A multiple speed bicycle of the coaster brake type has a single drive sprocket and a drive chain in longitudinal alignment with one another. A sun gear is keyed to the main drive axle of the bicycle and rotates with the main drive axle. The sun gear engages a drive gear mounted on a planet gear axle and a planet gear is mounted on the same planet gear axle. Driving and driven satellite gears are mounted on satellite gear axles that are pivotally mounted on a nonrotatable ring concentric with the main drive axle. The satellite gears have differing diameters and differing numbers of teeth, one for each GEAR of the bicycle, and are positioned radially outwardly of the planet gear, in circumferentially spaced relation to one another. The planet gear orbits the main drive axle in incremental degrees of angular rotation when the bicycle operator manipulates a remote control member on the handlebar of the bicycle to change from one preselected gear to another preselected gear. Each gear change causes the planet gear to engage a different driving satellite gear and drive its companion driven satellite gear into meshing engagement with a rotatably mounted ring gear that is connected to the drive sprocket. A clutch and gear selector assembly for enabling the gear changing is controlled by a control cable that extends downwardly from the remote control member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, generally, to multi-speed bicycles. More particularly, it relates to a gear mechanism that provides easy gear changing in a coaster brake bicycle having a single drive sprocket.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Most multiple speed bicycles are of the well-known derailleur type. As is well-known, such systems include multiple drive sprockets and a complex mechanism for lifting the drive chain from one drive sprocket to another in order to change gear ratios. Thirty two problems commonly associated with derailleur systems are listed in Sloan's "New Complete Book Of All-Terrain Bicycles," and twenty nine problems associated with such systems are denoted in Glenn's "New Complete Bicycle Manual." Moreover, a degree of skill is required to properly use a derailleur system. To master such a system, an athlete must memorize a number of complex procedures; Frank Berto's "Complete Guide To Upgrading Your Bike" humorously describes different shifting patterns as "The Crossover, The Half-Step, The Alpine, The Half-Step Plus Granny, The Wide Step, The Wide Step Triple, and The Rhumba Gear." Needless to say, all of these whimsical names represent real-life techniques for accomplishing various gear changes, and serious bike riders take pride in mastering these techniques, all of which are required as a result of the inherent complexity of derailleur systems.
One early speed-changing system that eschewed the derailleur system, described in Delong's "Guide To Bicycles And Bicycling," is the now obsolete Sturmey-Archer three speed system that includes a planetary gear system built into the rear axle. Delong describes a number of other systems as well.
A more recent entry in the nonderailleur market is the Shimano four speed or seven speed rear axle design; it represents a major advance over other rear wheel drive systems. Both the Shimano and Sturmey-Archer contributions to the art employ or employed a single control knob.
However, the art still lacks an inexpensive, simple-in-structure, reliable, multi-speed, single drive sprocket system with easy to operate gear changing means. The ideal system would include a dial and pointer mounted on a handle bar that would enable gear changing simply by turning the pointer on the dial; it would not make any skill demands on the rider as do the derailleur systems.
In view of the art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in this art how the ideal system could be provided.

Multiple speed bicycle having single drive sprocket


A method for displaying images is provided, including displaying, by an electronic device, a first image obtained from an image sensor; displaying, by the electronic device, a plurality of second images together with the first image, wherein each second image is generated based on the first image and a respective image filter; and responsive to a selection of at least one second image, generating a third image based on the first image and the selected second image's respective image filter and displaying the third image in place of the first image.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, and more particularly to an electronic device having an image processing function.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic devices such as cellular phones, electronic schedulers, personal complex terminals, laptop computers and the like have become a necessity to modern life. Such devices often include a camera function that permits users to capture images and enhance the captured images by applying various photographic effects to them. At present, the need exists for new user interfaces for applying photographic effects to images that are both effective and easy-to-use.

Electronic device and method for image processing

Samsung-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do


A carpet stretching device includes a housing, a piston unit, a carpet gripping head connected to the housing, a fluid supply unit connected to the housing, and an anchor member. The housing has front and rear ends, and a receiving space between the front and rear ends. The piston unit includes a piston member disposed in the receiving space for moving relative to the housing, a piston rod extending out of the housing through the front end, and a biasing member provided between the rear end of the housing and the piston member. The anchor member is attached to a front end of the piston rod in front of the carpet gripping head.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a carpet stretching device, more particularly to a carpet stretching device that can stretch a carpet tightly and smoothly on the floor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional carpet stretching device 1 includes an elongated main body 13 having one end connected to a carpet gripping head 14, and the other end connected to a knee plate 15. The carpet gripping head 14 includes a plurality of forwardly extending spikes 141 disposed on a bottom portion thereof. The carpet stretching device 1 is operated by placing the carpet gripping head 14 on the floor such that the spikes 141 engage the carpet 11 near the edge thereof.
In use, an installer holds down the carpet gripping head 14 with his/her hand, and repeatedly strikes the knee plate 15 with his/her knee, so that the carpet 11 is urged toward a wall 12, after which the carpet 11 is fixed on the wall 12.
Although the conventional carpet stretching device 1 can achieve its intended purpose, much time is consumed in performing stretching of the entire carpet 11. Furthermore, since the installer has to repeatedly strike the knee plate 15 with his/her knee to urge the carpet 11 to the wall 12 as described above, the installer may injure his/her knee over time. Moreover, since the striking force on the knee plate 15 may differ for each strike, the carpet 11 may not be evenly stretched on the floor, thereby adversely affecting its final appearance.


A combine head frame includes a laterally-extending upper beam adjacent to the top of the combine head and a laterally-extending lower beam adjacent to the bottom of the combine head. A left lateral beam has first and second ends, wherein the first end is coupled to a left central portion of the upper beam and the second end is coupled to a left end portion of the lower beam. A right lateral beam has third and fourth ends, wherein the third end is coupled to a right central portion of the upper beam and the fourth end is coupled to a right end portion of the lower beam.

A combine head is the structure mounted on the front of a combine harvester vehicle to gather crop materials, separate them from the ground, and convey them to a separating section typically disposed inside the vehicle itself.
Combine heads typically extend laterally across in front of the combine harvester vehicle itself a distance of 10 to 40 feet. Combine heads are typically supported on a 3 to 6 foot wide feeder house that extends forward from the front of the vehicle. Five to 15 feet of the combine head is cantilevered outward from each side of the feeder house.
Supporting this width of combine head on a narrow 3-6 foot width of feeder house requires that the frame of the combine head be extremely strong and stiff. Unfortunately, the stronger and stiffer the combine head is, the heavier it is, and the more force it applies against the ground. Impacts by the ground due to the inertial resistance of this large mass can damage the combine head or structures mounted on it that harvest crops.
Combine heads are typically constructed with a plurality of long beams that extend laterally from side to side across the entire combine. In one common prior art configuration, there is an elongated upper beam that extends across the top of the combine head, an elongated lower beam that extends across the bottom of the combine head directly below the upper beam, and an elongated row unit frame that extends across the bottom of the combine head forward of the lower beam and approximately at the same height. The row unit beam is typically coupled to the lower beam with several forwardly-extending brackets or gussets that are fixed at their forward ends to the row unit beam and at their rear ends to the lower beam.
Farm equipment manufacturers are under continuous pressure to increase the efficiency of their vehicles. Regarding combines, there is continuous pressure to increase the width of the combine head so it is able to harvest more rows of crop in a single pass. As the combine head is increased in width, however, all of the beams and other members that comprise its frame must be increased in size to handle the increased weight.
What is needed is an improved combine head frame that distributes forces in a manner that permits the frame members and the combine head generally to be reduced in weight.


