A gear unit for the drive of a rotating tube is provided with a drive shaft and a power distributing gear unit stage that is configured as a helical gear unit with an intermediate shaft having mounted thereon two helical pinions. A load-summing gear unit stage with a take-off shaft is operated downstream of the gear unit stage. In this connection, the take-off shaft is on the central axis of the driven rotating tube. The load-summing gear unit stage is comprised of two parallel operated planetary gear units each having a sun gear, planetary gears each disposed on a respective planetary axle, a hollow gear and a common planet carrier that is configured as a single piece and connected with the take-off shaft. The planetary axles of both planetary gear units in the common planet carrier are spaced from one another and offset from one another. The intermediate shaft of the helical gear unit and the planetary gear units are supported in floating bearing arrangement, whereby the helical gear unit and the planetary gear units form a symmetrical planetary gear unit combination.

The invention relates to a gear unit for the drive of a rotation tube.
Drive solutions for rotating tubes, such as tube mills or rotary kilns, are characterized along the drive trains thereof by the characteristic configuration beginning with a motor, a coupling, a step-down or speed reducing teeth gear unit, and the thereto coupled tube mill. The gear unit converts the torque of the drive source, which is most typically configured as an electric motor, and, additionally, modulates the output via setting of the speed transmission ratio to that required to achieve the desired output rate of rotation, which is often dictated by the material to be milled by the tube mill.
DE 27 23 319 A1 discloses a two-step multi-path cylindrical gear transmission via which, by means of an inner power distribution, a central drive for tube mills, material size reducers, and similar rotating tubes is created. The distribution of power makes possible an increase of the transferable power output with limited space usage. The power transfer is effected exclusively by hardened outer teeth. The motor-side driving pinion and the intermediate shafts are supported at multiple locations by bearings, whereby this arrangement is associated with an increased production-and installation-effort. This central drive is characterized by the multiplicity of necessary individual measures needed to compensate for the errors caused by production and gear tooth factors.
DE 34 18 543 C1 describes a two-way gear transmission with a distribution of power, by which the distribution of power is effected by an axially freely adjustable shaft on which is mounted oppositely disposed inclined tooth helical pinions. The combined application of the power outputs onto a helical gear having an outer tooth set is effected by the interposition of additional intermediate stages. For the operation of the gear unit of this type, the upper limit of the transferable power outputs is reached at approximately 3000 kW. Higher power outputs can only be achieved with an enlargement of the diameter of the take-off stage. However, with regard to this possibility, which can on principle be considered, it has not been taken into account that the production technical restrictions and the therewith-associated economic arguments work against this approach.
DE 35 34 940 C2 describes an alternative concept that builds upon the principle of power output branching for the drive of tube mills. In this arrangement, the drive stage is a planetary gear and the take-off stage is a cylindrical gear unit. An outer teeth set on the tube mill replaces the gear of the take-off stage of the two-way gear unit disclosed in DE 34 18 543 C1. By reason of the opening of the housing, a requirement in implementing this concept, there is, as a result of the raw environmental influences and the therewith associated wear of the drive components, an increased need for maintenance efforts and efforts to keep the unit ready for operation.
DE 28 41 330 B2 discloses a planetary gear unit with an output branching to two planetary paths with a common planet carrier. The planetary gear unit combines, at the take-off, the previously segregated output streams. The co-axially guided sun shafts are supported at pre-determined locations via roller bearings in the gear unit housing. The other components of the drive chain, hollow gears, planetary gears, and planet carriers are, in any event, supported on bearings at pre-determined locations or, respectively, fixedly mounted relative to the housing. A relative rotation of the sun shafts to one another is not provided. By reason of this guidance of the shafts, in order to compensate for radial and torque disturbances, special configuration measures must be undertaken to compensate for such loads. The torque loading compensation is effected by means of an input-side power distributing coupling.
In operations in the upper output region, planetary gear units are utilized, in connection with which multiple planetary stages are serially performed. Also, it must be taken into account in this connection that the maximum external dimensions considerably increase with an increase of the power output to be transferred. The requirement to produce a pre-determined given transmission ratio from the operational process militates against the deployment of symmetrical coupling linkages.
The invention provides a solution to the challenge of configuring a gear unit of the afore-mentioned type such that the requirements for a low maintenance central drive for rotating tubes such as tube mills or rotary kilns which exhibits a compact configuration, and the requirements for the respective individually required transmission ratio, or speed step-up1 through a simple construction configuration with suitably adapted components, preferably for the upper power output range of more than 3000 kW, can be fulfilled.
The inventive gear unit is characterized by the use of a multiple stage helical gear unit on the input side which effects power distribution and a planetary gear unit on the take-off for load-summing stages, the planetary gear unit being comprised of two planetary stages steps operated in parallel to one another. The gear unit is mounted in a multiple-piece, closed gear unit housing which exhibits a very compact configuration. The planetary stages transmit the mechanical output via a common single piece planet carrier to the working machine. The advantageous configuration of the planet carrier leads, as well, in connection with high power outputs to be transferred, to a compact construction with suitable fitness strength whose production via casting or reforming processes and the thereon following finish machining with simple presentable finish tolerances at a high level of quality is ensured.

Gear unit for the drive of a rotation tube


A quantum computer includes a quantum computing system; a transducer disposed inside the quantum computing system, the transducer being configured to receive an optical control propagating wave and output a microwave control propagating wave; and a quantum processor comprising a plurality of qubits, the plurality of qubits being disposed in the quantum computing system, each qubit of the plurality of qubits being configured to receive at least a portion of the microwave control propagating wave to control a quantum state of each qubit of the plurality of qubits.

The currently claimed embodiments of the present invention relate to superconducting quantum processors, and more specifically, to methods and systems to control quantum states of qubits using optical radiation.
Quantum computation is based on the reliable control of quantum bits (referred to herein throughout as qubits). The fundamental operations required to realize quantum algorithms are a set of single-qubit operations and two-qubit operations which establish correlations between two separate quantum bits. The realization of high fidelity two-qubit operations may be desirable both for reaching the error threshold for quantum computation and for reaching reliable quantum simulations.
The superconducting quantum processor (having one or more superconducting qubits) includes superconducting metals (e.g., Al, Nb, etc.) on an insulating substrate (e.g., Si or high resistivity Si, Al2O3, etc.). The superconducting quantum processor is typically a planar two-dimensional lattice structure of individual qubits linked by a coupler in various lattice symmetry (for example, square, hexagonal, etc.), and a readout structure located on a flip-chip. The couplers can be made of a capacitor, a resonator, a coil or any microwave component that provides a coupling between qubits.
Qubit control signals include quantum gates that manipulate the quantum states of the microwave qubits and readout signals that measure the quantum states. The control signals are at microwave frequencies. For example, for a single-qubit gate, the typical pulse can be Gaussian and the gate time is around 10 ns to 100 ns. The energy of the single-qubit gate is a single photon and the microwave power is about 10−16 to 10−17 Watts. For two-qubit gate, the pulse shape depends on the type of the two-qubit gate. For example, the cross-resonance gate can use a flat-top pulse with hyperbolic secant envelop. The resonator-induced phase gate can use a cosine envelop or other mathematically formulated envelop. The gate time can vary from 50 ns to 1000 ns and the power is typically 100 times stronger such that the single qubit gate and is about 10−14 to 10−15 Watts. For readout, a square pulse can be used, for example. The pulse length is about 1000 ns to about 10000 ns. The power is about 10−18 to 10−19 watts, 100 times smaller than the power of the single-qubit gate.
Qubit control waveforms are delivered via control lines connected to microwave qubits. For a superconducting qubit architecture, Microwave lines and microwave qubits are required to be cold at cryogenic temperature to suppress thermal noise. Superconducting qubits are controlled by microwave propagating waves transmitted through microwave lines that go through a cryostat or a refrigerating container (e.g., a dilution refrigerator). These lines are typically coaxial cables that can be made of copper-nickel (CuNi) alloys or stainless steel, for example. The refrigeration container is divided into many compartments, each compartment being maintained at a certain range of cooling temperature. For example, a first compartment is at a temperature around 40 K, a second compartment at a temperature around 3K, a third compartment, at a temperature around 800 mK, a fourth compartment at a temperature around 100 mK and a fifth compartment a temperature around 10 mK. For example, the qubits can be located at the 10 mK stage or compartment. Excitations caused by thermal photons or noise are minimized to enable an appropriate operation of the qubits. In conventional set-ups, a typical thermal excitation is 0.1% or lower. Due to attenuation in the microwave line, there are many challenges to delivering control microwave radiation to qubits. Delivering an adequate power level to the qubits for appropriate control of the qubits without thermal noise remains a challenge.
Quantum computers may employ thousands of qubits, for example on the order of 100000 qubits or more to function at a full capacity. However, to scale up microwave qubits to 100000, thermal load needs to be reduced in the microwave control lines which remains a challenge. Furthermore, it is desirable that the control lines deliver sufficient microwave power to the qubits while the thermal photons or noise are attenuated. Conventional methods and systems, use attenuators and filters. However these systems themselves introduce thermal noise.
Furthermore, the microwave lines are generally bulky (the diameter of a line is on the order of 5 millimeters or more) and can therefore occupy a large volume. This problem is amplified if the quantum computer employs a relatively large number of qubits (e.g., thousands or more) and each qubit uses at least two lines (one for inputting a signal and another for reading the state of the qubit).

