An image display device is provided in which the overall brightness of an image can be varied without adversely affecting hue and contrast. The image display device includes emitters 16 connected to a cathode electrode 15, a gate electrode 13, an anode electrode 3, transistors Tr1 and Tr2, and a capacitor 12. A voltage applied to the capacitor 12 is varied to display an image. A constant voltage is applied to the gate electrode 13 to change a time ratio Du. Thus, the overall brightness of an image can be adjusted.

The present invention relates to an image display device, and more particularly to an image display device of a field emission type.
Recently, attention has been directed to FEDs (Field Emission Displays), as a flat image display device. Many researches have also been conducted as to FED drive circuits. An active matrix system using active elements, for example, disclosed in Japanese patent publication No. 2656843 (patent document 1), is well known FED drive circuit.
An active matrix system, shown in FIG. 5, includes a thin-film transistor (TFT) section 1, a cathode section (FEC section), which has cone-shape emitters 16, a cathode electrode 15 connected to the cone-shape emitters 16, a gate electrode 13 having a large number of holes 13a, and an anode electrode 3 acting as a display substrate and having a surface on which a fluorescent substance layer 5 is coated. The thin-film transistor section 1 includes transistors Tr1 and Tr2. A drain 8 of the transistor Tr1 is connected to the emitters 16 via the cathode electrode 15. A gate 11 of the transistor Tr1 is connected to a source 7a of the transistor Tr2. A capacitor 12 is connected to the gate 11 of the transistor Tr1, a scanning signal is applied to a gate 11a of the transistor Tr2, and a clear signal or a display signal is selectively input to a drain 8a. This structure allows current magnitude to be controlled which flows from the drain 8 to the source 7, more specifically, which flows from the gate electrode 13 to the emitter 16 adjacent to the gate electrode 13 due to field electron emission. Although a plurality of emitters 16 are connected to each cathode electrode 15 in FIG. 5, a single emitter 16 may be connected to each cathode electrode.
The TFT array, which is formed of a plurality of thin-film transistors having the same configuration as the thin-film transistor section 1 formed on a substrate, is selected each array driving column in time sharing manner. At the same time, a matrix drive is carried out in sync with the time sharing operation to supply a display signal to each column in the array. Since each thin-film transistor section 1 in the TFT array is connected to each FEC array formed of a plurality of FEC sections having the same configuration as the FEC section, a capacitor voltage of a specific thin-film transistor section is selectively updated. Electrons are emitted due to field electron emission according to the voltage of the capacitor. In the operation, since the other capacitors in the TFT array maintain a present voltage until the voltage of the capacitors are next updated, electrons are continuously emitted from each FEC section during the maintenance of present voltage according to the voltage of each capacitor. In this case, the voltage of the gate electrode 13 is kept at a higher fixed level than that of the cathode section (FEC section).
A fluorescent substance layer 5 is coated over one or plural anode electrodes formed on a display substrate and an anode voltage is applied to the anode electrodes. Electrons emitted from each FEC section impinge on an opposed portion of the fluorescent substance layer to generate luminescence. The opposed portion of the fluorescent substance layer continues to produce luminescence at the same brightness until the capacitor voltage is next updated. A luminous time ratio (duty ratio) is to be approximately 1 so that a high intensity luminescence can be realized.
FIG. 6 shows a structure of the thin-film transistor section 1 and the cathode section. A cross section diagram of the transistor Tr1, which is a portion of the thin-film transistor 1 formed on a substrate, is shown on the left side of FIG. 6. The emitters 16 and the cathode electrode 15 connected to the emitters 16 in the cathode section are shown on the right side of FIG. 6. The source 7 and the drain 8 are formed on a glass cathode substrate 6 made of an electrical insulating material. A polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer 9 is coated to bridge the source 7 and the drain 8. A gate insulating film 10 such as SiO2 is deposited on the semiconductor layer 9 to form a gate 11. Thus, a transistor Tr1 is formed. A lead for the gate insulating film 10 and a lead for the drain 8 extend to the FEC section on the cathode substrate 6 so that the cathode electrode 15 is formed. The emitters 16 are connected to the cathode electrode 15. The lead for the source 7 is grounded (not shown). The lead for the source 7 and the lead for the gate 11 are laminated via an insulating layer, whereby a capacitor 12 is formed in this area. The lead for the gate 11 is connected to the source 7a of the transistor Tr2 via a lead line.
As described above, the active matrix system known in the art is to adapt such a matrix driving method that each column of the TFT array is selected in time sharing manner and a display signal as a capacitor charging voltage is applied to each row in the array while a constant dc voltage is applied to a gate electrode in the configuration including TFT arrays acting as active elements.
In the active matrix system, the luminous intensity of the fluorescent substance layer depends on the voltage of each capacitor in principle as described above. However, when an overall brightness of an image displayed on a flat image display device or a brightness of a partial area of an image divided into several sections is required to change according to an ambient environment, it has been difficult to establish a condition to change the brightness only without significantly changing hue and contrast, because voltages applied on respective capacitors must be controlled depending on the overall brightness, which makes such control to be very difficult.

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology


In a time-division multiple-access TDMA communication system communication between a hub and a substantial number of mobile terminals is conducted over a plurality of channel groups. Load balancing toward a substantially uniform distribution of traffic loads among the channel groups is implemented by sharing control of the number of mobile terminals logged into each channel group between the hub and the mobile terminals. At login time, each mobile terminal selects the optimum channel group based on a channel group congestion factor broadcast on the forward TDM channel of each respective channel group. In addition, the hub has the ability to move a desired number of the mobile terminals from one to another channel group, based on information communicated in a network management service packet. The mobile terminals initiate moves based on statistical selection of mobile terminals using the communicated information.

This invention relates generally to message store-and-forward communication systems and particularly to time division multiple access (TDMA) communication systems, such as satellite-linked systems, which further operate with more than a single channel group.
Though not limited thereto, the invention is particularly useful as an improvement of a communication system in which a central station referred to as a "land earth station" (LES) or a "hub" communicates via satellite with a number of "mobile terminals" over a forward channel of a designated channel group, and the mobile terminals communicate with the hub over respective return channels of the channel group. The term "mobile terminal" is used herein to refer to one of a group of individual terminals that are communicating with the hub. The term "mobile terminal", as used herein, refers to the characteristic of terminals being subject to physical movement within a reception region of the system.
State of the art communication systems, as those referred to herein, generally operate over satellite links. Communication satellites covering, for example, North America relay messages over a number of area-specific spot beams which, in total, may cover the entire Continent. In such environment, the communcation system may operate in any particular spot beam with one primary time-division multiplex (TDM) forward channel, and one or more secondary TDM forward channels, wherein each TDM forward channel may carry the forward channel communication to a portion of all mobile terminals logged into the system. Each TDM channel operates with a designated number of associated return channels to make up a distinct channel group in such a multiple channel-group system.
In a specific example with respect to which the invention is described, the central station or LES operates a communication system which serves a number of individual customers, for example a number of trucking companies, each of which may operate and require control over hundreds or even in excess of a thousand trucks. The mobile terminals are installed on respective trucks of the customer trucking companies, for "star type", point-to-multipoint, communications between respective truck dispatch centers and enroute trucks of each of the trucking companies.
Satellite communication links are a limited and costly commodity. There is always a need to improve efficiency of communications over satellite communication links to lower the cost of communication systems using such satellite links. For cost reasons, the channel groups of the system are typically limited in number to match the network with anticipated load levels, although, allowing some safety margin. However, owing to variations in message traffic levels, the network can get overloaded through exhaustion of available channel capacity, or even through operational failure of the LES caused by temporary peak overload conditions.
In general, prior art LES operations seek to balance communication loads by distributing login assignments of existing mobile terminals substantially evenly over available channel groups controlled by the LES. Primary login frequencies, one per spot beam, are pre-programmed into each of the mobile terminals. The primary login frequencies are assigned and preprogrammed into each mobile terminal when it is placed into service.
Message traffic loads do not always correspond to the number of terminals assigned to operate over particular channel groups of the network. A truck may require little or no communication while on one route, and may require a substantial amount of communication while on another route. Congestion over a channel group may be caused by a single, relatively long message.
According to current practice, an LES may reserve, on demand, special "LES TDMs" or special forward channels for communicating such longer messages to the particular recipient mobile terminal, requiring such recipient mobile terminal, which is already logged in on its primary TDM channel frequency, to change its frequency the LES TDM for the receipt of the message, and, subsequently, to return to the preassigned primary TDM forward channel. While the use of on-demand, or demand-assigned, TDM channels can reduce forward traffic loads on the primary TDM channel, it does not mitigate traffic in the return direction, which is carried by a fixed set of return channels. Further, requiring the mobile terminals to change the frequency to and from the "LES TDM" adds to message transport delays and is, for that reason, undesirable.
Also, according to current practices, when a particular channel group in a spot beam becomes overloaded, an operator can prevent additional mobile terminals from logging into the channel group by setting a flag or bit in a broadcast bulletin board which acts as a busy signal. Mobile terminals, which are assigned the particular, busy channel group as a primary channel group, will be prevented from logging into the prior art communication system as long as the flag remains set. The prior art terminals are programmed to periodically check whether the busy flag has been reset, and if so, to log in at such time.
An LES, pursuant to other known practices for avoiding temporary, potentially harmful network overload conditions, may also assign a mobile terminal to a secondary channel group when the mobile terminal attempts to first log into a preassigned primary TDM channel. Assignments of mobile terminals at the time of login are made to maintain a distribution of channel loads when several channel groups are available whithin any given spot beam area. The assignments do not affect mobile terminals which are already communicating over the channel group of the primary TDM channel. An assignment of a mobile terminal to a secondary TDM channel and its associated return channels is permanent for the duration of the login period of the mobile terminal. Reassignment of a mobile terminal on initial login, as desirable as it may seem, has been found not to be able to cope whith unexpected traffic growth from the mobile terminals already logged into a channel group. Moreover, a procedure, which simply blocks further mobile terminals from logging into a particular channel group, fails to address the essence of the problem in that such procedure does not support the attainment of a substantially uniform distribution of traffic across a number of available channel groups.
Risks of communication problems due to imbalances of traffic loads among available channel groups continues to exist in current systems. There is a continued need to arrive at more economical procedures for balancing channel loads and to avoid sudden, temporary traffic congestion and overload conditions in certain channel groups and possible system failures as a result thereof.

