A toilet provides a traditional water filled bowl with flushing action as well as a bidet in one unit. Heated air is forced into the toilet bowl interior and directed onto bidet washed surfaces for drying. Water is directed into the bowl under pressure for flushing and for operating the bidet. The upper rim of the toilet bowl contains a channel which dispenses flush water downwardly for cleaning the interior of the toilet during flushing. Flush water is also directed from two additional outlets to provide flushing action. The toilet is fixtured for wall mounting at an adjustable height which may be changed by merely repositioning mounting bolts on a pair of vertical supports. Sewage pipes are telescoping or extendable for accommodating a vertical positioning range.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to toilets, and more particularly to a wall mounted combination toilet and bidet.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following art defines the present state of this field:
Okita et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,780 describes a seat-lifting device having a pair of left and right units arranged on both sides of a stool in a toilet. The units are connected mutually by a connecting frame. Each unit has a guide portion and a cable-driving portion which are connected with a pair of conduits for guiding a cable. The guide portion has a static guide, a sliding plate slidably supported with the static guide, a seat-supporting member tiltably mounted on the sliding member, and a gas spring urging the rear portion of the seat-supporting member. The sliding pate is driven by the cable-driving portion through a loop of cable.
Derakhshan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,901 describes a personal hygiene fixture is provided as a retrofit unit designed to mount directly onto a toilet tank inlet, being interposed in the fresh water supply line where it attaches to the tank. The appliance has a diversion valve which diverts water from the supply line to a tube leading to an irrigation nozzle mounted to the underside of the toilet seat. The knob controlling the irrigation is part of the valve, and is thus rigidly mounted to the tank fill valve so that it is easy to install and operate. A second diversion valve with a flexible line leading to a douche wand can also be incorporated in the valve unit to provide a dual-function hygiene appliance.
Wokas, U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,971 describes a bidet attachment which can be retrofit to any conventionally sized toilet includes fittings for rigidly connecting attachment to the existing water supply line and toilet water tank, a valve for selectively controlling water flow through the device, a hand adjustable supply conduit extending between the seat and the toilet bowl having a remote end portion extending downwardly below a rear center portion of the seat into the toilet bowl, and an adjustable nozzle directed upwardly generally normal to the remote end portion, whereby water sprayed from the nozzle is directed on the rectal area of a user. The adjustable supply conduit includes a plurality of tube segments which are slidably connected with a plurality of corresponding elbow fittings.
Han et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,069 describes a bidet apparatus includes a base plate fitted to an upper horizontal rim surface of a conventional toilet. A rear nozzle block is pivotally mounted to the base plate and includes two separate water inlets connected to two separate nozzles. Each nozzle includes a plurality of holes to spray water at an angle at the posterior and genital areas of a user. Two valves are mounted to the base plate each having on inlet connectable to a pressurized water source, and one outlet, with each of the outlets being connected to a respective one of the separate water inlets. Conduits connect the separate water inlets to the valve outlets. A position handle is mounted to the base plate and includes a handle shaft moveable in back and forth motion for adjusting the position of the rear nozzle block. A linkage is connected between the rear nozzle block and the position handle for moving the rear nozzle block to an in-use position in response to movement of the handle shaft.
Childs, U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,234 describes a bidet assembly for use with a toilet having a toilet seat is disclose. The bidet assembly provides a bidet seat to be coupled rotably to the toilet to be movably between a raised position and a lowered position over the toilet seat on the toilet bowl. The bidet seat defines a central opening. A nozzle for providing a fluid flow therethrough is connected to the bidet peat proximate the central opening. The nozzle is thus movable with the bidet seat when the bidet seat is coupled to the toilet. When coupled to a conventional toilet, the bidet seat is rotated into position atop the toilet seat only when the user wishes to use the bidet assembly. Thus, the bidet nozzle and any attached water supply are protected from contamination by the toilet. When the bidet assembly is not in use, the bidet seat is rotated to a raised position.
Jaeckels et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,923 describes a toilet has a pump to deliver selected quantities of water from a reservoir to a toilet bowl so as to effect a water savings. In one aspect, both the motor and pump are positioned in the reservoir to deliver water to both the rim and bowl portions. In another aspect, there are conduits connected between the basin, the rim and controls which are provided to deliver water to the rim and bowl either independently, simultaneously or in selective sequences. In alternative embodiments, a refill tube is connected to an intake conduit and the rim of the bowl to effect a water seal, a fail safe valve is connected to the supply conduit, a receptacle with a cleaning fluid and a pump is connected to the bowl and there are at least two receptacles for receiving waste.
Root, U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,048 describes an exhaust collector comprising an underside intake secured within the interior of a toilet by a detachable add compressible mounting of the connecting conduit to the sidewall through which it extends to draw discharged odoriferous gases away from the person or the user by means of biased air.
Eger, U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,472 describes a toilet ventilation unit including a vacuum motor mounted in the wall voids surrounding the toilet that is connected to the back of the tank and utilizes the water passageway of a conventional toilet to draw odors and aromas from the toilet. A vacuum shut off valve is mounted adjacent the back of the tank and is actuated concomitantly with the rising and lowering of the water level to cut off the air flow from the toilet. An additional valve is also mounted adjacent the tank to act in opposition to the shut-off valve and provide relief from the vacuum created from the drop of the water level during flushing. A release valve is adjacent the vacuum motor to draw air from an air source alternative to the toilet, when the shut-off valve is activated.
Ayers, U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,186 describes an infants bidet is provided, which folds out of the way over a toilet. The bidet comprises a container with a drainer platform, inclined surfaces that direct waste into a bowl, an elevated child bearing platform accessory shelves and height adjustment means.
Matthews et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,473 describes an adjustable toilet mounted on the wall of a bathroom. The toilet is raised and lowered by an electrically driven motor. By raising and lowering the toilet, the elderly, the handicapped, and children are aided in the use of the toilet. The toilet provides electrical limit switches for stopping the motor at a desired height above the bathroom floor.
Kearns, U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,671 describes a toilet seat assembly is provided having a seat that is pivotably supported at its forward end for swinging movement between substantially horizontal and upwardly inclined positions. A power lift mechanism is incorporated in the assembly and is selectively operable by the user to pivot the seat and support the seat in a desired position assisting the user in moving between seated and standing positions. The power lift mechanism includes an expandable bladder of the bellows disposed at the rear of the seat assembly between a base structure adapted to be secure on the top of a toilet bowl and the pivoted seat that is also mounted on the base structure. A fluid control system is coupled with the expandable bladder and adapted to be connected with a source of pressurized fluid and has a manually actuated control valve operable by the user to permit admission of pressurized fluid into the bladder to cause its expansion and upward pivoting of the seat or to permit outflow of fluid from the bladder resulting in construction of the bladder and pivoting of the seat towards a horizontal position.
Schrock, U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,874 describes a quiet water closet rim and a method for venting air from a rim cavity of a water closet. The rim has a horizontally oriented annular cavity and is selectively supplied with pressurized water by a flush mechanism. A series of perforations in the rim permits the pressurized water within the rim cavity to exit the rim in the form of a spray. The rim is also provided with a vent passageway having an inlet open into an upper portion of the cavity and an outlet open into the atmosphere. As pressurized water fills the cavity, a portion of the air within the upper portion of the cavity is vented through the vent passageway.
Rozek, U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,361 describes a diverter valve for a fluid storage tank such as the storage tank of a water closet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the diverter valve has a housing with an inlet passage for receiving a supply of water and a pair of outlet passages. One of the outlet passages devlivers pressurized water from the diverter valve to the storage tank, and the other outlet passage delivers the pressurized water to a diversion conduit connected to the toilet bowl rim. The diverter valve also includes a movable flap mounted within the diverter valve which moves to proportion the flow of water between the two outlet passages in response to changes in the water level of the tank. The flap is initially positioned to direct water to the tank when the tank water level is high. The flap is then moved by a water level sensor wuch as a float to direct water to the bowl rim when the water level in the storage tank has emptied. A special bleed line in communication with the supply line is provided to allow a portion of the water supply to flow into the storage tank even when the water level is below the diversion level, so as to refill the tank.
Ibel, U.S. Pat. No. 4,207,628 describes a toilet seat and an overlying bidet basin replacing the toilet seat cover. The toilet seat has enlarged inward sloping opposite middle portions for the supportive engagement of the user's thighs and an opening including enlarged front and rear portions and a relatively narrow middle potion. The lack of any support areas in the front and rear portions positions the user into a semi-squat position, thighs and buttocks spread apart, legs angled upwardly, body bent forward at the waist, over the middle portion of a toilet bowl. The enlarged front and rear positions of the opening allow the insertion of the hand for blotting the wiping and preventing soiling. The bidet basin is pivoted down over and into the toilet seat and is consisting of a bidet seat portion which overlies the toilet seat and a bidet bowl portion which penetrates and covers the opening of the seat. The bidet seat portion has enlarged opposite middle portions for the support of the user's thighs, the user straddling the bidet basin facing to the rear with the perineum and genitals suspended over the front and middle portion of the bidet bowl portion. The human seat is situated over an enlarged front portion of the bidet seat opening and an enlarged rear portion of the opening is for the insertion of the hands for washing and rinsing purposes.
Alvis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,335 relates to a movable toilet seat assembly for the infirm which allows a user to manually control seat position from an essentially standing position to a seated position and vice versa with minimum stress on the user's legs and joints.
Austin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,552 describes a toilet seat to be raised or lowered over a conventional toilet bowl by a power control operated by the user. A pair of jacks, each having a rotary drive shaft, are disposed on each side of the bowl and are connected to a mounting plate which support the seat. The two jacks shafts are mechanically interconnected through a drive, which is located rearwardly and beneath the toilet bowl so that each jack will be raised or lowered the same distance thereby avoiding tilting. The mechanical interconnection is preferably a belt to lesson operating noise, but a chain and sprocket assembly could be used. A reversible electric motor acts as a power source to operate the drive. One jack shaft is pivotly mounted on its supporting base so as to adjust the position of its connected drive shaft to thereby tighten the belt type of drive to which the drive shaft is connected. A protective cover is located above the drive shaft to prevent any portion of the user clothing from becoming entangled within the drive.
Jovy et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,629 describes a method of and apparatus for flushing a water closet by utilizing water and air for the flushing. The method operates at predetermined pressure ratios. AT an air pressure of maximally about 3 bar inside of a pressure vessel the flushing medium consisting of air/water is fed into the pressure vessel, and if the pressure exceeds 3 bar, water only is fed into the pressure vessel. In order to feed water and air a water-jet injection is used which on the one hand communicates via an infeed line with the water mains and on the other hand communicated via an infeed stub at the suction side with the ambient air. The air/water mixture is fed through an infeed line into the pressure vessel, which infeed line ends in a space of the pressure vessel which is occupied by an air cushion. The relative pressures allows a two step flushing which is governed by an accordingly designed discharge valve in the outflow conduit of the pressure vessel
Hennessey et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,025 describes a water-conserving toilet is disclosed and includes a bowl for receiving waste and a waste outlet extending laterally from the bowl and defining a first, shallow trap arranged so that a relatively shallow body of liquid is normally retained in the bottom of the bowl for preventing gaseous flow through the trap. A flush system is provided and is arranged, when operated, to deliver a charge of flushing liquid into the bowl in a direction to cause said body of liquid to be discharged through said outlet for receiving waste from the bowl. An outlet extends outwardly from the chamber and is adapted for connection to a sewer inlet. The chamber outlet defines a second trap of substantial height capable of preventing reverse flow of sewer gas into the chamber in use. The toilet also includes means communicating with the chamber and adapted to relieve increase in gas pressure caused by liquid entering the chamber from the bowl, whereby back pressure resistance to flushing of liquid from the bowl is reduced.
The prior art teaches vertically adjustable toilets, ventilated toilets, bidet accessory kits, and various hardware items and designs for improving the operation and range of capabilities of a toilet. However, the prior art does not teach a combination unitized construction embodying a toilet and bidet with washing and drying capability and vertical wall mounting capability. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.


