A camera system for driving a diaphragm by a stepping motor including first and second coils and capable of 2-phase driving, includes a display unit configured to display an image signal, a live view control unit configured to display image signals sequentially read from an image sensor in the display unit, and a control unit configured to set only one of the first and second coils to be in an energized state when the live view control unit displays the image signals in the display unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power saving measures in diaphragm driving control of a camera system and a lens apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
The presently used digital single lens reflex camera includes a live view function (moving image checking function) which enables a user to check captured images by sequentially displaying image signals read from an image sensor on a display unit such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) mounted on the back of the camera.
In addition, an exposure value during shooting of a still image is determined by metering light of the captured scenes. Further, an exposure value of an image displayed as a live view image on the display unit such as an LCD is controlled by an automatic exposure control function.
Generally, during a live view function operation, a number of diaphragm driving times is reduced as much as possible to prevent a deterioration in focus detection accuracy and to secure quietness, and a diaphragm is controlled with full aperture priority.
However, when shooting a scene in a high luminance state, live view needs to be displayed by maintaining an aperture in a reduced state. That is, the image sensor has to be used as both an imaging sensor and a light metering sensor to realize the live view function in the digital single lens reflex camera. In other words, since the image sensor having a restricted dynamic range is used as the light metering sensor, the aperture needs to be reduced in order to prevent saturation.
Further, when a still image is captured with a camera system which includes no live view function, an aperture needs to be reduced in order to detect a flicker phenomenon occurring due to an illuminance change of a captured scene. In this case, in a diaphragm driving device which drives a diaphragm by a stepping motor, power consumption is increased since a current has to be continuously applied to maintain the aperture reduced state.
Unless the current is continuously applied, the reduced state of the aperture cannot be maintained, which causes a change in an aperture reducing position. In other words, an aperture becomes different from a set aperture, which causes an error in a light metering value and accuracy of exposure control is reduced.
This phenomenon is not only applied to the digital single lens reflex camera equipped with the live view function. Also in a camera system equipped with a diaphragm control device which drives a diaphragm by a stepping motor, the above described phenomenon occurs if the camera is configured to enter a power cut-off state after a diaphragm button is pressed to reduce an aperture.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-156681 discusses a camera system which drives the diaphragm by the stepping motor. The camera system discussed there opens a diaphragm again to execute light metering anew if a shooting instruction is received while a diaphragm button is pressed, and carries out shooting while the current is being applied.
In the camera system discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-156681, upon reception of the shooting instruction while the diaphragm button is pressed, exposure control is carried out cutting off the current to avoid power consumption after an aperture is reduced. The diaphragm is opened again when light metering is executed anew. This operation causes a release time lag since the light metering is executed all over again.
Therefore, the above-described problem cannot be solved by the discussed camera system. The same holds true for the camera system equipped with no live view function.


A keyboard includes a keycap, a pivot structure, a base and an X-structure. The keycap includes a bottom surface, a first edge and a second edge. The pivot structure includes two first engaging portions and two second engaging portions. The first engaging portions are disposed on the bottom surface and have a first distance away from the first edge. The second engaging portions are respectively disposed corresponding to the first engaging portions and have a second distance away from the second edge. The base is disposed under the keycap. One end of the X-structure is connected to the pivot structure of the keycap and the other end of the X-structure is movably connected to the base, thus, the keycap moves upward and downward corresponding to the base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a keyboard, and in particular relates to a keyboard applied to an electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional keyboard 10 has a keycap 11, a base 12 and an X-structure 13. The X-structure 13 is disposed between the keycap 11 and the base 12. The keycap 11 has a pivot structure 111, a bottom surface 114, a first edge 115 and a second edge 116. The pivot structure 111 has first engaging portion 112 and a second engaging portion 113. The first engaging portion 112 is tightly connected to the first edge 115. The second engaging portion 113 is tightly connected to the second edge 116. When assembling the keyboard 10, the X-structure 13 is engaged with and pivoted on the first engaging portion 112 and the second engaging portion 113. However, the first engaging portion 112 is tightly connected to the first edge 115, and the second engaging portion 113 is tightly connected to the second edge 116, thus, the first engaging portion 112 is damaged by undue exertion when the X-structure 13 is assembled with the first engaging portion 112 and the second engaging portion 113.


A semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) device. The SOI device includes an SOI wafer including an active layer, a substrate and a buried insulation layer disposed therebetween. The buried insulation layer includes an oxide trap region disposed along an upper surface of the buried insulation layer, the oxide trap region having a plurality of oxide traps to promote carrier recombination.

Traditional semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) integrated circuits typically have a silicon substrate having a buried oxide (BOX) layer disposed thereon. A semiconductor active layer, typically made from silicon, is disposed on the BOX layer. Within the active layer, active devices, such as transistors, are formed in active regions. The size and placement of the active regions are defined by isolation regions. As a result of this arrangement, the active devices are isolated from the substrate by the BOX layer. More specifically, a body region of each SOI transistor does not have body contacts and is therefore "floating."
SOI chips offer potential advantages over bulk chips for the fabrication of high performance integrated circuits for digital circuitry. Such digital circuitry is typically made from partially-depleted metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs). In such circuits, dielectric isolation and reduction of parasitic capacitance improve circuit performance, and virtually eliminate latch-up in CMOS circuits. In addition, circuit layout in SOI can be greatly simplified and the packing density greatly increased.
However, devices formed from SOI materials typically exhibit parasitic effects due to the presence of the floating body (i.e., "floating body effects"). These floating body effects may result in undesirable performance in SOI devices. Therefore, it will be appreciated that a need exists for SOI devices having reduced floating body effects.

SOI device with structure for enhancing carrier recombination and method of fabricating same


A tool and method by which an inner oil seal may be installed in the hub of a wheel assembly which is in a normal upright position. The tool comprises a shaft with a tool mounting plate affixable to the outer end of a hub with the tool shaft extending axially therethrough and terminating in a threaded end. A seal locator and pusher is slidably mountable on said tool shaft from the threaded end thereof. The locator and pusher has a portion facing the tool mounting plate on which the inner seal may be slidably mounted. The opposite face of the locator and pusher is provided with a thrust bearing and thrust washer. The tool includes a nut engageable on the threaded tool shaft end. The wheel assembly is removed form its axle and is maintained in an upright position. The seal mounting tool is bolted to the hub. The inner oil seal is mounted on the locator and pusher which is mounted on the tool shaft from its threaded end. The nut is engaged on the tool shaft threaded end and tightened to cause the locator and pusher to properly and evenly seat the seal in the hub. The tool is thereafter removed from the hub and the wheel assembly is remounted on its axle.

