In accordance with certain embodiments, heat-dissipating elements are integrated with semiconductor dies and substrates in order to facilitate heat dissipation therefrom during operation.

Discrete light sources such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are an attractive alternative to incandescent light bulbs in illumination devices due to their higher efficiency, smaller form factor, longer lifetime, and enhanced mechanical robustness. However, the high cost of LEDs and associated heat-sinking and thermal-management systems have limited the widespread utilization of LEDs, particularly in general lighting applications.
The high cost of LED-based lighting systems has several contributors. LEDs are typically encased in a package and multiple packaged LEDs are used in each lighting system to achieve the required light intensity. In order to reduce costs, LED manufacturers have developed high-power LEDs, which can emit relatively higher light intensities by operating at relatively higher currents. While reducing the package count, these LEDs require relatively higher-cost packages to accommodate the higher current levels and to manage the significantly higher heat levels that result. The higher heat loads and currents, in turn, require more expensive thermal-management and heat-sinking systems that also add to the cost as well as to size of the system. Higher operating temperatures also lead to shorter lifetimes, degradation in luminous output, and reduced reliability.
Conventional LED thermal-management and heat-sinking systems have been devised to improve the heat transfer from the light-emitting junction in the LED to external heat-dissipating elements. Heat-dissipating elements typically include thermal slugs in the package, ceramic or metal submounts, large metal or ceramic heat sinks, and the like. Another example of a conventional heat-dissipating element is a high thermal conductivity wiring board, such as a metal core printed circuit board. Thermally conductive underfills may also be used to aid in transfer of heat from the package to the wiring board.
In conventional systems, the electrical traces may be utilized as heat-dissipating elements; in such systems, the LED typically has a pair of electrical contacts in electrical and thermal engagement with the traces, which are typically composed of a metallic material. Heat generated by the LED flows through its electrical contacts into the traces. Heat may also flow out the body of the LED, and be dissipated through an underfill that has a relatively high thermal conductivity. Typical underfills include thermally conductive adhesives or pastes. Typically, the traces and the underfill are thermally coupled to a high thermal conductivity substrate, such as AlN, a metal core printed circuit board, or other high thermal conductivity material. Because the substrate has high thermal conductivity there is a relatively large area—approximately the entire chip area—through which heat may flow from the chip to the substrate. The high thermal conductivity substrate dissipates heat transferred to it and this substrate is therefore an important element in thermal management of high-power LED-based lighting systems.
An alternative approach to conventional high-power LED-based lighting systems is the use of an array of relatively small LEDs mounted on a low cost plastic base substrate and driven at relatively low current. Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,384,121, filed Jun. 29, 2011 (the '121 patent), U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0062318, filed Mar. 13, 2013, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0062316, filed Aug. 19, 2013, the entire disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Such systems typically feature conductive traces, formed over a plastic substrate, and which are used to interconnect and provide power to an LED through its electrical contacts. When the LEDs on the plastic substrate are operated at low drive currents, no additional thermal management may be required, because the relatively small amount of heat generated by each LED is distributed over the entire array area. Such heat distribution may be through the conductive traces, which typically have a relatively larger thermal conductivity than the plastic substrate. Thus, while these systems typically have significantly lower cost because there is no need for additional heat sinking or thermal management, they may be limited to relatively low drive currents.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists for systems and techniques enabling the design and manufacture of LED-based lighting systems, as well as corresponding thermal-management techniques, capable of supporting relatively high LED drive currents at low cost.

Thermal management in electronic devices with yielding substrates


A method of forming SRB finFET fins first with a cut mask that is perpendicular to the subsequent fin direction and then with a cut mask that is parallel to the fin direction and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a SiGe SRB on a substrate; forming a Si layer over the SRB; forming an NFET channel and a SiGe PFET channel in the Si layer; forming cuts through the NFET and PFET channels, respectively, and the SRB down to the substrate, the cuts formed on opposite ends of the substrate and perpendicular to the NFET and PFET channels; forming fins in the SRB and the NFET and PFET channels, the fins formed perpendicular to the cuts; forming a cut between the NFET and PFET channels, the cut formed parallel to the fins; filling the cut with oxide; and recessing the oxide down to the SRB.

Forming a finFET device through an early silicon germanium (SiGe) epitaxial (epi) cut process offers an opportunity to achieve defect free elastic relaxation. One option is to use a dummy cut. However, a dummy cut requires additional masks and introduces a number of design restrictions to prevent the channel from falling into the cut region. A second option is to first use a cut mask that is parallel to the fin direction (FH) and then to use a cut mask that is perpendicular to the fin direction (FC). However, starting with the FH cut mask can damage the end of the fins due to the etch load effect. Consequently, fins at the end of the array will have a different critical dimension (CD) or profile relative to the fins towards the center of the array.
A need therefore exists for methodology enabling uniform fin CD and profile without requiring additional masks or introducing significant design restrictions, and the resulting device.

Method and structure for SRB elastic relaxation


A side pin cushion circuit for keeping exact the period corresponding to the frequency of a synchronizing signal so as to prevent a pin cushion distortion in a cathode ray tube displayer. The side pin cushion circuit comprises a vertical deflection portion for generating a saw-tooth signal whose period varies according to the frequency of a vertical synchronizing signal, first amplifying portion for amplifying the saw-tooth signal supplied from the vertical deflection portion and converting the amplified saw-tooth signal to a pin cushion signal, a second amplifying portion for amplifying the pin cushion signal supplied from the first amplifying portion and supplying the amplified pin cushion signal to a mixer, a controlling switch for switching the pin cushion signal supplied to the mixer from the second amplifying portion, and a switch controller for detecting the frequency of the vertical sychronizing signal depending on the voltage level of the saw-tooth signal supplied from the vertical deflection portion and for controlling the controlling switch every period corresponding to the frequency of the detected vertical synchronizing signal.

The present invention relates to a circuit for preventing a pin cushion distortion in a television receiver or a monitor having a cathode ray tube, and more particularly to a circuit which can generate a pin cushion signal having an exact period according to the frequency of a sychronizing signal.
As shown in FIG. 4, a conventional side pin cushion circuit comprises a transistor Q51 for inverting and amplifying a synchronizing signal, a transistor Q52 for generating a saw-tooth signal, transistors Q53 to Q55 with cascaded connections for outputting a pin cushion signal, resistors R51 to R67 for supplying a bias voltage to the transistors Q51 to Q55, diodes D51 to D54, and coupling capacitors C51 to C56.
The operation of the conventional side pin cushion circuit constituted as shown in FIG. 4 is described as follows.
The transistor Q51 inverts and amplifies a vertical synchronizing signal, as shown in FIG. 5A, supplied to its base through an input terminal 50 and a resistor R51 and supplies the inverted and amplified signal, as shown in FIG. 5B, to the base of the transistor Q52 through the two resistors R52 and R53. Then the transistor Q52 is turned on/off according to the logic state of the inverted and amplified vertical synchronizing signal supplied to its base, to open and close the current passage connected through its collector and emitter to a second power source GND. At this time, the capacitor C51 charges and discharges according to the switching operation of the transistor Q52, thereby generating saw-tooth signal as shown in FIG. 5C to supply to the base of the transistor Q53.
Meanwhile, the transistor Q53 with the resistor R56 and the capacitor C52 integrates and amplifies the saw-tooth signal supplied to its base and generates a pin cushion signal such as that of FIG. 5D. And the transistor Q53 supplies the generated pin cushion signal to the base of the transistor Q54 through a coupling capacitor C53. At this time, the resistor R55 limits the current flowing in the capacitors C51 and C52.
The transistor Q54 together with four resistors R57 to R60 constitute an amplifying circuit, which inverts and amplifies the pin cushion signal supplied to its base into the pin cushion signal of FIG. 5E and supplies this inverted and amplified pin cushion signal to the base of the transistor Q55 through a current limiting resistor R61, a coupling capacitor C54, and a current limiting resistor R62.
The transistor Q55 together with four resistors R63 to R66 and two capacitors C55 and C56 constitute another amplifying circuit, which again inverts and amplifies the inverted pin cushion signal of FIG. 5E supplied to its base, and supplies an amplified pin cushion signal such as that of FIG. 5F to a mixer (not shown) through a resistor R67 and an output terminal 51. Then the mixer amplitude-modulates the horizontal deflection signal of a saw-tooth waveform supplied from a horizontal deflection portion (not shown) according to the pin cushion signal, and supplies the modulated horizontal deflection signal to a deflection coil of a cathode ray tube.
However, the side pin cushion circuit, as shown in FIG. 4, generates a distortion of the signals in the steps of amplifying the vertical synchronizing signal of the square wave form, converting the amplified vertical synchronizing signal to a saw-tooth signal, and again converting the converted saw-tooth signal to a pin cushion signal, such that it cannot exactly keep the period of the pin cushion signal. Because of this, the conventional side pin cushion circuit is applicable only to a cathode ray tube displayer for a single mode having a constant frequency of the vertical synchronizing signal. It is not applicable to a cathode ray tube displayer for multiple modes using a plurality of vertical synchronizing signals having different frequencies, because the distortion of the pin cushion signal according to the frequency of the vertical synchronizing signal is generated.


