A home-control platform and architecture includes a plurality of serial buses that provide communications among processing devices that are connected to the home-control platform. A bus control unit is configured to allocate the buses among the devices that request communications services. The platform supports one or more control processors that provide an interface to legacy devices, user and network interfaces, browsers, and the like. The platform also accepts optional plug-in cards that perform as coprocessors for specific tasks, such as MPEG encoding and decoding, signal processing, video and audio CODECs, and so on. The software architecture employed to support this platform includes the use of a real-time microkernel Operating System (OS) at the control processors that interfaces with the task coprocessors, and interfaces with a standard OS, such as Vxworks, WinCE, or LINUX. The microkernel OS provides primitives for task memory and CPU space isolation, virus protection, and secure financial transaction services.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of computer systems, and in particular to a platform and architecture for providing a scalable home-control system and network.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional home-control systems are not inherently scalable. As advanced applications for multi-media, high-speed distributed Internet access, integrated applications, and the like, become commonplace, the conventional home-control systems are likely to be incapable of providing the bandwidth and flexibility required to fully support these applications.
A conventional PC architecture includes a bus structure for transferring data in parallel among a variety of functional boards. For example, the PCMCIA standard interface includes a 16 or 32 bit wide data interface, and a 26 bit wide address interface, plus various control lines. While one device is using the interface, other devices are effectively prevented from using the interface. Time division multiplexing is often used to provide the appearance of multiple simultaneous access to the interface, but if a particular transfer is time-sensitive, a time division multiplexing scheme may not provide a sufficient number of time-slots for the application. In like manner, if the use of a 24-bit word becomes commonplace in the future, the use of a 16 or 32 bit wide data interface can incur a substantial overhead inefficiency.
Conventional PC architectures also require a substantial investment in the particular interface protocol, including a substantial learning-curve to master each of the evolving standards. As such, the introduction of potentially more efficient processing technologies is often stymied by a reluctance to abandon the existing interface technologies. For example, the aforementioned 24-bit word structure may prove to be a very effective structure for RGB video applications, but the costs of adopting a corresponding 24-bit interfacing architecture may delay the adoption of this structure, particularly if a substantial investment of time or money has been made in the existing 16 or 32 bit standards. Thereafter, there will be a similar reluctance to change from this example 24-bit structure.
Similarly, conventional home-control architectures are designed to accommodate a variety of applications, some of which may have substantially different interfacing requirements. For example, a system that is designed exclusively for providing a home with distributed multimedia entertainment will have substantially different requirements than a system that is designed exclusively to provide the home with comfortable heating and air-conditioning. A conventional home-control architecture will typically be designed for the higher set of design requirements, and overdesigned for the devices having a lesser set of design requirements. When a next-generation set of devices become available, either the system will not be able to accommodate these devices, because the aforementioned higher set of requirements did not anticipate this new set of devices, or, the system will be able to accommodate the devices, thereby implying that the system had been overdesigned for the prior generation of devices.
Therefore, a need exists for a home-control platform and architecture that allows for changes in the future use of the home-control platform, without introducing a substantial design change to accommodate this future use, and without requiring a precise definition or estimation of what these future changes may entail. Such a home-control platform is characterized as a "scalable" home-control platform, having an architecture that is efficient for a wide range of applications.

Scalable home control platform and architecture


A contact center is described along with various methods and mechanisms for administering the same. The contact center proposed herein provides the ability to, among other things, establish and maintain a pool of idle agents so that when an outbound call attempt is successful, the agent which is assigned to the successful outbound call attempt can be selected from a plurality of agents based on the agent's superior efficiency rather than being based on the fact that the agent is the next in line to be assigned to such a contact.

In traditional contact centers, all agents in an outbound calling campaign are generally considered the same and will be delivered the next outbound call attempt which is successfully answered by a customer in the order that the agents becomes available. In more sophisticated contact centers, the agents may be ranked for outbound calls by skill level and/or idle time. This approach, however, does not optimize the matching of the skills and abilities of the agent with the unique needs of the person being called and, therefore, only achieves average results.
Meanwhile, outbound dialers are currently optimized to minimize idle time and outbound dialers are paced in order to attempt to perfectly synchronize the answering of outbound call attempts with the availability of agents to service those calls. Additional details of a contact center employing such a pacing function is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,035,927 to Flockhart et al., the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Existing outbound solutions are optimized for efficiency, but not for effectiveness or matching the compatibility of agent and customer. Existing outbound solutions also do not attempt to match dialed customers (e.g., customers of outbound contacts) with agents who are the best available to deal with the specific needs of the dialed customer.

Outbound effectiveness through management of idle agent pool


A semiconductor package is provided, including a package component and a number of conductive connectors. The package component has a number of conductive features on a surface of the package component. The conductive connectors are formed on the conductive features of the package component. The conductive features include a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature contacting a first conductive connector and a second conductive connector, respectively. The size of the first conductive feature is smaller than the size of the second conductive feature, and the height of the first conductive connector on the first conductive feature is greater than the height of the second conductive connector on the second conductive feature.

Modern integrated circuits are formed on semiconductor chips. To increase manufacturing throughput and lower manufacturing cost, the integrated circuits are manufactured in semiconductor wafers, each containing many identical semiconductor chips. After the integrated circuits are made, semiconductor chips are sawed from the wafers and packaged before they can be used.
In a typical packaging process, semiconductor chips (also referred to as semiconductor dies) are first attached to package substrates. This includes physically securing the semiconductor chips on the package substrates, and connecting conductive pads on the semiconductor chips to conductive pads on the package substrates. Underfill material, which typically comprises epoxy, is used to secure the packages. The semiconductor chips may be bonded using either flip-chip bonding or wire bonding. The packages are then bonded to printed circuit boards (PCBs) through ball grid array (BGA) balls. Although existing packaging techniques have been generally adequate for their intended purposes, they have not been entirely satisfactory in all respects.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Semiconductor package having varying conductive pad sizes

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD


A halogen-free resin composition includes (A) 100 parts by weight of epoxy resin; (B) 2 to 15 parts by weight of oxydianiline (ODA); and (C) 2 to 20 parts by weight of amino triazine novolac (ATN) resin. The halogen-free resin composition includes specific ingredients, and is characterized by specific proportions thereof, to thereby achieve a low dielectric constant, a low dielectric dissipation factor, high heat resistance, and high flame retardation, and thus is suitable for producing a prepreg or resin film to thereby be applicable to copper clad laminates and printed circuit boards.

