An over/under monorail system for longwall mining operations can have a single overhead rail mounted trolley system with a pair of over/under mounted trolleys. Upper trolleys can be carried by the overhead rail, and can typically carry hydraulic pipes. A lower rail can be carried by the upper trolleys, and lower trolleys can be carried by the lower rail. The lower trolleys can typically carry electric cables. Some trolleys can be adapted to carry both flexible hydraulic hoses and electric cables, and such trolleys can be carried by either the upper or lower rails, depending upon the design of the overall system.

The Over/Under Monorail System for Longwall Mining Operations described herein relates overhead mounted monorail systems used with underground longwall mining systems, wherein the monorail systems manage the electrical cables and hydraulic lines associated with longwall mining systems, which are commonly used in underground coal mining operations.
The longwall mining system is operated by the mine operator and is a dynamic system where, as the coal is extracted from the operating face, the entire longwall system moves. Therefore, all the support equipment must move as well. The monorail system that handles the electric cables and the hydraulic conduits is, by necessity, a dynamic system and the design of such must account for continual movement of the longwall while the electrical power and hydraulic fluid sources remain stationary and are moved only intermittently.
Due to numerous variations in geological conditions and customary designs being used at various mining operations, any system being supplied to a particular mine must be capable of a variety of physical layouts and dimensional constraints. Hydraulic fluid to and from the pumps to the longwall face is conveyed via hoses or other conduits such as pipe. The electric power from the power center to the longwall face is conveyed via electric cables.
In the early days of mechanized longwall mining system, the electrical cables and hydraulic hoses were bundled together and dragged along the mine floor by the use of pulling devices. In these days, a typical hydraulic system included 1 ea, ¾ inch pressure hose and 1 ea, 1 inch return hose. Also, the typical voltage in use was 995 volts. As the hydraulic equipment evolved and was made larger, the demand for fluid was more and larger hoses and multiple parallel hoses became common.
When the use of 2300 volts and 4160 volts came into common practice, dragging the cable along the floor was discontinued and the introduction in the use of a festooning monorail system was adopted. The use of this system avoided the need for personnel to handle power cables and kept the cables out of the moisture associated with mine floors. For several years, cables and hoses were hung from monorail trolleys that rolled along monorail beams hung from the mine roof. Increasing hydraulic demands typically required the use of up to 4 ea, 2 inch pressure hoses and 4 ea, 2½ inch return hoses. Using a greater number of hoses became difficult and the friction loss through the hoses grows more and more unacceptable.
The use of a parallel (side-by-side) pair of monorail systems next came into use. In this type of system, there is one complete monorail system to carry the electrical cables, which can typically include an overhead, e.g., roof mounted monorail, and a number of trolleys carried on the monorail, which trolleys carry the electrical cables. Additionally, there is also a second, complete monorail system to carry the hydraulics, which can typically include a second overhead, e.g., roof mounted monorail, and a number of trolleys carried on this second monorail, which trolleys carry the hydraulic conduits. A difference in this system from prior systems is that all of the hydraulic conduits were formerly hydraulic hoses, but now much of the hydraulic conduits have been replaced by the use of pipes.
Presently, there are believed to be at least a couple such systems in use where the electrics and hydraulics are handled by two separate monorail systems. This is believed to be the existing state of the art for overhead monorail systems for longwall mining operations.
Compared to earlier monorail systems, an advantage of such side-by-side monorail systems can be a more efficient distribution of the hydraulic fluid, because the hydraulic conduits, formerly hoses, are replaced by pipes. Some disadvantages to the existing side-by-side monorail systems can be that two overhead mounted monorail beams must be handled, i.e., reclaimed, transported and re-hung, as the longwall face moves, and that the side-by-side monorail systems can occupy much of the very limited space available in a typical mine entry.
Therefore, there is a need for a more space-efficient and more easily handled monorail system.

Over/under monorail system for longwall mining operations


A circuit having a Cartesian amplifier is disclosed. The Cartesian amplifier includes a re-combining stage which re-combines an input signal from a signal source with a correction signal to output a result signal. A first mixer mixes the result signal with a first oscillating signal from a local oscillator. A power amplifier amplifies the mixed signal and a coupler couples part of the amplified signal to form an outcoupling signal. A feedback path has a second mixer for forming the correction signal by mixing the outcoupling signal with a second oscillating signal from the local oscillator. An envelope curve detector detects the envelope of the amplified signal to produce an envelope signal, and a phase adjustor adjusts the phase of the first or second oscillating signal. A control circuit is provided to control the phase errors in a phase locked loop of the Cartesian amplifier and to minimized the envelope signal. The control circuit receives the envelop signal and has an adjustment output for providing an adjusting signal to the phase adjustor. The control circuit further has a modulation output to produce a measuring oscillation signal. A modulation stage modulates the phase position of one of the oscillating signals with the measuring oscillation signal.

The invention relates to a circuit arrangement comprising a Cartesian amplifier, including
a signal source for producing an input signal, PA1 a re-combining stage for forming a result signal by re-combining the input signal and a correction signal, PA1 a first mixer stage for mixing the result signal with a first oscillation of the local oscillator, PA1 a power amplifier stage for amplifying the signal produced by the first mixer stage, PA1 a coupler for coupling out part of the output signal of the power amplifier stage as an outcoupling signal, PA1 a feedback path comprising a second mixer stage for deriving the correction signal from the outcoupling signal by mixing the outcoupling signal with a second oscillator of the local oscillator, PA1 an envelope curve detection stage for producing an envelope curve signal which corresponds to the envelope curve of the output signal of the power amplifier stage, PA1 and a phase adjustment stage for adjusting the phase position of at least one of the oscillations of the local oscillator. PA1 a control circuit having
The invention further relates to a transmitter apparatus comprising a circuit arrangement of said type and to mobile radio equipment comprising such a transmitter apparatus.
Such a Cartesian amplifier is known from European Patent Application 598 585. In that Application, an input signal is preprocessed and split into two mutually orthogonal signal components (quadrature components). The two quadrature components are passed, in parallel, through associated signal paths of an error amplifier, after whey they are re-combined and up-converted to a RF band. The output signal of the amplifier is utilized to provide a feedback signal. This feedback signal is down-converted from the high-frequency band to the baseband and resolved into two quadrature components. These quadrature components are fed to respective inputs of the error amplifier. The preprocessor for the input signal is periodically switched into a calibration mode in which test signals are applied to the amplifier instead of the input signal. At these times the signal strength of the output signal of the power amplifier is measured and used to provide predistortion factors in the signal preprocessor to improve amplifier linearity.

Circuit arrangement comprising a Cartesian amplifier


The disclosure provides an approach for automatically determining task-specific robot model reductions. In one embodiment, a simplification application determines a smallest order statespace model whose stabilizing controller also stabilizes a full-order robot model. The simplification application may determine such a model via an iterative procedure in which the reduced order is initialized to the number of unstable poles of the open-loop full-order system and, while the closed loop full-order system with the balanced reduced order system's stabilizing controller is unstable, fractional balanced reduction is applied to generate a balanced reduced system. If one or more unstable closed-loop poles exist in the full-order system with the stabilizing controller of the newly-generated balanced reduced system, the reduced order is incremented by one, and fractional balanced reduction repeated, until no unstable closed-loop poles remain. In another embodiment, the model reduction is made task-specific by formulating the full model with task-specific outputs.

Field
Embodiments presented herein provide techniques for simplifying models of robots, and, in particular, for automatic task-specific model reduction for robots.
Description of the Related Art
In robot control, simplified dynamics models are often used to represent the robot, as it is difficult to design controllers that control full dynamics models having many degrees of freedom (DOF). Typically, simplified models have fewer DOF than full models and are linearized to apply techniques from linear control theory. Examples of simplified models include the one-joint inverted pendulum model, the two-joint inverted pendulum model, the cart-table model, the inverted pendulum with reaction wheel, the double inverted pendulum, and the linear biped model.
Conventionally, controller developers formulate these simplified models manually based on their intuition. Little work has been done to investigate how well such simplified models match the dynamics of the original, high-dimensional models. Moreover, in addition to the choice of the model, the controller developer must pick two different mappings, one that maps the state of the full model to the reduced state, and another that maps the control inputs of the reduced model to those of the full model. This control input mapping is tricky, as there are infinite possible mappings from a low-dimensional space to a high-dimensional space. Kinetic energy equivalence or angular momentum equivalence are generally used to pick control input mappings.

Automatic task-specific model reduction for humanoid robots


A singulating meter includes a seed disc with seed apertures rotates in a vertical plane through a seed reservoir. A horizontal seed tube has an inlet adjacent to the top of the seed disc and the seed apertures move along a seed aperture path toward the inlet. Pressurized air flows into the tube inlet, and through each seed aperture as it rotates upward out of the seed reservoir pushing a seed into each seed aperture which seed then moves along the seed aperture path through about 180 degrees of rotation to a release position at the top of the path where the seed is carried horizontally into the seed tube. An ejector pushes debris out of the seed apertures into the seed tube. An alignment guide moves the singulator element of the meter into the operating position where same is magnetically secured.

