A control system for applying power to a solenoid operated valve in a well completion within a borehole. The control system includes a programmable power supply for selectively applying electric power to a solenoid coil of the valve. The control system operates to apply a higher value of current to the solenoid to open the valve and a second lower value of current to maintain the operation of the solenoid in an open state and also to interrupt all current to the solenoid to close the valve. A timer controls the length of time the higher current value can be applied to the solenoid if the valve does not open and the length of delay time which must be included before again attempting to open the valve. The control system continuously monitors the state of actuation of the valve by means of an inductance monitor for determining the position of the armature of the solenoid and, thus, the state of the valve.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to solenoid operated valves for petroleum production wells and, more particularly, to a control and monitor arrangement for an electrical solenoid operated safety valve system.
2. History of the Prior Art
Oil and gas wells, and in particular those located off-shore, are frequently subject to wellhead damage which may be produced by violent storms, collisions with ships and numerous other disastrous occurrences. Damage to the wellhead may result in the leakage of hydrocarbons into the atmosphere producing the possibility of both the spillage of the petroleum products into the environment as well as an explosion and fire resulting therefrom. In addition to off-shore production wells, another environment in which damage to a wellhead may have disastrous effects is that of producing wells located in urban areas. Moreover, in such urban production wells, it is generally a specific legal requirement that there be some downhole means of terminating the flow of petroleum products from the well in the event of damage to the wellhead. In such instances, the safety valve system must be responsive to a dramatic increase in flow rate from the well so as to close down and terminate production flow from the well. For these reasons, sub-surface safety valves located downhole within a borehole have long been included as an integral part of the operating equipment of a petroleum production well.
Various types of petroleum production flow safety valve systems have been provided in the prior art. Each system includes a valve means for controlling the flow of petroleum products up the tubing from a point down in the borehole from the wellhead. Safety valve systems also include sensing means which are responsive to wellhead damage, a dramatic increase in production flow, or some other emergency condition requiring that the flow from the well be terminated by the valve.
One type of operating mechanism used to actuate a safety valve within a well includes an electrical solenoid employed to hold the safety valve in an open condition and a spring means to return it to a normally closed condition in response to interruption in the flow of current to the solenoid. Numerous such systems have been proposed, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,202 to Huebsch et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,215 to Bourne, Jr. et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,534 to Going III. Each of these systems provide a solenoid actuated operating mechanism for the safety valve which is responsive to a DC electric current supplied from surface equipment. Such solenoids generally require a fairly high level surge of initial operating current to cause the solenoid to operate and change states and then a smaller level of current to hold the solenoid in its operated condition. These large actuating current surges require heavy electrical conductors in order to carry such current downhole for any substantial distance and still maintain a voltage level sufficient to operate the solenoid. Moreover, such solenoids are usually supplied with current from a conventional power supply at the surface which produces a fixed voltage output signal. This limits the depth to which the solenoid can be used and still operate with a particular power supply configuration. Use of the same solenoid actuate safety valve in deeper wells requires a change in the power supply circuit in order to supply sufficient current to operate it.
Prior art solenoid actuated safety valve systems have also dealt with the design constraints of high downhole pressures and corrosive borehole fluid in a relatively conventional manner. For example, large values of downhole pressure have required that the pressure resisting walls of the parts of the valve isolating the coil from well pressure be relatively thick in order to swerve as a load bearing member of the valve assembly and protect the valve components inside. Thick walls both increase the diameter of the overall valve structure for a given pressure rating as well as limit the thickness of the magnetic armature of the valve and hence, restricts its magnetic responsiveness to a given value of solenoid actuation current. Similarly, prior art solenoid actuated safety valves have also relied upon the precise machining of valve parts and the presence of high pressure resilient seals, such as O-rings, in order to protect the internal electrical components of the value, such as the solenoid coil, from borehole fluids. Such fluid sealing components increase the cost of the safety valve and are subject to failure under use. The structure and construction techniques of the valve systems of the present invention overcome many of these disadvantages of prior solenoid actuated safety valve systems.
The inherent disadvantages of providing several different power supply circuits for different depths of operation of a solenoid actuated safety valve is obviated by the system of the present invention which provides means for coupling a constant value of current from the surface down the electrically conductive path interconnecting that current to the windings of a solenoid actuated safety valve. The system provides an optimum value of current for actuation of the solenoid and control of the safety valve regardless of the voltage required to deliver that current to the solenoid at the particular depth of the safety valve. In addition, the solenoid actuated safety valve of the present invention also allows construction of a less expensive and more reliable valve which is of a smaller overall diameter for a particular pressure rating of the valve. In addition, the safety valve of the present invention is more magnetically responsive for a given value of operating current delivered to the solenoid coil.
The system of the present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages of the prior art electrically operated solenoid actuated safety valve systems.

Monitor and control circuit for electric surface controlled subsurface valve system