To get in line with the global trend of environmental protection, and eco-friendly regulations, electronic product manufacturers nowadays are developing, and manufacturing halogen-free electronic products. Advanced countries, and electronic manufacturing giants set forth schedules of launching mass production of halogen-free electronic products. As a result of the promulgation of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) by the European Union, hazardous substances, such as lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, poly-brominated biphenyl (PBB), and poly-brominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), are strictly prohibited from being used in manufacturing electronic products or their parts, and components. A printed circuit board (PCB) is an indispensable, and fundamental basis of the semiconductor industry, and electronic industry; hence, printed circuit boards bore the brunt of international halogen-free regulations when international organizations set forth strict requirements of the halogen content of printed circuit boards. For example, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 6 1249-2-21 requires that bromide content, and chloride content shall be less than 900 ppm, and the total halogen content shall be less than 1500 ppm. The Japan Electronics Packaging, and Circuits Association (JPCA) requires that both bromide content, and chloride content shall be less than 900 ppm. To enforce its green policies, Greenpeace calls on manufacturers worldwide to get rid of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from their electronic products in order to conform with the lead-free, and halogen-free requirements of green electronics. Hence, the industrial sector nowadays is interested in rendering related materials halogen-free, and sees this technique as one of its key research topics.
Electronic products nowadays have the trend toward compactness, and high-frequency transmission; hence, circuit boards nowadays typically feature a high-density layout, and increasingly strict material requirements. To mount high-frequency electronic components on a circuit board, it is necessary that the substrate of the circuit board is made of a material of a low dielectric constant (Dk), and dielectric dissipation factor (Df) in order to maintain the transmission speed, and the integrity of a signal transmitted. To allow the electronic components to operate well at a high temperature, and a high-humidity environment, it is necessary for the circuit board to be heat resistant, fire resistant, and of low hygroscopicity. Epoxy resin is adhesive, heat resistant, and malleable, and thus is widely applicable to encapsulants, and copper clad laminates (CCL) of electronic components, and machinery. From the perspective of fire prevention, and safety, any applicable material is required to be capable of flame retardation. In general, epoxy resin is incapable of flame retardation, and thus epoxy resin has to acquire flame retardation capability by including a flame retardant therein. For example, a halogen, especially bromine, is included in epoxy resin to bring about flame retardation capability of epoxy resin, and enhance the reactivity of the epoxy group. Furthermore, when exposed to a high temperature for a long period of time, a halogen compound is likely to decompose, and thereby erode a fine circuit. Furthermore, combustion of discarded used electronic parts, and components produces hazardous compounds, such as halogen compounds, which are environmentally unfriendly. To find an alternative to the aforesaid halogen compound-based flame retardant, researchers attempt to use a phosphorous compound as a flame retardant, for example, adding phosphate ester (U.S. Pat. No. 6,440,567) or red phosphorus (EP 0763566) to an epoxy resin composition. However, phosphate ester undergoes hydrolysis readily to produce an acid, thereby compromising its tolerance to migration. Although red phosphorus is good at flame retardation, it falls into the category of hazardous compounds under the firefighting law, because it produces a trace of a flammable, toxic gas known as phosphine in a warm humid environment.
A conventional circuit board manufacturing method, such as a conventional method of manufacturing a copper-clad substrate (also known as copper clad laminate, CCL), involves heating, and combining a reinforcement material (such as a glass fiber fabric), and a thermosetting resin composition made of an epoxy resin, and a curing agent to form a prepreg, and then laminating the prepreg, and the upper, and lower copper foils together at a high temperature, and a high pressure. The prior art usually teaches using a thermosetting resin composed of an epoxy resin, and a hydroxyl-containing phenol novolac resin curing agent. Due to the combination of the phenol novolac resin, and the epoxy resin, epoxide ring-opening reactions end up with another hydroxyl which not only increases the dielectric constant (Dk), and the dielectric dissipation factor inherently, but also reacts with water readily, and thereby renders the thermosetting resin more hygroscopic.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,925 discloses a thermosetting resin composition composed of cyanate ester resin, dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) epoxy resin, silica, and a thermoplastic resin. The thermosetting resin composition is characterized by a low dielectric constant (Dk), and a low dielectric dissipation factor. However, a method for manufacturing the thermosetting resin composition of U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,925 requires the use of a halogen-containing (such as bromine-containing) flame retardant, such as tetrabromocyclohexane, hexabromocyclodecane, or 2,4,6-tris(tribromophenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine. However, the bromine-containing flame retardant causes environmental pollution readily during the thermosetting resin composition manufacturing process, the using processing of thermosetting resin composition, and even after the thermosetting resin composition has been discarded or recycled. To ensure a high heat resistance, high flame retardation, low dielectric dissipation factor, low hygroscopicity, high cross-linking density, high glass transition temperature, high connectivity, and appropriate thermal expansion of copper clad laminates, an important factor lies in the selection of an epoxy resin, a curing agent, and a reinforcement material.
Taiwan Published Patent Application 200817469 discloses a thermosetting resin composition that comprises an epoxy resin, a flame retardant, and a curing agent. The curing agent comprises dicyandiamide (DICY) and a low-temperature catalyst. Optionally, the curing agent further comprises aromatic amines, such as diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS). However, the aforesaid thermosetting resin composition uses both DICY and DDS as curing agent, takes long time to react with the epoxy resin in order to undergo a curing process, does not cure readily, and renders the resultant laminate overly hygroscopic.
US Published Patent No. 2011/0253433 A1 discloses an epoxy resin composition that comprises: (A) an epoxy resin; (B) a composite curing agent comprising amino triazine novolac (ATN) resin and DDS which are mixed at a specific proportion; (C) a curing accelerator; and (D) an inorganic filler. The epoxy resin composition comprises the ATN resin and thus is more effective in controlling the time taken to react with the epoxy resin in the curing process and more effective in reducing the hygroscopicity of the resultant laminates. Nonetheless, it is necessary for improvement in the dielectric properties of the resultant laminates.
The major considerations given to electrical properties include the dielectric constant (Dk), and the dielectric dissipation factor (Df). In general, the signal transmission speed of a copper-clad substrate is inversely proportional to the square root of the dielectric constant (Dk) of the material from which the copper-clad substrate is made, and thus the minimization of the dielectric constant (Dk) of the substrate material is usually advantageously important. The lower the dielectric dissipation factor (Df) is, the lesser the signal transmission loss is; hence, a material of a low dielectric dissipation factor provides satisfactory transmission quality.
Accordingly, it is important for printed circuit board material suppliers to develop materials of a low dielectric constant (Dk), and a low dielectric dissipation factor (Df), and apply the materials to high-frequency printed circuit board manufacturing.

Halogen-free resin composition, copper clad laminate using the same, and printed circuit board using the same

ELITE ELECTRONIC MATERIAL (ZHONGSHAN) CO., LTD


Disclosed is a planar light source device comprising a light generation device comprising at least two light-emitting elements; a light-mixing device for mixing a generated light from the light generation device to generate a mixed linear light; and a planar light generation device comprising a light-scattering portion for receiving the mixed light to generate a planar light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a planar light source device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Liquid crystal displays (LCD) or other flat display devices are non-self-illumination displays, wherein backlight modules are included for generating area light. The backlight modules can be categorized into two types: a top view type and a side view type. A prior art top view type backlight module of an LCD includes cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL), a diffuser, a prism sheet, etc. In order to uniformly distribute light for providing a proper planar light source for the LCD, distances between light sources and between light sources, the diffuser, and the prism sheet have to be controlled precisely to avoid the problem of non-uniform illumination. Besides the components of the above mentioned top view backlight module, a prior art side view backlight module of an LCD further includes a light guide plate for spreading light. However, it still cannot solve the problem of non-uniform illumination. Furthermore, the backlight modules of the two types are complicated and cause the problems of high manufacturing costs and complex assembly.
In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems, a side view light-emitting diode disclosed in TW Patent Publication No. 541726 includes a light-emitting diode package and a lens. The lens guides the light emitted from the LED package to become a planar side view light before the light guide plate guides the light. However, the side view light-emitting diode is still so complicated that the manufacture cost is still a problem.
A backlight module disclosed in TW Patent Publication No. 575722 includes a plurality of linear light sources (such as tubes), or a plurality of point light sources (such as light-emitting diodes), a light guide plate, and optical multiplayer films (such as diffusers and prism sheets). The light guide includes a plurality of grooves at the bottom thereof for accommodating the tubes and a plurality of cuts at the top thereof corresponding to the grooves for diffusing the light emitted from the tubes through the light guide plate by means of total internal reflection. However, the above mentioned backlight module can be utilized only for a monochromatic light source. If the white light for the backlight source is formed by mixing point light sources of different colors (e.g. red, green, and blue light-emitting diodes), the backlight source of the backlight module causes the problem of the non-uniform color mixing or a partially converging problem. Besides, the manufacture cost and the difficulty in assembly is still a problem.


Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to test stands for generating test runs on the basis of a test drive using a vehicle along a driving route. In some embodiments, a test stand determines at least one idle operating time of an internal combustion engine and/or at least one overrun operating time of the internal combustion engine from a time curve of a vehicle speed and a time curve of a gas pedal position. The test stand may further set a specified idle control mode instead of the operating control mode during an idle operating time and/or a specified overrun control mode is set instead of the operating control mode during an overrun operating time in the test stand automation unit in order to carry out the test run.