An electronic switch used in a low-noise block down converter for receiving satellite horizontal or vertical polarization signals. The electronic switch only needs one single wire to receive a pulse width signal of a TV receiver. The electronic switch output a HIGH voltage level and a LOW voltage level according to the pulse Width of the signal from the TV receiver to control the selection of the vertical or horizontal polarization signals.

The present invention relates to an electronic switch used in a low noise block down converter for selecting satellite vertical or horizontal polarization signals. The electronic switch utilizes an electronic pulse technique to obtain advantages of high reliability and optimal effects.
The present satellite television receiving system commonly uses a mechanical switch to select the horizontal and vertical polarization signals. In the example of the North-American satellite television system (as shown in FIG. 5), the feed horn 41 of the low noise down converter (LNB) comprises a servo motor 42 which is activated by signals of ground, +5 V and a pulse Width supplied by a TV receiver 43. One end of the servo motor 42 is connected to a probe 44 so that when the servo motor 42 is rotating, the probe 44 can be forced to rotate to receive the vertical or horizontal polarization signal. However, such a mechanical switch has disadvantages as follows: (1) the reliability of the servo motor is low, particularly in winter, the water flowing into the motor (if any) will be condensed such that the motor is possibly hard to be rotated; and (2) the servo motor is a separately located means, therefore, there are needed three cables to receive the ground, 5 V and pulse width signals from the receiver 43, so that the cost of the system will be higher and the construction thereof will be more complicated.

Electronic switch for selecting satellite polarization signals


A method and/or system for screenshot orientation detection may include performing an initial optical character recognition (OCR) and/or an initial face recognition technique on a screenshot of an application. A determination of whether the screenshot orientation is correct may be made based on, for example, the initial OCR and/or the initial face recognition technique. In an event when the screenshot orientation is not correct, a determination of a correct screenshot orientation may be made. In this regard, the screenshot may be rotated (e.g., by a predetermined number of degrees). A subsequent OCR and/or a subsequent face recognition technique may be performed on the rotated screenshot. A determination may be made whether the screenshot orientation of the rotated screenshot is correct based on, for example, the subsequent OCR and/or the subsequent face recognition technique.

Various types of electronic devices are now commonly utilized. In this regard, electronic devices may include, for example, personal and non-personal devices, mobile and non-mobile devices, communication (wired and/or wireless) devices, general and special purpose devices. Examples of electronic devices may comprise cellular phones, smartphones, tablets, personal computers, laptops and the like. As the use of electronic devices increases, the consumption of electronic device applications also increases. User experience with the applications may be inhibited by careless release of applications to application stores.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such approaches with some aspects of the present method and/or system set forth in the remainder of this disclosure with reference to the drawings.


A glass with a reinforced layer is provided, including a glass body and the reinforced layer formed in a surface of the glass body. The compressive stress of the reinforced layer trends to decrease non-linearly from the surface of the glass body to the interior of the glass body. The compressive stress curve of the reinforced layer has an inflection point. The gradient of a first curve section in front of the inflection point is greater than the gradient of a second curve section behind the inflection point. The overall refractive index of the reinforced layer trends to decrease non-linearly from the surface of the glass body to the interior of the glass body. The refractive index curve of the reinforced layer has at least two inflection points. Furthermore, a method for preparing the glass with a reinforced layer is provided.

Chemically reinforced glass is currently widely used in mobile phones, media players and other terminals, due to its high transparency, high strength and abrasion resistance. The high strength of the chemically reinforced glass is achieved by ion exchange. The principle is that small ions in the glass can be replaced by the large ions in a molten salt bath at high temperatures, and the large ions are tightly piled up on the glass surface to create a strong compressive stress after replacement, whereby a high strength is exhibited.
However, during the ion exchange process, the large ions in the molten salt bath are diluted with increasing number of small ions exchanged out. If the same molten salt bath is still used, the compressive stress of the glass will be reduced. In order to solve such a technical problem, a solution is employed at present, in which the ion exchange is achieved with two different molten salt baths. The glass is initially subjected to ion exchange in a first molten salt bath, and then taken out, cooled and dried after the large ions in the first molten salt bath are diluted to some degree, preheated again, and then subjected to ion exchange in a second molten salt bath, where the concentration of the large ions in the second molten salt bath is greater than that of the large ions in the diluted first molten salt bath. The stress distribution in the compressive stress layer formed by treatment with such molten salt baths is that the compressive stress layer does not change much in the depth direction and the compressive stress layer has a continuous monolayer structure. The concentration of the large ions exchanged varies over the depth of the glass in such a pattern that the concentration of the large ions is high merely at a position close to the glass surface and declines sharply inside the glass. This will necessarily result in uneven strength distribution of the compressive stress layer of the reinforced glass finally formed.
In short, so far, the stress distribution or the concentration of the exchanged ions in the monolayer compressive stress layer formed in the glass surface through physical or chemical tempering or through one or more tempering processes decreases progressively along the direction from the glass surface to the interior of the glass, resulting in a compressive stress layer that does not change much in the depth direction. As a result, the overall strength of the glass is failed to be improved.

Glass with reinforced layer and preparation method thereof

Chongqing Aureavia Hi-tech Glass Co., Ltd.


An electric compressor includes: a circuit board on which a plurality of switching elements (33) are mounted; a compression mechanism which is driven by a motor operated using AC power output from the switching elements (33); and a lead holding member (50) disposed between element main bodies (33a) of the switching elements (33) and the circuit board. The circuit board includes a plurality of through-holes through which a plurality of leads (33b) that extend from the element main bodies (33a) can be respectively inserted. The lead holding member (50) includes lead insertion holes (53) through which the leads (33b) can be inserted such that positions of the leads (33b) is held at positions that correspond to positions of the through-holes.

