An electrode suitable for use as a lead-acid battery plate is formed of a paste composition which enhances the performance of the plate. The paste composition includes a basic lead sulfate, a persulfate and water. The paste may also include lead oxide and fibers. An electrode according to the invention is characterized by good strength in combination with high power density, porosity and surface area.

Conventional lead-acid batteries contain a positive electrode (PbO.sub.2 plate) and a negative electrode (Pb plate) immersed in a sulfuric acid electrolyte and having a separator interposed therebetween. Such electrodes are typically made by applying a paste containing lead oxide(s) and lead sulfate(s) to the surface of a battery plate and electrochemically forming the paste into an active material.
Conventional pastes for use in making automotive batteries contain lead oxide (usually containing free lead in the range of 15 to 30% by weight), sulfuric acid, water and additives such as fiber and expanders. Such pastes are usually made by adding the sulfuric acid and water to a mixture of lead and lead oxide(s). As a result of the chemical reaction during mixing, a portion of the lead and PbO is initially converted to lead sulfate (PbSO.sub.4) and the resultant positive paste comprises a heterogeneous mixture of lead, lead oxide, lead sulfate and/or basic lead sulfates.
According to one known process, the paste is made by first weighing out a predetermined amount of lead oxide into a weigh hopper and dumping the lead oxide into a batch mixer, such as a mulling mixer. Dry additives such as fiber are directly added to the mixer. The resulting mixture is dry mixed for several minutes so that the fiber is dispersed throughout the oxide. Water is then added as needed to make a paste of the desired consistency. The wet mixture is mixed for a short time to wet out the lead oxide. Sulfuric acid is then added as mixing continues until the temperature peaks. The resulting paste is then cooled by evaporation of water and conduction to the mass of the mixer.
As a means of improving the ease of manufacture of batteries, a variety of conductive additives have been proposed for incorporation into the plates. Lead dioxide has been proposed as an additive for paste mixtures containing tetrabasic lead sulfate. See, Reich, U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,410 issued Nov. 15, 1983. Lead dioxide enhances positive plate formation, but provides no substantial advantage in the resulting battery because it participates in the positive plate reaction. During charging of the battery, lead sulfate is converted into lead dioxide, and the reverse reaction occurs during discharge.
The use of pre-sulfated paste materials containing basic lead sulfate, e.g., tri- and tetrabasic lead sulfates (3PbO.PbSO.sub.4.H.sub.2 O and 4PbO.PbSO.sub.4) made in dry form prior to forming the paste has also been proposed to improve the efficiency of the paste. See Malloy, U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,685, issued Jul. 13, 1965; Johnstoner U.S. Pat. No. 2,182,479, issued Dec. 5, 1939; and, Weir, U.S. Pat. No. 1,572,586, issued Feb. 9, 1926. Monobasic lead sulfate has also been used as a pre-sulfated paste material. See, for example, Voss et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,169,890, issued Feb. 16, 1965.
Biagetti, U.S. Pat. No. 3,765,943 emphasizes the advantages of preparing a tetrabasic lead sulfate from orthorhombic lead oxide. The lead oxide starting material is mixed with aqueous sulfuric acid so that the reaction is carried out in aqueous suspension. See also, Biagetti et al., Bell System Technical Journal, September 1970, No. 49, pp. 1305-1319, wherein the pastes are prediluted with water just prior to application to the cell grids. Positive plates prepared according to such a procedure generally exhibit good performance and cycle life. However, positive plates prepared from such pre-sulfated paste mixes are difficult to form and must usually be cured for at least 24 hours before being formed. See, for example, Yarnell and Weeks, J. Electrochem. Soc., No. 126, p. 7 (1979).
Reacting lead oxide with ozone to form improved lead oxides useful as active materials in batteries is also known, as described in Parker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,210, issued Jun. 14, 1983, and Mahato et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,706, issued Apr. 14, 1987. Parker also indicates that surface area increase is directly related to the presence of a hydrogen bonding solvent, typically water, for ozone, and that an increase in surface area is obtained with higher ozone concentration.
Metal oxides including titanium and tin oxides have also been suggested as additives for lead-acid battery plates. See, for example, Rowlette et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,443, issued Oct. 15, 1985, and Hayfield, U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,917, issued Dec. 27, 1983. These additives have proven somewhat useful but fail to completely meet the need for a lead-acid battery paste capable of high performance.
Several attempts have also been made to improve the conductivity of the paste through use of persulfate treatments. For example, Reid, U.S. Pat. No. 2,159,226, issued May 23, 1939, discloses treating battery plates, before they are formed, with a persulfate by incorporating the persulfate into the paste or through use of a pickling step. When added to the paste, the persulfate is preferably incorporated into the paste and the pasted plate immersed in the solution containing the persulfate. When the persulfate treatment is performed by pickling, the plates containing lead oxide (PbO) and water may be dipped in a persulfate solution ranging from 1% up to a saturated solution. The reference specifically describes use of ammonium persulfate added in solid form to the lead oxide in preparation of the paste, or added as an aqueous solution of any strength up to a saturated solution.
Barnes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,024, issued Aug. 20, 1968, relates to the formation of a battery plate. Before the pasting operation, the grid is dipped in ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, or a sodium perborate solution.
Belgian Patent No. 723,018, issued Oct. 28, 1968, relates to another attempt to improve the efficiency of the charge of the positive plates by adding potassium persulfate to the mixture of lead oxide and water to prepare the active material. Particularly, this reference discloses forming a pasty mixture of lead oxide (PbO) and potassium persulfate (K.sub.2 S.sub.2 O.sub.8) by mixing the two substances with water until the lead dioxide (formed by the reaction of the lead oxide and persulfate) is uniformly dispersed throughout the resultant mixture. The addition of 10.76% by weight of the persulfate to the lead oxide is specifically disclosed. The paste of that reference does not, however, have sufficient consistency and adherence of the paste to the grid is very poor. As a result, the active material tends to shed during the formation of the battery.
Another attempt to improve the efficiency of charge of the positive plates through persulfate treatments shown in Spanish Patent No. 8801559, issued May 10, 1988, which discloses the pre-treating of each positive plate, before the formation of the battery, with a solution which contains the persulfate anion in 20 to 80 g/l concentration. The reference suggests that the persulfate ion oxidizes the active materials of the plate (PbSO.sub.4 and PbO) to conductive PbO.sub.2, reducing the total charge time by up to 50%.
Such conventional batteries and improvements thereto in accordance with prior methods fail to produce batteries capable of high power outputs. In such batteries, the energy efficiency or capacity is limited to less than 50% of the theoretical value determined according to Faraday's law. This energy efficiency is even lower at high discharge rates. Therefore, conventional SLI batteries are incapable of delivering a high power output.
High power batteries as referred to herein are batteries capable of yielding a discharged power generally In excess of one (1) watt/cm.sup.2. Such batteries are useful in applications where large amounts of power are needed in short periods of time, as is necessary in a number of aeronautical applications. While it has been suggested that high power levels can be obtained by increasing the porosity of the formed plate, high porosity weakens the plates. For example, once the porosity of conventional plates is increased to about 60%, the plate tends to lose its strength and cannot be effectively used in lead-acid batteries.
A positive paste material capable of forming a high porosity plate is thus desirable for high power output applications and heretofore has been unobtainable from the prior art teachings. The present invention addresses this problem. Particularly, the battery plates prepared in accordance with the present invention exhibit high porosity and surface area, as well as a high efficiency of formation. Such plates have good strength and are capable of high power outputs.

High performance positive electrode for a lead-acid battery


A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture integrally forms a resilient beam portion adjacent an edge thereof carrying a grounding pad. The major components and subassemblies are self-fixturing during the final assembly process and self-interconnect by integral guide and connection features effecting “slide lock” and “snap lock” self-interconnection.