A method and apparatus for the biological purification of cutting oil, such as used in metal machining apparatus, is disclosed. The invention herein provides a suitable environment for cultured aerobic bacteria. These beneficial bacteria act to break down the hazardous organic waste products of anaerobic bacteria and eliminate rank odors. The cutting oil is aerated to encourage the proliferation of the aerobic bacteria, and to discourage the proliferation of the unwanted anaerobic bacteria.

Cutting oil is a generic term for that class of oils which are used in metal machining operations. Cutting oil generally comprises one or more mineral oil, chlorinated or sulfurized mineral oil, fatty oil, or mixtures thereof. The cutting oil is provided at the cutting surface where a metal-shaping bit is used to modify a metal workpiece. Cutting oil provides a lubricating film between the cutting bit and the workpiece, thus keeping the cutting area cooled. The continuous flow of cutting oil acts to retain metal shards or flakes formed during the cutting process, and to carry these flakes away from the cutting surface. The cutting oil can also contain anti-corrosion agents, emulsifiers, anti-bacterial agents, and the like.
One example of a machining apparatus 110 is shown in FIG. 1. A workpiece 112 (shown in cross section) is supported below a cutting bit 114. The workpiece 112 and the cutting bit 114 are moved relative to one another, either by motion controls such as the handle means 116 shown, or by computer controls (not shown). Generally, motion controls provide relative movement along each of the x, y and z axis.
A reservoir of cutting oil is maintained within the body of the machining apparatus 110. The cutting oil is pumped to a nozzle 118 located proximal to the cutting surface. The cutting oil is sprayed over the workpiece 112 and the cutting bit 114. A drain system (not shown) returns the cutting oil to the reservoir.
The presence of metal flakes in the cutting oil has traditionally limited the effective use life of cutting oils. However, a variety of methods have been developed to enhance the life of the cutting oil by filtering the oil, either before it is sent to the cutting oil reservoir, while it is held within the reservoir, or as it is brought to the cutting surface. Generally, the larger flakes are removed by filtration or straining. The smaller metal flakes can be removed by skimming or other processes. Cutting oil can be filtered by the processes described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,663, for example.
Cutting oil can become contaminated by anaerobic bacteria. The presence of anaerobic bacteria in the cutting oil reservoir causes rank and rancid odors, limiting the useful life of the cutting oil for aesthetic reasons. The presence of the anaerobic bacteria can also provide a source of irritation or contagion for the humans who must come into contact with the cutting oil in either liquid or volatilized form.


An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball which is superior in durability to a golf ball having an ionomer resin cover which has conventionally been used. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball using a non-petroleum based material. The golf ball of the present invention comprises a core and a cover covering the core, wherein at least either the core or the cover includes, as a resin component, a polyester resin containing a non-petroleum based material as a constitutional component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf ball, more particularly to improving durability of the golf ball.
2. Description of the Related Art
A golf ball is required to have durability since it is repeatedly hit. As a material constituting a cover of a golf ball, ionomer resins are known. Since a golf ball having an ionomer resin cover is relatively rigid, it is excellent in resilience, durability, and workability. However, it has a problem of poor shot feeling and controllability.
Therefore, Japanese patent publications Nos. H01-308577, H05-277208, H07-132152 and H08-182777 and PCT International Application Japanese Translation No. H11-500776, for example, propose an improvement of shot feeling and controllability of an ionomer resin cover. Japanese patent publication No. H01-308577, for example, discloses a technology of blending a rigid ionomer resin and a flexible ionomer resin. Japanese patent publication No. H05-277208 discloses a technology using two or more ionomer resins having a relatively low modulus value. Japanese patent publication No. H07-132152 discloses a use of a heated mixture of an ionomer resin; a ternary copolymer resin consisting of α-olefin, an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester and an unsaturated carboxylic acid; and a glycidyl group-containing α-olefin copolymerized resin as a base resin of a cover. Japanese patent publication No. H08-182777 discloses a heated mixture of three kinds consisting of an ionomer resin, an anhydrous maleic acid modified olefin copolymer and a glycidyl group modified styrene base block copolymer with JIS-A hardness of 30 to 90 as a base resin of a cover. PCT International Application Japanese Translation No. H11-500776 discloses a process for producing a golf ball cover composition, which process comprises: a) forming a polymer comprising a first monomeric component comprising an olefinic monomer having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; a second monomeric component comprising an unsaturated carboxylic acid based acrylate class ester having from 4 to 22 carbon atoms; and an optional third monomeric component comprising at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, an anhydride monomer, an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and a vinyl ester or vinyl ether of an alkyl acid having from 4 to 21 carbon atoms; and saponifying the polymer with an inorganic metal base to obtain a polymer salt having a saponification degree of about 1 to 50%.
In recent years, a use of a biodegradable resin as a polymer material has been under study from a viewpoint of environmental conservation. For example, each of Japanese patent publication No. 2006-247224 and US Patent publication No. 2004/0209701 discloses a golf ball using a biodegradable resin.


When a battery is insufficiently charged to allow ohmic testing of its condition, a charging source is connected to the battery, and a charge-acceptance test is performed to determine whether the battery is simply discharged but otherwise usable or beyond its useful service life.

Batteries are relied upon in many applications to provide electrical power for critical tasks. One typical use is of lead-acid batteries for starting the engine and providing auxiliary power in an automobile. The invention will be discussed in this context, though it is not limited to lead-acid batteries, nor to automotive applications.
The ability of any given battery to provide sufficient electrical power to accomplish specific tasks is not stable. A battery's ability to provide power will increase with increasing temperature and state of charge and will conversely decrease with decreasing temperature and state of charge. Over time and numerous charge/discharge cycles, a battery will lose its ability to store and deliver electrical energy.
To determine whether a battery is able to produce the required electrical energy for a task, a wide variety of tests have been developed. Some test methods require long periods of time and include "invasive" techniques, involving drawing significant power from the battery, which can cause some damage to the battery. Other methods are less invasive and more rapid, but have accuracy that is limited in some battery states.
A commonly used battery test method in automotive battery applications is ohmic testing. Exemplary ohmic battery testing methods are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,704,629 and 7,212,006 to Huang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,962 to Alber, U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,911 to Champlin, U.S. Pat. No. 9,857,430 to the present inventor and another, and many others.
Ohmic testing involves measuring the internal resistance of the battery and comparing the measured value to an expected value for the battery. As a battery ages, the internal resistance increases, and this increase is correlated with a decrease in charge and discharge performance. Based on this consistent observation, measured internal resistance can be used to estimate battery health with acceptable accuracy. Ohmic test equipment is relatively inexpensive and portable, and the test is rapid and does not disturb the battery. Unfortunately, ohmic testing has some limitations, primarily driven by the fact that the internal resistance of a battery also increases as the battery is discharged, and its resistance decreases as the battery becomes more fully charged. Such reversable changes to internal resistance can be confused with irreversible changes in internal resistance due to aging. Accordingly, it becomes problematic to determine if a particular level of internal resistance is the result of aging (likely irreversible) or discharge (reversable). As a result, it is very challenging to use ohmic testing to accurately diagnose the state of health of discharged batteries, that is, to differentiate between a battery which is merely discharged and one which is so permanently mechanically or electrochemically impaired that it cannot be expected to serve its purpose.
While many techniques are used to improve diagnostic accuracy of ohmic testing of discharged batteries, none have been particularly effective. As a result, for deeply discharged batteries, ohmic testing is not useful, and the only remedy is to charge the battery before attempting an ohmic test. Charging a battery requires equipment and time, and unfortunately this is not practical in many situations such as in a roadside service situation, where a motorist is stranded and does not have the patience or equipment to charge the battery before being able to diagnose it. This unsatisfactory situation typically results in one of three possible outcomes. One is that a diagnostic tester will basically guess at the health of the discharged battery and provide an inaccurate "Replace" or "Continue to use" recommendation. Another outcome is that the motorist considers a "Charge and Retest" recommendation and decides to take the risk of leaving the discharged battery in the vehicle and, after jumpstarting, continues in the hope that the battery will recover while in the vehicle to a state of reliable use. A third outcome is that the motorist considers the "Charge and Retest" recommendation and concludes that the risk of a recurrence is too high and elects to replace the battery immediately, potentially replacing a perfectly good battery simply because its condition cannot be accurately known with the available information.
Therefore, there exists a need for a battery testing method that can distinguish between a battery that is merely discharged and one which is beyond its useful lifetime, and equipment for performing such testing, and to provide such is the object of the invention.


High concentration polysilicon is grown on the silicon carbide so as to effect the connection through the polysilicon, thereby to obtain a better wiring construction in the connection between silicon carbide conductor basic plate and wiring.

