Video client social media account creation and linking of the video client social media account creation to a video services subscription account is provided. A user may create a video client social media account in one of various social media services, wherein the video client social media account is linked to the user's video service subscriber account. The user and the user's social media contacts may follow and/or be followed by the video client social media account. Information associated with video content may be electronically communicated with the video client social media account. A search for available or upcoming video content matching the received information may be performed, and one or more functionalities may be automatically performed when the content is available.

Video content users today can oftentimes be overwhelmed by the vast amount of video content that is available to them to watch. While there are tools available in a viewing experience that help users to find specific video content items that they want to watch (e.g., programming guide, search functions, recommendations, etc.), there are many times when a user is not at his/her television and may see or hear about a video content item that he/she is interested in viewing. The video content item may or may not be currently available or soon-to-be available for viewing. If the video content item is not currently available for viewing, the user may have to remember when the video content item will be available or periodically check to see if the content item is available.
For example, a video services user may hear about a show via social media that he/she is interested in watching, or see a movie poster at a theater for a movie that the user would like to see when it becomes available to watch through his/her video services subscription (e.g., cable or satellite service provider). If the date of availability is known, the user may have to remember the date, and if the date of availability is not known, the user may have to look up when the movie will be available via his/her service subscription. As can be appreciated, this can be burdensome to the user.
Users want to be able to find content they want to watch easily rather than searching for it when it becomes available. Additionally, video content users are increasingly finding that their televisions or other video viewing devices are becoming companions to them. For example, personalization of content, recommendations, and targeted advertising is becoming a norm in users' video viewing experiences. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made.

Representing video client in social media


A hydrogen purification device, components thereof, and fuel processors and fuel cell system containing the same. The hydrogen purification devices include an enclosure that contains a separation assembly adapted to receive a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and to produce a stream that contains pure or at least substantially pure hydrogen gas therefrom. The separation assembly may include at least one hydrogen-permeable and/or hydrogen-selective membrane, In some embodiments, the enclosure includes a pair of end plates and a shell extending generally between the end plates. In some embodiments, the enclosure includes a shell that is integrated with at least one of the end plates. In some embodiments, at least one of the end plates includes a deflection and/or stress abatement structure. In some embodiments, the device includes components formed from materials having similar or the same coefficients of thermal expansion.

The present invention is related generally to the purification of hydrogen gas, and more specifically to hydrogen purification devices, components and fuel processing and fuel cell systems containing the same.
Purified hydrogen is used in the manufacture of many products including metals, edible fats and oils, and semiconductors and microelectronics. Purified hydrogen is also an important fuel source for many energy conversion devices. For example, fuel cells use purified hydrogen and an oxidant to produce an electrical potential. Various processes and devices may be used to produce the hydrogen gas that is consumed by the fuel cells. However, many hydrogen-production processes produce an impure hydrogen stream, which may also be referred to as a mixed gas stream that contains hydrogen gas. Prior to delivering this stream to a fuel cell or stack of fuel cells, the mixed gas stream may be purified, such as to remove undesirable impurities.
The present invention is directed to hydrogen purification devices, components of hydrogen purification devices, and fuel processing and fuel cell systems that include hydrogen purification devices. The hydrogen purification devices include an enclosure that contains a separation assembly adapted to receive a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and to produce a stream that contains pure or at least substantially pure hydrogen gas therefrom. The separation assembly may include at least one hydrogen-permeable and/or hydrogen-selective membrane. In some embodiments, the enclosure includes a pair of end plates and a shell extending generally between the end plates. In some embodiments, the enclosure includes a shell that is integrated with at least one of the end plates. In some embodiments, at least one of the end plates includes a deflection and/or stress abatement structure. In some embodiments, the device includes components formed from materials having similar or the same coefficients of thermal expansion.
Many other features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which preferred embodiments incorporating the principles of this invention are disclosed as illustrative examples only.

Hydrogen purification devices, components and fuel processing systems containing the same


This disclosure describes measuring properties of a multiphase mixture flowing in a pipe using probes with different sensitivity depths. By generating annular flow of the multiphase mixture in the pipe, the probes may be contacted with the liquid phase of the mixture flowing on an inner-wall of the pipe and apparent permittivities of the annular flow measured by the probes. These measured permittivities may be processed to determine liquid fraction of the annular flow and water-in-liquid ratio of the liquid phase of the annular flow.

This disclosure relates in general to measuring properties of a multiphase mixture flowing in a pipe and, more specifically, but not by way of limitation, to using probes with different sensitivity depths to measure a liquid fraction and a water liquid ratio for a liquid phase of the multiphase mixture.
In the hydrocarbon industry, surface monitoring of oil and gas producing wells is tending towards metering multiphase flows with a wide range of gas volume flow fraction ("GVF"). An example of this are so called wet-gas-wells, where the GVF is typically larger than 95% and the liquid flow rate is typically no more than a few hundred barrels per day. For such production wells, it is often required to measure the gas flow rate and the liquid flow rate, as well as the composition of the liquid phase, e.g. water/liquid hydrocarbon ratio. For wells with GVF<95%, in-line multiphase flow meters may be used to measure flow properties. However, at GVFs above 95%, in-line metering may be problematic and the existing approaches for metering high GVF flows are separation and mixing. The separation approach provides for splitting the flow to be measured/characterized into an almost liquid flow plus an almost gas flow and then separately metering the separated flows using single-phase flow meters. The mixing approach attempts to minimize the slip between the different phases so that the velocity and holdup measurements may be obtained.
The existing methods are largely capable of providing good accuracy for metering gas flows with high GVF, however, the measurements of the liquid flow properties may be inaccurate. The disadvantages of the existing metering methods include increased cost associated with the separation and mixing devices and pressure drop in the pipeline and/or disruption to the flow in the pipeline resulting from the introduction of the separation and/or mixing devices into the pipeline carrying the hydrocarbon mixtures. Additionally, at high GVF, the mixing method may not provide for accurately measuring the holdup and water-in-liquid ratio ("WLR") because the liquid holdup is very low under such conditions.

System and method for measuring properties of liquid in multiphase mixtures


A method for preparing a surface includes providing an article having an article surface, thereafter first processing the article surface to establish a first residual compressive stress state and a first surface roughness in the article surface, and thereafter second processing the article surface by surface compressive texturing to establish a second residual compressive stress state and a second surface roughness in the article surface. The second surface roughness is quantitatively less than the first surface roughness, and substantially no material is removed from the article surface in the step of second processing.

The surface state of an article often has an important effect on the performance of the article. For example, corrosion and oxidation damage resulting from exposure to an adverse environment are largely controlled by the character of the surface of the article. A protective layer may in some circumstances be applied to the surface of the article to improve its corrosion and oxidation resistance.
In another example, the fatigue resistance of an article, which is subjected to fatigue loading in service, is improved if the surface of the article is in a residual compressive stress state. The residual compressive stress state suppresses the initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks that would otherwise start at the surface and propagate into the interior of the material. Techniques for producing a compressive stress state at the surface are known.
However, such techniques for producing a residual compressive stress state at the surface may modify other properties of the surface, such as its smoothness, and consequently interfere with the ultimate performance of the article in its intended application. An airfoil whose surface is mechanically worked to produce a residual compressive state at the surface, thereby improving the airfoil's fatigue performance, may have its surface finish disrupted to such a degree that the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil is degraded. The known approaches for improving the surface finish in turn adversely affect the residual compressive stress state. Consequently, achieving both a desirable residual compressive stress state and the necessary high-quality surface finish has not been possible using existing techniques.
There is a need for an improved approach to the surface processing of airfoils and other shapes that achieves both the desired mechanical residual compressive stress state and the desired low-roughness surface finish. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.