The installation of the inner oil seal in the hub of a wheel assembly has always been a physically taxing operation. This is particularly true in the case of a dual tire and wheel assembly because the combination of a hub, a pair of wheels and a pair of tires can weigh in excess of 500 pounds. For this reason the invention will be described in its application to a dual tire and wheel assembly, it being understood that the invention is equally applicable to a single tire and wheel assembly.
Heretofore, according to one prior art practice, a worker would remove a dual tire and wheel assembly from its axle (the outer bearing having been removed) and lower it to the floor using a lifting dolly. Once on the floor, the worker would remove the worn seal and the inner bearing, and would thereafter physically shove the dual tire and wheel assembly over, so that it lay on the side of the outermost tire with the rearward end of the hub facing upwardly. The inner bearing would then be manually relocated in the hub. The worker would then locate a new seal and the inner bearing on a mounting tool comprising a shaft having a first free end and a second end to which a member, comprising a holder, was welded. The new inner seal was mounted on the seal holder portion of the tool and the holder portion of the tool was inserted in the inner end of the hub. The worker, holding the tool shaft, would then apply a series of blows to the first free end of the tool shaft with a hammer, manually maintaining the tool shaft as nearly as possible in an axial position with respect to the hub. Once the inner oil seal was seated in the inner end of the hub, the tool would be removed and the dual tire and wheel assembly was ready to be reinstalled on the vehicle axle.
At this point, the worker, with the help of an elongated lever tool, would physically lift the dual tire and wheel assembly to an upright position. The wheel and tire assembly was then reinstalled on the axle with the help of the lifting dolly. The outer bearing was inserted in the hub and the dual wheel and tire assembly was tightened on the axle by a large nut or a pair of axle nuts and an intermediate thrust washer, as is known in the art. Thereafter, the hub cap was bolted or otherwise appropriately affixed to the hub.
Another prior art practice was similar to the one just described, using a similar tool. In this instance, however, the tire assembly was not shoved to a horizontal position, but rather was allowed to remain upright. The worker, assuming a bent-over position, would insert both the inner bearing and new inner seal by means of hammer blows to the free end of the tool shaft again trying to maintain the tool shaft aligned with the hub axis.
The present invention provides a tool and a method by which the inner oil seal may be installed in the hub of a dual tire and wheel assembly without having to lay the dual tire and wheel assembly over onto the outer side of the outboard tire, or without having to apply blows from a bent-over position while attempting to keep the tool properly aligned. As a result, no manual shoving or lifting of the heavy dual tire and wheel assembly is required. Alternatively, no awkward position need be assumed by the worker while attempting to keep the installation tool properly aligned. In addition, the tool of the present invention assures that the inner oil seal is pressed in place accurately and evenly throughout its circumference.

Tool and method for installing the inner oil seal in the hub of a wheel assembly


The present invention relates to a cleaning comb with needles that are rugged on their peripheral surface and a method of manufacturing a high mechanical strength cleaning comb. The comb includes a plurality of needles arranged parallel to each other with a spacing of under 100 .mu.m, which are rugged on their peripheral surface for the purpose of more effectively removing foreign elements and smaller particles attached. The needles have a total length and a useful length, i.e. a relatively large portion that protrudes from the handle, and they have a diameter of over 1 mm. In order to give the comb a high mechanical strength, the method of assembling the comb includes attaching the needles onto the handle preferably by laser welding or soft soldering. The ruggedness on the peripheral surface is provided by cutting an helical groove or several parallel circumferential grooves.

While various types of combs that clear hair of strongly attached particles are known in the art, and particularly lice combs, the problem of foreign agents on human or animal hair has not yet been solved. The most important problem is that of nits (i.e. the eggs of human lice) for they are more strongly attached to hair.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,945 there is described a comb that is useful to clear hair of lice and nits. This comb has teeth having a triangle-shaped cross section. The diameter of the teeth is tapered from the gripping ends to the leading ends, so that the distance between adjacent teeth is larger at the leading ends that close to the handle. The teeth are arranged with their longitudinal axes parallel to each other end on two different planes, with adjacent teeth staggered between both planes. With this design a scissors effect is achieved to detach lice and nits. This comb, however, has a few drawbacks. Its teeth have a limited length, whereby not always is it possible to reach the bottom of the hair. The distance between the leading ends of the teeth is substantially large, so the efficiency against lice and particularly against their eggs, is significantly reduced. In addition, teeth are triangle-shaped with sharp edges and thus they tend to damage hair, which is a totally undesired effect.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,303 there is disclosed a nit comb and a method of manufacturing the same. The comb includes a plurality of metal teeth , which are mounted on a handle, with a distance between the teeth of about 100 .mu.m to 120 .mu.m. Each tooth is provided with an elongated groove that matches an elongated interconnection member in the handle, to insure the teeth are held parallel to each other both during manufacturing and in use. The teeth are of a convenient length, i.e. there is a portion of each tooth that protrudes from the handle and can be used to comb the hair, of approximately 9 mm, and the ends are hook-shaped to aid in removing lice and nits from de hair. In many instances the reduced effective length is not suitable for the comb to reach the base of the hair. Despite the particular shape of the tips of the teeth, the comb lacks the required efficiency to remove the particles that remain strongly attached to the hair, such as nits, because the distance between teeth is to big and the surface of the teeth is smooth, therefore leaving most of the eggs ungrasped.

Cleaning comb with needles that are rugged on their peripheral surface and method of manufacturing a high mechanical strength cleaning comb


A printing device for printing substrates, such as circuit boards, wafers, or solar cells, has at least one movably mounted printing unit with a working surface on which the substrate to be printed can be placed. The printing unit is paired with a transport belt device, which has a supply roller with a transport belt wound thereon, a collection roller for winding up the transport belt, and two deflecting surfaces, in particular deflecting rollers, which are paired with the working surface. The transport belt is guided by the supply roller over one deflecting surface and onto the working surface in order to form a contact surface for the substrates, and by the working surface over the other deflecting surface to the collection roller. The deflecting surfaces can be moved together with the respective printing unit. The supply and collection rollers are held on the printing device in a stationary manner.

Printing devices for printing on substrates are known from the prior art. For example, the publication DE 600 02 775 T2 discloses a printing device having a transport belt device for a printing unit, by means of which substrates can be fed to a print head and removed from the print head. For this purpose, the transport belt is routed under and past the print head over two deflecting surfaces. The transport belt device is part of the printing unit, which has a working surface over which the transport belt is drawn in order to position the substrates on the working surface and to support them during the processing. The printing unit is designed to be displaceable, for example in order to align the substrates with respect to the print head.
A printing unit for a printing device is known from the publication WO 2009/153160 A1, which has a transport belt device. The printing unit is movably arranged on a printing table and carries both the deflecting surface paired with the working surface and also a supply roller, from which the transport belt is unrolled, as well as a collection roller on which the transport belt is rolled up. The advantage of the transport belt is that the substrate can be moved to and aligned with the print head by means of the transport belt itself. In this case, it is also a transport belt that is not wound in an endless loop through the printing device, so that if the transport belt is soiled, the dirt is transported away with the transport belt into the collection roller and thereby removed from the printing device. This ensures that the printing device is kept clean in a simple manner. This applies in particular if the transport belt is designed to be air-permeable, such that a substrate on the printing unit is suctioned and locked in place on the working surface and/or the contact surface of the transport belt by the generation of a negative pressure below the working surface through the working surface and the transport belt, such that the printing process can be carried out reliably without additional retaining elements. Similar printing devices can also be found in the publications EP 2 581 951 B1, US 2013/0052334 A1 and US 2012/0244702 A1.


A method of storing data is provided. The method includes receiving commands from a system memory controller of a computer system. The commands include logical addresses and are received by a computer memory device comprising a parallel memory interface operatively coupled to the system memory controller and operatively coupled to a non-volatile memory. The method further includes responding to the commands by translating the received logical addresses to corresponding physical addresses of the non-volatile memory, receiving data from the system memory controller by the parallel memory interface, and storing the data at memory locations of the non-volatile memory corresponding to the physical addresses.

Field
The present application is generally related to computer memory, and more particularly, to apparatuses, systems, and methods for data storage and retrieval using non-volatile computer memory.
Description of the Related Art
Computer systems operate, in part, using volatile memory. Computer memory modules using random access memory (RAM) typically do not retain any data once the main power source is lost (e.g., turned off or experiencing a power failure). In contrast, non-volatile computer memory, such as read only memory (ROM), tends to have long-term storage capacity, but tends to be slower than RAM.
As systems become more complex and mission-critical, the possibility of irreplaceable data being stored in volatile memory increases. For this reason, the majority of mission-critical data can be periodically stored in non-volatile memory. Various options are available for such non-volatile storage units, including but not limited to hard drive devices (HDD), solid state drives (SSD), or solid state storage (SSS) units. Computer systems utilizing such non-volatile memory can transfer data from a host's in-line volatile memory module directly connected to a main processing unit to the non-volatile memory operationally connected to the computer system. For example, the host's central processing unit can fetch data blocks from volatile memory and can send them out to the downstream controllers. Once the target controller receives these data blocks, they can be stored in the non-volatile memory.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for non-volatile data storage and retrieval


The present invention relates to compositions comprising vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and methods for using these compositions for nutritional supplementation to prevent and/or alleviate a patient from the occurrence or negative effects of cardiovascular disease. Specifically, the invention relates to compositions and methods of administering compositions comprising natural CoQ10, natural Omega-3 fatty acids, natural bioflavonoids, natural vitamin E, amino acids and derivatives thereof, minerals, extra virgin olive oil, lecithin, B-complex vitamins, and antioxidants.