A liquid crystal display device and a method for manufacturing the same includes a liquid crystal display having a thin film transistor on a substrate; an insulating layer on an entire surface of the substrate including the thin film transistor; a first photo-acryl layer on the insulating layer; a plurality of protrusions on the first photo-acryl layer at fixed intervals, the plurality of protrusions being formed of a second photo-acryl layer; and a reflective electrode on the first photo-acryl layer including the protrusions for being connected to a predetermined portion of the thin film transistor. The liquid crystal display device is provided for maximizing reflection efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method for manufacturing the same that improves reflexibility by maximizing the density of protrusions.
2. Description of the Background Art
With the development of an information society, demands for various display devices are increasing. Accordingly, many efforts have been made to research and develop various flat display devices such as liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display panel (PDP), electroluminescent display (ELD) and vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) devices. Some of these types of flat display devices are already applied to displays of various equipments.
Among the various flat display devices, the LCD device has been most widely used due to the advantageous characteristics of being thin, light in weight, and having a relatively low power consumption. The LCD device substitutes for the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), and in addition to the mobile type LCD devices, e.g., such as a display for a notebook computer, the LCD devices have been developed for computer monitors and televisions to receive and display broadcasting signals.
Despite various technical developments in the LCD technology and associated applications in different fields, research in enhancing the picture quality of the LCD device has been in some respects lacking, e.g., as compared to other features and advantages of the LCD device. Therefore, in order to use the LCD device in various fields as a general display, the key to developing the LCD device lies on whether the LCD device can implement a high quality picture, e.g., such as retaining high resolution and high luminance with a large-sized screen while still being light in weight, thin, and requiring low power consumption.
The LCD device displays an image or a picture by controlling a light transmittance with an electric field applied to the liquid crystal having dielectric anisotropy. The LCD device is different from display devices such as an electroluminescence (EL) device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) and a light emitting diode (LED) device, which emit light by itself, in that the LCD device makes use of ambient light as a light source.
The LCD devices are classified into two different types, a transmitting type LCD device and a reflective type LCD device. The transmitting type LCD device has a backlight as a light source at the rear of an LCD panel, whereby the transmitting type LCD device can display colors by controlling the light transmittance incident on the liquid crystal according to the alignment of the liquid crystal. However, the transmitting type LCD device has problems in that it requires a relatively high power consumption. Meanwhile, the reflective type LCD device makes use of ambient light as the light source, thereby requiring a relatively small amount of power consumption.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a general reflective type LCD device of the background art. Referring to FIG. 1, the general reflective type LCD device includes an upper substrate 13 having a color filter layer (not shown) and a common electrode 17, a lower substrate 11 having a thin film transistor (not shown) and a reflective electrode 16, and a liquid crystal 19 between the lower and upper substrates 11 and 13. The liquid crystal 19 is the optical anisotropy medium controlling the light transmittance by aligning liquid crystal molecules in a predetermined direction according to the electric field. Herein, it is possible to use a predetermined medium having the optical anisotropy characteristics instead of the liquid crystal 19.
After that, a plurality of optical medium layers are formed on external surfaces of the respective lower and upper substrates 11 and 13 to control the polarizing state of light. For example, a light-scattering film 21, a phase difference plate 23 and a polarizing plate 25 are sequentially deposited on the upper substrate 13. Herein, the light-scattering film 21 is formed so as to provide a wide viewing angle for a viewer by scattering light, and the phase difference plate 23 includes a first phase difference film having characteristics of λ/4 plate to affect the light to the reflective electrode, and a second phase difference film having characteristics of λ/2 plate. When a voltage is not applied in a turn-off state, the phase of the light is inverted by the phase difference plate 23, thereby obtaining a phase difference. Thus, it is possible to emit a large amount of light to the outside so as to obtain an LCD panel having high luminance characteristics. Also, the polarizing plate 25 transmits the light at a wave direction of a transmitting axis, and absorbs the rest of the light.
Hereinafter, a reflective type LCD device of the background art and a method for manufacturing the same will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a reflective type LCD device of the background art having a reflective electrode including a protrusion, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV—IV of FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a thin film transistor T is formed on a predetermined portion of a lower substrate 11 by a common technology, and a passivation layer 36 is formed on the lower substrate 11 having the thin film transistor T. Then, a plurality of photo-acryl protrusions 37a are formed on the passivation layer 36 at fixed intervals. At this time, the protrusions 37a are formed on an entire surface of the lower substrate 11 including the thin film transistor T at the fixed intervals, thereby improving a reflection angle of light.
A reflective electrode 16 is then formed for being electrically connected with a drain electrode of the thin film transistor on the passivation layer 36 including the protrusions 37a. At this time, the reflective electrode 16 has an uneven surface by the protrusions 37a formed on the passivation layer 36, so that it is possible to concentrate the light incident on the protrusions 37a at different angles, and to emit the light concentrated at a predetermined angle in case the light incident from the outside is reflected and emitted. An organic insulating layer 38 is formed on an entire surface of the lower substrate 11 including the protrusions 37a, and the reflective electrode 16 is formed on the organic insulating layer 38.
FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E are cross-sectional views illustrating manufacturing process steps of a reflective type LCD device of the background art taken along line IV—IV of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 4A, the passivation layer 36 is formed on the entire surface of the lower substrate 11 including the thin film transistor (a gate electrode 27, a gate insulating layer 28, a source electrode 29, a drain electrode 31 and a semiconductor layer 30), and a first photo-acryl layer 37 is formed on the passivation layer 36. Subsequently, a diffraction mask 39 defined by a closed area A, a slit area B and a transmission area C is aligned above the first photo-acryl layer 37.
Referring to FIG. 4B, a diffraction exposure and developing process is performed to the first photo-acryl layer 37, thereby patterning a plurality of first photo-acryl patterns 37b at fixed intervals. By the diffraction mask 39, each of the first photo-acryl patterns 37b has a different thickness in the central and side portions thereof. That is, the portions of the first photo-acryl layer 37 corresponding to the slit area B and the transmission area C of the diffraction mask 39 are exposed differently to the light, whereby the central portion of the photo-acryl layer 37 has a different thickness as that of the side portion thereof.
As shown in FIG. 4C, the hemisphere-shaped protrusions 37a are patterned by reflowing the first photo-acryl patterns 37b in a thermal treatment. Referring to FIG. 4D, a second photo-acryl layer 38 is formed on the entire surface of the lower substrate 11 including the hemisphere-shaped protrusions 37a. Then, the second photo-acryl layer 38 and the passivation layer 36 are selectively removed to expose the predetermined portion corresponding to the drain electrode 31 of the thin film transistor by photolithography, thereby forming a contact hole 35. At this time, the hemisphere-shaped protrusions 37a scatter the light greatly, so that the reflexibility of the light becomes low. In this respect, the second photo-acryl layer 38 is formed at a thickness between 1.5 μm and 2.0 μm, and then a thermo-hardening process is performed thereon, whereby the second photo-acryl layer 38 flows along the surface of the protrusions 37a. Accordingly, the second photo-acryl layer 38 fills up the space between the protrusions 37a, and the height of the hollow space between the protrusions 37a becomes lower, so that it is possible to obtain the protrusion having the height and the radius at a ratio of 1 to 10.
As shown in FIG. 4E, a conductive opaque metal layer such as aluminum Al having great reflexibility is deposited on the entire surface of the lower substrate 11 including the contact hole 35. Subsequently, the conductive opaque metal layer is selectively removed by photolithography, whereby the reflective electrode 16 is formed in a pixel region, for being in contact with the drain electrode 31.
In the reflective type LCD device of the background art, each of the photo-acryl patterns 37b has a different thickness in the central and side portions thereof by the diffraction exposure of the diffraction mask 39. That is, the step difference is generated in each of the photo-acryl patterns 37b by exposing the portions of the photo-acryl pattern differently to the light. Then, a melt-bake process is performed to the photo-acryl patterns 37b, thereby forming the hemisphere-shaped protrusions 37a by thermal-flow.
However, the present inventor has determined that the method for manufacturing the reflective type LCD device of the background art has the following disadvantages. In the method for manufacturing the reflective type LCD device of the background art, the specific exposure method such as the diffraction exposure process is performed as required to obtain accuracy of the diffraction mask.
Also, in the aforementioned method for manufacturing the reflective type LCD device of the background art, it is possible to decrease the hollow space between the protrusions in height by the second photo-acryl layer. However, it has the problem in that the manufacturing process steps are complicated and complex due to the thermal-flow characteristics. Also, during the process for forming the protrusions, it is required to maintain a predetermined space between the protrusions so as to avoid interference therebetween. Accordingly, the density of the protrusions becomes low.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 11A, an inflection point V exists in a curved surface profile of the protrusion by the second photo-acryl layer 38 formed on the entire surface including the protrusions 37a. As the inflection point V is positioned at the center of the protrusion, it has the problem of increasing mirror reflection.

Reflective LCD device having the first photo-acryl layer being out of direct contact with the data line and method for manufacturing the same


A signal protector utilizes a variable latency station to provide error correction.

Known signal protection schemes include error correction using multiple channels and/or large static buffers. Such systems utilize excessive bandwidth and/or introduce relatively long latency. Although signal protection innovations are not a focus area of the telecommunications industry, improvements that are adopted by the industry have the potential to benefit large groups of consumers.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the electrical arts. In particular, a signal is protected through the use of a dynamic buffer.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Some signal protection systems are known. For example, some signal protection systems using dual paths that allow for switching between a failed/failing path and an alternate path are known. These dual path systems consume identical bandwidth on two paths because both paths carry the active feed; one path provides a main signal and one path provides an identical standby signal. Further, some forward error correction schemes are known. Their development has not generally been a focus area of the telecommunications industry, perhaps due to the use of the dual path protection systems mentioned above. But, known systems generally suffer from one or more of hardware complexity, software complexity, high initial cost, high operating costs, large additions to required bandwidth, and signal degradation. Selected embodiments of the present invention provide solutions to one or more of these problems.


A portable workpiece-mounted machine tool such as a drill is provided with a permanent-electromagnet attaching unit which has its reversible permanent magnets alternating with nonreversible permanent magnets so that, when electric current is applied to the reversible magnets, they are subjected to polarity reversal which causes flux closure through a workpiece of the reversible and nonreversible magnets in the "on" position and causes flux closure between a reversible and nonreversible magnet in an "off" position.

Drill supports or drill stands of this type are well known and consist of a support which is secured to the workpiece so that the drill can be secured and positioned on the stand to effect accurate drilling or machining of the workpiece.
Hitherto drill supports of this type comprised an electromagnet which was used to secure the support to the workpiece. Such electromagnets rely on an electric current which is turned on to secure the support in position and off to enable movement of the support to the correct position. The electric current has to be maintained to secure the support to the workpiece. If the electric current is interrupted either by accident or by a power failure the support will be no longer secured to the workpiece. This can be very dangerous when it occurs during machining of the workpiece. Current interruption is especially dangerous when the workpiece is vertical or must be machined from below. In such cases chains are sometimes provided to prevent the drill from falling in the event of a power failure. However sometimes the chains are not attached due to forgetfulness or inconvenience and the consequences in the event of power failure are very dangerous particularly if the workpiece is located high above the ground as would be the case during construction of a tall building.
The drill support of the present invention avoids all these safety problems of existing drill supports by using a permanent electro magnet instead of conventional electromagnets. Such permanent-electro magnets do not require a continuous electric current to secure the support to the workpiece because the holding power is provided by the permanent magnets. An electrical power failure will not result in any loss of magnetic holding power. The permanent-electro magnet uses an electrical current merely to switch the magnet on and off.