Preparation of an article surface having a surface compressive texture


An electronic wallet or terminal for a portable financial IC card having arrangements for versitle use by both visually-impaired and non-impaired persons. The electronic wallet or terminal is provided with a cabinet provided with a display, an IC card housing accommodating removable insertion of an IC card, and a privacy speaker and/or an earphone. Use of the privacy speaker or earphone accommodate visually impaired persons while affording financial confidentiality. Such terminal is programmed such that an appropriate language suited to an owner of the financial IC card or terminal is automatically determined (without user polling) from stored historical data such as a last financial transaction or personal data. The terminal is further provided with irregularities (e.g., ridges, depressions, protrusions, braille, etc) at appropriate locations on appropriate surfaces of a terminal and/or financial IC card for tactile determination via tactile feel (as opposed to visual determination) of both appropriate features and positioning of the terminal and whether or not an IC card is inserted in the terminal. The terminal also has a tapered, funnel-like guidance slot larger in dimensions than at least one of a thickness and width of an IC card, which is formed at an end of the terminal at the entrance to an IC card slot, such that the guidance slot accommodates easy/accurate insertion of the IC card into the terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electronic wallet or terminal for a portable financial IC card used in a system for electronic settlement of financial transactions utilizing a financial IC card, and more specifically relates to an arrangement wherein transaction guidance is automatically provided in an appropriate language and is provided in an appropriate level of confidentiality, and wherein the terminal includes an audible output system and other features accommodating versatile use by both visually handicapped and non-handicapped persons.
2. Description of Related Art
In a so-called electronic petty settlement system arranged such that financial transactions (e.g., bill payment, retail purchases, etc.) can be settled (e.g., paid for) instantly at the time of transaction, electronic information equivalent to cash is stored in a portable card such as an IC card.
A terminal for use in such an electronic petty settlement system is disclosed in, for example, Japanese published examined patent application No. H1-55511.
Background systems are deficient in that data and instructions for an operation are only displayed on a display as visual information, and such data and instructions are either always provided in a single language, or are at least initially (i.e., at the start of each new transaction or session) provided in a default language. Accordingly, such terminal is difficult if not impossible for persons of differing languages to utilize (e.g., it may be impossible for a person having fluency in a differing language to successfully understand/complete the transaction steps). Further, such a terminal providing only visual data and instructions is difficult or impossible for a visually handicapped person or a weak-sighted person to utilize.


A variable modulated transfer function (MTF) design employing a variable gate voltage source for use in inspecting specimens is disclosed. The design applies a variable gate voltage to each pixel of a sensor, wherein applying the variable gate voltage to each pixel adjusts the MTF of the pixel. MTF adjustment improves adverse effects encountered during inspection, such as aliasing and maintaining contrast.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of optical imaging, and more particularly to sensing images using adjustable modulation transfer functions (MTFs).
2. Description of the Related Art
Imaging systems are commonly employed in many different fields, including machine vision, microscopy, photography, and semiconductor inspection. Imaging systems are typically composed of an optical system, an imaging device, and some form of computer processing and/or analysis. In this context, imaging can be considered a process or series of operations performed on an object or specimen in order to produce the final image, and may include, for example, receipt of the image by an imaging device, removing errant portions of the image by filtering or processing, and so forth. Each segment of the imaging system can perform one or more operations on the object or specimen.
A block diagram of certain components making up a typical imaging process is presented in FIG. 1. Circular elements in FIG. 1 represent the object or specimen 101 or the detected image 105 of the object, while rectangles represent operations on the object 101. In an imaging process, optical system 102 produces a continuous image of an object or specimen 101. A solid state imager 103, formed of a charge diffuser 106 and image array 107, may change the continuous image or optical image into either an electronic image or an array of values convertible to an electronic image. This electronic image may then be processed at point 104 before rendering the final detected image 105.
Problems associated with the system of FIG. 1, particularly in a high speed scanning or inspection of the object or specimen 101, can include aliasing. Aliasing is the effect occurring when analog information is sampled into pixels, and the resultant pixelized image differs, sometimes significantly, from the original analog signal. Prior approaches to prevent aliasing use optical techniques to modify the resolution of the optical image on the sensor, or use image processing algorithms. These approaches either have limited effectiveness, or adversely affect performance of the imaging system.
One tool that has been employed to describe the performance of an imaging process or system such as that shown in FIG. 1 is the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF). The MTF mathematically describes the contrast at which different spatial frequencies of the object may be transferred. High spatial frequencies correspond to fine detail in the object or specimen 101. An MTF of 100% at a particular spatial frequency transfers that frequency from the object or specimen with full contrast. The resolution of an imaging process or system may be readily expressed in terms of one MTF or a combination of MTFs, because the MTF of various imaging operations can be multiplied together to produce the MTF of the detected image 105. The MTF for an imaging process can be represented by the following equation:MTFImage=MTFOptical*MTFDiffusion*MTFArray*MTFProcessing  (1)MTFOptical represents the MTF of the optics of the optical system, while MTFDiffusion is the MTF of the charge diffuser 106. MTFArray is the MTF created by the discrete nature of the pixel sampling by the sensor or sensing array, while MTFProcessing is the MTF of the image processing subsequent to image formation on the sensing array. Multiplication of the MTFs in the manner shown in Equation (1) can have two adverse effects on detected image 105. First, the contrast of each spatial frequency component degrades with each operation on the object 101. In many cases it is desirable to minimize this degradation and produce a detected image 105 that resembles object or specimen 101 as closely as possible with respect to contrast. Reducing the contrast of specific spatial frequency components in the original object 101 that are outside the region of interest may be advantageous. However, such contrast reduction may cause other spatial frequency components to be more pronounced in the detected image 105.
Second, aliasing remains an issue when using sampling detectors. For example, if the sampling frequency of the solid state imager or sensor 103 is less than the Nyquist frequency of the object or specimen 101, aliasing can occur. Aliasing tends to degrade the detected image 105 and the presence of aliasing causes difficulties in using the detected image 105 in subsequent processing.
Aliasing can be addressed by modifying the MTFs of the optical system 102, the charge diffuser 106, or the image array 107 operations. Several common techniques may be employed to maintain the contrast of the spatial frequencies in the object or specimen 101, or alternately to reduce the contrast of specific spatial frequencies present in the object or specimen 101 by altering the optical system MTFOptical. One style reduces the optical resolution using a spatial filter or apertures to reduce the imaging numerical aperture. This approach limits the magnifications and numerical apertures that can be used, and discards light energy associated with the high resolution information. Discarding light energy in a high speed inspection can reduce throughput, or in other words require a longer time period to scan a given region. Another optical anti-aliasing style uses optical filters, such as birefringent plates, to limit optical resolution without discarding light energy. This technique reduces the contrast of the highest spatial frequencies. Such filtering tends to modify the light itself before a solid state sensor converts the light into an image array. Devices operating according to this anti-aliasing style require additional hardware, are generally not effective over a range of wavelengths, may have direction asymmetry, and are designed to work at fixed resolutions. Such filtering can also require operation at wavelengths above 400 nm, while many newer systems operate at wavelengths below 400 nm. Once the solid state imager converts the continuous optical image to a discrete image array, spatial frequency information transferred from the object or specimen is permanently altered.
The image may be modified subsequent to this alteration using image processing algorithms 104. These algorithms attempt to reduce the impact of aliasing by altering the image processing 104 MTFprocessing. However, such algorithms may not effectively address aliasing and other image artifacts produced within the solid state imager when forming the image array. General aliasing artifacts are impossible to remove after the image is transferred to the solid state sensor of the optical imaging system, as the artifacts are generally indistinguishable from true image detail. Due to the strong resemblance between artifacts and image detail, no effective software anti-aliasing filters are available.
The solid state imager itself may be used to control the MTF of the final image. U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,736 presents a design that uses the image array operation of the solid state sensor to modify the MTF. The '736 patent uses a pixel "binning" approach which spatially combines pixels into a larger pixel by combining them in "bins." This approach modifies the MTFArray portion of the imaging process. The '736 type design offers limited control and adjustment of the MTF because an integer number of pixels must be combined. For systems that operate at high speed or at sensor pixel sizes larger than about ⅛th the optical resolution, this approach tends to produce unacceptable results.
Thus while it can be advantageous to employ a tunable MTF in imaging a specimen or object, certain design limitations exist when using the MTF that can distort or compromise the image ultimately rendered. It would be desirable to have the ability to control the sensor MTF to eliminate or dramatically reduce the effects of aliasing and the adverse effects associated with altered image contrast, without adversely impacting system performance, cost, or complexity.

System and method for sensing using adjustable modulation transfer function (MTF)


The present invention discloses an inter-layer transition forming machine for winding of a large-sized superconducting coil. A vertically movable forming mechanism and a horizontally movable forming mechanism are mounted on a fixing plate. When the winding of a large-sized superconducting coil performs inter-layer transition, an armored superconducting conductor is clamped by wedge clamping mechanisms with right- and left-handed threads on the vertically movable forming mechanism and the horizontally movable forming mechanism, and a reference line on the conductor is ensured to be aligned with a reference line on a forming mold. The vertically movable forming mechanism is pressed down, under the drive of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, in a vertical direction to form inter-layer transition, and the horizontally movable forming mechanism moves in a horizontal direction according to the reduction of the vertically movable forming mechanism.