The present invention relates to a method of controlling the characteristics of a double relaxation oscillation SQUID having a reference junction. In the method of controlling characteristics of a reference junction-type double relaxation oscillation SQUID (RJ-DROS) having a signal SQUID and a reference junction, a reference DC current flows through the reference junction in order to control the characteristics of the DROS. A modulation width of an averaged relaxation voltage, which reacts to a magnetic flux, may be controlled at the reference junction. An amount (modulation depth) of an averaged relaxation voltage, which reacts to a magnetic flux, may be controlled at the reference junction. An amount of an operation application current may be controlled at the reference junction. Accordingly, the reference current of the reference junction can be changed by causing the current to flow through the reference junction. A magnetic flux-voltage characteristic and a transfer coefficient of the DROS can be easily controlled externally and the DROS can operate stably.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), and more particularly, to a method of controlling the characteristics of a double relaxation oscillation SQUID having a reference junction.
2. Background of the Related Art
In general, a SQUID refers to a high-sensitivity magnetometer capable of detecting up to a minute magnetic flux density employing Josephson effect. More particularly, a double relaxation oscillation SQUID (hereinafter, referred to as a "DROS") has a great magnetic flux-voltage characteristic and a high transfer coefficient and can detect a fast magnetic flux signal using a simple pre-amplifier.
FIG. 1 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a DROS having a reference SQUID (RS-DROS) in the related art. FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a DROS having a reference junction (RJ-DROS) in the related art.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the reference SQUID type DROS (RS-DROS) 11 having a signal SQUID 12 and a reference SQUID 13, current flows from a reference voltage application current source current controller 18 to a reference SQUID coil 16 and changes the magnetic flux of the reference SQUID coil 16. Accordingly, a critical current of the reference SQUID 13 is controlled to control a magnetic flux-voltage characteristic so that the DROS operates under an optimal condition.
An external magnetic flux reacts in an input coil Mi 14 of the signal SQUID 12. A DROS output at both ends of the reference SQUID 13 is detected by a pre-amplifier 19. A constant current source Ib for operating the DROS is controlled by an operation application current source current controller 17 at normal temperature. A feedback coil Mf 15 constitutes a flux-locked loop (FLL) and is used to measure an external magnetic flux. A RS-DROS 11 is located at 4.2 K. The two current controllers (the operation application current source current controller 17 and the reference voltage application current source current controller 18) and the pre-amplifier 19 operates at normal temperature.
Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2, the reference junction-type DROS (RJ-DROS) 21 having a signal SQUID 22 and a reference junction 23 has the reference junction, instead of the reference SQUID, and a fixed reference current. The RJ-DROS 21 has a simple structure and is easy to operate.
A current Ib for operating the RJ-DROS is controlled by an operation application current source current controller 26 at normal temperature. An external magnetic flux reacts through an input coil 24 of the signal SQUID 22. An output of the RJ-DROS at both sides of the reference junction 23 is detected by a pre-amplifier 27. A feedback coil 25 is used to operate the DROS in FLL mode.
However, in the related art DROS, i.e., the reference SQUID type DROS 11 having the signal SQUID 12 and the reference SQUID 13, two SQUID must be formed at the same time and the magnetic flux coil 16 is required in order to control the reference current of the reference SQUID 13. Accordingly, the related art DROS is complicated in structure and is difficult to operate.
To solve the problems, the reference junction-type DROS 21 having the signal SQUID 22 and the reference junction 23 was developed in order to simplify the structure and manufacture. However, the reference junction-type DROS 21 is problematic in that characteristics of the DROS cannot be controlled because the reference current of the reference junction 23 is fixed.

Method for controlling characteristics of double relaxation oscillation SQUID with reference junction

Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science


Disclosed are methods and systems for using a rigid-stem lead-in assembly comprising a plurality of interconnected rigid stems in a marine geophysical survey. An embodiment discloses a method of towing a survey device from a survey vessel, comprising: coupling the survey device to the survey vessel with a lead-in comprising a rigid-stem lead-in assembly, the rigid-stem lead-in assembly comprising a plurality of rigid stems that are interconnected and each comprise a stem both defining one or more interior chambers; and towing the survey device through a body of water. Also disclosed are marine geophysical survey methods and marine survey systems.

The present invention relates generally to the field of marine geophysical surveying. More particularly, in one or more embodiments, this invention relates to using a rigid-stem lead-in comprising a plurality of interconnected rigid stems in a marine geophysical survey.
Techniques for marine surveying include marine geophysical surveying, such as seismic surveying and EM surveying, in which geophysical data may be collected from below the Earth's surface. Geophysical surveying has applications in mineral and energy exploration and production to help identify locations of hydrocarbon-bearing formations. Certain types of marine geophysical surveying, such as seismic or electromagnetic surveying, may include towing an energy source at a selected depth in a body of water, typically above the seafloor. One or more geophysical sensor streamers also may be towed in the water at selected depths by the same or a different vessel. The streamers are essentially long cables having geophysical sensors disposed thereon at spaced-apart locations. A lead-in typically couples the sensor streamer to the survey vessel. Actuation of the energy source emits an energy field into the body of water. The energy field interacts with the rock formations below the water bottom with changes in the energy field due to this interaction detected by the geophysical sensors positioned on the streamers. The detected energy is used to infer certain properties of the subsurface rock, such as structure, mineral composition and fluid content, thereby providing information useful in the recovery of hydrocarbons.
Since the introduction of three-dimensional seismic surveying, there has been interest in towing wider and longer spreads of sensor streamers, which require more cables, larger lateral separation, deeper tows, and longer or bigger cables with more and more external equipment. To achieve the desired lateral spread between the sensor streamers, spreading devices have been used, which may include lateral depressors, such as inclined plates or wings. Some lateral depressors typically the larger one may be connected to the survey vessel using a separate tension member while others may be attached to the lead-in connecting the sensor streamer to the survey vessel. For towing sensor streamers, the lead-in can take the shape of an umbilical with or without fairing connected to one or more wings (also reformed to as depressors) for achievement of both lateral, vertical, or combined offset from the vessel trajectory and may be used in combination with weights, flotation devices, and sometimes active propulsion to achieve deep towing/large offsets.
When towing sensor streamers up to several kilometers in length and from 1 to 3 inches in diameter, as may be done in three-dimensional surveying, a tension of a little over 1 ton may be normally required at the industry standard of 5 knots transversal speed. The tension increases with increased speed. In order to keep the cables at as lateral spread of more than 1,000 meters, the tension often exceeds 10 tons on the outermost lateral depressor because it typically sees its own drag and the drag from the lead-in or tow wire in addition to the required lateral lift for the sensor streamer. The tension will typically be the highest in the outermost members and the surveys with the widest or largest spreads. For the purpose of storing these lead-ins and other tension members and to be able to deploy as much cable as desired while stopping at any position under tension, a high-torque and often brake-able winch may be used. In instances where the lateral depressor is not connected to a sensor streamer, as pure wire with high strength and smaller bend radius than for the lead-ins may be used for the tension member. In other instances, a steel, or Aramid-armored umbilical cable with copper and fiber fibers inside has been used.
However, these cables often traverse through the water with up to 45° of cross flow. Uneven water flow around the cables may produce alternating shedding forces which may cause transverse vibrations known as "strumming" or "vortex index vibrations" in the cables. Strumming may be problematic with lead-ins as the adding drag due to strumming results in higher load with corresponding lower lifting performance on the lead-ins. In addition, the turbulent flow within the water caused by the strumming generates acoustic noise that may interfere with data collection. Strumming may further generate stresses at equipment connection points and can accelerate equipment failure. A number of techniques have been developed to reduce problems associated with strumming as a cable is towed through the water. One technique involves attachment of fairings to the cables to reduce strumming in the water. There are number of different types of fairings in use, including hard fairings and hairy or fabric fairings. Hard fairings may include a streamlined shell or other structure attached to sections of the cable. Drawbacks to hard fairings may include increased complexity of the cable-handling system as a faired cable cannot be stored directly on a drum when large or in long lengths. Hairy or fabric fairings may include fairing hairs attached to the cable. While hair or fabric fairings may remove vibration, very little reduction in drag may be achieved as the reduced drag is typically compensated by the increased diameter/area of the faired cable.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved techniques for reducing drag forces which may reduce strumming noise interfering with data collection and increase towing efficiency.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An optical power monitoring circuit in an optical data receiver. A transconductance amplifier with non-linear feedback converts averaged photodiode current into a voltage representing a logarithm of the received optical power, which may be converted into decibels referenced to a standard power (dBm). The circuit has wide dynamic range and uses matched devices to provide processing and temperature compensation.

As is well known, the error rate in decoding a received digital signal is inversely proportional to the strength of the received signal: the weaker the signal, the more likely an incorrect decision will be made on whether the received signal is a "one" or a "zero". It is advantageous, therefore, to be able to monitor received signal strength (power) in a given communications channel so that the performance "health" of the channel can be readily ascertained and any problems fixed before the channel fails.
In optical communication systems, the received signal strength is the amount of optical power received at an optical-to-electrical converter or receiver, such as a PIN photodiode. One convenient way of measuring the average optical power received by a PIN photodiode is to monitor the average current (bias current) through the diode. However, due to the substantial range in optical signal power that a PIN photodiode can handle, the range in bias current can exceed the dynamic range of a monitoring circuit. Further, to adapt the monitoring circuit to tolerate the large range in PIN bias current, with the low voltage power supplies used today (typically +5 volts), the lower the headroom (the voltage drop across the diode) available to the PIN diode, thus, under high signal levels, the PIN diode may saturate, causing the system to be inoperable.
Thus, a need exists for received optical power monitoring circuit that can operate over wide power levels with low supply voltage without substantially reducing the headroom available to the optical receiver at high optical signal levels.

Apparatus for measuring optical power in an optical receiver with a non-linear element and a transconductance amplifier


An object lens includes a first optical system that obtains a magnified image of an object, a second optical system that guides dark field illumination light to the object, a barrel that contains the first optical system and the second optical system and has an optical path around the first optical system for the dark field illumination light, and a shield mechanism that is disposed on the optical path and that varies the incident area of the dark field illumination light to shield the dark field illumination light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an object lens and a condenser that is mounted on a microscope and that can be used for dark field observation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Object lens and condensers mounted on microscopes and so forth have been used for not only regular bright field observation, but dark field observation. The dark field observation is performed by supplying a light beam from the periphery of an optical system such as an object lens or a condenser lens and guiding the light beam to the surface of an object. Thus, the dark field observation can be performed for samples that have flaws, foreign matter, unevenness, gap, or low reflectivity that cannot be observed by the bright field observation (for example, see FIG. 1 and so forth of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication NO. SHO 60-225817).