The present invention generally relates to a semiconductor apparatus using silicon carbide, and more particularly, to the wiring construction thereof.
At present, research and development is being carried out on a semiconductor apparatus using silicon carbide as element for environment-proof use (for example, MOSFET, Bip - Tr), a hetero-junction bi-polar transistor (HBT) of high speed, high gain, and the operation thereof is actually confirmed. Also, a transistor using silicon carbide only has been developed.
But the contact between the silicon carbide, and metals such as Al, Mo, Ti and so on to be used as wirings cannot be obtained better.


A disposable absorbent cushion for use in pet carriers, crates, cages or other containers. The cushion features a liquid permeable outer layer and a super-absorbent inner layer, to keep the animal dry, even if it urinates. The cushion includes a rigid element which is cushioned and insulating. This rigid element, in the interior region of the cushion, keeps the cushion from bunching up, and provides a comfortable place for the animal to sit. The cushion also has a flexible peripheral region, which allows the cushion to be used in a variety of carriers with similar, but not identical, dimensions, and provides a comfortable nest-like effect.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cushions for use as disposable bedding in pet carriers, crates, cages or other containers in which pets are transported or housed (for example, in hotels, homes, kennels and the like). The purpose of the cushion is to absorb pet urine, and to provide a comfortable, dry, thermal insulating surface for the pet to rest on. The invention was developed principally with cats in mind, but is equally well adapted for use in transporting dogs and other animals, both pets and others, in cages.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.
There are a wide variety of commercially available carriers and cages for use in transporting animals. One example is the Pet Taxi, sold by Petmate of Arlington, Tex. Typically, these carriers are designed to be light, durable, easy to carry and easy to clean. For this reason, they typically have bottoms that are hard, provide little or no insulation, and are generally uncomfortable for an animal to sit on. This is a particular problem when the carriers are used for air transport of the animals, because they may be placed on very cold surfaces for very long periods. Most such carriers also do not make any provision for animal urine, though this is a frequent problem, either because the animal urinates due to the stress of being transported, or because it is confined in the carrier for a very long period.
A common method for dealing with these problems has been to simply place an old towel in the bottom of the cage. This provided for some cushioning and insulation, as well as some absorption of urine, if necessary. One problem with using a towel is that because it is not rigid the towel tends to become bunched at the end or side of the cage rather than remaining evenly spread across its bottom. A related problem is that a towel tends to slide under the animal, preventing the animal from getting or keeping its footing. This has the potential to cause the animal discomfort or injury. If a towel becomes urine soaked, it is uncomfortable and irritating for the animal to sit on, and unless promptly cleaned causes unpleasant odors and a potential sanitary problem. Finally, once the animal is removed from the carrier, this arrangement usually requires both the carrier and the towel to be cleaned—an unpleasant and time consuming chore.
There have been some attempts to improve upon the towel, none of which have been satisfactory. One class of products consists of a block of open cell foam or sponge, typically approximately 1.27 cm to 5.08 cm (0.5 inches to 2.0 inches) thick, typically sized to fit into the bottom of a carrier and typically sold with a covering. Typically the top covering is water-permeable. The most important disadvantage of these products is that the open cell foam only absorbs urine so long as the animal is not sitting or standing on it. When pressure is applied, the liquid is expressed out of the sponge. Since in this situation the animal has nowhere to stand or sit except on the cushion, the product simply does not work. Another disadvantage is that the cushion must be sized to fit the carrier within reasonable tolerances—since carriers come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, a wide variety of cushion sizes and shapes would be required to cover the market. Another disadvantage is that between each use the foam or sponge must be cleaned and/or disinfected—which is difficult at best.
A variation on the foam/sponge approach is the PoochPad Ultra-Dry Transport System for Crates and Kennels, described at www.poochpad.com. This product substitutes a multi-layer cloth pad for the open cell sponge—in principle it is a variation on the towel. Like the sponge-based products, it does not keep the animal dry, if it is urinated upon, because it retains little fluid if the animal stands or sits on it (as it must in a carrier). It is also messy to clean.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,772, to Kamreth et al for Pet Carrier Absorbent Pad is yet another attempt to solve this problem. Kamreth's patent involves a layer of "driweave" material, described as "specially designed layers that provide a one way barrier to moisture," placed over a layer of absorbent material, "such as felt, saw dust, or other desiccating material." The biggest problem with the Kamreth invention is that it does not work, at least not with presently available fabric technology, because it depends on using a one way barrier to moisture, and no such barrier is presently available. Kamreth refers to this one-way barrier as "driweave." DRI-WEAVE is a trademark of Procter & Gamble Co, and refers to the "topsheet component of catamenial products, namely sanitary napkins and pantiliners." This material is water permeable in both directions. Another problem with the Kamreth invention is that it consists of a flexible sheet, and is therefore liable to slide or bunch, just like an old fashioned towel. The Kamreth invention attempts to solve this problem by use of adhesive strips, which is messy and unreliable.
A similar problem in a slightly different field is addressed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,677, to Mack for Animal Waste Collection Pad. The Mack invention, which is not meant to be used in a cage or carrier, consists of a permeable layer over an absorbent layer, over an impermeable layer. The liquid part of the animal waste passes through the permeable layer, is absorbed in the absorbent layer, and is prevented from spilling or leaking further by the bottom impermeable layer. After the animal eliminates on the Mack pad, the pad is picked up and thrown away. The Mack invention does not contemplate that the animal will stand or sit on the pad after elimination. Therefore, while the Mack invention is practical in its intended application outside of carriers or cages, it is not suitable for use in carriers or cages.
There is a large body of invention in the field of disposable diapers and sanitary products. One example, now in the public domain, is U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,463 to Holtman for Absorbent Structure Containing Superabsorbent. The basic elements of this technology have been available for a considerable period, and have been applied to pet waste disposal sheets similar in concept to the Mack pad. Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,347 to Ochi for Absorbent Panel for Pet Animals, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,145 to Miyamoto & Ochi for Household Animal Waste Collection Sheet. Although the super-absorbent properties of these pads would make them better suited for use in carriers or cages than the Mack pad, they are not optimized for this application. For example, the Ochi and Miyamoto & Ochi sheets both have a bottom layer which is liquid impermeable. This feature, which protects to some degree the underlying surface, also prevents the sheet from absorbing waste which accidentally gets spilled on the underlying surface. Also, because the Ochi and Miyamoto & Ochi sheets are not meant for the animal to sit on for any extended period, they lack the cushioning and insulation of the present invention.

Disposable absorbent pet transport cushion


An improved LED lamp having a uniquely shaped envelope to distribute the radiated light energy into a uniformly distributed spherical pattern. This novel lamp allows a 360 degree viewing angle in a horizontal plane about its central vertical axis, as well as, a 360 viewing angle about the vertical circle. The present invention utilizes a uniquely designed concave lens to establish a focal point within the envelope to re-radiate the radiant energy in a more efficient manner thereby creating a higher intensity without increasing the input power. Conventional LED's have a directional conical shaped pattern of concentrated light energy that provides suitable use in panel indicator lamp applications.