The present invention relates to a method for carrying out a test run on a test stand to simulate a test drive of a vehicle along a driving route, whereas an internal combustion engine being connected to a dynamometer on the test stand in order to carry out the test run, and both the internal combustion engine and the dynamometer being controlled by a test stand automation unit according to a set operating control mode by specifying setpoint values of the test run for the internal combustion engine and for the dynamometer. The invention further relates to a corresponding test stand.
In the development of internal combustion engines, drive trains having internal combustion engines and vehicles having internal combustion engines, checking the emission and consumption behavior of the internal combustion engine plays a central role. In all phases of development, the emission and consumption behavior of the internal combustion engine is checked on test stands, such as an engine test stand, drive-train test stand or roller test stand. However, the legal framework for this checking are currently changing significantly. Whilst previously mainly standardized driving cycles, such as the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), were used for this checking, checking under real driving conditions is now also required. For the emission behavior, Real Driving Emissions (RDE) tests are used, in which no specific driving cycle is specified, but a more or less random driving route is covered, which only has to correspond to certain defined conditions.
For the development of internal combustion engines, drive trains or vehicles on the test stand, it is therefore also desirable to carry out the checking on the test stand using real tests of this kind.
It is therefore necessary to record measured values of the test drive, such as GPS data, engine speed, gas pedal position, vehicle speed, etc., from real test drives using a vehicle on a real road. A test run for a test stand that is representative of the test drive then also has to be created from the recorded measured values, and can then be run through in whole or in part on the test stand, for example in order to record and evaluate the emission or consumption behavior of the internal combustion engine. Examples of this can be found in DE 10 2012 018 359 A1 or WO 2015/166069 A2.
The internal combustion engine is operated on the test stand according to the specifications of the test run, either alone (engine test stand) or in combination with other components (drive-train test stand, roller test stand). To carry out the test, the internal combustion engine on the test stand is connected, directly or indirectly, to a dynamometer, and the dynamometer and the internal combustion engine are controlled by a test stand automation unit according to the specifications of the test run. For example, the dynamometer can be connected directly to an internal combustion engine by means of a test stand shaft. To a drive train, for example indirectly by means of a driven wheel hub of a half-axle of the drive train, whereas on a drive train test stand a dynamometer is usually connected on both sides to the driven wheel hubs. On a roller test stand the dynamometer drives a roller on which a wheel of the vehicle rolls. This means that the dynamometer is also connected indirectly (by means of the roller) to the internal combustion engine on a roller test stand. The speed of the internal combustion engine (or of the drive train) is generally set by means of the dynamometer by the dynamometer generating a loading torque for the internal combustion engine. An engine torque is generally set using the internal combustion engine. For this purpose, gas pedal positions are usually specified for the engine control unit, which the engine control unit converts into engine control signals (injection amount, injection timing, EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) setting, ignition timing, etc.). As a test run, setpoint values for the engine speed and the engine torque or an equivalent variable, such as a gas pedal position, a drive train speed, etc., are therefore required in order to be able to carry out the test run on the test stand. These setpoint values, which are actually a time curve (also in the form of a discrete-time curve) of the setpoint values, have to be generated from the real test drive.
Various control modes can also be implemented on the test stand or in the test stand automation unit in order to carry out the test run. If the gas pedal position is specified directly as the setpoint value, reference is usually made to N/α control (N for the speed and a for the gas pedal position). If, on the other hand, torques are specified, reference is usually made to N/T control (N for the speed and T for the torque). In this control mode, an actual torque of the internal combustion engine also has to be recorded in order to determine a gas pedal position from the deviation of the actual torque from the specified torque, which position is required to compensate for the deviation and which in turn can then be specified for the engine control unit (ECU). For this purpose, a suitable controller is generally also implemented in the test stand automation unit, which controller carries out this process. In addition, other setpoint values that are suitable for carrying out a test run can also be specified. Other setpoint values of this kind are preferably variables that are equivalent to a torque or a gas pedal position, or from which a torque or a gas pedal position can be derived. Examples of this are the injection amount or the cylinder mean effective pressure, and the ECU engine torque. In this case, reference is usually made to N/x control (N for the speed and x for the other controlled variable). In the same way, there can also be T/N, T/α or T/x control on the test stand, whereas the torque is set using the dynamometer. The control mode to be used is specified or selected by the test stand driver in order to carry out the test run on the test stand.
Since test stand times are expensive, the test stand capacity is usually limited and since test stand tests are complex, it is a general goal to simplify carrying out the test runs.

Test stand and method for carrying out a test


An OLED display and a driving method of an inspection circuit are provided. The OLED display may include a data driver, a scan driver, a driving transistor, a switching transistor, an organic light emitting diode, and an inspection circuit. The data driver and scan driver may apply a data signal and a scan signal. The driving transistor may generate a current corresponding to a voltage supplied to a first electrode and a control electrode. The switching transistor may apply the data signal to the driving transistor. The organic light emitting diode may be electrically connected to the driving transistor. The inspection circuit may include a three-phase inverter circuit having an input and an output terminal. The input terminal may supply a first power voltage to the output terminal when the output terminal decides an output signal regardless of a signal input to the input terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, an inspection circuit of an OLED display, and a driving method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of the electronics industry and the increase in the amount of information, there has been much research in active progress for developing a large screen display. Flat panel displays providing a large screen and low power consumption have been introduced to address these issues. Examples thereof include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), and an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display. Particularly, OLED displays have been receiving attention as a flat panel display that can be made extremely thin, lightweight and having superior color reproducibility. An OLED display may have various additional advantages, e.g., a faster response speed than an LCD, superior luminance due to its self emission, a simple structure, and an easy manufacturing process. Therefore, the OLED display can be used for various products, e.g., a backlight, a portable terminal, a GPS system, a laptop computer, and a large screen TV.
Generally, in an OLED display, a first line extending in a first direction for receiving a scan signal and a light emission control signal may be disposed around an organic light emitting diode, a second line extending in a second direction for applying a data signal may be disposed to cross the first line, and a pixel may be disposed at an intersection between the first and second lines. Since such an OLED display may be manufactured through a plurality of manufacturing processes, the manufacturing cost thereof may increase and the reliability may be degraded according to defects caused during the manufacturing processes.
A conventional method of inspecting a sheet having a plurality of cells may generate a defect at a scan line as a result of interference between adjacent cells, and may induce malfunctions of turning on/off adjacent cells because of a voltage drop caused by leakage current. However, this method cannot measure the power consumption of a scan driver in a sheet unit before scribing.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Organic light emitting display and driving method of inspection circuit of organic light emitting display


A timing circuit 10 that can be used to control the flow of fluid according to a specific time period that is allotted for each user includes a initialization circuit 30, a reset counter circuit 32, a flow time counter circuit 38, and a clock circuit 40. The timing circuit 10 accepts a DETECT* input signal, that indicates the presence of a user, and provides a DRIVE output signal that indicates when fluid shall be permitted to flow. The flow time counter circuit 38 is user configurable to provide a maximum flow time period while the DETECT* signal is active. The reset counter circuit 32 ensures that each user is provided with his or her maximum flow time period by introducing a system reset time between consecutive users and by allowing a user to remove him or her self from being detected, thus placing the DETECT* signal in an inactive state and subsequently inactivating the DRIVE signal, for certain periods of time without forfeiting any of his or her allotted maximum flow time period. The initialization circuit 30 provides the user with an initial controlled time period of fluid flow, if desired.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic timing circuits and, more particularly, to an electronic timing circuit that can be used to control a time period of fluid flow in residential and commercial showers, and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of electronic circuits to control fluid flow in showers, faucets, commodes, and urinals is well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,575,640, 4,823,414, 4,682,628, 4,984,314, and 4,651,777 all address various methods of employing electronic circuitry for controlling the flow of fluids in at least one of the previously stated types of washroom related fixtures. A brief description of these prior art devices is now given.
Ishikawa, U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,640, discloses an automatic water supply system that includes a capacity sensitive antenna for detecting the presence of a user. With the presence of a user detected, the antenna produces an active valve actuator signal that controls an electromagnetic valve to turn on a flow of water into a sink or urinal. A timer circuit and a delay circuit are included to shut off the water flow after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. A compensating circuit is included to determine the presence of an actual user, as opposed to an inanimate object or other unwanted capacity affecting phenomenon, and thus allows further water flow after a time-out has occurred and a user is still present.
Piersimoni, U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,414, teaches an automatically controlled faucet system wherein a light source and light sensor are used to sense the presence of a user, or object, under a faucet. Electronic circuitry is used to turn on and turn off a flow of fluid from the faucet in response to the presence and non-presence of a user, respectively, and also to terminate the flow of fluid from the faucet after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Further fluid flow from the faucet is allowed after a time-out has occurred by simply having the user, or object, exit the sensing area under the faucet and then subsequently reenter.
Hill, U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,628, discloses a faucet system that includes an LED and a photo-detector which act together to detect the presence of a user, or object, in the vicinity of a faucet. When a user is detected, a solenoid drive circuit is triggered thereby permitting a flow of water from the faucet. A timer circuit is triggered along with the solenoid drive circuit so as to limit the time period of water flow. The timer circuit also prevents the solenoid drive circuit from permitting further water flow from the faucet until the user, or object, exits from the detection vicinity and then subsequently reenters.
Hardman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,777, discloses a water supply control system that includes a microphonic circuit which responds to audio signals. The microphonic circuit converts these audio signals into electrical signals that control a solenoid driven water valve assembly. Thus, water flow is controlled by sounds generated by or related to a user.
Lastly, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,314, Weigert, the inventor of the present invention, teaches an automatic fluid-flow control system that is configurable to be used in conjunction with faucets, commodes, urinals, and showers. In all cases, a light emitting device cooperates with a light sensor to detect light reflected from a user. A filtered and amplified output signal from the sensor is demodulated to provide a DC output signal that is used to control the flow of fluid in a manner appropriate to the particular configuration. As with several of the previously described prior art devices, a timer circuit prevents the flow of fluid after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and further fluid flow is obtained by having the user exit and then subsequently reenter the light reflecting region.
Although all of the above-mentioned prior art devices perform certain desired functions in the context of controlling the flow of fluids, none address the situation where a specific time period of fluid flow is allotted for each user. Such a situation is desirable for reasons of fluid conservation and of overall fairness when a number of users are present. It is therefore desirable to overcome the shortcomings of the above-mentioned prior art devices in this area, while providing a simple, low cost, reliable, and highly accurate circuit that can be used to control the flow of fluid according to a specific time period that is allotted for each user.

Time period configurable fluid flow control circuit


A system and method for personal fatigue risk management, performed using a smartwatch including a digital processor, associated memory, and an accelerometer for measuring acceleration in X, Y, and Z axes. A signal is received from the accelerometer indicating a movement of the smartwatch, and the value of the signal is stored in association with indicia of the time at which the signal was received in a time-stamped bin. The stored movement values are analyzed using a state algorithm to determine sleep, wake, and off-wrist state values. Fatigue risk values are determined from the sleep and wake state values, using a state algorithm. The probable relative risk of errors and incidents as compared to average risk, for the wearer of the watch, are then calculated. A warning is issued when the fatigue risk data indicates that one of the thresholds has been exceeded.