System and method to control quantum states of microwave frequency qubits with optical signals

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A wood burning stove is provided. The combustion chamber in which the fire occurs has a baffle plate that is moveable to direct air flow through one of two different pathways from the combustion chamber to the chimney. When in a first position, the baffle plate forces the air and smoke to move through a first pathway; when in a second position, a by-pass pathway is opened, allowing air and smoke to move through a second pathway. The stove can have a door in the front wall, or the top wall, or both walls, to provide access to the combustion chamber.

Whether for providing heat, for purely decorative purposes, or for value enhancement, wood burning stoves have become commonplace in today's building trades for both residential and commercial applications for situations where a fireplace is not feasible or desired. In some instances, wood burning stoves have been inserted into fireplace boxes. Stoves are often preferred over open fireplaces because many wood stoves have the capability to heat large spaces efficiently. Most stoves are able to burn for extended periods of time, such as over night, without refueling or reloading, further enhancing the preference over fireplaces.
With this extended burning of wood as the primary fuel comes the challenge of providing an efficient stove that meets the Environmental Protection Agency requirements and state agency requirements for emissions, including particulate material and gases. Many wood burning stoves utilize a catalytic combustor to finalize the burning process and reduce particulate materials and gases. However, the catalytic combustors can become fouled or otherwise rendered inefficient, especially when other than selected materials are burned within the stove. Additionally, the catalytic combustors are quite expensive and must be periodically replaced.
In order to avoid using a catalytic combustor, many stove designs are aimed at providing optimum airflow within the burning chamber so that complete combustion, reduction of particulates and unburned gases, and optimum heat generation are obtained. The airflow patterns are generally created by the addition of various channels and/or baffles within the stove, in particular, within the main combustion chamber, to create a secondary combustion chamber. The use of fixed or stationary baffle plates for manipulating air flow within the combustion chamber are known for wood burning stoves, and are discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,876 (Henry et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,843 (Henry et al.), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,794 (Henry et al.), each of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
Depending on the design of the various channels or baffles, loading of wood into the stove can be hampered. For example, some baffles are positioned extending essentially parallel to the top surface of the stove. If the stove is a top-loading stove, that is, where wood can be inserted into the combustion chamber through the top surface of the stove, such baffles hinder access to the combustion chamber. What is desired is an improved stove design having optimal air flow patterns to increase combustion efficiency, reduce emissions, and provide easy access to the combustion chamber.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Wood burning stove having pivoting baffle and method


Described is a wide-angle slip-on viewfinder (1) on rangefinder cameras for analog and digital wide-angle recordings of different image recording formats with lenses of different focal lengths, comprising three lens groups (LG1, LG2, LG3), a frame/mask unit (10) and a partially transmissive prism cube (8) which is designed as a combination element, wherein, on the light entrance side (4) in the viewfinder beam path (9), a first lens group (LG1) has a negative refractive power and the second and third lens groups (LG2, LG3) have a positive refractive power, wherein the second lens group (LG2) is composed of a first lens (L3) arranged downstream of the first lens group (LG1) and a second lens (L4) arranged on the light exit side (7) and the partially transmissive prism cube (8) is arranged between the lenses (L3, L4) and the third lens group (LG3) is arranged in a mask imaging beam path (11) which is at right angles to the viewfinder beam path (9) between the frame/mask unit (10) and the partially transmissive prism cube (8).

The invention relates to a wide-angle slip-on viewfinder for analog and digital wide-angle photographs with lenses of different focal lengths on range finder cameras.
The design is similar to that of an optical rangefinder system, as is known for example from DE 100 10 443 B4, and is fitted in so-called rangefinder cameras.
Rangefinder cameras with interchangeable lenses of different focal lengths are usually equipped with a viewfinder system, integrated in the camera, of constant magnification, which system is optimized for a specific lens focal length. If lenses with longer or shorter focal lengths are used, image field delimitation frames, which correspond to the modified recording image field of the lens which was selected in each case or which are adapted to its focal length, of different size must be reflected into the viewfinder for accurate image field selection. The longer the focal length of the lens is, the smaller the recording image field becomes which can be displayed in the viewfinder. Accordingly, the recording image field becomes increasingly larger at shorter focal lengths and can no longer be displayed in the viewfinder as of a specific lens focal length. The constant magnification of the viewfinder system integrated in the rangefinder camera does not permit complete display of the recording image field, with the result that the user can no longer completely see the image field recorded by the lens in the viewfinder.
For this reason, variable viewfinders integrated in the camera with variable focal length are known, which match the image section in the viewfinder to the respective lens focal length. These integrated variable viewfinders are, however, elaborate and of complicated optical design and, on account of the confined installation conditions, often have a poor optical imaging performance. Mask frames for recording image field delimitation are not necessary in these variable viewfinder systems, because the field of view which can be seen in the viewfinder corresponds to the size of the recorded image.
Likewise known are specific viewfinders for wide-angle lenses, the image field of which is adapted to that of the respective lens, and which can be pushed via an adaptor into the hot shoe on the camera. The basic design of such systems, which are often known as Galilean viewfinders, constitutes an inverted Dutch telescope. They have a divergent lens on the object side. This lens simultaneously delimits the field of view and therefore frequently has a shape similar to the recording format. A convergent lens acts as an eyepiece. The field of view is a function of the ratio of the focal lengths of the two lenses.
Furthermore, a slip-on variable viewfinder for wide-angle recordings is known from DE 101 12 611 C1, which viewfinder, however, does not have mask frames for crisp image field delimitation.
Owing to their rigid connection to the camera, slip-on viewfinders have the disadvantage of mostly being suitable only for recordings as of a relatively large object distance, since the optical axes of the lens and of the slip-on viewfinder are arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to one another. Although it is ensured in this manner that the image section recorded by the camera at a relatively large object distance corresponds to the image section displayed in the slip-on viewfinder, parallax errors inevitably occur in the case of image recordings in the near field. The image selection in the slip-on viewfinder then no longer corresponds to the actual image recording of the camera.
The fact that the user must also undertake to set the distance, stop and exposure of the camera also with fitted slip-on viewfinder by looking into the viewfinder on the camera, results in particular design requirements for the slip-on viewfinder. Looking into the camera viewfinder is not to be impeded by the slip-on viewfinder. The distance when switching to or from looking into the slip-on viewfinder is not to be too large. The viewfinder magnification is to be as large as possible so as to be able to detect details effectively. This requires generally a large lens diameter in the front lens. In order to counteract a parallax error, the distance between the optical axes of the slip-on viewfinder and of the lens is to be as small as possible. On the other hand, high speed wide-angle lenses often have a large diameter, and this can impede the field of view of the slip-on viewfinder.
Because of these stipulations, to date only special slip-on viewfinders have been developed as Galilean viewfinders of very simple design for specific focal lengths for the image recording format of the miniature film. With an increase in the number of lenses, the user therefore faces the necessity of always having available an ever increasing number of slip-on viewfinders matching the focal lengths of the lenses used in each case. A mix up in the assignment cannot be ruled out when interchanging lenses and slip-on viewfinders and errors during the image recording are the result.
Increasingly, there has been a desire to use existing lenses on digital cameras. If the sensor size of the digital camera has an image recording format which deviates from the conventional miniature film, the image section displayed in the slip-on viewfinder no longer corresponds to the actual image recorded by the digital camera. If the digital camera has, for example, a sensor size which is smaller by a factor of 1.33 as compared to the miniature film format, a so-called focal length extension by a factor of 1.33 ensues. The slip-on viewfinders matching in each case for the image recording format of the conventional miniature film in this case display an image field which is too large by a factor of 1.33. The image field actually detected by the sensor area in the digital camera is smaller. Errors during the image selection and in the image composition ensue.

Wide-angle slip-on viewfinder on rangefinder cameras for photographic recordings with different focal lengths


Methods, apparatuses, and integrated circuits for measuring leakage current are disclosed. In one such example method, a word line is charged to a first voltage, and a measurement node is charged to a second voltage, the second voltage being less than the first voltage. The measurement node is proportionally coupled to the word line. A voltage on the measurement node is compared with a reference voltage. A signal is generated, the signal being indicative of the comparison. Whether a leakage current of the word line is acceptable or not can be determined based on the signal.