A method for testing memory devices under test (DUTs) using automated test equipment (ATE) is presented. The method comprises retrieving a portion of raw test data from a memory device under test (DUT). It also comprises comparing the portion of raw test data with expected test data to determine failure information, wherein the failure information comprises information regarding failing bits generated by the memory DUT. Next, the method comprises utilizing paging to transfer data comprising the failure information to a filtering module and filtering out the failure information from transferred data using the filtering module. Further, it comprises updating a fail list using the failure information, wherein the fail list comprises address information for respective failing bits within the memory DUT. Finally, it comprises repeating all the prior steps for the next block of raw test data.

Automated test equipment (ATE) can be any testing assembly that performs a test on a device, semiconductor wafer or die, etc. ATE assemblies may be used to execute automated tests that quickly perform measurements and generate test results that can then be analyzed. An ATE assembly may be anything from a computer system coupled to a meter, to a complicated automated test assembly that may include a custom, dedicated computer control system and many different test instruments that are capable of automatically testing electronics parts and/or semiconductor. Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) is commonly used within the field of electrical chip manufacturing. ATE systems both reduce the amount of time spent on testing devices to ensure that the device functions as designed and serve as a diagnostic tool to determine the presence of faulty components within a given device before it reaches the consumer.
In testing devices or products, e.g. after production, it is crucial to achieve among others a high product quality, an estimation of the device or product performance, a feedback concerning the manufacturing process and finally a high customer contentment. Usually a plurality of tests is performed in order to ensure the correct function of a device or product, commonly referred to as a device under test ("DUT") in testing parlance. The plurality of tests is typically part of a test plan that is loaded into the ATE system by the user. The test plan acts as a blueprint for running the tests on the DUTs. The plurality of tests may be compiled in a test flow wherein the test flow may be separated into different test groups which contain one or more tests for testing the device or product. For example, a semiconductor device may be tested with a test flow comprising contact tests, current-voltage tests, logic tests, speed tests, stress tests and functional tests.
Testing memory type DUTs, e.g., NAND flash packages requires some type of error capture and analysis. Conventional ATE solutions for testing memory type DUTs typically capture an entire bitmap of the memory array for the DUT where the errors can be seen can be observed within a 2-dimensional representation of the memory array in the x-y plane and analyzed. This can be particularly onerous from a resource perspective as memory arrays in current and future memory devices continue to grow. For example, current typical NAND devices can typically store anywhere from 32 Gigabits (Gb) to 128 Gb of information. Further, a typical ATE system can test hundreds of DUTs in parallel. Accordingly, being able to store entire bitmaps for all the DUTs can become exceedingly expensive, both from a memory storage and processing perspective, if not impossible due to tester hardware physical limitations. Not only does storing all the bitmaps require a considerable amount of memory, but also high performance processors are required to rapidly scan all the stored information and find all the fail related information in as short a duration as possible. Further, the larger memory sizes required in typical ATE solutions is an impediment to increase tester parallelism because of the high cost required to build the tester.
Further, another limitation with conventional ATE solution for testing memory type DUTs is that all the failure analyses on the DUTs are conducted during post-processing steps after the entire bitmap arrays have been captured for the respective devices using external error capture memory. It is only after capturing the full bit-maps of the failed memory arrays that the ATE controller of a conventional tester can analyze them to determine how to get rid of bad bits in the memory array and the most efficient way to repair the device if possible. Waiting for all the information to be collected from the DUTs before beginning the redundancy and failure analyses introduces unnecessary latency in the testing process and adds to the cost.

Seamless fail analysis with memory efficient storage of fail lists


A content player includes a pausable mass storage device player that can be used to record and play content. The pausable mass storage device can become paused in response to an assertion of a pause signal. Once paused, the content player remains paused until the pause signal is deasserted. The content player also includes an event detector that is coupled to the pausable mass storage device player. The content player detects a non-viewer initiated event, (e.g., an automatic event such as the receipt of an email with embedded enhanced content), and to assert the pause signal in response thereto. The content player receives content, detects an event, and in response to detecting the event, pauses the content to a presentation device and spools the content onto the mass storage device.

The introduction of digital video recorders has made time-shifting of video content easy for many home entertainment system users. Time-shifting of video content allows a user to "pause" the reception of the video content by directing the video content to a video recorder while maintaining an instantaneous image of the video content on a television or other video device. The digital video recorder continues to receive the video content, and "spools" the video content onto the digital video recorder. When the user later resumes viewing, the digital video recorder continues receive video content and to spool the video content onto the digital video recorder, but presents the video content from a point at which the user had paused the reception. In other words, the user plays content that is delayed with respect to the video content being spooled.
While a user is enjoying home entertainment by watching a television program, listening to a broadcast over a stereo system, or watching streaming video over the Internet, events can occur that demand the user's attention. A telephone or doorbell may ring and demand the user's attention. A kitchen timer may signal that dinner is ready, or a washing machine may complete a wash cycle. When such events occur, the user typically pauses the video content (initiating time-shifting) and later resumes viewing. Like digital video recorders, smart appliances have found their way into the home and made life more convenient for users. Smart appliances, such as an oven or a washing machine that are coupled to the Internet or to a LAN (local area network) within a home, may be programmed to begin and end over the internet or LAN. Smart appliances can initiate processes and can exchange information over the Internet or LAN.
Another technology is the enhanced content found in web-based content. Enhanced content can invoke processes, such as opening a web browser, on a client computer system. Enhanced content may also be embedded within an email message. When an email reader or web browser detects enhanced content, the email reader or web browser responds by initiating the process identified in the enhanced content. Also, it is known to have events embedded in broadcast television signals.
However, the digital video recorder generally has a "pause" button on a remote control to initiate a "pause" function. The remote control requires the user to press the pause button to initiate the pause function. This can be a problem for users who do not happen to be near the remote control when the event occurs.

Method and apparatus for automatic time-shifting for a content recorder


An improved process for making paper or paper board is provided. The process comprises providing a cellulosic fibre suspension comprising recycled fibre material, and having a conductivity of at least 1.5 mS/cm; and adding a glyoxalated copolymer of acrylamide and cationic monomers and inorganic siliceous microparticles to the fibre suspension, sequentially or simultaneously. Advantages comprise improved productivity of the process, and paper strength.

During a typical papermaking process, a cellulosic fibre suspension having relatively high consistency, the so-called thick stock, is diluted with white water or other circulating waters into thin stock, then delivered to a headbox, drained on a moving screen (often referred to as a machine wire) to form a wet web, which is then pressed and dried, in a press section and dryer section, respectively. It is known to add chemical additives for increasing retention of the fibres and other substances such as filler, and also for improving the dewatering rate on the machine wire and in the press section. Furthermore, chemical additives have been used to enhance the paper and paper board end use properties, with a focus on the strength properties.
A typical additive system for retention and drainage used in papermaking comprises flocculating the fibre suspension by addition of high molecular weight (HMW) polyacrylamide, of either cationic or anionic charge, shearing the flocs, and reflocculating the sheared flocs by addition of inorganic siliceous microparticles such as silica or bentonite to the fibre suspension.
Due to the increased environmental awareness and regulations, papermaking processes have become more and more closed using less fresh water, resulting in increased conductivity or total ionic strength, i.e. salt concentration, in the fibre suspension. Concurrently, the recycled fibre content has increased as a fibre source in the papermaking. The fibres obtained from the recycled fibre material may have undergone several rounds of recycling, which deteriorates the intrinsic strength of the fibre and general quality such as fibre length, thereby deteriorating end use properties of the paper, particularly the strength. Reduced intrinsic strength can increase risk of paper web breakages, negatively impacting productivity and overall process efficiency. One common measure to compensate strength loss is to increase the refining level of the fibre material. The goal of increasing the refining is to 'develop' by increasing the functional area exposing more carboxyl groups, thereby increasing the fibres ability to create more hydrogen bonds with other cellulosic fibres and cellulosic fines and subsequently increasing the strength. This operation results in a decrease in Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) which is a measure of pulp drainage. Lower CSF slows down the drainage rate, and the weak recycled fibres have a limited response to the additional refining. The fibre length of recycled fibre will decrease sharply after a limited amount of refining, resulting in a reduction of various strength properties. Alternatively, anionic strength additives such as CMC or low molecular weight anionic polyacrylamide, may be added to the fibre suspension, but also this often leads to a decrease in the drainage rate, which increases the drying demand of the paper or paperboard, requiring an increase in steam consumption in the dryer section. Steam availability is limited in the paper production facility. Consequently, drying demand of the paperboard is often a rate limiting step with respect to productivity rates. In worst case the lower strength of the paper web may demand lower machine speed and subsequent production rates to mitigate paper web failures on the paper machine.
In addition to low quality fibres, recycled fibre materials may introduce significant levels of detrimental substances to the papermaking process. This can include ash originating from coating pigments, starch, sizing agents, dissolved and colloidal substances. These substances carried over to the papermaking process may further increase the overall colloidal load and conductivity of the fibre suspension, accumulating in the process water circuit. These materials can cause plugging and deposits on the equipment and produced paper.
It has been observed that the performance of the conventional drainage and retention concepts using HMW polyacrylamides of cationic or anionic charge, decreases when used in fibre suspensions having elevated conductivity, and dissolved and colloidal substances. The loss of polymer performance leads to decreases in drainage, retention of fibre and fibre fines, and press dewatering, which increases the drying demand of the paper, limiting paper machine productivity. While this kind of fibre suspensions and conditions would require higher dosages of the HMW polyacrylamide, increasing the dosage does not address the issue fully. HMW polyacrylamide cannot be increased infinitely without eventually over-flocculating the fibre suspension which reduces press dewatering rates and causes poor formation, reducing productivity and strength, respectively.
Low molecular weight (LMW), typically of below 700 000 g/mol, high charge density polymers have been used to improve dewatering and pressing efficiency in certain paper grades, either alone or together with the HMW cationic polyacrylamide using concepts. However these polymers are limited in their ability to maintain retention without increasing dosages, which may lead into over-cationization of the process. Providing the desired retention, strength and drainage properties with a 3-component system comprising the LMW high charge density polymer, HMW cationic polyacrylamide, and siliceous microparticles is difficult to control, adds complexity to the process, and may still be unable to provide the desired paper properties and productivity in the challenging conditions of high conductivity, poor fibre quality and increased load of e.g. ash, starch, size, dissolved and colloidal substances.
Thus there is a constant need for chemical additive systems providing improved productivity to the papermaking process, and tolerating elevated conductivity without substantial performance loss.

