A method of brazing which includes deposition of brazing material by electrophoresis. Deposition is performed with a low viscosity, low surface tension bath comprising an alcohol, a nitroalkane, and a complex ionic solute. Brazing powder is added to this bath in the quantity of about 0.02 to about 0.04 kilograms per liter. A nonconductive coating is applied to areas where a brazing material should not be deposited, such as small passageways. This method is shown to be useful in applying brazing material adjacent small passageways, such that the brazing material is accurately deposited and does not flow into and interfere with the passageway after the braze joint is formed.

The performance of a gas turbine engine is sometimes limited by the maximum temperature to which certain components can be exposed. These components, such as turbine blades and vanes, various seals and spacers, combustors, and other components, are sometimes actively cooled with air from the engine's compressor, so that the component metal temperatures can be maintained at acceptable levels while being exposed to gas temperatures that are in excess of permissible metal temperatures.
This active cooling comes with an inherent trade off. Although higher gas temperatures tend to improve the performance of the engine, the use of air from the compressor for active cooling tends to lower the performance of the engine. It is imperative that the scheme for active cooling use as little air as possible, so that performance gains are maximized.
In order to cool that various components efficiently, numerous component internal cooling flowpath designs have been used to optimally transfer heat from the component into the cooling air. Examples of such cooling flowpath designs can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,930,980 issued to North et al.; 4,236,870 issued to Hucul, Jr. et al.; 4,946,346 issued to Ito; 5,062,768 issued to Marriage; and British Patent No. 2,246,174A issued to Lings et al.
These flowpath designs provide cooling air to various regions of the component, and often use small features to enhance heat transfer. Examples of cooling flowpath designs with small features include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,770,608 issued to Anderson et al.; 4,962,640 issued to Tobery; 5,281,084 issued to Noe et al.; and 5,193,975 issued to Bird et al. Small sized features such as pins, pedestals, walls, and passageways permit an increased number of such features to be included in the cooling flowpath. A large number of cooling pedestals, for example, increases the surface area of the component exposed to the cooling air. A small size for cooling passageways permits not only a larger number of passageways, but may also increase the convective heat transfer coefficient of the passageway.
However, use of small features such as pins, pedestals, walls, and passageways poses a problem during manufacturing. These features are often cast or etched onto one workpiece which must then be joined to another workpiece. Joining methods often include welding, brazing, or diffusion bonding. Examples of cooling flowpath designs in which portions of the workpieces are brazed include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,263,820 issued to Tubbs; 4,786,234 issued to Readnour; 4,505,639 issued to Groess et al.; 4,482,295 issued to North et al.; 5,419,039, 5,392,515, and 5,405,242 issued to Auxier et al.; 5,383,766 issued to Przirembel et al.; 5,193,980 issued to Kaincz et al.; and British Patent Specifications No. 1,285,369 issued to Steel et al. and 1,299,904 to Curtiss Wright Corporation.
Brazing of flowpaths with small geometric features presents the problem of excess brazing material interfering with the intended use of the feature. For example, excessive brazing material within a cooling air passageway can reduce or completely eliminate airflow through the passageway, with subsequent local or general overheating of the gas turbine component. It is important that excessive brazing material be kept from areas adjacent to various cooling flowpath features. U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,051 issued to Lesgourgues et al. discusses brazing of actively cooled gas turbine components.
One manner of depositing brazing material is by electrophoresis. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,336,382 issued to Bodin, and 5,411,582 issued to Bodine, describe use of electrophoresis with a mucilage remarkable for its high viscosity, the muciliage containing brazing powder with grains as large as 53 microns. Outer areas in which brazing material is not desired are masked by a suitable adhesive masking tape, and inner cavities are masked with silicone plugs.
What is needed is a method of brazing components in which brazing material can be accurately deposited near small features. The present invention provides this method in a novel and unobvious way.

Method for electrophoretic deposition of brazing material


A centrifugal bowl separator, including a bowl, a source of pressurized gas in selective flow communication with the bowl and operable to selectively supply pressurized gas to an interior portion of the bowl, and first and second pressure seals selectively established to provide a zone within a portion of the bowl such that when the pressurized gas is introduced, pressure within the portion of the bowl increases for enhanced removal of moisture and drying of solids within the portion of the bowl.

Centrifugal separators are used for separating solids from liquids. For example, coal slurry primarily contains coal solids and water. A centrifugal separator is useful for separating the coal solids from the water and for further drying of the removed solids.
The value of the yielded solids is dependent upon the dryness of the solids. Thus, it is desirable to have an economical way to reduce the moisture content of the solids. The present disclosure relates to centrifugal separation methods and apparatus which enable reduced moisture content of separated solids as compared to what is achieved using conventional centrifugal separation methods and apparatus.


A fuel cell apparatus including a fuel cell module, a heat exchanging assembly, and an airflow producing element is provided. The fuel cell module is used to perform chemical reactions of a fuel cell. The heat exchanging assembly includes a first heat exchanging part, a second heat exchanging part, and a connection part. The connection part connects the first heat exchanging part and the second heat exchanging part respectively. The airflow producing element is adapted to produce an airflow, and the airflow flows through the first heat exchanging part, the fuel cell module, and the second heat exchanging part sequentially.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cell. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fuel cell apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
The fuel cell, advantageous in high efficiency, low noise, and pollution free, has become an energy technology in conformity with the trend of this era. The fuel cell has various types, including a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) which are commonly seen in the market. For example, the fuel cell module of the DMFC includes a proton exchange membrane and a cathode and an anode respectively disposed at two sides of the exchange membrane.
The DMFC uses methanol solution as the fuel, and the reaction formulas of the DMFC are given as follows:Anode: CH3OH+H2O→CO2+6H++6e−Cathode: 3/2O2+6H++6e−→3H2OGeneral reaction: CH3OH+3/2O2→CO2+2H2O
It can be seen from the above reaction formulas, enough oxygen (O2) must be supplied to the cathode during the reactions of the DMFC. Moreover, the higher the temperature of reaction is, the higher the reaction efficiency is.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional fuel cell apparatus. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional fuel cell apparatus 100 includes a fan 110 and a fuel cell module 120. The fan 110 is used to generate an airflow 50 to the fuel cell module 120 so as to supply the oxygen required by the cathode reaction. Moreover, a heat energy Q is generated during the reaction of the fuel cell module 120. If the temperature of the airflow 50 before flowing into the fuel cell module 120 is TA, the temperature of the airflow 50 after flowing through the fuel cell module 120 rises up to TB, where TB-TA is in direct proportion to Q.
However, since the temperature of the airflow 50 produced by the fan 110 is lower than that of the fuel cell module 120, when the airflow 50 flows to the fuel cell module 120, the temperature of the fuel cell module 120 is decreased. As such, the reaction efficiency of the fuel cell module 120 decreases, which further reduce the performance of the fuel cell apparatus 100. Moreover, since the lift of the fan 110 is low, the airflow 50 does not easily take the water produced in the cathode reaction away from the fuel cell module 120. Therefore, the water produced in the cathode reaction is usually vaporized into water vapor first, and then departs from the fuel cell module 120 with the airflow 50. However, the airflow 50 having a low temperature has a low saturated water vapor pressure, making it difficult to vaporize water.
Moreover, the water vapor of the conventional fuel cell apparatus 100 is discharged to the outside, thus the water cannot be recycled. Moreover, since the airflow 50 produced by the fan 110 has a lower temperature, the water vapor is liable to be condensed on the surface of the cathode of the fuel cell module 120, thus obstructing the flow field. Therefore, the oxygen is not supplied to the cathode easily, and the performance of the fuel cell apparatus 100 is thus deteriorated.