When seeding crops such as corn it is desirable to plant the corn seeds in a furrow at a pre-determined equal distance from each other. To achieve this equal spacing singulating meters have been developed which dispense seeds one at a time from a hopper full of seeds to a furrow opener. One typical type of singulating meter includes a seed disc rotating in a substantially vertical plane in a housing, and a seed reservoir at the bottom of the housing on a seed side of the disc. Seed apertures are spaced radially around the disc and a bottom portion of the disc rotates along the seed reservoir. A pressure differential between the seed side of the disc and the opposite vacant side of the disc causes individual seeds to be captured in the seed apertures and carried to a release position where the pressure differential is neutralized and the seeds drop into a seed tube for delivery to a furrow opener.
Such singulating meters are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 7,699,009 to Sauder and United States Published Patent Application Number 2017/0311536 of Sauder. In the Sauder vacuum type meters, a partial vacuum is created on the vacant side of the disc opposite the seed reservoir to hold the seeds in the seed apertures. In contrast, U.S. Pat. No. 8,789,483 to Gilstring discloses a pressurized type of singulating meter where a positive pressure on the seed side of the disc pushes the seeds into the seed apertures.
Both the Sauder and Gilstring meters pick up seeds from a reservoir that extends from about 4:00 o'clock to 8:00 o'clock on the rotating disc and then carry the seeds in the seed apertures to a position about 3:00 o'clock where the pressure differential is neutralized and the seeds drop vertically into the seed tube. To remove any debris or seeds that might be stuck in the apertures after the seed drops, typically a debris ejector is arranged to poke through the seed apertures from the vacant side of the seed disc toward the seed side of the seed disc after the seed drops to remove any debris or seeds that might be stuck in the apertures.
In the vacuum type meter of the Sauder application '536 the pressure differential is neutralized by providing a vacuum chamber sealed to the face of the vacant side of the disc from about the 6:00 o'clock position through about 270 degrees to the 3:00 o'clock position. When the disc rotates a seed aperture past the seal at the 3:00 position the seed drops out of the aperture. The debris ejector is then located in the gap between 3:00 and 6:00 o'clock and the debris pushed out also falls into the seed tube.
In contrast it can be seen in the pressurized type meter of Gilstring substantially the whole of the seed side of the disc is pressurized with air flowing through the seed apertures from the seed side of the disc to the vacant side thereof pushing the seeds into the seed apertures. In Gilstring the pressure differential is neutralized by providing a resilient wheel rolling against the face of the vacant side of the disc at about the 3:00 o'clock position which blocks airflow through each aperture as it rolls past the wheel, so the seed falls out into the inlet of the seed tube which is mounted on the seed side of the disc directly below the resilient wheel to catch the seeds as they drop.
Thus in pressurized singulating meter of the type disclosed by Gilstring the debris ejector is mounted on the vacant side of the disc below the resilient wheel. Stuck and broken seeds and like debris are thus pushed out of the seed apertures below the inlet of the seed tube and returned into the seed reservoir. Considerable debris may thus build up in the seed reservoir and interfere with the desired accurate dispensing of seeds. The operation of a pressurized singulating meter like that of Gilstring with a debris ejector is illustrated in a video of the operation of a Vaderstad™ singulating meter and the orientation of the debris ejector at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XyXG5B-X0I.
It is common to have two seeds captured in a seed aperture. The Sauder meters disclose a spring biased singulator which is configured to pass along the face of the seed side of the rotating disc adjacent to the path of the seed apertures with lobes of the singulator partially extending over the seed apertures as they pass to dislodge one of the seeds. The Sauder application '536 also addresses the need to conveniently change the singulator for different seeds or to replace the singulator due to wear. A clip arrangement allows the singulator to be quickly removed and replaced. The clip arrangement is configured to ensure the replacement singulator is in the correct orientation and position.


An exemplary pin bending device (200) includes a base (210), a sliding member (230), a fixing member (240), and a latch member (250). The sliding member (230) is slidably positioned on the base and defines a plurality of holes (2303) for receiving first portions of pins. The fixing member is fixed on the base. The latch member is movably positioned on the base. The latch member is able to move towards the fixing member in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the sliding member and engage with the fixing member to fix second portions of the pins.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pin bending device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic device, such as a fax machine, generally includes a main board, a transmitter optical sub-assembly, and a receiver optical sub-assembly. The transmitter optical sub-assembly and the receiver optical sub-assembly are fixed on the main board.
Generally, a transmitter optical sub-assembly includes a main body and a plurality of pins positioned on the main body. The pins generally need to be bended to position the transmitter optical sub-assembly on the main board.
Generally, the pins are bended by a forceps, however, a force applied on the forceps varies easily, as a result, bending sizes of the pins are difficult to be controlled.
Therefore, a pin bending device is desired in order to overcome the above-described shortcoming.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


A portable undercarriage vehicle inspection system (UVIS) (100) uses an under vehicle imaging (UVI) module (110) to capture an image of the undercarriage of a vehicle. The UVIS also includes multiple scene cameras (120) that capture the associated vehicle scene images. The scene cameras are easy to view and manipulate. The undercarriage image and the associated vehicle scene images are provided to a power and communications unit (PCU) (140) through a network (130) such as Ethernet. These images may be stored in a database repository connected to the network. A notebook computer will serve as an operator workstation (150, 152, 154) for display of real-time, as well as historical, vehicular records. An operator viewing the images can enter additional information related to the images, such as comments and remarks, and archive all of the information for future reference and comparisons.

Ensuring security is a major challenge to most private and public facilities. More and more facilities use heightened security procedures to monitor and inspect vehicles passing through a designated location. Systems that provide automatic vehicle identification and classification are no longer sufficient to provide the needed security. Since contraband and explosives are often hidden in a vehicle's undercarriage, under vehicle surveillance systems are in increasing demand, especially at military installations, prisons, airports, seaports, or other public facilities.
Most existing under vehicle surveillance systems use a central personal computer (PC) to control cameras and manage the capturing and displaying of images. With this current design, extensive and complex cable connections are involved. Other systems use multiple cameras similar to a digital video system. However, such a multi-camera system is slow and difficult to operate. Still other systems use area line scan cameras, such as a color tri-linear charge-coupled device (CCD), to capture composite images of a vehicle's undercarriage and combine the multiple images to display a complete undercarriage image. However, the generated image typically has motion color skew that is undesirable.

Apparatus and method for capturing and displaying images of the undercarriage of vehicles including one or more scene cameras


Energy is collected from temperature differentials in a volume of fluid and the energy is used for autonomous propulsion in the fluid.

This invention relates to autonomous propulsion within a volume of fluid.
Submarines and other autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), for example, have engines for propelling them within the ocean autonomously, that is without requiring a physical connection to the surface or ocean floor. Typically, to achieve autonomous propulsion, they include sources of stored energy such as batteries. Other, non-autonomous underwater vehicles obtain energy for propulsion from external sources, for example, electrical energy delivered by a cable connecting the device to an electrical source on the surface of the ocean.

Autonomous propulsion within a volume of fluid

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An embodiment is a device including a control circuit, a time-to-digital converter circuit coupled having a first output coupled to a first input of the control circuit, and a gating circuit having a first input coupled to a first signal, a second input coupled to a second signal, and an output coupled to a first input of the time-to-digital converter circuit, an output of the control circuit coupled to a second input of the time-to-digital converter circuit and to a third input of the gating circuit.

The semiconductor industry has experienced rapid growth due to improvements in the integration density of a variety of electronic components (e.g., transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, etc.). For the most part, this improvement in integration density has come from shrinking the semiconductor process node (e.g., shrinking the process node towards the sub-20 nm node).
A shift to all-digital phase-locked loops (ADPLLs) has accompanied the shrinking of the semiconductor process node. The ADPLL replaces analog components of analog PLLs with digital components, and in some cases, adopts a different architecture completely. One component common to many ADPLL architectures is a time-to-digital converter, or TDC. The TDC converts time information to a coded digital signal. This coded digital signal may be input to a digital control oscillator.

