A method and device for combustion of liquid fuels is presented which uses a plurality of rotating hydrogen flames to blast atomize and ignite a mechanically dispersed stream of the liquid fuel. This combustion method and device are particularly suited for heavy oil fuels, such as vegetable oils, which are not well burned using conventional burner technologies. This combustion method involves establishing a zone of combusting hydrogen and projecting a mechanically atomized dispersion of the liquid fuel into and through this zone of combusting hydrogen. The combusting hydrogen partially vaporizes and ignites the liquid fuel while the intense turbulence of the hydrogen combustion zone further disperses any remaining liquid fuel droplets. Once ignited and dispersed, the fuel oil continues to burn as it moves away from the hydrogen combustion zone. Since only a small amount of combusting hydrogen is utilized, the hydrogen can be generated by the electrolysis of water, which produces a 2:1 molar ratio of hydrogen and oxygen, or hydroxy, gas.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods of combusting high molecular weight liquid hydrocarbon fuels by co-firing with a more combustible supplemental fuel. More particularly, this invention presents a method and device that effectively combusts heavy hydrocarbon fuel oils by injecting them through a zone of combusting hydrogen where the oil is finely dispersed, partially vaporized and ignited. Since the method presented utilizes a relatively small amount of hydrogen fuel, a low-volume hydrogen source such as the electrolysis of water can be used to generate the required rates of hydrogen. Combustion of heavy oils using hydrogen generated from the electrolysis of water presents a significant achievement over present methods and devices which combust heavy fuel oils by co-firing with large amounts of natural gas. Using the combusting hydrogen to disperse the fuel oil provides the requisite degree of atomization without the need for compressed non-combustible gases, such as steam or air. When used with vegetable oils, the combustion method and device presented herein offers an economical alternative to producing heat energy using only renewable energy sources.
2. The Relevant Technology
Because high-molecular weight, or heavy liquid fuel oils are of such low volatility, a significant amount of heat and mechanical energy must be input to render these fuels into a readily combustible state. Typically, a heavy oil must be heated from ambient temperature to its flash point with even more heat applied to vaporize some of the oil molecules prior to combustion. Co-firing the heavy oil with a readily combustible gas is well known as an effective method of providing the heat load necessary to render the oil to a readily combustible state. Natural gas is presently the most common co-firing fuel since it is highly combustible and often the least costly supplemental fuel source. Natural gas is, however, a non-renewable energy source that may not readily available in some areas and may be subject to other competing domestic and industrial uses.
A majority of present burner designs employ various means of preheating, atomizing and mixing the heavy oil with the hot flue gases from the combusting co-firing fuel to improve heat transfer. Fuel atomization increases the exposed surface area of the liquid fuel, which increases the rate of vaporization. Three primary means are employed for atomizing the liquid fuel: 1) liquid feed nozzles, 2) high-pressure steam or air-assisted jetting, or 3) rotating cups. Examples of these atomizing methods include Pressure Jet Atomizers and, Steam or Air Assisted Jet Atomizers and Low pressure Air Atomizers. The Pressure Jet Atomizer utilizes high oil feed pressure to atomize the fuel into a spray of finely dispersed droplets. The fuel oil is fed into a swirl chamber by means of tangential ports in the main atomizer body. An air core is set up due to the vortex formed in the swirl chamber, which results in the fuel leaving the final orifice as a thin annular film. The angular and axial velocity of this film causes the fuel to develop into a hollow cone as it discharges from the orifice. One major problem with these types of burners is that the atomizer has a distorted spray angle as the fuel flow rates are reduced, which often results in fuel/flame impingement on the furnace walls.
The External-mix Steam Atomizer or Steam-assisted Pressure Jet Atomizer type burners are designed to make full use of pressure jet atomization at high firing rates and blast atomization at low firing rates. The external-mix style employs an atomizer with a pressure jet tip, around which is provided a steam supply channel. The steam exits this annular passage way through a gap at an angle and swirl that substantially matches the oil-spray cone angle. Since the fuel oil and steam are not pre-mixed, the output is unaffected by slight variations in the steam pressure. An alternate method is the internal-mix steam atomizer, which is comprised of two concentric tubes, a one-piece nozzle and a sealing nut. The steam is supplied through the center tube and the fuel oil through the outer tube. The outlet of the center steam tube has a number of discharge nozzles arranged on a pitch circle such that each oil bore meets a corresponding steam bore in a point of intersection. At the steam exits these nozzles, it mixes with the oil forming an emulsion of oil and steam at high pressure. The expansion of this mixture as it issues from the final orifice produces a spray of finely atomized oil.
The Rotary Cup atomizer employs a cup-shaped member that rotates at high speeds (around 5000 RPM) by an electric motor and belt drive. The fuel oil flows at low pressure into the conical spinning cup where it distributes uniformly on the inner surface and is spun off the cup rim as a very fine oil film. A primary air fan discharges air concentrically around the cup, striking the oil film at high velocity and atomizing it into tiny droplets. The rotary cup burner has good turn down ratio and is relatively insensitive to contaminants in the fuel oil. The Low-Pressure Air Atomizer employs a principle is similar to that of the rotary-cup-atomizing, but the liquid fuel is forced to rotate in a fixed cup by means of a forcefully rotating primary airflow.
Although the aforementioned burners are typically designed to combust lighter fuel oils, such as diesel fuel, they must be modified to combust heavier fuel oils. Typical modifications include equipping the combustion chamber or the area around the oil filming/atomizing device with a plurality of ports where a natural gas can be fed to the combustion zone. The natural gas is ignited first and the oil flow is started once a stable gas flame is established. As the molecular weight of the fuel oil increases, the amount of natural gas required to completely combust the oil also increases. Although natural gas is presently the most common co-firing fuel, the amount required to thoroughly combust a heavy oil can be substantial.
Hydrogen is generally known to be an improved co-firing fuel primarily because its heat of combustion and adiabatic flame temperature are much higher than methane, the primary constituent of natural gas (61,100 btu/ft3 versus 23,879 btu/lb on a gross basis, 3,861° F. versus 3,371° F.). For a typical direct co-firing burner, more than 2.5 times as much natural gas would be theoretically required to produce the same amount of heat as a given mass of combusting hydrogen. Also, hydrogen is further preferred over natural gas because it can be generated from renewable energy resources and its combustion product, water vapor, is more friendly to the environment. However, simply replacing natural gas with hydrogen is not generally feasible because even 2.5 times less gas rate would still constitute a significant hydrogen demand for a standard industrial-sized burner and methods do not presently exist that can economically generate and store large volumes of hydrogen for such an application.
Although the potential benefits of using hydrogen as a co-firing fuel are generally known, the practical difficulties of handling and combusting hydrogen have largely prevented the development of useful combustion devices employing hydrogen as a co-firing fuel. Hydrogen's extreme combustibility makes its generation, storage and handling expensive and potentially dangerous. Secondly, hydrogen's flame velocity is more than 8 times as fast as a typical heavy fuel oil flame velocity. This characteristic makes co-firing by conventional burners largely ineffective because the hydrogen burn rate substantially outpaces the fuel oil burn rate and the flame propagation may not be stable without a large excess of hydrogen.

Method and device for combusting liquid fuels using hydrogen


Apparatus and methods for detecting selected chemical compounds in air or other gas streams at room or ambient temperature includes a liquid-free humidity-resistant amperometric sensor comprising a sensing electrode and a counter and reference electrode separated by a solid electrolyte. The sensing electrode preferably contains a noble metal, such as Pt black. The electrolyte is water-free, non-hygroscopic, and substantially water-insoluble, and has a room temperature ionic conductivity .gtoreq.10.sup.-4 (ohm-cm).sup.-1, and preferably .gtoreq.0.01 (ohm-cm).sup.-1. The conductivity may be due predominantly to Ag+ ions, as in Ag.sub.2 WO.sub.4.4AgI, or to F- ions, as in Ce.sub.0.95 Ca.sub.0.05 F.sub.2.95. Electrical contacts serve to connect the electrodes to potentiostating and detecting circuitry which controls the potential of the sensing electrode relative to the reference electrode, detects the signal generated by the sensor, and indicates the detected signal.

