An aerosol texturing system for forming a textured surface on drywall material. The aerosol texturing system comprises an aerosol assembly defining a product chamber and acoustic texture material and propellant material disposed within the product chamber. The aerosol assembly is selectively operable in a first mode in which the product chamber is sealed and in a second mode in which fluid is allowed to flow out of the product chamber along a dispensing passageway. The acoustic texture material comprises a base portion and a particulate portion. The particulate portion comprises at least one particulate material selected from the group consisting of urethane foam and melamine foam. At least a portion of the propellant material exists in a gaseous state such that, when the aerosol assembly is in the second mode, the propellant material forces the acoustic texture material out of the aerosol assembly along the dispensing passageway.

Interior walls are formed by sheets of drywall material that are secured to the framing of a building. The seams between adjacent sheets of drywall material are taped, mudded, and sanded to obtain a substantially flat, smooth drywall surface. The drywall surface is coated with primer and paint to obtain a finished surface.
In some situations, a separate texture layer is applied to the drywall surface prior to painting. The texture layer is formed by spraying texture material onto the drywall surface. Texture material is a coating material that, when sprayed, does not form a smooth, thin coating. Instead, texture material is applied in discrete drops or globs that dry to form a bumpy, irregular textured surface.
Texture materials can be applied using any one of a number of application systems. During new construction, texture materials are commonly applied in a stream of compressed air using commercial hopper gun systems. For touch up or repair, texture material is commonly applied using hand operated pneumatic pumps or aerosol dispensing systems. Varying the parameters of the application system varies the size and spacing of the bumps to vary the look of the textured surface.
One specific form of texture material is commonly referred to as "acoustic" or "popcorn" texture material. In addition to a coating material, acoustic texture material further comprises an aggregate material. When the acoustic texture material is applied using commercial hopper guns, the aggregate material is conventionally formed by polystyrene chips. However, as will be described in detail below, chips made of polystyrene foam are dissolved by hydrocarbon aerosol propellant materials.
Accordingly, aerosol dispensing systems for dispensing small amounts of acoustic texture material for repair or touch-up purposes use one of two approaches. The first approach is to mix a liquid hydrocarbon aerosol propellant material with chips made from materials other than polystyrene. However, when chips made of materials other than polystyrene foam are used, the appearance and function of the texture surface may be different from that of the surrounding surface.
The second approach is to combine polystyrene chips with a propellant material formed by a pressurized inert gas such as nitrogen or air. This second approach allows the use of a conventional acoustic texture material including polystyrene chips. However, the use of a pressurized inert gas causes the acoustic texture material to be dispensed very quickly. The use of pressurized inert gas as a propellant can make it difficult for a non-professional to control the application of the acoustic texture material.
The need thus exists for improved systems and methods for dispensing small quantities of acoustic texture material for the purpose of touch-up or repair.

Particulate materials for acoustic texture material


The present invention relates to a carbon black producing method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a carbon black producing method using an oil furnace, wherein the cooling medium for stopping the carbon black producing reaction is gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing carbon black. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for producing carbon black, by an oil furnace method, wherein small size particle carbon black is obtained with a high yield.
2. Discussion of the Background
An oil furnace method for producing carbon black is usually conducted in a furnace comprising a first reaction zone, where fuel is burned by air or an oxygen-containing gas which generates a high temperature atmosphere necessary for the heat decomposition of a feedstock hydrocarbon, a second reaction zone situated adjacent to said first reaction zone, where a feedstock hydrocarbon is introduced to said high temperature atmosphere to induce a carbon black producing reaction, and a third reaction zone situated downstream of said second reaction zone, where a cooling medium is introduced to stop the carbon black producing reaction.
As the cooling medium used in the above described process, a water spray is usually used because of ease of handling and high cooling effect, and no other cooling medium has been actively used.
For example, in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. Heisei 7-102185 (1995), nitrogen-enriched air is introduced between a feedstock hydrocarbon spraying point and a cooling point but the object of introducing nitrogen-enriched air is to control the quality of carbon black, and the final cooling is conducted, by water, as conventionally done. No method for cooling other than that using the water is described or suggested in this publication.
The object of the present invention is to optimize the cooling medium used in the third reaction zone, and the way of introducing this cooling medium to obtain small size particle carbon black.
The present inventors have conducted studies on the cooling medium and the way of introducing it into the furnace to solve the above problems, and found that unexpectedly, cooling by a gaseous medium is advantageous for obtaining higher yields than conventionally obtained when water is used. Namely, the present inventors conducted studies using various kinds of reaction stopping media, and found that although cooling by water has advantages such that it can be easily conducted, it has also disadvantages such that the gasification of carbon black which lowers a carbon black yield, is increased. The present inventors presumed that this is because, in the neighborhood of the water introducing point, the water vapor concentration becomes high, and the temperature condition in the cooling process increases reactions that gasify carbon black such as a water gas reaction. Also the present inventors inferred that stopping the carbon black producing reaction with water causes a delay in vaporization of water droplets and problems on mixing efficiency with a high-temperature gas from the second reaction zone, which consequently causes unevenness of reaction stopping.
The present inventors also found that, by introducing the cooling medium vertically to the axial direction of the furnace, a reaction stopping effect can be improved, consequently small size particle carbon black is obtained in high yield, and they attained to the present invention.


A method of making N-channel and P-channel junction field-effect transistors using a modified CMOS process that simultaneously makes complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors, or a modified BiCMOS process that simultaneously makes bipolar transistors and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors. Making junction field effect transistors using the basic CMOS process requires mask changes and an additional mask, etch, and implant step. Making junction field effect transistors using the BiCMOS process only requires mask changes.

The trend in integrated circuits to ever larger scales of integration has led to analog and digital circuits being combined on the same silicon substrate. Circuits such as analog to digital converters and digital to analog circuits combine precision analog stages with complex digital circuits. The analog stages of such circuits must have low input offset voltage, low input offset voltage drift over time, low input current, low noise, and high gain.
Conventional approaches to making combined analog and digital circuits use complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors (CMOS) transistors for both the analog stages and the digital stages of the circuit. However, the performance of the analog stages of such circuits has not been satisfactory. Even though such stages have had extremely low input current and acceptable gain, and can be trimmed to have an acceptably low input offset voltage, they have an unacceptably high input offset voltage drift over time.
Metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistors made using a normal digital CMOS process have a considerable variation in threshold voltage, which determines the input offset voltage of the analog stage in which the transistors are used. Such threshold voltage variations are of no consequence when MOS transistors used in digital circuits. Moreover, the input stages of analog stages made using MOS transistors can be trimmed to reduce the offset voltage to an acceptable level. However, trimming the input offset voltage is to no avail, since the threshold voltage of MOS transistors made using a normal digital CMOS process is unstable. Thus, if an input stage is trimmed to reduce its input offset voltage, the input offset voltage can reappear some time later due to the instability of the threshold voltages of the MOS transistors forming the input stage. Threshold voltage changes of over 60 mV have been observed.
Threshold voltage instability is mainly due to unstable surface states in the silicon-silicon dioxide interface under the gate of the MOS input transistors. Other mechanisms causing threshold voltage instability include unstable states within the gate oxide, and mobile ion drift.
Threshold voltage instability is particularly severe if the circuit is subject to high levels of radiation. High density CMOS circuits that have geometries of less than 1 micron are usually manufactured using a process that includes plasma etching. Plasma etching subjects the circuit to high levels of radiation, and the MOS transistors forming the analog input stages of the circuit consequently suffer from threshold voltage instability. MOS input transistors can also be subject to high levels of radiation if the circuit is operated in an environment in which there are high levels of radiation.
The same mechanism that causes threshold voltage instability also causes analog stages made using CMOS transistors to have a higher than desirable noise level.
Thus, MOS transistors made using a CMOS process have drawbacks that make them unsuitable for use in precision analog stages.
A few steps can be added to a basic CMOS fabrication process to allow bipolar transistors to be made on the same semiconductor substrate as digital CMOS transistors. Bipolar transistors made in such a process have stable and well-matched V.sub.be and current gain. This enables such bipolar transistors to be used as the input stage of a precision analog stage. However, analog stages using bipolar input transistors have a significant input current, which renders them less than ideal.

Method of making n-channel and p-channel junction field-effect transistors and CMOS transistors using a CMOS or bipolar/CMOS process


A bonded metal fuselage for aerospace vehicles includes a monocoque structure having an outer metal skin, metal tear straps bonded to the outer skin and metal stringers bonded to the outer skin and to the tear straps. The outer chords of fuselage frames are fastened directly to tear straps and to the skin, obviating the need for clips to fasten the frames to the stringers.

In metal monocoque fuselage structures for aerospace vehicles such as airplanes, frames and stringers are commonly attached to the metal skin by fasteners such as rivets having heads that are countersunk within the skin. In some cases, circumferential strips of material, commonly known as "tear straps", are placed between the skin and the frames in order to reduce hoop stress. Also, in some cases, separate clips are used to connect the stringers to the frames in order to transfer a portion of the load on the stringers to the frames. In order to assure that the skin exhibits uniform structural strength, the gauge or thickness of the skin in the area of the fasteners is increased so as to form "lands" or "pad-ups" whose thickness is sufficient to accommodate the countersink depth of the fastener head. The skin lands add weight to the aircraft, and increase aircraft assembly time since it is necessary to machine or otherwise remove a portion of the skin thickness in order to form the lands.
It would therefore be desirable to reduce or eliminate the need for skin lands in order to reduce fuselage weight and assembly time. It would also be desirable to reduce the number of fasteners required to attach the skin to the stringers and the frame.

