Application device for a paper machine, a paper machine, a nozzle dampener, and a process for improving the surface of offset paper. The application device includes a plurality of nozzles distributed across a machine width as at least one row of nozzles, such that the plurality of nozzles are oriented to spray a passing paper web. The at least one row of nozzles is adapted for an alternative selective throughput of water and binding agent. The paper machine includes the application device. The nozzle dampener includes a plurality of nozzles distributed across a machine width as at least one row of nozzles, such that the plurality of nozzles are oriented to spray a passing paper web. The at least one row of nozzles are adapted to improve paper properties of offset paper by applying a binding agent onto the passing paper web. The process includes supplying a binding agent to at least one nozzle located within at least one of a drying section of a paper machine and a calender of the paper machine, and applying the binding agent across a width of a moving paper web in the at least one of the drying section and the calender.

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 of German Patent Application No. 199 21 592.8, filed on May 7, 1999, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an application device, e.g., a nozzle dampener, for a paper machine, having a plurality of nozzles distributed across the machine width for spraying a passing paper web. The present invention further relates to a paper machine for producing rotogravure and offset paper having at least one drying section and one calender. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of a nozzle dampener for improving the paper properties of offset paper. Finally, the present invention also relates to a process for improving the surface of paper for use as offset printing paper.
2. Discussion of Background Information
In order to be able to achieve optimal printing quality, different printing processes place different requirements on the quality and properties of the paper being produced. Thus, high-quality printing is produced using, e.g., the rotogravure process or the offset printing process.
In the case of the rotogravure process, the printing ink is applied to the paper by the ink first accumulating in the recesses of a printing plate so that it can then be applied to the paper that passes by when the printing plate unrolls.
In contrast to this, in the offset printing process, the print image is projected onto a surface (hydrophilic/hydrophobic), whereby the surface properties change according to the print image. Hydrophobic locations absorb the positive printing inks, while hydrophilic locations absorb water.
Due to the great difference in printing techniques, different requirements are also placed on the quality and the properties of the paper to be printed. Thus, for example, paper that is especially suited for rotogravure is enriched with a very high proportion of filler in order to be able to optimally adjust the surface properties in the calendering process. Furthermore, in the case of offset printing, it is also very essential for the paper being used to have a high surface strength, give off as little dust as possible, and have only a low tendency to tear in order to be able to achieve the desired high printing quality and good pressroom runnability.
Most paper machines that are suited especially for producing one or the other type of paper are manufactured and operated according to these requirements. However, problems arise when the attempt is made to equip the same paper machine in such a way that it is suited for producing both variations of paper, i.e., rotogravure paper and offset paper, without having to make great adjustments when changing the paper type.
It is known from the unexamined German Patent Application DE 196 32 673 A1 that, in order to produce high-quality printing paper for the offset printing process, an attempt is made to add an auxiliary agent to the mass to increase the strength in the z-direction of the paper (perpendicular to the surface of the paper) or the surface strength. The disadvantage of this measure is the rather low efficiency of adding auxiliary agents to the mass in paper production. This means that a disproportionately high quantity of auxiliary agent (binding agent) is needed in the mass to achieve a sufficient effect on the surface.
In addition, it is generally known that the surface of a finished paper web is coated off-line with the aid of suitable application units subsequent to its production process and that this produces the high surface quality that is suitable for offset printing.
The disadvantage of this known process is that high production and investment costs are required for the additional application units, possibly for a separate facility for off-line application, and these units drive up the production costs for this type of paper.
Furthermore, nozzle dampeners that are used to spray water on a finished paper web in order to give the paper web a desired moisture profile that is as uniform as possible are known in prior art. After this treatment, the paper web is usually fed through calenders, thereby achieving an especially smooth surface that is as uniform as possible. Reference is made to documents EP 0 345 670 B1 and DE 38 19 761 C2 with respect to the nozzle dampeners, the disclosures of which are explicitly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. A calender or glazing roller is known from unexamined German Patent Application DE 195 42 191 A1, for example.
The present invention discloses one single paper machine which is equally suited for selectively producing either rotogravure paper (self-contained paper) or offset paper as desired without protracted adjustments being necessary.
According to the invention, the paper machine to selectively produce rotogravure and offset paper includes at least one drying section and a calender, and at least one nozzle dampener located in the area of the drying section. The at least one nozzle dampener can be substantially exclusively utilized to homogenize the moisture cross profile of the paper web when producing rotogravure paper, and can be substantially exclusively utilized to apply a binding agent, e.g., starch, when producing offset paper.
By using the nozzle dampener in the drying section of the paper machine to apply binding agent, the instant invention enables both rotogravure paper as well as high-quality offset printing paper to be produced on one and the same paper machine without special adjustments having to be made.
If the paper is supposed to be suitable for offset printing on both sides, at least one nozzle dampener can be provided on both sides of the paper web.
In positioning the nozzle dampener or even another applicator operating with nozzles, it can be advantageous to maintain a distance of approximately 10 to 200 mm, preferably approximately 20 to 150 mm, and most preferably approximately 20 to 100 mm between the nozzle exit points of the nozzle dampeners and the paper web in order to avoid an excess formation of mist.
According to the invention, an application device, e.g., a nozzle dampener, is provided for a paper machine with a plurality of nozzles distributed across the machine width to spray a passing paper web, in which at least one row of nozzles is provided for the throughput of water and/or binding agent solution.
As a result of this embodiment, it is possible to adjust to the special properties of the binding agent solution so that the nozzles can be adapted according to the different consistency, viscosity, and throughput volume.
In this connection, it can also be advantageous for at least one row of nozzles, through which the binding agent flows, to be provided with nozzle openings that create a closed binding agent film on the passing paper web.
It can also be favorable, as a function of the binding agent used, to provide at least one row of nozzles with openings that form a spray jet with a droplet size of approximately 20 to 250 xcexcm, preferably approximately 50 to 70 xcexcm.
Another advantageous embodiment of the application device according to the invention provides that, for at least one row of nozzles, through which the binding agent flows, a device can be provided which regulates or controls the longitudinal profile and/or the cross profile of the applied mass of binding agent across the width of the machine. Thus, it is possible either to make sure that there is an uniform application layer in the production process or even to regulate or control the cross profile of the layer thickness across the web.
However, there is also the alternative possibility of compensating for irregularities in the previous paper thickness over a specific length and/or a specific section of the paper web by adapting the layer thickness of the application of the binding agent and, in this way, achieving an overall uniform mass cross profile and/or mass longitudinal profile of the paper web.
The device to regulate or control the mass cross profile and/or the mass longitudinal profile of the applied binding can contain, for example, a plurality of valves influencing the throughput volume, with one nozzle or group of nozzles of the application device being allocated to each valve.
However, there is also the possibility of influencing the mass cross profile and/or the mass longitudinal profile of the applied binding agent in such a way that the concentration of the applied binding agent is regulated or controlled across the machine width according to requirements for a more or less intensive application of binding agent.
A control circuit can be provided to regulate the mass longitudinal profile of the applied binding agent, and includes at least one measuring device for the mass longitudinal coupled to the application device so that a control circuit coupled thereto can be generated.
If the mass cross profile of the applied binding agent is to be regulated, a measuring device can be provided for the mass cross profile, which can be composed of, e.g., a single measuring head which travels across the width of the machine. In the same way, a plurality of measuring heads can be used, which are stationary and measure only a specific section or which are movable only over a specific section in the machine cross and travel over this section.
The application devices are also advantageously designed in such a way that the nozzles are set up for an average binding agent solution throughput, which is set up for a surface application of approximately 0.05 to 5 g/m2 oven dry of binding agent with a concentration of the binding agent solution of approximately 2 to 30% by weight, preferably approximately 5 to 20% by weight, most preferably approximately 10 to 15% by weight and a machine speed of approximately 8 m/s to 50 m/s, and preferably approximately 10 m/s to 35 m/s. In addition, the nozzles of the application device should be designed for an average binding agent solution throughput of approximately 0.03 l/min. to 5 l/min., preferably approximately 0.05 l/min. to 3 l/min., and most preferably approximately 0.06 l/min. to 1 l/min.
With regard to the controllability of the application device, it is advantageous for the nozzles of the nozzle dampener to be provided with a zone width (i.e., the distance from nozzle to nozzle in a row that is the width of the machine) of 10 to 100 mm, preferably approximately 20 to 70 mm, and preferably approximately 25 to 50 mm.
In addition, it is advantageous for an especially uniform application of the binding agent on the paper web if at least two rows are provided with preferably one row for the nozzles applying the binding agent.
According to the invention, nozzle dampeners, which are known per se, can be used to improve the paper properties of offset printing paper, and to apply binding agent to the passing web in the area of the drying section. It is especially favorable, of course, if the nozzle dampener possesses at least one of the previously cited characteristics of a nozzle dampener according to the invention.
In addition, a process to improve the surface of offset paper is proposed, which distinguishes itself by a binding agent being applied to the paper web in the process of being produced across the machine width in the area of a drying section of a paper machine.