Devices such as automobile radios or personal computers contain subassemblies such as cassette playing mechanisms or disk drives that are attached to the chassis using threaded fasteners. The chassis provides structural support for the subassemblies and also provides electromagnetic shielding to limit electromagnetic interference (EMI) experienced by, and/or created by the device. The fasteners ensure that each subassembly within the chassis is properly located and securely retained within the chassis.
The use of such fasteners can have numerous drawbacks, particularly in a high volume production setting. The process for applying or installing fasteners can vary, but there is usually some degree of automation required, ranging from manually loading a screw into a bit on a pneumatic driver to using self-feeding automated machines. Typically, the torque applied by the device used to drive the fasteners must be monitored regularly and adjusted in order to assure proper seating of the fasteners. When fasteners are used, sheet metal tolerances, as well as tolerances of the fasteners themselves, have to be maintained at tight levels to allow for the minimization of stress in the assembly when aligning multiple fasteners with corresponding holes in the chassis and in the subassembly.
When threaded fasteners are used to assemble an electrical device, the assembly cycle time can be very long especially in high volume production. An operator assembling the device must typically first obtain the threaded fastener, orient and position it in alignment with the driver bit, then manipulate or actuate the machine to drive the threaded fastener. Furthermore, using threaded fasteners presents a risk of any one of the following upstream failures occurring: stripping of fastener threads; insufficient torque resulting in an unseated fastener; excessive torque resulting in distension/deformation of the fastener or adjacent electrical components; installation of the wrong fastener type or size; foreign object damage due to fasteners and/or metal shavings dropping onto the assembly and/or subassembly; and stripping of the head of the threaded fastener. Also, a fastener installation tool such as a driver and bit can slip off the fastener and impact an electrical component resulting in a damaged assembly.
If self-tapping fasteners are used, the process of driving the self-tapping fasteners into sheet metal often causes shavings of sheet metal to disperse into the assembly. Such shavings have been known to cause electrical failures, such as shorts or corruption of magnetic components that can permanently damage the product. If self-tapping fasteners are not used, an extra production step is required to pre-form threads in the sheet metal of the chassis and/or the subassembly to be installed within the chassis.
Fasteners further require an additional inventory burden on the production line in that the production line must be continuously stocked with part numbers (fasteners) other than the integral components that add value to the assembly. Also special tools specifically required for assembly, using fasteners, such as drivers and bits, must be continuously monitored and maintained for proper performance, wear and torque specifications. Typically, the top and/or bottom surface of the chassis must be secured in place after the subassembly is attached to the chassis.
Special fixtures are often required on the production line to secure a subassembly in a proper location and orientation while it is mounted within the chassis with fasteners. Such fixtures can be very complex, and the use of such fixtures usually requires extra handling of both the subassembly and of the resulting assembly thereby adding to the production cycle time and potentially compromising quality of the final product.
FIG. 1 illustrates the construction of a typical prior art automotive radio/compact disc (CD) player 10. Radio/CD player 10 comprises a radio subassembly whose principle circuit components are carried on a circuit board 12 and a CD player subassembly 14. The circuit board 12 and the CD player 14 are encased within a common chassis 16 made up of sheet metal components. Chassis 16 includes a wraparound housing 18 defining a back and sidewalls, a top cover 20, a bottom cover 22 and a front plate 24 which are interconnected by numerous threaded fasteners to collectively enclose the subassemblies. The top and bottom covers 20 and 22, respectively, are provided with large arrays holes or openings for airflow and ventilation of heat generated within the radio/CD player 10. A convector or heat sink 26 is carried on an outer surface of one of the chassis sidewalls and is interconnected through a port/window 28 to a power device assembly 30. A trim plate assembly 32, along with a support pad 34 and CD dust cover 36 are affixed to the front plate 24, providing an operator control interface with the radio/CD player 10. Circuit board 12 is electrically in-circuit with the CD player subassembly 14 through an intermediate flex wire cable 38 and with the power device assembly 30 through a jumper cable 40. Information bearing labels 42 and 44 are provided for future reference by the operator and service technicians. The radio/CD player 10 is electrically interconnected with an antenna, power supply, speakers and other related systems of a host vehicle by rear-facing connectors 46 carried on the circuit board 12 which are registered with openings 48 in the rear wall of wraparound housing 18. The radio/CD player 10 is mounted within a host vehicle by threaded fasteners passing through openings in mounting features 50 extending from front plate 24 and a rearwardly directed mounting bushing 52 which is threadably affixed to a stud 54 carried on the outer surface of the rear wall 56 of wraparound housing 18. As best seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the shank of the stud 54 extends outwardly through a hole 58 disposed concentrically with a localized recess 60 and the stud 54 is seated within the recess 60. FIG. 90 illustrates another known stud design including a threaded shank secured to the rear wall 53 of a radio set 51 by a set nut 55 and receiving a molded rubber, plastic or vinyl stud 57 thereover. Note the large number of threaded fasteners 59.
The radio/CD player 10 of FIG. 1 is of ordinary complexity and may require fifty or more threaded fasteners to complete the manufacturing process. Installation of that many fasteners may require that the in-process chassis be re-positioned/re-fixtured ten to fifteen times as it passes along an assembly line of eight to ten skilled workers/work stations.
Vehicle entertainment systems usually include an audio component such as a radio to enable receiving signals from antennas, contain various forms of playback mechanisms, and have the capacity to accept data from user devices like MP3 players. Typically, the radio has a decorative assembly that provides man-machine interface as well as displaying pertinent data relative to the selected media and audio settings. Also, the back-end or chassis is constructed of metal to provide various functions to ensure the performance of the radio in the vehicular environment. The structure to contain the mass from playbacks, the heat conductive properties, and the electrical shielding and grounding are just a few of the advantages to using the metal construction. Unfortunately, with the density of the metal, the disadvantage of added weight is a side effect of the typical construction. In a vehicle, added weight impacts fuel economy, as well as other hidden costs during assembly that can effect the cost of the product, like sharp edges of metal can be a potential hazard for assemblers in the manufacturing plant as well as added weight can limit the packaging of multiple parts in containers for inter and outer plant distribution.
Static electricity (electrostatics) is created when two objects having unbalanced charges touch one another, causing the unbalanced charge to transfer between the two objects. This phenomenon commonly occurs in homes, vehicles and other environments when the air is dry (i.e. has a characteristic relatively low level of humidity). For instance, when a person slides onto a car seat, electrons may transfer between the two, causing the surface of the person's body to store a charge. When the person, then, touches a vehicle component, the charge may travel (discharge) from the body to the component, thus creating static electricity. If the object touched is an electronic device, such as a home stereo, home theatre system, computer, vehicle entertainment system or other electronic media system, this electrostatic discharge can be harmful to the sensitive electronic components of the device. For instance, when a person slides onto a vehicle seat and inserts a disc into the car stereo, a charge may travel from the body through the disc to the sensitive electronic components in the vehicle stereo. Similar problems may occur when using DVD and other magnetic media and disc players.
Accordingly, problems with the drainage of a static electric charge impacting sensitive electronic components continue to persist.

Lightweight audio system for automotive applications and method


A steering assembly for a vehicle such as a racing vehicle wherein the camber, caster and the suspension height are readily adjustable. The steering assembly includes a steering arrangement and an alignment arrangement. The alignment arrangement includes a steering spindle having a tire axle for supporting a tire. The steering spindle defines a bore for receiving a kingpin. The steering spindle is connected to a mounting bracket by a pair of stems. The stems each are connected at one end to a second joint positioned above or below the steering spindle. The length of the stem between the mounting bracket and the second joint may be adjusted to alter the camber of the tire axle by displacing the central axis of the kingpin. The position of at least one of the stems may be altered in a horizontal direction to adjust the caster of the alignment arrangement. A plurality of spacers are selectively positioned between the steering spindle and the upper or lower second joint to provide variant suspension height positions of the steering spindle along the length of the kingpin.

Maximum performance of a motor vehicle, such as, for example, a racing vehicle, is achieved, at least in part, by maximizing the tire traction of the vehicle. This is particularly important for optimizing cornering performance of the motor vehicle. The size of the surface area of contact between the tires and the road, the amount of time of that the tires contact the road, and the loading of the tires are important parameters for achieving optimal driving performance. These parameters may be met by providing the vehicle tires with the desired camber, caster and suspension height for the given conditions. Suspension height is the distance measured from some specific point on the body, frame, or suspension to the ground. Camber is the amount that the vehicle tires tilt in (negative) or out (positive) at the top, when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Caster is the angle formed by the forward (negative) or rearward (positive) tilt of the steering axis from the vertical axis. The camber adjustment occurs in a first plane whereas the caster adjustment occurs in a second plane, generally transverse to the first plane, albeit both adjustments are measured relative to the vertical axis. The camber, caster and the suspension height may therefore be adjusted to achieve optimal driving performance.
The optimal conditions for a vehicle alignment system may vary, however, from instance to instance. For example, the preferred alignment system may vary from one car to another, from one course to another and even from one day to another due to varying external conditions. The desired characteristics of the system may vary, for instance, because of changes in the surface from surface damage, rubber and oil accumulation, weather conditions, etc. It is therefore desired to provide a vehicle alignment system permitting easy and ready adjustment of steering parameters such as suspension height, caster and camber which may be performed without excessive specialized equipment and at any location, even at a race track before or during an automobile race.

Steering assembly having an adjustable alignment arrangement


The present invention provides a container comprising portion packets of a tobacco or non-tobacco snuff, wherein the portion packets are held in place on an interior surface of the container by an adhesive, a method for packing portion packets of a tobacco or non-tobacco snuff in a container, as well as use of an adhesive in such container for removable adhesion of said portion packets.

Tobacco or non-tobacco smokeless products for oral use comprise finely divided, particulate, such as ground, or cut, tobacco or non-tobacco material or a combination thereof that is not intended for combustion but designed to be placed in the oral cavity of a user for a period of time. There are many various forms of smokeless products for oral use, such forms include tobacco and non-tobacco snuff.
Tobacco snuff is available as dry snuff for oral or nasal use and moist (or wet) snuff for use in the oral cavity by placing between the lip and gum. There are two types of moist snuff, the American and the Scandinavian type. American-type moist snuff is available in a loose form or as pre-packed pouches and is typically used between the lower gum and lip. The use of American-type moist snuff is commonly called dipping. Snus is the Scandinavian-type of moist snuff that is available in loose form or is portion packed in pouches and is typically used between the upper gum and lip. Non-tobacco snus for oral use is also commonly portion packed in pouches and placed between the upper gum and lip.
Tobacco or non-tobacco moist snuff may be provided in different forms of portion packets, such as in pouches. Manufacturing of such portion packets generally involve the steps of (pre)treating and processing of the tobacco or non-tobacco material; forming portion-sized packets of the bulk material; optionally wrapping a packaging material around the portion packets; and placing the portion packets in a container.
The production rate of moist snuff for oral use in portion packets is very high; typically several hundreds of portion packets per minute. There are a number of requirements concerning packing of portion packets in a container that are important to the end user and also for obtaining an efficient packing. For example, the portion packets may be positioned in a certain pattern in a container to confer an attractive appearance to the user and at the same time obtain an optimum use of the space in the container.
Thus, there is still a need of improved packing techniques of portion packets of a tobacco or non-tobacco moist snuff in a container in order to comply with the demands posed from the end users as well as from the manufacturing perspective.