With an object of providing a transflective type liquid crystal display device having a transparent electrode of an uneven structure formed without particularly increasing steps, in fabricating the transflective type liquid crystal display device, a amorphous transparent conductive film is formed on a substrate, a crystalline portion is formed in the amorphous transparent conductive film to thereby form the transparent conductive film including the crystalline portion, a amorphous portion is removed at a film surface of the transparent conductive film including the crystalline portion to thereby form the transparent conductive film having an uneven shape formed by a remaining crystalline portion at a film surface and a reflecting electrode having the uneven shape is formed by forming a reflective conductive film above the transparent electrode having the uneven shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to liquid crystal display device of a passive matrix type and an active matrix type. Particularly, the invention relates to an electrode structure of transflective type liquid crystal display device having both functions of a transmission type and a reflection type.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, by explosive spread of a portable information terminal represented by a portable telephone, there is needed a display capable of dealing with light-weighted formation, conservation of power consumption and a change in an environment of use.
Further, in view of thin film formation and light-weighted formation, a liquid crystal display device or an organic EL display device is representatively promising.
Power consumption of a transmission type display device is inconsiderable for driving only a display. However, a liquid crystal per se does not emit light and therefore, a back light is needed for displaying as a display. For use of a portable telephone, an EL back light is generally used, however, power is separately needed for the back light and a characteristic of conservation of power consumption particularly to a liquid crystal is not fully utilized, which is disadvantageous in conservation of power consumption. Further, although in a dark environment, display of a display is viewed with excellent contrast, in an ordinary bright environment, the display is not viewed so well and there is a drawback in adaptability in accordance with the environment of use both in cases of an upper emitting type and a lower emitting type.
Further, the organic EL display device is characterized in that a display element per se emits light. Although power consumption thereof becomes larger than that of a reflection type liquid crystal display device, the power consumption is smaller than that of a transmission type liquid crystal display device (having back light). However, similar to the case of the transmission type liquid crystal display device, although in a dark environment, display of a display is viewed excellently, in an ordinary bright environment, the display is not viewed so well and therefore, there is still a drawback in adaptability in accordance with an environment of use both in cases of the upper emitting type and the lower emitting type.
Further, the reflection type liquid crystal display device utilizes outside light from an environment as light for display. On the side of the display, the back light is not basically needed, only power for driving a liquid crystal and a drive circuit is needed and therefore, positive conservation of power consumption is achieved. Further, quite contrary to the former two, although in a bright environment, display of a display is viewed excellently, in a dark environment, the display is not viewed so well. Considering the use of a portable information terminal, the portable information terminal is mainly used outdoors and there is frequently a case of viewing the display in a comparatively bright environment, however, this is still insufficient in terms of adaptability in accordance with an environment of use. Therefore, locally, a reflection type display device integrated with a front light is on sale such that the display can be carried out even in a dark environment.
Hence, attention is given to a transflective type liquid crystal display having advantages of both of a transmission type and a reflection type liquid crystal display device by combining the device. In a bright environment, a characteristic of the reflection type of conservation of power consumption and excellence in optical recognizing performance under the environment is utilized, meanwhile, in a dark environment, a characteristic of excellence in contrast provided to the transmission type is utilized by using a back light.
A transflective type liquid crystal display device is disclosed in JP11-101992. The device is a reflection and transmission type (transflective type) liquid crystal display device having a constitution which can be used as the reflection and transmission type liquid crystal display device in which by fabricating a reflecting portion for reflecting outside light and a transmitting portion for transmitting light from a back light to include in a single display panel, when a surrounding is totally dark, display is carried out by utilizing light transmitting through the transmitting portion from the back light and light reflected by the reflecting portion formed by a film having comparatively high reflectance and as a reflection type liquid crystal display device in which when outside light is bright, display is carried out by utilizing light reflected by the reflecting portion formed by the film having the comparatively high optical reflectance.
Further, the above-described transflective type liquid crystal display device is provided with a special uneven structure having optical diffusion performance particularly at the reflecting portion for carrying out display by reflection. Because a reflection electrode reflects light incident on a surface from a certain direction by a certain angle of incidence only to a location having a specific angle of emittance in a specific direction (Snell's law) in view of the structure and therefore, when the surface is flat, a direction and an angle of emitting light are determined to be constant relative to incidence of light. When a display is fabricated under such a state, a display having very poor optical recognizing performance is brought about.
The transflective type liquid crystal display device may be regarded as a display in corresponding well with a special condition of use of a portable information terminal. Particularly, in use thereof for a portable telephone, considerable demand is anticipated to promise in the future. Hence, in order to ensure stable demand or to meet enormous demand, there is apparently a need of achieving further reduction in cost.
However, in order to form the uneven structure shown above, there is needed a method of attaching an uneven shape at a layer below a reflection electrode and thereafter forming the reflection electrode thereabove.
Further, regardless of the above-described example, in order to fabricate a transflective type liquid crystal display device, patterning operation is needed for forming an uneven structure at either or both surfaces of a reflection electrode and a transmission electrode constituting a pixel electrode or at a layer below a pixel electrode and therefore, a number of steps is increased. An increase in the number of steps brings about a disadvantageous situation of a reduction in yield, extension in process time, or an increase in cost.

Method of manufacturing an LCD having the amorphous portion of a transparent conductive layer removed

