Peracid stable fluorescent active compounds in highly acidic, equilibrium peroxycarboxylic acid sanitizing compositions are disclosed as having improved fluorescent stability allowing for monitoring of peroxycarboxylic acid concentration by conductivity and/or optical sensors. Beneficially, the compositions are also low odor and low/no VOC dual functioning acid wash and sanitizing compositions.

Peroxycarboxylic acids (i.e. peracids) are commercially-available antimicrobials, sanitizing agents and/or bleaching agents, which are generally sold in equilibrium solutions containing the corresponding carboxylic acid to the peroxycarboxylic acid, hydrogen peroxide and water. Antimicrobial compositions are used in a variety of automated processing and cleaning applications to reduce microbial or viral populations on hard or soft surfaces or in a body or stream of water. For example, antimicrobial compositions are used in various applications including kitchens, bathrooms, factories, hospitals and dental offices. Antimicrobial compositions are also useful in the cleaning or sanitizing of containers, processing facilities or equipment in the food service or food processing industries, such as cold or hot aseptic packaging. Antimicrobial compositions are also used in many other applications including but not limited to clean-in-place systems (CIP), clean-out-of-place systems (COP), washer-decontaminators, sterilizers, textile laundry machines, filtration systems, etc.
Regardless of the application, an antimicrobial or "use" composition is a composition containing a defined minimum concentration of one or more active components which exhibit desired antimicrobial properties. The concentration of active components in the use composition is chosen to achieve the requisite level of antimicrobial activity. In use compositions in which one or more peracids are the active component, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide tends to increase over time while the concentration of peracid decreases. However, in order to maintain the requisite level of antimicrobial activity, the amount of peracid in the use composition must be maintained at a defined minimum concentration. In addition, as the amount of hydrogen peroxide in the use composition increases, the use composition may exceed a defined maximum concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the solution.
To ensure the amount of peracid is maintained at or above some minimum concentration and to determine when the amount of hydrogen peroxide reaches or exceeds a maximum concentration, it is necessary to determine the concentration of peracid(s) and hydrogen peroxide in the use composition. In the past, to determine both the peracid concentration and the hydrogen peroxide concentration in a use composition has required multiple time consuming manual titrations, several different reagents and relatively large volumes of use composition. Moreover, past devices and methods for determining both peracid and hydrogen peroxide concentrations were effective over only a narrow range of concentrations.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the claimed invention to develop peracid compositions having various beneficial aspects, including compatibility for monitoring of peracid concentration by conductivity and/or optical sensors.
A further object of the invention is to provide a highly acidic, mixed peroxycarboxylic acid composition having such compatibility for concentration monitoring that is also low/no VOC, low odor, low foaming and stabilized under such highly acidic conditions (e.g. mineral acids in formulation).
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Peroxycarboxylic acid compositions suitable for inline optical or conductivity monitoring


A video projector apparatus including a linear array of individually addressable reflective active elements, an optical system including a light source and providing a linear light pattern focused on said linear array and from which is created an image of the linear array, an optical scanning system for receiving the image of the linear array including a scanning member that successively scans the array to provide a two-dimensional image, and a projection system receiving the two-dimensional image and including a screen upon which the two-dimensional image is displayed.

Current video projectors can be categorized into three quite distinct technologies. The first uses a two-dimensional scanning system to direct a beam of electrons or photons onto a phosphorescent layer of material which emits visible light as a function of the intensity of the incident beam. The light can be collected by a lens system and focused on a screen to form an image. The most common example of this category is the CRT projector. These projectors are limited in their resolution capabilities by the need to focus the incident beams onto a sufficiently small spot, the thickness of the light emitting material and the bandwidth of the modulation drive electronics.
The second category eliminates the scanning beam by using a directly addressable two-dimensional array to activate the phosphorescent material. Examples of such devices are organic light emitting diode displays (OLED'S). These displays are limited in their resolution capabilities by the difficulties in manufacturing two-dimensional arrays with very large numbers of individually addressable elements.
The third category is known as light valves. These do not emit light directly from a scanned phosphorescent material but, as their name implies, use a two-dimensional scanned array to modulate a light beam from a light source such as an arc lamp. Early light valves such as the Eidophor or the Talaria used scanned beams of electrons to modulate the transmission or reflection of the light valve materials. Current systems use digitally addressable two-dimensional arrays to modulate the optical characteristics of each addressable element of the light valve which is usually a thin layer of liquid crystal material. The resolution of these devices is also limited by the difficulty in making two-dimensional arrays with very large numbers of individually addressable elements.
Also, micro electro mechanical (MEM) devices are finding uses in the display industry. Digital light processing (DLP) technology, such as manufactured by Texas Instrument, is used by many display manufacturers using MEM technology to create a two-dimensional array of tiny mirrors to form a digitally addressed light valve system. Similar products are also manufactured by other companies.
The grating light valve (GLV), such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,360, uses a similar concept but it uses a diffractive grating rather than a reflecting mirror surface to perform the modulation functions. This grating uses strips of material which are only 3 microns in width. Manufacturing tolerances can create significant differences in the optical characteristics of adjacent pixels.

Video projector and optical light valve therefor


A system for controlling an irradiating direction of a vehicle lamp includes a target swivel angle calculating section to calculate a target swivel angle based on a vehicle steering angle, a swivel driver to execute, based on the target swivel angle, a swivel control to swivel the irradiating direction, and a fail-safe controller to execute, upon detection of a failure in the system, a fail-safe operation to stop the swivel control. When the system is restored after the failure, the fail-safe controller determines whether the target swivel angle is within a straight-ahead range that includes an angle corresponding to a straight-ahead direction of a vehicle. If the fail-safe controller determines that the target swivel angle is within the straight-ahead range, the fail-safe controller deactivates the fail-safe operation to restart the swivel control.

To improve driving safety of a vehicle, there has been proposed a vehicle lamp irradiating direction control system which executes swivel control to swivel the irradiating direction a headlamp so as to follow the steering direction. In such a system, in case of a system failure, the irradiating direction of the headlamp may be controlled to be directed in a direction different from the steering direction, whereby driving safety may deteriorate. Thus, to prevent such a problematic situation, there has been proposed a fail-safe technology for stopping the swivel control upon detection of a system failure. For example, a particular fail-safe technology fixes the irradiating direction of a headlamp in a straight-ahead direction of a vehicle when there is a system failure (see. e.g., Japan Patent Document No. JP 2005-132340 A). Further, a technique has been proposed for preventing the irradiating direction of the headlamp from being immediately directed in the steering direction when the system is restored after a failure. That is, when the system is restored during a rightward or leftward steering operation, the irradiating direction is abruptly changed from the straight-ahead direction to the rightward or leftward direction of the steering operation. This can impair driving safety because the illuminating region immediately changes from the region viewed by the driver to another region. Therefore, to prevent such situation, the foregoing system holds off restarting the swivel control until the steering angle is directed straight-ahead.
In the foregoing system, a target swivel angle is obtained by filtering a detected steering angle, and swivel control is executed based on the target swivel angle. For example, if the irradiating direction is controlled to follow the steering angle when there is a small fluctuation of the steering angle because of a rough road surface while the vehicle is running at high speed, the driver may become annoyed. As this is undesirable in view of driving safety, the steering angle is filtered to dampen an angular fluctuation to calculate the target swivel angle, based on which the irradiating direction is controlled, whereby a small fluctuation of the irradiating direction is prevented. As the result of this filtering, there exists an angular difference on the time axis between the actual steering angle and the target swivel angle. Therefore, there is a situation in which the steering angle is in the straight-ahead range but the target swivel angle is not in the straight-ahead range. If the system is restored and the swivel control is restarted in this situation, the irradiating direction of the lamp is controlled to be directed in the target swivel angle which is not yet within the straight-ahead range. Therefore, the foregoing system cannot fully address the problem described above in connection with the restoration of the system.
The problem which remains unsolved in the foregoing system is described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B. For example, when the steering angle changes as shown in FIG. 4A, the steering angle is filtered to calculate the target swivel angle as shown in FIG. 4B. The swivel control normally is executed based on the target swivel angle. However, as shown in FIG. 4B, when there is a system failure, the irradiating direction is controlled to be in the straight-ahead direction irrespective of the target swivel angle. When the system failure is corrected, i.e. restored, the fail-safe operation is maintained until the steering angle is directed in the straight-ahead range. That is, when the steering angle is directed in the straight-ahead range, the fail-safe operation is deactivated, and the swivel control is restarted. At this time, however, the target swivel angle is not yet within the straight-ahead range because of the filtering. Therefore, the irradiating direction is controlled to jump from the straight-ahead direction to the target swivel angle. That is, the illuminating region immediately changes from the region viewed by the driver to another region, which can result in a feeling of discomfort for the driver and can deteriorate driving safety.