In this connection, it is especially advantageous if the application of the binding agent can occur with the aid of a nozzle dampener, with it being especially favorable for the application of the binding agent if the application of the binding agent takes place via a spray jet with a droplet size of approximately 20 to 250 xcexcm, and preferably approximately 50 to 70 xcexcm. As an alternative or a combination, there is also the possibility of setting up the application of the binding agent, particularly the nozzles of the application device, so that the binding agent is applied as a closed film on the paper web.
Another advantageous embodiment of the process according to the invention provides for the longitudinal profile and/or the cross profile of the applied mass of binding agent to be regulated or controlled across the width of the machine. This regulation can be designed in such a way that the masses of the applied binding agent take place via a section-by-section change in the concentration of the applied binding agent solution. The advantage of this is that only slight changes occur in the quantity of the solvent proportion to be vaporized. However, there is also the possibility of simply regulating the quantity of the sprayed binding agent solution. This can take place on a section-by-section basis or across the entire machine width.
Advantageous values for the surface application of the binding agent lie in a range of an average surface load of paper of approximately 0.05 to 5 g/m2 oven dry of binding agent, whereby a concentration of the binding agent solution of approximately 2 to 30% by weight, preferably approximately 5 to 20% by weight, and most preferably approximately 10 to 15% by weight, can be used advantageously.
In addition, favorable operating values are produced if the nozzles of the application device have an average throughput of approximately 0.03 l/min. to 5 l/min. of binding agent solution, preferably approximately 0.05 l/min. to 3l/min., and most preferably approximately 0.06 l/min. to 1 l/min.
As already mentioned above, both sides of the paper web, instead of one single side of the paper web, can be coated with the binding agent by at least one nozzle dampener.
For an optimal connection between the applied binding agent and the paper web, the paper web should have a dry content of greater than approximately 55% when the binding agent is applied, preferably greater than approximately 60%, and most preferably greater than approximately 80%.
It can also be advantageous if the moisture cross profile of the paper web is influenced in the desired direction. Corresponding regulation and control mechanisms are known from the published German Patent Application DE 38 19 761 C2, for example.
The present invention is directed to an application device for a paper machine. The application device includes a plurality of nozzles distributed across a machine width as at least one row of nozzles. The plurality of nozzles are oriented to spray a passing paper web. The at least one row of nozzles is adapted for an alternative selective throughput of water and binding agent.
According to a feature of the present invention, the at least one row of nozzles, through which the binding agent selectively flows, includes nozzle openings adapted to create a closed binding agent film on the passing paper web.
Further, the at least one row of nozzles, through which the binding agent selectively flows, can include nozzle openings adapted to form a spray jet with a droplet size of approximately 20 to 250 xcexcm. Further, the droplet size can be approximately 50 to 70 xcexcm.
In accordance with another feature of the instant invention, a regulation or control device may be coupled to the at least one row of nozzles, through which the binding agent flows, to regulate or control at least one of a longitudinal profile and a cross profile of an applied mass of binding agent across the width of the machine.
According to another feature of the invention, the device to regulate or control at least one of the mass cross profile and the mass longitudinal profile of the applied binding can include a plurality of valves adapted to adjust throughput. Each of the plurality of valves may be allocated to one of one nozzle and a group of nozzles. To regulate the mass longitudinal profile of the applied binding agent, the application device can further include a measuring device for measuring the mass longitudinal profile and a control circuit coupled thereto. To regulate the mass cross profile of the applied binding agent, the application device can further include a measuring device for the mass cross profile and a control circuit coupled thereto.
In accordance with still another feature of the present invention, the plurality of nozzles may be designed for an average binding agent solution throughput for a surface application of approximately 0.05 to 5 g/m2 oven dry of binding agent with a concentration of the binding agent solution of approximately 2% to 30% by weight binding agent. Further, the concentration of the binding agent solution can be approximately 5% to 20% by weight binding agent. Still further, the concentration of the binding agent solution can be approximately 10% to 15% by weight binding agent. A machine speed can be approximately 8 m/s to 50 m/s. Preferably, the machine speed can be approximately 10 m/s to 35 m/s.
According to a further feature of the invention, the plurality of nozzles can be designed for an average binding agent solution throughput of approximately 0.03 l/min. to 5 l/min. Further, the average binding solution throughput can be approximately 0.05 l/min. to 3 l/min. Still further, the average binding solution throughput can be approximately 0.06 l/min. to 1 l/min.
Moreover, the plurality of nozzles have a zone width, which is a distance between nozzles in the width direction of the machine, of approximately 10 mm to 100 mm. The zone width can be approximately 20 mm to 70 mm. Further, the zone width may be approximately 25 mm to 50 mm.
In accordance with a still further feature of the instant invention, the at least one row of nozzles can include at least two rows of nozzles, and at least one of the at least two rows of nozzles can be adapted to apply the binding agent.
According to another feature of the present invention, the application device can be located in a drying section of the paper machine, in an area in which a dry content of the paper web is greater than approximately 55%. Further, the application device may be located in an area of the drying section in which the paper web dry content is approximately greater than 60%. Further still, the application device can be located in an area of the drying section in which the paper web dry content is approximately greater than 80%.
The application device may be arranged in a calender of the paper machine in an area in which a dry content of the paper web is greater than approximately 90%.
According to still another feature of the instant invention, the application device can be a nozzle dampener.
The present invention is directed to a paper machine for selectively producing rotogravure and offset paper. The paper machine includes at least one drying section, a calender, and at least one application device located in an area of at least one of the drying section and the calender. When producing rotogravure paper, the at least one application device is utilized to homogenize a moisture cross profile of the paper web, and, when producing offset paper, the at least one application device is utilized to apply a binding agent. According to a feature of the invention, the binding agent may be starch.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the at least one application device can include at least one application device provided on both sides of the paper web.
According to another feature of the instant invention, the at least one application device can be arranged at a distance of approximately 10 mm to 200 mm from the paper web. Further, the distance of the at least one application device from the paper web can be approximately 20 mm to 150 mm. Still further, wherein the distance of the at least one application device from the paper web can be approximately 20 mm to 100 mm.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the at least one application device can be a nozzle dampener that includes a plurality of nozzles distributed across a machine width as at least one row of nozzles, such that the plurality of nozzles are oriented to spray a passing paper web. The at least one row of nozzles can be adapted for an alternative selective throughput of water and binding agent.
The instant invention is directed to a nozzle dampener that includes a plurality of nozzles distributed across a machine width as at least one row of nozzles, such that the plurality of nozzles are oriented to spray a passing paper web. The at least one row of nozzles are adapted to improve paper properties of offset paper by applying a binding agent onto the passing paper web.
According to a feature of the invention, the at least one row of nozzles can be adapted to selectively improve paper properties of gravure paper by applying water onto the passing paper web.
The present invention is directed to a process for improving the surface of offset paper. The process includes supplying a binding agent to at least one nozzle located within at least one of a drying section of a paper machine and a calender of the paper machine, and applying the binding agent across a width of a moving paper web in the at least one of the drying section and the calender.
In accordance with a feature of the instant invention, the at least one nozzle can include a nozzle dampener.
According to another feature of the invention, the applying of the binding agent can include spraying at least one spray jet having a droplet size of approximately 20 to 250 xcexcm. Further, the droplet size can be approximately 50 to 70 xcexcm.
The process can also include one of regulating and controlling at least one of a longitudinal profile and a cross profile of an applied mass of the binding agent across the width of the machine. The one of regulating and controlling can include a section-by-section change in a concentration of an applied binding agent solution.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, a surface application of the binding agent can take place with an average surface load of paper of approximately 0.05 to 5 g/m2 oven dry of binding agent with a concentration of a binding agent solution of approximately 2% to 30% by weight binding agent. Further, the concentration of the binding agent solution can be approximately 5% to 20% by weight binding agent. Still further, the concentration of the binding agent solution can be approximately 10% to 15% by weight binding agent.
Moreover, the at least one nozzle can have an average throughput of approximately 0.03 l/min. to 5 l/min. of binding agent solution. Further, the average throughput may be approximately 0.05 l/min. to 3 l/min. of binding agent solution. Still further, the average throughput may be approximately 0.06 l/min. to 1 l/min. of binding agent solution.
In accordance with a still further feature of the present invention, the moving paper web can be coated with the binding agent on both sides by at least one application device.
According to still another feature of the invention, the binding agent can be applied in the drying section to a paper web having a dry content greater than approximately 55%. Further, the binding agent can be applied to a paper web having a dry content greater than approximately 60%. Still further, the binding agent may be applied to a paper web having a dry content greater than approximately 80%.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the binding agent can be applied in the calender to a paper web having a dry content greater than approximately 90%.
According to yet another feature of the present invention, the applying of the binding agent may influence a moisture cross profile of the paper web.
It is understood that the characteristics of the invention mentioned above and to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations indicated, but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the invention.
Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanying drawing.