This invention relates to chemical sensing apparatus and methods, and more particularly to apparatus comprising a solid-electrolyte, solvent-free, moisture-resistant amperometric sensor. Certain air contaminants may be either directly hazardous--e.g., acutely toxic or carcinogenic compounds, such as carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde (H.sub.2 CO), hydrazine (N.sub.2 H.sub.4), methyl hydrazine (CH.sub.3 N.sub.2 H.sub.3) or dimethyl hydraz1ne [(CH.sub.3).sub.2 N.sub.2 H.sub.2 ]--or they may be indicative of a hazard--e.g., methane (CH.sub.4) in coal mines or ethanol (CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 OH) in the driver's seat of a moving motor vehicle. Early detection of such compounds may permit or trigger timely actions (e.g., disabling an automobile ignition system) to prevent death or injury.
Although various detectors for such compounds exist, they are usually bulky and expensive. Commercially available electrochemical sensors are relatively small and cheap, but they usually require an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid electrolyte solution which necessitates proper containment and periodic replenishments (following evaporation or other losses). To extend the time intervals between replenishments, a liquid reservoir is usually provided that is much larger than what is needed for the sensing function, which in turn enlarges the size and weight of the sensor. The sensors are exposed to the air that is to be monitored or analyzed and interact therewith so as to produce a detectable signal or change in the presence of selected compounds. The electrochemical detectors may be of either of two different types, namely potentiometric or amperometric. The potentiometric sensors are usually less accurate than amperometric sensors and have several other disadvantages.
Amperometric sensors, which exhibit current flow that is proportional to the concentration of an analyte, usually contain a liquid electrolyte, either aqueous or non-aqueous. The liquid electrolyte may sometimes be gelled or confined within a water-permeated ion-exchange polymer. Such sensors, as well as their operating mechanisms and associated detection or measuring circuitry, are well known in the art. Most heretofore disclosed solid-state, solvent-free amperometric sensors require elevated temperatures for operation.
Ambient-temperature amperometric sensors comprising the solid-state ionic conductor silver rubidium iodide (Ag.sub.4 RbI.sub.5) have been disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 142266, issued in June 1987, for the detection of nitric oxide (NO), and by Buttner et al. (Proceedings of the 1987 Scientific Conference on Chemical Defense Research, 17-20 Nov. 1987, U.S. Army Chemical Research, Development, and Engineering Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., CRDEC-SP-88013, 1988, Vol. 2, pp. 1011-1017) for the detection of NO, CO, N.sub.2 H.sub.4 and CH.sub.3 N.sub.2 H.sub.3. However, the lifetime of the Ag.sub.4 RbI.sub.5 -based sensors turned out to be rather brief (<3 months) due to instability of Ag.sub.4 RbI.sub.5 to moisture in the air.
Other reported solid-electrolyte sensors operate at elevated temperatures (>100.degree. C.) and/or in the potentiometric mode. An amperometric sensor for the room temperature detection of methane is disclosed by Zaromb et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,414, issued on May 27, 1986. In this sensor, the potential of the sensing electrode is set high enough to effect the electro-oxidation of methane even at room temperature. However, the liquid non-aqueous electrolyte that is required to withstand the highly oxidizing working electrode potential presents confinement and replenishment problems.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an all-solid-state (i.e., substantially liquid-free) and room- or ambient-temperature-operating amperometric sensor for chemical detection that is not adversely affected by humidity.
It is another object of the invention to provide a chemical sensing apparatus comprising a long-lasting humidity-resistant solid-electrolyte amperometric sensor that operates at ambient temperature.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a chemical sensing apparatus comprising an array of differently selective, miniaturized, solid-electrolyte sensors for the selective detection of various hazardous or hazard-indicative air contaminants.
It is still another object of the invention to provide apparatus for the detection of hazardous or hazard-indicative compounds such as CO, NO, H.sub.2 CO, N.sub.2 H.sub.4, CH.sub.3 N.sub.2 H.sub.3, (CH.sub.3).sub.2 N.sub.2 H.sub.2, CH.sub.4, or CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 OH comprising one or more miniaturized, solid-electrolyte ambient-temperature amperometric sensors.
These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims.

Humidity-resistant ambient-temperature solid-electrolyte amperometric sensing apparatus


A magnetic memory array. A first bit line provides a first writing magnetic field to a magnetic memory cell. A second bit line provides a second writing magnetic field to a reference magnetic memory cell. A word line provides a third writing magnetic field to the magnetic memory cell and a fourth writing magnetic field to the reference magnetic memory cell. The third writing magnetic field exceeds the fourth writing magnetic field.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates in general to a memory circuit. In particular, the disclosure relates to magnetic random access memory (MRAM) circuits.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM) is a non-volatile memory used in long term data storage. The magnetic memory cell of MRAMs stores information by its magnetoresistance. When data is to be written to a magnetic memory cell, the magnetic memory cell is selected by providing magnetic fields respectively produced by a selected word line and bit line, and combined magnetic fields change the magnetic vector of the magnetic memory cell to change the resistance of the selected magnetic memory cell. When data is to be read from the selected magnetic memory cell, a sensing current passes through the selected magnetic memory cell, and the stored data is obtained according to the voltage difference across the selected magnetic memory cell.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional MRAM array. The conventional MRAM array comprises bit lines B1˜B3 and word lines W1˜W3. The magnetic memory cell located at the intersection of one bit line and word line comprises a soft magnetic layer (free ferromagnetic layer), a tunnel barrier layer, a hard magnetic layer (pinned ferromagnetic layer) and a non-magnetic conductor. The relative magnetic orientations of the free ferromagnetic layer and the pinned ferromagnetic layer represent logic values of "0" and "1", for example.
The magnetic memory cell is written to by the magnetic field generated by the selected word line and bit line. Thus, only the magnetic dipole moment of the selected magnetic memory cell is switched. For example, the magnetic fields generated by bit line B1 and word line W1 switch only the magnetic dipole moment of magnetic memory cell Cs, without changing the state of non-selected magnetic memory cells C12, C13, C21, and C31.
FIG. 2 shows a relationship between switching state of the magnetic memory cell and magnetic fields provided by the word line and bit line, referred to as an "asteroid curve". Horizontal magnetic field Hl is provided by the bit line, and vertical magnetic field Ht by the word line. According to the asteroid curve, the resistance of magnetic memory cell is switched when the horizontal magnetic field Hl is H0 without vertical magnetic field Ht. If vertical magnetic field Ht exists, a lower horizontal magnetic field Hl, less than H0, is able to switch the resistance of the selected magnetic memory cell.
In FIG. 2, the resistance of the selected magnetic memory cell is not switchable in area A. The selected magnetic memory cell is switched when outside the area A, to a first state (high resistance as an example) when the applied magnetic field is in the first quadrant, and to a second state (low resistance as an example) when in the second quadrant.
In an MRAM array, a reference magnetic memory cell is arranged for a predetermined number of bit lines (32 or 64). To read the selected magnetic memory cell Cs, a read current through data line D1, magnetic memory cell Cs and bit line B1 is provided. Another reference current through reference data line Dr, reference magnetic memory cell Cr and reference bit line Br is also provided. Data stored in magnetic memory cell Cs is obtained by comparing the voltage level at bit lines B1 and Br.
The asteroid curve of the conventional reference magnetic memory cell Cr is identical to the selected magnetic memory cell Cs, that is, the switch conditions of conventional reference magnetic memory cell Cr and magnetic memory cell Cs are the same. The resistance of reference magnetic memory cell Cr can be switched by providing writing currents to word line W1 and reference bit line Br, or providing strong writing current to reference bit line Br only.
However, as array size increases, it is difficult to ensure that each memory cell and reference memory cell have the same magnetic characteristics due to manufacturing process limitations, such as magnetic resistance ratio, coercivity and interlayer coupling. Most important is uniform distribution of coercivity, which affects the working range of writing currents. Sometimes, higher writing current is required as the coercivity distribution is not uniform. However, the increased writing current can switch resistance of the reference magnetic memory cell, disturbing reading results.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A method for making an optical assembly is disclosed. The method involves disposing a liquid optically clear composition with a coating head. The liquid optically clear composition is disposed onto a target substrate to form an optically clear adhesive layer for adhering elements in an optical assembly. The optical assembly includes a display panel bonded to another optical component and may be used in a display device.

Optical bonding may be used to adhere together two optical elements using an optical grade adhesive. In display applications, optical bonding may be used to adhere together optical elements such as display panels, glass plates, touch panels, diffusers, rigid compensators, heaters, and flexible films such as polarizers and retarders. The optical performance of a display can be improved by minimizing the number of internal reflecting surfaces, thus it may be desirable to remove or at least minimize the number of air gaps between optical elements in the display.
Liquid optically clear adhesives (LOCA) are becoming more prevalent in the display industry to fill the air gap between the optical elements. For example, LOCAs can fill the air gap between a coverglass and indium tin oxide (ITO) touch sensors, between ITO touch sensors and a liquid crystal module, or directly between the coverglass and the liquid crystal module.
Current methods of applying LOCAs either involve a dispensable fluid or the patterning of a thicker, potentially thixotropic, material with the use of a stencil or screen. The use of dispensable fluids involves flowable liquid OCAs such that they behave like a Newtonian fluid. To prevent flow beyond the desired printing area, the use of a pre-cured dam material (matching the refractive index of the LOCA) is often required. This involves an additional process step, and may still potentially lead to overflow of the LOCA if a precise amount is not dispensed and/or there is not perfect coplanarity between the two substrates that are being bonded with the LOCA.
The use of a screen for printing a LOCA has been described in Kobayashi et al. (U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2009/0215351). The use of a stencil for printing a LOCA has been described in PCT International Pub. No. WO 2012/036980. Both methods require passing the LOCA through a screen or a stencil to achieve the adhesive coating in the desired area on the substrate.