Container with removable adhesively held packets


A polyester gelcoat composition containing unsaturated polyester resin, a reactive diluent mixture including para-tertiary-butylstyrene, and one or more additives. The gelcoat composition does not include appreciable deleterious amounts of hazardous air pollution solvents. A method of making the gelcoat composition is also disclosed.

Polyester resin systems (compositions) have long been used to make a variety of useful products. For example, these systems have been used to manufacture gel coats that find a variety of uses, e.g., in making sinks, countertops, shower stalls/tubs, spas, boat hulls, etc. Typically these compositions comprise an unsaturated polyester resin and a reactive diluent (typically a volatile organic monomer such as styrene). Unfortunately, during curing of the composition some of the volatile organic monomer or Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) is lost into the atmosphere. Due to environmental concerns, legislation was passed which requires reduction in the amount of Hazardous Air Pollutants that may be released into the atmosphere.
One method of reducing such HAPs emission is replacement of the reactive diluent with a less volatile reactive diluent. However, this approach has led to slower curing times and/or incomplete curing at normal ambient temperatures. Another approach is the reduction in the amount of reactive diluent. This approach has led to increases in viscosity beyond useable values. If viscosity increase is compensated by use of a lower molecular weight polyester, then poor final gel coat properties have resulted. Another approach has been the use of a suppressant that reduces the loss of HAPs. Unfortunately, however, none of these approaches has proved fully satisfactory.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that what is needed in the art is an environmentally friendly polyester composition. Such systems and methods for preparing the same and using the same are disclosed and claimed herein.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Low-HAP and zero-HAP polyester resin systems and articles prepared using same


A Uni-Bipotential in-line electron gun for a color cathode ray tube includes a specially shaped G4 electrode for compensating the gun for comatic distortion. In the G4 electrodes the three apertures are oblong in shape, with the two outer apertures being horizontally displaced from the beam axis to inwardly displace the electron beams so that they substantially fall on the respective optical axes of symmetry of the main lens.

This invention relates generally to in-line electron guns for color cathode ray tubes and specifically to a uni-bipotential in-line electron gun having minimal comatic aberrations.
In-line electron guns for cathode ray tubes are well known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,101, assigned to Zenith Electronics Corporations describes an in-line electron gun for use in high resolution tri-beam color cathode ray tubes that have self convergent yokes. As is well known, such yokes undesirably introduce beam shape distortions which, however, may be compensated by various electron lens configurations, one such a being a dynamic lens, often referred to as a Dynamic Quadropole. Other types of distortion are also introduced to the electron beams by the electronic lenses of the gun. A major problem is that of spherical aberration, which is characterized by an increase in focussing power that is proportional to the cube of the radial distance from the optical center of the lens. Thus the outer portion of the beam will be more strongly focussed than the mid portion, and the mid portion more strongly focussed than the center portion, resulting in an aberrated image. To compensate for this distortion, the lenses are made as large as possible, constrained by the electron gun and tube geometry.
Another type of distortion, referred to as comatic distortion, is addressed by the present inventions. Comatic distortion results when the beam is off center of the optical lens axis, that is, the optical axis defined by the electric field of the lens. Comatic distortion, a second order effect, describes a result in which the asymmetric focussing action of the lens causes a tail to appear in the electron spot, compromising the resolution of the cathode ray tube.
This type of aberration is inherent in electron main lens systems referred to as the common or open type where a single large aperture provides part of the focussing action for all three beams passing within. It is readily apparent from symmetry principles that the center beam axis is coincident with the electrical axis of such a main lens and no comatic aberration is generated. However the outer beams, while coincident with the electrical symmetry axis of the main lens in the vertical direction, are generally not coincident with the main lens electrical axis in the horizontal direction and generate a horizontally directed comatic aberration in the outer beams, if not compensated.
In one prior art design using the common lens system, comatic aberration is compensated by placing field corrector electrodes behind the single large apertures forming the main lens. The electrode shapes the electric field such that the electric axis is moved to coincide with that of the beam. This type of corrector electrode has a complex aperture shape that must be very accurately positioned in the gun, making manufacture and assembly difficult.
Another prior art design uses a simple plate with three circular apertures to provide some degree of comatic correction by reducing the diameters so that more focussing action is done by the circular apertures and less by the large single common lens aperture. However, in order to achieve a reasonable amount of correction for comatic aberration, the circular diameter must be decreased to the point where spherical aberration increases. Thus this type of design results in a compromise between comatic aberration and spherical aberration.
In the present invention the diameters of the previously described circular apertures of the corrector electrode are maximized so that their size is restricted only by the physical requirement of having three complete circular apertures. Thus the problem of increased spherical aberration is eliminated. This however causes the electric axis of the main lens to be non-coincident with beam axis and results in comatic aberration. In the present invention this comatic aberration is eliminated by deflecting the beam upstream of the main lens area by offsetting the center of one or more outer beam apertures in the pre-focus region of the gun. The amount and direction of the deflection is chosen so that the outer beams will arrive at the main lens area aligned with the electrical axis of the main lens and thus incur little comatic aberration.
Therefore the present invention retains the manufacturability of the circular aperture corrector electrode while providing a high degree of comatic correction and a low degree of spherical aberration.

Uni-bipotential symmetrical beam in-line electron gun


A hybrid vehicle control unit (HV-ECU) sets a sub-battery voltage during an engine non-operation time to be lower than a sub-battery voltage during the normal time, which decreases a charge amount to the sub-battery relative to an amount during the normal time. The HV-ECU sets the sub-battery voltage during an engine operation time to be higher than the sub-battery voltage during the engine non-operation time, which increases the charge amount to the sub-battery relative to an amount during the engine non-operation time. A SOC control according to the above-described scheme prevents a SOC decrease of the sub-battery SOC in comparison to the conventional SOC control scheme, thereby preventing charging of the sub-battery when the main battery SOC is lower than a certain threshold. Therefore, a run-down of the sub-battery is prevented.

In recent years, hybrid vehicles have become popular because of the social demand for low fuel consumption and low emission vehicles. In a hybrid vehicle, a drive power of the vehicle is procured from both of an engine and a motor-generator, and the engine in the hybrid vehicle is also used to charge batteries, that is, for charging a main battery by driving the motor-generator to generate electricity. Further, a heater device, or an electric heater, in the hybrid vehicle is operated by receiving an electric power either from the main battery or from a sub-battery that is electrically connected to the main battery, for heating a vehicle compartment or the like.
In the hybrid vehicle having an electric heater for heating operation, for example, the heater device disclosed in a patent document 1 (i.e., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2013-18420) stops an electricity supply from the main battery to the sub-battery when a main battery SOC is equal to or lower than a preset value, so that a heating capacity of the heater device as well as an EV travel capacity of the hybrid vehicle are preserved without consuming the electric power in the main battery.
The technique in the patent document 1 may cause a run-down of the sub-battery when a low-SOC state of the main battery continues for a long time, due to a no-charge control of the sub-battery.
In view of such a shortcoming of the conventional technique, an idea of the present disclosure is devised.


A valve assembly has a housing having an abutment and a valve cartridge in the housing having an actuating stem displaceable about a flow-control axis for varying a flow rate between a maximum flow and a minimum flow and about a temperature-control axis for varying temperature of the flow. A handle connected to the stem carries another abutment engageable with the housing abutment in a position of the valve cartridge corresponding to partial flow through the cartridge. A deflectable override button on the handle is operable to displace the handle abutment out of engagement with the housing abutment.

A standard single-lever valve has a deck- or wall-mount housing provided internally with a valve cartridge from which extends an actuating stem. A handle mounted on the stem can pivot about a flow-control axis to adjust the rate of flow through the cartridge and about a different temperature-control axis to control the mix of hot and cold water that is fed to an output, normally a spout. It is therefore possible to adjust flow rate and temperature in an extremely easy manner that the user quickly adjusts to.
Nowadays safety and conservation requirements demand that, however, the valve be capable of limiting the flow rate and/or maximum temperature of the outputted water. Thus abutments are provided as described in European patent applications 0,426,639 of D'Alayer and 0,662,577 of Hirsh as well as in German patent 3,607,349. In these systems it is possible to set the valve so that the maximum temperature it can output is limited and/or the maximum amount of flow through it is limited. In some cases the handle must be actuated with greatly increased force to get past the preset partial-flow or high-temperature setting and in others the handle must be actuated with respect to a third axis in order to override the safety settings.
All such system are fairly cumbersome. In addition the override arrangements are often so complex that with time they either cease functioning altogether so that there is no flow or temperature limit, or so that one cannot override the flow or temperature limit.