Process for making paper, paperboard or the like


This improved paging system not only detects an omission of a message reception, but also acquires an unreceived message. When a normal paging request call is made from a public telephone network, the paging control unit adds to the received request a message counter including the called subscriber's number and then transmits an encoded paging signal which includes the received request. Further, a control unit stores the message data in a storage unit corresponding to a value of the counter of the called subscriber's number. The called pager detects an omission of a message reception through the received message counter value by comparing it with the message counter value of the last received message signal. A displayed message indicates an omission as well as the value of the omitted message. Thus, a call can be made through a public telephone network to request a repeated transmission. When the message counter value is specified, the paging control unit retrieves the message data stored in the message data storage unit corresponding to the specified value and transmits the data from the transmitter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a paging system and its operating method, and more particularly to a paging system with a message display unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has recently been a marked development in the field of mobile radio communications service, and paging systems is one of the representative areas of this field. Paging systems provide the simple service of transmitting messages only one way, and the number of subscribers per radio wave is by far greater than for other systems (e.g., automobile telephone systems). As a result, their subscription fees are low and their use has spread rapidly. However, pager systems have recently been improved so as to operate not only the calling service but also to display messages on the pager.
A paging system with a message display service comprises at least a paging control unit connected to a public telephone network, a transmitter connected to the paging control unit and a plurality of pagers for receiving the paging signal transmitted from the transmitter. When a paging request call originates through a public telephone network, the paging control unit accepts the incoming call along with the subscriber's number and message data, converts the incoming call into a paging signal including the address code of the pager and a message signal referring to a subscriber file, which retains the corresponding relation between the subscriber's number and an address code for the pager, and transfers the converted paging signal to the transmitter. The transmitter transmits the paging signal in the form of radio waves. On the other hand, each pager is provided with a receiving circuit tuned for its specific address code selectively, a control unit to store a succeeding message signal in a storage unit, and a display means to display the message on a display unit (prior art document, Japanese Patent No. 64097/1988, discloses the constitution of a pager with a display function).
Although such a paging system is quite effective, it is still somewhat inconvenient because it only affords one-way service. Pager carriers often worry that some messages might not be received. Paging systems used with message-displaying pagers have the advantage that a plurality of callers may send messages incorporating the callers, names so as to distinguish who sent the messages, but the receiving parties tend to worry about the possibility that some messages may remain unreceived without any way to check for them.

Paging system and its operating method with repeated transmission


To provide an optical communication device suitable for the transmission of a high-frequency signal. An optical communication device includes a first substrate having a light-emitting element or a light-receiving element on one side of the first substrate; a second substrate having an electronic circuit to perform operation control of the light-emitting element or the light-receiving element; and a flexible substrate which connects the section between the light-emitting element or the light-receiving element and the electronic circuit while achieving impedance matching.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to enhanced technology of an optical communication device (optical transceiver) to perform optical communication by using light.
2. Description of Related Art
Optical communication to perform information communication by using light as a carrier is one communication method which realizes high-speed and high-capacity communication. The construction of backbone networks and subscriber-system networks utilizing these features has become active in Japan and abroad. A terminal device on the subscriber side for the purpose of performing optical communication (for example, a personal computer) is provided with an optical communication device as an interface to transmit and receive optical signals.
A related art optical communication device may include components, such as a transmission section to convert an electrical signal carrying transmission information into an optical signal and transmitting the signal; a receiving section to convert an optical signal carrying received information into an electrical signal; and a connection section (optical connector) to optically connect an optical fiber with the transmission section or the receiving section.
In many optical communication devices, commonly called can packages a light-emitting element or a light-receiving element contained inside a metal housing is used. Such an optical communication device is disclosed in a document, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-168233.
In recent years, the bandwidth of signals used for optical communication has begun to reach above several GHz to 10 GHz or higher, even in comparatively small networks such as LANs (Local Area Networks), and also in the optical communication devices, there has been an increasing demand for higher speed corresponding to such high-frequency transmission.
However, in an optical communication device using a can package, since the section between the can package and an electronic circuit to drive electro optical elements (light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements) contained in the can package is connected via metal terminals (metal pins) provided in the can package, transmission loss occurs in these metal terminals, and achieving higher speed has been difficult. The reason for this is that, since it is difficult to adjust the transmission characteristics, such as the characteristic impedance of metal terminals, reflection of the signal due to the impedance mismatch occurs in this portion, causing signal transmission to be obstructed. Such a problem becomes more conspicuous the higher the frequency of the signal to be transmitted becomes, and signal transmission becomes extremely difficult in the case of a high-frequency signal of several GHz or higher.
Accordingly, an advantage of the present invention is to provide an optical communication device suitable to transmit a high-frequency signal.


Systems and methods using an excitement protocol enable prediction of which blocks of a resource to prefetch and store in memory. The system maintains a set of excitement values corresponding to the resource being accessed. The system also maintains a threshold. As blocks of the resource are requested, the system updates the set of excitement values. The system compares the excitement level to the threshold to determine whether to prefetch the corresponding resource block.

The explosive growth of the Internet has ushered in a new era in which information is exchanged and accessed on a constant basis. In response to this growth, there has been an increase in the size of resources that are being shared. Users are demanding more than standard HTML documents, wanting access to a variety of resources, such as, audio data, video data, image data, and programming data. Thus there is a need for resource storage that can accommodate large sets of resources, while at the same time providing fast and reliable access to the resources.
Accessing resource data stored in file systems has historically been a bottleneck for computer systems. Processor speeds, memory sizes, and network speeds have greatly increased, but disk I/O (Input/Output) performance has not increased at the same rate, making disk I/O operations inefficient, especially for large resource files.
One response to this problem has been to prefetch portions of resource files before they are requested and to store them in a cache. Because the cache I/O performance is much better than that of the disk drive, the portions of the resource files stored in the cache can be accessed much faster than if they resided on the disk. Accordingly, disk caching can lead to improvements in file system performance and throughput.
However, this response to the problem raises the question of how to decide which portions of the resource to prefetch. One answer to this question has been to adopt a simple read-ahead protocol in which a prefetch instruction is issued for a fixed number of blocks of data, such as ten or twenty, stored ahead of the block requested by a user or client application.
The simple read-ahead approach suffers from numerous problems. Special code is needed to issue prefetches when reading of a file commences. If reading commences at a new position in the file and then proceeds sequentially, blocks of the file ahead of the new position will not have not been prefetched and will be read slowly. If files are randomly accessed, the system wastes resources by prefetching blocks that will never be used. Finally, the number of blocks prefetched is typically fixed and independent of the read speed of the disk. Therefore, too many blocks are prefetched when the read speed is slow, which wastes cache space, and conversely too few blocks are prefetched when the read speed is high, which degrades performance and throughput.

Systems and methods for using excitement values to predict future access to resources


A method and system for detecting the second bend plane of an ear canal surface is disclosed. A region of interest of the ear canal is defined between the first bend plane and the ear canal tip. A set of curves is defined in the region of interest and a set of high curvature points is detected from the set of curves. The second bend plane is detected using the set of high curvature points.