System and method for a time-to-digital converter

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor integrated circuit formed in a semiconductor chip, and a switching element that is formed in the semiconductor chip and has a current path whose one end and the other end are both connected to the semiconductor integrated circuit. The switching element receives a control signal produced by a control circuit and causes a current to flow from the one end to the other end of the current path by a bipolar operation. The semiconductor integrated circuit device further includes the control circuit that is formed in the semiconductor chip and configured to control a conductive/non-conductive state of the current path of the switching element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a semiconductor integrated circuit device such as an IC (Integrated Circuit) and an LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit), and more particularly to a semiconductor integrated circuit device having an ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection circuit for protecting an internal circuit from ESD.
2. Description of the Related Art
If ESD occurs, for example, while a semiconductor integrated circuit device is being conveyed by a machine, a high voltage of, e.g. about several-hundred V to several-thousand V is applied to the semiconductor integrated circuit device in a very short time. This may lead to destruction of an internal circuit (semiconductor integrated circuit). In order to protect the semiconductor integrated circuit device such as an IC or an LSI from ESD, a variety of ESD protection circuits have been proposed (see, for instance, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 7-240510, U.S. Pat. No. 6,249,414, and EOS/ESD SYMPOSIUM 2001, 1A.3 "GGSCRs: GGNMOS Triggered Silicon Controlled Rectifiers for ESD Protection in Deep Sub-Micron CMOS Processes"). An ESD protection circuit is provided in the semiconductor integrated circuit device, thereby to release a high voltage, which is applied to the internal circuit due to ESD, and to protect the internal circuit from destruction.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a prior-art ESD protection circuit is described.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram depicting the prior-art ESD protection circuit. As is shown in FIG. 1, a pad 11 and a pad 12 are connected to an internal circuit 10 that is to be protected. The ESD protection circuit comprises a thyristor (SCR) circuit 13 for releasing an excessive ESD current, and a control circuit 15 that controls the on/off of the thyristor circuit 13.
The thyristor circuit 13 has an anode connected to the pad 11 and a cathode connected to the pad 12. The thyristor circuit 13 comprises a PNP bipolar transistor 16, an NPN bipolar transistor 17 and a resistor element 18. The PNP bipolar transistor 16 has an emitter connected to the pad 11, a base connected to a collector of the NPN bipolar transistor 17, and a collector connected to the control circuit 15. The NPN bipolar transistor 17 has a base connected to the control circuit 15, and an emitter connected to the pad 12. The resistor element 18 has one end connected to the control circuit 15, and the other end connected to the pad 12.
The control circuit 15 comprises a GG (Gate Grounded) NMOS transistor 19 and a resistor element 20. The GGNMOS transistor 19 has a drain connected to the pad 11, and a gate and a source both connected to the thyristor circuit 13. The resistor element 20 has one end connected to the gate and source of the NMOS transistor 19, and the other end connected to the pad 12.
The operation of the prior-art ESD protection circuit will now be described referring to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a graph showing voltage/current characteristics of the GGNMOS transistor 19 shown in FIG. 1. The abscissa in FIG. 2 indicates a voltage V1 that is applied between the drain of the GGNMOS transistor 19, on the one hand, and the source and gate of the GGNMOS transistor 19, on the other hand. The ordinate indicates a current I1 that flows between the drain and the source and gate of the GGNMOS transistor 19 and flows through the thyristor circuit 13.
If a high voltage due to ESD is applied between the pad 11 and pad 12, the high voltage due to ESD is applied to the drain of the GGNMOS 19. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, after the voltage reaches a trigger voltage Vt1, it drops to a hold voltage Vh due to a snap-back characteristic. Thereafter, breakdown occurs between the drain of the GGNMOS transistor 19 and the substrate, and a parasitic NPN bipolar transistor of the GGNMOS transistor 19 operates and a current flows with a sharp increase. Consequently, a base current flows to the base of the NPN bipolar transistor 17 of thyristor circuit 13, thereby turning on the thyristor circuit 13 and a large current due to ESD flows between the anode and cathode of the thyristor circuit 13. By this operation, the ESD voltage applied between the pad 11 and pad 12 is released through the thyristor circuit 13. Therefore, the ESD voltage is not applied to the internal circuit 10, and the internal circuit 10 is protected.
As is shown in FIG. 2, in order to cause a large current to flow through the thyristor current 13, a sufficiently large current needs to be made to flow before the voltage V1 exceeds a gate breakdown voltage Vg of the internal circuit. However, with present-day miniaturization of an LSI, etc., which constitutes the internal circuit 10, the thickness of the gate oxide film of the MOS transistor in the LSI has decreased more and more. Consequently, the gate breakdown voltage Vg has decreased more and more.
Since the thyristor 13 comprises the PNP bipolar transistor 16 and NPN bipolar transistor 17, the value of on-state resistance is high. As a result, before a large current is let to flow, the voltage V1 exceeds the gate breakdown voltage Vg. Moreover, in order to cause a sufficient current to flow before the voltage V1 exceeds the gate breakdown voltage Vg, it is necessary to increase the size of each bipolar transistor 16, 17 and to decrease the on-state resistance. This, however, leads to an increase in chip size and a rise in manufacturing cost.

Semiconductor integrated circuit device having an ESD protection unit


Embodiments of the disclosure provide a video image processing method and apparatus thereof, and a display device, relate to the field of image processing technology, and in particular, and can solve the problem in the existing video image processing methods that real-time processing of a video image cannot be achieved due to large computational complexity. The video image includes multiple frames of image, and the method includes: obtaining a brightness characterization parameter representing image brightness for a current frame of image; obtaining a ratio of a brightness value of each input pixel in the current frame of image to the brightness characterization parameter; and obtaining a product of the ratio and a numerical value (M+1), wherein M is a maximum possible pixel brightness value of the current frame of image, and taking the product as a brightness value of an output pixel of the current frame of image. The invention can achieve contrast enhancement of a video image.

For an 8k display system, various manufacturers are committed to providing differentiated visual display effects in addition to its own high resolution. As a common image enhancement function, contrast enhancement may improve the display effect of a dark video.
In a reference example, there are multiple approaches for contrast enhancement. As one of them, the Retinex algorithm has received wide attention since it has a good enhancement effect. In the Retinex algorithm, an image may be considered to be composed of an incident image and a reflected image, the incident light is reflected by an object to form reflected light to enter human eyes. It forms an image as shown by the following formula,
      r              (              x        ,        y            )        =            log                                              R                          (                      x            ,            y                    )                      =          log                              S                                (                          x              ,              y                        )                                    L                                (                          x              ,              y                        )                              wherein R(x, y) is a reflected image representing the reflective property of the object, L(x, y) is a brightness image representing the dynamic range that an image pixel can achieve, S(x, y) is an original image, and the contrast enhancement algorithm modifies the image output by changing L(x, y), to achieve the purpose of image contrast enhancement.
For a hardware system, although the algorithm based on Retinex has a good realization potential, since logarithmic operation is needed in this algorithm, this results in large computational complexity when processing a video image, and especially for 8 K pictures, complex operation causes the processing speed to be greatly reduced, and thereby real-time processing of the 8 K pictures cannot be carried out.

Video image processing method and apparatus thereof, display device, computer readable storage medium and computer program product


A shopping trolley (1) with a basket (2) includes a small-item tray (13) fixed to the inside (4) of its end wall (3). The end wall (3) of the shopping trolley, starting from its upper edge (7), has an indentation (11) on which the small-item tray (13) is supported, and in that a clamping strip (20) is provided for closing the indentation (11) and for additionally securing the small-item tray (13).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a shopping trolley with a basket, wherein a small-item tray is fixed to the inside of its end wall.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In known shopping trolleys, the means necessary for mounting a small-item tray are formed by hook- or lug-type elements which, being visible, spoil the effect, in particular on the end wall of the basket.


A meandering winding magnetometer (MWM) includes a meandering primary winding and at least one sensing winding or coil on a membrane to be pressed against a test surface. The membrane may be supported on a flexible carrier which is translatable into a probe. Abutments in the probe press the carrier against the test surface but allow the carrier and membrane to conform to the test surface. One MWM circuit includes meandering primary and secondary windings. The return leads from the secondary winding return to connector pads in close alignment with the test array, while leads from the primary winding are spaced at least one wavelength from the array. In another MWM circuit, individual sensing loops are positioned within the meandering primary winding. The MWM circuit may be provided on an adhesive tape which may be cut to length.

The technical field of this invention is that of nondestructive materials characterization, particularly quantitative, model-based measurement of bulk material and surface condition for flat and curved parts. Measurement of bulk material condition includes measurement of changes in material state caused by fatigue damage, plastic deformation assessment, residual stress, applied loads, and processing conditions. It also includes measurement of material states such as porosity, alloy type, moisture content and temperature. Measurement of surface condition includes roughness, displacement of relative position, coating thickness and coating condition. Each of these also include detection of electromagnetic property changes associated with the presence of single or multiple cracks.
The methods for measurement include the use of quasistatic fields, electromagnetic (magnetometers and dielectometers) or thermal, that are described by diffusion equations, as opposed to alternative techniques that are described by wave equations. For example, magnetometers have been used to measure foil thicknesses, characterize coatings, and measure porosity, as well as to measure material property profiles as a function of depth into a part, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,015,951 and 5,453,689. Dielectometers with multiple electrode spacings have been used to measure profiles of properties such as moisture and porosity using methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,814,690.

Apparatus for measuring bulk materials and surface conditions for flat and curved parts


Devices, systems, and methods for improving results returned from a query. A method can include identify, based on a term embedding of a corpus of terms, expansion terms of a raw query term that are nearest the raw query term, normalize distances between the raw query term and the identified expansion terms, identify, based on the term embedding, expansion term neighbors of an expansion term that are nearest the expansion term; normalize distances between the expansion term and the identified expansion term neighbors, determine a WMA weight between the raw query term and the expansion term, and execute the query with the raw query terms and the expansion terms (determined based on the WMA weight) to generate query results.

