Apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed to simplify a computer user's handling of distribution lists for electronic mail messages. The invention provides the computer user with a mechanism for managing e-mail distribution lists. The mechanism includes facilities for suspending e-mail messages from a distribution list for a specified duration.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of Electronic Mail Management Systems. Specifically, this invention is a new and useful method, apparatus and computer program product for managing electronic mail (e-mail) messages forwarded from distribution lists (distribution lists are often termed mailing lists).
2. Background
Electronic mail provides a quick and convenient way for computer users to communicate. This communication is initiated by a message sender who composes the message using a text editing program, provides the e-mail address of the intended recipient, and often provides an indication of the content (subject matter) of the message by providing text in a "subject" field. Using well-understood technology this composed message is then sent to the recipient's computer address. The recipient's computer receives the message and stores it in the recipient's inbox. The recipient eventually reads, deletes, responds to, or otherwise processes the message stored within the inbox by using any of a number of e-mail programs well known in the art.
Because these messages travel across networks, they generally are constructed according to the Standard for the Format of ARPA Internet Text Messages specification (RFC822). This specification can be found on the world wide web of the Internet at address "http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/htbin/rfc/rfc822.html". Messages formatted to the RFC822 standard have a header portion and an optional body portion that contains the text of the message. The header portion includes a number of fields that address and classify the message. Although the embodiment described herein uses the RFC822 protocol, the invention does not require the RFC822 standard.
The header portion of a message contains fields composed of character strings comprising a field-name followed by a colon, followed by a field-body terminated by a carriage return/line feed. An example header field is: EQU "To: John Doe<CR><LF>".
In this example, the <CR> represents the ASCII carriage return character and the <LF> represents the ASCII line feed character. The header field-names are not case sensitive, thus, "to:" is equivalent to "TO:", "To:" or "tO:".
The contents of these headers are specified by the entity who composes the message.
The "To:" field-body contains the addresses of the primary recipients of the message where the address of each recipient is separated by a comma. Recipients include both humans and programs. The "Subject:" field-body often provides a summary, or indicates the nature, of the message and sometimes contains a specialized command string that is to be recognized by the recipient. Although these fields are all initialized by the sender, the recipient fields are generally limited to actual Internet addresses. On the other hand, the subject field has no specific meaning and may, in fact, be blank, contain a specialized command string or contain a random arrangement of characters.
A sender can address a single message to many recipients by separating the addresses of the recipients with a comma. Each of these recipients may respond to the original message by sending a reply message to the same list of recipients (plus the original sender). Some of these recipients may then respond to the first reply message. These reply messages are termed follow-up messages to the original message. This process facilitates a vigorous discussion between the original sender and the recipients, as well as between the recipients.
An example of application programs that are recipients of electronic mail are list server (listserver) applications. A listserver application (when executing on an appropriate computer) receives mail addressed to the e-mail address of the distribution list (mailing list) serviced by the listserver, and forwards (redistributes) that received mail to the subscribers of the distribution list. A distribution list is generally directed towards a particular subject matter (e.g., the copyright list "email@example.com"). The listserver application also services commands contained in messages sent directly to the e-mail address of the listserver application (as compared to messages sent to the e-mail address of the distribution list served by the listserver application). Listserver applications generally recognize "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" command messages. Those interested in the subject matter of the distribution list send a "subscribe" command message to the listserver controlling the distribution list. The listserver maintains a recipient database that comprises the e-mail address of each recipient. The listserver forwards every e-mail message sent to the e-mail address of the distribution list to the e-mail address of every recipient in the recipient database. A recipient sends an "unsubscribe" command message to the listserver to remove the recipient's e-mail address from the recipient database and thus stop the listserver from forwarding, to the recipient, messages addressed to the distribution list.
Distribution lists can be managed directly by some human agency, a listserver application, or a combination of both. Some distribution lists are moderated in the sense that a human reviews all incoming messages prior to forwarding them to the distribution list subscribers. Other distribution lists are not moderated. Thus, messages received by the unmoderated group are automatically forwarded to the rest of the subscribers without human review.
The "majordomo" and "listserv" applications are two of the more popular listserver applications. The listserv application is described in the LISTSERV User Guide, 1993, ISBN 2-910286-02-9, .COPYRGT.1993 by EARN Association. This document is available on the Internet at "ftp://ftp.msstate.edu/docs/words-l/Net-Stuff/listserv.guide". The majordomo application is described in a chapter of Managing Internet Information Services, by Jerry Peek, .COPYRGT.1994 by O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., ISBN 1-56592-062-7.
One of the problems with the use of distribution lists is that they generate a large number of e-mail messages. Unless these messages are read on a daily basis, they accumulate in the recipient's inbox resulting in a backlog of e-mail messages. The time required to read and evaluate this backlog often becomes an annoyance for busy people. Another problem is that e-mail messages from a distribution list are generally sent to the recipient's primary e-mail address. Thus, the backlog of distribution list messages are intermixed with the recipient's normal business and personal mail thereby obscuring e-mail that may be of more immediate relevance to the recipient than e-mail forwarded from the distribution list.
An example of when a recipient's e-mail becomes backlogged is when the recipient is traveling and does not have access, or time, to process e-mail messages. Another cause of e-mail backlog is when the recipient is under a deadline or some other circumstance where the recipient does not have time to deal with the distractions of considering non-critical e-mail. In both these examples, the recipient could unsubscribe from the distribution list during the duration of the event causing the e-mail backlog and then subscribe again after the event ends. However, often (especially in the above circumstances) the recipient will forget the name of the unsubscribed list and will be required to spend an inordinate amount of time to gather the information required to resubscribe to the distribution list.
Another approach to this problem is partially addressed in the prior art by creating recipient modifiable "filters" that ignore e-mail messages forwarded from a distribution list. These filters examine each e-mail message for some condition. If the filter detects that condition in the e-mail message, the filter performs an operation on that e-mail message. These filter operations generally include a delete operation. Thus, e-mail messages forwarded from a particular list can be deleted without intervention by the recipient. However, e-mail messages that have already been stored in the recipient's inbox are generally not accessible to a filter. Thus, the recipient's unread e-mail messages stored in the recipient's inbox will not be removed by most filters. Further, even those filters that can remove e-mail messages from the recipient's inbox require the recipient to execute some additional command to do so. Also, filters are notoriously difficult for non-programmers to use and often require significant debugging. Finally, at some later date the recipient must remember to deactivate the filter to, once again, receive e-mail messages forwarded from the distribution list.
Another problem associated with distribution lists is that recipient often forgets which listserver manages each of the distribution lists subscribed to by the recipient. Many busy people will forget the lists they subscribed to, which listserver supports each list, and how to subscribe to, and unsubscribe from, each list.
For these reasons, among others, recipients of e-mail from distribution lists need a tool to manage their subscribed distribution lists. The invention addresses these problems and simplifies a recipient's use of distribution lists by providing mechanisms for keeping track of distribution lists and for suspending, for a specified duration, e-mail forwarded from distribution lists.