Heretofore display signs, such as exit signs, used incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps as sources of illumination. While these lamps provide relatively uniform sources of a broad visible spectrum of light, there are several problems that exist when using these lamps in exit sign applications.
Incandescent lamps are relatively inefficient which results in large amounts of entrapped heat energy, shortened life of the bulbs and increased operating costs. The use of incandescent bulbs in exit sign applications requires that suitable ventilation be finished in the design of these signs to remove the entrapped heat. Also, an added undesirable attribute is the frequent maintenance that is required, such as, periodic bulb replacement when lamp failure occurs. Because these lamps are inefficient in operation, there are increased operating costs.
While the use of fluorescent lamps circumvents the problems that are associated with entrapped heat, frequent lamp replacement, and inefficient operation; the size of the fluorescent lamp together with its required ballast, the necessity of higher voltage operation using alternating currents and the higher cost of replacement lamps, offset the advantages for its long term use.
Most recently, semiconductor LED lamps have been used in display and exit sign applications. The use of conventional semiconductor light emitting diodes solves the problems of entrapped heat, lamp longevity, frequent lamp replacement and of higher voltage operation.
However, one problem that exists when using conventional light emitting diodes is that of an non-uniform distribution of emitted light energy. The first attempt in using these diodes as sources of illumination was to provide a diffusion plate to minimize the uneven illumination. While many conventional LED lamps use water clear lenses, still another solution to this problem was to design a conventional LED lamp that included a diffused lens and envelope, such as the Panasonic LN21XP.
Shown in FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional LED lamp having one or more semiconductor chips 150. The transparent envelope 10 has a convex hemispherical shaped lens 12, located at the end of a cylindrically shaped rod 14. A semiconductor chip 150 is mounted to the conductive surface of the first electrode, LED anode 110, which is recessed within the convex reflector 140. A fine wire 130 connects the opposite end of the semiconductor chip 150 to the second electrode 120.
Turning now to FIG. 2, shown is the cone shaped light pattern 16 that is emitted from this LED device. A beam of visible light projects in a cone that ranges in angularity from 12 to 36 degrees dependent upon the intended design usage. This designed lamp finds particular use in instrument panel lamp applications.
Referring now to FIG. 3, illustrated is a sectional view of another conventional LED lamp having one or more semiconductor chips 150. The transparent envelope 20 of the cylindrical shaped rod 14 has a flat top-hat shaped lens 22. The semiconductor chip 150 is mounted to the conductive surface of the first electrode, the LED anode 110, which is recessed within the convex reflector 140. A fine wire 130 connects the opposite end of the semiconductor chip 150 to the second electrode 120.
As shown in FIG. 4, the light that emanates from the semiconductor chips is projected on the flat surface lens 22, thereby giving a uniform surface of illumination that is suitable for use in instrument panel lamp applications.
Examples of the prior art conventional light emitting diode structures will now be discussed in some detail.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,082, granted Feb. 22, 1994, S. Komoto, discloses an LED lamp having a lead portion upon which are mounted a plurality of semiconductor chips placed on the tip portion of the lead, all surrounded by a translucent envelope. The envelope is characterized as being formed from a solid body containing parts of a plurality of ellipsoids whose axes extend through the semiconductor chips.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,192, granted Jan. 21, 1992, to J. Rzeznik, et al, discloses light concentrating cluster mount for super bright high intensity light emitting diodes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,803, granted Jul. 18, 1989, to T. Yamamoto, et al, discloses a molded resin semiconductor device having a plurality of semiconductor chips surrounded by a low thermal expansion, high thermal conductivity thermosetting resin. This in turn is encapsulated in a flexible resin having high expansion and low conductivity coefficients. A final thermosetting resin coating completes the assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,516, granted Aug. 9, 1977, to R. W. Murray, discloses a high intensity light emitting diode having improved radiation intensity and distribution characteristics.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,963, granted Jun. 28, 1977, to G. P. Thome, teaches a method and structure for encapsulating a light emitting device. A package is provided to prevent failure due to chemical contaminants.
Many of the above referenced prior art disclose methods and apparatus for concentrating the radiant light energy into a narrow conical beam to optimize the viewing angle so that the light emitting diode is suitable for use in panel lamp applications. Also, some of the above referenced prior art disclose the use of reflective surfaces mounted beneath the array of semiconductor devices to further concentrate the beam emanating from these diodes.
Therefore, there is a particular need for a light emitting diode lamp that provides a source of radiant energy that is uniformly distributed spherically, encompassing all directions so that it can be viewed in any direction, from any circumferential angle, at any angle of elevation.
In this regard, this invention fulfills this need.

Light emitting diode lamp having a spherical radiating pattern


In combination, a self-supporting module of fibrous material and a cover. The cover includes a cap with a top member covering the top of the module, a first side wall member attached to the top member and depending downwardly from the top member and covering at least a part of the upper portion of the first side wall of the module, a second side wall member attached to the top member and depending downwardly from the top member and covering at least a part of the upper portion of the second side wall of the module, a first end wall member attached to the top member and depending downwardly from the top member and covering at least a part of the upper portion of the first end wall of the module, and a second end wall member attached to the top member and depending downwardly from the top member and covering at least a part of the upper portion of the second end wall of the module, leaving the bottom and at least a part of the lower portion of each side wall and end wall of the module uncovered; first strap structure secured to the cap at a point slightly below the top member of the cap and extending completely around the module lengthwise and parallel to the top of the module; and a second strap structure secured to the cap at a point below the bottom edge of the first strap structure and extending completely around the module lengthwise and parallel to the top of the module.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to covers for covering the top of compressed, self-supporting collections of fibrous material such as cotton modules.
2. Information Disclosure Statement
Cotton is machined harvested using stripper harvesters having rollers or mechanical fingers that remove the entire cotton bole from the plant, or using spindle pickers that pull seed cotton from open cotton bolls, using revolving barbed spindles that entwine the cotton fiber and release it once separated from the boll. After being harvested, seed cotton is removed from the harvester and either stored or loaded into trailers for transport to a cotton gin for further processing.
Cotton module builders as disclosed in Wilkes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,749,003, issued Jul. 31, 1973, and Orlando et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,047, issued Mar. 2, 1976, allow seed cotton to be formed into large, self-supporting seed cotton modules for storage directly in the cotton fields. Such cotton module builders typically include a rectangular body with a module forming chamber that is open at the top and bottom and provided with a movable rear gate, and retractable wheels so that it can be pulled onto a cotton field to allow harvested seed cotton to be dumped directly from a harvester into the open body of the module builder. The module builder includes a carriage mounted on top of the body for movement between the opposite ends of the body. The carriage has vertically reciprocable tamper so that the seed cotton dumped into the body can be continuously compressed into a firm, self-supporting module within the confines of the open body. Thus, the seed cotton is compressed in the forming chamber and will maintain the configuration and shape of the forming chamber after the compression is released and the cotton module builder moved away. While the shape and size of such cotton modules may vary, they typically have a substantially rectangular base about 32 feet (9.7 meters) long and 7 feet (2.1 meters) wide, with a height of about 7.5 feet (2.25 meters) and normally weigh more than 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms). The sides and ends of most cotton modules slope slightly inwardly to give cotton modules a slight trapezoid shape. When the cotton module is completed, the rear gate of the cotton builder is opened and the wheels of the cotton builder are lowered to allow the cotton builder to be pulled forwardly to a new location, leaving a tightly compacted, self-supporting seed cotton module on the field for temporary field storage. Being self-supporting, such seed cotton modules do not require any outside aid in the form of belts, straps, etc., to maintain proper shape and form.
Because a self-supporting cotton module may be left in the field for many weeks before it is picked up and transported to a cotton gin, it is usually desirable to cover the cotton module with waterproof or water-resistant fabric or the like to at least partially protect the cotton module from the wind and rain, etc. Flat, waterproof tarpaulins have been used in the past to cover and protect cotton modules. Such tarpaulins are typically secured to the cotton modules with spikes, ropes, weights, or the like. Kandarian, U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,385, issued Sep. 3, 1985, discloses a protective cover for a cotton module comprising a water repellent cap portion adapted to fit about the top of the module, an air permeable skirt portion connected to and depending from the cap portion and adapted to encircle the midportion of the module; and a single belt fastened about the perimeter of the skirt portion for securing the cover about the module without intrusion into the module surface, the belt having D-rings on one end and a tongue on the other end to allow the belt to be cinched about the module. Goldberg, U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,363, issued Sep. 26, 1989, discloses a combination cotton module cover and catenary hold down comprising a horizontal waterproof top sheet for covering the top of the cotton module; flexible side wall sheets secured to the top sheet to partially overlay the side walls of the module, the side wall sheets having a generally horizontal bottom edge; at least three loops secured to the bottom edge of each side wall and extending downwardly from the bottom edge of each side wall with at least one loop located near the center of each side wall being shorter than the other loops; and a cord passing through the loops and about the cotton module to secure the cover to the module, the cord coacting with the loops to form a catenary curve along the side walls of the cotton module.
From the fields, seed cotton is eventually moved to cotton gins for separation of lint and seed. At the cotton gin, the seed cotton first goes through cleaning equipment to remove trash and other foreign matter, and is then conveyed to gin stands where revolving circular saws pull the lint through closely spaced ribs that prevent the seed from passing through. The cotton lint is removed from the saw teeth by air blasts or rotating brushes, and then compressed between the platens of a cotton press into a cotton bale weighing approximately 500 pounds (227 kilograms). Since such cotton bales are not self-supporting, a plurality of cotton bale ties in the form of metal bands are tightly wrapped around the compressed cotton bales while the cotton bales remain compressed between the platens of the cotton press. The platens typically have grooves in the faces thereof for receiving the cotton bale ties before the cotton lint is placed therebetween. See Wright, U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,138, issued Jan. 31, 1978. After the cotton bale ties are secured, the platens are opened and the tied cotton bales removed for transport to a textile mill or the like. Covers may be applied to the cotton bales to keep the cotton bales clean. The covers may consist of bag-like structure for placing over tied cotton bales, or may consist merely of sheets of cloth or the like placed over the face of the platens before the cotton lint is placed therebetween so that the sheets will be positioned between the cotton bale ties and opposite faces of the cotton bale, etc.
Nothing in the above prior art discloses or suggests the present invention. For example, nothing in the above prior art discloses or suggests the combination of a compressed self-supporting module of fibrous material and a cover comprising a cap with a top member covering the top of the module, a first side wall member attached to the top member and depending downwardly from the top member and covering at least a part of the upper portion of the first side wall of the module, a second side wall member attached to the top member and depending downwardly from the top member and covering at least a part of the upper portion of the second side wall of the module, a first end wall member attached to the top member and depending downwardly from the top member and covering at least a part of the upper portion of the first end wall of the module, and a second end wall member attached to the top member and depending downwardly from the top member and covering at least a part of the upper portion of the second end wall of the module; first strap means secured to the cap at a point slightly below the top member of the cap and extending completely around the module lengthwise and parallel to the top of the module; and a second strap means secured to the cap at a point below the first strap means and extending completely around the module lengthwise and parallel to the top of the module.