Some prior query result retrieval techniques include using a thesaurus to expand query terms. These techniques require a significant amount of data in storing the thesaurus. Some prior query result retrieval techniques include using graph clustering to expand query terms. These techniques require more compute bandwidth than may be available. Some prior query result retrieval techniques include augmented word embedding model to compute a result relevance and provide results based on the result relevance. Some prior query result retrieval techniques include deep learning with attention.

Query term expansion and result selection


An exhaust gas treatment arrangement for an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust gas channel leading to a flow path switching unit. The flow path switching unit is configured for changing exhaust gas parts of an exhaust gas stream flowing through the exhaust gas channel, which are conducted into first and second exhaust gas flow paths downstream of the flow path switching unit. The first exhaust gas flow path and the second exhaust gas flow path lead to an exhaust gas outlet. An SCR catalyst unit is in the first exhaust gas flow path upstream of the exhaust gas outlet. A liquid bypass line drains liquid from a liquid collection region in the exhaust gas channel upstream relative to the switching unit. The liquid is drained to a liquid discharge region for discharging liquid into the second flow path downstream of the switching unit.

To reduce the proportion of contaminants in the exhaust gas expelled from an internal combustion engine, it is known to use various exhaust gas treatment units, such as for example catalysts and particle filters. For example, in connection with diesel internal combustion engines, it is known to use SCR catalysts to reduce the level of nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas.

Exhaust gas treatment arrangement for an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine


Nanoelectromechanical switch systems (NEMSS) that are structured around the mechanical manipulation of nanotubes are provided. Such NEMSS can realize the functionality of, for example, automatic switches, adjustable diodes, amplifiers, inverters, variable resistors, pulse position modulators (PPMs), and transistors.

The present invention relates to nanoelectromechanical (NEM) switch systems and transistors. In particular, the present invention relates to NEMSS that can be utilized as traditional electrical components such as, for example, transistors, amplifiers, adjustable diodes, inverters, memory cells, pulse position modulators (PPMs), variable resistors, and switching systems.
As designs for metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) become more compact and approach the minimum theoretical sizing limitations for a MOSFET, the need for technologies that can produce smaller transistor structures becomes apparent. It is therefore desirable to fabricate a transistor that can be sized smaller than a transistor fabricated at the minimum theoretical size of a MOSFET. By decreasing a transistor's size, the number of transistors that may be placed on an integrated circuit increases. As a result, circuit complexity increases, speed increases, and the circuit's operating power decreases.
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and NEMSS that are structured around nanotubes have been developed. Such systems are described, for example, in commonly assigned copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/885,367 to Pinkerton that was filed on Jun. 20, 2001. Looking at FIG. 11 of this application, a novel power generator that utilizes a nanotube immersed in a working fluid to generate electrical power from the kinetic and thermal characteristics of a working substance is illustrated. As shown by the application, nanotubes can be fabricated at extremely small sizes (e.g., 1 nanometer) and their characteristics (e.g., elasticity and conductivity) may be utilized in many different ways. It is therefore desirable to realize nanotube-based transistors that can be fabricated to have sizing limitations roughly equivalent to the size of a single nanotube.
Sizing limitations are not the only limitations that affect the performance characteristics and utility of a traditional MOSFET. For example, traditional MOSFETs have minimum turn-ON voltages (e.g., 0.7 volts). Thus, miniscule voltage signals (e.g., 0.00001 volts) cannot be utilized to turn on conventional MOSFETs. Numerous applications exist in which there is a need for transistors with small turn-ON voltages. For example, applications in which faint signals, such as thermal or electromagnetic noise signals, need to be recognized would benefit from transistors with extremely low turn-ON. It is therefore desirable to realize a transistor structure with a very low turn-ON voltage.
Additionally, traditional MOSFETs exhibit linear output characteristics. More particularly, traditional MOSFETs may be configured to provide an output (e.g., emitter current) that is continuous and has a linear gain dependent upon an input (e.g., base current). Applications exist in which the need for devices that can convert continuous signals to digital signals is present such as in pulse position modulation. However, traditional pulse position modulators are currently bulky because they require circuits that contain multiple instances of traditional MOSFET transistors. It is therefore desirable to fabricate a single NEM transistor that can function as a pulse position modulator.

Nanoelectromechanical transistors and switch systems

Abstract: In one embodiment, a nanotube is anchored at one end to a base member. The nanotube is also coupled to a voltage source. This voltage source creates an electric charge at the tip of the free-moving-end of the nanotube that is representative of the polarity and intensity of the voltage source. The free-moving end of this nanotube can be electrically controlled by applying an electric charge to a nearby charge member layer that is either of the same (repelling) or opposite (attracting) polarity of the nanotube. A contact layer is then placed in the proximity of the free-moving end of the nanotube such that when a particular electric charge is placed on the nanotube, the nanotube electrically couples the contact layer.


Recycling polyolefin material, e.g. biaxially oriented polypropylene film, coated with a chlorine-containing polymer, such as polyvinylidene chloride homopolymer and/or copolymer, and having a primer therebetween. First, a caustic solution is formulated containing from about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % caustic, and from about 0.05 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. % of a wetting agent. The formulated caustic solution is heated to a temperature from about 25.degree. C. to about 140.degree. C. The polyolefin material is soaked in the heated caustic solution until the material is separable from the chlorine-containing polymer. After separating the polyolefin material from the chlorine-containing polymer, the material is reprocessed into desired product by extrusion, molding or other product forming process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to recycling polyolefins having a chlorine-containing polymer on at least one surface thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and a system of recycling polyolefins which includes removing a chlorine-containing polymer from the surfaces thereof prior to reprocessing the polyolefin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC) homopolymers and copolymers are chlorine-containing polymers that have excellent barrier properties to a wide variety of gases and liquids due to the combination of high density and high crystallinity in the polymers. Coated or extruded PVdC products with superior resistance to most gases, particularly oxygen, are used in packaging. The use of multipolymers of vinylidene chloride, as coatings or a coextruded layer for oriented polypropylene (OPP) materials has been recognized as an effective means for increasing the resistance of such film materials to the transmission of gases and vapors, such as oxygen and moisture vapor for example. Additionally, PVdC top-coating materials have been known to promote the heat sealability of such oriented film structures which, in an uncoated state, tend to seal only with great difficulty, if at all. PVdC coated oriented polypropylene is a particularly good packaging material for products which tend to be sensitive to attack by oxygen such as, for example, coffee and cheese, or snack foods such as corn-based products and potato chips.
Scrap is initially generated during the manufacture of the film, and secondarily when converters make the end product bag. Finally, scrap is available when the bagged product is consumed. With a commercially feasible recycle process, the film manufacturer would be able to blend the recycle into its main product lines. Even with ink and other coatings, the scrap of the converter and the consumer would be recyclable into many useful products such as carpet backing, park benches, office furniture, signs, battery cases, coat hangers, synthetic lumber and other construction material.
However, these PVdC materials are thermally unstable, with thermal degradation by evolving HCl due to dehydrochlorination starting at temperatures as low as 120.degree. C. While extruding recycled polypropylene containing a PVdC on conventional equipment, thermal degradation can cause problems. For example, the evolving HCl is harmful to personnel and HCl can cause corrosive wear of the extrusion equipment. Further, discoloration, voids, and black specs are found in the product as a result of the PVdC which will downgrade the quality of the recycled product.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,643,861 and 4,877,821 disclose methods of preparing recyclable blends including thermally sensitive vinylidene chloride by adding a stabilizing or neutralizing agent to the blend before extrusion or molding. It appears that these patents seek to react and neutralize HCl after it is generated.

