A hydraulic power steering system is provided in which a manual steering device and the steering vehicle wheels are normally coupled only by way of a control path with a desired-value generator operated by the manual steering device and an actual-value generator operated by the steering vehicle wheels. For controlling a hydraulic servomotor used for the steering operation of the steering vehicle wheels, a servo valve arrangement is operated by a desired-value/actual-value comparison. Only when there is a disturbance in the control path, will a hydraulic forced coupling take place between the manual steering device and the steering vehicle wheels.

This invention relates to a hydraulic power steering system having a double-acting servo motor which, with respect to the drive, is connected to mechanical steering elements of steering vehicle wheels; a controllable servo valve arrangement for the controllable connection of the servo motor with a hydraulic pressure source or a relatively pressureless reservoir; an electric or electronic desired-value generator which is operated by a manual steering device, particularly a manual steering wheel, and which is connected with an input of an electronic control path which, on the output side, is connected with the servo valve arrangement and which, by way of another input, is connected with an actual-value generator reflecting the steering position of the steering vehicle wheels and can be constantly tested automatically with respect to a faultless function; and a hydrostatic driving connection arranged between the manual steering device and the steering elements which is normally inoperative and which automatically becomes operative in the case of faults of the control path.
A power steering system of this type, without any mechanical forced coupling between the manual steering device and the steering vehicle wheels, is the object of German Patent document DE 38 37 395 A1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,445). In the case of this known system, the manual steering wheel actuates during the normal operation only an electric desired-value generator which is part of a control system for controlling the servo valve. This servo valve is constructed such that, in its center position, it hydraulically blocks the servo motor; that is, the motor connections are blocked. In addition, the manual steering wheel can be connected with the servo motor by way of a pump which is mechanically connected with the servomotor. The pump connections are hydraulically arranged between the connections of the servo motor and the assigned connections of the servo valve. As soon as the failing function of the control system controlling the servo valve is determined, the servo valve is moved into its center position and the pump is hydraulically coupled with the servo motor with respect to the drive. It is true that in the case of this power steering system, faults in the electronic control system of the servo valve can basically be controlled because then the hydraulic forced coupling between the servo motor and the pump driven by the manual steering wheel becomes operative. However, there is no safety should the servo valve block in a position deviating from the center position. In such a case, a hydraulic forced coupling between the servo motor and the pump would not be possible.
In the case of a steering system without a mechanical forced coupling between the steering vehicle wheels and the manual steering device known from International Patent document WO 88/09281 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,811), a servo valve, which is used for controlling a servo motor provided for the steering operation of the steering vehicle wheels, can, on the one hand, be controlled electrically and, on the other hand, can be controlled hydraulically. In the normal operation, an electric desired-value generator is actuated by the manual steering wheel and is assigned to a control path for controlling the servo valve. Should a fault occur in this control path, a hydraulic circuit switches into operation which now permits a hydraulic control of the servo valve by way of the manual steering wheel.
From German Patent document DE-OS 22 33 167 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,849), a hydrostatic steering system is known in the case of which the manual steering wheel and the steering vehicle wheels are hydraulically connected with one another with respect to the drive for their steering operation. As a function of the hydraulic pressures in the above-mentioned driving connection, a servo valve is controlled. The servo valve connects a servo motor connected with steering gears of the steering vehicle wheels. The servo valve is controlled in such a manner with a pressure source or a relatively pressureless reservoir that a servo power is generated which assists the respective steering maneuver and therefore reduces the manual force-required at the manual steering wheel.
German Patent document DE 41 33726 A1 shows a hydrostatic steering system with two parallel hydraulic circuits, each of which are separately sufficient for implementing steering maneuvers. One hydraulic circuit has a valve arrangement for controlling a first hydraulic servo motor of the steering system, which valve arrangement is mechanically operated by the manual steering wheel. The second hydraulic circuit has an electrically operated valve arrangement for controlling a second hydraulic servo motor for the steering vehicle wheels. In this case, the electric control elements of the valve arrangement are controlled as a function of a desired-value generator actuated by the manual steering wheel. This results in a so-called asymmetrical redundancy.
From German Patent document DE-AS 21 23 933, a hydrostatic steering system with a hydraulic servo assistance is known which is constructed such that a reaction power can be sensed at the manual steering wheel which is a function of the pressure conditions on the hydraulic servo motor for the steering vehicle wheels.
In German Patent document DE 37 29 898 C2, a hydraulic actuating drive for an automatic auxiliary rear wheel steering system of a motor vehicle is described. The hydraulic system is designed in such fashion that the auxiliary steering system is automatically blocked when the energy supplied to actuating assemblies of hydraulic control elements is switched off.
Japanese Patent document JP 62-15167 A shows a system which is similar to that of the initially discussed German Patent document DE 38 37 395 A1. During the normal operation, a manual steering wheel actuates an electric desired-value generator which is part of a control path for controlling a valve arrangement which, in turn, controls a hydraulic actuating drive of the steering vehicle wheels. In the case of a faulty operation of the control path, the mentioned actuating drive is hydraulically coupled with a hydraulic generator assembly which, with respect to the drive, is mechanically connected with the manual steering wheel.
Currently, as a rule, hydraulic power steering systems are installed in motor vehicles in the case of which a manual steering wheel is constantly connected mechanically with respect to the drive with the steering vehicle wheels for the steering operation. In this case, the servo valve is typically controlled by parts of the mechanical driving connection, particularly a steering column, between the manual steering wheel and the steering elements. For this purpose, parts of this driving connection can be adjusted relative to one another as a function of the transmitted forces or moments. The respective adjusting movement is transmitted to control parts of the servo valves.
In the case of such power steering systems, a so-called reaction control is also known which has the purpose of changing the manual forces to be applied at the manual steering wheel for its adjustment as a function of servo forces by means of which the servo motor assists the respective steering maneuver.
Such reaction control systems may operate hydraulically, in which case control parts of the servo valve are provided with separate effective areas which can be acted upon by hydraulic pressure which can be changed analogously to the pressure conditions at the servo motor in order to oppose an adjustment of the control parts by means of a more or less large resistance. In this case, the mentioned effective surfaces, in a regular manner, form parts of displacement chambers whose volume changes when the control parts are adjusted.
There is therefore needed a new power steering system, while using as many tested, reliable system parts as possible, which ensures a particularly high safety despite the elimination of a mechanical through-drive between the manual steering device and the steering vehicle wheels.
In the case of a hydraulic steering system of the above-mentioned type, these needs are achieved in that the hydrostatic driving connection is arranged independently of, or in parallel to, the hydraulic system of the system controlled by the servo valve and, in the case of the faulty operation of the control path, the servo motor can be switched into a free-running condition by the servo valve and/or by a shut-off valve which is closed only in the case of a faultless operation of the control path.
The invention is based on the general idea of arranging the hydrostatic driving connection separately from the hydraulic system of the servo system, and for providing multiple possibilities for switching the servo motor into a free-running condition. As a result, the highest safety can be provided in the case of faulty operations of the control path as well as in the case of defects of the hydraulic system of the servo system.
During the normal operation, the control path operates such that the manual steering wheel and the steering vehicle wheels are operatively connected electronically by means of wire; that is, the system according to the invention can be characterized as "steer by wire". In an emergency, a hydraulic forced coupling becomes operative between the manual steering device and the vehicle wheels.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hydrostatic driving connection communicates by way of control lines with hydraulic control input of the servo valve so that, when the hydrostatic driving connection is switched operative, the servo valve is actuated hydraulically and the servo motor is correspondingly controlled for assisting the steering maneuver.
This can be implemented in a simple manner in that the initially mentioned servo valves with a reaction control are used and the effective surfaces of the reaction control are acted upon by pressures in the hydrostatic driving connection.