The present invention generally relates to detection of anatomic features in 3D data representing an ear, and more particularly to detecting the second bend plane of the ear canal surface.
A current trend in hearing aid manufacturing is towards increased digitization and automation. Previously, hearing aids were designed in a laborious manual process that required a physical manipulation of shapes to produce a hearing aid customized to the geometry of a patient's ear canal. This hearing aid manufacturing process has been digitized, and many hearing aids are designed using computer aided design (CAD) software. Such software typically consists of a suite of surface processing tools, such as tools for cutting, rounding, tapering, and sculpting a digital representation of the ear surface.
In order to decrease the time required to manufacture a hearing aid, automation is required. One way to achieve automation of the hearing aid manufacturing is to automate the input to the processing tools of the CAD software. For example, instead of requiring a human software operator to place a plane for cutting on the ear surface, the plane can be placed automatically. The operator can then decide if the plane position is desirable, and adjust the plane position if necessary. Such automation has the potential to greatly improve efficiency of hearing aid manufacturing.
In order to automatically provide input to the surface processing tools, feature detection is required. Each ear canal surface has a different shape unique to an individual patient. Various anatomical features of ear canal surfaces exist that can be used to define the shape of an ear canal surface. Such features, when accurately detected, can be used as inputs for automatic hearing aid manufacturing. Accordingly, methods for automatically detecting such anatomic features of ear canal surfaces are desirable.

Method and system for second bend plane detection of ear canal surfaces


The invention provides compositions and methods for preventing or reducing the severity of malaria.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by a parasite. At least four species of malaria parasites can infect humans under natural conditions: Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum), P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae. The first two species cause the most infections worldwide. P. vivax and P. ovale have dormant liver stage parasites (hypnozoites) that can reactivate (or "relapse") and cause malaria several months or years after the infecting mosquito bite; consequently, these species can be difficult to detect in infected individuals. Severe disease is largely caused by P. falciparum while the disease caused by P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae is generally a milder disease that is rarely fatal.
In humans, the parasites grow and multiply first in the liver cells and then in the red blood cells. In the blood, successive broods of parasites grow inside the red cells and destroy them, releasing daughter parasites (merozoites) that continue the cycle by invading other red cells. The blood stage parasites cause the symptoms of malaria. When certain forms of blood stage parasites, gametocytes, are picked up by a female Anopheles mosquito during a blood meal, they start another, different cycle of growth and multiplication in the mosquito. After 10-18 days, the parasites are found as sporozoites in the mosquito's salivary glands. When the Anopheles mosquito takes a blood meal from another human, the sporozoites are injected with the mosquito's saliva and start another human infection when they parasitize the liver cells.
Infection with malaria parasites can result in a wide variety of symptoms, typically including fever and headache, in severe cases progressing to coma or death. There were an estimated 225 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2009. An estimated 781,000 people died from malaria in 2009 according to the World Health Organization's 2010 World Malaria Report, accounting for 2.23% of deaths worldwide. Ninety percent of malaria-related deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa, with the majority of deaths being young children. Plasmodium falciparum, the most severe form of malaria, is responsible for the vast majority of deaths associated with the disease. Children suffer the greatest morbidity and mortality from malaria, yet this age group has not been targeted at the identification stage of vaccine development. Of the 100 vaccine candidates currently under investigation, more than 60% are based on only four parasite antigens—a fact that has caused considerable concern. New antigen candidates are urgently needed.


A SONOS nonvolatile memory includes a second gate structure of a selectron isolated from a first gate structure of a memotron by an inter-gate dielectric isolation layer formed on a first side of the first gate structure through self-alignment. The second gate structure is formed on a first side of the inter-gate dielectric isolation layer through self-alignment. A cell structure is formed by two adjacent cell structures. A first window defines an area formed by the two first gate structures. Two sides of each first gate structure are defined through self-alignment by first top silicon nitride layers formed on inner sides of the first window. First silicon nitride spacers are formed on second sides of the first gate structures through self-alignment. The bottom area of a contact hole between the second sides of the first gate structures is defined through self-alignment by the two first silicon nitride spacers.

SONOS nonvolatile memories have been widely applied to advanced flash memories and electrically erasable memories. The cell structure of the SONOS nonvolatile memories generally comprises a memotron and a selectron. The cell structure of 2T SONOS nonvolatile memories comprises a complete memotron and a complete selectron, each transistor (namely the memotron or the selectron) has a complete source region, a complete drain region and a complete polysilicon gate, and the polysilicon gates of the two transistors share the same polysilicon layer. Because the memotron and the selectron of the cell structures of existing 2T SONOS nonvolatile memories both comprise complete source regions and complete drain regions, a large area is occupied. In order to reduce the area of the SONOS nonvolatile memories, the 1.5T structure in which only two source-drain regions are configured is usually adopted. FIG. 1 is a view of the cell structure of an existing 1.5T SONOS nonvolatile memory. As shown in FIG. 1, the cell structure of the existing 1.5T SONOS nonvolatile memory is as follows:
A gate structure of a memotron comprises an ONO layer 102, a first polysilicon gate 103 and a top silicon nitride layer 104 which are formed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon substrate 101, wherein the ONO layer 102 is formed by an oxide layer, a nitride layer and another oxide layer which are stacked together.
A gate structure of a selectron comprises a gate oxide layer 105 and a second polysilicon gate 106 formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate 101.
An inter-gate dielectric isolation layer 107 is located between the first polysilicon gate 103 and the second polysilicon gate 106, and the inter-gate dielectric layer 107 is generally an oxide layer.
Spacers 108 are formed on two sides of an integral structure formed by the first polysilicon gate 103, the inter-gate dielectric isolation layer 107 and the second polysilicon gate 106.
A lightly-doped drain region 109a and a heavily-doped source-drain implantation region 110a are formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate 101 and correspond to the side face of the first polysilicon gate 103, wherein the lightly-doped drain region 109a is self-aligned with the side face of the first polysilicon gate 103, and the source-drain implantation region 110a is self-aligned with the side face of the corresponding spacer 108.
A lightly-doped drain region 109b and a heavily-doped source-drain implantation region 110b are formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate 101 and correspond to the side face of the second polysilicon gate 106, wherein the lightly-doped drain region 109b is self-aligned with the side face of the second polysilicon gate 106, and the source-drain implantation region 110b is self-aligned with the side face of the corresponding spacer 108.
In addition, a CMOS logic device, such as an NMOS transistor or a PMOS transistor, is integrated on the surface of the semiconductor substrate 101. FIG. 1 shows a gate structure of a logic device formed by a gate oxide layer 105 and a second polysilicon gate 106 which are stacked together. A lightly-doped drain region 109a and a source-drain implantation region 110a are formed on one of two sides of the gate structure of the logic device, and a lightly-doped drain region 109b and a source-drain implantation region 110b are correspondingly formed on the other side of the gate structure of the logic device.
Self-aligned metal silicides 111 are formed on the surfaces of the second polysilicon gates 106 and the surfaces of the source-drain implantation regions 110a and 110b.
The portions, formed with the gate structures, the source-drain implantation regions and the self-aligned metal silicides 111, of the surface of the semiconductor substrate 101 are covered with an interlayer film 112.
Corresponding contact holes 113 are formed in the tops of the source-drain implantation regions 110a and 110b and the tops of the second polysilicon gates 106, and the contact holes 113 penetrate through the interlayer film 112.
Four cell structures are shown in FIG. 1 and each comprise a first polysilicon gate 103 and a second polysilicon gate 106, which are adjacent to each other and form an integral structure. Generally, the first polysilicon gates 103 of every two adjacent cell structures are adjacent to each other and share one source-drain implantation region 110a, and the second polysilicon gates 106 of every two adjacent cell structures are adjacent to each other and share one source-drain implantation region 110b. As can be seen from FIG. 1, as the contact holes 113 with sizes defined by photoetching need to be formed in the tops of the corresponding source-drain implantation regions 110a, the distance d101 between the first polysilicon gates 103 of every two adjacent cell structures has to be increased to prevent photoetching deviations, which results in a large size of the device.

