A PDP apparatus of low power consumption and without erroneous malfunctions is equipped with a sustaining circuit that prevents an on/off timing shift and deterioration of a sustaining pulse produced thereby. Phase adjusting circuits, which adjust the timing of the changing edge of the sustaining pulse, are provided for the sustaining circuit; the power recovery circuit is of improved efficiency; and power consumption is reduced by optimizing the timing of a changing edge of the sustaining pulse The circuit devices used in the sustaining circuits are classified according to delay times and sets of the circuit devices are selected so that the timing of a changing edge of the sustaining pulse falls within a predetermined allowance, and the selected sets of the circuit devices are set to the PDP.

The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus equipped with a power recovery circuit in a sustaining circuit that reduces power consumption, a method of driving a plasma panel display employing the ALIS (Alternate Lighting of Surfaces) system, in which plural first and second electrodes are arranged adjacently and display lines are formed between every pair of adjacent electrodes, and a plasma display apparatus employing the same.
The plasma display panel (PDP) has good visibility because it generates its own light, is thin and can be made with large and high-speed display, therefore, it is attracting interest as a replacement for the CRT display. Since the structure of a typical PDP has been disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-160219, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-160525, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-325735, a detailed explanation is omitted here and, instead, only points relating directly to the present invention are explained.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a total structure of a general PDP apparatus. In a PDP 10, n X electrodes 11 and Y electrodes 12 are arranged in adjacent and alternating parallel relationships, forming n pairs, each pair of an X electrode 11 and a Y electrode 12, and light is emitted for display between the X electrode 11 and Y electrode 12 of each pair. Y electrodes and X electrodes are called display electrodes and are also called sustaining electrodes. Address electrodes 13 are provided in the direction that runs at a right angle to the direction in which the display electrodes extend, and display cells are formed at crossings of the address electrodes and pairs of X electrode 11 and Y electrode 12.
The Y electrodes 12 are connected to a scan driver 14. The scan driver 14 is equipped with switches 16, the number of which being equal to that of the Y electrodes, and the switches are switched so that scan pulses from a scan signal generating circuit 15 are applied sequentially during the address period, and sustaining pulses from a Y sustaining circuit 19 are applied simultaneously during the sustaining discharge period. The X electrodes 11 are connected commonly to an X sustaining circuit 18, and the address electrodes 13 are connected to an address driver circuit 17. In an image signal processing circuit 21, image signals are converted so as suit the operation in the PDP apparatus, and are then supplied to the address driver circuit 17. A drive control circuit 20 generates and supplies signals that control each part of the PDP apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a time chart showing drive signals of the PDP apparatus. In the PDP apparatus, a display frame is refreshed at predetermined intervals, and a display period is called a field. In order to realize a gray scale, a field is divided into plural subfields and the subfields that emit light are selected for each display cell. Each subfield consists of the reset period during which all display cells are initialized, the address period during which all display cells are put into the status corresponding to the display image, and the sustaining discharge period during which each display cell emits light according to the set status. During the sustaining discharge period, sustaining pulses are applied to X electrodes and Y electrodes alternately and sustaining discharges are performed in the display cell specified to emit light during the address period, resulting in light emission for display.
In the PDP apparatus, it is necessary to apply a voltage of about 200 V at maximum between electrodes as a high frequency pulse during the sustaining discharge period, and the width of a pulse is a few microseconds in a system in which the gray scale is realized by the representation of subfields. Since such a high voltage and a high frequency signal are required to drive a PDP, the power consumption of a general PDP apparatus is large and reduction in power consumption is demanded. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,663, the control method to suppress the power consumption of the capacitive display unit such as an EL (Electro-Luminescence) apparatus, in which an inductor device is provided to form a resonant circuit with the capacitor of the display unit, has been disclosed. In addition, the sustaining discharge driver and the address driver for the PDP panel equipped with a power recovery circuit consisting of inductor devices have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,349 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,400. Moreover, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-160219, the construction of a three-electrode type display unit equipped with two inductors provided to the Y electrode, one of which forms a recovery circuit to recover the applied power while the Y electrode is switched from a high voltage state to a low voltage state, and the other inductor forms an application path to apply the accumulated power while the Y electrode is switched from a low voltage state to a high voltage state.
FIG. 3 is a schematic showing an example of a typical construction of a sustaining circuit equipped with a power recovery circuit, in which a recovery circuit to recover power and an application circuit to apply the accumulated power is separated. Circuits to generate signals V1 to V4 are also provided, but they are omitted here. Reference code Cp refers to a drive capacitance of a display cell, formed by the X electrode and Y electrode of a PDP. Though a sustaining circuit of one of the electrodes is shown here, the other electrode is also connected to a similar sustaining circuit. In the circuit in FIG. 3, the part consisting of output devices (transistors) 31 and 33, and drive circuits 32 and 34 is a sustaining circuit without a power recovery circuit, and the part consisting of output devices (transistors) 37 and 40, drive circuits 38 and 41, inductance devices 35 and 43, capacitor 39, and diodes 36 and 42, is a power recovery circuit. The signals V1 and V2 are supplied to the drive circuits 32 and 34, respectively, and the signals VG1 and VG2 output therefrom are supplied to the gates of the output devices (transistors) 31 and 33. When the signal V1 is "High (H)", the output device 31 turns on and an H level signal is applied to the electrode. At this time, the signal V2 is "Low (L)", and the output device 33 is off. Immediately after the signal V1 turns to L and the output device 31 turns off, the signal V2 turns to H and the output device 33 turns on, and the ground level is applied to the electrode.
In the sustaining circuit with the power recovery circuit, when sustaining pulses are applied, before the signal V1 turns to H the signal V2 turns to L, and after the output device 33 turns off the signal V3 turns to H, the output device 40 turns on, a resonant circuit is formed by the capacitor 39, diode 42, inductor 43, and capacitor Cp, and the power accumulated in the capacitor 39 is supplied to the electrode, causing the potential of the electrode to rise. Just before the increase of the potential is completed, the signal V3 turns to L and the output device 40 turns off, then the signal V1 turns to H and the output device 31 turns off, thus the potential of the electrode is fixed to Vs. When the application of sustaining pulses is terminated, the signal V1 turns to L first and after the output device 31 turns off, the signal V4 turns to H, the output device 37 turns on, and a resonant circuit is formed by the capacitor 39, diode 36, inductor 35, and capacitor Cp, and the power accumulated in the capacitor Cp is supplied to the capacitor 39, thus the voltage of the capacitor 39 is raised. Therefore, the power accumulated in the capacitor Cp is recovered to the capacitor 39 by the sustaining pulses applied to the electrode. Just before the reduction in potential of the electrode is completed, the signal V4 turns to L, the output device 37 turns off, then the signal V2 turns to H, the output device 33 turns on, and the potential of the electrode is fixed to the ground level. During the sustaining discharge period, the above-mentioned operation is repeated a number of times equal to that of the sustaining pulses. In the structure mentioned above, the power consumption caused by the sustaining discharge can be suppressed.
On the other hand, a higher precision of the display is required for the PDP apparatus, and the system in which light is emitted for display between every adjacent display electrode has been disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2801893. This system is called the ALIS system and is called the same here. Since the detail of the structure of the ALIS system has been disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2801893, only the points relating to the present invention are explained here.
FIG. 4 is a general block diagram of a PDP employing the ALIS system. As shown schematically, in the PDP employing the ALIS system, n Y electrodes (second electrodes) 12-O and 12-E and n+1 X electrodes (first electrodes) 11-O and 11-E are arranged adjacently by turns and light is emitted between every adjacent display electrode (Y electrode and X electrode). Therefore, 2n+1 display electrodes form 2n display lines. This means that the precision can be doubled with the same number of the display electrodes as that in FIG. 1, in the ALIS system. The ALIS system is also characterized by a high luminance because the discharge space can be used efficiently without any waste and a high opening ratio can be obtained to give a small loss of light due to electrodes or the like. Light is emitted between every adjacent display electrode for display in the ALIS system, but it is impossible to cause all discharges to occur at the same time. Therefore, so-called interlaced scanning, in which odd-numbered lines and even-numbered lines are used in a time-shared manner for display, is employed. In the odd field, odd-numbered display lines are used for display, and even-numbered display lines are used for display in the even field, and the display combining the odd field and the even field is obtained as a total display.
Y electrodes are connected to the scan driver 14. The scan driver 14 is equipped with switches 16, and the switches are switched so that scan pulses are applied sequentially during the address period, and in the sustaining discharge period, the odd-numbered Y electrode 12-O is connected to the first Y sustaining circuit 19-O and the even-numbered Y electrode 12-E is connected to the second Y sustaining circuit 19-E. The odd-numbered X electrode 11-O is connected to the first X sustaining circuit 18-O, and the even-numbered X electrode 11-E is connected to the second X sustaining circuit 18-E. The address electrodes 13 are connected to the address driver circuit 17. The image signal processing circuit 21 and the drive control circuit 20 work in the similar manner as explained in FIG. 1.
FIGS. 5A and 5B show drive signals during the sustaining discharge period in the ALIS system. FIG. 5A shows waveforms in the odd field and FIG. 5B shows those in the even field. In the odd field, a voltage Vs is applied to the electrodes Y1 and X2, X1 and Y2 are grounded, and discharge is caused to occur between X1 and Y1, and X2 and Y2, that is, at the odd-numbered display lines. At this time, the voltage difference between Y1 and X2, which form the even-numbered display line, is zero and no discharge is caused to occur. Similarly, in the even field, a voltage Vs is applied to the electrodes X1 and Y2, Y1 and X2 are grounded, and discharge is caused to occur between Y1 and X2, and Y2 and X1, that is, at the even-numbered display lines. The explanation about the drive signals during the reset period and the address period is omitted.
In the power recovery circuit shown in FIG. 3, it is essential to perform recovery and application of power efficiently, and achievement of a high rate of power recovery is expected. The achievement of a high rate of power recovery is influenced by the on/off timing of the output devices 31, 33, 37, and 40. FIGS. 6A and 6B show the influence, FIG. 6A shows a case where the clamp timing is advanced and FIG. 6B shows a case where the clamp timing is delayed.
As explained above, when sustaining pulses are applied, the output device 40 turns on and the power accumulated in the capacitor 39 is supplied to the electrode, and just before the increase of the potential of the electrode is completed, the signal V3 turns to L, the output device 40 turns off, and at the same time, the signal V1 turns to H, the output device 31 turns on, thus the potential of the electrode is clamped to Vs. As shown in FIG. 6A, however, if the output device 31 turns on before the output device 40 turns off, the electrode is connected to the power source of voltage Vs halfway while the potential of the electrode is being raised by the power accumulated in the capacitor 39 because of the turn-on of the output device 31 and, therefore, the power for the rest of the process is supplied from the power source and a part of the power accumulated in the capacitor 39 is wasted and not utilized. Similarly, when the application of sustaining pulses is terminated, if the output device 37 turns on to cause the output device 33 to turn on while the power is being recovered into the capacitor 39, the electrode is clamped to the ground level before the power is recovered sufficiently, therefore the recovery of power is not completed.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the sustaining pulses are applied, if the output device 31 turns on after the output device 40 turns off, the increase of the potential of the electrode by the power accumulated in the capacitor 39 is terminated, and since the output device 31 turns on after the potential of the electrode begins to drop, and the electrode is clamped to the power source of voltage Vs, it is required to raise the dropped potential, resulting in excessive power consumption. Similarly, when the application of the sustaining pulses is terminated, if the output device 33 turns on after the output device 37 turns off, the electrode is clamped to the ground level after the potential, which has been once lowered, begins to rise again, therefore it is required to reduce the increased potential, resulting in excessive power consumption.
As explained above, if the on/off timing of the output devices 31, 33, 37, and 40 in the sustaining circuit is shifted, a problem occurs that the power recovery rate is reduced and the power consumption increases. The on/off timing of output devices 31, 33, 37, and 40 is the timing of the change of the signals V1, V2, V3, and V4 plus delay times of the drive circuits 32, 34, 38, and 41, and further plus delay times of the output devices 31, 33, 37, and 40. Though the timing of change of the signals V1, V2, V3, and V4 can be determined with a comparatively high precision, the delay times of the drive circuits 32, 34, 38, and 41, and those of the output devices 31, 33, 37, and 40 are dispersed depending on variations in characteristics of the devices used. Therefore, the power recovery rate for each PDP apparatus is dispersed, the power recovery rate is lower than that in an ideal case, and a problem occurs that the power consumption increases.
As explained above, if the variations in delay times of the circuit devices cause the shapes and timings of the sustaining pulses to change, the possibility of a malfunction is increased. In general, the difference Δ Vs, which is called the operation margin, of the maximum value Vs (max) and the minimum value Vs (min) in the operational range of the operating voltage Vs is reduced when the delay times of the circuit devices are dispersed and the shapes and timing of the sustaining pulses are altered. This means a deterioration in the operation stability of the apparatus.
In the ALIS system, discharge for light emission does not take place between adjacent electrodes to which the same voltage is applied, respectively. If, however, the timing of application is shifted, a problem may come up that discharge for light emission takes place temporarily at the display lines not for display and wall-charge accumulated during the address period decreases, resulting in an abnormal display. For example, in FIG. 5A, if sustaining pulses are applied to Y1 electrodes and to X2 electrodes after a delay, a situation may occur, temporarily, in which a Y1 electrode is H and at the same time that an X2 electrode is L, and erroneous discharge for light emission may take place between a Y1 electrode and an X2 electrode. Though such erroneous discharge for light emission ceases when sustaining pulses are applied to X2 electrode, the wall-charges of Y1 electrode and X2 electrode decrease and the normal light emission for display may be impeded.
As explained above, there has been a problem that power consumption is increased and a malfunction occurs when the time delays in each circuit device in the sustaining circuit are dispersed and therefore, the on/off timing and the shapes of the sustaining pulses are shifted or changed.

