An embodiment for creating a template for user experience by segmenting a visual surrounding is provided. The embodiment may include receiving real-time and historical data relating to one or more content interactions of a user wearing an augmented reality (AR) device. The embodiment may also include analyzing one or more contextual situations of the one or more content interactions. The embodiment may further include identifying one or more objects of interest in a visual surrounding environment of the user. The embodiment may also include in response to determining the identification of the object type is confident, predicting a contextual need for each object of interest. The embodiment may further include creating one or more information display templates. The embodiment may also include populating the one or more information display templates with information and displaying the one or more populated information display templates to the user.

The present invention relates generally to the field of computing, and more particularly to a system for creating a template for user experience by segmenting a visual surrounding.
Augmented reality (AR) devices have become popular consumer products in recent memory. These devices may include AR headsets as well as smart glasses and smart contact lenses. Such AR devices allow a user to simply gaze at their visual surroundings and display an enhanced version of that environment. For example, the user may be looking out their window on a rainy day and the AR device may display weather and/or traffic information in the direction of the user's gaze as a part of the visual surroundings. Additionally, the AR devices may recognize objects in the user's visual surroundings, such as a product in a store or an animal in a park, and display relevant information about the objects in the direction of the user's gaze, also as a part of the visual surroundings. As technology continues to improve, the demand for AR devices is expected to increase in the coming years.

Segmenting visual surrounding to create template for user experience


A method and device for the production of hydrogen from water and electricity using an active metal alloy. The active metal alloy reacts with water producing hydrogen and a metal hydroxide. The metal hydroxide is consumed, restoring the active metal alloy, by applying a voltage between the active metal alloy and the metal hydroxide. As the process is sustainable, only water and electricity is required to sustain the reaction generating hydrogen.

The efficient production of hydrogen is not only critical to a number of industrial processes, but plays a key part in creating a clean and efficient hydrogen economy. The idea of a fuel cell, able to convert hydrogen into water and electricity, has been around for over a century. The fuel cell however, has been ineffective as a viable commercial power source because of inefficiencies in the production of hydrogen. Hydrogen can be produced by many different methods. Common methods of producing hydrogen are steam reformation (SR), highly reactive metals, reactive metals, electrolysis, and high temperature electrolysis (HTE).
Steam reformation (SR) is believed to be the most economical and commercially viable process that is presently available. At high temperatures (700-1100° C.) and in the presence of a metal-based catalyst, steam reacts with a hydrocarbon, such as methane, to yield carbon monoxide and hydrogen. For most hydrocarbons, including methane, temperatures in excess of 700° C. are necessary. Carbon monoxide produced in the SR reaction is poisonous to most fuel cells. The carbon monoxide may be processed in a water gas shift reaction (WGS), an organic reaction which combines carbon monoxide with steam to produce hydrogen. Unfortunately, the WGS does not consume all the carbon monoxide requiring the fuel cell to be periodically cleaned. The carbon monoxide can also be partially removed by scrubbing or pressure swing adsorption, both of which are costly.
Highly reactive metals may also be used to produce hydrogen from water. Examples of such metals include: lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), francium (Fr), beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), radium (Ra), aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), phosphorus, (P), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), yttrium (Y), zirconium (Zr), niobium (Nb), lanthanum (La), hafnium (Hf), tantalum (Ta) and gallium (Ga). These metals oxidize in the presence of water creating hydrogen. Unfortunately they cannot be efficiently reduced back to the original metal.
Reactive metals have a reactivity less than the highly reactive metals, but are much more capable of being reduced back to the original metal once oxidized. Examples of reactive metals include: germanium (Ge), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), indium (In), tin (Sn), cobalt (Co) and antimony (Sb). The reduction/oxidation of iron was used as the primary industrial method for manufacturing hydrogen during the 19th and early 20th centuries. At elevated temperatures, iron strips oxygen from water, leaving pure hydrogen. Excess water is required to maximize hydrogen production from a given amount of iron. After the hydrogen is produced, excess water is condensed leaving an uncontaminated hydrogen gas steam. The steam reduction/iron oxidation process produces hydrogen and wustite (FeO) and/or magnetite (Fe3O4). To regenerate the iron metal, carbon monoxide or carbon is used to capture the oxygen from the iron oxide, forming iron metal and carbon monoxide (CO) or carbon dioxide (CO2). Another method of reducing the iron oxide is smelting the iron oxide, which requires high temperature due to the high melting point of iron (1538° C.). Unfortunately, both these methods are inefficient and kinetically difficult.
Electrolysis is a simple way of producing hydrogen. In electrolysis, an electrical current is applied between a pair of inert electrodes immersed in water. The amount of electrical energy that must be used equals the change in Gibbs free energy of the reaction plus the losses in the system. The losses can (theoretically) be arbitrarily close to zero, so the maximum thermodynamic efficiency equals the Gibbs free energy change of the reaction divided by the enthalpy change.
High temperature electrolysis (HTE) may also be used to produce hydrogen at as high as twice the efficiently of simple room temperature electrolysis. HTE is more efficient than simple room temperature electrolysis because some of the energy is supplied as heat, which is cheaper than electricity, and because the electrolysis reaction is more efficient at higher temperatures. In fact, at 2500° C., an electrical current is unnecessary because water breaks down to hydrogen and oxygen through thermolysis. However, such temperatures are impractical. Proposed HTE systems operate at 100 to 850° C. HTE has been demonstrated in a laboratory, but not on a commercial scale. Unfortunately a significant amount of energy is lost in HTE electrolysis from the high pressures the water must be exposed to in order to maintain it as a liquid.
Therefore there exists a need for a more efficient method of producing hydrogen. An object of the following invention is for a continuous, self-renewing method of producing hydrogen, requiring only a supply of steam and electricity once started. A further object of the following invention is a method of producing hydrogen at temperatures above the boiling point of water, without having to maintain the reaction at higher pressures. Still yet another object of the following invention is a method of producing hydrogen with about a 30% increase in efficiency over HTE.

Process for the production of hydrogen from water

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


A lumbar support back rest having an interior ribbed structural member. The structural member has general configuration which conforms to the curvature of the human back and protruding ribs which conforms to a user's back. A resilient removable covering surrounds the interior structural member and contains a strap to hold the lumbar support back rest on a chair, car seat or the like once it is properly positioned.

Various back supports have been commonly used by individuals suffering from back discomfort. Back supports operate to promote proper posture while providing firm support and comfort to the user's back. Back supports are commonly portable so the user can use the same support in a variety of chairs, seats or the like.
It is in known in the art to utilize accurate shaped back supports which cooperate with the natural curvature of the individuals back. In order to provide appropriate support, back supports can be bulky and inconvenient for the user. Furthermore, the thickness and bulk of the back support allows it to retain the body heat further discomforting the user.
Therefore what is needed is a back support having less bulk while still providing the necessary support and comfort by eliminating heat build up.
The primary object of the invention is to provide a ribbed design having excellent support and user comfort while allowing the support to be manufactured out of a thinner material.
Another object is to provide a protruding rib design with corresponding indentations to allow cool air to flow through the support.
Yet another object is to provide protruding ribs with corresponding indentations which allow lateral lumbar support and which conform to the regular user's body.


The present invention relates to a formulation for promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss. Supplementation with the formulation promotes hair growth and increases the number of hairs in mammals. In one embodiment, a composition for promoting hair growth and reducing hair loss according to the present invention comprises mixed tocotrienols and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