A template-type calorimeter comprising a light-transparent substrate having a diffraction grating on a surface thereof, the diffraction grating being operative to diffract light incident thereon from a spaced-apart aperture into its constituent spectral components. A template is provided on a surface of the substrate and arranged to receive the diffracted spectral components. The template has formed thereon at least three spatial filters, each for selectively transmitting diffracted spectral components in accordance with respective ones of the desired color-matching functions such as the CIE x(.lambda.), y(.lambda.), z(.lambda.) or r(.lambda.), g(.lambda.), b(.lambda.) color-matching functions. The diffraction grating and the template may be mounted on opposite sides of the substrate, or they may be mounted in a laterally spaced-apart relationship on the same side of the substrate, in which case the opposite side of the substrate is coated with a reflective material. Detectors are arranged adjacent and behind each spatial filter to detect the spectral components transmitted by the respective filters, and the entire assembly is mounted in a light-tight housing which houses the aperture and the assembly in the desired spaced-apart relationship.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tristimulus calorimeter which measures the tristimulus color content of light incident thereon. More particularly, the invention relates to a template-type colorimeter in which both diffraction means for diffracting incident light and templates for spatially filtering the diffracted light are mounted on a common light-transparent substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Tristimulus calorimeters are instruments whose outputs are directly proportional to the tristimulus values of one or another of the CIE standard colorimetric observers, such as the CIE 1931 XYZ tristimulus values or RGB tristimulus values. Such instruments are useful in measuring the color content of light and they are used in connection with color reproduction, color matching, color research, etc.
Wyszecki, et al., at pages 243-248 in "Color Science: Concepts and Methods", John Wiley & Sons (1982), describe two different types of tristimulus colorimeters: filter-type calorimeters and template-type calorimeters. In filter-type calorimeters, three tristimulus filters are provided to filter radiant light, the spectral transmittance of the filters matching the desired CIE color-matching function. Three filtered light components from respective ones of the filters are measured by photo cells to provide the desired CIE tristimulus values. Filter-type colorimeters are inexpensive but are usually less accurate because of the difficulty in obtaining filters having the proper spectral transmittance functions.
In template-type calorimeters, radiant light is diffracted by diffraction means such as a diffraction grating or a prism into its spectral components. Templates having spatial filters which match the desired CIE color-matching functions are arranged to block some of the spectral components and to transmit only selected spectral components in accordance with the CIE color-matching function. Detectors are provided behind each template to measure the transmitted spectral components, thereby to output the desired CIE tristimulus values. Template-type calorimeters are accurate but they are more expensive.


A roadway reflector is both durable and easily embedded into an opening in a roadway. The roadway reflector in one presently preferred embodiment is preferably circular or disk shaped so it can be inserted into a preformed circular hole in the roadway. A reflector includes two primary components, one of which is an upper member which can be easily coupled to the base member by a plurality of mating tabs and notches in the respective components. An expansion ring is inserted into the base member to expand the base member into a friction fit with the opening in the roadway. A resilient membrane or web is included in the base member and surrounds the upper reflective member so that as a snow plow blade, vehicle tire or the like passes over the reflector, the upper member is depressed downwardly into a cavity in the base member. After the item passes the reflector, the resilient membrane flexes similar to a hinge to thereby rebound the upper member upwardly to its normal position which projects upwardly from the surface of the road.

This invention relates generally to a roadway reflector, and more particularly, to a reflective pavement marker for delineating traffic lanes and other areas on roadways, parking lots or the like.
The advantages of roadway lane markers to delineate traffic paths for drivers are self evident particularly from a safety perspective to advise drivers of the lane. Reflective paving markers are more desirable than painted dividing lines between traffic lanes or the like because such reflective markers are more visible to a driver over a greater distance and will function better in many instances where painted traffic lines are seen by a driver only with much difficulty such as on wet roadways, snow covered roadways or in foggy driving conditions. Further, many roadway markers provide an audible and/or tactile signal to the driver whose vehicle contacts the marker.
Thus, in order to overcome the shortcomings of painted traffic lines, roadway markers have been used. Typically, the roadway marker includes a reflective element to re-direct incident light from the head lamps of a driver's vehicle or oncoming vehicles and thereby advise the driver of the boundaries of the traffic lanes. One type of known roadway marker is surface mounted on the roadway and secured directly to the upper surface of the roadway. Surface mounted markers are more widely utilized in warmer climates where the markers would not be subject to the sheering effects of a snow plow blade. Alternatively, reflectors embedded in the roadway have found application in many areas. Typically, the physical location of embedded markers makes them more suitable for roadways subject to more sever weather conditions.
One shortcoming of many reflectors or markers is that the snow plow generally pulls the surface mounted reflector unit or embedded reflector from the road and, in most cases, also rips away subjacent and/or adjacent surface road material. Not only is the reflector itself destroyed or damaged so as to require replacement, but as a part of the replacement process, the road surface material ripped away must be repaired or restored. Thus, these devices are not cost effective where snow plowing is necessary to maintain the road clear.
In order to withstand the forces of oncoming snow plow blades and vehicular traffic, a variety of retractable roadway reflectors or markers have been developed. The retractable reflector or marker, although it typically protrudes above the road surface, may be depressed by the blade of a snow plow or vehicle tire. Such markers have incorporated conical springs for biasing the reflector upwardly or foam rubber cells for facilitating the depression and rebounding action of the reflector. However, the effects of dirt, grime, foreign debris, freezing and melting water, snow, rainwater and forces associated with road traffic all detrimentally effect the long term utility of known retractable reflectors. Still other retractable reflectors cannot withstand the scraping effect of the snow plow blades or other items passing over the reflector.
A significant disadvantage of known pavement markers is the tendency for the reflector to become damaged and require repair. Roadway reflectors or markers used in the past require removal of the entire assembly from the roadway to effect a repair. This proves to be very disruptive to traffic, time consuming and, as a result, costly.
Furthermore, roadway reflectors which have proven to be durable and reliable in use typically are very expensive to manufacture and/or install in the roadway. Due to the very large number of reflectors required to delineate traffic lanes for the hundreds of thousands miles of roadways both in existence and under construction, the unit cost for each roadway reflector must be minimized to offer an economically viable safety measure. Additionally, the installation procedures for a roadway marker must be simple, efficient and quickly accomplished in order to contribute to the economic feasibility of the unit.


Aspects herein are directed to a grip film or grip film kit comprising an edge trim portion and at least one ovoid portion. The edge trim portion may have a wave-shaped configuration in which the ovoid portion is at least partially disposed. Other aspects herein are directed to an extremity covering portion comprising the grip film on at least one opening to provide grip that may assist in maintaining the position and/or configuration of the extremity covering portion on the body of a wearer.

Many conventional edge grip solutions for garments may suffer from a variety of challenges that may be undesirable to a wearer. For example, the edge may lose its grip when it becomes wet, whether by perspiration or weather conditions. Some gripping features may create excessive compression, causing discomfort or restricting blood flow; yet others have a tendency to roll up, resulting in yet greater and undesirable compression and affecting, for example, aerodynamic characteristics of the garment.


A lifting apparatus includes a vertical guide device, a turntable device which is movable along the vertical guide device upwards or downwards, and a first driving device which drives the turntable device moving in an upward and downward direction guided by the vertical guide device. The turntable device includes a bracket which is slidably engaged with the vertical guide device and projects perpendicularly toward a side of the vertical guide device, a turntable which is rotatably provided on the bracket, and a second driving device which rotates the turntable on the bracket.