Method and apparatus for managing subscriptions to distribution lists


A caddy, constructed of soft compressible foam to be held between the handlebars and windshield of a motorcycle for receiving and holding objects therein for easy access by the rider during operation of the motorcycle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device to be held between the handlebars and windshield of a motorcycle for holding objects therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Motorcycle enthusiasts have long sought ways of storing objects on their motorcycles while they ride. Many means which have been employed, such as saddlebags, have required that the rider dismount the motorcycle to gain access to the items stored therein. There are, however, many objects such maps and touring booklets, that a rider would want to have convenient access to while riding. In addition, many motorcycles are now equipped with stereos making convenient and accessible storage of compact disks desirable. Similarly, it would be desirable during a long ride in hot weather, to have convenient access to a beverage container.
One type of device which has been developed to provide such storage capability consists of a holder which is mounted to the handlebars of a motorcycle. Examples of such a device are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,102,021, 5,005,661, 5,114,060 and 4,436,350. These devices provide solid and secure mounting for specific items such as a radar used by a police officer. However, because these devices fasten to handlebars using clamps, installation and removal can be difficult and is time consuming requiring the use of extraneous tools, making such devices unsuitable for temporary, intermittent use. In addition, the use of clamps can result in scratching the motorcycle or handle bars.
Similar devices have been used to provide a pad for holding maps, booklets or other such items. Devices of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,321,192, and 4,800,664. Such devices provide a holder in the form of a clipboard and are effective for holding maps or booklets to be read while riding. However, these device are specifically designed for holding particular objects and are not adaptable for use in holding other objects such as water bottles and compact disks. In addition these devices suffer the aforementioned shortcomings that they are difficult to install and remove and pose a risk of scratching the motorcycle.
Yet other devices have been employed to provide accessible water or other beverages. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,770 and provides a canteen configured with a groove to fit over a cross bar of the handlebars of a motorcycle. This device is provided with a strap for attaching to the cross bar. While this device provides somewhat easy access to the beverage, it does not provide for storage of other items and can only be used on a motorcycle having a cross bar.
Other drink holders have been developed which consist of cylindrical holders which can be mounted to the structure of a motorcycle by either a clamp, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,465, or by bolt or other similar fastener as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,718. Such devices are effective for holding beverages, however they are not capable of holding other items and suffer the previously mention drawback that they require clamps or other hardware making installation and removal difficult.
Still another device, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,228, has been employed to provide a holder for a stereo system. This device supports the stereo from mirror mounting brackets attached to the handlebars of the motorcycle. While this device provides secure installation of a stereo, it too is not easily installed or removed and does not provide storage for various other articles.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 278,328 and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 242,997 disclose consoles for housing a radio or gauges on a motorcycle. These consoles have rearward facing openings for receiving a permanently mounted radio or instruments. The consoles themselves are likewise designed to be permanently attached the motorcycle. The devices disclosed in these patents are not easy to install and remove and are not designed to hold a variety of objects to be easily accessed during motorcycle use.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 300,417 discloses a device which is intended to hold a cigar lighter. As with the previously mentioned devices this device is intended to be attached to the handlebars of a motorcycle by means of a clamp, making installation and removal difficult and posing a risk of damaging the motorcycle.
Therefore, there remains a need for a device for storing items on a motorcycle, which can be easily and quickly installed and removed, which provides easy access to the objects held therein, and which can be adapted to hold a wide variety of small objects. There also remains a need for a device that will not risk damaging the motorcycle to which it is attached and which is inexpensive to manufacture.


A system and method for the rapid exchange of batteries in an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle contains a removable battery housed in the vehicle's undercarriage. The electric vehicle moves through the exchange system either by propelling itself or by being propelled by the system. As the vehicle is propelled forward, the removable battery within the vehicle is unlocked from the vehicle and replaced with a charged battery. The charged battery forces the removable battery out of the rear of the vehicle as the vehicle moves forward through the exchange. The vehicle remains powered throughout the exchange process. Once the charged battery is aligned in position under the vehicle and connected to the vehicle through corresponding contacts, the charged battery is located into place in the vehicle's undercarriage and the vehicle is ready for additional driving.

Electric vehicles (including cars, trucks, sports utility vehicles, and other automobiles) have experienced an increased demand in recent years. This increase is due in part to the ever rising price of gasoline as well as the negative impact gasoline-based vehicles have on the environment. However, there are several current drawbacks to electric vehicles that make them less desirable to certain individuals relative to their gasoline-based counterparts. These drawbacks largely stem from limitations on electric vehicle batteries, including limited-mileage range and battery recharge requirements. Electric vehicles suffer from a relatively short mileage range due to, for example, restrictions with battery size and weight. Electric vehicles further suffer from the requirement of battery recharging, which interrupts travel during the recharge. During a standard battery recharge (which can take anywhere from an hour to several hours), the electric vehicle cannot be used.
Because of the long charge time for a standard battery recharge, direct current (DC) fast or rapid battery charging systems have been developed. While faster than standard charging, rapid charging still takes on average ten to thirty minutes or more for a complete charge. Further, it is well understood that rapidly charging a battery can significantly shorten the battery life. Since batteries are very costly, rapid charging is not suitable for everyday use.
Shared or public battery charging stations also exist (typically in urban areas) where an electric vehicle can be charged when not in use. These shared stations can utilize standard or rapid charge mechanisms. However, these shared stations suffer from the same drawbacks as with the battery charging described above. There are also concerns on the impact to the electric grid in urban areas, particularly when multiple vehicles are charging simultaneously.
As a result of the foregoing limitations on electric vehicles and corresponding electric vehicle battery recharging, several battery exchange systems have been developed. These known systems typically operate using a specially-designed service station that exchanges a depleted battery for a charged one. However, as described in more detail below, each of these systems suffer from several deficiencies. For example, the known systems require a complex, expensive service station that utilizes an external power source and/or external motive power to power and complete the battery exchange; the vehicle to be completely stopped and/or shut off during the battery exchange; long exchange times; and/or the depleted battery to be completely removed prior to installing a charged replacement battery; among other deficiencies.
One such system known in the art discloses dedicated battery-switching stations that power the exchange of a depleted battery with a freshly charged battery. The system requires vehicles with batteries located underneath the vehicle. The vehicle drives up a ramp and is aligned with a battery shuttle mechanism within a switching area of the station. Once the vehicle is stopped and turned off in the switching area, a battery shuttle engages from underneath the vehicle and rises up toward the bottom of the vehicle. The shuttle makes contact with the depleted battery in the vehicle. Once it makes contact, the shuttle releases the battery, removes it and moves it away from the vehicle. After the depleted battery is completed removed and away from the vehicle, the system installs a new charged battery into the vehicle. The depleted battery is then recharged for further use.
Another system known in the art discloses a battery transfer and charging system for electric vehicles with a displacement station that removes used batteries by forcing charged batteries into position within the vehicle so as to laterally displace the used batteries. The electric vehicle drives into the displacement station and stops at a specified location for the battery removal and installation in either a horizontal or vertical manner. While the vehicle is stopped and in the displacement station, the displacement station powers the removal of the used battery and replacement with a charged battery utilizing a hydraulic ram to forcefully displace the used battery.
Still another system known in the art discloses a service center whereby an electric vehicle is driven into the service center that powers a battery exchange. Once the vehicle is stopped in the service center and shut off, the system unlocks the depleted battery from the vehicle and removes it vertically downward from the vehicle utilizing lifting means located in a pit of the service center beneath the vehicle. After the depleted battery is completely removed from the vehicle, similar to other known systems, the system installs a charged battery into the vehicle utilizing lifting means that lift the battery into place. The battery is then locked into position and the vehicle is ready for further driving.
In view of the foregoing and the limitations on known electric vehicle battery exchange systems, there is a need for an improved battery exchange system for the exchange of batteries in electric vehicles whereby an electric vehicle is moved through the exchange system to rapidly replace a depleted battery located in a battery bay in the vehicle's undercarriage with a charged replacement battery. During the exchange, the vehicle slowly moves forward through the exchange system. The vehicle may propel itself or may be propelled by the system. The depleted battery need not be completely removed prior to installation of the charged replacement battery. Further, the vehicle may remain powered during part or all of the exchange process as the charged replacement battery replaces the depleted battery in contact with the vehicle.