With the increasing popularity of electronic devices, such as laptop computers, portable digital assistants, digital cameras, mobile phones, digital audio players, video game consoles and the like, nonvolatile memory usage has continued to increase. Nonvolatile memories come in various types, including flash memories. Flash memories are widely used for information storage in electronic devices such as those mentioned above and others.
In conventional flash memories, data is stored in an array of individual memory cells, each of which includes a charge storage structure, such as a charge trap or floating gate. Generally speaking, with floating gate cells, each of the memory cells has two gates. One gate, the control gate, is analogous to the gate in a MOSFET. The other gate, the floating gate, is insulated all around by an oxide layer and is coupled between the control gate and the substrate. Because the floating gate is insulated by an oxide layer, any electrons placed on it (e.g., by tunneling) get trapped there and thereby enable the storage of data. More specifically, when electrons are stored on the floating gate, their presence modifies, by partially canceling out, the electric field generated when a voltage is provided to the control gate. This results in the modification of the threshold voltage of the channel of the cell, since a higher voltage on the control gate is needed to enable an electrical current to flow between the source and the drain of the cell as compared with what would be needed if there were no electrons stored on the floating gate. If the number of electrons stored on the floating gate is sufficiently large, the resulting modified threshold voltage will inhibit electrical current from flowing between the source and the drain when the normal operating voltage is provided to the control gate. Hence, in a typical flash memory cell that stores a single bit of data, electrical current will either flow or not flow when a memory cell is being read by providing a voltage on the control gate, depending on the number of electrons on the floating gate. The flow or no flow of electrical current, in turn, translates to a stored bit of data having a value of 1 or 0, respectively. Some flash memories (or other non-volatile storage devices) include multi-level cells, where a single cell is configured to store multiple bits of data by programming the memory cell to one of more than two data states (e.g., where each of the data states corresponds to respective ranges of threshold voltages).
In the pursuit of greater storage capacity in ever smaller chips, flash memory density has been increasing over the years, in part due to the down scaling of the memory cell dimensions. The continued down scaling of electronic devices has created many challenges and opportunities, among them the quest for an ultra-thin gate oxide. One problem that sometimes results from a thin gate oxide is leakage current. For example, when the oxide layer surrounding the floating gate of a flash memory cell is very thin, electrons stored on the floating gate may leak out (e.g., from the floating gate to the control gate and the word line that is coupled to the control gate, and eventually to ground), thus changing the originally stored bit of data having a value of 0, for example, into a bit of data having a value of 1.
The continued down scaling of electronic devices also tends to decrease the physical separation of components on an integrated circuit chip. For example, in a memory device, the tight word line to word line pitch may increase the possibility of leakage current from one word line to another. This may particularly be true in flash-type memories where one word line is charged to a high voltage (e.g., 10V) while the neighboring word lines and other components remain at a lower voltage (e.g., 0V, 2.3V, 5V, etc.). The high voltage may be generated in a voltage source (e.g., a charge pump or a voltage shifter) circuit and may be provided to a word line in a flash memory array to, for example, program one or more memory cells coupled to the word line. The world line charged to a high voltage may therefore induce leakage current to adjacent word lines and/or to other nearby components of the flash memory device. Although some leakage current can be tolerated in some cases, leakage current above a certain threshold may improperly alter the operation of some devices. If, for example, a particular word line in a flash memory array has a leakage path to a neighboring word line, the leaked current may alter the data stored in the floating gates of the neighboring word line. As another example, excessive leakage current may increase the power consumed (and thus the heat generated) by an integrated circuit chip.
In order to identify unacceptable leakage current levels (including the types of leakage current mentioned briefly above, and others), some integrated circuit chips may be tested during manufacturing. In a flash memory device, for example, a leakage current test may be conducted to measure the leakage current on each of the word lines to determine whether the leakage current from each word line is above a certain threshold and thus unacceptable.

Apparatuses, integrated circuits, and methods for measuring leakage current


Features are described for improving data transmission by filtering weakly associated items in sequences of item selections. By identifying spurious relationships, data transmissions for weakly related items can be altered or suppressed. The weak relationship may be identified in existing item-to-item associations or for a set of items scheduled for transmission to a user device.

A variety of data mining systems and methods are known for detecting associations among items stored or represented in a database. For example, in the context of an electronic catalog of items, data mining processes are frequently used to identify items that tend to be viewed, purchased, downloaded, or otherwise selected in combination by users. For instance, a first item may be related to a second item if a relatively large number of interaction events with the second item are detected for users interacting with the first item. Some interaction events may be more indicative of a relationship between items than others. Associations can be used to as a factor to control whether and when data is transmitted.

Data suppression for data transmission control


A mounting bracket including a base which accommodates more than one fastener. A latch mounted on the base that discourages removal of the fasteners from the base. The latch cooperates with the base to define a capture zone that selectable secures the wire of a picture or like article. The base also includes a catch which may retain the latch from cooperating with the base to capture a wire. The base further includes a marking element which may be used to mark a position on a wall. Methods of mounting and hanging articles also are disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to brackets. More specifically, the present invention relates to brackets for hanging articles, such as pictures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hanging articles, such as pictures, typically involves affixing a wire or cord to the picture, or frame in which it is mounted, mounting a picture hook on a wall and placing the wire in the hook. Prior to the instant invention, hook devices were unsatisfactory, especially where the articles were hung in areas subject to unauthorized removal or violent structural activities. Specifically, articles hung with prior art hook devices were at risk to theft and damage from earthquakes. Accordingly, articles so suspended either would be lost or damaged.
Many prior art hook devices have attempted to provide a lock to secure an article. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,334,700, issued Nov. 23, 1943, to L. E. Frey, describes a picture hook with an entrapping lip portion. Referring to FIG. 1, the device includes a loop 16 with a turned over portion 21 and a wedge-shaped portion 19. A wire may be trapped within the slot 22 defined by portions 21 and 19. This locking feature may deter the wire from slipping relative to the hook, but does not discourage removal of the wire altogether.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,317,368, issued Apr. 27, 1943, to L. E. Frey, describes a picture hook also providing a slot for wedging a wire, discouraging it from slipping. Referring to FIG. 3, the slot 13 is defined by wedged portions 15.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 299,003, issued Dec. 20, 1988, to H. J. Fadeley, Jr., shows a picture hanger with inter-digitated fingers. Referring to FIG. 8, a wire may be slipped down along the downwardly-extending finger until it is received and squeezed by two upwardly-extending fingers. As with the above inventions, this invention seems to deter a wire from slipping, but does not deter its ultimate removal from the hook.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 346,952, issued May 17, 1994, to F. Keller, shows a combined animal attaching bracket and feed bucket holder which discourages removal of an item from the device. Referring to FIG. 4, a wire may be fed up through a slot defined by the outer, downwardly-extending exterior finger and an interior, upwardly-extending finger. The wire then may be caused to rest within the slot defined by the inner surface of the interior, upwardly-extending finger and an inner, downwardly-extending finger. This device may deter the inadertent removal of wire-like items, however would not discourage one determined to do so.
Some prior art devices provide effective article-locking mechanisms. However, these devices do not provide for mounting the device to a conventional surface such as a wall. For example, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 273,273, issued Apr. 3, 1984, to C. Faidide, shows a simple hook with a latch. Referring to FIG. 2, the device has a main J-shaped hook with a pivotable latch which may be trapped under the lip of the hook.
Other prior art devices provide mechanisms for retaining an object within the device and a wall-attachment mechanism; however, the wall attachment mechanism does not assure that the device remains attached to the mounting service. For example, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 29,565, shows a hat hook shell. Referring to FIG. 2, the device provides a base A and a spring-loaded latch G which cooperate to frictionally engage an item inserted between the end of the latch G and the lip E. The device also has mounting apertures D which accommodate fasteners, which assume a parallel penetration direction, to maintain the device onto the mounting surface.
Clearly, the above demonstrates a need for a mounting bracket including a mechanism for discouraging removal of an article therefrom and a mechanism for discouraging removal of the bracket itself from a mounting surface.
None of the above references, taken alone or in combination, are seen as teaching or suggesting the presently claimed mounting bracket.


A device for spin-coating substrates with liquid media is provided, including a rotatable substrate plate for horizontally supporting a substrate, and a covering unit for covering the substrate during a distribution operation of the liquid medium by means of rotation of the substrate holder. The substrate holder is adapted to be joined tightly to the covering unit, so that passage holes arranged circumferentially on the substrate holder so that an internal coating space, defined by the covering unit and the substrate holder, is in fluid communication with the environment outside the internal space.

In semiconductor technology, rotary or spin-coaters, which are also called coaters, are already known in many embodiments, in particular for the application of photoresist to substrates such as wafers or glass plates, but are also used for applying other liquid media.
For reproducible production processes having a high yield, it is a decisive criterion to also be able to apply the liquid medium, such as a photoresist, in the most homogeneous layer possible, even for applications involving comparatively large substrates.
In one embodiment, a covering unit used for the "spinning process" is lowered over the substrate to be coated. By using this, the intention is to produce a solvent cushion on the substrate or the liquid medium applied, which leads to the formation of a more uniform layer during the spinning operation. Without any covering, a normally laminar flow in clean rooms would result in undesired "drying out" of the liquid medium to be applied.