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death of both men and women in the United States. Thom et al., 113 CIRCULATION e85-e151 (2006). Nearly 2,500 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of one death every thirty-five seconds. Id. Although there are many risk factors related to cardiovascular disease, vitamin and nutrient deficiency due to poor intake of nutrients or vitamins remains one of the most prevalent risk factors. The nutrients that assist in such prevention, however, come from a wide variety of food groups such as fruits, vegetables and fish. Id. Although certain patients may consume certain nutritious foods, it is less likely that a patient will consume a balanced diet that includes the wide range of beneficial nutrients that reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. To assist in this problem, it would therefore be beneficial to have a nutritional supplement that includes essential vitamins or nutrients from various food groups that assist in the prevention and/or alleviation of cardiovascular disease.
Research has shown that nutritional supplementation may play a vital role in protecting a patient from the occurrence or negative effects of cardiovascular disease. Specifically, it is believed that coenzyme Q10, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, bioflavonoids, vitamin E, amino acids or derivatives thereof, minerals, B-complex vitamins, and other antioxidants or ingredients may assist through their various physiological roles to prevent and/or alleviate the occurrence or negative effects of cardiovascular disease.

Compositions and methods for the prevention of cardiovascular disease


An ejection seat includes a headrest that, upon initiation of the ejection seat, moves forward to support the pilot's head in a tilted-forward position. By holding the crewmember's head in a tilted-forward position, windblast forces are controlled to prevent the helmet from pulling upward and backward on the crewmember's head. The headrest may include a pair of struts that extend forward around the sides of the crewmember's helmet to support the crewmember's head against flailing from the windblast. A flexible panel extending between the struts and the headrest panel may also be included to further support the crewmember's head against windblast flailing.

This invention relates to aircraft interior equipment, and more particularly, to aircraft ejection seats.
When a pilot or other aircraft occupant ejects from an aircraft moving at high speed, his or her body is subjected to various acceleration and aerodynamic conditions that if not properly controlled may lead to injury. One area of particular concern is the crewmember's head and neck. During the initial acceleration of the ejection seat, acceleration forces acting on the crewmember's head and helmet tend to pitch the crewmember's head forward and down, this effect is especially pronounced if the helmet is equipped with night vision and/or heads-up-display equipment mounted forward of the crewmember's face. Next, aerodynamic flow over the top of the helmet causes a large pressure drop to occur so that the normal pressure inside the helmet acts to pull the helmet upward, jerking the crewmember's head up and back from its previous tilted-forward position. After the seat has cleared the aircraft, aerodynamic forces acting on the helmet and ejection seat may interact to cause the crewmember's head to flail in the windblast.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,259 to Schulman discloses an inflatable airbag positioned beneath the pilot's chin that inflates during ejection. This approach addresses the problem of the crewmember's head tilting forward upon initial acceleration but does not address the aerodynamic lift and flailing problems associated with high-speed ejection. U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,961 to Herndon discloses a headrest having inflatable lateral restraints. This approach addresses the problem of the crewmember's head flailing in the windblast but does not address the tilt-forward or aerodynamic lift issues. U.S. Pat. No. 4,436,262 to Cummings discloses a wind blast head protector in the form of a canopy that deploys over the top of the crewmember's helmet. This approach addresses the problem of the crewmember's helmet lifting off the crewmember's head and purports to address the issue of head flailing in the wind blast, but does not address the problem of the crewmember's head tilting forward and jerking back as acceleration forces give way to wind blast forces and may impede the crewmember's separation from the seat when the crewmember's parachute deploys.

Aircraft ejection seat with movable headrest


The present invention provides a technique for automatically establishing efficient, remote, secure client connections to one or more locations using a smart card enabled client driver and a smart card enabled network edge device (“Subnet Box”) capable of establishing an end-to-end hardware encrypted tunnel between itself and the client. In an embodiment of the invention, a method of establishing a secure communications tunnel comprises the steps of: authenticating a remote client to a subnet box on a private network, wherein the remote client is connected to the subnet box via a public network, establishing a tunnel between the remote client and the subnet box, and encapsulating all traffic in the tunnel, wherein the tunnel is established only when a unique physical token is coupled to the remote device. The unique physical token comprises a smartcard and is configured to be inserted into a communications port of the remote device. The step of authenticating comprises the steps of: receiving an authentication packet, wherein the first authentication packet comprises an identifier identifying the unique physical token and a first random number, and transmitting a response authentication packet, wherein the response authentication packet comprise a second random number. The step of establishing a secure communications tunnel comprises the step of generating a cryptographic key based on the first and second random numbers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless networking, and more particularly, to an automatic hardware-enabled virtual private network technique.
2. Description of Related Art
A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is generally implemented to provide local connectivity between a wired network and a mobile computing device. In a typical wireless network, all of the computing devices within the network broadcast their information to one another using radio frequency (RF) communications. WLANs are based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, which designates a wireless-Ethernet specification using a variety of modulation techniques at frequencies generally in the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) and 5 GHz license-free frequency bands.
The IEEE 802.11 standard ("Wi-Fi"), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, enables wireless communications with throughput rates up to 54 Mbps. Wi-Fi (for "wireless fidelity") is essentially a seal of approval certifying that a manufacturer's product is compliant with IEEE 802.11. For example, equipment carrying the "Wi-Fi" logo is certified to be interoperable with other Wi-Fi certified equipment. There are Wi-Fi compatible PC cards that operate in peer-to-peer mode, but Wi-Fi usually incorporates at least one access point, or edge device. Most access points have an integrated Ethernet controller to connect to an existing wired-Ethernet network. A Wi-Fi wireless transceiver connects users via the access point to the rest of the LAN. The majority of Wi-Fi wireless transceivers available are in Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card form, particularly for laptop, palmtop, and other portable computers, however Wi-Fi transceivers can be implemented through an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) slot or Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) slot in a desktop computer, a Universal Serial Bus (USB), or can be fully integrated within a handheld device.
Users accessing data networks remotely often do so without security. This is particularly the case when a corporate user accesses his corporate Local Area Network (LAN) from a public hotspot. Most hotspots provide no security across the wireless link. This makes it mandatory to employ an external method of providing security to avoid confidential data being eavesdropped by unauthorized users. Typically, users desiring a secure connection to their corporate LAN employ a Virtual Private Network (VPN) solution. A VPN solution uses a special application on the user's computer and typically a VPN-Server strategically located on the corporate LAN. VPNs provide an end-to-end security solution regardless of the equipment or network components between the user's computer and the corporate network. VPNs however are slow and cumbersome and absorb a good portion of the available bandwidth. Client-side VPNs however, support only a single connection, that is, a connection between the user and the corporate LAN. A user desiring a second simultaneous connection would have to run a second VPN application to connect to a second location.

Automatic hardware-enabled virtual private network system


A locking differential for a vehicle includes a rotatable housing and a differential mechanism supported in the housing. The differential mechanism includes a pair of clutch members wherein each of the clutch members presents an inwardly directed face. Each face includes a groove disposed in spacing relationship with respect to the other. A cross pin is received in the groove and is operatively connected for rotation with the housing. A dampening communication spring is disposed over an outer circumference of the clutch members and cooperates with the cross pin to control interaction of the clutch members.

