a high speed. Furthermore, it is disadvantageous that the forcedly driven prongs are often damaged when hitting a rock or any other obstacle so that the operation of the tilling device must be interrupted in order to repair respective damages. Furthermore the aforementioned tilling devices are usually very tall and tilling soil under trees with low branches is often impossible. Also, when the soil to be tilled is grown over with weeds a clogging of the machine due to weeds pulled from the soil is inevitable. A satisfactory operation, especially under changing working conditions to which such tilling devices are usually exposed, is thus impossible.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a soil tilling device for multiple applications which allows a high working speed without pulling rocks and soil parts from the soil to be tilled and throwing them into the air, and without the necessity of providing special measures to prevent accidents. Furthermore, a satisfactory and uniform tilling of soil of various soil conditions should be possible. The soil should not be torn up and removed, and roots of cultivated plants between which the soil is to be tilled should not be damaged, and it is desired that the soil surface in one working step is cut and also smoothed so that weeds are reliably removed. Furthermore, it should be possible to feed grass which is directly adjacent to trees or other obstacles into the soil tilling device so that grass may be mowed. Also, shoots that are growing at lower portions of a tree should be removable with the soil tilling device.
The required constructive expenditures should be low, and an economic manufacture should be provided. The drive power required for driving the soil tilling device should be low. It should be impossible that during the tilling process in tall grass a clogging within the area of the tool holder occurs. The soil tilling device should be universally applicable and a high operational safety with a long life span of the tools should be ensured. Furthermore, the tilling depth should be adjustable and uniform.


Batteries 100 are accommodated in a case 20, wherein the batteries 100 each include an opening portion 8a for releasing gas produced in an associated one of the batteries to outside the battery, the case 20 is partitioned into an accommodation section 50 configured to accommodate the batteries 100 and an exhaust passage 60 configured to expel the gas released from at least one of the opening portions 8a of the batteries 100 to outside the case 20, the opening portions 8a of the batteries 100 are allowed to communicate with the exhaust passage 60 through sealed connection passages 40, and a one-way open valve 70 which is configured to open only along a direction from the opening portion 8a of the battery 100 to the exhaust passage 60 is provided in an intermediate portion or at an end of each of the connection passages 40.

Battery packs including a plurality of batteries accommodated in a case to allow an output of a predetermined voltage and capacitance are widely used as power supplies of various devices, vehicles, etc. The technique of forming modules of battery assemblies obtained by connecting general-purpose batteries in parallel and/or in series to output a predetermined voltage and capacitance, and of combining the resultant battery modules together to be applicable to various applications has begun to be adopted. This module forming technique can reduce the size and weight of the battery modules themselves by enhancing the performance of batteries accommodated in the battery modules. Thus, this module forming technique has various advantages: for example, workability in assembling a battery pack can be improved, and the flexibility in mounting battery modules in a limited space, such as a vehicle, can be increased.
On the other hand, as the performance of batteries accommodated in battery modules is enhanced, in addition to ensuring safety of individual batteries, it becomes more and more important to ensure safety of the battery modules constituted of multiple batteries. In particular, when heat generated due to, e.g., an internal short circuit in a battery produces gas, and the high-temperature gas is released to outside the battery by means of operation of a safety valve, neighboring batteries are subjected to the high-temperature gas. In this case, normal batteries affected by the high-temperature gas may be deteriorated in a chain reaction.
To solve the above discussed problems, Patent Document 1 describes a power supply device in which a case accommodating a plurality of batteries is partitioned by a partitioning wall into a battery chamber accommodating the batteries, and an exhaust chamber through which high-temperature gas released from the batteries is expelled, wherein the power supply device includes an exhaust mechanism which is configured such that openings of safety valves of the batteries are in communication with the exhaust chamber. With the exhaust mechanism thus configured, the high-temperature gas released through the safety valves of the batteries is caused to flow into the exhaust chamber without flowing into the battery chamber, and is expelled to outside the case through a vent of the case. This mechanism can prevent the high-temperature gas from filling the battery chamber and from coming into contact with the neighboring batteries, and thereby can reduce the influence on the normal batteries.

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