Bonded metal fuselage and method for making the same


An automatic gain control circuit (5a) includes a peak detector circuit (10) that detects the peak voltage of the output signal from a variable gain amplifier (3), an average value detection and output amplitude setting circuit (11) that detects the average voltage of the output signals from the variable gain amplifier (3) and adds a voltage ½ the desired output amplitude of the variable gain amplifier (3) to the average voltage, and a high gain amplifier (12) that amplifies the difference between the output voltage of the peak detector circuit (10) and the output voltage of the average value detection and output amplitude setting circuit (11) and controls the gain of the variable gain amplifier (3) using the amplification result as a gain control signal. The peak detector circuit (10) includes transistors (Q1, Q2, Q3), a current source (I1), and a filter circuit. The filter circuit includes a series connection of a resistor (Ra) and a capacitor (C1).

Conventionally, an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit is used as a constituent element of a transimpedance amplifier circuit that converts a small photocurrent into a voltage signal and simultaneously amplifies it. FIG. 12 shows the arrangement of a transimpedance amplifier circuit disclosed in literature "Kimikazu Sano, et al., "A Wideband Low-distorted ROSA for Video Distribution Service based on FM Conversion Scheme", ECOC 2007 Proceedings, Vol. 3, pp. 167-168, 2007".
A transimpedance core circuit 1 converts a current signal obtained by a light-receiving element such as a photodiode (not shown) into a voltage signal. An offset compensator circuit 2 compensates for the offset from the output signal of the transimpedance core circuit 1. A variable gain amplifier 3 amplifies the output signal from the transimpedance core circuit 1. The output signal from the variable gain amplifier 3 is output to differential output terminals OT and OC via an output buffer 4. An automatic gain control circuit 5 generates a gain control signal and controls the gain of the variable gain amplifier 3 such that the amplitude of the output signal of the variable gain amplifier 3 matches a predetermined set output amplitude.
The automatic gain control circuit 5 will be described below in detail. The automatic gain control circuit 5 includes a peak detector circuit 50, an average value detector circuit 51, an output amplitude setting circuit 52, an operational amplifier 53, resistors r51, r52, r53, and r54, and capacitors c51, c52, and c53. The peak detector circuit 50 detects a peak value THo of the output signal from the variable gain amplifier 3. The average value detector circuit 51 detects an average value Ave of the output signals from the variable gain amplifier 3. The difference between the peak value THo and the average value Ave corresponds to the half (half amplitude) of the amplitude of the output signal from the variable gain amplifier 3. A set output half amplitude Aset to be used as a reference is set in the output amplitude setting circuit 52 in advance. The output amplitude setting circuit 52 outputs the set output half amplitude Aset to the noninverting input terminal and the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier 53.
At the input of the operational amplifier 53, the output amplitude of the variable gain amplifier 3 and the set output half amplitude Aset output from the output amplitude setting circuit 52 are added as indicated byAve−THo+ASet  (1)At the time of stable operation, the input to the operational amplifier 53 is almost 0 because of the high gain properties of the operational amplifier itself. For this reason, the value of expression (1) is almost 0, that is,THo−Ave≈ASet  (2)holds.
That is, the operational amplifier 53 amplifies the difference between the set output half amplitude Aset and the output half amplitude (THo−Ave) of the variable gain amplifier 3, and outputs the gain control signal to the variable gain amplifier 3 based on the amplification result. The operational amplifier 53 thus controls the gain of the variable gain amplifier 3 such that the output half amplitude (THo−Ave) of the variable gain amplifier 3 stabilizes in the set output half amplitude Aset.
As the variable gain amplifier 3, for example, a Gilbert cell type variable gain amplifier is used. FIG. 13 shows the arrangement of a Gilbert cell type variable gain amplifier disclosed in literature "P. R. Gray, P. J. Hurst, S. H. Lewis, and R. G. Meyer (authors); Kunihiro Asada and Minoru Nagata (supervisors of translation), "Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits", fourth edition, Baifukan, pp. 263-264, 2003". This variable gain amplifier includes amplitude adjustment transistors Q30 and Q31 forming an upper differential pair for adjusting the output amplitude in accordance with gain control signals GCT and GCC input to the bases, amplitude adjustment transistors Q32 and Q33 forming another upper differential pair, amplification transistors Q34 and Q35 having bases connected to a positive-phase input terminal HIT and a negative-phase input terminal HIC, respectively, and forming a lower differential pair, a current source I30 having one terminal connected to the emitters of the amplification transistors Q34 and Q35 and the other terminal receiving a power supply voltage VEE, a collector resistor R30 having one terminal receiving a power supply voltage VCC and the other terminal connected to the collectors of the amplitude adjustment transistors Q30 and Q32, and a collector resistor R31 having one terminal receiving the power supply voltage VCC and the other terminal connected to the collectors of the amplitude adjustment transistors Q31 and Q33. The collector of the amplification transistor Q34 is connected to the emitters of the amplitude adjustment transistors Q30 and Q31. The collector of the amplification transistor Q35 is connected to the emitters of the amplitude adjustment transistors Q32 and Q33.
In the variable gain amplifier shown in FIG. 13, the positive-phase input signal and the negative-phase input signal output from the transimpedance core circuit 1 are input to the positive-phase input terminal HIT and the negative-phase input terminal HIC, respectively. The gain control signals GCT and GCC are input to the amplitude adjustment transistors Q30 and Q31 forming an upper differential pair, respectively. The gain control signals GCT and GCC are also input to the amplitude adjustment transistors Q33 and Q32 forming another upper differential pair, respectively. The node between the collector resistor R31 and the collectors of the amplitude adjustment transistors Q31 and Q33 is connected to a positive-phase output terminal HOT. The node between the collector resistor R30 and the collectors of the amplitude adjustment transistors Q30 and Q32 is connected to a negative-phase output terminal HOC.

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION


Disclosed is an improved approach for identifying security risks and breaches in a network by applying machine learning methods that learn resource access patterns in the network. Specifically, by observing the access pattern of the network entities (e.g. accounts, services, and hosts) from authorization requests/responses, the model through unsupervised learning, organizes the entity relationships into an ensemble of hierarchical models. The ensemble of hierarchical models can then be leveraged to create a series of metrics that can be used to identify various types of abnormalities in the access of a resource on the network. For instance, by further classifying the access request for a resource using abnormality scores into detection scenarios, the model is able to detect both an abnormality and the type of abnormality and include such information in a corresponding alarm when a security breach happens.

Understanding the network environment and the interaction between entities is crucial to guarding the security of the network. There are several reasons that cause this task to be very difficult. For instance, as the volume of network traffic has exploded so has the amount of data corresponding to activities associated with security risks and breaches. Unfortunately, this has made it difficult for current system to be able to cope with the processing burden.
For example, there are enormous numbers of entities (accounts/hosts/services) in many networks. Thus, tracking every one of them in a timely fashion can be computationally intense if not impossible. Additionally, due to the massive amount of data these entities generate as a whole, it is nearly impossible to focus on an individual event or series of events—e.g. there is so much noise that finding the relevant data is essentially impossible.
Moreover, in an active network environment, novel connections are made all the time. However, merely identifying novel connections as such adds little to no value to processes for maintaining security over/of a network, as much of this traffic may correspond to ordinary and non-risky behavior but this traffic also obscures the risky if not malicious activity. Nonetheless, identification of security risks and breaches based on network traffic remains a critical goal of any network security process.
Thus, what is needed is a way to efficiently and informatively perform detection of security risks and breaches in a network.

Method, product, and system for maintaining an ensemble of hierarchical machine learning models for detection of security risks and breaches in a network


A portable hunting blind having a fabric panel supported and retained by a blind frame, which together bound a concealed space is provided. The blind frame includes two spaced apart horizontal members and a supporting framework for holding the two spaced apart horizontal members parallel to each other and above a supporting surface by a predetermined height, wherein all components of the blind frame are assembled by slidably mating. The fabric panel is dimensioned and adapted to be supported by an exterior of the two spaced apart horizontal members and the supporting framework so as to bound the concealed space. The fabric panel provides a plurality of strap fasteners for removably securing to the components of the blind frame by simply wrapping around them, thereby making the portable hunting blind light weight and to easily assemble without additional parts or tools.

The present invention relates to temporary shelters and, more particularly, to a portable hunting blind requiring no additional equipment, tools, or people to easily assemble.
When hunting on the ground or in a boat, hunters use concealment to gain an advantage on their game, which is the impetus for the portable hunting blind. Current portable hunting blinds, however, require additional parts and equipment for their assembly, such as pins, clips, hammer, and screw driver, or even require an additional person to assemble This in turn requires hunters to pack and carry such items with them during the hunt, making the use of these current hunting blinds burdensome in both carrying and assemblage.
As can be seen, there is a need for a portable hunting blind requiring no additional equipment, tools, or people to easily assemble, making it light weight and so facilitating individual hunting from a concealed location, whether on the ground or in a boat.