Method for rapid battery exchange in electric vehicles


The present invention relates to the formulation of stable, aqueous, concentrated built liquid detergents that contain a dye-transfer inhibiting additive. The invention also relates to a method of incorporating a dye-transfer inhibiting additive to a liquid detergent composition. The invention also relates to a method of stabilizing a liquid detergent composition containing a high molecular weight dye transfer inhibiting additive.

The incorporation of major amounts of builders in liquid detergent compositions poses a significant formulating challenge since the presence of major amounts of builder inevitably causes the detergent composition to phase separate. Builders such as sodium citrate, citric acid, sodium carbonate, and/or alkali metal silicates can only be incorporated in minor amounts in liquid detergent compositions, such amounts being typically below the concentration levels that would cause separation of the surfactant phase. However, the novel hydrophilic copolymers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,440 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,183 (both assigned to BASF) are useful in stabilizing concentrated built liquid detergent compositions.
Further, excessive dye-transfer during the washing of garments poses a problem for built liquid detergent formulators. Colored garments which are dyed with dyes having poor fastness, typically release dye during the wash process which then migrate to other garments during the wash thus diminishing the quality and appearance of garments. EP 587550, EP 587549, EP 581753, EP 581752, EP 581751, EP 579295, WO 9402581, WO 9503388, and WO 9506098 disclose the use of polyamine N-oxides as additives for controlling dye transfer during the laundering of garments. EP 576778, EP 576777, EP 582478, EP 635566, EP 635565, WO 9503390, WO 9503388, and WO 9506098 disclose the use of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinylpyrrolidone-polyvinylimidiazole as dye transfer inhibitors for laundry formulations. While there are significant advantages to using polyvinyl pyrrolidone ( PVP) as a dye transfer inhibitor, the drawback is that the higher molecular weight polymers of PVP (greater than about 15000 MW) are not stable in liquid laundry formulations. This drawback is particularly problematic for the liquid detergent formulator since the higher molecular weight polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymers have significantly improved dye transfer inhibiting properties. Currently, the art is faced with the problem of how to incorporate high molecular weight polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymers into built liquid laundry formulations without destabilizing the formulation.
The Applicants have discovered that high molecular weight polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymers can now be successfully incorporated into build liquid detergent formulations which contain Applicants' hydrophilic polymer.

Concentrated built liquid detergents containing a dye-transfer inhibiting additive


A magnetron comprising an anode portion, a cathode portion provided in a center of the anode portion, a cylindrical interaction space formed of the anode portion and the cathode portion, and iron magnetic pole pieces located at both ends of the interaction space in an tube axis direction thereof. A relationship between a thickness Tg (mm) of a tapered portion of the magnetic pole pieces and a magnetic flux Bg (mT, at 25xc2x0 C.) of a center of the interaction space is set to satisfy 155 less than Bg/Tg less than 165. It is possible to obtain a magnetron with substantially constant oscillating efficiencies, and it is accordingly possible to stabilize outputs of the microwave oven and to enable easy control of heating food.

The present invention relates to a magnetron used in microwave heating apparatuses such as microwave ovens or in radars.
FIG. 1 is a half sectional view of a magnetron which has been conventionally employed. Numeral 1 denotes an anode shell which is made of oxygen-free steel or the like and which forms a part of a vacuum wall (wall surface of a vacuum vessel) wherein a plurality of vanes 2 are provided at an inner periphery thereof to extend towards the center in a radial manner with every second vane 2 being connected by strap rings 7, 8 of small-diameter and large-diameter for achieving stabilization of xcfx80 mode oscillation. Magnetic pole pieces 9, 10, which are also referred to as pole pieces, are respectively provided on both ends of the anode shell 1 for focusing a magnetic field in an interaction space formed between tip ends of the vanes 2 and a filament 3 which is axially provided in a central portion of the anode shell 1 to thus form anode portions.
The filament 3 is a filament obtained by winding, for instance, a thorium tungsten wire in a coil-like manner, and is provided at the central portion of the anode shell 1 in a space which is enclosed by the tip ends of the respective vanes 2 to form a cathode portion. End hats 4, 5 for supporting the filament 3 are fixedly attached to both ends thereof. Numeral 6 denotes an antenna conductor connected to one of the vanes 2, and the magnetic pole piece 9 is provided with a hole through which the antenna conductor 6 is pierced.
Numeral 11 denotes a top shell, which is a sealing metal, fixedly attached to the anode shell for pinching the magnetic pole piece 9, numeral 12 denotes a stem metal, which is a sealing metal, fixedly attached to the anode shell 1 for pinching the magnetic pole piece 10, the magnetic pole pieces 9, 10 having a tapered portion having a thickness Tg, numeral 13 denotes an antenna ceramic fixedly attached to the top shell 11 through brazing for supporting an output portion, numeral 14 denotes an output pipe fixedly attached to the antenna ceramic 13 and further connected to the antenna conductor 6, numeral 15 denotes an antenna cap which is press-fitted into the output pipe 14, and numeral 16 denotes a stem ceramic fixedly attached to the stem metal 12 for supporting the end hats 4, 5.
The above members constitute a vacuum tube, while numerals 17, 18 denote annular magnets which are respectively disposed above and below the anode shell 1, numeral 19 denotes a cooling fin fitted and attached to an outer peripheral surface of the anode shell 1, and numeral 20 denotes a yoke for enclosing the anode shell 1, the magnets 17, 18 and the cooling fin 19. Numeral 21 further denotes a shielding case for enclosing the stem ceramic 16 projecting out from the yoke 20 and for housing therein a choke 22 and a feedthrough capacitor 23 which constitute a filter circuit.
Numeral 24 denotes a gasket which is in close contact with a joint portion of the microwave oven, and numeral 25 denotes a gasket ring press-fitted into the top shell 11 for holding the gasket 24. In such an arrangement, a cylindrical space formed between the filament 3 and the vanes 2 is called an interaction space wherein thermoelectrons emitted from the filament 3 perform orbiting movements within the interaction space through magnetic force applied in a vertical direction with respect to an electric field to thereby generate microwaves of high-frequency energy. Microwaves which are generated at the anode portion will be transmitted through the antenna conductor 6 and emitted to the exterior from a surface of the antenna cap 15.
However, a conventional magnetron is designed to prevent magnetic saturation of a magnetic circuit, and since the magnetron attached to a microwave oven will increase in magnetic temperature accompanying an increase in operational time, a central magnetic flux density of the interaction space will be decreased accordingly accompanying the operational time. Thus, oscillating efficiencies would fluctuate to cause unstableness in heating control of food within the microwave oven.
The present invention thus aims to provide a magnetron capable of restricting decreases in magnetic flux density, that is, decreases in oscillating efficiencies owing to increases in magnetic temperature of the magnetron accompanying operation of the microwave oven and capable of achieving substantially constant oscillating efficiencies.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnetron comprising an anode portion, a cathode portion provided in a center of the anode portion, a cylindrical interaction space formed of the anode portion and the cathode portion, and iron magnetic pole pieces located at both ends of the interaction space in an tube axis direction thereof, wherein a relationship between a thickness Tg (mm) of a tapered portion of the magnetic pole pieces and a magnetic flux Bg (mT, at 25xc2x0 C.) of a center of the interaction space is set to satisfy 155 less than Bg/Tg less than 165.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnetron comprising an anode portion, a cathode portion provided in a center of the anode portion, a cylindrical interaction space formed of the anode portion and the cathode portion, and iron magnetic pole pieces located at both ends of the interaction space in an tube axis direction thereof, wherein an outer diameter of the interaction space is not more than a diameter of a central hole of the magnetic pole pieces and wherein a relationship between a thickness Tg (mm) of a tapered portion of the magnetic pole pieces and a magnetic flux Bg (mT, at 25xc2x0 C.) of a center of the interaction space is set to satisfy 155 less than Bg/Tg less than 165.
With this arrangement, it is possible to restrict decreases in magnetic flux density, that is, decreases in oscillating efficiencies due to increases in magnetic temperature of the magnetron accompanying operation of the microwave oven and it is thus possible to obtain a magnetron with substantially constant oscillating efficiencies.