Hair loss or alopecia is a common problem in both males and females regardless of their age. There are several types of hair loss, such as androgenetic alopecia, alopecia greata, telogen effluvium, hair loss due to systemic medical problems, e.g., thyroid disease, adverse drug effects and nutritional deficiency states as well as hair loss due to scalp or hair trauma, discoid lupus erythematosus, lichen planus and structural shaft abnormalities. (Hogan and Chamberlain, 2000). Of the above, androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss, affecting about 30% of individuals who have a strong family history of hair loss. (Bergfeld, 1988). Androgenetic alopecia is caused by three interdependent factors: male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), genetic disposition and advancing age. DHT causes hair follicles to degrade and further shrink in size, resulting in weak hairs. DHT also shortens the anagen phase of the hair follicle growing cycle. Over time, more hairs are shed and hairs become thinner. Possible options for the treatment of alopecia include reassurance, hair prosthesis, surgery and topical/oral medications. (Hogan & Chamberlain, 2000; Bertolino, 1993; Setty, 1970).
The most common pharmacological management of androgenetic alopecia is topical minoxidil and finasteride taken orally. The main problem with topical minoxidil therapy is patient compliance, although it has been shown to be effective in a few studies. (DeVillez et al, 1994; Trancik R J, 1998). On the other hand, oral finasteride is associated with significant adverse effects such as decreased libido, impotence and ejaculation disorders. (Chen et al, 1996).
In addition, there is a report by Goldman et al. (1996) which evaluates whether male pattern baldness is associated with a deficiency in oxygen supply to body tissue. The results indicate that penetration of oxygen was lower in the bald frontal scalp than in hair-bearing temporal scalp area. As such, good blood supply to the scalp is essential to maintain normal cycle of hair growth.
Tocotrienol, a form of vitamin E, is a potent anti-oxidant and has been found useful in combating many health problems. While there was a report of the beneficial effects of vitamin E in hair care products (Shipp, 1994), its potential in the restoration of hair in patients taking tocotrienols as a supplement has yet to be explored. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the possible intervention effects on hair loss with tocotrienols.
Vitamin E consists of 8 molecules or isoforms; four of which are known as tocopherols and four of which are known as tocotrienols. Structurally, both consist of a chromanol head and a phytyl side chain. The difference between tocopherols and tocotrienols lies in the phytyl side chain. Whereas the phytyl side chain of tocopherols is fully saturated, that of the tocotrienols has three double bonds at the 3, 7 and 11 positions. Both tocopherols and tocotrienols are further designated as alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-isoforms depending on the number and position of the methyl groups on the chromanol ring. Thus, tocopherols and tocotrienols are distinctively different and are not derivatives of each other (Theriault et al, Clinical Biochemistry (1990) 32(5):309).
Because of the difference observed in the phytyl chain of tocopherols and tocotrienols, the two series have also been reported to possess differences in biological activities, with the tocotrienols reportedly to be superior (Qureshi et al, J Biol Chem (1986) 261:10544; Serbinova et al, Free Radic Biol Med (1991) 10:263). Moreover, the half life of tocopherols in humans has been reported to be about 20 hours while the half-life of tocotrienols was reported to be between 2–4 hours only.
Although tocopherols have been mentioned in other patents describing hair growing agents, tocopherols are not the major active ingredient but merely act as formulation aid, as mentioned in some of the patents. The patent by Kamimura (European Patent Application Number EP1232740A2) relates to a hair growing agent, comprising phosphatidic acid as an active ingredient (as claim 1). Only in the subsequent claims did the inventor mention that "A hair-growing agent comprising, as active ingredients, the phosphatidic acid, and one or more members selected from the group consisting of proanthocyanidin, tocopherol, derivatives of tocopherol, panthothenic acid . . . ". Moreover, the above patent only mentioned tocopherol as one of the components of the invention and not tocotrienols per se. It should be emphasized that tocotrienols are distinctly different from tocopherols.
In the patent by Mitsuyama (JP2000038340), it relates to peroral hair growth stimulants containing minoxidil AND one or more compounds chosen from a group of molecules which may consist of vitamin E. The emphasis was on minoxidil and not Vitamin E although Vitamin E as a group encompasses both tocopherol and tocotrienols. Tocotrienols were not being mentioned at all for preventing hair loss as the sole active ingredient but instead vitamin E was used more as a supplement to minoxidil or as an excipient in the preparation. On the other hand, the present invention specifically relates to preparations containing tocotrienols for promoting hair growth and not in combination with other molecules.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,432 (Peat) relates to the use of progesterone solubilized in tocopherol for the correction of progesteron deficiency states. The tocopherol in the preparation was not indicated for the treatment of any ailments listed in the patent, which include abnormal hair growth resulting from androgen excess, but rather the tocopherol was used as a non-toxic solvent to solubilize the progesteron such that it did not crystallize out upon mixing with biological fluids. The tocopherol used in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,432 was not meant to exert any therapeutic action. Tocopherol in this case was used solely as an inert excipient/carrier for progesterone so that the progesterone would not crystallize out as in the case of a prior art where ethanol was used. U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,772 by Lane et al. relates to the use of novel tocotrienols and tocotrienol-like compounds as hypocholesterolemic, antithrombotic, antioxidizing, antiatherogenic, anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory agents. It was never mentioned in the patent that tocotrienols could be used for promoting hair growth or preventing hair loss as stated in the present invention. Hence, the aim of the present study was to investigate the possible intervention effects on hair loss with tocotrienols.


A high-efficiency, wide-angle illumination surgical system is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: a light source for providing a light beam; an optical cable, optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam; a handpiece, operably coupled to the optical cable; an optical fiber, operably coupled to the handpiece, wherein the optical fiber is optically coupled to the optical cable to receive and transmit the light beam; an optical element, optically coupled to a distal end of the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and scattering the light beam to illuminate an area, wherein the optical element comprises a compound parabolic concentrator (“CPC”) cone; and a cannula, operably coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing the optical fiber and the optical element. The optical element can be a small-gauge, diffusive optical element comprising a sculpted distal end of the optical fiber or a machined or injection-molded plastic CPC-cone. For example, the optical element can be a 19, 20 or 25 gauge optical element. The CPC-cone optical element angularly spreads the light beam out to a high off-axis angle and emits the light out of the distal end of the cannula with high efficiency.

In ophthalmic surgery, and in particular in vitreo-retinal surgery, it is desirable to use a wide-angle surgical microscope system to view as large a portion of the retina as possible. Wide-angle objective lenses for such microscopic systems exist, but they require a wider illumination field than that provided by the cone of illumination of a typical fiber-optic probe. As a result, various technologies have been developed to increase the beam spreading of the relatively incoherent light provided by a fiber-optic illuminator. These known wide-angle illuminators can thus illuminate a larger portion of the retina as required by current wide-angle surgical microscope systems. Currently existing wide-angle illuminators, however, display several disadvantages.
One disadvantage of prior art wide-angle illuminators for ophthalmic surgery is a matching of the light refracting index of the vitreous eye fluid to that of the light refracting surface of the lens of the illuminator that comes in contact with the vitreous eye fluid. Contact of the vitreous eye fluid with the light refracting surface of the light spreading lens of such prior art systems results in sub-optimal light refraction due to index switching caused by the vitreous eye fluid. U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,438, entitled "Retinal Wide-Angle Illuminator For Eye Surgery," and issued to R. Scott Turner, provides a system for overcoming the effect of refractive index matching through the use of a high refractive-index step, mediated by the presence of an air-gap. The air-gap is presented between the distal end of an optical fiber and the light refracting surface of the illuminator lens. The light emanating from the optical waveguide (i.e., the optical fiber) will therefore undergo angular dispersion without any index switching that might be caused by contact with the vitreous eye fluid before it passes through the light refracting surface of the illuminator lens.
Another disadvantage of currently available wide-angle illuminators is glare. Glare results when the source of the illumination is small and bright, and the user (e.g., an ophthalmic surgeon) has a direct line of sight to the small bright illumination source. Glare is unwanted stray radiation that provides no useful illumination, and either distracts an observer or obscures an object under observation. Glare can be corrected for in current wide-angle illuminators, but typically only by reducing the total illumination light flux, which reduces the amount of light available for observation by the surgeon. For example, the "bullet probe" manufactured by Alcon Laboratories, Inc., of Fort Worth, Tex., achieves wide-angle illumination by using a bullet-shaped fiber having a surface diffusive finish to scatter light emanating from the distal end of an optical fiber. To reduce glare, the bullet probe can use a geometric shield, which reduces the illumination angle by reducing the overall available light flux.
A further disadvantage of typical prior art wide-angle illuminators is that they do not provide simultaneously both a large illumination angle (angular spread) and high emission efficiency of the light source to illuminate a surgical site.
Therefore, a need exists for a surgical wide-angle illuminator that can reduce or eliminate the problems of associated with prior art wide-angle illuminators, particularly the problem of simultaneously providing both a large angular spread and high emission efficiency of the emitted light.