Universal Drilling and Cutting Equipment Limited


Semiconductor device and fabrication method are provided. The method for forming the semiconductor device includes providing a substrate; forming a dielectric layer on the substrate; forming a through hole in the dielectric layer, the through hole exposing a portion of a top surface of the substrate; performing a surface treatment process on the dielectric layer of sidewalls of the through hole; and filling a metal layer in the through hole.

With rapid development of semiconductor manufacturing technology, semiconductor devices are developed in a trend having higher component densities and higher integration levels. In order to adapt to a smaller critical dimension, a channel length of an existing planar metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) is also increasingly reduced. However, as a channel length of a device keeps shrinking, the channel control capability of a gate structure deteriorates, and there is increasing difficulty in pinching the channel off by a gate voltage, resulting in a higher possibility of subthreshold leakage, that is, the so-called short-channel effect (SCE). Consequently, the electrical performance of the semiconductor device may be degraded.
In the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device, a through hole needs to be formed in the dielectric layer, and a metal layer will be filled in the through hole to realize the connection between the transistor and the metal layer. However, due to the poor adhesion force between the metal layer and the through hole, the metal layer may have poor forming quality at the interface between the metal layer and the through hole. As a result, devices under the through hole may be damaged during the process of filling the metal layer in the through hole.
Thus, there is a need to provide a metal layer with high quality in the through hole, and thus to provide the formed semiconductor device with desirable device performance. The disclosed devices and methods are directed to at least partially alleviate one or more problems set forth above and to solve other problems in the art.

Semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof

Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation

Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation


A tag holder has RFID circuitry and an antenna embedded in a housing. The housing holds a non-RF metal ID tag. The RFID circuitry embedded in the housing is operatively connected to an antenna providing the non-RFID tag with RFID capabilities. The antenna is embedded in the housing and encircles the tag taking advantage of the higher magnetic permeability of the metal tag.

The field of invention is radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, more particularly an RFID tag holder for use with non-RFID tags.
Identification (ID) tags are used in many situations, from labeling valves in a chemical plant to identifying soldiers in a battlefield. The ID tags carry printed or embossed data in various forms, such as graphics, photographs, and text providing specific information about the item or person attached to the tag. Because of space limitations, ID tags, such as metal military dog tags and valve tags, typically carry little more than a name and a unique identifying number which must be correlated with a database to obtain any meaningful information about the soldier or valve.
The time delay between reading the unique identifier and obtaining the necessary information can be crucial in certain situations. For example, it would be useful to quickly have a soldier's medical history in a battlefield situation or a model and part number of a failed valve in a chemical plant.
Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology provides the ability to store large amounts of data onto a semiconductor chip in RFID circuitry. The circuitry stores and transmits the data in cooperation with a compatible, conventional RFID reader/writer.
ID cards containing RFID circuitry combined with printed text and graphical images have been developed, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,317,309 and 5,528,222. These patents disclose nonmetallic badges and cards having embedded RFID circuitry. However, once the badge becomes obsolete due to a change in the printed text or images, the entire badge must be replaced, wasting the RFID components of the badge. Furthermore, due to magnetic shielding, RFID circuitry and antennae do not operate effectively if embedded in a metal tag, such as used in the military or corrosive environments.
Therefore, there is a need for an effective means to disassociate obsolete printed text and images from the RFID components for reuse on a new or updated badge. There is also a need to provide a metal tag or badge with RFID capabilities.


A security system including automated notification and surveillance integration is provided. In the security system of the present disclosure, when any of the devices are locked, unlocked, interacted with, alarmed or triggered, a notification or communication signal is sent to at least one other device. The at least one other device may be a receiver, camera, smart phone, smart watch, laptop, desktop, and/or an Internet connected or Internet of Things (IoT) device. Additionally, a system is provided including at least one alarm module that generates an audible sound when an alarm condition is detected; at least one sensor that detects the audible sound and determines if the audible sound is within a predetermined frequency range and an interface that receives at least one first communication signal from the at least one sensor upon detecting an alarm and transmits at least one second communication signal to at least one device.

Surveillance systems are often used by security personnel to surveil areas of interest via video displays that are connected to one or more cameras. These areas of interest and/or the items contained therein are often secured using a plurality of locks and/or other securing means. Security personnel are often tasked with carefully watching a plurality of video displays to discern any existing security threats in the areas of interest. However, this may require the usage of an excessive number of cameras and security personnel to enable the security personnel to watch all of the locks and/or other securing means in the areas of interest. These systems can often be costly and ineffective for discerning and/or preventing security threats. Therefore, a need exists for more efficient and effective surveillance systems.

Security system including automation notification and surveillance integration


An improved fluid level verification apparatus which may be manufactured or otherwise fabricated as a kit and assembled at a remote location for use on liquid filled containers and configured to reduce inherent mechanical stresses on the inspection tube and resists leakage due to environmental, chemical, thermal or mechanical expansion cycles by using internal grooves and entrapped o-rings. The improved fluid level verification apparatus having at least one adjustable end to provide adjustable spacing between the fluid level verification apparatus inlet and outlet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a fluid level verification apparatus which is operable to measure the amount of fluid present in an object of interest, such as a tank, machine, or other article of manufacture, and more specifically, to an apparatus which may be manufactured or otherwise fabricated as a kit and assembled at a remote location for use on particular machines or in manufacturing processes; and which minimizes the number of components required; and further to a fluid level verification apparatus which reduces mechanical, thermal and chemical stresses on the apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art is sated with examples of fluid level verification apparatuses which provide a means for visually verifying or otherwise discovering the fluid levels in an object of interest, such as manufacturing machinery, fluid holding tanks, or other similar assemblies. For example, in certain industrial processes or in certain machines or other articles of manufacture, it is important that particular fluids, such as lubricants, coolants, hydraulic fluids, or other fluid components, be stored in tanks and periodically dispensed from such tanks. Prior art fluid verification devices have typically included a transparent tube or inspection window, which is connected in particular relation to the holding tank, and which provides a quick and convenient means by which an observer may visually verify the level of the fluid present.
While the prior art devices have operated with success, they have been unsatisfactory in several respects.
Gruett U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,653 provides a detailed background of the prior art and describes a fluid level verification apparatus that can be fabricated as a kit and assembled at a remote location. Gruett contemplates an inspection tube having an interior conduit dimensioned to create an interference fit with an o-ring used to hermetically seal the inspection tube to an end member. The Gruett apparatus requires a separate seal on the outer diameter of its glass inspection tube to complete a hermetic seal.
Jackson U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,468 describes a double tube liquid site monitor which incorporates grooving and o-rings to isolate the inspection tube from the environment. However, the Jackson invention is complex and cumbersome, as it requires numerous parts to protect the inspection tube from the stresses caused by the environment. Moreover, the sealing function of the grooves are limited to the insert ends thus requiring the o-rings to rest against the internal and external surfaces of inspection tubes that have no such grooves and the problem of mechanical stress induced by the assembly of the inspection tubes to mating components is not contemplated.
Evans U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,305 describes an external shield bracket for a fluid flowmeter. The fluid of interest flows through a precision glass tube. An operator is protected from accidental explosion of the inspection tube due to fluid pressure by a protective transparent cover mounted on a u-shaped channel bracket. The Evans invention uses many parts, but fails to protect the inspection tube from the environment. Said transparent cover and mounting bracket do not form a hermetic closure for the inspection tube contained therein.
Gruett U.S. Pat. No. 3,886,796 describes a liquid level gauge with a rigid transparent plastic inspection tube with o-rings seated in grooves located in the end members. The Gruett invention induces mechanical stress on the inspection tube because Gruett did not contemplate o-ring grooves on the exterior or interior portions of the inspection tube. Further, because the ends of the inspection tube are restricted and nested in end members, stresses related to thermal, environmental and chemical expansion cycles are exasperated.
Lyden U.S. Pat. No. 3,540,276 describes a fluid level gauge. The Lyden invention uses an o-ring seal nested in an end member, communicating with the adjacent end of a site tube. Fluid leaks are minimized by placing the glass site tube in compression with the o-ring seal nested in the respective end member. The glass site tube is required because the Lyden invention requires compressive force on the tube. Thus, the design creates inherent mechanical stress and without utilizing the glass site tube adopts poorly to thermal, environmental and chemical expansion cycles and therefore would be susceptible to leakage.
Wech U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,815 describes a fluid level gauge. The Wech invention discloses a groove in an inspection tube and a groove in the nipple of a block in which an o-ring is placed. The design provides for ease of assembly and reduces the effects of inherent environmental stress on the apparatus. However, when installing the device, the mounting positions must be exact otherwise the o-ring will not sit properly in the two grooves. This makes installation more complicated and reliant on perfect placement. Incorrect installation would not only negatively impact the functionality of the device, but could also severely damage the tank on which it is to be installed.
In addition to the foregoing, many of the prior art devices are cumbersome and otherwise complex in their overall design, thereby increasing the cost to manufacture, decreasing the reliability and making them difficult to maintain. Further, the prior art is replete with designs that inadequately address the often conflicting requirements of resisting fluid leaks and protecting the inspection tube from mechanical, environmental, thermal and chemical stresses.