A turntable and lifting mechanisms popularly used in publicly known industrial CT normally comprising of two independent systems. Objects to be detected can be rotated on the turntable mechanism without lifting movement. An X-ray generator and a detector are respectively mounted on two lifting mechanisms with only lifting movement. Thus, there are some disadvantages for an apparatus manufactured by a technical solution utilizing this form of kinematic pair, such as complicated structures, bulky volume and high cost.

Lifting apparatus and safety inspection system


A photomask has a device pattern, which has an opening portion and a mask portion, and either a focus monitor pattern or an exposure dose monitor pattern, which has an opening portion and a mask portion and which has the same plane pattern shape as at least a partial region of a device pattern. The phase difference in transmitted exposure light between the opening portion and the mask portion of the focus monitor pattern is different from that between the opening portion and the mask portion of the device pattern. The opening portion of the exposure dose monitor pattern has a different exposure dose transmittance from that of the opening portion of the device pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor device manufacturing, and more specifically, to a photomask, a method of controlling the focus condition or the exposure dose condition of an exposure system for use in a photolithography process using the photomask, and a semiconductor device manufacturing method using the controlling method.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the trend toward finer device patterns, tolerances for process conditions (process margins), such as the depth of focus, the exposure dose adjustment, and the like of an exposure system, in a photolithography process have been decreased. Accordingly, what is desired is a high accuracy controlling (monitoring) method for an exposure dose condition and the like minimizing error factors which consume process margins.
Heretofore, a focus condition has been controlled by measuring the length l (diagonal main axis length) of a rhombic pattern 1010 as shown in FIG. 1B, which is transferred on a wafer using a photomask provided with a rhombic monitor pattern 1000 having a diagonal minor axis length of approximately 0.5 μm, for example, as shown in FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2 shows the relationship between a deviation distance from a focus position (defocus value) and the length l of the rhombic pattern 1010 transferred on a wafer. As the rhombic pattern 1010 approaches the best focus, the resolution of the rhombic pattern 1010 is getting higher, and a finer edge portion thereof can be transferred on a wafer. Consequently, the length l of the rhombic pattern 1010 reaches the maximum value at the position of the best focus and decreases with increasing defocus value. Accordingly, when semiconductor device manufacturing is performed, before a product lot is released into a manufacturing process, the relationship between the defocus value and the length l of the rhombic pattern 1010 transferred on a wafer is determined, and the best focus condition in the exposure process for the product lot are decided.
In the case where the focus condition for the product lot is controlled, a transferred pattern is fabricated using a photomask provided with the rhombic pattern 1000 under the same exposure condition as that for the product lot, and the length l of the transferred rhombic pattern 1010 is measured, thus monitoring the defocus value.
However, in a heretofore-known focus monitoring method using the above-described rhombic pattern, it is impossible to obtain information as to whether the focus deviation of an exposure system has been in an upward or downward direction. Moreover, the size and shape of a monitor pattern are significantly different from those of a device pattern. Accordingly, when the variations in an exposure dose and the like occur, the sensitivity of the monitor pattern to these variations is different from that of the device pattern, which sometimes reduces the reliability for monitoring.
A method of monitoring focus without being influenced by exposure dose includes a method of detecting the variation amount of focus as a positional deviation amount of patterns, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,786. However, in this method, since the detection sensitivity for focus largely depends on the shape (σ) of a light source, a sufficient sensitivity can be obtained under an exposure condition in which σ is relatively low, but a sufficient sensitivity cannot be obtained under a generally used condition in which σ is relatively high or under a condition in which annular illumination is used.
Moreover, an exposure dose monitoring method is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-310850. In this method, special patterns are used for monitoring exposure dose, and either the dimensions of the patterns transferred on a wafer or the deviation between the center positions of the patterns is measured, thus making it possible to monitor exposure dose. However, also in this case, a device pattern and an exposure dose monitor pattern have completely different dimensions and shapes. Accordingly, when both of these patterns have different sensitivities to the exposure dose, it cannot be said that the exposure dose is accurately monitored for the device pattern.

Photomask having a focus monitor pattern


A capacitor array for filter connectors includes a stamped and formed ground resilient metal plate. Integral tines are provided to establish a solderless electrical connection between the plate and a connector shell. The filter elements are discoidal capacitors having cylindrical inner and outer electrode portions. The filter assembly is completed by soldering the outer electrode portions to the ground plate, while a solderless electrical connection between the inner electrodes and the feedthrough contacts of a connector is established by providing compliant sections on the contacts. A pi filter array is formed using two of the ground plates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors and in particular to an electrical connector filter assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide filters in electrical connectors for the purpose of protecting sensitive electronic components from currents and voltages which develop in a transmission cable due to electromagnetic and radio frequency interference. It is further known to use capacitive or tuned pi circuits for the purpose of shunting the transients to ground without affecting the primary signal carried by the cable. Because such filter components generally require special handling, however, which greatly increases the cost of assembling the connectors, use of filter connectors has heretofore been restricted to specialized applications in which the need for filtering outweighs cost considerations. Nevertheless, electromagnetic and radio frequency fields are everywhere, and therefore virtually all applications involving cable connections between electronic devices could benefit from the addition of input filtering using filter connectors. For example, while filter connectors have been relatively widely employed in military aircraft, they have yet to gain widespread acceptance from commercial and civilian aircraft manufacturers due to the costs involved, even though commercial and civilian aircraft are subject to much of the same electrical interference fields as are military aircraft.
A main problem in assembling a filter connector lies in establishing electrical connections between the individual filter elements and the signal carrying connector contacts on the one hand, and between the filter elements and a common ground on the other. It is of course essential that all electrical connections be secure, with as low an impedance as possible, but it is also desirable for the connections to be releasable, permitting in situ testing and subsequent repair of the filter component without having to discard the entire connector prior to completion of the connector by potting.
This problem would not be difficult to overcome, except that the connectors in question have become extremely small, with contact densities on the order of 0.09". A typical connector having a diameter of approximately 1" may carry more than 50 feedthrough signal contacts, each contact requiring filtering. The problem of providing a filter for each contact is simplified somewhat by using monolithic filter elements, in which the filter elements are in the form of blocks of dielectric material with buried interleaved electrodes, but such filter elements are fragile, relatively expensive, and difficult to customize for specific applications. In addition, monolithic filter elements are subject to design problems involving cross-talk, hole-to-hole capacitance, ground resistance and control of the capacitance of non-filter holes. These problems arise because the live electrodes in each of the holes are separated from each other only by the dielectric material, and because each hole, whether filtered or not, is surrounded by the dielectric.
A variety of filter connector designs have been proposed which offer partial solutions to the above problems. These include the designs shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,954,794, 4,950,185, 4,741,710, 4,768,977, 4,494,092, 4,458,220; 4,275,945; 4,083,022; 4,079,343; 3,790,858; 3,569,915; 3,825,874; and 3,538,464. As noted above, however, none of these numerous designs has resulted in mass acceptance of filter connectors in contexts other than a few limited applications. Each of the designs in the above-noted patents offers advantageous features, but none combines all of these features with a view to optimizing the simplicity and ease of assembly of a high density filter connector.