Plasma display apparatus and manufacturing method


Annotating programming code by receiving a first version of programming code, determining annotations for the code according to a first machine learning model, identifying a user, altering a generative model according a persona of the user, and generating altered annotations using the altered generative model.

Computer program developers, such as Data Scientists/Architects, Software Engineers, spend hours writing piece of code, using different algorithms and documenting their codes/scripts, processes, through the addition of explanatory comments and other annotations.
Machine learning approaches to generating descriptive comments for code provide generalized comments based upon the structure of the code and specified comment rule sets.

International Business Machines Corporation


An imaging system includes: a transmit side that generates a plurality of switched beam laser signals and scans each of the switched beam laser signals into a respective field of view by two polygon facets simultaneously of a polygonal mirror, the respective fields of view overlapping in at least a portion thereof; and a receive side that receives a plurality of reflections of the laser signals, detects them, and captures them as three-dimensional imagery data. A method includes: generating a plurality of switched beam laser signals from a single laser signal; scanning each of the switched beam laser signals in seriatim into a respective field of view by each of two polygonal facets of a polygonal mirror, the respective fields of view overlapping in at least a portion thereof; receiving reflections of the switched beam laser signals; and generating a set of three-dimensional imagery from the received reflections.

1. Field
The present invention pertains to navigation of unmanned ground vehicles, and more particularly to data acquisition for navigation of unmanned vehicles.
2. Description of Related Art
This section introduces information that may be related to various aspects of the technique described and/or claimed below. It provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. As the section's title implies, this is a discussion of "related" art. That such art is related in no way implies that it is also "prior" art. The related art may or may not be prior art. The discussion in this section of this document is to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Unmanned autonomous ground vehicles ("UAGV") are becoming more prevalent as associated technologies become more capable. One such technology is navigation. As UAGVs become more ubiquitous, the need for them to safely navigate their environments similarly increases. The presently disclosed technique is directed to resolving, or at least reducing, such problems as are encountered in the art. Even if solutions are available to the art to address these issues, the art is always receptive to improvements or alternative means, methods and configurations. Thus, there exists and need for technique such as that disclosed herein.

Multi-resolution, wide field-of-view, unmanned ground vehicle navigation sensor


Active otoplastics (3) with integrated earpieces (4) are to be acoustically optimized. There is provision here for forming a sound outlet (8) into the otoplastic in accordance with acoustic conditions. If the sound outlet (8) has the form of an exponential horn, this results in advantages for supply of high tones. The earpiece (4) can be secured with the aid of an adapter (5) into the otoplastic (3) so that it can be exchanged.

High-tone hearing aids with a largely open supply are very adversely affected both by sound radiation from the vent (the opening) and also by the attenuation properties of the sound tube for high frequencies. Therefore it is of great benefit to relocate the earpiece under such circumstances. In this case the earpiece is fixed or molded into an otoplastic or an earmold. The earpiece is connected via a cable connection to the hearing aid module which is accommodated behind the ear for example. The disadvantage of this layout however is that to service the device if the earpiece fails or becomes contaminated in the otoplastic, said otoplastic has to be replaced, which involves considerable effort and costs, since each otoplastic is formed individually.
In this context otoplastics are known to which an earpiece can be linked externally. Such an arrangement is used for pocket hearing aids. However this construction is too large in its design for normal use of BtEs.
Furthermore a behind-the-ear (BtE) device is known from EP 0 288 822 for which the ear insert comprises an earmold adapted to the contour of the auditory canal and a module shell which can be used inside it. The module shell is self-contained and contains any given electrical and/or electromechanical components, e.g. an earpiece and a microphone. After being placed in the ear, the insert largely disappears into the inner auditory canal and is thus practically invisible. The sound is directed from the earpiece over a small tubular channel to the eardrum.
Publication DE 35 04 891 A1 shows an ear insert for hearing aids with a shaped part which is arranged in a user's auditory channel and can be adapted to it. Within the shaped part there is filler material in which an earpiece is mounted on an oscillating support. A funnel-shaped hearing aid opening is attached to the output opening of the earpiece.
In addition Publication DE 102 14 189 A1 discloses a hearing aid with a housing and of a corresponding Cerumen protection system. An earpiece can be taken out of this housing.
Further, from EP 354 698 B1 a hearing aid is known featuring a shaped part which can be fitted into a user's auditory canal. This shaped part takes the form similar to a funnel at its ear drum-side end.
In addition U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,649 A discloses a hearing aid which features a contact in a cover. The contact is electrically connected to a battery when the cover is closed
Finally from publication DE 37 88 566 T2 a hearing aid is known in which a an earpiece is arranged in a pillow in an auricle module If necessary the receiver or earpiece can be removed using an extraction strip.