Adjustable fluid level verification apparatus


A multilayer optical fiber coupler for coupling optical radiation between an optical device and an optical fiber, including a first layer that has a fiber socket formed by photolithographic masking and etching to extend through said first layer, and a second layer bonded to the first layer. The first layer may comprise substantially single-crystal silicon. An optical fiber is inserted into the fiber socket to align the optical fiber precisely within the fiber socket. In one embodiment the optical fiber is a single mode fiber, and an optical focusing element formed on the second layer is aligned with the core of the single mode fiber. The second layer may comprise glass having an index of refraction that approximately matches the index of the optical fiber, and an optical epoxy is used to affix the optical fiber into the fiber socket and fill the gaps between the end face of the fiber and the second layer. Embodiments are disclosed in which an optical device such as a VCSEL or photodetector is bonded to the second layer. Alternative embodiments are disclosed in which the optical device is incorporated into the second layer. Advantages include reduced cost due to batch fabrication techniques, and passive alignment of the optical fiber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to couplers for coupling optical radiation into and out of an optical fiber.
2. Description of Related Art
Optical fibers have by far the greatest transmission bandwidth of any conventional transmission medium, and therefore optical fibers provide an excellent transmission medium. An optical fiber is a thin filament of drawn or extruded glass or plastic having a central core and a surrounding cladding of lower index material to promote internal reflection. Optical radiation (i.e. light) is coupled (i.e. launched) into the end face of an optical fiber by focusing the light onto the core. For effective coupling, light must be directed within a cone of acceptance angle and inside the core of an optical fiber; however, any light incident upon the surrounding cladding or outside of the acceptance angle will not be effectively coupled into the optical fiber.
It is a difficult task to couple light into the central core of an optical fiber due to its small size and acceptance angle, particularly if the optical fiber is a single mode optical fiber. A typical single mode fiber has a core diameter of only 10 microns and an acceptance angle of only 10°. Single-mode fibers, which are designed to transmit only single-mode optical radiation, are widely utilized for telecommunications applications. Multimode optical fibers have a larger cross-section and a larger acceptance angle than single-mode fibers. For example, a typical multimode fiber has a core diameter of 50 microns and an acceptance angle of 23°. Because any optical radiation outside the core or acceptance angle will not be effectively coupled into the optical fiber, it is important to precisely align the core with an external source of optical radiation.
One conventional practice for making a fiber-pigtailed transmitter is to assemble an edge-emitting laser diode, an electronics circuit, a focusing lens, and a length of optical fiber and then manually align each individual transmitter. To align the transmitter, the diode is turned on and the optical fiber is manually adjusted until the coupled light inside the fiber reaches a predetermined level. Then, the optical fiber is permanently affixed by procedures such as UV-setting epoxy or laser welding. This manual assembly procedure is time consuming, labor intensive, and expensive. Up to 80% of the manufacturing cost of a fiber-pigtailed module can be due to the fiber alignment step. The high cost of aligning optical fiber presents a large technological barrier to cost reduction and widespread deployment of optical fiber modules.
One single-mode fiber has a cylindrical glass core of about 10 microns in diameter surrounded by a glass cladding with a circular outer diameter of about 125 microns. In some connections, slight variations in dimensions can drastically affect coupling efficiency, and therefore some optical fiber manufacturers carefully control the fiber's tolerances. For example, in a splice connection between two optical fibers, a large loss in the transmitted signal can occur if the two inner cores fail to align precisely with each other. For example, if the cores of two 10 micron single-mode fibers are offset by only 1 micron, the loss of transmitted power through a splice is about 5%. Therefore, to reduce coupling losses, manufacturers maintain cladding diameter tolerances within the micron to sub-micron range. For example, Corning Inc. specifies the tolerance of its optical fibers as 125±1 micron.
In order to provide passive alignment of optical fibers, various alignment techniques have been reported based on precisely etched holes on a wafer. For example, in Matsuda et al. "A Surface-Emitting Laser Array with Backside Guiding Holes for Passive Alignment to Parallel Optical Fibers", IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, Vol. 8 No. 4, (1996) pp. 494-495, a research group at Matsushita in Japan performed an experiment in which a shallow guiding hole on the backside of a back-emitting vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) wafer is etched to a depth of 10 to 15 microns and a diameter of 130 microns. A multi-mode fiber stem 125 microns in diameter is inserted into the guiding hole with a drop of epoxy for passive alignment to the VCSEL. This group reported an average 35% coupling efficiency at 980 nanometers. The large core diameter of multi-mode fibers (e.g. 50 microns) allows this approach to be suitable for coupling light into multi-mode fibers; however the lack of a light-focusing mechanism prevents use of this method with single-mode fibers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,583 to Basavanhally discloses a substrate having at least one lens formed on a first surface. An optical fiber guide is etched on a second surface of the same substrate, opposite the first surface. The optical fiber guide is used to mount an optical fiber on the second surface such that the central axis of the optical fiber is substantially coincident with the central axis of the lens, thereby giving the desired alignment. Fused silica and silicon are two common substrate materials. If the substrate material is fused silica (or glass), the fiber guide etch rate is very slow (typically 0.3 micron per minute or less) and as a result it is impossible to obtain fiber guides of sufficient etch depth, which is necessary to obtain precise angular alignment to single mode fibers. According to the method described in the patent, etching is to stop before it reaches the final surface where the lens resides. At the bottom of the etched fiber guide, the surface is typically neither smooth nor flat, which could causescattering and reflection loss if the refractive index of the substrate material is different than that of the optical fiber core (approximately 1.5).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,150 to Stegmueller et al. discloses an optoelectronic device that includes a substrate that has a recess for receiving a plano-convex lens and a recess on the other surface of the substrate aligned with the lens to receive an end of an optical fiber. The device disclosed by Stegmueller is subject to the same problems as the device disclosed in the Basavanhally patent.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A thermoforming packaging machine includes a forming station for thermoforming troughs in a film web, a filling path for filling products into the troughs, a sealing station for sealing the troughs, a chain guide for guiding a transport chain for the film web, a transverse cutting device for cutting the film web in a direction transverse to the transport direction, a longitudinal cutting device for cutting the film web in the transport direction, and a control device for controlling processes running on the thermoforming packaging machine. The transverse cutting device comprises a film punch, an adjustment drive which can be controlled by the control device for closing and opening the film punch, and a detection unit which is connected to the control device and which has at least one sensor which is configured to detect, per processing cycle, a force progression occurring at the film punch during opening and closing.