Magnetron having magnetic pole pieces providing a specific magnetic flux to thickness ratio


A stereophonic audio processing system having left and right stereophonic sound channels with respective loudspeakers therefor is presented. The system is provided with spatial expansion of the stereophonic sound so that a first pair of spaced-apart loudspeakers will acoustically appear to be spaced further apart then they actually are. The audio system is provided with provisions for connecting a second pair of loudspeakers which can be spatially located at a distance between the loudspeakers which is larger than the first pair of loudspeakers. The audio system is provided with apparatus for providing stereo sound without spatial expansion when such secondary loudspeakers are used.

The present invention relates to spatial expansion of the apparent spacing between two stereophonic loudspeakers, and more particularly, to providing stereo sound without spatial expansion when the spaced-apart distance between a pair of loudspeakers is sufficiently large so that expansion is not desired.
Spatial stereo expansion in audio systems is well known in the art and has been available for many years. In such systems, the left and right channel signals are processed in a manner so that it appears to the listener that the distance of separation of the loudspeakers is much greater than the actual physical separation of the loudspeakers. This is called psycho-acoustic expansion. Examples of spatial stereo expansion are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,637 of Bruney, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,652 of Anderson. In such spatial expansion systems, a portion of the signal from the other channel is added in reverse phase, to the signal of the subject channel such that an ambience of spaciousness is introduced between the left and right channels. This ambience of spaciousness is independent of any separation in the original signal of the two channels. This feature has the desirable characteristic of making the acoustic perceived stereo image seem wider than the actual locations of a pair of stereophonic loudspeakers.
This is particularly desirable for the normal spacing of loudspeakers built into a cabinet of a television receiver or small radio, where the stereo speaker spacing between loudspeakers is typically only about 26-80 cm. apart. In such an arrangement, the perceived stereo effect is greatly improved with the perceived spatial expansion of the loudspeakers.
One well known method of increasing the perceived spatial expansion between stereophonic loudspeakers is by increasing the (L-R) signal level with respect to the (L+R) signal level when the signals are applied to the decoder matrix to form the L and R signals.
An undesirable effect of the spatial "expanded stereo" is that the (L-R) ambiance sound can be too loud compared to the (L+R) sound, often resulting in a center-stage vocalist between "drowned out" by the ambiance sound, or by the tonal variations between stereo and monophonic modes being large in extent. These objections, particularly the latter, can be more noticeable when using the auxiliary hi-fi output jacks sometimes provided in a TV sound system where the L and R signals can be applied to a high quality stereophonic reproduction system.
For the above reasons, it is desirable to provide a stereo signal without spatial expansion in a system which provides for the spatial stereo expansion when auxiliary loudspeakers are used.
Additionally, when auxiliary loudspeakers are used, i.e., loudspeakers disposed external of the television cabinet, these auxiliary loudspeakers can be placed at spaced-apart distances much greater in extent than the loudspeakers of the television receiver cabinet. For such a case, the rationale for using spatial expanded stereo is no longer applicable.


A motor driven centrifugal fluid pump has the a pump rotor, and the pump drive motor both enclosed in a sealed housing that contains sealed inside the fluid that is pumped, the pump rotor being carried on the motor drive shaft so that the rotor rotates freely within the housing when driven by the motor drive shaft, a fluid input from an outside source to the housing, a fluid output to an outside utilization system from the housing and means carried on the motor drive shaft for compelling some of the fluid inside the housing to flow in heat conducting proximity to the motor to cool the motor and also reduce the thrust load on the motor.

The present invention relates to electric motor driven centrifugal fluid pumps and particularly to pumps of the sort that have no rotating axle or bearings that penetrate a wall of the pump housing and so the housing is completely sealed against any leakage of the fluid that is pumped and there is no requirement of seals against leakage of the fluid at any moving or rotating part of the pump.
Heretofore, magnetically driven centrifugal pumps that are completely sealed up and have no drive shaft or bearing opening through any wall of the housing of the pump have been provided. Such pumps are often specified where, for any number of reasons, no fluid leakage from the pump can be tolerated and the motor power is 1/8 horsepower (HP) or less. For example: the fluid may be very contaminating; or it may be poisonous or radioactive; or it may simply be a cooling fluid in a closed system that cannot tolerate any leaks. For any of these reasons, magnetically driven pumps have been provided in which the drive from the electric motor to the rotor of the pump is by magnetic coupling through a wall of the pump housing and so there need not be any drive shaft or bearing that penetrate the wall of the pump housing and the performance is below 3 gallons per minute (gpm) at a pressure head of 30 to 50 feet (1/8 HP or less).
The fluid input of such a pump is along the axis and may be into an axial input chamber at the front inside of the housing and from that chamber into rotating radial passages that are partly defined by the impellers attached to the rotor. The fluid is trapped in these rotating radial passages between the impellers and the immediately adjacent front inside wall of the housing and is compelled to flow radially into a peripheral annular output chamber within the housing. The pressure of fluid at the input chamber is the input pressure and the pressure at the peripheral annular chamber is the output pressure and the effect of the rotation is to increase the output pressure over the input pressure even while there is a continuous flow of fluid into the input and out of the output. As volume flow increases the pressure head decreases (maximum pressure head is achieved at zero flow).
Such a pump is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,336, issued May 22, 1990, entitled "Magnetically Driven Pump", to Ferdinand Lustwerk, the inventor herein. That patent describes a radial magnetically driven pump in which the pump rotor axle is supported within then sealed pump housing at only the driven end thereof; it is cantilevered from that end inside of the housing. The cantilevered pump rotor axle is preferred so that the front face of the rotor that carries the impellers has no axle between it and the opposite wall (front inside wall) of the housing as this allows a fluid input along the axis of rotation directly into the center of the impeller face of the rotor.
The impellers define radial fluid passages leading from the axial center of the front of the housing to the periphery of the housing. An axial input fluid port is at the front of the housing and an output fluid port is at the periphery of the housing. The rotor drive includes several radially oriented magnets outside of the housing magnetically coupled through the walls of the housing with the rotor magnets inside the housing. In operation, rotation of the external drive rotates the rotor causing fluid to flow from the input to the output increasing the pressure of the fluid at the output with respect to the pressure of the fluid at the input.
For electric motor driven centrifugal pumps over 1/8 HP, that are usually required to deliver more than 25 inch-ounces of torque at 5,000 revolutions per minute (RPM), the magnetic coupling has, for the above reasons, been found to be inadequate. However, for such pumps there is still the problem that the fluid pumped may be very contaminating; or it may be poisonous or radioactive; or it. may simply be a cooling fluid in a closed system that cannot tolerate any leaks. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved electric motor driven centrifugal fluid pump wherein the fluid is an oil, the motor is an oil submersible electric motor and a sealed housing contains the fluid, the motor and the pump.
With a fluid submersible motor contained within the sealed housing with the pump as in the present invention, there is an advantage in cooling the motor by providing means for compelling the fluid to flow through parts of the motor and carry heat therefrom so that the motor can be operated at higher power without overheating. For example, a 1/2 HP submersible motor driving a 2 to 3 gpm pump at 30 to 50 foot high pressure head, may heat the fluid that is pumped to 280.degree. F., which is excessive. Hence, it is another object of the present invention to provide such a pump and electric drive motor in an assembly contained within a sealed housing wherein means are provided for compelling some fluid flow around the electric motor to cool the motor while the pump is driven in operation.
With a submersible motor and centrifugal pump contained within a sealed housing and the pump fluid input at low pressure is axial at the front of the pump and the pump output at high pressure is at the periphery of the pump, the fluid pressure around the motor and between the motor and the pump rotor is at the output high pressure level. Thus, the pump rotor has a greater pressure on one side than the other and exerts a thrust load or pull on the motor drive shaft which is resisted at the motor bearings. For example, a 1/2 HP submersible motor driving a 2 to 3 gpm pump at 30 to 50 foot high pressure head may experience a 27 pound thrust load on the motor bearings. It is another object of the present invention to provide such a pump and electric drive motor in an assembly contained within a sealed housing wherein means are provided for compelling some fluid flow around the electric motor to reduce the static pressure on the pump rotor and so reduce the thrust load on the motor bearings.
The static pressure in a fluid is the pressure perpendicular to the direction of the fluid flow velocity. The total pressure is the static pressure plus the velocity pressure. Where there is no flow velocity, there is no velocity pressure and static pressure and total pressure are equal.