A method and system for integrating media independent handover (MIH) under IEEE 802.21 and unlicensed mobile access (UMA) are disclosed. A public land mobile network (PLMN) and an unlicensed mobile access network (UMAN) are concurrently deployed. UMA is supported such that a multi-mode wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may access the UMAN to receive PLMN services through the UMAN. MIH entities are included both in the WTRU and the UMAN and the MIH entity of the WTRU monitors handover events and information and generates a handover trigger for handover between the PLMN and the UMAN. The MIH entity in the UMAN interacts with the MIH entity of the WTRU to report a remote event, handover information and command.

Different types of wireless communication systems have been developed to provide different types of services. Some examples of the wireless communication systems include a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN) and a cellular network such as universal mobile telecommunication systems (UMTS). Each of these systems have been developed and tailored to provide specific applications for which each system is intended.
With the pervasive adoption of wireless communication networks in enterprise, residential and public domains, continuous connectivity can be supported as the users move from one network to the other. With the emerging "always-on" life style, wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), (i.e., mobile stations), are required to support multiple heterogeneous networks. For seamless handover between these networks, an IEEE 802.21 MIH has been proposed.
In the meanwhile, UMA technology provides access to a global system for mobile communication (GSM) and general packet radio services (GPRS) over unlicensed spectrum technologies, such as Bluetooth™ and IEEE 802.11. By deploying UMA technology, service providers can enable subscribers to roam and handover between cellular networks and public and private unlicensed wireless networks using dual-mode WTRUs. With UMA, subscribers receive continuous services as they transition between networks.
However, UMA technology does not address how a particular handover condition arises and how heterogeneous link layers can communicate these conditions to the upper layers handling the handover. Thus, there are no procedures or functionality in UMA to generate triggers toward upper layers. Therefore, there is a need to provide the triggers for handover within the UMA architecture.

Method and system for integrating media independent handovers


A driver circuitry includes a capacitor, a first switch, and a second switch. The capacitor includes a first node and a second node. The first switch is electrically coupled to the first node of the capacitor. The second switch is electrically coupled to the second node of the capacitor. Additionally, the second node of the capacitor and the second switch are electrically coupled to an output pin of the driver circuitry operable to drive an external switch. As discussed herein, settings of the first switch and the second switch control a voltage outputted from the output pin and charging of the capacitor.

FIG. 1A is an example diagram illustrating a drive circuit according to conventional techniques. As shown, driver circuitry 100 receives control signal 105 to control a state of switch 135. Graph 170-1 in FIG. 1B illustrates a state of the control signal 105 as inputted to control drive circuit 100.
Prior to time T1, as shown in graph 170-1 of FIG. 1B, the control signal 105 is a logic zero (such as approximately zero volts). When the control signal 105 is a logic zero, switch 110-2 is set in an ON state and switch 110-1 is set to an OFF state, resulting in the output 125 driving the corresponding gate of switch 135 to −0.5 V. Note that the output 125 is −0.5 V (instead of ground) due to the voltage present across capacitor 120. In such an instance, switch 135 is open (OFF).
At time T1, the control signal 105 switches from logic low to logic high. This causes switch 110-2 to turn OFF and switch 110-1 to turn ON. In such an instance, the output 125 is 4.5 V (instead of 5 V) due to the −0.5 V across capacitor 120.
At time T2, the control signal 105 switches from logic high to logic low. This causes switch 110-2 to turn ON and switch 110-1 to turn OFF. In such an instance, the output 125 is set −0.5 V (instead of 0.0V) again due to the 0.5 V across capacitor 120.
One purpose of the capacitor 120 is to adjust a range of voltages that are produced at output 125. For example, instead of producing an output of 0 volts (for low voltage level drive) and 5 volts (and high voltage level drive), the output 125 of driver circuitry 100 outputs −0.5 V as a low drive output and 4.5 V as a high drive output.
Application of the −0.5 V for the low drive output level (such as before time T1 and after time T2) helps to ensure that switch 135 stays in an OFF state since the inherent capacitance Cm of switch 135 can cause a voltage spike on 125 (GATEL) thereby momentarily turning on switch 135 resulting in shoot through of current from node SW to the ground when the voltage of node SW changes rapidly from zero volts to 12 volts. In other words, the voltage coupling from node SW to the output 125 may be so high that the switch 135 momentarily turns to an ON state when it is supposed to be shut OFF.

Drive enhancement in switch driver circuitry


An apparatus for holding the stator of a vessel rotatable about an axis of rotation, includes a pivotable swing arm having a first end and a second end, the second end having an engagement portion for contacting the stator of a rotating vessel. A support is connected to the first end of the swing arm and has an axis spaced from and substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. The support cooperates with the swing arm to permit the swing arm to pivot toward and away from the stator. A detent finger, located in the swing arm cooperates with the stator to hold the stator against rotation when the swing arm is in a predetermined angular position, and maintains the stator in a fixed position relative to the swing arm during a centrifuge operation. Finally, a detent cam assembly resists pivotal movement of the swing arm when the swing arm is in the predetermined angular position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to centrifuges and more particularly to centrifuges having a structure for preventing rotation of the stator tube of a rotating vessel.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,888 to Darnell, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,684,361 and 4,692,136 to Feldman et al., which are incorporated herein by reference, each disclose a centrifuge bowl having an attached dip tube assembly, for use in a centrifuge. The bowl is designed to hold liquids, and has a single opening at its upper end through which passes a stationary dip tube assembly (hereafter called the stator assembly). The stator has an inlet and outlet adjacent to the upper end for permitting liquid to be pumped into and pumped from the centrifuge during a centrifuge operation. A similar bowl/stator arrangement is shown in FIG. 1 of the present application and is typically used in connection with a centrifuge which rotates the bowl containing a liquid. When the bowl is rotated at sufficient speeds, fractions of the liquid may be separated. For example, when the liquid is human blood, a centrifuge operation may separate red blood cells from other components of the blood.
During a centrifuge operation using the above-described bowl and stator arrangement, the stator must be maintained in a position so that its inlet and outlet ports remain stationary. Rotational or lateral movement of the stator tube could cause tubes connected to the stator's ports to stretch and break thereby interrupting flow. Similarly, vertical movement of the stator could cause wear and/or destruction of the stator assembly.
Prior to the present invention, a typical centrifuge employed two swing arms to hold the stator in position. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,581,981 discloses a centrifuge chuck including two pivoting clamping arms each having an arcuate surface for holding the tube assembly therebetween. However, in the prior art, in order to properly engage the stator of the bowl/stator arrangement of the type shown in FIG. 1 of the present application, two pivoting arms must be moved, the face seal must be manually compressed, and a clamping device must be engaged and tightened. This is a two-handed operation that is difficult for a busy technician who may only have one hand to spare.

Centrifuge having a single swing arm for retaining a stator tube


Apparatus and method for measuring the maximum static friction force and the kinetic friction force between the heads of a disc drive and discs adjacent the heads. The disc drive is rotated by a computer controlled spin-up motor which provides constant angular acceleration of the disc drive. Voltages at the ends of the windings of a spindle motor of the disc drive are sampled to detect the angular acceleration at which disc rotation relative to the heads begins, from which the static friction force and the kinetic friction force are determined. The angular acceleration of the disc drive is monitored through the sampling of velocity commands used to control the angular acceleration of the disc drive, or through the use of an accelerometer mounted with respect to the disc drive.