Thermonuclear fusion will provide inexhaustible clean energy for humans. The international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) program will be completed in the next decade. Superconducting magnets provide a required magnetic field for a tokamak, in order to control and constrain high temperature plasma.
The poloidal field coil, as one of main magnets of the tokamak superconducting magnet, is used to control the shape of plasma and stabilize the morphology of plasma. Limited by the manufacturing of conductors, the length of a single superconducting conductor is often less than 1 km. In order to manufacture superconducting coils with large ampere-turns, large-scale nuclear fusion poloidal field superconducting coils are usually designed in a double-pancake structure, and two conductors are connected by a joint between the double pancakes to compensate for insufficient length of a single conductor. The inter-layer transition formation in the double pancakes is an important part of conductor bending, and is also the key to realize transition of the pancake coil from a lower layer to an upper layer. At present, in China, there is no high-precision forming device which can achieve this technical purpose and which is compact in structure and convenient to operate. In view of the state in the prior art, an inter-layer transition forming machine for winding of a large-sized superconducting coil, which is compact in structure, convenient to operate and reliable in formation, provides a mature and feasible solution.

Inter-layer transition forming machine for winding of large-sized superconducting coils

Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences


A method and apparatus allows adapting a standard flying prober system to manually or automatically determine the likelihood of error free probability of test point targets on Printed Circuit Assemblies (PCA's) which may have significant planarity irregularities. The method and apparatus provides a corrective function allowing error free probing of test target points on PCA's having planarity irregularities which otherwise make them impractical to test. The method and apparatus involves utilizing the camera system typically provided with a flying prober system and an auxiliary sighting system each having different optical axis angles, the use of which allows determination of height values.

1. Field of Use
The present invention relates to flying prober systems and more particularly to systems for enabling reliable testing of printed circuit assemblies (PCA's).
2. Prior Art
Modern Flying Probers are a class of In-Circuit Test (ICT) equipment which use a plurality of moving probes in lieu of a standard bed of nails fixture to provide all or most connections between the PCA undergoing test and the test unit. Generally, flying prober tests are a subset of the tests that might have been performed by an ICT unit, because of the limited number of simultaneous connections possible between the PCA and tester. However, in present day test operations, such contact requirements have diminished compared with the recent past.
The principal benefit of flying probers is cost avoidance, in eliminating standard ICT bed of nails fixtures sometimes costing tens of thousands of dollars and having a short useful lifespan and little residual value. Another benefit is avoiding the delay associated with constructing such a fixture. Most flying prober models have four moving probes, mechanically positionable to any board location by a relatively high speed mechanism. The list of board locations to be used in testing a given PCA type is generally derived from computer aided design (CAD) files provided as part of nearly all modern PCA designs. The same files are similarly used to define nail location points in a bed of nails fixture in non-flying prober testing. Alignment of the PCA on the flying prober is accomplished using electro-optical methods, whereby registration holes of the PCA that would be engaged when mounted on a bed of nails are, instead, found by image recognition methods and their precise locations recorded. Then, instead of mechanically aligning the PCA to the tester, the list of probing locations is recalculated to take into account the actual positions of the registration holes, essentially aligning the tester to the PCA.
The electro-optical system usually is or is the equivalent of a miniature television camera connected through a digitizer to the computer used to control the tester in its execution of a test program. In addition to its usefulness in PCA to tester alignment, the electro-optical system is used for other purposes related to testing. For example, the probing points may be sighted one by one for the benefit of the test programmer in verifying that the CAD data, upon which the test program is based, indeed matches the PCA for which a test program is being developed. Usually, the television camera used for this purpose is mounted on the carrier that also holds one of the probes. It is mounted in a position that is a predetermined offset from the probe itself. Thus, while the television camera system may not be able to display the probe as it touches the PCA, it can be placed directly over the point where the probe would touch the PCA had not the offset been applied. The camera's optics are aligned perpendicularly to the ideal plane of the PCA, and allow cross hairs or similar positional markings to be added to the image, creating a bombsight effect and allowing confirmation of theoretical probe positioning to a very high degree of precision. For purposes of this explanation the term "ideal plane" is used to describe the plane of the flat surface of the etched printed circuit board upon which the various components of the PCA are mounted, assuming board fabrication exactly as designed, with no imperfections and somehow held in place for flying prober testing without affecting its perfect planarity. The display attached to the camera may also be used to verify the lack of probing obstacles in the vicinity of probing targets or that targets are otherwise suitable for probing. One or more additional cameras are sometimes employed to further aide in test programming and/or execution, showing, for example a larger area of the PCA, and at an angle that provides an overview of some probes as they are extended to contact test target points. The electro-optical system employed is sometimes sufficiently complex to allow Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) testing to be performed in conjunction with electrical flying prober tests.
While the nails of a standard ICT bed of nails fixture are mounted perpendicularly to the plane of the PCA while in its test position, flying prober system probing is performed at angles somewhat off perpendicular (Z-axis). Angles of between five and sixteen degrees to the Z-axis ("height axis") have been noted in some modern flying prober specifications. In some systems, the probe angle may be altered by test program commands. The angles are necessary to allow probing a series of closely spaced points by probes which are, by necessity, attached to relatively large drive mechanisms which allow speedy extension and withdrawal. Those mechanisms are in turn mounted to a carrier driven by an X-Y positioning mechanism. Two types of X-Y mechanisms used are linear motor and lead screw. Furthermore, the probes may be at angles to the X-axis or Y-axis as well as the Z-axis. A single X-Y table of probe points suffices, regardless of the number of probes, variety of angles, or designed thickness of the particular PCA type being tested, by applying appropriate offsets as compensation for these effects in determining the precise point at which the PCA will be contacted.
However, the compensation discussed above is based upon the assumption that the probing points of the PCA exist in an ideal plane, or at predetermined distances from an ideal plane. Warpage of the PCA is both non-planar and unpredictable. Hence, planarity variations result in probing variations. In some cases, the intended test probing target may be probed slightly askew from the intended point of contact, usually the center of a circular target. In other cases, the probe may miss the target altogether. For example, consider the case of a probe which is fifteen degrees from perpendicular attempting to probe a target point which is 35 mils in diameter. The required probing accuracy would be +/−17 mils, assuming the probe will not slide once one physical contact is made (not a safe assumption). At an angle of fifteen degrees, a 17 mil error occurs when the height of the intended target is approximately 1/16″ (0.017″/0.268, the tangent of 15 degrees). The actual safe region for contacting a 35 mil target with a 15 degree probe is a matter of opinion. If, however, half the error were considered safe (about 8 mils), the height would have to be predictable to within approximately 1/32″. Maintaining a planarity tolerance of +/− 1/16″ is generally not possible in a manufacturing environment with PCA's measuring 16″ by 16″ or more. Even with larger test target points, the planarity requirements are often impractical to maintain. However, some test target points of modern PCA's may be less than 20 mils.
In the art of PCA testing using flying probers, planarity variations that cause a misprobe are a known problem, but there is a paucity of detailed data as to its significance. One result of a misprobe is a false error (e.g., when testing for resistance and getting an open indication) or a missed error (e.g., when a short is present but not detected). But, there are so many possible reasons for such errors, such a large quantity of such errors and so little engineering time to devote to making exact determination of error causes (real vs. false), that the effectiveness of available attempted solutions to the planarity problem has never been fully tested. Such attempted solutions are, e.g., standoff posts used to support a concave PCA from the underside during probing (but which may have no effect on convex PCA's) and standoff posts which attempt to apply either an upward or downward force, as needed, by means of vacuum applied over so small an area as to effect only relatively flexible PCA's. In all such cases, the required planarity cannot be guaranteed in a production environment.
In addition to the problems incurred in attempting to force a PCA to become sufficiently flat for flying prober testing is the issue of whether it is advisable to do so at all. Connections of devices soldered to the surface of a PCA (e.g., surface mount or ball grid array-BGA-devices) may be mechanically stressed by forcing the PCA to become flatter than it is when not being tested. Furthermore, it sometimes may occur that the means of applying pressure is applied at the wrong point (e.g., through operator error) or to points which are not at the intended level in relation to the PCA surface (e.g., through PCA assembly errors). Stresses to PCA connections may result in cracking and cause intermittent contacts which later cause errors in system operation of the PCA. Such errors are difficult or impossible to diagnose on a practical basis.
Misprobes may also occur when the probing target is large enough that it will not be missed despite skewed probing caused by height differences. In such cases, the force applied by the probe may be inadequate, causing a lack of contact between the probe and PCA, or too great, causing marking of the contact area. The marking may be in the form of a pit or a scored line, the latter resulting when the probe is pushed by excessive force. The marking occurs because probe contact depends upon spring force. In normal operation, contact force is achieved by attempting to drive the probe perhaps 50 to 100 mils further than would be required for the tip to make contact with the PCA probing point. At contact, the probe will stop moving and its internal spring will compress to take up the distance, providing contact pressure. Should the PCA contact point be significantly closer to the probing mechanism, early contact would be made and the probe might be driven 100 mils before the 100 mils previously referenced, for a total of 200 mils. In some cases, the spring might even fully compress, causing the probe to be driven against the PCA with the maximum force the probe extension motor can produce. In certain applications, significant marking of PCA targets is not tolerated and the PCA has to be reworked or scrapped.
In addition to PCA warpage issues, another problem confronting flying prober users is that of devices erroneously mounted on the PCA during the assembly process. Similarly, a test program for a PCA where optional components should not be mounted may be mistakenly applied to a similar PCA where these components are mounted. The occurrence of either situation may result in damage to the PCA and or the flying prober system. In some cases, the flying prober damage or misalignment may interrupt the production process for a long period of time and at great expense.
The cross-referenced patent is of primary benefit in dealing with PCA's exhibiting warpage when integrated with the software which controls the flying prober. That is, it enables sensing of and compensation for warpage conditions. However, there exist certain applications where there is no opportunity to modify the software controlling the flying prober.
Accordingly, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for overcoming variations in PCA planarity of PCA's mounted for testing in a flying prober system.
It is a further objective of the present invention to utilize extensively hardware typically found on existing flying prober systems, making practical the retrofitting of such systems to incorporate the present invention.
It is an even further objective of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for overcoming variations in PCA planarity of PCA's mounted for testing in a flying prober system when alteration of or integration with the software which controls the flying prober system is not practical.
It is a still even further objective of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus suitable for efficiently detecting components erroneously mounted on a PCA before damage can occur.