A display panel including first and second pixel structures and a light shielding pattern layer is provided. The first pixel structure includes a first pixel electrode including first pixel electrode bars, wherein a first maximum spacing is formed between any two adjacent first pixel electrode bars of the first pixel structure. The second pixel structure includes a second pixel electrode including second pixel electrode bars, wherein a second maximum spacing which is larger than the first maximum spacing is formed between two adjacent second pixel electrode bars of the second pixel structure. The light shielding pattern layer has first and second light shielding portions. The area of the second light shielding portion is larger than the area of the first light shielding portion. The first pixel electrode is close to the second light shielding portion and the second pixel electrode is away from the second light shielding portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a display panel, and more particularly, to a display panel having favorable display quality.
2. Description of Related Art
With rapid technological development, display panels are ubiquitous in today's society, and have broadly been applied in various electronic products, such as Tablet PCs, Smart Phones or Flat-screen TVs. The display panel is typically configured with shielding patterns capable of providing a shielding effect for preventing light leakage. However, an aperture ratio of the display panel is thus lowered. In addition, under some circumstances, the shielding patterns usually have different sizes for corresponding to different positions of the display panel, and thus display panel would have different aperture ratio, thereby resulting in an uneven brightness distribution. Hence, the displayed screen is apt to produce a dot mura phenomena, thereby causing the display panel unable to provide a user with a more ideal visual effect.

Display panel having a plurality of pixel electrode bars with different spacing


The invention relates to supported polyoxometalates represented by the formula (An)m+ [M4(H2O)10(XW9O33)2]m− or solvates thereof, wherein A represents a cation, n is the number of cations, m is the charge of the polyoxoanion, M is a transition metal, and X is an element selected from the group consisting of As, Sb, Bi, Se and Te, characterized in that the polyoxometalate is supported on a solid support selected from the group consisting of Al2O3, MgO, TiO2, ZrO2, SiO2, mesoporous silica, active carbon, diatomite, clays, zeolites, polyoxometalate salts and mixtures thereof, with the proviso that the polyoxometalate salt supports are different from the supported polyoxometalates defined by the above formula, a process for their preparation and their use for the catalytic oxidation of organic molecules.

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a unique class of molecular metal-oxygen clusters. They consist of a polyhedral cage structure or framework bearing a negative charge and centrally located heteroatom(s) surrounded by the cage framework. The negative charge is balanced by cations that are external to the cage. Generally, suitable heteroatoms include Group IIIa-VIa elements such as phosphorus, antimony, silicon, selenium and boron. The framework of polyoxometalates is usually comprised of edge- or corner-shared MO6 octahedra, where M represents a transition metal (addenda). Due to appropriate cation radius and good π-electron acceptor properties, the addenda metal is substantially limited to a few metals including Group Vb or VIb transition metals in their highest oxidation state (e.g. V5+, Nb5+, Ta5+, W6+, Mo6+).
A major subclass of polyoxometalates is constituted by Keggin type POMs. These polyoxoanions generally consists of 12 framework metals and 40 oxygen atoms symmetrically arranged around a central atom X and thus can be represented by the formula XnM12O40(8−n)−. If the central atom X is a heteroatom with a lone pair of electrons (e.g. AsIII, SbIII), the formation of such closed Keggin units is not allowed. In fact, most of these POMs consist of dimeric adducts of incomplete (lacunary) Keggin fragments joined together by extra framework or heteroatoms.
For example, Krebs et al. (Chem. Eur. J. 1997, 3, 1232; Inorg. Chem. 1999, 38, 2688) describe the dimeric structural type [(WO2)4(OH)2(β-XW9O33)2]12− (X═SbIII, BIII). Moreover, the authors were also able to substitute the two external tungsten atoms by first-row transition metals resulting in transition metal substituted polyoxometalates (TMSPs) represented by the formula [(WO2)2M2(H2O)6(β-XW9O33)2](14−2n)− (X═SbIII, Mn+=Mn2+, Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+; X═BiIII, Mn+═Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+).
Moreover, Kortz et al. report on tetrasubstituted dimeric polyoxotungstates which consist of two [β-XW9O33]n− (n═9, X═AsIII, SbIII; n═8, X═SeIV, TeIV) moieties linked by four Fe3+ ions having terminal H2O ligands (Inorg. Chem. 2002, 41, 783). These authors were also able to substitute the iron centers in this structure by a large number of other 1st, 2nd and 3rd row transition metals (e.g. Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Hg2+).
Due to their size, shape, charge density and redox-active nature, POMs and in particular TMSPs have attracted continuously growing attention in the area of oxidation catalysis.
Several oxidation reactions of organic substrates using polyoxometalates are known. For instance, Neumann et al. describe the oxidation of alkenes and cycloalkanes using a ruthenium-substituted sandwich type polyoxometalate and hydrogen peroxide or molecular oxygen as an oxygen donor (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1995, 34, 1587; Inorg. Chem. 1995, 34, 5753; and J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 11969). In addition, they report on the epoxidation of chiral allylic alcohols (J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 1721-1728). Cavani et al. disclose the oxidation of isobutane to methacrylic acid (Topics in Catalysis 2003, 23, 141-152) and Kamat et al. describe the epoxidation of various olefins using hydrogen peroxide and a silicotungstate compound (Science 2003, 300, 964-966). Further, WO 03/028881 discloses a process for the selective oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes to produce olefins using certain polyoxometalate catalysts.
Additional references of interest include: Pope et al., JACS 1992, 114, 2932-2938; Finke et al., Inorg. Chem. 2005; Li et al., Chinese J. Chem. 2004, 22(8), 874-876; Sousa et al., Chem. Comm. 2004, 23, 2656-2657; Haber et al., Applied Catal. A2003, 256(1-2), 141-152; Cavani et al., Topics in Catalysis 2003, 23(1-4), 119-124; Hill et al., JACS 2003, 125(11), 3194-3195; Krebs et al., Polyoxometallate Chemistry 2001, 89-99; Burns et al., J. Mol. Catal. A2002, 184(1-2), 451-464, Ratiu et al., Polyhedron 2002, 21(4), 353-358; Cavani et al., Catal. Letters 2001, 71(1-2), 99-105; Villanneau et al., JCS Dalton Trans. Inorg. Chem. 1999, 3, 421-426; Server-Carrio et al., JACS 1999, 121(5), 977-984; Katsoulis et al., EP95-308486, 19951127 (Dow Corning Corp.); Yonehara et al., JP 2003-349996, 20031008 (Nippon Shokubai Co.); U.S. 2004/0210086; U.S. Pat. No. 6,809,219; U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,748; U.S. Pat. No. 6,710,207; U.S. Pat. No. 6,664,408; U.S. Pat. No. 6,610,864; U.S. 2003/0187297; U.S. 2003/0171604; U.S. 2003/0144550; U.S. 2003/0109740; U.S. 2003/0036473; U.S. 2003/0017561; U.S. Pat. No. 6,518,216; U.S. 2002/0165405; U.S. 2002/0142914; U.S. Pat. No. 6,455,735; U.S. 2002/0091275; U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,841; U.S. Pat. No. 6,169,202; U.S. Pat. No. 6,114,274; U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,419; U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,184; U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,986; U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,348; U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,382; U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,429; U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,685; U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,216; U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,459; U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,815; U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,502; EP 1080784; EP 1213280; EP1205474; EP1380340; EP0966323; EP1205474; EP1201636; EP1080784; EP1078687; EP1077082; EP0771781; EP1059276; EP0704240; EP0955284; EP0771781; EP0713847; EP0713723; EP0704240; EP0683153; WO2005/023747; WO2003/039745; WO2000/009262 and DE10055173.
However, with respect to the catalytic performance of polyoxometalates in oxidation reactions and in particular in the selective oxidation of alkanes no satisfactory results have been reported up to now.
Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide polyoxometalates showing an improved catalytic performance in oxidation reactions of organic substrates and in particular attaining high conversions when used for the selective oxidation of alkanes.