A pin-type connection apparatus includes a first connecting seat, a second connecting seat, a connecting shaft, and a locking component, wherein a receiving hole and a locking hole on the adjacent side of the receiving hole are disposed on the second connecting seat, one end of the connecting shaft is fastened to the first connecting seat, a clamping hole is disposed at the other end of the connecting shaft, the connecting shaft can extend into the receiving hole, a first clamping protrusion is disposed in the clamping hole, a second clamping protrusion is disposed at one end of the locking component, and the locking component can pass through the locking hole and extend into the clamping hole; and when the locking component is rotated to a lockout position, the first clamping protrusion can abut against the second clamping protrusion and restrain the second clamping protrusion from exiting the clamping hole.

LED displays have become more and more widely and frequently used in daily life. An LED display includes a box and a PCB board that is fastened to the box. Because LED displays are relatively large in size, in actual use, relatively small LED displays are usually spliced to form a relatively large display that meets a use requirement.
During transportation or splicing of the boxes, a lifting beam is usually used to lift the boxes. Lifting beams also need to be spliced during splicing of boxes in many cases, so that the length of the lifting beams is the same as the length of the box, facilitating boxes fastening or lifting. However, existing lifting beam splicing is very inconvenient and inefficient.


Methods for reducing the concentration of one or more contaminants in water using zero-valent iron media. In the method, a mixed aluminum (III) and iron (II) salt solution is added to water containing one or more contaminants that is in contact with a zero-valent iron media that comprises (a) a reactive solid comprising zero-valent iron and one or more iron oxide minerals in contact therewith and (b) magnetite to provide an aqueous reaction medium. The aqueous reaction medium is contacted with the zero-valent iron media for a period of time sufficient to reduce the concentration of one or more of the contaminants.

Two major industrially available technologies for the removal of selenium from water are biological treatments and zero-valent iron (ZVI) technology. Biological treatment requires a large footprint and it cannot remove the reduced form of selenium, selenocyanate. ZVI technology can remove selenium in different oxidation states through redox reactions, adsorption, and co-precipitation in a reactor. However, surface corrosion of ZVI can form oxide and other compounds that passivate the ZVI surfaces, diminishing ZVI reactivity with respect to the target contaminants, and eventually causing the reactions to stop altogether. The lack of a viable method to overcome the ZVI surface passivation has caused attempts to develop ZVI technology into a reliable selenium removal solution to be substandard.
By introducing Fe(II) into ZVI surface corrosion reactions as a mediating agent, the formation of passivating iron oxides, such as "red rust" (Fe2O3) is mitigated. Fe(II) mediation leads to formation of magnetite (Fe3O4), a mixed Fe(II) and Fe(III) electron-conducting iron oxide that helps mediate rapid redox reactions between ZVI and contaminants. Magnetite is capable of conducting electrons from the corroding ZVI surface while avoiding the surface passivation experienced with traditional ZVI treatment. Fe(II) serves as a partial electron donor for selenate reduction.
Thus, in a hybrid zero-valent iron (hZVI) system (i.e., Fe(II) introduced as corrosion-mediating agent), the reactive media includes three components: magnetite-coated ZVI, discrete magnetite crystalline, and dissolved or surface-bound Fe(II). In the hZVI system, the needed Fe(II) is often provided externally by augmenting ferrous salt solution as a reagent into the reactor system.
After many years of research and development effort on the hybrid ZVI/FeOx/Fe(II) system (traditional hZVI system), two areas have been identified that, if improved, could further strengthen the advantages of the hZVI technology over other technologies, especially in the application of treating selenium-contaminated flue gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater for the coal-fired power industry. The first is to shorten the required reaction time for the reduction of selenate, a common and toxic contaminant, by the reactive iron media. The second is to achieve selective reduction of selenate and other metal/metalloid oxyanions, without or with limited reduction of nitrate, a common co-contaminant, by the reactive iron media.
The capability of selective reduction is desirable because in the applications for treating wastewater with high nitrate concentrations, allowing the activated iron media to completely reduce nitrate would result in several undesirable consequences including consumption of large quantity of ZVI media, which will shorten the media life and increase the operation costs; production of large quantity of iron oxides, which may overwhelm the system and disrupt its normal operation; stoichiometric production of ammonia from nitrate means that ammonia concentration may be very high in the treated effluent and may exceed the limit imposed by local or states in many cases; and a slower reduction of selenate due to competition of nitrate reduction and thus a longer retention time or more treatment stages may be required.
Despite the advances in hZVI media systems for effective decontamination of wastewaters, a need exist for improved hZVI media systems that address these shortcomings. The present invention seeks to fulfill this need and provides further related advantages.

Mixed aluminum (III) and iron (II) salt solution for enhancing the hybrid zero-valent iron media system reactivity for treating metal-contaminated wastewater


A method and circuit includes a means for reducing hysteresis in a system. The method includes the definition of boundary conditions relative to an incoming signal. The boundary conditions and the incoming signal are then utilized to determine a proper correction value. The hysteresis correction value is tailored to changes in the input signals. The modification occurs because the boundary conditions are changed depending on the input signal such that the correction values are constantly and continuously varied and implemented to accommodate changes in the input value. The constant accommodation and changing of the correction value provides a simple and effective hysteretic error accommodation that yields a substantially free hysteresis signal.

This invention generally relates to a method of reducing hysteresis in a sensor. More particularly, this invention is a method and circuit for providing a resultant signal that is substantially free of hysteresis.
A non-contact sensor for measuring force or torque utilizes magnetoelastic material that generates a magnetic field in response to an applied torque. A force or torque applied to the material causes a temporary deformation in a magnetic field that is measured and correlated to a force or torque. The magnetoelastic material generates a magnetic field in response to the applied force. Changes in the magnetic field of the magnetoelastic materials are measured and utilized to derive and measure the applied force according to a known relationship.
Disadvantageously, the magnetoelastic material may not return to an initial state after the release of an applied force. The shift from the initial state causes a zero shift known as hysteresis. Such a shift in zero point affects the desired accuracy of the sensor assembly.
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop methods for compensating for the affects of hysteresis in a sensor to improve accuracy and reliability.


A phase-locked system for recovering data from a disk drive includes a phase detector for signalling the difference in phase between incoming delayed data pulses and a phase detection window clock signal. The phase detection window clock signal is derived from one output of an integrated-circuit window generator, driven by the output of a voltage-controlled oscillator whose frequency is controlled by the phase detector. The phase-locked loop is completed by comparing the phase detection window clock signal output of the window generator with the incoming delayed data pulses in the phase detector. Data detection window clock pulses, defining time windows in which the delayed data pulses are exactly centered, are produced at a second output of the window generator which has a line about which it is essentially symmetric, resulting in the two outputs of the window generator being exactly 180.degree. apart in phase from each other.