Method and apparatus for adapting a standard flying prober system for reliable testing of printed circuit assemblies


A small-scale camera device with heat-dissipating properties includes a pedestal bracket and a camera module mounted on the pedestal bracket. The pedestal bracket includes a top plate and a side plate extending perpendicularly from edges of the top plate. The side plate includes an inner side surface and an outer side surface opposite to the inner side surface. The bottom of the side plate defines a plurality of first receiving recesses, each of the first receiving recesses carries a heat dissipation member.

Since the camera size is miniaturized and has many features, such as the number of pixels being increased, the complexity of circuits for control is increased. When complexity is increased, space between the elements in the circuits is reduced, thus a considerable amount of heat is generated in a camera module. Therefore, the effective dissipation of heat from camera modules is problematic.

Heat dissipating arrangement for miniaturized camera device

TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY(SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.


The present invention relates to determining the movement of a passenger relative to an elevator landing area, which belongs to the field of elevator intelligent control technologies. An automatic elevator calling system of the present invention comprises: a first wireless signal module installed in an elevator car, which is used for broadcasting a first wireless signal; wherein the first wireless signal module is further used for receiving information regarding the movement of a passenger relative to the elevator car, and the information regarding the movement is determined based on the change in a signal strength of the first wireless signal received by a personal mobile terminal carried by the passenger.

In existing elevator systems, one common elevator calling operation manner is as follows: a passenger manually presses a certain elevator calling button on an elevator calling control panel installed in one elevator landing area to input an elevator calling request command for traveling upward or traveling downward; then after entering a certain elevator car, the passenger manually presses a certain floor button on a destination floor registration control panel installed in each elevator car to input a destination floor. Such an elevator calling operation manner needs to be completed manually, and especially when the passenger cannot freely press the button as above with two hands (for example, when the passenger is carrying things in two hands or the passenger who is unable to walk sits on a wheelchair), the elevator calling operation becomes difficult, which affects passengers' experience.
With the development of automatic elevator calling operation technology, various technologies for automatically achieving an elevator calling operation by using a smart mobile terminal such as a mobile phone have emerged. However, due to the uncertainty of the passenger's action or movement, it might be easy to cause an ineffective elevator calling.

Determination for motion of passenger over elevator landing area


A light fixture using LEDs includes a lower skin layer possessing heat transfer properties. A circuit board is affixed to the lower skin layer, and a single LED, or a plurality of LEDs, is electrically connected to the circuit board. The single LED, or plurality of LEDs, when electrically activated, emits light through substantially around a vertical axis. The light fixture also includes a core possessing heat transfer properties that is in thermal contact with the LED and has an interior cavity for the LED. The core is affixed to the lower skin layer, and an upper skin layer, containing a window or windows over the LED or LEDs, is affixed to the core. The LEDs may be white, infrared, ultraviolet, and/or colored and may be mounted on a printed circuit board or individually.

As shown in FIG. 1A, light emitting diodes (LEDs) 19 work by connecting a power source to terminal pins 3 and sending the current in the right direction through a simple semiconductor 5. The interaction that occurs when this happens generates light. The ends of the terminal pins 3 and semiconductor 5 are housed in a hemispherical dome 7, bulb, or any other configuration, as shown in FIG. 1A, which concentrates the light emitted as it bounces off the sides and through the top. Thus, the light emitted is substantially around a vertical axis 9. As can be seen, LEDs do not have a filament that can burn out and does not generate heat during operation.
Popular conventional lighting systems use either an incandescent or fluorescent source. When these light sources expire, they must be replaced. The typical life of a fluorescent bulb is 10,000 to 20,000 hours. An incandescent bulb lasts only 2,000 hours, and about ninety percent of the electricity used by incandescent bulbs is lost as heat. Conventional light fixtures are heavy in weight, difficult to manufacture, and have many replacement components as ballasts, which are potential failures in addition to the fluorescent bulb.
In contrast, light emitting diodes do not burn out. Instead, they gradually degrade in performance over time. For example, some LED products are predicted to still deliver an average of 70% of initial intensity after 50,000 hours of operation. At 12 hours per day, 365 days per year, this amounts to a lifetime of 11 years with only 30% degradation (70% lumen maintenance) from initial luminous output and no catastrophic failures.
LEDs last ten years longer than any conventional light sources, and these solid state devices have no moving parts, no fragile glass, no mercury, no toxic gases, and no filament. There is nothing to break, rupture, shatter, leak, or contaminate.
LEDs are more energy efficient, are safe to touch since they remain cool, provide instant light, and are available in white, green, blue, royal blue, cyan, red, red orange, and amber.
Also, LEDs produce directional light unlike conventional light sources that emit light in all directions, which causes a loss of intensity. Typical losses range from 40% to 60% of the light generated. The direct nature of LEDs can result in efficiencies of 80% to 90%. This results in reduced maintenance costs by eliminating or practically reducing the frequency of required maintenance.
LEDs have many other desirable features. They are fully dimmable without color variation. They instantly turn on, have full color, and provide 100% light. LEDs have no mercury in the light source and no heat or UV in the light beam. LEDs are capable of starting cold and low voltage DC operation. LEDs can be binned for photometric luminous, flux (LM), color, wavelength, radio metric power, and forward voltage.
LED benefits are based on good thermal system design to achieve the best efficiency and reliability. The LED absolute maximum thermal ratings must be maintained for LED junction and aluminum printed circuit board temperature. The LED requires heat management in order to achieve maximum rated life. Thermal resistance causes a temperature difference between the source of the heat and the exit surface for heat. The less heat retained by the LED the more enhanced its performance and lifetime.
Despite the advantages of LEDs, current designs have several problems. In present LED products and designs, the panels or fixtures are heavy in weight, expensive, and difficult to manufacture and install, and are not rugged or impact resistant. Furthermore, the heat sinking is inadequate, most LED products are not waterproof, impact resistant, or antimagnetic. Moreover, they cannot be trimmed or cut to size, and the products experience reduced life spans due to LEDs exceeding manufacturers' specified required thermal temperature limits.
The present invention overcomes these issues. The present invention may package all necessary components in a lightweight panel with a connecting power wire to the outside of the panel for easy installation. It also manages heat, which increases the life span of the LED light fixture/panel. The present invention may also be waterproof, flame resistant, impact resistant, and antimagnetic. In addition, it can be formed and cut to any size.


An optical network terminator for terminating and reducing the accumulated noise in optical networks, particularly ring based networks. The terminator eliminates problems of noise accumulation from amplifier spontaneous emission (ASE), thermal noise, etc., while providing bi-directional communications in the optical network. The optical network may have any topology including ring, star, mesh, point-to-point, etc. In the case of an optical ring, the ring is broken and an optical terminator is placed in line therewith. The optical network terminator includes a filer such as an optical demultiplexer/multiplexer or Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) based filter. Each individual wavelength of light is filtered and a multi-wavelength optical output is generated whereby the noise accumulation is removed. Each channel is adapted to only pass a band-limited signal around the center frequency corresponding to the wavelengths supported by the particular optical ring network. Channel equalization uses variable optical attenuators and monitors in line with each channel. Channels currently not in use may be disconnected from the ring remotely by setting the corresponding optical attenuator to a low enough level.