Process for improving the surface of offset paper


A rod closure for locking sheet-metal cabinet doors or doors or flaps, having a rod, which is profiled in an elongated manner, extends substantially edgewise parallel to the door edge and is preferably arranged in the bevel space, and a holding element which is arranged at the door frame for holding the rod so as to lock the door in the closed position, and an actuating device for the rod, which actuating device is connected to the door leaf. The rod or a complicated profiled rod is mounted so as to be swivelable between a locked position and an unlocked position around a longitudinal axis arranged close to the side directed away from the door leaf plane, and the holding element forms a contact surface for the other side of the rod facing the door leaf plane, and the actuation device engages the rod close to this side.

a) Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a rod closure for locking sheet-metal cabinet doors or the like doors or flaps in sheet-metal cabinet frames or the like door frames or housing frames, comprising a rod, such as a flat strip rod, which is profiled in an elongated manner, extends substantially edgewise parallel to the door edge at the door or at the frame and is preferably arranged in the bevel space, and at least one holding element which is arranged at the door frame or at the door for holding the profiled rod so as to lock the door in the closed position, and an actuating device for the profiled rod, which actuating device is connected to the door or to the frame.
b) Description of the Related Art
A rod closure of this kind is substantially already known, e.g., from EP 0 261 268 A1. Further, reference is had to DE 42 10 586 A1.
In the known rod closures, the actuation of the locking rod is carried out by axial displacement of this locking rod.
The disadvantage in this kind of locking by means of axial displacement of a locking rod consists on one hand in that the drive mechanism of the rod is complicated and on the other hand in that the rod must support or form special locking elements. In DE 42 10 586 A1, these special locking elements are rotating portions on the locking rod; in EP 0 261 268 A1 they are running rollers which are arranged on the rod.


Reinforcing lumen rings are configured and adapted for use in conjunction with a circular endoscopic stapling instrument having a staple cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly. The reinforcing lumen rings maintain anastomotic lumen, e.g. as formed by the circular endoscopic stapling apparatus, in an open condition. The reinforcing lumen rings can include an annular ring having an outer terminal edge and an inner terminal edge, the outer terminal edge having a diameter which is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the staple cartridge assembly and the inner terminal edge having a diameter which is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the staple cartridge assembly.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to annular support structures and, more particularly, to reinforcing lumen rings, for use in conjunction with a circular endoscopic stapling instrument, for maintaining the resulting anastomotic lumen in an open condition.
2. Background of Related Art
Staples have traditionally been used to replace suturing when joining or anastomosing various body structures, such as, for example, the bowel or bronchus. The surgical stapling devices employed to apply these staples are generally designed to simultaneously cut and seal an extended segment of tissue in a patient, thus, vastly reducing the time and risks of such procedures.
Linear surgical stapling devices are employed by surgeons to sequentially or simultaneously apply one or more linear rows of surgical fasteners, e.g., staples or two-part fasteners, to body tissue for the purpose of joining segments of body tissue together. Such devices generally include a pair of jaws or finger-like structures between which body tissue to be joined is placed. When the stapling device is actuated and/or "fired" firing bars move longitudinally and contact staple drive members in one of the jaws, surgical staples are pushed through the body tissue and into/against an anvil in the opposite jaw thereby crimping the staples closed. If tissue is to be removed, a knife blade can be provided to cut between the rows/lines of staples. Examples of such instruments are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,354,628, 5,014,899 and 5,040,715, the entirety of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
For most procedures, the use of bare staples, with the staples in direct contact with the patient's tissue, is generally acceptable. The integrity of the tissue will normally serve to prevent the staples from tearing out of the tissue and compromising the sealing before healing has occurred. However, in some surgical operations, surgical supports, e.g., meshes, are employed by surgeons to bridge, repair and/or reinforce tissue defects with a patient, especially those occurring in the abdominal wall, chest wall, diaphragm and other musculo-aponeurotic areas of the body. Examples of surgical supports are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,054,406, 3,124,136, 4,347,847, 4,655,221, 4,838,884 and 5,002,551.
When the staples are applied in surgical operation utilizing surgical supports (i.e., reinforcing material), the legs of the staple typically pass from the cartridge jaw through a layer of reinforcing material, then through the patient's tissue before encountering the anvil jaw. In an alternative procedure, the legs of the staple typically pass from the cartridge jaw through a first layer of reinforcing material, then through the patient's tissue, and finally through a second layer of reinforcing material before encountering the anvil jaw. With the staples in place, the stapled tissue is clamped between the layers of reinforcing material.
While the surgical supports described above are used in conjunction with linear surgical staplers, the need exists for a support structure for use in conjunction with an annular surgical stapler, for example, an end-to-end anastomosis stapler such as a Model "EEA™" instrument available from United States Surgical, a Division of Tyco Health-Care Group, LP, Norwalk, Conn. and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,979 to Green et al. In general, an end-to-end anastomosis stapler typically places an array of staples into the approximated sections of a patient's bowels or other tubular organs. The resulting anastomosis contains an inverted section of bowel which contains numerous "B" shaped staples to maintain a secure connection between the approximated sections of bowel.
One possible side effect of any end-to-end bowel anastomosis is its tendency to stenos over time, which stenosis can decrease the diameter of the lumen over time. Accordingly, the need exists for a surgical support structure which operates in conjunction with any end-to-end anastomosis device and assists in maintaining the lumen of the anastomosed bowel or other tubular organ open over time.


A clock signal duty cycle stabilization system. The system includes a clock signal duty cycle stabilization circuit having an edge detection circuit and a latch circuit. The edge detection circuit is configured to receive an external clock signal and generate an output therefrom. The latch circuit is coupled to receive the output from the edge detection circuit. The latch circuit is configured to produce a rising edge of an internal clock signal and a falling edge of the internal clock signal in accordance with the output of the edge detection circuit.

Modern Analog to Digital Converters (ADCs) are timed based on a user supplied low jitter external clock source. These ADCs often operate on both phases of this clock signal to increase both efficiency and throughput. ADCs are specified to operate with a clock signal having a duty cycle that varies across a certain range. As is well known, a clock signal's duty cycle refers to a ratio of one clock phase width to the entire clock period. An ADC capable of operating over a wider duty cycle range can be beneficial in that the ADC is more flexible and useful across a larger set of applications.
A problem exists with prior art ADCs having the capability of operating over a wider clock signal duty cycle. Such prior art ADCs have internal circuitry configured to function with wide-ranging duty cycles. This circuitry unfortunately also increases the power needed to achieve high performance. Excessive power requirements leads to a number of disadvantages. For example, in handheld applications, an excessive power requirement reduces the battery life of a device. In other applications, excessive power requirements can lead to heat dissipation problems, noise problems, and other types of unreliability effects.
Thus, what is required is a solution for implementing duty cycle stabilization for an ADC integrated circuit device. The required solution should be capable of producing a clock signal having a duty cycle that is independent of any external clock duty cycle. Additionally, the required solution should be capable of producing a clock signal having a near optimal duty cycle of 50% for lowest power consumption in most ADCs. The present invention provides a novel solution to these requirements.

System for clock duty cycle stabilization


Systems, apparatus and methods for collecting, storing, processing, reconstructing, and interpreting raw scan data from a medical diagnostic imaging scan. Raw data after a scan such as a Computed Tomography (CT) scan is sent to a raw scan database system and image reconstruction system, where image volumes are reconstructed using software from the software bank and sent to a data management system. Raw scan data generated once by a scanner is continuously used at later times to reconstruct images of the patient without having to perform additional patient scans.