Fatigue risk management is critical to employee safety, health and productivity in continuous operations where people work extended hours on rotating or night shifts. However, employees (and their managers) often lose track of how much sleep debt they are accumulating and how fatigue-impaired they are, and they often do not know what they should do to mitigate this risk. Without this vital information, fatigue may become uncontrolled, increasing the rate of errors, accidents and injuries, and impairing employee productivity and effective decision-making.

Personal fatigue risk management system and method


A method for impregnating a plastic product with a hard wear-resistant material surface layer comprises providing a support plate having a desired shape and further having an adhesive layer on at least a portion thereof; introducing a plurality of particles comprising a hard wear-resistant material onto the adhesive layer; curing the adhesive so as to anchor the particles onto the support plate; placing the support plate into a mold cavity; introducing a polymer material into the cavity; exposing the sheet and polymer material to conditions effective to provide a polymer product having a hard wear-resistant material surface layer therein; cooling the mold and removing the support sheet therefrom. In a preferred embodiment, a regular pattern of particles is provided by providing a mesh plate having a desired pattern of holes set for predetermined size of wear-resistant particles; spreading the particles onto the mesh plate so as to provide a particle in substantially all of the holes; and transferring the pattern of particles onto the adhesive layer so as to minimize contact with the adhesive. The polymer material employed in the present invention can be a polymer powder, a liquified polymer or a two part adhesive mixture which reacts to form a thermoset polymer product.

The present invention relates to a process for the impregnation of a plastic product and particularly a polymer plastic product with a surface comprising a hard wear-resistant material.
A number of techniques are known for attempting to provide improved wear-resistance to a polymer plastic product. However, these techniques involve mixing the polymer with hard phases and using such a mixture to form a composite which has the hard phases present throughout its volume.
Thus the need still exists for a method for providing hard phases at those points of the product most required to resist wear as well as strengthen or reinforce these materials, i.e., the surface of the product.
A wide variety of techniques are known for the impregnation of metals e.g., iron with hard wear-resistant surfaces, e.g., carbides. For example, carbide particles can be placed in a mold in molten iron then cast as discussed for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,459 to Ekmar et al. In addition, certain cast on hard surfacing techniques for use with polystyrene patterns are also recognized in the art. See, for example, the discussion in Hanson et al, "Application of Cast-on Ferrochrome Based Hard Surfacing to Polystyrene Pattern Castings", Bureau of Mine reports of investigations 8942, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1985.
The inventor of the present invention has also been heavily involved in the invention of other processes which attempt to more effectively impregnate the surface of a metal, e.g., iron, with carbides during the casting process. For example, attention is directed towards U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,878 which relates to the carbide impregnation of cast iron using evaporative pattern castings (EPC) as well as U.S. application Ser. Nos. 564,184 and 564,185 which relate to the impregnation of cast iron and aluminum alloy castings with carbides using sand cores.
However, such techniques have not previously been employed with polymer plastic materials.

Method for forming a polymeric plastic product having a hard wear-resistant surface


A process for recovering metals such as Ni, Co, Mn, Cu, Zn, among others, through precipitation as sulphides, enabling recovery of magnesium in the form of hydroxide, carbonate and oxide and providing recovery of sulphate as gypsum and ammonium sulphate. Liquid phase, after full treatment, comprises recovered water with a quality proper for total reuse in industrial process.

The present invention refers to a process for treatment of liquid and solid effluents allowing recovering metals through precipitation of co-sulphide, enabling magnesium recovery and providing sulphate recovery as gypsum and ammonium sulphate.
The main objectives of any method for treatment of liquid and solid effluent are (i) neutralize and fit them in a proper manner to be launched and returned to environment and (ii) obtain recyclable byproducts to be reused in the manner of a captive consumption and/or via commercialization to third parties.
In utilization of lateritic and nickeliferous ores, several factors affect nickel production process by hydrometallurgical route and high pressure acid leaching (HPAL), namely:                Geological origin of beds;        Ore mineralogical composition;        Ore granulometric distribution;        Processing operation conditions;        Configuration of ore preparation, leaching, precipitation, solvent extraction and electro-refining systems.
High pressure acid leaching (HPAL) is recommended for predominantly limonitic ores presenting low contents of magnesium—usually limited to 4% at most—once ores bearing high contents of magnesium present a high consumption of sulphuric acid.
Processes used to produce nickel by known routes, such as HPAL, as illustrated in FIG. 1, essentially comprises the following steps: (i) preparation of nickel lateritic ore, (ii) nickel leaching under pressure with sulphuric acid, (iii) nickel precipitation, (iv) re-leaching, (v) nickel solvent-extraction and (vi) electro-refining for production of cathode nickel (metallic nickel with 99.95% purity). In view of the significant presence of cobalt in ore, the same is will be obtained as a coproduct, also in metallic form.
This technology is the most indicated process to extract nickel and cobalt from limonitic laterites due to the following advantages:                limonitic laterites present low magnesium contents and, therefore, a low consumption of sulphuric acid;        Low operating cost due to low cost of sulphuric acid and low specific consumption thereof;        No drying or reduction stage is required, as raw laterite (Run Of Mine—ROM) is used in suspension form;        High selectivity to relevant metals;        Sulphur dioxide emissions below environmental standards;        Recovery rates above 90% for nickel and cobalt contained in the ore.
Leaching under pressure is usually performed in titanium-coated autoclaves, in temperatures ranging from 463 to 518° F. (245 to 270° C.). In this process, autoclave feed suspension contains approximately 40-45% solids, when previously heated with steam. In some ores, due to nature of argillaceous ore which are present, this concentration may be limited up to 25% to 30%. Thickening level of the suspension has a significant influence in autoclave capacity, which constitutes an equipment with a high capital cost. Leaching mechanism involves acid dissolution in high temperature of nickel and cobalt contained in the host ore matrix. In these conditions, iron dissolution of these ores occur, followed by formation of sulphates, which in high temperature conditions react with water to form hematite, thereby regenerating sulphuric acid:2FeOOH+H2SO4=Fe2(SO4)3+4H2OFe2Si4O10(OH)2+3H2SO4=Fe2(SO4)3+4SiO2+4H2OFe2(SO4)3+2H2O=2Fe(OH)SO4+H2SO4 2Fe(OH)SO4+H2O=Fe2O3+2H2SO4
Extraction levels of this process reach values from 92% to 96% for nickel and 90 to 92% for cobalt. Normally, in order to obtain this degree of extraction, reaction suspension after chemical attack should present a residual free acid concentration between 30 and 50 g/l.
After leaching, autoclave-derived suspension is depressurized and cooled in expansion chambers (flash vessels), at approximately 212° F. (100° C.), the remaining solids being separated from liquid phase. Solid-liquid separation is performed in decanters operating in countercurrent (CCD), generating a liquor laden with nickel, cobalt, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, iron and other metals sulphates. Then, nickel and cobalt present in the liquor are precipitated in the manner of sulphides (by using H2S), carbonates (by using ammonium carbonate) or as hydroxides, by using magnesia—MgO. These intermediate products usually present contents of 55% (Ni+Co) for sulphides (MSP—Mixed Sulphide Precipitate) and 40 to 45% (Ni+Co) in case of hydroxides (MHP—Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate). Recovery of these metals is also possible through solvent extraction directly applied to liquor derived from decantation system. It should be noted that MSP process enables to obtain a product with a higher contents of valuable metals and a lower level of contamination by manganese, magnesium and sulphates. However, production by MSP route involves a high capital cost for auxiliary facilities, once hydrogen and hydrogen sulphite units are necessary, requiring sophisticated security and handling systems for these products.
In the next step—refining—intermediate products (sulphites or nickel and cobalt hydroxide) are re-leached and so, dissolved, they are submitted to purification treatments, such as (i) solvent extraction for nickel and cobalt separation and (ii) electrolysis (electro-refining) aiming to reach higher degrees of purity.
In nickel production process by HPAL route from ore containing silicate and magnesium carbonate, generation of liquid effluent in proportions from 250 to 400 m3/kg of Ni produced takes place, containing essentially magnesium and sulphate, and in a small quantity, cobalt, zinc, manganese, nickel, iron, chromium, among other elements. Table 1 presents chemical composition of the effluent to be treated and shows the significant sulphate and magnesium contents.
TABLE 1Composition of effluent to be treatedComponentsUnit.ContentsNippm2.00Coppm6.00Znppm0.90Mnppm40.00Feppm10.00Crg/l3.45Mgg/l18.00SO4g/l75.00NH3g/L0.50pH7.5
Effluents treatment process has being exhaustively used to avoid sending-off noxious waste in the environment. Most part of the final product of the effluents treatment has being discharged when it could be reused in the main process or for any other situation in many field. In this sense, U.S. Pat. No. 6,861,041 refers to a method for treating and upgrading effluents containing at least a metallic sulphate. This method comprises steps which consist in: adding at least a base to the effluent to precipitate the metallic ions in the form of metallic hydroxides Mea(OH)e; separating the precipitated hydroxide calcium sulphate CaSO4; and separating the calcium sulphate CaSO4 precipitated during the preceding step. Said method enables to obtain calcium sulphate (white gypsum) substantially free of metals and therefore capable of being upgrade and metallic oxy-hydroxides likewise capable of being upgraded. Even though this process allows removing metallic sulphate from the effluent, the final product of the treatment, the sulphate, is not reused.
Further, GB patent 1346524 discloses a treatment of polluted water that comprises mixing the water with one or more of sulphuric acid, nitric acid and hydrochloric acid to lower the pH of the water to at least 2.5, maintaining this pH for a time sufficient to destroy bacteria present, then bringing the mixture into contact with an acid soluble form of iron for a time sufficient for the iron to react with part of the acid and then raising the pH of the mixture to 7 by the addition of an alkaline solution. During the contact with the acid soluble form of iron, at least one salt selected from the sulphates and nitrates of iron and aluminium, may be present. The mixture of acid and water is preferably contacted with at least 3.2 sq. ft. (0.3 m2) of iron per gallon per minute of acid and water mixture; Ammonium, sodium and potassium hydroxides are suitable alkaline solutions for use in the neutralization step.