Sealed motor driven centrifugal fluid pump


A light source device having a large cooling action on the base member of a discharge lamp. A connector on the sides of the power supply and the air blower and the base-side connector of a discharge lamp are connected to each other through a connection cable having a power cable in which an air blow pipe is contained. An electric power is supplied from the power supply to a base part through the power cable of the connection cable, the base-side connector and a flow passage bending member. The cool air from the air blower is supplied to the groove part of the base part through the air blow pipe of the connection cable, the base-side connector and an air blow passage in the flow passage-bending member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a discharge lamp, a connecting cable that is used when connecting a discharge lamp and a power supply, a light source apparatus that is provided with a discharge lamp, and an exposure apparatus that is provided with this light source apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
An exposure apparatus, such as a full field exposure type (stationary exposure type) projection exposure apparatus (e.g., a stepper) or a scanning exposure type projection exposure apparatus (e.g., a scanning stepper) that transfers a pattern formed on a reticle (or a photomask and the like) to a wafer (or a glass plate and the like) that is coated with a resist, is used in a lithographic process for fabricating various devices (such as microdevices and electronic devices). An exposure light source apparatus that comprises a combination of a discharge lamp, such as a mercury lamp, and a condenser mirror is used in such an exposure apparatus, and that discharge lamp is held via a prescribed mounting mechanism.
Among conventional light source apparatuses that have a discharge lamp, there is a type that is provided with a cooling mechanism for reducing the effects of heat generation. In one example of a conventional cooling mechanism, cooled air is supplied from an outer surface of one base of the discharge lamp toward an outer surface of another base via an outer surface of a bulb part (e.g., refer to Japanese Patent Application, Publication No. H09-213129). In another example of a known conventional cooling mechanism, a ring-shaped groove part is provided on a base of a discharge lamp, and cooled air is supplied to a bulb part via the groove part and a prescribed air-blowing pipe (e.g., refer to Japanese Patent Application, Publication No, H11-283898).
With the discharge lamp cooling mechanism in the conventional light source apparatus, cool air is blown principally against the bulb part of the discharge lamp, and consequently there is a problem in that the cooling action with respect to the base is small. Also, the discharge lamp has a base on the fixed side and a base on the free end side, and in the case of cooling the base on the free end side using a conventional cooling mechanism, it is necessary to install piping for air blowing and the like around the base, and consequently there is the problem of much of the light from the discharge lamp being blocked.

Discharge lamp, connecting cable, light source apparatus, and exposure apparatus


For efficient handing of semi-asynchronous RAID write failures using a processor device in a computing environment, a write operation is committed on a primary copy of data on a primary entity while sending the data to a secondary entity while awaiting an acknowledgment by the secondary entity. The acknowledgment indicates to the primary entity that metadata for the write operation has arrived at the secondary entity without necessarily indicating the data has arrived at the secondary entity.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to computers, and more particularly to efficient handling of semi-asynchronous RAID write failures in a computing environment.
Description of the Related Art
In today's society, computer systems are commonplace. Computer systems may be found in the workplace, at home, or at school. A data processing system typically includes a processor subsystem having at least one central processing unit (CPU), an input/output (I/O) subsystem, a memory subsystem and a bus subsystem. The memory subsystem of the data processing system typically includes a data storage system having a controller connected to a back end storage. The controller controls the flow of data between the data processing system and the back end storage. The controller includes a cache memory that is typically implemented by static memories. During operation, the cache memory serves as a temporary store for data associated with a write I/O request.
These data processing systems may include data storage systems, or disk storage systems, to process and store data. Large amounts of data have to be processed daily and the current trend suggests that these amounts will continue being ever-increasing in the foreseeable future. For the most part, computing systems face a significant challenge to meet the increasingly stringent reliability demands and failure tolerances imposed by many software applications. In particular, responses to I/O requests in such data storage systems can be poorly defined in the wake of a failure that disrupts the processing of I/O requests. Accordingly, it would be desirable to improve the failure tolerance of data storage systems without compromising reliability and data availability.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Efficient handling of semi-asynchronous raid write failures

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


An adjusting apparatus sets a designated value of a current source circuit to be a predetermined value, and causes discharging of a capacitor to end by switching a switch to a discharging side when the capacitor is not being charged by current output from a switching power source circuit. After the discharging of the capacitor ends and the designated value is set, the adjusting apparatus causes the capacitor to be charged by switching the switch to a charging side. The adjusting apparatus further measures a time period from the time when the switch is switched to the charging side until an electric potential difference of the capacitor exceeds a threshold value. Based on the measured time period and the predetermined value, the adjusting apparatus calculates the designated value such that the measured time period is a predetermined time period.