For example, in a vehicle-mounted air conditioner, high space saving properties are required because of the need to accommodate various components in a limited space in a vehicle. Therefore, in recent years, in order to improve the space saving properties, there is provided an electric compressor integrally including a compressor that configures the vehicle-mounted air conditioner, a motor that drives the compressor, and a circuit board that controls the motor.
A circuit board used for the electric compressor converts DC power supplied from a power source into three-phase AC power and supplies the three-phase AC power to the motor. Therefore, switching elements, such as an IGBT, are mounted on the circuit board in order to generate the three-phase AC power (for example, refer to PTL 1).
The switching elements are provided corresponding to each of a U phase, a V phase, and a W phase that form a three-phase alternating current. Therefore, at least three sets of switching elements are provided. Each of the switching elements has a plurality of leads, and each of the leads is connected to the circuit board.
Incidentally, when mounting the switching element on the circuit board, it is necessary to insert a large number of leads provided in the plurality of switching elements into different through-holes formed on the circuit board, respectively, and this takes time and effort.
In particular, after fixing the plurality of switching elements to a casing of the electric compressor, there is a case where the circuit board is assembled in the casing. In this case, it is necessary that the through-holes of the circuit board simultaneously pass through the plurality of leads of the plurality of switching elements fixed to the casing first.

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES THERMAL SYSTEMS, LTD.


A cooker has an external circulation path outside a heating chamber in which foods are to be placed. A blower sucks in gas inside the heating chamber, and forms, in the external circulation path, a gas flow that makes the sucked gas return to the heating chamber. Downstream of the blower, the external circulation path is provided with an exhaust port, in which a damper is provided. The damper closes the exhaust port during cooking, and opens the exhaust port when a door of the heating chamber is opened. After the damper is changed to a position of opening the exhaust port, the blower continues to operate until a predetermined condition is satisfied.

There have conventionally been proposed many cookers or ovens that use high-temperature gas such as hot air or steam. Examples of such a conventional cooker are disclosed in Patent Publications 1 to 4. Patent Publication 1 discloses a steam cooking apparatus that injects steam into a food tray. Patent Publication 2 discloses a cooking apparatus that sends superheated steam into an oven chamber, or converts steam inside the oven chamber to superheated steam through radiation heating. Patent Publications 3 and 4 disclose steam convection ovens that can cook foods with steam as well as with heat.    Patent Publication 1: JP-U-03-67902 (pp. 4 to 6 in the entire specification, FIGS. 1 to 3)    Patent Publication 2: JP-A-08-49854 (pp. 2 to 3, FIG. 1, FIGS. 2 to 8)    Patent Publication 3: JP-A-09-89260 (pp. 2 to 3, FIGS. 1 to 3)    Patent Publication 4: JP-A-09-105524 (pp. 2 to 3, FIGS. 1 to 3)


An RF circuit for use as a front end for a combined leakage signal detector and signal level monitor includes a shared frequency conversion stage utilized for both leakage signals and signal level monitoring ("SLM") signals. One embodiment of the present invention includes an RF circuit comprising a first RF input, a second RF input, a frequency conversion circuit and a coupling device. The first RF input is operable to receive first signals to be monitored, the first signals being in a first frequency range. The second RF input is operable to receive leakage signals to be detected, the leakage signals also being in a first frequency range. The frequency conversion circuit is operable to convert signals in the first frequency range to signals in a second frequency range, the frequency conversion circuit operable to receive unconverted first signals and unconverted leakage signals and produce output signals therefrom. The output signals produced by the frequency conversion stage have a frequency in the second frequency range. The coupling device alternately connects the first RF input to the frequency conversion circuit and the second RF input to the frequency conversion circuit. The output signal may then be provided to a suitable measurement circuit that performs leakage signal detection or signal level monitoring using known methods.

A Community Antenna Television ("CATV") system, or cable television system, includes at its basic elements a centralized transmitter and a distribution network. The centralized transmitter typically includes an aerial antenna for receiving radio frequency ("RF") television signals. The centralized transmitter is furthermore connected to communicate television signals to CATV subscribers through the distribution network. The distribution network includes miles of coaxial cable that often connect as many as hundreds of thousands subscribers to the centralized transmitter. The complexity and size of the distribution network require that network operation and performance be periodically tested and/or monitored.
Two tests often performed by CATV service providers are signal level monitoring and leakage detection. CATV service providers use signal level monitors to measure the signal level of particular channel frequencies at any part of the distribution network. A technician connects the signal level monitor to the coaxial cable at any location within the distribution network. The signal level monitor allows the technician to obtain data regarding the frequency response of the distribution network and identify network-related signal transmission problems.
Leakage detectors are devices that detect and/or measure the leakage of CATV signals to the exterior of the coaxial cable. If the coaxial cable is insufficiently shielded, significant levels of the CATV signals may leak to the environment surrounding the cable. Government regulations permit only a finite level of coaxial cable leakage. Leakage detectors help determine compliance with government regulations and can otherwise provide information as to the performance of particular sections of coaxial cable.
Preferably, CATV test equipment is designed to have relatively small physical size. Small physical size is preferable because the equipment must be portable as it is intended for use in various parts of the distribution network. Transportation costs are reduced and the convenience to the technician is increased when the size and bulk of the testing equipment are reduced. One way to reduce the overall bulk of test equipment is to reduce the actual number of test devices that technicians must have on hand. To reduce the quantity of test equipment needed by CATV test technicians, devices have been developed that perform multiple testing functions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,210 to Orndorff, issued Feb. 20, 1996, filed Jun. 10, 1993, ("Orndorff") shows a combination leakage detector and signal level monitor.
The Orndorff device includes two separate input circuits, each including at least one frequency conversion stage. One input circuit is dedicated to leakage signal detection, and the other dedicated to signal level monitoring. The leakage detection input circuit includes one frequency conversion stage, while the signal level monitoring input circuit includes two frequency conversion stages. The two input circuits are then coupled to an intermediate frequency ("IF") section that further includes another frequency conversion stage. The output of the IF frequency conversion stage is a measurement circuit that performs the signal level measurement and leakage detection on the down-converted signal.
The Orndorff device has several drawbacks that impact the cost of manufacturing the product. Specifically, each frequency conversion includes elements that increase the cost of the product. The Orndorff design requires four frequency conversion stages, each of which increases the product cost. Moreover, the Orndorff design as disclosed includes an integrated circuit that houses a plurality of log amplifiers for providing gain control of the frequency converted output signal, which represents another significant portion of the cost. Finally, the Orndorff design employs crystal and ceramic filters that further increase the cost of the product.
There is a need, therefore, for a combined leakage detector and signal level monitor having reduced cost and simplified circuitry.

RF circuit for use in a combined leakage detector and signal level monitor


A method and die apparatus for manufacturing a honeycomb body of triangular cell cross-section and high cell density, the die having a combination of (i) feedholes feeding slot intersections and (ii) feedholes feeding slot segments not supplied from slot intersections, whereby a reduction in feedhole count is achieved while still retaining good extrusion efficiency and extrudate uniformity.

The present invention relates to an extrusion die for forming thin-walled honeycomb structures from extrudable materials such as glasses, glass-ceramics, ceramics, plastics, metals, cermets and other materials. In the ceramic arts, such dies are used for the extrusion of ceramics dispersed as powders in shapeable (plastic) extrusion batches to provide extruded green bodies of complex honeycomb shape.
Thin-walled ceramic honeycomb structures with multiple parallel through-channels or cells display utility in a variety of applications. For example, such structures exhibit utility as catalytic converters in the exhaust system of internal combustion engines. They also exhibit more general utility as catalyst carriers, filter bodies, and thermal regenerators or heat exchangers.
Dies used for the extrusion of ceramic honeycombs commonly have shallow, intercrossing and interconnecting slots on the downstream or exiting die face from which the ceramic batch emerges and which during emergence form the webs or sidewalls of the cells of the honeycomb structure being made. To supply the batch material to these slots, feed holes are provided in the opposite or upstream die face which connect with and feed batch material to the slots.
In common production dies the feed holes are aligned with the intersections of the slots on the outlet face of the die. This is because the intersections generally require larger proportions of the batch material for proper slot filling and web formation in the extruded shape. Some dies have a feed hole at every intersection, while other dies have holes at alternate intersections. Alternating hole patterns using fewer holes of larger diameter can be advantageous in that the dies are easier and less costly to produce, and are more resistant to bending deformation under high extrusion pressure.
Dies are also occasionally made with the feed holes aligned with the central portions of the slot segments, e.g., midway between the slot intersections. This feedhole positioning can improve the strength of the "pins", which are the projecting islands of metal bounded by the slots on the exit face of the die defining the channels in the honeycomb material extruded from the die.
Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 50-151849 discloses an extrusion die having arrangement of feed holes and forming slots wherein the feed holes supply batch material principally to the longitudinal slot segments of the die rather than to the slot intersection portions. Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 50-29922 describes extrusion dies for the continuous manufacture of ceramic honeycombs which comprise feed holes supplying either the slot intersections or the central portions of the slots.
A variety of die configurations for extruding honeycomb bodies of both triangular and square cell cross-section are known. U.S. Pat. No. 1,874,503, for example, discloses a triangular cell extrusion die wherein the feed holes supply batch material to the intersections of the triangular slots, this die being used for the extrusion of candy.
Dies of alternating feed hole design are also known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,792, for example, discloses a rectangular cell die configuration for extruding honeycomb ceramic heat exchanger bodies wherein the feed holes are positioned at alternating slot intersections. In this design, only two of the four corners of each extruded cell are formed by the direct flow of batch material thereto. The other corners of each cell are formed by lateral flow of the batch material within the slots to achieve the necessary web knitting at such other corners.
More complex arrangements of holes and slots are provided in compound dies comprising multiple body and/or face plate elements. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,370 describes a three-part honeycomb extrusion die comprising a slotted face plate, a feed hole plate, and a throttle plate, while U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,010 discloses a two-part extrusion die having a body plate and an abutting face plate, and wherein feed reservoirs for collecting and distributing batch material transmitted by the body plate are provided on the rear surface of the face plate.
Still other feed hole arrangements have been used when the honeycomb configuration of the extruded batch material is irregular. Thus published European Patent Application EP 0294106 describes extrusion dies for the manufacture of honeycomb-shaped ceramic regenerator bodies wherein feed holes of varying diameter are used to supply extrusion batch to the pin array forming the cells of the honeycomb. The variation is such that the largest feed holes supply batch material to regions of the honeycomb cross-section having the thinnest wall sections.
Notwithstanding these developments, no existing die design has proven adequate for the production of extruded honeycomb bodies of triangular cell cross-section with very high cell density. A specific problem not addressed in the prior art is that of achieving an adequate and uniform supply of extrudable batch material to a discharge slot array comprising a very large number of very fine slots. This is because, at higher and higher slot densities, more and smaller feedholes are generally required.
The principal difficulty encountered with these slot arrangements is that there is a practical minimum feedhole size, due principally to drilling technology limitations, which limits the density of the feedhole patterns available. Thus, even at minimum attainable feedhole sizes, a too close spacing of feedholes produces a weak die structure. In general, then, a feedhole pattern permitting the use of larger and/or more widely spaced feedholes provides both die fabrication and die performance advantages.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel extrusion die and method for using it which can produce extruded green ceramic honeycomb preforms of triangular cell cross-section and high cell density.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an extrusion die design incorporating a novel arrangement of slots and feedholes such that high-cell-density bodies with triangular cell cross-sections and thin cell walls can be efficiently produced.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved method for manufacturing an extruded ceramic honeycomb shape of triangular cell cross-section, high cell density, and low cell wall thickness.
Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof.