Recycling polyolefins coated with chlorine-containing polymer


A radiation image capturing apparatus that includes a radiation conversion panel comprises an input device for inputting a first distance from the position of the panel to a position serving as a reference position for a subject, a distance measuring unit for measuring a second distance from the radiation source to the panel, a first radiation field calculating unit for determining a radiation field at the position of the panel based on setting information of the radiation source and the second distance, a second radiation field calculating unit for determining a hypothetical radiation field at the reference position of the subject based on the setting information of the radiation source, the first distance, and the second distance, and a life-size correcting unit for correcting the radiation image information from the panel based on the information of the calculated radiation field and the information of the calculated hypothetical radiation field.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radiation image capturing apparatus including a radiation source and a radiation conversion panel for detecting radiation emitted from the radiation source, which has passed through a subject, and converting the detected radiation into radiation image information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Radiation image capturing apparatuses having a radiation conversion panel for detecting radiation emitted from a radiation source that has passed through a subject and converting the detected radiation into radiation image information are disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 09-311187, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 07-265286, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-151795, and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-192856, for example.
Specifically, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 09-311187 discloses a nuclear medicine image diagnostic apparatus for displaying a life-sized radioactive material distribution image of a subject in the same position as the subject. In the nuclear medicine image diagnostic apparatus, radiation applied from a collimator mounted on a rear surface of the apparatus is detected by a semiconductor detector, and positions where radiation is applied are successively calculated and stored by a processor, and then displayed on a liquid crystal display panel mounted on a front surface of the apparatus.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 07-265286 discloses an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, which also is capable of outputting a life-sized image. The disclosed X-ray diagnostic apparatus comprises an X-ray tube, a top plate, an image intensifier, a TV camera for capturing an optical image from the image intensifier, and an output device for outputting the image captured by the TV camera. The X-ray diagnostic apparatus also includes an SID measuring unit for measuring a distance (SID) from the X-ray tube to the X-ray irradiated surface of the image intensifier, and an FSD measuring unit for determining a distance (FSD) from the center of a subject to the X-ray irradiated surface of the image intensifier. Based on the SID and the FSD, the X-ray diagnostic apparatus determines an enlargement ratio and outputs the captured image in full scale. The FSD measuring unit estimates the FSD based on detected values from a sensor for detecting the vertical position of the top plate and a sensor for detecting the vertical position of the image intensifier, and the small distance between the subject and the top plate.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-151795 discloses an X-ray image capturing apparatus for easily generating quasi-parallel X-rays to obtain a life-sized image of a subject. The X-ray image capturing apparatus operates as follows: X-rays are output through a window. After an X-ray radiation field is limited by a diaphragm, the X-rays are applied to a flat polycapillary plate, which produces parallel X-rays. The parallel X-rays are applied to the subject to generate an image of the subject on an imaging plate. Because parallel X-rays are used, the generated image produces a life-sized image of the subject.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-192856 discloses that the distance from the front surface of an X-ray image intensifier that makes up an X-ray detector to the affected area of a subject is set to a desired distance. The distance from the position of an image-capturing surface to the reference position of the subject also is entered. The publication further discloses a life-sized image data correction technique, based on calculating a magnification ratio using the distance between the front surface of the X-ray detector and the affected area of the subject.
The apparatuses disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 09-311187 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-151795 are disadvantageous in that they are large in size and costly to manufacture, due to the fact that a collimator means is required for optically converting the radiated X-rays into parallel X-rays.
According to the X-ray diagnostic apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 07-265286, the FSD is determined based on the top plate as a reference. However, the reference provided by the top plate tends to fluctuate, since the top plate may warp under the weight of the subject that is supported by the top plate. In addition, a preset fixed value is used as the distance between the central position of the subject and the top plate. However, the distance between the central position of the subject and the top plate may change greatly, depending on the physique of the subject. Consequently, the X-ray diagnostic apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 07-265286 fails to convert the acquired image into a life-sized image accurately.
According to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-192856, the distance from the position of the image-capturing surface to the reference position of the subject can be set to an arbitrary distance. However, no consideration is given to facilitating acquisition of life-sized image information from the radiation conversion panel at an arbitrary position, based on the radiation image information that has already been acquired, for thereby shortening medical procedures that are performed using the radiation image capturing apparatus. Furthermore, although the image corresponding to the reference position is corrected to provide a life-sized image, images of other regions of the subject are of sizes that are different from the actual size of the subject. If the operator is not certain as to whether the image displayed on the display monitor has been corrected to provide a life size or not, then the operator possibly could misidentify the size and position of the region of the subject in question.


Upon detection of a ventricular extrasystole, a pacing control algorithm is brought into play to trigger: a stimulation of the atrium, a controlling of the atrium at a faster pacing rate than that of the ventricle during some cycles, a synchronous controlling of the ventricle during a period that is a multiple of a programmed number of cycles, and subsequent to the programmed number of cycles, a slowing of the ventricular rate until either the programmed base rate is reached or a further sinus detection occurs. The algorithm is inactivated on certain conditions, inhibited on certain conditions, and reactivated on further sensed ventricular extrasystoles.

A VES is a spontaneous depolarization of the ventricle that is not properly triggered by a preceding atrial event and is out of the person's spontaneous or paced heart rhythm.
For persons having a cardiac pacemaker, in the event of detection of a VES, it is desirable to avoid the occurrence of pacemaker mediated tachycardia ("PMT"). PMT occurs when a VES induces a depolarization of the atrium which is sensed by the pacemaker and which, in turn, initiates an established atrioventricular delay interval and induces a stimulation of the ventricle after that interval. This can cause the pacemaker to accelerate improperly the pacing rate.

Apparatus and methods for controlling a cardiac pacemaker in the event of a ventricular extrasystole


A composition for simulating and evaluating chemical agent contamination which can be used to safely train military personnel in handling chemical agent contamination. It has a vapor generating component having a vapor pressure of from about 0.1 to about 30 mm Hg at 25° C.; a fluorescent dye; and a solvent which uniformly disperses the vapor generating component and fluorescent dye.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a composition suitable for simulating and evaluating chemical agent contamination. More particularly, the invention provides compositions which can be used to safely train military personnel in handling chemical agent decontamination.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The handling of chemical agent contamination is an important part of military training. The exposure of military personnel even to small amounts of real contaminants, i.e. nerve and/or blistering agents is impractical due to the risk of injury involved. There is therefore a need to use a relatively harmless composition which simulates the effects of such chemical agent contaminants without injuring trainees. The invention therefore provides a chemical agent simulant composition for operational evaluation of chemical agent contamination. It is useful for providing a measure of the extent of contamination from spills or dispersion devices, and the effectiveness of decontamination procedures. The inventive composition employs a unique combination of compatible detection materials which are environmentally safe and incorporate simulated vapor signature components, as well as a liquid fluorescence signature component. It provides a simulant chemical agent vapor signature for chemical detection systems, as well as a visible indicator of liquid contamination when irradiated with an ultraviolet light source. This system can be useful for determination of the extent of aerosol or droplet depositions as well. Certain compositions of this system can also be detected using military chemical agent detection papers such as the U.S. Military's M8 or M9 detection papers. These papers utilize specific dye chemistries that also could be utilized to detect various levels of liquid droplet contamination.
The invention provides a relatively safe and environmentally friendly training aid for liquid G-agent (i.e., nerve agent, including VX) and H-agent (mustard-HD) simulants having varying viscosity. A preferred G agent simulant according to the invention would be a liquid mixture of dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether (DPGME), a fluorescent dye and a solvent such as polyethylene glycol (PEG-200) or water. The H-agent simulant is a liquid mixture of methyl salicylate (MS), a fluorescent dye and a solvent. DPGME, MS, and PEG-200 all have each been used individually and in certain combination for years as chemical agent simulants. The ion mobility characteristics of the functional groups associated with DPGME and MS lends itself well for detectability using ion mobility spectrometers (i.e. the Chemical Agent Monitor (CAM)). In addition, MS and DPGME vapors can be detected by infrared, surface acoustic wave (SAW) and several other detection or monitoring technologies. DPGME and MS have been applied to random test personnel, equipment and vehicles, so the CAM could be operationally used to sort contaminated from clean personnel or materiel. Fluorescent brightening agents have been added as a fluorescence tracer to PEG-200 to see how well the simulant was applied to contaminated test vehicles. M8 or M9 detection papers can also be used to verify gross liquid or droplet contamination.
The prior art to date has not produced a G or H chemical agent training simulant having the combined attributes of being a relatively innocuous material, good simulant agent liquid and vapor property correlation, a visual confirmation using a fluorescent whitening agent to show the extent of liquid contamination present, vapor signature detection by several technologies, and an actual chemical reaction simulating neutralization occurring between the training chemical agent simulant and an actual applied decontamination solution. At present, only the physical removal of decontamination procedures (i.e., soap & water, scrub brushes) can be evaluated. Therefore, present decontamination training operations using chemical agent simulants can only evaluate the mechanical process of contamination removal. Training with the present composition would simulate both the chemical neutralization and physical removal of the contamination. This system would provide a much better method for contamination assessment and decontamination effectiveness, to be used in training of military and hazardous materials responders.
The invention provides relatively safe, environmentally friendly (i.e., non-listed Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA)) chemical mixtures that can be used to demonstrate a G or H agent liquid or vapor behavior and simulate the neutralization reaction which occurs when the simulant is exposed to a decontamination solution. The fluorescent tracer added to the simulants allows a visual confirmation of contamination present before and after decontamination procedures with the use of an UV lamp. The chemical agent simulants can be thickened in various degrees by adding a thickening agent such as polymethyl methacrylate polymer in order to achieve the desired liquid or liquid mixture viscosity.