In electromechanical data storage devices such as a disk drive, data being stored is normally recorded onto a magnetic disk in an encoded form consisting of an irregular pattern of ones and zeros. Binary data being recorded is typically synchronous, in that the sequence of ONES and ZEROS making up the data stream occurs with reference to a data bit cell, defined by a uniform or single-frequency clock signal. Recording the clock signal, together with the data, would take up valuable storage room and reduce the data storage capacity of the disk. Using self clocking techniques well known in the art, synchronous binary data is encoded into patterns of ONES and ZEROS, in accord with specific rules regarding the number of consecutive binary ZEROS allowed before a binary ONE signal is required.
Even though some degree of self clocking is inherent in the encoded data, some method of evaluating the encoded data stream must be used in order that a data recovery system may determine how many ZEROS occur consecutively between ONES. In a typical disk drive data recovery system, this function is performed by a data synchronizer which regenerates a synchronous timing reference signal from the encoded data and synchronizes the encoded data stream to that reference. In effect, the data synchronizer generates a synchronous stream of successive windows in time, each window representing a bit cell (in this case, a code bit cell), with which one or more encoded data bit(s) is/are associated. A time period of no ONES may then be referenced to the windows (bit cells) and the number of consecutive ZEROS extracted. For example, six consecutive windows occurring between encoded ONES means there are six consecutive ZEROS in the code. However, the frequency of a recovered synchronization clock synthesized by the data synchronizer is subject to a number of variations introduced by the electronic and mechanical components of the disk drive system. Mechanical system irregularities, such as motor speed variation, spindle bearing noise, actuator flexure, head resonances, and disk platter eccentricity, typically introduce a low-frequency component to the encoded data stream, resulting in a slowly varying read-channel-data rate, while electronic components in the data path typically introduce elements of phase, frequency and write splice noise which are high frequency in nature and more random in their effect on any particular code bit. This last phenomenon is known in the art as "bit jitter". A data synchronizer must take these variations in encoded data frequency into account when synchronizing the data stream.
Common implementations of a data synchronizer include a phase-locked loop (PLL), normally comprising a phase comparator, charge pump, filter, and a means for generating a synchronous feedback (clock) signal, such as a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). At the beginning of a data read operation, during what is termed velocity lock, the oscillation frequency of the VCO is determined by, and locked to the frequency of, a pulse train recorded in a synchronization field, provided on the data track for such purpose, and occurring just prior in time to the encoded data stream. Once frequency lock is established, the VCO runs in what might be termed a quasi-flywheel mode at a mean frequency determined during velocity lock. Subsequent correction control of the VCO frequency is developed by phase-locking a transition edge of the synchronous VCO signal to a transition edge of an incoming encoded data pulse. The VCO is phase-locked to the incoming encoded data stream by comparing, in the phase comparator, the phase of the rising edge of a data ONE bit to the rising edge of the VCO clock signal. A phase (time) difference between the two rising edges will cause the charge pump to generate a control signal, directing the VCO to either speed up or slow down in response to a frequency variation in the encoded data stream. However, variations due to bit jitter are random in direction as well as frequency. Speeding up the VCO in response to an early-jittered data bit may result in over-correction, especially if the next data bit is jittered late.
A low pass filter is typically provided between the charge pump and the VCO to reject corrections resulting from random high-frequency variations of individual data bits due to bit jitter, and allow ideally only corrections resulting from consistent frequency shifts of the data stream, such as the slowly time-varying perturbations introduced by the mechanical systems discussed earlier. The VCO is therefore locked to the mean phase of the encoded data, rather than to the phase of a particular data bit. Once phase-locked, the synchronous VCO signal provides a recovered clock whose rate (frequency) is equal to the rate at which ONES and ZEROS occur, or an integral multiple thereof. Given perfect frequency and phase-lock of the VCO clock signal to the encoded data stream, the VCO clock might well be used as an analog to the original synchronous clock accompanying the original write data, serving to mark the boundaries of the encoded data bit cells (code bit cells). Perfect phase-lock of VCO to data, however, is not possible due in part to the rejection, within the low pass filter, of VCO phase correction signals resulting from the effects of bit jitter.
The term "bit jitter" refers to the fluctuations in pulse timing which result from a variety of factors, including magnetic surface flatness variations, nonuniformity of the magnetic properties of the media, uncompensated second order peak shift effects, imperfect peak shift precompensation, media deep magnetization, adjacent track pattern interference, incomplete erasure of previous recordings, and magnetic and electrical component noise; displacement of a pulse due to bit jitter being mostly random in both magnitude and direction. The effects of bit jitter on an encoded data stream are illustrated in FIG. 1. Encoded data pulses (FIG. 1b) have been phase-locked to the VCO clock (FIG. 1a), wherein rising edges of the VCO clock and rising edges of the encoded data coincide. Given perfect phase-lock, the rising edges of VCO clock might serve to define synchronous code bit cells (FIG. 1d); a data pulse edge (for instance, a rising edge) occurring within a code bit cell representing a logic ONE, no data edge occurring within a code bit cell representing a logic ZERO. The pulse sequence, illustrated in FIG. 1b, would therefore be read as 0101001. Since phase-lock occurs with respect to rising edges 1, an early jittered encoded data pulse rising edge will necessarily occur before the rising edge of the VCO clock signal defining the beginning of the data pulse's respective code bit cell Referring to FIG. 1c, bit jitter has displaced one pulse (2a) early, one pulse (2b) late, and one pulse (2) not at all. The early jittered pulse 2a falls outside of its respective code bit cell, into the previous cell, causing the data stream pulse sequence to be incorrectly read as 1001001 rather than 0101001.
The random nature of bit jitter can be appreciated by referring to FIG. 2. Shifts in the nominal position of a data bit due to timing fluctuations (bit jitter) result in a normal distribution of possible transition pulse rising edge positions, distributed, with respect to time, around the occurrence of the VCO clock rising edge 5 with which the nominal phase of the transition pulse rising edge 6 is locked by means of the phase comparator. This phenomenon is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,088, issued on Feb. 28, 1989, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. It will be apparent, from inspection of FIG. 2, that, were the VCO clock signal rising edges 5 used to define the code bit cell boundaries 7, there would be approximately a 50% probability that a transition pulse, having rising edge 6, would be jittered early and therefore not captured in the proper code bit cell, giving rise to a read data error. A code bit cell should properly have its boundaries equidistant from, or symmetric about, the mean of a symmetric distribution of transition pulse positions 8, rather than the other way around. Since the triggering edges of the VCO clock signal provide the necessary phase reference to the nominal phase position of a transition pulse in the phase detector, some other means must be provided to capture a transition pulse within a bit cell boundary without regard to its displacement due to jitter.
A data synchronizer must establish what is termed a data detection window or, simply, a "window" around the expected position of a transition pulse. Windows are generated end-to-end in time by the data synchronizer at a repetition rate equal to the VCO clock frequency and, therefore, the channel rate of the data. An ideal window may be looked at as an allotment of time within which a transition edge, if it occurs, will be interpreted as occurring exactly in the window center, thus allowing for random displacement of individual transition pulses due to bit jitter, with no effect on the accuracy of the data recovery error rate. Because of the bell shaped position probability distribution associated with displacements due to bit jitter, it can be seen that for optimum performance, the window must be accurately centered about the mean of this distribution.
The most common prior art data synchronizers employ a phase-locked loop comprising a phase comparator, charge pump, low pass filter and VCO as described previously. The phase comparator receives the data at one input and the VCO output clock on another input for phase comparison. Additionally, the VCO output clock is inverted by an inverter element, and the inverted clock is applied to a data detector as a data detection window. Inversion has the effect of delaying the VCO output clock by one half of its period and thus causing the triggering edges of the inverted clock signal to be substantially symmetric about the position distribution of transition pulses which are then centered within respective data detection windows.
A typical prior art data synchronizer is illustrated in FIG. 3. Connected to receive pulses from a disk drive 3 and pulse detector 3a, it comprises a delay line 10, a data detector 19, a window generator 21, and a phase-locked loop 4 formed of a phase comparator 11, charge pump 17, filter 18, and VCO 14.
As read data is recovered from the disk drive 3, transition pulses 9, representing pulse-formed raw data, are developed in the pulse detector 3a in the drive read channel. The raw data transition pulses are delayed in time by the delay line 10, and the resulting delayed data pulse 12 is directed over a line 15 to an input of the phase comparator 11. The output of the VCO 14 (hereinafter phase detection window clock 13) is applied to the phase comparator where its phase is referenced (compared) to the phase of the input signal (delayed data pulse 12). The phase comparator 11 produces two outputs, pump-up pulse 11a and pump-down pulse 11b. Pump-up pulse 11a is produced if the delayed data pulse 12 leads the phase detection window clock 13, and pump-down pulse 11b is produced if the delayed data pulse 12 lags the phase detection window clock 13. The width of the pulses 11a, 11b reflects the extent of the lead or lag respectively. The outputs 11a, 11b are applied to the charge pump 17, which is operative to apply a source or sink current to the filter 18, depending on whether it receives pulse 11a or 11b. The combination of phase comparator and charge pump is sometimes referred to as a "phase detector" 22 and shall, when appropriate be so referred to herein. In response to the phase detector signal, the filter 18 applies a jitter-free, low-frequency control signal 18a to the VCO 14. The unfiltered control signal's sign depends on whether the delayed data pulse 12 leads or lags, and its magnitude is a function of the extent of the lead or lag. Thus, the output frequency of the VCO 14 is increased or reduced, as appropriate, to reduce the lead or lag at the inputs of the phase comparator 11. The phase-locked loop 4 thus insures that the VCO output, used as the phase detection window clock 13, is locked in phase with the incoming data.
The phase detection window clock 13 is a regular and periodic signal, whereas the occurrence of a data bit is irregular. Attempting to compare the phase of a phase detection window clock 13 to a data ZERO, i.e., when there is no transition pulse edge, would lead to runaway correction, unless the phase comparator 11 was disabled during those times a transition pulse 9 was not present. For this reason, the raw data 9 is directed as a phase error detector enable signal to the enable input 16 of the phase comparator 11. This insures that the phase comparator 11 is enabled just prior to the arrival of a delayed data pulse 12 whose phase is to be compared to that of the phase detection window clock 13.
Data detection occurs in a data detector 19, which functions to determine whether a delayed data pulse 12 occurs within a respective data detection window. The delayed data pulse 12, which is being phase compared to the phase detection window clock 13, is also directed to the input of the data detector 19. The data detector 19 may include a D flip-flop with its D input tied to ground. A data detection window clock 20 is derived from the VCO's phase detection window clock 13 by inverting that signal through an inverting means 21 provided in the window generator 21. Inversion of the phase detection window clock 13 seeks to construct a data detection window clock 20 having the same period as the phase detection window clock 13, and having a 180.degree. phase relationship therewith, such that successive triggering edges of the data detection window clock 20 bracket successive triggering edges of the phase detection window clock 13. Since triggering edges of the phase detection window clock 13 are phase-locked with the delayed data pulses 12, the triggering edges of the data detection window clock 20 will therefore bracket the delayed data pulses 12 as well. The object of this data detection window clock 20 is to provide a synchronous stream of time windows, within which the distribution of positions of delayed data pulses 12 (when they occur) is centered, such that bit jitter merely displaces a pulse within the window. If a delayed data pulse 12 occurs within a particular data detection window, the data detection window clock 20 provides the additional function of clocking the D flip-flop within the data detector 19 such that a data pulse, so detected, is synchronously latched into the D flip-flop by action of the data detection window clock 20 and is available on the output of the data detector 19 as a stable, synchronized data signal, having a fixed relationship with the data detection window clock 20, and having the position variations due to bit jitter removed.
The main shortcoming of prior art data synchronizers relying on inverter elements to derive a data detection window clock 20 from the phase detection window clock 13 is that the inherent internal delay of an inverter element precludes the data detection window clock 20 from being exactly 180.degree. out-of-phase with the phase detection window clock 13, and therefore from exactly symmetrically bracketing the distribution of delayed data pulses 12. Power supply voltage fluctuations, temperature variations and manufacturing parameter drift combine to distort the symmetry of an inverter's output characteristic, making it a less-than-ideal phase shifter. This lack of symmetry has significant implications for high-speed, low-error-rate data recovery systems.
Error rate is defined as the number of data bits read before a detection error is encountered. For example, a 10.sup.-10 error rate means that one detection error will occur, on average, for every 10.sup.10 data bits recovered from the disk drive. In practice, lack of perfect symmetry between the data detection window clock 20 and the phase detection window clock 13 selectively shifts the boundaries of the detection window relative to the center of the data pulse position distribution. Any offset from center, in the detection window boundaries, will allow a portion of a tail of the data pulse position distribution to fall outside the detection window, in the direction away from the window offset, increasing the error rate, i.e., a detection window which is offset late by inherent delay, will not detect a data pulse positioned very early in the distribution. Error rate increases to the extent data pulses drift beyond the window boundaries.
An additional drawback to prior art data synchronizers relates to their utility in disk drive systems making use of Zoned Recording techniques. Zoned Recording (ZR) relates to the arbitrary division of a disk surface into a series of concentric zones, into which data is recorded at progressively greater frequencies as the zones into which data is recorded are located progressively radially outward. In pre-ZR disk drive systems, the recording frequency of digital data was determined by the maximum bit density which could be accommodated by the most inward track on the magnetic data disk. Once established, this frequency remained invariant, even though the same bit density could be accommodated on more radially outward tracks, regardless of their progressively increasing length. This inefficient recording method was addressed by ZR, which allows variation of the recording frequency depending on the zone in which the track to be recorded lies, thereby increasing recording bit densities and yielding more efficient use of the disk storage surface.
As a consequence of variable frequency recording (ZR), a data detection window provided by the data synchronizer must be able to accommodate variations in its own frequency in order to provide for accurate detection and capture of data running at a variable channel rate. Inverters introduce invariant delay elements to waveforms which they invert. For instance, if an inverter delays a clock signal running at some frequency, it will delay a clock signal running at twice that frequency by the same amount x. But, increasing the clock frequency is the same thing as reducing its period, or, in other words, shortening the window. If a window is shortened, but shifted the same amount as an unshortened window by the invariant delay, the percentage phase error introduced by the inverter is increased in a manner directly proportional to the increase in clock frequency. Inverter elements, therefore, do not provide an exact and constant 180.degree. phase relationship between the input signal and the output signal, independent of frequency variations, and the phase relationship that is obtained is subject to variation proportional to the input signal frequency.