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A system for the deposition of a multicomponent material layer on a substrate from respective liquid precursors for components of the multicomponent material layer, comprising: a vapor deposition zone; and multiple vaporizer units, each of which is joined (i) to at least one source of liquid precursor for supplying at least one liquid precursor thereto, and (ii) in vapor flow communication with the vapor deposition zone arranged to retain the substrate therein, for deposition on the substrate of vapor phase species from precursor vapor formed by vaporization of liquid precursors in the vaporizer units of the system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for delivery and vaporization of liquid reagents for transport to a deposition zone, e.g., a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor. More specifically, the invention relates to a reagent supply system for chemical vapor deposition using dissimilar precursor compositions.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the formation of thin films, layers and coatings on substrates, a wide variety of source materials have been employed. These source materials include reagents and precursor materials of widely varying types, and in various physical states. To achieve highly uniform thickness layers of a conformal character on the substrate, vapor phase deposition has been used widely as a technique. In vapor phase deposition, the source material may be of initially solid form which is sublimed or melted and vaporized to provide a desirable vapor phase source reagent. Alternatively, the reagent may be of normally liquid state, which is vaporized, or the reagent may be in the vapor phase in the first instance.
In the manufacture of advanced thin film materials, a variety of reagents may be used. These reagents may be used in mixture with one another in a multicomponent fluid which is utilized to deposit a corresponding multicomponent or heterogeneous film material. Such advanced thin film materials are increasingly important in the manufacture of microelectronic devices and in the emerging field of nanotechnology. For such applications and their implementation in high volume commercial manufacturing processes, it is essential that the film morphology, composition, and stoichiometry be closely controllable. This in turn requires highly reliable and efficient means and methods for delivery of source reagents to the locus of film formation.
Examples of advanced thin film materials include refractory materials such as high temperature superconducting (HTSC) materials including YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.x ; wherein x is from about 6 to 7.3, the bismuth-strontium-calcium-copper oxide and thallium-barium-calcium-copper oxide superconductors of varying stoichiometry, abbreviated BiSrCaCuO and TlBaCaCuO. Barium titanate, BaTiO.sub.3, and barium strontium titanate, Ba.sub.x Sr.sub.1-x TiO.sub.3, have been identified as ferroelectric and photonic materials with unique and potentially very useful properties in thin film applications of such materials. Ba.sub.x Sr.sub.1-x Nb.sub.2 O.sub.6 is a photonic material whose index of refraction changes as a function of electric field and also as a function of the intensity of light upon it. Lead zirconate titanate, PbZr.sub.1-x Ti.sub.x O.sub.3, is a ferroelectric material whose properties are very interesting. The Group II metal fluorides, BaF.sub.2, CaF.sub.2, and SrF.sub.2, are useful for scintillation detecting and coating of optical fibers. Refractory oxides such as Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 are coming into expanded use in the microelectronics industry; Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 is envisioned as a thin-film capacitor material whose use may enable higher density memory devices to be fabricated.
Thin films comprising the Group II metal fluorides, BaF.sub.2, CaF.sub.2, and SrF.sub.2, are potentially very useful as buffer layers for interfacing between silicon substrates and HTSC or GaAs overlayers or between GaAs substrates and HTSC or silicon overlayers, and combinations of two or all of such metal fluorides may be employed in forming graded compositions in interlayers providing close lattice matching at the interfaces with the substrate and overlayer constituents of the composite. For example, a silicon substrate could be coated with an epitaxial layer of BaF.sub.2 /CaF.sub.2, SrF.sub.2 /CaF.sub.2, or SrF.sub.2 /CaF.sub.2 /BaF.sub.2, whose composition is tailored for a close lattice match to the silicon. If the ratio of the respective Group II metal species in the metal fluoride interlayers can be controlled precisely in the growth of the interlayer, the lattice constant could be graded to approach the lattice constant of GaAs. Thus, a gallium arsenide epitaxial layer could be grown over the metal fluoride interlayer, allowing the production of integrated GaAs devices on widely available, high quality silicon substrates. Another potential use of such type of metal fluoride interlayers would be as buffers between silicon substrates and polycrystalline HTSC films for applications such as non-equilibrium infrared detectors. Such an interlayer would permit the HTSC to be used in monolithic integrated circuits on silicon substrates.
BaTiO.sub.3 and Ba.sub.x Sr.sub.1-x Nb.sub.2 O.sub.6 in film or epitaxial layer form are useful in photonic applications such as optical switching, holographic memory storage, and sensors. In these applications, the BaTiO.sub.3 or Ba.sub.x Sr.sub.1-x Nb.sub.2 O.sub.6 film is the active element. The related ferroelectric material PbZr.sub.1-x Ti.sub.x O.sub.3 is potentially useful in infrared detectors and thin film capacitors well as filters and phase shifters.
In these and other applications involving the manufacture of microcircuitry and microelectronic devices, there is a growing use of new thin film materials and corresponding precursors to fabricate products. This trend is accompanied by the evolution towards increasingly smaller microelectronic feature sizes, in which chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is often the preferred deposition technique because of the conformality, composition control, deposition rates and microstructural homogeneity that are characteristic of such method.
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a particularly attractive method for forming thin film materials of the aforementioned types, because it is readily scaled up to production runs and because the electronic industry has a wide experience and an established equipment base in the use of CVD technology which can be applied to new CVD processes. In general, the control of key variables such as stoichometry and film thickness, and the coating of a wide variety of substrate geometries is possible with CVD. Forming the thin films by CVD permits the integration of these materials into existing device production technologies CVD also permits the formation of layers of the refractory materials that are epitaxially related to substrates having close crystal structures.
CVD requires that the element source reagents, i.e., the precursor compounds and complexes containing the elements or components of interest must be sufficiently volatile to permit gas phase transport into the chemical vapor deposition reactor. The elemental component source reagent must decompose in the CVD reactor to deposit only the desired element at the desired growth temperatures. Premature gas phase reactions leading to particulate formation must not occur, nor should the source reagent decompose in the lines before reaching the reactor deposition chamber. When compounds are desired to be deposited, obtaining optimal properties requires close control of stoichiometry which can be achieved if the reagent can be delivered into the reactor in a controllable fashion. In this respect the reagents must not be so chemically stable that they are non-reactive in the deposition chamber.
Desirable CVD reagents therefore are fairly reactive and volatile. Unfortunately, for many of the refractive materials described above, volatile reagents do not exist. Many potentially highly useful refractory materials have in common that one or more of their components are elements, i.e., the Group II metals barium, calcium, or strontium, or the early transition metals zirconium or hafnium, for which no or few volatile compounds well-suited for CVD are known. In many cases, the source reagents are solids whose sublimation temperature may be very close to the decomposition temperature, in which case the reagent may begin to decompose in the lines before reaching the reactor, and it therefore is very difficult to control the stoichiometry of the deposited films from such decomposition-susceptible reagents.
When the film being deposited by CVD is a multicomponent substance rather than a pure element, such as barium titanate, lead zirconate titanate (PZT), lead lanthanum titanate (PLT), or the oxide superconductors, controlling the stoichiometry of the film is critical to obtaining the desired film properties. In the deposition of such materials, which may form films with a wide range of stoichiometries, the controlled delivery of known proportions of the source reagents into the CVD reactor chamber is essential.
In other cases, the CVD reagents are liquids, but their delivery into the CVD reactor in the vapor phase has proven difficult because of problems of premature decomposition or stoichiometry control. Examples include the deposition of tantalum oxide from the liquid source tantalum ethoxide and the deposition of titanium nitride from bis(dialkylamide)titanium reagents.
In recent years it has been widely recognized that for many of these emerging new thin film materials, there are no well-behaved gaseous precursors available (at ambient temperature and pressure). In such instances, the liquid delivery technique has become the predominant method of choice to controllably deliver liquid and solid precursors (typically metalorganic compounds) to a CVD process.
In the liquid delivery approach, the liquid or solid precursor is typically dissolved in a solvent, and the solution is stored, e.g., at ambient temperature and pressure. When the deposition process is to be run, the solution is transported to a high temperature vaporization zone within the CVD flow system, where the precursor is flash vaporized (along with the solvent), and the gas-phase precursor then is transported to the deposition zone, such as a chemical vapor deposition reactor, containing a substrate on which deposition of the desired component(s) from the vapor-phase precursor composition takes place.
The liquid delivery technique has been found to be extremely useful for deposition of multicomponent oxide thin films such as (Ba,Sr)TiO.sub.3, SrBi.sub.2 Ta.sub.2 O.sub.9 (SBT), (Pb,La) TiO.sub.3 (PLT) and Pb(Zr, Ti)O.sub.3 (PZT) for example. In CVD processes developed for these and other compounds, it is highly desirable to dissolve all the precursors in a single solution, and vaporize them simultaneously, following which the vaporized precursor composition containing the respective components is transported to the deposition chamber, as described above.
Liquid delivery systems of varying types are known in the art, and for example are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,314 issued Apr. 20, 1993 to Peter S. Kirlin et al. and U.S. Pat. 5,536,323 issued Jul. 16, 1996 to Peter S. Kirlin et al., which describe heated foraminous vaporization structures such as microporous disk elements. In use, liquid source reagent compositions are flowed onto the foraminous vaporization structure for flash vaporization. Vapor thereby is produced for transport to the deposition zone, e.g., a CVD reactor. The liquid delivery systems of these patents provide high efficiency generation of vapor from which films may be grown on substrates. Liquid delivery systems of such type are usefully employed for generation of multicomponent vapors from corresponding liquid reagent solutions containing one or more precursors as solutes, or alternatively from liquid reagent suspensions containing one or more precursors as suspended species.
The liquid delivery approach has found widespread application in the CVD formation of BST films, which may for example be carried out with the tetraglyme adduct of bis-tetramethylheptanedionato Ba (Ba(thd).sub.2 -tetraglyme, the tetraglyme adduct of bis-tetramethylheptanedionato Sr (Sr(thd.sub.2 -tetraglyme), and bis-isopropoxy bistetramethylheptanedionato Ti (Ti(OPr).sub.2 (thd).sub.2) being dissolved in a solvent that may contain butyl acetate, and with the resulting solution being pumped to a zone where it is vaporized at surfaces that are maintained at a temperature of approximately 230.degree. C. This technique has been found to result in BST films with excellent quality, which possess superior microstructural and functional properties.
The simplicity of such liquid delivery approach for CVD of BST has been fortuitous, because each component in this system of metalorganic precursors can be treated identically in the respective solution-forming, vaporization and transport steps of the process. Thus, in such a compatible system of multiple, well-behaved precursors, (i) the precursors can be dissolved in the same solvent with high solubility, (ii) the precursors maintain their identity in the single solution, without deleterious chemical reactions with the solvent or net ligand exchange with each other, (iii) the precursors can be efficiently vaporized under the same temperature flow, pressure and ambient (carrier) gas conditions, and (iv) the CVD deposition process can be performed using a fixed ratio of the CVD precursors in the solution, distinct advantage since the relative proportions of the respective components cannot be easily quickly changed.
In instances in which the aforementioned criteria (i)-(iv) are not fully met, and the precursors used as source reagents for the various film constituents are dissimilar in their liquid delivery (e.g., solution formation and vaporization) requirements, the use of the conventional liquid delivery system will be correspondingly sub-optimal in terms of the efficiency of the process and the structure and properties of the resulting deposited films.
It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid delivery. apparatus and process accommodating multiple precursors for deposition formation of a corresponding multicomponent material layer, where the precursors are dissimilar in their liquid delivery requirements.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.

Multiple vaporizer reagent supply system for chemical vapor deposition utilizing dissimilar precursor compositions


A control surface for an audio processing system that performs surround sound panning includes a touchscreen in combination with one or more other input devices. The touchscreen displays the position and movement of sound according to inputs from the various input devices or from recorded control information. An operator can input position information through the touchscreen or through one or more other input devices. The control surface may include two complete, separate panning sections. Each panning section may include the touchscreen, input devices, and switches. The touchscreen may also provide switches that change function based on the state of the other switches in the panning section. The separate panning sections can be linked together, for example to process stereo tracks. An “autoglide” operation enables an operator to move the location of a sound along a fixed path between a start location and a destination location over a time period set by the operator.

Multi-channel audio signals are commonly used in combination with a set of speakers arranged to create a sound field that surrounds a listener. This effect is commonly called "surround sound." Typically, the set of speakers is arranged so that there is a front center speaker, a surround left speaker, a surround right speaker, a front left speaker, a front right speaker and a subwoofer speaker. Other speaker arrangements are possible. Example formats for multi-channel audio signals for surround sound include, but are not limited to, DOLBY DIGITAL and DTS DIGITAL SURROUND.
In the production or editing of audio signals, such as the soundtrack for a motion picture, it is common to provide some mechanism to permit an editor to define the position of the sound field as perceived by a listener. In addition, it is common to provide some mechanism to permit an editor to define the motion of the sound field, i.e., to change to position of the sound field over time, as perceived by the listener. Changing the position of the sound field over time, herein called the motion of the sound, is commonly referred to as surround sound panning.
The mechanism for permitting an editor to define the position, and the change in position over time, of the sound field typically includes an input device and an output device. The input device permits the editor to specify positions and motion of the sound, whereas the output device displays to the editor the defined positions and motion. Such mechanisms are commonly provided in a control surface of an audio processing system. Such audio processing systems include, but are not limited to, audio mixers, consoles and digital audio workstations.
In the editing of multi-channel audio compositions, it is common to automate the controls applied to the audio signals. Automation is performed by recording the state of the controls over time, then "playing back" this control information. During playback, an editor may touch a control device on the control surface to modify the recorded control information. This capability of editing the recorded automation is enhanced by the use of touch sensitive or motion sensitive control devices. When a control device is touched, the recorded control information from that device is overwritten by new control information from that control device.
For surround sound panning, current control surfaces include devices such as a motorized joystick, a nonmotorized joystick combined with arrays of light emitting devices (LEDs), or one or more faders or encoders, either motorized or nonmotorized with an array of LEDs. Such devices also are commonly touch-sensitive or motion-sensitive. Motorized devices are designed to move during playback of recorded automation.