Liquid and solid effluent treatment process

Abstract: This process of liquid and solid effluent treatment is provided with flexibility to process several types of effluents presenting wide variations in their chemical composition. The main steps of this process are: (1) equalization of liquid effluent, (2) precipitation of metals as sulphides, (3) oxidation of metallic sulphides and crystallization as metallic sulphates, (4) precipitation of magnesium as hydroxide and calcination thereof into magnesium oxide (5) recovery of ammonia, (6) preconcentration of the remaining saline solution, (7) evaporation/crystallization of ammonium sulphate, (8) storage of recovered water, (9) partial or total precipitation of sulphate contained in the effluent with quicklime, (10) segregated storage of gypsum and gypsum-magnesium mixture, (11) softening of the remaining solution and (12) storage of softening water.


A system for aligning a laser beam with the end of an optical fiber includes optics for focusing the laser beam toward the end of the optical fiber. A plurality of light receptors are positioned around the end of the optical fiber and, as intended for the present invention, each light receptor generates a light signal which is indicative of the light intensity from the laser beam that is incident on it. Connected with this plurality of light sensors is a comparator which creates an error signal that is proportional to a difference between selected light signals from the light receptors. The laser beam can then be moved relative to the end of the optical fiber in response to the error signal to align the laser beam with the end of the optical fiber. When alignment is achieved, the light signals will be substantially equal to each other and the error signal will be a null.

The present invention pertains generally to light beam alignment systems. More particularly, the present invention pertains to systems for focusing a laser beam to a predetermined specific point in space. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful for aligning the focal point of a laser beam with the end of an optical fiber.
As is well known, an optical fiber is an elongated ultra-pure glass fiber that includes a central core and has an outer cladding which completely surrounds the core along the length of the fiber. Importantly, the central core has a higher refractive index than its outer cladding and the optical fiber is, therefore, capable of conducting modulated light signals from one end of the fiber to the other by total internal reflection.
Optical fibers can be generally categorized as either single mode or multimode fibers. More specifically, for single mode optical fibers, the diameter of the inner core is comparable with the wavelength of the light that is being propagated. Consequently, there is only one mode of light propagation through the fiber. Multimode fibers, on the other hand, have a core diameter sufficiently larger than the wavelength of light to allow propagation of light energy in a large number of different modes. Still, in order to avoid mode dispersion and the resultant distortion of signals, the core size of an optical fiber has dimensional limitations. The consequence of all this is that optical fibers, when used for communications purposes, will typically have relatively small diameters, e.g. approximately fifty microns (50 xcexcm). While such small diameters may be advantageous for many applications, small diameters also raise issues about how best to direct light from a light source into the optical fiber for subsequent transmission through the fiber.
In order to effectively use optical fibers in communications systems it is essential there be some ability to optically interconnect the optical fiber with the light source. Heretofore, this has typically been accomplished by mechanical means. Specifically, by establishing a mechanical link between the light source and the optical fiber, it has been possible to be reasonably assured that light from the light source will enter the optical fiber. The situation changes, however, when it is necessary to establish an optical link between a light source and an optical fiber across free space. Further, the difficulty in establishing such a free space link is compounded as the distance between the light source and the optical fiber is increased. Nevertheless, there are applications wherein it may be desirable to establish a laser (light) communications link across a free space distance that may be as much as five hundred meters, or more.
In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for aligning a laser beam with the end of an optical fiber which is capable of directing a focused laser beam onto the inner core of an optical fiber. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for aligning a laser beam with the end of an optical fiber which will effectively establish a laser communications link across free space through a distance in excess of several hundred meters. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for aligning a laser beam with the end of an optical fiber that is simple to use, relatively easy to implement, and comparatively cost effective.
A system for aligning a laser beam with the target end of an optical fiber includes optics which will focus or direct the laser beam toward the fiber""s target end. A plurality of three or more light receptors are positioned to surround the end of the optical fiber and they are, preferably, coplanar with the end of the optical fiber. Importantly, each of the light receptors is capable of generating a light signal that is indicative of the intensity of the portion of the laser beam that is incident on the particular light receptor. For the purposes of the present invention, the light receptors can be tracking optical fibers which are juxtaposed with the target optical fiber.
For the system of the present invention, a comparator is electronically connected with each of the light sensors and is used for creating an error signal. Specifically, the error signal that is generated by the comparator is proportional to a difference between selected light signals as they are generated by the light receptors. Using standard feedback control techniques, this error signal can then be used for moving the laser beam relative to the end of the optical fiber in response to the error signal. With this controlled movement, the system is able to align the laser beam with the end of the optical fiber.
By way of example, consider a system using four light receptors which are arranged around the target end of the optical fiber in diametrically opposed pairs. Within this arrangement, all four of the light receptors and the end of the optical fiber will be located in an x-y plane. Specifically, one pair of receptors will be aligned along an x-axis, while the other pair is aligned along a y-axis. The optics of the system can then be used to locate the focal point of the laser beam in this x-y plane (i.e. the laser beam is focused onto the x-y plane in three dimensional space so that z=0). With the laser beam focal point in the x-y plane, one pair of light receptors can then be used by the comparator to position the end of the optical fiber relative to the laser beam in the x direction (i.e. x=0), while the other pair of light receptors can be used to position the end of the optical fiber relative to the laser beam in the y direction (i.e. y=0). As indicated above, this is accomplished using the error signal. More specifically, when the light signals from the pair of light receptors on the x-axis are equal, the laser beam will be centered in the x direction. Likewise, when the light signals from the pair of light receptors on the y-axis are equal, the laser beam will be centered in the y direction. Stated differently, the error signal will be a null when all of the light signals from the respective light receptors are substantially equal to each other.
Movement of the target end of the optical fiber relative to the laser beam, in order to obtain a null error signal, can be accomplished in any of several ways. First, the optical fiber itself can be moved relative to the optical system focusing the laser beam. Second, the optical fiber and the focusing optics can be mounted on a base, and the base can be moved. Third, the system""s focusing optics can be mounted on the base along with the optical fiber and the optics can include a plurality of mirrors, of which one is a secondary mirror. For this configuration the secondary mirror can be moved until the error signal is null.
In a refinement for the system of the present invention, the optics used for directing the laser beam toward the end of the target optical fiber can be configured to profile the laser beam. For the purposes of the present invention, the laser beam needs to be profiled with a high-intensity region and a low-intensity region. Specifically, the high-intensity region will be centrally located in the laser beam and the low-intensity region will be peripherally located in the laser beam to surround the high-intensity region. Importantly, the low-intensity region of the profiled laser beam must have sufficient intensity to generate the light signals that are required from the light receptors for generating the error signal.

Systems and methods for aligning a laser beam with an optical fiber


A biosensor system determines the presence and/or concentration of an analyte in a sample using one or more calibrated correlation equations. The analysis may be electrochemical, optical, or a combination thereof. The biosensor system may be implemented using a measurement device and a sensor strip. The measurement device applies test signals to a multi-layered encoding area of the sensor strip. Calibration information is determined from the patterns generated by the interaction of the test signals with the multi-layered encoding area.