According to one aspect of the invention, a method for servicing a combustor cap assembly of a turbine includes determining a defect is present in a center ring of the cap assembly, the center ring being disposed within a plurality of vanes, removing the center ring from the cap assembly. The method also includes placing a replacement center ring in the cap assembly, wherein dimensions of the replacement center ring are substantially the same as the center ring that has been removed and brazing the replacement center ring to the plurality of vanes.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to turbine engines. More particularly, the subject matter relates to servicing a cap assembly of a turbine engine.
In gas turbine engines, a combustor converts chemical energy of a fuel or an air-fuel mixture into thermal energy. The thermal energy is conveyed by a fluid, often air from a compressor, to a turbine where the thermal energy is converted to mechanical energy. These fluids flow downstream to one or more turbines that extract energy therefrom to produce the mechanical energy output as well as power to drive the compressor. Over time, turbine parts may experience wear and degradation due to extreme conditions caused by flow of heated fluid within the turbine engine.
For example, combustion dynamics and combustion temperatures in selected locations, such as the combustor and turbine nozzle assemblies, may lead to thermal stress and wear of parts in the assemblies. In some cases, repairing or replacing a single part of the assembly can lead to replacement of an entire assembly. Replacing an entire assembly due to a defect in a single part within the assembly is a costly and time consuming service process.

Method for servicing a combustor cap assembly for a turbine


System, method, and non-transitory medium for generating a test scenario template from a cluster of similar partial runs of test scenarios involves executing the following: identifying runs of test scenarios run by users on software systems that belong to different organizations; generating partial runs of the test scenarios by extracting from each run of a test scenario data pertaining to a proper subset of the plurality of test steps described in the run; clustering the partial runs of the test scenarios into clusters of similar partial runs; receiving a profile of a user; selecting, based on the profile, from among the clusters a certain cluster suitable for the user; and generating a test scenario template based on partial runs belonging to the certain cluster.

Testing is an important part of the lifecycle of software. Software systems belonging to organizations require frequent testing to be performed in order to validate the systems' performance. This is especially true when new software modules are installed and/or when software modules undergo changes such as when they are updated or customized.
Software systems belonging to different organizations are typically configured differently because each organization has specific business processes it utilizes. Although the business processes may not be the same, they are made of similar building blocks (e.g., similar transactions may be used by different organizations). Thus, despite organization-specific differences in software systems of different organizations, it is often the case that testers belonging to the different organizations end up running the same, or quite similar, tests on their respective systems.
Despite the fact that different organizations often end up utilizing similar tests, it is often the case that each organization develops its own testing suite. Thus, knowledge such as best practices, and/or known system vulnerabilities, need to be rediscovered by each organization. The cumulative testing experience that may be aggregated from different organizations, the (testing) crowd wisdom, so to say, is simply not shared. However, even if organizations were to share their testing data, it still may be problematic to select and/or generate appropriate tests from the large body of testing data that may be available. Given that there may be many different tests for many software modules, it is often far from trivial to be able to effectively leverage testing data collected from different organizations for a certain user or a certain organization.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Generating test scenario templates from clusters of test steps utilized by different organizations


The present invention relates to automatic exposure control implemented in imaging by electromagnetic radiation, in particular to automatic exposure control in film-based mammography, which is based on a completely new approach as compared with the solutions currently in use, which utilize adjustment curves and/or tables constructed on the basis of empiric tests. The new approach includes modeling into the AEC system the radiation spectra obtainable from the radiation source as a function of its operating parameters and attenuation of the spectrum as the radiation traverses components of the imaging apparatus. By measuring the thickness of the object to be imaged and knowing the initial spectrum and its calculable behavior, a correspondence between the AEC signal and the desired darkening of the image can be achieved which is based on true density of the object being imaged.

In prior art, numerous different automatic exposure control (AEC) systems are known, which have been applied in connection with many different imaging solutions. In diagnostic X-ray imaging, exposure automation plays a very important role because its incorrect operation may lead to over- or underexposure and consequently to an unnecessary increase in the radiation dose received by the patient and to uncertain or even wrong diagnoses due to bad image quality. Incorrect exposures can of course be remedied via repeated imaging, but this further increases the radiation dose received by the patient and, on the other hand, it also involves extra work and expenses.
As the development of the film/intensifying screen combinations used in mammographic apparatus is making them increasingly sensitive and steep, automatic exposure solutions that have worked well to date may prove to be insufficient and they can not necessarily keep darkening of the film within acceptable limits, especially when operation of the automatic exposure system is being tested by varying the imaging parameters and object to the extent required by authority regulations.
The operation of automatic exposure systems currently in use is based on an empiric method in which each new film/intensifying screen combination is subjected to an enormous number of exposure tests using different imaging values of the imaging apparatus and varying the thickness, generally in range of 20–80 mm, of the acrylic plate typically used to represent the object to be imaged. Depending on the details of operation of the automatic exposure system used in each case, its various parameters are adjusted according to the results obtained until a sufficiently constant degree of film darkening is achieved in all circumstances. Each time when a new film/intensifying screen combination appears on the market or when more demanding tolerance requirements are set, such measurement series have to be carried out anew.
The commonly used calibration method as described above is thus based on radiographing a homogeneous plate, generally made of acrylic, simulating the object to be imaged. The periodic inspections carried out by the authorities to test the exposure automatics are based on the same method, which, it is true, is even necessary in respect of repeatability of the test. However, in an actual imaging situation, the object being imaged is not necessarily homogeneous. For example, the breast tissue imaged in mammography is by no means homogeneous, nor is the breast of standard size or shape in overall dimensions. As the object is typically also imaged from different projections in mammography, its shape and position in the imaging area may vary for this reason, too.
Already in early automatic exposure systems of mammographic apparatus, to allow for variation in the properties of the objects, the detector part of the automatic exposure system was movably arranged and the operator of the apparatus was expected to have the skill to select the optimal position for the detector for the measurement. Alternatively, the apparatus could have several detectors, of which the operator could choose the most suitable one. However, manual positioning of the detector involves certain problems and it may be incorrectly placed, e.g. partially outside the tissue to be imaged, with the result that radiation hitting the detector directly will stop the exposure too early. On the other hand, for example if the tissue being imaged contains a local dense part that happens to lie precisely in front of the detector, the exposure time may become too long. Therefore, especially in screening imaging where the imaging tempo is very rapid, incorrect detector positioning easily leads to errors regarding the degree of film darkening and thus may even create a need for repeated imaging as described above.
To eliminate the above-described problems regarding positioning of the detector, solutions using multiple detectors have been developed in which the signal produced by those detectors which have received quantity of radiation exceeding a given preset level is automatically left out of account. This limit level is so defined that, in order to reach it, the detector must obviously be located completely or partly outside the tissue being imaged. Solutions have also been developed in which a few detectors are used, of which the one is selected whose output signal appears to be the most suitable. While these solutions have significantly reduced exposure errors, they still involve the problem that their operation is only based on empirical knowledge that has proven to be good, and extending or adjusting such a function according to new and/or more demanding requirements may be very difficult and laborious, even impossible. In view of the latest proposals put forward by the authorities, in the future such requirements may include e.g. that the average film darkness should be determined with an accuracy of −+0.15 OD (Optical Density) (the figure is constant, but varies between 1.2 OD and 1.8 OD according to new research results and weightings varying from one country to another), but in the lightest areas of the film a certain minimum darkening should be guaranteed to ensure that a tumor, which is often located in exactly these dense areas of the tissue, can be diagnosed.

Automatic exposure method and automatic exposure system


The present invention relates to a superabsorbent polymer having an improved adsorption rate and a high bulk density, and a preparation method thereof.

A superabsorbent polymer (SAP) is a synthetic polymer material capable of absorbing moisture from about 500 to about 1000 times its own weight, and manufacturers have given it different names, such as SAM (SuperAbsorbent Material), AGM (Absorbent Gel Material) and the like. Such superabsorbent polymers were initially practically applied in sanitary products, and now they are widely used for preparation of various products, for example, hygiene products such as paper diapers for children or sanitary napkins, water retaining soil products for gardening, water stop materials for civil engineering and construction, sheets for raising seedlings, fresh-keeping agents for food distribution fields, materials for poultices, and the like.
As a method for preparing such a superabsorbent polymer, an inverse suspension polymerization method, an aqueous solution polymerization method, and the like are known. Among them, the preparation of superabsorbent polymers via inverse suspension polymerization is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. Sho56-161408, Sho57-158209, Sho57-198714, and so on. Furthermore, for the preparation of superabsorbent polymers via aqueous solution polymerization, a thermal polymerization method of polymerizing a hydrogel polymer while breaking and cooling the same in a kneader equipped with a plurality of spindles, and a photo-polymerization method of exposing a highly concentrated aqueous solution to UV rays or the like on a belt so as to carry out the polymerization and drying at the same time are known.
On the other hand, the absorption rate, one of important physical properties of superabsorbent polymers, is associated with the surface dryness of the product in contact with skin, such as with disposable diapers. In general, the absorption rate can be improved in a manner of widening a surface area of the superabsorbent polymer.
As an example, a method of forming a porous structure on a particle surface of the superabsorbent polymer by using a blowing agent has been applied. However, general blowing agents have a disadvantage in that a sufficient amount of the porous structure cannot be formed and thus the absorption rate is not highly increased.
As another example, there is a method for increasing a surface area of the superabsorbent polymer by reassembling fine particles obtained during preparation of the superabsorbent polymer to form porous particles with irregular shapes. However, although the absorption rate of the superabsorbent polymer can be improved through this method, there is a limit in that centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) and absorbency under pressure (AUP) of the polymer are relatively decreased. In this way, because physical properties such as absorption rate, centrifuge retention capacity, and absorbency under pressure of the superabsorbent polymer have a trade-off relationship, there is an urgent need for a preparation method capable of simultaneously improving these properties.