Data synchronizer with symmetric window generation


A toy vehicle for allowing a child to steer a simulated toy vehicle while standing up and walking behind the simulated toy vehicle. The toy vehicle includes a wire frame formed into a simulated shape of a vehicle; and also includes a wheel assembly upon which the wire frame is mounted and includes front and rear axles and wheels mounted to the front and rear axles; and further includes an assembly for steering the toy vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to child""s steer-able toy vehicles and more particularly pertains to a new toy vehicle for allowing a child to steer a simulated toy vehicle while standing up and walking behind the simulated toy vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of child""s steer-able toy vehicles is known in the prior art. More specifically, child""s steer-able toy vehicles heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 2,260,679; U.S. Pat. No. 1,996,546; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 284,984; U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,096; U.S. Pat. No. 2,887,823; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,646.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new toy vehicle. The prior art discloses toy vehicles which can also be steered from behind while the child is standing up, but the steering mechanisms limit the maneuverability of the toy vehicle.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new toy vehicle which has many of the advantages of the child""s steer-able toy vehicles mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new toy vehicle which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art child""s steer-able toy vehicles, either alone or in any combination thereof. The present invention includes a wire frame formed into a simulated shape of a vehicle; and also includes a wheel assembly upon which the wire frame is mounted and includes front and rear axles and wheels mounted to the-front and rear axles; and further includes an assembly for steering the toy vehicle. The present invention allows the child to greatly maneuver the toy vehicle much like the real thing.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the toy vehicle in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new toy vehicle which has many of the advantages of the child""s steer-able toy vehicles mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new toy vehicle which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art child""s steer-able toy vehicles, either alone or in any combination thereof.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new toy vehicle for allowing a child to steer a simulated toy vehicle while standing up and walking behind the simulated toy vehicle.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new toy vehicle that is easy and convenient to use.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new toy vehicle that allows the child to be creative and also teaches the child the aspects of steering a vehicle and is also entertaining for the child.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.


In a method of ventilating excised lungs, a ventilation gas is supplied to an airway of a lung and a vacuum is formed around the lung. A quality of the vacuum is varied between a lower level and a higher level to cause the lung to breathe, while the pressure of the ventilation gas supplied to the airway is regulated to maintain a positive airway pressure in the airway of the lung. The vacuum may be cyclically varied between the two vacuum levels. The levels may be maintained substantially constant over a period of time, or one or both of the lower and higher levels may be adjusted during ventilation. The lung may be placed in a sealed chamber, and a vacuum is formed in the chamber around the lung.

To use excised donor lungs for transplantation, the excised lungs may need to be perfused and ventilated ex vivo to restore or preserve their functionalities before the transplant procedure can be performed, or to assess or evaluate their quality or suitability for transplantation.
For ex vivo ventilation of excised lungs, the common traditional mechanical ventilation techniques employ a positive pressure applied to the tracheobronchial tree. This creates a pressure gradient between the tracheobronchial tree and the alveoli, such that airflow occurs down the pressure gradient into the alveoli.
It has been recognized that excised lungs can also be ventilated by a negative pressure ex vivo. For example, lungs may be ventilated utilizing a negative pressure (i.e., below atmospheric pressure) around the lungs to allow the lungs to naturally fill with ventilation gas that is at or near atmospheric pressure. Some authors have suggested that different strategies might be combined by supplying positive-pressure (above atmospheric pressure) ventilation gas to the lungs and utilizing a negative pressure around the lungs. However, these authors have not disclosed any specific details of effective strategies for utilizing positive and negative pressures to ventilate lungs ex vivo.

Apparatus and method for ex vivo lung ventilation with a varying exterior pressure


Computational systems and methods to be carried out by the computational systems for determining streamer-depth bias during exploration-seismology experiments are disclosed. An exploration-seismology vessel tows a number of streamers that form a smoothly varying data acquisition surface located beneath a fluid surface. In one aspect of this disclosure, the method determines a set of image points that represent a profile of the fluid surface above each streamer. The image points are determined based on pressure and velocity wavefields measured at dual sensors of the streamer. The method then determines an elevation parameter of the image points that minimizes DC offset in a spectral domain of the image points. The elevation parameter corresponds to the streamer-depth bias and can be used to correct for the streamer-depth bias in subsequent calculations of a fluid-surface profile.

In the past few decades, the petroleum industry has invested heavily in the development of marine seismic survey techniques that yield knowledge of subterranean formations beneath a body of water in order to find and extract valuable mineral resources, such as oil and natural gas. High-resolution seismic images of a subterranean formation are essential for quantitative seismic interpretation and improved reservoir monitoring. For a typical marine seismic survey, an exploration-seismology vessel tows a seismic source and one or more streamers just below the surface of the water over a subterranean formation to be investigated for mineral deposits. The vessel contains seismic acquisition equipment, such as navigation control, seismic source control, seismic sensor control, and recording equipment. The seismic source control causes the seismic source, which is typically an air gun, to produce an acoustic impulse at selected times. The impulse sound waves travel down through the water and into the subterranean formation. At each interface between different types of rock, a portion of the sound wave is reflected back toward the surface and into the body of water. The streamers towed behind the vessel are elongated cable-like structures. Each streamer includes a number of sensors that detect pressure and velocity changes in the water created by the sound waves reflected back into the water from the subterranean formation and by the sound waves reflected off of the water surface. The pressure and velocity changes associated with sound waves reflected off of the water surface are referred to as a "surface reflection" that creates a "ghost" signal in seismic signals recorded by the recording equipment. The ghost signal is manifest as spectral notches in the recorded signals that make it difficult to obtain accurate high-resolution seismic images of the subterranean formation.
The ghost signal is influenced by the water surface topography and reflection coefficients. As a result, a number of techniques have been developed to characterize the time-varying water surface topography in an effort to de-ghost recorded signals. However, when water surface images and reflection coefficients do not properly characterize the water surface, the seismic images of subterranean formations produced from de-ghosted signals are still generally inaccurate. In particular, water surface images obtained without taking into account an accurate estimate if the streamer depth can result in an inaccurate vertical position of water surface images, which contributes to inaccuracy of images of the subterranean formation. As a result, those working in the petroleum industry continue to seek systems and methods to more accurately determine the streamer depth.