Method of coating liquid optically clear adhesives onto rigid substrates


An adjustable test socket for aligning an electronic device with spring probes in a test fixture is provided having two adjustable walls or four adjustable walls.

Test sockets for the semi-conductor industry revolve around being able to guarantee contact between the spring probes in the test socket and the device pad/ball. It has become increasingly difficult to guarantee contact because of the variance in the package size of a chip and the variance of the pitch between the pads on the chip, along with the increased density of pads. A variety of errors may be reported for a tested device due to one or more probes contacting the wrong pad(s), contacting the edge of a pad resulting in poor contact between a test probe and pad, or a test probe simply missing the target pad all together. As a result, perfectly good devices may be rejected as defective driving up the cost of manufacturing or the end product.


A process for detecting a threat for a file system is described. Audit events in the file system may be accessed, which may include unique file operations and duplicative file operations. The audit events may be de-duplicated to remove the duplicative file operations. Time series data may be generated that includes the unique file operations but not the duplicative file operations, and the time series data may be analyzed to determine whether a subset of the unique file operations includes file-access instructions. An observed pattern of the file-access instructions may be compared to a normal pattern of file-access instructions to determine whether the observed file-access instructions are abnormal. If the observed file-access instructions are abnormal, an alert may be generated.

The amount and type of data that is collected, analyzed and stored is increasing rapidly over time. The compute infrastructure used to handle this data is also becoming more complex, with more processing power and more portability. As a result, data management and storage are increasingly important. One aspect of this is reliable data backup and storage, and fast data recovery in cases of failure. Another aspect is data portability across locations and platforms.
At the same time, ransomware has become a major cyber-security threat over the past few years. In this regard, data security regulations such as those mandated in the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) place strict notification obligations on data holders. The GDPR is a regulation in EU law relating to data protection and privacy for all individuals within the European Union and the European Economic Area. The regulation also addresses the export of personal data outside the EU and EEA areas, such as into the United States. Under the GDPR regulation, if there is a data breach the data holder is required to notify all affected users very quickly. Thus, the rapid detection of ransomware or unauthorized access to data is critical.
Conventional attempts to solve these challenges have drawbacks. For example, signature-based ransomware detection is ineffective because ransomware can avoid detection by using different signatures. In addition, behavioral analysis-based approaches tax computational resources. In any large organization with multiple disparate file systems, protecting against ransomware invasion is a resource-consuming task. Status-based detection systems that look for system changes at specified time intervals as evidence of possible misappropriation do not operate in real time and do not solve the technical challenge of how to provide rapid notification after a ransomware event. Moreover, status-based systems do not typically identify an affected user or unauthorized actor in any event.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Real-time detection of misuse of system credentials


A compression sleeve is combined to a microphone cable. A small-diameter cylindrical portion is compressed on the outer peripheral side of a folded portion of a shielding cable. Thus, the compression sleeve is electrically connected to the shielding cable. A large-diameter cylindrical portion covers a connection portion between a connector and the microphone cable. The large-diameter cylindrical portion and a connector housing are fitted with each other. A bush covers the compression sleeve. Inner periphery of the connector housing is in contacts and presses the outer periphery of the large-diameter cylindrical portion. The large-diameter cylindrical portion has a flange on the outer surface. The flange contacts and presses an end of the connector housing on closer to the microphone cable by the shoulder portion of the bush.

1. The present invention relates to a connector for a capacitor microphone and in particular to a shielding structure and a shielding method of such a connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Capacitor microphones have high impedance microphone units and thus an impedance converter including a field-effect transistor (FET) is used therein.
In tie pin microphones and gooseneck microphones, a microphone is made less noticeable with the following structure. An impedance converter is incorporated in a microphone unit. A low-cut circuit and an output circuit axe stored in a circuit storage provided separately with the microphone unit, and the microphone unit and the circuit storage are connected to each other via, a dedicated microphone cable. The microphone unit converts sound into an electric signal. The sound signal thus made is transmitted to the circuit storage to be output from the output circuit therein. The circuit storage incorporating the low-cut circuit and the output circuit is referred to as a power module.
The dedicated microphone cable connecting the microphone unit to the power module is a two-core shielding cable formed of: a power wire through which power is supplied to the capacitor microphone; a signal wire through which a sound signal output from the impedance converter is fed to the power module; and a shielding cable for electric shielding and grounding the wires.
The sound signal, which is transmitted through the dedicated microphone cable in ah unbalanced state, is vulnerable to external noise, i.e., is easily affected by external electromagnetic, waves. Specifically, electro-magnetic waves reaching the dedicated microphone cable from the exterior enters the microphone unit or the power module through the microphone cable. Then, the electromagnetic waves are detected by a semiconductor element forming the microphone unit or the power module to be mixed into the sound signal as noise.
An output from the microphone is output, from the power module through the balanced shielding cable. Still, if strong electromagnetic waves are, applied to the microphone or the output cable of the microphone, high frequency current enters the microphone through the microphone cable and via a microphone connector and is demodulated in the impedance converter to be output from the microphone as noise in an audible frequency level.
The microphone cable can be attached and detached to and from the microphone via a threepin type microphone connector (a connecter specified in EIAJ RC-5236 "Latch Lock Type Round Connector for Acoustic Equipment". First to third pins of the threepin type microphone connector are generally used for grounding, a hot side of a signal, and a cold side of a signal, respectively.
In a connector mounted oh a general microphone cable, core wires and a shielding cable of the cable are directly connected to male and female parts, of the connector that are in contact with each other by means of soldering and the like, and the first pin is connected to a housing of the connector made of metal through a lead wire. Accordingly, impedance for high frequency waves is present between the shield of the microphone cable and the connector housing allowing the high frequency current to enter therethrough.
FIG. 4 exemplary illustrates a conventional connector of a capacitor microphone used for a dedicated microphone cable. In FIG. 4, the reference numeral 10 denotes the connector. The connector 10 is a female connector and is electrically connected to a male connector of a microphone not illustrated when the male connector of the microphone is inserted therein. The connector 10 is of a threepin type and includes: three pins that fit the male connector of the microphone; and terminal plates that are electrically integrated with the pins and protrude from the rear end of the connector 10. Core wires 23 and 24 and a shielding cable 22 on one side of the microphone cable 20 are connected to the respective terminal plates by means of soldering. The microphone cable 20 is passed through an insulating sleeve 60, a sleeve 70, and a bush 40 in this order at its outer periphery.
The insulating sleeve 60 has an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the connector 10 and covers the connection, portion between one end of the microphone cable 20 and the connector 10 to protect the connection portion and prevent short-circuit thereat. The sleeve 70 includes a cylindrical part 71 having an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the sleeve 60 and covers the connection portion between one end of the microphone cable 20 and the connector 10 with a certain space provided therearound, and claws 72 for compressing the outer peripheral surface of the microphone cable 20, the surface formed of an insulating cover, to allow the sleeve 70 to be integrally connected to the microphone cable 20. The bush 40 includes a root portion 41 of a tapered shape having the inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the microphone cable 20 and a cover 42 that has a diameter larger than that of the root section 41 and can cover the sleeve 70.
The connector 10 is fitted in a cylindrical connector housing 50 that is long enough to cover the connector 10, the insulating sleeve 60, and the cylindrical part 71 of the sleeve 70. Outer periphery on the rear side of the connector housing 50 fits the inner periphery on the front side of the bush 40.
FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate an assembling sequence. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the connector 10 and the microphone cable 20 are connected with each other with the terminal plates of the connector 10 soldered to the respective wires and the cable of the microphone cable 20. The microphone cable 20 is so passed through the insulating sleeve 60 and the sleeve 70 before or after the soldering that the front end of the insulating sleeve 60 abuts the rear end of the connector 10, and the front end of the cylindrical part 71 of the sleeve 70 abuts the rear end of the insulating sleeve 60, whereas the claws 72 of the sleeve 70 is compressed to connect the sleeve 70 to the microphone cable 20 as illustrated in FIG. 4B. Then, the outer periphery on the rear side of the connector housing 50 covering the connecter 10, the insulating sleeve 60, and the sleeve 70 is fitted to the inner periphery on the front side of the bush 40, thereby integrating the connector housing 50 and the bush 40. Thus, the connector is formed with the connector hosing 50 and the bush 40 as well as the connector 10, the insulating sleeve 60, the sleeve 70, and the microphone cable 20 integrally connected.
In the conventional example illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4C, a shielding structure is provided to the connector portion by connecting the shielding cable 22 to the sleeve 70 that fixes the microphone cable 20 to internally connect the shielding cable 22 to the connector housing 50. The shielding cable 22 of the microphone cable 20 and the connector housing 50 are electrically discontinuous because the insulating sleeve 60 and the sleeve 70 are provided between the microphone cable 20 and the connector housing 50. Unfortunately, the discontinuous portion serves as a hole (an opening) for external high-frequency wave and electromagnetic waves passes therethrough.
FIG. 5 illustrates a shielding structure for a microphone cable that is proposed to solve the problem the conventional example illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4C has. In FIG. 5, one end of the shielding cable 22 of the microphone cable 20 covering the core wires is folded in the opposite direction to be placed on a sheath of the microphone cable 20. This folded portion 21 is passed through a small-diameter cylindrical part 81 of a sleeve 80. The sleeve 80 and the shielding cable 22 are electrically connected and the sleeve 80 and the microphone cable 20 are connected by compressing the small-diameter cylindrical part 81. The sleeve 80 also includes a large-diameter cylindrical part 83 having an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the connector housing 50 at the rear end. The connector housing 50 fits the outer periphery of the large-diameter cylindrical part 83 to make the sleeve 80 electrically connected to the connector housing 50.
The conventional example illustrated in FIG. 5 aims to provide higher shielding effect compared with that provided by the conventional example illustrated in FIG. 4 by providing continuous shielding structure by electrically connecting the sleeve 80 and the connector housing 50. Unfortunately, the connection can be no more than a point contact and sufficient shielding effect cannot be provided because the connector housing 50 and the sleeve 80 only have their opposing end surfaces pressed against each other.
FIG. 6 illustrates a shielding structure of a microphone connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-67165. In FIG. 6, a structure is proposed in which the connector housing 50 and the bush 40 are integrated by fitting the outer periphery oh the rear side of the connector housing 50 covering the connector 10, the insulating sleeve 60, and a large-diameter cylindrical part 31 of a compression sleeve 30 to the inner periphery on the front side of the bush 40. In the connector with such a structure, the integral connection of the connector housing 50 and the bush 40 is accompanied by the integral connection between the connector 10, the insulating sleeve 60, the compression sleeve 30 and the microphone cable 20. In this conventional example, the connection portion of the connector 10 and the microphone cable 20 is covered by the large-diameter cylindrical part 31 of the compression sleeve 30. A small-diameter cylindrical part 32 of the compression sleeve 30 is fitted to the outer peripheral side of the folded portion of the shielding cable 22 at the end of the microphone cable 20 and is compressed to be electrically connected to the shielding cable 22 of the microphone cable 20. The large-diameter cylindrical part 31 of the compression sleeve 30 is fitted to the connector housing 50. All things considered, the connection portion between the connector 10 and the microphone cable 20 is continuously shielded from the shielding cable 22 of the microphone cable 20 to the connector housing 50. Thus, the shielding effect is increased.
A structure is proposed with an invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-300598 in which, in addition to the structure described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-67165 illustrated in FIG. 6, the large-diameter cylindrical part 31 of the compression sleeve 30 and the connector housing 50 are fitted to each other with the sleeve 70 that is conductive and is made of an elastic material and having a cross-sectional, shape of a wave form provided therebetween. The sleeve 70 that is conductive electrically connects the compression sleeve 30 and the connector housing 50 integrally at multiple points. Furthermore, a structure is proposed in which the shield is galvanically separated by using a capacitor sleeve having a capacitor structure in stead of the sleeve 70 that is conductive.
In the inventions disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-67165 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-300598, the shield is formed by connecting the outer periphery of the compression sleeve 30 to the inner periphery of the connector housing 50. Therefore, electro-magnetic waves may enter the connector housing 50 through gaps between the connector housing 50 and the bush 40 and between the bush 40 and the compression sleeve 30 as illustrated in FIG. 6 with arrows A. Electro-magnetic waves can enter through whatever gap formed in an apparatus as illustrated with the arrows A like liquid entering through a gap. The entrance of electro-magnetic waves leads to the generation of noise in the microphone.
Less attention being paid on shielding at the connector as described above is resulting in the entrance of electro-magnetic waves through the connection portion to have noise mixed into a sound signal.
Due to recent spread of cell phones, electro-magnetic waves of a high frequency exist everywhere in our daily lives. Thus, chances of a high frequency signal entering the microphone cable through its connector to have noise mixed into a sound signal is increasing. Capacitor microphones are especially vulnerable to the high frequency signal from a cell phone used nearby and the high frequency signal entering through the connection portion turns into noise.