A receiver for efficient wireless communications in the presence of frequency errors in a radio frequency received signal is disclosed. The receiver comprising a receiver channel, a wide band frequency acquisition mode, automatic frequency control, a narrow band demodulation mode and a demodulator. The receiver channel has a variable bandwidth and an approximately fixed receiver mid-channel frequency. The wide band frequency acquisition mode comprises a wide channel filter which initially defines the bandwidth to be greater than the frequency error in the received signal and wherein the frequency error is determined by comparing the received signal frequency to the receiver mid-channel frequency. The automatic frequency control comprises at least one frequency adjustable local oscillator which it adjusts based upon the frequency error such that the frequency difference between the receiver mid-channel frequency and the received signal is made negligible, thereby approximately centering the received signal within the bandwidth in the wide band frequency acquisition mode. The narrow band demodulation mode comprises a narrower channel filter which narrows the bandwidth of the receiver channel with respect to the wide band frequency acquisition mode and maintains approximately the same receiver mid-channel frequency. The demodulator demodulates the received signal in the narrow band demodulation mode. Automatic frequency control and bandwidth selection using-adaptive digital signal processing based filters is also disclosed. In this case instead of the local oscillator being adjusted to tune in the desired signal, the filter center frequency is adapted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to the field of wireless communications, and, more specifically, to low power local area wireless communications such as point to point data communications, automatic identification, remote control, and status reporting.
2. Description of the Related Art
The radio link performance for equipment like computer to computer data links, garage door openers, vehicle toll tags, and remote keyless entry systems is often limited by the high emphasis placed upon small size and low cost. Progress in equipment design in this field requires advances in performance where the necessary low cost and size are still maintained.
The earliest equipment of this type involved amplitude modulated transmitters based on free running oscillators, usually inductor/capacitor (LC) resonator based. Receivers were often of the low part count regenerative type, also using free running LC oscillators. These LC systems were of very low performance, and the desire to improve system operation led to general industry conversion to surface acoustic wave (SAW) based technology, beginning in the early 1980's. SAW's are a form of crystal resonator where the resonant acoustic vibration that defines crystal operating frequency is constrained to the surface region of the device material, as opposed to classic bulk mode crystals, where the acoustic vibration occurs throughout the body of the device. The surface mode of operation allows operation to much higher frequencies than bulk mode, extending currently to several GHz, but at the cost of reduced frequency accuracy as compared to bulk mode crystals. Though much more frequency accurate than LC technology, SAW's exhibit approximately one to two orders of magnitude more frequency error than bulk mode crystals. This frequency error leads SAW based receivers and transmitters to typically employ a wide band channel bandwidth that is much wider than the modulation bandwidth of the transmitted signal, which in turn worsens sensitivity, range, and immunity to interference as opposed to a narrower bandwidth that did not allow excessive noise contamination of the signal.
For example, in the 902 to 928 MHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band, the frequency accuracy of a SAW based transmitter is typically+/-100 KHz with a typical data rate of 5000 bits/second and a transmitted bandwidth of approximately 10 KHz. The 200 KHz minimum receiver bandwidth to have this transmitter come up in channel is 20 times greater than the bandwidth required by the data rate. This leads to reduction in sensitivity of approximately 13 dB and a twenty times increase in vulnerability to interference compared to a minimum bandwidth receiver design. However, an advantage of having a receive channel bandwidth wide enough to cover any possible frequency error in the transmitter is that the receiver can very quickly detect the incoming signal and prepare itself for actual data reception.
At the same time that SAW's have come to dominate low power wireless, the cellular telephone and higher level wireless industry have achieved great market success, which has in turn led to a new generation of high performance yet compact radio technology. The frequency sources for this class of equipment are generally processor controlled frequency synthesizers, which have been steadily increasing in integration level, to the point where a synthesized signal source can be competitive in size to a SAW based signal source. These compact synthesizers allow transmitters and channel defining local oscillators in receivers to be set via software control to any of a large number of frequencies uniformly distributed across the band of interest. The frequency accuracy is determined by precision bulk mode crystal oscillator references, which allows channel placement error to be constrained to a small fraction of the bandwidth of typical data rates, thus eliminating the need for wider receiver bandwidth to allow for frequency error. Since electronic noise that limits receiver sensitivity is directly proportional to bandwidth, using the narrowest possible bandwidth leads to maximum sensitivity. This more advanced technology can be applied to some segments of the low power wireless market directly, but in other segments the demands for the lowest possible power, size, and expense cannot easily be met by these more sophisticated methods. A highly accurate crystal based reference can be more expensive than an entire transmitter in a low power wireless application. Therefore a synthesized transmitter in such an application would typically use a lower accuracy crystal reference that, while superior in accuracy to a SAW device, still causes frequency error that is a large fraction of the desired channel bandwidth. Maintaining optimum system performance with the reduced transmit frequency accuracy of either SAW or inexpensive crystals requires specialized receiver techniques aimed at maintaining minimum receiver bandwidth in the presence of the frequency error, and minimum time latency in dealing with such frequency error. However, specialized receiver designs optimized for this type of operation are not commercially available.
Therefore, there exists a need for an apparatus and a method which provides the higher performance available from optimum narrow band systems utilizing high accuracy crystal reference based frequency stabilization while maintaining, to the greatest extent possible, the low cost and low size advantages of the SAW based systems.

Apparatus and method for efficient wireless communications in the presence of frequency error


Disclosed are a battery swapping station and a control method therefor. The battery swapping station comprises: a first battery swapping platform being arranged between a first charging compartment and a second charging compartment; a first shuttle travels between the first battery charging compartment and the first battery swapping platform, a second shuttle travels between the second battery charging compartment and the first battery swapping platform; a control unit being electrically connected to the first shuttle and to the second shuttle, used for the following operation: when operating a same vehicle on the first battery swapping platform, if the first shuttle is executing either operation of battery unmounting or battery mounting, the second shuttle executes the other operation. Through the battery swapping station and the control method therefor, the waiting time for vehicles when swapping batteries can be reduced, thus increasing the battery swapping efficiency of the battery swapping station.

Nowadays, vehicle exhaust emission still presents as an important factor of environmental pollution. To govern the vehicle emissions, the human kind has developed natural gas cars, hydrogen cars, solar cars and electric cars to take the place of oil-fueled cars. Electric cars are the most prospecting one.
Direct-charge electric cars are mostly small cars, for example, taxis and family cars. Direct-charge electric cars are currently charged by the charging piles built on the ground. However, the charging piles are difficult to manage, especially with the increasing popularity of electric cars, centralized management of charging to the electric cars becomes more difficult.
Quick-change is currently used for bus system. At the quick-change station, the on-board power battery of electric buses can be quickly changed to ensure the continuous operation of those electric buses. But, at present, the problems of long time for battery change and low efficiency in change operation exist in the quick-change station.

Battery swapping station and control method therefor

SHANGHAI DIANBA NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

AULTON NEW ENERGY AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY GROUP


A container system includes, in its most preferred embodiment, a dispenser and a resealable, refillable container having a container body and a closure apparatus which includes a plug movably connected to a platform section which is connected to the container body through a rim section. The platform section defines a recess having a recess floor and a recess wall and an ovoid plug aperture located within the recess floor which is partially shielded by an aperture floor and selectively occupied by an ovoid bottom portion of the plug. The aperture floor defines an air hole and an upper surface which contacts a bottom surface of a wide end of the bottom portion of the plug, corresponding to the end which first departs away from the plug aperture.

The present invention relates generally to field of dispensable product containers, and in its most preferred embodiments, to the field of resealable, refillable container systems.
Dispensable products, including beverages, other liquids, such as stains, paints, automotive and cleaning products, powders, such as laundry detergent, and solids such as capsules, tablets, marble-like objects or candies, etc. are currently available in a wide variety of dispensing containers, including cans, bottles, jugs, jars, boxes, bags, etc., constructed from a wide variety of materials, including glass, plastic, metal, paper, etc. Since many of these products are often consumed over various periods of time, many dispensing containers include resealable closure systems, including screw-top, bead and channel, and other structures such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,746, 4,232,797, 4,386,714, 4,516,689, and 4,819,829.
Certain products, such as carbonated beverages, are capable of producing relatively high levels of pressure inside containers. Consequently, choices for physical designs and construction materials for certain dispensing containers have been influenced, at least in part, to accommodate such high pressures in order to prevent leakage, accidental opening, or deformation of the containers. However, many such physical designs are complicated and/or difficult to open, resulting in broken fingernails or more serious injuries. Furthermore, one popular disposable closure design for soft drinks includes subjecting the stored liquid to a potentially dangerous breakaway tab, a design having obvious disadvantages.
Another consideration for dispensable containers relates to refillability. Due to an increasing awareness of our ever-growing landfills and desires to recycle and re-use resources, the benefits of refillable containers are clear. However, many closure systems are not very durable and tend to deteriorate in performance after prolonged periods of use. Furthermore, closure systems employing removable elements tend to promote loss or littering of the removable elements.
There is a need, therefore, to provide a resealable, refillable container system which addresses these and other related, and unrelated, problems.


An acoustic dash panel seal and assembly guide for a vehicle having a dash panel with a shaft aperture configured to receive a steering column shaft includes a guide portion having a converging wall that converges from a first end to an opposite second end, and a flange portion extending from the converging wall first end. The guide portion second end is configured to be disposed proximate to the dash panel shaft aperture, and the guide portion first end is configured to receive the steering column shaft therein during assembly of the vehicle. The converging wall is configured to guide the steering column shaft toward and through the guide portion second end to thereby guide the steering column shaft through the dash panel shaft aperture.

Vehicles typically include a wall or dash panel to separate the engine compartment from the passenger compartment. To reduce acoustic noise traveling from the engine compartment through the dash panel and into the passenger compartment, a sound barrier mat or interior dash silencer is mounted to the dash panel. However, in some vehicles, the dash panel must include a large enough clearance hole to allow a steering shaft to pass therethrough during an instrument panel loading and mounting. As a result, the dash silencer must be trimmed away from the hole to prevent any possibility of overlapping the clearance hole. This larger clearance hole, with the trimmed back dash silencer, may degrade silencing performance. Accordingly, while such systems work for their intended purpose, it is desirable to provide improved dash silencer systems.

Vehicle acoustic dash panel seal and guide


A hot and cold massaging unit (10) comprises a housing (12) having a receptacle (26) therein. A plurality of vibrators (36) are surrounded by padding (34) in the housing. A plurality of gel packs (32) which are capable of retaining heat and cold, are insertable within receptacle (26) which is then closable by a zipper (28). Gel packs (32) can therefor also be removed from and replaced in the receptacle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a massage unit and, in particular, to such a unit which is disposed to apply heat or cold to a user through the use of heatable and coolable packs which can be inserted and replaced in the unit.
2. Description of Related Art and Other Considerations
Devices for the therapeutic massage of portions of the body are well known, such as are evidenced in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,792,829, 2,920,617, 3,356,086 and 4,607,624 by which mechanical vibrations, such as produced by ultrasonic or mechanical means, is applied to the user's body either through an aqueous medium or solid material. In the first three patents, the aqueous medium is used only to transfer ultrasonic vibrations to the body. U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,624 discloses the combination of an integral massaging and heating device to afford greater relief than the application of either a massaging or a heating treatment alone. While the application of heat is one method for treating the body, it is sometimes necessary that the treatment require the application of cold, rather than heat. Also, the sources of heating or cooling may not always be available by recourse to household current, such as is required in U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,624. In addition, the ailment or need to be addressed sometimes dictates the type of heat or cold to be applied, e.g., dry or wet.
It is therefore desirable that the combined massaging and temperature application be tailored to the treatment desired and to the availability of sources both for operating the massaging unit and for the heat or cold.