Superabsorbent polymer and preparation method thereof


A baby crib bumper pad formed from abutting tightly padded segments. Each segment provided with pairs of cooperating vertical flaps that extend around balusters of the baby crib and are tied together on the outside of the crib via short tie fasteners provided on the vertical flaps to secure the segments to the crib. A lower border on each segment is a continuously repeating series of u-shaped crescents that touch each other so that longer portions of the crescents rest on and support the segments above the crib mattress and shorter portions of the crescents form lower openings with the crib mattress. The lower openings permit air to flow between the inside and outside of the crib, thereby preventing the baby from being strangled or suffocated by the pad and helping to prevent SIDS.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a baby crib pad with air gaps for use on a baby crib for the purpose of protecting a baby from bumping against the balusters of a baby crib while eliminating the danger of the baby being strangled or suffocated by the pad and lessening the possibility of sudden infant death syndrome.
2. Description of the Related Art
The current advice of most pediatricians is that mothers should not use any type of pads in their baby cribs. This advice is given because of several dangers that the traditional crib pads present to babies. A first threat is that the pad or the pad's fastening straps may become wound around the baby's neck and strangle the baby. A second threat is that the baby could roll so that its face was against the pad with both its mouth and nose obstructed by the pad and thereby suffocating the baby. Also, mothers who have both a baby and a toddler worry that the toddler might accidentally dislodge the pad so that the pad falls into the crib on top of the baby, and somehow cover the baby's face and suffocating the baby. Still another danger with use of current crib pads is that many are not tightly secured to the balusters of the crib and the baby can get its head wedged between the pad and the balusters and can be suffocated or strangled.
However, without any type of padding in use on the balusters of baby cribs, babies are in danger of striking their bodies against the balusters and becoming injured. And without the use of some type of pad on the crib, babies often extend their arms or legs between the balusters where the appendage can become stuck and require an adult to free the appendage. Some older types of cribs have balusters that are spaced too far apart and a baby can actually get its head through the opening between adjacent balusters when there is no pad to prevent this, resulting in the child being choked.
Another problem with current pads for baby cribs is that they are generally secured loosely at only a few points to the crib so that a baby can crawl up between the pad and the crib and suffocate.
Still a further problem with current pads is that they prevent air from moving freely into and out of the crib in the area near the surface of the mattress where the baby is laying. The heat buildup and buildup of carbon dioxide and lack of oxygen resulting from lack of air circulation has been cited as possible contributing factors to the tragic problem of sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS.
There have been attempts to address this problem. One patent that attempts to address this problem is U.S. Pat. No. 6,13,216 issued to MacDonald Pine on Oct. 17, 2000. The Pine patent teaches some desirable features in a crib pad, such as various types of air openings provided in a crib pad and also ties to hold the pad to the crib's balusters. However, the air gaps taught by Pine, and specifically the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 of that patent, do not have openings that are large enough in proportion to the pad area to prevent possible suffocation of a baby. The openings shown in that patent are half circles cut out of the lower portion of the pad, but the cut out half circles are not continuous in that the cut out portion of one half circle does not continue from its adjacent cut out half circle. Instead there is a distance between the cut outs that appears to be larger than the width of the cut outs themselves. This is due in part to the wide spacing of the cut outs and in part to the orientation of the cut outs which are of an inverted u-shape. The present invention improves over this design by making the lower portion of the pad a continuously repeating series of u-shaped crescents with the junction of the crescents forming the openings with the crib mattress, spacing the crescents so that they join each other in as continuous repeating fashion so that the openings formed between the crescent are closer together. Preferably the spacing of the crescents coincides with the spacing of the balusters on the crib. This arrangement of a series of continuously repeating u-shaped crescents on the pad insures larger proportions of opening area to pad area at the surface of the crib mattress. This larger proportion of opening area to pad area provides for better air flow, less heat retention within the crib and lessens the possibility that a baby could have both its mouth and nose simultaneously obstructed by the pad and the potential for sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS.
The present invention addresses these problems by providing a pad that consists of a plurality of tightly padded segments with each padded segment provided with one or more cooperating pairs of vertical flaps secured to the back side of the segments. Each vertical flap is provided with at least one tie fastener that attach around one or more of the balusters of the crib on the outside of the baby crib and ties in a knot with a tie fastener on a cooperating vertical flap as a means of securing the segments to the crib. The padded segments are tall enough so that a baby will not be able to reach the tie fasteners from within the crib. Also, the tie fasteners are specifically designed to be short so that they are long enough to allow an adult to tie them into a knot to secure the segment to the crib's balusters, but sufficiently short so that the baby will not be in danger of having the tie fasteners become wound around the baby's neck and strangling the baby. Because the tie fasteners are tied into a knot, a toddler would find it difficult to untie them from the outside of the crib.
The padded portion of the segments is tightly padded so that it stands erect against the balusters when tied thereto. The lower border of the padded portion of the segments is formed into a repeating compact crescent shield or buffer shape so that the longer portions of the crescent shapes rest against the mattress of the baby crib and support the segments above the mattress while the shorter parts of the crescents and the short junction between adjacent crescents remains erect and forms lower openings between the crib mattress and the pad. These openings preferably coincide with the spacing of the balusters of the crib. These openings permit air to flow freely between the inside and outside of the crib at the surface of the crib mattress.
Also, because the crescent shapes are so narrow and closely spaced in the present invention, this prevents a baby from rolling over against a segment and having both its mouth and nose covered or blocked by one of the longer portions of the crescent shapes. This further reduces the chance that a baby could be suffocated by the present invention.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it is easy to manufacture and is an esthetically pleasing and marketable design.


An actuating selection device for a dobby mechanism for controlling movement of components used to affect movement of a heddle frame and a weaving loom wherein the selection device includes selector members which are pivotally mounted adjacent pole faces of an electromagnet and wherein a moveable armature is pivotally connected to the selector member and includes an outer extremity which is continuously urged into contact with a first of the poles of the electromagnet by a resilient element. The selector member is spaced from the electromagnet when no power is applied thereto and the selector member is moved toward the other pole of the electromagnet together with the moveable armature when power is supplied to the poles of the electromagnet with the movement of the selective member thus controlling the movement of the pair of components which affect the movement of the heddle frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to dobbies and other weaving mechanisms to form the shed on weaving looms and it relates more specifically to the actuating mechanisms of electromagnetic selection which, in conjunction with the reading-in devices, control the mechanisms of this type depending on the design of the fabric during the weaving process.
2. Description of the Related Art
The document FR-A-2 515 703 (STAUBLI) describes an actuating mechanism of such type, that comprises as many electromagnets as there are heald shafts of the mechanism, that is to say, of amplifying systems and of heddle frames in the loom. The electromagnets, fed by the reading-in device, depending on the weave program, are installed on one only chassis that is driven by an oscillating motion connected to that of the mechanism and that is provided, each heddle, with a pivoting selector linked to elastic means that cause to separate it from the poles of attraction of the electromagnet in question. Thus, each selector is driven by an alternate displacement that cyclicly draws it closer and separates it from the rods of the two actuating mechanisms that effectuate the control of the contemplated amplifier system; the selection between the two elements of each pair is made by the respective electromagnet, depending on whether or not it is fed by the reading-in device of the mechanism.
Experience has shown that at the very high operating speeds, required in the future for the looms and the thereto associated weave mechanisms, the moveable armature that is part of every selector will strongly strike against the stationary armature of the electromagnet. These repeated impacts cause a relatively quick wear and tear on the assembly of the mechanism and moreover, in addition to considerable noise, give rise to vibrations that interfere with the operation of the mechanism and cause weaving defects. The practical disadvantages subsist even when the central section of each moveable armature is installed on a pivot firmly affixed to the body of the selector.

Actuating electromagnetic selection device for dobby mechanisms


A laser device (100), being configured for generating laser pulses by Ken lens based mode locking, comprises a laser resonator (10) with a plurality of resonator mirrors (11.1, 11.2, 11.3) spanning a resonator beam path (12), a solid state gain medium (20) being arranged in the laser resonator (10), a Kerr medium device (30) being arranged with a distance from the gain medium (20) in the laser resonator (10), wherein the Kerr medium device (30) includes at least one Ken medium being arranged in a focal range of the resonator beam path and being configured for forming the laser pulses by the nonlinear Kerr effect, and a loss-modulation device (31, 32) having a modulator medium, which is capable of modulating a power loss of the laser pulses generated in the laser resonator (10), wherein the Kerr medium device (30) includes the modulator medium of the loss-modulation device (31, 32) as the at least one Kerr medium having an optical non-linearity being adapted for both of creating the Kerr lens based mode-locking in the laser resonator and modulating the power loss in the laser resonator. Furthermore, a method of generating laser pulses by Kerr lens based mode locking is described, wherein a loss-modulation device (31, 32) is used for both of introducing a Ken effect in the laser resonator (10) and modulating the power loss.