Methods of load balancing and controlling congestion in a combined frequency division and time division multiple access communication system using intelligent login procedures and mobile terminal move commands


In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of cleaning a low pressure chemical vapor deposition apparatus having TEOS material build-up therein involving contacting the low pressure chemical vapor deposition apparatus with a composition containing at least one lower alcohol. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a system for cleaning a low pressure chemical vapor deposition apparatus having TEOS material build-up therein, containing a supply of a composition comprising at least one lower alcohol; an injection port for introducing the composition including at least one lower alcohol into the low pressure chemical vapor deposition apparatus; and a pump/vacuum system for removing crystallized TEOS material build-up from the low pressure chemical vapor deposition apparatus.

The present invention generally relates to improved LPCVD processing. In particular, the present invention relates to reducing unwanted build-up in LPCVD pump systems thereby permitting temporary process stops without the potential for lock-up and substantially increasing the time intervals between servicing an LPCVD pump system.
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) involves the formation of a solid film on a substrate by the reaction of vapor phase chemicals that contain the required constituents. The reactant gases are introduced into a reactant chamber and are decomposed and reacted at a heated surface to form the film. CVD techniques are widely employed in the fabrication of semiconductor structures; therefore, CVD techniques are some of the fundamental building blocks in semiconductor processing. Low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) techniques involve, as the name implies, low pressures and are advantageous in that films having high purity, excellent uniformity, and conformal step coverage are obtainable. LPCVD techniques are disadvantageous in that high temperatures are typically required.
Another disadvantage associated with LPCVD processes involves the formation of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) or Si(OC2H5)4 films (or silicon dioxide layers made from TEOS starting material). During the LPCVD TEOS film formation process, the starting gas is continuously introduced into the reactor vessel, but a vacuum is continuously drawn from the reactor vessel through a vacuum extraction system connected to thereto, so that a predetermined low pressure is maintained in the reactor vessel to properly control the growth of the TEOS film. In many instances, the starting gas is not completely used in the formation of the TEOS film, and a large part thereof is undesirably pulled from the reactor vessel into the vacuum extraction system. As a result, the pump/vacuum system responsible for the low pressures, such as a mechanical booster pump, a rotary pump, a blower, and other related pump system elements, are damaged by the deposition therein of the starting gas pulled from the reactor vessel. In particular, the starting gas pulled from the reactor vessel is undesirably deposited in the pumps thereby creating an unwanted build-up in an interior of the vacuum extraction system. TEOS byproducts also create an unwanted build-up in an interior of the vacuum extraction system. TEOS material build-up is characterized by a very sticky film. This is problematic because the build-up on internal surfaces of the LPCVD apparatus and particularly on internal movable parts of the pumps requires frequent vigorous cleanings.
Moreover, TEOS is particularly problematic in LPCVD processes because TEOS gas condenses in the vicinity of 35xc2x0 C. Problems ensue when an LPCVD TEOS film formation process is temporarily stopped, such as during evening hours or during a power glitch causing the pump to shut off. In particular, after the LPCVD apparatus is turned off, the apparatus cools down to room temperatures from its high operating temperatures. Since TEOS gas condenses around 35xc2x0 C., TEOS materials build-up on various elements of the LPCVD apparatus including the pump/vacuum system as the temperature of the LPCVD apparatus cools down. Upon turning the LPCVD apparatus back on, blower vains, rotors and other elements of the pump/vacuum system cannot function properly due to the solid build-up of TEOS material. In many instances, within only 30 minutes after stopping and LPCVD TEOS film formation process, TEOS material builds-up so extensively that it is impossible to turn the LPCVD apparatus back on. Although it is sometimes desirable to temporarily interrupt the LPCVD TEOS film formation process in order to make minor process adjustments, such interruptions are avoided due to the possibility that the LPCVD apparatus cannot be turned back on.
Cleaning a pump/vacuum system in an LPCVD TEOS film formation process requires one to disconnect the pump/vacuum system from the LPCVD apparatus, disassemble the pump/vacuum system, clean the individual parts, reassemble the pump/vacuum system, connect the pump/vacuum system back to the LPCVD apparatus, and testing the cleaned system. This cleaning process typically takes three to four days, which is a long period of time to be off-line. Not only is this cleaning process cumbersome, but the LPCVD apparatus is rendered useless during the long cleaning time, thus inhibiting further semiconductor processing.
The present invention provides an improved LPCVD process by enabling the in situ cleaning of the pump/vacuum system of the LPCVD apparatus. The cleaning is in situ in that the LPCVD apparatus is cleaned without having to disconnect and disassemble the pump/vacuum system while running. The present invention also provides methods for minimizing the accumulation of TEOS material in the pump/vacuum system of the LPCVD apparatus. As a result of the present invention, LPCVD processing is capabilities are lengthened, temporary stops in LPCVD processing are facilitated, and cumbersome cleaning of the pump/vacuum system of the LPCVD apparatus is minimized and/or eliminated.
In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of cleaning an LPCVD apparatus having TEOS material build-up therein involving contacting the LPCVD apparatus with a composition containing at least one lower alcohol.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of reducing TEOS material build-up from interior surfaces of a pump/vacuum system of an LPCVD apparatus having a first amount of TEOS material build-up involving contacting the pump/vacuum system of the LPCVD apparatus with a composition containing at least one lower alcohol under a pressure from about 0.001 Torr to about 800 Torr to provide the pump/vacuum system of the LPCVD apparatus having a second amount of TEOS material build-up, wherein the second amount of TEOS material build-up is at least about 75% by weight less than the first amount of TEOS material build-up.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to an LPCVD method involving the steps of depositing TEOS on a first semiconductor substrate in an LPCVD apparatus; removing the first semiconductor substrate from the LPCVD apparatus; injecting a composition containing at least one lower alcohol into the LPCVD apparatus; and depositing TEOS on a second semiconductor substrate in the LPCVD apparatus.
In still yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to a system for cleaning a low pressure chemical vapor deposition apparatus having TEOS material build-up therein, containing a supply of a composition comprising at least one lower alcohol; an injection port for introducing the composition comprising at least one lower alcohol into the low pressure chemical vapor deposition apparatus; and a pump/vacuum system for removing crystallized TEOS material build-up from the low pressure chemical vapor deposition apparatus.

Method of in-situ cleaning for LPCVD TEOS pump


An apparatus receives, from a management server device, three-dimensional disposition information pertaining to positions of a plurality of server devices each including a wireless communication unit, and converts the three-dimensional disposition information into two-dimensional disposition information. The apparatus calculates, based on the two-dimensional disposition information, a straight line distance indicating a length of a straight line between a first server device in the plurality of server devices and each of second server devices to which the first server device transmits data, and selects, from among the plurality of server devices, a relay server device for relaying data between the first server device and the second server devices, based on the calculated straight line distances.

Conventionally, communication between information processor apparatuses has been carried out by wired or wireless communication. For example, in the case of wired communication, an information processor apparatus transmits data to another information processor apparatus via a layer-2 switch or a layer-3 switch. In the case of wireless communication, an information processor apparatus transmits data to another information processor apparatus via previously fixed relay servers.
International Publication Pamphlet No. WO 2006/001308 discusses the use of a method for relaying data between information processor apparatuses without using a relay server, such as in adhoc communication. For example, data transmitted from the information processor apparatus is relayed between adjacent information processor apparatuses until the data reaches the destination information processor apparatus.
However, if the number of information processor apparatuses for relaying data is high, data transmission with the above technique is not effective since interruptions when relaying the data occur due to data delays and failures.
For example, when a relay server fails, the data relay is interrupted and the data does not reach the destination when carrying out wireless communication via a fixed relay server. In the case of adhoc communication, data delays occur more often as the number of information processor apparatuses for relaying the data increases.