Massage unit with replaceable hot and cold packs


In an apparatus at a spinning preparation machine, especially a card, having a clothed roller, at least machine element located opposite the roller clothing and spaced radially therefrom, and having two fixed lateral holding devices on which work elements are mounted, first and second measuring elements, connected to a control device are provided for detecting variables linked to the dimensions of the roller. The first measuring element comprises a temperature probe for the temperature of the roller surface. The second measuring element comprises a rotational speed sensor for the roller speed. To allow an actual carding nip to be determined, permitting a comparison with a preset carding nip, a third measuring element for the temperature of the holding devices is provided and the control device determines the actual spacing for the roller and the side panels.

The invention relates to an apparatus at a spinning preparation machine, especially a flat card, roller card or the like, having a roller, for example a cylinder, which has a cylindrical clothed peripheral surface having at least one clothed and/or unclothed movable or stationary machine element located opposite the roller clothing and spaced radially therefrom, and having two fixed side panels, on which work elements, e.g. sliding bends for revolving flat bars, stationary carding elements, roller coverings, are mounted.
In a known apparatus, at least two measuring elements for detecting variables linked to the dimensions of the roller are provided, the measuring elements being connected to an electronic open-loop and closed-loop control device and a first measuring element being in the form of a temperature probe for the temperature of the roller surface and a second measuring element being in the form of a rotational speed sensor for the speed of the roller.
The effective spacing of the tips of a clothing from a machine element located opposite the clothing is called the carding nip. The latter element can also have a clothing, but could instead be formed by a casing segment having a guiding surface. The carding nip is a determining factor for the quality of carding. The size (width) of the carding nip is a fundamental machine parameter, which shapes both the technology (the fibre processing) and also the running performance of the machine. The carding nip is set to be as narrow as possible, (it is measured in tenths of a millimeter), without running the risk of a "collision" between the work elements. To ensure that the fibres are processed evenly, the gap must be as uniform as possible across the entire working width of the machine.
The carding nip is influenced particularly by the machine settings on the one hand and by the condition of the clothing on the other hand. The most important carding nip of the revolving flat card is located in the main carding zone, i.e. between the cylinder and the revolving flat assembly. At least one of the clothings adjoining the work spacing is in motion, more often than not both. In order to increase the production of the carding machine, efforts are made to select the operating speed of rotation and the operating speed of the moving elements as high as the technology of fibre processing will allow. The work spacing changes in dependence on the operating conditions. The change takes place in the radial direction (starting from the axis of rotation) of the cylinder.
In carding, ever larger amounts of fibre material are being processed per unit of time, which involves higher speeds of the work elements and higher installed capacities. With the work surface remaining constant, increasing throughput of fibre material (production) leads to greater generation of heat owing to the mechanical work. At the same time, however, the technological carding result (sliver uniformity, degree of cleaning, reduction of neps etc.) is continually being improved, which requires more active surfaces engaged in carding, and settings of these active surfaces closer to the cylinder (tambour). The proportion of synthetic fibres to be processed is continually increasing, with more heat, compared with cotton, being produced as a result of friction from contact with the work surfaces of the machine. The work elements of high-performance carding machines are today fully enclosed all round in order to comply with the high safety standards, prevent particle emission into the spinning works environment and minimise the need for maintenance of the machines. Gratings or even open, material-guiding surfaces that allow exchange of air belong to the past. The circumstances described appreciably increase the input of heat into the machine, whereas there is a marked decrease in the discharge of heat by means of convection. The resulting increased heating of high-performance carding machines leads to greater thermoelastic deformations, which have an influence on the set spacings of the active surfaces owing to the uneven distribution of the temperature field: the distances between cylinder and card top, doffer, fixed card tops and separation points decrease. In an extreme case the set nip between the active surfaces can close up completely as a result of thermal expansion, so that components moving relative to one another collide. The high-performance card concerned suffers considerable damage. Moreover, in particular the generation of heat in the working region of the card can lead to different thermal expansions when the temperature differences between components are too large.
Owing to the heat input under production conditions, the cylinder heats up more than the side panel. By using different materials for cylinder and side panel, the change in carding nip under production conditions can be substantially compensated. This is the case, for example, when the warming ΔT of the cylinder is approximately double the value of the warming ΔT of the side panel. When using different materials, a problem arises in particular when there are temperature differences that act on the machine from the outside, and the warming of the cylinder no longer corresponds to the calculated value of the side panel, e.g. double the value. Large changes in the carding nip are the result in particular of fluctuating external temperatures, because these act in equal measure on the cylinder and the side panel and then the carding nips change owing to the different coefficients of expansion of the materials used. Especially when the machine is at a standstill, big differences can occur during set-up operations as a function of the ambient temperature. For the machine operator, these changes of distance are imperceptible and the outcome of the set-up can consequently vary considerably. Even during operation of the machine, different ambient temperatures can lead to different carding nips and hence to different results in the product. Since the adjustments to the drive elements around the cylinder are performed substantially manually, the times from adjustment to start-up of the machine or to a quality evaluation are in some cases considerably far apart. Extreme temperature differences can thus lead both to dangerously narrow and to large carding nips, with the corresponding disadvantages.
In the case of a known apparatus (DE 29 48 825C), the diameter of the cylinder in the unreformed state (i.e. in practice before start-up of the machine and at room temperature) is designated D, whilst the diameter (indicated by a dot-dash line) of the cylinder in a state deformed by the influence of centrifugal force and/or the effect of heat is designated D+ΔD. On the basis of the increase in diameter ΔD, the distance between the cylinder surfaces in the underformed state, provided that a co-operating cylinder is not deformed, would be reduced by
            Δ                                      D        2          :  an assumption that in many cases represents a good approximation. If the distance a in the underformed state of the cylinder were selected to be optimum, the distance
  a  -            Δ                                      D        2  obtaining while the cylinder is in its deformed state, would lie below the admissible limit, which would be very dangerous. It is proposed that both the influence of the rotational speed of the cylinder and the influence of warming are taken into account. For that purpose, a rotational speed sensor, which detects the rotational speed of the axle of the tambour, and a temperature sensor, which detects the temperature of the surface of the cylinder, are provided. These elements are connected by corresponding leads to the control device for actuating means, the control device being pre-programmed both in respect of the direct correlation between the diameter D of the tambour and its rotational speed and the direct correlation between the diameter and the temperature of the surface of the tambour casing. Allowances are thus made for both influences by the control device, which supplies electrical signals to the actuating means, which enlarge the spacing between the cylinders. The drawback is that only the changes in the diameter of the roller can be calculated. A further disadvantage is that the changes in diameter of just the one roller can be calculated, and not of the counter-element adjoining the carding nip.
It is an aim of the invention to produce an apparatus of the kind mentioned at the beginning, which avoids or mitigates the said disadvantages, which in particular allows an actual carding nip to be determined at any desired point in time and permits a comparison with a preset carding nip (reference value). A further objective is to adjust the carding nip as a function of temperature and rotational speed measurements to a desired value.

Apparatus at a spinning preparation machine, especially a flat card, roller card, or the like, having a roller, e.g. a cylinder, which has a cylindrical clothed peripheral surface


A polarization diversity receiver has an optical section for converting the received optical signal into four or five polarization diverse component optical signals that substantially represent amplitude and polarization state information of the received optical signal, by respective polarization transformations to respective points on a Poincaré sphere, the points being equally spaced apart to maximize polarization diversity, even in the worst case input polarization state. Detectors produce component electrical signals from each of the component optical signals, for electronic processing to compensate for PMD. By reducing the number of component optical signals significant cost and size reductions are enabled. The need for precise polarization tracking in the receiver can be reduced or eliminated completely. Balanced detectors can be used to reduce the number of electrical signals. The electrical processing can use sequence detection.