In the present specification, reference is made to the following publications cited for illustrating prior art techniques, in particular with regard to loss modulation in laser oscillators and generating fs laser pulses by Kerr lens mode-locking:    [1] US 2016/0329677 A1;    [2] M. Seidel et al. in "Opt. Lett." 41, 1853-1856 (2016);    [3] O. Peonin et al. in "Nature Communications" 6, ncomms7988 (2015);    [4] R. Boyd et al. in "Optical Engineering" 16(5), 165452 (1977);    [5] J. Zhang et al. in "2015 European Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics—European Quantum Electronics Conference, (Optical Society of America, 2015), PD_A_1;    [6] U.S. Pat. No. 9,318,867 B2;    [7] J. Brons et al. in "Opt. Lett." 41, 3567-3570 (2016);    [8] T. Fuji et al. in "Opt. Lett." 30, 332-334 (2005);    [9] U.S. Pat. No. 7,474,457 B2;    [10] T. Tomie in "Japanese Journal of Applied Physics" 24, 1008-1017 (1985);    [11] M. Ramaswamy et al. in "Optics Letters" 18, 1822-1824 (1993); and    [12] O. Pronin et al. in "Visual communications and image processing" 9135, 91351H-91351H (2014).
Generating fs laser pulses by Kerr lens mode-locking is generally known (see e. g. [1] and references cited therein). The carrier envelope offset (CEO) frequency of a mode-locked laser oscillator is sensitive to changes of oscillator parameters. Thus, the stabilization of the CEO can be realized by manipulating any of those parameters. In mode-locked solid-state oscillators, this is typically achieved by modulating the pump- or intra-cavity power by use of an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) while in fiber oscillators electro-optic modulators (EOMs) are used to serve the same purpose. Due to the strong amplitude to phase coupling in mode-locked fiber and solid-state oscillators, amplitude control works well for the CEO and/or intensity stabilization.
In general, the method utilized for controlling and/or stabilizing the CEO frequency and/or pulse intensity should fulfil the following two criteria:
a) Large modulation bandwidth, desirably several hundred kHz, and at least 30 kHz: the bandwidth is typically defined over a frequency range in which a 90° phase shift of the modulated quantity with respect to the AOM or EOM drive signal is accumulated. There should likewise be a substantial amplitude modulation of at least 0.05%, preferably showing a flat response up to this frequency.b) Reasonable power scalability: the control mechanism should remain applicable without major modification independent of the intra-cavity peak- and average power level.
For modulating the pump power, the accessible modulation bandwidth of the stabilization scheme is typically limited by the coupling between gain and pulse energy which is determined by the upper-state lifetime of the gain medium. For most rare earth doped solid-state lasers, the modulation bandwidth is on the order of only several tens of kilohertz, although it might be shifted to higher frequencies by utilizing phase lead filters in the phase-locked loop (PLL) [2]. This limitation can be overcome by utilizing intra-cavity loss modulation instead of pump power modulation as it has successfully been demonstrated in [3]. However, placing the AOM inside the cavity might lead to additional self-focusing (Kerr lensing) inside the AOM which can counteract the main KLM mechanism and deteriorate the mode-locking performance. This becomes crucial especially when the concept is applied to high power lasers, since in this case the intra-cavity peak powers rise substantially and the contribution of the nonlinear refractive index becomes important even for large beam diameters. These nonlinear effects can be mitigated for example by increasing the spot-size inside the AOM, however, at the expense of an increased transit time which is linearly proportional to the beam radius. The transit time τ=2 w/V, where w is the 1/e2 beam radius and V is the acoustic velocity in the modulator material, is an important parameter since it can be used to characterize the modulation bandwidth of the AOM which is defined as Δf=(δ√{square root over (β)})/(πτ) where δ is a constant equal to about 1.357 and β is the fall-off in bandwidth expressed in decibel [4]. Consequently, at high powers, the large beam diameters which are required to maintain a low nonlinear phase-shift inside the AOM at the same time evoke longer transit times which inhibit the realization of large modulation bandwidths. The aforementioned approaches are therefore not capable of fulfilling both of the above criteria a) and b) simultaneously.
Mode-locked oscillators are known which have the Kerr medium decoupled from the gain medium section of the laser [6]. Therefore, the Kerr medium can be chosen to be any nonlinear medium. Since the beam is usually focused into the Kerr medium, the spot-size is small when compared to the collimated beam sections inside the oscillator. As a result, strong self-phase and self-amplitude modulation are introduced by the Kerr medium owing to the nonlinear Kerr effect. This nonlinear effect is responsible for the formation and stabilization of a soliton inside the cavity and makes mode-locked operation feasible.
Laser resonators with gain media based on the thin-disk geometry (TD lasers) are a highly attractive alternative to the most commonly utilized lasers based on gain media with a bulk geometry, of which Ti:Sa lasers are the most prominent example. While Ti:Sa lasers are able to generate pulses in the few-cycle regime directly from the laser oscillator, they usually require additional extra-cavity amplification of the pulse intensity for subsequent applications requiring frequency conversion. TD lasers are capable of generating significantly higher peak- and average powers directly from the oscillator and can therefore evade the need for extra-cavity pulse amplification. The feasibility of stabilizing the CEO frequency of Kerr lens mode-locked TD oscillators has been demonstrated, however at only moderate intra-cavity peak powers when compared to the available lasers [3, 7].
Publication [10] discloses an early technique of creating laser pulses by active mode-locking. According to [10], the pulse forming mechanism is relying on the action of a first AOM being operated at 50 MHz and combined with a second AOM. The second AOM acts as a Q-Switch to modulate the envelope of the pulse train. Stable mode locking is obtained only with the Q-switch in conjunction with the first AOM, but not by the Kerr-effect, which is used in [10] only for reducing the pulse duration from initially 40 ps to approximately 4 ps by self-phase modulation in combination with a discrimination of the etalon. The laser device disclosed in [10] can therefore not be considered to be generating pulses by Kerr lens based mode locking. In [11], a laser device is disclosed, which includes an AOM as well. In this case, the gain medium and the AOM are configured such that no significant Kerr-lensing effect can be obtained in the AOM due to the significantly smaller nonlinear phase-shift accumulated in the AOM material when compared to the laser gain material. The same applies to [12], where an AOM is placed in the collimated arm of a resonator-, wherein no significant Kerr-lensing effect is provided by the AOM.

Device and method for generating laser pulses by Kerr lens based mode locking with a loss-modulation device as a Kerr medium

MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V.


A sheet processing device includes: a folder that forms a plurality of folds on a sheet such that a fold part and a part with no fold of the sheet overlap with each other; a conveyance unit that conveys the sheen on which the folds are formed by the folder; and a pressing part that presses the fold part of the conveyed sheet in which the fold part and the part with no fold overlap with each other, from a side on which the fold part is located.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet processing device, an image forming system, and a sheet processing method. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for processing a sheet conveyed in a folded state.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, electronification of information tends to be pushed forward, and image processing devices are absolutely necessary such as a printer or a facsimile used for outputting electronified information and a scanner used for electronifying documents. In many cases, such an image processing device may be configured as a multifunction peripheral having an image capturing function, an image forming function, a communication function, and the like to be utilized as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, and a copying machine.
Among such multifunction peripherals, known is a multifunction peripheral on which a folding processing device is mounted, the folding processing device performing folding processing on a sheet on which an image is formed after the image is formed on the fed sheet to draw the image. When such a folding processing device performs folding processing on the sheet, a fold is weak and incomplete, causing a folding height to be high as it is. Accordingly, among such multifunction peripherals, known is a multifunction peripheral on which a fold enhancing device is mounted in addition to the folding processing device, the fold enhancing device performing fold enhancing processing for enhancing the fold by pressing the fold formed through the folding processing to enhance the fold and reduce the folding height (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2013-060246).
Examples of a method for performing fold enhancing processing by such a fold enhancing device include a method for pressing a fold formed on a sheet while conveying the sheet with a fold enhancing roller having a length corresponding to a sheet width that is laterally bridged in a direction (main-scanning direction) parallel to the fold formed through the folding processing. Examples of another method for performing fold enhancing processing by the above-described fold enhancing device include a method for sequentially pressing a fold formed on a sheet in a main-scanning direction by temporarily stopping conveyance of the sheet at a position where fold enhancing processing is performed, and moving the fold enhancing roller rotating around a rotation axis along a direction (sub-scanning direction) perpendicular to the fold formed through the folding processing, in the main-scanning direction on the stopped sheet.
However, in the fold enhancing processing method as described above, a folding wrinkle or a pressed mark may be formed on the sheet after fold enhancing processing. Such a problem may arise in a sheet-like object which is not limited to a sheet for forming and outputting an image.
In view of such a situation, there is a need to improve quality of a sheet after enhancing a fold thereof in a sheet processing device for enhancing the fold of the sheet conveyed in a folded state.