Modern hard disc drives comprise one or more rigid discs that are coated with a magnetizable medium and mounted on the hub of a spindle motor for rotation at a constant high speed. Information is stored on the discs in a plurality of concentric circular tracks by an array of transducers ("heads") mounted to a radial actuator for movement of the heads relative to the discs.
Typically, such radial actuators employ a voice coil motor to position the heads with respect to the disc surfaces. The heads are mounted via flexures at the ends of a plurality of arms which project radially outward from an actuator body. The actuator body pivots about a shaft mounted to the disc drive housing at a position closely adjacent the outer extreme of the discs. The pivot shaft is parallel with the axis of rotation of the spindle motor and the discs, so that the heads move in a plane parallel with the surfaces of the discs.
The actuator voice coil motor includes a coil mounted on the side of the actuator body opposite the head arms so as to be immersed in the magnetic field of a magnetic circuit comprising one or more permanent magnets and magnetically permeable pole pieces. When current is passed through the coil, an electromagnetic field is set up which interacts with the magnetic field of the magnetic circuit to cause the coil to move in accordance with the well-known Lorentz relationship. As the coil moves, the actuator body pivots about the pivot shaft and the heads move across the disc surfaces.
The heads are typically provided with aerodynamically shaped slider assemblies which cause the heads to fly over the surfaces of the discs as a result of air currents established by the rotation of the discs. To limit wear and damage to the heads and the discs, contact between the heads and discs is generally minimized except at such time that the discs are not rotated at a speed sufficient to support the heads, during which time the heads are generally moved to and secured over landing zones of the discs, which are typically located near the innermost radii of the discs.
As part of quality control and ongoing research and development efforts, manufacturers of disc drives continually engage in test programs in which, among other things, the wear of the heads and of the discs in the landing zones is monitored as a function of the number of start ups of a disc drive. One manner of monitoring this wear is to measure the maximum static friction force, generally referred to as "stiction", that is exerted on the discs by the heads just prior to the onset of slippage of the discs along the heads and to measure the kinetic friction force, generally referred to as, simply, "friction", that exists after slippage occurs. These forces generally increase as the heads and disc surfaces are eroded so that the magnitudes of these forces provide an indication of the extent to which wear has occurred.
A problem with using stiction and friction as indicators of disc and head wear is that these effects have been difficult to measure accurately without the removal of a disc drive top cover, which is bolted to a corresponding disc drive base deck, or case. As will be recognized, the case and the top cover cooperate to provide an internally sealed environment for the disc drive necessary to minimize the introduction of contaminants which can adversely affect the performance of the drive.
While removal of the top cover has generally permitted accurate stiction and friction measurements, such methodology has also had a number of associated drawbacks. First, removal of the top cover requires a clean environment if the drive is to be reassembled and reoperated. Further, the disassembly and reassembly steps required to facilitate direct stiction and friction measurements with the top cover removed will invariably lead to damage of at least some of the drives subjected to such methodology. More significantly, however, disassembly and reassembly of a disc drive will typically lead to changes in the mechanical interrelationship between the heads and the discs sufficient to introduce inconsistency in subsequent measurements. This lack of consistency in stiction and friction measurements therefore inherently limits the uses that can be made of the measurements.
While problems that are occasioned by disassembly can be overcome by using the spindle motor upon which the discs are mounted to rotate the discs and measuring motor current and back emf (electromotive force) to determine stiction and friction, such measurements tend to have relatively large experimental errors. For example, such an approach will generally yield stiction measurements having tolerances of the order of +20%; friction measurements are even less precise.
Consequently, while stiction and friction measurements have provided disc drive manufacturers with a useful diagnostic tool, the value of this tool has been limited by practical difficulties that are inherent in making the measurements. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved approach to measuring stiction and friction in a disc drive that overcomes such limitations in the prior art.

Measuring stiction and friction between the heads and discs of a hard disc drive


A management system of the present invention is provided with an electronic apparatus having a specific function, such as a digital composite machine, an information management apparatus, and a plurality of service information terminals. The information management apparatus and a plurality of the service information terminals are linked with the electronic apparatus via a network. After the operation of the digital composite machine, which has been serviced, is resumed after the service, operational information is prepared, for example, by inputting operating condition information into an operation panel in accordance with a determination made by a user, so as to transmit the operational information to the information management apparatus. The information management apparatus uses the operational information, at least as a reference for determining whether or not it is necessary to the service, so as to instruct the service information terminal to repeat the service, for example. In this way, it is possible to provide a management system and a management method for the electronic apparatus, which appropriately manages the electronic apparatus by advantageously utilizing the characteristics of E-mail.

Recently, various attempts have been made to provide additional functions in a network (for example, a LAN) structured by connecting a computer, a printer, and various other electronic apparatuses in addition to the standard functions of transmitting and receiving information via the network. In particular, these additional functions have included several technologies for managing an electronic apparatus effectively by means of E-mail.
For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2707459 (Japanese Un-Examined Patent Application, Tokukaihei, No. 2-172348: published on Jul. 3, 1990) discloses a facsimile apparatus provided with interface means having an E-mail function that connects, the facsimile apparatus with a network.
In this case, a sender (a user sending information) of image information inputs identification information used in the computer network as his sender's identification information (sender's ID information). Upon the completion of the transmission of the image information by a sending facsimile apparatus, the sending facsimile apparatus prepares transmission result report information that reports the result of the transmission and thereafter sends the transmission result report information in a form of E-mail addressed to the sender's ID information via the computer network. Furthermore, in case the receiving facsimile apparatus, when identification information (receiver's ID information) of a receiver (a user receiving the transmitted information) is input into the computer network before the transmission of the image information, the receiving facsimile apparatus prepares receipt result report information that reports a receipt result after completion of its receipt of the image information and thereafter sends the receipt result report information in a form of E-mail addressed to the receiver's ID information via the computer network, at the same time that the transmission result report information is sent to the sender's I.D. information via the computer network.
With this arrangement, when a facsimile message is transmitted or received by the facsimile apparatus of a user that is connected to the computer network, a transmission result or a receipt result is automatically sent to the sender and/or to the receiver from his facsimile apparatus. This allows the sender and the receiver to surely obtain information regarding the transmission or the receipt of the image information by their associated facsimile apparatus by checking for the receipt of an E-mail at their respective computers, without the necessity going to the location at which their associated the facsimile apparatus is located.
Moreover, Japanese Un-Examined Patent Application, Tokukai, No. 2000-181302 (published on Jun. 30, 2000) discloses an image forming apparatus management system, in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a central management apparatus equipped with a computer are connected via a public communication network, a communication adaptor, and a wire or wireless interface, such that the central management apparatus can perform central management of each image forming apparatus.
This image forming apparatus management system has as its main objects a reduction in (a) the required number of communication lines, (b) the communication period and (c) communication charges, in addition to a shortening of the processing time of the central management apparatus. To achieve these objects, each image forming apparatus is provided with data management means, and a management terminal to be connected to the communication adaptor is provided with data recording means, data processing means and data transmission mean for reporting a no data acquisition condition. Further, the central management apparatus is provided with data transmission means for reporting a service request.
The image forming apparatus uses data management means provided therein to manage usage information of the image forming apparatus, and to output response data that shows the usage information, upon receipt of data reading instructions from the management terminal.
The management terminal first records in a data recording means information on the types of the image forming apparatuses connected to the network, usage information of each image forming apparatus, and associated data including a data collection date or a data accumulation date. Then, the management terminal automatically sends data reading instructions to the respective image forming apparatuses on their associated data collection date or their associated data accumulation date, or a few days before. The data processing means collects or accumulates the response data respectively outputted from the data management means of each image forming apparatus. Meanwhile, if no response data is acquired from a particular image forming apparatus, the data transmission means for reporting no data acquisition automatically sends reporting data for reporting that no data acquisition to the central management apparatus.
The central management apparatus is arranged to use the network data transmission means to automatically send, to outside, reporting data requesting service in order to find the cause that has prevented the management terminal from acquiring response data from particular ones of the image forming apparatuses, or all of the image forming apparatuses, and to receive repair service, when the central management apparatus receives the reporting data for reporting no data acquisition. The transmission of the reporting data also can be carried out via E-mail.
The above arrangement, where the management terminal collects and accumulates response data from each image forming apparatus on predetermined data collection dates or data accumulation dates, reduces the number of required communication line, the communication period, and also shortens operation time (for example, the data processing time of the central management apparatus). Moreover, when no response data is acquired, the data for reporting no data acquisition is automatically sent to the central management apparatus, so that the central management apparatus automatically requests a service department, for example via E-mail as mentioned above, to perform the service required to find the cause that is preventing the data acquisition. This makes it possible to solve the problem of no data acquisition in a short time.
E-mail is advantageous in the situation just discussed, for example, because: its transmission time is relatively short; it is easy to reply E-mail; it is simple to save and reuse E-mail data; and E-mail can be transmitted or received regardless of situation of the receiver of the apparatus requiring service. Therefore, it is known that the advantages of E-mail may be utilized to manage an electronic apparatus, but no method of managing an electronic apparatus, which effectively utilizes the advantages of E-mail for that purpose, has been suggested.
For example, in the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2707459, E-mail, as a subsidiary means to a facsimile apparatus, is utilized for informing a result of transmission and/or reception that has been performed by a facsimile apparatus—that is, simply for sending to a personal computer the result of the transmission and reception performed by the facsimile apparatus.
Similarly, in the technology disclosed in Japanese Un-Examined Patent Application, Tokukai, No. 2000-181302, E-mail is used only for communications between a central management apparatus and a service department (i.e., E-mail is used only when a trouble condition such as no data being acquired is encountered).
Therefore, in the technologies disclosed in the applications and Publications referred to above, E-mail does not play a principal role in the management of the electronic apparatus. Therefore, those applications fail to utilize E-mail effectively.
Furthermore, even when E-mail has been utilized in the art, there is no significant difference between a conventional management method without using E-mail and the management method in which E-mail is used in those situations in which the use of E-mail is limited to simple transmission of information. Further, in addition to those advantages mentioned above, E-mail has another advantage that E-mail realizes a fast and sure communication with a remote location. Therefore, it is expected that E-mail can be utilized in a management system for a sure management of an electronic apparatus at a remote location. However, the simple use of E-mail discussed above cannot realize a satisfactory remote management system.
For example, where a management system is provided with an electronic apparatus such as an image forming apparatus to send an E-mail from the image forming apparatus to a manager (a service provider), the manager receives an E-mail message indication reading "no paper" or "no toner" from the image forming apparatus. In this way, the manager can supply paper or toner in accordance with the notice, or can manage consumptive goods such as paper or toner so that he can place an order for the consumptive goods (for example, by telephone), if necessary, in accordance with the notice. In this case, however, the use of E-mail makes no significant improvement in the art, thereby failing to make a significant difference from the conventional management method or management system.
Therefore, even if E-mail is used to communicate in a management system for managing an electronic apparatus, the management system is not a remote management system that enables the service provider to respond (i.e., deal with) surely to the needs of the electronic apparatus with much consideration of the needs of the user.
In addition, in the technology disclosed in Japanese Un-Examined Patent Application, Tokukai, No. 2000-181302, the service is provided only in those cases where no response data is acquired from the image forming apparatus. Thus, service is provided without determining whether the image forming apparatus itself has a problem in terms of maintenance, or the image forming apparatus has experienced a trouble event adversely impacting its future operation. In short, the main objects of the prior art are reducing the number of the communication lines, the communication period, and the data processing time, but that technology is insufficient for the provision of proper service to effectively solve the problems encountered by an electronic apparatus.
Therefore, the above technologies are inadequate as a management system for the electronic apparatus, such as the image forming apparatus that requires intensive service in terms for its correct maintenance.