Supported polyoxometalates and process for their preparation


An expanding device for expanding strand material into a wool-type product includes outer and internal nozzle sections. The outer nozzle section has an entrance portion, an intermediate portion and an exit portion. At least a portion of the internal nozzle section is adapted to be received in the outer nozzle section. It includes a main body portion and a needle portion extending from the main body portion. The main body and needle portions include a first inner passage through which strand material passes to be expanded into a wool-type product. The needle and main body portions define with inner surfaces of the entrance and intermediate portions of the outer nozzle section an inner chamber. The main body portion has at least two bores extending through the main body portion which receive gas supplied by a gas stream source. The at least two bores communicate with the inner chamber and define a path for gas to travel to the inner chamber. The gas passes into the inner chamber and causes the strand material to move through the first passage. The gas also effects expansion of the strand material into a wool-type product.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,471 to Ingemansson et al. describes a process and apparatus for feeding lengths of continuous glass fiber strands into a muffler outer shell. The apparatus includes a nozzle for expanding the fiber strands into a wool-like material before the fiber strands enter the outer shell. It has been found that the nozzle disclosed in the '471 patent is only capable of expanding strand material to a density of about 70 grams/liter or more. However, it would be desirable to expand strand material into a wool-like material which has a density of less than 70 grams/liter, for example, between about 30 grams/liter to about 60 grams/liter. Such lower density wool-type material is desirable for many sound and thermal insulation applications.

Device and process for expanding strand material


A computer program product is provided for optimizing network configuration settings for a user's client machine. A plurality of groups of network configuration settings are held in storage to be used by the user's client machine. A network connection is established between the user's client machine and a remote server. One of the groups of network configuration settings is selected to be used by the user's client machine from the provided groups of settings. One or more performance tests are conducted using the selected network configuration settings during the established network connection. The settings selection and the performance tests are repeated for one or more other groups of network configuration settings during the established network connection. The network configuration settings of the user's client machine provided in the groups are automatically adjusted based on the results of the performance tests. The adjusted network configuration settings are settings that optimize the performance of the user's client machine.

Prior art software programs exist for adjusting and modifying various network configuration settings of a user's computer that are used by the Internet protocol (TCP/IP) running under Windows operating systems. Examples of such programs include webRocketφ, available from Ascentive LLC; Internet Connection Booster 2000, available from BEVALLY Software, Inc., and iSpeed for Windows, available from High Mountain Software. These software programs allow a user to change various default settings, such as Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU), Maximum Segment Size (MSS), Receive Window (RWIN), Time to Live (TTL), MTU Auto Discover, and Black Hole detection. The user may change the settings manually, or the user may select a group of settings that are defined by the software program. The goal of changing the settings is to optimize the performance of the user's computer. Manually trying to identify optimal settings is a time-consuming and difficult trial-and-error process. Once a particular group of settings is identified, the settings may not even be optimized for subsequent Internet sessions. Changing the default settings to a predefined group of settings may provide some improvement in performance, but does not provide the optimal settings for a particular user's computer during a particular Internet session.
Furthermore, the user may have specific performance preferences. For example, one user may prefer enhanced download speed, while another may prefer a system with minimized latency. It may be difficult, if not impossible, for a user to manually determine the optimal performance settings for a particular preference, whereas the automatic settings on such software programs may not allow for user preferences to be considered. Such software programs also do not allow a user to access the experiences of other users to speed up and improve the optimization process.
Accordingly, there is a need for a software tool to better assist users in determining the best network configuration settings to achieve optimal network performance based on specified user preferences. The present invention fulfills such a need.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Computer program product for determining a group of network configuration settings that provide optimal network performance


An adjustment mechanism for a mirror of a projector is provided. The adjustment mechanism includes a supporting portion for supporting the mirror and an adjusting device. The supporting portion includes a first plate having a surface in contact with the mirror, a second plate connected with the top edge of the first plate and a resilience sheet disposed between the first plate and a housing of the projector, wherein the adjusting device passes through a hole of the second plate to be in contact with the housing and capable of being adjusted for rotating the mirror.

The present invention relates to an adjustment mechanism for a mirror, and more particularly to an adjustment mechanism for a mirror of a liquid crystal projector.
FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of a liquid crystal projector according to prior art. The liquid crystal projector includes a light source 1, a light integrator 3, a condenser lens 4, a first dichroic mirror 5, a second dichroic mirror 6, a first liquid-crystal panel 7, a second liquid-crystal panel 8, a third liquid-crystal panel 9, a tri-color synthetic prism 10, a projection lens 11, a total reflection mirror 12, a field lens 15, a first reflection mirror 17, a second reflection mirror 18, a third reflection mirror 14 and a relay lens 21.
The light source 1 emits polychromatic light. The light integrator 3 is used for making the amount of light in the beam from the light source 1 substantially uniform in a cross section normal to the optical axis. The condenser lens 4 is used for gathering rays emitted from the light integrator 3. The first dichroic mirror 5 and the second dichroic mirror 6 are used for separating the polychromatic light into three chromatic components, i.e. a blue component, a red component and a red component. Each of the first liquid-crystal panel 7, the second liquid-crystal panel 8 and the third liquid-crystal panel 9 is used for modulating each chromatic component in response to predetermined data. The projection lens 11 is used for forming images of the rays composed at the tricolor synthetic prism 10 onto a screen (not shown). The total reflection mirror 12 is arranged on the condenser lens 4 for reflecting rays emitted from the light integrator 3, thereby directing them to the condenser lens 4.
The first dichroic mirror 5 separates the incident rays into a blue component and a remainder component composed of a green component and a red component. The second dichroic mirror 6 separates the remainder component into a green component and a red component. The red component passes through the relay lens 21 arranged between the first reflection mirror 17 and second reflection mirror 18 and is then projected onto the third liquid-crystal panel 9. The blue component is totally reflected by the third reflection mirror 14 and modulated into a parallel ray by the field lens 15 to project onto on the first liquid-crystal panel 7. The green component passes through the field lens 16 located along the optical path thereof so as to form a parallel ray and project onto the second liquid-crystal panel 8.
In the optical devices described above, only the red component has a different distance from the source 1 to the tricolor synthetic prism 10. Thus, a relay lens 21 is arranged between the first reflection mirror 17 and the second reflection mirror 18 so as to make the source 1 of the red component have equal distance as that of the blue and the green component.
However, the structure of the customarily used liquid crystal projector in FIG. 1 has the advantages of image deviations in positioning due to the tolerance of assembly or production. Referring to FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), a tilt adjustment mechanism is built in the total reflection mirror 12 for adjusting the orientation thereof. The tilt adjustment mechanism includes a mirror supporting frame 23 for supporting a bottom edge of the mirror 12, a bottom supporting member 24 for supporting one surface of the mirror 12 near its bottom edge at the center thereof, a pair of top supporting member 25 for supporting the top edge of the mirror 12 and two springs 26 and 27 for pushing against the opposite surface of the mirror 12, thereby holding the mirror securely against the supporting members 24 and 25. The top supporting member 25 includes an adjusting plate 28, a fixing member 29 (e.g. a screw) for fixing the adjusting plate 28 to the supporting frame 23. The tilt adjustment mechanism is implemented by loosing the screw, shifting each adjusting plate 28 forward or backward relative to the mirror 12 and fixing the adjusting plate 28 to the supporting frame 23. Because the above-mentioned tilt adjustment mechanism is performed by rotating the mirror 12 via the bottom supporting member 24 as a pivot, the top edge of the mirror is always shifted more than the bottom edge. Therefore, the image deviations still could not be effectively reduced. Therefore, the present invention provides an improved mirror adjustment device for overcoming the problems described above.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustment mechanism of a mirror for a liquid crystal projector for reducing image deviations due to the tolerance of assembly or production.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustment mechanism of a mirror for a liquid crystal projector by rotating the mirror via a tip of a resilience sheet as a pivot.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustment mechanism including a supporting portion and an adjusting device. The supporting portion includes a first plate having a surface in contact with the mirror, a second plate connected with the top edge of the first plate and a resilience sheet disposed between the first plate and a housing of the projector. The adjusting device passes through a hole of the second plate to be in contact with the housing and is capable of being adjusted for rotating the mirror.
Preferably, the projector is a liquid crystal projector.
Preferably, the mirror is one of a reflection mirror and a total reflection mirror.
Preferably, the second plate is L-shaped.
Preferably, the resilience sheet has two ends connected with the housing and a tip in contact of the center of the first plate.
Preferably, the resilience sheet is in a shape of an arc, wherein the tip of the arc is in contact with the center of the first plate.
Preferably, the adjusting device is a screw.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a mirror of a liquid crystal projector. The adjustment mechanism includes a first plate having a surface in contact with the mirror, a second plate connected with the top edge of the first plate, a resilience sheet disposed between the first plate and a housing of the projector and has two ends connected with the housing and a tip in contact of the center of the first plate, and a screw passing through a hole of the second plate to be in contact with the housing and capable of be adjusted for rotating the mirror via the tip as a pivot.
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Mirror adjustment mechanism for liquid crystal projector