Control surface with a touchscreen for editing surround sound


A versatile system which includes a display unit by which a plurality of image works selected from photographs, paintings, newspaper articles, pictures, images, prints, designs, sports memorabilia, certificates, awards, and diplomas may be viewed simultaneously or individually, as selected by the viewer. A display unit stores a plurality of image works for selective viewing by an observer by virtue of each image works being mounted on a slidable carrier, which may be slid within a framework to enable or disable viewing of image works which may be disposed behind a given slidable carrier.

This invention relates to aesthetic and compact means for efficiently displaying multiple image works, which image works may include, among other things, works of art and photographs. More particularly, the invention relates to a means for displaying a plurality of carriers, in which one or more of the carriers may be selectively slid to be in a position which is out of the view of the observer. The image works to be viewed are housed on the carriers.
Various means for displaying created works such as works of literature, art, and the like, including paintings, murals, photographs, etc., have been devised over the years for the purposes of aiding the convenience of an observer desiring to view the works, and to also often add to the overall aesthetic appeal of the particular work. In the case of some artistic works, picture frames and pedestals are typical examples of such display unit. It is frequently the case that the design of a given display unit is custom-tailored to enhance or complement the specific work of which it is to assist in displaying. Thus, given the multiplicity of types of works which have been created and the various works within each type, it is of little surprise that the prior art is replete with a multitude of known means for displaying such works.
One example is U.S. Pat. No. 3,732,633 which provides a sliding panel display that includes a plurality of panels which are slidingly confined in a stepped array so as to overlap one another in a parallel orientation. In this display, each of the panels may be partially withdrawn independent relative to one another in parallel relation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,532 teaches a picture display device that includes an array of picture frames hinged together, as by an endless belt, in which the inner ends of the frame sections are attached to the endless belt. The frames radiate outwardly from the belt and are arrangeable in a pair of side-by-side packs in which the frames in each pack lie flat against each other, and in which the inner frame sections of one pack abut the inner frame sections of the other pack. The device includes a support to hold the packs in side-by-side relation in a manner which permits advancement of and guides the frames from one pack to the next. The frames and the support are arranged so that advancement of a frame from the end of one pack to the beginning of the next pack causes all of the other frames in the array to advance an incremental amount.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,430 provides an elongated price chip support strip or holder of the type utilized in menu and price display structures in fast food restaurants, which includes an elongated rectangular front panel portion that is provided along its length with a plurality of equidistantly spaced equal size price chip display openings. The front panel portion has a substantially flat front face and is provided on its rear side with a plurality of top-to-bottom extending spaced parallel ribs of equal thickness rearwardly of the front panel portion. The ribs are disposed on opposite sides of the price strip display openings, and the front panel portion is further provided in its rear side with a pair of parallel longitudinal ledges of the same thickness as the ribs rearwardly of the front panel section. The ledges define top and bottom longitudinal edges of the front panel portion.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,324 a board game is provided on which the players simulate a shopping trip to a mall by moving their playing markers along a route defined by rectangles which depict stores in the mall. There are cards having decorative portions of different designs in storage areas, and each player has a frame with a plurality of cavities for receiving and depicting the decorative portions of the cards. A replica of an outfitted mannequin is formed on the front face of the frame. Several windows of transparent material are formed in the front face of the frame within the replica of the mannequin so that the decorative portions of the cards which are inserted in the frame will be visible as portions of the outfit of the mannequin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,381 teaches a vehicle emergency sign which is designed to hang on a vehicle window so as to be visible to passing traffic. The sign is composed of multiple panels interconnected by sliding means which allow the sign to be retracted for convenient storage and extended to display a preprinted message. A bracket attached to a first panel has a hook portion for engaging the upper edge of a vehicle side window, and a support portion to aid in maintaining the sign in an extended position from the side of the vehicle.
Thus, a wide range of possible finished goods may be displayed using these and other means contained in the prior art. While these and many other prior art devices and methods associated with their use may have had as a common goal the display of a plurality of viewable xe2x80x9cworksxe2x80x9d in various fashions, none has thus far provided a single device having the capability for both housing and displaying a plurality of substantially flat works, such as photographs or the like, in which a particular work may be selectively viewed by an observer while those works not being viewed are maintained in a stored position, out of view. Further, none has provided a device and means for such storage and selective display which is well-suited to either rest on a surface such as a tabletop or to be hung on a wall by conventional means. Further still, none has provided such a device and means which as a whole is itself aesthetically pleasing, and which thus enhances the overall viewing experience of the observer.
The present invention satisfies all of the aforesaid features in which the prior art falls short, by providing means for storage and selective display of the entirety of each of a plurality of substantially flat works, such as photographs and the like, which means is itself aesthetically pleasing, and lends itself well to being placed atop stationary objects such as tabletops, or to being hung on a wall or other similar location. These and other beneficial features of the invention, as well as the advantages over display units of the prior art, shall become evident to one upon reading and understanding this specification and the appended claims.
The present invention provides a widely-variable and versatile system by which a plurality of image works may be efficiently stored in a single unit and in which a given image works may also be selectively displayed by a viewer to the complete or partial exclusion of other image works contained in the unit. Accordingly, a display device provided in accordance with this invention may take on several actual physical configurations without departing from the metes and bounds of design embraced by the invention""s principles.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a display unit as a whole is shaped substantially as a box or rectangular solid having a hollow inner portion and which is open on one face, and thus includes a top, a bottom, two sides, and a backing portion. The top portion is generally linear and resembles a board in one form of the invention, and has top and bottom surface portions, and first and second end portions. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom surface portion of the top portion includes a grooved channel of a selected width on its surface, so as to function as an upper track portion. The channel is preferably parallel to the length dimension of the top portion, and may in one form of the invention transverse its entire length. There is a bottom portion which has an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end portion, and a second end portion. The upper surface of the lower track portion preferably has a grooved channel on its surface, which channel is preferably parallel to the length dimension of the lower track portion and which channel is analogous to the channel on the surface of the lower surface of the upper track portion. The bottom portion thus may function as a lower track portion analogously to the top portion, by virtue of the grooved channel on the upper surface of the bottom portion.
The side portions are in one form of the invention substantially linear, and are each connectively disposed at the first end portions and second end portions of both the upper and lower track portions, respectively, to thus cause the assembly (display unit) as a whole to thus bear resemblance to a box or rectangular solid having a hollow in its interior. With a flat backing portion positioned to cover one of the faces of the geometric solid, i.e., the portion intended to be furthest away from the viewer, the resulting construction includes one open face.
The bottom surface of the upper track portion and the upper surface of the lower track portion are caused to be oriented in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to one another, which provides for slidable motion of a suitably-sized image works carrier that is confined within the grooves of the upper and lower track portions along the length dimension of the track portions, in analogous fashion to the motion of a common sliding glass patio door within its tracks. Under this arrangement it is preferable in one form of the invention for the image works carrier to exist, without limitation, in the form of a substantially flat square or rectangle which comprises parallel top and bottom edge portions of slightly less thickness than the width of the channels in the track portion, for then the top edge portion of the carrier readily resides within a channel on the bottom surface portion of the upper track portion, and the bottom edge portion of the carrier readily resides within a channel on the upper surface of the lower track portion.
The back portion covers the entire face of the rearmost part of the construction as viewed from an observer located at the open face or front of such a display unit as a whole. In one preferred form of the invention, the back portion has one or more image works mounted to it. In such an embodiment an image works which is affixed within a slidable image works carrier that disposed at its top and bottom portions within the grooved channels on the upper and lower track portions, may be positioned to block the line of sight to one or more image works which are mounted to the back portion. However, the image works carrier may be selectively moved along the length dimension of the display within the track portions by the hand of a viewer, to permit the viewing of such image works that are affixed to the back portion, and to thus render selective viewing in accordance with the principles of the invention.
These principles of variable viewing operation according to the invention may be extended to the case where the upper and lower track portions each include a plurality of adjacent parallel grooves which collectively provide for another track in which more than one image works carriers may be slidably contained, to permit a person to selectively view either an image works which is disposed on the back portion, an image works affixed in the carrier in the track nearest the viewer, or an image works affixed to a carrier that is disposed in between the track nearest the viewer and the backing portion. Such an embodiment provides a viewer with at least three choices of which image is seen at a given time, in cases when the length of the track portions are of a length equal to at least twice the width of an image works under consideration. Such an embodiment also provides an opportunity for ready comparison of a plurality of image works which are disposed side-by-side with respect to one another. A plurality of image works carriers may also be disposed beside one another within a single grooved track to dramatically increase the number of possible image works to be selectively viewed by a person in accordance with the principles of this invention.
Further extension of the principles of the invention provides an embodiment in which a top portion, which functions as an upper track portion, also simultaneously serves the common function of being the bottom portion for another display unit sharing a common leg, i.e., an embodiment wherein the top portion includes a groove on its bottom surface portion, and also includes a grooved channel on its top surface portion to enable the top surface portion or upper track of one display unit according to the invention to simultaneously serve as the bottom portion or lower track of another display unit according to the invention, in each of which display unit there are slidably housed at least one image works carrier. The principles of this invention are further extensible so that there are in fact no limit to the number of such units which may be xe2x80x9cstackedxe2x80x9d upon or beneath one another, the preferability of each particular embodiment being dictated by the individual user and the nature of the display contemplated. A top portion which functions as an upper track portion of one display unit according to the invention which also simultaneously serves as a bottom portion which functions as a lower track portion for another display unit according to the invention may have independently disposed about its upper and lower surfaces any number of grooved channels as are desired.
A variety of decorative woods, such as ordinary boards or boards having enhanced grains, picture frames, laminates, etc., may included to enhance the outward appearance of a display unit according to the invention being limited only by the imagination of those practicing its principles. In one preferred form of the invention, a display unit is contained within a picture frame. In another form of the invention, a display unit is contained within a decorative box which is suitable for placement on a table or stand.