The present invention relates to novel antigen binding domains and heterodimeric antibodies that bind Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP).

Antibody-based therapeutics have been successfully used to treat a variety of diseases, including cancer. An increasingly prevalent avenue being explored is the engineering of single immunoglobulin molecules that co-engage two different antigens. Such alternate antibody formats that engage two different antigens are often referred to as bispecific antibodies. Because the considerable diversity of the antibody variable region (Fv) makes it possible to produce an Fv that recognizes virtually any molecule, the typical approach to bispecific antibody generation is the introduction of new variable regions into the antibody.
A particularly useful approach for bispecific antibodies is to engineer a first binding domain that engages CD3 and a second binding domain that engages an antigen associated with or upregulated on cancer cells so that the bispecific antibody redirects CD3+ T cells to destroy the cancer cells. However, tumor cells may shed these antigens as part of cancer immunoediting (Hochst and Diehl, 2012), contributing to their immune escape and decreasing the efficacy of such treatments which target cancer-associated antigens. Therefore, another approach is to target other cells in the tumor environment known to support tumor cell survival.
Fibroblasts represent a majority of stromal cells in the tumor environment. These cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been reported to promote tumor survival and proliferation (Orimo & Weinberg, Cell Cycle 5(15): 1597-1601 (2006); Xing et al., Front Biosci. 15: 166-170 (2011)), for example by providing growth factors for angiogenesis and by encouraging an immunosuppressive environment, and have been associated with poor prognosis (Underwood et al, J. Path 235: 466-477 (2015)).
Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a serine protease involved in extracellular matrix remodeling (Kelly et al. 2012). As shown herein, FAP is found to be generally elevated in CAFs in comparison with normal tissue, thus, making FAP a suitable target for cancer therapies.
Provided herein are novel FAP binding domains and antibodies that include such binding domains (e.g., FAP×CD3 bispecific antibodies). Such FAP binding domains and related antibodies find use, for example, in the treatment of FAP associated cancers.

Heterodimeric antibodies that bind fibroblast activation protein


Provided is a chuck device that allows appropriate and easy setting of a discharging direction of working fluid. A chuck device configured to be attached to a spindle of a machine tool for gripping a cutting tool, in which inside the chuck device, there are provided a passage in which a working fluid flows and a discharge opening provided at a leading end opening of the passage through which the working fluid is discharged toward to the cutting tool. A discharging direction of the working fluid from the discharge opening is set opposite to a rotational direction of the cutting tool and set with a tilt of an angle calculated by a mathematical formula to a tangential direction of a rotation trajectory of the center of the discharge opening relative to a direction of an axis of the cutting tool.

A chuck device is attached to a spindle of a machine tool and used for holding the cutting tool. In such chuck device, a passage of the working fluid is sometimes provided for supplying a necessary amount of working fluid from this passage to the cutting tool engaged in a cutting work. The working fluid referred to herein is liquid or gas to be supplied for such purpose as cooling of a cutting edge which becomes heated due to friction with a work to be machined or flushing away cutting or milling debris. For allowing such working fluid to be supplied to a cutting tool engaged in a cutting work, chuck devices provided with variety of improvements have been developed.
For instance, in the case of a chuck device disclosed in PTL 1, in order to discharge working fluid through a nozzle hole to a cutting edge, the nozzle hole is formed obliquely to be directed to a target working point of the cutting tool. Working fluid discharged from the chuck device in the course of a cutting work is exposed to a rotational force of the chuck device. However, by discharging the working fluid from the nozzle hole toward the axis of the cutting tool, the influence of the rotational force of the chuck to the discharged working fluid is lessened.
Yet, with the chuck device disclosed in PTL 1, since the nozzle hole is provided at a position away from the cutting tool, there is a risk of the working fluid being scattered away before reaching the cutting tool. To solve this problem, it is conceivable e.g. to increase the discharging pressure of the working fluid. In this case, however, there is a need to improve the pressure-resistant performance of the chuck device as a whole, so the manufacture cost of the chuck device will increase. Further, if the discharging pressure is increased, the fluid pressure of the working fluid applied to the cutting tool is increased also. For this reason, the working fluid supplied to the cutting tool may be bounced back from the cutting tool to be scattered about, so that a sufficient amount of the working fluid may not be supplied to the cutting edge.
In view of the above, in a chuck device disclosed in PTL 2, the present applicant proposed an arrangement in which a passage is provided for supplying working fluid to a cutting tool and the discharging direction of the working fluid is set opposite to the rotational direction.


A method is provided for using an application (18) in a mobile station (1). The application has a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. The first mode of operation is passive. In the second mode of operation the application (18) controls a master control unit (MCU) of the mobile station (1). Also provided is a system for making payments, comprising at least one mobile station (1) which has an associated application (18), a component for using the application (18), and a first transceiver (IR, 20, RF) for providing local data transfer. The system also comprises at least one cash register (21) or the like, which has a second transceiver for providing data transfer (IR2). The application (18) has a capability for causing data to be transferred from the first transceiver (IR) to the second transceiver (IR2).