An impact motion tracking system for tracking an object in a three-dimensional space includes a motion tracking sensor that includes a housing, a magnetic measurement module, an inertial measurement module, and a transmitter module, which generates magnetic fields. The magnetic measurement module measures magnetic fields generated by the transmitter module and has a fixed orientation with the object. The inertial measurement module measures a linear acceleration or an angular acceleration and has a fixed positional relationship with the object. An electronic processor receives measured signals from the motion tracking sensor and derives an impact motion information for the object based on received measured signals from the inertial measurement module. The electronic processor derives a magnetic motion information for the object based on received measured signals from the magnetic measurement module and periodically calibrates impact motion information with magnetic motion information.

In crash tests as conducted by automotive, aviation, and other vehicle manufacturers, the effect of an impact upon a vehicle and its occupants is determined. In such crash tests, the vehicle undergoes a simulated collision. Both, the vehicle and its occupants, also called crash test dummies, are exposed to high inertial loading in a short period of about 200 msec. As a result, the crashed vehicle and the crash test dummies are subject to a brisk acceleration and a partial deformation. The crashed vehicle and the crash test dummies undergo impact motion like a sled motion of the crashed vehicle or a back and forth head shaking of the crash test dummies. According to the Euro New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) or the US New Car Assessment Program (US NCAP), a limit value for a linear chest acceleration of a crash test dummy is 60 g for a period of time of at least 3 msec, and an angular chest acceleration of a crash test dummy may reach up to 1500°/sec. Thus, impact motion in the sense of present invention means a motion of the crashed vehicle and the crash test dummies induced by a linear acceleration of up to 60 g for a period of at least 3 msec or by an angular acceleration of up to 1500°/sec.
Three-dimensional tracking of the impact motion of the crashed vehicle and of the crash test dummies during and after the simulated collision is performed with a wide variety of high resolution tracking sensors like high speed video cameras, force sensors, acceleration sensors, angle rate sensors, and the like. High resolution tracking in the sense of present invention means tracking of an object in a three-dimensional space with a spatial resolution of less than 2 mm in each of the three dimensions and a time resolution of less than 0.02 msec.
Unfortunately, the impact motion of the interior of the crashed vehicle and of the crash test dummies sitting inside the crashed vehicle cannot always be discerned with satisfactory spatial and time resolution from outside the crashed vehicle by means of high speed cameras, for example due to the existence of non-transparent vehicle surroundings and of the inflation of multiple airbags during the simulated collision.
A solution to this unsatisfactory three-dimensional impact motion tracking might come from sensor fusion. In this regard, WO2007058526A1 describes a motion tracking system for tracking an object in a three-dimensional space comprising a motion tracking sensor and an electronic processor. The motion tracking sensor in turn comprises a sensor fusion of a magnetic measurement module and an inertial measurement module. The magnetic measurement module measures magnetic fields generated by a transmitter module. The magnetic measurement module has a fixed positional relationship with an object portion of the object. The magnetic measurement module comprises three magnetic field sensors placed in a three-dimensional positional relationship with respect to one another. The inertial measurement module measures a linear acceleration and an angular acceleration. The inertial measuring module has a fixed positional relationship with an object portion of the object. The inertial measurement module comprises three linear acceleration sensors and three angular acceleration sensors. The linear acceleration sensors and the angular acceleration sensors are placed in a three-dimensional positional relationship with respect to one another. The electronic processor receives measured signals from the motion tracking sensor. The electronic processor derives a motion information for the object portion of the object based on the received measured signals. This is done by double integration in time of linear acceleration sensor signals and of angular acceleration sensor signals. Gravitation acceleration of the motion tracking system gets subtracted. The electronic processor also periodically calibrates motion information from the inertial measurement module with motion information from the magnetic measurement module. Thus, at regular intervals, motion information from the inertial measurement module is corrected by motion information from the magnetic measurement module.
Such a motion tracking system is commercially available as MTi 100-series products by Xsens Technologies B.V. Unfortunately, the MTI 100 series products do neither possess the structural robustness that is required for crash tests, nor are they apt to measure the magnitude of the linear acceleration and of the angular acceleration as well as the time resolution of the impact motion. The MTi 100 series products measure the linear acceleration with a standard full range of only around 5 g and the angular acceleration with a standard full range of only 450°/sec. Such a restriction is well below the aforementioned impact motion tracking requirements. More importantly, the NTi 100 series products measure only with a sampling rate of 60 kS/sec and an output frequency of up to 2 kHz, which is below the aforementioned high resolution tracking requirement. In other words, the MTI series And the bias repeatability per year is typically 0.03 m/sec2, resulting in an position error of 6 mm after 200 msec, which is far above the required spatial resolution of less than 2 mm in a dimension. Due to these restrictions, the NTi 100 series products are not suited for crash tests.
The aforementioned motion tracking system yields satisfactory results in the absence of ferromagnetic metals which generate distorting magnetic fields. The presence of ferromagnetic metals, however, is commonplace in a great number of devices, including electric wiring, electronic devices, monitors, fluorescent lighting and also automotive vehicles, aviation vehicles and also crash test dummies. Distorting magnetic fields that are superimposed to the magnetic fields generated by the transmitter module falsify the signals measured by the magnetic measurement module and lead to positional inaccuracies of the motion tracking system.
The motion tracking sensor itself is low weight and is easily attached to a moving body by means of a strap or a band, so that it can be worn in a fixed positional relationship with an ankle or a wrist of a human body. During a crash test, however, the acceleration of a crash test dummy is so brisk and the crash test dummy is in so hefty frictional contact with the interior of the crashed vehicle, that a motion tracking sensor attached by means of a strap or a band on a body portion of the crash test dummy cannot maintain a fixed positional relationship with the object portion of the crash test dummy. The loose of the fixed relationship of the motion tracking sensor with the object portion adversely affects the spatial resolution the motion tracking system.


In a condenser microphone including a microphone unit and an output module section which are connected to each other via a microphone cord, the length of a microphone cord in the output module section is shortened without interfering with soldering of the microphone cord to a circuit board of the output module section, so that noise caused by electromagnetic waves is prevented. In a condenser microphone where a condenser microphone unit 10 and an output module section 20, in which a circuit board 22 is housed in a shield case 21, are connected to each other via a microphone cord 30, a connection metal part 110 of the microphone cord and an output connector 23 are fixed to the circuit board 22 which can be inserted and removed in and from the shield case 21, the connection metal part 110 being detachably fit into an end opening 21a of the shield case 21. The connection metal part 110 of the microphone cord can be removed from the shield case 21 together with the circuit board 22.