Irradiating direction control system for a vehicle lamp


High-pressure air is discharged in the form of jets moving at a high velocity from nozzles (32) mounted on a ring manifold (30) that encircles the flare stack (10) at a predetermined distance below the flare tip (12), the upper portion of the flare stack being surrounded by an exterior shield (50) that is provided with internal guide vanes (36) at the top portion and perforated with air passages (52) at the bottom portion. The high-velocity air movement in the annular space creates a low pressure zone that in turn induces a larger volume of air from the atmosphere to enter the annular space between the shield and stack where it rises to the flame zone (58), thereby lifting the flame and enhancing turbulent air, fuel and waste gas mixing in the flame zone to minimize or eliminate smoke.

The flaring or assisted open combustion of undesired process by-product streams is commonly used to oxidize and convert toxic gases and vapors to their less harmful combustion products for release into the environment. A mixture of the undesired product and a fuel are directed to the base of the flare stack to form a feedstream that rises to the flare tip or stack outlet where the mixture is ignited in the combustion zone to form the flare or flame. The efficient and complete combustion of the mixture is not always achieved. When the process is not properly managed, smoke is also produced by this process. Smoke can be an indicator that the combustion process is incomplete, and that the toxic or otherwise undesired process materials have not been converted to less harmful forms. Smoke is also a visible constituent of air pollution, and its elimination or reduction is a consistent operational goal.
In order to reduce smoke production, the installation of air and steam systems in conjunction with flaring stacks has been undertaken by the prior art. The low-pressure air assist system uses forced air to provide the air and fuel mixing required for smokeless operation. A fan, commonly installed in the bottom of the flare stack, provides the combustion air required. Steam assisted flare systems use a steam ring and nozzles to inject steam into the combustion zone at the flare tip where air, steam and fuel gas are mixed together to produce a smokeless flame. In some systems of the prior art, a concentric banner or shield is provided that surrounds the flare tip or outlet.
Steam and low-pressure air assists for flaring are in common use because both systems are considered by the art to be generally effective and relatively economical as compared to alternative means for disposing of the undesired by-products.
However, both of these prior art systems have various drawbacks and deficiencies. The low-pressure air assists requires a significant capital expenditure for at least one fan that must be dedicated to the flare stack. Continuous operation imposed a rigorous maintenance schedule and even a back-up system in case of a breakdown or major repairs.
Steam assist systems can require sophisticated control devices, have relatively high utility requirements and maintenance/replacement schedules.
Various methods and configurations of apparatus have been proposed in the disclosures of the patent literature to improve the efficiency of combustion of flare stacks. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,477 discloses a ring manifold fitted with an array of nozzles that can be directed inwardly, upwardly and at an angle that is displaced laterally to inject high pressure air jets above the outlet of the fuel gas at the tip of the stack. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,232, a plurality of nozzles are mounted on a high pressure fluid manifold that encircles the stack and emits the fluid at or somewhat above the level of the rim of the waste gas stack, and the nozzles are angled upwardly.
Other constructions are disclosed and discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,852 as the background in the art.
In the constructions of the first two prior art patents, the nozzles or manifolds containing the high pressure fluid outlets are in close proximity to the flame, if not engulfed by the flame under foreseeable atmospheric conditions crosswinds. The maintenance and replacement costs associated with these arrangements can be significant.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for enhancing the complete combustion of flare gases that is less expensive to install, requires minimal maintenance, and is adaptable to the varying operating conditions found in industrial plant operations.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus that is readily adapted for use with existing flare stacks without significantly modifying the existing stack tip or outlet configurations.

Flare stack combustion apparatus and method


Disclosed is a process and apparatus for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file that is stored on a storage medium. The active file will preferably have a different format than the external file. The apparatus includes a primary data structure that has plurality of standard fields and an extended field. At least some of the plurality of standard fields and the extended field are preferably associated with an element of data transferred between the active file and the external file. The primary data structure will have a directive field that is set by the application when a data transfer between the files is desired. A translator configured to extract the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application is provided. The translator is further configured to place the extracted data into the primary data structure when the application sets the directive field to implement at least one of the plurality of standard fields, thereby operating in a standard mode. On the other hand, the translator is configured to allocate a secondary data structure and place the extracted data into the secondary data structure when the application sets the directive field to implement the extended field, and thereby operating in an extended mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer implemented data transfers, and more particularly, to an improved process and apparatus for transferring data between files having different formats.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, computer software technology has been growing at a very rapid pace. In order to remain competitive in this rapidly expanding industry, developers of new software applications have been including translation features in their new applications which allow users to access files created using older versions of their application. In addition to version compatibility, developers have also implemented translation features which allow users working in one application to open files created by competing applications. In fact, the ability to open files created by competing applications is critically important for developers desiring to expand the market share for their particular software product.
By way of example, developers of word processing, spreadsheet and graphics applications typically include translation capabilities as part of their commercially available products. The quality and thoroughness of an application's translation capabilities are generally rated by how well data from a file created by a competing application can be imported or otherwise converted into a file for use by the application. The same applies when data contained in a file that is currently in use is exported or otherwise stored into a file having a format associated with another application.
Because developers are constantly revising their own applications by adding new features and enhancing old features, the translation capabilities provided with one application may not be able to seamlessly translate data having new or enhanced features. Therefore, the translation capabilities provided for applications must be constantly updated to keep pace with updates and enhancements made in competing products.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram 100 identifying conventional interactions between an application 102 and a translator 108. As shown, application 102 and translator 108 are stored within a computer system's random access memory 104. Also stored in random access memory 104 is an active file 103 in the application's native format which is being manipulated by application 102. There is also shown an external file 110 which represents a file created by an application other than application 102. Typically, external file 110 is stored on a storage medium such as a disk drive.
In operation, when a user initiates an import of data from external file 110 to active file 103, for example, application 102 will allocate a block of memory for a parameter block 106, which is a data structure having a number of fields used with the import processing. Application 102 will then be able to communicate with translator 108 via parameter block 106. By way of example, application 102 typically sets a directive field (e.g., message) within parameter block 106, which indicates to translator 108 that a "data import" from external file 110 has been requested.
In word processing applications, for example, a file may have various distinguishable elements of data which may include headers, footers, footnotes, and body text. For each element of data, a multitude of attributes are used to characterize the elements of data. By way of example, attributes may identify the text length, text size, font type, text color, number of columns, margin information, etc. These attributes typically correspond to fields within parameter block 106.
As can be appreciated, as applications increase in functionality or existing functions are updated, additional fields need to be added to parameter block 106. Although continually adding new fields to an existing collection of fields of parameter block 106 works well when new attributes need to be processed by translator 108, infinitely tacking additional fields to parameter block 106 brings about undesirable consequences.
An undesirable consequence is that continually adding to parameter block 106 will generate a substantially large data structure which needs to be loaded into random access memory 104 each time a data translation is performed. Further, fields that are specific to particular file formats (e.g., a file created by MicrosoftWord.RTM.) are generally added ad hoc to parameter block 106. As a result, the entire parameter block 106 including MicrosoftWord.RTM.-specific fields must be loaded into random access memory 104 even though they are not needed for a particular data translation.
Besides having the undesirable consequence of increasing the need for random access memory 104, programmers responsible for servicing and updating parameter block 106 are faced with the exceedingly difficult task of maintaining and understanding the ad hoc additions made to parameter block 106 in response to additional features added to a competing application. Consequently, since parameter block 106 grows each time a feature is added or revised in new versions of competing applications, the sheer number of fields resulting in future versions of parameter block 106 will make it foreseeably difficult to manage and maintain. Also, this makes it difficult to maintain backward compatibility with earlier versions of products.
In fact, since additional fields of parameter block 106 are literally tacked onto an existing list of fields, there is no organizational logic to guide future programmers that are assigned the task of performing updates. As a result, when updates are performed on parameter block 106, there is no reasonable way to identify which fields have been rendered obsolete or are no longer needed. Therefore, the entire parameter block 106 will necessarily continue to grow requiring even increasing amounts of random access memory 104 and become more difficult to maintain and service.
In view of the foregoing, what is needed is a process and apparatus for transferring data between files having different formats without endlessly adding fields to a parameter block. There is also a need for a data transfer process and apparatus that efficiently uses random access memory while providing data structures that are easy to maintain and update.

Process and apparatus for transferring data between different file formats


The present invention relates to the use of non-deactivatable security compositions comprising the combination of at least two types of particles of oxide materials, where said particles have a different size and/or morphology, and where the inorganic oxide materials have at least one transition metal or one lanthanide element, and radiofrequency wave absorption properties. The invention also relates to security articles, documents or elements incorporating these compositions, as well as to a method and to a system for detection thereof.