Apparatus and method for selecting a node relaying data communication between servers


A color shift reducing apparatus includes: a color shift area detecting unit for detecting a color shift area on the basis of input image data and image data delayed through a memory; a color shift degree calculating unit for calculating data indicating the degree of color shift on the basis of a color shift detection signal, the input image data, and the image data delayed by one field through the memory; an image data estimating unit for estimating image data on the basis of the color shift detection signal, the input image data, and the image data supplied from the memory; and a color shift reducing unit for forming a color shift reduced image on the basis of the image data supplied from the memory, estimated image data, and the color shift degree data.

In general, an electronic endoscope includes imaging means such as an imaging device for applying illumination light of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) with various wavelengths to a subject in a time series manner and then photoelectrically converting light reflected by the subject into video signals using a solid-state image sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD). This type of imaging device has the following disadvantage: When the subject moves fast, three color component signals obtained in time series are shifted. In other words, color shift occurs.
To reduce color shift, color shift reducing apparatuses for receiving color video signals from a field-sequential imaging device and reducing color shift of the color video signals have been proposed.
The color shift reducing apparatuses include a color shift reducing apparatus for applying a mean color component of the whole of an image with color shift to a color shift part, thus correcting the color shift, and a color shift reducing apparatus for forming a correction color using a brightness component and color components of an image and then applying the correction color to a color shift part, thus correcting the color shift as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 3-270392.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-319694 discloses an apparatus for extracting the highest pixel frequency value from a color distribution histogram and assigning a color having the highest pixel frequency value as an estimated color to a color shift area, thus correcting color shift.
In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-74570 discloses a color shift correcting apparatus for changing the combination ratio of an original image and a color shift corrected image in response to the conditions of the image to form a color shift reduced image. The apparatus can correct an image derived on undesirable processing conditions, for example, upon bleeding or spreading a stain., thus forming a natural color shift reduced image.
In each of the above-mentioned conventional color shift reducing apparatuses, however, each algorithm is established on the precondition that one pigment exists in a living body. Disadvantageously, when blood comes out a mucous membrane sprayed with a stain, namely, two or more pigments exist in a living body, the color of the strain is corrected using the same color as that of the blood, alternatively, the color of the blood is corrected using the same color as that of the strain. When a fixed color is assigned to a color shift portion, the portion is corrected using an achromatic color.
The present invention is made in consideration of the above circumstances. An object of the present invention is to provide a color shift reducing apparatus capable of accurately estimating a correction color when two or more pigments exist in a living body.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a color shift reducing apparatus capable of favorably performing a color shift reducing process to a dark image having low color saturation.


An apparatus for manufacturing an optical element includes: a flexible stamper having a transfer portion transferring a predetermined shape and having changeable curvature; a stamper holding mechanism holding the stamper; an element holding mechanism holding an optical element having a convex or concave curved surface, the curved surface serving as a transferred surface to which the shape of the transfer portion of the stamper is transferred; a curvature changing mechanism changing the curvature of the stamper in accordance with curvature of the transferred surface of the optical element; and a moving mechanism moving at least one of the stamper held by the stamper holding mechanism and the optical element held by the element holding mechanism in a direction in which the transfer portion of the stamper moves away from or closer to the transferred surface of the optical element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing an optical element, a method of manufacturing an optical element, an optical element, and an imaging device. Particularly, the present invention relates to a technical field for improving versatility and reducing manufacturing cost by transferring a shape of a transfer portion of a stamper having changeable curvature to a transferred surface formed in a curved surface of an optical element regardless of curvature of the transferred surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known an apparatus for manufacturing an optical element, including a stamper used to transfer a shape of a microscopic structure or the like to a predetermined surface of an optical element such as a lens (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-130841).
In the apparatus for manufacturing the optical element disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-130841, a die (stamper) is provided with a transfer portion having a microscopic structure, and a shape of the transfer portion is transferred to a transferred surface of an optical element in the state where the transfer portion of the stamper is pressed down against the transferred surface of the optical element.

Apparatus for manufacturing optical element, method of manufacturing optical element, optical element, and imaging device


It is an objective of the present invention to provide an antenna construction that allows the thickness of an antenna structure be lower than that of planar antennas according to prior art without sacrificing the radiation efficiency at the desired RF-bands as 900 MHz GSM and 1800 MHz/1900 MHz DCS/PCS. A further object of the invention is to provide an antenna construction that is insensitive to changes in positions of electrically conductive objects in the vicinity. The objectives of the invention are achieved by a loop antenna structure equipped with an electrically conductive parasitic radiator that is electro-magnetically coupled with the antenna loop. Performance at the DCS/PCS bands can be further improved by using an electrically conductive tuner element that provides a stronger electromagnetic coupling between the antenna loop and the parasitic radiator.

Important technical properties of an antenna structure are physical size and radiation efficiency. For example, an antenna of a cellular mobile phone is nowadays usually located inside the cover of the phone device. Especially in folding mobile phones, e.g. in a clamshell type phone, the thickness of the antenna structure is an important quantity. This is due to the fact that a phone device should be thin enough also in a folded state. Another important issue is the radiation efficiency. The radiation efficiency means the ratio of the power supplied to an antenna to the power radiated by the antenna. Small radiation efficiency means increased power consumption when a desired level of radiated power is generated. The power consumption is a crucial issue especially in battery-energized devices like cellular mobile phones. In today's mobile phones an antenna may have to operate at several frequency bands. The frequency bands may be for example: 900 MHz GSM band, 1800 MHz band DCS (Digital Communication Service), and 1900 MHz PCS (Personal Communication Service) band. The radiated efficiency has to be good enough over all the frequency bands at which an antenna operates. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the radiating efficiency of an antenna at a desired frequency band is insensitive to existence of electrically conductive materials in the vicinity. For example in a folding phone application electromagnetic properties of the near-surroundings of an antenna depend in some extent on opening position of a phone mechanics.


A thread feeding buffer for feeding a fiber thread from a magazine roll to a feed apparatus. The thread feeding buffer comprises a thread brake and at least one movable thread guide, on which a thrust force is acting. The moveable thread guide is vertically shiftable and lowered by gravity. The thread runs from a magazine roll, past the brake, through the thread guide and toward a further feed guide in such a way that the thrust force acts for creation of a thread buffer between the brake and the other feed guide, which buffer is variable in length.

The production of fibre reinforced thermosetting plastic products can be automatized by the use of an industrial robot, by means of which a fibre feed apparatus can be controlled, so that precise amounts of fibres are fed out which are oriented for maximum strength, without the fibres projecting out through the outer plastic layer of the product.
Owing to the repeatability of the robot, the quality of these products can be increased considerably, simultaneously as problems related to bad work environment and labour fatigue can be solved.
The fibre feeding apparatus is preferably located in a feedout head which can be mounted upon a movable robot arm. One or more fibre threads are supplied to the feedout head, which cuts the threads in suitable lengths. The feeding speed of the fibre thread can be in the range of about 10 meters per second.
At such a feeding speed, it is difficult to stop the feeding of thread without any risk of getting they thread tangled.


In a spinning reel for fishing, a brake member is attached to a rotor, which, when a bail support member is operated or reversed from its fishing line retrieving state to its fishing line casting state, is pressed against a spool to thereby brake the rotation of the rotor. The bail support member can be returned from the fishing line casting state to the fishing line retrieving state through a reversing mechanism if the rotor is rotated with a handle in the fishing line retrieving direction. The spinning reel for fishing can prevent the inadvertent operation of a bail in a fishing line casting operation and thereby improve the fishing operation of the spinning reel.

The present invention relates to a spinning reel for fishing which can prevent incorrect operation of a bail in a fishing line casting operation and can improve the fishing operation of the spinning reel.
As known well, conventionally, in most spinning reels for fishing, a semi-circular bail is mounted on the leading end portions of a pair of support arms provided in a rotor in such a manner that it can be freely reversed between a fishing line retrieving position and a fishing line casting position through a bail support member.
If the bail is turned down to the fishing line casting position and the terminal tackles of the spinning reel are thrown, then a fishing line wound around a spool can be released in a spiral manner. Also, if the bail is returned back to the fishing line retrieving position and a handle is operated to thereby rotate the rotor in a fishing line retrieving direction, then the fishing line can be wound around the spool, which traverses back and forth in connection with the rotation of the rotor.
However, conventionally, in the spinning reel of this type, there is a drawback that, when the bail is turned down to the fishing line casting position and the fishing line is released, the handle can be turned due to the casting motion to thereby rotate the rotor in the fishing line retrieving direction. This may result in the bail support member being reversed to the fishing line retrieving position by a reversing mechanism and the fishing line can thereby be cut.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, recently, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei. 3-16867, there has been proposed a lock device in which a connecting member having a leading end portion engageable with the bail support member and a trailing end portion engageable with an uneven portion provided in the front portion of a reel main body when the fishing line is released is so mounted as to extend from the interior of the rotor into the support arms, so that the fishing line casting state of the bail support member can be locked by the connecting member.
However, since the above-mentioned lock device is structured such that the leading end portion of the connecting member is engaged with the bail support member and the trailing end portion of the connecting member is engaged with the uneven portion provided in the front portion of the reel main body, there is a drawback that the base portions of the support arms and the front portion of the reel main body are complicated in shape and structure.
Also, because the present lock device is so structured as to lock the rotor to the reel main body through the connecting member in the fishing line casting operation, the bail cannot be reversed and returned from its fishing line casting state to its fishing line retrieving state with the rotation of the rotor by means of the handle retrieving operation, which results in a poor efficiency in the operation of the lock device.