In the medical industry it is well known to use technologies such as computer tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, conventional X-rays and various other technologies to diagnose the health of a patient. The equipment used to provide such imaging is generally very complex and expensive. For CT imaging, the equipment generally includes a CT scanner that collects raw CT data and proprietary software that reconstructs 3D images out of raw data utilizing scanner's various hardware components, including computers. A computed tomography (CT) method uses X-ray scan data to reconstruct detailed images of a body's interior structure.
Despite the fact that only raw CT data preserves all the medical information acquired during a scan, in practice, only the image data (results of reconstruction) are saved. Once raw data are deleted there is no way back to perform additional image reconstructions without a repeat scan. But if raw data are saved, radiologists will be able to request retrospective reconstructions to more precisely zero in on specific regions of interest (ROI) without a repeat scan.
In addition, raw data from previous scans can be used for better planning of new scans and much more accurate monitoring of the treatment/disease progress. Availability of raw scan data to a wider group of image reconstruction professionals will also stimulate faster development and adoption of the next generation of reconstruction technologies. The same data sets can be used for testing and improving other new image reconstruction methods.
The saved raw CT data can also be used to more accurately determine the source of a medical problem, optimize treatment or disease monitoring, and lead to a paradigm shift in medical imaging, improving medical care not just on the individual patient level but on the entire patient population level.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional prior art workflow 1 of CT data acquisition and image reconstruction using software pre-installed on a scanner 20.
Referring to FIG. 1, the Scan Order 10 can be generated by a physician to assist with diagnosing or treating a medical issue or related issues. The scanner technician can perform a scan of a patient in accordance with the Scan Order and certain scanner-specific predetermined scan protocol. The protocol takes into account numerous patient-related variables to optimize diagnostic quality and minimize the amount of radiation exposure by the patient.
During the scan, the scanner collects raw CT scan data, sufficient to perform a computed tomography (CT)-based 3D (three-dimensional) image reconstruction, and stores raw scan data temporarily on the scanner 20 which includes a computer with pre-installed data processing and reconstruction software, and temporary CT data storage.
After the scan is complete, the processing and image reconstruction software preinstalled on the scanner perform raw data processing followed by 3D image reconstruction. The reconstructed 3D image volumes are temporarily stored on the scanner and are also sent to the image repository called Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) 30 which also includes a computer for medium-term storage 30.
The PACS system as well as image visualization workstations connected to the PACS can be accessed by physicians/radiologists to read and interpret the reconstructed images of a patient. Long-term storage (e.g., multiple years) of images can also be done.
Prior art exists in the area of image manipulation (or enhancement), which takes place after images have been reconstructed by the scanner system and raw data has been deleted. Such image-based image enhancement has inherent weakness over the raw data-based image reconstruction or raw data-based image enhancement. Many prior art patents in the area of imaging focus on specific algorithms for image manipulation rather than dealing with accumulation and re-inverting (re-imaging) of raw data acquired by a CT scanner' sensors to reconstruct a more accurate image of the body.
Various patents exist that touch on the idea of using previously generated images or downloading CT image data, but only in terms of using the data for their specific algorithm. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,145,984 to Nishide et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,684,589 to Nilsen et al.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,599,534 and 7,672,491 to Krishnan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,756,314 to Karau et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,860,286 to Wang and Jackson; U.S. Pat. No. 8,195,481 to Backhaus; which are each incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Nishide et al. '984 describes "a method to plan a scan in consideration of past patient exposures. The method includes a step of sampling information on a patient exposure the subject has received during a scan performed for reconstructing tomographic images, which is appended to each of the reconstructed tomographic images, on the basis of identification information with which the subject is identified; a step of creating a distribution of patient exposures calculated relative to an axis orthogonal to the scanning directions on the basis of the sampled information on the patient exposure (an estimated patient exposure, which is estimated in planning a scan, and an exposure limit); and a step of displaying the created exposure distribution.
The components 10, 20 and 30 of FIG. 1 are generally covered in the above identified patents.
Nilsen et al. '589 describes a technique to accelerate the image reconstruction process by dividing one set into subsets, where "The raw image data is decomposed into N subsets of raw image data. N is based on a number of available image generation computer processors. The N subsets of raw image data are processed to create processed image data. The image generation processors perform image processing on the image data in parallel with respect to each other." This patent describes "a method for increasing the performance of a system for processing raw image data via dividing it into smaller subsets of raw image data. This patent would also be potentially obsolete in the future based on continuing advances in efficiency of algorithms and computing power would make this technology unnecessary.
Krishnan et al. '534 and '491 are described as being used for "processing a medical image to automatically identify the anatomy and view from the medical image and automatically assess the diagnostic quality of the medical image. In one aspect a method for automated decision support for medical imaging includes obtaining image data, extracting feature data from the image data, and automatically performing anatomy identification, view identification and/or determining a diagnostic quality of the image data, using the extracted feature data." The methods described here are generally using an Image Database for performing feature analysis, anatomy/view identification and quality assessment of the imaged data (images) but not with raw CT data.
Karau et al. '314 is designed for dealing with imaged data for acquiring images on an imaging system and performing accessing image data with a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) algorithm.
Wang et al. '286 describes a medical image acquisition error detection technique which uses special characteristics of medical images to detect possible errors. In general, the presented technique categorizes medical images based on the type of images. When a medical image is to be examined for possible acquisition errors, it is categorized and a measure of difference between the image and the standard image for the category is computed. If the measure of difference falls outside the acceptable difference for the category, the image is deemed to contain an acquisition error and an alert is issued.
Backhaus '481 describes a teleradiology image processing system to receive, process, and transmit radiology read requests and digital radiology image data.
Here, a radiology processing system can include a series of processing components configured to receive digital radiology data from a medical provider, extract relevant information and radiology scan images from the digital radiology data, and initiate and control a workflow with a qualified remote radiologist who ultimately performs a read of the radiology scan images.
Other techniques in this patent facilitate data processing within the image processing system in response to medical facility rules and preferences; translation or conversion of digital images to other formats; compilation of patient and medical facility data obtained from the digital radiology data into medical records or data stores; assignment of radiology studies within a teleradiology workflow in response to licensing and credentialing rules; and billing functions in response to completed reads by the remote radiologist.
Thus, the first key problem in the prior art workflows, including solutions currently utilized by the medical industry, is that the raw data are only temporarily stored on the scanner (i.e., a few days) or even deleted right after the image reconstruction process is finished.
Another problem of the current workflow is that the scanner operates like a "black box", where no one except the scanner manufacturer has access to the raw scan data. As such, CT scanners are designed in such a way that it is impossible for anyone except the scanner manufacturer to take the raw data from the scanner to perform an additional image reconstruction with another, potentially superior or more customized, image reconstruction algorithm (software).
It is also impossible for third parties to independently install, potentially superior or more customized, image reconstruction software onto the scanner.
When there is a medical diagnosis needed to further scrutinize a particular target using computed tomography, because raw CT data has been deleted, there is no known reliable alternative which is not based on manipulation with images, but to repeat a CT scan, thereby exposing the patient to additional high doses of X-ray radiation. Not only is this re-image requirement detrimental to the health of the patient, but it requires additional costly system resources, medical personnel time, etc.
Moreover, a repeated scan is often performed on a different scanner, and the image reconstruction is often performed by a different software than the one used after the first scan, and the reconstructed images are interpreted by a different person such as a radiologist with different skills, experience, etc.
All these factors can accumulate and result in an inconsistency with the first result and even in an incorrect medical diagnosis. It would be much safer for a patient and more reliable from the medical point of view to resolve a possible issue by returning back to the saved raw data and perform CT reconstruction avoiding all or the majority of the factors mentioned above. On top of that, it would be greatly beneficial to the patients to have an option to perform a repeat reconstruction (of course, without a repeat scan) using the best available reconstruction software. This option is not available in the current art.
These problems not only result in radiation over-exposure of the patient population, but on a global level limit the full potential of medical imaging diagnostic quality and the pace of making available for doctors and patients novel imaging algorithms developed outside the walls of scanner manufacturer technology centers.
Solutions to the above problems are not contemplated by the scanner manufacturers or in the prior art.
Thus, the need exists for a new workflow and system that solve the above problems with the prior art.

Systems, apparatus and methods for collecting and storing raw scan data and software for performing data processing, image reconstruction and interpretation

University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


A bursting disc assembly has a bursting disc and an outlet side support ring. In order to provide a safety warning, when the bursting disc assembly is incorrectly installed in a reversed orientation, the outlet side ring has a passage through it from its radial interior to its exterior, in the form of a full thickness slot or a groove. In an incorrect installation, this passage provides a leak path from the pressurized side of the disc.

Bursting discs are designed to be supported in a very controlled manner in order to achieve burst pressure accuracy and repeatability. Bursting disc manufacturers provide holders to suit their particular design of bursting disc. Performance features of bursting discs often depend on the holder and disc operating together sympathetically. A typical example is by using keyed tabs on the disc and suitable location cut outs in the holder to receive the tabs so that the disc can only be inserted in the correct orientation, in order to enforce flow direction between the disc and the holder.
Various mechanisms have been used in attempts to eliminate the holder and reduce costs. Typically, this may only be achieved with customers who are able to modify the disc location interface to accept the control features that would have been used on the holder, for example controlled bore diameter and disc seat geometry. This is impractical except for customers who may be classed as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) when incorporating these design changes into the disc mating parts is possible.
In the process industries, bursting disc assemblies, typically mounted in holders, are installed between flanges with flat gasket seals. It is desirable to eliminate the use of a holder in order to reduce costs. However, the opportunity to modify the flanges to suit the particular requirements of the bursting disc is absent in most process industries because pipe networks utilise standard components such as "off the shelf" flanges and gaskets. It has therefore long been thought that eliminating holders in the process industry is impracticable.