A security document or security paper can be defined as that which has particular features assuring its origin and, therefore, its authenticity. Those security documents include travel and identification documents, bank notes, checks, stamps and stamped paper, labels or tickets, among many others.
A security element can be defined as that which is integrated in the security document in its pulp (such as, for example, the security thread, security fibers, watermarks, tactile effects or other elements commonly used) or on its surface (such as, for example, holograms added in different notes and credit cards, security inks, plastic films or other elements which are commonly used), randomly distributed or fixed in specific positions of the document and conferring security features to the document containing it, these features being able to greatly vary provided that their purpose is to hinder the forgery of security documents or to facilitate their authentication.
The use of different security elements has expanded in recent years as is proven by the number of patents in this field.
Some of these elements are detectable directly by humans, whereas other security elements incorporated in the documents require the use of special tools for their detection. A clear example is the luminescent substances or dyes existing in various security documents which require the use of a special light (for example ultraviolet light) for observation.
The use of luminescent substances or dyes for certifying authenticity in security documents has been known for a long time now (such as, for example, German patent number 449133 from the year 1925).
The use of luminescent substances or dyes of this type for certifying the authenticity of documents presents several drawbacks. One of the greatest drawbacks is the limited amount of optical transitions (absorptions and emissions) with properties suited for this application. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,530, a security dye or substance must show optical emissions centered in a well-defined frequency and preferably in a narrow band. These properties are present in the family of so-called rare earth elements (lanthanides with a valence 3+), as shown in the book "An introduction to the Optical Spectroscopy of Inorganic Solids" (J. García Solé, L. E. Bausá, and D. Jaque, © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd ISBNs: 0-470-86885-6 (HB); 0-470-86886-4 (PB)). The optical properties of all the rare earth elements are tabulated in Dieke's diagram [Dieke, G. H., Spectra and Energy Levels of Rare Earth Ions in Crystals, Interscience, New York (1968)], such that they are known and limited, a feature which involves a high risk of vulnerability and limits the scope of application because they cannot be used as a coded element.
The use of materials with a certain magnetic response for marking goods is also well known. One of the possible applications is the use of soft magnetic materials presenting hysteresis cycles with a large Barkhausen discontinuity, such as those described in patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,336,215 B2. In this case they are wires made of a soft magnetic material, generally based on metals or metal alloys, with diameters of several tenths of a millimeter.
Anti-theft markers based on magnetic responses are generally fairly large, having sizes of several millimeters or centimeters, and are coupled in different ways to the products to be protected. U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,184 describes one of these anti-theft markers based on the use of soft magnetic materials with a particular response to an oscillating magnetic field at a determined frequency. This marker has a size of several millimeters, making its presence detectable to the naked eye. In addition, in general these anti-theft markers usually have a performance that relies heavily upon their shape, such that when they are deformed thy may lose their functionality.
Anti-theft magnetic marking systems are based on producing electromagnetic fields with a determined frequency in response to an interrogating alternating electromagnetic field, which allows remote detection in a simple manner. These markers can be activated and deactivated by applying a suitable magnetic field for that purpose. This feature is very useful for marking products in a shop and preventing theft but limits its use as a marker in a security document.
There are different patents relating to systems for detection for security elements operating in the microwave range. In this sense, patent WO 9927502 describes a portable-sized microwave detector for particles acting as electric dipoles. The device measures the reflection and transmission of a radiofrequency wave striking the document containing the aforementioned particles, and it performs different operations with the measurements obtained, comparing with values which require being stored previously as reference values, in order to determine the authenticity of the document. However this system for detection is not robust enough and can give false positives.

Use of radiofrequency wave absorbing markets for the authentication of security documents

Fabrica Nacional De Moneda Y Timbre-Real Casa De La Moneda

Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas, C.S.I.C.


In a three-wheel vehicle, right and left suspension arms are independently attached to a front swinging shaft and a rear swinging shaft so that the suspension arms can swing vertically, and the front swinging shaft and the rear swinging shaft function as a swinging shaft for swinging the body frame. A swinging mechanism is provided to restrict lateral rotation of the body frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-wheel vehicle provided with a swinging mechanism, which reduces costs and enhances ride comfort.
2. Description of the Related Art
A three-wheel vehicle provided with a swinging mechanism in which right and left rear wheels are coupled via a shaft is known. For example, Japanese published examined patent application No. Sho58-24310 discloses such a vehicle. FIG. 19 is a side view showing a conventional type three-wheel vehicle (such as shown in Japanese published examined patent application No. Sho58-24310) provided with a swinging mechanism. A front frame 202 provided with one front wheel 201 and a rear frame 205 provided with right and left rear wheels 203, 204 are coupled via a pivot coupling device 206.
The pivot coupling device 206 is composed of a housing attached to the front frame 202 and a pivot the front of which is rotatably attached to the housing and the rear of which is attached to the rear frame 205, and the front frame 202 can be rolled around a pivot axis 207 for the rear frame 205.
FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing the rear of the conventional type three-wheel vehicle provided with the swinging mechanism and shows that one end of an intermediate shaft 212 is connected to a rear wheel shaft 211 to which one rear wheel 203 is attached via splines, the other rear wheel shaft 214 is attached to the other end of the intermediate shaft 212 via friction differential gears 213 and the other rear wheel 204 is attached to the rear wheel shaft 214.
As shown in FIG. 19, the three-wheel vehicle is provided with the pivot for swinging the front frame 202 crosswise, however, the three-wheel vehicle is provided without a swinging shaft for vertically swinging the rear wheels 203, 204. When such a swinging shaft is provided, the number of parts is increased and the cost is increased.
As the right and left rear wheels 203, 204 are integrated via the rear wheel shaft 211, the intermediate shaft 212 and the rear wheel shaft 214 as shown in FIG. 20, the rear wheel 203 is lifted upward when one rear wheel 203 runs on a convex portion of a road, for example. The effect is transmitted to the other rear wheel 204 via the rear wheel shaft 211, the intermediate shaft 212 and the rear wheel shaft 214, the rear wheel 204 is inclined, the rear frame 205 shown in FIG. 19 is rolled and the front frame 202 is vertically moved by the roll. Such configuration causes little trouble in a vehicle when the displacement is small; however, when the displacement of which is moderate or high and if the vehicle is moving quickly, an improvement in ride comfort is desired.
The swinging shaft is separately provided on the right and on the left. A swing arm is respectively attached to these swinging shafts and the rear wheels 203, 204 are attached to these swing arms. Thus, the right and left rear wheels are made independent and the vertical motion of one of the rear wheels 203, 204 has no effect upon the other. However, since the swinging shafts are provided to the right and the left, the cost is increased.
An object of the invention is to reduce costs and provide enhanced ride comfort for a three-wheel vehicle provided with a swinging mechanism.

Three-wheel vehicle with swinging mechanism


The present invention relates an impact tool with a twin lobed anvil, and the separate anvil, timing shaft and mating dog hammer. The impact transmission is configured in such a way so as to maintain contact between the anvil and dog hammer. As a result, the components of the present invention provide a harder blow to the anvil of an impact tool due to a larger strike surface area, provide greater torque due to increased mass at engagement, and increase the durability of the impact tool.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to impact tools. More particularly, the invention relates to an impact tool with a twin lobed anvil, and the separate anvil, timing shaft and mating dog hammer. In combination, the components provide a harder blow to the anvil of an impact tool due to a larger strike surface area, provide greater torque due to increased mass at engagement, and increase the durability of the impact tool.
2. Related Art
Heretofore, related art impact tools have transmitted impact between a dog hammer and anvil in a variety of ways. For instance, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,428,137, a common way of transmitting an impact is to use a cantilevered hammer and cantilevered anvil. This structure is commonly called a pin or teeth clutch. In these devices, the anvil and hammer each include teeth that engage one another upon movement of the hammer towards the anvil. Unfortunately, the teeth of the anvil have a limited strike surface area, thereby limiting the strength of impact.
It is, therefore, an aim of the present invention to provide an impact transmission which overcomes the above disadvantages of the related art.