A method and system for searching for data covered by nodes in a quadtree are disclosed. Nodes at a selected level of the quadtree are encoded with an index. The index nodes store data related to the level of descendants and ancestors of each index node. To search for data covered by a particular desired node, the index node ancestor or descendant of the desired node is determined. Based on the data in the index node, the desired node can be located without a full traversal of the quadtree. The quadtree nodes store elevation data for points on the Earth.

Mapping applications accessible over the Internet allow users to view desired areas of the Earth and also determine walking and biking directions along specified paths. To provide a further level of detail to a particular user, elevation data for a specific point on the Earth, or points along a specified path, may be desired.

Methods and systems for encoding the maximum resolution data level for a quadtree


An RFID tag which is provided with a coil-shaped antenna such that a conductor is placed on the periphery of a magnetic core, the RFID comprising: the magnetic core, an FPC wound on the periphery of the magnetic core, two or more linear conductor patterns formed in parallel with one another on the FPC,

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag which is a tag for use in article management, etc. provided with an antenna for transmission and reception and an IC chip for signal write and read and its manufacturing method.
2. Related Art
RFID tags have been used conventionally in article management, etc. Each of the RFID tags is provided with an antenna coil and elements such as an IC connected to the antenna coil, activated by receiving a signal with a predetermined frequency transmitted from an interrogator in the antenna coil, thereby driving the elements such as an IC, communicates with the interrogator, and carries out article management or the like by reading data stored in the IC element, while writing new data in the IC element. The RFID tag are generally attached to a surface of an article to use, and as a structure of the antenna coil to stabilize frequency characteristics when the article is metal, such a structure is proposed that a coil is wound on the outer periphery of a magnetic core (for example, see FIGS. 5 and 6 in JP 2000-101471).
Further, in order to solve the problem that the entire antenna becomes relatively thick when the coil is wound on the outer periphery of the magnetic core as described above, such an RFID tag is proposed that a meandering conductive material is formed on an FPC, a slits are provided between the conductive material, and plane-shaped magnetic cores are inserted into the slits alternately in right and back sides to form an antenna coil (for example, see JP2002-117383).
However, the conventional RFID tags have following problems in terms of efficient manufacturing. In other words, in the RFID as described in patent document 1, in winding the conductive material around the magnetic core, the winding speed is not increased when the magnetic core is a flat plate, and there are limitations in increasing the productivity, resulting in an obstacle to cost reduction in a recent situation where thinning of RFID tags is requested.
Further, in the RFID as described in JP2002-117383, it is necessary to suck the FPC with a vacuum suction apparatus when inserting the plane-shaped magnetic cores into the slits, a large-scale apparatus is required for the manufacturing, and there are limitations in increasing efficiency of the manufacturing.
Furthermore, when an RFID tag is attached to a metal article to use, there arises a problem that frequency characteristics fluctuate due to the interaction between the metal article and the antenna coil. As measures against the fluctuations of the frequency characteristics, it is considered to place a metal plate for shielding inside the FRID tag, but the size of the RFID tag increases, while the cost is also increased, and in these respects, there are significant disadvantages.

Abstract: an IC that is connected to the linear conductor patterns and disposed on the FPC, a crossover pattern that electrically connects one end and the other end of outermost linear conductor patterns among the linear conductor patterns formed in parallel with one another, where in the two or more linear conductor patterns, adjacent linear conductor patterns in a joint portion in the wound FPC are electrically connected in respective start edges and end edges.


An electronic pressure sensor is incorporated into a discharge pressure portion of a compressor. If the pressure sensor indicates that the discharge pressure exceeds a maximum value, the operation of the compressor motor is stopped. The pressure sensor preferably sends an electronic signal to a microprocessor such that the pressure can be compared to a predetermined maximum value. The pressure sensor includes a transducer to change the sensed pressure to a voltage value. The microprocessor communicates with a first switch, which may be a triac switch, and which stops operation of the compressor motor should an undesirably high value be detected. In addition, a second switch communicates with a comparing circuit which ensures the voltage from the pressure sensor is between a minimum and maximum value. The purpose of the comparing circuit is to ensure proper operation of the pressure sensor and its associated circuit.

This invention relates to an electronic switch for stopping operation of a compressor motor if certain pressure conditions are not met.
Compressors are typically driven by an electric motor to compress a fluid, such as a refrigerant, and move that fluid to a downstream use. In a refrigerant compressor, typically, the compressed refrigerant is sent into a refrigerant cycle.
In a refrigerant compressor, there are many potential concerns that can arise. As one example, the refrigerant can be over pressured due to a number of conditions. For that reason, pressure sensors have typically been incorporated somewhere adjacent the discharge portion of the compressor to monitor the discharge pressure. If the discharge pressure exceeds a predetermined amount, then the compressor motor may be stopped. Typically, these pressure sensors have included mechanical elements that move against a spring force, etc., to open a cutoff switch.
While a mechanical switch is relatively inexpensive, it is not as reliable as would be desired. Thus, a more reliable safety switch with fail-safe features would be desirable.
In the disclosed embodiment of this invention, a pressure sensor communicates with an electronic control to send a signal to a switch to stop operation of a compressor motor should a sensed pressure be outside an acceptable range. Most preferably, the pressure sensor is sensing a discharge pressure, and the condition which is outside the acceptable range would typically be an overly high discharge pressure.
In the disclosed embodiment, a microprocessor based control receives a voltage signal from a pressure sensor which is related to the compressor discharge pressure. A transducer is typically included into the electronic pressure sensor such that the pressure is transferred into a related voltage amount. The voltage amount is sensed by the microprocessor based control. If the voltage amounts indicates that the pressure exceeds a particular predetermined high pressure, then a signal is sent to a first switch to stop operation of the compressor. Most preferably the compressor is stopped by opening a relay which is part of the compressor motor control.
Such a system provides benefits when compared to the prior art. However, with such an electronically controlled system it would still be desirable to include a fail-safe mode to ensure proper operation of the electronic control. Thus, in a most preferred embodiment, the signal from the pressure sensor, which is preferably a voltage signal, is sent to a comparing circuit. The comparing circuit sends a signal to a second switch. If the comparing circuit senses that the pressure voltage signal is less than, or more than, predetermined boundaries, then the relay is left open. The compressor motor is again stopped from operating. In this way, should the microprocessor or pressure sensor fail, this fail-safe portion of the circuit will stop operation of the motor.
In a preferred embodiment, the first switch, which communicates with the microprocessor based control is a triac. The second switch is preferably an output relay. The second switch relay is preferably in series with the triac, and is controlled by the comparing circuit. The comparing circuit is preferably a bandwidth comparing circuit.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.