1. Field Teachings
The present teachings relate generally to locking differentials for vehicles and, more specifically, to features of a locking differential having a dampening communication spring.
2. Description of the Related Art
Locking differentials of the type contemplated by the present teachings are employed as a part of a drive train and generally include a pair of clutch members supported for rotation in a housing. A pair of side gears are splined for rotation to corresponding axle half shafts. A clutch mechanism is interposed between the clutch members and the side gears. A cross pin is operatively mounted for rotation with the housing and is received in a pair of opposed grooves formed on the inwardly facing surfaces of the clutch members. In an event requiring differential rotation between the axle half shafts, such as cornering, the higher speed axle shaft advances its clutch to an over-running condition, decoupling it from the powertrain torque. If the driving terrain provides insufficient traction to activate the over-running feature of the differential, or while driving in a straight line, torque is applied equally to both axle shafts.
While locking differentials of this type have generally worked for their intended purposes, certain disadvantages remain. More specifically, the interaction of the clutch members. There are currently mechanical limiters on the interaction. However, these limiters do not prevent erratic motion within the mechanical travel limits. As a result, rougher operation and increased noise may occur. In addition, feedback to the clutch members from the differential carrier is limited to the influence of the preloaded clutch member geometry and force interface with the cross pin.
Thus, there remains a need in the art for a locking differential that is designed so as to achieve control of the interaction of the clutch members, thereby providing for smoother operation and reduced noise.

Locking differential having dampening communication spring


An electronic reverberation system employs a processor to produce a plurality of delays samples that are added to a direct signal to produce reverberant sound. The disclosed system generates or employs a list of gain value pairs that are produced based on control settings or are provided as fixed coefficients. The processor generates reverberation samples by applying these coefficients to delay samples and summing their amplitudes to produce reverberation waveform samples. The reverberation waveform samples are added to the direct signal.

The present invention relates to audio systems and more specifically to an improved method and apparatus for providing reverberation.
A listener in a room hears a combination of direct sound emanating from the sound source and a series of reflections from the room surfaces, which occur at different times. The frequency response at the listener location contains many peaks and valleys due to comb filtering, as all of the reflections and direct sound add together vectorially. Early attempts at electronic reverberation used a loudspeaker and microphone in a non-absorbent room. Later, space was saved by replacing the room with a metal plate or springs. When electronic analog delay became available, a decaying train of pulses could be produced by recirculating the output back to the input at slightly reduced gain. The development of computation and analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters allowed the same decaying train of analog pulses to be produced in the digital domain.
Reverberation can be characterized by its impulse response. Mathematically convolving a music signal with this impulse response produces the reverberant signal. Therefore, development in reverberation has focused on obtaining a desirable impulse response. The latest method of producing electronic reverberation, now becoming popular, is to use sampling. Recording the impulse response of a concert hall and feeding it into a convolver makes a non-reverberant music source sound somewhat as though it was produced in that concert hall.
Because of the large dimensions of concert halls, sound absorption by the audience and surfaces, and the speed of sound at approximately 1090 feet per second, listeners in even the best concert halls hear the direct sound at least 15 milliseconds before the first significant surface reflections arrive. The extreme high frequency content of the reflected sound is greatly attenuated relative to the direct sound. At low frequencies, depending upon the seat location, the reverberant sound usually exceeds the loudness of the direct sound. Some people like singing in a ceramic tiled shower stall where the reflected sound arrives much sooner and has more high frequency content.
Electronic reverberation systems used in modern recordings have similar characteristics and provide more than 15 milliseconds of initial delay and attenuated high frequencies. The delay and lack of high frequency content in either the acoustic or artificial reverberation allows any noises or imperfections in the direct sound picked up by the microphones to be clearly heard.
Most people do not realize they are listening to a beat frequency that occurs among multiple instruments or voices sounding the same note. Depending upon frequency, phase, and harmonic differences, a listener may hear a shimmering effect or high frequency noise. In addition, bowed instruments produce mechanical noises, and wind instruments produce wind noises and occasionally annoying high harmonics. Percussion instruments have rattles, and voices can be raspy on certain notes. Close microphone techniques often exaggerate these imperfections.
Recording, transmission, and reproduction equipment may contribute their own imperfections or exaggerate those already present. For example, some recording engineers dislike the normal pulse code modulation (PCM) recording process due to irritating high frequency components they believe are not present in the live microphone signal. Lossy bit compression systems like MPEG-3 are also believed by some recording engineers to distort sound quality. Processes generally accepted by these same engineers are old-fashioned analog tape recording and new Direct Stream Digital (DSD) recording used in making Super Audio Compact Discs (SACD). Instead of 16-bit PCM at 44.1 kHz used for compact discs, DSD is 1 bit PCM at 2.7 MHz.
Regardless of the sources of high frequency imperfections, the cumulative result is that nearly all existing recordings contain moments when the high frequencies are irritating enough to cause the listener to turn the volume down below the point of maximum enjoyment for the rest of the program—and sometimes to just turn it off. High frequency irritants can be reduced by attenuating the high frequencies using an equalizer. However, attenuating the high frequencies enough causes unsatisfactory loss of high frequency detail.
It would therefore be desirable to have a system and method for reducing the imperfections, distortions and/or irritating effects exhibited by recorded material.


A turbine engine component has a substrate formed from a nickel based superalloy and a Ni—Pt—Al—Hf bondcoat applied to a surface of the substrate. Two methods for forming the platinum modified Ni—Pt—Al—Hf bondcoat are described herein.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high strength nickel-platinum-aluminum-hafnium bondcoat for a turbine engine component and a method for forming same.
(2) Prior Art
Turbine engine components are subjected to elevated temperatures as a result of their exposure to high temperature gas. Such exposure can lead to the creation of unwanted defects in the components. To protect the components, bondcoats and/or ceramic topcoats are applied to the surfaces of the turbine engine components.
Despite the existence of such coatings, there is still a need for coatings which provide the components with improved oxidation resistance.


A multimode base station and a system. The multimode base station includes a wireless transceiver module, a first processing module, a second processing module, a selection and configuration module, and a network connection module. The first processing module is connected to the wireless transceiver module. The second processing module is connected to the network connection module. The first processing module is connected to the second processing module. The multimode base station operates in base mode, DM mode, or dual mode. The selection and configuration module is configured to receive a mode setting instruction from a user, and set an operating mode of the multimode base station. The multimode base station in base mode is equivalent to a base station. The multimode base station in DM mode is equivalent to a DECT manager. The multimode base station in dual mode is equivalent to a base station and a DECT manager.

An existing cordless communication system typically includes a base (wireless base station), a device monitor (DM, which is a digitally enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT) manager responsible for system composition, content distribution, etc. and functions as a central server), and a handset (wireless mobile device). The quantity of wireless mobile devices that can register with a base station is limited because of the limited coverage of the single base station. This cannot meet enterprise users' needs. Therefore, it is urgent to expand coverage of the base station and increase the quantity of wireless mobile devices.
In existing technical solutions, one central server and a plurality of base stations are typically deployed. The central server manages the plurality of base stations. To be specific, the base stations are connected to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network through the central server. In other words, the base stations need to use the central server to control incoming/outgoing calls made by a plurality of wireless mobile phones.
However, in existing cordless communication systems, base stations are separated from DECT managers, and the functions of the base stations are independent of those of the DECT managers. Therefore, users need to purchase both base stations and DECT managers to construct cordless communication systems. In addition, the users need to purchase matched DECT managers if the DECT managers in the cordless communication systems are damaged. Such a replacement method is inflexible and inconvenient.

Multimode base station and cordless communication system

YEALINK (XIAMEN) NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A rotary damper 1 includes a synthetic resin-made accommodating case 4 for accommodating in its interior 2 a viscous fluid 3 which is constituted by silicone oil or the like and whose viscosity declines with a temperature rise, and a synthetic resin-made rotor 9 which is disposed in the interior 2 of the accommodating case 4 rotatably, i.e., so as to be rotatable in R1 and R2 directions about an axis O, and which partitions the interior 2 of the accommodating case 4 into at least two chambers, i.e., in this embodiment, two chambers consisting of chambers 5 and 6 and two chambers consisting of chambers 7 and 8, in cooperation with the accommodating case 4.