Methods and systems for correction of streamer-depth bias in marine seismic surveys


A lead with a proximal electrode and a telescoping distal electrode enables dual-site electrical pacing or stimulation of a heart or another organ. The lead includes an outer tube with a proximal electrode and an inner tube connected to a distal electrode. The inner tube is concentric and slides inside the outer tube. This design enables the proximal electrode to be placed at a desired location by threading the lead along a guide wire, and then extending the distal electrode a variable distance beyond the proximal electrode.

Biventricular pacemakers pace stimulate the left and right ventricles simultaneously. This enables the left ventricle (LV) to pump blood more efficiently.
The coronary sinus is a vein that flows from tributary branches, such as the lateral venous branch and the middle cardiac vein, to the right atrium of the heart. A lead from a biventricular pacemaker lead is often inserted in one of these tributary branches. Such leads are typically inserted into the coronary sinus through the subclavian vein and/or cephalic vein, both of which are easily accessed through a chest wall of a patient. The leads pass through the right atrium and into the coronary sinus.
Currently, biventricular pacing systems use single site pacing of the left ventricle ("LV") to facilitate cardiac resynchronization therapy. There is data to suggest that dual site LV pacing can benefit patients with poor heart function. This dual site pacing provides simultaneous or sequential stimulation of two LV sites, thereby recruiting more myocardium, reducing myocardial dyssynchrony and enhancing cardiac contractility.
There is also data to suggest that dual site electrical tissue stimulation can be useful for treatment of neurologic disorders such as Parkinson's disease and paralysis, neuromuscular disorders such as multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and gastrointestinal disorders such as amotility.


A method and system for providing an output voltage greater than a voltage provided by a voltage supply in a semiconductor device are disclosed. The method and system include providing at least one oscillator and at least one voltage storage/discharge stage coupled with the at least one oscillator. The oscillator has a frequency that increases as the voltage decreases. The frequency of the oscillator determines a discharge frequency for the at least one voltage storage/discharge stage.

Semiconductor devices, such as EEPROMs or Flash devices, may be desired to be run using a voltage supply that provides a lower supply voltage. The lower supply voltage allows the device to consume less power and be shrunk to smaller geometries. For example, lower voltages are desired for applications such as EEPROMs used in smart cards. Although lower supply voltages are desired for the semiconductor devices, higher voltages may be desired for certain operations. For example, a voltage that is higher than the supply voltage may be required for operations such as programming memory cells. In order to obtain the higher voltages, a conventional charge pump may be used.
FIG. 1 depicts a conventional charge pump 10, which can be used to increase voltages above the supply voltage or provide a reverse polarity voltage. The conventional charge pump 10 includes a conventional capacitor-diode ladder 12 and a conventional oscillator 20 coupled with a voltage supply 22. The conventional capacitor-diode ladder 12 includes capacitor-diode pairs 13 (including capacitor 14 and diode 24), 15 (including capacitor 16 and diode 24), and 17 (that includes capacitor 18 and diode 28). The conventional oscillator 20 outputs clocks signals CLK and CLKB. The signal CLKB is the inverse of the signal CLK.
Based on the signals CLK and CLKB, the capacitor-diode pairs 13, 15, and 17 alternately charge to approximately the supply voltage and discharge. For example, the capacitor-diode pair 13 charges the capacitor 14, then discharges the capacitor 14, with a period corresponding to the frequency of the clock signal CLK. In addition, the charging and discharging between stages alternate. Thus, for example, as the capacitor 14 discharges, the next capacitor 16 charges. The charging and discharging of capacitors 14, 16, and 18 in the capacitor-diode ladder 12 allows for energy to be transferred between capacitor-diode pairs 13, 15, and 17, and output. This energy is also transferred at the output 30 of the conventional charge pump 10 by an output current provided at the output 30. Thus, a voltage above that of the conventional voltage supply 22 can be provided.
Although the conventional charge pump 10 functions, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that for lower supply voltages, the ability of the conventional charge pump 10 to provide a voltage in excess of the supply voltage while maintaining a sufficient output current may be compromised. The conventional charge pump 10 may provide a high voltage, for example on the order of fifteen or sixteen volts, even at low supply voltages. When providing such voltages using a low supply voltage, the charge pump 10 provides a lower output current from the output 30 because charge is output at a lower rate from the capacitor-diode ladder 12. Furthermore, the high voltage from by the conventional charge pump 10 may be provided to devices (not shown) such as other NMOS or PMOS devices in the semiconductor device. This high voltage may be on the order of the breakdown voltage of such devices. The leakage induced by breakdown leakage and the punch through leakage must be overcome using the output current in order for the desired operations to be performed. As the output current of the conventional charge pump 10 decreases, the effect of the leakage becomes more marked. Consequently, as the supply voltage decreases, a loss of output current from the output 30 may result. As a result, the ability of the conventional charge pump 10 to provide a sufficient output current in combination with a high voltage may be adversely affected. The conventional charge pump 10 may, therefore, be unable to provide sufficient power for operations such as programming EEPROMs in applications using lower supply voltages, such as smart cards.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method and system for providing a voltage higher than the supply voltage in lower supply voltage devices while maintaining a sufficient output current. The present invention addresses such a need.

Method and system for providing a charge pump for low voltage applications


A container for articles such as food which is snuggled behind the head (vertical) tube and rests on the top (horizontal) tube of a bicycle. The container includes a relatively narrow width so as to hide behind the head tube such that the container adds no wind resistance to the bicycle. The relatively narrow width further provides no interference to thigh and knee pedaling action. The container includes a relatively elongate lid which may extend up and over articles such as bananas. A Velcro.RTM. connector band on the lid engages a Velcro.RTM. connector band on the receptacle to close off the receptacle. The connector band on the receptacle is relatively wide such that the connector band on the lid may be fixed to upper or lower portions of the connector band on the receptacle to thereby tighten or loosen the lid. The lid is flexible such that its connector band may be fixed at an angle to the connector band on the receptacle so that the lid may be partially twisted around elongate articles such as bananas and still make a connection to the connector band on the receptacle. The lid includes a mesh or is macroscopically apertured to permit the one riding the bicycle to see into the receptacle. The receptacle includes walls with stiffeners. Straps extend from the receptacle to the head and top tubes. Two straps extend from the receptacle to the top tube to minimize twisting of the receptacle relative to the top tube.

The present invention relates generally to containers, particularly to containers for bicycles, and specifically to containers for being carried on the top tube and behind the head tube of the bicycle.
Bicycle racing places a prime importance on aerodynamics. For example, it is not sufficient that the superlight bicycle frame be formed of carbon kevlar. Such a superlight frame must also be shaped to cut through the air. Even wheel rims are shaped to minimize wind resistance. With his or her aerodynamic helmet, the rider leans over aerobars to place his or her body in an aerodynamic position. Such examples are but a few.
One further example is the use of the space that lies behind the head tube. The head tube conventionally is a generally vertical tube at the front portion of the bicycle frame which houses the stem. The stem is the integral base of the handlebars, and the stem may be adjusted up and down in the head tube to custom fit the handlebars or aerobars for the rider. A top tube extends rearwardly from the head tube toward the seat.
Since the head tube cuts the air, the space behind the head tube may be used to advantage. One use is the placement of a container in the space. High energy food or high energy gels are examples of articles that may be placed in such a purposefully located container.
Besides being placed on the bicycle in a position where minimal wind resistance will result, the container occupies a space which is convenient for the rider. The space is located close to the handlebar--or aerobar. Even when in the tuck position, the rider may readily access a container located at such a space. Since the location is convenient, the location is safe. One hand may stay on the aerobar while the other hand grabs a banana. There is no need to play "Look, Ma, no hands|"

User friendly container hidden behind bicycle head tube


Present invention is a tip adjustable stylet to be inserted into a tubular structure and to be pushed out its distal aperture to form curvatures. The device comprises a bendable member, a retracting string, an intersegment and a control handle. The bendable member has a control ring at its proximal end and a tip at its distal end. An operator can push the bendable member distally from the proximal end along the lumen of the tubular structure. Predetermined extensibility and length of the retracing string limit distance of the bendable member being pushed and hold the distal portion of the bendable member backward when the bendable member is been pushed forward outside of the tubular structure's distal aperture, thereby to bend the distal portion of the bendable member into the curves therefore to move its tip to a target location, such as patient's vocal cords opening.