Fail safe electronic pressure switch for compressor motor


A skidbase 16 and a drilling structure 18 are adapted for transfer between a jack-up platform 12 and a fixed platform 14. The jack-up platform 12 is moved into position adjacent the fixed platform 14 and raised to a height aligned with the fixed platform 14. The skidbase 16 is then transferred onto the fixed platform 14 to provide a base on which the drilling structure 18 is next placed. The jack-up platform 12 is raised to a vertical height aligned with the skidbase 16. To ensure proper location of the top surface of the jack-up platform 12 relative to the skidbase 16, a connection means 47 automatically engages and aligns the jack-up platform 12 with the skidbase 16 so that skid rails 32, 44 located on the deck of the jack-up platform 12 and on a top surface of the skidbase 16 are positioned a precise distance apart and at the same vertical height. The drilling structure 18 is then skidded onto the skidbase 16 so that drilling operations may be performed from the fixed platform 14. The connection means 47 takes the form of a multi-dimension blade member 128 affixed to the skidbase 16. The blade member 128 progressively engages a series of guide members 122, 124 on the jack-up platform 12 and, thereby, progressively and stagewise aligns the skidbase 16 as the jack-up platform 12 is moved to its desired vertical height.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for transferring a skidbase and a drilling structure from a movable vessel, such as a jack-up platform, to a permanent offshore structure, such as a production platform, and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for accurately positioning the skidbase relative to the movable vessel during the transfer of the drilling structure from the jack-up platform to the production platform.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is common practice in the drilling of offshore oil wells for a fixed platform to be constructed above a promising field so that a multiplicity of wells may be drilled therefrom. Commonly, after the drilling process has been completed, the drilling portion of the platform is removed from the fixed platform and transported to another fixed platform where the same process is repeated. In this manner, the same drilling apparatus can be advantageously used on numerous fixed platforms. When the drilling apparatus is removed, the platform becomes merely a production platform, no longer having drilling capabilities, but remaining at the well site.
It may occasionally be desirable to again place the drilling apparatus on the fixed, production platform to drill additional wells into the field. Quite often, an increase in the price of oil or natural gas can make a formerly economically infeasible field attractive. Thus, the drilling apparatus is replaced on the fixed platform so that additional wells may be drilled to increase the production of oil or natural gas from the field. Further, it is sometimes desirable that the drilling apparatus be placed on the fixed, production platform so that the existing wells may be "reworked" to maintain a desired level of production.
The immense size of such movable drilling apparatus creates substantial technical difficulties in transporting the drilling apparatus and accurately locating it on the fixed platforms without exorbitant cost. At least one prior art system has been proposed that satisfactorily accomplishes these goals at an economically feasible rate.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,503, issued Aug. 1, 1978 to Marvin L. Smith describes a method and apparatus that has been well received in the oil well drilling community.
Smith describes a system for transporting the drilling apparatus from the jack-up platform to the fixed platform in two stages. Before the transfer process begins, the jack-up platform is first positioned adjacent the fixed platform, and then the drilling apparatus is transferred in two separate pieces, a skidbase and a drilling structure.
The skidbase, which includes a bridge, is transferred to the fixed platform. The jack-up platform is then elevated to the same height as the top of the skidbase, and the bridge is connected to the jack-up platform to align skid rails on the top surface of the skidbase with skid rails on the deck of the jack-up platform. The drilling structure is then skidded across the skid rails and onto the skidbase on the fixed platform.
It should be appreciated that while the drilling apparatus is accurately described as immense, the jack-up platform must necessarily be an order of magnitude larger to properly carry the drilling apparatus. Accordingly the difficulty of accurately positioning the jack-up platform so that the bridge can be connected to the jack-up platform is readily apparent.
Smith suggests that fine adjustments to the positioning step can be performed by a releasable hydraulic cylinder that extends between the jack-up platform and the bridge. By alternately extending and retracting the hydraulic cylinder, an experienced operator can move the skidbase until it properly aligns with a pin connection on the jack-up platform.
While this process ma be successfully completed it is a manual, time consuming operation that would be better served by a system that automatically and accurately positions the skidbase at the precise location necessary for alignment between the bridge and the jack-up platform.
The present invention is directed to overcoming or at least minimizing one or more of the problems set forth above.

Method and apparatus for transferring a drilling apparatus from a movable vessel to a fixed structure


An analog signal conditioner for signals from high impedance sources adap for ready implementation as an integrated circuit. The signal conditioner includes a preamplifier, a step gain amplifier and a low-pass filter. A calibration generator can inject a calibration signal into the system. The step gain amplifier includes analog switches that control paths through a voltage divider network to provide negative feedback on both sides of a fully differential operational amplifier. The design of the feedback networks minimizes the total resistance on the integrated circuit.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to the amplification of electrical signals from a high impedance source. More specifically this invention is directed to amplification and related circuits that are particularly useful for conditioning signals from transducers with a characteristic high impedance and that are further readily and advantageously adapted for implementation in integrated circuit form.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
A variety of sensors, typically piezoelectric sensors, require high-impedance, low-noise interface circuits with amplification and other signal conditioning functions. Sonar hydrophones, piezoelectric accelerometers and pressure sensors are all examples of piezoelectric sensors characterized by a very small capacitance and thus high impedance. In essence such a piezoelectric sensor can be considered a voltage source in series with a capacitor. One application for such sensors is a high frequency beamforming acoustic array. Such an array requires very small, omni-directional acoustic sensors and miniature accelerometers which require small mass.
Initially preamplifiers for such transducers were built from discrete electrical components and often times were larger and more massive than the sensor itself. U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,992 to Dewberry et al. discloses one such preamplifier. It was found, however, that sensor performance could be degraded due to signal interaction particularly if the preamplifier were proximate the sensor. The signal interaction problems could, of course, be overcome by relocating the preamplifier a significant distance from the sensor. However, capacitance in a resulting interconnecting cable could attenuate the sensor signal and thus reduce the sensor signal-to-preamplifier noise ratio.
My U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,285 for a monolithic low noise preamplifier for piezoelectric sensors discloses a single, monolithic integrated circuit that can be mounted directly onto or inside a miniature sensor without degrading the sensor's performance. The preamplifier performs signal amplification with a fully differential amplifier that includes common-mode feedback. A pair of feedback capacitors together with the sensor capacitance control the voltage gain of the preamplifier over much of its useful operating range of 100 Hz to 100 kHz. The preamplifier circuit has feedback resistors that discharge any accumulated dc voltage which might appear on the capacitors. The feedback resistors are also components in a high pass filter that rejects low frequency background noise from the sensor.
Although such a preamplifier is particularly well adapted for implementation as an integrated circuit and is useful in a number of applications, some transducers, particularly hydrophones, can generate a signal having a wide dynamic range. This range oftentimes can generate an amplified signal that exceeds the operating range of a following analog-to-digital converter or the capabilities of other circuits. Consequently it would be desirable to employ an amplifier with variable gain, typically a step-wise variable gain, that would accommodate different portions of a total dynamic range.
Circuits providing step-wise gain generally incorporate a switched resistor network typically in a feedback circuit. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,159 (1982) to Schorr et al. discloses a prescription attenuator having cascaded L-pad sections that are coupled together to form an attenuator network. In this network each cascaded section includes a single-pole switch for activating its respective section. The network impedance values are selected so that the single L-pads section activations produce actual attenuations slightly more than an ideal level of attenuation whereby multiple section activations tend to keep the error evenly distributed about an ideal level of attenuation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,030 (1994) to Kobayashi et al. discloses a variable attenuator for attenuating gain of an analog signal in accordance with a digital signal. This attenuator has a plurality of attenuation resistor units, a plurality of switching units, and a plurality of impedance compensation resistor units. The attenuator resistor units are connected in series for attenuating an input signal, and the switching units are provided for the attenuation resistor units. One of the switching units is selected in accordance with a digital control signal applied from an external source. Each of the impedance compensation resistor units is connected in series with the respective switching units to compensate an output impedance to a specific value regardless of the state of the switching units. Consequently the variable attenuator in this reference can correctly control the level of an analog signal by a digital signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,879 (1995) to Satoh discloses a gain controllable output buffer amplifier circuit having a reduced circuit area. In this circuit an operational amplifier has a grounded non-inverting input and an inverting input connected through an input resistor to a signal input node. A tapped feedback resistor having a plurality of intermediate taps is connected between an output and the inverting input of the operational amplifier. Each of the intermediate taps is connected through a transistor switch in common to a non-inverting input of an output buffer amplifier, which has its output connected to a signal output node and an inverting input of the output buffer amplifier itself. The transistor switches are controlled by a switch control circuit in such a manner that only one of the transistor switches is selectively turned on.
A number of references disclose different types of circuits for operating with single-ended or differential inputs for producing differential outputs to overcome noise problems and control common mode output voltages. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,668,543 (1972) to Bailey discloses a transducer amplifier system; U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,644 (1990) to Fattaruso et al., a common mode feedback bias generator for operational amplifiers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,635 (1992) to Shih discloses a digital data line driver that receives differential input signal and generates a differential output signal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,112 (1995) to Rybicki et al. discloses a fully differential line driver circuit with common mode feedback; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,316 (1995) to Molnar, a power amplifier with quiescent current control that utilizes fully differential amplifiers and a high impedance closed loop common mode feedback control circuit.
Notwithstanding the existence of such fully differential amplifiers and the known disadvantages of operating single-ended amplifiers in applications that require the handling of large common mode voltages, such systems are still in use. This occurs notwithstanding the fact that the operational amplifier stage gain is a function of the input common mode voltage and large common mode voltage swings can increase signal distortion. However, it has been found very difficult to implement a fully differential architecture utilizing step gain functions implemented with resistance ladder networks.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,685 (1989) to Hochschild discloses a precision switchable gain circuit that includes an operational amplifier operating in a differential mode. An input leg is comprised of a series resistor and a MOS transistor. A plurality of feedback legs are formed, each comprising one or more resistors that are equal in value to the input resistor and connected in series with a switch transistor. The proportion of the series resistance of the transistor in a given feedback leg to the series resistance of the transistor in the input leg is equal to the proportion of the fixed resistance in the feedback leg and input leg. The value of the series resistance of the feedback transistors therefore factors out the series resistance of the input transistor in the gain calculation resulting in reduced harmonic distortion.
Although the Hochschild patent discloses a fully differential amplifier with a step-wise gain control, the design is dependent on certain criteria that limit the application. For example, the total resistance for any given feedback leg must equal a predetermined multiple of the input resistor. Each feedback leg in most of the Hochschild embodiments is independent. There is no resistance sharing, so that the total resistance of the circuit is large. As known, the physical size of the resistors is proportional to the total resistance so increasing the total resistance increases the integrated circuit size thereby decreasing yield and increasing costs. Increasing the resistor area further increases the parasitic capacitance from the resistor to the substrate that has the effect of reducing circuit performance particularly by reducing the bandwidth over which gain is stable.
FIG. 4 of the Hochschild patent discloses a version in which resistances are shared. Although this will tend to reduce the total resistance of the circuit, the reduction occurs under only specific circumstances that limit the gain steps to integer multiples. Thus, there remains a need for a fully differential amplifier with a step-wise gain control where the gain at each step can be any arbitrary number greater than 1.
In many applications, and particularly hydrophone applications, it is also desirable to incorporate the capability of calibrating the amplifier circuit by measuring the gain of the amplifier circuit. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,578 (1987) to Spychalski discloses a hydrophone pre-amplifier with self calibration. More particularly, a differential charge amplifier design for a hydrophone preamplifier in accordance with this patent includes a calibration circuit for in situ measurement of the gain of the hydrophone amplifier and pre-amplifier. The hydrophone signal is input to a pair of amplifier stages which form a balanced differential input charge amplifier. The signal from the input charge amplifier is amplified by a second preamplifier stage and then passed to a balanced output cable driver. The calibration circuit is enabled by an external signal to inject a calibration signal into the input charge amplifier front end thereby to enable the output signal to incorporate the calibration signal in a measurable form.
FIGS. 1A and 1B depict another prior art implementation of a hydrophone preamplifier with self calibration. Although shown in detail in FIGS. 1A and 1B, it will be sufficient for the understanding of the operation of this circuit to state that a fully differential input signal appears across input connections 10A and 10B spanned by a limiting circuit 11 to drive a differential amplifier 12. The output of the differential amplifier 12 differentially drives a single-ended operational amplifier 13 generating an output at a first output terminal 14A which is coupled to a feedback circuit including an operational amplifier 15 that generates an output at a second output terminal 14B. Consequently the circuit in FIG. 1A does produce a differential output.
The circuit of FIG. 1A also includes resistors 16A and 16B that constitute calibration injection resistors that convey a fully differential calibration signal to the differential amplifier 12. FIG. 1B depicts a structure for generating the fully differential calibration signal. In this implementation a calibration input, typically a digital input signal from an external source, is applied to a terminal 20 for driving a one-bit digital-to-analog converter 21 supplied by a power supply 22. The resulting output from a common switching point 23 is fed to a precision level controller 24 that drives a two-stage amplifier section comprising operational amplifier 25 and a unit gain inverting buffer operational amplifier 26. An output selector 27 then conveys the signals from the amplifier 25 and unit gain amplifier 26 to output terminals 28A and 28B respectively. The terminals 28A and 28B connect to corresponding terminals 28A and 28B in FIG. 1A for conveying the fully differential signal from the circuit in FIG. 1B to the differential amplifier 12 in FIG. 1A. In this particular implementation, the circuitry in FIGS. 1A and 1B are separate circuits and incorporate a number of components that are not readily adapted for integrated circuit applications.
Notwithstanding the availability of fully differential, step-wise gain controlled operational amplifiers, calibration circuits and the like in the prior art, circuitry such as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B continues to be utilized. Although the circuitry in FIG. 1A could be substituted in a single gain amplification, there still has been no solution for providing amplification of a signal having a wide dynamic range with minimal distortion. Notwithstanding the disclosure in the Hochschild patent, these and other prior approaches when implemented in an integrated circuit environment, required large values of the resistors with the previously described disadvantages. Consequently, there remains a need for a simplified design with a reduced number of components and a reduced resistance in order to optimize the construction of such an amplifier as an integrated circuit and a need for such a circuit that provides a calibration function.