Novel tools and techniques are provided for testing performance of network connections. In some cases, a method for testing performance of a network connection might comprise establishing a plurality of test points within one or more segments in the network connection. With a computer, performance of a selected segment of the network connection at one or more first test points may be tested. The selected segment might have a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The performance of one or more sub-segments of the selected segment at one or more second test points may also be tested with the computer. The computer may also determine an isolated performance of a particular one of the sub-segments based on the testing. In some instances, the method might further comprise determining, with the computer, that performance of the one or more sub-segments has affected performance of the network connection.

In a cloud environment, or in any computing network, failures or reduced performance along any number of "paths" between a source (e.g., a website server) and a user device can occur due to one or more of a host of events or causes, including, but not limited to, data traffic congestion, faulty hardware or hardware failure, insufficient network connections and/or nodes, electrical surges, natural or manmade disasters, inefficient routing protocols, and/or software glitches, etc.
At present, there are insufficient testing points and servers that accurately monitor segments of interest within computing networks, which might include various networks that are administratively separate from each other (i.e., controlled, operated, and/or maintained by different Internet service providers ("ISPs")). Much of existing testing configurations for monitoring network performance encompass, but do not discount, network performance metrics contributed by segments of the computing network that lie outside of the purview of any particular Internet service provider to control and perform maintenance and repair.
In some cases, technicians may need to be called out to the customer premises and/or service locations at which the ISP's network equipment might be located, in order to monitor and diagnose problems with network connectivity and performance.
In other cases, because of insufficient monitoring of all network connections, even if less congested alternate "paths" exist, it is not possible or practical to easily and effectively identify such alternate "paths" for redirecting or rerouting the data traffic, especially as data congestion factors and effects can change rapidly and unexpectedly.
In sum, any existing networking performance monitoring systems either are inadequate to the task of accurately testing performance (and, in some cases, capacity) of particular segments of interest, are incapable of autonomously or automatically rerouting along higher capacity "paths," are too costly to ensure adequate monitoring, and/or take too long to gather and analyze the appropriate network performance metrics.
Hence, there is a need for more robust and scalable network performance testing solutions.


An engine and generator/motor are connected to the input shaft of a continuously variable transmission, and the output shaft of the continuously variable transmission is connected to drive wheels. A target value of a coasting torque acting on the output shaft during coasting is set according to a vehicle speed. A real coasting torque is estimated from the output torque of the engine and frictional torque of the continuously variable transmission. By making the generator/motor function as a generator or a motor, fluctuation of the engine braking force due to a variation of drive ratio during coasting is suppressed so that the real coasting torque coincides with the target value.

A hybrid vehicle drive system as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,011 rotates drive wheels under an output torque of either or both an engine and a motor/generator according to the running conditions.
When a continuously variable transmission is used with such a drive system, when an accelerator pedal is released while the vehicle is running at high speed, a drive ratio of the transmission varies when the vehicle begins coasting.
Herein, the drive ratio is the ratio of the rotation speed of an input shaft and output shaft of the transmission.
When the vehicle starts coasting, there is an upshift to a minimum drive ratio, then the continuously variable transmission shifts down while the engine rotation speed remains constant due to the decrease of vehicle speed, and after the drive ratio reaches the maximum drive ratio, this maximum drive ratio is maintained until the vehicle stops.
However, during an upshift, the engine brake power decreases, and during a downshift, the engine brake force increases. Therefore, it is impossible to achieve a stable engine braking force during this alternating pattern of upshift and downshift.

Vehicle drive system controller and control method


A virtual machine management device includes an acquiring unit, a specifying unit, and a move processing unit. The acquiring unit acquires an amount of communication data that is exchanged between multiple virtual machines running in multiple server devices and that is used for communication with each other. The specifying unit specifies, on the basis of the communication distance between each of the server devices, a server device that has a shorter communication distance from a server device, which executes one of a pair of the virtual machines whose amount of the communication data is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, than a communication distance between the server devices in which the pair of the virtual machines are running. The move processing unit moves the other one of the pair of the virtual machines to the specified server device.

In recent years, a virtualization technology that operates virtual machines in physical servers is used. For example, in each data center, an environment in which virtual machines are operated in multiple physical servers by using virtualization software is increased. The virtualization software has the function of moving a virtual machine running on a physical server to another physical server. This moving of a virtual machine is also referred to as "migration".
As a technology for distributing the load on the multiple physical servers in which the virtual machines are running, there is a method of migrating a virtual machine from, for example, a physical server to which a high load is applied to a physical server to which a low load is applied. Furthermore, as a technology for distributing the load, there is a proposed technology that uses, as a condition, at least one of the electrical power consumption and the amount of I/O; that calculates a cost for each pattern for multiple calculating processes that are distributed to multiple virtual machines; and that selects a pattern for the lowest cost.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-218307
The conventional technology can distribute the load such that the load is not applied to a specific physical server; however, there is a problem in that, when virtual machines communicate and the communication distance between the virtual machines is great, the traffic in a network increases and thus a delay may possibly occur in the network.

Virtual machine management device, and virtual machine move control method


A male connector (B) includes an outer housing (10) equipped with a rotatable lever (31) and an inner connector (20) which moves in an axial direction in the outer housing by rotation of the lever. A female connector (A) includes a shell for receiving the male connector; the male and female connectors having abutting faces (36 and 4) abutting on each other by magnetic force when the inner connector (20) and the female connector (A) are engaged with each other, at least one of the abutting faces being made of magnet (35). The male and female connectors can constitute a provisional locking structure before substantial magnetic adsorption force due to proximity of the male and female connectors. The male and female connectors are coupled to each other to connect terminals mounted in the male and female connectors to each other. Even if a strong magnet is used to couple relatively large connectors with each other, they can be separated by small force.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector assembly with low passing-through force using a magnet and a lever for coupling and separating of a pair of female and male connectors.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A coupling structure as shown in FIG. 9 has been proposed in which uses a magnet in order to hold a pair of connectors and obtain contact load with a partner terminal (JP-B-58-113975).
In FIG. 8, reference numeral 51 denotes a connecting device body serving as a connector, and 55 denotes an attaching section where an electric appliance such as an electric water heater is to be attached. The connecting body 51 includes conductive coil springs 52 with their rear ends internally secured and lead wires 53 for power source cords connected to the rear ends and a magnet 54. The connecting body 51 is adsorbed and locked to the attaching area by the magnetic force of the magnet 54 so that the tips of the coil springs 52 abut on the corresponding connecting pins 56 of the attaching section 55 to be electrically connected thereto.
In FIG. 8, the connecting body 51 adsorbed and held to the attaching area 55 can be easily removed by pushing the end of the connecting body 51 on the side of the lead wires downward or upward owing to the theory of leverage. However, since force in an slanting direction is directly exerted on the end surfaces of the coil springs 52 and connecting pins 56 constituting connecting terminals so that the connecting terminal may be entangled and injured.
FIGS. 9A and 9B show a connector assembly according to another prior art using a magnet as disclosed in JP-B-1-73774. In this connector assembly, abutting faces are formed on a female connector 57 and male connector 58, respectively which abut on each other when both connectors 57 and 58 are engaged with each other. The one abutting face 60 is made of magnetic substance. The connector on the side of the other abutting face 59 is provided with a magnet which can be rotated in a direction of contacting or separating the magnetic pole with or from the abutting face 59 by a knob.
The coupling structure as shown in FIG. 8 can be used for a connector for passing a large current for e.g. charging of an electric vehicle. This coupling structure is advantageous for a connector used at the place where sand or dust is apt to be applied in that it decreases the area suffering from friction force.
In the case of the connector for a large current, the contact load of a terminal and holding force of a connector must be increased in proportion to a current value. For this purpose, if the adsorption force of a magnet is increased, collision may occur in connector coupling. The shock thus produced may destroy the magnet. A hand or finger may be caught. When the adsorption force is increased to enhance the holding force, removing force is increased, thus making a removing operation difficult.
In the case of the connector assembly shown in FIG. 9, with the magnetic force of the magnet 62 increased, if the magnetic pole of the magnet 62 is opposite to the connector member 58 before the male and female connectors 57 and 58 are coupled with each other, connector coupling can be easily effected by the magnetic force. As in the above case, the abutting face or terminal may be broken and also large force is required for separation.