An imaging detector on a medical imager is provided with a proximity sensor for automatically maintaining a desired distance from the subject to be imaged. The proximity sensor is formed from three infrared beams at decreasing distances from the imaging detector. The imaging detector is moved toward the subject until the first two beams are interrupted. If the third beam is interrupted, the imaging detector is moved back from the subject until only the first beam is interrupted. Faults are detected by monitoring the order in which the beams are interrupted, whether the beams are interrupted when the imaging detector is fully retracted, and whether beams are present when no signal is applied to the beam emitters.

This invention relates to medical imaging equipment having scanning imaging detectors and, more particularly, to a proximity sensor for controlling the distance between the imaging detector and the subject to be scanned.
In nuclear medicine imaging scans, the imaging detector must often be rotated around or passed over the patient or subject. In the first instance, referred to as SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography), the imaging detector acquires a number of images from various viewing angles around the subject. A computer will later reconstruct from these views a three-dimensional volume representation of the patient's anatomy. A SPECT apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,687, which is included herein in its entirety by reference.
In the second instance, referred to as whole body imaging, the detector slowly translates over the subject (or equivalently, the subject is translated past the detector) to generate an image which is much larger than the detector's field of view.
In both of these operations, scanning the detector is necessary as opposed to simple spot viewing of a portion of the subject. In order to maintain the best spatial resolution in the image, the detector must be maintained as close to the subject as practical. Approximately 1 mm of resolution is lost for every additional 1 cm of distance between the detector and the subject.
In order to better follow the contour of the subject, many manufactures of SPECT and whole body scanners permit the operator to "teach" the motion-control hardware or manipulator the trajectory that the detector must take around or over the subject. This is done by manually moving (via hand-operated controls) the detector about the subject. The imaging device memorizes this motion and repeats it during the actually scanning operation.
This teaching operation is performed prior to and in addition to the actual imaging scan of the subject. This is a very time-consuming operation. It increases the labor and machine-time required for a scan, lowers scanner throughput, and requires the subject to be confined to the scanner for a greater time. Particularly in the case of trauma, this delay is undesirable for clinical use.
In addition, the quality of the images obtained is dependent on the technique and skill of individual operators during the teaching process.


Method and system for assigning labels in a data transmission network in which flows of data, composed of packets, are transmitted from a source node to a destination node through a plurality of switching nodes. The network is further characterized in that a label, identifying each flow of data, is added to each packet of the flow of data before the packet is transmitted from a transmitting node to an adjacent receiving node in the network. This so-called identification label is recognized by the receiving node as the identification of the flow of data to be transmitted. Each node in the network assigns an identification label to the packets when a new flow of data is received by the node. Both the transmitting and receiving nodes in the network generate an identical label for a given flow of data. Thus, the overhead associated with the sending of assigned labels from assigning nodes to corresponding upstream or downstream transmitting or receiving nodes in the network is avoided.

The invention relates generally to data transmission networks wherein flows of data are transmitted from a source node to a destination node through a plurality of switching nodes and particularly to a system and method for assigning labels in a data transmission network using label switching.
The use of packet switched networks (PSNs) has become an important technology in the transmitting of data over today""s Local and Wide Area Networks (LANs and WANs). In most of these PSNs, each node is used as a switching node after the route for a flow of data from a source node to a destination node has been established by routers located at each node. The assignment of a particular packet to a particular flow of data is done only once as that packet enters the network. The flow to which the packet is assigned is associated with a short fixed length value known as a label. When a packet is forwarded to the next switching node, the label is sent along with it. At subsequent nodes, the label is used as an index into a table which specifies the next node in the flow such that a corresponding new label can be assigned. No further analysis of the packet header is required once a label has been assigned.
The decision to bind a particular label to a particular flow of data is made either by an upstream switching node or by a downstream switching node on the network path. The label assignment is made when the first frame of a flow of data is routed by a node""s router. A default label assigned to this first frame of data is replaced by the newly assigned label. The switching node which assigns the label uses a label distribution protocol to inform the linked switching node (either upstream or downstream) of the assigned label. If it is the upstream switching node which is in charge of assigning the label, (known as a forward label assignment mechanism), this node sends a message containing the assigned label to its corresponding downstream switching node. The downstream node then sends an acknowledgment to the upstream switching node. Upon reception of the acknowledgment, the upstream switching node may then start transmitting packets using the assigned label.
If, instead, the downstream switching node is charged with the task of label assignment, (known as a backward label assignment mechanism), it does so upon the receipt of the first packet of a new flow of data. Again, a label distribution protocol is used by the downstream switching node to send a message to its corresponding upstream switching node containing the newly assigned label. At this time, the upstream switching node may start transmitting packets using this newly assigned label without the need for sending an acknowledgment to the downstream node.
Whichever of these label assignment mechanisms is employed, either forward or backward, transmission overhead exists as a result of the need for the label assigning node to inform the corresponding upstream or downstream node of its label assignment decision. This requires that an additional protocol (the so-called label distribution protocol) be used to effect this transmission of the assigned label. Another drawback of using these label assignment mechanisms is associated with the delay in running the label distribution protocol procedure itself. Until this protocol procedure completes and a data flow label is assigned, packets must be routed by a switching node""s router by examining the header of each packet received. Inasmuch as several packets will have to be routed in this manner, such systems require expensive, high-performance routers to account for this added transmission overhead.
Accordingly, it is a purpose of the present invention to provide a system for assigning labels in a data transmission network which does not introduce transmission overhead and does not require high-performance routers at each network node. Another purpose of the invention is to achieve a method of assigning labels in a data transmission network which does not introduce any transmission overhead.
Therefore, the present invention relates to a method and system for assigning labels in a data transmission network in which flows of data, composed of packets, are transmitted from a source node to a destination node through a plurality of switching nodes. The network is further characterized in that a label, identifying each flow of data, is added to each packet of the flow of data before the packet is transmitted from a transmitting node to an adjacent receiving node in the network. This so-called identification label is recognized by the receiving node as the identification of the flow of data to be transmitted. Each node in the network assigns an identification label to the packets when a new flow of data is received by the node. Both the transmitting and receiving nodes in the network generate an identical label for a given flow of data. Thus, the overhead associated with the sending of assigned labels from assigning nodes to corresponding upstream or downstream transmitting or receiving nodes in the network is avoided.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method and system are proposed wherein the identification labels are generated, first by filling an assigned label table with the headers of the flow of data being transmitted and using the address of the location where the header is stored as the identification label, and second by using a label stored in a free label table filled with a list of labels which are freed according to predefined criteria.