Spinning reel for fishing having a rotor brake member operable in the fishing line casting position


A personal use soap bar composition containing alkali metal soaps of fatty acids having alkyl chain lengths of C.sub.8 -C.sub.22 which include an unhydrated cationic guar gum polymer as a skin feel and mildness additive. Prior to incorporating the polymer into the soap, it is mixed with an anhydrous polyglycol ether such as PEG-6 methyl ether. This eliminates the need to hydrate the cationic polymers to achieve uniform distribution of the polymer in the bar.

For a considerable number of years, polymers of various types have been incorporated into a variety of cleaning and personal use cleansing compositions for a variety of purposes. For example, polymers are used in powdered laundry detergents as production assistance, builder assistance, and anti-redeposition agents. In liquid laundry products, they are used as thickeners, and in automatic dishwasher liquids as builders and softeners and as thickeners; in dry dishwasher formulations as builders and softeners.
In the field of personal use skin cleansing compositions, ideally such compositions should be both mild to the skin and give the user's skin a desirable smooth and slippery feel. It is known to incorporate cationic polymers into cleansing bar compositions to effect skin conditioning. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,555 and its related U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,447, there is disclosed skin cleansing soap bars comprising soap and a hydrated cationic guar-gum polymer, the addition of which is said to improve the mildness of the soap bar. According to the patents, the soap bars incorporate a hydrated cationic polymer having a molecular weight of from about 1000 to about 3,000,000 with it being preferred that such polymer be a cationic guar-gum polymer having a molecular weight in the range of 2500-350,000. The inventors state it is essential that the cationic polymer be hydrated to achieve uniform distribution of the polymer in the bar. It is further stated that the preferred cationic polymers are of the cationic guar-gum class, examples being JAGUAR C-14-S, C-15 and C-17 previously available from Celanese Corporation and now available from Rhone-Poulenc, inc. It is further disclosed that the polymers require a relatively large amount of water for their hydration. As an example, for JAGUAR C-15 the ratio of polymer to water is about 9 to 1; for JAGUAR C-14S, the ratio is about 19 to 1. From a reading of the patents, it is clear that hydrating the cationic polymer is most important to a successful use of such polymer in a bar soap product. It is also clear that the need to hydrate the polymer is not only an extra step in the soap making process, but requires additional energy to dry the soap to its appropriate moisture level because of the incorporation of the additional water.
It would therefore be a surprising advance in the soap-making art to provide a process for incorporating cationic polymers of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patents and particularly to incorporate cationic guar-gum polymers in soap compositions without the need to hydrate the polymer either prior to or during the soap-making process. It would also be an important advance that the incorporation of such so-called "dry" polymers be accomplished with very little or no gritty feeling to the bar compositions. In short, it would be an important advance to obtain the benefits of the use of cationic guar-gum polymers in bar products as disclosed in the aforementioned patents, without the need to hydrate the polymers.

Personal use soap bar compositions containing cationic polymers


The liquid ejection apparatus includes: a liquid ejection device which ejects liquid; a liquid supply device which supplies the liquid to the liquid ejection device; a saturated dissolved gas amount determination device which determines a saturated dissolved gas amount of the liquid in the liquid ejection device; a dissolved gas amount determination device which determines a dissolved gas amount of the liquid in the liquid ejection device; a liquid restoration device which carries out a liquid restoration processing to reduce the dissolved gas amount of the liquid inside the liquid ejection device; and a liquid restoration control device which controls whether or not the liquid restoration device carries out the liquid restoration processing, according to a differential between the saturated dissolved gas amount determined by the saturated dissolved gas amount determination device and the dissolved gas amount determined by the dissolved gas amount determination device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus and a liquid restoration method, and more particularly, to a liquid ejection apparatus and a liquid restoration method whereby the amount of dissolved gas in the liquid can be controlled and the liquid can be maintained in a desirable state.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, inkjet printers have become widespread. An inkjet printer forms an image on an ejection receiving medium, such as paper, by ejecting ink from nozzles onto the ejection receiving medium. Furthermore, inkjet heads are known as ejection devices for ejecting ink, and such inkjet heads include, for example, an inkjet head which uses a so-called piezoelectric type of actuator for applying a pressure wave to ink inside a pressure chamber connected to a nozzle, an inkjet head which uses a so-called thermal jet type of actuator for generating a bubble by heating ink inside the pressure chamber, and the like. Ink is ejected from nozzles by operating ejection devices described above, thereby forming an image on the ejection receiving medium.
In an inkjet printer of this kind, if an undesired air bubble is generated unintentionally in the ink inside the inkjet head, then there is a loss in the pressure applied by the actuator to the ink, and ejection abnormalities such as ink ejection volume abnormalities, ejection direction abnormalities, ejection failures, and the like, may occur. Ejection abnormalities of this kind cause a marked decline in image quality.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-190529 discloses a method in which the amount of gas dissolved in liquid that has been expelled without being ejected from the inkjet head is measured, and the amount of dissolved gas in the liquid inside the inkjet head is controlled in such a manner that the measured amount of dissolved gas in the liquid in the inkjet head becomes equal to or less than a prescribed value. More specifically, if the measured value of the amount of dissolved gas in the liquid expelled from the inkjet head exceeds the prescribed value, then the supply of liquid to the inkjet head is halted, the dissolved gas in the liquid inside the tank is removed, and the liquid in the tank is then supplied to the inkjet head.
However, when the saturated amount of dissolved gas in the ink varies with environmental changes (in particular, temperature changes) of the inkjet head and the ink supply system, then the differential (which corresponds to the gas dissolving capacity) between the saturated amount of dissolved gas and the actual amount of dissolved gas changes, accordingly. In other words, the tendency of the dissolved gas contained in the ink to be ejected from the inkjet head to form gas bubbles depends on variation in the ink temperature, and the like.
Therefore, even if the amount of dissolved gas in the ink inside the inkjet head is controlled by using a deaerator, or the like, in such a manner that the amount of dissolved gas in the ink inside the inkjet head does not exceed the prescribed value, there is a possibility that gas dissolved in the ink in the inkjet head might form gas bubbles in cases where the ink temperature rises after the inkjet printer starts operation. This leads to giving rise to loss of ejection pressure, which may cause ejection abnormalities, such as ejection failures, or the like.
Moreover, printing needs to be interrupted and the dissolved gas needs to be removed by using a deaerator, or the like, when the amount of dissolved gas is greater than the prescribed value. Therefore, printing cannot be carried out until the amount of dissolved gas becomes equal to or lower than the prescribed value, and hence wasteful waiting time arises.

Liquid ejection apparatus and liquid restoration method


A self-service terminal (10) having a user interface (14) and a surcharge application (54) for levying a surcharge on transactions is described. The terminal may be an ATM. The surcharge application (54) is operable to vary the rate of surcharge applied according to a predetermined criterion. The predetermined criterion may be based on the time at which a transaction is executed at the terminal, or upon the usage of the terminal prior to executing a transaction.

The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to a self-service terminal (SST), such as an automated teller machine (ATM).
ATMs are public access terminals that provide users with a convenient source of cash and other financial transactions and services. With the advent of surcharging (that is, levying a charge on each cash withdrawal transaction at an ATM for the use of the ATM), ATMs are now installed in retail outlets to provide a revenue stream for the owners of the retail outlets. Typically, a retailer receives a percentage of each surcharge levied on a transaction. In another business model the owner of the ATM (the deployer) receives the entire surcharge.
For a retailer to profit from an ATM, the ATM must perform, on average, a certain number of transactions each day. Once this number has been exceeded, the income from each surcharge represents a profit for the retailer. To maximize the profitability of such an ATM, it is desirable to stimulate as many transactions as possible.