Connector with low passing-through magnet force


Disclosed herein is a camera module including: a lens barrel including at least one lens L stacked and bonded therein and having a lower protrusion part formed on a bottom surface thereof; a housing having an internal space so as to receive the lens barrel therein and having a supporting surface supporting the lens barrel; and a substrate formed below the housing and having an image sensor mounted thereon.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a camera module, and more particularly, to a camera module capable of being mounted at a portable terminal so as to photograph an image.
2. Description of the Related Art
In accordance with the recent development of a technology of a portable terminal such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet personal computer (PC), and the like, the portable terminal has been used as multi-convergence such as a music, a movie, a television, a game, and the like, as well as a simple phone function. The most typical product among products leading the development to the multi-convergence may be a camera module. The camera module has been changed for implementation of various additional functions such as auto focusing AF and optical zoom simultaneously with changing based on high pixel.
The portable terminal as mentioned above tends to be miniaturized, slimed, and multi-functionalized according to preference of an element. In addition, as the camera module which is mounted at the portable terminal has also been gradually developed, a size of the camera module has decreased, and pixels and functions thereof have increased. Therefore, technologies for precisely manufacturing components which are mounted inside the camera module are also required for improving image performance and reference for evaluating thereof gradually become complicated.
In general, the camera module includes a substrate on which an image sensor is mounted, a housing which is closely bonded onto the substrate, and a lens barrel which is mounted on the housing, and matches an optical axis of a lens which is stacked and bonded in the lens barrel to an optical axis of the image sensor which is mounted on the substrate to allow an accurate image to be photographed.
However, when the camera module is assembled using many optical components including the image sensor, the optical axis between the image sensor and the lens may be distorted due to a tolerance by each part, an assembly tolerance or the like, that is, a tilt may be generated, such that resolution defects may occur in final products.
In this case, at the time of evaluating the image of the lens barrel which is mounted on the camera module among a plurality of optical components, a bottom surface of a press-fitting ring fixing the lens after stack-bonding the lens is used as an image evaluating reference surface of the lens barrel, wherein the bottom surface of the press-fitting ring has low flatness due to an accumulated error of a stack assembly which is generated at the time of bonding the lens, and a difference occurs in perpendicularity between measurements of the bottom surface of the lens barrel and a side of the module at the time of actually assembling the module, to cause a high defect ratio of the lens barrel at the time of evaluating lens performance and degrade the resolution.


A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a first substrate provided with an alignment film on one surface thereof, and a second substrate provided with an alignment film on one surface thereof. The first and second substrates are arranged to oppose each other with the alignment films inside the opposed first and second substrates. Spacers are interposed between the first and second substrates, and pixels are arranged in a matrix in the display apparatus. The spacers are arranged such that, along a direction of rubbing treatment for the alignment film of the second substrate, not more than one spacer is provided per pixel, at least one spacer is present per three consecutive pixels, and no three consecutive pixels all have a respective spacer corresponding thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display apparatus having spacers between the substrates of the liquid crystal display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional liquid crystal display apparatus described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-214621, R (red), G (green), and B (blue) pixel regions are arranged in stripes, and columnar spacers are arranged in non-pixel regions arranged between the R pixel regions and B pixel regions respectively located upstream and downstream in the direction of rubbing treatment. This prevents an alignment defect resulting from the columnar spacers from occurring in the G pixel region, which has a visual sensitivity that is higher than visual sensitivities of the R pixel region and B pixel region. As a result, a display nonuniformity due to the alignment defect resulting from the columnar spacers will not be observed easily.
In the conventional liquid crystal display apparatus described above, columnar spacers are arranged regularly in the non-pixel regions between the R pixel regions and B pixel regions respectively located upstream and downstream in the direction of rubbing treatment. Namely, the columnar spacers are arranged in all the non-pixel regions downstream of all the R pixel regions in the direction of rubbing treatment. The columnar spacers are thus arranged consecutively with respect to the R pixel regions located in the direction of rubbing treatment. With this structure, an alignment defect resulting from the consecutively arranged columnar spacers is observed as a display abnormality on a straight line extending in the direction of rubbing treatment.

Liquid crystal display apparatus comprising spacers


A wiring board with high reliability capable of effectively preventing the occurrence of migration includes a substrate 1, a glass layer 2 deposited on the top face of the substrate 1, a plurality of conductive layers 3 deposited on the surface of the glass layer 2, and a plurality of plating layers 4 correspondingly deposited for covering the surface of each of the conductive layers 3. The glass layer 2 is partially protruded so as to surround and to overlap both sides of each conductive layer 3, and top ends of the protruded portions 2a are interposed between the conductive layer 3 and the plating layer 4. Even when a large difference in potentials is created between the adjacent conductive layers 3, 3 while the wiring board is used, the protruded portions 2a of the glass layer 2 sufficiently prevents the growth of the metal toward the adjacent conductive layer 3, and effectively prevents the occurrence of migration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wiring board for use in constituting a head substrate and the like of an LED (Light Emitting Diode) array head.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wiring board has been conventionally used for constituting a head substrate of an LED array head.
A conventional wiring board has a structure as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. A plurality of conductive layers 12 are deposited into a predetermined pattern on the top face of a substrate 11 made of a material such as glass and ceramics. In addition, the surface of each conductive layer 12 is covered with a plating layer 13.
As a material of the conductive layers 12, a conductive material containing metal such as silver (Ag) or aluminum (Al) is used. The conductive layers 12 are formed in the following process. Silver powder, glass frit, organic flux and so on are mixed with each other to obtain a predetermined conductive paste. The resultant conductive paste is printed and applied into a predetermined pattern on the top face of the substrate 11 by a conventionally known method such as screen printing. Then, the conductive paste is baked at a temperature ranging from 350 to 800xc2x0 C. to form the conductive layers 12.
The plating layer 13, which covers each of the conductive layers 12, is formed in order to achieve excellent bonding property at the time when an external electric circuit such as a semiconductor element and a flexible wiring board is bonded to the conductive layer 12, as well as to prevent the conductive layer 12 from corrosion. The plating layer 13 has been formed by a conventionally known method such as electric field plating where metal excellent in corrosion resistance such as nickel (Ni), gold (Au), chromium (Cr) or the like is selectively deposited on the surface of the conductive layer 12. When the plating layer 13 is formed by the method such as described above, the end portion of the plating layer 13 is extended to reach the top face of the substrate 11.
The above-described conventional wiring board, however, has the following problem. Whereas the end portion of the plating layer 13 is extended to reach the surface of the substrate 11 in such a manner that the plating layer 13 completely covers the entire conductive layer 12, the plating layer 13 is poor in adhesiveness to the substrate 11 in many cases. Due to this disadvantage, in the structure where a plurality of conductive layers 12 such as described above are arranged in parallel to each other at high density at intervals ranging from 10 to 100 xcexcm, large difference in potentials is created between the adjacent conductive layers 12, 12 when electric power is selectively applied to each of the plurality of conductive layers 12. As a result, the metal such as silver and aluminum which forms the conductive layer 12 may cause migration growing in the form of tree toward the conductive layer 12 located at a positive potential side via a space between the substrate 11 and the plating layer 13. In this case, the adjacent conductive layers 12 are electrically short-circuited, so that it is impossible to use the wiring board having such a trouble.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an objective thereof is to provide a wiring board with high reliability capable of effectively preventing the occurrence of migration.
A wiring board in accordance with an aspect of the present invent includes: a substrate; a glass layer deposited on a top face of the substrate; a plurality of conductive layers made of conductive material including silver or aluminum and deposited on a surface of the glass layer; and a plating layer made of at least one of metals selected from a group consisting of nickel, chromium, and gold and covering at least a part of a surface of each conductive layer, wherein the glass layer is partially protruded so as to surround and to overlap both sides of each conductive layer, and a top end of each protruded portion is interposed between the conductive layer and the plating layer.
By such the configuration, the edges of each conductive layer are overlapped with the protruded portions of the glass layer located under the conductive layer. In addition, the top end of each protruded portion is interposed between the conductive layer and the plating layer formed on the conductive layer. Thus, even when a large difference in potentials is created between the adjacent conductive layers while the wiring board is used, the protruded portion of the glass layer sufficiently prevents the growth of the metal such as silver or aluminum which forms the conductive layer toward the adjacent conductive layer, and effectively prevents the occurrence of migration. As a result, electric insulation between adjacent conductive layers can be assuredly maintained over a long period of time, and reliability of the wiring board can be increased.


In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided for covering and uncovering a flap opening in an aircraft. The apparatus comprises a door member, a torque tube roller member, at least one roller member, and a biasing member. The door member may be adapted to cover and uncover a flap opening. The torque tube roller member may be attached with the door member, and may be adapted to be pushed by a torque tube member attached with a flap of an aircraft. The door member may be adapted to be driven from a closed position covering a flap opening into an open position uncovering a flap opening. The roller member may be attached with the door member and may be adapted to follow at least one track member. The biasing member may be attached with the door member for biasing the door member towards a closed position covering a flap opening.

Aircraft often use torque tube members to move flaps from stowed to deployed positions. The torque tube members may penetrate the wing to body fairing. To accommodate flap motion, a large flap opening may be created in the wing to body fairing which must be closed off during cruise flight. Some existing aircraft utilize one or more kicker doors members that are pushed aside by the flap when it deploys. However, these kicker door members may not accommodate for variable camber during flight to allow for small angular displacements of the flap without opening the kicker door members. Further, these kicker door members may not work in the allowable geometries of some aircraft. Still other existing aircraft utilize elephant ear fairings which are large fairings attached to the flap. However, these may be undesirable because they may increase drag and noise.
An apparatus for covering and uncovering a flap opening in an aircraft, and method for its use, is needed to decrease one or more problems associated with one or more of the existing apparatus and/or methods.