Electronic apparatus, information communications apparatus, management system for same electronic apparatus, and management method for same electronic apparatus


An antenna includes a loop radiating element, and first and second radiating arms. The loop radiating element includes first and second segments, each of which has opposite first and second ends, and an intermediate segment that interconnects the second ends of the first and second segments thereof. The first and second radiating arms extend outwardly and respectively from the first and second ends of the first segment of the loop radiating element.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an antenna, more particularly to antenna that is applicable to a wireless personal area network (WPAN).
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA), which is applicable to a wireless personal area network (WPAN), includes a coupling element, such as a parasitic coupling element, and is operable in a Bluetooth frequency range from 2402 MHz to 2480 MHz, and an ultra-wideband (UWB) Band I frequency range from 3168 MHz to 4752 MHz.
The aforementioned conventional PIFA is disadvantageous in that it has relatively large physical size, narrow bandwidth, and complicated structure, and is difficult to control so as to enable operation thereof in the Bluetooth frequency range and the UWB Band I frequency range.

Antenna for a wireless personal area network


There is provided a wireless communication device including a receiving unit that receives a radio signal transmitted from a base station providing a wireless communication service, a congestion calculation unit that calculates a degree of congestion of the wireless communication service based on a received result of the radio signal by the receiving unit, and an effective communication rate estimation unit that estimates an effective communication rate of the wireless communication service by use of the degree of congestion calculated by the congestion calculation unit.

The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication device, a program, a wireless communication method, and a wireless communication system.
The 3G (third-generation) mobile phone service started in 2002 in Japan. Although exchange of small size packets such as voice or email was a main application initially, download of larger size packets such as download of music files or viewing of shared videos has become increasingly popular since introduction of HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) or the like.
Further, with an increase in downloaded packet size, expansion on the side of a wireless network has been also made, and the HSPA+ service that achieves speeds up to 21 Mbps in 3GPP, and the Mobile WiMAX service that achieves speeds up to 40 Mbps in IEEE started. Further, in 3GPP, LTE (Long Term Evolution) that uses OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) for downlink, just like Mobile WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), is scheduled to start in the latter half of 2010, and 4G (LTE-Advanced) is scheduled to start around 2015. By the start of such services, it is expected to achieve speeds up to 1 Gbps in a semi-fixed state and speeds up to 100 Mbps in a mobile environment.
Because various wireless communication services that offer a high communication rate are scheduled to start as described above, a scheme for effective use of a wireless resource in a heterogeneous wireless environment would become increasingly important in the coming years. For example, a wireless communication device that is compatible with a plurality of wireless communication services can select a wireless communication service to use based on the maximum communication rate of each wireless communication service or a received signal strength. However, when traffic is concentrated on a wireless communication service with a high maximum communication rate, a case is assumed where the effective communication rate (actual communication rate) of the wireless communication service decreases, and as a result, the effective communication rate of another wireless communication service becomes higher. Note that Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-298484 contains description about a wireless communication device such as a mobile phone.

Wireless communication device, program, wireless communication method, and wireless communication system


A multi-passband filter includes a dielectric member (1), a plurality of resonant lines (12a-12c,13,14a-14d,15a-15c) provided within or on the dielectric member (1) and the resonant lines (12a-12c,13,14a-14d,15a-15c) are coupled to adjacent resonant lines so that a plurality of resonators are provided. At least one pair of resonant lines (12a-12c,13,14a-14d,15a-15c) are interdigitally coupled to each other in such a manner that the open ends and short-circuited ends of said resonant lines (12a-12c,13,14a-14d,15a-15c) are located in opposite directions with respect to each other, thereby providing a band-elimination filter. At least one pair of said resonant lines (14a-14d) may be comb-line coupled to each other in such a manner that the open ends and short-circuited ends of said resonant lines (14a-14d) are located in the same direction with respect to each other, thereby providing a band-pass filter. The multi-passband filter requires only a limited space to dispose the band-elimination filter in the filter. It is unnecessary to provide a phase shifter between the band-elimination filter and an input/output terminal when the band-elimination filter and the other filter are combined to input or output signals through a common input/output terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-passband filter. More particularly, the invention relates to a multi-passband filter comprising a dielectric member, a plurality of resonant lines provided within or on said dielectric member, and each of the resonant lines being coupled to the adjacent resonant line or lines. The multi-passband filter is for use in mobile communication apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
An example of a conventional antenna-duplexer unit formed by a plurality of filters in a single dielectric block is shown in FIGS. 14(A) and 14(B). FIG. 14(A) is a front view of the dielectric filters for use in the antenna-duplexer unit, and FIG. 14(B) is a longitudinal sectional view of the dielectric filters. In FIGS. 14(A) and 14(B), a dielectric block 1 has ground conductors 10 on the peripheral surfaces other than the front surface of the dielectric block 1. A plurality of resonant-line holes 31a through 31i are provided in the dielectric block 1 in which resonant lines 32a through 32i are formed, respectively. Rectangular-shaped electrodes, continuously extending from the respective resonant lines 32a through 32i, are formed on the open front surface of the dielectric block 1. Moreover, input/output-coupling electrodes 33a, 33b and 33c are inserted between the resonant-line holes 31a and 31b, between the holes 31d and 31e, and between the holes 31h and 31i, respectively, thereby capacitively coupling the adjacent rectangular electrodes. In this manner, the following types of filters are respectively formed: a band-pass filter consisting of three stages of resonators in a region indicated by F2; a band-pass filter formed of four stages of resonators in a region indicated by F3; and band-elimination filters (trap circuits), each formed of a one-stage resonator, in regions indicated by F1 and F4, respectively. Further, the input/output-coupling electrodes 33a, 33b and 33c are used as a transmitting (Tx) terminal, an antenna (ANT) terminal, and a receiving (Rx) terminal, respectively. In this manner, an antenna-duplexer unit is formed.
The above known type of antenna-duplexer unit, such as the one shown in FIGS. 14(A) and 14(B), however, presents the following problems. Either the transmitting filter or the receiving filter in this unit is adapted to reject the pass band of the other filter due to its respective band-pass filter characteristics. This requires a large number of resonator stages, which would otherwise fail to obtain a sufficient attenuation in the attenuation band, thereby inevitably enlarging the unit. One possible measure to overcome the above drawback may be to use a band-elimination filter as the transmitting filter. If, however, a multi-passband filter is formed of a single dielectric block, a transmission-line conductor is required for coupling adjacent resonators with a phase difference of .pi./2 (rad). As the transmission line, a microstripline on a dielectric should be used, and the electric length of the microstripline is accordingly longer than the length of the resonator, thereby increasing the dimensions of the space required for an array of the resonators.
Moreover, if the foregoing problem encountered by the known antenna-duplexer unit is solved simply by using a band-elimination filter as the transmitting filter, the impedance in the passband of the receiving filter, i.e., in the elimination band of the transmitting filter, as viewed from the receiving filter to the transmitting filter, becomes approximately zero. Thus, a receiving signal input from the antenna disadvantageously flows into the transmitting filter rather than the receiving filter. In order to avoid this inconvenience, a phase shifter having an electric length of .pi./2 may be provided between the transmitting filter and the antenna terminal so that the impedance viewed from the receiving filter in the stop band of the transmitting filter becomes approximately infinite. However, this requires a large number of parts, which further increases the cost.