Methods of fabricating large size, high performance multilayer diffraction gratings having a thick substrate that take advantage of reactive ion etching during the fabrication process are provided herein. In one implementation, a method of making a multilayer diffraction grating comprises the steps of: providing a substrate having a thickness of at least 2.0 cm; applying a dielectric structure having a plurality of layers on the substrate; depositing a photoresist; exposing the photoresist to a grating pattern; developing the photoresist to produce the grating pattern in the photoresist; and reactive ion etching to transfer the grating pattern to the dielectric structure. In preferred form, the substrate material of the grating is selected to have low electrical resistivity and high thermal conductivity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to diffraction gratings, and more specifically to the manufacture of multilayer diffraction gratings.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Diffraction gratings are integral parts of chirped-pulse amplification (CPA) high peak power lasers. In this scheme, high peak power is achieved by creating a laser pulse which contains an energy density near the saturation fluence of the laser medium and a duration near the inverse of its gain narrowed bandwidth. Diffraction gratings are used to distribute the energy of the laser pulse over a much longer time period prior to amplification in order to prevent damage to the laser amplifier. Following amplification, the pulse is compressed to extremely high power density by passage through a pulse compressor based on diffraction gratings. Diffraction gratings are the limiting factor to the power achievable with these systems, since a final grating must withstand this high power density in order to reform the short pulse. Therefore, for future higher power and energy laser systems it is desirable to both increase the size (area) and damage threshold of the gratings. The metallic diffraction gratings that were used in the world's most powerful laser system, the petawatt, were required to be nearly one square meter in area in order to handle the laser power. Lasers with increasing power and energy levels are required for many important experiments in high energy density physics and inertial confinement fusion.
Prior art designs and fabrication methods for advanced gratings that use non-metallic materials have inherently higher laser damage threshold that prior metallic gratings. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,463 (which is incorporated herein by reference), Barbee, Jr., a fabrication method for a grating of this type is described where the grating pattern is etched into a bulk substrate, prior to the coating of a reflecting dielectric multilayer on the surface. This grating is impractical for the CPA application since the high efficiency and large chromatic bandwidth required for the CPA application means that the multilayer would have to contain many layers (>20) to have high reflectivity. This large number of layers will act to planarize the patterned surface, destroying the grating structure. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,231 (which is incorporated herein by reference), Nelson et al. describe an etching step, with a planarization layer of different refractive index before applying a multilayer coating to the surface. This solution would also not be applicable due to many reasons. The planarization layer will cause additional evanescent losses for the diffraction grating limiting the efficiency. Also, the incident beam would have to travel through the substrate, which is not practical for short, high peak power pulses due to the potential for damage to the substrate resulting from self-focusing.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,436 (which is incorporated herein by reference), Perry et al. provide a multilayer grating that is designed specifically for the pulse-compression grating application. A grating pattern is formed in the top layer of a multilayer dielectric coating that has high reflectivity. The multilayer dielectric coating is formed on an insulating substrate. Perry et al. suggest a large number of fabrication options, including dry etching, wet etching and lift-off processing. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,648 (Yano et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,215 (Prince et al.) (both of which are incorporated herein by reference) describe the patterning of multilayer dielectric stripe filters including fabrication methods for producing patterned dielectric multilayer stacks using dry etching.
According to known fabrication techniques for multilayer diffraction gratings, insulating materials, such as fused silica (glass), are predominantly used as the substrate material upon which the multilayer dielectric structure is attached. Such materials provide good insulating properties and good adherence to the oxide dielectric layers formed thereon.
The primary fabrication choice for the patterning of multilayer dielectrics, such as described in the Perry, Yano and Prince patents above, is dry etching, notably reactive ion etching (RIE). Reactive-ion etching is favored over many different etch methods due to its high selectivity and anisotropic characteristics. As illustrated in FIG. 1, in reactive ion etching, a plasma excites gases that chemically attack the target material. Ions within the plasma are accelerated towards the substrate by a DC bias voltage applied at the bottom of the substrate. These ions can excite or ionize other species which then chemically react with the substrate or, they can attack the substrate directly. It is the combination of chemical and physical processes that gives RIE high anisotropy and selectivity.
However, large gratings (to satisfy the requirements of high peak power laser systems) require that the substrate is thick due to the desire to maintain wavefront quality of the gratings. This is due to stresses in the coating or even the weight of the substrate itself being able to deform the substrate to an extent that it is unusable unless the thickness of the substrate is sufficient to prevent this distortion. A typical aspect ratio that is used for the maximum width of the substrate compared to the thickness is 6:1. Hence, gratings of sizes greater than 40 cm in width, would be required to be greater than 6.5 cm thick to satisfy this criterion.
Descriptions of diffraction gratings and methods to fabricate them, such as described in the Perry, Yano and Prince patents, do not consider the thickness of the substrate material. For small-size gratings in which the thickness of the substrate is inherently thin (less than 0.5 cm) and for gratings fabricated with ion-beam etching processes, the substrate thickness is not important, However, reactive ion etching has proven challenging in the fabrication of large size multilayer diffraction gratings in which the substrate is thick, e.g., at least 2.0 cm. Accordingly, instead of using reactive ion etching, such diffraction gratings are typically fabricated using ion beam etching, which uses a focused ion beam to directly ablate the target surface.
In one approach, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,091 to Bartha et al. (which is incorporated herein by reference), the etching of substrates having a low thermal conductivity is improved by providing a cooling apparatus to remove the excess heat generated at the substrate in order to minimize non-uniform heating effects.

Method for making large scale multilayer dielectric diffraction gratings on thick substrates using reactive ion etching


A semiconductor ridge waveguide laser structure with a roughened sidewall ridge that includes a substrate and an active layer disposed between lower and upper cladding layers. The structure further includes a waveguide ridge which comprises a contact layer and a trapezoidal ridge portion 16 of the upper cladding layer. The trapezoidal ridge portion has roughened sidewalls which provides low contact resistance.

High-power semiconductor ridge waveguide lasers suffer from the excitation of higher order modes as their power output is increased. This causes their beam shape properties to vary as a function of laser output power. Such behavior causes problems in applications which use these semiconductor ridge waveguide lasers such as optical recording and optical fibers.
There are three competing requirements on ridge waveguide lasers that are formed through wet-etching of the ridge: first, the need to have good electrical contact, and second, the need to have fundamental-mode behavior and third, the need to have low waveguide absorption. A relatively small ridge width is required for high power fundamental mode operation, and to obtain a low loss waveguide there is a need for a thick upper cladding layer which in turn increases the depth to which a ridge has to be etched in order to provide good waveguiding and reduces the contact layer width which increases series resistance or removes the contact layer completely.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,552 issued Oct. 22, 1991 to Harder et al., entitled: PROCESS FOR FORMING THE RIDGE STRUCTURE OF A SELF-ALIGNED SEMICONDUCTOR LASER, describes a process for forming the ridge structure of a self-aligned InP-system, double heterostructure laser, particularly useful for long wavelength devices as required for signal transmission systems that includes a thin Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 layer deposited at a high plasma excitation frequency for adhesion promotion, and a low frequency deposited Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 layer for device embedding, provides for the etch selectively required in the process step that is used to expose the contact layer to ohmic contact metallization deposition.
The publication by C. Harder, P. Buchmann and H. Meier entitled HIGH-POWER RIDGE-WAVEGUIDE AlGaAs GRIN-SCH LASER DIODE, Electronics Letters, 25th Sep. 1986, Vol. 22, No. 20, pages 1081-1082 provides background information for semiconductor ridge waveguide laser structures and fabrication methods therefor.

Roughened sidewall ridge for high power fundamental mode semiconductor ridge waveguide laser operation