Unidirectional rotary dampers of this type in which large braking is imparted to the rotation of the rotor in one direction by a viscous fluid which passes through clearances and small braking is imparted to the rotation of the rotor in the other direction are known from Patent Document 1 and the like.


Disclosed is an anticoagulant polypeptide and applications thereof. The anticoagulant polypeptide comprises a polypeptide formed by an amino acid sequence as represented in Seq. ID No. 1; or comprises a derived polypeptide that selectively inhibits coagulation factor XIa and is formed by an amino acid sequence, as represented in Seq. ID No. 1, that has undergone one or multiple amino acid residue substitutions, deletions, or insertions. The anticoagulant polypeptide is a selective inhibitor for coagulation factor XIa, has anticoagulant activity and small side-effect, and can be used in preparing medicines for the prevention and treatment of thrombotic diseases.

Thromboembolic diseases, especially the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular thromboembolic diseases, are common disease that seriously threaten the health of the population and cause high fatality and disability rate. Currently available anticoagulants, such as heparin (includes low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) such as enoxaparin), warfarin, platelet aggregation inhibitors (such as aspirin) and hirudin are already approved for clinical use, however, these anticoagulants increase the bleeding risk in patient. Bleeding is one of the most common and serious complications in the clinical anticoagulant and antithrombotic therapies, thus it is very important to develop novel anticoagulant and antithrombotic drugs with lower bleeding risk. The clinical data and a series of animal experimental studies indicate that fXIa (or fXI) should be a novel target for the protection against thrombosis with lower bleeding risk in recent years. So develop drugs target fXIa (or fXI) may be an alternative way to treat and prevent thromboembolic diseases with lower bleeding risk.
High level of factor XI is a risk factor for deep venous thrombosis (Meijers J C M et al. N Engl J Med. 2000; 342: 696-701), and fXI-deficient patients reduce the incidence of deep vein thrombosis and ischemic stroke (Salomon O et al. Thromb Haemost. 2011, 105:269-73; Salomon O et al. Blood. 2008, 111: 4113-4117). These data suggest that the deficiency or inhibition of fXI/fXIa are associated with protection against thrombosis. Moreover, human deficiency in FXI results in a rare bleeding disorder and show seldom spontaneous bleeding (Seligsohn U. J Thromb Haemost. 2009, 7 (suppl): 84-87). It suggests that the deficiency or inhibition of fXI/fXIa has minimal or no bleeding risk in human.
In animal models, the fXI knockout mice do not have excessive bleeding when challenged by surgical procedures, and they have normal hemostatic capacity but have significantly reduced venous and arterial thrombosis in response to various mechanical and chemical vessel injuries. FXI antibody effectively reduced thrombosis in the rats, rabbits and baboons, and had little effect on the bleeding time (Renné T et al. J Thromb Haemost. 2009, Suppl 1: 79-83). The fXI monoclonal antibody (aXIMab) reduced thrombus formation and thrombin generation in the baboon's artificial vessels, but had little or no effect on the bleeding time and platelet aggregation activity, therefore, blocking the fXI may offer therapeutic advantages over other antithrombotic agents in terms of bleeding complications (Tucker et al. Blood. 2009, 113: 936-944). Comparing with enoxaparin and warfarin, the antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) for fXI effectively reduced venous thrombosis and arterial thrombosis without causing bleeding; ASOs increased the antithrombotic activity of the enoxaparin and clopidogrel but did not increase bleeding (Zhang H et al. Blood. 2010, 116 (22): 4684-4692), and was considered as a safer anticoagulant.
It's confirmed that the mice knocked out of tissue factor (TF), fVII, fV, fX and prothrombin can't live for a long time (Mackman N. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2005, 25: 2273-228), while fVIII−/− and fIX−/− deficient mice can survive, but show bleeding diathesis, which similar to the human hemophilia that caused by the deficiency of fVIII or fIX. However, fXI knockout mice (fXI−/− mice) can live healthy with normal hemostatic function. Moreover, The fXI knockout mice are protected from thrombus formation when compared to wild-type animals (Gailani D, Renné T. J Thromb Haemost 2007, 5: 1106-1112).
As mentioned above, the fXI deficiency and inhibition have been shown to be associated with lower bleeding risk. It means that the drugs target fXIa or fXI has advantages of lower bleeding risk compares with that target thrombin, fX, fVII, and other coagulation factors. At present, only a few candidates including fXI antibody, fXI antisense oligonucleotides, peptidomimetics, some small chemical molecules and a molecule in a sponge (Schumacher W A et al. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2010, 30 (3): 388-392) target fXIa have been found, while selective peptide inhibitor target fXIa still keep to be not found.
Hookworms are blood-feeding intestinal nematodes that can cause chronic gastrointestinal blood loss of their hosts. They secrete antihemostatic molecules to counteract host hemostatic responses and result in bleeding. We recently isolated a novel anticoagulant peptide, named AcaNAP10 from the hookworm Ancylostoma caninum, which can inhibit both fXIa and fVIIa/TF. Significantly, AcaNAP10 was the first anticoagulant that inhibits both fXIa and fVIIa/TF (Li D, et al. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2010, 392 (2):155-9).
In order to obtain specific inhibitors of fXIa, based on the amino acid sequence of AcaNAP10, we invented a series of anticoagulant polypeptides that can selectively inhibit fXIa. These anticoagulant polypeptides can be used for development of novel anticoagulant drugs to treat or prevent thromboembolic disease with lower bleeding risk.

Anticoagulant polypeptide and applications thereof


A kit for an easy quick connect structural system for constructing framework structures comprising a plurality of elongate rectangular prism frame members is provided. The frame members incorporate custom design features which provide structural strength, facilitate assembly and expansion of the framework structure and allow ease of attachment and securing of accessories. These design features include a corner groove, a central hollow longitudinal chamber, at least one sub-trade chamber, at least one outer main channel, stub-nosed channels, and claw assembles flanking each corner groove. There is provided a plurality of snap-in connectors designed and configured to mate with the frame members such that the frame members can be secured in various arrangements with respect to each other. There is further provided custom reinforcement brackets designed and configured to securely bind together a selection of the plurality of the frame members.

Prefabricated structures are buildings or structures that are constructed from standard sections that are manufactured off-site in advance and then shipped and assembled at the desired final location. Structural framing systems are found in the construction industry, agricultural/landscaping industry, home improvements industry and the toy industry.
Mainly due to transportation difficulties, current designs for prefabricated structures are generally limited in size and the final structure is not readily expandable.
While various prior designs for prefabricated structures have some degree of isolated merit, none fully meets all the objectives of providing a structural system that is long lasting, structurally strong, easy to construct, readily expandable and portable.


A magnetic element in a flat-plate shape includes a linearly-extending first flat plate being made of one of a magnetic material and a conductive material and a helical second flat plate being made of the other of the magnetic material and the conductive material, and the first flat plate is inserted into the helical structure of the second flat plate so as to alternatively weave front and back surfaces of the second flat plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic element.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical structure of a conventionally-known magnetic element is a wound structure with a conductive wire being wound around the outer circumference of a columnar core material made of a magnetic material, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-109181.
Meanwhile, the core material needs a certain degree of thickness from the stand point of improvement of workability when winding the conductive wire. For this reason, there is a problem in that the thickness of the magnetic element becomes large and therefore it is difficult to secure an arrangement space when the magnetic element is arranged in electric appliances.