Aspects of the invention include a step-up/step-down chopper unit, an inverter unit, a rectifier unit, first to third voltage detection means, and a drive control unit. Voltage regulation means of the drive control unit, in accordance with a detected voltage value detected by the voltage detection means, generates control signals for keeping the effective voltage value of a capacitor constant. In some aspects of the invention, the effective voltage value of the capacitor is controlled to be constant by the switching elements of the step-up/step-down chopper unit and inverter unit being driven by the control signals. The rectifier unit can suppress a surge voltage by causing energy stored in a inductor to be absorbed by storage elements when bidirectional switching elements are turned off.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to power conversion devices, and, in particular, power conversion devices that compensate for alternating current power source voltage fluctuations or power interruptions.
2. Related Art
FIG. 6 shows an alternating current step-up chopper circuit using semiconductor switching elements (hereafter called bidirectional switching elements) that compensates for an alternating current power source voltage drop, supplies a constant voltage to a load, and can control the turning on and off of a bidirectional current (see Japanese Patent No. 3,902,030 at FIG. 17).
The alternating current step-up chopper circuit is configured of a first series circuit wherein a first inductor 4 and first bidirectional switching element 6 are connected in series and a second series circuit, connected in parallel to the first bidirectional switching element 6, wherein a second bidirectional switching element 5 and capacitor 3 are connected in series.
By alternately turning the two bidirectional switching elements 5 and 6 on and off in the alternating current step-up chopper circuit, it is possible to maintain a load voltage Vout (the voltage across the capacitor 3) even when a voltage Vin of an alternating current power source 1 drops. The load voltage Vout is determined by the turn-on and turn-off ratios of the two bidirectional switching elements 5 and 6.
For example, when the power source voltage Vin drops to 80% of the rating, the step-up ratio for keeping the load voltage Vout at 100% of the rating is [1.0/0.8]. Therefore, the turn-on ratio of the bidirectional switching element 5 is [0.8], while the turn-on ratio of the bidirectional switching element 6 is [0.2 (=1−0.8)].
FIGS. 7A-7D show examples of configurations of bidirectional switching elements used in an alternating current step-up chopper. In FIG. 7A, two reverse blocking IGBTs, given a breakdown voltage with respect to voltage of reverse polarity equivalent to that with respect to forward polarity, are connected in anti-parallel. FIG. 7B shows circuits given reverse breakdown voltage by a diode being connected in series to a normal IGBT that does not have reverse breakdown voltage, the circuits being further connected in anti-parallel. FIG. 7C shows reverse conducting elements wherein diodes are connected in parallel to IGBTs, further connected in anti-series. FIG. 7D shows the same kind of connection as FIG. 7C, but MOSFETs are used as the switching elements.
Unlike an IGBT, a MOSFET has resistance characteristics such that current and forward voltage drop are proportional, meaning that, theoretically, the forward voltage drop can be brought ever nearer to zero by increasing the number of MOSFETs in parallel. Also, as a MOSFET also conducts in a reverse direction when voltage is applied to its gate, it is possible under certain conditions to reduce the forward voltage drop farther than with a parallel diode. In particular, as MOSFETs using SiC (silicon carbide) have started to be commercialized recently, a considerable reduction in forward voltage drop is expected.
However, the following two problems are known regarding the previously described alternating current step-up chopper circuit.
The first problem is that there is a limit to the amount of voltage compensation for the alternating current power source voltage drop. In a step-up operation, an input current Iin flowing is larger by an amount proportionate to the step-up of a load current Iout. For example, assuming that the power source voltage Vin drops to [⅕] of when it is rated, the input current Iin momentarily becomes five times the rating. Because of this, the semiconductor switching elements used as the bidirectional switching elements need to be able to tolerate five times the amount of current. Also, it is necessary that the inductor does not become saturated even when the previously described current flows. Because of this, the semiconductor switching elements and inductor increase in size as the voltage range to be compensated for widens, and the cost also increases. Because of this, in actual practice the power conversion device is used with 50% to 100% of the power source voltage as the compensation range, while 50% or less is taken to be outside the compensation range.
However, there is no guarantee that the amount of voltage drop when there is a momentary voltage drop is constant, and while it is preferable to increase the compensated voltage range in order to reduce the risk of failure in a load device, it is not possible to supply power to the load when there is a short power interruption such that the power source voltage drops to zero. Also, as a step-down operation is not possible, it is not possible to compensate for a voltage rise such that the power source voltage Vin becomes higher than the load voltage Vout. Furthermore, when the alternating current power source voltage and load voltage are asynchronous, such as when the power source frequency is abnormal, it is not possible to supply power to the load. Consequently, although the configuration of the alternating current step-up chopper circuit is simple, there is a problem with regard to the level of power source quality and reliability required by the load.
The second problem is that surge voltage is generated when the bidirectional switching elements are cut off, and in the worst case, the elements configuring the load and alternating current step-up chopper circuit are destroyed. As factors in surge voltage being generated, there is one caused when the current to the switching elements is interrupted during a normal working operation, and one caused by an operation turning off all the switching elements when protecting the device, with the latter constituting a particular problem. The former, as is commonly known, is such that a high dl/dt (dl is the amount of current change, while dt is time) occurs when turning off the switching elements, and a surge voltage of L×dl/dt (where L is wire inductance) is generated due to the wire inductance around the switching elements.
To give a description of the latter factor, when some accident such as, for example, a load short circuit occurs during a step-up operation, the bidirectional switching elements 5 and 6 have to be stopped in order to ensure safety. However, when simultaneously turning off the bidirectional switching elements 5 and 6 during a conversion operation, there is no longer a path for consuming energy stored in the inductor 4, meaning that surge voltage is generated in the bidirectional switching element 5 or 6. Regarding the wire inductance, a certain amount of improvement is possible by, for example, shortening the wires between the switching elements, or the like, but as the inductor 4 inductance of the latter factor is determined by circuit conditions, it is extremely large with respect to wire inductance (a few tens of a nanohenry to a few hundred nanohenry), and the surge voltage is also high.
The kind of power conversion device shown in, for example, Japanese patent publication no. JP-A-11-178216 is known as a method of solving the first problem. A configuration is shown in FIG. 8. By energy of capacitors 35 and 36 being supplied via a transformer 31 to a load 2 by an inverter 42 when a power source voltage Vin fluctuates within a constant range, voltage equivalent to the amount of fluctuation of the power source voltage Vin is compensated for, thereby keeping a load voltage Vout constant, and the energy of the capacitors 35 and 36 is replenished or returned by an inverter 43. Meanwhile, when the power source voltage Vin drops to a voltage outside the compensation range, the energy of the capacitors 35 and 36 is supplied to the load 2 by the inverter 43.
It is possible with this device to supply a constant voltage to the load over a wide range of fluctuation of the power source voltage Vin but, as the voltage compensating transformer 31 (such as, for example, an insulating transformer with a commercial frequency of 50 to 60 Hz) is necessary, there is a problem in terms of the capacity, weight, and cost of the device. Also, as power equivalent to the amount of voltage compensation passes through two inverters, another problem occurs in that power converter loss is greater than in the case of an alternating current step-up chopper.
The kind of rectifying snubber circuit shown in, for example, Japanese patent publication no. JP-A-2007-221844 is known as a method of solving the second problem. A matrix converter device 50 of Japanese patent publication no. JP-A-2007-221844 shown in FIG. 9 is configured of a matrix converter 46, an input filter 47, and a rectifier snubber circuit 48. The rectifier snubber circuit 48 is connected to the input side and output side of the matrix converter 46. The input filter 47 is configured of, for example, a inductor and a capacitor. FIG. 9 shows an example of application to a three-phase matrix converter, but the rectifier snubber circuit 48 also achieves the same advantage in a single-phase or three-phase alternating current step-up chopper.
In the case of turning off all of the switching elements when protecting the device, as previously described, surge voltage is generated by energy stored in the inductance on the power source side (herein, the components of the input filter 47) and the inductance on the load side (herein, the motor 49). The surge voltage generated is rectified by passing through a rectifier circuit 51 or 52, and a voltage rise on the power source side and load side is suppressed, and overvoltage prevented, by a capacitor 53 being charged. Also, when the amount of energy generated by the inductance components of the power source side and load side is large, and the direct current voltage of the capacitor 53 rises above a predetermined value, overvoltage is prevented by the energy being consumed in a discharge circuit 56. The operation is such that overvoltage is detected by a voltage detection circuit 57, and the energy is consumed in a resistor 55 by a semiconductor switching element 54 being turned on.
Thus, in the related art, it is possible to address the above-discussed problems by changing or adding circuits, but such solutions do not solve the heretofore described problems simultaneously, and such solutions also can introduce additional problems. Accordingly, as described above, there is a need in the art for an improved power conversion device.

Power conversion device, including serial switching element, that compensates for voltage fluctuations


A method and apparatus prevents hacker code from infecting an application program by requiring decryption of the application program prior to running the application program on a computer. The method includes steps of: providing a storage device that is a separate unit from components necessary to operate the computer; storing a symmetric private key on the storage device; using the symmetric private key to produce an encrypted application program upon first installation; thereafter decrypting that part of the encrypted application program needed implement a command to run the application program; precluding the computer from running any part of the application program that has not been first encrypted with the symmetric private key; and, decrypting, on the fly, only those follow-on parts of the encrypted application program needed to perform functions called for during operation of the application program.