Amplification of signals from high impedance sources

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


An embedded semiconductor memory is fabricated by: forming diffusion bit line regions in a semiconductor substrate; then thermally oxidizing the upper surface of the substrate, thereby forming a bottom oxide layer over the substrate and simultaneously forming bit line oxide regions over each of the diffusion bit line regions; and then forming an intermediate dielectric layer (e.g., silicon nitride), over the bottom oxide layer and the bit line oxide regions. CMOS well implants are then performed in a CMOS section of the device through the silicon nitride layer and bottom oxide layer. The silicon nitride layer and bottom oxide layer are then removed in the CMOS section, and a top dielectric layer, such as a high-temperature oxide or a high-k dielectric, is deposited. The top dielectric layer completes a memory stack of the memory device, and forms a gate dielectric layer of a high voltage transistor in the CMOS section.

In many memory applications, SONOS memory transistors and conventional CMOS devices are fabricated on a single semiconductor wafer. Typically, the CMOS devices are fabricated in a first region of the wafer, while the SONOS memory transistors are fabricated in a second region of the wafer. On some wafers, the SONOS memory transistors are fabricated as part of a fieldless array. A fieldless array is defined as an array that does not use field oxide or shallow trench isolation (STI) to isolate the various elements of the array. Because field oxide and/or STI is not required to isolate the SONOS memory transistors in a fieldless array, the SONOS memory transistors can be laid out with a relatively high density.
In certain applications, conventional CMOS devices (e.g., transistors) are fabricated in the second region, but do not form part of the fieldless array. That is, the CMOS devices located in the second region are isolated by field oxide. Thus, the second region can include both SONOS memory transistors and CMOS devices.
In order to distinguish the above-described transistors, the following nomenclature will be used. As used herein, the term "fieldless array transistor" refers to a floating gate SONOS type non-volatile memory transistor that is used to form a fieldless array. A fieldless array transistor does not require field oxide or STI isolation. Each fieldless array transistor can store one bit or multiple bits in a manner known to those of ordinary skill.
As used herein, the term "logic transistor" refers to a transistor fabricated in accordance with conventional CMOS processes, regardless of whether the transistor is fabricated in the first region or the second region of the semiconductor wafer. A CMOS logic transistor is isolated from other elements by field oxide or STI. CMOS logic transistors can further be classified as low voltage (e.g., 1.8 Volt) CMOS logic transistors, medium voltage (e.g., 3.3 Volt) CMOS logic transistors and high voltage (e.g., 8-10 Volt) CMOS logic transistors, in view of the operating voltages applied to the logic transistors. Note that the high voltage CMOS logic transistors are required to access the fieldless array transistors. Thus, a high-voltage oxide (e.g., 150-200 Angstroms) must be fabricated in the first region in addition to low voltage oxide (e.g, about 30 Angstroms) and medium voltage oxide (e.g., about 70 Angstroms). The higher the voltage to be handled by the CMOS logic transistor, the thicker the required gate oxide of the transistor, thereby enabling the transistor to withstand higher gate voltages.
The process steps required to fabricate high, medium and low voltage CMOS logic transistors are not fully compatible with the process steps required to fabricate fieldless array transistors. For example, if thermal oxidation is used for fabrication of the high-voltage oxide, additional thermal budget is required. In addition, thermal oxidation of the high-voltage oxide will influence the shape of shallow trench isolation (STI) divots, and can enhance mechanical stresses in silicon. As a result, transistor and diode leakage currents will typically increase.
It would therefore be desirable to have an improved process for fabricating high, medium and low voltage CMOS logic transistors and fieldless array transistors on the same wafer.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional SONOS fieldless array transistor 100. Fieldless array transistor 100 includes p-type semiconductor substrate 101, N-type source/drain regions 102-103, oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO): memory stack 110, bit line oxide 114 and polysilicon gate electrode/word line 115. ONO memory stack 110 includes bottom silicon oxide layer 111, silicon nitride layer 112 and top silicon oxide layer 113. Source/drain regions 102-103 extend to other memory transistors, and operate as diffusion bit lines.
Bit line oxide 114, which provides isolation between the diffusion bit lines, is implemented by oxidizing the heavily implanted source/drain regions 102-103 between the patterned ONO stack 110. The isolating bit line oxide 114 is similar to LOCOS oxide. The thickness of bit line oxide 114 must be large enough to ensure no leakage between gate electrode/word line 115 and source/drain regions 102-103. Bit line oxide 114 typically has a thickness (T) of 500 to 1000 Angstroms to compensate for the relatively low quality of bit line oxide grown over N+ source/drain regions 102-103 (compared with the relatively high quality gate oxide of the same thickness grown over a p- substrate).
Fieldless array transistor 100 may exhibit low reliability because of problems associated with electrical weakness of ONO memory stack 110 at the locations where ONO memory stack 110 joins bit line oxide 114 (i.e., at the bit line oxide "oxybeaks".) The oxybeak regions are labeled "OB" in FIG. 1. Bit line oxide consumption and influence on the edges of the top oxide layer 113 of ONO stack 110 during resist removal operations are strongly pronounced in embedded process flows. This results in poor dielectric performance in the oxybeak region and directly influences the reliability of the resulting memory device.
High-temperature CVD oxide has been used to form the top oxide layer of an ONO memory stack of a fieldless array transistor, thereby lowering the leakage of the ONO memory stack. (See, U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,268.) High-temperature oxide has also been used instead of an ONO memory stack to form an inter-polysilicon dielectric in EEPROM memory, and at the same time, form a thermal gate oxide in peripheral transistors used in the decoding logic of the EEPROM. (Candelier et al., "High Temperature Oxide (HTO) For Non-Volatile Memory Applications", Microelectronic Engineering, Vol. 36, 1997, pp. 87-90; SGS Thompson-LETI.)
High-temperature oxide has also been used as the top oxide layer of an ONO memory stack, and as the gate oxide of high voltage periphery transistor. (See, U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,730) In this case, the bit line oxide is formed after the source/drain regions have been implanted, and after the silicon nitride layer of the ONO stack has been formed. Bit line oxide is consumed during bit line mask resist removal and during periphery strip mask resist removal. This consumption of the bit line oxide can result in a stressed oxybeak region. As a result, the charge-to-breakdown (Qbd) values of the fieldless array transistors are low even with the high temperature top oxide layer.
It would therefore be desirable to have an improved and cost effective integration scheme for embedding SONOS type multi-bit fieldless array transistors and high voltage logic transistors into the standard CMOS process flow.