Sonos nonvolatile memory and method for manufacturing same

Shanghai Huahong Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation


Disclosed is a connecting structure of a liquid sending apparatus, including: an electroosmotic flow pump having first and second electrodes upstream and downstream of an electroosmosis material; a flow-path structure which defines with flow-paths for liquid upstream and downstream of the electroosmotic flow pump, which is provided upstream of the electroosmotic flow pump with a ventilation hole communicating with inside and outside of the flow-path, and which is provided with a hydrophobic film which covers the hole and is permeable to bubbles; and a liquid-absorbing body absorbs liquid, which is provided in the flow-path upstream of the electroosmotic flow pump, which comes into abutment against a surface of the electroosmosis material on which the first electrode is provided, and which is formed with a bubble removing passage which passes through the liquid-absorbing body from a hydrophobic film side thereof to the abutment surface against the electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connecting structure of a liquid sending apparatus having an electroosmotic flow pump using an electroosmosis phenomenon, a fuel-cell type electricity generating apparatus having the connecting structure of the liquid sending apparatus, and an electronic device having the fuel-cell type electricity generating apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, fuel-cells receive attention as clean power supplies having high energy conversion efficiency, and the fuel-cells become commercially practical for fuel-cell automobiles, portable devices, electrical houses.
In the fuel-cell, a pump is used as a power source for sending fuel or water. There are centrifugal type pumps, volume rotary type pumps, volume reciprocating type pumps which are mechanically operated. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-22807 discloses an electroosmotic flow pump which sends liquid without having a mechanically movable portion.
The electroosmotic flow pump uses an electroosmosis phenomenon, and has a structure as shown in FIG. 18. As shown in FIG. 18, the electroosmotic flow pump includes an electroosmosis material 502 charged into a tube member 504, an electrode 501 disposed upstream from the electroosmosis material 502, and an 503 disposed downstream from the electroosmosis material 502. The electroosmosis material 502 comprises a dielectric such as a silica fiber disposed along a flowing direction of the tube member 504.
The electroosmotic flow pump is operated in accordance with the following principle. That is, if liquid comes into contact with the dielectric of the electroosmosis material 502, a surface of the dielectric is electrically charged, counter ions in the liquid gather around the contact interface, and the number of electric charges becomes excessively large. Hence, if voltage is applied between the electrode 501 and the electrode 503 and an electric field is generated in the electroosmosis material 502, counter ions in the liquid move, and the entire liquid flows due to the viscosity of the liquid. When the electroosmosis material 502 is silica, a surface of silica becomes Si—O—, the silica surface is negatively charged, plus ions (counter ions) gather in the liquid, and the number of plus electric charges becomes excessively large in the liquid. Thus, if voltage is applied such that the potential of the electrode 501 becomes higher than that of the electrode 503, the fluid flows in the direction as shown in FIG. 18.
The electroosmotic flow pump is operated in accordance with such a principle, and has a merit that there is no movable portion, the pump can be made compact, and the pump does not create pulsation and noise.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-95958 proposes an electroosmotic flow pump having a self-filling mechanism and a gas-draining mechanism for driving liquid.
However, if a liquid-sending operation is continued by the electroosmotic flow pump, bubbles are generated due to electrolysis of liquid in the vicinity of both the electrodes. Thus, bubbles generated around the upstream electrode are accumulated on the upstream side, an effective flow-path area of the electroosmosis material is reduced and there is a fear that the liquid sending efficiency is deteriorated. Bubbles generated around the downstream electrode flows downstream together with liquid, there is a fear that a flow rate sensor provided downstream can not detect a precise flow rate of liquid due because bubbles pass.

Connecting structure of a liquid sending apparatus, fuel-cell type electricity generating apparatus, and electronic device


A reader for contactless badges which includes a transmitter and receiver. The transmitter and receiver operate on the same carrier frequency, and are connected by a coupling circuit to an antenna. The reader further includes a management device for interacting with the transmitter and receiver for establishing a dialog with a badge. The coupling circuit to the antenna includes a delaying element, traversed by the connection between the transmitter and the antenna, while the receiver includes two channels, starting off on either side of the delaying element. The management device is then arranged to selectively operate the reception channels according to selected criterion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention involves an electronic device capable of interacting with electronic identification and/or transaction devices, called here generically xe2x80x9cbadgesxe2x80x9d.
2. Discussion of the Background
Different types of badges are currently used, in various forms, as means of identification and/or for carrying out a transaction. xe2x80x9cTransactionxe2x80x9d is understood to mean here any operation aiming to validate any right, whether this consists of a right of access that is physical (a toll, for example) or immaterial (access to information), or a right to give and/or receive any benefit, whether monetary or not, in relation to a service, whatever the nature of the service may be.
The badges most widely used at present are memory cards, the majority of which interact with a reader through an electronic connection. Different proposals with the aim of reading the badge, and writing on it if necessary being carried out without contact, have emerged. But the diversity of these proposals runs counter to standardization, and consequently to the development of badges that are readable without contact; the practical relevance of these is, however, undeniable.
In addition, in the absence of physical contact, there is a risk of interference between several co-existing contactless connections that are initiated at the same time, for example between two badges and a single contactless reader, or between two badges and two contactless readers next to one another.
It is therefore desirable to develop a contactless reader that is sturdy, has low additional costs, is not very sensitive to interference, and is versatile, while performing comparably to readers already in use.
The Applicant was confronted with this problem.
The current invention provides a structure for a contactless reader that improves the situation appreciably.
The contactless badge reader proposed is of the type including transmission means and reception means, working more or less on the same carrier frequency, and linked by a coupling circuit to an antenna; it also includes management means, which interact with the transmission means and reception means to establish a dialogue with a badge.
The main characteristic of the invention is that the coupling circuit to the antenna includes a delay element, crossed by the connection between the transmission means and the antenna; the reception means comprise two channels, beginning on either side of this delay element; and the management means are arranged to make use of the reception channels selectively, according to a chosen criterion, in particular selecting one of the reception channels according to a chosen criterion.
An advantage is that the delay of the delay element is more or less equal to an eighth of the wavelength of the carrier frequency, up to close to a complete number of half-wavelengths. In one specific instance, the delay element includes a capacitor.
Another aspect of the invention is that the coupling circuit to the antenna operates at low impedance.


A fully enclosed cam-actuated drive device for providing both lift and translational movements, incorporating protection against damage in either horizontal or vertical overload situations, achieved by providing optional spring protection along the vertical and/or horizontal axes, a roller gear cam for lift motion, a barrel cam for translational motion, translation guide rods, a translational carriage assembly slidably received on the translation guide rods, an input drive shaft, and vertical lift rods. The device may be configured as a walking beam device to impart a U-shaped output motion, or alternatively a closed box-shaped motion, as desired. A split carriage assembly reduces backlash of the device and a sliding dust cover prevents foreign objects from entering the drivers cam-actuated internal operating structure.

There are many applications in workpiece manufacture and parts assembly where a cam-actuated drive device is needed to provide both lift and translation movements. For example, walking beam assemblies need a drive which will both lift a part or tooling nest from one work station location, proceed through translation, i.e. horizontal movement, to a second location, and then lower the part or tooling nest to a second work station. Alternatively, such two direction drives can be utilized to progressively move conveyor systems, such as where a pair of fingers are moved outwardly to a first direction to engage, i.e. mechanically "spear", a segment of a conveyor belt system, the pair of fingers are then translated linearly along a second direction (and thereby move all sections of the conveyor from a first to a second position), next they are retracted from the conveyor system, and then are linearly moved back to a "start" or home position. In that fashion, such a conveyor drive unit operates to continuously index the conveyor forward section by section. Yet further, such two-direction drive devices can be used as part transfer mechanisms in pick-and-place assembly units.
However, unless protected, such two-direction, cam-actuated drive devices are unfortunately subject to damage should, for example, a jam occur, such as in the associated tooling, or with the tooling mounting block that is driven by the drive device. Thus, whether in a vertical lift (i.e. extension) mode, or a vertical retract (i.e. lowered) mode, or in either of the horizontal translation modes, such drive devices can suffer serious damage should jams occur. This can include damage to the roller followers, or directly to the drive cam members Thus, such unprotected cam-actuated drives are always subject to damage, even when micro switch-type overload protection sensors are used with the associated tooling.
Accordingly, there is a ongoing need for a protected, cam-actuated drive device for use with walking beam assemblies. One such known drive, with protection against jam-created damage available in one vertical direction, is manufactured and distributed by Stelron Components, Inc., of Hahwah, N.J.; it is sold under Stelron trademarks "ST" and "SBT" Translator series. (An older, "unprotected" version is sold under Stelron's "T Series" trademark.) However, this prior design for protected cam-actuated drives has several disadvantages. First, the carriage assembly (through which the respective lift rods oscillate and which itself oscillates along the horizontal translation guide bars), is of a relatively short width, i.e. short span. That, in turn, affects the overall stability of the associated tooling. Second, the available translation stroke, i.e. horizontal movement, as provided by such a prior design is compromised by the fact that there is blocking structure, i.e. lift cam and bell crank structure, that obstructs any otherwise full horizontal translation of the carriage (in the extension direction). That is, because the lift arm structure sits out to the side of the lift barrel cam, it partially blocks the carriage's extension movement.
Third, with such prior devices, there is spring protection (against jams) provided only in the Y (vertical) axis, i.e. none along the X (horizontal translation) axis. Further, the available Y axis spring protection is limited to the raised or extension mode, i.e. no spring protection is available in the lowered or retraction mode.
Fourth, even with such prior (Y axis) "protected" walking beam drive designs, the protection spring structure is, at least partially, outwardly exposed to the operating environment. That presents potential human safety concerns, i.e. one's fingers can be caught up in the spring area. Further, potential damage can occur to such exposed spring structure, such as by broken parts, jammed tooling, and the like. Also, if they become broken, spring parts flying about could present a safety hazard.


In a wireless communication system including at least one Interrogator and a plurality of Tags, the Interrogator transmits a main carrier signal, and each Tag transmits a reflected signal to the Interrogator in response to reception of the main carrier signal. The Tag Includes a receiving/reflecting system that receives the main carrier transmitted by the Interrogator and transmits the reflected signal to the Interrogator and a modulated subcarrier signal hopping system. The modulated subcarrier signal hopping system is provided with a frequency hopping system that applies frequency hopping to a subcarrier signal, and a subcarrier signal modulating system that modulates the subcarrier signal with a predetermined information signal. The Tag further includes a main carrier modulating system that modulates the main carrier received through the receiving/reflecting system with the modulated subcarrier signal, the modulated main carrier signal being transmitted to the Interrogator through the receiving/reflecting system as the reflected signal.