Method and system for assigning labels to data flows over a packet switched network


A method and an apparatus for transmitting content in a portable terminal are provided. The method includes searching for devices, to each of which content is to be transmitted, by a first communication module, and displaying information indicating devices discovered as a result of the search; determining, when a particular portable terminal to which the content is to be transmitted is selected among the displayed information, whether the selected particular portable terminal is currently performing a communication connection with another portable terminal; requesting and receiving, through a second communication module, in response to determining that the particular portable terminal is currently performing the communication connection with the another portable terminal, an address of a device matched to a selected transmission method; and making a communication connection with the particular portable terminal; transmitting the content to the particular portable terminal, through a third communication module matched to the selected transmission method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the transmission of content, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for transmitting content in a portable terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, when two portable terminals share content such as an image, a video, etc., the content can be transmitted between the two portable terminals by using Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Direct, Near Field Communication (NFC), or Bluetooth. At this time, a user must determine which technology, from among these technologies, is to be used to transmit the content. The user also must perform a preset process for the determined technology. When the transmission of the content is completed, the user also must also perform a process for restoring each portable terminal to a state existing before performance of the preset process to transmit the content.
In this regard, in order to transmit content from one portable terminal to another portable terminal, content to be transmitted is selected, a send button is operated, a list of targets of reception of a file to be transmitted is generated, a target of the reception of the file to be transmitted is selected from the list, a procedure for authenticating the target of the reception is completed, a device corresponding to the target of the reception enters a stand-by state capable of receiving the file to be transmitted, and then the transmission of the file begins. Accordingly, the above-described method is inconvenient, due to its' cumbersome procedures.
Many users are also unfamiliar with wireless transmission technologies, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct and Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), and are also unfamiliar with corresponding related technologies, such as searching, scanning, pairing, bonding, Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), Security Simple Pairing (SSP), and Visibility and Discoverable. Accordingly, users may not be able to easily determine which wireless transmission technology is appropriate for transmission of a file with respect to a particular situation. An overly-simplified determination causes problems, in that each user transmits or receives content by using only a wireless transmission technology familiar to each user.
Also, when content is shared by using a wireless transmission technology such as Bluetooth (version 3.0 or below) or Wi-Fi, both a Bluetooth module and a Wi-Fi module of an apparatus for transmitting and receiving content must be activated. Accordingly, when the apparatus for transmitting and receiving content is a portable terminal powered by a battery, if both the Bluetooth module and the Wi-Fi module are continuously activated in order to share a file, excess power consumption occurs.
Also, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module, which is a short-range communication module referred to as Bluetooth 4.0, is characterized by operating with less power than modules using Bluetooth version 3.0 or below. Accordingly, a BLE module minimizes the consumption of a battery (not illustrated) of the portable terminal, even when the BLE module is continuously activated. The BLE module may be provided together with a module using Bluetooth version 3.0 or below, or may be provided on its own, in place of a module using Bluetooth version 3.0 or below.
However, when using a BLE module, one master terminal can make a communication connection with multiple slave terminals. By contrast, each slave terminal can make a communication connection with only one master terminal.
Accordingly, while a slave terminal performs BLE communication with a first master terminal, a second master terminal cannot perform BLE communication with the slave terminal. Therefore, there is a need for a method in which the second master terminal can make an automatic communication connection with the slave terminal, with which the second terminal cannot perform BLE communication, through another available communication module.
In this regard, a need exists for a method and an apparatus for transmitting content in a portable terminal which, in sharing content between portable terminals, can omit a cumbersome procedure for selecting a communication technology to be used to transmit content to a counterpart portable terminal that is also making a communication connection with another portable terminal, and that can minimize various settings required to transmit the content.

Method and apparatus for transmitting content in portable terminal


A hoof pad is used with a shoe for an animal, with the pad having a plate-shaped object and a plurality of catches. The flexible plate-shaped object has a partially elliptical shape including a top surface, an inner edge, an outer edge substantially matching the inner edge of the shoe. The plurality of catches are formed on the top surface of the plate-shaped object, with the catches extending outward from the plate-shaped object. The plate-shaped object is supported on the inside of the shoe by securing the catches on the plate-shaped object to the top of the shoe so that the top of the plate-shaped object has substantially the same height as the top of the shoe. The plate-shaped object is removably attachable to be freely attached and removed from the bottom of the shoe.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates to hoof pad, and in particular to a hoof pad which may be attached to a shoe, such as a horseshoe, in order to protect the bottom of an animal""s hoof. A horseshoe or shoes and like apparatus for other animals is regularly attached to the bottom of a horse""s hoof using nails. Hoof pads are known in the prior art, such as the hoof pad shown in FIG. 1. The hoof pad 1 of the prior art is a plate-shaped object having a partially elliptical shape and flexibility with the outer edge 1a substantially matching the outer edge 3a of the shoe, such as a horseshoe 3. The hoof pad 1 of the prior art is situated between the top surface 3b of the horseshoe 3 and the bottom of the hoof; i.e., the bottom surface 5a of the hoof 5. The horseshoe 3 is then attached to the hoof 5 using nails 7 that pass through both the horseshoe 3 and the hoof pad 1.
However, the following problems are associated with the hoof pad of the prior art. First, the hoof pad cannot be removed alone when the horseshoe is attached to the hoof with nails because the hoof pad of the prior art is attached to the hoof along with the horseshoe using nails. In other words, the nails attaching the horseshoe and the hoof pad to the hoof have to be removed and the horseshoe taken off along with the hoof pad when the hoof pad is to be removed. When a hoof pad is attached to a hoof, moreover, it has to be attached to the hoof along with the horseshoe using nails. Therefore, not anybody can attach and remove the hoof pad. This has to be done by a farrier or blacksmith.
In addition, the hoof pad is not easy to attach and remove, so hoof oil cannot be applied to the bottom of the hoof, and debris caught between the hoof pad and the bottom of the hoof such as sand and sawdust cannot be removed without taking off the hoof pad.
Furthermore, because the bottom of the hoof comes into contact with the hoof pad, the hoof tends to become soft because of the cushioning effect of the hoof pad and tends to then require a hoof pad.
Moreover, because the weight of the horse is brought to bear on the hoof pad and the hoof pad has a cushioning effect, the nails holding the horseshoe and the hoof pad to the bottom of the hoof tend to become loose.
In addition, because the hoof pad is situated between the bottom of the hoof and the horseshoe and has a fixed thickness, hoof pads have to be attached to a left and right pair of hooves at the same time so that the bottom of the hooves are a fixed height from the ground. In other words, if the hoof pad has to be replaced on the left hoof or the right hoof in a pair of hooves, the hoof pad on the other hoof in the pair also has to be replaced.
A hoof pad is disclosed which is attachable to a shoe, such as a horseshoe, in order to protect the bottom of an animal""s hoof. The disclosed hoof pad solves the problems associated with hoof pads of the prior art, by providing a hoof pad that can be easily attached and removed while the horseshoe is attached to the hoof with nails. In the disclosed hoof pad, a plurality of catches is formed on top of a plate-shaped object having a partially elliptical shape and flexibility with the outer edge substantially matching the inner edge of the horseshoe, and the catches extend outward from the plate-shaped object, while the plate-shaped object is supported on the inside of the horseshoe by securing the catches on the plate-shaped object to the top of the horseshoe so that the top of the plate-shaped object has substantially the same height as the top of the horseshoe, and with the plate-shaped object capable of being freely attached and removed from the bottom of the horseshoe.
In the disclosed hoof pad, notches are formed in the top surface of the horseshoe in the sections corresponding to the catches in the hoof pad so as to receive the catches. In addition, the hoof pad has notches formed continuously on top of a horseshoe along the inner edge of the horseshoe, with a plate-shaped object having a partially elliptical shape and flexibility with the outer edge engaging the notches, and the plate-shaped object is supported on the inside of the horseshoe by securing the outer edge of the plate-shaped object to the notches so that the top of the plate-shaped object has substantially the same height as the top of the horseshoe, and with the plate-shaped object being freely attached and removed from the bottom of the horseshoe.
The hoof itself is nailed and fixed to the bottom of horseshoe in the same way as the prior art. The hoof pad, which is nailed with the horseshoe, can be freely attached and removed from the bottom of the horseshoe. Therefore, when hoof pad is attached with the horseshoe which is nailed with hoof, the plate-shaped object is supported on the inside of the horseshoe by securing the catches on the plate-shaped object to the top of the horseshoe when the horse""s leg is above the ground. When the hoof pad is removed from the horseshoe which is nailed with hoof, the plate-shaped object of the hoof pad which is inside of the horseshoe is pulled toward the ground when horse leg is above the ground. The plate-shaped object has flexibility, and it can be freely attached and removed from the bottom of the horseshoe.
The notches are formed in the top surface of the horseshoe in the sections corresponding to the catches so as to receive the catches, so the notches and the catches can be easily received and removed. The notches are formed on top of a horseshoe along the inner edge of the horseshoe, with the plate-shaped object supported on the inside of the horseshoe by securing the outer edge of the plate-shaped object to the notches.
The disclosed hoof pad provides the following functions and advantages:
1. protects the bottom of the hoof;
2. prevents pressure on the bottom of the hoof by sawdust or manure.
3. prevents the hoof from drying out;
4. protects the hoof hygienically from manure;
5. protects the bottom of the hoof from crushed stone;
6. protects the bottom of the hoof from excessive wear;
7. protects the bottom of the hoof during outdoor horse riding;
8. holds medication in place on the bottom of the hoof in case of hoof disease; and
9. prevents snow from becoming packed in the bottom of the hoof.


Embodiments of the present invention relate to a color temperature tuning method, a color temperature tuning apparatus, and a display apparatus. The color temperature tuning method includes the steps of: matching an input color temperature signal with a color temperature value in the color temperature lookup table, and extracting a current signal corresponding to the color temperature value matching with the input color temperature signal from the color temperature lookup table; and controlling a light emitting device to emit light according to the current signal. According to embodiments of the present invention, intermediate calculation process is omitted and time for tuning the color temperature is shorten. Currents flowing through the blue and green light emitting elements are controlled to emit lights to excite red fluorescent powder, so that the LED emits lights having various color temperatures, and tuning accuracy of the color temperature and user experience are improved.