A release agent supplying member (21) is formed by release agent discharge portions (21a) for discharging release agent, and liquid level uniforming portions (21b) for uniforming a liquid level of the release agent discharged from the release agent discharge portions before supplying the release agent discharged from the release agent discharge portions to a subject to be coated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention mainly relates to a release agent supplying member, a release agent supplying apparatus each for supplying release agent to a subject to be coated and a fixing apparatus using it.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a fixing apparatus which heats and pressurizes a toner image formed on recording material by means of a heat roller and a pressure roller thereby to fix the toner image on the recording material, release agent is, generally, coated on the surface of the heat roller so as to improve the releasing characteristics between the heat roller and the toner image.
Conventionally, there have been proposed various types of release agent supplying apparatuses used in such a kind of fixing apparatus. As one mode of such a release agent supplying apparatus, there is known a release agent supplying apparatus which includes, as shown in FIG. 6, a release agent tank 17 for receiving release agent therein, a pump 18 for drawing the release agent within the release agent tank 17, a release agent supplying member 19 having release agent discharge portions 19a for discharging the release agent drawn from the release agent tank 17, and a release agent coating roller 14 for receiving the release agent 20 flowing down on the upper surface of the release agent supplying member 19.
In such a configuration, the release agent 20 is supplied from the tank 17 through the pump 18. The release agent 20 drawn by the pump 18 is discharged from the release agent discharge portions 19a which are provided at the release agent supplying member 19 and formed by a large number of through holes. The release agent 20 thus discharged is wiped with the release agent coating roller 14 through the rotation thereof, then the release agent 20 thus transferred to the surface of the release agent coating roller 14 is coated on the surface of the heat roller 11a.
In the aforesaid configuration of the conventional release agent supply apparatus, at the time of supplying the release agent 20 to the heat roller 11a, the release agent 20 discharged from each of the release agent discharge portions 19a flows down on the upper surface of the release agent supplying member in a stripe fashion as shown in FIG. 7. Accordingly, an amount of the release agent coated on the heat roller 11a becomes uneven along the axial direction thereof due to such phenomenon that the liquid level of the release agent 20 on the upper surface of the release agent supplying member 19 becomes uneven in accordance with the arrangement of the release agent discharge portions 19a as shown in FIG. 8. Another phenomenon which creates an uneven distribution of releasing agent along the heat roller 11a is that several flows of the release agent are joined to form a single flow on the upper surface of the release agent supplying member since the flows of the release agent fluctuate.
When the fixing process is carried out when an uneven amount of the release agent is coated on the heat roller, gloss of a toner image after the fixing process may become uneven where an excessive amount of release agent is coated on the heat roller. Further, there appears a so-called offset phenomenon wherein the toner image adheres to the heat roller 11a at the portion where an insufficient amount of the release agent is coated such that suitable releasing characteristics are not obtained at such a portion on the surface of the heat roller 11a. Accordingly, there arises a problem that the printing quality is degraded.

Release agent supplying member, release agent supplying apparatus and fixing apparatus using the same


A reconciliation system automatically updates cell face transfer data in one form to match cell face transfer data in another form. The system includes an automatic read and comparison module for reading cell face transfer data from one form and automatically comparing the cell face transfer data to the data in another form. An automatic modification module automatically changes cell face transfer data entries in one form to match data in entries of another form.

With the increasing popularity of cellular phone communications, managing the calls to and from cellular phones has become increasingly complex. Cellular phone systems typically include a cell face (or antenna) mounted on an antenna tower receiving calls from cell phones. Typically, a cell face receives calls within an associated geographic coverage area called a cell. An antenna tower can have multiple cell faces oriented at different angles to handle calls originating from multiple directions around the antenna tower. A process is employed in order to choose a cell face that handles the call from each cell phone.
The process of selecting and switching among cell faces involves the use of data that designates available cell faces. This data is referred to herein as cell face transfer data. One form of cell face transfer data known in the industry is a Directed Retry List (DRL). The DRL cell face data is typically used to select a cell face when a call is attempted from a cell phone. When the call is placed, if all the channels of an initially selected cell face are being used or if the signal strength is weak, the caller will get a busy signal, indicating that no channels are available to carry the call. When the caller gets a busy signal, the call is lost. To maximize revenue, the phone company must minimize the occurrence of lost calls. The DRL is used to minimize the number of lost calls. If the call signal strength is weak, the DRL is accessed to select another cell face in the same vicinity. As another example, if all of the radios of a cell face are in use and the cell face cannot handle an incoming call, the DRL is accessed to select a cell face in the area that can handle the call. Because of factors such as voice channel blocking or weak signal strength, a call may be denied service at a cell site. A DRL offers an additional chance for success to setup attempts that are denied service. When the DRL is active at a cell site, the cell site directs the cell phone to retry its setup attempt at another cell site in the near vicinity.
One problem with the current approach is that cell face transfer data is updated manually. Cell face transfer data must be updated when a new cell site is built providing new cell faces. The new cell site and cell faces affect existing cell face transfer data, particularly for adjacent cells. The current approach to updating cell face transfer data is to manually enter the new cell site and cell face transfer data into a database. Manual entry of the data is time consuming. Adding to the problem of manual entry are multiple cell face transfer data formats. The effort and time required for manual entry is compounded when multiple cell face transfer data formats are used. Data entry personnel must first enter the data in one cell face transfer data format and reenter the same data in other cell face transfer data formats.
With the advancement of telecommunications, numerous technologies are now used. Multiple forms of cell face transfer data have been developed and are used to provide data specifically designed for each of the technologies. For example, a form known as Cell Equipage Face (CEQFACE) is typically used in conjunction with the Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) technology, while a form called Reselection (RESEL) is used with Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA). A number of problems have emerged as a result of multiple cell face transfer data formats.
Another problem is that data is often entered only in one cell face transfer data format associated with one technology. Thus, new available cell face data is frequently not available in all technologies. For example, typically CEQFACE forms are updated with new cell face information, but RESEL forms are not updated. As a result, cell faces that are available for TDMA users are often not selectable because those cell faces are not in the RESEL cell face transfer data. Thus, available cell faces are not used efficiently. Manual data entry is also error prone. Errors become even more likely when the data entry personnel must reenter the same data multiple times in multiple formats. Consequently, errors in the cell face transfer data can result in cell faces being used that are inappropriate for a call. When cell face transfer data is updated only in one format or errors are made during data entry, the cell face transfer data in each of the formats is different.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an automated system and method for reconciling cell face transfer data in different forms, thereby enabling more efficient and effective use of cellular antennas. Preferably, the system and method will conform to one or more Directed Retry List (DRL) forms, such as CEQFACE or RESEL, and will enable selection and hand off to cell faces.

Automated reconciliation of directed retry lists

BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation


An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers, a drive mechanism, a plurality of drive force transmission gears, a phase difference detector, and a shift unit. The plurality of image carriers forms images of separate colors. The drive mechanism including a single drive unit for driving the plurality of image carriers simultaneously. The plurality of drive force transmission gears, provided for each of the image carriers, transmits a driving force from the drive unit to the image carriers. The phase difference detector detects a phase difference in drive speed among the image carriers. The shift unit, provided for each of the plurality of drive force transmission gears, meshes or unmeshes the drive force transmission gear to the drive mechanism. The shift unit is activated to correct any phase difference in drive speed of the image carriers based on a detection result detected with the phase difference detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates generally to an image forming apparatus using electrophotography, and more particularly, to a method of adjusting displacement of images formed on a transfer member such as an intermediate transfer member and recording media.
2. Description of the Background Art
Generally, an image forming apparatus having a tandem type arrangement is used as a color copier. Such an image forming apparatus is provided with an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a drive speed of image carriers for each color to form a color image without displacement of color images, such as black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. If the black, cyan, magenta, and yellow images are not correctly superimposed on each other, a resultant color image may not be of optimum image quality. Accordingly, displacement of color images must be suppressed.
Such color image displacement suppression may be accomplished, for example, by adjusting a drive speed of image carriers. Such image carrier drive speed adjustment may be conducted as follows: First, an image patch pattern, formed for each color used in the image forming apparatus, is formed on an intermediate transfer member (e.g., intermediate transfer belt) and scanned by an optical sensor. Any phase difference in drive speed among the image carriers (e.g., photoconductor drums) can then be detected based on a detection result of the optical sensor and the drive speed of drive units such as drive motors provided for each one of the image carriers are adjusted accordingly.
In another case, an image forming apparatus having tandem type arrangement may have a single drive unit to rotate a plurality of image carriers (e.g., photoconductor drums). In such image forming apparatus, a rotation phase of at least one of the plurality of image carriers is adjusted to reduce a load variation of a drive mechanism, which may occur over time.
Although such image forming apparatuses can correct phase differences in drive speeds among image carriers, such image forming apparatuses may not be able to achieve both reductions in cost and apparatus size as well as provide an effective correction mechanism for phase differences among the image carriers.
For example, if a drive unit (e.g., drive motor) is provided for each one of the image carriers as described above, phase differences in drive speeds among the image carriers can be corrected. However, the plurality of drive units might make it difficult to achieve reductions in cost and size of the image forming apparatus.
On the other hand, if only one drive unit (e.g., drive motor) is used for driving a plurality of image carriers, reductions in cost and apparatus size can be achieved with comparative ease. However, because of such configuration using only one drive unit, adjustment of the drive speed of each one of the image carriers may be difficult.