International Business Machines Corporation


A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix, a plurality of word lines corresponding to respective rows of the plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word line drivers for driving the plurality of word lines, respectively, and a plurality of pull-down circuits connected to the plurality of word lines, respectively, for causing voltages of the respective connected word lines to be lower than or equal to a power supply voltage when the respective word lines are in an active state. The word line drivers each have a transistor for causing the corresponding word line to go into the active state. The pull-down circuits each have a pull-down transistor for pulling down the corresponding word line, the pull-down transistor being a transistor having the same conductivity type as that of the transistor included the word line driver for driving the corresponding word line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit having flip-flop memory cells and, more particularly, to a technique of controlling the voltage of a word line.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, as the process rule is reduced, the areas and the power supply voltages of semiconductor integrated circuits are rapidly reduced. This leads to detrimental effects. For example, in a semiconductor integrated circuit having flip-flop memory cells, such as a static random access memory (hereinafter referred to as an SRAM), it has been considerably difficult to impart stable characteristics to the memory cells due to variations in characteristics of transistors included in the memory cells or the reduction of the power supply voltage. As a result, the yield of the semiconductor integrated circuit is reduced.
In general, it is known that the threshold voltage Vt of a transistor varies in proportion to 1/√(W×L), where W is the width of the transistor and L is the length of the transistor. In other words, as the transistor width W and the transistor length L are reduced with a reduction in the process rule, a variation in the transistor threshold voltage Vt becomes more significant.
Thus, when the reduced process rule is used, it is considerably important to suppress variations in elements included in a semiconductor integrated circuit in order to achieve stable characteristics and performance of the semiconductor integrated circuit.
SRAMs have a static noise margin (hereinafter also referred to as an SNM) as a characteristic of a memory cell. The SNM is an index indicating the magnitude of a margin with respect to noise. The larger the value of the SNM, the higher the data holding performance of the memory cell (e.g., as data held in a flip-flop of a memory cell becomes more unlikely to be inverted due to noise from a bit line pair when a word line is in the active state, the data holding performance becomes higher). The SNM is generally improved by reducing the conductance of an access transistor included in a memory cell of an SRAM.
As a technique of improving the SNM, the following examples are known. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-368135 (Patent Document 1) describes that different power supply voltages are supplied separately to a peripheral circuit and a memory array of an SRAM (a power supply voltage for the peripheral circuit is set to be lower than a power supply voltage for the memory array). It is also described that a step-up power supply circuit or a step-down power supply circuit is provided so as to cause the power supply voltage for the peripheral circuit to be lower than the power supply voltage for the memory array.
A word line for controlling the gate terminal of the access transistor is driven by a power supply for the peripheral circuit of the SRAM. Therefore, the voltage of the word line in the active state is lower than the power supply voltage for the memory array. Therefore, the conductance of the access transistor controlled by the word line is reduced, resulting in an improvement in the SNM.
Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-276277 (Patent Document 2) describes that a transfer gate including an n-channel metal oxide semiconductor transistor (hereinafter referred to as an NMOS transistor) and a p-channel metal oxide semiconductor transistor (hereinafter referred to as a PMOS transistor) is connected in series to a word line. The voltage value of the word line in the active state is controlled to be lower by an amount corresponding to the threshold voltage of the NMOS transistor than the power supply voltage, so that the conductance of the access transistor is reduced, resulting in an improvement in the SNM.
However, if two different power supply voltages cannot be supplied to an SRAM (only one power supply voltage is supplied), a method as described in Patent Document 1 cannot be used.
Also, if a step-up power supply circuit or a step-down power supply circuit is provided as in Patent Document 1, a power supply for the whole peripheral circuit or the whole memory array is controlled, resulting in an increase in power consumption. The provision of a step-up power supply circuit or a step-down power supply circuit also leads to an increase in layout area of the whole circuit.
If a transfer gate is used as in Patent Document 2, the voltage value of a word line in the active state can be set to be lower only by an amount corresponding to the threshold voltage of the NMOS transistor than the power supply voltage. Also, the transfer gate is connected in series to a word driver circuit for driving the word line, and therefore, the capability to drive the word line is reduced, leading to a deterioration in the rising or falling speed of the word line voltage.
Further, if the word line is caused to be in the active state for a long period of time, the word line voltage goes up to the power supply voltage level due to a leakage current via the transfer gate or the like. In other words, the word line voltage cannot be controlled to have a desired value (a value lower by an amount corresponding to the threshold voltage of the NMOS transistor than the power supply voltage). The influence of variations in elements constituting the circuit is not taken into consideration, and therefore, when the reduced process rule is used, it is considerably difficult to achieve the stable characteristics and performance of the semiconductor integrated circuit.


An antitheft system, for car stereo having a detachable grille, has an identification resistor provided in the body of the car stereo, and a resistor provided in the grille. A circuit including the identification resistor and the resistor in the grille is formed when the grille is attached to the body of the car stereo. A voltage across the identification resistor is compared with a reference voltage for producing a coincident signal when the voltage is equal to the reference. In response to the coincident signal, the car stereo becomes operative.

Increase in the use of sophisticated car stereos in recent years has caused an increase of thefts of the stereos. In order to prevent the theft of the stereo, there has been many proposals of antitheft systems.
In accordance with one of the systems, a car stereo is provided with means for registering an identification code. The user stores an arbitrary code in a memory provided in the car stereo so that the car stereo cannot be operated unless the correct code is input thereto. Such a car stereo is shown in FIG. 4. Namely, disposed on a front panel 2 of a car stereo body 1, are a cassette opening 3, a plurality of push buttons 4 for operating a cassette tape, and a liquid crystal display panel 9 for indicating information such as current time and a received frequency. At a lower portion of the opening 3, preset switches 5 are provided for setting a frequency of for example, FM channel and for displaying the set frequency. A plurality of function switches 6, time adjusting switches 7 and a display exchange switch 8 are provided at a lower portion of the preset switches 5. A volume control knob 10 and a matrix of code keys 11 are disposed at the left side of the front panel 2.
As shown in FIG. 5, the control system of the car stereo has a microcomputer 13 applied with a voltage of 5 V from a 5 V supply circuit 12 and connected to the liquid crystal display panel 9 through a display driver 17. An 8 V supply circuit 14 is connected to a lighting lamp 15 through a protection circuit 16 and to other mechanisms such as those for playing a cassette tape. The protection circuit 16 operates to stop the supply of power when the microcomputer 13 detects a problem such as a short-circuit.
The control system further has a key code producing circuit 18 which transmits an input code in accordance with the operation of the code keys 11. The code is fed to the microcomputer 13. A memory 19 is provided for storing the code set by the user.
Prior to playing the car stereo, the user registers a code of his choice by operating the code keys 11, which is then stored in the memory 19. In order to play the car stereo, the user inputs the registered code by operating the code keys 11. The code is applied to the microcomputer 13 which compares it with the stored code in the memory 19. When the codes coincide with each other, the protection circuit 16 is released so as to apply the 8 V to actuate the liquid crystal display panel and to operate other mechanisms of the car stereo. If an incorrect code is input, the protection circuit 16 stays operative so that the car stereo cannot be played, thereby preventing theft of the car stereo.
The control system must be provided with the key code generating circuit so that the construction thereof becomes complicated. Moreover, a thief might succeed in detecting the set code through numerous attempts at the keys.
Another type of a car stereo is built into a quick-removal chassis in a dashboard. Referring to FIG. 6 showing such a car stereo, there are provided various pushbuttons, keys, knob and cassette tape opening, which are identified by the same references as the car stereo shown in FIG. 4. In addition, the car stereo is provided with a rotatable handle 27 and a connector (not shown) provided at the back of the body 1. When the car stereo body 1 is mounted in the dashboard of an automobile the connector of the car stereo is connected with a connector provided in the dashboard, thereby supplying power to the car stereo from the automobile.
When leaving the automobile, the driver pulls out the car stereo body 1 from the dashboard with the handle 27 and takes it with him or her. However, the car stereo is heavy, hence undesirable to carry about.
Referring to FIG. 7, there has further been proposed a car stereo having a body 1a and a detachable grille 20 attached to the body 1a. The same references as those in FIGS. 4 and 6 designate the same parts.
A front panel 1b having a recess 1c is fixed on the outer periphery of the front portion of the car stereo body 1a. The recess 1c is so dimensioned that the grille 20 snugly fits therein. At an upper central portion of the recess 1c is formed a cassette opening 21. Three push buttons 22 are provided on the opposite sides of the cassette opening 21. A connector 23 which is connected to a connector (not shown) provided at the 20 back of the grille 20 when the grille is attached, is formed on the panel 1b.
The grille 20 has the cassette opening 3 which coincides with the cassette opening 21 of the body 1a and push buttons 4 provided opposite sides of the 25 cassette opening 3 corresponding to the push buttons 22 of the body 1a for operating a cassette tape. At a lower portion of the opening 3, preset switches 5 are provided. The volume control knob 10, function switches 6, time adjusting switches 7 and a display exchange switch 8 are provided at a lower portion of the preset switches 5. The liquid crystal display panel 9 is disposed at a right portion of the grille 20.
In order to attach the grille 20 on the body 1a, a groove 24 formed in one side of the grille 20 is engaged with a projection (not shown) projecting into the recess of the panel 1b from an inner edge thereof, thereby positioning the grille 20. The grille 20 is then pivoted about the projection so as to close in on the panel 1b, so that a push-push mechanism (not shown) provided in the body 1a engages with a recess (not shown) formed at the inner corner of the other end of the grille 20.
In order to detach the grille 20 from the panel 1b, the grille 20 at the side having the inner recess is depressed. The push-push mechanism is accordingly operated to project the grille 20. The grille 20 is pivoted about the projection and pulled off the panel 1b of the body 1a.
In order to operate the car stereo, each of the stereo body la and the grille 20 has a control system as shown in FIG. 8. The control system for the grille 20 comprises a microcomputer 26, key code producing circuit 18 connected with the operation switches 5 to 8 so as to transmit a key code in accordance with the operation of the switches, display driver 17 operated by the microcomputer 26 for driving the liquid crystal display panel 9, lighting lamp 15, and the connector 25. The control system for the stereo body 1a comprises the microcomputer 13 for controlling various operation modes of the car stereo, 5 V supply circuit 12 for supplying the voltage of 5 V to the microcomputer 13, 8 V supply circuit 14, protection circuit 16, and the connector 23.
The connector 23 of the body has a 5 V supply terminal 23a, data output terminal 23b, data input terminal 23c, key code input terminal 23d and 8 V supply terminal 23e. The terminals 23a and 23e are connected to the 5 V supply circuit 12 and the 8 V supply circuit 14, respectively, through the protection circuit 16. The data output and input terminals 23b and 23c are connected to the microcomputer 13. The microcomputer 13 is connected to the protection circuit 16 so as to operate the circuit. When the grille 20 is detached, the protection circuit 16 stops the supply of voltage from the 5 V supply circuit 12 and 8 V supply circuit 14 to the terminals 23a and 23e. Thus, the car stereo circuitry provided in the body 1a is protected from damage which is caused by the short-circuiting of the exposed terminals 23a to 23e.
The connector 25 of the grille 20 has terminals which correspond to the terminals 23a to 23e of the connector 23. Namely, there is provided a 5 V input terminal 23a, data input terminal 23b, data output terminal 23c, key code output terminal 23d, and 8 V input terminal 25e. The terminal 25a is connected to the microcomputer 26 so as to supply the 5 V voltage thereto. The microcomputer 26 receives data from the microcomputer 13 through the data input and output terminals 25b and 23b dependent on the operation of the operation switches 5 to 8 on the grille 20. A signal of the microcomputer 26 is applied to the microcomputer 13 through data output terminal 25c and data input terminal 23c. The microcomputer 26 applies a control signal to the display driver 17 to indicate the received data on the display 9. The 8 V input terminal 25e is connected to the lamp 15 for lighting the display 9.
When the grille 20 is taken out, the stereo body 1a loses the appearance of a car stereo. Hence, if the driver takes the grille 20 with him or here when leaving the vehicle, the theft of the car stereo is prevented.
However, the car stereo does not completely prevent theft, since the existence of the car stereo may be found despite its appearance. The stolen car stereo body without the grille may be easily played if an appropriate grille is stolen elsewhere and attached to the body.
Thus, none of the conventional car stereos are effective in preventing theft.