An integrated reactor is capable of mixing, reacting, and/or sparging two or more fluids. The reactor is preferably formed of a porous element and a housing formed of at least two inlets and an outlet. A catalyst may be incorporated into the porous element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluid handling apparatus, or reactor, for mixing and/or reacting two or more fluids The present invention also relates to a method of using the apparatus In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus provided with an internal element by which two or more fluids are mixed, or by which one fluid can be sparged into another, and in which the internal element can be or can support a catalyst for the reaction of the fluids.
2. Description of the Related Art
The prior art contains teachings of different types of reactors or mixing apparatus, but none which achieve the combination of multi-use capability, compact size, and durability demonstrated by the present invention.
Previously, mixing of fluids, catalytic reaction of fluids, and sparging one fluid into another were treated as three separate operations each requiring separate apparatus. Especially in circumstances where weight or space or both were at a premium, e.g., for space flight applications, the weight and space requirements were prohibitive, limiting either the capacity of the various units or even the ability to have each of these capabilities in a space vehicle. Even where a unit was constructed to achieve more than one result there were required a multiplicity of elements or components, each one of which added weight, volume, and cost to the unit.
Reactors having some limited ability to mix reactants in the presence of a catalyst have drawbacks. A primary drawback is that the catalyst is provided in a particulate, granular, bead, or similar non-rigid form. As a result, the reactor requires additional elements designed to hold the catalyst in place. Furthermore, such catalysts are subject to channeling and shifting, which reduce the effectiveness of the catalyst. Especially in an environment such as the launch of a space vehicle, with its attendant high stresses such as wide-frequency vibration, such catalysts are subject to physical degradation due to, e.g., abrasion. Abraded catalyst can be harmful by interfering with the intended flow of fluids through the reactor and in contaminating the fluid flow with the catalyst itself.
The following patents disclose prior art reactors and catalytic vessels intended to separately achieve a desired mixing, catalysis, or sparging: U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,685,759, 2,835,560, 3,895,919, 4,859,425, 4,971,771, 4,830,833, 4,956,152, 4,707,341, and 3,567,400.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,685,759 to Walter discloses a reactor having a permeable membrane in which catalytic particles are embedded and on either side of which gases to be reacted are allowed to flow. Mixing takes place in the membrane. There is no indication that the disclosed membrane can be used in the presence of fluids such as liquids, and no other function, such as sparging, is revealed. There is likewise no indication that this device would withstand rough handling
U.S. Pat. No. 2,835,560 to Bason et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,919 to Forster et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,425 to Zardi, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,771 to Stahl, are similar in that they all teach use of multiple catalyst beds. Each of these except for Stahl are also specifically concerned with providing a quenching capability for the disclosed reactors. Each of these disclosures contemplates the use of known granular or pelletized catalysts or catalyst supports.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,833 to Shaff discloses a reactor, or catalytic converter, for use in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. Shaff's reactor has non-fixed catalytic beads which would be subject to settling and tunnelling under vibrational stress. U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,152 to Keouqh et al. discloses another catalytic converter. Keough is not concerned with mixing at all, utilizing only the single mixed flow provided to it.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,341 to Koch et al. does disclose a reactor having a fixed substrate, but does not show this as an integral element of the reactor. Koch's substrate is designed to catch and retain solid particles to ensure complete reaction.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,400 to Shah teaches a device to permit sparging air into a liquid through a perforated plate, in which the liquid is directed through a series of baffles within a reaction vessel in order to ensure a complete reaction within the vessel. This reactor is limited to its specific capability of sparging, rather than having multiple uses, and does not suggest an integral device suitable for the high-stress environment and other extraordinary requirements inherent in use in space-going apparatus.


An apparatus includes a bootstrap accumulator having multiple fluid expansion volumes each configured to receive fluid. The bootstrap accumulator also includes a piston assembly configured to move within the fluid expansion volumes based on pressures within the fluid expansion volumes. The piston assembly includes (i) a fluid pathway that couples the fluid expansion volumes and (ii) a bypass valve configured to selectively open or block the fluid pathway. The piston assembly could also include multiple pistons and a connecting rod coupling the pistons. The fluid pathway could include a narrower path through a first portion of the connecting rod and a wider path through a second portion of the connecting rod. The bypass valve could include a ball and a spring configured to push the ball to block the narrower path through the first portion of the connecting rod.

The pressure at an input of a pump often needs to be at or above a minimum threshold value in order for the pump to function properly or efficiently. For example, at input pressures below the minimum threshold, the pump could experience cavitation, which reduces the operating capacity of the pump. This can be particularly problematic in closed systems, where fluid being pumped is (ideally) confined in and cannot escape from the system. In closed systems, temperature variations can affect the amount of space occupied by the fluid being pumped. As a result, temperature-based pressure variations could cause the fluid provided to a pump in a closed system to drop below the pump's minimum threshold.
Bootstrap accumulators (also known as bootstrap reservoirs) can be used in various systems to compensate for pressure fluctuations. For example, a bootstrap accumulator could be coupled to high-pressure and low-pressure sides of a pump, and varying amounts of low-pressure and high-pressure fluid can enter and exit a volume within the bootstrap accumulator. Among other things, the bootstrap accumulator helps to compensate for volume changes of pumped fluid that are caused by bulk average system fluid temperature fluctuations.

Bootstrap accumulator containing integrated bypass valve


A bracket assembly is provided for managing and strain relieving jumpers exiting an optical hardware cabinet. The bracket has a length portion and at least one fanning finger block mounted thereon to define a line of routing spaces for jumpers. The bracket further has at least one tie portion located at an end of the length portion and extending laterally of the length portion defining a free edge. The tie portion defines holes suitable for threading a cable tie therethrough. The tie portion is located relative to the fanning finger blocks such that jumpers routed through the fanning fingers can be gathered together over the tie portion and secured thereto with a cable tie threaded through one of the holes. The bracket has a mounting portion extending downward from the bracket to provide a clearance space to allow for threading of a cable tie through the hole.

Fiber distribution frames and wall mount cabinets are commonly used items of optical hardware for the interconnection of optical fiber jumpers with other jumpers and optical fiber cables. One common design of optical hardware includes connector panels that may include 6 to 12 connector adapters that receive optical fiber connectors in a mating relationship. A cabinet or frame may include several of these panels so that anywhere up to a hundred or so jumpers may be extending from the hardware. These jumpers then need to be routed to other locations. The orderly management of these jumpers is needed to prevent a "rat's nest" from forming on the optical hardware and allow for access and tracing of the jumpers. Optical hardware commonly uses rows of flexible fingers that define routing spaces for jumpers to aid in management of the jumpers. However, a common drawback of some optical hardware is the lack of any strain relief for the jumpers. Therefore a need exists for a means to provide for strain relief of optical fiber jumpers while still allowing for management of the jumpers. Additionally, because space is typically at a premium in optical hardware, a need exists for the strain relieving to be provided in a manner that takes up minimal space in the hardware and that is easy to use by installers of the optical hardware.

Bracket assembly for strain relief of optical fiber jumpers


A method and a particle sensor for measuring particles, especially soot particles, in which the particles to be detected accumulate in a measuring region of the particle sensor. The particles located in the gas stream or the particles already accumulated in the measuring region are burned by a combustion device, the combustion being controlled via a control signal from a control unit, which is electrically connected to a measuring device, in such a way that the quantity of the particles adhering in the measuring region remains constant. The physical variable of the combustion device, which leads to the controlled combustion of the particles, is drawn upon as the signal amplitude of the particle sensor.