Image forming apparatus including phase difference correction with a single drive unit


A method and apparatus for sending messages to a wireless device is disclosed. The invention includes a system and a method that waits for a wireless device to register before sending information to the device. In another aspect, the invention includes provisions that track which wireless devices have successfully received the message and which wireless devices have successfully acknowledged receipt of the message.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the field of wireless communications. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for updating databases in wireless devices that are designed to operate in wireless communications networks.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, current wireless devices 100 generally include an internal database 102 that stores information related to local calling areas. A wireless device can be a wireless phone, a computer, a portable computer, a personal data assistant, a pager, a two-way text pager, and other devices. As known in the art, local calling areas are geographic regions where local wireless service providers provide wireless service. Generally, there is more than one wireless service provider in each local calling area.
As shown in FIG. 2, some examples of local calling areas include a Southeastern region 104 near Atlanta, Ga., a Mid-Atlantic region 106 including Metropolitan Washington, D.C., a Northeastern region 108 that includes New York City, and a Southwestern region 110 that includes Arizona. The four regions mentioned above are examples of only some of the regions in the United States—the United States has many other local calling areas.
In addition to local calling areas in the United States, there are local calling areas in other countries throughout the world. Some examples include: a central European region 112 that includes Switzerland, a Far East region that includes South Korea 114, and a South American region 116 that includes Argentina. Again, there are many other local calling areas throughout the world.
Wireless subscription companies provide wireless telephone service to customers and manage customer accounts. Wireless subscription companies track wireless service usage by customers and bill customers for their use of wireless network resources. Some examples of wireless subscription companies include Cingular, AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless.
In addition to managing customer accounts, wireless subscription companies also negotiate with local wireless service providers. This is because one wireless subscription company generally does not own the necessary infrastructure and equipment in every local calling area to provide local wireless service on its own network. Therefore, wireless subscription companies generally negotiate with local wireless service providers and eventually enter into agreements with those local wireless service providers. These negotiations generally entail negotiating between the various local wireless providers in a particular region to obtain the most favorable rates for their customers. For example, in a hypothetical situation, a wireless subscription company, for example, Cingular, might negotiate with several local wireless service providers in Northeast region 108. This is a region where Cingular may not provide local wireless service and therefore must negotiate an agreement with a local wireless service provider to provide service for its customers in that region of the country.
In that region, there may be one established local wireless service provider with a large customer base. The network of this established provider may be filled to capacity and therefore, the established provider might offer, for example, 95 cents per minute to Cingular for their customers who use the local Northeast network resources of the established local wireless provider. There may be another service provider that offers, for example, 75 cents per minute, and there may be a new service provider that has excess capacity and needs to populate its network. The new service provider may offer, for example, 15 cents per minute. There are many other factors that affect the prices offered by local wireless service providers. They also change their rates frequently and there are new entrants into the various regional markets that also affect price. So, in response to this dynamic and changing market for local wireless service, wireless subscription providers frequently negotiate new agreements with local wireless service providers and frequently re-negotiate existing agreements.
As wireless device 100 travels through various regions, it is important for wireless device 100 to know which one of the many local wireless service providers has an agreement with the wireless subscription company. Without determining which local wireless service provider has agreed to support the subscription company's customers, wireless device 100 will not be able to utilize wireless service in that region.
Database 102 on wireless device 100 includes information related to the identities of the various local wireless service providers throughout the country and throughout the world that have agreed to provide local wireless service to wireless device 100. Database 102 may include information that informs wireless device 100 which local wireless service provider should be used in the various regions.
As the subscription company negotiates new agreements with different local wireless service providers, the subscription company informs its customers by sending out updated information for each of their customer's wireless devices 100. The updated information is intended to be stored in database 102 and contains information related to local wireless service providers that have entered into agreements with the subscription company. Accordingly, as the subscription company negotiates new agreements and changes the local wireless service providers that will serve their customers, the subscription company must constantly send new information to update databases 102 in all wireless devices 100 subscribing to the company.
In order to update all of the databases 102 of all of their customer's wireless devices, prior art systems simply created a list of all wireless devices associated with their customers and sent updated information to those wireless devices sequentially. In other words, the typical prior art system simply goes down a list of wireless devices and attempts to contact the wireless device and deliver the new updated information for database 102.
This system consumes an enormous amount of system resources and is generally inefficient. This is because prior art systems tended to flood the communications network with the updated information for all of the wireless devices at the same time. Consider a typical situation where a subscription company manages about 15 million wireless devices. The system would have to update the databases in all of these 15 million wireless devices as soon as possible. In order to accomplish this, the prior art system would run down the list of wireless devices that required the updated information, the prior art system would then attempt to transmit that information to the communications network without regard for the amount of traffic that procedure would generate.
In essence, the prior art system would attempt to sequentially deliver 15 million updates. This would put tremendous strain on the communications network and consume enormous amounts of network resources. Also, because prior art systems were sequential, those systems would attempt to deliver messages without regard for the successful delivery of the updated information. In some cases, prior art systems had successful delivery rates below 30%. This meant that the updates would have to be attempted over and over again until the system accomplished a successful delivery. This repetition also consumed an enormous amount of resources on the communications network.

Method and apparatus for delivering messages to wireless devices


An integrated circuit verification system provides an indication of conflicts between an OPC suggested correction and a manufacturing rule. The indication specifies which edges segments are in conflict so that a user may remove the conflict to achieve a better OPC result. In another embodiment of the invention, edge segments are assigned a priority such that the correction of a lower priority edge does not hinder a desired OPC correction of a higher priority edge.

As the density of features to be created in an integrated circuit (IC) increases and the size of individual features decrease, such features are increasingly more difficult to accurately form with a photolithographic process. It is a well documented phenomenon in photolithographic processing that as a feature size becomes smaller than the wavelength of the light that is used to illuminate a mask or reticle pattern onto a wafer, the fringing effects of the illumination light produce errors on the wafer. Such errors distort the patterns created on a wafer in a manner that may decrease the performance of the resulting IC or cause it to fail completely.
To reduce or eliminate the illumination distortion, circuit designers use a variety of techniques including the use of optical and process correction (OPC) tools that, in effect, counteract the illumination distortions so that a feature will print as desired on the wafer. One example of an OPC correction tool is the Calibre® Software Suite, produced by Mentor Graphics Corporation of Wilsonville, Oreg., the assignee of the present invention.
Even when using an OPC tool, some features in an IC design may not print as desired on a wafer. In many instances, a less than desired OPC correction is made by the OPC tool due to manufacturing constraints that can affect the OPC tool in a non-intuitive manner. In these instances, users sometimes send test cases to the OPC software developers who debug the OPC software to determine why the less than optimal correction was made. A process of manual debugging takes time, increases the cost and decreases the throughput of overall circuit design process.
Given these problems, there is a need for a system that can alert a user when a less than desired OPC correction is being made and why a better correction is not possible under current system constraints.

OPC conflict identification and edge priority system


Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method of compressing location data. The method may include: receiving original location data; selecting a contextual profile based at least in part on the original location data; selecting a compression method based on the contextual profile; and converting the original location data to a compressed format based on the compression method. Various exemplary embodiments relate to a system for compressing location data. The system may include: a location receiver configured to generate original location data based at least on signals from global navigation satellite system (GNSS) satellites; a location engine configured to select a contextual profile based at least in part on the original location data; and a contextual compression filter configured to generate compressed location data in a compressed format based on the selected contextual profile.

In a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), a receiver determines its location based on signals received from a plurality of satellites. Various standards exist for communicating and storing location and telemetry data. These standards include National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) 0183 and Java Specification Request (JSR) 179. These standards define formats for various elements of location data.
GNSS receivers are currently used for a variety of applications. Location data from a GNSS receiver may be used locally or transmitted to a remote location. Exemplary uses of location data include navigation systems, fleet management, photo tagging and social networking. Geo-tracking applications may determine location data frequently and store the location data. A geo-tracking application that constantly records location data or compiles location data from multiple GNSS receivers may consume a large amount of storage space for the location data.

Contextual data compression for geo-tracking applications


A differential RF non-linear power amplifier employing low-voltage transistors in a cascode configuration uses self-biasing solutions rather than external biasing techniques to overcome transistor breakdown problems. The self-biasing solution ensures that the cascode devices and driver device operate below breakdown voltage limitations. A low resistance circuit is placed in parallel with the self-biased circuitry to mitigate increased on-resistance created by the self-biasing solution. PMOS and NMOS inverter legs provide digital programming of the conduction angle for the power amplifier. Changing the PMOS and NMOS strengths in the chain of inverter legs changes the conduction angle.