The invention relates to a method for using applications in a mobile station, a mobile station (also called a mobile radio communication unit), and a system for effecting payments.
There are prior art mobile phones in which the control card includes a subscriber identification unit, such as the SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) used in GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) standard based systems. The SIM comprises a control unit CPU (Central Processing Unit), program memory ROM (Read Only Memory), data memory suited for long-term storage EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and operation memory suited for saving data during use RAM (Random Access Memory). For using the mobile phone, a PIN (Personal Identification Number) number saved on the SIM must be given, generally when the mobile phone is switched on. Other user-specific information, such as telephone numbers, messages, etc. can also be saved in the data memory of the SIM.
There are now also mobile phones which have a data connector for connecting an external data processing unit, such as a portable computer. Thus the mobile phone can be used as a means for data transfer between the portable computer and some other data processing equipment through a radio communication network. In this way it is possible to establish a connection e.g. to the user's bank for checking the balance and effecting payments. However, an arrangement of this kind is not very practical, because a separate cable is needed between the computer and the mobile phone. In addition, the computer must be available for establishing e.g. a bank connection.
Wireless systems, so called smart cards or payment cards, are also known, the said cards being mostly used in payment applications, such as making payments in buses and public telephones. Smart cards like this generally include a central processing unit, a program memory and a data memory. The internal operation of the card in use is controlled by the CPU in accordance with the program code stored in the program memory. The data memory is used for saving information relating to the intended use of the smart card, such as its value in money. For performing the payment transaction, the card also contains means for data transfer, such as a transmitter/receiver based on electromagnetic induction. A disadvantage of smart cards of this kind is, e.g., the fact that several different cards may be needed for different kinds of payment, and so the user must carry a large number of cards. In addition, when the amount of money loaded in the card has been consumed, one needs to buy a new card or load a new amount of money in the card at a sales outlet offering a loading service.
The Japanese patent application JP 4 083 447 presents a mobile phone to which it is possible to add more properties by means of a separate memory card. An application like this is preferably arranged for a certain use, such as for increasing the saving capacity or the telephone number memory. Applications like this are based on a method in which the central processing unit of the mobile phone reads the data saved in the applications (memory cards) and operates in a predetermined way required by the data. A disadvantage of this method is the fact that the functions needed for performing different operations of the applications must be programmed to the central processing unit CPU in advance, whereby the development of new applications also requires changes in the programs of the central processing unit.
The international patent application WO 91/12698 presents a mobile phone to which it is possible to add properties by means of a separate add-in card, such as a smart card. In this way it is possible to restrict the use of the phone by preventing foreign calls, long-distance calls or calls to service numbers, for example. The information about call restrictions is saved on an add-in card which the user has to install in the mobile phone when it is being used. Thus the main use of this method is to prevent the use of some properties of the mobile phone.

Method for using applications in a mobile station, a mobile station and a system for effecting payments


An apparatus includes a first node configured to transmit both data frames and requests for channel reservations to a local contention neighborhood of a network. The first node is configured to compete with other nodes of the neighborhood for reservations to the channel. The first node is configured to dynamically update a stored value of an access priority for the first node and to transmit said requests with a rate that depends on the stored value.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for scheduling accesses to a shared communications channel.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Recently, the popularity of wireless local area networks (WLANs) has surged. Now, WLANs provide data connectivity in places such as offices, homes, campuses, and supermarkets. WLANs have even become an integral part of many next-generation communications networks.
A WLAN typically operates without completely centralized control of accesses to the shared wireless channel. Scheduling accesses to a channel without complete centralized control of the accesses is typically referred to as distributed scheduling. In distributed scheduling, the nodes of a local contention neighborhood compete for access to the channel. In particular, the nodes individually determine whether to attempt to access the channel. For that reason, two of the nodes may transmit to the channel during time periods that overlap.
When two transmissions to a channel temporally overlap the transmissions collide. In a wireless channel, a collision often jumbles both transmissions so that a receiver cannot determine the complete content of either transmission. Thus, the colliding transmissions typically have to be resent, and the collision causes an effective reduction in communications bandwidth in a wireless channel.
Though collisions are inherent to distributed scheduling, methods are available for reducing the undesired effects of collisions. Some methods synchronize the temporal slots for transmissions in the channel so that the nodes of a local contention neighborhood agree on the boundaries of time slots for transmissions. For that reason, the nodes of the neighborhood will wait for the beginning of a time slot to attempt a new transmission. This synchronization typically lowers collision rates thereby increasing the bandwidth effectively available for transmissions. Some methods use time periods for competing for channel reservations and separate time periods for transmitting data frames. These methods limit collisions to the time periods reserved for competing for channel reservations. By making the time periods reserved for the transmitting data frames long compared to those reserved for competing for channel reservations these later methods can also reduce effective bandwidth losses associated with collisions.
While the above-described methods help to reduce effective bandwidth losses due to collisions such losses still occur when distributed scheduling is used.

Distributed scheduling in wireless networks with service differentiation


A pendulum vacuum gate valve comprised of a housing for enclosing a valve plate assembly having a pair of air pressure actuated floating seal plates disposed on opposite sides of the valve plate assembly which is actuated by a gate arm to reciprocate between open and closed positions and intermediate stop positions for controlling gas flow between intake and exhaust conduits connected to the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gate valve for gas flow control in vacuum systems.
More particularly it relates to a pendulum vacuum gate valve having a first axis of motion for moving the valve plate assembly into and out of a gas flow conduit for large scale flow control throttling and a second axis of motion for fine scale flow control throttling and sealing the valve plate assembly in the passageway.
Specifically the present invention relates to a motor driven pendulum gate valve for vacuum systems which is actuated in a first axis of rotational motion of the valve assembly transverse to the gas flow to control relatively large scale volume gas flow in the system. The valve assembly is actuated in a second axis of motion longitudinal to the gas flow by air pressure to throttle comparatively fine scale volume gas flow and to alternatively seal both sides of the valve plate assembly from within the housing whereby both actuating mechanisms are sealed and separated from the vacuum chamber environment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of gate valves in one form or another for the purpose of controlling gas flow in vacuum systems and lines is known in the prior art. However, despite the numerous designs, structures, forms, and variety of apparatus disclosed by and utilized in the prior art, and which have been developed for the accomplishment of the specific objectives, purposes, and requirements of gas flow control in vacuum environments, the devices, machines, and constructions which have been hereto-fore devised and utilized to accomplish these goals consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious configurations, combinations, and arrangements, of well known structural forms and apparatus. This will become apparent from the following consideration of the the closest known and relevant prior art.
In thin film processing, as the size of the silicon wafer increases and the geometry of the device decreases, there is an ever greater need for uniform pressure and flow control in a wafer process chamber. Pendulum valves are often used to control flow/pressure in vacuum chambers and are typically located between a chamber and the vacuum pump. In these pendulum valves, the valve plate can typically move from a fully open to a fully closed position. This generally involves rotating a valve plate assembly transversely from an open position in the gas flow channel to an interposed condition and then moving the seal plates vertically, or longitudinally within the channel, to the closed position to seal the valve.
Prior art pendulum valves typically use a rotating shaft to swing the valve plate assembly between open and closed positions. Usually a secondary mechanism which uses air cylinders, cams, or linkage converts horizontal motion into vertical movement of the valve plate assembly to make a tight seal. These prior art mechanisms are complex and relatively dirty for use in vacuum chamber conditions and create maintenance problems. The actuation mechanisms are usually exposed to the gas flow inside the valve housing and are a common source for contaminant origination in a vacuum environment. Wear and rubbing of the operative parts of the valve generate the contaminants to the vacuum environment reducing yield and causing prolonged maintenance downtime.
In situations where valves operate under heated conditions, the reliability of mechanical linkages is further reduced. The pendulum vacuum gate valve contemplated according to the present invention has no linkages, no rubbing or wearing surfaces, and this allows high-temperature bake with no adverse effects. The present invention departs substantially from the conventional concepts and designs used by the prior art, and in doing so, provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of overcoming the problems as described above. However, it accomplishes the result in a different manner with an optimally designed apparatus for producing an improved pendulum vacuum gate valve which is more effective, cleaner, more reliable, and bakeable (can be subjected to high temperature heating).


The present disclosure provides a blockchain platform having functionality that enables blockchain nodes to be shared among multiple entities while maintaining security with respect to the blockchain. Blockchain platforms of embodiments include a hash function (also referred to as a chain-code) that enables attributes to be generated and attached to user identifiers, where the attributes associate users with specific entities supported by the blockchain. For shared nodes, the attribute may be utilized, at least in part, to control access permissions to data recorded to the blockchain. Embodiments of blockchain platforms may find particular utility when applied to complex use cases involving multiple entities.