Optical communication systems are becoming more and more widespread mainly due to their very large information carrying bandwidths. The growth and diversity of lightwave networks, such as Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) networks are placing new demands on all aspects of optical networks including, for example, capacity management and provisioning, maintenance, and reliable and robust operation. In addition, the current trend in many carrier networks is to implement standard IP based networks to achieve convergence of traditionally separate voice and data networks. To this end, the use of Ethernet based equipment in implementing carrier networks is becoming increasingly common.
Currently, high capacity optical networks are constructed as rings and use WDM technology to achieve high bandwidth capacities. For example, WDM ring networks are commonly used in metropolitan area network (MAN) applications but can also be used in LANs and WANs.
A block diagram illustrating an example prior art optical ring network comprising a plurality of nodes is shown in FIG. 1. The optical network, generally referenced 10, comprises a plurality of nodes 12, labeled node #1 through #5, connected by optical fiber links 14 so as to form an optical ring network. The ring network is characterized by communications that take place from node to node. In this example network, only a single ring is shown such that communications proceeds in the clockwise direction only. A second ring can be implemented that carries communications between nodes in the opposite or counter-clockwise direction.
Wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical networks are particularly desirable because of their restoration capabilities and suitability for minimizing the optical fiber length for the interconnection of system nodes. A typical WDM optical ring network includes network elements with optical add/drop multiplexers (OADMs), whereby some optical channels are dropped, some are added and/or other channels are expressed or passed through.
In a ring topology each ring node is connected to exactly two other ring nodes. The OADMs are used to construct a ring network whereby adjacent OADMs are connected pair wise while the network nodes are situated to form a ring. In a ring network, any node can be reached from any other node using two physically separate paths, i.e. one traveling clockwise and the other counter clockwise. The opposite traveling paths are used to provide protection against route failures. The use of at least two parallel fibers with traffic flowing in opposite directions provides restoration capabilities in the event of a fiber cut.
An Add/Drop Optical Multiplexer (ADOM) functions to filter or drop one or more wavelengths transmitted on the ring. The optical technologies typically used for producing an ADOM can be placed in two main categories, namely: (1) those using fixed filtering, whereby an ADOM is produced for dropping and adding a fixed wavelength, and (2) those using tunable filtering, whereby an external control determines the wavelength of the dropped and added channel.
Normally, only a single wavelength of light is used to carry optical signals from one node to another. To increase the communications bandwidth of the network, however, it is common to transmit light signals having multiple wavelengths. Additional signal channels can be added, wherein each channel corresponds to a different wavelength of light, using well-known DWDM techniques.
As is common practice in DWDM optical networks, optical add/drop multiplexers (OADMs) are used to drop, add or express one or more optical channels. A block diagram illustrating a typical structure of an Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (OADM) is shown in FIG. 2A. The OADM, generally referenced 20, comprises drop module 22 adapted to generate a drop channel 26 from the multi-wavelength input signal and an add module 24, incorporating an optical amplifier 23, adapted to add a channel 28 to the multi-wavelength output signal.
A problem associated with such types of optical networks is the losses incurred from the passive optical devices, such as filters, couplers, multiplexers, etc. The losses, which exist at every node on the network, can increase as the number of optical components increases, such as in networks with large numbers of nodes,
To overcome the problem of optical losses from passive components, active optical amplifiers are used along the optical ring to boost the weak optical signals. Commonly used optical amplifiers include Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs). The use of optical amplifiers, however, is problematic. The amplifiers function to boost not only the optical signals but also any noise present. In addition, the optical amplifiers add noise to the line in addition to the signal and to the noise already present.
In non-ring type networks, techniques are well known for reducing the effects of the noise. In an optical ring network, however, the use of active optical amplifiers causes noise accumulation from amplifier spontaneous emissions (ASE) and from other noise sources as well, and is commonly referred to as noise creep.
Signal graphs illustrating the phenomena of ASE and noise build up or amplifier noise accumulation are shown in FIGS. 2B through 2G. The graphs correspond to points A, B and C shown in FIG. 2A. Each node along the ring employs at least one OADM 20. FIGS. 2B, 2C and 2D correspond to the baseline optical signal levels along the ring at points A, B and C, respectively. Similarly, FIGS. 2E, 2F and 2G correspond to the optical signal levels after a complete revolution around the ring at points A, B and C, respectively.
In each figure, the relative amplitude is plotted as a function of frequency (i.e. wavelength). The five peaks 30 in relative amplitude correspond to five different wavelengths in use along the ring. For illustration purposes the OADM 20 corresponds to the lowest frequency. With reference to the figures, at point A, all five wavelengths are present in the signal. Since the drop module functions to filter out a single wavelength 32, the signal at point B has the first wavelength filtered out. The add module employs an active amplifier to boost the optical signal with the new channel added. Thus, the signal at point C comprises the five wavelengths amplified. In addition, however, the noise level is also amplified by an amount ΔN1 where N represents the noise added to the signal each loop around the ring.
FIG. 2E illustrates the optical signal at the same point A after traversing the loop. The wavelength peaks are present along with an elevated noise floor. The original signal as shown in FIG. 2B is indicated by dotted line 34. After wavelength filtering by the drop module, the first wavelength is removed as shown in FIG. 2F. A channel is then added and the resulting signal amplified as shown in FIG. 2G. As in FIG. 2D, the noise along with the signal is amplified. The noise level also rises by an additional amount ΔN2 to a level indicated by line 38. The noise level at point C from the previous loop is indicated by line 36 while the original noise level at point A is indicated by line 34.
Thus, after two loops around the ring, the noise level has increased to a level equal to ΔN1+ΔN2. Considering even small amounts of amplifier noise, it can be seen that the effects of noise creep can amount to significant levels of noise after only relatively few trips around the ring. Eventually, the noise caused by amplifier noise and other noise source accumulation increases sufficiently to saturate the amplifier and communications along the optical ring becomes impossible.
One prior art solution to this problem is to open the optical ring. A block diagram illustrating a prior art optical ring network that attempts to solve the amplifier noise accumulation problem is shown in FIG. 3. The example network, generally referenced 40, comprises five nodes 42, labeled node #1 through node #5, connected by link 48. The link between nodes #1 and #5 is severed leaving two stubs 46, 44. The problem of noise creep is eliminated since the optical signal begins and terminates within a single rotation.
A disadvantage of this solution is that the ring properties of the network are destroyed. Communications around the ring can only take place in one direction. Thus, one half of the bandwidth is lost. For example, in a closed ring, two nodes normally can communication with each other in two directions, clockwise and counter-clockwise directions of communications. The network 40, however, only supports unidirectional communications. Bi-directional communications is a very desirable characteristic and a major benefit of employing optical networks in ring configuration.
A solution to this is to normally maintain the ring in an open state and to close it only when necessary such as during a fiber cut or other failure along the ring. This requires adding means to the network operative to detect fiber cuts and to close the ring in response thereto.
An alternative prior art solution to the problem of noise creep is to break the loop and insert an electrical based repeater to regenerate the signal in the electrical domain. The repeater functions to convert the signal from optical to electrical and back to optical. A block diagram illustrating a prior art Optical Electrical Optical (OEO) termination module is shown in FIG. 4. The network, generally referenced 50, comprises a plurality of nodes 52, labeled node #1 through node #N, connected by optical links 54.
The ring is broken and an Optical/Electrical/Optical (OEO) termination is inserted. The OEO terminator comprises an optical demultiplexer 56, optical multiplexer 64, optical to electrical converters 58, electrical repeaters 60 and electrical to optical converters 62. In operation, the optical signal received by the demultiplexer is divided into N optical signals 57 each having a different wavelength. Each individual channel is then converted from the optical domain to the electrical domain by optical to electrical converter 58 to yield an electrical signal 66.
The electrical signal is then amplified and regenerated to yield a regenerated electrical signal 68. This signal is then converted to an optical signal 70 by electrical to optical converter 62. The optical signals output from the N converters 62 are multiplexed by multiplexer 64 into a composite multi-wavelength optical signal that is then transmitted to the first node on the ring.
A benefit of electrical regeneration of the signal is that the noise is cleaned from the ring. In addition, each individual channel is accessible electrically for any purpose. A disadvantage of this solution, however, is that it is relatively costly in terms of complexity and the requirement to add optical and electrical based hardware to the ring. The electrical based equipment must be managed, adding to the cost and complexity. In addition, the equipment typically consumes a large amount of space. Further, the use of additional electrical equipment lowers the overall reliability of the network as it is another potential point of failure.
Therefore, there is a need for a solution to amplifier noise accumulation in optical ring networks that does not require costly, complex electro/optical based hardware and that provides the bi-directional communications benefit of ring networks.