Various kinds of condenser microphones are available for various application purposes. The condenser microphones include a tie pin microphone attached to clothes or the like and a gooseneck microphone which is mainly used for conferences and disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H09-229292).
FIGS. 4 and 5 show conventional examples 1 and 2 of a tie pin microphone. FIG. 6 shows conventional example 3 of a gooseneck microphone. Of these drawings, FIGS. 4A and 5A are exploded views showing that an output module section is being assembled. FIGS. 4B and 5B are sectional views showing the completion of the assembly of the output module section.
In such tie pin and gooseneck condenser microphones, in order to make microphones inconspicuous, a condenser microphone unit 10 and an output module section 20 are separated from each other and are connected via a dedicated microphone cord 30.
Of the condenser microphone unit 10 and the output module section 20 which are shared among conventional examples 1 to 3, the condenser microphone unit 10 comprises a cartridge case 11 made of, e.g., aluminum. The cartridge case 11 acts as a shield case and houses a condenser unit including a diaphragm and a fixed pole (not shown) and an impedance converter. Generally, the impedance converter is an FET (field-effect transistor).
The output module section 20 comprises a cylindrical shield case 21 made of, e.g., a brass alloy. A circuit board 22 and an output connector 23 are housed in the shield case 21. A voice output circuit (not shown) including a transformer, a lowcut filter circuit, and an amplifier circuit, etc. is mounted on the circuit board 22.
The output connector 23 is fixed to one end of the circuit board 22 by screwing or the like and is disposed on the rear end of the shield case 21 when the circuit board 22 is housed in the shield case 21. The output module section 20 is called a power module section in some cases.
Generally, the output connector 23 in the condenser microphone is a 3-pin output connector defined by EIAJ RC5236 "a latch-lock round connector for sound." To be specific, the output connector 23 comprises a first pin for grounding (shielding), a second pin used as the hot side of a signal, and a third pin used as the cold side of a signal. The output connector 23 is connected to a phantom power source via a balanced shield cable (not shown).
The microphone cord 30 is a twin-core shield covered wire (not specifically shown) which includes a power wire for supplying power to the condenser microphone unit 10, a signal line for transmitting a voice signal outputted from the impedance converter to the voice output circuit of the circuit board 22, and a shield covered wire for electrostatically shielding the power wire and the signal line and grounding the power wire and the signal line.
The shield covered wire of the microphone cord 30 is connected, on the side of the condenser microphone unit 10, to the cartridge case 11 and is connected, on the signal input side of the output module section 20, to a ground circuit (not shown) of the shield case 21 and the circuit board 22. The first grounding pin of the output connector 23 is connected, on the signal output side of the output module section 20, to the ground circuit of the shield case 21 and the circuit board 22 in a manner similar to the shield covered wire.
In conventional example 1 shown in FIG. 4, when the microphone cord 30 is connected to the circuit board 22 of the output module section 20, the microphone cord 30 is passed through the shield case 21 and soldered to the circuit board 22 while the circuit board 22 is drawn from the shield case 21 as shown in FIG. 4A. A knot 31 for preventing disconnection is tied at one end of the microphone cord 30.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4B, the circuit board 22 is housed in the shield case 21 together with the output connector 23. In conventional example 1, a rubber bush 24 acting as a catch of the knot 31 is provided on the front end of the shield case 21.
In conventional example 2 shown in FIG. 5, a cord connector 40 is used to connect a microphone cord 30 and a circuit board 22 of an output module section 20. To be specific, one of connector members included in the cord connector 40, for example, a male connector member 41 is provided on the side of the microphone cord 30 and a female connector member 42 serving as the other connector member is mounted on the front end of a shield case 21. The female connector member 42 and the circuit board 22 are connected to each other via an internal cord 32.
As shown in FIG. 5A, in an actual connecting operation, one end of the internal cord 32 is connected to the female connector member 42, the female connector member 42 is attached to the front end of the shield case 21, and the other end of the internal cord 32 is drawn from the shield case 21 and soldered to the circuit board 22. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5B, the circuit board 22 is housed in the shield case 21 together with the output connector 23.
Conventional example 3 shown in FIG. 6 describes a gooseneck microphone where a condenser microphone unit 10 is supported by a flexible pipe 50. In this case, an end fitting 25 for fitting and fixing the flexible pipe 50 is provided on the front end of a shield case 21. A microphone cord 30 is routed into the flexible pipe 50 and drawn from the fixed end of the flexible pipe 50. A cord insertion hole 25a for inserting the microphone cord 30 into the shield case 21 is bored in the end fitting 25.
In conventional example 3, when the microphone cord 30 is connected to a circuit board 22 of an output module section 20, the fixed end of the flexible pipe 50 is, for example, press-fit and fixed into the end fitting 25 while the microphone cord 30 is inserted into the shield case 21 through the cord insertion hole 25a of the end fitting 25 as shown in FIG. 6A, and the microphone cord 30 is soldered to the circuit board 22 outside the shield case 21. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6B, the circuit board 22 is housed in the shield case 21 together with an output connector 23.
Incidentally, when strong electromagnetic waves are applied to the microphone cord 30, high-frequency current caused by the electromagnetic waves may enter the shield case 21, the high-frequency current may be detected by a voice output circuit formed on the circuit board 22, and noise may occur.
Cellular phones have rapidly become widespread in recent years. When a cellular phone is used near a microphone, extremely strong electromagnetic waves are received (for example, in a range of about several cm to several tens cm, an electric field is several tens of thousands times as strong as an electric field generated by commercial radio waves). Thus, the provision of solutions to cellular phones is an urgent necessity in the field of microphones.
Particularly when the microphone cord 30 has a long wire length in the output module section 20, a part having the long wire length acts as an antenna and thus is susceptible to influences of electromagnetic waves. Therefore, when considering measures against electromagnetic waves, it is more preferable that the microphone cord 30 have a shorter wire length in the output module section 20. However, in conventional example 1, the knot 31 for preventing disconnection has to be tied on the microphone cord 30, resulting in a long wire length in the output module section 20.
Further, in conventional examples 2 and 3, the internal cord 32 of conventional example 2 is included in the microphone cord 30, and the circuit board 22 has to be drawn out of the shield case 21 when the microphone cord 30 is soldered to the circuit board 22 and during maintenance (repair). Thus, the microphone cord 30 in the output module section 20 has to have a wire length equal to or longer than the shaft length of the shield case 21. Therefore, in the condenser microphones of conventional examples 1 to 3, particularly noise caused by electromagnetic waves is a serious problem.


A method for manufacturing probe tips suitable for use in an atomic force microscope (AFM) or scanning tunneling microscope (STM) begins by depositing a layer of a first material over a substrate and then patterning the layer of the first material to define apertures wherever probe tips are to be formed. Next, a layer of a second material is deposited using an unbiased high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDPCVD) process to form sharp probe tips in the apertures in the layer of the first material. The HDPCVD process also forms a sacrificial layer of the second material on top of the portions of the first material not removed by the patterning step. The sacrificial layer at least partially overhangs the apertures in the first material, forming a shadow mask during the deposition process which gives rise to a sharp probe profile. After the formation of the probe tips, the remaining portion of the layer of first material is removed using a wet chemical etchant that selectively etches the first material at a much higher rate than the second material. The removing step also removes the sacrificial layer of the second material because the sacrificial layer is lifted off the substrate when the underlying layer of first material is etched away. In one preferred embodiment, the first material is silicon nitride and the second material is silicon dioxide.