Biosensors provide an analysis of a biological fluid, such as whole blood, serum, plasma, urine, saliva, interstitial, or intracellular fluid. Typically, biosensors have a measurement device that analyzes a sample residing in a sensor strip. The sample is typically in liquid form and in addition to being a biological fluid, may be the derivative of a biological fluid, such as an extract, a dilution, a filtrate, or a reconstituted precipitate. The analysis performed by the biosensor determines the presence and/or concentration of one or more analytes, such as alcohol, glucose, uric acid, lactate, cholesterol, bilirubin, free fatty acids, triglycerides, proteins, ketones, phenylalanine or enzymes, in the biological fluid. The analysis may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of physiological abnormalities. For example, a diabetic individual may use a biosensor to determine the glucose level in whole blood for adjustments to diet and/or medication.
Biosensors may be designed to analyze one or more analytes and may use different sample volumes. Some biosensors may analyze a single drop of whole blood, such as from 0.25-15 microliters (μL) in volume. Biosensors may be implemented using bench-top, portable, and like measurement devices. Portable measurement devices may be hand-held and allow for the identification and/or quantification of one or more analytes in a sample. Examples of portable measurement devices include the Ascensia Breeze® and Elite® meters of Bayer HealthCare in Tarrytown, N.Y., while examples of bench-top measurement devices include the Electrochemical Workstation available from CH Instruments in Austin, Tex. Biosensors providing shorter analysis times, while supplying the desired accuracy and/or precision, provide a substantial benefit to the user.
Biosensors may be adapted for use outside, in contact with, inside, or partially inside a living organism. When used outside a living organism, a sample of the biological fluid is introduced into a sample reservoir in the sensor strip. The sensor strip may be placed in the measurement device before, after, or during the introduction of the sample for analysis. When in contact with the living organism, the sensor strip may be attached to the skin where fluid communication is established between the organism and the strip. When inside or partially inside a living organism, the sensor strip may be continually immersed in the fluid or the fluid may be intermittently introduced to the strip for analysis. The sensor strip may include a reservoir that partially isolates a volume of the fluid or be open to the fluid. When in contact with, partially inside, or inside a living organism, the measurement device may be connected to the sensor strip with wires or wirelessly, such as by RF, light-based, magnetic, or other communication techniques.
Biosensors may use optical and/or electrochemical methods to analyze the sample. In some optical systems, the analyte concentration is determined by measuring light that has interacted with a light-identifiable species, such as the analyte or a reaction or product formed from a chemical indicator reacting with the analyte redox reaction. In other optical systems, a chemical indicator fluoresces or emits light in response to the analyte redox reaction when illuminated by an excitation beam. In either optical system, the biosensor measures and correlates the light with the analyte concentration of the biological sample.
In electrochemical methods, the analyte concentration is determined from an electrical signal generated by an oxidation/reduction or redox reaction of the analyte when an input signal is applied to the sample. The electrical signal may be a current (as generated by amperometry), a potential (as generated by voltammetry or potentiometry), or an accumulated charge (as generated by coulometry). An enzyme or similar species may be added to the sample to enhance the redox reaction. The input signal may be a current or potential. In electrochemical methods, the biosensor measures and correlates the electrical signal with the concentration of the analyte in the biological fluid.
In electrochemical biosensors, the measurement device usually has electrical contacts that connect with electrical conductors in the sensor strip. The conductors are formed from an electrically conductive material, such as solid metals, metal pastes, conductive carbon, conductive carbon pastes, conductive polymers, and the like. The electrical conductors typically connect to working, counter, and/or other electrodes that extend into a sample reservoir. The measurement device applies the input signal through the electrical contacts to the electrical conductors of the sensor strip. The electrical conductors convey the input signal through the electrodes into the sample present in the sample reservoir. The redox reaction of the analyte generates an electrical signal in response to the input signal. The measurement device determines the analyte concentration in response to the electrical signal.
Sensor strips may have an encoding area that provides coding information to the measurement device. The measurement device may use the coding information to adjust the analysis of the biological fluid in response to one or more parameters, such as the identification information indicating the type of sensor strip, the type of biological fluid, the particular analyte(s), the manufacturing lot of the sensor strip, and the like. The encoding area may be a separate component or may be partially or fully integrated with other components on the sensor strip. The coding information may indicate the correlation equation to use, changes to the correlation equation, or the like.
Correlation equations are mathematical representations of the relationship between the electrical signal and the analyte in an electrochemical biosensor or between light and the analyte in an optical biosensor. Correlation equations may be implemented to manipulate the electrical signal or light for determination of the analyte concentration. Correlation equations also may be implemented as a program number assignment (PNA) table of slopes and intercepts for the correlation equations, another look-up table, or the like. The measurement device uses the coding information to adjust the analysis of the biological fluid.
Coding information may be obtained from the encoding area either electrically or optically. Some encoding areas may be read only electrically or only optically. Other encoding areas may be read electrically and optically. Electrical encoding areas usually have one or more electrical circuits with multiple contacts or pads. The measurement device may have one or more conductors that connect with each contact on the encoding area of the sensor strip. Typically, the measurement device applies an electrical signal through one or more of the conductors to one or more of the contacts on the encoding area. The measurement device measures the output signal from one or more of the contacts. The measurement device may determine the coding information from the absence or presence of output signals from the contacts on the encoding area. The measurement device may determine the coding information from the electrical resistance of the output signals from the contacts on the encoding area.
In some electrical encoding areas, the measurement device determines the coding information from the absence or presence of different contacts. If the measurement device measures an output signal from the location of a contact, then the measurement device presumes a contact is present. If the measurement device does not measure an output signal, then the measurement device presumes a contact is absent.
In other electrical encoding areas, the measurement device determines the coding information from the resistance of the electrical output signal from the contact. Typically, the amount of conductive material associated with each contact varies, thus changing the electrical resistance. The length and thickness of the connection between the contacts and the electrical circuit also may be varied to alter the resistance.
Accordingly, there is an ongoing need for improved biosensors, especially those that may provide increasingly accurate and/or precise analyte concentration measurements. The systems, devices, and methods of the present invention overcome at least one of the disadvantages associated with encoding areas used in biosensors.

Multi-layered biosensor encoding systems


Systems and methods that allow for weight and size reduction of electronics components, such as transformer rectifier units (TRUs) or autotransformer rectifier units (ATRUs), by providing a fluid cooling system is utilized to provide high heat dissipation for a transformer assembly of TRUs or ATRUs by providing a thermal interface at the windings of the transformer assembly, which are the hottest spots in such assemblies. The cooling system may include a fluid-cooled winding heat sink element or “finger,” which may be a thermally conductive bar (e.g., aluminum, copper) having microchannels therein positioned between the core and windings of a transformer or between turns of the windings of a transformer. Fluid passes through the microchannels of the heat sink element to provide direct cooling to the heat generating windings of the transformers. The heat sink element may be produced by an additive manufacturing technology.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to systems, methods and articles for cooling components.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern aircraft include generators that generate power during flight and provide the generated power to onboard aircraft electric power systems. The generators utilize rotation of the aircraft engine to generate AC power using various power generation techniques. Power generated in this manner may be 230V 400 Hz AC power, for example. While the aircraft is on ground, aircraft engines can be turned off, the onboard generator ceases generating power, and the onboard electric system instead may receive AC power from a ground cart. Power provided from the ground cart may be 115V 400 Hz AC power, for example.
While the power sources provide AC power, aircraft components often require DC power instead of AC power. AC-DC power conversion may be accomplished with a plurality of diode pairs, where each pair is connected to a different phase of the AC input, to provide a rectified DC output. However, this type of AC-DC conversion may lead to substantial current harmonics that pollute the electric power generation and distribution system. To reduce current harmonics, multi-phase autotransformers may be employed to increase the number of AC phases supplied to the rectifier unit. For example, in an 18-pulse passive AC-DC converter, the autotransformer is used to transform three-phase AC input, whose phases are spaced at 120°, into a system with nine phases spaced at 40°. This has the effect of reducing the harmonics associated with the AC-DC conversion.
A transformer typically includes windings of electrically conductive material such as wire. The windings are spaced sufficiently close together such that an electrical current flow through one winding will induce an electrical current to flow in another winding when connected to a load. Windings through which current is driven are typically denominated as primary windings, while windings in which current is induced are typically denominated as secondary windings. The transformer also may include a core, for example a magnetic or ferrous core around which the windings are wrapped.
A rectifier typically includes a plurality of diodes or thyristors configured to convert an AC signal to a DC signal. For example, a full-bridge rectifier may be employed to convert an AC signal to a DC signal. Additional devices may be employed to provide power conditioning, such as inter-phase transformers, balancing inductors, inter-phase reactors, filters, etc.
In many applications, transformer size and/or weight are important factors in realizing a practical and/or commercially successful device. For example, power converters for use in avionics typically must be lightweight and may need to occupy a small volume. Such applications, however, typically require high performance, such as high-current, low noise power conversion. Many applications may additionally, or alternatively, require low-cost power converters. Cost may be dictated by a number of factors including type of materials, amount of materials, and/or complexity of manufacture, among other factors.
Many electromagnetic devices or components generate heat during use and require cooling to keep the temperature of the device or surrounding environment sufficiently low. Certain devices, including transformers and inductors, include current carrying windings that generate a large amount of heat that needs to be dissipated. However, because the windings are often tightly wound and may be coated with an insulating material, heat generated internally must either transfer across several layers of insulation, travel through the core material (which may exhibit poor thermal conductivity) or travel along a winding conductive path and into the wiring or bussing connected to the device. None of these heat flow paths is particularly efficient.
Heat dissipation becomes increasingly important when electromagnetic devices operate at high power levels. High temperatures generated by these devices limit the power levels at which the devices can operate. Such temperature limits thus may also adversely affect the volumetric and weight performance of equipment incorporating the electromagnetic devices. This is especially true in high power density equipment operating in high ambient temperature or in applications where active cooling may be required, such as in aerospace applications. Heat sinks are known for cooling electronic equipment, but are generally only useful for removing heat from exposed surfaces of an electromagnetic device.