A generic thermoforming packaging machine is known from EP 3 109 017 B1. A film punch for cutting through a film, which is assumed therein to be previously known, is adjusted between an open and a closed position by means of a pneumatic cylinder. In the associated force progression, there is an abrupt slump in force causing the cutting of the film to be indicated in the force diagram. Nevertheless, the pneumatic cylinder continues to build up a pressure force until a pressure bar of the film punch presses against a knife of the film punch with a preset maximum force before the punching process is completed and the pressure of the pneumatic cylinder is released. However, the film punch repeatedly working up to the preset maximum force level per cutting cycle results in high wear of the knife.
As an alternative to the embodiment described above, EP 3 109 017 B1 proposes another variant of a cutting process controlled by a servomotor, in which the knife of the film punch is supposed to be less stressed per cutting cycle compared to the pneumatic embodiment. For this purpose, the servomotor always moves the pressure bar to a preset working position which corresponds to a specific position of the servomotor. The working position can be calibrated weekly, daily or at each machine start of the thermoforming packaging machine by moving the pressure bar to con-tact with the knife when the film is not present and storing a detectable angle for this on the out-put shaft of the servomotor in the control system as the working position. However, this increases the calibration effort, since the film punch has to be readjusted, especially when changing the film.

Thermoforming packaging machine and method for controlling a film punch


A semiconductor memory device and a semiconductor memory system. The semiconductor memory device includes channels configured to transmit signals from a transmitter to a receiver, and a crosstalk compensator. The crosstalk compensator may be connected between the channels to compensate for crosstalk. The crosstalk compensator may comprise a capacitor connected in parallel between the channels, and a switching unit connected between the capacitor and one of the channels. The switching unit may control connections or disconnections between the capacitor and the channel. Therefore, the semiconductor memory device and the semiconductor memory system compensate for crosstalk occurring between transmitted signals that are out of phase with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor memory device and a semiconductor memory system for compensating crosstalk.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a signal is transmitted through a channel, crosstalk occurs due to a signal transmitted through a neighboring channel. Crosstalk refers to a phenomenon in which electrical coupling between signals transmitted through different channels, e.g., capacitive coupling, electronic coupling, or the like, affects other channels. The crosstalk contributes to limiting a maximum operating frequency of a channel and a system. A voltage difference and a timing difference occur between transmitted signals due to the crosstalk. The timing difference varies depending on whether a transmitted signal is in phase or out of phase with a signal transmitted through a neighboring channel.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional semiconductor memory device transmitting signals through channels.
FIG. 2A illustrates waveforms of a transmitted signal and neighboring signals that are in phase with one another, and FIG. 2B illustrates waveforms of a transmitted signal and neighboring signals that are out of phase with one another.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2A, if transmitted signals T1, T2, and T3 are in phase with one another, signals R1, R2, and R3 are received as shown in FIG. 2A. In other words, when the transmitted signals T1, T2, and T3 are in phase with one another, inductance among neighboring channels increases. Thus, the signal R2 is transmitted later than the signals R1 and R3 that are adjacent to the signal R1.
Referring to FIG. 1 and 2B, if the transmitted signals T1, T2, and T3 are out of phase with one another, i.e., the transmitted signals T1 and T3 are out of phase with the transmitted signal T2, signals R1, R2, and R3 are received as shown in FIG. 2B. In other words, when the transmitted signals T1, T2, and T3 are out of phase with one another, inductance among neighboring channels decreases. Thus, the signal R2 is transmitted faster than the signals R1 and R3 that are adjacent to the signal R2.

Semiconductor memory device and semiconductor memory system for compensating crosstalk

Maetan-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do


A reverse input blocking clutch comprises, as main elements, an input member, an output member, a stationary member for constraining the revolutions, locking means, lock release means and torque transmission means. By forming the input member, the output member, the stationary member and a fixed side plate from metal plates such as press worked steel plates, a compact, lightweight and low cost reverse input blocking clutch is provided. Reverse input torque from the output member is locked in both the forward and reverse rotational directions relative to the stationary member, by rollers which function as the locking means. Input torque from the input member in both the forward and reverse rotational directions is transmitted to the output member via apertures 1d and protrusions which function as the torque transmission means.

In devices which perform a desired operation by transmitting input torque from a rotational driving source such as a motor to an output mechanism, when the driving source is stopped, there are occasions in which it is desirable to block the transmission of reverse input torque from the output mechanism back to the input side.
An example of such an occasion is when a retention function is employed to prevent the position of the output mechanism fluctuating when the driving source is stopped. In this type of device, taking an electric shutter as an example, the input torque from the driving motor in either a forward or reverse direction is input to an opening and closing mechanism on the output side, which then performs the operation for either opening or closing the shutter, although if for some reason (such as a power failure or the like) the driving motor is stopped partway through the opening or closing operation, reverse input torque resulting from the descent of the shutter under its own weight is returned to the input side, resulting in the possibility of damage to the input side components. Consequently, a mechanism is required which holds the position of the shutter, and prevents the return of reverse input torque from the shutter to the input side.
Furthermore, in a construction in which a reduction gear is used to reduce the revolutions of a motor, the following problems may arise in those cases where, for some reason, torque is reverse input from the output side.
(a) In a case in which worm gearing is used as the reduction gear, then because rotation under reverse input is impossible with this type of worm gearing, a very large load is exerted on the worm wheel or the teeth of the worm. In particular, a very large thrust loading acts upon the worm. As a result, there is a danger of damage to the bearing supporting the teeth and the worm, or alternatively, the mechanism must be increased in size in order to prevent this type of damage.
(b) Even in the case of a reduction gear which utilizes a spur gear or a helical gear, there is still a possibility of damage to the teeth in those cases where the reverse input torque becomes excessively large (such as the case of a shocking reverse input).
In order to resolve the problems outlined above, a mechanism is required which is capable of transmitting input torque from the motor of the input side to the output side, but also capable of locking the output side with respect to reverse input torque from the output side, thereby preventing the return of reverse input torque to the motor or the reduction gear on the input side.
Furthermore in recent years, many vehicles including automobiles have been equipped with motor driven electric retractable door mirrors, wherein the mirror moves through an angle of approximately 90° between a working position in which the mirror protrudes out from the side of the vehicle, and a retracted storage position. A conventional electric retractable door mirror (such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 11-51092) utilizes a driving mechanism such as that shown in FIG. 29, wherein a mirror 42 can be moved easily by driving a motor 41, but when an external force acts upon the mirror 42, a clutch 43 effectively blocks the external force, holding the mirror 42 firmly in place and preventing the external force from acting upon the motor 41.
However, in the driving mechanism disclosed in the above publication, because the mirror is securely fixed and undergoes no rotation even if an external force results in a reverse input torque acting upon the mirror, the mechanism is unable to absorb such an external force, and the mirror is consequently prone to damage. In order to resolve this problem, a mechanism is required which is capable of transmitting input torque from the motor of the input side to the mirror of the output side, but also permits the mirror to slip with respect to reverse input torque, thereby blocking the transmission of such reverse input torque back to the input side.

Reverse input blocking clutch and clutch device using the same


The invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing an electronic device. A first conductive layer (first metal interconnect layer) is deposited. There is an insulating layer (first intermetal dielectric) layer deposited. A resistive layer is deposited on top of the insulating layer and structured in order to serve as a thin film resistor. A second insulating layer (second intermetal dielectric) is then deposited on top of the resistive layer. A first opening is etched into the insulating layers (first and second intermetal dielectric) down to the first conductive layer. A second opening is etched into the insulating layers (first and second intermetal dielectrics) down to the first conductive layer. A cross-sectional plane of the second opening is arranged such that it at least partially overlaps the resistive layer of the thin film resistor in a first direction.