Devices and methods are disclosed for determining position and controlling navigation by sensing movement through the Earth's magnetic field. Change in position is determined by integrating velocity which has been normalized for spatial and temporal field variation. Position is registered with respect to starting point and/or subsequently detected environmental feature. Signals are provided to actuator for guidance, navigation and control.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) and similar satellite navigation systems (collectively, position, velocity, and time (PVT)) orbiting thousands of miles above the Earth have made possible determination of position and velocity by processing precise timing signals, to the benefit of consumer, commercial and government users alike. PVT signals are, however, quite weak when they reach the ground, making them easily disrupted by inadvertent or intentional interference as well as making them of little use in buildings.
Loss of PVT reception can cause navigation errors that increase operating costs and risk of accidents. As a result, various alternative and supplementary means have been proposed to improve the reliability and safety of instrument guided navigation. Active sensors, such as terrain following radar, do not require PVT or other radio frequency (RF) reference signals but impose cost and power burdens that severely limit their use. In response to such burdens, considerable time and money have been spent in efforts to create low cost and reliable passive instrument guided navigation technology.
Other than PVT, existing passive navigation relies primarily on image recognition, other RF signals and inferential sensors. Image recognition depends on visibility of previously mapped topography, limiting the conditions and areas where it can be used. RF reference signals where they exist are, like PVT, subject to interference and spoofing, reducing their value for instrument guided navigation. Waypoint navigation using magnetic field maps has been proposed but the cost of generating and continually updating such maps to compensate for field changes is prohibitive.
The most commonly used inferential sensor is the inertial measurement unit (IMU) which estimates position by double integration of trajectory disturbance signals. Unfortunately, such processing creates fast growing, unbounded errors. And, IMU are insensitive to constant forces, e.g. cross winds, which can create large cross track errors.
In light of the above, we disclose passive magnetic sensing means of determining position and velocity (PV) without requiring precise timing signals or maps.
Objects
A first object of the subject matter described herein is determining position of a platform, such as an airplane, submarine, or automobile. A second object is determining velocity through a magnetic field. A third object is determining a magnetic field signal. A fourth object is normalizing velocity for variation in magnetic field. A fifth object is registering position with respect to known location. A sixth object is platform navigating. A seventh object is forming magnetic field map.

Devices and methods for passive navigation


A computer program product comprises computer-readable instructions that cause a computer to function as: a command transmission request receiving unit which receives a command transmission request issued by each information processing unit of an information processing device which includes a plurality of information processing units executing information processing based on device information as information on a device; a command transmitting unit which transmits a command corresponding to the command transmission request received by the command transmission request receiving unit to the device via an interface; a device information acquiring unit which acquires the device information supplied from the device as a response to the command; and a device information supplying unit which is configured to supply the device information acquired by the device information acquiring unit to the information processing units as needed.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an information distribution processing program, a computer, an information distribution processing method and an information distribution processing device to be used for distributing device information acquired from a device to a plurality of information processing units.
2. Related Art
Programs for acquiring device information on a device from the device via an interface and executing information processing by use of the acquired device information have widely been known as disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 2000-293324, for example.
A printer status management program 3c described in the above patent document (paragraph [0072], FIG. 5) is configured to execute a process for acquiring information on a printer 2c through a port communication program 3e, a process for storing the acquired information in a storage area 3d, a process for supplying the information to an SNMP processing program 3b, etc.
However, in an information processing device capable of executing a plurality of processes in parallel in a time-sharing manner, a plurality of information processing tasks can be executed by a plurality of information processing units in parallel according to programs like the above printer status management program 3c. In such an information processing device, each of the information processing units can try to acquire information from one device and if the device is configured to supply information only once, even information originally supposed to be acquired by a particular information processing unit A can be taken first by another information processing unit B. In such cases, the information processing unit A can not acquire the necessary information.
Specifically, in a system configured so that a device prepares its device information only once at its own suitable timing and the device information is acquired by an information processing unit at its own suitable timing, if an information processing unit B first tries to acquire the device information after the preparation of the device information by the device and succeeds in the acquisition of the device information, an information processing unit A trying to acquire the device information later can not acquire the expected device information.

Information distribution processing program, computer, information distribution processing method, and information distribution processing system


A developer storage container includes a container main body, a tubular portion projecting from the container main body, and a rotary member extending from the container main body to the tubular portion. The rotary member includes a first section located in the container main body and a second section located in the tubular portion. A first conveying member for conveying developer in a first conveying direction is arranged on the second section of a rotary shaft, and a second conveying member for conveying the developer in a second conveying direction is arranged radially outwardly of the first conveying member around the first section. A first flexible member radially extending to a side outward of the second conveying member and a second flexible member radially extending to a side outward of the second conveying member and having a shorter length than the first flexible member are mounted on the rotary shaft.

The present disclosure relates to a developer storage container for storing developer and an image forming apparatus mounted with the developer storage container.
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet using developer is provided with a developer storage container such as a toner container. The toner container is a container for storing toner (developer) to be supplied to a developing device, and is detachably mounted in the image forming apparatus by a user. Generally, the toner container includes a container main body which serves as a toner storage space, a toner discharge opening provided at a suitable position of the bottom wall of the container main body and a conveyor screw for conveying the toner toward this toner discharge opening. Further, the conveyor screw is known to have a double structure composed of an inner side and an outer side.
In the case of arranging the conveyor screw having the double structure as described above in the toner container, the conveyor screw conveys the toner in a conveying direction toward the toner discharge opening and, simultaneously, conveys a part of the toner in a direction opposite to the conveying direction. In this case, the toner is conveyed in opposite directions near the outer periphery of the conveyor screw and in an inner part. Under a condition that the fluidity of the toner in the toner container is poor, the toner in a cylindrical space corresponding to a rotation area of the conveyor screw flows and the toner located outside that space is difficult to flow in some cases. As a result, there has been a problem that the toner in the toner container is aggregated in a tunnel-like manner around the conveyor screw.
To suppress such aggregation of the toner in the toner container, it is considered to provide a flexible member extending radially outward from the conveyor screw. In this case, the toner around the conveyor screw is agitated with the rotation of the flexible member to suppress the aggregation of the toner. However, in the case of arranging the flexible member, the flexible member tends to wind around an outer peripheral part of the conveyor screw with the rotation of the flexible member. As a result, the interior of the conveyor screw is partly sealed by the flexible member, causing a problem that the toner inside is retained.
An object of the present disclosure is to suppress the retention of developer in a rotary member in a developer storage container provided with the rotary member having a double structure and a flexible member projecting radially outward from the rotary member.

Developer storage container and image forming apparatus with same


A method for controlling a hearing aid using a portable terminal is provided. The method includes taking a photo, generating a control signal to control a hearing mode of the hearing aid according to an analysis of a surrounding condition based on the photo, and transmitting the control signal to the hearing aid.

Recent portable terminals provide more diverse services and optional functions. To improve usefulness of the portable terminal and meet different desires of users, various practical applications have been developed. For this reason, recent portable terminals, such as smartphones and tablet Personal Computers (tablet PCs) may have up to hundreds of applications available.
Objects or shortcut icons for running the applications are displayed on the touch screen of the portable terminal. The user may run a desired application in the portable terminal by touching a corresponding shortcut icon displayed on the touchscreen. In addition to those shortcut icons, other visual objects of various shapes, such as widgets, photos, and text may also be displayed on the touch screen of the portable terminal. The portable terminal may control the objects or applications using an input unit, such as the user's finger, an electronic pen, a stylus pen, and the like.
Applications that may provide convenience for disabled people through the portable terminal are now being developed and there is a need for portable terminals to provide useful functions that help deaf people enjoy better-quality sounds by using applications running in the portable terminal with a camera equipped in the portable terminal, and the like.
To date, hearing aids have merely amplified surrounding sounds for output to the user. Hearing aids according to the related art have only provided several predetermined hearing modes and have not yet adaptively selected a hearing mode for a current surrounding condition around the user. Accordingly, a need exists for a method for controlling a hearing aid in order to provide more realistic sounds to a person with disability in hearing.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Portable terminal for controlling hearing aid and method therefor


Various embodiments described in this disclosure pertain to methods and systems for detecting and evaluating oscillations in an electrical power grid. The oscillations can include one or more oscillatory conditions, which can occur in one or more of five predefined frequency bands. Each of the five predefined frequency bands is categorized at least in part, by oscillations that are originated by uniquely different sources. In one embodiment, an oscillation detector can be used to detect the oscillatory condition and determine a magnitude characteristic, a phase characteristic, and/or a damping characteristic of at least one oscillation frequency that contributes to the oscillatory condition.

An electrical power grid typically includes various components such as transmission lines, pylons, electric power generators, transformers, and circuit breakers, that are installed over a large geographical area. At the customer end of the electrical power grid, a wide variety of elements such as lighting elements (for example, bulbs and light fixtures), heating/cooling elements (for example, heaters and air conditioners), and industrial equipment (for example, electric motors and electrical machinery) operate as a diverse, distributed load that draws power through the electrical power grid. The various components that constitute the electrical power grid and the various components that constitute the load on the electrical power grid are subjected to various electrical, mechanical, electro-mechanical, and environmental forces that can lead to undesirable oscillatory conditions.
For example, one type of oscillation can be created in a power transmission line due to swinging of a rotor in an electrical power generator. Another type of oscillation can be created in a power transmission line due to switching transients or other electrical anomalies generated, for example, by a switching power supply having a switching-mode of operation. Yet another type of oscillation can be created in a power transmission line due to the nature of the impedance (distributed inductance and distributed capacitance) presented by the power transmission line to an electrical power generator, for example.
Some of these undesirable oscillations are automatically damped and do not have a significant impact upon operations. However, some other types of oscillations such as those caused by very long power transmission lines, devices containing power electronics, and synchronous generators interacting with each other, can lead to operational instabilities and damage to various components of the electrical power grid. Such undesirable oscillations can have adverse effects upon the electrical power grid and components coupled to the electrical power grid.