A harvester for root crops such as beets is provided which preferably provides continuous flow of root crops from a header, along a transfer assembly, through a processing run, and to an elevator assembly. The harvester can be configured to include or accommodate interchangeable header assemblies having different numbers of rows and/or row spacings. The transfer assembly can be of a floating type and helps to provide an even distribution of beets to the grabrollers. The processing run includes full-length cleaning grabrollers disposed parallel to the direction of travel. Modular elevator assemblies can be provided to further enhance harvester versatility. Such an approach includes interchangeable ferris wheel and scrubber chain elevator assemblies. An improved scrubber chain elevator assembly can be used which has a wraparound scrubber chain design. A pivoting tank conveyor for evenly filling a holding tank can be included. Large diameter carrier wheels on a single axle positioned for improved balance, flotation, and maneuverability typically are important basic characteristics of the harvesters.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to harvesters for and harvesting of crops that must be removed from the ground, more particularly, root crops such as beets.
2. Description of Related Art
Beet harvesters must be especially rugged and bulky in order to unearth sugarbeets and other root crops, with its attendant engagement with rocks and other obstacles along a typical beet harvesting path. Prior art beet harvester patents include U.S. Pats. No. 2,944,611 (Rollins), No. 3,010,522 (Oppel), No. 3,181,616 (Oppel), No. 4,116,279 (Kilburn), No. 4,137,973 (Schwitters), No. 4,184,550 (Ammermann), No. 4,226,566 (Maust), No. 4,382,471 (Peterson) and No. 4,633,956 (Glifberg). Prior art publications include those disclosing sugarbeet harvesters of Art's-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc., including "A Total Sugarbeet Harvesting System" brochure showing models of the 690 Series, the 692 Series and the 9420 Series, as well as a brochure entitled "698 Series Rear Wheel Harvester." These patents and publications are specifically incorporated by reference hereinto.
Heretofore, these types of harvesters typically have been constructed with a view toward meeting a specific harvesting need and under specific harvesting conditions. Crops, including beets, must be harvested with the same row spacing as they are planted. Typically, they also must be harvested with a harvester having a number of rows which is a multiple of the number of rows of the planter that had been used. Heretofore, these needs usually had been addressed by having to choose between having multiple harvesters available for use or using a harvester under conditions for which it might not have been strictly designed. Root crop harvesters also have been limited by size constraints and root crop processing difficulties from achieving improved root crop cleaning along the root crop flow path of the harvester.
Illustrated in FIG. 6a is a problem which the present invention has recognized and addressed. This problem, typically associated with prior art beet harvesters, is that they require the beets to change direction laterally along the cleaning flow path. Such harvesters have an assembly 20 that directs beets downstream to a bed of cleaning rollers 22, but then the beets must "turn the corner" and follow along the length of the transversally-disposed rollers 22. In connection with the invention, it has been determined that having the beets turn the corner hinders the cleaning function of the harvester, for example because mud and beets tend to accumulate along the area that the flow direction changes. This in turn makes it more difficult for the rollers to rotate and clean the beets. Also, with harvesters of the type shown in FIG. 6a, typically all beets do not engage the cleaning rollers 22 for the potential maximum length of travel, but for only a portion thereof.
Beet harvesters also are known to transfer harvested beets into position for collection using elevator type mechanisms. In essence, two basic structures are used. One is a so-called ferris wheel unit, and another is a scrubber chain unit. Traditionally, a beet harvester is configured with either a ferris wheel unit or a scrubber chain unit, and the user may not have the best unit for each harvesting situation. For example, it is generally understood that scrubber chain units are more aggressive than ferris wheel units and can be preferred over ferris wheel units in some situations. Some consider ferris wheel elevator units to operate in a more acceptable manner than a scrubber chain elevator for overall general harvesting situations. Flexibility in this regard could be beneficial by allowing the user to select the elevator type depending on field and weather conditions.
While a modular beet harvester was proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,916 (Haverdink, et al.), the design disclosed therein is plagued by a number of problems. For one, the proposed harvester has poor lateral balance because the elevator assembly is offset from the centerline. Also, the proposed harvester still requires the beets to turn the corner to travel from the cleaning rollers to the elevator assembly.
Accordingly, a general aspect and object of the present invention is to provide improved root crop harvesters suitable for harvesting beets and other in-ground crops.
Another aspect or object of the invention is to provide beet harvesters having modular design components.
Another aspect or object of the invention is to provide beet harvesters capable of simultaneously harvesting twelve rows of root crops.
Another aspect or object of the invention is to provide beet harvesters having continuous rearward flow from the transfer assembly to and into the elevator assembly.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters having a narrow-frame design and/or good maneuverability during use.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide a method of harvesting beets which more effectively cleans the beets by employing two cleaning roller beds that are oriented perpendicular to one another.
Another aspect or object of the invention is to provide beet harvesters having features such as an automatic adjustable rowfinder, heavy duty struts, and rugged paddle shaft assemblies.
Another aspect or object of the invention is to provide improved beet harvesters having multiple rollers that are freely adjustable and cushioned.
Another aspect or object of the invention is to provide improved beet harvesters having a header roller bed which assists in beet cleaning.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters having one or more points that utilize a controlled fall to clean the beets.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters having an easily-removable transfer assembly.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters having a transfer assembly that achieves some beet cleaning between a header and a grabroller assembly, which can include a manually-operated winch to quickly and easily remove the transfer assembly for cleaning and maintenance.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters with transverse rollers that combine with a transfer assembly to evenly distribute the beets onto a bed of grabrollers.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters having a cleaning bed with grabrollers oriented parallel to the rows and preferably including a single-point adjustment on front and back.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters which are more laterally balanced by having a rear-loading elevator, rather than a side-loading elevator.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters which can be fitted with either a ferris wheel elevator module or a scrubber chain elevator module.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters having an improved wraparound scrubber chain elevator assembly.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters having a pivoting tank conveyor which minimizes the beets' fall into the holding tank, thereby reducing damage to the beets.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters having a hydraulically controlled offloading conveyor which preferably has the capability of folding out of the way, behind the header for transport.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters having tires and axles which permit the use of only two carrier wheels on the harvester, thereby enhancing maneuverability and lessening undesirable soil compaction.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters that can operate in muddier conditions than prior art harvesters due to improved cleaning capabilities.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters having a self-contained hydraulic subsystem which delivers power to the elevator motor and other components.
Another aspect or object of this invention is to provide beet harvesters with gage wheels to prevent the lifting assembly from digging into the soil on one side or the other in uneven ground.
Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention, including the various features used in various combinations, will be understood from the following description according to preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which certain specific features are shown.

Continuous longitudinal flow root crop harvesting


A method repair for reducing fretting of a fuel nozzle of a gas turbine engine, including attaching at least one stiffening element to an outer surface of a portion of a stem member of the fuel nozzle, with a size and shape of the at least one stiffening element being selected such that a first natural frequency of the fuel nozzle with the at least one stiffening element attached thereto is outside the engine running frequency range.

Fuel nozzles generally include a stem portion having an inlet coupled to a fuel source and an outlet coupled to a spray tip assembly for spraying or atomizing fuel into the combustion chamber. The spray tip assembly is generally received through the combustor wall floating collar, and vibrations caused by the engine in use can cause friction between the spray tip assembly and the combustor wall floating collar, thus causing fretting of this element of the fuel nozzle. Fuel nozzles, or parts thereof undergoing fretting, generally need to be regularly replaced to compensate for this damage. Such replacements increase time and costs of maintenance of the engine.


The sleeve 6 of a storage roller 3 is held by two supporting pins 4, 5 on a changing device 1 of a packaging machine. One supporting pin 5 is connected to a drive motor 9 for rotation of the supporting pin 5. The supporting pin 5 can be moved together with the drive motor 9 in axial direction 11 by an adjusting device 10. The exact position of the storage roller 3 or of the foil strip 2 unwound from the storage roller 3 can be measured by a measuring mechanism 28. With the changing device 1, it is possible to exchange or exactly adjust a storage roller 3, or correct the course of the unwound foil strip 2.