According to a conventionally known technique, direct current voltage is output after being decreased or increased by a switching power source circuit (see, e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H11-299224). For example, the value of voltage output from the switching power source circuit is maintained at a constant value by increasing or decreasing the ratio of the ON time period to the OFF time period of a switching device of the switching power source circuit.
In this configuration, a sub-harmonic oscillation may occur when the ON time period of the switching device is controlled by feeding back the current from the switching power source circuit. According to another known technique, when the current controlling the switching power source circuit from the power source circuit is fed back, sub-harmonic oscillation is prevented by adding a predetermined current to the current that is fed back (see, e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent publication Nos. 2011-91888 and 2011-101479).
Nonetheless, the occurrence of errors increases by the amount of current added to the output current supplied from the switching power source circuit consequent to variations such as manufacturing conditions, and device temperature and the voltages during use.

Adjusting apparatus and adjustment method


An improved electronic communications system 100 features a holder assembly 104 such as a mobile computing device dock station 106 and dock heat exchanger providing an external heat sink 162 which when coupled with a user-friendly heat transfer device 164 such as a heat pipe can transfer heat from internal electronic components 146, 148 and 154 and an internal heat sink 157 of an electronic communications device 102, such as a cellular phone or mobile computing device, via a special headset jack-heat pipe interface 167 to help cool the electronic communications device 102. The electronic communications device 102 can also include one or more thermal couplings 158-160 for coupling and providing a thermal pathway(s) from at least one of the internal electronic components 146, 148 and 154 to the internal heat sink 157.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates in general to electronic communications systems and more particularly to a mobile computing device dock station with a headset jack-heat pipe interface.
2. Background Art
In recent years, demands are increasing for downsizing, slimming, and enhancing performance of electronic devices such as cellular phones. In response to such demands, high performance integrated circuit (IC) chips have been installed in a variety of electronic devices. At the same time, the power and heat generated by these chips has significantly increased. Excessively hot temperatures in electronic device can cause performance problems, malfunctions, charging problems, circuit overloads, short circuiting, and component failure, as well as heat burns and other injuries to the user.
Computer and cellular (cell) phone processors generate more heat from more powerful processors the longer the processors are used and the more programs and applications (APs) are being used. When cell phones are used for an extended period of time, especially for process-heavy applications, they heat up more than usual. The phone's battery heats up when the phone is in use for a phone call, in navigating with a global positioning system (GPS), or when used for video streaming, video viewing and/or recording. Hot batteries have trouble charging.
A heat sink disperses heat from other parts, components, and structures. Heat sinks are used in computers as well as cellular (cell) phones. A radiator draws heat away from a car's engine, while an internal heat sink draws heat away from a cell phone's central processing unit (CPU). Internal heat sinks can effectively cool some of the heat emitted from cell phone processors, such as from processors that simultaneously run multiple programs. Without a quality heat sink and heat transfer system, a cell phone processor is at risk of overheating and its performance limited by maximum allowable temperature limits.
Heat can be transferred in three different ways: convection, radiation, and conduction. Conduction of heat is transferred in a solid, such as in a heat sink. Conduction occurs when two objects with different temperatures come into contact with one another. At the point where the two objects meet, the faster moving molecules of the warmer object crash into the slower moving molecules of the cooler object. When this happens, the faster moving molecules from the warmer object give energy to the slower moving molecules, which in turn heats the cooler object. This process is known as thermal conductivity, which is how internal heat sinks transfer heat away from the cell phone processor.
The temperature of the surface of a portable electronic device is a function of the temperature of the operational components disposed within the portable electronic device. To provide a satisfactory user experience, the surface temperatures of the portable electronic devices should be managed within a certain temperature range, one example of which ensures that the surface of a portable electronic device never exceeds about 38° C. If the surface temperature exceeds this predetermined threshold, the performance of internal components may need to be throttled to stay within certain parameters. The cause of mobile temperature rise is the dissipation within the components in the mobile electronics device. Moreover, in addition to surfaces, other components within the device can also become heated by being located in proximity to the heat generating components. Examples of these heat contact path components include the battery and display.
The functional performance of portable electronic devices, such as mobile computing devices, is limited by the amount of heat that is dissipated due to operating temperature limits of their internal components, such as the main battery, display, and other parts and components of the mobile computing devices. A particularly challenging environment is when a portable electronic device is cradled in a car dock due to the extra heat load and thermal radiation intensity from the sun.
Many conventional cell phones and other electronic devices with high end applications processors (APs), modems, and multiple power amplifiers (PAs) are generating more heat than the cell phone or other electronic device can support by itself without going over the specified surface temperature and component temperature limits. There is a major need to remote this heat to facilitate acceptable and even better performance of cell phones and other electronic devices.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide an improved mobile communications system with a mobile computing device dock station and a headset jack heat pipe interface, which overcomes most, if not all of the preceding disadvantages.

Mobile computing device dock station with headset jack heat pipe interface


A liquid-powder drug prompt-mixing type automatic syringe includes an injecting assembly, a drug-mixing assembly and a shooting device. The injecting assembly includes an injecting outer sleeve, in which the mouth of a blocking ampoule is slidably socketed, a needle is coaxially connected to the blocking ampoule by a hub; the drug-mixing assembly includes a drug-mixing outer sleeve, in which a precharging pressure menstruum bottle by a drug-mixing needle bracket; the shooting device includes a shooting outer sleeve and a spring pushing rod mechanism slidably socketed in the shooting outer sleeve a movable joining mechanism allows the injecting assembly to alternatively connect the drug-mixing assembly and the shooting device respectively. A liquid drug automatic syringe includes said injecting assembly and the shooting device.

In recent years, the applicant of the present invention has made significant improvements to the constructions of conventional syringes in view of the deficiencies found in the injection operation procedure using conventional syringes and has filed several patent applications in China and other countries. The subject matters of these patent applications filed by the applicant previously involve this and other improvements to the conventional syringes for medical use. However, most of the syringes disclosed in these patent applications do not have the function of instant automatic injections for emergency circumstances, so they are not practical for the needs of instant injection under circumstances such as battlefield self-rescue or other emergent cases. In addition, no prior art discloses an automatic syringe using powder drugs. Powder drugs which often have better curative effects than liquid drugs are not widely used for automatic injection under emergent self-rescue. Conventional syringes are not suitable for emergent injections outside medical facilities because of the complicated drug mixing and adding operation procedures and the risk of contamination.
Chinese patent application No. 200510096467.1 filed by the applicant on Dec. 5, 2005 entitled "Automatic Syringe for Instant Liquid-Powder Drug Mixing" discloses an automatic syringe for solid powder drugs comprising an injecting assembly, a drug mixing assembly, a shooting device and a joining mechanism in which the injecting assembly including a solute vial containing solid powder drug, the drug mixing assembly including a menstruum bottle containing liquid menstruum, the shooting device including a push rod, a pawl and a spring assembly, and the joining mechanism including a central rotary axle and a axle sleeve. The central rotary axle is fixed to the injecting assembly and the axle sleeve is fixed between the drug mixing assembly and the shooting device. The central rotary axle is inserted into the axle sleeve so that the drug mixing assembly and the shooting device can rotate around the central rotary axle so as to alternatively connect with the drug-mixing assembly to complete the drug mixing operation and the automatic injection operation in turn.
Chinese patent application No. 200620079616.3 filed by the applicant on Aug. 22, 2006 entitled "Rotary Automatic Syringe for Instant Liquid-Powder Drug Mixing" discloses major improvements to the injecting assembly, the drug mixing assembly, the shooting device and the joining mechanism of the above-mentioned automatic syringe disclosed in 200510096467.1. A cutting ring and a protective ring are added to the injecting assembly. A returning spring is added to the drug mixing assembly. The push rod in the shooting device includes a push rod for needing feeding, a push rod for injection and a retractable rod. Accordingly two springs are provided in stead—one for the needle feeding push rod and the other for the injection push rod. And two axle sleeves of the joining mechanism having open ends are provided for the drug mixing assembly and the shooting device respectively. And the central rotary axle and injecting assembly are now connected through the axle sleeve having open end in stead of the fixed connection disclosed in 200510096467.1. The above modifications greatly improve the function and effects of the automatic syringe.
The present invention claims priorities of the above-mentioned two Chinese patent applications.