In order to measure particles, such as soot particles, in the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines, a particle sensor having a device for the detection of soot particles may be mounted in the exhaust pipe.
A sensor is discussed in German patent document no. DE 101 33 384 A1 which is made up of two base (substrate) elements, the base elements having interdigital electrodes and an integrated heater, and being laminated to each other. The interdigital electrodes are used for measuring soot particles, the measurement being based on a resistive measuring principle: An accumulation of particles on the electrode structure leads to a conductivity change or impedance change of the area between the combs of the electrode. From the change, the accumulation, or rather, the accumulation rate of the particles may be derived. After a certain accumulation quantity, the sensor has to be regenerated, that is, the sensor has to be freed of accumulated particles. To do this, the integrated heater heats the sensor encumbered with soot, so that the accumulated soot is completely burned off. Then the sensor is again in the original state, and a renewed accumulation and measurement of particles are thereby made possible.
One advantage of this procedure comes about because, during the combustion, no new accumulation of particles is possible. Even after the regeneration, soot cannot immediately be accumulated again, for, because of thermal inertia, the sensor requires a certain time for the thermalization of the sensor element by the exhaust gas. Since, during the regeneration phase and the subsequent cooling phase of the sensor, no soot is able to be accumulated, during these phases the sensor is insensitive with respect to a possibly present soot concentration.

Method, particle sensor and particle sensor system for measuring particles


In a display device in accordance with the present invention, each pixel includes a plurality of luminescent elements having different luminous intensities to represent gray scales by controlling the turning ON/OFF of the luminescent elements. A digital signal is transmitted to each pixel to carry out control by thin film transistors connected in series with the luminescent elements. The luminous intensities of the luminescent elements are the geometric progressions of a common ratio of 2. The ON resistance of the thin film transistors is set to be lower than the ON resistance of the luminescent elements, while the OFF resistance of the thin film transistors is set to be higher than the OFF resistance of the luminescent elements. These features have reduced the nonuniformity in the luminous intensities of the luminescent elements caused by the nonuniformity in the conductance of the transistors, thus achieving improved image quality.

A thin film transistor organic electroluminescent device (hereinafter referred to as "TFT-OELD") may be cited as a highly promising future current luminescent display device that realizes a larger size, higher definition, a wider viewing angle, and reduced power consumption.
A method for driving a typical conventional TFT-OELD will be described.
FIG. 5 shows an equivalent circuit of the conventional TFT-OELD. Only one pixel is shown in the drawing although there are actually many pixels in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.
A pulse is output from a shift register 101, and an analog signal of an analog signal supply line 1022 is transmitted to a source line 1042 via a transmission switch 1032. For a gate line 109 that has been selected this time, the analog signal is transmitted to a retention capacitor 1062 via a switching transistor 1052. The conductance of a current transistor 1072 is controlled in accordance with the analog signal, and an organic EL element 1082 emits light of an intensity level based on the analog signal.
FIG. 6 illustrates the conventional TFT-OELD driving method.
A pulse SR0 of a shift register of a zero-th column causes an analog signal A to be transmitted to a potential S0 of a source line of a zero-th column. Further, a pulse SR1 of a shift register of a first column causes the analog signal A to be transmitted to a potential S1 of a source line of the first column. First, while a pulse G0 of a gate line of the zero-th row is being applied, the potential S0 of the source line of the zero-th column is transmitted to a potential C00 of a retention capacitor of the zero-th row and the zero-th column, whereas the potential S1 of the source line of the first column is transmitted to a potential C01 of a retention capacitor of the zero-th row and the first column. Then, while a pulse G1 of a gate line of the first row is being applied, the potential S0 of the source line of the zero-th column is transmitted to a potential C10 of a retention capacitor in the first row and the zero-th column, whereas the potential S1 of the source line of the first column is transmitted to a potential C11 of a retention capacitor in the first row and the first column. Each organic EL element 1082 (FIG. 5) emits light of a predetermined intensity level in accordance with the potential of each retention capacitor 1062 (FIG. 5), i.e., the corresponding analog signal A.
An area gray scale method is known as one of the driving methods of a liquid crystal display device. In general, a liquid crystal display device has a problem of a limited viewing angle range due to a marked change in the transmissivity or the reversal of gray scale in a direction of a viewing angle that deviates from the direction of the normal line with respect to a display surface. The foregoing area gray scale method is intended to solve the problem, and it is adapted to represent a gray scale in terms of an area ratio of full transmission to no transmission. This realizes a wider viewing angle range of a liquid crystal display device.
According to the conventional TFT-OELD driving method mentioned above, the analog signals are used to control the conductance of the current transistor 1072 so as to control the luminous intensity of the organic EL element 1082. In other words, to obtain a half tone, the conductance of the current transistor 1072 must be set to be equal to the conductance of the organic EL element 1082, and the voltage applied to the organic EL element 1082 must be controlled by dividing the voltages of the current transistor 1072 and the organic EL element 1082. In such a case, however, there has been a problem in that, if nonuniformity in the conductance of the current transistor 1072 should be produced within a panel or between panels, then the nonuniform conductance will be visually recognized in the form of nonuniform luminous intensity of the organic EL element 1082.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the nonuniformity in the luminous intensity of a luminescent element (an organic EL element in particular) caused by the nonuniformity in the conductance of transistors in a current luminescent display device, particularly in a TFT-OELD, thereby to improve image quality.


The present application provides a method, a device and a system for determining an actual option common voltage of a display panel. The method for determining the actual option common voltage of the display panel includes the following steps: acquiring a first common voltage and a second common voltage for fitting a curve; acquiring a first flicker corresponding to the first common voltage and a second flicker corresponding to the second common voltage; acquiring a first Vcom-Flicker curve according to the first common voltage and the first flicker, and acquiring a second Vcom-Flicker curve according to the second common voltage and the second flicker; and determining a common voltage at an intersection of the first Vcom-Flicker curve and the second Vcom-Flicker curve, in which the common voltage at the intersection is the actual option common voltage.

The statements herein merely provide background information related to the present application and do not necessarily constitute the conventional art.
With the increasingly wide application of displays, the demand of the modern society for displays is increasingly extensive. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) are commonly used as display elements in applications including mobile phones, monitors, laptop computers, tablet computers, televisions, and even some smart watches. It is known that for any display, the stability of the display effect is crucial. Flicker is a phenomenon which seriously affects the display quality, and the periodic changes of brightness caused by the incomplete symmetry between the anodic and cathodic pixel voltages not only affect the users' viewing experience, but also reduce the service life of products.
At present, the mainstream for adjusting the display brightness stability of an LCD by manufacturers in LCD industry is to determine the optimal common voltage of a product at 127 gray scale, so as to avoid the occurrence of flicker. As shown in FIG. 1, before the common voltage is adjusted, the anodic and cathodic pixel voltages are inconsistent, and the brightness in a period of 30 Hz is different; after the common voltage is adjusted, the anodic and cathodic pixel voltages are almost consistent, and the brightness in the period of 30 Hz is not obviously different.
The current methods for searching the optimal common voltage of 127 gray scales mainly include: the first method changing the common voltage for each LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) gradually by manual measurement, searching point-by-point until the minimum flicker is found, and thus determining the optimum value of the common voltage; the second method using an automatic device equipped with a optimal common voltage searching method to replace manual operation, in which, generally, the automated searching uses a point-by-point voltage ascending or descending manner to automatically search for the optimal common voltage.
However, the inventor realizes that the determination provided in the exemplary techniques depends on the manual point-by-point measurement, which is time- and labor-consuming and inefficient; in the exemplary techniques, the automatic measurement is conducted by a point-by-point voltage searching method, which requires a lot of time to search for the optimum voltage.

Method, device and system for determining actual option common voltage of display panel


A composition, and article including such composition, wherein the composition includes a silsesquioxane polymer and a free siloxane; wherein the silsesquioxane polymer includes a three-dimensional network of Formula (I): wherein: each R1 and R2 is independently a (C1-C4)alkyl; each L1 and L2 is independently a single bond, an alkylene, or an alkylene bonded to a group selected from oxy, thio, carbonyl, —NH—, and combinations thereof; each R3 is independently a linear (C14-C100)alkyl; each R5 is independently a (C1-C30)alkyl, a (C1-C30)fluorinated alkyl, or a (C2-C30)heteroalkyl having at least one oxygen, sulfur, or —NH— group; with the proviso that L1, L2, and R5 are selected such that each Si atom is directly bonded to an alkylene or an alkyl; m is an integer of at least 2; n is an integer of 0 or above; m+n is an integer of at least 10; each oxygen atom at an asterisk (*) is bonded to another Si atom within the three-dimensional network; and the silsesquioxane polymer is a solid at 25° C.