Antitheft system for a car stereo having a detachable grille


A novel metal oxide is provided. The metal oxide has a plurality of energy gaps, and includes a first region having a high energy level of a conduction band minimum and a second region having an energy level of a conduction band minimum lower than that of the first region. The second region comprises more carriers than the first region. A difference between the energy level of the conduction band minimum of the first region and the energy level of the conduction band minimum of the second region is 0.2 eV or more. The energy gap of the first region is greater than or equal to 3.3 eV and less than or equal to 4.0 eV and the energy gap of the second region is greater than or equal to 2.2 eV and less than or equal to 2.9 eV.

As a semiconductor material applicable to a transistor, an oxide has been attracting attention. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a field-effect transistor including an amorphous oxide of any of an In—Zn—Ga—O-based oxide, an In—Zn—Ga—Mg—O-based oxide, an In—Zn—O-based oxide, an In—Sn—O-based oxide, an In—O-based oxide, an In—Ga—O-based oxide, and a Sn—In—Zn—O-based oxide.
Non-Patent Document 1 discusses a structure in which an active layer of a transistor includes two layers of metal oxides of an In—Zn—O-based oxide and an In-Ga—Zn-O-based oxide.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A small bracket is provided for a sun visor for a vehicle. The bracket includes a base body supporting at least two locking elements and at least one seating dome, which can be mounted by means of locking elements. The locking elements can be inserted from the visible side into cutouts in the support structure behind whose cutout edges they extend. The bracket has a cover on the visible side, on which blocking wedges for securing the locking elements are arranged. Each locking element has two legs that can be brought into engagement transversely in respect to the insertion direction at oppositely located cutout edges. One leg of each locking element is arranged separated from the base body and movable in relation to it in the engagement direction. The bracket has an interlocking coupling that can be engaged in the engagement direction between the movable leg and the base body.

In connection with a small bracket of this type, known from German Patent Publication DE-A43 26 660, each locking element, which is embodied with only one leg, extends behind a cutout edge of the support structure in order to fix the small bracket in place on the support structure. For additional securing, a blocking wedge is driven into the cutout of the support structure next to the locking element and is locked to the locking element, pushes it against the cutout edge around which it extends and itself rests flat against the other cutout edge, so that the locking element, when exposed to tensional loads opposite the insertion direction, cannot slide off the cutout edge around which it extends. It is simultaneously possible to fix a further accessory element (vehicle headliner or trim) in place on the support structure (body sheet metal piece with cutouts for the two locking elements and the seating dome) by means of the small bracket. Since in connection with a small bracket for a sun visor, considerable forces can act on the small bracket as a function of the movement resistance of the sun visor shaft or of the sun visor to the shaft, when it is in use, it is disadvantageous that the two locking elements provide support only on one side, are therefore locally put under high loads and possibly permit the lifting off of one side of the base body from the support structure, or respectively the accessory element. It is furthermore not useful that removal is difficult under some circumstances, because the lock of the blocking wedges on the locking elements can hardly be released without destroying them.

Small bracket for sun visors of vehicles


A method for assembling a rocket propulsion motor including a motor case and a nozzle assembly, wherein the assembling is carried out under vacuum so that air can not be presented between a silicon sealant layer and a first O-ring disposed between the motor case and the nozzle assembly, thereby preventing the generation of air passage and air pocket in a silicon sealant layer coated over the assembled portions of the rocket propulsion motor. The silicon sealant is prepared by mixing a silicon sealant material with a setting agent. The mixing is also carried out under vacuum, so as to prevent the sealant from containing air. For venting air from a space defined the silicon sealant layer and the first O-ring under vacuum, a plurality of spacing bolts are used which serve to space the motor case and the nozzle assembly at a predetermined distance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for assembling a rocket propulsion motor, and more particularly to a method for assembling a rocket propulsion motor, capable of achieving a sealing between the assembled portions of the rocket propulsion motor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Rocket propulsion motors are well known as devices for supplying energy required for carrying flying objects or guided missile systems to designated positions or target points. A typical construction of such rocket propulsion motors is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a general rocket propulsion motor using a solid propellant. As shown in the drawings, the rocket propulsion motor comprises a motor case 1 having a generally cylindrical shape and containing a propellant 3 therein, a nozzle assembly 2 mounted to a rear end of the motor case 1 and an ignitor 4 mounted to a front end of the motor case 1 and directed to the interior of the motor case 1.
In such a conventional construction, a combustion gas generated upon burning the propellant 3 is exhausted outwardly through the nozzle assembly 2. Since the interior of motor case 1 is at high temperature and pressure during the exhaust of combustion gas, a seal should be assured at assembled portions between the motor case 1 and the nozzle assembly 2. If such a seal is not assured, the assembled portions may be exposed to fumes of high temperature and pressure or the seal function is failed, thereby causing the overall rocket system to be adversely affected. In some cases, there is a dangerous explosion of the rocket itself.
Now, a conventional method for assembling such a rocket propulsion motor will be described, in conjunction with FIG. 3 which is an enlarged view of the assembled portions between the motor case and the nozzle assembly.
As shown in FIG. 3, the motor case 1 has at its inner periphery surface a liner 5, an insulating member 6 and a heat resistant member 7. The motor case 1 also has at its rear end a after dome flange 8 at which a plurality of threaded holes 8a uniformly spaced are formed. On the other hand, the nozzle assembly 2 has at its inner periphery surface a heat resistant member 7' and at its outer periphery surface a first O-ring 9 and a second O-ring 10. The nozzle assembly 2 also has at its other periphery surface a nozzle flange 12 at which a plurality of throughout holes 12a uniformly spaced are formed. In assembling, each throughout hole 12a is aligned with the corresponding threaded hold 8a so that a bolt 11 having a high tensile strength is threadedly received in the threaded hole 8a via the throughout hole 12a, as will be described hereinafter.
In assembling the motor case 1 and the nozzle assembly 2 with the above-mentioned constructions, first, surfaces of the heat resistant members 7 and 7' which will come into contact with each other are cleaned. Thereafter, a silicon sealant layer 13 is coated to a predetermined thickness over the cleaned surfaces of heat resistant members 7 and 7'. The silicon sealant layer 13 may comprise a silicon sealant commercially available under the trademark designation "RTA-88" mixed with a setting agent such as dibutyl tin dilaurate (DBT).
The mixing of silicon sealant and setting agent is carried out at atmosphere. The coating of silicon sealant layer 13 over the contact surfaces of heat resistant members 7 and 7' is achieved using a spatula.
Thereafter, the motor case 1 and the nozzle assembly 2 are positioned such that each throughout hole 12a of the nozzle assembly 2 is aligned with the corresponding threaded hole 8a of the motor case 1. Accordingly, a plurality of bolts 11 can be threadedly received in the corresponding threaded holes 8a via the corresponding throughout holes 12a. By fastening the bolts 11, the assembling of the motor case 1 with the nozzle assembly 2 is completed.
Since the assembling of the motor case 1 with the nozzle assembly 2 is carried out at atmosphere in accordance with this conventional method, air may be presented in a space defined between the first O-ring 9 and the silicon sealant layer 13 at the contact surfaces of the assembled portions. As the bolts 11 are fastened, the air is compressed and this compressed air can not escape outwardly through the first O-ring 9, but escapes through the silicon sealant layer 13, thereby forming an air passage 15 as shown in FIG. 4A or air pockets 16 as shown in FIG. 4B. Such air passage 15 and air pockets 16 still remain after the setting of silicon sealant layer 13.
In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the reference numeral 14 denotes an adhesive.
The air passage 15 and air pockets 16 formed in the silicon sealant layer 13 allow fume gases to penetrate the contact surfaces of the assembled portions therethrough during the operation of the rocket propulsion motor, thereby causing the O-rings to be damaged. In severe cases, peripheral elements disposed around the O-rings may be subjected to a fatal damage.
In particular, the process for assembling the rocket propulsion motor is a blind process. Moreover, the air passage and air pockets formed in the silicon sealant layer can be hardly found by a nondestructive test (NDT) carried out after the assembling. Even though such air passage and air pockets have been found, they can not be locally repaired.
These problems about sealing of the assembled portions encountered in assembling the rocket propulsion motor are important things directly affecting the performance of the rocket propulsion motor. For example, the space shuttle explosion accident in January, 1986 has been known as caused by a defect in sealing of the assembled portions of solid rocket propulsion motor.
In cases of solid rocket booster motors of space shuttles which has been presently developed by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), there is a problem about a damage of the assembled portions, since their assembling is carried out at atmosphere. Although several attempts for changing the design of the nozzle assembling parts were made, this problem could not be basically solved yet. It has been known that two of three kinds of O-rings disposed at the assembled portions were still subjected to a damage (Reference: AIAA 91-2292-CP, AIAA 89-2773) .