Disclosed is a projection system for a lithographic apparatus, comprising: a plurality of optical elements configured to direct a beam along a path, and a control system configured to receive an input signal indicative of a deformation of a first optical element of the plurality of optical elements. The plurality of optical elements may be configured to position the beam onto an object arranged on an object support, and a pattern may be imparted on the beam by a patterning device arranged on support structure. The control system is configured to generate an output signal for controlling a position of at least a second optical element of the plurality of optical elements, based on said input signal; and/or an output signal for controlling a position of said object support, based on said input signal; and/or an output signal for controlling a position of said support structure, based on said input signal.

A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In that instance, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g. comprising part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g. a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned.
Lithography is widely recognized as one of the key steps in the manufacture of ICs and other devices and/or structures. However, as the dimensions of features made using lithography become smaller, lithography is becoming a more critical factor for enabling miniature IC or other devices and/or structures to be manufactured.
A theoretical estimate of the limits of pattern printing can be given by the Rayleigh criterion for resolution as shown in equation (1):
                    CD        =                              k            1                    *                      λ            NA                                              (        1        )            where λ is the wavelength of the radiation used, NA is the numerical aperture of the projection system used to print the pattern, k1 is a process dependent adjustment factor, also called the Rayleigh constant, and CD is the feature size (or critical dimension) of the printed feature. It follows from equation (1) that reduction of the minimum printable size of features can be obtained in three ways: by shortening the exposure wavelength λ, by increasing the numerical aperture NA or by decreasing the value of k1.
In order to shorten the exposure wavelength and, thus, reduce the minimum printable size, it has been proposed to use an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation source. EUV radiation is electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within the range of 5-20 nm, for example within the range of 13-14 nm. It has further been proposed that EUV radiation with a wavelength of less than 10 nm could be used, for example within the range of 5-10 nm such as 6.7 nm or 6.8 nm. Possible sources include laser-produced plasma (LPP) sources, although other types of source are possible.
An example of current progress in the development of LPP sources for EUV lithography is described in the paper "High power LPP EUV source system development status" by Benjamin Szu-Min Lin, David Brandt, Nigel Farrar, SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7520, Lithography Asia 2009, December 2009 (SPIE Digital Library reference DOI: 10.1117/12.839488). In a lithographic apparatus, the source apparatus will typically be contained within its own vacuum housing, while a small exit aperture is provided to couple the EUV radiation beam into an optical system where the radiation is to be used.
In order to be useful in high-resolution patterning for lithography, the EUV radiation beam must be conditioned to obtain desired parameters such as uniformity of intensity and angular distribution, when it reaches the reticle. Examples of an illumination system are described in United States Patent Application Publication Nos. US 2005/0274897A1 (Carl Zeiss/ASML) and US 2011/0063598A (Carl Zeiss). The example systems include a 'fly's eye' illuminator which transforms the highly non-uniform intensity profile of the EUV source into a more uniform and controllable source.
For good imaging performance, it is important that the EUV radiation beam is positioned accurately onto the substrate. To achieve this, the lithographical apparatus may comprise a projection system comprising a plurality of optical elements, e.g. mirrors, and a drive system for controlling a position of one or more of said optical elements.

Projection system and lithographic apparatus comprising said projection system


A polycrystalline diamond (PCD) compact and method for making the compact are provided. The method includes bringing a first PCD wafer and a second PCD wafer together at an interface in the presence of a bonding agent to form an unbonded assembly and bonding the wafers together at the interface at a pressure and temperature at which diamond is thermodynamically stable. The first PCD wafer is more thermally stable than the second PCD wafer.

THIS invention relates to polycrystalline diamond compacts and more particularly to a method of manufacturing polycrystalline diamond compacts.
A commonly used cutting tool insert for drill bits is one which comprises a layer of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) bonded to a cemented carbide substrate. The layer of PCD presents a working face and a cutting edge around a portion of the periphery of the working surface. Polycrystalline diamond comprises a mass of diamond particles containing a substantial amount of direct diamond-to-diamond bonding.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,380 discloses a compact consisting essentially of self-bonded abrasive particles with an interconnected network of pores dispersed throughout. The compact is produced by bonding a mass of abrasive particles into a self-bonded body through the use of a sintering aid material under high pressures and temperatures (HP/HT). The body formed at HP/HT includes the self-bonded particles with the sintering aid material (e.g., cobalt or cobalt alloys) infiltrated throughout the body. The infiltrant is then removed, for example, by immersion of the body in an aqua regia bath. It has been discovered that the removal of substantially all of the infiltrant provides an abrasive particles compact which has substantially improved resistance to thermal degradation at high temperatures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,772 discloses a process for fabricating a supported polycrystalline diamond or CBN compact in general, though such process is especially adapted to the fabrication of a thermally-supported polycrystalline diamond or CBN compact. The process comprises forming a sintered polycrystalline diamond or CBN compact having a surface and separately forming a cemented carbide support having a support surface. The compact and support then are mated at their respective surfaces with a layer of diamond or CBN crystals having the largest dimension of between about 30 and 500 micrometers interposed between said surfaces. Also, a source of diamond or CBN catalyst/sintering aid material is associated with the layer of diamond or CBN crystals. The mated compact and support then are subjected to HP/HT conditions and for a time adequate for converting said diamond or CBN crystals into a polycrystalline diamond or CBN compact and for producing a supported polycrystalline compact of at least two polycrystalline layers (i.e. bi-layer compact). Preferably, thermally-stable compacts are used in the process.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,923 discloses a highly consolidated abrasive compact which has enhanced particle-to-particle bonding, increased density and improved thermal stability performance characteristics and which can be bonded directly to a supporting substrate. The compact is produced by subjecting a mass of abrasive particles, e.g., diamond or cubic born nitride, to multiple pressure cycles at high temperatures. A solvent-catalyst sintering aid is employed in the initial pressure cycle. The compact then possesses residual interconnected porosity in the particle mass which is filled with the solvent-catalyst. Depending upon the degree of sintering, the solvent-catalyst can be removed by leaching or other suitable process. The removal of the solvent-catalyst permits further consolidation and sintering of the particle mass in subsequent pressure cycles. During the final pressure cycle, the abrasive mass can be bonded to a supporting substrate. In addition, a non-catalyst sintering aid, such as silicon, boron or metals rendered non-catalytic by the addition of silicon or boron which may form strong and chemically-resistant carbides, can be used in the second pressure cycle to enhance the sintering process and create a hard abrasive bonding matrix through out the particle mass.
Japan patent publication number JP 59219500 discloses chemical treatment of a working surface of a PCD element. This treatment dissolves and removes the catalyst/solvent matrix in an area immediately adjacent to the working surface. The invention is claimed to increase the thermal resistance of the PCD material in the region where the matrix has been removed without compromising the strength of the sintered diamond.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,544,308 and 6,562,462 disclose a PCD element having a body with a working surface. A first volume of the body remote from the working surface contains a catalyzing material, and a second volume of the body adjacent to the working surface is substantially free of the catalyzing material.
There is a need for polycrystalline diamond compacts having excellent thermal stability in use combined with high strength and fracture resistance, and a cost-effective method for making them.