Sheet processing device, image forming system, and sheet processing method


A conductive material with a laminated structure is provided. The conductive material with a laminated structure of the present invention includes at least a polymer plastic layer, where conductive particles are dispersed on surfaces. When the conductive material is used to press join terminals of a driving component and a glass substrate, junction impedance between the terminals is reduced. The purpose of joining with super-fine pitches is achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a conductive material with a laminated structure, and more particularly to a conductive material with a laminated structure, where conductive particles are dispersed on the surfaces.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Spherical conductive particles are generally used for providing electrical conductance between the terminals of the glass substrate and the driving component of a conventional liquid crystal display, as shown in FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C. A conductive material 3 is coated on or adhered to the surface of the glass substrate 1, on which terminals 2 are formed. Then, the surface of the driving component 4, on which terminals 5 are formed, is joined to the surface of the glass substrate 1, on which terminals 2 are formed, in a manner of terminal-to-terminal alignment by the conductive material 3. Electrical conductance occurs between the terminals 2 and 5 in Z direction; electrical insulation occurs at the direction of X-Y plane.
The conductive material 3 is formed of a thermoplastic layer or a thermosetting layer, where spherical conductive particles 31 are evenly dispersed, as shown in FIG. 2A. However, it is necessary to apply external electrical and magnetic fields on the conductive material 3 to evenly distribute the conductive particles 31 in the conductive material 3 to prevent the conductive particles 31 from clustering. It is also necessary to use equipment to control accuracy. The manufacturing cost is thus increased.
Moreover, when the terminal 5 of the driving component 4 is press jointed to the terminal 2 of the glass substrate 1 of the liquid crystal display by the conductive material 3, electrical conductance in Z direction between the terminals 2 and 5 is established via the conductive particles 31, as shown in FIG. 2B. Because the conductive particles 31 are squeezed between the glass substrate 1 and the driving component 4, a short circuit may occur among the conductive particles 31 outside the joining region of the terminals 2 and 5. That is, an un-expected electrical conductance at the direction of X-Y plane is established, as shown in part A of FIG. 2B.
With the increasing requirement for higher resolution and for smaller size in connection with a liquid crystal display, it is necessary to have a shorter pitch between the terminal 2 of the glass substrate 1 and the terminal 5 of the driving component 4. As a result, junction impedance between the terminals 2 and 5 would be increased due to the reduction of the joining area. To satisfy the requirement for fine pitch, the size of the conductive particles 31 needs to be reduced. As a result, the level of difficulty in fabricating the conductive particles 31 and the manufacturing cost are increased. Besides, the surface roughness of the terminals 2 and 5 also limits the development of small-size conductive particles 31. When the size of the conductive particles 31 is smaller than what the surface roughness of the terminals 2 and 5, may permit bad electrical conductance would occur. When the density of the conductive particles 31 is increased, the requirement for joining with fine pitch cannot be attained, although the junction impedance can be reduced. Owing to the above considerations, the conventional conductive material is applied for joining in case of pitches larger than 50 microns.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a conductive material, which can overcome the above drawbacks and is suitable for fine-pitch joining between the terminals of the liquid crystal display and the driving component.

Connecting structure used in a liquid crystal display panel


A two-wheel furniture caster has a body, a shaft projecting horizontally through the body along a shaft axis and having opposite ends projecting axially oppositely from the body, respective wheels rotatable on the ends of the shaft and having outer tread parts axially delimiting a space wholly containing the body and an upright pivot pin having a lower end projecting into the body offset from the shaft axis along a pivot axis. Bearings generally level with and closely juxtaposed with the shaft axis in the body supporting the pivot pin in the body for rotation therein about the pivot axis. A shield ring generally centered on the shaft axis wholly surrounds the body radially relative to the shaft axis, has axially opposite end edges closely juxtaposed with the respective wheels, and is formed with a hole traversed by the pivot pin.

A standard two-wheel caster of the type used on heavy furniture, beds, garbage receptacles, and the like has a body, a shaft projecting horizontally through the body along a shaft axis and having opposite ends projecting axially oppositely from the body, respective wheels rotatable on the ends of the shaft and having outer tread parts axially delimiting a space partially containing the body, and an upright pivot pin having a lower end projecting into the body offset from the shaft axis along a pivot axis. The body can pivot about the pin to align the shaft axis perpendicular to the direction the caster is to roll in. Such systems are described in German utility model G 84 24 068 and German patent document 2,334,324 of H-C. Maier.
Typically the body extends forward out of the between-wheel space and is there provided with bearings in which the pivot pin is seated. Thus there is quite some spacing between the pivot axis and the shaft axis, making the caster body a fairly long lever that subjects these bearings to quite some stress. The long body also means that the item supported must be swung through a relatively wide arc to change direction of travel, and gives the caster an ungainly appearance. Furthermore the wide gap thus left between the wheels can trap dirt and things hanging in the way of the caster, and also presents an unattractive appearance.


A stent having a tubular lattice structure includes lattice elements, webs (10), and cells (11) delimited by the lattice elements. The lattice structure is transferred into a compressed state having a relatively smaller cross-sectional diameter and into an expanded state having a relatively larger cross-sectional diameter. Flexible contact elements (12) are associated with the lattice elements. The contact elements are adapted for transferring radial forces onto a vessel wall (20) and extending on the outer circumference of the lattice structure substantially in the longitudinal direction of each associated lattice element. The contact elements (12) are wider in each case than the associated lattice elements, at least in sections.

The present invention relates to a stent according to the preamble of the independent claim(s) of the present application and a method for the production of such a stent. Such a stent is disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,569 (Brown).
Stents that are formed from a tubular lattice structure are used for widening and supporting blood vessels. Stenoses or aneurysms in particular are treated in this manner. Stenoses, i.e., narrowing of blood vessels, lead downstream to a restricted supply of the tissue with nutrients. The constriction is opened-up and stabilized using a stent such that an adequate blood flow is guaranteed. Aneurysms represent bulges in blood vessels that lead to severe stress on the blood vessel walls. These bulges may grow with time and cause rupturing of the vessel wall. By placing an appropriate stent in a blood vessel in the region of an aneurysm, the flow of blood in the aneurysm is reduced or stopped such that coagulation of the blood takes place within the aneurysm which prevents it from growing further
During and after implantation, a stent exerts a radial force on the adjacent blood vessel wall. This force is distributed over the number of webs around the stent's circumference. With a relatively small number of webs, each of these exerts a high force on the blood vessel wall, which is undesirable since this may give rise to irritation of or injury to the blood vessel. Due to the resulting inflammatory response, there is an increased risk of restenosis, i.e., renewed narrowing of the blood vessel, after it has been widened by means of a stent. Therefore, in post-published German patent application no. 10 2007 019 772 referring back to the applicant, it is proposed to increase the number of webs such that the forces acting on the vessel wall are better distributed and thus each individual web exerts a lesser force on the vessel wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,569 (Brown) referred to at the outset describes a stent with a fine-mesh lattice structure, the webs of which have a very small width. The small contact surface between the individual web and the vessel wall arising as a result of the small web width leads to the local pressure, which is exerted on the vessel wall at a specific radial force per web, being relatively high.
The width and number of the webs cannot, however, be increased at will without impairing the stent's implantability. In order to implant the stent, it is compressed and placed inside a catheter which is used to introduce the stent into the blood vessel. The maximum web width or the maximum number of webs is limited by the geometric constraints that are set by the size of the catheter or the size of the blood vessels to be treated.
Added to this is the fact that the force is not transmitted evenly over the entire outer surface of the webs because the webs cut into the vessel wall due to the high local pressure. As a result, the radial force transmitted to the vessel wall is greater in the region of the longitudinal edges of the webs than in the inner region of the webs. The stress concentration thus resulting in the region of the longitudinal edges increases the risk of restenosis.
This effect, which increases with greater web width, is illustrated, for example, in FIG. 1a of the present application, which shows a partial cross-section through a stent according to the prior art in the implanted state. Webs s are in contact with a vessel wall g and transmit a radial force F onto vessel wall g that is brought about due to the stent's expansion. In FIG. 1a, radial force F is indicated by arrows whereby the magnitude of the force is expressed in each case by the length of the arrow. Due to the high local pressure which webs s transmit onto vessel wall g, this wall is stretched and deformed whereby the maximum deformation occurs in the region of longitudinal edges a of webs s. This leads to the transmission of force occurring mainly in the marginal regions or on longitudinal edges a of webs s.
Overall there are, therefore, two structural measures which lead to the required result of reducing the loads on a blood vessel wall by means of a stent. On one hand, an increased number of webs over the cross-section of the stent improves the homogeneous distribution of forces over the vessel wall such that the local forces per web are reduced. On the other hand, a reduction of the local pressures that act on the vessel wall in the region of the individual webs is achieved by increasing the web width and thus the contact area. The combination of both measures, i.e. increasing the number of webs while simultaneously enlarging the web width, is limited by the geometric restrictions during implantation.

Stent and method for the production of such a stent


Disclosed is a method for hydrating a cycloolefin, in which the hydration is conducted in a reaction system comprising a continuous aqueous phase including water and a crystalline aluminosilicate catalyst suspended therein and an oil phase including a cycloolefin, while dispersing the oil phase as globules having a specific diameter. By the method of the present invention, not only can a cyclic alcohol be produced at high selectivity and in high yield, but the activity of the catalyst can also be stably maintained at a high level for a prolonged period of time, and the produced cyclic alcohol can be readily separated.