SONOS embedded memory with CVD dielectric


A monolithic multi-color laser comprising a semiconductor laser formed on a substrate for lightwave generation. Means is provided for exciting the laser and means is provided on the substrate adjacent the laser to double the frequency of the lightwave emitted from the laser to produce output lightwaves having wavelengths in the photo-sensitive region of conventional silver halide photographic material. Further, an individually controllable frequency matched lightwave modulator is mounted on the substrate and is arranged to individually control the output lightwave in response to a data signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a monolithic semi-conductor laser which emits a single light beam having blue, green and red wavelengths and which is suitable for use in transmission, processing, generating, or printing multi-wavelength-light information.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Semi-conductor lasers are known which are used in a variety of analog and digital color imaging systems. However, the colors available from the semi-conductor lasers of the prior art do not match the frequency of conventional color photographic film and paper. As a result it has been necessary to employ special films and paper which are false sensitized to the wavelengths which are available from the semi-conductor lasers or to substitute larger, bulkier, and more expensive gas lasers which can produce the desired light frequencies. However, as previously noted, such gas lasers are both expensive and bulky, reducing their usefulness in some printing operations. Moreover, none of the semiconductor or the gas lasers can provide more than a limited range of wavelengths so that a plurality of such lasers must be employed to produce a full color image. When a plurality of such light sources are utilized, it is necessary to employ complex, space-consuming, and expensive light combining systems in order to combine the various light beams into a single writing beam. Otherwise it is necessary to sequentially employ the various wavelength lasers in a plurality of passes which is both costly and time-consuming.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,036 discloses a semiconductor laser array which includes a plurality of lasers capable of producing coherent light having different wavelengths. However, it will be seen that the examples of the different wavelengths capable from the arrangement disclosed therein vary only between 808 nm and 869 nm, neither of which correspond to a wavelength to which conventional photographic films and papers are sensitive. Moreover, this patent discloses a laser array comprising a plurality of lasers which are spaced along the array and thus must employ additional optics to combine the various light outputs into a single beam.

Monolithic semi-conductor laser producing blue, green and red output wavelengths


Apparatus and methods for early quotient completion in arithmetic division include a quotient digit generator, one or more asynchronous shift registers and a remainder comparison block. As quotient digits are generated, each digit is transferred to a different asynchronous shift register in turn. Digits are immediately propagated down each shift register to the next most significant digit position. During propagation digits are also repeated at all lesser significant digit positions. At the end of a digit generation cycle, when all asynchronous shift registers have received one new digit, the remainder comparison block determines if the current remainder is the same as the last period's remainder. If not, the remainder comparison block sends a reset signal to all the shift registers, sending reset spacers along each register that reset all duplicate versions of the last digits sent. The registers are then ready to receive next period's series of quotient digits. If the remainders are the same, the remainder comparison block halts any further quotient digit generation. Connections from each cell of the shift registers are interleaved to produce a final quotient answer that is already both correctly aligned, and has all repeating digits available and in place.

The present invention relates to arithmetic integrated circuits. In particular, the invention relates to apparatus for arithmetic division operations.
Many sophisticated microelectronic devices employ microprocessing devices. Microprocessors, whether for general purpose computers, or for specially configured signal processors and similar special-purpose devices, employ some form of arithmetic unit for calculating arithmetic operations. One of the most common arithmetic operations is the division of one number by another. The arithmetic operation of division, whether for integer or floating point operations, computes successive quotient digits. Unlike other arithmetic operations (such as addition or multiplication), in division the resulting quotient digits are always calculated from the most-signficant digit to the least significant. That is, dividing 100 by 5, one first finds that the quotient has a 2 in the 10's digit and, then finds a zero in the 1's digit (and zeroes in every successive digit).
Conventional arithmetic units usually generate each quotient digit sequentially, storing these digits temporarily until all of the digits are available as a final answer. Arithmetic units usually store these digits in a shift register designed to shift previous digits as each new digit is formed. The shift register can deliver a final quotient answer only when all of the digits have been generated to the required precision.
Division, especially for high-precision applications, can be enormously time-consuming. However, it is well known that sequences of quotient digits will repeat when the dividend and the divisor form a rational fraction. This feature of division makes some form of time savings feasible, in theory, by detecting this repetition early and halting the calculation process. Yet current arithmetic hardware does not implement such early detection. The complete series of calculations are always performed because it would take just as much area and time delays to add additional logic to replicate a repeating series of digits and to steer the digits to their correctly aligned positions. Because no perceived time-savings has been demonstrated, designers of conventional arithmetic units have not bothered to incorporate any apparatus to detect repeating quotient digit series. Therefore, most division apparatus has a constant time delay independent of operands. For example, to compute a 53-bit answer to 1/2 normally takes just as long as to compute the 53-bit answer to 1/7.
Current microelectronic technology methods and apparatus do not provide a simple, time-saving means for detecting patterns of repeating quotient digits, and for terminating division processes early. What is needed is an improved method and apparatus for detecting quotient repetition, and for completing quotients early. The improved apparatus and method should provide a simply implemented system for discovering quotient repetitions without adding inordinate hardware and delay overhead. The apparatus and method should be sufficiently flexible to implement the early repetition detection and quotient completion with a variety of hardware platforms, logic architectures and system requirements.

Method and apparatus for early quotient completion in arithmetic division


A safety switch including a control head rotatably linked to a casing that encloses an electrical contact assembly. A cylindrical collar of the head, engaged in an opening in the casing, is equipped with an annular groove with which retaining elements cooperate in order to immobilize the head along a predetermined direction. A fixing screw cooperates with re-entrant elements situated on the periphery of the collar in order to lock the head and prevent the head from rotating.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a safety switch of the type that includes a casing housing electrical contact devices and a control head fixed to the casing, this head being able to take up several positions displaced from one another by rotation of for example 90.degree. about an axis oriented along a main direction, and including a safety mechanism with a turning wheel and a push rod to operate the contact devices and at least one slot for an external actuator to pass there through, the actuator being capable of operating the safety mechanism.
2. Discussion of the Background
Safety switches of this type are known. Their control head generally includes a control wheel which is able to be turned about an axis perpendicular to the main direction in order to act on the push rod. It is useful to be able to choose the position of the control head by rotation about the main direction so as to adapt to local mounting conditions for the safety switch.
To this end, it is already known to use safety switches, the control head of which, fixed to the casing by screws, can pass from a first position to a second position through the following actions: unscrewing the screws so as to release the head from its first position, lifting the head in the main direction, rotating the head into the second position, then tightening up the screws in order to ensure the head is locked in this new position. From the point of view of the operator, it would be desirable to simplify the method of changing the position of the control head.
In addition, untimely loosening of the screws fixing the head to the casing risks causing a change in the state of the electrical contact devices. In effect, since these are being operated by the push rod along the main direction, the push rod being part of the head, they risk being no longer secured in this direction. It is important therefore to ensure that the head is reliably locked along the main direction.