People have various demands for liquid crystal TV and display in terms of color. However, color spaces of conventional displays and liquid crystal TVs are limited. Color temperature tuning in conventional displays is implemented generally by an accurate color capture (ACC) tuning method. The ACC tuning method is performed by software and may achieve a tuning range of several hundreds Kelvin.
The ACC tuning is performed by software processing. In general, in the case of inputting a gray scale signal of 8 bits, the 8 bits signal is changed into a 9 bits signal using an interpolation by software processing, and eventually outputted as an 8 bits signal or 6 bits signal. In the ACC tuning method, the interpolation is performed based on a certain tuning direction when the 8 bits signal is changed into the 9 bits signal, and values useful for color temperature tuning are remained during outputting the 8 bits signal. By doing this, the gray scale signal of 8 bits is changed, thus achieving color temperature tuning. The ACC tuning method usually has a limited tuning range of several hundreds Kelvin and thus performs supplementary tuning for color temperature. The limited tuning range directly affects the accuracy of display effect and user experience.

Color temperature tuning method, color temperature tuning apparatus and display apparatus

BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A level-shifting circuit includes an input node, a first output transistor, a second output transistor, a pull-up transistor, and an output node. The input node receives an input signal. The first output transistor turns on when the input signal is at a first voltage level and couples an output node to a positive supply voltage when turned on. The second output transistor, a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), couples the output node to a negative supply voltage when turned on. The pull-up transistor turns on when the input signal is at a second voltage level and generates a voltage at a base terminal of the second output transistor that turns the second output transistor on. Additionally, the level-shifting circuit generates, at the output node, an output signal with a voltage swing that includes a positive voltage range and a negative voltage range.

As a result of the rapid technological growth of the past several decades, transistors and other semiconductor devices have become a fundamental building block for a wide range of electronic components. Metal-oxide silicon field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) have been the primary choice for transistors in many applications, including general-use microprocessors, digital signal processors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and various other forms of electronic devices. With the demand for increasingly smaller and faster electronic devices that utilize less power, the inclusion of the metal oxide layer from which MOSFETs derive their name creates significant limitations to further improvements in the size, operating speed, and power requirements of such devices. The use of alternative semiconductor components, such as junction field-effect transistors (JFETs), may facilitate the design of circuits that are smaller and operate on less power. The use of such components may create other design problems however.

Level-shifting circuit with bipolar junction transistor


A system and method for phone detection. The system includes a microphone configured to receive a speech signal in an acoustic domain and convert the speech signal from the acoustic domain to an electrical domain, and a filter bank coupled to the microphone and configured to receive the converted speech signal and generate a plurality of channel speech signals corresponding to a plurality of channels respectively. Additionally, the system includes a plurality of onset enhancement devices configured to receive the plurality of channel speech signals and generate a plurality of onset enhanced signals. Each of the plurality of onset enhancement devices is configured to receive one of the plurality of channel speech signals, enhance one or more onsets of one or more signal pulses for the received one of the plurality of channel speech signals, and generate one of the plurality of onset enhanced signals.

The present invention is directed to identification of perceptual features. More particularly, the invention provides a system and method, for such identification, using one or more events related to coincidence between various frequency channels. Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied to phone detection. But it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability.
After many years of work, a basic understanding of speech robustness to masking noise often remains a mystery. Specifically, it is usually unclear how to correlate the confusion patterns with the audible speech information in order to explain normal hearing listeners confusions and identify the spectro-temporal nature of the perceptual features. For example, the confusion patterns are speech sounds (such as Consonant-Vowel, CV) confusions vs. signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Certain conventional technology can characterize invariant cues by reducing the amount of information available to the ear by synthesizing simplified CVs based only on a short noise burst followed by artificial formant transitions. However, often, no information can be provided about the robustness of the speech samples to masking noise, nor the importance of the synthesized features relative to other cues present in natural speech. But a reliable theory of speech perception is important in order to identify perceptual features. Such identification can be used for developing new hearing aids and cochlear implants and new techniques of speech recognition.
Hence it is highly desirable to improve techniques for identifying perceptual features.

Speech and method for identifying perceptual features

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois


A molded angle panel and method is disclosed. The preferred angle panel has two improved grooves for receiving tongues when being mounted to adjacent sidewalls when assembling a shower stall. These grooves allow the angle panel to be compression molded. The grooves are comprised of a groove surface located substantially adjacent the angle panel's face which is positioned such that its plane intersects the plane of a bearing surface. The planes of the groove surfaces are substantially parallel. The parallelism of the groove surfaces allows the mold halves to be separated upon the completion of the molding process. The third surface is an intermediate surface and is between the groove surface and the bearing surface. An alternative embodiment of the invention has two improved tongues for allowing the molding of the angle panel.

A typical shower stall is generally constructed with three fiberglass walls, a glass door and a shower base. The fiberglass walls are compression molded and are attached together with a tongue and groove mounting system. The molding process puts limitations on the shapes of the walls which can be molded.
Prior tongue and groove mounting systems for shower walls do not allow for a cornerpiece or an angle panel to be compression molded. Compression molding involves two mold halves which are placed together under pressure to mold the desired piece. When the piece is finished, the mold halves must be pulled apart. The shape of the desired piece must allow the mold halves to separate. Prior tongues and grooves prevented the molding of cornerpieces or angle panels because the halves could not be separated after the panel was molded.
In compression molding, use of a mold of more than two pieces is not satisfactory due, at least in part, to the pressure applied during the molding process. A mold of more than two pieces could not be held in place satisfactorily under the pressure and tends to come apart. More over, molds of more than two piece construction at their best are complicated and expensive. The inability satisfactorily to mold corner panels has put severe limitations on the shape and style of shower stalls that could be completely molded.


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for generating, training, and utilizing a digital signal processor (DSP) to evaluate graph data that may include irregular grid graph data. An example DSP that may be generated, trained, and used may include a set of hidden layers, wherein each hidden layer of the set of hidden layers comprises a set of heterogeneous kernels (HKs), and wherein each HK of the set of HKs includes a corresponding set of filters selected from the constructed set of filters and associated with one or more initial Laplacian operators and corresponding initial filter parameters.

Various tools have historically been used to model grid datasets. Applicant has identified a number of deficiencies and problems associated with these tools. Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, many of these identified problems have been solved by developing solutions that are included in embodiments of the present disclosure, many examples of which are described in detail herein.

Method, system, and apparatus for generating and training a digital signal processor for evaluating graph data


A method, system, and apparatus for capturing heat wherein one or more fins are arranged such that hot air is trapped by the fins and must descend below at least one of the fins in order to exit through an outlet.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, systems, and apparatuses for capturing and/or directing heat. Embodiments of the present invention are particularly useful for devices such as ovens, stoves, furnaces, heaters and/or fireplaces.
2. Background
Known stoves, heaters, ovens and the like typically allow heat to flow from the heat source and escape out through a chimney with little and/or no restriction to the flow of the heated air. Some known devices employ metal fins which causes the heated air to flow back and forth in a pattern around the fins. Known systems, however, do not employ fins which slope downward and which are sealed at their upper end. Such known systems thus permit the heated air to be partially directed by the fins, but permit the heated and rising air to easily continue to rise and exit out of the chimney.
For heaters, stoves, and the like, heat which exits out of the chimney is wasted and thus reduces the efficiency of the firebox. Known systems which employ fins and baffles attempt to increase the surface area of contact with the heated air in an attempt to permit more conduction of heat from the inside of the firebox to the outside of the firebox. Such systems, however, do not actually trap the rising heated air against the side of the firebox as is taught by the present invention. There is thus a present need for a method and apparatus which increases the efficiency of ovens, stoves, furnaces, heaters, fireplaces and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,312, to Berger, teaches a radiant baffle assembly. That assembly, however, does not provide downwardly-depending fins. Accordingly, Berger is not capable of trapping rising hot air such that the hot air must cool and descend before it can exit through a chimney.
U.S. Pat. No. 241,720 to Ricketts teaches a fireplace which has a plurality of deflectors. However, Rickets teaches that the deflectors are arranged such that at least some of the hot air from the fireplace can rise past the front of the fireplace and exit through a chimney without ever encountering any deflectors. Further, Rickets places the deflectors at the back of the fireplace and puts the chimney directly above them. In this configuration, any additional heat that may be absorbed due to the deflectors simply heats the air on the back side of the radiator and air then rises and is lost through the chimney. Accordingly, Ricketts deflectors do not increase the heat transfer of the fireplace and thus reduces the temperature of the exhaust gas that exits the fireplace.


A reel change apparatus for supplying a webbing material to a downstream machine has two sliding platens that are substantially linearly slidable between a respective standby position and a respective splicing position. Two reel holding members each hold a reeled web in a respective material supply position and a respective wait position. The two sliding platens have clamps for retaining a leading end of a new web. A pivotable platen has a clamp for retaining the trailing end of a running web. Adhesive provided on the leading end is exposed and supported on the sliding platens. The leading end of the new web may be retained on one sliding platen in the respective standby position while a running web passes over the other sliding platen.