The present invention relates to an Interrogator and Tags of a wireless communication system in which the Interrogator transmits a carrier signal to the Tags, each of which modulates the received carrier signal and reflects the modulated signal to the Interrogator.
Conventionally, a communicating system configured such that an Interrogator which transmits a main carrier signal to one or more Tags and each of the Tags modulates the main carrier signal with a subcarrier signal and reflects the thus modulated carrier signal to the Interrogator has been known. An Example of such a communication system is disclosed in EP 0 853 392 A2, teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. In this publication, by employing a frequency dividing multiple access method using a plurality of subcarrier signals, communication with the plurality of Tags is processed.
However, if the number of the Tags are relatively large, it is difficult to use different subcarrier frequencies for respective Tags, and the possibility of occurrence of a so-called "collision " is relatively large. It may be possible to configure the Tags to change the subcarrier frequency. However, even in such a case, each Tags cannot identify which subcarrier frequencies are used by other Tags, and therefore, the collision may still occur.
Further, the power sources of the Tags are generally small due to their structures, and thus the power supplied thereto is relatively small.
Furthermore, if there are a plurality of Interrogators, the frequency of the main carrier signal may be changed according to the conventional communication system. However, the Tags typically do not have selectivity for frequencies. Therefore, unexpected Tags as well as the intended Tags may reflect the modulated carrier signals, and the possibility of the collision may increase in such a system.

Interrogator and tag of wireless communication system


A static aiming target for perfecting basketball bank shots appears to move horizontally and vertically along a backboard as a player moves back and forth across the court and towards and away from the backboard. This apparent movement of the aiming target is produced by visual aiming regions which allow for predetermined viewing of portions of the aiming target as a function of a player's position on the court. In each case, a player shoots for the aiming target in order to complete a proper bank shot.

This disclosure relates to a targeting system for improving the bank shot accuracy and "muscle memory" of a basketball player. The targeting system can provide both horizontal and vertical bank shot targets. While some bank shot targets have provided horizontal aiming guidance, none are known to provide targets which appear to move vertically with respect the hoop and backboard as a player moves around a basketball court.


This invention involves a new type of feedthrough-plug member for metal halide HID lamp using PCA envelopes. The construction of the lamp housing consists of a PCA envelope and specially designed axially graded alumina-metal cermet multi-layers to eliminate cracking in cermet or PCA due to thermal stresses arising from thermal expansion mismatch. The fills are metal halides such as Na--Sc--I, rare earth halides, Hg, Sn, and inert gases. The PCA vessel and directly sealed cermet-feedthrough assemblies allow the metal halide lamps to operate at high wall temperatures with better lumen output, color temperature, and CRI.

Metal halide high intensity discharge (HID) lamps are desired to run at high wall temperatures in order to improve the efficacy, alter the color temperature, and/or raise the color rendering index of the light source. Typically, the metal halide lamps include fills comprising halides (especially iodides and bromides) of one or more metals, such as Na. Often Na is used in combination with Sc or Sn. Further additions are Th, Tl, In and Li. Other types of filling include rare earth metals such as Tm, Ho and Dy. Lamps which contain such fills have very desirable spectral properties: efficacies above 100 lm/W, color temperatures of about 3700 K, and color rendering indices (CRI) around 85. Because of the low vapor pressure of some of the metal halide additives, the fused quartz lamp envelope must be operated at higher than normal temperatures. At wall temperatures exceeding 900.degree.-1000.degree. C., the lifetime of the lamps is limited by the interaction between the metal halides and the wall made from quartz glass. The use of arc tube materials which can be operated at higher temperatures than quartz glass and which are chemically more resistant than quartz glass provides an effective way to increase the lifetime of lamps containing these metal halides.
Polycrystalline alumina (PCA) is a sodium resistant envelope for high pressure sodium lamps. PCA can operate at higher temperatures than quartz glass and it is expected to be chemically more resistant than quartz glass. The PCA vessel is closed at its ends by means of alumina plugs. Gastight sealing is achieved by sealing glass, often referred to as fusible ceramic or frit. However, investigations of metal halide chemistries in PCA envelopes have shown that reactions between the metal halides and conventional frits or even allegedly "halide-resistant" frits severely limit lifetime. An example of such a frit is based on the components CaO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, BaO, MgO and B.sub.2 O.sub.3. Consequently, it is highly desirable to find a fritless seal method.
Normally, PCA lamps use feedthroughs made from niobium because their coefficients of thermal expansion are similar. Especially when the fill contains rare earth halides, one problem is involved by the reactions between the Nb feedthroughs and the fill. This problem was alleviated somewhat by using special arrangements wherein the plug and the feedthrough is simultaneously replaced by a plug made from electrically conductive cermets. These cermets are composite sintered bodies usually comprising alumina (the arc tube material) and molybdenum (Mo) or tungsten (W), both metals being halide resistant materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,964, Hing et al., discloses an electrically-conducting alumina-metal (e.g. tungsten or molybdenum) cermet containing 4 to 20 vol. % metal for use as plug members or feedthroughs in PCA (polycrystalline alumina) envelopes of metal halide HID (high-intensity discharge) lamps. The cermet has refractory metal rods (as electrodes or current leads). They are embedded in the cermet body in the green or prefired state and then co-fired during final sintering of the cermet to high density. The method of joining such cermets with PCA tubes is not described. Thermal expansion mismatch between the cermet and PCA, or between the cermet and tungsten or molybdenum electrode can not be eliminated simultaneously. Such differential thermal expansion can result in cracking and leaks in either PCA tubes or cermet, or in both, during lamp on-and-off operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,561, Izumiya et al., shows one end of the PCA tube that is closed with a co-sintered electrically-conductive alumina-Mo or W cermet. The other end of the PCA tube is enclosed with a frit-sealed cermet. The cermets are all coated with an insulating layer so as to prevent back-arcing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,969, Kajihara et al, describes besides conducting cermet plugs also non-conducting cermets with feedthroughs passing through and projecting in- and outwardly. One end of the PCA tube has a co-sintered cermet, while the other end has a frit-sealed cermet. However, cracking in the cermet can not be prevented, since the composition of the plug is fixed and is not direction dependent.
All these one-part plugs have the disadvantage that their coefficient of thermal expansion does not really fit the surrounding part (e.g. the vessel). A solution is suggested for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,956, Partlow et al. It discloses a cermet plug that comprises a core, consisting essentially of 10 to 30 volume percent W or Mo, remainder alumina, and one or more layers of other cermet compositions surrounding the core and being substantially coaxially therewith. The layers consist essentially of from about 5 to 10 volume percent W or Mo, the remainder alumina. Such a cermet plug is hermetically sealed to the end wall of the arc tube by means of "halide-resistant" frits.
However, electrically conductive cermet plugs are not sufficient gastight over a long time due to their fine structure.
Another solution is a non-conductive cermet plug having a more dense structure. Consequently, a separate metal feedthrough is needed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,078, Bunk et al., discloses a high pressure discharge lamp with a ceramic vessel whose ends are closed by non-conductive cermet plugs consisting for example of alumina and tungsten or molybdenum. In a specific embodiment (FIG. 9) the cermet plug consists of concentric parts with different proportions of tungsten. These parts provide gradually changing coefficients of thermal expansion.
European Patent Application No. 650 184, Nagayama, discusses an arc tube with end plugs consisting of a non-conducting cermet. The cermet plug is made from axially aligned layers of different composition (axially graded seal, see FIG. 16 et seq.). The first layer of the plug is integrally attached to the open end of the vessel. The metal feedthrough is a tungsten-based rod. The sealing between the feedthrough and the last axially aligned layer of the plug is performed by a rather complicated technique. It uses
a threaded portion of the feedthrough being in direct contact with the last layer of the plug, PA1 an outer metal disc ("flange") in contact with the outer surface of the last layer PA1 and a sealant such as platinum or glass solder covering the flange and the outer surface of the last layer. PA1 a translucent ceramic tube having a first end and a second end, said tube defining a longitudinal axis, and said tube confining a discharge volume PA1 a first at least essentially electrically non-conducting cermet end plug, said first plug closing said first end of the ceramic tube PA1 a second at least essentially electrically non-conducting cermet end plug, said second plug closing said second end of the ceramic tube PA1 at least said second plug having a multipart structure with at least three parts PA1 a first and second metal feedthrough passing through the first and second plug respectively, each feedthrough having an inner end and an outer end, respectively, said feedthroughs being made from one of the group of the metals tungsten, molybdenum and rhenium and alloys from at least two of these metals PA1 two electrodes located at the inner end of the first and second feedthrough respectively PA1 the coefficient of thermal expansion of at least one part of the multipart plug being between those of the arc tube and the feedthrough PA1 wherein said multipart plug is a structure that comprises at least four axially aligned parts with different coefficients of thermal expansion, including a first and a last part, the first part being innermost with respect to the discharge volume and the last part being outermost with respect to the discharge volume PA1 the multipart plug is directly sintered both to the arc tube and the feedthrough in that manner that the innermost part of the plug is directly sintered to the arc tube and the outermost part of the plug is directly sintered to the feedthrough. PA1 (1) a uniform distribution of the dispersed phase, PA1 (2) a fine particle size of the dispersed phase, PA1 (3) a green density and firing shrinkage compatible with the neighboring layers, in order to produce graded cermets free of cracks or distortion, PA1 (4) a green density and firing shrinkage behavior so as to form a direct bond between metal feedthrough and cermet plug, and between cermet plug and PCA arc tube, respectively. PA1 outside diameter: 3.0 to 4.0 mm (with the proviso that possibly the first part has a greater diameter), PA1 length over all of the axially graded plug: up to 10 mm, preferably below 5 mm, PA1 outer diameter between 0.9 and 1.6 mm PA1 inner diameter between 0.6 and 1.2 mm PA1 over all length between 10 and 15 mm PA1 wall thickness is at most 0.25, preferably around 0.1 mm. PA1 There is absolutely no frit in the seal, but nevertheless a well established and very reliable sealing technique, direct sintering, can be used. PA1 The fill hole can be large enough to permit easy pumping and filling. PA1 This type of sealing works for any wattage of the lamp and for any size of the discharge vessel.
One of the rods acting as a feedthrough has an axial hole therein for inserting the fill into the discharge vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,758, Evans et al., discloses in FIG. 14 an axially graded plug, too. However, it is made from three layers of electrically conducting cermet.