Endotracheal tubes, brief as ET, have been utilized in a wide variety of medical specialties in past decades for airway management. Many intubation tools have been developed to effectively insert an endotracheal tube into a patient's trachea. An intubation process can often be difficulty because of the contours and obstacles encountered in a patient's airway. A patient's airway anatomy varies from patient to patient. As the endotracheal tubes are generally made to a standard curvature, it is often necessary to impart a greater bend to the tip of the tube in order to be inserted into a trachea. Many prior art devices have been developed to try to resolve these problems. One of the examples is a metal malleable stylet which can be inserted into an endotracheal tube and be bent at a desirable curvature by an operator before starting intubation process, but the operator will not be able to change the curvature of the stylet as needed during the intubation unless the endotracheal tube is pulled out, the curvature changed, and then again inserted. The interruption of intubation and delay in intubation often are undesirable when the need to ventilate the patient is urgent.
The currently commercially available video laryngoscopes can provide good visualization if use properly. However, good visualization is not equal to good intubation. The limitations of the rigid stylet in advancing the ET through to the vocal cords and into the trachea have been well documented. In the recent decade, more and more commercially available Video laryngoscopes have created the need for more dynamically adjustable stylets to accommodate the unique angles and turns of a glottic opening area under vision of the video laryngoscope. An example of a commercially available articulating stylet is by Parker Medical Inc., U.S. Pat. No. 8,695,590 B2, a stylet inserts into an ET and its tip can be manually adjusted when the ET approaches the glottis opening. Like all other types of stylets in which the distal tip of the stylet is stayed inside of an ET and positioned at distal opening of the ET. The stylet will make tip of the ET more rigid and often times make the curved tip of the ET very hard to align with a patient's glottic opening. As result, the ET's distal opening bevel often becomes stuck at the arytenoids, or anterior edge of the glottic opening. Even though an operator can have a good view of the vocal cords by video laryngoscope, the stylet is difficulty to align with glottic opening and difficult to guide the ET through the vocal cords opening. Thus, there is an increased chance of trauma to vocal cords and surrounding tissues. Such as recently commercially available "Truflex" stylet uses metal stylet to adjust the curvature of the distal tip of an endotracheal tube which can be quite traumatic to the airway anatomy. Other prior arts, U.S. Pat. No. 8,505,590, 2015/0182717, in all these prior arts, the tips of the stylet are inside the distal opening of the endotracheal tube during the process of bending the endotracheal tube which make the bendable tip of the stylet hard manipulate and make the ET distal end become a rigid curve. The rigid curve of the ET distal end makes the stylet distal tip very hard to guide the ET into the laryngeal opening even though distal end of the ET has already in front of the glottic opening.


A shoe fixing device employed to a pedal of a mountain bike. A cleat is secured to a tread of the pedal body. A front edge and an inner edge of the cleat are held by a fixed inner side supporting member adapted to engage with the inner edge and a fixed outer side supporting member adapted to engage with an outer edge of the cleat. An outer edge of the cleat engages with a movable supporting member, an engagement convex portion formed on a side edge of the cleat engages with an engagement concave portion formed on the supporting member holding the cleat or the shoe on the pedal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shoe fixing device applied to a pedal of a bicycle, or that particularly suitable to a pedal of a mountain bike.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Nowadays, various kinds of the shoe fixing device used on a bicycle pedal fixing the shoe fixing device to the shoe without using toe clips have been proposed and practiced. Apparently, these conventional shoe fixing devices are applied to use on the pedals of the road race bicycles and the track race bicycles. Every shoe fixing device mentioned above has an engagement member, engaging with a front and rear portions and a left and right portions of the cleat attached to the shoe bottom so as to protrude from the bottom, and holding the shoe in place.
It is apparent from a purpose of it that the mountain bike is apt to be shouldered on the user when the mountain bike is ridden on mountainous roads and the rider walks with the bike on his or her shoulder. The conventional shoes provided with the cleats protruding from the shoe bottoms are not suitable to walk along such mountaneous or steep roads. In other words, it is difficult to smoothly walk along such roads with the conventional shoes mentioned above, so that it is necessary to use shoes having small cleats not protruding from the shoe bottoms. The shoe provided with such a small cleat necessitates a particular shoe fixing device employed to the bicycle pedal, which device is suitable to the small cleat.
One of the shoe fixing device suitable to the pedal of the mountain bike is disclosed in Japan Patent Application Laid-open Heisei 3 (1991) No. 157285. According to the invention disclosed in the Japan Patent Application above, the conventional shoe fixing device adapted to use on the mountain bike pedal has engagement members so attached to a front portion and a rear portion of the pedal footboard or tread as to engage with the front face and the rear face of the cleat. These engagement members are rotatably attached to a shaft in parallel to a pedal shaft and urged toward their engagement direction by means of springs.
It is noted that assembling and adjusting the engagement members of the pedal footboard are difficult and troublesome, since these members have springs each installed on them.


The invention provides a fluidized bed polymerization reactor, including: a column, in which a liquid distributor and a gas distributor above the liquid distributor are arranged, so that the reaction zone being divided into a first zone and a second zone through the gas distributor; and a circulating unit for circulating the gas material originated from the top zone of the column into the bottom zone thereof in a form of gas-liquid mixture. The gas-liquid mixture is undergone a gas-liquid separation in the bottom zone, the gas phase portion obtained being fed to the gas distributor and then into the second zone while the liquid phase portion obtained being entered into the first zone through the liquid distributor, so that the temperature in the first zone is lower than that in the second zone. Therefore, polymer with a molecular weight distributed in a relatively wide range can be obtained. The invention further provides a method for preparing polymer.

It is well known that olefin will generate polymer with a relatively high molecular weight at a relatively low temperature, while generate polymer with a relatively low molecular weight at a relatively high temperature. On the other hand, the activity of catalyst is a function of the reaction temperature. If in one single reactor the reaction temperature is controlled to change the molecular weight of polymer obtained, the speed of polymerization reaction will be generally out of control. Therefore, no matter in the laboratory experiment or in the commercial application, the temperature in any type of polymerization reactors has to be maintained relatively constant. In particular, for olefin polymerization process in the commercial application, whether the polymerization reaction temperature is constant or not directly determines continuity of the process or possibility of any accident that would be caused.
Therefore, for a long time it is believed that an even distribution of temperature in a fluidized bed polymerization reactor is of vital importance for controlling the polymerization process and stabilizing the quality of polymers obtained. FIG. 1 schematically shows a conventional fluidized bed polymerization reactor 50, which includes a column 51 and a circulating unit 60 arranged outside of the column 51. A liquid distributor 52 is arranged inside the column 51, and divides the column 51 into an upper zone (i.e., reaction zone) 53 and a lower zone 54. The circulating unit 60 includes a hydrogen source 64, a compressor 62 and a cooler 63, which are connected together in series by means of a suitable line 67. The circulating unit 60 is connected to the column top at one end, and to the column bottom at the other end. In reaction, monomer is fed to the lower zone 54 from a feeding port 55, and, after passing through the liquid distributor 52, enter into the reaction zone 53, where the monomer begins to react in the presence of suitable catalyst. The gas product generated in the column 51 flows into the circulating unit 60 from the column top, and is mixed with hydrogen from the hydrogen source 64. Afterward, the mixture is compressed by the compressor 62 and cooled by the cooler 63, forming a gas-liquid mixture. The gas-liquid mixture is then delivered to the lower zone 54, and enters into the reaction zone 53 through the liquid distributor 52. The temperature in the reaction zone 53 of the column 51 is maintained constant. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,758, U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,095 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,320 etc. a similar fluidized bed polymerization reactor is disclosed, which comprises a closed circulating loop consisting of a fluidized bed reactor, a circulating gas compressor and a circulating gas cooler. The circulating gas containing reactor monomer (e.g., ethylene, α-olefin), hydrogen and nitrogen is circulated in the loop, and the polymerization temperature in the whole reactor is controlled at a certain constant value. However, with one single catalyst and a constant polymerization temperature in single reactor, only polymer with a molecular weight distributed in a relatively narrow range will be generated by olefin polymerization.
In order to improve the physical property or processing property of the polymer products, researchers have been trying to develop advanced process and technology. In the conventional olefin polymerization reactor and the process thereof, typically two or more reactors connected with each other in series are used, so that the polymer generated by olefin polymerization has a bi-model or broad molecular weight distribution. That is to say, under different reaction temperatures or gas components, the olefin polymerization can generate polymer with different molecular weights, thus widening the distribution of molecular weight. For example, WO 2009/076733A1 discloses an olefin polymerization reaction is carried out in two reactors arranged in a serial configuration, wherein polymer with a relatively low molecular weight is generated at a relatively high temperature in the first reactor, while polymer with a relatively high molecular weight is generated at a relatively low temperature in the second reactor. However, with regard to this type of in-series reactors, the reaction process is complex, the equipment is costly, the operation is difficult, and the continuous stability is poor.