Systems and methods for detecting and evaluating oscillations in an electrical power grid


A nuclear fuel assembly grid having a torpedo-shaped mixing vane assembly supported at each intersection of the grid straps that surrounds a fuel rod support location. The torpedo-shaped stem supports mixing vanes that extend over each of the fuel rod support locations.

1. Field
This invention pertains generally to a nuclear reactor fuel assembly and more particularly to such a fuel assembly with spacer grids that enhance heat transfer and reduce pressure drop.
2. Related Art
The primary side of nuclear reactor power generating systems which are cooled with water under pressure comprises a closed circuit which is isolated and in heat exchange relationship with a secondary circuit for the production of useful energy. The primary side comprises the reactor vessel enclosing a core internal structure that supports a plurality of fuel assemblies containing fissile material, the primary circuit within heat exchange steam generators, the inner volume of a pressurizer, pumps and pipes for circulating pressurized water; the pipes connecting each of the steam generators and pumps to the reactor vessel independently. Each of the parts of the primary side comprising a steam generator, a pump, and a system of pipes which are connected to the vessel form a loop of the primary side.
For the purpose of illustration, FIG. 1 shows a simplified nuclear reactor primary system, including a generally cylindrical reactor pressure vessel 10 having a closure head 12 enclosing a nuclear core 14. A liquid reactor coolant, such as water, is pumped into the vessel 10 by pump 16 through the core 14 where heat energy is absorbed and is discharged to a heat exchanger 18, typically referred to as a steam generator, in which heat is transferred to a utilization circuit (not shown), such as a steam driven turbine generator. The reactor coolant is then returned to the pump 16 completing the primary loop. Typically, a plurality of the above described loops are connected to a single reactor vessel 10 by reactor coolant piping 20.
An exemplary reactor design is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. It should be appreciated that like reference characters are employed to designate corresponding components in the several figures. In addition to the core 14 comprised of a plurality of parallel, vertical, co-extending fuel assemblies 22, for purpose of this description, the other vessel internal structures can be divided into the lower internals 24 and the upper internals 26. In conventional designs, the lower internals' function is to support, align and guide core components and instrumentation as well as direct flow within the vessel. The upper internals restrain or provide a secondary restraint for the fuel assemblies 22 (only two of which are shown for simplicity in FIG. 2), and support and guide instrumentation and components, such as control rods 28. In the exemplary reactor shown in FIG. 2, coolant enters the reactor vessel 10 through one or more inlet nozzles 30, flows down through an annulus between the reactor vessel and the core barrel 32, is turned 180 degrees in a lower plenum 34, passes upward through a lower support plate 37 and a lower core plate 36 upon which the fuel assemblies are seated and through and about the assemblies. In some designs, the lower support plate 37 and the lower core plate 36 are replaced by a single structure, a lower core support plate having the same elevation as 37. The coolant flow through the core and surrounding area 38 is typically large on the order 400,000 gallons per minute at a velocity of approximately 20 feet per second. The resulting pressure drop and frictional forces tend to cause the fuel assemblies to rise, which movement is restrained by the upper internals, including a circular upper core plate 40. Coolant exiting the core 14 flows along the underside of the upper core plate 40 and upwardly through a plurality of perforations 42. The coolant then flows upwardly and radially to one or more outlet nozzles 44.
The upper internals 26 can be supported from the vessel or the vessel head and include an upper support assembly 46. Loads are transmitted between the upper support assembly 46 and the upper core plate 40, primarily by a plurality of support columns 48. A support column is aligned above a selected fuel assembly and perforations 42 in the upper core plate 40.
Rectilinearly movable control rods 28, which typically include a drive shaft 50 and a spider assembly 52 of neutron poison rods, are guided through the upper internals 26 and into aligned fuel assemblies 22 by control rod guide tubes 54. The guide tubes are fixedly joined to the upper support assembly 46 and the top of the upper core plate 40. The support column 48 arrangement assists in retarding guide tube deformation under accident conditions which could detrimentally affect control rod insertion capability.
FIG. 3 is an elevational view, represented in vertically shortened form, of a fuel assembly being generally designated by reference character 22. The fuel assembly 22 is the type used in a pressurized water reactor and has a structural skeleton which, at its lower end includes a bottom nozzle 58. The bottom nozzle 58 supports the fuel assembly 22 on a lower core plate 36 in the core region of the nuclear reactor. In addition to the bottom nozzle 58, the structural skeleton of the fuel assembly 22 also includes a top nozzle 62 at its upper end and a number of guide tubes or thimbles 84 which align with the guide tubes 54 in the upper internals. The guide tubes or thimbles 84 extend longitudinally between the bottom and top nozzles 58 and 62 and at opposite ends are rigidly attached thereto.
The fuel assembly 22 further includes a plurality of transverse grids 64 axially spaced along and mounted to the guide thimbles 84 and an organized array of elongated fuel rods 66 transversely spaced and supported by the grid 64. A plan view of a grid 64 without the guide thimbles 84 and fuel rods 66 is shown in FIG. 4. The guide thimbles 84 pass through the cells labeled 96 and the fuel rods occupy the remaining cells 94. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the grids 64 are conventionally formed from an array of orthogonal straps 86 and 88 that are interleaved in an egg-crate pattern with the adjacent interface of four straps forming approximately square support cells through which the fuel rods 66 are supported in the cells 94 in transverse, spaced relationship with each other. In many designs, springs 90 and dimples 92 are stamped into opposite walls of the straps that form the support cells 94. The springs and dimples extend radially into the support cells and capture the fuel rods 66 therebetween; exerting pressure on the fuel rod cladding to hold the rods in position. The orthogonal array of straps 86 and 88 is welded at each strap end to a bordering strap 98 to complete the grid structure 64. Also, the fuel assembly 22, as shown in FIG. 3, has an instrumentation tube 68 located in the center thereof that extends between and is captured by the bottom and top nozzles 58 and 62. With such an arrangement of parts, fuel assembly 22 forms an integral unit capable of being conveniently handled without damaging the assembly of parts.
As mentioned above, the fuel rods 66 in the array thereof in the assembly 22 are held in spaced relationship with one another by the grids 64 spaced along the fuel assembly length. Each fuel rod 66 includes a stack of a plurality of nuclear fuel pellet s 70 and is closed at its opposite ends by upper and lower end plugs 72 and 74. The pellets 70 are maintained in a stack by a plenum spring 76 disposed between the upper end plugs 72 and the top of the pellet stack. The pellets 70, composed of fissile material, are responsible for creating the reactive power of the reactor. The cladding which surrounds the pellets functions as a barrier to prevent the fission byproducts from entering the coolant and further contaminating the reactor system.
To control the fission process, a number of control rods 78 are reciprocally movable in the guide thimbles 84 located at predetermined positions in the fuel assembly 22. The guide thimble locations can be specifically seen in FIG. 4 represented by reference character 96, except for the center location which is occupied by the instrumentation tube 68. Specifically, a rod cluster control mechanism 80, positioned above the top nozzle 62, supports a plurality of control rods 78. The control mechanism has an internally threaded cylindrical hub member 82 with a plurality of radially extending flukes or arms 52 that form the spider previously noted with regard to FIG. 2. Each arm 52 is interconnected to a control rod 78 such that the control rod mechanism 80 is operable to move the control rods vertically in the guide thimbles 84 to thereby control the fission process in the fuel assembly 22; under the motive power of a control rod drive shaft 50 which is coupled to the control rod hub 80, all in a well-known manner.
As mentioned above, the fuel assemblies are subject to hydraulic forces that exceed the weight of the fuel rods and thereby exert significant forces on the fuel rods and the assemblies. In addition, there is significant turbulence in the coolant in the core caused by mixing vanes 56 upon the upper surfaces of the straps of many grids which promote the transfer of heat from the fuel rod cladding to the coolant. Mixing of the coolant is very important because the power output of the core is limited by the hottest fuel rod to a temperature that will avoid compromising the fuel rod cladding. The more uniform the temperature across the core, the higher the power output of the reactor that can safely be achieved. Mixing of the coolant not only draws more heat off the fuel element cladding, but also distributes that heat across the fuel assembly. The turbulence also causes a pressure drop which has to be balanced across the core to maintain the uniformity of flow of the coolant. To the extent that the pressure drop can be reduced, it enables the fuel assembly designers to add other features that will enhance the contribution of the fuel assembly.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved fuel assembly design that promotes enhanced mixing, enhanced heat transfer from the fuel rods to the coolant, enhanced critical heat flux performance and has a reduced pressure drop.