The manufacturing industry has become increasingly distributed with many different actors (e.g., suppliers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), etc.) that are often distributed across different geographic regions (e.g., cities, states, countries, continents, and the like). While the distributed nature of modern manufacturing provides various advantages (e.g., reduced costs, sourcing materials close to the manufacturing site, etc.), the manufacturing industry is still faced with many problems. For example, suppliers may manufacture and supply parts, sub-assemblies, assemblies, or other components that may be used to manufacture machines or other types of equipment or devices. The OEMs may source components from multiple suppliers and combine them to produce a single machine or piece of equipment, which may then be provided to a client for use in the relevant industry.
Suppliers typically create various types of data related to the components they manufacture. For example, a supplier may generate a set of specifications for a component, test data associated with testing of the component, maintenance data, manufacture data, and performance data, which may provide various details about the component, its requirements, and proper maintenance of the component. Presently, only portions of this information may be provided to the OEM, resulting in improper operation, maintenance, and monitoring of a machine or piece of equipment that incorporates the component(s). For example, the supplier may provide the OEM with the specifications data, but may not provide the maintenance or test data. While the OEM may perform its own testing, such testing by the OEM is typically related to the finally assembled machine or equipment and cannot provide details regarding testing of any single component that is incorporated into the machine or piece of equipment. As a result, clients (e.g., entities taking possession of the machines or equipment produced by the OEMs) may operate the machines or equipment within appropriate limits specified by OEMs but those limits may not be appropriate for individual components of the machines or equipment. This can lead to unsafe environments and operating conditions, as well as reduce the lifespan of the machine or equipment.
Another problem that exists in present industry practice is the inability to monitor conditions in which machines and equipment are operated, such as the loads a machine or equipment is subjected to during operation. As a result, when an accident or failure occurs, it may be difficult to determine the cause of the failure. For example, if the supplier specifies a first load for a component provided to an OEM, where the first load is determined for the component specifically, the OEM may determine a load for the machine or equipment that incorporates the component based on testing of the machine or equipment in its finally assembled form (i.e., the OEM may not test the load bearing capabilities of the individual components). This could result in a situation where the supplier specifies a first load requirement and the OEM may specify a second (higher) load requirement that could lead to unsafe operating conditions or damage to the machine or equipment. If a failure occurs due to the component being overloaded, it may be difficult to identify the cause as being related to an improper loading of the component after the fact (e.g., because it may be difficult to isolate the cause of the failure as being related to a specific component being overloaded as opposed to the assembled machine or equipment).
Blockchain technology may provide a solution that offers a trustworthy data storage mechanism for the exemplary industrial and manufacturing examples described above—however, several challenges must be addressed by such a blockchain solution. Blockchain platforms are typically supported by a plurality of nodes deployed by the participants of the blockchain platform and deployment of such nodes may be cost prohibitive and/or technologically prohibitive to some participants (e.g., entities that lack the technical expertise to deploy blockchain nodes or cannot afford the costs of deploying and maintaining a blockchain node). Thus, while blockchain platforms provide functionality that may be beneficial to certain real world use cases, it may be difficult to implement blockchain-based solutions. An additional challenge with blockchain solutions is control over data deployed to the blockchain platform. For example, while it may be acceptable to an entity for some third parties to have access to the data the entity has recorded to the blockchain, that entity may not want all third party entities to have access to the data. Accordingly, blockchain solutions may be further complicated by the data access requirements of a particular use case. Data authenticity is another challenge that blockchain platforms face. Data recorded to the blockchain may be stored as immutable records, but blockchain technologies do not necessarily provide mechanisms that allow the author of data recorded to the blockchain to be controlled. This creates the potential for situations where data may be recorded to the blockchain by one entity in a manner that creates the appearance that the data was recorded by a different entity. In view of the foregoing deficiencies, it is to be understood that while blockchain technology may offer some advantages over other data management and storage technologies, care should be taken when creating blockchain-based solutions for real world applications to ensure that any deployed blockchain solution addresses the needs of the real world application and protects the entities participating in the blockchain platform.

Asset management, registry, and tracking on shared blockchain nodes


A fuel metering unit includes a metering valve and a sensor. The metering valve includes a valve body movably disposed within a valve housing. The valve body defines a first bore that extends from a first valve body end towards a second valve body end along a first axis and a first window that extends through the valve body along a second axis. The sensor extends at least partially through the valve housing and faces towards the first window. The sensor being arranged to provide a signal indicative of a position of the first window relative to the sensor.

Gas turbine engine fuel control systems may incorporate fuel metering units that regulate the supply of fuel to the gas turbine engine. The performance of the fuel metering unit is affected by the performance of the fuel pump. Traditionally, the fuel pump performance is not directly measured, making an assessment of the remaining life of the fuel metering unit or the fuel pump difficult.


In a power source circuit shutoff apparatus, with the lever rotated from a connector mating start position to a connector mating completion position, a pair of first signal terminals and a pair of second signal terminals are brought into on-state after a pair of first main terminals and a pair of second main terminals are brought into on-state. With the lever rotated from the connector mating completion position to the connector mating start position, a pair of first main terminals and a pair of second main terminal are brought into off-state after a pair of first signal terminals and a pair of second signal terminals are brought into off-state. The pair of first signal terminals and the pair of second signal terminals are each disposed along a straight line extending in a direction perpendicular to a rotational spindle direction of the lever.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power source circuit shutoff apparatus for connecting and shutting off a power source circuit by mating and separating connector housings equipped with a lever.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in electric vehicles (EV) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), there is proposed a power source circuit shutoff apparatus (service plug) for shutting off an energizing between a power source portion and a load so as to secure operational safety in such occasions as maintenance of an electric system (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2002-298704)).
As a power source circuit shutoff apparatus, the present inventor has proposed one shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a power source circuit shutoff apparatus 100 is provided with a first connector housing 110, a second connector housing 120 configured to be mated with and separated from the first connector housing 110, and a lever 130 rotatably provided at the second connector housing 120 and configured to cause a mating force or a separating force to the first connector housing 110 and the second connector housing 120 by rotation.
A pair of cam pins 111 are protrudingly provided on respective side faces of the first connector housing 110. A pair of first main terminals 113 (refer to FIG. 2) are disposed in a connector mating chamber 110a provided at the first connector housing 110. A pair of first signal terminals 116 are disposed in an external hood portion 115 provided at the first connector housing 110.
A pair of rotational shafts 121 (refer to FIG. 1) are protrudingly provided on respective side faces of the second connector housing 120. A pair of second main terminals 122 (refer to FIG. 3) each of which is configured to be mated with and separated from one of the pair of first main terminals 113 are provided in the second connector housing 120.
A pair of rotation receiving grooves 131 are formed on respective side faces of the lever 130. Each of the pair of rotational shafts 121 of the second connector housing 120 is pivotally supported to one of the pair of rotation receiving grooves 131. By this configuration, the lever 130 is rotatably supported on the second connector housing 120. Further, a pair of cam grooves 132 are provided on respective side faces of the lever 130. Each of a pair of cam pins 111 of the first connector housing 110 is inserted into one of the pair of cam grooves 132. A pair of second signal terminals 134 are disposed in a hood portion 133 provided at a side face portion of the lever 130.
A main circuit switch (not shown) includes the first main terminals 113 and the second main terminals 122. On the other hand, a signal circuit switch (not shown) includes the first signal terminals 116 and the second signal terminals 134.
Hereinafter, a conducting operation of a power source circuit of the power source circuit shutoff apparatus 100 will be explained. The second connector housing 120 is inserted into a connector mating chamber (not shown) of the first connector housing 110 and the cam pin 111 is inserted into an inlet of the cam groove 132 of the lever 130. The first connector housing 110 and the second connector housing 120 are brought into a connector mating start state.
Rotating the lever 130 from a connector mating start position to a connector mating completion position side moves the cam pin 111 in the cam groove 132, to thereby cause the mating force to the first connector housing 110 and the second connector housing 120 such that the second connector housing 120 is gradually inserted into the connector mating chamber of the first connector housing 110. Then, the pair of first main terminals 113 and the pair of second main terminals 122 are brought into a contact state. This operation turns on the main circuit switch (not shown) in a connector mating operation position.
Further rotating of the lever 130 gradually brings the pair of first signal terminals 116 and the pair of second signal terminals 134 into contact with each other, thereby causing a complete contact state in the operation completion position of the lever 130. This operation turns on a signal circuit switch (not shown) in the operation completion position of the lever 130. In the power source circuit shutoff apparatus 100, it is not until the pair of the signal terminals are brought into the on-state after the pair of the main terminals are brought into the on-state, that the power source circuit (not shown) is brought into the conduction state.
Further, the power shutoff operation of the power source circuit shutoff apparatus 100 can be implemented by operating the lever 130 in a reverse order of that stated above. This operation allows the power source circuit shutoff apparatus 100 to shutoff the power source circuit (not shown) at the time point when the first signal terminal 116 and the second signal terminal 134 are turned off, thus enabling to prevent occurrence of an arc discharge at the subsequent time point for switching the first main terminal 113 and second main terminals 122 to the off-state.
By the way, each of the pair of first signal terminals 116 and the pair of second signal terminals 134 are disposed along a rotational spindle direction of the lever 130 with an interval from each other, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Specifically, each of the pair of first signal terminals 116 is in a form of a female terminal. On the other hand, each of the pair of second signal terminals 134 is in a form of a male terminal. The pair of second signal terminals 134 are, as shown in FIG. 4, provided to be integrated with each other by a connecting plate portion 135 and are so bent by the connecting plate portion 135 as to be opposedly disposed.
With the power source circuit shutoff apparatus 100, however, each of the pair of first signal terminals 116 and the pair of second signal terminals 134 are disposed in the rotational spindle direction of the lever 130 with an interval from each other. By this configuration, when the lever 130 is rotated from the connector mating start position to the connector mating completion position, the pair of second signal terminals 134 opposed to each other simultaneously contact the pair of first signal terminals 116. Thus, the pair of second signal terminals 134 contacting the pair of first signal terminal 116 increase a power for rotating the lever 130, thus causing such a fear as that the operability of the lever 130 may be lowered.