A group of data frames from a plurality of communication channels is received. At least one idle frame including a sequence number of a last frame in the group of data frames is then received. A delay period of time is allowed to elapse after receiving the idle frame before sending a negative acknowledgement message, if at least one data frame is missing.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to communication systems, and more specifically to frame receipt negative acknowledgements in such systems.
2. Background
Data Services for third-generation (3G) systems, including both code-division multiple access 2000 (cdma2000) and wideband code-division multiple access (WCDMA), were designed around a physical layer framework that was optimized for voice transport. While 3G systems are designed to handle both services, voice services in particular are characterized by symmetric traffic loading (between the forward link and the reverse link) and guaranteed quality of service (for parameters such as latency, delay, etc.). Packet data services, however, are characterized by possibly asymmetric traffic loading that involves short messages (e.g., requests for data) of low bandwidth demand and very long messages (e.g., data downloads) of high bandwidth demand. There are some types of data traffic that are bursty, not all are (e.g., video).
To increase the likelihood that a frame will be successfully transmitted during a data transmission a system may employ a Radio Link Protocol (RLP) to track the frames transmitted successfully, and to perform frame retransmission when a frame is not transmitted successfully. Retransmission is performed up to a predetermined number of times, and it is the responsibility of the higher layer protocols to take additional steps to ensure that the frame is successfully transmitted. If the system sends the packets in an out-of-order sequence, the receiver is not readily able to distinguish if the packet is lossed or will be received at a later time. Such determination and waiting incurs processing time at the receiver, latency between the transmitter and receiver, as well as additional storage capacity at both the receiver and transmitter. Some systems incur a specific delay period that may prolong each communication.
There is therefore a need for a modified technique to more efficiently detect if a frame is lost so that a negative acknowledge message may be transmitted.

Use of idle frames for early transmission of negative acknowledgement of frame receipt


A developer agitator of an image forming device capable of improving the electrification rate of a developer is disclosed. The developer agitator includes a rotatable shaft and an agitating wing disposed on the circumferential surface of the shaft. The agitating wing has an uneven part formed to increase the contact area with a developer. The developer agitator can obtain an electrification rate of the developer required for high speed printing, thereby allowing the image forming device to be operated at a high speed.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to an agitator, and more particularly, to an agitator that electrifies a developer with friction, a developing apparatus having the agitator, and an image forming device having the agitator.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming device, such as a printer, that uses an electrophotography process, is an apparatus, which forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor using a light exposing unit, develops the electrostatic latent image with a developer by using a developing apparatus to form a developer image, and then transfers and fixes the developer image onto a printing medium.
The developer, which is used for developing the electrostatic latent image in the developing apparatus, is either a one-component system developer or a two-component system developer. In case of the one component system developer, toner particles are electrified by friction with themselves or friction with a charging member. The electrified toner particles are moved onto a developing roller and then attached to an electrostatic latent image region of the photoconductor to form a developer image.
A two-component system developer is a developer in which magnetic carrier particles are mixed with non-magnetic toner particles made of synthetic resins. The toner particles are electrified by friction with the carrier particles and with themselves. The electrified toner particles are moved onto the developing roller along with the carrier particles and then attached to an electrostatic latent image region of the photoconductor to form a developer image.
In general, a developing apparatus of an image forming device is provided with an agitator to electrify the toner particles of a developer by friction. A conventional agitator is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. As shown in FIG. 1A, the agitator 1 has a structure in which an agitating wing 3 is in the form of a helix on a rotary shaft 2. The agitator 1 rotates in a developer-containing space of a developer casing (not shown). As the agitating wing 3 rotates, toner particles and, if it is a two-component system, carrier particles are mixed with one another, and the toner particles are electrified by friction.
The longer the contact time of the toner particles, and in a two-component system, to the carrier particles and the greater the number of the toner particles contacted, the smoother the electrification of the toner particles that is achieved. To carry out a printing operation at a high speed, it is required that the toner particles be charged in a short time. However, for a conventional agitator to lengthen the contact time of the toner particles to the carrier particles or to increase the number of the toner particles contacted, the agitating wing 3 should be quickly rotated or the diameter thereof enlarged. To quickly rotate the agitating wing 3, a change to the design of the agitator driving system would be required, and to enlarge the diameter of the agitating wing 3 would require a layout change of the developing apparatus. Neither alternative is particularly desirable.

Developer agitator increasing electrification rate of developer, and developing apparatus and image forming device having the same


When a master cylinder pressure detected by way of a pressure sensor (74) attains a level not lower than a target pressure (P.sub.OK), normally-open on-off valves (62, 63) for by-passing proportioning control valves (57.sub.1, 57.sub.2) are opened. If the slip factor of rear wheels, calculated by way of a slip factor calculation section (121), is not lower than a predetermined value, the on-off valves (64, 66) are opened to allow the rear wheel cylinder pressure to escape to accumulators (65, 67). Thus, if there is enough room for the increase of the braking force on the rear wheels, the rear wheel braking force can be increased to reduce the share of the front wheel braking force, depending on braking conditions, such as the road surface conditions, vehicle running conditions, etc. Further the rear wheels can be prevented from being locked.

The present invention relates to a rear wheel braking force control method for controlling the distribution of front and rear wheel braking forces and an apparatus therefor. More particularly, it relates to a rear wheel braking force control method and an apparatus therefor, capable of reducing the share of the front wheel braking force without causing the rear wheels to be locked.
In a typical braking system of a vehicle, a brake fluid pressure (hereinafter referred to as master cylinder pressure), which is produced in a master cylinder in response to a driver's depression of a brake pedal, is transmitted to wheel cylinders for the four wheels of the vehicle, whereby a braking force is applied to each wheel. If a large braking force acts on each wheel in response to a deep depression of the brake pedal, while the vehicle furnished with the braking system of this type is running, the deceleration of the vehicle becomes higher to reduce the rear wheel load, so that the ground contact performance of the rear wheels is lowered. If the master cylinder fluid pressure is distributed substantially equally to the front and rear wheel cylinders with the ground contact performance of the rear wheels thus lowered, the rear wheels are locked first, so that the braking stability of the vehicle is deteriorated.
Conventionally, in order to avoid the deterioration of the braking stability due to the rear-wheel-first locking, proportioning control valves (PCVs) are incorporated in the braking system. For example, each of two PCVs is disposed in the middle of a duct which connects each corresponding one of fluid pressure generator sections of the master cylinder and its corresponding rear wheel. The PCVs transmit the master cylinder pressure directly to the wheel cylinders for the rear wheels if the braking force is small. If the master cylinder pressure attains a level not lower than a set pressure, however, the PCVs lower the rate of increase of the fluid pressure transmitted to the rear wheel cylinders.
Thus, in the braking system furnished with the PCVs, the rear wheel braking force increases at a high rate as the front wheel braking force increases, in a small braking force region where the input fluid pressure to the PCVs is not higher than a set pressure. In a large braking force region where the input fluid pressure to the PCVs is higher than the set pressure, however, the rear wheel braking force increases at a low rate as the front wheel braking force increases. In other words, if a curve indicative of the braking force distribution characteristics of the braking system furnished with the PCVs is drawn on a graph whose axes of ordinate and abscissa represent the rear wheel braking force and front wheel braking force, respectively, then this braking force distribution curve is composed of a first straight line with a large inclination, which corresponds to the small braking force region, and a second straight line with a small inclination, which corresponds to the large braking force region.
The braking force distribution characteristics of the conventional braking system are set so that the braking force distribution ratio for the rear wheels is lower than in the case of a braking force distribution (ideal braking force distribution) such that the four wheels are simultaneously locked when the vehicle is braked. In this manner, the braking force stability is prevented from being lowered by the rear-wheel-first locking. Thus, the conventional braking force distribution curve is situated closer to the axis of abscissa than an ideal braking force distribution curve, that is, the rear wheel braking force is always smaller than the ideal braking force. Meanwhile, the rear wheels cannot always be locked if they are subjected to a braking force of a value greater than a value which is determined by the conventional or ideal braking force distribution curve. In other words, even if there is enough room for the increase of the rear wheel braking force, the conventional braking system produces an overall braking force by increasing the share of the front wheel braking force correspondingly.
If the share of the front wheel braking force is excessively increased in this manner, wear of braking pads of a front wheel brake unit is increased, and besides, heat release from the brake increases. Accordingly, the braked vehicle is liable to nose dive, as well as a fade, such that the friction coefficient of the brake pads is suddenly reduced, and a vapor lock, which is attributable to an increase of the brake fluid temperature, occurs. Thus, the braking stability is lowered.
If the share of the rear wheel braking force is increased, however, the rear wheels liable to become locked, so that their locking should be prevented. In consideration of these circumstances, systems which are designed so that the rear wheel braking force distribution can be increased without causing the rear wheels to be locked are disclosed in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Nos. 1-257652 (DE3742173, FR2624462, or GB2213543), 3-125657 (GB2236156 or DE3931858), and 3-208760 (DE4029332, GB2238092, or FR2654401). These conventional systems are provided with an anti-lock device and solenoid-operated valves for normally neutralizing the action of the proportioning control valves, so that the rear wheels can be prevented from locking while enjoying an increase of the braking force distribution thereto.
In these conventional examples, however, the proportioning control valves can be actuated only in case of trouble of the anti-lock device, so that they cannot fulfill their functions. Thus, the braking force cannot be properly distributed to the rear wheels. Since the expensive anti-lock device is a vital necessity, moreover, the system is inevitably expensive as a whole.

Rear wheel braking force control method and an apparatus therefor

Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogue Kabushiki Kaisha