The present disclosure relates to methods for modulating the level of proteins in a subject or in target cells by priming red blood cells with various agents or conditions that modulate the levels of proteins associated with red blood cells and administering the primed red blood cells to a subject. The disclosed methods represent a novel use of red blood cells primed to express a number of proteins, as cell therapies for numerous diseases or disorders.

Cell therapies have emerged as a promising form of treatment for numerous diseases and conditions including cancer, infectious diseases, transplantation, autoimmune disorders, infectious disease, inflammation, and immune deficiency. Such therapies are also used as an adjunct to standard treatments.
In many cases, cell therapies seek to modulate elements of the patient's own immune system to alleviate the disease or condition in question. The immune system consists of a network of tissues, organs, and cells such as T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, NK cells, monocytes/macrophages, cytokines and the like. Cell therapies may alter the activity of signaling molecules known as cytokines that mediate/regulate numerous processes including immunity, inflammation and haematopoiesis.
RBCs are an abundant cellular component of blood accounting for 40%-50% of its volume. Despite this, they are given scant consideration in the design of therapeutic approaches with the exception of those intended to treat diseases and conditions directly involving RBCs. RBCs are traditionally thought to have little if any involvement in the generation of immune responses, or in cell development, growth, and repair. They have thus been overlooked as a potential means of manipulating these processes. For example, the use of RBCs to regulate the cytokine milieu has not been considered or demonstrated.
Although there have been some encouraging outcomes arising from some cell therapies to date, improvements are needed to increase the effectiveness of existing and future treatments. These improved treatments may rely, at least in part, on utilising RBCs given that they are an abundant cell type in the blood.


A phototherapy treatment apparatus and methods are provided. In particular, the present disclosure provides a phototherapy treatment apparatus configured to diffusely transmit light emitted from a light source to a patient.

The present disclosure relates generally to phototherapy and, more specifically, to apparatuses and methods for effectively administering phototherapy.
One instance where phototherapy is utilized is the treatment of jaundice. It is fairly common for neonates to be born clinically jaundiced. Jaundice, or hyperbilirubinemia, results from increased production and transiently impaired elimination of the pigment bilirubin. Neonates affected by jaundice can show persistent high levels of unconjugated bilirubin. High levels of unconjugated bilirubin can lead to kernicterus, a condition involving deposition of bilirubin in the brain, which leads to deficits in cognition, neuromuscular tone and control, and hearing, and even death. The most common therapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia or jaundice is phototherapy. The efficacy of phototherapy can depend on irradiance (light intensity), spectral range (light wavelength), exposed skin surface area (Body Surface Area (BSA)), and duration of exposure. Other instances where phototherapy may be used are psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, eczema, and acne vulgaris, to name a few.


Methods and arrangements in a WSAN Gateway (15), a WSAN Manager (16) and a WSAN sensor for attaching an additional sensor (39) to a WSAN (12) comprising at least one existing WSAN sensor (33). The additional sensor emits an indication of its private identity after insertion in the WSAN, and the indication is received by the existing sensors in the WSAN and forwarded to the WSAN Gateway, after an eligibility check. Thereafter, the WSAN Gateway sends an authentication request to the WSAN Manager, which computes an authentication vector and transmits to the WSAN Gateway for the authentication of the new sensor.

A Wireless/Wired Sensor and Actuator Network (WSAN), is a wireless/wired network of sensors and actuators, such as e.g. smoke detectors, water leak detectors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, pressure sensors, vibration sensors, light sensors and light switches, to be deployed e.g. in a household or a car. The services of the WSAN are available remotely via a WSAN Gateway connected to a WAN (Wide Area Network), using a standardized communication protocol, e.g. the Ethernet or HTTP/SOAP, and another communication protocol, e.g. ZigBee, is used internally within the WSAN.
FIG. 1 illustrates a typical WSAN system, in which a number of WSAN sensors or actuators are connected via wire or radio in a single star or mesh topology to one or more WSAN Gateways which are connected to a WAN (Wide Area Network). The figure shows two WSANs, 12a , 12b , each WSAN connected to a WAN 14 via a WSAN Gateway, 15a , 15b , and comprising five sensors or actuators. The WSANs are available to the WAN users 11a, 11b via the WSAN Gateways, and the WSANs are operated via a WSAN Manager 16 by a WSAN operator 13.
Since a typical sensor is a simple embedded device that cannot be connected directly to a user or to an application in the WAN for security reasons, a WSAN Gateway acts as a mediator between the sensor nodes and the users/applications outside the domain of a WSAN. The WSAN Gateway is also capable of offering more sophisticated services than a single sensor node can offer. In a WSAN deployed in a house with several rooms, each room provided with a separate temperature sensor of the WSAN, the WSAN Gateway may provide e.g. the average temperature of the house to an external application, as well as the reading of the separate temperature sensors in the rooms. In order to provide this service, the WSAN Gateway requires suitable protocols and interfaces for requesting individual temperature readings from each sensor, and for presenting raw or aggregated data, such as the average temperature, in a format that is readable by the requesting application.
Thus, a WSAN Gateway requires a standardized data representation, as well as standardized interfaces with the various applications in a WAN. Additionally, the specific needs of business enablers have to be fulfilled in order to make commercial WSANs successful. The conventional Semantic Web Technology provides a standardized data representation, as well as a part of a standardized interface, and a WSAN Gateway using the Semantic Web Technology accesses individual sensors by using a standardized interface and maintains sensor data tagged with semantic metadata describing the meaning of the sensor data. Further, the WSAN Gateway uses a semantic web representation as an interface to the WSAN users and the WAN applications. The combination of the real sensor data and the semantic metadata forms a sensor data Ontology and sensor data Instantiation.
FIG. 2 illustrates an Ontology 21, according to the conventional Semantic Web Technology, the illustrated Ontology 21 representing a sensor node having a temperature sensor providing temperature readings in the Celsius scale, as well as an Instantiation 22 of the Ontology 21. Said Instantiation 22 comprises an identification of the real sensor, TempSensor1345, and well as a sensor measurement, 27.5 , produced by the sensor, and the sensor identification and the sensor measurement are both linked to the Ontology 21, as illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 2. Thus, the Instantiation 22 indicates the identity of a specific temperature sensor, as well as the output from the temperature sensor, while the Ontology 21 describes how the constants of the Instantiation 22 are connected.
The WSAN Gateway has to be able to interact with each individual sensor attached to the WSAN, and a new sensor, not previously connected to the WSAN Gateway, has to be authenticated after insertion in the WSAN. The WSAN Gateway has to obtain the private identity, ID_S, of a new sensor, the service description, suitable drivers and gateway software, as well as the data representation of a new sensor to be able to interact with the sensor. The Ontology 21 and the Instantiation 22 illustrated in FIG. 2 show a data representation of an actual temperature sensor, but the actual mechanism of obtaining the identity of the sensor (TempSensor1345) and the sensor value (27.5) is not defined by the Ontology.
Currently, no automatic and secure method is available for attaching a new sensor to a WSAN and enabling updating of a WSAN Gateway with the service description, the software and the drivers for the new sensor, since a conventional commercial sensor has no software, or is a part of a closed WSAN system, to which no sensors should be added. Instead, sensor software and hardcoded descriptions of the data and the services offered by the sensor have to be developed specifically for the WSAN Gateway when a new sensor is added to a WSAN.


There is provided a display control apparatus including a predicted-image generation unit configured to generate a predicted image of an imaging result based on a shutter speed, and a display control unit configured to update display of the predicted image in an update cycle corresponding to the shutter speed.

The present disclosure relates to a display control apparatus and a display control method.
Imaging apparatuses have been used widely in recent years which are represented by digital cameras including imaging devices such as CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensors and CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensors. Many of such imaging apparatuses are provided with a function of displaying an image called a preview image (also referred to as a through image or an EE image) to cause a user to check an image every time the image is captured.
The preview image is an image photoelectrically converted by imaging devices built in the imaging apparatus, being currently captured by the imaging apparatus. The preview image is, for example, outputted to a display panel built in the body of the imaging apparatus, or outputted to an external display apparatus connected to the imaging apparatus. By viewing the preview image, the user can check any time the composition of the image being captured by the image apparatus, an amount of camera shake, and the like.
However, even though the image is captured after the user checks the image captured in the preview image, an actual imaging result sometimes differs from the preview image depending on an imaging condition such as a shutter speed. To address such a case, for example, JP 2008-42382A discloses a technology by which a plurality of continuously acquired preview images are combined together to generate a predicted image and the predicted image is displayed in such a manner as to be superimposed on the preview image.