Known optical transmission systems can be broadly categorized as direct detection, or coherent detection systems. In direct detection systems, at the receiver, the signal power is measured and therefore any phase and polarization information in the optical signal is ignored and lost. In coherent detection systems, inphase and quadrature components of the optical field are detected, which enables the use of phase modulation as well as amplitude modulation, and so two channels can be transmitted having orthogonal phases. It is also known that two further channels can be transmitted using orthogonal polarizations, if in addition the receiver is polarization diverse. Direct detection systems have nevertheless dominated the market for long haul transmission systems due to their simplicity. In contrast coherent receivers require careful polarization alignment and phase tracking, which is difficult and can limit the cost/performance trade off. In typical systems, the polarization may change at rates up to kHz levels, while phase variations can be typically up to MHz levels.
Both coherent and direct detection systems are also limited in high capacity systems by distortions introduced by the optical path, mostly optical fiber. There are many such distortions, including nonlinearities such as four wave mixing, but the principal ones are usually chromatic dispersion (CD) and polarization mode dispersion (PMD). PMD can vary over periods of minutes, sometimes much less and so needs adaptable control. Many complex solutions have been tried to compensate for PMD and CD with limited success. Solutions which correct the distortion in the optical domain involve expensive optical components.
Among the known PMD compensation techniques, electrical domain (post-detection) approaches are particularly attractive because of their potential for compact and cost-effective implementation in the chip sets at the receiver. Electronic equalizers using simple feedforward and decision feedback structures have been proposed for mitigating intersymbol interference (ISI) in optical communications by for example J. H. Winters and R. D. Gitlin, "Electrical signal processing techniques in long-haul fiber-optic systems," IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 38, pp.1439–1453, September 1990.
They have been recently implemented and tested at 10 Gb/s using integrated SiGe technology as analog equalizers for PMD mitigation as shown by H. Bülow, R. Ballentin, W. Baumert, G. Maisonneuve, G. Thielecke, and T. Wehren, "Adaptive PMD mitigation at 10 Gbit/s using an electronic SiGe equalizer IC," in Proc. ECOC 1999, vol. II, pp. 138–139. However, it is noted that they do not deliver the performance gains typically expected and the optimization of filter coefficients adaptively, even with the simple and well known least mean squares (LMS) algorithm is still a challenging task at the high data rates at which optical systems operate. An example of an electronic compensator for a conventional 10 Gb/s optical transmission system has been announced by Santel Networks, of Newark, Calif. They claim that it provides a single solution for mitigating impairments from PMD and CD. It uses an equalizer for use on a directly detected electrical signal.
Since currently all installed high data rate systems use direct detection, the polarization and phase information is lost during detection. Diversity can provide advantages for PMD mitigation by making more efficient use of the available information. A known technique based on adaptive optics and diversity detection is described by B. W. Hakki, "Polarization mode dispersion compensation by phase diversity detection," in IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett., vol. 9, Jan. 1997, pp.121–123,
where a polarization beam splitter (PBS) is used to split the signal into two orthogonal polarizations that are recombined in the electrical domain using an electrical delay line and a combiner. However this requires a polarization controller, which is likely to be expensive and bulky if they are to respond fast enough. Another diversity detection scheme that is based on fixed optics is presented in H. Bülow, "Equalization of bit distortion induced by polarization mode dispersion," in Proc. NOC 1997, pp. 65–72 in which three polarizations are extracted from the optical signal to be recombined in the electrical domain. In this scheme the three receiver photodetector signals are adaptively weighted by different weighting factors and then superimposed. With only 3 detectors arranged for maximum polarization diversity, with polarization states uniformly distributed on an equatorial plane of the Poincaré sphere, there will be an orientation of the fibre's principal states for which there is no improvement in PMD impairment. If the detectors polarization states do not have this maximal separation, there will be input states with a substantial noise penalty, even in the absence of PMD.
IEEE PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, VOL. 14, NO. 4, APRIL 2002 465 "A Novel Polarization Diversity Receiver for PMD Mitigation" by A. O. Lima, I. T. Lima, Jr., Student Member, IEEE, T. Adali, Senior Member, IEEE, and C. R. Menyuk, Fellow, IEEE shows another polarization diversity receiver using simple fixed optics and electronics for incorporating equalization into the diversity receiver structure. In this case, six polarizations are used, which can be represented as three pairs, each diametrically opposed on the Poincaré sphere, and on three mutually perpendicular axes. Six detectors are used and the six electrical signals are fed to a transversal filter.

Polarization diversity receiver for optical transmission system


An injection head (10) is described for a corrugator which is intended for the production of plastics pipes. The injection head (10) has a main head (12), a nozzle body (14) and a mouthpiece means (16) with at least one mouthpiece (32, 36). The main head (12) is embodied with first channels (50, 52) and the nozzle body (14) is embodied with second channels (58, 60) which are flow-connected to the first channels (50, 52). The/each mouthpiece (32, 36) has a central body (74, 76) and a sleeve body, (78, 80) surrounding said central body. On its lateral surface (82, 84) facing the sleeve body (78, 80), the central body (74, 76) is embodied with wound plastics distributor grooves (86, 88) which are flow-connected by means of connecting portions (114, 120) to a concentric annular groove (112, 116) which is formed on the reverse surface (90, 92) of the central body (74, 76) and into which the second channels (58, 60) of the nozzle body (14) discharge.

The invention relates to an injection head for a corrugator for the production of plastics pipes, with a main head having at least one connection for a plastics extruder, with a nozzle body which is attached to the main head so as to be in axial alignment and with at least one mouthpiece which is attached to the nozzle body so as to be in axial alignment and has an output annular slot for the corresponding plastics material, the at least one mouthpiece having a central body and a sleeve body surrounding said central body which determine the associated output annular slot.
Injection heads of this type are known for example from U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,456, EP 0 208 055 A1, EP 0 230 055 A1 or DE 2 911 833 C2. They are used for example for the production of transverse ribbed pipes made of a single plastics material or for the production of transverse ribbed pipes made of different plastics materials. Plastics pipes of the latter type can have for example a smooth inner layer made of a plastics material and a corrugated outer layer which is integrally connected to said inner layer and is made of the same plastics material or a second plastics material differing therefrom.
In the case of known injection heads of the generic type for the production of plastics pipes, in particular transverse ribbed pipes, consisting of a smooth inner layer and a corrugated outer layer, the nozzle body has for the outer layer an outer sleeve element and an inner sleeve element set radially apart therefrom and for the inner layer an outer sleeve element and an inner sleeve element set radially apart therefrom. The nozzle body of known injection heads of the generic type therefore consists of a corresponding number of individual parts; this affects the manufacturing costs of known injection heads. The same applies to the main head of the known injection heads. A further defect of known injection heads of the generic type consists in the fact that the at least one mouthpiece, which is attached to the nozzle body at the front, requires spacer rings for precise centering thereof, and that there is also a need, between the central body and the sleeve body of the mouthpiece that surrounds said central body, for centering pins which impede the flow of the melted plastics material, so that striation in the melted plastics material issuing from the output annular slot is often inevitable. A very basic defect of known injection heads of the generic type consists in the fact that changing the injection head for the production of plastics pipes having a desired different diameter is time-consuming, i.e. the exchanging times are relatively long.

Injection head for a corrugator for the production of plastics pipes


A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a page buffer comprising a lower latch block and an upper latch block, and a memory array that is connected to the lower latch block via a lower common bit line and that is connected to the upper latch block via an upper common bit line. The memory array includes a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, a lower even bit line and a lower odd bit line that are selectively connectable to the lower common bit line, an upper even bit line and an upper odd bit line that are selectively connectable to the upper common bit line, a first switch that electrically connects the lower even bit line to the upper even bit line in response to a first connection control signal and a second switch that electrically connects the lower odd bit line to the upper odd bit line in response to a second connection control signal.

Non-volatile semiconductor memory devices are memory devices that can preserve stored data even when power is not supplied to the device. Various types of memory cells that are appropriate for non-volatile semiconductor memory devices are known. One such type of memory cell is the single transistor type memory cell.
A conventional single transistor type memory cell MC is illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the memory cell MC includes a current path formed between a source S and a drain D on a semiconductor substrate, a floating gate FG formed between a dielectric oxide DOX and a gate oxide GOX, and a control gate CG. The floating gate FG traps electrons, and the trapped electrons establish the threshold voltage of the memory cell MC. To perform a read operation on the memory cell MC, the threshold voltage of the memory cell MC is detected and the value of the data is determined based on the detected threshold voltage level.
Most non-volatile semiconductor memory devices include memory cells MC that can be programmed and erased repeatedly. A single transistor memory cell MC is programmed by trapping electrons in the floating gate FG. The electrons may be trapped in the floating gate FG by, for example, Fowler-Nordheim tunneling (FN) or electron injection. Electron injection may be performed, for example, by Channel Hot-Electron injection (CHE) or Channel-Initiated Secondary Electron Injection (CISEI). Fowler-Nordheim tunneling is widely used in flash memory devices in which data is erased simultaneously.
Typically, a single transistor memory cell MC stores one of two data values. As shown in FIG. 2, the two data values are determined by a threshold voltage that is set to one of two levels. For example, data may be read as "1" when the detected threshold voltage of the memory cell MC is lower than a reference voltage VM, and data may be read as "0" when the detected threshold voltage of the memory cell MC is higher than the reference voltage VM.
A four-level memory cell has been developed that can provide for increased integration of semiconductor memory devices. The four-level memory cell, as illustrated in FIG. 3, can be programmed with one of four threshold voltage levels. As a result, the four-level memory cell can store any one of four data values. Therefore, a non-volatile semiconductor memory device having four-level memory cells (hereinafter referred to as a "four-level non-volatile semiconductor memory device") has a data storage capacity that is twice that of a non-volatile semiconductor memory device having two-level memory cells (hereinafter referred to as a "two-level non-volatile semiconductor memory device").
In a four-level memory cell, the margin of the threshold voltage between neighboring levels typically is very narrow (e.g., about 0.67 V). Moreover, the threshold voltage of each memory cell may be shifted due to the leakage of electrons or the like. Accordingly, the threshold voltage of the memory cell MC may be shifted from a threshold voltage programmed with one of the four levels to a neighboring level threshold voltage, which can result in errors in reading the data stored in the four-level memory cell.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Non-volatile semiconductor memory devices with lower and upper bit lines sharing a voltage control block, and memory cards and systems having the same


A tool for forming a part includes a first tool portion including a first tool surface. The tool further includes a second tool portion comprising a second tool surface facing the first tool surface, wherein the first tool surface and the second tool surface define a tool chamber for forming the part. The tool further includes a bladder subassembly disposed in the tool chamber between the first tool surface and the second tool surface. The bladder subassembly includes a plurality of inner bladders disposed within tool chamber, wherein each inner bladder of the plurality of inner bladders includes an inner bladder chamber that is independently inflatable to selectively apply pressure to the part. The bladder subassembly further includes a bladder cover disposed over the plurality of inner bladders within the tool chamber to provide a barrier between the plurality of inner bladders and the part.