The invention relates to bio water purifier which improves the structure of water molecular and changes the water to weak alkali drinker. The invention comprises a sediment filter removing rust and floating matters in the water, a precarbon filter removing chlorine and impurities in the water, a ceramic material tube improving the water molecule, maximizing movement of the water molecule and making weak alkali water by radiating far infrared ray, a silver carbon filter removing odor and bacteria in the water and activating the water, and a ceramic filter removing various harmful matters in the water.

Generally, water is source of health and is absolutely necessary to human body because about 70% of human body is water. Accordingly, clean water is beneficial to health, but water polluted by various heavy metals is harmful.
The conventional reverse osmotic pressure water purification method comprises a step of removing rust and floating matters, a step of removing chlorine and impurities, a step of removing odor and bacteria and a step of activating water. But during this treatment, weak acid water is obtained which is not in favor of human body and a lot of water is wasted.


A hybrid local area network (LAN) for the interconnection of multiple stations. The LAN consists of an N-port non-blocking switch and multiple subnetworks interconnected via passive optical couplers. Each station in the system is attached via a duplex fiber-optic link, either directly to a switch port or to a subnetwork, which in turn, is attached to a switch port. A subnetwork is interconnected by means of a passive optical combiner (incoming lines to the switch port) and a passive optical splitter (outgoing lines from switch port). The LAN is structured in a way that minimizes the delay incurred for communications between the subnetworks. The LAN protocol allows for any-to-any interconnections, multiple simultaneous transmissions, and broadcasting.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a hybrid Local Area Network (LAN) for interconnecting multiple stations, and more particularly pertains to a LAN in which a non-blocking any-to-any switch interconnects one or more passive star subnetworks, with the LAN providing for any-to-any interconnections, multiple simultaneous transmissions, or broadcasting.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art LANs based on passive optical coupler technology provide a low-cost, high-reliability communications mechanism for interconnecting distributed systems. A potential limitation of this technology, however, is the fan-out limitations of passive optical couplers. Light that enters into an n-input by n-output coupler is split n-ways, effectively being reduced in intensity by a factor of n. The allowable optical power budget between the network transmitters and receivers, for an acceptable bit-error rate operation, determines the maximum size of the network. Under current technological capabilities, for the case of semiconductor type laser transmitters, networks of size 32 stations, and perhaps 64 stations, are possible.
In a distributed computing environment, however, a larger number of stations may require interconnection. In large networks, i.e. with >64 attached stations, the fanout limitations of the optical coupler must be addressed. In addition, the performance characteristics of the network may be degraded because of the shared medium nature of the coupler mechanism that allows only one data transmission to take place at any given time.
In order to solve the above problems, multiple coupler subnetworks may be used, wherein each subnetwork services a subset of the given stations. To allow communication between the subnetworks, a coupling mechanism must be used. In the prior art, the coupling of two LANs is often accomplished via a station, called a bridge, that has interfaces to both LANs, and buffers for storing the messages that are to be transmitted from one LAN to the other. The bridge must have sufficient processing power to handle the protocol of both LANs. The size of the bridge buffers typically depends on message size and the particular protocol used on the LANs. Bridges tend to introduce delays in the store-and-forwarding of messages between LANs, and the additional processing and buffer requirements for handling the message transfer function make them costly.
Some prior art LANs provide for the transmission of data between a plurality of nodes by a technique known as store-and-forwarding, which means that the entire package is stored in an intermediate network node before it is passed on to the next node. The node could be a switch or could be a processor. Store-and-forwarding increases the complexity of the system because packet buffers must be managed, along with pacing control, tracking and recovery of lost packets, etc.
A copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 07/429,267 filed on Oct. 30, 1989, by the same assignee as the current application, discloses the use of delimiters to control physical crosspoint connections.

International Business Machines Corporation


An example device in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure includes an interleaved connector including a plurality of layers of conducting material interspersed with insulating material. A plurality of electrodes are to identify a change in capacitance of the interleaved connector to indicate a penetration of the device.

Computing devices can be used to store and protect data. Devices can use protections against network intrusions, as well as against physical penetrations. For example, banking and financial security markets may impose physical security standards, such as payment card industry (PCI) and/or federal information processing standard (FIPS), which detail a level of physical security to be used with computing devices that deal with encrypted data. Such standards can impose higher manufacturing costs.

Detecting physical penetration of secure device


An Evolved Packet Core network comprises a converged media packet gateway control element including a GTP-C function of SGW, PGW, and P-CSCF and ATCF functions. The network further comprises at least one converged media packet gateway bearer element disposed remotely from the converged media packet gateway control element, in communication and under the management of the converged media packet gateway control element. The at least one converged media packet gateway bearer element includes SGW and PGW bearer plane terminating S1-U, and ATGW and IMS-AGW NAT functions.

The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) unites six telecommunications standards bodies, known as "Organizational Partners," and provides their members with a stable environment to produce the highly successful Reports and Specifications that define 3GPP technologies. A mobile device, also called a User Equipment (UE), may operate in a wireless communication network that provides high-speed data and/or voice communications. The wireless communication networks may implement circuit-switched (CS) and/or packet-switched (PS) communication protocols to provide various services. For example, the UE may operate in accordance with one or more of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) networks, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) networks, Orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) networks, Single-Carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) networks, etc. The terms "networks" and "systems" are often used interchangeably. A CDMA network may implement a radio technology such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), cdma2000, etc. UTRA: includes Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA) and Low Chip Rate (LCR) cdma2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95 and IS-856 standards. A TDMA network may implement a radio technology such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). An OFDMA network may implement a radio technology such as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM®, etc. UTRA, E-UTRA, and GSM are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS).
LTE (Long Term Evolution) is a new standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals. It is based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System/High Speed Packet Access) network technologies, increasing the capacity and speed using new modulation techniques. The IP-based LTE network architecture, called the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) supports seamless handovers for both voice and data to cell towers with older network technology such as GSM, UMTS and CDMA2000. The LTE technology is adapted for a smooth evolution from earlier 3GPP systems.

Converged media packet gateway for a novel LTE data and voice core network architecture


For improved temperature-dependent correction, a method is provided for compiling a temperature-adjusted correction image for the electronic correction of a raw X-ray image recorded by an X-ray detector at a recording temperature. In at least one embodiment, the temperature-adjusted correction image, in particular the temperature-adjusted gain correction image, is generated by numerical calculation from at least one correction image which was recorded at a temperature differing from the recording temperature. In the event of a difference between the recording temperature and the temperature or temperatures for which recorded correction images are available, the raw X-ray image is corrected electronically by use of the temperature-adjusted correction image.

Image amplifier camera systems which are based on television or CCD cameras, storage film systems with an integrated or external readout unit, systems with optical coupling of a converter film to CCD cameras or CMOS chips, selenium-based detectors with electrostatic readout and X-ray detectors, in particular flat image detectors, having an active readout matrix with direct or indirect conversion of the X-radiation are known in digital X-ray imaging.
Such a detector is based on an active readout matrix, for example one or more detector plates made of amorphous silicon (a-Si) which is coated on the front with an X-ray converter layer or a scintillator layer. The active matrix is subdivided into a multiplicity of pixel readout units. In a so-called directly converting X-ray detector, the incident X-radiation is converted directly into electrical charge in the converter layer. In an indirectly converting X-ray detector, the incident X-radiation is converted into visible light in the scintillator and then in turn converted into electrical charge in photodiodes of the active matrix. This charge can then be stored in the pixel readout units and read out; the resulting raw X-ray images may subsequently be post-processed.
In order to obtain high-quality X-ray images, some of the effects due to the specific properties of the respective X-ray detector need to be corrected electronically. The most important electronic corrections are offset corrections in which the dark current is corrected, and gain corrections which compensate for sensitivity variations of the X-ray detector. In general offset corrections are carried out by electronic subtraction, and gain corrections by electronic multiplication with previously compiled offset or gain calibration images.
Overall the combined offset and gain correction, the so-called flat field correction, can generally be described in the following way:K=G·[S−O] or Ki=Gi·[Si−Oi],where S represents the raw X-ray image and Si the raw value relating to the respective pixel readout element i, O represents the offset correction image and Oi the offset value, G represents the gain correction image and Gi the gain value, K represents the corrected X-ray image and Ki the corrected final value.
Temperature changes of the X-ray detector generally lead to offset structures and sensitivity differences, above all in edge and transition regions of the active matrix of the X-ray converter. The latter may, for example, occur by temperature-related expansion or contraction of layers. If calibration images are recorded at a different temperature than the raw X-ray images, then false corrections often occur.
It is known from DE 10 2004 003 881 A1 to monitor the temperature of an X-ray detector and record a new calibration image in the event of a substantial temperature rise of the X-ray detector.
It is however often not possible to record a calibration image matching each X-ray recording, in particular a gain calibration image, rather it is necessary to resort to gain calibration images already recorded. These have generally been recorded at temperatures differing from the exact recording temperature.