An identification system for machinery or equipment, such as an aircraft engine, includes a name plate, a mounting bracket for mounting the name plate, a housing, and an RFID tag positioned within the housing between the name plate and the mounting bracket. The RFID tag includes an integrated circuit and an antenna such as a patch antenna.

A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag generally contains two main components. The first is an antenna that receives and radiates an RF signal. The second component is an integrated circuit that may be mounted to a printed circuit board. The integrated circuit processes a received signal provided by the antenna, and provides a modulated output signal to be radiated by the antenna.
The RFID tag may be an active device (i.e., it includes a battery that powers the tag) or a passive device (i.e., does not include a battery and instead relies upon energy received by the antenna to induce a current that provides a voltage to operate the RFID tag). Notably, passive RFID tags are relatively inexpensive and are used ubiquitously.


A multiple color display system employing a high speed display panel adapted for positioning on a conventional photographic projector for displaying large video images. The high speed display panel is coupled to an interface unit for converting conventional NTSC signals into analog signals for driving a controller employing a modulation or duty cycle circuit coupled between the high speed display panel and a memory which is drive by the interface unit. The controller also employs a scan modulator for formatting the NTSC signal so that it may be displayed on a 640 by 480 matrix array employed by the high speed display device. Such a system is modular and employs relatively inexpensive subassembly units such as a user selected television signal generating type device, such as a video cassette recorder, a conventional photographic projector and screen, a high speed color enhancing interface controller and a high speed display device, such as an active matrix display panel adapted for positioning on the stage of the projector.

There have been various different types and kinds of full color video display systems. Inventive techniques for producing such a full-color display include the use of direct view video or television monitors.
While such techniques have been satisfactory for some applications direct video and television monitors have generally limited with respect to the size of the viewed video image, due to the limited screen area associated with the cathode ray tube employed by such monitor units. Moreover, such systems have been relatively expensive to manufacture, as a result of the cost associated with the direct view video monitors.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a new and improved full-color display system that can produce for a user or audience a large television image, without employing an expensive direct view television monitor.
One attempt to over come the problem of having a limited viewing area has been to employ a rear view projection system where a television signal is converted into its component color parts of red, green and blue to drive a set of red, green and blue lights which are projected onto the rear side of a large transparent screen for viewing purposes. While this technique has proven to be satisfactory for some applications, it has proven to be relatively expensive and requires a large cumbersome display unit cabinet which is difficult to move from place to place. In addition, the brightness of the viewed images is somewhat impaired because of the loss of light in traversing the transparent screen.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a new and improved video display system for displaying large color images produced from a television signal which would be relatively inexpensive and that would not be difficult to move from place to place for viewing purposes.
Another attempt to overcome the problem associated with poor luminance in a large screen viewing system, has been to employ a direct front projection system. The direct projection system is similar to the rear view system except that the red, green and blue lights are projected onto the front surface of a large reflective screen from a projection unit disposed in front of the screen. Again, while such a technique has proven satisfactory for some applications, it has not proven entirely satisfactory, since the projection unit has typically been mounted in a permanent location relative to the screen, for proper focusing and to assure that a sufficient amount of light is projected onto the screen to provide an image with sufficient brightness for viewing purposes.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a new and improved video display system, which could produce large screen viewing images having a relatively high luminance level and which would not be required to be permanently mounted or otherwise positioned.

Television signal projection system and method of using same


Devices, systems, and methods for gathering, calculating and sending positioning information at a user device to one or more networks may be disclosed. In a first implementation the user device transforms pseudorange information relating to terrestrial beacons into GNSS pseudorange information. In a second implementation, the user device sends position information using GNSS information elements. In a third implementation, the user device sends position information using non-GNSS information elements.

Systems for providing position information, such as Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), have been used to determine position information for persons, vehicles, equipment, and the like. These systems have limitations associated with factors such as location accuracy, transmitted and received signal levels, radio channel interference and/or channel problems such as multipath, device power consumption, and the like. Determination of an exact location of a computing device can be quite challenging. If the device is indoors or in an urban area with obstructions, the device may not be able to receive signals from satellites, and the network may be forced to rely on network-based triangulation/multilateration methods that are less precise. Additionally, if the device is in a multi-story building, knowing only that the device is in the building and not the floor on which is resides, will result in delays in providing emergency assistance (which could be potentially life-threatening). Clearly, a system that can assist the device in speeding up the location determination process, provide greater 3-dimensional accuracy, and solve some of the challenges of location determination in urban areas and inside buildings is needed. Adding to this challenge is the FCC's directive to increase emergency call location accuracy requirements for cellular service providers and device manufacturers. Accordingly, solutions that improve location calculation capabilities are needed.

Systems and methods for location positioning of user device


A method including receiving at least one of touch data or force data representing a touch input received at the controller, determining one or more model(s), generating image data using the one or more models, the image data representing at least a hand gesture corresponding to the touch input received at the controller, and transmitting the image data to a virtual reality (VR) environment for display.

The video game industry has spawned many innovations in both hardware and software. For example, various hand-held video game controllers have been designed, manufactured, and sold for a variety of game applications. Some of the innovations have applicability outside of the video game industry, such as controllers for industrial machines, defense systems, robotics, etc.
In addition, virtual reality (VR) systems are an application of great contemporary interest and rapid technical advancement, both within and outside the video game industry. The controllers for VR systems have to perform several different functions and meet strict (and sometimes competing) design constraints while often optimizing certain desired characteristics. In some instances, these controllers include sensors for measuring a force of a user's grip, which in turn is used for performing a predefined gameplay function. Various types of sensors have been utilized in an effort to meet these objectives, including, among others, a force sensing resistor (FSR), which uses variable resistance to measure an amount of force applied to the FSR. However, existing controllers with FSRs tend to exhibit fairly crude response times. Additionally, the controller may fail to accurately depict and sense hand positions, gestures, and/or movement throughout a gameplay experience.


An optical radar apparatus, having a structure such that light generated by a laser generating means 1 is emitted to an object 100 while scanning the same, light reflected by the object 100 is reflected by a reflected-light reflecting means 10, and then a parabolic mirror or a concave mirror 19 receives reflected light above, is arranged to have a light receiving device 20 disposed at the position of the focal point of the parabolic mirror or the concave mirror 19 so as to obtain the distance to the object 100 and the direction of the same in accordance with propagation delay time taking from light emission by the light generating means 1 to receipt of reflected light by the light receiving device 20.

The present invention relates to an optical radar apparatus arranged to scan light in a horizontal direction to receive light reflected by an object and returned to the optical radar apparatus so as to detect the distance from the light source to the object and the direction of the object.
Conventionally, an optical radar apparatus of the foregoing type has been proposed to be mounted on a vehicle so as to be used widely as an apparatus for monitoring around the vehicle or an apparatus for controlling the distance from a vehicle ahead. A multiplicity of optical radar apparatuses, each of which is mounted on a vehicle, have been attempted, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication 6-137867 to decrease the dead angle by scanning light in the horizontal direction so as to widely detect objects. In general, the optical system for receiving reflected light comprises a lens.
Apparatuses of the above-mentioned type is required to have a small size so as to be disposed in a limited space.
Since a large light receiving aperture is required to maintain the performance of the radar, a limit contradicting the above-mentioned requirement arises.


In a DC-DC converter conforming to the current mode control system, in which the valley value of an inductor current is controlled for output control, a current detection circuit 6 is configured to detect the current flowing from a low-side FET 2 to an inductor 3 using an FET 60, an NPN transistor 61, an NPN transistor 62, a PNP transistor 64, a PNP transistor 65 and a resistor 66, to detect the current flowing from the inductor 3 to the low-side FET 2 using an FET 67, a differential amplifier 68, an FET 69 and the resistor 66, and to output a current detection signal Vc.