1. Field of The Invention
The present invention relates to a method for hydrating a cycloolefin to produce a cyclic alcohol. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a method for hydrating a cycloolefin, in which the hydration is conducted in a reaction system comprising a continuous aqueous phase including water and a crystalline aluminosilicate catalyst suspended therein and an oil phase including a cycloolefin, while dispersing the oil phase as globules having a specific diameter In the method of the present invention, not only can a cyclic alcohol be produced at high selectivity and in high yield, but the activity of the catalyst can also be stably maintained at a high level for a prolonged period of time, and the produced cyclic alcohol can be readily separated.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Various methods for hydrating a cycloolefin by reacting the same with water to produce a cyclic alcohol have been proposed, which include for example, a method in which indirect or direct hydration of a cycloolefin is carried out using a mineral acid, such as sulfuric acid, as a homogeneous catalyst, and a method in which the hydration is carried out using an aromatic sulfonic acid as a homogeneous catalyst (see Japanese Patent Application Publication Specification No. 43-16125/1968). In Example 2 of this published specification, 200 g of an oil phase comprised of a mixture of cyclohexene and cyclohexane is reacted at 90.degree. C. for 12 hours with 160 g of an aqueous phase comprised of water containing p-toluenesulfonic acid. After completion of the reaction, the aqueous phase is separated from the oil phase, and 200 g of water is added to the aqueous phase and subjected to steam distillation while heating. By the steam distillation, cyclohexanol is distilled off to obtain the same. This procedure has drawbacks in that the separation of cyclohexanol as a reaction product from the aqueous phase is not only time-consuming but also disadvantageously causes a large energy consumption.
As a method for coping with the above-mentioned drawbacks of the method using a homogeneous catalyst, a method has been proposed in which a solid catalyst, such as an ion exchange resin, is used (see Japanese Patent Application Publication Specification No. 38-5619/1963 and Japanese Patent Application Publication Specification No. 44-26656/1969). However, this method also has a drawback in that the activity of the catalyst cannot be maintained for a long time because the ion exchange resin is likely to suffer from pulverization due to a mechanical degradation of the resin and because the heat resistance of the resin is unsatisfactory.
As another solid catalyst, the use of a crystalline aluminosilicate has been proposed, which is believed to be advantageous for commercial production of a cyclic alcohol because this catalyst is insoluble in water and excellent in mechanical strength and heat resistance properties. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 60-104028/1985 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,846) discloses examples in which a pulverized crystalline aluminosilicate is used as a solid catalyst In particular, this published specification discloses a method, in which water, an aluminosilicate catalyst and cyclohexene as a feedstock are charged in an autoclave reactor equipped with an agitator, and heated at 50.degree. to 250.degree. C. for 15 minutes to 4 hours, followed by isolation of cyclohexanol as a reaction product from an oil phase. The reaction system used in this method is a three-phase heterogeneous system comprised of an oil phase mainly including cyclohexene, an aqueous phase mainly including water and a solid phase including the aluminosilicate catalyst suspended in the aqueous phase. In the conventional method using such a reaction system, problems have often been encountered. Illustratively stated, the conventional method has problems in that when the mixing of the oil phase with the aqueous phase is insufficient, the activity of the aluminosilicate catalyst in the reaction system cannot be fully exerted and therefore the yield becomes unfavorably low. On the other hand, when the mixing of the oil phase with the aqueous phase is too vigorous, an unfavorably long period of time is required in the separation of the oil phase containing a produced cyclic alcohol from the aqueous phase in a stationary zone provided for the separation after completion of the hydration reaction The period of time required for the separation can be shortened by the installation of a large stationary zone, which is, however, unfavorable from the viewpoint of productivity. Further, depending upon the properties of the aluminosilicate catalyst employed and the impurities contained in the catalyst, water and cyclohexene, the reaction system suffers from emulsification to thereby cause the separation of an oil phase including produced cyclohexanol from the aqueous phase to be difficult and cause the catalyst to be leaked into cyclohexanol as a reaction product. Thus, a stable, continuous reaction is difficult to maintain. For breaking such an emulsion, a countermeasure may be conceived which comprises subjecting a reaction product, being formed, containing the aluminosilicate catalyst to centrifugation during the reaction. However, in this countermeasure, it is likely that the centrifuge used is hindered by the adhesion of catalyst deposits, and that the catalyst is disintegrated to thereby hamper the recovery of the catalyst. Accordingly, the above-mentioned countermeasure is not practicable. Further, once emulsification occurs, even if the emulsion is broken to separate the catalyst, the activity loss of the separated catalyst is disadvantageously large as compared to that of the catalyst recovered through the separation of the catalyst from a reaction product containing the catalyst in a stationary zone. Hence, a cycloolefin hydration method free from the emulsification problem has been desired in the art.
Therefore, the conventional methods for hydrating a cycloolefin to produce a cyclic alcohol have been unsatisfactory not only in that the desired cyclic alcohol cannot be obtained in consistently high yield, but also in that the separation of the oil phase containing a produced cyclic alcohol from the aqueous phase after the hydration reaction cannot be efficiently conducted.


A pedal element (2) with a connecting device (5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16) can be moved between an idle position and a full-throttle position of an internal combustion engine at a pedal angle ranging between 0° and 5° to 30°. A signal-generating device is configured in the form of a rotation angle sensor (1) having at least one integrated circuit (ASIC) with a Hall device. The ASIC with the Hall device and a storage device with an ASIC are connected to a microprocessor. An output switching unit is connected downstream from the microprocessor. The output switching unit emits an pulse-width-modulated signal with selectable frequencies. Other output signals, such as back-to-back signals and switch signals, can be regenerated with the ASIC with the Hall device and the microprocessor.

The invention relates to a floor pedal device for heavy motor vehicles, more particularly trucks, buses, mobile cranes, and the like that includes at least                a pedal element and        a base plate element that are connected to each other by means of a connector device; and        a signal generator device that is at least partially connected with the connector device and by means of which a signal is generated via movement of the pedal element.
The signal generator device makes use of a rotational-angle sensor that includes at least one Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) with a Hall-effect that produces an ASIC output voltage with a linear section for a floor pedal device.
The pedal element in the floor pedal device may be moved between an idle position and a full-throttle position of an internal combustion engine to create a signal corresponding to the movement of the pedal element.
A floor pedal device of the above-mentioned type is known from EP 0 416 039 B2. It includes a pedal element and a floor element that are connected with each other so that they may move. A potentiometer is provided that recognizes the relative movement between the pedal element and the floor element and delivers a pulse width modulated signal corresponding to the position of the pedal element.
The disadvantage is that, with the known device, only a single pulse-width-modulated signal is created. Thus, the device may be used only for one application. Since a long resistance path is necessary to produce the potentiometer signal and to create an pulse-width-modulated signal, an intermediate mechanical element is required.
A gas pedal device is known from DE 195 03 335 A1 that consists of a pedal element and a base plate that are movably connected with each other. A motion-sensor element with a stationary and a mobile unit is positioned at the gas-pedal pivot axis. For this, the stationary unit within the gas pedal pivot axis is fixed and the moving part is connected to the pedal element. In order to prevent damage to the sensor element by excessive pedal movement, the known gas-pedal device is constructed as a motion-limiting actuation unit.
A motion-sensor element designated as a rotational-angle sensor is known from WO 95 14 911 A1. It consists of a stationary and a rotating formation. The stationary formation includes two half-moon-shaped stator elements between which a separating recess is located in which a Hall-effect is positioned. The rotating formation includes a ring-shaped magnetic element held by a securing unit, and it is moveable about the stator elements with an air gap.
This rotational-angle sensor has proven itself. However, its design is not limited to use in a floor pedal device for heavy vehicles, particularly for trucks, buses, mobile cranes, etc.
Such a rotational-angle sensor is also known from the following publications: WO 98 25 102 A1, DE 197 16 985 A1, DE 199 03 490 A1, and EP 1 024 267 A2.