1. Field
The present invention relates to radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers and more particularly to a RF power amplifiers employing low voltage transistors.
2. Background
Many single chips, sometimes called system-on-chip (SOC) solutions, are used in wireless communication devices such as cell phones, pagers, cable television boxes, remote controllers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other wireless devices. Such devices need to transmit signals across several feet or even yards. High efficiency radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers are used to amplify signals so they may be transmitted such distances. The more power the power amplifiers can deliver to the antenna, the further the device can transmit. Unfortunately, development of high-efficiency RF power amplifiers suitable for wireless SOC solutions remains a major unsolved challenge because the transistors in the power amplifiers breakdown due to the high voltages to which they are subject.
The voltage at which a transistor breaks down is a function of the size of the transistor. The smaller the transistor, the lower the voltage it can tolerate before permanent damage occurs. This is problematic because transistors are getting smaller so that more transistors may fit in smaller spaces as devices get smaller.
To illustrate, FIG. 1 shows a prior art solution for preventing transistor breakdown. FIG. 1 shows a cascode structure 100 in a high-efficiency RF power amplifier 100 with fixed bias. The cascode structure 100 includes cascode device 102, driver devices 104 and 106, an inductor 108, and a capacitor 110. FIG. 2 is a graphical representation 200 including a typical input waveform 204 for the cascode structure 100 and includes a "y" axis representing voltage and an "x" axis representing time. FIG. 3 is a graphical representation 300 including a typical output waveform 302 for the cascode structure 100 when the waveform 204 is applied. The graphical representation includes an "y" axis representing voltage and a "x" axis representing time.
A waveform 302 illustrates that when the waveform 204 is applied to the cascode structure 100 at a time tm the voltage across the gate-drain junctions of the transistor 102 (VG-D) may be more than twice as large as the power supply voltage VDD. Such high voltage may cause the gate-drain junction of the transistors 102 to break down.
There is another challenge to developing the cascode structure 100 for SOC involving the fact that the transistors 102 and 104 are connected in series. Ideally the transistors 102 and 104 should be switches such that when they are on, they are short circuits and when they are off they are open circuits. Unfortunately, in real circuits, when a transistor is on it has a resistance associated with it that consumes power otherwise intended for the antenna and output power of the device.
There is still another challenge facing development of high-efficiency RF power amplifiers for wireless SOC solutions involving the amplifier class. Amplifier operation can be classified generally as "linear" or "nonlinear." Classes A, B, and AB, are commonly considered linear classes of RF power amplifiers and classes C, E, and F are commonly considered nonlinear classes. To change the class of operation, the conduction angle of the linear power amplifier is changed. The conduction angle is the portion of time that the power amplifier (or device) is on (or conducting) expressed in degrees. Traditional techniques for changing the conduction angle involve operators manually adjusting analog voltage levels and other parameters.
As applied to FIG. 1, the operator would adjust the value the bias voltage applied to a matching network formed by the inductor 108 and the capacitor 110 via a VBIAS pin. The waveforms 202 and 204 illustrate the effect of adjusting the value bias voltage. For instance, the waveform 202 is input into the cascode structure 100 and the waveform 204 is input into the cascode structure 100 when the bias voltage is VLC. Notice that when the bias voltage is VLC the transistor 104 is on some of the time and off some of the time depending on when the voltage level of the waveform 204 crosses the threshold voltage VT of the transistor 104.
There are at least two dilemmas in this arrangement. First, the cascode structure 100 requires the extra (possibly external) VBIAS pin to vary the conduction angle. Second, the size of the blocking capacitor 110 needed to accommodate the width of the transistor 104 is commonly very large, which is counterproductive to integration of RF power amplifiers in small SOC solutions.

Self-bias and digitally tunable conduction angle circuits for a differential RF non-linear power amplifier employing low-voltage transistors


An indicator member is arranged for mounting to a barrel portion of a hunting rifle or to an interior surface of a hunting archery bow to include a boss mounting a filament, wherein the filament indicates wind orientation preventing hunter positioning to be exposed by downwind orientation of game. A hollow supporting boss is arranged to secure the filament and may be further provided with an interior spool to permit projection of the filament therefrom from a magazine support roll.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to hunting wind indicators, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved hunting wind directional indicator wherein the same is mounted to a barrel portion of a rifle or archery bow for indicating wind orientation to prevent hunter location to a game animal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of wind indicating structure is highly desirable in hunting situations, wherein game that may ascertain hunter position are alerted and will accordingly prevent a successful hunting situation. Wind indicator structure in the prior art has been utilized and exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,567 to Ahmer wherein a sailboat member mounts a wind indicator structure, wherein a wind vane mounted upon a shaft is mechanically coupled with a pointer member positioned upon a dial.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,641,815 to Fassett utilizes a wind indicator structure utilizing a vane to properly orient an indicator pointer as to wind orientation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,626 to Herschede sets forth a method of determining wind direction for hunters, wherein material such as unscented talc powder may be mixed with a masking scented material sprayed into the air permitting subsequent observation of the powder cloud.
Accordingly, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved hunting wind direction indicator as set forth by the instant invention which addresses both the problems of ease of use as well as effectiveness in construction and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A dual-mode, radio frequency, optical-wavelength detector apparatus includes RF-transparent optical elements adapted to focusing optical energy in a wavelength range including ultraviolet through infrared wavelengths, on an optical detector, and an RF antenna located behind the optical elements. One embodiment of the apparatus employs a Cassegrain infrared optical telescope system having a concave primary mirror, the front surface of which has applied thereto multiple layers of dielectric material comprising an interference filter reflective in a band of infrared wavelengths, and transmissive to radio frequency energy. A convex secondary mirror having a similar reflective coating is so located as to reflect infrared energy backwards through a central coaxial perforation through the primary mirror onto an infrared detector. The apparatus includes a planar RF antenna rearward of the primary mirror, which antenna utilizes the full aperture of the infrared optical system for the reception and transmission of RF energy.

A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus for collecting and focusing onto a detector optical radiation in the ultraviolet (UV) through infrared (IR) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and to apparatus for receiving and transmitting radio frequency (RF) energy. More particularly, the invention relates to a dual mode apparatus in which are combined the functions of an optical detection system, and a radio energy frequency detection system.
B. Description of Background Art
Radar and laser transceivers are widely used in both military and civilian applications to determine the position and velocity of distant objects, or "targets." Radar or laser acquisition and tracking systems are "active" systems, in the sense that they transmit energy from a radiating element or antenna, which is then reflected off of a target back towards the element or antenna. Some radio frequency acquisition and tracking systems are also passive, utilizing either intentionally transmitted energy, or the black-body radiation emitted by all objects at a temperature above absolute zero.
Passive optical radiation receivers are also widely used to form images of distant objects, utilizing the radiation reflected from or emitted by objects. Such systems typically operate in a wavelength range extending from about 0.35 micron (micrometers), in the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum, through the visible spectrum, and out to about 14 microns, in the infrared portion of the spectrum.
In some applications, it is desirable to be able to acquire and/or track distant objects, or targets, alternatively in the radio-frequency or UV-IR portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Passive UV or IR tracking systems do not require transmission power, and may operate at longer ranges than radar trackers. However, when a target is obscured by clouds, fog, smoke dust or the like, such tracking systems may be inoperative, thus necessitating the use of an active or passive radio frequency tracker.
Both RF and UV-IR trackers generally must work with very low energy signals emitted by or reflected from a distant target. Therefore, receiving antennas or optical systems used to collect such signals should have the largest feasible collection area, or aperture. Increasing the aperture size is also very desirable because it results in a narrower transmitted beam, and reduces the susceptibility of the receiver to interference from off-axis, non-target emitters such as jammers, or reflective objects other than the target. Accordingly, dual mode RF/IR or UV tracking systems require a considerable amount of space for the required collection optics. That space requirement can be particularly troublesome when the dual mode system is to be used in an aircraft or missile. To alleviate the space requirement problem, devices in which energy collectors for radio frequency and infrared radiation are at least partially combined are disclosed in the following U.S. patents:
Cushner, U.S. Pat. No. 3,165,749, Jan. 12, 1965, Microwave Transmissive Optical Radiation Reflectors, which discloses a Cassegrain infrared sensor system employing a microwave transceiver antenna horn at the position of the secondary mirror. The horn opening is covered with a microwave transmissive, optically reflecting "dichroic" mirror fabricated by forming a hexagonal or linear array of optically reflecting metallic mirror segments on a glass, quartz, or other microwave-transmissive substrate, microwave energy being transmittable through gaps between segments.
Winderman, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,527, Aug. 4, 1981, Multi-Spectral Detection System with Common Collecting Means, which discloses a multi-spectral detection system for detecting radiation within frequency bands that are in diverse portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The preferred embodiment is a Cassegrain system including a primary reflector for reflecting radiant energy in the radio frequency and infrared portions of the electro-magnetic spectrum; a subreflector positioned along the axis of the primary reflector for re-reflecting the radiant energy reflected from the primary reflector toward the primary reflector and focusing the re-reflected radiant energy in a common focal plane about the system axis; a feed horn coaxially positioned at the common focal plane and having an entrance in the common focal plane about the system axis for transferring the collected radio frequency radiant energy from the focal plane to a detector of radio frequency radiant energy; and a bundle of optical fibers coaxially positioned at the common focal plane and having openings in the common focal plane about the system axis for transferring collected infrared radiant energy from the focal plane to a detector of infrared radiant energy. A baffle is coaxially positioned for blocking light other than the re-reflected infrared radiation from being received and transferred by the optical fibers.
Brumbaugh, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,814, Oct. 16, 1984, Dual Mode Radio Frequency-Infrared Frequency System, which discloses a dual mode RF-IR sensor system in which the primary mirror of a Cassegrain system has a central polished and aluminized region to reflect IR energy, and four slots to transmit RF energy. The secondary mirror is made of any suitable rigid RF-transmissive plastic, the reflective surface of the secondary mirror being covered with "any suitable IR-reflective/RF transmissive dielectric coating." A parabolic body forms both the primary mirror for a Cassegrain infrared sensor, and a radiating/receiving body for microwave energy, utilizing a common surface. Only a central portion of the parabolic body is polished, aluminized and used as an IR reflecting surface, and has integral slots forming part of a strip line antenna.
Droessler, U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,454, Sep. 12, 1989, Multi-Spectral Imaging System, which discloses an infrared sensor and millimeter wave (MMW) transceiver apparatus having a common collecting aperture and coaxial elements. The IR sensor includes a Cassegrain optical system in which incoming rays are reflected forward off the outer annular surface of a parabolic primary mirror, backward off of an IR-reflective, RF-transmissive thin film on the convex surface of a secondary reflector, and through an IR-transmissive, RF-reflective coating on the front concave surface of a circular core section fitted into a central aperture in the reflector, to a rear IR detector focal plane.
In the dual mode system, received MMW rays impinging on the outer annular surface of the primary reflector are reflected forward to impinge on the thin film coating on the secondary reflector and therethrough to a feedhorn. Received MMW rays closer to the optical axis of the apparatus pass through the secondary reflector, through the film and are reflected forward off the coating on the central core of the primary reflector, to impinge on the front coating of the secondary reflector and travel through the coating to the feed horn.
Simadao et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,493, Oct. 2, 1973, Antenna Device Applicable for Two Different Freauency Bands, which discloses an antenna apparatus adapted to simultaneous operation at two different radio frequencies.
Some of the dual mode seekers listed above may be useful for certain applications. However, all of the prior art dual mode seeker systems known to the present inventor have an inherent limitation, namely the fact that none of the systems utilizes the full aperture of a collecting system for either or both radio frequency and ultraviolet or infrared energy transmission and reception. The present invention was conceived of to overcome the above-mentioned limitation, and to provide other advantages over prior art dual mode seekers.