An atomic force microscope (AFM) scans over the surface of a sample. Typically, in the "contacting mode" of operation, a sharp tip is mounted on the end of a cantilever and the tip rides on the surface of a sample with an extremely light tracking force, on the order of 10.sup.-5 to 10.sup.-10 N. Profiles of the surface topography are obtained with extremely high resolution. Images showing the position of individual atoms are routinely obtained. In a second mode of operation, the tip is held a short distance, on the order of 5 to 500 Angstroms, from the surface of a sample and is deflected by various forces between the sample and the tip; such forces include electrostatic, magnetic, and van der Waals forces.
Atomic force microscopy is capable of imaging conductive as well as insulating surfaces with atomic resolution. Typical AFM's have a sensitivity of 0.1 Angstrom in the measurement of displacement, and a spring constant of about 1 Newton per meter (1 N/m). Further, the cantilever must be mounted so that the cantilever can approach and contact a sample.
Several methods of detecting the deflection of the cantilever are available which have sub-angstrom sensitivity, including vacuum tunneling, optical interferometry, optical beam deflection, capacitive and resistive techniques. One such technique is described in PCT Patent Document WO 9212398, "Piezoresistive Cantilever For Atomic Force Microscopy", published Jul. 23, 1992 (PCT Application No. 91US9759), which is incorporated herein by reference.
Scanning tunneling microscopes (STMs) are similar to AFMs, except that surface imaging is performed by detecting conductive properties of the surface being scanned.
While AFM/STM probe tips have been manufactured using semiconductor processing techniques in the past, the tips produced by those methods have tended to have a tip radius of at least 1000 angstroms, which is blunter than optimal.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for producing ultra-sharp AFM/STM probe tips.

Process for manufacturing ultra-sharp atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tips


A circuit for evaluating electrical signals having a programmable adjustment is described. The circuit includes an analog output for signals that have been evaluated which can be used to program the adjustment.

The present invention relates to a circuit, a programming device and a programming method.
Sensor evaluation circuits include adjustment means. After the measuring transducer has been mated with the evaluation circuit, the adjustment means are programmed by storing specific quantities, e.g., offsets, amplifications and temperature coefficients, so as to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and temperature changes in the measuring transducer with which it is mated. At the end of the production line, this data is loaded into the memory provided for this purpose via separate interfaces. Separate interfaces require expensive extra contacts on the housing of the evaluation circuit and, respectively, of the sensor element that has been mated with the evaluation circuit, and these must be protected to allow use in the field, in particular to ensure that they are properly protected against electromagnetic interference.
By contrast, the circuit, the programming device and the method according to the present invention allow straightforward adjustment of sensor evaluation circuits, in particular sensor evaluation circuits for applications in motor vehicles, to be carried out at the end of the production line, additional design elements (microcontrollers or, respectively, additional adjustment contacts) being unnecessary. Herein, it is advantageous that two-fold use is made of a line that is already present, namely the analog output. This sensor evaluation circuit, which can be adjusted in a simple manner, can be used in particular for sensors which only have an analog three-wire interface. Furthermore, the circuit according to the present invention is downwards-compatible to control units which are already present and which perform further evaluation of the output signals of sensor evaluation circuits; in the case of such control units, no changes with respect to an analog output of a three-wire interface used in straightforward manner are necessary (the three-wire interface includes a ground terminal, a supply voltage terminal and an analog output).
It is particularly advantageous that three-fold use can be made of the analog output of the sensor evaluation circuit, in that it is ensured that a memory element can be programmed, and also an external programming device can be synchronized with the adjustment means via the analog output.
It is particularly advantageous that four-fold use can be made of the analog output of the three-wire interface. This means a significant simplification of the design of the housing and printed circuit board. Furthermore, there is no need for components such as capacitors that would otherwise be necessary to prevent electromagnetic compatibility problems arising from spurious irradiation of programming connections that would otherwise also be necessary. In addition chip space can be saved, as there is no need for additional bondlouds or electrostatic shielding structures for additional programming lines that would otherwise be necessary.

Electronic circuit including an analog output through which an adjustment means is programmed


A custom LED lighting fixture system has a planar opaque top element and an opposing planar translucent bottom element that can be custom fabricated to take any number of shapes. Upon fabrication of the top and bottom elements into an irregular circumferential shape, for example, a first aluminum extrusion is fitted to the left side, and a second aluminum extrusion is fitted to the left side. The first and second extrusions adapt to the shapes of the top and bottom elements. The extrusions comprise a first channel on the interior surface configured to accept the top element, and a second channel configured to accept the bottom element. A first end cap couples to a first end of the first and second extrusions. A second end cap couples to a second end of the first and second extrusions. An LED strip is operational on an interior surface of the top element.

The following background information presents examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the claimed embodiments, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
A lighting fixture, or luminaire, is an electrical device containing an electric lamp that provides illumination. Lighting fixtures have a fixture body and one or more lamps. In the case of light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures, the lamps are hard-wired in place. Typically, lighting extrusions are materials that are formed to produce a specific cross-sectional profile for a lighting fixture. Such extrusions can be created specifically to fit the desired shape of the light and enable a designer to easily place lights exactly where they are required without the need for larger, more obtrusive, traditional light fixtures.
Lighting extrusions are elongated pieces of material with a consistent cross-sectional profile. In many instances, these are elongated aluminum extrusions with a space for holding LED lights that span the length of the troffer. Troffers may be mounted to or suspended from ceilings, walls, floors, etc. In many cases, the extrusions are recessed into the ceiling, with the back side of the extrusion protruding into the ceiling.
When an LED lighting fixture with a unique or customized shape is desired, lighting extrusions are not often used, due to the difficulty involved in working a metal extrusion into a desired shape. Currently to create such luminaires, all items must be custom manufactured, cut, welded etc. per each specific luminaire. Therefore, even though lighting fixture aluminum extrusions meet some of the needs of the market, the above-noted drawbacks lessen the usability and user-friendliness of the existing devices in unique or custom applications. Current lighting fixture aluminum extrusions do not provide a convenient means of integrating linear LED strip lights into an LED lighting fixture that is customized in shape.
As a result of the previously recognized issues, a need exists for more efficient methods and systems for providing LED lighting fixtures using extrusions that may be customized in shape.

Customizable LED lighting fixture using extrusions


A method for cutting and separating from a piece of sheet metal a product, comprising a first step for contouring the product while leaving a small joint such as a connecting web or micro-joint which connects the product to the sheet metal, a second step for forming a protrusion on or adjacent to the small joint by lancing, embossing, or semi-shearing, and a third step for pressing the protrusion in order to shear the small joint.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and a device for separating from sheet metal a product which is connected to the sheet metal through a small joint such as a connecting web or micro-joint, and to a die tool used in a punch press for separating a product from sheet metal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, when one or more than two products are contoured in a piece of sheet metal and separated from the sheet metal, the contoured products are generally not cut off from the sheet metal, but connected to the sheet metal through one or more than two connecting webs or micro-joints.
When the products are connected to the sheet metal through connecting webs, subsequent cutting to cut the webs by a cutting machine is necessary to separate the product from the sheet metal. When the products are cut off from the sheet metal, they are positioned in turn in a cutting zone of the cutting machine. The positioning of the product or the sheet metal with precision in the cutting zone, however, becomes difficult when some products are cut off, since the sheet metal loses its strength and deforms because of openings thereby caused.
When the products are connected to the sheet metal through micro-joints, subsequent mechanical or manual hammering or vibrating must be carried out with respect to the sheet metal. In this case, damages such as cuts, bents, and depressions may be caused on the products.
In any case of the above-mentioned connecting web joints or micro-joints, separating from the sheet metal the products makes much noise.

Method and device for separating a contoured product from sheet metal