Display control apparatus and display control method


A cylinder head for a water-cooled, multi-cylinder piston internal combustion engine comprises a lower wall and an upper wall enclosing a cavity. A well extends into the cavity for receiving a fuel injector and/or an ignition device. An intake port and/or an exhaust port extends through the cavity. A cooling-water carrying region comprises areas of the cavity surrounding the well, intake port, and exhaust port. Portions of the cooling-water carrying region are provided with an intermediate web for reinforcing the cylinder head.

Due to the desire to further increase the performance of piston internal combustion engines, whether operating on the Otto cycle or the diesel cycle, there is a desire to save weight, which leads to the use of materials such as aluminum, as well as a desire to improve performance, which leads to an increase in pressures within the cylinder. However, the increase in pressures within the cylinder causes considerable mechanical stress for the cylinder head. In particular, there is an alternating bending load on the cylinder head, which results in the risk of cracks developing in the cylinder head.
German patent document DE-C-42 22 801 discloses a cylinder head for a piston internal combustion engine, where the cooling-water carrying regions of the cylinder head, enclosed by a lower wall and an upper wall, are divided continuously by an intermediate wall into a lower cooling-water carrying region delimited by the lower wall, and an upper cooling-water carrying region delimited by the upper wall. The lower and the upper cooling-water carrying regions in this case do not contain any transverse connections for a cooling-water exchange between the lower and the upper regions, such that completely separate cooling-water flows are guided across the cylinder head. The continuous intermediate wall of this design reinforces the cylinder head with respect to the aforementioned bending loads caused by the increased pressures inside the cylinder. However, producing a cylinder head of this type can pose problems with respect to casting technology. In addition, the completely separate guidance of cooling-water inside the cylinder head can result in disadvantageous heat stresses within the cylinder head, because of the temperature differences that can result from a lack of transverse cooling-water exchange between the hotter lower cooling-water carrying region and the relatively cooler upper cooling-water carrying region.

Cylinder head for a water-cooled internal combustion piston engine having inner reinforcement


Electronics are fitted in vehicles, such as boats, ships, trains, buses, lorries, normal cars etc. The electronic items are exposed to jolts and other non-uniform actions. Particularly with regard to jolts, electronic items or apparatuses in which there are also mechanical components are particularly exposed. This is particularly the case with CD players, CD-ROM players, hard disks and similar apparatuses, which besides very sensitive electronics also have very sensitive mechanics. To operate these installations optimally, dampening vibration transmission from the vehicle/ship/train/bus/car to the electro-mechanical component is achieved with a vibration damper having two springs arranged in two mutually perpendicular planes. One plane is parallel with the base. A first spring is fastened to the base. A second spring is fastened to the vibration sensitive item. The two springs are mutually connected.

The present invention concerns a vibration damper for supporting vibration sensitive items, particularly electromechanical items as e.g. hard disks, floppy disk drives, CD-ROM drives and the like in relation to a base, including springs in the form of fixed bent wire pieces, each built up of a number of twisted strands, where each bent wire piece is approximately in one plane.
It is known to dampen vibrations, e.g. by rotating machines there is often inserted a damper between the machine itself and the floor surface or the base on which the machine is mounted in order to prevent that vibrations are propagated to the surroundings. There are many examples of this type of vibration dampening which dampen the vibrations satisfactorily. Dampening of vibrations arising as a result of the operation of a machine, e.g. by rotating rollers, reciprocating pistons or the like, the vibrations being in a frequency range where the dampening compared with the very large mass of the machine in itself is relatively simple, as numerous different materials and embodiments may be used. For this kind of vibration dampening is used specially reinforced rubber pads, strong springs and the like.
In the case of vibrations, including particularly transmission of vibrations from one item to another, where one item is very light at the same time as the vibrations are its a frequency range from 0–200 Hz, particularly from 0–100 Hz, there are a number of problems which have not been solved in a satisfactory way. In that the item to be isolated from vibrations is very light, traditional springs and rubber systems cannot be used, as these, due to the dead weight of the vibration sensitive item, either causes the spring to appear too stiff or result in too great an amplitude in the dampening process. Furthermore, rubber and plastic systems have the drawbacks that the spring characteristic changes as a function of the temperature, i.e. when it is very cold, the rubber becomes very hard, whereby the damper provides very little dampening at low frequencies. At the same time, rubber may decompose as a result of sunshine, oil, grease etc. whereby the service life for a rubber damper is limited. Traditional helical springs are often too rigid and have limited lifetime, as the material will suffer fatigue failure after using it a short time. A typical car spring should be chanced after about 200,000 km as there is increased probability of material failure above this limit.
From document EP 764 794 is known a vibration damper which is constructed with a base plate connected via four wire pieces to a top plate. By mounting the base plate on a base or a frame and the top plate to the element to be isolated from vibrations, according to the invention it should be possible to isolate the transmission of vibrations from the construction to the vibration sensitive item in three planes arranged perpendicularly to each other.
A corresponding system is indicated in patent publication NL 9101012, where curved wire pieces are connected from a base plate to a top plate. The intention is that the base plate is to be mounted on a frame or a construction, and that the top plate is to be connected to the vibration sensitive item, whereby the curved wire pieces are to isolate the vibration sensitive item from vibrations created in the frame or the base.
Common to these systems is that the curved wire pieces are mounted in one plane perpendicularly to the vibrator, i.e. the base.
In the following, the dampening elements will be described with reference to an X-Y-Z co-ordinate system, where the XY, XZ and YZ planes form three mutually perpendicular planes.
If a damper as illustrated in EP 764 794 is placed in a three-dimensional co-ordinate system so that the base plate is disposed in the XZ plane and the springs are placed in a plane perpendicularly to the XZ plane, e.g. in the YZ plane, the damper will function in that movements in the Y direction are absorbed by bending of the curved wire pieces, movements in the Z plane will be absorbed as rolling, and actions in the X direction will be absorbed by torsion in the curved wire pieces. An arbitrary vibration pattern will therefore be a combination of the above mentioned pattern of movement, whereby the curved wire pieces will interact with their respective spring constants for performing the desired dampening. Physically it is so that the spring constant, which is determining how a spring will react to an action, is different depending on whether the curved wire pieces are actuated by compression, rolling or torsion. Thee damper according to EP 764 794 and other comparable systems will therefore dampen differently, depending on the direction of the resultant of the vibrations that the damper is installed to isolate from. Where the item desired to be isolated from vibration influence is fixed, i.e. not movable, it may be possible to compensate for this difference in degree of dampening, as the resultant of the action has constant direction by different provisions.
The systems known from EP 764 794 and NL 9101012 may generally be denoted vibration dampers with single springs. Laboratory tests show that the so-called single spring systems only have effect at relatively high frequencies, namely around 180 Hz. Up to about 180 Hz, these systems amplifies the vibrations transmitted from the base to the vibration sensitive item. For frequencies above 180 Hz, the damper is activated and starts to reduce the influence of vibrations transmitted to the vibration sensitive item.
Electronic equipment finds still wider application and becomes a more and more integrated part of daily life. To a still greater extent, different kinds of electronics are fitted in vehicles, such as boats, ships, trains, buses, lorries, normal cars, etc., and the electronic items are therefore exposed to jolts and other non-uniform actions. Particularly with regard to jolts, electronic items or apparatuses in which there are also mechanical components are particularly exposed. This is particularly the case with CD players, CD-ROM players, hard disks and similar apparatuses, which besides very sensitive electronics also consist of very sensitive mechanics. In order that these installations may also operate optimally, it is desirable to dampen the vibration transmission from the vehicle/ship/train/bus/car itself and to the electro-mechanical component.
Particularly concerning installation of electronic equipment, as e.g. hard disks, CD-ROM drives, or other sensitive equipment in ships, trains, buses, vehicles, airplanes and other locations, where vibrations below 180 Hz are generated, i.e. at relatively low frequencies, the prior art single spring systems are thus unsuitable as they have a negative effect on the total vibration transmission to vibration sensitive items.
There is therefore a need for providing a vibration damper suited for isolating light vibration sensitive elements from a vibration generating base at relatively low frequencies.