Transformer-based power converters with 3D printed microchannel heat sink


Methods and compositions for treating a mental condition in a subject in need thereof, includes administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a CDD-102A compound [5-(3-ethyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine], or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof.

There is no admission that the background art disclosed in this section legally constitutes prior art.
Although a number of treatments are available to treat the symptoms of mental disorders, relatively few efforts have focused on developing compounds that can improve cognitive function. While recent advances have been made in the understanding of the cholinergic nervous system and the receptors therein, there is still a need to develop compositions which would have a positive effect on a subject's cognitive functions.
One avenue of research being pursued involves cholinergic receptors which are proteins embedded in the cell membrane that respond to the chemical acetylcholine. Cholinergic receptors are subdivided into the nicotinic and muscarinic receptor families. Muscarinic receptors mediate a variety of physiological responses to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
The muscarinic receptors represent a family of five subtypes. One subtype, M1 muscarinic receptors, plays a role in learning and memory function in the brain and regulates gastric acid secretion in the stomach. While an M1 agonist profile could provide efficacy in a broad range of symptomatic domains including enhancement of cognitive function, the development of selective muscarinic agonists has been hindered by the high degree of homology among the five receptor subtypes.
It is difficult to predict whether a muscarinic agonist will have a beneficial result. Efforts to develop muscarinic agonists for the treatment of neurological disorders have been hampered by the high degree of amino acid homology within the binding pocket of muscarinic receptors. While many compounds have been developed with reported selectivity, relatively few compounds have been identified that selectively activate M1 and/or M4 receptors. This is a particular concern in developing treatments that will enhance cognitive function, rather than only ameliorate functional deficit or impairment.
One of the co-inventors herein has developed different muscarinic agonists, which are claimed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,403,845; 5,175,166; 5,726,179; 6,096,767; 6,211,204 B1; 6,369,081 B1; 6,376,675 B2; and 6,602,891 B2; and in PCT patent applications Nos. WO/2007/075397 claiming priority to U.S. Ser. No. 60/754,529); PCT/US08/003637 (claiming priority to U.S. Ser. No. 60/919,800), which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Also, muscarinic agonists are claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,818 which is owned by the same assignee as herein.
However, to date, there are no pharmacological agents that specifically target muscarinic receptor subtypes, leaving unanswered whether activation of muscarinic receptor subtypes enable cognitive flexibility.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide muscarinic agonists that result in the selective activation of muscarinic receptors, particularly so that undesirable side effects are minimized during treatment.
Thus, there is a need for muscarinic agonists with activity at M1 receptors which then would useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia, and other cognitive impairment disorders.
There is also a need for treatments that activate M1 receptors which enhance memory function and the various domains of cognitive flexibility.

Muscarinic agonists as enhancers of cognitive flexibility

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS


Method and apparatus for digital photograph presentation. A method for digital photograph presentation in accordance with one embodiment includes reading a still-picture file for a selected photograph from a DVD disk (402), transcoding (500) data from the still-picture file into a sequence of frames, and decoding and presenting the sequence. An apparatus for digital photograph presentation in accordance with one embodiment is a DVD player device (400 or 410) that includes a transcoder (404 or 412) for converting in real-time (see 500) still-picture files to sequences of frames, a navigator (406) for selecting the still-picture files and for controlling the transcoder (404 or 412) to direct presentation of the sequences. A method for digital photograph presentation in accordance with another embodiment includes encoding (300) onto a DVD disc (202) MPEG2 sequences that include the digital photographs as I-picture frames, inserting the DVD disc into a DVD player (200), and navigating amongst the MPEG2 sequences and displaying selected photographs using the DVD player (200). An apparatus for digital photograph presentation in accordance with another embodiment is a DVD player (400 or 410) that includes a navigator (204) for selecting the digital photographs encoded as MPEG2 sequences on a DVD disk (202), an MPEG2 decoder (104) for receiving and decoding the MPEG2 sequences, and a frame buffer (106) for buffering the decoded MPEG2 sequences to be output as at least one video signal from the DVD player.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to processing and presenting digital images.
2. Description of the Background Art
Digital cameras are becoming very popular, and there is an increasing need for presenting digital photographs in an economical and practical way. Existing methods for presenting digital photography to family and friends have drawbacks.
One existing method is displaying digital photographs on a computer screen. This method has a shortcoming in that often a desktop computer is not available in a family room where family members typically gather. In addition, if the computer is a laptop computer, laptop computer screens typically have a narrow viewing angle and are not suitable for viewing by several people at once.
Another existing method is displaying digital photographs on a television (TV) screen. This method is becoming more popular due to the ubiquity of TV sets, their larger screen sizes, and their wider viewing angles. Current techniques used to display digital photographs on a TV screen include a first technique where the photos are output via a video-output jack on some digital cameras, a second technique where software packages are used to create video "slide show" streams on VHS tape or CD/DVD disc, and a third technique where dedicated devices are used to create and display digital photo albums.
Regarding the first technique, not all digital cameras have such video-output jacks and incorporating such video-output jacks adds complexity and costs to digital cameras. In addition, such cameras generally will only display pictures taken with that camera. Further, not all TV sets have a video-input jack or one that is conveniently accessible.
The second technique uses a common VHS tape player or DVD player to play the video "slide show" streams. However, navigation is limited and awkward because the photos can only be displayed in a prearranged duration and sequence. Going back and forth is awkward, and jumping to a particular picture is not an enabled function.
Dedicated devices for the third technique include products made by Iomega Corporation of San Diego, Calif. and Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. The Iomega FOTOSHOW product creates a photo album on an Iomega ZIP disc. Similarly, the Microsoft TV PHOTO VIEWER product creates a photo album on a floppy disc. Such dedicated devices are additional products that the consumer needs to purchase. In addition, such dedicated devices disadvantageously require an additional hook-up to the TV system. Moreover, such dedicated devices are proprietary in nature and so are limited in compatibility and are more costly to produce. Furthermore, such dedicated devices are currently limited in the picture capacity of each disc.

Digital photograph presentation using DVD players

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A pivotedly mounted pressure roller unit, associated with which is a folding roller pair, is arranged on the transport path of a sheet to be folded. The pressure roller unit has a first and a second roller group, having rollers offset alternatingly eccentrically with respect to one another and mounted in independently rotatable fashion, which coact with the folding rolls in such a way that simultaneously, the rollers of the first roller group can be laid nonpositively against the one folding roller, and the rollers of the other roller group against the other folding roller. The transport speed (v.sub.2) of the folding rolls can be reduced to a lower transport speed (v.sub.1), thus causing a transport roller pair driven at an unchanging transport speed to bulge the sheet into an arc prior to entry into the folding rolls. By pivoting the pressure roller unit against the folding rolls, the arc and the trailing end of the sheet are transported simultaneously by the pressure roller unit. Once the folding rolls have grasped the trailing sheet end, the pressure roller unit is pivoted away and the folds in the sheet are made.

A folding apparatus of the generic type which is arranged in a separate paper path activated, by a diverter, only for purposes of a folding operation is provided in a finisher for sheets disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,082. During the folding operation, the transport direction of the sheet being folded must be changed twice in order to be able to produce both folds of the Z-fold. The completed folded product then leaves the folding apparatus in a direction which extends opposite to the transport direction required for continued transport of the folded product. In the case of this known apparatus it is therefore necessary both to divert the completed folded product into the paper path provided for continued transport, and to reverse its transport direction, in order for the folded product to reach a collection or delivery station.
It is the object of the invention to configure a folding apparatus of the generic type in such a way that a sheet being folded can be folded on its transport path without reversal of direction.