A changing device of this type is known from the DE-OS 3631205. It is disadvantageous in the known changing device that a storage roller mounted onto the supporting pin experiences a resistance from the bearings of the supporting pin during unwinding of foil from the storage roller. This resistance leads to an increased possibility of foil strip slippage relative to a transporting mechanism for the further transporting of the foil strip, and thus an inexact operation of a packaging machine.

Changing device in a packaging machine for a storage roller having thereon a foil strip


Systems and methods for forming an anastomosis between two adjacent walls of a digestive tract are provided. The system can include first and second magnetic implants configured to magnetically couple through two adjacent walls of the digestive tract to compress a portion of the two adjacent walls therebetween and form a necrotic area that becomes surrounded by a scarred edge following a healing time period. The magnetic implant can include a magnetic member and a non-magnetic member. The system can include a retention member extending outwardly from a corresponding one of the first and second magnetic implants, the retention member being configured to retain the magnetic implants in position and prevent passage thereof through the necrotic area during the healing time period, and to maintain an engagement between the magnetic member and the non-magnetic member during the healing time period and enable disengagement thereof following the healing time period.

Metabolic surgeries and medical procedures to treat conditions associated with the digestive tract, diabetes and obesity often require alteration of the digestive tract through incisions, sutures, punctures and/or stapling, which can cause trauma to the organ being altered and lead to bleeding. For instance, bariatric surgery procedures can be used to treat obesity, and can be aimed at bypassing a portion of the stomach and/or the intestine. Such medical procedures can also lead to an increased risk of infection or other complications.
Magnetic compression anastomosis can be used in the context of medical procedures to treat conditions associated with the digestive tract. With magnetic compression anastomosis, necrosis is induced in tissue sandwiched between two magnets. A healing process takes place around the magnets, while the compressed tissue eventually dies and separates from surrounding living tissue. The magnets are released along with the necrotic tissue, leaving an open passage known as an anastomosis. There are challenges related to the formation of anastomoses, particularly larger anastomoses, in the digestive tract.
There remain a number of challenges with respect to surgery procedures in the digestive tract, particularly in the formation of an anastomosis.

Anastomosis formation with magnetic devices having bioresorbable retention member


A portable beverage cooler comprises an automobile tire and a bottom membrane attached thereto. Optionally, a drain valve may be inserted in the side wall of the tire to facilitate draining liquid from inside the beverage cooler. Additionally, a pair of handles may be attached to the cooler to enhance its portability. Also, a base may be attached to the tire and/or rollers may be attached to the base or to the tire to increase the portability and point-of-sale functionality of the cooler.

Coolers for holding beverages or other food items desired to be kept cool are well known. Coolers come in a variety of sizes and shapes and are made out of various sorts of insulting materials such as foam or resilient polystyrene plastic, e.g., STYROFOAM®. Coolers are commonly filled with ice in order to cool beverages or other items or to maintain the cool temperature of those items. Coolers filled with ice are used at quick stop gasoline stations to display cool beverages and allow patrons convenient access to the beverages on sale. In such applications, the size, shape, and style of the cooler may have an effect on attracting a potential customer's attention and furthering a sale.
Coolers filled with ice are also commonly brought to sporting events, particularly outdoor summer sporting events such as auto races. Coolers are used for tailgate parties before and after sporting events or on the sidelines or pit stops during the events. Coolers specifically adapted for a particular sports genre would be desirous.
During a typical automobile race, the tires on the race cars are periodically changed. Race car tires and tires in general have a limited tread life. When they become worn, to improve performance and/or safety, they are replaced. During a typical auto race, one race car may use 3-5 sets of tires. Replaced race car tires are typically shredded and their disposal may be costly and environmentally unfriendly. Occasionally, used tires may be used around traffic cones or on loading docks.
It would be desirous to have a cooler with increased marketing appeal at quick stop gasoline stations. It would also be desirous to have a cooler that would be unique to the auto racing industry. Finally, it would be desirous to create another use for worn tires, particular worn tires that have a particular significance, e.g., the tires from a winning race car.


According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array having: a cell string including a plurality of memory cells connected in series; a plurality of word lines respectively connected to the plurality of memory cells; a source side selecting gate connected to one end of the cell string; and a drain side selecting gate connected to the other end of the cell string; a word line selector that selects one of the word lines connected to a target memory cell to be written; and an equalizing unit that equalizes voltages of the plurality of word lines after data write of the target memory cell is finished.

The present invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor storing apparatus of an NAND type flash memory or the like.
In a nonvolatile semiconductor storing apparatus, a distance between wirings is shortened since development of a micromachining technology has been progressed. On the other hand, it is difficult to thin a tunnel oxide film thickness in forming a memory cell at inside of a nonvolatile storing apparatus particularly from a view point or reliability.
According to the above-described two points, in a Total capacitance of a word line WL formed along with the memory cell, a rate occupied by a capacitance between the word line WL-gate tends to be low and a rate occupied by a capacitance between the word line WL-word line WL tends to be high. Further, in a Total capacitance of a source side selecting gate line SGS and a drain side selecting gate line SGD, a rate occupied by a capacitance between the source side selecting gate line SGS-gate and a capacitance between the drain side selecting gate line SGD-gate tends to be low, and a rate occupied by a capacitance between the source side selecting gate line SGS-word line WL and a capacitance between the drain side selecting gate line SGD-word line WL tends to be high.
Generally, according to a nonvolatile semiconductor storing apparatus, in a case in which a capacitive coupling is present between wiring-wiring, when a voltage applied to one wiring is changed in amplitude thereof, also a potential of other wiring is changed in an amplitude thereof. In this case, the potential change in the amplitude generated at other wiring is operated as noise, and therefore, hereinafter, the phenomenon is referred to as coupling noise.
That is, according to a nonvolatile semiconductor storing apparatus, in accordance with a progress in generation and a progress in micromachining, a coupling noise generated between word line WL-word line WL and a coupling noise generated between the drain side selecting gate line SGD-word line WL tend to be increased.
In order to reduce the coupling noise, there is proposed a nonvolatile semiconductor storing apparatus in which when a data is written to a memory cell, a memory cell of a word line WL applied with a reference voltage is cut off, and timings of voltages supplied to word line WL disposed contiguous to both sides of the word line WL are made to differ from each other (refer to, for example, JP-A-2005-108404).


A feed roller assembly including an axle, a feed roller fixedly mounted around the axle and turned with it to feed a sheet of paper forward, an end cap fixedly mounted on one end of the axle and having a projecting rod raised from an inner side, the projecting rod having a bevel face, and a transmission gear turned about one end of the axle adjacent to the end cap, the transmission gear having a springy projecting rod raised from one end and moved to act against the projecting rod of the end cap, causing the end cap and the axle to be turned with the transmission gear, the springy projecting rod of the transmission gear passing over the bevel face of the projecting rod of the end cap when the roller is pulled by a transmission roller, which delivers the fed sheet of paper forwards, to turn the axle and the end cap at a higher speed than the transmission gear, permitting the end cap and the axle to be turned relative to the transmission gear.

The present invention relates to a feed roller assembly for a fax machine, and more particularly to such a feed roller assembly which permits the fed sheet of paper to be smoothly carried forwards by the transmission roller of the fax machine.
A fax machine comprises a feed roller driven to feed sheets of paper individually, and a transmission roller driven to deliver fed sheet of paper at a higher speed. Because the feed roller and the transmission roller are separately turned at different speeds, the fed sheet of paper may easily be jammed between the feed roller and the transmission roller. There is known a feed roller assembly equipped with a one-way coupling element and designed to eliminate the aforesaid problem. The one-way coupling element is fixedly mounted on the axle of the roller assembly and having a raised portion. The transmission gear of the feed roller assembly has a raised portion normally stopped at the raised portion of the coupling element. When the feed roller of the feed roller assembly is pulled by the transmission roller, the raised portion of the coupling element is disconnected from the raised portion of the transmission gear to eliminate the formation of a reverse active force. This structure of feed roller assembly is still not satisfactory in function. When a long sheet of paper is fed, the function of the one-way coupling element cannot be fully carried out, and the fed sheet of paper may be jammed in the fax machine, or delivered forwards at an uneven speed.

2f, No. 8, Alley 6, Lane 118, Sec. 2, Ho Ping E. Rd.