Various important technological applications employ thin film resistors. These thin film resistors may be integrated in individual integrated semiconductor devices or they can be located in complex hybrid circuits or integrated circuits. Thin film resistors may be arranged as resistive ladder networks in analog-to-digital converters, or as current limiting and/or load resistors in various different circuits such as amplifiers, filters, current or voltage buffering or biasing stages etc.
Thin film resistors may comprise various different materials, as for example tantalum nitride (TaN), silicon, chromium (SiCr), or nickel chromium (NiCr). These resistor materials are generally evaporated or sputtered onto a substrate wafer at a metal interconnect level and subsequently patterned and etched. In order to use the thin film resistors, they have to be electrically connected. The parameters and performance of the thin film resistors is then related to the condition and to the quality of the resistor surface and the electrical connection. However, within the established manufacturing processes for integrated semiconductor devices, it is challenging to contact thin film resistors without impairing or destroying important parameters or even the thin film transistors themselves.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,921,962 B1 discloses a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device with a thin film resistor. As shown in FIG. 1 of the reference, conductively filled VIAs 95 extend from the upper metal interconnect layer 100 to the thin film resistors 60 and a lower metal interconnect layer 40. The VIAs are formed simultaneously, with no processing steps being added to contact resistors 60. VIAs 95 preferably contact optional portions of hard mask 70 that remain over the ends of resistor material 60. However, VIAs 95 may contact resistor material 60 and/or hard mask 70. Optional hard mask portions 70 can protect resistor material 60 during the VIA etch. Hard mask portions 70 comprise a conductive material such as titanium-tungsten (TiW), titanium-nitride (TiN) or molybdenum (Mo). Resistor material 60 can comprise materials such as tantalum-nitride (TaN), silicon-chromium (SiCr), or nickel chromium (NiCr).
U.S. Pat. No. 7,112,286 B2 discloses a thin film resistor structure which includes an electrical interface layer or head layer that is a combination of a titanium (Ti) layer and a titanium nitride (TiN) layer. The combination of the Ti layer and the TiN layer mitigates resistance associated with the electrical interface. Additionally, the employment of the Ti layer provides a more reproducible resistivity value associated with the electrical interface layer. Furthermore, the Ti layer acts as a glue layer to facilitate adhesion of the TiN to the thin film resistor material.
In order to connect lower level interconnect layers of, for example aluminum, the interconnect layers traditionally were covered by a titanium nitride layer (TiN). A hole for a VIA is then etched by a strong pre-sputter etch step in order to remove the TiN layer and reach the aluminum layer below. Subsequently, the opening for the VIA is covered with a liner of titanium (Ti) and then with a liner of TiN. Finally, the remaining space within the opening is filled with tungsten in order to electrically connect the lower level interconnect layer with a higher level. This strong pre-sputter etch for removing the TiN layer on top of the aluminum is not compatible with VIA etching for connecting a thin film resistor layer as the thin film resistor layer may easily be destroyed.

Semiconductor device and method for low resistive thin film resistor interconnect


A method, computer system, and computer program product for AI-enabled application notification mute management is provided. The embodiment may include generating a communication corpus from real time data. The embodiment may also include identifying a current activity level for a user. The embodiment may further include receiving a new communication from an application. The embodiment may also include calculating a priority value for the received communication. The embodiment may further include determining whether to mute a notification transmission of the received communication to the user based on the calculated priority value and the generated communication corpus. The embodiment may also include, in response to determining to mute the notification transmission; muting the notification.

The present invention relates generally to the field of computing, and more particularly to notification systems.
Notifications may relate to messages transmitted and/or displayed to a user that alerts the user to an item. For example, if a messaging application receives a message, a notification may be displayed on a device home screen to alert the user of the received message. The displayed notification may be temporary (e.g., disappears from the device screen after a preconfigured period of time has elapsed) or permanent (e.g., the message only clears when manually removed by the user or the user has viewed the notification). A notification system may include software and hardware that has the capability of delivering a message to a recipient from a sender. Notification systems may be interrelated with other systems to provide additional capabilities to unrelated entities. For example, a calendar program may have notification system capabilities that allow a notification to be sent to a user when a calendar event is upcoming.

Generative notification management mechanism via risk score computation

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for fabricating a solid electrolyte memory device comprises a plurality of solid electrolyte memory cells, the solid electrolyte memory cells sharing a common continuous solid electrolyte layer comprising solid electrolyte cell areas and solid electrolyte inter-cell areas, the method comprising the process of introducing mobile ion solubility reducing material or mobile ion mobility reducing material into the solid electrolyte inter-cell areas.

Solid electrolyte memory technology (in the following also referred to as conductive bridging memory technology) is expected to become an important memory technology in the future. However, in order to be competitive with other existing memory technologies like DRAM technology or FLASH technology, cross talk between neighbouring memory cells has to be reduced.

Method for fabricating a solid electrolyte memory device and solid electrolyte memory device


A method and assembly (20) to form a cast concrete panel (21). The assembly (20) has end beams between which tendons (23) can pass. The beams need to be able to support tensioning of the tendons. Transversely extending form members (25) cooperate with form members (27) to enclose a space to receive concrete to form the panel (21). The tendons (23) pass through the space.

Methods and apparatus employed to cast pre-tensioned concrete structural panels, are generally labour intensive and are not adapted to easily cast the panels with an aperture for a window, a door or other purpose. Still further, the formwork employed is only designed to manufacture a single sized panel. Still further, the decorative treatments of the panel faces are limited by the current methods of manufacture. Still further, the methods of prevention of water ingress from the external face to the internal panel face are inadequate or subject to poor on-site work practices. Still further, the methods of sealing openings in panels for doors or windows are limited by the life of the sealants used.
In the prior art, a batch-type process has been employed to more efficiently manufacture cast pre-tensioned concrete structural members in the form of panels, to be used, for example, as walls, floors or roofs in building construction. In a batch-type process, a long concrete slab or plank is poured and cured, and thereafter cut into a plurality of shorter length panels. Due to the relatively long curing time required, this batch-type process is more efficient than casting individual shorter panels because a large number of individual panels can be produced at substantially the same time. The length of the slab, before cutting into shorter individual panels, may be as much as 150 meters with the slab weighing 230,000 kg.
Generally, there are two batch-type methods employed for use in the manufacture of pre-tensioned concrete structural panels, either a fixed bed apparatus of the general type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,217,375 of Kinnard, or a moving bed apparatus of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,523,343 of Mitchell.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 3,217,375 of Kinnard, the pre-tensioned concrete structural member, including core openings therein, is produced on a long stationary casting bed by means of a hopper and roller units and a casting machine which travels the length of the bed. The completed member is then cured and subsequently cut into the desired lengths.
The U.S. Pat. No. 3,523,343 of Mitchell, describes a moving bed system wherein a manufacturing area contains sequentially used items of production equipment, suitably housed and located centrally between an elongated curing area and a similarly elongated unloading overrun area. A casting bed moves back and forth several times during each production cycle while the various operations of the manufacturing process are performed. The casting bed comprises a lengthy stress frame which is mounted on a track extending the full length of the facility and carries a moulding form in which the pre-tensioned concrete member is cast by equipment which remains stationary in the manufacturing area while the bed moves beneath it.
In the above described processes, the concrete slab is pre-tensioned by means of reinforcing strands or tendons longitudinally tensioned between the ends of the casting bed prior to the casting of concrete. After the concrete is cured, the ends of the tendons are released to transfer the stress to the concrete and then the slab is cut into a plurality of shorter individual panels. The pre-tensioned panels produced offer superior performance to panels made using conventional reinforcement, however, there are several limitations with these methods of manufacture, including the large size of the casting beds, apertures for window or door openings are not easily made, the cutting of the slab into a plurality of shorter individual panels produces large quantities of concrete sludge, the diamond cutting wheels employed to cut the concrete are expensive and wear rapidly, the individual panels produced by cutting the slab are not adapted for easy lifting from the casting bed, and connection of the individual panels to other building elements is not readily achieved.