The invention relates to an improved micrometric device for finishing bores of the type having a substantially cylindrical body in the interior of which are mounted displacement devices that actuate on a tool holder displaceable in the same direction as the radial component of the work force. The displacement devices are provided with a backlash suppression system and a movement transmission mechanism. The movement transmission mechanism is provided with a graduated drum coaxially mounted to a micrometric screw. The micrometric screw is axially and radially supported in relation to the body of the micrometric device by a support system. In accordance with the invention, on an upper threaded extension of micrometric screw, a cylindrical rod is mounted that incorporates at its upper end, an oblique portion or extension set off by an angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of micrometric screw. The oblique extension is lodged in a hole of a crossbeam which is displaced on guideways and balls such that a radial displacement of the tool holder is possible.

The present invention relates to an improved micrometric device for finishing bores and particularly to an improvement, introduced on high precision micrometric devices for finishing through and/or blind bores.
Micrometric devices for use with conventional and numerical controlled machine tools for finishing bores are known. However, the micrometric device for finishing bores according to the present invention incorporates important features not found in devices known in the present state of the art.


A golf club head of this invention includes a face and a plurality of striations formed on the face by milling. A pitch P in the arrangement direction of the plurality of striations satisfies 300 μm≦P≦600 μm. The surface roughness of a region in the face with the striations satisfies in the maximum height of the profile Ry, 15 μm≦Ry≦0.005×P+15.7 μm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf club head.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to increase the spin amount of a ball and improve a hitting feel, golf club heads with the adjusted surface roughness of the face have been proposed. Japanese Patent No. 3000921 discloses a golf club head in which fine crossing grooves which are traces by a cutting tool are formed on the face. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-229169 discloses a putter head in which the face undergoes milling. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-169129 discloses a golf club head in which the surface roughness of the face is set to 40 Ra or more.
Wedge golf club heads such as sand wedges and approach wedges are required of the large spin amount of a ball. Increasing the surface roughness of the face effectively increases the spin amount of the ball. However, when the surface roughness of the face is excessively large, the ball is easily damaged. In addition, the surface roughness of the face of a golf club head for official competitions is determined to be 4.57 μm or less in the arithmetic mean deviation of the profile (Ra) and 25 μm or less in the maximum height of the profile (Ry) by the rule. Therefore, in order to make a golf club head suitable for official competitions, the surface roughness of the face needs to be adjusted within the rule range.


A probability at which a target object takes a target object state is acquired for each of target object states that the target object is allowed to take, and a distribution of the probabilities is acquired. A success rate is acquired, for each relative target object state being determined in advance for a position and orientation of an image capturing device, at which the target object is successfully identified from a captured image obtained by capturing the target object having the relative target object state, and a distribution of the success rates is acquired. A position and orientation that the device is to take is determined based on the distribution of the success rates acquired for each of a plurality of positions and orientations that the image capturing apparatus is allowed to take, and the distribution of the probabilities.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for identifying a target object at high accuracy.
2. Description of the Related Art
As one identification method, a study of controlling a computer to learn feature amounts extracted from an image of a target object obtained from an image capturing device, and identifying a type of an object which appears in the input image has been extensively made. Also, a study of simultaneously estimating a position and orientation of an object simultaneously with its type using model information or the like of the object has been made. As an application destination of that technique, position/orientation identification (recognition) of parts, which controls a robot to execute operations such as advanced assembling, is known.
Non-patent literature 1 (B. Leibe, "Robust Object Detection with Interleaved Categorization and Segmentation", IJCV Special Issue on Learning for Vision for learning, August 2007.) has proposed a method of estimating a central position of an object by probabilistic voting by associating features which are code-booked from learning images and detected features with each other (implicit-shape-model). With this method, not only a type but also a position of an object can be estimated.
In patent literature 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-257649), feature points are extracted from an input image to calculate their feature amounts, and feature points similar to feature amounts in learning images are set as corresponding points. Then, by voting to reference points based on feature amounts (including position information) of feature points of learning images for respective corresponding points in an input image, a target object is identified and a position is estimated.
Also, a technique for speeding up processing and enhancing its accuracy when information about states of target objects such as a pile of parts is acquired using a sensor such as a camera, positions and orientations of respective target objects are estimated from the acquired information such as an image, and target objects are sequentially picked up by gripping them by a robot has been studied.
Patent literature 2 (Japanese Patent No. 4238256) has proposed a method of generating a virtual pile, and simulating robot operations based on a virtual captured image of that pile. A pile state is assumed by randomly generating orientations of a plurality of target objects using model data such as CAD data of target objects, and operations for handling a target object by a robot are simulated.
In patent literature 3 (Japanese Patent No. 3300092), values which can be assumed by parameters that define a position and orientation of a target object, are stochastically predicted, a region (ROI) where features that define the target object exist on the screen is limited or that where the features exist on a parameter space is limited according to the prediction result.
Patent literature 4 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-245283) shortens a processing time by selecting an orientation of a work from those limited to a plurality of stable orientations upon estimation of the orientation of the work. Patent literature 5 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-186219) shortens a processing time by calculating degrees of stability for respective orientations of a work, and inhibiting use of templates which express orientations of low degrees of stability.
When positions and orientations of respective target objects such as a pile of parts are to be estimated, since the positions and orientations of the target objects have variations, feature amounts obtained from images obtained by viewing the target objects from various viewpoints have to be learned. However, it is often difficult to identify an image of the target objects obtained at a certain viewpoint, and it is difficult to raise identification accuracies of images of the target objects obtained at all the viewpoints.
The reason why identification accuracies of respective positions and respective orientations are different depending on target objects is that a feature portion helpful to identify a target object cannot always be obtained on an image when images of that target object are captured from all viewpoints. For this reason, when the positions and orientations of target objects such as a pile of parts in a factory or the like are to be estimated, it is required to determine the position and orientation of a camera so as to improve the identification accuracies.
In patent literature 2, CG models of target objects are virtually piled up so as to simulate teaching of robot operations. However, patent literature 2 does not include any description that improves the identification accuracies.
In patent literature 3, the position and orientation of a target object are stochastically predicted. However, patent literature 3 does not include any description that determines the position and orientation of a camera so as to improve the identification accuracy.
In patent literature 4, the orientation of a target object to be estimated is limited to those around stable orientations. However, patent literature 4 does not include any description which determines the position and orientation of a camera so as to improve the identification accuracy.
In patent literature 5, templates are generated using degrees of stability of orientations, but the degrees of stability are not used to obtain an accurate estimation result of an orientation. That is, patent literature 5 does not consider a reduction of estimation errors of an orientation using degrees of stability in estimation of the orientation.

Information processing apparatus and information processing method


Systems and methods for opposing abnormal motion of an adjacent bone are provided. One exemplary embodiment of a surgical method includes delivering and securing a bone barrier to a bone bed of a glenoid such that at least a portion of the bone barrier extends laterally beyond the bone bed and can oppose, prevent, and/or reduce abnormal motion of an adjacent bone (e.g., a humeral head). The bone barrier can be secured along a periphery of a glenoid of a shoulder. More particularly, the bone barrier can be placed and secured such that at least a portion of the bone barrier extends laterally over the glenoid and can oppose abnormal motion of the humeral head. In some embodiments at least one suture anchor and suture can secure the bone barrier to the bone bed.

The shoulder is made up of two joints, the acromioclavicular joint (AC joint) and the glenohumeral joint. The glenohumeral joint (i.e., the "ball-and-socket" joint) is where the humerus bone head (the ball) and the glenoid (the socket) meet. The glenoid is rimmed with soft tissue, the labrum, which makes a deeper socket and molds to fit the humeral head. The AC joint is where the acromion, the scapula (shoulder blade) and the clavicle meet. The rotator cuff spans the glenohumeral joint and connects the humerus to the scapula. Muscles of the rotator cuff keep the humerus tightly in the socket, while tendons of the rotator cuff attach the muscle to bone.
A torn rotator cuff is a common shoulder injury, particularly among athletes, which can result in pain, weakness, and a limited range of motion. In some cases, rest, ice, and physical therapy can be sufficient for recovery from a rotator cuff injury. Other times, surgery can be required to repair a torn rotator cuff. With some injuries, however, a torn rotator cuff may be irreparable. In some cases, an irreparable rotator cuff can no longer keep the humeral head tightly in the socket of the glenoid, and a fulcrum of the humeral head may become unstable. This instability can lead to excessive migration of the humeral head causing shoulder dysfunction, and possibly, pseudo-paralysis of the shoulder.
In current practice, one solution to the problem of an irreparable rotator cuff injury is a reverse total reconstruction of the shoulder in which the anatomy of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint is reversed. In the reverse total reconstruction an artificial shoulder joint is surgically implanted into a patient's shoulder, with the ball part of the shoulder joint implanted onto the shoulder blade and the socket portion of the shoulder joint implanted onto the humeral head. This procedure is very intrusive and still has an unknown long-term outcome.
Another approach is a superior capsule reconstruction. In a superior capsule reconstruction, a graft can be fixated and spanned between the glenoid and the greater tubercle of the humerus. This procedure can be difficult and time consuming to perform. An additional alternative approach to an irreparable rotator cuff injury can include placing a biodegradable spacer between the humeral head and the coraco-acromial arch. With this approach, the biodegradable spacer is not fixated to the body. This can result in spacer dislocation that requires removal. Furthermore, the biodegradable spacer may lose integrity within a year, and longer-term effects are not well-known.
Accordingly, there is a need for systems, devices, and methods that provide a less intrusive, less time consuming, less burdensome, and more reliable long-term solution to prevent subluxation of a humeral head in a shoulder joint with a damaged rotator cuff.