A rotation transmitting apparatus comprises a first sun gear joined to a first shaft so as to rotate interlockingly, a second shaft arranged to the first shaft coaxially, a second sun gear joined to the second shaft so as to rotate interlockingly, a first planetary gear meshed with the first sun gear, a second planetary gear rotating with the first planetary gear and meshed with the second sun gear, and a carrier supporting the first and second planetary gears and arranged to be driven by a differential electric motor. In particular, the number of teeth of each of the first and second sun gears and the first and second planetary gears is determined so that the ratio of a torque applied to the second shaft to a torque applied to the first shaft ranges from 1:0.7 to 1:0.9.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotation transmitting apparatus provided with a differential mechanism coupling a first shaft and a second shaft that are freely rotatable so that the shafts rotate interlocking with each other, and a differential actuator for driving the differential mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
A rotation transmitting apparatus provided with a differential mechanism is commonly used as the steering apparatus in a vehicle. The rotation transmitting apparatus as the steering apparatus includes a sun gear mounted on a first shaft joined to a steering wheel, planetary gears rotating on its axis while moves around the sun gear, an internal gear meshing with the planetary gears and mounted on a second shaft that is disposed coaxially with the first shaft and away from the sun gear, and a carrier rotatably fitted and mounted to the first shaft and supporting the planetary gears. By operating the steering wheel, the second shaft is rotated via the first shaft, the sun gear, the planetary gears, the carrier and the internal gear, so as to operate a steering mechanism connected to the second shaft (for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-122071 (1986)).
In a steering apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-122071 (1986), teeth are provided on an outer side of the carrier, and a differential electric motor having a driving gear meshing with the teeth of the carrier, and a controller for controlling a drive circuit of the electric motor in response to a steering angle of the steering wheel and a speed of the vehicle are provided. The steering apparatus is structured such that the carrier is rotated by driving the electric motor so as to have the second shaft rotate faster than the first shaft.
In addition to the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-122071 (1986), another steering apparatus including the differential mechanism is known where a reaction force electric motor is provided for applying a desired torque to the first shaft in response to the torque applied to the second shaft. The reaction force electric motor is driven when the steering torque applied to the first shaft is deviated from its correct level, e.g., by the differential electric motor increasing the rotational speed of the second shaft. Thereby, a desired torque is applied to the first shaft in response to the torque applied to the second shaft, thus returning the steering torque to its correct level.
The actions of the steering apparatus having the differential mechanism and the two, differential and reaction force electric motors as the actuators may include the following.
(1) A steady steering in which a gear ratio B/A, of a gear A on the first shaft side and a gear B on the second shaft side in the differential mechanism, is set to 1.0, and the second shaft is rotated at a speed 1.0 times as fast as a rotational speed of the first shaft by rotating the first shaft manually so as to perform a steady steering.
(2) A gear ratio increased steering in which the gear ratio B/A is set to be greater than 1.0, and the second shaft is rotated at a speed more than 1.0 times as fast as a rotational speed of the first shaft by rotating the first shaft manually.
(3) An active steering 1 in which the second shaft is rotated by a differential electric motor instead of rotating the first shaft manually so as to perform a steering.
(4) An active steering 2 in which the first shaft is rotated manually, and the second shaft is rotated by a differential electric motor in a reverse direction of the rotation of the first shaft.
(5) An automatic parking in which the second shaft is rotated by a differential electric motor instead of rotating the first shaft manually so as to park automatically.
It is known that the steering action of the vehicle having the rotation transmitting apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-122071 (1986) is conducted as resisting a reaction force from the ground applied to the (generally front) vehicle wheels and the reaction force may be varied depending on the running speed of the vehicle and the steering angle of the steering wheel. Accordingly, the differential electric motor is controlled and driven to increase the rotational speed of the second shaft compared to the first shaft during the slow speed running or parking and minimize a difference in the rotational speed between the first shaft and the second shaft during the high speed running.
In the rotation transmitting apparatus having the differential mechanism, meanwhile, the rotational speed of the carrier and the rotational speed of the electric motor are largely affected by the ratio between the torque applied to the first shaft and the torque applied to the second shaft. However, the torque ratio may hardly be set to an optimum while adversely affecting the steering feeling, encouraging the generation of noises at the differential mechanism, and increasing the power consumption of the electric motor(s), thus requiring a favorable solution.


A pattern forming method includes forming a resist film on a substrate, coating the resist film with a coating solution which forms a cover film on the resist film to form the cover film on the resist film, transferring a pattern onto the resist film by an immersion lithography method using a liquid immersion fluid to form a latent image on the resist film, removing the cover film after the formation of the latent image, conducting a first inspection to inspect whether or not the cover film has a defect between said forming the latent image and said removing the cover film, performing predetermined processing when the defect is found in the first inspection, and developing the resist film to form a resist pattern on the substrate after said removing the cover film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pattern forming method based on immersion lithography, and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Development of exposure tools has been in progress along with shrinkage of semiconductor devices. A 157 nm-lithography tool has been developed as a next-generation lithography tool, which replaces a tool presently in practical use to 193 nm lithography. However, due to delays in development of exposure tools and resist materials, a 193 nm-immersion lithography exposure tool is regarded as reliable at present. In the immersion lithography exposure tool, a solvent such as water which is a medium having a refractive index greater than that of air is filled between an objective lens and resist films targeted for image formation to increase a critical angle of an interface between the objective lens and the medium or an interface between the medium and the resist films, and an appropriate lens is used to enable image formation of a small pattern with a larger diffraction angle (refer to pamphlet for International publication No. WO99/49504).
In an optical lithography step where the immersion lithography exposure tool is used to transfer a pattern to a resist film, there is concern over the elution of an inclusion from the resist film into a liquid immersion fluid. This arises from the fear that a photo-acid generator contained in the resist film and its photoproducts which are photo-generated acids, basic materials and other low-molecular components elute into the immersion fluid and contaminate the element of the projection optics which contacts with the liquid immersion fluid, a shower head, a wafer stage, and so forth. The adsorption of the eluting substances onto the projection optics or corrosion thereof emerges as an optical path difference, and therefore influences imaging performance as aberration and flare, and it is presumed that this influence accumulatively increases due to an increase in processing for the resist processes of the same kind. On the other hand, the elusion of the substance into the immersion fluid changes the refractive index of the immersion fluid and thus changes the optical path length, which causes aberration of a projected image and affects the imaging performance.
Furthermore, in an immersion lithography exposure tool which selectively fills the liquid immersion fluid between a downstream surface of an optical axis of the objective lens and a substrate upper surface targeted for image projection, the following problems occur in a case where the liquid immersion fluid remains on the substrate when the substrate is loaded after completion of an exposure step.
1. If the liquid immersion fluid leaks into the exposure tool and a coating tool and touches electric systems therein, trouble occurs in the operation of the tools. This results in a reduction in productivity and generation of costs due to the stoppage and repair of the tools, and a loss due to the reprocessing and damage of a wafer.
2. If the liquid immersion fluid leaks into the exposure tool and the coating tool and is left as it is, microorganisms such as bacteria are grown in the leaking solution, which increases the concentration of a chemical species such as a base in the air inside the exposure tool and coating tool. This leads to a decrease in productivity due to deterioration of lithographic performance, stops the tools and generates repair cost.
3. If drying is performed before post exposure bake (PEB) with the liquid immersion fluid remaining on the substrate surface or if the PEB step is implemented with the remaining liquid immersion fluid, watermarks are produced on the resist film. In a relevant part, there are caused non-resolution of the resist pattern, a T-topped shape and a size change. Defects are produced in a process pattern using this resist pattern as a mask. This results in a productivity decrease.
4. If the PEB is carried out with the liquid immersion fluid remaining on the substrate surface, the temperature of the resist film changes due to latent heat in the vicinity of the part where the liquid immersion fluid remains, and the size of the resist pattern changes. This results in a productivity decrease.
5. If the PEB is carried out with the liquid immersion fluid remaining on the substrate surface, the amount of a substance volatizing from the film on the substrate increases, or a substance is generated by a reaction between the volatilizing substance and the liquid immersion fluid. As a result, adherents on the inner wall of a baking unit in the PEB step increase, and the adherents act on a wafer as dust to cause a pattern defect, leading to a productivity decrease and a loss.
6. If the PEB is carried out with the liquid immersion fluid remaining on the substrate surface, a surface state change is caused in the resist film or a cover film in the vicinity of the part where the liquid immersion fluid remains. This causes the removal of the cover film, an insufficient removal of the cover film due to occurrence of parts of different development characteristics, or a loss from a productivity decrease due to occurrence of development defects.
Therefore, there has been a demand to realize a pattern forming method and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device which can restrain the occurrence of the problems caused by the liquid immersion fluid used during the immersion lithography exposure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Pattern forming method and method of manufacturing semiconductor device