A battery module is provided in which a signal line is prevented from the influence of noise caused by an internal current output line.

Battery modules including a plurality of cells accommodated in a case to be capable of outputting a predetermined voltage and capacitance are widely used as power supplies of various devices, vehicles, etc. and household power supplies. Specifically, the technique of forming blocks by connecting general-purpose secondary batteries in parallel and/or in series to be capable of outputting a predetermined voltage and capacitance and being charged, and combining the battery blocks in many ways to be applicable to various applications is beginning to be used. In the block formation technique, the performance of the batteries accommodated in the battery blocks is enhanced to reduce the size and the weight of the battery blocks themselves. Thus, the block formation technique has various advantages such as improvement of workability in assembling battery modules, and improvement of flexibility in mounting the battery modules in areas of limited space, such as a vehicle.
It is required for the cells included in the battery modules as described above to have substantially the same capacitance (dischargeable electric capacitance at a certain point in time). This is because if the cells exhibit variations in capacitance, certain cells are subjected to a high charge/discharge load compared to the other cells, so that the certain cells degrade earlier, which results in reduced life of the battery modules themselves.

Battery module which reduces noise on a signal line

Abstract: A battery module includes: a plurality of cells 100; a current conduction member 34 electrically connecting electrode terminals of the plurality of cells; and a signal line 50 configured to measure capacitance of the plurality of cells, wherein the current conduction member includes a parallel section including two members which are opposite in direction of a current flowing therethrough and are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and a connection section electrically connecting the two members at one end of the parallel section, and the signal line is arranged nearly equidistant from the two members, and extends substantially parallel to the two members to approach the connection section.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


An electro-optical device includes a driving transistor, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a switching circuit. The driving transistor is connected between a power supply and an electrode of a light-emitting element. The first capacitor is connected between a gate and source of the driving transistor. The second capacitor stores a gray scale voltage. The switching circuit selectively connects the first capacitor and the second capacitor to the gate of the driving transistor. A control circuit applies the gray scale voltage to the second capacitor while the first capacitor is connected to the gate of the driving transistor by the switching circuit, and writes a source voltage of the driving transistor at the first capacitor while the second capacitor is connected to the gate of the driving transistor by the switching circuit.

1. Field
One or more embodiments described herein relate to an electro-optical device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electro-optical device has been developed to include organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) that emit light according to the intensity of supplied current. In this device, driving transistorsreceives gate voltages corresponding to gray scale data of an image signal. These voltages determine the amount of current supplied to corresponding OLEDs. The luminance of the OLEDs is adjusted by controlling the intensity of current supplied to the OLEDs. The OLEDs may emit light of predetermined colors.
A field effect transistor (FET) is used as the driving transistor of each pixel. The FET has, as an inherent value, a gate voltage (threshold voltage Vth) at which current starts to flow between a source and drain. The current is proportional to a difference between the gate voltage and threshold voltage Vth (proportional to a square of this difference).
The threshold voltages of the driving transistors are irregular. Thus, even when the same gray scale voltage is applied to gates of the driving transistors, the amount of current supplied to respective OLEDs is often different from each other. Consequently, the luminance of light emitted from the OLEDs will differ from each other.


A method and an apparatus for providing a Local BreakOut (LBO) service in a wireless communication system are provided. In the method for providing an LBO service in a wireless communication system, after an access authentication procedure between an authentication server and a terminal, a femto gateway receives a subscriber profile including LBO service flow information from the authentication server to provide the LBO service flow information to a femto base station through initial service flow setting between the terminal and the femto gateway. The femto base station sets an LBO service flow through a Dynamic Service Addition (DSA) procedure. The terminal performs a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) procedure through the LBO service flow setting, and obtains an IP address for LBO based on the DHCP procedure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a broadband wireless communication system that supports a femto base station. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system structure and a method for providing a Local BreakOut (LBO) service when a terminal uses a femto base station.
2. Description of the Related Art
A femto cell denotes a cell in a cellular system that covers a very small service area such as a household or an office, and a base station that services the femto cell is called a femto base station. The femto base station is an ultra small base station that accesses a mobile communication core network via a broadband network installed in an indoor space such as a household or an office, and operates with low power. The femto base station provides various advantages such as extending the cellular coverage indoors, improving communication quality, and efficiently providing various wired/wireless fusion services. In addition, the femto base station provides many advantages for a subscriber and related service providers. For user convenience, handover for voice/data service between macro or femto cells should be guaranteed, and control of user access by an access control should be possible. In addition, differentiated charging/accounting alternatives according to a femto cell-based service scenario and reliable data should be provided.
A 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) group defines a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA)-based Home Node B (HNB) and a Long Term Evolution (LTE)-based Home evolved Node B (Home eNB) as a femto base station. In addition, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 standard calls a femto base station a WiMAX Access Point, and defines a network for a femto cell.
Currently, traffic of a terminal inside a femto cell is transmitted via a transmission path of a mobile communication service provider network. Therefore, data of all terminals in a femto cell should be transmitted via a transmission path of the mobile communication service provider network. That is, all Internet traffic occurring in hundreds of thousands to millions of femto base stations is transferred to an Internet network via a femto gateway of the mobile communication service provider. Based on this substantial amount of traffic, a femto service provider needs to operate a large-capacity femto gateway and a large-capacity core network that can process all traffic occurring in femto base stations. This acts as a factor that increases Capital expenditures (Capex) and Operational expenditures (Opex) of a service provider. In addition, in the case in which an existing macro network service provider intends to provide a femto service using an Access Service Network-GateWay (ASN-GW) of a macro system, a problem of having to increase the capacity of a macro core network occurs.
Therefore, a method and an apparatus for preventing a load from being concentrated on a femto gateway in a wireless communication system that supports a femto base station are required.

Method and apparatus for providing local breakout service in wireless communication system


An on-board battery assembly includes a cell stack, a blowing member, and a control component. The cell stack includes a plurality of cell modules. The cell stack has one side face that extends generally along a width axis orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the plurality of cell modules. The blowing member having a blow-out port that has a dimension generally equivalent to a dimension of the one side face. The blowing member includes a casing having a suction port and a flow channel. The flow channel has a width that becomes greater toward the blow-out port. The control component is provided in a space defined between the casing and a plane, which is perpendicular to the width axis, and which includes an end portion of the one side face.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an on-board battery assembly serving as a drive power source for a vehicle travel motor.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional on-board battery assembly is known as an apparatus described in JP-A-2003-346759, for example. The on-board battery assembly includes a cell stack, an air blower, and various control components. The cell stack includes multiple cells, and the air blower supplies cooling air to the cell stack. The various control components are related to the cell stack and the air blower.
Recently, the on-board battery assembly has been further required to be reduced in size because, for example, the on-board battery assembly is mounted in a boot of a hybrid electric vehicle, which has a limited mounting space. Although the on-board battery assembly described in JP-A-2003-346759 is made by integrating the cell stack, the air blower, and the various control components, the size of the whole apparatus is not reduced substantially. Thus, the apparatus is susceptible to the further improvement through study of the arrangement of the components.