Chemical agent simulant training composition

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


A reflection-type optoelectronic semiconductor device has an LED chip disposed on a first conducting wire portion, a second conducting wire portion connected to the LED chip via a connection wire, a packaging body for sealing the LED chip and part of the first conducting wire portion and the second conducting wire portion, a reflecting face disposed in an opposite direction of a light emission face of the LED chip and surrounding the packaging body, and an optical spectrum conversion layer coated onto the packaging body. A primary light emitted by the LED chip is reflected to the optical spectrum conversion layer by the reflecting face to undergo light excitation for producing a secondary light. The primary light and the secondary light are combined to generate a mixed light. A lens can be placed in the travel direction of the mixed light to change the distribution of the mixed light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reflection-type optoelectronic semiconductor device and, more particularly, to a reflection-type optoelectronic semiconductor device combining a reflecting face and an optical spectrum conversion layer.
2. Description of Related Art
Light emitting diodes (LED) can be divided into two types according to different structures: lens-type and reflection-type. In a lens-type LED, light from the LED chip is emitted from the light emission face. Contrarily, in a reflection-type LED, light from the LED chip is reflected by a concave reflecting face and then emitted.
Because light from a reflection-type LED is reflected by a concave reflecting face and then emitted from a light emission face, the light of the LED chip can be effectively emitted to the front. A reflection-type LED thus has a higher external emission efficiency than a lens-type LED.
From 1968, when the earliest LED was proposed, LEDs of many colors have been continually developed. After Nichia Corporation in Japan successfully developed a higher-efficiency blue LED in 1993, full-color LED products could then be realized. After blue LEDs were developed, white LEDs became the target pursued by the industry.
Today, the most mature commercial products are inorganic white LEDs developed by the Nichia Corporation (in the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,925 announced in Dec. 7, 1999 and in the disclosure of R.O.C. Pat. No. TW383508 announced in Mar. 1, 2000). FIG. 1 shows the structure of a lens-type inorganic white LED. The periphery of a blue LED chip 40 is filled with yellow light fluorescent powder 50. Light emitted by the blue LED chip 40 is used to excite the yellow light fluorescent powder 50 for producing a yellow light. At the same time, a blue light is also emitted. This blue light matched with the yellow light will form a blue-yellow mixed white light, which is finally scattered outwards by a lens.
In the lens-type inorganic white LED, however, after the light from the blue LED chip 40 is emitted, its optical path can't be effectively controlled. Therefore, the light may directly excite the yellow light fluorescent powder 50 or may be directly scattered outside so that mixing of the blue light and the yellow light can't be effectively accomplished, hence lowering the light emission efficiency.

Reflection-type optoelectronic semiconductor device


Methodology for the automated design of proteins is disclosed. Various methods executed by a computer for generating probability matrices, protein sequences, combinatorial libraries of proteins, and optimization of various parameters related to protein design are disclosed. Methodology is applicable to the design and analysis of protein structures and protein sequences.

There has been considerable recent success in the development of computational methods for the design of protein sequences, at various degrees of sophistication. Several groups have presented results in which computer algorithms were used to design novel hydrophobic cores for proteins (Dahiyat & Mayo, 1996; Dahiyat & Mayo, 1997b; Desjarlais & Handel, 1995; Hellinga & Richards, 1994; Kono & Doi, 1994; Lazar et al., 1997), in many cases with experimental validation of the proteins by biophysical and/or structural methods (Dahiyat & Mayo, 1996; Dahiyat & Mayo, 1997b; Desjarlais & Handel, 1995; Johnson et al., 1999; Kono et al., 1998; Lazar et al., 1997; Lazar et al., 1999).
Mayo and colleagues have pioneered the development of algorithms for non-core (Dahiyat et al., 1997a) and full sequence design (Dahiyat & Mayo, 1997a; Dahiyat et al., 1997b), using parameterized force fields and sophisticated optimization methods such as the Dead-End Elimination (DEE) theory (Desmet et al., 1992; Goldstein, 1994). These methods were used successfully to design a sequence that adopts the zinc finger fold with no requirement for zinc binding (Dahiyat & Mayo, 1997a). The force fields used for these design processes have been parameterized over time by comparison between the calculated and experimentally determined folding stabilities of the designed proteins, a process referred to as the design cycle (Dahiyat & Mayo, 1996; Gordon et al., 1999; Hellinga, 1997; Street & Mayo, 1999). A patent related to these studies is U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,965, incorporation herein by way of reference.
A significant limitation (and criticism) of extant protein design methodologies is a lack of a generally applicable method for incorporating backbone flexibility into the design simulation. Although some efforts along these lines have been explored (Desjarlais & Handel, 1999; Harbury et al., 1995; Su & Mayo, 1997), they are limited in scope.
A second limitation in many design methods is that they do not provide a comprehensive measure of the sequence space that is consistent with a three-dimensional protein fold. In this context, sequence space means all sequential combinations of amino acids that can spontaneously fold into the target three-dimensional structure. Knowledge of the viable sequence space is a crucial feature of the ability to rationally design protein combinatorial libraries that can be used to search for proteins with improved properties. Again, some efforts along these lines have been pursued, for instance by designing multiple sequences using heuristic (Monte Carlo or genetic algorithm) methods (Dahiyat et al., 1997b; Desjarlais & Handel, 1995; Kuhlman & Baker, 2000). Such methods serve to partially explore the sequence space of a fold, but do not necessarily yield quantitatively robust information. Application of the self-consistent mean field methods (Delarue & Koehl, 1997; Koehl & Delarue, 1994; Lee, 1994) has some promise for exploring sequence space (Voigt et al., 2001), but this class of methods have significant limitations that call into question their ability to fully explore the appropriate space (Voigt et al., 2000). Furthermore, this method has not yet been demonstrated to yield physically viable designed proteins.
In view of the previous discussion of demands and limitations in the field of protein design, it can be seen that there is a need to improve protein design and evaluation methodology. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a computational protein design procedure that is capable of incorporating backbone flexibility in a general way and is capable of providing a superior exploration of the amino acid sequence space consistent with a protein structural state. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel approach to the evaluation and parameterization of protein design algorithms that is more efficient than efforts that rely on feedback from experimental stability data alone. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method of analysis of the ability of protein design algorithms to design amino acid sequences that are similar to those that exist naturally for a given protein class. These and other objects and advantages of the invention and equivalents thereof, are described and provided in the drawings and descriptions that follow and manifest in the appended claims.

Apparatus and method for designing proteins and protein libraries


An image reversal method is described that removes the etch resistance requirement from a resist. A high resolution resist pattern comprised of islands, lines, or trenches is formed with a large process window by exposing through one or more masks including phase edge masks and optionally with resolution enhancement techniques. A complementary material replacement (CMR) layer comprised of an organic polymer or material such as fluorosilicate glass which has a lower etch rate than the resist is coated over the resist pattern. CMR and resist layers are etched simultaneously to provide an image reversed pattern in the CMR layer which is etch transferred into a substrate. The method avoids edge roughness like bird's beak defects in the etched pattern and is useful for applications including forming contact holes in dielectric layers, forming polysilicon gates, and forming trenches in a damascene process. It is also valuable for direct write methods where an image reversal scheme is desired.