In packaging machines, especially vacuum packaging machines or gas flushed packaging machines, a product is placed on a bottom web of material and covered by a top web. The space between these webs is evacuated or subjected to a gas flushing, and then the webs are welded together and sealed around the product. In some cases, the bottom web is thermoformed to form receiving trays for the product. The webbing material is unwound from a reel which is mounted on the packaging machine. From the reel, the webbing material passes around a number of rollers before it reaches the packaging station. When the material on a reel runs out, it is necessary to replace the existing reel with a new reel, and manually thread the leading portion of the material from the new reel to the packaging station. This operation is time consuming, and leads to a reduction in the productivity of the packaging machine.
EP-A-0179243 discloses an apparatus designed to overcome these problems. The machine supports two reels of webbing material, the webbing material from each reel being guided by a plurality of rollers to a sheet-holder. A separate sheet-holder is provided for each web of material, and the two sheet-holders are arranged in a V-shaped configuration with the surface over which the webbing material runs on each sheet-holder facing the other. In this case, webbing from one reel is supplied over one sheet-holder to a downstream packaging machine, whilst the leading edge of material from the other reel is held on the opposed sheet-holder. As the reel from which material is supplied to the packaging machine is exhausted, the trailing edge is severed by a severing means provided on the sheet-holder, and the sheet-holder is pivoted thereby pressing the trailing edge of the sheet of webbing material onto the leading edge of webbing material held on the other sheet-holder. The two sheets are spliced by use of a pressure sensitive adhesive provided on one sheet. On separation of the opposed sheet-holders, material from the full reel is supplied to the packaging machine. The exhausted reel is then replaced by a new, full reel of webbing material, and operation of the packaging machine continues with no substantial delay for reel changing.
In practice, machines of this type have not enjoyed commercial success. The arrangement shown in EP-A-0179243 requires pressure sensitive adhesive on the leading edge of material to be applied on opposite sides for alternating reels, or for a user to manually add adhesive when the material is held by the sheet-holder. If adhesive is put on the wrong side, the two sheets of webbing material will not join and the new reel of material must be manually fed through to the packaging machine, this being very time consuming.
EP-A-0445333 discloses an apparatus for feeding plastic film for a bag making machine. As with the system of EP-A-0179243, the trailing edge of one reel is joined to the leading edge of a second reel. The problem of adhesive being applied to the wrong side of material on the reel is avoided as the reels are provided on a rotatable arm which rotates about 180.degree. when reels are changed. This ensures material in the wait position is always arranged with the adhesive surface facing the same direction. The disadvantage of this system is that, for packaging machines, the reels are typically of a large diameter and therefore a system in which a supporting arm is rotated requires a large area to operate. This area is generally not available for commercial packaging lines.
Another option which has been proposed is to join two rolls of webbing material by welding rather than using an adhesive. This has not been generally accepted as a commercially useful method, due to technical problems and cost considerations.


Improved techniques to produce integrated circuit products are disclosed. The improved techniques permit smaller and less costly production of integrated circuit products. One aspect of the invention is that the integrated circuit products are produced a batch at a time, and that singulation of the batch into individualized integrated circuit products uses a non-linear (e.g., non-rectangular or curvilinear) sawing or cutting action so that the resulting individualized integrated circuit packages no longer need to be completely rectangular. Another aspect of the invention is that the integrated circuit products can be produced with semiconductor assembly processing such that the need to provide an external package or container becomes optional.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuit products and, more particularly, to removable peripheral cards that contain one or more integrated circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the trend for memory integrated circuit (IC) packages to be smaller and their memory density to be larger continues, advancements in packaging integrated circuits are needed. One recent advancement involves stacking multiple integrated circuit dies within a single IC package. Such internal package stacking involves stacking a smaller die on a larger die. Each of the dies is wire bonded to a substrate. This type of stacking has, for example, been used with same function dies (e.g., two Flash memory dies) or different function dies (e.g., one Flash memory die and one SRAM die). Additionally, stacking of two or three dies has been done for stacked Chip Scale Packages (stacked CSP) and stacked Thin Small Outline Packages (TSOP).
Memory cards are commonly used to store digital data for use with various products (e.g., electronic products). These memory cards are increasingly called on to store greater and greater amounts of data. Memory cards normally provide non-volatile data storage, and thus such memory cards are very popular and useful because they retain data even after being powered-off. Examples of memory cards are Flash cards that use Flash type or EEPROM type memory cells to store the data. Flash cards have a relatively small form factor and have been used to store digital data for products such as cameras, computers (hand-held, notebook and desktop computers), set-top boxes, hand-held or other small audio players/recorders (e.g., MP3 devices), and medical monitors. A major supplier of Flash cards is SanDisk Corporation of Sunnyvale, Calif.
Unfortunately, the manufacturing of high density memory cards having a relatively small form factor is complicated. One complication is that the final form factor of memory cards is irregular, namely, not rectangular. The irregular form factor can serve various purposes, such as restricting its connection to a connector or port in a particular orientation, providing a position reference or a lock position, etc. However, integrated circuit assemblies conventionally have a regular, namely, a rectangular, shape and also have to be protected from users. Thus, conventionally, memory cards have an irregular form factor defined by a lid, frame or outer package that encompasses the regular shape of the integrated circuit assemblies. The lid, frame or outer package is often made of plastic. A further problem with the irregular form factor is that the assembly of the lid, frame or outer package about the integrated circuit assembly is not a semiconductor manufacturing process and thus must be done in a separate production line, in perhaps a different manufacturing facility.
Thus, there is a need for improved approaches to manufacture memory cards having small form factors.

Method for efficiently producing removable peripheral cards


The invention relates to a method for maintaining the temperature of fluid media in pipes even in the event of an interruption of the fluid media flow. In a first step, a heat reservoir layer (1) is produced comprising a latent heat reservoir material (2) and a matrix material (3). In a second step, the heat reservoir layer (1) is either arranged around a pipe (4) and subsequently encased with a heat damping material (5) or the heat reservoir layer (1) is brought into contact with heat damping material (5), whereby a heat reservoir damper composite (51) is obtained, and the pipe (4) is then encased with the heat reservoir damper composite (51) such that the heat reservoir layer (1) of the heat reservoir damper composite (51) lies between the pipe (4) and the heat damping material (5) of the heat reservoir damping composite (51).

Residential and office buildings are usually equipped with cold and hot water conduits. While the temperature of the cold water in cold water conduits is typically not adjusted, the hot water must be heated so that it is perceived as hot water even after being transported in the hot water conduit system once the hot water tap has been opened. Since even in multi-storey buildings the hot water is often heated centrally, for example in the cellar, and is distributed from there throughout the residence, the hot water conduits must be well insulated to reduce heat loss during transport.
In buildings, hot water is typically needed at most for a few minutes for each water extraction. Subsequently, the water in the hot water conduit cools again despite heat insulation, i.e. thermal insulation. Therefore, when turning on a hot water tap, it often takes some time for the outflowing water to get warm. To prevent this, it is sometimes prescribed normatively that hot water conduits must be kept warm, for example by means of a circulation system or pipe trace heating.
In the circulation system permanently reheated hot water is pumped in a conduit parallel to the hot water conduit—for example in a double sheathed conduit or a return conduit—by means of circulation pump in order to keep the water temperature of the hot water conduit at the desired temperature, even if the media flow is interrupted for some time.
In the case of pipe trace heating, an electrical resistance, for example in the form of a cable or electrical heating tape, is wound around the pipe or guided along the pipe. By applying electrical voltage, the cable or heating tape and thus the pipe is electrically heated. In this case, sensors for temperature control can also be provided.
The circulation system, in particular with double sheathed conduit or return conduit, and the electrical pipe trace heating are what are known as active heat retention systems. They are technically complex to produce and very energy-consuming in use and thus costly, even if no hot water is used. They also have the disadvantage that in case of faults in the cable routing (cable break, for example by thermal expansion of the pipeline, aging of the cable insulation, etc.) structural damage can occur and the function is interrupted along the entire conduit. In addition, there is a risk that, in the event of breakage of the electrical pipe trace heating, the electrical voltage can lead to glowing fires and/or endanger people or even cause damage at remote locations, for example via the metal pipeline. These systems—and the electric trace heating in particular—consume a great deal of electrical energy, which in addition is much more valuable than thermal energy. Therefore, not least for reasons of environmental protection, they should be avoided whenever possible.
For reasons of hygiene, cold water conduits should be kept below 25° C., since a warming above 25° C. leads to an increase of human pathogenic germs, in particular legionella bacteria. In residential and office buildings, however, cold water conduits are nowadays not generally cooled, due to a lack of simple, suitable solutions, and rely only on the low temperatures of the mains water on the input side of the conduit to the building.

Method for maintaining the temperature of fluid media