Apparatus and method for Z-folding sheets


Disclosed a system and method of learning and controlling a torque transmission kiss point of an engine clutch. In particular, a determination is made as to whether power transference to a transmission transmitting an output from the engine and the motor has been interrupted, and whether the engine is being driven. The motor is then controlled so that a speed of the motor is maintained at a set speed different from a speed of revolutions of the engine when the power transference to the transmission has been interrupted and the engine is being driven. A state change of the motor is then detected while increasing hydraulic pressure applied to the engine clutch at a set ratio and a torque transmission kiss point of the engine clutch is calculated based on the state change of the motor.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a system for learning and controlling a torque transmission kiss point of an engine clutch for a hybrid electric vehicle, and more particularly, to a method and a system for learning and controlling a torque transmission kiss point of an engine clutch by gradually increasing hydraulic pressure of the engine clutch around a previous torque transmission kiss point when a uniform relative speed is maintained between an engine and a motor in a no-load state to sense a change of torque of the engine and the motor or a change of a speed of the motor.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In general, a hybrid electric vehicle may reduce exhaust gas and improve fuel efficiency by using a motor as a power source, as well as an engine. In the hybrid electric vehicle, as illustrated in FIG. 1, an engine 11, a driving motor 12, and a transmission 13 may be arranged in series. It should be noted, however, that hybrid electric vehicles may be arranged in many different configurations, including in parallel, in which case the engine and the motor are engaged and disengaged from the transmission accordingly.
In the hybrid electric vehicle 10, an engine clutch 14 for transmitting driving power and blocking the transmission of the driving power may be disposed between the engine 11 and the driving motor 12. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the engine clutch 14.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the engine clutch 14 may include a friction material PE moving via pressure (hydraulic pressure) from a fluid (oil) FL of which a quantity is controlled by an operation of a solenoid valve SOL and a return spring SP for restoring the friction material PE to its original state when operation hydraulic pressure is not applied to the friction material PE. The solenoid valve SOL is generally controlled by a current.
The solenoid valve SOL is operated so that hydraulic pressure applied to the friction material PE increases as current applied to the solenoid valve SOL increases. When the hydraulic pressure applied to the friction material PE increases, contact frictional force of the friction material PE increases. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 3, torque transmitted by the engine clutch 14 is increased in proportion to the current applied to the solenoid valve SOL.
In the meantime, in the hybrid electric vehicle 10, an integrated starter and generator (ISG) 15 for operating the engine 11 or serving as a generator may be mounted in the engine 11. The ISG 15 may be called a hybrid starter and generator (HSG) in vehicle manufacturing
The hybrid electric vehicle 10 may run in an electric vehicle (EV) mode that is that utilizes only power from the driving motor 12 to provide a driving force to the transmission and output shaft. Further, the hybrid vehicle 10 may also run in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode using torque from the engine 11 as main power and torque of the driving motor 12 an auxiliary power. Further, the hybrid electric vehicle 10 may run in a regenerative braking (RB) mode in which braking and inertia energy of the vehicle is collected through power generated by the motor and the battery is charged when the vehicle 10 brakes or runs by inertia.
As described above, the hybrid electric vehicle 10 operates the engine clutch 14 in order to transmit power or separate power between the driving motor 12 and the engine 11 for switching the mode and the like. Operation hydraulic pressure from the engine clutch during an operation of the engine clutch 14 considerably influence drivability, power performance, and fuel efficiency of the hybrid electric vehicle, so that the operation hydraulic pressure of the engine clutch needs to be accurately controlled.
The operation hydraulic pressure of the engine clutch 14 may be determined from the initial hydraulic pressure by which torque is initially transmitted (i.e., a sleep state) and feedback hydraulic pressure for adjusting the hydraulic pressure of the engine clutch 14 by receiving feedback of speeds of the engine 11 and the driving motor 12. More specifically, a sleep state is started as both ends of the friction material PE of the engine clutch 14 come in contact with each other,
The initial hydraulic pressure point at which torque is initially transmitted may be referred to as a kiss point, an initial duty, a biting point, and a dead zone within the vehicle manufacturing field. Current applied at the initial hydraulic pressure point, substantially to the solenoid valve corresponding to the initial hydraulic pressure point, is indicated by KP in FIG. 3.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the initial hydraulic pressure point KP of the engine clutch 14 corresponds to the point at which torque transmission from the engine clutch is started, so that the engine clutch may substantially transmit the power from this time point. Accordingly, in the present specification, the initial hydraulic pressure point may be called as a torque transmission kiss point or torque transmission kiss point hydraulic pressure for the convenience of description. The torque transmission kiss point exerts significant influence on an operation time and an operation state of the engine clutch 14.
Even though the torque transmission kiss point is optimally set in the engine clutch 14 when a corresponding vehicle is released, the torque transmission kiss point may be changed according to a difference between respective components of the engine clutch, for example, component assembling tolerance, characteristic deviation of current-versus-pressure of the solenoid valve, and characteristic deviation according to passage of usage period. That is, as illustrated by a dotted line in FIG. 3, the torque transmission kiss point may be changed during the use of the engine clutch.
Accordingly, it is necessary to control hydraulic pressure of the engine clutch so that the engine clutch may transmit the torque at an appropriate point in time by learning the torque transmission kiss point of the engine clutch while the hybrid electric vehicle is running.
In a conventional method of learning the torque transmission kiss point, hydraulic pressure at a moment in time at which the engine starts to move by gradually increasing hydraulic pressure applied to the friction material of the engine clutch in a driving state where the engine is stopped and the engine clutch is released, that is, the moment at which a speed of the engine is output, is set as the torque transmission kiss point. However, the conventional art does not consider frictional coefficient deviation of the friction material of the engine clutch, deviation of the return spring, and the characteristic change deviation according to usage. As a result, the conventional learning method is not effective.
Further, in the conventional art, learning may be affected by applying excessive hydraulic pressure characteristics of the pressure while increasing the hydraulic pressure of the engine clutch.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Method and system for learning and controlling torque transmission kiss point of engine clutch for hybrid electric vehicle


A structure for overlay measurement is provided in the present invention, using the diffraction characteristics on the boundary portion between two microstructures formed on each of two material layers. The optical intensity distribution on the boundary portion between microstructures formed on the two overlaid material layers respectively are measured by an optical microscope to obtain the overlay error between the two overlaid material layers. In addition, the present invention also provides a method for overlay measurement using the structure for overlay measurement, wherein a merit relation based on the optical intensity distribution on the boundary portion between different microstructures is determined. The merit relation can be used to analyze the overlay error to improve the efficiency and accuracy of on-line error measurement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a structure and a method for overlay measurement and, more particularly, to a structure and a method for overlay measurement capable of analyzing material layers and the overlay error between the material layers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In semiconductor manufacturing, overlay measurement is for determining the alignment between a printed layer and a previous printed layer. It is crucial to achieve precise and accurate alignment for every element so that the quality and performance device can be satisfactory. Since the critical dimension in semiconductor manufacturing decreases as years go by, it becomes harder to use the conventional optical microscope to determine the overlay error between overlaid layers. Therefore, it is very important for semiconductor manufacturing to efficiently and precisely measure the overlay error between two overlaid patterned layers.
Currently, overlay measurement is applied in determining optically determinable patterns that are printed on a semiconductor wafer during manufacturing. These patterns are in a bar-in-bar or box-in-box format. Conventionally, the patterns are magnified or digitalized to quantify the overlay error using image analysis algorithm to obtain the dislocation between two overlaid layers. U.S. Pat. No. 7,160,657 discloses the bar-in-bar and box-in-box related technologies.
In 1988, Chappelow et al. provides another method for overlay measurement, wherein linear grating patterns on each of the top and bottom layers are used. The linear grating patterns on the top and bottom layers have the same pitch. The point light source is much larger than the line width of the grating patterns. In 2001, Bischoff uses the diffraction efficiency difference of the ±1st order diffractions to measure the overlay error. The pattern used by Bischoff is obtained by overlaying the linear grating patterns with the same pitch on the two overlaid layers. Identical amplitudes for the ±1st order diffractions occur due to symmetry when the center of one grating pattern is overlapped with the center of another grating pattern. The symmetry breaks if there is any dislocation between the grating patterns. The amplitude difference of the ±1st order diffractions is related to the dislocation.
Recently, H. T. Huang, adopts similar grating structure as a target to perform zero-order diffraction for measurement. A wide-band light source is used to compare the diffraction efficiency resulting from zero-order diffraction to obtain overlay data. The aforementioned optical measurement technique based on diffraction analysis on a periodic pattern is diffraction measurement. The apparatus for diffraction measurement is referred to as a scatterometer. Better resolution can be achieved using diffraction characteristics of a grating pattern than general patterns. However, the aforementioned measurement takes a longer time than the use of an optical microscope. Therefore, a theoretical model is required to compare the measured data, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Pub. No. 20060197951.

Structure and method for overlay measurement

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A plurality of support structures that may be secured to a surface and may support panels, such as solar modules. The support structures may include a first side that forms a channel and a second side that forms a support flange. A first edge of a panel may be placed within the channel and a second opposing edge of the panel may be secured to the support flange.

The present invention relates to a panel support structure and, more particularly, to a plurality of panel support structures for supporting solar modules.
A photovoltaic solar array is a set of solar photovoltaic modules electrically connected and mounted on supporting structures. A photovoltaic module, commonly called a "solar panel", is a packaged, connected assembly of solar cells. The solar module can be used as a component of a larger photovoltaic system to generate and supply electricity in commercial and residential applications. Numerous technical problems exist in connection with mounting devices such as solar photovoltaic modules ("panels") on surfaces that are, or may be, exposed to varying force vectors induced or caused by wind, snow, rain, and other elements of weather.
As can be seen, there is a need for an improved panel support structure.