Two important processes that are repeated frequently during the manufacture of integrated circuits are photoresist patterning and etch transfer of the pattern into an underlying substrate. As the size of circuits shrinks in order to keep pace with demand for higher performance, the patterning and etching steps become more difficult and require a higher degree of control.
To achieve a higher resolution pattern in a photoresist, hereafter referred to as resist, the exposing wavelength has decreased according to an improvement predicted by the Raleigh equation, R=kλ/NA where R is the resolution of a feature printed in a lithographic process, k is a process constant, λ is the wavelength of radiation used to expose the resist, and NA is the numerical aperture of the exposure tool. With the progression of technology nodes that require an ever smaller critical dimension to be formed in a resist, the exposure wavelength has been continually decreasing. Typically, for technology nodes above 300 nm, i-line (365 nm) and Mid-UV (436 nm) radiation is preferably used. Deep UV exposures are preferred for the 130 nm, 180 nm, and 250 nm nodes while 193 nm radiation is the leading candidate for the 100 nm node.
Resolution enhancement techniques (RET) that effectively lower the k factor in the Raleigh equation have become popular in the industry. Off-axis illumination, phase shift masks, and optical proximity correction are a few of the widely accepted RETs. A phase shifted mask (PSM) such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,558 not only provides improved resolution but also enhances the depth of focus (DOF) during the patterning step. This particular PSM does not contain opaque material and therefore avoids problems commonly observed with conventional binary masks where a hole in an opaque region is printed as a defect in a resist layer. Further improvement is achieved by exposing through one PSM which has a 90° shift in one half of each contact hole and a 270° shift in the other half of each hole and then exposing through a second PSM with a similar feature except that the first half of a hole region is rotated 90° relative to the first half of a hole region in the first PSM.
Another method of improving process window during a lithography process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,175. A positive or negative resist is DUV patterned to give 180 nm L/S features. A water soluble polymer containing an acid generator and optionally a crosslinker is coated on the developed image. Then a second mask with a coarser pattern is used to selectively remove some of the resist lines. The method especially improves the DOF for forming isolated lines and also suppresses a proximity effect that occurs with conventional patterning where isolated or semi-isolated lines are printed at different sizes than dense lines even though the line sizes on the mask are the same.
Unfortunately, as higher resolution resists have been developed for shorter exposing wavelengths, the etch resistance of the polymer component has decreased and the capability of the resist to serve as an etch mask for a subsequent etch step has diminished. This trend is an even larger concern since the resist is usually coated at a thinner thickness as the λ decreases in order to maintain an adequate process window during the pattern forming step. Generally, the resist thickness is no more than about 3 or 4 times the critical dimension or smallest feature size that is printed in the pattern. When the aspect ratio (feature height/feature width) becomes larger than about 3 or 4, then there is a tendency for line features to collapse during the develop and DI water rinse stage of pattern formation.
Usually, a high etch resistance has been associated with aromatic content in the polymer. Phenol groups that provide good dissolution character for Deep UV, i-line, and Mid UV resists also offer good resistance to plasma etch chemistries such as those involving fluorocarbon gases. However, for sub-200 nm exposure wavelengths like 193 nm, aromatic polymers are not useful because of a high optical absorbance. Instead, acrylate polymers and maleic anhydride/cyclic olefin (COMA) copolymers are being developed for their good lithographic properties. Although COMA copolymers are better than acrylates in terms of etch resistance, they are no match for aromatic polymers in DUV and i-line resists. It is possible that better materials can be developed for 193 nm and other sub-200 nm exposing technologies such as 157 nm, but a method is needed immediately that will allow current 193 nm resists to be incorporated into manufacturing schemes.
A large majority of Deep UV and sub-200 nm lithography processes are based on a chemically amplified (CA) resist mechanism in which one photon causes many chemical events in a resist layer. The amplified nature of a CA resist provides for higher throughput during the exposure process but is susceptible to a larger line edge roughness (LER). LER is evident during top-down views through a scanning electron microscope (SEM) inspection that is typically performed during the manufacturing process to ensure that the exposure dose and focus setting for the resist exposure are providing a quality image with the correct feature size. Frequently, jagged edges on a resist line can be seen through an SEM. This type of defect is unacceptable because the LER will be transferred into an underlying substrate and will degrade device performance. In the case of contact holes, a so-called "bird's beak" problem is evident in which pointed edges protrude from the circular opening formed in a substrate. The higher contrast property in mature CA resists that enables a high resolution feature to be printed also leads to a larger LER, especially for 193 nm exposures. Therefore, a method that can take advantage of a high resolution pattern and overcome deficiencies such as LER and bird's beak defects during an etch transfer of the pattern into a substrate is highly desirable.
FIGS. 1a-1d depict a prior art method of forming contact holes in a resist and transferring the pattern into an underlying layer. A dielectric layer 11 is formed on a substrate 10 as shown in FIG. 1a. A resist solution is coated and baked to form layer 12 and is then exposed to radiation 16 through a mask 13 containing regions 14, 15. When mask 13 is a binary type, region 14 represents an opaque coating on a transparent substrate while region 15 is transparent substrate. If mask 13 is a phase shifting type, then region 14 transmits light that is 180° out of phase with light transmitted through region 15. After exposed resist 12 is developed in aqueous base, contact holes 17a, 17b are generated as shown in FIG. 1b. This resist pattern serves as an etch mask for transferring the hole openings 17a, 17b into the dielectric layer 11 as depicted in FIG. 1c. A considerable amount of resist thickness is usually lost during this step. After the resist 12 is stripped, a top view of the resulting contact holes 17a, 17b in dielectric layer 11 as shown in FIG. 1d indicates jagged edges or bird's beaks 18 as a result of a low etch resistance of photoresist 12 and edge roughness in the resist pattern. This result is likely to occur when the pattern resist is a 193 nm sensitive composition or when the space width of the holes 17a, 17b is near the resolution limit of the lithographic process.
A method found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,106 provides for improved etch resistance by coating a spin-on glass (SOG) layer beneath a resist layer. The SOG is hardened at 430° C. prior to coating the resist and is comprised of SiXOY. The etch properties of the SOG enable a thinner resist layer that leads to a larger process window. The patterned resist serves as an etch mask during a fluorine based plasma etch through the SOG. Then a chlorine based plasma etches through an underlying metal layer and also removes the resist. The SOG etches 10 times faster than the resist during the initial etch while the reverse is true during the second etch step. While this method is successful when an i-line resist is employed, the LER associated with sub-200 nm resists and some DUV exposed patterns could be transferred into the substrate during the etch steps.
A method cited in U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,227 avoids etch issues associated with CA resists by patterning an inorganic layer comprised of GeXSe1−X. The method involves a photo-doping process in which Ag ions from an underlying Ag2S/AgS2Se3 layer migrate to the GeXSe1−X layer in exposed regions. The patterned top layer then functions as an etch mask for transferring the pattern through underlying layers. Additionally, better planarization is achieved by coating the inorganic resist by a RF sputtering technique.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


In order to provide a damping material exhibiting an excellent vibration damping property in a wide temperature range, according to the present invention, in a magnetic composite type damping material constructed by bonding an adhesive elastic sheet containing magnetic powder to a constraining plate such as a metal plate by using an adhesive, the adhesive elastic sheet is made of a composite material consisting of rubber elastomer, adhesive resin, plasticizer, magnetic powder, etc.. Since not only is the damping material having a construction described above attracted by magnetic force against a vibration source, it also is provided with a superficial adhesiveness, and the excellent vibration damping property is exhibited in a wide temperature range by a synergistic effect of the magnetic force and the adhering force.

A magnetic composite type damping material of the type described above is disclosed in JP-A-Hei 3-47750, in which an adhesive layer is disposed between a magnetic layer and a constraining layer to form a three-layered structure, the damping material having this three-layered structure being directly attracted to a vibration source by magnetic force of the magnetic layer.
Since the magnetic composite type damping material having the structure described above can be attracted to the vibration source by magnetic force, operability of mounting on the vibration source is good. Further, it has a structure in which an adhesive layer having a low elastic modulus is sandwiched between the magnetic layer having a high elastic modulus and the constraining layer. Shear deformation is produced in the adhesive layer by vibration generated by the vibration source. Vibration energy is converted into thermal energy by shear deformation mainly in the adhesive layer and, thus, the vibration is absorbed.
Further, a damping material having a structure, in which a magnetic material is disposed in the constraining layer, can be directly attracted to a vibration source by magnetic force. So its operability of mounting on the vibration source is good.
Further, in this case, slight slips are produced at the interface of the magnetic layer with the vibration source by vibration generated by the vibration source owing to the fact that it is attracted to the vibration source only by magnetic force. Vibration energy is converted into thermal energy by interfacial friction, which makes it exhibit a vibration damping property.
In a sandwich type damping material having a structure in which an adhesive material (e.g. rubber, etc.) having a small elastic modulus is sandwiched between two constraining plates such as metal plates having a great elastic modulus, in which shear deformation is produced in the sandwiched adhesive material by vibration and in this way vibration energy is converted into thermal energy, in order to transmit vibration generated by the vibration source to the adhesive material having a small elastic modulus, the damping material should be stuck firmly to the vibration source.
As a method for firmly sticking the damping material to the vibration source, it can be tentatively conceived to use adhesive force of an adhesive or mechanical fixing means such as screws, etc. Supposing temporarily that the magnetic composite type damping material described previously is stuck by using an adhesive, although vibration absorbing action by interfacial friction described above cannot be expected, since it is possible to have the damping material held on the vibration source by magnetic force until the adhesive is hardened, it is not necessary to use any holding member by thrusting it with pressure, which is very useful for improving facility of execution.
However, in a damping material, closely contacted with a vibration source by magnetic force, in which vibration damping is realized by converting vibration energy into thermal energy by interfacial friction at a close contact interface, as in the magnetic composite type damping material described previously, although vibration damping characteristics thereof have a property that its temperature dependence is small and that a constant performance can be obtained in a wide temperature range, the absolute value of the loss factor, which indicates the vibration damping effect, is smaller than a peak value thereof of a general constraining type damping material described previously.
Although a general constraining type damping material has the peak of the loss factor in the neighborhood of the glass transition temperature of the adhesive elastic material, supposing temporarily that it is used in a relatively narrow temperature range around the peak, since the loss factor of the magnetic composite type damping material described above is smaller than that of the general constraining type damping material, it is disadvantageous.
However, taking it into account that in a constraining type damping material using shear deformation of the close contact interface, in which vibration damping is performed by converting vibration energy into thermal energy, vibration damping property (loss factor) decreases rapidly apart from the neighborhood of the glass transition temperature of the adhesive material, it can be understood that the magnetic composite type damping material described above is more advantageous in that constant performance can be obtained in a wide temperature range, although the absolute value of the loss factor is not so great.