R.F. transparent RF/UV-IR detector apparatus


A spotting device for manufacturing a DNA microarray and a spotting method using the same are provided. The spotting device for dropping and immobilizing a solution of biomolecules, for example nucleic acids such as probe DNA, mRNA, and peptide nucleic acid (PNA), and proteins on a DNA microarray surface to manufacture a DNA microarray, includes a first microchannel with a tube shape; a supplying unit supplying the solution of biomolecules to the first microchannel; a biomolecule solution droplet forming unit cross-linked to the first microchannel and forming biomolecule solution droplets with a predetermined size by periodically jetting a gas toward the biomolecule solution flowing in the first microchannel; a second microchannel linked to the first microchannel and having a greater diameter than the first microchannel; a cooling unit surrounding at least a part of the second microchannel to freeze the biomolecule solution droplets which pass through the second microchannel; and a spotting unit thawing the frozen biomolecule solution droplets and dropping the thawed biomolecule solution droplets on a surface of the DNA microarray. The spotting device can form spots with uniform shape, minimize an effect of temperature on biomolecules, and easily manipulate biomolecules when manufacturing a DNA microarray.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-96292, filed on Dec. 24, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spotting device for manufacturing a DNA microarray and a spotting method using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a spotting device for dropping and immobilizing a solution of biomolecules, for example, nucleic acids such as probe DNA, mRNA, and peptide nucleic acid (PNA), and proteins on a DNA microarray surface to manufacture a DNA microarray and a spotting method using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
With progress on the human genome project, a demand for a method to rapidly provide an enormous amount of genetic information with regard to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of hereditary diseases has greatly increased. Though a method of Sanger which had been used to analyze a base sequence until that time was steadily progressed by the development of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) replicating DNA and automation thereof, it could not analyze a large number of genes since an analyzing process was complicated, time consuming, expensive, and high degree of skills were required. Thus, a new system for analyzing a base sequence has been continuously required. According to the needs of the times, there was progress in a manufacturing of a DNA microarray and a technology using the same for last several years.
The "DNA microarray" generally refers to attaching oligonucleotide probes, of which a base sequence is known, having from the minimum several bases to the maximum hundreds of bases to a surface of a solid, such as silicone, surface modified glass, polypropylene, and activated polyacrylamide, at hundreds or one hundred thousands of predetermined positions to microarray. When bonding a target DNA fragment intended to analyze to the DNA microarray, various hybridizations according to a compensatory level between base sequence of the probe attached to the DNA microarray and base sequence of the target DNA fragment occur and are observed and analyzed through an optical method or a radiochemical method to discover the base sequence of the target DNA (sequencing by hybridization; SBH).
A DNA chip manufactured using the DNA microarray can achieve miniaturation of a DNA analysis system, perform a gene analysis using only an ultra trace volume of a sample and examine simultaneously base sequences at various positions on the target DNA. Accordingly, the DNA chip is inexpensive and can rapidly provide genetic information. Also, the DNA chip can simultaneously analyze an enormous amount of genetic information rapidly and clarify the relations between genes, and thus, will be applied to numerous fields, such as the diagnosis of hereditary diseases and cancers, search of a mutant, detection of pathogenic bacteria and fungi, analysis of gene expression, and drug development. Also, the DNA chip can be used in biotech to bring about development. For example, it can be used as a sensor of microorganisms and environmental pollution to find a gene for a material to neutralize poison and gene recombination technology is applied thereto so as to mass produce the material which neutralizes poison or produces crops for medicines and low fat meat.
The DNA microarrays may be divided into oligo chips and cDNA chips according to a type of a probe used and may be divided into photolithography chips, spotting chips using a pin, and spotting chips using inkjet according to a manufacturing method. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate conventional spotting methods using a pin and inkjet, respectively, for manufacturing a DNA microarray. In the methods, a solution of biomolecules, for example, nucleic acids, such as probe DNA, mRNA, PNA, and proteins, are dropped and immobilized on a DNA microarray surface. All biomolecules used in the methods are in liquid state.
Regarding conventional spotting devices for manufacturing a DNA microarray and spotting methods using the same, in the case of using a pin, since the pin is used to spot a biomolecule solution which is then washed, and then it is used to spot another biomolecule solution, 99% or more of a biomolecule solution is discarded without being used. Also, the sizes of spots are not uniform, the pin is occasionally clogged, life time of the pin is not long, the concentration of the biomolecule solution is varied according to spotting time, and long time is required for spotting the biomolecule solution. In the case of using inkjet, a bubble jet method momentarily requires ultrahigh heat, and thus, a part of the biomolecules which are sensitive to heat may be affected by the heat. Also, a nozzle is occasionally clogged.

Spotting device for manufacturing DNA microarray and spotting method using the same


A gear shifting system for idler wheels (3) comprising sliding sleeves (2), which are connected torsion-resistant with a main shaft (1) and can be connected form-locking with an idler wheel (3) to be shifted via axial displacement. Actuation of the respective sliding sleeve (2) is provided through at least one adjusting unit (4), which selects an actuator such that a shifting actuation of the respective sliding sleeve (2) is possible.

Gear shifting systems, where shifting occurs by means of axial displacement of sliding sleeves, are known from the state of the art. This way, the sliding sleeve concerned can connect an idler wheel to be shifted form-locking with a main shaft. Displacement of the sliding sleeve is accomplished in the familiar gear shifting systems through shifting elements, such as drivers, shift rails and shift forks. In order to accommodate these necessary components in the transmission, additional operations are required on the gearbox housing, which are disadvantageous.
Among other things, a shifting mechanism in which a threaded spindle is driven by an electric motor is known from the U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,350 publication. An axially displaceable element is provided on the threaded spindle, which is connected via spring elements to a frame, which is likewise axially displaceable by rotating the threaded spindle. An actuating element is, in turn, provided on the frame, which can selectively engage a first or a second gear wheel with the actuating element through the axial displacement of the frame.
This familiar shifting mechanism has a very complicated configuration in terms of its constructional layout. Furthermore, a large number of elements is absolutely required for actuating the one or the other gear wheel.
The present invention is based on the objective of proposing a gear shifting system in accordance with the kind described above, which has the lowest possible number of components and nevertheless enables simple and secure actuation of the gear shifting system.


An improved mist collector arrangement is provided. The arrangement includes an improved pre-filter for mist collection. The pre-filter has a multi-stage construction, and includes a preferred intermediate stage of fibrous media. As a result of the improvement, preferred operation for liquid collection under various circumstances is provided.

The metal working industry utilizes various coolants and lubricants during cutting and forming operations. These liquids include pure oils, oil and water mixtures, and non-oil synthetics. Because of the forces with which these fluids are applied during metal working operations and the heat generated when the cutting tool meets the workpiece, a fine mist or aerosol (air borne) is often generated. To arrest this mist, a filter system is required.
If the machine tool is free standing, the aerosol mist can be pulled away from the area using a hood over the cutting area. Alternatively, newer machine tools employ enclosures around the cutting area, which allow the mist to be withdrawn from a single location.
Certain improvements in mist collector constructions and cartridges are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,454,858; 5,415,676; and 5,611,922; the disclosures of each of these three patents being incorporated herein by reference. Each of these patents is owned by Donaldson Company, Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn., the assignee of the present application. The Donaldson line of mist collectors, implementing such technology, is available under the registered trademarks Torit.RTM. and Dryflo.RTM., from the Torit division of Donaldson Company.