Floor pedal with a rotation angle sensor


Keyboard constructions and methods are described which force or provide feedback for finger action that will enhance stability of the carpal tunnel tendons. Methods are described for reducing incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in a person who operates a keyboard, involving monitoring actuation of switches, measuring a depression characteristic, comparing the depression characteristic with a predetermined value, and creating a signal corresponding to the number of keystrokes executed with a depression characteristic less than the predetermined value. A method is also described for detecting unphysiologic tendon translation denoting tendon instability in the carpal tunnel of a person who engages in repetitive hand motion.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is at present the most widespread occupational health hazard in the industrial world, and it is receiving increasing attention from corporate as well as government agencies responsible for occupational health and safety. Many billions of dollars are consumed by this syndrome each year in lost working time and medical treatment. Carpal tunnel surgery is currently one of the most frequently performed surgeries in the United States. Although some of the physiological factors associated with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome are well studied and documented, including the increase in carpal tunnel pressure and the non-inflammatory changes in the synovium, the etiology of idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome remains obscure, and is the subject of continued speculation and scientific study.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is associated with swelling of the carpal tunnel synovium. When synovium harvested at the time of carpal tunnel surgery is examined by conventional light microscopy techniques, it is remarkably normal in appearance and notable for the absence of inflammatory cells. This and other information suggests that the primary pathology is not intrinsic to the synovium itself, but that the synovium becomes swollen and thickened in response to mechanical stresses.
Normal synovial membrane is thin, elastic and compliant in nature. It is mechanically incapable of maintaining the anatomic relationships between the various digital flexor tendons in the carpal tunnel.
In anatomic areas other than the carpal tunnel, the biomechanical effect of each tendon is defined by a discrete fiberosseous tunnel that dictates the moment arm that the tendon utilizes to effect a rotational force or moment on the joint which the tendon is crossing. In the carpal tunnel, a similar stable relationship between the various tendons during wrist extension flexion can only be maintained if there is a synergistic tensioning of all the tendons to form a "dynamic pulley" capable of stabilizing each and every carpal tunnel tendon.
The profundus tendons embrace the dorsal wall of the carpal tunnel. The profundus tendons of the long, ring, and little fingers are cross-linked and thereby present a common muscle tendon unit that trifurcates at the distal end of the carpal tunnel sending separate tendons to the distal joints of the ulnar three fingers. In concert with the index profundus, these tendons mechanically fill the dorsal wall of the carpal tunnel, and as a functional unit, they present a smooth palmar surface to the overlying sublimus tendons and their associated synovial membranes. This surface is further enhanced as a continuous bearing surface by the third and fourth lumbrical muscles that arise from the adjacent sides of the long and ring, and the ring and little finger profundi. Additional support to the dorsal wall of the carpal tunnel is provided by the first and second lumbrical muscles that arise from the palmar radial sides of the index and long finger profundus tendons. The origin of these unique muscles migrate from a mid-palmar position, with the fingers extended, to a position just proximal to the level of the distal radius, with full finger flexion.
When a singular finger momentarily acts to press a key on a computer keyboard, if only its associated extrinsic flexor muscles contract, while the remaining carpal tunnel flexor-tendon units remain relaxed, and if the wrist position allows some degree of angulation, those tendons under tension will translate across the carpal tunnel. For example, with the wrist extended, the tension for index finger flexion creates a force that attempts to displace the sublimus tendon dorsally. If the dorsal extent of the carpal tunnel is stabilized by active tension in the profundus tendons with or without active contraction of their lumbrical muscles, then the sublimis tendon will be prevented from translating dorsally. Because each carpal tunnel tendon angulates as it extends to its respective digit from the distal end of the tunnel, there is no "safe" position of the wrist that will eliminate these tendon translating forces or even minimize the translation potential of each of them with a defined wrist position at any instant in time. Without the dynamic and synergistic action of all the carpal tunnel muscle tendon units and the lumbricals, the compliant synovium, being incapable of restraining the movement, will be subjected to an undesirable cyclic load including shear stresses and secondary swelling from the same.
These same principles would be operative with the wrist in flexion, and the more palmar sublimi, adjacent to the transverse carpal ligament, would need to actively contract to block palmar translation of the remaining sublimus and profundus muscle tendon units. This concept of synergistic muscle contraction to achieve carpal tunnel tendon stability applies equally to wrist deviations in the radial-ulnar plane or any combination of such deviations with flexion or extension.
Rapid alpha-numeric data entry via currently-available computer keyboards allows the use of relatively small actuating forces Minimal active stability of the distal joints is required, and can be accomplished with contraction of a single extrinsic muscle tendon unit, such as that of the sublimus. This action is further encouraged with longer fingernails, where the nail keeps the person from flexing the distal interphalangeal joint as they strike the keys with the palmar pulp rather than the distal pulp of the tip of the finger or its protruding nail.
The incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome has continued to increase dramatically since the current style electronic keyboard has come into wide usage. The keyboard of the old manual typewriter did not have a significant incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome associated with its usage. There are three significant differences between the old manual (i.e., mechanical) keyboard and the current electronic keyboards, namely, keystroke length, actuation force, (and its variable degree through the stroke length), and key height differential (front to back row key heights). Table 1 is a sample of these differences.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Median Median Stroke Height Diff. Force Manufacturer Type mm mm Kg ______________________________________ Sharp Electronic 1.8 14.2 0.044 Apple Electronic 1.9 9.7 0.070 IBM Electric 3.7 12.7 near zero Smith-Corona Electric 2.7 12.7 0.078 Olivetti Manual 14.7 26.9 0.910 ______________________________________
There has not heretofore been provided a keyboard structure which will teach, encourage or even require the keyboard operator to actively recruit the contraction of all (or most of) the muscle tendon units passing through the carpal tunnel in order to stabilize those tendons whose digits are actuating keys.

Method for detecting unphysiologic tendon translation


Structures and methods are provided for an improved multilevel wiring interconnect in an integrated circuit assembly. The present invention provides for a multilayer copper wiring structure by electroless, selectively deposited copper in a streamlined process which further reduces both intra-level line to line capacitance and the inter-level capacitance.

As the integrated circuit (IC) technology makes rapid progress toward 100 nm gate transistors, the speed limiting factor is no longer the transistor delay, but the RC delay associated with the metal interconnects. A great deal of work is being done in this area on new and innovative materials and fabrication techniques to reduce the capacitance and thus reduce RC delay of interconnects. Currently studied low-k dielectrics include fluorinated silicon dioxide (SiO2), aerogels, and polymers. Additionally, as IC technology continues to scale, the aspect ratio of metal lines increases and the intra-level line-to-line capacitance increasingly dominates over the inter-level capacitance. Thus, it becomes increasingly important to implement low-k schemes between tightly spaced metal lines and less so between metal levels.
One approach to reducing the RC delay is provided in copending and commonly assigned application; attorney docket number 303.672US1, application Ser. No. 09/483881, entitled "Selective Electroless-Plated Copper Metallization," which is hereby incorporated by reference. Further, an article by B. Shieh et al., entitled "Air-Gap Formation During IMD Deposition to Lower Interconnect Capacitance," IEEE Electron Devices Letters, 19, no. 1, p. 16-18 (1998) presented simulations and some initial experimental results showing the possible capacitance reduction achievable using air-gap structures.
Another approach is described in an article by T. Ueda et al., entitled "A Novel Air Gap Integration Scheme for Multi-level Interconnects using Self-aligned Via Plugs," 1998 Symposium on VLSI Technology, Digest of Technical Papers, p. 46-47 (1998) in which an air-gap structure was introduced between lines and SiO2 was provided between metal levels. As described in this article, an effective dielectric constant of 1.8 at 0.3 micrometer (μm) line spacing was obtained. The authors of this article used the combination of PE-CVD SiO2 with poor step coverage characteristics to intentionally form the air gaps, and biased HDP-CVD SiO2 with good filling capability for the formation of inter-metal dielectric (IMD). In another approach described by J. G. Fleming et al., entitled "Use of Air Gap Structures to Lower Intra-level Capacitance," Proceedings of 1997 Dielectrics for ULSI Multi-level Interconnect Conference, p. 139 (1997) a process of fabricating air-gap structures to lower intra-level capacitance was introduced. The authors of this article used an oxide deposition process with poor step coverage to create the desired air gaps. Yet another approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,900,668, by D. L. Wollesen, entitled "Low Capacitance Interconnection," issued May 4, 1999, which describes a scheme in which the parasitic capacitance is reduced by removing sections of dielectric inter-layers by anisotropic etching to form air-gaps which can remain or be filled with another dielectric material with a lower dielectric constant. An example of a prior art multilevel metallization scheme according to this process is provided in FIG. 1.
Still, all of these approaches either involve complex additional processing steps or fail to provide an added benefit of reducing both intral-level line to line capacitance and the inter-level capacitance. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art to provide streamlined, improved methods and structures for alleviating the capacitance problems associated with via and metal line fabrication processes as design rules shrink.

Multilevel copper interconnects with low-k dielectrics and air gaps

Abstract: In particular, an illustrative embodiment of the present invention includes a novel methodology for forming multilevel wiring interconnects in an integrated circuit assembly. The method includes forming a number of multilayer metal lines, e.g. copper lines formed by selective electroless plating, separated by air gaps above a substrate. A low dielectric constant material is deposited between the number of metal lines and the substrate using a directional process. According to the teachings of the present invention, using a directional process includes maintaining a number of air gaps in the low dielectric constant material. Structures and systems are similarly included in the present invention.


An electrophoretic display system includes an electrophoretic display panel, a timing controller, a data driver, and a gate driver. The data driver includes a first serial-to-parallel converter and a data converter. The first serial-to-parallel converter receives a plurality of first series data and converts the first series data into a plurality of second series data. The quantity of the second series data is more than the quantity of the first series data. The data converter receives the second series data and is electrically connected to the electrophoretic display panel. Besides, the data converter converts the second series data into display voltages, and the quantity of the display voltages is more than the quantity of the second series data. The gate driver is electrically connected to the electrophoretic display panel and the timing controller and controlled by the timing controller to provide gate driving voltages to the electrophoretic display panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a display system, and in particular to an electrophoretic display system.
2. Description of Related Art
With the continual research on and the recent advancement of various display technologies, displays, such as electrophoretic displays (EPD), liquid crystal displays (LCD), plasma display panels (PDP), and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, have been gradually commercialized and applied to devices in different sizes and with different areas. Besides, the popularity of portable electronic devices calls the attention of the market to flexible displays, e.g., e-paper, e-book, and so on.
In general, if a flexible display with high resolution is to be driven, a timing controller is required to provide series frame data to a data driver through a relatively large number of data lines, so as to drive the display panel. Thereby, the influence of traces undoubtedly lessens the likelihood of reducing the volume of the flexible display, such that the flexible display may not be able to satisfy the requirement for compactness and miniaturization.
In another aspect, a display voltage is output from the data driver to the display panel, so as to drive the display panel to display corresponding frames. Hence, whether the display panel may accurately display the frames or not is determined by the driving capability (e.g., the amount of the output current) of the data driver. Due to the demand for driving capability, the chip area of the data driver may be significant; namely, the hardware costs of the data driver may be considerable.