Currently, computer programs (executable code) are configured to be executed in a specific operating system and an executable code for a specific operating system can be executed in any machine running that specific operating system.
Therefore, any piece of executable code, malicious or not, for specific operating system will be executed in any computer running that operating system. It is done this way to enable a single program (executable code), to be written once and executed in any machine running the same operating system. This is the currently in use mechanism which lays in the core of currently in-use computer technology (hardware/software), which we use in our everyday lives.
The vast majority of living humans in every nation of the world uses a computer of some sort, every single day—be it in the form of a server computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a cellphone, a pad computer or any device which make the use of computer technology: hardware and software.
In the developed world, most humans are so dependent on computers, helping us with all kind of tasks in our daily lives, that most cannot function properly without a computer's help. Many are not now able to travel from one city's location to another without the use of electronic maps in our mobile devices.
Most of the computer programs (software applications or just applications) used are for our wellbeing, and we all are glad for their existences. But there are other kinds of adverse applications that are programmed for the single purpose, to create havoc and disruption in our daily lives. And they are called computer viruses, computer worms, adware, fishing software, ransomware, etc. (each such adverse application may be referred to herein as hacker code, a computer virus, or a virus).
In cryptography, encryption is the process of encoding a message or information in such a way that only authorized parties can access it. Encryption does not in itself prevent interference, but denies the intelligible content to a would-be interceptor. In an encryption scheme, the intended information or message, referred to as plaintext, is encrypted using an encryption algorithm, generating cipher-text that can only be read, if decrypted.
For technical reasons, an encryption scheme usually uses a pseudo-random encryption key generated by an algorithm. It is in principle possible to decrypt the message without possessing the key, but, for a well-designed encryption scheme, considerable computational resources and skills are required, which sometimes, can take a great length of time in the number of many years of computational prowess using very expensive and powerful computers, which in many cases, is not feasible or economically possible. But on the other hand, an authorized message recipient possessing the decryption key can easily decrypt the message using the key supplied by the originator/message's sender to the message recipient.
Basically, encryption is a form for hiding a message as not to make its actual/original content available to an intermediary which is not supposed to know the actual message/content. For instance, if the message would have been: "9", and the pre-agreed upon method was to multiply the value of "7" to the message before it was sent, then once "7" is multiplied to "9" the result will be "63". Anyone reading this message will not know that the actual value is "9", but once the intend recipient receives the value "63" all that will be needed will be to divide the received value "7" by "63", and the result will be "9"—the original value.
Of course, this example is very simplistic, but it gives an idea how encryption works. In an actual computer encryption, very sophisticated method is used. Some uses the computer's logical functions or sophisticated mathematical algorithm. Encryption algorithm, schema or methods will not be explained here, since it is beyond the scope of the present invention. And any kind of available encryption mechanism in use today or to be invented in the future can be used to achieve the purpose of encrypting a non-encoded software code and to decrypt an encrypted one. But for the sake of clarity, a more complex format which computer uses will be explained shortly.
Software installation of the prior art—the behavior of the operating system (120) of the present invention is also different from the prior art's operating systems of the prior art currently in use. With the prior art operating systems, the operating system gets an un-encrypted software code and installs it on the computer by creating all the required procedures for its later execution, then saving it unencrypted on the computer's non-transitory storage.
Software execution of the prior art—when a request arrives in the computer where the unencrypted software is installed, the operating system simply reads it and the central processing unit executes it, thus, finalizing the process.
Computer infection of the prior art—since any program once installed in the computer of the prior art is in a single format, then a virus will be installed and executed the same as any other program. Usually the virus is introduced without the user's or the operating system's knowledge.
In virus execution under the prior art, the central processing unit does not distinguish what kind of software code being executed, it may be a good code (an accounting software) or a bad code (a virus), and therefore, a virus will be executed the same way as any other program.


It is an object of the present invention to provide a flux containing flux components homogeneously dispersed without precipitation of aggregates in addition to having an appropriate balance between fluidity and shape retention property, and a solder paste. A flux comprising 0.5 to 3.5 mass % of a sorbitol-type thixotropic agent selected from the group consisting of dibenzylidene sorbitol, bis(4-methylbenzylidene)sorbitol and a combination thereof, and 2 to 350 mass ppm of a sorbitol-type additive selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, monobenzylidene sorbitol, mono(4-methylbenzylidene)sorbitol and a combination thereof, and a glycol ether-type solvent.

Fixing and electrical connection of electronic parts in electronic equipment, such as mounting of electronic parts on a printed circuit board, is generally carried out by soldering, which is most advantageous in terms of cost and reliability. Methods generally adopted for this kind of soldering include a flow soldering method in which a printed circuit board and an electronic part are brought into contact with molten solder to carry out soldering, and a reflow soldering method in which solder in the form of a solder paste, a solder preform or a solder ball is remelted in a reflow furnace to carry out soldering.
The solder paste used in this reflow soldering method is a mixture obtained by kneading a solder powder and a flux that is a component other than the solder powder, including a rosin-type resin, an activator, a thixotropic agent or a solvent, into a paste.
Since feeding of a solder paste to a board is usually carried out by dispenser discharging or screen printing, the solder paste is required to have dischargeability and printability such as release property, and is further required to retain its shape after it is fed. In a solder paste, flow characteristics (thixotropy) including both of fluidity (low viscosity) during discharging/printing and shape retention property (high viscosity) after feeding become an important factor during fine pitch printing in the board surface mounting in which an increase in density has been accelerated in recent years.
In order to impart thixotropy, a thixotropic agent is added to a flux used in a solder paste.
As the thixotropic agent, a sorbitol-type thixotropic agent such as dibenzylidene sorbitol or bis(4-methylbenzylidene)sorbitol is known. For example, in Patent Literature 1, a soldering flux containing a combination of a prescribed amount of hydrogenated castor oil and dibenzylidene sorbitol or dimethyldibenzylidene sorbitol is proposed.
However, it has been found that coarse aggregates exist in the flux containing a combination of hydrogenated castor oil and dibenzylidene sorbitol, as described later in a comparative example of the present application. If coarse aggregates are contained in a flux during soldering, the aggregates physically hinder the formation of an alloy layer of an electrode and solder and cause occurrence of non-wetting. Moreover, existence of these aggregates hinders homogeneity of flux components, and if the flux components become heterogeneous, solder wettability becomes heterogeneous.
As described above, a flux containing flux components homogeneously dispersed without precipitation of aggregates in addition to having an appropriate balance between fluidity and shape retention property is desired.


A damper device may include a frame, a baffle turnably supported on the frame, a drive unit for turnably driving the baffle, a first and a second turnable support parts for supporting the baffle on the frame, and a mechanical connecting part between the drive unit and the baffle which is structured at a position apart from a turning center axial line of the baffle. The first and second turnable support parts are structured by using a shaft part made of resin which is formed in one of the baffle and the frame, and a shaft hole which is formed in the other of the baffle and the frame. A passage through which cold air is passed is opened and closed by the baffle.

A damper device has been used in a refrigerator or in an air-conditioner for opening/closing a passage for fluid. The damper device includes a frame, a baffle which is turnably supported on the frame, and a drive unit for turnably driving the baffle. The passage through which fluid is passed is opened and closed by the baffle that is turned. Therefore, the above-mentioned damper device is often structured that the drive unit is connected with a turning shaft of the baffle to turnably drive the baffle (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Sho 64-048571).
However, when the drive unit is structured so as to be connected with a turnable support part of the baffle, the baffle is required to be supported on a frame by using bearing parts. Therefore, the number of part items is increased and thus cost is increased and assembling work requires a lot of labor.


A method includes the steps of providing a disk, wherein the disk has a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a profile, and wherein the disk includes an FDA-compliant plastic material that is configured to be formed into a dental appliance; providing a graphic part, wherein the graphic part includes: a first carrier film, and a graphic disposed on the first carrier film, providing a heat stamping press having a lower platen and an upper platen; positioning the disk on the lower platen; positioning the graphic part on the disk such that the graphic of the graphic part contacts a portion of the first side of the disk; and heat stamping the disk and the graphic part with the heat stamping press, thereby causing the graphic to fuse with the disk to produce a decorated disk.

Dental appliances, such as orthodontic retainers, mouth guards used for dental purposes, mouth guards worn during sleep for dental purposes, teeth aligners, teeth positioners, dental bleaching trays, and mouth splints for dental purposes, are worn by many people for a wide variety of reasons. Techniques exist to produce decorated dental appliances, but such techniques typically involve mixing a physical decoration, such as glitter, together with the material that will be used to form the dental appliance, resulting in a limited variety of available decorations.

Decorated dental appliances and methods for producing same