In the fabrication of aerospace level quality composite parts, conventional molding processes allow rapid processing in forming the parts, but have limitations that make producing complex composite parts more difficult. For example, thermoplastic composites offer a wide range of cycle time and cost benefits when used in appropriate applications, but may not be easily producible using traditional methods. For example, compound mold line shapes of thermoplastic composite often cannot be produced by conventional clamshell type molds where the mold parts move in substantially vertical tool opening and tool closing directions. Current tooling systems typically do not provide sufficient consolidation pressure for complex thermoplastic composite mold line shapes. In addition, the effects of thermal expansion in the molding of thermoplastic composite parts creates difficulty in achieving aerospace level quality using traditional tooling. Thus, there is a need for improved devices, systems, and methods for composite part tooling for these and other applications.

Multi-chamber conformable bladder for composite part tooling


Disclosed is a golf club locking mechanism consisting of a one piece annular member having a plate with a plurality of equally sized holes and a rotatable disk placed beneath the fixed disk annular member having aperture holes both circular and oblong shape so as to cause closure of the apertures upon rotation of the disk and locking thereof so as to prohibit removal of golf clubs placed therethrough. The device also includes a cable locking mechanism for securing the golf bag to a fixed object.

The game of golf is an immensely popular activity that is played throughout the world. The premise of the game requires ball control for purpose of completing a course in as few strokes as possible. Skill is a major consideration in obtaining lower scores but the technology has also advanced to allow even an amateur to obtain a respectable score. Unfortunately, the popularity of the game and the high cost of golf equipment results in a problem with theft. While theft of golf equipment is not new, the use of high technology materials such as titanium and graphite has resulted in golf manufacturing of extremely expensive equipment.
Modern golf clubs consist of a matched set of irons and woods. The irons range in numbers from one through nine while woods generally range in numbers from one through four. Woods can, however, continue in number five through nine. Typically there are two golf clubs which command special attention to the golfer and to the golf club manufacturers. These are the driver and the putter. Because technology has focused in on these two clubs in particular, the desirability and the price of a driver and a putter has increased even beyond the price of modern and expensive golf clubs. A single driver can cost hundreds of dollars. A single putter can also cost hundreds of dollars. As a result, these two clubs in particular are subject to being stolen.
The golf clubs can be stolen from automobiles, public and private golf courses, during traveling or any other situation where the clubs or golf bag are left unattended for a brief period of time. Typically, the clubs are stolen from golf bags which contain all of the clubs of a golfer. For example, while a golf bag is on a golf cart, or at a golf rack along with dozens of other bags, or the golf club bag is being handled by a valet who takes the clubs to and from the golfer's car, or any other time where the clubs are left unattended for a brief period of time, a person can easily take the putter and the driver, multiple clubs, or the entire bag without being noticed. In such a situation, the inconvenience to the golfer is significant.
For these reasons, numerous golf locking devices have been disclosed with various forms of success. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 1,770,060 discloses an anti-theft golf club receptacle that allows for capturing of the shafts of a golf club within an encasement which is lockable. The theft device pivots so as to cause golf club shaft openings to change in diametric size.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,717,959 discloses a golf club locking mechanism having at least two plate members with a centrally located pivot that allows a bottom plate member to move thereby changing the diametric size of openings to capture each golf club shaft therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,753 discloses yet another device for securing golf clubs. Clubs placed within slots are captured in the slot by movement of an underlying piece thereby decreasing the dimensional size of the slot opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,728 discloses a two piece pivoting shelf which operates as a lid for a golf club bag for securing the shafts of a group of golf clubs therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,735 discloses yet another golf bag security device. This device consists of multiple plate members having a centrally disposed pivot that allows the diameter of the hole openings to change upon rotation of the lower plate members.
However, what is lacking in the art is a golf club locking device that is simplistic in its component construction making it affordable for all consumers.


To provide a sheet storing apparatus or a sheet processing apparatus which is downsized and slimmed with a structure that a manual setting portion is arranged at an external casing of the sheet storing apparatus or the sheet processing apparatus. An apparatus includes a setting portion for a binding process to be performed on a sheet bundle inserted from the outside, a binding unit which performs the binding process on the sheet bundle inserted to the setting portion, a sheet conveying path which conveys a sheet, and a processing unit which performs a predetermined process on a sheet as being arranged at the sheet conveying path and being moved in a direction intersecting with a conveying direction of the sheet conveyed on the sheet conveying path, and a movement area of the processing unit in the intersecting direction and the setting portion are overlapped in the intersecting direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming system having the sheet processing apparatus.
2. Description of Related Arts
In general, there have been a sheet storing apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus which include a mechanism to perform a binding process on a manually-set sheet bundle with a dedicated manual setting portion arranged outside an apparatus (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-156067, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-039211, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-096392, and Japanese Patent No. 5010526).
Accordingly, there has been a problem that an apparatus (housing) is upsized as a whole owing to necessity for arranging a space required for a manual setting portion as well as a space arranged in an apparatus main body to be required for a process such as forming a punch hole at sheets, and sorting sheets at differentiating positions in a direction perpendicular to a sheet discharging direction and a space arranged in an apparatus main body to be required for a drive connection mechanism for lifting-lowering a tray.

Sheet processing apparatus and image forming system having the same


An antenna for a communications device having configurable elements controlled to modify an antenna impedance and/or an antenna resonant frequency to improve performance of the communications device. The antenna impedance is controlled to substantially match to an output impedance of a power amplifier that supplies the antenna with a signal for transmission. The antenna resonant frequency is controlled to overcome the effects of various operating conditions that can detune the antenna or in response to an operable frequency band.