The natural fuel heating system includes an elongate firebox covered by a cowling. The firebox includes means for accessing the interior thereof for fuel placement and vents at opposite ends. The cowling surrounds a majority of the firebox and forms an air circulating barrier between the firebox and the cowling. Outside air is introduced into the barrier through an intake shroud extending from the back of the firebox. The natural fuel heating system includes a heat exchange system for efficiently heating the cooler outside air circulating within the barrier. The heated air is drawn through an exhaust shroud extending from the air barrier into a building ventilation system to heat the building via natural thermal convection and negative air pressure caused by oxygen consumption from combustion within the firebox. A waste gas exhaust vent protrudes from the firebox to deliver harmful exhaust gas back outside.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heating systems, and particularly to a natural fuel heating system promoting healthier air circulation and improved heating inside a dwelling.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most buildings incorporate some sort of heating system, ranging from low tech options, such as a fireplace, to complex centralized air-conditioners. The efficiency of all these options varies greatly, depending on the inherent limitations of the system itself and the design of the building, including such factors as insulation and airflow.
One concern with all these systems is the economics of energy efficiency. In the case of a fireplace, the fuel required, e.g., wood, is relatively cheap. However, the heat from the fireplace is localized in the room where the fireplace is located, with no means of circulating the heated air within the building or dwelling that does not require some other external air circulating means, e.g., fans. Any heat generated by the fireplace extends into the room, but the typical stagnant air does not facilitate adequate airflow into other areas of the home. Thus, added equipment and the associated costs for operation and maintenance raises the overall costs, but provides minimal heating benefit to the rest of the building, especially if the building has poor insulation.
In many cases, the energy source for centralized heating and air conditioning systems is a combination of fossil fuel and electricity, the former for generating heat in a furnace and the latter for the fan system distributing the heat. Both forms of energy are relatively expensive, and many have to contend with sometimes astronomical costs during the winter months.
Another concern of common home heating systems relates to airflow. Most systems recirculate the interior air without introducing enough of the outside air to refresh the interior. As a result, much of the interior air is stagnant, which can become a health concern when the air is stagnant over extended periods of time. One way to mitigate this is to just open the house or building to outside air for short periods of time. In the long run, that only exacerbates energy consumption because it requires more energy to compensate for the large temperature difference than maintaining a relatively constant temperature.
Another problem that can occur is with fireplaces. Fireplaces require periodic maintenance and cleaning of the flue. Flues can become clogged with ashes and debris, which hampers airflow and leads to even more hazardous conditions, such as exposure to toxic fumes. Adequate airflow and a conscious effort to maintain such airflow can mitigate much of these concerns. However, many homeowners do not exercise such precautions.
In light of the above, it would be a benefit in the art of heating systems to provide a system that promotes adequate airflow and an economic alternative to current heating systems. Thus, a natural fuel heating system solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


An improved toner for use in electrostatic copying processes is described. The toner, which exhibits high fixing ability at low temperatures, includes a binder resin, a colorant, and a silicone wax release agent. A method for reducing or preventing offset in a toner and increasing the lubricity of the toner is also described. The method comprises combining the silicone wax release agent and the colorant with the binder resin to form the toner.

The present invention relates to an improved toner for use in an electrostatic copying process. Such processes are now commonly used by laser printers and photocopy machines.
Electrostatic processes use finely divided dry toners or developers. Dry toners typically have a coloring agent, such as carbon black, dispersed throughout a natural or synthetic binder resin. Developers can be monocomponent substances in which the toner formula contains magnetic particles, monocomponent substances in which the toner is non- magnetic, or two component systems which have dry toners and separate magnetic carrier particles.
Toner particles can be triboelectrically charged to a proper polarity. This insures that the toner particles will be preferentially attracted to desired image areas on a latent image field during the copying or printing process. Often toners include charge control agents which moderate the magnitude and polarity of the charge. After the image is developed by the toner, the image on the latent image field is "fixed" onto a permanent substrate, such as paper. "Fixing" can be effected by applying heat or solvent to the toner image after the image has been transferred to a sheet of paper, which melts the resin particles in the toner, causing them to fuse to the paper or other substrate.
"Melt fixing," that is, fixing by applying heat to the toner image, is accomplished by applying heat to the sheet of paper by means of heated rollers. The rollers, known as fusing rollers, apply both heat and pressure to the sheet. Fusing rollers are widely employed because high-speed fixation of latent images can be achieved with this method.
In order to reduce fixing time, it is desirable for a binding resin to exhibit high fixing ability even at low temperatures. To achieve this end a binder resin having a low softening temperature typically is used. This practice, however, has the drawback that toner particles may partially stick to the fusing rollers, damaging them. Also, residual toner on the fusing rollers is transferred to subsequent sheets of paper. This stains the background of those sheets, resulting in poor image quality. This is the well-known and undesirable "offset" phenomena.
To retain the high fixing ability of these resins at low fixing temperatures while reducing the offset of toner, lubricants have been added to various systems in order to prohibit the toner particles from sticking to the fusing rollers. An initial effort was to provide fusing rollers covered with a thin film of lubricant, such as a fluorocarbon resin or silicone oil. This method, however, suffers from several drawbacks: for example, the heat from the fuser rollers can cause odors to emanate from the liquid or the roller coating, damage to the fuser rollers can result in a messy oil spill, and the use of silicone liquid requires a complex apparatus for metering of liquid to the rollers.
Another method which has been used to prevent or minimize this problem is adding a wax, such as a paraffin or polyolefin wax, to the toner itself. In theory, the wax component should be sufficiently incompatible with the toner resin so that it does not mix with the toner resin. This ensures that when the paper imprinted with the toner image passes through the hot fuser rollers, the wax rises to the surface of the toner, forming a waxy coating which prevents the toner from sticking to the rollers. However, paraffin or polyolefin waxes may adhere to the roller or paper surface, which reduces the quality of the image. In some toner compositions, the polyolefin wax is sufficiently compatible with the toner that it does not rise to the surface of the toner and, so, does not prevent offset from occurring. Various alcohols, varnishes and silicone oils have also been tried, but none have imparted a sufficiently high resistance to the offset phenomena. In addition, these lubricants showed a tendency to adhere to the carrier particles, reducing developer life and image quality.
The present invention achieves the aforementioned desirable characteristics while avoiding the undesirable characteristics of prior art toners.

Toner containing a silicone wax release agent


The present invention relates to a method of modeling a tactile sensation using a nerve spike pattern, a tactile sensation model, and a method of generating a tactile sensation using a nerve spike pattern and may include generating a nerve spike pattern by sequentially arranging action potential spike time points of a nerve responding to a specific pressure and modeling a pressure sensation for the pressure on the basis of the generated nerve spike pattern. According to the present invention, by checking how tactile sensation information is reflected in a nerve spike pattern, it is possible to provide a method capable of modeling various tactile sensations using the nerve spike pattern.

Virtual reality means any specific environment, situation or technology itself that is similar to reality but is not real and that is created by artificial technology using a computer or the like. Created virtual situations, environments, or the like stimulate the five senses of a user and enables spatial and visual experiences similar to reality.
In relation to the implementation of virtual reality, research and development have been actively conducted on technologies and output equipments capable of directly applying a physical impact to a user in a virtual space and implementing a tactile sensation in virtual reality such that the grip of an object, the temperature of an object, and the like can be felt. For example, a virtual reality-based haptic system capable of providing physical simulation by integrally controlling a three-dimensional (3D) haptic device and a 3D image display device with a computer has been disclosed (Patent Document 1 (Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2009-0014321)).
Thus, along with an increasing interest in tactile implementation and an increase in the interest and importance of related technologies, haptic devices are used in various fields. However, little is known about the neuroscientific mechanism of a tactile sensation compared to other sensations such as a visual sensation.
Until now, the transmission mechanism of a tactile sensation has been understood based on the labelled-line theory in which tactile sensation information is classified by one-to-one neural response mapping between stimuli and peripheral nerve receptors [Non-patent document 1 (Pereira J. C., Jr., Alves R. C. (2011). The labelled-lines principle of the somatosensory physiology might explain the phantom limb phenomenon. Med. Hypotheses 77, 853-856. 10.1016/j.mehy.2011.07.054.)]. However, it has never been clearly known how the spike pattern of peripheral nerves reflects, i.e., encodes tactile sensation information.

Modeling method of tactility using nerve spike pattern, tactility model and manufacturing method of tactility using nerve spike pattern

UNIST (ULSAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY)

IUCF-HYU (INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION HANYANG UNIVERSITY)


A programmable output driver circuit is provided having multiple drive capabilities for optimising noise margins at different frequencies. Several signal paths are designed in parallel, each comprising a driver unit made up of a pull-down and a pull-up transistor. Some of the paths can be disabled by NAND gates slowing down the driver circuit to reduce the attendant noise at lower frequencies. Different types of parallel structures can be designed, allowing for variable rise and fall times of the output signal, as well as skewed duty cycles.

The present invention relates to a high frequency output driver circuit having a programmable drive capability that does not compromise noise performance of the driver circuit at lower frequencies.
Output drivers integrated as part of a larger circuit often act as a source of noise through power supply coupling. The magnitude of this noise is directly related to a frequency of operation of the driver circuit. To be able to drive capacitive loads at high frequencies, output driver circuit design includes providing an output signal having fast rise and fall times. Achieving fast rise and fall times requires devices with very large channel width to length (W/L) ratios capable of sinking and sourcing large amounts of current. As the rise and fall times of the output waveforms of the output driver become faster, the output driver circuit introduces increasingly higher level harmonics into the circuit through the power supply pins, bond wire and lead frame inductance. For operation at lower frequencies, the output waveform has more time to reach a final value, allowing use of smaller and slower devices handling lower amounts of current. This in turn results in reduced noise levels for the output driver circuit and reduced noise coupling for the larger circuit.
Therefore in applications with wide frequency ranges and high frequency requirements, designers have either compromised the noise performance at lower frequencies to obtain high frequency operation, or compromised the frequency performance at higher frequencies to obtain lower noise levels during the low frequency operation.