A receptacle connector is provided and includes an insulating case, a securing device and a cover. The insulating casing includes a plurality of terminal receiving passageways, a plug receiving space, a pair of protrusions on two sides of the plug receiving space. A securing device receiving space is disposed on one of the two sides. The securing device includes a horizontal portion, a first vertical portion and a second vertical portion extending downward from the horizontal portion, a first soldering portion extending horizontally from the first vertical portion, a second soldering portion extending horizontally from the second vertical portion. An engagement portion is positioned between the first vertical portion and the second vertical portion. The cover is pivotally connected to the insulating casing and includes a first protrusion receiving passageway and a second protrusion receiving passageway which communicate with each other and correspond in position with the pair of protrusions.

With the development in technology, a wide variety of electronic products require enhancement in stability of electronic components, to achieve better electrical performance and suit the ever-intricate operation environment. The main purpose of known connectors is to serve as an important medium of connection and signal transmission between electronic products.
In general, a known board-to-cable connector includes a receptacle connector and a cable plug connector. Taiwan patent M400135 discloses an electrical connector assembly having a plug connector and a receptacle connector. The plug connector includes a plug casing and a plug contact. A first holding portion is disposed at an end of each of two external sides of the plug casing. A clamping portion is disposed at one end of the plug contact. The receptacle connector has a receptacle casing and a receptacle contact. A second holding portion is disposed on each of two internal sides of the receptacle casing and corresponds in position to the first holding portion of the plug casing. After the plug connector has been pressed down to connect with the receptacle connector, the clamping portion accommodates and clamps the receptacle contact, whereas the second holding portion engages the first holding portion.
In other known connectors, for use with conventional SIM cards, a pivotal lid is used in connection with an insulating casing (for instance, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,552, EP 0905827, WO 2006020715, and CN 101308965A). Other known receptacle connectors, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,371,095 and TWM 304799, include the aforesaid pivotal lid connected to a wire plug. In known connectors, disclosed in JP1-109185, TWM359065, and TWM385815, a stopping/securing device is disposed on the aforesaid pivotal lid.
However, since electrical connectors are continually required to be made smaller in volume, constituent elements thereof have to be made smaller as well. Accordingly, it is an objective to reinforce the connection structure between a cable plug and a receptacle connector.

Tyco Electronics Holdings (Bermuda) No. 7 Ltd.


A recording head substrate allowing an increased number of the exothermic bodies driven at a time without increasing the substrate size so as to increase a number of nozzles arranged in high density. The recording head substrate includes a plurality of electrothermal conversion members having exothermic bodies respectively corresponding to a plurality of discharge ports; a plurality of drive elements for driving the exothermic bodies; common wiring A connected to the exothermic bodies; and common wiring B connected to the drive elements; and an electrode pad connected to the common wiring A and the common wiring B. A number of the exothermic bodies driven at a time is determined by (RlineA+RlineB)/(Rh+Rd)<0.05/(0.95 n−1).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink-jet recording head substrate, an ink-jet recording head, and an ink-jet recording apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an ink-jet recording head, in order to eject a plurality of kinds of ink from one substrate, a plurality of ink supply ports are provided on the one substrate. Additionally, in order to improve the removal performance of ink accumulating on an orifice plate of the one substrate, the substrate is connected to an external instrument by providing electrode pads arranged along sides of the substrate periphery parallel to the shorter side of the groove of each ink supply port. In this configuration, since the distance between an exothermic body and the electrode pad is different regarding the position of the exothermic body, the exothermic body located remote from the electrode pad has been liable to have a large wiring resistance. Accordingly, when a plurality of exothermic bodies connected to one piece of wiring are simultaneously driven from the same electrode pad, the voltage drop in the wiring is increased, so that sufficient electric power does not pervade the exothermic bodies and appropriate bubbles cannot be obtained in comparison with the case that one exothermic body is driven.
Then, as shown in FIG. 7, a configuration in that a line of exothermic bodies is divided into blocks, each block having a plurality of exothermic bodies, and the wiring to an electrode pad is provided for each block so that the wire resistance value for each block is equalized to each other, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-44416 (corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,315), for example. In this configuration, by the time-sharing drive in that only one exothermic body is driven within one block at one drive timing, the individual wiring has been achieved in that one exothermic body is driven with one piece of wire at a time.
However, in recent years, there have been demands for ink-jet recording apparatuses that are faster and record with improved image quality. As such, it is necessary for ink-jet recording heads to have more exothermic bodies to be driven with higher frequency. In order to drive a number of exothermic bodies, it is considered to increase the number of time-shared partitions, i.e., the number of exothermic bodies within one block.
By increasing the number of time-shared partitions in such a manner, a number of exothermic bodies can be driven without changing the number of pieces of wiring. However, since a predetermined unit time determined by the frequency is divided into smaller units, a driving time for each exothermic body is reduced. When the exothermic bodies are driven with higher frequency for achieving faster speeds, the driving time is further shortened.
However, in order to stably eject ink, energy applied to each exothermic body needs to be controlled. For this reason, a control technique of changing the driving time has been used. When the driving time of the exothermic body is extremely shortened, a bubble necessary for ejecting ink does not sufficiently grow in the ink, resulting in poor ejection. Accordingly, the driving time of the exothermic body is necessary to some extent, and the driving time is shortened to the limit at present. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve the method as described above.
On the other hand, in order to drive the exothermic body with the same frequency by increasing the number of exothermic bodies without changing the driving time, the number of the exothermic bodies driven at a time is increased, i.e., the number of blocks needs to be increased. In order to drive the exothermic body with higher frequency for achieving the speeding-up, it has been required to reduce the number of time-shared partitions and to increase the number of blocks. With increasing frequency, the driving time of each exothermic body is decreased, so that the minimum driving time is secured by reducing the number of time-shared partitions.
In a conventional wiring method as shown in FIG. 7, the wiring to the electrode pad is individually routed for each block. In order to increase the number of blocks for increasing the number of the exothermic bodies driven at a time, the number of pieces of individual wiring needs to be increased. However, in the individual wiring, the distance from the electrode pad in the substrate periphery to be connected is different regarding the position of the block, so that the length of the wiring is different. Since with increasing length of the wiring, the resistance increases, in order to equalize resistance values by eliminating the wiring resistance differences due to the block position, formerly, the smallest wire in diameter has been used for the block closest to the electrode pad, and with moving distance away from the electrode pad, the wire is increased in diameter. Since the smallest wire diameter has physically a limit, with increasing number of blocks, larger wire in diameter is necessary for the block remote from the electrode pad. As a result, if the number of the exothermic bodies driven at a time is doubled, the wire width increases by three to four times, so that a problem arises that the substrate rapidly increases in size.

Ink-jet recording head substrate, ink-jet recording head, and ink-jet recording apparatus


A storage system comprises a non-volatile memory configured to store boot code and a control circuit connected to the non-volatile memory. In response to a first request from a host to transmit the boot code, the storage system commences transmission of the boot code to the host at a first transmission speed. Before successfully completing the transmission of the boot code to the host at the first transmission speed, it is determined the boot code transmission has failed. Therefore, the host will issue a second request for the boot code. In response to the second request for the boot code, and recognizing that this is a fallback condition because the previous transmission of the boot code failed, the storage apparatus re-transmits the boot code to the host at a lower transmission speed than the first transmission speed.

Many electronics devices make use of embedded or connected storage systems. Often, the embedded or connected storage systems include non-volatile memory such as flash memory. An electronic device that includes an embedded or connected storage system is referred to as a host.
The process of a host starting operation and entering a state of readiness for intended operation is called "booting" or a "boot process." A host typically has a ROM (Read Only Memory) which stores minimal code to start the boot process. When a host is turned on or restarted, it will execute the code stored in the ROM which instructs the host to upload the full boot code from a dedicated portion of the embedded or connected storage system. The boot code will be used by the host to perform the boot process.
As users of an electronic device typically do not like to wait too long for a boot process to complete, it is desired that the transmission of the full boot code from the embedded or connected storage system be performed at a high transmission speed. In some instances, the transmission speed for the boot code is preprogrammed in the embedded or connected storage system. A problem occurs, however, when line conditions (e.g., temperature, interference and/or line delays) become unfavorable for communication at the preprogrammed transmission speed. For example, the boot code may become corrupted during transmission from the storage system to the host. If the boot code cannot be read by the host, then the host and/or the storage system may be treated as being non-operable.

Non-volatile storage device having fast boot code transfer with low speed fallback