In recent years, DC-DC converters have been used frequently in power supplies for the CPUs of personal computers and other power supplies. For example, a step-down DC-DC converter, supplying a DC voltage controlled so as to be lower than its power supply voltage to a load, comprises an inductor, and a high-side FET and a low-side FET connected in series between the power supply voltage and the ground voltage. These high-side and low-side FETs repeat ON/OFF operations alternately. As a result, the inductor repeats the storage and release of magnetic energy. The AC voltage generated when the storage and release are repeated in the inductor as described above is rectified, and a predetermined voltage is supplied to the load. The voltage supplied to the load is adjusted according to the ratio of the ON time in one period of the switching operation of the high-side FET. The inductor current has a triangular wave shape in which the current value increases/decreases repeatedly depending on the ON/OFF switching operation. In the current mode control system, the ON time or the OFF time of the high-side FET is usually controlled by controlling the peak value or the valley value of the current.
In the peak value control system in which the ON time is controlled, it is necessary to detect the current flowing through the high-side FET on the power supply voltage side. Hence, a detector and its peripheral circuit are provided on the power supply voltage side. As a result, the circuit configuration for carrying out accurate current detection in the case that the power supply voltage is assumed to fluctuate inevitably tends to become complicated.
On the other hand, in the valley value control system in which the OFF time is controlled, the current flowing through the low-side FET on the ground side is detected. Hence, a detector and its peripheral circuit are provided on the ground side, and the circuit configuration can be simplified.
Furthermore, because the output voltage tends to become lower recently, the ON time of the high-side FET tends to become shorter. In the peak value control system in which the ON time is controlled, detection and control must be carried out in a short time during which the high-side FET is ON. On the other hand, in the valley value control system in which the OFF time is controlled, detection and control should only be carried out in a time during which the high-side FET is OFF. The control time can thus be made longer. For the above-mentioned reasons, such a valley value control system as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-136737 has been proposed.
As an example of the valley value control system in which the OFF time of the high-side FET is controlled, the control system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-136737 will be described below referring to FIG. 6.
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a conventional step-down DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter shown in FIG. 6 comprises a high-side FET 11, a low-side FET 12, an inductor 13, an output capacitor 14, an error amplifier 15, a current detector 16, a comparator 17, a timer circuit 18, and an RS latch 19. This conventional DC-DC converter is configured so that a voltage Vi is applied to the input terminal and so that a voltage Vo is supplied from the output terminal to a load. In FIG. 6, Vr designates a reference voltage.
The high-side FET 11 and the low-side FET 12, serving as switching devices, are connected in series between the input voltage Vi and the ground potential. The inductor 13 and the output capacitor 14 are connected between the connection point of the switching devices and the output terminal Vo so as to form a filter. The high-side FET 11 and the low-side FET 12 are connected to the RS latch 19 so as to respectively turn ON/OFF complementarily. The reference voltage Vr is input to the noninverting input terminal (+) of the error amplifier 15, the output voltage Vo is input to the inverting input terminal (−) thereof, and the error amplifier 15 outputs an error signal Ve to the noninverting input terminal (+) of the comparator 17. The error signal Ve is input to the noninverting input terminal of the comparator 17, and the comparator 17 outputs a set signal S for setting the RS latch 19. The current detector 16 detects the current flowing to the inductor 13 via the low-side FET 12 when the low-side FET 12 is ON. The current detector 16 detects and amplifies the voltage drop due to the ON resistance of the low-side FET 12, and generates and outputs a voltage-converted current detection signal Vc. This current detection signal Vc is applied to the inverting input terminal (−) of the comparator 17. An external clock signal CK is input to the reset input terminal of the RS latch 19.
Next, the basic operations of the conventional DC-DC converter shown in FIG. 6 will be described below.
When the high-side FET 11 is ON, the voltage difference (Vi−Vo) between the input voltage Vi and the output voltage Vo is applied to the inductor 13. At this time, the current IL flowing through the inductor 13 increases linearly, and magnetic energy is stored in the inductor 13. When the high-side FET 11 is OFF, the output voltage Vo is applied to the inductor 13 in the opposite direction. At this time, the inductor current IL decreases linearly, and the inductor 13 releases the magnetic energy. The inductor current IL is smoothened using the output capacitor 14, and a smoothened DC current is supplied to the output terminal. The output voltage Vo is fed back to the inverting input terminal (−) of the error amplifier 15, and the reference voltage Vr is input to the noninverting input terminal (+) of the error amplifier 15. The error signal Ve being output from the error amplifier 15 is input to the noninverting input terminal (+) of the comparator 17. The current detection signal Vc obtained by subjecting the current flowing through the low-side FET 12 to current-voltage conversion is input to the inverting input terminal (−) of the comparator 17. When the inductor current IL decreases, and when the current detection signal Vc lowers to the error signal Ve being output from the error amplifier 15, the output of the comparator 17 is inverted. In other words, the set signal S of the RS latch 19 becomes high, and the high-side FET-11 is turned ON. Then, the inductor 13 is begun to be charged. The clock signal CK is input to the reset input terminal of the RS latch 19, and the high-side FET 11 is turned OFF after a predetermined time has passed.
In the conventional DC-DC converter configured as described above, the high-side FET 11 and the low-side FET 12 are turned ON/OFF complementarily using the signals of the error amplifier 15, the comparator 17 and the RS latch 19, and the predetermined DC output voltage Vo is output.
The above-mentioned operations are the basic operations of the respective components of the conventional DC-DC converter. Operations when the load changes abruptly will be described below.
For example, when the output voltage Vo becomes lower than a target value because of the increase in the output current Io from the output terminal, the error amplifier 15 detects the lowering of the output voltage Vo and raises the error signal Ve. At this time, the time during which the current detection signal Vc of the low-side FET 12 lowers and reaches the error signal Ve, that is, the OFF time of the high-side FET 11, becomes shorter. As a result, the power supplied to the output capacitor 14 increases, and the output voltage Vo having been lowered rises.
In the opposite case, that is, when the output voltage Vo rises because of the decrease in the output current Io, the error amplifier 15 lowers the error signal Ve. At this time, the time during which the current detection signal Vc of the low-side FET 12 reaches the error signal Ve, that is, the OFF time of the high-side FET 11, becomes longer. As a result, the power supplied to the output capacitor 14 decreases, and the output voltage Vo having increased lowers.
As described above, when the load changes abruptly, the conventional DC-DC converter shown in FIG. 6 operates so that the output voltage Vo is maintained at a predetermined value.
FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit example of the current detector 16 that detects the current of the low-side FET 12 in the DC-DC converter shown in FIG. 6, specifically configured using a conventional technology. Because the voltage at the drain of the low-side FET 12, that is, the voltage at the current detection point, is negative, it is difficult to directly detect and amplify the voltage. Hence, as shown in FIG. 7, the current detector 16 comprises an FET 160, which is an N-channel FET being the same as the low-side FET 12, and the drain and the gate of which are common to those of the low-side FET 12, respectively; an NPN transistor 161, the emitter of which is connected to the source of this FET 160; an NPN transistor 162, the collector and the base of which are connected to the base of this NPN transistor 161 so as to form a mirror structure, and the emitter of which is connected to the source of the low-side FET 12; a current source 163 that supplies a current to this NPN transistor 162; a PNP transistor 164 and a PNP transistor 165 connected so as to form a mirror circuit, which is connected to the collector of the NPN transistor 161 and in which a current being equal to the current flowing through the NPN transistor 161 flows; and a resistor 166 that converts the current flowing through the PNP transistor 165 into a voltage. The size of the FET 160 is 1/n of that of the low-side FET 12, that is, the ON resistance of the FET 160 is n times that of the low-side FET 12. The mirror ratio is set so that the current flowing through the PNP transistor 165 is equal to the current flowing through the NPN transistor 161. The resistance value of the resistor 166 is Rs.
The potential at the source of the FET 160 and the emitter of the NPN transistor 161 becomes equal to the potential at the source of the low-side FET 12 because the NPN transistor 161 and the NPN transistor 162 form a mirror circuit. Hence, the voltage across the source and the drain of the FET 160 becomes equal to the voltage across the source and the drain of the low-side FET 12. In addition, because the ON resistance of the FET 160 is n times the ON resistance of the low-side FET 12, when it is assumed that the current flowing through the low-side FET 12 is IL when the low-side FET 12 is ON, the current flowing through the FET 160 is IL/n. This current IL/n flows through the resistor 166 via the NPN transistor 161, the PNP transistor 164 and the PNP transistor 165. As a result, a voltage Vc=Rs×IL/n is generated across the terminals of the resistor 166. In other words, the current IL that flows through the low-side FET 12 when the low-side FET 12 is ON can be detected according to the voltage across the terminals of the resistor 166.
However, in the DC-DC converter conforming to the conventional valley value control system, only the current flowing from the source to the drain of the low-side FET 12 when the low-side FET 12 is ON can be detected in the configuration of the current detector 16 shown in FIG. 7 and described above. Hence, in the DC-DC converter conforming to the conventional valley value control system, the low-side FET 12 is turned OFF when the valley value of the inductor current reaches zero. Because the ON time Ton of the high-side FET 11 in the DC-DC converter is constant, there is a problem that the output voltage Vo rises, exceeding the target value. Hence, it is necessary to carry out intermittent operation in which the high-side FET 11 is not turned ON for a predetermined time after the low-side FET 12 was turned OFF. In other words, in the case that, because the load becomes light, the valley value of the inductor current reaches zero, and the output voltage Vo exceeds the target value, the OFF state of the high-side FET 11 is maintained. When it is detected that the output voltage Vo has lowered to the target value, the high-side FET 11 is turned ON. This kind of intermittent operation has a problem that, as the load becomes lighter, the output voltage Vo rises higher owing to the charging of the output capacitor 14. Hence, as the load is lighter, the output ripple voltage that is superimposed on the output voltage Vo becomes larger, and the output ripple voltage is added to the target value. As a result, an error occurs between the output voltage Vo and the target value.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.