It is known that antenna performance is dependent upon the size, shape and material composition of the antenna elements, the interaction between elements and the relationship between certain antenna physical parameters (e.g., length for a linear antenna and diameter for a loop antenna) and the wavelength of the signal received or transmitted by the antenna. These physical and electrical characteristics determine several antenna operational parameters, including input impedance, gain, directivity, signal polarization, resonant frequency, bandwidth and radiation pattern.
Generally, an operable antenna should have a minimum physical antenna dimension on the order of a half wavelength (or a multiple thereof of the operating frequency to limit energy dissipated in resistive losses and maximize transmitted or received energy. Due to the effect of a ground plane image, a quarter wavelength antenna (or odd integer multiples thereof) operative above a ground plane exhibits properties similar to a half wavelength antenna. Communications device product designers prefer an efficient antenna that is capable of wide bandwidth and/or multiple frequency band operation, electrically matched to the transmitting and receiving components of the communications system, and operable in multiple modes (e.g., selectable signal polarizations and selectable radiation patterns).
The half-wavelength dipole antenna is commonly used in many applications. The radiation pattern is the familiar donut shape with most of the energy radiated uniformly in the azimuth direction and little radiation in the elevation direction. Frequency bands of interest for certain communications devices are 1710 to 1990 MHz and 2110 to 2200 MHz. A half-wavelength dipole antenna is approximately 3.11 inches long at 1900 MHz, 3.45 inches long at 1710 MHz, and 2.68 inches long at 2200 MHz. The typical gain is about 2.15 dBi.
The quarter-wavelength monopole antenna disposed above a ground plane is derived from the half-wavelength dipole. The physical antenna length is a quarter-wavelength, but interaction of the electromagnetic energy with the ground plane (creating an image antenna) causes the antenna to exhibit half-wavelength dipole performance. Thus, the radiation pattern for a monopole antenna above a ground plane is similar to the half-wavelength dipole pattern, with a typical gain of approximately 2 dBi.
The common free space (i.e., not above ground plane) loop antenna (with a diameter of approximately one-third the wavelength of the transmitted or received frequency) also displays the familiar donut radiation pattern along the radial axis, with a gain of approximately 3.1 dBi. At 1900 MHz, this antenna has a diameter of about 2 inches. The typical loop antenna input impedance is 50 ohms, providing good matching characteristics to the standard 50 ohm transmission line.
The well-known patch antenna provides directional hemispherical coverage with a gain of approximately 4.7 dBi. Although small compared to a quarter or half wavelength antenna, the patch antenna has a relatively narrow bandwidth.
Given the advantageous performance of quarter and half wavelength antennas, conventional antennas are typically constructed so that the antenna length is on the order of a quarter wavelength of the radiating frequency and the antenna is operated over a ground plane, or the antenna length is a half wavelength without employing a ground plane. These dimensions allow the antenna to be easily excited and operated at or near a resonant frequency (where the resonant frequency (f) is determined according to the equation c=λf, where c is the speed of light and λ is the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation). Half and quarter wavelength antennas limit energy dissipated in resistive losses and maximize the transmitted energy. But as the operational frequency increases/decreases, the operational wavelength decreases/increases and the antenna element dimensions proportionally decrease/increase. In particular, as the resonant frequency of the received or transmitted signal decreases, the dimensions of the quarter wavelength and half wavelength antenna proportionally increase. The resulting larger antenna, even at a quarter wavelength, may not be suitable for use with certain communications devices, especially portable and personal communications devices intended to be carried by a user. Since these antennas tend to be larger than the communications device, they are typically mounted with a portion of the antenna protruding from the communications device and thus are susceptible to breakage
The burgeoning growth of wireless communications devices and systems has created a substantial need for physically smaller, less obtrusive, and more efficient antennas that are capable of wide bandwidth or multiple frequency-band operation, and/or operation in multiple modes (i.e., selectable radiation patterns or selectable signal polarizations). For example, operation in multiple frequency bands may be required for operation of the communications device with multiple communications systems, such as a cellular telephone system and a global positioning system. Operation of the device in multiple countries also requires multiple frequency band operation since communications frequencies are not commonly assigned among countries.
Smaller packaging of state-of-the-art communications devices, such as personal handsets, does not provide sufficient space for the conventional quarter and half wavelength antenna elements. It is generally not considered feasible to utilize a single antenna for each operational frequency or to include multiple matching circuits to provide proper resonant frequency operation from a single antenna. Thus physically smaller antennas operating in the frequency bands of interest and providing the other desired antenna-operating properties (input impedance, radiation pattern, signal polarizations, etc.) are especially sought after.
As is known to those skilled in the art, there is a direct relationship between physical antenna size and antenna gain, at least with respect to a single-element antenna, according to the relationship: gain=(βR)^2+2βR, where R is the radius of the sphere containing the antenna and β is the propagation factor. Increased gain thus requires a physically larger antenna, while users continue to demand physically smaller antennas. As a further constraint, to simplify the system design and strive for minimum cost, equipment designers and system operators prefer to utilize antennas capable of efficient multi-band and/or wide bandwidth operation, to allow the communications device to access various wireless services operating within different frequency bands or such services operating over wide bandwidths. Finally, gain is limited by the known relationship between the antenna operating frequency and the effective antenna length (expressed in wavelengths). That is, the antenna gain is constant for all quarter wavelength antennas of a specific geometry i.e., at that operating frequency where the effective antenna length is a quarter of a wavelength of the operating frequency.
To overcome the antenna size limitations imposed by handset and personal communications devices, antenna designers have turned to the use of so-called slow wave structures where the structure's physical dimensions are not equal to the effective electrical dimensions. Recall that the effective antenna dimensions should be on the order of a half wavelength (or a quarter wavelength above a ground plane) to achieve the beneficial radiating and low loss properties discussed above. Generally, a slow-wave structure is defined as one in which the phase velocity of the traveling wave is less than the free space velocity of light. The wave velocity (c) is the product of the wavelength and the frequency and takes into account the material permittivity and permeability, i.e., c/((sqrt(∈r)sqrt(μr))=λf. Since the frequency does not change during propagation through a slow wave structure, if the wave travels slower (i.e., the phase velocity is lower) than the speed of light, the wavelength within the structure is lower than the free space wavelength. The slow-wave structure de-couples the conventional relationship between physical length, resonant frequency and wavelength.
Since the phase velocity of a wave propagating in a slow-wave structure is less than the free space velocity of light, the effective electrical length of these structures is greater than the effective electrical length of a structure propagating a wave at the speed of light. The resulting resonant frequency for the slow-wave structure is correspondingly increased. Thus if two structures are to operate at the same resonant frequency, as a half-wave dipole, for instance, then the structure propagating a slow wave will be physically smaller than the structure propagating a wave at the speed of light. Such slow wave structures can be used as antenna elements or as antenna radiating structures.
As designers of portable communications devices (e.g., cellular handsets) continue to shrink device size while offering more operating features, the requirements for antenna performance become more stringent. Thus achieving the next level of performance for such communications devices requires smaller antennas with improved performance, especially with respect to radiation efficiency. Currently, designers struggle to obtain adequate multi-band antenna performance for the multi-band features of the devices. But as is known, efficiency and bandwidth are related and a design trade-off is therefore required. Designers can optimize performance in one (or in some cases more than one) operating frequency band, but usually must compromises the efficiency or bandwidth to achieve adequate performance in two or more bands simultaneously. However, most portable communications devices seldom require operation in more than one band at any given time.
In addition, modern portable communications devices must maintain size compactness and high efficiency to provide adequate operating time with a limited battery resource. Antenna compactness and efficiency are therefore crucial to achieving commercially viable wireless devices.
The known Chu-Harrington relationship relates the size and bandwidth of an antenna. Generally, as the size decreases the antenna bandwidth also decreases. But to the contrary, as the capabilities of handset communications devices expand to provide for higher data rates and the reception of bandwidth intensive information (e.g., streaming video), the antenna bandwidth must be increased.
Current wireless communications devices operating according to the various common communications protocols, e.g., GSM, EDGE, CDMA and WCDMA, suffer operating deficiencies as set forth below.                A. Poor power amplifier (PA) efficiency due to impedance matching of the antenna and the power amplifier only for maximum power output, without considering PA output impedance changes as a function of the PA's output power level.        B. Poor PA efficiency due to poor antenna/PA impedance matching over multiple frequency bands or within a band, due primarily to the antenna's relatively narrow bandwidth resulting from, according to the Chu-Harrington limitation, the relatively small antenna volume. Designers obviously prefer to use small space-saving antennas in the communications device.        C. Poor PA efficiency due to poor antenna/PA impedance matching over multiple frequency bands or within band resulting from hand-effect or proximity effect detuning of the antenna resonant frequency.        D. Loss of radiative energy transfer (coupling inefficiency) due to poor antenna/PA impedance matching resulting from antenna bandwidth limitations due to the use of a relatively small antenna in the communications device, which, according to the Chu-Harrington relation, has a relatively narrow bandwidth.        E. Loss of radiative energy transfer (coupling efficiency) due to detuning of the antenna resonant frequency caused by the hand-effect or proximity effect.
Antenna tuning control techniques are known in the art to accommodate multiple band performance of an antenna structure. The present invention teaches methods and apparatuses for antenna control to overcome impedance mismatching and detuning effects that impair performance of the communications device.

Method and apparatus for adaptively controlling antenna parameters to enhance efficiency and maintain antenna size compactness


Carboxylate salts of amines are used as components of heat exchange fluids. The amines may have a ratio of N to C of 1:0 to 1:12 and the carboxylate anion may be derived from an acid of the formula H(CH2)0-3COOH. A preferred monoamine heat exchange fluid utilizes triethanolamine formate. Lower carboxylate salts of diamines and triamines having the formula R2[N[(CH2)mNR]1-2]R where each R is independently selected from moieties of the formula —CnH2n+1 and moieties of the formula H[O(CH2)1-4]—, each m is independently a number from 1 to 6, and each n is a number from 1 to 4, are disclosed as compounds.

1. Field of the Invention
Aqueous solutions of amine carboxylates, preferably triethanolamine formate, are used as heat exchange fluids.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fluids used for heat exchange in many contexts suffer from the fact that they are either inefficient or environmentally questionable. There is a need for new heat exchange fluids that are environmentally acceptable as well as efficient.

Heat exchange fluids comprising amine carboxylates


In a child seat comprising a base unit fixed onto a seat of a vehicle by using a seat belt of the vehicle and a seat unit provided with a seat cushion portion and a seat back portion and fixable onto the base unit in a forward attitude with respect to the seat, a waist belt portion of the seat belt can be inserted between the base unit and the seat cushion portion in a lateral direction of the seat, and further, a waist belt guide for inhibiting the movement of the base unit forward of the seat by hooking the waist belt portion is provided in the base unit so as to hold the waist belt portion at a position nearer a fore end of the base unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a child seat, in which a seat unit is placed on a base unit to be fixed to a seat of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a child seat of a type which is fixed onto a seat by using a seat belt of a vehicle, a belt inserting hole is formed on a seat unit, on which a child (including an infant) sits, or at the rear end of a base unit for supporting the seat unit, so as to inhibit the movement of the child seat forward in the vehicle by inserting a waist belt portion of the seat belt into the belt inserting hole and fixing the waist belt portion to a buckle.
However, the belt inserting hole formed on the child seat in the prior art is located upward apart from a cushion face of the seat. Therefore, in a configuration in which the belt inserting hole is formed at the rear end of the seat unit or the like, the waist belt portion is hooked slantwise upward from a belt fixing position in the vehicle or the buckle of the seat belt at a relatively large angle. As the inclination of the waist belt portion with respect to the horizontal direction becomes greater, the child seat is less effectively restrained in the longitudinal direction of the seat by the waist belt. In order to complement such a reduced effect, the waist belt portion need be tightened to the child seat by considerably large force, thereby inducing the possibility of an increase in burden on a user in fixing the child seat.


A reflector lamp assembly may be formed with a reflector housing having a reflector with a prescribed reflective surface; the reflector formed with a wall defining a through passage. A lamp bulb assembly having an axially extending stem supports a head extending transverse to the axis, the head having a first generally linearly extending region, a first set of LEDs mounted generally in a row along the region oriented to face in one plane towards a reflector. Electrical connections for the LEDs extend through the head, and stem to the exterior of the assembly for electrical connection. A base extends in the through passage and is mechanically mounted to the optical housing with the LED assembly oriented to face the reflective surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to electric lamps and particularly to electric lamps with LED light sources. More particularly the invention is concerned with an electric vehicle headlamp with an LED light source.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Automobile headlamps are commonly made with incandescent filaments, although some are now being made with arc discharge light sources. Recently LEDs have achieved sufficient light volume and color so as to make an automobile headlamp theoretically possible. Such a headlamp could be both more efficient and longer lived than the rival technologies. There have in fact been a been a number of prototype vehicles shown using LED light sources, but the resulting beam patterns failed to achieve a legal beam pattern. There is then a need for an LED based vehicle headlamp that meets legal beam standards.