Ceramic envelope device, lamp with such a device, and method of manufacture of such devices


A device for disinfecting food stored in a refrigerated compartment, utilizing radiation emitted in the ultraviolet wavelengths between 200 and 300 nanometers emitted by a lamp. The lamp is installed on an upper surface of an enclosed refrigerator compartment lined with a reflective lining adapted to reflect radiation in the ultraviolet wavelengths. A raised grill is provided within the enclosed compartment for the placement of food products for disinfecting above a lower surface of the compartment, permitting reflected ultraviolet radiation to impact the underside of the food products. A switch triggered by the opening and closing of a door on the refrigerator, and a timer activated by the switch, activate the ultraviolet lamp after a predetermined period has elapsed from closure of the refrigerator door. The timer is further configured to switch off the ultraviolet lamp after the food placed in the compartment has been exposed to the emitted ultraviolet radiation for a period of time sufficient to destroy any contaminating micro-organism. A display panel positioned on the exterior surface of the refrigerator is configured to provide an operator with a means to control the operation of the ultraviolet lamp and an indication of both the operating status of the ultraviolet light and of the environmental conditions within the refrigerated compartment.

The present invention relates to a device and method for disinfecting stored food, and more particularly, to an ultraviolet light source for disinfecting food stored in a refrigerator.
Contamination of a food supply by bacteria and other micro-organisms is a problem which has always affected mankind. Today, with the advent of mass handling and shipping of food products worldwide, the problem is more prevalent than ever. Current United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) estimates are that one third of the entire United States population each year will become ill due to ingestion of a food born bacteria. These numbers are appalling in a technologically advanced world that is coming into the 21st century.
Ultraviolet (UV) light has long been known for over 150 years to have germicidal properties capable of destroying bacteria, mold, yeast and viruses. UV light was one of the earliest utilized methods of disinfecting. However, its use has been discontinued because of the advent of chlorinating and ozonation disinfecting methods. The strategic advantage of UV light over these methods is that it presents an excellent alternative to chemical treatments without the concerns of toxic chemical byproducts.
Ultraviolet light having germicidal properties is centered about a wavelength of 253.7 nanometers on the electromagnetic spectrum, below the UV wavelengths responsible for suntanning, and above the X-ray portion of the spectrum. These germicidal wavelengths are emitted by the sun, but are filtered out by the Earth's ozone layer before reaching the surface.
Ultraviolet light treatment is unique in its mode of action in that it does not kill the target organism. Instead the UV light alters the target organism's cell DNA so that the target organism is sterilized. This serves to inactivate the target organism so that it cannot proliferate and cause disease. Ultraviolet light has the additional advantage of adding nothing to the exposed foods, an is easily absorbed by both solids and liquids. Effective sterilization is achieved by simply exposing the food products to the a high-energy ultraviolet light source.
A lamp emitting ultraviolet light is quite similar to a standard florescent tube lamp shown at 10 in FIG. 1 which has been used as an efficient light source for many years. The standard florescent tube 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an outer tube of glass 12 which is transparent to light in the visible spectrum 14, and coated on an inner surface with phosphor 16. When electrical current is supplied to the florescent lamp 10 through connectors 18a and 18b, the flow of current through a cathode element 20 triggers initiates a flow of electrons 22 towards an oppositely disposed anode clement (not shown). Disposed within the glass tube 12 are mercury atoms 24, which when struck by a flowing electron 22, emit ultraviolet radiation as at 26. Interaction between the ultraviolet radiation 26 and the phosphor coating 16 on the glass tube 12 produces light in the visible spectrum which passes through the glass tube 12. The main difference between the florescent tube lamp of FIG. 1 and an ultraviolet tube lamp is the lack of a phosphor coating on the inner surface of the ultraviolet tube lamp, and the use of a special type of glass to which is transparent to ultraviolet light frequencies emitted by the mercury atoms.

System for germicidal disinfecting of food inside of refrigerators using ultraviolet radiation


An electroluminescent sheet-form lamp comprising a transparent insulation layer, a transparent first conductive layer below the insulation layer forming a first electrode, a layer of phosphor material below the first conductive layer, a layer of dielectric material below the phosphor layer, a second conductive layer below the dielectric layer forming a second electrode, and electrical connection means for applying an electrical potential between the conductive layers to cause the phosphor to transmit light through the transparent conductive layer and the transparent insulation layer, one of the conductive layers having been formed as a general conductive coating preapplied over a panel of larger dimension than the lamp, from which the lamp has been cut. The lamp provides an improved electrical connection, wherein the one conductive layer has a line of interruption which isolates a localized region of the one conductive layer from electrical continuity with a main portion of the one conductive layer, the main portion of the one conductive layer forming the respective electrode and being connected to one of the connection means to apply electrical potential thereto without applying electrical potential to the localized region, the connection means for the other of the conductive layers which forms the other of the electrodes being located in coincidence with the area of the localized region, one of the connection means employing deformation of the sheet-form lamp, whereby the electrical isolation of the localized region prevents electrical shorting between the conductive layers as a result of the deformation.

Electroluminescent (EL) lamps are powered by electrical leads that are attached to the front and rear electrodes of the lamp, e.g., by conductive adhesive and pad type connectors. Some of the uses to which the EL lamps may be put, such as backlighting in automobile dashboard displays, however, require that the attachments of the leads be mechanically robust. Conductive adhesive and pad type connectors tend to fail under rigorous environmental conditions characterized, for example, by high humidity, and are therefore insufficient in these uses. Sturdier attachments such as crimp and eyelet connectors which pierce and compress the layers of the lamp can cause contact between one of the connectors and both of the electrodes, resulting in electrical shorting of the lamp. It is known to avoid such shorting by including in a lamp an electrode layer that is screen printed or otherwise deposited onto a substrate layer and then mechanically or chemically etched away in the area where the connector to the other electrode is to be attached. But it is difficult to maintain cleanliness and registration. In addition, chemical and mechanical removal of the conductive coating adds expensive and time consuming operations. Chemical etching also uses hazardous materials and generates hazardous waste.

Lead attachment for electroluminescent lamp


An electric device, comprising a conductive guard ring formed on a substrate along an outer periphery of the substrate, an electrode formed inside the guard ring on the substrate, and a connecting portion formed above the electrode, for connecting an external apparatus and the electrode, wherein the connecting portion includes a conductive member for electrically connecting the external apparatus and the electrode, and an insulating member formed on a lower surface of the conductive member, and the insulating member exposes a portion of the conductive member, which is positioned immediately above the electrode, and an end of the insulating member is positioned inside the guard ring in planar view such that the conductive member and the guard ring do not contact each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric device, a method for manufacturing the same, and a radiation inspection apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electric device formed by mounting an electronic component on a substrate, a conductive guard ring is formed along the outer periphery of the substrate. The substrate of the electric device includes a connecting portion (for example, a flexible printed board) for connecting the electric device and an external apparatus. This connecting portion must be attached to the substrate of the electric device so that the guard ring and connecting portion on the substrate do not short.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-66241 has disclosed a liquid crystal panel substrate including a guard ring covered with an insulating member, and disclosed a structure in which a connecting portion for connecting the liquid crystal panel substrate and an external apparatus is formed on the insulating member. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-181095 has disclosed a structure in which in the vicinity of an electrode region where an electrode is formed, a guard ring is formed in a region inside the electrode region in order to prevent damages to an insulating member covering the guard ring when a connecting portion is attached.
In the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-66241, the guard ring is covered with the insulating member, but the insulating member may be damaged when the connecting portion is attached to the substrate. Also, the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-181095 cannot easily be manufactured because the guard ring must be formed in accordance with the position of the electrode region.

Electric device, method for manufacturing the same, and radiation inspection apparatus