A silsesquioxane is a compound with the empirical chemical formula RSiO3/2 where Si is the element silicon, O is oxygen and R is an organic group. Silsesquioxane materials generally contain reactive silanol (Si—OH) moieties, which can condense over time or with the help of an acid/base catalyst leading to curing of the material. This curability of silsesquioxanes via silanol groups has been widely utilized to prepare solid films and patterns in photolithography. The presence of the silanol groups, however, can lead to materials having limited shelf-life and limited solubility. Also, the presence of residual acids or bases from curing mechanisms can cause corrosion. Thus, new silsesquioxane materials are desirable.

Compositions including a silsesquioxane polymer and a free siloxane, and articles


A separation membrane including a separation-functional layer is provided, wherein the separation-functional layer contains a polyvinylidene fluoride-type resin having a melt viscosity of 3,300 Pa·s or more, and also the separation-functional layer has a three-dimensional network structure. A separation membrane is provided having high virus removal performance, high pure water permeability, and high physical durability and high chemical strength, which can also be used in the field of water treatment.

Recently, separation membranes have been utilized in various fields of water treatment, food-stuff industry and the like. In the filed of water treatment such as manufacture of drinking water, water purifying treatment or waste water treatment, a separation membrane is nowadays employed for removing impurities in water in place of a sand filtration process or a flocculation-sedimentation process in the prior process. For the purpose of preventing bio-fouling of the membrane, a sterilizer such as sodium hypochlorite may be added to the membrane module or the membrane itself is washed with an acid, an alkali, chlorine a surfactant or the like, and thus the separation membrane used in a water purifying treatment is also required to have high chemical strength. Furthermore, the separation membrane is required to have high physical strength so as not to cause fracture during use.
As described above, the separation membrane is required to have, in addition to excellent pure water permeability and separation performance, high chemical strength and high physical strength. For this reason, separation membranes formed from a polyvinylidene fluoride-type resin having both the chemical strength and the physical strength, have recently been used.
Also in the fields of manufacture of drinking water, manufacture of pharmaceuticals and food-stuff industry, when pathogens such as viruses are incorporated into the process, since there is a risk that not only a manufacturing line is contaminated, but also multiple infections of consumers arise, various sterilization technologies are used. The sterilization method includes, for example, a heat treatment and a chemical treatment with chlorine or the like, but exerts a slight effect on viruses having thermoresistance and chemical resistance. Thus, membrane filtration using a separation membrane has become of major interest as a method of physically remove viruses. The membrane filtration has many advantages that enable complete removal of viruses, high separation rate, no need for mixing of impurities and the like.
Examples of the smallest actual virus include parvovirus, poliovirus and the like, each having a diameter of 20 to 30 nm, and examples of the pathogenic virus in water include norovirus having a diameter 25 to 35 nm, adenovirus having a diameter of 70 to 90 nm and the like. Various membranes are disclosed as a separation membrane capable of removing such a virus group.
For example, Patent Document 1 describes a hollow fiber membrane for medical use, made of a polyvinylidene fluoride resin, which exhibits high virus removal performance by controlling a maximum pore diameter determined by a bubble point method within a range from 10 to 100 nm and controlling a thickness of a dense structure layer to 50% or more of the entire membrane thickness. However, since the hollow fiber membrane is formed from one layer having a continuous structure including a coarse structure and also has a small membrane thickness, physical strength per one hollow fiber membrane is low and the hollow fiber membrane cannot be applied for water treatment. Also, since the dense layer is too thick, pure water permeability becomes low regardless of a small membrane thickness.
Patent Document 2 discloses a porous membrane made of a polyvinylidene fluoride-type resin which exhibits a porosity of 55 to 90%, a tensile strength of 5 MPa or more and a fracture elongation of 5% or more by adding a high-molecular weight polyvinylidene fluoride-type resin. However, the same document neither describes nor suggests various parameters and mechanisms for the improvement of a virus removal performance. In the case of using the porous membrane made of a polyvinylidene fluoride-type resin having the molecular weight recited in Examples of the same document, sufficient virus removal performance could not be obtained.
Patent Document 3 describes a porous membrane made of polyvinylidene fluoride-type resin, including reinforcing fibers, and a support layer and a dense layer which exhibits a separation characteristic to the support layer. However, the same document also neither describes nor suggests various parameters and mechanisms for the improvement of a virus removal performance. In the case of using the porous membrane made of a polyvinylidene fluoride-type resin recited in Examples of the same document, sufficient virus removal performance could not be obtained.
Patent Document 4 describes a polymeric porous hollow fiber membrane having a characteristic structure, which contains a hydrophobic polymer and a hydrophilic polymer and includes a dense layer on an inner surface and an outer surface, in which a porosity increases toward the outer surface from the inner surface at first and, after passing at least one maximum portion, the porosity decreased at the outer surface side and a pore diameter of the inner surface has a specific relationship with an exclusion limit particle diameter. However, the same document also neither describes nor suggests various parameters and mechanisms for the improvement of a virus removal performance. Also, in Example, there was no description that a polyvinylidene fluoride-type resin was specifically used.    Patent Document 1: Pamphlet of International Publication WO 03/26779    Patent Document 2: Pamphlet of International Publication WO 04/81109    Patent Document 3: JP-A-2002-166141    Patent Document 4: JP-A-2007-289886

Separation membrane and method for producing the same


A clutch actuator is configured to change operational force applied to a clutch in cases that a worm wheel is rotated by a motor. The clutch actuator may include a motor provided with a rotatable worm shaft, a screw thread formed along an exterior circumference of the worm shaft, a worm wheel provided with a worm gear engaging the screw thread, and a cam recess, an operation rod mounted to the worm wheel, the operation rod configured to engage or release a clutch, and a rotatable operation unit disposed within the cam recess, and configured to apply elastic force to the worm wheel. Methods of using the clutch actuator are also described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clutch actuator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clutch actuator that changes operation force applied to a clutch by a worm wheel rotated by a motor.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a clutch actuator for a manual transmission uses hydraulic pressure to control engaging and releasing of a clutch. A conventional clutch actuator generally includes a clutch disk, a clutch cover, a clutch fork, an operation cylinder, a master cylinder, and a clutch pedal.
A clutch fork engages or releases a clutch cover to a clutch disk by contacting or releasing the cover and disk. The clutch disk and the clutch cover are thus frictionally engaged such that torque applied to the clutch cover is transmitted to the clutch disk. That is, in a case in which the clutch disk and the clutch cover are closely contacted, the torque of the clutch cover is transmitted to the clutch disk by the frictional force. When the clutch disk is separated from the clutch cover, the clutch disk and the clutch cover rotate separately.
The clutch fork closely contacts the clutch cover to the clutch disk or separates the clutch cover from the clutch disk so as to engage or release the clutch. The clutch fork is operated by the operation cylinder. The master cylinder generates hydraulic pressure that is supplied to the operation cylinder and is mounted between the clutch pedal and the operation cylinder. Therefore, when the driver pushes the clutch pedal, the master cylinder generates hydraulic pressure and supplies the hydraulic pressure to the operation cylinder to engage the disk and cover.
Such actuators are used mainly for manual transmissions. However, the use of manual transmissions is decreasing because of control difficulties thereof. On the contrary, use of double clutch transmissions (DCTs) or automated manual transmissions (AMTs) are on the rise. In double clutch and automated manual transmissions, the clutch is controlled by an electrical signal. Therefore, a pressure-operated clutch actuator is difficult to apply in these cases.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.