Led lamp bulb assembly and reflector system


A method for making a filed-effect semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a gate electrode on a semiconductor layer composed of a gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor represented by the formula AlxInyGa1−x−yN, wherein x+y=1, 0≦x≦1, and 0≦y≦1; and forming a source electrode and a drain electrode by self-alignment using the gate electrode as a mask. A field-effect semiconductor device fabricated by the method is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to field-effect semiconductor devices and methods for making the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to improve the characteristics of a field-effect transistor, it is important to reduce resistance of the gate electrode and to reduce parasitic resistance between the gate electrode and the source electrode and between the gate electrode and the drain electrode.
In GaN-based field-effect transistors, in most cases, gate electrodes, source electrodes, and drain electrodes are formed by patterning in sequence.
FIGS. 10A to 10F are sectional views which schematically show the steps in an example of a method for fabricating a GaN-based field-effect transistor.
First, as shown in FIG. 10A, a non-doped GaN layer 14 with a thickness of approximately 1 to 2 μm, a non-doped AlGaN spacer layer 15 with a thickness of 3 to 5 nm, a Si-doped AlGaN layer 16 with a thickness of 10 to 30 nm, and a non-doped AlGaN cap layer 17 with a thickness of 5 to 15 nm are formed in that order on an insulating substrate 12, such as a sapphire substrate or a SiC substrate, by a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) process or a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process.
As shown in FIG. 10B, an insulating film 2, such as a SiO2 insulating film, is formed, with a thickness of 20 to 30 nm, on the AlGaN cap layer 17 by a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process or an electron-beam (EB) vapor deposition process. Next, although not shown in the drawing, a resist layer having a pattern with the dimensions of the device is formed, and the regions other than the operation layer is insulated by ion implantation, for example, using boron or nitrogen.
A gate electrode-forming resist layer 3 provided with an opening with a predetermined size is then placed on the SiO2 insulating film 2. A portion of the SiO2 insulating film 2 corresponding to the gate electrode-forming region is removed by CF4-based dry etching or HF-based wet etching.
Next, as shown in FIG. 10C, a gate electrode metal, for example, composed of Ni/Au, is deposited through the opening of the gate electrode-forming resist layer 3 to form a gate electrode 21. After the gate electrode metal is deposited, the resist layer 3 and the gate electrode metal which is deposited on the resist layer 3 and which is shown in phantom lines in FIG. 10C are removed by a lift-off process.
As shown in FIG. 10D, a resist layer 22 provided with openings for forming a source electrode and a drain electrode which are located at predetermined positions on both sides of the gate electrode 21 are formed by patterning. Portions of the SiO2 insulating film 2 corresponding to the regions for forming the source electrode and the drain electrode are removed again by dry etching or wet etching.
As shown in FIG. 10E, an ohmic metal, for example, Ti/Al, is deposited through the openings for forming the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a source electrode 8 and a drain electrode 9 are formed by a lift-off process.
Next, as shown in FIG. 10F, the ohmic metal (Ti/Al) constituting the source electrode 8 and the drain electrode 9 is alloyed, for example, using an infrared alloying furnace or a heat alloying furnace, and satisfactory ohmic contacts are obtained. An insulating film 23 composed of SiO2, SiN, or the like is then formed thereon, and the insulating film 23 formed on the electrodes is removed. A GaN-based field-effect transistor is thereby completed.
FIGS. 11A to 11C are sectional views which schematically show the steps in another example of a method for fabricating a GaN-based field-effect transistor.
First, as shown in FIG. 11A, an insulating film 2, such as a SiO2 insulating film, is formed, with a thickness of 20 to 30 nm, on an AlGaN cap layer 17 by a plasma-enhanced CVD process or an EB vapor deposition process. Next, although not shown in the drawing, a resist layer having a pattern with the dimensions of the device is formed, and the regions other than the operation layer is insulated by ion implantation, for example, using boron or nitrogen. A gate electrode-forming resist layer (first resist layer) 3 provided with an opening with a predetermined size is then formed on the SiO2 insulating film 2. A portion of the SiO2 insulating film 2 corresponding to the gate electrode-forming region is removed by CF4-based dry etching or HF-based wet etching.
A third resist layer 5 for forming a T-shaped gate electrode and a second resist layer 4 for preventing the mixture of the first resist layer 3 and the third resist layer 5 are placed on the gate electrode-forming resist layer 3, and an opening is formed again for the gate electrode-forming region. A portion of the SiO2 insulating film 2 corresponding to the T-shaped gate electrode-forming region is removed. A gate electrode metal, for example, composed of Ni/Au, is deposited through the opening, and a T-shaped gate electrode 6 is thereby formed. After the gate electrode metal is deposited, the resist layers 3 to 5 and the gate electrode metal deposited on the third resist layer 5 are removed by a lift-off process.
As shown in FIG. 11B, a resist layer 22 provided with openings for forming a source electrode and a drain electrode which are located at predetermined positions on both sides of the T-shaped gate electrode 6 are formed by patterning. Portions of the SiO2 insulating film 2 corresponding to the regions for forming the source electrode and the drain electrode are removed. As shown in FIG. 11C, an ohmic metal (Ti/Al) is deposited through the openings for forming the source electrode and the drain electrode to form a source electrode 8 and a drain electrode 9, and the resist layer 22 is removed by a lift-off process. After the source electrode 8 and the drain electrode 9 are formed, a GaN-based field-effect transistor is completed in the same manner as that described above.
However, in each of the methods for fabricating the GaN-based field-effect transistors described above, since the source electrode and the drain electrode are aligned by the exposure of the resist, it is impossible to reduce the distance between the gate electrode and the source electrode or the distance between the gate electrode and the drain electrode to a value below the alignment accuracy or the minimum dimensional precision of an exposure apparatus. Therefore, the resistance between the source and the gate and the resistance between the drain and the gate may be increased, resulting in a degradation in the device characteristics and also resulting in inferior uniformity and consistency among devices.

Field-effect semiconductor device and method for making the same


An apparatus and method for controlling fan operation in a system having a fan are provided. The apparatus includes a temperature sensor configured to detect at least one internal temperature of the system as a whole or component devices thereof, a power supply configured to convert one or more different input powers into predetermined voltage levels and supply the voltage levels to the fan, and a controller connected to the temperature sensor and the power supply and configured to control operation of the fan, wherein the controller controls fan operation based on a fan control mode selected by a user and the sensed at least one internal temperature. The method includes selecting a fan control mode from a plurality of fan control modes, detecting at least one internal temperature of the system as a whole or component devices thereof, controlling operation of the fan based on the selected fan control mode and the detected at least one internal temperature, including comparing the detected at least one internal temperature with a preset temperature, and if the detected temperature is lower than the preset temperature, decreasing a preset fan operation speed. Noise and power consumption can be minimized by controlling the fan operation depending on the specific states of the system.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling fan operation.
2. Background of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for controlling a fan operation in a portable device. As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus includes an input unit 11 (for example, a keyboard), a fan 14 for blowing and heating/cooling operations, a temperature sensor 12 for detecting system temperature, a power supply 13, and a microcomputer 10 connected to the above elements to control on/off operations of the fan 10 by using the detected temperature. Since a portable device, such as a notebook computer, generates a large amount of heat, the fan is used to remove the heat.
When the notebook is in a power-on state, a large amount of heat is generated even when the notebook works little or does not work, so that the fan is operated periodically. That is, the fan repeats a stop operation and a temporary rotation operation. If the fan is rotated depending on the above operation mode, an amount of heat is rapidly removed so that an internal temperature of the notebook computer falls to some degree.
FIG. 2 illustrates a control state of the fan operation. As shown in FIG. 2, the fan operation of the notebook computer is controlled by pulse width modulation (PWM), which is dependent on states of peripheral devices. That is, the fan repeats a normal operation, a stop operation, and a spin-up operation. The spin-up operation is an operation that allows the fan to rotate at a speed higher than a normal speed.
In the case of the normal operation, for example, ˜2500 rpm, a value corresponding to a hexadecimal value of 0×25 is set to firmware program of the microcomputer. In the case of the spin-up operation, for example, ˜3500 rpm, a value corresponding to a hexadecimal value of 0×2C is set to firmware program of the microcomputer. That is, if PWM duty is larger, the fan rotates at a high speed. Meanwhile, if PWM duty is smaller, the fan rotates at a low speed.
When the fan starts to rotate from a stop state, the PWM duty is momentarily increased larger than the PWM duty of the normally rotating fan. At this point, the duration time (about 1 second) is called "SpinUp Time". When the fan starts to rotate, the PWM duty is set normally.
In the case where the stopped fan is rotated, if the PWM duty of the normal fan speed is applied, the fan may not be rotated due to characteristics of the fan. Therefore, the fan is rotated during a predefined duration time according to the spin-up operation.
In this case, however, the user may hear severe noise. That is, the noise of the fan is relatively increased due to the periodic rotation and stop operations. In addition, when the stopped fan starts to rotate, the PWM duty is increased due to the spin-up operation and thus the fan rotates almost instantaneously at a high speed. The noise occurring at that time is relatively large. Further, the fan operation does not change depending on the specific operation state of the system.

Apparatus and method for controlling fan operation