Fluidized bed polymerization reactor and process for preparing polymer


A make-up composition in the form of a water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsion comprising silicone oil selected from volatile silicones, non-volatile silicones and mixtures thereof, optionally humectant, at least one coated or uncoated iron-oxide type pigment and a TiO.sub.2 -coated platelet-type interference pigment material having a TiO.sub.2 layer thickness of from about 120 nm to about 160 nm or a whole number multiple thereof. The make-up composition exhibits improved moisturisation, together with improved skin feel and appearance and colour correction benefits

A foundation composition can be applied to the face and other parts of the body to even skin tone and texture and to hide pores, imperfections, fine lines and the like. A foundation composition is also applied to moisturize the skin, to balance the oil level of the skin and to provide protection against the adverse effects of sunlight, wind and the harsh environment.
Make-up compositions are generally available in the form of liquid or cream suspensions, emulsions, gels, pressed powders or anhydrous oil and wax compositions.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,444,291 discloses a method of filling and camouflaging skin cavities by applying a composition which includes 65 to 75 parts by weight of a microcrystalline wax and about 25 to 35 parts of a mineral oil. The composition includes a colourant, preferably a coal tar dye, for example, D &C Red No. 17, which matches the colour of the user's skin.
A spreadable, flowable and greaseless cosmetic cover-up composition is taught in U.S. Pat. No 4,486,405. That composition is characterized by the presence of a first and a second alkoxylated surfactant present in substantially the same concentration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,532 recites a facial cosmetic powder which utilizes crystalline silica in much lower concentration than that employed in the then prior art compositions. This powder, used as a blush or a facial coating, is said to be effective in hiding skin wrinkles, lines and pores. The composition is a mixture of a colour phase and a diluent phase. The colour phase is formed by blending crystalline silica with colourants. The resultant colour phase is mixed with the diluent phase, essentially formed from nacreous materials such as talc and mica, to form the composition.
The use of a foundation composition which has a significantly high concentration of nacreous material is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,978,207. This foundation, a pressed powder composition, is characterized by the presence of a nacreous material such as mica and a binder oil which provides a frosted pearl effect, that is, a lustrous look. The colour of this foundation is provided by the nacreous material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,562 discloses a cosmetic make-up composition which includes, as a binding agent therefore, an intimate mixture of from 5 to 95 weight percent of a mixture of finely divided silica and about 5 to 95 weight percent of finely divided polyethylene fibres. The composition is recited to maintain its uniformity over the areas of the skin to which it is applied. That is, it is said to be "creaseproof". The composition of the '562 patent includes colourant in admixture with nacreous agents.
Nakamura et al., Preprints of the XIVth I.F.S.C.C. Congress, Barcelona, 1986, Vol. I, 51-63 (1986) describes a novel make-up composition utilizing spherical silica and polydimethyl siloxane. This combination is recited to provide a foundation which reduces wrinkle visibility to a greater extent than make-up foundations with which it was compared. This reduction in wrinkle visibility is caused by optical blurring enhanced by the novel use of spherical silica and polydimethyl siloxane.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,722 discloses a cosmetic make-up composition comprising water-in-oil emulsions comprising pigment coated with polysiloxane, a silicone phase, a water phase and a polydiorganosiloxane-polyoxyalkylene copolymeric surfactant.
Foundations in the form of water-in-oil emulsions are well known and provide good coverage and good skin feel, wear and appearance. These have, however, not been successful from the viewpoint of moisturisation.
In the past, humectants such as water-soluble polyglycerylmethacrylate lubricants and glycerine have been incorporated into skin and hair gel compositions for use as moisturisation agents. These compositions have provided improvements in moisturisation compared with conventional cosmetic cream and lotion compositions. They have, however, often suffered from negatives such as greasiness, shine, tackiness and heaviness, especially when relatively large levels of humectants are used. It would therefore be desirable to provide a cosmetic emulsion composition having enhanced moisturisation benefits both in the short and longer term, together with improved application characteristics, a matte finish and non greasy skin feel and appearance.
It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a make-up composition in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion, particularly a water-in-silicone emulsion, which exhibits improvements in moisturisation both in the short and longer term, together with improved application characteristics.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a pigmented make-up composition in the form of a water-in-silicone emulsion which exhibits improved short and longer term moisturisation together with reduced shine, tack and greasiness.
It is a further object of the invention to provide emulsion-form make-up compositions containing humectants and which provide improved moisturisation effectiveness and reduced tackiness and shine.


A method and system to confirm co-location of multiple devices within a geographic area, while filtering spurious alarms, is provided. An example method comprises processing first GPS data obtained from a first GPS sensor and second GPS data obtained from a second GPS sensor. A sensing data evaluator compares a sensing error from the first GPS data and a sensing error from the second GPS data. Based on the result of the comparing, the sensing data evaluator determines whether the sensing errors are to be ignored. An approach where an alarm that otherwise would be generated is disabled or canceled may be termed as filtering spurious alarms.

In Pay Television (TV) it is common practice to price the use of second and subsequent set top boxes (STBs) in a single home at a much lower rate and often at a fixed monthly fee. For example, the use of the first STB is billed at the full rate taking account of all premium services, while the use of any additional STB may be billed at a reduced rate yet still be configured to receive all of the premium services. For example, the use of the first STB and operator services may be billed at a rate of $70 per month, while the use of the second STB may be billed at a fixed rate of $5. This billing practice, which is quite common, is vulnerable to abuse, where a subscriber orders service for additional STBs and offers service for the additional STBs for use by their neighbors who then take advantage of the reduced fee. The additional STBs may thus provide services to a second dwelling and thereby avoid the payment of the full rate for services in the second dwelling. This is a common form of piracy.

Method and system to confirm co-location of multiple devices within a geographic area


A reduced thermal conductivity thermal barrier coating having improved impact resistance for an underlying substrate of articles that operate at, or are exposed to, high temperatures. This coating comprises an inner high fracture toughness layer nearest to the underlying substrate and having a thickness up to about 5 mils (127 microns) sufficient to impart impact resistance to the thermal barrier coating, and comprises a zirconia-containing ceramic composition having a c/a ratio of the zirconia lattice in the range of from about 1.011 to about 1.016 and stabilized in the tetragonal phase by a stabilizing amount of a stabilizing metal oxide selected from the group consisting of yttria, calcia, ceria, scandia, magnesia, india, lanthana, gadolinia, neodymia, samaria, dysprosia, erbia, ytterbia, europia, praseodymia, and mixtures thereof. The thermal barrier coating further includes an outer thermal insulating layer adjacent to and overlaying the inner layer and comprising a ceramic thermal barrier coating material. The thermal barrier can be used to provide a thermally protected article having a substrate (e.g., metal substrate) and optionally a bond coat layer adjacent to and overlaying the substrate. The thermal barrier coating can be prepared by forming the inner high fracture toughness layer, followed by forming on the inner layer the outer thermal insulating layer.

This invention relates to improving the impact and spallation resistance of thermal barrier coatings, especially those coatings having reduced thermal conductivity. This invention further relates to articles having such coatings and methods for preparing such coatings for the article.
Components operating in the gas path environment of gas turbine engines are typically subjected to significant temperature extremes and degradation by oxidizing and corrosive environments. Environmental coatings and especially thermal barrier coatings are an important element in current and future gas turbine engine designs, as well as other articles that are expected to operate at or be exposed to high temperatures, and thus cause the thermal barrier coating to be subjected to high surface temperatures. Examples of turbine engine parts and components for which such thermal barrier coatings are desirable include turbine blades and vanes, turbine shrouds, buckets, nozzles, combustion liners and deflectors, and the like. These thermal barrier coatings typically comprise the external portion or surface of these components and are usually deposited onto a metal substrate (or more typically onto a bond coat layer on the metal substrate for better adherence) from which the part or component is formed to reduce heat flow (i.e., provide thermal insulation) and to limit (reduce) the operating temperature the underlying metal substrate of these parts and components is subjected to. This metal substrate typically comprises a metal alloy such as a nickel, cobalt, and/or iron based alloy (e.g., a high temperature superalloy).
The thermal barrier coating is usually prepared from a ceramic material, such as a chemically (metal oxide) stabilized zirconia. Examples of such chemically stabilized zirconias include yttria-stabilized zirconia, scandia-stabilized zirconia, calcia-stabilized zirconia, and magnesia-stabilized zirconia. The thermal barrier coating of choice is typically a yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramic coating. A representative yttria-stabilized zirconia thermal barrier coating usually comprises about 7 weight % yttria and about 93 weight % zirconia. The thickness of the thermal barrier coating depends upon the metal part or component it is deposited on, but is usually in the range of from about 3 to about 70 mils (from about 76 to about 1778 microns) thick for high temperature gas turbine engine parts.
Although significant advances have been made in improving the durability of thermal barrier coatings for turbine engine components, such coatings are still susceptible to various types of damage, including objects ingested by the engine, erosion, oxidation, and attack from environmental contaminants. In addition, in trying to achieve reduced thermal conductivity, other properties of the thermal barrier coating can be adversely impacted. For example, the composition and crystalline microstructure of a thermal barrier coating, such as those prepared from yttria-stabilized zirconia, can be modified to impart to the coating an improved reduction in thermal conductivity, especially as the coating ages over time. However, such modifications can also unintentionally interfere with desired spallation resistance, especially at the higher temperatures that most turbine components are subjected to. As a result, the thermal barrier coating can become more susceptible to damage due to the impact of, for example, objects and debris ingested by the engine and passing through the turbine sections thereof. Such impact damage can eventually cause spallation and loss of the thermal barrier coating.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to be able to improve the impact resistance of thermal barrier coatings, especially those coatings having reduced thermal conductivity, to avoid spallation. It would be further desirable to be able to provide such spallation and impact resistance, yet still be able to modify the chemical composition of yttria-stabilized zirconia-based thermal barrier coating systems to provide reduced thermal conductivity.

Thermal barrier coatings with high fracture toughness underlayer for improved impact resistance