Method for assembling rocket propulsion motor


A STM network 11 for temporarily storing input pattern vectors is formed in Phases 1 and 2, and then layered LTM networks 2 to L are formed successively by assigning output vectors provided by the STM network 11 as input vectors. In phase 4, a LTM network 1 for intuitive outputs to which input pattern vectors are applied directly is formed by taking the parameters of comparatively highly activated centroids among centroids in the LTM networks 2 to L. In phase 5, the parameters of the comparatively highly activated centroids among the centroids in the LTM networks 2 to L are fed back as the parameters of the centroids in the STM network. In phase 3, the LTM networks 2 to L are reconstructed at a particular time or in a fixed period by giving the centroid vectors of the LTM networks 2 to L again as input pattern vectors to the STM network 11.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to modeling of functions relating to psychological activities of the brain. More particularly, the present invention relates to a memory system using an artificial neural network structure (neural network model) for modeling such psychological functions of the brain as 'intuition', 'consciousness or awareness', 'memory-chaining' and 'emotion expression'. The present invention is applicable to many fields including those of (1) systems of intelligent robotics; (2) pattern recognition systems such as security systems for fingerprint identification, speech recognition and digit/character voice recognition, and image diagnosis; and (3) general domestic electrical appliances.
2. Description of the Related Art
Interpretation of notions of the emotional and psychological activities of the actual brain is a really challenging problem. Many schools in various disciplines including biology and philosophy have historically developed arguments about the interpretation of functions of the brain relating to emotional and psychological activities among those of the brain. Recently, research and development activities have been made on the basis of information obtained by the progress of biological studies in addition to the advancement of computer technology to develop what is called "brain-style computers".
It is said that the elucidation of the notion of 'intuition' in terms of artificial neural networks is one of key approaches to the development of brain-style computers (Ref. [1]).
On the other hand, various arguments have been made in recent years in the field of robotics about the concrete modeling of the notion of 'consciousness' (Refs. [2] to [5]). An intelligent robot is proposed in Ref. [5] as an example of such modeling. This artificial robot is capable of imitating the behavior of an actual animal by using a model of 'consciousness'. A virtual machine modeling the behavior of 'consciousness' is proposed in Ref. [2].
However, concrete methods of modeling the notion of 'intuition' have not been established in the conventional neural networks, and any method capable of clearly explaining the modeling of the state of 'consciousness or awareness' has not been available.

Long-term memory neural network modeling memory-chaining functions of the brain wherein a pointer holds information about mutually related neurons and neurons are classified hierarchically by degree of activation


The disclosed system, device and method for targeting and measurement of stationary target locations in addition to prediction of moving target positions for given weapon intercept times generally includes: a target location system (TLS) configured with a computing device, a GPS receiver, mapping software, calibration software and digital filtering software. Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to improve target acquisition and engagement. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally provide for improved accuracy of range finders, magnetometers and inclinometers as well as for improved prediction of moving target positions.

Conventional ground-based, man-portable Target Location Systems (TLS) exist in the U.S. Armed Services inventory. Representative examples include the Lightweight Laser Detector and Rangefinder (LLDR) and the Mark VII that are used for measuring stationary target positions. These systems generally use optical instrumentation for focusing and aiming for both night and day operations. They also employ laser rangefinders, magnetometers and inclinometers to measure range, azimuth and inclination. Typically, the operator turns the system on, goes through a relatively elaborate and tedious procedure of calibrating the magnetometer, lets the GPS acquisition complete, lets the camera warm up, focuses the camera on the target, places the crosshairs on the target aim point and pulls the trigger, which initiates the laser rangefinder to engage. The range, azimuth and inclination are then measured and processed in a GPS receiver to estimate target coordinates. The accuracy of the range finders are generally good; however, the accuracies of the magnetometers and inclinometers are marginal at best—generally resulting in large target position errors, especially at long ranges. To accommodate targeting errors, weapons with terminal seekers or weapons with large warheads have been employed. Both of these conventional solutions, however, are unsatisfactory because seekers are complex and expensive, while large warheads generally cause unnecessary collateral damage.
Some conventional target location systems that are mounted on specially designed tripods (for slewing and target tracking) have not been fully utilized because they have been designed for acquisition of stationary targets only. Precision attacks against moving targets with GPS guided weapons generally require that the weapons receive accurate data of predicted target position for a particular weapon intercept time with minimum delay. One way of accomplishing this has been to use conventional systems to estimate target velocity, predict target position at a given intercept time and uplink this data to an incoming weapon via a data link for terminal guidance.
That notwithstanding, there remains a need to reduce TLS angular errors, to improve target location accuracy, to mitigate the need for elaborate and tedious calibration procedures, to reduce the need for expensive weapons with terminal seekers, and to minimize collateral damage. Additionally, there is a need to more effectively utilize target location systems to conduct precision attacks on moving targets by accurately predicting moving target positions for a given weapon intercept time.


There are provided systems and methods for smart line routing using wireless beacons. A merchant may set up a wireless beacon throughout a storefront or retail location for the merchant. The beacons may connect to a user's device and provide check-in services to the user. Based on the connections between the user's device and the wireless beacons, information about the user's behavior in the merchant location may be determined. The information may correspond to items/services the user may purchase and an amount of items/services the user may purchase. Using this information and a payment instrument the user utilizes to complete a transaction for the items/services, and expected time for the user to complete a checkout and payment to the merchant may be determined. The expected time can be used to direct the user to a checkout line that minimizes a wait time for each line.

At various merchant locations, such as a merchant's retail store, a user may browse items and/or services for sale from the merchant and select various items/services for purchase from the merchant. These items/services may be grouped in areas together, such as a produce or bakery of a shopping market or a computers or televisions section of an electronics store. Based on the amount of items/services purchased, the user may spend a different amount of time completing a checkout and payment. For example, purchasing one bag of apples may be very quick; however, purchasing enough vegetables, meat, condiments, and hamburger buns for a barbeque may take a considerably larger amount of time. Moreover, certain items/services may take longer to purchase by nature of the type of item/service. While purchasing soft drinks for a barbeque may be accomplished quickly, it may take longer to purchase alcohol for a party due to checking identification to verify age, completing a more expensive purchase, or retrieving items that are under security precautions. Moreover, payment methods may cause users to spend different amounts of time completing a payment. However, merchants merely guide users to checkout lines without determining how long the user may take to checkout. Thus, these checkout lines may not be optimized to increase user throughput and create a better user experience.
Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, wherein showings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.

Smart line routing using wireless beacons


An apparatus which can be carried to a field sight to locate current and future positions of geosynchronous satellites orbiting the equator in the Clark Belt Altitude. The apparatus corrects the error in viewing angle by providing corrections in longitude and latitude deviations caused by the location of the antenna. The apparatus will provide the user a means of accurately locating a satellite with regard to existing terrain and the obstacles which would interfere with signals between the ground position and the satellite.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus which is used when installing a satellite dish or array on a building or on the ground.
2. Background Information
When deciding the location of a satellite dish or array, the installer needs to locate the desired satellite which will communicate with the array. The installer needs to determine that no obstacles will interfere with the signals being sent to and from the satellite. The apparatus of this invention evolved from a need to possess an instrument that can be carried to the field sight to locate current and future positions of geosynchronous spacecraft/satellite orbiting the equator in the Clark Belt Altitude.
Usually large communication dish antennas are needed for the purpose of locating satellite signals and the site feasibility at a specific location. These communication dishes are bulky and awkward to work with. A device was needed which is easy to setup and operate but does not sacrifice accuracy and reliability of locating satellite signals.