Vibration damper for dampening vibrations at low frequencies


A method, system, and program for telephony based remote location monitoring are provided. A telephone network receives the caller request to listen only to a remote location telephony device. The telephone network allocates a listen only channel between the caller telephony device and the remote location telephony device. The telephone network activates a microphone at the remote location telephony device via the listen only channel. Then, audio detected at the microphone is streamed via the listen only channel to the caller telephony device, such that the telephone network enables a caller to monitor a remote location through the remote location telephony device with minimized allocation of telephone network resources.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to improved telecommunications and in particular to a method for telephony based remote location monitoring. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to allocating a listen only channel from a caller telephony device to a remote location telephony device for the caller to monitor the audible occurrences at that remote location.
2. Description of the Related Art
A telephone carrier receives call requests, allocates systems resources to those call requests, and establishes a connection with a requested location. In a typical call, sufficient resources are allocated to establish bidirectional conversation, also known as full duplex bandwidth allocation. Other allocations of system resources, however, may be implemented that use less system resources and thus are often less expensive. For example, current telephones may include a "push-to-talk" feature that when selected directs the telephone carrier to only allocate system resources enabling the selector to talk and the recipient to listen, also known as half-duplex bandwidth allocation. When a "push-to-talk" feature is implemented, communication seems to operate in real time, however, typically the communication actually operates in near-real time with approximately a 0.25 to 2.0 second time lapse in the communication.
Teleconferencing systems are an example of another system that may allocate system resources for calls received and placed in a private telephone network. Teleconferencing systems may restrict some callers to listen only and allow other callers to listen and talk with full duplex allocation. In these systems, a participant calls into an intermediary teleconferencing system that handles the conference call within a private telephone network. The intermediary may reallocate resources during the conference call. For example, investors may call in to a particular number to listen to a board meeting. Investors may be restricted to listen only unless they are given time to speak by the board, in which case the intermediary system would allocate resources for the investor to talk.
While teleconferencing systems can control half duplex and full duplex resource allocation for a call, these systems are limited in application and require an intermediary system controlling communications between those participating in the conference, rather than a direct connection. Further, the teleconferencing system decides what resources to allocate to a caller, rather than allowing the caller to decide what resources are needed for the call.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to place callers in full control of the type of resource allocation needed for a call. In particular, it would be advantageous to place callers in control of placing a "listen only" call that allows the caller to request resource allocation that will allow the caller to listen in on a remote location via a telephone.

Telephony based remote location monitoring

International Business Machines Corporation


A single piece electrical receptacle terminal is provided with a box-shaped contact section having resilient outwardly biased locking lances. The side walls and locking lances are provided with guide members at the lance free end in order to assist insertion and extraction through a family seal without damage to the seal or the contact.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stamped and formed single piece electrical terminal for use in sealed electrical connectors, in particular electrical connectors with family seals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Single piece stamped and formed electrical receptacle terminals are often provided where compact and cost-effective electrical terminals are required. For example in European Patent 178 102 a single piece stamped and formed electrical receptacle terminal is provided in a substantially box-shape comprising a bottom wall, side walls and a top wall defining a cavity for receiving a complementary terminal therein. The side walls have contact protrusions inwardly stamped for resiliently abutting the mating pin terminal, the side walls further provided with outwardly biased resilient locking lances for engaging a complementary shoulder in a cavity of a connector housing. It is typical with connectors having a high density of terminals (i.e. a small pitch between adjacent terminals) to be provided with a single sealing member at a wire receiving end of the housing. Such sealing member is typically made of an elastomer and comprises a plurality of holes through which the terminals are inserted as they are mounted into their respective cavities of the housing. Sharp edges of the contact may damage the seal during insertion. A particular problem arises when one or more of the terminals need to be extracted during maintenance or repair. In the design according to EP 178 102, the resilient locking lance would be damaged, and may also damage the seal during extraction. In larger two piece terminals, it is known to provide means (protrusions) adjacent the locking lances for protection thereof as shown in DE 41 31 470. For miniature single piece terminals as shown in EP 178 102 this is difficult to implement due to the compact size of the terminal and the lack of sufficient material adjacent the locking lance. The problem is particularly acute where the miniature terminal is provided as a substantially square cross-section profiled box-shape. The side walls along which the lances are provided are reasonably narrow in relation to the locking lance, i.e. the lance extends across a substantial part of the width of the side wall due to the requirement for a certain minimum strength. Cylindrical terminals face a similar problem.

Single piece electrical terminal for sealed connectors


An assembly for heating a fluorescent lamp (such as the lamp used in a flat panel display) includes a circuit card having a plurality of transistors each configured to produce heat disposed thereon. A thermally-conductive layer is disposed proximate to the plurality of transistors, and the fluorescent lamp is disposed proximate the thermally-conductive layer such that the heat from the transistors is transmitted to the fluorescent lamp via the thermally-conductive layer. By controlling the heat applied to the fluorescent lamp, microclimates in the lamp can be reduced or eliminated, thereby improving the performance of the lamp.

A fluorescent lamp is any light source in which a fluorescent material transforms ultraviolet or other lower wavelength energy into visible light. Typically, fluorescent lamps include a glass or plastic tube that is filled with argon or other inert gas, along with mercury vapor or the like. When an electrical current is provided to the contents of the tube, the resulting arc causes the mercury gas within the tube to emit ultraviolet radiation, which in turn excites phosphors coating the inside lamp wall to produce visible light.
Fluorescent lamps have provided lighting in numerous home, business and industrial settings for many years. More recently, fluorescent lamps have been used as backlights in liquid crystal displays such as those used in computer displays, cockpit avionics, flat panel televisions and the like. Such displays typically include any number of pixels arrayed in front of a relatively flat fluorescent light source. By controlling the light passing from the backlight through each pixel, color or monochrome images can be produced in a manner that is relatively efficient in terms of physical space and electrical power consumption.
Despite the widespread adoption of displays and other products that incorporate fluorescent light sources, however, designers continually aspire to improve the amount of light produced by the light source, to make efficient use of electrical power, and/or to otherwise enhance the performance of the light source, as well as the overall performance of the display. In particular, the behavior of many fluorescent lamps can be highly susceptible to variations in temperature and to so-called "microclimates" within the lamp itself. As a result, various techniques for stabilizing the temperature of the lamp and/or for responding to temperature fluctuations have been attempted, with varying degrees of success.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide devices and techniques for effectively and efficiently managing the temperature of fluorescent lamps. Other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Methods and apparatus for thermal management of fluorescent lamps


A method for subcarrier allocation and loading for a multi-carrier, multi-subscriber system is described. At least one cluster in a first and second set of clusters of subcarriers is associated for use in communication with a first and second subscriber, respectively. Then, for each cluster associated for use in communication with the first subscriber and the second subscriber, usage of that cluster is multiplexed between the first subscriber during a first time division and the second subscriber during a second time division.

In a multi-subscriber, single-carrier communication system employing time division multiplexing (TDM), a channel may be shared by multiple subscribers in a time division fashion; that is, the channel may be used by one subscriber at one time and by another subscriber at another time.
The time usage allocation for TDM may be fixed or variable. For fixed usage, each subscriber utilizes the channel at a fixed, pre-scheduled time slot, typically seen in time division multiple access (TDMA) systems.
Therefore, no frequent scheduling/rescheduling is needed. However, fixed channel usage may lead to resource waste, especially in bursty packet data transmission, because the subscriber may have nothing to transmit during its assigned time slot. On the other hand, with variable time usage, a channel may be used by one subscriber for a variable period of time (e.g., depending on its data load) and then used by another subscriber. With careful scheduling, variable time usage achieves statistical multiplexing gain and is typically more efficient. For examples of TDM with variable time usage, see Bender, Black, Grob, Padovani, Sindhushayana, and Viterbi, "CDMA/HDR: A Bandwidth-Efficient High-Speed Wireless Data Service for Nomadic Users," IEEE Communications Magazine, Vol. 38, No. 7, pp. 70-77, July, 2000.
In a multi-carrier communication system, each subscriber may be allocated multiple carriers and can use the multiple carriers simultaneously.
For a specific subscriber, the transmission rate/reliability (performance) of different carriers may be different. Furthermore, for a specific carrier, the transmission rate/reliability for different subscribers may be different. One example of such is orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA). In OFDMA, multiple subscribers simultaneously use different frequency subcarriers in a manner similar to frequency division multiple access (FDMA). For more information, see Sari and Karam, 'Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access and its Application to CATV Networks/' European Transactions on Telecommunications, Vol. 9 (6), pp. 507-516, November/December 1998 and Nogueroles, Bossert, Donder, and Zyablov, 'Improved Performance of a Random OFDMA Mobile Communication System,' Proceedings of IEEE VTC'98, pp. 2502 -2506.
Due to the unique properties of multi-carrier systems described above, the TDM scheduling algorithms designed for single-carrier systems may not directly apply. This is at least partially because, in a multi-carrier system, unlike in a single-carrier system, the operation of each carrier is to some extent dependent on each other carrier; each carrier impacts each of the others. In a single-carrier system, unlike in a multi-carrier system, there are no complications regarding orderings of packets among carriers. In a multi-carrier system, varying delays associated with multiple carriers introduce complexities unfathomed in a single-carrier system. In a single-carrier system, unlike a multi-carrier system, there needs not be any consideration given toward allocating data packets among more than one carrier. The algorithms needed to potentially optimize overall throughput in a multi-carrier system are inherently different from algorithms used in a single-carrier system.