Apparatus and method to manufacture cast panels


An in-wheel motor drive device (10) includes: a motor portion (21); a casing (43) housing a rotation transmission path from a motor rotation shaft of the motor portion to a rotating wheel; a suspending bracket (61) including an upper joining seat portion (62) joinable with an upper side suspension member (76) of a suspension device, a lower joining seat portion (64) joinable with a lower side suspension member (71) of the suspension device, and an intermediate portion (63) connecting the upper joining seat portion and the lower joining seat portion, and a fixing means (69) for mounting and fixing the suspending bracket (61) to an outer wall surface of the casing (43).

The in-wheel motor drive device arranged in an inner space region of a wheel is joined to a suspension device of a vehicle body side. As such a joining structure, for example, the one described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-214273 (Patent Literature 1) is known. The housing of the in-wheel motor described in Patent Literature 1 is composed of a housing body and a lid member. A socket of a ball joint is formed on the lid member. The socket houses a ball portion of a ball stud erected on a suspension member. Thus, the in-wheel motor is joined to the suspension member.


A fluid pressure regulator capable of adjustably setting a cut-off pressure between an upper and a lower limit having a two-piece valve body where the two pieces are threadably joined such that adjusting the distance between the two pieces (34, 54) of the valve body moves a piston (12) stem valve operating a high pressure port (40) towards or away from the high pressure port while not changing the distance between a spring (84) engaging the piston (12) and the piston head (14).

Fluid pressure regulators regulate the flow of fluid between a high pressure port and a low pressure port. Typically, regulators are preset to allow fluid to flow when pressure at a low pressure port drops below a predetermined upper limit.
One type of pre-set regulator is known as a piston-type regulator. This regulator typically comprises a valve body, a hollow stem piston and a spring. When fluid pressure at the low pressure port of the valve body drops below a pre-set minimum, a coil spring operating on the underside of the piston head lifts the piston operated stem valve off the high pressure inlet port to provide fluid flow between the inlet port and the outlet port. At the same time, some of the fluids flow up the hollow piston stem to be captured in the cylinder head between the head of the valve body and piston face. As pressure at the outlet port increases, so does back pressure in the cylinder forcing the piston down and the piston stem valve against the high pressure inlet port.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,904 discloses a piston-type pressure regulator having a variable pressure differential adjustability through the use of a camming plate that can adjustably preload the spring which acts on the piston body, tending to force the stem of the piston off the high-pressure valve seat. This is effected by adjusting the preload on the spring against the piston and selectively compressing the spring to achieve the desired pressure differential (cut-off pressure) of the piston stem against the valve seat.
Applicant's invention provides, however, in a unique piston type fluid regulator, the capability of providing in a single regulator a device capable of adjustably selecting a cut-off pressure.


This document provides methods and materials related to assessing brain conditions within mammals. For example, methods and materials that can be used to determine whether or not a mammal (e.g., a human) with a brain aneurysm is likely to experience brain aneurysm rupture are provided.

1. Technical Field
This document relates to methods and materials involved in assessing brain conditions. For example, this document relates to methods and materials involved in determining whether or not a brain aneurysm will rupture.
2. Background Information
About 10 to 15 million Americans are thought to suffer from a brain aneurysm with about 30,000 of these experiencing a brain aneurysm rupture (subarachnoid hemorrhage; SAH) annually. Unfortunately, about half of the SAH cases result in death or marked disability from the original hemorrhage or a major complication such as rebleeding or vasospasm. When confronting a patient with a brain aneurysm, a clinician recommends either treatment or continued monitoring. Treatment typically involves surgical clipping, endovascular coiling, or a variation thereof.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research


An electro-developing type camera uses an electro-developing recording medium including an electrostatic information recording medium and an electric charge keeping medium. The camera has a transparency sensor for detecting dark-zone-transparency data at a portion of the electric charge keeping medium corresponding to a dark zone defined on a light receiving surface of the electrostatic information recording medium. It is determined whether or not the dark-zone-transparency data is substantially equal to reference-transparency data. If the dark-zone-transparency data is not substantially equal to the reference-transparency data, it is warned that the electro-developing recording medium has been recorded on.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electro-developing type video camera using an electro-developing recording medium in which an optical image obtained through a photographing lens system is electronically and directly recorded and developed as a visible image in very little time.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such an electro-developing recording medium per se is known. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-2280 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,156 disclose one type of electro-developing recording medium comprising an electrostatic information recording medium and an electric charge keeping medium. The electrostatic information recording medium includes a photoconducting layer and an inorganic oxide material layer, and the electric charge keeping medium includes a liquid crystal display, both mediums being combined to face each other with a small gap therebetween.
An electronic still video camera using the electro-developing recording medium has already been proposed, and is referred to as an electro-developing type camera hereinafter.
In a photographing operation of the electro-developing type camera, a voltage is applied to the electro-developing recording medium, and an optical image is formed on a light receiving surface of the electrostatic information recording medium by a photographing optical system. An electric charge is distributed over the electrostatic information recording medium in accordance with a light intensity distribution of the optical image formed on the light receiving surface thereof, so that the intensity of an electric field, acting on the liquid crystal of the electric charge keeping medium, is in accordance with the electric charge distribution. Thus, the optical image is reproduced in the electric charge keeping medium as a visible image. Namely, as soon as the optical image is formed on the electrostatic information recording medium, the optical image is recorded and developed in the electric charge keeping medium.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-165005 discloses another type of electro-developing recording medium. In this type medium, a structure of the electrostatic information recording medium is substantially the same as that of the electrostatic information recording medium as disclosed in the above-mentioned citations except that the inorganic oxide material layer is omitted therefrom, and that the electric charge keeping medium or liquid crystal display is constituted as a liquid-crystal-polymer composite (LCPC) using a memory type of liquid crystal such as smectic liquid crystal. Similar to the first-mentioned type of electro-developing recording medium, both the electrostatic information recording medium and the electric charge keeping medium are combined to face each other with a small gap therebetween.
Furthermore, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 6-130347 and No. 7-13132 disclose yet another type of electro-developing recording medium. In this type of medium, the inorganic oxide material layer is also omitted from the electrostatic information recording medium, and the electric charge keeping medium or liquid crystal display is also constituted as the liquid-crystal-polymer composite (LCPC) using the memory type of liquid crystal. Nevertheless, both the electricstatic information recording medium and the electric charge keeping medium are integrally combined with each other through the intermediary of a transparent insulating layer without any gap therebetween.
All things considered, when the electric charge keeping medium is constituted as a memory-type liquid crystal display using, for example, a smectic liquid crystal, the developed visible image can be kept therein even if the electric field is eliminated from the electro-developing recording medium. Thus, the electro-developing recording medium carrying the developed visible image can be preserved in the same way as slides or transparency sheet films. Also, in the memory type liquid crystal display, the developed image can be erased by heating the display to a given temperature. In this case, the same electro-developing recording medium can be repeatedly used for photographing.
Under these circumstances, the electro-developing recording medium carrying the developed visible image may be mistaken for a blank recording medium, and erroneously loaded into a camera. If the loaded medium is subjected to a second exposure, the first developed visible image is lost from the medium, and the newly-photographed image cannot be properly recorded and developed thereon.
Further, a developed recording medium is not usually unloaded from the camera immediately after photographing. Thus, the developed recording medium is frequently subjected to a double exposure, resulting in the problem mentioned above.

Electro-developing type camera using electro-developing recording medium


A photosensitive assembly includes a circuit board, photosensitive chip coupled to the circuit board, the photosensitive chip includes a photosensitive area on an upper surface thereof and a non-photosensitive area surrounding the photosensitive area, and a package body packaged on the circuit board and covering a portion of the non-photosensitive area of the photosensitive chip, the package body includes an inner surface, and the inner surface has a curved surface on an edge thereof contacting the non-photosensitive area.