Soft glenoid awning and related repair procedures


The transition time of power switching devices ultimately limits the rate at which such devices can be switched. Because the occurrence of unacceptably narrow pulses is relatively rare in an oversampled, noise-shaping signal processor, the elimination of such narrow pulses is introduced through the use of circuitry in the modulator loop which constrains the time between transitions to be greater than or equal to some minimum time period which, in turn provides for a smooth interface to power switching devices. However, because of the delay introduced by this pulse qualification circuitry, the modulator loop sampling frequency is increased to deal with any resulting instability. Thus, an oversampled, noise shaping signal processor is described having at least one integrator stage in a feedback loop. A sampling stage in the feedback loop is coupled to the at least one integrator stage. The sampling stage samples an analog signal at a sample frequency. Qualification logic coupled to the sampling stage receives a pulse waveform therefrom, and ensures that signal transitions in the pulse waveform occur more than a first time period apart and that the waveform can therefore be handled by, for example, a power switching device. A switching stage in the feedback loop is coupled to the qualification logic. The signal processor has a feedback path from the output of the switching stage to the input of the at least one integrator stage thereby closing the feedback loop.

The present invention relates to the field of oversampled, noise-shaping signal processing which includes, for example, sigma-delta modulation technology. More specifically, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for improving the dynamic range and noise performance of an oversampled, noise-shaping modulator. Even more specifically, some embodiments of the present invention improve the performance of such modulators for the purpose of driving power switching devices.
In response to the inability of pulse width modulation (PWM) technology to provide both the dynamic range and the noise performance for a variety of high end and high power switching applications, several attempts have been made to design switching amplifiers using oversampled, noise-shaping modulators, specifically sigma-delta modulators, for their noise-shaping characteristics, see H. Ballan and M. Declercq, 12 V .SIGMA.-.DELTA. Class-D Amplifier in 5 V CMOS Technology, pp. 559-562 (IEEE 1995 Custom Integrated Circuit Conference), the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. However, as will be discussed, including power MOS transistors in a sigma-delta modulator loop presents additional problems which hinder overall amplifier performance. A standard first order sigma-delta modulator 100 is shown in FIG. 1. An integrator 102 is connected in series with a comparator 104 which is essentially a two-level quantizer with a sampling rate f.sub.s. The output of comparator 104 is fed back to integrator 102 via digital-to-analog converter (D/A) 106 and adder 108. The feedback forces the low frequency content of the quantized output signal to track the low frequency content of the input to modulator 100. Any difference between the quantized output and modulator input is accumulated in integrator 102 and eventually corrected. For first-order sigma-delta modulators, noise in the signal band due to quantization error is reduced by approximately 9 dB for each doubling of the oversampling ratio (OSR). The OSR is given by f.sub.s /2f.sub.o, where 2f.sub.o is the Nyquist rate, i.e., twice the bandwidth f.sub.o of the baseband signal. For second-order sigma-delta modulators, this noise is reduced by approximately 15 dB (9 dB+6 dB) for the same increase in OSR. For third-order modulators, the reduction is 21 dB. However, noise improvements achieved by increases in the OSR, i.e., increases in f.sub.s, are ultimately constrained as the rise and fall times of the output signal become significant with respect to the sample period. For a thorough discussion of sigma-delta modulation techniques, see Candy and Temes, Oversampling Delta-Sigma Data Converters, pp. 1-25 (IEEE Press, 1992), the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
As mentioned above, the insertion of power MOS transistors in a standard sigma-delta modulator is accompanied by other performance problems. For example, in audio applications, power MOS transistors drive relatively low impedances and must therefore have output impedances smaller than one ohm for good overall efficiency. As a result, the switching characteristics of such transistors are relatively slow, varying from an ideal switching characteristic in an asymmetric way, and thereby generating distortion which is typically at or above the -60 dB level. Because standard sigma-delta modulators employ digital or state feedback (e.g., D/A 106 of FIG. 1), the asymmetric edges of the power transistor output are not seen by the integrator stages. Consequently, standard sigma-delta modulators are not able to correct for the distortion introduced by the power MOS transistors because of the exclusive use of state feedback.
Moreover, because modern sigma-delta modulators use sampled integrators, simply employing state feedback via a digital-to-analog converter to the integrator stages has not been effective. This is due to the fact that sampled integrators tend to have aliasing problems with high frequency distortion. In addition, the delay introduced by a power MOS transistor stage causes the feedback to be increasingly uncorrelated with the input, further undermining the feedback's corrective function. The additional delay due to a power MOS transistor stage can also adversely affect circuit stability. In short, any noise reduction improvements achieved by the use of standard sigma-delta modulation are rendered insignificant by the distortion introduced by the power MOS transistors and associated driver stages.
An improvement to standard sigma-delta technology which addresses these problems is described in commonly assigned, copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 08/667,925 for METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OVERSAMPLED, NOISE-SHAPING, MIXED-SIGNAL PROCESSING filed on Jun. 20, 1996, the entire specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. In that application an oversampled, noise-shaping modulator is described which employs continuous-time feedback from the output of its switching stage rather than pure state feedback from before or after the power switching stage. The continuous-time feedback is provided in such a way as to reduce the aliasing effects on the feedback path introduced by the switching stage which might otherwise interfere with the baseband to an unacceptable degree. That is, the improved modulator of the above-described application combines the use of continuous-time feedback to compensate for low frequency distortion, and some means of attenuating the aliasing effects of high frequency distortion introduced via the feedback path.
FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of a second-order modified oversampled, noise-shaping digital amplifier 200 designed according to a specific embodiment of the invention described in the above-referenced application. An input signal is introduced to a first continuous-time integrator stage 202 via adder 204. The output of first integrator stage 202 is transmitted to a second continuous-time integrator stage 206 via adder 208. A clocked comparator stage 210 sampled at sample frequency f.sub.s receives the output of second integrator stage 206 and transmits the resulting logic signal to power switching stage 212. The continuous-time output of power switching stage 212 is fed back to first integrator stage 202 via continuous-time gain stage 214 and adder 204. Continuous-time feedback is also provided to second integrator stage 206 via continuous-time gain stage 216 and adder 208. In this example, an anti-aliasing filter is not employed in the feedback path because the integrator stages are continuous-time integrators which inherently reject high frequencies. If, on the other hand, integrator stages 202 and 206 comprise sampled integrators, the feedback to gain stages 214 and 216 would be via an anti-aliasing filter. Such a filter would typically be a low pass filter which reduces the aliasing effects of the high frequency distortion generated by the power switching stage by removing the high frequency distortion from the continuous-time feedback signal. For additional details regarding continuous-time feedback with sampled integrators, please refer to the above-referenced copending patent application.
The modified sigma-delta technology described in the above-referenced application provides a highly efficient, low noise alternative to PWM in a wide variety of applications. However, because there is a limit on the amount of gain which can be introduced in the oversampled modulator loop, and therefore a limit on the dynamic range of the modulator, there are some applications for which even the excellent noise performance of the modulator of the above-referenced application may need improvement. For example, in the field of power amplifiers, a very low noise floor and a high dynamic range with low distortion are obviously desirable. In other power switching technologies (e.g., regulators, motor drivers, etc.) other performance improvements (e.g., reduced ripple and component size) are desirable. However, as mentioned above, significant improvement in these parameters generally requires increasing the gain in the oversampled modulator loop. The modulator loop gain, in turn, is limited, at least in part, by the modulator's sampling frequency. Unfortunately, increasing the sampling frequency, i.e., increasing the oversampling ratio, to improve the dynamic range is ultimately of limited utility in that power switching applications have some minimum pulse width below which the resulting distortion would quickly overcome any improvements in dynamic range. That is, power switching applications typically employ large power devices which swing very nearly from power supply rail to power supply rail. In addition, the speed at which these power devices can switch is limited by their typically large parasitic components. Therefore, because the switching of these power devices is characterized by very large and relatively slow transitions, the input pulses to the power switching stage must be sufficiently long and sufficiently far apart to ensure that the transitions do not overlap to an unacceptable degree. For further information regarding the characteristics of power devices, please refer to Power MOSFETS: Theory and Application by Duncan A. Grant and John Gowar (.COPYRGT.1989 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), and Smart Power ICs: Technologies and Applications edited by B. Murari, F. Bertotti, and G. A. Vignola (.COPYRGT.1996 Springer Verlag).
The following example should be illustrative. Through the use of an oversampled modulator, the noise floor of a power amplifier may be improved from 9 to 21 dB (or more) per octave of oversampling depending on the order of the modulator, i.e., 9 dB for a first-order modulator to 21 dB for a third-order modulator (see the references cited above and the above-referenced patent application). On average, today's power MOSFETs can typically be switched up to around 1.5 MHz. Thus, a designer of an audio power amplifier might set the sampling frequency of the oversampled modulator at 3 MHz, providing 64.times.oversampling (i.e., 26) with respect to an audio input signal. Assuming a third-order modulator, the corresponding theoretical input-referred noise floor, i.e., the dynamic range, of the amplifier would be given by (21 dB).times.(log.sub.2 64) or 126 dB. Actual third-order modulator performance is typically 20-30 dB worse than this due to practical considerations. While this level of performance might be suitable for some low end applications, it is not sufficient for a high-end, high-power audio amplifier as the high gain associated with such an amplifier will boost the input-referred noise to unacceptable levels. Increasing the sample frequency to 6 MHz yields an oversampling ratio of 128.times.which, in turn, provides a theoretical noise floor/dynamic range of (21 dB).times.(log.sub.2 128) or 147 dB. While this is sufficient for many high end applications, the sampling frequency is too fast for today's power devices
One possible alternative to increasing the sampling frequency is to make the oversampled modulator a fourth-order modulator to obtain a theoretical dynamic range of (27 dB).times.(log.sub.2 64) or 162 dB. Unfortunately, there are at least two practical problems with this approach. First, it is already a difficult problem to stabilize a third-order modulator because of the delay introduced by the power switching stage. It is even more difficult to stabilize a fourth-order modulator. Second, even though the dynamic range would theoretically increase with a fourth-order modulator, the output swing which could be achieved would be reduced. For a discussion of this phenomenon, please refer to T. Ritoniemi, T. Karema, and H. Tenhunen, Design of Stable High Order 1-bit Sigma-Delta Modulators (IEEE Proc. ISCAS '90, pp.3267-3270, May 1990), the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. This output swing reduction is unacceptable in power switching applications because the output signal of a power amplifier must typically be able to go from rail to rail, or at least very close.
It is therefore apparent that there is a need for a way in which the noise floor/dynamic range of a power switching amplifier may be improved beyond the level currently attainable with oversampled, noise-shaping modulators.