Multi-carrier communication with time division multiplexing and carrier-selective loading


A test section for a wind-tunnel testing apparatus has a mounting section that mounts an automobile along the internal floor surface of a wind tunnel. Tests are conducted by applying an airflow blown in the wind tunnel to the automobile mounted on the mounting section. The test section includes a slit that is disposed on the floor surface located on the upstream side of the mounting section with respect to the airflow direction so as to extend in the intersecting direction intersecting the airflow direction and that sucks in a portion of the airflow near the floor surface, and lateral suction portions, disposed at both sides of the mounting section, that suck in the incoming airflows R flowing in from the sides of the mounting section.

I. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a testing section for a wind-tunnel testing apparatus and to a wind-tunnel testing apparatus employing the same.
II. Description of the Related Art
A wind-tunnel testing apparatus is generally used when evaluating aerodynamic forces on automobiles or airplanes. In particular, when evaluating aerodynamic forces including effects of the ground surface, as in vehicles such as automobiles, etc., a wind tunnel test is carried out by mounting a vehicle on a moving belt that serves as the ground surface for simulated traveling and by driving the moving belt in accordance with the airflow velocity, that is, the traveling velocity of the vehicle (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. Hei 6-341920, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2006-170639 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. Hei 5-248986).

Test section for wind-tunnel testing apparatus and wind tunnel test apparatus employing the same


The present disclosure provides a pixel structure, a display panel and a fabrication method thereof, and a display device. The pixel structure includes a substrate and an inorganic photoluminescent layer formed on the substrate. The pixel structure incudes an excitation layer disposed on a side of the inorganic photoluminescent layer away from the substrate and configured to excite the inorganic photoluminescent layer to emit light. The pixel structure includes an organic light-emitting layer in the same layer as the excitation layer. A space is disposed between the organic light-emitting layer and the excitation layer. An orthographic projection of the excitation layer on the substrate overlaps at least partially an orthographic projection of the inorganic photoluminescent layer on the substrate.

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display device is a research hotspot in the field of electroluminescence display due to its improvements of self-illumination and low energy consumption. At present, the most common OLED sub-pixel independent light-emitting OLED display device generally uses an organic material as a material of the light-emitting layer. The organic material has a broad emission spectrum, so the emitted light has a low color purity. In addition, the optical properties of the organic material electrode are extremely susceptible to moisture and oxygen, so it has a poor stability, and the service life of the OLED display device is easily shortened.

Pixel structure, display panel and fabricating method thereof, and display device

CHONGQING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


An apparatus for separating froth from liquid includes a feed conduit to carry partially aerated feed liquid, and a separator to receive and separate the feed liquid into a first component of froth or gas and a second component of de-aerated liquid or sludge.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for de-aerating liquids, or separating entrained air or froth from liquids or pulps.
The invention has been developed primarily for use with thickeners, clarifiers, or concentrators and will be described hereinafter with reference to these applications. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited thereto.
Thickeners, clarifiers and concentrations are typically used for separating solids from liquids and are often found in the mining, mineral processing, food processing, sugar refining, water treatment, sewage treated, and other such industries.
These devices typically comprise a tank in which solids are deposited from suspension or solution and settle toward the bottom as pulp or sludge to be drawn off from below and recovered. A dilute liquor of lower relative density is thereby displaced toward the top of the tank, for removal via an overflow launder. The liquid to be thickened is initially fed through a feedline into a feedwell disposed within the main tank. The purpose of the feedwell is to ensure relatively uniform distribution and to prevent turbulence from the incoming feed liquid from disturbing the settling process taking place within the surrounding tank.
In cases where the feed liquid comprises flotation concentrate, it is normally at least partially aerated. The air bubbles, if allowed to pass from the feedwell into the main tank, tend to produce a considerable amount of relatively stable froth on the surface of both the feedwell and the thickener. This froth can contain a significant proportion of entrained solids and thereby tends to reduce the separation efficiency of the thickener. In addition, air bubbles can become trapped in the sludge, resulting in slower settling rates and lower underflow densities, both of which reduce separation efficiency further still.


In an arrangement in which a CPU transmits data such as audio data through a 32-bit data bus, a format conversion device and a format conversion program are a are newly prepared. Further, input data having a first bit-width (32 bit width) is converted to output data having a second bit-width (24 bit width) in accordance with a predetermined system so that the efficiency of use of the bus at the time of transmitting data is improved; thus, it becomes possible to reduce a data memory area required for multi-media processes.

The present invention relates to a data transmission method and a data transmission apparatus which carry out data processing through a data bus.
In the case when a CPU carries out a data transmission process through a 32-bit bus, for example, upon carrying out audio data send/receive processes, when the audio data has a 16-bit width, reading and writing operations are carried out on higher-order and lower-order half words in a 32-bit register for every two data. When the data has a bit width of 18, 20, 24 or the like, reading and writing operations are carried out on a higher-order or lower-order bit in a 32-bit register for each data.
However, in the case of data having the bit width of 18, 20, 24 or the like, data in the higher-order or lower-order remaining bits (14, 12, 8 bit) is nullified. For this reason, the efficiency of use of a data bus interface used by the CPU is deteriorated. Moreover, since the CPU carries out encode/decode processes or the like on audio data, the efficiency of use of a memory for storing audio data is also deteriorated.
In the future, the CPU comes to carry out multi-media processes, such as audio, image and data processings, in portable terminals, digital cameras and the like. In these cases, one bus is shared by a number of interfaces so that it becomes essential to improve the efficiency of use of the bus.

Data transmit method and data transmit apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A laser crystallization apparatus has a light source, a phase shifter which modulates a laser light from the light source, an illumination system which is provided between the light source and the phase shifter, homogenizes a light intensity of the laser light from the light source and illuminates the phase shifter with the homogenized light, a stage which supports a non-single-crystal semiconductor, an image formation optical system having a plurality of optical members which is provided between the semiconductor on the stage and the phase shifter and forms an image of the modulated laser beam at a desired part on the semiconductor, and a temperature adjustment portion which adjusts a temperature of the optical member by heating or cooling the optical members of the image formation optical system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laser crystallization apparatus which generates a crystallized semiconductor film by irradiating a polycrystal semiconductor film or an amorphous semiconductor film with a laser light having a predetermined light intensity distribution.
2. Description of the Related Art
A thin film transistor (TFT) used for a switching element or the like which selects a display pixel in a liquid crystal display (LCD) is formed by using amorphous silicon or polysilicon.
Polysilicon has a higher mobility of electrons or electron holes than that of amorphous silicon. Therefore, when a transistor is formed by using polysilicon, a switching speed and hence a display response speed become higher than those in the case of forming the same by using amorphous silicon. Further, a peripheral LSI can comprise a thin film transistor formed on glass. Furthermore, there is an advantage of reducing a design margin of any other component. Moreover, when peripheral circuits such as a driver circuit or a DAC are incorporated in a display, these peripheral circuits can be operated at a higher speed.
Since polysilicon comprises an aggregation of crystal grains, when, e.g., a TFT transistor is formed, a crystal grain boundary is formed in a channel region, this crystal grain boundary serves as a barrier, and a mobility of electrons or electron holes is reduced as compared with that of single-crystal silicon. Additionally, each of many thin film transistors formed by using polysilicon has a different number of crystal grain boundaries formed in a channel region, and this difference becomes an irregularity, resulting in a problem of ununiformity in display in the case of LCD. Thus, there has been recently proposed a larger induced crystallization method which generates crystallized silicon having a larger grain size than with the channel region variety in number of crystal grain boundaries in the channel region.
As this type of crystallization method, there is known a "phase control ELA (Excimer Laser Annealing) method" which generates a crystallized semiconductor film by irradiating a phase shifter approximated in parallel with a polycrystal semiconductor film or a non-single-crystal semiconductor film with an excimer laser light. The details of the phase control ELA method is disclosed in, e.g., Journal of The Surface Science Society of Japan, Vol. 21, No. 5, pp. 278-287, 2000.
In the phase control ELA method, a light intensity distribution having an inverse peak pattern (a pattern in which a light intensity is minimum at the center and the light intensity is suddenly increased toward the periphery) in which a light intensity at a point corresponding to a phase shift portion of a phase shifter is lower than that in the periphery is generated, and a non-single-crystal semiconductor film (a polycrystal semiconductor film or an amorphous semiconductor film) is irradiated with a light having this light intensity distribution with an inverse peak shape. As a result, a temperature gradient is generated in a fusion area in accordance with a light intensity distribution in an irradiation target area, a crystal nucleus is formed at a part which is solidified first or a part which is not fused in accordance with a point where the light intensity is minimum, and a crystal grows from the crystal nucleus in a lateral direction toward the periphery, thereby generating a single-crystal grain with a large particle size.
Further, in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-306859, an image formation optical system is arranged between a phase shifter having a line-and-space pattern with a phase difference of 180 degrees and a processed substrate. Furthermore, the processed substrate is irradiated through the image formation optical system with a light having a light intensity distribution with an inverse peak pattern generated through the phase shifter, thereby generating a crystallized semiconductor film on the processed substrate.

Advanced LCD Technologies Development Center Co., Ltd.