Method, correction method and x-ray system


An eFuse begins with a single crystal silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure that has a single crystal silicon layer on a first insulator layer. The single crystal silicon layer is patterned into a strip. Before or after the patterning, the single crystal silicon layer is doped with one or more impurities. At least an upper portion of the single crystal silicon layer is then silicided to form a silicided strip. In one embodiment the entire single crystal silicon strip is silicided to create a silicide strip. Second insulator(s) is/are formed on the silicide strip, so as to isolate the silicided strip from surrounding structures. Before or after forming the second insulators, the method forms electrical contacts through the second insulators to ends of the silicided strip. By utilizing a single crystal silicon strip, any form of semiconductor, such as a diode, conductor, insulator, transistor, etc. can form the underlying portion of the fuse structure. The overlying silicide material allows the fuse to act as a conductor in its unprogrammed state. However, contrary to metal or polysilicon based eFuses which only comprise an insulator in the programmed state, when the inventive eFuse is programmed (and the silicide is moved or broken) the underlying semiconductor structure operates as an active semiconductor device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to eFuses and more particularly to a silicided single crystal silicon eFuse.
2. Description of the Related Art
The below-referenced U.S. patents disclose embodiments that were satisfactory for the purposes for which they were intended. The disclosures of the below-referenced U.S. patents and Publications (sometimes referred to herein as "conventional references"), in their entireties, are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present invention for purposes including, but not limited to, indicating the background of the present invention and illustrating the state of the art. U.S. Publications 2003/01344556, and 2002/0033519; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,633,055, 6,432,760, and 6,368,902 discloses conventional eFuses that utilize silicided polysilicon.
As discussed in the conventional references, computers typically have various types of devices which store data, such as memory devices. One type of memory device is a read only memory (ROM) device in which data is permanently stored and cannot be overwritten or otherwise altered. Thus, ROM devices are useful whenever unalterable data or instructions are required. ROM devices are also non-volatile devices, meaning that the data is not destroyed when power is shut off. ROM devices are typically programmed during fabrication by making permanent electrical connections in selected portions of the memory device. One disadvantage of ROM devices is that their programming is permanently determined during fabrication and, therefore, can only be changed by redesign.
Another type of memory device is a programmable read only memory (PROM) device. Unlike ROM devices, PROM devices are programmable after their design and fabrication. To render them programmable, PROM devices are typically provided with an electrical connection in the form of a fusible link (fuse). There are a considerable number of fuse designs used in PROM devices. Perhaps the most common fuse design is a metal or polysilicon layer which is narrowed or "necked down" in one region. To blow the fuse, a relatively high electrical current is driven though the metal or polysilicon layer. The current heats the metal or polysilicon above its melting point, thereby breaking the conductive link and making the metal layer or polysilicon discontinuous, or high resistance. Typically, the conductive link breaks in the narrowed region because the current density (and temperature) is highest in that region. The PROM device is thus programmed to conducting and non-conducting patterns, thereby forming the 1 or 0 comprising the data stored in the memory device.
Rather than employing an electrical current, a laser can be employed to blow the fuses. Using lasers instead of electrical current to blow fuses, however, has become more difficult as the size of memory devices decreases. As memory devices decrease in size and the degree of integration increases, the critical dimensions (e.g., fuse pitch) of memory cells become smaller. The availability of lasers suitable to blow the fuse becomes limited since the diameter of the laser beam should not be smaller than the fuse pitch. Thus, the fuse pitch, and the size of memory devices, becomes dictated by minimum diameter of laser beams obtainable by current laser technology.
The ability of electrical currents to blow fuses could aid in adapting fuses for a variety of applications, such as redundancy technology. Redundancy technology improves the fabrication yield of high-density memory devices, such as SRAM and DRAM devices, by replacing failed memory cells with spare ones using redundant circuitry which is activated by blowing fuses. Using laser beams to blow the fuses limits the size. Using electrical currents instead to blow fuses, therefore, has a greater potential for high-degree integration and decreased size of memory devices.

Doped single crystal silicon silicided eFuse

International Business Machines Corporation


A self-contained change speed apparatus for use on a bicycle. It has fixed shaft, a hub body rotatably supported on the fixed shaft, a change speed device controlled to turn the hub body about the fixed shaft at one of a series of speeds, and a power input member adapted to provide driving power, A clutch is moved between an active position and a non-active position and adapted to transmit driving power from the power input member to the change speed device. A control mechanism changes the speed ratio of the change speed device, advances the clutch to the non-active position before changing the speed of the change speed device, and delays the movement of the clutch to the active position, for permitting driving power to be returned to the change speed device after a change of the speed ratio of the change speed device.

The present invention relates to a self-contained change speed apparatus for use on a bicycle which has a change speed device that can be conveniently controlled by the user to change the revolving speed of the wheel hub.
Self-contained change speed apparatus for use on a bicycle are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,322,487; 5,273,500. Conventional self-contained change speed apparatus for use on a bicycle commonly comprise a planetary gear train for producing different speed ratio, and a clutch for controlling the power transmission path. The power input links for the planetary gear train includes an annular gear and a carrier. According to the kinematic characteristic of a planetary train, the turning direction of the sun gear will be changed when a driving power is transmitted through a different power input link. Therefore, one sun gear must be matched with two reversed one-way pawls, i.e., one one-way pawl for forward rotation control and the other for backward rotation control. Further, when the rotary power from the pedal mechanism of the bicycle is continuously transmitted to the planetary gear train, much power must be employed to the control device for changing the speed. According to the power curve of the pedal mechanism, the input power produced from the pedal mechanism when the crank of the pedal mechanism is at the top or bottom dead point is smaller than the input power when the crank is at the other positions. Therefore less power is required for changing the speed when the crank of the pedal mechanism is at the top or bottom dead point. The aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,487 utilizes this characteristic, and employs a spring set between the power input device and the control member for storing energy. The spring stores a shift of the control member as energy. When the crank of the pedal mechanism of the bicycle reaches the top or bottom dead point, the spring releases its stored energy to achieve a speed change. However, this design tends to cause a speed change behindhand.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A method of forming a semiconductor device comprises forming a first fin on a substrate, depositing an insulator layer on the substrate adjacent to the first fin, removing a first portion of the insulator layer to expose a first portion of a sidewall of the first fin, depositing a layer of spacer material over the first portion of the sidewall of the first fin, removing a second portion of the insulator layer to expose a second portion of the sidewall of the first fin, depositing a first glass layer including a first doping agent over the exposed second portion of the sidewall of the first fin, and performing a first annealing process to drive the first doping agent into the first fin.

The present invention relates to semiconductor devices, and more specifically, fin-like field effect transistors (FinFET).
Fin field effect transistors (finFETs) have been extensively investigated as one of the future device options for continued scaling of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Most CMOS applications require various types of devices on the same chip. For example, a microprocessor chip usually includes both n-type and p-type (nFETs and pFETs) devices with various threshold voltages. The finFET devices have undoped channel to take advantage of the improved Device Electrostatics. The Vt tuning in finFET devices is achieved by the smart choice of Work Function Metals during the Gate Stack Patterning.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits having finFETs with improved junction (aka Punch Through Stopper (PTS) Junction) beneath active channel regions to prevent sub-fin leakage in the bulk finFET devices.

Solid state diffusion doping for bulk finFET devices

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A steering wheel horn contact unit has a metal contact sheet (40). The metal contact sheet (40) is embedded into a carrier part (52) of plastic and mounted therein and has at least one freely projecting horn contact tongue (46). Viewed in switching movement direction (X), the horn contact tongue (46) is surrounded by the carrier part (52).

The invention relates in particular to a horn contact unit for a so-called floating horn module, i.e. a gas bag module which is displaceably mounted in axial direction of the steering wheel, in order to close the circuit for the horn at the end of the displacement path. On the rear side of the gas bag module, therefore usually either on the module itself or on an intermediate metal sheet between the module and the steering wheel skeleton, at least one horn contact unit is arranged.

Steering wheel horn contact unit and assembly