Method and apparatus for performance improvement by qualifying pulses in an oversampled noise-shaping signal processor


The present invention relates to a measuring chamber (6) for an ultrasonic bath (1) or for a container which is equipped with a low-frequency ultrasonic source (2) for cavitation generation, this measuring chamber being suitable for determining the cavitation energy via the increase in volume in a measuring liquid (10) contained in the measuring chamber, and the measuring chamber having in addition a container (7) with a sound-permeable window region (8) and a sensor (9) for measuring the increase in volume of the measuring liquid (10).

The invitation relates to a method and to a device for qualitative determination of the cavitation energy in a container, in the liquid volume of which cavitation is initiated by a suitable ultrasonic source. The smallest cavities microscopically are hereby formed constantly and visibly rise coagulating or also implode. As a result of this production of gas or vapour bubbles, cavitation leads to a measurable expansion of the liquid. In order to determine the cavitation energy, a hermetically sealed measuring chamber with a sound-permeable window region is disposed in the container. During operation of the ultrasonic source, the increase in volume of the measuring liquid, initiated by cavitation, can be determined in the measuring chamber with a short-term measurement. The relative increase in volume of the measuring liquid thereby corresponds in a good approximation to the cavitation energy introduced proportionally into the measuring chamber for the container. The cavitation energy crucially determines the ultrasonic effect and hence also for example the effective cleaning power of an ultrasonic bath. Via the relative increase in volume, for example the ultrasonic cleaning power produced by the container of an ultrasonic bath can be tested readily.
In ultrasonic cleaning and surface technology and also in medical fields and in industry, ultrasonic tubs or also other containers have been used for decades, which are equipped with the most varied of ultrasonic sources. In the case of typical ultrasonic baths these are ultrasonic converters fitted on the base or on the sides of the ultrasonic tub; however there is also a large number of other devices, such as e.g. immersible transducers, oscillating plates, tubular or bar-shaped ultrasonic converters, which are introduced into liquid containers in order there to initiate specifically the preferred ultrasonic cavitation. In the case of converters, preferably low-frequency ultrasonic systems are thereby used with operating frequencies between 18 kHz and 500 kHz since the cavitation initiated by them is greatest at low ultrasonic frequencies. The cleaning effect or the dirt-detaching effect of the cavitation on the surface of parts is then at its greatest. However, also different dispersing, de- and emulsifying and also sonochemical effects are greatest at a low operating frequency.
The central problem for many users of ultrasound is the requirement to be able to test their cleaning or cavitation power. Since direct measurability of the cavitation or cavitation energy which is introduced into the liquid by ultrasound is very difficult, alternative methods have been developed.
A current and very inexpensive possibility is represented by the so-called foil test according to IEC/TR 60886. A very thin aluminium foil is stretched hereby on a wire frame and retained diagonally in the ultrasonic bath for a defined, always constant time span. In the presence of cavitation, the foil is visibly attacked and planar perforations and/or holes are formed. When implemented at different points in time and under the same conditions, foil patterns of this type offer a basis for assessment of a constant or decreasing cleaning power in the ultrasonic bath. The reproducibility of the measuring conditions which is not always simple and also the fact that the foil itself changes the sound field in the ultrasonic bath are disadvantageous.
Further methods reside in detecting locally, by means of a small sound pressure sensor, the noise change pressure amplitude at a specific location in the ultrasonic bath and recalculating this value into an energy-equivalent value and displaying it.
The sound pressure sensor can thereby contain a single piezo element in bar form or has a sound pressure-sensitive membrane surface with a plurality of sensors. "Ultrasonic energy meter" or "cavitation meter" of this type are marketed for example by the company ppb/USA and are described also for example in the patent specifications U.S. Pat. No. 313,565 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,578.
A typical sensor arrangement with a plurality of piezo sensors on a quartz disc is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,184. The described measuring apparatus for an ultrasonic bath is intended to serve for picking up the "cavitation profile" close to the surface of parts to be cleaned, for example wafer discs. The local distribution of the "cavitation energy" is intended to be determined from the summated electrical signals.
Common disadvantages of these technologies are the dependence of the measuring values upon the respective measuring location and also the sound field change caused by the measuring device itself. In the case of measurements by hand with single sensors, there is also an individual error component due to changes in position. In addition, the measured sound pressure offers no information about the cavitation since the context is non-linear to a high degree.
In order to test the cleaning function of ultrasonic baths also small test tubes are used. The test tubes are thereby placed in the ultrasonic bath at various positions in a cleaning basket. In the presence of cavitation, the test tubes show a colour change from green to yellow after a specific time. This is intended to be based on a cavitation-dependent pH value change in the solution in the tube which also still contains the smallest glass balls as cavitation-initiating nuclei. It should be borne in mind that the colour change is dependent upon the local ultrasonic intensity, upon the bath temperature and upon the ultrasonic frequency. If no colour change occurs, this does not automatically mean that no cavitation is taking place at the occupied position. Allegedly, it acts more at the outer surface of the tube but does not suffice to initiate the colour change. For spontaneous quick testing as to whether an ultrasonic device is still cleaning at all, test tubes can possibly be used. For qualitative assessment of the cleaning power of an ultrasonic bath, they are not suitable.
For more precise tests for the cleaning power of ultrasonic baths, occasionally measuring devices with broadband hydrophones are also used. In DE 102006026525, such a method is described for example. The cavitation-caused noise signals are thereby picked up by the hydrophone at various points in the ultrasonic bath, averaged and evaluated spectrally. The method and the required measuring and evaluation technology is very complex and not suitable for a routine testing of ultrasonic baths.
GB 2 147 104 A shows a measuring chamber for determining the energy generated from an ultrasonic source via the increase in volume of a measuring liquid contained in the measuring chamber, the measuring chamber having a container for receiving the measuring liquid with a sound-permeable window region and a sensor for measuring the increase in volume of the measuring liquid. In the preferred embodiments, an increase in volume of the bubble-free liquid which is then measured is achieved by heating. As an alternative, a cavitation measurement is mentioned.
SU 1 196 696 A1 discloses a measurement via a capillary tube.
Additional prior art is shown in DE 44 10 032 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,797 A and also US 2003/087748 A1.

Device and method for qualitative determination of the cavitation energy of ultrasound in containers

Abstract: In addition, a method for operating this measuring chamber is presented.

Abstract: With the measuring chamber according to the invention or the corresponding method (independent of a prescribed ultrasonic bath), reliable determination of the introduced ultrasonic power or a conclusion about the cleaning power is possible.


A converter circuit. In one aspect, the converter circuit includes an input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal, and first, second, third and fourth capacitors coupled to a plurality of switches, where the plurality of switches are arranged to repetitively cycle the first, second, third and fourth capacitors between a first state and a second state to generate first and a second output voltages, where in the first state, the first and second capacitors are connected in parallel with each other and in series with a third capacitor to apply a first fraction of an input voltage at the first output terminal, and in the second state, the first and second capacitors are connected in series with each other and in parallel with the fourth capacitor to apply a second fraction of the input voltage at the second output terminal.

A wide variety of electronic devices are available for consumers today. Many of these devices have integrated circuits that are powered by regulated low voltage DC power sources. These low voltage power sources are often generated by dedicated power converter circuits that use a higher voltage input from a battery or another power source. In some applications, the dedicated power converter circuit can be one of the largest power dissipating components of the electronic device and can sometimes consume more space than the integrated circuit that it powers. As electronic devices become more sophisticated and more compact, more efficient power converter circuits are called for.

Switched capacitor recirculating converter circuits