With the rapid development of various smart devices, smart devices integrated with camera modules are becoming thinner and lighter while improving their camera quality. Improving the camera quality means that that the size of specifications and the number of the electronic elements are increasing, the area of the photosensitive chip that significantly affects the camera quality is also increasing. Therefore, the assembly difficulty and the overall size are increasing, the lightweight and thinness of the camera module are greatly limited, thereby limiting the size of the smart device provided with the camera module.
In a conventional manufacturing process of the camera module, the circuit board, the photosensitive chip, and the like are separately made, the photosensitive chip is glued on the circuit board, and then a package body that is spaced apart from the photosensitive chip is formed via injecting molding process. The package is used to package the electronic elements such as resistors and capacitors on the circuit board. Finally, a lens is located on the package body. The conventional camera module manufactured by the aforementioned process may easily detach the package body from the circuit board due to a collision or a shake of the lens assembly during use.

Camera module and photosensitive assembly thereof

NANCHANG O-FILM OPTICAL-ELECTRONIC TECH CO., LTD.


Method (500) and system (402) for actively detecting and determining a range of a remotely located radio receiver (100). The invention also provides a method and system to determine whether a remote receiver (100) is receiving a transmitted signal (418) and the minimum necessary transmitter power required to establish a communication link to the receiver (100). Finally, the invention also provides a method and system to resolve directional ambiguities due to multipath.

1. Statement of the Technical Field
The inventive arrangements relate to detection of radio receiver devices, and more particularly to systems which can use active techniques to determine a range to a radio receiver device.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many circumstances in which it can be useful to identify the presence of radio receiving devices. For example, identifying the presence of a radio receiver can be useful for many military, law enforcement and homeland security applications. Traditional techniques for performing this function have usually relied on various means for detecting RF emissions from the receiving device. Most often, the source of the RF energy can be directly or indirectly traced to a portion of a radio receiver which is known as a local oscillator.
Local oscillators are commonly included in superheterodyne type radio receivers as part of a down-conversion system. In a superheterodyne radio system frequencies of interest are converted to a constant lower frequency before detection. This constant frequency is called the intermediate frequency, or IF. In this regard, it is well known that certain IF frequencies are commonly selected by designers for certain types of radio receivers.
In order to perform the frequency conversion process from received RF signals to IF, superheterodyne receivers commonly perform a mixing operation that involves two signals. These signals include a signal produced by the local oscillator and an incoming RF signal. This process is performed in a mixer or mixing stage of the receiver. Within the mixer, the local oscillator signal interacts with the received RF signal to produce outputs known as mixing products at frequencies which are equal to the sum of the two input frequencies and difference of the two input frequencies. Other mixing products are also produced that are generally lower in amplitude than the sum and difference products. The receiver includes filtering circuits following the mixer stage to select either the higher or the lower of these frequencies as the IF. Receivers can use one or more mixing stages to produce a desired IF. The IF is typically amplified and is ultimately demodulated by other circuits in the receiver.
Given some information regarding the type of radio receiver to be detected, it is possible to make some reasoned estimates of the likely frequency of the IF signals in a receiver and the local oscillator frequency or frequencies necessary to produce those IF signals. Significantly, signals from the local oscillator and the IF stage of the receiver often radiate from the receiving device. Accordingly, conventional systems have typically confirmed the presence of a radio receiver within an area by using a narrow-band receiver to scan certain frequencies for the presence of such IF signals and/or local oscillator signals. If these emissions are present, it can be presumed that a radio receiver of a particular type is nearby. RF directional finding equipment has also been used in some instances to locate a direction in which such a receiver is located.
Despite the advantages offered by the foregoing systems, they have several important limitations. For example, existing systems do not provide any means for determining a range or distance to a radio receiver. Existing systems lack the ability to resolve directional ambiguities caused by reflections of signals from environmental and man-made structures such as mountains, bodies of water, buildings, airplanes, etc. Existing systems also lack the ability to determine if a target receiver is actually receiving a transmitted signal from a source. Finally, existing systems also do not generally provide any means for determining a minimum required power necessary for transmitted signals to be received by the target receiver.


In one general aspect, an apparatus can include an input terminal and an overvoltage protection device coupled to the input terminal and configured to receive energy via the input terminal. The overvoltage protection device can have a breakdown voltage at an ambient temperature less than a target maximum operating voltage of a source configured to be received at the input terminal. The apparatus can also include an output terminal coupled to the overvoltage protection device and a load.

An integrated circuit (e.g., a downstream integrated circuit) can be protected from undesirable power conditions (e.g., overvoltage conditions) using an overvoltage protection device such as a transient voltage suppression (TVS) device. The overvoltage protection device may not be properly tuned to the integrated circuit for which the overvoltage protection device is targeted to protect. Accordingly, the overvoltage protection device selected for overvoltage protection may not provide overvoltage protection of the integrated circuit in a desirable fashion. For example, tolerance induced dead spots of an overvoltage protection device that is not properly matched to an integrated circuit targeted for protection may result in undesirable overvoltage protection. Various irregular failure modes and/or damage to integrated circuit intended for protection at the input power port may occur. Thus, a need exists for systems, methods, and apparatus to address the shortfalls of present technology and to provide other new and innovative features.

Methods and apparatus related to a precision input power protection device


An emergency slide system to provide an evacuation of a high-rise building comprises a plurality of slide assemblies configured for movement from a first stowed position to a second deployed position. Each of the plurality of slide assemblies are built into a wall adjacent each of the flights of stairs disposed in the stairwell of the building. Each of the plurality of slide assemblies is disposed in a storage enclosure built into the wall adjacent each of the flights of stairs disposed generally parallel to the flights of stairs designed to zig zag down from an upper floor of the building to a lower floor. Each of the slide assemblies is constructed of an elongated escape chute to enable a person exiting the building to slide down a plurality of the elongated escape chutes between the upper and lower floors disposed in the stairwell of the high-rise building.

Fires and other emergency situations require immediate action to safely evacuate the structure and minimize injury to individuals trying to escape from the structure. The problems with respect to such disasters have been more serious in multi-story structures as evacuation is much more difficult than that of a single story structure. Most multi-story homes have only a single stair case exit from the up stairs and those multi-story structures that have elevators are unable to use them in times of disasters.
Individuals routinely work and live at elevations that do not permit safe free-fall drops in emergency situations. Ladders are often unavailable or inadequate in height. Jumping from a window or from a roof is many times the only tenable option. In practical terms, any fall in excess of five meters creates a grave probability of injury or death. Alternative evacuation plans for individuals, such as helicopter evacuations from roof tops, are time consuming, dangerous and often impossible due to fire, explosions, surrounding structures and weather.
Emergencies, such as fires, often limit escape options. The chaos and mass confusion that accompany emergencies increase evacuation times and delay rescues. Descending stairs in fire exits becomes a dangerous experience, as excessive numbers of excited people crowd into the exits, pushing and tripping one another in attempting to reach safety. Heat and toxic gases further complicate evacuations. Needs exist for evacuation systems that provide quick and easy escape routes.
Recent emergencies across the United States have demonstrated the need for quicker evacuation systems. During the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York, it took rescue workers over five hours to evacuate the buildings. While there was smoke and no power, other emergency conditions were ideal. There was no fire and no continuing threat. The buildings had strong structural integrity. Highly trained and well-equipped emergency services and personnel were readily available. Under non-ideal circumstances with fire, smoke and a continuing threat, a five-hour evacuation would have inevitably resulted in a massive loss of life.


An elongated bicycle rack and storage device has a clamping device at one end so that it can be attached to and cantilever from the bicycle seat post. The device has an enclosable compartment for relatively small items and an external rack frame for supporting larger items when the bicycle is in use.

This invention relates to accessories for bicycles and more particularly to a combined bicycle rack and storage device.
With the ever increasing popularity of bicycles including road bikes, mountain bikes and various racing bikes a need arose for a rack device capable of carrying loads externally as well as internally. For even short trips, a bicyclist often needs to carry such small but vital items such as keys, tools, repair kits and/or maps. Yet, a device having a compartment capable of carrying such items should also be able to accommodate externally some larger items, such as clothing articles, for example. A rack which provides both a compartment and the ability to support external items must also be strong, rigid and relatively easy to install with simple tools. The present invention solves this problem.